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English
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Part 6 of Legendary Defender Ficlets
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Published:
2021-02-15
Completed:
2023-05-21
Words:
128,860
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200/200
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452
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512
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Volume Six

Summary:

Part six of a series of one shots involving everyone's favorite characters

Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender.

Chapter 1: Keith's Fight (DoM, Thulaz, Antolivan)

Summary:

The DoM, Acxa, Regris, and Krolia learn that Keith went toe-to-toe with Zarkon (while in Red).

Notes:

Author Note: This is AU, where Thace, Ulaz, Antok, and Regris survived. Keith considers the BoM his pack, and they consider Keith, Acxa, and Regris their kits. Krolia is here as Keith's mom and pack member. Acxa is here as Keith's twin and pack member. This is also Thulaz and Antolivan.

Tags: DoM, Thulaz, Antolivan, Keith and Acxa are twins, Mama Krolia

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"Keith's Fight"

Acxa usually didn't spend time around the three Paladins referred to as the Garrison Trio, but that quintant, she found herself in their company. She mostly ignored the conversation that flowed around her until she heard her twin's name.

"I can't believe Keith actually fought Zarkon," Lance mentioned.

"What are you talking about? When did Keith do that?" Acxa asked.

"When was that again? Um, maybe a few phoebes before we met Ulaz," Hunk replied.

"Did Keith not mention that?" Pidge inquired.

"No, he didn't, but I'm going to ask him about it." Acxa stood up and returned to her pack's nest room. She saw the rest of her pack there. Thace was in Ulaz's arms, getting groomed. Antok was unbraiding his mate's white strands, while his tail rubbed up and down Regris's back, causing the oldest kit to purr. Keith was tucked under their mother's chin, purring as she carded her claws through the longer strands of his hair.

When she entered the nest, she immediately cuddled up against her mother and twin. When she didn't start purring, Krolia eyed her daughter. "What's the matter, daughter?"

Acxa managed to catch her brother's eye and asked, "Why didn't you tell us you fought Zarkon?"

All activity in the nest stopped, and everyone turned to look at the youngest kit, who froze. "Who told you about that?"

"Lance mentioned it."

Keith grumbled something under his breath. Even with their exceptional hearing, the Blades couldn't hear what he said.

Krolia nudged Keith's head with her own. "Tell me it's not true, kit."

Keith sighed. "It's true."

"What?! When was this?!" Thace exclaimed.

"You should know. You were there. It's when we attacked central to rescue Allura."

"I didn't realize it was you, kit."

"Tell us what happened, kit."

"Well, at first, I didn't even know it was Zarkon. Coran had to tell me." Keith smiled slightly. "I still remember my words as wrong as they were. 'This is my chance to put an end to the Galra Empire! I have to take it!' Even as I fought, Coran continuously warned me to not engage and get out of there, but I muted the comms after four warnings.

"I didn't realize it until a bit later but Zarkon was using the Black Bayard. However, I managed to unlock Red's Plasma Cannon, which gave me an edge. I managed to get off two shots before Zarkon said something that struck me as strange and bothered me for a long time. I had nightmares where I was among Empire soldiers, dressed like them, suggesting that I was one of them." 

"What was his line, kit?" Kolivan asked.

"'You fight like a Galra soldier, but not for long.'" Keith shuddered slightly before continuing, "Zarkon knocked Red down, but Shiro managed to save me just in time.

"I realize how foolish it was to fight Zarkon one-on-one, even if I was in Red, which I was."

Krolia tightened her grip on her kit as the realization sank in that if the fight had gone deadly wrong, she wouldn't have gotten to reunite with her youngest. That thought filled her with dread. Keith was initially okay with his mom holding him tight until it was obvious that she wasn't letting up the pressure at all. In fact, it was getting a little hard to breath. "Mom!"

Even that didn't attract her attention. Keith started panicking a bit, whining loudly in distress. Kolivan tried to pry Krolia's hands off the youngest kit, but before he got too far, Krolia realized someone was trying to loosen her grip on the kit, so she hissed at whoever it was who dared.

Kolivan scowled and growled at her, breaking her out of her reverie. She locked eyes with her pack leader and whimpered in apology. However, Keith was still getting squeezed, so he whined again. This time, Krolia let go, but Keith didn't leave her lap. "I'm sorry, my kit. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It didn't really hurt, but it was starting to get hard to breathe."

"What had you so distressed, sister?" Ulaz asked.

"I realized that if Keith's fight with Zarkon had gone deadly wrong that none of us would have gotten to meet him. I wouldn't have gotten to reunite with him. I wouldn't have realized that he died." A tear slid down Krolia's cheek.

Keith nudged Krolia with his head. When she looked at him, he licked the tears off her cheeks. "It's all right, Mom. I'm okay."

Krolia pulled her youngest kit close, and he tucked himself under her chin again. Krolia nosed Keith's hair. "Just don't do anything like that again, kit. I don't know what we would do if you were no longer around."

Keith purred to her and whispered back, "I don't want to know."

Fin

Notes:

I didn't mean to stay away so long, but inspiration was low and real life got in the way. I didn't get a lot more stuff written, but that happens. I hope everyone enjoys Volume 6.