Lance dismissed the castle guards Allura had assigned to the researchers' room as he and Keith arrived. "Take a break, guys. Grab a coffee or something."

"Sir, the Princess said…"

"Don't worry about it. She's cool with you guys taking a break while Keith and I take a look at the armor." He activated his Voltcom and balled his fists to spar with the air for a moment. "Y'know, gotta figure out how to transport flaming hot armor. If you've got ideas on how to handle it…?"

One of the guards held up his hands. "No thank you. I heard that chick screaming. We'll be back in twenty?"

Lance shut off the Hot Hands. "Make it half an hour."

Keith frowned as the two guards walked quickly down the hall. "You didn't mention lying to the castle guards when you told me about the Storos armor. What exactly are we planning to do to it?"

"Just an idea Red gave me. He said I have to accept the armor because it's mine now. I think I have to wear it."

"I thought it sent one of the researchers to the infirmary with serious burns." Lance nodded in response, hoping in spite of his feelings toward her that Rina was all right. Keith continued, "And you want to wear it? Did you run this by Allura or is she not able to translate the insane parts of your brain yet?"

He ignored the insult and skirted the issue of telling Keith exactly how much Allura knew about what he, Lance, was planning. "She trusts me to handle this one. Besides, the gauntlet didn't burn me when I picked it up. I think I'm special or something."

He thought he heard Keith murmur, "Yeah, special, all right," but ignored him.

Lance went directly to the armor and began to put it on, piece by piece. He began to feel something as he strapped on the breastplate, something that only grew as he snapped the gauntlets into place. He felt warm, but not uncomfortably so. He definitely wasn't getting burned. He took a deep breath and fitted the helmet over his head. For a moment the room swirled and he was worried he'd made a really big miscalculation, but the colors suddenly resolved into a man, standing across the room in a hazy aura Lance recognized from his interactions with King Alfor. He cleared his throat and tried to sound regal, "You, um, must be King Storos."

"Yeah, kid. So," Storos removed the helmet and shook out a wild mane of red hair, "you're the new Red Lion."

"Lance," Keith asked with some concern, "who are you talking to?"

He had completely forgotten Keith was there. "It's the ghost of King Storos. You don't see him?"

"It's just us in the room."

"He's sitting right there." Lance indicated the stone ledge where Storos had propped himself. The king waved. Keith stared with no reaction.

Storos shrugged and smoothed his beard. "Don't worry about it, kid. You've got Arusian royal privilege. Somehow. You haven't gone through the ceremony of King's Sword yet, have you?"

"Not yet, but they keep talking about it."

"Must have something to do with you sleeping with that super hot princess, then."

"Hey, isn't she your great-great-great-great-great-great-great-granddaughter or something?"

"It's enough generations removed that I can state she's hot without it being creepy."

"Dude, you're a ghost only I can see. The creep factor has been surpassed."

"I think it would have worked if you'd just put on the helmet, but the armor looks good on you. Almost as good as it looks on me."

Lance could hear Keith comming someone, but ignored him. "So…I know why King Alfor is around, but…"

"I've been drifting around the castle for the past few days, since you found the gauntlet. Glad you finally figured out how I could manifest myself."

"You've just been waiting around to chit chat with me?"

"I guess that's one way of looking at it. I think I'm supposed to give you some advice."

Lance waited for a few moments before prompting, "Well?"

"Well…it's complicated."

"You're a ghost who showed up when I put on your armor. Try me."

"Okay, it's more than complicated. It has to do with choices I made as king, choices I think I need to warn you about."

"I'll take any advice you can give me."

"First, don't be an ass. I've heard what the research people have been saying about me and I can't deny most of it. Except the harem part. I never had a harem and, though I may have flirted, I never cheated on my wife."

"I'm not ever cheating on Allura so you don't have to tell me that."

"Fine, fine."

"Your highness…"

"Just Storos will suffice."

"Um, okay. Storos, what is it you really want to tell me?"

The king stared into his eyes and Lance realized that blazing green had been prevalent in the Arusian royal family for a long, long time. He was about to speak again when Storos began, "You have to understand that kings always flew the Black Lion. The Black Lion was the leader, it was only right for the king to have him. They had trained in the other Lions, but always moved to Black eventually. I had spent all my time training in Red. I didn't want to give up Red, but I did. One week later, I was no longer a Voltron pilot."

"Could you maybe supply a few more details than that."

"You're the Red Lion. You have a connection to him and he to you. Would you be willing to give that up?"

"Nope."

"Neither was I, but I did. It's the reason I left the Voltron force, the reason the next six kings were not pilots. Black Lion rejected me. I tried to go back to Red, but he was angry."

"Yeah, he didn't really want to talk about you."

Suddenly, Allura burst into the room. "Lance, why are you wearing…King Storos!" She bowed to the ghost in the corner, who waved off the show of respect.

Keith, whom Lance had completely forgotten was in the room, sounded exasperated as he asked, "You can see him too?"

"How did this happen? Why are you wearing the armor?"

"Just a feeling I had. Got an idea from Red and, uh, ran with it. Sorry, didn't realize he was going to be a selective ghost. I mean, Alfor talks to all of us."

"I'm here for a specific purpose. Once you understand, I think I'll have to leave."

Lance tried to rub his neck, forgetting he was wearing a full suit of armor and merely producing a clang. "All you've told me so far is don't switch Lions, which I had no intention of doing anyway."

"Loyalty, Lance. To be a true king you must be loyal. You are the Red Lion. Be the Red Lion." Storos was starting to fade as he repeated, "Be the Red Lion. And enjoy your queen." He was gone before Lance could reply to the last bit.

He turned sheepishly toward Allura. "Yeah, about the armor…"

"It's not glowing anymore."

"Huh?" Lance pulled off the helmet and saw that she was right. "Probably should have told you what I was planning, right?"

"After what happened to Rina?"

"How is she?"

"She'll be fine, but don't try to distract me. I'm annoyed with you right now."

So, not the right time to suggest sex in Red's cockpit?

Never the right time. She quickly switched back to speech, "Keith, how could you let him do that?"

"He said he had it under control. I heard the gauntlet didn't burn him earlier, so I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a try. I just wish I could have seen this Storos guy."

"Just imagine me with more hair. Hey, do I have to grow a beard once I'm king?"

"If you're king. There's still a chance you'll just be royal consort."

He considered sweeping her into his arms, but didn't out of respect for Keith's presence. "As long as I'm with you, I'll be royal bathroom rug. Now, do you guys think you can help me get out of all this armor?"

"Not really, no."

"I agree with Princess Allura. Shall we go check on Rina?"

"I think that's an excellent idea, Keith."

Lance was left to struggle out of the heavy metal on his own. "Royal doormat, maybe. How the heck did I get this on in the first place?"