Allura could think of a million other places she'd rather be than in a cramped groundcar with Keith and Alderain. Planet Doom and Hell--which were interchangeable in her opinion--were two of those places. Though the two men were being as pleasant as possible, she could still feel the undercurrents of tension in the air. And because of that, she was wound up tighter than they probably were.

"What's going on at Delar?" she asked, just to break the silence.

Keith looked at her with something akin to shock. "There's been a strike in one of the main factories for the past three days. The news has been having live coverage since day one."

She had the grace to look sheepish. "Oh."

"Just try to turn on ANN..."

"ANN?" Alderain asked.

"Arusian News Network," Keith clarified, a little miffed that he was interrupted. "Anyway, Allura, just turn it on while you're working or whatever, just so you'll be up to date in case anything happens."

"I'll do that," she said.

They pulled up to Voltronia's Town Hall and Alderain helped Allura out of the car before Keith could scoot to her side. He threw Alderain an irritated look, but didn't say anything.

The trio entered the solid gray building and made their way to the Mayor's office. A young woman led them into the room and the Mayor, a genteel looking man with iron gray hair, stood to greet them.

"Your Highnesses, Commander Porterfield" Mayor Loran Sal greeted them formally, though his smile was warm. "I'm glad that you could come. We have important matters to discuss." He seemed nervous and wrung his hands anxiously.

"Take your time, Loran," Keith said soothingly.

"I'm sure you've heard of what my daughter's been through; getting married, losing her husband, and having a baby in the space of only one year. She's an emotional wreck and she is depending very heavily on my wife and me. But with my duties as mayor of Arus' capital city...I can't do it all."

"We understand that you wish to resign," Allura said. "It's not exactly the best time, Mayor."

"But when will it be the best time?" Loran argued. "It seems like a new crisis starts every time another one ends. I've put this off for too long. I will resign as soon as my replacement is settled in. As much as I want to leave, I don't want it to be more difficult than it should be."

"Who will be your replacement?"

"That's where you come in," the Mayor said tiredly. "I haven't a clue who my successor is to be."

"When are elections?" Alderain asked.

"There aren't any. The Princess appoints the mayor of each town," Keith explained.

"Do you have any suggestions, Mayor?" Allura asked.

"Linkadriel Varun," he answered immediately. "Link is a very efficient worker and has been in my staff since the beginning." He wrote the name down on a slip of paper and handed it to Keith. "Take a look at the records."

"We'll do that," the Princess assured him.

"How is your daughter?" Keith asked.

Loran sighed. "She's been staying at home. She's doesn't want to do anything for fear that she'll lose the baby. She loved her husband very much."

"Is this her?" Alderain asked, gesturing to a photograph of a young woman with flaming red hair on the Mayor's desk.

"Yes," Loran replied, handing the picture to Alderain so he could have a better look.

All the color seemed to drain from the Prince's face as he stared at the picture.

"She...She's v-very beautiful," he stammered, his throat tight.

Keith glanced at him, wondering what was wrong. He noticed the slight shaking of Alderain's hand when he returned the photograph.

"Yes, she is very beautiful," the Mayor was saying proudly. "She gave her mother and me fits when she was growing up. Every week there seemed to be a new love of her life."

"Give her our best wishes," Allura said with a smile.

They stood.

"I promise to have an answer for you soon," she said.

"Thank you, Princess. I'd also like to extend an invitation to dinner at my home tonight, for you, Prince Alderain, and the rest of the Voltron Force."

"That would be wonderful," Alderain blurted out.

Both Allura and Keith looked at him strangely.

"Yes, it would," the Princess agreed, though she didn't take her eyes off Alderain. "We'd like that, Mayor."

"Excellent. We shall be serving dinner around seven o'clock."

"We'll be there at six thirty. Are you sure about this, Loran?" Keith asked, smiling slightly. "The Voltron Force is mighty not only for its strength, but also for its appetite."

Loran laughed. "I'll be sure to prepare a feast. Until tonight then."

"Ees someting wrong vid Alderain?" Sven whispered to Keith as they stood around the Mayor's parlor, nursing their drinks.

Keith snuck a peek at the Prince who was standing next to Allura as they chatted with Loran, his wife, and his daughter, Maerie. Alderain's eyes looked glazed and his expression was a cross between bliss and confusion.

"He looks high," Lance suggested, coming up behind them and fidgeting with his dress uniform's high collar.

