"Beg pardon?" Rae asked, trying not to freak out over Alex's solution. "You want me and Keith, the two most socially awkward people on the team to talk to the leaders of your planet?"
Alex tilted her head. She knew how Rae was when it came to the spotlight, but she also has first-hand witnessed her start a rebellion on Cryskos. If anyone could convince her people, it was Rae. "I know you can do it. You and Red know what the stakes are, surely that is motivation enough."
Rae and Keith both shared a look before turning back to the Roen with determination. "We'll do our best," Keith replied, hoping this task would be easier than he thought. He had no idea what they were about to face, but he's been through worse. This will be easy…hopefully.
Alex smiled brightly, stepping closer to Shiro to savor the very presence of him. Shiro subtly stepped away, feeling a slight bit uneasy around the red-headed princess. She frowned as she had realized he was farther away but decided against pushing her luck. The last thing she wanted was to create discomfort for the sexy human. "We are to meet the leaders in the Justice Hall. Father's probably already gathering everyone, so we need to get moving."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness," says Rae with a smirk, dramatically taking a bow. Alex's eyes widened, proving all of the dark-haired girl's theories correct. "You thought I wouldn't figure it out? I'm crushed." She faked offense. "All I had to do was remember the stuff you told me about you when we were held captive. Plus, the way you say "father" insinuates that he's a pretty big deal, so I took a gander."
The princess's mouth remained agape before she grew a blush in her cheeks, looking a bit embarrassed. "You're gonna look at me differently now, aren't you?"
Rae scoffed. "Why the hell would I look at you differently just because you're a princess? I actually prefer the type of princess who can look cute and still kick ass."
This made Alex's eyes sparkle and grin ear-to-ear. She plucked the half-Galra girl up and squeezed her tighter than before. "This is why I love you, Kitty!"
The others looked worried since Rae's face was turning purple and this time it wasn't her shifting. "Alex, put her down! You're suffocating her," Matt yelled in urgency. The last thing he wanted was Alex accidentally killing their best friend. He knew she wouldn't be able to forgive herself, but also knew that she couldn't always help her strength. Alex looked at Rae, bursting into a fit of giggles as she set her friend down gently.
Rae was quick to catch her breath, once again readjusting the tight suit. "Let's get going. Don't want to keep everyone waiting."
Alex perked up, flashing her brightest smile. "Right!"
She led them through the village where a few Roen civilians were making their way to the Judgement Hall. As they spotted their princess, they bowed gracefully, showing their respect. Once their eyes landed on Rae and Keith, some of them sneered or turned away. Others seemed awestruck, staring the paladin's armor. It had been ten-thousand years since the Paladins of Voltron made their appearance, so it was understandable for civilians to have that sort of reaction.
Lance couldn't help but glare at the Roens who looked at Keith and Rae like they were garbage. They have no idea what those two have gone through and what they will go through for the safety of the universe. It was simply unfair! Lance remembered the day Keith told them he was part Galra. He wasn't necessarily shocked by the news. The dude couldn't even get the Voltron chant right, and Lance had tried several times. That and he noticed Keith's hand was able to access the controls on the doors during their stealth mission. Another clear sign was when the idiot got some of that quintessence on him. It didn't burn his flesh like it would a normal person. Regardless, Lance made sure he was there for his teammate and friend whenever he let his thoughts get the best of him. It didn't help that Allura disregarded him, making him feel like an outcast. It still surprised Lance that she acted that way. He saw her as a kind, considerate woman until the moment he found Keith fighting back tears because of her actions. And when he saw it for himself, it made that beautiful image of her turn ugly. Sure, her planet and people were destroyed by Zarkon, but she had no problem with Keith until he broke the news.
As for Rae, he couldn't say he handled it as well. Her hiding it made him skeptical, though now he understood. She was scared; and she had every right to be. From what she told them, she had been treated so poorly by the Galra. So, once the fear and irritation of being on a foreign planet surrounded by big, bad Galra dudes wore off, he did apologize for his behavior. Turns out she never thought ill of him for acting like that. She forgave him instantly and even let him fix her hair up in an intricate bun, which he had been dying to do since he met her. "Because of her ridiculously long hair," he remembered telling Hunk.
He wished those Roens were kinder like Alex, not be so quick to judge.
Looking over at the Shiro and Hunk, he noticed they were subtly glaring as well. They were also strong protectors of Keith and had made the mistake of judging Rae too quickly, to which they regretted as well. His eyes then went to Pidge, who seemed in her own world.
Pidge was in fact in her own world. Gazing over the scenery before her, she felt like she had been teleported to medieval times. The outfits the commoners wore resembled one of the games Matt lent her, Dragon Age. Simple fabrics, maybe a patch or two from working, but they all still managed to look decent. No dirt or grime of any sort. It amazed her. She wished she looked as good, but with the scrapes across her armor from the fight with her brother, and her wicked case of helmet hair, it simply wasn't possible. Oh well, she thought before turning her attention to the princess.
Alex was a difficult person to decipher. She skipped along like she didn't have a care in the world one minute, then the next she was staring daggers into the eyes of anyone who dared look at Rae with distaste. Then she went back to skipping. Pidge remembered hearing Rae say that Alex wasn't all there in the head, but the girl before her was completely derailed. She only seemed to focus when it came down to Rae. Pidge would have to ask about their past at some point. Maybe then she could understand better.
Alex stopped before two giant bronze-laced, wooden doors that were at least seven times her height. Two guards stood on either side, the Crest of Roe shining proudly against their silver-plated armor. The men held their heads high, faces as expressionless as the Buckingham Palace Guard. Alex giggled at their serious expressions, then cleared her throat. "I've brought the two here for Judgement."
The guards took one look at the group and step aside, angling their weapons to signal for the doors to open. A shout rings out from above, and the gargantuan doors slowly creak open, leaving only enough room for the group to pass through. Alex starts to lead them in, but the guard on the right stops her. "Princess," his accent was barely comprehendible. To the Paladins, it almost sounded Scottish. "I'm afraid the Judgement is a formal matter. Ye can't go in with that old thing on. You'll have to change."
Alex's eyes pierced through the guard, hoping he'll change his mind. She hated her revealing formal armor almost as much as the dresses her father makes her wear. Unfortunately, he did not waver. Alex let out a disapproving groan before hanging her head and scuffing her feet toward one of the vacant rooms in the hallway. "I'll be back…" she sighed.
Once the door shut behind the princess, Rae's anxiety levels started to spike. She was afraid that when Alex disappeared, the Roens would come after her. They didn't exactly seem pleased of her arrival. What if I say the wrong thing? What if they still don't want to help? What if they try to hurt Keith?! Her hand immediately went to her necklace, turning and twisting the crystal until the leather strap nearly choked her. Her breathing was quiet but rapid, and she knew that any second now, she would collapse.
A strong, yet gentle hand grabbed hers and pried her fingers from the crystal. "Relax," cooed Matt as his thumb grazed over her knuckles. "The worst that could happen is they say no. They won't hurt you or Keith because then they'll have to deal with Alex. So just keep a level head and breathe." He demonstrated taking a deep breath in, ushering her to do the same. Rae did, feeling much more collected as she exhaled. "Thank you." She smiled. The kind of smile that warmed his heart to the brink of melting. He could only return the soft gesture by mirroring it.
