Author's notes:
Chapter One - Revised version January 2015.
Re-edited my very first fanfiction, aligning fanfic details with Voltron's 30th Anniversary Book that was launched on October 2014.
Disclaimer clause: World Events Productions (WEP) owns Voltron and Voltron Force.
CHAPTER 1 - Unprecedented
[THREE months ago : Immediately after the fall of planet Doom]
Not so long ago, Arus was the darling of the Galaxy Alliance. Every planet was rejoicing at the defeat of the Drule empire by Arus' beloved giant robot Voltron. News reached the Arusian people first, and spread like wildfire across the galaxy. There was an exhilarating wave of celebration, joy and eagerness for peace.
The Arusians had every right to be proud: Voltron was their planet's beloved treasure, and they openly expressed a filial devotion to Voltron and its team of five brave lion pilots. The Arusians were especially thrilled that their cherished ruler, Crown Princess Allura, was part of this elite and prestigious defence force.
And it was apparent to everyone who followed the exploits of the Voltron Force with much anticipation like some romance soap opera, that their princess and the commander of the Voltron Force has forged a bond beyond any camaraderie in battle and beyond any deepest friendship. Her Royal Highness and her devoted knight in shining armour may have had eyes only for each other, but their devotion to duty, honour and commitment to lead Arus during the time of war came first. And the entire planet reciprocated the same level of commitment back to their princess and her commander.
When the Castle of Lions made its initial announcement to the people of Arus within the first hours of victory, the offices of provincial governors throughout Arus were suddenly inundated with letters, emails, visits and calls. At the grassroots level, every soul fervently petitioned to bestow a planetary citizenship to the non-Arusian lion pilots, that amazing group of heroes who had defended and helped rebuild their planet for nearly half a decade. They defended Arus with their lives like it was their very own home planet. The tsunami of gratitude amongst the common citizenry was unprecedented. Within a matter of days, a network of high ranking offices and a small group of influential governors had secretly set the wheels in motion.
At the end of the first week, four Arusian governors, from the far reaches of the planet, arrived at the castle unannounced. They requested an audience with Her Royal Highness Princess Allura and her lion pilots. Coran warmly greeted the unexpected visitors.
The Princess' trusted advisor was an old friend and esteemed colleague during the reign of King Alfor and they all jovially greeted one another. The governors were apologetic for the lack of notice, but they were hoping to surprise their reigning monarch with a gift and insisted that they meet her together with the Voltron Force. With a twinkle of mischief in their eyes, they added to Coran that this was quite an important moment in Arusian history, and further asserted they would only speak about their purpose of their visit directly to Her Royal Highness and Voltron Force only.
Dumbfounded, Coran could only laugh as he guided the merry middle-aged band towards one of the meeting halls reserved for visiting delegates and dignitaries.
Then, it was Coran's turn to profusely apologise: since they were not expecting any visitors at such an early stage of the castle reconstruction, everyone, including the princess herself, was busy somewhere in the castle helping with repairs. The last attack from planet Doom had weakened the castle's defences, and everyone had their hands on deck. With many of the electronic systems down, Coran was unable to page anyone in the castle until communications had been restored. In the meantime, he welcomed the governors to wait in the meeting hall until they located the princess.
The governors however requested to help Coran find their precious ruler, and to have a guided tour of the castle as they went. They were all grinning like kids who about to explore a candy store or massive chocolate factory.
They eventually found Allura working under an open console in the castle's server room, surrounded by a tangle of cables and wires. With her keen eye for detail, she was helping Pidge run diagnostics and compiling an inventory of items needing repair or replacement. She and Pidge had just brought the communication systems back online when they were greeted by a cheery assemblage of governors.
Startled by their sudden appearance, the princess (who was as hands-on with the reconstruction as everyone else) quickly dropped everything to attend to this unusual meeting with these highly respected Arusian governors. With communications back up, Coran promptly paged the rest of the Voltron Force to convene in one of the meeting halls.
