Despite knowing how strong the princess really was, Coran couldn't help but worry when he saw the Blue Lion crash into the ocean.
Even when it had emerged and made its way towards the shore, he couldn't get himself to relax. Not until Allura was safe.
Allura may be a Paladin but she was still the daughter of Alfor and Coran had promised to protect her.
"Have I failed you old friend?"
No, he couldn't think like that. He knew Alfor wouldn't blame him for this situation.
"Rizavi reporting. The Blue Paladin have been retrieved, returning to the base"
Hearing that, Coran couldn't help but sigh in relief, the princess was okay.
He and Shiro quickly finished their job before they headed to the medical wing with Sam and Lance's family.
Romelle was already there and he sat down next to her.
"Heard anything about the princess?"
"Not yet Coran"
Human doctors had entered the room a while later and informed them about each Paladin.
Due to her being Altean and the fact that the Blue Lion had crashed into her element, Allura had some bruises here and there but no terrible injuries.
All she would need was rest.
The two had quietly entered her room and sat down on each side of her bed.
The Space Mice got off Romelle's shoulder were they had been sitting and got onto her lap instead.
"Don't worry. She'll be alright"
Coran looked at the sleeping princess and smiled.
"Her father would be proud of her"
"What was the king like?"
"Alfor was noble leader who valued peace and diplomacy over war.
-He believed that leaders must know when to make heavy sacrifices"
"Like sending the lions away?"
"Yes. He knew it was a risk to send them away but he couldn't let Zarkon get his hands on them"
Romelle looked at him and saw a sad look in Coran's eyes.
"He sounds like such a wise man. I wish I could have meet him and seen what Altea was like under his rule"
"It was beautiful. The juniberry flowers blooming outside the castle, the city surrounding it. Everywhere was a piece of technology invented by Alfor and other Altean alchemists.
-If I could see it one more time..."
"We both do Coran"
The two looked down when they heard the voice and saw that Allura was awake.
"Princess"
Allura smiled at her advisor as the Space Mice jumped onto the bed.
"Hello little friends"
The mice squeked in what Romelle and Coran believed to be happiness before they climbed onto the princess, nuzzling their faces against her cheeks.
"How are the other Paladins?"
"They will all be fine after some days of rest, said Coran
-Earth don't have healing pods so they'll have to heal on their own"
"Everyone's families are with them, said Romelle"
"Not Keith, we left Krolia with Kolivan, said Allura"
"We know princess but at least he has Shiro and that cosmic wolf, said Coran"
"I thought we agree that his name was Cosmo"
"Keith never really agree to it"
The three of them laughed a bit at the way Keith had told them that he would wait for the wolf to tell him his name rather than naming him Cosmo.
A doctor came in and checked on Allura about an hour later and Coran answered his questions about Altean anatomy when he asked about certain things they had found when examining the princess at her arrival.
A while after he had left, there was a knock on the door and Shiro came in.
"Hello Shiro, said Coran"
"Hi Coran, Romelle"
He then turned to Allura and smiled.
"I'm glad you're okay Princess"
"Thank you.
-How are you Shiro? Your fight with Sendak was quite tough"
"Nothing to worry about. Sam had a doctor take a look at me just a while ago and they said I'll be fine as long as I take it easy for the day and tomorrow"
"That's good to hear.
-Have you seen the others?"
"Not yet. I just came from contacting Krolia and Matt to inform them about what happened here.
-It will take a few quintants but they will get here"
"I'm sure Pidge will be happy to see her brother again"
"And Keith will see his mother, said Coran"
"Is anyone with him right now, Romelle asked"
"I left Cosmo to watch over him, he seemed like he didn't want to leave Keith's side, said Shiro
-But once I've seen how the others are, I'll go back to him"
"He's lucky to have you and Cosmo while Krolia is away, said Coran"
The former Paladin smiled and then excused himself since he was gonna visit the others.
Two days later.
Allura was sitting in her bed, listening to the space mice who had been running between the rooms of the Paladins.
"Did Lance really tell them that?"
The smallest mouse Chulatt made some sort of imitation infront of Platt, the biggest.
"Well, if I remember right from what the others told me, he took the warden's pet instead"
The door then opened and in came Coran.
"Hello Coran. Where have you been?"
"Just checking in on the Paladins"
"How is everyone?"
"Lance is free to leave tomorrow just like you, Pidge in about two quintants and Hunk needs to stay a bit longer since they want to make sure his so called concussion heals"
"What about Keith?"
"He still hasn't woken up. But concidering the injuries he suffered, it's understandable"
"They would all be up on their feet by now if we still had the castle and the healing pods"
"Indeed. But at least, they have their families here"
Allura nodded and she then noticed something in Coran's hand.
"What's that?"
"Oh, Lance wanted me to give it to you"
He handed it over to the princess and on the paper was a slightly childish drawing of Lance himself.
The princess couldn't help but giggle.
"That's sweet of him"
She placed it on the table next to the bed were some flowers Coran and Romelle had gotten for her was.
Romelle came a while later and had a smile on her face.
"Something happening Romelle, Allura asked2
"I was just outside and so many people from all over the galaxy has arrived"
"The coalition"
"Yes. I didn't know it was so big until I saw all the ships that arrived"
"It's good to hear they all know we're alive and back in the battle, said Coran
-We're going to need everyone in order to free the rest of the galaxy from the remaining Galra forces"
They then turned on the TV in the room just in time to see Shiro's speech.
Seeing all their allies gathered before him, Allura couldn't help but smile.
"Maybe this is a sign that this long was is finally coming to an end"
"It will princess. I'm sure of it"
The next day Allura was allowed to leave and since Lance was allowed to leave as well, he showed her a few things around the base.
"So this is were you Paladins all were before you found the Blue Lion"
"Yup. I trained to become a pilot, Hunk an engineer and Pidge a communicator"
"What about Shiro and Keith?"
"Well Shiro is slightly older than us and he was a legend around here due to his skills as a pilot. So he was a senior officer while we were cadets.
-Keith was a pilot cadet as well but wasn't allowed to stay after a little something that happened"
"I understand
-But no wonder you're all such skilled pilots"
"I guess our training helped a bit when it came to piloting the lions.
-Speaking of them, wanna head to the hangars and see them"
"Yes"
So they made their way there and as they entered, both Blue and Ren lowered their heads.
"Hey girl, Allura said and placed her hand on Blue"
A soft purr was heard in her mind.
"I'm alright as you can see. Took a little longer without a healing pod but it's okay"
She smiled as another purr was heard.
The upcoming days, Allura spent with Coran learning about earth from the other Paladins and their families while helping with rebuilding parts of the town a bit away.
She truly understood now how much the Paladins cared about their home and the people on it
Author note.
I had no idea that those mice had names except for Platt since Coran said the name in an early episode so it was helpfull that the wiki had their names.