The Resistance: Book III

Chapter 4

"Wow Chief. That's some crazy shit! How the hell are you still sane, really?" chuckled Hunk as he rubbed the back of his head.

"I have to say that I agree with Hunk. I mean, you have to be stupid not to have figured out that something was up with you and the princess, but the rest of it? Damn!" sighed Pidge. Keith raised his brow. "Oh come on, Keith! Don't give me that surprised look. I almost needed to hose the two of you down this morning with those looks." snickered Pidge, eliciting a hearty laugh from Hunk.

A dusty rose flush swept across Keith's cheeks. "Anyway, now that you've all had a good laugh at my expense, I need to have an answer as to where you guys stand in regard to resigning your Garrison posts."

"Keith, you know where our loyalty lies. No way will we turn our backs on Allura. She's family. We love her. Besides, Arus is like our second home. I'm sick of the Alliance and Garrison walking all over these people just so they can use Voltron whenever they need." Said Hunk, adamantly. Keith nodded before turning his attention to Pidge.

"Surly you can't be wondering where I stand. I'm a citizen, remember? The Garrison can burn in hell for all I care." snorted the Green lion pilot as he crossed his arms in front of him.

Keith looked over his teammates and smiled. This was why the fates had chosen them. Hunk was right, they were more than a team, they were family.

"Very well. Lance, Hunk, you may need to avoid Earth for a while if this goes down. We'll all be court marshaled and the last thing we need is for them to take you two into custody." He advised.

Lance snorted. "Gee, how will I ever survive?"

"I'm not worried. If anything, maybe the Princess will let me fly my family out for a visit, this way they can meet Melina." Hunk replied.

"What about you, Cap? You're gonna be there when it all goes down. You know the Princess will never go for it if they take you into custody." Asked Pidge.

"They can't touch me, Pidge. I'm Arusian, remember?" he smirked. Their secret meeting was interrupted by shrill screams and yelling that seemed to be coming from the west wing.

"What the…" said Keith.

Lance's eyes widened. "Shit! Nanny must have found out about the wardrobe change!"

The four ran out of Keith's office and headed down to the west wing, skidding to a halt at the scene before them.

"Why? Why do you do this to me? Have I not taken care of you? Have I not sacrificed for you? Have I not shown you all my adoration and respect? Why Princess? Why do you want to send me to an early grave?" yelled Nanny, hysterical, as she punched herself in the chest and pulled at her hair.

Allura rolled her eyes. "Nanny, please! You are taking this way out of proportion! I am no longer a child! I am almost 21 years old! I am in the public eye all the time and I refuse to go about dressed as though I'm trying to hide a chastity belt from fifteen hundred years ago!" she yelled back, fists at her side.

The boys grimaced at the comment. Thank god for small favors thought Keith. Allura looked up at him with a raised brow. 'Sorry Love.' He winked, earning him a slight smile before she returned her focus to Nanny's tirade.

By this time, Coran had joined the men. "What in the heavens is going on?" questioned the advisor.

"Nanny just discovered that Allura decided to outsource her wardrobe." Keith advised.

Coran rubbed his forehead and sighed. "That girl will be the death of me. I honestly believed that she would calm down the older she got…alas…I was wrong in that assumption." He said as he slumped his shoulders and the fighting continued on in the background. "By the Lions, I am getting too old for this." He added as he gave Keith a sideways glance along with a suspicious smirk. Uh Oh, this can't be good thought Keith as he watched Coran straighten his posture.

"You know, Commander. You seem to have a way with the Princess. I think it's time I pass this torch on to you." Said Coran with a grin as Lance, Pidge, and Hunk laughed like hyenas in the background.

"Um, Coran, although I am deeply honored that you would trust me with such a responsibility, I am afraid that I will have to decline…respectfully of course." He boldly stated.

Coran's smile grew deeper. "Nonsense my boy! You are a master at diffusing tense situations! Go on, I have complete faith in you!" he replied as he pushed Keith toward the ensuing Nanny-Allie conflict. Keith glared at Allura's guardian then cringed as he slowly began to walk toward Allura and Nanny.

"Oh man, this is gonna be priceless!" chuckled Lance as he slapped Pidge and Hunk on the back.

"Come on, someone's gotta document this!" Hunk joined in.

Keith took several deep breaths and ran his hand through his hair. He thought of something that just might work to ease the tension between the two, but it would be tricky- manipulative really. He took another deep breath and stepped between the screaming women. Using his thumb and index finger, he let out a loud whistle. Both women stopped to glare at him.

