"It's finished," Keith said with flourish.

He stretched and his back cracked loudly with two hours worth of cramping. Allura had changed into her pink jumpsuit and she held the finished speech in her hand. She read it over once more and then smiled triumphantly.

"This is a masterpiece, Keith," she said. "You're in the wrong profession. This one will be done in the history books in no time."

"I always wanted to be historically recognized."

They laughed like two schoolchildren and then went to the command room to broadcast the speech. It was empty when they got there and Keith set up the equipment for her. Allura cleared her throat nervously and when he gestured she began to speak. Her apprehension disappeared as the words began flowed smoothly. She reasoned with her people with a finesse that was unmatched. Ten minutes later, it was over and she collapsed into the chair Keith had vacated just for her. Her knees had turned to jelly, but she felt better than she had in months.

"This is the first time I acted without Coran's approval," she told him. "And it feels great."

He smiled. "This shows you that you can trust your own judgment and that's the first step towards becoming an untouchable leader."

"Learn that from the Academy, did you?" she teased, jabbing a finger at his chest.

"Of course."

They laughed, both bordering on hysterical now that they had done when they had come to do. Allura clutched at Keith as she howled. Impulsively, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek.

"Thanks, Keith," she said soberly, all laughter gone. "I couldn't have done without you. I probably wouldn't even have thought of it."

Keith closed his eyes and held her to him. "Anything for you, Allura."

It might have been the way he said it, or the gravity of the moment, but nevertheless, Allura's brained clued her in to what her heart had known all along. Her eyes widened at the revelation and she pulled back to look Keith in the face. His dark eyes smoldered as he looked back at her, and her heart began to beat faster.

"Allura," he said, staring at her lips.

She lessened the distance between them, her eyes fluttering close. The touch of his lips against hers was as light as a breeze, but had the awesome power of a thunderclap. She felt as if her world was centered on this one man, her life was his life. It always had been ever since he had vowed to protect her and her planet. She admired him for his bravery and his pure heart. He was speechless by her beauty and the will that she had hid from all of them until she finally had to act on her duties as a leader. Their feelings for each other were as inevitable as the sun rising. The Princess and the Commander, two strong spirits that found each other in the vast reaches of space. It was a fairy tale.

Just then, the doors of the command room slid open and they jumped apart. Coran and Nanny came in, the agitation on their faces a second before disappearing. But not before Keith saw it.

"What's wrong?" he asked, knowing exactly what was wrong.

"You are what is wrong," Coran replied angrily, his resolve to reason calmly fading away. "I cannot believe that you allowed her to disgrace herself in this manner."

Allura stepped in front of her friend. "What are you talking about, Coran?"

"And you, child," Nanny chided. "How could you act this way? Think of it? We will be the laughingstock of the universe if you marry this---this peasant." She spat the word out as if it was spoilt milk.

Keith stepped back as if struck. Allura gasped when she realized why Coran and Nanny were so annoyed. A boiling anger rolled over her.

"What do you mean to talk about Keith this way? He's saved this planet and its people more times than I can remember," she yelled. "You both should be ashamed. If anything, I’m not worthy of him."

Her words didn't seem to have any visible affect of Coran, but Nanny shrank back.

"You are a princess, Allura, and you are not supposed to act this way with someone of Keith's stature. No offense, of course, Keith."

Keith's lip curled involuntarily. He wanted to throttle Coran, but he nodded his head instead. Allura glanced at him and he saw that she was hurt for him. She held out her hand, but he stepped back from her. He understood where this was all coming from, even if she didn't. Her eyes filled with tears.

"Keith?" she said.

His face must have answered her question for her own crumpled with sorrow.

"No," she whispered brokenly.

"I’m sorry," he said.

Keith turned and went into the docking bay. He felt as if someone had knocked the air out of him and all he wanted to do was leave the castle. Allura started after him, but Coran grabbed her and held on.

"No, Coran!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. "Let me go! I order you to let me go!"

Lance, Hunk, and Pidge ran into the command room, having heard the entire ruckus. One look at Allura's tears and Keith's absence told them all. Lance grabbed Coran and held him back, freeing Allura. The Princess ran to the docking bay. Nanny moved to stop her, but she was halted by a freezing stare.

The next thing they heard was the blast of a ship and Allura's heartbroken cry soon after.