The dark prince took the ornate wine goblet he had been drinking from and
threw it, with force, at the guard speaking to him. It struck the guard
painfully in the chest, and he had to struggle to stand.
"Please, my prince," the guard begged. "I did not mean to disturb you. I
only came to report that the mission to Brackus 5 was a success. We were able
to mine 200 tons of lazon for your father. That was 50 tons more than
expected," the guard added hastily. The guard expected this news to please
the prince, but instead Lotor rushed forward and grabbed the frightened guard
by the throat.
"I don't CARE what successes you have managed for my miserable father!" The
guard stared, his eyes wide in surprise and horror. "It won't help him in the
end, anyway," the prince cryptically informed the guard. The guard reached up
to grabbed the prince's arm, in a purely automatic response, to free himself
from the strangling grasp. It was to be his last mistake.
"Insolent fool!" the prince cried. He released the guard and unsheathed his
laser sword in a swift motion. Lotor brought his sword down with incredible
force and sliced the guard across the chest. The sword sank to the bone, and
the guard was dead when his body hit the floor. Blood splattered on the
prince's boots and it made him even angrier. His rage had been building for
hours and would find its release now.
He went on a rampage through the castle's rooms. The maids and guards had
never seen such an explosive furor before and they had seen many. The prince
looked like a madman, and many thought he had finally lost his mind. Still
others thought he was possessed by an evil spirit. His long white hair flared
about him wildly, and his eyes glowed with an unnatural light. He raved in
another tongue and broke objects and people as he went. Finally, he was
outside the throne room, and as he placed his gloved hand on the door to push
it open some sense of lucidity returned. "NO!", he roared. "It is not time.
I must know first." He turned and stumbled from the castle into the velvet
night. Those who had witnessed the events stood silent in terrified awe.
The prince tripped over rocks and slid down the steep hills of Doom. He fell
several times, but continued on. He knew what he was looking for. Finally,
he was at the base of a steep cliff. He got down on his hands and knees and
dug through the dirt. "Where is it?" he wondered, searching frantically.
"Where is the necklace?" His beautiful mother had died here on this spot
after casting herself down from the cliff above in despair. She had always
worn a lavish ceremonial necklace given to her by her own mother. Every woman
of her people was given one, such as hers, at a sacred ceremony upon becoming
a woman. She NEVER took it off. Zarkon had requested she give it up once
they were wed. He said it made her look like a savage, not a Queen. In
truth, Zarkon thought the necklace held magical powers and wanted it for his
own. She had declined, and Zarkon had relented for a time. The necklace had
not been with the body when it was discovered that misty, gray morning, and no
one had questioned its whereabouts, until now! Lotor continued his search in
a frenzy. If it wasn't here then SOMEONE must have it, and his vision might
be true.
Lotor had been using the crystals earlier that day and had been drinking
heavily. His father was growing suspicious of him, and he had been unable to
go to Arus to see the princess again. While in his study that afternoon he
had been overcome by a overwhelming sense of foreboding. His vision had
clouded, and he had feared that he had gone blind. His vision had cleared
again, but he had no longer been in his study, but standing at the top of the
cliff. His father and mother were both there too, arguing, and he could hear
what was being said.
"You are not taking him with you tomorrow! He is too young to go before the
Council! Kaila screamed at her husband.
"He is NOT too young! I am ready for him to be presented and he has already
been training for a year. Once he has been recognized officially by the
Council of Kings he will be admitted to the Academy and will prepare for his
first mission. No son of mine is ever too young to learn about the ways of
war! I have been impatient for his REAL education to begin! He was born to
expand my empire and I will wait no longer! I have used my influence to
present him so early. He IS going with me!" Zarkon shouted.
"I wish he wasn't your son! You are detestable and evil. I HATE you, and I
will take him from you!" Kaila raised her hand and struck Zarkon.
"Woman, you are NOTHING! You have produced my heir, and I am finished with
you!" With that Lotor had watched Zarkon push Kaila forcefully. She had
tried to grab for anything to stop her fall and had caught the sleeve of
Zarkon's robe with her fingertips. Zarkon had reached out to push her away
and then her necklace caught his eye. "You won't be needing this!" he
bellowed and then snatched it from her throat. He had struck the arm that
held him, and she had tumbled with an awful scream to the bottom of the cliff.
