Paladin of Arus, Guest Fiction, Scott

Meanwhile Keith ran through the narrow corridor towards the brig.

As he neared a door he heard Lotor's voice, "I gave you a chance to surrender and you spat in my face Princess! Now I am going to break you, you will scream for death before I am through with you!"

Ally! I'm coming, just hold him off a little longer! Keith panicked as he tried the door. It was sealed tight, he was going to have to find another way in and he knew it! As he looked around he saw a guard charging towards him with a laser sword. All of Keith's Katana's were coated in Imperium alloys to prevent laser swords from cutting through them like butter and he slung his rifle over his shoulder, drew his Katana and parried with his assailant. The foolish guard had expected his laser sword to cut right through the steel blade and when it didn't he swallowed hard.

As Keith withdrew his blade from the guard's chest he noticed a grey keycard hanging from his neck and ripped it off. Please work! He prayed as he slipped it into the door mechanism. There was a hiss and the door opened revealing his battered Princess lying on the floor right in front of him, desperately trying to crawl away as a familiar blue skinned King tugged at the waistband of her trousers, pulling them well down from her waist.

Blood was running down her jaw and she was shaking all over as she struggled to escape. Neither she, the guards or the King himself even noticed Keith approach! Lotor had decided to teach his prize a public lesson and was intending on raping her in front of his guards, who were all cheering as they watched the show their King was providing for them.

Allura closed her eyes and grit her teeth as she felt Lotor's hands struggling with the waist band of her underwear. Suddenly there was a strange thud and she looked up to see a rifle land in front of her and pair of bright red boots standing before her.

"Get away from her you piece of shit!" Keith yelled as he sent Lotor flying backwards away from his Princess. KEITH! He.......thank God! Keith...........Oh Keith! She breathed a sigh of relief as she wearily pulled her trousers back up.

"Where the......... How did.........?" Lotor stammered as he picked himself up off the floor.

"Disgusting animal!" Keith growled as he stood between him and his broken Princess. "Alright you bastard! Try fighting somebody your own size!" Keith yelled and as he parried with Lotor he threw an impressive whirlwind kick that caught him in the nose and shattered it, sending him hurtling into one of his torture devices before landing in a heap on the floor.

Allura slowly rose to her feet and coughed, zipping her trousers up and adjusting her belt. She held her bleeding forearm as she looked on in awe, Her Captain and her Protector had come to her rescue and now, the tables had been turned!

Lotor launched into a devastating series of attacks but Keith simply deflected each one. "Don't just stand there, Kill him you fools!" the King yelled to his guards.

Allura picked up the rifle Keith had dropped at her feet and she glared at the guards as she cocked it hard against her knee, "NOOOOO!" She yelled as she felled the first two. They turned in horror and tried to take cover but there was no where to hide and the battered Princess unleashed blast after blast at them! In a few seconds there were ten corpses replacing the ten guards who moments earlier were cheering while Lotor demonstrated his ‘POWER’.

The King of Doom was panicking, now he was alone against the Voltron Commander and Lotor feared this man more than any other! The day they had dueled at Devil's Canyon Keith had overcome him easily, all the while using a standard Arusian Rapier! Only through deception had Lotor come away the winner!

Defeating Allura was fairly easy for Lotor, defeating Keith was going to be a whole different story! "Why waste your time Voltron Captain? Allura is MINE!"

Keith's facial expression changed as he looked across at his shattered Princess holding her bleeding arm, a burning rage filled his heart. "You will NEVER harm her again Lotor!" He replied in a lifeless voice and went on the offensive, blow after smashing blow driving the evil King into a corner, Keith landed a kick into his stomach and then smashed the pommel of his sword into Lotor's brow, buckling him in two.

Though she had trained beside Keith and even fought beside him, Allura had never seen anything like THIS from him before, he had transformed from her calm and compassionate Captain into a powerful vessel of vengeance, hatred and anger, unleashing his fury on the hapless Lotor.

She realized that the day SHE had fought him, Keith really DID let her win. She watched in terrified awe as the Champion of Arus demonstrated swordplay in its purest form. Keith drove Lotor backwards further and further, knocking him over several times with kicks and even a knee to the ribs!

As the King scrambled along on his hands and knees, Keith sensed a window of opportunity and struck! He used a very unorthodox soccer style kick and landed the toe of his boot into Lotor's jaw sending him flying backwards in a shower of blood and teeth.

The battered King stumbled to his feet and attempted to defend himself but he was no match for Keith. The Voltron Commander gave two lightning fast flicks of his wrist and disarmed his opponent, Lotor stumbling back clutching the now gaping wound in his thigh and crying in pain as the Captain's sword stabbed into his shoulder joint, bursting out through his back a few milliseconds later.

Keith left it hanging there and lifting the King up by his collar, he began to lay into him with his bare hands. He open palmed Lotor's face repeatedly and his already broken nose received several more blows to ENSURE the job had been done. Keith continued for several minutes, punches, kicks and elbows following each other in quick succession until finally on the verge of unconsciousness, Lotor stumbled blindly around on his feet. Keith withdrew his blade and with an elegant roundhouse kick he knocked the 'King OF Doom' into a bloodied and beaten heap against the wall. He stood back breathing heavily as he angled his blade towards the defeated King's throat.

Allura was both stunned and horrified at the brutality she had just witnessed, her love had absolutely annihilated her captor! She watched as he walked towards Lotor and raised the Katana above his head, "Now Sire, I am going to ensure that you never, ever, trouble Princess Allura, or Planet Arus.......again!"

The Princess wanted Lotor dead more than anything and she cursed herself for wishing something so horrible. Wishes aside the voice in her head screamed that it was wrong…… She couldn't just let Keith just KILL an unarmed man, whether he was King Lotor the rapist or not.

Lotor raised a blood stained hand up and tried to beg for his life. He spat yet another mouthful of blood onto the floor and spoke as best he could with a broken jaw, trying to appeal to Keith's sense of honour. "Pleath, hath merthy, I beg oth you!"

"YOU? MERCY? Since when did YOU show any mercy to those whom you conquered? Why the hell would I show you any? No King Lotor, you will die!" Keith snarled.

Fortunately for Lotor, as the Captain went to swing his blade one last time he stopped. SHE had placed her hand on his shoulder and almost instantly the great rage that had burned within him was dispelled like a bucket of icy water thrown over a lighted match.

"Keith, you have saved me! Please, PLEASE don't do THIS! You HAVE honour and you HAVE dignity! Don't lower yourself to IT'S level by murdering it! It is unarmed and it is broken, look at it! It's pathetic! It cannot defend itself! It is only capable of bullying the weak!" She snarled glaring at Lotor's badly bruised, broken and bloodied visage.

With his bloodstained blade in one hand and the other arm wrapped securely around his Princess, Keith sighed in relief. He held her close and tenderly kissed her. He had been JUST in time! They stood in each other’s arms and Keith glared at Lotor, not daring to take his eyes off him.

Allura stared up at her rescuer, her teary blue eyes filled with love and pride, "I love you Keith! You are ALWAYS there when I need you the most!"

"I love you my precious Ally! I will ALWAYS be there for you!" Keith replied.

Lotor realized, finally that his dreams of wedding Allura were gone…… She would NEVER be his……

Keith wiped his blade, replaced it in its scabbard and addressed his shattered opponent, "I stay my blade ONLY at the request of my Princess, you OWE her your life King Lotor! I would have killed you and I swear with God as my witness that if you EVER, come near my Ally again...........I WILL find you.................and I will kill you!"

Lotor lay his head on the floor in a pool of his own blood and wept bitterly as Keith lead his battered Princess over to her sword. She wiped it off and Keith sheathed it for her before leading her out of the room. She was sore, bruised and limping, Keith putting a loving arm around her waist as he walked her slowly and fearlessly through the corridors, helping her towards the airlock.

She had her arm around him for support and wearily rested her head on his shoulder as she limped along. Both of them had blades hanging by their sides and resembled a pair of battle weary Samurai Warriors rather than members of the Voltron Force!

Not a single Doom guard was seen on Keith's return journey to the airlock and perhaps it was because he had slain so many trying to find his Princess.

Everywhere Allura looked she saw the remains of those who had foolishly attempted to keep her Captain from her, she could see where their laser blasts had exploded, the walls were still smoldering in some places!

Meanwhile Lotor barely managed to crawl to a console and call for his medics, he was in terrible pain and he was losing a dangerous amount of blood. He spat, screaming and cursing Arus! He vowed that he would seek vengeance against Keith and that he would destroy not only Arus but it's Princess along with it. She had refused his merciful love and declared her love for the Voltron Commander! Nothing stabbed at Lotor's cruel heart more! If I can't have her.....NONE will! He told himself as he slumped to the floor yet again.

As Keith and Allura reached the airlock Keith welded the door shut with his laser pistol and handed her the second oxygen mask from his small utility pouch. "Ally you have to hang on to me, if you let go you will float away out there! Can you hang on my love?"

Allura managed to nod a reply and slumped over his back as a group of frustrated guards tried to open the airlock door. She rested her head on his shoulder and murmured, "I love you Keith!"

"I know Ally, shhh save your strength! You have to be strong out here...." Keith replied.

He activated his gravitational boots and magna lock gloves and released the pressure in the airlock before he slowly ventured outside. He carefully made his way to his Lion with his Princess clinging to his back and began the climb up to the top. Keith thought of that innocent day at the picnic where he piggy-backed her when she had sore feet. Now here he was, piggy-backing her along the hull of a doom ship in the middle of space!

In her chambers on the giant battleship the evil Witch Hagar, lay her King down on a table and medics ran in to help him. "See to him while I destroy the intruders!" She shrieked.

The King was a broken mess, his face was barely recognizable, it was covered in blood from his broken nose, both his eyes were terribly swollen, his jaw and cheek bones were broken and his right shoulder was bleeding profusely from the stab wound. The old Witch ordered the warship's many squadrons of robot fighters to scramble and destroy the Lion her crystal ball had shown her, clinging to the back of the ship.

Keith climbed up onto Black Lion's head, his Princess still clinging to him for dear life. Lowering her down into the cockpit he pointed to his mask, "Keep your mask on while I repressurize the cockpit Ally!" She nodded as he closed the hatch and flicked a switch on Black Lion's console. There was a slow pause and a loud hissing noise as the oxygen meter began to rise and finally they were able to ditch their masks.

Allura was wounded, worn out and weak, she held her arms out to Keith and fell into him. He supported her gently and she smiled as she felt his strong arms wrap around her. "I love you sooo much!" She whimpered in a tired and weak voice.

"I love you too my sweet, precious Ally but we aren't out of this yet! I have to get us safely away from here!" Keith replied as he lay out a blanket from Black Lion's emergency cabinet. He set up a still folded blanket as a pillow for her and then slowly and gently lay the Princess upon the make shift bed. He tenderly bandaged up her bleeding right forearm and placed yet another blanket on top of her, kissing her gently before pulling away and preparing Black Lion for launch.

He sat in his chair and clipped up his harness. "Alright Black........We've had a bad week I know, but now's your chance to make it up to me! You wouldn't wanna let me down in front of Ally now would you? She needs you, we have to get her out of here!" He said to his silent comrade.

He flicked the necessary switches, pushed the preflight buttons and sighed with relief as Black's gauges read all systems as functional. He patted the console and replaced the Lion's operating key. A broad smile came to his face as the instrument panel flickered to life, he flicked the Dynotherms and 'The Mighty Black' buzzed and hummed to life. "Oh Yeah! Thanks Black!" Keith remarked with pride.

The Captain flicked the switches and Black's claws de-magnetised, the mighty Lion pulling away as laser blasts from robot ships exploded all around them. "Phew just in time! Let's hope Pidge's tracking device works!" Keith replied as he punched up a star chart and linked it into the tracking unit. Black charged away and the enemy fighters began a chase that would last for many grueling hours.

