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Chapter Text

Kerberos: Moon of Pluto

It was supposed to be a simple mission, an easy come and go to collect ice samples in hope of possibly finding proof of life on other planets. They didn't think it would lead to them being captured by the said 'life' they hoped to prove exists. They didn't think it would cause them to become prisoners of war, but here they are.

Shiro regrets ever getting on that ship.

One Year Later: Earth, Galaxy Garrison

"Can anyone point out the mistakes these three so-called cadets made?" And thus everything went to shit. Iverson was pulling all the stops, making sure they realized their mistakes, but it was when he brought up the failed Kerberos mission that everything seemed to actually get rather hectic.

"That's not true!" Pidge, the youngest of the new cadets yelled out against something Iverson said about their failures and more specifically comparing them to the failed Kerberos mission. Lance was quick to cover his mouth to try and stop his team from digging themselves a bigger grave, because that was what Lance was. He was team leader since he was the fighter pilot. He had his best frien, the engineer Hunk at his side and the technical genius Pidge to provide the math needed to complete their missions affectively... well, more often then not. Today was a bad day, Lance could feel it, and it wasn't getting better anytime soon. 

Iverson railed in harder, this time on Lance, now that he'd taken the attention off Pidge, just reminding him of his position. Cargo pilot to fighter pilot only because the best of class got into a fight with Iverson, cut out his eye and got expelled, or so the rumor goes.

If Lance didn't already hate Keiths guts... well.

"Don't follow in his footsteps." And that simply didn't make sense. If Lance wanted to become the best pilot of the Garrison, he would have to follow in Keith's footsteps, and one day?

Well one day he'd take the lead, and he would never have to think about Keith and his stupid mullet again.

Of course Keith and his stupid mullet couldn't have just stayed in his hermit hole he went to a year ago. Of course he had to come literally running back into Lance's life at one of his low days. Of course Lance would run into him on what's supposed to be a bonding moment for his team to let them surpass that idiot mullet man.

"Who's that?" Pidge asked at Lance's annoyed huff.

"I'd recognize that mullet anywhere!" I've been one step behind it since he decided I was not good enough. "It's Keith!"

At least Lance was capable of being Shiro's right hand man in his escape. That was his only thought running through his head as he ran after Keith, as he ran to help. At least Keith didn't go in all lone wolf this time to out shine him again! At least Lance was there to prove-

"Who are you?" 

How dare he? 

"We were like rivals!" And Keith looked at him for a second longer before going to confirm-

"Cargo pilot...?" 

And if that didn't hurt, well Lance would make sure Keith would never have a reason to ever forget his name again. That is if he didn't kill them all in this escape.

"It's all a blur... how did you know to come save me when I crashed? Does A-"

"You should come see this." And this was definitely something. The conspiracy board was big and it made absolutely no sense, but at the same time, there was nothing clearer. Of course Hunk was the one to bring them back to the task at hand; aliens.

"They're looking for a weapon, something called Voltron-" And the word rattled amongst Lance, Pidge, and Hunk's heads who were all there to have heard Pidge say that same word the night before. Hunk though, in all his genius decides to bring to the forefront Pidge's finding's because he didn't think it was moving along fast enough. He needed to share his findings as quickly as his brain could come up with them.

"Give me that!" Keith said and Lance felt rather annoyed for his friend's sake before he saw it, too. 

"A mountain range?"

Keith walked up to the giant blue lion first, but Lance couldn't believe Keith would have the nerve to walk up to this giant robot surrounded by a forcefield when he was the one to feel it's energy.

Sure Keith really found it, big deal, but Lance?

Lance knew with something deep in his being that this was his.

"Maybe you just have to knock?" And there were two taps onto the forcefield and Lance felt it, he saw it in his minds eye, a vision so deep and so true that he knew it was to be his future. He heard everyone else talking about the amazingness of the vision they had just seen but he was too busy paying attention to the voice, no not voice, presence in his mind telling him to move forward. To enter.

To fly.

So fly is what he did. Sure it was a bit of a mess, but Lance was sure he'd get the hang of it.

"You are the worst pilot ever!" 

Ok so eventually.

It was beautiful. A technological masterpiece. A great castle, something truly amazing. 

And it was where the Blue Lion took them. 

It was where it's technological magic opened the door for them. 

It opened the door to their future.

So when all the lights began to turn on, when the steps and halls proved to be people sized, they followed the lights of the castle to what Pidge saw to be a control room. Two pods came up from the floor and when a beautiful alien fell out of one them Lance was quick to catch the beauty in his arms.

Of course she was also quick to disarm him and ask about their intentions in her castle.

"We've been gone, for 10,000 years." And that was a number none of the earthing's could physically process. To be alive for 10,000 years, to have unlimited, unopposed rule over the whole universe for 10,000 years.

And to learn that Lance was now piloting one of the super powered lions of Voltron, to know the rest of the universe was in their hands?

Lance really wished he'd decided to go with Hunk and Pidge back to the food court when he had the chance.

How could the princess give the fastest lion, the fiery lion, the lion who was meant for the best pilot, to Keith? When Lance was clearly the better option, the better flier? 

At least that was what he was telling himself, especially after he blew it by trying to flirt with the princess instead of learning what his lion was meant to be.

Pft what did a stupid princess know, it's not like her life force was connected to all the lions and had a deep understanding of their wants and desires in pilots.

Oh wait...

Well... Lance thought as he looked towards Keith standing to his left, the red lion hologram floating in between them, Blue's cooler anyways.

And Lance would swear to his dying breath he did not hear another voice in his head, so similar to the Blue lion's yet oh so different laughing quietly at his remark.

How does one bring up the fact that they know their best friends younger sister is in space with them on a mission to find a Green mystical lion under a different name and with a different gender?

"Wow, this is so peaceful I wonder if Lance and Hunk are having as much fun?" 

I guess you just wait for her to come to you.

"The good news is we've found the location of the Red Lion, the bad news is it's on that Galran ship orbiting Arus. But good news again! We're Arus!" 

"They're here already?" And thus Pidge decided to never let Coran do math ever again.

But of course Pidge couldn't think on that for long when they received a message from said Galra ship and the question everyone was debating now was to stay or to go and of course Hunk and Lance were together on leaving and Keith, well Keith was set on staying. Pidge was quick to stand on Keith's side, and that's when the sense of familiarity began. 

"Yeah, you know how you felt that crazy energy when you were alone in the desert?"

"Yeah and you made fun of me for it."

"And I'm proud of that, but turns out it's exactly like that mumbo gumbo." 

Now all Keith needed to do was to earn the lion's trust, while somehow relying on this lion mumbo gumbo.

Eh, he's done it before so he can do it again. So when he was separated from Shiro and Katie-who liked to be called Pidge now- he went deep into his sub conscious and tried to connect with this stupid space lion. 

"Come on, patience yields focus." Keith said and he focused, and felt it, that tiny, tiny flicker of recognition. "Gotcha."

And of course Keith got caught with the most dramatic Lion ever, but at least he could appreciate an entrance. 

And of course nothing is ever easy. The literal moment they got back to Arus to try and regroup and come up with a strategy with all the lions in play the Galra land and begin firing on the ship. There really is no breathing room between attacks and the castles only line of defense is failing. 

It really doesn't look that good, but of course Shiro gives it the best he can because he has to make it out of here. He has survived imprisonment, torture, and who knows what else just to get back to Earth and he did all that while sick and probably without an arm. 

Now he has a lion.

He has another four on his back, one with Keith at the helm.

He was not going to die today. 

He was not going to perish here.

"Let's do this!"

"How?" And honestly that was the question that needed an answer. And there was nothing they could possibly do as they watched their lions getting pulled into the galra ship, as they watched the final form of defense shed itself from the castle.

Could this be the end? When they haven't even started?

"No! We can do this." And with their new resolve, knowing they are the true last line of defense the universe has they pulled together to try for one final blow and they felt it. The irrefutable pull towards one another. The feeling of five separate lions, five separate beings becoming one mind, one giant lion. And it worked.

They did it, somehow, some way they saved the day by saving the planet. 

Maybe one day they could save the universe. 

But for right now? They'll focus on saving one planet at a time. 

"Defenders of the Universe, huh? That's got a nice ring to it." 

Chapter Text

Honestly? Being woken up by blaring alarms telling them that there's an attack at 7 am earth time was not what any of them wanted in this moment. Why can't they literally rest for more than three hours or however long they got to sleep.

Of course the Princess decided that the best way to truly wake them all up was to thrust upon them the sobering thought that an attack on Earth was eminent. 

"So while we prepare the castle for launch the rest of you must learn how to form Voltron." 

Yeah it really wasn't a good morning for the newly instated paladins. Hunk silently wonders if he'll ever have a lazy day again until this is all over. 

He also wonders, "Oh come on!" Why getting to their lions takes so much cinematic and dramatic action. Because what else is he supposed to think about while running after the ship that was to transport him to another elevator to transport him to his actual lion.

"Remember, feel the bond with your lions!" Is the Princess' final words of wisdom before they tried to do exactly what they did yesterday without having any clue as to how. Of course though patience begins to run thin as hours of simply flying give them no rewards.

Of course that forces them to try and do impossibly stupid things, like building a pyramid with their lions. In this scenario, patience really does not yield focus. And the Princess-

Ah yes, the Princess decides it's a good idea to physically put them under attack using the castle defenses. And thus, another hour or two of trying to bond by dodging never ending attacks, begins. 

Of course eventually the castle defense system stops attacking the lions and one by one they slowly make their way back to the castle for their much needed break, of course the Princess and Shiro are quick to reprimand, to tell them there is no time for breaks. 

The universe needs them in top condition.

Earth needs them in top condition. 

So they decide to try and bond outside the lions before going back in to try and form Voltron, and Coran is quick to suggest the training grounds.

Yeah, the training deck really wasn't a good idea, especially since it was the first time any of them had really had to deal with it. Pidge was the first one to be knocked down. Hunk went with his first instinct to dodge instead of defend against a drone firing at him. Which, he truly believed, was understandable. It didn't stop him from feeling guilty for the split second before he too was shot and thus thrust into the void of the unknown. 

Which was actually just a small room under the training deck, but all the same. 

It left Lance with Keith and Shiro, the two people he knew would defend each other to the death and it set him off kilter for the person he knew he could trust to have his back was gone and now he was stuck with a rival and someone he looked up to. 

He had to impress.

Of course, the need to antagonize his supposed rival, to get a rise out of him, a way for Keith to actually spend more than a moments glance looking at him, would always be Lance's downfall. 

"Me? I own this drill you're the one that needs to concentrate." And it's not seconds later that they all come tumbling down.

And so it's onto the maze. 

Lance was paired up with Keith and he felt his blood boil in annoyance. Why was he the man on the mic? Who gave him any right to lead now? Lance knew he was the better leader, he had played a leading game similar to this with his family back on earth. Of course there was no actual invisible maze that zapped you for going in the wrong direction, but it was the principal of it all.

So Lance was not shocked to see Keith use his authority to shock him the moment he got into the maze, because they were rivals, and Keith would not care to take Lance down another peg. Lance knew this. Lance knew Keith was trying to wipe out his competition for best pilot, for Shiro's right hand. 

"You're not listening! Two steps forward." And Lance is about to retaliate against that command, but realized Keith was in fact correct. He didn't listen, he just heard the last bit and went right.

Stupid. 

So he tried to re-orient himself and walked two steps forwards, ignoring Keith's warning of wrong, just to get hit again. Turns out this time, he went left without realizing it, oh well. 

"That's it we're switching!" 

And thus they're back in the lions, to try and see through their lions eyes, it's supposed to help them bond but of course Lance must show he's got the strongest bond by hurtling fastest towards the planets surface. He's going to have the strongest bond, he's going to be the strongest paladin. He must beat Keith somehow, he must do it someway, and if that means flying into this nose dive to bond or look through his lions eyes or whatever you can bet he's going to do it. 

"Going? I'm speeding up!" Why? Lance thinks to himself. Why must I compete here, when we're going to crash land head first into an alien planet?

But he can't think about that, he must think about winning. 

Of course he should have listened to his inner thoughts. Maybe that was his lion? Telling him this would get him nowhere? And as that thought passed through his head, he heard it again. The distinct laughter of what he would associate with his Lion.

Through his helmet though, the two heard Pidge pull up, but somehow also crash land. The only one they had not heard from, was Shiro. 

And that was because unlike the other paladins, he was not distracted by the fear of crashing, which was sensible, or the competition going on between two young cadets. He had looked death in the eye every day of his life for the past year this would be nothing. 

So he focused his whole energy into forming this bond. For this bond was the thing that would get him home fastest. And like all the other paladins Shiro knew, he had some unfinished business to deal with on Earth. 

As this thought was passing through his head, he felt it, like a whole other entity in his mind, there was a soft purr. A sound of recognition, a laughter, and then with his eyes closed he could see the world in front of him. He could see the cliff giving way and he knew the moment to engage thrusters to stop himself from slamming into the planets floor. He saw the rocks, the cliffs, the turns, he did not have to move, for the lion would take his thoughts and execute them without a seconds notice. 

It was brilliant, and he felt emotions he had really been lacking this past year.

Joy, success, pride and overall hope.

But that was not the truth for everyone. Lance and Keith had crashed, Hunk pulled out too early and Pidge was not capable of forming of bond due to her own stress. So they moved onto the next bonding technique, one Pidge knew she would not like.

"The Mind Meld!" Coran suggested as if it was a joyful experience, like Pidge would enjoy it. 

It took a lot for the paladins to move their minds though from Earth, from home, whether it would be Keith's shack, the family portrait Lance projected, Hunk's food or what appeared to be Shiro's small apartment he shared with his-

"Focus, clear out all your thoughts!" And thus Shiro was quick to bring forth the feeling he remembered of his Black Lion. Keith found his next, and Hunk was close to follow.

Lance was capable of putting his family aside for the moment to focus on Blue, but Pidge couldn't. The image of his family, the image of his lost brother, it was impossible to flush them from his mind to think about a stupid lion when his family-

"Pidge, stop thinking about your br- girlfriend!" Keith said quickly, stuttering quickly over his mistake, remembering what Hunk had said earlier. He tried, he really did and Pidge could appreciate that, but he was too worried for his family to notice Hunk's raised brow. 

They had to try again. They had to do this, but Pidge kept on failing. He couldn't figure it out. He couldn't do this not when Matt was out there. 

Noticing his destress, Shiro was quick to call for a break. He always did have a soft spot for Pidge's family. 

Of course the Princess had no such 'soft spot' for Pidge or any of the new Earthlings so when she saw them simply lying around and not trying their hardest, she was enraged. Infuriated! The whole of the known universe depended on them! And here they are lying around! Doing nothing?!

"Get up you lazy lumps! It's time you faced the gladiator." Of course this was another stupid idea. The Princess could not seem to get it through her thick skull. These were earthlings who up until two days ago did not even know each other past pleasantries. She was pushing too hard, she had no idea what Earth culture and standards were like, she just pushed and pushed and pushed because she needed this. Her people had needed this. Her father needed this, created this and they're doing nothing with it! They are not fit to pilot my father's greatest creation. She thinks to herself and is immediately ashamed with the thought, but it had already presented itself.  

But of course all really was fine and dandy with the paladins until Coran decided to chain them together when all they wanted was food. Allura really should have known she'd over stepped her bounds when Shiro began to complain. 

But she did not know the paladins yet, not truly, so she did not know when to heed a warning.

"We're not some toy prisoners you can-"

"Toy around with!"

"Yes! Thank you, Lance." And that was the brief moment Allura thought to herself, maybe this could work, until Coran tried to defend her and Pidge could not seem to keep his mouth shut.

Lance cared for Pidge with all his heart, really he loved the little gremlin, but he really hated the fact how he didn't know when to shut up.

"Oh yeah! Princess of what!" And Allura saw red.

And thus Allura fired the first shot at Pidge, Keith saw the goo drip down her face and it only took a moment for him to go into battle mode. His allegiance was first towards his home, his Earth before whatever Alien Species Allura was, so it was a no brainer for him to defend Pidge by attacking Allura. 

Then food goo was flying absolutely everywhere. Hunk was launching food from his mouth, Keith became the defense for Pidge who's aim was true, together they formed a tight bond with each other through the need to cover the Princess in as much food as possible. Good thing he was ambidextrous for Lance was quick to use his left arm at any moment to help Hunk and Shiro was quick to defend any attacks from Hunk's 'canon' mouth.

It was true chaos, that only broke with laughter from all five paladins.

Of course Allura's infuriated voice stopped all laughter, that is until she lifted her head and they all saw her victorious smile. 

"You're finally working together as one!"

"Hey, she's right." Keith said and he turned to the boy who had yet to send a barb at him the whole meal time, the longest time Keith could remember and he tried smiling.

It caught Lance a little off guard, but not off guard enough. "I actually don't hate you right now!"

But all this patting on the back didn't mean anything if they couldn't do it. If they couldn't form Voltron.

So with a new sense of determination, they went to their lions and the change, the strength of their bond was noticeably different. They could feel it, the lions were there, each other, their entities were one once more and with a sigh of relief each paladin found themselves once more to be a part of the giant mechanical monster known as Voltron.

"Man that was cool!" Lance cheered finally showered and back into his comfortable Earth clothes. "I'm so charged up, I don't know if I'll be able to sleep tonight!"

"Man not me, when my head it's the pillow, I'm going to be lights out." And Lance is thrown for a loop for a second because he didn't remember Keith's voice ever trying to do that? It seemed very out of character, but he really didn't care enough to think about it as he was pulled into a hug by Hunk, blubbering on about something or other to do with being brother's, but Lance really didn't mind, he felt safe in the embrace.

Even if he had to share it with Keith. 

And after all was said and done, with Voltron formed and a steady bond in place between each of them, it was time to finally rest.

Chapter Text

"Great job training today guys, I seriously believe we're finally getting the hang of Voltron." Shiro compliments his team as Lance forces his way between Shiro and Keith solely to brag. Lance was the youngest child, he misses the attention and in this moment he craves it from his rival.

Wants to rub his success in his face. 

"Yeah, that'll come in handy when the Galra challenges Voltron to a soccer match." And of course Keith had a response, of course he knew exactly what to say to get on Lance's nerves.

So of course Lance is forced to remove himself from the situation by blaming Hunk.

And in all of this Shiro brought up a good point, where was Pidge?

Oh well, Lance thought as he watched Shiro leave, and Hunk come in with delicious smelling food, his loss going after a moping Pidge. 

And Lance really was not disappointed by Hunk's expertise in the kitchen. Hunk had a proud smile on his face as he watched his best friend, and who he now hoped to be another friend, devouring his food. He always took pride in his cooking, always felt closest to home in a kitchen and to see his friends appreciate that, well he was happy.

He was a little sad about it to, but overall was happy. He was about to invite the Princess and Coran to eat his food as well, when he noticed them in a discussion of their own and decided to wait. Maybe Alteans had different taste buds to humans, it would certainly explain how they could stomach food goo. 

Hunk shuddered before going to grab some of his own cooking.

Of course they had to be interrupted though by an "attacking arusian." Keith was first to draw his weapon, he'd learned from a young age the best defense was a good offense, always be the person to attack first, you're less likely to get hurt. 

Of course the Alteans did not believe that.

"No! Alteans believe in peace first, let's go welcome them." And Keith guessed he could understand the excitement of the other paladins, but he wasn't taking any chances.

Make fun of him all you want, but that spicy little alien dude was waving his knive back and forth at the Princess and Keith's new team, of course he was going to defend them, no matter how tiny that alien looked. Keith knew size meant nothing in a fight, he'd been in plenty to know. 

Lance found Keith defense rather charming, if not a little bit over the top and catalogued this moment away for he knew it would come in handy as A+ teasing material. Anything to take his rival down a peg, you know?

"Keith put that away!"And he always did have an issue with authority figures, but maybe when dealing with Aliens he didn't know (for a fact) existed until two days ago, he'd follow Allura's orders.

It all started to make sense to the rest of the paladins though when the little Arusian, their bravest warrior, began to talk about a lion goddess. Ah Voltron, the (wo)man, the myth the legend.

Keith wasn't very comfortable though when Allura suggested thanking the Arusian's for hosting them for the past 10,000 years. The mission was important to Keith, it gave him a purpose, for someone who needs one to move forward, the mission is important to him and they were going to derail that for a planetary business.

He could understand diplomacy, really he could, he was just never good at it.

"So how long were you held captive by Zarkon?" And that was the question that started an Earthquake. A past that felt so familiar, but didn't make sense to him was laid out before him. Shiro, the champion, the bloody thirsty human who attacked his friend. Who attacked Matt, Pidge's beloved older brother, one of Shiro's best friends.

It didn't make sense, Shiro couldn't, he wouldn't, not even in his wildest imagination could he rationalize hurting Matt, hurting any of the Holts. 

"I was there, we all were." The alien said and Shiro couldn't believe it. He had to figure out the true story, why he would ever do this.

"I'm coming with you!" Pidge said when he stated his intent to look for more information, and he was just glad she didn't take the captives words at face value.

The other paladins, Coran and the Princess were having a better time than Pidge and Shiro to say the least.

"Commence dance of apology!" 

Lance had never felt more awkward in his life, and he didn't think it could possibly get worse until suddenly they decided their apology wasn't good enough, and lit a sacrificial fire to throw themselves into.

Lance was suddenly really happy they accepted the dance.

The Arusians then showered their new protectors in affection, Hunk noticed even the usually stoic Keith found them to be rather adorable and had taken a liking to them. It was cute, like a puppy and a grumpy cat. 

A power compatible to Galra tech. That is what Shiro has, an arm compatible to the Galra, and Pidge cataloged that fact to the back of her mind. So much technology from the enemy alien race, at the literal tips of Shiro's (and thus her) finger tips.

"Something just entered the atmosphere. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it's big, it's Galra and it doesn't look good." Pidge had to finish, she needed this information, it was only just downloading, but Shiro couldn't wait. They needed to get to their lions immediately. So, he hauled Pidge over his shoulder and launched out of there. He could hear Keith's voice registering the new galra threat and felt a sense of pride where it was under Keith's leadership that everyone found their way back to their lions to prepare for the incoming attack.

That put an idea into his head.

But he couldn't think on it long, because they were about to die. Shiro did the only think he could think to do, and covered Pidge with his body, protecting her from the blast.

He didn't think it would be enough to save Pidge, let alone him, so he was surprised to find not a scratch on him until he looked up to see the Black and Green lion protecting them.

"What is that?" Pidge's panic brought him back to the moment at hand, and he turned to witness the robotic monster emerge from his ship to start attacking.

Pidge was taking fire, this didn't look good, not for just the two of them.

"Lay down some cover fire so they can get out of there!"

"I'm on it!" 

They worked well together, huh? Maybe that rivalry was actually forcing Lance and Keith to compete so often with each other, that it unintentionally makes them watch each others every move to make them a seamless fighting force? 

But the Galra fighter was still there, so there was truly no time to psycho analyze his team. He needed Voltron, they needed Voltron. 

"Remember we are one unit fighting with one goal!" Are his words of wisdom before they begin their assault. Truly though, they still had a lot to practice.

"I'm gonna power kick that orb thing!" That wasn't Lance's smartest idea, they really needed to work on their hand-eye coordination as a one robot being.  

"Shiro we gotta move!" But Shiro wasn't there, he was back at the arena. He was remembering. He knew this monster, this was his story, this was the moment he became champion. He knew what to do, he knew how to beat it. 

"Defense!" And Shiro was back in the arena. He knew what to do. He knew when the timing was right. He could feel it in his soul.

"It didn't work!" So now what. Wait, a weapon.

"The first time I attacked him I had a sword!" And that's when Keith heard it. The deep dark dangerous rumble. The laugh of excitement, the feeling of fire in his veins. 

Oh Paladin of mine I give you the weapon you desire.

So Keith took his bayard, and punched it where he felt Red direct him. He gave her what she wanted and he felt it, a familiar weight in his hands and from his lion. 

He felt the weapon slice through the monster like he had done it himself. It was an experience and he heard their cheers but it was drowned out by the delighted laughter of his lion. Keith didn't know if the other's had a connection like this, to hear Red's thought's as his own, but he knew her. He knew she was not good, yet not bad, she was like her color, red. Fiery and a force to be reckoned with and her laughter rumbled deep within him as he took in the praise of his fellow paladins. No, this was more than paladin work now. This would be his home, he decided, so he began to think like that.

"Thanks, Red." And he felt the delighted rumble once more.

When everything was said and done, the Paladins returned to the castle to give a final farewell to the ex-galra prisoners. Pidge wanted them to stay, she wanted them close in case they could tell her more about her family, in case they remembered something. 

But the logical part of her knew they wouldn't remember. They had given her everything they could, it wouldn't make sense.

She couldn't keep them away from her family.

She watched them disappear from the castle from the planets surface. She didn't really have the heart to say goodbye to them. She was glad when the mice decided to follow her, to keep her company, but was shocked to see Shiro. He was talking so easily with her, so she decided that she would try to ask Shiro her own questions now.

Because no one talks so familiarly with a person when they had attacked their family.

"You remember now, don't you? You remember why you hurt Matt?" And Shiro stopped next to Pidge, a little shocked, but a small smile graced his features before he sat next to her.

"You were always too smart for your own good, just like your brother." He sighed, getting himself adjusted before continuing. "I did it to save him. Your Dad, being weaker was sent away to a work camp while your brother and I were sent to the arena. Matt was to fight first, but he was scarred, we all were, but Matt... Matt had people to go home to, they all did."

"Shiro, you have-"

"No, Pidge please, I'm begging you, let me finish so I can put this behind me." Shiro said quickly, and Pidge noticed the stress in his shoulders, the clench of his jaw and decided to keep quiet. For this once she would keep her opinion to herself so Shiro could tell his story, and not go so deep as to never come back again.

"Ok."

"He was going to fight first, he had you and your father and mother and dog and so much. I knew I was a fighter, I knew out of all the people there, I had the best chance at winning so I had to do something. So I attacked Matt, cut his leg, just bellow the knee, making it impossible for him to fight in the state he was in. I made a big deal out of it, forced the Galra to take me first, told your brother to find your father, to get back home to you, and watched as he was taken away. I don't know where he is now, if I even helped him in the long run, but I know that I stopped him from entering the arena to die that day." And Shiro went quiet.

"You saved him." And suddenly Pidge was crying, hugging Shiro as tightly as she could because he SAVED her brother and she knew that moment changed everything, that moment gave Matt the chance to live. "I'm sorry I doubted you, even for a second, I'm so sorry. Thank you so much."

"I could tell you missed them, and I know they would be so proud of you, Katie." And Shiro felt her flinch beneath him, and he wondered if he pushed too far. He knew people changed their names, changed their genders to fit who they truly were, maybe he was wrong, but he thought Katie was still Katie and Pidge was a disguise. Oh god, he was probably so wrong, Katie's probably his dead name and he just made the biggest ass of himself ever and now-

"How did you know!" She asked looking around them to make sure the other paladins were not there.

"You know, Matt is one of my best friends, I've been under your father's command for the past five years of my life too, of course I would know you, they both brag about you relentlessly, plus," And at this, Shiro paused, a soft smile gracing his features as he roughed up Pidge's hair. "Plus, you look just like Matt." 

And as Pidge took that in Shiro began to fidget. 

"I made a mistake didn't I? Is Pidge the name you want? Is Katie a dead name, would you prefer me to refer to you as he/him from now on? Is-"

"No." She said firmly. "I, I miss being Katie, but I'm also Pidge and some days I'm more Pidge than I am Katie, and other days I'm more Katie than I am Pidge, and.... I don't really know."

And Shiro knew exactly how he felt about that. He remembered going through his own 'I don't know' stage in life to get to where he was now. So he just pulled her back into a hug and told her the truth.

"I'll keep your secret, until you figure it out. I'm here for you." And he felt her relax against him and smiled.

He ignored her wiping the tears from her eyes and together they watched the sunset. 

Chapter Text

After their success against the Galran robot, the Arusians insisted on providing them with a reenactment of Voltron's victory in their honor. Allura wasn't so sure if she wanted that, but she was sure she wanted to send off from Arus with a new ally in their wake, and to do that a party seemed necessary.

"Arus will be the first planet in the Voltron alliance." And Hunk watched as the room cheered along with their leader. He let his gaze sweep across the hall until he saw Lance and Keith standing next to each other, enjoying the celebrations as well as they could. In fact, if Hunk could say so, they seemed to rather enjoy each other's presence. He decided that this was going to be a common occurrence from now on, and decided that stepping in wouldn't really be unwanted. Plus he had an idea he wanted to share.

"We need a cheer like that!" And of course Lance was quick to hop on, but Keith? He looked a little uneasy, as if he didn't know what to say or do and it hit Hunk then that Keith probably didn't know what to do. As far as he knew, Keith didn't really have anyone on Earth, when he was at the Garrison, Keith never had any family visitors, he never talked about home, heck he lived in a shack in the middle of a desert for a year by himself, of course he didn't know what to do!

"Vol... tron?"

Oh that sweet, small, innocent bean. Hunk made a silent vow to help him assimilate and to help him once again feel comfortable around other humans. 

"We'll work on it." And Hunk knew by the shrug of his best friends shoulders, and the slight flush of his cheeks that he would try and make him feel at home too. 

To hide his flush as best as he could, Lance took a drink of nunvil, the "drink of the gods" and barely survived. He felt his soul die within him, didn't even recognize as Hunk and Keith walked around him to check to see if he was okay. Couldn't even feel Keith's poked inquiry, he was out of it. 

Shiro though didn't notice any of it, he was too busy keeping guard. 

"It doesn't seem safe." He justified when Coran tried to convince him to join the party, but it did no good. "I'm going to do a perimeter check."

Allura found herself away from the party so she could have a moment for herself. She spent most of her life being a diplomat, she new exactly what she was doing, but that didn't mean she could always do it. She knew she needed to leave the party for a moment or else she would end up saying exactly what she was thinking, and that would not be good for diplomacy, so she was glad for this moment. She watched the party from above, saw Keith and Hunk laugh together and found herself equally worried as she was pleased. Worried, because the fate of the universe was in the hands of these children, but pleased because she knew out of all of them Keith was the one that really needed to be grounded here, he was the one without anything and for him to have something would be good.

Plus she found him to be one of the more interesting paladins to look at, she'd like him to be more comfortable with her looking at him, but knew approaching him wouldn't exactly be in her best interest right now.

She's glad the mice decided to entertain her for the moment.

"Hunk tried to eat what?" She asked in a laugh. She couldn't really understand the mice. She couldn't actually talk with them like one would hold a conversation, but she knew what they were saying, she could see the images they portrayed to her, and she understood them. So when they showed her the image of Hunk trying to eat some of Coran's hair care products she had to laugh. 

One of the mice jumped onto the other and proceeded to show her Lance, playing with his bayard, taking shots and firing off one liners. Practicing, it seems, for the babes.

"That seems like, Lance." 

But the funny thing was when the mice showed her an image of Pidge in a dress. 

"Pidge is a what?" And she just couldn't see it. "I have to get to the bottom of this."

After setting Keith into a nice conversation with an Arusian, Hunk noticed the longing look on his best friends face and decided he could use some Lovin' Hunk Attention. 

"I guess we should get used to this space juice. Who knows when we'll get back home again." 

"Yeah, if ever." Oh my god you idiot, think before you speak. Hunk was ready to bite his tongue, and immediately started back tracking. "I mean of course we'll- I mean 10,000 years is a lot to undo, but I'm sure we'll do it, eventually like if we all live and like- Hey! What are the chances we have to free a nacho planet!"

Hunk, for a man who is usually so good with distracting your best friend, you're really being an idiot right now. He thinks to himself as he terribly tries to change the subject.

"Well there's only one planet I want to land on with Varadero beach, and the pizza shack that looks over the beach and the garlic knots, and... my moms hugs" Oh no, Hunk you done goofed.

"Lance-"

"I gotta go." And Hunk could only watch him leave. Keith notices and walks up to Hunk.

"Is he, uh... gonna be ok?" He asked and Hunk really isn't sure how to answer that.

"I'm not sure, but Coran is going after him, so I'm sure he'll be fine, come on." And thus he returned his and Keith's attention to more diplomatic, and party matters.

"I just want you to know, you can confide in me..." This really wasn't going the way Allura wanted.

"Ok, there is something I wanted to tell you."

But here comes that silver lining.

"I'm leaving team Voltron."

"WHAT?" No this isn't happening, this isn't what she wanted. "You're duty is to the universe!"

"No! My duty is for my family, I thought you of all people would understand!" And the sad part was, she really really did understand.

She didn't say anything as she watched Pidge leave.

"You can't leave!" This wasn't happening. Pidge couldn't possibly be leaving, he-she was, they were such a fixture in his new life, in his new home! He couldn't let them leave, he couldn't watch his family break again.

"And why not!" Tell her!

"We can't form Voltron."

You idiot.

"Everyone in the universe has families!" And this was his!

"Can I leave, too?" Oh god it hasn't even been a day and it's already falling apart.

"You're putting the lives of two people over the lives of everybody in the galaxy!" He felt it, the rage boiling deep within, and somehow he felt the fiery rage of red in there, too. She wanted Pidge to leave just as much as he did. She wanted to keep her family together, her lion sisters. She needed them together. And Keith knew letting his rage out on Pidge, watching the fear cross her features, that it was a bad idea a terrible idea, and he felt a cold dread take over his body.

Shiro stopped him just in time, and when he turned back to see the trace of fear wash off Pidge's face, he had never felt more disgusted with himself. He's a monster, this is what he gets for leaving humanity behind to live in a shack. No wonder no one wanted him when his father died, no wonder his mother left, no wonder no one would want him, but Shiro. Hell, he wasn't even sure Shiro wanted him anymore, he's a failure, a drop out. Unwanted, and unloved.

And all Keith could do was watch Pidge walk away.

She wasn't even gone for a second when everything turned to absolute chaos. 

Shiro really didn't like the team splitting up, but that was what they needed to do, especially when one of them is indisposed.  And really, he regretted the team splitting up the moment he saw the Galra soldier's attacking the castle. This was all a trap, and with the castle out of commission there was no way for him to call for back up. 

Pidge though saw it all, and knew that she was needed. If Keith and Allura didn't get back in time, she would be Voltron's only hope.

She could see Keith and Allura running, but she knew they weren't going to make it. She needed to find a way to get in contact with the two of them, because if there was any chance for them to get out of this alive, she would need their advice.

Hunk really wasn't vibing with anything today. First he caused his friend to be so home sick he somehow got blown up, he then saw a chance of being able to go back home, just to have said chance be ripped away from him and now he's stuck on a living creature planet, with a broken ancient altean ship, without his lion, stuck with Coran and now-

"Um... Coran?" Hunk's train of thought left him the moment he looked into the creepy glowing eyes shinning at him from the tunnels. "What lives down here?"

Pidge only had seconds to get this right, and all the labels were in freaking altean! God if she made it out alive....

She needed to make the choice now, so you know what? 

"Whatever." She reeled back her arm and punched the controls with her bayard and that God that worked. Now to try and save the rest of the paladins.

Chapter Text

"I will not turn my back on the skylings!" Hunk was in love. He was legitimately in love he had never felt more thankful in his life.

"I'm Shay..." Great, now he know's what name to put on the wedding cake.

"And I think you're just the people we need to help us." Hunk said, happy smile on his face and voice just a touch lower and wow Hunk.

Way to pull a dumb Keith moment.

"Your paladin's lives are at stake!" And she knew it. She remembered her own father's words, so similar and yet not at all.

Really there was no connection, but Pidge knew. This was her crew now, she would travel the galaxy with these people, she would make her father proud. She remembered his words to her. This moment where he told her that he knew, that he'd bet his bottom dollar that one day with a crew of very her own she would go to planets he could not even imagine going to explore and he was right. He's always right.

When he left, when they said it was a "piloting error" that ruined the kerberos mission she knew it wasn't true. It couldn't be, she knew Shiro, knew that he was the best pilot the garrison had ever seen, knew her father couldn't have chosen anyone else.

So she snuck in. She hacked into the Garrison and she knew for a fact that they were lying, there was no piloting error. Her father, her brother and Shiro had disappeared. She was too shocked by Iverson's missing eye to back track and save the proof onto her hard drive and she regrets it every day. 

They thought banning her from the Galaxy Garrison would put an end to any further investigation.

"I'll find the truth! I'll never stop!" 

The Garrison could have never stopped. 

"Ok talk me through it Allura." Pidge cleared her head, right now her crew needed her.

So of course the sentries decided to attack her the moment she finds her resolve. She really wasn't meant to be fighting more than one sentry on her own, good thing she had her brain though, and rover, and her bayard.

You know what? Forget that.

I'm a badass.

She thought to herself and for her it became true.

Hunk never really liked debby downers. "So the thing we need is the most difficult thing to get on this Balmera."

"Well, seems like it." Hunk really didn't have time for this, Lance was dying. They needed that crystal stat. So when Coran suggested splitting up, so he could check out how guarded the crystal was, and so Hunk could fix the ship, he was ready to move.

Better than doing nothing and sitting there eating space bugs.

"Asta La LATER Keith!" 

Who was Keith? You know what, that doesn't matter. Pidge was there to find her parents.

"Sorry I don't have time to mess around with you guys, see you in the simulator." And she was sad to say goodbye, the two boys were so open and welcoming to her and she was using them. 

But her family came first then, and now? 

Now her team needed her.

"What is the sky like?" And that was the saddest thing Hunk had ever heard. To hear about her suffering, to hear about her wish for freedom, well Hunk needed to tell her of the hope to come, of Voltron, of the sky and every galaxy in the universe.

"Stop filling this ones head with childs tales!" 

"They're the truth!" Hunk argued with Shay's brother.

"Then where are they!" He yelled back.

"We're here now!"

"10,000 years too late." And Hunk felt that sentence deep in his gut. He knew it was true, and made a promise to himself, that this balmera? 

This Balmera was going to be freed next.

Rover saved her life, but she did not have a chance to think on it long when she heard it.

"Your friend wants to hear from you."

"Shiro!" Oh no, how could she forget.

"PIDGE! RUN! Don't do what he sa- AHHHH!" And she felt his cries of anguish as clearly as she heard them. 

For someone so smart, Hunk thinks Coran is really really dumb. He literally walked the two of them into a trap for a crystal and if Hunk was not scared to death? Well...

That didn't matter now, because Shay was here, and she was risking her life to help them, to get them the crystal. Hunk didn't understand it.

"Because your words touched my Heart. I wish for freedom for all Balmera, perhaps your Voltron can make it so." Hunk wonder's if she'd like a spring wedding.

He can ask her once they free this Balmera, but of course her brother couldn't keep to himself and let them escape. 

"Rax why?"

"These two bring only trouble to our family!" Hunk was thinking of a thousand ways to get out, but Shay was already finding a way. 

She got herself captured, she wasn't safe, they had to go, but Hunk wanted to save, her. He had to save her.

"I'll save you, I promise!" And with that they escaped to the sky.

Allura was really rather glad that her mice were able to take down the barrier, she really wasn't as happy being stuck with Keith as she thought she would be. Maybe it was because they were still both strangers, but he wasn't a very good conversationalist. Sure Allura would never mind being stuck with someone so attractive (even if his ears were hideous) for a prolonged period of time, but conversation is always good.

Particularly conversation that doesn't revolve around, "Do you think Lance is going to be okay? What about Shiro? Do you think Pidge is okay? I hate not being in there, I need to help them? Any word about Lance?"

Like ok she gets it! You're worried about your team mates, but come on. You're alone with a princess and all you can think to ask about is Lance? Shiro? Pidge?

Like she's stressed enough now, why can't he just not talk about it? I don't know flirt maybe? Show some interest outside training and other me-

Oh.

Oh shit.

Lance is a powerhouse. Is Keith's one thought when he sees he woke up for a split second just to shoot Sendek giving him the opening him, Pidge and Allura need to launch him into a particle barrier prison. They made quick work of securing him in the actual castle prisons before running back to check on Shiro and Lance, the two most battered paladins.

Keith let his gaze go quickly to his brother, but seeing Pidge already by Shiro's side and Allura with the prisoner, he ran to Lance. 

It's not like he wasn't going to run to Lance already, he knew Shiro could handle a lot, but Lance? Well he didn't know Lance's limits yet, he needed to be there to make sure his family is okay.

So when he felt Lance's hand squeeze his own, saw the soft smile and the light purple glow, he felt relief settle deep into his soul.

"We did it, we are a good team." And Keith felt himself smile, first small and genuine, just for it to grow. But it didn't last long, because Lance began to sway and Keith was quick to pull him closer.

"Easy there sharp shooter, I got'cha." And he settled Lance into his arms, cradled him close and then began to check for new injuries. When Lance would groan he would catalogue it down, and tell Pidge what he needed, then he would adjust Lance once more until he was breathing easy once more. 

He treated Lance in his arms, ignored Lance's jests and just made sure that he stayed alive.

Later on Coran would tell him this care saved his life. Later on Keith would take this knowledge to heart as he would watch Lance recover in the alien technology.

Later on Keith would think to this moment as something that changed his life. It formed a bond stronger than he could have imagined with Lance. They would be able to put this stupid rivalry behind them, they would be able to move forward as a team, to train and become friends.

Keith wondered if Lance would want to master that flying kick with him? Keith's sure without their rivalry in the way they could make up all these new crazy moves for Voltron.

He couldn't wait.

Hunk could kiss Pidge.

That was his only thought as their ship was launched far, far away from the Galran fighter cruisers.

"Dad used to tell me how close he was to his crew members. He told me they were like family, and I understand what he means now. I'm staying. Let's defeat Zarkon, for all the families on the universe."

And Keith felt the last bit of stress leave his body. They weren't leaving. Pidge wasn't leaving, Hunk wasn't leaving, Lance was going to be okay. He had a group now, finally a group of people who (probably) won't leave him. Maybe he could open up. Maybe he could belong here.

"Good to have you back on the team."

Chapter Text

Shiro really, really, really wanted to make fun of Keith for spending the night outside Lance's healing pod. He had never seen Keith attach himself to anyone so quickly and so loyally ever. So when Shiro walked in early the next day to check on Lance's progress himself and saw Keith sitting outside the cryopod curled up sleeping next to Lance's jacket like a puppy... well what else was he to do other than laugh and wish for a camera. 

God this is worse then when I...

"Shiro?" And Keith woke up, and realization seemed to flush his face. "Don't you-"

"I can't really make fun of you can I? You've seen me do worse." And at that Keith let out a sigh of relief. "Doesn't mean I won't tell anyone."

"SHIRO!"

Ah, alas, Shiro's morning had far more excitement than he could have possibly imagined, and it was only getting worse (better).

"Oh come on!" And Keith was pouting, he held Lance's jacket in one hand and tapped on the glass on the other. When Allura admonished him he was quick, to cross his arms and shut down, so Shiro went on to distract people.

"What is a tic to a second?" And that started a whole debate about time that really didn't matter, especially considering Lance decided to pop out of the cryopod then. Hunk was the first to get to Lance because he was closest, then Allura. 

Keith was walking up to Lance to hand him his jacket when, in Shiro's opinion, but really Shiro is biased, Lance ruined it.

"Talking? Eating? Are you asking me out on a date?" And Keith froze and his grip on Lance's jacket got tighter. "Yo mullet why do you have my jacket?" And Shiro saw the physical twitch, the shrinking away of Keith as he heard Lance's hostile question. He just shoved Lance's jacket into his chest and walked out. 

"Yep, classic Lance." He huffed out as he left.

"What's his problem?"

"We had a bonding moment! I cradled you in my arms!" Where was the camaraderie? The Lance who teased him? Who let him know all about his home life while Keith checked him over for injuries!?

We are a good team.

Where was his team mate, his right hand? His leg? His sharp shooter? 

"Nope, don't remember, didn't happen." And Lance had the nerve to smile as he said it. He had the nerve to treat Keith exactly the same as he did before and Keith felt himself shatter.

Well maybe he can't really trust them all as easily as he thought he could. 

So he brought his arms closer to himself, crossed them over his chest and ignored Lance's words for the rest of the meal.

Lance though was panicking. 

We are a good team. We are a good team. We are a Good Team. We Are A Good Team! Lance what's wrong with you?! Rivals you're rivals! You shouldn't feel safe or want to share all your deepest family stories with your rival! Shouldn't tease or flirt-

No! 

No he was not flirting!

Screw Keith all he wanted to do was make him feel slightly welcome and now he's stuck like this? He's not ready to unravel whatever this is so Keith is going to have to deal with whatever he's dealing with and put this moment behind him.

"Wow you are really focused on this lady!" Yeah Lance! Focus on that. Focus on your best friends romantic escapade.

"No! Lance I'll tell you whatever you want to know in more detail, but it's really not like that," Wedding in Springtime, "we're Voltron, we're here to save planets. It's time we man up."

And Pidge flinched at that. This was her new family, she had made her decision, so maybe she should just tell them?

It would make sense, and it would help her to feel better in her own skin.

"I can't man up, I'm a girl." And in the silence, she immediately began to ramble.

"You're a girl?" And at Lance's rather rushed question, the other's began to talk. They all seemed to know this already.

"Thank you for understanding. And while I'm a girl, I want you all to know that, I'm still Pidge. Gender aside."

"Of course, owning who you are will make you a better paladin." Shiro said and that was all she needed to hear. Of course, her curiosity got the best of her.

"How'd you know?"

"Space mice."

"Hunk?" 

"I read your diary?"

"I'll remember that. Coran?"

"You glow a lovely shade of artucian!"

"Ok, Keith?"

"I lived with Shiro? We had game night that one time? You were there? We teamed up and that first day you took my side, and I started to see the familiarity between Pidge and Katie." He shrugged and honestly Pidge was glad for his honesty. She was going to talk more with him when she felt a hand on her shoulder pulling her back and she came face to face with Lance.

"Are you sure you're a girl?"

What's wrong with him?

"Yes Lance. I'm a girl. Honestly for someone who's really perceptive about other people I'm shocked you didn't-"

"Pidge I knew you were biologically a girl since day one." 

"Oh bull-"

"I know what a binder looks like under clothes Pidge." Lance whispered so the others couldn't hear. "You had a crease from it, in your uniform on the first day we met, that's why I hugged you, so I could fix it. Pidge I thought you were a trans man and just wasn't comfortable telling people that you're trans. So let me ask you again, are you sure you're a girl?"

And Lance had such concerned look in his eye and Pidge felt the smile on her face become truly genuine.

"Honestly? I've been Pidge for so long... I'm Pidge, but I'm also Katie. Some days I'm more Pidge and other's more Katie."

"So they?"

"I'm a girl, Pidge was never a boy and neither was Katie. My brother used to call me Pidge, you know? It was a nick name." 

"Do you want to be called Pidge? Or do you want to go back to Katie?" And in the hallway, Pidge pondered the question she was sure she'd never be asked. Katie wasn't really her anymore, it never was her, not since her brother first dubbed her Pidge. Katie is what her parents call her, but her brother? 

"Pidge, call me Pidge." And Lance gave her a solid nod and a pat on the shoulder.

"You going to continue to wear the binder? Cause the way you've been wearing it is really unhealthy. You can't wear it that long-"

"Ok Lance, I won't. I promise, I didn't really need it anyways, it just made me feel more secure in being 'Pidge Gunderson' no chance of anyone noticing a newly girly figure." And Lance gave her a steady nod, another hair ruffle and together they got ready to launch.

"The witch has Zarkon's trust," And that was something Thace already knew. Really being this close to such a high ranking general was doing nothing for him, maybe he should find an even higher general to work-

"I shall catch Voltron myself." And he felt his blood run cold.

Voltron was back?

Then the Earthling? He must have gotten home right?

Could he be a pilot? He knew a lion was on Earth, so it would be likely. 

He needed to get this information back to the Blade. Now.

"Hunk calm down, and yes blasting."  Keith said to ease Hunk's worried jabbering. So what if Lance would refuse to acknowledge their bonding moment, maybe he can form a strong friendship with Hunk. He already has a friendship with Shiro and Pidge, so maybe it would be easy to try making roots with Hunk before Lance?

"No he's just excited to see his girlfriend!" Pidge teased and Keith realized he had missed out on a whole conversation just then.

"She's not my girlfriend! I have to ask her first!" 

But of course they'd have to stop to help a distressed ship. Hunk didn't like it, not at all. Shay had first priority. But noooooooooooo. Stupid Paladin code.

Hunk didn't like this, at all. They were very shifty people. This doesn't make sense. Hunk went to turn to Lance to ask if he was feeling uneasy too, but of course he was already flirting with the 'pretty alien'. Hunk was never happier to see Shiro hit him on the side to stop him from flirting. Although Hunk really didn't understand that. Shiro really never had an issue with Lance flirting before?

He brought his gaze to Keith, who had remained tense since Lance first looked to Nyma.

Oh.

But then they were talking about entering the ship to get spare parts. And honestly Hunk was trusting, he really was, but letting another Stranger onto their Ship when they know Nothing about them? Well he was ready to just help them quickly so they could go their separate ways.

And really why were they pushing their way onto their ship? Hunk just wasn't vibing with it. Was he the only one?

He looked to Pidge to see her enamored with the robot. Shiro and Allura looked disappointed and Keith.

Keith looked uneasy. 

Maybe Hunk could break through to him.

"Hunk's right, sorry we have to be cautious." At least Shiro agreed with him to not allow anyone else onto the ship, but that meant he had to go by himself to get the supplies. 

He's sure he could talk to Keith when he got back.

Hunk came back and of course, of COURSE Keith was leaning 'casually' against the side of Rolo's ship, voice low and soft smile on his face.

Really? 

And he thought Lance was bad!

Speaking of Lance, where was he?

Being with a hot girl, that's exactly what the doctor ordered for Lance, especially after-

"Maybe Keith'll give me a ride." 

Oh no. Hard pass on that!

Lance was swearing off woman for the rest of his life, okay so maybe for like the next week.

"Oh fuck."

Rolo had never in his life been attracted to another person of the same gender.

But damn that boy could fly.

Keith was just glad he was the one to catch them. One more thing to have on Lance. Maybe now he'll finally put this thing behind them? This would though, also be an excellent time to tease Lance, and Keith? Keith was petty.

"Hey Lance! I got your lion back." 

Hunk was both physically and emotionally done at the flirty tone of Keith's voice.

"Thank you Keith, now can you come and unchain me?"

"What's that? I uh I can't hear you!" Oh god Hunk could hear the smile in his voice.

Shiro, unable to plan his own wedding, began to wonder if Keith preferred a Spring or Fall for his.

"Oh come on I thought we bonded!" And that really set Keith on edge, annoyed that Lance would bring that up now. 

Hunk could take care of it. 

"Here." Keith said flying the out of commission blue lion to the yellow lion. "Red's too small, she can't really carry Blue all the way to Lance." He dumped Blue onto Hunk quickly before flying away to the Black lion's side. Keith really couldn't deal with Lance's pleas of a bonding moment now. Not when it hurt and it was still fresh in his mind.

Chapter Text

They were here, they were finally here to free Shay. Hunk needed to be a front player in this. "Let's do this! Let's go kick some alien butt!" Was the only thing he could think to do when Shiro gave him the command to destroy the mining fields. 

"You think they'll give us a parade after we free them?" Lance teased and Hunk was so excited to free the Balmera he couldn't bring himself to care about Lance's ego right now. He loved Lance, loved him like a brother and Lance knew Hunk loved him too.

Hell Hunk told Lance everything about his experience with Shay on the way here, and because of that he was the second paladin most excited to free this Balmera. So Hunk really knew not to comment on Lance.

"It's not about the glory, Lance." Keith clearly didn't, but he'd learn.

"I got fire power! Did you see that!" Keith cheered.

"Aw, I want fire power!" And Lance felt Blue literally bristle at that comment and suddenly he felt her thoughts pushing him to fire his weapon.

"I have ice powers! Wow guess my lion is just like me, ice cool!" And he felt his lion take pride in that, even if he could admit the pun sucked.

Working with Keith to get to the hanger was a trip.

"Hold your jets Keith!" And Suddenly Lance was the one leading. They were going to follow his idea, Keith had told him he thought his idea was better than his own. 

