Chapter 3
"Pidge Gunderson...Who the hell is Pidge Gunderson?" Lance asked as he looked at the signs around town. Allura hummed.
"From what I heard from Coran and Lotor it's a thief that attacked Lotor in his coach." Lance snorted.
"Really now? Well would you look at that. The big and might prince Lotor, taken down by a small bandit." Allura giggled.
"I just hope he won't ask for more taxes..." Allura said. Lance sighed.
"Yeah...I hope so too." Lance said. That's when they entered the old part of town, the burned part from the fire on the carnival's night. Lance and Allura looked at each other in nostalgy. That is until Michelle and Coran caught on.
"Lancey Lanceeee~" Lance hissed as he recognized Michelle's voice.
"Coran!" Allura said as she spotted the man as well. Coran was panting.
"You two are quite the slippery snails- Oh! The old part of town!" Lance and Allura stayed silent.
"We have never been here...." Allura said. Michelle scoffed.
"And we shouldn't be. The ashes will get on our clothes." Lance looked at Coran.
"Do you know which one used to be Katie's residence?" Allura looked up hopeful as well. Coran chuckled as he twisted his mustache.
"Why of course! The Holt residence used to be that one!" Coran said pointing at a house that used to have a giant garden. It was charred down and you couldn't make out much from it. There was however one item Lance recognized.
"Hey! That's her journal!" Lance said as he got closer to the house. Allura clicked her tongue.
"The poor flowers..." Michelle scoffed as she picked up a teddy bear.
"This thing looks like it has seen some stuff..." Coran hummed.
"If I do remember correctly it was a two story house with a beautiful garden and it had a work space for alchemy righttt here." Michelle groaned.
"Let's just go homeeeee..." Lance scoffed.
"You go home." Lance told her. Michelle shut up. Allura gasped.
"I just saw someone!" She said. Everyone turned towards the woods. There was no one there anymore.
"Interesting...Maybe it was the famous Pidge Gunderson!" Coran joked. Allura frowned in thought.
"Maybe..."
"PIDGEEE! WHERE ARE YOU?" Pidge jumped down from a tree as she heard her mother's voice. For someone with two moms, she really couldn't imagine choosing between one or the other. She was followed by Bae Bae and Kosmo. Kosmo was a wolf Keith befriended in the woods and Bae Bae somehow managed to escape the flames and find her a week later after the fire. She was glad to have a familiar face with her.
"I'm here, momma." She said as she walked over to her.
"Where have you been huh??" Keith asked as he was sharpening his blade. Shiro crossed his arms and raised a brow at her. They sometimes were too over-protective of her.
"I'm fine you two. I'm 18! And, if you really need to know, i was in the old part of town. The royals paid my old home a visit." Pidge said. Keith and Shiro both looked shocked. Krolia looked at Pidge with a raised brow, smiling.
"My my, aren't you a searched one? Do i need to pull out the wanted signs??" Pidge snorted. Bae Bae barked excited and Kosmo sat down next to Keith. Pidge chuckled and rubbed the dog's head. Kosmo soon enough got jealous and went over to her to be pet as well.
"Now now, wash your hands Pidge. It's time to eat." She shrugged and went over to the river. But there was something gnawing in her mind...Why were they there? And...did they still remember her?
Well, even though Prince Lotor offered a huge reward for the capture of Pidge Gunderson, that tiny rogue and her two brothers kept right on robbing the rich to feed the poor. And believe me, it's a good thing she did, because what with taxes and all, the poor folks of Nottingham were starving to death. And here comes old bad news himself, the Honorable Sheriff of Nottingham, Sendak.
"Every town
Has its taxes too
And the taxes is due
Do do-do do do" Sendak sang as he was strolling around the streets. He stopped as he noticed someone.
"Well, lookie there! Friar Tuck, the old do-gooder. He's out doing good again!!" He said as he noticed the priest of the town sneaking outside of his house. Sendak followed after him as he was going towards the black-smith. In there was Hunk, the apprentice and the blacksmith. The man entered.
"Well, good mornin', Friar Tuck--!" Tried Hunk to say.
"Shh, Hunk!! For you, Otto...Hunk...from Pidge Gunderson." Hunk chuckled as they received a bag of coins.
"Oh, God bless Pidge." Otto, the blacksmith, who's leg was in a cast, said as he took the bag. Hunk smiled and put away the hammer he was using. The sheriff decided that now it was time to strike.
"Do do do do-do do dee do do-do" He sang as he approached the place.