"Will the lady Rae, and the Red Paladin, please step forward?" The other guard's voice boomed, making the Paladins jump. This man was hulky, and had a dark, braided beard that went all the way down to the bottom of his stomach. Rae sneaked a glance at her brother, then they both stepped forward without a word. The man's copper eyes gleamed and he bent down to look the two in the eye. "You two better hide your fear. Once you go out there, you'll be at the hands of the leaders. Thoran might take pity on your souls, but Kelix is much colder. She will not hesitate to throw you to the hundr." Keith thought the man was giving advice, but with the deep, ominous tone, he knew now that it was a warning. He was about to ask what a hundr was, but before he could, the man grabbed his and Rae's arms and led them through the second set of doors, into the real Judgement Hall.
Hundreds of Roens stood, their eyes glued to them as the man let go and pointed to the center. A girl roughly their height was standing in the center with a shining silver tray quivering in her hands. Keith and Rae made their way toward her slowly, not wanting to scare her more. Looking up in the crowd, he watched as the Scottish guard, who looked oddly like Coran without the mustache, ushered the rest of their group into the open area in the front. Keith wanted to run to them, but they were too high up. Everyone was too high up. It made the ground where he and Rae stood feel more like a prison cell.
Several feet above everyone else, there stood Alex, in new, form-fitting armor that resembled more of a Greek style, along with three other people. The leaders, Keith thought. The one on the right had blond hair and green eyes that matched Alex's. That must be her father, King Alistair. To the left, a dark-haired man with an intricate set of braids in his large beard and beads of all sorts of colors in his hair. He resembled the hulky guard in build and expression. Finally, in the center was a woman with the gaze of an ice queen. She was beautiful, with skin a shade darker than his own, and waves of chestnut hair that shaped her oval face. It was her violet eyes and the scowl that made her look cold and dangerous. She was the least happy to see them.
Alistair cleared his throat, cutting the silence, and spoke with a voice so strong and leader-like, it reminded Keith of Shiro. "Everyone, please take your seats. The Judgement will now begin." Without making a sound, everyone followed suit and sat.
"So, these are the Galra you wished us to see?" The woman sounded unamused, almost disappointed. What did she expect to find?
Alex nodded. "Yes, Lady Kelix." Keith and Rae both could hear the strain in Alex's voice as she used the formality. It was clear the princess did not like Kelix, but since she was around the entire kingdom, and with the formal armor's low purple and black tones making her look the part of princess, she acted with respect. "Allow them to show you that they are more than your prejudice beliefs. After all, a person is more than just their race."
Kelix waved her off. "Yes, yes, that is why we are here." Rae was starting to dislike this lady. Alex was being a total sweetheart, and for Kelix to just blow her off like that made Rae's blood boil. "However, I will only hear them out on one condition." A sly grin flashed before disappearing.
"And what is that?" Alex looked Kelix in the eye, suspicion crawling through her. Unfortunately, she could not act on it. She must stay still and look pretty.
With a wave of Kelix's hand, the girl on the ground hastily outstretched her arms and the tray to Rae and Keith, both now noticing the shiny goblets clanking against the metal tray as the girl could not stop shaking. Luckily, the strange red liquid did not spill. "Please, accept these drinks. Show your trust in us," Kelix insisted.
King Alistair seemed skeptical, glancing to his daughter, then to the other male, Thoran. Rae felt their confusion, so she knew this was a plan Kelix acted on alone. Part of her wanted to grab Keith and run, but she knew that would only make them look guilty. Voltron needed these allies, so Rae kept quiet while her brother took the goblet that the girl offered.
Keith was unphased by all the uncertainty around him. Impulses quick to the ready, he took the drink and downed it, praying it didn't taste as bad as Nunvil. The taste wasn't bad, a little bitter, but that was before a strong, burning sensation erupted in his throat, making him cough violently and fall to his knees. "Keith!" He could hear his sister yell, and feel her hand on his side, hosting him up. The burning wouldn't let up, and his vision was clouding.
"What is this?" Rae shouted, a perfect balance of panic and anger.
"A simple truth serum. If he fights it, the serum will react by inflicting more pain," Kelix answered.
Alex remained still, silent knowing Keith's actions were favorable. All she could do is send him mental encouragement.
"Come on, Keith!" Keith still couldn't see but he knew that voice. Lance was rooting for him. "You've been through so much worse, now get it together!" Lance was right. Keith had been through the belly of a Weblum. He had also gone through the Blade of Marmora trials, and that hurt like hell. He could do this. Stumbling slightly, he shifted his weight back onto his feet and reared away from Rae's grasp. Even without his sight, he knew Lance was smiling, pleased to know his words of encouragement worked. It shouldn't surprise him, Lance always knows what to say in just about any serious situation. Keith had learned a thing or two from the darker skinned boy, but he couldn't do what Lance could. So, he focused on what he could. He had to keep the pain from coming back.
Kelix was surprised. This one was strong. "State your name, please." She had to continue while the serum was still in effect.
"Keith Kogane."
"Did you know of your Galra heritage before becoming a Paladin?"
"No."
"When did you find out?"
"It was while I was a Paladin, I'm not exactly sure when since time is a bit strange everywhere we go. I had suspicions after meeting a Galra named Ulaz, but…" Keith knew he was supposed to be honest, but he was hesitant to tell about the Blade. Kelix and Thoran were in Zarkon's grasp. Granted, Zarkon and Haggar found out about Thace, but he didn't want to accidentally give a lead to any other Blade members.
"But?" Kelix urged him to continue.
The burning sensation was back. Keith had to think fast. "He knew a group of people that were Galra, and they helped me realize I was half Galra."
"Hm," Kelix's eyes narrowed. The boy wasn't very good at being vague, but she decided to wrap it up since he didn't know as much. "One last thing. When your teammates found out, how did they react?"
Keith took a deep breath. "I think they were shocked. The princess…it took her the longest to get used to the idea of having me around since the Galra destroyed her planet, which I don't blame her. I'd probably feel the same way if I was in her shoes. But the others did their best to make me feel welcome. That it didn't matter what I was." He looked up at his friends, his vision finally back to normal, and smiled. "I'm grateful I had them with me. It made finding out the truth not so scary."
Kelix frowned. "So, even knowing the Altean princess distrusted you, you still fought for Voltron? You were never tempted to join the Empire?"
"Of course not!" Keith was somewhat offended by the insinuation. "Look, Princess Allura may not have liked me at first, but I'm still the Red Paladin. I have a job to do, and that is to protect and defend the planets that Zarkon has abused. I'm used to people not liking me, or being scared of me, but it doesn't change what I do. Plus, I was raised to give people chances. Not all Galra are bad, I've met a few great Galra that sacrificed themselves to save us. If I just turned on my team, on all the people who are counting on Voltron, I would hope that they would beat the shit out of me!" His anger was starting to get the best of him, and as he looked around, all the eyes on him were wide.
Thoran blinked, then let out a nervous chuckle. "Well, thank you for being honest with us, Keith. You're free to join your team." He signaled for the guard from before to lead him out of the spotlight.
The eyes shifted to Rae, who was still standing there. Her hands started to shake, causing the contents of the goblet to splash around, but never spill. Keith, who was her main focal point, was now gone, and the anxiety was back. She looked up at Kelix, who was grinning, waiting for her to protest. To fail.
