Disclaimer: WEP owns Voltron.

Notes: Phoenix gave us a challenge/pass it fic (“Morning Surprise”). The idea of it caught my imagination, and I started writing without taking in Phoenix’s conditions. And I got this. Then I went back, and reread the conditions, and, well you can find out what happened after that...So I finished that one, and I figured, sure, I'll crank this one out too, no problem. And then it kept going and going...

This ought to be NC-17 -- but I still can’t quite make myself go there. {sigh} Maybe another time. So I guess it’s a lime story...

Warning: angst, clichés (I like ‘em, what can I say?), m/f -- trust me, okay? I do know what list I’m sending this to... And yes. Sap. Lots of sap. Remember who’s writing this...

Haggar, through magic and trickery, almost gained control of Blue Lion. But the Voltron Force still prevailed...

“I have had enough! This one puny planet that was torn apart has grown into huge thorn in my side. How can they defeat us every single time?” King Zarkon is furious after watching yet another one of Haggar’s robeasts destroyed by Voltron.

Prince Lotor, tuning out the tirade, turns to Haggar. “I didn’t know magic could reach into the castle of lions.”

Haggar shrugs, eyeing Lotor with caution. “King Alfor was a strong mage, but his skills were not that great. His spell protects the castle and the voltron force from obvious magics, but not from subtle ones. He had to leave that much give, just in case one of the pilots was a mage as well.”

Zarkon growls. “And your point is, my son?”

Lotor, a crafty look in his eyes murmurs, “Perhaps it’s time to start attacking them from within. Keith is their center -- that’s why he pilots black lion. If they lost him, say if he was changed into an animal, then they would be easy prey.”

Eyes widening with the possibilities, Haggar begins to cackle. “I’ve a better idea -- I’ll change him in a way that leaves him still capable of piloting black lion -- but will disrupt everybody else on the team!”

For a moment, both Zarkon and Lotor stare at Haggar, considering whether or not to push her into revealing her plans. As one, they turn to look at each other, and shrug.

“This plan of yours better succeed, witch...” Zarkon threatens as he turns away.

Still cackling as the two leave, Haggar begins to mix potions and call up her spirits of power. “Oh, it will indeed.”

______________

Yawning, Keith stretches. Another day, another robeast destroyed. You’d think Doom would learn to leave us alone... He locks down the security console, and heads down the corridor to his room. Pausing before Lance’s room, he sighs softly. If only... Shaking himself, he turns back to his own room.

______________

Burying her head in her pillow, Allura slides into a familiar mantra. I hate this. I don’t want to marry and bear children. But I have to, for my people, and it has to be soon... I wish I was a guy. I wish I could just spill my seed and have another carry the child. I wish another would be expected to take primary care of my child... I wish everyone would stop *pushing*. If I was a guy, I wouldn’t be expected to marry so soon... I hate it. The only man I’m even willing to let touch me is Keith... And I don’t even feel about him the way a woman is supposed to feel about a man... I don’t get the tingles when we touch. I have to force myself to blush and simper in his presence, just to keep up appearances... Just to keep Nanny from trying to foist another one of ‘her friend’s sons’ on me... Listening her harp on how unsuitable Keith would be is marginally better than her attempting to set me up with someone ‘suitable.’ Maybe, maybe Keith’d be willing to father the next ruler of Arus without needing to be King or wanting bed-rights as well...

With that last bitter-hopeful thought, she drifts off to sleep.

____________

Lying in bed, Lance hears the booted steps approach, pause at his door, and move on.

Damnit. I wish I could love Keith. But ... it’s just not there -- the spark that’s needed between lovers... Trying would just spoil our friendship...

Rolling over, he concentrates on falling asleep.

____________

Finally done mixing her potions, Haggar began to chant. Dark spirits came at her call, darkening the room further, sucking the lifeblood out of the slaves chained near her. I’ll have to remember to keep putting fresh slaves here.

___________

Curling up tighter, Keith attempts to put off getting out of bed. Muzzily, he thinks, If the rest of the team saw me like this... Laughing softly, he begins to stretch -- and then frowns. Something doesn’t feel quite right... Shaking his head, he snorts. Gotta get to the bathroom, and wake myself up... THEN wake everyone else up..