Her wounds had been fatal, and she died staring into the soulless eyes of King
Zarkon. After witnessing the murder, Lotor had been struck blind again, and
when his sight had returned he was back in his study. There he had seethed
and searched his mind for a way to prove if the vision had been true or only a
dream. His father's guard had burst in then with that untimely report and
gotten himself killed.
Now Lotor searched all about, but the necklace simply wasn't there. He
opened his eyes to the truth and sat heavily on the ground and leaned his back
up against the face of the cliff. Dust settled upon him and he resembled a
statue, so still did he sit. His father had killed his mother. There was no
other explanation. Suddenly, pain engulfed him and filled him. It was a
living, breathing entity, and the weight of its presence threatened to crush
him. It was unlike anything he had ever experienced before either emotional
and physical, and he suffered. Madness, like a nightmare monster, gathered
him into its arms and tried to make the prince its own. Instead, Lotor
dropped his face into his hands and years of unshed tears sprang forth,
unbidden. He had not wept in 15 years, not even for Intaya, but now he wept
for them all. Two guards found the prince in that same position several
hours later. He had been so overcome by grief and the effects of the wine and
crystals that he had fallen into a trance-like state. The guards picked him
off the ground and carried their prince back to his apartments in the castle
where someone could care for him.
Allura crept quietly down the main hall of the Castle of Lions. She didn't
want anyone to ask where she was going. She had heard rumors that Prince
Lotor's childhood nurse lived on Arus in a nearby village. She had also heard
that the nurse had been blessed with physic gifts as were so many of the
deceased Queen of Doom's people. Allura wanted to learn more about Lotor.
She had almost convinced herself it was merely a case of "Know thine enemy,"
but even now she knew that wasn't the complete truth. Down the hall a door
opened, and the princess scurried behind a nearby statue. That was TOO close.
She didn't want to explain herself to Coran, Nanny, or even the boys. She
didn't think they'd understand.
She knew that the real reason behind her secret mission was that she couldn't
shake Lotor's image from her mind, and she was desperately trying to find a
reason not to give up on him. At first she had though the attraction to him
was purely physical. He was very beautiful to look at after all, and his
powers of seduction were unrivaled, but she sensed her fascination with him
was more than physical. She felt her feelings were on a deeper level.
Allura left the castle and strolled through the woods to a nearby village.
There she asked around until she was directed to a small house on the
outskirts. An older woman kneeled in the tiny garden at the back of the house
and didn't seem to notice her at all until she said.
"Why, dear princess, I am surprised it took you so long to come and see me.
I've been waiting."
Allura drew back in surprise, "Oh, do I know you?"
"No dear, but I know you! I've been watching you for years, but it's hot.
Come inside." Allura and the woman went inside the house. It was dark and
cool and comfortable inside.
"Please sit, and I'll tell you what you want to know," the old woman stated.
"Please, what is your name, and how do you know what I've come for?" Allura
questioned.
"My name is Lydia, and you came to me because I have the Sight, did you not,
so I don't know why you're surprised I know about you." Allura blushed
slightly in embarrassment. Of course! That's exactly why she'd come!
"Tell me about Prince Lotor, please. I've heard you were his nurse."
"Yes, I was, until the death of his lovely mother. After her passing I feared
for my life and left Kyldare. Zarkon fears anyone with the Sight, and I think
he knew I didn't believe his lies. He thought I might tell someone the truth
of what he did," Lydia confided to Allura. "But you didn't come here to hear
about me. You want to know about the mysterious prince."
"Yes!" Allura said. "I feel as though there must be something more to him
than I know. I want to know if he's completely heartless and evil. If that
is the case, I'll forget him and fight to destroy him, but I feel it's not."
"No, princess. You are right. The prince is not completely evil, but he
needs someone strong, like you, to lead him from the dark path he's on. His
sister is too young to do it herself. His father keeps him close and fills
him with lies and evil thoughts.
"Lotor has a sister?" the princess asked, interrupting Lydia.