Not today. Rae shot her a determined glance, then chugged the serum. The burning hit her fast, and for a moment, she felt like she had been punched by Throx, one of the most bloodthirsty Galra she knew. Like Keith, she fell to her knees, clasping her hands to her throat.
"State your name."
Rae couldn't breathe to answer the question, no matter how hard she tried.
"State your name," Kelix repeated a bit harsh this time.
Rae forced herself to speak this time, ignoring the pain. "R-Rae Kogane."
"Ah, so you two are related." The older woman looked over at Keith, who was now sitting between Lance and Hunk, then her eyes shifted to Alex. "Our princess mentioned you before. According to her, you were held prisoner by Zarkon for a while. How long exactly?"
"Nine years," she coughed.
The entire room filled with whispering. Roens muttering to one another, some of which took pity on the girl, while others thought she was lying. Alistair silenced the room with a snap of his fingers. "Continue, Kelix."
Kelix smiled and went on with the interrogation. "Can you explain to us what you went through during that time?"
Alex growled, knowing that was a sensitive subject for Rae. For herself and Matt, too. She wanted to punch Kelix for asking such a personal question, but Rae cleared her throat. "I…" Rae started, doing her best to control the quake in her voice as the painful memories flooded her mind. "They started me out in the arena, at the age of twelve, fighting grown, hungry Galra for sport. My dad had given me training to defend myself, but it wasn't enough to keep from being dominated. When I wasn't fighting, I was being poked and prodded by the witch and her druids." At the mention of Haggar, Alex froze. Many Roens gasped, knowing the treacheries that woman had caused in the past, but Alistair silenced them again. "They kept calling me The Experiment and ran multiple tests where they injected small amounts…. small amounts of quintessence into me."
Thoran shot to his feet, his hands gripping the railing in front of him tightly. "That's impossible!" His voice shook with fear. "Quintessence is an energy source, giving life to people and planets, everything. However, it can also become something deadly. For you to be injected, even in small doses, should've stopped your heart! How are you still alive?"
"Honestly, I'm not really sure," Rae hesitated, shrinking under Thoran's gaze. "When I was first captured from Earth, the Galra lady scanned me and my brother. I came out positive, so they took me. I guess that meant I could take large portions of the energy." She glanced over at Keith, who was staring back. It was clear he didn't remember, but slowly the pieces were being put together and his eyes drooped with sadness.
Pain shot through Rae's entire body, making her lose sight of everything. She cried out, fighting back tears. She didn't want to talk about this anymore. Every word she said had brought sadness or fear to the majority of the crowd, and she hated it. It made her feel weak. Pathetic. Voices called out to her, but they were far away, a loud ringing taking their place.
Kelix raised her voice, apparently repeating another question. "You are one of H-," Alistair glared at her. "I mean…the witch's…beasts then, yes?"
Rae could barely breathe. Her throat was on fire and it made her sick. "Y-yes, I…suppose that's w…what she made me," she gasped.
"So, this means that she has control of you, is that correct?" The woman's violet eyes were searing into Rae's skull, and though she could not see it, she sensed a wicked grin cross her face, enjoying every moment of the half-breed's torture.
"No!" Her hands went to her ears as the ringing became louder, unbearable. Her body was struggling, attacking at an unknown internal threat. Maybe it was the serum? Rae didn't know. All she knew was that everything was hurting, and her body couldn't take much more of this. She began to cough violently, which only made it worse.
"Kitty?" Alex called, but she was immediately cut off by Kelix.
"This girl dares to lie to our faces?" The woman scoffed, standing with a gleam of rage and, dare Matt think it, amusement. "She dishonors us and our trust! Alexandria smite down that beast at once!" Hair fell over her face with how fast her head snapped toward Alex. It was almost enough to knock the wiry circlet off her forehead. Keith would've noticed that sooner had he not been pinned by her icy glare.
Alex flinched from the sudden movement, eyes crossed to focus on the bony finger pointed in her face. Two seconds later, her features contorted into something so frightening, it made Shiro shudder. The fury never left as the princess then grabbed the railing and leaped down to the main level, headed straight for Rae. Keith wanted to scream at Alex, to beg her not to hurt his sister, but a strong hand held him in his place. "Alex will not hurt her. She is her best friend," Matt reminded him. It aggravated Keith to stay still and watch; nevertheless, he had no choice. None of them had a choice. One wrong move, and they could make things worse.
"Kitty, what's wrong?" Alex spoke softly, kneeling before the girl now curling into herself.
"It hurts!" Rae screeched. The pain coursing through her veins became so strong, it forced her into her Galra state. Her claws now dug into her skull while fangs stabbed through her bottom lip, drawing blood from both spots.
Every Roen, aside from the king and princess, gasped loudly at the Galra. One woman forced her children to look away. "Beast." The word came out frantically, but Rae heard it clear as a bell. I ruined the alliance, she thought, curling into herself more in shame. She failed everyone. Her team, her friends. They were counting on her and she failed them.
"Princess," Kelix hissed, growing more annoyed each second Rae's death was delayed. "Kill her already! She's a monster. A disgrace!"
"No!"
Suddenly, there was silence. Every voice. Every shout and gasp and scream were cut off by one strong, solid word. All eyes were on the princess, and as Rae looked up from her curtain of hair, she saw determination in her friend's eyes, blending perfectly with the rage that never left.
"I will not kill my best friend," Alex stated. Her voice lost its bubbly liveliness to something cold and sharp, rivaling the very woman who was now shocked by the girl's serious composure.
It took a moment for Kelix to regain her stern expression from before. "She defied us. All we asked is that she speak the truth, and she lied. She is not worthy of our trust. Voltron is not worthy of our alliance if they are willing to protect that monstrosity."
"Listen here, lady!" All five paladins and Matt stood, looking pissed. "No one calls our friend a monstrosity and gets away with it!" Leave it to Lance to yell at a leader of an alien race. Usually that was Keith's thing, but Lance really liked Rae. He wasn't about to let someone bad mouth her, even if it was an important figure.
"Voltron is about uniting people of all races to take down a common threat. We're a symbol of hope, and what better way to spread that than to ally with a few good people who happen to be of the enemy's race." Lance was taken back by Keith's words. He thought the mullet head would back him up with insults or something, but instead, what he said was kind of inspiring.
Matt stepped closer toward the railing. It was kind of scary seeing him angry, yet he kept his voice calm. "Lady Kelix, I have known Rae as long as Alex has. A little bit longer, actually. She would not lie to you because she knew what was at stake. She's smarter than you give her credit for."
"Yet she did lie," Kelix snapped back, rising to her feet. "The serum reacts to lies. If she wasn't lying, then she wouldn't be in pain."
Rae struggled, but managed to stand. "I'm not lying," she screamed, tears now pooling in her gray eyes. Her features were shifting from human to Galra and back, causing her to fall on one knee. "I swear to you, everything I told you was the truth!"
"You said you were one of the witch's beasts," replied Kelix. "That means she controls you!"
"No, I-"
"Is she in your head now? Is she spying through your eyes?"
"No, she's-"
"She could be watching us all right now through you!" She raised her head to the Roens. "This is why we do not trust the Galra. Why we stopped showing them mercy and kindness. I bet there is a fleet on its way now to destroy us all, and it's all because of her!"