Grinning wickedly, he shuffles into the bathroom, yawning occasionally. Closes the door. And screeches.

“WHAT --!!!”

___________

Hunk, Lance, and Pidge all jerk awake at the sound, tumble out of bed, and rush into Allura’s room. Instead of the usual Princess-in-acute-distress, they waken a very pissed princess in her nightie...

Standing outside her door, the three trade puzzled looks.

Pidge scratches his head. “I could of sworn I heard the Princess cry out...”

Lance shakes his head. “Me too... Hey, where’s Keith?”

For a moment they stare at each other in mutual astonishment. Hunk flatly denies the possibility. “No way could Keith sound like _that_.”

“Still, maybe we ought to check on him. Usually he’d be the first one here...” Pidge offers.

Shrugging, the other two nod and all three move to Keith’s door, which abruptly opens.

Shocked into speechlessness, all the three of them can do is gape, eyes huge, and mouths open enough to capture a mountain of flies.

Dryly, Keith murmurs, “I take it I’m not hallucinating.”

I’ve always liked alto voices... occupies only a small part of Lance’s brain; the rest is evaluating Keith’s nude body. Which is now completely female. Her feet are delicate, rising to long, well-muscled legs with curly black pubic hair at their juncture; moving higher, his eyes linger over her wide hips, slim waist, breasts just slightly large for her frame, slender neck, and a beautiful face, quite clearly Keith’s, though her features are more delicate, her eyes seeming much larger -- with a much too calm look on her face that Keith always got just before he was about to tear into some poor idiot...

“Are all of you done gaping, yet? It been _much_ too long if this body stuns all of you into a five minute silence.”

Turning bright red, all three of them start to stammer out apologies -- which Keith cuts off with a wave of her hand. “We’ve got practice in 30 minutes.” With that, she turns her back -- giving them all a brief back view before her door shuts.

Utter silence for another minute or two. Then, Pidge shakes himself out of it. “Um, is it just me, or did Keith take that much too well?”

Hunk, a stunned look still on his face, shakes his head in agreement.

Lance shrugs. “Keith’s always had the highest adaptability score of anyone in the Academy...”

Hunk sputters. “But adjusting to becoming *female*?!?”

An alto voice calls out through the door, “25 minutes and counting.”

With that unsubtle reminder that the walls in the palace are thin, the three blush (again) and hurry off to their respective rooms, minds spinning, to attempt to ready themselves for practice today.

In her room, Keith hears them rush off. Sighing, she starts getting dressed as best as she can. Damn it. I ... jiggle... How the _hell_ does the Princess keep from doing that? And nothing _fits_. How can pants be almost too tight to fit over my hips, yet, once past my hips, feel as though they’re going to fall off?!? And the shirts look ... indecent... Damnit! This was never a problem before... Sighing, Keith regards her appearance in utter disgust. And today is the day I decided we ought to work on our hand to hand... Hell. I’ll just go to breakfast in a gi. At least I know I can fit into *that* comfortably. Maybe Allura or one of her maids will have something I can borrow...

___________________

Gesturing wildly, Pidge bursts into the dining hall. “Princess, you are not going to believe it!” Lance and Hunk tumble in after him, stunned looks on their faces.

Allura just glares at the three of them. “WHAT were you doing, barging into my room like that?”

A light alto voice, inflections sounding familiar somehow, cuts off any reply they might make. “They heard me and thought I was you.”

Allura jerks her gaze from the boys, seeing in her peripheral vision that they whip around just as fast as she did. Before her is a .. vision. An absolutely gorgeous human female walks gracefully into the dining area. A too large white gi wraps around her slender body. The pants legs and the sleeve arms are folded a few times. Her feet are bare and utterly silent as she pads to Keith’s chair. Startled, Allura looks closer. She’s not wearing a bra! Blushing, she wrenches her gaze away. Odd. I feel shaky and my heart’s pounding... Wait a minute... “Why are you sitting in Keith’s chair?”

Huge black eyes hold Allura frozen. “Think about it.”

Caught in the woman’s eyes, Allura can’t reply.

Coran sucks in air abruptly with the shock. “Keith? What happened?!”

“I’d like to know myself.” Shrugging Keith applies herself to her food. “But right now, we have practice in ten minutes. Eat lightly, everyone.”

