Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters - part of "The Sleeping Princess" used in this chapter. It's just to follow the plotline of DotU. I'll be happy to change it if WEP so wishes. No money is being made from this. And thanks TOI and WEP for the wonderful story of DotU that inspires us to continue loving it today.
Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU but is definitely AU – see challenge info below.
Response to Cheetoy's KAEX Challenge "A Royal Twist." "What if Keith was the surviving Arusian Royal Prince and Allura was an Earth born hometown girl turned GA Starpilot? How will the prim and proper Prince deal with falling for a strong-willed GA pilot of no royal line? Sadly, Nanny and Coran insist on a Princess for our dear Kogane... But how shall they deal with the Drule Prince(ss)? Can they find their Happy Ever After?"
Author's Notes: I watched DotU episode 30: "The Sleeping Princess" before writing this chapter. There may be a few direct quotes but not many. Some sequences go right along with the episode. No infringement intended – just used to keep with canon in my twisted AU way..
Chapter Thirty-Seven
The next morning…
The door to Keith's room opened softly as Matron Hilda came in the room. Both she, Coran, and Dr. Gorma had been told of the possible trick by Doom. They were the only ones who knew, the rest of the planet was in mourning for losing their prince before he could become king. Hilda looked at the forlorn young woman who lay on top of the covers beside the deathly still prince. Under normal circumstances she would be raising the roof for such forward behavior, but now, she was just sad. She prayed constantly that Lt. McClain was correct and this was a spell, but she feared the worst. The prince was pale and cool to the touch with no definable life-signs. If he lived any remaining reservations she had about the off-world commoner would be gone.
Without opening her eyes, Allura said, "I just didn't want him to be so cold. I thought maybe I could help him stay warm." She opened her eyes and looked at the Matron. "Is it time."
Hilda only nodded as Allura slowly sat up and looked with sad eyes at the body on the bed. Reaching out, she caressed his faced one more time. "I'll see you in a few hours, Keith."
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Later the horse drawn hearse made its way to the town of Alder where the only cathedral in the area still stood. The team plus Coran and Hilda walked behind the carriage. The tears on their faces were real as they walked toward the spires that could be seen over the trees.
The ceremony inside the church was emotional and the team thought about the Prince. What if he really was gone? Their thoughts went to the past months and the time that they had spent together. He had made himself a part of the team in a short amount of time. How could they ever replace him and would the Black Lion accept another pilot?
Lance shook his head, he couldn't think about that now. He had to be on watch for Drules. However, nothing happened at the service and soon Keith's coffin was loaded back in the hearse to make the return journey for burial in castle crypt. For the return journey, Coran and Hilda were going to go back by hover craft and ready the castle if the prince were revived.
The team looked at the towering cliff sides on both sides as the hearse made its way through the narrow corridor. It was the perfect place for an ambush. "Be ready," Lance said softly. Moments later, a tree fell from the top of the cliff to land between them and the carriage. "This is it, team!"
The horse pulling the hearse was terrified and soon unseated the driver and took off down the road. Pidge vaulted the fallen tree and hung on to the back of the hearse as it sped on driverless. As Pidge climbed the back of the vehicle he saw Merla jump from an outcropping of rock to land in the driver's seat. Taking a moment to call Lance, he said, "Merla's in the driver's seat. Hurry guys!"
"We're be on our way shortly, the hover craft picked us up and we're almost to the castle," Lance responded.
"I'll do what I can to hold them." Pidge looked over the roof once again and set to climb across the top. It was up to him to slow down whatever plans Merla had. Finally reaching the driver's perch, he locked his arms around around Merla's neck in a choke hold. "Stop the hearse, Merla!"
Growling at the parasite that had attached itself to her, she raised the horsewhip and swung it around to knock Pidge off. Looking around the side of the vehicle, she saw that the small Lion pilot still clung to the window frame on the side. "Jump now, little one and you might live. Wait until I stop and you may not." Turning, she whipped the horse again. "Almost there," she said to out loud to herself.