Allura lay with her eyes closed on the floor for a short time, trying to shut out the feelings of helplessness and failure that plagued her. She felt alone and frightened, even on the floor behind Keith she felt to vulnerable and draping her blankets around herself she slowly walked over and stood beside him. He raised an eyebrow as his peripherals caught sight of her, "Ally you should be resting, you have to......."

He stopped his attempted lecture as she promptly ignored him and slowly sat on his lap. He lifted his left arm and wriggled in his seat until she was comfortable, before placing his arm around her. "Thank you......." She whispered in a weak voice as she let her head rest against his shoulder. Keith understood, she was willing to rest but she wanted to rest with HIM! "Alright Ally, Alright" He smiled as he supported her with his left arm.

"Good ol' Black" Allura murmured. She felt so safe and so protected with Keith's arm around her. Her love had risked everything for her, he had put his very life on the line and the moment all her hopes had faded and she needed him the most, he was there! NOTHING would harm her now that she was safely in his arms.

Three hours later as his Princess slept on his lap, Doom forces had closed the gap on them and Keith had to wake her as the pursuit intensified, "Ally wake up! Ally.......wake up and hang on, I need both my arms! It seems King Lotor's blockade ships have found us!" The mechanical beast shuddered as a laser blast slammed into its shoulder. Allura squealed and wrapped her arms around Keith's shoulders as he twisted his control sticks sending the Lion into a rolling dive.

"Hang on tight Ally! Let's see if these robot pilots know how to FLY!" Black Lion streaked away with scores of robot fighters and three large Doom frigates behind it. Keith ducked and weaved his way through the ice rings of Corballus, the robot ships smashing into each other as they tried to follow. The warships were smarter however and they blasted huge path ways through the ice and continued their pursuit.

"Maybe I can take em out if I am quick enough!" He snarled as he halted Black Lion and turned to face his pursuers. Black charged forward and ripped through the first ship's hull, sending it spiraling out of control and finally disappearing in a massive explosion.

He looked up to see Eight more Doom ships appear out of nowhere to replace it. Ok.....Bad Idea! This is getting worse all the time! He thought to himself as he turned Black around and retreated yet again. Endless streams of robot ships trailed after the Lion as it streaked through the remaining Ice rings. Finally cornered and surrounded, Keith landed on an uninhabited moon and Black Lion turned to face the gathering army of Doom units that had trapped it.

Allura looked worried as she counted the warships that sat in front of Black Lion, "No matter what happens I will always love you Keith! I'm sorry we couldn't have made it home, you tried your best!"

"Hey, woah up a second there! We're not done for! Well not yet anyway! You're underestimating Black Lion! He'll get us out of this mess AND he'll get us home safely, you'll see! Now, how about a kiss for good luck?"

"Oh Keith, you can have a million if it will help!" She replied Kissing him passionately. She wasn't sure just what chance of success they had though, she could see the mounting ships in front of them! Suddenly she realized that it no longer mattered, if it WAS her fate to die today she would do so with her Captain and in his loving arms!

Keith grit his teeth and flicked the buttons on his control sticks. Black's photon missile launchers popped up on its shoulders and the Lion was ready for battle! The battle cat crouched so low it was almost prone, with a roar it launched at the nearest Doom ship and smashed its way through the bridge, the superstructure exploding in flames. It leapt from ship to ship like a cat pouncing after a mouse, its deadly claws tearing them to ribbons and its weaponry blazing away fiercely.

The Lion refused to give in as laser blasts and rockets all deflected harmlessly off its armor. Even the Maskaus Rockets had little effect on Black’s NEW armored hide. Finally two electro chains shot out from a nearby ship and wrapped around its thick neck grinding the mighty cat to a halt. Keith never shifted in his chair, he calmly flicked at switches and levers and the wing flew off Black's back, bringing down a wave of fighters. Then photon missiles raced away from its shoulders and annihilated another wave.

Clear of fighters for a moment the Lion stood up on its back legs and placed both its front claws around the first chain. Clamping its mighty jaws down on the chain and shaking its head violently, it tore it to shreds. Then it walked backwards and snapped the other one off completely with another head shake. After a half hour battle Captain Keith Taylor and his Black Lion had absolutely decimated over thirteen Doom frigates and three battleships. Standing proudly atop the last burning Doom Battleship the Lion raised its proud head and let out a triumphant roar.

"Now see Ally, you need to have more faith in Black Lion!" Keith grinned.

"I am terribly sorry Black Lion! Please forgive me it's been a long day!" Allura giggled patting the console. She leaned her hand up behind her and rested it on Keith's cheek as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head.

The brave Black Lion pilot slowly rose to his feet, gently lifting Princess Allura off his lap and standing her up too. "Now, let's get you fixed up Ally". He whispered as he took the standard team first aid box down from a cabinet in the cockpit. The Princess winced as he re-dressed the wound on her arm and treated the many other small cuts and bruises Lotor had given her. She sat in the pilot's chair and as he lovingly bandaged her up she smiled and looked up at him with pride, "I was no match for that brute, but you were! You showed him! Keith Taylor, my brave Captain!"

Keith smiled and Allura even thought she saw him blush. His smile soon returned to a serious frown and he looked deep into her eyes, "Ally I have to ask you something........something horrible, but I must know."

Allura shook her head and bit her lip. "Nuh Uh, you got to me just in time........, relax Keith". She had read his thoughts, unintentionally as it were but she heard the burning question in his mind.......The mere thought of THAT was something she had been trying to put out of her OWN mind since they had returned to Black Lion.

He rubbed her shoulders before gently hugging her, "I'm sorry Ally, I didn't mean to upset you and you aren't SUPPOSED to read my thoughts without permission.......but I'll forgive you this time!" He shook his head and chuckled, "Look at you, my poor banged up Princess!"

The Princess didn't smile, instead she rested her head on his shoulder and a tear trickled down her cheek. "Hey...come on, you're safe now Ally, nobody's going to hurt you anymore!" Keith whispered softly to her.

"If you had been a few minutes later...........just a few.........", She sniffed.

"Well I wasn't, I was in time..........You're safe Ally, it’s alright now". He replied in a gentle voice.

She squeezed him tightly in her arms and they sat together for quite a while, staring out at the stars. Though Keith had been in time to prevent Lotor from carrying out his heinous plan, the trauma Allura had still suffered would not be easily forgotten.

There was a period of time earlier whereby she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to fight Lotor off! The small brief period where he had managed to rip her trousers down haunted her. She was still shaking even now as the horrible memory surfaced and the tears raced down her cheeks. Her Captain supported her in his arms as she cried, she felt so weak, she felt as though she had failed not only herself but her beloved planet Arus as well.

Hours later Keith guided the mighty Lion home while Allura slept on his lap. He had laid a blanket out on the floor for her behind him again but she refused to leave his arms. It would take some time before his Princess would feel safe anywhere BUT in those arms and Keith accepted it. He couldn't begin to imagine how terrified she must have felt and he knew it was his place to be supportive, she was strong and she would come out of this after a time.

Lotor's ship had carried them so far that it would be four long days before they reached Arus again and they took turns at flying and sleeping.

By that fourth day, the clean up on planet Arus had moved along at a slow crawl. While the Lions with the exception of Blue Lion were repaired, the Castle was still in ruins and the surrounding villages were counting the lives lost to that devastating day!

The remainder of the Voltron Force sat dejectedly around in the briefing room that morning with General Taylor, Sven, Romelle, Queen Orla and Nanny. Each had a black arm band on their left shoulder except Lance who was refusing to accept that Keith had just up and disappeared, claiming that if Black Lion was destroyed, there would have been debris.

The mood throughout the battered castle and indeed the entire planet was one of despair and hopelessness. The proud Castle Of Lions banner fluttered at half mast as did all flags on the planet. Workers dragged their feet as they struggled to effect repairs to the castle and if you asked any Arusian how long before they thought Lotor would conquer the planet they would tell you a matter of days!

In the briefing room the General Cleared his throat, "Ladies and Gentleman. Since we who are not from Arus are now prisoners here, thanks largely to the Doom Blockade, I have assumed command of the Arusian defences in Coran's absence. With him being injured and many of the Arusian Armed Forces lying in hospital bed's beside him or in graves, it is my belief that my tactical and military knowledge will enable us to defend ourselves efficiently, hopefully long enough for Galaxy Garrison to break through the blockade and send aid at least. If there are there any objections to my assuming command, please speak."

'.......No one uttered a word'

"Well then my first order of business is indeed very tragic. It is with deep regret that I must announce Captain Keith Taylor of the Arusian Armed Forces and the Government of the people of Arus, officially listed as missing in action-believed killed. Keith was my Son and perhaps one of the finest pilots I have ever known, to lose my Son is.................."

The General was shaking and he bowed his head as a tear ran down his cheek. Queen Orla stood and put her arm around him as he tried to regain his composure. Romelle was crying her eyes out in Sven's arms and both he and Nanny tried their best to comfort her and themselves. Lance, Hunk and Pidge all sat with their arms on each other's shoulders and looked to the floor. The General shook his head and wiped his eyes as he apologized to the crowd. "I'm sorry.........I....!"

"General Taylor you have nothing to be sorry for!" Queen Orla replied as she hugged him. A General who had seen countless men die in his arms was brought to tears in front of their very eyes! In a way it reflected the feeling of absolute hopelessness that had engulfed the whole planet.

Finally he was able to regain his composure and continue, "I know that Keith was also your very dear friend and I can only tell you how very sorry I am at his tragic loss. I have......... scaled down the search for Black Lion as of late last night. We have found nothing to suggest that it hasn't been destroyed and there is little more we can do now. There will be a memorial service on the Landing Pad after this briefing and everybody is invited to attend. However in the face of this tragic loss we must unfortunately, look to OTHER concerns. The loss of Princess Allura to the Doom forces is an equally devastating and tragic blow. King Lotor now has leverage and he won't wait long before he uses it! Leutenant Armstrong, I will require a detailed rescue plan drawn up for the recovery of the Princess. I want all the possible prison locations on doom listed as targets along with at least three insertion and extraction points for each, We HAVE to get her back!"

"But however will you FIND her General, Lotor could have her anywhere, she could be........"

"Please, Nanny, I know this is hard......". He answered.

Romelle wiped her tears away and looked across to the General," Sir Sven and I have a unique knowledge of planet Doom, we were both guests there for quite some time, we may be able to help you!"

"I'm sorry I had forgotten about that Romelle! I thank you, any help you could offer will be greatly appreciated! Lance, coordinate your efforts with Romelle and Sven on this one and Hurry, I don't need to remind anyone of what that poor girl is probably going through!"

"No sir, I have a pretty good idea, I think we all do, I'll get right on it." Lance replied.

Meanwhile Allura had woken Keith as Black Lion streaked across the Arusian sky, "Keith, wake up my love, we are home!"

Keith stirred and looked up at the viewscreen, "Where about are we?"

"Not far from the castle now!" She responded as she piloted the Lion over familiar territory.

Back in the briefing room at the castle the General turned to his dejected friends, "Well ladies and gentleman, I invite all of you to accompany me to the memorial service, shall we?"

A young Corporal came running in before anybody could respond, "General, I'm glad I found you Sir! I'm sorry to interrupt, but Sir..................It's the Black Lion Sir!"

"BLACK LION! What about Black Lion?" The General asked nearly jumping out of his seat.

"We have it on our scanners, it’s heading this way!" The Lieutenant answered.

"I should have known Keith would have survived!" Romelle grinned as she wiped a tear from her eyes and smiled for the first time since the attack.

“I TOLD you!” Lance grinned.

The stunned crowd all looked at one another for a few more seconds before Hunk and Pidge both shouted in unison........."LANDING PAD!"

The Small group ran for the door and down the stairs towards the Landing pad. The news had spread through the Castle and Maids, Butlers, Nurses, Guards and indeed Villagers who were taking refuge there ran for the landing pad also! Could it be true? Had Black Lion survived?

