Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron or any of its characters.

Rating/Setting: Rating is T. Setting is DotU but is definitely AU – see challenge info below.

Response to Cheetoy's KAEX Challenge "A Royal Twist." "What if Keith was the surviving Arusian Royal Prince and Allura was an Earth born hometown girl turned GA Starpilot? How will the prim and proper Prince deal with falling for a strong-willed GA pilot of no royal line? Sadly, Nanny and Coran insist on a Princess for our dear Kogane... But how shall they deal with the Drule Prince(ss)? Can they find their Happy Ever After?"

A/N: Final chapter! Hope you've enjoyed my twisted DotU!

Chapter Forty-One

The day of the ball was extremely hectic. The four Alliance pilots were kept busy either flying the Lions as a show of Arusian strength or greeting guests as they arrived. Allura and Hunk on were greeting duty when Hunk said, "I don't think I'll complain anymore about practice. I'd rather do that any day. This ritual greeting is about to drive me insane."

Allura looked over at her friend. They were wearing their Voltron uniforms minus the helmet. In them, they were immediately recognizable to the public. Garrison had asked that all of them submit picture of themselves in uniform and those pictures had been released in press releases and news channels to promote Voltron's return. Turning from her friend to the approaching dignitaries, she smiled and bowed low. Standing, she said, "On behalf of Prince Keith Kogane, Crown Prince of Arus, Srg. Hunk Garrett and I, Lt. Allura Altaire, welcome Planet Larcone to the Castle of Lions."

Hunk took over at this point, "If you would proceed through the doors to your right, castle staff will direct you to your quarters. If there is anything you do need, please use the com system to contact Matron Hilda." The visiting dignitaries thanked them and then proceeded toward the doors.

Allura noted that the young raven-haired girl was glancing around curiously. Looking for Keith and a chance to fawn over him, I'm sure, she thought waspishly.

"Hey, what's the frown for?" Hunk asked.

Relaxing her facial muscles, Allura sighed, "It's just there are so many beautiful young women here. I'm sure the only thing they have on their mind is Keith."

"Don't worry about it. He only has eyes for you."

The pretty pilot sighed again and just shook her head. There was still a chance her fairy tale could go up in a puff of smoke.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

That evening, the Voltron Force mingled with the guests at the ball. They were security for Keith during the event. While everyone had been screened for ties to Doom, there was always a chance someone would decide to act first and make a deal later. Lance glanced around the room and found nothing out of order. In fact, several ladies had made it a point to introduce themselves. It could be an eventful night for him after the ball if he played his cards right. A smile was on his lips as he continued to survey the room. Then his eyes went back to the beautiful blonde who was making her way over to him. She was absolutely gorgeous.

"So, I understand you had a hand in this." Allura said and indicated her dress.

Eyes twinkling with a playboy's gleam, he replied, "Oh, I think if I had a hand in there, Keith would have something to say about it."

Blushing furiously, Allura retorted, "If we weren't at a ball, you'd be on the floor."

Chuckling, he continued his teasing, "I don't think Keith would approve of that either, Allura."

Allura glared at him for a moment and then smiled as she moved forward to give him a quick hug. "I can't stay mad at you too long if you helped get me this dress."

He winked at her as she pulled back. "When Coran suggested it and Matron agreed, how could I not help?" Lance looked at the room behind her. "You're on an equal playing field now." Turning back to lock eyes with her, "In fact you have an advantage. In spite of those diamonds in your ears and hair, your service ribbons put you far and above what most of these women could offer him."

Allura's blush was one of pride this time. "Thanks, Lance," she said as she moved to take her position across the room. She had already turned down several dance offers before she reached her place. It wasn't that they couldn't dance. They could, as long as at least two other pilots were not engaged in dancing. She just didn't want to be in anyone else's arms tonight. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she smiled. The young maid who had helped her with her hair had done a wonderful job. Her hair was pulled back gently from her face. Part of it was caught up in a knot on the top of her head with the curling length falling down her back. The diamond pins that Hilda had lent her twinkled in her hair from the overhead lights. She was just turning back to survey the room when trumpets announced that Keith was ready to enter.

The Crown Prince stood outside the ballroom in the hallway with Coran beside him. Coran looked at the nervous prince. "Everything will be fine, Keith. When we get to the bottom of the stairs, you'll make your way to Allura and ask her to dance. It will signal to everyone that they can begin dancing."

Keith nervously nodded. After the dance, he'd settle down. He'd have to go receive his guests after that dance and his mind would be off Allura. I'll be fine, he said to himself. Then he heard the trumpets and the doors opened. Entering with Coran, he paused at the top for his introduction. He watched as the gathered crowd bowed and curtseyed as he came down the stairs. His gaze searched the room for Allura. It didn't take long to find her because she was the only one not bowing or curtseying. It was a good thing too because she wasn't wearing what he expected and he might not have found her otherwise. Pausing at the bottom of the stairs for only a moment, he made his way toward her.

