Chapter 1
Long ago, good King Alfor of Altea departed for the holy land on a great crusade, leaving Princess Allura and his right-hand man, Coran, behind. During his absence, Lord Zarkon his greedy and treacherous 'ally', usurped the crown. As soon as the McLains heard about the terrible news they all agreed Lance, who was the youngest at the time and on a visit to their lovely kingdom, would stay and help the princess in need. Years later, as nothing has changed, Pidge Gunderson was the people's only hope. He robbed the rich to feed the poor. He was beloved by all the people of Altea. Pidge and his merry men hidden in Sherwood Forest swore to bring justice the best they could. But let's start with the beginning, shall we?
Pidge was jumping up and down in excitement as she was walking with her family, apart from her brother who was an apprentice to the blacksmith, towards the royal gardens.
"Now now, Kathlyn. You need to behave yourself, ok?" She nodded happily. Her father chuckled and ruffled her hair.
"Ok, Katie. Do you have your journal and charcoal?" She nodded. Her mother smiled.
"Good. Now then, shall we??" They arrived at the giant metal gates. Beautiful roses surrounded it. Pidge's eyes widened.
"Aren't they pretty??" Pidge nodded eagerly.
"Look! They even have that healthy color!!" Colleen giggled.
"That is indeed right my child. Now you may wander around the gardens but please do not go into the castle, ok?" Pidge nodded.
"Good. Now go!" Sam told her. Pidge tightened her grip on her bag. She smiled and nodded as she started wandering in the gardens. She had her journal out and didn't miss the opportunity to draw anything. She wandered around the nicely taken care of plants. She felt proud knowing her mother was behind this. Pidge climbed into a tree to continue drawing and was now hanging like a monkey. She knew that maybe some circulation going to the brain might help, as long as she didn't hang upside down too much. As she was hanging, she saw a boy and two girls. She didn't pay attention too much to them. She assumed they might be the servants' kids.
"Oh, and I believe that is why I am the best suitor you could find until you turn 18! You can marry me after you do--" Said one of the girls, a brunette. Another girl with darker skin and white hair, not to mention altean marks, narrowed her eyes at the girl. There was a guy with darker skin and dark hair but blue eyes between the two of them.
"Uhhh...Great....??" The boy said confused.
"Lance! Do not sell yourself short!" The white-haired altean said. That's when the brunette screamed. Pidge looked up.
"EW! EW EW EW! A MOUSE!" Pidge gasped and all three kids turned towards her. She was still hanging upside-down from the tree.
"That's a mouse that eats roots! Those things must be the reason the dandelions looked so weak this year!" Pidge said pointing at it. The mouse ran in some bushes. She clicked her tongue.
"Bummer. It had quite an interesting look." The boy, Pidge assumed named 'Lance', tilted his head.
"Uhhh...Who's that...??" Lance asked. The white-haired girl stepped forward.
"Hello! I believe we have never met before." Pidge smiled.
"Nope! I'm Katie! Or Kathlyn Holt is my full name. A pleasure!" She said as she sat up on the branch, properly.
"Wait...You're a girl? Huh, you're not very ladylike." Pidge frowned and crossed her arms.
"Are you lady-like?" The brunette scoffed. The boy smirked.
"I'm Lance! But you can call me whenever you need me." Pidge and Allura both scrunched their faces up at that.
"I am Princess Allura of Altea. A pleasure to meet you." Pidge spurted and lost her balance, falling forward and off the branch. Allura gasped and the other girl laughed.
"That's what you get, peasant!" Allura turned towards the girl.
"I shall not tolerate such behavior towards my father's subjects, Michelle!" Pidge groaned and rubbed her head. Lance rushed to her side.
"Are you ok..??" Pidge nodded.
"I-I'm sorry...I didn't expect the princess and- Oh God you all must be royals! I'm so sorry I treated you like a commoner!" She said bowing down. Allura sighed.
