First of all, many thanks to the reviewers, the thoughts and comments are very much appreciated. Secondly, I thought I would answer a couple of the questions for all to see so that they aren't repeated over and over again. As to my choice of writing in present tense, those that have followed my stories from the first know that I have always written in present tense. To me, a story is occurring as you read it, kind of like a movie in my head. Therefore, writing in past tense doesn't really fit that image.

I don't want to offend anyone, but a writer's style is their style I'm afraid and I wouldn't ask someone to change theirs to suit my reading habits. If I did try to change it, I'm afraid my stories would end up in a mess of grammar problems with a mix of past and present tense. So sorry to those that feel inconvenienced by it, but I don't plan on changing my style to past tense.

Next was the question of using abbreviated speech. Yes, most of the time that is used in writing and I myself use it most of the time. However, in Origins, I decided to give the royal members and some of the other members of Arusian society a more "formal" way of speaking that doesn't include abbreviated speech. You will notice Keith and the others using it, but not Allura or any other member of royalty in these stories. Again, a choice I made.

Hope you all keep enjoying the story and keep the comments coming, I do enjoy them.

Thanks!

Mertz

I make no claims to Voltron or any WEP characters.

Origins: A Legend Unfolds: Chapter 3

The sound of voices reaches through the fog in his mind. Keith groans softly then feels a soft hand against his cheek. It's gone a moment later but he can still hear her musical voice, "I think he is coming to. Dr. Gorma said he should wake up at any time." His brow furrows as he thinks, 'I've heard that voice before…but where?' However, the memory will not come to him.

Forcing his eyes to open, the light above his bed and the fuzziness in his eyes only allows him to see a blurry, blonde form above him. She moves slightly closer, the blueness of her eyes visible as she exclaims, "He is awake!"

Her form moves away and another, darker one takes her place. This time, Keith has no problem recognizing the voice with the slight accent as Sven whispers, "Keith? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, just can't see you very well, get that damned light out of my eyes," the commander retorts as he lifts a hand to block the light in his face. The room dims immediately and Keith blinks several times before he can make out the face of his second-in-command and friend. "Sven…status?"

A smile crosses the Norwegian's face as he replies, "Figures, you just wake up from your head injury and the first thing you can think of is to ask what's going on."

Keith pushes himself up into a sitting position then feels a wave of dizziness go through him, forcing him to close his eyes again. Sven's concerned voice reaches through the vertigo, "Easy my friend, that was a nasty hit you took to the head. The good doctor said you were lucky though, it's just a slight concussion."

Once the nausea recedes, the commander again asks, "Status?"

Sighing, Sven replies, "We are in the underground compound of the Storm Kingdom. They were the ones that were firing the laser blasts from the ground at the Drule ships and routed the soldiers that were trying to take us when we crashed."

Starting to nod in reply, Keith stops when pain goes through his head instead. Putting a hand to his bandaged forehead, he winces then asks, "Anyone else injured?"

"Not really…a few cuts, but mostly bumps and bruises. You got the worst of it," replies Sven as he studies the commander closely.

"I'm fine Sven," Keith retorts as that piercing gaze irritates him. He looks up to find the blonde from the woods watching him closely as well and becomes even more annoyed as he snarls, "Who the devil are you?"

Allura stiffens as those eyes that she thought were so kind in the woods now stare at her with anger. Feeling her own annoyance rising, she informs him, "I am Princess Allura of Storm Kingdom. Who the devil are you?" Knowing very well what his name is since the one called Sven had informed her earlier.

Narrowing his eyes at her tone, Keith starts to rise off the bed then becomes overcome with dizziness and sudden nausea. Lurching forward, he can feel Sven grabbing onto him even as he vomits, followed by the sound of utter disgust then a door opening and closing. He hears the humor Sven is trying to keep out of his voice as he pushes him back onto the bed then states, "I don't think you made a very good impression puking on her shoes like that…"

Shifting his gaze as the dizziness leaves him again, he can see through the observation window the princess angrily gesturing to someone in the hallway before storming away. Groaning, Keith swallows hard against the nausea still threatening him and inquires, "Where are the others?"

