The Dark Emperor Ascends- Chapter Two
Note: In the episode "It'll Be A Cold Day", remember how Romelle is suddenly passed out in the prison cell? In the Japanese version, Lotor had to hit her in the back of the neck to knock her out. Just wanted to let anyone who didn't know this know so there will not be any confusion at the reference! Also, before Lotor threw Romelle in the pit of skulls in a later episode, he dragged her by the hair and was pretty violent, going so low as to punch her as well, which was edited down for Volron in America. Sincline, Lotor's original counterpart, was pretty evil, huh?
The M rating comes into play, with some adult language and mature content, beginning in this chapter.
Once again, I do not own Voltron, etc.
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"Allura, Allura!" Keith kept repeating. He ran a hand through his hair in disbelief and took some deep breaths, trying to wake himself up from this obvious nightmare. But when nothing changed, he knew it had to be real. But how could it be? Lotor had been able to get onto the roof of the palace without anyone noticing a thing. The only reason they'd all ran to the roof was when they'd heard Allura screaming. She felt silly for her fear...and we all tried to tell her there was nothing to worry about. How stupid could we have been to try to convince her not to worry? Everyone was motionless, their eyes to the ground. Nothing could be heard but the sound of the wind whipping around in the distance. Keith was beginning to lose patience. Standing around in shock wasn't going to get anything done. Lotor's ship got closer to Doom every moment.
"Sven, fly the Blue Lion! We need to form Volt-" The words weren't even out of his mouth when Sven seized the front of Keith's suit.
"How the hell could ask you that of me after what's happened?! Oh God-" Keith was startled by the appearance of tears streaming down Sven's cheeks. "Don't you understand?!" he screamed into Keith's face. "She'd dead!" Keith was stunned into silence as Sven continued to wail. "I was going to pop the question tomorrow- I was going…" He sank to his knees and sobbed into his hands, covering his face. Everyone else stood staring in complete silence, too overwhelmed and bewildered to say anything.
Finally, Lance spoke. "We can try it without Voltron- all of us who can go, should go. We have to stop Lotor. Follow me if you're able."
Keith instantly stepped forward.
"Yes," Lance said now, his voice soft. "Of course you would be able, Commander."
Keith gave him a dark look. No one knew more than Lance how much Allura meant to him.
Hunk stepped forward as well but Pidge murmured, "I'll stay with Sven until we're both ready to follow."
Keith nodded. "We'll keep in contact. Tell us if you hear anything." He suddenly became aware of Coran's heated gaze and turned to him expectantly. But Coran simply said, "Go. I will see to things here." Nanny sniffled and said, "Please, Commander. Go to her before it's too late!"
Keith, Lance, and Hunk headed out, leaving Sven with his face buried into his knees. Pidge looked woefully out into the moat, a single tear falling from his eyes as he blinked.
"How the hell did this happen?" Lance kept repeating as the trio rushed down the hallway. "How did we not detect Lotor?"
"Something is wrong." Hunk looked around the control room. "And I get the feeling that it was no mere accident that our equipment didn't pick up anything." He inspected the control console. "It's no wonder. Nothing is working." He touched every button with no response. The viewing screen also remained dark. "Everything was fine earlier…it must have happened while we were meeting with Coran."
"But why didn't we hear anything, then?" Keith was looking at the rest of the equipment. "With the meeting room so close, you'd think…"
"The guards didn't hear anything either, apparently. I don't know how they did it, but they got us." Lance sighed in frustration. "That's why Lotor stayed out of sight for so long. He planned it all from the very beginning."
Keith's fists were clenched. That bastard was planning to take her all this time and he thinks we're not going to do anything about it? "There's no time to talk about this now. Let's go!"
-
Allura stood in the corridors, deep within the palace of Doom. She stood idly, staring ahead of her at the dim hall , her face pale and drained. She'd already tried to escape three times. The first two times, Lotor himself had dragged her back. The last time, the guards had caught her, in Lotor's absence. She'd nearly fainted at the feel of their scaly hands against her skin. "Fresh meat!" They had laughed viciously, physically tossing her from one to the other like she was a ball, and they cackled as they played catch with her tender, innocent skin, howling in amusement as she cried out in fear.
