Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Chapter Thirty-Seven:

"Are you comfortable?" Hunk asked. "Do you need another pillow? A blanket?" Without waiting for a response, Hunk looked around at everyone but the patient, currently nestled into the couch in the lounge. "Does he look like he needs another blanket?"

"I'm fine," Keith mumbled, sinking further into the pillows he was surrounded by, his fluffy purple ears folded flat slightly. "Stop fussing."

"Um, sorry, you nearly died on us, Fluff-butt," Tali said, gently pushing a lock of Keith's hair back. "We're going to fuss and you're just going to have to deal with it."

Keith just blinked slowly, his half-lidded eyes practically screaming that he'd like to go back to sleep. But, still, he croaked out, "You guys said I had an allergic reaction?"

"Yeah, to some super-rare flower that makes this super-expensive tea that apparently decided to hate Galra sometime in the last ten thousand years," Lance said, adjusting the blankets that were laid over Keith. "And apparently it had a delayed reaction."

Keith suddenly stiffened, brow furrowing, looking a bit more alert. "Is it Tea-la-mum, or something like that?"

"Tealehum," Hunk corrected, frowning slightly. "Keith, when and where did you have some of this tea?"

"Mitalin, with Meelin," Keith said. "When we were in his study, planning, someone—his father, I guess—sent a servant in with a pot of it. I only drank about half a cup, it was a little bitter and made my mouth feel weird."

"Nothing else?" Shiro asked. "Your throat didn't feel tight, your stomach wasn't upset, your skin didn't itch?"

Keith shook his head. "Felt fine until yesterday." He paused and added, "Wasn't the Yunglin's fault. They didn't know."

"No one is blaming anyone. It was an accident. Even Coran and Allura didn't know. And now we know and we can be more careful in the future," Shiro said, reaching over and placing his hand on Keith's knee. "For now, just rest and recover."

Keith nodded as the door to the lounge opened with a whoosh, and Lani, Pidge and Coran.

"We come bearing gifts!" Lani proclaimed, lifting the tray she was carrying slightly for emphasis. She set it down on the floor behind the couch and lifted a travel-mug off of the tray, passing it to Tali who passed it down to Keith. "One mug of non-lethal tea, guaranteed to stay at a perfect drinking temperature thanks to alien technology. One bottle of water. And a plethora of snacks."

"Thanks," Keith mumbled sipping on the tea.

"Right, next gift is this," Pidge said, placing a tablet and stylus in Keith's lap. "Use this to write messages to us, let your throat rest a while, okay?"

Keith nodded.

"Plus, unlimited access to our movie and video game collection," Pidge said. "Kind of goes without saying, but also kind of a reminder."

"I don't exactly have another gift," Coran said with a small shrug as he handed over two small pills. "But I do have some more medicine for you to take. Might make you feel a little drowsy."

Keith nodded again and took the pills with some more tea. He then used the stylus to quickly scrawl a message on the tablet: Thanks everyone.

"Don't mention it," Lance said, leaning over to press a kiss to Keith's cheek. "Just rest and get better."

Keith leaned against Lance's shoulder, eyes drooping closed, tablet clutched to his chest, starting to drift off to sleep.

Pidge's communicator in their pocket beeped, and they rushed to silence it. They looked up and whispered: "Allura wants to see us on the Bridge."

"You think you two will be alright?" Shiro asked Lance in a low voice.

Lance nodded, gently strokiing Keith's hair with his fingertips as Keith's breathing evened out. "We're good. Catch me up on anything important, though."

"Will do," Hunk promised.

Minutes later, Hunk, Shiro, Pidge, Tali, Lani and Coran joined Allura and Caelum on the Bridge.

"How is Keith?" Caelum asked upon seeing their entry.

"He's not in any pain, a little shaky but otherwise alright," Shiro answered. "He's resting now."

"And… How is he taking being stuck as a Galra?" Allura asked.

"Harder to tell," Tali said, folding her arms over her chest. "What's going on?"

"We are almost back to New Altea, should be there in a few vargas," Allura said. "Which gives us enough time to establish a believable tale for why Keith will not be making an appearance, nor is anyone allowed in the Castle."