A squadron of eight new Arusian Armed Forces fighter craft fell in beside the Lion as it flew over the village of Sinaii and escorted it towards the Castle OF Lions, "It seems they finally got us an Airforce!" Keith grinned.

Black Lion was carrying slight battle damage and it was leaving a long plume of blue vapor trailing from its starboard thruster mounts as it flew low across the village. The crowd of villagers dropped everything as they saw it flying over them.

"Is THAT...............That's Black Lion! Captain Keith is alive!!" One cheered.

"Where has he been all this time?" Another asked.

"Way to go Black Lion!" The Mayor yelled as he raised his fist in the air!

One thing was for certain, nobody cared where it had been, Black Lion was home and Keith was home with it! They didn't know that the Princess was safe too! Allura smiled broadly as she flicked switches and activated the familiar 1. 2. 3. Castle navigation beam pattern in the Navcom, guiding the Lion down towards the landing pad.

She marched the metal cat towards the southern end of the landing pad where a large crowd was gathering. They cheered as the Black lifted its head and blasted out a mighty roar as it strutted past.

War weary soldiers and Castle staff were starting to smile, HOPE was starting to filter back in to their ranks! They had lost their Princess but at least Captain Keith was alive, HE would lead them forth against Doom! Perhaps he would even take Voltron and get their Princess back!

Nanny turned to Queen Orla and the General, "The loss of my Baby is burning me inside, it's killing me, but to see that Keith has survived at least brings some comfort!"

Orla nodded and rubbed Nanny's shoulder, she too was devastated by the news of Allura's capture but like Nanny, Keith offered HER hope too!

He was weary as he had been flying all night the day before and had only had a few hours sleep. His legs were stiff and as he walked out of Black's mouth the Arusian sunlight blinded him and he stumbled. The crowd cheered when they saw him and then fell silent as they saw their Princess step out and help him to his feet. She put an arm around him for support and The Voltron Force, Nanny, General Taylor, Queen Orla, Romelle and Sven all looked to each other in disbelief. How had Keith?......Where had he?.... WHEN had he.......? It didn't matter, Princess Allura was safe and the crowd erupted into deafening cheers.

Having regained some strength Keith smiled and lovingly picked Allura up, carrying her in his arms. She giggled and tenderly kissed him as she was ferried towards their friends.

Nanny, Romelle and Orla ran towards them, "PRINCESS! Oh thank GOD!" Nanny cried as she slammed into them both, nearly knocking Keith over in the process. Romelle and Orla joined in, creating a group hug and the couple found themselves showered in hugs and Kisses. Nanny grinned as she knelt beside them both, "Oh my darling child you're safe, I was so worried, Ohhhhhh I thought you were gone from me for good! You have to stop doing this, your poor old Nanny is going to have a heart attack one of these days!"

Allura smiled and kissed Keith's cheek. "I wouldn't be back this time at all if it wasn't for Keith, he saved me!" She cooed with tears of pride in her eyes as she looked up to her hero. She pulled her self even closer and kissed him again and again as memories of that horrible day haunted her yet again.

“Oh Keith….You wonderful, wonderful man! Welcome home to you too!” Nanny responded.

“Umm…thanks Nanny!” Keith grinned.

"Oh Ally, we thought for certain you were gone this time, didn't we Orla!" Romelle laughed as they hugged her.

Keith let his Princess down and she wrapped her bandaged arm around his waist. "Allura where did you get that nasty bruise on your cheek and these bandages, Ohhh they won't do at all!" Nanny asked, mothering her as she always did.

"They are fine Nanny, I’m okay………stop worrying! The bruise was worse four days ago! Keith took care of me.....I'm okay now!" Allura replied reassuringly as she hugged her Governess, Aunt and Cousin.

There was a hushed silence as General Taylor stood in front of Keith, Father and Son, General and Captain. Keith snapped his heels together and proudly saluted his Father. The General snapped to attention and there was a rousing cheer as he returned the salute.

Lance, Hunk and Pidge walked over and snapped to attention beside Keith as they fell in behind him. "Bah! enough formalities, stand easy guys!" General Taylor replied as he hugged his Son.

“I thought I’d lost you boy!” He said in a concerned voice.

“Dad…… I……I was coming back but I had to get Ally first!” Keith grinned.

"I knew you'd still be around Skipper!" Lance laughed as he hugged his friend", somehow I had this feeling........."

"Tell us what happened Keith, where'd you come from?" Hunk asked.

Allura told them the tale, and they stared back in shock! "You LET Lotor live?" A dumbfounded Lance asked.

"The Princess saw to it that I didn't MURDER an unarmed man! I am thankful she did too! I gave Lotor enough of a beating to ensure us a fair break" Keith replied.

"Oh well, maybe he will learn this time! Don't mess with our Captain and DON'T steal his girl!" Romelle replied defiantly as she threw her arms around Keith and pecked him on the cheek.

The General turned and walked over to his future daughter in law, he was unsure how to react to her and Allura was a little uncertain how to react to him!

Finally deciding from the nod Keith gave him, General Taylor wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "Welcome home Allura, I was worried there for a while, I thought my daughter in law was gone along WITH my Son!"

D...Daughter in Law? Allura thought, she liked the sound of that and she felt very relaxed at hearing Keith's Father say it! To her it was a sign of the General's acceptance of her coming marriage with Keith. While he had never openly had any criticisms of their relationship it was nice to know that he considered her a part of his family!

"I am glad to be home, thank you........I uhh, what should I call......I mean.....What do you prefer.........Ummm I mean?" Allura asked as she nestled into his arms.

"Call me Dad or Father! Don't worry........I am a bit lost too! Should I call you Princess or Allura or ?"

Allura smiled "Father, I'd like it if you called me Ally!"

"Ally it is!" The General smiled as he held her in his arms.

As Keith left to take his Lion to maintenance, Allura instinctively went to go with him. “Ally… I’m only going to maintenance! Don’t you want to stay with everybody?” Keith asked quietly.

“I……I don’t feel safe I…”

“Ally…You’ll be fine…… I promise, you believe me don’t you?” Keith asked.

Allura sighed, “I’m silly I…Of course I believe you, I will stay”

Keith cuddled her and rested his head against her forehead, “You AREN’T silly, far from it in fact! It’s natural after what you have been through…Time will see it made better, now, I have to go okay!”

“Uh huh……Thank you for putting up with me Keith!”

“It’s no chore Ally, I’ll see you soon!”

Allura walked back over and stayed with her friends. She still WANTED to go with him and was deliberately fighting the urge back, trying to fight the fears she now had. She felt so vulnerable away from him and she tried her best to hide it, the effects of her abduction had left her stripped of a great deal of self confidence.

THE END OF PART NINE.

