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[oratorical]

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[heartofalioness]

[Ask Allura over again sometime; she can size-shift a little bit and she's pretty strong when she's tall.

Allura takes the tea with a small thank you, and then her expression sobers.]

That we did. What exactly did you want to know?

[oratorical]

If there were any similarities to what's been happening in my own galaxy.

[The concept was similar enough, she's aware of that. It's how deep those similarities go that she's curious about, in case there was some way to learn from each other's experiences so that both could benefit.]

My own is currently under control by the Galactic Empire. Perhaps if there's any common ground, we can find a way to retain what we've learned here to help us in our fights.

[heartofalioness]

[Retaining memories... that would be nice, and not just for this reason. Still, ]

How long has this empire of yours been in place then. And is it just the one galaxy or multiple?

[oratorical]

We have no contact with any civilizations beyond our galaxy.

[Too much open space to travel, even with the best hyperdrives.]

The Empire as it is now has only existed for a handful of decades, but it rose up from the Republic, which had been in place for thousands of years. There's no clear indication just how long they had been planning for this.

[heartofalioness]

I see. In my world we've had access to wormhole generation for a very long time, and unfortunately the Galra Empire also have access to the technology. Emperor Zarkon started conquering galaxies ten thousand years ago, and nearly all of my universe is now under the Galra Empire's reign.

[Something she feels strongly about too, given the cold snap in the air around her and the frost starting to blossom on the surface of the chair.]

[oratorical]

We have hyperspace technology, but nothing quite so developed as to let us travel the distance between galaxies, with no guarantee of what we'll find.

[Leia notices, and it's not something she plans on calling out. It's more than understandable, knowing how she feels about the Empire and what they've done.]

I imagine the average lifespan in your galaxy is significantly longer than the standard human lifespan?

[heartofalioness]

For Alteans, it is a good bit longer than a human lifespan; we can live for quite a few centuries easily. I imagine though that Zarkon had been using stolen quintessence- life energy- to extend his beyond normal means.

As for myself... [The air around Allura grows dimmer.] The Castle of Lions is equipped with healing pods. Not only can they repair extensive injuries within reason, they can be used to keep one in cryogenic statis for a very long time. When Altea was attacked, my father put me and our advisor Coran in two of the pods and sent the castle to a planet outside our solar system. Then hid the Lions of Voltron so Zarkon couldn't obtain Voltron. When the paladins found the Blue Lion and it brought them to the castle, they woke us up... We discovered that ten thousand years had passed... and that all the planets in Altea's solar system had been destroyed.

[oratorical]

[She listens patiently, nodding in agreement with Allura's idea that this Zarkon had been extending his life span somehow. Not that she has much experience with that, but if it's possible in Allura's galaxy, then it would make sense.

But then she mentions the planets. Leia stills, drawing her breath in as a chill settles around her. She didn't want to imagine other planets in any galaxy suffering the same fate as Alderaan, and yet here seems to be proof that as disgusting and reprehensible as it was, planetary destruction wasn't unique to her galaxy. And she doesn't feel the least bit comforted that someone else might understand that feeling.]

...All planets including Altea? [Her voice is quieter than before, and she pauses before continuing.]

Our galaxies seem to have that in common, as well.

[heartofalioness]

You too. [Spoken softly, more statement than question. She knows that look, feels it in her own face and heart often enough.] I'm so sorry, Leia...

[oratorical]

It's not an experience I would've hoped anyone else could relate to.

[She says it with a sad sort of weak smile, because she intends it in the best of ways. She isn't sure whether it's good or not that someone else can relate to her situation, aside from any of the surviving Alderaanians back home. Not that she wished that fate on them, or wanted them to be able to relate; the fact of the matter was they did and could. As helpful as it may be to talk over things with Allura, it's not something she wished anyone could relate to.]

[heartofalioness]

It isn't. It's...

[Words fail her now, honestly. The atmosphere more than makes up for it, the harsh cold giving way to a more watery chill, the air around her darkening even more.]

[oratorical]

[Leia can't blame her. There aren't really any words adequate to explain how it feels to have your planet ripped away from you like that. Billions of lives destroyed, everything she ever knew and loved gone. Nothing more than fragments floating in space.

The break from harsh cold doesn't last too long, as Leia's thoughts and emotions cause icy tendrils to grow slowly on the floor beneath her.]

...I had to watch as they did it.

[heartofalioness]

Ancients... I don't know how Zarkon destroying Altea, I can't imagine it, let alone being there to witness...

[oratorical]

The weapon that did it was destroyed, at the very least, so no other planet in the galaxy will have to suffer the same fate.

[Which wasn't and isn't enough to make up for Alderaan, no. But the Death Star is gone--both of them--and the galaxy should be able to live in peace after that, if Leia has her way.]

[heartofalioness]

[Allura nods.]

We'd just defeated Emperor Zarkon when I was brought here as well. Hopefully the rest of the Galra Empire should be easy to take down now.

[oratorical]

The final stages are no easier than the rest of the war, I'm sure. But I know we're prepared for what comes next.

[She doesn't expect whatever remnants of the empire exist to be an easy fight, nor does she expect things to end quickly, even with Palpatine and Vader gone, but it's more than she ever thought would be accomplished while she was still alive. And she knows it's only going to get better.]

But I'm glad to hear things are taking a turn for the better in your galaxy, as well.