Birthright: Chapter 12

Chapter 12


"It seems that my trust in Derek was well vested," Alysson stated as she smiled at the young man before her.

"Did he always keep in contact with you?"

Alysson slowly nodded. "Yes...and no," she said carefully. "It was always dangerous for me to try, but he was able to keep me informed of how well you were doing. His messages soon stopped once...well once you were sent to Arus."

"I'm sure that he..."

Alysson held up her hand and shook her head. "No need for you to make excuses for him," she said. "He's done me a favor that I cannot repay. It is a life debt that I owe him."

"What about my father?"

Alysson could only meet his gaze as she breathed in deeply. "Alex?" she asked. Her expression then changed as she thought deeply to herself. "What can I say about your father?" She then smiled to herself. "Beside we being total opposites?"

"Total?"

She slowly nodded. "We met at a function; one of those highly publicized and very important social gatherings that Galaxy Garrison loves to put on, but in actuality its all political. I didn't want to be there, but I had met Derek Hayashi earlier in my stay on Earth, and he wanted me to meet his nephew, who he constantly talked about endlessly. To be honest, I felt that his nephew was....a cad."

"A cad?" Keith asked.

She smiled. "Needless to say, he was more of a pompous ass than a cad," she said honestly. "Let's just say that our first meeting didn't give either of us a great first impression."

"Oh, mom, you can't entirely blame him for all the bad things that happened that evening," Anala said as she crossed the room to where they were sitting. "I heard from Derek another version."

Alysson smiled. "There are always other versions of a story," she said simply.

"What did happen?"

"He did everything that could go wrong," Anala stated.

"After Derek introduced me to your father, he ignored me the entire evening," Alysson said with a smile. "I could see by Derek's expression that he was not too entirely happy with the way his nephew was carrying on that evening."

"How many girls did he dance with?" Anala asked.

"Too many to count," she said. "And as the party started to die down, he further insults me by dropping his glass of wine all over my dress. Needless to say, he definitely did not walk out of there with a girl in tow."

"What do you mean?" Anala asked. "He could barely walk at all."

"What?"

Alysson smiled. "We'll just leave it that he was hurt enough to make me feel guilty enough to give him the time of day," she said with a smile. "At least under that cocky exterior there actually beat a heart of a wonderful man."

Keith could only smile. "I wish he were alive," he said.

"I wish he could be to see you here," she added. "I think it would have warmed his heart to know that you are alive and well."

Before Keith could ask his next question, he felt a sudden pain course through him and he became very dizzy. He sucked in a deep breath, which caused Anala to rush to his side.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Pain," he said as he closed his eyes. "Everywhere."

"Is it the Trial?"

"I don't know," he managed to say.

Alysson got to her feet, quickly pulling on a small cord. Soon, there was a quiet knock on her study door.

"I didn't expect it to start now," she said as she rushed to the door, where Vera was standing on the other side.

"What is starting now?" he asked as another rush of pain coursed through him.

"Vera, please have Noran visit me here," she said. "Tell him its about the matter I spoke to him earlier today."

"Yes milady," she said with a bow, before leaving.

Alysson turned to where Anala was nearly cradling Keith in her arms.

"What is his temperature?"

Anala felt his forehead. "Starting to burn up," she stated.

Alysson quickly walked over to them and kneeled before Keith. She took his hands into her own.

"Just breathe in deeply, and it will soon go away," she said. "How many times have you had this happen?"

"This is only the 2nd time," he stated. "The first was back on Arus."

Alysson nodded. "One more to go,"

"One more?" he asked.

"The Trial of Olin comes in three stages," she explained. "You are now half way through."

"Why is it different in me?" he asked.

"I think it has to do with your Terran nature, as well," she said. "Noran will be able to explain it."

"Noran?" Anala asked.

"A high priest, and a very close friend," she said. "He worked under my father before..."

Anala grabbed her mother's arm before she said more. "Mom..."

Alysson turned to Anala. "Its time I told both of you," she said. "Though Anala, I think you've already known for a long time now."

"What is it?"

"Since my father's death, I have vowed to see that my people are returned to their normal lives, before Kellar came with his weapons of destruction," she started to say. "He destroyed my father's empire, as well as destroyed my life, and taken the very people I love away from me. I knew that I was unable to do anything by myself, but I knew that somehow...someway..when my son was old enough, he would be able to come and help his people as well."

"What are you saying?"

"Keith, you are the rightful heir to my empire," she said simply. "I am Princess Lyana Alysson L'eorna, daughter of King Vellum L'eorna, ex-ruler of Planet Vallis."


Allura smiled to herself as Kellar led them all on a tour of his vast armory. She quietly made some mental notes to herself, knowing that things will start to change when they get through with their demonstration.

