Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"Alright boys, what is it I needed to see so desperately that it couldn't wait?"

Allura was in her more casual attire, having been off for a visit to see her Aunt Orla. They had been enjoying a pleasant day in her castle's garden when she received a priority transmission from the Castle of Lions. She had been left confused by Coran's unwillingness to simply speak over the communicator. Especially given there didn't seem to be any active attack.

Her teammates and Coran were standing about the Control room, their faces uncertain as they all looked to the platform. Someone was occupying the chair, though all Allura could see was familiar looking boots as they rested against the control console, and an arm resting in a brace.

Where have I seen those boots- She began to wonder, then stopped. She knew exactly where. But what made even less sense was why they were here in her palace. And why hadn't her Guardian summoned the guards, or why weren't her friends standing at the ready to toss the scoundrel out?

She stomped over to Keith and hissed, "Why is Lotor in here?!"

Keith rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. Which in of itself given the situation, was uncharacteristic. "W-Well, ah, P-Princess..."

Lance just chuckled and leaned back. He was still tense, but his normal amusement at most things seemed to be cutting through it finally. He seemed ready to try and say something, but a voice cut in before he could.

A hauntingly familiar, yet unfamiliar voice.

"You'll have to excuse them. It was quite the shock for them. As I'm sure it will be for you."

It wasn't Lotor's voice. Yet there was something familiar to it. It had that same arrogant and smug tone of his. Yet it was a woman's voice, with a lilt to it that reminded her a bit of her Mother. Or her Aunt Orla. Or...

No. Why would it sound like-

She got the answer as the chair spun around, and she saw something quite unexpected. Rather than the rugged scoundrel she was expecting, she gazed at a beautiful young Drule woman in royal attire rather similar to Lotor's. Familiar looking golden iris's, full of that same smug amusement, glimmered and sparkled at her. Yet rather than silver hair, it was flowing gold she saw. And rather than a belt bearing the skull of doom, she wore a belt with...

The Coat of Arms of House Lionheart. Her House.

The woman smirked, and the next words stole the breath from Allura.

"A pleasure to see you again, Mother."

Allura stood there, mouth agape, eyes wide at the woman before her. This only seemed to amuse the young Drule, whose fanged smirk reminded her far too much of that confounded warlord.

“I… I don’t have a daughter.” Allura managed once she found her voice. The Drule chuckled at that.

“You don’t. Not yet. Course, neither does my father.”

“Y-Your father…” Allura mumbled, and the woman nodded.

“Yes. King Lotor.” She hummed. “Well, I suppose he’s still a Prince now. Though we can easily fix that.” That damned smirk again, and it stirred a familiar anger in her heart.

“This… this is ridiculous!” Allura shouted, pointing a finger at the woman and looking to her teammates and her most trusted advisor. “This has to be another of Lotor’s and that witch Haggar’s schemes.” However, they all just shifted about uncomfortably.

Well, except for Lance, whose amusement seemed to be growing.

It was Coran who spoke up first. "Princess, we tested her DNA. Just to be sure of her claims. And… w-well…” He rubbed the back of his head and glanced away from her. “S-She is a genetic match for you, your Highness. We ah, cannot ascertain the claim of who her father is as we do not have Lotor’s genetics on file.”

Allura twitched at that. No. There… There was no way. She’d never even-

“Perhaps it's best if I give the same explanation I offered your comrades.” the woman replied, though she canted her head to the side before chuckling as she said, “Ah, though I’ve forgotten my manners. I should introduce myself.”

She tried to stand with a bit of a flourish, but almost stumbled. She let out a ‘tck’ sound and settled for a casual stance, and a light bow.

“I am Larithra Drak’Thul-Lionheart, Crown Princess of the Drule Empire and the United Kingdoms of Arus.” The arrogant smile on her face slowly faded as she straightened herself and was replaced with a tired and sad one.

“Or, rather, I suppose I should say, I was.”

"You know, it's a good thing Nanny's not here. She'd be having a fit." Hunk mumbled to Pidge as Allura and Coran talked amongst themselves. Pidge chortled at that while Lance harrumphed.

"Fifty credits say she'd faint first and be hurricane Nanny later."

They had moved to a nearby lounge, where Larithra repeated what she had told Coran and the others. That she was from the future, twenty years into the future to be precise. She had come here with the help of the Witch, Haggar. And that she wished to prevent a great tragedy that had occurred in said future.

She had arrived in an Arusian cruiser, which was why the planet’s defenses hadn’t responded. At least, not until one of the wings exploded and she had to make a crash landing. She suspected the ship hadn’t agreed with the temporal vortex she flew through. That at least explained the brace her arm was in.

Lance and Pidge had been the pilots on standby, so they were the first out to check and lend assistance. Until of course they realized Larithra was a Drule. They’d nearly sent out an alert, but Larithra had referred to Lance as “Uncle”, then asked if they could take her home to the Castle, so she could see her mother.

Then she passed out. Utter exhaustion from the magical stress of time travel, and a dislocated arm from the crash landing. Not sure what else to do, and with her not seeming to be any threat, they brought her to the castle infirmary and brought Coran and the team up to speed.

“Let’s suppose for a moment that we believe you.” Allura had finally asked. “Just what sort of ‘tragedy’ do you seek to prevent?”

The comfortable smirk that had returned to Larithra’s face slipped a bit. She waved a hand dismissively as she remarked,

“You don’t need to hear all the details. Besides, my presence alone should be more than enough to prevent it from happening.”

It was the kind of arrogant response they would have expected from Lotor. And to the surprise of none, it wasn’t enough for the Princess. Her eyes narrowed and grew frosty as she said,

“If you wish us to place any trust in what you’ve told us, we'll need more than that.”

Larithra had closed her eyes, took a deep breath in… And then shuddered as she whispered,

“Your death. Yours, and Fathers. And countless others. Please… Please do not ask for more.”

The pain in her voice, and in her gaze, caught them all short. It was not the sort of expected response from someone who bore so striking a resemblance to the Crown Prince of Doom. But it did remind them of someone else, as all eyes turned to the Princess.

The ice in Allura’s own eyes melted quickly, and she brought a hand up to cover her mouth. Allura was silent for a moment, before she got up and made her way over. She hovered beside the young woman for only a second before she knelt, and pulled Larithra in for a gentle embrace.

Larithra returned it instantly. Needily in fact. And while no sound escaped her lips, they could all see her shake as she buried her head into Allura’s shoulder.

“I… I still don’t understand all of this. It is a great deal to take in. Especially the very idea of me with that scoundrel. It is absolutely…”

“Preposterous?” Larithra offered weakly, which earned an amused snort and nod from the Princess, and chuckles from all save Coran.

“Very much so. But… I am willing to, for the moment, trust in what you have shared. And I can hear, and see, the grief you bear.”

Now it was Larithra’s turn to snort as she pulled back slowly, hesitantly, as she wiped the tears from her eyes. “You’ve no idea.”

The haunted look on the face of her ‘daughter’ helped to nip some of the curiosity she still felt in the bud. Though it didn’t vanish entirely. Especially when she saw how torn Larithra was as she gazed out the window. The nearby woodlands and mountains offered a beautiful view for any in the room to enjoy as the sun made the snow covered mountaintops sparkle and gleam.

Coran caught everyone’s attention with a polite cough. “Your Highness, may I have a moment? Keith, Lance, you as well?” He gestured to the door, and Keith nodded. Lance just shrugged and got up, following after the Commander.

Allura lingered a moment. For some reason, she found herself thinking that it didn’t look natural for this young woman to look so sad and distant. It reminded her of the days after her own father had died.

If she is telling the truth, she hasn’t just lost her father. Her mother as well. She tried not to think about the fact that said mother was, well, a future version of her. Who was married to Lotor. No, she very much didn’t want to think about that. Especially the fact that it meant they-

She stopped that thought right there. That was the last thing she needed her mind to imagine at this time! O-Or any time!

All the same, she gave Larithra’s hands a squeeze. The young woman squeezed back as her eyes turned to hers for a brief moment. They glowed briefly as she gave a fanged smile. Which if it had come from Lotor, would have sent fear down her spine. Instead, despite her wariness, it just filled Allura with a soft warmth.

“I’ll be fine. Besides, if you’re worried I might get up to something…” She wriggled her arm. “Kind of hard to cause much trouble with an injured limb.” She laughed, though it was a tired one, “Plus, Hunk and Pidge can keep an eye on me.”

“You can count on us, Princess!” Hunk declared as Pidge nodded. Allura smiled and inclined her head, then joined the others out in the corridor. Keith looked concerned, while Lance was his usual relaxed self now. The grim look Coran was sporting had lessened, but only just.

“Well, what do you think?” She asked them. “Do you believe her?”

“As far as schemes go, if this is one of Lotor’s, it's the most outlandish of the bunch.” Keith remarked. “And on top of that, she seems very much at ease amongst us.”

“Well I mean, if she’s telling the truth, why wouldn’t she be?” Lance inquired. “I mean, she called me her Uncle. And she seems to respect our fearless leader here.”

That made Keith grumble something under his breath as he rubbed the back of his head. Allura blinked as she saw his cheeks tint red. “Keith, is everything alright?” When he continued to be flustered, Lance just chuckled and elbowed him.

“He’s just embarrassed because your daughter was flirting with him while we waited. Stuff like, ‘I can see why Mom had feelings for ya, quite the looker, strong and determined to boot’”

Allura’s cheeks went bright red at this and she sputtered in protest. Keith just scowled and punched Lance’s arm, but Red Lion’s pilot just chortled even more. Coran was doing his best to look elsewhere, even though she could swear she saw the barest hint of a smile on his face.

“W-Well… T-That is, that I suppose is a point towards her being who she says she is…” That drew a bit of a sharp look from Coran, but Allura was quick to say, “Things between Keith and myself are professional. We both agreed that would be for the best. So don’t start with me.”

She tried not to think about the night they’d had said conversation.

“O-Of course, your Highness. In any case, while there is much about her that is similar to Lotor, I have picked up several hints that make me think of you, Princess.” Coran glanced at the door. “At the very least, I believe that she believes she is the child of you and Prince Lotor.”

“What about you, Princess?” Lance asked, and she gave him a flat look at the mischievous grin on his face. “Are you in the same boat as Coran?”

Allura rubbed at her arm. “I very much like the idea of this war between our planets ending. The thought of it doing so because Lotor and I wed though…” She shook her head, even as her heart skipped a beat at the mental image of her and that scoundrel walking down the aisle.

“That being said… her grief is real.” She felt her eyes growing damp. “I know that for certain. Don’t ask how, and don’t try saying it's some sort of Mother’s intuition.” Lance whistled innocently at that before her expression became downcast again.

“She’s in a lot of pain. Even if she is putting on a brave face.”

They were silent for a moment at that. Even Coran’s wariness faded somewhat as he closed his eyes. Lance was the one to break the silence as he kicked at the floor.

“I wager ya asked me out here since ya trust my thoughts on this?” He asked Coran, who nodded.

“Out of anyone in the castle, you seem to have the greatest knack for picking up our enemies' schemes” Lance nodded at that and threw his hands in his pockets. He rocked back and forth a moment before he sighed.

