The Middle Kingdom - Six
Hagar sat in her chambers, alone with her thoughts - for once. Zarkon was away and so was Lotor. No yelling or demands upon her at the moment. She relished her peace although it did leave her time to think - too much time.
She sighed and looked down at her shriveled hands and remembered when they were smooth, beautiful, soft.She remembered that Zarkon had always complimented her on the softness of her hands. Of course, that was when he was Z'aale to her. She loved him then - why, she didn't know. Back then, he was exciting, different and a little dangerous. He was different than other men she knew. He was powerful and controlling. That appealled to her and attacted her. When she found out she was married, she nearly left him, but he persauded her to stay with him with sweet words and promises. She could not leave him anyway - she was caught in his spell.She killed Lotor's mother out of jealousy and what did it get her? Nothing but a wasted life - a shriveled shell of a woman - no not even a woman - a hag. That was what she was known as.
Oh, she pretended to revel in her ugliness. It did not hurt anymore when Zarkon called her an old witch - she was used to it. She had gotten to where she hated beauty, because it wasn't hers anymore. She knew that with her magic, she could transform herself into anyone she desired - and she had numerous times.But she didn't want to hide behind an illusion, she wanted her real self back, and that was gone. Her beauty left her when Voltron died. Perhaps it was the dying robot's revenge for her trick, who knew? Sometimes she blamed Zarkon for her fate. He was the one who wanted her to pursue the Black Arts. She did itout of love for him. She knew he didn't love her even when she was beautiful. He didn't love anyone. Hagar knew she was the biggest fool to love him, but she did, and nothing could change that.
It was just like with Lotor. He loved Allura and nothing could change that. How ironic that they were both in the same situiation - loving someone that didn't love them back. They were both fools, she and Lotor, but would follow the path to destruction just the same.If Lotor asked her for help, she would give it and when Zarkon demanded yet another roebeast or some plan to destroy Voltron, she would do it as well. Hagar sighed. For all her powerful magic, she was just as much a slave as anyone here on Doom...
Zarkon was on his way to Yesarus on a suprise visit. He wanted to see for himself if the rebellion that had sprung up there was truly dead. Zarkon sat back and took another drink of Tyrusian wine, sipping it. Although all had gone well there, he knew that soon the Alliance would meet on Arus soon. This did not look good, for it incited more rebellion within his Empire.Damn that Princess and her friends! They were the cause of his troubles. He would have been better off obliterating Arus to begin with.
Zarkon set his drink down and closed his eyes. He would have to disrupt the conference - no, he would kill off the Alliance members. All would be there. A well-planned attack would do the trick. The only problem would be Lotor... Lotor..he had become a thorn in his side. He was rebellious and wouldn't follow his orders. Why? Because of Princess Allura. Granted, she was exquisite, a great prize, but no woman was worth defeat in battle.Lotor should have given up on her a long time ago and attended to business. Instead, his son was making a fool of himself chasing her.
Still, he remembered the passions of his youth. He knew what it was like to have a desire thwarted and then gained. Perhaps if he let Lotor go to Arus and get the Princess, then his mind would be on his work. He wouldn't disrupt Hagar's plan - if he just took the Princess.Once she was on Doom, he would use her as leverage both against his son and Arus. He would demand that Lotor remain obedient or his new bride would be harmed. Arus would fall to him, and the Voltron Force would be no more. Zarkon smiled, feeling better. This plan had to work! If Lotor screwed it up, then perhaps he would see that his son receive the punishment for failure all his officers knew of -- execution.