Scott's Fiction
Love's Journey
Part 10
Lance and Nayla

 

Love's Journey is a Voltron Fan Fiction by Scott. This Fiction is rated R18+ due to extreme violence, adult concepts and the odd sexual encounter. The story focuses on the relationships between ALL the Voltron characters but especially on the relationship between Captain Keith and Princess Allura as they struggle with their feelings for one another. The story is VERY soppy in places so if that ISN'T your thing, turn away now.

I don't own Voltron or any of the characters depicted in this story save for the Original characters I introduce. Those characters are mine and please ask me first if you intend on using them at all. Voltron and all other characters are the property of W.E.P. This is an amateur fiction and no profit is being made in anyway from this venture.

I would like to thank SGB for his fantastic collection of Voltron and Golion images, without which many of the pictures in this fiction would not exist. Finally, thanks must go to Moira, who is responsible for not only the AWESOME pictures that feature throughout this book, but for encouraging me to post this fiction too! Thanks again Moira, thanks for all your support and encouragement!

NB. Some screenshots that may feature in the story I have had on HDD for some time and can't remember where I found them! If they are yours please, drop me a line and I will credit you for them! Any way, I hope you enjoy Love's Journey!

Love's Journey
Part 10
Lance and Nayla

The following morning in their room, Keith turned to the Princess as she adjusted his Arusian Armed Forces Uniform, A dark blue dress uniform that was similar to his old Galaxy uniform. Keith had transferred along with the other members of the Voltron Force into the newly formed Arusian Armed Forces. Though small it was General Taylor's hope that the force would grow and assist Voltron in defending their world. "Ally why am I doing this again?" Keith asked his love, he hated award ceremonies!

"Keith it's an honour, you are the first person to recieve an award for gallantry in the history of the Arusian Armed Forces! It boosts the morale of the people, they need a hero in these times and besides, it is my wish that you are commended for your actions!" She replied.

Oh great, a hero! I am not a HERO! Keith sighed to himself. "I don't need to be commended for saving you Ally!! Seeing you home safe is quite enough commendation, seeing you smile and seeing you happy is all enough for me!"

"Okay well, do this and I will be happy, I will smile and........................" She whispered something into his ear and his cheeks went bright red.

"THAT is Bribery!"

"Yes it is, I am your Fiancé.....I'm allowed to bribe!" She giggled.

"Well the offer is just a little too good to refuse!" Keith grinned.

 

By ten o'clock the landing pad was already lined with Arusian Armed Forces personnel, villagers, townsfolk and of course the Castle Of Lions staff. Princess Allura was standing at the end of the long laneway on a small platform in full royal regalia. She was waiting, rather impatiently for Captain Keith and the other members of the Voltron Force to commence their parade. Convincing Keith that he deserved a medal was not an easy task and Allura wondered just how Galaxy Garrison ever managed to make him agree to them awarding him the chest full of medals he already had. Keith....was waiting behind the Castle doors with Lance, Sven, Hunk and Pidge. "Just like the old days, Keith gets a medal and a kiss from the girls while we all stand at attention and watch!" Lance joked.

"Yeah but we didn't go all the way to Lotor and rescue the Princess!" Pidge answered.

"Guys will you cut it out! You would have too if you hadn't been unconscious, let's just get this out of the way!" Keith snapped.

"Okay, okay, sheesh! You never did like getting medals Keith! Don't you know that girls LOVE a man with medals on his chest!" Lance answered with a grin.

Keith shook his head and tried not to laugh, "I have my girl and she loves me anyway!"

A young soldier approached Keith, "Okay Captain, they're ready!"

"Okay guys, lets link up with Alfor Division and get this done, Lance, keep in step, Pidge, don't mess up your right incline and Hunk, make sure you're not stepping on Pidge's feet this time!" Keith ordered as the Voltron Force lined up behind him. They were to march with Alfor Division behind them. Alfor Division was an elite group of commando's formed by Coran to conduct clandestine raids behind enemy lines in times of war. Their division was only a two weeks old and had already seen action in finding the Voltron Lions on that awful day of days.

The doors swung open and Keith lead the march, Captain and Parade Commander! The crowd hushed as the trumpets blared and the military band began play. There were sixty men marching behind Keith and even over the music the crowd could still hear their boots hitting the ground in perfect unison as they marched. Keith hadn't led a parade since well before he came to Arus and Allura had never seen him in a parade at all.

She was surprised how loudly his voice boomed out as he gave various commands. As they marched past her she wasn't expecting him to direct his gaze at her either, she had only quickly read the book Keith's Father had given her on medal parades and had forgotten that part.

"COMPANY.........EYES..................RIGHT!" Keith yelled.

He flashed Allura a long and stiff salute as each man looked up to her. "General, I forget, what do I do?" She whispered.

"Just smile and nod in appreciation Ally, give him a wave if you wish!" He replied.

Allura waved but she stopped when she noticed the look in Keith's eyes, (his eyes were stone cold and his gaze felt as if it burned right through her). The General saw she was distressed and whispered, "Its alright, he's marching, they have to concentrate and they block out all distraction, he won't respond to anything you do while he is out there".

"Oh for a second I thought he was angry at me". Allura answered.

"No no, just marching".

The parade stood at attention in front of Allura and she began the speech she had prepared that morning, Keith wasn’t paying it any heed at all. "Captain Keith, please fall out and stand before me!"

The noise from the crowd was deafening as Keith broke ranks and slowly walked up the stairs to his love, her speech had moved even him, he could not believe how proudly she spoke of him and the joyous reaction of the crowd almost overwhelmed him. As he stood on the platform the band blared out the royal theme, "Lions Of Arus".

Keith looked out at the landing pad full of people, many were in bandages and on crutches, many were in tattered clothes but they all shared one thing in common, hope! They all saw hope and the very idea that one man had been able to shrug off everything Doom had sent at him was a MASSIVE morale injection. Keith began to understand why Allura had insisted on his public commendation. These poor people had suffered terribly and would no doubt suffer more before this war was over. She was RIGHT! They DID need to see that there was hope for them.

The crowd went silent as Keith knelt before his Princess. They cheered as she leaned down and clasped the glowing medal around Keith's neck, "Captain Keith Taylor, as a token of our gratitude I would like to present you with the 'Cross Of Arus'". The cross of Arus! The highest award any person on the planet could POSSIBLY receive! It was a small gold cross like the one that Voltron had on his chest and it sat around the wearers neck proudly, so all could see it. Allura gently helped Keith to his feet and wrapped her arm around his waist. Together the future rulers of Arus waved to their people, the planet had suffered terribly in the last few weeks and the hope the people so desperately needed was found.......... in Keith and Allura. The couple that had the whole planet talking, indeed it was the greatest love story they knew! A heroic pilot from another planet saves Arus and finds his one true love in it's Princess! All the while millions of lightyears away from his home. A Captain and a Princess, destiny.......or chance?

Later that day, in the afternoon, Keith and Allura walked through the Castle gardens hand in hand. They were surprised by the devastation they saw as they moved past various sections of the Castle's exterior, "They've taken one heck of a beating here, look at this place Ally" Keith exclaimed.

"Its horrible, we had achieved so much and now.. We're back to square one." She replied sadly.

Keith put an arm around her "Well the people of Arus are much better off now that they have their Princess back".

She smiled and kissed his cheek. "They have YOU to thank for that my brave hero".

Keith smiled and asked, "So will you be my date for the celebratory Ball tomorrow night?"

"Ohh I don't know, I'll have to check my schedule" Allura grinned.

"Oh well I could always ask Kesseile I mean maybe she can.............................."

"No no, I'll take you, I'll take you!" The Princess hastily replied as she interrupted him.

"Oh.......what changed your mind?" Keith asked.

The Princess didn't answer she just poked her tongue at him and pouted. "Oh I see you're not smiling either!" Keith laughed.

"I am! I am!" Allura answered with a giggle. She didn't want to be tickled in her good gown and she knew that Keith was quite likely to tickle her regardless of how she was dressed.

They both continued their walk until they stopped at the battered eastern section of the castle. They stared at the ghostly form of a wrecked Skull Tank, lit up by the fading sunlight. Allura squeezed Keith's hand, "Ugly things aren't they Keith!"

"Yeah, just like everything else on Doom! Ugly and twisted!"

 

Keith was exhausted both mentally and physically, he had very little sleep over the past few nights from piloting Black Lion home and dodging more of the Doom blockade ships that now stalked the space lanes, to the very taxing medal ceremony. Romelle met up with the couple as they were headed to the dining room for some refreshments, she and Allura then quickly detoured and headed to the ladies room.

The Captain had originally said that he'd see them in the dining room, but he changed his mind as he saw the stairs to his bed. He stumbled up and headed to their bedroom, opened the door, dusted the pieces of concrete of their bed and lay down. Then he noticed the stack of reports a mile high. Great, there goes my sleep. He thought as he sat down and started to flick through them. He must have gone over about four when he just collapsed at his desk.

As Allura and Romelle walked into the dining room and they wondered where Keith was? Allura was fairly sure she knew the answers though! She had tea and scones with everyone and then she headed up to check on Keith. As she walked into their room, she saw that he had left the bedroom door open. She looked around and saw papers sprawled out everywhere and her Captain sound asleep at his desk. She walked over and lovingly tried to wake him, "Keith wake up, Keith...??" He didn't even stir.

