Chapter Text
When Keith first stepped foot onto Altean soil, he immediately noticed the smell. It was sweet; not in a sickening way, but in a fresh, satisfying way that complimented the regality of the outdoor hangar that his ship had just landed in. It was very bright here too, he noticed, the clouds above him light and fluffy compared to the volcanic plumes that had constantly hung in the Daibazaalan sky.
Untarnished metal flooring led to polished white marble stones fitted into a shining walkway, where some of his fellow Blade members were already making their way up towards the street. Keith could already see a large crowd had formed in wait of their arrival. He took a deep breath, trying to will his ears from sticking flat against his head. This was gonna be fine .
A hand came to rest on his shoulder, and he glanced up to see Kolivan looking down on him with what he supposed was meant to be encouragement, but Kolivan is too serious for that, and it looked more like a grimace. He patted his shoulder and nodded his head.
“We’ll be fine, Keith,” he said. “The ceremony won’t take more than half a varga, and then you can get settled and rest up.”
“Shouldn’t we be helping with the citizens and the integration?” Keith asked as they started walking up towards the street.
“King Alfor has assured us that the Altean royal guard had begun the process two quintants ago - he insisted on our only focus upon arrival being the ceremony.”
“Of course he did.”
It wasn’t that Keith didn’t appreciate the Alteans’ appreciation for their service, he was just worried about remaining idle - being still for too long now made him antsy, and he wanted to focus on either getting himself or everybody else settled.
After everything that had happened over the last few decaphoebs - the war, the rebellion, the fall of Daibazaal - Keith had forgotten what a life without constant motion felt like; he’d forgotten if he’d ever felt that at all. And now he was here on Altea, expected to start a new life completely different from any he’d ever led, and he couldn’t help but notice just how still it all felt.
It wasn’t bad, just… different.
The Blade of Marmora was being paraded through the streets of the capital city of Altea, Arus, being cheered and applauded and praised by thousands of civilians. Only about 15 of their members were taking place in the ceremony, which made it a little easier for them to traverse through the streets. Mothers held back curious and excited Altean children from rushing up to the stoic, politely waving Blade members, people threw flowers and some kind of soft powder that seemed to glimmer in the sunlight, others waved from open windows of beautiful townhouses.
Trumpeting, ground shaking music was being blared in celebration. It really was a magnificent parade and quite an excellent welcome, but while Kolivan made all the members lower their masks, Keith kept his hood up to keep the glittery stuff from getting down the back of his suit. His ears were already stronger than average, and all the noise around him was a bit overwhelming.
As they drew nearer to the castle, the buildings got prettier and more exquisite and Keith felt jittery and more out of place. His dark purple and black Blade suit was a prominent contrast to the stark whites and blues of the city around him. It was only a matter of time before they were ushered into what appeared to be some sort of town square, only about a hundred times bigger than any town square he’d ever seen.
Constructed from the same polished white stone beneath his feet, it was ovular in shape and large enough to hold probably all the people in the city. Gleaming blue and white buildings were tucked into the sides, little restaurants and boutiques and vendors scattered about its edges. Thousands of Alteans, and to Keith’s surprise, other races of alien, parted for them as they made their way towards a large and very tall outcropping of gray rock streaked with glowing blue lights, beautiful swirling double staircases carved into its sides leading up to a flattened top on which stood-
“The Royal Family,” Kolivan confirmed. Keith could make out three figures perched at the front of the Acropolis, and what Keith assumed were a few nobles and dignitaries stood behind them. While they were too high up for Keith to make out any faces, he could see the different color clothes each of them had.
The tallest and most exquisitely dressed in the middle - King Alfor, dressed in robes of white and red - had his arms spread beside him in welcome. To the King’s right, dressed in a beautiful gown of white and pink, stood who Keith assumed must be Princess Allura, waving with controlled delicacy. And to the King’s left, draped in robes of white and blue-
- there stood Keith’s entire future. Keith set his jaw. A nudge on his back made him look over his shoulder where Thace was offering a comforting smile, one which Keith attempted to return. Then he straightened his shoulders and went to take his place by Kolivan’s right side, where he looked down at him. Keith nodded, and together they started towards the steps that would lead them to the top of the Acropolis.
