The next morning, Nova went looking for Allura, she wasn't in her sleeping quarters or on the bridge.
She spotted Coran going down a corridor. "Coran!" She called. "Do you know where I can find Allura?"
"I'm just about to go and get her. Come with me." He smiled. "You should still be resting, young princess."
She sighed. "I've rested as much as I can. You know me, can't stay still for too long."
"Ah, yes. It was always difficult to make you go to bed when you were a little one." He stared off into space. "Even back then, you stood up for Allura. Always knew you'd grow up to be the knight that Allura needed. The one she can always depend on." He patted Nova's head. "You are both brilliant leaders, I am proud of you."
She smiled softly. "Thank you, Coran. I've always seen you as another Uncle. I know I can always rely on you."
Coran welled up. "Princess Nova..." He sniffed.
"Please, stop calling me 'Princess.' You're worse than Red and you've known me longer and should know me better." She added.
"I know, but you'll always be a Princess to me." He smiled. "C'mon."
They walked into the room where King Alfor's memories were kept.
Allura was sat in her own fantasy world, having tea, talking to him.
"Allura, you shouldn't be up and about." Nova said.
Allura looked over. "Neither should you."
Nova folded her arms. "I didn't preform a replenishing ceremony."
"I didn't shoot three million volts of lightning into a crazy monster."
Nova sighed. "That's what I do! I do reckless things all the time, my body is used to it, yours isn't."
"Aah Nova, this is your first visit." Alfor smiled in her direction. "Your father will be proud of the warrior you have become. Allura has told me all about your reckless act to save everyone." He chuckled.
Nova raised her brow. "I survived didn't I? Dunno why Allura is making such a fuss."
"You're practically her younger sister. She will always worry about you. Just as you are protective of her."
"Sorry I haven't visited much, I've been training the new paladins." Nova added, dropping the subject.
"Who better to train them other than the greatest Altean commander there ever was?"
"Actually, whilst I'm here, there's something I need to know..."
"What is it, child?"
She swallowed. Whilst I'm here. "My mother... do you really not know anything about her?" Pidge had gotten her mind spinning with ideas, she needed to know if Alfor knew something more.
"All I remember is that your father was away on one of his expeditions for many a deca-phoeb, we actually thought he had died on his adventure. My wife was beside herself with grief. We all were." He sat down on his podium. "Then... on the day that the comet showed up and crashed into Zarkon's home planet... your father returned, with you wrapped up in his arms." He smiled. "You were just over a year old. He told us that he'd been to a planet called Earth, billions of galaxies away, that he had crash landed with little memory of who he was. He was taken care of by a human female, whom he had fallen in love with. He gained memories back soon but decided to remain with his new bride... until she died. He did not tell me the circumstances that led to her death."
Nova stared at the man who had raised her from a child. "But... why weren't we ever taught about the human race? According to my new friend... humans may not have existed all them years ago." None of this makes sense.
"Your father was an explorer. Who knows. He often went out on voyages to far off galaxies, maybe he discovered the early stages of human life. I honestly don't know too much, your father was reluctant to share much, possibly protecting your mother's race and you."
"Wait... did you say he returned when the trans-reality comet arrived?" Nova furrowed her brows.
"Yes... it was an astonishing coincidence that he had picked that time to return."
"Thank you, Uncle." She looked to Allura. "You. Bed." She took Allura by the arm and guided her out of the room, Coran followed.
"Nova... what was that all about?" She asked.
Nova shook her head. "Just curious. That's all. Don't worry too much." She smiled.
Allura frowned a little but let the matter drop. Of course she'd be curious about her mother now that we have met actual humans...
Once she had made sure that Allura was tucked up in bed, Nova went to get a drink. My dad came back with me... at the same time as the comet hit Daibazaal? Was it really just a coincidence? She sighed, rubbing her temple. She took a sip of her juice. I wonder if Pidge managed to analyse my blood? She walked out and saw Pidge heading down to the holding cells. "Pidge?"
Pidge looked to her.
"What are you doing?"
"Coran called us to go to the holding cells for some reason." She shrugged and continued her journey.
They must be interrogating Sendak! Nova didn't hesitate to follow.
"Princess, what are you doing here?" Keith asked as Coran set up the device.
Nova raised a brow. "You expect me to miss this?" She looked to see what Coran was installing. "That's for preserving Altean memories... not interrogating prisoners." She stated.
Coran nodded.