Maybe Keith did respect him as a paladin.

Maybe they really did work better together as a team.

But now, Lance really needed to figure out how to shut the hanger doors, their whole mission depended on their success here and Lance really wasn't about to fail.

"I can't do it! It's all Galra gibberish!" Come on Lance, what did Pidge say about Galra technology, you know she was talking about it earlier and you weren't paying attention. Why weren't you paying attention! She said she needed something... something... something....

"Let me try." And Keith placed his hand on the control panel right where Lance had put his a minute ago and suddenly the hanger door was closing.

"Wow, how'd you do that?" 

"I just put my hand on the handprint?"

That's right.

You needed something Galra.

So their first mission to free a planet could definitely be getting better. They're trapped away from their lions, the castle ship is under attack and now they're relying on the person who they were supposed to save to save them. 

Their only hope was that the people of this Balmera will save them.

They could hear the message, they could hear the people rebelling.

And suddenly they were here, and not a second too late.

The battle commenced in the sky, shots of ice and fire took down battle cruisers left and right. The Black lion's jaw blade sliced through the ships that avoided the Yellow Lion's hulking mass and the green lion's canon.

They were doing all that they could to get back to Allura, to protect the planet from the ion canon, it was going to be close.

But they're going to make it, they had to.

They held onto the ship using the power of Voltron, and with the mighty canon of the castle ship, they annihilated every threat the Balmera faced in the sky. 

Another job well done. 

But of course an unknown object always has to crash onto the planet they're defending the moment they think they have everything under hand.

Chapter Text

Literally can there be one day? Just one day nothing goes wrong? Absolutely nothing? Like at least they knew how to wield the Voltron sword, maybe this fight could actually end rather quick-

"And it's not the same monster!" Yeah Lance no shit. "We can't hold out!"

"My lion can't take much more!"

"Pidge is right!" And Lance felt rather put out by that.

"Pidge! I'm the one that said it first!" And so deeply distracted by his annoyance and being ignored by Mr. Bonding Moment himself, he didn't watch his footing.

"Disband!" And at Shiro's command they disband Voltron and began to fly their lions in evasive maneuvers in an attempt to draw the creatures fire away from the Balmera and as a way to not all be fired upon at the same time.

Well, one for two.

"Ok it can fire at all of us at once." Shiro said, stating the obvious and it really wasn't working.

Fighting this thing was like fighting a giant Galran fleet all at once. They needed a plan, one that hopefully wouldn't destroy them all. 

So they went to the one spot the monster could not reach them, the mines. 

Of course the Balmerans heard the attack. Of course they needed to be reassured, to be told that they are meant to be freed.

So when Hunk could see the faith of all the Balmeran's resting on their need for validation from Voltron he turned to the strongest willed paladin he knew and said, "Right Keith?"

"Can we really?"

Wow, ok, note to self, Keith can't do motivational if his life depended on it, Hunk would never go to him for that ever again.

"Yes we can! It is our first mission and we will not fail." Ok, so Shiro's not all too lovey-dovey either, but at least his message is positive. "We can beat it, we just need time to come up with a plan."

"See guys! Thank's Shiro." And of course the moment something good like this happens, the Balmera begins to die. Of course the Galra do not return what they take from the Balmera. Of course Zarkon destroyed such a beast, of course he destroyed someones home.

Keith, looking around, hearing all of this, had never hated the Galra more. To take away a home, to take away a family, that to him, is unforgivable.

"We don't need to defeat it, we just need to bait it." And everyone knew Shiro was right, but they also knew that none of them wanted to do it. 

Hunk was the only one to voice his opinions, but of course he proved he was still willing to be a part of this. 

So they successfully provoked the beast, now it was time to evade. 

"I'll tell you when I've reached planet side!"  And thus Allura was launched from the castle ship to the ground. Now all she had to do was lead them out, to save them. 

But of course, they did not wish to be saved. They wanted no more guilt, they felt it was because of them that their home planet is dying, and like a captain and their sinking ship, they wished to stay on the planet as it died.

"No! I will not give up on you! Please let me speak to the Balmerans." Allura pleaded with Shay and her family, she needed to get her message to the people of Balmera, she could not let another planet die when she was able to save it.

"You can do it yourself." Shay's grandmother said, and Allura's attention was brought to her hand, already placed on the side of the cave's wall, glowing a bright blue. The Balmera was taking her message already. With a shuddering breath Allura began to speak.

"Balmerans, this is Princess Allura. You don't know me, but I am here to help. I know what it is like, to watch your planet die, for I am from Altea, a planet long since destroyed by the Galra." And suddenly it was like her grief was knew and she felt her grief bounce back at her from the Balmera itself and knew that the people could feel it too. It pushed her forward. It made her words truer. Her grief would help her message rise in the hearts of the the people of Balmera, it would strengthen a resolve within them. It would help them to leave.

"I am eternally sorry for the lose of the Balmera, but you cannot give up..."

And it worked, the people listened, they hear her word and believed in her. It was time to save the people.

"Paladins how are you holding up!" 

Terribly.

"We're making do. How are the Balmerans?" Keith yelled back.

"We're saving them now!" 

But of course this is when the Balmera was on the verge of collapse. They weren't going to be able to save all the Balmerans, they were trapped by their dying planet. They needed to do something, and they needed to do something now. 

"We can't give up!" And that's when they saw the glow. The castle ship, the crystal, the altean energy. It was healing the Balmera, it was like the equivalent exchange from long ago. And Allura had an idea, but it was going to kill her.

Possibly. 

"The galra have only been taking, it's time we give back." 

"To heal an entire planet... to give that much, you might not survive." And Allura knew this, of course she did. But if her whole life would result to this one moment, to saving this planet, well...

That was one hell of a life purpose, huh?

So she reached into her very being, connected to the crystal in the castle ship and yanked at it with everything she had. The energy was intense, it blinded her from the rest of this planet, she felt like the heaviest, yet the lightest person on that planet, the smallest and the largest.

She could feel the breath of the Balmera beneath her feet as if it were her own. She could feel its heart beat as her own. She could feel its pain as her own. But most of all she felt its will to live.

And live it shall.

All the energy, everything in her body pulsed, pushed and pulled against her until suddenly it was gone. Like a rocket it launched into the very core, the very being of the planet, and she felt her body grow weak. 

She could no longer stand, she could no longer feel, but she knew in the deepest part of her soul that she did it. 

And then she collapsed into the sweet abyss of the universe.

"Guys I think my lion is telling me something!" Hunk felt the strong gruff voice of his lion in the back of his head, suddenly, as if it had only now come up with an idea to save them all, and while he was a little annoyed with her, he mostly felt a sense of immense relief. 

"Remember the sword? I think my lions telling me we can do the same thing with my bayard!" He said, not really knowing how to describe this feeling.

He's not sure how the other lions talked with their paladins, but he knew yellow, who talked in visuals and emotions; wills instead of words.

It was the same way his mother would command him around the kitchen, not with her voice, but with a simple raise of a brow, or a small nudge of shoulders.

So he was very familiar with the way Yellow was telling him to move.

So they moved, they formed Voltron and they immediately went to defend the castle. Hunk placed his bayard into the holder for Yellow and they fired, but...

"It's not enough!" But when they got away, when the were able to see every lazer barrel on the monster something happened.

"Are you guys seeing this?" Hunk asked.

"Yes, now let's see what this thing can do." And it rained down a hellfire of laser bullets onto the thousand eyed monster robot and it looked like it had an actual effect on the beast. It was only because the robot was effected by the bullets that they were able to have a moment to breath long enough to watch the planet turn a brilliant shade of blue. It was purely glowing, and for a split second Lance was reminded of the ocean from the sky, but it was only a moment, for the robot with a thousand eyes was attacking them once more.

Allura was only just waking up on the Balmera's surface, breathing easy once more.

The paladins held their breath though as together, they collectively punch the beast watching it fall to the floor, the energy draining out of it. Of course they spoke too soon, as SOMEHOW it came back from the dead. They were too far away from their lions, they wouldn't make it.

They only had a moment to think of their doom, when the recently healed Balmera used all it's strength to create a crystal large enough to capture the beast protecting their planet's inhabitants in doing so.

And thus with their newly healed body, the Balmera began to spring forth thousands upon thousands of more crystals.

"Who's a good balmera!" The creature heard and felt the paladins warm words and planetary rub.

"Dude, what are you doing?" Well the planet was a bit peeved at that! She was a good girl! She wanted belly rubs, the Balmera was a living breathing thing, and it just saved their lives, she felt like she deserved the attention. 

"Thank you, for honoring your vow to return." Shay had pulled Hunk aside to say in an awe filled whisper. 

"I should be thanking you, for reminding me what I'm doing here. Zarkon and his people, they are ruining lives... I'm a part of a team that can change that, and I know that now." And together Hunk and the love of his life watched the sun rise on a new day.

Chapter Text

"Remember the summer berry festival?" Allura found herself sitting in the castle memory field talking to a hologram of her father, sitting in a fake field of altean flowers. It was her copping mechanism, something she knew wouldn't be good in the long run, but she needed it. She craved it. 

She knew she shouldn't spend a little over an hour here every day, but she did it anyways because she needed to.

"Princess! You shouldn't be up and about!" Coran said as he entered the room, shattering Allura's illusion. She couldn't be mad at him though, not really especially since he was right. A week was not nearly enough to recover from what she did at the Balmera, but she felt useless lying in her bed. 

"I love you father, I'll see you soon." She said, and Coran hated it. He missed Alfor, too, but this wan't the way to grieve his loss.

"Coran we understand this isn't what Altea used it for, but if we could use this machine to extract just some of his memories, then it could help us in the long run." Shiro argued with Coran for what seemed like the thousandth time, Lance only seeming to add on his input with his own goofy sentiment. And while normally Shiro would appreciate such a thing, being as fun loving as he was, this was not the time for it, so he ignored Lance for the moment in favor or Pidge's observations. 

"When I go, I want all of my memories from my brain stored on a giant ship," Lance said to himself, a fond look in his eyes, but Keith could hear it. It was their thing, him and Lance, the back and forth teasing, the rivalry of friendship, or at least, that's what Keith thought it was, so he was quick to say the first thing that came to mind.

"The amount of information in your brain could be stored on a paper plane." He said with a shrug and a quirk of the brow, but he thinks Lance didn't get the teasing message seeing as he blew up.

"Well the amount of information that can be stored in your brain is... less than what I have!" He flushed with pride and Hunk only cheered them on. 

But now it was simply a waiting game for it to work, which stunk. Keith was never good with waiting so he left first.

"Welp, I'm done, I'm going to go hit the training deck... if anyone would like to join me." And he turned his attention to every one of his paladins one last time, and when none of them made a move to go, he shrugged his shoulders and went alone.

Pidge was next to leave, eager to get her hands once more on her technological break down of the Galran battleship crystal. She did not invite anyone with her because she needed this alone time to really sort through her tech.

Hunk got hunger, and stressed, and decided to kill two birds with one stone and bake. 

Lance stayed the longest, his need to make sure Shiro was doing okay winning out against his boredom, but soon Coran was forcing him along to help clean the castle, and really Lance wouldn't complain! He loved Coran, he was the Space Uncle he always wanted, but Lance could see this wasn't doing any good for Shiro.

"Maybe you should come clean with us, too?" Lance suggested, but Shiro brushed him aside, and he felt rather put out by that. He just wanted to help.

Coran pulled him away before Shiro could realize what he'd done and apologize, he made a note to himself to do that later. 

For now, he stayed.

He watched.

And waited.

Hunk didn't trust a lot of things in life, but the one thing he trusted, more than his own mother, was food. So when it attacked him, the one thing he trusted most in the whole wide universe, it was a betrayal he felt deep within his soul.

He could never thank Pidge enough for what she was doing. "It has been an honor cooking with you." 

And they attacked.

And stopped the food from attacking them. Everything was in perfect working order, and they never could find out why the goo went rogue.

But they survived, and Hunk learned to trust in his friends, more than food, well specifically more than the food goo machine.

"How is it the pods have the ability to save a human from near death, but not clean themselves?" Lance asked as he finally started to feel the strain of non-stop cleaning on his body.

Of course that sentence got Coran to laugh, and to begin telling Lance stories all about his boot camp days as a cadet for the Altean military and Lance really liked hearing all about it. Truly.

But of course the moment Coran gets going is the moment he stops paying attention to the world around him. And truly it was right when Lance needed him most.

The cryopod had a mind of its own and took him under, and no matter how loud he banged on the side Coran wouldn't look. He couldn't see him and Lance felt the walls of the cryopod cave in. He was trapped, he couldn't deal with this, everything was closing in on him, and it scared him to death.

That was his last thought before forcibly being put under.

Coran didn't notice a thing, thought Lance had gotten bored of his stories and left him. He felt old, alone, and useless, in a sense, because of it. He was so upset about it he didn't even think about the fact that Lance rarely went no where without his jacket. 

Even Keith knew that.

Speaking of Keith, he was having an absolute blast in the training simulator. He enjoyed feeling the burn of his lungs and the weight of his sword.

He liked the solitude of fighting.

He liked the camaraderie that came with fighting more, but he liked this as well.

"Start training level three." And Keith knew within the first few exchanges that something was wrong. Level three is still a warm up level for him. Sure it's difficult because Alteans have a weird sense of difficulty, but still. Level three for Keith was mile 5 for a marathon runner, and this difficulty was not mile 5. The weight was all off, the battle style changed too dramatically, the force with which the training bot hit was superhuman, he could feel the bruises already forming on his stomach. 

"End training sequence!" He yelled the moment he put enough distance between him and the bot, but it did nothing. 

If anything, the bot went harder, faster, the bot aimed to kill.

Keith was shocked he got out of the training deck alri-

The robot cut through the door, and Keith knew he only had a seconds head start.

He was in his head. Sendek was in Shiro's head. Taunting, cruel, dark, true words. Shiro could hear it, feel it in his soul, he needed Sendek's answers though. 

So he stayed.

And was rewarded.

Coran really was shocked, a bit relieved and then worried when he saw Lance frozen in the cryopod, the panic still evident on his face.

Coran called it a malfunction, but Lance knew that couldn't possibly be true. He felt it, as the cryopod tried to freeze him. He felt the will of death from the castle. It was trying to kill him and there's no way science could explain why! 

Where's Keith? He's the conspiracy theorist! He'd back up Lance and say the castle's haunted, Lance just knew it!

"Trust me, nothing out of the ordinary is happening here." And when Coran left Lance alone, Lance felt the chill of the cryopod all over again, the fear of immediate death, everything as real as it was seconds ago. He couldn't be alone right now. He needed someone.

So he ran to the training deck.

Allura woke to the sound of her father calling out to her. 

Why did the hallway lights decide to give out now when he was looking for someone to keep him company and to make him forget about the haunted castle?

"Help! I'm trapped in the air lock!" Lance heard Coran yell. He only thought that it was odd for Coran to be there for a split second before his need to save him far out-weighed his fear of the hallway.

He should have listened to his gut instinct.

For the air lock shut behind him, and soon he would be launched out into space.

He could feel the walls of the air lock closing in on him again, just as he could feel the cryopod slowly freezing him. He hated it, hated being alone, hated the closed space. Hated that he would die out there in space, so far away from Home.

He had never felt happier to see Keith-

Well, maybe except that one time.

"What makes you think you can possibly defeat him." And Shiro hears Sendeks voice in his head once more and there was no way he could mentally deal with it, not now.

"Hunk?" And Hunk came out of his musings. He tried to bring Pidge to see his reasoning, to see that the castle was trying to, well, kill them.

But Pidge seemed to have an answer for everything. The castles old, it's probably a malfunction, it's been out of commission for 10,000 years. And really all her points made sense, but Hunk couldn't bring himself to agree with her.

Something wasn't right.

Of course it was in that moment, gravity stopped working.

Lance's thought process abruptly ended when he saw the training bot trying to kill his savior. "I'm getting sucked out into space!" And that gave Keith an idea.

He opened the hatch door, causing the training bot to fly out, then he reached out and with all his strength pulled Lance to safety. Once that was said and done he closed the door, and looked to his left to give Lance a quick check up with his eyes to make sure that no serious physical harm came to him. Keith knew his own stomach and back was bruised beyond compare, but Lance seemed fine if not a bit cold.

"What were you doing in there?" Keith yelled out in concern, but he ended up sounding more enraged.

"Who was that guy!"

"He was trying to kill me!"

"Well was it the castle because that's who's trying to kill me!" And they both had the sudden realization that they were truly under attack by the supernatural.

"Altea still exists, Allura I can take you there, I can take you home."

"How can you guys be taking a nap when the castle is trying to kill us!" And everyone started to share their own stories of their space demise. Coran only started to believe it when Hunk, and Pidge shared their stories as well. Accidentally falling into a cryopod, fighting a robot too hard for you to defeat, all excusable, but this? The castle, even without power, spins in a way to keep at least some form of gravity.

"I believe our situation could be worse than we thought." He said before turning around and running to the control room to try and reboot the ship the best way he could.

Hunk was the last to follow, and that is what allowed him to see Keith's slight limp.

"Dude, are you okay?" He asked.

"Yeah, just got knocked around a bit by the training bot." He said as if it were nothing, but Hunk saw the purple under Keith's shirt and without thinking lifted it up to see it nearly surrounding his whole body.

"Dude! You might as well be Galra with how purple you are!" And Lance seemed to trip a little in the halls before turning to see what Hunk was saying. Everyone else stopped too, and they all saw the violent purple bruising on Keith's back and stomach before he shoved his shirt down quickly. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Yeah, I've had worse, let-"

"Worse!" Lance exclaimed in disbelief. Keith's entire midsection was a different color and he's had worse.

"Yes, worse, now let's go Shiro doesn't know about the cursed castle yet." And everyone seemed to reluctantly move along.

"Are you going to be able to walk when all the adrenaline stops blocking the pain?" Pidge asked as she walked next to Keith.

"Really, I'm fine, I bruise easily, and they leave the next day, you don't have to worry about it." And Pidges eyes widened in shock.

"Those will be gone the next day? That's impossible!" And Keith shrugged.

"Yeah, and people think ghosts are impossible, too, but here we are." 

"Yeah, well ghosts at least have a scientific backing and-" Pidge stopped when Keith put both hands on her shoulder's to spin her around to face him. He got down to eye level and looked her in the eyes, a wide hopeful look on his faith.

"You have proof?"

"I have proof for a lot of things, ghosts, big foot, the 9/11 inside job-"

"Alright paladins, let's get a move on, and we can talk all about this big footed man later!" Coran ushered them along, but not before Keith could squeeze Pidge's shoulders, a look of pride and solidarity on his face.

"I can't believe you two!"

We're connected you and me. Both apart of the Galra empire.

No that's not true, Shiro thought to himself.

Embrace it. Face it, you'll never beat Zarkon.

I'm not listening to you.

Do you truly believe a Voltron Paladin like you could truly beat him? You're a monster.

"NO!" And Shiro ejected Sendek into space, with a crack on his container, knowing he sentenced him to death.

"Shiro are you okay!" Pidge's voice rang clear and true in Shiro's head and he began to explain why Sendek had to go. 

"He couldn't be trusted on this ship." He said.

And suddenly Lance seems to be agreeing with Shiro, talking about all the ways the castle was trying to kill them, just for more bad news to drop.

"The ship is preparing for a wormhole jump!" And they ran to the control room, for only Allura could control the castle ship like that.

She was under the control of her father. Her castle was playing tricks on her own mind. The Galra had corrupted even this one good thing in Allura's life. It has corrupted her Father's memory. It had corrupted the castle. All of her Father was gone and she had to kill him. She killed her father all because a single Galran troop was able to poison her father, her castle, her planet. 

She had to destroy him.

She watched every one of his memories with her, she watched her loving childhood and she had to kill it.

She would never forgive the Galra as long as she lived.

"Goodbye, Father."

 "Get into the castle paladins, we're getting out of here."

She took her paladin's apologies at face value. She knew they cared, that they felt sorry for her, but how could they know. She had just had to kill her father, she needed this time to grieve, to be alone, to try and remember him when he was still the most important man in her life.

She was truly an orphan once more.

"He may not be here with us anymore, but his dream lives on through all of us and his legacy is Voltron."

Allura wasn't expecting the gifts. She thought she'd be okay with her parting words. With her speech about her father living on through Voltron, and on the surface she knew that to be true, however, it wasn't the same. It wasn't the same as seeing Pidge at odd hours of the night, glued to her computer trying to recover corrupted files from the castle to give Allura some form of closure. It wasn't the same as seeing Coran try his best to "subtly" share his own stories of her father as best he could without causing her more distress. It didn't compare to Lance stepping back for once to give her the space she needed.

She assumed he needed it too, based on how he had taken to sleeping in the wide open spaces of her castle, and how fast he would run out of her ship when there was a planet with breathable air for the paladins to explore. 

She would have been more worried for him if she did not see Hunk accompanying him almost everywhere he went. 

As as much as everyone collectively cared, and tried their best to help her, to help each other, it would never quit be enough.

Nothing quite gave her peace like the stars did. When it would get really lonely, now that she had no way to talk to her father, even in a memory, gazing into the universe, and talking to it from her castle ships cockpit gave her peace of mind.

And sometimes, in the loneliest of nights, she could have sworn she heard it talk back. 

Chapter Text

"I don't think your father would like the idea of infiltrating an enemies memory like this." And Allura knew Coran was right, but her need for that knowledge far out-weighed her moral compass in this moment. 

"Anything good yet Pidge?" Shiro asked.

"Nothing, just bits and pieces." She said and Keith sighed in defeat.

"What are we going to do with bits and pieces? We need more than that. We don't even have a map." He said annoyed, and Lance really couldn't understand that.

"Why do we need a map? After 10,000 years of conquering, I could probably shoot my bayard into open space and hit a Galra ship." Keith shrugged his shoulders in response, Lance got him there.

"Zarkon's been conquering the Universe for 10,000 years, hitting him on his home planet with five unexperienced fighters would be a huge mistake. Right now, we need to chip away at his empire before we can attack it head on." Shiro said diplomatically the moment he heard Lance begin to rave about a final showdown style battle. Shiro would really like nothing more than a "one hit, suddenly Zarkon's gone" battle, but he knew that wasn't going to work.

"I'm pulling up the location of your universal base now, but our long range sensors aren't picking up anything there." Coran said.

"Could we be translating it wrong?"

"No, I trust my tech, if anything we've stumbled across a highly classified base, possibly secret if we can't get a hold onto it using rudimentary sensors." And the paladins found themselves agreeing with Pidge's astute observations with ease. They then turned to the Princess.

"Well, there's only one way to find out." She said as she prepared the ship for launch.

"We should now be close enough to get a good scan, but far enough away not to be noticed." Allura said, causing the resting paladins to become focused once more. Coran began to explain how the magnetic pull on the other planets around it hide it from deep space scanning technology. Pidge and Hunk found it very interesting, but the other's really did not seem to care about the how so much as they did the why.

Why was it hidden away like that?

Why was this base so important it needed to be hidden away be deep space magnetic fields?

"There must be more to this than we're seeing." 

"Then we need to get down there." And thus Allura started to lay down the ground work for an infiltration plan. 

"I'm sorry Princess, but did you just say we?" Keith asked, and Allura gave him a steadying nod.

"Before the war, I had traveled through many Galran space stations with my father for Altea, I would know more about them than any of you, without me, you'd all be lost." And with those words she could see the concern on all of their faces. Did they really think she was so useless that she could not fight? She could best all of them easily.

Well.

Maybe not all at once, and maybe she could best other paladins easier than some.

And she's sure that one on one she'd have a good chance with at least 3 out of 5 of winning.

You know what, she would not talk herself out of this, nor would she have them talk her out of it. She was the most experienced fighter on this ship, and she would go on the ground for this mission because she was needed.

"I'm going, does anyone have a problem with that?" She said simply. She could tell the paladins were a little uneasy and was a bit annoyed with them.

"Princess, no offense, but your knowledge is 10,000 years old... How do you know if it's at all accurate?" Pidge pipped up.

Before Allura could even come up with a response to that, Shiro spoke.

"I don't have a problem with that." He said, and the team accepted his lead, if not reluctantly. Allura gave him a thankful smile and flushed and the understanding smile he returned. 

So maybe Allura was attracted to another one of the paladins, they were all fine specimens, surely some of the most good looking on their planet. 

God if only the ears weren't so hideous.

Getting in was the easy part, now came everything else. 

Pidge immediately set up her computer to download Galra info with Hunk's help. Keith watched for activity on the main window, and Lance was guarding the door. 

"Hey guys sorry to interrupt, but I think we've got company." And of course a ship would come now.

"I just need a few more seconds..." But they were getting a video call. Hunk, for what he felt was the first time in his life, was quick on his feet and easily saved the day, for the moment at least. 

It gave them enough time for Pidge to say that this was a total bust.

"Hold on, Pidge do you know where this ship is headed?"

"Central command."

"Great, that's where we need to go to get the information we need. I'll sneak onto that ship and get it for us." Everyone was completely shocked, how could she possibly do this?

It's not like she looked-

"I'm going to walk through the front." And suddenly she had grown an extra foot and a half and was now purple. She could easily fit in as Galra.

"We're a chameleon like people, we can change our outward appearance to fit into the local population of a planet, it's what made us great explorers and diplomats throughout history." And that's when a thousand questions were fired her way, but she couldn't answer them now. She needed a disguise.

"I'm going with you." Shiro said, and Allura turned up her nose at the sheer disrespect. She was a princess, there were her paladins, her word was law.

"I don't need your permission," And everyone of her paladins seemed to look at her and stare as if she was the one in the wrong. "Plus, you'll stick out."

"Well you'll need him either way." Pidge said as she went to grab onto Shiro's galran arm. "Shiro has galran tech, you'll need it to interact with any of their stuff. Only Galra and their tech can interact with their stuff." She said matter of factly, waving Shiro's arm mockingly.

The Princess found herself cornered.

Keith stiffened.

No one noticed, but Lance.

"I can monitor your download remotely from here." And thus they began to form a plan, not a good one, but they didn't have time for anything else.

They made it in, but Keith was now more focused on the glowing yellow essence the Galra were carting out of the ship than he was about Shiro and Allura. Sure he'll always worry about Shiro, but something about that yellow essence called to him.

"What do you think's in there?"

"Sporks." And Keith had never been more confused in his life.

But they pushed on, and in all her boredom, waiting for information from Allura and Shiro, Pidge hacked the sentry they attacked upon entering. 

"What's on board that ship?" 

"Interrogation detected, initiating lockdown." And Pidge cracked her fingers and got to work.

Keith though, noticed one scary dude in a cloak interacting with that yellow essence. Something wasn't right, he needed to move, to figure out what was going on down there.

"Or maybe you lay low and not blow our cover?" Lance stated rather sarcastically when Keith suggested taking a closer look, and it pushed Keith into doing what he wanted to do even more. Screw Lance he didn't need to listen to him. "Don't you go out that door!" 

He went out that door, and immediately realized he wouldn't be able to move around without galra tech, but something told him he wouldn't need to worry about that.

He didn't like that part of him.

 "Shiro are you alright?" 

"I just remembered how I escaped. I timed their pattern." And he remembered it, he could get them through the castle with ease.

Keith followed the cloaked man from a distance, he was just barely able to slide through the door behind him and the yellow glowing... things.

"Quick question, does Allura talk about me when I'm not in the room?"

"Oh yeah, all the time." Hunk said, and Lance was too excited by that statement to hear the teasing note to it. 

"Really?" And Hunk continued to tease him just for Lance to eat it all up. Pidge quickly used her new found control over the robot to smack Lance in the face.

"Whoops."

"Hey!" 

"Listen Lance, Allura really isn't interested in any of us, plus I'm pretty sure Keith is the one that talks about you the most when you're not there." She said off handedly and Lance felt his chest grow tight.

"What does that mean? What does he say?" He asked, somehow more concerned about this.

"He says, 'Why doesn't he like me?'"

There were so many cases of that golden essence, and Keith could only sit there and watch as the man in the cloaked dress interacted with it, turned it purple with Galran essence and magic to create a new, glowing purple serum with it. 

He had no idea what it meant, but he knew it was important.

"We only have a few minutes before the next patrol walks by, watch the door." 

And then Pidge began her hacking, but it was getting too late. They were about to get caught, and Allura could only bullshit her way through so much.

Shiro and Allura really couldn't believe though that all her bullshit had gotten her through that confrontation.

"Coran you need to see this." Keith said opening a direct link to the castle ship.

"I've never seen anything like it." He said in what Keith thought to be a mixed voice of awe and worry. Coran was quick to connect the other paladins to Keith's live feed.

"What is that?" Pidge asked

"Quintessence." They turned around to see the robot Pidge had reprogramed was finally ready. "The substance with the highest known energy per unit in the universe." 

And Coran felt his blood run cold. Quintessence was life energy, to have that much raw life energy would mean...

"Raw material is traded and standardized here. The Galra use it to fuel their resources." Coran could only think about all the planets who's life energy was sucked dry from their very core. All those lives, all those unsuspecting lives taken just to harness a fraction of what was before his eyes.

"Guys, I'm going to steal some of this... whatever it is." And Keith disconnected his mic before Coran could possibly warn him of dangers to come.

It was only with so much Hope that Allura believed her bullshit story would last them the whole time they were collecting information on that ship.

"I think we're in trouble."

"You think!" And Allura did something Shiro could not believe happened. She rammed a door down with her own body, the last time he saw anyone do that was when Adam-

"What?"

"Nothing."

Keith wished he had listened to Lance the moment he was faced off with the god damned dark wizard with no chance of beating him and his unnecessary teleportation skills. But, as Keith knows, people tend to underestimate him in a fight.

It wasn't working in his favor though, and he felt the magical energy rush through him, stay within him a second to long... and stay there. It was too much energy, he needed a release, he didn't know how it was possible that this was happening, but it was. His hands were shaking with the mag-

His hands were purple tinged, the color of galra, the color of his bruises.

He did not have time to think on it however, and used his new found electric energy to dodge another attack. 

"Pidge I need an extraction now, hurry!"

"Pidge fire up the green lion, we're coming in hot." Shiro says as he gets cut off by sentries. Allura goes to fire off her gun, and misses, she's holding it backwards. "I thought you said you travelled the galaxy, how are you holding this backwards!"

Allura grabbed his arm and ran.

"I'm tense!" She tried to explain.

Allura and Shiro were making their way to the front of the ship, and Pidge, Lance, and Hunk were making their way to the green lion, so they didn't see the fight Keith was in the middle of. 

Not the way Coran was seeing it. 

He was still connected to Keith's helmet camera, he had forgot to stop the connection and Coran was seeing it all.

He was seeing the purple of Keith's skin and he felt scared, because he knew what that meant.

He also knew Keith didn't know what that meant. 

He could only watch in despair as Keith fought against the druid, his life dependent on his victory.

Pidge could not have entered at a better time, as her green lion crashed into one of the containers of quintessence, causing it to spill all over him, but Keith didn't feel anything. He also no longer saw his opponent.

So left with no opponent and no other option, he entered the green lion, took off his helmet, causing it to reset without his knowledge, and looked to his now normal colored hand.

He wished he could talk to someone about this, but he didn't think that would be a good idea.

The galra ship with Allura and Shiro was taking off, and it took everything in Pidge's power to get to it, but it would be too late.

Allura knew they didn't both have a chance of making it. So with all her strength she held the door closed, then launched Shiro into the escaping pod, leaving herself for capture.  

She knew she'd be okay though, for her paladins, all five would save her.

"It doesn't matter, we have to go after her." Shiro said.

And Hunk began to list all the things Shiro knew he had said as to why they couldn't attack Zarkon's main fleet. How it was too dangerous for young pilots to attack, that it wouldn't make that much of a difference in the long run... he knew.

"I know what I said, but we have to do this." He said and he couldn't explain it to the other paladins, he couldn't explain his need to save her beyond what a paladin would do for a Princess and he could see that where all their minds were taking them.

That's not it!

Couldn't they see she was important though! She was one of them, no man left behind! No man left on Earth when he gets on another space ship and flies away no-

Keith put a steady hand on his shoulder. "We'll save her." He said. "I know we don't have a choice, but too now." And Shiro nodded along.

He would save Allura.

He had to. 

Chapter Text

"How is that possible!"

"Coran I'm sorry things didn't go as planned, we're trying to make it right. Pidge anything?" Shiro knew he was being intense, he knew that the other paladins were confused by his behavior, but he needed to get this right. He could not have her death on his shoulders, something about that was just so fundamentally wrong, it hurt something deep within him.

Keith was by his side the whole time.

And because of that, Lance was there, too. 

Coran didn't get a chance to talk with anyone as his own worries over Allura were at the forefront.

"Guys look at this!" Pidge said bringing all their attention to the main fleet. It was huge, they couldn't deal with this, but they had to.

"We have to go now, every second we wait is another second Zarkon prepares for our arrival." Pidge said, stating her opinion, Lance was quick to agree.

"Yeah we form Voltron, go in, go out and dust off our hands. We'll end it here and now." He said it with such confidence, but Hunk knew this wasn't right.

"Uh, do you guys not remember the balmera. We could barely handle one fleet there, not the thousands that we could face here!" Hunk said.

Keith of course, had to bring up the practicality of it all, because as much as he hated it, he knew he would not want anyone risking their lives like this to rescue him. He'd find his own way out and he felt like Allura could and would do the same. No need for him to risk the lives of his family for some space princess who happens to host them, sure she's part of the family too, but Keith knew her. She was like him, all fiery, quick thinking, run in attitude, she would not want them to sacrifice themselves for her. Like he would do, she would sacrifice herself for their greater good. They would be giving up everything, for her and he knew she would rather her father's work live on instead of watching it be handed over to her own enemy.

"Or we could just not go on this mission at all." And based solely on the looks everyone was giving him, he knew that was not the best way to say what he was thinking. "Think about it, we're delivering the worlds greatest weapon into the hands of the worlds greatest enemy."

"Keith, that's cold even for you." And at Hunk's words Keith flinched, hard. He knew it wasn't a good thing, hell he'd love to save Allura, but what is one life when compared to the whole universe. She would understand because he understood that. "What if it was one of us! What if it was me! You wouldn't leave me would you?" 

Of course he wouldn't, not only is Hunk the sweetest person Keith had ever met, not only was he the only person at first to really try and make Keith feel at home, not only was he the first best friend, the first family he made during this whole adventure, he was the yellow paladin, they needed him for the mission. 

They did not need Allura.

Only grab what you need.

Only take what you need to survive.

There's no friends when you're an orphan. 

There's no family.

No one to love, Keith.

No one to come after him.

He had nothing, he didn't need.

He needed food he got it.

He didn't need pictures of his father, so he left that in the fire. He left everything in the fire.

He took his mom's knife though.

The glowing, alien knife.

"Keith?"

"Listen, I'm not saying I like the idea, I'm saying I'm thinking like a paladin." Yes, get defensive, that's the way he would have to deal with-

"No you're being selfish! You can't just abandon her-" 

Was Keith really doing that? Abandoning someone... he couldn't do that. Abandonment really fucks you up, he knows that, but no! No, solitude was the only way to survive here, nothing to lose if you have no one, but he had Shiro? 

No, even that could be taken away. Solitude. Keith could never leave his solitude.

"Enough! Keith come back to us!" And Keith realized he was somehow on the ground, tears were in his eyes and he could still feel the betrayal of his mother's last words... he looked around and realized everyone was watching him with mixed levels of concern, but he couldn't deal with that right now.

"I'm fine, I'm here." He said stepping away from them as far as he could. Hunk went to move to him first, and Keith hated the fact that he flinched away from Hunk's touch. Hunk could barely harm a Galra soldier, he would never harm Keith. 

Didn't stop Keith from flinching away.

It didn't stop the look of hurt that passed so clearly over Hunk's face or the confusion over the other's faces.

"We're not abandoning anyone. We can't bicker like this, not now. We need to figure out a way to get Allura." Shiro said, but Keith couldn't be here.

"Fill me in when you're done." And he ran to his room before anyone could stop him.

"You really can't run away from your abandonment issues, you know that right?" 

"Watch me."

"Keith-"

"What?" Keith hissed out. "You're going to tell me that I'm not about to be abandoned by the same people I would have abandoned a moment ago for the mission? Don't even try me." 

"But Keith what you said made sense, but it's not our way. To abandon one life for the sake of the bigger image, that's the Galra way and we're not like that." Shiro said as he forced his way into Keith's room. He sat down next to him and kept talking. "We're doing this the earth way. No man left behind." 

Keith was silent for a minute, pulled his knees up to his chest and held them, he needed to be as small as possible now, it was a comfort.

"I messed up, huh?"

"No, you said what you thought was right-"

"But it was wrong and don't try to deny that. You and I both know I'm not good at this whole family thing." Keith said and Shiro really didn't know what to say to that. "She's like me, so I know she wouldn't have wanted us to risk our lives and Voltron for this."

"I know, but you have to realize we would do the same if you were in her spot." Shiro said.

"No you wouldn't. I'm replaceable, she's not."

"Keith-"

"Brief me on the mission Shiro. Please."

"Fine, but you have to know we-"

"Shiro I know why you're so for this okay! You can't fool me I've known you longer than anyone here." Keith hissed out. "Everyone is thinking you're so crazy because you're in love with the princess, but I know the truth! I know it's because she reminds you of him, I've seen it. She has the same fire, it's the same reason why you picked me up off the streets so listen and listen well. You don't need to tell me that we're doing this for the greater good or whatever, I know I was wrong. I know I've always been wrong and I'll always be wrong when it comes to this stuff, but for a majority of my life it has always been me first because I never had anyone to worry about other than myself. Okay? I promise I'll learn to get better, but I don't want nor need a Shiro talk, so just explain the mission." Keith said one final time.

Shiro sighed in defeat and without another word, emotionlessly explained the mission.

Keith would apologize to him later, for bringing Him up so carelessly, but right now he was hurt and cornered and didn't know what to do other than lose himself in the mission.

"Anything?"

"There's no way in they'll trap us any way we try to get in."

"Keep looking." And then Shiro saw it, Coran's discomfort, the worrying of his hands and he felt terrible. After leaving Keith in his room, Shiro came back to the main deck hoping beyond all hope that they could find a way to save Allura, but it wasn't looking so good.

So he did the only thing he really knew how to do and tried comforting Coran in his time of need, and really Coran wasn't angry at Shiro or any of the other paladins for letting Allura get capture, truly he wasn't. 

"It's just that, I've known Princess Allura since she was born, I have always been at her side, and the moment I'm not... she's gone. There is so little left of Altea and Princess Allura is the best thing still alive from our home. This castle, King Alfor's memories, the mice, sure they'd all be hard to lose, but Princess Allura? She's the worst thing to lose."

"If only there was a way we could get closer to Zarkon's ship without detection, then we could save her." Shiro said, and Coran agreed, but ho-

Wait. 

"I think I know how we can do that."

It was weird to see him again. The man who would bounce her on his shoulders, who would fling food at her father at the Voltron dinner table then pretend it wasn't him. The man who would save her father's life time and time again, the man she lovingly called Uncle. It was weird to see him, it was weird to think that this was the same man who killed him and left her entire species and planet to rot. 

"Hello, Dew Drop." 

And she was ready to kill him, for he lost the privilege to call her that the moment he abandoned her father. 

"You monster!" And without thinking she attacked, just for Haggar, his witch, to stop her using dark magic that seemed to reach into her very core. "Voltron will stop you!" She yelled out through the pain.

"No they will not, they will only make me stronger, your father knew that, and so do you, Dew Drop. He made me believe he destroyed the lions years ago to stop me from collecting them all, but because of you, your new paladins will come to me easily and deliver their lions into my waiting hands." He seemed to purr. Allura had never felt more disgusted in her whole life and for a split second, she wished her paladins would not come for her.

They used a gas planet as coverage to wormhole jump into the heart of Zarkon's base. It was the position they needed to be in to rescue her, but it would be terrible trying to escape for without Allura, there would be no way to teleport out of there.

Good thing they weren't leaving without her.

"I located her energy signal to this part of the ship." Coran exclaimed.

"Good," And all eyes turned towards the back to see Keith entering the command bay in his full paladin armor. "It'll give us a starting point." He said joining the others. Hunk was quick to put his arm around Keith in a sideways hug a small smile on his face.

"Knew you wouldn't abandon us." He said and Keith felt his resolve settle in him.

It was time he gave up his useless back and forth, it was time he settled down.

"Of course, family is family, and I refuse to leave mine behind." He would not let them get hurt anymore.

"Alright guys, follow the plan and we'll make it out alive with the princess and we'll be on our way." Shiro said with the confidence of a man who knew what he was saying was correct instead of a man who was clearly winging it.  

So they did as he said and formed Voltron in the gas planet. Once everything was set and done, they all took a steadying breath, and launched themselves at his main ship. 

And despite knowing there would be a trap, they were still shocked by it. Lance was the first to notice the barrier falling down around them, he pointed it out to his fellow paladins, but it was too late, it wouldn't matter anyway. 

Then the fighters started to attack and they came from everywhere.

Voltron was dodging blasters left and right, using the sword to slice through major ships, and their cannon to destroy smaller fleets, but that's when something terrible happened.

Voltron froze.

Shiro knew his connection with Black was not as strong as it could be. He knew that Hunk and Pidge's connections, hell even Lance and Keith's connection's with their lions was stronger than his, but he never thought it would be by this much.

He felt the other pull of a mind through the Black Lion, almost like an old master, and Black was getting confused, he could feel it.

The Black Lion was not playful, or motherly, or childlike. The Black lion was the head, the leader and was thus a strong willed figure that did not bend so easily to other's commands. They talked to Shiro through teaching, and now this voice of reason was leaving him and it was forcing the connection of Voltron to break.

"Shiro what's going on!" And through the measly connection, he could feel the tug of the read lion, and suddenly at Keith's voice the Black Lion was tugging again. It didn't make sense.

"I can't hold on much longer!" Shiro gave them just enough warning to disband before he felt Voltron would collapse on itself.

Zarkon called to his lion like one would a lost kitten, and it was working.

Then the ship honed in on the Black Lion and started pulling it in while the other Lions were quick to make easy work of the fighter pilots, but even easy targets in numbers were still enemies in numbers, they wouldn't be able to attack the main Galra ship, save the Black Lion and -

Suddenly there was another laser in the mix.

"CORAN ON THE ATTACK! I've waited ten thousand quiznacking years to do this!" He cheered, and with him in the mix, it was enough to let the other paladins breathe.

"Shiro you okay!"

"My lion is not responding!"

"Shiro's in trouble, I'm going in!"  Keith yelled out and it was the last thing Shiro heard from the paladins as what he assumed to be Zarkon's voice rang through his head.

"You cannot control her, your connection in weak."  And suddenly all the altean and english ship symbols he was getting used to turned into Galra codes and language. This was wrong, this was so wrong.

And suddenly the Black Lion was ejecting him into open space, and he had never felt more betrayed.

"I'm going for the Black Lion! You guys get to the Princess now!" Shiro said and then he was flying through space to fight for the Black Lion again.

"I'll provide cover, you guys get the Princess! Although, try and make it quick because I'm not sure how long I can fight against a whole armada!" Coran added on.

"You guys go after the Princess!" Keith yelled out.

"What are you going to be doing then! We need to stick together!" 

"I have to go after the Black Lion from the outside, or at least slow it down, without that we're useless. I have to stop them from getting it any way I can!"

"Keith you ca-"

"No he's right!" Lance said annoyance clear in his voice. "Save the Black Lion, just don't do anything stupid."

And so Keith saw the other three lion's fly towards the coordinates Coran gave them for the Princess while he willed his lion to push the Black Lion away from the clutches of Zarkon, and he felt her will to do so pull her faster. 

He went to recover the Black Lion just to see another figure already there.

"Who is that!?" 

"Keith get out of there it's Zarkon! He's too dangerous!" But really what was one man against a Lion of Votron?

"This is our chance to put an end to the Galra Empire I have to take it!" And he pushed forward, and Red, always loyal followed with ease.

"Keith NO!" Lance's voice rang out through the speaker, but he was already launching himself at the man.

"What's going on!" Hunk asked.

"Keith's doing something stupid!" But that's when Keith stopped paying attention to the audio and more to the fight, because this man was standing on his own against the Voltron lion with ease. He was also standing alone with what looked like the Black paladin Bayard as well, but that could not be possible. Unless-

"You cannot fight me, the Black Lion will be returned to it's original paladin."

This fight became less about destroying Zarkon and more about keeping him as far away from the Black Lion as possible. 

"Guys, I'm holding him off from the Black lion. Shiro! You need to get here and get here fast."

"So, the Champion returns?"

And Shiro felt the memory of the witches magic on his body.

"Guys Keith needs help!" 

"Well Pidge we need to help the Princess anyone have any ideas!" 

"Actually Lance, I do."

And suddenly Hunk was ramming the yellow lion into the hull of the ship, creating easy access for him to kill off the sentries guarding the Princess.

These absolute idiots are doing it.

"Sir, they've breeched a hull in the ship!" Thace said.

"Focus all fire on that spot!"

"Hunk please don't tell me you brought Voltron and the Black lion here to save-"

"Princess, you really don't want me to answer that! Now come on we don't have time!"

Shiro's world, for a split second went black and he didn't know where he was.

Keith didn't understand how he could possibly be loosing to a man with a bayard when he was in a lion.

"Keith get out of there!"

"I can't Coran! He's got the Black Lion!"

"It's imperative that you don't engage!" And Keith shut him up because this was more important. Protect the Black Lion. Protect the universe.

Oh paladin, I have an outlet. 

And he used the rage he had, and channeled it where Red told him to and suddenly there was a canon firing at Zarkon. Keith saw the damage it had done and witnessed as it had taken down a dozen fighter ships.

"Wow." He then focused that energy onto Zarkon and his main ship and suddenly, Zarkon disappeared.

"You fight like a Galra soldier."  Keith heard Zarkon's words ring through his head. "But not for long."

And suddenly he was there, bayard in hand, ready to lay down a striking blow. And suddenly Keith was knocked down.

"And now champion your time is over." And suddenly Haggar was being fired upon, but how? How could any of them know where she was, especially when only those who were highly sensitive to quintessence should be able to sense her.

Then she saw the Altean Princess.

Oh well, she got what she'd come for.

"Where is the creepy lady!"

"Hunk we don't have time! We need to get Shiro to the Black Lion."

"Help!" Keith didn't want to die here, he had so much more to do, so much more universe to save! 

He still needed to protect-

Wait where was the Black Lion?

And that's when Keith saw her, suddenly attacking Zarkon, and he felt the Red Lion being lifted up by the Yellow Lion.

"What were you thinking!" Hunk yelled out in disbelief.

"That I could protect the Black Lion and give you guys some extra time to save the Princess." Keith said.

"Yeah, but you almost died doing it!" Pidge yelled out.

"Died being the keyword there!" Hunk added on.

"Guys we don't have time! We've got the Princess, now we need to get out of here."

They needed to escape. They were not meant to die here, they needed to get out to save more of the universe from the Galra.

It would be the blades honor to assist them from the shadows until it was time to truly meet.

"This section is off limits." 

He felt the blade grow in his hand, an extension of his own being, morphed and formed with his exact quintessence in mind.

He moved quickly, taking down the sentry as he opened the door to the barrier control room.

Victory or death, he must help them escape.

"The worm hole! It's breaking down!"

"What does that mean?!"

"It means we have no control over where we're heading!" And suddenly all the lions were launched from their hangers and out of the worm hole.

Chapter Text

"Keith! Shiro!" Lance called out as he watched the Black and Red Lion fly out of the worm hole, then before he could think, he felt the Blue Lion being pulled out as well. He saw Hunk coming with him, but Pidge?

Pidge was gone and there was nothing he could do.

Shiro wasn't doing so hot. 

Keith had never crashed as hard in his life. When he woke up, he was quick to feel the brute force that Red took. "You okay there?"

He moved the stick around once then twice, and felt nothing.

Enough paladin, let me rest.

"Alright Red, but we'll heal you up once we get back to the castle." Keith said before getting up out of his seat. "In the mean time, I'm going to locate Shiro and the Black Lion."

Be safe, I will not be there to save you.

"I don't need you swooping in to save me Red."

Whatever you say.

"Ha. Ha. Just rest okay? I'll come back for you soon."

Pidge, for someone who was completely alone on a deserted planet in the middle of space without a working Lion was having the absolute time of her life.

"Looks like it's a trash nebula... Listen Pidge let's just stay put for now and wait for someone to find- God DAMN IT! This is boring I'm going to explore."

"We have to find an exit before we run smack into the void!"

"Shiro are you there! Answer me!"

"Keith! Keith I'm here, I'm okay." Shiro said collapsing onto the side of a rock on the planets surface a couple of feet from the Black Lion.

"Huh, you made it."

"It takes a lot more than a glowing alien wound, falling out of a wormhole through the stratosphere onto the surface of an unknown planet in a giant space lion to kill me." Shiro huffed out as he put a hand to his wound. "How are you?"

"I'm good, my lion's busted, but wait what wound?"

"It's nothing."

"Hang on, I'm coming."

"Take your time." And that's when Shiro heard them. He looked down from his perch to see the lion was covered by giant, dangerous looking space creatures that he was pretty sure were there to kill him. "On second thought, hurry."

"Oh my god, you're adorable!" Pidge was outside her lion for a grand total of three minutes when she discovered the most adorable creatures in the universe.

Oh my god she loved them.

She would die for them.

She could use them to help her make something to converse with her team.

"Shiro what's happening!" 

"I'm about to be monster meat."

"SHIRO!"

"Gotta blast!" 

Of all the god damn times for Keith to accidentally walk across a geyser field, of course it would be now when he needed to save Shiro, that he was blocked by a god damned crater.

"Keith are you okay? What happened."

"Minor delay, how about you?"

"I'm okay, stuck in a collapsing cave though surrounded by creatures that want to eat me."

"Lovely, I'll be there the moment I figure out how to vault this canyon."

"Have fun."

"Yeah."

"My name is Keith, I'm so Emo." Pidge said behind her Keith model she made out of the left over junk on the garbage yard she landed on in Space.

"Shiro you're our leader! What should we do!" Pidge floated over to her fake Shiro.

"We'll get out of here, if we all work together!" 

"I'm Lance, and I'm so pretty, I do my skin care routine every night to keep this face sparkling, don't I look beautiful Princess!?" She said behind her Lance figure. 

"Oh I don't feel so good..." She said next to her Hunk figurine. That was when she bumped into it. All the creatures on the planet were able to find all the junk she needed, all the junk she asked them to find. 

"Thank you guys!" Pidge said. And that's when the creatures brought her attention to her lion.

Hello little one! 

"Hey you're back! Now let's go find our friends!" 

And with the creatures help Pidge set out attaching her long range sonar scanner to her lion to broadcast Voltron specific messages.

Well Keith, you've done crazier stuff.

"Patience yields focus."

"That really stayed with you didn't it." Keith stomped onto the ground and stood back watching the geyser shoot out from the ground, an idea forming in his mind.

"Well you give good advice, if it wasn't for you... for the two of you, my life would be a whole lot different." He said as he called for his sword, running the idea through his mind.

You absolute mad man.

"Well you wouldn't have gotten stuck on an alien planet piloting an out of commission lion with little chance of rescue now would you?" And Keith could hear Shiro's wince of pain and knew that the wound in his side must be getting worse. "So you're welcome."

Do it.

"I'm coming Shiro!" And it worked.

"KEITH!"

"I'm on my way!"

"Good because these guys just started digging."

"Shiro! I have a visual on the Black Lion!" 

But Shiro wasn't really paying attention anymore. He was too busy worrying about staying alive.

Paladin. I am ready.

And Keith almost mis-stepped, because that was not Red's voice. This was almost louder, darker, deeper, it reached from even further in and he turned to his right and he saw it.

The Black Lion's eyes were glowing yellow.

It was easy to make a decision then.

Black felt different from Red. She was bigger, she moved slower, but there was a power in her step that could not rival red, and the controls were a step behind, almost like the Black lion was making sure his moves were the right one before taking the step. 

But every second spent in that seat, was another second Keith felt the Black lion move closer with him.

And he liked it.

But he knew it was only to save Shiro.

