A few hours later, it was evening and Keith was standing out on his balcony, he was staring at the stars in the sky sadly. Secretly, he wished he could one day he could touch those stares and be free.

After what happened in the throne room, Keith had retreated back to his bedroom and had refused to come out or let anyone else in. The only person he allowed to come in was Black and that was when she had checked up on him after what happened. Even then, she only spoke to Red and then had left the Prince to be by himself.

He had changed out of his Prince garb and into more comfortable clothes for the evening. Which consisted of grey billowy pants, a red long-sleeved shirt with loose sleeves, a light brown belt around his waist, black shoes, and a black vest. He had also taken his crown off and sat it on his vanity dresser.

"I'm sure your father didn't mean what he said cub," Red said as she watched Keith stare up at the stars. "You know he means well, though you may not agree with his methods."

"I know," Keith said with a sigh as he turned back to Red. "I'm just tired of having people trying to decide my life for me, even if it's my father."

Below the balcony, in the courtyard, Lance starred up and watched sadly as Keith headed back into his room, followed by Red. Lance groaned and started pacing back and forth. Blue purred sadly, back in her lion form.

"Well, now what am I going to do?" Lance asked with a sigh. "Because of what went down in the throne room, Keith won't let me anywhere near him, neither will the guards." Hunk in the meantime was playing chess with Pidge in human form. Green and Yellow, in their human forms, stood by and watched.

"Your move Pidge," Pidge did so and knocked a black piece over with a smile. "Ouch, good move," Hunk said and sighed. "I can't believe it, after all these years I'm still losing to you," Pidge smiled.

"You could never win against me," Lance interrupted their game and turned to Hunk.

"Hunk I need your help," Hunk zapped over to him and became a spy.

"All right, here's the deal. You wanna court the Prince, you have to be a sharpshooter, gotcha?" Lance tilted his head confused.

"What?" Hunk turned back to normal, only this time he was wearing a mortarboard, held a pointer in his hand which he pointed at the blackboard. He pointed the pointer at each word on the board as he said them.

"Just tell him the truth!" on the backside of the board was TRUTH in huge letters. Lance shook his head the board disappeared.

"Yeah right," Lance said with a scoff. Suddenly his crown turned into a lampshade with Hunk as the bulb.

"Well, everyone appreciates someone in their life who can make them laugh," Lance pulled the chain turning the lamp off. Hunk changed back and held Lance's crown in his hands with a soft smile. "But jokes aside, I may have agreed to make you a Prince because it was one of your wishes but you should still be yourself," Pidge chuckled and nodded.

"He's right you know, no one likes a liar Lance," Lance shook his head.

"I know but this is the only way," Lance said as he pulled his hat once more and turned to the group. "Okay, show time, how do I look?" Hunk and Pidge shared a sigh

"Like a Prince," they said in unison, Lance nodded.

"Alright, come on Pidge," Pidge sighed and nodded.

"Whatever you say," she changed into her carpet form and allowed Lance to climb on. Once he was on, Pidge flew up to the prince's balcony.

"Prince Keith?" a voice called from the balcony. Keith's head lifted from where he sat on his bed, cleaning the small dagger his father had given him years ago as a birthday present. He turned to his curtains and tried to see through the sheer red fabric to try and see who was there. Red turned into her lion form and growled at the balcony entrance, her yellow eyes glaring.

"Who's there?" Keith asked as he climbed off his bed. Lance jumped off the railing and landed on the balcony. The curtains blocking his view to the prince's chambers. "You have 3 seconds to tell me who you are before I-"

"It's me Your Highness, Prince Lancee," Lance called out. Keith opened the curtains a moment later and glared at the Prince.

"I do not want to see you," Keith turned back into his chambers. "So you can leave. I'm sure you can manage to do that much," Lance shook his head and headed towards the curtains.

"Please Your Highness, just give me a chance," Before he could enter the chambers, Red growled and made him back up towards the railing as she slowly walked towards him, teeth bared.

"Leave!" Keith snapped as Lance climbed onto the railing. Lance chuckled nervously.

