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The Pride of Arus
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com

Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 1
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# # # # # Triasian Command Ship / Arus' far moon # # # # #

Rolsin watched as the combatants fought in the small arena below them. Six of his best soldiers circled around the young man who stood, breathlessly in the middle, watching their every move.

"This was all that you were able to come up with, Haggar?" Rolsin asked as he turned to the dark witch. "One boy?"

Haggar laughed to herself as she turned to him. "Not just any boy, milord," she said. "Do not underestimate him."

"I trust that you have more than just this boy to help us," Rolsin stated. "The Voltron Force have already found the Sixth Lion ship, and are probably finding ways to operate it. We've been here nearly two months, and have yet to make a move against them."

"Time is what we needed, milord," she said. "And if you watch, Im sure you will see that it was time well spent."

Rolsin turned to the arena again, as he watched as three of his men attack the young boy. He gritted his teeth as the dark haired boy was able to dodge the attack and strike back with such speed and agility, Rolsin was barely able to keep his eyes on him. It wasn't long that the first three soldiers were dispatched, their necks broken, even through the thick armor they wore.

"He's not done yet, milord."

The three soldiers who were left, one managed to grab ahold of him from behind, while another punched him sevral times into his stomach and landed a couple of hits to the young man's face.

"You think you can embarass us?" the soldier asked. "Rolsin will not have a whelp like you put to shame our army."

As the young boy breathed in deeply, his head hanging low, the soldier then stepped back when he heard him laugh.

"You've already shamed your army by challenging me," he said as his golden gaze came to meet his. "Run."

"What?"

"I said, run."

Before the soldier before him could react, the young boy kicked the soldier as hard as he could, which sent the older man flying across the arena. He then slipped from the one that was holding him, flipped over him and as he came down, wrapped his arm around the soldier head and in a swift motion, broke the soldier's neck.

The third soldier who had stood by, fell to the ground as the young boy approached him. He lifted the Triasian up by the front of his armor and with all of his strength, threw him across the room, where he landed against the far wall. He then walked over to the one he had kicked and lifted him off the ground.

"Why didnt you run?" he asked. "Its much more fun when I have to chase you."

The young boy wrapped both hands around the soldiers neck, and in a move that caught Rolsin by surprise, he watched as wings formed on his back, and he flew into the air, taking the soldier with him. He then watched as the soldier struggled as the young boy choked the life out of him then let him go as he fell to the floor below. The young boy then floated down, reaching the arena floor as he landed, retracting his wings and walking around the bodies that laid strewn on the floor.

"You see, milord," Haggar stated. "It was time well spent."

"Who is he?" Rolsin asked. "Where did he come from?"

"He is the child you had kidnapped from Vallis," she stated.

Rolsin looked at her in surprise. "How can this be?"

Haggar laughed. "Never underestimate, my power, milord," she stated. "This is just a taste of what I can offer you. I have built a new robeast army at your disposal. However, Kaden will prove a formidable opponent to the Voltron Force members."

Rolsin slowly nodded. "You've outdone yourself, Haggar," he stated. "I hope to see the rest of your offerings soon."

"May I suggest that we conduct a test?" she asked. "Kaden is eager to confront the Voltron Force. I can give you one of my robeast creations so that a smaller force of yours can be sent to Arus."

Rolsin nodded. "I will speak to my brothers, and we will arrange such an attack," he stated. "Thank you Haggar, for this entertaining show."

Haggar bowed as she watched as he slowly left the balcony they were standing on. Haggar then breathed in deeply as she felt someone come to be next to her.

"Why do you make me challenge these men?"

Haggar turned to the young boy as he balanced himself on the edge of the railing, his wings slowly retracted as he slowly stepped down and looked at her.

"They are no match for me," he said.

Haggar smiled. "Do not worry, Kaden, your play time with them is now over," she said. "Im arranging to have you fight much more formidable opponents."

The young boy sighed as he brushed his dark hair from his face, slowly tying a headband across his forehead. "Where is grandfather?"

"He should be with several of the High Lords at this moment," she said. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged for a moment and then let out a sigh. "Nothing," he said. "Im going back to study. This is just boring me."