"NO! Come on girl what's wrong it should work!" Pidge asked, and although she knew the Lion's could not shrug, she could feel her lion shrug.

"Come on you've got to be kidding me!"

Little one, figure it out!

"Can I at least get some help?"

Now where's the fun in that?!

"You suck!" 

Love you too, little one.

"I need to find my friends, and get out of here! Come on!" And Pidge felt her connection spark, and suddenly the lion's roar of outrage mimicked hers and the satellite was working.

"Thanks girl. Now, let's see if we can get a signal out!"

"You were like a second father to me...." And that's when the Castle coordinates locked onto the Green Lion's signal.

It was official. 

Pidge was Allura's favorite Paladin, hell-

Pidge was Allura's favorite person ever.

"Now let's get out of this blasted wormhole before we hit the void!"

"Thanks for saving me." Shiro said.

"You would have done the same for me, how's your wound?"

"It's getting bigger every day!" Shiro cheered, but one look at Keith's face forced him to rethink his statement. "Just trying to lighten the mood."

"Yeah, well leave that to Lance will you?"

"Leave that to Lance, huh?"

"Just shut up and worry about staying alive. I'm sure we'll be saved soon."

"I was so worried I raised you straight-"

"Takashi, please." And Shiro was chuckling before bringing his gaze back to the horizon. This was really a familiar position between the two of them, well except for the dying part-

Well-

No, let's not think about that.

We'll think about the sun set. 

How they would always watch one together after racing old hover cars in the desert by the Garrison, how they would sneak them out and have to sneak them back in. 

It was comforting for something so like home to be Shiro's last memory.

"We used to do this all the time, huh? I'm glad this is the last thing I will see, you know? Dying on an alien planet, watching the sunset between two magnificent lions really is the best way to go."

"Shiro, no-"

"I want you to lead Voltron if I die."

"Takashi please! You can't talk like this. We'll be fine. We'll get you in a healing pod, and we'll take down Zarkon, and we can go home and you can have that big white wed-"

"Keith please... please not now."

"But Takashi-"

"Please. I want to die on a happy-" And suddenly the Green Lion was there to save them, the castle ship not far behind.

"Explain to me how you let Voltron escape."

"It might have been a mechanical failure, sir." His commander explained. "Haggar boosted their energy beyond mechanical limits!"

"This was no engine failure." The witch hissed out, and he saw his commanding officer wince at her voice. This was not looking good, the witch always had Zarkon's ear. "The two sentries guarding the control panel were destroyed, this was sabotage."

Thace used every bit of his control to stop himself from flinching. It would do no good to give himself away now.

Thankfully the last three years under cover stopped himself from showing any signs of fear.

"I'll start an investigation right away, Emperor Zarkon. I will get to the bottom of this."

"Perhaps I could save months of investigating. Who has been trying to chisel away my chances of getting Voltron this whole time? Who has sent out his fleet to capture Voltron against my orders, who has let Voltron win against him time and time again just for them to come out of the battle stronger? Who was in control of maintaining my barrier to finally capture Voltron? Was it not you, Commander?"

"My Lord! I would nev-" 

"Get rid of him!"

"Before we get rid of him, the druids will find out all that they can from him." Haggar said over the protests of his once superior officer. "Then he will receive a punishment worse than death."

"Lieutenant Thace." And this was the first time Zarkon had ever spoken directly to him, and he felt his body grow stiff at attention. "You are now in charge of the investigation, Commander."

Knowledge,

"Vrepit Sa."

Or death.

Chapter Text

"What just happened?!" 

"I don't know Hunk, but we've got to stay toge- AH!" And suddenly they were crashing through a thick layer of ice and Lance wasn't getting any sort of response from his lion.

"Hunk buddy are you okay?"

And Lance heard Hunk hurling on the other end and winced. He knew that was a hard fall and was fighting the urge to hurl himself, he really didn't blame Hunk who was already weak stomached.

"I'm fine."

"Really?!"

"Well you wouldn't be talking to me in that tone if you didn't just crash land out of a wormhole onto a frozen water planet!"

"Hunk that's what literally just happened to me!"

"We crashed together?" Hunk asked in shock trying to move his lion to the side to check, but it wasn't working, his lion was down for the count.

"Yeah, my Lion's main system is down, how about yours?"

"No, I'm on reserve power." And no time like the present to try and lighten the mood. "Guess you could say I'm, stuck in the water." 

And Lance didn't know whether to laugh or groan in disbelief. "Oh my god, Hunk." 

"Listen, I'm just shocked to say that we hit a planet, Pidge's math said 90% of space was empty." Hunk went on.

"Yeah, well was that before or after we discovered aliens?" Lance said as he felt his lion sink further and further into the water planet. How would he survive? Would the lion count for the change in pressure the deeper they got? How were they going to contact the Castle without lion power? How were they-

"Oh good! The Blue Lion's coming back on line. Good morning beautiful."

Hello darling, it's good to be back, but look.

And Blue lifted her head to flash the lights in her eyes and Lance saw it, a freaking Mermaid. Like a legitimate, Disney princess mermaid. What was going on? 

"Uh, Hunk did you just see something swim by?" Lance asked in disbelief as he urged Blue to keep looking, then he saw it, no her this is probably a her, swim past him again. "Uh, Hunk I know this might sound crazy, but I think I just saw a mermaid."

"Lance how hard did you hit-"

"Hunk you want to marry a rock, please believe me when I say I'm not crazy and I just saw a mermaid." Lance huffed out before Hunk ridiculed him. There was silence over the coms before a rustling sound was made that Lance assumed was Hunk shrugging.

"Alright, you got me there, and Shay is not a rock, she's an angel." And despite the dire situation, Lance found himself smiling, laughing even.

"Of course she is Hunk." But that's when she swam in his sights once more and suddenly Lance was chasing her. "Hey where are you going?" And suddenly Blue was moving with ease in the water and Lance was more distracted by that.

I like the water. It reminds me of home.

"Me too, Blue. Me too."

"Lance? What are you doing, we have to stay with our lions and wait for back up."

But that's no fun, Lance thought.

Go, I'll watch over your friends Lion. We will be safe, find the fish.

It's a Mermaid Blue! And suddenly Lance felt Blue enter his mind and he pushed her towards what he was talking about, all the positive memories he had with the see and mermaids and some unfortunate memories of him imitating the Little Mermaid on the rocks by the beach in his backyard. He heard her let out a delighted laugh and felt her open her mouth for him.

Go, I will be safe.

"And you're out of your lion."

"Hunk! It makes sense for me to get out of my lion, if there is life on this planet, life untouched by Zarkon, then it would make sense for me to go and establish contact. Maybe they have something that could help us get our lions working and off this planet!" And he couldn't contain it. "Plus they're mermaids!"

Hunk groaned in disbelief. "After Nyma and Rolo, you should really know not to trust a pretty face." Hunk argued.

"You're right, I'm not trusting them. I'm leaving Blue with Yellow, she's sentient right now and will alert me to trouble, plus I'll have my bayard on me and in hand, and I won't flirt with the mermaids!" Lance argued.

"And he says he won't flirt with the mermaids, can you believe this Blue!" Hunk said in disbelief.

"Hey! I can be serious when I need to, I'm not just a goofball!" Lance argued rather hurt and Hunk went silent for a moment.

"You're right, I'm sorry. Alright, if you're going to establish mermaid contact I should go with you for back up. Just give me a second and then we'll go." Hunk said and Lance could hear his shuffling through the mic and could not believe he actually got Hunk to do this.  

"Alright, let's go." And then they were following the mermaid through the water as she led them to her what looked to be, home.

"Wow..."

"Hello!" And suddenly Hunk and Lance were breaking apart to look behind them. The mermaid they were chasing had snuck up on them. "Welcome to my village, where all are safe and warm." And she smiled a warm smile at Lance, and he felt a little bit of his unease fade away. Hunk was still defensive as ever. 

And then there were guards, big scary, mer-thing guards right behind them and Lance and Hunk were quick to pull their bayards.

"Please do not hurt our village guards! My friends, I am Florona, the assistant to the all powerful Queen Luxia, keeper of our land. I am sure she would love to meet you. Our guards will help guide us to her palace." She said nodding warmly to the paladins then the guards. 

"Wait how did you know we were here?" Lance asked defensively.

"Queen Luxia knows all." And really Lance has seen weirder things in space. He was still on guard, but as of now he was following his hero's model. Don't kill if you can wound, don't wound if you can subdue, don't subdue if you can pacify and don't raise your hand at all until you've first extended it.

So what if it was a Wonder Woman quote Veronica told him, it was a good life motto and Lance was choosing to use it now. 

And then they were on giant Sea horses riding to the castle to meet with their Queen.

"Lance I know this whole mermaid thing is some crazy cool fantasy for you, and honestly, me too, but we really need to get back to the lions and the castle." Hunk said nervously.

"And I agree." Lance placated. "However, we should still meet this Queen, she might have the technology needed to get the Yellow lion running, or the technology needed for us to contact the Castle." And if Hunk could make bad puns, then... "Plus, down here I could meet the Mrs. Blue Lion."

"Oh my god, I thought we agreed we'd be serious!" 

"We didn't agree to anything, I just said I could be when need be." Lance said a laugh in his voice.

The Queen was easy to love. The moment they had come to her asking for her help, she was quick to provide it. She brought them their lions to the main castle, then set about a banquet for the two of them while her troops set about to collect the machines they needed to contact the castle ship.

Hunk and Lance were a bit iffy though to eat the food, but once they saw the Queen eating it, they began to take tentative bites and found themselves loving every bit of it. 

"I'm glad you are enjoying our food fresh from the Gardens. Now please enjoy our entertainment." Entertainment? Hunk was confused, they really barely had time to eat let alone time for entertainment. They had humored the Queen this long, they should really get to work. One look at Lance, and Hunk could see he was just as confused.

"Your majesty, we really... don't need... entertainment?" 

What was going on? This crazy octopus lady was insane. She had limbs everywhere and it was...

Mesmerizing. 

"Oh, this dance is amazing, it's the most amazing thing I've ever... wait no! Weren't we just talking about something?"

"You and your companion we just talking about how you wanted to stay here forever." 

And she was right, of course she was right, Hunk did in fact want to stay here forever, and not even the low growl in the back of his mind would tell him otherwise. One look at Lance told him all he needed to know.

They'd stay here forever.

"Good morning! Wow what a surprise, is this a surprise? I love surprise-" And then Lance felt something puff into his face and he was inhaling the most disgusting thing ever. Then the reality of the situation settled in and he was trying to find an escape, come on Lance quick, think on your feet.

What would Shiro do? What would Allura do?

What would Keith do?

Keith would fight his way out, no plans so, Lance saw an opening and went for it.

He used his thrusters to get past his captors, then he was lost in the caves, but he was ahead of them at the moment. He needed to find an exit fast, he needed to get to Hunk fast, he needed Blue NOW, but he couldn't feel her.

He was cornered now.

"Please we are not here to hurt you!" One of them pleaded and after quickly looking them over and seeing no weapon, he relented and let them talk.

"Please, we believe you are our savior! The Queen is manipulating peoples thoughts, and we believe you can stop her!" The three of his captures pleaded and Lance felt a panic settle in him. He was no ones savior, he wasn't Shiro the star pilot, or Allura the Princess of a whole Planet, he wasn't.... well he was no one's savior except for maybe his nieces, but even then...

Shit.

Hunk woke up on his own, Lance nowhere in sight and Hunk found himself stuck in a wall, part of his mind, a roaring section was yelling at him to pay attention to the Queen's conversation, but he was just so safe and warm, he really didn't care-

But wait, Hunk thought, Lance was missing! Where was he, Hunk had to go find him and he had to do it now, but they were offering him food, and he felt the haze of peace over come him with each bite-full, but he just couldn't stop.

He was safe and warm.

He was sure Lance was fine.

The longer Lance spent with his captors and the more he heard about the Queen, and the less he recalled, the more he believed these mer-people to be correct. The Queen really was mind controlling the whole planet.

"But, why!" Lance yelled out.

"To kill them! Well, we don't really know for sure, but hundreds of mermaids have disappeared, never to return." He said sadly.

"We try to attack the Queen head on, but every time we attack, it depletes our numbers. Now there's only three of us left." The other mermaid said, Lance really didn't know their names, he know's they told him their names, but he was too panicked to understand and he was really regretting it now.  

"What do you want with me?" Lance asked once they had laid everything out on the table.

"We believe your mer-cat can save us, but first your mind-blocking jelly fish!" And of course the jelly fish had to have like a hundred different issues with him.

"Oh just put it on!" Lance said, and really he felt bad about being bossy about it, but he was kind of freaking out, he was truly on his own for this mission, he'd never been on his own for a mission.

But god damn that jellyfish hurt!

The plan was so easy, so why was it falling apart so quickly.

"Servant, take him to the garden." And it was Hunk, oh god Hunk was under mind control, Lance had to snap him out of it, too bad this puffer fish spray literally has to get knocked out of his hand the moment he pulls it on Hunk. 

It also sucks that Lance has never practiced fighting under water.

"Hunk please! I don't want to hurt you!" And Lance really doesn't, but for Hunk's safety he'd do anything. So he hurts him, not enough to leave a mark, but enough for him to snap out of it. 

"Hunk! You've been mind controlled and the Queen is trying to kill me, and we're in the middle of a battle so I need your help!" 

"Ok!"

Lance really loved the fact that Hunk is truly his ride or die.

"Now who are these guys!?" 

"Our allies Hunk, they're here to help!"

And with their distraction underway, Lance and Hunk are quick to get to their Lions, Plaxum, the one mermaid Lance does remember, quickly relays the plan to Hunk as they move in on the mer Queen to isolate her.

And it works.

Lance has saved the day!

"What's going on!" He hears the Queen ask in confusion. Huh! The nerve.

"No! Please, my people are in DANGER! I wasn't controlling anyone, it's the garden! The one that fell from the sky!" 

"And we've been eating from it! It's so safe and warm." Hunk said and Lance had it!

"It's the Garden that's keeping the mer-people under mind control!" Lance yelled out in victory! 

"But why?" Plaxum asked.

"Because we're its food source!" The Queen yelled out.

And Lance really didn't see this coming, he was about to call Bull when Hunk grabbed his attention, and soon he realized they were under attack from something truly terrifying.

But Hunk was falling behind, Yellow just wasn't made for water, he could feel it. She was craving ground, solid Earth, something to dig into and hold onto.

Lance though, felt no such complaints, Blue was faster, stronger more powerful, more in her ELEMENT. It was insane, it was working so well for him. Blue was enjoying the chase more than ever and because of Blue's confidence, Lance was confident. He could do this.

He could figure out a way.

He could finally be the hero.

And without Keith hogging the spotlight!

But Lance was running out of options, there was nothing left he could do! He'd frozen the monster, chased it through rocks, had it trapped under one three times it's size and now it was attacking him.

Hey. Click me.

Blue! Literally what the fuck! Lance thinks to himself, the monster is nearly on him, and Blue is finally giving him an option that should work!

"Here goes nothing!" And Lance completes the movements Blue is projecting into his mind and he feels the change in the water. It's a sonar canon. It's screwing with the monster's senses and with the whole area around them, and soon the creature was dead and buried.

"Really, Blue? Like I'm grateful, but could you have maybe given me that option a little while ago?" Lance asked.

Work, bitch.

"Britney? Really?"

You want martinis, you better work bitch. 

"This is the last time I sing in your cock pit!"

"I want to thank you for what you've done, you've freed my people and I promise to uphold that freedom." And while the Queen was discussing future plans with her advisor, Plaxum went over to Lance.

"And I want to thank you personally." She/he? Who knows said, planting a kiss onto his helmet that, no offense, Lance didn't really want. When their back was turned, he wiped it off his mask just to see Plaxum remove what he thought was her face, which really was stupid because they had told him they were wearing Jelly fish to stop the mind control.

And wow was she pretty underneath.

Lance knew for a fact now that she was a girl.

And of course when Hunk saw Lance was completely distracted by the mermaids beauty he went to talk to the Queen about contacting the other paladins.

And it was very easy to leave the planet after that.

Well, he did have to drag Lance away from his followers, but the smile on Lance's face was worth it.

Lance left that planet with a new sense of confidence, maybe he can do all this paladin stuff, huh?" 

"Guys, you're never gonna believe this! But I just single handedly saved an entire mermaid planet!" 

"Great to have you back Lance."

"Why thank you Pidge, anyway....."

Chapter Text

"No! You took my hand! Why!" Shiro was yelling at his captors, his own arm on the table next to him. The arm that held onto his monitor, the arm that made sure the rest of him-

"He is fit for the arena, commander." He hears through his panicked fog. "We have collected what we needed and removed what we needed as well."

"What more do you want!" He yelled out as a solider began to come at him with another syringe.

"Stop, I want him to feel this." The commander said. As both soldiers turned their back to follow his command, he attacked them, and to Shiro's further shock, he helped Shiro up out of his binds.

"Wake up! We don't have much time. Zarkon has located the Blue Lion on your home, planet Earth!" He said as he put something into Shiro's new arm. "You must get it before he does!" 

"What-"

"I've planted a bomb to help your escape, now come on we must go!"

"Who are you!" Shiro asked as he was dragged out of the operating room.

"I am Ulaz, Zarkon will kill me when he finds out I let you free, so if you survive, follow the coordinates in your arm, they should lead you to me." He told Shiro as they were crouched behind a wall, waiting for the bomb to signal their evacuation. "The Blade of Marmora is with you."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because Earth needs you, the universe needs you. Now hurry up, we only have a slim chance at escape." And then they ran out into the hall, towards the pods that would bring Shiro to Earth. If only he could keep focus!

He had to do this. He had to escape.

The explosion did exactly as it needed to do and Shiro passed out in the ship and awoke in the healing pod, with his brother and new team mates looking at him smiling in relief.

He needed to tell them what he remembered.

"You know you can not trust them!" Allura hissed out and Shiro felt rather annoyed by her one track mind.

"They can't all be bad, your father once trusted them! Zarkon was the original Black Paladin after all!" He accused and the whole room went tense with apprehension. Lance turned to Allura first, an unmistakable look of confusion and terror on his face.

"That was a long time ago!" She bit out. She would not let them believe that there could possibly be any good Galra left. She knew they were all a monsterous race.

"Wait, what?"

"Didn't you see how he stole the Black Lion from right under Shiro? How he could do all those cool things with his bayard? Shiro's bayard? You know the Black one?" Keith growled out. Glaring at Allura as he took a stance next to Shiro.

It was a shockingly perceptive moment for Keith. 

"Why didn't you tell us?" Shiro asked, no, pleaded.

"I did not want to tell you about the dark history of the paladins. I wanted you to bond with your lions on your own. You are the Black paladin now, not Zarkon." She said definitively, but Shiro knew that was a lie.

"Yeah, well the Black Lion might have a different say on the matter." He said.

He never did feel comfortable in that seat.

"Wait!" Pidge's voice stopped any conversations. "I've found something! They're coordinates!" 

"Then that's where we're heading." Shiro said with a firm nod.

"Shiro are you sure about this... I mean after everything the Galra has done to you...they... they took your arm-"

"It's worth the risk. If we could locate allies against the fight to Zarkon, especially those from his own side, then it's a risk we must take." He told Keith, and to Shiro's shock, Keith seemed to ease up at those words, as if they were exactly what he wanted to hear.

Shiro, confused, brushed it off to the side.

Lance, well Lance has seen a lot. 

How do you bring up the fact that you think your rival is an alien to your rival? God they never taught him that in space school.

So they went to check out the location, but there was nothing there, just a bunch of space crystals and they couldn't even get close enough to check them out.

"We should move on."

"No! There must be something more to this!" Shiro defended, he would not come all this way for nothing, he needed answers. "I think we should wait."

He could feel her, the Black lion called to him his connection with her was strong, but he felt her defenses grow stronger, sooner rather than later this might not work. No he couldn't think like that.

She is His Lion, and she will forever be His Lion.

"I knew this was a mistake!" Allura yelled out as she located the intruder on her ship. This was a trap, she knew it. She should have never listened to her paladins, they knew nothing about space, about how evil the Galra truly were. 

She would need to take control from here on out.

"Everyone suit up." Shiro instructed and soon they were all out on the defense. Lance found him first, but he slipped by him with ease, it was impossible how he moved, it also shocked Lance how he wasn't hurting them. 

Pidge was caught too, and then Hunk was running after them as well.

Keith though, was shockingly keeping up, he did fight like a Galra.

But Keith was distracted, the sword, the symbol, it was implanted in his memory for ages now. He had spent many a night looking at it. His mother...

Pidge crash landed into him, and then Shiro and the mysterious intruder were at a stand off, until he seemed to recognize Shiro.

"Ulaz?" But before anything else could be said, Allura had attacked him, thrown him against the wall in all her rage and he did nothing.

"Who are you! Why are you in my castle!?"

"Stop! This is the Galra who set me free." Shiro said, but Allura did not loosen her grip in the slightest.

"You've come." He said then offered his hands in surrender to Allura. She was quick to put cuffs on his hands and feet and forced him into their main area so everyone could question him as Coran took care of the ship.

"I will not have some quiznacking Galra soldier on the bridge of my ship." Allura said rather venomously when Shiro tried to defend him. Lance watched as Keith took a quick, confused step back, a flinch, he knew it was.

"If I wanted to kill you, you'd be dead already." Ulaz said as a fact, he knew his eyes unsettled the humans and Altean on the ship, it was a trait of the modern Galra, pupil less eyes, it made it impossible to know which direction he was looking to those not of Galra heritage. 

He was watching the kit.

"Is that a threat! Is this how you're supposed to win my trust?"

"I'm not trying to win your trust, I'm trying to win a war." He said simply, and Lance could appreciate that, sure trust would be nice, but winning against Zarkon would be nicer. After quickly scanning the other paladins, he noted that Pidge and Shiro seemed to be in agreement, Hunk looked uneasy, and Allura looked mad. As for Keith, he looked rather hyper freaked out, but not in the way one would expect.

He just tapped his finger against his crossed arm, another tell.

"And because of Shiro, our gamble paid off better than we could have ever imagined." Ulaz said with a nod of the head.

Shiro looked down confused for a moment, collecting his thoughts. Keith was to his side, his right hand as ever.

"When you released me.. you mentioned others, you mentioned..."

"Yes, we are called the Blade of Marmora, and we are responsible for your arm, for the removal of your primitive disease, and for your escape."

"Disease?" Hunk asked in a whisper.

"A muscle disease, it was causing rapid muscle decay in my body, I wouldn't have lasted much longer past thirty with it. I'm assuming you cured me so I would survive the trip back to Earth. What are you? Where are the others?"

"I am alone on this base."

"What base? You mean this wasteland?!"

"Now I know that Shiro has come, I can give you access to our outpost which lies dead ahead, right in front of the crystals in a pocket of space time." And based on Allura's snort of disbelief, the humans on the ship certainly believed it to be impossible, but there was an anomaly, exactly where he said there should be, it made sense.

"We must do this, we didn't come all this way for nothing."

"Shiro, you know I trust you, but something about this really doesn't feel right." Keith said with a sideways glance at Ulaz. Lance noticed Ulaz's flinch, but he needed his say as well.

"Listen I don't really like to ever agree with Keith, but I don't think it feels right either, it's almost like we're missing something. Something he's not telling us." He said.

"They could have planted fake memories of your escape into your mind Shiro!" Pidge said.

"But to do that they would need some molecular storage unit to- wait your hand... But to be linked up to memory it would need a direct pathway to his brain, which his hand has... Yeah, they could do that." Hunk worked out rather quickly.

"Ulaz freed me, without him we would not be here." He defended and Allura looked absolutely conflicted.

Maybe it was time to trust in some Galra once more, especially if Shiro is the one telling her to do so. 

"Fine. Slow and steady Coran." 

And when they got there, they we sucked into folded space time, it was truly breath taking.

"Welcome to the Blade of Marmora communications base Thaldicon. Now if you'd release me, I need to send a message to the leader ship, they need to know I've made contact with Voltron." He said getting up to stand in front of the paladins and the Princess.

"You go, I'll stay here." Allura said to Shiro and soon Hunk and Pidge were jumping with joy at the chance to get a closer look at the base, Lance quickly volunteered to stay with the Princess, and Allura hated the idea.

She really did not appreciate Lance's flirting, she liked the darker, mysterious leadership type more if she was being honest.

Lance was too much of a goofball brother for her taste. 

When will he get the memo?

Lance just really had a thing for beautiful women who could beat him up.

Keith huffed in annoyance, and Allura quickly sent him a pitying look that he did not notice.

Eh, so what if she wasn't Keith's type, she'll just be his friend and friends offer solidarity.

They took the Red Lion down to the base, Shiro suggesting it as Keith was the best flier, and Keith felt Red hum in an odd satisfaction at the new additions to her cockpit. 

Ulaz was explaining how the base worked as they got closer to it, but there was one question on Keith's mind.

"So there are Galra out there who are not loyal to Zarkon?" And Ulaz paused to take a quick look at the kit before answering.

"We thought that expanding the Empire would bring stability after our home planet was destroyed, but we learned too late that a tyrant does not wish for stability, he only wishes for power. We few are doing what we can to undo the wrongs our people are unknowingly doing." He said.

He stayed close by the red paladin as they walked into the base. His height was stunted, there was something wrong with his face, it did not have the usual under coloring of purple as one does in a mixed breed. Usually the Galra genes are stronger, for this one to look so human is odd. Ulaz though could see some of the features, one recognizes their own. The unusual eye color, the tint and almost fur like style of the hair, the sharp teach, the slight increase in speed and flexibility, the fighting style...

God he looked like her. 

The mission comes first though.

"If we time our attacks with Voltron's we might just have a chance." He said pulling up information on Zarkon.

"You have spies in Zarkon's ranks?" Hunk asked in disbelief. How have they not noticed before.

"How do you think you got away from Zarkon in that last fight? Do you think it was just luck that his shields just went down when you needed to escape? That they broke on their own? We've been helping you from the shadows at every turn. We have people risking their lives in this war in all sections of the Galran empire, in all levels of command from the very top to the very bottom." Ulaz said meticulously to let them know truly how much reach the Blade has.

Pidge asked about her family, and Ulaz was quick to offer her any information he had, and Keith really was happy Pidge had asked and would go to the ends of the universe to make sure she would find them, but first something was bugging him.

"What's that weapon you carry?" He asked quietly, to anyone's ear it would sound disinterested, but to those who were paying attention, they knew this tone of voice. They knew Keith had a lot riding on this question.

Good thing Lance was back on the ship with Allura.

Ulaz froze at the question, before turning to face the kit. Could he truly not know? It would make sense, seeing as he was most likely raised on Earth. Ulaz just thought that maybe he was sent on a mission, that the Blade had brought a spy, a player into team Voltron, it would make sense, but he sees that's not what happened.

He truly doesn't know.

Oh what could his idiot daughter have done now?

"It's a ceremonial Blade, that each member of our order carries." He said holding it out to the kit offering it to him, as if asking for him just to reach out and take it, accept it, to watch it change so he could explain, but Keith did nothing. 

He memorized the symbol and just said "Nice."

And that's when the alarm went off. 

"Oh no. How did they find us?" He said concern lacing his tone. That was a Galran monster, a robeast from what his spies have been telling him, they needed to get Voltron out of there. 

"You were tracked!"

"If Zarkon knows we're here, it's because you ratted us out!" And no one could mistake that flinch for anything other than a flinch at Keith's words. This was no time to argue, Ulaz needed to get them to safety. 

"We need to get back to the ship." Shiro said, but Ulaz was quick to stop them.

"Wait! These are instructions to the Blade's main ship and to the younger ones family, take them, but do not contact either of them until you find a way to stop the Galra from tracking you or else all of this will be for naught." He said before thrusting the data into his hand. 

Then they were running out of there and to Ulaz's great delight and great saddness, the kit turned back to look at him one final time. There was only one thing Ulaz needed to do now for the hope of the entire Universe to make it out of here alive.

"I knew he tricked us!" Allura yelled out in betrayal and frustration, and Lance was rather frustrated, too. The other's seemed to have a fun time on the Galra ship and he had to deal with Allura's rather loud and rather dreadful opinion on all Galra, trying not to flinch as he looked at the Red Lion on the ship through the bridge windows.

"It wasn't him! It was us, Zarkon's tracking us." Shiro defended and before Allura could say anything else Coran called out.

"Well right now it doesn't matter how the thing got here, all that matters is it's here and we need to destroy it! What should we do!?" 

"Everyone get to their lions, but don't launch, we'll wait to see what this thing can do."

And of course the robot monster was made perfectly for the terrain they were fighting in. It was able to hone the crystals and let out a decisive shot to find the pocket the paladins were hiding in. Couldn't one battle ever be easy?

They needed to attack now and Voltron took the opening they needed to punch at the beast.

Allura watched with poison in her veins and anger in her eyes as the Blade base exposed them to the crystals outside the time fold they were safely locked away in.

"And there goes Ulaz." Coran said disappointed and Allura felt a rage all new.

"I knew we should have never trusted a Galra." And her heart hardened to the idea of ever finding another decent Galra in her life.

Voltron wasn't doing so good, the robeast kept on sucking in more and more ammo and soon they were sucking in Voltron as well, until with Reds assistance, Keith pulled a knife and jammed it into the robeast so they could escape, but the beast kept pulling them back in. 

The castle used their canons to free them, but it only drew attention to them as now the robeast was trying to take in the castle as well.

They needed to do something and do it now.

"Pidge form shield!" Shiro commanded as an idea came to mind. They would use the shield to block the beam and then they used the clusters to explode the beast.

And for a hopeful moment, it looked like it worked.

Why were they ever hopeful.

"The shield can't handle this much power!" And they were being pulled in again.

"Hold on!"

"Ulaz?" Shiro asked in disbelief and Allura felt her blood run cold.

"I'm going to take it down from the inside." He said. 

"No! Let us handle this." Shiro said, or rather begged.

"No! Voltron is too powerful, the Universe needs you." He said simply. 

"You'll die!" And Ulaz felt a small smile light up his face at the kit's voice.

"It is a small price to pay, to save the universe. Stay safe." And he launched into the robeast to the screams of Voltron knowing he did what needed to be done.

"Ulaz opened up the space pocket from inside! It's falling in on itself." Pidge explained as they watched the rather gruesome death of their opponent, and Ulaz.

"He did it."

"Ulaz saved us."

"He's gone." Shiro said in disbelief and disapointment. A good man died in this fight in front of him, he will never forget that. 

Allura refused to believe it 

"I'm sorry we doubted Ulaz, Shiro. He saved all our lives." Keith said when he found Shiro in one of the many castle observation decks.

"I still have so many questions." Shiro said, and Keith almost snorted out a me too, but barely held it in. After a moments pause Keith asked the question he really wanted to know the answer to.

"Do you think Zarkon is really tracking us?"

"We can not know for sure." And then Allura was in the room with them, and Keith felt quickly on edge. "Only Ulaz knew about our whereabouts."

"You can't really believe Ulaz gave us up, he died out there to save us." Shiro said bitterly as he turned to face her, just to see his own bitter expression on her face. 

"Yeah, maybe Zarkon found out about this place on his own." Keith defended Ulaz viciously. No man dies for nothing. Keith knew that, he had watched heroes his whole life, Shiro, his father... He knew what running into your death to save someone else looks like. He has it burned physically and mentally into his mind. "Zarkon's probably found out about the Blade of Marmora."

"It seems Ulaz's death has caused you great concern." Allura brushed off their complaints quickly and emotionlessly. "But regardless about how Zarkon located us, we cannot stay here, it is not safe." She said simply.

"We should find the rest of Ulaz's group, finish what we started." Keith defended.

"No, we can't risk finding them now. We must first find out how Zarkon found us and figure out a way to stop it, only then will we look for the Blade. I will not risk the lives of our only known allies in this war until I know for a fact we won't be followed." Shiro said sternly. "Ulaz's death will not be in vain."

And then Shiro stalked out of the deck, Allura quick on his heels and Keith...

Keith reached for the knife in his holster, he needed to see something.

Unwrapping the bandages his father put on his mother's knife felt... wrong. They have always been there ever since Keith had gotten it. His father told him never to show this knife to anyone, he told him it was his mother's special knife, that he needed to keep it on him always.

Of course Keith loved his father.

He would usually follow his orders, but the night he died.

He just wanted to be closer to one of them before he was forced away from both of them forever. So he unwrapped the bindings and found the glowing purple symbol and he felt something flicker within him. Not something normal, something deep in his blood he always attributed to finally being connected on a deeper level to his mother. After he memorized every curve of the symbol, he wrapped it once more, somehow knowing that a glowing unearthly symbol like that on any knife wouldn't help him fit in.

And then he'd move from place to place, only really settling down when he met Shiro, but something had changed after he saw the glow of the knife. He was faster, he could comprehend more, could more faster than the other kids, his reflexes worked at a higher level, but he just lost the ability to connect like a normal human.

He blamed it on being an orphan.

Maybe it was something else.

Maybe it was something in his blood.

And he paused before removing the final binding on the blade, not really wanting to see it, but knowing he had to. 

And his memory was true, the symbol on his Blade matched that of the symbol on Ulaz's blade. 

It was a Blade of Marmora.

A blade for rogue Galra.

A blade for the Galra.

It was his mothers. His mother was a part of them, his mother must surely be one of them, or if not his mother, one of her parents or one of their's...

God he was one of them.

He had never felt closer to vomiting in his life.

Chapter Text

"Whoops! Sorry Shiro I was trying to hit Keith!" Lance said, a cocky smile on his face, as if to say he really wasn't sorry. Shiro absolutely couldn't believe it. Here he was trying to be serious and Lance-

"Heh, like that?" Shiro snorted at the look of absolute betrayal on Lance's face.

Hunk snorted because, honestly? Keith's really laying it on so hard, and his best friend's an idiot. Actually he decided everyone on this ship was going to be his best friend so technically the two of them were idiots.

They needed to let off steam though.

"Yes! Squishy astroid fight!" Hunk yelled before he launched one snowball directly at Lance's face. And then the competitions was on.

Every man for themselves, Shiro hadn't had so much fun in a while. Keith needed to attack Lance, and after the first snowball, suddenly Hunk was Lance's shield. 

"I don't think these are asteroids." Pidge said as she took cover behind one of the many panels on the ship. "I'm gonna need a containment unit." 

"I think there's a code in here." She said and Hunk was distracted enough by her words to easily get pummeled by the other three paladins once more. 

"A code from who?" 

"I don't know... it's nearly impossible." Pidge said rather simply.

"Well if anyone could figure it out Pidge, I'm sure you could." Shiro said reassuringly, but his distraction was his weakness, and suddenly another snowball-esque projectile was being launched at his head.

"Well either way, you should all come in for decontamination." They heard Allura say, and thus their game came to an end. 

Keith really needed to figure out exactly how this knife came to be on earth, how this knife came to be in his mother's care, and stealth really wasn't his best quality, but he needed to figure out a way to talk about it.

So maybe going the 'How did the Blue Lion get on Earth?' route would be best.

"Wait Coran!" Keith said running after the man after a split second of hesitation. "Do you think the Galra ever went to Earth? Like do you think at some point they could have taken it over?" 

"Oh! I think you'd know if the Galra were there." Coran said with a raised eyebrow and a tone that said why are you asking such dumb questions.

"The Blue Lion was there, did a galra pilot the Blue Lion?" He asked. Maybe his mom was like a super good guy and was a descendent of a Paladin, maybe that's why Keith could find it when there was no connection between him and Blue.

Of course that's when Lance opened his door which they were oh so conveniently standing next to.

"Hey, why are you asking about my lion?" Lance asked defensively. Blue was his, why did Keith need to get his grubby little fingerless gloved hands all over it?

"What? No, I was just-"

"Don't 'I was just' me! You've had your eyes on the Blue Lion since day one!" Lance said defensively.

He missed the first part of the conversation seeing as how he just finished applying his face mask or else this conversation might be going in a whole other direction. 

"Well yeah it's the first one we found." Keith tried to defend just to be cut off by Lance.

"Enough, the Blue Lion's with me and we're very happy together, very happy." Yeah Lance showed him up. Keith shouldn't be going after his lion, especially one whose seat still needed a good getting used to. Lance really didn't like the fact that Keith had to go about asking about his lion when he wasn't even feeling all too good about it in the first place.

"Guys check this out!" Pidge yelled over the intercom and all talk about the Blue lion and the Galra vanished from their minds as they went to see what Pidge had discovered. 

"I was able to crack the code! I had to make a few tweeks to my original theory because-" And Pidge went into a rant about the theory behind cracking codes, and her own beliefs on how great one scientist was and Keith loved Pidge, really and truthfully, but his knife was under his pillow, unwrapped and the door was open to his room on a ship full of curious people who really didn't care all to much for privacy.

"Pidge, what does the code say?"

"Oh right! It says 'Under Attack, Galra, Help' And then there are coordinates." She said.

"It's a distress signal." Shiro said what they were all thinking. "Good work, let's get those coordinates into the castles navigation system."

"Why doesn't anyone send a distress signal from a cool place? I hate the outdoors, all I get is sunburn and poison ivy and mud and-"

"Come on Pidge, the outdoors isn't that bad. It's peaceful really, nice and quiet."

"Says the man who lived in a shack for a year in complete isolation." Lance teased and Keith huffed in disbelief, but before he could make any comment back, he noticed arrows flying at the lions. 

He was going to say something when he felt the foreign invader on Red. 

"Guys are we being attacked?" He asked, and then he felt Red go down, and everyone was saying the same. 

Red, girl, are you-

Relax, paladin. I would not do anything I do not please to do. If this was not where I wanted to be, no chains could drag me there.

And despite the venom in her tone, Keith felt a sense of relief wash over him, especially when he saw the aliens on the ground surface were the ones to send the distress signal. 

"We found your distress signal!" 

And then they got the complete tour of the woods in which the Olkairi lived and Pidge was awe struck.

Okay so maybe the outdoors didn't suck if it looks like this technological phenomenon that they created. This was like a playground to her, hell this was her playground. She loved it. She couldn't help though, but think of Matt and her Parents as she learned as much as she could about the technology here. They would love it.

"Listen, you two can talk science all you want later, but right now we need to form Voltron to get rid of these invaders." Shiro said, distracting Pidge's and the leaders heated discussion of nature vs technology.

"It's not that simple I'm afraid, the Galra have our leader Lubos." And by the way everyone quietly mumbled his name, almost like a prayer, he was clearly well loved.

Hunk was a little put off by it all, if he was being honest.

"Well then we'll just have to rescue him." And the relief on her face was truly grateful.

"Um Rhyner, where are we?" Keith asked as he looked into the forest before them, all he could see were, well, flowers.

"This is the armory." She said simply and honestly Keith was confused. That is until he witnessed the Olkairi creating guns and mega suits from the flowers and the nuts in the trees. 

"Can I get one of those?" Keith asked absolutely ecstatic about having something new to drive. He felt Red huff in the back of his mind and apologized quickly. 

"You can each have one. Now you operate it each by understanding how the nano-cellulose responds to electrical impulses from the neural pass ways connected through this." She said handing them each a headband. 

Yeah, Keith might stick with Red.

"That's your interface!" Pidge said easily. 

"Of course every command needs to be sent through binary coded messages." Rhyner said to Pidge as she walked to her own tree. It seemed simple enough to her. She could do this.

"Excellent!" Rhyner said when Pidge was the only one to succeed. "You must have a deep connection with nature." And Pidge snorted in disbelief.

"No, my pale skin and allergies really make it difficult for me to be outside too long." Pidge said.

"Pidge is our resident tech expert." Shiro explained with ease and Rhyner made a motion that could only be taken as, 'Oh, duh'.

"Well that explains it."

Looks like Pidge was gonna have to give them a ride.

Now after they had checked out the area it was time to form a plan. Pidge would be the drop ship due to the Green Lion's stealth mode. She would drop Shiro, Lance, Hunk and Keith onto the roof before moving back to a safe location. 

After the drop they would scan the building for any Olkairi sensor rhythms, the data would then be sent to Pidge so she could locate the King. 

From there she would send a map detailing the best route for Shiro, Hunk, Lance and Keith to take so they could get to the King with the least amount of trouble. 

From there they would take the King back up to the roof using-

Wait a moment. The King was no slave.

Shiro was disappointed and disheartened to watch the King living in luxury, an Olkari slave waiting on his every whim. 

"Um... King Lubos?" Shiro asked and the King turned around and mistook them for the jesters he ordered. Keith felt a rage blossom in him.

"We're here to rescue you?" Lance said in disbelief. The King was then quick to alert the Galra of their arrival and Keith's blood went red hot. 

"You turned your back on your people to save your own skin." Shiro accused.

"I'm doing this for my people!" The king tried to defend. "They want to fight the Galra, but the Galra are too powerful. They could destroy us!" 

"So you helped to enslave your people to make a super weapon!" Lance accused, gun inching closer and closer to be pointed at the false King.

"Don't make me the bad guy! He forced me to do it!" The King accused pointing towards the Galra general and Lance snorted in disbelief.

"And what? Did he force feed you too?!" He asked in an outrage and Keith had never felt so sexually attracted to Lance in his life.

"You're no King." Keith said and he made eye contact with the enslaved Olkairi behind Lubos, and with a slight push, the cruel man was in Keith's grasp, bayard at his throat ready for the kill.

He could literally feel everyone's gazes on him, he didn't need to turn around to know that the others were shocked and rather disapproving.

"We're getting out of here, if anybody moves the King gets it!" 

"Keith!" Shiro hissed in warning.

"Well that came out of no where." And Keith was absolutely delighted to hear approval in Lance's voice.

"What are you doing!" Lubos asked the Olkairi that pushed him to Keith.

"You betrayed our people. I can't live this lie anymore." He said venomously.

"You don't want us to hurt your genius engineer do you?" Keith asked threateningly as he adjusted his bayard.   

"Go ahead! We don't need him anymore, the cube is complete." The Galra general said easily and Keith felt Lubos tense in disbelief.

"But how! I thought we had a deal!" 

"Guards, put them all out of their misery." And Pidge, in Lance's opinion, had started spending too much time with Keith because her entrance was Dramatic and Perfectly Timed.

"Your rides here!" Okay so maybe Pidge was spending a little bit of time with him as well. 

They are able to escape the firing squad with the disgraced Lubos and the slave, but they weren't out of the clear yet, the Galra had engaged the Cube the Olkari were working on, they needed to get back to the lions, stat.

"I know you're devistated, but it's time to be strong..."

"Lubos how could you?!"

"I was only trying to-"

"Enough!" Rhyner yelled out at her disgraced King, if she had anything to say about it he would remain on the floor where he already stood. 

"It's time we fight for our people!"

"Did it just absorb our firepower and launch it back at us?!" Pidge yelled in disbelief.

"We need more fire power!" Shiro said.

"Shiro, I don't think that'll work!" Pidge tried to explain, but Shiro cut her off quickly, how much could a dumb toy cube take anyway?

"We need more firepower, Hunk!" He instructed.

"Shiro don't!"

"You got it!" Hunk said ignoring Pidge's plea. 

And as they fired their guns at the cube, the cube shot back with exactly the same power.

"It's echoing our power, giving back what we give it, just like Coran's cube!" Shiro said.

"I know that's what I've been trying to tell you!" Pidge yelled out in annoyance and Shiro flinched because she was right. Being a leader, you gotta keep your eyes and ears open.

"Guys it's learning, making weapons to mimic ours and to advance on it!" Pidge explained.

"Well we can't just sit here!" Lance brought their attention back to the fight just to witness another powerful wave of fire power coming at them. 

They were just barely knicked by it and were now on the defense.

"How do we defeat it?" Hunk asked.

"Maybe we can form sword and cut through it taking out it's main systems?" Lance suggested in hopes that it just might work, looking for Pidge's shut down.

"Can't be any worse than what's happening now." Keith supplied somehow applauding Lance's idea as he was putting it down. 

But hey, they were going with Lance's idea.

Too bad Lance's idea was stupid, since cutting it in half just kept on making more. 

So yeah, no more cutting the cubes. 

"We can't fight them like this, back into lions!" Shiro said and they were quick to disband.

"Maybe we can freeze these guys?" Lance suggested as he fired his ice ray at the boxes, just to get shot at back. God it was so, so cold. 

Until it was hot again and Lance looked to the side to see Keith there, Red's jaw closing after it must have fired hot Lava to melt the ice off of him.

"Thank you, Keith." Lance said gratefully, because he never really expected Keith to notice his distress seconds after it started, and for him to fix it almost immediately. It was truly kind.

"I've got your back." Keith said with ease before the two of them launched into battle once more. 

There didn't seem to be a way to stop them, and Pidge was down. They needed to find a way to defeat them and fast.

They couldn't get to Pidge though, not yet, they were too distracted by the cubes.

"That doesn't matter now Green Paladin, we need to get your Lion back up and running, we can heal your lions body, but you need to heal it's spirit. Bond with it." Pidge heard Rhyner tell her and she groaned in disbelief. Was the answer really to always bond with her lion?

"But I thought we bonded already?"

"Your bond must be stronger." Rhyner said factually.

And Pidge knew it to be true. Come on Pidge, we are all made of the same esscence, nature, technology, Pidge, the Olkairi and her Lion.

They are one in the same.

She blocked out the screams of her friends and felt every make up in her body connect with every fiber of the Green lion. She searched and searched until there was no difference between her and the lion, they were one. Together they held one mind in this moment, Pidge felt it all in her soul.

She woke up with the lion's presence so loud in her mind it felt as if it was always there.

You've learned haven't you.

Of course she did, she was the smartest of the paladins, she would keep learning until there was nothing left to learn, then she would learn more.

Good, for I have much to teach.

And the lion roared. She was alive and she was good to fight. To win.

"Guys hold on!" Pidge yelled out as she let Green go. She heard her friend's cheers but it was background in this fight. She was flying like never before, she was flying like Keith and Red, fast and uninhibited, as if Green knew where to go before Pidge could even think of it. 

"I don't know what's going on, but Green and I have never felt more connected!" Pidge cheered. "I know what I have to do." And using her bayard, Pidge guided her lion to create it's own specialized weapon to fire at the cubes.

Technology and nature are one.

She just needed to switch a few things and then-

The cubes were out of commission, they were growing plants from the seeds Pidge had fired into them.

She had saved the day thanks to science and nature.

"Plants, huh? Well that's not the way I thought this would all go down." Hunk said in disbelief, and Pidge felt the super presence of her lion leave her back down to a normal level, or something just above normal.

You will grow weak if we stay like this too long. We will forget ourselves if we are always one like this.

And Pidge felt herself nodding along as a deep exhaustion took hold of her. A lot of her energy was drained now that the battle was won and she could really just use a nap.

She was glad she was able to witness the Olkairi retake the city though.

Keith stood next to Pidge and with a quick nudge she fell against his side using him as support. 

Pidge was confused by Keith, he was an absolute idiot most of the time, he didn't notice anything ever, he could barely notice the mood of a room and he didn't know when to hold his tongue, but somehow they have gotten to the point where just by the shuffle of her feet, he would know she needed a place to lean on.

Hunk had a sixth sense for her eating habits, Lance for her gender and body habits/issues, Shiro was there somehow whenever he knew she missed her family and Keith...

Looked like Keith was on sleep duty.

"I'm just glad to know Voltron can count on the Olkairi for help." Pidge heard Shiro say as he stuck out his hand to Rhyner, the new Olkairi leader. She happily accepted it.

"Now and forever." Then she turned to Pidge, and Pidge found herself straitening away from Keith. "And you, the Spirit of the Olkairi resides in you. The bond between you and your lion has grown stronger than ever."

"Without you I would never have been able to unlock my lion's hidden power. So thank you."

"We're all made up of the same cosmic dust." Pidge said it so easily it struck a chord with Keith. Pidge now knew it to be true, after nearly sharing her brain with her lion all day, it was truly something she would not forget, but for Keith this was something he needed to hear. Pidge would never truly know what this moment meant to him.

"So we're all related." Keith said in disbelief. As if all his problems were solved. "This ship, those stars, the Olkairi... even the Galra." 

Lance felt his blood run cold. So Keith had finally figured it out, huh? Should he go and talk with him? Tell him he knows? That it's safe? That he has an ally on this ship? Because Keith can be annoying, he's so darn good at everything it's ridiculous, but Lance knows that Keith is good. He could never be evil like the Galra in the empire. There was not an evil bone in his body. Keith was, well Keith is truly-

"Uh oh, I think Keith just blew his own mind." Hunk teased as if to lighten the tension of the room and to bring Keith into a good laugh, to bond with the team and while it would have been appreciated at any other time, Lance saw Keith's flinch and he flinched too. 

This was Keith's moment to realize he was okay, and unknowingly Hunk was making a joke out of it.

Lance only let himself laugh when he noticed Keith's small, not really there smile, but still a smile return to his face.

Of course it all had to go to shit once they realized the galra were jumping to their location. They only had a split second of warning before they were surrounded.

"Oh no."

Chapter Text

"We need to wormhole now, we need to put some distance between us and Zarkon now." Shiro yelled out.

They needed distance.

"Keith, Lance, lay down some covering fire!" Shiro commanded as they tried to evade the shots being fired at them, but it wasn't enough. Hopefully Keith and Lance could figure out a way to fight next to each other with ease instead of trying to needlessly one up each other.

"Hey!"

"Sorry! You just gotta be faster." 

And Shiro could hear the slamming of metal against metal outside.

"How's that for faster!" 

"Knock it off you two! Stay in your zones!" Shiro hissed out in annoyance because why couldn't they put their dysfunctional flirting aside for two minutes to save their skin.

"Keep yelling out where the fighters are Pidge." Keith said completely ignoring Lance's gasp of disbelief. 

"Hunk how's the barrier holding up?" 

"I don't know, God I'm so tired, I can't see anything it's all a blur." Hunk groaned out.

"I know we've just come back from a long mission, but guys we need to keep focused until we've put enough distance between the two of us to allow us to wormhole to safety, got it?" Shiro yelled out, just as tired as the rest of them.

"And when is that?" Keith yelled out, only sparing a moments glance to Pidge to make sure she was doing fine.

"Close we need to gain more speed!"

And Allura, the evil genius knew exactly what to do as she used a moons gravity to give them the much needed speed for them to wormhole.

But of course their troubles never truly end. Something's wrong with the ships teledov, it was going to force them out of the wormhole a lot sooner than they wanted. 

"What's... what's our status." Allura asked and Coran answered quickly before the sound of her collapsing stopped everything.

"Allura!" The paladins cried out as they ran to her aid. 

"Oh my you look exhausted, go rest, you've been exerting way too much energy." Coran said before getting up. "I'll go check on the main turbine before we- ah!" And suddenly Coran was sliding across the floor, off the bridge into the wall.

"Coran are you alright?" Lance asked as he looked at the trail of, well, slim Coran left behind.

"Oh! I'm fine, I, huh, probably hit a slippery part on the ground there... Someone! Please wipe that up there!" Coran said pointing to the floor that literally surrounded him. The paladins confusion was broken by Allura's laughter. 

"Coran it looks like you've got a case of the slipperies."  She said with an easy going smile.

"What! No way! That's an old person sickness!" He said as more sweat slid off of him. "And you know, I'm not old, I'm young!"

"What are the slipperies?" Lance asked the question everyone was wondering.

"It's a common Altean illness that tends to effect us... later in life." She said around a laugh. "It's not harmful, and it only lasts a couple of days, but it causes the persons body to excrete very slippery fluids." And ever single paladin bounced back from Coran, as if that would prevent them from getting an Altean disease.

Could they even get this disease? They were young for earth years, and altean years, were they even biologically similar enough to obtain this disease even if they were old enough to be effective?

Pidge really wanted to think of these things, but her stomach wasn't settling right, her exhaustion mixed with the terrible smell Coran was producing resulted in her wanting to vomit and Hunk was right there rubbing her back as she did so.

And then Coran was slipping out of the Bridge and down to where he needed to fix the ship.

"Well, now that we know Zarkon's no longer trailing us, we should locate the Blade of Marmora-" And Shiro paused when he saw Keith huff in annoyance. This was one of the first signs Shiro had seen of Keith not wanting to follow his orders since he stole his car all those years ago.ui az

But for Keith to be so openly against going, and now? It didn't make sense.