Scott's Fiction Love's Journey Part 9 Day of days
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 9 Day of days The weather on Saturday morning was glorious and the early morning sunlight shone on Allura's face, causing her to squint as she tried to sleep in. She woke up and tried to discover where it was coming from. The young Princess crawled out of bed and pulled the curtain out of the window where it had become jammed before clambering back in and snuggling up next to Keith who was sleeping soundly. Allura wanted to let him sleep but she was so excited about her wedding that she decided she just HAD to wake him. Today was their special day after all! "Keith..... Keith! Wake up!" She whispered kissing his forehead. "Ouuuugggghhh!" He replied as he stretched and looked up at the clock on the wall. "Aww Ally, it’s only seven o'clock....." He grumbled rolling back over. "Yes, and we have to eat early today, we have so much to do". She replied clambering on top of him. He yawned and looked up at her with a gleam in his eyes, "There's only two things I really want to do right now, one I can't do until Five o'clock". "And the other?" Allura asked, knowing full well what the 'Other' was. "Lets not worry about that!" Keith replied with a grin. Allura rolled over and folded her arms as she faced the other way, "Oh alright then, if you don't want to we don't HAVE to". "Wait a minute! You just asked………Why you little.......come here!" Keith laughed as he tickled her. Allura laughed and ran her hands under the blanket, "Hmm this is interesting? What ever could this be?" "ALLURA!" Keith exclaimed. She frowned, "You don't want me to make it better?" "Oh you aren't just teasing me this time! Well my Princess if you are going to make it better then that’s different!" Keith chuckled. "Tease? I don't tease you!" Allura grinned. Keith shook his head, "MUCH!" "HOH!" "You CONSTANTLY tease me, being that you are so beautiful and all! I have to sleep next to the most beautiful woman in the Universe and TRY to keep myself in check!" Keith replied as Allura's nightgown landed in a heap on the floor, followed by her underwear. "Well it’s JUST as bad for me you know! I have to suffer you walking around bare chested in front of me at gym, or in the pool and all I want sometimes is to………ahem. I mean you are very handsome and my thoughts aren’t always pure my Captain!" "Well I won't ever complain if you act on impulse you know Ally!!" "Yes but Nanny and anybody else who is in the room at the time might!" Allura giggled. Sometime afterwards as they lay in each others arms, still panting and dripping in sweat Allura asked, "All better now?" "Oh yeah........., you know, I think I love you!" "Oh, You THINK? You BETTER love me Captain!” she giggled. At that moment Nanny walked in and caught them both in all their glory. "Your Highnesses, its time to........OH MY LORD!" She gasped and went as red a tomato. "I'll be outside, I'll be outside.......!" She coughed as she hurriedly left the bedroom. The Princess lay down on top of him, burying her rather red face in his pillow. They both ended up in hysterics before finally having a shower and getting dressed together. As they walked up the corridor they both wore silly grins, a very embarrassed Nanny was waiting near the stairs for them. "What was it you wanted to know Nanny?" Keith asked. Nanny looked away and apologized "I...... Ummmm, Oh I should have knocked, I am so sorry". "Allura laughed and pulled her into a hug, Dancing around with her "Oh Nanny, today's the day! Today's the day........!" "Yes SO I see!" Nanny gave her a stern look and then her face broke and she laughed heartily". As Allura and Keith strolled arm in arm into the Dining room, Lance ran up and grabbed the Princess lifting her high into the air. The others all tackled him and they all crashed to the ground in a heap, hugging her and roughing up her hair. "So today's the big day!" Hunk remarked as they all laughed and carried on. Keith stood in the door way and laughed himself as he watched his Princess happily wrestling around with their friends. Hunk laughed, "Look at Allura's hair, Nanny will be pleased!" Nanny smiled and shook her head, "Well it looks better than it did this morning!" Allura blushed a thousand shades of red, much to everybody’s amusement, even Keith couldn't help but laugh. "You didn't did you Nanny?........, Oh brother, you did! Hey Allura what colour is red?" Lance teased. Pidge and Hunk joined him, "Look Pidge she's a brighter shade of pink than her jumpsuit!" "Yeah Hunk, she sure is, I wonder why the Captain isn't blushing?" Allura looked up and replied, "It isn't fair to tease your new Queen so early in the morning!" Pidge grinned and adjusted his glasses, "Why? Now is as good a time as any.......!" "Hey Keith did you feel that?" Hunk asked. "Yeah, what the heck....." The castle shuddered again........"That's an explosion, we're under attack.......", Keith gasped as he sprang up and bolted for the control room, a few seconds later the alarm kicked in! There was pandemonium everywhere, people running and shouting. The team bolted up the stairs and into the change rooms, Keith was the first one out. "Coran?" "Its a planet wide alert, we have at least 2 Robeasts that we know of on scanner, waves of Skull tanks, troops and robot ships, as well as three distinct fleets of Doom warships. It seems Lotor is back! Black Lion is ready and let's hope you have no problems today Keith!" "Come on Team we have work to do.....TO THE LIONS!" Keith yelled. "Position All Keys...... And blast off!" Keith's voice crackled over their intercoms as they hurriedly strapped themselves in. Keith powered up Black Lion's Dynotherms but nothing happened. Oh not now! This is Exasperating! He thought to himself as he unstrapped his harness. "Coran this is Keith, I have no ignition, I repeat, I have no ignition!" "Coran To Black Lion, message understood." "Coran to repair Hangar, get some crewmen up to Black Lion at once it won't start...!" He ordered onto a separate Comlink. The head mechanic couldn't believe his ears, Black Lion had been running perfectly all night and he had finally switched it off at dawn, quite satisfied. "On our way Coran". He replied. "Red lion" to Black lion", Try re-rerouting your power circuits through the negative access port." "Black Lion to Red Lion, Negative on ignition Lance, take Command, defend the castle." "Red Lion, Order acknowledged." "Red lion to Lion Team, "Blue Lion you defend Black, don't let ANYTHING through and see if you can offer him any assistance while you're at it Princess." "Blue Lion, order acknowledged". "Green lion, You COVER Blue Lion's outer perimeter, try and hold off anything Lotor sends and give Allura some advanced warning Pidge". "Green Lion, order acknowledged" "Yellow Lion, You follow my six, we're gonna hit these bastards head on, we have to try and slow them down and give the villagers a chance to get to the caves!" "Yellow Lion order acknowledged, let's kick some butt Lance!!" Lance and Hunk flew headlong into the large fleet of Doom ships that was spewing out streams of robot fighters and surface landing craft. They began to tear through the battleships like they were paper. The surprised Commander of ship Three Eight Five looked up in horror as the mighty Red Lion landed squarely on the deck of his warship and he gave his last order as his command bridge exploded in flames. Yellow Lion tore through an entire line of warships with its knife attack, before joining Red as they regrouped for another attack. Meanwhile the Princess held Blue Lion just above the immobile Black. Mechanics and technical staff were climbing all over the motionless Lion, it looked like it had fleas there were that many of them. As Pidge Flew out over the forest in front of the castle, He saw A large platoon of Skull tanks smashing down trees as they approached. "Princess, Heads up, Skull Tanks inbound! I'll try and stop them!!" "I hear you Pidge, Call me if you need help!" Allura responded. Green Lion descended into the Skull tank Platoon like a Tiger onto a flock of chickens, it ripped them to ribbons. "Hah this is too easy" Pidge mused. "Now, King Lotor, Now do we attack? The Voltron Lions are ripping our Tank platoons and warships apart!!" "We wait, that's only three Lions, we need to see them ALL, I have been caught out like this before. We need to destroy ALL the Lions save one, If ANYONE dares destroy the Blue Lion I will feed him to a pit of cave spiders! The Princess is to be brought to me Unscathed!" Lotor bellowed. A Doom guard nervously handed him a communicator, "My King a report from Field Commander Sarak!" "What is it Sarak? Why do you dare disturb me?" Lotor Growled. "My King the Black Lion has not moved and the Blue Lion is stationary above it. There are no other Lions with them!" He replied. "So my pretty! You are defending your helpless Voltron leader! I will have his throat cut out and served for an entree' in front of you! Launch My Battle Beast! Destroy the Black Lion and see that the Blue Lion is immobilised for "OPERATION FORCED ENTRY! Now we'll see WHO has defeated who Princess! Soon you will be my slave!" "Blue Lion to Green Lion, Pidge how are you going down there?" "Green Lion to Blue Lion, "I've taken light damage to my armor on the left shoulder, but other than that this is a cinch." "Blue Lion To Green Lion Be careful Pid….Eyarrrrhhhhh.................". "Princess, Are you okay?.......Princess respond............Princess......!"
The hideous looking Robeast's giant mace had crashed into Blue Lion, sending it hurtling and careering into the hill side. "PRINC……ESS!" Keith shouted as he quickly strapped himself back in to his seat and started flicking switches in panic. Black Lion's 'FLEAS' soon left running for their lives. Its pilot saw the evil eyes of the beast up close and personal in his viewscreen, "BAHAHAHAH" it roared, raising its mace high above it's head. Keith grimaced as the mace came flying towards Black Lion. As he looked up he saw that it had stopped short? "I'll save you Keith!" Pidge yelled as his Lion took the Robeast by the wrist........ "Get outta there Keith!, that Lion's never going to start, get out of there before this THING gets you!" "I'm not going anywhere Pidge! If there's a slight chance I can get Black Lion going then it's a chance I have to take!" Keith replied. Allura shook herself and sat up, her Lion had rolled down the hill and was lying on its back... The stumbling Robeasts feet were getting ever so close to crushing her as it wrestled with Pidge. Yanking her controls she launched the Blue up and charged at the beast’s throat latching on. Blue Lion ripped and tore its neck joint to pieces and the Robeasts head exploded, the resulting blast sending both Lions flying. "Argh got....to get..........Ayahhhhhhh!" Allura yelled as she lost control of Blue Lion. It slammed into a row of trees and cleared out an area the size of a football field as it skidded along its side. Green lion meanwhile landed in the lake, "Phew soft landing!" Pidge grinned as he regained control and darted back out, hovering above Black Lion. The smoking remains of the Robeast were leaning up over Black Lion's column and Pidge knocked it off sending it crashing down on top of the hapless skull tanks that had finally exited the forest. Its giant body rolled through the forest like a steamroller, flattening everything in its path. "Hah, thanks for the rolling pin Lotor!" Pidge laughed as he watched tank after tank disappear. Then he stopped chuckling, Blue Lion was lying on its side right in its path!!! He Flew down and grabbed it by the tail desperately trying to drag it out of the way. Looking up he saw the giant body in front of him, "We're not gonna make it................." Red and Yellow Lions were making a terrible mess of the third doom fleet, they were tearing the battleships to pieces, holding their knives in their Jaws, they sliced through the ships hulls like hot nails through melted butter. "YEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Hunk yelled as yet another Ship exploded into pieces. "This is too easy Lance.". "Yeah, Typical Lotor, return without even giving us a challenge.............!" Lance laughed. "Coran to Red and Yellow Lions, the castle is under heavy attack, fall back at once!!!!" "Understood Coran! Come on Hunk lets go!" Lance responded. Sarak's Tank Force had set up on the other side of the castle and they were pounding it to rubble! The castle defences fired back in angry response but they were slowly being knocked out, emplacement by emplacement. "There Hunk! Get em!" Lance yelled as a Red and Yellow Rainbow slammed into the tanks. The last thing Sarak saw was Red lion's back claw crashing through his cockpit, it crushed him like a tomato under a sledge hammer. "Ohhh, it seems one beast was overcome! Launch beasts two and three!!" Lotor bellowed to his helmsman. His henchman nervously saluted, "Yes Sire!..................." There was a flash of lights and Lotor's huge Behemoth of a ship gave a shudder. Two Flaming streaks slammed into the forest floor below and the nasty looking beasts awoke, ready to perform their terrible tasks. Allura looked up, she and Pidge had narrowly avoided being crushed as the Robeast carcass had come to a stop, inches in front of them. "You okay Princess?" Pidge asked "Yeah, thanks Pidge! Lets get back to the castle!" As they flew up out of the trees they saw the castle with Flames roaring out of its eastern side. Red and Yellow Lions were standing in amongst a row of skull tanks and like kittens with balls of yarn they were sending them flying everywhere. "Hunk, I've got two hull breaches and a damaged Thruster....We may have to pull out and regroup, " Lance yelled into his Com. "I've got three hydraulic warning lights flashing at me myself, but just a little longer and we'll have them gone!" Hunk answered. "Well okay, but these things sure do pack a wallop!!! Let’s hope its not too MUCH longer....." He yelled back. The Enormous Robot-like Robeast thundered towards Black Lion..... "UH OH!" Keith swallowed hard as he saw his fate. As it extended its arm and reached a giant hand towards Black Lion, Blue Lion pounced on top of the Black, like a dog defending its meal, it crouched Low and Roared defiantly. "OVER MY DEAD BODY!" Allura yelled into her COM. opening fire with just about everything she had. Waterblaster, Tail Laser, Rip Claw and Ion Darts surged forward in one awesome display of firepower as she flicked switch after switch. Blue's weaponry just ricocheted off and barely made a scratch on the lumbering beast however and in desperation the Princess erected her Ice Grid. "Get through that! Hang on Keith, I'll get you outta there!" Blue Lion shouldered Black Lion off its tower and as it fell Allura flew her Lion underneath it, taking its weight. Unfortunately the wall of ice shattered behind her and she didn't get too far. With one hand the beast held blue lion and in the other it had the Black. "Keith!" Allura cried as it threw Black Lion into the hillside. She thrust her controls every witch way and Blue