"Enough!" Alistair and Shiro both spoke at the same time, making the word echo off the walls and startle the crowd. Alistair shot Kelix down with daggers in his eyes, then nodded for Shiro to speak.
Shiro cleared his throat. "Talking to her like that and not giving her time to give a proper answer won't get you anywhere. All that will do is frustrate her further. And, if I'm not mistaken, we only need two votes from the leaders. Not all three."
Alistair and Alex both smiled, then shifted their eyes to Thoran. "Well, my old friend, it seems you are the balancing chip. Which way do you lean?"
Thoran was quiet for a long time, glancing over at the girl who was still crumbling from pain. He tapped his fingers, which all had at least four rings on them, against his chin, studying every possible detail before speaking. "There have been rumors over the years, even before Voltron was reinstated, of a weapon that could destroy entire planets, galaxies, with just the wave of a hand. A weapon that the witch herself created or was in the process of creating." Kelix started to interject, but he raised his hand to silence her, earning an icy glare. "A weapon so powerful, it could surpass any other weapon, even the great Voltron. This weapon was to be created using large amounts of quintessence, injecting them into a host." Rae's head angled up to look the man in his golden eyes. "You are the Cosmic Woman, are you?"
Rae could not speak, so she took what strength she had left and nodded.
"The Cosmic Woman was meant to be a source of pure evil. A dark omen that would plague over the entire galaxy, leading to the Empire's victory since no one would dare try to fight back. Yet here you are, an ally to the very group you were meant to destroy. How?"
Rae felt the serum let up a little, so she stood to the best of her ability, keeping her head high. "For the witch's success, she needed to find a host who was compliant, one who feared enough to follow orders without a second thought. That's where she first slipped up. I was scared as a kid, but my father taught me that fear can lead to something greater, something useful in the end. After my first few fights, something snapped in me. I felt anger and hatred, but I knew those wouldn't help. So, I warped them into logic and patience. Anger was still there, but it was tame, going hand in hand with determination. My signature Kogane impulse was another factor that struck against her plans. I don't do what I don't think is right. I think with my heart just as much as my head.
"Lastly, there was a final step to the procedure. They wanted to remove my memories, to make me a mindless puppet. They thought that would get rid of my rebellious tendencies. I fought the entire time. I didn't want them to take what was so precious to me, because they would've stored it away and then Earth would've already been under attack. My brother was the reason I fought so hard, and they would've killed him. If that happened, then Voltron would not be here today to fight against Zarkon. The Galra would've found the lions and used me to forcibly activate and control them, demolishing the last few strings of hope the universe has. I could not let that happen. So, I escaped. I lead a prison break with the last few prisoners on the ship, two of which are here now-" she gestured to Alex and Matt. "-and got them safely to their pods."
"But you were not with either. You were found later, yes?"
Rae nodded. "Alex and Matt refused to leave until our friends were safely flying home. Once that happened, Matt helped my get Alex to her pod, even though she tried to fight against me." Alex let out a chuckle. "Then it was just Matt and I. His pod was originally set for Earth, and we were going to leave together, but fate had other plans. A galra named Throx attacked before I could step in, so I acted quickly and kicked the button, closing the hatch. When I did, it knocked the location somewhere else. I stayed behind to ensure that my friends would be safe, and I was locked away in a cryopod for a year until the paladins found me."
Hearing how Rae helped Matt escape, it reminded Shiro of the time when Allura did the same for him. She sacrificed herself for him. When Thoran explained how the Cosmic Woman was supposed to work, it sent chills up his spine. A weapon of pure evil who could rival Voltron, but as Rae explained her side of the story, everything became clear. She did everything in her power to go against the plans. It must've been why she sought him out in the Astral Planes. To help before Haggar could complete the procedure. She was truly on their side. No tricks or schemes like he and Keith had thought before.
Thoran turned to Alistair, speaking in hushed tones with him while Kelix shot them both daggers and hissed protests. Rae took that opportunity to look at her team, smiling, hoping she fixed her previous mistakes.
The next second, she was back on her knees, clutching her throat and coughing so hard blood started to come out. Veins started to bulge out from her face, neck, and arms as she struggled to breathe once more. "Rae?" Alex was hunched over, petting Rae's head to try and calm her down, but to no avail.
Thoran's head snapped to Rae. "What happened?"
"I don't know. She was fine for a moment, and then-" Alex stopped, then her nose moved closer to Rae, smelling something odd. She looked up at Kelix, who was staring at Rae like she was prey, then her eyes went to the girl with the tray. "You," she demanded. "Bring me what you brought her, now!"
The girl squeaked and flinched, but she looked up at her mistress, who nodded, and poured a third cup for the princess. Kelix's steely gaze never left the girl as she brought the goblet to the princess.
Alex snatched the cup from her hands and sniffed it. The paladins were confused, but Matt leaned forward on the railing, watching her attentively. He knew what she was doing, and so did the other Roens.
The princess did not look pleased. "I said to bring me what you brought her!" She pointed to Rae.
The girl hid behind her copper hair. "I- I did, your majesty." She was cowering, Alex could sense it.
"Both half-breeds received the same serum," Kelix informed coldly.
"Then why wasn't the Red Paladin coughing up blood and squirming in pain like she is?!"
The crowd looked at Kelix, awaiting her answer. "She must've fought too hard. She is strong, so holding back the serum why she lied to dear Thoran meant it would kick in worse." Thoran turned his eyes to her in confusion. She's never once called him dear.
Alex sensed his suspicion, along with her father's. On the ground, right in front of Rae's hands, laid the goblet she drank from. Alex snatched it up and barely had to take a whiff when she smelled it. A metallic, bitter smell that recided in the Brunber fruit, a speckled, shiny fruit that was appealing to the eye, but held a dangerous poison that would kill a person in minutes. The red-head crushed the cup, and threw it on the ground, then pointed her finger at Kelix. "YOU ARE THE LIAR," she bellowed. The scary look returned to her face as she plucked Rae off the ground, cradling her gently. "She accepted your terms and you tricked her!" Her eyes darkened. "I swear to Leto, if this girl dies, I will see to it that you are buried with her."
Gasps and looks of horror spread throughout the crowd, but they weren't directed at Kelix. They were on Rae. "What in the name of…" Kelix gasped, a look of fear rather than her usual glare. "What is that?!"
Rae's body began to emit a pink-purple glow that grew brighter every second. Her veins were laced with the same color, and Shiro knew what was about to happen. "Alex, put her down," he screamed, then jumped from the ledge. It was farther down than he was used to, but he still managed to land without breaking bones, and ran to the princess, crashing into her with enough force for her to drop Rae.
He managed to pin her to the wall before she started struggling. "Let me go! Rae!" She called out to her friend, but Shiro had to keep a firm grip on her so she wouldn't get away.
"If you're too close, you could die!" A blinding light flashed and the ground shook, making Alex duck her head to his. She let him be her shield until the light faded away, then both looked at each other. Shiro was still trying to catch his breath from his sprint, but he soon realized that was the only sound in the Judgement Hall.
"Um…could you…" Alex's voice was sweet and soft, almost shy. Shiro forgot their proximity due to the light ringing in his ears, but he looked into her eyes, which were only a few inches from him, then his eyes wandered down, realizing her knees were bent to shrink to his height. He backed away just enough to let her stand, taking a moment to look up at the Roen civilians. They all looked scared, eyes glued to the center.
