I do not own any of the original WEP characters.

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Diana arrived to the practice area before the others. Diana and the Phoenix flew around looping, diving and flipping.

"How do you do that?" Interrupted her concentration.

"Oh hi," Diana smiled a little shyly as she lightly touched down. "Good morning." She joined them in front of the lions.

"Can we fly her?"

"Sure." Diana answered. "Keith, why don't you take her up first?" Keith moved a little closer to her.

"I would be honored." Keith smiled.

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Soon the preparations for the ball were nearly complete. Galaxy Garrison would be helping with the security. They would be Arus's first line of defense while the delegates of many planets were on Arus.

About a week before the big event, Keith locked the door of his room. Putting on his newly tailored suit, which had originally been a gift from his mother a long time ago, he placed a call to Terra using a very old pass code.

"Yes?" a male voice answered.

"Greetings, Father," Keith began cautiously. "I was calling to see if you and mother received the invitation that I had sent."

"We did. We were a bit surprised to see it come from Arus." His father answered hesitantly.

"I can imagine why you would be. Are you coming?" he asked shyly. "I know that we have not spoken in a very long time. I deeply regret the argument that we had. I was wrong. I now know my bride to be. She does not know yet that I am her betrothed. I hope to tell her soon. And I was hoping to see mother."

"She is right here." His father zoomed out to include Keith's mother.

"Hello, Darling," she smiled her jade eyes sparkled.

"Hello, Mother." He zoomed out and stood up. "What do you think?" He asked. "Even though I was upset I kept it. I had to have a little tailoring done."

"You look handsome."

"Are you coming?" Keith repeated.

"Yes, we will be there." His father answered. "What do you think of your bride?"

"I fell in love with her when I met her at the Academy even before I knew she was my bride."

"How does she feel about you?"

"She has only ever known me by the name of Keith Sinclair. She feels the same way I do, but she has just recovered her memory that she had lost due to a combat injury and is trying to adjust to life on Arus. She has been a prisoner of Zarkon's for at least a year. So I have been waiting for the right time to tell her. I have not wanted to overburden her."

"That is understandable. I commend you on your good judgment, Son. You have the makings of a great King. Your brother and his wife will also be attending. Your sister may be able to come but we are not sure if she can be permitted to leave her school."

"I understand. I hope to see you then and I will introduce you to Diana."

"All right, son. We will see you soon." Then they signed off.

Soon the big event arrived. At dinner on the eve before the ball, Keith presented the girls with a box each.

"Oh, Keith," they gasped in unison, as they pulled the tiaras that he had had made. A blue diamond and ruby one for Diana and a diamond and pink sapphire one for Allura "They are beautiful. Thank you"

"Yea, thanks Keith." Lance mocked. "Make us guys look bad."

"I could not resist. This special occasion called for something special."

"Too bad that we could not locate your betrothed and invite him to the ball," Nanny commented dreamily missing the devastated look that crossed on Diana's face. "Then we could have celebrated two special occasions."

"Now Nanny," Coran interrupted her thoughts, briefly glancing at Keith. "Let's not push Diana too hard too fast. I do not believe that she is quite ready for that. You must remember that a lot has happened to Diana. Give her time to recover from that before you pushing this issue."

"Yes, Coran." Nanny relented. Both Keith and Diana sighed in relief.

"Let's go for a walk in the garden after dinner." Keith whispered to Diana. She nodded.

The pair held hands as they entered the garden. Looking to the stars she sighed.

Keith turned her to face and took her hands in hers. "Diana, let me go with you to the council meeting. I can help."

"I know you are the Voltron Commander and I am sure that the council will listen to you, but--"

He touched her lips with two fingers to silence her. Pulling her onto the bench with him, "I want to stand with you." He unbuttoned his cuff. "A long time ago I walked away from the truth. Please allow me to help. I have something that the council will believe." Keith pushed back his cuff and showed her his arm. Turning her wrist he placed his next to hers but not touching.

"The other half," she whispered, her eyes questioning.

"I found out a few weeks after you arrived on Arus. Allura told me about your betrothal mark. It got me thinking, so I tried it. They react together. It was the night you started breathing on your own. I have been struggling how to tell you. I love you. I can't express how I felt when I saw the reaction. I couldn't breathe. We were destined to be together. Our love was meant to be."

"Keith," Diana traced his mark with her fingernail. "We are one." She touched his cheek. Seeing the love in his eyes, her face lit up. She took his face in both of her hands. "I love you too. You are the only one that I have ever wanted to be with." With that, Keith took her into his arms and he swung her around, kissing her warmly. As he set her gently back down on the ground. "Tomorrow we will face the council together."

On the morning of the big event, Keith dressed in his Galaxy Garrison uniform for the last time. He smoothed the material making sure that there were no creases. Diana also painstaking dressed for her day. She nervously watched herself in the mirror as Nanny did her hair.

"Everything vill be fine." Nanny patted her on the shoulder.

"I hope so Nanny."

Keith left his quarters and strode with purpose to the dinning room.

"Wow, Keith!" Lance exclaimed softly. "Did I miss the memo that we were supposed to dress for breakfast?"

"No memo, Lance. I am going to the council meeting this morning." Keith's tone was tense.

"Oh, sorry," Lance was quick to realize that his teasing was not going to be well received this morning. "Wow." He whistled as Diana glided in.

Everyone turned. Diana gave them a nervous smile. Keith pulled out her chair for her. "You look beautiful this morning."

"Thank you," she whispered back.

"Coran, I am going with you and Diana to the council meeting. It is time."

"All right," Solemnly, Coran nodded his head understanding Keith's full intention.

"Lance, you since are in charge of security for tonight's ball I want you to thoroughly double check everything."

"I'm on it."

Breakfast was more subdued than usual. Diana could not make herself eat. She pushed the food around her plate. Keith took her hand "It will be all right."

Soon Coran motioned that it was time to go. Keith pushed back his chair then laid his napkin down. He held out his hand to Diana. He settled her hand into the crook of his arm. The trio moved silently through the halls. They paused at the grand double doors. "Are you two ready?" Coran whispered.

Keith gently squeezed her hand. "Yes" they answered in unison. Then Coran opened the doors.

The council members stood as they entered. Coran motioned from them to be seated. "Commander this matter does not concern you." Duke Barclay spoke indignantly.

Keith stood his ground. "I beg to differ," he unbuttoned his cuff and pushing up his sleeve to reveal his mark. Turning to Diana, he took her right hand. He held her arm against his. Together they watched their brands fully join. Keith and Diana watched as her mark began to glow blue and finally a blue and red mix as the glow transferred to Keith's arm and completed the lion, turning the completed brand gold. Then all of the Voltron lions roared together filling the silent conference room. Keith faced them "So you see this makes me directly involved."

The council was stunned and speechless. "What of your obligations to Galaxy Garrison?"

"My obligations are to Diana and to Arus. I have been released from Galaxy Garrison. My duty and heart lie here."

"I suppose there is nothing more that we can do except say welcome home Princess Diana. When do you plan on announcing that you have found your betrothed?"

"Tonight at the ball." They spoke in unison.

As they left the council chambers, Diana murmured "We must tell Allura before the ball. I know this is going to be a big shock for her with her feelings for you."

"We will do our best to soften the blow as much as we can."

"Coran will you please ask Allura to come to my room?"

"Certainly, your highness," he bowed leaving them to walk to her room.