"Woah there, down kitty," Hunk flew up beneath the balcony and landed beside Pidge.

"So how's he's doing so far? Any progress with love?" Pidge shook her carpet's head cut her 'neck' with a finger. Hunk bonked his head and sighed. "I figured as much."

Keith poked back out to call Red back in. His violet eyes widened and his heart stopped beating seeing the Prince using his cape to try and scare Red off. The more he looked at the Prince, the more he looked just like the boy in the marketplace. The same boy who was supposed to be dead.

"Wait!" Red froze and retreated to her master's side. Her glaring gaze was still fixed on Lance. "Do I know you from somewhere?" Keith asked as Lance straightened his clothes up.

"No Your Highness, I don't believe so," Lance said shaking his head. He climbed off the balcony and gave the Prince a small smile.

"Strange because you look like someone I met a few days ago," Keith said petting Red's fur and leaning against her a little bit.

"Do I?" Lance asked. "People always tell me I have a memorable face."

"You look like a boy I met down in the marketplace," Keith said which made Lance's eyes widen.

"In the marketplace?" Lance asked surprised the Prince still remembered him. Unknowing to Lance and Keith a small bee (Hunk) was flying around his head. "It couldn't have been me Highness."

"And why is that?" Keith asked eyeing Lance.

"I have servants who go to the market for me and besides, I've never been to your kingdom before." Keith and Red shared a look, while Lance was trying to get rid of the bee (Hunk) that was still flying around him. Keith sighed and shook his head, a look of disappointment growing on his face.

"Then I suppose you aren't the same person."

"Enough about you, lover boy," someone whispered beside his ear. Lance turned and found the bee was actually Hunk. "Talk about him, tell him how handsome he is," Hunk rolled his eyes seeing Lance wasn't getting the point. "Pick a feature and flatter him!" Lance turned back to the now depressed looking Prince.

"Prince Keith? Has anyone ever told you how…" Lance seemed to be stuck on finding a word, so Hunk tried to help him.

"Wonderful? Glorious? Handsome? Magnificent? Punctual?" Lance smiled.

"Punctual you are!" Keith turned to Lance with a confused frown on his face.

"Punctual? Well, that's one I've never heard before," Hunk grimaced. "Is that supposed to be a compliment? Cause it's not a very good one."

"Sorry," Hunk whispered in Lance's ear.

"You are also very handsome," Lance said quickly with a nervous smile. "You certainly take after your father."

"That's better," Hunk said with a smile, Keith rolled his eyes.

"I'm rich to," Keith said pushing himself off Red. "Our treasury is flowing with riches and treasures beyond your wildest dreams."

"As expected with a kingdom as prosperous as Altea," Lance said slowly. Keith was slowly making his way over to Lance.

"I'm also the son of a King," Lance nodded.

"I know," he whispered softly.

"Certainly a fine prize for any Prince or Princess to marry," Keith was now closer, almost chest to chest with Lance. "Someone like you, for example."

"Right," Lance said with a nod, "Someone like me, a Prince." Hunk was now buzzing in Lance's ear, before flying off.

"Warning! Beware!" Keith smiled.

"Right," Keith said with a nod. "Someone of royal blood." Suddenly Lance found his cape pulled over his head by Keith in a fit of anger. "And someone like any other stuck-up suitor who has come to court me for their own!" Keith turned back to his chambers.

"Wait! Your Highness!"

"Just go jump off a balcony!" he spate in anger.

"What?" Lance asked surprised.

"You're losing him! Do you want me to sting him?" Hunk asked, Lance swatted him off.

"Buzz off!" Hunk rolled his eyes.

"Okay, fine. But remember just be yourself this time!" Hunk then flew into the lamp and Lance scoffed.

"Yeah, right!"

"What!?" Keith asked turning back around with a glare. "Care to repeat Your Highness?"

"Um, I meant that you are right," Keith stared at Lance with confused eyes. "About what you said earlier, you are not some shiny prize to be won," Lance sighed in 'disappointment'. "You deserve to be free and to make your own choices." Keith turned to Red who looked just as confused as he did.

