A Ray of Hope: A Bonds of Love Prequel
By KittyLynne
Disclaimer: Voltron does not belong to me in any way, shape or form, unless you count the 2 ft. tall toy Voltron sitting on my bookshelf. )
Author's note: This one is for Hannah…
Chapter 5 - Destiny Calls
They were losing- badly.
It shouldn't have been possible, but it was happening; Voltron was in danger of being defeated for good. The Doom fighters and Skull ship cruisers blasted the sagging Castle again and again as the giant Defender lay helplessly pinned under the weight of another of Witch Hagar's horrendous, lazon fueled creations.
Bricks, stones and mortar fell dangerously close to the Princess and Coran, as they ran to the elevator that would carry them to the very bowels of the castle and the tomb of the King of Arus.
Soon the two were kneeling in front of the stone sarcophagus, praying for a miracle. Their fervent prayers were rewarded by the sudden appearance of Alfor, who told them what to do. Allura hastened to carry out his instructions, finding and pressing the secret switch that had materialized on the coffin of her beloved Father.
Above ground, the rock walls of the ancient Castle of Lions rumbled and then gave way, not to enemy laser fire, but to the solid steel structure that rose majestically from the earth below. Higher and higher it climbed; to the watching Doomian soldiers and Lion pilots, it seemed as though it would ascend to the blackness of space.
Soon the rumbling stopped and a glorious stronghold stood on the great hill, its massive spires gleaming in the sun.
For a moment, the raging battle ceased.
Voltron the Defender gaped at the giant structure, his expression mirroring those of the pilots inside him.
The Doom armada appeared to hang in mid air, even the snarling Robeast quieted and took a break to stare malevolently at the new threat
A flash of pink appeared at the parapet, and the woman wearing it suddenly broke the stillness by impudently firing a laser cannon at the ship of Yurack the Great. A huge gaping hole was the result of the hidden soldier's efforts, but apparently was not good enough for them, for blast after blast continued to bombard the listing Doom ship, sheering off vital navigational ports and engines.
Inside the head of Voltron, a smiling Captain Keith addressed his team.
"Hey, hey, it looks like we have a brand new member, guys. Should we be proper gentlemen and help the Princess out?"
"Looks like she's doing yust fine on her own to me," Sven observed, watching in admiration as the feisty Princess turned her attention to the marauding Robeast. He grinned as she furiously blasted away, making the monster hop around like a frightened rabbit. "But we can't let her have all the fun then, can we?"
Abruptly the laser blasts stopped and the proud Princess looked directly into the visage of Voltron.
"Go get 'em, team!" she cried, her eyes blazing.
Keith stared at Allura on his monitor, completely transfixed as he watched the movement of her full lips forming the passionate battle cry, then felt the adrenaline rush through his body as his dazed brain comprehended their meaning.
"Let's finish it guys- this one's for the Princess!" He yelled, as he moved Voltron into position for a final blow.
"For the Princess!" His teammates bellowed in response.
The blazing sword lifted, absorbing the power of the sun.
The RoBeast stood helplessly as Voltron descended, and the mighty blade swept down upon it, swiftly ending the historic battle.
"That's it, they've done it!" Coran cried out joyously, as he stared at the gigantic view screen in Castle Control. The fiery aftermath of a lazon generated explosion filled the picture. "Princess, do you read? The RoBeast has been destroyed!"
I know, and it's a lovely sight." Allura breathed into her communicator, her eyes shining with happy tears.
"My dear Princess, are you all right?" The diplomat's tone was laced with worry and affection. "I cannot believe you took such a chance! What if-"
"I'm fine, Coran!" Allura firmly cut off her guardian's lecture, though her tone remained gentle. "I did what I had to do; and you know Mother would have done the same, had she been given the opportunity."
"Yes Princess, she would have." Coran agreed, in a voice hoarse with emotion. "However, at the time she had an heir to follow in her footsteps who could carry on the Biron lineage, and you do not. You must consider that, and also remember that your suffering people desperately need your guidance before putting yourself in such jeopardy again."