She managed to stand him up and slump him onto his bed where she removed his tunic, tie and boots. She gently tucked him in, turned his environmental controls down, just the way he liked and kissed his forehead, "Sleep well............my Captain!"

As she finished, Queen Orla and Nanny walked in, Nanny with a Royal wedding book in her hand. "What do you think Allura, which gown looks the best to you?"

Allura held a finger to her mouth and nodded to Keith, before leading them to an adjacent room, closing the door after her.

"Okay, sorry, it's just that Keith needs his sleep, my poor tired captain, he must be exhausted! Now... well let me see", She sat at the table with them and they flicked through the pages together umming and ahhing over the various gowns. They sat there for an hour going through countless books, Allura being overly stubborn about which one was JUST RIGHT. Finally she chose one. "That one, that's the one I want Nanny" She grinned.

Nanny nodded her head, "Okay I'll go and organize the tailors to get it made right away".

"So when are we to hold the ceremony?" Orla asked.

"Whenever Keith wishes, though I guess not till after this war now. I'd have to ask Keith to be certain though and he's asleep now so I guess it’s a mystery". Allura replied with a frown.

"Oh Allura, it was SO unfair that the attack couldn't have waited for a day, but you are both together and you're both alive!" She smiled, rubbing her shoulders reassuringly.

Nanny and the Queen headed off to the tailor's and Allura decided the people in the castle needed a little cheering up. She left to visit the troops and staff that had suffered so much in the great attack. She walked through the infirmary talking with and calming the wounded before giving blessings to the critically injured in the Intensive Care Wing. Then she visited the children who had been injured and orphaned handing out lollies and chocolate.

After that it was time to inspect repairs on the Castle's devastated eastern section. The poor Commander had NO idea she was coming and he was working in a singlet with his shirt off swinging a sledge hammer when she stood behind him and asked politely, "How are things going up here Commander?" He choked and nearly hit the fingers of his Lieutenant who was holding the bar he was mercilessly battering. "Princess, Oh my I.............terribly sorry I............. I should get dressed I ............"

"Oh nonsense, a good leader leads by example and there you are doing just that. Now back to my questions how is it going?"

"Well, we have begun to replace the outer walls and strengthen them with an additional row of plate armor, but replacing the many gun emplacements and missile batteries? Well that's not going to be easy! Drule ships raid the supply lanes and well to be honest Princess, we just aren't getting resupplied. They patrol around Arus every day, disappearing and reappearing with their cloaking devices. We have to rely on the labs here on Arus to produce the parts we need. The biggest problem is that most of the big villages were hit harder than we were in the attack, so much was destroyed. Lotor is slowly trying to strangle Arus by cutting off our supply lines and he's doing a really good job of it."

"Not good enough though Commander, we WILL beat him. Eventually we will replace the weaponry and Now that Black Lion is back in the game, Voltron will Kick Lotor's backside all the way back to planet doom next time he shows up here. Know that your efforts are leading us to victory in the war with Drule, you have done very well here, All of you have!" She replied as she looked to the workers who were making the repairs a reality. She curtsied and they all gave her a rowdy cheer! She sat for photos with the various work gangs and had Lunch with them all in their meal room. After lunch she visited the huge underground maintenance section, thanking the mechanics and technicians who were working tirelessly to help get the castle and the Voltron Lions back up and running. She went over the newly repaired Blue Lion and discussed the situation reguarding the COM. system in Black Lion before heading to the Control Room. There she gave her thanks and words of encouragement to the tactitians, planners, radar operators and command staff. Finally, absolutely exhausted, she retired early for the night.

At midnight she suddenly sat up in bed, covered in a wave of sweat. She had just had a dreadful nightmare and she decided to visit the dining room for a drink and a snack to calm her nerves. Nanny was asleep at this time and the dining room was dark. As Allura flicked the light on she saw General Taylor standing at the walk in fridge with a bottle of Arusian Spirit Ale in his hands.

"Princess Allura, what are you................."

"I was going to ask you the same question Father!" She asked with a smile.

"Well If you must know I was having trouble sleeping!"

"Me too.......... I had another nightmare!" The Princess answered as she sat down at the table.

"Nightmares huh? I know all about those, I have them every night!"

"And the bottle of spirit ale?" Allura asked nodding to the bottle in his hands.

"Oh umm....That......Well It helps me to sleep, Princess I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Keith about this, he thinks I have quit".

"Your secret is safe with me Father!"

"So young Ally, did you want to talk about it?"

"Well I don't REALLY want to talk about it, it's...............NO! I do want to talk about it just with someone who can keep it to themselves" The Princess answered.

"You haven't told Keith I take it?"

"No, Father, I haven't figured out how to tell him just yet. No matter how I say it he is going to start worrying!"

"Oh you're talking to an old hand Ally! Keith worries for everybody, everybody else except himself that is! You don' t know how happy I am to see that he finally found someone".

"I love him more than anything too, he is my life! He ALWAYS protects me, he has saved me so many times, he's my Knight in shining armor!"

"Yes, it doesn't take a fool to recognize how you feel for him. So.......... we were talking about nightmares!" The General replied.

"Well okay, its about Lotor, I have this dream where he......................"

"Take your time Ally, its all right!" The General replied putting his arm around her.

Allura fought back her tears and continued, "I dream that he..........holds me down and.............I fight him and I fight as hard as I can but........I Can't! I can't!" Allura couldn't continue she, dropped her head into the General's chest and wept. "I'm weak! If it wasn't for Keith he would HAVE! He'll get me, one of these days he's going to get meeee!"

"Shhh Ally, nobody is going to get you! You're safe here! I'll tell you what....You wanna beat Lotor? Then train hard girl, listen to Keith and train hard! If you want to learn how to defend yourself train HARD! I'll tell you a little secret, when Keith was a boy he was always getting beaten up by school bullies. He was smaller than they were and one day, after they beat him and ate his lunch infront of him he just decided, that's it, I am going to stop them! The Jurgens family enrolled him in Hungar Kung Fu with Sven and he did that until he was seventeen, then he did a year of fencing and japanese sword before eight years of Kendo. He trains hard every day and that's how he is as strong as he is. Focus your nightmares into your training, visualize Lotor AS the training robot. The Nightmares will stop because everyday you will be physically defeating him!" The General answered.

"I feel so vulnerable, I quake whenever I leave Keith's side! I was in the bathroom earlier and I got scared by a shadow! A shadow of all things!" Allura replied in frustration.

"Ally these things will pass! You went through a hell of an ordeal, you'll recover in time!"

"I owe it to Keith to to get OVER this.......he didn't save me so I could be miserable!" The Princess replied.

"Yes but don't be unrealistic about it, trauma is hard to just shake........I remember the first time a man was killed under my command........I was a mess for weeks, thinking about how my decision had taken his life. My beloved wife, (God rest her soul), was able to point out that there was nothing I could have done AND that I was being to unfair to myself."

"Perhaps there IS a lesson in that for me........Still, I guess it is going to take time!" Allura replied.

"Hey you know what they say Ally, time heals ALL wounds but it does leave the scars".

"Thank you for helping..........DAD, its nice to talk to someone who understands!" Allura replied as she gave him a huge hug.

"DAD?" The General asked.

"Yes, Father is Father and YOU are Dad!" Allura replied with a grin.

"Very well, Keith calls me Dad and come to think of it......... I do sort of prefer that, Father is so formal!" He chuckled.

Allura smiled and shook her head, "I never thought I would ever have a DAD! DADS are Earth things, Arusian girls only have Fathers!"

"Well I know a pretty little Arusian Princess that has a Dad AND a Father!"

Allura smiled, "I'm hungry Dad, I'm going to have a sandwich, would you like one?"

"I'd LOVE a sandwich!"

Allura flashed him a mischievous grin, "Okay, don't tell Nanny though! She gets very grumpy when I have midnight snacks!"

"Ahh I couldn't go dobbing you in.......You've got too much dirt on me!" The General smiled as he held up the tapped the pocket he was hiding the Spirit Ale in.

They had their sandwiches and As Allura carried the plates over to the sink she called out, "Okay well I told you about my nightmares, tell me about yours!"

"Oh I..........Well… mine are complicated they......................"

"Oh no you don't! I told you mine and they were complicated too!" Allura answered.

"Well.......I don't think that................." The General was interrupted when Nanny walked in, woken by the noises in her kitchen.

"Allura what have I told you about midnight sna............General Taylor! I didn't know you were here!" She gasped.

The General stepped in front of Allura, "Nanny don't be angry at Ally, I had a nightmare and Keith wasn't awake so I was speaking with her, I made us the ham sandwiches!"

"Oh General, I.....That's okay, I'm sorry Princess I thought that you had, sorry!" Nanny replied.

Queen Orla had been looking for General Taylor since she had heard him having his nightmare but she wasn't completely familiar with the Castle and had gotten lost following him. She walked in and ran over to him, "There you are Brad! I have been looking all over for you, come on! Back to bed with you! And..........You don't need THAT!" She remarked as she took the spirits out of his pocket and left them on the bench.

As he left he flashed Allura a wink and she grinned back, "Well Princess can I get you something?" Nanny asked.

"Chocolate cake!" Allura grinned.

