Hidge Week 2020 Day Five: Starlight | Earth
The lights above looked like constellations, the starlight shimmering down on each and every one of them as they waited. Chairs had been assigned to them, separating each of the teams from each other. Another scare tactic, he was sure.
The quest for the orb was no joke.
The whole pageant was just as he expected it to be, shortened since there were only four contestants, one from each team. Pidge looked so small compared to the rest of the “ladies” on the stage, but he did have to say she did look like a lady in the dress they had shoved her into.
Since when had he missed her maturation into more of a woman than a girl? Knowing her, she had hid it from them, not wanting to feel like the weakest link.
Still, his heart raced as he waited for the talent portion. She was beautiful under the starlight lights over their heads and he couldn't believe he would get to dance with her sooner rather than later.
“Your granny and I met at a dance,” his grandfather had told him over and over again, to anyone in the family who would listen. “I knew it was true love as soon as she stepped on my toes.”
There had been a lot of toe stepping earlier, but Hunk had known much sooner than that. He had known before the golden doors, before Allura even.
He had known, but had also known better than to say anything.
He was running out of time and had to say something soon.
Then, as soon as she was announced, he mentally prepared himself to get ready. She had told him for the best effect to wait, it had to be her alone to start it, and he followed any direction she told him, or even suggested.
She walked out onto the center of the stage her smile large and warm, but fake. She had definitely done pageants before, by the way she held herself, she looked almost comfortable, or was it the fact that she knew how to fake it?
Pidge started to dance alone, as the music started slow and somber. The way she had done her hair, whatever make up they had been given, the way the dress held her curves and shimmered under the starlights was intoxicating.
Hunk nearly missed his cue, but made it in time.
When she turned around to face him, and they began dancing together in time, he was in awe of how beautiful she looked under the starlights up close. He forced himself to focus on the dance steps, on the music, on anything but Pidge close enough to whisper, to kiss, to dream of something he knew she would never return.
In a flash, their performance was done. They bowed and she let go of his hand.
He would have to wait to talk to her until it was all over.
He had missed his chance.
“With careful deliberation, the winner is Kathryn Holt of Earth,” the acolyte said to the small crowd of them. “The goddess was very moved by your dance.”
By extension, that meant Team Voltron had won. Hunk let out a sigh of relief. He was sure losing would not be kind, if the last few trials had been any indication.
“As the winners of the pageant, you and your team may request one favor from the goddess that does not include the orb.”
It couldn't be that easy.
“Please follow my sister to the next room.”
Another acolyte beckoned them forward toward a set of double doors. He followed Pidge in and the rest of them followed him.
“The team that did the worst in the pageant is—“ the doors closed behind them and screams of anguish followed.
Hunk didn't want to know.
Sitting in the room, on a throne of gold, the goddess, the same fairy from the flower before, but larger, taking up the whole throne, the orb a mere bobble in her hand. She looked upon the five of them with a smug kind of pride.
“Congratulations on making the final three teams,” She said, spinning the orb in her palm and between her fingers, showing it off as they stared at the prize so close and so far away. “Kathryn Holt, what is your request?”
She looked right at Pidge and Hunk felt a fear surge through him. What would that beautiful brain of hers come up with as a request.
“I want to know how the chamber with the golden doors works,” Pidge said. “Does the ultimatum always come to pass or is it simply a terror tactic?”
The goddess grinned wider. “Beauty and brains, a rare combination, especially in the barren wastelands in this galaxy that were once beauty.”
At least she hadn't killed them yet.
“The double edged chamber is just that,” She said, spinning the orb in wild ways without looking at it. “It shows your greatest dream and your greatest nightmare should you not decide to take your fate into your own hands.” She looked right at each of them. “There is no place for fear in a competition such as this. The chamber removes those unworthy of even the first step of the competition.”
She stared down Pidge. “Does that answer meet your satisfaction?”
“No,” Pidge answered, staring down the goddess while looking like a goddess herself. “It wasn’t an answer at all. What happens if the ultimatum isn’t met?” She asked, refining her question.
Hunk considered pulling her back, for her own good, but the goddess just looked pleased that someone was standing up to her.
“What do you really want to know?” The goddess asked. “Surely the chamber gave you something that upsets you, a balance too great to upset. So tell me: What do you really desire?”
There were a lot of things in the chamber that had upset him, but he stayed focused on Pidge, just as the rest of them were, looking like a princess wearing the shimmering dress, her face pure determination as she looked at the goddess.
“Is there a universe out there among the multiple universes where every single one of the team is happy?” Pidge asked.
“I can show you,” The goddess said with a short nod as she stood from her chair. “But I warn you, seeing something you can never have plays tricks with the mind and can be dangerous.” She kept her gaze on Pidge. “Shall that be your final challenge in the quest for the orb, seeing if you can find the harsh truth in the beautiful fiction?”
“Yes,” Pidge answered. “Do your worst.”