“Honestly? I believe her. One hundred percent.” He looked up to the Princess as he said,

“When I look into her eyes, I see that same spark that you have, Princess. She might have Lotor’s eyes, but she’s got that same fire you have inside her.”

Allura was left more than a little speechless at the sheer conviction with which he said such. There was no doubt in his mind that the young woman in the room behind them was her daughter from the future. A daughter whom she had had with Prince Lotor.

Once more, she pushed that aside to focus on the now. She looked between her advisor and her commander. Keith just sighed and shook his head. “Well, then that leaves just one question for us.”

Coran nodded, and looked to the Princess as he asked a question that she wasn’t sure she had a good answer for.

“What would you have us do, your Highness?”

Chapter Text

“You are welcome to stay here in the Castle. Anytime you leave your room, you are to be accompanied by a guard, though you can ask for some space if you want. You have to remain within their view though. And of course, don’t try to go into any of the restricted areas.”

Larithra simply nodded at the conditions she was being given. It took some effort to keep from teasing her mother by saying something like ‘Yes mom, I’ll be a good girl’. She’d enjoy it, but it’d probably just make Allura more uncomfortable.

As much as a part of her would have liked for Allura and everyone to embrace her fully one hundred percent off the get go, she knew that would only happen in a dream. She had accepted that earning the trust of the Voltron Force and her mother’s guardians would take time. Heck, she’d been prepared to possibly be thrown in the Castle Brig and have to do a heck of a lot more work to get them to even listen.

As it was, this was one of the better outcomes. So she wasn’t going to complain. If there was anything she was going to complain about, it’d be how lax their planetary security was compared to what she was used to.

Seriously, the Castle or some sort of listening station should have pinged her ship as soon as she was in their airspace. If not for the stress of time travel, she could have landed anywhere on the planet and no one would have known! If her grandfather wasn’t the plundering dickbag of an idiot that he was, Arus would likely have never been given the chance to restore Voltron and resist the Drule Empire as it had.

As much as most of her didn’t really want to, Larithra couldn’t help but tease and needle them about it a bit. Even if it annoyed quite a few of them. Though it seemed to push her mother into suggesting they prioritize such things in the coming weeks. It’d give them more warning anytime Lotor was set to attack.

“Hey, speaking of that, want us to try getting in touch with your old man?” Lance had offered, to the shock of his comrades. Her mother’s reaction had been amusing and telling, even if the Princess didn’t realize it.

“Please no. I’m not looking forward to how insufferable he’ll be when he does learn about her. He’s already incorrigible.”

“If it makes you feel any better, you still called him such, even after 18 years of marriage.” Larithra teased. Allura tried to glare at her for that, but it was closer to a pout. That just made her smirk as she took a sip of the wine they’d brought her.

“In any case, no, there’s no need to contact my father. After all, he’ll be here eventually. So why rush?”

No one doubted that, for there was no need to. Given the pace of attacks, Lotor could strike anytime within the next seventy-two hours. She could only shake her head at how apprehensive they were about it as they left to go do their own things.

Briefly, she thought about pointing out to them the truth of the matter. But she decided it’d work better if an attack was fresh in their minds. Besides, it wasn’t like her father was going to actually do any serious damage to the planet or the Lions. Plus, it’d be fun to watch her parents battling it out for real rather than an old recording.

What? She was still part Drule, the idea of a good fight appealed to the very core of her being. And even her human half still came from a skilled warrior. Even if right now her mother would have trouble accepting such a title as applying to her.

In any case, she was now left to her own devices. Free to roam about most of the Castle that she had called home. It wasn’t quite the same as she was used to, as the renovations and expansions she had grown used to over the second half of her life had yet to be made. But the general layout should be, relatively, the same.

With no particular destination in mind, she wandered out, the guard following her only a few steps behind. Being her father’s daughter, she couldn’t help but smirk as she glanced back and purred, “You’re really lucky, mister. Hope you enjoy the view~”

The bright blush and sputtered words of the guard were muffled as her amused laughter echoed along the castle corridors.

It has often been said that nothing travels faster than gossip. Such a saying is not restricted to any one planet or race. Even the Drule enjoy sharing the latest happenings or discussing the newest scandal in the neighborhood. Albeit the sort of gossip they partake in is not always what others would consider interesting or entertaining.

The new guest in the castle had only been on the planet for, at best, a third of a day. And yet already, word was spreading through the villages around the castle and into the adjacent regions.

A certain Royal Governess had just finished a visit to her family back home. And was making a brief stop in the village market to grab some local ingredients to make her most popular dish. Whereupon she froze when two villagers passed by and she caught part of their conversation.

“Have you heard? The Princess has a daughter, and she’s at the castle right now!”

The two locals were too busy to feel the temperature around them drop, though the owner of the market stall certainly did. The way the portly woman before her was twitching also set them on edge, and so they hurriedly handed their product over and stuttered out,

“O-On the house!”

The woman gave a stiff, almost robotic nod, before turning and stomping away. Those she walked past would later say they could swear they felt the ground shake and a fell wind blew through the town.

Perhaps if said Royal Governess had stuck around, or paid better attention, she might have heard the entire story. As it was, a severe case of Hurricane Nanny was about to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting castle.

One moment, everything was peaceful. The staff were calmly going about their duties. The guys were playing cards and trying not to talk about time travel. Coran was keeping an eye on things in the Command Center and Allura was trying to relax in the library and not think about Lotor. And the very unusual guest was enjoying a stroll along the Castle battlements. Alternating between having a friendly chat with her escort and teasing him incessantly.

Then…

“PRINCESS ALLURA FALA LIONHEART!!! ROYAL PRINCESS OR NOT, YOU ARE IN BIG TROUBLE YOUNG LADY!”

Considering that Nanny had only just passed under the arch where the Black Lion was perched, and yet everyone inside and outside the palace heard her, Larithra once again found herself questioning whether or not Nanny might secretly be a witch in disguise.

As it was, everyone in the Castle shuddered, the smart ones decided it would be a good time to find the nearest hiding spot and ride out the incoming storm. It can be debated how ‘smart’ most of the Voltron Force team was. Pidge rushed off to find the Princess. While Keith and Hunk immediately scrambled to try and slow Nanny down and get her to listen to reason.

Lance simply hurried off to the kitchen to grab some popcorn. He figured they’d try to hide her in the most secure room in the Castle, e.g. the Command Center. Assuming Coran didn’t lock the doors. Which he was seriously debating how wise it would be to do so.

Larithra made it clear to her escort that she wouldn’t hold it against him if he decided her plan of marching off to confront Hurricane Nanny was suicidal, and thus found somewhere to hide. Then she was off like lightning. Determined to try and keep her mother from the embarrassment she was sure Nanny was inclined to inflict.

Plus it’d suck if Allura couldn’t even sit in her pilot chair when Lotor came by for a visit with his newest pet!

Racing through the castle, she could swear she heard Nanny as she stomped through the castle, searching for the Princess. She mostly tuned out the ranting, since well, she’d dealt with quite a few rants like this from Nanny herself.

Sure, they’d been because Nanny heard she brought someone her age to her room for a little… intimate friendship building, but Nanny wasn’t the most inventive when it came to rants. If you heard at least three in your life, you’d heard enough and weren’t missing out on anything special.

The young Drule did stop when she came upon Hunk and Keith, who were both rubbing at their heads. Larithra may have been imagining things (in fact she probably was) but she could swear she saw slight dents in the walls where they might have been flung.

“Why don’t we just sick her on Zarkon…” Hunk grumbled as Larithra helped him up, then Keith.

“C’mon. Let’s go save my Mom from dear lovable Nanny.”

The two guys nodded and the three of them hurried off to the Command Center. Where the platform was raised and Allura was clinging to the zipline for dear life as Nanny was yanking on her legs.

“Unhand that this instance, Princess! I have a mind to teach you a lesson for such indecent-”

“Nanny, please, it's not like that-”

“Don’t know how you kept it secret, was it one of your teammates who deflowered-”

“NANNY!” Allura’s cheeks were scarlet as her grip seemed to finally slip and with a mighty tug, Nanny pulled her out of the launch tube and in an instant had the ruler of Arus over her knees, arm raised…

As potentially funny as it might have been to watch her mother get spanked by Nanny, Larithra wasn’t going to let it happen in this instance. Given, well, her mother hadn’t actually done anything wrong. So, striding forward, she called out as loudly as she could,

“Please, Nanny. Don’t embarrass my mother like that. Besides, your swats sting.”

Nanny looked up, eyes ablaze, ready to kill. "And how would you know that young lady-"

Further words died on her lips as she saw Larithra. Her eyes bulged, her skin paled almost three full shades, and she froze on the spot. That put a smirk on Larithra’s face, but since Nanny had been in the process of asking a question…

She snapped to attention, put on her best imitation of Nanny’s glare, and repeated,

"A Royal Princess must always be poised and graceful. She must present herself properly to her subjects at all times. She is a symbol of the future of the Royal Line, and it is imperative that she understands so as to command the respect she is meant to receive. She must not only present herself properly, but act so. It does not befit a lady of her station to act like a common hooligan!”

She then relaxed, grinning as she said, “Believe me Nanny, I’ve been on the receiving end before. Now, could you be a dear and please let my Mother go so we can explain everything?”

Nanny twitched once, twice… And then finally fainted in a heap, her iron-like vice grip on the Princess released. Larithra sighed and shook her head in amusement, then let out a bark of laughter as she heard Hunk say to Lance,

“Guess ya owe me fifty credits.”

Deep within the bowels of her laboratory, Haggar the Witch, the right hand and closest advisor to King Zarkon Drak’Thul of the Drule Empire, was occupied with quite the mystery. Something that she had not expected to ever actually detect in her admittedly long life. The sort of ripple through the aether that would draw the attention of even the most novice in the Arcane Arts.

It was not a spell she had ever considered using, as fascinating as doing so might have been. After all, this kind of spell was a one time thing and she wouldn’t be in any kind of position to watch its results from every angle as she usually sought to.

Well, no, perhaps that wasn’t entirely true. As she felt the ripples in the very fabric of time and space, she recognized her own handiwork. It seemed she had cast it. Yet, she did not sense an older version of herself. So, that meant that while she had cast the spell, she was not the beneficiary. Another then.

The first thought was Lotor, or perhaps Zarkon. But no, she was intimately familiar with their presence in the universe. Even if they’d been older, she would have recognized them. And yet, there was something strangely familiar about this anomaly in reality.

She followed the currents to where the ripple was, then followed it further and-

Her eyes snapped open. Cova, who had been napping, was instantly awake and alert, and looked to her with open curiosity. Haggar began to shake, and soon enough, her laboratory echoed with high pitched cackles she was renowned for.

Oh, things were going to get VERY entertaining soon enough. Very entertaining indeed!

Chapter Text

“At the very least, my nincompoop of a son, try to last longer than last time.”

Lotor snorted as his father’s words rattled about in his head. Sometimes he wished his father could let go of his stubborn pride and just accept that Voltron had bested him, just as the legendary robot had bested grandfather. Then perhaps Lotor would be freer to pursue other means of winning the hand of his beloved.

Of course, such a thought was always a double edged sword for the love-sick warlord. Lotor constantly worried that his bumbling father would finally realize and grasp that the way they were doing things wasn’t working in the slightest, and actually use his head to envision the path to victory. One that Lotor himself had already come up with nearly a year ago.

