katiewinchester87: Thank you! I hope it goes on for a long time, too. :) Sorry about the cliffhanger.
Alkirian: Muahahah! Mine is an evil laugh! Thank you for reviewing!
ally-dash.77: Oh, there's lots of Ipryn booty-kicking in this chapter! Thank you so much! Favourite author? Me? Wow! Thank you!
StarRebel6: Thank you! Here you go!
Icy Icee: Um...I spaced Pidge a couple chapters ago so I don't think I can promise you that I won't hurt her. :/ The dress has a few layers for skirts and petticoats so, light though it is, there won't be any ripping. Thank you for reviewing! :D
LaZybonez08: Thank you for waiting and for reviewing! :)
AlecGateway: *blushes and smiles* Aw, thank you! And thank you for the prompt.
Guest: (Chapter 12) Sorry for shattering you. :'( But thank you for reviewing!
Guest: Glorious suspense! Thank you for reviewing!
TMNT-Queen: She's gotten herself into a lot of trouble, that's what. *Eyes you back conspiratorially* Possible, Queen, m'dear. Very possible. Thank you for reviewing!
Madiline Magnolia: Thank you!
ChemicalX: *In Mole's voice from Disney's Atlantis* "I'm so excited!" Plausible predictions. Read and find out! Thank you for reviewing!
kelli.n.c: Aw! That's so sweet of you to say! Thank you! :)
Guest: They actually know she's a girl but yeah, she's totally going to save the day! Thank you for reviewing!
Guest: The Ipryn who found Pidge is a good guy. ;) Thank you for reviewing!
Star-The-Writer: It's amazing how introversion saves people! Thank you for reviewing!
Triscribe: (Chapters 12 and 13) D'awww! Thank you! No, really, thank you! I saw your comment and I knew I had to do a follow-up. I'm glad you loved it. :D And, yes, I'm a sneaky devil. *shrug* I think you're going to enjoy this. Thank you for reviewing!
Sparklesona: Thank you! Butt-kicking will ensue momentarily. :)
CocoMint: Well...someone definitely hides her. :D Thank you for reviewing!
Guest: In my defense, a lot of these chapters are one-shots, but I do love my cliffhangers. :) Thank you for commenting on my world-building and characters! I really wanted to see what Pidge would do without her Olkari headband. She doesn't disappoint. :) Yeah. I had fun developping the Ipryn culture. Thank you for reviewing!
Rookblonkorules: She's hilarious that way, isn't she? She hates dresses but she's definitely going to have to deal with this one. :D I just had to have her fall down the stairs and have Hunk catch her. Quick question: you said "a few brave Ipryns", can you define "a few" for me? Because I think I exceeded a few. ;) Thank you for reviewing and for the prompt!
rainbowrider1290: Thank you! Pidge doesn't hate parties, per se, but she does hate this one for sure. I hate that about chapters, truly. It's exactly how you said it: "There are not enough words left for what needs to happen!" Hopefully, this works for you. Thank you for reviewing!
Chapter 14: Formal Dress, Part II
Pidge's bayard caught in her pocket but that didn't mean she was completely unarmed. Her left hand curled into a fist but before she could punch, the Ipryn put a finger to her lips and released the curtain.
Pidge hardly dared to breathe. At least she knew that there were some here who would back her up. She had to get out of here, though. Get back to her room, fetch her armour and headband, and then come up with some kind of plan to stop a rebellion and an invasion at the same time. Oh, and she had to rescue her friends. That, too.
"Seal the exits and find her! Find the Green Paladin!"
Or not. There was no way she could make it to the nearest door in time, not when her competitors had guns and were used to running around in robes and gowns. She had to be smart about this…
Deep breaths, Pidge. Deep breaths, she told herself. First step: how many enemies are there?
She dared to peek, and her quick brain did a rapid estimate.
Twenty-six. Dang it. She had faced worse odds but she had always had Green or her team behind her. She had nothing except her bayard.
And a whole ballroom full of innocent Ipryn.