"Are you even sure it would be safe to go?" Keith asked and Shiro recoiled a little at Keith's prejudice. Wasn't he the one saying that they were all made up of the same matter last night?

"Pidge, coordinates."  Shiro said.

"Hold on, god I'm so tired, just give me a sec..." Pidge said as she uneasily got to her chair, Hunk by her side.

"Yeah, Shiro come on we need to sleep." Lance said. he did appreciate Shiro's go get'em attitude, but he was tired, they all were. 

"Shiro, we should rest while we can-" Keith began to say, looking Pidge over when they were interrupted by Coran down in the engine room. 

"Found out our problem! The teledov, or worm holer as you Earthlings call it, is in bad shape. Some of the lens stones that are used to bounce light around are cracked and unusable."  He said as he tried to wipe the sweat from his body, but it only made it worse, everyone was feeling gross just looking at him, Shiro though was doing the best at hiding it.

"I'll need a quintent down here to adjust the trajectory of the beam, revert power sources and to remove the lens so we can travel once more, well at least until we can get more lenses." He said.

"Alright fine, we'll get some rest while Coran fixes the ship. We'll park the craft for the evening and tomorrow we'll be more focused." He said to the rest of the paladins before walking out.

Lance helped Hunk and Allura out while Keith stayed behind and watched Pidge uneasily get up from her chair. When no one else was in the room he walked over to her quickly and picked her up with ease. She resisted for a moment.

"Easy Pidge, just thought I'd give you a lift back." Keith said as she settled more easily onto him.

"Are you kidding?"

"No, I wasn't? Why, is this not okay?" He asked uneasily. God, is this another alien thing? Not knowing how to interact with humans. He was going to put Pidge down, but she just held on tighter.

"Keith, I just fought a battle where my energy merged with a giant sentient lion, helped navigate us to safety away from thousands of alien fighters who all want to kill us and I've just puked. I would very much like a ride back. Yip yip!" Pidge said rather seriously.

"Yip yip?"

"Yeah, take me away." Pidge said resting her head on his shoulder as Keith carried her through the halls to her room in comfortable silence.

That is until Pidge broke it.

"How did you know?" She asked.

"Know what?" 

"You're completely dense to everyone who isn't Shiro, how did you know I needed this?" She asked and Keith scoffed.

"It was pretty obvious you were wrecked today. Everyone could see that." He defended and he felt Pidge shrug next to him.

"But here we are, and the others have left. You were going to defend my need for sleep to Shiro moments ago and you never fight with Shiro over anything." She said.

"Well, you're worth it." He said simply just to get swatted at lazily by Pidge.

"Oh you make me blush." She teased going silent once more before a tired laugh escaped her lips. "So this was the princess treatment Lance got, huh? Don't I feel special." 

"Um, yeah I guess it is." He said confused by her amusement.

"You gonna carry everyone around the castle? Cradle everyone in your arms? Gonna have a bonding moment with everyone on this ship? Is this ours?" Pidge asked teasing Keith. But it just seemed to fly right over his head.

"What an idiot. How could he forget something like that! He was nice to me, I don't get it, why is he so mean to me now? I thought we'd be okay after that, but-" 

"Oh Keith, keith, keith..." Pidge let out a long yawn. "You ignorant quiznack." And then she passed out.

Lance really just wanted to go swimming, it was something he did at home to destress, it was a way for him to clear his thoughts and to let the water take him away. So when he heard the altean ship had a pool, well he forgot about sleeping and immediately put on swim trunks.

He thought he'd get the pool to himself.

So of course Keith would have to enter the elevator with him to go swimming.

Okay, but what idiot wears a towel over his head so it was covering his head and shoulders like hair? It just doesn't look good and it doesn't make sense.

"What the heck do you think you're doing?" Lance asked voice softer than he intended due to lack of sleep.

"Allura said there was a pool, I'm going to check it out, what are you doing?" Keith asked as he stepped into the elevator next to Lance.

"Same thing." Lance said and then there was quiet as the elevator began to move.

"Look, if it makes you feel better we can go to opposite ends of the pool, I'm sure it's very big so we can be as far away from each other as you want. Since you probably don't want me near you." Keith huffed out in annoyance.

Before Lance could say anything to refute or prove that statement the elevator stopped moving and the lights went out. 

Great.

After Pidge's power nap, she went to the kitchen to find Hunk. Should she have slept more? Absolutely! Would she go back to sleep? No, cause there was so much to do.

"Why are you cooking, I thought you'd be tired." Pidge asked hoping onto the counter near Hunk's set up.

"It help relaxes me, why are you awake?" Hunk asked coming back to Pidge.

"I took a power nap, then woke up and realized there was much that was needed to be done on the ship so I couldn't go back to sleep. Asked Coran if he wanted help, but the moment I mentioned the 'slipperies' he got all defensive and kicked me out." Pidge said before picking up the vial Hunk was getting his "ingredients" out of. "By the way, do you even know what you're doing? All the instructions are in altean?"

"Are you trying to tell me these aren't cookies?" Hunk asked before he dramatically went to take a bite, just to instantly regret it. They were rock hard, so maybe these things weren't cookies.

"Where you going? Are you not gonna wait for the next batch?" Hunk asked, watching PIdge's retreating form.

Walking up the elevator walls to freedom Emperor's New Groove style with Keith was not how Lance wanted to spend his off day. 

"It's right, then left, you're off!" Keith pointed out, and Lance knew he was right.

"Right, like I'm off." He would never admit it though. "And you're shoving too hard!" Lance yelled out before shoving into Keith, hard. Keith was quick to retaliate.

"And you're not shoving hard enough!" And Lance immediately regretted every decision in his life that ended up in this moment with Keith's back firmly pressed into his own with a stupid towel covering the back of his head a good 50 ft above the elevator they escaped out of.

"I should be at the pool right now." Lance sighed in defeat.

"Would you stop whining?" Keith asked as he leaned further into Lance's back to take a break, just to see their way out. "Look!"

And Keith knew the exact moment Lance saw the elevator escape shaft too because he felt Lance's laughter reverberate though his body and with a new jolt of energy, the two climbed to their escape.

So why was the pool on the ceiling!

"Stupid altean pool."

Maybe if Pidge learned Altean, she could create better codes and understand this castle better. She thought this would be a good thing, since she couldn't go back to sleep.

Yeah learning a language sounded fun.

So why was the lesson trying to KILL her?

"Klanmurl!" Jesus Christ, screw the alteans.

"What are you doing, you should be resting."

"I cannot sleep, Zarkon is out there. He's searching for us-" And Shiro was quick to grab Allura's hand to stop her from doing more work than she needed to do.

"I know how you feel." Shiro said.

Takashi, rest, sometimes you need to step away for a while from your work. It's okay to breath once in a while. Join me, it's time we go to bed.

"It's okay to rest sometimes Allura, it's okay to step away. It's what's best-" 

But Shiro couldn't finish the sentence because they were under attack again.

"We are several galaxies away! How could they find us so soon!" 

Shiro didn't know what happened in the past four hours for the two of those idiots to be working together so seamlessly, but he was thankful for it, no one was getting a shot in at the retreating castle with those two guarding its back. 

Too bad the defense drones were down now, good news though that they had put enough distance between them and Zarkon that they could wormhole out of there.

But how did they find them in the first place?

When they were in the clear, Keith let out a breath he was holding and leaned forward to rest his head on his hands. 

His towel must have fallen off.

Lance could see purple on his neck, almost in a V shape. So that's what the towel was holding, it could have definitely been a birth mark if it wasn't so purple. He quickly scanned the rest of the ship to see if anyone noticed, but no one did so he let out a relieved breath.

In the mean time though, they would hide in the eye of a space storm. According to Pidge it would prevent the Galra from tracking them as it removed the remote waves from being able to scan for the ship. It was genius.

Except for the fact that the Galra still found them.

How!

I cannot hold him back much longer paladin.

Keith jolted in his seat. What was that? It certainly wasn't Red.

"It's me, it's been me all along. That's how they found us!" Allura said interrupting Keith's thoughts, but that could be right, it had to be Keith. He's sure Red is protecting him somehow, and that's why they've only been able to track them now. It's probably some weird and terrible galra thing.

"We need to form Voltron and escape through the storm!" Shiro commanded.

"How!? We'd die!" 

"It's risky I know, but we need to lure Zarkon away using Voltron so we can give Allura time to get out into open space." Shiro said.

"And then what!" 

"We have to wormhole away, we have to do the impossible, it's our only hope."

"Sir, we can get the Princess now, abandon Voltron and-"

"No, the Black Lion is all that matters." Zarkon said. "With it finally gone nothing can stop me."

"Without the Princess there is no Voltron-" 

"Silence, we abandon her for now." He said. He would rather not have to kill Alfor's daughter, that family's blood already stained his hands too much.

Haggar was unimpressed.

But she did as he said anyways.

"What's going on?!" 

He calls to me, call back.

Keith heard it rattle in his head, it hurt, little did he know Shiro heard it too. Keith though, thought it was his baser instincts. 

It finally clicked for Shiro though, it was the Black Lion. It's original paladin calls for it, and Shiro needed to fight back.

This seat might not truly be his, but he'd damn well make it his own.

"Zarkon's taking control of the Black lion again, fall back, push as hard as you can!" Keith yelled out over Shiro's distress. 

Allura was able to save them this once by attacking the Galra ship. Shiro would not let the Black lion that close to Zarkon again. 

"Disband and get back to the castle, now."

Good thing Hunk somehow made exactly what they needed thinking it was cookies and good thing Pidge took those remedial Altean language classes because she recognized the symbol. 

Now they were about to do the most dangerous thing in their lives, something so absolutely crazy, even Coran thought it rather impossible.

But since they were going to die anyway, at lease this gave them a chance at survival.

So with the lasers fired and with them in position it should have worked.

So why wasn't it! 

They're not reflecting properly, they needed something shiny-

Thank everything in the universe that Coran could use his slipperies for good it seemed.

This might be one of the craziest things they've done in outer space. 

Chapter Text

"There's no point in debating this, Zarkon is clearly tracking us through me." Allura said and Keith wanted to yell bull, because he knew that Zarkon was tracking them through him. 

He tuned out everyone's disagreements to Allura's predicament as he thought of how he would be forced to leave the one place he finally was able to settle down in, the one place he called home. 

How he would be forced to leave his family thanks all to his stupid genes.

Red never fit him well anyways, he's sure she could find a new paladin with ease.

"It's not you princess Allura, it's me." Keith said without thinking.

"Because?" Hunk asked and Keith looked away from the team, how was he supposed to explain this?

He didn't notice Lance's pained expression or Pidge's slightly knowing one. Hunk and the rest of them were confused as ever.

"Well, maybe during our fight, Zarkon imprinted on me or something." Keith lied in hope that it would work. 

It really didn't, so Pidge saved the day.

"Look we don't know how he's doing it. He could be tracking us through the Black lion for all we know. Shiro always has trouble controlling it when Zarkon gets too close." Pidge suggested, but Coran brushed that thought aside. 

"No paladin has ever had issues with control like this, plus Shiro only has a problem when Zarkon is close by, and for the past couple of times he's tracked us through galaxies! Paladin bonds tend to be strong, but not that strong!"

"So what are we going to do?"

"Look it doesn't matter, soon we're going to take the fight to the Galra..." And for once in his life, Keith really did block out Shiro's words. He needed an escape. Well, he needed to find a way to quickly and quietly leave this ship without anyone the wiser, he would need his paladin suit because space, and he would need an altean pod. Maybe he could take some stuff on the ship to sell so he could have money for fuel, or enough to find a job and he would slowly make his way around the universe.

Who was he to think he truly belonged anywhere.

"Are you okay?" Shiro's voice knocked Keith out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Why?"

"You just seem really, well anxious right now and the last time I remember you being like this... well you stole my car." And at that Keith snorted before letting his eyes fall down and to the side once more. 

"I'm fine, just tired, it's been a long day." He said slowly easing his way away from Shiro.

God it was going to suck, having to leave his brother behind. It would suck to leave everyone behind if he was being honest, Pidge was his sister, Hunk was the lovable goofball Keith never had, Coran was an eccentric Uncle and Allura was Allura.

And there was Lance of course, Keith would really miss the eye candy and banter, but Lance surely wouldn't miss him.

"Like you said, I should get some sleep... Good night, Shiro." And with that Keith left Shiro alone on the bridge, and the feeling of cold nothingness crept into Shiro's very soul. Something was not right.

It wouldn't be right until he left. For the safety of everyone.

The nightmare did most of his convincing, it rang too true in his head, so Keith did what he had to do. He packed his few items, leaving his jacket behind, he got into his armor, said goodbye to a silent Red and walked to an altean pod. 

He's sure he'd be able to send back the suit somehow, maybe when he made enough space money he could find a way to ship it back?

He wasn't thinking that far ahead.

He was just thinking about getting to the pod and getting out so everyone could be sa-. 

What was that?

Keith hide behind the pod as he watched Allura walk into the docking bay, and rather loudly attempt to get into a pod. For a space Princess who grew up in the heart of the war, she really wasn't all too good at sneaking around, huh? She could have spotted him three times now, he wasn't even trying to hide. God he'd need to teach her better techniques for when they ran away together.

Keith really didn't like how that sounded.

"Princess what are you doing here?" 

Well oh Quiznack, Allura didn't think she was being followed.

She saw the floor approaching then felt steady arms catch her, and wow isn't this romantic, truly. She's heavy, she knows she is, they tested it a while ago, and Alteans were built heavier than humans, so she was rather shocked that Keith held her so easily. She was going to make a comment on it, when their situation suddenly dawned on her.

How could she forget how uninterested Keith was in her. How could she possibly forget she was just trying to run away from her own castle. 

So she hoped quickly out of his arms and went on the defensive. That was until she noticed his packed bag, then went on the offensive.

"I have to know if Zarkon is tracking me, this is the only way I can know for sure, don't try to stop me." Keith said and Allura didn't understand why Keith thought Zarkon was tracking him, but she couldn't say no.

"I'm not trying to stop you, I'm coming with you."

"It appears one of the pods launched in the middle of the night." Coran said and Lance's mind was working a mile a minute.

"Wait... Keith and Allura?" Lance knew there was a high chance Zarkon was tracking Keith, like the Galra blood's gotta have an influence over him, if not in his fighting capabilities, then maybe Zarkon could track him through his blood, and with Allura there. She would be in trouble. They both would be in trouble. What were they possibly thinking? Away from the castle without lions, without anything but themselves? They might fall in love on the run and that didn't sit well with Lance. They'd be gone forever, they'd raise their half-altean, quarter-human, whatever Galra children together! Lance didn't want that! "In the middle of the night? You don't think they're sitting in a tree?" 

Shiro could only think one possible thought. Those fucking idiots.

"Contact that pod." Shiro said tiredly.

"Yes! Contact that pod!" 

"So really, Rolo's what got you?" 

"I'm a simply guy. You're the one who had a crush on me for a hot second."

"Well I got over it quickly. You don't know anything about Shiro though, do you?"

And Keith let out a snort of disbelief.

"Princess, you have the worst luck."

"Listen, no Princess stuff out here, okay? Second of all, what do you mean I have the worst luck?"

"Well-"

"Princess! Keith! Where are you!" Coran's voice was heard over the comms.

"Exactly where we should be." Allura said, as she felt the joking manner she worked so hard to cultivate in that ship go down in flames. "Far away from the castle."

"What?" Shiro asked in disbelief. "Why?" And Allura really doesn't like tense silences, so she made a move to elbow Keith and wiggle her eyebrows in a way she knew Lance did and it was enough to draw a smile out of Keith.

"Shiro, we need to know we're not the one's Zarkon is tracking. We did this for your safety."

When the other paladins began to disagree with her assessment, Allura cut them off quickly. "Listen, if Zarkon finds you without me there, then we'll know for certain that Zarkon is not tracking me!" Allura pleaded with them. She needed them to see her point so she wouldn't feel more guilt the farther away she went from the castle.

"Splitting up the group makes us far more vulnerable, come back to the castle." Shiro said, with no room for argument and Allura found herself rolling her eyes. She was a Princess, there was no one with enough power to command her. 

"I can't do that Shiro, I'm sorry." Then Keith talked.

"If Zarkon finds us, I can pilot us to safety. Right now we're in open space with plenty of places to maneuver. We've got enough fuel to last us years, we'll be fine." Keith said and though Allura and Keith could not see it, they could practically feel Shiro rolling his eyes so hard it causes a physical reaction.

"We need both of you back here now! It doesn't even make sense! Keith why are you even out there! Listen we-" And the castle was struck from behind.

Keith and Allura heard the crash on the other side and were just able to hear Coran say it was debris before they were disconnected.

"Do you think they'll be okay?" Allura asked after a moments silence.

"Without us there, they'll be fine. Plus the best pilots I know are all on that ship, they'd be able to navigate that hulk of a ship through anything, no offense." Keith added at the end remembering that 'hulk of a ship' was Allura's castle.

She let out a small laugh and then gave Keith a look before saying, "The best pilots you know, huh? I'm sure Lance would like to hear that!"

"I never thought I'd have to say this, but I will pull this pod over and you can get out." Keith said rather stone faced.

And Allura let out a joyful laugh before going serious. Shiro brought up a question she had been meaning to ask him.

"Keith... why do you think Zarkon is tracking us through you?" She asked and watched as his hands stiffened on the steering consul. 

"If I told you, you wouldn't tolerate me anymore." 

"Keith-"

"You're the unluckiest woman ever because Shiro's engaged."

"Wait, WHAT!"

"Please you must help us get everyone off the planet before it collapses on itself." Shit out of all the times they needed all the lions here to take up as many people as possible, of course Red was indisposed and the Castle couldn't land without Allura.

Fucking fantastic.

And of course the planet was going to completely collapse any second.

At least they knew Pidge's "Galra most likely occupying this planet" technology was working.

The Galra had stranded these poor people on their planet as it shed it's skin, they just wanted to leave for a safer colony until they could wait out the shedding process. Man the Galra sucked.

"Wait I count only four of you... where is the fifth lion? Are you not Voltron?"  The leader of the planet asked when he noticed only four lions were there.

"We are, it's just..." Lance began to say, but he didn't know how to finish that without alerting the people of the planet.

"He's not here, but we can still help. Pidge, Hunk, check out the Ark see what you can do."

But of course the Ark decided then was the right time to collapse.

"We've been here for hours, and no sign of Zarkon." Keith said, rather confused as he checked the navigation system once more when the conversation died down.

"Well at least I don't have to wait here alone." Allura said as she put her hand on Keith's shoulder, a small smile on her face before it collapsed again. "You understand, I could never live with myself if I knew Zarkon was finding us through me. We face such a dire threat from the Galra."

And Keith thought he'd give it a shot. Allura had been kind to him since he met her, they formed a deep friendship through surviving everything together, and this trip was only cementing their connection further. Hell he already told her one big secret today, maybe she could be the first person he came out to with the second. Maybe her friendship with him would out weigh her hatred of the Galra?

"Well sure they're bad, no doubt about that, but, at the same time, couldn't at least a few of them be fighting for good. I mean, look at Ulaz! He said there's a whole army out there of Galra fighting for what's right. He sacrificed himself to save us!" Keith argued when he began to see Allura close off. No, no, no, no, no he can't have this happening again. Every foster home closing him off, every friend he told, not this as well. This secret coming out was not supposed to separate him from his family even more.

"For all we know, his sacrifice was a ploy." And it took everything for Keith not to flinch. God he wanted Allura to trust him, he wanted it so badly, but it just looked like it wasn't going to happen. "One life means nothing to Zarkon."

"It means something to me!" Keith yelled out then immediately regretted it based on Allura's confused face. "I-I just..."

"Keith-"

"It just means some of them are willing to help, that some of them, out there, are willing to fight along side us, along side the 'good guys'. We can use all the help we can get." He said looking away, trying not to convey too much, but wanting to convey it all.

"Any offer of help from the Galra is merely a means to a trap. I know all too well how quickly they turn." She said turning to Keith.

"It just seems wrong to lump a whole people together. You know they do that on Earth with people like me and Shiro too! And they just give us one look, and we're the bad guys. We haven't done anything, but-"

"Exactly." Allura cut him off. "You and Shiro have not done anything wrong, you did not chose to like who you like, the Galra though chose to be tyrants. They chose to take over the whole universe."

"We can't help being born, Princess!" Keith yelled out before he realized his mistake. This was it, time to launch himself out of the pod.

"But being born loving someone, is not the same as being born for tyranny. If there are any good Galra they have had 10,000 years to try and defeat Zarkon, and I cannot see their influence anywhere. I would not trust a Galra, not if my life depended on it. Can we just... not talk about this?" She asked and Keith couldn't believe his luck. He took the opening easily and asked Allura about Altea. That would get her mind off his slip up.

Back into the closet he goes.

"How do we stop a planet from collapsing!" 

"By sewing it together!" Hunk cheered out, as the memory of knitting blankets with his grandmother filled his head. "The Green Lion has that new plant power right? With it we can probably use the plants as thread to sew the surfaces of the planet together. It won't hold long, but it would give us the time we need!" Hunk said, picturing it in his head already working.

"The stitches would break too quickly." Shiro said.

"Not if they're frozen!" Pidge chimed in and yeah, this plan could work.

"Alright paladins, you know what to do." 

"So what happens if Zarkon does come after us?" Keith asked.

"You can pilot us to safety." Allura said with a wave of her hand. "I have full confidence in your flying capabilities. You did get the Blue Lion back." She teased, which was enough to make Keith soften up, just a little, before moving forward.

"Sure, but after that. Could we even go back to the group?" He asked as his panic began to set in again. God he couldn't leave Shiro again. Not for good. "And if we don't who would pilot the castle, who would create wormholes and particle barriers?"

"Well what about you? Without you the team won't be able to form Voltron." Allura pointed out snippily. She didn't need other people seeing the fault in her plans. 

"They wouldn't need me, they have Lance. If anything you would need a new Blue Paladin." He said and Allura was stunned.

"Excuse me?"

"Anyone can see it, Lance grounds people, he's the next best pilot too, it would only make sense for him to be Voltron's right hand, but he can't pilot two lions, so you'd need to find a Blue paladin." 

"Keith, do you really believe yourself to be that replaceable?" Allura asked and when she got no steady answer, something cold shot down her spine as she realized that yes, he did think himself replaceable. "Keith, no one can do what you do-"

"And no one in the whole Universe can do what you do." He said. 

"Even if you run, we wouldn't accept it, you must know that no matter what we won't give up on you. Plus it's more likely the Galra are after me anyways so you won't need to worry. Well, if you tell me why you're running too maybe I can-"

"Can't Princess. I'm sorry, but I just can't."

"Back to Princess now, huh?"

"I'm sorry."

Lance hated to say this, he really, really did, but when the Galra showed up where they were and not where Keith and Allura were he felt something deep within his soul settle. So that means that they are not the reason for the Galra following them.

So what is?

"Keith, Allura, are you there!" Coran yelled out, finally the communications were working again.

"Yes, we're here! What's going on?" 

"Zarkon is definitely not tracking us through either of you!" And God that just sounded too good to be true.

"How do you know?" Allura asked.

"Because he's attacking us!" Coran yelled out, as an explosion was heard in the distance. "We need you now!"

That's all they needed to hear. It was time to go fast, so Keith set up the pod, ready to test out Pidge's new speed modifications.

"Alrighty Pidge, don't fail me now." Keith said as he tapped the symbol for the booster fuel to work.

So why did Pidge have to fail him now?

They were launched into space. Keith was quick to fix himself and to use the boosters on his own suit to launch himself towards Allura, he'd never forgive himself if he lost her out in space. 

"Allura! Grab my hand!" And when he felt her steady grip in his own, he pulled her close to him before using his boosters in his suit to right them and soon they were floating.

"Princess, are you okay?" He asked once they'd settled.

"I believe so, is your radio still working?" 

"Let's find out." It wasn't. They were screwed.

"This was a terrible mistake, Shiro was right we never should have left them." Allura said in despair as she realized just how far away from the rest of the Paladins they were.

Keith never really knew how to comfort people, he should probably start learning now. "We'll make it Princess, I know we will."

My paladin is a fool, he spends too much time with you Red.

He's learning, let him live.

Coran showed up just in time, looks like dramatic entrances run in the Voltron family.

"Excellent timing Coran, Hunk what's your status!" Shiro asked.

"You know, trying not to fall into an acid pit!" Hunk yelled out in annoyance before looking around his lion helplessly. "Come on girl, I could really use some help."

We ground things, so what should we do Paladin?

"I don't know? Ground them?"

Exactly. Use the ground. Dig.

And then the Yellow Lion showed Hunk exactly what to do.

Coran remembered Alfor, he remembered his bravery well. So when the chance presented itself to try and pilot Red, to help save Voltron, well he went and took it by the hands. 

So why the Quiznack was the Red Lion not there?

Paladin. You fool, you absolute fool. You idiot. How could you run away without me?

Keith looked up. That was absolutely odd. He thought he heard Red, but that wouldn't make sense, they were Galaxies away.

Turn around you dumb lug, of course you can hear me. 

And Keith turned around and saw it, the Red lion approaching them, flying faster then ever before, her jaw opened wide. 

"Thanks, Red."

Come, they need help, my partner needs help.

"Partner?" 

"Keith, quick!" Allura cheered as she ran towards the cockpit. 

Looks like they were back in business.

Good thing Red was fast, they made it just in time to cut off the ion canon fired at the rest of the team with Red's jaw blade. They could hear the cheers coming through the coms.  

"Good to have you back Keith."

"Good to be back." Keith said with ease.

"Is the Princess with you?" Lance asked next, and it was a valid question really, but it's the fact that Lance asked it that had Allura rolling her eyes. Really she wasn't interested, and even if she was. Well...

"Yes." Keith replied quickly.

"Like with you, with you? Or just with you?" And Allura could not hide her snort of disbelief at Keith's put out face, and honestly after spending so much time with him she felt the disgust as well.

"As if!" 

"Really Princess, am I not worthy?" Keith asked and the rest of the paladins could hear Allura shove him over the coms. 

"Don't be gross."

And really that only made Lance think the answer was yes, so did Pidge, but really Shiro knew that was probably the farthest thing from the truth possible. He was going to say something when Hunk intervened.

"Keith, really great to have you back buddy, but I could use some help!" 

"On my way, buddy." Keith said and everyone could hear the smile in his voice.

And then they were forming Voltron. 

Paladins, do it.

For the four of them to have felt something this strong, they were getting closer to forming a true bond of Voltron.

But there was a disconnect. Zarkon could feel it even a thousand galaxies away. What could it be.

Of course the power of four paladins formed a Super Sword, of course.

Now they just needed to power lift the people they were trying to save off their planet into the atmosphere.

"I'm so sorry for leaving."

"Me, too." Keith added standing to Allura's side in solidarity. "We thought what we were doing was the right thing."

"But you were right, Shiro, we should have known staying together is what makes us stronger." Allura added on.

"Well, at least now we know Zarkon isn't tracking us through either of you." Lance added to try and ease the tension.

"Yes, at least we have that, and of course the whole trip was truly a bonding experience. Wouldn't you say?"  She asked, turning to look to Keith who just huffed out and looked to the side in disbelief. Lance was confused, but Hunk was first to pick up the pattern.

"Oh! I want a bonding moment with Keith next! I'm calling it here and now!"

"No fair!" Pidge whined and before they could go into a debate, Shiro spoke.

"But the fact that the Red Lion came to help Keith from so far away only proves my point. Zarkon has to be tracking us through the Black Lion."

And when the truth settled into their minds they began to think of what they could possibly do.

Keith was unpacking in his room later that night when there was a polite knock on his door. He opened it, shocked to find Princess Allura waiting on the other side.

"Princess, what are you-"

"I just wanted to say thank you. You were with me the whole time today and you did not show real doubt or fear once, which was something I needed." She said with ease. "I, um, I found some old Altean books and magazines, things with more pictures than words, and I was wondering if you'd like to see them?" She said handing them to Keith. He looked at her confused before bringing his line of sight down to the magazines to see a healthy mix of knife care and 'mens' magazines and he couldn't help from laughing.

"Thank you, Allura, truly."

"Well, this is just me, showing you my solidarity... in men." 

After a brief moment of silence, Keith rolled his eyes before stepping out of his room into the hallway. "Would you like to look at them with me?"

"Yes! Come on, to my room! We have to rate them all! I know..." And Allura grabbed Keith's hand and together they were off.

Lance heard every word and hated it.

Chapter Text

"Listen, now that we know Zarkon is tracking us through the Black Lion, I need to form a stronger bond with, one that opposes Zarkon's bond." Shiro said.

"Are you sure that'll work?" Pidge asked.

"We've never been in this situation before." Alllura added on. "Two paladins, battling for the same lion."

"I know it'll work, I just need to forge a stronger bond, a newer bond. I need to form an understanding with the Black Lion-"

"An understanding-" Allura began to ask, but Shiro cut her off.

"I need to do this. The rest of you will need to find teledov lenses, at least that's what Coran has told me."

Allura had gone through the conversation a thousand times in her head and it still didn't make sense. Now she was stuck on this ship with Shiro, as he formed an understanding with his lion as she tried to figure out exactly what an 'understanding' meant for Voltron.

Of course it didn't help that all the Paladins and Coran got to go to this Space pirate, black market without her. God why did she never get to do the fun stuff, maybe Keith or Lance or one of the Paladins would bring her back something she'd like?

"This is so stupid." She huffed out to no one on the bridge, then she heard the squeaks of her mice. Of course they'd come to her when she was bored and needed their help for entertainment. "Hello! How are you all." And soon they were chattering on and on, they did have a lot of new gossip to go over.

"You and I have some work to do." Shiro said to the Blank Lion. The Black Lion always felt empty when he approached it, he never heard her the way the other's heard their lions it didn't make sense to him, he had gotten the hang of flying the Black Lion, of using it fastest, so why wasn't it working. 

Of course the Black Lion came to life when he entered the cockpit, at least it always did that for him. 

He took a deep breath then went to the controlls.

"Something is off with us, show me how to fix it. I cannot have Zarkon follow us."

My first Paladin was strong, my next one will be even stronger, but he is not ready.

"Are you saying I am a place holder?" Shiro asked.

I am saying your destiny is truly great, but it does not lie here. For now it does, and for now we need to find a way to move forward. Together.

"Together. Work with me, show me what I have to do to put strength in our bond." 

Very well.

And then the Black Lion took off against Shiro's will. 

"Stop! Turn around! That's an order!"

This is what you must Learn. I take orders from no one.

When Coran described the swamp moon, they were expecting piracy, anarchy, they were expecting to get robbed so they willingly put on the "pirate" costumes. But now, as they are actually on the moon, as they actually see it, it looks like a modern day mall and they feel completely out of sorts.

"Everyone spread out, we need to find the teledov lenses. Meet back here by the ticking clock in one varga, alright, let's go." And then Coran, in true Coran fashion, 'sneakily' broke off from the rest of the paladins. 

The rest of them didn't even wait for him to fully turn his back before they were taking off their costumes.

"Look I don't know where you're headed, but you need to listen to me right now!" Shiro yelled out.

Silence, everything has a purpose.

"Why did you bring me here?"

Look through me, and see.

"Alright then, let's go." And then he closed his eyes to see through the Black lion had transported them back in time. The destroyed planet became whole again. Shiro saw the Black lion standing proud, Zarkon near by.

"This was your home."

This was my greatest mistake.

"Keith is this time for our bonding moment?" Hunk teased bumping into Keith's shoulder just before they all broke to go out through the mall. 

"Um, I don't think this would be a good time? We have to find the teledovs for the ship." He said as if it were obvious.

"Oh I see, so you only have bonding moments with pretty girls and boys?" Hunk asked, jokingly in despair.

"No! No, that's not true, you're a pretty boy, plus I thought we already had a bonding moment." Keith said quickly. 

"What, when!" 

"At that ball, you actually talked to me, spent time with me and didn't hate me?" Keith said rather easily.

"Wow, you're easy to please." Lance said from across the room.

"Yet you can't meet my expectations." Keith deadpanned, and Pidge was hollering. She was quick to pull Lance away and then Keith was left alone with Hunk.

"So you think I'm a pretty boy, huh?"

"Please, stop. I beg you." 

"Alright, alright." Hunk said brushing off Keith's embarrassment. "I'm probably not your type anyway. You probably like skinny Cuban, sexually confused toothpicks."

"Hunk-"

"Bye!" And Hunk ran before Keith could do something worse than just threaten him.

Of course they'd only been split up ten minutes and Hunk was already hungry and ready to give up. Why could no one tell him where to find these stupid teledov things? God why was his life never easy.

And as he was thinking about how much he wanted food, he found it, the food court. So he was going around eating as many free samples as possible and now he ended up in complete servitude because he couldn't not feed his stomach. 

"Let me show you how these knives work." And Keith was drawn in rather easily, he was getting bored looking for teledov lenses anyway.

"But wait, there's more!" Keith really didn't care about- holy shit that knife just cut through a fucking rock, could his do that? He's never tested his knife, not after he knew it was...

You know, thinking about it he's never needed to sharpen his knife, he's used it to hunt when he was alone in his shack (against Adam's greatest wishes). He's used it to cut his hair, he's used it to cut fabric, wood, but he's never thought to sit down and use it to cut rock. Maybe it could.

"I just have a question." Keith said, fingering his knife before placing it on the table. "Have you ever come across something like this." He asked making sure the wrappings on the top were wrapped around it firmly. 

The knife "expert" picked it up and began examining it with a microscope, one Keith remembered people using on Earth to examine diamonds. 

"Woah, this craftsmanship is incredible, and is this a luxite blade?" And suddenly Keith remembered that at its core, this planet was a swamp moon. "The planet they mined that from hasn't existed in decaphebes. Where'd you get this?" 

Lie Keith.

"Someone gave it to me."

Idiot.

"Alright, I'll take it off your hands for a thousand gac." 

"It's not for sale."

"Two thousand gac!" 

And now Keith knew for certain that this knife was important. He needed it back now.

"No thanks, give it back." He said with a hiss.

"How about this, I keep the knife and you go before security gets here, I know it's stolen." And Keith had never felt more offended in his life. Stolen? Sure he's stolen a lot of things, food, clothes, cars, but not this. This was his.

"It's not stolen." He said and something about that sentence felt off.

The guy jumped a little, but then glared at Keith.

"Where'd you get this?" He asked with no room for negotiation. His mistake though, was waving the knife close to Keith. Keith reached out for it and grabbed the mans wrist holding his knife, but the man was quick to use the blade he was just selling to fight against Keith for the knife.

Then the man was using his other three arms to try and get the knife away from Keith, but Keith was faster. So what if he might have broken the man's wrist, he got his knife back.

"Hey! Come back with that!" The man yelled before pressing a button under his desk to alert the space mall cops that something was 'stolen' from him.

Creepy guy, with his creepy alien knife, and his creepy changing eyes and creepy spikey teeth and reflexes, the knife 'expert' thought, cradling his wrist.

Dumb creepy half-breed.

"So this was Zarkon's home planet? Show me more."

I do not know where I originated all I know is that it is through Alfor that I was born and given thought, and through Zarkon that I was given the chance to fly.

And the Black Lion shows Shiro everything, from his crash land onto Zarkon's home planet, to the creation of his birth. Shiro watches as Alfor builds the Black Lion through the playful directions of the meteor. It was so similar and yet so different to what he feels now.

That is Red. My partner was the one to take a shine to the Altean paladin, she is the one who helped give us form. I will always love her for it.

"King Alfor built you from the comet, built all of you from the comet, and you all worked along side each other, alongside Zarkon." Shiro said in disbelief. Could it be that they were friends before all of this? That Zarkon was a peaceful man, worthy of the Black Lion?

Of course he was worthy, I had chosen him for he was the best choice of the warriors presented to us, but my True Paladin is not here, yet. He is not ready.

"Yeah, he's not, is he?" Shiro said fondly. 

He still has much to learn.

And as Shiro was witnessing it all, he felt it, the flash of Zarkon, a brush against his own mind.

"You." And it was Zarkon.

Be ready paladin, the true battle is about to begin. Prove your worth now, so I may forever sever this bond.

Pigde really never thought she'd have an issue with bathrooms again. She got used to using the men's bathroom at the garrison rather quickly, and everywhere else didn't have a gendered bathroom, so she always felt safe going there, but now all there was to differentiate between bathrooms for her was a pink and blue symbol and who even knows what the connotations to those colors were in space. You know what, she would wait. She spent so long just trying to get comfortable again in her own body, as a girl most days and something inbetween others. God she just wanted to use the bathroom.

But which one. 

Out of one side, came a weird, non-binary alien, and out on the other side came another weird, non-binary alien, and Pidge was absolutely done.

"I'll just hold it in." 

Lance was really scoring big with the aliens on this space moon. Allura who? Keith can have the Princess. Just like he could have the top pilot spot, and the Shiro's right hand spot, and the cool alien-

Well, no that's not cool. Lance like's Earth too much to abandon her yet.

"May I interest you in some of the latest Earth fashions?" A stereotypical alien in an Area 51 hat dressed in blatant 80's clothes asked him. Oh boy, this alien certainly can interest Lance in some Earth fashion.

"Lance!" And just as Lance was thinking he was going to have a good time, Pidge called his name. "Come on we have to be back at the ticking in half an hour." 

"But Pidge, wait look at all this crazy Earth stuff this alien is trying to sell us!" Lance argued.

"Lance we don't have time for this! We have to search for the teledov lens- holy mother of god. Is that Killbot Phantasm I?" Pidge asked in disbelief as she picked up said video game. God there was so much video game technology, they had to have it to stop the mundane boredom of the altean castle. God! Earth video games? Pidge was going to try.

"We have to have this. How much is 1200 gac? Is that a lot I can't remember?" She asked looking to Lance who looked just as confused.

"Well, compared to what we have, which is none, that's a lot." Lance said, but Pidge was on a mission.

"Come on, let's go find some money!" She yelled out as she grabbed Lance's arm and ran towards the mall fountain. She would find 1200 gac if it killed her.

"Pidge the teledov-"

"Fuck the teledov!"

"Pidge!"

Hunk was thriving.

Ever since the man's cooking robot died, Hunk had been in charge of the kitchen, and he was gonna work it. He couldn't read the order's, so what he'd improvise. Vrepit Sal who? This was Hunk's kitchen now.

And by god he was a good chef.

"What did you do to her face? It's cracking!" Sal asked in disbelief.

"Her face isn't cracking, she's smiling. She's enjoying her food." Hunk supplied as he cleaned off the knife he used to make it.

And then Hunk was handed the next order.

"Show me more." Shiro said. He needed to know all he could if he was to win this battle against Zarkon.

And he saw it all. Wings, teleportation, powers he has not yet unlocked and some he knew Zarkon hasn't unlocked either. The Black Lion was powerful, and covered in a shroud of mystery. It was incredible.

But Shiro wasn't flying the Black Lion, it was Zarkon.

"I've got you now paladin."

What.

You are on your own from now on Paladin, good luck.

And Shiro watched as the lion in his visions, the Lion the Black lion was showing him, fired at him and suddenly he was being flung back out of his body onto something... into somewhere.

When he landed Black immediately gave him a name for it. 

The astral plane. The in between for paladins.

"You are a fool to face me here, for when you die in here, your body dies out there as well." 

Shiro saw it all now, as the Black lion took it's place between the two foes, waiting for the battle over her trust to begin. Zarkon, the old, but first Black paladin verses Shiro, the transitional paladin with a future brighter than a thousand stars. 

"When you die, I shall take control."

And Shiro really had to laugh at that. "Even in the unlikely event of you defeating me here, Black's true paladin will put you in your place." 

And the battle began and Shiro really didn't know how to fight here, in the place that seemed to defy all physics. 

"I said over medium. Over medium! You rube! Does this look over medium to you?" Hunk yelled out at Sal.

"No chef!" Sal yelled back. Hunk had him trained well. Gordan Ramsey who? It was Hunk Garrett's kitchen now, and he was a mean son of a gun.

"Then let's get it right huh! If it ain't perfect than it ain't coming out of this kitchen people!" Hunk said as he began to sauce his latest creations. 

"I got you now, Pirate! Where are your friends!" And could Voltron really have been caught already! And this weird Galra space cop was asking about the other paladins?! Hunk had to get out of there and fast. So he jumped the counter, threw his apron off and ran. 

"Don't forget what I taught you those are the fundamentals of cooking!" Hunk yelled over his shoulder.

"You could never take my place as the head of Voltron." 

And Shiro was launched back what must have been a hundred feet, but he could still walk. This upside down place made no sense. 

"You cannot pilot the Black Lion after everything you've done! You cannot lead Voltron again." Shiro yelled out.

You're still not getting it Paladin.

"You have no idea how to command a weapon like this!" 

"No one commands the Black Lion." 

There it is.

And Shiro felt the strength of the Black Lion on his back as he blocked Zarkon's next punch, but it wasn't enough, Shiro did not know how to battle in this place, and Zarkon did. There was an unfair advantage and he felt himself dying.

"You dare challenge me! Do you think the Black Lion would let such a feeble creature pilot it! Only the powerful can command it!" 

"You have forgotten the true bond between Paladin and Lion, it is not about power, it's about trust!" Shiro said, and they both heard it. The roar of the Black Lion, she had chosen her victor.

And she was there to protect her chosen. She fired at Zarkon, and began to cut the connection fully. It was what she needed. 

And Shiro woke up.

"Did you just save me."

You are worthy of this seat. Trust is something needed between us, and Zarkon no longer shares that bond with me. Our connection is closing.

"Thank you." Shiro said, as he sighed in contentment. The seat he sat in felt more comfortable now than it ever had before. "Now let's go home."

And Shiro can hear the laugher of the Lion reverberate through him as the image was lifted from the screen. It was all fake. They'd never left.

"Gotta hide, gotta hide!" Hunk cried out as he came across a bathroom, but which one should he- "Keith!" Hunk yelled quickly before pulling him out of the bathroom and down a narrow hallway to hide near. "He's right behind me!" Hunk yelled pulling Keith close to his face to show him his urgency.

"Who's following you?" And then they heard it, the unmistakable sound of a segway going in reverse, and the two of them looked to see the space mall cop cornering them. Hunk grabbed onto Keith's hand and pulled hard in the opposite direction. 

"Ah! Pirate number two! My lucky day."

"Run!" And then they were sprinting.

"Wait! With every purchase, you get a free Kalternecker." The Alien who sold them the Earth video game said as he then proceeded to hand them a whole, living cow on a hoover craft. Lance was honestly in disbelief. 

"Time to get moving guys!" Lance turned to see Hunk and Keith sprinting past them.

"Wha-"

"Security's on our tail!" Keith supplied, then Pidge and Lance saw him.

The mall cop.

And then they began to run too, and then Lance had the brilliant idea to get on the cow and then it was truly the high-speed mall chase everyone was looking forwards to.

Coran didn't really know what to expect as he walked out of the pawn shop with just the right amount of teledov lenses he needed, but this certainly wasn't it. Lance, Pidge, Keith, then Hunk, all in that order, were sitting on a giant floating... something, on a hoover craft all clinging on to each other each in mixed states of emotion. Lance looked like he was living his best life, Pidge looked mildly put out, Keith certainly looked like it was any day of the week and Hunk looked like he was going to vomit.

"There he is!" Coran heard Pidge yell.

"We gotta go Coran!" Keith yelled out before reaching his hand out for Coran to grab onto, the cow never slowing down. Keith got a good grip on Coran's arm then heaved him onto the cow and Coran was certainly surprised.

Then he remembered Keith was part Galra, and it all made sense.

"I got the scultrite lenses!!" 

"Scultrite! I thought they were teledov lenses!" 

"Scultrite! Hey come back!" 

"No take backs!" And then they were heading to the exit, they were in the clear.

"Don't show your faces around here again pirates!" The mall cop yelled after them.

"Hey, looks like he can't follow-"

"Lance!" And suddenly Lance was being pulled down into safety as he just missed slamming his face into the exit sign.

"We got the teledov lenses!"

"Excellent! Now we can get everything up and running!" Allura said cheerfully welcoming back her paladins. Keith took one look around though, then said.

"Hey where's Shiro?" And just like the dramatic ass Keith knew him to be, Shiro decided now would be a good time to make his entrance.

"What did you do? Take a nap?" Allura teased and Shiro shrugged looking from her back to Keith.

"Not exactly." Then he turned to Lance, remembering the Blue and Red stars in the astral plane that were constantly at his shoulders in solidarity. Maybe he had been overlooking Lance for a while no-

"Is that a cow?" 

"Hmmhm! His name is Kalternecker!" Lance said affectionately as he rubbed behind the cows ears.

And Shiro had so many questions, but of course it was Keith who brought Shiro back to the real problem of the day.

"So, did you find a way to bond with your Lion?" And Shiro turned to look at Keith, giving him a once over.

He still has much to learn, my true paladin. 

"Yes, and now we need to get moving. We need to head to the Blade of Marmora's head quarters." Shiro said with finality.

"I'll plot a course!" Coran said quickly excusing himself.

"And I'll set up the video game me and Lance bought!" Pidge said in excitement. Hunk excused himself to go and get changed out of his greasy cooking clothes, and Lance went to go and put Kalternecker the cow somewhere safe. Keith stood in the cockpit fidgeting just as much as Allura. Shiro watched them both in confusion.

Sure he could understand Allura's unease, but Keith?

It didn't really make all too much sense, considering how excited, and pro-marmora he was. Was he missing something?

And Shiro certainly was, because Keith knew what was going to happen.

You must learn to accept it, for that will lead to your true path of greatness.

And there it was, the voice that was not Red, but the voice Keith was all too familiar with. Would he tell Shiro? Should he tell Shiro?

These conversations are for us Paladin, and us alone. He knows his stance with me, and you know yours. I will wait though, for when you accept it, together we will do great things.

And Keith was going to retort somehow, someway, but the dejected sound of Pidge realizing she had nothing to connect her newly purchased game to distracted him enough to stop himself from fidgeting and thinking too hard on the future. 

It didn't distract the other three though. Coran knew this was going to be rough for Keith. He saw his interaction with the Druid, he saw the knife despite Keith's attempts at hiding it, he felt the galra strength in him, he knew the Princess would not like it, but maybe with the steady friendship they had formed, maybe she could get over it?

Pidge didn't really know how it was going to affect the team, Keith coming out Galra and everyone now knowing. All she knew was that she would use this opportunity to ask him as many uncomfortable biological questions as possible.

Lance though couldn't wait. With Keith out as Galra, surely Allura wouldn't want to associate with him anymore! That'll give him the opening he'll need to swoop in and save the Princess's broken heart. She'll drape herself across him and say, Oh Lance! How could I have ever fallen for that handsome half-galra-half-human boy, when all along I wanted you the strong and beautiful all human man! And Lance would hold her tight and kiss her and they'd get married and... leave Keith... in the... dust.

God why did that feel so, so wrong to him. 

The last thing he saw when leaving the bridge to put Kalternecker somewhere safe was Keith's easy, content smile as he looked down at Pidge's drama, flush on his face and love in his eyes and Lance felt his heart clench. 

So what if he was in love with the Princess, she and Keith were together, and Keith was happy here, and Lance could count on one hand the amount of times he had genuinely seen Keith happy and he'd be damned if he was one of the reasons Keith stopped smiling.

He looked nice when he smiled.

Lance liked looking at Keith smile, it made him smile too.

And then Lance was clearing that thought from his mind. He needed to be in tip-top shape for when they met the Blade, Keith was going to need as many allies as he could get, and Lance genuinely didn't know who would be there for him when shit hit the fan. 

At least he'd have him in his corner.

Chapter Text

Keith didn't know how this will go. After the mall event the previous day, he had a lot to think about, he settled down in his room and contemplated what accepting this would mean. How the dynamics would change in the group, Allura was quick to becoming one of, if not his best friend, Pidge was his sister and the Galra kidnapped her legitimate family, Shiro lost an arm, and everyone on that ship was fighting them.

Maybe it would help that his mother was a part of the good guy Galra?

Galras?

Galri? 

Plural Galra?

Quiznack, Keith's a mess.

"We should be there in a few hours!" Coran said cheerfully as if he did not just announce the time in which Keith would meet his fate.

"I can't wait to see it! They were able to fold space-time and that was at an outpost I can't wait to see what they do with their main base!" Pidge cheered.

At least someone was super happy to see the Galra base.

"God imagine how cool their home base would be." Hunk agreed with Pidge easily, and they went off forming theories of their own. Keith was still in his little world.

Lance was standing next to his paladin spot in the bridge, he stood where Keith sat in solidarity. He didn't know how this was all going to break down, but he might as well set up boundaries now. Might as well show his solidarity in the moment, even if Keith or the rest of the team might not realize it's what he's doing.

"Come on guys, this is a serious mission, we need to focus." Keith said to the two of them as they just kept going on and on about the design of the base. Normally he wouldn't do anything to stop them, but he was stressed, maybe Lance could help him get rid of some steam?

"We need to focus!" Lance teased, yeah sure, a good verbal match always made Keith feel better, just like how sparring made him feel better. Lance had been on the other side of that enough times to know. His butt has regretted many a Keith training session.

But his hand to hand has gotten better.

"The base is in range!" Coran told the crew before Keith could even open his mouth to comment and he was back towards fidgeting again, or well, how he normally fidgets.

"Alright take us in slowly."

"That might be a bit of a challenge." Coran supplied and everyone finally got up to look at the base... that was trapped between two opposing Black Holes.

It was brilliant.

It would be impossible to attack.

It would also be impossible to approach, that is unless they were very familiar with the black holes, or a very brilliant pilot.

And as Pidge began to explain the set up, and as Hunk began to explain it in simpler terms, using burritos as an example, Keith lost it.

"Guys quiet! Coran where is the base actually located?" He asked finally standing up to go closer to the front of the ship.

"Directly in between those celestial objects." And Keith winced.

"That's absolutely amazing." Pidge said in disbelief. "It's the perfect defensive position."

"Or the perfect trap." Allura added and Lance knew Keith flinched without even having to look.

"Yeah I agree with Allura, how about we don't go in there!" Hunk said and Lance wanted to shake him. Hunk was usually so perceptive when it came to things others wanted! He was like him that way so why wasn't he seeing it! 

Well, Lance thought, it's not like anyone was there with him to see what Lance had seen.

But still! They should notice when Keith was wound up like this!

"What are you talking about!" Keith yelled out in disbelief, and Lance knew it was truly only a matter of time before Keith snapped. "We have to go in, this was the whole reason we came out here there is no other option!" Keith said in anger, and Lance was the only one close enough to notice the slight change in the make up of Keith's eyes. They were getting less human, and Lance was quick to get closer, to block the other's view of Keith, taking in deep breaths and trying to calm him down with his hands and voice.

"Hey, it's alright, take it easy." Lance said and watched as Keith took a deep breath and turned away from the rest of them, and Lance was happy to see that Keith was looking more normal. He also found it odd that Keith was so quick to listen to him, he wouldn't listen to Shiro this quickly, Lance knows that, he'd seen it. It made him feel nice, important, and Lance was moving closer to the calming Keith when they received a message from the Marmora base.

"Identify yourselves." 

"Open a hailing frequency Coran." Shiro said easily before turning back to the screen to address the Blade Base. "We are the paladins of Voltron, sent here by Ulaz."

"Two may enter, come unarmed."

"Why would they insist we come unarmed! Shiro I don't like this!" Allura objected literal seconds after the message was sent to them.

"We've come too far to turn around now." Shiro said, before turning to face the rest of the paladins. 

"Well, if we decide to go, we must move quickly, they sent us a route to the base, but it will only be open for another three of your Earth hours then it will be closed for two of your Earth days." Coran supplied.

"Listen Shiro, if you're going down there, I think things are going to get a little hot so you'll probably need someone... cool." Lance said, trying to bring Shiro's attention to him, maybe he could protect Keith by going in his stead? Maybe he could stop this?

"Yeah Lance, you're right. Keith come with me." And God damn it Shiro! Can't you read the mood?! 