struggled to free itself but there was no escape for Allura. The Robeast focused on its primary objective, releasing Blue Lion to the other smaller Robeast that had slivered over. The other Robeast resembled a robotic octopus on caterpillar tracks! It was a mass of mechanical tentacles that sat fairly low to the ground. As her Lion was seized in its grip Allura felt pain the likes of which she had never felt before, thousands of electronic bolts shot through her body and she was rendered unconscious immediately. Blue Lion's electrical circuits sparked and overloaded, the brave Lion's proud yellow eyes flickering as they finally became dull. "Lance, Hunk, get over here, we're in BIG trouble!!!!" Pidge cried as he guided Green Lion in for a knife attack on the giant robot beast. "Pidge??.............Hunk lets go! Bug out! Pidge and Allura are in trouble!" Lance yelled as Red Lion launched off the ground. Yellow and Red Lion arrived to find the motionless Blue Lion seized in the tentacles of the octopus like Robeast. Green Lion meanwhile was desperately wrestling with another beast that looked almost like a giant version of Voltron. "Alright Hunk you help the Princess, I'll see what I can do to help Pidge" Lance ordered. "Roger Lance, I'll save her!!" Hunk yelled back. On the way over he glanced at Black Lion's pedestal noticing that the Black was gone. He soon looked elsewhere as a face full of angry tentacles greeted him. "Eyahhhhh," he yelled jamming his control sticks left, Yellow Lion stopping its descent and spinning around one hundred and eighty degrees. It darted the other direction but it didn't help as the tentacles found their mark. "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Hunk yelled, the electrical charge surging through every muscle in his powerful body causing him to convulse violently, in seconds he too was unconscious. "We gotta get them outta there Pidge!" Lance yelled. "I'm with you Lance let's do it.............!!" Red and Green Lion Darted in with their knives in their Jaws. "We'll try and cut them loose Pidge, just watch we don't, YAAAARRRRRR........................." Lance's voice fell silent as his Lion was engulfed in tentacles. Pidge tried to cut him free but the tentacles grabbed him too, and he joined his comrades. After being hurled away like a baseball Black Lion had rolled down the hill side and landed flat on its back in the burning forest. Keith shook himself and looked up, Black Lion's instrument panel was aglow and the pleasant hum of the Dynotherms filled his ears, "FINALLY!!" "Black Lion to Red Lion, do you read?" "Black Lion to Lion team do you read?" "Keith to Coran do you read?" "Great, My Lion works but my Com system is down again....". Keith muttered in disgust. "He brought Black Lion through a clearing and his jaw dropped. Red, Green and Yellow Lions were lying motionless on the ground. Blue Lion's side hatch had been gouged open and three doom Guards were carrying an unconscious Princess Allura through the gangway of an enormous Doom ship. It was an ugly black looking thing that was at least five times the size of a standard doom warship. Lotor's Chief Commander bowed before him, "King Lotor the PRIZE is aboard." "Blast OFF! NOW!!" He yelled to his Helmsman. Keith watched in horror as the doorway closed and the Huge Doom ship ignited its boosters. Oh no! Ally!........What to do, THINK Keith.....Alright.... The young Captain thought as he formulated a plan of attack, "Hang on Ally, I'm coming!" He yelled and with a desperate lunge on the controls he launched Black Lion at the rear of the ship. It slammed into the back of the colossal ship and slid its way down until its claws finally took hold, the mighty cat clinging desperately to the ship like a panther climbing a tree. The giant battleship entered the outer atmosphere and Keith was locked against his seat as the G-forces became extreme. He grimaced and jammed his feet on the pedals as the Lion shook and shuddered with the blast, the mighty cat responded sinking its claws deep into the ships armor plating. "What was that? Did you feel that shudder Sire?" A guard asked. Lotor was not interested in shudders, his mind was on something COMPLETELY different. He had finally triumphed, Princess Allura was safely aboard his ship, Voltron was no more and Arus was ready to fall! "Silence you fool, its just laser fire!! Increase speed to maximum and get us out of here, I want to be at the rendezvous point with the Drules in five days!" Keith waited until the ship left orbit. He flicked three switches and Black's powerful claws magnetized, clamping on hard. He unbuckled his harness and removed the Lion's operating key before opening a compartment in his cockpit. A Laser rifle, and a Katana tumbled out, He strapped the katana to his belt and slung the rifle over his shoulders. In another compartment he found his gravity boots and Magnalock gloves. He strapped them on and reached for two oxygen masks. He hooked one up to his face and loaded the other into a utility pouch on his belt before clambering out of Black. He activated his gravity boots and moved slowly along the side of the ship's hull, stopping at a small access door. "Hmmmm what's this? RESTRICTED ACCESS AUTHORISED PERSONEL ONLY, looks like my ticket in! Consider me authorized Lotor!" He yelled as he blasted the door to pieces. Hang on Ally, I'm coming, Hang on! He thought as he entered the airlock and depressurized. He cocked his rifle and walked out into the corridor, "Now where the hell are they holding my Princess?" A guard stared in dismay as he saw him, "Hey you! How did you get in here you can't Ouugh!" Keith's blast interrupted him as it burned its way through his chest. "Sorry, no time to chat!" Eleven more guards ran after him and a fierce firefight ensued. "Contact King Lotor we have an intruder aboard!" One yelled to his subordinate. Keith stood behind the door way and one by one he dropped them. As fast as he killed one another arrived to take its place but the young prince was undeterred as he continued to slug it out with Lotor's boys. I gotta get out of this, I gotta get Ally back before Lotor get's his claws on her! He thought as he slowly dodged laser fire and ran down the corridor. The Doom troops were right on his heels and he was forced to move slowly, making desperate rear guard maneuvers.
Meanwhile on Arus the situation was desperate as the two Robeasts mercilessly pounded the already weakened eastern side of the castle. Explosions erupted all through its interior and huge chunks of masonry, power cables, pictures and tapestries crashed to the floor everywhere. Romelle screamed as huge chunks of stone and concrete landed all around her, "ROMY!" Sven took a running dive through her door and landed on top her, shielding her. The rain of debris finally stopped for a moment and he took her hand, leading her out of the flames and rubble. "Come on Romelle let's get you out of here" he yelled. "Sven they will need people below in the infirmary! Take me there and I'll help!" She shouted over the explosions. As Sven lead her down the stairs past the control room he saw that it had taken several direct hits, the corridor was lined with the wounded and the dead. Coran came stumbling out of the smoking room, holding his bleeding arm and he turned to them, "Sven, can you lead a team out and try and find the Voltron Lion's, the castle is going to fall, we need to make sure those Lions are hidden from Lotor, if HE get's them........ The rest of the Galaxy is lost! Sven looked to Romelle, "I have to ensure Romelle is safe first Coran!" "I will remain here and help the wounded now GO my love and be safe!" She ordered giving him a huge kiss. "I love you Ven!!!" "Romelle, the castle is going to fall I can't just leave you here!!!!" He protested. "I will help the wounded escape into the tunnels, now, no more arguing, go my love!!!! She yelled pointing to the door. He nodded and reluctantly ran the other way taking charge of a squad of Arusian commando's. "Come on we have a job to do!!" "Yes Sir, We're with you!" They responded running after him. "Ground Force Commanders, This is your triumphant King! Cease your attacks and withdraw, our task is done, let the enemy see the fruits of our labour, let him live in fear of our wrath! Let him see his villages and forests burn. Load the Robeasts and withdraw, 'Operation Forced Entry' has been a success!" Lotor blared over the Doom Comlinks. As he finished giving his orders he turned off the Com. and stood up thrusting his clenched fists in the air. "YES!! I HAVE HER AT LAST! Now to claim my prize!" Doom forces ceased their attacks and pulled out in unison, leaving the shattered carnage of Arus behind them. Coran turned to General Taylor holding his bleeding arm. "Ughhh Voltron must have........." He collapsed on the floor before he could finish his statement. "Somebody get a MEDIC!!" The General yelled from the shattered Command Room. Nanny came running in, she was covered in blood from the wounded she had been tending. "Oh Coran.......Quickly take him!" She yelled to two stretcher bearers as they ran past. The Castle was devastated, huge fires raged out of control in several areas and the entire eastern side was a mass of twisted girders and bent superstructure. Dead and wounded soldiers littered the corridors up and down stairs and medical staff worked frantically to save those they could. Queen Orla and Romelle were assisting in the infirmary while outside, Sven and his team desperately searched for any trace of the Voltron Lions. The area of Planet Arus near the Castle Of Lions was a dreadful ruin, its villages were shattered and its forests burned. "Galaxy Garrison was right after all!" General Taylor growled as he bashed his fist onto a shattered keyboard. The control room had suffered heavy damage, sparking cables and pieces of timber hung down from the ceiling like vines and the broken viewscreen was hanging up by its left side. Lotor's return had come at last, and it had been brutal. Allura awoke, in a cage, surrounded by all sorts of nasty looking devices. She had no idea what they were for but she had a feeling she soon would. Looking across she could see her pistol, communicator and unsheathed Katana lying on a table nearby. If only she could figure out how to reach them she thought. Her thoughts were interrupted as the main door opened with a hiss and Lotor walked in, "Well well, Princess Allura I presume!" He chuckled. "Lotor! Why don't you do us all a favour and throw yourself out an airlock!" The Princess snarled. "That's not a very nice thing to say to the father of your unborn child now is it, we wouldn't want BABY to hear!" "I am NOT the mother of your child you monster!" "So cold Allura! Well I suppose you are right, you aren't YET, but that's all about to change my dear Princess. In a few hours you WILL be pregnant with my child, believe me, I intend to see to it personally! Think about it Allura…an end to hostilities… No more suffering for your people!" "You expect me to believe THAT! I will never agree to…………" "AGREE? Now who said anything about you Agreeing? In fact, my dear Princess! I really would prefer it if you didn't! It's more fun that way." Lotor replied as he interrupted her. "You BEAST! You wouldn't dare!" "Wouldn't I ....... How well do you think you know me Allura? Not very well obviously!" The Evil King held up his arms and spun around, "You see all THIS, all these lovely toys? I collected them especially for the day we would finally be alone together! Look at this fun little device for instance, the good Doctor said I should have you strapped to this to ensure a smooth pregnancy is achieved but that's so cold and impersonal. I want our love making sessions to be intimate and special". "You call RAPE love making? You make me sick! I'd die before I'd let you even get close enough to......." "Oh no we couldn't have that!" Lotor grinned menacingly and held up a pair of strange looking handcuffs. He turned to his two oafish guards, "Put these on her and bring her to my Chamber! And if I find either of you morons has bruised her in anyway I'll rip your still beating hearts out and stuff them down your throats! Adieu my Princess, I must prepare for our SPECIAL night!" The door hissed again as Lotor left and the two oafish guards guffawed loudly as they approached the Princesses cage. "King Lotor's gonna have some fun with you tonight girly!" "We gonna hear your screamin from here!" The other added. If you think for a second that I am just going to lie down without a fight you are seriously mistaken Lotor! Okay Ally, these guys are dumb, dumb, DUMB! Time to play possum! Allura thought as she allowed the guards to get to her. As she calmly stepped outside she lulled them into a false sense of security and then struck! She sent the first one flying into the wall and with an energetic roll she grabbed up her Katana from the table! With a powerful and well executed move, the second guard was sent stumbling back into the wall, sliding down and lying in a pool of blood. The first guard stood up and with two swipes from Allura's blade he joined his comrade. The Princess replaced her communicator and pistol before sheathing her blade. She turned to the door but stopped in fright as it hissed open. "I forgot to mention you two, bring Allura to………WHAT!