The Idyll Shattered

Allura bit back on a moan as she pulled up the zipper on her jumpsuit. ‘What was I thinking, asking for another hour of practice,’ she thought with a bitter grin. Gathering her resolve to ignore her pain, she began to pin up her hair.

As she pushed in the last pin, she heard a knock on the door.

“Princess, you might want to get a move on,” Hunk called, “or we’ll be late for breakfast.”

“I’m coming,” she called back, checking one last time to ensure that she was presentable.

As they headed to the dining room, Hunk tried to hide a grin. Wondering what he found so funny, she gave him look. “What’s so funny, Hunk?”

Her statement startled him. “Nothing, Princess.”

“Hunk, I want to know.”

“Well,” he stammered, looking extremely uncomfortable.

“What is it?”

“Well, you look do funny, Princess, when you try to move.”

Allura felt her cheeks flush slightly. “Is that bad?”

“God, I’m sorry, Princess. I know I shouldn’t have said anything.”

Allura laughed and patted his arm in reassurance. “I probably look like a robot, don’t I?”

“I wouldn’t say that, Princess,” he replied, desperately trying to make up for his earlier comment.

“You’re too sweet,” she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

As the laughing princess and the blushing pilot entered the dining room, the other members of the team exchanged looks.

“You know, Cap,” Lance began, leaning toward his friend as he eyed Allura’s stiff posture as she crossed the room, “I’m surprised that she hasn’t killed you yet.”

Keith tried to hide his grin. “She was the one who wanted the extra practice.”

“And just what have you been practicing?” he asked.

“Judo, if you must know,” Allura replied. “Good morning, Coran, Keith, and Pidge.”

“Good morning, Princess,” the other two pilots replied.

“Good morning, Your Highness,” Coran greeted.

Allura glanced at her advisor. He looked so tired this morning, every one of his years showing and more. “Coran, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Your Highness,” he replied. “Just a slight headache.”

“When was the last time you saw Dr. Gorma?” she persisted.

“Your Highness, I’m fine.”

Allura blinked at his sharp tone. Then, she turned her attention to her breakfast.

* * * * *

The mood in the Control Room was strained as Pidge was finishing his shift. While he didn’t mind the job, he was relieved that Keith would be reporting in a few minutes. Usually the castle advisor help to ease the tension, but today he was snapping at anyone.

The doors swished open and the captain entered. Pidge rose from his chair and walked over to Keith, grabbing his arm.

“Watch out for Coran,” he murmured. Then, in a louder tone, “See you later, Cap.”

Keith nodded to the others in the room and took the seat Pidge had vacated. He checked the various monitors and security devices, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble. After a few minutes, he glanced at Coran.

The castle advisor was sitting, rubbing his temple vigorously. He looked even worse than he had at breakfast. Concerned, Keith walked over to him, touching his shoulder gently.

“Coran, shouldn’t you see Dr. Gorma?” he asked gently.

Without opening his eyes, Coran nodded. “I think you’re right, Keith.”

The castle advisor rose slowly to his feet, his unsteadiness concerning Keith even further. The younger man gently took one of his arms and gestured for one of the others to take his place at the monitors. They were halfway across the room when Coran suddenly stopped, falling lifelessly to the floor.

“Someone get Dr. Gorma in here now!” Keith shouted, searching for a pulse. “Now!”

* * * * *

Allura sat absolutely still, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Occasionally, she would pace the room but she would always return to the chair. Keith stood protectively beside her, although the princess seemed oblivious to his presence. Pidge was slumped in a chair across from her, staring off into space. Lance was leaning against a wall opposite the exam room doors with his arms crossed against his chest.

Everyone looked up at the footsteps coming down the hall. Hunk entered the room and looked at Lance. With a nod, the Red Lion pilot stood up and left the room.

Nanny patted the young woman’s hand. “You need to eat something. You have been here for so long.”

Allura shook her head slightly. “I’m not leaving, Nanny,” she stated quietly, her eyes never leaving the doors behind which Coran was being care for by Dr. Gorma and his staff. “You may want to bring the guys something though.”

Nanny glanced at the others who occupied the waiting room. Each took turns manning the Control Room, except for Keith who stayed with the princess. The governess prayed that her old friend would pull through. With a sigh and a final pat of Allura’s hand, she left to bring some food for them.

Keith sat beside her, not finding any words to comfort her. They were all reeling from this, but he couldn’t imagine what she was going through. Coran and Nanny were her family, particularly after the death of her father.

A door opened and Allura jumped to her feet. “How is he, Dr. Gorma?”

“He’s stabilized now,” the castle physician stated. “It was a stroke. We won’t know how debilitating it is until he wakes up.”

“When will he wake up?”

The doctor shook his head sadly. “I don’t know, Your Highness.”

“I want to see him.”

“Of course,” Dr. Gorma replied. “In fact, the more contact he has, the faster he will wake up. I’m sorry, Your Highness. We are doing the best we can for him.”

Allura nodded. “I know. Thank you.”

Wiping her eyes, she followed the doctor into the room.