Overwhelming force. Treating the conflict like an ACTUAL war rather than the circus performance and side show it ultimately was. The Empire had far more pressing concerns after all, and more than enough avenues for expansion. It wasn’t like they needed Arus or Voltron.

“Just like you don’t need the beautiful Princess?”

Lotor scowled at the sound of the Witch’s voice and her cackles. “Using your magic to peer into my mind again, old witch?”

“Hardly. You were just muttering to yourself again.” Lotor cursed and his scowl deepened as he glared at the witch. Her only response was to cackle more. He closed his eyes and pinched his nose. Within a moment, he was calm enough, and inquired,

“What is it you want, Witch? You rarely interrupt me for a social call.”

Haggar hummed and moved over to the nearby viewport. Where one could see their newest Robeast being loaded onto his ship and two dozen drone attack ships sat, waiting to lift off. Lotor couldn’t help but shift about uncomfortably as the silence stretched on and she said nothing. Silence from the Witch always tended to put him on edge.

“This little performance has a new actor waiting in the wings.”

He blinked at her cryptic pronouncement. Then frowned as his mind mulled it over. "Speak plainly, Haggar. Are you implying a suitor has come to try and win Allura's hand?"

The old witch cackled. "Were it only that, I would say such, wouldn't I?" She seemed to enjoy the scowl he wore as he crossed his arms over his chest. Her eyes glinted with dark amusement and mirth.

She was having fun. Well, if she was going to be like that, he'd just ignore her. He strode to the viewport and looked over the hangar. Preparations were almost complete.

"Well Witch, will you be accompanying me this time?" He asked once the panel lit up, signalling that all was ready. Haggar simply shook her head.

"Not this time. Though I shall gleefully await your return. I suspect we will have much to discuss."

Lotor frowned as he watched her leave, the echo of her cackles lingering in the air even when she was long gone. He turned his eyes back to his ship and scowled.

Just what of surprise was the Voltron Force and his sweet Princess going to spring on him this time?

It was on the beginning of her third day in the past that the Castle's alarms blared. Larithra felt a jolt of excited energy ripple through her as she sprung from the comfortable recliner and tossed her book onto a nearby table. The halls rang out with the clacks of her boots and that of today’s escort as she raced for the Command Center.

“... ships and a Robeast on approach.”

“Well, that one’s an ugly one.”

“No kidding.”

Larithra strode into the heart of the Castle with a skip in her step and a smile on her face. Her eyes were practically glowing as she took in the sight on the viewer as she saw the familiar view of her father’s old command ship, a dozen attack drones, and a two headed robeast with snake like arms and four hooved legs.

Coran, Lance, and Hunk were the only ones in the room as she joined them. Though from the sound of hurried footsteps behind her, the others would soon be here. Lance glanced her way and snorted in amusement, leaning back and stretching as he said,

“Well, someone’s excited.”

Larithra stuck her tongue out at Lance, even as Pidge called out, “How could anyone be excited about something like this?”

Well, if you knew what I do, you might not be as worried. Larithra thought to herself. Instead, she simply said, “The delight and joy for a good fight runs in the blood of all Drule, half-bloods or not. Besides, I’ve only ever seen recordings of the fights.”

“How very like your father, then.” Allura remarked as she strode in right behind Keith. Her mouth was set in a grim line, even as her eyes glinted with a determined fire as she saw the enemy on the main viewer.

“Now now, let’s consider that to her, she probably already knows the outcome. Am I right?” Keith asked, and Larithra nodded.

“Yup. Another victory for Voltron.”

“She said that so casually, like it’s a guaranteed fact.” Lance muttered, glancing at her oddly. Larithra just hummed and flashed the team a fanged smile.

“Hey uh, should we even get to the lions?” Hunk asked, drawing confused looks from the team. “I mean, couldn’t we just hail Lotor and uh, mention our guest?”

“That’s… not necessarily a bad idea.” Coran murmured. “It might prevent a battle in the first place.”

“It would be nice not to have to risk our lives against one of those monstrosities.” Lance noted.

“No.”

Lartithra’s declaration was curt and firm, and it carried with it a tone of authority and command that reminded them all of Lotor. It sent a shiver down Allura’s spine, even as she placed her hand on her hips and asked,

“Is there a reason we shouldn’t? I’m with Lance, I’d be happy not having to fight one of Zarkon’s Robeasts for once.”

“Are you sure, Mother?” Larithra challenged, which made Allura blink in confusion. “You might yearn for peace, but you enjoy the rush and freedom battle brings, don’t you?”

“I enjoy the freedom of flying Blue Lion, but I do not enjoy battle and war. I’m not like Lotor.” Allura replied, though the shared look between some of the team members undermined that idea.

Larithra tilted her head to the side. “Never said you were. But you are still a warrior, just as much as your teammates.”

“That’s…” Allura began, frowning in thought. Fortunately, Coran came to the rescue.

“This doesn’t answer the Princess’s other question, Milady.” Larithra turned to the castle diplomat as he continued. “Why should we not attempt communication, in this instance?”

She hummed at that, then answered cryptically, “Appearances must be kept. We can hail him after the Robeast is defeated.” When that didn’t seem to convince them, she sighed.

“There’s something I want to share, but it’s best if you all witness and notice it. Seeing is believing, is it not?”

“And what is it you want us to see?” Allura queried. Larithra looked all of them, Coran included, in the eye as she again gave them a cryptic answer.

“The Truth.”

It wasn’t an answer that they liked, but when Larithra didn’t budge further, Keith told Coran to go ahead and raise the launch tubes. Only once the Voltron Force was on their way did the young Drule speak further.

“Please, don’t focus on the viewer. Focus on the scanners. Keep an eye on the damage read-outs. The battle site. How the enemy fights.”

Coran turned his gaze up from the controls. “I take it that is where we’ll see this, ‘Truth’ you speak of?” She nodded, that smug and arrogant grin returning to her face. He grunted, and brought his attention back to the monitors. “And the reason you didn’t share such with the team…?”

Larithra blinked at that, and looked at Coran as one would a child who asked a foolish question.

“Because it’d distract them during the battle.”

Coran opened his mouth to say something, paused, and then closed it. The young lady was right. If there was some hidden truth in the battle that was about to unfold, it’d be easier for him to spot it. The team, meanwhile, would be too busy focusing on the moment and battling the Robeast and the attack ships.

Even if they were meant to win, fewer distractions meant fewer risks.

“My apologies. That was an ill-considered question.” Larithra just shrugged, then grinned as she gazed at the monitor with interest.

“C’mon Mom and Dad. Let’s see what you’re capable of.”

Lotor watched as the battle was joined. The five lions engaged the robeast first as he kept the attack drones back for the moment. They might be expendable, but there was no reason for him to waste them. They had a part to play in this, after all.

He tapped his command console, sending a silent command to the Robeast. Play with them. He watched with some amusement as the monster snatched up Green and Blue Lion. “Careful Robeast, remember, Princess Allura flies Blue Lion, and I want her alive and unharmed.”

The robeast roared, squeezing at Green Lion a bit roughly while it simply swung Blue Lion about in the air. The attacks from the other three being little more than pinpricks for its magically reinforced hide. He harrumphed, shaking his head at the irony of it all.

Father might call these defeats, but if he just paid attention to all our developments with each new Robeast…

Of course, even with that, they were still technically battles lost, to his father’s point of view. To Lotor, all of them were victories. Well, perhaps not the first few, when he hadn’t realized just how truly smitten he had become.

Another tap at his console. Let the lions go when they try to free them. Don’t make it easy.

It took a moment for the Voltron Force to free their comrades. Then they started shifting into formation. Now it was time for the attack drones.

“Don’t let them form Voltron!” He called out, and then added, “And make sure to avoid any fire from the castle!”

The drones flew into action, firing beams of destructive energy at the lions. They wouldn’t do much damage on their own, but the sheer volume did force the lions to break formation and scatter. Lasers and missiles started to fly from the castle, but Lotor gave the Robeast the go ahead to run a bit of interference there.

Soon several of the defensive batteries were smoking wrecks, leaving it up to the Voltron Force themselves to take the time to deal with the fighters. All while the Robeast vollied fireballs, missiles, and lasers of its own at them.. Lotor scowled briefly when he saw Blue Lion fly into the path of a missile meant for the Green Lion. He knew moments like that were a possibility, but he still yearned to minimize them as much as possible.

An honorable warrior, as always, Princess. He thought to himself as he observed the remainder of the battle unfold. He glanced at a chronometer and felt some of his tension ease. This Robeast was indeed lasting longer. Good. Perhaps his father would only be mildly disappointed.

No sign of this mystery actor. Lotor thought to himself with a frown. Perhaps Haggar was losing her edge.

In any case, the familiar outcome soon came to pass. The Robeast exploded with fiery fury, and Voltron stood triumphant. Lotor smirked, even as he thumbed the comm on and declared,

"You may have won this time, Voltron Force. But I'll be-"

“Your Majesty.” One of the robot crew called out. “We are being hailed by the Castle of Lions. They request to speak with you at once.”

Lotor blinked. That had never happened before. The Voltron Force nor even the Castle had never sought to speak with him once a battle was concluded. This was new. A strange tension coiled within him, and he leaned forward in his seat. Just what could they wish to talk about? More importantly, who-

Haggar’s words echoed in his mind. Which only served to pique his curiosity further. After a moment of thought, he commanded,

“Open a channel.”

The main viewer shifted to the inside of the Command Center, but he barely registered that. In fact, as his eyes shot wider than perhaps they ever had before, he barely registered that he was being spoken to by the man in the central chair. His eyes were on one thing, and one thing only.

Or rather, a person. A person whom he had only ever seen in the most hopeful of his dreams for the future. Dreams where he and Allura stood side by side, hands held together, united by their love. And embracing that which would unite their peoples, as well.

The young Drule woman who stood by that man that he vaguely recalled as Arus’s Chancellor smirked in a way that was all too familiar. He noticed her arm was in a brace, and that while she held herself like any proper warrior should, there was a grace to her that only one other woman in the universe held. Flowing locks of golden hair cascaded down over her back and the cape she wore, and only served to further remind him of his precious Allura.

For the first time in a long time, Crown Prince Lotor was rendered utterly speechless. Each time he tried to think of something to say, the words simply failed him. Which only seemed to make the young Drule smirk more.

“Coran, I think I broke him.”

Her voice, her voice was like hers. A bit more sultry sounding, perhaps. But it too, was strikingly, disturbingly, similar to the Princess’s. The confident, teasing tone though, that reminded Lotor of himself.

"What trickery is this?" He finally managed to whisper. After a moment, he tore his eyes from the woman to Coran, and demanded, "Who is this woman?"

"No trickery, Father." The woman said, making his eyes shoot her way once more. Her smirk widened, and her eyes glinted with mischief as she gestured to Coran to continue. It was so… so…

Familiar. Almost like looking at a mirror. And she had called him Father. But he had no children. Especially not one that looked like…

"As I was trying to explain, this young lady claims to be from our future. She came back to the past to prevent a terrible tragedy in her time. Further, she claims… She, ah, claims to be you and Princess Allura's daughter."