Yes, I will keep that in mind next time," Allura promised meekly. However, inevitable, rebellious thoughts were already swirling within the Princess' mind, in direct contrast to her submissive words to her Advisor
I'll think about it, Coran, but how could it help any of my subjects if I am safely shut up in the new Castle while Arus is turned upside down by Zarkon? What would they think of a Princess whose only apparent concern is to continue her lineage?
She stared down at the weapon she had wielded to defend her world.
It had felt good to fight back.
It had felt right.
The Princess of Arus squared her shoulders, filled with renewed purpose.
Coran, you are wrong, I am meant to be here! I will fight for and defend my people!
In Castle Control, Coran shook his head sadly, very certain that his words of caution would not be heeded. A strong surge of protectiveness, mixed with something approaching despair, welled within his breast at the thought that Allura might be harmed in any way, and that he was most likely incapable of stopping it.
She was exactly like Alana; the blood of warriors coursed within the Princess, calling her to her destiny. It was as inevitable as the sun that rose and set over their embattled planet. The time was coming, he knew, when the Princess would find out all about her unique heritage; the time was approaching when she would be capable of learning and benefiting from her parents legacy, unimpeded by a child's naive perceptions or beliefs.
The Arusian diplomat felt an intensely personal pride fill him as he thought of the courage and fortitude she had displayed today and since the untimely death of her parents. The child, no- young woman, he corrected himself, was indeed a special and remarkable person, and he had admitted to himself more than once that he'd mourn Allura as wholeheartedly as a father would his child, in the event of an untimely demise.
However, duty also played a part in this, he had also made a promise to King Alfor that he'd guard Allura to his dying day. How was he going to do that now? He was no soldier, he was a purveyor of knowledge and diplomacy. All he could do was prepare her for the intricacies of Royal life; there was no way he could train the Princess in combat skills or teach her to fly, nor did he want to encourage her to do so. The only ones that could do it would be the young men of the Voltron Force. He'd have to talk to Keith and make sure the Princess would never receive the training he was quite sure she would request from the Captain.
Allura as a fighter pilot? Oh God, just the thought of it was bringing on a violent headache.
He rubbed his eyes tiredly.
Hannah will help. Together we can curtail this folly, make her see that the Space Explorers can handle this task, and that her place is in the castle.
He hoped that his messenger had gotten through the battle. He knew she'd come as soon as she got it; Hannah was dependable and fiercely loyal to the Royal family, so it was just a question of time as to when she would show up. The thought was vaguely comforting, and the older man felt his tension easing a little. Sighing deeply, he leaned back in his chair and started the procedure for raising the elevator shafts, as the pilots would bound to be returning soon.
The acrid smoke had finally cleared. Allura's hands unclenched and then slowly released the controls of the laser cannon she had been firing for the last hour; they then lifted to smooth back her tumbled hair and straighten the circlet that had slid to one side during her exertions. She grimaced at the protestations of her muscles as she did so, her arms and shoulders were stiff and the Princess ruefully acknowledged to herself that she'd be very sore for the next day or two.
Not that she'd ever admit it to anyone. All the men around her treated her like a hothouse flower as it was, and any complaining would make it worse.
Allura looked down at the courtyards her azure gaze picked out the shredded remains of the first Star Cruiser she had shot down. Her face brightened. Perhaps she had corrected their misperceptions about her durability in the last hour; she could only hope that was the case. Nevertheless, she definitely needed to get in better shape if she was going to be physically defending her planet. Maybe the boys could give her some ideas on how to do that- all without Coran's prior knowledge, of course.
She stepped out from behind the blast shield of the weapon to gaze upon the emerging, magnificent outline of her planet's robotic champion, standing triumphantly over the charred remnants of a Doomian RoBeast. She scanned the skies; the last Skull ship was but a distant speck slipping over the horizon. Victory was theirs once again.
Maybe now her people would regain their faith, emerge from hiding, and eventually come together with the Voltron Force to fight against the tyranny and oppression that had plagued them for these last few years, Allura thought hopefully. She turned to survey the mighty steel spires now soaring above her head. The Castle should offer a ray of hope as it now appeared, brilliant and unyielding, glinting proudly in the sun above the desecrated landscape.
