Continued Reality: A Voltron Fanfiction

"SOMEBODY HAS TO RULE"

     Lance can't sleep. It is really early, but he wonders if any of his friends are even able to sleep. How could they? Too much was happening, was about to happen, for them to even think about resting. At least, that's how he feels.

     Unable to stand the frustrating lack of sleep any longer, he hops up from the bed and gets dressed. He exits the room, attempting to be as quiet as possible so as not to disturb anyone else. Especially Princess Lyna; she is the last person he wants to deal with right now.

     He heads outside the castle, and walks until he arrives at the statue of Allura. A beautiful tribute to the most amazing woman he has ever known. He sits down on a nearby bench and stares as the statue glistens in the new morning light. But as amazing as it is, no one could accurately capture her spirit in all its entirety. It is a poor imitation of just how wonderful a person she was. How wonderful a person she is?

     If she could be here on Altea right now, he knows her people would love her and admire her. He feels like Altea could really use someone like Allura right now. But this Princess Lyna? How could someone like her follow up someone as amazing as Allura? It was hard enough getting used to Allura not being around physically anymore, but now there was a new princess? As if Allura never existed, and everyone was just moving on. It doesn't seem right to him.

     "Can you believe this, Allura?" He says aloud. "A new princess!"

     His markings glow as Allura responds by placing a thought in his head. Somebody has to rule Altea. The people need a leader.

     "What about Coran?"

     Coran? A leader? That's really funny. He can't tell if she would have said this sarcastically or if she would have laughed while saying it, but if it was the latter he wishes he could hear her laugh again. He was a great advisor to me, but I doubt he could be the kind of leader Altea needs.

     "Oh, and Lyna is?"

     I don't know, but it doesn't hurt to give her a chance.

     "Yeah, well, she didn't exactly make a great first impression."

     I didn't really either. When we first met, I grabbed you by the ears and put you in a restraining hold.

     This memory makes Lance smile. "But first you fell into my arms." Then his smile fades as he adds, "The first time I held you..."

     A few ticks pass before Allura finally responds. I'm so sorry, Lance. I wish I could be there with you now.

     "I wish you could be too," he says. He closes his eyes and he thinks he can almost feel the soft caress of her hand against his cheek, but he knows this must be his imagination.

     And just so you know, I am working on an idea I have to help all of you.

     "Really? Help us how?"

     I don't want to say just yet, in case it doesn't work. As I've said before, I'm still figuring all of this out. What it is to be me, what all I'm able to do.

     "Well if you do find anything you can do for us, just let me know ASAP. I'm sure the others are excited to hear from you."

     I will. And Lance?

     "Yeah, Allura?"

     Please try to be patient with Lyna. I don't know how, but I just have a feeling she has had a pretty rough life.

     Lance groans, but he reluctantly nods. "Fine, I'll try. But you'll always be the only princess in my heart." He doesn't know if she can see him physically or not, but he winks anyway.

     Yeah, those cheesy lines never worked on me. But, I still love you. Cheesy lines and all.

     His markings quit glowing, and he leans back with a sigh. He continues to stay there, staring at her statue, for another few doboshes, wishing he could hold her once again.

     Before long, someone sits on the bench next to him. He looks over to see Pidge, staring at him sadly.

     "Hey, what's with the long face?" He asks.

     "Just... a lot, honestly," Pidge replies. "I couldn't sleep."

     "Yeah, me neither," he says.

     "It sounded like you had a nice talk with Allura."

     "Hey, were you spying on me?!"

     Pidge pushes her glasses up as she replies, "I wouldn't call it spying... exactly. I just saw you coming out here, decided to follow you, and didn't want to interrupt your conversation."

     "Uh-huh," Lance says sarcastically, folding his arms.

     "What are you doing here?" The two of them suddenly hear a voice say. They turn around and see Princess Lyna stomping towards them.

     "What, we can't leave the castle without asking you first?" Lance responds angrily. But then he remembers what Allura said, and he takes a deep breath to calm himself down.

     "We're sorry if we disturbed you, Princess," Pidge says.

     "You didn't disturb me," Lyna says. "I just didn't expect anyone to be here this early." She glances up at the statue of Allura, but then directs her glare back to them.

     "I just thought I'd come out here to visit my girlfriend," Lance says, gesturing towards the statue.

     "Oh, that's right," Lyna says, narrowing her eyes at Lance. "I heard that the former Princess Allura chose to date... a human."

     Lance doesn't like the way she says this. Doesn't like it at all. It sounds like an insult on him, and an insult on Allura. "What is that supposed to mean?!"

     "Come on Lance," Pidge says as she stands up and grabs his arm, attempting to pull him up from the bench. "Let's head back inside and see if the others are awake yet, before you start a fight..."

     Lance shakes his head, but reluctantly follows Pidge back inside. He expects Lyna to follow behind them, to order them around or insult them again. But when he looks back, he is surprised to see that she has taken a seat at the bench and is staring up at Allura's statue. He is too far away to tell for sure, but are those tears he sees in her eyes?

     Maybe Allura is right. Maybe there is more to this new princess than they realize.