"I'll take my leave now," Lance climbed onto the railing and jumped off it. Keith's eyes widened and he rushed to the railing, his heart beating rapidly. Did this man really just commit suicide?

"No!" Lance popped his head up from the edge, a look of confusion on his face, his head almost crashing into Keith's.

"What? What's wrong?" Keith blinked a few times in amazement. "I'm only doing what you told me to do."

"What? How are you doing that?" he glanced over the edge, only to find Lance standing on Pidge. "What is that?"

"It's a magic carpet," Lance said as Pidge waved her tassel to the wide-eyed Prince. Keith gave a small smile and gave a small wave back.

"I've never seen one before," Lance smiled.

"You wouldn't want to go for a ride would you?" Keith stared at Pidge unsure. "We could go and see the world, just us."

"Out of the palace?" Keith asked, excitement building inside of him. He had never been out of the palace before. Sure he had snuck out a couple of days ago but that was his only time out of the palace. "You mean, without the guards?"

"Yeah, anywhere you wanna go," Lance said with a nod.

"Is it safe?" Lance gave a small smile.

"Of course, I trust Pidge," Lance stood up and offered Keith a hand. "So, do you trust me?" Keith's eyes widened and he glanced up to Lance.

"What did you say?" Lance extended his hand further to the Prince, the same way he did that day they met.

"Do you trust me?" Keith seemed like he wanted to go on the carpet but he also seemed hesitant. Red huffed and shifted to her human form and pushed the Prince towards Lance.

"Just go for it, you know you want to," Red said as Keith turned around to give Red a look.

"Well?" Lance asked again as Keith turned back to the Prince. "Is that a yes?"

"Yes," Keith said with a roll of his eyes as Lance helped pull the Prince on and without warning, Pidge suddenly zoomed into the sky. The pair was knocked down. Both chuckled and straightened themselves out, Keith turned back to Red who watched her cub fly away. Red waved goodbye to him and he gave a small wave back to his lion and turned back to the Prince.

Keith gasped as the palace walls approached, he hid behind the taller boy, only peaking back out as Pidge flew them over the wall. His eyes widened in wonder, he had only seen the outside during the day. The kingdom was beautifully lit up at night.

(A/N:

Word=Lance

Word=Keith

Word=Both)

"I can show you the world

Shining, shimmering, splendid

Tell me, dear prince, now when did

You last let your heart decide?"

Pidge flew through the town, allowing the pair to enjoy the sights. The Prince especially. Pidge grabbed a purple flower out of a nearby teapot with her tassel and handed it up to Lance. Lance smiled and handed the flower to the prince with a smile. Keith blushed and took the flower in his hand and gently sniffed the flower. Lance took the flower once more and placed it in Keith's hair, behind his ear.

"I can open your eyes

Take you wonder by wonder

Over, sideways and under

On a magic carpet ride"

Lance sang according to how Pidge decided to fly. Keith smiled as he felt the wind blow through his hair. He never felt so free. Pidge suddenly started flying higher, lifting them up into the clouds, Altea now out of sight.

"A whole new world

A new fantastic point of view

No one to tell us "no"

Or where to go

Or say we're only dreaming"

Pidge flew up and down of the clouds. Keith felt his back against Lance's chest, the only thing keeping him from fall backwards. Pidge finally stopped her shenanigans and Keith turned to Lance with a smile.

"A whole new world

A dazzling place I never knew"

But when I'm way up here

It's crystal clear

That now I'm in a whole new world with you"

At one point small bunches of clouds ended up in the pair's arms. Lance's ended up fading out of his arms and back into the sky. Keith smiled and tossed his cloud into the air, he turned back to Lance, the smile still present on his face.

"Now I'm in a whole new world with you"

Pidge suddenly swirled around a huge cloud, the strong wind caused by it, caused the cloud to become swirled like ice cream.

"Unbelievable sights

Indescribable feeling"

Keith smiled, he never felt so free. Feeling brave on the carpet, he held his arms out, the smile never leaving his face. They ended up joining a flock of birds flying by. Seeing the pair on the flying carpet, one of the birds squawked in surprise, though the pair paid little to no attention to the bird.

