Chapter 4
"Lance!!" Allura said as she went inside his room with Coran behind her. Lance raised a brow.
"What?" Allura pointed at a poster. Lance gasped.
"What?! They're using ME as a prize for a competition?! Archery?! I get it, i'm charming but this is awful!!"
"I know! They're using you like an asset!" Lance scoffed.
"I can't believe they added a kiss from me as a prize!" He said as he crossed his arms. That's when Michelle entered the room.
"LANCE! I JUST SAW THE POSTERS WHILE TAKING A STROLL...IS IT TRUE?!" Lance opened his mouth but she stopped him.
"STOP! I SHALL NEED TO GO AND TRAIN! DO NOT FRET, I WILL WIN THAT KISS!!" Michelle rushed out of the room and Lance groaned.
"I'm doomed..." Allura chuckled.
"Pidge?? PIDGE!!" Keith said. Pidge raised a brow.
"What??" Shiro chuckled.
"Aw, forget it. Your mind's not on food. You're thinkin' about something else." Pidge shrugged.
"Well, you see? The sheriff is growing more and more heartless each day. And it's truly concerning me." Keith scoffed and rolled his eyes.
"Something new??" Pidge shook her head.
"Nothing." She sniffed and scrunched her face up.
"Hey, whoa! It's boiling over! Shiro watch it!!" Shiro looked behind him and groaned. Keith face-palmed.
"You're burning the chow!! God damn it, Shiro! Mom just had to be out hunting..." Shiro frowned at both of them. They smiled angelically.
"Look, why don't you stop mooning and moping around and just go to steal something?" Shiro asked. Pidge scoffed.
"Nothing worth it...No money." Keith sighed as Pidge said that. Kosmo and Bae Bae whimpered. Pidge rubbed their heads.
"It'll be fine...We'll find something..." Kroalia just returned and smirked.
"I found something quite intriguing." The three turned to the galran as she pulled out a poster.
"Old Prince John’s having a championship archery tournament tomorrow for ladies. And i believe the prize is in money." Pidge jumped on her feet and ran to get the poster.
"Holy mother Oo-de-lally..." Pidge said as her eyes widened. She pushed her glasses up.
"This...I can't believe this!" Keith said as he snatched the poster. Shiro took it next.
"It's exactly what you needed, Pidge!" Her smile grew.
"Look! The prize is also a kiss! The girls coming will be there for the kiss! I can easily win!" Pidge said. Keith scoffed.
"Do not sell yourself short, Pidge. You could win just as easily against a man." Pidge smiled and nodded in thanks.
"Well? What are we stalling for? You have a big day tomorrow! Chop chop!"
"Wait a minute, Pidge, mother. Hold it. That place will be crawling with soldiers." Pidge, Kroalia and Keith all looked at Shiro unimpressed.
"Right...disguise...They all think she's a boy. Got it." Pidge smirked.
"Fear not, my brothers! This will be my greatest performance!" Pidge said, proudly.
People were gathered all around, ready to see the show. Flags were hanging, tents were put up and in the royals coach stood Lotor and his servant.
"Morvok, this is a red-letter day A coup d'etat, to coin a Norman phrase." Lotor said as he was sitting, laid back, on his chair. He had been assigned in watching over the whole archery tournament.
"Oh, yes, indeed, sire. Your plan to capture Pidge Gunderson in public is sheer genius! But...do you think he will come? It's after all a competition for women!" Lotor laughed.
"He wouldn't pass up an opportunity to help the poor." Lotor said to his servant.
"My trap is baited and set... and then revenge! Ah, revenge!" Lotor said, a bit too loud.
"Shh! Not so loud, sire. Remember, only you and I know, and your secret is my secret!" Morvok said.
"That insolent blackguard. Ooh! I'll show him who wears the crown!" Lotor said, balling his fist. Morvok nodded.
"I share your loathing, sire. That scurrilous scoundrel who fooled you with that silly disguise, who dared to rob you and made you look so utterly ridiculous" Lotor raised his hand.
"Enough! Morvok, enough..." The small galran nodded at the prince as he arranged his crown. Lance and Allura, who just set down, looked at the prince and scoffed.
"I will be honest...I am kind of excited." Lance said. Allura giggled.
"I do hope however wins is a fair lady. And a nice one too." Allura said. lance smirked.
"Why don't you go then? I will give the kiss for free~" Allura looked at him unimpressed and hit him behind the head. He rubbed the spot.
"I deserved that..." Lance said. However, somewhere in the bushes was Pidge and her family.
