As Coran walked away Allura found solace in the quiet of her garden. She reflected on Coran’s words. He was right and she knew it. She couldn’t wallow in her grief and guilt forever, but she didn’t know how to break free of it. She had always thought of herself as strong, but now she doubted herself. Her people would be better in someone else’s hands. The princess lay on her back and gazed up at the statue of her fallen prince. Her artisans had outdone themselves. It was perfect. The prince was young and strong forever. An eternal breeze lifted strands of his flowing hair and his chatoyant eyes gazed into the distance at some unknown destination. It was so life-like, she often expected the statue to talk. She wished it would, then she could explain. She would tell the prince how much she loved him and that she was sorry she had not accepted his love for her when she had the chance. The melancholy princess rolled over onto her stomach and scrutinized the long blades of cool grass. She didn’t want to think about it anymore, it hurt so much. Visions of Lotor’s death haunted her every waking moment and threatened her sanity. The blade fell over and over in her dreams and she was afraid to sleep. There seemed no refuge from this nightmare that she lived. A glint of light caught the princess’s eye and she crawled forward and spied its source. A copper key lay rusting in the grass. It was the key from the music box, the key to a secret hideaway. Allura clutched the key to her breast and lay her weary head on the ground. Fresh tears spilled over her pallid cheeks. The key opened all her wounds again and pained her. Allura couldn’t believe that she’d forgotten about this part of his gift, a palace for two. She’d accused him, as she always did, of suggesting something indecorous and then she dropped his innocent gift, shattering it and him. She was a monster. Lance and Keith crept slowly towards the unsuspecting princess. They’d seen Coran return and heard of his disappointment. They felt it was their turn now to speak with the princess. This was not something they could sit idly by and watch. “We’re going to have it out and I don’t care if it takes all night, we’re going to get through to her, “ Lance said, crashing through the bushes. Keith nodded in agreement. They were almost upon the princess. Only a line of shrubs keep them from her sight. Lance started to speak again but Keith put a hand on his chest, stopping him short. Keith pointed to the princess, and Lance frowned. She lay there crying as usual, but then he noticed something new. A shimmering apparition was moving toward the princess rapidly. The figure glowed with a unearthly light, and the scenery behind him seemed to dance as though they were looking through the heat of a fire. “What is that?” Keith wondered aloud. “Forget what is is. What are we going to do about it?” Lance questioned. “Absolutely nothing!” Coran whispered fiercely as he grabbed the pilots by their jackets and pulled them onto the ground. “Coran!” they exclaimed in unison. “What are you doing hiding in the bushes? You’re spying on the princess, aren’t you!” they exclaimed. “I’m trying to avoid getting stepped on by you two! I think we need a little practice in covert operations. I could hear you two thundering up from a mile away!” Coran huffed, embarrassed to be caught. “Now stay still. I wanted to watch the princess. I’m still worried. Then I saw that THING approaching. It doesn’t seem threatening. Let’s just watch and see.” Coran suggested. “All right. It’s your call.” the boys agreed. The three men laid on their bellies in the damp grass waiting to see what drama would unfold. Allura felt a sharp shift in the breeze and the air seemed suddenly cooler. She thought perhaps a cloud had moved across the sun, or maybe there would be rain today. Then it was bright again, so bright that she squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. “Allura,” a deep voice called. “Why are you crying, my love?” The startled princess sat up quickly and opened her sapphire eyes. She blinked away her tears and stared in awe at the figure sitting beside her. It was Lotor, of that she had no doubt, but there was something different about him. His face was beautiful, but it always had been. She had always thought, even while rejecting him that there couldn’t be an more attractive man in all the universe. It was something else. The princess looked into his face again and realized the difference. Gone was the rage and the pain that had always been present in his eyes. He looked so happy and peaceful. The princess shrieked with glee and reach out to touch the prince’s radiant face, then retreated. Lance started to rise from his hiding place in the bushes. “It’s Lotor! And I can see right through him!” he gasped. Two hands jerked him back. “Shut up!” they hissed. “Watch!” Allura hid her pretty face behind her hands. “I shouldn’t even look at you. I’m so ashamed!” she exclaimed. “Of course you should! You always thought I was the most handsome man you’d ever met.” the prince teased with mock arrogance. The princess lowered her hands a bit and smiled a little, but then screwed up her lips into a frown. “Oh Lotor, I murdered you! I can’t bear to live with the guilt!” “Then let it go,” the specter said. “I hold you no grudge. In fact, you did me a great service. I was dying Allura, of that there was no doubt. You just ended my suffering. I want to thank you for your selflessness. You set me free!” the prince said, looking at