01 ✨ Homecoming

[lioness_rampant]

Who: Allura and anyone who happens to be dropping by
Where: Island Four, Beach House
When: October
Summary: Allura is reunited with her friends
Rating: Should be PG


Allura isn't entirely sure what to expect when Shiro's Skarmory touches down on the beach in front of building that seems charmingly antiquated to a person who grew up in a castle that is also a spaceship.

It looks like the kind of place someone could begin a fresh life. A new life.

It's a little daunting, this idea of starting over from scratch in a new, alien world. She might reinvent herself entirely but for her friends' presence; they tether her inexorably to her old life and the person they remembered from whatever point in time they'd been plucked.

She follows behind Shiro, equal parts nerves and excitement at the prospect of seeing them again. It doesn't feel like it's been long since they parted ways, but that parting was so bittersweet and none of them will have the slightest idea.

"I'm home."


Video

[ Allura is seated on the couch in the beach house with her Swablu perched on her knees. She waves once at the screen, smiling pleasantly. ]

Hello! I'm Allura, and this is Blaytz. I'm very recently arrived and it seems proper to introduce myself and my new companion. [ Blaytz chirrups and flaps his little cloud wings, and she gives him a scritch in the floof under his beak. ] My friends have explained many things to me, but I've no doubt there is much more that I have yet to learn.

I look forward to meeting you all in my travels.

Comments

[lioness_rampant]

[ Allura's smile tightens around the edges at Pidge's question. The last thing she remembers? She can't, won't say it. She won't hurt her friends with that knowledge. She wonders how much of the future is wise even to disclose. Surely there are some things that shouldn't be revealed?

But... Pidge looks sad, and Allura wants to give her good news to hold onto. ]

My... the last few days are a bit of a blur. So much happened. The important thing is... we won. [ Her expression goes soft with fondness for her friend. ] The universe is safe now. There's a chance for lasting peace.

[pidge_out]

We won..? [Pidge's eyes go even wider somehow as she echoes two words she's been hoping to hear for longer than she's even realized. They won. Or in her case it's more like "We're going to win," which is really just as good and the thought settles over her like a warm blanket. The universe will be safe and Hunk didn't get sent back to a doomed situation and now she doesn't have to find herself constantly worrying about the situation back home in the back of her mind. It's still definitely shocking news, though, and Pidge finds herself grabbing at her hair with her free hand. As if that'll stop her mind from spinning in elation, or the breathless laugh that escapes her in an amazed rush.] We won. We win!! That-- That's great!!

[lioness_rampant]

[ For a moment, Allura feels like it's all she can do to hold back her tears. Not tears of grief or remorse over her own death, but of relief and gladness. Regardless of the means, they had won. Her sacrifice was worth it. It was.

She nods, heady with emotion, a hand reaching out to squeeze Pidge's shoulder. ]

We won. We saved the universe--every universe--and we couldn't have done it without your courage and ingenuity.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge can really only look at Allura for a moment, her mouth working and searching for words that she just can't seem to find right now. Then again, leave it to Allura to be able to give praise in such a regal way that it snatches away anything Pidge might want to say. Not that it doesn't fill her with a sense of pride, because it does, even if logically that seems a bit misplaced.] I-- I was only part of it, though. We're a team. [It's only after she's spoken that she realizes it, though. And it gives her a second's pause.] Wait wait-- Every universe? Did we end up on the brink of collapsing the fabric of reality or something??

[lioness_rampant]

That is... close enough to the truth. It was a dire situation, but we prevailed. Honerva and the Galra Empire no longer pose a threat, and the surviving Alteans are free of her influence.

[ Allura knows she'll have to be careful not to give too much information here. Pidge is the cleverest of all of them, and would surely be able to deduce a great deal with even the smallest kernels of information. She releases Pidge's shoulder with a nod. ]

Everyone fought valiantly. And your family is safe, as well.

[pidge_out]

[A single curious eyebrow arches upward. "Close enough to the truth"? She can't actually tell if there's still more to the whole thing that she should ask about, or if this is a situation where she might be better off not knowing for now. The knowledge that the threat posed by the enemies they'd been fighting against for so long is gone should be more than good enough. It's a real effort for Pidge to stamp down her curiosity and just tuck all this information safely away.

She manages, though. And news about her family always helps with that, bringing the smile back to her face. Her family has always been important to her, and that now includes the rest of Team Voltron.]

Thanks, Allura. Seriously, that's a huge load off my mind.

And it's awesome that you're here. This place has a lot of similarities to Earth the way it was before the Galra invasion, so there's so much we can show you!

[lioness_rampant]

[ Oh, quiznak. That eyebrow, quirked inquisitively at her, is enough to tell Allura that Pidge isn't entirely satisfied with her vague explanation. The last thing Allura wants to do is lie to her friends, even if only by omission, but she refuses to tell them she sacrificed herself when there's nothing anyone can do to fix it.