Another peek, another estimate, and Pidge felt better. Fifty-nine allies was a lot better than none.
She couldn't stay behind the drapes; the rebels would find her eventually. She had to move. She had to move now.
Trying to disturb the material as little as possible (Movement draws the eye, Lance had told her once), Pidge slid out into the open and kept low. The Ipryn who had not ratted her out glanced at her and was vaguely familiar in the dim light… The chamberlain! It was the lady who had announced and smiled at her at her grand entrance. She lifted her skirts a fraction and gestured slowly. Pidge had no time to hesitate and ducked under the wide, flowing skirt, grateful the species had large frames and that she was so small. She crouched around sturdy legs, on the balls of her feet, her bayard in one hand and her skirts bunched in the other.
She hated this dress so much right now!
The left foot tapped the floor twice, the soft shoe making no sound, and the unnamed chamberlain walked carefully forward. Pidge shuffled with her until they stopped. The darker shadow beside them alerted her to another Ipryn, and Pidge could only guess that they were conversing silently.
Yes! A foot slid beneath the dress and tapped three times.
Pidge watched, waiting, and wondered what she was supposed to do.
The foot tapped again, thrice.
With an unsure hand, Pidge tapped a finger along the foot's arch. Confirmation?
Confirmation. The foot retreated.
Purposeful strides outside of her safe-zone snatched Pidge's attention. She held her breath when footsteps drew close.
"Move the prisoners," said the Voice. Pidge really had to figure out who this rebel leader was. "Brothers and Sisters, kindly congregate yourselves in the middle of the room."
The quiet hum of pulse rifles ensured obedience, and Pidge inched along until the faint light coming in from under the hem was all but extinguished: she was surrounded.
How was she going to help everyone now?
Her legs and knees ached, her back screaming at her to stand or to at least release the tension. Pidge settled on the floor, her legs to one side, and winced when blood flowed to her toes again. It looked like she would be here for a while.
A while it was and it was stifling. Her palms slicked with sweat but she didn't dare put her bayard back in her pocket. Perspiration trickled down her neck, back, and that uncomfortable spot between her growing breasts. All the while, she heard heavy footsteps and loud whispers ripple around the crowd's edges. She hoped her friends and their majesties were all right.
The Ipryn's right foot tapped once…then twice…then once more, and the toes pointed directly to the right where a left foot slid under the skirt and lifted it carefully.
Pidge stared in growing elation. The Ipryn were helping her navigate the crowd! She would thank them properly later. For now, she brushed the ankle of her rescuer before laying down and pushing herself under the new skirt.
Robes. The design was distinctly different but Pidge couldn't find it in herself to be embarrassed. She was just glad she had some help on her side. It wasn't that much cooler here but it was enough for her to notice and be grateful.
What she wouldn't give for a glass of water, though.
Now aware that there was some formulation of a plan, Pidge waited more patiently and thought up her own plan of attack – and attack it would have to be: systematic and calculated. There could be no room for error; people could and would die, otherwise.
She had to figure out how to communicate with her aiders.
No sooner had she thought it than an outsider's foot slid something under the robes: a small, leather pouch about the size of her hand.
Opening it, Pidge found a holopad and a bundle of what looked like grapes.
The holopad had been dimmed substantially to avoid giving off too much light, and the first thing Pidge wrote was Thank you. Only after did she pop a grape into her mouth, and the juicy fruit eased her thirst.
There was a pause, then It is our honour to assist a Voltron Paladin. What is the plan to rescue Voltron and our Brothers and Sisters?
Pidge hesitated but typed back, Are you averse to shedding a brother's blood? She had to know how far the Ipryn were willing to go to help her and themselves.
These are not Siblings. These pervert the Siblinghood and Ipryn freedom. We will do what we must. What is your plan?
Well, that was one problem solved. We need to take out the rebels but we can't do them all at once or we risk hurting the others. We also need to locate the Voice. He's their leader. Also, is there any way to contact Siblings outside this room or the palace? They need to be ready in case the Galra get here early.
There was a pause, during which Pidge helped herself to the rest of the grapes.