"Well, Keith's the hot head!" Lance interjected, both annoyed that Shiro would look over him again, and annoyed by the fact that Shiro was BLIND! "He'll shoot first and ask questions later!"

"Lance, I though you were the sharpshooter here." Keith said, annoyed and Lance was taken aback. He always thought himself to be the sharpshooter, but no one's ever actually called him that, acknowledged it the way Lance liked to do in his mind. Lance was so flustered by the thought of it, he barely heard Keith agree with Shiro and then they were off before Lance could disagree anymore.

"Geez Lance, what's your problem?" Hunk asked as he watched Keith and Shiro leave the room, Keith looking back one final time in what might have been fear before closing the door.

"You're all idiots or letting him go through this." Lance said, gaze still on the closed door.

"Lance, Keith is a very capable paladin, and he would not put the mission at jeopardy over some grudge against the Galra." Allura said and Lance wanted to shake her.

"You're all fools." He hissed, cutting her off. He was too annoyed with himself though to notice Pidge and Coran look away in shame.

At least Keith would have Shiro with him... and Shiro didn't seem opposed to the good guy Galra, so maybe it would be best for Shiro to be there for Keith when he found out and finally accepted the fact that he had the blood of the race that kidnapped and imprisoned his only brother in his veins? 

Wow Keith was fucked.

"Keith is everything okay?" Shiro asked noticing how tense Keith was. He'd never seen Keith this on edge while flying, and if Shiro was being honest, it was unsettling him. Keith had been in situations just as treacherous flying before and had been at ease, so why was it now that he was panicking.

"I'm fine." He hissed out and that only set Shiro on edge more. God he was always bad at this, he usually left Keith to Adam when he was in one of these moods, the two of them always got along in a way Shiro could never begin to understand, but he was glad the two most important men in his life got along so easily.

But Adam wasn't here.

"You kind of blew up at everybody back there, you have to maintain control during this mission though. At least you'll have Lance to help you calm down your emotions for when you're going to lead this group someday." 

And Keith could only think of one thing.

Panic.

"Huh, what?" 

"When we were stranded I told you if anything happened to me, I'd want you to lead Voltron, do you not remember?" Shiro asked, and god, yeah, he needed Adam here, what was supposed to be an attempted teasing of leadership suddenly became a serious issue about death, and Shiro should abort, but he knew this conversation was also important.

Welp.

"I thought you were delirious with pain!" Keith said in disbelief, taking his eyes off the controls for a second to look at Shiro as if he were crazy. "Why would you make me the leader?"

"Because I know what you're capable of." 

And because I have seen a future you with carve through the Black lion.

"That is if you can learn some discipline." Shiro added on to the laughter of the Black Lion in his head.

Keith heard it too, he heard Red laugh as well, and blocked them both.

"Why are we talking about this! Nothing is going to happen to you." He said quickly, as if saying it out loud would avoid the problem. 

"It's just in case, you know, worst case scenario." Shiro said putting his hand on Keith's shoulder, but that was stupid because Keith was trying to move the controls with that arm, and just the extra oomf behind Shiro's standard arm pat was enough to set them out of orbit.

"We're getting drawn in!" Keith said as he shrugged off Shiro's arm quickly, and began to hyper focus on the course once more.

"Get us on track!" Shiro commanded quickly and Keith was quick to use his piloting skill to maneuver them back on course. Shiro was impressed to say the least as he watched Keith maneuver Red in ways he had not even thought the lions could move.

They landed with ease and walked onto the deserted looking base, both of them were confused.

"There's no one here." Keith pointed out the obvious. That was when a hidden door in the floor opened up and two Galra emerged from a platform and Keith had to admit, as nervous as he was, the dramatics were clear and his mind let out a huff of disbelief.

Maybe dramatics was a rebel galra thing.

Then he remembered Lance.

So maybe it was just an anti-Zarkon thing.

Thace was in trouble, he knew it. 

They were beginning to question those involved in the shield malfunction when the Galra had Voltron in its trap. The same shield he was responsible for destroying. He was high enough now in the empire that people should not question him, but he knew that Zarkon and Haggar were ruthless, and would not stop for anything.

With them in charge, there was a high chance his head would be on the chopping block.

He needed to find a way to get in touch with the blade. Now. 

Keith felt uneasy walking into that base, any one of them could be the reason for his birth. They were all wearing their masks unlike Ulaz, there was no way for Keith to make eye contact with any of them, to know any of them.

"I am Kolivan, leader of the Blade of Marmora." The man at the front introduced himself first.

"I am Shiro, paladin of the Black Lion, and this is Keith, paladin of the Red Lion. We represent Voltron." Shiro supplied.

"I know who you are." Kolivan said, rather easily brushing off their introductions. 

"Then you know we were sent by one of your own." Shiro said.

"Ulaz is usually not so foolish as to give out this location to those without our direct permission. His weakness and wish to end this war faster was his greatest fault, and the cause of his death. We mourn him, knowing his daughter is too deep in her mission to know of her lose." He said simply and Shiro looked sad at the mention of it. Ulaz had been dead for weeks now, and to know that before his own family... 

Kolivan though was looking at these paladins in disbelief. What would cause Ulaz to die for them, why would his brother do this?

"He gave his life to save us, and Voltron is here to offer our assistance to you and the cause so are we welcome here or not?" Shiro asked a mild rage coming through is voice.

"You were told to come unarmed." He said when he noticed the tail of his comrade flick quickly, a symbol of deceit. 

"The Red Lion, while a weapon, is also our means of transportation. We could have not gotten here without it." Shiro argued.

"We're not talking about the lion." And then Keith looked behind him to see the Galra attack him, he tried to doge, but it was only seconds before he was quickly over powered by strength alone by the other Galra. Shiro stood in shock just watching.

Shiro then watched in disbelief as the Galra pulled out a knife with the symbol of the blade on it from Keith's person.

"He has one of our blades." And Kolivan was ready to kill him. A blade was tied to the blood line of its user, for this paladin to have one means he's either stolen it, or killed the person whom it belonged to. And while that was usually enough to set a rage in Kolivan, this was a new type of anger that went through him as he paid closer attention to the knife.

He was very intimately familiar with it. He was the one that crafted it for his niece. 

"Where did you get this! How did you steal it?" The galra asked for Kolivan was in too much of a rage to be speaking.

"I didn't steal anything!: Keith begged, "I've had it all my life, I swear!" He told the Galra pinning him down, not breaking eye contact. 

"Lies!" 

"Can you confirm your friend's statement?" Kolivan asked finally to Shiro, not taking his eyes off the paladin. To think Krolia could have lost this knife to-

"I-" Then Shiro remembered the first time they had met, and he couldn't support Keith. "I don't know."

Keith wanted to smack Shiro, truly, for the first time in his life.

"Shiro, you know me, I promise you I didn't steal it." Keith said using all his strength to push himself up to make direct eye contact with Shiro. "I've had this knife as long as I can remember." 

And that didn't make any sense. How could he have had this knife all his life, Krolia had been back here far longer than this boy was out in space.

So he must be lying, he must have stolen it recently. 

"I'm telling the truth! I saw Ulaz had a knife like this, tell me what it means!" He said as he looked up, directly at the Blade leader and the light finally caught the paladins face and Kolivan could see it all. He looked so much like her, especially with that defiant look on his face. It all began to make sense, if Ulaz had seen this boy, saw the knife and had witnessed this first hand, of course he would die for him.

Only three people knew about Krolia's trip to Earth, and now one of them was dead, the other was deep in undercover work, and the third was the man who was looking upon his grand-nephew's face for the first time in his life. 

"Our organization is built on secrecy and trust, you two should leave." If Krolia knew her son was here... well that would not only jeopardize the mission as a whole, it would put her at great risk as well.  "Now." 

And then Keith was being released. Keith and Shiro shared a look before Shiro turned back to the leader of the Blade, venom in his gaze and voice.

"We came here to form an alliance, but obviously we're not welcome." Shiro said forcefully. "Come on Keith we're leaving."

And Keith couldn't deal with that. He went to reach for his blade, a comfort and realized it wasn't there. They took it from him.

"Not without some answers." He couldn't leave yet.

Shiro though, was pissed.

"Somehow one of your knives ended up with me on planet Earth. Tell me how." Keith demanded and Kolivan wanted to smack the boy across the head.

He should not be sharing this, Krolia's mission to Earth was top secret, they didn't need everyone knowing what happened there, what she found there. 

"Your friend is right it is time for you to go."

"Where did it come from, I have to know." And Kolivan knew that look, had had to deal with it thousands of times in his life. If this was the route he wished to take, then so be it. As far as Kolivan knew, he did not know about his true heritage, it would take a miracle for him to believe it, even now probably, so maybe when he would be put through their worst trials, he will leave and he could be safe... well, safer.

"You seek knowledge? There is only one way to obtain knowledge here." 

"How? I'll do it."

"The trials of Marmora, should you survive you may keep the blade, if not you will leave here without it, and never return." He said, maybe that ultimatum with be enough.

"I'll do it." 

The absolute idiot. He was just like his mother.

And with the nod of his head, Kolivan let two of his subordinates take Keith to put them in their Marmora armor to prepare him for battle. He was going to need to be ready, both mentally and physically.

God Kolivan was tired and the day was just beginning.

"These trials result in two things, knowledge or death." Those were the words Keith had ringing in his ears as he entered the arena with only his knife and a borrowed suit. He didn't know what he'd face, he just knew he had to face it, and do it now. 

At first it was one member he was fighting against, knife against blade, and he was already cut. He was losing, he hadn't had his ass kicked this hard in a while, if he was not already in so much pain, he would be impressed.

"Surrender the blade and the pain will stop." His opponent said.

"Never." Was his reply.

Then he was set free, he stumbled to his feet and held out his blade in a defensive position, but his opponent just pointed his own Marmora sword towards the exit.

"You are not meant to go through that door." So of course, Keith sprinted through it.

Then he was facing two members, then three, then four, each fight getting hard and harder as time went, and Keith kept going. It did not occur to him to go through the door the blade members were using as an entrance until he was facing off against eight of them. God he could have ended the pain a long long time ago if he wasn't so much of an idiot.

"How much longer? We haven't heard anything from them" Allura said in annoyance. 

"About a varga." Coran said.

"And how long is that?" Hunk asked, completely confused.

"A little under two Earth hours right, we got another hour or so before the pathway closes and they're trapped there for two days."

"That's actually correct Lance." Coran said rather cheerfully.

"I know my time." Lance said with a smile, but Allura wasn't having it.

"I need to know what's going on down there." She said as she began to pull up a read, but Pidge was quick to stop her. 

"It's not going to work, without the Blade connecting us to them, we wouldn't have anything to ground our message to and it would just be lost in space, we need to hear from them first." She said just as uneasily.

And then Allura went back to pacing, and while Lance didn't like it, he needed to try his best to comfort Allura. He'd want his friends to comfort his girlfriend if he was in a life or death situation. 

"God what could they be doing down there, to Keith, to Shiro."

"Easy Allura, it's okay. We all know you're worried about Keith. I get it." Lance said standing up to walk towards her.

"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I be, he's my best friend." Allura supplied.

"And being his girlfriend is probably making this all worse." Lance supplied and Allura stopped her pacing for a split second to let out the biggest laugh Lance has ever heard.

"Girlfriend! Me?! Sweet Altea Lance that's the funniest thing I've ever heard." She said smile on her face, and Lance would have been happy knowing he put it there if he wasn't massively confused. He looked around to see if anyone else was confused and found out that no, most of them were not.

"So you're not dating?" Lance asked.

"No, absolutely not, why would you think that?" She asked.

"Well you're always hanging out in your room, and you ran away together..."

"We ran to protect you all, and we hang out in my room often because... oh dear you're going to make so much fun of us!" Allura said, shaking her head back and forth. "God it's so embarrassing I can't tell you why, but you just have to trust me when I say that it's completely platonic." 

She had the fondest smile on her face and Lance didn't know whether he felt happy that Allura wasn't dating Keith or happy that Keith wasn't dating Allura. 

God his head hurt.

"Pidge did you-"

"Not my secret to tell Lance, but yeah I knew there was no way in quiznack that Keith is interested in Allura."

"Hunk?" 

"You're blind."

"Coran?" Lance asked, because how could Coran know before even he knew?

"Me and number four go hand and hand! Two flogs in a golbendash if I do say so myself!" And what he said must have been true because Allura was laughing her agreement. God Lance was confused.

"But dating or not, of course I'm worried for him, for Shiro. They're a part of this team, a part of this family. Why wouldn't I not be worried? Surely you're worried too?" Allura asked as a the somber mood settled in the room once more. 

"Yes, of course..." Lance said.

"Maybe we could try and connect with them through the lions?" Hunk suggested. "Like all the lions have a similar hailing code? Maybe we could use the Red lion as an anchor and find our way around the solar flairs and black holes?" Hunk suggested.

And Pidge agreed that it just might work.

Lance knew it might work two and when he noticed no one was paying any attention to him, he thought he would attempt his own way of connection.

"Red?"

And he felt the brush against his mind, warm fiery and welcoming. It was hot to the touch unlike Blue's cool presence, but he could feel it in his head, so he pushed harder.

"Red." 

"REd."

"RED."

He is not looking well, my paladin. He is fighting without a care for the answers he already knows. He is an idiot.

"What can we do?"

Do not interfere as you have tried to do earlier. To be the True Paladin we need, he must know this. Just as you must learn your place before you can become True as well.

And Lance was forcibly ejected from Red's mind and his unease was set deep in his soul. God he hoped everything would turn out fine. 

Thace needed to upload the info the blade needed, he needed them to know what was going on here, immediately, but it wasn't wasn't going to work.

"Haggar wishes to see you." And a cold chill ran down Thace's spine. He was so close to uploading the virus the blade would need, but he needed more than a second to upload it. 

And now that witch wanted him.

No matter what, he must keep his secret.

No matter what.

Kolivan felt relief mix with pride as he watched his grand-nephew, the son of his niece finally enter the right door, a smug look on his face as he did so. 

"Guess I really wasn't supposed to go through that door." And then the pain was over taking him and he was falling to the floor and they were there. Shiro was there to lend his hand out to Keith, Allura was smiling at him from over Shiro's shoulder and Lance was giving him a fond look over Shiro's other shoulder. Pidge, Hunk, and Coran were all smiling at him as well from behind. 

"Way to go man, you did it." Shiro said as he helped Keith up to his feet.

"How'd you all get here? What's going-"

"Kolivan told us you lasted longer than any other recruiter before, you should be proud." Shiro said cutting him off. "You should also know you don't have to keep this up."

And Keith looked at them and saw that every one of them was giving him the same look Shiro was.

"What do you mean?" Keith was so confused, what was going on? Through the pain he knew this wasn't right.

"Come on just give them the knife and let's get out of here." Shiro said as the other's nodded along.

"Shiro, you know I can't do that!" 

"What is going on?" The real Shiro asked venom dripping from his voice. God he hated the Blade of Marmora, especially because of the way they're treating his brother. Why was he telling Keith to quit. Why was there an image of Voltron all down there telling Keith that his pursuit is meaningless. 

"His suit has the capability to project what the wearer wants to see most, their greatest hopes, their greatest fears and using it against them to dissuade them from the mission at hand. It is a part of the trials." Kolivan supplied to Shiro. "And right now, it seems he wants to see you, and all of Voltron."

And wow if that wasn't insane, Shiro didn't know what was.

"What's your deal with that anyways, samurai?" Lance asked from Shiro's shoulder. 

"Yeah, just give it up." Shiro said.

"You know I can't do that! It's the only thing I have that connects me to my parents, my past." Keith said holding the blade closer to himself. "It's my chance to know who I really am!"

"You know who you are!" Shiro yelled at him and Keith flinched. "You are a paladin of Voltron, together we defend the Universe, what more do you need to know! We're all the family you need!"

"Shiro, you're like a brother to me... Pidge, your a sister and Allura you're probably my best friend with Hunk pulling a close second, and Coran you're like that annoying Uncle I never had, but always wanted and Lance... you know exactly what you are, so please you must all understand! Please you know I have to do this." Keith begged to them all just to watch each and every one of them turn their backs on him.

"No you don't, so just give them the knife." Shiro said with a bite Keith was not familiar with.

"I can't do that."

"Just give up the knife, Keith! You're only thinking of yourself as usual." And that hurt Keith, that hurt him a lot. Couldn't Shiro see, couldn't they all see how important this was to him?

He looked down to the side and took a deep breath. "I've made my choice."

"Then you've chosen to be alone."  

And Keith watched in despair as they all turned their backs towards him so they could all walk away from him. So they could all leave him.

Keith looked down at his knife and instantly decided nothing was worth losing Voltron, nothing was worth losing his family. 

"Wait... no. SHIRO!" Keith went to run after them all, but he then found himself back in his childhood home, the shack him and his father shared when he was still alive.

Then he heard it, the explosion from outside. He had to do something, he had to go out there.

"Keith." And Keith hadn't heard that voice in years. He hadn't heard that voice since the night before his father had died, when he was putting him to bed. Keith felt his whole world shift as he turned back around to see his father there, healthy and alive looking fondly at Keith.

"Dad?" Keith asked in disbelief, his voice horse from emotion. 

"You're home son."

And then the crash happened again and Keith was distracted once more by the collapsing world outside them. "What's that?" 

"Don't worry about that, son." Keith's father said, and Keith was confused by that, because his father was never one to stand by when someone was in danger. He was just that kind of guy. "We'll be fine so long as we stay in here. Wouldn't you like to catch up?" His father asked Keith, a teasing tilt to his voice and Keith's heart broke.

"Of- of course I would, Dad. I miss you I have so much to tell you..."

"Son so many years have past, I have so much to tell you, too." But the explosions just kept coming, the earth shaking could not be forgotten.

"What is that?" Keith asked in annoyance as he finally turned to the windows to push back the curtains that where there to see it. The Galra. They were here, on Earth and they were destroying it, and everyone was out there fighting them, but they wouldn't hold on long. They were too strong! They were all going to die and Keith was just standing here.

"Everything's fine." Keith's father kept saying. 

But it wasn't fine. Keith looked out the window and saw the Red Lion there, just waiting.

"Dad, I'm sorry, but I have to go there are people out there who need me." Keith said as he turned back to his Dad just to see him holding onto his knife. 

"Don't you want to know more about where you came from? This knife belonged to your mother." 

"Mom?" Keith asked, his father never really talked about his mother, all Keith knew was that she loved him, but she had to leave.

He always wanted to know more, and it was tempting, by God it was so, so tempting, but...

Keith looked out towards the battle field again just to watch as the Black Lion was struck down and he felt that in his core. He felt the actual pain of it fall. This was bad. He had to go. The galra were coming and-

"She'll be here soon." 

Keith didn't believe it. Could it be that his mother was with them? One of them? No! He refused to believe this.

Paladin, I cannot sit idle much longer.

"You have to, for the sake of the alliance, for Keith and Shiro, you just said Keith needed to do this."

He needs to do this, but he does not need to die doing it.

"He's dying..?" Lance said out loud and that got everyone's attention.

"Lance, what do you mean he's-"

"We have to get them out of there now!" Lance shouted out turning towards Allura. "They're killing him!" 

"Lance you're talking complete nonsense, who's-"

"They're going to kill Keith! Red can't wait much longer, he's so stubborn, and so dense, God it's killing him!" Lance yelled out and everyone was confused by it.

"Lance what do you mean Red can't wait much longer... are you talking to her?" Allura asked, because she had never heard a paladin talking to more than one lion, hell she had never heard of paladins having actual word conversations.

I cannot wait any more.

"NO!" Lance yelled out turning to the screen that was facing the base, everyone followed his gaze to see everything was perfectly norm-

"The Red Lion's attacking the base!" Coran yelled out in disbelief.

"RED YOU IDIOT STOP! " Lance yelled out to nothing, and he felt Red push him away mentally and he stumbled. "We all care about him too! Stop, you're going to hurt him! "

No, I'm going to save him.

"What is that?" Kolivan asked as the base began to shake, they were under attack, but how? It was a base that was nearly impossible to take down.

"It's the Red Lion, she is very protective of Keith of course she would attack when she felt him in pain. He's probably calling out to her subconciously." Shiro supplied hurriedly. "We need to get him out of there."

"Knowledge or Death."

"Knowledge or everyone in this base dies, do you understand?!"

"Go, try and silence his lion."

"It won't work, only Keith can do that. Get. Him. Out."

"Please, Dad. I have to know before I go!" Keith pleaded looking between the knife and the approaching Galra.

"Your mother is almost here, she'll tell you everything." His Father supplied, voice monotone. 

But the world was ending.

"I can't wait around anymore, I have to go!" Keith said tuning away from his Father and going to the door. Going to Red.

"If you go out that door, you'll never find out who you are. You are not meant to go through that door." And it really hit Keith once more that this was all fake, a ploy, a mind game made by the Blade and he hated that they used his father to get to him. He hadn't cried since his Father's death all those years ago, but now? Now he was so close to it he could already feel his eyes watering up, and as he blinked away his Father's words he felt a tear slip down his cheek.

"I know exactly who I am. Goodbye Dad, I'll miss you."

"Keith-"

And then he opened the door.

"I am going to ask you some questions, I will know if you lie. I have reason to believe a spy has infiltrated Galra command."

"That is very alarming." Thace said, trying to keep his heart beat at a normal pace, trying to stop himself from showing any outward signs of panic. She would know if he lies.

"Indeed, are you aware of any spies within our ranks?" She asked.

"No." He lied through his teeth and then he watched as Haggar began to summon her black magic, he felt it's power against his face as she put more and more of her dark power into it.

"Thace, are you the spy amongst our ranks? Are you the one who destroyed our solar barrier during the battle allowing Voltron to escape." 

"No. I fight in the name of Galra." And at least half of that was true. After a moments hesitation, Haggar put her hand down, and got rid of her dark magic as she turned her back to him.

"You shall help me weed out this traitor. We will destroy him and all who threaten our reign." She said before removing herself from the interrogation room. Thace, only when he knew for sure that she was gone, let out an unsteady breath, not believing, but thanking his good fortune.

"Red! "

"Lance!"

"RED! "

"Lance she can't hear you!" Hunk yelled as he tried to shake Lance out of his yelling, but it wasn't working. "Pidge what's our status!"

"The Red Lion is still attacking the base, we can't get a message in and the path is still too small for the castle ship to fly through! We can't do anything!" She yelled in frustration as she kept trying to find ways to try to save Keith and Shiro. 

God the Red Lion's going to destroy everything.

And then Shiro was running towards a semi-concious Keith.

"Keith are you okay?"

"Stop what you're doing, call off your beast!" Kolivan commanded to the barely functional Keith.

"What is he..?" And then the base shook once more. "Red?"

"We're leaving." Shiro said as he began to help Keith limp forwards towards the exit, towards the Red Lion.

"Not with the blade, he has not awoken it, it is not his." Kolivan said with relief. Maybe if he left now, the little Kit would never need to know, and he could be safe.

"Get out of our-"

"No! Stop." Keith said to all of them, and the base stopped shaking from Red's attack. On unsteady feet, Keith pushed himself away from Shiro's support and held out his knife towards the Blade leader. "Just take the knife. It does not matter where it comes from, I know who I am, I know what I am." And as those damning words left those lips, Keith felt something click and his neck grew hot and the blade glowed brighter in his hand and where once a knife was a full fledged, perfectly balanced swords was.

"You've awoken the Blade." Kolivan's right hand said. "The only way this is possible, is if Galra blood runs through your veins."

He knows paladin.

And despite everyone's cheers as they saw the Red Lion stop their attack Lance collapsed to the floor and sobbed. He felt it all through Red, and he had never felt such self-hatred in his whole life. Keith's finally found out, and based on how it felt through Red, he hated the way he found out. 

Lance couldn't stop his tears no matter how hard he tried.

"Princess! We're coming back, and we're bringing someone we think you should meet!" Shiro's voice connected with them over the calm, and Shiro could hear everyone's cheers of excitement before turned off the communications. Kolivan sat in the dock bay, so it was just Keith and Shiro in the cockpit, and of course, the oppressive silence.  

God, how does Shiro discuss this?

"It's okay, you know, for you to hate me now." Keith said, but Shiro knew that was a lie based on the absolute monotone of Keith's voice. Shiro was just pissed at himself for his stony silence, he was shocked to learn Keith was half-alien! That was the whole reason behind his silence, but how was Shiro supposed to explain that he didn't care that Keith was Galra, he was still Keith first and foremost.

"I can't believe your Dad was a furry." Shiro, what the actual fuck?

"What?" 

"Wait! No-"

"Shiro I just learned I'm part Galra, part of the alien race that removed your arm and tortured you for a year, and all you have to discuss with me was the sexual preferences of my dead father, which is gross by the way. What pos-"

"Okay! That's not how I meant this to go!" Shiro said quickly trying to defend himself.

"How are you expecting this to go?" Keith asked in disbelief.

"I'm expecting it to go the same way everything went when you came out!" Shiro explained.

"Shiro when I came out to you, you turned to Adam and immediately said Thank God we didn't raise a straight how is this at all similar?" Keith yelled out.

"I'm just saying that you're you! I don't care where you're from you're still my hopelessly gay dramatic emo brother!" Shiro rushed out, when he was met with silence all he did was shrug.

"Shiro, they kidnapped and torture-"

"Yeah, they did that. Not you, never you- actually... You know what, I'm going to call your anime phase torture because you refused to run like a normal person for a month-"

"Shiro-"

"Keith, just because you share some ancestors with them doesn't mean I'm automatically going to hate you, and I think everyone will agree with me. You're a good guy, you're a paladin of Voltron, you're one of us and we all love you no matter what okay? So what if your father liked to have sex with furry women-"

"Shiro! Stop!"

"All I'm saying is, Lance likes the aliens out here, maybe growing a little fur will help you out in the-"

"Shiro I will fly this lion into a Black hole."

They all went to greet Shiro, Keith, the Red Lion and the unknown guest in the hanger, each one of them was antsy to see Keith, especially after the whole Red Lion attacking the base debacle. 

"How is he Red?"

Not good, give him strength, he will need your solidarity.

And then Red was lowering her mouth to allow the Paladins and Kolivan out of the Red Lion. 

Lance was happy to see Shiro standing strong next to Keith, but he was rather miffed to see that Keith was holding onto his arm in a way Lance knew meant he flew Red back here with one arm, through the most dangerous route any of them have ever taken. The absolute balls on Keith was ridiculous. 

Lance ran right past their guest up to Keith and was quick to offer him another hand. Keith looked at him confused for a moment, but something on Lance's face must have convinced Keith that he could trust Lance.

"Come on samurai, let's get you to a healing pod." Lance said with an ease and fondness Keith was not used to, but one that made him feel like coming home.

"Lance I don't need a-"

"Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh! You don't need a healing pod? Ridiculous, look at you, you probably flew back one handed! I don't want to hear it, come on let's leave the diplomacy to the Princess okay? You need medical help." Lance said as he began to escort Keith out of the Lion and down towards the healing pods, Shiro went to stop them, but Lance did something he had never done to Shiro before in his life (and his younger self would probably faint if he saw what Lance was doing right now). He glared at Shiro, and watched as he actually backed off, letting Lance take care of Keith.

"I'm taking him to the med-bay, don't try and stop me." Lance said to everyone else not really asking permission.

"Good, he needs all the rest he can get, after seeing what happened with Red, I'm sure our new allies must have put him through some terrible things." Allura hissed out annoyed and Lance could understand her annoyance, he was feeling it too. Allura's best friend was put through the wringer, of course she was annoyed.

"Princess, it is good to see you alive and in good health. It gives me great joy to see you surrounded by such strong paladins and such a willful kit." The man had said, and Lance took that as his cue to get Keith the QUIZNACK out of there.

"Lance they're discussing plans, they'll need me there, we got news about an opening for an invasion on our way back! You need to be there to hear the plans, I need to-"

"No you don't, we all know Allura's gonna want to talk all sort of jargon with the Blade guy, so of course that'll take a while. She needs some form of trust before she can set course to making plans, and who knows how long that'll take." Lance said. They walked in silence, slow and steady, towards the healing pod as Lance contemplated how to bring up that he knew what was going on. He needed to tell Keith he had another ally.

"So... what was going on-"

"Lance I'm part Galra."

"Yeah, I knew." 

"What?" Great Lance 10/10 would recommend saying that exact thing again.

"I... I kind of knew, for a while now. Do you remember when we had to close the ships bay gate all that time ago? It was like the first mission the two of us worked on together solo we did that whole sign language, let's form a plan thing together? Well, you used your hand to close the gate, when only galra tech or the Galra can control their stuff. Pidge had mentioned it before and-"

"So you knew." Keith said in disbelief. "And you didn't tell me?"

"Would you have believed me?" Lance fired back rather easily.

"It's just... you never even showed an inkling of disgust with me. I thought you would, I don't know use this information to kick me out of Voltron-"

"What?!" Now Lance was pissed. "Keith I don't always hate you- to use your own birth something you can not control and something you did not even know about against you is just wrong. When I finally show you how crazy good of a pilot I am, when the whole universe see's my excellence no one will even care about you and where you're from, all they'll care about is me, and if I'm single." Lance went on as they finally approached the med bay. When Keith laughed though at Lance's over dramatic exclamations, Lance felt himself lighten up at the sound of it. He did this for Keith, helped him at one of his lowest points, if not the lowest, who knows, Lance doesn't, but he gave Keith the chance to laugh, and that's all that matters.

"I don't always hate you either Lance." Keith said simply and that did something to Lance.

"Yeah, yeah, come on you furry freak, lets get you in a pod." And Keith groaned in disbelief.

"There it is again! That word!" Keith hissed out in annoyance as he got in the pod under Lance's rather pushy motions. 

"What? Freak? Has someone being unironically calling you a freak? I'l beat them up." Lance said, but Keith just brushed him off.

"Not freak. Furry!" And then Keith fell back into the pod, and fell asleep into a deep healing sleep. Lance would put him under for an hour, that would be enough to heal his shoulder, he hoped.

Now to defend Keith to the rest of the team. 

"He's Galra!" Lance seemed to walk in on the perfect time as Allura's yell of outrage was heard. "Where is he!" She hissed out.

"In the pod, where he can heal after his ordeal. Now let's talk strategy." Lance said as he walked further into the castle ship bridge where he noticed only Voltron members were seated. 

"Exactly! We need to devise a strategy on how to get rid of him" Allura said and Lance was absolutely floored and based on everyone else's exclamations they all thought it was an out of line statement as well.

"Allura, what do you mean get rid of him!" Pidge hissed out. "Keith is the Red Paladin, he is our friend and family-"

"The Galra are no friends of mine!" Allura yelled out and Lance noticed the tears falling down her face. "And you're either with me or with them if you chose to follow him." 

"Allura! Just a couple hours ago you were talking about how much you loved him, how important he was to you, and now you're just going to... abandon him?" Hunk said in disbelief.

"He abandoned us first. He lied to us. He's a treacherous filthy half-breed galra soldier, and he is not welcome on my ship." She said stomping her foot as tears slid down her face and everyone was furious and Allura knew she had taken a step too far when she saw Coran's look of disapproval. "I didn't... I-" 

"Get some rest, cool down and excuse yourself now before you say anything you will regret, or worse, before you say anything you will regret to Keith." Lance said.

"But Lance, surely you must-"

"Now, Princess, please." Lance said, so annoyed with her that for once he couldn't even look at her. He couldn't believe this. He only looked up to the other paladins when he heard the doors open and close behind Allura's quiet sobs. "I swear if any one of you says something bad about him I'm going to-"

"We're not Lance." Pidge cut in quickly. "We were defending him, if anything we were more worried about you." She said honestly.

"I've known my whole life what is was like for people to hate you based on where you come from. My skin tone isn't all too popular anywhere outside a very crowded populous area, and even then I wasn't guaranteed safety. Of course I would support him when the time came for everyone to find out." Lance said with ease.

"When he came out?" Pidge asked. "How long have you known?" She asked, and Lance could see it in her eyes that she's known for some time too.

"Since the Balmera, when we were alone together to close the bay door to stop the Galra from coming and going, he used his arm and it worked. Earlier that day, you told me only Galra-"

"Could interact with their own technology." Pidge finished off for him with a nod and a smile. 

"How long have you known?" He asked.

"When he made that big deal about all matter being the same. Something had been off with him for a while and when he brought the Galra into it, it sort of clicked." Pidge said with a shrug.

"Anyone else?" Lance asked.

"Found out about it today." Hunk said easily, Shiro nodded along.

"Coran?"

"He's magic. When you were infiltrating the Galra base a while ago, when the Princess got caught, he let me look through his helmet so I can see the quintessence and he forgot to turn the camera off when the fight was happening. I watched as his skin grew purple and as the druids magic flew through him. It's a very rare Galra trait, it'll be something to look forward to with the lions." Coran said, trying to lighten up the mood. 

"And you're okay with it?" Shiro asked. "The Galra hurt you like they hurt Allura." And Coran shook his head quickly.

"No, they didn't hurt me nearly as bad as they hurt Allura. I remember Altea as beautiful, she only remembers the war." He said pausing only for a moment to remember his home planet. He then cleared his throat and returned to the topic at hand. "As for Keith, well we're two two flogs in a golbendash.  We gotta stick together don't we Shiro?" Coran asked a smile on his face, sad but still there and Shiro was nodding along.

"Yeah, we do. So are we all in agreement? We all want to fight for Keith to stay no matter what the Princess says?" Shiro asked getting a round of nods from the group.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll try and bring the Princess around, I'm sure she'll be the most receptive to my presence at the moment." Coran said, excusing himself quickly before leaving the remaining paladins on the bridge.

"Alright, Hunk, Pidge you two go and begin dealing with Kolivan, I'm sure you have a lot of questions to ask him, so give him hell for Keith. Lance I want you to come with me to the med bay, I want to see what you've done for Keith, it might not be enough." Shiro said with a sigh and they were quick to follow Shiro's commands. 

It was an awfully quiet walk to the med bay, and after all that serious conversation, Lance wanted to talk about something that wasn't serious for the moment. 

"Hey Shiro, what does 'two flogs in a golbendash' mean?"

"It's kind of like two peas in a pod." Shiro explained and Lance nodded along.

"So then explain to me how you, Coran and Keith are all two peas in a pod?"

"Oh, it's because we're all gay."

"Oh that makes sen- quiznacking what?!"

Chapter Text

Keith knew it would be painful to witness Allura turn against him, he really did, but he didn't expect it to hurt nearly this much. He thought they'd formed such a strong friendship over this whole space adventure, his strongest friendship outside his friendship with Shiro. It was excellent while it lasted, but now she couldn't even stand to look at him. 

It helped though that Lance was constantly at his side, somehow supporting him over the "beautiful princess" that he was so in love with. It actually floored him a little bit, but he didn't really want to look a gifted baldersnatch in the hordgor or whatever the alien phrase was. He was just glad that everyone else was with him, even if Lance and Shiro were the most vocal.

Which brought them to today, exactly three days later to the middle of a war meeting detailing how they could take down Zarkon. The same meeting Hunk managed to fall asleep during, which Keith couldn't really blame him for, Hunk hasn't been sleeping well since that first bad wormhole trip. 

"Really? I doze for ten minutes and you guys figure out how to defeat the forces of evil?" Hunk asked in disbelief.

"You've been asleep for three whole hours." Pidge said to Hunk's disbelief.

Hunk then looked around the bridge to see Shiro standing with the Blade of Marmora leaders Keith to his side. Allura and Coran were on the opposite side of the table as they looked at the giant holographic map of Zarkon's main ship and fleet. 

"I think we have something here." Shiro said, hope in his voice that eased Hunk in an unbelievable way. "It's dangerous and has a lot of moving parts, but if we can coordinate it all, then it could work. We could actually finish this."

"The savagery our nation has plagued the universe with can now be put to an end." Kolivan said tersely. "This will all be over very soon. It is thanks to you, Shiro." Kolivan said nodding to the Black Paladin. Shiro though just held his hand out to Kolivan.

"No, it's thanks to us." He said happily. After looking down at the hand, Kolivan took it to give a shake of peace and Allura's quick tone was the one that calls off the moment of peace between Voltron and Galra.

"As long as we all stick to the plan, this should work."  She said glaring openly at Kolivan, Shiro just sighed in disappointment at her open hostility.

"It will work." Was Kolivan's response, brushing off her cool attitude. He then looked from Allura to Keith then back to the Princess. "And maybe when this is all done, you will learn that not all Galra are bad, Princess." He said simply.

Allura jolted at that sentence and just turned slightly to look at Keith, who was not at all looking at her. That was fine, she didn't need to see him anyways. He was Galra, he was bad. She looked away from him and of course that was the moment Keith looked to her and saw her completely ignoring him once more.

"I hope not."

"Ulaz was right to trust you all." Kolivan's right hand said easily, looking towards the kit that stood by his side. 

"He sacrificed everything to bring us together." Shiro said simply. "We can repay him by taking down Zarkon." At the sound of Shiro finishing off his motivational speech the rest of the paladins joined the crew, Pidge saddled herself up next to Keith in between him and the rest of the Galra rather easily causing a much needed smile to appear on his face.

"So what's the plan?" Hunk asked and before Pidge could open up her mouth to give the proper response to Hunk's question Lance spoke.

"So here's the plan! It's amazing! First we infect Zarkon's base with a computer virus." Lance said smile on his face as he 'poked' the hologram before moving away towards the controls.

"Then we're going to put the out of commission base into a worm hole zapping it a million miles away." Lance said bouncing happily around the bridge. "And then when he pops out on the other side of the wormhole all 'What's going on with my base?!' Voltron's going to come in and-" Then Lance made a bunch of slashing and fighting sounds simulating a Voltron battle. "Shiro will be all 'I'll form the head!' and then we win! Oh yeah!!!" And then Lance started to dance around the bridge taking a moment to shake his butt in victory in front of Keith, forcing another smile and small laugh out of the usually stoic paladin.

"And then we've won for all time!" Lance cheered.

"Wow." Hunk said after a moment of shock. "So this is it, huh?" He asked accidentally stopping the joking mood. Everyone was in silent awe for a moment before Pidge spoke.

"So the question is, when do we strike?" She asked and the Coran was pulling up plans. 

"First we need to create a teledov that's big enough to support a worm hole large enough to transport Zarkon's whole ship." Coran said pulling up a hologram of the design. 

"The teledov again?" Hunk asked in disbelief.

"Does that mean we need to get more of that scultrite?" Hunk asked.

"Not just that, that's one of the many things that we'll need." Allura said simply.

"So that means we need to go to the space mall again?" Hunk asked hopefully.

"Afraid not, we need much more than what we could find at the mall." Coran said simply. "For this plan to succeed we're gonna need to split up. We all have a task to do." 

Hunk ran into his lion's hanger laughing loudly as he taunted Pidge yelling out, "I get to have my life changing bonding moment with Keith before you!" Hunk teased as he hugged Pidge goodbye.

"Yeah yeah, just don't die before I can have my own bonding moment." She said, but of course that reinforced the reality of the situation into Hunk and then he was crying and holding Pidge tighter. "Okay, okay, you'll be fine Hunk." Pidge said through her own tears. 

"Now go say goodbye to Lance, I need to say my own goodbyes. Emotween 2k18 where are you?" Pidge asked through sniffles. 

"Over here Pidgey."  And then Pidge was launching herself at Keith for a long and thorough hug.

"Stay safe okay? I want you and Hunk coming back in one piece." She said rubbing her head further into the unforgiving armor. Keith just pat her head down and sighed, a small smile on his face.

"Of course, you too. I don't want to lose anymore of my family." And then they were pulling away so Keith could say his other goodbyes. 

Coran went up to him and gave him a good pat on the back before handing him a disk. "Watch this if you want to live my boy!" He said simply. Keith watched him walk away as he saw Lance and Hunk's emotional goodbye. Keith turned around to see Shiro waiting for him. Shiro pulled Keith into a hug, not saying much, but the message was there all the same.

Shiro then went to give Hunk his hug all the same to overhear Hunk teasing Lance rather easily. "You just had to shake your butt in front of his face to get a laugh didn't you?" Shiro saw Hunk smile knowingly.

Lance just scoffed in annoyance.

"So what if I did, he hasn't smiled in a while, he needs it. Smiling helps your skin you know and-" Then Shiro coughed stopping Lance quickly. 

"If you want to say your goodbyes, I would suggest going now." Shiro nodded towards Keith who was already walking into the yellow lion, and Lance was running off.

"Oh, um, see ya Hunk!" Then Lance was running off.

Shiro looked to Hunk who just shook his head in disbelief before allowing Shiro to pull him into a hug. "They're idiots." He said and Shiro just laughed.

"Yeah, they are, but they'll figure it out eventually." Shiro said with a smile, then there was a small cough and they stopped their own moment to turn and see Allura standing there arms out to hug Hunk.

"Stay safe Hunk." She said pulling him tighter to her before going to walk away.

"You're not going to say goodbye to Keith? Good luck? Nothing?" Hunk asked a little annoyed. 

"Well, he seems occupied." She said simply before turning her back.

"Then afterwards?" Hunk asked, but Allura just kept walking away from them and Hunk sighed in disbelief.

"I really don't know how long I can stand this, at least Lance is distracting Keith enough from overhearing this conversation." Hunk said shrugging before going to move to the Yellow lion. 

Of course during that whole interacting, this was going on.

"Wow! Samurai, no goodbye?" Lance yelled out as he finally made his way towards Keith. Keith stood taller than him, already further up on the ramp than Lance.

"You're here to say goodbye? Of course you are." Keith said in disbelief.

"Yeah, goodbye and good luck right? I'm sure you won't need it, but still, stay safe and come back alive and all that jazz." Lance said with a shrug and Keith hit him with a soft smile Lance recognized from before when he had been cradled in his arms and Lance found himself smiling along just as soft.

"Why, are you worried about me?" Keith teased and Lance just shrugged.

"Maybe, maybe not, but if you don't come back alive who do I have to make fun of? Compete with? Who do I have to-"

"Lance, thank you." And Lance stopped talking as he looked to Keith in shock. "For all of this, just thank you. I know what you're all doing and I know you're the mastermind behind it all. You haven't let my side since I found out, of course I'd notice." He said with a shrug and Lance let out a sad laugh.

"Of course I was there. You were going to be alienated for something you couldn't help- pun not intended." Lance added quickly. 

"Of course Lance, pun not intended my ass." Keith teased easily and Lance was going to say something else, but Hunk spoke instead.

"Alright, come on we've got scultrite to collect!" Hunk said as he went to grab onto Keith to pull him into the Lion, and Keith gave Lance a soft smile before going to turn around and enter the ship.

"Wait!" Lance didn't know why he stopped Keith. Why he grabbed onto Keith's hand, why he made Keith turn around just so he could see him one last time. God Lance say something. "I just wanted to say... stay safe out there."

And Keith let out a small laugh and gave Lance a steady smile.

"You too, sharp shooter."

And then Keith followed Hunk into the Yellow Lion. When Lance saw the doors to the lion close, he was quick to get off the ramp leading up the the yellow lion, waving goodbye as they went off.

"So, 'just stay safe out there,' huh?" 

"Shiro, you may be stronger than me, but I'll still kick your ass."

"'You too, sharp shooter?"

"Hunk, I will kill you."

"Who knew Galra Keith was so angry?"

"HUNK!"

"Lance we're taking Blue, hurry up!" Pidge said quickly running up the Blue lion's ramp and Lance gave her a steady smile nodding for Shiro to follow her, and that he'd be there quickly.

"Princess." Lance called out and he saw how annoyed at him she looked when she turned to face him. Honestly, Lance knew he was a flirt, but she could have just asked him to stop at any point and he would. "Get over it." Lance said quickly and nearly winced at the bite to his tone.

"Lance."

"There's a high probability that something will go wrong, don't mess this up by not apologizing and putting your differences aside." He said simply.

"Differences? How dare you he is-"

"Your best friend." Lance hissed out. "We can all see it, so put your prejudice behind you and make peace with it, you'll hate yourself if you don't do it, so do it." He said simply before going to his lion to start his own mission.

When the castle was quiet, Allura took her spot at the helm and set a course for the Balmera to do her mission. 

She tried not to think about where her thoughts dwelled.

"Why does Allura get to take a pleasant trip to the Balmera and we have to go get scultrite out of the belly of a giant space worm." Hunk huffed out in annoyance. 

"You know why, Coran said that building a teledov was a big job and we all have to play our part and this one is ours." Keith quoted Coran in monotone and Hunk huffed out in annoyance.

"Yeah I know, but I always get the worst jobs." Hunk said. "Go to a galra occupied planet to get my lion, go to a Galra occupied balmera to get a crystal, go to the belly of an alien beast with the only Galra alien team member. At least you're a good guy!" Hunk said nodding towards Keith, with a joking tone, but Keith clearly didn't notice it as he took offense to it.

"I'm not an alien!" He said annoyed and Hunk winced. "Sorry, I'm still-"

"Yeah, I get it." Hunk said simply. "But you do know you are an alien? At least way more alien than me! Like do you know how many people would be pleased with the proof of your birth on Earth? Giorgio A. Tsoukalos is quaking." Hunk said laughing, and it was enough to get Keith smiling, if just a little bit before he went back to being serious.

"Alright, but let's concentrate on the job." He said coming to stand next to Hunk. 

"Okay, but was your Mom alien? Grandpa? Like how alien are you?" Hunk asked not even bothering with the pretense of doing their job. He was curious and Lance usually stopped them all from asking these questions. He was all 'no questions til he's comfortable!' but like, Hunk was a curious boy.

"I don't know." Keith shrugged. "The knife was my moms, and that's the alien knife, so the alien is definitely from her side of the family, but it could have been her parents? I never got to ask my Dad about her before he died." And Hunk could have crashed the Yellow lion if it were not for the fact they were in open space.

"You're all alone?" He asked voice cracking. 

"It wasn't that bad. Shiro found me early on and with him came Adam and the Holts and now you guys, so it's okay." Keith shrugged.

"But still..." Hunk said in disbelief. "Did the Blade of Marmora at least teach you the secret hand shake or something?" He asked in disbelief.

"No, no one said anything."

"Wow, I knew the Blade of Marmora was secret, but not that secret, so they really haven't told you anything yet?" Hunk asked.

"It has only been three days." Keith tried to defend, but at Hunk's deadpan he continued. "I haven't been told anything."

And Hunk was going to say something else, when he saw Keith shut off, he knew he was about to snap and close himself off like he always did when something really, really bothered him.

"Look! Allura already hates me, so can you please just, lay off?" And if that didn't break Hunk's heart he didn't know what would.

"Allura doens't hate you. You're her best friend! A platonic soulmate if I do say so myself, like me and Lance so-"

"So why can't she stand to look at me, huh? Hunk I've ruined my entire friendship with her, I opened up so much to her because she's so much like me, she reminds me of Adam and I wanted to feel safe for once and-" Keith stopped himself from talking, he rubbed his thumb meticulously against his hand and Hunk knew that motion, his own sister suffered from anxiety, this was a coping mechanism, it was used to comfort yourself and Hunk nearly let go of the controllers to comfort him, but he couldn't not now. 

"You just need to give her some more time to accept you're Galra, trust me she'll come around, and if she doesn't well then screw the Princess, I'll be your best friend." Hunk said easily and Keith looked at him in disbelief before a small sad smile graced his face.

"I thought Lance was your best friend."

"I can have two!" Hunk defended. "My heart is big enough for two best friends!" 

"Sure Hunk, sure." He said and Hunk watched as his thumb stopped its comforting motion and Hunk sighed in relief. "Come on though, we should watch the video Coran gave us and get back to task."

And then they played the most confusing video they've ever watched, because holy shit, Coran was jacked, and the video was messed up so all the information they needed was cut out as it corrupted where they needed to pay attention most.

Hunk was ready to slam his head into the Yellow Lion's controls. 

But of course that was when the weblum appeared and it was Huge. Nothing could have prepared Keith for the size of it. Hunk wanted to abort, they haven't finished the video yet, they wouldn't know what to do, but Keith told him to push forward, they needed this scultrite, and he was willing to do almost anything to get it. So of course due to their recklessness, they put themselves in direct danger of being pulverized by the weblum. Great. Idiots.

Following the directions in Coran's video, they parked the Yellow Lion in the weblums blind spot, to the great terror of Hunk as he had just almost died, again. 

God Hunk has almost died too many times for his short life. When this was all over he needed a nap. 

"Good, we're going in." Keith said, following the simple, under explained directions of Coran's video, but Hunk didn't really put up much of a fight, he knew they needed this skultrite just as much as everyone else.

"Why are you tempering with evidence?" Thace asked, hoping the slight panic in his tone came out more annoyed than worried.

"I was ordered to assist you in the investigation, Commander." Haggar's second in command mage told Thace simply as he continued to tamper with the galra sentry Thace knew he destroyed.  

"By who?"

"Haggar. I've analyzed the sentry that was attacked right before the shields went down." He said.

"The one that was killed by Prorock, I've already examined it." Thace said trying not to think of the crush of metal against his blade.

"So you've found trace elements of Luxite on the wound." And Fuck, no one was supposed to notice that. "It's a very rare metal, if we find other's on the ship with that metal, we'll find out traitor." And Thace couldn't allow that, that would threaten the lives of too many Blade members, he had to end this now. 

"Then what are you waiting for, begin the search in the lower block." He said before going to leave, but the witch was still following him. "Is there anything else?"

"As chief investigator, your life could be in danger, I was assigned to guard you." He said and Thace couldn't have that, he needed to get his information to the Blade immediately and he couldn't do that with a baby sitter.

They entered the first stomach with unease, Hunk was particularly freaked out, he hated being in a stomach, Keith needed to snap him out of it.

"Look, Hunk, we're in a giant, disgusting stomach, there's no way to sugar coat it, but we'll need that big brain of yours to get out of here, so I'll need you to focus, okay?" Keith asked trying to calm down Hunk's panicking mind and heart. "Will you be alright?" But Hunk wasn't listening to Keith grabbed onto him, and gave him a quick shake to make sure they held eye contact before speaking again. "Will you be alright?"

"Ok, ok..." Hunk took a deep breath before exhaling. "I'll be okay." He said before giving himself a steadying nod. When Keith felt he was okay, he stepped away from Hunk to give him the space he needed.

"Good, I'm going to count on you." Keith said placing a hand on Hunk's shoulder before turning away from him, a smug, happy look on his face. "Besides," He teased. "No one knows an explosive digestive track like you." 

And Hunk was in disbelief. 

"Wait, wait, wait. Did you just make a joke!" Hunk said. He let out a small laugh before noticing Keith not even acknowledging him. That was a sign that he was embarrassed. "Seriously that was a joke wasn't it, I get it. It was funny!" Come on Hunk, make him laugh, what would Lance say.

"Wow Galra Keith's funny." Hunk teased causing Keith to snort in disbelief.

"Alright, alright, I know it wasn't that funny." Keith said shaking his head. "Now we need to find a way to get out of this stomach acid and fast." He said changing the subject. 

And that's when things went to shit as the bacteria in the Weblum's stomach tried to dissolve them. They were trying to break down the weblums food, and they were the food! 

Keith went to slash at the bacteria as Hunk began to fire at them, but it was no use. There were too many, and then Hunk was falling through the circulatory system leaving Keith all alone in the stomach acid.

"Hunk, I'm outnumbered here! Meet me in the third stomach." And like the idiot he is, he jumped into the acid, but it lead him here.

Acxa could not remember how long she had been trapped in the weblum, the pod of her ship was designed to keep her alive for a year, and she had already been there for a month.  

She was truly starting to go mad until her savior literally fell from the stomach onto her ship, and she was shocked. 

"Stay there, I'm going to help you. Don't move I'm going to cut you out!" He said to her before he slashed into the cockpit of her ship. 

So now she was free, how would she escape? She still needed to complete the mission for-

And her savior disarmed her, quickly, she was rather impressed at how fast he could steal her own weapon and oh wow. 

That was a face she hasn't seen in years.

"You're galra." He said and Axca took a moment to look into the face so similar to hers.

But she couldn't think on it long, they were being attacked by the weblum again and she didn't waste any time in turning her ship into a bomb, it would stop the attack, little did she know that he would protect her. He pulled up a shield and used it to stop the exploding ship and bacteria from harming them, and she was rather touched by his need to protect his enemy. 

