Keith unconsciously bit his lower lip in concentration.
"Alright. Steady. Steady. Okay, NOW!"
KA-BOOM!
"Excellent, your majesty!" Coran exclaimed over the intercom. His face appeared on the blue lion's monitor.
"Thank you, Coran. I never realized how much fire power these ships had." Allan said, glancing at another monitor to check if he had already recovered from his dive. It was only his third day, and it seemed like he had been flying the lion for months.
"Oh! It was indeed such a good idea to have Allan fly in your place, princess." Nanny asserted, her chubby hands clasped together in a mixture of delight, relief, and wonder.
Lance rolled his eyes. He was standing behind the console where Nanny, Coran, and Allura were huddled over. Beside him were Hunk and Pidge, who like him, didn't seem too enthusiastic about the whole thing.
"I still can't believe Keith allowed the princess to leave the team." Hunk whispered to Lance.
"Yeah. I mean, the prince is okay, but I prefer the princess over him anytime." Pidge said, pushing his glasses higher up his nose.
"Keith didn't really have much of a choice." Lance reasoned out, in defense of his friend. "The princess personally made the request. Not even Keith could say 'no' to that." He sighed. "Besides, I think it's for the best. At least we don't have to worry about her anymore."
Hunk and Pidge nodded in understanding, as they watched the Black Lion do a nosedive and fire at a target positioned on a mountainside.
"Wow!" Pidge cried-out, "That was one heck of a shot!"
"Yeah, little buddy. That's why he's flying the black lion." Hunk said, emphasizing the last five words, which earned him an annoyed look from Coran and a jab from Lance.
Allura couldn't help but feel a little envious of Allan as she watched him mimic every move that Keith did with his lion. She wanted to be up in the blue. She should be the one training with Keith...
The castle alarms suddenly went off.
"Coran, a Doom fleet has just entered the atmosphere. Prepare the castle for an attack. The rest of you, get to your lions." Keith ordered.
"Right, chief!" Hunk said, jumping into his portal as it came into view.
"We're on our way!" Pidge shouted as he jumped into his.
"Don't start the party without us!" Lance piped-in, running towards his chute.
"Allan, maybe you should let me take over blue lion." Allura said, nervously, fearing for her friend.
"No, Allura. I'll be fine. This is just what I need to complete my training." Allan replied, his face reappearing on the screen. He offered her a bright smile. "I'll be careful."
"You'd better be!" Nanny answered for her.
Allan nodded and signed-off, changing the picture from the blue lion's cockpit to the vast Arussian sky, now covered with doom ships and five lions.
*-*-*-*-*
"Yeehah!" Lance sang-over the comm-link, all the while shooting at five ships heading his way.
Allan's lips involuntarily quirked upward. As much as he tried to concentrate, he couldn't help but smile at the way the explorers handled the situation. 'It seems that I'm the only one who doesn't think of this as fun', he thought miserably, as he dodged a missile aimed for his lion's rear. He glanced at his side monitor and saw the yellow and green lions lunge for a huge battle ship. A few moments later, it exploded. Above the explosion, he could hear the friendly bickering of the two pilots: "Hey, I was the one who made the ship go BOOM!" "Na-ah! I was the one that made the ship go BOOM!"
His attention shifted to the screen in front of him. His jaw dropped in awe as he watched the Black lion effortlessly maneuver through the core of the group of vessels that fired heavily at it. The shots aimed at the lion didn't find their target, and ended-up destroying their own ships. 'Amazing!' He thought, silently praising the pilot of the lion.
A thunderous sound from behind him jolted him back to reality.
Turning his lion around, he found himself facing a menacing robot. He let out a shout when one of its arms swatted him down.
"Allan!" Allura's concerned voice echoed over the comm.
"Pull-up!" he heard Keith yell soon after.
Allan grabbed the lever and his lion leveled-out seconds before its nose hit the ground. He joined the other lions in a volley of missile-fire, all the while noting that none of the 'direct hits' seemed to have scratched the robeast.
"This isn't working!" Hunk bellowed from the yellow lion.
"Keith! Time to form Voltron!" Lance shouted.
Keith nodded. "Alright, team, ready to form Voltron."
Four lions roared in response to Keith's announcement. But before they could all fall into formation, a suddenly yelp from the blue lion's cockpit made everybody look back.