"Outta the way, Kogane! This isn't your problem!" yelled Allura.

"Yes, Princess, it is." He paused to put his hand over his heart. "This hard-working woman has sacrificed her life to raise you and you are speaking to her with complete disregard and lack of respect." Answered Keith, quite seriously. The boys were dumbfounded, as was Allura.

'Um, what now?'

'Play along Allura, I'm trying to help you'

"That's right, Commander! You tell her! You tell her that she's lost her mind!" yelled Nanny.

Keith mockingly glared at Allura and turned to face Nanny. He walked up to the irate woman and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. Everyone held their breath but, uncharacteristically so, she did not react.

"Nanny, you have done an impeccable job raising the Princess, wouldn't you agree?" he said, kindly.

She looked at him, oddly, but in agreement. "Why yes, yes I believe I have."

"Of course you have. You know very well how admired she is throughout the galaxies and how well loved she is among her people. That is a true testament to you and all you have done to make her the exquisite Royal she is today." He continued with a gentle grin.

'You are so full of shit!'

'Stop it Allura, I'm trying to focus!'

Nanny was softening up. "Why thank you, Commander. You are such a true gentleman to acknowledge this." She stated. Lance was making gestures insinuating that he wanted to vomit. Allura simply stared in disbelief and, truth be told, a small hint of annoyance.

'Oh my god, it's actually working?'

'Of course it is, I'm irresistible, remember?' Keith closed his eyes for a moment to clear Allura out of his head and then turned his focus back to Nanny.

"Look, Nanny, we all know too well just how stubborn the Princess can be. I, myself, can sympathize with just how exhausting she is." He said with a mock sigh.

Nanny looked at him with compassion. "Of course you do, Captain. I have seen how she tests your patience. You are a good man, indeed." Everyone's mouth dropped.

"Having said this, however, I'm sure that you will agree that the Princess holds a high regard to the will of her people and only wants that which is best for them and Arus." He added.

Nanny threw Allura a nasty glare and then looked back at Keith. "Yes, it is true, this I cannot deny."

"Well then, I know in her stubbornness the Princess did not bother to mention why she chose these particular items to wear, did she?" he asked.

"No, she didn't" Nanny spat.

"Nanny, these clothes were created by up and coming Arusian designers especially for the Princess. This is how her people want her to present herself. Even more than that, by wearing these items in public, the Princess is drawing attention to the talents of her people." He explained.

Nanny began to protest but Keith grabbed her hand and held it as he looked at her. "Nanny, I know it must be hard to see the little girl you've raised grow up, but she will be Queen soon. You have to trust in the fact that you did an amazing job raising her to be the strong leader she is today and have faith enough that she can make the right decisions for herself." He said, gently.

"But…but…" she stammered.

"She still needs you, Nanny. Just because she's a grown woman doesn't mean that she no longer needs you…it will just be in a different capacity, that's all. Isn't that right, Princess?" he finished as he turned to look at Allura who continued to stare at them, blankly.

"What? Oh, yes, yes of course." She paused, shaking her head as she looked at Nanny. "I'll always need you, Nanny." She said with a warm smile.

Tears filled the old governess' eyes as she ran to her charge and threw her arms around her. Keith let out the breath he was holding, rolled his eyes, and ran a hand through his hair.

"My baby! All grown up! Oh my precious…I'm sure you will look beautiful in these. Come! Help me put them away…" said Nanny as she took Allura by the hand and pulled her toward the entrance to her room.

Allura's caregiver stopped in front of Keith and he braced himself. She looked at him and smiled as she reached up to pinch his cheek. "You, good Captain, are a Saint!" she chuckled and turned to drag a bewildered Allura into her room.

'How the hell?' she projected. Keith simply shrugged. He then turned to the rest of the group who had similar expressions plastered on their faces.

"Well played, Captain. Well played indeed." chuckled Coran as he slowly turned to walk back to his quarters.

xxxxx

'I'm sick and tired of them hiding me out and telling me what to do. What was the point in drilling me with all this training for the last 9 years if all they were going to do was keep me locked up?' The young, bull-headed princess' resentment continued to build as she reached the surface of her planet. Allura was immediately overwhelmed by an unfamiliar sooty taste in her mouth. She dared to look up and saw the lingering black smoke and ash fall off what was once one of the most beautiful gardens in the Northern hemisphere. 'My god!' The royal teen was aghast by the destruction that surrounded her, realizing at that precise moment that this was what her father and brother were shielding her from. The smell of death lingered in the air as the young princess waded through the charred debris that surrounded her; so lost in thought that she never noticed the evil that lurked behind her.

