Coran and Nanny greeted the returning heroes with open arms. The heroes returned their joy with hard looks of sadness. Coran and Nanny knew something was wrong, terribly wrong. Keith came towards them holding Allura in his arms, his face full of tears. She was put in Dr. Gorma's ward immediately.
After a full examination Dr. Gorma had one diagnostic: "She's in a coma. Lotor threw her down pretty hard. She'll live only if she gets out of this coma soon. I can't tell what damage she's obtained until after she gets out of this coma. For now, she'll stay in here under 24-hour supervision. I'll need you five to watch her during the day and overnight. Call me the minute
her condition changes."
Nanny broke down after hearing this. She couldn't handle her baby near death like she was. "YOU!" she accused Keith. "YOU'RE THE ONE WHO INSISTED SHE FIGHT! IT'S YOU'RE FAULT SHE'S LIKE THIS!" She was ready to chew him out worse than Lance. Keith, for the first time since they had met, was scared to death of her. She could, and wanted to at this point, kill him. Like Allura had said before, she could and she would.
"I was the one who insisted she go Nanny. I forced her onto the team. If it is anybody's fault it's mine." Coran stepped in between the two.
Nanny chilled, a bit. "Fine." she retorted. "But you, captain, will have the first watch over her. The overnight watch."
"Yes'm." "Alright, now everyone SHOO! Let Allura rest."
Everyone ran off to his or her rooms. Bandor left for Pollux leaving Sven, by his request, to stay on Arus.
"There is nothing left for me on Pollux now. With Romelle gone . . . I could never go back. I wish to stay here on Arus."
Bandor understood his feelings. He himself wanted to run away from Pollux to escape his sorrow. Unlike Sven, he had a planet to rule.
Keith watched over Allura with fear nagging at him about what types of injuries she could have if . . . or when she wakes up . . . if she ever did.
If she doesn't get out of the coma after a week, she will die . . . Dr. Gorma's last words to him ran through his head.
"You're gonna live, Allura. You're gonna live. I'll make sure of that. Nobody's gonna take you away from me, not as long as I love you. Never. . ." His gentle words passed on through the darkness, in hope for a brighter day.
Chapter 3: The Times Are Changin'
Allura was still in the coma four days later. Everyone ran in to check on her often with hopes of a change in her condition. Every time was always the same: "No change." Aside from the frequent attacks from Cossack, who was quite surprisingly avenging the death of his leaders and his piece of the Doom Empire, Keith never left Allura's bedside. He, like Sven, was trying like hell to keep from cracking. He had only broken down once; when he first found out his parents were dead. He waited until he knew he was alone before he cried like a baby. He was fifteen then. If anyone saw him crack now, no one would take him seriously. Sven felt a new responsibility to protect Allura from danger to compensate for his failure to protect Romelle. After all that he had been through he was apt to go crazy. If she died, suicide would've arisen among a certain group consisting of five people.
Just before the week ended, a somewhat miracle occurred. Keith had just about given up hope that she would ever awaken, when she finally stirred. He did a double take and sat there, frozen in shock. Her eyes opened, scaring Keith pretty badly. He just sat in his spot not knowing what to do.
"Where-where am I?" she asked weakly. "Who-who are you?"
Keith felt a knife down his throat twist. His face grew with fear. The only thing worse then death was . . . amnesia. He nervously beeped Dr. Gorma and the rest of the gang to come to the ward, without taking one eye off of her. Everyone ran to the ward with light hearts and wishes of seeing her alive. One look of Keith's face warned everyone that something was majorly wrong. Dr. Gorma ran another full diagnostic and confirmed Keith's fear.
"I'll tell it to you straight. She has amnesia. She has no memory of anything. The only way we can revive her memory is to somehow bring back memories of her past. With enough time, she may regain her memory. Otherwise, she may lose it forever . . ."