"Please, do not apologize. Katie, right?" She nodded.
"Yes, Your Majesty." Allura shook her head again.
"Please...address us as normal kids." Michelle scoffed.
"Bet she only is here for money and this is all an act." Pidge frowned.
"What a rude assumption to make! I will have you know my parents work in the Royal Gardens thank you very much! And I am here because the dandelions needed my parents' help thanks to the root-eating rodents!" Lance blinked in surprise. The little girl with red-ish hair, freckles, and green eyes was adorable and seemed to know how to hold her ground.
"That's so cool! And what is that??" Pidge looked at the journal on the ground.
"Oh! That's my journal and my charcoal!" Pidge said picking them up. All three royal children caught a glimpse of the drawings.
"Woah!" Lance said. Pidge looked at them confused.
"What??" Allura smiled brightly.
"Your drawings are truly amazing!" Pidge smiled.
"Thank you, princess." That's when a man called them.
"Oh, childrennnn! Where did you run off to this time??" Michelle gasped.
"We're here Coran! There's a filthy commoner here!!" The man called Coran was a redhead with a big mustache and altean marks. He smiled at the kids.
"Ah! Here you are, your Highnesses! And who might this be? Oh! Katie!" Pidge smiled as she recognized the man. He would visit her father.
"Hello, Sir Coran. Pleasure." Coran chuckled.
"Why the pleasure is all mine, Katie! Haven't seen your father in a while. Is he doing good?" Pidge smiled.
"He has never been better, sir. Sometimes Mom thinks he's more in love with his work than her." Coran laughed.
"How about your brother." Pidge smiled.
"Still doing his apprenticeship at the black-smiths." Lance looked at Pidge in awe as she talked.
"Can I keep her? I want her as my wife in the future." Pidge blushed and Michelle gasped.
"But she's a commoner, Lance!" Allura giggled.
"This is lovely!" The altean girl said. Coran chuckled. Pidge looked away, blushing. That's when Coran noticed something.
"Oh my! It seems you have scrapped your knee little one." Pidge looked down.
"Oh! I did! Huh..." She said. She didn't even notice.
"Well we must attend to the wound immediately--"
"Katie!" Called a name behind them. Pidge smiled.
"Papà!!" Her father sighed.
"Cosa ti ho detto sul vagare in quel modo??" His father said. Pidge chuckled worriedly.
"Ah, your majesties. Please do excuse my daughter." Her father said. Coran laughed.
"Ah, Holt! You haven't changed."
"Coran! Oh, old man, how have you been??" Pidge frowned.
"Faremo solo finta che tu non mi stia solo urlando contro?" Her father laughed and sighed.
"Mi dispiace per questo." Pidge huffed.
"Dovrebbe essere." her father laughed and ruffled her hair.
"Your Italian is great, kid. Now go and find your mom." Pidge nodded and waved at her 'new friends' as she ran off to find her mother. Allura looked up at Pidge's father.
"Hello, Mister Holt! Umm...Will Katie come tomorrow as well?? " Allura asked. Sam smiled as he knelt.
"As you wish your Highnesses." Lance smiled but Michelle scoffed. And that's how Pidge ended up playing almost every day with the royal kids from three different kingdoms. However one day...something happened.
Pidge was walking to their usual spot, the tree where they met. She was excited to tell her new friends about the carnival.
"Ah! Katie!" Allura said as she noticed her. Lance was trying to climb on the tree and Michelle was looking at her disgusted. Coran, who was sitting with the kids, smiled as he twisted his mustache. Michelle never seemed too fond of her and Pidge had to admit she didn't like her that much either.
"Hello! Did you hear??" She asked excitedly. Lance raised a brow.
"That I'm charmingly handsome??" Pidge and Allura looked at him unimpressed. Coran chuckled.
"Oh yes!" Michelle said. Allura and Pidge stuck their tongues out in distaste.