"Sleeping by now, I hope." The Norwegian answers as he hands his friend a glass of water. "Sip that slowly…" As Keith sips on the water, Sven continues, "When we got here, Dr. Gorma looked you over first then glanced at the rest of us. You really should be nicer to Princess Allura. She made sure we were fed, given clean clothing and rooms to stay in. I ordered the others to bed a while ago."

"I'll apologize later," says Keith as he hands back the water glass then lies back against his pillows once more, closing his eyes. Sven studies him closely for a moment more then informs him, "Well, if you are all right, I think I will find my own bed. Been a long day and it's pretty late."

Opening his eyes to look back at his friend, the commander replies, "Go, I'll see you in the morning. We need to figure out the situation…"

"Yes, I know," interjects Sven, "It can wait until tomorrow I think."

Waving his friend away as exhaustion overcomes him; Keith yawns as he says, "Good night," then closes his eyes to fall back asleep. Sven shakes his head at the commander then makes his way out of the room.

xxxxxxxxxx

Planet Doom:

Walking very quickly down the halls of the castle, Cossack enters the throne room to find the king upon his throne, drinking his wine, and the old witch sitting in her customary place behind him. Her blue cat sits upon her lap as she strokes his fur. He pushes through the minions standing about the room then kneels in front of the golden stairs leading up to the throne, "My king…"

Zarkon stares down at his third in command and narrows his eyes at him, "Cossack, why do you disturb me?"

"Troubling news," replies the Drule before he stands up once more to face Zarkon. "We had a squadron of fighters pick up a Garrison ship on their radar. They attacked it, but have not reported in since. We are assuming they were lost."

Standing up from his throne, Zarkon demands, "Where was the ship headed?"

"Planet Arus."

His eyes narrow as he turns to look back at the old witch, "What do you see?"

Nodding her head in deference as the cat jumps off her lap, Haggar picks up her staff, raises it and a crystal appears. She gazes into it silently for several long moments before saying, "Men from Galaxy Garrison. They seek the lions and Voltron."

"You destroyed that robot, witch. Do not tell me they can bring it back," snarls the Drule king as he takes a menacing step forward.

"Not destroyed King Zarkon, only broken. However, it will take more than finding the lions alone to reform Voltron…"

"I care not!" Zarkon interjects then turns back to Cossack, "I want more squadrons sent to Arus. Find the Garrison soldiers and kill them. Arus is mine and will remain mine."

Cossack nods, bows then turns about and leaves the throne room. Turning back to the witch, the king demands, "Lotor is wasting his time with that whore for a princess on Planet…" he pauses, unable to think of the name.

"Po…"

"I don't care what planet!" Zarkon interrupts her response, "Tell him to finish the treaty and get back here. I do not trust Cossack to do the job correctly." He picks up his goblet from the side table beside his throne and takes a deep drink of the blood red wine. Turning back to the old witch, he throws the goblet down at her feet, "I want those Garrison soldiers found and killed and I want it now!"

"Yes sire," Haggar replies then disappears.

xxxxxxxxxx

Awakening very late the next morning, Keith opens his eyes to find an older man standing near his bed. Tall with chestnut colored hair streaked with grey, he has wrinkles along the corners of his eyes and his mouth is mostly hidden beneath a long, bushy mustache. Dressed in a simple white shirt with a bow tie and a long, formal coat, the man smiles at him then says, "Good morning, Commander Kogane. Or since we are less than an hour away from the noon meal, perhaps I should say good afternoon?" Keith's eyebrows lift in confusion and the older man chuckles, "Sorry, I did not introduce myself. I am Coran Montrane, advisor to Princess Allura. You will have to excuse her Highness, she intended to visit you this morning, but seems to be suffering some petulance over a pair of boots."

Keith does not reply, instead he continues to lie in the bed staring at his visitor with curiosity. The advisor's eyebrows go up as he asks, "Do you need Dr. Gorma? I was made to understand that your head injury was not serious, but perhaps…"

"No, I'm fine," the commander manages to answer as he gingerly sits up on the bed. A brief feeling of dizziness slips over him but it quickly goes away. Glancing toward the observation window behind the older man to find it empty, he asks, "Where are my men?"

"Well, I have not seen them this morning yet since they left early to retrieve your gear and other supplies from your ship. However, I believe they will be having lunch with her Highness in the dining room soon." Coran picks up a bathrobe and holds it out to him. "I have come to show you to your room so you can clean up and change clothes then you may join them."

