DISCLAIMER :

VOLTRON AND ITS ELEMENTS ARE OWNED BY WEP.

Mystery of the Christmas Star

Chapter One

It was the beginning of the Inter-Planetary Holiday Season, and all of the Voltron Force members were on peace missions to different planets as honored guests to open the festivities. It was a better choice than them all going to just one single planet for the normally enjoyable ceremonies. And Allura at last had time alone with her favorite Lion knight.

She had enjoyed each of those six days on planet Sulior with Captain Keith. Although the trip had been one of an official capacity, they had taken to the rest in their normal routine as if it was a mini vacation. All they did was attend various parties, visit the planet's people, and spend some few sweet hours alone. Keith even allowed her to sleep in his bed in the last few nights, a special treat Allura knew would not come along again for a long time.

December 4th had come far too soon for them both. Both admitted that they had not finished their Christmas shopping, and both knew the parties and other celebrations that were ahead of them once home again. At least they still had a four-hour trip ahead of them.

They were supposed to rush home at top speed – in case of attack. But in the six years that the team had been on Arus, there had never been an attack in the holiday seasons. Doom and a large part of the Druel Empire were swamped with electric ion fog. So both decided it was a worthwhile risk to just take a slow and leisurely pace going home.

Neither was aware of the danger that lay just ahead of them.

"So, my dear Captain – since we cannot call this a true vacation – what do you think was the best of this little unofficial reprieve of our usual obligations?" Allura's smile had not been this cheery and bright in far too long.

Keith had almost forgotten how that warm smile and glimmering blue eyes had always made his story book Princess even more beautiful than she normally was. Her joy was infectious, and Keith hoped that this infection's cure would never be found. It made the often sullen and withdrawn Captain smile and barely stifle a chuckle.

Allura loved the few times alone she had with her beloved personal champion. But, in this moment Keith could never been anymore handsome in her eyes. The all too rare smile on his face was lighting and glimmering in his chocolate brown eyes.

"Would it be improper for me to say that it would have to be your beaming happiness right now?"

This made Allura burst into another roll of sweet to his ears laughter. It also gave her the courage to ask him for a favor she had wished for too long in silence. To drop all the rules of her station with him.

She pulled her legs up into her seat, leaned over towards Keith, and cuddled as close to him as their two seats would allow. "Nanny and Koran aren't near-by, the team are all out on their holiday missions, and we are all in radio blackout until we are back in Arusian airspace – meaning that we won't have any ill-timed interruptions. Keith, if I asked you to forget our titles for a time, so that we are just an ordinary man and woman, would that make you uncomfortable?"

"No. Deep inside, I have wished that were how things really were. Just so I could get a few things off of my chest." That was it – the line was cast and could not be taken back, even if Keith wanted to do that. He knew that the Princess' curiosity would not let that small confession go without further explanation. At least that was what the team Captain was hoping for.

"We're alone now, Keith. I want us to be completely honest with one another. That would be the best of any and all Christmas gifts I have ever received in my life." To add emphasis, Allura gathered enough courage to gently rub his knee.

The warmth of that touch and her words made the decision for Keith. The time had come, even if it was only before her and just for that short trip. He switched over to the autopilot, unknowingly switching an evil circuit.

Once he was freed of the controls, Allura un-expectantly climbed from her seat into his lap with a giggle. She was soon in his embrace with only her lower legs dangling just over her own seat.

Soon they would know the answers to their long held questions. That is if things had gone right. But, the happy couple had no idea there was a bomb on board that had silently been waiting for the autopilot to engage.

One minute later, it exploded. In the shuttle, there was a terrible shaking and the sound of metal being shredded. Before he could help her back to her seat, the couple saw her side of the ship's haul begin to splinter and rip away. Keith only had enough time to pull Allura deeper into his lap and activate the interior shielding before the side of the ship blew out.

Keith shook as the truth dawned on him. Had they remained in propriety, her seated in her place and a respectable distance from him, Keith realized that he wouldn't have been able to save her. That knocked his normally calm nerves a severe blow.

Suddenly a planet was in their path, and the ship was in no shape to maneuver out of the way or into a safe orbit – they were going to crash, and hard. It seemed to be the end of the best loved couple in the universe, but neither was thinking of what might have been. They were only thinking of one another's safety.

"Please dear God, protect my Allura! I don't care if I make it or not, just focus on her. Arus and the team need her. I'm dispensable, but she is a jewel that is often impossible to find. God, please take care of this woman I love so very much." Keith clutched his only love closer to his chest as they began to fall faster.

Allura pulled his arms tighter around her. Not for the security or in an attempt to calm herself, but to guard his life. "Heavenly Creator, I don't care about myself. I am not all that important in the universe. But he is. Keith is too kind and wonderful to lose. I will give up myself without question if he can walk away from this crash with his life. He is so like my father, and Arus needs a man like him to lead it once I am gone. Please, let him live. I love him so much that I cannot think of being without him."

Two hard bounces later the remains of their ship fell into a canyon. The large forward section they were housed in was driven into the hard crust of this unknown planet forty miles like a nail. The impact knock them both unconscious.

Now only a miracle could save them.