"The first I understand," Shiro said. "But why bar off the Castle?"

Allura turned around then, folding her arms over her chest and frowning slightly. "This is Keith's home. He should have free access to the entire Castle, and not be a prisoner in his room or the infirmary. If he wants to be in the lounge, or eat in the dining hall, or go see his Lion, then he should be able to do so without worrying about being seen as an enemy, unwelcome in his own home."

"We'll tell a half-truth, then," Pidge suggested. "Say that Keith has a human illness, but anyone who is exposed to him in the first twenty-four hours is immune but after that it's contagious. I mean, there's no way of them finding out we're lying. Humans are technically a brand-new species to Alteans, right?"

"Very true." Coran said with a nod. "Odd creatures that you are."

"Where's Shinji?" Shiro asked.

"On his way from the library," Allura said. "He started making some digital copies of the Book of Lions yesterday, so that we can show Dei the physical copy. Shinji alerted me a few minutes ago that he was just finishing the scanning process."

"We're not taking the Book with us?" Lani asked.

Allura shook her head. "I gave it some consideration, but no. We'll leave it on New Altea. I am hoping that bringing an important Altean relic will suffice in the place of having an Altean princess."

"Good, because we're not going anywhere without you," Shiro told her.

"My grandfather is a stubborn man," Caelum said. He smiled. "But I have discovered that our Princess is even more so. I do not think that this is a battle he will win."

()()()()()()()()()()()()

Dei seemed both surprised and pleased that Allura presented him with the Book of Lions.

"And you ran into no trouble reobtaining the Book?" He asked.

"Yes and no," Callum said. "It is a long story."

"I would love to hear it," Dei said. "But first, Princess, I must ask: have you given any further thought regarding staying?"

"I have," Allura said, lacing her fingers together in front of her. "And I am afraid that I cannot remain. My place is with Voltron, with the Paladins. I do ask for your support, and that of our fellow Alteans."

Dei frowned but bowed his head. "I suppose that is a reasonable request. However, may I ask one of you, Princess?"

"I believe that depends on the nature," Allura said. This conversation was going better than she had expected.

And then it wasn't.

"Would you be willing to perform a Blessing of the Lions, as your grandmother did when Voltron was first formed?" Dei asked.

Allura's smile dampened slightly. She was familiar with the Blessing; however, it would involve forming Voltron, and if she were to perform the Blessing, she couldn't pilot one of the Lions while Keith was still recovering. "I… I am afraid that is one request I will have to fulfil at a later time. Keith, our Red Paladin, is currently under the weather—nothing serious, just a minor human illness—but without him, we could not form Voltron for the ceremony."

"Oh dear, what a pity," Dei said, heaving a sigh. He suddenly smiled. "Although, I may have just the thing that will help your Paladin recover."

He went over to his desk, and opened a drawer, pulling out a small wooden box. He presented it to Allura. "Tealehum tea is said to be a universal remedy."

She swallowed slightly; that was the last thing Keith needed. After last night, she wasn't even going to bring the plant anywhere inside the Castle. "I appreciate the offer, and thank you for your generosity on Keith's behalf, but I am afraid that we will have to decline again. The few times Keith has had the tea, he has had negative reactions."

"Is that so?" Dei said. "How odd. I thought only Galra had adverse reactions…"

Allura felt her face pale and beside her, Caelum stiffened.

The observation would have been innocent enough coming from anyone else.

But Dei was a politician. The comment was anything but innocent.

"Yes, well," Allura said quickly, attempting to recover. "Humans are odd creatures. Their biology is unlike what we have seen before. Nevertheless, they make fantastic Paladins, and take their duties seriously."

"I am sure they do," Dei said, coolly and politely. "Just like their princess. Though I cannot deny that I had hoped that another Altean would take up the mantle of Paladin. My grandson would have made an excellent candidate, I am sure."

"I am certain every grandfather would say the same of his grandchild," Caelum said, voice tight. "I am not that special."

