I feel very, very guilty. Showing my face after not updating for two years. I don't want to make excuses, but it's been a big roller coaster ride and I've had this doc sitting in my computer waiting to be finished. I kept telling myself that I would have to wait, didn't want to just end it badly. So here's where I'm going to try to give you guys the ending you've been waiting for. I'm so, so sorry for the delay and you guys are the best for giving me so much feedback.

The Dark Emperor Ascends- Epilogue

Usually when Keith was apprehensive, whatever he feared or worried about seemed to happen faster than it should, almost with deliberate haste. But it seemed- though this was doubtful- that Lotor was taking his sweet time to land and face him. That made the anxiety worse. I can't fight with my back this way, I can't fight with my back this way. The words pounded through his head repeatedly, however much he tried to brush them out, listening to the sound of the rainfall. Lance had once told Keith that in battle, he seemed perfectly confident and without petty fear. This was and had never been true. There was always some level of worry. But his father had taught him how to keep a level head, the illusion of no fear.

Keith remembered now the first time he had held a sword, as a very young boy of seven or eight. The blade had seemed very heavy at the time, but his father had given him lessons. First, how to swing and get a feel of balance. Then agility and how to move with the sword well. And finally, battle tactics. After supper each evening, they would practice together. Keith had never known his mother, and his father rarely spoke of her. He only knew she had died bearing him. Depressed greatly, his father had thrown herself more and more into swordplay, teaching his son once he was old enough. It was a great time that Keith remembered fondly. He had decided that he, too, would follow in his father's footsteps and fight for Earth. He had supported Keith greatly, writing letters to him when he was off training and keeping his morale up. Each time he returned from a mission, they would spend time together, talking into the night. Keith never forgot the day he was able to best his father at the blade- his father had nearly wept, not from shame, but pride. On that last mission day, all had seemed normal. His father complained a little about some back aches, but nevertheless followed Keith to the door and said his goodbyes, telling him they would celebrate his victory again. While Lance screamed at the top of his lungs at the sight of Earth's ruins, Keith sat in disbelief and apparent indifference- but inside, he was kicking himself, wishing he'd embraced his father one more time, at least had said, "I love you" instead of refraining for the sake of masculinity, or that he'd taken his father with him. Keith had learned from his father to never have his feelings completely obvious if troubled, to hold discretion. This incident made him withdraw into that façade even more so. Inside, he had panicked and been as upset as Lance and the others, his mind SCREAMING that this couldn't be real. It was one of those moments when the mind searched for what had happened, resting on the worst possible scenario. The stomach grinded, the heart cried- until relief came at realizing that the fears were unwarranted- but there was no relief this time. However, he'd had a plane to pilot away and no time for outward mourning, as Doom's ships were heading straight for them. Yet sometimes, when the other men had gone to sleep, he sat up at night and thought about his father and Earth. One particular conversation came to mind as Keith watched Lotor walk out of the ship, into the open.

The King wore his ax helmet and appeared smug as always with his laser sword at his side. Keith stepped out to meet him, trying to ignore his back and remembering instead.

When Keith was about twelve, he had asked his father, "If I'm wounded in battle, what should I do? Run?"

"If you cannot even wield your sword and have no other option, yes. But if you can still fight, and especially if running is not an option, you must power on through your pain. You must continue to fight as though you are perfectly healthy, or else you will never survive. Sometimes the mind can be very powerful, son. Sometimes, it can be what keeps you alive with more power than your body could ever lend."

Keith wondered if this was true. He had fought with scratches, tears, and lesser injuries, but never with an infected, torn series of wounds. As soon as he walked out of the ship, sword in hand, he instantly became drenched; the rain had become relentless. Here was the beginning. Keith tried to focus on the dampness, feeling the material of his clothing stick to his skin, leaving an almost sticky feeling. Lotor, he noted, was not smirking or smiling in any manner whatsoever. Perhaps as that was always his demeanor- to be obnoxious- Keith had automatically attributed this factor to his opponent. It was almost horrifying to see Lotor expressionless, even more so than angry. He looked almost untouched by the rain, completely stoic. But Keith knew there would be a speech, as always. Keith stopped about ten feet away, and the two men regarded one another. Keith, though he felt like a coward for thinking such things, hoped he could buy enough time until Voltron was repaired and could come. This was the first time he ever doubted himself so much and felt he could truly lose a battle. That he could die. He waited for Lotor to speak.

