The primary characters used in this story are from Voltron, Defender of the Universe and The New Adventures of Voltron and are copyright 1983,1984,1985,1987 and 1997 by World Events Productions. All other characters are my own (you'll know which ones).
What ravages of spirit
Conjured this tempestuous rage
Created you a monster
Broken by the rule of love
And fate has led you through it
You do what you have to do
-------Sarah McLachlan
Do What you have to Do
The sun peeked over the L'kater mountain range in the east, and morning
lazily crept over Planet Arus. Princess Allura had been awake for nearly an
hour when she first felt the warmth of the sun's light on her back. The young
ruler liked to rise early before the seemingly unceasing activities of the day
began, yet again. She relished these undisturbed moments and used them to
reflect and prepare herself for the day's events. The vast gardens outside
the castle were a favorite spot for her musings. She would sit near the
fountain and listen to the gentle splashing of the water and breathe in the
heady aroma of the exotic flowers that pushed up from the earth. Her gardens
were overflowing with a wide variety of plants and flowers from all over the
galaxy and were a source of great pride to her.
The princess sat on the edge of the crumbling fountain and gazed at her
reflection in the silver pool. The young princess would have been too modest
to ever admit it, but it was well known throughout the galaxy that she was
remarkably exquisite. She had small delicate features, and her face was not
quite completely a woman's. She still had an newness about her. Her
sapphire eyes were framed by dark, thick lashes and she possessed full, pouty
lips. Her hair was a mass of golden waves that tumbled to the small of her
back. She was petite and graceful. Her subjects thought her all shimmering
and light, and they adored her.
On most occasions when the princess gazed into the fountain she would find
her mirror-self smiling back at her. Today it was not so, for she had many
worries that cried out with loud voices for her attention. She sighed heavily
and considered recent events. The evil King Zarkon's attacks on her beloved
planet had grown more vicious as of late. She feared that each time he
attacked, she and her fearless band of protectors would be unable to keep him
back and her planet would fall to his monstrous evil. Her dark eyes stung
with unwanted tears. She would not let that horrid tyrant enslave her people.
She would rather die than let that fate befall them. While that thought was
first and foremost in Allura's mind, there was another that danced in her head
and teased her with its forbiddeness. What should she do about ....? NO! She
refused to even consider him. He is an enemy! The princess' thoughts were
broken by a voice calling her name.
"Allura! Allura! Child, where are you? It's time for your meeting with the
security council! Allura!" Allura's childhood nanny called.
"Oh well, time to start another day," mused the princess and then called out
"Nanny, I'm over here, and don't worry! I'm ready for the meeting!"
The beautiful golden girl arose and rushed to meet her nanny, little knowing
that she had been observed in her quiet repose by the one person who both
intrigued and frightened her.
The dark prince released his young sister's hands and opened his golden eyes.
"Ayli, I saw her again and she was breathtaking! Your gift is amazing!" he
declared.
"Lotor, you have the gift of Sight too. You just refuse to use it!" the
little princess sighed. However she couldn't keep herself from grinning at
her older brother. He was actually relaxed and smiling. It was a rare treat
to see him unfettered by worry or anger.
"Ayli, you know I cannot see the things you can. You just have the notion
that there is nothing I can't do. For the most part I would agree, but I
don't have the Sight!" the prince huffed exasperated. "Now move over and let
me tell you what I saw."
The Crown Prince of Doom rose from his lying position on the bed and sat
next to his pretty, little sister. Ayli scooted over to allow some room and
looked up at her brother. She tried to see him though an outsider's eyes.
She thought him just about perfect, but what would a visiting noble or even a
slave see when they looked upon him? She had overheard enough talk to know.
Prince Lotor was truly a sight to behold. He was of obvious high birth and
royal blood, and his presence commanded attention. The prince had broad
shoulders and powerful arms and legs. He possessed a lean waist and strong
chest. His physique was a visual masterpiece, but even the sight of it did
nothing to prepare the viewer for his stunning countenance. Prince Lotor was
beyond handsome. He was beautiful. That descriptive could not, however,
dissuade the observer of his obvious masculinity. The prince had the softer
human features of his mother's noble people, but several traits made it
apparent he was not human. His skin was a pale shade of azure. His eyes were
catlike, and those chatoyant eyes burned a deep gold. They gave the
impression that he could see into the soul of those he gazed upon. All aside,
his most striking feature was his mane of long, flowing hair. It was as soft
and smooth as the finest silk, abundant, and as pure white as virgin snow.
The sensual exoticness of his visage made him particularly intriguing. Prince
Lotor had the face of an angel, and that is what made his monstrous misdeeds
all the more horrific.
The dark prince, feared throughout the galaxy for his evil ways, was almost
beside himself when speaking of his heart's desire, Princess Allura of Arus.
"Ayli, she was sitting on the fountain's edge and looking at herself. I
wonder what she was thinking of?"
"A vain princess. What a surprise!" Ayli teased.
"Ayli, listen. You know she is not like that," the prince responded hotly.
"Calm yourself, my dear brother, I am only having some fun at your expense.
There is little to amuse me on this planet, so I must make my own amusement.
