AN: This is the last chapter of the pre-shallurtis. I still have ideas around these three but this will conclude the setup.:)

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"Allura."

Tired and on the verge of collapsing completely, Allura opened her eyes halfway. If she wasn't already on her knees seeing her parents in the Void might have dropped her down.

"Mother," she breathed out shallowly, "father."

"Oh, darling." Queen Melenor dropped down to Allura, making her skirts floof out. "How you've suffered so."

Her mother had died when she was young. Being in her warm, loving embrace again made Allura's eyes water. Her father leaned down and kissed her forehead.

"Juniberry."

Allura was crying now. "It's done, father."

Melenor stroked her hair. "And how brave you are, my beautiful child."

"I'm so sorry it came to this," Alfor dropped down to embrace both of them. "But it will not be a one way gift Allura. I promise."

"Father?"

"We can send you back to your reality," Melenor softly murmured. "Or you can come with us, if that is your wish." She pulled away to look at her daughter face to face. "But I feel the latter is much too soon. You found a family."

"...I did." Allura rested her cheek on her mother's chest. "I have."

"And there's Coran."

"Heavens yes," Allura shut her eyes tightly. "And our people."

"That sounds like a decision," Melenor lightly smiled.

"I'm sorry," Allura sighed. "But I can't go with you yet."

"Quite frankly," Alfor grinned. "I wasn't going to let you come with us. You have an entire life to live still."

"Alfor!" Melenor tutted. "It's still her choice."

"I am being honest!"

"Oh father," Allura leaned into his hand. "I'll miss you. Both of you."

"You can see us anytime," Melenor kissed her cheek. "In your dreams and in the stars."

"And in your heart," Alfor tightly squeezed them.

Warmth surrounded Allura as her parents' quintessence came around her, wrapping her in a blanket of security. Her eyes started to droop with sleep.

"I...Love..."

"You," her lips mumbled in sleep.

"Princess?"

The voice made her stir.

Her white lashes fluttered as she awoke from her nap. The smell of the overhead blossoming tree drifted down to her. There was a whole grove of cherry blossom trees on New Altea. A gift from Shiro, personally relocated and replanted - with Colleen and Coran's help.

The side of her neck throbbed from the awkward position. Her tablet was still on but had fallen to the side. Reading outdoors had been a good idea. Taking an impromptu nap with no neck cushion had been a terrible one. She softly groaned as she straightened up. A blanket was on her. She hadn't brought one with her.

"I thought you might like a blanket," Curtis gave a friendly smile.

"Thank you. It was appreciated."

There was a moment of silence. Curtis' navy jacket shifted with the light breeze. Some of Allura's hair was caught in that same wind. Some blossoms fell down and rested on her hair. Curtis felt some warmth inside and then cleared his throat.

"Well, I'll just let you get back to -"

"Stay." Allura released the sleeve of his jacket with a light blush. "Please. I've been meaning to speak with you."

"...Ok."

He picked up her tablet and then sat down. He eyed the text inquisitively before handing it back to her.

"How are you liking Hansel and Gretel?"

Allura looked down at her tablet. The text was still in Altean translation. She leaned forward a little with wide eyes.

"You can read Altean?"

"All of the Atlas crew can. The information Commander Holt brought to the Garrison required we learn Altean." He smiled as her ears twitched in silent excitement. "But we can only read and recognize the text. I'm working on speaking it."

"Shiro can help you," Allura murmured. "Although he started to learn on our travels, he gained my language knowledge as a side effect to being in my body."

"When you pulled him out of the Black Lion," Curtis nodded in understanding. "He is helping when he can." He chuckled a little. "Romelle started to teach me but then Coran stepped in right away."

Allura's smile widened. "Romelle mispronounces older Altean phrases."

"All of the Alteans do," Curtis lightly shook his head. "Coran has mandatory language classes to try to fix that."

"Oh Coran." Allura tittered behind her hand. "He can't expect nothing to have changed in ten thousand decapheobs."

"Especially with language, which is fluid and prone to change over time."

"That is true." She looked down at the text. "Perhaps it is Coran and myself that need the language classes."

"That could help. But there's also nothing wrong with wanting to preserve your culture."

A shadow came into her eyes. "It's a problem when it risks lives."

"Princess?"

She blinked and the shadow passed. "Just Allura, please. Unless the occasion calls for formalities."

"Oh." He folded his hands over his crossed legs. "May I ask why?"

She ran her fingers over the tablet to shut it off.

"Do you know that Alteans believe in Essence Bonds? It's quite similar to Earth's soulmates."

"Oh." He felt the flush returning. "Is this about kissing you? I-"

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek. He was certain the flush was clearly visible despite being in the shade and dark skinned. He looked directly at her. There was a blooming pink on her cheeks accompanied by a smile.

"Unlike Earth's," she continued on, "we believe that an Essence Bond can be between more than two people. It all depends on how the essence had divided in the beginning. Some people find one part. Lucky ones find all the parts." Her eyelids lowered. "The unfortunate never find even one."

"...That would be unfortunate."