"This is itchyyyy~" She said as she straightened her back and wanted to scratch her back. Kroalia hit her hand.
"Don't! Now...Are you ready??" Pidge inhaled and exhaled as she has her hair nicely tied up and was wearing a dress she stole a long time ago. Keith and Shiro were snickering at her.
"I haven't seen you looking like a lady in forever...But won't they notice?" Pidge frowned at the two and scoffed.
"Oh, stop worrying. This disguise would fool my own mother." Kroalia.
"Your mother is right here, darling." Pidge smiled.
"One of them, indeed." Kroalia smiled and giggled. The other two rolled their eyes. Shiro had a disguise as well. He looked like a fancy noble. Pidge straightened her back and took her bow and arrows and started walking with small shy steps. Not her usual thing but thank god she was small. She met with Sendak right there.
"Sheriff? Your Honor?" Pidge asked as she fluttered her eye-lashes. The other three in the bushes looked impressed. Sendak turned to her.
"Yeah." Pidge gasped and gave him a sweet angelic smile.
"Meeting ya face-to-face is a real treat. A real treat." Pidge said as she covered her mouth giggling. Sendak bent down and kissed her hand. Keith and Shiro narrowed their eyes.
"Well, now, thank you. Oh, excuse me. I gotta go. The last round of the tournament is against me~ Heheh~" Pidge smiled and wiggled her fingers at the sheriff. She turned around and pretended to gag. Shiro laughed.
"Pidge's not a bad actor. But wait till he sees this scene I lay on Prince Lotor." Shiro started walking.
"Ah! Me lord. My esteemed royal sovereign of the realm. The head man himself. You're beautiful." Shiro said, taking a bow.
"He has style, eh, Morvok??" Shiro smiled.
"You took the words right out of my mouth, P.L" Lotor raised a brow.
"P.L...I like that. Do you know I do? Morvok, put it on my luggage. P.L. HAH!!" Lotor said. Morvok frowned.
"Hmpf! And you? Who might you be, sir?" The small servant asked.
"I am Sir Reginald, duke of Chutney. And don't stick your tongue out at me, kid. And now, Your Mightiness, allow me to lay some protocol on you." Shiro said, entering his character and tried to kiss Lotor's hand. Morvok was left with his mouth agape. Lotor just retracted his hand with an apologetic smile.
"Oh, no. Uh, forgive me, but I lose more jewels that way than-- Please sit down." Lotor said, gesturing to a chair next to him. Shiro took the seat. Keith and Kroalia smiled and cheered silently as the plan worked.
"Thanks, P.L. Couldn't get a better seat than this, could you? The royal box. Oh! Hey! Hey, wait a minute! What's-- Oh, excuse me, buster?" Shiro said as Morvok kept poking him. The prince's right hand man stared in disbelief.
""Buster"? You, sir, have taken my seat!" Morvok said. Shiro and the prince laughed.
"Morvok, with you around, who needs a court jester? Now get out there and keep your eyes open for you know who." Lotor said, gesturing with his hand for the small galran to leave. He left, reluctantly.
"What cheek..."Buster"? Who does that dopey duke think he is?" Morvok grumbled. He kept walking and sneaking around. Hunk, Friar Tuck and Otto were all standing, ready to watch. It would be easy to recognize Pidge. But Hunk noticed the little galran and pulled the preachers clothes. The man noticed him too. Otto frowned as well.
"Now he's up to something, Friar Tuck..." Hunk said. The priest nodded.
"Yeah! Come on!" The apprentice and the Friar Tuck started walking. The archers were now walking towards the fields. Pidge was walking by the royal box where the prince and princess were when a girl cut her way and almost made her fall.
"Lanceyyy~" Said the girl. Pidge scoffed.
"'Lanceyyy~'! First of all watch where you're going. Sheesh..." Pidge said rolling her eyes. All three looked at her.
"And you are...??" The girl asked unimpressed.
"Important is not who I am...But rather the fact you cut my way and almost made me stumble. But OH! I'm the unmannered one, aren't i??" The girl growled as the prince and princess looked at each other.
"You won't steal that kiss!" Pidge scoffed.
"Darling, you can keep the kiss. No offence, but I'm here for the money prize. I do not kiss someone I haven't met in my life!" Allura and Lance perked up. Lance looked at Pidge and felt his cheeks grow hot. Her red-ish hair...those green eyes and freckles. She looked a lot like- But he knew she couldn't be. But he couldn't deny the beauty this lady was as well. She shined in some way.