We will await your order to attack. The Voice is called Boru. He is the younger blood-brother to His Majesty. No contact can be established outside. This is a two-way holopad only. We are on our own.
It could be better but it could have been a lot worse. Pidge had never liked those family drama TV shows but she thought she might enjoy this. She'd poked a hornet's nest with a stick once before. It had been worth the stings.
How wide and long is the crowd?
The longest pause yet. Pidge wished for more grapes.
The crowd is organised: seven Ipryn long and eight wide with remaining three at the front. Rebel guards are situated unevenly: three on the east and north sides, two on the west and south. Voltron Paladins and our Siblings are in one of the refreshers on the north side, just beneath the staircase. The door is guarded by two, four more are inside. The rest searches the ballroom for you. They have yet to search us. We believe Prince Boru is with the Paladins and our Siblings, though no one saw him.
Pidge smiled. Her rough estimate had been spot-on. However, it appeared that the rebels knew what they were doing, and that may or may not prove to be a wrench. Okay. Here's the plan: QUIETLY take out a rebel when the opportunity presents itself. Don't do it too often or too close together time-wise. Whittle their numbers down.
Understood. Then what?
I'll let you know when I know.
Understood. …Would you like more ooit fruit?
Yes, please. Thank you.
It is our honour, Green Paladin.
Within a minute, another pouch slid under the robe, and Pidge helped herself while thinking. She had to get out of the crowd. That was step one. Step two was getting to the refresher unseen or at the very least conscious. Looking back at the numbers, she knew more than half of the rebel forces guarded the hostages and prisoners; and with the crowd whittling their surrounding guards closer and closer to zero, Pidge technically had only ten rebels between her and the north wall. But then she had the additional six when she reached the door, and that wasn't counting Boru, if he was even in there.
She could avoid being seen. She just needed the right cover…
The east wall has the dais and thrones, right? she typed.
Yes.
Good. Get me to the east side. I can make my way to the refresher from there.
Stand by.
Pidge waited for the foot to tap and was rewarded minutes later. The front of the robes lifted. Pidge couldn't help but mentally hum the Mission Impossible theme song as she moved.
-:-:-:-
Shiro came to slowly, his head throbbing and his chest aching. Had he been kicked by a horse again? It felt like it. Wiggling carefully, he decided the pain wasn't bad enough to warrant broken bones, and he opened his eyes.
Oh, right. Rebels. Hostage situation. Inevitable Galra invasion.
Quiznak.
Lifting his head, he found eleven others around him: Allura, Keith, Lance, Hunk, and Coran, Their Majesties, and four royal counsellors. All were unconscious but he could see them breathing. Their hands were bound behind their backs like his.
Pidge was missing.
Pidge had been hiding behind the drapes at the time of the attack. Was she still there or had she managed to escape?
Shiro forced himself to not think about her. Pidge could take care of herself. He had to worry about the others right now, had to figure out a plan.
They were in a refresher, the Ipryn version of a bathroom but more comfortable; it was more of a small lounge with round ottomans and soft rugs. Five guards were in the room with them, all armed with pulse rifles in their hands and knives poking out of their sashes.
A tall Ipryn in scarlet and gold robes caught Shiro's attention. There, tucked into his black sash, was a red bayard and a Luxite blade. White eyes landed on him. "Ah," he said, striding toward Shiro. "At last, Black Paladin, you are awake. Oh, don't worry about your comrades," he added before Shiro could speak. "They're perfectly all right. A little drugged, perhaps, but otherwise unharmed."
Shiro dragged himself upright, refusing to face an enemy lying down. "You're making a big mistake, whoever you are."