"Coran, we understand this isn't what the technology was meant for." Shiro said. "But if we extract Sendak's memories, we may gain intelligence on Zarkon's troop locations."
"Yeah!" Lance looked to Nova. "Then we can just be like, 'Knock-knock.'" He waited expectantly for her to respond.
She gave a sigh. "Who's there?"
He struck a pose. "The avenging fury of Voltron, son!"
She bit back a giggle.
He noticed the laughter in her eyes though, so gave a triumphant smile.
Pidge stared at the device. "Fascinating... how exactly does it work?"
"As the memory is extracted, they're written bit by bit on individual molecules of micro-storage strands." Coran explained.
Lance gave a wistful sigh. "When I go, I want all the stuff in my brain stored in a giant ship." He leaned casually against Nova, an arm draped on her shoulder.
She raised a brow at his action.
"The amount of information in your brain could be stored in a paper aeroplane."
Nova laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
Keith looked to her out of the corner of his eye. He noticed Lance dropping his arm from her shoulder, getting flustered.
"Oh, yeah? Well, the amount of information you have, Keith, could be..." He paused.
"Yeah?" Keith raised an eyebrow.
"Well... it's less than what I have!"
"Oh! Good one, Lance!" Hunk cheered.
Nova felt her cheeks ache from laughing. "Nice try, Lance." She pinched his cheek.
He pouted.
She felt Keith's eyes on her. She looked and noticed a ghost of a smile on his lips, so she gave a flash of a smile in return.
He felt his cheeks heat up.
"So, this is how you incorporated King Alfor's memories into the Castle of Lions?" Pidge asked.
"Precisely, but it's never been attempted before on an unwilling participant." Coran added, activating the device.
They all stood back and waited. Nothing.
"Let's give it some time." Nova suggested.
Keith moved to beside her. "Are you sure?" He asked quietly.
She gave a nod. "I need answers."
He exhaled. "Alright, but know that we are all here. Don't let him get inside your head again." He patted her shoulder assuringly.
Lance looked to them with a raised brow. Since when have those two been cosy?
After about an hour of waiting Nova stretched. "This is taking too long..." She groaned.
Keith stood straight. "Yeah, I don't fancy waiting around much longer." He looked to her. "Fancy hitting the training deck?" He asked.
She nodded and followed him.
Lance stared after them. "Wait... training... together? What did I miss?" He asked aloud when they were out of earshot.
Pidge shrugged. "This is good, though, right?"
Lance gave a snort. "I guess."
At the training deck, Nova observed as Keith took on a couple of robotic soldiers.
She watched his stance and fighting style. Even his fighting style is similar... She frowned. Just... who are you? She sighed. Who am I to judge when I don't even know who I am any more...?
Keith could feel her eyes boring into him. "What is it, Princess?" He asked, dodging a swing. "Just out with it, whatever is on your mind."
Nova blinked. "Its nothing, really."
"Hey, bottling it up is bad, especially for you." He huffed, ducking under the robot's weapon.
She sighed. "Why are you so worried?"
"Well... where I come from, friends worry about each other." He blocked the robot's weapon with his sword. "Also, when you finally blow, you electrocute people." He stated. "And I am the only one here with you, and I really don't want lightning shot through me."
She snorted.
He swung his sword and cut the robot across the middle, causing it to shatter. "At least take it out on a couple of these robots." He looked to her with a smirk. "Start training level 3!" He called out.
The next robot dropped down and began sparring with him.
She sighed. "Fine." She stepped onto the deck and made a dash towards the robot that Keith was fighting. She threw her fist out at it and knocked its head clean off. She flexed her knuckles. "You're right... that does feel better." She met his gaze.
He raised a brow. "That's good, but get your own, Princess."
She smirked, summoning her staff and pointing it towards him. "If you dare?"
For some reason, her expression made his heart jump to his mouth. Damn... I'd totally surrender to her right now... He mentally kicked himself. "Alright... do I get a request before we start?"
"What is it?"
"Please refrain from using lightning. Unlike you, I'm not shock proof or wearing my paladin armour." He gestured to his black tee and jeans.
Her eyes gave him the once over. "Alright, fine." She backed up a few steps and took up a fighting stance. "Come at me."
He took a deep breath. I'm gonna regret this.
After a few minuets of clashing weapons, many times Nova disarmed him, backing off a little to let him pick his bayard back up.