"No! About the carnival! Lord Zarkon of the Galrans is coming with his wife and son!" Allura gasped. Coran nodded.
"That is very correct indeed, Katie." Pidge smiled at the older man. He was like an uncle to her.
"Really? Oh my! This means they have business around these parts!" Allura said. Pidge nodded.
"I have never been to a carnival before." Pidge said excitedly. Lance spurted.
"What?! How?!" Pidge shrugged.
"I'm a commoner...Life isn't so easy when you have to feed four mouths." Allura and Lance looked saddened. Michelle scoffed.
"And that's how it should be." Pidge frowned at the girl. Coran, Allura, and Lance frowned as well.
"That is our friend, Michelle!!" Coran said. The girl rolled her eyes. That's when Pidge heard her name get called.
"KATIE! IT'S TIME TO GO!" The little girl gasped. Coran gave her an approving nod.
"See you all tomorrow! Bye!!" The little commoner girl in trousers said as she got up and ran to her father. Michelle scoffed.
"Maybe never..." Lance frowned again.
"Don't jinx it!"
"Children." Said King Alfor. All the kids got up and bowed down. Coran bowed down as well.
"Your majesty." The King gestured for them to follow. They were led to the nice pavilion in the garden where Lord Zarkon, Honerva, and Lotor were waiting. The kids all sat down and Coran stayed on his feet at the King's right side as he sat down at the end of the table.
"MeeT Lord Zarkon, his lovely wife, and Lotor." The kids nodded politely.
"It's a pleasure, Lord Zarkon." Allura stated. The galran man smiled a bit.
"Likewise. I believe we will TRULY get along...But first I have to say something. Alfor, my friend...These flowers are beautiful! What gardener could possibly be taking care of them? Allura and Lance felt pride flowing through them as they realized it was Pidge's family work and hers.
"Yes, that would be the Holt family, sire." Said Coran.
"Huh...Was it that peasant family that bumped into us as we left? Tsk. Didn't even apologize properly. Especially that little monkey of a child!" Lance and Allura felt all the pride leave them at the Madame's words. The King sighed.
"Children. I have gathered you here because I have important news that shall be announced at his carnival. I am leaving on a crusade soon."
"What?!" All three children said at the same time. This was bad.
----*~~~=~~~*----
"Pidge??" Matt asked as he came. Pidge looked up from her leg as she was taking care of a bruise she got when the galran boy tripped her.
"Yes??" Matt smiled.
"It's time for dinner!" Pidge smiled and nodded. She got up and both kids looked at each other and started running. They passed their mother as she was taking the dishes out of the cupboard.
"OH! Why you little animals-" The two kids laughed as they sat down and the woman sighed, clicking her tongue. Sam came from outside with some wood.
"Oh, you little rascals! Sit down! " Matt said. The kids rolled their eyes. They all sat down and started to eat, laughing, when Pidge's grandmother came. Pidge immediately got off her chair.
"Nonna!" She said as she came to her side to help the old woman. The older woman smiled and ruffled her hair.
"Hello, bambina." Pidge smiled brightly and finally, their family was complete.
"You need to finish the dinner before you can go to the carnival children." Pidge and Matt looked at each other and then they noticed Bae Bae, their dog, sleeping on the floor. They smirked and nodded as they slowly gave their food to the dog. They quickly finished and were about to leave when they heard hooves and trumpets at their door. Pidge and Matt looked confused and their parents and grandmother went outside. They went outside as well only to see Lord Zarkon and his troops outside.
"The Holt family. The famous gardeners and alchemists." The kids' father stepped forward, protecting it's family.
"Beautiful garden. What a shame that you defined my authority and were disrespectful and I have to be disrespectful as well. You are due to taxes, correct??" Her father frowned. The Lord laughed.
"I see...As you can see this whole neighborhood is due to taxes, true? Well then. Let's let that slip for now- Oops. It slipped." A lit torch was sent flying towards their house. Pidge gasped as the house caught flames and soon enough the other houses in the neighborhood did as well.