"I will concede to your first statement, but not your second," Dei said. "You are the epitome of Altea and her legacy. Full of the grace and poise and wisdom expected with your noble blood."

"That is not how the Lions choose their Paladins," Allura interjected. "They look deeper, into the characteristics of the heart and soul." Her eyes met Caelum's momentarily, her voice icy. "And I am of the belief that trust and loyalty are amongst the highest of those characteristics."

Caelum felt his heart jolt and his stomach drop.

The princess believed he had told his grandfather of Keith's lineage.

Turning back towards Dei, Allura said, "I am afraid that we cannot extend our stay; we must return to the war at hand."

"Such a shame," Dei drawled. "Well, I shall not keep you."

Allura nodded and turned on her heel and left the room, praying that she appeared to be gliding gracefully out of the room and not storming out as her rage made her feel like she was.

"Allura, wait!"

She grit her teeth as she turned to see Caelum run after her. "What do you want?"

"I do not know how my grandfather figured it out," Caelum insisted. "But I told him nothing. I swear upon every Lion of Voltron."

"I really wish I could believe you." Allura snapped. "But at this point, I will take all actions necessary to protect my Paladins."

"Princess…"

"Do not speak to me or my Paladins again."

Allura left the building, feeling heartbroken, betrayed and furious. She made her way towards the Castle, consumed in her fuming and need to leave the colony, and she barely felt the small hand that grasped her skirt.

She stopped suddenly and looked down, willing her frantically beating heart to calm and for her features to soften as she smiled down at the small girl with hair like the human confection cotton candy.

"Oh, hello there," Allura said. "Sorry, I did not see you. What is your name?"

The little girl blinked up at her, then glanced at a small group of nearby children, who were watching and whispering. The little girl swallowed, then looked up at Allura again. "Do you speak the truth?"

"As often as I can," Allura said.

Even though that has proven to be a mistake.

However, neither the old look in young eyes nor the words that came out of such a small mouth were what Allura expected.

"Are you really the lost princess of Altea?"

To say that Allura was taken aback was an understatement.

"Yes, I am," She said. "I am Allura Alforsdaughter, Princess of Altea."

"Prove it."

Allura recoiled as if struck by the young girl's words.

"I don't… What do you mean?" She asked.

"Prove it," The little girl said, all of her previous shyness gone, replaced with a boldness that both impressed and intimidated Allura. "Some people say you are the princess, others say you're an imposter. Which are you? Prove it. If you were the real princess, you wouldn't abandon your people. You have left once, and there is talk that you leave with Voltron. A princess is supposed to lead her people. So prove it."

Allura felt her heart sink.

She knew Dei let her go too easily.

Because, in her absence, he had already started poisoning the hearts of her people.

()()()()()()()()()()()()

Caelum stormed back into the room where his grandfather sat at his desk, waiting patiently, a smile on his face even as Caelum's anger was evident.

"How did you discover the Red Paladin's heritage?" Caelum demanded. "Who told you?"

"Your mission was a test in more ways than one. The princess' reaction was simply an acknowledgement that I was, in fact, correct." Dei said calmly, flipping through the Book of Lions.

Caelum's heart jolted. The Tealehum tea. Rare and prized. Of course the Yunglins had some.

But it had not even been served to the visiting princess. Only Keith had drank the tea during their visit. When he had been alone with Meelin.

Shiro had said that Keith mentioned that Meelin hadn't been the one to summon tea. It had been sent for them.

"You told the Minister to serve Tealehum to Keith, didn't you?" Caelum said.

"I did, and by his reports I was beginning to believe the experiment for naught. Until I offered more Tealehum to the so-called princess."

Caelum stiffened. "What do you mean by that?"

Dei looked up, smiling. "I mean, how do we actually know that she is the real princess, and not someone playing pretend? Plying us to her whims by loyalties long gone? She would ask us to sacrifice ourselves in a war when we can barely take care of ourselves. A true princess of Altea would take care of her people first. And if Voltron is truly meant to be our saviors, then why is a Galra among them?"