"Oh great! The robeast got its claws on the blue lion. I knew something like this would happen." Lance said, not at all worried about the pilot inside the ship.
"Please, help him!" Allura cried-out, her face appearing on the lion monitors. Everyone on the team could see the urgency in her eyes.
Lance swallowed hard as he watched the Black lion charge for the robeast. There was a life being threatened, and here he was brushing it aside. He silently adulated his best friend for sticking to his job... 'even if it means saving the butt of the prince who managed to win the heart of the princess you love more than life itself.'
The robeast had firmly planted itself on the ground, near the castle. Keith braced himself for impact. He hurtled his lion directly on the robeast's chest, making it lose it's balance and fall backwards; letting go of the Blue Lion in the process. The Black Lion roared in victory as it hovered behind the fallen robeast.
The robeast roared in anger, and got up on its two feet. It sought the Black Lion and rushed at it, the monster's rage increasing in every step it took.
"Lance, Hunk, Pidge. We have to get him away from the castle. We'll have to make due with the four lions that we have." Keith said, his voice ringing with authority. "We were able to do it before, we'll be able to do it again." He said, earning enthusiastic nods from his teammates.
"The thing hates you so much that it'll follow you to the ends of Arus," Lance said, maneuvering the red lion behind the robeast.
"Yeah, you really did it this time, chief." Hunk said, a small smile on his face.
"A minute and thirty until we reach our destination." Pidge said, typing-in a new set of commands. "Hope it doesn't realize that we're about to give him a hot lava bath."
"I don't think we have to worry about that happening." Lance said dryly. "Just tell me when to take-over, Keith."
*-*-*-*-*
Allura ran out of the castle in a panic. She had not waited for the medical team that Coran had requested to accompany her outside. She had to know as soon as possible if Allan was okay.
Fortunately, the blue lion lay near the shore of the castle lake. She increased her speed a little as she managed to cross the Castle Bridge. It was a good thing that she was in her utility suit when the attack happened. It was a lot easier to run in that than in her dress.
She could already see the blue lion from where she was. Just a little more...
"Ah, my beautiful Princess Allura. You will be mine at last."
Allura gasped and turned around. "Lotor!"
The Prince of Doom slowly stepped closer. "I must say that I am surprised that it is not you who is inside the blue lion, but, it doesn't matter. In a matter of minutes, you will join me in my ship and leave this planet. Your friends are not here to protect you." He sneered, this time taking bigger and faster strides towards her.
Allura stepped backwards. Silently praying for her knight to come and save her. She turned and ran towards to the blue lion, hoping to seek refuge there. But, a few steps later, she felt the strong grip of Lotor on her wrist.
"Unhand me, you monster!"
Lotor laughed and Allura continued to struggle in his ironclad hold. "There, there, Allura. You wouldn't want to get hurt now, do you?"
"Let her go!"
Lotor spun around and met the gaze of the young prince standing beside the blue lion.
Allura took advantage of the distraction and managed to squirm her way out of Lotor's hold. She ran behind Allan.
"Who dares interfere with the Prince of Doom?" he shouted, drawing his laser sword from its sheath.
"The Prince of Amaget." He replied, preparing himself for battle. He had no weapon in hand, but he wasn't going to let anybody, especially someone from Planet Doom, take Allura away without a fight.
"It is foolish to challenge me." Lotor disdainfully said. "Anyone who makes that mistake, doesn't live to regret it."
Allura grabbed Allan's arm. "Don't, Allan!"
The prince shook his head. "Stay back, Allura. I'll divert his attention. Get out of here as soon as I do." He winced as he took pulled his arm away from her. By instinct, his other hand flew to aid his aching arm.
"Allan, you're hurt!"
Lotor laughed harder this time. He was pleased to know that his opponent had already injured himself from his encounter with the robeast.
"Prepare to die, you insolent fool!" Lotor leapt in the air and positioned his sword so that he may slice his enemy vertically.
The light of the sun temporarily blinded Allan and Allura as they futilely tried to see Lotor's form in the air. All they could hear is his menacing yell above them.
But, before Lotor could even start his decent from his jump, he felt a strong 'kick' on his chest, causing him to fall backwards. Fortunately for him, he had the skills of a cat, and he managed to roughly land on his feet --- farther away from his intended target.