"Well, well…now isn't this my lucky day. I wiped out a village and the elusive princess has decided to come out and play…luck indeed." Sneered the adolescent prince of Korrinoth. The young Allura froze in horror. Ever since she was given to him as a spoil of war at just barely seven years old, he was the one thing that terrified her. Images of the encounter flashed before her and she fought the urge to vomit. She turned to face him and was mortified by the look in his eyes. It was the same look he had back then, only this time the gaze had matured and she was sure he would attempt to do much worse. She slowly inched away from him and turned to run but she was not fast enough. The young Allura screamed wildly as the dark prince began to force his lips upon her. Then she heard his voice 'Aaron!' The princess kicked Lotor, taking advantage of his brief distraction. He retaliated by backhanding her across the cheek knocking her unconscious.

Allura wasn't sure how much time had passed when she began to come to. Still groggy, she felt the ashen dirt beneath her and began to shake her head in hopes of clearing the fog away. She heard the distinct clashing of katana. That was when it all came crashing back… 'Lotor…Aaron!' She wearily pushed herself up off the ground and turned toward the direction of the duel.

"Aaron!" Her screams distracted the courageous prince, who feared that Drule soldiers had gotten hold of his beloved sister. It was the out Lotor needed. As Aaron turned his gaze toward his sister's cries, the dark prince impaled him. The young monarch grunted and fell to his knees.

"No! Aaron, no!" Allura's bloodcurdling screams ripped through the blackened air as she ran toward her brother; but, before she could reach him, Lotor grabbed her once more. Full of adrenaline and hate, she began to defend herself against the evil that tried to contain her.

Fueling his need to protect his sister, Aaron managed to gather enough strength to get up. He reached for his katana and called out to Lotor, causing him to let go of Allura and turn to face him, as well as the tip of Aaron's katana. Returning the favor, the Arusian prince impaled Lotor through the gut sending him to the ground in a heap. Aaron then inched his way toward his bewildered sister and collapsed at her feet. Allura dropped to her knees and cradled her brother into her arms as she soothingly tried to rock him.

"Aaron…oh Aaron…I'm so sorry" she wept. 'please don't leave me…please!"

Aaron lifted his shaky hand to caress her cheek. "My Allie…my sweet, sweet Allie…all is as it should be. I will always be with you" he whispered with a weak smile

"No…Aaron…"

The prince interjected. "Be strong, Allie…remember everything that I've taught you. Don't be afraid…ever. You are stronger than him…don't ever let him get the best of you…promise me…"

"Don't do this to me Aaron…I can't do this without you…I can't lose you! Please, hang on..."

"Promise me! You can do It, Allie…your time has come…you can do this" pleaded the prince as his breath became ragged. Allura continued to cradle him, stroking his face with her blood-stained hands as tears flowed from her tortured azure eyes. Her voice trembling she responded.

"I promise Aaron…I won't let you down…I will fight…for Arus…for you…always..." Aaron smiled upon her.

"I love you, Allie cat…I'm so proud of you…don't forget…" with those words, the young heir to the Arusian throne, the ring bearer, the one believed by all to be the chosen one, let out his last breath in the arms of the sister who loved him more than life itself.

Allura lost all control. She wailed and violently shook him, as though some how her actions would bring him back. Then, she saw them- Drules, slowly approaching her location. She looked around for Lotor but he was gone. Her head snapped back toward the approaching soldiers, then to the katana that lay on the ground beside her brother's lifeless body. She gently placed him down and grabbed the weapon of honor in her hands. She slowly stood, her chest heaving from the pure hatred and vengeance that had now begun to course through her veins. Something unknown was nagging at her heart. She felt numb…she felt…nothing. She approached the soldiers with a demonic gaze in her eyes, unflinching as she taunted them with her blade. Before she knew it, she was taking them down, slashing through them one by one, showing no mercy, relishing in the feel of slicing through their flesh. Their painful screams soothed her and made her feel vindicated, stopping only when the last one fell. She flicked the access blood off Aaron's katana as she turned to look at his lifeless body once more… "I will have my revenge, big brother…I will make him suffer…one day, I will be stronger, and I will kill him."

The scene changed and Allura found herself surrounded by darkness. Her dress was tattered and torn, her body ached, and her hands were covered in blood. She looked around, confused by her surroundings. A beam of light flashed and highlighted a mutilated body next to her. 'Lotor' she though with a slight grin; however, upon closer inspection she realized it was "Aaron?"