"CHOCOLATE CAKE! At this hour of.................Oh why not! Okay, chocolate cake it is!" She answered with a grin.

She cut Allura a slice and as she put the lid on Hunk stumbled in to the Kitchen, "Hunk what are you doing up? She asked.

"I was hungry and I heard noises in the Kitchen!" he replied.

"Well I suppose we can.................."

"IS THAT CHOCOLATE CAKE?" He interrupted.

"Yes it...........Don't even think about it! Chocolate Cake is not a sustaining................"

"It's perfect!" Hunk replied as he licked his lips.

"Ohhhhh I give up! How you boys stay healthy with what you eat is beyond me!" Nanny complained.

"Cawlet.....Keelth's Halth Doiet" Hunk replied with a mouthful of Cake.

"Finish your Mouthful before you speak, such terrible table manners!" Nanny scolded in disgust.

"Hey Hey.....Cake!" Lance answered as he walked in to investigate the noise........"Leave me some Hunk!"

Nanny threw her hands up in the air......"And you wonder why I HATE cooking cakes, the way you lot go through them I have to cook six just to get a week out of them!"

"Lance gave her a hug and rested his head on her shoulder, "Yes and we all appreciate all you do for us too Nanny!"

"Oh Lance you CRAWLER!" Allura gasped.

Nanny opened a cupboard and fetched him some chocolate topping, "For being so polite!" She grinned as she handed them to him.

"Hey I didn't get chocolate topping!" Allura complained.

"YOU weren't as polite as he was! Perhaps if you ask him NICELY he will share it!" Nanny chuckled.

Lance laughed, "The trick here Nanny is to NEVER look her in the eye, once she flashes those baby blues at you, you just can't say no!"

"Tell me something I DON'T know Lance!" She chuckled.

"Lance can I have some please, you know you're my best friend!............" Allura grinned.

Lance pretended he didn't hear her and looked away, "Did you hear something Hunk?" He asked.

"Ommmf! NOT MEme...to ooomf....Mpff......busy eating!" Hunk replied.

Allura slowly sidled up to him and demonstrated the art of CRAWLING perfectly. She rubbed his shoulders as she stood behind him, "I'll give you a really Looong shoulder rub!"

"Hmmmm one of Allura's shoulder rubs in exchange for half of my chocolate sauce! Hmmm DEAL!" He laughed as he handed the sauce over.

"LANCE! Your shoulders are like Bricks!" She gasped as she massaged them.

"Yup, Girls love a guy with muscles!"

"Oh and what would Nayla think if she heard you say that Hmmm?" the Princess grinned.

"She encourages me! She says she likes me being CONFIDENT!" He laughed.

"That's the last thing we need, Nayla feeding Lance's ego!" Hunk answered in between mouthfuls.

Allura grinned at Hunk, "He needs it, I am being really nice because he gave me chocolate sauce.......YUMMY!"

Later after she finished rubbing Lance's shoulders and eating her her cake, Allura yawned and addressed her friends, "Well I could do with a good night sleep, I'll see you all in the morning".

Nanny nodded, "I couldn't agree more! Off you go then!"

The Princess left the dining room and climbed back into bed next to her Captain, snuggling up to him and gently kissing his cheek, "I love you baby" She whispered as she lay beside him, she felt very relaxed having finally got her problems off her chest.

 

Keith woke up at Five o'clock feeling very rested. What to do today, Hmmm firstly I need to have a look at our Military situation after the attack and access our repairs, then I have to prepare for this Ball tonight! He thought as he stepped out of the shower. He changed into his spare Dress Uniform, (Nanny having ordered two for him) and grabbed his tunic from the chair where Allura had hung it the day before. How the heck did I get to bed.......Ally ? Nah she couldn't lift me.....Oh well! He wondered as he attempted to tell his Princess he was up. All he got in reply was a muffled "Hmm hmm". He shook his head and chuckled as he walked out into the corridor and strode towards the Dining Room for breakfast.

After his breakfast, he headed up to the control room where his father was already awake and on duty. The General smiled as he saw his Son arrive. "Well Good morning Keith, you're up early? Did you sleep well?"

"Yeah I did thanks Dad, you DO know about tonight don't you?" Keith asked.

The General chuckled, "Yes Keith, I know, I even found a pretty young Queen to accompany me!

"You and Queen Orla? Way to go Dad! You know it's funny but I don't remember getting into bed yesterday. All I remember is going over those reports and speaking of which, here they are." Keith answered.

"Oh they weren't urgent Son, I just had Nanny put them in there so you could read through them. Your loving fiancé found you asleep at your desk and she put you to bed as I understand it!" The General replied.

Keith blushed, "Ally managed to lift ME?"

"Apparently she managed somehow! Say, I nearly forgot, they have repaired Blue Lion and Black Lion. Your Lions are all ready and all standing by, so next time that Lotor arrives…"

"We'll be ready for him Dad, VOLTRON will be ready!"

Pidge walked in wearing his flight and suit strapping up his helmet. "Morning Keith, How did you sleep?"

"Like a baby, Pidge, Where are you going?"

"Up to check out the satellite relay over at Foyville. Its only just been replaced and I have to realign the dish." Pidge replied.

"Well, where's your buddy, I ordered no solo flights...." Keith replied sternly.

"He's here and why are we up so early again Pidge??" Lance asked with a yawn.

"Its better to get there just as the sun rises, it makes the job easier, you shouldn't have been up playing pool with Hunk all night, you knew we had to go early". Pidge laughed back.

"I STILL can't believe he beat me six times straight." Lance remarked.

Keith raised an eyebrow, "Hunk beat you?"

The Red Lion pilot shook his head in disgust, "Yeah I know.... I was goin easy on him!"

Lance and Pidge headed to the elevator and a smile came to Keith's lips, "Hang on guys, I'm coming for a run....." He grinned as he ran over and joined them, not even bothering to change out of his uniform.

 

As they blasted off, Keith realized that not only was his Lion flying but this time he could communicate with his team. "Black Lion to Red and Green Lions do you read me??"

"Loud and clear Boss, Loud and clear!" Lance laughed, "About time they got it right!"

"Well, lets pay the villagers an early morning social call Lance! Pidge we'll be right below you waiting while you fix the dish!"

"No problems Captain I'll come down when I'm done." Pidge responded.

Keith wound the dynotherms to full power and kicked in the mega thrusters, the Mighty Black Beast surged and then began to glide across the desert, Looking on his radar he could see Red and Green Lions trailing behind him and a sly grin came to his face.

"Last one to Salern gets patrol duty on Friday night" he yelled into the console.

"You're on Keith, come on Red let's show Black Lion what speed looks like". Lance chuckled.

"I'll beat you BOTH!" Pidge chuckled.

"If it's racing, we need music!" Lance grinned as he slipped a Data Cartridge into Red Lion's console.

"Lance what the................." Keith Gasped as the heavy rock song blared over his comlink.

"Ahhh sorry skip, want me to turn it off?"

"Come on Keith, its good music!" Pidge pleaded.

"Couldn't agree more! Pidge!" He replied with a grin as Black accelerated away from the smaller lions.

Keith diverted all power from his weapon systems into the engines and his Lion increased its lead, leaving the others for dead.

"How the hell did he......" Lance gasped.

"He's cheatin Lance! He's locked his weapon power into his main turbine!" Pidge replied as he realized what Keith was up to.

"Come on Black, you're faster than those little guys, Show them WHY you're the Pride Of Arus!!" Keith answered back.

"A most biased and unfair opinion based on size, hey Pidge!, Don't you worry about that hype Red, kick his butt!" Lance laughed back, knowing full well that when THAT Lion got going it easily outmatched all others except the Blue, something to do with Blue Lion having had a complete overhaul on its turbine Allura would brag. She LOVED the fact that Blue was the only one who could come CLOSE to beating Black in straight line speed. Either way, the race came down to Lance and Pidge in the end as Black disappeared into the distance.

The three Lions streaked across the desert, a thick shiny black stripe followed by a red and a green one completing the rainbow across Arus's golden sands as the sun's first rays peaked over the hills.

Keith eased down his throttle as the town of Foyville loomed in the distance. Black Lion entered the village first and sat next to the well in the center of the town. It strutted up the main street, raised its head and belted out a mighty roar, waking just about everyone up who wasn't awake already! They all came running out, many in pajamas as Keith stepped down from Black Lion, His medals gleaming in the early morning sun. "Its Prince Keef, Look Father, Its Prince Keef"! a little boy shouted as just about every woman in the village ran outside just that little bit faster".

 

Nayla's farm was at a small village not far from Foyville and she was in town for a few days after finishing her harvest. She gasped when she saw the Red Lion and she swallowed hard, she HAD to talk to Lance, she owed him an explanation and maybe....just maybe he would explain himself to her!

Meanwhile a little girl ran over and hugged Keith's leg as he greeted the people! He grinned as he leant down and picked her up, throwing her up on to his shoulders.

"I wanna fwy a wion wike da pwincess duzz when I gwow up" She told Keith proudly.

"Oh, well we better keep a spot open for you then hadn't we?" Keith replied as he handed her to her mother.

The Mayor came running out of his house, hurriedly dressing himself. "Captain..... How are you?" He grinned as he shook Keith's hand.