Besides, I see what you see when I use the Sight," replied Ayli.
"Yes, I forgot, and I promise to remedy your boredom soon, but you must help
me watch Allura more often. "
"Lotor, you know I can only use my sight for brief periods. Besides I fell a
little uneasy about spying on the princess. She seems to want to be alone in
her garden," the little princess mentioned.
"For all she knows she is alone. I am doing no harm, and it allows me to be
nearer to her," The prince's eyes took on an unfocused appearance, and he
seemed momentarily pained. " I must make her my Queen. We are meant to be
together!" he avowed.
"I do not wish to dispute you, but I fear the good princess will resist her
feelings as long as you remain in league with our father," Ayli cautiously
suggested. Ayli did not fear her brother or his rages, but spoke to him
quietly and gently because she knew Princess Allura's denials tore at his very
soul. She even feared in time his obsession with the Arusian princess would
drive him into the outstretched arms of madness.
"My dear sister, my position does not afford me the luxury of denying my
father. I am heir to his throne, and I have endured him these many years. I
will have his empire, one way or another, but now I must leave you and begin
my day. I still have much to do. "
Ayli watched as her brother and one true friend left the room. She thought
sadly to herself, "I hope he is able to attain the one thing that he believes
will make him happy, and I hope he finds he is happy once he has it." Ayli
knew the extent of her brother's passion for Allura. She read it in his eyes
each time he spoke her name. She felt his love for Allura and Allura's denial
of her own love for him drove him farther from reason, and now moments of
tranquillity were rare. Most of the time he was driven by a fevered mania.
He slept little and was constantly at the work of his father's kingdom or
covertly amassing his own forces and bringing planets into a secret empire.
When he did take a moment for himself he indulged in drink, Altuerian
crystals, and concubines. He would become drunken and bewildered and would
eventually fall into a blind rage. Objects would be broken and people would,
more often than not, die before his bloodlust would ease. He would fall then
into a dangerous stupor from which he was difficult to awake. Ayli feared he
would eventually surrender to it and die.
She knew that most people thought her brother was callous and evil, but she
thought he was merely a product of his father's madness and this hostile
environment. Perhaps, he would be happy here on Kyldare if he was truly evil,
and at times he boasted that he was happier than good men, but he lied. He
could not be truly happy, otherwise why would he drink himself into
unconsciousness and overdose on crystals?
Ayli thanked her lucky stars that her mother had been blessed with the good
insight to take her and her older sister Intaya to the artist colony on Planet
Cybos. Her dearly departed mother had spirited them away under the black
cloak of night and hidden them on the distant planet. There everything had
been light and peace. On Kyldare everything was darkness and death. Ayli's
mother, Kaila, had been unable to steal her young son away. King Zarkon would
have hunted the galaxy for his heir and would have surely destroyed the
peaceful people of Cybos. Zarkon had little use for daughters and barely
noticed their absence.
Ayli thought that if her mother had lived she may have found a way to protect
Lotor and keep him from his father's influences, but alas, she killed herself
shortly after Ayli and Intaya were sent away. A single tear slipped slowly
down Ayli's cheek. Why would her mother kill herself when she was so sorely
needed by her children? She didn't understand.
After Kaila's death, Ayli and Intaya remained on Cybos and studied art,
music, and the use of their special gifts. Ayli had the Sight. Intaya's gift
allowed her to read the thoughts of those she touched. They were never
visited by their father on Cybos, but Lotor had come often when he had a
moment away from the Academy. He brought them each special gifts and spoiled
them regularly. Ayli's favorite gift was the necklace of tear-shaped
diamonds. Lotor had told her they were the tears of joy her mother had shed
at her birth. She knew it wasn't true, but it comforted her. She didn't
remembered her mother, as she was only a few months old when Kaila was found
dead at the bottom of a cliff on Kyldare.
Prince Lotor adored both his younger sisters, and in their eyes he could do
no wrong, regardless of what they had heard about his rage and ruthless
conquests. He was their brother, and they loved him dearly. Ayli smiled to
think about their visits on Cybos. She could hardly believe the wild stories
about her brother's manner. Only later did she realize the truth behind them.
It did not matter. She would never allow herself to think poorly of him,
EVER. He had lived a life of unbelievable luxury and wealth, but had been
denied all the things that were truly important. It was inconceivable that he
could have been anything but what he was. Zarkon was evil, and evil actions
and thoughts were the key to his affections. Ayli knew Lotor had learned that
if he showed emotions Zarkon considered weak, such as, pity, fear, and love he
would be severely reprimanded. Her brother had learned early to avoid such a
thing. He strove to please his father, and in time had grown to enjoy some of
the wickedness.
Even though Ayli was 10 years younger than Lotor she often felt as though he
were the child instead of she, and she endeavored to comfort him when she
could. When he was in one of his moods she thought he behaved exactly like a
child awaken from a nightmare, agitated and confused. Ayli wept rivers of
unshed tears for him and loathed her father for his part in her brother's
pain.
Ayli rose from the bed and walked across the room to sit in front of an
easel. She removed the cloth and dipped a small brush into saffron paint and
began making small strokes on the canvas. She wanted to give Lotor the
painting at dinner that night.