An atomic bomb had dropped on everyone. Nanny couldn't take it anymore and had dropped to the floor, crying uncontrollably. Everyone was too stunned to speak. Ever since the party, everything had changed without warning, causing the ground they had stood on for two years to give way under them. Zarkon, Hagar, Lotor, and Romelle were dead. The Doom Empire was destroyed. It was only a matter of time before Galaxy Garrison recruited them to a different mission. And now with Allura's . . . condition, life had taken a turn for the worse.
" . . . She'll be bedridden for about a week. For now, try to remind her of the past. Jog her memory a bit. Above all . . . get it through her head she has amnesia and that she must try to remember." Everyone spent the rest of the week trying to remind Allura about anything. They brought up all the subjects they could but to no avail.
"This is hopeless." Keith was ready to give up.
Allura was free to move about after a week. She understood she had amnesia and had tried her hardest to remember anything, but to no avail. Everyone would recall an event explain it detail and then ask: "Do you remember?" Her answer was always the same: "No, I don't." She was still the same princess they had known and loved to everyone but Allura . . . to her everyone was a stranger. She pulled off her role with dignity and silence; trying to figure out her normal way of life. She stared through everyone and everything with a look of question, as if she had no idea of its relationship to her. Her meeting with the mice was a total bomb. She treated them as if they were just a group of mice; not her best friends from childhood who have been there for her and saved her life once or twice. Not even Arus itself brought back meaning. The planet she would once die for to ensure its freedom was now just another beautiful place and where she lived.
The first step towards recovery came three weeks after being diagnosed with amnesia. Everyone was outdoors enjoying their first sunny day in a week. Although they seemed happy they were plagued with constant reminders that she possibly will never recover. Time was almost up. Cossack took advantage of the weather and attacked.
"Get her to the castle! Sven, you're flying Blue Lion. Move!" Keith ordered.
Allura stared at the Doomships. "I know them from somewhere. Something about '. . . one ship being able to leave the entire universe is in trouble . . .'"
Sven had heard her over all of the noise. She actually remembered something. Hopefully this battle will bring back more. If not, I'll make sure I bring some back.
"Coran, make sure she can watch the battle from a safe distance. I think it'll jog her memory a bit." Coran nodded, eager to do anything to speed up recovery.
"Let's go Princess." Coran ordered as he forced her into the castle.
She felt an urge to go out there and help her friends but she complied only because she figured he knew best. Cossack's skill had improved as he was taking pretty close shots at the Lions. Most had hit their targets. Since he caught them off their guard, Cossack held the ace. The Lions could barely touch his ships although Cossack could massacre them easily. The Lions were losing pathetically.
Allura's urge to join her friends grew stronger every minute. She felt as if it were her duty to help and fight. But is it really? A princess can't be a warrior. It's not her place. She thought while everything Nanny had said about being a proper princess sank in. Why should I? We have five pilots to fly the Lions. Why should I have to fight? Memories of Sven being injured came back and she saw herself piloting both Blue and Black Lion. She saw the dangerous battles she was in and how she got out. She saw herself protecting her friends and herself from . . . a strange blue-skinned alien with long white hair. It is my duty. My place is both here and in Blue Lion. I am both a princess and a warrior. She arose from her chair and started walking to the doors.
"Princess I can not allow you to risk injuring yourself more. Stay here. Your friends can handle this." Coran grabbed her arm.
"Coran let go of me!" While in her current state she had never talked back to him. He loosened his grip on her out of shock. "How can they handle this? They are losing. I won't allow (she knew who was attacking; shows more of her memory came back) Cossack to conquer Arus so easily. I must help them."Coran froze in shock, allowing Allura to escape.
The Lions were in worse trouble then before. Cossack's shots were hitting dead on, either causing technical problems or they fell. Blue Lion was caught by surprise and had fallen to the ground. Sven blacked out. Allura reached his ship and took the helm. Flying came to her like a second nature. After she took out a few ships Sven regained his senses and did a double take at Allura flying and blacked out again. Although no one else knew who was flying Blue Lion, watching her take out ships gave the team a renewed sprit. The rest began taking out ships of their own.
"No! This wasn't supposed to happen!" He scoffed and fired one last shot at the cause of their comeback, hitting it directly on the head, before his own ship was destroyed. Red Lion was the first to be able to get there. The fall had awakened Sven but had knocked out Allura once more.