In the center stood the Cosmic Woman, tall and glowing, face expressionless. Her hands were gripping the sides of the Hall, a bit too close to the people, and her head was well above the walls. No one dared to move out of fear that she would smite them. The belly of the aura held Rae, who was the size of an ant in comparison. Rae had Kelix pinned under her gaze, and for the first time, the woman seemed ready to bolt. "My god," Thoran spoke, astounded by the sight in front of him. "It's her."
Civilians began to ask questions all at once. The words jumbled together no matter how loud they yelled. Thoran brought his fingers to his lips and whistled loudly, causing silence again. Kelix took this moment to her advantage and spoke shakily. "Why are you here? Why did you come out?"
"Yeah, about that," Matt answered for Rae. "She can't talk in this form. The Cosmic Woman itself has no mouth. But don't be scared! She may be large…" He looked up at Rae, who shifted her head to look back at him, which the aura copied. "Very large, but she's not attacking. She's still in control of herself." Rae smiled at him, the one action her Cosmic state could not mimic. She was glad that he spoke for her.
Alex moved past Shiro and stood a yard from the Woman's foot, safe from the quintessence. "You provoked her. All she wanted was our help to stop Zarkon and the Empire." She looked her father in the eye. "Kelix poisoned the serum with the Brunber fruit!"
Alistair reached for the hilt of his sword and pulled the metal from its sheath. "Kelix, explain yourself!"
For the first time, everyone saw Kelix crumble. She fell on her hands and knees and groveled at the king's feet. "Forgive me, sire! If I didn't, Zarkon was going to kill me, and the rest of our kind. He wanted the Cosmic Woman dead, so she could not stand in the way of his victory."
This fueled Alistair's anger. He pointed his sword at Kelix's chin. "Then at least we would have died with honor." He raised the sword, but Rae intervened, raising one hand and shaking her head in disapproval. The king nodded his head respectfully and put his sword away.
"Well, that is enough excitement for one day," Thoran chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "I think I've made my decision." He raised his hands out to his people. "It is time for us to break free from the Empire's cluches. We will fight alongside Voltron and their allies, and we will end this war once and for all!" The crowd erupted in cheers. Shiro and Matt were smiling, happy to finally gain more allies. Pidge and Hunk bounced up and down, and Lance, unable to contain his excitement, reached over and pulled Keith into a hug so strong it lifted the dark-haired boy off the ground. Five ticks passed, and Lance quickly realized his actions. He let the older boy go, and turned away to hide his blush, leaving Keith puzzled as to what just happened.
"Rae, you did it," Alex cheered at the top of her lungs before she went to Shiro. Everyone was so happy that they were nearly oblivious to the Cosmic aura flickering.
In one split second, the aura vanished, leaving Rae to dangle hundreds of feet in the air before free-falling. Matt was jumping over the ledge right as the screaming started and sprinted toward the center. Alex and Shiro were closer, but he wanted to make sure she was okay. It wasn't a good sign when the aura just suddenly disappeared. He skidded on his knees and successfully caught her, lucky that the sudden weight didn't catapult his face into the dirt.
As soon as he stopped, and the dust clouds went away, he examined her. She was pale as a sheet of paper, and the dried blood coated her lips and chin. Her eyes were squeezed shut. She was still in pain. "I need a medic over here!"
Thoran and two of his medics rushed down to them. Alex started to move, too, but Shiro grabbed her arm. Instead of fighting, she stepped back, watching as the medics lifted her friend onto a gurney and carried her out of the Judgement Hall. Shiro's hand fell from her arm and together they ran to follow the medics. They were soon followed by Matt, the other paladins, and King Alistair.
The moment they reached the infirmary, a woman stood to let the medics through, then stepped in front of the doors, blocking the others from entering. "I'm sorry, but you will all have to wait over there until we allow you back." She pointed to a large waiting room, and the group slowly moved and took their seats.
Alex saw her father standing just outside the waiting room and walked over to join him. "I know the punishment for poison is death, but spare Kelix. Rae wouldn't want bloodshed on a day of triumph."
Alistair nodded. "I'll agree to that; however, a punishment is still in order. She will lose her title as a leader and be banished."
"I understand, father." Alex fiddled with her fingers for a moment. "I want to go with Rae and the paladins."
Her father raised an eyebrow and his lips twisted into a teasing smirk. "Oh? Would this decision have anything to do with the Black Paladin?" He wiggled his eyebrows, making his daughter laugh.
"No. It is for honor. I want to stand by my friend and fight with her like the princess I was taught to be. After all, it is because of her that I returned to you with only a few scars and quirks."
The king smiled. "I am so proud of the woman you have become, and I know your mother would be as well. Defend the universe with them. Help them acquire more allies, and know that when the time comes, we will rise by your side."
Alex smiled her cheeky smile and wrapped her father in a tight hug. "I will restore the honor that Kelix's folly has put upon us, I swear unto you."
"I know, dear," Alistair said softly before squeezing tightly, then letting go. "Now it is time for you to return to your friend." His eyes find Matt, frantically tapping his foot and fidgeting with his hands. "He seems a little…tense."
The princess giggles and rushes back to the waiting room, taking her seat next to the blond-haired boy. "You okay, Matty?"
Without looking up from his hands, he answers. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
She giggles and pets his head like she did the first day they met. "She will be fine, Matty. You and I both know she has been through worse."
"That's why I'm not worried," he lied.
Alex was unphased. "Then why are you fidgeting?"
"I'm not-" he started to say before he looked down and realized his foot and hands betrayed him. "Oh… I guess I am." He turned his head away, blushing.
"Oh, Matty," she smiles and decides to change the topic to ease him mind. "Pidgey is so cute! I swore she was you at first."
Matt chuckled. "I know. It was kind of like looking in a mirror of the past." His smile was replaced by a sad frown.
"What's wrong" Alex asked, wrapping one arm around his shoulders for support.
His amber eyes went to his sister, then he sighed. "I'm happy Katie is a paladin and all, but this is the last thing I wanted for her. She's putting herself in danger every day. I know I am, too, but I'm the older brother. My job is to protect her. I just…I don't want anything to happen to her."
"Matty, she is stronger than she looks. She's lasted this long, and she's not alone. She has the other paladins, and Rae, and now you and me. Pidgey can take care of herself, just like you could." She was about to say something else, but her attention magnified toward a giant, furry, fluffball of a cat that sauntered into the waiting room. To Matt, it looked like a grey Maine Coon, but he wasn't very good at guessing feline breeds. "Belly Kitty," Alex squealed. The abrupt sound startled the cat, and it flew down the hallway. Alex pouted.
Matt laughed. "It's good to see you haven't changed."
"Darn cat," she grumbled.
A servant girl stepped into the waiting room. Her glasses were small, and her pointed nose matched her bright blue pixie cut. "The king wishes to inform you of a feast taking place after the young…lady's recovery." Alex felt her stomach growl, desperate for food.
"Thank goodness," Hunk cheered. "I can't wait to try this planet's cuisine."
Matt chuckled. "Food does sound amazing."
"It is in honor of the lady Rae and the alliance, so I'm afraid you will have to wait." The girl bowed nervously, then turned her attention toward Alex. "M-my Lady. Your father wishes for you to be…adequately dressed for the occasion."
Alex knew what adequately dressed meant, and she shot to her feet. "Nope! No! I refuse. No dress."
