The Brain and Pinky had blinked in utter astonishment when Allura carried them from the launch chute. The area commonly referred to as Castle Control was even more impressive than it appeared on television, its cavernous size emphasized by a fifty-foot ceiling.

They blinked again as a stately looking, middle-aged gentleman came forward and greeted them with a stiff bow. His clothes echoed the formality of his gesture.

"Welcome friends, and may I say we are sorry for the misfortune that has befallen you. I am Coran, the Castle Diplomat and Advisor to Her Majesty the Crown Princess Allura; I am here to serve." The faded brown eyes looked kindly upon the rodents. "Anything that you need, please name it and I will do my best to accommodate you. All I ask in return is that you and your home world wherever it is will consider joining our New Alliance against Zarkon; we value and need all potential allies."

Cheddar translated rapidly and Pinky relayed the speech to Brain, who nodded thoughtfully. It appeared to satisfy the mustachioed gentleman, who bowed even more deeply, the hem of his greatcoat brushing the floor.

~I rather like this fellow, he has impeccable manners. I could use a butler/greeter once I become the beloved leader of Earth; perhaps this gentleman would consider a career change!~ The Brain pondered idly.

A loud growling broke the silence and Pinky blushed.

"I think politics can wait until my guests have been fed!" Allura chuckled.

"Of course, Princess! There are suitable morsels for them in the kitchen, why don't you go ahead; I will inform the others where you have gone."

Once again, Cheddar translated the dialogue and Pinky told his companion, while clapping his paws in glee. The Brain nodded again, graciously, although he cast a last longing glance around Ops, wishing he could take a much closer look.

"We shall see you later Coran, I will be taking them on a short tour as well."

The Brain smiled suddenly; things were looking good, and he had the best seat in the house to observe them. He glanced down from his perch on her shoulder, at the soft hills protruding from the Princess' uniform.

Well, maybe not the best seat, he corrected himself, wryly.

As Allura turned and started to exit the room with her passengers, the Royal Advisor called out, "Nanny is in the pantry, and I am sure she'll be happy to assist you, Your Highness. Goodbye for now."

Twenty minutes later...

"Eeeeek!" The black skillet repeatedly came crashing down centimeters away from Pinky as he scurried around to avoid being flattened. "What manner of vile vermin are you?" The rotund woman's flushed cheeks and bulging eyes coupled with the clanging of the pan frightened the mouse and he began to cry piteously.

"Tears will not help you, vermin, I do not tolerate strange mice in my pantry! Now I will teach you a lesson!" The skillet rose menacingly over a visibly trembling Pinky. It wavered as a clear feminine voice pierced the air.

"STOP!" The Princess came running, The Brain and Cheddar still riding on her shoulders. "Nanny, what do you think you're doing?"

"I'm defending my foodstuffs from this repulsive creature." The skillet lifted into the air once more.

"Stop it! He's my honored guest, Nanny, we just rescued him from the woods, where he and his friend had crashed after Zarkon shot them down!"

Her governess sniffed skeptically, but lowered her weapon.

"It's true!" Allura insisted.

"The lions preserve us, what is that monstrosity on your shoulder?" The Royal Governess cried, pointing a shaking index finger at the Brain.

"You're no Aphrodite yourself, Madam," The Brain muttered, scowling fiercely at the overwrought female. Now here was someone he wouldn't care to have around, except possibly as a bodyguard. Now there was a thought.

"Nanny, you are being terribly rude! Apologize to- to, um..." The Princess' voice trailed off uncertainly. Cheddar immediately whispered in Allura's ear and she quickly finished with, "Apologize to Master Large Noggin, and the honorable Antonio Banderas, at once!"

~Antonio Banderas?~ The Brain thought, incredulously. He glanced at Cheddar and the mouse gave him a large smile and the inevitable peace sign. He then looked sternly at Pinky, who shrugged and gave him a large gap- toothed grin.

"Not until I find out what he was doing in my pantry," Nanny said firmly, folding her ample forearms across her ample chest and glaring at the scrawny looking rodent.

