Welcome to the next installment of the Happily Ever After series. This is Romelle's story. Just so you understand the setup, it is based off of three episodes that involved Romelle from the original series. The third episode will be longer than the first two together as it deals with Romelle meeting Sven. I always did have problems with the cartoon having her fall in love within two minutes of meeting the crazy man in the cave.
For the KA lovers who just let out a huge sigh of disappointment, there are some KA scenes within this story. You just have to savor them when you find them.
Enjoy!
I make no claims to Voltron, or any other WEP character.
Happily Ever After: The Lost Princess
Episode 1: The Enemy of My Enemy is My Friend
Seeing Castle Doom for the first time, Princess Romelle's eyes move up the intimidating structure, noting the spiked spires at the top of the castle. She barely hears her father commenting on how the design is meant to inspire fear as well as protect the empire from Doom's enemies. Feeling her older brother, Avok, pulling on her arm, she drops her gaze and moves forward. Her eyes run over a statue of King Zarkon defeating an enemy with his mighty sword in the courtyard before she is led into Doom Castle. The interior is a complete contrast to the exterior. Now the guest is meant to be impressed, with the gold leafing of the crown moldings around the ceilings and the massive columns with figurines carved into them surrounding the grand hallway. Enormous portraits of prior kings line the walls, each more ferocious looking than the last.
A female slave, with her long, dark hair pulled back into a ponytail and dressed in little more than see through scarves with gold armbands of serpents around her upper arms, greets them with a smile and directs them to follow her. Romelle follows behind her father, King Cova, and older brother. Her younger brother, Prince Bandor, walks beside her. The rest of their retainers follow close behind. Just before the throne room, they stop as the slave informs them she needs to announce their entry. As she disappears through the door, her father turns back to her. His eyes move over her and Bandor as he orders, "You two will stay here with Trey and Mako."
A deep disappointed sigh escapes the youngest prince and his gaze falls to the ground. Avok approaches and cuffs him on the back of the head, "You're too old to pout. Besides, I'm sure you will get to meet them before we leave."
Bandor nods, his disappointment stealing his voice. Romelle watches her brother and father share a look before her father bends down in front of him and tips his chin up, "You're almost a man. I'm trusting you, Bandor, to look after your sister and keep her safe. It is a big responsibility. You can do that for me, can't you?"
He finally looks up, a small smile slipping across his young face, "Yes, Father."
"Good, keep your sword with you at all times. Never let your guard down," the king reminds him.
Regaining his feet, King Cova turns back to Romelle, his gaze now stern, "If Trey or Mako gives you an order, be sure to follow it."
Romelle nods to her father, but is also disappointed not to be allowed into the throne room, not that she'll show it. After hearing all the stories and rumors about King Zarkon, she is still interested in seeing him in person. The slave returns a moment later. Before she can say anything, Cova states, "I'd like my daughter and youngest son taken to a waiting room and given refreshments."
The slave's eyes move over the princess and prince, but she simply nods then directs King Cova, Avok and the other two retainers into the throne room. Romelle watches them go, still wishing she could join them. The slave returns and signals them to follow her. She leads them down another hallway and directs them through a door.
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Inside the throne room, Prince Lotor paces back and forth in front of the royal throne. So angry that he can barely control it, he clenches and unclenches his fists in an effort to regain control of his temper. Having just been informed of the nature of their guests request for an audience, it took every bit of self-control the prince possesses not to strike at his parent as he is still inclined to do. Pausing in his pacing, he glares at this father, the king, as he continues their argument, "Planet Arus is mine to conquer. How dare you interfere?"
Zarkon smiles in the face of his son's rage, his fangs glistening, "I do as I wish, Lotor. That is the point of being king. You'll do well to remember that."
Holding his fist in front of the king's face, Lotor declares, "You gave Arus to me!"
"And you have failed to conquer it," Zarkon retorts, the smile fading and his fist tightening around his scepter.
