Arusian Crusade: Changing Tides
Prologue: Blue Lion's Charge

Arusian Crusade, part 3, follows Starfall. I have no clever author comments right now.
Enjoy!


The control room was empty when Allura entered, and that was really just as well.

She'd put a lot of effort into the flight suit. No Arusian warrior with any sense would wear pink onto the battlefield; it was arrogant, not to mention a terrible omen. But until recently Allura had not been a trained warrior, and it was still hardly her first identity. She was a spirit talker, and the trappings of death were hers to bear. And though it probably wouldn't do to admit it, she had developed a certain aesthetic appreciation for the color as well.

Trained warrior or not, as princess it would have been her right to wear black, the color of command. But she was not truly a commander, and the Voltron Force's color choices didn't line up with traditional Arusian ranks anyway. And Sven had worn black...

To wear his color seemed like a violation. She was here to stand in for the fallen warrior until he healed, not to try to take his place so thoroughly. Though washing out the red uniform until it faded sufficiently, without Nanny catching on, had been quite a trick. The woman watched her domain like a hawk.

It was the first time she'd gone to one of the lions' dens. Blue Lion slept beneath the lake, in a cavern that had just enough air and dry land to permit a pilot to leave the shuttle and walk up to the lion where it sat.

Here goes nothing.

She held out the key, watched the faint azure glow trigger the craft's entry systems until the metal beast knelt, eyes glowing, jaws open wide. Inviting her. She boarded quickly, placing the key in its slot, waiting to hear the lion come to life around her.

It did, though not in the matter she'd expected.

A horrific roar shook Blue Lion's cave, and with a second, lower growl it spat the princess from her place in the cockpit to the sandy ground. "Oof!" By the time she recovered enough to look up the lion was sitting back again, the glow in its eyes gone, looking for all the world as if she'd never attempted to enter.

Okay then. Different approach.

To be perfectly honest she'd thought something like that might happen... not really so violently or emphatically, but a rejection had not been out of the question. Pulling several candles and a few matches from the pouch at her side, Allura knelt and began to arrange the components of the spirit talking ritual before the lion.

This would be a highly unusual use of such a ceremony. She hoped it would work. Because she didn't actually have a backup plan if not.

The pale aura of the spirit realm gathered around the candles, flowing through the cave, entering into Blue Lion and causing its eyes to shimmer with mystic energy. Allura frowned. That was not what she'd expected to happen... no spirit was appearing at the center of the ritual space, but suddenly the lion itself was shifting. Leaning forward. Peering down at her with a soft growl.

You are not the one. The soundless voice shook her to her soul. You are not even one of the five. Begone.

Allura took a long, shallow breath. She couldn't escape the feeling that the metal beast was judging her... judging her and finding her terribly lacking. But she wasn't going to back off. Arus needed her. The Voltron Force needed her. "I need to pilot you for awhile, Blue Lion."

I do not fly with you. You are not the one.

"I know I'm not, but he isn't here."

That should not be so. The heart of serenity lives. This was assured.

This was assured? That meant something, but it was just beyond her grasp. Surely the lion couldn't mean it knew what had happened to Sven already? "He's alive, but gravely injured, and we had to send him to another world to heal. It wasn't within our power to treat him here. All I'm asking is that you let me fly with you until he can come back."

There was a hesitation, as if it did not fully comprehend the words. Then, I do not fly without the heart of serenity.

A certain reverence surrounded the lions. Reverence for the ancient myth they were born from, reverence for their power and mystery. But reverence could only go so far, and Allura was becoming deeply annoyed. "Your heart of serenity," she said coldly, "would not approve of your attitude. He gave everything he had to save this world, and now you're going to refuse to defend it? You're going to make his sacrifice meaningless and claim it's in his name?"

To her surprise, Blue Lion's massive head drew back as if she'd struck a physical blow. No. I refuse nothing. This world is under my protection, and I will not abandon this charge.

"Then act like it!"

Growl. You are brazen. There is merit to your words, but I do not like you.

Allura grimaced. Maybe she had gone a little far there, but the lion's obstinance was getting on her nerves. Maddening. Yet it made an odd sort of sense when she thought about it. It had been so recently that Voltron awakened... were the lions arrogant gods, or petulant children? Sometimes there wasn't much difference.

She took a more conciliatory tone. "You must know I wouldn't intrude like this if there were any other option."

Perhaps. The metal beast cocked its head. This would be the will of the heart of serenity?

"Yes. Sven is a dear friend of mine... he would understand. He would want you to fly without him until he returns." There was no doubt of that in her mind, and she spoke without hesitation.

Silence. The ritual was fading.

Then Blue Lion knelt once more, opened its jaws in acceptance. As the spirit aura faded and the communication was broken, it spoke four final words which echoed in Allura's mind.

Prove yourself to me.