Allura strode into the castle, which was docked near the forest.
I didn't know Azalea had saved people.
But just imagine the look on her face when she sees old friends!
It's pure joy to see a reunion!, she thought giddily.
She tapped her knuckles against Azalea's door.
"Come in."
Allura walked in to see Azalea lying on the bed. She wasn't asleep, so her bands hadn't deactivated and she wasn't on the ceiling.
Azalea's eyes were puffy, and her face was red.
Allura knelt beside her.
"Azalea, are you okay dear?"
Azalea smiled and nodded.
"Just had a bad dream Allura. I'm fine."
Allura nodded and fetched a healing substance from her own bedroom.
I need to inform Keith.
He could possibly talk to her.
Make her feel better.
She applied the substance to the young woman's face, and soon all signs of crying were gone.
Azalea sat up and smiled gratefully.
"I have a surprise for you Azalea!", Allura said excitedly.
She watched as Azalea's face lit up with interest.
Allura held out her elbow, and together they walked down to the front entrance, Galra hybrid and Altean Princess.
Allura stopped at the main entrance, grinning.
She gestured for Azalea to go outside.
"Are you sure?", Azalea asked reluctantly.
Allura nodded, her blue eyes bright with excitement.
Azalea took a step out into the mellow sunlight, and walked hesitantly towards the others, and the three Jaspanians with them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Brenan paced back and forth.
He'd been looking for her for years.
Interrogating captured Galra soldiers.
Overtaking ships.
All just to see if he could find her.
It had been years since he'd last seen her, but he still remembered Azalea.
And how deeply he fell in love with her.
Brenan looked at one of the paladins.
The one in red was openly sulking and glaring at the ground.
What is his issue?
"Hi guys", a voice said.
Brenan turned around to face the young woman.
She... was a beautiful young woman.
A round face, lips formed in an "o" of confusion. Lovely grey hair flowed over her left shoulder.
Her hands were covered in metal, as were her feet, which were floating inches off of the ground.
She was tall, slender.
But her eyes...
Those wide, curious black eyes.
That one thing that kept him sane during his imprisonment.
She looked so different, no longer the dark little girl.
But he was staring right at the woman he thought he lost forever.
She squinted and cocked her head.
"Brenan?", she asked quietly, and his heart soared at the sound of her saying his name again.
He smiled and held out his arms.
"Hello, my beautiful flower Azalea."
She grinned widely. Tears streamed down her face.
"I can't believe it!", she squealed and ran into his arms.
Brenan laughed and spun her around.
It felt amazing to hold her again.
"I have my flower again!!", Brenan cheered to the clouds.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Coran was smiling nonstop.
It was such a pleasant sight to see a reunion of two lost friends.
The tall Jaspanian Commander was laughing, and so was Azalea as they spun around.
But the look on Keith's face wasn't happy at all, Coran noticed.
It was angry, and....
Sad.
The poor lad's fallen hard for the girl and hasn't even noticed it yet.
Everyone has noticed it.
Well, everyone except Keith.
And now, Coran realized as he watched Brenan, There's someone else fighting for her affections...