Matt found his opportunity to tease her. "Awe, come on, Alex. It's like she said, to honor Rae and the alliance."
"But it's a dress!" She pouts. Three guards which stood behind the girl sprang forward and pulled the princess to her quarters as she cried.
Matt shook his head and laughed. Alex had told him a bit about her father's choices in attire, and with her body shape, he knew that very little would be left to imagination. He looked up at Shiro, wondering how he'd react to what he's about to see.
Lance got up from his spot next to Hunk and sat next to Shiro, elbowing him lightly. "Well, aren't you lucky? The warrior princess was hitting on you hard before the trials."
Shiro rolled his eyes and sighed. "We have more important things to think about, Lance."
A groan left Lance's mouth, like he couldn't believe Shiro would just ignore such a pretty girl, and a princess at that! It was insane.
Meanwhile, Pidge took a seat next to her brother, ready to get some answers out of him. "So," she began, watching his face closely.
"So, what?"
"You like Rae, huh?"
Matt spluttered and scoffed. "I do not," he answered a bit too loudly. The others raised their heads to look at him, and he blushed and ducked his head down.
Pidge grinned ear to ear. "You totally do."
"Shut up," he hissed. "I don't like her like that. We're just close friends." Pidge rolled her eyes at his blatant denial. "Don't give me that eye roll, missy. I'm still your older brother."
"And I'm your younger sister. I known when you're in denial." She smirked.
"How much longer is this going to take?" Keith sighed impatiently.
Matt looked at the door that separated them from Rae. "Shouldn't be too much longer. According to Rae, the Cosmic state heals anything from cuts to internal wounds and dangerous fluids, so it should've burned away the poison by now."
They all slumped back in their seats. Silence carried for a good half hour before Lance spoke. "Do you think we should've helped Alex? She really didn't like the idea of being put in a dress."
"She can handle herself," Shiro countered, staring at a strange painting on the wall.
Lance sat forward. He was determined to coax something out of their leader. "I bet she'll look really good in a dress. What do you think?"
Shiro didn't answer. Matt caught on to Lance's antics and decided to join him. "If you didn't like her, you wouldn't have pounced at the opportunity to be her knight in shining armor and save her."
"I saved her because she is an ally, not because I liked her," Shiro replied, slightly annoyed with the two.
"Well, you did move at an accelerated speed to get to her. Plus, she knows like Matt does about Rae's Cosmic State, and would know to avoid it," Pidge added, fixing her glasses.
"I don't like her, okay?!"
The woman who blocked them earlier stepped into the waiting room, clearing her throat to get their attention. "Your friend is awake. Do you wish to see her?"
Matt got up, earning a grin from Pidge which he chose to ignore, and followed the lady to a soft yellow room. Laying on the bed was Rae, covered up to her chest in blankets. Her right hand had an IV in it, and her hair was pushed to the left side of the bed. Her stormy eyes followed him as he sat down and reached for her free hand. "Hey. How do you feel?"
"Well, I'm not coughing up blood and my insides don't feel like they were set ablaze, so I guess that's good," Rae answered, chuckling. She squeezed his hand. "Did we do it? Did we gain their trust?"
It was Matt's turn to chuckle. "We didn't do anything. You did. It was your actions that led to Thoran's vote."
"And Kelix?"
He sighed. "She was demoted for her crime. They wanted to kill her, as that is the usual punishment, but you stopped that from happening."
"Oh." Her brow furrowed. "I guess that's good then."
Matt knew that look. "What's wrong?"
Rae sighed. "Things would have been much easier had I not been found." Matt started to protest but she stopped him. "We're going to need more allies eventually. How many of them are going to find out about me and refuse Voltron's help? You heard Thoran, I am meant to be an entity for evil. I'm supposed to be the universe's greatest fear. The Roens even looked at me so. They were afraid of me. If it was just Keith, they wouldn't have even batted an eyelash. I'm just getting in the way."
Pidge stepped in, leaning on the doorframe. "Actually, if it was just Keith, they would have rejected us. No offense to him, but even I noticed he was being vague on some of his answers. Sure, he made up for it in the last question, but his temper was starting to scare the locals. No one has met anyone like you, so of course they're gonna get scared. The important thing is that we got the alliance, and we got it because of you."
"Yeah," Matt chimed in. "You should've heard the Roens cheering once Thoran said yes. They were so happy."
"And," Pidge added. "The king is throwing a feast in your honor. These people don't mess around when it comes to honor."
Rae blinked. "A feast? In my honor?" She suddenly turned pale. "Oh, I couldn't accept that."
Matt and Pidge both looked at her like she was crazy. "Did I forget to mention Alex is going to be in a dress?"
The dark-haired girl's eyes widened from Matt's words. "Seriously?" They both nodded. "I…no. No, I can't."
"Come on," Matt frowned at her stubbornness. "You said you'd give anything to see Alex in a dress."
Rae looked down at her hands. "I'm really tired. I think I'll just stay here and get some rest." She faked a yawn that she hoped fooled the two geniuses.
Pidge shook her head. "That's a shame. Guess I'll just have to tell the boys to starve since Alistair told them they'd have to wait until you arrived." She shrugged her shoulders and started to walk out the door before the other girl groaned.
"Fine, fine, I'll go." Rae pulled the blankets off herself and let the one medic take the IV out of her hand. "I just don't like the attention. But I'll suffer." She leaped to her feet too quickly and stumbled forward. Matt was quick to catch her, which Pidge found adorable. She left without another word, leaving the two young adults a blushing mess.
"Thanks…" Rae managed to get back on her feet. "I think I can walk on my own. You go ahead."
Matt frowned. "I'm not leaving you."
"I'll just be a little slow, it's no big deal. Go."
He sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. He walked off, getting about ten steps before she called for him. Forcing back a triumphant smile and turned toward her. "Yes?"
"I might need your help," she mumbled. He stepped back to her and extended a hand, choosing not to antagonize her. "Thanks…"
She took his hand and leaned against him, wrapping one arm around his waist and laying her head on his shoulder. This made him blush deeply, but he let her stay that way as they walked toward the dining hall.
Just before they got to the doors to the dining hall, two servants stopped them. "Good evening. My name is Killian. Are you ready, my lady," the male, Killian, asked. He was handsome, but in a sort of out of date way. His long hair was slicked back and tied together loosely, but as he bowed to her and smiled, she noticed he was definitely a charmer.
The girl next to him bowed as well, letting a mess of curls cascade down the front of her face until she lifted her head. Then a giddy smile crossed her face and she blurted out "are you really Lady Alexandria's friend? Oh, what am I saying, of course you are. Only someone as amazing as you could be a friend to our beloved princess."
"Morrigan, quiet," Killian hissed.
"Oh, she's fine," Rae interjected, smiling awkwardly and blushing. "Yes, I am her friend. I appreciate the compliment. And yes, I am ready."
Killian smiled. "It seems our princess' ability to read people only grows stronger. This way Madam, Sir."
They turned to get the doors, and Rae whispered to Matt. "I kind of like the formalities."
Matt snickered in return. "It's because you are an honored guest."
Rae rolled her eyes, but laughed as she shifted, placing a hand on the inside of his elbow.