The storm grew worse. He felt the drops slap and spill down his face, listened to the thunder's rumble pierce through the sky. Keith grimaced, trying to control all of his anger. "How did you get on the roof?"

Lotor raised his eyebrows slightly at the sudden question, the drops clinking off the axes of his helmet. "I flew," he said cheekily.

"You know what I meant, you son of a bitch."

"Your castle is not as safe as you believe it to be. I hope you learned something that night. Arus is now mine, and the castle will soon be a stronger fortress than it ever was. "

Keith tensed, realizing Lotor was about to swing. He needed to keep him talking. "What are you going to do with the castle? I thought you would just destroy it."

Lotor cracked a smile, his fangs in view. "The Voltron commander trying to stall? This is rich. But no more. I've been waiting too long to rip into your flesh."

Keith spun to avoid the blade, and Lotor kicked him to the ground with one stomping boot. Keith collapsed into the mud, and slipped once more upon trying to get up. Lotor put that boot down as hard as he could, igniting Keith's back again. Keith nearly shrieked, but instead, he used his sword to slice Lotor's ankle from behind. He hollered and retracted his foot while Keith got up, somehow managing not to slip in the mud. He looked at the blood on the sword now, almost instantly taken away with the rain.

Keith looked at Lotor- who still cursed over his injury- and, with his opponent distracted, threw his blade, striking him in the shoulder expertly. Lotor roared now, a noise unlike anything Keith had ever heard before. Lotor extracted the blade with a blunt hiss and threw it back, narrowly missing Keith's face. He could actually feel the wind from the throw and the rain which bounced off the weapon on his face. He flinched, wishing that he had hit Lotor in the chest instead, straight through the heart. The two wounds he had inflicted were in minor areas- now he needed to go for the major targets. He had no opportunity to go backwards for the discarded knife and instead aimed his laser, which had been hidden until now. He fired twice, missing the agile Doomite. Though he did so surprisingly well for a wounded man, Keith could see Lotor's pain as he moved and continued to fire, in hopes that he would hit him. He managed a hit into the side. Now Lotor was more enraged than ever. Keith was so startled by his noise that when Lotor charged for him, he was too stunned to react. The Emperor barreled into him, knocking him onto his back and pummeling him with his fists, all weapons aside. Keith fought back, forgetting all about the restriction of his movements. He yelled back. Lotor grabbed him by the throat and Keith bit through one of his hands. Before long, both of them were covered in blood. When Keith knocked Lotor backwards, his helmet flew off and his ivory hair became soaked with rain. Somehow, the sight of him uncrowned seemed to fuel Keith. He rushed forth, trying as hard as he could to push Lotor off the cliff- the same courtesy Lotor has given him during their first battle. Keith had fallen, but not very far. This cliff was much deeper and would rid him of his nefarious rival forever. After what Lotor had done to Earth, his father, his force… Keith could feel no mercy. This nightmare would only end when he was ridden of him forever. Lotor resisted, fighting him through the push. Keith knew he, too, could easily be thrown over. But he thought of his men, and Voltron. And especially, Allura. The image of Lotor touching her, doing anything to her…he pictured Allura sobbing and begging him for mercy while Lotor continued to touch her. Keith slammed his fingers into the shoulder wound and Lotor gasped tensely, the pain clear. Keith didn't hesitate. He grabbed Lotor by the throat and flung him off the precipice. He watched his greatest enemy fall over. Keith watched, drenched, as he vanished from sight. There was no possibility of him ever returning to hurt any of them again. His hair glued to his forehead and cheeks, he collapsed on the ground. It was almost difficult to feel relief, just at the fear of what had been done to Arus and the possibility of the return of Doom.

Keith staggered to his feet and headed for the castle, before plummeting facedown in the mud, his body on fire despite the chilly downpour. He turned onto his back, trying to regain his strength. Through his fluttering eyelids, he saw a sight he would never forget. It was enough to make him smile.