"Sven? Hey you OK in here?" Lance called out. He saw Sven on the floor shaking his head.
"I'm OK but Allura . . ." For the first time Lance had noticed someone sitting in the chair. He nervously walked over to it and was surprised as anything to find Allura there. He didn't say anything as he rushed her to Dr. Gorma's ward. Dr. Gorma was furious to find her unconscious.
"What happened?"
"I honestly don't know. I found her in Blue Lion. I think she may have flown it."
"Why wasn't Sven flying? He's Blue Lion's pilot now."
Sven came in and answered the question. "When I took that fall I blacked out for a while. I guess she found out and took my place."
"Did you honestly think she could fly in her condition? How could she know the controls?"
"I didn't plan this. It just happened. When she first saw the Doomship her memory was coming back bit by bit. I guess flying came back to her as well."
"Well now she might've lost it forever or worse. As long as she gets out of her coma she'll live. As for her memory, she may have lost forever. I can't do a thing for that but I can try to save her life." Everyone ran to the ward, knowing Allura had flown Blue Lion.
"What happened, Sven?" Keith demanded. "Why did she fly when you could've easily flown?"
"That's just it Keith, I couldn't fly. After my fall I blacked out. Allura took over flying ON HER OWN CHOICE. I only regained consciousness after the second fall; the one that knocked her out."
"Wasn't Coran supposed to . . ." Speak of the devil, Coran came in with Nanny.
"I was watching her at Castle Control during the battle. After Sven had fallen, Allura escaped and took over piloting. I thought you should've figured it out who was flying."
They argued amongst each other trying to put the blame on someone else.
"ENOUGH!" Dr. Gorma barked. They stopped. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is. The main thing is Allura is in a coma and she could either lose her memory completely or die." Surprisingly enough, Nanny didn't break down and cry. Instead she was furious. If looks could kill, the team would be barbecued.
"ONCE TOO MANY TIMES HAVE YOU RISKED HER LIFE LIKE THIS! IF SHE DIES YOU FIVE ARE IN BIG TROUBLE, INCLUDING YOU CORAN! YOU SHOULDN'T OF LET HER ESCAPE LIKE YOU DID!" She turned to the team. "AND YOU SHALL WATCH OVER HER TONIGHT. I MEAN ALL OF YOU!" They could nod their heads in agreement for they were too scared to do anything else.
The room got quiet after Coran dragged out a screaming Nanny. They all prepared for bed with heavy hearts. They knew it was their fault for letting her fly. It was their fault she was in a coma again. When they would awaken the next morning they hoped to hell she would be there alive and well the next morning.
Allura found herself in a dream state consisting of a swirling vortex in space. Alarmed and confused, she felt herself hopelessly lost inside her conscious mind. Alfor appeared to help her break free.
"My daughter, tear down the wall inside your mind. Break free from your chains and let loose your soul."
"How?" She questioned.
"Concentrate on the past. You remember some of it now. Concentrate on those who you love and love you back. Concentrate on finding your life . . ."
Allura awoke the next morning to find Keith in the opposite bed, tear stains down his face. She reached over and ran her hand through his unruly hair.
"Keith . . ." She said weakly. Almost as if still asleep he got up and looked over at her, shock clearly expressed on his face.
"Princess . . ." He obviously couldn't believe it. " . . .You're . . .you're. . ."
He never finished his sentence. Instead he grabbed her waist and started bawling tears for joy. He knew his rep was on the line but he didn't care. He'd rather be called a softy or a pansy for life then lose Allura. Touched by his affectionate gesture she embraced him back, never wanting to
lose him again. Apparently, it didn't matter for no one cared. Keith's outbreak awoke the rest of the team and all they had eyes for was Allura alive and well. Everyone was acting wildly, not caring about what kind of chaos they made or how they should act as members of the Voltron Force. Their friend who they cared deeply for was alive. That was all that mattered.
