A Crown of Flowers
A Voltron story by Nishikaze
Chapter 1: The Perfect Spot
They had just defeated the forces of Doom again, lately Lotor's efforts to concur Arus had been relentless and Nanny could see the exhaustion in their eyes. The young space explorers spent nearly every waking moment in the engineering bay slowly repairing and upgrading the equipment of the Lions. Even Allura helped as much as she could, doing the tasks that she was shown and learning as much as she could about the new technology being put into her Lion. More often than not the princess would collapse on her bed at the end of the day, too tired to even change into her nightgown.
Enough is enough. She thought. Voltron Force or no, Lotor or no, they're young. They should at least get the chance to act young every once in awhile. She resolved to do something about it, if she didn't the force would be too exhausted to even fly the Lions the next time Zarcon's forces attacked. She went to speak with Koran.
~`@,~
"A picnic? But what about the repairs?" Keith looked across the room. Koran had just summoned them, and the entire force stood before the chancellor.
"I will have double shifts working on the Lion's while you are away," He cleared his throat, "Nanny has brought something to my attention and I happen to agree with her." He paused, "You all have been working too hard lately. You will exhaust yourselves and we can't have that."
"I've made a special basket lunch... enough for all of you." Nanny placed the basket at Keith's feet, "As much as I do not like to admit it, you all have been working too hard and you do deserve this break." She glanced at all of them, "You will be taking one of the hovercrafts just in case you need to get back quickly."
Hunk rubbed his hands together, "Oh boy, a picnic!" His mouth was watering already.
Pidge laughed, "Are you sure you packed enough food? Hunk looks hungry."
"Hunk's always hungry," Lance laughed. He glanced at Keith, "We all could use a break."
"What do you think Keith?" Allura asked.
"I could stay here just in case anything happens while you all are gone..." One look at Nanny's hardening expression and he couldn't continue.
"Nonsense! You are all going and that is final!" She stared him down, as if staring down Keith were possible. She glared at the rest of the team, "And you all better act like perfect gentlemen or I'll...."
~`@,~
"It's such a gorgeous day," Allura sighed, "It is definitely summer."
"Where should we stop?" Lance asked. He was driving the hovercraft. Keith sat next to him and Allura sat in the back between Pidge and Hunk.
"Oh wow! Lance stop!" Pidge exclaimed.
"What'd ya see little buddy?" Hunk asked him.
"Just the perfect spot." Pidge jumped out as soon as Lance stopped the vehicle.
"You're right Pidge, it's beautiful." Keith said as he climbed out of his seat. Hunk got out too and looked to see what got his friend so excited. They had landed on top of a rolling hill of soft green grass decorated with a rainbow of pretty flowers. There was a tree at the top for shade and as they approached it they noticed that the hill was part of the bank of a clear blue mountain lake. Lance let out a low whistle, "I hope everyone brought their bathing suits."
"I did!"
"So did I."
"I did too."
"Um... Allura... you didn't happen to bring that bathing suit did you?" Pidge asked with a smirk on his face.
She blushed, "It's the only one I have."
"Well it should be O.K. That is if you don't plan on doing any high dives." Lance teased.
Allura hit him playfully, "Your incorrigible Lance!"
Keith rolled his eyes. The last time she wore her pink bikini he couldn't even think straight. The pink material left very little to the imagination. He sighed and joined in, "I would have thought Nanny would have burned it after last time."
She smiled at him and winked, "She tried, but I hid it."
"I take it we're swimming first then?" Lance asked.
"I wanna eat first," Hunk pouted.
"You can't swim after you eat. Besides you've gotta work up an appetite first." Pidge replied.
"Well it's settled. I'm going to find a place to change."
"Don't go too far princess." Keith cautioned.
"I'm just going over to those trees," She pointed, "I'll be careful," He watched her as she walked away.
"What would you give to go get a peek?" Lance suggested in his ear. Hunk and Pidge were busy laying out the blanket.
"Don't... even... think... about... it," Keith's voice was like steel.
"Relax, O Fearless! I was kidding!"
By the time Allura returned the boys had changed too. They ran together to the bank and jumped into the cool blue water of the lake. Keith swam laps while Allura floated, enjoying the warmth of the sun. Pidge and Lance were busy trying to dunk Hunk but they failed miserably. In the end Hunk ended up dunking Lance and throwing Pidge. "Wow that was fun. Do it again!" The boy squealed. Lance cracked up into hysterics.
