Chapter 39: The Mythical Oriande(Allura's POV)
"I'm going on a mission for the Blades," Marinette announced to the group.
"Why? I thought we discussed that going to Oriande at the moment is more important than doing anything else since having Lotor being Emperor gives us some breathing room." Allura protested, not happy at all. Discovering the limits to Altean Alchemy could lead to a brighter future for the Galra since Lotor did say their main driving force of conquering planets was to get Quintessence.
"Your point exactly. Lotor as Emperor gives us breathing room. So it shouldn't matter if all of us go to Oriande or not. Besides the Blades are doing missions with Lotor's advisors on how best to free the planets under their rule without causing a rebellion leaving their men spread thin. As such Kolivan contacted me with a mission that would benefit Voltron and them by figuring out why two Galra generals are fighting over Ranveig's base, and why their spy hasn't managed to contact them within that time."
"Yes, that would be beneficial indeed. General Ranveig was a secretive man. Only those in his command knew his plans and my father himself. He was granted a lot of leeway as he was fighting in the frontlines of the War. But I don't know much myself." Lotor comments.
"So I am leaving Lance in charge of Voltron…"
"So you're just leaving, without us deciding if we should part ways? We don't know how long this mission will take," Allura stresses.
"It should only take a few days. I'll be back before you know it. And Voltron isn't really needed right now, considering Lotor has control of the Empire, we should be able to free planets more easily now."
"Fine." Allura grumbles, admitting defeat.
And this is how they ended up at a white hole without their leader, and their seemingly only way in through Voltron. Stupid Marinette for being so stubborn.
"Wait, I just remembered. Allura didn't the legends say that only the chosen Alteans could enter Oriande? So even if we used Voltron we wouldn't be allowed to pass since your friends aren't Altean." Lotor speaks.
"I guess. I was really little when my father told me all those stories about Oriande, so I don't remember much."
Lotor looks at her, "Oriande is a real place, why else would planets that Alteans visited depict it in cave carvings? Why would your people tell tales or maybe even songs about Oriande if it were not a real place?"
"On Earth, our tales are analogies to real world problems, or made up by the imagination of our kind. They aren't really real events with real people and real places." Pidge interjects.
"But then why would Alteans try to actively search for a supposed fake place. If anything, that white hole proves Oriande's existence. Hide such a place with vast knowledge in a dangerous location so that only a few, the worthy, can pass."
"What about the radiation? That doesn't seem like a logical choice of defence especially if it'll damage the ship the chosen are on."
Then she notices white cheek marks glowing on Lotor, "You're cheeks! You have Altean marks!"
Lotor then chuckles, "Your's are glowing pink Princess, meaning we two are the only ones who have access to Oriande. And you all thought it was just a legend for babes, and that it can't be true because of the seemingly impossible journey to get there."
"But how are you and Allura going to get to the White Hole? The Radiation Pidge mentioned would destroy any Altean Pod," Lance says.
"There are the personal flyers. Those should get us to Oriande no problem,"
Oriande. It just seems so impossible to be true. Why go through the trouble of Radiation from the White Hole to make even the most daring adventurer to pause and rethink. Well obviously not all did, from the debris of other ships around them. But still, why take the risk that the few people who came to learn for good perish because of the Radiation.
"Are you sure Princess?" Coran asks, worry in his voice.
"Yes we shall be fine. We do have the marks of the Chosen, which means going to and through the white hole should be fine."
"And she'll have me by her side. Learning this knowledge will be valuable for future peace. My people can rest and finally know peace. The most valuable thing they desired because of my father, quintessence, will not be won by war but won in peace."
With that, they got ready and descended into space, heading towards the white hole.
Passing through the White Hole and heading upwards, a White Lion face appears. But it doesn't attack and instead opens its mouth wide, waiting for them to fly through.
White washes over her, and it disappears, a pink sky, with a temple in the far distance appears. Floating islands, with grass and flowers float around the Landscape.
It's breathtaking, far more beautiful than described in the legends she remembers.
"It's beautiful." Lotor whispers.
Then a white Lion appears, beckoning them onward.
Lotor's POV
Oriande is even better than the legends he found said it would be. The sky, the land, that temple. And imagine all the knowledge that will be so helpful to his people, to make peace. To finally not be the villains of the universe anymore.
It took a long time, but here we are. Though the White Lion wasn't mentioned in any of the legends.
What is it? A Guardian? A Guide?
Perhaps both.
When they reach the temple, Lotor stares in amazement. Eons ago ancient Alteans built this marvellous structure that holds the knowledge of Altean Alchemy and how better to understand it. And it looks great. The marble stone doesn't look aged. Just how were the old Altean Alchemists able to do it.
The White Lion beckons them again, leading them inside the temple.
Large Granite statues of Alteans with staff's sitting on pedestals stand before a room bathed in a blue glow. The White Lion disappears as the statues stir. What could the statues want? Before thinking another thought, Lotor barely manages to dodge a thrust from one of the Altean's staff.