The princess immediately became overcome with fear, a fear that increased as she looked down and noticed blood trickling down her legs. She heard the familiar sinister laugh of her tormentor and realized that he had finally succeeded in raping her. She felt the bile rise in her throat as another body was highlighted by a beam of light. 'Mother'

"You did this Allura. You killed them…you and your need for revenge. How does it feel to know that the ones you love die because of you?" he laughed malevolently as beams of light continued to appear, each one highlighting a new body: Coran…Nanny…Hunk…Pidge…Lance…and… "Keith…no!"

Allura's body jerked straight up into a sitting position. She desperately fought to control her ragged breathing. She grabbed at her nightgown, drenched in sweat, frantically looking around her room. At last, she lunged for the glass of water from her nightstand. Shaking and unable to calm herself, she grabbed her robe and stormed out of her room. The princess ran down the castle halls in a desperate need to reach her destination.

Being his turn for night watch, Keith sat quietly in the control room as he scanned over surveillance footage. He was suddenly hit with an uneasy feeling that something was terribly wrong. Allura. He was about to have Lance go and check on her when she came barreling through the doors of castle control. Spotting the commander, she ran and threw herself against him, burying herself within his embrace.

"Blue…what the hell is going on?" Allura didn't respond. She just shivered against him. Keith could feel her warm tears against the crook of his neck as he let out a deep sigh.

"Love, when are you going to let it go? When are you going to trust me enough to let me in?" he whispered in her ear as he placed a kiss atop her head and gently caressed her back. "I want to help you, Allura…let me help you."

'I can't' she projected, unwilling to speak aloud in hopes of masking the fear in her voice.

"You must, Allura. You can't keep going on like this. Maybe we can ask Romelle to come out here since you're uncomfortable talking to me about it." he offered.

'I'm not uncomfortable talking to you about it Keith.' She projected. The princess slowly pulled back and looked at him. "You all think that this has to do with what Lotor did to me, but it doesn't…it goes much deeper than that."

"Allura…"

The princess placed a finger on his lips to stop him. "I'm haunted Keith, haunted by a past that I continue to suppress because I'm afraid that If I ever acknowledge it I might fall apart, and then? And then what good would I be…to Arus…to my people…to you?"

Keith looked at her with compassioned eyes as he stroked her cheek with his fingers. "You'll be even better once you let it all go…deep down, you know I'm right."

Allura drew her eyebrows together, not quite sure she agreed with him just yet. She shrugged her shoulders in exhaustion and leaned her forehead against his. "I'll tell you everything…I swear it. Just…not here. Maybe when we go to Earth for the conference…when we can be alone."

Keith closed his eyes and grinned in understanding. Something this important could not be shared in the stolen moments they had in the castle. Allura was right, and he intended to hold her to it. "You think you'll be alright to go back on your own? I can't leave control, but I can wake Lance up."

Allura grimaced. "Oh God no…he's lost enough sleep because of me."

"Aw…he loves it…makes him feel useful. You're his 'best bud' remember?" Keith said with a wink.

Allura gave a soft laugh. "Really, it's alright. I'll be fine." She leaned in to give him a feather-light kiss on the cheek.

The captain gently pulled her away from him. "Yeah…time for you to go back, Love…can't exactly do my job with you distracting me."

Allura closed her eyes and smiled. "Point taken, Commander." She slowly pushed herself up and straightened out her robe. "So, is everything set for our departure the day after tomorrow?"

Keith gave her a stern look. All he wanted was for her to get some rest, but the princess' mind was constantly working. He rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Yes, Allura, everything is set…now, will you go to bed, please?"

Allura straightened her posture and gave him a mock salute. "Yes Sir!" Keith arched a brow causing her to snicker. "Alright alright, I'm outta here. Good night, Captain."

"Good night, Princess."

As Allura disappeared through the control room doors, Keith sat back in his chair and gazed up at the monitors. It looked as though the princess was finally ready to open up to him. I only hope that I can help her. He had to get her focused in order for the prophecy to take flight. Alfor was beginning to worry that the team would not be ready in time. But ready for what? No one, not even Alfor, was completely clear in the details. Keith knew he had to get Allura up in Black, but wasn't sure why. It was certainly not for her to take over- that much he knew. The commander hoped that this trip would help them both find some kind of peace- he could help her heal her conscience while he cleared his. Maybe, just maybe, there would be something to celebrate upon their return.