The Ipryn got right into his face, bending down to do it. Shiro didn't see him move but felt it when the Luxite dagger pressed against his neck. "I do not make mistakes," he hissed. "I have been planning this moment ever since you showed up. I knew you would beat back the Galra but I waited. I am patient, you see. I waited, I was rewarded, and now my time has come. The Galra will return, and I will rule the Ipryn in their name. I will –"
Shiro activated his right hand, searing through the bindings, and grabbed the hand holding Keith's knife. The Ipryn, to his utmost surprise, didn't shriek or scream despite the smell of burning flesh, but he did turn sharply, jerking Shiro off his knees. Shiro tried to roll but the Ipryn was quicker, kneeling on his right arm, pinning him to the floor, and placing that knife tip-down on the back of his neck. Shiro froze, his heart hammering, and the Ipryn chuckled.
"You have heart, Paladin, I'll give you that, but not a lot of brains. Allow me to assist you with your thought process." He bent down low, whispering in Shiro's ear. "Move again and I will remove a head, though it won't be yours. Perhaps I'll start with Her Majesty? In-laws can be so tedious." He chuckled again. "Do you understand, Paladin? You may answer."
"Yes," Shiro choked out.
"Good. Now, I have a few more questions for you, and you will answer truthfully. Where is the Green Paladin?"
"I don't know."
"I was not joking when I said I would remove heads. Where is she?"
"I'm telling you I don't know! She doesn't like parties. She's probably hiding."
"Hiding? Or escaped. Tell me something, how close are you to her? How well do you know her?"
"Close and well enough."
"You trust her, then."
"I trust her with my life," Shiro bit out.
"But do you trust her with their lives?" the Ipryn asked mildly. "Is it possible that she ran away to save herself? Is it possible that she put something other than them first?"
Shiro opened his mouth to deny it. Pidge wouldn't. Pidge would never…
But Katie might. The thought came out of nowhere and Shiro cringed with it. Katie Holt was trying to find her missing dad and brother. Pidge had the means to do it but Katie possessed the ruthlessness to follow through. It was Katie who had broken into the Garrison – a government-operated, military institute – for the restricted files of the Kerberos Mission. It was Katie who had falsified a new identity and snuck into that self-same institute. It was Katie who had almost walked away from Voltron to search for her family.
Her family. Katie fought tooth and nail for her family. She had stayed because Team Voltron was also family. "Dad used to tell me how close he was with his crew members," she had said long ago. "They were like family. Now I understand what he was talking about."
Shiro laughed into the floor. "You threatened her family," he said. "She's going to tear you apart."
"You're so certain of one little girl?" The Ipryn's voice trembled slightly, unnerved by Shiro's conviction.
"That little girl was chosen by the Green Lion. She's a Paladin of Voltron, the same as me and the others. You have no idea what that little girl is capable of."
There was silence for a long moment until the rebel leader said, "We'll see," and stood, tucking Keith's knife once more into his sash.
Someone rapped hard and rapidly at the door.
-:-:-:-
Pidge waited under a Sister's skirts for a varga on the eastern edge of the crowd but did not wait idly; Yra taught her hand-signals over the holopad. Yra was Queen Jura's chief lady-in-waiting and bodyguard (not actually a chamberlain!), but very few people knew that because of the queen's love of secrecy and fun. Plus, posing as the chamberlain gave Yra names to faces, and she was an excellent memoriser. She was also the one who had instigated sign languages amongst all the bodyguards, attendants, and servants. There was a language for each and a common one for all which was how Yra had snuck Pidge away from the curtain with her Brothers and Sisters' help and without alerting the rebels. Yra had confessed that her queen had asked her to stay close to Pidge, and while Pidge had at first been indignant about being shadowed, she had to give the Sister kudos for being so subtle about it that not even Shiro had picked up on it. When the coup had occurred, she had acted to protect the last Paladin. When this was over, Pidge was going to have a word with the queen about either giving Yra a raise or placing her at the head of the palace guard.
The left side of the skirt lifted and a foot slid a massive wad of material in, along with…
Heck, yeah!
To secure the pistol, Yra's message said on the holopad. To remove the safety, pull the hammer down.
The Ipryn must have foisted the pulse pistol off one of the rebel guards. (Pidge was secretly grateful it wasn't a rifle because she had no idea how to fire one of those, let alone if she could carry it.) The material was a sash, wide and long, and the colour of leaves in high summer. Pidge quickly wrapped it around her waist, tucking in the extra two feet of material so that it wouldn't drag or get snagged, and shoved the gun into an easy-to-reach position. She had her bayard but this was something extra, just in case.