"One living, one dead, but I'll get to all of that if you sit back and wait,"
Lydia scolded.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry. I'm being rude. Go on, please. Tell me more!" the
princess pleaded.
"I'll do more than tell you. I'll show you!" Lydia took the princess' hands
in her own and instructed her to close her eyes.
Over the next several hours Lydia walked Allura through the high and low
moments of Lotor's life. Allura was present at his birth and wept with joy
with his mother. She saw him grow and saw the abuse he suffered at his
father's hands, both physical and mental. Zarkon would praise one moment and
beat the next. There was never any indication to which way his mood would
turn, and it was bewildering and frightening to the young prince. Zarkon was
as inconstant as the weather. Allura saw Zarkon work his evil influence on
his son and encourage bloodlust, greed, and ruthless conquest. Allura's heart
was broken by the Queen's death and Lotor's sorrow. She was awed by his
tenderness with his younger sisters, and she wept when he could not at
Intaya's death. She recoiled in horror at his cruelty in battle and worried
for him during his rages. She also blushed and was pleased when she
discovered the extent of his passion for her. Lotor was a study in extremes,
showing great capacity for love on one hand and a innate proficiency for
destruction on the other. She found she could admire his resourcefulness,
bravery, and intelligence, even if she hated his savagery, greed, and
destruction. However, now she felt she understood why he was as he was and
had a undeniable urge to save him.
The sun was setting when Lydia broke her contact with Allura. Both women
were exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster they had been on. Playing
witness to someone's life took a lot from a person.
Allura sat back and said softly, "Is there hope, Lydia? Can I help him?
Will he change?"
Lydia smiled and whispered, "I would not have shown you if there was no hope."
Allura thanked the older woman and walked slowly toward the castle, a million
thoughts racing through her mind. She would have to speak to Lotor alone and
convince him to see the error of his ways. Then maybe they had a chance.
That's what she wanted. A chance! The young princess was steadily falling in
love.
(AUTHOR'S Note: It may be that some people will think Allura is swayed awfully easily to fall in love with Lotor, but remember that in Chapter 1 she is thinking about him. In my timeline she has met with him before and has been intrigued with him from the start. The information Lydia presented her only strengthens her desire to save him. She sees in those visions that he is not unredeemable and given proper influence may have been as "good" as anyone else. In Lotor's case environment was a big factor. Having Zarkon as a father would have made anyone evil.)
Lotor awoke slowly, temporarily forgetting what had transpired the day
before. All he knew now was that he was undressed and in his bed. The lights
were low and he could barely make out a figure on the chair next to his bed.
He moaned, for his body ached, and the figure rushed forward and knelt down
beside him.
"Oh, Lotor! I'm so glad you're awake! You were unconscious for so long and I
could do nothing to wake you! I thought you were going to die!" Ayli wailed,
tears spilling from her eyes.
Lotor patted her hand and said, "I'm fine. It was just a bad spell," but
then he remembered it was more than that. He slowly recalled the incidents of
the previous day. "Ayli! Karnyval is in two days. We will go, but you must
also make ready to leave here. We may not be back for a long time, perhaps
never. Father never attends Karnyval, and it will be a good excuse to take
leave of him."
Ayli tried to interrupt to ask questions, but he held up his hand to silence
her and went on. "Pack up everything you want to keep. It will be
transported to my Star Destroyer. If anyone asks, after Karnyval I am taking
you back to Cybos, at your request. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning you!
Something BIG is about to happen. I can't tell you yet, but it will change
both our lives, forever! Hopefully, for the best. Please don't ask any
questions! I will tell you everything when the time comes. I have to go now
and make final preparations. We leave for Palddon and Karnyval in two days.
Everything must be ready by then."
Ayli turned to leave and stopped short in the doorway when Lotor called to her
again. "Ayli, should anything happen to me, I want you to go to Arus and beg
sanctuary at the Castle of Lions. Allura would not turn you away or over to
our father, even if you are related to me. " Ayli walked quickly back to her
apartments. She was alarmed and baffled by her brother's orders, but if he
said it was important she knew she could trust him. She rushed to make ready.