………………" Lotor gasped as he saw them slumped against the wall. "Allura! You surprise me! I thought those two oafs would easily be sufficient enough to deal with you! Surrender and I PROMISE I will be gentle with you, I have told you before, I CAN be UGLY when I want to be!" Allura swallowed hard and took a step back, I can take him! I know ENOUGH! She thought as she drew her blade and stood in the traditional Kendo defensive position, awaiting his attack. Allura was bristling with confidence, perhaps too much for the match up she had just been faced with! "I've told YOU before too, I am NOT afraid of you! I'm not the weak little Princess you think I am Lotor! Get out of my way or die!" Lotor was surprised by her determination and her new ability! There she was like a warrior, standing with her shoulder to him, her blade sitting obliquely across it and pointing at the ground behind her. Her stance was perfect, almost TOO perfect Lotor thought, it reminded him of a fighting style he had seen before, though for the life of him he couldn't remember where. Someone's been teaching you haven't they! He thought as he grinned and slowly drew his blade, "Allura.......Do you honestly expect to defeat ME? The Champion of the Denubian Galaxy! YOU! A WOMAN! I REALLY am going to enjoy this! What a nice little game you have cooked up for us, I can't wait.................." "If you judge me by my sex then you are a bigger fool than I thought! There is only ONE Champion of this Galaxy and in time……he will come for me!" Allura snarled cutting him off. "Oh you mustn't have heard, HE is dead Allura, his Black Lion crushed by my Robeast. A fitting end to a born loser!" Lotor grinned. Allura refused to believe him and with a cry she attacked the evil King. She was capable and she was swift but Lotor was easily her better and he overcame her attacks easily. Hearing the noise a squad of ten guards ran in and Lotor ordered them to stand and watch as he defeated the Princess of Arus! "You see my pretty little Princess, there is NO escape! Guards! Watch as your King BREAKS Arus’s Princess in front of you!" He yelled. Still fighting his desperate battle Keith tried to figure out just where the prison hold would be. Hmm on a NORMAL Doom warship, the Brig would be this way! But this is not a NORMAL Doom ship! Laser blasts exploded all around him and he stepped out into the open. He tucked his assault rifle snugly against his side and pumped hard on the handgrip under the muzzle, releasing a photon charged grenade at his attackers. They froze in horror as it detonated and ripped them to pieces. The Voltron Captain flicked a two fingered salute at their remains before running down the corridor. He ran into a room and came face to face with a guard sitting at his desk, "Hey who are you, where's your authorization?" The Doom Soldier asked. "Keith Taylor! Authorization is right here!" Keith smiled as he discharged his rifle into the poor guard's face one handed, at point blank range, painting the wall behind him in a showering spray of pale pink blood. He looked at a large map on the wall and saw where he had to go, he then reached in and retrieved the keycard from the officer he had just dispatched and entered it into the door mechanism. Now to find Ally! He thought as he charged through the detention area. He surprised a squad of six guards and launched his last grenade into the center of them, "Run it’s a Arrrrgghhhhh!" They screamed as they were incinerated. Two more guards ran around the corner and Keith afforded them two shots each, felling both before they had time to react. Back on Arus Sven and his team were closing in on the Lions. "I know we are close, Pidge's tracking system has them just through these trees". Sven called to his comrades as they ran through the burning forest. They cleared the tree line and saw the sad sight of the four Lions lying motionless, like giant metal corpses in the clearing. I see four lions yet only three tracking signals? Where is the fourth pilot? Sven wondered. His blood went cold as he saw the gaping hole into the cockpit of Blue Lion and the pink helmet lying on the ground. "Oh no.........Ally!" He called as he ran over. THAT'S why they left! Lotor's got Ally! What am I going to tell Orla, Nanny and Romelle? Keith is missing! Ally is taken prisoner and Lance, Hunk and Pidge are all unconscious! "Sven to Castle, send a medical team to my coordinates urgently, I have located objective Victor, I repeat I have located objective Victor!" The former Blue Lion pilot sat down on Blue Lion with his head in his hands as his team retrieved the injured pilots. At least Lance, Hunk and Pidge are still alive! Some good news is better than none! Sven thought to himself, trying to keep his spirits up. Soon after a shuttle arrived and ferried them back to the ruined castle, while recovery teams began recovering the Lions. Later as the shuttle docked a dejected Sven walked over to Romelle. He looks terrible, something is wrong………! She thought as she walked towards him. "What it is it? SVEN?" "Sven tell me.....?" "Romy I CAN'T tell you! Not yet!" Sven replied in a worn out and defeated voice. "Sven! Please, tell me what happened! I haven't seen you look so distraught since................It's Keith isn't it?" She choked. Sven took her into his arms and leaned his forehead against hers, he whispered in a soft and sad voice. "Lotor took Ally.......she's gone Romelle! As for Keith we couldn't find Black Lion or his signal, it must have been destroyed! All the lions were fitted with tracking beams and the Voltron Team all had a small signal device in their boots. I read no signal on this planet for Allura, Black Lion, OR Keith! Romy, I'm so sorry!" Romelle put her hand on her chest and sank to the ground. Sven sat with her, cradling her in his arms. "But Sven, Keith could be chasing them in his Lion! He could be trying to rescue Ally, he could.........." Sven shook his head interrupted her, "Romelle, last report on Black Lion was that it was powerless, that's why they didn't form Voltron. I wish I could believe Keith WAS after them, but even if he was. Those Doom ships would just cloak and they are easily capable of outrunning the Lions anyway! I'm sorry......." She dropped her head onto his shoulder and tears trickled down her cheeks. "Sven I don't believe that........I don't believe........... There must be a mistake, it's a mistake............ Keith and Ally are.............. They can't......................No! No! No! NO!" Sven held her in his arms as she wept, tears running down his OWN cheeks at the same time. Meanwhile Allura continued her duel with the King of Doom. She was barely holding her own and Lotor was enjoying himself as he knocked her to the ground yet again. "Princess, I thought from your boasting that you had learned how to FIGHT! How are you going to kill me if you can't even attack me properly? You are pathetic!" Allura calmly ignored him and the moment he dropped his guard she landed her heel on his chin with a powerful kick, sending him flying against the wall. She thrust her blade at him but he rolled out of the way and leapt to his feet. He grinned and rubbed his jaw, "A nice little trick! Wait until I show you MINE!" He laughed before he charged at her yet again. The Princess deflected blow after blow but he was getting closer and she was getting weaker. He swept her feet out from underneath her and drove a kick into her stomach that knocked the wind right out of her. She coughed, winded and beaten as she tried in vain to stand up again. She had now realized that she was not going to be able to win this fight, Lotor was far too powerful. "I shall make you remember this day Princess Allura, today I will BREAK YOU!" Lotor growled. Allura managed to breathe again and she slowly rose to her feet, "I will DIE before I surrender to you!" She cried and launched into a proud but futile attack. Lotor saw his chance and he knocked the blade from her hand, before violently backhanding her and sending her into a heap on the floor. She shook herself off and looked up to see him standing in front of her. Before she could move, he seized her by the throat with one hand and held her in mid air. She choked and gripped his hand with both of hers, "Ucgkkk I.......Can't....." Lotor grinned and head butted her before throwing her against the wall, laughing as she lay before him, struggling to get her breath back. "You see Allura! You are my slave! You cannot defeat me............Before this day is out I will have you! Your body and your spirit will be mine!" Allura refused to give in and she cleverly rolled past him collecting her blade on the way through before regaining her composure and angling it towards the King. Come on Ally, Keith has shown you what to do! Focus, remain in control, you CAN win. She told herself as she deflected yet another of Lotor's attacks. "I am impressed Allura! Where ever did you learn all these wonderful little tricks!" Lotor chuckled. "I haven't even started with you!" She growled defiantly. As she ducked yet another of Lotor's blows she saw a window of opportunity and with a mighty cleave she opened a DEEP wound in his right shoulder causing him to howl in pain. He stumbled back and as he looked at the blood flowing down his arm he flew into a rage! He attacked her with the ferocity that had made him famous as a blade master and rained blows down on his tiring opponent. The tired Princess repulsed each attack but he was so much stronger than she was and she WAS getting weaker! Minute by minute, second by agonizing second, Allura was heading for defeat. She had a nasty cut across her forearm and a nasty purple looking bruise across her cheek. She was beginning to fail and as Lotor continued to send blows crashing down on top of her she was on her knees, desperately holding her blade up in defense against his attacks. He held his blade against hers and grinned, "Here's a new trick Princess!" He sneered as he brutally kicked her across the side of the head, sending her sliding across the floor and into the wall, with her blade in hand. She shook her head and spat a mouthful of blood on the floor as she rolled onto her back, her vision was blurred and try as she might she couldn't sit up! Lotor's guards cheered loudly as they saw the blood! The King's blade was now right in front of her face, "Surrender Princess, it is OVER! You ARE mine!" She lay there for a few moments and Lotor's gaze was fixed on her breasts as they rose and fell rapidly. Again she took him by surprise as she took a deep breath and smashed his blade away with her own, stumbling to her feet and launching a brave last stand. The poor Princess had given everything into the fight and in her heart she knew she had over estimated her abilities. I can't beat him, I can't! Better to die on my feet than live on my knees! At least I will be with Keith! She thought as she bravely tried to fight Lotor off one last time. She had done all she could, as capable as she was, she was only a learner and a year's Kendo experience wasn't going to be anywhere NEAR enough skill to defeat a powerful warrior like Lotor! The King gave a quick slash and his blade opened up another small gash in Allura's right arm. As she reeled he sent her crashing to the floor again, with a violent open handed punch to her sternum. This time Allura wouldn't be getting up, she was winded again and totally exhausted, she was now at Lotor's mercy, grimacing in agony as he kicked her blade away and rolled her onto her back.
Meanwhile Keith ran through the narrow corridor towards the brig. As he neared a door he heard Lotor's voice, "I gave you a chance to surrender and you spat in my face Princess! Now I am going to break you, you will scream for death before I am through with you!" Ally! I'm coming, just hold him off a little longer! Keith panicked as he tried the door. It was sealed tight, he was going to have to find another way in and he knew it! As he looked around he saw a guard charging towards him with a laser sword. All of Keith's Katana's were coated in Imperium alloys to prevent laser swords from cutting through them like butter and he slung his rifle over his shoulder, drew his Katana and parried with his assailant. The foolish guard had expected his laser sword to cut right through the steel blade and when it didn't he swallowed hard. As Keith withdrew his blade from the guard's chest he noticed a grey keycard hanging from his neck and ripped it off. Please work! He prayed as he slipped it into the door mechanism. There was a hiss and the door opened revealing his battered Princess lying on the floor right in front of him, desperately trying to crawl away as a familiar blue skinned King tugged at the waistband of her trousers, pulling them well down from her waist. Blood was running down her jaw and she was shaking all over as she struggled to escape. Neither she, the guards or the King himself even noticed Keith approach! Lotor had decided to teach his prize a public lesson and was intending on raping her in front of his guards, who were all cheering as they watched the show their King was providing for them. Allura closed her eyes and grit her teeth as she felt Lotor's hands struggling with the waist band of her underwear. Suddenly there was a strange thud and she looked up to see a rifle land in front of her and pair of bright red boots standing before her. "Get away from her you piece of shit!" Keith yelled as he sent Lotor flying backwards away from his Princess. KEITH! He.......thank God! Keith...........Oh Keith! She breathed a sigh of relief as she wearily pulled her trousers back up. "Where the......... How did.........?" Lotor stammered as he picked himself up off the floor. "Disgusting animal!" Keith growled as he stood between him and his broken Princess. "Alright you bastard! Try fighting somebody your own size!" Keith yelled and as he parried with Lotor he threw an impressive whirlwind kick that caught him in the nose and shattered it, sending him hurtling into one of his torture devices before landing in a heap on the floor. Allura slowly rose to her feet and coughed, zipping her trousers up and adjusting her belt. She held her bleeding forearm as she looked on in awe, Her Captain and her Protector had come to her rescue and now, the tables had been turned! Lotor launched into a devastating series of attacks but Keith simply deflected each one. "Don't just stand there, Kill him you fools!" the King yelled to his guards. Allura picked up the rifle Keith had dropped at her feet and she glared at the guards as she cocked it hard against her knee, "NOOOOO!" She yelled as she felled the first two. They turned in horror and tried to take cover but there was no where to hide and the battered Princess unleashed blast after blast at them! In a few seconds there were ten corpses replacing the ten guards who moments earlier were cheering while Lotor demonstrated his ‘POWER’. The King of Doom was panicking, now he was alone against the Voltron Commander and Lotor feared this man more than any other! The day they had dueled at Devil's Canyon Keith had overcome him easily, all the while using a standard Arusian Rapier! Only through deception had Lotor come away the winner! Defeating Allura was fairly easy for Lotor, defeating Keith was going to be a whole different story! "Why waste your time Voltron Captain? Allura is MINE!" Keith's facial expression changed as he looked across at his shattered Princess holding her bleeding arm, a burning rage filled his heart. "You will NEVER harm her again Lotor!" He replied in a lifeless voice and went on the offensive, blow after smashing blow driving the evil King into a corner, Keith landed a kick into his stomach and then smashed the pommel of his sword into Lotor's brow, buckling him in two. Though she had trained beside Keith and even fought beside him, Allura had never seen anything like THIS from him before, he had transformed from her calm and compassionate Captain into a powerful vessel of vengeance, hatred and anger, unleashing his fury on the hapless Lotor. She realized that the day SHE had fought him, Keith really DID let her win. She watched in terrified awe as the Champion of Arus demonstrated swordplay in its purest form. Keith drove Lotor backwards further and further, knocking him over several times with kicks and even a knee to the ribs! As the King scrambled along on his hands and knees, Keith sensed a window of opportunity and struck! He used a very unorthodox soccer style kick and landed the toe of his boot into Lotor's jaw sending him flying backwards in a shower of blood and teeth. The battered King stumbled to his feet and attempted to defend himself but he was no match for Keith. The Voltron Commander gave two lightning fast flicks of his wrist and disarmed his opponent, Lotor stumbling back clutching the now gaping wound in his thigh and crying in pain as the Captain's sword