Allura then takes out the compass, "Wait, we don't want to attack."
The Altean statues stop. "Then give us what you consider most precious," a chorus of voices say.
"The compass?" Lotor asks.
"Yes."
Was it what he considered most precious? It did lead him to Oriande and it might have been one of his mother's relics before that witch took over. But precious, one of his most prized possessions, not really.
"You can have it."
"Lotor! This compass might have been from your mother. Don't you want to keep it? To treasure it? I know I'd do anything to have something from my mother and father."
"All the more reason." Best not to fight with the Altean Alchemist's and it is the only thing in their possession that is something of worth, since they didn't bring anything else.
"But….Fine. We don't really need it anyway."
She tosses the compass into the air. It disappears in a flash of light and the Altean Alchemists sit back down.
"What was that for?"
"You mean not keeping the Compass. We don't need it to get back to Oriande and I'm not sure it's a relic from my mother. And it's the only thing on our person that we had to give since it is kinda a precious relic. And I didn't want to anger the Altean Alchemist statues," Lotor shrugs. It's not that big of a deal.
And again they found it in that witch's study, so again possibly not something from my mother. So not a big deal.
He turns around and heads to the room at the end of the hall.
Allura's POV
What is wrong with that guy? So easily gives something up that could be from his mother all because of the Alchemists. If she had the chance to have something of her father's, she'd take it.
She already sacrificed his memories, she wouldn't give up something of his so easily again.
Walking into the room the door suddenly closes and a bright flash blinds her.
When it disappears and she's able to see again, she sees the White Lion charging for her. Why is it attacking, all they came here for was knowledge to make a better future. A peaceful future.
"Stop, I won't attack you! I don't want to! I just want knowledge!"
She dodges the beast again. Why didn't that declaration stop the beast like it did the Alchemists? Just what does it want?
Lotor's POV
Why is the Lion running towards him and when he dodges, it doesn't try to hurt, or maim him?
Maybe, 'The wise stand back from the fire, fools are burned on the pyre, the mystic becomes one with the flame, the embers and he are the same'. Does that mean? But it would go against everything he's been taught, victory or death. Never yielding, always fighting, be triumphant or perish.
Though he always has been the odd one out for centuries, like the planet that his father so oh willingly destroyed to prove him a lesson.
Lotor breathes, not the time to focus on that.
Closing his eyes and kneeling, and extending his arms in a vulnerable position he lets the Lion come to him.
Allura's POV
Just what does the beast want? It's running around and chasing me for minutes now, Allura thinks as she dodges another blow. Grabbing her bayard, it turns into her blue ribbon weapon. It's time to end this.
I've tried not attacking. But all you seem to want is to attack me, it's time to defend myself. She slashes at the White Lion. The room flashes red and in an instant she's outside at the temple. How in the….
That's not possible? She can't have failed…..
The White Lion appears beside her, "You let your anger and frustration get to you and decided that defending yourself against me was the only option."
"But you are trying to attack me!"
"Was I? I was just running and chasing you. Never once did I unsheathe my claws at you."
"But I…."
"Have a great connection to Alchemy. Yes you do, but not everyone born with the talent for Alchemy understands my little test. Few Chosen's receive the knowledge that they claimed to retrieve by either falling at the test with the statues or falling the test with me."
"So that means, the only right answer was…."
"Becoming one with me. Letting me into your heart, accepting me. I only divulge this knowledge Princess because I have seen too many Chosen's perish in grief over their failure, for once the tests are taken you cannot retake them. And you are a pivotal person in the war that you are undertaking, as the Blue Lion of Voltron and another role later down the line. Your emotions are dangerous when you let them take control, same for everyone else. Keep your emotions in check, Princess. The Universe needs you."
Author's Note: So yes I changed who passed the test. Because if I'm being honest this Lotor that I am writing is a completely different character from the show. I only know that because my family was fortunate to own Netflix for a couple of months so I rewatched Voltron. And Allura seems to have some reckless behavior, taking in the entity from the rift, choosing to work on the Syncline Ships instead of freeing planets(which why did she choose that, when her main goal the whole time was to free planets but later her goals align with taking down all the evil. She doesn't even talk to Lotor and instead refuses his friendship, making him go mad with rage. Though the Lotor in the show deserves that for him being a manipulative jerk. Then she also has times where her emotions get the better of her, like when she snaps at Lotor, which is so different from her kind, calm, Princess personality we were introduced with. Unless there are moments where her temper or other emotions get the better of her and I'm forgetting something.) So yeah. Change. Cause since I noticed those changes in later seasons of the cannon show(because her spending time with Lotor when he acts so sweet and caring around her couldn't have just 180'd her personality) that's why Allura has been more emotional, in the sense that her rage, frustration and sense of justice get the better of her. And I think that if Lotor was accepted by the White Lion and passed the test in canon then his 'he is still evil' reveal would have been more shocking, since at that point most of us believed that Lotor was good. Just a thought. So yeah. Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:) And have a great morning:)