The Princess bowed her head and prayed. Father, your genius and foresight have saved us all. A warm liquidity enfolded her briefly, before dissipating.Thank you for always being with me...and with Arus.
Allura was smiling as she opened her eyes to view the scene of the latest triumph over Zarkon.
"Voltron, you did it! Thank you!" She murmured, as the Defender turned to face her, his sword lifted high in triumph as the rays of a late afternoon sun glinted off the honed blade. She sank in a low curtsy, paying homage to the bravery of the five pilots; the hearts and souls of the lion ships that had united to form the mechanical warrior.
"Wow, the Princess is kneeling to us," Pidge exclaimed. "That's so cool!"
"Yeah, considering she took a bigger risk than any of us," Hunk rumbled from Yellow Lion. "We should be thanking her!"
"She certainly got us out of a tight spot," Sven agreed.
In the cockpit of Black Lion, Keith smiled. Allura had gotten her wish for adventure, complete with one horrendous monster. His smile broadened as he thought of how she had ferociously defended Voltron, after somehow summoning the miracle that now loomed before them. She was amazing.
"She did a great job," he said softly, his eyes fixed on the pink clad figure showing on his monitor.
"Yeah, she's really not half bad at shooting, did you see how she made that RoBeast dance? Did you see how teed off she looked?" Lance chortled. "She reminded me of those ancient Terran movies with the squinty eyed guy...damn, who was he again?"
"Clint Eastwood?" Sven asked, grinning at the Red Lion pilot via his view screen.
Lance grinned back. "Yeah, that's him! Good ole Dirty Harry himself!" He affected the timeless, squinty-eyed glare of the famous Terran actor and the soft, raspy voice. " 'Go ahead, Yurack...make my day...' " The other men laughed at the comparison, but had to agree it was apt.
"Ah...Clint. He's definitely one of a kind! And so is the Princess..." Lance sighed softly, eyeing the woman now rising to her feet on the parapet of a shiny new Castle of Lions. "What a total babe..." he added, half to himself.
"You can say that again!" Hunk grinned. "She's worth more than her weight in cheesecake- if we had any!"
Uproarious laughter greeted this remark.
"Well, I don't think she's like Dirty Harry, cheesecake or a babe!" Pidge asserted staunchly. "She's beautiful in every way and nothing can come close to comparing to her!"
Silence fell after this remark, as the rest of the team silently agreed with the youth's heartfelt declaration.
Keith spoke suddenly. "Well, guys, it looks like the Princess is part of the team now. Should we give her the traditional welcome?"
He grinned as a resounding chorus of affirmatives followed his question.
"Do ya really think you needed to ask?" Lance added, arching an eyebrow and smirked at his Captain, who smiled and shrugged.
"Yeah, well…just go easy on her, she's bound to be hurting a little." Keith advised him. "She's not used to operating such heavy weaponry."
"Oh, I'll be gentle," Lance replied, his ice blue eyes glinting with anticipation. "I always am with first timers."
"That's what I'm afraid of," Keith replied, sending a narrow eyed glance at the smirking Red Lion pilot, "so just make sure you keep your hands where I can see them!" He paused, "and that's a direct order, Hartwell, is that clear?"
"Yeah." Lance said curtly, all traces of his previous good humor extinguished. "Your message is coming through loud and clear, Captain!"
"Coran isn't going to approve of it, ya know! " Sven broke in hastily, sensing the rising animosity between his two friends. "It's a pretty undignified method of thanking a royal personage!"
"Ah…who cares about that? I say, nuts to the ole Fussbudget!" Hunk boomed cheerfully. "Let's go give Princess her props!"
"Right!" His teammates shouted.
Allura waved from the parapet as Voltron took off, and then turned to make her way inside her new home. A frown replaced her lingering smile as it occurred to her that she had no idea how the inner parts of the new castle were designed, and that she might be late in greeting her heroes if she lost her way. The moment she stepped inside, however, the Princess relaxed and her fears abated as she took note of the very familiar looking corridor of her refurbished home, and the brand new, state-of-the-art communications panel mounted on the wall.
Sending sent another silent thank you to her father for his consideration, Allura contacted her Royal Advisor via telecom, and then unerringly made her way down to Castle Control.
To be continued!