Caelum scowled. "What is the purpose of forcing Allura to stay here? We have a government system in place, no one is starving, we have low rates of sickness and high rates of survival…"

Dei frowned and sighed. "You're too much like your father, Caelum. You don't understand the truly most important thing. Altean royalty means power. Our status in life before the fall of Altea meant power." Dei stood up and walked around his desk, going over towards the window. "When we established this colony, everyone here knew about and respected that power. That is how I have come to be the overseer of the colony."

"You were elected democratically," Caelum argued.

Dei scoffed. "You are so blind, my grandson. Of course I was elected, because of my status and my power before Altea fell. However, when rumors began to circulate about the survival of the Princess Allura, of course I had to discover if my power was to be displaced."

Caelum stiffened, flinching as if he had been struck. "You set the bounty for Allura?"

"I did. Though you have done better than any bounty hunter, for which I am not sure if I should be proud of or not." Dei turned towards Caelum again, frowning. "She is a threat to my power."

"Then why try to force her to stay?" Caelum asked. Then, it hit him. "You'd be in the prime position to be her advisor. Her most trusted advisor, who knew the colony the best."

"Precisely," Dei said. "And so long as she exists and the people have seen her, they will no longer simply agree to my rule. They will want the princess. I will be undermined. I gave her an opportunity. I gave her a chance to be safe and coddled, to be loved and powerful. She has made her choices. So if she is to leave, if she is to abandon her people… Well, then it would appear that her people have put faith in the wrong person, haven't they?"

"One way or another, you win," Caelum said through gritted teeth, his fists clenched at his sides. "And you intend to use Keith's parentage as a weapon against Allura and Voltron in order to keep your precious power."

"To maintain my power, but not strengthen my own," Dei said, smiling fondly. "Don't you see? This is for you, Caelum. You are my heir. You will succeed me one day. These will be your people to govern. And if she gives in to the demands of the people, then you shall also be Red Paladin."

"I have no such desire, nor do I believe that the Red Lion will accept me," Caelum declared. "Nor do I wish to govern. You have plotted your game, mapped out your battles wisely, but it is all for naught."

With that, he stormed out of the room.

He had to hope that Allura would still admit him into the Castle.

Dei leaned back in his chair, frowning at his fool of a grandson, at the foolish little girl who was the princess.

If they thought that they could win, they were mistaken.

He pressed a button, connecting to his secretary. "Tell the air patrol to put up the particle barrier. Immediately. A security breach has come to my attention."

Neither the princess nor Voltron were going anywhere.

()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()

Dazed and upset, Allura walked through the halls of the Castle, trying to decide what to do and fighting tears.

Dei. Dei was turning the Alteans against her.

"How'd it go, Allura?"

She looked up to see Shiro, Coran and Tali approach, but their expressions fell at seeing Allura's face.

"What happened?" Coran demanded, rushing to her side.

The whole story poured out: how Dei somehow knew Keith was half-Galra, how the Alteans doubted she was actually the princess, how she knew it was all some twisted game to force her to stay.

She wiped away her tears of frustration as Shiro said grimly, "If we leave now, I doubt we'll be welcomed back."

Allura nodded, understanding his meaning perfectly.

If she stayed, she could be amongst Alteans. Her people. Her culture.

If she left, she would never be able to do so again.

"What are we going to do?" Tali asked.

"I don't know," Allura whispered. She closed her eyes and sighed. "No. I do know. We have to leave. The fate of the universe is far more important."

Coran placed a hand on her shoulder comfortingly, then said, "I'll go prepare the Castle for take-off."

Allura nodded in thanks.

A short alarm rang through the Castle; there was someone at the door.

Shiro frowned and took off running. "Not letting anyone in."

However, Hunk and Lani got there first, and let Caelum in.

Allura grit her teeth as she came into the front hall, glaring at Caelum.

"I didn't know," He insisted upon seeing Allura. "I swear, I didn't know."

"What's going on?" Hunk asked, frowning as he looked back and forth between the two Altean teens.

"My grandfather believes you are the key to securing power for him," Caelum said, ignoring Hunk. "We have to leave immediately, before he goes further."

"No, we will leave immediately," Allura snapped, pointing at the door. "You will be staying here. I told you, you are no longer welcome."

