MBH Epilogue:

Epilogue:

“Allura...hate...”
“Shh...”
“You hate....”
“No.”
“But, I...”
“Shh...”
“I am...”
“I know.”
It seemed like hours; Allura didn’t know. She continued to hold the
prince, soothing him with her touch and words. His sobs had begun to
subside, and he stammered out a few broken words. Then, he was quiet again,
breathing slow and even. Lotor moved his head from her tear-soaked jacket
but remained in her arms’ tender embrace. His eyes fixed on the soil
beneath him. He looked as though he were deep in thought.
“It’s strange,” he said in a whisper, his face still looking down at the
ground.
“What, Lotor?”
“There are two parts,” he tried to explain.
“Two parts?”
“The...the two halves of my mind. Two parts...I can’t keep them together.”
“It’ll just take time, Lotor,” Allura assured him.
“It feels so strange. They keep drifting apart.”
“You’ll be all right. I...” I’ll help you, she thought to herself but
said nothing.
The prince finally raised his head. Allura released her grip slowly.
Shaking slightly, he stood up. “Trees...” Lotor looked around at the
mysterious forest. “There aren’t supposed to be trees on Doom.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Allura. “Maybe Mari?”
“Without a doubt."
“Are you all right? Can you walk back?”
Lotor took a deep breath, then barely nodded his head. “I’ll...try to...”
His eyes closed tightly as he held back another wave of despair.
“Lotor, look at me.” His eyes opened and fixed on Allura’s face. “I’m
here,” she said.
“I don’t know what to do! The ANGER! You’ll leave, and I’ll...”
“Remember what I told you before.” She touched his face to brush away a
stray tear. “I’m NOT leaving you.” She watched him regain control again.
Standing on tiptoe, she brushed her lips against his cheek. “Now, is there
anything I can do?”
“I don’t know,” he answered looking at her. Silence reigned for a few
seconds. Lotor placed his hand where she had kissed him. Something seemed
to make a connection in him. After all that time chasing after her,
threatening, begging, pleading. Then, because
of the most bizarre situation and a little kindness... He sighed, then
smirked. “You like me,” he sang in a very soft voice.
“Don’t even THINK about it!” she warned playfully.
“About what?” he asked in an innocent tone.
“About...” But she couldn’t continue. The way he looked just then gave
her a severe case of the giggles. He grinned at the sight. Finally, she
recovered. “Let’s just get out of here,” she suggested. Of course, after
only a few steps, his face, eyes constantly glued on her, again took on a
daydreaming appearance.
“You like me...”
“Stop it!” She again began to giggle and gave a light punch to his arm.
“Stop what?”
“You know what.”
“I’m not doing anything!”
“Are too.”
“Just what am I doing?”
“You’re singing!”
“SINGING?” he said in a shocked tone.
“AND,” Allura continued, “you’re contemplating...something again.”
“What!”
“You are.”
“I am not...okay, how do you know that?”
“You have that look in your eyes.”
“What ‘look?’” She gave him her best impression of a love-sick puppy.
Lotor burst out laughing. “I don’t look like that!” he exclaimed.
“Do too.”
“Do not.”
“Do too.” What a change, Allura thought. He was happy, and all because he
was joking around. If only she could keep helping him like this, maybe he
would gain control over his mind. She could keep his spirits high,
encourage him to keep his respect, and...well, she guessed she could put up
with that little devil in him, too.

Still arguing, both walked along the path leading out of the woods. After
several minutes, Lotor’s smile disappeared, and he seemed concerned. “Are
we going the right way?” he asked Allura.
“I’m sure we are.” She looked around. There was the path, but there
wasn’t an end to the trees in sight. She didn’t see anything familiar
either. “We didn’t go this far into the woods, did we?”
“I don’t think so.”
“But, there’s no break in the trees.” She stopped again to look around.
“You don’t think you could still fly up and take a look...”
“Shhh!” Lotor was listening intently. “Someone’s here,” he whispered as
he tried to locate the sound. Suddenly, he groaned and fell to his knees.
He clutched the side of his neck in pain.
“Lotor!” Allura ran to his side to find a tiny arrow sticking out of the
prince’s skin. He pulled it out, looking at it with curiosity. “Are you
all right?” she asked with concern.
“I think...ohh!” Lotor was suddenly very dizzy. Then, as quickly as it
hit, he was fine, except...
“Lotor, what’s wrong?”
“I...I can’t see!” he said in terror. Then, he heard the rustling again.
“Allura! Get down! Stay behind me!” But, as the princess watched, a
red-haired woman dressed in brown appeared from behind a tree, a small
crossbow in one hand.
“Greetings, intruders!” the woman declared, letting another arrow fly.

Next trial...

THE END

-Kat