The flight of Voltron.

It seemed only a few minutes later that the Black Lion alone was flying towards him and Allura was beside him, in horror at his state. "Keith. Keith! Can you hear me, Keith?" He'd never heard her say his names so many times in one conversation, let alone a sentence. It was nice. It was this delirious thought that made him realize just how dire his condition was and that he must have been lying there for much longer than it had been assumed. He tried to speak and nothing came out. At last, as he saw the multi-colors of the lions in view, he said weakly, "He's gone. He'll never touch you again."

When Keith woke up, he was warm at last, wrapped in many blankets and in his usual turquoise pajamas, his hair dry. Lance sat in the corner of the room, waiting. He perked up at the sight of Keith opening his eyes and sat on the end of his bed. "Hey, buddy." He smiled, using that soft, serious voice he always had in delicate situations. "How are you doing?"

Keith sat up, slightly confused and still fatigued to some degree. "What happened?"

"We beat back the Doom forces. There's been a lot of damage to the towns. Allura is taking care of business right now with Coran. Everyone else is trying to help the people." Lance nudged him proudly. "You finally took care of Lotor. I knew you had it in you."

Keith sighed. "I just kept thinking about everyone and how we would never be free of Doom. I got so fucking sick of this. Something from inside me just took over."

"There is always the possibility they will return. I don't know who their next king would be. "

"Haggar!" Keith burst out, realizing he hadn't seen her in days. "She'll come-"

"Haggar is dead. When it was discovered that she'd failed the Crown prince, they impaled her, just like Lotor always threatened to do. Foolish, really. She would have made it harder to fight them."

Keith looked around the room, so relieved to be back to the mundane atmosphere. "I still want to know how she got our lions and the barrier."

"What can we ever know about sorcery? It's not what we were made for." He changed the subject upon Keith's look and grinned. "Are you feeling well?"

Keith smiled. "Much better." He could feel the bandages on his back, which felt much improved. His face and body were still bruised from the scuffle. A look in the mirror showed blackened eyes and tousled hair. His back hurt with every step, but he didn't care. It was worth it all just knowing of their victory for the time being. He stumbled over to his closet.

"What you doing?" Lance followed him across the room. "You should stay in bed."

"I have to talk to her." He pulled his pajamas over his head.

"You have to rest. Besides, Allura is out and about with business. And you'll scare her looking like that."

Keith couldn't help but laugh at that and finally slipped back into bed. "All right." He relented only because he wanted to be at full strength when meeting with her. He still had no idea what to say or do. He knew Coran would never relent to their union, no matter what he said or did. But at least Allura knew how he felt. He still had much to tell her, wanted to spill the contents of his soul to her. She had no idea just how deep his feelings were. It was for her, because of her that he'd been able to defeat Lotor.

After Lance left, he went back to sleep. For the next few days, he did not even see Allura but for quick glances across the hall. But Coran was always ushering her away to do other things, constantly speaking of more affairs. In that time, the bruises on his face lightened and his scars healed more. Soon he was walking around at ease, back to his normal self, though the marks would be on his back for a long time. He waited as patiently as he could for her to find time for him but ultimately threw himself back to work with the others. Keith worked, reverting to the old routine of ignoring his deep emotions. He stood on the balcony of the castle one night and looked at the stars.

He heard footsteps behind him and turned, hoping for Allura. But it was Coran. Keith turned towards him respectfully and waited for the letdown of a lifetime, the speech he had expected. Instead, Coran beckoned to him and said, "Follow me, Commander." Keith obliged, following Coran into the corridor, and at last into the meeting room. The older man shut the door behind them.

"I've been meaning to speak with you this past week. I apologize for keeping you waiting. This has been a trifling week for us all." Keith waited for him to continue, still tense. "What I have wanted to say to you is how grateful I am for your saving of Allura." He looked away. "I have treated you and your comrades with contempt despite all you have done for Arus. And I am sorry for it. I hope you can accept my apology."

"Of course, sir." Keith was surprised to hear such a request from Coran. It hadn't been what he was expecting.