"Princess, how can I prove to you that I am honest and loyal?" Caelum begged.

"No, seriously, what is going on here?" Hunk asked, looking at Shiro and Tali for answers.

"Dei knows about Keith," Shiro explained. "And is trying to convince the Alteans that Allura isn't actually the princess."

"Oh, geez," Lani breathed, eyes wide. "None of that is good."

"Which is why we're leaving. Now." Allura said. "And Caelum is not coming with us."

"Princess, I swear that I did not—!" Caelum said, but he was cut off by the intercom.

"Princess, Shiro, we have a problem," Coran said grimly. "Come to the bridge immediately."

The group rushed to the bridge, where they were joined by Pidge, Shinji and Lance, who also heard Coran's message.

"What's going on?" Pidge asked. Then they gasped. "Is that…?"

"A particle barrier," Coran confirmed. "It appears we are not going anywhere anytime soon unless we can get it shut down."

"That's impossible!" Caelum said. "We hardly use the particle barrier, and it is typically only activated to test the system. The next test isn't until next phoeb. And the barrier is only in case we are found, and only then to give us enough time to evacuate."

"Oh, I think we have bigger problems," Lani said, grimacing, her face and hands against the windows.

"How could we have a bigger problem?" Allura demanded. "There is no way we could possibly have a bigger problem."

"Well, then, Princess, we have a very tiny problem in the form of an angry mob," Lani responded, looking over her shoulder.

Everyone joined her at the windows.

"Okay, but, if it's a mob of peace-loving, peace-keeping Alteans, how angry can it really be?" Hunk asked.

Everyone instantly jumped and there were quite a few yelps as rocks started pelting the windows.

"I'd say pretty angry," Shinji said, frowning.

"Paladins, suit up, now," Shiro ordered. "Lance, is Keith still in the lounge?"

"Yeah, and he's awake now," Lance confirmed.

Shiro nodded. "Shinji, Tali, Lani, get Keith to his room and stay there."

The three of them nodded and everyone parted ways.

The four Paladins rejoined Allura, Coran and Caelum once they were in their armor.

"What's our strategy here?" Hunk asked.

"First we find out what they want, and then we think on our feet," Allura said.

"I hate the fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants plans," Hunk said. "The seat of my pants would prefer to stay firmly on the ground."

"Should Pidge and I try to take down the particle barrier so we can escape?" Lance asked.

"No, that would cause even more panic and give the Alteans a reason to attack us," Shiro said, shaking his head. Then he frowned, and said, "But if things get bad, I'll give you a signal to go and do that." Pidge and Lance nodded.

"Wait!"

The group turned to see Shinji, Tali, Lani and, surprisingly, Keith coming towards them.

"I thought you were taking Keith to his room," Allura said, frowning.

"We were," Lani said. "But Keith said he needed to show you something."

At that, Keith stuck his arm out from under the blanket he was wrapped up in. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. To everyone's amazement, Keith's skin paled and when he opened his eyes they were dark.

"What? How?" Lance said, looking from Keith's arm to his face.

Keith shrugged, then used the tablet to write out, Woke up from nap. Got curious. Red helped. Space magic.

"Can you do this with your entire body?" Hunk asked.

Keith frowned, then closed his eyes again. They watched as he shifted back into a human form. He opened his eyes, smirked slightly as he scrawled out, Apparently yes.

"This is perfect," Lance exclaimed. "Now we can prove to the angry mob that there's nothing for them to be angry or mob-y about!"

"Actually…" Caelum said, grinning suddenly. "I have a better idea."

()()()()()()()()()()()()()

"Are you sure that this is a good idea?" Allura asked Caelum in a low voice.

"I would not have suggested it if I thought otherwise." Caelum assured her.

Allura stared at him, long and hard, her lips in a thin line. "You understand that I still do not trust you."

"I do. And I hope that this helps you understand that I am on your side, Princess."

Allura said nothing, but pressed the key to open the door to the Castle.

There was chaos before them. So many people and loud, angry voices. And Dei exactly where he loved to be: front and center.

