Westward Bound
Allura sighed with relief as the diplomatic ship from Pollux landed safely in the hangar at the Castle of Lions. It would be so good to see Romelle again! Allura's cousin had told her that she was bringing Sven with her for the visit. She looked around, where had Keith gotten to? She spotted him gazing out the window. He knew that this would be a perfect time for the forces of Doom to attack. It was a chance to kill the two birds of Pollux and Arus with one stone. He just hoped they would be ready when the inevitable happened. "Allura!" Romelle cried happily as she walked down the gang-plank. The two virtually identical cousins warmly embraced each other. Sven came off the ship next, a shook hands with Keith. "It's goot to see you again old friend." Sven smiled. All of a sudden, Koran's voice blared over the Castle com. "All members of the Voltron Force please report to Castle Control immediately." Allura and Keith started off at once, with Sven and Romelle in tow. As they entered the control room, Keith saw exactly what he had suspected to see projected on the giant view screen; Lotor's Doom Destroyer. The ship landed in a field not far from the castle. The screen crackled momentarily and then Lotor's face appeared. "Greetings Voltron Force," he smirked, "and also Princess Romelle I see." "What are you doing on my planet again you beast!" Allura spat out at the monitor. "Surprisingly I don't have a robeast this time," the Prince of Doom shrugged,"my father actually wants me to negotiate!" "It's got to be another trick!" Lance warned. "I have to take that chance!" Allura said in her "I won't change my mind" voice. "If you're actually going out there," Keith stated, "then I'm going too." "Me too," Romelle added, "our two planets will negotiate together!" So it was that a few hours later, Allura, Keith, Romelle, and Sven (who had insisted on coming) met with Lotor in a neutral area between his Destroyer and the castle. The Prince looked none to pleased to be there, but he was unarmed as they had agreed. "What do you want to negotiate about?" Allura asked courteously as she possibly could. "What do you mean?" the Prince looked thouroughly confused, "YOU sent ME a message!" "But we received one from you!" Keith said quietly. Just as the bright flash of light hit them, each person in turn realized that they had walked into a very clever magical trap. . .
They all came to at about the same time. They looked around and were surprised to find themselves standing in what appeared to be an alley between two wooden buildings, each wearing a new set of clothing. Keith looked like the trail guides Allura had seen in her Ancient Earth History books. He wore a suit of fringed suede and a raccoon skin cap. He wore what looked like moccasins on his feet and had a knife hanging in a sheath from his belt. Sven a white button-up shirt tucked into a pair of brown slacks. A tanned leather belt and boots completed his ensemble. Allura was wearing a simple and very modest light pink dress with a white apron. Romelle looked much the same with the exception that her dress was a light sky blue. Then, Allura noticed that Lotor was there too! He wore all black, from his cowboy hat down to the black leather boots on his feet. Allura almost laughed when she noted to herself that he looked every inch the villain from an ancient Earth "Western" movie! "Are you here to gloat?" Keith shouted at the Prince of Doom who appeared to be still rather shocked at the whole situation. "Do you think I'd be stuck here too if I had planned it?" Lotor snapped back. "Maybe it vas an accident." Sven suggested. Lotor shook his head sadly, "Don't you understand?" he said slowly, "Zarkon just rid himself of the captain of the Voltron Force, the leaders of two planets that oppose him, one of the original 5 space explorers, and his meddling son in one fell blow." As realization dawned on her, Allura panicked. "Then we're stuck here forever! There MUST be a way back!" "Oh but there is!" cackled a voice somewhere behind them. They all whirled to find an image of Hagar suspended in mid-air at the end of the alley. "To get back you'll have to play my deadly little game!" "You old hag!" Lotor snarled as he instinctively reached for the laser-sword that wasn't there. Keith's eyes narrowed, "What game, Hagar?" "Zarkon wanted me to simply kill you, but I found that a tad boring." Hagar explained, "Instead I have made modifications to an old Earthling game called 'The Oregon Trail'. There is a wagon and supplies all waiting for you at the trading post in this town; if you all make it to the end of the trail alive, I will bring you back. In the meantime, this will be your own little time warp, and it will seem to those on Arus as if you just dissappeared if you fail and as if you never left if you succeed." "It sounds pretty straight forward, Keith." Sven said warily. "Oh, and one more thing," Hagar cackled as if she had just recalled something, "if you don't all work together, you will fail. Each of you has a vital role in this little journey. You," she pointed a clawed hand at Keith, "are the scout. Without you, the others have no idea where to go. Sven is the driver, without him you won't get anywhere. You, my insolent Prince Lotor, are the hunter, without you the food supplies will run low quickly. Princess Romelle is the cook, without her you would have to eat your meat raw! And lastly," the old witch smiled evilly, "is the lovely Princess of Arus. You my dear are the doctor, without you, many of my little snares would prove quite deadly to your friends. Enjoy!" The image dissappeared as suddenly as it had come. The small group stood alone in the alley once more. One thing only seemed clear; it was going to be a long journey!