"I'm great! How's the village holding up after the attack?" Keith asked and the two walked off up the street together.

Meanwhile Nayla cautiously approached Red Lion and found it's pilot nearby. His smile quickly left his face and he became very nervous when he saw her. Nayla? Oh man, this is gonna be good! He thought as he pretended to be busy.

"Lance, can we talk?" She asked.

"I don't see what on Earth we have to talk about Nayla. You dumped me, what more needs to be said?" He replied looking back at Red Lion's tool kit pretending to busy again.

"A LOT! Will you walk with me? Please?" She pleaded.

"Awww....Whhhy not!" Lance sighed as he threw his spanner down in a huff.

"Thank you! First of all Lance! I did NOT dump you! Where the hell did you get that idea from! I simply asked if we could take it easy for a while, I needed time to think and sort some things out that's all! I really like you Lance, I DON'T want to lose you! I just got scared that's all!"

"Aww Bullshit!......Scared of what Nayla? That's crap!" He snapped as he looked away.

"Its NOT! I AM scared Lance! It's the way I feel when we're close and well.... I know about you, you don't like it when.....Well when....when a girl says she loves you you ALWAYS dump her....There, I said it." She replied in a solemn and disappointed voice. She had expected Lance to be a little confused but not angry with her! It surprised her but as she thought about it, she began to understand how hurt he must have felt when she didn't answer his messages.

Lance nearly jumped out of his skin as he heard her remark. "I WHAT?.... Where the hell did you hear that rubbish?"

"Well Juliana told me that as soon as she mentioned love you dumped her! Reanna said the same thing! Roma's story was the same again and even though she hasn't been out with you Louise told me that she had seen it all and that she had HEARD you planning to dump me already!" Nayla replied in a hurt voice.

"Oh this is just wonderful this is! My ex girlfriends tell you stories and you run and hide? Why not ask ME? For a start, Juliana! She couldn't handle it when Voltron cancelled dates and SHE dumped me. As for Reanna, well yeah I dumped her and I suppose, she DID just tell me she loved me a day or two before, but.......She also saw fit to tell three other guys the same thing if you know what I mean! Roma, Roma, Roma! We lasted all of two days! All she wanted to do was have me leave Voltron and the castle to live with her family in the village, we weren't compatible so yeah, I dumped her. As for Louise, I can't believe she told you that? I'll have to have a little chat with Pidge I think! Listen Nayla, I'm not the heartbreaker you think I am! I'm just fussy and if a woman doesn't end up being the RIGHT girl for me I end it right away, better getting it over with THERE AND THEN. If you really want to know about me then ask one of my friends if you can't ask me! Ask the Princess if you want an honest answer! I can't believe you'd listen to THEM!" He replied with a sincere and saddened look on his face.

"Well, what about me Lance, are WE compatible??" Nayla asked

"I was starting to think you were the closest thing to a perfect match I was ever likely to see! There was NOTHING about you that I didn't like! That all changed when you pulled that take it easy crap on me, that hurt.....especially since you had just spent so long the night before telling me how much you wanted to spend MORE time with me! You didn't even have the decency to explain yourself! You just rambled on about a harvest and ran off, what the Heck was I supposed to think after that? As for now, well, I don't know where we stand to be quite honest! I figured you dumped me! You didn't make any attempt to contact me and you didn't answer my messages? What the hell else was I supposed to think, Huh? You were having a little holiday somewhere and when the time was right you'd just walk back into my life?" Lance yelled.

"I........I was out of town for a while Lance! I had a harvest to do and besides, I needed some time away! I tried to explain but I couldn't! Trying to tell you that I didn't want to spend time with you when all I wanted was the opposite.................It hurt! All I managed to do was trip up and choke on my words! I was so scared that you were just going to up and leave me like every body else has! Everybody I have EVER cared for has left me at some stage! I'm sorry and I should have asked you but I...........I trusted those who I thought were my friends! I'm sorry I hurt you so and If you DON'T want me anymore, I....I guess I'll understand." she replied trying VERY hard not to cry. She felt like a complete fool, she had listened to her friends and she had really made a mess of things. In her heart she wondered why the other girls would do that to her, what had she done wrong to them?

"Interesting story Nayla! I really liked you! We seemed to have so much in common, I wanted to be with you and you wanted to be with me, it seemed almost to good to be true! I spent two days all messed up, rotten drunk, because I thought you had left me! I fought with my best friend, I.....look, you haven't made ANY attempt to contact me since you've been gone! You really, REALLY messed me up! I don't want somebody who runs off every time she hears a silly rumour and gets scared. If all it takes for you to think less of me after THREE months of dating is one of my EX girlfriends to spill a silly and jealous rumour, then I have wasted my time with you and you aren't the girl I thought you were!" Lance replied flatly as he turned his back on her.

"Lance I made a mistake, I am sorry. Obviously you ARE finished with me and I deserve that, I ignored your messages because I didn't know what to say, I was upset. I've told you all I can! If you want to talk you know where I live". Nayla replied. She was heartbroken as she turned and slowly began to walk away.

Come on Lance, you have seen enough forgiveness in the last few days to cut her some slack! Don't be such a hard arse! Give her a second chance! Break your own rules for once and take her into your arms, you LOVE her! She IS the one girl for you, don't let this opportunity go begging because of some stupid bitchy rumour! Lance didn't know where the voice in his head was coming from but he swallowed hard and tried to call after Nayla. His voice failed him however and he had to RUN after her.

Nayla was no stranger to pain, she had known pain all her life! She wondered why she was struggling to hold her tears back as she walked dejectedly towards town. Nayla you stupid Bitch! You had it all and now you've let it slip through your fingers! You deserve everything you geee...................Her thoughts were interrupted as she felt someone grab her elbow and spin her around. Not a word was spoken as Lance pulled her into an embrace and kissed her. She was shocked at first but it was the kiss she had been longing for and in a matter of milliseconds her feelings for Lance came flowing out as she molded herself to his body, wrapping her arms around his shoulders. Lance was her first love and for an Arusian girl that was the love she would have for life, her deepest feelings would always be for that man. Few Earth people knew of that, Allura had recently explained it to Keith and while Polluxian girls suffered from it only to a lesser extent, Romelle had also told Sven not long after they had fallen in love. Lance had NO idea!

Keith walked down the hill looking for the Red Lion pilot, "Hey Flyboy! have..........Ohh....forget I was here!" He replied as he quickly backtracked. That's a WELCOME sight! He chuckled to himself as he walked back to the village.

Lance and Nayla grabbed some breath and continued their passionate embrace, Nayla sinking to her knees and dragging him down on the grass with her. Her hands ran out of control over his body as her penned up feelings were released. Lance finally pulled back from her and rolled away, lying on his back staring at the sky, testing her reaction. She raised an eyebrow and gave a puzzled frown before she saw what he was up to and crawled on over to him. She slapped her hand gently on his chest and grabbed a handful of his uniform, "And the Lioness captures her prey! Rrrrrrr" She growled before laughing uncontrollably as he dragged her down and lay on top of her.

"The way I see it the big old Lion has turned the tables!" Lance replied.

"And the Lioness ISN'T complaining!" She cooed as she gently kissed him.

Lance relaxed his grip on her and she wrapped her legs around his waist and rolled him over thumping him onto his back and lying on top of him! "Never underestimate a lioness!" She panted.

Lance tried to sit up but she had him pinned this time, "Noo! Not until I get the Kiss I want!" She grinned.

Lance Kissed her and kissed her and each time she would shake her head. Finally she kissed him, slowly and tenderly before pulling away and lying on her back beside him, "I surrender to you now, Powerful Lion!"

Lance gently lay on top of her and she trembled as his hands explored her body. "Are you alright?" He asked as he sensed her concern.

"No, not really" She replied.

Lance stopped and looked down at her, "What's........."

She put her finger to his lips and whispered, "I want to know where I stand Lance...........Where WE stand, before this goes any further".

"Yeah, well I think, if you can promise me that you will ask ME before listening to my ex-girlfriends that, I think WE can forget it ever happened".

"Lance if you truly want me, I will never run again! I promise, I won't! I want to be with you, more than anything!"

"Well there is this little function you could come with me to, I wasn't looking forward to going without a partner." He grinned.

"OKAY........OH I WILL I mean........., that is if you will let me" She replied.

"Its a date, sweetheart!!!". He laughed.

"Oh Lance!" She threw her arms around him and pulled him down on top of her again. They both agreed NEVER to listen to outside opinions, they made a pact that day to ALWAYS be open and honest with each other.

"You know Nayles! I could smuggle you home in Red!" Lance remarked in between kisses.

"You'd...... take me in your LION??" She exclaimed as she pulled her head away from him.

"I can't see why not.... come on, when we head back, you'll come with me, Let's go!"

"What, now... as in RIGHT now?" She gasped.

"Yeah, RIGHT now........" He laughed as he carried her back to the village.

Nayla loved that about Lance, he was spontaneous, he always kept her guessing and she never knew what to expect next with him!

It was eight o'clock that morning when the Princess woke up and she wondered where Keith had gone? The bed beside her was empty. After a quick shower she headed to the dining room for some breakfast. "Good Morning, Princess!" Hunk grinned as she walked in.

"Good morning Hunk" She answered giving him a big hug. "Where is everybody??"