"Yes." She bit her lip a little and then turned to him fully. "I think we're all part of one essence. You, me, and Shiro." She tilted her head speculatively. "Adam might have been another part but I wouldn't be able to tell. In another life, perhaps-" she cut off her trailing. "Well," she straightened her shoulders, "what do you think of this?"

"It's...definitely an idea." Pause. "Why do you think we're connected? Specifically, why me? I can see how you and Shiro are. But me - I'm not putting myself down," he lightly chuckled when she frowned, "I know what I have to offer. I know who I am." He frowned. "But I'm human. Takashi - he's always been more than human even before he went into space."

"Does blood determine a soulmate on Earth?"

"I don't think so."

She crossed her arms. "Then why would an Altean Essence Bond?"

"Then what does?"

"Essence."

He rubbed the back of his neck, a habit he picked up from Shiro. "And what about people that aren't as attune to quintessence and such?"

"You may not be consciously aware, but subconsciously you are."

He quirked a dark brow. "How so?"

"Why did you kiss me?"

The red came back but he kept his face even. "It was an impulse."

"Or was it an instinct prompted by your essence reacting to mine and Shiro's?"

He folded his hands in front of his face. "Is it really that simple?"

"Why does it have to be difficult?" she countered.

His blue grey eyes stared at her unblinkingly. He lowered his hands to rest in his lap.

"Is that why you blush around me? Because of your essence reacting to me?"

"Yes," she gave him a coy smile. "As you blush around me."

"Well, you're very brave. And beautiful."

"And you're clever. Loyal." Her eyelids dropped a little. "Very dark skinned."

His hand halted on its journey to her face. "Is that like a fetish?"

"A what?"

"Uh, well, why point out my skin color?"

"Dark skin is an attractive trait of conventional beauty in Altean culture."

"So Tavo and Kinkade -"

"Are very attractive. Tavo more so because of his ears." She lifted his raised hand to her cheek. "And so are you."

He swallowed at her bluntness. "So then Takashi -"

"In Altean culture he is 'all-right,' as humans put it. But he has so many other wonderful qualities for the conventional Altean." She shrugged. "I like his skin color as well as his other qualities."

"But you just said you liked my dark skin."

"You asked about what is typical. I can like dark, light and everything in between, thank you very much."

He grinned a little. "I'm teasing you princess."

"I know." She mirrored his grin. "That's not what I asked you to call me."

"You really know what you like huh?"

"Of course I do." She tilted her chin a little. "I'm royalty." She turned her head to lightly kiss the side of his palm. "But I'm certain there are things I do not yet know that I'll like."

The look in her eyes shot a little shiver down his spine.

"I think I'm interrupting something," came an amused voice.

They looked up to see Shiro in his casual wear and Altean arm.

"You are," Allura playfully huffed.

Shiro raised his hands up. "Well don't let me stop you two." He shifted so he was standing comfortably.

Curtis shook his head. "I didn't take you as a voyeur."

"I didn't either." Shiro rubbed the edge of his facial scar. "But now I'm wondering..."

"Oh for heaven's sake," Allura lifted her hand up and crooked her fingers. "Come here."

"Yes your highness."

When he was close enough she tossed the blanket over his head. He let out a laugh and then grunted as he was twirled around and his knees knocked so he'd bend them.

"Ooph!"

Shiro pulled the blanket off. He was now lying down under the tree with Allura and Curtis on either side of him.

"Curt," he pointed at Allura, " 'Lura just manhandled me."

"I saw." Curtis looked to her. "You'll have to show me that trick."

"Certainly."

"Hey-!"

Allura moved his arm so she could rest her head on his shoulder. Curtis did the same on the other side.

"We've come to an agreement," Allura started.

"We can work this out," Curtis smiled.

Shiro blinked as they kissed his cheeks. He smiled widely then leaned over to give a kiss to each of them.

"Good. 'Cause I moved all our things into Allura's room."

"Takashi -"

"Good," Allura sighed as she placed Shiro's hand on her hip. "I wasn't looking forward to lugging things around."

"Princess - " She pinched his hand. Curtis restarted. "Allura, are you sure? We can wait longer."

"I told you, essence tells." Allura lifted her head up. "Are you unsure?"

"...I didn't say that."

"Then we're in agreement again."

"Allura's bed is ridiculously big." Shiro yawned. "Plenty of room to sleep however you want."

"I just realized. I-I do get nightmares," Allura quietly murmured. "Perhaps this won't-"

"So does Takashi."

"So does Curtis."

Shiro felt the tension ease from her.

"Alright then."

Her hand rested on Shiro's chest. She cracked an eye open to see Curtis' going over hers. They shared a smile and then closed their eyes for a nap. There were probably going to be some arguments and surprises but it was ok.

They'll face them together.

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AN: Ok so I have a headcanon that dark skin is attractive in Altean culture. Like how celebrities tend to set the beauty trend and whatnot nowadays, the Altean royals being dark skinned is what set this trait as the ideal. This idea has popped up in another story and will probably show up again.