Her holopad lit up with another message: The east side is clear. Go now.
Pidge tucked the holopad into her sash and slid out from under the Sister's dress. Gaining her feet, she stayed low and moved fast, trusting Yra and the others with a clear path to the dais. Her legs cramped as she ran but she forced the pain away, and made it behind the high-backed thrones on the dais.
No one had seen her.
Now for step two.
Deep breaths, Pidge. Deep breaths. Poking her head out, she eyed an option. The most direct (and pretty much only) route was to go directly from the dais, hugging the wall, under the staircase, and to the refresher. The staircase offered protection from the eyes of the other rebels, save the two guards at the door; they would raise the alarm before she could get halfway across the room.
There had to be another way. Yes, Yra and the others could charge the rebels but people would get hurt, and that wasn't counting if the guards inside turned on the prisoners. Not exactly an ideal situation.
Pidge sat back and leaned her head against the throne. Think, Pidge. Think! What was she missing? What more could she do? It wasn't like she could turn invisible – cloak herself like Green.
Or could she?
Pidge peeked out again but on the opposite side. She caught a Sister's eye and held up her right hand, pressing her fingers to her thumb, her left hand palm out: be quiet and wait. The Sister flicked the first two fingers on her right hand – understood – and passed the message. Pidge took out the holopad and typed quickly. I need cover but it has to be very specific.
What is it you need?
Could a couple of you complain about the heat? Ask to move around. If yes, scatter randomly but I need a bunch of you to be between the dais and the refresher but in front of the staircase.
Are you going to hide under our skirts again, Green Paladin?
Not quite. You're going to be shields against enemy eyes. Hopefully, not enemy gunfire.
We are willing to defend Voltron and Ipryn freedom.
Pidge didn't know what to say to that so she just wrote, I'll wait for your signal.
Stand by. I'll pass the message.
It took a few minutes but eventually a voice lifted up over the heavy quiet: "Brothers, might we move about some? This heat is unbearable."
Immediately, the rebels nearest the group lifted their rifles. "Stay where you are!" commanded one.
"Please!" another begged. "Is this how you treat Kin? Let us have some water, some juice, perhaps something to eat. The buffet tables are right there!"
"I said stay where you are!"
More guns were raised but the eastern side shifted, aware that there was no threat to them. A few drifted forward.
"Stop! What are you doing? Goro, Hira, Dwi, control that section!"
"Your comrades left for the refresher and didn't return," a Brother informed the rebels.
"Not true! I saw the three go out that window and flee across the lawn!" retorted a Sister.
"You're both daft! They're drinking behind the curtains there!" sneered another.
"Brothers and Sisters, peace!" Pidge recognised that booming voice, able to make a single syllable heard in every corner of the room: Yra. "Siblings –" did she stumble over that word? – "allow us some movement. It's stifling so close together. You have our word as your Brothers and Sisters that we will not harm you. We only want some movement. You can keep your weapons aimed at us. Is this fair?"
Murmuring broke out among the rebels. Pidge could hear them debate over trying to find their comrades and alerting Boru.
Then one of the rebels broke away from the group. "This is fair," he said. "But if anyone tries anything, you all get stunned. Understand?"
"We understand," all fifty-nine Ipryn said in eerie unison.
The eastern Ipryn drifted closer to the dais, spreading out leisurely and absently.
Pidge took a deep breath. The time for thinking was over. Now it was time for action. She rose and darted out from behind the thrones, coming to a stop behind a Brother who didn't acknowledge her whatsoever. He turned absently, shielding her from a rebel, and then curled the last two fingers of his left hand. The coast was clear, and Pidge was off to the next Ipryn, and the next. Brothers and Sisters worked with her, using their larger bodies to give her cover, saying nothing and making no contact aside from the signal "coast is clear".