Looking at her new visitors, Allura thought that the group looked like wise elders. She sensed that despite their years, they could have been warriors back in their younger days. These individuals exuded an ancient mystic aura of power and honour: they had served Arus and its beloved king Alfor during the Zarkonian wars.
This highly influential group was brimming with both pride and mirth: one distinguished gentleman was on a hover-wheelchair; beside him was a lady, who in her younger years may have melted many a heart at the royal court, displayed an unseen strength in her graceful step. A third senior, sporting an eye patch, mischievously grinned to their fourth bearded comrade, who elbowed him with a happy, hearty chuckle.
They were in great spirits as they reverently bowed to Her Royal Highness.
Allura insisted on dispensing with the formalities that had been the norm during the old royal court. Perhaps in a different time she would have greeted them with all her regalia and retinue. She openly expressed that pomp and circumstance were no longer needed, now that peace had brought a new beginning for Arus.
They all smiled and nodded in agreement, and the wise lady governor added that this was the reason of their surprise visit.
As soon as the rest of the Voltron Force assembled the meeting hall, one of the governors started to explain their purpose of their visit: they came from all over Arus to relay the message of Allura's people. As he spoke, another governor quietly handed a scroll to the princess.
With a questioning look, Allura slowly opened the seal and unrolled the parchment in her hands. She gasped, her eyes widened as she re-read the scroll's contents out loud for everyone to hear: The people of Arus were beseeching their ruler to bestow Arusian citizenship upon the lion pilots. Tears welled up in the princess' eyes as she handed the scroll to the commander of the Voltron Force. The other pilots gathered behind their commander as they quietly read the document.
Before anyone could utter a word, Coran remembered that the governors had yet to be formally introduced to the Voltron Force.
Princess Allura introduced her beloved team: Commander Keith Kogane, pilot of the Black Lion; Lieutenant Lance McClain, Red Lion pilot; Sergeants Darrell "Pidge" Stoker and Tsuyoshi "Hunk" Garrett, of the Green and Yellow Lions respectively.
The four governors Lady Jiaan and Lords Braerion, Rueben and Mataso eagerly shook the hands of their planet's defenders. Both groups eventually found themselves chatting like they belonged to some old warrior society, trading stories of battles past.
Lord Rueben, unable to help himself, decided to ask the commander from which planets they came. Keith promptly replied that, apart from Pidge who came from Balto, they were from Earth. Lord Mataso couldn't place Keith's surname. He wondered why it sounded so familiar, like an old record from long, long ago. Both governors nodded quietly to each other and planned to check the archives back in their home provinces.
vvvvVvvvvVvvvv
The overwhelming sense of relief, pure joy and the need for renewal created some kind of magical contagion that spread from Arus to the neighbouring planets.
On-screen conference calls at Castle Control flowed continuously during the first few days. Each planet pledged continuous support and allegiance to Arus and to the Voltron Force. Other planets with bountiful resources showed their appreciation by sending ships loaded with generous gifts that would make other planets drool with envy.
The guaranteed peace in their sector of the galaxy had reopened trade routes that had once been suicidal to traverse. Planets that had once been isolated were now very eager to commence trade in much-needed resources that would be vital in rebuilding their worlds.
Surprisingly however, one of the very first planets to contact Castle Control was Balto, a fully-rebuilt artificial planet that rose from the ashes of war, with its population of highly intelligent ninja-scientists. Despite the great distance between Balto and Arus, the allegiance with the high-tech ninja-scientist planet was as strong as that of Arus' neighbours Pollux and Ariel.
The people of Balto were almost family to the Voltron Force, due to the fact that their Green Lion pilot was Baltan, and whose twin brother was a pilot with the Voltron Vehicle Force, stationed on the far side of the galaxy where the Drule wars still raged.