There was an Altean guard placed on every other step, so they had to follow up one by one. When they finally made it to the very top, they lined up horizontally behind the Royal Family, facing outward as Alfor signaled for the crowd to fall silent. Keith stood again in his place by Kolivan’s right side, Thace and Ulaz right behind him, hands linked. Keith smiled to himself at the sight. They would not have to hide here. He was about to lean over so they could see him roll his eyes when the King began to speak, and he straightened to attention.
“My people!” his voice boomed from the tiny microphone on his vest across the entire crowd as they cheered in recognition of their king. The King huffed a small laugh and quieted them once again.
“My friends,” he spoke a little softer now. “A magnificent day it is indeed. To be standing here in front of you all, to say to you what I have to say, is a dream I feared I’d never get to l ive. Beloved people, our war against the tyranny of oppression has ceased. Emperor Zarkon has fallen; let peace reign forever!”
The crown of Alteans echoed loudly the King’s words, “Let peace reign forever!” before erupting into applause and cheers of joy. The King again signaled for silence.
“However,” he noted, and stillness befell the crowd, “it is not without loss that we celebrate victory. Many of you who stand before me today feel such loss of friends and loved ones who gave their lives so we may experience this moment of freedom. Today, we honor them and ask the Ancients to welcome them in triumph into the halls of Oriande. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
He then opened his hand to reveal a delicate flower with pink petals, which he then tossed over the side. Or at least, it would have been tossed over the side if it didn’t begin to float gently up into the air, twirling lightly in the soft wind. Keith watched as the Prince and Princess then did the same, as did the nobles standing behind them, as did the massive crowd of people below. They all opened their hands and let loose thousands of the pink flowers to float up into the air towards the clouds, spinning along and being taken by the breeze. It was very beautiful.
“With the fall of Zarkon’s dynasty also comes the fall of Daibazaal,” the King took a breath. “The fall of the Galran people.” Keith clenches his fists behind his back. He already knows the story. Zarkon taking the seat of power by no one’s say, quickly turning their once stable government into a captive dictatorship, his only real support coming from the military generals and their armies he’d bribed with power and wealth, and his druid witch of a wife who’d manipulated and blackmailed Galran nobilitaries from all over Daibazaal into submitting to Zarkon’s reign.
He’d made quick work of taking over the Galran home planet, enslaving his own people in quintessence mines and essentially draining the life out of the planet. He’d then moved on to Galran territories throughout the galaxy, enslaving the people of each planet to bleed their planet dry of its quintessence before moving on to the next one. The quintessence would be brought back to and processed in Daibazaal, used to fuel the Emperor’s armies and expand his empire and power.
Altea, who’d maintained a decently peaceful alliance with Daibazaal, immediately attempted diplomatic reasoning with the Galran “government” (if you could call Zarkon, his wife, and one or two advisors a government) to end the tyranny or face the consequences.
Zarkon responded with the assassination of two Altean dignitaries on a diplomacy mission in an Altean colony, demonstrating the severity of the act of threatening his power. War had begun.
And the Great War lasted for nine brutal decaphoebs.
In the last few decaphoebs of the war, King Alfor resolved to form an alliance of all the civilizations that had been fighting against Zarkon, one that would hopefully be strong enough to bring the fall of the empire once and for all. It consisted of five parts, five planets who were willing to give everything to have peace in the universe once more, using the image of a lion as their inspiration.
There was Earth, the Blue Lion, perhaps not as advanced or progressive as its allies, but the fighting spirit of humans was equally as admired across the universe as it was feared.
There was Balmera, the Yellow Lion, a people of such great integrity and honor, each and every one of them standing firm in the fight for their right to peace.
There was Olkarion, the Green Lion, so technologically advanced and more than willing to offer arms and aid.
There was Altea, the Red Lion, with their military excellence and reputation as peacekeepers for generations.