"Stop that," a Doomite had called to them. "She is for our King and no other." They'd decided to lock her within the confines of the royal corridor, Lotor's own personal sector of the palace, where no one else tread without his expressed permission. Her hands were now placed within chains in front of her, binding her tortuously. They were going to tell him that she'd tried again.
Allura had cursed herself numerous times already for not getting dressed upon getting out of bed earlier back on Arus. Roaming around in Lotor's own wing of the castle in only her nightgown and a flimsy robe made being on Doom ten times worse. She swallowed as she recalled Romelle, who had been so distraught over the idea of being taken by Lotor again that she'd actually fallen to her death by choice. Is it really so terrible that she would have chosen that? Allura thought. She herself knew that this was an option she could never choose. What about Arus?
Dismally, she stared down at her bound wrists, the cold yet searing metal. It frustrated her that she was now a slave-she, the princess, the near-Queen shackled like any common prisoner. The portrait of a woman caught her eye on the wall. Blonde, blue-eyed. Beautiful. Why was there a portrait of a human woman here? She was too dazed to give the matter much thought. She looks like Romelle, Allura thought to herself somberly. And as many said Romelle in turn, looked like Allura. Now Allura wanted to know who this third girl was and why she had shivers travelling up and down her spine as she stared at her eyes. Somber, she slowly tore herself away from the portrait. Again, she could not get the image of Romelle's desperate face as she let go. Why did you let go, Romelle? Allura's face twisted into sorrow as she threw herself onto the bed in the room she had been given. Why?
-
The wind hit so hard, resisting Romelle's body as she was hurled down so many feet into the moat. Many thoughts crossed her mind as she tore through the air, Allura's scream echoeing through her ears. The fall just seemed to take forever and she'd had much time to think. Firstly, that cold, horrid day branded itself in her memory. In the cell, she'd pressed her body into the wall behind, trying to move her body away from the crown prince of Doom. No, she'd thought as he reached for her. Not like this! She wasn't going to let him force himself on her without a struggle. He'd had to hit her in the back of the neck for her to finally stop fighting. She'd blacked out completely. And when she woke up, it had been too late to stop anything. She felt searing pain as he thrusted into her, repeatedly pounding into her body. She had been inconsolable, in disbelief that this was even happening; she'd always wanted to be virtuous, the same quality Allura was known for, as well as for the sake of her prospects as the princess of Pollux. She'd always thought she would fight to the death for it. But Lotor had managed to get around that sheer will by putting her into the ultimate state of vulnerability. He taunted her with vile words, rebuking her for weakness and his own triumph over her. Romelle had wept then, her dignity gone. Lotor smiled in pure elation when he was done, rolling onto his side to face her. He was so smug, his whole body and manhood out in the open.
"You're not as good as Allura," he said then, tracing her lips as the tears poured freely from her eyes, in silent agony. "But you'll do. At least in the meantime."
Her body had ached, not only where he'd been inside of her, but from the grip he'd had on her shoulders, so hard those fingers seemed to pierce through her flesh. He did the same thing, again and again. She had been left sprawled in a battered heap on his bed. The worst was that he pretended she was Allura, to increase his own pleasure. Each time he pulled back and looked at her face he seemed disappointed. At some reminder of her, he would be aroused again. But Romelle couldn't blame the princess of Arus for Lotor's perverse wickedness. She continued to hope that Allura, her innocent relative, would never have to endure such a fate.
Then she'd been sent back to her cell, where she'd collapsed. Eventually, she'd pressed her companions to attempt escape. She'd tried to stab him only to be recaptured again. She'd wanted to kill him, tear him to pieces for the death of her father and his violation of her. Even later, at the threat of death, she refused to submit to Lotor. At one point, her harsh words caused him to beat her. She'd never forgotten the sensation of blood and pain, fresh across her face. No one had ever treated her so badly before, but the prince of Doom was willing to attack anyone who crossed him. Not long after, he'd dragged her by the hair and thrown her into the pit of skulls. As she was now, she had tried to forget him, forget his invasion of her body and the vicious beatings. But that resolve could not last forever. The past had caught up to her, after so long of giving chase. She could never get over what had been done to her. And she wanted that pain to end.
