Reflections

There was a gentle breeze out of the south, just enough to move the flags of the more than one thousand worlds of the Galactic Coalition. The sun cut through a thin layer of clouds, illuminating more than a million beings that had converged on Altea to both celebrate the end of the great galactic conflict five years before, and to remember those who had so selflessly brought the war to a close.

Lance inhaled slowly as he stepped forward, his damp eyes unable to focus on the crowd before him. Over the past few years he had often shared his thoughts regarding Allura and the Paladins, but had strongly preferred doing so with small groups. Trying to express how he truly felt to so many was a daunting task, and one he had intentionally avoided.

At past events he had sat to the side as his friends had regaled crowds with their adventures and solemnly honored those who were no longer with them. Eventually he had run out of excuses, both those he had given to others and those he had told himself. He had known Allura like no one else had, and he had a duty to share her brilliance with the universe.

Slowly the rancorous cheers died away and only the sound of the wind broke the silence. The Paladin's lip twitched slightly. "I, uh… I'm going to do something I don't normally do today," he began, looking up from the podium. "I'm, you know, not normally a speech guy." There was a faint chuckle from behind him, and slight smile briefly touched his lips. "But this is important, because everything we are—and I mean everything—is because of those who sacrificed for it."

Lance glanced down at his prepared remarks. He'd spent the better part of two months writing and rewriting them. Eloquence had never been his strong suit, and despite countless revisions he was still unsure if the words truly conveyed what he desired to express. There was only one way to find out.

"Five years ago, the greatest conflict of all time came to an end. And while I understand the desire to celebrate, we can't forget those people who fought for our right to exist." He turned to look behind him where his fellow Paladins and other distinguished allies were seated. "Every face you see behind me has seen things no one should ever see. Felt pain that I can't describe." The Paladin swallowed and blinked, struggling to contain the emotions he felt welling within him. "And they… they would endure it again if they had too, because that is who they are."

"Most of the people they saved will never know who they are," he continued. "Countless souls in countless realities are here because of what they did. Because they gave everything they had; not for power or glory or even thanks. They did it because it was right. Because they believed that there was good in this universe; in every universe."

Lance took in a shallow breath and brushed a tear away from his right eye. "But I don't need to just believe anymore… I know. I've seen what binds us all together, what gives us our strength. "Because everything has been touched by her."

"Princess Allura," he continued, "Was the greatest person I've ever known. She was a diplomat, a soldier, a scientist, and the best friend anyone could ever ask for." A brief smile swept across his face. "Her bond with me was forged by a kind of love and respect that I never thought was possible. She touched my soul and changed my life. She inspired me to be something greater than I ever believed I could be. She was the closest thing to perfection I have ever seen."

"I loved her," Lance said softly. After a moment of contemplation, a smile formed on his lips. "Some people say love is the triumph of feelings over intelligence; I guess that's why it was one thing I was pretty good at. Not that I was ever good enough for her. No one could ever be, because she was the kind of person that always made you want to be better."

There was a long pause as the Paladin once again valiantly fought back encroaching tears. He had made peace with her passing, accepting that her choice was what had to be. Despite that, discussing his most cherished memories still stirred strong emotions within him.

"I wanted to spend every moment of my life with her. And in a way, I get to. Everything you touch, everything you see is because of her. Her life is in every flower you hold in hand, every meteor streaking across a dark sky. Everyone one you love, have loved, and will ever lover. All of it is because she willingly gave us everything she had."

The tall Paladin put down his pad, and looked out over the crowd. "I miss her terribly, but I know she will never be truly gone. I can't say what happens to us when we move on to that next stage of life, but I know it is not the end. And I know, one day, I'll be able to hold her hand again."

Another deep breath. "Grief is painful, but not bad. It reveals how someone changed us, and in very rare cases, how someone changed everything. It pulls back the curtain, and lets us see truths that we never saw before. That's why I'm here: I want you all to see the universe she saw, the reality she made the greatest sacrifice for. To see the good and the love that is in each of us." His voice was growing stronger now as his thoughts turned to the immense pride he felt for the woman he loved. "Because to me Allura is not simply a hero, she is an example. She shows us what we can be, what we should strive to be every day. She teaches us to seek out the good in others, to cherish what we have in common while we celebrate what makes us unique. To be more together than we could ever be on our own!"

Lance's gaze drifted downward as the crowd erupted in cheers. He felt mentally and physically exhausted in a way he had not experienced for a long time. Slowly he turned away from the podium to find Keith standing behind him.

"You're not as bad at that speech thing as I would have thought," the Black Paladin said, the faintest hint of a smile on his face. "Normally I can't wait for you to stop talking but… that was something special. Something she really deserved."

"I can never really give her what she deserves," Lance said, his words barely audible over the sound of the crowd. "None of us can."

"Maybe not," Keith replied, pulling his friend into a warm embrace. "But you're doing the best anyone can by helping them see who she was." Keith slid his hands to both of Lance's shoulder, grasping his friend firmly. "Making sure they never forget what she stood for."

Lance inhaled deeply, then pressed his lips together into a tight, emotional smile and followed his fellow Paladin back to their seats.

A/N: After seeing the finale, I felt that there was more to say. My other Voltron story discusses the relationship between Lance and Allura, and spending so much time focusing on their thoughts about each other it was definitely moving to see them torn apart. After drafting my initial reaction (which takes the form of Lance's speech) the rest of the story started to materialize...

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