Never," Lotor bit out, his anger at how he'd gone about everything so colossally terribly causing a growl to lace his words. "I never once saw you as a child, Princess. It was myself I did not trust - had you asked it of me I'd have taken you immediately and I could not risk myself leading her to them.

Oriande is not a place I ever wanted her to see but when compared to the thousands of lives in danger it was the preferred option, as well as necessary. Had I been able to pass the trials I'd have told you immediately and defeated her outright. Anything Altean in her was killed in the Rift - she would never pass the trials and even had she, the power to stop her was within our grasp. Oriande is sacred to me and I am honored to have seen it, especially with you. But to choose between it and the colonies - that choice was worth it and I would make it again a thousand times."

He desperately wanted to ask what had happened, how she'd come to know all this, where she was in their timeline...so many things. But the finality of her final statement pierced his heart and he realized that it didn't matter. She'd made her choice and while he didn't have all the details, he would respect it.

"Never think that I do not care for you, Allura. I am truly sorry for everything you have learned, and that I could not trust myself enough to trust you completely."