Chapter 4

The day was, for Coran at least, understandably chaotic.

First off, he had to find ways of keeping Lance busy while breakfast was prepared, allowing the boy to 'help' without causing any damage. Then Shiro entered the kitchen in a panic, frantic that one of his charges had slipped away while the teen continued to sleep. He only got a moment's calm upon spotting Lance, though, before remembering that he'd just left Keith and Hunk to their own devices. Coran had to chuckle as Shiro darted away again. Allura arrived not long afterward, yawning and asking when the morning meal would be served. As gently as he could, Coran reminded the princess that no one would be eating until they were all gathered together - including the small child who'd been taken to bed with her the night before. The younger Altean blinked at him blearily for a moment, before comprehension and horror dawned in her eyes. It was then Allura's turn to dash out of the kitchen, nearly running into Shiro and the other boys in her haste. Coran was just getting the young paladins to take their plates to the dining hall when a quiet yawn caught his attention. Sighing, the man went up to the same ventilation cover as the day before, opening it up and pulling a still-sleepy Pidge out just as Allura returned in a greatly distressed state. She calmed upon seeing that the tiny girl was not, in fact, lost in the castle, but still received a warning look from Coran as she accepted his handing the four year old over.

Chaos. Complete and utter.

It only got worse from there.

Lance and Hunk wanted to see more of the castle, which Allura insisted she was fine to handle showing off. The two boys tried to pull Keith along with them again, only for the other boy to unexpectedly resist, desiring to stay with Shiro. In the end, to avoid a huge fight between the children, Shiro agreed to go as well, which Keith was happy with. The five of them set off while Coran both cleaned up from breakfast and kept a close eye on Pidge, who seemed to be enjoying some sort of made-up game ducking under and around the dining hall furniture. At least, that's what she was doing up until the moment Coran first turned his back, and then the girl made a break for the nearest door.

"Ah-ah!" Fortunately, the Altean had been expecting such a move, and he was quick to snatch up the child. "No, Pidge, I need you to stay with me right now."

Pouting, she scrunched up her eyes and prepared to cry.

"I'm afraid that will do you no good-" Coran winced when the piercing wails started up. By the stars, Allura had never sobbed or screamed so loudly!

When the others hurried back to the kitchen, attracted by the sound of Pidge's cries, they found the girl placed upon a countertop bawling her eyes out as Coran attempted to simultaneously cover his ears and put away the newly-cleaned dishes. Hunk immediately sprinted over, reaching for Pidge and asking what was wrong.

He yelped when Coran smacked the back of his out-stretched hand with a spoon. "None of that, Hunk, Pidge is in time out right now for attempting to run off again."

"Oh." The chubby boy sent her a sympathetic look, which only caused the smaller child to redouble her caterwauling.

"How long is she going to be in time out?" Shiro asked, hands twitching as though he too wanted to cover his ears.

"Until she stops this atrocious behavior, of course." And just like that, at Coran's words, Pidge fell silent. He smiled in her direction. "Now, see, that's much better. You're allowed to play with the others again, Pidge."

Beaming, the little girl jumped off the counter and onto Hunk's back. Startled, it took him a moment to recover, but then accepted the extra weight with a grin.

"Can we go build a pillow fort?" Lance suddenly asked.

Coran sighed. "Well, at least it ought to be easier to clean up than the food fight... Yes, alright, go on." The younger children all stampeded out with cheers, while Allura and Shiro followed a bit more sedately. Coran went back to putting away dishes.

Half an hour later, after he'd finished cleaning up the kitchen and taken some headache medication, the man went to locate his charges. After checking the different bedrooms and accompanying storage closets, and shaking his head at the lack of pillows, blankets and mattresses, Coran headed for the living room. And there found a sight he didn't think he'd ever forget.

Couch and chairs had been arranged into a square shape in the middle of the room, covered over with sheets with the gaps filled in with pillows. From within, there came the constant murmur of hushed voices and laughter, something Coran was glad to hear. Then, he got an idea...

"Ackle, grackle, frackle and fry," he growled, hunching his shoulders and taking great, stomping steps around the fort. "That's the blood of a princess, smells I!"

"Oh, no!" Allura's delighted voice reached his ears. "It's the Great Grackle Monster! He's getting ready to attack the castle! Paladins, prepare for battle!"

"ROAR!" Coran bellowed as he took hold of two of the chairs and started to shake them.

"CHARGE!" Immediately, Keith, Lance and Hunk exploded out from the fort, scattering pillows everywhere as they tackled the man. Feigning rage, Coran attempted to dislodge them by spinning around, only for Shiro to sneak up behind him and help Pidge leap onto the man's shoulders.

"Quickly!" Allura cried, also scrambling out from the pillow fort. "The Great Grackle Monster's only weakness is the power of hugs!" Her words caused all four children to cling to Coran with all their might, and he groaned, staggering about.

"No!" He shouted. "Your attack is strong, but my might is stronger!"

"Shiro!" Keith gestured for the teen to join them, so he grabbed onto Coran as well, Allura joining in a moment later.

"No- it's- too- much-!" Slowly, Coran sank to his knees, before flopping over with a dramatic groan. "I've been bested by the Paladins of Voltron! Inconceivable!"

Laughing, the children promptly rearranged themselves to pile atop him in a great heap. Pidge took place of pride by kneeling on Coran's chest and leaning forward to look him in the eye.

"Now you in time out!" She beamed. The others couldn't contain their snickers, and Coran chuckled as well.

"Yes, I suppose I am. That's what I get for attacking such a well-defended castle!"

A moment later, the real Castle's alarms started blaring.