Coran opened a small box. Inside was a golden key, which he used upon the back door, a door Keith had never seen open. Coran acknowledged his internal queries by noting, "This key has not been used in many years. Not since the destruction of Arus and the reconstruction from the damage. I went inside to see it mainly intact. Then I closed this door and never wanted to open it again until Allura was made Queen, so I could show her. I have decided to show you first." Now Keith was even more baffled than before, yet felt a mingling of honor beam from within. When Coran shut the door behind them, Keith was astonished by the glow the room held, by small glowing circles in the wall, a dark greenish blue. Now he could see Coran clearly as he opened a closet within. The small, velvety case he withdrew held a beautiful golden crown, encrusted with gems and diamonds. "It is the crown she is to wear upon ascension. Which shall be very soon. We cannot be without a king for much longer." He returned the crown and now withdrew a large canvas. It was a painting. Keith immediately recognized the former King, Allura's father as one of those in the picture. The one time Keith had been compelled to speak to this man through clairvoyance- an event he still had difficult fathoming- was forever seared within his memory. King Alfor sat with his Queen, both donned in rich silk robes and beautiful crowns. The Queen had a transparent veil fastened over her head, but her face was in full appearance, some of her golden hair peaking out. Below them, the Queen held the Princess, just a child of a year old, swaddled in her arms, golden hair already covering her head fully. What captivated Keith was that Allura's bright blue eyes seemed so deep and protruding. It was almost as if she had sensed her extraordinary destiny even at such a tender age.

"This portrait was completed just one day before the invasion. It was placed here by me to present to their majesties at the banquet of the court the next evening. But as the guests gathered and I was on my way to retrieve the painting, the invasion began." His voice was soft. "I will never forget the glow of the fire, brighter than anything I have ever seen. Everyone was in a panic, running, screaming. By the time I found them, the King and Queen were dead. The nursemaid who had held Allura tried to run, but she was struck down. I was scarcely able to save her. I will never forget the look in her eyes. She did not cry, she just seemed astounded. I managed to escape with her, finding Nanny on the way. We hid in the hills until the invasion was over. Then we returned to the palace, which was badly damaged. The entire court was gone. Only some of the peasant inhabitants and servants had survived. We tried to rebuild, to move on. But Allura grew up alone, with only I to lead her. She thrived in her studies, but was terribly distraught by the strife of her people. Your arrival brought everything to life again. I have given it thought, commander. The marriage of Allura to a foreign king would give away control. But…if she were to marry one of no separate land, then we would retain Arus in our own control. The court can be rebuilt by the others and their marriages, perhaps some Polluxians would not object to joining the court after the Princess Romelle and Sven have wed. If there is any planet we would not be wary of mingling with, it would theirs, particularly because Romelle and Allura are blood related. And Commander, what I try to say to you now- which may not be quite so clear- is that you may have Allura." Keith stared, knowing he had heard wrong. "You have proven yourself worthy. And I believe that selflessness and courage are just what the King needs- and what Arus needs."

Keith somehow said, "Does- Allura know?"

"I've not yet told her. I plan to take her into this room after we finish speaking to hear her opinion."

Keith beamed. "I don't know what to say."

"Say nothing but that you promise to rule Arus with the same respect and valor you have shown up to this point. And that you will treat her well. That is all the affirmation I need."

Keith nodded and Coran placed a golden ring upon the young man' s finger. "This belonged to our king. Honor both him and his daughter." Keith almost could have hugged Coran, but instead smiled and set up a meeting with him; he had much to learn about Arusian politics. "A commoner should never marry the princess," Coran noted. "But every rule must undergo an exception from time to time, mustn't it?" Keith regarded him blissfully, a pit of glee and nervous excitement churning in his belly. "And I believe that this exception is a most worthy man indeed."

That night, Keith waited for Allura to approach him. He returned to the balcony to watch the stars, finding it the perfect setting to speak to her under. When she finally did return, back in her signature pink gown, Keith took her by the hands at once. She seemed bashful this evening and so he lifted her up into a spinning circle, causing her to laugh in the manner he had missed all this time.

"Does this mean you accept?" He asked her seriously.

She smiled shyly, her eyes lowered. "Of course I do." He bent to kiss her, but she put one hand on his chest to stop him, her smile gone. Taking his hands again, she said, "But I must confess something to you. I just…do not know how to say the words."