stabbed into his shoulder joint, bursting out through his back a few milliseconds later. Keith left it hanging there and lifting the King up by his collar, he began to lay into him with his bare hands. He open palmed Lotor's face repeatedly and his already broken nose received several more blows to ENSURE the job had been done. Keith continued for several minutes, punches, kicks and elbows following each other in quick succession until finally on the verge of unconsciousness, Lotor stumbled blindly around on his feet. Keith withdrew his blade and with an elegant roundhouse kick he knocked the 'King OF Doom' into a bloodied and beaten heap against the wall. He stood back breathing heavily as he angled his blade towards the defeated King's throat. Allura was both stunned and horrified at the brutality she had just witnessed, her love had absolutely annihilated her captor! She watched as he walked towards Lotor and raised the Katana above his head, "Now Sire, I am going to ensure that you never, ever, trouble Princess Allura, or Planet Arus.......again!" The Princess wanted Lotor dead more than anything and she cursed herself for wishing something so horrible. Wishes aside the voice in her head screamed that it was wrong…… She couldn't just let Keith just KILL an unarmed man, whether he was King Lotor the rapist or not. Lotor raised a blood stained hand up and tried to beg for his life. He spat yet another mouthful of blood onto the floor and spoke as best he could with a broken jaw, trying to appeal to Keith's sense of honour. "Pleath, hath merthy, I beg oth you!" "YOU? MERCY? Since when did YOU show any mercy to those whom you conquered? Why the hell would I show you any? No King Lotor, you will die!" Keith snarled. Fortunately for Lotor, as the Captain went to swing his blade one last time he stopped. SHE had placed her hand on his shoulder and almost instantly the great rage that had burned within him was dispelled like a bucket of icy water thrown over a lighted match. "Keith, you have saved me! Please, PLEASE don't do THIS! You HAVE honour and you HAVE dignity! Don't lower yourself to IT'S level by murdering it! It is unarmed and it is broken, look at it! It's pathetic! It cannot defend itself! It is only capable of bullying the weak!" She snarled glaring at Lotor's badly bruised, broken and bloodied visage. With his bloodstained blade in one hand and the other arm wrapped securely around his Princess, Keith sighed in relief. He held her close and tenderly kissed her. He had been JUST in time! They stood in each other’s arms and Keith glared at Lotor, not daring to take his eyes off him. Allura stared up at her rescuer, her teary blue eyes filled with love and pride, "I love you Keith! You are ALWAYS there when I need you the most!" "I love you my precious Ally! I will ALWAYS be there for you!" Keith replied. Lotor realized, finally that his dreams of wedding Allura were gone…… She would NEVER be his…… Keith wiped his blade, replaced it in its scabbard and addressed his shattered opponent, "I stay my blade ONLY at the request of my Princess, you OWE her your life King Lotor! I would have killed you and I swear with God as my witness that if you EVER, come near my Ally again...........I WILL find you.................and I will kill you!" Lotor lay his head on the floor in a pool of his own blood and wept bitterly as Keith lead his battered Princess over to her sword. She wiped it off and Keith sheathed it for her before leading her out of the room. She was sore, bruised and limping, Keith putting a loving arm around her waist as he walked her slowly and fearlessly through the corridors, helping her towards the airlock. She had her arm around him for support and wearily rested her head on his shoulder as she limped along. Both of them had blades hanging by their sides and resembled a pair of battle weary Samurai Warriors rather than members of the Voltron Force! Not a single Doom guard was seen on Keith's return journey to the airlock and perhaps it was because he had slain so many trying to find his Princess. Everywhere Allura looked she saw the remains of those who had foolishly attempted to keep her Captain from her, she could see where their laser blasts had exploded, the walls were still smoldering in some places! Meanwhile Lotor barely managed to crawl to a console and call for his medics, he was in terrible pain and he was losing a dangerous amount of blood. He spat, screaming and cursing Arus! He vowed that he would seek vengeance against Keith and that he would destroy not only Arus but it's Princess along with it. She had refused his merciful love and declared her love for the Voltron Commander! Nothing stabbed at Lotor's cruel heart more! If I can't have her.....NONE will! He told himself as he slumped to the floor yet again. As Keith and Allura reached the airlock Keith welded the door shut with his laser pistol and handed her the second oxygen mask from his small utility pouch. "Ally you have to hang on to me, if you let go you will float away out there! Can you hang on my love?" Allura managed to nod a reply and slumped over his back as a group of frustrated guards tried to open the airlock door. She rested her head on his shoulder and murmured, "I love you Keith!" "I know Ally, shhh save your strength! You have to be strong out here...." Keith replied. He activated his gravitational boots and magna lock gloves and released the pressure in the airlock before he slowly ventured outside. He carefully made his way to his Lion with his Princess clinging to his back and began the climb up to the top. Keith thought of that innocent day at the picnic where he piggy-backed her when she had sore feet. Now here he was, piggy-backing her along the hull of a doom ship in the middle of space! In her chambers on the giant battleship the evil Witch Hagar, lay her King down on a table and medics ran in to help him. "See to him while I destroy the intruders!" She shrieked. The King was a broken mess, his face was barely recognizable, it was covered in blood from his broken nose, both his eyes were terribly swollen, his jaw and cheek bones were broken and his right shoulder was bleeding profusely from the stab wound. The old Witch ordered the warship's many squadrons of robot fighters to scramble and destroy the Lion her crystal ball had shown her, clinging to the back of the ship. Keith climbed up onto Black Lion's head, his Princess still clinging to him for dear life. Lowering her down into the cockpit he pointed to his mask, "Keep your mask on while I repressurize the cockpit Ally!" She nodded as he closed the hatch and flicked a switch on Black Lion's console. There was a slow pause and a loud hissing noise as the oxygen meter began to rise and finally they were able to ditch their masks. Allura was wounded, worn out and weak, she held her arms out to Keith and fell into him. He supported her gently and she smiled as she felt his strong arms wrap around her. "I love you sooo much!" She whimpered in a tired and weak voice. "I love you too my sweet, precious Ally but we aren't out of this yet! I have to get us safely away from here!" Keith replied as he lay out a blanket from Black Lion's emergency cabinet. He set up a still folded blanket as a pillow for her and then slowly and gently lay the Princess upon the make shift bed. He tenderly bandaged up her bleeding right forearm and placed yet another blanket on top of her, kissing her gently before pulling away and preparing Black Lion for launch. He sat in his chair and clipped up his harness. "Alright Black........We've had a bad week I know, but now's your chance to make it up to me! You wouldn't wanna let me down in front of Ally now would you? She needs you, we have to get her out of here!" He said to his silent comrade. He flicked the necessary switches, pushed the preflight buttons and sighed with relief as Black's gauges read all systems as functional. He patted the console and replaced the Lion's operating key. A broad smile came to his face as the instrument panel flickered to life, he flicked the Dynotherms and 'The Mighty Black' buzzed and hummed to life. "Oh Yeah! Thanks Black!" Keith remarked with pride. The Captain flicked the switches and Black's claws de-magnetised, the mighty Lion pulling away as laser blasts from robot ships exploded all around them. "Phew just in time! Let's hope Pidge's tracking device works!" Keith replied as he punched up a star chart and linked it into the tracking unit. Black charged away and the enemy fighters began a chase that would last for many grueling hours. Allura lay with her eyes closed on the floor for a short time, trying to shut out the feelings of helplessness and failure that plagued her. She felt alone and frightened, even on the floor behind Keith she felt to vulnerable and draping her blankets around herself she slowly walked over and stood beside him. He raised an eyebrow as his peripherals caught sight of her, "Ally you should be resting, you have to......." He stopped his attempted lecture as she promptly ignored him and slowly sat on his lap. He lifted his left arm and wriggled in his seat until she was comfortable, before placing his arm around her. "Thank you......." She whispered in a weak voice as she let her head rest against his shoulder. Keith understood, she was willing to rest but she wanted to rest with HIM! "Alright Ally, Alright" He smiled as he supported her with his left arm. "Good ol' Black" Allura murmured. She felt so safe and so protected with Keith's arm around her. Her love had risked everything for her, he had put his very life on the line and the moment all her hopes had faded and she needed him the most, he was there! NOTHING would harm her now that she was safely in his arms. Three hours later as his Princess slept on his lap, Doom forces had closed the gap on them and Keith had to wake her as the pursuit intensified, "Ally wake up! Ally.......wake up and hang on, I need both my arms! It seems King Lotor's blockade ships have found us!" The mechanical beast shuddered as a laser blast slammed into its shoulder. Allura squealed and wrapped her arms around Keith's shoulders as he twisted his control sticks sending the Lion into a rolling dive. "Hang on tight Ally! Let's see if these robot pilots know how to FLY!" Black Lion streaked away with scores of robot fighters and three large Doom frigates behind it. Keith ducked and weaved his way through the ice rings of Corballus, the robot ships smashing into each other as they tried to follow. The warships were smarter however and they blasted huge path ways through the ice and continued their pursuit. "Maybe I can take em out if I am quick enough!" He snarled as he halted Black Lion and turned to face his pursuers. Black charged forward and ripped through the first ship's hull, sending it spiraling out of control and finally disappearing in a massive explosion. He looked up to see Eight more Doom ships appear out of nowhere to replace it. Ok.....Bad Idea! This is getting worse all the time! He thought to himself as he turned Black around and retreated yet again. Endless streams of robot ships trailed after the Lion as it streaked through the remaining Ice rings. Finally cornered and surrounded, Keith landed on an uninhabited moon and Black Lion turned to face the gathering army of Doom units that had trapped it. Allura looked worried as she counted the warships that sat in front of Black Lion, "No matter what happens I will always love you Keith! I'm sorry we couldn't have made it home, you tried your best!" "Hey, woah up a second there! We're not done for! Well not yet anyway! You're underestimating Black Lion! He'll get us out of this mess AND he'll get us home safely, you'll see! Now, how about a kiss for good luck?" "Oh Keith, you can have a million if it will help!" She replied Kissing him passionately. She wasn't sure just what chance of success they had though, she could see the mounting ships in front of them! Suddenly she realized that it no longer mattered, if it WAS her fate to die today she would do so with her Captain and in his loving arms! Keith grit his teeth and flicked the buttons on his control sticks. Black's photon missile launchers popped up on its shoulders and the Lion was ready for battle! The battle cat crouched so low it was almost prone, with a roar it launched at the nearest Doom ship and smashed its way through the bridge, the superstructure exploding in flames. It leapt from ship to ship like a cat pouncing after a mouse, its deadly claws tearing them to ribbons and its weaponry blazing away fiercely. The Lion refused to give in as laser blasts and rockets all deflected harmlessly off its armor. Even the Maskaus Rockets had little effect on Black’s NEW armored hide. Finally two electro chains shot out from a nearby ship and wrapped around its thick neck grinding the mighty cat to a halt. Keith never shifted in his chair, he calmly flicked at switches and levers and the wing flew off Black's back, bringing down a wave of fighters. Then photon missiles raced away from its shoulders and annihilated another wave. Clear of fighters for a moment the Lion stood up on its back legs and placed both its front claws around the first chain. Clamping its mighty jaws down on the chain and shaking its head violently, it tore it to shreds. Then it walked backwards and snapped the other one off completely with another head shake. After a half hour battle Captain Keith Taylor and his Black Lion had absolutely decimated over thirteen Doom frigates and three battleships. Standing proudly atop the last burning Doom Battleship the Lion raised its proud head and let out a triumphant roar. "Now see Ally, you need to have more faith in Black Lion!" Keith grinned. "I am terribly sorry Black Lion! Please forgive me it's been a long day!" Allura giggled patting the console. She leaned her hand up behind her and rested it on Keith's cheek as he placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. The brave Black Lion pilot slowly rose to his feet, gently lifting Princess Allura off his lap and standing her up too. "Now, let's get you fixed up Ally". He whispered as he took the standard team first aid box down from a cabinet in the cockpit. The Princess winced as he re-dressed the wound on her arm and treated the many other small cuts and bruises Lotor had given her. She sat in the pilot's chair and as he lovingly bandaged her up she smiled and looked up at him with pride, "I was no match for that brute, but you were! You showed him! Keith Taylor, my brave Captain!" Keith smiled and Allura even thought she saw him blush. His smile soon returned to a serious frown and he looked deep into her eyes, "Ally I have to ask you something........something horrible, but I must know." Allura shook her head and bit her lip. "Nuh Uh, you got to me just in time........, relax Keith". She had read his thoughts, unintentionally as it were but she heard the burning question in his mind.......The mere thought of THAT was something she had been trying to put out of her OWN mind since they had returned to Black Lion. He rubbed her shoulders before gently hugging