And yet:
"Sven…" The name came softly from her lips during the fall. He'd helped soothe the pain so much. He was the only reason she hadn't collapsed. But as Lotor had stood above her and Allura and said he was taking them both, that screaming pain had burst through her once again. She could not even begin to fathom submission. Her and Allura being led to Lotor's castle. He would make Allura his wife, Romelle his concubine. Bile rushed into her mouth as the pursuit ensued. Allura, dear heart, held her hand so tight, refusing to let her fall. But the thought of Lotor conquering her again was too much. She had been looking down in dread, then closing her eyes weakly. She opened her eyes and above Allura's strained face and desperate expression, she could see those golden eyes leering at her. After his savoring eyes swept over Allura, he'd glanced at Romelle challengingly. Such cruelty; he would certainly do it again. Instantly, she'd let go, falling back-first toward the water. She felt guilty for abandoning Allura but she wouldn't have been able to help her anyway. She felt most regret over being parted from Sven, whom she loved more dearly than anyone she had ever known. But she had already made her decision. She held her hand up as the wind whipped her hair upwards. "Sven, Allura- goodbye." The splash had been deafening, even for Allura, who was dozens of feet above. The tossing waves had eventually settled back to normal as nothing resurfaced. Allura held her hand towards the water and tried to speak after that first scream. Her body shuddered as only horrified noises came from her throat.
A few bubbles came to the surface, in the spot where Romelle had fallen, only to dissipate moments later. Then the water was still.
-
Allura awoke; the sound of Lotor's boots against the hard, cold floor echoed throughout the corridor. Instantly she turned to hide, getting into a corner. She would never be able to defend herself with bound hands. Even with free hands, she was literally doomed. Lotor was known far and wide for his strength, insurmountable for most men- thus, especially for her. This corner was the only place suitable to avoid being detected instantly. Under the bed, in the closet. She knew those would be the first places he would look. It would only be a matter of time- short time- before he found her.
"My Princess…" the call beckoned her, resonating. It seemed to ricochet into every corner, that smug, lustful voice penetrating her fretful ears. "Where have you run off to?"
Her breathing grew heavier; she felt like someone was sitting on her chest. He hadn't hurt her yet; he'd been too busy with certain matters to take advantage of his sweet prize since the night before. But now he was ready for pleasure after a long day of work. She remembered all those times Coran, Nanny, and especially Keith had assured her that she would never be forced to endure a moment on Doom. But now here she was.
She curled up, hugging her knees . Romelle's face kept flashing into her mind, the pain of being broken by Lotor's aggression. Now she was next. Allura held back her tears but shuddered when she recalled all the times she had been face-to-face with her practical stalker. The time he'd accosted her on the bridge, a smile of prowess lighting up that faintly purple skin... When he'd actually broken into her bedroom and had her pressed up against the door, that face so dangerously close... His obsession meant that what was in store for her would probably be worse than anything he had done to Romelle.
She heard those boots trek into another room across the hall.
More questions plagued Allura as she sat, trying to quiet her breath. How had Lotor gotten on Arus without any warning? No alert had been given; nothing had been detected; the guards had seen nothing. What strategies did he have that were so covert, so amazing that he could have accomplished this? She had a sneaking suspicion that if Lotor had managed to do this, he had probably done something to stop the Force from coming after her. She wasn't so sure what had happened after she lost consciousness, for the first thing she had awoken to was Lotor nudging her that they had arrived on Doom. However, as much faith as she had in her guardians, she questioned whether they could could do much against Doom. They couldn't form Voltron...well, Sven was there, but he wouldn't want to fight after what happened. Allura shut her eyes at the reminder. She was certain that Lotor had more crafty surprises up his sleeves.
"There you are."