"Now, since you both came here to give me a taste of your weapons, why don't we start the exhibition?" Kellar asked. "Im sure you're all very anxious."

"Anxious isn't the exact word I would use," Allura said.

He smiled. "If you will follow Lady Alysson, she will take you to the staging area."

Allura nodded then turned to Lotor who also nodded in agreement.

"And Alysson, please join me in the spectator box when you are done briefing them," Kellar requested.

"I never miss an exhibition," she stated. "If you will all follow me."

Kellar watched as she led them off, as a dark figure soon joined him.

-Now do you believe me?-

Kellar turned to Xue as he knelt down in front of him.

"Are you positive on your findings?"

-She is the princess, my lord.-

"Then she shall be dealt with accordingly," he simply stated. "Did you find any information about this child?"

-None that I could come across.- Xue stated. -And what about Lady Anala.-

Kellar smiled to himself as he started toward the stands where he would watch the entire battle.

"We will humor her for a bit longer," he said. "Then use Anala against her."

-What more can I do for you my lord?-

"Find out who this child of hers is," Kellar demanded.

-As you wish.-


"We know the plan?" Allura asked. "Lotor, this will be about the only time your Robeast will have to put up a good act."

"Acting is not a concern of mine here," the prince stated. "Just be sure to hold up your end."

"Don't worry, we will," Lance stated.

Lotor nodded in agreement as he walked away. Allura then nodded to everyone else as Alysson gave her last instructions.

"Once the battle is over, you will have to react quickly," she stated. "As you toured the armory, you can see how well he can defend himself. He can have his fleet deployed within moments.

"And from the Armory, it leads straight to the caverns below the castle," she said. "You will have to go in on foot once you break through his defenses."

"That shouldn't be much a problem," Allura said.

"Lotor and I will keep try to keep Kellar busy as you go in to release the storage units," she instructed. "All I can say is good luck."

"Well, we have a show to put on," Lance stated. "And Im all for kicking some robeast tails."

"We all are," Hunk added.

"Pidge, you have the codes to unlock the storage units," Alysson added. "If there should be any problem, be sure to radio Anala. She will help you through the system."

"Understood."

"It's show time," Lance said.

Each of them nodded and soon ran off toward their respective lion ships. Allura started toward hers, but slowed when she noticed that Keith was still speaking with Alysson. She stood there momentarily then watched as he started toward his lion. She then made her way toward him.

"Is everything alright?" she asked.

"She gave us her blessings," he said.

"No, I meant you," she said. "You look a little bothered."

He could only meet her gaze. "Its nothing," he said. "She's just worried."

"We all are," she said. "We are trying to take planet back to return it to the rule of princess we haven't even seen or met yet."

"But is her rule what she is looking for?"

Allura could only stare at him. "Is it true then?"

"What is?"

"That Alysson."

"Hey, you two, we have 5 minutes!" Lance yelled from his lion. "You can talk about a victory party AFTER we have a victory."

"We'll talk later," she said.

She then turned to run toward her lion.


Kellar stood as Lady Alysson and Lady Anala joined him in the spectator box. He motioned for them to take a seat next to him as they then settled down for the event.

"Let the games begin," he simply stated then turned to Alysson. "My dear, how would you like to place your wagers today?"

"You know that I don't like to gamble, my lord," she said as she watched the lion ships and Lotor's three robeasts enter the field. "It spoils the fun of the whole event."

"Oh, I think I might have to gamble something you'd be interested in," he said as he took her hand into his own.

This caused her to turn to him. "Oh?"

He smiled as he signaled for a servant. The small boy then came up to him, handing him a small parchment.

"Especially if it means the life your only son."

Alysson's eyes widened as he held her hand more firmly.

"You have done well to hide from me all this time, Lyana," he said. "But your charade has come to an end."

"H-How?"

"Its good to have help where and when you need it," he said simply. "Now, since you've eluded your own death all those years ago, I now have a different agenda."

"If you dare to."

"I dare what I want to," he said. "Remember you are not the ruler of Vallis, and don't believe that it will return to you."

"A simple bet, my dear," he said. "If your so called Voltron Force wins, your son, your life, and Anala's life will be spared."

"And if they do not?"

"You will have to inflict the fate that was bestowed on you," he said. "Their deaths."

"I will not."

He held her hand tighter in his grip, nearly twisting her wrist.

"You will do as I say, or suffer the consequence," he seethed. "Now, do I have your wager."

Nearly in tears, Alysson turned toward the field where they were about to set to battle.

"Yes." she said finally. But she could barely commit to it knowing that their well laid plan had called for Lotor to defeat Voltron.