And then there was-
“Yet, the Galra have yet to be conquered, they have yet to be taken as hostages, yet to lose faith. Now the Galran race can rise together in pride, knowing that they as a people are the reason the universe once again resides in harmony. Friends of Altea, please assist me in my deepest and humblest expression of gratitude towards our strongest allies, champions of victory: The Blade of Marmora, the Black Lion of the Voltron Coalition!”
Keith stepped forward with Kolivon and Narti, the Blade’s three top generals, as the crowd below erupted into cheers and applause once again. Keith felt that same swell of pride in his
chest he’d felt that day the war had ended, when the leaders of the Voltron Coalition had stormed Zarkon’s ship and cornered him, executed him. That burst of overwhelming relief when he’d gotten the confirmation that yes, it was over, it was all finally over. He turned his head slightly and saw his dads, fingers still locked, beaming at him pride.
The cheers carried on as King Alfor turned to face them, grin wide and eyes crinkled as he stepped forward and locked his forearm with Kolivan’s.
“Thank you,” the King said to him, “for everything you’ve done for us.”
“Thank you for being at my right hand,” Kolivon replied, and the King pulled his good friend into what looked like a bone-crushing hug. It was the closest Keith had ever seen Kolivan get to a smile.
They pulled apart and the King turned once again to address the crowd. “We place upon our f riends the highest Altean honor: The Medal of Virtutis, in recognition of all they’ve done for Altea, and all they’ve done for the universe.”
More cheers as the King was brought a prettily carved box of white wood, which he opened and took out a silver medal, polished until it shone, intricately designed with stars and nebulas, a stoic, black lion situated in the center. King Alfor turned and summoned Kolivon forward, who followed and kneeled in front of the King.
“Kolivon, Major General of the Blade of Marmora, leader of the Black Lion of Voltron, we honor you as an ally and as a friend,” he boomed as the medal was placed over his head and around his neck. He then stood, locked arms with the King once more, and returned to his place between Keith and Narti.
Princess Allura then turned and pulled another medal from the box. With the long, pink sleeves of her gown and the glittering tiara placed on her white hair, she looked just as royal and noble everyone said she did. She then summoned Narti forward, a gentle smile on her face, and Narti followed as Kolivan had and kneeled before the Princess.
“Narti, Lieutenant General of the Blade of Marmora, steward of the Black Paladin of Voltron, we honor you as an ally and as a friend,” the King announced again. Narti stood and bowed her head to the Princess, accepting her medal, before going back to stand on Kolivan’s other side. And then-
And then Prince Lance was going to the box to take the final medal, the one meant for Keith, and he turned around to look at him, and Keith saw the Prince’s face for the first time.
Keith stepped forward, taking in the way his blue and white robes fluttered a bit in the breeze, the way the sunlight glimmered off of the Altean jewelry he was adorned with - earrings, bracelets, a silver choker with a sapphire dangling from the center - and the little circlet that rested upon his head, more blue jewels embedded into the intricate designs circling it. They stood out wonderfully against his brown skin and complimented the blue of his eyes perfectly.
He was very beautiful. Especially with the way he was smiling warmly at Keith as he knelt before him to accept his medal.
“Keith Kogane, General of the Blade of Marmora, steward of the Black Paladin of Voltron, we honor you as an ally and as a friend,” King Alfor said into the microphone once more as Prince Lance placed the medal over Keith’s head, his ears drawing back for a moment so it could settle over his neck and fall against his chest. The moment felt so slow to him, though it couldn’t have lasted more than a few seconds.
Keith eventually stood and took his place at Kolivan’s side once more as the crowd below continued to cheer. The Royal Family again stood side by side while the King brought the ceremony to an end.
“Altea gladly and graciously accepts all Galran refugees to make a new home here on our planet. Our people welcome you with open arms. Let this day mark the beginning of a new future - of a new Altea!”
A final loud cheer erupted as the King’s arms raised high towards the people, who began to dance and sing in the streets, letting loose more of the floating pink flowers and the glittery powder they’d released earlier. Music blared and spirits were high as the Altean suns began their slow descent beneath the horizon.