Haggar slowly nodded and watched as he made his way down the hallway that lead away from the arena. Under her care, she was able to train the boy and grow him into the young man now. He would be about sixteen years, the same age that Lotor had shown great strength and power. How he reminded her of Lotor when he was that age, but there was something much more colder in the young boy than Lotor had. She smiled knowing that her magic and science had been succesful.

After a moment, she too headed back to her laboratory.

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"Damnit!"

Neive turned to Zeya who was struggling with the tightening of another bolt. The two Voltron teams had spent the better part of the last two months, working in the new Lion Base, making sure the area would be up to date with the rest of the Lion dens. Teri and Hunk worked hard on trying to go over the several routine programs that the new Lion ship held, and was able to figure out how to get the Lion ship to recognize Zeya as someone who could operate the Lion singley if needed.

Lotor and Anala returned to Vallis, for a short time, to see to the care of Alysson and to collect the reports that Lemille and Sendrre had. They would return within the coming week to give their findings.

They were just getting used to having the Lion actually talking back to them, during the down time, as the AI, Kieran, whom Zeya named, was forthcoming with any information they needed and had been able to run some drills to see how it would work in battle, but Allura and Neive had joined Zeya when they did train.

The only thing they could not figure out, was how it would serve to help Voltron. Even the AI could not give an answer.

"Are you alright?" Neive asked as he walked over to her.

"If its not one thing, its another," she said as she sat down on the ground and massaged her wrist.

Neive smiled as he sat down next to her and took her arm into his hands. "Manual labor is something you're not accustomed to is it?" he asked as he began to massage her forearm, working his way toward her palm.

"I didn't have the pleasure since everything was done for me," she said. She watched as he kneeded the muscles in her arm, and slowly work his way to her palm where he massaged the joints there.

"I dont think I can do this," she whispered.

"Do what?"

"Be the pilot for this lion," she said. "I was never trained, like your teammates, to fight this way."

"If that were true, then Princess Allura would have never learned to fight and become apart of the team," he said. "She just believed that she could, and did what she needed to train herself. She had faith in what she could do, knowing that she may not be as skilled as the others, she proved that she could handle it."

Zeya smiled to herself. Half for the comfort he was showing and half for the sensation the massage was giving her. The sudden clearing of someones throat caused the both of them to look up to see LiAnne and Katherine staring at the both of them. Zeya was quick to pull her arm away as the two women leered at them.

"You know, if you wanted to have some private time together, I could have asked Hunk to excuse you both from this," Katherine teased.

"Quit it, Kit," Neive said as he stood up. "Im not teasing you over your infatuation with Captain Ellis now, am I?"

The color in Kit's face drained as she stared at him.

"You...you know?"

Neive let out a sigh. "The whole castle knows, Kit," he said. "Its not like you two are trying to hide it."

LiAnne let out a soft giggle as the two women watched as he walked away.

"How can he remain so damn level headed?" Katherine asked herself. She then turned to Zeya who was just watching her.
Katherine then smiled as she walked over to the former princess and seated herself down next to her.

"Kit, we have work to do," LiAnne stated as she placed her hands on her hips. "Hunk is going to kill us if we are not done by lunch time."

Kit smiled as she put her arm around Zeya and slowly stood up. "You know, we've been working day in and day out, I think its time that we girls stick together and take a long needed break."

LiAnne stared at her teammate, crossing her arms in front of her. "And what kind of break were you thinking of?"

Katherine smiled. "The kind that no boys or men are allowed."

Katherine immediately stood, dragging Zeya to her feet then hooking her arm with LiAnne. "Now, lets go an find Allura and see if she could use a refresher."

"Kit, you're going to get us into trouble!" LiAnne stated as Katherine nearly dragged the both of them toward the tunnels that would lead them back to the Castle.

"Trouble is my middle name." Kit stated.

"No, its Delores, and if you think you are getting out of your chores, you have no idea how much trouble you are in."

Katherine cringed as she slowly turned around to face her cousin. LiAnne place her hand to her mouth as she stifled a giggle as Zeya could only stare at the woman.

"I told you never to say that out loud," Katherine said as she looked up at her cousin.

Keith crossed his arms as he shook his head.

"LiAnne, Zeya, you are free to go," he said. "Katherine here will finish up your tasks, in addition to what she has already been asigned to do."

"What?" Katherine nearly cried.

"Finish our tasks?" Zeya asked. "But isn't..."