Allura's breath caught as she saw Keith at the top of the stairs. She smiled as she wasn't the only one who had been surprised with a change of uniform for the ball. He looked absolutely dashing and fit every girlish childhood fantasy of Prince Charming. Her heart was thudding wildly in her heart as he approached her and bowed.

"May I have this dance, Lieutenant?" he asked formally.

After a curtsey and a nod, she took his hand. For the first time in six weeks she was in his embrace again. And again he left her breathless. She sent a silent thank you to Hilda who had all the team practice waltzing over the last two weeks. She would have hated falling on her face or tripping over her feet.

Keith's eyes finally left hers as other couples began to join them on the floor. "That's some uniform, Lieutenant," he joked.

Taking a moment to look at his uniform as well, she said, "And your's as well, Prince Keith." She gave him a dazzling smile as she said, "I think we both were surprised."

Returning the smile, he said, "I would never have guessed that Matron would do something like this." His tone grew serious as his smile relaxed, "But then, maybe she can finally see that love is more important than duty."

Allura licked her lips as her mouth became dry. Staring into the dark pools of his eyes, she felt lost and found at the same time.

The rest of the dance was completed in silence by the couple. Murmurs ran through the crowd as the striking couple twirled by. Was there a romance between the prince and the pilot? Many thought the idea romantic, but many young women who came with the hopes of winning Keith's heart were irritated. The night was young though and anything could happen….

As the dance ended, Keith raised Allura's hand for a kiss. His eyes kept contact with hers as his lips touched the fabric of the glove. "Thank you for the dance, Allura."

Allura nodded and gently withdrew her hand which felt like it had been burned through the glove. She rested the urge to take off the glove and look for burn marks. But it was no matter, the feeling was there. He had chosen her for the first dance. Now she was absolutely sure didn't want to dance with anyone else… they couldn't compete with Keith.

The ballroom was still aglow with lights and music when Keith finally finished receiving the guests. He drew a deep breath of relief that that part of the night was over. It was a necessary part of the evening and while he didn't dislike doing it, it was time consuming. Coran walked up beside him as the last diplomat walked away.

"You know you need to dance, don't you?" Coran asked him gently.

Keith's eyes found Allura across the room. She was talking with one of the dignitaries and seemed to be making quite an impression on the man as he was smiling broadly. He resisted the urge to sigh as he replied with a monotone to Coran. "Yes. I know I need to dance with other women besides Allura."

"It's part of the burden you bear as the host of the event and as the most eligible bachelor here." A hint of laughter was in Coran's voice. He had seen the numerous looks that Keith had garnered from the women at the ball. More than one would be happy to be in his arms for a dance… or more. The prince shot him a withering look that did nothing more than make Coran release his laughter into a vocal form. Giving Keith a gentle nudge, he said, "Go on."

This time Keith did sigh as he made his way over to a pleasant looking young woman who had been rather witty during her brief conversation in the line. He knew he'd have to dance with a few of the women who had been flirtatious earlier, but he'd wait a few dances before any of them. Perhaps that would help them get the message.

Allura's smile was fake as she spoke to yet another planetary head who wanted to nothing more that brag about himself. The fakeness of her smile had nothing to do with the dignitary and everything to do with watching Keith dance with young lady after young lady. Most of the time he was smiling and she had seen him actually laugh on occasion. She knew he had to do it, but it didn't make it any easier for her to stand on the sidelines and watch.

"Would you like to dance?" a voice asked her.

The dignitary must have moved off, hopefully he hadn't noticed her distraction when he left. She was going to decline the dance until she saw that it was Lance who had asked. She gave him a wan smile and then took his hand. There was nothing but friendship in their dance and for that reason she had no qualms about dancing with him.

As Lance let her out on the dance floor, he jokingly said, "I'd have to relieve you from security duty, Lieutenant, if your distraction wasn't also the person we're protecting." He smiled down at her.

Her eyes were drawn to Keith even though she was dancing with one of the most handsome men in the room. "They're all so lovely."

"They are, but so are you. I have to use the word even though I hate it, but it's his duty to dance with the women in attendance. To not do so would be rude and that is something that Keith usually isn't."

Sighing, she returned her attention to Lance. "Do you think he'll ask me for the supper dance?"

"Do you have any doubt?" Then he frowned, "Well, obviously you do if you're asking. Dancing one or two dances with any of these girls isn't going to change his feelings for you. But yes, I do believe he will ask you for the supper dance." The supper dance was the most important of the evening… except for the last dance. Whoever danced the supper dance with the prince would also be his dinner partner at the meal to follow the dance. Having both the dance and the meal with the prince would send a message to everyone about whom he was interested in.

At the end of the dance, Lance walked Allura back to her station and moved back to patrol the room. Allura watched as Keith led yet another young lady back onto the floor. Sighing, she returned to the task of monitoring the guests in her section of the room.