Keith had managed to swing his leg to the back of her knees, causing her to fall onto her knees. He grinned triumphantly and pointed his blade to her nose. "Finally..." He huffed, catching his breath.
She brushed her hair out of her eyes. "You do realise that I am going easy on you, Red?" She cocked a brow.
He quirked his lip. "How kind of you, Princess..." That... was going easy on me?! He stood down a little giving her room to stand up.
She grinned wickedly and grabbed his sword arm, pulling him down. She manoeuvred herself so that he landed on his back, she straddled him.
He had just enough time to block her staff with his sword.
She leaned closer to him. "Never yield to the enemy." She whispered.
He swallowed thickly.
She eased up, getting off him and began laughing, sitting beside him. "Your face!"
He stared at her. "You..." He turned away. "Don't do that."
"What?" She tilted her head to the side.
"Never mind..." He mumbled, sitting up.
Nova thought for a moment, noticing the dusting of pink on his cheeks. "Are you... blushing?"
He snorted. "No..."
"You are!" She knelt up to get a closer look at his face.
He met her gaze. "You would too if you got out witted by a girl!" He snapped.
She smirked. "Is that all?"
"Yeah, just embarrassed." He leaned back on his arms.
"Wanna go another round?" She asked, standing up and holding out her hand.
He took it and allowed himself to be pulled up. "I won't lose this time."
"We'll see shall we?" She spun her staff in her hand.
He grinned.
She gave a bright smile.
He almost tripped over. "What?!"
"Oh, nothing." Regardless of who he is... "C'mon." She readied herself. I trust him... against my better judgment.
There was a wooshing noise.
"Um... Princess?"
"What?"
"Do the robots normally activate without an order?"
She looked around to see one of the training robots approaching them, weapon ready. She scanned it. "End training sequence!" She ordered.
The robot still advanced.
"Something's off..." Keith said, putting his guard up.
She frowned. "Definitely." Her eye finished scanning it. "Its infected... by the Galra crystal no doubt."
Suddenly the robot lunged forward, taking a swing at her.
Nova was quick to block the robot's blade, before it kicked her stomach, sending her across the floor.
"Princess?!"
She stood back up with a grumble. "I'm fine, just watch your back!"
He dodged another swing. "Can't you electrocute it?!" He asked.
"My uncle modified them to withstand my electricity for better training. Unless I send a blast like I did on the Balmera, my shocks won't leave so much as a scratch." She went to his side. "It will stun it at most."
"Well, its better than nothing." He said as they both ducked under the robot's next attack. "I'll distract it."
She focused, charging just enough energy from the staff. "Watch out!" She said, running towards them.
Keith jumped out of the way just in time to avoid the electrical blast.
The robot stumbled backwards, dazed.
"Run!" Nova grabbed Keith's hand and raced towards the doors.
Once out Keith slammed the close button. He panted. "Okay... now what do we do-? Whoa!"
The robots sword slid through between the doors and forced them open.
"We need to get to the bridge and find out what's going on." Nova stated, blocking the robot again.
"Let's go!" He urged.
As they ran, occasionally countering the robot, they noticed Lance screaming from the other side of the airlock chamber door.
"Lance?!" Nova called.
"Nova! Keith! Help!"
"What are you doing in there?" Keith asked as he locked swords with the robot. "As you can see, we're in a bit of a tight spot too."
"Well, if you don't get me out of here now, I'm gonna be pulled out into space!" Lance panicked. "Oh, no!"
"Red!"
He glanced over.
"I have an idea. Lead it towards the door."
He looked to the door then to the robot. Oh! He battled the robot, leading him towards the airlock door.
He rolled away in time for Nova to hit the open button and brace herself.
The robot was pulled out of the ship.
"Hey?!" Lance called, holding onto a fixture in the airlock room.
Nova leaned out, one hand holding the door frame. "Take my hand!" She called.
Lance reached out to her.
Just a little further... She leaned out more and almost fell out.
"I've got ya, Princess!" Keith held her by the arm, giving her a bit more reach.
Finally, Lance's hand clasped around hers.
She gave a good pull and managed to pull him in. The force of Lance's body slamming into hers caused her to fall back onto Keith, who had pulled them both to the side before closing the airlock again.
"You alright?" Keith mumbled.
She felt a shiver run up her spine as his cooling breath hit her neck. "Y-yeah. Sorry..." She tried to straighten up, but she had a blue paladin clinging on to her for his dear life. "Lance... you're safe now..." She petted his head.
