Chapter 42: Omega Shield(Part 1)(Shiro's Clone POV)

"So how did it go?" Shiro asks the Lotor and Allura who just returned to the Castle.

Allura grumbles something incoherent.

"What she means to say is that it went well. I learned what the White Lion had to teach me. Though it was shortened….." Lotor trails off.

"Congratulations! Both of you must be so proud in learning the secrets of Altean Alchemy." Coran smiles, all worry disappearing.

Shiro nods, yeah they must be proud of that achievement. Considering all the other people that have come here seemed to have….met an unfortunate fate.

Though why does Allura look unhappy? Shouldn't she be bursting with happiness like Lotor at learning something that could help end the war swiftly. Though it is technically over since the Coalition is now aligned with the Galra Empire thanks to him and Lotor going to the Kral Zera.

All they have to do is uproot the Galra from planets and find a planet that they can inhabit and give them what the Empire has always wanted. Quintessence. A limitless supply of it so they can fuel their ships, and do whatever else they want to do with it. As long as it isn't used to disrupt the peace.

Shouldn't be too difficult.

"Now we should work on the Syncline Ships. Although I have my Emperor duties to attend to, which would make me quite busy and not working on the ships in a sufficient manner ..."

"Why don't you let Voltron and some of your advisors handle some of your duties and make peace with the planets you've….well not you, but… you know what I mean…" Lance stutters.

Lotor nods, "Not a bad idea. But I do need to do some of my duties. Otherwise the Galra might think I'm weak. But if I find advisors I could trust, maybe some of the Blades mixed with some of the Galra Empire citizens, to make it more equal…. Then yes, you, along with them can handle some of the peacekeeping. First though, we need to get back to Galra headquarters…"

"Hey, do you think I could learn more about your culture and history? Since you know we aren't enemies anymore and maybe learning some of your Culture will help with peace negotiations." Hunk asks.

Shiro raises an eyebrow. Since when has….

"Good idea. And it would do all of you well to learn our history. Though some of it may be a bit biassed."

Pidge snorts, "All history is biassed in some way or another. All because they are written by the winners. And the less actual records you have the harder it is to discern the truth."

"Well said number Five."

"In any case we should head back to Galra Headquarters and plan out the fine details there."

Shiro nods, and he notices Allura leave the room, saddened, possibly angry.

Following, he eventually catches up to her in one of the Castle hallways. "Allura!"

She turns around, she's crying. "Shiro?" She croaks out.

"What's wrong?" It isn't often that the Princess cries or loses her composure over something.

"I failed."

"Failed what?"

"The tests that White Lion made! I let my emotions overcome me and I didn't learn the knowledge I came there to learn. I thought I could follow in my father's footsteps. Yet I failed to pass the test that he passed. I….failed. I am a part of Voltron but it's Marinette and Lance who are leading us, who are deciding what we do. And where do I fit in? Nowhere. My voice is lost in the shuffle of deciding what's best! And I know I can't fault them for often times going with the majority, but I can't help feeling that I don't contribute, that I'm just a part of Voltron and nothing else. I..I.."

Shiro puts his hands on Allura's shoulders, stopping her rambling.

"Allura you are just as valuable as any other part of Voltron. Without you they can't make Voltron possible. You helped save them from being drawn into a planet that was going to possibly kill them. That wouldn't have been possible without you. You guided us each to our lions and helped us learn how to be a team, how to be friends and now we're all a family. Your Alchemy helped save the Balmera when it was dying. So don't think for a second that you are invaluable, that you don't belong. Because you do belong with us. You're smart, a great leader, beautiful, kind, calm, in control and you have great intuition. Most of the time."

Allura looks at him. Her blue eyes wide. Then she closes her eyes and kisses him. He is stunned. But it feels good and he embraces it. Getting over his shock. Then he stops and looks at her face. Her eyes widened in shock.

"I'm so sorry. I…"

"Don't apologise. I meant what I said, Allura. This team wouldn't have become one without you."

Although in the back of his mind he is freaking out. Cause he liked, no loved Adam before. So what is wrong with him? Because he does like Allura and again he meant what he said. Though he can continue his thought process, he kisses Allura again. His body just did it on its own. Nevermind what his mind is going through.

He breaks it and says, "Think about it. Cause I like you Allura. A lot." With that he leaves the princess alone. What the hell is going on with him? Allura is a princess! And like he thought earlier he at one point liked Adam and dated him. But then why wasn't he bothered by those memories in the moment? Or now. Sure he is freaking out, but only because his memories paint a different picture then how he feels.

Allura's POV

Allura touches her lips. Shiro likes me?! But I thought it was one-sided. There was no way…. But then he said all those things, just to cheer me up and I kissed him. But he didn't pull away, he embraced it and he kissed me again. And he said he likes me.

How…Allura thinks, I've messed up, put the team in danger because of my anger. What the White Lion said is true. I need to manage my emotions. Sure I was taught as a princess how to, but recently I haven't been very Princessy lately.