"Well Pidge and Lance went to Foyville to do something with a new satellite relay, as for Keith, Sven and Romelle I haven't seen them." Hunk replied.

"I don't know where Keith is either, he wasn't in bed when I woke up!" She answered.

They ate their breakfast and wandered up to the control room. "Good morning Hunk, good morning Ally!, how are you both this fine morning?" The General asked them.

"Oh I'm fine thanks Dad, nice and refreshed! I slept like a baby! How about you?" Allura answered.

"Yeah I slept well too, despite being up so late." The General chuckled.

"Dad?" Hunk asked looking at Allura with a puzzled look on his face.

"Yes, he's my Dad too now!" Allura replied with a grin.

"Yeah, I guess he is!" Hunk responded scratching his head.

"It seems to have been the standard today to have slept well! Keith, Lance and Pidge all said they had a good night's rest before they left." The General grinned.

"Where did Keith go? " The Princess asked.

"Down to wake up Foyville, he said something about spending some time with the villagers, encouraging them, boosting morale that sort of thing, even went in full dress uniform! Blue Lion is ready if you wanted to go down there". The General replied.

"I think I might, shall we Hunk" the Princess asked her big friend.

"Sure Princess, I could use some fresh air".

They strode to the elevator and in no time the Blue and Yellow Lions of Arus were streaking across the desert. It must have been a day for races, Hunk and Allura were constantly racing each other. They arrived in Foyville and headed into the street, "Well that will be Keith over there with the children, Princess, I'm going to go see how Pidge is doin".

"Okay Hunk, thanks for the company," The Princess answered.

As she landed and walked over to Keith she could see that he was telling a story and at the same time holding a giggling child, while her parents took a photo. The little girl that had greeted Keith earlier saw her heroine and ran over to her.

"Well hello Little one", Allura smiled as she leant down to her.

"Yaw weawy Pwitty, Pwincess, I'm gonna be just wike you when I gwow up, I'm gonna fwy a wion too!" She stated proudly.

"Oh well you better ask Prince Keith if it's okay." Allura laughed.

"I deed, he said Heed wet me!!"

"Oh well I guess we'll see you in the castle one day then........".

"Come Along Tanaya, the Princess has lots to do today..." The little girl's Mother called.

"Goodbye Pwincess, see you wayta!! Tanaya yelled as she waved goodbye.

"Goodbye Tanaya".

Keith had finished his photo shoot and his story, "Ally!" He called out as he saw her walking over. The crowd of children at Keith's feet all spun around, Princess Allura was ALWAYS popular with the children! She was always telling them stories and handing out chocolates, the children LOVED her visits.

They asked her to tell them a story and so she told them a long story. A story about a Captain from a planet far away, who came and married a beautiful Princess, taking her away and living happily ever after. As she finished her tale she retrieved a bag from Blue Lion and handed out Chocolates and lollies before both she and Keith finally left them. They found a nice quiet park bench where they could relax together away from the crowds. They were only there for five minutes before Pidge, Hunk, Lance and Nayla walked over and interrupted their solitude but even five minutes alone was wonderful as far as they were concerned.

"All done Pidge?" Keith asked.

"Yep, it’s working better than I planned!" The Green Lion Pilot answered with a grin on his face.

"Well since we are all together anyway.........Let's show this town that Voltron's back before we leave! Lets form Voltron and show all the villagers in as many villages as possible that he IS here and ready to defend them from Lotor!" Keith grinned at his team mates.

"Ahm Keith you wouldn't notice if there was someone riding with me in Red Lion would you??

"Whats that Lance your COM. signal is breaking up!!" Keith replied, winking at Nayla.

"You mean I get to be INSIDE Voltron?" Nayla asked grinning at Lance.

"Well..... I may need a few kisses to be convinced it's a good idea, no rides are ever free..." He chuckled.

She leapt into his arms and repeatedly kissed him.

"Okay, okay, let's go! Before the others all leave without us!" He laughed.

"Come on Lance!" The other four yelled as they ran to their Lions. The Five Lions gave a Roar in unison and then they headed up above the village, the villagers cheering and waving as they did.

"Ready to form Voltron..... ACTIVATE INTERLOCK, .............DYNOTHERMS CONNECTED, ......................INFRACELLS UP,..................... MEGATHRUSTERS ARE GO"

"Let's go Voltron Force!" They all yelled in unison.

"FORM FEET AND LEGS..............."

"FORM ARMS........ AND BODY......................"

"AND I'LL FORM...THE HEAD..........."

There standing in the street of Foyville was the mighty Protector of Arus. The Defender of The Universe that had been sorely missed in the last attack. An even greater feeling of Hope swept through the village as they saw the mighty robot! The team flew him from Village to Village, showing the people that he was back and ever at the ready! Nayla sat on Lance's lap in awe, she had never even been in the cockpit of a shuttle before let alone a Voltron Lion and she would often look across at Lance, her eyes full of pride as he flicked various switches and levers.

After Voltron had visited the surrounding Villages it was the castle's turn for a visit. He stood triumphantly on the eastern side, helping the workers for several hours by lifting vital supplies up to the top levels of the superstructure. By four o'clock that evening the Voltron Force had disengaged and were arriving back in the control room. Lance cringed as General Taylor walked towards him and Nayla with a puzzled frown on his face. "Captain Armstrong, Who's this? Why did she come up from your elevator with you?"

Keith stepped forward, "Ah, Someone very important Father, she is here to assist me with routine systems checks on all the Lions, she works in the research and development wing, Nayla this is General Taylor!"

"Oh, I am terribly sorry, welcome home!" the General answered.

"Thanks Bro! I owe you." Lance whispered as they left the room.

They sat down together for the evening meal and talked about the usual things, it was a normal night at the dinner table except for one difference, there was someone new to the table. Although Nayla was known to the others she was feeling very nervous and unsure of herself. She knew Allura and Lance were close friends and she wasn't sure just how Allura would react to her after the troubles she and Lance had just been through. Allura and Romelle could see how nervous she was and approached her after tea as she was standing near Lance.

"Nayla, we're having a Dance tonight and afterwards, The MEN are wanting another beating and are foolishly challenging us to a Pool competition, would you care to join us?" Romelle asked.

"Oh, I'd love to...but I haven't really got anything to wear to a ball" Nayla replied with a frown.

"Come on, I have heaps and your about my size, lets go get ready!" Allura replied extending a hand to her.

Nayla looked to Lance, unsure whether to except the Princesses invitation. "Go on!" he lipsynched to her.

The three girls headed off to Keith and Allura's chambers. This is amazing look at this ROOM! Nayla thought to herself as the three girls entered. "It's very cold in here!" She remarked as she hugged herself.

"Yes, Keith INSISTS on having the environmental controls set to freezing temperature!" Allura complained as she turned them up to twenty-two degrees celsius. "Now, let's get you something to wear Nayla, do you mind wearing pink?" The Princess asked.

"Why no your Majesty, Pink is fine!" Nayla responded.

"Its just Allura up here, you're with Lance and he is like a big brother to me. Which reminds me, does he know yet?" She asked with a wry smile on her face.

"Does he know .......???"

"Does he know that he is your first love?" Romelle responded.

"Umm, Well I....Umm he.....No, I don't really want him to yet I........"

Romelle nodded, "I understand, It took me ages to tell Sven! As for Ally? Have you even told Keith yet cousin?"

"Yes Romelle, he knows, I think it took him a bit by surprise at first!" A dreamy eyed Princess Allura responded.

"I have only been with Lance for Four months and we have just gone through a really bad patch I was upset, someone told me some things about him and it has caused some problems for us." Nayla said with a sad look on her face.

Allura rummaged through her wardrobe and called out as she searched, "POOR LANCE, HE WAS SUCH A MESS, NOBODY COULD GET ANY SENSE OUT OF HIM. I WAS SURPRISED YOU SPLIT UP I MUST ADMIT, YOU TWO LOOKED SO PERFECT TOGETHER! WHAT EVER DID THIS SOMEONE SAY ABOUT LANCE?"

"That the minute he finds out you're in love with him he ditches you and other things like 'He's a heartbreaker'. I nearly lost him because of it, he IS my first love and I AM afraid to tell him."

Allura pulled her head out of the closet and looked across to Nayla with a stunned look on her face. "Well that's NOT the Lance I know! He and Romelle were the two main people who made it possible for my Keith and I to be together. Lance gave us BOTH a kick in the pants right when we needed it! He is special, I must say that he comes across as a bit hard sometimes but he's really a softy at heart. He HAS had some rather unfortunate relationships that didn't work out but I don't think it was all his fault, I think it was just that he was the mighty Red Lion pilot and those girls were infatuated with him. He is a very good looking man with a great personality, so the ladies do tend to fall at his feet but those girls made very little effort to actually BE with him. They never got to know Lance for the wonderful man that he REALLY is and they even went as far as to make unfair demands on him. Lance has a job to do and it's a very IMPORTANT job, any woman who wishes to be with him MUST understand that".

"Oh I do Princess.........I mean....Allura, I am sooo proud of what he does, what he's a part of! I wish I could be a part of something like that!"

"How much do you wish you were a part of something like THAT?" Allura asked inquisitively.

"Sooo much, more than anything! Well ALMOST anything.....Lance comes first but after that! I want to help people, to defend my planet the way you all do, I'd love to help like that, to be part of the team."