"Bring forth the Galra, you traitor!" Dei called out, leading the mob to echo the cry.

"I do not know what you are talking about!" Allura yelled in response, trying desperately to be heard over the crowd. "The Castle has only humans and Alteans on board. Not a single Galra!"

"You are lying!" Dei cried out. He raised his arm and pointed towards the Castle. "Seize the Red Paladin!"

Allura screeched appropriately as several Alteans surged past her, pushing and shoving. Caelum grabbed her and pulled her back, both watching as Shiro, Pidge, Hunk and Lance were "overpowered" by the Alteans, none of whom stopped to wonder why there hadn't been that much resistance.

"You are a liar, a traitor, and an imposter!" Dei yelled. "You are not our princess! A true Altean princess would protect her people, not bring a Galra amongst our presence!"

"I assure you, I do not know what you are talking about!" Allura yelled. "The Red Paladin is a human of Earth, not Galra!"

There was more ruckus amongst the crowd, loud cheering this time, as the Alteans roughly drug out Keith. Or, at least, Keith under a hooded cloak, gloves, his pajamas, socks, and wearing a medical mask, his head down.

"We tried to stop them!" Tali called out, her arms behind her back, being held by an Altean, as were Coran, Lani and Shinji.

"You claim to not have a Galra, yet you have hidden the Red Paladin, refused to let anyone see him," Dei called out. "And we all know why! We can see through your lies!"

Dei marched up towards Keith, looking triumphant. He whirled around to the Alteans and proclaimed, "Look, my people, and see our enemy! Look, my people, and see what we do to traitors and fools who believe they can trick and betray the most noble, most superior race in the universe!"

With that, Dei whipped back around, his hands going for Keith's hood…

"No!" Allura called out, struggling in Caelum's arms. Dei ignored her, pulling back Keith's hood…

Dei froze, his eyes wide as Keith's violet eyes stared back at him, dark against pale skin, his black hair hanging loose around his face.

"No…" Dei whispered. "No… I know…"

He tore off the mask, revealing the rest of a human face. With a frantic look in his eye, Dei ripped off Keith's gloves. More pale skin, with neatly trimmed fingernails. Dei shoved up one of Keith's sleeves. More pale skin. Not a patch of purple fur in sight.

"No…" Dei said, louder this time. "No, this is a trick!"

Confused murmurs started to rise amongst the mob, just as Caelum hoped. They allowed Dei to get all worked up, to think that victory was in his grasp… only to look like a fool in front of the entire colony, discrediting him and all of the rumors he had begun.

With a roar of fury, Dei's hands went for the buttons of Keith's pajama top, but at that point, Shiro had already freed himself from the Altean who had 'captured' him. Shiro stepped forward, knocking away Dei's hands.

"We would appreciate it if you did not tear off his clothes," Shiro said sharply. "He's sick as it is, and exposing him to the air will only make it worse. You've already exposed yourself and everyone else to his germs."

The Altean who was holding Keith by the shoulders yelped and quickly jumped away, brushing his hands off on his pants.

"Besides," Shiro continued. "I do not believe that stripping clothes off of a Paladin in broad daylight in front of the entire planet is something the most noble, most superior race in the universe would do. That is much more of a Galra-like action, isn't it? As someone who was held prisoner by them for a year, I would know."

"No…" Dei said again, shaking his head, pointing at Keith. "No, he is a Galra spy! He has infiltrated the Paladins, corrupting them! He is working for Zarkon! He wishes to see us all becomes slaves in the Galra Empire!"

"The Red Lion chose him!" Pidge yelled, drawing their bayard, eyes narrowed as they came to Keith's other side, Hunk and Lance behind them. "Keith is a Paladin of Voltron!"

"The Red Lion chose a Galra before him, and look what happened!" Dei roared at Pidge, gesturing to the mob behind him. "We are exiles! Our planet destroyed! Millions upon millions of people enslaved! The Lions of Voltron know nothing of what we have suffered, and can be used for evil as well as good! All Galra deserve death!" Dei's eyes focused on Keith as he raised a bony finger and yelled, "Beginning with that one!"