As the doors opened, Rae's eyes widened at the feast in front of her. A long table stretched from one side of the room to the other, and it was covered with dozens of trays with different types of meats, multiple trays of assorted fruits and vegetables, and at least five different bottles of wine and water. The other paladins were seated, along with Allura, and Killian ushered Rae and Matt over to their seats, graciously filling their goblets with the wine of his choosing. "This kind isn't bitter like others. It's sweeter, and livelier to the taste buds," he explained.
"Thank you," Rae said shyly. Her eyes landed on the red liquid in the cup and suddenly her insides started to cringe. She knew these people weren't trying to kill her, but after Kelix's stunt, she became hesitant. The fear diminished slowly once she saw Matt take a drink of the same wine, and she raised the glass to her lips. Rae had never tried wine before, but the taste she experienced was better than she thought. Killian was right, it really is sweeter, she thought to herself.
"Does anyone else feel under-dressed," Matt questioned, looking down at his rebel outfit, which still had dirt from the Judgement Hall, and scratches all over from his fights at the prison. All five paladins agreed, looking at their own armor.
"I mean, I guess this is somewhat formal since it's armor," Hunk proclaimed. "But we never got a chance to shine it up or anything."
Keith couldn't help but laugh. "This is by far the fanciest meal I've ever been to, and I thought Hunk's special food goo cuisine was fancy." This made everyone burst into laughter. Hunk had tears in his eyes from laughing so hard, but he held his hand over his heart, completely touched that someone thought his food was fancy.
Lance had his arms around his stomach, doing his best to keep from falling out of his chair. "This reminds me of Christmas at my house, minus the fanciness." The others quiet down enough to listen while Lance tells his story. "The table would look similar, covered with all sorts of foods, plus two other tables with about the same amount, so there was barely any room in the house to eat. We all ate outside, or at the community center if it snowed, and all our neighbors who pitched in, which was like the whole block, joined us and we'd talk and laugh and play music. Oh man, it's the greatest."
"It sounds fun, Lance," Shiro commented.
"It will definitely be fun because you all are coming, too." All heads turned to Lance, thinking they misheard him. "What? You guys thought I was joking? No way! If we win the war and I don't bring my space family to celebrate the holidays with my real family, my mom will beat me with her shoe! She's a sweet lady, but don't let that fool you. Get my mom around the Galra when she's pissed off, and she'll have Zarkon quaking in his boots. Besides, Hunk is the only one who knows what Christmas with the McClain's is like. The rest of you need to experience it, too. You'll love it. My mom and aunts will feed you until you nearly burst, and she'll have me make you all sweaters for the occasion, regardless of the weather, and you can dance to the music. Ooh, and my mom will make sure you all get a present, because she's an angel like that."
"Oh, I can't wait for that cozy sweater," Hunk cheered, clasping his hands together. "Mine always smelled like cinnamon."
"That's because for each sweater I make, I have my entire room smell a certain way until it seeps into the fabric," Lance confirmed. "After all, they do call me 'the tailor'."
Pidge slammed her hand onto the table, remembering the day Lance first said that stupid nickname, which was, ironically, the same day that Shiro crash landed on Earth. "I swear if you finish that line, I will shove this plate down your throat."
Rae laughed, adoring how a small girl like Pidge could make a threat that would force the tall, lanky boy to cower in his seat. This made Hunk and Keith snicker. "What is Christmas," Allura asked innocently. There was a pause, then laughter again from the others. They weren't meaning to be rude, but it seemed funny that no one had explained earthen holidays to her before.
Lance was just about to answer her, but a Steward waltzed in, and the laughing stopped. "If I can have your attention, please," the man spoke with a nasally, husky voice that clashed with his scrawny figure. His face had several bruises and cuts, but he ignored the worried glances at him and continued. "His Majesty King Alistair, and Crown Princess Alexandria!" As he stepped aside, the doors opened and in walked the king and princess, hand in hand.
Rae had to admire the King's golden tunic and crimson cape, held together by a shiny tassel. He resembled the kings Rae used to read about, like Arthur, or William the Second, complete with a dazzling golden crown upon his head. Everyone except for Allura fixed their posture, praying they appeared presentable for such royalty.
As Alistair moved to sit, their eyes shifted to Alex and nearly popped out of their heads.
The princess' golden dress was floor length with a slit that stretched up to her thigh, and one strap that barely held up her gargantuan breasts. Unlike the boys, Rae could see past that and noticed the girl's red hair was let loose from its braid, flowing down and grazing her shoulder blade. A golden circlet lined her forehead, and tiny wings sprouted from the sides. As always, a choker laced her neck. The charm attached was engraved with the Celtic symbol for serenity, which suited the princess (most of the time). Poor Alex was miserable, Rae sensed, and she tried to shoot her a smile and thumbs up, letting her know she looked gorgeous, but the princess wasn't having it. She covered her thigh with one hand and draped the other over her chest as if it would help conceal the cleavage.
Shiro turned the shade of a tomato before forcing his eyes away to stare holes into his food. He was not a creep; he didn't look at women like that anymore. He respected women and their bodies unlike his past self, who would stare at their front and back before deciding to make his move. Even with Allura, he never looked at her like that and he was still attracted to her…and she was sitting right next to him as he stared at the Roen's breasts. He wanted to hide in a hole, fearing what she must think of him, if she even noticed. He hoped she didn't notice.
Lance found more difficulty prying his eyes away from the princess, but not for the reason everyone thought. He wasn't sure it was possible for a woman of her size to have such a large physique on the upper half, and he hoped it didn't cause her pain. On the other hand, she did look amazing in that dress.
An elbow rammed into his side, and he turned his head to Keith, giving him that "what did you do that for?" look. "Stop staring, and don't start flirting with her," he whispered.
"Oh, what, getting jealous, Mullet?" Lance turned away, but the question still lingered in his mind. Was Keith jealous? It seemed ridiculous, but why else would he drag Lance's attention away from the princess? He was staring, too! Still, the idea of the mullet boy being jealous over Lance's attention brought a faint blush to his cheeks. Keith never answered, which didn't help the matter.
Alex took her seat next to Rae, grumbling about the dress and how much she hated it. "I think you look amazing," Rae whispered, trying to make her friend happy, but it backfired when the king overheard.
"See?" Alistair smiled and gestured to his daughter. "I told you. Why I bet even the Black Paladin thinks so." Shiro contemplated starting to dig right where he sat. Matt held back laughter and Lance snickered at the comment.
Alex growled, clearly not in the mood for her father's teasing. "I don't like showing this much skin."
Rae chuckled, patting her friend's shoulder. "Oh Alex, don't be like that. You'll be back in your armor soon enough, I promise."
The red-head pouted, but soon her eyes fixed on the food in front of her, and she no longer cared about the dress. Alistair signaled for the feast to begin and the princess dug in, grabbing a leg of a charred bird and some root-based veggies and biting into it with little grace. Lance, Keith, and Hunk followed suit and chowed down like it was their first meal in years. Shiro rolled his eyes at his team's lack of manners, but he noticed the king wasn't much better. Rae pressed a finger to her lips to hide her laugh. "I'm going to miss this food," she claimed, and Rae was thankful she didn't talk with her mouth full.
Alistair turned toward Allura. "if you don't mind, I'd like to supply your ship with any necessities and goods it may need."
"Absolutely!" Allura smiled at the king. "I'm sure Coran will appreciate it, and the paladins will be happy for the food. I fear they may be getting tired of the same old thing." She and Alistair chuckled and began to make preparations with the Steward.