"What's all the noise?" Asked a very upset Coran. He changed his attitude a bit when he saw Allura. He lost his dignified position and also grabbed Allura in a bear hug. Happy to see them all
again she didn't mind the pain.
"Galaxy Garrison has called in Castle Control, Coran. It has something to do with the Voltron Force." Nanny told Coran in a somber voice. Coran nodded, telling her he'll receive their call. After he stepped out of the ward, Nanny saw Allura alive and well. "MY BABY! SHE'S ALIVE!" She screamed as she put Allura into a killer bear hug. "THANK HEAVENS, YOU'RE ALIVE CHILD. I REFUSE TO LOSE YOU TO ZARKON'S FORCES!"
This jubilation lasted about 7 more minutes. After that Coran came in with a look of desolation.
"Galaxy Garrison has informed me that now that the entire Doom Empire is destroyed there no longer is a threat. Voltron and its pilots have been recruited to help Vehicle Voltron fight in the Near Universe. They are scheduled to leave the day after tomorrow."
A deafening silence filled the room. The day they had dreamed of for years had finally come. The nightmare had come true.
As Allura prepared for bed the next night she knew it would be her last night with her friends. Lance came into her room just as she finished getting dressed. "Lance, what do you . . ." He silenced her immediately.
"No time for that now. Just get back into your dress now and meet me in the front of the castle."
He ran out without another word. Allura stood there a minute wondering what was going to happen. She decided to go with the flow and got re-dressed. She met Lance at the castle gates with a very confused Keith.
"What's going on, Lance?" Keith asked, annoyed at being dragged out of bed in the middle of the night.
"I'm sure you know about the nights when the Princess and I snuck out of the castle. I'm merely giving you two your own night out." He answered casually. "I relieved the guards so you guys can come in when you want. Nobody's going to know about this except us." He paused before continuing. "Look, I know that you two are going to miss each other the most when we're gone. I figured you needed a night alone together. Don't make me regret playing matchmaker."
"OK Lance, we'll go but if we're caught, you're the one in serious trouble tomorrow."
"Don't worry about me, Keith. I've been in serious trouble before. I know how to survive. Just go already!"
He shoved them out of the gates. Walking hand-in-hand, they enjoyed the peacefulness of the night. In an instant they forgot about tomorrow, what it held in store, and who they were. All they knew was they were two secret lovers taking a midnight stroll. They sat on a nearby hill and went
stargazing.
"Hey look at that!" Exclaimed Keith.
"What?" Asked Allura.
"It's the Milky Way!"
"What's so important about it?"
"Before my mom died, she said that all of our dreams were held in the Milky Way. Our imagination was our flying ship up there. Once there, our dreams were covered in stardust flying across the sky attached to a comet's tail. Up there, no one could stop us accomplishing our dreams." He sighed.
"It's true Keith. Often I go up there, even now, and there's no Coran and Nanny stoppin' me from. . ." She stopped short in fear of revealing one of her most closely held secrets.
"Stoppin' you from what?" Keith asked in an amused voice.
"Nothin'." She answered quickly. Keith wasn't fooled a bit.
"C'mon, what is it?" He grabbed her from behind her back, holdin' on pretty tight. "I'll let go if you tell me, like now." Allura laughed.
"Let go of me, Keith. It's nothing you want to hear!"
"We'll see about that!" He lost his balance and fell down the steep hill. Allura fell with him holdin' on for dear life. Allura landed on top of him at the bottom. They both engaged in a laughing fit until some of Allura's hair fell on Keith's face. He stopped, thinking he died and gone to heaven. In a lovesick trance, he kissed Allura lightly on the lips whispering "I love you, my Princess."
Allura stared at him with shock and happiness. All of a sudden she started to cry on his shirtfront.
"Allura, what's wrong?" He sat up holding her close to him. He hoped it wasn't him loving her like that.
"Now that I know you love me, you have to leave me." She said between sobs. Keith raised her face up towards him.
"When I'm gone and you're missing me as I will you, at night just look up to the Milky Way and I'll be there. Our love is up there swirling amongst the stars." He consoled her. "We better be headin' back."
