Voltron's Mechanic (Keith x OC)

42) The End is the Beginning

"With the return of planet Daibazaal the Galra Empire is at a crossroads. For too long, the people of this extraordinary civilization have been manipulated by a dictatorship that placed a misguided sense of self preservation above all else. It was a tragic, unfortunate series of events that led us down this far, never ending path of power and greed.

"But now... we, the citizens of the Galra Empire, have an opportunity to make right all of the injustices set into motion by our forefathers. Because of the sacrifice made by Princess Allura, we have been given a second chance to come together in rebuilding the Galra Empire by joining the Galactic Coalition and ushering in a new era of peace across the universe"

The crowd of Galrans cheered after Keith finished his speech. I turned off the screen and stood up, fixing my hair as I went outside. Before opening the door I took a deep breath, putting a smile on my face, and I stepped out.

I stood in front of a microphone, a large crowd standing on the ground. I glanced down from the balcony I was giving my speech from, looking for any familiar faces, but someone put a hand on my shoulder. I looked back and saw Coran, smiling. I faced the crowd and opened my mouth.

"Welcome, everyone. If you're watching this on the live feed, or as a recording, I wish that you pay full attention to everything I say. If you don't know, my name Aris Kremer. I'm a simple mechanic who has been on a journey everyone could only imagine.

"It started when I was kidnapped. I met Allura, Coran and the Paladins at the Castle of Lions. Since then I've gained a family, but I've also found the family that raised me. If I hadn't met them... if I hadn't met Allura, I wouldn't have been reunited with my parents. I would never have learned who I am.

"My mother is Altean. Wren Kremer is a traveler who taught me the ways of many different species, cultures, traditions and languages. Troquion Kremer, my father, is Galran. He works with the Blade of Marmora. They both taught me to fight from a young age, but nothing they taught me would've prepared me for space.

"Thanks to Allura I learned how to survive, but also about the power I had inside of me. I thought it was because I was the heart of Voltron, but I learned it was to give her enough strength to stop Honerva.

"Now I stand before you today, half Altean, half Galran, uniting both lands just as they had been once before. When Alteans and Galrans were best friends, were even in love"

I paused, noticing a familiar face in the crowd. Keith was standing beside Krolia and Kolivan, not wearing his blades armour but instead his normal red jacket.

"A love between two cannot be broken. That bond is what will allow us all to thrive as one, and we will continue this legacy, for Allura and for all those who have fallen"

The crowd cheered. I waved a little and went back inside. It had been a year since everything happened, since Allura sacrifices herself. I was currently on the new Altea. Coran had helped rebuild the Castle of Lions from scratch, creating it almost exactly like it had been before.

"Great speech, Aris," Dad told me.

"It was the perfect way for you to commemorate her. She'd be proud," Mom added.

The anniversary of Allura's death, today, was the day we were all reunited again, considering the other Paladins went on their own paths. Keith walked in to the room and my parents left. I sat down on the couch.

"That was great," he told me, sitting beside me.

"Coran wanted me to tell my story. That's what I did. Besides, your speech was fantastic"

"I wish you were there to talk with me. They respect you, too"

"I know, but I promised Coran I'd help him with the Castle adjustments. She isn't completely finished, but close to. I did watch it, though, and I think they're going to remember your words"

"So-"

"Wait, I just remembered I have something for you"

I grabbed his jacket from my room then went back to him, walking over to where he sat and tossed it on his head. He took it off, looking a little shocked as I sat beside him.

"My jacket. Where-"

"I kinda grabbed it... a few years ago, when we were getting ready to get rid of the Castle"

"You kept it? Did you really miss being with me that much?"

"I just forgot I had it. Sheesh, last time I do any favours for you..."

I trailed off when Keith pulled me closer to him, resting his head on mine. "Thank you"

Later that night, when the others had arrived, we all sat at a table in front of a statue made to commemorate Allura. It was grand and a perfect image of her.

"I mean, seriously, though, Earth has come a long way. It's a hub for all alien activity now that my dad's stabilized his teludav technology," Pidge explained.

"That'll make travel on the Atlas much easier. We'll be able to reach many more sectors with the improved mobility. Not to mention the supplies we'll save with the shorter journey," Shiro said.

"Yeah, yeah! We'll have so much more room for the cooking ingredients. People are just so much easier to reason with when they're full. Man, this diplomacy thing isn't nearly as easy as Allura made it look," Hunk said.

"Right? But then, she did make everything look easy," Keith said.

"Speaking of which, how are things going on Daibazaal?" Shiro asked.

"We're calling for an election to select the Galran representative for the Galactic Coalition. So that's a step in the right direction"

"Let me guess. They asked you to be their leader and you said no?" Lance asked.

"Yeah, pretty much"

"Classic Keith"

We all laughed.

"But they're considering asking Aris," Keith said, taking hold of my hand.

I looked up from my glass. "What?"

"They want you to be their leader"

"No, no, no. I would not be able to do that. If someone asked me to lead a group of mechanics, I'd do it, but not lead an entire race. No thanks"

The others chuckled at my nervous and quick response.

"Allura would be proud of your decision, Keith. I think she knew that you would always be the key to the Galra's future. I also think she always knew Aris would be the key to the Altean's and the Galra's future. That together you two'd unite them again. Just around this table, I see so many lives touched by her actions. For some of us she was a diplomat, a teacher, a leader and a friend. But to those of us around this table, she will always be... family," Coran stood up and held up his glass. "To Allura!"

"To Allura!" We all said.

After dinner was over we all went to bed. Keith pulled me along to his room, kissing me the instant we were inside.

"I love you," he whispered, holding my head in his hands.

"I love you, too, but where's this affection coming from?"

"I just thought I haven't been saying it enough, considering how often we're apart"

"You don't need to say it a bunch of times"

"But I want to"

We both got in bed, falling asleep, but the Blue Lion roaring woke us up. We ran out to see what was going on, the others meeting us outside as well, and got there in time to watch all five Lions fly off into space.