Did he even know who she was?

He had saved her life, and now she must save his.

Keith lowered his shield, looking to where the Galra troop had just fired their gun, three bacteria were dead now. He was shocked. 

"I guess you can keep your weapon." He said rather uneasily, but he knew if they were to get out of here alive they needed to work together.

And together they made it to the third stomach the same time Hunk did. Keith wasn't expecting the warm welcome though.

"Keith you made it! Oh everyone would so kill me if you died here!" Hunk said before wrapping Keith in a hug and spinning him around, that's when he noticed the extra person. "Uh, Keith, who's that?"

"Someone I found, they don't talk much, also they're... Galra." Keith added on rather unsure of how Hunk would respond.

"What do you all know each other?" Hunk teased and Keith felt only marginally better.

"Hunk, we're really not that secret of a society." And Axca turned her head away from the conversation. So he did know, but how much. She knew the Blade wasn't good on knowledge, she knew from first hand experience.

"Are you sure we should be rescuing a Galra soldier right now?" Hunk asked.

"We're paladins of Voltron Hunk, we can't just leave people to die, even if they're Galra. I know we can't save every life, but I'd at least like to try." Keith said turning to Hunk, and without even knowing it, he had that soft Keith Look and Hunk found himself agreeing against his better judgment.

"Stupid space kitty eyes."

"What?"

"Nothing, just... I'll trust you with this." Hunk said, but now they need to figure out a way to make the scultrite crystalized, and just as they were discussing how to do it, of course the bacteria found them again. 

And it was far worse than ever before, there was no defending it, their only hope was to activate the weblum and that left Hunk and his brilliant mind to work. He needed to get out of the weblum so it could fire it's canon which would crystalize the scultrite, it would be dangerous, but they had to do it. 

All Axca could think about was how recklessly stupid these two people were.

For the sake of the Universe Hunk was about to be farted out a giant alien just to provoke it, he would be lying if he said he wasn't psyched.

"Good luck out there, we'll handle the collection of the scultrite down here." Keith said giving Hunk a steadying nod. Now they just needed to find a place to hide so they wouldn't get burnt to a crisp by the weblum's acid. 

Plus, of course, they needed to hold back the bacteria. 

If Axca ever got out of here alive, she... well she had no idea what she'd do, this was insane.

Thace had seconds before his baby sitter would catch up with him when he needed minutes to upload this information. He was screwed if everything did not go exactly as planned. 

And he had just barely made it.

"Sir, I must remain by your side, Haggar's orders." And this was really getting on his nerves, he didn't even get to send the information to the Blade, he had it, but he couldn't get it to them. He was going to fa-

No, he cannot think that.

The universe depends on him.

"Hunk whatever you're going to do, do it now!" Keith yelled out and that's when he felt the shift in the stomach.

"Yes! It's gonna do it! Oh no, it's gonna do it! Keith run!" And then Hunk was flying away and Keith was finding a hideaway and using his shield to save himself and the mystery Galra soldier.

"Tell me you got the scultrite?" Hunk asked.

"I'm grabbing it now." And Keith let his guard down to collect it and was disappointed, and not truly surprised when he heard the fire up of a weapon to his back. "So you're just like the rest of them?" He asked disappointed before turning to face the soldier he had just saved.  

They just took a bag of scultrite, and went away, Keith watching them the whole time. He sighed once more before turning his mic on to contact Hunk. "I'm coming out." 

And they were flying away from the weblum, Keith walked through the Yellow Lion's to the cockpit to be near Hunk.

"Where's your buddy?"

"Long gone by now." Keith said tiredly, "He took a bag of scultrite with him too." And Hunk knew Keith was disappointed, Keith just found out a majority of his alien race was bad, of course he would look far and wide for good influences. 

"What, should we go after them?" Hunk asked.

"No, by the time we're done here, it won't matter what the Galra are planning, we'll have succeeded." He said.

"Alright, whatever you say." Hunk said with a shrug. And God it took everything in him not to laugh immediately at the next sentence. 

"By the way Hunk, you really came through in the clutch back there. Without you the mission would have been a failure." And truly there wasn't anything all too funny about the sentence, but the body language, the slight lowering of his voice, Hunk was positive Keith didn't even know he was doing it and then he let out a snort of disbelief, which lead to a full bellied laughter.

"What?"

"Do you have any idea what you're doing? Like I'm honored Keith really, but I'm gonna marry Shay and I'm pretty sure Lance wouldn't like you flirting with me."

"I wasn't flirting!" 

"Oh sure, Mr. Lean in, lower voice, soft look. I know your games you filthy temptress!" Hunk teased seeing Keith blush in embarrassment. 

"It's not flirting, I'm just.... trying to start conversation." 

"When my head hit's the pillow, I'm lights out." Hunk said, lowering his voice to imitate Keith's causing him to flush a deeper red than he already was. 

"Hunk!"

"Lance, I got your lion back!"

"Hunk please I swear to God-"

"We had a bonding moment! I cradled you in my arms!" 

"So what if I'm flirting!" Keith huffed out turning away from Hunk in embarrassment. "It's not like you're ugly."

"Aw, thank you Keith, if I was interested in guys I would be all over you too." And Hunk knew Keith was bright red. "I just wasn't expecting you to flirt with anyone besides Lance."

"I flirt with people who aren't Lance." Keith tried to defend himself. 

"Like who?" And Keith paused and really had to think. 

"Um... Rolo?" And Hunk rolled his eyes.

"Yeah Lance is better and way closer to your league." Hunk dismissed. "Of course I'm way out of both of your leagues so." And now Keith was laughing again easily. 

"Is it that obvious?"

"Well, Lance doesn't seem to know. He thought you and Allura were dating up until like a week ago." And Keith made a jokingly disgusted face until he remembered his current situation with Allura and Hunk wanted to bash his head in. Idiot. 

Quick change the subject.

"Well, all the same, thank you Galra Keith, you're alright, too. You know I think turning you Galra has made you a better human too!" Hunk teased with a wink and Keith got adorably frustrated.

"I didn't just turn Galra!"

"Whatever you say, samurai."

"Don't call me that." 

"What, is only Lance allowed to call you that?" Hunk teased and when he got no response, well he was laughing the rest of the way home. 

Chapter Text

"Alright guys we're ready to fire." Lance said easily.

"Alright Lance, just don't miss." Pidge said in warning. "Remember you only got one shot!" 

"Pidge I don't miss! Shooting's my thing!" Lance explained easily. 

"Since when!?" Pidge asked annoyed and panicked.

"Since Keith noticed." Shiro teased and over their laughter and Lance sighed in annoyance. 

"Hello? Are you ready to be launched or what?" He asked and when he got the confirmation, he counted them down before firing them out of his lion. 

Pidge didn't want to say this, but she knew that Lance wouldn't miss, she trusted him with her life and she knew Shiro did as well. 

So it was really no surprise when Lance's aim was true.

"This seems like an awfully large place to only hold one prisoner." Pidge said as she hacked into the security system using her tech and Shiro's arm. 

"Yeah, let's hope he's as good as the Blade says he is." Shiro said simply.

"Alright, onto phase 2. Lance you have four dobashes to scan the base and land your lion before the system restarts. Ready? Go." Pidge said taking down the sensors. 

When Lance saw the movement on the base stop, he began to initialize the lions sonic scan, he made quick work of the base before high tailing it to land his lion in time. 

They couldn't have timed it any better if they tried.

"Alright, phase two complete."

"My lord, Haggar told us not to-" But the Druid could not finish his sentence, for he was dead by his hand. 

"Remember who your true master is. Now give me more." 

"Using the data collected from the Blue lion scan, I've created this map, the prison looks like it has three different levels of security, but that's odd." Pidge said directing their attention to one point of the map. "There appears to be two prison cells? Who else could be here?"

"Probably a space ninja, or like a magical alien! I don't know I'm just spitballing here." Lance said easily. But of course they wouldn't humor him.

Now they'd have to check both cells. 

"I'm going to access the security system to give you guys over head coverage, keep in touch okay and tell me when you've found Slav." She said simply and then they were off.

"I'm in." Pidge told them a minute later once she entered the prisons security system.

"What's going on?"

"Looks like the first level is patrolled by sentries, the second level by floating drones and oh! That's interesting the second level also has immobilizing foam."

"Great Pidge, that sounds excellent." Lance sighed in defeat.

"And the third?"

"Closed I can't get in there from here, no single spot here can give you full access to the prison." Pidge informed the two of them and Shiro sighed in annoyance, couldn't one mission be easy? Just one? "When you reach that level, link me in."

"Roger."

And when they did that, Pidge would spend the next couple of minutes using their data base to search for Matt.

The first floor was a breeze, the second floor, they thought they were spotted just for Pidge to tell them that it was her. Now through them, Pidge had access to everywhere she needed.

"Pidge you have any idea how I'm going to get through these doors!" 

"Pidge move someone's coming!" And then a menacing man was approaching the doorway and Lance watched as he scanned his face before stepping in.

"Shiro I can't access the door through here." She said.

"It's facial recognition." Lance supplied easily, hearing Pidge groan in annoyance. 

"Of course it is. Lance i'm going to need to to get a picture of his face so I can make a 3D scan for the two of you to use, got it?" She asked.

"Roger that, Pidge."

And that was the most stressful photo Lance had ever taken, and then they had access.

"Are you Slav?" Shiro asked.

"Are you hear to torture me?" Slav asked, at least Shiro knew it was Slav.

"No, I'm a paladin of Voltron, I'm here to rescue you." 

"Oh no, that's even worse! In 53 and 3 hundredths percent of realities involving a prison break I die! And your chances are even worse!" Slav yelled out in despair and Shiro knew he was in for a long day.

Lance on the other hand was having an easier time getting Slav. 

"Slav, I'm here to rescue you, that is are you Slav?" 

"Yup." 

"Pidge I got Slav." Both Shiro and Lance said at the same time, and god this couldn't get any worse, she was trapped in the command center and they'd already accessed Slav's intelligent brain. Great, another thing for Pidge to deal with. 

"Nope!" The real Slav said when Shiro told him it was time to go.

"Why not! We have the Blade of Marmora, the Olkari and Voltron all fighting against him, why won't you come with us and help us?" Shiro asked annoyed.

"First, you're in the Black Lion, that already suggest a 50% chance of total success instead of a 70% chance with the proper paladin and the Blue paladin is also wrong which lowers our chances down to 40% And with the Red Lion wrong as well it's a mess!" Slav went to say more, but Shiro was annoyed.

"Slav, we're getting out of here. Now. We need you to finally defeat him, we'll win if we do this, now come with me."

 And he had the nerve to shrug his shoulders and hum in disagreement.

"I can have you on the Blue lion and gone in no time, all you have to do is leave." Shiro said simply and Slav seemed to perk at that.

"The Blue Lion? You should have mentioned that earlier! We have the best chance of survival here with her at the helm!" He said and Shiro thought he had won. "But first!" Then Slav had the nerve to tern around and started fidgeting with his prison blanket. 

Shiro was done.

"Oh come on!"

"Oh now I have to start over!" 

"Are you sure you know where you're going?" Lance asked and that's when he noticed that they were spotted by a drone. He went to shoot at it, but Slav got to it first and savagely ripped at it with it's teeth, maybe that why the Blade liked him so much, he was vicious and Lance knew all about that. He thought bitterly as he remembered Keith clutching at his shoulder after returning from the base.

"Great! Let's go!" And Shiro wanted to cry in disbelief. This was excellent. This was great. Superb. "Nope! No! Nevermind!" And Shiro could feel the rest of his hair getting grey.

"What's wrong now!"  

"It's that!" 

"That's just a tiny puddle, you'll be fine." Shiro said going to move, but Slav stopped him again.

"No! In 12% of realities I slip and hurt myself and in another 2% I even drown!" He said with a gravity that didn't even make sense in this situation.

"You'll be fine! It's a tiny PUDDLE!" And then Shiro was carrying him all the way past the puddle and through the corridors perfectly fine.

"So Pidge's the hacker of our group and Shiro's our awesome Leader. Hunk's our mechanic, he's also our chef, and just overall a pretty cool dude to hang out with. And you know, Keith is always doing these cool things like flying into asteroid fields and black holes and cool junk like that and I thought that I was the team sharp shooter, but maybe I'm not. Maybe I don't have a thi-"

You too, Sharp Shooter.

"No, I'm definitely the team sharp shooter. They have me here because I'm more than a place holder for the Blue paladin, right?"

"Yup."

"And they would tell me if I wasn't important right? Or, no they'd probably lie as to not hurt my feelings right?"

"Yup."

"You don't have to agree with me so quickly, you know that right!? Coran loves me, and so does Hunk and I at least think everyone else tolerates me." 

"Yup."

God Lance was annoyed by this thing, and he was really starting to figure out that this probably wasn't Slav, but he was in too deep at this point and felt bad for abandoning him. 

Well maybe it could be Slav, just maybe Slav post like a couple months of straight torture.

"Yup."

Yeah that wasn't Slav.

"You're so strong, it must be the robot arm, but doesn't that bother you that you only have one- ah!" 

"Now what!" Shiro would have killed this man if not for the laws of this Earth. 

"There are cracks! I can't step on any of them, I'd break my mother's back!"

"That's real?"  WAIT! Shiro no, think about this, the mission, you don't want him going off on another unnecessary tangent, again!

"You're not even the one stepping on the cracks I am!"

"It's the principle of it all!"

"Pidge are you there, we need an alternate route." 

"Yeah I've got the both of you, I was indisposed for a moment, and now I'm back." Pidge said easily locating Shiro and Lance on her monitor.

And really Shiro was pissed about everything, good thing Pidge found a way to turn off the gravity, thank god, now Shiro could fly them out and Lance knew for sure that this was not in fact Slav.

But at least he was a good distraction on the way out.

And this mission wasn't useless for Pidge either, for she found Matt. She took the Slav's tortured data and ran.

"Oh wow you have Leika!"

"What's a leika?" 

"The Wardon's pet animal. She's a yupper." Slav said simply.

"God that makes so much sense." 

"Yup."

And then Pidge voice was heard through their earpieces. "Guys, gravity is turning on in three, two, one! I'll meet you by the lion."

And yet again because no mission is easy, there were sentries guarding Blue and blocking their escape.  

"Get to the lion!" Shiro yelled out, abandoning his post next to Slav, to take down the sentries. Of course the Wardon had to show up and used a super powered serum to make himself HUGE. He was simply too powerful for three humans, too strong.

And now he had Lance and Pidge, easily throwing the two of them. How were they going to get out of there?

Then Slav opened up the bay doors and everyone was flying out. They were all free, but Slav was caught in the Wardon's grasp.

"No!" Shiro cried out.

"Wait! I got this!" Lance yelled out and readied his gun, he took a deep breath aim and

You too, sharp shooter.

Fired. 

And of course Lance landed the target, he was the best shot in the whole galaxy. 

Then Slav was being launched into space and slammed into Pidge, Shiro had a goofy, happy smile on his face as he turned to Lance and cheered, "Nice shot! That's why we bring our sharp shooter."

"Yup." Lance replied in a poor imitation of the yipper. But then Shiro's words really struck him. "Actually don't call me that-"

"Why only Keith gets to call you sharp shooter?" Shiro teased.

"No, it's just weird for other people to refer to me like that!" Lance defended and he could have sworn he heard a 'sure, Lance' but brushed it off so he could tell the Blue Lion to wake up and let them in.

You would bring the Bla-Red Paladin great honor.

"Blue the what now?"

"I spoke too soon."

"Blue!"

Good job sharp shooter, the Red one eagerly awaits your return!

"I can and will dump you on the side of the space road."

Then I'll just follow you home.

"Good thing you're so darn cute."

Right back at you.

And with the end of that conversation Lance walked himself into the cockpit from hell as it seems Shiro and Slav really, truly hate each other. 

"The information I found on my brother says he was taken by a group of rebels..." Pidge was saying and Lance really wanted to pay attention, but he's been flying Blue a grand total of ten seconds when Slav began to examine everything about the Blue lion and it was putting his main girl in distress. 

"Matt's a lot like you, he's a survivor, we'll find him." 

And then, of course, Slav had to stick his head in Shiro and Pidge's moment of realization that her brother was alive.

Lance really contemplates if their victory is worth keeping this weird ass chicken centipede safe. 

"Sire, I believe there is a traitor amongst our mist-"

"And I do not care, I need the Black Lion."

"You need to watch your back for those who plan to over throw everything we've worked for!"

"Everything, we've worked for?" He asked dangerously.

"I'm sorry, sire, I misspoke. But all the same, your Empire is being infiltrated and all you wish to focus on is the Black lion."  

"The Black lion holds the key to my success."

"No sire, I-"

"If you wish to live you will not finish that sentence." Zarkon said, finally turning to face Haggar. "I have amused your requests too long, all you have brought me was failures. We are done humoring your childish wants. Now give me more power." And he saw the way Haggar physically bit her tongue.

"Yes, sire."

Chapter Text

Without her paladins, the castle was truly very quiet and very lonely, but with these Earth road trip games and her mice, she made up for it rather quickly. 

It was then that she received a call from Coran who was stationed with the Olkari who were helping them build their much needed teledov. "How are you, Princess? Everything going well?"

"Yes, the journey is long, but everything so far is fine. I just hope I'll be able to find a crystal large enough to help us. How are you?"

"We're good every thing's going according to plan. Have you heard from the other paladins?" He asked her.

"I've had contact with Lance, Shiro and Pidge a little bit ago, they've been able to rescue Slav." She said cheerily. 

"That's good news. But what about Hunk and K-Keith." Coran said, stuttering over Keith's name at Allura's look.

"I haven't heard from Hunk yet." She said simply. 

"You're going to have to forgive-"

"Coran I have to go now."

"Wait! Wait Princess, you should know that the teledov should be ready soon, before you hang up on me." Coran said rather annoyed that Allura would be so much of a child as to forget her mission in a fit of anger. 

And then Coran remembered that really the paladins and the Princess were children. 

"That's good." She replied mindlessly.

"Princess, are you okay? You don't seem too good." Coran asked after a moments pause.

"Yes, I was just thinking of my Father. We're really going to do this Coran, put an end to what they started using my Father's greatest invention." She said.

"Yes Princess, we are. He would be proud of you." Coran said as he began to try and comfort Allura, and his speech rang true as he watched her jaw set and the good old Allura come to the forefront. 

"Thank you Coran." She said simply.

"Good luck on the Balmera Princess."

"The Balmera welcomes you back with open arms Princess Allura." The Grandmother, and leader of the planet said.

"Hello Princess, it is great to see you, did your friend the Paladin Hunk accompany you?" She asked quickly, looking over Allura's shoulders as if to look for him.

Allura gave her a small chuckle before shaking her head in the negative. "I'm sorry he could not accompany me here, he has his own mission to attend, but he asked me to give you his hello and well wishes." Allura said removing a piece of paper from her person to hand to Shay. She could not understand a single thing on it, but based on Shay's delighted face, she must have known what it meant.

"I am actually here on my own mission to help defeat Zarkon." And at that the whole Balmera burst into questioning murmers. 

"We will help you any way we can." The Elder spoke with ease. 

"If the Balmera can bare it, I need a crystal." Allura said simply, already knowing this was no simple task.

"A battleship crystal?" Shay asked in confirmation.

"No, bigger." And Allura watched as Shay's grandmother staggered back in disbelief. 

"I know what you are looking for, but it may be too much Princess." She said.

"Show me."

And so they went, deep into the darkest parts of the cave in search of the giant crystal that would be used to power the teledov. And from the moment she saw it, Allura was in awe.

It was huge.

God it would kill her to get that thing out, but she'd done it before, and she could do it again. 

She put her hands to the crystal, and gave it her energy as she watched the crystal slowly push itself from the Balmera's surface, out from the ground and above to her ship. It was burning her insides to do it, but it was working. Then she was loading the new gigantic crystal onto her castle ship.

She was saying her goodbyes when it all went to shit. 

Removing the crystal from the center of the Balmera let a crack emerge in the ice that held the Galran robot imprisoned. 

He was breaking free, and the people were running away. Havoc was everywhere.

She needed her paladins. Now.

"Take cover in the Balmera, I'll hold it off with the castles defenses!" Allura yelled out as she was now forced to face this beast on her own when even Voltron had issues fighting it.

And now since the Balmera crystal was infused with the beast, he was using the rocks that had imprisoned him as shields. How could he come out stronger after such a terrible ordeal?

And he was destroying the particle barrier. 

She needed to lure it away from the Balmera, and hopefully closer to Voltron. 

"Are you really trying to see if my skin is purple?" 

"Don't be ridiculous! Of course not! Why would I- yes I was." 

"Keith, Hunk, are you there!" And Hunk gave Keith a look that showed him just how pleased he was to see Allura acknowledging Keith. He let Keith answer this one.

"Keith and Hunk here, what's wrong Princess?" 

"You must return to the castle as quickly as you can. I need you. I'm going to open a portal in a minute, take it." She said anger in her voice, or was that dread, god they just didn't know. 

Keith went to go and tell her the affirmative, but she had already hung up on them. 

"Hunk-"

"Yeah, yeah, I'll pick up the pace so we can get to your non-girlfriend girl friend." He said with a sigh as he began to push the Yellow Lion faster.

"You didn't say we'd be traveling by teledov!"

"What's the problem!? We're traveling by teledov! So just count your hair follicles, or fluff a pillow or whatever you need to do to make sure we survive the wormhole trip in this reality!" And wow, Lance just watched as Shiro straight snapped. 

"I was just going to point out that teledov travel is one of the safest forms of intergalactic travel." Slav said rather un-easily has he noticed Shiro's body was still held stiff in rage.

"Paladins, are you there!?"

"Princess, what's happening?" Lance asked.

"The monster that attacked us on the Balmera has returned and is currently fighting me. I need you to return immediately to help me fight it, I don't know how much longer I can hold it off with just the castle!" She yelled out.

"Ready when you are Allura. " Lance said and after a nod from Hunk on the other end of the line, Allura opened a wormhole allowing the Yellow and Blue lions to transport back to her.

And now they were trouble shooting ideas on how to get rid of it, but none of their ideas would work without Voltron.

And now they were dodging the monster's lasers, the monster's much more powerful lasers.

"You want me to hold this monster off on my own!"  Hunk yelled out in disbelief as he watched the Blue Lion high-tail it towards the castle ship.

"You have Keith!" Pidge pointed out.

"Yeah, but he's in here with me! I'll have no lion support, no offense Keith."

"None take- DODGE!" And they were back in the fray of avoiding things that would most certainly kill them.

Thace went to retrieve the device he stored in the room, it was all too easy, he should have realized it was a trap. 

Now he's blown everything.

"Those crystals are blocking all our attacks and now the castle is doomed unless we distract that beast!" 

And Hunk launched himself at it throwing it out of orbit for a split second, and now it was chasing them. 

"Good it's attacking us and not the castle."

"How is that good!?"

And of course Keith was the kind of person to back-lion drive.

"I've got it, go get your lion, samurai!" Lance send the message to the Yellow and Keith looked out the window to see Lance defending their tail. 

"Oh thank God Lance! You have great timing." Hunk said happily as he flew his lion away and back towards the castle. 

But of course they were hit on the way in. 

"No!" Lance yelled out in agony.

"Hunk do something!"

"I can't move!" Was all Lance could hear as the two of them began to plunge towards the Balmera's surface in a lion that would not work. God Lance killed them because he couldn't distract the beast long enough.

He saw as Shiro and Pidge dived after them in an attempt to save them, and Lance immediately went back to trying to distract the beast so they could save Hunk and Keith in peace.

Shiro saved them.

Of course he did.

And then Pidge joined Lance's fight.

"I'm getting real sick of that crystal Pidge, we've got to take it out." And that was truly easier said than done.

"Shiro! It's attacking the castle!"

"I've got it!" 

"Then who's got me!" Hunk yelled out in disbelief.

"I do." And then Hunk turned to his side to watch Keith adjust his helmet and sprint out the lion's cockpit.

That absolute idiot was going to attempt to fly to the castle in the middle of a battle a good couple of miles away with no protection? The thought was giving Hunk a panic attack.

"No you don't-"

"Yes I do, I have to help protect you guys! I'll be fine!"

"Keith!" And Hunk could hear the click of Keith turning his com off, "Can you believe this girl?" Hunk yelled out in disbelief as he looked towards his 'dead' lion.

Keith though was just getting out of the Yellow Lion.

"Red!"

What? No Hello my most beloved Lion?

"I don't really have time, we've gotta help save our family."

That much trouble then, my paladin?

"I'm flying through the middle of a battle field in space after almost dying to come to you."

You almost fucking what?

"Red!"

I'm coming, hold on.

And then Red was flying out of the carrier to Keith to help him protect his family.

Slav whistled in disbelief.

"What?"

"There are so few realities where paladins can do this with their Lion's I'm just glad to see I'm in one of them! That Red one must be a strong paladin." 

"Yeah," Allura said looking fearfully into the battle field. "They all are."

Good thing Hunk was back in business near seconds before he would be pulverized by the crystal monster, what was he going to-

"I told you I'd have your back. Sorry I'm late guys." Keith said as he attacked the robeast freeing Hunk in the process.

"Great that you're here Keith, now let's form Voltron and-"

"I don't think that monster's going to allow us the time to form Voltron." Keith quickly argued.

"Keith's right." Shiro added. 

"So what do we do?" Lance asked in annoyance. 

And in all their failed planning's, Pidge had an idea. Of course she did the little genius. "Guys try and get me an open shot at it's chest!" She yelled over the coms. 

"Roger that!" And then the lions got to work allowing Pidge the shot she needed to get her plant beam on the crystal. It would give them enough time to form Voltron. 

And then they were forming the massive sword and connected it to the crystal in the beasts center finally destroying it for good. 

"Great work paladins, now get back to the castle so we can get back to Olkarion!" Allura cheered.

Lance was already waiting for the Yellow Lion to touch down in the hanger and he was quick to pull Hunk in for a much needed hug as he spewed off as many apologies in as many different languages as possible.

"It's okay, I'm alive aren't I?"

"But it's the principle of the thing!" Lance disagreed and Hunk simply shrugged.

"Dude, it wasn't your fault. Sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose and sure I got hit and my lion stopped working for a minute and I might have began to spiral down to our gravitational doom, but that's just a life in Voltron. We risk our lives every day." Hunk said easily.

"But I just- Keith!" And then Lance was running to Keith quickly, then he uneasily approached him as he looked him over for any injuries. "Keith, I'm so sorry-"

"Why?"

"What?" And Lance saw that Keith was genuinely confused.

"Why are you sorry?"

"He feels responsible the robeast got us in Yellow!" Hunk supplied. 

"It wasn't his fault, we nearly die every day why should he apologize for this o-" And as Keith was finishing 'one' Lance went in for the kill and hugged him as tightly as possible. 

"Please just accept my apology and the fact that I don't want you dead." He said next to Keith's ear, and Keith just sighed in disbelief before patting Lance's head in a comforting motion and giving him a hug in return. 

"Fine, I accept your unnecessary apology, if you want to make it up to me, teach me how to shoot a laser gun accurately." Keith said as Lance pulled away from the hug.

"You've spent this whole time not knowing how to fire a laser gun?"

"Yup."

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? What did you think would happen living out here in space not knowing how to fire a laser gun?"

"I faked it-"

"So it's already happened!"Lance yelled in disbelief and Keith was just shaking his head a small smile on his face as if to brush off Lance's fear.

"It's fine, you'll teach me and I won't need to fake it anymore. Now let's go to the Bridge to see how we can help the Princess take down Zarkon.

"Now there's a much needed apology."

"Lance!"

When the five paladins made their way up together to the bridge, Keith was the one that spoke first to the Princess.

"Princess, any word from Coran?" He asked and then stiffened when she openly ignored him and his question. He went to take a step back and leave, but Pidge was right there at his side, quickly holding onto his arm so he couldn't leave, Shiro was on the other also looking determined to keep Keith front and center, and Keith looked beyond Shiro to see even Lance annoyed with Allura's antics.

"Yes." She tensly after a moments silence, not even turning to face Keith.

"So we're ready to check with Coran about the teledov?" Lance asked trying to keep the conversation moving forward.

"Yes, of course we can Lance!" Allura said cheerfully turning to give him her undivided attention with a huge smile, and of course Lance wanted her undivided attention, she was a gorgeous Alien, but not like this.

Never like this.

"The teledov is nearly complete and should be done by the time we get there!" Then Allura turned her bright, smiling face towards Hunk. "And it's all thanks to you, Hunk. So truly, thank you for getting the much needed scultrite." And Hunk was put off by Allura's voice at that.

"Thank you, Princess, but you know I wouldn't have survived that mission without Keith correct?" Hunk dismissed her quickly.

And Allura didn't say anything, she just glared distrustfully at him before turning her back to him once more and Pidge nearly hissed, and it was Keith's turn to put a comforting hand on her. 

Just give her some more time, Keith. Just give her more time. 

"Princess, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about, this plan we're going through with it's just... with all this energy needed, you probably won't survive." Coran said, averting his eyes from hers when he gave her the news, and she just nodded along as if she knew the whole time. 

"Coran, I know the risks."

"Your Father would be proud of the leader you've become."

"Not yet, Coran, not yet." And then Allura let her eyes fall to her paladins, specifically her Red paladin and she felt a pang in her heart, if there really was a high possibility of her demise in this mission, she wished to go without regrets. 

"We've come a long way." Keith started.

"Yeah remember when Hunk used to get sick whenever he would pilot his lion." Lance teased.

"Ha ha, very funny. Do you guys remember that Arusian, what was his name again? Klyzap? Cool name." Hunk said rather easily, then Lance went to saddle up next to Keith, bumping shoulder's with him teasingly.

"Oh yeah, remember when Keith tried to fight him!" 

"He was their bravest warrior!" Keith flushed red in embarrassment causing everyone to laugh. 

"How about the time the food goo machines attacked us?!" Pidge added on.

"That was the scariest moment of my life." Hunk said gravely and Lance rolled his eyes. 

"Oh come on Hunk, we've fought sentries, found a castle with giant robots who turn into a bigger, badder robot, fought evil aliens, met a few excellent ones, we fought a mall security guard-"

"And don't forget that cool cube thing!" Pidge added on.

"And that awful cube thing!" Lance added on once more bouncing off Pidge's energy.

"You realize that once we defeat Zarkon, the universe won't need Voltron anymore." Shiro said rather heavily. God why couldn't he keep the mood light for once.

"We can return to Earth."

"I can look for my family."

"And I guess I might be able to look for mine." Lance, Pidge then Keith all said and Shiro nodded to everyone one of them.

"This is it. If we win this we'll have saved the universe. We cannot fail." And they all let the gravity of the situation sink in. They really couldn't.

Of course they were missing a key ingredient to their success and they didn't even know about it.

"Thace."  

Chapter Text

"Thank you, Rhyner for all the Olkari has done to assist us." Allura said to the head engineer and leader of the Olkari as she looked at the teledov they made for her. 

"Once we defeat Zarkon, it is my great hope that we can reunite our freed planets under the great universal coalition my father began all those years ago to bring a new era of peace to the universe." Allura stood a moment in front of the Olkari, hearing their cheers, before turning around and walking to castle to prepare for lift off.

The lions of Voltron each grabbed a side of the teledov as they began to launch into open space with the Princess and the castle. 

"Commander Thace, you have sent encrypted messages to outside sources, of this we are keenly aware." One Druid said to him.

"Encryptions can be broken." The other added on. "Just like you."

And the intense pain was being felt once more, but Thace would say nothing, he would never betray his family in the Blade, he knew they were saying something to him, but he just didn't care.

The mission came first.  

Nothing would break him.

"Who else is a part of this conspiracy?"

"Your mother."

"Alright guys heres the plan, I use the Black Lion to lure out Zarkon's main fleet to our current location. Until they're here keeping the teledov hidden in the space vortex until the last possible second is essential. Can we trust you to do that?"

Shiro turned from the diagram of the plan to look at Slav questioningly.

"Absolutely, I'll be fine, I'm not sure about the gravity generator though." He said simply.

"What was the second part?" Hunk asked. 

"It's just dealing with a gravity generator that big, I've never actually done something like this before in such a large scale." Slav said tapping his chin trying to think of solutions. "I know I can do it, and I know it can work, I just don't know for how long." He said shrugging all eight of his shoulders. 

"Well, that's a risk we'll have to take. Once Zarkon's ship is in position, Kolivan and Antok will coordinate with Thace and together they'll take down Zarkon's security system and upload the virus." Shiro said as the diagram followed his every word.

"And then he'll be a sitting duflax." Pidge said cheerfully as if her Altean made any sense to anyone who wasn't already Altean. "What?"

"We'll wormhole Zarkon 500 million miles away and then he'll be in our galaxy before he even knows what's hit him!" Coran jumped into the conversation, saving Pidge and keeping the plan going. God Shiro was ready to retire. 

"Now, what about Thace?" Shiro said turning to Kolivan.

"He should be getting into position now, we've received his last communication three quintants ago. We should hear from him soon." 

"Let's do it." 

And then Shiro was off to set the plan into motion.

"I suspect an attack is imminent." 

"And you will let your druids find out what he knows, I need your power to search the galaxy." Then Zarkon felt it after so long, he had found the Black Lion. 

"Zarkon took the bait, we're ready to go, is everyone in position?"  Shiro said getting in touch with the Castle. 

"We have not heard back from Thace, he was supposed to contact us two vargas ago." Kolivan said sadly.

"He was most likely captured."

"Or killed." Kolivan added on to his companion, voice emotionless. "We must abort the mission."

"We WILL not abort this mission! We've come too far!" Allura argued from the helm. 

"The Blade of Marmora does not take chances, it's how we've survived for so long." Antok said turning to the Princess.

"It's held you back!" Allura nearly spat at them. "Your caution is the reason Zarkon is still in power." 

"And you have been asleep for 10,000 years."

"And I have been making up for lost time!" Allura bit back.

"We would rather wait to fight another day then risk it all and lose. Especially now when it is too late to get somebody on the inside." And Allura knew Kolivan was right, she knew the virus was quintessential, but they didn't have anyone who could-

"I'll do it." 

No.

Keith stood up and Allura felt her blood run cold. "What?"

"I'll do it. I'll sneak onto Zarkon's ship. I'm Galra so I'll be able to interact with their technology. Pidge you can rig up one of those pods with a cloaking device, right?" Keith asked and Allura knew what Keith was saying made sense. 

"Yeah, I can, but-"

"Going on that ship would be a suicide mission!" And Allura was floored, that was the most emotion she had ever heard Kolivan use in his voice and it was on behalf of a near stranger. "I would never command someone so inexperienced to do it!"

"Yeah? Well no one's commanding me, I'm doing it." Keith said glaring down Kolivan until he looked away. 

Allura should have said something, could have said something, but they needed to do this to win. 

"Pidge, get a pod ready. Keith... just tell me when you've made it onboard okay?"

"I understand Shiro." And then Keith was going to leave and Lance stood up. 

"You're really going to go? This is suicide! You can't do this, you-"

"Every mission we go on is suicide, Lance." Keith said rather harshly, before taking a deep breath and talking in the softer tone he usually saved for Lance or for when he really wanted to have a close moment with his friends. "Don't worry, I'll stay safe, I'll come back. I promise."

"Just do that okay? Stay safe and come back to me alive, you got it samurai?" Lance said uneasily.

"You too, Sharp shooter." And then Lance was giving Keith a quick, tight hug and soon Pidge was launching herself at them, then Hunk and Coran as they all held Keith in the center for what was probably a second too long, before he was off again to the pods as PIdge left to get her tech ready. 

"Okay, the cloaking device is ready to go. Stay safe, samurai." Pidge teased behind a tight smile and Keith just smiled indulgently at her before ruffling her hair in thanks. 

"Of course, Pidgey." He said and that's when the two of them heard the footstep. Keith didn't really know who he was expecting to see, but he froze when he saw Allura standing nervously in the doorway. He didn't even need to look to see that Pidge was getting in a position and had a facial expression that probably showed she was ready to throw hands with the Princess right now. He just put his hand on her shoulder and gave her a nod to go. 

"Pidge, can I have a moment alone with Keith." And Pidge wanted to laugh at Allura's phrasing as anyone could take this as a sentence between quarrelling lovers, but Pidge knew better.  

"Sure thing, have all the moments you like. Everyone wants a bonding moment with Keith."

"Pidge-"

"It's alright, Keith. I'm leaving even if I'm still bitter that Allura get's a bonding moment before me."  She said smiling at him over her shoulder. 

"Yeah, yeah I get it, I'll come back alive so we can have our bonding moment." Keith said easily to Pidge before she left leaving Keith and Allura alone once more.

Little did they know, Pidge ran to Lance to tell him what was going on.

After Pidge left, Allura approached Keith and then didn't say anything, looking down to the side as she nervously fidgeted in front of him. 

"Is there something I can help you with?" Keith asked uneasily standing closer to his pod than was probably necessary. 

"I-I... I just needed to say that, the Galra, they've done terrible things, destroyed entire civilizations, they took my family, but in time I have learned to consider you and the paladins my family. I trusted you so much, you were my best friend. Past, Present and Future, you are the best friend I'd ever had so when I found out that you were Galra..." And Allura heard the catch of Keith's breath here, but she had to go on. She had to let him know EXACTLY where she stood with him before he left. He needed to know. 

"When I found you you were Galra I didn't know what to think, I wanted to hate you. I forced myself to hate you- and"

"Allura." Keith said cutting her off and Allura finally looked, looked at him to see the sadness there, and she realized that maybe she wasn't getting her point across exactly as she wanted to. "I get it, it's-"

"But that's not you!" Allura yelled cutting him off to see his shocked face. "It's me! My anger has blinded me for too long." She said and she was going to cry at the hopeful look on Keith's face, scratch that she was already crying, knowing she had caused him all this pain. So she launched herself at him to hug him and she felt him register her through the shock before calming down and returning the hug. "I have let my hatred of Zarkon blind me for so long, that I started taking out my hatred on you and you didn't deserve it!"

"It's okay, Allura-"

"No it's not! I love you and I've caused you pain and I will spend the rest of our lives trying to make that up to you, do you understand!" Allura said pulling back from the hug to look at Keith in the eye. "So you have to come back! You have to survive because if you don't I can't even begin to make things up to you. I've misjudged you so terribly by your heritage and-"

"Hey, hey, hey, it's alright. Come on, I don't know how to deal with crying girls-"

"You don't know how to deal with girls in general." Allura said simply as she wiped her eyes causing Keith to let out a small laugh.

"You're right, I really don't." Keith said allowing her to remove herself fully from his personal bubble. "So when I get back, when we've won this war-"

"I've been collecting alien magazines everywhere I could, we've got a lot of material to go through." Allura said and she watched as Keith eased up, happily. 

"So glad we have the same taste in men." Keith said and Allura laughed loudly at that.

"Oh do we, samurai? "

"Oh please like you haven't had a crush on the only two gay crew members." Keith responded and Allura put her hand to her heart in mock outrage.

"How could you! My taste might not be as refined as I'd like it to be, but at least I'm not the one that said we have the same taste!" She said pointedly causing Keith to roll his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah. I can't wait to catch up on all the magazines you own, Princess." 

"It'll be a blast." And then it got quiet again as the gravity of the situation started to take hold and it got serious one more. "But, you need to come back for it to work."

"Of course I will, I promised you guys I'd come back alive." And Allura watched as he got into the pod, and she was about to turn to let him take off when he called out her name. "Hey, 'Llura? I missed you too." And then he was taking off and Allura was making her way back to the bridge, but standing right outside the door was Lance.

"What are you doing here?" She asked in disbelief.

"Pidge told me you wanted alone time with Keith, so I came to supervise in case things got..."

"In case I hurt him more than I already have." Allura said simply and Lance just raised an eyebrow at her blunt tone. "How much did you hear?"

"Honestly, I heard nothing, I was just standing out here and I would run in if I heard yelling. You needed your moment to say goodbye and to reforge your friendship." He said with a shrug. "And based on how you are now, I'm assuming it went well?"

"It did." Allura said smiling fondly back towards the docking bay where Keith just left from before going to look back at Lance. "He's lucky to have a friend like you."

"I think we're all lucky to have a friend like Keith." Lance said easily before turning back to walk to the bridge to get in position for his part of the attack, and Allura found herself agreeing.

"They're here." Shiro told the castle crew before he began to evade the Galra firing at him, attacking all the ships as he went. 

"I want every ship in the fleet in the empire after that lion!" Shiro could hear Zarkon broadcasting and he gave himself a small moment to feel triumphant before contacting Keith. 

"Keith you ready? We've got one shot at this!" 

"Yeah, engaging cloaking device." Keith said preparing for his part of the mission. "Moving towards the fleet now."

"Good, I don't see you, but I've locked onto your signal, I'll make you a path." Shiro said as he turned and began to engage the fighter pilots. "Give'em hell Keith."

"You too, Shiro." 

"The plan is working! Keith is on board and Zarkon has taken the bait." Allura said telling the rest of the crew what was happening from her position of power in the bridge. She could see everything through the castles sonic echoing systems. 

"The Castle Lion's defenses are up and ready to go." Lance chimed in.

"We better get moving now! Commencing cloak!" Slav yelled out from the teledov, getting it in position. 

Keith hadn't reached any problems yet, and he, for once in his life since he found out, was glad for the Galra blood in his system that made everything easy. 

It was only when they left that Thace used his moment to escape. Now it was time for him to make it to the hub of the Galra ship to upload the virus.

Little did he know, the kit was on the way there as well. 

"I'm two minutes out is everyone ready?" Shiro asked.

"No, the kit has yet to make it to the hub, we need more time."

"Kit?"

"Keith." And then Slav chimed in. 

"I hope not much longer, because my gravity generator won't last forever!"

"Well I don't know how much longer I can hold Zarkon's fleet in this position!" Shiro called out desperately and that's when he saw it, the Green Lion.

"You won't have too," and then the Yellow lion was there as well as the Blue lion. 

"Excellent timing, now let's buy some more!" Shiro called out as they all began to, in earnest, fight the Galra.

Keith reached the hub in record time. "I'm here what do I do now?" 

"You must reset the system and upload the codes we've obtained from Thace." Kolivan told Keith, rather impressed by his work. "It'll be down for a dobash, that's when we'll upload the virus." Kolivan told him, but there was an issue, the codes weren't working to reset the system.

"It doesn't seem to be working."

"Try again!" But then Keith was interrupted, so he grabbed the laser gun (thank you Lance), and hid behind one of the panels as he watched the Galra general enter the command hub, but something was wrong, he was injured.

"Keith, are you there?"

Keith watched though as the man went to the control hub and tried the same exact codes he did. Keith was going to confront him about it, when he heard the doors open again.

"And now we know it was you trying to shut down our systems." Keith recognized the intonation of that voice and the swishing sound of their robes. There were druids here now, and he had to help.

"You're too, late Thace."  One of them said, and Keith felt his breath catch at the name, that was the Blades' contact. "We've already changed the code." And the error sound in the background only confirmed Thace's suspicions. 

Keith came out of hiding then, throwing his dagger into one of the Druids, commanding it to turn into it's full form as it struck. Keith had killed one and then the other turned to look at him in shock.

Then Keith and Thace were fighting the final one together, throwing him into the security barrier, vaporizing him instantly.

"Thace, I'm Keith, a paladin of Voltron."

"And a fellow Blade, I see." He added on, examining the full blade in Keith's hand. He was very familiar with it. It belonged to a high ranking soldier, one he was very familiar with as he was a dear friend of her father. He looked up at Keith then, and saw through his blurry vision the uncanny resemblance. "I guess we haven't failed."

"Not yet." Keith agreed. 

"Zarkon's ship is leaving the teledovs area of effect! You must lead it back in!" Allura said from her cloaked position.

"Got it, everyone you've heard the Princess!" Shiro said as the Lions began their second attack. 

"This is getting hairy, how you doing Keith?" Lance yelled out.

"The Gara changed the codes, we can't get in to shut down the system, good news though, I've found Thace and we're trying to work around it."  

"How did you-" Lance's voice began.

"Don't worry, I promise to explain later." Keith said placatingly.

"Sounds good." Keith heard Shiro say and they stopped paying attention to him. Keith then approached Thace to see what he was doing. 

"I'm going to use the main power to overload the system." Thace explained, hoping Keith would know exactly what was about to happen and at the same time, hoping he didn't.

"You're turning the room into a bomb?" And of course he did, he is Krolia's son after all. 

"It's the only way." 

Keith was already waiting for the sentries to attack them, and then he used his laser gun to cut off their only exit, which solved one problem, but gave them another on. 

"There's an exit down that way, there is a conduit, an exit on the second floor." Keith looked over the edge to see the exit he was talking about, and Keith remembered when him and Lance used a similar exit to get to the Altean pool.

"Go, now."

"What?" Keith asked in disbelief, turning to look at Thace. "I'm not leaving you behind!" 

"You must go, I need to shut down the system, you need to pilot a lion to defeat the greatest evil this universe has ever known!" Thace argued. 

"But-"

"Please, young kit. This is where my journey ends, but as a paladin you have much more to do, you have a bigger mission. You must understand that."  

And then Keith's soul hardened. He knew that everything Thace was saying was true, but it still hurt all the same to leave him behind. He hated having to leave him behind, but looking at Thace, looking at his wound, Keith knew he would not survive long anyways.

"It has been an honor to meet you." Keith said going to extend his hand when there was an explosion at the front. Keith's blockade did not last long at all.

"Go, now!" Thace yelled and Keith handed him the laser gun, before jumping off the edge of the hub into the abyss bellow towards his way out. 

He felt the heat of the explosion on his back and tried to remember the mission as he felt a despair bone deep take over. 

"The gravity generator just lost power! Now there's no reality where we all get out alive!" Keith heard just over the explosion, and he now know's he's just witnessed the death of a great man. 

And now the teledov and the castle were completely exposed. They were running out of options, they needed the Virus. They needed Keith.

"We've done it!" Keith yelled out as he heard Allura powering the teledov. "Get ready, the ships going to blow and then everything will shut down!" And just as Keith was finishing his report all the fighters and the Galra ship crashed. 

"Yes!" Pidge cheered, but Allura could not share in their celebration, she needed to power the teledov. The mission was up to her now and Keith was just watching it all floating in space, that is, of course, until Red picked him up.

You reckless fool.

Love you, too, Mom.

And then they were all rushing into the wormhole and trying to contact the castle. Shiro got to it first. "How is she Coran?" Shiro asked.

"Weak, but she'll live." Coran replied and everyone let out a steadying breath.

"Good, keep her safe." And then Shiro cut the connection from the ship to focus on ending this battle once and for all. 

It was time to form Voltron. 

Chapter Text

"We are not powerless, sire, given the opportunity I could draw Voltron to us and drain it of all it's quintessence using our kromar, the machine we've been using to drain planets of their quintessence!" Haggar pleaded with Zarkon as the sounds of Voltron slashing up their main ship and fleet rang through everywhere.

"No. It is time I faced Voltron on my own." Zarkon told her in response and Haggar was ready to rip out her hair. 

No, how could he! 

He would really throw away everything!

"No, my Lord! It would mean certain death!" She argued.

"No, tonight the Black Lion is mine." Zarkon responded instead.

"Your foolish obsession with the Black Lion will cause your demise!" Haggar's voice rang out in the chamber, but Zarkon just kept walking away from her.

Fine.

If he will no longer listen to her, she will let him die. She never really needed him in the first place.

In the complete opposite space ship sat Allura and Coran watching as everything came to an end. Allura found beauty in violence as she realized that this was it, Voltron was truly about to defeat Zarkon, all those years of war would finally be over. 

"We've done it. We've finally done it." Allura said.

"Yes, Princess." Coran confirmed, he too, in awe.

She did not wish to think of the thousands of Galra lives they were killing. And then they saw it. It looked like a black hole, and it was appearing right bellow Voltron, and they didn't know what it could possibly be, that is, until it attacked, and they felt everything at once. 

It was sucking their very life force, the pure Quintessence of Voltron, it was so, so much, almost too much, it was enough for her to remember, even for a second.

It was enough to destroy Voltron. 

But the paladins, what did it do to them? 

Alive, but barely, with a giant lion, a giant robot that did not work. 

"You've been hit by some kind of witchcraft that draws the quintessence out of you! You need to get out of there, or you might not survive!" Coran yelled over the speaker, but how could they do that when there was no way the lions were waking, then Lance saw it. 

"What IS that?" And everyone directed their attention once more to the Galra ship, as a robot equal in size and power to Voltron emerged. 

Everyone saw their lives flash before their eyes.

Allura's voice cut through the panic. 

"Remember your training! Everything has come down to this!" She yelled out in despair as if her words could actual awaken something, could actually make her reality true, could make her reality better. 

But the Galran Voltron just kept growing, and their's didn't come back to life at all. 

"It's Zarkon," Shiro said, he felt it, and then Allura knew this was the only way. She would have to put her life and her castle on the line once more, she would need to attack Zarkon with all her might allowing her paladins a chance to reconnect to their lions. 

"You must do this! You are true paladins!" And they knew it. They were true paladins, even if some of them knew better. 

They had to do this, they had to bring their's lions back from the dead.

And Allura was doing all she could, and it backfired, her ship was hit and everyone felt her agony as much as they saw it.

"Allura!" Keith, Shiro and Lance all cried out in disbelief. No it couldn't end here. Not like this.

"Focus! We must do this, for every future we've ever dreamed of wanting! Connect with your lion, now!" Keith yelled out and Shiro almost did a double take to make sure he wasn't the one to actually say it. 

"He's right! We can't let this end here." Lance added on, and finally Shiro spoke.

"Listen everyone, we have to fight. We have to channel all of our energy, visualize five becoming one. We have to focus everything we have into moving Voltron. We are the last thing standing in the way of Zarkon's total universe domination. I'm not giving up that fight."  Shiro yelled out and he felt the energy already forming around him.

"Are you giving up, Hunk?"

"No." And the Yellow Lion was back on line.

"Pidge?" 

"Never!" And the Green soon followed.

"Lance?" 

"Let's go down swinging." And the Blue lion woke.

"Keith?"

"I'm all in." And now it was just Shiro.

"One Last time Black?"

After you, Paladin.

"Then let's get Voltron back in this battle." And with a surge of energy, he felt Voltron come back to life, and in a way, he felt his own body give way. He was giving his quintessence, just as much as everyone else, and Voltron was using it to multiply their own energies. To come to life once more.

Then they called for their sword again, and they dueled once more against Zarkon. A clash of swords was the only thing stopping them from noticing the machine being re-powered to fire off another shot of energy. 

But Allura, in all her agony, in all her pain and in all her tiredness saw it happening, and she knew that she would get up to fight, because it would be with her dying breath if she ever saw the Galra Empire succeed. 

Voltron finally got distance from Zarkon to fire their weapons, but it did them no good seeing as he had shields to defend himself with. 

Then that blasted magical thing was firing and Voltron again, and they were dodging just to get hit by Zarkon and Allura could only watch from her out of commission castle, for the moment.

Coran would man the castle, Allura would go with Antok and Kolivan to fight magic with magic, she was an Altean, a daughter of a great Alchemist, she can and will use her alchemy as best she could to take down the witch Haggar. She was the universe's best bet at defeating the quintessence sucking Kromar.

She must succeed. It was up to her. 

They were just barely defending themselves at this moment. They had never faced anything this powerful before in their lives. There could be no possible way they could win this, but they had to.

They have each faced dangers, faced unstoppable odds and this was nothing different. 

They needed to win. The whole universe, Earth, everyone they've ever loved, their whole lives depended on this singular battle.

Allura really was launching herself into open space, weakened by everything in this battle just to face a far more advanced mage than she'd ever be. 

She really was stretching beyond her limits, huh. 

And as she saw the witch, she was truly filled with rage. This was her battle. She would fight this witch with all her might and she would win.

He calls for me again, Paladin.

"Zarkon's trying to control my lion again! I can feel it!" Shiro yelled out in warning, he needed help. He needed it now.

"Fight him, Shiro!" Keith yelled out, but he could still feel Zarkon in one corner of his mind, then the Black lion. He was tugging, but it wasn't enough.