He knew when he pulled back that something very troubling was on her mind. And no wonder- Lotor had had her for days. "Anything," he said. "Anything you have to say, I want to hear it."

"I'm not pure anymore. Lotor…" Her face contorted. "Used his fingers and I bled." He put a hand on her face, which was now wet with tears of shame. "Will you still take me as I am?"

He took her by the shoulders. "Allura, I love you. Even if Lotor had-"he stopped a moment, searching for words-"done everything there was to do, I would still love you. He couldn't change you. He couldn't destroy you. Being his prisoner must have been the most frightening thing in the world for you and I swear I will never have you go through anything like that again. You must believe me when I saw that you are not worth any less to me because of this."

Having been told all her life the court's dogma on virtue, Allura was still unsure that the trouble was behind them , even with his kind words. "But I bled…"

He shook his head. "I don't care. That doesn't make you impure or spoiled goods and I don't care what the court rules say. You're a person, Allura. And you should be treated like one." He wasn't sure what else to say. He couldn't go back in time and stop Lotor from hurting Allura, though he'd have liked to kill him again. "My biggest concern is you and if you're going to recover from this whole disaster. What can I do to help?"

She smiled a little. "And I was more worried about how you would feel."

He grasped her hand tighter. "You must think of yourself more."

"Romelle has helped me a great deal," she admitted. They'd spent several hours the night before speaking about the whole situation. Romelle had finally assured Allura that she did not blame her for the treatment she'd received from Lotor. "Why should you have to apologize when he's to blame?" Romelle asked her. She'd also comforted Allura about this situation, fearing Keith's reaction. "You know he'll still love you." But she'd felt ashamed until now. "I am grateful I went through nothing like she did, but she's so inspiring. Strong, brave. You would never know…"

"That's because she didn't let him destroy who she was. He may have thought he was doing just that, but he wasn't." He smiled encouragingly. "She made it so she wasn't just a victim like Lotor thought. And so did you. You proved how strong you are."

She looked at their hands, the twin rings of Arusian royalty now on their fingers. "My father came to me. He told me to be strong and that I could get through anything. But I was more afraid on Doom than I ever have been in my whole life. And that fear made me feel weak, not like a leader should. But I remembered, too, your words about fear. I've accepted that I am just like anyone else, despite my rank. But I have to push myself more than others. I can't sit around sobbing about what's been done. I have a whole planet of people to serve." That wasn't a gripe, but something she was proud of. Now that Lotor was actually dead she had nothing to fear from him; and Keith would help her recovery just fine. She'd been concerned that the Emperor's face would haunt her even after his death, but the words of her father, Romelle, and Keith had all served to make her stronger. The way a Queen was supposed to be. "I used to fear it was my fault. Him coming after me so much. But now I know better. I haven't felt ready to take the crown once in my whole life until now. I think I am even more ready to serve the people, because of that fear I had and the vulnerability. I want to do everything I can to make things better for Arus."

He put his hand on her face. "And I think I was afraid to think about being the King until what you just said." He put his lips on her forehead. "Are you sure you're all right?"He put his forehead right to hers, getting closer than he ever really had been before.

She nodded. "I'm more than all right. I'm ready. Mostly, I'm just happy because now I can have you." She choked up. "And now I know I'm not worth any less to you," she finished tearfully.

Keith wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply, his eyes shut with awe and disbelief that this woman, who he'd loved for so long, was now his; this time, there would be no brevity in their embrace. He was ecstatic, still reeling over the fact that after so many troubled nights and thoughts of her at the back of his mind, she was going to be his wife. He ran his hand over the thick silkiness of her hair, breathed in her rose-like scent. At last. An existence of virtual solitude, constant duty, and being a shell: It was over. He still wasn't entirely sure about being King, but as she stood in his arms, he knew it would work. They would put all the trouble of Lotor and Doom behind them after all these years of hating them for Earth's destruction. But there was no time worth dwelling on the pain. He cradled her now, grateful beyond words that he and his companions had ever found Arus, the planet of great beauty and green earth they'd come upon entirely by chance.