Mechanically, Allura obeys. That’s Keith? He was good looking before, but now... Resolutely, Allura focuses on her food, refusing to think any more about it.

Lance unknowingly wonders the same thing. She’s incredible. I didn’t think anyone could be more beautiful than the Princess, but somehow.... Shivering, Lance steals glances at Keith as he eats.

Calm, Keith. You can do it. Keith steadfastly ignores the covert stares. I hate this. I can deal with it, I just hate it. Why the _hell_ do people have to be so shallow...

________

Practice did not go well.

“That’s it? That’s the best you can do?” Scornfully, Keith looks around at her panting teammates. She isn’t even breathing hard and has barely broken into a sweat. “I’m the one breaking in a new body, and all of you are exhausted just by me? I must not have been pushing you hard enough before.”

Driven by exhaustion, Hunk unwisely protests. “You’re pretty distracting...”

Allura cringes, awaiting Keith’s stinging attention to why _she_ is being distracted as well...

Lance, who knows Keith far longer than anyone except Sven, winces in foreknowledge of the implosion to come...

“Sooo...” Sibilantly drawn out, the single syllable manages to drop the ambient temperature to freezing. “You find me distracting, therefore you can’t fight well. Such a good excuse, hmm? Can’t control your hormonal reactions, right?” The alto voice purrs.

Shivering slightly, aware that a trap is closing in, but too tired to realize what it is exactly, all Hunk does is nod.

All Lance can do is watch in morbid fascination.

Keith’s eyes narrow dangerously, her voice snapping, “So if Doom had some gorgeous, well-endowed female on their side, you’d be so lust-stricken, you’d be incapable of fighting her? If Doom had known that, I’m sure they’d’ve gone recruiting other places than among scientists and magic-wielders. And, of course, by that logic, then the Princess is our sole reason for winning Arus and the surrounding planets free of Doom. If that’s the case, then I guess there’s no more need for practice. Princess!”

Jerking in surprise, Allura’s head snaps up. “Yes?”

“Will you help me with clothes? It seems the boys can’t handle me like this...”

Barely keeping her face under control, Allura manages a calm nod. ‘The boys’ wince at their abruptly downgraded status.

Keith sweeps back into the castle, Allura trailing in her wake, leaving the other three gaping at their backs.

Lance sighs. “Hunk...”

Hunk blushes. “I know, believe me, I _know_. I’ll try to work on it...”

Pidge just shakes his head.

The three of them slowly (and painfully) make their way back into the castle.

_______________

In her room, Allura watches with fascination as Keith tries on the various assorted underwear -- some collected from each of the maids. For someone who was male, she knows a great deal about feminine underclothes... Wondering about that puzzle helps keep her mind off of the sheer perfection of Keith’s form... “Keith?”

“Mmm?”

Swallowing dryly at the warm sound, Allura takes a few seconds to be sure of her voice. “Why are you so comfortable putting all of this on? I mean,” Allura blushes deeply, “I would imagine that taking them off of someone else would be very different from putting them on yourself...”

“You’re right, it is.”

Allura waits. And waits, while Keith finishes getting dressed -- underwear chosen along with a simple black jumpsuit to wear, and a few changes of clothes to take with her. “Well?”

Keith turns around and just looks at Allura. “It’s none of your business, Princess. Thanks for the clothes; this should get me through until we figure out if the change is permanent or not.” And she walks out of the room.

Staring after her in shock, Allura doesn’t pull herself together enough to protest until the door shuts behind Keith. A soft, muffled scream escaping her lips, she throws a pillow at the door.

_________________

Sighing, Keith walks quickly to her room. That went well. Could I have antagonized her any more? But it’s so bloody annoying.. Why does _everybody_ prefer me female? I can’t believe it. Even _Allura_ likes me better as a female. Am I _that_ disgusting, male? Oh, blast it. I forgot about the uniform. I’ll have to see about getting another one... Keith checks her chrono. Maybe alterations can be done to Sven’s old uniform while I’m being examined by the doctors...

_______________

“I’m sorry, Captain. From what I can tell, magic has to be at work. If it was anything but magic, there ought to have at least been remnants of male organs, and the female organs ought not be so complete. Medically, we can’t really do anything for you that won’t be, well, mutilating. And it can always be done later, so it seems the best bet would be to find out how to reverse the magic. I wish I had better news for you.”