"So you're insulting the prince??" Pidge snorted.
"Heavens no! Princey here has got a charming face. No wonder so many ladies have came to compete. I just don't kiss someone that isn't even an acquaintance! It's morally wrong! He may not want to! I would never do such thing." Pidge said. She looked the girl up and down.
"But honey, I have to say you really have nothing going on there." She said, gesturing with her hand towards the girl and leaning against the box. Lance snorted and Allura had to cover her face to stop herself from laughing as the girl was fuming in rage, a vein pulsing. Pidge stuck her tongue out at her.
She pushed past the girl.
"Now, if you may excuse me...I need to get to my target. Good luck." She bowed down.
"Your majesties." She greeted and left. Lance smirked.
"I wish her luck, with all my heart." Allura said, smiling. Lance approved. The girl that came, no other than Michelle, scoffed and left. That's when Zethrid and Ezor came.
"Your Highness, with your royal permission, we are ready to begin." Said Zethrid.
"Proceed, Captain!" Said Lotor as he waved his hand.
"The tournament of the Golden arrow will now begin." Zethird said as Ezor sat down a golden arrow on a satin pillow and some money. Pidge smirked as her eyes gleamed. Now we talking. The ladies were all struggling to fire their bows and one girl even fired one in the royal box. Pidge didn't make a move yet. Lance and Allura looked confused. Michelle laughed.
"HAH! Can't even shoot? Watch this!" Michelle pulled the string and shot almost in the center of the target. Pidge smirked.
"Nice shot." Pidge with one move took off the bow and pulled it back. She closed an eye and fired. The arrow went right in the middle. She cockily blew on her fingers. Michelle's mouth fell open. Lance and Allura leaned forward in surprise. Shiro chuckled as he sat next to the galran prince.
"A perfect bull's-eye- Well, well!" Lotor said as he rubbed his chin.
"Yeah. That's what you call pulling it back and letting it go, P.L." Shiro said, smugly.
"I'm gonna win that golden arrow, and then I'm gonna get the money and--" Pidge said proudly to herself more than anyone else.
"Listen, scissorbill, if you shoot... half as good as you blabbermouth, you're better then Pidge Gunderson!" Michelle said. Pidge gasped.
"Pidge Gunderson, he says! Wowie! I'm tiptop, all right, but I'm not as good as he is." Pidge took out another arrow and quickly shot it in another target. It was a bull's-eye again. Michelle frowned and growled.
"That lady's got class, ain't she, P.L.?" Shiro asked, trying to sweet-talk Lotor into making Pidge win.
"Indeed she has, Reggie. Bravo! Uh, bravo! Yes!" Lotor said, clapping a bit. Lance's smile stretched as he noticed Lotor's reaction. Allura giggled and clapped her hands as well. They both hoped this lady could win. She seemed nice enough. Plus, it meant Lance wouldn't have to kiss anybody.
"Oh, um, by the way. I heard the sheriff's having a bit of trouble getting his hands on that Pidge Gunderson??" Pidge asked smirking, knowing the sheriff was close by. Michelle scoffed.
"He's scared of him, that's what he is. You notice he didn't show up here today? Huh! He could spot him through them phony disguises!" Michelle said. Pidge nodded solemnly. Morvok saw her and gasped as he was hiding behind some of the tents.
"It's him! It's Robin Hood! I just can't wait till I tell His Majesty!" But Hunk and Friar Tuck caught him.
"You little..." Hunk said with narrowed eyes.
"Unhand me, you-- W-Wait!!" Hunk and the preacher picked the little galran servant and eyed a barrel.
"Please, please! I don't drink!" The two smiled as they opened the barrel and put the cap back on it.
"Attention, everyone! The final contestants are none other than" Lady Michelle and the lady from Devonshire!!" Ezor said cheerfully. Pidge smiled and waved around as people cheered. Lance and Allura started clapping. Lotor eyed Lance.
"Ah, I see you favor the pretty lady?" Lotor asked. Shiro scrunched his face up as he asked that. That was his little sister you jackass--
"Uh, why, yes, sire. Well, at least she amuses me." Lance said. The galran prince raised a brow. Shiro wanted to face-palm.
"Coincidently, my friend, she amuses me too." Lotor said leaning back in his chair. Shiro stuck his tongue out as Lotor hummed. Pidge eyed Lotor. He looked at her and smirked, blowing a kiss to her. She smiled tensely and caught it. Allura and Lance looked at the exchange and frowned. As Lotor turned around Shiro gestured to her. She pretended to gag and throw the kiss, stomping on it and spitting on it. Shiro nodded proudly and clapped silently at that. Allura and Lance started giggling.