He looked up. "Yeah... thanks." He stepped back.
She giggled.
He looked between Keith and Nova. He noticed how Keith hadn't let go of her arm yet. He raised a brow, catching Keith's gaze.
Keith looked and dropped his hand before clearing his throat. "What were you doing out there?"
"Who was that guy?"
"It just tried to kill us!"
"Well, was he the Castle? Because that's who's trying to kill me."
Nova sighed before heading off in the direction of the bridge. "C'mon, we should gather the others."
The boys looked at each other before following her lead.
They first found Coran then went to see if Pidge and Hunk were still in the lab.
They were laying around on the floor.
"How can you guys be taking a nap whilst this Castle is trying to kill us?!" Lance exclaimed.
"Taking a nap? We've been floating around in Zero-G! You know how scary that is?" Hunk replied.
"I just almost got sucked out into space!"
"I got attacked by killer food, and that's the most horrifying thing you can imagine!" Hunk argued. "It will haunt me to my grave!"
"Well, Nova and I had a robot try to kill us!"
"Us? You were together this whole time?" Pidge raised a brow.
"Yes!" Keith snapped. "What about it?"
"Oh, nothing."
Lance turned to Coran. "I don't care what you say, Coran. This castle has gone apples and bananas!"
Nova looked over to the Galra crystal that Pidge was testing. "Just as I thought, it could be that the infection from the crystal was worse than we anticipated, Coran?" She looked to the elder Altean.
Coran gave a nod.
"Well get rid of it!"
"Its too late." Coran sighed. "When Sendak plugged it into the ship, it corrupted the entire system."
"Sendak..." Keith breathed, before looking around. "Wait, has anyone seen Shiro?"
They all made their way down to the holding cells and found Shiro hugging himself in a corner.
Sendak was gone.
Nova put a hand on his shoulder. "Shiro?"
"Are you okay?" Pidge asked.
Keith looked around."Where's Sendak?!"
"I... I had to get him out of here." Shiro said, eyes panicked. "I was hearing his voice. He can't be trusted on this ship."
"It is the ship! I got stuck in a cryo-pod, then, in an airlock." Lance stated. "Keith and Nova got attacked by a robot, and Hunk and Pidge got attacked by food. It's been a weird morning."
Nova was staring into space. "Allura..."
Everyone looked to her.
"I need to find Allura! Something is wrong." Nova pushed past the boys before the castle started beeping. "What?" Nova tried to connect her eye with the castle-ship but to no avail, the virus from the Galra crystal was playing havoc with her connections.
A mini screen popped up with a warning.
Coran frowned. "How is that possible?"
"What is it?" Keith asked.
"The ship is starting a wormhole jump!"
Nova's eyes narrowed. "Allura!" She lead the way to the bridge.
When they got there, they saw her standing underneath the crystal, piloting the Castle.
"Allura?" Nova stepped closer to her.
"What's going on?" Keith injected.
"We're going to Altea." She looked over and met her cousin's eyes. "Nova... we're going home."
Nova's head spun. "Allura..."
"Don't worry, my father is taking us."
Nova looked to Shiro, who nodded.
They all ran up to Allura.
"Stay away from my daughter!" King Alfor's holographic face popped up onto every window.
"Allura! Wake up!" Shiro called.
"The crystal must've corrupted King Alfor's artificial intelligence." Coran stated.
"It's taking over. Allura!" Nova stepped closer.
"Stand back!" A shock flew from the barrier around Allura and hit Nova in the stomach.
Nova doubled up a little with the impact but was soon advancing again. "Best you can do...? C'mon, Uncle. You know that electricity has little affect on me."
The wormhole ended.
"Oh, no!" Hunk gulped.
"We're heading for a star and it's about to explode!" Pidge exclaimed.
"Allura!" Nova gritted her teeth. "Wake up! That's not Altea!"
Allura frowned at her. "Don't you see them... the juniberries... the most exquisite flower of all..."
"Allura, you have got to listen to me!"
Allura looked around at her vision. "Is this real?"
"Of course it's real daughter... that flower you're touching is real."
"Allura. What about the smell?! You remember the sweet aroma of the juniberries, right?" Nova yelled.
Allura sniffed the 'flower.' "Huh?" She was pulled back into reality. She stared at the star. "That's not Altea." She stated.
"Well, duh!" Nova spat. "Finally!"
"When that star goes supernova, it will destroy the entire system." Pidge added.