Sighing, Keith shrugs. “Thanks, Doc. I figured this is what you’d find, but it was worth a shot.”

_________________

Coran looks around the table. “What’s wrong with all of you?”

A very subdued Voltron force, sans Keith, refuses to even look up at him.

Frowning, Coran starts to focus on Allura, when the door opens.

“Sorry about being late. I was seeing about getting a uniform while I’m female.” Keith walks into the room, her gaze sweeping over everyone. The rest of her team seem to hunch even further down. Shrugging her shoulders, she continues. “The doctors didn’t find anything. So it’s likely that this is one of Doom’s plots, to try to disrupt us. Obviously, it’s working quite well.”

Outraged, everybody’s heads snap up. Keith smiles thinly. “I’m sorry about being hard on all of you earlier. I keep forgetting that not everybody is taught as much about control as I was.” Keith’s smile widens as her teammates flush in shame. “So far, it seems the only way for me to get back to normal is if we get Haggar to tell us what she did and how to reverse it.”

Pidge rolls his eyes. “Like that’s going to happen.”

“Exactly. So we have to figure out how to work together in case I get stuck in this form permanently. Another option is to have someone else fly Black Lion.” Seeing the immediate protest in everyone’s face, Keith relaxes. Slightly. “Thanks. Maybe, if this is a constant drain on Haggar, working together well enough will make it not worthwhile for her. That’s probably the best we can hope for. If we succeed in that scenario, I might get changed back and she probably won’t try it again on someone else, if the first try was unsuccessful.”

Hunk, face flaming, hesitantly asks, “And how are we going to do that? You’re right, I don’t concentrate well around you like this. Even now, I’m having problems...”

Keith’s smile widens further into something terrifying. “Desensitization.”

Coran almost falls out of his chair.

__________

“Well, witch? Have you finished with your potion yet?” King Zarkon demands.

Cackling, Haggar responds. “Of course, Your Majesty. I have already started the process.”

Lotor jumps in. “We should attack now, while they’re still off balance...”

Haggar narrows her eyes at him. “This requires delicate timing, my Prince. We must give them time enough to realize that there’s difference, yet attack before they adjust. I don’t recommend attacking just yet -- you’ll just pull them together once more. Especially since not even I can work two great spells at once. So if you want a robeast that has a chance of beating Voltron, you’d better wait.”

Gesturing his acquiescence, Lotor growls impatiently. “What did you do to them?”

“All in good time, Highness, all in good time.”

______________

Hours of sparring and practice later, just about everybody is exhausted.

Moaning slightly, Pidge complains. “Skipper, either you were holding a lot back before, or whatever Haggar did to you really energized you...”

Smirking, Keith replies, “I was holding back, of course. It’s harder to hold back now, what with all the adjusting I have to do to fight in this body.”

Groaning, Pidge rolls on his back. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but _I’m_ desensitized.”

Too tired to even groan, Hunk just nods his agreement. “I don’t think you could turn me on if you tried.”

Snickering, Keith waves her hand at them. “Get out then. Go rest and recover -- and if we’re lucky, Doom won’t attack tonight.”

Whimpering at the thought of an attack now, Hunk and Pidge support themselves out of the training room and to their respective sleeping rooms.

Turning her attention to the other lump on the floor, Keith puts her hands on her hips. “Well?”

Allura slits her eyes open. “I’m not going to be distracted in a fight anymore. But if I had to fight this instant, I’d have a problem... I’m too tired and sore to even move...”

Squatting down next to her, Keith laughs softly. “C’mon Princess. You can do it. Just think, if you make it up, momentum will get you to a much more comfortable resting place...”

Sighing, Allura starts the process of hauling herself up, with Keith’s help. After the almost sadistic glee Keith showed as she thrashed them all over the training room, and the way she taunted them if they got hurt from the training robots because they missed an order of hers, Allura agrees with Hunk. No way is Keith ever going to be able to be attractive to me. No matter what form she’s in... Muzzily, Allura weaves her way out of the room.

Turning to face the last occupant, Keith raises her eyebrow. “Well, Lance?”

Lance drops his eyes, and flushes slightly. “Sorry, Keith. I don’t think I’m desensitized yet...”