Allura froze, her heart in her throat.

Unbidden, her mind replayed the memory the Red Lion had shared with them.

The last memory the Red Lion had of her original Paladin, Ryla.

Of Ryla in prisoner garb, her long hair shorn to the scalp, being dragged out of Zarkon's throne room, sentenced to death.

Of Ryla using her last moments to protect the Red Lion… and renouncing her bond with the Lion in the process.

Of Ryla's last instructions to the Red Lion: "I hope another Galra is worthy of being your pilot, Red! I hope you choose a Galra to fight against this injustice!"

The Red Lion had done just that, with a slight twist: she chose the half-Galra Keith.

Ryla knew that, for there to be peace, for someone to take down Zarkon and the Galra Empire, there would need to be Galra.

Defeated or not, the Galra were not going anywhere.

Defeated or not, the Galra did not deserve the genocide her people had suffered.

There were good Galra in the universe. And she claimed one as a friend.

"No," Allura said, stepping forward, eyes hard and focused on Dei. "You are wrong. However, you are also right."

She looked at the five Paladins, but Keith in particular. In a low voice, she asked, "Do you trust me?"

She didn't even notice if the other four responded or not. She just kept meeting Keith's eyes, until slowly, he nodded.

Allura took a deep breath and faced the crowd full of faces like hers.

"Keith is half human. And half Galra." She declared.

There were gasps and shouts and angry faces.

"I understand," Allura said, holding herself taller, straighter, her voice strong. "After all the ways that the Galra have wronged us—wronged the universe—I understand. When I first learned of this, I felt betrayed and hurt and angry. Because this was someone I regarded as a friend." Allura looked at Keith, smiled and said, "Someone I still regard as a friend." She faced the crowd again. "Keith was unaware of his lineage when the Red Lion chose him as her Paladin. However, I do not doubt that the Red Lion was aware when she made her selection. Not only does Keith possess all of the traits of the Red Paladin, but he had the quality that Ryla—the Red Lion's original pilot—requested that the Red Lion seek out in her next Paladin: Galra blood.

"If we are to spurn all Galra, regardless of what is in their hearts, regardless of their actions for good or evil, then we are equals with Zarkon. Uncaring about the fact that these are individuals who happen to share certain physical qualities with others. We have been a race of peace keepers, explorers, diplomats, traders, and learners for hundreds of thousands of years. Our ancestors would have been ashamed to hear any one of us say that an entire race deserves death for the actions of a few. Keith has been willingly sacrificing himself every day since he became a Paladin of Voltron. Fighting for every one of you and the entire universe so that we may one day be free of Zarkon. He is noble, kind, talented, intelligent, brave. And he so happens to have a Galra for a father. I suggest you ponder your priorities." Her gaze drifted over to a fuming Dei as she added, "And where your loyalties lie."

"They know where their loyalties lie," Dei snapped, stepping forward towards Allura. "With true Alteans! Not some imposter princess! You are a fraud, and a liar! No one would be a fool enough to be loyal to you!"

"Then let me be known as the biggest fool that ever lived, Grandfather."

Dei whipped around towards Caelum, whose fists were clenched at his side, his eyes hard, jaw tight.

"Caelum, come here," Dei snapped. "You are too smart for this. You know you are being led astray."

"I know that I wish for my children to see the universe as free as I did as a young child," Caelum said. "And I know that these people—these so-called liars and traitors and frauds—are the only hope for the universe."

Caelum stepped so that he was standing in front of Allura, then got down on one knee, head bent.

"I, Caelum Lyrason, pledge my loyalty to Princess Allura Alforsdaughter of Altea, for as long as I shall live. I shall fight at your side, and be at your beck and call. My loyalty is not to the crown, but upon whose head the crown rests." Caelum glanced up at Allura, giving her a small half-smile. "Long may she reign."

Allura's shoulders relaxed and she smiled slightly. She nodded, both indicating to Caelum that he could rise and that she trusted him.

Caelum rose to his feet, then stood beside Allura. To the crowd, he called out, "If anyone wishes to join the fight against Zarkon's Empire, speak now!"