She sighs, her thoughts are in disarray.

Perhaps a distraction before reaching Galra Headquarters is in order. She can think about her feelings later.

At Galra Headquarters:

"Lotor!"

A Galran woman proclaims.

"Hi, Dayak."

"You've grown so much since I last saw you. I can't believe you're really Emperor of the whole Empire. Especially after you were outcasted by your father. I was worried."

Allura raises her eyebrow. Didn't Lotor say that his mother was gone before he was born? But this woman is acting so motherly towards him. But she's not Altean either, so what…..

"Voltron, meet my Governess. She taught me everything I know."

"Oh, I didn't teach you everything. There was the woman before me afterall. But we needn't delve into that. So this is Voltron? I was honestly expecting more and where is the Black Paladin?"

Shiro clears his throat, "She's on a separate mission. One that should benefit this alliance we have."

"I see. I do hope this Alliance lasts. We have been warring for eons. And Zarkon's quest for Quintessence was getting tedious. Conquer planets, rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat…"

"I think they get it."

"Wait, hold on. You were bored of Zarkon's tactics?" Hunk asks.

"Quite frankly, yes. Zarkon and Haggar prolonged my life so that I'd be able to teach Prince Lotor everything he needed to know. And after the fifteenth thousand conquest, which is an exaggeration, I got tired of it. Since eventually we always ended up destroying the planet if couldn't sustain itself after our countless mining of it's Quintessence."

"Which means you must know Galra history a lot better than anyone else. Would you be willing to teach me some? We are allies now, so I'd figure it'd be helpful and insightful to learn about your Culture."

Dayak smiles, "I like this one. Sure I'll teach you all you know. But Galra learning is different from most. Would you like to still learn?"

"Sure. I mean it isn't too different, right? How hard can it be?"

"Not hard for my kind. But we'll see if you can hold up. Come, follow me."

Hunk gulps, but follows anyway.

"Wait, Governess…Does that mean she was your nanny? You had a nanny?"

Lotor looks confused, "Yessss…. Didn't you all have one?"

"No. We had different teachers each year that we shared with about 20-30 other kids." Pidge states.

"Huh," Is all Lotor says.

Then he clears his throat, "Allura I'll need your help getting the Syncline Ship I have ready to get Quintessence from the rift so that we can use it as fuel."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh. You have a natural talent for Altean Alchemy and you've actually been to another reality and through the rift. Oh and Pidge I know you have a talent for engineering so if we need to make any modifications could you point it out for us?"

"Sure." Pidge nods enthusiastically.

Allura is relieved that it won't just be her with Lotor. Especially after Shiro confessed. She still needs time to think about it and assess her own feelings.

"What about us?"

Shiro's POV

Shiro narrows his eyes. He doesn't like that Allura is going to be with Prince Lotor. But Pidge will be there, so it's not like they'll be alone.

"Umm. I guess you could get started on figuring out those peace negotiations with the Blades and my advisors."

"Ok." Lance says. "Come on Shiro."

After walking for a bit, he says, "Lance. Have you ever had a feeling that goes against what you know from your memories?"

Lance stops and looks at him quizzically.

"No. What brought this on?"

"I like Allura. And I confessed when I was trying to realise how special she actually is and I know you liked her…But… Here's the thing. I don't remember liking girls before…"

"That is strange. Maybe you just like both but haven't found a girl you like yet until Allura came along."

"Maybe. I just, I don't feel like I'm me. I miss Keith and all the other friends I had back on Earth, but I feel like I barely know them. And I feel like I'm acting differently than how I remember myself acting before my disappearance."

"Shiro, you've been through a lot. Of course that's going to change a person. We all have changed from how we acted back on Earth. Me? I found a girl I genuinely like. I flirted with most girls, but I wasn't into them. It was the same with Allura. It was just another girl to flirt with. I still don't really know her all that well."

"So you were a playboy?"

"Yes but that's not the point. The point is that I've changed. I don't flirt with random girls anymore."

"And this relates to me feeling like I'm a different person?"

Lance rolls his eyes, "Of course. Being a part of Voltron, being away from Earth, it's changed all of us."

"But that still doesn't answer why I don't feel like I know Keith even though I've known him the longest out of anybody here."

"Maybe being away from him so long you're worried he's no longer the same person. The lone wolf, short-tempered, irritating at times. But time changes us all. I, uh, bet that Marinette will be a little bit different after her trip."

That does not ease him in the slightest, however he smiles and says, "Thanks Lance."

"No problemo."

"Now let's connect with the Blades." Shiro says, walking past Lance.

"Ah wait up, Shiro!"

Lance's POV

As he runs to catch up to Shiro, he wonders why the man brought up his problem of not feeling like himself. Or thinking he doesn't know his longest friend. It's strange. Shiro is always calm and composed, but recently he's been more angry, less composed and more open with his problems instead of handling it himself.

And he doesn't know what to make of it.