Allura solemnly placed a pink juniberry flower in her long white hair, gazing longingly into the mirror staring back at her. Suitcases littered the room as she contemplated whether she should pack up Romelle's belongings for the girl's family, or be selfish and keep it as something to hold dearly to.

Turning her gaze around, she sat daintily on the bottom bunk of their formerly shared room, taking out her phone. Her lock screen was a photo of the two girls holding each other close, smiling as they nibbled on ice cream.

"Hey, Allura?" One of the girls, Luca, asked as she knocked on the door. Allura's head turned to see Romelle's childhood friend, residing in the dorm Sincline, standing in the door frame.

"..yes" she answered, turning towards the red head. Luca entered and sat next to Allura, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Everyone from our town will miss her, she won't go down without memory," Luca smiled, and Allura weakly returned the action.

"I'm aware, it's just.. she was very dear to me." She sighed, standing up. She dusted off her light pink sundress, pink resembling a way of honoring the dead in Altean culture. "I best not be crying before the funeral, I have words to share. Thank you, Luca." Allura finally said, her voice catching at funeral.

"You're welcome, Allura." Luca smiled, exiting her room. Allura watched as the tall girl left the building, and she picked up one of Romelle's heart hair clip. With a smile growing on her face, she pinned it into her bun, and began packing up Romelle's things, with a small part of her with her at all times.

"Hey," Lance came in, as she zipped the pink suitcase closed. Allura stood, and turned to the cuban boy.

"Hello, Lance." She sighed, taking a seat on the bed, allowing Lance to sit next to her. He obliges, and she sighs.

"What are we ever going to do?" She asks, gazing out the window straight ahead of her. The sun painted the blue sky. It was a peaceful day, just as Romelle would have liked it. Internally screaming, she stood. "Scratch that, we mustn't be late." She shakes her head, heels clicking on the ground as she left the room, Lance following from behind.

As she left the building, Coran's car pulled up, his eyes red from obvious tears. In the back, Hunk, Pidge, and Keith sat, each with solemn looks settled into their faces.

"Hey, Allura." Pidge mumbled, still at an unease. Allura remembered that even if Pidge wouldn't admit it, Romelle was her first friend at the Garrison. She bit her lip, and sat down next to the short girl as Lance clambered into the third row.

"Who else wants to cry?" Hunk whispered from the back, on the verge of tears himself. "She was my cooking buddy— agh! I'm crying!" He narrated, breaking down into tears. Allura turned away, and held Pidge's hand, Pidge returning an affirmative squeeze.

"We're here." Coran announced with a sad tinge to his voice. Allura gulped as she exited the car, stepping out into the cool autumn air. Leaves blew in the wind, playing with her long curls. Pidge stepped out second, which is when Allura noticed she wore a pink shirt alongside a white skirt, hair extensions making her short hair appear longer.

The second the group entered, Allura knew this was an Altean Funeral, which added a slight bit of joy to her heart. Upon entering, they were stopped to be given the marks of the chosen. Small crescent shapes were drawing on their cheek bones, each in the color of Romelle's, blue.

Juniberry flowers surrounded the hall leading towards the room where the service was to be held. Calm music played, as if it were a sunny day in a warm summer. Pink colors were pulled out everywhere. The Alteans were known for their celebrations of life, not days of solemn death.

"Oh! I miss her so much!" Hunk cries, sitting down on a pink cushioned bench. Keith hugged him, and everyone in the group gave a slightly concerned glance towards him.

"Keith? Emotions? This must be a work of the Galra!" Lance whispered so only the group could hear. Keith kicked Lance in the shins, and ended his embrace.

"I'm allowed to care about my boyfriend, you quiznak." He hissed, and Pidge sneered, taking out her phone to record the situation.

"Oh yeah! Why don't you shut your quiznak!" Lance spat back. Allura and Coran froze, and silently took a step back.

"Hehe—" Pidge snickered, ending the recording. "Blackmail material is always a bonus." She shrugged, putting her phone in her bag.

A tall girl with short brown hair and glasses entered. After she was given her marks, she approached Lance.

"Veronica—" He began. But was cut off by the girl shushing him, placing a finger to his lips. Her eyes narrowed and a brow raised as she removed her finger.

"Mom sent me to make sure you don't screw this up, I'm the expert on cultures, so here I am." She shrugged. She turned towards the group. "Name's Veronica, aka the better McClain." She smiled, as Lance gasped.

"Why doesn't mom trust me?" He gawked, placing a hand over his heart. "I am wounded!"

"Should I get the medical kit?" Coran suggested, unaware of the joke. Veronica snickered and shook her head,

"Nope, he'll be fine." She shrugged. Pidge smiled and turned to Lance, amber eyes glowing with mischief.

"Naw, let him die—" she insults. Veronica turns around to face Lance, a hand extended behind her back to give Pidge a high-five.