"What is so amusing?" Lotor asked. The two royals smiled awkwardly.
"For the final shoot-out, move the target back 30 paces!" Zethird announced. The galran soldiers did as told.
"You heard him, Nutsy! Get going! Move it, you birdbrain. And remember what you're supposed to do!" Michelle said to Sendak as he leaned to one of the galrans. He nodded.
"Yes, sir, Sheriff, sir!" The galran got inside the target and moved back. Pidge's eyes widened.
"Cheating little--" Pidge said, fuming as Sendak and Michelle were chuckling. First was Sendak. He missed intentionally, it was clear. Next up was Michelle. The galran jumped and caught the arrow right in the middle of the target. The girl smiled at Pidge.
"Well, that shot wins the golden arrow, the kiss and the whole caboodle~!" Michelle said. Pidge inhaled and pushed her sleeves up. She walked forward.
"Yeah yeah, don't flatter yourself." Pidge said as she pulled the bow back. Michelle walked behind her and hit her leg as she pulled the string. She stumbled and let go. Lance and Allura gasped as Shiro leaned forward.
"No, you don't!!" Pidge said as she quickly pulled out another arrow and shot the one already in the air, redirecting it right in the bull's-eye, splitting Michelle's arrow in half.
"Yea! She did it, she did it, she did it!" Hunk and Friar Tuck said as they celebrated. Otto celebrated as well. Alan, his sisters and his friend were all cheering as his mother was clapping. Allura hugged Lance and he smiled.
"Does that mean you'll give me the kiss instead?" Allura frowned. Lotor rubbed his chin and looked at Zethrid and Ezor, making a small hand gesture.
"Archer, I commend you, and because of... your superior skill, you shall get what is coming to you. Our royal congratulations." Pidge bowed down, politely and looked around. The guards looked more...on guard. Something was wrong.
"Oh, thank you kindly, Your Highness. Meeting you face-to-face, Your High and Mighty, is a real treat~" Pidge said sweetly.
"Ah! And now I name you... the winner, or, more appropriately..." Said Lotor as he grabbed a sword. Pidge didn't wait as she dodged the blow.
"The loser! Seize him. I sentence you to sudden, instant and even... immediate death!" Pidge gasped as the guards came for her. They all lounged at her at the same time. She didn't have a chance to react.
"PIDGE!" Keith said. Kroalia stretched her hand to catch him.
"KEITH WAIT!" She said. Lotor smirked.
"Well well...So i was right after all. The famous Pidge Gunderson?" Pidge snarled as she was being held with her hands behind her back.
"But how?!" Sendak said in disbelief. Pidge rolled her eyes.
"I've ALWAYS been a girl!" Pidge said. That's when Lotor's eyes widened.
"I remember you...You're the daughter of those pesky gardeners!" Pidge snarled.
"DON'T SPEAK LIKE THAT ABOUT MY FAMILY YOU--" She had a sword to her neck now. She eyed it and frowned. Lance and Allura stood up.
"That's Katie?!" Lance said, his eyes widening. Pidge looked away.
"Why yes! Her death after all has never been confirmed thanks to some IDIOTS!" Allura looked at Pidge with saddened eyes.
"Well anyways...Traitors to the crown must die!" Pidge scoffed.
"Traitor to the Crown? That crown belongs to King Alfor- Long live King Alfor!" Pidge yelled. The crowd all cheered.
"Long live King Alfor!" Lotor screamed in rage.
"Enough! I am king! King! King! Ah! Off with her head!" Lotor demanded. Keith and Kroalia gasped. Hunk covered his mouth in shock as Friar Tuck was ready to step in.
"LET HER GO YOU FILTHY BASTARD--" Keith started screaming, right when Lotor suddenly was squirming. He looked panicked. Why? Shiro had snuck behind the curtains of the royal box and was now having a knife to the prince's back.
"Stop! Executioner, stop! Hold your axe!" Lotor yelled. Everyone stopped. Pidge lit up as she realized what was going on.
"Okay, big shot. Now tell them to untie my sister, or I'll—" Shiro growled. Lotor gulped.
"Sheriff, release my sist -- I mean, release the prisoner!" Sendak looked confused.
"Untie the prisoner?" Sendak asked as he scratched his head. Keith smiled.
"You heard what he said, bushel britches!" Keith said, throwing his arms up.