"Allura, reset the course and get us out of here now!" Nova added.
Allura nodded and ran to the pillars. "Ah!" They shocked her when she touched them, sending her flying out of the confines of the barrier.
Nova was quick in catching her. "Allura?"
Allura looked up at her cousin. "Nova... I am so sorry."
"Don't worry. I'll fix it." She mumbled.
"You always do." Allura smiled softly.
The hologram of Alfor appeared on the podium. He began to pilot the ship.
Allura stood straight. "Father, please, I beg you to turn this ship around." She tried to reason with him. "If you don't then we'll all perish."
"I know, that is my intension."
"What? Why?"
"Don't you see, dear daughter? Zarkon can never be defeated. He's been ruling for ten thousand years."
"But we must fight!" Allura argued.
"Fight for what? It is all over for Altea. You don't have to live a lifetime of war. You can be with me and the rest of your people."
"Father, please! The paladins, Nova and I can still stop Zarkon! Somewhere in there you must want that to happen."
Suddenly the hologram glitched. "A-Allura! My A.I has been corrupted, you must disconnect the main power source." Another glitch. "We can stroll through the Blossom Canyon every morning, just like we used to."
"Allura, you know what you have to do." Nova said.
She nodded. "I love you, father." She looked to see sparks surrounding Nova. "What are you doing?"
She gripped her staff. "I'm gonna prepare us for a wormhole as soon as it's safe to." She made a lightning dash onto the podium, her speed and the electricity surrounding her giving her enough strength through the barrier. "We don't have enough time."
"Ahh... dear Nova..." The corrupted Alfor chuckled. "The one who tried to sacrifice herself so she could stay with the man she loved and protect her people at the same time..."
To her horror, a memory popped up onto the screen, looking like a movie reel.
"Nova... I will always love you..." The dying teenage Galra boy smiled warmly, tears welling up in his eyes. "I'm sorry."
His last words... "Xen..." She choked.
"Looks like the boy still loved you, even though he was ordered to kill your people and betray you." Corrupt Alfor chuckled.
"How did you...?"
"I scanned the whole ship and found your little memory safe. Full of memories you can not live with, but are too important to forget." The hologram glitched again. "Nova... I am truly sorry..."
"Princess!" Keith called out, seeing her eyes glaze over.
Hearing his voice, she blinked back tears, gritting her teeth, she placed her hands on the pillars and electricity coursed through her arms. She looked back to see Allura's eyes welling up. "Allura... sometime now would be great!" She felt as if her whole heart was being ripped out again.
"Nova..."
"I'll be alright, just please hurry..." Images from the past came to her, flashing before her eyes.
His soft gaze, his gentle words that calmed her down, dancing in the meadows surrounded by the scent of juniberries, training together... his lips on hers... his dagger cutting across her eye...
"I know it's gonna be difficult, Allura. But I am here. Coran is here. We are all here for you... You'll never be alone. I promise." She gripped the pillars as more electricity surged through her.
Allura dried her eyes and turned to the paladins and Coran. "I need to go to the A.I chamber and disconnect my father's power source."
"But that means... you'll lose your father's memories." Coran said.
"I know, but it has got to be done. I dunno how long Nova can hold out, so I need the rest of you to get to your Lion's and prolong the Castle's descent into the star."
"I can try to override the system to open the hangers." Coran stated.
Allura headed down to the chamber.
Keith stared at Nova, who looked like she was hanging on by a thread. "Princess?"
She met his eyes.
He stepped towards her, feeling anger burn in his chest.
"Go." She flashed a weary smile. "I'm... alright." Those words felt like a million shocks to her heart.
He hesitated, before nodding. "Alright." He went to his Lion.
Alfor's hologram disappeared.
"He must've gone to stop Allura, now is your chance, Princess. Prepare for wormhole." Coran called.
After a few minuets, Nova felt a sharp pain in her chest, and it wasn't just her heartache. Allura..? She felt the electric shocks coming from the pillars die down. "I think... it's done." She felt tears roll down her cheeks. "Uncle Alfor... thank you." She whispered.
The barrier around her fell down.
"She did it." Coran sniffled.
The castle alarms blared and all systems seemed to be back to normal.
"Alright paladins! Get to your hangers, we're getting out of here!" Nova called.
The paladins did as they were told.
"Nova?" Allura ran onto the bridge.
"I've got this... I think." She smiled as a wormhole opened up. "Let's go!"