What surprised Castle Control was the expediency of the Baltan spacecraft's arrival into Arusian space. The Baltan ambassador had informed Castle Control to expect a team of their planet's best engineers, scientists and technicians, bearing the planet's latest technological equipment, designs and resources. What Castle Control didn't expect was the arrival of one massive construction frigate that began a synchronous orbit above Arus, then deployed several large ships to the planet's surface. Everyone stared incredulously at the spacecraft that promptly landed just outside the castle grounds.
The Voltron Force was on the tarmac eagerly waiting to meet the Baltan delegation.
"Like manna from heaven," Hunk quipped, chuckling to himself.
Princess Allura gave him a quizzical look.
"It's an old earth saying," Hunk sheepishly muttered, smiling as he ogled the cargo being off-loaded from the landing craft.
As the Baltan technical team arrived with their remarkably sophisticated gadgetry, Hunk and Pidge grinned ear-to-ear upon seeing how much 'tech and build stuff' their guests had brought with them.
Pidge himself felt that it was what the Terrans would say - "Christmas in July". He swelled with pride to see so many Baltans on Arusian soil. He waved, and ran to welcome his fellow ninja-scientists; some of whom he'd known from his childhood days.
vvvvVvvvvVvvvv
"Finally... peace," she whispered to herself. How is peace defined by someone who has lived a lifetime of war, destruction and death? Princess Allura, who recently turned twenty-one, asked herself. How does one celebrate something for which we have long dreamed and yearned?
Allura had not yet fully come to terms with where she was now. She had yet to consciously embrace this unfamiliar quietude and the absence of persistent battles. To the Crown Princess of Arus, peace was like a flower bud that tentatively emerged from the ashes of chaos and devastation. She had constantly asked herself over this first week: how does one hold such a beautiful, fragile thing, fearing that it may easily be crushed or destroyed?
Allura continued the pace to which she had grown accustomed throughout her young life: she thought of her people first, their safety and wellbeing came ahead of her personal needs. Allura was so hands-on with rebuilding, she even actively oversaw and participated in the various ongoing town planning processes.
An orphan herself, Allura prioritised the proper management of orphanages across Arus. Firmly believing that the orphanages needed to be supervised and managed well, she appointed her nanny to head this endeavour. Fortunately for Allura, this pet project was something her nanny had dreamed of doing, apart from mollycoddling her royal charge.
With all these new events that quickly unfurled one after another since the war had ended, the battle-weary princess had yet to relax and enjoy this new chapter in Arusian history. There was so much to do. She kept telling herself that she couldn't stop now. Allura fervently tried to push aside the exhaustion that threatened to engulf her.
"—so, what do you think, Allura?" Lance asked.
Allura snapped out of her reverie and brought her awareness to the present moment. They were in a middle of a meeting with the Baltan head engineers. She was standing with Lance and Keith, surrounded by the engineers, as they pored over the castle's blueprints.
The Baltans had proposed numerous upgrades for the castle and appeared to be very well-versed in its inner workings.
Allura smiled sweetly. "My apologies, gentlemen. I believe your suggestions are commendable. I shall review these items and give you my decision by this afternoon," she replied with air of diplomacy that was second nature to her.
A concerned look crossed Keith's face. He saw how Allura tried to hide her stress away. He knew something was amiss. He gave Lance a quick nod.
Lance then prompted their guests to join him at the castle's main dining hall where a luncheon buffet awaited everyone.
"A word please, Your Highness," Keith formally said to the princess, as Lance and the engineers left the meeting room.
Allura paused and nodded, thankful to have a bit of a break before lunch started. As soon as the door was shut, the veneer of formality instantly vanished. Allura let out a loud exhausted sigh and plopped down heavily on the couch at the far side of the briefing room, in a decidedly un-princess-like manner.
Commander Keith Kogane, leader of the Voltron Force, and Her Royal Highness, Crown Princess Allura Raimon, ruler of planet Arus, were the galaxy's ultimate power-glamour couple. They were considered delectable tabloid fodder.