Rising slowly to his feet, Keith reaches out for the robe only for the advisor to hold it open for him. Turning around, he slides his arms in then feels it being pushed over his shoulders. Keith quickly ties the belt of the robe over the hospital gown he is wearing then turns back to hear, "If you will follow me, Commander."

Moving slowly less he becomes dizzy again, Keith follows the advisor out of the hospital room and down the hallway. He looks around as he walks down the halls behind the older man, noticing the rock wall in places as they continue to move through the compound. Occasionally they pass other men, whom Coran simply nods to in greeting. Soon they reach a series of doors along a hall and the advisor stops near one. "This will be your room for the duration of your stay. Your clothing has been put away for you. Please make use of the bathing facilities and I will be back in thirty minutes to escort you to the dining room."

Keith gives a brief nod to the older man then walks into the room. As the door closes behind him, he glances about to find a bed and a desk he could work at, with a chair in front of it. A dresser is near a set of doors he presumes is the closet. On the other side of the room is another door. Guessing correctly that it is the bathroom, Keith moves over to it.

Walking inside, he finds a door on the other side. Curious, he walks over to it and opens it to find another bedroom. Thinking, 'So much for not sharing…hope that isn't Lance's room.' Keith makes his way toward the shower as he strips off the robe and hospital gown.

xxxxxxxxxx

Thirty minutes later, as promised, Keith answers the knock at his door to find the advisor in front of him once more. Coran smiles at him as he looks the commander over. Dressed in a standard Garrison uniform of black pants and jacket with a white shirt underneath, Keith's rank shines on his shoulder where the insignia rests. He had managed to brush back his normally messy hair to make himself look presentable.

"If you are ready Commander, the others have already gathered in the dining room."

Keith nods as he steps out of his room and walks with the advisor down the hall. After three turns, they approach a set of double doors at the end of a hallway. As they get closer, the commander notices several large paintings lining the walls. Looking at them as they pass, Keith notes the regal looking men in them.

"Those are past kings of Storm Kingdom…" Looking over at Coran, the commander watches him gesture to the pictures, "These are among the few things we managed to get out of the castle before the Drule ships destroyed it." The older man glances to the side at him to add, "After they had looted what they wanted of course."

"Of course…" mutters Keith as he pauses just before the double doors. This painting contains a man with sapphire blue eyes and brown hair that goes to his shoulders, standing behind a regal looking woman with honey blonde hair and green eyes, his hand on her shoulder as she sits in a chair. The advisor stops beside him to say, "Ahh, King Alfor and Queen Moira, shortly after they wed. They had meant to have one done with the children, but it was not finished before the Drules attacked." He gestures to the doors, "Shall we?"

Stepping past the older man, Keith walks into the dining room to find his men seated around the table, talking animatedly. They stop when they notice him and Sven rises from his seat as he says, "Good afternoon, Commander Kogane."

The rest follow, however, when Keith meets Lance's eyes they turn sardonic. Ignoring him, he replies, "Good afternoon, at ease." As the men return to their seats, his eyes finally fall on the remaining person at the table. She glances up at him then looks away as if dismissing him from her mind.

Irritation fills Keith as he tries to think of her name but cannot remember it. Therefore, he simply greets her, "Good afternoon, your Highness."

Allura looks back at him, her anger over his treatment of her in his hospital room the night before returning when she notices the look of irritation in his eyes. She does not return the greeting. Instead, the princess gives him a cold stare, simply nods then looks away again.

"If you will have a seat Commander, lunch will be served."

Keith looks over at Coran to find him moving around the table and taking a seat next to the princess. Finding an empty chair in front of him between Pidge and Lance, he sits down then watches the door on the other side of the room opening. Two young women walk into the room with serving trays in hand. They move around the table, placing plates in front of the occupants then disappear from the room.

Looking over his plate to find a type of meat, some kind of vegetable he does not recognize and a thick slab of bread, Keith picks up his napkin to place it on his lap then starts eating, happy to discover it tastes delicious. He looks across the table to find Sven studying him closely. His friend smiles at him then asks, "You slept longer than we thought you would this morning. How's your head today?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Keith sees the princess look up as if interested. Ignoring her, he replies, "I have a slight headache, other than that, I'm fine."