"It's the sheriff! Hurry, hide it! Quick!" Hunk said and Friar Tuck hid the coins inside the man's cast.
"Here I come. Ready or not. Well, greetings from your friendly neighborhood tax collector." Sendak said as he entered slowly. Hunk frowned at him.
"Oh, take it easy on me, Sheriff, w-what with this busted leg and all, you know. I-I'm way behind in me work, Sheriff." Otto tried to say. Sendak clicked his tongue.
"I know, Otto, but you're way behind with your taxes too." Hunk sighed.
"Oh, have a heart, Sheriff. Can't you see he's laid up? Come on, Otto. You'd better sit down and rest!" Said Hunk.
"Oh, thank you.." Otto said as Hunk helped him sit down. Sendak smirked. He could hear the coins jingle in the cast.
"Yes. Let me give you a hand with that leg. Upsa-daisy~" Sendak said as he held Otto's foot up. Otto gasped and Sendak started hitting the cast. Hunk's mouth fell open in horror as the coins rolled out, until the last.
"Bingo! Ah, what they won't think of next. It smarts, don't it, Otto? But Prince Lotor says that taxes should hurt." Friar Tuck was shaking in anger.
"Now see here, you-- you evil, flint-hearted leech!!" The preacher said.
"Now, now, now, now! Save your sermon, preacher. It ain't Sunday, you know." Sendak said. He left laughing. Hunk growled.
"Do do do-do do
They call me a slob,
But I do my job Do do do-do do~" Sendak sang. Next stop was a bigger house with a big family. From the house you could hear the faint sound of a Happy Birthday. The galran sheriff, deciding to be rude, crashed the party in the middle of the song.
"Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday, dear Alan--" The family sang. That's when the door flew open.
"Happy birthday To you~
Well, now, sonny, that box is done up right pretty, ain't it?" Sendak said as he entered their living-room to find the kid surrounded by his sisters and in front of him a box, nicely wrapped.
"Well, Mr. Sheriff, sir, it's my birthday present, sir." The boy responded shily. The mother frowned at the sheriff.
"It sure is. Why don't you open it?" Sendak said as he lowered himself to the kid's level. Alan, the boy, nodded and turned to the box. He opened it and gasped.
"Oh, boy! One whole farthing!" The boy said. The galran hit the boy underneath the hand, sending the coin flying up and catching it. The mother gasped.
"Have you no heart? We all scrimped and saved to give it to him! You- You-" Sendak chuckled.
"Now that's mighty "thoughty" of you, "widder" woman. The family that saves together pays together. Oh, now, don't take it so hard, sonny. Prince Lotor wishes you a happy birthday too." The sheriff said, patting the boy on the back and almost sending him tumbling down at the strength. Right in that moment, a voice came from outside.
"Alms, alms, alms for the poor!" Sendak smirked as he got out of the house to find an old beggar with a tin cup in his hand. Sendak smirked as he took out a coin and hit the cup, catching the coins inside in his hand. He chuckled.
"Hmm. Well. So far it's been a cheerful morning. Keep saving! HAHAHAH!!" Sendak left, laughing. The woman inside that saw everything growled.
"What a dirty trick. You poor old man. Do come in. Come in and rest yourself..." The old man nodded as he slowly hit the ground with the stick he had as he came inside. His dark glasses and cloak hiding his face.
"Thank ye kindly, Mother. Thank ye. Tell me now. Did me old ears hear someone singing a birthday ditty?" Asked the beggar. The boy came forward.
"Yes, sir. And that mean old sheriff took my birthday present!!" The boy said, sniffling.
"Did he now? But be a stout-hearted little lad, and don't let it get ya down now, ok??" Pidge said as she took off the glasses and smiled. Alan gasped.
"Gee whiz! It's Pidge Gunderson!!" The mother gasped and the kids all cheered.
"Oh, he's so handsome, just like his reward posters." One of the younger girls said. Pidge laughed awkwardly. First, that's a child. Second, she doesn't swing that way.
"Happy birthday, son!" Pidge said, taking off the cloak as well. She crouched down to the boy's level.
"Tell me, young man, how old are you today?" Pidge asked with a smirk.
"Gosh, I'm seven years old, going on eight!" Pidge gasped.
"Seven? Well, that does make you the man of the house, and I've got just the right present for you!" Pidge said as she got out a bow. She gave it to him. The boy gasped.
"For me? Gee, thanks, Pidge Gunderson, sir. Hey, how do I look? Huh?" The boy said, turning to his sisters. An older girl laughed.
