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Enemy My Friend
Arus
arus-dot-geo-at-yahoo-dot-com
Voltron and its characters are owned by World Event's Productions.
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Chapter 18 - Epilogue
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----- Doom ------
Anala breathed in deeply as she stood in the large throne room, escorted by Haggar and Princess Zeya.
Just what she was getting herself into, she did not know. However, she knew that to maintain the neutrality between Vallis and Doom was important. She did not want a repeat of what Kellar did on Vallis to be repeated. She knew that the Drule's forces, if under King Zarkon's orders would decimate the lives they were rebuilding on Vallis.
Anala watched as she neared the dias and slowly bowed as King Zarkon stood to stand before her. To his side, Prince Lotor stood, but he did not join his father at the foot of the dias, where she stood.
"Queen Anala, is it?"
Anala slowly nodded as she stood upright to meet his gaze.
"Yes, sire," she stated.
"It has come to my attention that you were responsible for saving the life of my son?"
Anala nodded. "It was all that I could do, under the circumstances," she stated. "We were all fooled into believing that Roaman was acting in your best interest to rid you of your enemies."
Zarkon could only scowl. "Yes, we were," he stated. "But know that this does not overlook that you and your planet are still in league with the Galaxy Alliance."
"Which is why I have adamantly stated to the Galaxy Alliance that there is no quarrel between Doom and Vallis," she said. "We in good faith, returned everything to you that was stolen, by Kellar. We hope that in our actions speak loudly on our neutrality in the situation."
"You do not have to justify yourself to me, young Queen," he stated. "In our culture, once you have shown to sacrifice your life to save another, you are bound to a life debt."
"A life debt?" she asked.
"Lotor owes you his life, he now owes you for this for the rest of his life," he stated.
"Sire, if it pleases, your son, and daughter have done more for me than I have done for him," she stated. "I was at the verge of death and they happened to bring me back. That is something I can never repay."
"Then you are both bound to each other," he stated. "A life debt can't easily be ignored."
Anala bowed again. "If it means that much to you, sire, then I wish to accept that life debt, in exchange for my own."
Zarkon then met the gaze of his daughter then slowly walked up to the dias. "Is it true that you are the sister of the Voltron Commander?"
"Yes, sire, it is true," she stated. "However, he has no say in what I do or how I rule over Vallis. He does disagree with my decisions on how I have handled this, but he understands that there is nothing he can say that would change my mind."
Zarkon nodded then walked to his throne. "I can see why Lotor has been intrigued by you, Queen Anala," he stated. "Which is why I wanted to meet you before I decided what would be in the best interest for all of us."
Anala nodded. "If it means anything to you, sire, I will be forever grateful for what you have allowed for me," she stated. "Your hospitality is appreciated."
"I only do this for the sake of my son, Queen Anala," he stated. "Which is why I've given his request a great deal of consideration."
Anala nodded. "And my stipulations?"
"I have agreed to them," he stated. "Provided that you do not interfere with what we do."
"I have no intentions to do so," she stated. "However, further actions involving Arus, Princess Allura, and the Voltron Force, may warrant my interest."
Zarkon scowled, but took a seat on this throne. "Our interest on that matter may wane in near future," he stated. "As a new concern has come to our attention."
"New concern?" Anala asked.
"Something you don't need to worry about," he stated. "Im sure when the time comes, Lotor will let you know what is going on."
Anala nodded. "So we have reached an agreement?"
King Zarkon turned to Lotor and slowly nodded. "If it means this much to my son, I can only allow the union to go through," he stated. "Are you sure of your feelings for my son?"
Anala slowly nodded.
"Then it is settled," he stated as he stood again. "We shall arrange for the ceremony for a week from today. I will grant his request for your hand in marriage."
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----- Arus ------
Allura could only stare at him as they sat together on the head of the Black Lion. The sun had gone down in the distance, as the somber hues of dusk started to settle in.
"What else has made you come to love this planet?"
She watched as his expression changed rapidly, from one of surprise then to one of concern. Her own heart raced, and she fought to control her own breathing. She wanted to hear him say those words that she knew she longed to hear.
She felt his hand come to the side of her face, brushing a strand of hair away as he kept her in his gaze. She felt her face near his, her gaze darting for a moment to stare at his lips. How she wanted now, to feel those lips on her own.
Then, a beep sounded, causing them to move away from each other. Keith pulled the com link off of his belt to answer it.
"Keith here," he answered, sounding somewhat annoyed.
"Don't know where the two of you are, but I suggest you find a way of sneaking back into the castle and get to the dining hall in the next three minutes."
It was Lance.
"What?" Keith asked.