Lotor could see how much effort it took for the man to admit such, even with the distance between them. He glanced at the young woman one more time.

Damnations. That Witch had known. Known and said nothing. She was doubtless cackling her ass off back home. And as he studied the young woman on the viewer…

Oh yes. There was no doubt. Nome at all in his mind. His mouth quickly broke out into a wide, arrogant smirk. Within moments, he was chuckling. Then he threw his head back and barked out laughter. His eyes glinted with dark mischief as he peered at Allura's advisor.

"But of course! Only a union of Princess Allura and myself could bring such beauty into this universe."

The woman smirked, even as she rolled her eyes. Lotor got the impression such was not the first time his daughter had heard him utter such words. His gaze slipped to the arm of hers that sat in a brace.

His eyes narrowed slightly. "How did you come to be injured, my dear. And do tell me, what name did the Princess and I gift you with."

"My ship's engine exploded as I was trying to land. I've had worse though." She said with a shrug. She smirked as she added,

"Well, Mother was not a Princess, but a Queen when I was born. And you, a King. As for my name, I am Larithra Drak'Thul-Lionheart. Mother came up with the name."

"A wonderfully fitting name. Allura picked well." Lotor said, pride swelling in his chest. A light cough from Coran pulled his attention away from his daughter.

"Given the unusualness of our guest, we wished to invite you into the castle. Your daughter has things she wishes to discuss with you and the Princess. We would also like to ask if you could provide a genetic sample, so we can further confirm her claim."

"Further prove?" Lotor asked, his eyes flashing wickedly as his grin curled further up. "I take it you have already tested the Princess's DNA?"

The silence, and uncomfortable squirming of Coran, was answer enough. It drew a deep, rumbling chuckle out of Lotor's throat. He considered the request a moment, then nodded.

"Robot, power weapons down and land the ship on the other side of the moat. Do you wish me to come unarmed?"

"We would certainly prefer it if you did. But your daughter told me that asking you to come in with no weapon at all is akin to surrender among your people. If you bring only your sword, that will be acceptable."

"She is correct. Very well. I shall be at the castle gates shortly."

Lotor flashed a bright smile at his daughter, who looked quite relieved before he closed the channel. He turned to his guards and ordered them all to remain on the ship, then strode off the bridge.

This was not the way he had expected things to go. But Lotor certainly wasn't going to complain. Especially when he couldn't wait to tease her about how even fate seemed to favor them being together.

Oh yes, this was going to be a treat.

As the communication ended, Coran sighed and rubbed his head. "Was it really necessary to tell him that before he came into the castle?"

Larithra shrugged. "It's my father. He's going to be an obnoxious dick either way." She smirked at the choked snort Coran let out at her choice of words for her own father. But her gaze quickly grew serious.

"So, did you see it? The truth?"

Coran turned his gaze back to the monitors. He’d paid attention to all the things she’d asked of him. Very close attention, once he’d started to notice something quite odd. The implications of what the monitors were telling him were… Disconcerting, to say the least.

“Perhaps it was only in this instance, this attack.” He said after a moment, but even he knew he didn’t sound as sure as he’d like to be. His response didn’t seem to bother Larithra though, for she shrugged and asked,

“Do your computers have the records of all the other battles?”

“Yes. We often use them for simulated drills and training.” Coran murmured.

“Then have the computer make comparisons to all the past battles with Lotor.” She replied. The confidence with which she spoke lacked the arrogance of her father. Instead, it was the steady, solid certainty of her mother.

“... I think I’ll do that. It will take a little bit.” Coran settled on, then said, “Milady, would you be so kind as to step back? The team is about to return.”

“Sure thing.” She said, skipping off and smiling as she said, “Can’t wait to tell Mom how awesome she was out there!”

Coran’s chuckle helped to mask the nervousness he felt. He flicked the switch to raise the platform, then set the computer to work as he pulled up the records of the past engagements with the Crown Prince of Doom. As Larithra jubilantly greeted the team as they returned, Coran could only find himself thinking about one thing.

Just how would the Princess react if what he’d seen turned out to be as true as Larithra claimed?

Chapter Text

The battle had been as expected. Tough, but nothing they couldn’t overcome with teamwork and the strength of Voltron. The only difference from all the past engagements was the excitable Drule woman who was acting more like a child as she practically gushed over every little detail, peppering them all, but especially Allura, with so many questions.

Questions which showed she already knew quite a bit about Voltron. More than any Drule in the universe should, as a matter of fact. And perhaps more than they did. Then again, if her claims really were true, such shouldn’t be all that surprising.

Once again, Allura found herself torn in two directions. On the one hand, from the very moment she had pulled Larithra into her arms and held her, her heart felt a connection to the young lady. She felt a kinship with her, something deep that transcended time itself.

Yet her head couldn’t quite seem to wrap itself around the idea. Mostly because it felt so very, very odd to be called “Mother” by a woman who by all appearances was only a few years her junior. And don’t get her started on how the idea of Lotor being the father made her heart beat faster or a strange tingle race up and down her spine…

If not for her obvious Drule heritage, one could be excused for thinking Larithra was just a long lost sister of hers that had somehow been forgotten about. Really, the entire situation was quite surreal for Allura, and it was only about to get more so as she and the team walked towards the castle gates. To welcome into her home one of the last people she’d ever want to be inside these walls.

She glanced towards Keith, who had been unusually silent since they came back. Normally he’d join in the banter with the rest of the team. But he’d shared a look with Coran that left her dwelling on the things Larithra had said just before they launched.

“Appearances must be kept.” “There’s something I want to share, but it’s best if you all witness and notice it. Seeing is believing, is it not?” “The Truth.”

She had asked about this supposed Truth that Larithra wanted them to see. But all Coran had said was that he needed to double check and cross reference some data before he could give an answer. She knew Coran well enough to know what that meant.

And as she mulled over what little she had to work with, she began to reach a conclusion that she didn’t quite like. Because it would call into question so much that she had felt so certain of before. Like the very victory they had just earned, notching another defeat against the forces of evil and showing once more that good would always triumph over it.

It left a hollow feeling in her chest, one that she very much wished to banish. But she had a feeling she wasn’t going to get that luxury.

“Ya alright, Princess?” Lance asked as he stepped a bit closer, his voice lowered as Hunk and Pidge took turns retelling the battle from their points of view. Allura couldn’t help but smile a bit at the rapt look of awe on Larithra’s face as she soaked it all in.

“I could be… Better.” She admitted after a moment. “I’m not exactly enthused about who we’re going to greet, after all.”

Lance smirked at that. “Yeah, I can get that. He definitely wouldn’t win any popularity contests around here.” He paused, then his smirk widened. “Well, he might win a beauty contest. As long as he behaved.”

Allura couldn’t help but chortle and giggle at the mental image that produced. Then had to promptly reign her mind in as it decided that was a good moment to run a bit wild. She hoped her cheeks weren’t too red. She lightly smacked Lance’s arm as she muttered, “You know, sometimes you’re almost as bad as him.”

“Hey now, I’m a dashing rogue, not a scoundrel.” Lance retorted with a cheeky grin. His gaze softened a bit though as he asked, “That’s not all though, is it?”

Allura sighed, and shook her head. “No. No it’s not.”

Lance canted his head to the side slightly. “Ya thinkin’ about what our time travelin’ friend mentioned?”

Allura didn’t exactly want to vocalize it. But now that Lance had asked… She lowered her voice so that it was barely a whisper as she asked,

“Were we really the ones who ‘won’ here, today?”

Lance could only answer with an indecisive shrug. "Guess it depends on one's point of view. I'd still call today a win."

Allura supposed that was true. Lotor hadn’t captured her as he wished. The damage to the country-side was typical for many of their battles, and their hadn’t been any villages nearby so there wasn’t any risk of-

Allura stopped in place. Gears in her head churning as something clicked into place. Memories of past battles, details she had never paid much attention to, suddenly felt as if a new light shone down upon them. Echoes of the many things Lotor told her too, were now bathed in that same brilliant glow.

And what the light revealed threw her world upside down.

The worst part of the realization that had dawned on her was that the pieces had always been there. She'd even noticed them here and there! But until this moment, she had always looked at them from a single perspective. That of the ruler seeking to defend her world from unjust attack.

How much longer would I have failed to realize this? Allura thought to herself. Larithra's claim was that she and Lotor had been married for eighteen years… But Larithra was from twenty years into the future.

Two more years of living in uncertainty. Of having to worry about rebuilding after an attack. Of fearing for the safety of her people every day. Feeling the need to pray that the next time they'd be just as fortunate.

It made her feel like an idiot one moment for not seeing it sooner. Then it made her want to grab Lotor by his shirt and proceed to scream and shake him about. It felt almost crueler to know that he had been staging the attacks, akin to being toyed with. It made her furious.

“Uh, Princess? Ya alright? Ya look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“Yeah, one that you’re really angry with.”

Hunk and Pidge’s voices seemed to snap her out of her reverie. They were a good thirty feet away from where she’d stopped. She shook her head to finish bringing herself to the here and now. Then she shared a glance with Keith and Larithra. The former seemed to have reached a similar conclusion to her, if the look in his eyes was any indication. As for Larithra, the young Drule just looked relieved.

“Oh, well, I’ve just figured out what Larthira meant earlier. But I need to hear it straight from Lotor’s mouth to be sure.” Her gaze narrowed then as she added,

“And then, give him a piece of my mind.”

Hunk and Pidge seemed a bit confused by this. But Hunk just shrugged and said, “Well, then what’re we waiting for?”

Allura nodded, and strode forward at a brisk pace. Keith and Larithra fell into step beside her as the others trailed after. Soon enough, they could see Lotor, standing just past the castle gates. His hands were held behind him, and he had what had to be his most arrogant and smug smile yet plastered across his face.

“Princess. It is always a delight to see you face to face.” He said, before he turned his eyes towards Larithra. Who launched herself at him and pulled him into a fierce hug as she called out,

“Father! You don’t know how happy it makes me to see you again!”

Lotor was clearly caught by surprise, but managed to grab her at the last second and spin her about before setting her down on the ground beside him, barking laughter echoing out of his throat. However, he stiffened when he noticed her shaking a bit as she buried her face into his shoulder.

“Larithra, dear. What is the matter?” He asked as he ran a hand gently through her hair. And in that moment Allura found herself floored. The scene playing out before her was not at all what she would have expected from Lotor. In this moment, she didn’t see a Warlord or Conqueror. She simply saw a father, concerned about his daughter.

Of course he’d accept her so readily. One corner of her mind thought. She’s validation from the universe for his lust for me. But well, that didn’t quite jive with the sight before her. Why would Lotor care so much if that was the case?

“It’s… complicated.” Larithra finally said as she pulled back and wiped the tears from her eyes. But she smiled as she took Lotor’s hand and guided him towards the Voltron Force. “I’ll explain soon. Mother, what room would you feel most comfortable having us all convene?”

Allura blinked, then tapped her chin. To be honest, she was of half-a-mind to say she wouldn’t be comfortable anywhere with Lotor. And yet, oddly, at this very moment, she didn’t feel the fear she would have normally. I can’t shake the feeling that the universe is laughing at me right now, she thought to herself before she provided,

“The Castle Library. It is a place I have often been able to find peace and center myself in.”