LiAnne clamped her hand over Zeya's mouth as she slowly tugged at her arm. "Zeya, one thing you have to learn, is that when Keith actually gives you time off, you had better take it," she whispered. LiAnne then smiled as she slowly started to pull Zeya away. "See you later, Kity."

With that LiAnne, dragged Zeya away with Kit glaring after the both of them.

"Kit, you only have a couple of hours, you better start."

Kit let out a groan as she watched as the other workers continued about their busines.

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Neive let out a yawn as he walked down the many aisles of books and shelves within the Castle's Library.

"Are you sure you have the right title?"

A rather large man then came down the aisle he was in. He towered over Neive, by at least a foot. He looked at the several titles before him.

"When Shane told me that the Castle Library was rebuilt, I didn't expect to see that this many books had survived the attacks."

Neive stared up at the older man. For someone who helped author many of the current Arusian laws, the man had come across as one who was not so...

"AH! Found it!" he exclaimed. "I knew it had some ridculously long Arusian word in the title."

Neive let out a sigh as the man held the book before him as he skimmed through the pages.

"I think we found what we were looking for," he said. "You said that Coran never spoke to you about anything concerning the betrothment laws and such for Arusian royalty?"

Neive nodded. "Neither has my Uncle or my mother," he said. "However, it doesn't stop him from forcing me to meet with the High Lord daughters from Helena."

The large man laughed to himself. "It would be Altaire to continue such a dumb tradition and hope that the other kingdoms would follow."

"What do you mean?"

"This was one of the laws that Alfor wanted to abolish before his death," he explained. "However, what was written to replace it, was a very vague version, that if interpreted, would read as if it would require any royalty from the three kingdoms were to only marry those that can prove their lineage."

"Prove their lineage?"

"That means, dignitaries, princes, princesses from other systems could offer a proposal to any of the three kingdoms, if they were able to prove that they were indeed of royal blood, or other high ranking noble, and that line must date back to five generations," he said. "What Alfor wanted to change it to, was that lineage was not important as long as the people approve of the person the royal family would accept as a suitor to their family."

"Why had it been changed to say that, though?"

The man shrugged. "It was a time of war," he said as he placed the book back on its shelf. "Alfor didn't have the chance to redefine the law so that it would be fair to everyone."

"Is this the law that Allura and Coran follow?" Neive asked. "Do they even know what Alfor had wanted?"

The man slowly nodded. "Coran would have known the true intention of the change, but he is bound by his duties to follow what has been written," he said. He then eyed the younger man, and looked at him with a questioning look. "You aren't considering in...I mean...that would be..."

Neive met his gaze and stepped back. "NO!" he nearly yelled. "I would never...gah, Lloren, she's my cousin."

"You know that never stopped other civilizations before," he said he said thoughtfully. "Now, Shane was nice to allow me to visit with you over the past few months, and I truly enjoyed sharing my knowledge with you, however, you've yet to explain why you were so interested."

Neive turned away from him for a moment. "I promised myself that I would try and get to the bottom of this," he said. "That how could a law be put into place, to cause heartache to those involved."

The large man stared down at him and then crossed his arms. "You know, butting into something you're not wanted can hurt the situation more," he said. "But I trust that you're doing this because you do care for her?"

Neive turned to him. "Spoke to my mother did you?"

Lloren smiled. "She informed me of what you were doing," he said. "And why."

"So how do we go about making her realize she isn't bound to this law as written?"

Lloren crossed his arms. "By finding the document that Alfor wrote all those years ago," he said. "If his signature is on it, then its the new law. If not, we could always tie her up, put them in the same room until they admit it to each other."

Neive laughed to himself. "If it were that easy, we would have done it years ago," he said. "Come, there are several storage areas where some of the personal documents written by Alfor were stashed. That's how we came across Queen Marlena's journals."

Lloren smiled. "I promise that I will see to it that we find this document," he said.

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# # # # # Triasian Command Ship / Arus' far moon # # # # #

Haggar entered the laboratory surprised to find it empty. She looked around wondering where Kaden had gone to. She walked over to his study area, only to find that his paperwork had not been touched. She then slowly shook her head as she turned toward the door.

"Reckless youth," she commented. "Just keep yourself out of trouble there."

She turned to the computer before her and turned it on, and watched as a small signal bore a path to the planet they orbited.

"You're not ready to confront them yet."