Coran looked at Allura as if she had just lost her mind. He knew of the old tradition of a member of the Royal House flying the Black Lion, but he thought that now since Alfor had told her of what was to be done, she would forget about it. With the loss of Sven, they were short one pilot, but the deceased King had not returned to tell them that she would fly it. He wasn't willing to risk the Princess without Alfor's explicit consent. They would find someone else to do it until then. It was apparent that the young commander agreed with him and would probably even have a problem with it with Alfor's consent.

Allura didn't break eye contact with the two men who were in the way of her destiny. Keith would be difficult to convince, and she had a feeling Coran wouldn't give in quite so easily with this topic as he did the others. She stood at the head of the conference table and they were seated on either side of her. She automatically held the power position in the room, but a glance at Keith told her she didn't quite have all of it.

"Do you even know how to fly it?" he asked, leaning forward.

"I've seen teaching vids..."

"Do you know how to fly?" he repeated.

"No," she mumbled. "But when I learn, I'm going to be one of the best, I guarantee."

"I have no doubt of that," Keith said earnestly, clasping his hands on the table top and leaning foward. "But I still have to teach you the basic maneuvers and skills. We don't have the time for that."

She leaned forward until their noses brushed.

"Then where is your temporary pilot, Commander Porterfield?"

His eyes narrowed, losing the slippery grip he had on his patience.

"We're screening the possibilities," he answered tightly.

"You don't have to screen me," she pointed out with an annoying smirk that she had picked up from Lance.

"But I have to teach you," he returned.

"I'm a quick learner."

They stared at each other, neither having anything left to say in retaliation. In unison, they turned to the other occupant in the room.

"What do you think of this?" Keith asked Coran.

"I am against it," Coran said. "She can't put herself in this much risk and you're right in saying we don't have the time to train her."

Allura slammed her hands on the table in a characteristic display of temper.

"Dammit, Coran!" she swore. "You're supposed to be on my side on this because you're the stickler to Arusian tradition. More than anyone on this base, including the elders!"

"First of all, young lady," he said coolly. "If I ever hear you swear again, Nanny is going to hear about it and make your life even more difficult."

"She'd probably put you in a big pink dress," Keith muttered with a sadistic grin.

Shut up, she mouthed with a scowl.

"Second," Coran continued, "you have to consider what you're getting yourself into. I'm sure you've heard this argument a million times already, Allura, but still you insist on pushing it. You can't go on putting yourself in danger like this."

"I ran ARF for eight years, Coran," she said. "I was nine when I shot my first Doom soldier. You can bet that I know exactly what I'm getting myself into. AND I know all you're going to say about me being an important figure in Arus' survival and that is why I'm doing this. I'm going to fight for Arus. I'm going to protect my planet any way I can."

"Yes, but if you get killed..."

"I will not get killed," she said, her expression intent. "I promise you."

"That's a foolish promise, Princess," Keith spoke up. "That isn't one you can expect to keep."

"Wanna bet?"

They sat in silence, at an impasse. Allura racked her brain for other arguments that would help her get her way. Keith sighed. He knew she wasn't going to let this one go anymore than he would. He looked at her serious countenance, seeing the gears turn in her head.

"How about this?" she offered, testing out her poor diplomatic skills. "Let me have a trial run. Train me for a month and if you're happy with me, I'll be the new pilot. You can even call your temp over while I'm still training to replace me if I fail--which I won't. If you're not happy with me, I'll leave you to choose the pilot."

"You won't interfere?" Keith echoed.

He was warming to the idea. This might be the only way to turn her down and have her leave him alone afterwards. Butr he was going to give her a fair trial. He owed that to the memory of her father.

"I give you my word as a daughter of the Royal House of Arus."

"I protest!" Coran cried. "The risks--"

"My life is a risk," Allura argued and turned back to the commander. "Is it a deal, Keith?"

"You have to follow all my orders," he said. "You will be my subordinate for a month and if you so much as give me a dirty look, I'm going to treat you the same way I treat the others. You're going to be peeling potatoes and scrubbing floors."

He paused.

"And I want you to run through the simulator first," he added. "I don't want you flying in the Blue until I'm sure you know enough about it so that we can be in the air."

"What simulator?" she asked, frowning. "I don't recall hearing anything about a simulator."

"The simulator that I'm going to have Pidge program into the Blue's computer. In secrecy, of course. Good?"

"Whatever you say, sir," she said with smug look.

He held out his hand and she shook it.

"It's a deal, then," he said.

Coran rubbed his eyes. His head was beginning to pound. The young Princess had yet to follow one of his requests. He couldn't even call them orders. He knew that she respected his decisions, but when she set her mind to something, she had all the power of a laser cannon. Nothing could stop her. As for this new development, he had no idea how to approach it.

Keith excused himself and left. Allura sat down and faced her advisor, wanting his blessing. Coran was her second father and she cared, though she did not show it. She wanted to make him understand why she wanted this so badly.

"Coran?" Allura said in a gentler tone. "Please give me this chance."

"The risks, Princess. I cannot ignore them and neither should you."

"I'm not ignoring them," she said firmly. "I'm simply fulfilling my destiny. As the only living descendant of the Royal House, I should be flying with the Voltron Force. My family has protected Arus for generations in those Lions and I am going to do the same."

He sighed and put a hand on her head. He could see in her eyes that this was not a small thing. This was the last thing her father had left her, the Lions. He couldn't take it away from her even though he felt strongly about keeping her from it. She had to do this. She was meant to and they both knew that.

"Nanny was right. You are going to keep me on my toes."

She smiled tentatively. He nodded and lifted his hand, releasing her. She patted his hand and went out the door. The advisor sat in the Conference room long after he left, lost in his thoughts.