"I sent him here, we were all coming down to get some food for our guests." Allura explained. "Antonio just got a little ahead of us, because he seemed to know exactly where he was going, somehow. I have never seen anyone with such a well developed sense of direction!"

Pinky stared at his feet and tried to look modest. The Brain gave a soft snort.

"Well, Princess, I am sorry I frightened your guests," the older woman huffed, "but I am taking no chances when it comes to strangers in the palace. Master Banderas, I hope you will forgive me." She gave Pinky a stiff curtsy.

Cheddar translated. Pinky bowed low in acknowledgment, and then blew the governess a kiss.

"My goodness," Nanny sputtered, looking flustered. "Let me get you some cheese so you can be on your way."

She set down the skillet on the counter, opened the nearest cupboard, and pulled out a large wheel of cream- colored cheese. She then located a knife and cut out a large wedge for each mouse. "Here you go, Master Large and Master Antonio. This is some of the best cheese Arus has to offer. It has been aged for forty years, it should be at its peak of perfection."

Pinky's lower extremities wiggled in pure delight as he accepted the treat.

The Brain sniffed his section suspiciously before taking a small bite. He closed his eyes in bliss as the pungent yet smooth flavor exploded on his taste buds.

~All I need now is a glass of German Auslese, vintage 1983.~ He thought.

"Care for some Honey Nectar?" Allura offered, while Cheddar and Pinky translated rather sloppily, their little oral cavities stuffed with cheese.

The Brain inclined his head in affirmation and soon was sipping the liquid out a small sugar spoon. ~Very nice bouquet; full-bodied, but extremely high in alcoholic content.~ he critiqued the substance mentally. He needed to keep his fiendishly clever mind clear as a bell, so he refused a refill.

Pinky tossed back his portion and two more, and then looked hopefully at the Princess, who laughed.

"No more for you, my young friend, the nectar is delicious but packs quite a wallop if you aren't used to it. Anyway, I need to finish your tour."

Cheddar translated, a trifle inarticulately, as he had imbibed as much as Pinky. He reeled away to hide and take a nap before Cheesy could box his ears for tippling before lunch.

Allura reached down to help the now staggering Pinky climb aboard her shoulder. The inebriated mouse curled up next to Brain and promptly fell asleep.

After a whirlwind tour, which the snoring Pinky completely missed, the Princess and her guests ended up in what was affectionately called Pidge's 'Think Tank' located in the pilot's living quarters. It was a cross between a den, a laboratory and a workshop. The child prodigy and Hunk were off to one side, attentively perusing a mass of wires and computer circuitry, but greeted the visitors with friendly smiles upon their arrival.

On a large rectangular table in front of the two pilots lay the salvaged pieces of the Big Suit and several weird looking tools and gadgets.

The Brain immediately began to salivate at the sight of such advanced engineering components.

Pinky, who had awakened by this time, looked about him in puzzlement.

"Zort! Hey, looky see, Brain, hic!... oh dear, 'scuse me! How come I never saw this room on the show?" He slurred slightly.

"Did you miss an episode?" His friend asked, in a slightly amused tone.

"No!" This question rapidly sobered the half-drunk rodent. The large pink nose wiggled in indignation at the very idea.

"Well then, maybe the production company is making new ones that will be aired later on, and this room is an addition." The Brain shrugged.

"Oh lovely, more Voltron, Poit! It would be beyond my wildest hopes!" Pinky whispered happily. "Maybe Keith will kiss the Princess now."

"Whatever," The Brain muttered. "I'm more concerned with the secret of Voltron at the moment. Please try to concentrate Pinky, we are about to learn new technology!"

As if sensing the mouse genius' eagerness, Allura placed her passengers on the table next to the Suit ship. The Brain immediately strolled over to inspect the new and highly developed computerized components that the two mechanics were going to install in the Big Suit. Here was technology beyond his wildest dreams, even beyond the artistic capabilities of WB artists, with brand new parts instead of rebuilt ones. And not one of them was labeled 'Acme'!

"To boldly go where no mouse has gone..." The Brain thought with uncharacteristic sentimentality as he surveyed the intricate apparatus. A tear came to his eye at the absolute splendor of it all.