Royal watchers across the galaxy swooned at this beautiful pair. He was the Galaxy Alliance's poster boy, and she was the most eligible princess in the entire galactic sector. They were often seen either standing together, or just looking wordlessly at each other: quiet nod here, a sincere smile there. There were very few opportunities for conversation between the two while under the unforgiving glare and scrutiny of the hungry paparazzi. If and when the Princess and her Voltron Force captain were speaking in public at all, their tones were often business-like and very respectful to one another, with not a hint of affection whatsoever.
However, unbeknownst to anyone else, a flurry of a thousand thoughts flew furiously between Keith and Allura.
An inexplicable mystical bond that linked each Lion to its pilot existed long before they were aware of this special connection, but for the future queen of Arus and her champion, their bond to each other was far greater than anyone could imagine. Words such as 'soul mate' or 'one true love' were inadequate at describing their so-called psychic and telepathic union of minds.
Perhaps, their connection could be described as a gift bestowed by the spirit of King Alfor, when Keith had professed his love for Allura and formally sought the king's blessing. Keith had pledged to King Alfor that he would love and protect Allura with his life.
"I am so sorry, Keith..." Her voice trailed off as she leaned back and laid her hand on her forehead, a migraine beginning to painfully creep in. "It's just that everything has happened so fast. It was just last week that we finally defeated Doom—"
"—and you haven't breathed yet, have you?" Keith continued her train of thought and gave an empathic smile. He sat beside Allura on the couch and opened his arms to give his precious princess a much-needed hug.
Allura laid her head on Keith's shoulder and closed her eyes. Her migraine had kicked up a notch. "How did you know?" she smiled wearily.
Keith tenderly kissed Allura's forehead and started to massage her temples with a slow and gentle rhythm. He was aware that Allura had been on a roller-coaster ride all her life and that this transition to peace was a new concept to the young planetary ruler.
"To be princess of a planet under constant bombardment by Doom, and fly Voltron's Blue Lion to defend the universe, are enormous tasks you have performed admirably well all these years since we've met." Keith began with pure admiration in his tone. "But, have you done anything for yourself lately? You know, some 'me-time' perhaps?"
The Voltron Force's usual routine had become non-existent these past few days. They had all been kept occupied wherever their help was needed. The arrival of the Baltan frigate had given the team a refreshing opportunity to reconvene and see more of each other compared to the last few days.
Allura chuckled at the thought. Me-time. "I wish. However, with all the rebuilding, the governors' unexpected visit a few days ago, and now half of Balto at our doorstep, there's so much to do," she blurted out loud, but suddenly groaned when her pounding headache threatened to push her eyes out of their sockets.
"How about a nap then?" Keith asked. He slowly stood and held Allura's hands as he gently helped her to her feet. "C'mon, princess, let's march you to your quarters. You won't be much help to us until that migraine goes away."
"Nap, huh? What's a nap?" She smiled weakly and quietly conceded, especially when the room started to spin so fast that she suddenly lost her balance. She suddenly realised that all the years of pent-up stress and anxiety, which she tried to hide behind a courageous mask as planetary ruler and Lion pilot, had started crashing down, like a giant wave ready to overcome what little energy she had left.
Keith effortlessly lifted Allura up and headed towards the door. "MedTech first?" he asked as he shot a worried look at her.
"No, I'm good. I've got meds to kick this bastard out." Allura bravely chuckled.
"Her Royal Highness has been hanging out too much with Galaxy Alliance pilots." Keith grinned at her use of the cuss words she had picked up here and there since she became 'one of the boys'. Keith took the back corridors that led to the team's residential quarters.
Allura squeezed her eyes shut, hoping that the spinning would just stop. She buried her face in his shoulder. She wished she wasn't feeling tired and unwell. With Keith holding her, he was so warm… Good heavens, she thought. She could feel his well-toned body against hers. Her heart leapt a thousand somersaults. Good thing Keith couldn't see her face as her cheeks slowly turned crimson.
"I can hear your thoughts," Keith whispered teasingly and held her tighter. She gave a little embarrassed squeak. With her arms around Keith's neck, Allura gave him a quick squeeze in return.