Allura didn’t miss the knowing smirk Larithra held at that answer. She knew. She wasn’t sure if that irked her, or made her want to smile at the girl for knowing her so well. Which brought a thought to her that she didn’t have an answer for.

How long will you treat as if she isn’t your flesh and blood?

“Should we not first take care of something else?” Lotor asked, smirk back on his face. “Your advisor requested a genetic sample of me, so we can confirm what is already so obvious.” He laughed at the glare she sent him for that.

“Do you take anything seriously, you, you space pirate!” Allura huffed as she crossed her arms over her chest. His grin simply grew wider and more arrogant.

“I am always serious when it comes to you, my sweet.”

Larithra at that point rolled her eyes, even as a similar smile graced her features. She poked at Lotor’s chest as she asked, “Father, could you try to tease her a little less. At least for a little while?”

Lotor seemed to honestly consider this. “But my dear daughter, it is quite entertaining. I find her anger refreshing. It lets me see more of the fiery spirit that I so adore.”

Normally, Allura would have scowled at hearing such. But once again, the response she felt instead was… Actually she couldn’t really place it. Too many emotions jumbling about, while it felt like there were butterflies fluttering about in her chest. The only thing she knew for certain was that her cheeks felt warmer.

“You know, if he didn’t say it like such an arrogant ass, I’d be gagging from how sickly sweet it sounds.” Lance remarked with his usual cheek, earning snorts from a few of the others. Lotor frowned at that, but it almost came across as a pout to Allura. Which… damnit, why did that make her want to giggle like a schoolgirl?

Shaking her head, Allura said, “The infirmary is along the way. We can get the sample from there. Please, follow me. And don’t wander off.” She pointed threateningly at him at that. Lotor just dipped his head as a smug grin returned.

“Wouldn’t dream of it, Princess.”

Allura glared, but went ahead and took the lead again. She stole a brief glance back and saw the team fan out and form a circle around him. Smart of them. Larithra for her part remained beside Lotor.

The infirmary staff were more than a little startled when the Princess brought Lotor in. But they were professionals and quickly took the sample and ran the test.

Genetic match confirmed. Somehow that just made Lotor more insufferable as they made their way to the Castle Library. He only seemed to stop when Larithra said,

"Okay Dad, you're laying it on a bit too thick even for me."

Allura wasn't sure if it was the casual way Larithra spoke to Lotor. Or if it was the way he seemed so taken aback by his daughter's words. But Allura didn't bother to try and stifle the giggle that bubbled up. And the snorts and chuckles from the rest of the team only encouraged it.

Well, that and Lotor's grumbling as he seemed to finally stop. For now, at least.

After that it was a short walk down the hall, around the bend, and then they were in the Castle Library. Lotor looked around with a keen eye, and gave an approving nod.

"A fine collection you have here, Princess."

The conversational tone surprised Allura. "I never imagined you to be the sort interested in books."

"I have many interests. You, among many others. Perhaps if you gave me a chance, you might find we have more in common than you think."

"And perhaps, Father, if you tried to just talk with the Princess, she'd give you that chance." Larithra snorted as she flopped into a recliner, giving Lotor a bemused smirk of her own as he tried to say something… Only to close his mouth and frown. Then scowl at the snickers of the rest of the team..

"Now, story time. Third time, and preferably, the last time I have to repeat it." Larithra remarked. "Then Mother can ask what I bet she is dying to ask."

Lotor quirked a brow, but said nothing. Simply gestured for her to continue. He listened intently, though when she finished, he was quick to ask,

"Larithra, you speak of a tragedy. And Allura and I's deaths. Yet not what, or who, caused it. How are we to prevent it if you will not speak of it?"

Larithra winced, and Allura called out, "Lotor, it's obvious she's been through alot, there's no need to press her-"

Her next words died on her lips as Lotor fixed her with a fierce gaze and growled

"I cannot protect both of you from the threat if I do not know what it is." He returned his gaze to Larithra, and waited. When she did not immediately speak, Lotor frowned.

"Maybe we could make some guesses, and see if we get it right?" Hunk offered as he rubbed the back of his head. Lotor shook his head.

"I don't think that will be needed." He said, his voice quiet. Which was jarring for all save Larithra, who simply closed her eyes. There was no judgement in his gaze as he asked,

“It’s my Father, isn’t it?”

Larithra gave a tight nod, a tear running down her cheek as she let out a shuddering breath. Serpentine eyes of gold glimmered with more even as a spark of fury lay beneath. Allura gasped, while the rest of the team cursed. Lotor scowled, stomping up and pacing for a moment before he rested a closed fist against the wall.

“Zarkon. When isn’t something his fault?” Lance muttered, earning an irritated grunt from Lotor.

“You are more right than you have any right to be.”

Allura shivered, hearing the hatred in Lotor’s voice. However, his and Lance’s words gave her an opening to ask what she needed to know.

“Is that why you’ve been staging attacks on Arus?” She heard gasps of surprise from Pidge and Hunk, while Lance just sighed and shook his head. Keith’s attention was now fully on Lotor as the Drule Prince glanced back at the Princess.

“Finally catch on, hmm? Or did our daughter tell you?” There was a bitter trace to his voice as he asked, but Laritha cut in,

“What’s obvious to one is not so obvious to another, Father.” She wiped the dampness from her eyes as she added, “All I did was point the way. Though Mother figured it out before Coran could finish checking the records.” She snorted.

“Is it really so surprising, when it would take another two years for them to figure it out?”

Allura nodded. “You have no right to be upset about such, Lotor. Not when you’ve practically been toying with us and my planet for goodness knows how long.” Lotor whirled at that, fury clear in his eyes, but Allura jumped up and met fire with ice.

“Don’t you dare tell me that wasn’t your intent. Whether it was or not is irrelevant. Do you know what it’s like, Lotor, to be constantly under attack? To fear that at any moment, the enemy might come to your doorstep? That when the next battle is met, it could be you and your people’s last?”

Lotor didn’t have a ready answer for that, though it did nothing for his anger. “What am I supposed to do, when my Father insists on attacking your world? He has spies everywhere, even here. I can’t just swing by for a private visit as easily as you might think, Princess.”

Allura paled a bit at learning Zarkon had spies on her world, but she pushed that aside. She could talk with Coran about such later. "Even so, aren't you supposed to be the Great Prince Lotor? Surely you could have figured something out."

Lotor looked like he wanted to challenge that assertion. But it was hard to do when in truth he hadn't made any such effort.

"Give Father some slack, Mother." Larithra placated. "If Father had tried to do so, would you have given him the time of day? Would you believe his intentions to be good?"

Allura sighed, and shook her head. "No, I probably wouldn't. I'd probably assume it was yet another scheme to capture me." Odd, how easy it was to admit such. But then, she was seeing things more clearly now, she supposed.

"If I had truly decided to capture you, I'd have done so already, my sweet." Lotor replied, earning a snort from Keith.

"Even if some of our battles were just an act for you, your record would still seem to suggest otherwise."

The reaction the Voltron Force expected was an arrogant challenge. Not for an impassive, cool mask to slip across Lotor's face as he spoke bluntly.

"Over a dozen Robeasts. Thousands of attack ships. And my personal war fleet, made up of over a hundred vessels of war, from frigates to battleships. Tell me, Voltron Force, do you think even the mighty Voltron could face such a force, and win?" He glanced at each of the Space Explorers, then looked to the Princess. "You do remember you are but one planet against an entire Empire, do you not?"

Allura shivered, her eyes having shrunk into tiny pinpricks as it felt like the room got just a bit colder. By the looks on the faces of the others, they were as unnerved as she was. "I had not forgotten. But… I suppose my expectations have been colored by you and Zarkon's tactics."

"And here I was starting to think Lotor was as big an idiot as his father." Lance muttered weakly.

"Father is still an idiot, but you can't fault him for that too much. Zarkon played a role in raising him, after all." Larithra remarked. At Lotor's pointed look, she offered a tired smile in reply.

"Even after 18 years together, Mom would still call you an idiot sometimes. Her lovable idiot, but an idiot all the same." She gave a laugh and admitted, "I'm one too, since I came to the past without any kind of real plan. I've been winging things so far."

That seemed to lift the mood a bit. Lotor's expression thawed and he sighed.

"You are lucky my stubborn idiot of a father concerns himself with internal politics the way he does. Otherwise he might have ordered such a large scale attack. And unlike mine, surrender wouldn't have been given as an option."

The Voltron Force gave Lotor a puzzled look at that. Lotor snorted and smirked.

"Zarkon cares about looking strong. How do you think it would look if he resorted to such an overwhelming show of force against a world we had already defeated? Especially a world reduced to being a depopulated backwater?"

"And the constant defeats with Voltron?" Allura asked. Lotor shrugged.

"So long as Zarkon isn't halting expansion elsewhere for his long standing grudge with Arus…" He smirked. "Besides, some have come to believe Zarkon is using Arus to test new technology or magic for our Robeast program."

"I… Can actually believe that. The last dozen or so at least have been stronger than what we've faced before." Hunk rumbled, looking none too pleased at the idea that their victories were helping the forces of evil in any way.

The others shared such feelings, even as an uncomfortable silence fell. No one seemed to be in any hurry to break it, as everyone processed all that had been shared.

Lance was the one who finally broke the silence. "Ya know, I don't exactly know what the plan going forward is but, like, it's not like there's any rush to figure things out. Whatever happens is like, in twenty years. Alot can change with that kind of time. Heck, maybe Larithra even being here at all has made it so it'll never happen."

"I'd prefer to ensure it can never happen at all." Lotor was quick to say.

"I think what Uncle Lance is saying is that for now, let's let things carry on." Larithra suggested, ignoring her father and his look of consternation at her calling Lance such. "I've shared what needed to be shared in the immediate, and we can try to figure out what to do about my grandfather later."

"She's right. If you linger here much longer, Zarkon might wonder what you're up to." Keith noted, and for the first time in Lotor’s life, he agreed with the Voltron Force commander. However, there was one thing he wished to discuss before he left, and it wasn’t hard to figure it out as he smirked and looked at Allura.

“And what about things between the two of us, my sweet?” He all but purred. Allura’s cheeks flushed and she glared at him as he noted, “Everything’s out in the open now after all, and we have a daughter to look after as well. If you accept my hand now, that could make things easier.”

“As much as I would actually love for the two of you to get hitched again asap so I could perhaps have a baby brother or sister on the way… Maybe try and take things slower Dad?” Laritha interjected before Allura could give her thoughts on the matter.

This of course, left Allura embarrassed and sputtering in protest. Lotor barked out a laugh, and even Lance was having trouble containing his own amusement. Larithra offered her mother a sheepish grin, then directed a look to her father as she offered,

“How about you dust off grandmother’s books on Arus? Maybe you could start by trying to court Mother properly. She is Arusian, after all, not Drule.”

Allura’s gaze snapped over to Larithra, even as Lotor stiffened. “Wait, why would Lotor’s mother have books on Arus.”

Larithra had a very shark-like grin on her face at that question.

“Oh, that’s right, you don’t know. Father’s half Arusian.”