"Keith!" Allura shouted, trying to restrain herself from throwing her arms around him.
Keith didn't even look back. "Get out of here, now. I'll keep him occupied," keeping his eye on the surprised Lotor.
"We're not leaving without you." Allura started, but Keith shot her a look that would have scared anybody else. "Go!" He half-shouted, bringing-out his laser sword.
Allura felt herself being half-dragged to the blue lion as she kept her gaze on her cavalier. 'I'll come back for you, after I bring Allan back to the castle'. She silently promised as she took the controls and activated the lion.
Lotor let-out something that would pass as a growl, as he watched his prize slip out of his reach again. He turned his glare to the young captain standing a few meters away from him. Without saying a word, he charged at his arch-nemesis, once again filled with the fury that roused his being. Never before has he loathed anybody in his whole life. The man who was his worst enemy was the only thing standing between him and capturing Arus. To Lotor, Voltron wasn't the threat. It was its commander; the man who had humiliated him too many times; the man who had won the favor of Princess Allura; and, possibly, even her heart. A new wave of wrath enveloped his entire being as he realized that the possibility was not far from becoming a reality.
Keith readied himself for another clash with his archenemy. That man is the reason for his beloved's fear, and part of the reason for her misery --- his father, Zarkon, the other one. He wasn't about to let him ruin her life by taking another loved one from her. 'Allan means so much to her. Better me than him. '
He used his sword to block Lotor's and the two adversaries found themselves face to face --- each trying to keep his stance as they struggled against the strength of the other. Black versus Yellow. Their eyes flashing signals of hatred and fearlessness.
Soon they broke apart, Lotor, still on the offensive, striking first. Keith parried the attack, and made his assault. Lotor backed-away, holding his arm. Looking at his gloved hand, he found it stained with blood.
"You will pay." He said, his voice filled with antipathy, and ringing with the desire of revenge. He drew a blaster from his belt and fired --- hitting Keith square on his chest; inches away from his heart.
Keith dropped to his knees and winced at the pain that began to rush to his entire body. Lotor was stepping closer to him, blaster still in hand, intending to finish him off.
His vision started to cloud-over as the pain continued to engulf his being; weakness overcoming his will to stay awake. He helplessly watched as the prince continued to approach him, his arm slowly raising his blaster to aim carefully at his heart. Not that it would matter. His heart had already been dead since Allura had seemingly chosen Allan. What a way to end his life: In the hands of his greatest enemy; alone and crushed. In his half-consciousness, he conjured-up the picture that his heart deeply treasured --- the ocean-blue eyes, honey-gold hair, and the brilliant smile, of the woman, no, the princess, who took his breath away since they first met in the stairway of the old castle, and captured his heart over the years that they had been together.
"Allura." He said under his breath, her name unconsciously escaping his lips before he lost wakefulness, and fell, flat on his face, blood slowly oozing out of his wound.
Lotor scoffed at his easy target. A few more steps and he would be close enough to make sure that his shot counted ---. A roar in the distance jerked his head upward and found himself under the watch of the blue lion.
Soon after, the other three lions, apparently successful in destroying Haggar's robeast, joined, and hovered behind it.
"Don't even think about it, Lotor." The pilot of the red lion hissed at him.
Lotor grit his teeth in frustration as he found himself outnumbered and outgunned. "You may have won this battle, Voltron Force, but the war is far from over." He turned his heel and ran for his ship. Soon it was in flight, and gone.
Allura hurriedly set her lion down and jumped out of the cockpit. Shortly afterwards, she was kneeling beside Keith, and panic overwhelmed her as she found him covered with blood. Tears immediately welled-up in her eyes and she cried as she turned him over and held his hand in her own two, bringing it to her cheek. "Keith, please, not yet..." she choked, rubbing her cheek against his hand.
Lance, Hunk, and Pidge were alongside of her. And none of them could hold back the tears that threatened to fall. No one dared moved him; their strong leader seemed so fragile now.
It seemed like an eternity before they heard the clamor of the approaching med team that Coran had requested for earlier.
Allura watched, paralyzed, as she allowed them take to Keith away from her. Her hand flew to her heart as she fought back the idea of him sinking towards death. 'Please, Keith, not yet. She repeated. Not when I have so much to tell you'...