Narrowing her eyes, Keith slowly studies Lance. Her eyes widen as her slow exam causes quite -- visible -- changes in his anatomy... “Lance? You seemed focused enough in the battle simulation.”

Blush deepening, Lance shifts his stance to a more comfortable one. “I know you too well. That sort of attitude you were showing... For people who haven’t known you for as long as I have, the attitude might be enough to quash any attraction they have to your new body. But I _know_ you’re not really like that. And you’re --” Lance is now the color of the setting sun, and his eyes are fastened to his toes. “you’re gorgeous. I find that combination very hard to resist.” Taking a quick breath, Lance rushes on. “I’ll still be able to concentrate in battle -- I can control myself that much, but when not in battle...”

Keith interrupts. “You seem to tire of your bedmates easily.” No accusation, just pure clinical detachment accompanies the words.

Hunching his shoulders, wondering if he can feel any smaller, Lance nods. “I don’t know what it is, maybe I just enjoy the hunt and not the results.”

Keith regards Lance for a long moment. Can I do this? I love him, but he doesn’t love me. If I know this going in, will it hurt less? Or, more to the point, will I be able to handle it when it all ends? On the other hand, this is, maybe, my one chance to have him... Lips thinning, hurt anger flaring and then subsiding unseen in her eyes, Keith decides.

Startled, Lance jerks his head up at the first soft stroke to his cheek -- exactly as Keith planned. Keith plants a kiss as carnal as she can make it on his lips, strong hands cupping Lance’s cheeks, keeping his head from moving. Stunned, for a moment all Lance can do is accept the kiss -- and then his eyes shut, his arms wrap around Keith, and he gives back passion in equal measure.

The two twine into one and sink to the floor.

_____________

Coiled together on a practice mat and their clothing, they rest. Keith’s head is tucked under Lance’s chin, nuzzling his neck, breathing in his scent. Lance slowly strokes Keith’s hair, marveling at the silky texture.

“So. Did that help with the desensitization?” Keith’s husky voice sends shivers through Lance.

“Not really.” Distracted by the scent and feel of Keith wrapped around him, Lance wistfully suggests. “Maybe if we do this more often...?” Horrified at his mouth’s betrayal, Lance concentrates on Keith’s hair, fear icing his spine at the absolute stillness of the warm body in his arms.

Abruptly relaxing, Keith sighs. I’ll take what I can get... “Sure. We better get out of here, and cleaned up for now. I’ll meet you tonight, okay?”

Eyes wide in shock, Lance murmurs, “Okay...”

They pull apart, and dress. Lance watches Keith in puzzlement. I’ve never seen Keith look so completely blank before...

________________

Dragging himself out of bed for evening meal, Pidge groans. Never going to complain about one of Keith’s training sessions again. Never ever. Dressing is a slow and extremely painful process. Finally plodding out of his door, he sees Hunk, moving just as slowly, a few feet ahead of him. I sure hope Keith changes back soon. Keith as a ‘she’ seems a heck of alot more irritable and even more sadistic than Keith as a ‘he’... Ah.. food... Wearily, he sinks carefully down into his chair. Glancing around, Pidge takes stock. Everyone is subdued... No wonder, with Keith beating us into exhaustion... Though Lance is acting sort of odd... Dreamy... He sort of looks like that time when that lady ambassador... Abruptly realizing what he’s thinking, Pidge’s eyes widen, and then narrow. He shoots a glance toward Keith -- which bounces off an impenetrable mask. Ok, no clues there. But who else...? Allura’s not showing any changes... It’s gotta be Keith.. Absolutely amazed, Pidge focuses back on his food. Kami. I can’t believe it. I guess it makes sense; Lance was always attracted to the more dangerous types... Wait’ll I tell Hunk... And, hey. Maybe this’ll make Keith less irritable...

Keith sighs. I think Pidge figured it out. He doesn’t seem to have lost any respect for either of us... Not that there was all that much there to begin with... Shrugging slightly, she continues her meal quietly. No turning back. I’ll take as much as I can get. For a moment, her face turns darker than the night outside, then she regains control.

Coran, watching the interactions between the team members, wonders. They seem to be handling all of this quite well -- especially Keith. But what happens if Keith starts to fall apart? How can anyone take being changed from one gender to the other without some sort of breakdown? Unless she’s done so in private...