Pidge hovered uncertainly behind the last Sister. Now what? How was she supposed to get to the door with the guards in the way? If she took them down, it would be noisy, and then the rebels would turn on the others…
A Sister some yards away caught her eye – the chamberlain! No, Yra! She lifted a hand but it was no hand signal because in it was a knife that was as long as Pidge's forearm. Pidge took up her bayard in her left and the pistol in her right. Yra…shook her head and gestured to herself and the Brother beside her. The message was clear: Stay where you are. The Ipryn have this.
The rebels were, after all, outnumbered.
The Siblings slowly surrounded them, several of the ladies getting closest. Pidge couldn't see any weapons but that meant nothing. The Sister she hid behind reached back and squeezed her hand which also held her bayard. Pidge took a deep breath. Courage, Pidge. Your friends need you. This planet needs you.
There was no discernible signal, no call or sign, but all at once, with that eerie synchrony, the Ipryn killed the rebels where they stood as silently as a gentle breeze.
The two guards outside the refresher went wide-eyed and, forgetting they had weapons, hammered on the door.
Pidge rushed forward, her bayard bright and glowing, and launched her hook at them, snagging them and dragging them back for the others. The door opened and Pidge took aim with the pistol. The shot missed the rebel's head by an inch, splintering the door, but the splinters caught his face and he staggered back, howling.
Pidge lunged, shooting again (Twenty-two, she thought) and the rebels behind him when he dropped (Twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five). She shot a rebel in scarlet and gold robes who stood over Shiro who lay prostrate on the rug.
"Twenty-six," she announced breathlessly, tucking the pistol back into her sash. "We're clear!" she managed to shout back into the ballroom.
"Pidge?" Shiro looked up at her, wild-eyed and trembling.
Pidge ran to him, easing him up. "Careful," she urged. "Just stay still."
"The others are drugged," he said as Yra and twelve others entered. All carried pulse rifles.
Yra nodded and directed her Siblings to care for each before turning to Pidge. "I must say that that was rather anticlimactic," she said. "I expected Prince Boru to put up more of a fight."
Pidge laughed shakily. "He never knew what hit him." She pulled out the gun, eyeing it. "It was set to stun, right?"
"Of course. The rebels will be executed by the Siblinghood. As for Prince Boru, he will be tried by the Court and then executed by His Majesty."
"King Fiw will kill his own brother?" Pidge asked, startled.
"Blood he may be but Brother he is no longer, not when he declared war against his Kin. This is Ipryn law."
"Speaking of which, aren't the Galra still on their way?" wondered Shiro.
"Oh," said Pidge. "I forgot about that part."
"It's of no consequence," Yra said with a wave of her hand. "As soon as you declared the all-clear, we contacted our Siblings outside. We are amassing our army as we speak. It is a shame. I was looking forward to peace this day."
"You can still have it – Ow, my head!" Lance groaned.
"My apologies, Blue Paladin," a Brother murmured. "The drug in your system is a stubborn one. At least you are now awake."
"Yeah, right," moaned Hunk. "I'm gonna throw up."
The Sister beside him quickly helped him to a stall where he did, indeed, vomit violently.
"Lance is right, though." By some miracle (or maybe Altean will power), Allura sat up, though she leaned heavily on a Sister. "We can still win the day. Voltron beat the Galra back from Ipryn once. They can do it again."
"No offence, Princess, but I can barely see straight," Keith confessed. He lay on his back, completely unwilling to get up. "I don't think I can pilot."
"You won't have to!" Pidge declared, catching onto Allura's idea. "We fake it! We get to our Lions and simply show that we're still here. The Galra will run away with their tails between their legs!"
"That's…a good idea," Shiro said slowly. "We're going to have to move fast, though."
"Gimme another minute!" Hunk called from his stall.
"We don't exactly have time to waste," Yra pointed out.
"Sister!" Pidge called, making Shiro's eyes bug. "Do you have a bucket?"
"I'll get you one, Sister," an Ipryn repled, her white eyes twinkling.
Yra took immediate command. "Come, Siblings. We must carry the Paladins. Orto, get Parua and have her watch Their Majesties. I will escort the Paladins to their Lions."