"Soaring, tumbling, freewheeling

Through an endless diamond sky"

Pidge would sometimes put the pair in a free fall, but would always make sure to catch them. Without warning, Pidge flew up and then dived down. The clouds faded as the river came into view, as they drew closer, Keith covered his eyes with his hands. Lance chuckled and drew them away.

"A whole new world

Don't you dare close your eyes"

Pidge pulled up before they crashed into the river, flying above the water. The water splashed up, Pidge then flew in between boats that were sailing.

"A hundred thousand things to see

Hold your breath; it gets better"

Into view, came three pyramids. Beside the pyramids, a man was working on the statue of a lion. The lion resembled the mysterious white lion from legends. Though Lance knew the lion was more than a legend, it was real.

The pair waved towards the man who was working on the carving of the lion, the man did a double-take and accidentally ended up chiselling too far on the nose, which broke off and crashed on the ground.

"I'm like a shooting star

I've come so far

I can't go back to where I used to be"

Both males grimaced before Pidge took off again.

"A whole new world

Every turn, a surprise

With new horizons to pursue

Every moment, red-letter"

Pidge flew down to where a herd of wild horses were running. Keith leaned over and gently pet one of the colts. The colt gave a small smile as its mother ran up to her colt and smiled gently at the pair. Pidge took off and soon they ended up in a garden with beautifully sculpted buildings.

"I'll chase them anywhere

There's time to spare

Let me share this whole new world with you"

As they flew past a group of apple trees, Lance plucked one from one of the trees. He rolled it down his shoulder and tossed it to the Prince, unknowing he once again gave a clue to the Prince on who he was. Keith smiled at Lance, he now knew exactly who this 'Prince' was.

"A whole new world

A whole new world

That's where we'll be

That's where we'll be"

Pidge flew down slowly to the water edge. Keith lay on his stomach and placed his hand in the lake, his hand skimming through the water. Lance lay on his stomach beside him and glanced into the water, seeing his own reflection. Flinching a little surprise seeing how different he looked as Prince Lancee than he did as just Lance.

"A thrilling chase

A wondrous place"

Keith soon pulled himself forward to glance into the water as well. Both leaned towards each other, their foreheads touching with smiles still gracing their faces.

"For you and me"

The two sat up and as Pidge hovered over the lake, their hands intertwining. Keith laid his head on Lance's shoulder as Pidge flew them towards a temple. A festival of fireworks was currently going on. Pidge allowed them to climb off before she settled a few feet away from them.

"It's so magical outside of the palace," Keith said watching the fireworks in awe. "Thank you for taking me out tonight, I never imagined it was like this out in the world," Lance nodded, his love-struck gaze locked on the Prince.

"Of course, no one deserves to be trapped in a palace, like some bird in a cage," Lance said with a smile as he turned to stare at Keith for a moment before he turned and continued to watch the firework show. Keith glanced at Lance before focusing on the uneaten apple in his hands from Lance. He only ever told one person outside the palace that he had never been outside the palace ever in his life. And that person was supposedly dead.

'Well, let's test it then' Keith thought turning to Lance.

"You know, it's a shame that Blue had to miss this," he said with a smirk, Lance chuckled and shook his head.

"I'm sure she doesn't mind, fireworks have never been her thing," Pidge glanced up, she knew where this was going. Lance froze and Keith gave him an evil smirk. "Wait! Quiznak!" Lance cried out Keith pulled the crown off Lance's head and glared at the 'Prince'.

"I knew it! You were the boy from the marketplace," Keith said which caused Lance to flinch.

"Surprise?" Lance said shrugging his shoulders with a wince. He was fully prepared to get smacked for lying. "Keith, listen I-"

However, Lance was surprised when Keith instead pulled him into a hug. He was even more surprised when he heard sniffles coming from the Prince.

"I thought you were dead," Keith said softly, his body shaking. "When Lotor told me you were to sentenced to death, I hated him even more than I already do."

"I'm sorry I lied to you," Lance said as he wrapped his arms around Keith to calm him down, gently rubbing his back. The Prince pulling away a moment later and wiped his eyes.