"Your Majesty and Prince Lotor, I present King Cova, and his son, Prince Avok, of Planet Pollux," a slave announces with a bow, interrupting the argument.
Gritting his teeth to hold in his rage, Lotor moves to stand beside his father's throne. He learned the cardinal rule long ago to never argue with his father in front of new allies or enemies. It shows weakness when they need to appear strong. He glares down at the line of men kneeling with their heads bowed at the bottom of the stairs and crosses his arms. Studying them, he picks out the King of Pollux by the royal insignia on his cloak. His eyes drift over to the young man kneeling next to him. Same build, but with brilliant red hair instead of the gray of the king, and similar clothing that has the same insignia, but of a different color and size. Determining the man to be the king's son, Lotor listens as his father greets them, "Cova, welcome to Planet Doom."
"King Zarkon, I thank you for taking the time to meet with us."
"Your message intrigued me, Cova. Tell me why you want to defeat Arus," Zarkon orders while relaxing into his chair.
"It's an old family feud," King Cova explains as he lifts his head to face Zarkon. "My great, great, great grandfather's position as the rightful King of Arus was usurped by his younger brother and he was banished to Pollux. He swore revenge. Though he could not complete the vow in his lifetime, he made his sons swear to uphold his pledge upon his deathbed. Each generation since has made the same pledge."
He draws a deep breath before continuing, "The greatest day in my father's life was when we received word you destroyed Arus. He died shortly after, a happy man. The worst day of my life was when I received word that Voltron was revived. This ends! I will be the one to carry out the vow."
"And how do you propose to do that?" demands Lotor, forgetting his place as he steps forward.
Keeping his gaze firmly locked on Zarkon, the king answers, "By asking that your witch, Haggar, turns our best warrior into a robeast that will be sent to Arus. He has never lost a battle. He will destroy Arus!"
"And who is this…great warrior?" asks Lotor with a deliberate hesitation, his tone showing his disdain.
Before the king can speak, a hand falls on top of his, silencing him. The head of Prince Avok rises, his bright, blue eyes determined as he answers, "Me."
Laughter bursts out of Lotor and he sneers, "You?"
The men at the bottom of the stairs all stand, furious at their prince being insulted and ready to fight. King Cova hands out his hand to quiet them and looks back up at the Prince of Doom to reply, "I suggest a demonstration. Your best warrior against Prince Avok."
"That would be me," Lotor returns as he jumps down the flight of steps to land in front of them and whips out his laser sword, holding it out against them.
"Relax Lotor," King Zarkon orders, appearing bored with the proceedings. He rises from his throne and stares down at the men as if deciding. Finally, he turns his head towards his old witch and asks, "Haggar, your thoughts?"
The witch runs a scaly hand over her blue cat, Coba while sitting in her place to the left of Zarkon's throne. Her head rises, her yellow eyes gleaming, as she appraises the men below her. A queer smile slips across her face as she remarks, "A better question is, what have you got to lose?"
"Only my time," Zarkon remarks back in a quiet tone.
"If Prince Avok wins, you are rid of Arus and Voltron," she points out.
"And perhaps Lotor will find a better use for his time," Zarkon adds with a nod. Decision made, the Doom king looks back down at men below him and orders, "Very well, Cova. A demonstration to prove your son's worth. If Avok can win against my warriors in the arena then Haggar will turn him into a robeast."
"But Father…" Lotor begins to argue, forgetting the cardinal rule.
"You will abide my decision, Lotor," the king replies in a sharp tone.
Furious, Lotor defers to his parent with a short bow. Looking back at the men from Pollux, more anger fills him at the smug looks sent his way before a slave girl directs them to follow her out of the throne room. Clenching his fists, Lotor glares back up at his parent only to find the king walking away, the old witch following him. Starting for the door, he follows the others to the arena. He will see how this usurper, Avok, fights. If his father and these fools from Pollux think they can just take Arus from him, they are sadly mistaken.