The Idyll Shattered Allura bit back on a moan as she pulled up the zipper on her jumpsuit. ‘What was I thinking, asking for another hour of practice,’ she thought with a bitter grin. Gathering her resolve to ignore her pain, she began to pin up her hair. As she pushed in the last pin, she heard a knock on the door. “Princess, you might want to get a move on,” Hunk called, “or we’ll be late for breakfast.” “I’m coming,” she called back, checking one last time to ensure that she was presentable. As they headed to the dining room, Hunk tried to hide a grin. Wondering what he found so funny, she gave him look. “What’s so funny, Hunk?” Her statement startled him. “Nothing, Princess.” “Hunk, I want to know.” “Well,” he stammered, looking extremely uncomfortable. “What is it?” “Well, you look do funny, Princess, when you try to move.” Allura felt her cheeks flush slightly. “Is that bad?” “God, I’m sorry, Princess. I know I shouldn’t have said anything.” Allura laughed and patted his arm in reassurance. “I probably look like a robot, don’t I?” “I wouldn’t say that, Princess,” he replied, desperately trying to make up for his earlier comment. “You’re too sweet,” she said, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek. As the laughing princess and the blushing pilot entered the dining room, the other members of the team exchanged looks. “You know, Cap,” Lance began, leaning toward his friend as he eyed Allura’s stiff posture as she crossed the room, “I’m surprised that she hasn’t killed you yet.” Keith tried to hide his grin. “She was the one who wanted the extra practice.” “And just what have you been practicing?” he asked. “Judo, if you must know,” Allura replied. “Good morning, Coran, Keith, and Pidge.” “Good morning, Princess,” the other two pilots replied. “Good morning, Your Highness,” Coran greeted. Allura glanced at her advisor. He looked so tired this morning, every one of his years showing and more. “Coran, are you okay?” “I’m fine, Your Highness,” he replied. “Just a slight headache.” “When was the last time you saw Dr. Gorma?” she persisted. “Your Highness, I’m fine.” Allura blinked at his sharp tone. Then, she turned her attention to her breakfast. * * * * * The mood in the Control Room was strained as Pidge was finishing his shift. While he didn’t mind the job, he was relieved that Keith would be reporting in a few minutes. Usually the castle advisor help to ease the tension, but today he was snapping at anyone. The doors swished open and the captain entered. Pidge rose from his chair and walked over to Keith, grabbing his arm. “Watch out for Coran,” he murmured. Then, in a louder tone, “See you later, Cap.” Keith nodded to the others in the room and took the seat Pidge had vacated. He checked the various monitors and security devices, keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble. After a few minutes, he glanced at Coran. The castle advisor was sitting, rubbing his temple vigorously. He looked even worse than he had at breakfast. Concerned, Keith walked over to him, touching his shoulder gently. “Coran, shouldn’t you see Dr. Gorma?” he asked gently. Without opening his eyes, Coran nodded. “I think you’re right, Keith.” The castle advisor rose slowly to his feet, his unsteadiness concerning Keith even further. The younger man gently took one of his arms and gestured for one of the others to take his place at the monitors. They were halfway across the room when Coran suddenly stopped, falling lifelessly to the floor. “Someone get Dr. Gorma in here now!” Keith shouted, searching for a pulse. “Now!” * * * * * Allura sat absolutely still, her eyes red-rimmed from crying. Occasionally, she would pace the room but she would always return to the chair. Keith stood protectively beside her, although the princess seemed oblivious to his presence. Pidge was slumped in a chair across from her, staring off into space. Lance was leaning against a wall opposite the exam room doors with his arms crossed against his chest. Everyone looked up at the footsteps coming down the hall. Hunk entered the room and looked at Lance. With a nod, the Red Lion pilot stood up and left the room. Nanny patted the young woman’s hand. “You need to eat something. You have been here for so long.” Allura shook her head slightly. “I’m not leaving, Nanny,” she stated quietly, her eyes never leaving the doors behind which Coran was being care for by Dr. Gorma and his staff. “You may want to bring the guys something though.” Nanny glanced at the others who occupied the waiting room. Each took turns manning the Control Room, except for Keith who stayed with the princess. The governess prayed that her old friend would pull through. With a sigh and a final pat of Allura’s hand, she left to bring some food for them. Keith sat beside her, not finding any words to comfort her. They were all reeling from this, but he couldn’t imagine what she was going through. Coran and Nanny were her family, particularly after the death of her father. A door opened and Allura jumped to her feet. “How is he, Dr. Gorma?” “He’s stabilized now,” the castle physician stated. “It was a stroke. We won’t know how debilitating it is until he wakes up.” “When will he wake up?” The doctor shook his head sadly. “I don’t know, Your Highness.” “I want to see him.” “Of course,” Dr. Gorma replied. “In fact, the more contact he has, the faster he will wake up. I’m sorry, Your Highness. We are doing the best we can for him.” Allura nodded. “I know. Thank you.” Wiping her eyes, she followed the doctor into the room.


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