"Vertigo?" Sven questions further.

"Only when I move too fast," he retorts then deliberately looks back to his plate to continue eating and ending the conversation. The room falls silent during the course of the rest of the meal.

Coran finishes and sets his napkin on his plate then looks across the table. His gaze moves over the men in turn, taking note of their general size and affirming to himself that they are indeed military men. He looks over at the princess to find her studying the men as well, her eyes lingering on the commander a moment longer than the rest. His lips twitch with a smile that he tries to cover by picking up his teacup.

He had heard the entire story the night before, how the commander had killed the Drule soldier that had threatened Allura, to the end of the night where he had insulted her then vomited on her boots in MedTech. She had refused to go with him to check on the man that morning, saying that she did not have another pair of boots to spare. Coran had chuckled at that comment only to receive a glare for it before the princess had left the room. He sighs as he thinks, 'Irritated with him or not…Allura finds the man attractive.'

Once the men had set their napkins down as well, Coran clears his throat, "Commander, your men did give us a small amount of information last night. However, we are wondering when will more Garrison men arrive?"

Keith stiffens slightly then gives the others a look, warning them to remain silent. Looking back at the advisor, he replies, "We are the only men Garrison is sending. Surely Admiral Graham informed you…"

Shaking his head, Coran sighs, "We have occasional trouble with communication outside of Arus. Currently a solar storm is blocking communications with Earth. We heard nothing and were not even aware you and your men were being sent." He pauses when he hears movement by the door leading to the kitchen. Grimacing, he stands, "Perhaps this conversation is better suited to a more private room."

Allura looks up at him confused as she stands as well then notices the advisor glancing back at the kitchen door. Irritated, the princess gestures to the men, "If you will follow me, there is a conference room we can use instead."

As she leads the way out of the room, Keith pauses to look over at the kitchen door in time to see it move slightly. Grimacing at the implication that the people here might not be trustworthy, he turns around and walks with the advisor out of the room. They walk down the hallway and turn into another corridor before reaching a door. The princess opens it and steps inside, followed by the other men.

Taking the first seat at the end of the table, Coran sits down then waits for the others to sit down before he looks over at the princess. She meets his eyes then nods while sitting back in her chair. When she turns to look across the table at the new commander, Coran clears his throat, "Gentlemen, while we are glad you are here, we thought there would be more of you."

Resisting the urge to scowl, Keith replies, "We are a specialized team, created just for these types of situations. Galaxy Garrison feels we are quite capable of helping you."

"Quite…" Coran retorts dryly.

Allura glances between the men then clears her throat, "We had hoped for weapons and more fighters. Not to impugn you or your men, but I fail to see what five men alone can do."

"We are here to survey the conditions of Arus and provide what coverage we can, Princess…" Keith pauses while searching his memory for her name.

"My name is Princess Allura, daughter of the late King Alfor of Storm Kingdom," she haughtily informs him, guessing correctly that he had forgotten her name and feeling affronted. She tilts her head back slightly as she raises her chin, her gaze frigid.

Gritting his teeth to stop himself from telling her what he thinks of her title, Keith replies, "My apologies Princess Allura. I was a bit out of it when I woke up last night and didn't remember your name."

"We can appreciate that Commander Kogane," Coran replies when Allura does not immediately answer him, her irritation with the commander over the results of that meeting, a ruined pair of soft leather, black boots and the fact that he had forgotten her name still visible on her face.

"Do the lions still exist?"

Pidge's voice breaks into the conversation and Keith sighs then shoots him a disgusted look. Turning his attention back to the advisor, he states, "Sorry, when it comes to all things mechanical, Pidge and Hunk are like a couple of kids in a candy shop. I guess I should be surprised they managed to stay quiet this long when they've been discussing the possibilities of the lions since we heard about them."

Fighting to keep a smile off his face, Coran looks over at Allura to find her equally amused, her earlier irritation gone. She nods at him and he turns back to the eager face of the one called Pidge, "Yes, they do."

As Hunk and Pidge share an excited look, the advisor continues, "However, there is a slight problem."

"And that is?"

Coran does smile at this; even the commander sounds eager now and is sitting up more in his chair. "Well, you will have to understand a few things first. The lions are a mixture of science and magic."

"Magic?" Lance sits forward, his expression cynical as he arches an eyebrow at them.