Pidge grabbed Shiro's arm, a Brother on his other side, and hefted him up. "If you can't walk, say so, and they'll carry you," she said.
Shiro nodded. "I think I can walk. They woke me up earlier." He looked back at Prince Boru, saying, "Keith's bayard and knife."
"Got 'em!" Pidge ducked out, grabbed them, and tucked them both into her sash.
Yra led the way, using servants' backways as shortcuts through the palace. Ipryn guards and servants were everywhere, arming themselves with blades and pulse weapons of every size. They made way when Yra approached, and the group passed unhindered out of the palace to the Castle of Lions in one of the large meadows behind the wall.
Before they separated to the hangars, Pidge remembered something else, "No flying solo. You get a Brother or a Sister to watch you in case the drug effects get stupid."
"They're our Lions!" Lance protested from his piggyback position on a Brother.
"She won't be yours much longer if you go into cardiac arrest," Pidge shot back. She was met with defiant stares from Lance, Keith and even Shiro. Hunk was busy coughing into his bucket. "I just took down a rebellion in this heinous dress," she snarled, her patience gone. "You can do this one little thing and make sure you don't die."
Hunk snorted with laughter and put his bucket down. "If you can do that in that foofaraw, we can totally make sure we don't die. Right, guys?"
Lance frowned. "I was the one to call it foofaraw. You can't steal my word!"
"It's not your word!"
"Oh, would you both SHUT UP!" Pidge shouted. "We don't have time for this! Get your drugged butts to your Lions so we can defend this planet!" Without waiting to see if she would be obeyed, she stormed down the hall towards Green's hangar. Knowing Yra was right beside her, she ground out, "Yeah. We're the Defenders of the freaking Universe! Watch out, Zarkon!"
Yra wisely didn't comment.
-:-:-:-
Pidge couldn't help but feel that Yra's earlier observation about anticlimactic-ness was spot-on. All that planning and all that stress amounted to nothing more than a pleasure cruise past Ipryn's atmosphere. The Galra dropped out of hyper-speed, took one look at the five Voltron Lions assembled and ready to kick purple butt, and promptly turned tail.
Now, Pidge found herself once more standing in front of the dais, King Fiw and Queen Jura shaky yet upright and on their thrones. Allura, Lance and Keith were all in chairs beside her; Coran, Shiro and Hunk standing with an attendant nearby to catch them if they fell. Pidge was sweat-streaked, her dress badly wrinkled, and her hair a mess. She still wore the sash, the pistol and her bayard in full view. She had just finished delivering her account of what had happened and didn't really notice the looks of awe everyone was giving her, including Prince Boru who was conscious, bound hand and foot, and kneeling in front of King Fiw.
It was Boru who broke the silence. "But she's just a little girl!" he gasped.
"I'm a Paladin of Voltron, you chauvinistic –!"
Shiro stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. He actually smiled at Boru. "I told you so," he said. "You threatened her family. I told you that you made a mistake."
"Mistakes can be pardoned," King Fiw interrupted, his voice clipped and distant. "This…this cannot be. Get him out of my sight. He will be tried according to our laws."
"But, but, Fiw! I am your Brother!"
King Fiw stared at him with pitiless eyes. "I do not Know you," he whispered.
Pidge could only infer that was not a commonly uttered phrase among the Ipryn. She didn't look at Boru as he was dragged from the room.
"Green Paladin," Queen Jura said. Yra was beside her, calm and ready. "We cannot thank you enough for what you have done tonight. Your courage, skill and intellect saved us all." Placing a hand over her heart, she bowed as much as able from her throne. "Thank you, Sister."
Every Ipryn in the room mirrored their queen, even King Fiw, even Yra, bowing at the waist, a hand over their heart. "Thank you, Sister," they murmured as one.
Pidge swallowed and curtsied as well as she could. "Siblings," she said. It was all she could say but apparently all that was needed.
-:-
There will probably be a short epilogue for this arc.
Please review. :)