"When I found out what happened I blamed myself," Keith said with a frown. "I blamed myself for letting an innocent citizen die because I was stupid and ran away from the palace."

"I don't blame you, it wasn't your fault," Lance said placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm still here aren't I?"

"How did you escape? No one's ever escaped the dungeon," Keith asked. Lance then told him about the old man telling him about the Cave of Wonders, them escaping, and then Lance being trapped in the cave, meeting Hunk, and then finding a way out. Of course, he left out the detail about Hunk being a genie.

"I don't know who that old man was," Lance said with a sigh. "Or where he went."

"I'm just glad you're okay," Keith said with a smile.

"So, you were worried about me?" Lance teased with a smile. Keith's cheeks flushed and he dipped his head down.

"W-well of course. Y-you're a citizen of my kingdom," Keith said stuttering through his words. "What kind of Crown Prince am I if I can't protect-"

"Are you sure that's the only reason?" Lance teased. Keith's body tensed before his cheeks flushed a darker shade of red and curled in on himself. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you had fallen for me."

"I-"

"I mean I get it, I am pretty handsome aren't I?" Keith rolled his eyes and turned to Lance.

"And what if I have?" Keith asked. Lance froze and this time it was his turn to blush.

"Then I guess I can say I officially have won the Crown Prince of Altea's heart," Lance said with a smile. The pair shared a smile before Keith broke the silence between them.

"So, are you actually a prince? You say you're from a far away kingdom that no one has ever heard of but yet you said you live in Altea," Keith asked tilting his head. "And is your name really Lancee?"

"Well, the truth is," Lance said turning to Pidge who shook their "head" before turning back to Keith. "My name is actually Lance, I travelled to Altea ahead of arriving to view the kingdom and that was when I ran into you." Pidge sighed and fell onto the roof. "I just posed as a commoner so I wouldn't be noticed."

"That's, actually smart," Keith said with a nod. "No one would suspect you were a Prince if you were dressed as a commoner."

"Exactly," Lance said "After all, royalty going into the city? There'd be a ruckus."

"So how did you come with the parade if you were in that cave?" Keith asked.

"After Hunk helped me escape, I went back to my kingdom and made my way here after," Lance said running with the made up story he created.

"Well, every Prince needs his crown or he's not really a Prince," Keith said turning to hand the crown back to Lance with a smile. Lance went to grab it from Keith, however, Keith pulled away at the last minute and stood up. He smiled at Lance before turning tail and running.

"Hey!" Lance called out with a laugh as he stood up and gave chase. The pair laughing as Lance chased Keith.

As Keith turned a sharp corner, Lance managed to wrap his arm around his waist and pull him close. Keith turned in his arms and smiled up at the Prince, this was the most fun he has ever had.

In the palace, he was expected to act like a proper Prince, set the example. But here with Lance, he could be himself.

Keith managed to duck out of Lance's arms and run a few feet away. Lance grinned and noticed that with every step that he took towards Keith, the Prince backed up. It wasn't until Keith was close to the edge that Lance noticed the danger. Keith took one more step backwards, expecting his foot to land on solid roof. However, he cried out as he lost his footing and started falling.

"Keith!" Lance cried out running forward. Pidge seen and quickly flew under the pair as they fell off the room, Keith wrapped in Lance's arms. Luckily, they landed on Pidge before they hit the ground. There was a moment of silence as they caught their breaths and situated themselves, Keith with his back on Pidge and Lance on top of him.

"Nice catch," Keith said with a nervous chuckle and a shudder. "And thank you."

"Does this make me your knight in shining armour as well as the Prince who stole your heart?" Lance teased, Keith rolled his eyes and placed Lance's crown back on top of his head.

"Whatever you want to be." Lance was silent for a moment before he looked up to see the moon high in the sky.

Practically midnight.

"We should probably head back," Lance said patting Pidge gently. "Before the freedom gets to you too much."

"Fine," Keith pouted for a moment before holding onto Lance with a soft smile as Pidge started to fly back to the palace.