Alex noticed the snow-haired princess and noticed the blush that coated the Black Paladin's cheeks. Her eyes darkened a shade. "Who is that," she leaned toward Rae so the others wouldn't hear.
Rae swallowed a piece of chicken and directed her eyes to where Alex was looking. "That's Princess Allura. Her father built the lions. She's okay." She tried to give an unbiased opinion, but Rae didn't feel close to Allura. The princess was…peppier than she was, and with the galra blood, she feared Allura would hate her, so she kept her distance. Though, she still felt a twinge of discomfort when Rae was around.
"So Shiro has a female companion?"
"Huh?" That was an odd question for Alex to ask. "Uh…it's platonic, meaning they're just friends. Shiro's still single. Although, he does still have a crush on her, but I don't see it going anywhere."
A strange look crossed her face at Rae's words. It was almost like amazement and worry. "C-crush? He wishes to crush her?"
Rae almost spit out her drink. "No. No, no, no. Oh, god no. Um…he wishes to court her."
Suddenly, servants came strolling in, each with a basket full of stuffed animals. From small bears to giant duckling-like creatures, each basket had to weigh a ton. That didn't seem to bother the servants. "Oh my god, a plush parade," Matt gawked at the many colorful creatures.
"Oh my, um, sir?" Alistair smiled at Rae. "What's all this?"
"Trust me, you'll want these. I'm sure you are aware of Alexandria's temper." Rae nodded. Alistair got the hint and stopped any further plushie traffic from occurring. "One-eighth is enough." The dark-haired girl thanked him, and he rose from his seat, holding his goblet out in front of him. "I would like to propose a toast to this momentous occasion. For today our planet allies itself with those who will stand against Zarkon and the galra who choose to follow without question." He raises his glass and all bodies at the table follow. He wanted to praise the little lady for her bravery and honesty, knowing it was hard for her to recall such painful memories, but Alex informed him that Rae did not like to be center of attention.
With the toast came the end of the feast. Rae stood with the others and bowed. "Thank you, your majesty, for your hospitality and trust. Voltron will keep in touch with the plans against the Empire. If you need anything, do not hesitate to contact us." Rae might've stepped on Allura's toes a bit with her speech, but she felt the need to speak, to show that she was grateful. She followed her group back to the Castle of Lions, Alex close to her side.
"You'll have to properly introduce me to everybody," Alex giggled.
Rae almost smacked herself in the face. How could she forget such an important step? "Shit. Okay, so the one in yellow is Hunk, green is Pidge, and blue is Lance. You already know Shiro and my brother, Keith. You'll meet Coran soon."
Alex nodded. "I sensed Momo was your brother. I'm glad you found him." Rae smiled. "So, once you get back to full strength, can we spar? I've been waiting for a worthy opponent, and you are the only one I can try my new trick on and not kill. Besides, it's been too peaceful here. We've only had a run-in with a few Glazarians and other unwanted pests. Plus, I'm dying to see the tech on this ship the princess has. Only having space travel isn't very fun when you've spent time surrounded by it." Lights catch her eye and she loses her train of thought, engrossed with the brightness hanging over her head.
"Oh, Alex-" A sharp pain strikes Rae's head, twenty times worse than a migraine. The girl crumbles to the ground, pressing her palms into her temples. A minute later, the pain subsided.
Matt and Alex were kneeling on either side of her in an instant. "Rae? Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Rae lied. She couldn't worry them any more than she already had for the day. "I just need rest."
In response, Alex hoisted Rae onto her back to carry her the rest of the way. "Hey!" Rae objected, flailing in the taller girl's arms. "Put me down! I can walk on my own."
"I'm taking care of you," Alex responded. "So, hush." Lance watched the girls, seeing them more as siblings rather than friends. He snickered as Rae continued to flail.
Rae set her sight on the darker boy and spat. "Laugh it up, Lance. Just remember, I know where you sleep, and with those headphones and mask on, you won't even know I'm there until it's too late."
That shut Lance up. "Kitty, don't be mean to Blue Thunder," Alex chided.
"Blue Thunder?"
"It's his nickname," the princess informed, looking proud of herself for coming up with it.
Rae sighed. "That's great. Now, can you please put me down? You're too soft for me, and you're swaying too much."
Alex scowled due to her friend's complaining, but then an idea popped into her head. "Okay!" She slung Rae around and handed her over to Matt. The blond subconsciously carried her in his arms, making the two appear as newlyweds. A smile formed on the Roen's lips, and she hoped that her friends became a couple soon.
Her attention fell on the Castle of Lions, and she remembered the stories her mother would tell her of the Alteans and Voltron. "Nice ship," she whistled and followed the others in, eventually reaching the bridge where a ginger male with a fabulous plump mustache was fiddling with controls. "Muuustaaache." She couldn't take her eyes away, it was too perfect.
Coran spun on his heels to greet the newcomers. "Ah! I see the visit went well. Hello, princess!" He waved to Alex, who giggled back. "Let's see, oh, and there's another with you." His blue eyes landed on Matt. "You must be Number Five's brother. A pleasure to meet you." Then his eyes went to the girl in his arms, and he smiled, clapping his hands together. "Well, what a lovely couple."
Matt turned the deepest shade of red while Lance and Shiro held in their laughter.
"I know, right?" Alex shouted a bit too loud, making the dark-haired girl shift in Matt's arms until she was practically buried into his chest.
"I-she's not…we're not a couple!" Matt sputtered, failing to keep his composure. "She's just a friend and she needs some rest."
"Right this way." Coran led him down to her sleeping quarters and opened the door. Matt went straight to the bed and ever so gently laid Rae down. While he tucked her in, Coran whispered to Alex. "Are you sure they aren't married already?"
Alex giggled. "Well, he did carry her over the threshold."
Matt froze and quickly left the room. "We are not married, nor dating. We're just friends." There was a hint of sadness to the boy's words, but Alex didn't dare comfort him, knowing he'd deny the whole endeavor.
"Awe, I was going to make a cake." Coran pouted, losing another attempt to cook.
"Cake? I want cake," Alex chimed, nearly jumping up and down. "I've never had cake, but Matt and Rae had told me about it before."
Coran laughed, and started down the hall again. "Maybe later. Now, let's show you two to your rooms."
A/N: Guess who's back! So sorry for such a long wait. This chapter proved to be more difficult than I had hoped. But I think it was worth it, and I hope you think so, too! So, after meeting Alex and her people, and witnessing a Roen leader become an enemy to the planet, it is clear that this is only the beginning for this young group of heroes. Many more obstacles will stand in their way. For all you Klancers, this chapter really opened up the two characters and their "friendship", but as chapters progress, you'll get your wish. This was really fun to write because we got a bit of Klance, sibling-like behavior from the main character and new girl on the block, some flirting, an intense trial session, and a medieval-esque setting! (FYI my co-writer, lunarmother1103, referenced a lot of Roe from Dragon Age, so if you know the game, then you have a pretty good image.
Speaking of my co-writer, she has a new story out called Mission of the Heart. It's a Voltron fic, and it's only a chapter or two long so far, but it's definitely worth a read, so go check it out!
Thank you all for being so patient with me, I really appreciate it! I may be slow with future chapters since the story is really taking off, so bear with me. Follow, favorite, or comment to let me know what you think. Until next time!