No man may call for you. You are the Black lion, act like it.

And Shiro nearly jolted out of his seat, because he heard it, it was Keith speaking now, and he felt Zarkon's shock, he felt the Black Lion's amusement. 

But it was coming too late, Zarkon was forcing them apart through pain. 

And Shiro could feel it. 

"Something's wrong with Shiro, we cannot let Zarkon get the Black Lion." Keith yelled out and he lead the Red Lion to the first position in front of her. In front of the Black Lion.

Wake him up girl, I trust in you.

They worked together beautifully, it was almost unfair. The way Antok, Allura and Kolivan moved together was a miracle, it was amazing, and then Antok was killed.

And Allura had to watch it with her own eyes, and her sorrow, and need for revenge only grew. 

"Wake. Up."

And Shiro woke, mostly to the sounds of distress from everyone. The screams of Pidge, the cries of Lance, Hunk's distress and Keith's trying words. 

This wasn't good, they needed him. They needed the Black Lion. 

And Black gave him the option.

Phase through him, use me, your mind is stronger, my dedication to you is stronger. Take back what is your's.

"I give you my energy, use it to take what is ours!" 

And then he looked down at his hand and saw it. 

"What happened?" Lance yelled out.

"I got Zarkon's bayard." 

"You mean you got your bayard." Keith said instead, and Shiro felt a steady nod light up his face. Yes. He did.

"We don't have much time until the power comes back on Zarkon's ship. We need to end this, now. Form Voltron!" Shiro yelled out when he saw Zarkon in complete confused, disarray. This would be the only time they would have left to do what they needed to do. 

And now with all five bayards, and with Voltron fully in their command, well, Zarkon never stood a chance.

Allura only had a moment to relish in the feeling of knowing she was that Bitch to use a bow staff to smash in that Witch Haggar's face before she realized exactly who Haggar was. 

"You- you're altean?" She asked in disbelief as she noticed the hair, the skin, the facial markings on Haggar. Hell her eyes were even back to the normal altean pink iris, it must have been the quintessence, it surrounded them. Then she was back to the galra witch Allura thought her to truly be. No, it was impossible, no Altean would ever abandon Altea. It didn't make sense... no...

And then she was firing her spells at Allura, but it didn't effect her, she felt charged in a way, and so she absorbed that witches power, let it overflow in her, and fired back. 

She got the great pleasure of watching her fall.

"You will never destroy another planet again.

And then she destroyed the machine, the damned destroyer of planets.

They saw the opening, and they took it, felt the sweet victory of the slash of their sword into Zarkon's monster ship, and tasted Victory.

Of course Zarkon couldn't just take that and immediately began to attack at the Black lion's very mind and soul, Shiro was in so, so much pain.

PALADIN

And his eyes went to where his bayard should go. 

And so Shiro launched in bayard into place and watched as the Voltron sword took flame, and together, they all gave Voltron everything they had, and they cut through Zarkon's ship.

But Shiro felt himself fading, his body burning. No this isn't right, what was happening?!

You are fading, paladin.

"What?"

Your body fades with Zarkon's you were connected through me, when he died.

"So, am I dying."

Yes.

"Is Keith ready? Will he use you well?"

And this is why you never truly could be my paladin. I am not something to be used. I am not a pet, I am the Black lion. 

"You truly are a being beyond human influence." 

I am, and that is why I will save you.

"How?"

Your life force, will become mine, so sleep paladin, I will take away the pain of your body disintegrating. I will store your quintessence in the astral plain, until a time when you can be reborn comes.

And it will come young paladin.

For I know He will not accept this, my true paladin. 

And the last thing Shiro felt in this word, in this body, was the soft purr of the Black Lion and Shiro knew, deep in his soul, that he would rise again.

"Did we do it?"

"Is it over?"

"I have Allura and Kolivan, we need to go!" But of course Keith noticed the Black Lion wasn't moving, so it was together that they all hailed the Black Lion to the castle and they were wormholing their way of there, victory on their tail.

Of course it was too good to be true.

"Shiro?" Keith asked, when he noticed the Black lion was not letting him out.

"Open up."

I'm sorry paladin.

And then Keith watched as the Black Lion lowered her head to allow him into her cockpit follow by the rest of the paladins. He knew Shiro would not be there before he even entered the cockpit.

So it shouldn't nearly have been this painful for him to see an empty seat.

It is time, take your seat.

"Where did he go?" Lance asked.

"Not now, not ever."

One day, you will come for me and I will be waiting young one.

I will be waiting, my Paladin.

Chapter Text

It was day three Keith took the Red Lion out to search the wreckage for something to do with Shiro. Keith needed something, some form of confirmation that Shiro was alive, or dead, or anything in between. There was no body to be found. 

He just needed something.

Red was getting harder to drive out, she has been pushing against him, just as much as the Black Lion has been pushing for him. 

It's tearing him in two, he needs Shiro back, or just...

He just...

"There's nothing out here, I'm coming back Coran."

"I'm sorry, Keith."

She hadn't had to wear her royal attire for a long, long time. She's so scared, could her clothes be musty, she knows she has gotten stronger by working alongside the paladins, her dress pulled at her in different ways now, just as it had loosened up slightly in others. 

God was that musty smell her?

And then she heard the door opening, and saw Coran standing there. 

"I'm just scarred it smells musty, it's been a long while since I've had to look presentable." Allura said simply. Coran gave her an amused, indulging smile.

"The Klumarians have just been freed from over a thousand year's subjugation, I don't think they'll notice." He said looking at her through her reflection as Allura turned to the mirror to give herself another once over. 

"Then why am I so nervous?" She asked. "This is a serious diplomatic meeting, I've been to these a thousand times!" 

"Just remember Princess diplomacy is 80% appearance, 20% formalities, decorum and chit chat. It's really only like one percent..." Coran went off as he helped Allura re-adjust her royal garbs here and there.

"It's really only 1% talking about how to fight for and defend the whole universe?" She asked in a deadpan and Coran winced at the worry in her tone. 

"Yes, that, but of course I forgot about food-"

"We've just freed these planets! Do you think it's right to talk to them about defeating the Galran Empire?" She asked. 

"It's not about wanting to Princess, at this point it's about necessity." Coran said seriously, looking her in the eye as he talked. "It's up to you to give them the faith they need to believe that this is all possible, so they won't focus so much on the necessity of it all, and you Princess... I know you can do it, because you can truly do anything you put your mind too."

"Coran I'm not the Amazing Altean-"

"You might as well be, and the whole Universe knows it." Coran said a soft smile on his face as he tucked a loose hair behind her head. 

"About thirty ticks to the Drop Zone, you ready Kolivan?" Lance asked as he flew the Blue Lion through heavy fire on a planet occupied by the Galra empire. 

It was fun as always for Lance, but he felt a resistance in Blue, he knew it was coming. Red had been calling to him for a while, but Blue was home. 

He wasn't ready to give that up yet. 

And he shouldn't be thinking about this when they had just passed the Drop Zone as Hunk so nobly pointed out. 

"What are we going to do Kolivan?" Lance asked.

"Open the hatch, we'll take it from here." And Lance honestly wanted to ask what the actual Quiznack the Galra were made of if Kolivan believed he could drop about 100 ft out of an alien ship going over 100 mph without protective landing gear and land safely. This was insane, but he did it anyway.

There was no point in doubting Kolivan.

Lance was just glad that Keith wasn't with him this time. 

Lance watched out of the corner of his eyes as each little Galra landed safely and immediately began running, and killing off as many sentries as they could find, they were some vicious warriors if he did say so himself, and they were made from rubber.

Unbelievable. 

Now they needed to get rid of the ships and the giant laser gun pointed towards the village. 

And Blue was being annoying, telling him all kinds of things the Red lion could do faster. 

"Paladins, we need support from the air." Kolivan's voice rang out and then Lance and Hunk were attempting to get rid of the giant laser gun. 

Lance couldn't get a safe angle from the front, so of course Hunk smashed through it from the back. God Hunk's a genius. 

It was only a matter of time then before the Galra were fleeing and the planet was free. Now it was just time to set the lions down and get ready for the parade.

So Lance immediately began to take photos with the locals, something he had started to do as a way to catalogue his time in space, which was possible due to the cellphone-like things Pidge made for them.

Hunk was talking to the locals about their cuisine, something he had taken up on during the space adventures. There were so many unique flavors and colors around every planet, why Hunk just needed to try them all. He would experiment with the ingredients on the castle ship, and like Lance's photos the food he made became therapeutic, as a way of remembrance for each planet they freed, and as a way to keep him sane.

Of course though, someone had to ask all about the Galra troops that were by their side. The people always gave them nasty looks, so Kolivan always stood away from their celebrations.

Hunk saw this, and thought about what it would mean for Keith, for the complete union of peace for the entire empire, and made his way over to Kolivan, openly showing them all affection and offering them food until the stares lessened.

"Paladin, there is no need-"

"Yes there is, if we want peace, true peace, we must begin to forge it now." He said simply, without any room for argument. Hunk noticed Kolivan's annoyance melt into respect, but he didn't say anything. "So without like, Zarkon at the helm, the Empire really seems to be falling apart, huh?" 

"Yes, but it's more than that, look." Kolivan said bringing Hunk's attention behind them to notice the mural of Voltron. Lance noticed it too, and made his way over, easily taking a picture before truly going to look at it. "The tales of Voltron continue to spread across the whole of the known Universe." 

"Yeah, the only problem is that we can't form Voltron anymore." Hunk said rather disappointed forgetting about their audience. 

"That cannot stand." Kolivan said simply. He knows that the paladins are mourning, but they can mourn when the war is done. There is still much to do before they can truly be free. And based on the flinch of the Blue paladin, Kolivan knew he knew it to be true. "The Universe needs Voltron."

"Lion's of Voltron, the people of Poeigue thank you for delivering us from the evil hands of the Galra Empire." The leader of the planet said coming to address Lance and Hunk. Alone.

"Don't forget the Blade of Marmora." Lance reminded them not too unkindly. "We could not have truly freed you without them." And Kolivan wanted to smash his head in, the Blade did what was right only to do what was right, they did not need the recognition especially when they needed to work in the shadows. He had to address it though now. 

"It was our honor." Kolivan said, nodding towards the leader, but of course all he got was a nasty, disbelieving look, despite the paladins best efforts. 

It wasn't that shocking to him anymore. 

He had a long way to go to make up for what the Galra as a nation has done in the past 10,000 years.  

"Yes... I want to pledge to you that every able bodied Poeiguian will help Voltron in the fight against the Galran Empire... Speaking of Voltron, where is it?" The leader asked as he began to look around and as the crowd began to chant for it's arrival. 

Hunk looked panicked, and Kolivan was going to step in, to try and ease the situation, even if he knew he wasn't wanted, when the Blue paladin spoke. 

"Voltron is not with us today. After our great battle against Emperor Zarkon where we had come out triumphant, Voltron needed to split up so we could each attend to very important and very time sensitive missions." He had lied too easily, and Kolivan was truly impressed.

"Very well, we wish your fellow paladins, good luck on their missions." He said as the crowds cheering began to fade.

"Oh, number 5 you're back already! How was your mission?" Pidge looked up from the video she collected that showcased Matt escaping prison to look at Coran who now stood over her shoulder. 

"Well, I went to the planet Zarkow where the people three had those feather like ears seen on the alien helping Matt here, but that led to a dead end seeing as no one could identify them. So that lead me to studying these pants, here." Pidge said pulling up a second of the video, focusing on the styling of the rebel pants. "See this style of pants are traditional worn by the Tando people." Pidge said hearing Coran nod along.

"You're quite right, but of course they're on the other side of the galaxy." Coran added on, Pidge nodding her agreement.

"And then there's these masks they're all wearing, I can't identify a single thing about them! You got any ideas?" 

"No, but it does seem to be the perfect blend of fashion and function." Coran said rather easily.

"Okay, so my brother was taken by either intergalactic fashion pirates, or maybe these outer galaxy planet regions are occupied by freedom fighters that are starting to work together against the Galra empire." Pidge stated, and god she hoped the second option is what happened, but knowing her luck it was the first.

"You know, I was considered a bit of an intergalactic fashion pirate back in my day?"

"Oh no."

"Oh yes!"

And as Pidge was watching Coran explain his outfits, her computer pinged. "Oh! What's that?" He asked getting off the table he was modeling on to see what Pidge was looking at.

"I had my computer analyze the sounds of the explosion while I was gone on the mission, and it must be finished now, let's see what it has to offer." She said as she opened up the file. 

There was a distinct sound to the explosion that could only be made when a certain space metal was used in the bomb creation process, maybe she could track that. She got to work as Coran excused himself to check on Lance and Hunk's mission, a small, fond smile was on his face as he left.

"Yeah, that brings us to our real issue, they all want to see Voltron, which we don't have anymore." Hunk says crushing the usually light mood that comes after a successful mission. 

"Yeah, another problem, we also don't have Shiro anymore." Keith added bitterly, absolutely crushing whatever remaining joy there was in the room. "Everyone seems to have forgotten that." He said and Lance felt himself deflate, he felt a despair of his own, too. 

Shiro had been there for everyone through the whole Voltron experience. 

For him to be gone, it just felt wrong and Lance didn't know enough about Keith's relationship to Shiro, but he knew enough to know that Shiro leaving Keith again would... is wrecking him.

"I know it is hard, trust me I know, for I miss him too, but, I think it's time we thought about finding a new Black paladin." Allura said after a moment of silence and everyone felt their heart grow cold.

They couldn't...

Replace Shiro?

"No." Keith said firmly. "I have to find him, Shiro is the one person who never gave up on me and I will not give up on him!" He said starting to leave the area when Pidge opened her mouth.

"Keith, we know losing family is hard-"

"You don't get it! I've lost everything. My whole life has been losing. I l lost my mother before I could even know her, I lost my father to the same element my lion wields, I've lost every relationship in every foster home I've ever had because I was different, alien, which made having any semblance of a home impossible. I was in my 4th high school by my sophmore year and I only made it through to the end because I stole his car and he decided not to report me to the police. Shiro had taken me home, had never let my temper be the reason he gave up on me, had helped me figure out that I wasn't something to hate. He was my brother, he gave me a home, he gave me a future and a family and then he disappeared! He disappeared and it all came tumbling down around me! And now when I got him back, he brought back with him a family for me. I am happy, I feel safe, I have a purpose here, and a best friend, and a sister, and a space uncle and now my brother is gone again. And without him here, who's to say you all won't disappear on me, too?" Keith yelled out, the tears in his eyes on everyone else's faces.

"Keith we would never abandon you-" Allura began just to get cut off by Keith.

"Don't you dare talk about abandoning me when that's exactly what you did not so long ago, exactly what you're doing to Shiro now!" And everyone reeled back at those words, and Allura's tears only got more visible, and Keith almost collapsed on himself in front of them all. 

"Oh God, I didn't... 'Llura, I'm... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that. Oh God." And then he was running out of there.

"Keith!" Allura went to stand up, to run after him, but Lance just stopped her. "Lance, let me go! I need to-"

"Give him time to cool off, he needs it. He's scared." 

"He'll think we don't care if we don't-"

"We'll go to him, Allura, I promise we will, but for now, we let him have this. If he's not calm by dinner, we'll get the full Voltron force together to comfort him, okay?" Lance said placatingly, and Allura gave him a sad nod as she sat back down. The room was quiet once more. 

"Did you... Did any of you...?" She was trying to ask the question that was on all their minds, but she couldn't finish it. 

"No." Lance said steadily, looking to the ground. "We had no idea."

Lance couldn't even follow his own orders. He was standing outside the training deck and he heard the slashes of the sword against the training bots and Keith's screams of anguish and before he knew it, he was standing in front of Keith, asking to spar.

"Lance you're a long distance fighter-"

"Nothing wrong with wanting to keep up our hand-to-hand."

"Lance-"

"I was wrong, you shouldn't be alone right now, so teach me." Lance said. He watched as Keith looked him over, confusion all over his face, resentment, annoyance, longing, then finally it settled on happy annoyance.

"Fine, come on, I'll teach you how to use a sword." And then Keith was extending Lance his bayard, before conjuring up his own blade. 

"Keith-"

"I trust you." 

And they went through fighting steps together, slow and steady as all of Keith's anger began to melt away. 

It was so obvious, to Ezor, that this Commander was after the Throne. Zarkon was weak, it would be a prime opportunity to form a coop and usurp the throne in his favor. It would make so much sense. 

Too bad she works for the rightful heir, the bastard Prince.

Her loyalty is absolute. To him, and her fellow troops. The half-Galra have to stick together after all, for after so many years of dissatisfaction, it was finally their time.

Half-galra have never gotten the rights and opportunities they've deserved.

Now they will.

And it's all thanks to Prince Lotor.

She had a lot to report.

"It is our honor to have you all here together." Princess Allura said to all the representatives to the planets Voltron had helped save since Zarkon's defeat. 

And of course Hunk was the chef that provided all the ambassadors with a delicious seven course meal to talk diplomacy.

"The Blade of Marmora has gathered this evidence for your convenience." Kolivan said, standing up at the end of the table as Allura began to pray to every God she knew that Kolivan would not make this mission of freeing the universe seem impossible. 

"As you can see, the Galra empire is still the most expansive Empire in the known Universe. The sheer size of it is near incomprehensible." God would it be undignified for her to slam her head into the table. "However we are beginning to see more break outs in rebel activity within the Empire." And the map that was once dominated by the purple glow of the Galra began to glow blue for the color of rebel activity. 

"We have a strategy to bring these rebels together, to form greater alliances, to make an army capable enough to take on the Galra in major battles." Allura said, in her "Princess on Top of the Universe" tone and she could see the ambassadors eating it up. "If we do this, then the Galra Empire will no longer be the expansive Empire we've known it to be for the last 10,000 years."

"But without your help, it will be impossible." Lay it on thick, Allura, you've reeled them in, now hook them!

"We would be honored to do anything we could to help you along with your mission." Allura sighed in relief as the other ambassadors began to also offer their support. "But first, we must know, will Voltron be a part of the fight?"

"Yes, where is Voltron, are there not 5 lions? I only see four paladins?" God damn it, she knew it was going too well.

"We can't form Voltron, okay? We can fly the lion's, but we can't form Voltron." Keith said rather stiffly. 

And that's when everything seemed to go into hysterics.

"What he means to say is that, at the moment we cannot form Voltron, for there is no... Black Paladin."

"Then replace him! My people have plenty of worthy warriors who can surely lead-"

"You will never replace Shiro!" Keith roared out and so did the castle. That was a lions roar, mighty and strong, it awed the ambassadors, to know a lion wailed that strong for it's paladin.

But anyone attuned to the lions knew exactly which lion roared, and that's what made things tenser than before, because it was not the Red Lion that roared out Keith's pain and Keith's soul.

It was the Black Lion.

Lance watched him go in disbelief, he had so many question's he-

Hunk held Lance down, looked at him once, then shook his head no.

Of course Keith's exit and the lion's roar did nothing.

"The Lions are still a fighting force on their own, this castle is also a weapon that can be easily used against the Galra, plus as the Leader of the Blade of Marmora, I can vouch my Blades will stand along side you and your people, helping you to fight.

"And my people have been enslaved by those who look exactly like you, so please understand that I am hesitant to agree to your assistance." One of the ambassadors said nastily and Lance wanted to growl.

"My people have been told stories of the Legend of Voltron for so long, and to not have it would ruin their morale. It would make it impossible for them to want to fight!" Another added on before Lance could openly discuss the bigotry at the table. "What do I tell them now!?"

"You tell them to fight for the Universe like we have been this whole time." Lance said, getting an elbow to the ribs from Hunk who tried to laugh off the tension by offering up pizza rolls. 

And to think this was going so well. 

It is the Galra way to show honor in the rink. The Galra believe in military strength it would only make sense to gain their respect by showing prowess in the arena, and that is exactly what Lotor planned to do. 

Ezor was absolutely delighting in the conversation her invisible self was hearing. She loved hearing the hopeful general talk smack about how Lotor, the shunned half-galra Prince, was fighting along side his half-galra generals. How it was un-Galra of him to offer peace to his conquered planets instead of mindlessly taking over them.

Oh their humiliation would be so, so sweet. 

She loved it. 

Especially when they began to truly notice the battle going on in the rink. God could their timing be any better? They all knew Lotor's style by now, especially since they've been training with him, so it was almost ingenious the way he timed his victory, ingenious the way he removed his helmet and ingenious in the way he called out to Throk, the soon to be disgraced general, in front of all the Galra to see. 

For Throk to back down would be shown as weakness.

For Throk to win would gain him much support.

It only made sense that he would fall for Lotor's bait. 

Especially when all his generals made themselves known to be surrounding Throk, leaving him no escape from his demise. 

"Throk, you wish to challenge me? Then come down and claim your crown! True Galra do not plan insurrection through darkened chambers, they go out and get it. Victory or Death Throk. This is what I offer you." Lotor said, pointing his sword directly towards where Throk was sitting. 

The cheers of the stadium could not, and would not be ignored. 

It was time for him to face his doom.

"I gladly accept your offer, now all will see who is the rightful leader." God it couldn't have worked better in Lotor's favor if he tried.

Throk was arrogant walking into the arena. 

"I have fought in countless battles boy, while you have been away from the front, do you truly believe you stand a chance against me?" He asked threateningly.

Lotor chuckled at that. "Of course. I do have, after all, the blood of my father, the Great Emperor Zarkon, running through my veins." 

That angered Throk enough to make the opening move, and for anyone who knew anything about battle they could see Throk's flawless technique, and Lotor's flawless defense.

"So you have some skill, that I'll grant you. But you see, your technique makes you oh, so predictable." He said the word as if it were covered in chocolate. His smile was sweet but, his eyes were deadly and Throk knew he was in trouble. 

His technique was in fact Throks downfall. "Your tactics are stale, and in the end your own aggression is your undoing." Lotor told Throk, his sword pointed to his throat, and Throk submitted to it. It is the Galra way. Victory or death.

So he was floored when he realized he had, actually, not died yet. He opened his eyes to see Lotor's sword had backed away from his own throat, then Lotor looked at him as if he were merely a means to an end, and Throk knew that to be true. He had finally realized how truly he had fallen into Lotor's trap.

"My Father built our Empire on the bones of his enemies, but the time has come to change the old ways. We are stale, and easily defeated." He said motioning to Throk on the floor. "We need to inspire not fear from those we rule, but loyalty. We cannot waist our energy fighting to keep our subjects down, but rather multiply it by allowing those worthy to rise and join our ranks." Then Lotor truly did the unexpected.

He gave his hand to Throk, he did not claim the spoils of this battle by killing him, he offered him his hand in kindness and spared his life. Throk almost did not reach for it, but knew his fate would be worse if he did not grab the hand that was offered to him now, so he took it.

"The Universe can no longer doubt our strength. Each ally gained will only make us stronger, while those who continue to stand against us will be eliminated." He finished. His voice then went quiet as he turned to Throk. "I have spared your life, it is mine now, so do as you must."

And Throk hated it, but he knew it was either join or die. "Lotor, we pledge our loyalty to you, Vrepit Sa." 

And soon the whole stadium was chanting their loyalty as well, and Lotor knew he had won. 

He meets his generals beneath the stadium as they tell him every name of every commander who was reluctant to join him. He would put them all in the farthest corners of the Galaxy so they could not harm him or his reign. 

"That went well."

And so Lotor gave his inner musings voice.

"The masses are easily manipulated." 

Keith changed out of his stifling paladin armor he had warn at the dinner and went to the Black Lion. He truly wanted Red's comfort, but he knew she would not give it to him, plus, if he were being honest, he knew he needed to see Black now anyways.  

She was the last one to see Shiro, to hold him, maybe she would know where he truly is.

Maybe he could figure out why She calls for Him so urgently when Keith just knows Shiro is still out there.

They all came to him after the disastrous dinner, they all wanted to comfort him, to let him know it would all be okay, but they just didn't know how.

Pidge loved Keith like a brother, but she was never good with words that didn't involve tech. Hunk knew he could comfort people, he really could, but his anxieties tended to get in the way sometimes, and he feared that would happen if he tried his own hand at comforting Keith. Allura was his best friend, but even then she knew she would be diplomatic in a situation that needed a more personal touch and Coran had absolutely no idea really how Keith worked. He wanted to, and he tried, but God he was bad at it. 

So that left Lance.

Lance. The Blue paladin. The sweet spoken, but oh so observant Blue Paladin. The boy who understood what it was like to be hated because of something he could not control.

There was Lance.

Keith's right hand far longer than either of them would care to admit.

It didn't even register in his mind that it was not his job to do this. It didn't even register in his mind that Keith would not openly welcome him, for Lance knew that no matter what it was, Keith would turn to him. It made a warmth fill Lance's chest at the thought. It settled him, gave him peace of mind and body and he was so, so scared of it.

He knew what that feeling was.

But he'd never really had felt it so strongly before.

Not like he felt for Allura.

Not like he felt for...

He took a step forward and went to Keith's side. 

Lance went up to Keith and put his hand on his shoulder in solidarity and in comfort. "Hey samurai, we all miss Shiro. I remember what a thrill it was just to meet him for the first time when the two of us carried him out of that Garrison hospital. That night formed this connection between you and I, between all of us. I wouldn't regret that night, although it would have been nice if you remembered me then." Lance said, adding more pressure to his touch to get a reaction out of Keith. He wasn't expecting Keith to lean back into him.

"And I grew up with my Dad and Matt telling me stories all about him, he's half of the reason Matt came out as pan." Pidge said with a little bit of a laugh. "Shiro was a legend at our house."

"The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot." Hunk added on. "Which isn't much, but that's more on me." Hunk said getting Pidge to let out her own laugh at the comment, but Lance was focused solely on the tenseness of Keith's body under his hand. 

"You're not the only one hurting, samurai. We're all there with you." Lance said turning to fully face Keith, to watch his face for any signs of despair. He pushed on. "But you have to know that he would be the first one to tell us to fight on." Lance said pleadingly, but he was more worried about Keiths reaction than anything else.

And Keith looked to him. 

He moved his whole body to look at Lance in the eye to give him his full attention, and Lance was shocked. In a house as big as his, no one ever gave him this kind of attention, this kind of dedication. There was always something going on in the background, but here Keith was his entire being focused on Lance's words and on his being.

Lance was so honored and in awe he really didn't know what to do other than squeeze Keith's shoulder one last time before letting his hand slide off his shoulder, down his arm, over his hand to let him go, but then Keith reached out for him and held on.

Keith held his hand and gave his hand a squeeze. 

"Keith, I know exactly how you feel." And Lance was annoyed at Allura again, but he couldn't even be truly mad, because even as Keith turned to look at her, his body was still facing his. 

His hand still held his.

Lance's ears were ringing.

"But our mission is bigger than any individual, even those who are... irreplaceable." She said as if in pain, and Keith began to see it all. 

Shiro wasn't his alone anymore, Shiro was never really his alone, Shiro had Adam, will always have Adam, but now Shiro had all of team Voltron. 

Keith had all of team Voltron.

Keith had...

Keith removed his hand from Lance's, slowly as if sad to do it, but knowing he needed to and based on the way Lance didn't react negatively to it, Keith knew Lance understood it wasn't because he was rejecting anything, but because in this moment, he could not rely on anyone.

It was his burden and his alone to finally give up on Shiro. 

"You're right." Keith said looking down at where his and Lance's hand just were. He was regretting letting go. So he looked to Lance as he said his next words. "It's time to figure out how to reform Voltron." And at Lance's nod, Keith finally allowed himself to look once more to the Black Lion.

Are you ready, my paladin.

"No, but I must. Will you lend me your strength?"

It is ours to explore, now come to me.

Chapter Text

They were on the rise to a modern civilization once more thanks to Voltron. They were reconnecting with their history before the Galra took over and they were reconnecting with their original architecture. It was great.

Except, of course, they were under attack once more. 

Only this time, it wasn't the Galra, but it was, it was the least looking Galra, Galra soldiers they'd ever seen.

They were eliminated by four half-galra. It didn't make sense. 

They needed Voltron, the leader needed to get to their new allies! They needed to defend themselves! But it wasn't working. 

And then the leader was under, and he couldn't wake back up. The last thing he remembered seeing was the half-galra, the Prince who teased him about Voltron's lack of appearance on his home world.  

"Join us, and you'll never need Voltron again." Those were the last words he remembered. And he didn't believe a single word of it.

"Kinda wish Shiro was here to tell us how to go on without him here." Lance tried to start the conversation amongst the paladins. They needed to get the ball rolling.

"Allura when we came here you told me I was to fly the green lion, and I thought, no way, but I did it! So, can't you just do that again?" Pidge asked her, and Allura helplessly shrugged her shoulders.

"When I was assigning lions, I was still in touch with them spiritually, then you guys formed bonds with them, and they left me in the dust. I can't connect with the lions anymore, not the way you can." She said it so sadly, like it had actually pained her to have lost that connection to the lions. Pidge guessed it did, it was almost second nature to feel green in her mind, without her... it felt unnatural.

"Keith, you've piloted the Black lion before when you had to save Shiro..." Coran began to start, but Lance had to step in. Keith is too hot headed to be the Black Paladin, they needed another Shiro, and Keith wasn't another Shiro. Lance had, begrudgingly, began to respect Keith as a paladin, he had formed a... bond? with him in ways that Lance really didn't understand. 

But Keith wasn't Black lion material. He was the perfect Red paladin, Lance couldn't imagine a single person replacing Keith there, but Black lion...?

"No way! Keith's too guns away to be the Black paladin!" Lance said easily.

"Yeah! We all have our thing, Keiths the loner, I'm the brain, Hunk is the nice one, Allura's the decision maker, Coran is the wise old guy and Lance... well you're the goof-ball!" And Keith knew Pidge was teasing, hell he knew her other observations were spot on, but Lance as a goofball? Sure he was funny and liked to goof around a lot, he flirted a lot for the hell of it, but couldn't she see he did it to make others happy! If anything Lance was the support, the heart of their group.

"Yeah! I'm the- wait! No I'm not the goofball!" Good Lance, stick up for yourself. "I'm like the cool, ninja, sharpshooter!" Lance said pointedly and Keith couldn't stop the snort of disbelief and amusement that came out of his voice.

"Are you joking?" He said between small laughs as he spoke, and he knew he was looking at Lance, too fondly and really Keith was finally ready to admit it in that moment. Wow, he was really gone, huh? Shiro would make fun of him. "Sharpshooter? Absolutely, but Ninja? You fell outside my room last night and woke me up on the way to the kitchen." And of course everyone started to laugh. Lance looked a little annoyed, but Keith could tell the flush on Lance's face was not of annoyance, but of trying to hold in his own laughter.

"Alright fine, but that distracts us from the main point of this conversation!" Lance pointed out. He needed to bring it back to the original conversation. He needed to bring it back to the fact that people were talking about whether or not Keith was to be the next Black paladin, and maybe it was the embarrassment talking, maybe it was that age old rivalry coming back up not as a friendly thing like it always was, but as it originally was- volatile. Maybe it was Lance's last chance grab at trying to be better than Keith, one above him, the LEADER of the group for once instead of the stupid forgotten leg when he could be so much more. Maybe it was a mix of all of this that caused his words to be so hurtful. "Keith can't be the Black paladin! I refuse to follow you anywhere." 

And Lance regretted his phrasing the moment it came out of his mouth. Hated the way Keith went from happy, easy, smiling back to defensive and scared. Hated it even more when that god awful part of his brain that liked Keith reminded him that this was the first time Keith openly joked and smiled in a while. 

God he was terrible.

"I don't want to lead! Shiro's the one who wanted me to be the Black paladin." And then Keith looked like he wanted to swallow his words. Oh god, no one was supposed to know that, he was supposed to stick to Red, stay quiet and let someone else more worthy fly the Black lion like Allura, or Lance.

"What are you talking about?" Hunk was the one to ask in absolute shock. Keith though, was turned away from them all so he could not see the shocked faces of Lance, Pidge, Allura and Coran as well. 

Shit.

Would it be too late for Lance to take Keith's side. 

Like sure he believed Keith would be the worst Black paladin ever, but still to be given a legacy he clearly didn't want from a man he clearly didn't want gone was surely tough. 

"Shiro wanted you to be his successor, didn't he." Pidge asked, and that's when she heard the answer in her head, without it coming from Keith.

Close, paladin, very very close.

What did Green mean? Shiro clearly wanted Keith to be his successor, especially by the way Keith was being shy about it and flustered and.

You are going the wrong direction.

And what could that mean? Surely the paladin's wants have a sway over the lion's decision making? Maybe the Black lion had taken Shiro's feelings into account with the matter of successors?

"Well I didn't hear Shiro say anything." Lance said.

And wait, Lance was right, Shiro never said anything about wanting Keith as a successor.

"If you want the job so badly, you can have it!" Keith yelled out in a terrible mix of outrage and despair before leaving the room. Allura went to walk after him as Coran began to coral the room. 

Looks like they were picking out the next Black paladin Cinderella style.

But that didn't feel right. Come on Pidge think, why doesn't it feel right? Because you can't forced yourself onto the lion. It's not like the paladin choses the lion it's the-

The lion choses the paladin.

Shiro didn't pick Keith to be the next Black paladin.

The Black Lion picked Keith.

And from what Pidge remembered from dinner that night, the Black lion wanted Keith badly.

Good young one, you're finally getting it.

Does Keith know?

He has known he is the true Black paladin far longer than he has known he was Galra.

And that confused Pidge so, so much.

So now Keith's going to pilot Black, great that still leaves a lion out of commission, who was going to-

"RED STOP!" 

And then Pidge remembered, Lance talks to Red, he can talk to her and has been able to for a while. 

Pidge can't talk to the other lions.

Good.

So who gets Blue?

"Keith, come with me and cool down."

"Princess-"

"Enough with the Princess thing, I know you, Lance has said far worse to you before, in fact considering your past this is rather civil, so what happened." 

"I finally figured out why everything hurts when I'm near him." And Allura felt that sorrow true and deep in her core. She walked next to Keith, placed her hand in his and gently and slowly leaned her head against his shoulder in the middle of the hallway trying to give Keith the comfort he needs. It really sucked falling for someone you knew wouldn't love you back.

Allura's done it, to a lesser extent, twice now.

"So you really do like him, teasing aside." 

"He makes me smile, 'Llura, well, he usually does." He said and Allura just nudged him with her shoulder.

"Hey if I can come along to your side after everything, anyone can, and Lance likes you, a lot, he will support you when you become the Black Paladin."

"Allura-"

"Everyone else will know soon enough that not everyone can be the Black paladin, and based on how you were acting in there, lashing out, defiant posture, you look down and to the right when you know you're not telling everyone the whole tru-"

"You know too much about me, I'm going to have to kill you now." Keith said simply and Allura was laughing, loudly and happily before dragging Keith to the floor, sitting against a wall together in a random hallway of the castle. She made sure to stick as close to him as possible.

"Keith, best friends are supposed to know this, like you don't know things about-"

"You move your hands to your side when your angry, in front when you're actually enjoying a conversation, and behind you when you try to act civil with someone you hate, but you need to be civil with." He said simply and Allura simply shoved him in response.

"You know too much about me, I'm going to have to kill you now." And then Keith was laughing again and it was all good. Everything was silent when the laughter died down, and Allura just waited for Keith to speak.

"I remember the first time I heard the Black lion call to me." He said so simply, yet so distantly.

"Tell me everything." And he did.

It was a couple hours later when Coran came to find Keith and Allura to tell them that they must present themselves to the Black lion along with Pidge, Hunk and Lance. 

Keith really didn't want to go, but he went anyway. 

Maybe the Black lion would change it's mind?

Of course it wouldn't, Keith's had that thing in his head for MONTH'S it's as stubborn as he is, in fact it's been dead since it allowed them access to it's cockpit to see Shiro was gone. It hadn't moved an inch and Keith could feel it's vindictive laugh as they all approached it. 

God he hated this.

"So Allura's up first!" Coran said, and Keith really wasn't paying attention, but it must not have made any sense whatsoever because Lance was complaining about how that wasn't even how 'guess the number' worked or something. 

Oh well, looks like Allura was going first.

And she really knew there was no chance in hell that she would be the one to control the Black lion. Her decisions came from a background far too prejudice to have the correct mind of judgement the lion was looking for. She was too knew to fighting in war machines that were not the castle. She was a Princess, not a paladin. She knew this spot belonged to Keith.

Of course it felt empty to her touch. But, of course, a small part of her hoped that maybe, just maybe something would spark. Something would light and she would be able to pilot the Black lion. Maybe she would be important.

But there was nothing.

And truthfully, she wasn't all too upset about that.

Pidge really was in it for the shits and giggles, there was NO WAY she was the Black paladin. For one, she just figured it out with Green who the actual Black paladin was, and two, she was way too fucking short.

She couldn't reach the pedals.

But she'd have fun in the lion until someone kicked her out.

Hunk was too happy in Yellow to even give the Black lion a try, and Coran was so annoyed with how quickly Hunk got out that he forced him back in, so of course Hunk had to make an absolute spectacle of himself so Coran could force him out.

Okay Lance, focus, you're the only paladin you know who has talked to two lions, maybe a third is in your future! Maybe you can finally step out of Keith's shadow to be the leader you were always meant to be.

Come on.

Focus.

He was feeling something.

Yes! It was another lion! It was warm and comforting! Certainly safer feeling than Blue! This was it! He was the Black Paladin.

And then Red flashed through his vision, and he felt the heat of the sun on his back and flames licking at his toes and he heard the snicker, and teasing song of the Red lion.

It said to him.

Come home. Come to me. 

But Keith was there, and Lance didn't know if he could stand to follow in his footsteps once more.

He felt the Black lion shock him out of his control room, and he ran out of there angry and upset. "It's useless! The Black lion hates all of us!" 

And he knew that he was upset. 

He was truly, truly upset.

But of course they had to turn to Keith, and Lance knew deep in his bones that the Black lion would accept him, of course it would.

Of course Allura had to remind him how he was the only one left. Of course the other's had to support Keith over Lance. Of course they'd put him first.

And after everything Lance did for him... god why did this hurt so much?

Lance watched Keith walk into the Black lion, and he felt the energy changing already, and he wanted to walk out. To leave, but he couldn't.

He was about to witness the rise of a new and great paladin, a new and great leader of Voltron, and god damn him if he missed it just because it wasn't him. His time would come to outshine Keith, maybe not now, but soon.

"I know you wanted this for me Shiro, but I'm not you." Keith said putting both hands on the controls of the lion. The moment his second hand touched the controller though, he knew he was wrong.

You fool.

And he felt it, the pure Quintessence of the Black lion, it was powerful, dark and strong, stronger than anything he had felt it the Red lion it nearly seared him alive.

It was never Shiro who wanted this true paladin, it was me. Take your seat, and lead.

"I can't lead, not like Shiro."

You are not Shiro, you are my paladin and you will lead as I have always lead, with my right hand.

And then the lion was awakening. Oh no, Keith didn't want this. He hated this. Of course the board of purple glow came on first, of course the lion only let Keith have a split second to register what was going on before it opened it's eyes to him, of course it focused on Lance as it let it's own words of right hand ring through Keith's ears.

Of course it kept moving, of course it roared it's approval without Keith even moving the controls. 

Of course it moved with him in the god damn hot seat. He hated that the lion's sight allowed him to watch as Lance gave the Black lion one last melancholic look before leaving.

God this hurt.

But at least in the Black Lion, Keith felt closest to Shiro. 

"Congratulations Keith, I wish you were getting the job under better circumstances, but you've truly earned it." Allura was the first to say when Keith exited the Black Lion. Pidge, Hunk, and Coran were quick to give Keith their congratulations soon after, but it didn't matter to him. It wouldn't matter to him.

"No. I refuse to be the Black Paladin." Keith knew their congratulations wouldn't matter.

"What? You must, the Black lion has chosen you!" Allura defended.

"I can't! I'm not Shiro! You guys were right, I'm just the loner." He said dejectedly, ignoring the roar of annoyance from the Black lion. "I'm not the leader Shiro thought I was."

I don't want a Shiro 2.0 I want my true Black Paladin.

Nothing in this whole god damned universe could convince him to pilot that lion. Then he felt the hand on his shoulder, warm and steady, and covered in the blue paladin armor. Keith let out an involuntary gasp as he felt the weight of it against his body. He followed the arm until it reached Lance's torso, then his face, and Keith watched as Lance took a step, and then another closer so there were inches between them.

"No one can replace Shiro, we're not asking you to replace Shiro. We're asking you to lead us like you would. The Black lion would never pick anyone it didn't deem worthy to lead Voltron. I'm sorry for my harsh words earlier, I guess I was angry because you have always surpassed me in everything before, and I thought maybe this one time, I could one up you, I could become the Black paladin, but I was wrong. I should have known from the beginning you were the right choice. You would always be the right choice." Lance said making sure to maintain eye contact with Keith. Lance saw the exact moment Keith went from fearful at his touch to admiring him to straight confusion.

"Lance, you idiot-" Keith began, but he must have said it too quietly because Lance began to talk over him. 

"Keith, I respect her choice, and you should too." And fuck if Keith could say no to that.

"Then you must fly the Red lion." 

"What?" Lance asked in disbelief. No, he just had this whole speech about how he didn't want to follow in Keith's footsteps, and now Keith was asking him to do just that.

Lance simply laughed him off.

"No, I think I'll stick with Blue, I'm happy there." He said finally taking his hand off Keith's shoulder, avoiding the hard stare Keith was giving him because he knew Keith could figure out what was wrong with him with just one long, hard look.

They didn't notice Allura disappear.

Her father's lion was free. It could chose a new paladin. Her father's legacy, her father's pride of Voltron was free and it could be hers. Of course she was sprinting to retrieve it.

Of course she was praying it would let her in, but it didn't.

"Please! I want to carry on my father's fight, but I need your help, please let me carry on his his footsteps as your paladin." And Allura felt nothing. No this can't be happening! This lion was her father's legacy, her legacy. She could fly it and she would. She had too! 

So why wasn't it responding! She knew she was worthy! She had to be worthy! Why didn't it accept that she was worthy! 

She couldn't stand by and do nothing any longer.

"Please I must do this! Other's are risking their lives in this fight and I can't continue to..." But the Red lion remained cold, dead, and unresponsive.

She cried in that Lion and it didn't even show her an ounce of the life she knew it had inside her.

Allura felt like death.

When she was finally done she went to the rest of the paladins to tell them of her failed attempt at the Red lion, Coran gave her a comforting pat before she forced everyone to move on. 

"Come, we must find a new paladin, again..."

"I nominate Lance." Keith said easily and then everyone went quiet, looking back to see if Keith was joking or not. Lance felt something heavy and strong settle in his chest. This was insane, why was his heart doing this thumping thing just knowing that Keith was pushing for him to pilot Red. The one advocating for it.

Lance only registered the smile on his face when he felt Keith's own smile directed at him.

Five Half-Galra fighters, that's all it took to completely decimate some of Voltron's new freed planets. Their rebellions were crushed, the Blade of Marmora was spread so thin they could do nothing about it.

Axca was almost disappointed, but she had bigger things to deal with.

Like Voltron, their number one enemy at the moment. Voltron with five lions and five paladins, however, one was missing, the head.

"No Black Lion."

"We asked the inhabitants of the planets we have regained, none of them have seen it." Acxa said, then Ezor in all her bubbly self added her own comment.

"It's like it just disappeared. Poof!" 

"No Black Lion, no Voltron. Narti, I think it's time you spoke to Pouige's leader." 

Of course before anyone could say anything else about another paladin, they were being summoned back to planet Pouige to help defend their people from the Galra. 

They needed to help them, the Red lion will be out of commission for now, but it'll have to work. 

"Let's go." 

But of course nothing was easy. Blue wasn't listening to him, and Lance needed Blue to listen to him, he could hear the inquiries of the other paladins, the Princess, and Coran, but he could do nothing to ease their confusion.

The Blue lion wasn't letting him in.

Why? He couldn't even hear her like he normally did. What was he supposed to do! 

"My Lion's not responding!" Lance yelled out in distress. 

"Then figure it out, and catch up with us!" Keith said and Lance wanted to roll his eyes, if only it were so easy. "And Lance? I really think you should go to Red." And Lance felt a rumble in his mind, but that wasn't right, he was not ready to give up the Blue lion, she was his, she picked him all the way on Earth. This was His Lion, not Keith's old one, not nothing. This was Lance's lion, the lion of the ocean. Lance liked the ocean.

He could not move on from her.

So what if Keith thought so highly of him that he believed Lance to be the one to take up the helm of Red Lion.

So what.

He would never leave Blue.

No matter how enticing the call of the rumble in his mind felt.

You feel different from Red.

I am different from Red.

I don't feel as fast. You are bulky.

I am powerful.

I'm sorry I didn't mean that as a fat joke.

Could have fooled me paladin.

Sorry Black, just work with me, please? For now? We are needed and I'm too under trained to really be piloting you right now.

You promise to remember that?

What?

What?

And then they were dodging the new galra troops who were under the command of the New Ruler, the Prince Lotor of the Galra Empire.

They were set up.

"Come on old Blue it's me, open up... Alright enough goofing around! The other's need us!" Lance said, but still got no response. He fell to the ground in despair. "Why are you mad at me? Is it because I tried to be the Black paladin? We all did! Please Blue! Believe me!" Lance tried to plead, but it just wasn't working.

Maybe pick up lines will work?

Nope.

And all Lance could hear was the distressed calls of his fellow paladins. 

"Lance what are you doing!" He heard Allura ask him, and honestly this isn't what he wanted, what he needed. He needed to get Blue and get out of here.

"I don't know! Blue's not responding to me! At all!" He said in distress. Come on Blue, Lance really didn't want to blow it in front of Allura she was pretty, he was already blowing it for the rest of the paladins. "God maybe Pidge was right, maybe I am just a goofball. Not only was a meant to be the leader, maybe I'm not even supposed to be a paladin." 

My son you're an idiot!

And Lance nearly stumbled at how loud that voice was in his head, then he heard it! The Red Lion's Roar. Was this real life?

"Was that..?"

"The Red Lion, Lance you must go to him-"

"Her-"

"Red's a her?"

"Allura!" And Lance groaned in disbelief. "Princess, Keith would bite my head off if I went to the Red lion, maybe it's calling for you?"

I will break through the walls of this castle to reach you, you utter idiot. My paladins loves you. Come to me. Come to the Red Lion, it's where you belong!

"Lance, Keith would never, he was the one who was so for you piloting the Red Lion-"

"But-"

And then the lion roared, louder.

"I would love nothing more than for the Red Lion to chose me, but that's not what it wants, it wants you."

"But, I don't..."

"My father created Voltron, you would think he should pilot the Black lion because of that, but he realized Zarkon was a better leader, he allowed Zarkon to pilot-"

"That's not how it works, Paladins don't pick the lions Allura, the lion's pick paladins." Lance cut her off rather quickly, and then he heard Red's laughter in his head again, and oh.

"Lance when you accepted Keith, it proved you accepted a strong team over your desire for glory. The Red lion has chosen you, because of your unyielding support, against those you would never want to fight." She said with a laugh, pointing to herself and Lance of course remembered his stance when Keith came out as Galra. "You're like my Father in that sense." And her smile only got so much more bitter.

"I'll make him proud."

"Go." And then Lance went running, he took one last look at Blue... and at Allura before running to his new destiny. His future.

To the Red Lion.

To Keith.

And then Allura felt it.

Princess, I have deemed you worthy.

"Can you be more specific, we need an actual plan!" And then suddenly Keith was under attack, he was being fired at. It hurt and he felt the Black lion in pain too.

What do we do Black?

You are too controlled, Red needs a tight lease, I do not, let me ride.

Very well. 

"I'm fine everyone, but we need a plan!" And then Keith felt it, a familiar brush in his mind, but not like it was before. He turned to his right and saw it, the Red Lion. "Lance!" 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm here Keith. Sorry, but I think Red likes me more." 

"Of course she does, who wouldn't? Now let's get to work." 

And Lance could really only think one thing, Red was fast. She wasn't as strong as Blue, and she was harder to control, but when he let her go wild, by god she went WILD. 

But with four out of their five lions and the castle by their side, maybe now they could form a proper plan even if two of the paladins were just assigned. 

And that's when Keith noticed it.

"Everyone, focus on that main ship, it has the new Prince to the Galra empire!" And then said ship launched a canon at the castle, a canon more powerful than any they'd seen before.

They desperately needed to focus on that ship.

Of course Lance almost fucking flew into it.

"Hey! Be careful with Red!"

Oh fly your own lion!

"Yeah! Fly your own Lion!"

And then Lance proceeded to crash. 

"Guys, we're a mess, we need to get organized." Pidge said grabbing everyone's attention. "Keith what should we do?"

"I don't know! We need to form Voltron, but we're short a lion."

"Not anymore!" Allura's voice was heard over the coms and everyone turned to see the Blue Lion with whom they could only assume was being flown by Allura.

Lance really wanted to feel angry about that, but then he felt it, Red deep in his mind and he knew everything would be okay.

And then the Galra were retreating, and while everyone was celebrating Keith was thinking of the implications behind their fight.

"Lotor has a son." He said.

"It is deeply unsettling." Allura agreed, and then they all made their way back towards the castle ship. They all put their lions back into their respective hangers and then most of the paladins went back to the meeting area, Lance went to Blue.

"Well, I guess this is it, huh Blue." He said looking up into her dead eyes, something he thought he'd only see in his nightmares. While it was sad, it was still better than he expected this feeling to be. It's probably all due to the little Red Lady in the hanger next door. "We had some fun adventures, didn't we? I wanted to stay with you, but sometimes the things you want, aren't necessarily the things you get... but you know." And Lance looked over towards the Red Lion's hanger, a smile on his face. "Maybe it's exactly what you need."

And he felt the Red lion purr in approval. 

"All the same, I'm going to miss you buddy." And then Allura was entering the hanger, that was right, she went to try on her own paladin armor, wanted to see if it would work and was probably dropping it off for later use. "Pink, huh? Not what I was expecting." 

"Yes, well on Altea, this color is worn to honor our fallen warriors, I wear it to honor the paladins of old." She said, a small sad smile on her face. "And Shiro."

And Lance could respect that, could understand that.

And now it was time to finally hand off the final piece truly connecting him to his lion. Armor was armor, but the bayard...

Lance called to it, glad to see it respond to him even if it did so reluctantly. 

"Anyways, I think this belongs to you now." And he held out the bayard to her, watching with a soft smile as she went to cautiously reach for it, as if it wouldn't actually fit in her hand, as if it wouldn't actually work for her. 

"If I had to lose Blue to someone, I'm glad it was you."

And Allura smiled at that before flinching and looking towards the Blue lion quickly. "Yeah, you get used to the other being in you head very, very quickly." Lance said with a smile, and then Allura was smiling once more.  

And then Keith was running through the hanger, grabbing onto Lance he quickly pulled him along. 

"Let's go!" 

"Keith! What's going on!" Lance asked, running with Keith, not once looking back.

"I've put a tracker on Lotor's ship so we would be able to follow him after he worm hole jumped." Keith explained before calling for the Red paladin bayard.

They stopped in front of Red where Keith took Lance's hand to put the Red Paladin bayard in it himself. "Wha- Keith, that's amazing, but-"

"We know exactly where he is, I don't know how long the tracker will go unnoticed, we have to take this opportunity! Please Lance," Keith asked holding onto Lance's hands pleadingly and then Lance heard Red in his head.

He will do it, with or without us, what would you prefer?

"Fine, I'll tell the other paladins." And Lance watched as Keith's smile could take up the whole of his face. 

"I'm going to the Black lion, meet you out there sharp shooter." And then Keith was running away, he gave Lance a final wave before turning the corner and it only clicked then that Lance had been watching him run away until he couldn't anymore. Flustered, he entered the Red lion to her insatiable snickers. 

Oh do shut it Red.

Never.

You're worse than, Blue.

But you love it!

"Everyone, we've got a tracker on Lotor, Keith's in the Black lion now about to launch to follow, we either go with him, or let him do this alone, so I suggest you all find your way to your lions."