Keith and Allura watched them and laughed. "Nanny was right, we did need this." Allura gave a wicked grin. She just had and idea. With out warning she shoved Keith. He lost his balance and went under as she quickly swam away. She laughed as he came back up, wiping water from his face.
He gave her a mock glare, "You are going to regret that!" he launched himself at her and although Allura was an accomplished swimmer he eventually caught up with her. He grabbed her and they began to wrestle. "You're going under princess!" He lifted her up and dunked her. She came up sputtering as he laughed hysterically.
"Why you...!" She attacked him again. They continued to wrestle a while longer and as hard as Allura tried she couldn't get him under. As he dunked her yet again his fingers caught on the fabric of her bathing suit. As she went under the tiny bikini top stayed in his hand, pulling it off her body. When she came up she was topless and Keith got a full view. Keith's face turned bright red as he looked away.
"Oh my..." Allura pulled the top from his hand, "Not again..."
"Princess I am so sorry, I should have known that would happen," He turned back around. His face was still bright red, "Please forgive me."
The princess' face was just as pink as Keith's as she quickly swam past him and back to the shore. Lucky the others were so busy with their own games they missed the couple's embarrassment.
It wasn't until later after all had finished their meal, except for Hunk of course, that the others caught on to Keith and Allura's discomfort. They kept to themselves, none of them wanted to face Keith's wrath, but they noticed that the two avoided looking at each other. Allura was dressed in a pair of shorts and a blouse and Keith had put on a t-shirt. The others were still in only their suits.
Princess sighed. "It really is a lovely day; I think I'm going to pick some flowers."
"Well I wanna go back in the water." Pidge stood up.
"Me too!"
"Wait for me!" Hunk got up and ran towards the lake after the other two. He turned around, "Keith, you coming."
"No I think I'll just enjoy the sun for awhile." He turned and watched the princess walk up the hill. He sighed and then got up to follow.
"Allura... Allura I'm really sorry. Will you forgive me?"
She pretended to look haughty and failed. She smiled, "I suppose... that is if..."
"If?"
"You would get me one of those flowers," She pointed down. On the one side of the hill was a sharp cliff, not very steep, but possibly precarious if one lost his footing. Half way down was a patch of beautiful pink and blue flowers.
"Done," She watched as he scrambled down the hill. It wasn't long before he got to the patch and picked the most beautiful. He put the stem in his mouth and held the flower with his teeth as he made the assent back up the cliff.
"Here you are your highness," He announced as he got to the top and stood before Allura.
"Your flower," He inhaled the scent of the flower, before handing it to her, "It smells sweet," He sneezed.
"Bless you," She laughed, as she took the flower from him. She too smelled the flower before putting it with the others she had collected, "Mmmm," She sighed. She looked down at her bouquet, "It's so much prettier than the others."
"Well then here," He took the flower from her and pinned it behind her ear, "There, let it try to compete with that."
"Compete? With what?"
"Your face."
Her face turned pink as she looked away. He could see her smile of pleasure. He sneezed again.
"Are you alright?" She asked.
Before he could answer the others called. "Keith. We'd better go; I think it's going to rain." Lance motioned to the top of the hill. Looking out over the lake they could see the dark clouds forming.
"Yeah, I think your right. Let's pack the stuff and go." Keith looked towards the direction of the castle, "If we leave now we should make it before it starts."
On the way back the friends joked and teased and even with Keith's occasional sneezing, Allura couldn't help thinking everything was perfect.
~`@'~
Later on that evening at the dinner table Nanny remarked about Keith's sneezing. All he said was, "I'm O.K. I just feel kinda achy all over. I'm tired. I think I'll go to bed early."
"Achy? I haven't used that word since I was a kid," Lance remarked after Keith left the room.
Allura glared at him, "Oh leave him alone, Lance, he's not feeling well."
"Too much sun and fun for O Fearless I guess." Hunk remarked. "Speaking of which I'm warn out too."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Pidge said with a yawn.
Lance stood, "Well, as the saying goes 'early to bed...'. Good night all."
"Good night." I hope Keith feels better in the morning. Allura thought as she softly walked to her bed chamber and closed the door.
~`@'~
A different story from my usual but I hoped you enjoyed it.
This story was first posted 5 years ago under the persona of Ssaturne, but it is still mine. Voltron however is not. Feel free to let me know what you think. Ja!
