It has been three years since the Lions went into storage and the pilots have left Arus. Life is moving on for everyone.
The Interlude
Allura looked at the clock in her room at the Arusian Embassy on earth, and realized that Lance would be here to pick her up soon. Sky Marshall Wade's daughter was getting married and Allura was attending the wedding, with Lance as her escort. She was looking forward to catching up with him, since it had been six months since he had been to Arus. She looked at herself in the mirror, as Dorcas attached the tiara to her upswept hair. Dorcas was her full-time maid now, as Nanny was busy with Larmina. Allura smiled as she thought about the rough start they had had with Larmina, and how far she had come. Allura knew it was due to Nanny; she had been too busy trying to run Arus.
Allura watched as Dorcas put the last pin in, to hold the tiara. It was set with gold roses and alternating square cut emeralds. It echoed the design of the necklace, while her bracelets were gold roses with a square cut emerald clasp; the earrings were small emeralds framed by miniature gold roses. It had been one of her Mother's favorites, and she always felt close to her when she wore it. Her dress had a teal green velvet top, with small cap sleeves and a rounded neckline, cut suitably high. The floor length skirt was gold satin underneath, overlaid with sheer teal silk embroidered with roses in dark teal green. There was a knock on the door and a footman entered "Commander McClain is here, Your Royal Highness" he said.
Lance was waiting in the Drawing Room, having been left there by an overdressed footman. He was glad to see that some things never changed; Arus was still holding true to mid-19th century court protocols. He decided not to think about that last time he had been here. Allura came into the room, and smiled at him "your full dress uniform? For me or your ex-girlfriend?" She asked. He gave her a hug, and received one in return. "You are never going to let me forget that are you?" He asked, and went on "I probably deserve it, as you did warn me about her." When Lance first started teaching at the Academy he and Grace Wade had dated steadily. Only when she started hinting about marriage did he realize what a mistake he had made. He had been concerned that Sky Marshall Wade would demote him, but luckily Grace had moved on to someone else. The same overdressed footman came into the room and announced that the car was ready.
Riding in the back seat of the Limousine, Lance and Allura talked about inconsequential things. The chauffer, and her body guard, in the front seat did not give them any privacy. They arrived at the Galaxy Garrison complex; the wedding was being held in one of the large reception areas there. After the ceremony, Lance and Allura went into the dining area, and found their table. It was a while before they had the chance to talk. Lance had to admit that she looked good – well rested and not so thin. Obviously her vacation on earth had been good for her.
"I have to say that while I like what you are wearing, Hunk sent me pictures from his nephew's wedding. That was some dress!" Lance exclaimed. Hunk's nephew's wedding was almost a month before Grace's so Allura had been able to attend it. "I was attending that wedding as a private citizen; now I am the Crown Princess of Arus" Allura said. "I heard that Hunk went up several notches in his brother's estimation by having you as his escort" Lance said. When Allura had heard about the wedding, and remembering what Hunk had told her, on that long ago morning, about his family, Allura had offered to come with him. She had worn a long, blue satin dress, with very thin straps and a deep neckline. The fabric clung to her body like water, and reflected light. Her gold hair was partially pulled up, with the rest hanging down her back. Allura had loved the look on Hunk's brother's faces when they walked in together.
"And tell me about what you and Pidge did?" Lance asked, as he pulled his chair close to her. Allura laughed and said, "Oh we travelled around – we went to London, Amsterdam, and Berlin. I saw lots of things I would never have seen if I had gone as the Crown Princess." Allura had a few qualms about not telling Lance the whole story, but Pidge had stressed the need to keep his secret. After he had told her about DJ Prong and The Stereolactics, and the clubs they were going to play at, Pidge had her get earth clothes, and put colored streaks in her hair. She felt a little funny in the short skirt and skimpy top; even though she was more covered than some of the girls at the clubs they went to. It was so different from her world, but it had been nice to be able to just be a normal girl. She still laughed when she thought about Pidge explaining to her what some guy had meant when he said that she was 'smoking hot'. Allura had also been impressed with the way Pidge could take sounds that you wouldn't think would go together, and turn them into something magical.
Allura appreciated how Pidge had seen to it that the trip would have nothing to do with Voltron or Arus. Pidge, and Hunk, had been home so often to help with the rebuilding. Pidge also seemed to make a lot of short quick visits – Allura had figured out that he was doing them under the radar, to help Arus. When he had explained his secret to her, and then said that he wanted to spend time with her, just as her, she had been touched. In her current world, very few people cared about her as Allura, only has the Crown Princess of Arus.
At that moment Grace and her husband took to the floor, for the first dance. Allura looked at her and envied her the happiness that glowed on her face. Lance was watching Allura, and noticed the wistfulness in her eyes. "What are you thinking Allura?" he asked in a quiet voice. "That she has something I never will" Allura admitted honestly. "You'll get married; I bet you could even be married by next month if you wanted to!" Lance declared. "Not marriage! I have to get married by my 25th birthday so I can inherit the throne. No, I mean love." Allura said, in a voice that said he should have understood what she was talking about.
"You don't think you will find love?" Lance asked, amazed that someone like her could even think that. "It is not simple for me, Lance. I don't have the freedom that Grace does. No matter what, Arus has to come first with me, and from what I understand about men, they like to come first." She explained with a sad smile, and went on "I will do my duty, and hope that my husband respects me." "You certainly make marriage sound exciting" Lance said, shaking his head. "I think you will find someone who loves you, and loves Arus" he said, and went on "and if you don't by your 25th birthday, I'll marry you. Quite frankly, I'll make a lousy husband, but do understand about you and Arus." Allura smiled at him and said "You just want to be King!" At that moment a waiter came around passing champagne, which he offered to Lance and Allura. The both took one, and Lance raised his glass "Allura, I would like to propose a toast. I predict that on your 25th birthday I'll be toasting you and your loving husband!" Allura raised her glass, and clicked it with his, while laughing. A photographer happened to capture the image, and it was one of the ones that appeared in an article about the lavish wedding.
In the smaller, more remote planets of the galaxy, it sometimes took several weeks for the various news feeds to make their way out there. On a small planet, orbiting Gemini VI, a scruffy man walks into a bar and settles in the corner. While trying to drink a bottle of fircian ale, he looks through the news feed from earth. The pictures of the wedding, and one in particular caught his attention. As Keith looked at the picture of Lance and Allura his heart contracted, and a look of pain washed over his face. Three years ago the decision he made seemed like the right one, but now, after the dead ends of the last year, that picture was the last straw.
He had never asked Pidge or Lance about Allura, on the few occasions they talked; he was too afraid to find out that she was married. He was thankful for the resources Pidge arranged for him, along with the support from Lance, and knew that he had to find Black Lion. He thought it was ironic that it was his Lion that was banished from Arus, as he had banished himself from Allura. In looking at that picture, he realized that he still loved her.