Arriving at the residential floor, Keith punched the entry code to Allura's stately bedroom. A gentle lingering scent of cherry blossoms greeted them, as did the soothing sounds of water from a miniature Zen fountain that Keith had given to Allura on her recent birthday. Her sunlit room proved a bit too much for Allura's strained eyes.
Keith gently laid her down on her four-poster bed, and quickly changed the room settings from a nearby wall panel from bright to dim setting. "First things first, where are those meds you mentioned?"
"Top dresser drawer, right side," Allura replied with a muffled voice. She had put a pillow over her head in a futile attempt to silence the heavy drumbeats in her skull.
With quick strides, Keith grabbed her meds and a glass of water, drenched a small face washer from the en-suite bathroom, and placed them on her bedside table. He sat down on the bed facing Allura.
"Is the room still spinning?" he asked, gently helping Allura to sit up and handing her the medication.
"Yes, and head throbbing like loud, big drums." Allura sipped from the glass and laid back on the bed.
"Are you hungry? It is lunchtime already and you haven't eaten anything since morning tea."
"I'm not hungry and I think I'm going to vomit if I move the slightest bit." Allura gasped, suppressing a reflux.
"Uh... It's not the, uh... time of the month, is it?" Keith asked hesitantly.
Allura didn't reply, mentally calculating her cycle days.
"No," she eventually said. "And no, I'm not pregnant, if that's what you're worried about." she chuckled softly. Not hearing his reply, she slowly peeped from under the pillow to see her knight blushing red up to his ears. Allura loved teasing Keith like this, when his guard was down, and when they saw each other's hearts without the scrutiny of others.
If she wasn't in such pain… Keith's thoughts began heading south… Stop. Do. Not. Go. There. He blinked and brushed his mischievous thoughts aside.
:: At ease, commander :: she grinned. She had read him straightaway.
"You're funny, Allura," Keith sighed, his deep voice thick with emotion.
:: I love teasing you, Kogane ::
:: and I see you're enjoying it immensely :: Keith pouted.
"Your crown, please, your worshipfulness. That probably is giving you one helluva headache," Keith said aloud with a twinkle in his eyes.
As Allura handed him her circlet of office, Keith smoothly kissed her forehead and placed her headpiece on the bedside table.
"I have something to cool those beautiful eyes of yours," he whispered softly. She moved the pillow aside and felt a welcome cool relief as Keith laid the damp cloth over her eyelids and forehead.
He then moved towards the foot of the bed, gently pulled her white boots off and placed them on the floor. "Oh, another thing, trust me on this one," Keith cautioned Allura as he grabbed the soles of her feet. He was well aware of where Allura's tickle spots were, and the soles of her feet were his usual prime targets.
"Eep." She squeaked, bracing herself for a tickle offense, but none came. Instead, Keith was gently working her soles of her feet, with his thumbs pressing on specific points. "Um, Keith, what are you doing?"
"Shhh, just relax, Allura. It's called acupressure," Keith replied soothingly.
"Another hidden talent of yours?" she teased. A wave of calm swept through her. Whatever Keith was doing, it was like a zap of electricity through the nerves that spread from her toes to her head. Each pressure point helped diminish the nagging throbbing migraine down to a headache. Allura yawned, her eyes fluttering shut.
"Better?" Keith asked, patting her feet.
"Uh-huh." A welcome wave of sleep slowly blanketed Allura, and her breathing grew calm and steady.
:: Rest well, my princess. We'll see you later. No rush. :: He lovingly kissed her forehead. Keith silently rose and unhurriedly headed towards the door.
:: Thank you, Keith. I love you ::
Keith smiled as he paused at the door, and looked back to see Allura already in a deep sleep.
:: I love you too, Allura ::
Bonded telepaths needed no words.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
Thankyou for reading my revised fanfiction. Would love your feedback (again) for this version. If you have left a review previously (when it was originally published in 2012-2013), you can still leave a review as a guest. Thankyou for your continued support! :D