There has to be an After for Us ~ (shadam / klance)

Chapter 33 - Le-Ikea

Lance hadn't been expecting to see Allura like this, not emitting a golden light while draped in royal blue robes and wearing a crown a top her head. And certainly not with what appeared to be her dead older sister lying at her feet.

"Allura!" gasped Lance.

"Mel!" cried Bored which was a name that Lance didn't know, but he had to assume the dead sister was Mel, however that didn't explain why Bored said it with the an angry stomp like she was pissed at her for being dead. "You picked an Ancient One without me? I thought we were all going to present nominations then vote!"

"She picked herself," said the corpse, who sat up in a very non-corpse like manner. Mel certainly looked dead and the fact that her arm was sticking out at a crazy weird angle didn't help. "Her connection with the After is extraordinary."

"This is pure nepotism," argued Bored. "You didn't even look at the candidates I brought!" Bored gestured to the other Paladins who were all opened mouth staring at Allura and Zombie Mel. "You just went ahead and Guardian-upped your own daughter!"

"That's your mom!" yelled Lance, pointing at zombie Mel who was popping her arm back into its socket. "What ran her over? And why are you dressed like that? And why are you wearing a crown? And who are they?" Lance pointed behind the mother and daughter to a blindingly bright light with the silhouettes of a whole bunch ol' people on their knees.

"I am so glad you are all safe," said Allura in an eerily calm voice, completely failing to answer any of Lance's questions. "Keith, Lance, you look different."

"WE look different?" shouted Lance.

"Ah!" cried Mel. They all looked towards her and saw her flicker in and out of existence.

"Mother!" cried Allura, breaking out of her weirdly calm demeanor. She kneelt down beside her.

"No," said Mel, trying to push her daughter off. "I gladly give my soul for you. You've realized your true power. I go happy and proud."

"Or I could heal you and you could continue to exist happy," said Allura, laying her hands on her mother. Glowing energy moved from Allura's hands and into her mother.

"Are they soul merging?" Hunk whispered to Bored.

"Ew no," said Bored. "She's just transferring quintessence. They're related. That's gross."

"Sorry," muttered Hunk.

"That's enough," said Mel when her body had stopped flickering. Her cuts were healing too. "I can do the rest on my own."

"At least I now I know you weren't going easy on me," said Allura, offering her hand to help her mother stand. Huh? What? Huh? What?

"Never," said Mel.

With Allura's help she came to stand. Suddenly the zombie impression was gone and in its place was a regal air. She was dressed in all pink robes and Lance couldn't help, but mutter, "What a goth..."

"Huh?" questioned Keith. Pidge and Hunk were looking at him, confused.

"Alteans wear pink to funerals," explained Lance.

"Oh," they all said together as not only did Mel's robes suddenly have new meaning, but Allura's Paladin suit as well.

"Pink is the new black," whispered Pidge.

"I'm not switching," whispered Keith.

"I believe introductions are in order," said Melenor, directing this at Bored like she was an insubordinate.