"Well, there IS a position going in the Control Room with General Taylor for a communications and Radar operator, it’s fairly easy work and it pays well."

"I'd LOVE that! It would be so perfect! I would live in the castle then too wouldn't I?"

"Yes in the female barracks unless you were staying with Lance but that's your business. So do you want the job?" Allura asked.

"You mean you'd, well..... well Yes, Yes I do!"

"Then it's yours, report to General Taylor in two days time, he'll sort you out."

"Oh thank you Allura, thank you so much!" Nayla responded.

"Sooo do you think you'll tell Lance that he's your first tonight?" Romelle asked.

"I guess when the time is right I will tell him. How did you know by the way? How did you and Allura KNOW he was my first?"

"Oh after all that's been going on here in the last month I think we're experts hey Ally!"

"Uh huh, we're experts and you're head over heals in love with Lance." Allura giggled.

Nayla blushed as Romelle handed her a towel and some soap. "Here you go, grab a shower".

While Nayla was in the shower Nanny walked past and the two Princesses practically dragged her into the room. "You HAVE to help us Nanny!" they exclaimed together.

"Whatever is the matter with you two?" Nanny chuckled. They explained to her about Nayla and how they wanted to help look really special for Lance!

"OH!..........Well I am sure we can make our gallant Red Lion knight's head spin with a few easy tricks". Nanny grinned.

Nayla stepped out of the bathroom in her new dress with a towel around her head. "Nayla, you remember Nanny, she's going to do your hair for you!" Romelle smiled as she led her over to the dresser.

"Hello again Nanny, thank you very much but I really don't want to be any trouble I......."

"I help dress THESE two clowns up all the time a third person is no trouble, its fun, Nanny smiled as she unraveled the towel from Nayla's hair.

"I am NOT a clown!" Allura replied indignantly.

"Oh Ally your the biggest clown of all!" Romelle giggled poking her in the ribs.

Allura grabbed a pillow and belted Romelle with it, "Take that!"

"Oh now you've stepped in it! You are looking at the Pillow fight Queen!" Romelle giggled as she took the other pillow. The pair proceeded to mercilessly beat each other and roll around the bed in the process.

Keith came walking in half dressed, forgetting that the girls were there, He was still wearing his trousers (luckily) and his unbuttoned shirt was hanging loosely about his shoulders, "Hey Ally I..............Oh.....Umm hello ladies!"

"Look at that pair Keith! Clowns, the both of them!" Nanny chuckled.

The two Princesses stopped their pillow fight and Allura grinned as Keith walked over to her shaking his head. She sat up and pulled his shirt across his chest, "Did you forget that we were all up here Keith?"

"Yeah, completely! I just need a quick shower, I'll be in the next room". He replied.

"Just wait a second!" Allura replied as she winked at Romelle.

"Surprise Attack!" She yelled and suddenly Keith found two pillows heading for him. He managed to duck one but the other landed squarely on top of his head.

"Oh that's nice!" He laughed.

He crawled on the bed and after a quick wrestle he had captured both pillows and held them in the air triumphantly, "Naughty girls! Pillow fighting, TSK TSK TSK".

Romelle flashed an evil grin to Allura and the pair tackled Keith, Allura holding him down while Romelle recovered the confiscated pillows.

Allura grinned and took the Black Lion key off his chest, leaping off the bed and giggling.

"HEY! Bring that back! Ally! Don't make me come after you and.............Okay now you're REALLY gonna get it!"

As Keith neared her Allura threw the Key to Romelle, "Here Romelle!"

"Eeeek Ally I don't want it, now he'll come after me!" Romelle squealed.

Keith cornered her and held out his hand, "Okay Romelle, make with the key like a good................" He sighed as she shook her head and threw it over his head to Allura.

Keith's Princess scrambled under the bed and he cracked his knuckles, "Okay one tickled Princess coming right up!"

Romelle watched as he crawled under the bed, "Keeeeeeith noooo! Keithh! Keeeheeeheeeeth, staaarrrrpp! Here, here's the key, Keeeeeeeeith stohohop!" Allura shrieked as he tickled her to tears.

"Nanny look at those two, they're behaving like little children! I can't believe that Captain Keith of the Voltron force is crawling around, on the floor and wrestling the Princess of Arus underneath a bed!" Nayla giggled.

"I don't get concerned anymore, I just look the other way! Its a daily routine with this lot!" Nanny chuckled as she continued to brush Nayla's hair.

The noise from under the bed stopped soon after and Romelle only heard muffled voices that she couldn't quite make out. "Thank you Ally!" Keith whispered as he took the key back from her.

"Cheat! Meany!" Allura replied pouting at him.

"Oh well I was going to give you this bag of chocolates I brought up for you but after that! Well! I guess I'll be keeping them for myself, since I am so mean and all! I am rather partial to chocolate too now that I remember!"

Allura snapped into crawl mode and wrapped her arms around him, "Keeeeeith you know I was only joking don't you? You're the nicest, most kind, loving man there is!"

"Oh I see, I wonder if I would be receiving such a HEARTFELT apology if chocolate wasn't involved!" He grinned.

"Keith....baby.......you I know love you hey..........You're so handsome, you're the most handsome man in all the universe and such a wonderful partner, bringing chocolates up for your poor chocolate starved Princess!"

"Well gee, I don't know what to say.........I mean maybe I could give you one piece of chocolate, because you're just sooo nice and all!" the Voltron Commander chuckled.

Allura gently kissed him and ran her hand across his bare chest, "Perhaps after the ball tonight I could show you JUST how loving I am, in exchange for say, a seventy five percent share in the chocolate".

"Seventy five percent! Seventy five per..............You strike a hard bargain!" Keith grinned.

"Make it eighty and I'll wash your back for you!" Allura grinned.

Keith smiled and kissed her gently before whispering something softly in her ear bringing a mischievous smile to her face. "Alright, in exchange for a one hundred percent share!"

"Done deal!" Keith laughed.

The pair crawled out and Allura turned to her cousin, "I'll be out soon, just going for a shower with Keith!"

"I have to go and get ready myself Ally, I'll meet you back here in an hour or so!" Romelle replied.

Nayla looked up at Nanny and smiled as Allura's former governess shook her head, "They'll never change!"

"I never saw this side of them before!" Nayla replied with a shy giggle.

"Yes, its very much a behind closed doors thing but they are all a bunch of silly children at heart!"

 

Keith lead Allura to their bathroom by the hand. He closed the door behind them as the walked in and turned to face her, "Now about that................."

He was interrupted as his Princess pinned him against the door and locked her lips to his. She ran her hands through his hair and down his back,

"We better put some music on my love, people might get suspicious of the noises otherwise!" She whispered.

Keith grinned as he clapped his hands together, "Computer, activate music program, "Moonlight Sonata in C sharp Minor"

The music began but wasn't very loud, "Computer raise volume sixty percent!" Allura ordered.

Satisfied that the music was adequate she turned to her Captain trying to unzip her gown, "Oh dear, it seems my zipper is stuck, could you help me with it Keith?"

Keith reached around and found that the zip moved easily down the back of her dress, "Its working there's nothing.........Oh I see!"

"You prefer taking it off anyway, what was it you said, ahh yes, It's like unwrapping a beautiful gift!" She cooed.

Keith gently caressed her neck, slowly dragging his fingertips down her collarbone and on to her chest, sending tingles all over her body. "And yours is the most beautiful gift a man could ever hope to receive Ally!"

"I would have................... given you............... this gift.............. with OU........t................ chocolate". She whispered as his the touch of his lips on her neck caused her to breathe heavily.

 

Quite a while Later Keith came out dressed in a nice black suit and sat at his desk, more piles of paperwork had arrived and he began reading through them, Allura brought him over a drink and placed it down next to him before wrapping her arms around his neck, "Would you mind if I met up with you later? Romelle and I want to give Nayla a bit of a tour to make her feel welcome!"

"No go on go have some fun, I'll meet you in the bar near the dance floor later on if you like". Keith replied.

"That's perfect, see you then! By the way........you were....were..." She blushed as whispered soflty, bringing a smile to Keith's face.

She is actually going to let her hair down and have some fun? Things are slowly returning to normal! Keith thought as his Princess walked over to Nayla.

Romelle arrived a few moments later and the three girls headed off to give Nayla a tour of the castle. Nayla had been to the castle many times but she had never seen any more that the Rec. Room, the way to Lance's Room and the Control Room. She felt like a part of the group as she walked with Allura and Romelle on either side of her.

 

Later that evening in Lance's room Keith, Pidge and Hunk were waiting as the Red Lion pilot was hurriedly dressing. "Oh shit where are my shoes, man I can't find my shoes..........." Lance yelled.

Keith looked near the bed and there they were lying in the corner. "Here Lance, settle down we've got an hour, there’s no rush!"

Hunk let out a huge belly laugh, "I think our dear friend is in LOVE!"

"Really??" Pidge looked at Lance with a puzzled look on his face.

"I am NOT in love, I am just really, really good friends with Nayla thats all!"

"That's crap Lance, I'll bet she doesn't even know!" Keith replied.

Lance stopped and sat down on his bed. "I don't fall in love, you just end up getting hurt, it’s better to be good friends".