Allura looked up to see Lotor leering down at her, those golden irises flashing. She was still in her nightgown, the robe barely compensating for coverage. What she wore was so thin he could make out the outline of her body quite clearly.
"I hear you tried to escape again, my pretty." He knelt down beside her, those lips pursed knowingly; Lotor was perfectly aware of her fright, even if her face seemed neutral, if not just a smidge desperate. "It is quite depressing to see you in irons…to see such beauty confined is always a tragedy." Allura prickled at the obviousness of his lie; any fool could have easily seen that seeing her chained enticed him greatly.
"And yet you had no problem putting Romelle into bondage." Allura's eyes flashed, tears behind that she kept hidden. Her tone was scathing. Lotor studied her carefully for a moment, those accusing eyes burning into him. "I know what you did to her."
At this, Lotor grinned. "And you were surprised?"
She gritted her teeth at him, such was her anger. "Your actions only reflect on your true worth."
Lotor made to dive at her and she bent back, whimpering as she held her bound hands in front of her.
"You speak so boldly, with fire in your eyes. And yet you cower from me openly." Lotor chuckled, taking Allura firmly by the shoulders and forcing her to look in his face. "But I've always loved that." The declaration became a whisper as he forced a harsh kiss on her lips. This time, backed into a corner, Allura had no chance to break away. She tried to press her hands against him to push him away, but accomplished nothing. Laughing cruelly, he took both bound wrists in one hand and used the other to keep Allura from pulling away. "Tell me, Allura. Have you enjoyed your first taste of Doom?"
-
"THE LIONS WON'T MOVE!" Keith screamed in frustration as they all tried. "They're malfunctioned!" He banged his fist into the gears. "Shit! What are we going to do now?"
"Calm down, Keith," Lance said coolly. "We'll take Sven's craft."
"Then how are Sven and Pidge going to catch up to us again?" Hunk raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound like a very good plan."
"We have no other choice, Hunk," Keith panted as they all rushed outside. "The longer we wait here, the more danger Allura is in."
After they'd all gathered inside with Hunk flying, he said, "This is pretty insane. How the hell did Lotor manage to destroy all of our equipment? We didn't detect anything, view anything, and now we can't fly the lions even though they've all been within eyesight the entire time."
"This sounds like Haggar's work to me," Hunk grumbled in annoyance. "Damned witch."
"Haggar was never able to do anything like this before." Lance was grim. "How could she have obtained such power in so short of time? Something is wrong, and I don't like the look of it. God knows what else he has planned up there."
Keith let out a growl and Lance looked over at him. "Calm down. There's nothing we can do right now."
Keith said bitterly, "How can I calm down? You know what that bastard is going to do to her."
Lance sighed and contacted Pidge on his communicator. "Pidge, we're taking Sven's craft because the lions are malfunctioned. Lotor's done something to them. I need you to try to find a way to get them running again or find another craft to take when you're ready and able."
"Ok, Lance. I'll talk to Coran about the lions. Just go and get the princess back." Pidge's voice was strained and Lance could tell he was probably still on the roof comforting Sven. Sure enough, Coran's voice soon came to them. "Your mission must be as covert as possible. They will know you are coming. You're going to have to come up with a plan." Lance switched off the communicator and turned to the Commander.
"It's going to take a long time to get there in this thing. We should take Coran's advice."
"What kind of a plan are we supposed to come up with?" Keith growled. "They know we're coming and there's probably no way to get there secretly."
"Come on, Keith." Lance was disappointed. "Since when do you ever give up so easily. You're letting your emotions get to your head and not thinking straight. You know we can't just go to Doom without a plan."
Sullenly, the Commander made no reply.
Impatiently, Lance glared at him. "At least you still have Allura, Keith." And for a moment, they sat in silence. Romelle was dead, Sven was shattered, and Allura was trapped, held somewhere in the confines of her captor's palace.
Keith closed his eyes and pictured the Crown Prince of Doom, now Emperor, sitting on his throne, callously drinking wine and laughing at the torment of the Voltron Force. It had only just begun.