Chapter Text

Allura didn’t know about anyone else, but she had had quite enough bombshells (of the metaphorical) variety for one day. Lotor went ahead and got ready to depart. Though not before he pulled Larithra into a tight embrace and whispered something in Drulish. He also gave the Allura and the Voltron Force an old Drule comm code to alert them before another attack, since he suspected his father would want another attempt made within the week.

Everyone departed, save Larithra, who seemed inclined to remain in the library. Allura in the meantime poked her head outside and said to the guard, “Go ahead and return to your normal duties. I do not believe that our guest needs an escort any longer.” The guard gave an affirmative as she ducked back in and hummed.

She felt a tad untethered and adrift after all of that. A small part of her yearned for someone to talk it over with, and yet another preferred to simply find something else to occupy her mind. A distraction, but what?

“Mother?” Larithra called out, drawing Allura’s attention. “Might you be up for a game of chess? I found Grandfather’s set.”

Allura blinked. The only two who knew where that was here was Coran and herself. How did she- Right. Daughter from the future. Allura rubbed at her temples and chuckled dryly before calling out,

“I might. Just… give me a moment.” Larithra hummed an affirmative as Allura closed her eyes and took some deep breaths. She could start working on trying to sort all her thoughts out tomorrow. Right now, she needed to relax and unwind.

A corner of her mind tried to snark that playing a game with her time-travelling child was surely a way to not think about everything she’d just learned. Allura kindly told such thoughts to shut it as she made her way over to where Larithra sat. She already had the black pieces set up on her side, and was placing the white down in the opposite seat.

“Already picked your color?” Allura asked, and Larithra just shrugged.

“You usually prefer white. Father prefers black. I’m fine with either.”

That at least didn’t surprise Allura. She considered for a moment, then decided to spin the board around so she was playing with the black pieces. Larithra hummed at that as she moved her first piece. The game proceeded quickly, with both of them focusing on the game itself for the moment.

It was clear that Larithra had seen the sorts of strategies she employed before. So it wasn’t too surprising to Allura that the young Drule won the first match. It did seem to take her off guard though as she set about placing pieces back down. When the board was reset, Larithra frowned and seemed to go for a different strategy.

“I know you’ve always favored a more defensive strategy…” Larithra finally murmured as Allura reset the board for a fifth go around. “But I had thought Father exaggerated when he talked about playing the game with you in the early years of your marriage.”

Allura stiffened a bit at that, but after a deep breath she simply asked, “Oh? How so?”

“You’re very cautious, reactive. You don’t take the initiative as much. Not that such is a bad thing, mind, but it's just throwing me for a loop.” She smirked. “Though taking my bishop in that last match caught me off guard.”

“I take it then that when we usually played, the score was less lopsided?” Allura queried, and Larithra wiggled her hand in the air.

“More split down the middle. Against you or Father, I can’t seem to win more than half the time. Normally, at least.” A distant look came over Larithra’s face, and she murmured, “I think you were the one I played with last, before…” She shook her head. “Father had been busier of late, and admittedly, I was starting to prefer duels in the arena or the war simulators when I was staying on Doom.”

“Is playing causing you any pain, Larithra?” Allura asked, a gentle look in her eyes as she added, “We could find something else to do, if you’d like.”

Larithra didn’t immediately reply, studying the board for a moment. A sad look seemed to pass over her face, before it slid behind a more neutral mask. She offered a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes as she said,

“A few more. Let’s make it an even ten games. Then… Perhaps we could go see if Nanny needs any help in the kitchens?”

Allura didn’t miss the hopeful tone in the young woman’s voice. Yet if she was being honest, she was quite sure if Larithra entered the kitchens, Nanny would either ignore her or demand she leave. She didn’t seem all too inclined to interact with Larithra, even after Allura had explained the situation.

“We’ll see. If not, perhaps we can take a walk in my garden.”

Larithra just nodded at that as they resumed the game. Allura managed to make things less lopsided, but only in that she won two more games and brought her score up to three. They walked side by side as they left the library and made their way to the kitchens, but were stopped by one of the servants just as they were rounding the corner.

When she asked if they needed anything, and Allura explained that Larithra wanted to see if they needed any help with dinner, the servant bit her lower lip and glanced at the door.

“Begging your pardon, milady, but I do not think Nanny would appreciate such right now. M-My apologies!” She added quickly, when Larithra’s eyes widened briefly and a stung look washed over her. This time, the mask didn’t slip back over her face.

“... It’s alright. I understand. Thank you for telling us.”

“Larithra…” Allura began, but the young woman shook her head.

“I think… I think I shall retire to the quarters you gave me.” She inclined her head to them, then turned and walked the other way. Allura clasped her hands over her heart and watched her retreating form until it disappeared.

“Princess, do you think she will be alright?” The servant asked after a moment, her own gaze one of sympathy.

It was at this point that it dawned on Allura. She wasn’t the only one feeling untethered right now. And worse than that, she wasn’t quite sure how to help. Well, no. That wasn’t quite right. There was something she could do. She just wasn’t certain if it would be enough.

She was alone in a place of darkness. Floating. Adrift. Nothing all around her. No sound, no voices, no one. Cut off from everything. Just an empty black void, an endless expanse of nothing.

It felt somewhat fitting to be in a place like this. A manifestation of her current situation. She’d lost what she held dear, and then in her desperation she’d accepted an offer to try a risky spell, one that could have easily sent her further back than she arrived.

As if that thought was some sort of trigger, she suddenly felt heavy. She was sinking, no, falling. Or was she? It was hard to tell when one had nothing to mark any kind of movement or-

She shook, jarred as she found herself somewhere suddenly. Everything was hazy as numerous sounds assaulted her. Her hands rested against a smooth surface as alarms blared and shouts filled the air.

“Your Majesty! The Monster has broken through the center line! It’s headed straight for the King’s Flagship!”

Her eyes snapped up, as everything cleared. “No… No, I don’t… I can’t… I don’t want to see this again.”

She was on the bridge of one of the ships fleeing Doom. On the main viewer, one of the two planets she called home was criss-crossed by a network of angry red lines, while pieces of it floated in front of a wound that led straight to its core, which was a churning, roiling mass of unstable energy.

Nearby, pitched in a desperate attempt to guard the hastily gathered fleet of transports, cargo ships, and more, was the Royal Fleet itself. Or what was left of it, as a large beast of churning malevolence roared its fury and tore through more ships as it gunned for the largest ship in the fleet. The entity bore the seething, hate filled face of Zarkon, and it pulled its head back before unleashing another wild blast of cosmic energy. Courtesy of the formerly contained magnetic storm the thing had consumed on its way to the planet.

The beam slammed straight into the flagship’s command tower. It withstood it for all of a moment before it was vaporized. She leapt out of the chair and screamed her fury, tears streaming down her face as the rest of the flagship quickly followed suit, explosions ripping through the thing and soon scattering its pieces across the vacuum of space.

Then everything spun, and she was in the Command Room of the Castle of Lions. It was just her, Haggar and her mother’s Chancellor. He was a new face, Coran having only recently passed on. She could swear she remembered his name, but in this place, in this moment, it didn’t matter.

Why? Because she was watching more death.

The main viewer showed the same entity as before. It had come for Arus next. It hadn’t paid the Drule evacuation any heed. Larithra had barely made it in time before the powerful shields of the Castle were raised and the Lions set forth.

She’d had just enough time to hug her mother tight, for her mother to assure her everything was going to be alright, before she was launching in Black Lion with Lance, Pidge, and the newer pilots.

“I’ve already seen this! Why?” She screamed, knowing what was coming, knowing and dreading it. She watched as the mighty Voltron, the legendary robot, the Defender of the Universe, tried to combat the twisted abomination that her grandfather had joined with in a mad quest for vengeance. Time and time again, only to be repelled.

Then, Voltron began to glow. And her mother’s voice came over the comms. She asked for forgiveness, and something else. Though it couldn’t be heard over the screams as she begged, pleaded, beseeched for another course of action. Any other choice.

A brilliant explosion, five pillars of light blasting forth and shredding the monstrosity apart. Followed immediately by a searing wave of destructive energy that slammed into the planet as a final parting act as it too exploded into nothingness.

The sound of straining metal, consoles exploding, and structural alarms blaring was lost among the shrill cries of pain and loss she let out.

Suddenly, she was back in the void. But this time, she wasn’t alone, as a massive, familiar, twisted face with golden eyes full of malice gleamed down at her. And it was laughing at her. Mocking her as it told her that which she didn’t want to admit.

That she was never getting them back.

This time, when she screamed, it wasn’t just in her dream.

Larithra hadn’t shown up at dinner with the others. Allura had taken food to her quarters, and the young Drule had taken it without a word. Allura had tried to talk with her, but she had closed and locked the door.

She had thought about overriding it. She had the authority to do so, having made sure of such after the last time Coran and Nanny had gotten it into their head that they needed to ‘keep her safe’ and locked her in her own quarters. But it didn’t feel right just barging in, so she had gone to her own quarters.

Which, belatedly, she realized were literally right across from the one Larithra was using. She had been the one to assign it, so she shouldn’t have been so surprised. She hadn’t given it much thought at the time, but she couldn’t help but wonder now if perhaps there was more to it.

She had set such a thought aside then, and gotten ready for bed. Her own sleep was restless. The day’s revelations and her own worry for the young woman causing her to toss and turn for a time.

That was, until she heard a blood curdling scream from across the hall.

Faster than she ever had, Allura leapt out of her bed and raced out into the hall. She barely registered the flurry of her hand as she keyed the sequence to override the lock. As soon as the doors whooshed open, she dashed into the room and rushed to the bed.

In an instant, her arms wrapped protectively around her daughter as she rocked the crying, sobbing woman in her arms. She let Larithra curl into her and rested her head atop her, telling her that it would be alright. She was here for her, she was safe, Mother was here-

“N-No, she’s not… she’s not!” Larithra practically wailed, even as she clung tighter to Allura. She repeated such, even as Allura heard voices at the door. She blinked, only now noticing that someone had triggered the alarm, and that the others were all standing in the doorway in their pajamas.

Even Nanny was there, standing beside Coran. What was a stern expression was quickly fading as she took in the state that Larithra was in, and heard the sheer pain the young woman was experiencing as she let her grief pour forth.

Allura held fast to her, rocking her in her arms as slowly, the others all slid the rest of the way into the room. She rubbed circles into Larithra’s back, trying to do what she could, even as she and the team all listened to the true details of what had happened.

It was, truly, too much for a single person to bear all on their own. Watching their father killed trying to protect his people. Watching her mother and some of her friends sacrifice themselves to protect their world… Only for their same world to be left more devastated than Zarkon’s sacking of the planet.

Hearing that Larithra truly hadn’t had a plan. That Haggar had told her the spell could send her back a few months, or several years. There was no way to know for sure… and no way to try again.

She hadn’t cared. She wanted her home back. Her friends. But most importantly… Her parents. Her family.

Such a reckless girl, Allura couldn't help but think. Larithra simply clung to her like a lifeline, nothing left but muffled sobs. Allura's own heart wept for all that this young woman had lost, but it spoke true as words began to leave her.

"Larithra, I know that I am not the Mother you know. And I will never try to replace her. But if you'll let me, I'll be the best mother for you that I can. I'll do everything I can to help you heal."

Allura kissed her daughter's forehead, and then, on a whim, she began to sing. It was an old lullaby in High Arusian, one that she vaguely recalled her own mother singing to her before she passed. Then, later, it was her father and Nanny who did so.