"You're scared! That's what you are, Scared, S......C......A.......R......E......D! I can see it! You're scared that you may just BE in love and that Nayla may not be ready for that kind of commitment!" Keith answered with a grin.

"How the HELL did you know that???"

"Lance its obvious to anyone with an eye for that sort of thing, we've known you for HOW long??" Pidge responded.

"Sheez, and I never thought I would see the day when KEITH was offering me advice on dating!" He chuckled.

"I am only in the position I am today BECAUSE of you. I remember what you did for Ally and I! I think it’s your turn Lance! You helped me and I owe you, now get dressed." Keith chuckled patting him on the shoulder. Within Five minutes the guys had Lance looking like he was going to a wedding. He had his dress uniform on and his medals are were shined up and neatly pinned to his chest. "Here this too!" Keith ordered, handing Lance his dress sword and belt.

Hunk and Pidge looked at each other and laughed as they left to pick up their dates. "Good luck Lance!" They called as they left.

Lance waved and turned his best friend, "But what if she doesn't feel the same way Keith! I'll be making an idiot out of myself?"

"Soooo don't tell her then, let her tell you!" Keith shrugged.

"Saaay, Good Idea! If she wants to tell me she will!"

"Lance, you have been on and off with this girl for what, three, four months now? In the last month you have been closer than I have EVER seen you with a girl before, I think its safe to assume that you kind of like each other!"

"Yeah, I guess you're right Skip!"

The Two of them left and entered the corridor, "Right lets go get Sven". Keith said with a grin on his face.

"Keith you are in an EXCEPTIONALLY good mood tonight? What's got you so happy?" Lance asked.

"Nothing Lance, just been having a good day that's all!" The Captain answered as he remembered his shower earlier on.

The pair met Sven just up the stairs at Romelle's Quarters. "Where are we meeting the girls?" He asked

"Ally said they'd meet us in the bar when they were ready!" Keith answered as the three friends headed to the bar near the ballroom.

 

Meanwhile Hunk and Pidge had picked up their dates from the castle gate and were on their way back to the ballroom.

For Hunk it was a slightly nervous occasion, he was meeting Mikalya for their first actual date. She was a local barmaid he had met at the 'Blazing Sword' restaurant in Salern. She was a well rounded lass with a big heart and a kind smile, as Hunk had told his friends the day after the two of them had met, "She's everything a man could want!"

"So where is Lance, he must be REALLY feeling out of it". Louise asked as she joined Hunk and Pidge.

"Lance, he's on cloud nine, why would he be out of it??" Hunk asked.

"Oh well we just heard he and Nayla had split up and well there's a Dance on and...." Mikayla answered.

"Yeah and if you ask me he is better off without HER. She has always been nothing but trouble!" Louise quipped.

"Ah, well there back together now, she came back to the castle with him today, I think she's with Allura and Romelle." Hunk answered.

"Nayla is with Princess Allura and Princess Romelle??" The two women gasped in shock.

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? And What's so wrong with Nayla, Louise? I think she's a nice girl!" Pidge replied.

"Oh we just don't see eye to eye that's all!" She answered, sensing that Pidge was less than happy with her attitude. Nayla had been on a trip to the Alamo with them and the Voltron Force had come to know her fairly well. At present there was a LITTLE bit of tension as they knew the hurt that Lance had been through in the last week but they didn't let it show and had welcomed her back with open arms.

Louise on the other hand was very much an unknown and Pidge wasn't about to have her speaking ill of Lance's girlfriend!

"Wow, the Princesses, it would be such an honour to be hanging out with them! As for Nayla she is just plain annoying little Nayla, she should have stayed on her little farm and left Lance alone! She doesn't have a clue about real love, she just delights in making Lance suffer and HE can do so much better than that tramp" Louise exclaimed.

"I don't know her that well. " Mikayla added as the four of them entered the castle.

"I went to school with Nayla and she was trouble there too. She could never even afford school clothes she just used to come in her farm clothes" Louise snarled.

Pidge stopped walking and stood in front of his date with his arms crossed, "Louise that is enough! Okay you dislike Nayla but you have NO right to call her a tramp! She is Lance's girlfriend and therefore she is a friend. She has done nothing wrong to me and I think she's really nice! I hope you aren't judging her because she's poor, I am from a poor family myself!"

"Oh no Pidge it's not that! It's nothing to do with her being POOR! It’s just............let's just forget it!" Louise responded.

"I agree, forget it! She's a close friend of Lance's and He, Keith, Sven and hunk are like brothers to me, a friend of theirs is a friend of mine as far as I am concerned! If you have a problem with Nayla then I ask that you keep it OUTSIDE the castle!" Pidge replied.

"To hang out with the Princesses! What an honour, Princess Allura and Princess Romelle, that would be sooo awesome, Nayla is so lucky, they're Royalty for goodness sakes!" Mikayla replied, changing the subject.

"Well to us they're just Princess Allura and Princess Romelle, our very close friends. Allura is a fellow member of the Voltron Force and she HATES standing on ceremony, especially amongst friends and since we don't like it much either, we indulge her". Hunk explained.

 

Meanwhile as she walked towards the ballroom with the two Princesses, Nayla looked absolutely stunning in the pink dress Allura had loaned her. It was one of the dresses the Princess didn't normally wear and so no one had really seen her in it before. Allura herself wore the dress she had worn the night of her engagement ceremony and Romelle looked glorious in a flowing dark green dress. She wore it deliberately because she knew Sven loved it and with all that had happened she HAD neglected him a little bit.

He had been there for her the whole time when it looked like her cousin was lost forever. Romelle had been so devastated that she had hardly done anything but cry and mope around. She decided it was time to repay him for his kindness. The three girls found the boys drinking and laughing at a table in the bar. Keith and Sven hopped up and took their partners into their arms. Lance slowly rose and turned to Nayla, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "Nayla??? You're...you're so....so...ahem. You look absolutely stunning tonight" He replied as he regained his composure and offered her his elbow.

"Why thank you, kind Sir" She replied with a curtsy. "You are looking VERY handsome yourself".

"Oh they have been teaching you court customs too I see!"

"Just a few! Did I do it right?" Nayla giggled.

"Looked fine to me!" Lance grinned.

The three couples all headed into the ballroom. There were people from the local villages and there were people from the castle itself. General Taylor had taken Queen Orla as his partner and Coran and Nanny went along as a couple, (Coran still had his arm in a sling but he was recovering).

Keith leapt up onto the platform and grabbed a microphone. "Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to the first 'Castle Of Lions Gala Ball' to be held since before the times of Zarkon. Princess Allura and I have decided that in light of recent events we ALL need a little cheering up. It also gives me the opportunity to inform you that our Wedding is regretfully postponed until I such time as we can be guaranteed it won't be interrupted again!" The crowd gave a disappointed sigh before allowing Keith to continue.

"King Lotor was lucky last attack! Due to a mechanical failure Black Lion was unable to fight and so we were without a Lion and without Voltron. But now I ASSURE you, the next time he shows his face around here, Voltron will boot his royal Blueness all the way back to Planet Doom. Tonight we celebrate! Your Princess is home safe!" (There was a rousing applause as Allura walked out on stage and stood next to Keith).

She put her arm around him and leaned her head on his shoulders, the crowd continuing to cheer as they saw the two of them together arm in arm. The Princess grabbed the microphone and she grinned as she yelled out, "Without further Adieu, I present the Royal Arusian Philharmonic Orchestra!"

The curtain was raised and the band began to play. Couples were making their way on to the dance floor and the night began in earnest. Louise and Mikayla were absolutely gobsmacked at the woman Nayla had transformed into, she was absolutely stunning! Where did SHE ever get a dress like THAT from? Louise wondered.

Lance had only just begun to dance with Nayla when she decided she just HAD to tell him. "Lance can we go for a walk, there is something I have to discuss with you?"

"I can't see why not!" The Red Lion Pilot replied as they headed out into the garden.

"Poor Nayla, I wonder if she'll tell Lance?" Romelle asked Allura.

"I hated that not knowing what he'll say feeling when I told Keith". Allura frowned.

"What are they talking about Keith?" Sven asked.

"I don't know? Ladies, what ARE you talking about?" Keith enquired.

"Nayla of course! She's trying to work up the courage to tell Lance that he's her first true love and that she loves him!" Allura answered.

"Oh! Well I'm sure that will work out just fine! "They're as bad as each other Sven! Lance and Nayla! Each thinks the same thing, each is too scared to tell the other!" Keith chuckled.

"I know a certain Voltron captain who took TWO years to act on what he felt" Romelle giggled.

"Touché Keith!" Sven laughed.

"Well, ahhh, yes but there were special circumstances". Keith answered in a sheepish voice, his cheeks growing a pale shade of red.

"So there!" Allura giggled.

"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones Ally! YOU are just as bad! You're EQUALLY guilty!" Sven responded.

"ME! I....I wasn't......I......Hmm, I suppose I am!" Allura grinned as she rested her head against Keith's shoulder.

Outside, Nayla and Lance sat down on a bench over looking the lake. "So what did you want to tell me?" Lance asked.

"This isn't easy for me Lance, I have feelings for you! I mean you know that already, but what I mean to say is that I, well I …. Umm…Oh God this is hard." Nayla looked very uncomfortable as she tried to explain.