"Not much like Pidge Gunderson." Pidge rubbed her chin.
"She's right. There is something missing. Of course! There you go." She took off her hat and put it on the boy's head.
"Boy, oh, boy. Now how do I look?" His sister giggled.
"The hat's too big." She said. Alan's mother gasped.
"Shh! Mind your manners!" Alan's little sister nodded as she hugged her bunny plushie.
"Yes, mind your "mattles."" Pidge laughed at the family.
"Don't worry. You'll grow into it, young man." She said with a wink. Alan nodded determined.
"Oo-de-lally! I'm gonna try it out!" Alan said as he left with his bow. Pidge smiled. Alan's little sister looked at him.
"Good-bye, Pidge! Come again on my birthday!" She said. Pidge nodded and waved at the kids as they left.
"Oh, you have made his birthday a wonderful one. How can I ever thank you?" The mother asked. Pidge smiled kindly.
"I only wish I could do more. Here. And keep your chin up. Someday there'll be happiness again in Nottingham. You'll see..." She said as she gave her a bag of golden coins. She hugged it with tears in her eyes.
"Oh, Pidge.... You've risked so much to keep our hopes alive. Bless you. Bless you." The woman said to herself as Pidge left in her disguise. Alan was happy to meet with his friend and tell him about what happened. They were close to the castle.
"Gee, did Pidge Gunderson really give it to you?" Asked Toby, a shy boy and friend of Alan's. Alan nodded proudly.
"Yeah, and this is his own hat too!" Toby whistled.
"Gee, I'd sure like to shoot your bow and arrow!" Toby said. Alan's baby sister shook her head.
"Let me try it, Skippy!" The girl said. Alan frowned.
"Oh, no, you don't? I'm gonna shoot it first!" He said as he pulled the string.
"You're pointing it too high!" His older sister said.
"I'm not either. Watch this!" Alan said. The arrow flew too high and got over the fence. The kids all hissed.
"Uh-oh. Now you done it." Toby said.
"Right in Prince John’s backyard..." Alan's older sister said.
"Alan, you can't go in there!!" His younger sister said. Alan puffed his chest up and was about to go.
"Yeah. Prince John will chop off your head. Like this." Toby said as he gestured with his finger across his neck. Alan frowned.
"Oh, I don't care. I gotta get my arrow!!" He insisted.
"Wait a minute. Toby might tattle on you." Said the older girl. Alan gasped and the three turned to Toby.
"Yeah, Toby. You gotta take the oath!" Alan said. Toby tilted his head, confused.
"An oath?" The kid asked. The three brothers nodded.
"Put your hand on your heart and cross your eyes." All of them did.
"Spiders, snakes and a lizard head." Alan said.
"Spiders, snakes and a lizard's head." Toby repeated.
"If I tattletale, I'll die till I'm dead." Alan continued. Toby gulped.
"If I tattletale, I'll die till I'm dead..." Toby said. They al nodded and Alan slid through the bars of the backyard's garden. He will get his arrow back. In the backyard however were Allura and Lance, playing badminton. They got rid of Michelle since she hated the game.
"It's your turn to serve, Lance." Allura said. Lance smirked as he twirled the racquet. He put it over his shoulder and smirked as he looked at Coran. He was reading underneath the tree but he looked up to see him.
"You heard her, Coran? Pass me a shuttlecock." Coran sighed and threw one. Lance stuck his tongue out in concentration and hit the shuttlecock. Allura gasped and dove to get it. They both chuckled as they were hitting it back and fourth over a net.
"Nice shot, Allura! But they don't call me sharpshooter for nothing~" He said as he dove and hit it. The small white ball with feathers attached to it flew. Allura fell trying to get it and laughed.
"Where is it? Did you lose it? Oh and you even fell for me~" Lance asked amused. Allura rolled her eyes.
"For you? Never. Oof...Where could it be?" She started shaking her dress. Lance snorted.
"Oh, Allura, you look so silly. Oh, look. There it is behind you." Lance said pointing with his racquet. He got closer and blinked in surprise as there was a kid there, hidden in the bushes.
"Oh! Well, hello. Where did you come from?" Lance asked, scratching his head. Allura giggled and the kid backed away.
"Oh, please don't tell Prince Lotor. Mama said he'll chop off my head!!" The two royals looked at each other.
"My my! We would never! Oh, don't be afraid. You've done nothing wrong..." Allura said. The kid slowly came out. Coran went over to the three.