"Remember, dinner was supposed to served in an hour," Lance replied. "Well that hour is almost up and the rest of us are already heading to the dining hall."
"Oh my!" Allura exclaimed as she stood. "It's been that long?"
"Yes!" Lance nearly yelled. "Hurry, she's already giving Coran the once over."
"We'll be there." Keith said as he closed the com link and placed it back on his belt. He stood and took Allura's hand. "Don't worry, I know a quick way in."
Before she could answer, he held her against him and took off toward the castle.
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Lance smiled as he placed the com link on his belt and turned to Pidge, as they stood at the window from the Rec Room in the North Face of the Castle. There, they could see Black Lion, sitting in the distance. They had watched as the two then flew off together to get back to the Castle.
"Ah Lance, that was cheating," Shane stated as he joined them. "They were almost gonna do it."
Pidge snickered as he walked away from the window. "Well, we interrupted their little tryst, so I suggest we follow through and go down to dinner."
"Wise idea," Lance stated
Katherine could only shake her head as she followed them out of the rec room. "Why can't you guys just let them be?"
"And take away our fun?" Lance asked. "We are taking bets on the next one, wanna join in?"
Katherine let out a groan as they walked down the hallway toward that would take them to the dining hall.
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----- Vallis - 2 weeks later ------
Anala breathed in deeply as she stepped off the Doom ship and was greeted by an entourage, consisting of several soldiers and her mother, along with Xue. Alysson rushed to her as she made her way down the path and took her into her arms.
"I was so worried," Alysson stated. "Are you alright?"
"I could be better," Anala stated. "Im still in a little pain."
"We can have our doctors check you over," she stated. "Make sure that you didn't catch any infections."
Anala could only nod as she turned back to the ship. There she watched as Princess Zeya nodded. Her thoughts then went back to the moment before they had entered Vallis' orbit.
"Are you sure this is what you want?""You know that you and Lotor will always be welcomed on Vallis," Anala stated.
Zeya could only shake her head. "When are you going to tell them?"
Anala could only turn her head away. "In time," she said. "But, for now, it will be unknown to everyone else."
"This is from Lotor," she stated.
Zeya then handed her a small device. "If you need to get in contact with either of us, just use this," she stated. "It's untraceable, so that it won't alarm your defense systems to outside communications to Doom."
Anala nodded. "Zeya, there's another matter that I wish to discuss with you."
"And that is?"
Anala looked up to meet her gaze. She then smiled as she took her hands into her own.
Anala then turned away, as Zeya stepped back into the ship. The entourage then slowly made their way back to the palace, and Anala look back one last time as the ship took off." 'You will be protected, my child,' "
Anala turned around wondering where that voice had come from.
" 'Don't worry, my dear Anala, no harm shall come to you, '" the voice came again. " 'You carry with you the future of this galaxy. '"
Anala could only nod as she turned to catch up with her mother as they made their way back to the palace.
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Lemille smiled as she watched from the distance. Sendrre then came to stand beside her.
"So, this will be our new home?" he asked.
Lemille nodded. "Ylren has asked us to look over all that is on his home planet," she stated. "The best that we can do is make sure we live up to that request."
"So he is truly gone?"
Lemille nodded. "In a sense that is only understandable to these humans," she said. "He is still here, with us."
Sendrre nodded. "We should find a place to settle down."
Lemille turned to him. "There is a little glen, not far from here," she stated. "I remember Ylren telling me about it when I was a child. Said he grew up there."
"Do you think it still exists?"
Lemille nodded. "We'll just have some work to do to rebuild it if it doesn't," she said then turned back toward the palace. "That way we are near her."
"She is that important?"
She nodded. "The Triasians will be interested in this system, very soon," she said. "Yrlen sensed that they were coming, which is why he planned all this out."
"I thought he was targeting the Captain," Sendrre stated.
Lemille shrugged. "Things have a way of changing under odd circumstances," she said. "But I think this will work out better."
"Don't you feel bad that we tricked them?" he asked.
"It's what had to be done," she stated. "Time was running out, and Ylren knew that if he were to reborn, to confront the Triasians when they reach this system, he would need to have one of them get together."
Sendrre nodded. "And by chance, this coupling was the one that worked out?"
She nodded. "Until the time is right, the truth shall be revealed to all of them," she said. "Till then, we will keep watch over Anala."
"Let's get going," he stated. "It will be dark soon."
Lemille nodded then turned to him. "Boy or girl?"
Sendrre turned to her. "Boy," he stated. "That family seems to be strong with their males."
Lemille nodded as she then followed him down a forest path. The future of Vallis, Arus and Doom now becoming clearer for all those involved.
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And that's the end of this one. Now, what is to come? Well, wait and see..