"Nayla, would it help if I told you something?" Lance grinned.

"What do you want to tell me?"

"Nayla, I think I am horribly in love with you, no, I KNOW I am." Lance replied in a confident voice.

"YES, that's it, that's what I wanted to say too! You mean you love me too! Oh my….You Love me!!!!!"

Lance pulled her close to him and gently kissed her, "Of course I love you Nayles, have done for three and a half months!" He whispered.

"I love you too Lance, but more than this you are my first love! I will always love you no matter what happens, we will forever be connected. That is the way of thing's for Arusian girls. Our FIRST love is with us for life, we cannot love that deeply again, we can LOVE again, but not like that, not like this." She replied as she snuggled up to him.

Lance went quiet and he looked to the horizon. He was shocked to the core! "Lance are you alright? Say something? Please?" Nayla asked in a worried tone.

"Ahm, I am just a bit surprised that's all! I mean..........I......ohh, I am sorry, that must have been a hard thing for you to say, I Love you as much as I can love anybody!" He answered

"Phew, for a minute there I was worried that I'd, you know, frightened you off or something!"

"No Nayles, not a hope! I was just a bit shocked that's all."

"I was warned that you would be!" She grinned.

They lay on the bench together and Nayla's long auburn hair was spread over Lance's chest as she lay with her back against him looking up at the stars. He had his arms wrapped around her waist and was completely relaxed, though he had a burning question to ask.

"Nayla? What would you say if I asked you to marry me one day?" Lance whispered.

"Oooh I'd...............Well I mean I would...................Naturally I would have to say yes of course!"

"Oh that’s good, cause, Nayla, Will you marry me?"

Nayla could hardly believe her ears! She sat up and lay face down on top of her love, "Yes" She replied with teary eyes. "Oh Lance yes! I'll be a good wife for you! I promise!"

"I promise I'll be a good husband for you!" Lance answered with a serious look in his eyes.

"Lance I don't know whether to laugh or cry!" She remarked as they cuddled up under the moonlight.

Later she walked slowly beside Lance with her arm around his waist, "Lance I want to get married Earth style......you know, get engaged and have a big Wedding, just like I read in the Earth romance books!”

"If that's what you want then that's what we'll do!" He answered.

He and Nayla walked out to the lake under the bright light of the Arusain moons, finally stopping on a nice patch of green grass. Lance knelt before his love and she looked down and smiled, "What are you doing?"

"Well if you want an EARTH style marriage then I have to give you this now!" He replied as he took a small jewelry box out from his pocket.

Nayla's jaw dropped as the most beautiful Ruby engagement ring she had ever seen was slipped on to her finger, "Ohh Lance............" She remarked as her normally tough shell cracked and she began to cry. Nayla had NEVER known such happiness before, now she was wearing an engagement ring, engaged to wed the most handsome and dashing young pilot in all the galaxy!

"Will you marry me Nayles?" Lance asked as he kissed her hand.

Nayla nodded, tears running down her cheeks as she tried to speak. Her emotions overwhelmed her and she choked on her words, "Yes! I will marry you Lance!"

He slowly rose and she tucked herself into his arms. "Wanna go back now?" He asked.

"Soon, I need to stop crying first!" She sniffed.

"I don't get you girls, you're happy, so you go and cry!" Lance teased.

Nayla giggled, "Just one of life's mysteries I guess"

After walking back to the Castle Of Lions, Lance lead her back inside to the dance floor and they approached Keith and Allura. "Allura may I steal your partner for a little while? He asked.

"Oh, I suppose so!" The Princess answered with a smile.

"What's up Lance?" Keith asked, worried that something was wrong.

"Tell ya in a sec, gotta get Sven, Hunk and Pidge first!"

Lance and Keith headed to the bar grabbing the other men on their way. Romelle came running over to Allura and Nayla, "What's going on Ally? Nayla? Do you know? The men are behaving very strangely!"

"I kind of do" Nayla said softly.

"Oh, then tell us, what?" Allura asked inquisitively.

"Well..........Lance just asked me to marry him" Nayla replied in a happy but shy voice.

"He asked you to MARRY him! Oh my.....Did you......did you say yes?" Romelle asked.

"How could I say anything else? I can't believe it! I'm getting married! I have two favours to ask now! I have no family or relatives and friends are in short supply after recent events! You two have been better friends to me than any one I have ever known in my life, I was wondering if you would be my bridesmaids?"

"Oh Nayla, I'd be honoured!" Romelle replied.

Allura gave her a friendly hug, "Me too, It would be a privilege to be your bridesmaid Nayla. When is the wedding?"

"Well Lance wants to wait until the threat from Lotor is passed, he doesn't want our special day to be interrupted!"

"Yeah, it isn't fun at all when that happens" Allura replied gloomily.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't mean to insinuate..."

"Its okay Nayla! Welcome to the waiting to be married club! Lotor DID cost me my special day with Keith but, Soon! Keith will try again soon, I know it! Right now its celebration time! Three girls, three marriages!" Allura responded.

Keith and the rest of the guys dragged Lance up on stage and halted the music. "Ladies and Gentleman, our valiant Red Lion pilot has an announcement to make!"

"Well..err........you guys all know me..............I'm never one for a speech but........................there is a special girl here who I am very much in love with and tonight she has agreed to be my wife! Nayles, I love you Sweetheart!"

Nayla had lost control of her emotions AGAIN as Lance walked down and took her into his arms, "I love you! Lance!"

"I know!" He grinned as he hugged her.

I can't believe he's going to MARRY that little.........Hmph thinks she's so good because she finally bought a nice dress. Louise grumbled to herself. She HATED Nayla and had been one of the chief instigators of rounding up all Lance's Ex girlfriends to try and break them up.

"Isn't that wonderful Louise?" Mikayla asked.

"Oh well, I would have thought someone as famous as Lance would have married someone a little higher in class, but I guess if all he wants is a farm girl then its wonderful news". Louise replied.

"You don't like her at all do you?"

"No I don't! She is a little sook! Oh my parents were taken by Zarkon, I have to run my farm alone, everybody feel sorry for me!" Louise snapped.

"What a HORRIBLE thing to say" Mikayla retorted and walked away.

You're not much better, a waitress in a bar! Louise thought to herself.

"Congratulations Nayla!" Pidge remarked as he gave her a hug.

"Thank you Pidge!" She answered.

Lance saw his chance, this had been bothering him since the morning and he took Pidge aside, "I have to speak to you Bro!"

Pidge was stunned as Lance explained what Louise had done to Nayla, "I.......I almost don't believe it! If I hadn't seen the way she was behaving tonight as I picked her up I wouldn't have believed it all! I..........I'll take care of it Lance!" Pidge replied as he straightened himself up.

"Louise, we have to talk!" Pidge remarked as he walked outside.

Louise followed him and stopped as he faced her outside, " I heard a story tonight, a story about a complete BITCH!" He growled.

Louise cringed, she KNEW who he was talking about. "Umm who?"

"Well I don't actually know! I heard this girl ran around Salern collecting Lance's ex girlfriends and filling Nayla's head with fantasy! I don't know who she is but I will say this much, If I find out that YOU did that, we are finished, permanently! I don't want a girl like that in my life!" Pidge replied in a harsh voice.

This was the ONLY person Louise cared for, she Loved Pidge with a passion and she was terrified as she knelt before him, "Pidge I'm sorry, I..I never intended for them to go as far as they did honest!"

"So you DID do it? Why Louise? What possessed you to do that? Here you were criticizing NAYLA! You are a cruel, manipulative and nasty girl and I don't want anything more to do with you! You know where the coaches are, see you later!" Pidge replied as he walked away.

"Pidge please...........I'm sorry!"

Pidge stopped, he was very fond of Louise but he couldn't love someone who did something like that! It went against every one of his principles. "Louise I can't be with you after what you did! What, your sorry! That's real good, what about all the hurt YOU caused! Do you realize just how many people suffered because of you!"

"Didn't you ever make a mistake Pidge? I said I'm sorry!"

"I never did anything like that and I hope a day never comes when I do! You just don't get it do you? You think SORRY solves it all? Sorry doesn't help when you've messed up everybody else's lives! You nearly cost them the chance to be together don't you see that?" Pidge replied angrily.

"Pidge what do you want me to do? I'll do anything......I'll do whatever you ask I promise!"

"Go home before you cause anymore trouble for anybody! Just leave me alone Louise!" Pidge replied as he walked back inside the Castle, leaving her crying on her knees in the garden.

Later after the ball everybody except Pidge, (who had retired early), was gathered in the recreation hall laughing and enjoying their pool competition. The teams divided up into Men versus Women and the games went on into the early hours of the morning before Allura sank the black early and handed the men an easy victory. "Woohoo, Lance cheered that puts the guys on Three comps and the girls on Four. We're catching up!"

"Oh Drat!!" Allura replied as she grinned at her opponent.

Keith smiled, "Letting me win Ally, really!"

"You just got lucky Keith! We'll beat you next time!" Romelle laughed.

"You keep saying that Romelle but my unbeaten winning streak continues!" Keith chuckled.

Lance chuckled and looked across to Romelle, "Yeah, if we had Keith playing weeks ago we wouldn't have lost those matches to begin with!"

Allura laughed. "I'll beat you one day Keith!"

The End Part 10

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