Pidge had to fix his grip a couple of times as he slipped. He couldn't let go. It wasn't because he might get hurt, but he was the only one right now who could stop Merla from taking Keith off-planet. "Come on team," he said. "Keith and I need you."
Unfortunately for Pidge, the hearse drew to a halt and Merla jumped down. Pidge looked up as the three Lions flew overhead and landed behind them. Merla took advantage of his distraction to capture him. Hearing a cackle, Pidge knew they would soon have their answer about Keith.
"Come out! We know you're here, Merla," Lance called out.
Haggar nodded to Merla and stepped into the view of the pilots instead of the princess. "I'm not as young and pretty as Merla, but maybe I'll do." Haggar lowered her staff and fired off a blast scattering the pilots.
Regaining her footing, Allura called out, "Can't you just leave us his body!?"
"Foolish girl! He's not dead, just under a spell. Soon he'll be awake when it wears off," Haggar called as she fired another blast.
Allura sagged with relief against the tree was behind. A tear slipped from her eye as she realized she still had a chance to make things right… if Keith would let her.
Lance had moved up to a position near the hearse. Glancing over the rock he was hiding behind he called out. "You know we're not letting you leave with him!"
"Oh, I think you will," Merla said as she emerged from behind the hearse. Pidge was tight in her grasp. "Drop your weapons or you'll have a real funeral to attend."
Lance dropped his head and called out, "Drop your weapons everyone." Standing he tossed the blaster to the side.
Meanwhile, Haggar had magically opened the back of the vehicle and levitated the coffin out. In a moment, the lid was off and Keith's body magically floated in the air. Haggar began to move toward the forest. "Let's go, Merla."
As Merla pulled Pidge along, he pulled something from his pocket. It was a grenade!
"Pidge, no!" Lance cried, but it was too late. Pidge had pulled the pin.
Merla instantly let go of him and moved back.
"I might be small, but this will pack a punch. He's too important to us to let you take him. You'd try to turn him into someone he doesn't want to be." He had kept walking forward with the grenade smoking as the witch and princess backed up.
"Pidge! Throw it!" Hunk called out.
"Not until they release Keith. He'd rather die than go with you!" Moving still closer, he said again, "Release him!"
"Release him, witch or we'll all die!" Merla said to Haggar loudly.
Hissing in frustration, Haggar motioned with her staff and Keith's body fell to the ground with a thump.
"Throw it now, Pidge!" someone called out.
Argh! Pidge threw the grenade in the direction of the fleeing women. He then threw his body to help shield Keith. Hearing a grunt after the grenade blast, he called to the team, "He's waking up!"
Haggar fired off a couple of meaningless shots as she and Merla quickly climbed into their coffin ships and took off. The team didn't really care as they were all gathered around Keith and made a call to the castle.
"Yes, Coran, he's alive. He's waking up now. We'll bring him back in a Lion. Have Dr. Gorma at the hanger." Lance was smiling as he looked down at the prince.
Keith sat up groggily and looked down at his formal court clothes and then back up, "Why am I wearing these and why does my head hurt? Did I get drunk or something?"
Squatting down, Lance put a hand on Keith's shoulder, "No, you're not drunk and we'll explain soon. Just know that we're all really happy to see you alive and awake."
"Alive and awake?" He looked from teammate to teammate and ended on Allura who was openly crying. His memory of their last conversation returned to him and he stiffened. Looking back to Lance, he said, "I look forward to hearing about it."
Helping Keith up, Lance said, "Let's get you to Dr. Gorma."
With Hunk and Lance assisting him, Keith made his way to Red Lion. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw that Allura was still where she had been except that she was staring at him. What happened? Why am I in the country dressed like this with the team crying? I hope they have answers for me, he thought, because he was still reeling from the blow that Allura had given him.