the princess with love and sincerity. Allura was captured in his golden eyes, they were so hypnotizing and empyreal. They burned like the sun at dawn and spoke volumes of unspeakable peace and happiness. She couldn’t tear her gaze away. “Lotor,” she asked softly. “Are you happy? Did I do you no wrong?” “I am happy,” The spirit of the prince leaned in closer. “My mother is here,” he told her then looked to the side and smiled, as if someone unseen was present. “and she was with me at the moment of death just as I will be with you at yours. Princess, I wish I could help you to understand that you need not grieve. I feel no sorrow and do not long for this world. I love you now as I loved you then. I wish you only joy. So go back to your friends and live again. Don’t trouble your soul anymore with guilt, for you saved me!” the prince declared. The princess couldn’t resist her urge any longer and rushed forward to touch the prince’s face. She had thought her hand would pass through him, but he was solid. When contact was made a rush of emotion swept over Allura like an electric charge. A rapture so great it was beyond description healed her soul and drained the last bit of self-loathing and doubt from the princess. The prince caught the princess and enveloped her in his strong arms. With tears of joy, Allura entwined her hands in Lotor’s long white hair and pulled him closer. Their lips met for a passionate kiss and they remained entangled for what seemed a blissful eternity. Finally, they broke and Lotor began to fade. “I love you Lotor,” the princess cried. “I wish you didn’t have to go.” “Allura, your years are just a day for me. I have an eternity to wait for you! So be happy and live your life. I’ll be near you always and there at the end. I love you,” the fading figure said. After he was gone the princess sat motionless for several minutes letting it all sink in. The hum of the honeybees filled the air and the scent of fragrant buds wafted on the breeze. The noon sun was warm on her upturned face and she felt alive again. The princess rose to her feet and dusted the dirt from her dress. She combed her fingers through her golden tresses and straightened her skirt. There had been too many things she had ignored and she intended to rectify that immediately. With a backward glance at the statue of her handsome prince and with a copper key clutched in her hand the princess marched back to the castle. Coran and the boys rose from the ground and stared at each other in awe. “Man, if I hadn’t seen it I wouldn’t believe it!” Keith declared. “I saw it and I still don’t think I believe it!” said Lance. “Well I don’t care what happened,” Coran said. “All I care is that the princess seems herself again. That is good enough for me.” They started back to the castle when Lance suddenly said, “Lotor was looking good. I think even I have a crush on him now.” “LANCE?!?” Keith and Coran exclaimed together. “Just kidding!” Lance laughed and poked his friends in the sides. “He did have that cool glow thing going though. That’s quite an attention-getter. Wish I could do that!” he teased. Coran and Keith laughed until their sides were sore. It had been a long time since they had felt so good. Soon they were standing at the castle doors. Coran stopped them before they entered. “This is our secret. It was a private moment, and no one else need know, “ he said. “Who’d believe us anyway?” Lance remarked. “So that is what an angel looks like?” Keith commented in passing. “I don’t know if he was an angel Keith, but he brought the princess back to us and for that I am eternally grateful.” Coran pronounced. The three men went their separate ways then and no one was ever the wiser as to what they’d seen that day.
The years passed and Arus thrived. Zarkon was gone and his empire had crumbled. The universe was at peace at last. The princess was healed and happy and spent her life caring for her people and laughing with her friends. Many kings and nobles asked for her hand in marriage but she refused them all politely. The princess never did marry but adopted a drove of children and fussed over them all. None of her friends asked her why she did not take a husband. They knew why. The princess visited Tycar II once a month and always emerged with her spirits high. There were rumors that she had a secret lover concealed there and Keith, Coran, and Lance thought it just might be true. No one else would believe who her lover was, so they remained silent and smiled knowingly whenever the subject was broached. Finally the years passed away and so did Allura’s friends. She mourned each one of them for she had love them all dearly. In her own final hour Allura lay in her bed, Pidge at her side. He was the only one left. “Allura?” he asked. “Do you have any regrets?” The princess thought for a moment. “Only one, and I forgave myself for that a long time ago,” she whispered. It was her final words. Pidge sat by the princess and held her frail hand into the night. When she finally passed away in the earliest hour of the morning he caught a glimpse of her young self again and thought there had never been anyone more lovely. He wondered where her soul had gone but never doubted she would be happy and loved for an eternity. The End
(Author’s note: Ok, Lotor fans...don’t fry me! I would never keep a good man down....which means that if I ever write another fic, Lotor will be in it front and center with the starring role....I just wanted to explore the idea of a “boundless” love...)