"Yeah." She agreed. "That was my dream Keith."
"Explain."
"Up there, no one's stoppin' me from lovin' you."
He helped her up and escorted her back to the castle.
"Thank you for tonight, Lance. You're right, we did need a night out together." Allura said as she waited for Keith. Lance beamed, knowing something had happened that brought them together.
"Been skinny dipping Keith?" He asked after seeing his shirtfront soaked.
As a reflex, Keith punched him hard in the stomach, reminding him to keep his filthy mind out of his business. Keith escorted Allura back to her room for she was too tired to get there on her own. Sure enough, Allura fell to the floor asleep. Keith carried her to her room and tucked her into bed. He savored every moment spent with her, for it would be his last for a while. After a few minutes he kissed her forehead and went to bed, dreading the morn.
Allura woke with a start the next morning. What she had dreaded for years was finally here. Her newfound family would leave her. Once again she would be alone in the darkness. She quickly dressed and ran to the dining hall. Everyone was there enjoying their last few moments together. Few words were shared as they took in each other's comforting presence. After breakfast she helped them pack and prepare the lions for their long journey. The time had come to say goodbye. The Lions were parked outside of the castle as they were prepared for the trip. Allura had some control over the hysterics she was feeling. Only a few tears escaped and rolled down her face.
"This is it. Goodbye, Allura." The team replied. "Hopefully we may come back on holiday."
Allura smiled. "Just don't get killed out there. I want you to come back alive, not in a body bag." She joked. She turned to Sven. "Promise me you'll take care of Blue Lion for me."
"She'll be fine with me at her helm. Don't worry Princess. She in good hands."
"No matter what happens Sven, stay sane. I already lost Romelle, I don't want to lose you."
Tears filled his eyes as he was reminded of what happened. "I'll be OK Allura. It's Keith I'm worried about."
"You better get going. I've told Galaxy Garrison you were already on your way." She told Keith.
"Kickin' us out already, are ya? Shame shame." He joked.
"Just the rest of us Keith. She wants to give you a going away present alone. She wouldn't dare do it in public!" Lance responded.
"Grow up Lance!" Allura ordered. Everyone laughed at that.
"I guess you're right. Goodbye Allura. Let's move out guys!" Keith ordered.
"Goodbye Keith. Come back to me." She answered.
After giving a fond farewell, they reluctantly entered the Lions and took off. She watched them as they took off into the sky . . . and out of her life. She couldn't stand it as she fell to her knees and cried.
"Come back to me." She repeated, hoping her dream would be answered up in the Milky Way.
Chapter 4: Home Is Where The Heart Is
It had been a year since the Voltron Force left Arus. She threw herself headfirst into her studies learning more then she did when her friends were there. She became a princess once more. She ruled her planet and grew into her role. She was truly happy now, per say. Her planet was no longer tortured by war and the people prospered. Taking advantage of the situation, Coran and Nanny were on her back constantly about finally finding a suitor. She had found one, that she knew, but he would not be acceptable in Coran and Nanny's eyes. The suitor they had in mind was a prince, not a top-ranking officer. Despite everything that was happening, she missed her friends a great deal. Although it was difficult to see, Coran and Nanny could see her sadness.
Often they would reminisce times when the team was there and laugh at some of the experiences. The memories that hurt her the most were the ones that Coran and Nanny knew nothing about. Sometimes after those sessions she would go off on her own to remember. Visiting places that she had connected with the team made it easier to remember and feel their presence. Then there were times when all she would do was shut herself in her room and cry. She missed it all: Keith's manner, Lance's attitude, Sven's seriousness, Hunk's appetite, and Pidge's boyish ways. She missed them all too much to live without showing her emotions. Coran had often heard her cries but did nothing to comfort her. He felt would only make matters worse.
Things weren't going well for the Voltron Force either. When they arrived in the Near Universe Keith treated Jeff with indifference. He refused to shake hands symbolizing an alliance between the teams. He was even quieter than before and was slow to act. His heart was no longer in his work. He seemed constantly depressed. In the first few months everyone thought he was
taking the move too hard. He just needed some time, they figured. It had been going on for a year and they started to worry 'bout him. Nothing that they did to help worked. Nobody had any idea why he was carrying on like this. Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Sven found him alone and decided to interrogate him. This madness had to stop.