"Yes, that works too. Much less flamboyance, no?" Keith joined in, and Lance groaned loudly,

"Stop plotting my murder! The service is about to begin." He whines, pushing away from the group and entering the room. Blue lights surrounded the room, creating a warm and cozy feeling. Pink banners and furniture lined the room. Everyone was handed juniberry flower crowns upon entering.

Allura took a seat in the front, Pidge sitting next to her. A man with blue hair pulled into a ponytail stood up to an elevated bit of ground, covered by pink drapery.

"I am Tavo. Fellow citizen of 'The Colony'. Friend of Romelle. Romelle was a wonderful young girl, striving for the ability to help those she loved, even when it was out of hr reach. Today, instead of solemnly shaking our heads and blaming this loss on ourselves, we will honor her passing by celebrating, lifting her joyously to Altea." He smiles. "She will be remembered through joy and friendship, not tears and dismay."

Everyone in the room stood as they approached a coffin, each removing a Juniberry from their crown.

"Please, whisper words of encouragement to Romelle into your flower and place it coffin." Tavo smiles, whispering something softly into his flower.

"Keep being curious." Allura whispered softly, pausing for a moment. "I love you." She smiles, approaching the coffin, and placing the pink flower softly into the casket. She walks to the side of the room, looking up to the glass ceiling, the clouds forming a circle above.

"Be yourself, always. Never lie about who you are, you're unique. You're you." Pidge softly talked into her flower, placing it gently next to Allura's and standing next to her, mirroring her gaze towards the sky.

"Don't kill yourself." Keith muttered, dropping the flower and joining the group of people gazing towards the sky.

Once everyone had lined up, Allura stepped forward, resting her hands on two pillars. The lights turned off, the light from the sky causing all the markings to glow, the pillars glowing brilliantly.

"King Alfor, please welcome Romelle Colonia to Altea." She announced to the sky, as the lights switched back on. Two girls shut the coffin, and the funeral ended.

"Alteans believed that Juniberry flowers created life, so they use them in ceremonies to lift the spirit of the passed one to Altea." Allura smiled as they were outside, gazing towards the sky. Veronica stood next to her, blue eyes glinting.

"Let's have dinner, shall we? I'll pay." She smiles. "How does Vrepit Sal's sound?"

"It sounds perfect." Allura concluded, and they got into separate cars. Arriving at the restaurant, the group entered and sat at a table, ordering their food.

"It was just so... sudden." Allura admitted, and Lance rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Let's just be happy, after all, it's the Altean way," Hunk smiled, and Veronica shrugged. She cut a piece of her meat and shoved it into her mouth.

"Once, when we kids, I mixed water and dirt and told Lance it was chocolate milk!" Veronica snorted, and Lance dropped his fork, signaling for Veronica to stop.

"What happened?" Pidge asked, hoping for more blackmail material. Veronica smirk and ignored Lance's signal.

"He drank it, like an idiot! But then he told on me. Pop Pop gave him Ice Cream, and I got none!" She whined, taking a sip from her drink.

"Once, when I was little, Matt walked into my school and ran for student council. They gave him detention, even though he didn't go there! I miss that dork.." she giggles at the memory, taking another bite of her food.

"I was two when I got my first knife," Keith shrugged, and Hunk face palmed. He placed down his fork, and took Keith's hand.

"That's not legal."

. . .

"Night, Allura." Merla smiled, closing the door across the hall. Allura returned the gaze, and shut her own door. She returned to her dresser, and took down her ponytail. Resting the hair clip in a blue box, she shut it. Picking up her brush, she softly brushed it through her hair.

She changed into her night dress, laying down on Romelle's bed. Closing her eyes, she allowed herself to drift off to the sweet scent of Juniberries.

"Hello, Allura." Romelle's voice rang in her ears. The girl turned to find Romelle, blue markings glowing brilliantly on her cheeks, ears pointed.

"Romelle—" Allura called, tears prickling at her eyes. "Please, are you okay?" She whispered, holding onto Romelle's hands.

"I'm fine, I miss you, though..." the blonde sighed, wiping a tear away from Allura's face. "That night.. I found something. Open the locket." Romelle instructed.

"What? Romelle— what did you find!" Allura gasped, holding onto her hands tighter. "Don't leave me, please! What must I do? What must I find? She begged, and Romelle's face turned solemn.

"My time with you is almost up, I love you." She smiled as she slowly turned to light and floated away.

"Romelle? Romelle! No!" Allura screamed, jolting awake. Panting, she gazed at her clock. It was late, and the girl found herself ripping the sheets off of herself, scrambling towards Romelle's jewelry box.

"Agh, what's the passcode!" She hisses. She tries Family, Bandor, Altea. Sweat broke out on her face as she tried one last time. Allura. The lock clicked open.

Removing the circular locket, she opened it, a piece of paper fluttered out to the ground. Picking it up, her eyes widened.

Log 402, Prisoner Matthew Holt moved to holding cell inside robeast. He will pilot mech on launch, against will.