"NO!" Colleen said as she covered her mouth in shock. People were running from the flames and guards as they were trying to cease them. Sam turned to the kids.
"RUN!" Pidge shook her head. Matt nodded and grabbed Pidge's hand.
"PIDGE! COME ON!!" She was pulled by her brother as her father, mother, and grandmother had been chained.
"CATCH THEM!" Soon enough troops were running after them through the forest. Pidge tripped.
"PIDGE!" Matt turned around to help her and the troops surrounded them.
"NO! GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY LITTLE SISTER!" He said as the two were grabbed. Pidge and Matt both struggled. Matt was taken away but Pidge managed to break free and run.
"RUN! PIDGE, RUN!!" She dolted through the forest and guards ran after her. She didn't realize she came close to a cliff and she fell. A sharp scream rang through the forest.
"NO! PIDGE!!" Matt cried as he was being taken back to the house. The troops looked down from the top of the hill and they turned around to take all the prisoners to the castle. However, she was alive. She didn't fall that hard. From the town, three other people managed to escape the troops and flames: Keith, Shiro, and Keith's mother who was a well-known galran hunter who used to be married to a human. That human is now dead in the flames. They came across Pidge as they ran away from the guards.
"Mom!!" Keith called out. The woman turned her head and spotted Pidge.
"Oh my! Quick! Take her with us!" Keith and Shiro both helped pick up the small girl and put her on Shiro's back, being taller than Keith and a bit older.
"Come on. There is a cave close by." They nodded and started walking. Half an hour later they were in the cave by a fire. Pidge was finally waking up.
"Hello dear. I am Krolia. This is my son, Keith, and his friend, Shiro. Who may you be?" Pidge looked at the galran woman and sniffed.
"K-Kathlyn Holt...Call me Katie....Or Pidge..." The woman smiled softly.
"Pidge. Ah, the famous alchemist's daughter, am I right? Well then...We have escaped the flames and being taken by the troops...Do you know where your family is??" Pidge sniffled again.
"They were taken...Nonna...Papa...Mama...Even Matt." The woman's eyes softened.
"You are free to stay with us." She looked up hopeful.
"R-Really??" Shiro and Keith nodded.
"Yeah!" Keith said, happy to have a new friend.
"Yes, my dear. You may call me whatever you want." Pidge smiled.
"Ok...May I call you mom??" Krolia smiled.
"Yes. Now, get some rest all of you. We have a tough day ahead of us tomorrow, ok?" The three kids nodded and Keith and Shiro huddled next to each other. Pidge watched them. Shiro patted the spot next to him and Pidge came next to him and all three huddled next to each other.
----*~~~=~~~*----
Allura and Lance were watching in horror as people were being brought to the cells. Michelle latched onto Lance as she watched as well. Allura's father had barely left that evening yet he was already doing this. Zarkon, his wife, and his son were watching the people. That is until a boy who looked similar to their friend passed by.
"WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE IS MY SISTER?!" The boy yelled.
"Matt! Don't..." Sam Holt said to the boy.
"But Papa-!" Zarkon laughed.
"You mean that little girl? She's DEAD!" Allura and Lance both paled, if it was possible when you had darker skin. Michelle gasped.
"You jinxed it...." Lance mumbled with narrowed teary eyes at the girl latched onto his arm and he snatched his arm away.
"W-What...??" Matt asked. Colleen, her mother started crying.
"Il mio bambina!!" The woman said, weeping. The older woman next to her shook her head and finally, the family was taken to the dungeons as well. Allura was covering her mouth crying. Coran looked at the family and the children, hurt.
"Coran! Take the children to their rooms." Coran nodded and as they exited the throne room, Allura started sobbing. Lance went over and hugged her. Coran sighed and shook his head.
"This is the start of a dark era...A dark era indeed..."