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Watching the demonstration from his father's box thirty minutes later, Lotor's eyes narrow on the occupants standing in the middle of the arena. They circle each other, looking for a weak spot, their swords drawn. One of his father's favorite warriors, a beast shaped much like a cat, stands on his back legs with a long tail whipping from side to side. A deep blue in color, with well-muscled arms and legs, a wicked looking sword in one hand, dangerous long claws extended on the other. The robeast has at least a good two feet on Prince Avok, not that it always matters. Size means little when the opponent has skill, as Lotor learned a long time ago. His eyes follow the prince as he sidesteps a crude slash by the beast then follows with a back-cut that slices through the robeast's arm. As it howls in pain and attempts another slash, Prince Avok steps aside again and continues circling the beast, biding his time.
Impressed despite himself, Lotor acknowledges that Avok's boast of being a great warrior isn't far from the mark. He allows the robeast to keep coming at him, slowly tiring him out until it makes a desperate slash that Avok jumps to avoid then brings his sword down, slicing off the beast's sword arm. As it howls and attempts to tear into Avok with its claws, he brings the sword up, cutting off the robeast's hand. Jumping into the air a final time, Avok removes the beast's head, finishing him.
Unwilling to stand aside a moment longer, Lotor rises from his seat as he declares, "So you can beat a mindless beast. How about a real opponent?"
Jumping from the box, Lotor lands in the arena and pulls out his laser sword. Avok's eyes narrow at him as he lifts his sword, ready for any move. Deciding not to give him time to assess him, Lotor comes dashing forward with a yell. The swords clash as Avok blocks his move. Stepping into him, the Doom prince tries to unbalance Avok, the blades sliding higher as both men struggle to hold their ground.
Giving him a nasty smile, Lotor exclaims, "Fool, it's not like fighting a beast, is it?"
Pushing his body weight into him, Lotor forces Avok to take a step back to maintain his hold on his sword. Sweat gleams down his face as Avok struggles to keep his balance. Forcing the Polluxian prince's back against the wall, Lotor is about to finish him when he hears a voice call out, "Avok! Win it for us!"
Looking up, he spots a vision of loveliness in a long, blue dress, her long blond hair flowing down her back. The fact that she is almost a twin to the Princess of Arus flies through his mind. Her bright blue eyes sparkle as she raises a hand out, "Win, my brother!"
So distracted, Lotor fails to notice Avok's movement until it is too late. He flips his blade around, knocking Lotor's sword out of his hand. Backing up, Lotor glares at the Polluxian prince as Avok holds his sword against his neck and remarks, "It's a lot like fighting a beast."
From above, King Zarkon's voice rings out, "Lotor, you're a fool to let a woman distract you."
Lotor looks up at his parent as he continues, "Cova, if turning your son into a robeast is still your wish, we will grant it."
From the side, Cova stands and remarks, "It is."
A door along the side of the arena opens to reveal the witch. Haggar moves forward until she reaches Avok and says, "If you wish to become a robeast, follow me."
Sheathing his sword, Avok follows the witch out of the arena. Turning his attention back to Cova, Lotor watches the king signal to the girl, and the younger boy next to her, to follow him. Seizing his chance, he springs up into the stands and asks, "Who might this beauty be?"
He ignores the expression on Cova's face as the king reluctantly answers, "Prince Lotor, this is my daughter, Princess Romelle, and my youngest son, Prince Bandor."
Ignoring the boy and his father, Lotor kneels in front of Romelle while taking her hand, "Your beauty shines as bright as a sun, fair lady." After placing a kiss on the petal soft skin, he adds, "I insist you join us for dinner tonight."
She smiles brightly at him then turns to her father for permission. King Cova's displeasure shines on his face, but his tone is courteous as he answers, "It would be our pleasure, Prince Lotor."
Standing, Lotor places Romelle's hand on his arm as he turns to lead them back to Doom Castle. Perhaps his plans might have to change, at least slightly, for the King of Pollux and his children.