"Sheriff, I make the rules, and since I am the head man-- Not so hard, you mean thing-- Let him go, for heaven's sakes! Let him go!" Lotor said as Shiro pressed the knife deeper.
"There's something funny going on around here. Ezor!" Zethrid said and the two decided to go to the back. That's where they met Shiro.
"Why, you--!" Zethrid said as she lounged forward. Shiro dodged and ran. Lotor sighed in relief.
"Kill them! Don't stand there! Kill them!!" Pidge ripped the dumb dress apart and rolled to dodge and attack.
"PIDGE! CATCH!!" Keith threw her a sword and just in time to block the axes of two guards. Shiro was now fighting Zethrid and Shiro was fighting Ezor. Lotor raised a sword. Lance gasped.
"PIDGE! WATCH OUT!" She turned around and blocked the attack. She slid her sword against the other and Lotor's weapon was now in her hand. She jumped inside the royal box and looked at Lance and Allura.
"Have you ever used a sword??" She asked Lance. He shook his head.
"Well time to learn! Dodge!" They all dodged an attack and Pidge handed him one of the swords. Pidge looked at Allura and then at Shiro.
"SHIRO! TAKE THE PRINCESS OUT OF HERE! Run for it, lassie! This is no place for a lady!" Pidge said with a wink as she blocked another attack. Allura smiled thankfully as she slid out of the box, through the curtains in the back. Sendak caught her hand. She grabbed his arm and threw him over her head and into the two guards she and Lance were fighting.
"Take that, you cheating scoundrel!! KEITH!" Pidge called. Keith nodded as he was sparing with Zethird still. Keith rolled his sleeves up as he looked at Shiro they both nodded.
"Ooh, what a main event this is!" Keith said as he pushed the galran he was fighting inside the tent. Shiro laughed.
"What a beautiful brawl!" Shiro said as he pushed Ezor. They both untied the tent and rolled the ropes around the two. Keith pushed the rolled up tent in the forest and the two stood there. Allura was right behind Shiro the whole time.
"Errr- You all do this often??" Allura asked. Keith and Shiro looked at each other.
"Nah. But Pidge does." They both answered at the same time as two other guards came for them and they were both on each side of the princess, protecting her from the blow. Lance and Pidge were now fighting Sendak next to a pie sale.
"Well, Princey, you sure grew up to have less stamina-- OFF!" Pidge said as she got hit in the stomach with the handle of Sendak's sword. Lance stopped a blow.
"Ya don't say- You're a bandit now??" Pidge pushed him out of the way of an arrow.
"More or less." She said as they both slid behind a counter of one of the stands.
"But it's very nice to see you again." She said with a smile that melted his heart. Pidge got up and took one of the pies.
"EAT THIS!" She said as she threw it in Sendak's face.
"Stop the girl!" Lotor yelled. Alan drew back his bow and hit Lotor with an arrow right in the butt. Shiro came from behind Lotor and hit him in the head.
"SEIZE THEM AT ONCE!" Lotor said as Pidge, her family and the prince and princess were running for the woods.
"Guess we're traitors of the crown now!" Lance said. Pidge chuckled and she, Shiro, Keith and Kroalia turned to them.
"Welcome on board!" They said as they dodged more guards. One was coming straight for Pidge but he got tackled by someone that joined their run.
"HUNK!" Pidge exclaimed. Hunk nodded as they all ran. Lotor was throwing a tantrum.
"MORVOK! You're never around when I need you!" Morvok came out of the barrel hiccupping. Hunk stopped right before the forest.
"LONG LIVE KING RICHARD! YEEEEE!!" Pidge hissed and pulled him in the forest just as arrows were flowing towards him. They all ran for a bit more before they stopped, panting.
"D...Did you at least get the money??" Keith asked Shiro. Shiro looked down. That's when Pidge took off her boots. The two bags of coins promised were there.
"You're lucky i have small feet..." Pidge said as she wiped her forehead. Kroalia hugged her.
"Oh my child!" She, Keith, her mother and Shiro laughed as Allura, Lance and Hunk were watching. That's when they heard a rustling in the woods. The family drew their swords as the three that tagged along got behind them. Coran emerged from the forest.
"Now that truly is a beautiful show! Katie Holt alive as Pidge Gunderson? The whole fight? Beautiful! How are you Pidge?" Pidge sighed in relief and hugged the man with a mustache.
"Hah! Never have been better!" Pidge said. But then came the hard part...Finding camp for the night and telling her story to her friends. This will surely be complicated alright.