Continued Reality: A Voltron Fanfiction

A NEW PRINCESS

     Princess Lyna glares at the visitors, and then turns back to Coran. "Why did you let these people in my castle without my permission?"

Keith steps forward. "We apologize, um... Princess," he says. It feels strange saying that to someone who isn't Allura. He extends his hand and adds, "We're the Paladins of Voltron and—"

"I know exactly who you are," Lyna interrupts, refusing to shake Keith's hand. "But I wasn't talking to you! I was talking to Coran, who seems to think it's okay to let people in without running it past me first."

Keith is surprised by Lyna's unwelcoming attitude, and he can tell by the looks on his friends' faces that they are as well. Lance even appears to be growing angry.

"Princess, they are old friends of mine," Coran explains. "I thought it would be okay if—"

"I don't care if they were your own parents, you tell me first before allowing anyone in!" Lyna yells.

Coran sighs. "Yes, Princess..."

"Seriously?!" Lance yells, unable to hold back his anger any longer. "You're gonna just let her talk to you like that, Coran?"

"Lance, don't," Keith says, giving him a warning look.

"Nuh-uh," Lance says. "We came all the way here, and almost died on the way. We have an important mission to go on, and possibly not a lot of time to do it. We're old friends of Coran, and Princess Allura would have welcomed anybody! We don't deserve to be treated like this."

For a moment, Lyna appears to be studying Lance's Altean markings. But then her glare returns. "I am not Princess Allura."

"Obviously," Lance says.

"That's enough, Lance!" Keith shouts. He understands how surprising and painful this must be for Lance. It's hard for all of them. But this is not the way to handle the situation. He turns back to Lyna and says, "Again, I'm sorry. May we please stay in the castle for the night?"

Lyna sighs. "What kind of princess would I be if I turned the Paladins of Voltron away?" She turns to Coran and says, "Get them rooms. And don't let anyone else in without my permission!" She then exits the room without so much as another glance at the visitors.

What is her problem? Keith wonders.

After Lyna leaves, everyone turns their gazes to Coran. Pidge thought they all knew him, but she never would have expected him to hide something like this from them.

"Well, this is a bit awkward," Coran says with a nervous chuckle.

"Ya think?!" Lance says. "What's going on here, Coran?"

"Yeah," Hunk says. "Why wouldn't you tell us Altea had a new princess?" He pauses before adding, "Wait... why does Altea have a new princess?"

"Somebody has to be the leader," Coran replies.

"Yeah, but why does the leader have to be her?" Lance asks. "She makes Zarkon look like a playground bully."

"I'll admit she's a bit... icy," Coran says. "But try to give her the benefit of the doubt. She's been through a lot."

"What exactly does that mean?" Pidge asks, knowing everyone else is wondering the same thing.

Coran pauses for a moment, then let's out a sigh. "It's late," he says. "We can have this discussion another time. For now, let me show you to your rooms." He begins to walk out of the room, but he stops and turns back around to face them. "I am very sorry for all of this. But it is great to see you guys again, truly."

     After leading the others to their rooms, Pidge is the final one left. Coran leads her to a room just a couple doors down from Lance.

"Here you are, Number Five!" Coran says with a smirk. "Been a while since I've called you that, hasn't it?"

Pidge nods, and is surprised to discover that tears have begun to appear in her eyes. Was it being in this castle that looked so much like their old home? Was it seeing an old friend for the first time in so long? Was it still tears in mourning for Shiro? Was it leaving her family behind again for another adventure into the unknown? Or maybe even a mixture of all of the above? She isn't sure. But she wipes away the tears with the back of her hand, and offers Coran a smile.

"Thank you Coran," she says. She gives him a small wave, and he leaves her to get settled in her room for the night.

Pidge stands in her room alone, realizing that she is too wired to sleep. Too upset, too worried. Still missing Shiro. Still wishing she knew what exactly happened to him, and what all this mission of theirs entailed. Still hoping to someday make it home to her family again. She wants to continue helping at the Galaxy Garrison, to help create new and better technology, to find ways to help others in the best way she knows how to.

She sighs heavily, and sits on the edge of the bed. After a couple of doboshes, she finally lays back and attempts to catch some sleep. But sleep does not come, and it is a long and frustrating night for her.

Light finally begins to shine through the window. She rubs her eyes blearily, and wonders whether or not she should just go ahead and try to get up. She doesn't want to irritate Lyna, but she wonders if the new princess is even awake yet. While she is still mentally deciding what to do, she thinks she hears something outside her closed door. She hops up, peeks out of her room, and sees Lance walking down the hallway.

What's he up to so early? She wonders, and decides to follow him.