her, "I'm sorry Ally, I didn't mean to upset you and you aren't SUPPOSED to read my thoughts without permission.......but I'll forgive you this time!" He shook his head and chuckled, "Look at you, my poor banged up Princess!" The Princess didn't smile, instead she rested her head on his shoulder and a tear trickled down her cheek. "Hey...come on, you're safe now Ally, nobody's going to hurt you anymore!" Keith whispered softly to her. "If you had been a few minutes later...........just a few.........", She sniffed. "Well I wasn't, I was in time..........You're safe Ally, it’s alright now". He replied in a gentle voice. She squeezed him tightly in her arms and they sat together for quite a while, staring out at the stars. Though Keith had been in time to prevent Lotor from carrying out his heinous plan, the trauma Allura had still suffered would not be easily forgotten. There was a period of time earlier whereby she was terrified that she wouldn't be able to fight Lotor off! The small brief period where he had managed to rip her trousers down haunted her. She was still shaking even now as the horrible memory surfaced and the tears raced down her cheeks. Her Captain supported her in his arms as she cried, she felt so weak, she felt as though she had failed not only herself but her beloved planet Arus as well. Hours later Keith guided the mighty Lion home while Allura slept on his lap. He had laid a blanket out on the floor for her behind him again but she refused to leave his arms. It would take some time before his Princess would feel safe anywhere BUT in those arms and Keith accepted it. He couldn't begin to imagine how terrified she must have felt and he knew it was his place to be supportive, she was strong and she would come out of this after a time. Lotor's ship had carried them so far that it would be four long days before they reached Arus again and they took turns at flying and sleeping. By that fourth day, the clean up on planet Arus had moved along at a slow crawl. While the Lions with the exception of Blue Lion were repaired, the Castle was still in ruins and the surrounding villages were counting the lives lost to that devastating day! The remainder of the Voltron Force sat dejectedly around in the briefing room that morning with General Taylor, Sven, Romelle, Queen Orla and Nanny. Each had a black arm band on their left shoulder except Lance who was refusing to accept that Keith had just up and disappeared, claiming that if Black Lion was destroyed, there would have been debris. The mood throughout the battered castle and indeed the entire planet was one of despair and hopelessness. The proud Castle Of Lions banner fluttered at half mast as did all flags on the planet. Workers dragged their feet as they struggled to effect repairs to the castle and if you asked any Arusian how long before they thought Lotor would conquer the planet they would tell you a matter of days! In the briefing room the General Cleared his throat, "Ladies and Gentleman. Since we who are not from Arus are now prisoners here, thanks largely to the Doom Blockade, I have assumed command of the Arusian defences in Coran's absence. With him being injured and many of the Arusian Armed Forces lying in hospital bed's beside him or in graves, it is my belief that my tactical and military knowledge will enable us to defend ourselves efficiently, hopefully long enough for Galaxy Garrison to break through the blockade and send aid at least. If there are there any objections to my assuming command, please speak." '.......No one uttered a word' "Well then my first order of business is indeed very tragic. It is with deep regret that I must announce Captain Keith Taylor of the Arusian Armed Forces and the Government of the people of Arus, officially listed as missing in action-believed killed. Keith was my Son and perhaps one of the finest pilots I have ever known, to lose my Son is.................." The General was shaking and he bowed his head as a tear ran down his cheek. Queen Orla stood and put her arm around him as he tried to regain his composure. Romelle was crying her eyes out in Sven's arms and both he and Nanny tried their best to comfort her and themselves. Lance, Hunk and Pidge all sat with their arms on each other's shoulders and looked to the floor. The General shook his head and wiped his eyes as he apologized to the crowd. "I'm sorry.........I....!" "General Taylor you have nothing to be sorry for!" Queen Orla replied as she hugged him. A General who had seen countless men die in his arms was brought to tears in front of their very eyes! In a way it reflected the feeling of absolute hopelessness that had engulfed the whole planet. Finally he was able to regain his composure and continue, "I know that Keith was also your very dear friend and I can only tell you how very sorry I am at his tragic loss. I have......... scaled down the search for Black Lion as of late last night. We have found nothing to suggest that it hasn't been destroyed and there is little more we can do now. There will be a memorial service on the Landing Pad after this briefing and everybody is invited to attend. However in the face of this tragic loss we must unfortunately, look to OTHER concerns. The loss of Princess Allura to the Doom forces is an equally devastating and tragic blow. King Lotor now has leverage and he won't wait long before he uses it! Leutenant Armstrong, I will require a detailed rescue plan drawn up for the recovery of the Princess. I want all the possible prison locations on doom listed as targets along with at least three insertion and extraction points for each, We HAVE to get her back!" "But however will you FIND her General, Lotor could have her anywhere, she could be........" "Please, Nanny, I know this is hard......". He answered. Romelle wiped her tears away and looked across to the General," Sir Sven and I have a unique knowledge of planet Doom, we were both guests there for quite some time, we may be able to help you!" "I'm sorry I had forgotten about that Romelle! I thank you, any help you could offer will be greatly appreciated! Lance, coordinate your efforts with Romelle and Sven on this one and Hurry, I don't need to remind anyone of what that poor girl is probably going through!" "No sir, I have a pretty good idea, I think we all do, I'll get right on it." Lance replied. Meanwhile Allura had woken Keith as Black Lion streaked across the Arusian sky, "Keith, wake up my love, we are home!" Keith stirred and looked up at the viewscreen, "Where about are we?" "Not far from the castle now!" She responded as she piloted the Lion over familiar territory. Back in the briefing room at the castle the General turned to his dejected friends, "Well ladies and gentleman, I invite all of you to accompany me to the memorial service, shall we?" A young Corporal came running in before anybody could respond, "General, I'm glad I found you Sir! I'm sorry to interrupt, but Sir..................It's the Black Lion Sir!" "BLACK LION! What about Black Lion?" The General asked nearly jumping out of his seat. "We have it on our scanners, it’s heading this way!" The Lieutenant answered. "I should have known Keith would have survived!" Romelle grinned as she wiped a tear from her eyes and smiled for the first time since the attack. “I TOLD you!” Lance grinned. The stunned crowd all looked at one another for a few more seconds before Hunk and Pidge both shouted in unison........."LANDING PAD!" The Small group ran for the door and down the stairs towards the Landing pad. The news had spread through the Castle and Maids, Butlers, Nurses, Guards and indeed Villagers who were taking refuge there ran for the landing pad also! Could it be true? Had Black Lion survived? A squadron of eight new Arusian Armed Forces fighter craft fell in beside the Lion as it flew over the village of Sinaii and escorted it towards the Castle OF Lions, "It seems they finally got us an Airforce!" Keith grinned. Black Lion was carrying slight battle damage and it was leaving a long plume of blue vapor trailing from its starboard thruster mounts as it flew low across the village. The crowd of villagers dropped everything as they saw it flying over them. "Is THAT...............That's Black Lion! Captain Keith is alive!!" One cheered. "Where has he been all this time?" Another asked. "Way to go Black Lion!" The Mayor yelled as he raised his fist in the air! One thing was for certain, nobody cared where it had been, Black Lion was home and Keith was home with it! They didn't know that the Princess was safe too! Allura smiled broadly as she flicked switches and activated the familiar 1. 2. 3. Castle navigation beam pattern in the Navcom, guiding the Lion down towards the landing pad. She marched the metal cat towards the southern end of the landing pad where a large crowd was gathering. They cheered as the Black lifted its head and blasted out a mighty roar as it strutted past. War weary soldiers and Castle staff were starting to smile, HOPE was starting to filter back in to their ranks! They had lost their Princess but at least Captain Keith was alive, HE would lead them forth against Doom! Perhaps he would even take Voltron and get their Princess back! Nanny turned to Queen Orla and the General, "The loss of my Baby is burning me inside, it's killing me, but to see that Keith has survived at least brings some comfort!" Orla nodded and rubbed Nanny's shoulder, she too was devastated by the news of Allura's capture but like Nanny, Keith offered HER hope too! He was weary as he had been flying all night the day before and had only had a few hours sleep. His legs were stiff and as he walked out of Black's mouth the Arusian sunlight blinded him and he stumbled. The crowd cheered when they saw him and then fell silent as they saw their Princess step out and help him to his feet. She put an arm around him for support and The Voltron Force, Nanny, General Taylor, Queen Orla, Romelle and Sven all looked to each other in disbelief. How had Keith?......Where had he?.... WHEN had he.......? It didn't matter, Princess Allura was safe and the crowd erupted into deafening cheers. Having regained some strength Keith smiled and lovingly picked Allura up, carrying her in his arms. She giggled and tenderly kissed him as she was ferried towards their friends. Nanny, Romelle and Orla ran towards them, "PRINCESS! Oh thank GOD!" Nanny cried as she slammed into them both, nearly knocking Keith over in the process. Romelle and Orla joined in, creating a group hug and the couple found themselves showered in hugs and Kisses. Nanny grinned as she knelt beside them both, "Oh my darling child you're safe, I was so worried, Ohhhhhh I thought you were gone from me for good! You have to stop doing this, your poor old Nanny is going to have a heart attack one of these days!" Allura smiled and kissed Keith's cheek. "I wouldn't be back this time at all if it wasn't for Keith, he saved me!" She cooed with tears of pride in her eyes as she looked up to her hero. She pulled her self even closer and kissed him again and again as memories of that horrible day haunted her yet again. “Oh Keith….You wonderful, wonderful man! Welcome home to you too!” Nanny responded. “Umm…thanks Nanny!” Keith grinned. "Oh Ally, we thought for certain you were gone this time, didn't we Orla!" Romelle laughed as they hugged her. Keith let his Princess down and she wrapped her bandaged arm around his waist. "Allura where did you get that nasty bruise on your cheek and these bandages, Ohhh they won't do at all!" Nanny asked, mothering her as she always did. "They are fine Nanny, I’m okay………stop worrying! The bruise was worse four days ago! Keith took care of me.....I'm okay now!" Allura replied reassuringly as she hugged her Governess, Aunt and Cousin. There was a hushed silence as General Taylor stood in front of Keith, Father and Son, General and Captain. Keith snapped his heels together and proudly saluted his Father. The General snapped to attention and there was a rousing cheer as he returned the salute. Lance, Hunk and Pidge walked over and snapped to attention beside Keith as they fell in behind him. "Bah! enough formalities, stand easy guys!" General Taylor replied as he hugged his Son. “I thought I’d lost you boy!” He said in a concerned voice. “Dad…… I……I was coming back but I had to get Ally first!” Keith grinned. "I knew you'd still be around Skipper!" Lance laughed as he hugged his friend", somehow I had this feeling........." "Tell us what happened Keith, where'd you come from?" Hunk asked. Allura told them the tale, and they stared back in shock! "You LET Lotor live?" A dumbfounded Lance asked. "The Princess saw to it that I didn't MURDER an unarmed man! I am thankful she did too! I gave Lotor enough of a beating to ensure us a fair break" Keith replied. "Oh well, maybe he will learn this time! Don't mess with our Captain and DON'T steal his girl!" Romelle replied defiantly as she threw her arms around Keith and pecked him on the cheek. The General turned and walked over to his future daughter in law, he was unsure how to react to her and Allura was a little uncertain how to react to him! Finally deciding from the nod Keith gave him, General Taylor wrapped his arms around her and whispered, "Welcome home Allura, I was worried there for a while, I thought my daughter in law was gone along WITH my Son!" D...Daughter in Law? Allura thought, she liked the sound of that and she felt very relaxed at hearing Keith's Father say it! To her it was a sign of the General's acceptance of her coming marriage with Keith. While he had never openly had any criticisms of their relationship it was nice to know that he considered her a part of his family! "I am glad to be home, thank you........I uhh, what should I call......I mean.....What do you prefer.........Ummm I mean?" Allura asked as she nestled into his arms. "Call me Dad or Father! Don't worry........I am a bit lost too! Should I call you Princess or Allura or ?" Allura smiled "Father, I'd like it if you called me Ally!" "Ally it is!" The General smiled as he held her in his arms. As Keith left to take his Lion to maintenance, Allura instinctively went to go with him. “Ally… I’m only going to maintenance! Don’t you want to stay with everybody?” Keith asked quietly. “I……I don’t feel safe I…” “Ally…You’ll be fine…… I promise, you believe me don’t you?” Keith asked. Allura sighed, “I’m silly I…Of course I believe you, I will stay” Keith cuddled her and rested his head against her forehead, “You AREN’T silly, far from it in fact! It’s natural after what you have been through…Time will see it made better, now, I have to go okay!” “Uh huh……Thank you for putting up with me Keith!” “It’s no chore Ally, I’ll see you soon!” Allura walked back over and stayed with her friends. She still WANTED to go with him and was deliberately fighting the urge back, trying to fight the fears she now had. She felt so vulnerable away from him and she tried her best to hide it, the effects of her abduction had left her stripped of a great deal of self confidence. THE END OF PART NINE.
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