"Who does this young archer remind me of...?" Coran asked, twisting his mustache in thought. He gasped and snapped his fingers.
"Well, upon my word, the notorious Pidge Gunderson!" Alan perked up, smiling. Allura giggled.
"That's right. Only Pidge Gunderson wears a hat like that!" Lance said, kneeling down to the kids level. Alan puffed his chest proudly.
"Yeah, and look at this keen Pidge bow!!" Alan's little sister sneezed. Lance gasped and made goo-goo eyes.
"Oh my GOD! Allura!! Look!!" Allura looked to the side and giggled.
"It's all right, children. Don't be afraid. Please come here!" The other three kids looked at each other.
"Do you think it's safe?" Toby asked. Alan's older sister smiled.
"That's Maid Allura and that's Lance!" Alan's baby sister said.
"Mama said she's awful nice. Come on!" Said the older girl and they all slid inside the garden. Coran laughed.
"Hey, you guys, not so fast. Wait for me!" Called the small girl with a bunny plushie.
"I told Alan he was shooting too high!!" His older sister said. Allura smiled and Lance chuckled. They both loved kids. He missed being a kid....He missed Katie...He sometimes wondered how she'd look grown up. Would her hair be long? Short? Those freckles and green eyes...It has been years yet he missed the way she drew and talked excitedly.
"I'm so very glad he did. Now I get to meet all of you." Lance said as he put his hands on his hips.
"Gee, you're very beautiful!! Is one of you going to marry Pidge??" Lance and Allura both looked surprised. Coran laughed.
"Hah...First of all we need this 'Pidge Gunderson' to come and get us...We're stuck. I bet he would leave us instead." Lance said. The kids gasped and Alan frowned at the prince.
"Oh, not Pidge Gunderson! I bet he'll storm the castle gates, fight the guards, rescue ya and drag you off to Sherwood Forest!!" Alan said, proudly. The other three kids nodded.
"Now just a moment there, young man. You've forgotten Prince Lotor, Lord Zarkon and Honerva!" Coran said. Alan blew a raspberry.
"These old hags don't scare me none. Nor will it scare him!" Lance and Allura looked at each other with a knowing look. Coran hummed, twirling his mustache.
"I'm scared of Prince Lotor. He's cranky..." Toby said, hiding behind Allura's dress. Allura giggled. Lance frowned at the kid, stealing the princesses attention.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah! I, Prince Lotor, challenge you to a duel. Hey, hey! Take that! And that! And this!" Coran said as he used a racquet. Alan gasped as he spared with his wooden sword that was tied to his belt. He put on a determined face.
"Death to tyrants!" Alan said and the kids cheered as he started sparing. Lance chuckled and Allura started clapping.
"Och! Och, och!" Coran said. The prince and princess both laughed. They hadn't had this much fun in years!
"Slice him to pieces!" The boy's older sister said.
"Oh, save us, our hero. Save us!" Allura said as he clasped her hands together.
"Oh! Ouch! That's not fair. Mommy!" Coran said as he whined. The kids laughed.
"That's Prince Lotor, all right!" The boy's older sister said. The little sister clapped her hands together and Toby chuckled.
"Yahoo! Now I got ya!" Alan said as he put his sword underneath Coran's arm, right at his armpit.
"Och, mercy! Mercy! Oh! Oh, he got me. I'm dying!!" Coran said as he dramatically laid in the grass. Alan gasped and came closer to Coran.
"Oh-! Did I hurt you? Huh?" He asked. Coran opened an eye and smiled.
"No, this is the part where you drag the prince and princess off to Sherwood Forest." Alan nodded and smiled and he pulled them by the hand.
"Come on! Let's go!" Alan said. Lance laughed.
"Oh, Pidge, you're so brave and impetuous!" Lance said. Allura giggled and they all went in the bushes and sat down. Allura hummed.
"Oh. So this is Sherwood Forest!" She said. Alan nodded as he hugged his knees to give them space.
"Yeah, I guess so. Well, now what are we gonna do?" Alan asked. Lance and Allura looked at each other and smirked.
"Well, usually the hero gets a kiss." Alan scrunched his face up.
"A kiss? Oh, that's sissy stuff..." Lance raised a brow.
"Well, if you won't, then I will." He and Allura leaned and kissed his cheeks at the same time. The kids, who were watching, started laughing and giggling.
"They're kissing!" Alan stuck his tongue out and wiped his cheeks. Allura and Lance both smiled and got out of the bushes. They continued playing. It has been a wonderful afternoon.