They chuckled softly.

"There's no cannabis on Arus, is there?" Pidge inquired, overhearing.

"No," Lance answered. "Not that I was looking. Boy, the Mayor's daughter is a looker."

The four simultaneously studied Maerie. She was demure and quiet, the perfect daughter for a politician. She smiled at them when she noticed them staring at her. They smiled back.

"She's nice," Pidge admitted.

Then, something caught the Mayor's attention and everyone in the room followed his gaze to see a young woman standing at the doorway to the parlor. She was tiny, with short black hair, curled for the occassion. She wore an off-the-shoulder silver gown that brought out her smoky gray eyes. She smiled when she realized she had everyone's attention.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Linkadriel Varun," he said.

Allura stepped up and stopped the newcomer from curtsying, offering her hand. Surprised, but pleased, Linkadriel shook it enthusiastically.

"It is an honor to meet you, Your Highness," she said. "And the rest of you as well."

"Loran speaks highly of you, Miss Varun," Keith said.

Linkadriel beamed. "He's always generous with his praise. And please, call me Link."

The groups shifted. Keith, Allura, and Loran surrounded Link while Alderain kept up a conversation with the Mayor's wife and Maerie. Sven, Pidge, and Lance stayed where they were. Sven and Pidge began to discuss the amount of time Hunk was spending with Gwen--the reason he wasn't attending the dinner party--but Lance remained quiet.

"You ok?" Pidge asked, realizing that Lance hadn't said a word or moved since Link walked in.

"I think I'm in love," he said, breathlessly.

"Vid who? Maerie?" Sven teased.

"No...Link..."

Pidge and Sven began to laugh, but their laughter faded when Lance didn't join in. His eyes were zeroed in on the young woman and had been since she arrived. He couldn't seem to take them off her beautiful face. He even stopped fussing with his uniform.

"Lance?" Pidge said, snapping his fingers in front of Lance's face. "Arus to Lance, you there, Buddy?"

"Uh huh..."

"He's gone," Sven said. "I haf never see him like dis."

"Neither have I."

Before they could explore the matter further, the dinner bell was rung and they moved to the dining room. Allura moved to take Alderain's arm but found that it was occupied by Maerie. She looked about helplessly until Keith stepped up, offering his arm with a smile. She took it. Lance hurriedly offered his to Link. She accepted with a smile, which faded quickly. She blinked rapidly as she gazed into his face, and seemed to be in just as much shock as he was. They were the last to enter the dining room, absorbed in each other.

The conversation ebbed and flowed easily. Maerie, usually quiet in social gatherings, was pulled in by Alderain who seemed to delight in her company. Lance and Link didn't say a word to each other, but the gazes they exchanged spoke volumes. Allura, unaware of what was going on around her, drilled Link on her knowledge of the workings of Voltronia. After sensing that something was up, Keith looked to Lance and when he found him to be unresponsive, looked to Sven. Sven grinned and looked pointedly at Link. Keith chuckled, and covered it up with a cough.

"Well, well..." he muttered.

"Pardon me, Keith?" Loran asked.

"Well, this is certainly an excellent meal," Keith said, recovering quickly.

After dessert, they moved out into the garden save for Maerie and Alderain. She was feeling tired and he offered to escort her to her room. Allura thought it was odd, but didn't think much of it when Keith's captured her attention with some ideas he had for Voltronia. Alderian didn't show up until it was time to leave and he looked a little too flushed for Allura's liking.

"Are you feeling ill?" she asked coldly when they were outside.

"Not at all," he replied, a big grin splitting his face, and if Allura hadn't been so annoyed with him at that moment, she might have thought him handsome.

"Then why do you look so...so..."

"Happy?" Keith offered under his breath.

"...happy?" she finished.

"It's a beautiful night," Alderain said, raising one arm to the starry sky and putting the other around Allura's shoulders. "And I'm in the company of a beautiful woman. Who wouldn't be happy?"

"Keit," Sven replied, chuckling.

Keith glared at his friend, but then realized that Lance wasn't with them. "Where's Lance?" he demanded.

"Uh...I think he left with the Mayor's friend," Pidge answered.

"WHAT??" Keith and Allura said in unison.

"He vas going to see her home," Sven explained.

Keith slapped his forehead. "Great..just great...I hope to God he doesn't insult her in some way."

"I hope your god performs miracles," Allura muttered.