Keith and Lance sat quietly in the team ready room, exhaustion and grief aging them far beyond their 22 years. Traces of Sven's blood were still evident on their shirts, hands, and Lance's leather jacket, but neither of them noticed, lost in their own thoughts. It was a sign of how bereft they were that neither of them noticed Nanny and Coran coming in the room, and only looked up when the older man gently cleared his throat. "Keith, Lance," he said gently. "You wanted to see us?"

Keith shook himself. "Uh, yeah, we did. Please, sit down, both of you." He waited until they were settled, then said, "Sven's transport made it to Ebb, with him still stable. But. . . it's going to be a very long time before he can fly again, if he ever can."

Nanny crossed herself. "Ach, de poor boy," she tsked. "I hate to tink of de risks you boys take. Vhat vas he tinking, fighting dat horrible vitch alone?"

Lance's head jerked up, fire in his eyes. "He was thinking, 'get my teammates and the innocent bystanders to safety, even if it costs my life'," the Red Lion pilot snapped. "He was doing what we came here to do!"

"Easy, Lance," Keith cautioned, putting a hand on his new second's arm. "She didn't mean anything by it." Lance settled back into the couch, still grumbling, and Keith turned his attention back to Coran.

The royal advisor looked troubled, worrying at his mustache. "Without Commander Holgersson, we don't have Voltron, which leaves us highly vulnerable to attack. How long before you can get a replacement pilot from Galaxy Garrison? Will it help if Arus makes the request?"

Keith shook his head. "There will be no replacement from Garrison. They made it clear when we left that we would be on our own out here, that all their resources were taken up fighting the rest of the Drule Supremacy. So, there's no point in asking, they won't send anyone."

Nanny gasped. "No von at all? Den vhat are ve going to do? Zarkon vill kill us all!"

"That's what we wanted to talk to you both about." Lance leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "We're going to have to train our own replacement, from here on Arus."

"A fine idea," Coran approved. "There are any number of young men in the caves. . ." he trailed off at a headshake from Keith and an audible snort from Lance. "A problem?"

"You could say that." Keith sighed. "No disrespect to your people, Coran, but. . .they've hidden like rabbits since we got here. While we can understand, and sympathize with, their position, that's not something any of us want at our backs in combat."

Typically, it was Lance who cut to the chase when the older people frowned in confusion. "We want to train Princess to fly Blue."

Nanny exploded. "You VHAT? Out of de question! Ve cannot haf de Princess zooming around in de sky, risking her life. . . she does not know how to fly!"

"We know." Keith's voice was quiet, but held all of his command authority. The advisor and governess were both silenced immediately. "The team has been discussing training her as an emergency backup since we arrived, and she's been on checkrides with me, Lance, and. . .and Sven. She's got the reflexes, and the aptitude for flying. With the right training, she'd equal any one of us."

"Out of the question!" Coran boomed. "She is the heir to the throne, you cannot expect her. . ."

"Actually, we can." Lance's green eyes blazed. "Ever since we set foot on this planet, she's been the only one to want to help defend it. Besides, think about it. She's in danger anyway, being the ruler of the planet. At least if we train her to OUR standards, she has a fighting chance!"

"Besides, you seem to think we are asking your permission." Keith was gone; the cool, analytical Voltron Force Commander spoke in his place. "We have no chance without a fifth pilot; she is the best candidate available. Lance, Hunk, Pidge and I have discussed this. If she is agreeable, and we believe she will be, we will give her the same practical training the four of us had."

Nanny sputtered. "B-but. . .you four are soldiers. The Princess cannot possibly manage the training you have had! Women are far more delicate!"

"I can think of a couple of women who would prove you wrong on that," Lance drawled. "And Allura's not the fragile, delicate thing you two are determined to make her. She works out with us, she's fought to defend the castle. .. .give her credit."

"Yes, please do, all of you." The voice from the door startled the four of them; they looked up to see Allura standing there. "I was coming to offer to fly Blue until Sven can; then I heard you all talking. Nanny, Coran; I am no longer a child to be fussed over. I rule Arus, and will do what is needed to keep my people safe." Coran opened his mouth to protest; she held up a hand. "This is not open for debate. Without Blue Lion there is no Voltron. Without Voltron the kingdom falls. I WILL join the Force, and take whatever training the boys decide is necessary."

"Glad to have you, Princess." Keith got to his feet and came to shake her hand; Lance followed suit. "I won't lie to you; this is going to be the hardest thing you've ever done."

Lance nodded. "We won't go easy on you, because we can't. Our lives, and more importantly, yours, hang on what we teach you. So it's going to be tough." He grinned. "But I know you'll kick ass at it, and be as good as any of us."

"I won't let you down," Allura said softly. "I'll make you proud of me, all of you."

"You already do, Princess." Coran stood, ignoring Nanny's pulls on his coat sleeve. "Keith and Lance are right; it is as much your place to fight for this world as it is to rule it. And I know your father would be quite proud of you."

"We already are, Princess," Keith said quietly. "You've done way more than any of us ever expected you to, and all four—no, five—of us are proud to have you on the team." At Allura's questioning look, he elaborated, "Sven came to me about a week ago, proposed training you as a backup pilot, was even going to do the training himself." He hesitated, then continued, "He can't now, but Lance and I will be honored to teach you. Welcome to the Voltron Force, Princess. . ." He put a hand in his pocket, then withdrew it and extended it to Allura, opening his fingers to reveal Blue's key.

Allura solemnly took the key from her new commander's hand. "Thank you, Commander. I know I have a great deal to learn."

"And you'll start tomorrow morning at 5 am with the rest of us," Lance put in. "Get your rest tonight, Allura; you'll need it in the morning." He smiled softly at her. "And I know you're going to blow us away."

The princess took that as her cue to say goodnight, boldly kissing each of her new teammates on the cheek as she left. As soon as she was gone, Coran looked to Keith and Lance. "Do you really think she can handle it?"

Keith ran a weary hand through his black hair. "If we didn't, we wouldn't have offered, Voltron or no Voltron. Look, Coran. . ." he sighed. "It's been a long day from hell, I'm beat, I know Lance is too, and we both. . .just need some time alone. Can we talk about this tomorrow?"

Coran hesitated, wanting to discuss Allura's safety and what they planned to teach her, but then he took a good look at the two men—boys, really—in front of him, and truly saw their weariness and heartsickness at the loss of Sven. "Certainly, Keith. Both of you go get some rest; we can talk tomorrow." They nodded slowly and mumbled good nights, stumbling out of the room. Coran watched them go, then spent most of the rest of the night convincing Nanny that Princess flying was not the end of the world, and would actually do her good.