Meanwhile, Pinky had noticed a red clad figure hovering in the hallway and grinned. Captain Keith was tailing them again, keeping an eye on the Princess.

Allura noticed the Captain as well, and made her excuses to the others, trying not to seem too eager as she approached the doorway to greet the dark haired pilot.

Pinky crept after her, curious as to what would be really said between the couple, now that he and Brain had managed to bypass the network's 'sensors'. Although, Nanny was the equivalent of the alarm and huge rubber stamp that got used where he came from.

"Uh-Allura, hi! How is everything going with our guests?" Keith asked, flushing as he felt the incredible eyes running over him rather blatantly.

"Just fine, they seem to be no worse for their horrible experience, and Hunk and Pidge are going to help them fix their craft now." She walked closer to him and put a hand on the brawny bicep of the Captain. "Please, could you do me a big favor, Keith?" The blue eyes glimmered and the pink lips glistened as she gazed at him. The golden head tilted inquiringly as her other hand rose to trace an imaginary line down his arm.

Keith sucked in a tortured breath, and Pinky saw his Adam's apple bob as the Black Lion pilot swallowed hard. "Anything for you, Princess."

Pinky gasped in delight as he saw the Captain's eyes darkening with passion.

"Kiss her, kiss her," he hummed, doing a little dance.

Allura blushed but didn't move away, and in fact, inched closer, her breasts a hairs-breadth away from brushing Keith's arm. She looked around, as if to check for spies, and then leaned forward to whisper her request, her right thigh brushing his left one.

He gave an obvious start as she came near, and his elbow jerked up and into her chest, jabbing into the softest, most tender flesh imaginable.

Keith's eyes grew wide.

Pinky's eyes grew wide.

"Owww!" The Princess cried, tears of pain welling in her baby blues.

"Oh God, I am sorry, that had to hurt..." Keith instinctively reached out to inspect the damage that had been inflicted, then thought better of it and snatched his hand away. He had to stop and steady himself before going on. "Can I get you something, Princess? An ice pack maybe?"

Allura glared at him, while crossing her arms over the injured orb. "No thanks, it really doesn't need to be chilled right now, on top of everything else." She looked down at the right side of her chest. "I think it might be puffing up a little, but my bra should contain it for now."

"Oh." Keith felt a suspicious tightening in his nether regions and shifted uneasily.

Allura's eyes lowered and widened.

Pinky clapped his paw over his mouth in shock. ~Egads! She really said... 'bra'!~ Pinky blushed. ~Nanny is going to show up any minute now and spank you, naughty Princess!~

However, no overprotective governess materialized, to his amazement.

Maybe Coran would be the one to break up this rendezvous. It always happened that way on T.V. He scanned the corridor.

Nope, no Coran to be seen on the horizon, either. Pinky happily returned to his surveillance of Keith and Allura.

The couple still stood as if frozen in place, each trying desperately not to check one another for signs of 'swelling'.

"I'm really very sorry," Keith began again.

"It's all right, these things happen all the time," Allura replied quickly.

~Narf. No they don't!~ Pinky thought gleefully. ~I bet this one goes on the 'bloopers' highlight reel!~

"You had a favor you wished to ask of me?" The Captain reminded her, doubly determined to make up for his clumsiness.

Allura suddenly smiled and her eyes began to sparkle. "Oh yes, I was wondering if you would mind taking my...." She paused as the beeping of the communicator broke her train of thought.

To the on-looking rodent, Keith looked nervous, titillated and perturbed all at once.

"Come in, Commander," a disembodied voice crackled into the hall like a shot.

~Aw...rats!~ Pinky sighed as he watched the Black Lion pilot reluctantly take the security call from Coran. ~I guess that's more like it, though I was starting to hope they'd actually have a chance to smoochy- woochy. Zort!~

He watched Keith regretfully take his leave of the beautiful Princess, and saw her yearning expression and flushed cheeks, while her gaze followed the dashing Commander as he strode away.

"Someday, Keith..." she murmured wistfully, and then slowly turned and strolled off in the opposite direction.

Pinky instantly decided to follow her. Maybe, just maybe he could cheer her up.

To be continued...