Larithra stiffened at first, but Allura kept singing. And as she heard Nanny slowly joining in, a sniffling stammer here and there, she felt her child begin to relax. The sobs faded into sniffles, and eventually, the quaking ceased.

Allura could almost swear she felt something between the two of them resonating as she kept singing it. Maybe it was because of the nature of the song. A song about family, and memories. Perhaps it was the knowledge that the song sung to her as a child, she had sung to her daughter in the years ahead.

Whatever the case, as Allura began to repeat the song a third and final time, Larithra shifted. Shimmering golden eyes looked up at her as her voice timidly joined in. Allura just gave her daughter a tender smile, and gently wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks. Larithra sniffled a little, and rested her head against Allura’s shoulder. Her cheeks tinged black when she blinked and realized that everyone else was also present.

Nanny seemed to take that as a queue to start shooing everyone out. But not before coming over and giving Larithra a soft pat on the head. She sniffed as some fresh tears blossomed forth, and choked a bit on her thank you.

“It’s never going to be the same, is it?” Larithra finally asked after a few minutes of silence passed. Allura shook her head, but gave Larithra a loving squeeze as she rested her head atop hers.

“No. But that doesn’t mean we can’t be a family. And it doesn’t mean we can’t make new memories together.”

Larithra nodded, and fell silent for a moment. Then…

“M-Mom?”

“Yes, my child?”

Allura felt Larithra quiver for a moment at that, and as the young Drule lady looked up at her, an image of a younger Larithra flashed through her mind. The woman held in her arms might be a young lady, but in this moment, she was much closer to a child in need of help.

“Can… C-Can you stay here with me, tonight?”

She shared a brief look with Nanny, who nodded and took that as her turn to depart. As the door whooshed close and it was just the two of them, Allura shifted so that they were both comfortable on the bed.

“Of course, my little Princess. I’ll stay as long as you need.”

Allura’s own eyes, damp from her own tears that she had shed, twinkled as Larithra’s eyes shot to hers. Allura just smiled softly, and gave Larithra a little peck on the head before she guided her daughter’s head to her shoulder.

“Sleep well, my daughter.”

With a final sniffle, and wrapping her arms tightly around Allura’s middle, Larithra closed her eyes and soon had drifted off. Her breathing soon became slow and steady.

Allura couldn't help but think about how strange and surreal this moment was. Her eighteen year old daughter from the future, curled into her side as if she was still a child half her age. But as she gazed down at Larithra's face, she couldn't help but feel that she had done the right thing.

The days ahead were doubtless going to be difficult for them both, for all of them. But if they faced them together, side by side, as family…

Then things would work out, in the end.

As she closed her own eyes, an image of a big family formed in her mind. She couldn't help but smile. Even as the image in her mind's eye included the very scoundrel she had sought to keep at arm's length.

Life is funny like that, isn't it? She thought to herself as she let sleep claim her.

Chapter Text

As Lotor had expected as soon as he returned home, he was lambasted, berated, and insulted by his father. It no longer held any sting to him. It had happened enough times that even when King Zarkon was trying to be inventive the hits found no purchase.

Still, he played his part until he was dismissed, free now to leave. And unsurprisingly, just as he had figured, Haggar was there waiting for him. A wicked grin on her face as she cackled and asked,

“So, how’d the excursion go this time, Prince Lotor?”

Lotor harrumphed, a smirk on his face. "Nearly the same as it always goes, Witch. Save for quite the unusual twist at the end." His smirk thinned a bit as he added, "Which I would have preferred to have been better prepared for than your cryptic words left me."

Haggar chuckled. "Ah but my Prince, where's the fun in that? It didn't change your plans, after all."

"No, but it could have." He retorted, before gesturing to her to follow. "Come, I am certain you will wish to hear the details. And my plans for the next visit to Arus."

Haggar inclined her head and together they made for his quarters. As had become routine for both of them, they swept the room for bugs planted by his father. This time they found none. Perhaps Zarkon had grown tired of having to order replacements.

He strode over to a cabinet, fetching two goblets and a deep burgundy hued bottle. Pouring them both a drink, he sighed as he settled into a plush chair and mulled the vibrant red contents of his chalice. Haggar simply settled herself in a seat across from him and waited patiently and with a bemused aura.

“Where do I even begin?” He murmured aloud, a snort issuing forth before he took a long pull of his drink. “The part where the Castle of Lions hailed me? Seeing someone who reminds me so much of the Princess and myself? Maybe the part where my daughter from the future practically threw herself at me in joy?”

The chortle from the old witch made him shake his head, his own eyes glinting with some mirth. Honestly, if it hadn’t just happened, he’d think the whole thing a taunting dream. A figment of his mind conjured forth from the burning and unrelenting obsession he had for the Arusian Princesss.

“Mhm, I take it she is the spitting image of you and the Princess?” Haggar asked, and Lotor harrumphed.

“Spy on our little meeting, did you?” He was mildly surprised when she shook her head.

“No. I have not yet gazed at her through my crystal ball. But I sensed her presence when she arrived in our time. It was rather hard not to, given the nature of the spell used to bring her here.” She let out an amused snort as she continued, “Her aura, her spirit, it is almost like a perfect blending of Princess Allura and yourself, sire.”

“That assessment seems spot on. Your magical perception is quite impressive.” Lotor remarked, taking a soft sip before setting his drink down. “Though I suspect there are some ways she is different from either of us. She would not be a child of Allura if she was entirely predictable.”

He then frowned, at first in thought. And then, in some sadness. His daughter would still surprise him, but it occurred to him that there would not be as many surprises for him as there would have been. After all, she was not a child, but a grown woman. He would not get to experience the same surprises she had already brought him.

Or would have brought him, as he and her mother raised her from infancy to what she was now. That thought gave him the beginnings of a migraine, but he was pulled from such thoughts when Haggar harrumphed.

“I know one way already in which she is different from either of you.” At Lotor’s quirked brow, she took a long draw from her own glass before she let out a short cackle.

“She’s quite the reckless girl. The magic she had me cast in her present is quite the risky spell. Very much a gamble. I cannot picture you or Princess Allura making use of such magic. At least, not without things having gone apocalyptically wrong.”

That got Lotor’s attention. Especially as he thought back to what Larithra had said during their meeting with the Voltron Force. She had come to the past without any sort of plan. But why would that be? While both he and the Princess were capable of improvising on the field of battle, neither of them were (usually) inclined to try anything those who knew them would consider truly risky.

“Why do you say such, Witch? Just what is involved with the spell my daughter would have you cast?”

Lotor did not know the Witch as much as his father did. There were quirks here and there that he still wasn’t used to or didn’t quite get. But one thing he had learned from his constant work alongside her as he sought to claim Princess Allura was that there was almost always an air of mischief to her. So it was that he instantly tensed up when Haggar gave him a serious gaze as she explained,

“Magic regarding time is not very well understood. For good reason, given that it isn’t something one can easily experiment with. It is a field of the arcane that is half guess-work, and half built upon legend and myth of those few who have deigned to test the limits of what they were capable of. And lived to tell about it.”

Lotor was now listening very intently as she continued. “This sort of spell is risky on several fronts. There is no guarantee that the person who makes use of it will arrive uninjured during the trip. Further, there is a risk that the magic itself could warp the one making use of it, be it the caster or another.”

“Meaning that Larithra was not only putting her life on the line just to make the journey,” Lotor murmured with an increasingly fierce frown. “She could have been changed? Do you mean that she could have perhaps been rendered younger?”

“Or older. She could have come through and have aged thirty years. Or more.” Haggar noted, her own mouth a thin line. “But it is more than just that. She would have had no way to be sure when she would have arrived. Only a range, at best. And even then, magic of this sort can be quite temperamental.”

The headache from before was coming back as he tried to make sense of what the Witch was telling him. Though it wasn’t merely that. Even as he worked to process Haggar words, it made his concern for his daughter grow. From what the Witch was describing, it didn’t just make Larithra’s action seem reckless.

It made it seem desperate.

“Just how far of a range?” He asked quietly. Haggar chuckled, but there was only a hint of her normal mischief.

“She could have found herself as far back as a year, or she could have arrived when you or Allura were just being born. At least, from what I can feel and observe from the ripples the spell left in our time.”

Lotor scowled at this, and growled as he leaned back in his chair. With some anger, he grabbed his goblet and downed the entire thing, letting the burn from it work as a distraction from rising anger and frustration.

“Just what in the name of all that is dark and evil did my father do?” He asked aloud, earning a curious noise from Haggar. He rubbed at his head and muttered,

“My daughter mentioned that my father was the cause of a great tragedy. One that caused the deaths of myself, Allura, and others. She did not elaborate further.” His gaze softened slightly. “She seemed considerably reluctant to mention the details, with myself or her mother.”

Haggar’s mirth was slowly coming back, because she let out an amused, if derisive snort as she said, “Of course it was your father. Hmph, perhaps if I go and speak with her, I might be able to uncover the truth.”

Lotor considered it. While he had considered pressing for more information back on Arus, Allura’s own comment and the pain he could pick up from Larithra had left him disinclined. And well, he’d gotten enough of an answer anyways. But now he was left wondering what his father had done. Even knowing how wicked his father could be, he was having trouble thinking of just what he might have done that could make his future child take such a gamble.

“As long as you can keep my father from knowing you’ve gone off to do so, I see no harm in it.” He decided. “But if she proves resistant, I request that you not seek to use any of your magic to pull the answer out of her.”

“Even if it could prove important to protecting her and your dear Princess?” Haggar asked, sounding sincerely curious for his answer. Lotor considered that for a moment more, then nodded.

“The tragedy won’t happen for twenty years. If it will even happen now, in the first place.” He said as he rubbed at his head again. As much as this turn of events was pleasing and fanned the flames of his hopes that he could soon have that which he truly desired, he could have done without having to wrap his head around something like time travel. “Thus, there is plenty of time for her to become willing to share it on her own.”

Haggar nodded, and got up. “Very well, sire. I shall depart at once.” She made for the door, but then paused to glance back at him. “Oh, I should make sure I show good manners. What is your dear daughter’s name?”

“Larithra. Larithra Drak’Thul-Lionheart.” Lotor supplied, earning a nod and a sharp cackle from the Witch as she departed. He couldn’t help but smirk just a bit, wondering what his father would think if he heard such.

Knowing him, he’d probably be furious to know that Alfor’s name was tied to our own. Lotor scowled briefly and sighed, before getting up and making his way over to his personal library. It took only a minute for him to find the section of books that had belonged to his mother, Lora. Books that he had not thought about or touched for nearly a decade.

He should have been more surprised, when he noticed that one of the books was in fact a book on the courting traditions of Arus. But as he thought back to the past, it became less so. Had his mother been given the chance to live, she likely would have taught him of such things. And then perhaps he would have been able to spare Allura all the trouble he had brought her.

Doing so made him think of the last moments with her. Wasting away from the sickness she had contracted and confined to bed. The guards and servants refusing to follow his commands for a healer to be brought to her, to heal her or to at least make her final moments be ones free of pain. For his father’s words were law, and absolute.

Of her words to him to be strong, to be brave…

To make her proud.