No one moved, no one spoke.

No one volunteered.

Dei, though still furious with Caelum, also looked victorious. "You and your pathetic little band of freedom fighters need to leave this planet. Immediately. And do not return."

"Understood," Allura said, her heart breaking slightly.

It was a battle neither lost nor won.

But it was a war she did not think she could win.

()()()()()()()()()()

"How could they?" Pidge yelled, kicking at the wall in anger. "How could they just go from demanding justice, then refusing to put their own necks on the line to seek peace?"

"I guess it's easier to 'seek justice' when there are more of you than there are of them," Shiro said with a sigh, rubbing his face with his hand.

Allura stood at the windows on the bridge, sighing as she looked at the dispersing people, watching for Caelum to return after having gone to retrieve some of his personal items.

Alteans. Her people. Faces like hers she never thought she would ever see again.

And she wouldn't. They had turned their backs on her.

She felt a tap on her shoulder, turning and smiling slightly at seeing Keith. He scrawled something out on the tablet, showing it to her.

You okay?

"No," She admitted. "Not really." She glanced down at her feet, then back up at Keith. "Thank you. For trusting me."

Keith quickly wrote a response. And thank you, for trusting me.

Allura smiled. "I'm only sorry that I ever doubted you."

She pulled Keith into a hug, which made him stiffen, but then he returned the hug.

"You're going to do great things for this universe, Keith," Allura whispered in his ear. "You already have. I'm so proud of you. And glad that you are my friend."

"Even if I'm sometimes purple?" He whispered into her ear.

Allura chuckled as she released him, watching as Keith's pale skin turned a dusty purple, his eyes paling to a glowing yellow. She reached up and stroked the fur on his ears.

"Even if you are sometimes purple," She agreed. "Now go rest. I want you back in peak fighting form as soon as possible. And I know I am not the only one."

Keith gave her a fanged grin, then he waved and walked away.

Allura felt another hand on her shoulder and looked up at Coran.

"You did well today, Princess," He said. "Your parents would be proud of you."

"Even though we just lost one of our few precious alliances?" Allura asked.

"When the alternative is sacrificing your friend, another close ally? Of course. Nova would have kicked someone's netherbum by now. You managed to just do so with words."

Allura smiled. "Thank you, Coran."

As Coran walked away, a little thought wiggled into her brain.

As often as Coran spoke of her father, there was always a distinct fondness whenever he spoke of her mother. Especially more recently. Had Coran, at one point in time, been in love with her mother? Or still was, thousands of years after her death?

She didn't have long to ponder that thought as Caelum appeared on the bridge. "The particle barrier will lower in approximately ninety ticks," He said.

"Great, let's go before we wear out our welcome any further," Lance commented.

"Uh, one question though," Hunk said. "Where do we go from here? Are we just going to go back to the whole wandering the universe, listening for distress calls thing?"

"No," Allura said as she approached the controls. "We learned one valuable lesson today: we need allies. Not just planets with people who will give us supplies or shelter. We need people to fight with us."

"Like, soldiers?" Lani asked. "You want to make an army?"

"Perhaps not an army, per se," Allura said. "But we are small in numbers. Most of the planets we have been to and freed, they need to ensure that their planet is protected and well-defended before they can do anything to help us. However, that can take some time."

"She's right," Shiro said. "Even the combined military of all the militaries on Earth wasn't enough to keep out the Galra. Everything has to be re-evaluated and strengthened. That's not something that can be done overnight. Especially on the planets who had their own militaries disbanded for hundreds, if not thousands, of years."

"So we need to find allies who feel secure enough with their own defenses in order to lend us some strength," Tali summarized. "How do we do that?"

"I have an idea," Coran said. "Princess, set a course for Nabat-Al."

"What's on Nabat-Al?" Pidge asked.

"The priests and priestess of Nabat," Coran explained.

"Future-seers and speak only the truth," Caelum said, eyebrows arched. "But they are as peaceful as Alteans once were. They will not join our forces."

"No," Allura said as she plugged in the coordinates. "But they can tell us who will."