Princess Allura busied herself in her gardens gathering a bouquet of flowers to sit on her nightstand. "They smell so lovely," she thought as she buried her face among the silken petals. "Now I will have my garden with me all day as I work." The life of a royal was not all play as many people mistakenly believed. There were treaties to write, alien language to study, and a wide range of other diplomatic and official duties. Allura spent several hours each day at the desk in her room devoted to these tasks. She was determined to be a good ruler, and all aspects of her position interested her. She was a young ruler, not yet 21 years, but she knew the importance of the decisions she made.
It was still not yet dawn, and there were only tiny fingers of pink light creeping over the mountain top. The princess used a small lantern to do her gathering by. She would roam through her garden until the sun began to rise. Then she would sit on the fountain's edge and take in the spectacular scene. Today's sunrise promised to be breathtaking. Allura was so caught up in her own thoughts that she failed to notice a tall figure walk toward her. She turned toward the fountain, and her back was to the intruder. Suddenly she felt two strong arms take her from behind. She let out a small scream and then relaxed. "Keith, Lance, Hunk, whoever you are, you had better let go. You scared me, and I'm mad at you! What are you doing up so early?" she asked. The figure slowly turned her to face him. Allura was momentarily blinded by the sun that had invariably risen while her back was turned. All she saw was the outline of a tall man standing before her. It was obviously not one of her friends, for he was far too tall. The sun cast a white light all about him, and it appeared as though he was on fire. He looked like a beautiful heavenly spirit. Allura blinked once, then twice, and realized instantly that this man was no angel. It was Lotor, Crown Prince of Doom, and son to her father's murderer.
"I did not mean to frighten you, my love," he said softly, "but I could not bear to be without you a moment longer."
Allura struggled in his grip and shouted loudly, "Someone help me! Lotor, you shouldn't be here! You must leave! Someone help me, please!" Allura pulled as hard as she could and managed to free herself. However, she had pulled too hard, and she fell backwards. She hit the ground, and the flowers she had been holding scattered everywhere. The frightened princess turned and attempted to get up and away, but Lotor scooped her up quickly and held her close to him.
It quickened his pulse to have the beautiful princess so near him. He could feel her supple body through the thin nightdress she wore and smell her sweet perfume. She struggled against him, and it excited him all the more.
"Lotor, I command you to release me!" Allura cried. "My friends will be coming soon!" Allura was frightened, but even as she struggled to get away she felt a strangely pleasant sensation growing in the pit of her being. This man was evil, a mortal enemy, but he did not repulse her as he should. She found herself attracted, and she fought that feeling with all that she had.
Lotor sensed her internal confusion and smiled. He bent down and whispered in her ear, "My sweet, we are too far away. No one would ever hear ANYTHING!" He let the final word sink in, and then he kissed her ear gently.
Allura's face burned hot at his suggestion and touch. She had never been held by a man so, and no one had ever jeopardized her chastity. She had been kissed once by a visiting prince, but it had been no more than a peck and had even kissed Keith after a grand party. That kiss had been soft, gentle, and sweet, and in time may have led to more, but they had decided quickly they were better off as friends. "You will never have me!" Allura proclaimed.
Lotor plucked a flower from a nearby vine and ran it slowly down Allura's body. "I intend to put my mouth wherever this bloom touches and, in turn, watch you bloom, princess. The more your resist me the more I want you. Forbidden fruits are always the sweetest," he said his voice filled with longing. Allura whirled around intending to slap the prince for his insolence. "You are a scoun....." Allura started to say. Just then Lotor took her in his arms and crushed her to him. With one arm around her waist and the other entwined in her hair he brought his lips to hers, hard in a passionate kiss. Allura started, yet again, to resist when she suddenly stopped. She parted her lips and returned his kiss. The dark prince was in complete ecstasy when she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled in closer. He could feel passion radiating off her in waves, like heat. Oh, how he wanted her! Allura was momentarily lost in this new tide of emotion. Then as she came back to the moment, she realized what she was doing. It was wrong to desire this man. He was Zarkon's son. He was everything she had ever feared and hated. She wrenched herself free and brought her hand across his face in a resounding slap.
"You are a fiend! Stay away from me! You are a hateful, wicked man!" Allura cried in a frenzy, trying to suppress what had just passed between them.
Lotor caught her hand and pulled her closer. "Princess, you have denied me far too long. I almost believed you had no feelings for me. Now I see that belief was wrong. You have given me unrefutable proof here today, and while you may continue to deny it by word, your body betrays you." Then he turned her palm up and gave it a gentle kiss. He placed the flower he had been holding in her hand and said softly, "This is to remember me by, and you WILL remember. There will come a day when you will accept your feelings for me. Look for me again." With that, he turned and strode out of the garden looking only once over his shoulder to gaze on her again.
Allura clutched the flower to her chest and ran her fingertips over her lips. She could still feel where his mouth had been and the sensation was pleasant. It troubled her that she did not find his kiss offensive, and she stood unsure of what to do. Finally, she walked toward the castle filled with uncertain emotion, and she continued to carry the flower with her.