The memory of his pain, anger, and the feeling of helplessness nearly merged with his current simmering anger at his father in the now. It was almost enough to cause him to forsake wisdom and the customs of his people. For it made him yearn to put a sword through his father’s chest and simply remove the blight on his life that his father had been for so long. And it would seem, into his future as well.

But no. That wouldn’t make his mother proud. He wasn’t entirely sure she’d be too proud of his actions towards Arus up to this point either.

Now though, perhaps, I can properly honor her last words.

It was with that thought that he sat down in his chair. Poured himself another goblet of wine. And flipped the book open so he could begin to absorb its contents.

Larithra felt warm, cozy, and above all, safe as she slowly began to stir from her sleep. It was, legitimately, the first time she could say that her sleep had been as such since the events that brought her to where she was now. Her nights had either been restless ones with no dreams, or the beginnings of nightmares that always managed to rouse her before they got as far as last night’s had.

Now, here in the warm embrace of her mother, she at last felt safe. It was almost enough to set her to crying again. But she felt like she had done enough of that last evening. She was sure she hadn’t finished shedding all her tears yet, but she did not feel a need to shed more now.

She glanced up to her mother as she blinked the sleep out of her eyes. Allura was sitting up slightly, a book in one hand even as she kept the other around Larithra. The morning sunlight was bathing much of the room in luminous brilliance, though most of the bed remained wrapped in shadow.

The subtle movements as slumber slowly left her soon had Allura placing a ribbon in the book, and smiling as she rubbed Larithra’s shoulder gently.

“Good morning, Larithra. Did you sleep alright?”

She nodded slowly, giving her mother a soft squeeze. Glad to see that her arms were still wrapped around her. “Mmhmm. Think that was my best night of sleep since the tragedy.” At Allura’s look of concern, she smiled sadly and said, “I didn’t have nightmares the other nights… I just didn’t sleep well.”

Comforted to hear that, Allura set the book aside as she asked, “Do you want me to stay a bit longer? There’s a few things I need to take care of, but if you need me to linger…”

Larithra thought about it for a moment. “Maybe another minute or two? I don’t quite feel like getting out of bed yet. And this… This is helping, quite a bit.” Her smile was sad, but it was still an improvement from earlier. “Thank you, by the way. For doing this.”

Allura gave her a soft peck to the forehead. “For you, my daughter, I’ll do whatever I can.”

Hearing Allura refer to her as such was a balm to her soul. Even if she knew the truth, it was still helping to heal the wounds that had still been bleeding in her spirit. They were no longer gaping wounds, hastily covered with a bandaid and a prayer to her ancestors' spirits.

Okay, maybe she had a few more tears to shed this morning. But only a few. She soon closed her eyes and simply basked in the presence of her mother for the next few minutes. Eventually though, she let go of Allura and sat up. Allura wiped some of the tears away before Larithra let out a tired giggle as she said,

“Mom, I can take care of those. Besides, you said you’ve got some things to do.”

Allura nodded, and retrieved her book as she made for the door. She glanced back and said, “I’ll see you at breakfast. We can talk about how we might spend more of the day together then, alright?”

Larithra nodded, and made a gentle shooing motion. Allura simply let out a soft hum, then Larithra was left alone in her quarters again. She glanced about the spartan room, and found herself thinking back to how it had been back in her time.

Don’t. She thought to herself immediately after. Her room had been one of the ones damaged by the shockwaves from Zarkon’s death. It had been an insult on top of injury. Frankly, as she thought about it, she realized it was a testament of her own will that she hadn’t had an episode like that on her first night.

Mind was too busy. Too focused on meeting Father.

Brushing such thoughts aside, and focusing on the now and the better future she sought to bring about, Larithra got up out of bed. She took a moment to stretch, then hurried off to get cleaned up and ready for the day.

She wasn’t exactly sure what said day would involve. But perhaps her mother would indeed be able to help with that. And if not… Well, she was sure she could find something around the castle she could do to keep herself busy.

It was as she was making her way down to the dining hall that she bumped into Nanny. Who, unlike the last few days, wasn’t giving her the cold shoulder. Her expression was not the same one of affectionate warmth she was used to, but it had certainly thawed.

“Lady, ah, I’m sorry, Princess Larithra. I wished to apologize for how I was behaving before.”

“It’s alright Nanny. I understand.” She said, still surprised by the use of the title, but otherwise not as bothered as before. Nanny however shook her head.

“No, no, it was not right to treat you like that just because of who your father is, nor how you look.” Larirthra wasn’t going to deny that, but it was clear Nanny had more to say so she simply remained silent. “There was no excuse to treat a guest of the castle in such a manner, especially the child of the Princess. I promise I will do my utmost to act as a Royal Governess should in the future.”

“You’re trying now, and that’s the important part.” Larithra decided to settle on. “As I said, I understand why you were acting as you did. I’ve been a rather unexpected surprise for many. It was foolish of me to think I’d be accepted immediately, after all.”

Nanny looked uncomfortable at that, but Larithra offered a bit of a warm smile. “How about you make it up to me by letting me help in the kitchens tonight for dinner. Would that be alright?”

That made Nanny blink in disbelief. “So Catherina wasn’t making that up.”

Larirthra chuckled. “It might surprise you to hear this, but alongside being a mischievous royal and a trained warrior, I also enjoy cooking. Well, baking mostly. I blame your cookies and tarts, personally.”

That had the desired effect of making Nanny puff up with pride. “Well, if that is the case, you are free in the kitchens anytime!”

Larithra smiled and nodded, letting Nanny continue wheeling the cart she had been pushing into the dining room. She briefly shook her head, then hurried after. Her own stomach rather angrily sounded off given she had barely touched her dinner yesterday.

Breakfast was a cheerier affair for the young Drule than a few of the meals of the last couple days. While her mother and the Voltron Force had tried to make her feel welcome, there had been a distance that left her feeling like she didn’t quite belong. Not helped by how Nanny had been acting.

Now however, as she dug in and chatted a bit with the others, the same feeling she’d felt in her mother’s arms as she woke up was present here. She felt safe. Accepted. Home.

“Would you like to take part in our morning exercises?” Allura asked as they were nearly all finished. “I know that they might not be as necessary at the moment, given all we’ve learned. But it’s still best to be prepared. And I figured you might enjoy that more than some of my other ideas for things we could do together.”

“I don’t know, Mother. It’d depend on what the ideas were. I might be up for them.” When Allura started listing some of the more bureaucratic work she had to deal with as the ruler of Arus, Larithra blanched and shook her head, much to Allura’s amusement.

“Should she really be doing that? I mean, is her arm all fixed up?” Pidge asked. Larithra moved her arm about. She winced here and there, but said,

“It’s good enough for some light exercises. Drule heal somewhat faster than humans.”

“And here I was hoping we could take a bit of a break.” Hunk remarked, earning a light smack from Lance.

“Hey, just because we know the truth, doesn’t mean we can sit back and take it easy.”

“Oh, yes, that reminds me. Coran, have you talked with the Security Chief about trying to root out Zarkon’s spies?”

“No, but that is something I will be getting right to while you and the team are training. Ah, and as for your request… I have found someone, an old friend of Nanny’s, who does good work and can do it quickly. It should be ready by tomorrow. As should everything else.”

“Excellent. Thank you, Coran.” Allura replied, making Larithra quirk a brow briefly. Something about that exchange seemed a little odd to her, but after a moment she brushed it off. Standing up, she stretched again and said,

“I’m going to go swing by the infirmary. Get a quick check of this first. I’ll meet all of you outside.” The team nodded and she hurried off, looking forward to the chance to actually be a bit more active. Not that she was unused to recovering from injuries, but she was not as studious or bookish as her mother.

The Castle Doctor cleared her in no time at all, though he gave her the usual words of caution to not over exert herself. She hurried back to her quarters and after finding there wasn’t anything fitting for exercise, checked in with the staff. Once she was changed, she did a brisk jog through the castle halls until she was outside, the sunlight feeling wonderful on her skin.

Maybe that’s something Arus could help Doom out with sooner. Assuming we can bridge the divides between our worlds. She remembered how the people had celebrated the first full day of clear skies after the magnetic storm had been captured.

The team was already there and warming up. And none of them batted an eye when she smoothly joined in with their stretches and repetitions. These were all motions and exercises she’d done before after all, and it felt good to be doing them once again with the Voltron Force.

After about an hour of the drills, they took a short break, during which Larithra found herself peppered with questions about the future. Nothing truly important, just idle curiosities, which she was mostly happy to answer as she rested against a tree.

“Lance and Pidge were the only two who were still actively serving in the Voltron Force. Keith had become the Minister of Defense, and Hunk was busy running a scrap business and Arus’s first Space Burger joint.” She explained with a smile, memories quick to bubble up. Rather than try to fight the tinge of sadness that came with such, she simply let it wash over her.

“Figure’s you’d do something with food.” Pidge snickered, Hunk harrumphing even as he smiled too.

“Hey, we all know he’s great with a grill. Pretty good with drills and tools too. It's everything else that ya can have a debate about.” Lance snarked, the others laughing as Hunk shot him a pointed look.

Keith shook his head, then asked, “What about the other two pilots? They anybody we’d know now?”

Larithra saw the brief look Allura shot Keith there. The brief glint of worry, or perhaps fear. But she shook her head as she said,

“Aria and Ionnes are both babies right now. And who knows if they’ll even still join the Voltron Force in the future.”

“Hey, ya know, that actually reminds me.” Lance said suddenly, the mischievous tone to his voice ensuring everyone was paying attention to Red Lion’s pilot. “Since you’re the Crown Princess and all-”

“Was.” Larithra quickly interjected, though Lance didn’t seem even remotely phased by that as he kept on.

“Doesn’t that mean you’d know how to pilot the lions?” His grin grew as his question seemed to take the others by surprise, save Allura who simply hummed in thought. Larithra smiled and nodded.

“As the heir to the throne, yes, I knew how to pilot the lions. I didn’t do it often, in part since there wasn’t much need. But I had the training for it.” She stretched a moment as she added, “I tended to favor Black and Blue when it came to the Lions.”

“Then perhaps later, you could come along for our afternoon flight.” Allura suggested, which had Keith looking uncertain and had Lance grinning wildly. Larithra couldn’t help but snort in amusement.

“Are we trying to give Coran a stroke? Cause even if he’s accepting me more as much as all of you are, that still might be enough to give him one.”

“Eh, the old man’ll be fine. Sides, I wanna see how well she can handle one of them.”

“You just want to see if she’s as good as the Princess was when she first started out.” Keith sighed and grumbled. Allura’s cheeks tinged pink at that and she puffed up.

“Hey, all things considered, I did rather well the first time I flew Blue Lion!”

Larithra couldn’t help but join in with the laughter of the others. Until she caught movement from the corner of her eye, and spotted Coran hurrying over to them. She tensed up, and was already moving to stand as she called out,

“Discussions for joy rides in the Lions might have to wait.”

The team soon spotted him as well. “Great, now what?” Lance muttered as he came to a stop before them and worked to catch his breath.

“My apologies, but it would seem we are about to have another unexpected guest.” He turned his eyes to Larithra before he declared,

“The Witch, Haggar, has just entered our airspace. And she has requested an audience with you.”