"Yes, magic," repeats Coran as he turns back to the others. Sven reaches over and hits Lance in the arm in warning as the advisor continues, "The Royal Houses of Arus all possess magic, they have for eons. The king of each kingdom was in charge of a lion. That lion used the natural resource of the kingdom they were a part of as its energy source. Red lion belongs to the Fire Kingdom. Green lion, the Wind Kingdom, Yellow lion, the Earth Kingdom, Blue lion the Water Kingdom and of course, Black lion belongs to us. In order to operate a lion, however, a key is needed."

"Do you possess the keys?" This question came from the second-in-command, who had been quiet up until that point.

"Yes and no," the advisor replies as the glances across at the princess.

As the men look around confused, Allura interjects, "When Haggar split the lions in that last battle, they fell back to the planet and returned to their lairs. However, the keys all disappeared from them. Each key, to our knowledge, is now in a chamber off the lair of the lion. In order to gain the key, a man must prove himself worthy of the lion."

"I'm guessing that hasn't happened yet," Keith sighs as he slumps dejectedly in his seat once more.

"Not in ten years Commander, and believe me when I say, many men have died trying to get those keys," Coran states solemnly as he looks about the table at the varying expressions of the other men.

"How do you know for sure that they are even there?" Pidge asks as he studies the advisor closely.

"We were…informed…of it," evasively Coran states then quickly changes the subject, "In order to gain the key, the seeker must face a trial. Only the worthy man will attain the key."

"So what are the trials?" Hunk asks and Allura quickly looks over at him to reply, "We do not know. Only the man that enters the chamber to attain the key would know and none have returned."

"We have a theory however."

The men all look at the advisor as he gestures with his hands, "Each king valued something different, a trait if you will, in the men he surrounded himself with. It goes without saying that the trial most likely has something to do with that trait." As the men continue to look at him in a slightly confused way, he says, "Things like intelligence, bravery, determination, strength or discipline."

Keith barely keeps from rolling his eyes as he looks over at the others. Lance is openly showing his skepticism, while Sven sits quietly, his expression showing nothing of his thoughts. Hunk and Pidge had put their heads together and seemed to be discussing the possible trials. Sighing deeply, he looks back at the princess and notes that her eyes are the same color as her father's from that portrait. Quietly, her eyes move from one man to another, trying to read their reactions. When she finally meets his gaze, her cheeks redden slightly, but her gaze does not waver as she arches an eyebrow at him in challenge.

Clearing his throat and looking away, Keith decides to change the subject and asks, "What is the status of the other kingdoms?"

"Even we are not entirely sure of that, Commander." Coran sighs deeply as he sits back in his chair. "We have minimal contact with them and in one case, none at all." He glances at the princess, who looks away, then continues, "You have to understand that when Arus fell, it was up to each kingdom to see to the evacuation of their own people. Here, we got many people out, but other kingdoms were not as lucky. The survivors are a suspicious lot and I am afraid that suspiciousness is what has kept them alive. Outsiders to a kingdom are not welcome; therefore our knowledge of them is limited."

Rubbing his face in a tired sort of way, Keith quietly replies, "That's understandable…"

"May I ask, how did you come about these caverns?"

Sven's question pulls everyone's attention away from the commander. This time the princess answers, "The tunnels between the lions' lairs and the kingdoms have existed for ages. However, the story goes that my great-great grandfather had a vision of a time when Arus would be overrun with invaders. He ordered that an underground base be built and encouraged the other kings to do the same." She falls silent for a moment before she finishes, "Not every kingdom did."

Silence echoes in the room for several long moments before Keith sits up again, "All right, first we need to get an idea of the situation here. Then we need to establish some kind of contact with the other kingdoms. I want to know how many survivors are at each location, what kind of weapons they have available and if perhaps, they know more about these trials to attain the keys than you two do."

"But Cap…the lions!"

Keith looks over at the earnest face of Pidge, he sighs as he states, "We need to understand the situation better before we just walk into it."

"You can see the Black lion, Private Stoker," interjects the advisor as he smiles at the teenager, "Without the key, you cannot do much, but you are welcome to take a look at it."

Sharing an excited glance with Pidge, Hunk asks, "Can we go now?"

Allura smiles at their enthusiasm as she replies, "Of course."