Not even wonderful, brilliant Pidge can bring someone back from the dead.

But there is relief, at least, in the victories she can share. Pidge's happiness makes her smile, makes the tension that had been twisting itself up between her shoulder blades loosen. ]

The guide did mention a great deal of traveling. I should very much like to see this world.

[pidge_out]

[Fortunately for Allura, Pidge is going to stick with the course of action that keeps everyone happy. If there's more to say, then maybe she'll find out about it later. And besides, it's not like Pidge has nothing but good news for Allura about the time they'd spent in Pokémon world either.] You should! Once you're more settled in and used to things, you should definitely go for it. Keith, Shiro, and Matt all go around to do the Pokémon training thing every so often. You could tag along with them if you want.

[lioness_rampant]

I think I'd like that very much. It's been quite a while since I've been able to do anything for... well, for myself.

[ There's part of her that feels a pang of guilt even thinking about taking off into the wilderness when the rest of the Paladins are here, where they might need her. Her smile saddens a little. ]

Then again, you all have been without me for some time now, haven't you. [ It isn't a question. ] You'd be fine without me a while longer, I suppose.

[pidge_out]

[Hearing that, Pidge just shakes her head in disagreement.] Allura, I already know that everyone will be excited to see that you're here. [And she realizes with a slight pang in her chest that this includes Lance. A pang that she then promptly pushes aside.] You can do whatever you want here. It's a lot easier to say that now that I know things turn out alright and that the war ends. [She offers up a smile, nodding back toward the kitchen.] You want some coffee? Or-- juice, or whatever?

[lioness_rampant]

[ At Pidge's words, Allura feels a sliver of shame for allowing herself to even briefly consider that just because she wasn't strictly needed that it meant she wasn't wanted or welcome. She knows her friends better than that. Perhaps it's a residual feeling from her time on Earth towards the end of their stay; most everyone else had families they could go home to, where she felt very much alone.

Pushing that thought aside, she smiles at Pidge and nods. ]

A juice sounds like it would be quite refreshing, actually.

[pidge_out]

[Pidge leads Allura into the kitchen, then, putting her mug of coffee down on the counter as she moves to grab what she needs to fix up that drink. She's no Hunk, obviously, but she's pretty hopeful that this will help the princess feel at least a little more at ease. Having a full stomach helps with that, as Hunk always said.] Okay, so the flavors of things here are a little different from what you're probably used to, and definitely pretty varied from Earth. But I think you'll be okay with Pinap Berry Juice. [As she says it, she's pouring out the light yellow-orange liquid into a glass and putting it aside for Allura to grab.] It's really just... sweet. And kind of tangy. Like pineapple juice.

[lioness_rampant]

[ When Allura takes the juice, she sniffs it first. There's a tang to the aroma, as Pidge indicated, and it's not from a cow, so she feels safe. She hums in approval once she takes a sip of it, nodding her head when she lowers the glass. ]

It's delicious! Very refreshing. Thank you, Pidge.

[ Leaning against the counter, she rolls the glass between her palms, observing her young friend. ]

Do you like it here? This world? Is it a good place to live?

[pidge_out]

[Pidge beams a little at the praise. There's no reason for her too, since it's not like she made the juice from hand or anything like that. But it's nice to see the princess enjoy something Earth-like.

She returns to her mug of coffee, though, bringing it up to take a quick sip of her own while she considers how to answer Allura's question.]

Mm. I like it well enough. It's not, you know, home. But it's not a terrible place to be.

[lioness_rampant]

No, I suppose no world can ever replace the one you left behind... but if it were that easy, it would be less meaningful, don’t you think? Your brother is here, too, and I know your parents are safe.

[ She could say a lot of things. Pidge at least has a home to go back to one day; Altea is gone forever, and even if that weren’t the case, Allura can’t go back. A heavy stone drops into her stomach and she exhales softly, turning to look out the window to the shore.

For better or worse, this is her home now, until she disappears for good. ]

[pidge_out]

[Pidge shrugs slightly, mulling that comment over while she drinks a little more. Allura has a point, of course. They wouldn't all miss Earth the way they do if they could decide to call anyplace they wanted 'home.' But there's nothing wrong with settling in here for now, either. After all this time it felt homey enough.]

Yeah, you're right. But-- like I said, I do like it here.

[She glances over then, and-- Pidge can't place it, but something feels off in the way Allura looks out the window. Reading people has always been her biggest weakness, but they've been friends long enough that Pidge can at least pick up that something isn't quite right with the princess. Whether or not it's something that she can ask about is... an entirely different thing, though.]

I'm sure you will, too! It's actually surprisingly easy to feel settled in.