"Keith, what's going on? You seem different then before." Lance inquired.
"Nothing," He answered in a sinisterly calm voice. "Nothing except I want to kick Jeff's ass."
Everyone was startled. "But why? He hasn't done anything to hurt us?"
"Oh, yes he has. While we finally complete our mission he can't even make a dent in his problem. He needs us to help him fight his own battles. In a time of peace he takes us away from our home and demands we fight and continue with the violence. For once I'm sick and tired of fighting. I worked my tail off for peace and I want to enjoy it. It's not enough knowing others are safe anymore. I know it sounds selfish but . . . I want to be safe myself." With that he started to cry.
Everyone was surprised at what war had been waging inside of him. It was tearing him apart. They left the room and regrouped in a different room. "I know why he's carrying on the way he is. He misses Allura." Lance answered everyone's questions.
"So do we but why would he act like that?" Pidge pondered.
"Because he and Allura are an item." Lance answered quickly. An uneasy silence fell among the team.
"Figures." Sven broke the silence.
"What figures?" Lance snapped at him.
"He goes to Arus and falls for Allura. I go to Pollux and fall for Romelle." No one saw what he had with Romelle.
"So that's why . . . back on Doom . . . you cracked like that?" Lance asked in a soothing voice.
"Yeah." He answered softly. "It's also why I stayed on Arus. Not just because you needed a fifth pilot but because Pollux held too many memories of her. I knew if I stayed there I'd go crazy again."
In the end they decided to help Keith the only way they knew how. They went to Hawkins and demanded a recess. "How am I supposed to issue these kinds of things? We need you here to fight and here is where you shall stay." Hawkins ordered.
"Vehicle Voltron can handle it here. They have been for years. All I'm asking is permission to go to Arus for two weeks! Two weeks!" Lance answered back. "Don't get all lazy on us just because some 'wonder team' is sent here to fight for you. Can't you see how this is killing Keith!"
"He'll live. He's been through worse." Hawkins responded coldly.
Sven and Hunk grabbed Lance as he prepared to kill Hawkins.
"Let them go, Hawkins." Jeff ordered. "They all need a break. Give them what they want."
"I'm not giving them two weeks leave to Arus."
"Then give them two weeks leave to Pollux. It's the closest planet to us in the Azure quadrant. They have friends there. If we need them all we do is call them and they will come back and help. We will only call them if we are in a LIFE OR DEATH situation."
Hawkins was ready to call them the minute the smallest amount of trouble. Lance was right. Hawkins had become dependent on Lion Voltron. "Fine. They will leave the day after tomorrow." Hawkins sent a message to Galaxy Garrison telling them about the situation.
Coran was able to pick up the message Hawkins sent to Galaxy Garrison. He ran to Allura's room where she was, once again, missing her friends to the extreme."The Voltron Force was given a two weeks leave on Planet Pollux." He announced. Allura looked up at him with disbelief although her eyes beamed with happiness.
"I'm going there to see them." She finished.
The trip to Pollux was a fast one for the Voltron Force. Self-assured Vehicle Voltron could handle anything; they prepared to enjoy themselves. They didn't know how much they were to enjoy it. When they landed Sven's heart broke. Everything around him was a reminder of Romelle. Remembering his promise, he vowed he would move on. Besides, they had enough on their hands with Keith losing it. They hadn't been there long when Allura arrived. Seeing the Lions she landed near them and took off on foot after the team.
She saw Keith first for he was lagging behind. "KEITH!" She shouted after him and increased her speed. Thinking it was a dream he slowly turned around to face the hard truth. What he saw surprised the crud out of him. For the first time in a year, he felt happy. She caught up to him, kissed him, and embraced him.
"I thought I'd never see you again." Keith exclaimed.
"I missed you so." Allura replied.
The team looked back and their hearts melted at what they saw.