A short while later, the supper dance was announced and Allura scanned the room to find Keith. He was almost in the middle of the ballroom when the announcement was made. He excused himself from his last dance partner and turned with purpose in her direction. A smile began to form on her face as she realized he really was going to ask her.

Keith stopped in front of Allura and gave her a dazzling smile. "I hope you didn't doubt me," he whispered. Seeing her blush, he knew that she had. However, he wasn't angry. If he had seen her dancing with multiple men laughing and smiling, he might have had doubts himself. Still smiling he said, "May I have the supper dance with you, Allura?"

"Of course," she whispered as he once again took her black gloved hand in his white gloved one and pulled her onto the floor. The dance was just as exhilarating as it was before. They didn't speak but only gazed at each other as they held each other in the hold of the dance. When the song nearing its end, Keith stopped them near a balcony door where Lance happened to be. She doubted that it was a coincidence.

The doors to the balcony were open to let in fresh air to the slightly stuffy ballroom. As Keith led her onto the balcony, Lance closed the doors and stationed himself in front of them. They would not be interrupted.

Taking both of her hands in his, Keith drew a deep breath. This was it. This was the moment he had been both anticipating and dreading since he had woken from that sleeping spell of Haggar's. She loved him. He was sure of that. But did she love him enough to stay on Arus and give up much of her former life? Looking into her eyes he began.

"Allura, you've had time to think about the question I asked you at the precipice. I'm asking you again, will you marry me, Allura Altaire?" Keith's voice was sure and steady unlike the way his stomach felt and the way his heart was beating.

"For the last two weeks I have done little but think about that question and what I said to you at the precipice." She saw a shadow cross his face. Perhaps he was reliving the words that she had said. "You are a knight in the shining armor of a robot Lion. You are a Prince that puts fairy tales to shame. You are a man who brings to life every woman's inner dreams. I love you, Keith Kogane, Crown Prince of Arus. Yes. Yes, I will marry you."

Allura expected Keith to pull her into a crushing embrace and she was honestly looking forward to it. It had seemed like a long time since their first kiss and she wanted more. But he didn't. Instead, he let out a deep breath and said, "Then I need to tell you the reason we need to marry sooner rather than later."

In the haze of the fantasy that was the Arusian ball, she had forgotten about her question to him regarding the need to marry now. However, it seemed that it had been on Keith's mind and before he would do anything else, he would answer that question.

Keeping her hands tightly in his, he said, "Do you remember when I spoke to Coreen on Pollux?" Seeing her nod, he continued, "She knew of my magic's instability. She told me that I needed to find my soul mate and join with her. It was the only way to stabilize my magic."

"Join?" Allura asked in confusion.

"Yes. Not just physically or in a marriage. It has to be a joining of emotions as well as bodies." He flushed a little as he continued, "She could see somehow through her magic that we had feelings for each other. She asked why we were not already joined and I pointed out the things we have already talked about- our age, your career, my duty. She helped me see that I would be doing Arus no favors to marry anyone other than you. You are my soul mate."

Allura's eyes grew wide, "Why didn't you tell me sooner? I'd have already said yes. There's no way that I would let your magic go out of control if I could help you."

Finally smiling at her, he said, "That's why I couldn't tell you. You had to agree to marry me because you love me, not because you were worried I'd turn into a dark mage. We both needed to go into the marriage without doubts about if the other person loved them." His voice turned to a whisper, "I'd die for you, Allura."

She looked into the deep dark pools of his eyes and saw the truth there. It was there when she had confronted him about being on the security detail. He truly loved her that much. "I have no doubts about my love for you or you for me." Finally smiling herself, she said, "But a kiss would seal the deal so to speak."

"Your wish…" he began as he leaned forward to kiss her. He didn't worry about anything as he kissed her. All his longing was released as his lips slanted hungrily across hers and her mouth opened beneath his; he knew that she was as hungry for this as he was.

They broke apart at the quiet knock at the door. A moment later, Lance opened the door and smiled at them. "Well?"

Keith took Allura's hand and then looked to Lance. "Congratulate us, we're engaged."

"About time, guys!" Lance walked out to give Keith a hug and Allura a kiss on the cheek. "Well, I'll be happy to help console all the beautiful broken-hearted young ladies."

Allura slapped him on the arm. "Incorrigible."

"Incorrigible, but still eligible, unlike Keith," Lance said as he re-entered the ball room where everyone was heading into the dining area.

Allura reached up to caress Keith's face. "Definitely ineligible," she whispered with a smile. Together they walked back into the ballroom.

Do fairy tales actually happen? For a royal prince bound by duty and a commoner space pilot, a fairy tale ending did happen this night. But it is only the beginning of their story, not the end. Now the question will be- can they find their own version of happily ever when the forces of Doom still lurk in the shadows?

Yellow eyes of a blue cat gleamed for a moment in the shrubs at the edge of the balcony and then they were gone…