"But, most of us are new to our lions!" Hunk protested and Pidge agreed and Lance wanted to curse, he hadn't even thought of that.

"This is an opportunity too good to pass," Keith's voice rang out. "So are you coming or not?" 

And then everyone was going to their lions to launch out of the castle ship to follow Keith. 

Chapter Text

The paladins were holding formation flying around the moon Lotor's ship was orbiting. This would have been the perfect plan of action, that is, it would have been the perfect plan of action to go after Lotor now if everyone had complete control over their lions. 

But Allura was having trouble steering, Lance was having trouble with speed control and Keith was having an issue with Black's bulk.

But he was an idiot, an absolute fool, he was ignoring Black's warning and all the signs around them, he was ignoring the fact that he was not Shiro.

That he could not lead them in the same style and way Shiro could.

He wasn't comfortable in his own skin. He was not comfortable in the Black Lion's skin.

So of course he lead them into a trap. He didn't listen to anything, and it was his fault.

The guilt was eating him alive, and now all of the Voltron lions were separated perfect for Lotor's picking.

But Keith was so, so close to getting Lotor, he was chasing him on the planet, he was the only one there. He could do this he was the truly the best flier in the whole of the Universe. He had to do this!

"Keith you're splitting us up! Fall Back now! Don't do this!" Lance's voice was the final thing to reach his coms before they went down and Keith pulled away from following Lotor. 

He stopped with a yell of annoyance. He was so close, yet so far and he was so wrong to split everyone up and he couldn't believe he'd actually done it.

You are a fool, you were not ready for me.

You're right Black, I'm not ready.

Do you know what will get you ready?

Help me, to help you.

Go to the Red Paladin. Find him, together you are meant to go places no paladins have ever gone before.

Is there any way you can lead me to him?

Follow your heart's desire. You will find him there.

To think Keith would ever truly let them fail so easily. 

He found Lance in a far corner of the planet, all alone, and Keith went to him in shame. This was all his fault, everything. From his over eager desire to end Lotor on his own to getting every single paladin separated from the group, and now he needed to get to Lance. He needed his guidance, his opinion, Lance always had a good idea.

"Keith! Where are the others?" Lance asked when he saw the Black Lion approaching him. 

"This is all my fault, I've followed him right into this trap." Keith said instead of answering Lance and Lance wanted to roll his eyes and sigh in annoyance, but settle for just the sigh since he knew Keith wouldn't see his eye roll. Like yeah, no shit Keith. But Lance watched in awe as the Black Lion in all it's glory was below him, the Red lion, giving him the power in this dynamic. He was never given this kind of power. "Everyone warned me, but I didn't listen, I put the entire team in jeopardy." 

"Yeah you kind of did." Lance said a little too easily, and Keith flinched, but Lance pushed on. "But now we gotta fix it." Lance was the Red Paladin now, he would be Keith's right hand until the end. 

He'd always be Keith's right hand. 

"You're right, let's go." And together they went to find the others. 

Pidge found Hunk. So that was good, but...

Allura was all alone in her Blue Lion, trapped by Lotor's ship, not knowing what to do. Come on Allura, think, what would Lance do?

Oh!

"Hey there, Blue lion, you know you're really activating my particle barrier right now...?" And then she laughed helplessly, just to hear the roar of laughter in her head from her own lion, but nothing helpful. Well then.

"Please! Nothing works! I've tried asking you nicely and I've tried commanding you! What do you want from me?!"  

I want you to be a paladin, not a Princess.

"Then I'll need your help." And the lion was back, it was in her mind and she was working with it. Perfect timing too, considering Lotor found her then. 

God she needed to get out of there, but she still didn't know how to maneuver this lion! Not nearly as well as her other paladins! "Help me! Guide me! I can't do it alone!" 

Make a map.

And then Allura was using the sonar function of the Blue lion to make a sonar map and she wanted to laugh. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

And then they were off to the races, it was like they were a completely different paladin, and Lotor was loving it.

He was loving it so much, he didn't even notice as the Blue paladin gained the upper hand. It was truly well played, and Allura did it all on her own.

She was so happy.

Blue was so proud of her.

So they found The Black and Red Lion first using sonar, then they found Pidge and Hunk who were happy to see the other lions.

Keith was happy to give Allura credit when Hunk began to thank Keith for finding them. "She used the Blue lion's sonar capabilities to make a map of the planet, and in doing that, she was able to locate our lions."

"How'd you do it?" Pidge asked.

"I just had to stop thinking by getting into a more Lance like mind set." Allura supplied.

"A Lance like- Hey! I have thoughts! Are you calling me dumb?"  

"Not dumb!" Allura tried to quickly amend. "Just a natural."

"Yeah a natural dumby!" Hunk teased seeing the opportunity and knowing he couldn't miss it. Teasing was truly one of his favorite ways to show his friends he loved them.

"Yeah he was born with it!" Pidge teased.

"Hey, as much as I love teasing Lance, and really I do, we should probably worry about the situation we're in and not the integrity of Lance's intellect." Keith said, soft and warm in the beginning before setting the team back onto focus.

Lance hated how warm that tone felt, and he couldn't figure out why it made him feel so warm. Hunk was soft with him like this, and sure Lance felt warm with Hunk but while Hunk's warmth felt like a nice fire, this felt like a furnace.

Lance could feel Red laugh at him, but really what could Red possibly be laughing at him about.

"Allura, any way out of here?"

"Yes, I can see a way out, however, everyone we have company. Looks like Lotor called for back up." Allura said and really they were all doomed with the amount of space ships that were surrounding them. There wasn't a way out.

They needed Voltron if they wanted to stand a chance.

"We need Voltron." Keith said simply.

But that had failed earlier today, they'd tried once before in the chase for Lotor, but it didn't work, they couldn't get it to work. Of course Allura pointed it out.

"We failed to form Voltron the last time we tried."

"We have to keep on trying. We may have come here, fragmented and disorganized, but the only way we're getting out of here is if we work together. This is our team. Shiro believed in us, we have to believe in ourselves, who's with me?" He asked and he could feel it. The Black lion was the body, it was the the lion that would draw everything limb to it. It connected every lion into one being. Keith could feel them all, he knew it was going to work now in a way he could never feel before.

So when everyone agreed to give it their all, Keith could feel the change. And when Voltron emerged he felt it too, it was... strange.

Voltron's voice was not like the lion's voices, it did not speak, but Keith could feel it urging him, he could feel the Black lion too, and like the limbs of his own body, he could feel the other lions. He understood why the Red lion was such a significant one. It was truly his right hand.

Then Voltron was urging him forward. It had not seen a battle for the good of the universe in a long time, it was ready to fight.

Good.

They've got a lot of warships to destroy.

There was a new energy source coming from the Planet, Acxa was rather put out by it. Her unease put Lotor at unease. He had never seen his right hand flinch at something, let alone be nervous.

It already put the uneased Lotor, the Prince who unexpectedly got tricked by a paladin, more off kilter.

What could that energy possibly be. They were too fragmented, too disorganized and new to be able to form Voltron now.

That would be insane.

From his Father's own notes on the older paladins, it had taken them a whole life threatening battle to get Voltron to work, and that was only for minutes and it was a disorganized mess of a battle that any other robot with half a braincell more could have fought.

This couldn't be possible.

But it was.

And not only was it the full fledged Voltron.

It was a Voltron that was fighting as strongly as the one that defeated his father. No, better. The fighting style had changed, it was faster, it flew differently, it was wild, it was almost Galra. Something had to have changed between them entering the planet and them leaving.

What was it?!

"Hunk! I'm a leg!" Was the first cheer heard from the new Voltron. Allura's voice was exuberant and everyone had a smile on their faces due to her happiness.

"It's pretty cool, huh?" Hunk answered back, and the joking happy, hopeful mood only pushed them further.

And they destroyed the fleet; the whole of Lotor's fleet. Everyone was in shock and then Pidge noticed Lotor flying away as Voltron did the same.

"Are we going after him?" She asked.

"No." Keith said and he felt the giant Robot's and his lion's approval. "Pushing the team as hard as I did earlier caused our downfall. I won't make the same mistake again. We'll face him when we're ready." 

"Roger that, team leader." Lance what the actual quiznack? 

But it worked because Keith was laughing. 

"Alright, get ready to go fast, I think it's time we head back home." 

And then they were off.

Lance really didn't know why he was waiting in the lion's bay for Keith. He really didn't.

Like there was nothing he really needed to say to Keith, whatever he'd wanted to say was said out on the field, so what more could Lance possibly want with Keith. He didn't know, but his instincts were telling him to stay, so he did.

The Red Lion approved.

Keith was surprised, pleasantly surprised don't get him wrong, but still surprised all the same to see Lance waiting for him. He walked up to Lance's side and stopped before inclining his head in towards the exit, asking silently for Lance to walk with him. Keith was fine with the silence, but Lance wasn't.

"So we formed Voltron, huh? That's cool right? Didn't think we'd be able to do it again this quickly." Lance began.

"I knew we could." Keith said with such a conviction Lance was absolutely confused.

"And how did you know, samurai?"

"It was in the Bond." Keith said, and seeing Lance's confusion he began to explain. "Voltron, the bond it has, the actual robot has a sentience to it. It's like the lion's but, I can't talk to it. I can feel it though, it's constantly there, like a strong presence of a greater being. A wiser being. When I asked us to try and form Voltron on that planet, I knew it would work because the bond, in a way told me it would and it was... Lance it was crazy." Keith said in disbelief.

Lance was still confused.

"What do you mean crazy?"

"Like, I could feel it. I could feel the hum of everything working together, it was a bit much and I know it's something Shiro never felt before."

"And how can you know that?" Lance asked a little annoyed by Keith's assumtions. "We've formed Votlron plenty of times with Shiro before. What makes you think you're so special as the head?"

"Because every limb has it's true paladin." Keith said and those words true paladin kept ringing in Lance's ears. Red had told him he was her true paladin, he had heard Blue tell him the exact same thing about Red. Did that mean that the lions each had the paladin they were most compatible with? Did that mean that the lions believed them to all have the values of the truest paladins? That seemed fake, it couldn't be tru-

"Lance. Being the head like this, it was truly awesome. I felt every lion limb like it was my own. My left leg was the yellow lion, the right the Blue, my left hand was the Green lion and my right... My right hand was you." Keith said looking at Lance.

They had stopped their walking at that and Keith looked at Lance very seriously as he spoke his next words. "Lance, you are truly my right hand, my most trusted limb, you are what I will start every fight with. I'm not as experienced in leading anything, let alone a giant space vessel built by aliens, so I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your support because I can't lead on my own and your instincts, your skill on the field... it's good. It's really good."

"Keith what are you trying to say?" Lance asked in fear because this was all just too good to be true.

"I want you to lead, with me. I might be the Black Paladin and you might be the Red, but I want us to be equal. The Head and the Heart."

And Lance felt his throat dry. He wanted to be leader, in theory. This was so much pressure. The lives of his most important people, the universe's most important people would rest on his skinny shoulders. This was too much! This was imp-

And then Keith gently rested his hand on Lance's shoulder mimicking what Lance had done for him earlier on when Keith wouldn't accept the fact that he needed to let Shiro go enough to find a new Black Paladin. 

"Come on Sharpshooter. We can be Lance and Keith, neck and neck out in space." And Lance felt that damned inferno all over again at Keith's soft words and soft smile and flushed cheeks, and pretty eyes and there was really no way Lance could say no to that. 

Keith let his hand slide down Lance's arm, he went to remove it completely from Lance's person, but against his better judgement, his hand didn't stay at his side like he wanted it to, but it went to grab onto Keith's hand.

"Of course I will samurai."

"So, Black paladins?" 

"Yeah, Black paladins." And then Keith went to walk on and Lance left with him, walking together in an equal stride not one in front of the other.

They were truly equals.

And that damned inferno in Lance's heart kept burning.

Chapter Text

"What's going on?" Keith asked. It was an alarm none of them had ever heard before. It confused most of the Earthlings, but for the Alteans, well it looked like they'd seen a ghost. 

What could it possibly be.

"It's an Altean distress code, used by some of King Alfor's ships." And what could that possibly mean? Could there be more alteans? 

Lance believed it possible. Call him a hopeless romantic or whatever you want, but for a whole planet of chameleon based people to just die off... seemed unreasonable. It seemed too insane even for all of this space time mumbo jumbo stuff. 

So maybe there were altean's still out there, maybe this was them sending out a distress signal.

Maybe this was the Castle of lion's finally hearing it because they were finally in range.

"It could be a trap."  Keith protested weakly.

"Then we'll be ready for it." Allura argued back, but before she took off, she waited, hand at the ready. Keith looked her over once before giving a vague enough hand motion and then they were launching through space towards the destress signal.

It lead them to one of Allura's father's old ships, a deep space exploration ship, she informed them. 

"What happened to it?" Lance asked when Coran told everyone that there was no mission log for the ship.

"Is it stuck in a wormhole?" Hunk added on.

"That's unlike any wormhole I've ever seen." Coran said simply.

"It's made up of this hyper condensed energy." Pidge informed everyone. 

"We have to board the ship to see if anyone needs our help." Allura pushed forward. 

"Ok, how?" Keith asked.

"We could send a probe?" Pidge offered first. "We can get an idea through that of what kind of thing this thing is." Pidge said.

"Do it."

And so Pidge sent one of her man made drones to the ship and the wormhole and it was insane. There was no form of decay. It was like the ship was stuck in a never ending time loop. There was no gravitational pull coming from it, and the light was coming out of the source, not going in like it would in a Black hole.

This thing was truly remarkable.

"The energy signature, I know it... It's radiating quintessence!" Coran cheered out, and just as they were discovering what that worm hole like thing was made of, Pidge's probe disintegrated.

Lance knew for a fact he did not want to go near that.

"We must go there!" Allura pushed further and Lance wanted to run up to her and shake her and just yell, WHY in her face. "Voltron's compositional strength far exceeds anything in this known universe. We received an altean distress call which must mean someone is alive on that ship. As paladins of Voltron it is our duty to help." Allura finished off.

Then Keith turned around to look at her, and to think over her words, then he turned to Lance, and that movement meant something to Lance.

That was Keith asking him.

What do you think?

And Lance shrugged, he wasn't that convinced yet and Keith nodded. "Princess, I'm still not fully convinced this isn't a trap." 

"And even if it wasn't then this would be extremely dangerous." Coran added on. And in a huff so like Keith's, Allura turned her back on the paladins and went to walk away. 

"Fine if you won't help me, then I'll do this on my own." And Lance's panicked expression got Keith's attention enough to make a move.

"Don't you dare." Keith said simply.

"Don't I dare! How-" Allura was venomous, and Keith simply spoke over her.

"Not without the rest of us." And that stopped her. 

"What?"

"Voltron is one force, one body even though it's split up into five lions. I refuse to separate it. We're all or nothing. If you want to do this, we'll do it. If it's that important to you, we're going in with the whole crew. It's our best chance at survival. Sound good?" And at that Allura simply nodded. "Good, everyone to your stations, Coran when we get down there set up a comm link with the Black lion so we can stay in touch as we approach the quintessence hold. Let's go."

And after that it was a matter of seconds until they were all suited up and in their lions. It took them no more than two minutes to form Voltron and fly to the space ship from there. 

Now they just needed to take it slow. So they began to scan, no bio rhythms on the ship, nothing familiar about the elemental make up of the radiating orb, and nothing new was coming in from Voltron's readings. 

"Guys, we're going to get closer, prepare to abort if anything gets too hairy." Keith said simply as he began to bring Voltron slowly and steadily towards the threshold of the light. 

It was odd.

He could feel Voltron's panic at the unknown, but he also felt the familiarity between the unknown sphere and the ship. 

It felt like going to a place you grew up in, but someone else was living there. The feeling of the vortex and Voltron was almost the same, but something felt off-kilter.

Keith wasn't surprised when Voltron was completely unaffected by the vortex, he was however completely thrown off when all contact with the other side was cut off. Hopefully someone could help them over here.

They went to go to the other side of the vortex once more, hoping to see the Castle or Coran, or something, but he wasn't there, and neither was the front of the ship. Something was terribly wrong. 

There was another major difference on this side of the ship. 

There were life forms.

There were Alteans.

So team Voltron made quick work in landing Voltron and entering the ship. Keith took the rear as Allura took the front. They needed people on high alert, but it looked like no one was here. They were finally able to turn the gravity on once they found the control center, but no one was there.

Lance though was the first to spot a man in armor sitting down, he was only visible when the lights were on. Lance went to go and help him up, to help him do something, when his helmet flew off and Lance was staring directly at a skull.

God he wanted to vomit.

They needed to find more information on this ship, and Allura was way ahead of everyone. She tapped out a few commands on the keyboard in front of her, and then a video began to play.

"We've located the second meteorite using the information and directions King Alfor had provided us." A stoutly, serious man began to explain. "We managed to get it aboard, but it seems to be causing massive disturbances." Lance looked from the man with his monocle, then brought his eyes to the skeleton he had just discovered to see the same one there. So the man in the video was dead, definitely dead. "We're trying to bring it back to Altea, but I don't know if we'll get that far. At this rate-" And then the explosion must have begun.

Lance looked away from the video.

He did not need to witness this man's death.

"What happened here?"

"Something deadly." But that still didn't explain the bio-rhythms in this area. And then, like out of a movie, two figures dropped from the ceiling onto the ships floor. 

Lance fired at the one with many legs giving Hunk the opportunity to tackle the other one to the ground. Then Lance saw the other figure was about to fire at him, and he wouldn't have enough of a chance to dodge the bullet.

Then Keith was slicing through the gun that was aimed a Lance, a snarl on his face and Lance only had a moment to think to himself, wow, before going back into the action. 

Keith was fighting with him and Lance was giving him the support he needed when sudddenly Keith was punched to the side. Then something was being thrown at Lance, and he wasn't fast enough to deflect it. It caused Lance to stumble back, to give his opponent the opening they needed to kill him. 

Good thing PIdge had his back.

Buts having his back meant unveiling their opponent to show a completely black haired, scarless Shiro. Lance had seen enough ghosts today, and Keith surely looked like he couldn't handle this one. 

That's when the other opponent freed itself from Hunk's grasp and Voltron recognized him as well. It was Slav. 

And then they started spewing nonsense about a crystal and how they'd never let any Altean get their greedy hands on it so long as they lived.

What the actual quiznack was going on?

"Shiro, please!" Keith said dropping his weapon. He wanted to pay attention to the exchange, he really did, but Black was in his head.

He's not right. Wrong Shiro.

Yeah Black, I can tell that, this one sounds like an idiot.

Trust him, trust him all the same, something about this universe is... off.

Got it.

Pidge was the one who figured it out the same time as Slav did. This was a whole other alternate reality.

Allura went to question them, but they were absolutely rude to her. They would not hear anything she tried to tell them, then an alarm on one of Slav's many arms went off, and Slav and fake-Shiro aka Sven were running.

More alteans were arriving onto the ship and Keith felt like these were the bad guys, but Allura was quick to tell them all to stand down, against his better judgment. 

Then something strange was happening.

All the Alteans that boarded this abandoned ship began to kneal infront of Allura, each one of them chanting high praise for their Empress, for Empress Allura. 

Hunk was confused, he was so, so confused.

"Are you Empress Allura?" The leader, or whom they assumed to be the leader, asked.

"I am Princess Allura of Altea, please, stand." Allura said rather uneasily, and the leader stood followed by her troops.

"I'm am commander Hera, Empress. How can you be here? You put down the Galra uprising and established the Altean Empire 10,000 years ago?"

Keith looked to Allura, who was in pain, and began to speak. "Where we're from, there are no more Alteans, the Galra killed them off along with your planet 10,000 years ago, Princess Allura and her charge Coran are the only survivors."

"Where did you come from?" A scientist from the back corner of the room asked after a moments shock.

"What if they're not able to escape from the other reality?"

"If Voltron can't escape, then we win." Lotor cut off the fight between his commanders before they could even start. "If they make it out with the comet, we take it from them. We win either way."

"This comet is like the abandoned ship, it's caught between realities." Pidge informed the Altean scientist.

"Fascinating. Do you believe you can obtain a sample with your lion?" He asked.

"I can try." Pidge said. When she got back from her lion she looked around and noticed Keith and Allura were gone. Lance informed them that Allura went with the other Alteans, and Keith went with her, not wanting one of us to be on our own at any specific moment.

Pidge guess that made sense.

And then she was comparing the comet to any known substance she'd come across in the universe and found out that the comet was made of the same material as Voltron.

Sister.

"Sister?"

"Pidge, what were you saying? This comet is Voltron?"

"Right, it's not Voltron, obviously, but it's the same readings of Voltron. It's made of the same trans-dimensional substance as Voltron. It explains why Voltron is so powerful." Pidge finished.

"With this substance, we can create our own transdimensional ships to spread the peace of the Altean Empire into new realities." And Pidge, Hunk and Lance really didn't like the sound of that. It sent a shiver down their spine. This wasn't right, and when they looked at each other, they saw their sentiments mirrored.

"So the Alteans of this reality defeated the Galra?" Allura asked as they entered the bridge of the new Altean ship.

"Our success was all thanks to you, my Empress." Hera said. "Without your will to fight at the loss of your Father, Altea would not have been able to spread the peace and stability it was meant to do."

"Peace and Stability, sounds pretty good, huh 'LLura?" Keith said easily, just to have a sword pointed at his throat. 

"Do not speak so easily, with the Empress!" Hera spat and Keith looked to Allura once more in slight panic.

"Please, stand down, he is the Black Paladin of Voltron."

"And that allows him certain liberties?" Hera asked not taking the sword from Keith's neck, but moving her eyes to Allura.

"No, but he is my dear friend and close confident. To hurt him would make me rather angry." She said with a bite to her tone.

"Very well." Hera said before removing her sword from Keith's neck, who seemed rather put out. "Forgive me for pulling my blade, I did not mean to disrespect you, and I did not know of your close relations to the Empress."

"It's fine." Keith said, but all the same he took a step closer to Allura and let his hand rest close to where he would call for his bayard.

Then Hera continued to speak. 

"After we defeated Zarkon, we realized that was simply the first step. We refused to give up our fight though, until all planets could understand and reach the peace Altea had received." Hera said.

Warning bells were going off in Keith's head. He never really forgot what Black said to him.

"Oh that's wonderful." Allura sighed content.

"Yes, from there we found a way to prevent all wars amongst the universe. We were the bringers of peace."

"But how is that possible? It seems too good to be true." Hunk asked the Scientist who was explaining their life of peace.

"Rather simply, please bring your attention to Moxellus, for generations his people had been a savage race. They were having constant battle with the other planets in their system. It was a barbaric and fruitless system, but look at him now." And all three paladins did.

He seemed brain dead.

"What changed?" Lance asked.

"The Hoctrul!" The scientist cheered, and then Moxellus was turning around to show the paladins the Altean technology implanted in his brain. This was sick. This was the twilight zone.

The Alteans were taking over the minds of other species, were taking away their free will, their culture, everything. 

"Advancements had been made, citizens who might have been casualties of war in Empress Allura's day could now be rehabilitated. Entire races who have warred for millennia can now know peace and help us to further the new world." Hera explained happily, bringing Allura closer to her, as if to show her, her way was right.

"So they're joining the Altean peace movement?" 

"So slavery?" Hunk asked confused and disgusted.

"Oh no! They're not slaves because, well slaves have will. Slaves try to escape, those under the control of the Hoctrul are perfectly happy exactly where they are." 

They had to get rid of the comet, they had to do it now.

"But you're taking away their free will." Keith bit out, he couldn't let Allura fall more into this woman's trap. 

"And that's the same will that would end your life with no remorse." Hera said, no emotion to her tone. "Thanks to us, no innocent will lose it's life to the will of an evil being." 

And then Hera was pulling up the map of the new Altean Empire, the great expanse of it. And then, Hera was inviting Allura along to go and see it.

"They completely scrambled that big guys brain." Lance hissed out to Pidge and Hunk when they were out in the hallway, away from the rest of the Alteans. Then a panel was being pushed out from above their heads, and Slav and Not-Shiro were there.

When Slav was to go into a speech about how he knew Voltron would come join them eventually, Lance cut him off quickly, then Pidge spoke.

"We have to find Keith and Allura and tell them what's going on immediately, then they can help." 

Too late, they were caught in the act of treachery by the scientist, now what were they going to do?

Keith was losing her. He could see it, he was losing Allura to the hope of this Altean Empire.

"Allura, please think about this! It wasn't that long ago that we learned not all Galra were bad. Maybe it's not as black and white as she's making it out to be!" Keith pleaded with her, watching as she continued to walk up to the pedestal to move the ship. 

"Keith, these are my people, and they may be the strongest allies we have in this war." Allura said simply.

"Then what about mine?" Keith asked. "Does the Blade mean nothing to you?" 

"Keith, enough." And then Allura was turning on the ship and Keith was wishing his best-friend was less like him. 

She was pulling the ship forward into the other reality, they were doomed. 

Keith was so, so disappointed in her and then Lance, Hunk, Pidge, fake-Shiro and Slav were being escorted in handcuffs to the bridge. Keith looked to Lance to see him looking panicked, so it was as bad as Keith thought.

"Let our friends go." Keith bit out, then Slav was talking.

"You have made the universe peaceful at the sake of freedom! You and your slaves!" And Allura was shocked. 

"Slaves? Is this true?" Allura asked in agony as she turned to Hera.

"Non-cogs are not slaves! You're the ones who spread chaos and destruction. We will scan your brain for every rebel base and eliminate you all. Finally this war can end."

"Allura, we can't let this happen!" Keith said getting her attention.

"Hera please, we both want the same thing, peace." Allura begged.

"Do we? You're way has only brought suffering and the domination of the Galra, our way has brought peace, and unity. With this comet we will bring our peace to every reality." Now Allura truly felt sick, to see her peaceful people the forefront of a tyrannical Empire taking slaves in every planet they go to.  "You're no Empress of mind."

"And you're no Altean." Allura bit out and summoned her Bayard, Keith was quick to do the same, then Slav was laughing.

"Why are you laughing?" Lance hissed out in disbelief.

"Because this is the reality where everything works out fine!" And then the bombs Slav and Sven planted around the ship went off causing enough of a distraction for Keith to throw his sword into one of the two robots guarding his fellow paladins, with that opening they were able to take out the other one.

Allura was in singular combat with Hera, and took her out easily. They were running through the ship looking for the exit. Lance, at Keith's insistance, was upfront, Allura in the back. Lance didn't know why he was upfront, until the robots with guns were firing at them, and Lance had taken them out. Excellent. 

But there was more that Lance didn't see. 

"Lance!" 

That was Keith, and then something was pushing him out of the way, and Lance smelt the sent of burning flesh. When he got up from being pushed to the ground he turned. "Keith!"

But that wasn't Keith who'd taken the bullet, it was Sven. Lance pulled him to the side while Keith began to block more bullets from landing their mark. Thank god Sven was fine.

However the robots were blocking the way to their lions. How were they gonna-

Then this realities Slav was running at the robots, dodging bullets and taking them down and Lance, for the first time ever, could truly see what he thought Slav was like before all the torture.

Then they were getting to their lions and now they needed to get the comet away from them.

Pidge scanned the ship for the comet, then the paladins were forming Voltron to retrieve it. They were running away, they needed to get back to their reality, but they needed to find the exact location they entered to this reality from or risk not making it back home.

"FIRE THRUSTERS!" Hera yelled to her general, but nothing was happening, what was going on?

Then, on screen they saw him, the slimey little bugger with a thousand legs and the annoying laugh as he pulled thousands of wires from the ships mainframe, basically rendering them useless.

"I love this reality!"

Hera was going to rip her hair out.

"TAKE THEM OUT!" She yelled firing the last thing she could possibly think of, a canon not connected to the ships mainframe. 

"I found it!" Pidge yelled out, and then they were pushing through to their reality. To the better one.

Coran had never suffered so many god damned heart attacks in his whole life, good thing he had an extra heart.

"Paladins! Are you okay?" He yelled out when he saw Voltron finally reappear, however, it seemed lifeless in a way. 

Then something was being fired at the castle ship and the meteor was being taken away by Lotor's ship.

Allura was the first to wake, then the other's, Keith remained completely unresponsive.

"Is he okay?" Hunk asked worried, they didn't need another 'Black paladin has gone missing in his lion' incident.

"Yeah, it's just that being in Voltron, flying the Black lion, being the head... it-" Then Lance stopped talking, maybe Keith didn't want the rest of them to know. "Maybe it's a half galra thing? Let's just-"

"I'm fine... let's fly back."

Allura was sitting in one of the rooms where she used to star gaze when she was a child after the mission when she heard the approaching footsteps. The thing about living with only five people was that you began to memorize their footsteps, and Allura knew those to be Keith's.

He sat down next to her before speaking, "Allura, you did the right thing. You couldn't let Hera get that orb."

"And now Lotor has it."

"At least it's in this reality?" He tried, but Allura seemed unamused. "We didn't know."

"We always don't know, and we need to stop." She said getting up to turn and face Keith. "For Lotor to have this meteor... I finally understand why my father sent the lions away, it was to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands, like how the comet did in this reality." Allura said.

Keith got up to stand in front of Allura, making sure they were equal height, making sure they were equals. 

"We'll get it back."

"But if we don't? Lotor is always one step ahead of us. He has a plan for that orb, and we let him have it. If we don't get it back soon, then the Galra will have a weapon as powerful as Voltron." Allura said worried.

"No they won't."

"Keith you can't-"

"Because we will always be stronger, we must think like this. We are five great paladins, we have five great minds and hell we have a Coran. We'll do it Allura. We'll win."

"Thank you, Keith."

"Always, Princess."

Chapter Text

It was pink, and Shiro was having flashbacks, he knew where he was, well not completely. He knew he was back in the Galra's prison. Back on the experimental table, his Galra arm was still on, but his hair was long. How long had he been there? He needed to get back to Voltron immediately. 

Only this time, there was no Ulaz to help him escape, and his body was weak he couldn't walk right. Something was off. Something was terribly off.

He walked past another room and saw another him? A clone?  What was that? That can't be right? He must be seeing things? He had to get out of here. Quick! He needed an escape pod.

He was dodging bullet's as he made his way towards the exit. 

He was escaping, but his ship was being attacked, he was crashing onto a nearby planet, he hoped he could get away somehow. It was his only hope.

"Contact command headquarters, operation Kuron stage three is underway."

Shiro just needed to land safely, survive the crash and find a spot to hide.

Phase one was a success, thank god the planet had breathable air, now he need to find somewhere safe to stay the night on this freezing planet.

He had to.. he needed to... there was a place he had to go. To be. Where was it?

It had to be Voltron right? 

It must be Voltron, he needed to get to Voltron. 

He found some form of shelter in the skeleton of a far larger animal where he was able to use some of it's fat to create a fire. Now onto some other important issues. His leg would be infected if he didn't treat it properly, and well... Shiro didn't want to think of that.

He had to cauterize the wound and pray that the healing pod could fix it up better later.

God it was agonizingly painful.

He was walking again the next day. He needed to find life on this planet if there was any chance at his survival. It was on the third day, he found a lake, with warm water. It was too still though. He should have realized this planet wouldn't just let him live in peace. So, he fought for his right to live.

And just when it looked like it was time to give up, someone was firing onto the monster. 

Who had helped him? 

Shiro didn't know, he was too tired to think straight, he was having nightmares about him being experimented on, and then he woke up, hanging by a pole, his arms were chained, then he saw his saviors/captors? He needed to get off this planet.

"You're rebel fighters."

"That's right!"

"I'm on your side! I'm Shiro, a paladin of Voltron, but I was captured, please I need to get back to my crew. I was fighting Zarkon."

"Yeah right."

"Please! Tell me everything, about the lions, and Voltron!" And then he was trying to get them to listen to him. He needed them to listen to him. "Contact the Blade of Marmora or Voltron to confirm my identity!" And that must have meant something to them, because they'd shared a disbelieving look.

"And send a signal that can be tracked? No!" God this was going to be harder than Shiro thought. 

When they were distracted, Shiro made his move, he escaped the pipe easily, then waited until they left the room to make his move. It looks like they only had one escape pod and he needed it.

There was only one thought on both of their minds. This man was a monster.

"My name is Shiro, and like I said before, I am a paladin of Voltron." He then dropped the gun they were just aiming at him, at their feet. "I need to get to my team, and I need your help."

And then, using the communications they got from before they began to plan Shiro's escape from the planet to get to Voltron. 

If there was a will, there was a way.

And then they were letting Shiro escape their planet, on the only ship they had.

Shiro made it, all he needed now was to get onto a fighter ship to get out there and to make contact. Voltron was here. He needed to get out there immediately.

But they were leaving, it was now or never.

And it seemed to be never, Voltron was out of range, it was flying away and Shiro could not catch up. He couldn't reach it. 

Oh no.

Oh god no.

Now he was just in open space, with no food, no water, and no way to contract Voltron. He was going to die out here-

No he can't think like that.

He had to get to Voltron.

It was his purpose.

"Stop sending your cronies after me." Lotor said, throwing the man's enhanced Galra arm at Haggar's feet.

"Prince Lotor, I know how, like your Father, thousands of idea's are flying through your mind. But right now, the Galra need a leader, not a child on a fools quest. Be a leader, be the man your Father would have wanted." Haggar hissed out at the stupid child.

"I am the leader!" Lotor exploded before growling out, "And I am not my Father." After saying that, he turned from the witch and went back to his usual pursuits.

God, screw the men, Haggar should just take over. 

Actually.

Shiro was awoken from his slumber by the Black lion, he was in the astral plane, something was happening. The Black lion told him he would not wake him unless something important was happening. 

Shiro.

Black?

I have found a suitable body for you to return to.

Really?

Yes, I have let him starve himself, I have let him run out of air and water, hopefully he will be brain dead when we find him so you may take over.

And if he's not?

We'll find a way. Now rest I will call for you when time calls for it. 

Thank you.

PALADIN!

The Black Lion's roar broke through Keith. They were going for a fly, trying to further solidify Keith's connection to Black when she urged him to change course.

"What is it? Are we under attack?" 

It is your brother.

And that was all Keith needed to hear as he let the Black Lion fly herself to where she had pin-pointed Shiro's energy.

Keith had sent a quick message to the castle and soon they were following him to Shiro. 

They needed to get him to a healing pod, now.

Chapter Text

Lance was in the perfect position, he was the sniper, the support from above. His bayard had changed for him recently, allowing him to switch rather easily between a close range gun, and this sniper rifle that fit so easily in his hand. 

This was truly where he was meant to be. 

On his cue, the ground soldiers, the rest of the paladins began their attack. Lance surveyed the scene quickly taking out one or two troops before he settled his focus onto Keith. He had his back as he attacked multiple people. He fired at one from Keith's back, one Lance knew would get him and Keith spared Lance a quick wave before getting back into it. Then Hunk grabbed his attention.

More sentries were coming in from the bay doors, they needed to close them before Voltron was over run.

Lance fired at the control switch and closed the door, now they'd only have to deal with a set few sentries.

Then his eye went to Allura who had taken on and defeated eight sentries at once with a close combat weapon, he'd only really ever seen Sihro or Keith do that with such ease.

Damn she was a Queen.

Lance found himself smiling happily from his position as cover. 

Now he needed to take out the rest of the sentries from the air as Pidge was hacking into the security system. By the time she made it in, only two sentries were still firing. Lance jet packed himself back down onto the once was battle field. 

"Nice hacking Pidge, nice air cover Lance." Keith said.

"That should be the last outpost in this quadrant." Pidge said rather easily, a victorious smile on her face.

"Call the Blade of Marmora. Let them know this base is cleared." Keith said into his head set. Coran gave him the affirmative and then they were heading back onto the castle ship. 

Coran went to great Keith the moment he landed and only told him two word's before Keith was sprinting.

"Shiro's awake." 

"I don't know, the last thing I remember was Zarkon trying to take my lion. After that all I remember was waking up on a Galra ship." Shiro explained, and God there were really a thousand holes in that story, but Keith was just too glad to have Shiro back.

"Well, you'd just unlocked the Black lion's ability to teleport? Maybe it tried to teleport you to safety?" And Keith felt Black get annoyed with that.

"And teleport me into the hands of the Galra?" 

"Maybe Zarkon still had a hold on you somehow before he died?" Keith suggested.

"Maybe." Was Shiro's non-committed answer.

"Well, if you're feeling up to it, the rest of the team would be thrilled to see you up and at it again. We all missed you, you know." Keith said, looking away from Shiro. 

"Yeah, I'll try."

"Okay, we'll be on the Bridge." Then Keith went to leave when Shiro stopped him.

"Hey Keith?"

"Yeah?"

"How many times are you going to have to save me until this is over?" And Keith smiled at that, it was small, but it was there.

"As many times as it takes."

You are not in the clones body.

You're right, I'm not. What should we do.

We cannot tell Keith, not yet.

Why?

It would ruin him, plus it would set him back too far. He needs to grow through things, they all do, but my paladin, and Red's paladin. They need to separate to grow stronger.

And that's what the clone will do?

No, it's what I'll allow the clone to do.

You hate this, huh?

I'll fight in my own way, but this is the only reality in which you get your body back and Red and I get true paladins who realize their true potential.

Very well.

Keith was playing around with the controls on his station when the doors opened up and Shiro walked in. 

"You're looking better, how are you feeling?" Lance asked.

"Good, just trying to get this fog out of my head-"

And then Pidge was stopping any form of reunion as she began to relay her findings about the new Galra base they had just taken over to the team. 

She had found something on Lotor.

"Do you know where he is?"

"Well, not exactly no, but the last three settings on his command ship were in the Vackar quadrant." She told them.

"Nice work Pidge, although those quadrants are massive." And Shiro watched as Keith looked towards Lance to confirm at a subtle nod, Keith turned his attention back to Pidge.

"Hey that comet is made from the same emissions that Voltron was made from right? Then what if we tracked Lotor the same way we tracked the Blue Lion?" Hunk suggested.

"But you know those emission are subject to free induction decay. Those are exponential drop offs." Pidge argued.

"Yeah, but if you can find a way to amplify the sensors, no that would be way too much energy interference. What if instead we increase the SA magnitude?" Hunk asked as if all their problems were solved.

"The spires of the castle!"

"Genius!"

Keith turned to Lance in confusion just to watch him shrug. "I have no idea what they just said." Lance said, then Shiro got their attention again.

"Let's set a course for a Vackar quadrant while they work on that detector, we have a lot of work ahead of us if we plan to catch up with Lotor." Shiro said, and when no one moved, he was confused for a moment, then Keith spoke.

"Sounds good, Allura, get the castle moving." Then Keith was heading out back to his room.

Keith was putting his jacket away, he was planning to maybe take a nap, or maybe take a moment to practice in the training deck. 

His mind wasn't made up yet when there was an insistent knock on the door.  

"Yeah?" He yelled out confused. No one really came to his room to bother him, there was almost an unvoiced rule that no one but Coran was allowed to enter.

So when the doors opened and Lance walked in looking serious, well Keith's heart started freaking out. Oh god. 

"Hey man, I wanted to talk to you because, well... Samurai I'm worried about something, really worried about something and I couldn't hold it in much longer." Lance said rather panicked as he paced into Keith's room before settling in front of Keith.

"Must, really be bothering you if you're coming to talk to me." Keith said, not knowing what to do with his arms he crossed them, he gave Lance a smile. Come on Keith, be confident.

"Well, I mean you're the leader, right?" Lance said, and then he watched as Keith's faced morphed from uneasy openness, to guarded hurt.

Oh no Lance it got worse!

"Oh, I see."

"Yeah, it also, um, helps that you're a friend, a very good friend." Lance added on quickly, watching some of the life come back to Keith's eyes.

Okay, now that you fixed that, time to get serious again.

"Listen, Keith, I'd been doing some math. There are six paladins, but five lions and if my math is right, then that makes one paladin too many." Lance said, and based on Keith's blank face he wasn't getting it.

But Keith was getting it. He was getting it all too well, oh god Lance couldn't be suggesting..?

"Solid math..."

"Look, when Shiro takes over the Black lion again, you're going to want your Red Lion back and that means I'd have to take Blue back from Allura... but she's progressed a lot faster than any of us did! She might even be able to unlock powers we'd never even dreamed of!" Lance said.

"I-I guess that's true." Keith said. In his mind, he pleaded with Lance not to say it.

"So, maybe the best thing I can do for the team, is to leave Voltron." Oh hell no.

"What are you talking about?!" Keith hissed out and Lance was in disbelief at the tone of Keith's voice. 

"This isn't a participation game, this is war! You want your best players on the front line." Lance hissed out.  

"Yeah! That's why you're staying on the team!" Keith said waving his hand in Lance's direction as if it were obvious. "Look Lance, you're right, war isn't a participation game, that's why you're piloting the Red Lion, you're a front player. You're wicked smart and crazy good with a gun. You're my right hand and I wouldn't want any one else in that position. If your only issue is that you're not advancing as quickly as Allura did in Blue, think about what you've been doing in Red. You're learning how to fly the Red lion just as fast if not faster than how Allura was learning to fly the Blue lion!" Keith stopped to take a breath. He stepped over this unknown threshold between the two of them to place both his hands on Lance's shoulder's to get him to look directly at Keith. To look into Keith's eyes and to see his truth. 

"You are the Red Paladin, the only one I recognize, the only Red Paladin I want on my side. So please, don't worry about who's flying what lion. Focus on the missions, okay? Things will work out. I'll make sure of it." Keith said. Lance looked dejected though still. God damn it, Keith needed to fix this. 

Lance was walking away, Keith move.

And so Keith did, he grabbed onto Lance's hand and then pulled so Lance was back close enough to Keith to actually feel his body heat. Lance was absolutely startled and so was Keith, who really needed to do something to save the moment. 

"And Lance, just... Leave the math to Pidge." He said and then Keith smiled, gave him the most dazzling smile Lance had ever seen, teeth and all. Lance felt everything in him heat up at that look. Something warm and all knowing settled in his stomach. His hand was still in Keith's, and Lance let his hand hang between them when Keith finally let go. After that Lance let himself out, but he could still feel Keith's eyes and easy smile follow him on the way out.  

When the doors closed behind Lance, he finally let go the smile he was holding back and let out an uneasy laugh. Jesus Christ his heart just wouldn't stop. God he felt just as flustered as he did around Keith now as he did around...

As he did around Allura.  

What the quiznack did that mean.

Keith knew what his heart was saying to him. He'd had plenty of crushes on guys over the years, he knew what this feeling was. But God be damned if he ever felt anything like this before.

It was time they fired up their machine to see if it would work, and Hunk and Pidge nearly cheered when it worked until they realized what was going on. 

"Guys! The comet's booking away from us! Coran? Allura? Can we get an Altean to fly this ship?"

Keith didn't like it, Shiro hovering over him standing next to the Black paladin seat. Couldn't he sit where the Blue lion's paladin was supposed to sit? Allura was piloting the ship, there was an open seat! 

But Keith didn't really have time to think about that as they realized something. That was not Lotor's ship they'd been tracking. 

"But the comet is in there." Hunk said.

"Alright here's the plan-" Keith began as Shiro started talking at the same time. Really? Shiro was no longer-

There are six paladins, and five lions. 

Maybe it was time to step back and let Shiro back into the mix? The Blade was always looking for new members...

If you want to separate from the rest of them, I will support you.

"Black?"

By leaving the Red one, your bond will grow stronger, his confidence will grow, with you here, it will still grow, but not as quickly as when you're gone.

"Then I will do it."

Your journey will be far longer than you expect, are you sure?

"Yes. I would do anything for him. For them."

"I'm sorry, you go." Keith said, and thus started his slow and steady decline from team Voltron. 

"We need to get that comet, they're probably transporting it into that base. They will be most vulnerable during the transport. We must strike then." Shiro said, and then Keith gave the order out and everyone was on the move. 

That is until they saw the Galra ship attacking it's base.

"Who the heck are these guys!" Lance asked in disbelief.

"We need to know more." Shiro said.

"You're right." Keith said placing a hand on Shiro's shoulder. "You go to the Black Lion, I'll stay in the castle and provide support." Keith said and Lance almost choked on his spit.

Keith loved the fight, he loved flying the Black Lion, he loved everything about being a paladin of Voltron, why would he stay back now?

"Thanks Keith." And then they were genuinely off. Lance only sparing one last look to Keith. When Keith gave him a steady nod and a smile, Lance finally went off. 

You insolent Paladin. Not yet!

"What do you mean not yet?!"

If you move too quickly, the Red one will blame himself for your disappearance and not circumstance. Got it.

"Yes Black."

Now come to me.

They were Lotor's generals. The Prince of the Galra Empire was attacking the base. Unbelievable! What could they possibly want?

Why were they attacking their own people.

Why did they look so different from normal Galra. 

"The teledov!" Coran's voice range out in their helmets. They were hoisting the teledov on this ship? Well that's odd, but they had bigger problems to deal with now, like how the Comet was now the Ship in front of them. Wow this was bad.

There would be no way they could possibly use teledov, not without- and then Allura remembered the Altean witch.

God there was no way this could end well. 

"Lotor must be nearby, we need to find him and take him out for good." Keith said. And Shiro really couldn't have that... it wouldn't make sense.

"Team! You cannot let Lotor take that ship. Get back to your lion's and form Voltron." Shiro said.

"Why worry about one ship when we can stop all of this by taking out Lotor himself?" Keith asked and honestly, maybe it was because it was his idea, but Keith thought he was right here. "We can't allow him to keep outsmarting us!" 

"That's exactly why we can't risk Lotor getting this ship, it's too important!" Shiro yelled out.

They were clashing, Shiro had only been back for a day and they were clashing. 

"Keith, I want to stop Lotor just as badly as you do, but Shiro does have a point." Allura said trying to ease Keith to the idea. Keith looked to his side to see Lance give him a small nod in agreement.

"Very well, you guys head back to your lions I want to search the ship for Lotor." Keith said.

"Keith you need to stick together." Shiro said and Keith wanted to growl in annoyance. Shiro had advocated for the same thing time and time again in the past.

"Shiro's got a point here, I'll stick with you, if we're going to split up, we split up as evenly as possible." Lance said going to stand closer to Keith. They make a good team, close range and distance battle styles mix well together, at least for the two of them. 

"That's not what I mean!" Shiro yelled out. But this made sense! "Sticking together is your greatest asset!"

Everyone looked uneasy, they didn't want to take sides between their old and new leader, even if their loyalty was now with Keith.

Keith looked around once at their indecision, and caved. He would not make them chose. 

"Fine, Lance and I will take the front, Hunk and Allura take the back, Pidge get ready with your tech, we may need to you find out more about this ship later on." Keith said before turning to lead the team out. 

He hated this, it didn't feel right.

And he was right, because the moment they went to leave they were under attack from a bunch of specialized Half-Galra. One went after Hunk, another Allura, the third went to Pidge and the fourth was firing shot after shot at Lance, he was being knocked down.

Keith was quick to run to his defense and that's when he recognized her. This Galra he was fighting, he helped free her. He was pissed to see them clash swords, and then the general who was previously fighting Pidge seperated the two of them throwing a dagger Keith's way. Shit.

But it was fired out of the way and Keith looked over his shoulder to see Lance there, triumphant smile on his face, gun still smoking. He shot the dagger from the air, saving Keith.

"I've got you, samurai!" 

God, Keith was gone. Too bad that moment of relief let his guard down long enough to let one of the generals literally run past him. He was so out of sorts he barely blocked an attack from the Pink general.

And then he was engaged in combat again. And the general, she looked so triumphant, capturing his arm with the sword in it. What an idiot. The Black Paladin is the Paladin of Black matter, of transportation. How stupid of her to believe that he could not transport and use his lion's ability on his own bayard. Her shocked expression gave him life.

Pidge and Hunk were having issues fighting the blind one with a super strong tail and Allura was having her fair share of issue fighting the super strong one.

"It has been a long time since I have found a worthy opponent!" She said roughly fighting against Allura's strong pull. "I'm going to enjoy crushing you."

And then she fired her gun and at Allura's moment of weakness, she pulled Allura to her, and threw her across the room. 

Lance was in a gun battle with a very intense gymnast/shooter. 

They were being battled into a corner, and Keith knew given the time and given the chance to properly fight them, they could win. But...

"We don't have time for this! Everyone get to your lions, now!" Keith yelled out. Then they were retreating. Keith was shocked to see them not follow.

"Okay, seriously what is this all about!? Who were those guys?" Lance asked when they finally got to their pods on the way to their lions.

"I don't know, but I've met one of them before." Keith answered. "In the weblum, she stole some of the scultrite!" 

"Allura if they have an altean and their trying to build a teledov..." Hunk began. 

"If Lotor has turned the comet into a ship we have much bigger concerns!" Allura said.

"Yeah, well I thought Lotor was supposed to be taking over for Zarkon, why is he fighting the Galra!" Pidge chimed in.

"I don't know, that's why we have to stop him, here and now!" Keith said and then they were entering their lions just in time to watch the cargo ship take a piece of the teledov lens.

The ship Lotor made from the comet was strong. It was fast, it flew well, it did everything well, and now Voltron was trying to fight it. They were in the middle of a deadly chase. The ship needed to fly away from Voltron, they needed to distract Voltron from the cargo ship for as long as possible.

"It's too quick!" Keith yelled out frustrated.

"Guys the cargo ship is leaving with teledov lens!" Shiro yelled out and Keith wanted to slam his head through the Black Lion's windshield. 

"Did you not just tell us to focus solely on Lotor's ship!?" Keith yelled out.

He is fighting against you to re-establish dominance. 

"He can have it when I say he can." 

Good, you're getting better. Are you sure you want to give this up, even if you will come back eventually?

"There are six paladins and five lions, if my math is right, that's one paladin to many." 

And that one paladin too many is Shiro.

"I know, Black. But I also know you're not telling me something about this whole Shiro situation."

You're right. 

"Then I will leave as you first suggested so whatever plan you have will get us all out safe."

Very well.

"Shiro's right, we need to destroy the teledov!" Allura yelled out.

"You were just telling me how we have bigger issues!" Keith yelled out in annoyance.

"Yeah, but I think the teledov is the biggest issue now!" Lance shouted out, and that made Keith pause. "This ship! It's clearly distracting us! The teledov means more to them at the moment, we need to destroy it, then the ship." Lance said, level headed.

Good, Keith could listen to that.

"Fine. To the cargo ship."

Then they were getting fired at from behind. Shit, they were in a sticky situation, they could either defend and lose the ship, or attack and hurt themselves. Come on Keith, think. 

"You're going to have to lower your shield fire at the cargo ship and deal with the consequences."  Shiro's voice said, and that didn't make any sense! That wasn't the Shiro Keith knew and loved. He would always put the safety of his crew first, even before the mission. That's one thing Keith learned from him early on.

"No!" Keith said, then he thought of it. "Hunk get your bayard ready, when I say so, we're going to lower the shield and shoot the cargo ship. Ready?" 

"Ready!"

"Go!" And then When his back was turned, Keith dug deep into Voltron, not the Black lion, the actual Voltron. He was the robot and the robot was him. He closed his eyes, then he heard it.

Now.

He moved quick as lighting, the whole of the machine following his move and he watched in triumph as the ship's laser fired over their shoulder, and fired into the teledov lens.

"SHEILD!" He screamed and then another shot was being fired at them and it was strong, and Voltron was putting all of it's strength into defending itself. 

"I don't know how much longer this can hold!" Pidge yelled out, and then the shield was being thrown from their hand and the ship was flying past them and off into the distance of space. It would make no sense to follow them, their mission was clearly stopped by Voltron.

"So Lotor was attacking the Galra base... to steal from it?" Lance asked. "None of this makes any sense." 

"They're getting away!" Pidge yelled out.

"Let them." Keith said simply to the great shock of Pidge. "The castle is seriously damaged, they went away with the ship in hyperdrive, and there is nothing tying them here, we've won this round, we need to come up with a way to win the war." And at the satisfied nods of the other paladins, Keith began to fly Voltron home.

He put his metal arm on Keith's shoulder. Shiro would never, once he got used to the galra arm, he never used it to initiate contact with the other paladins, or anyone he met. Something was clearly wrong here, and Keith wasn't all too sure about leaving now.

We can handle it. If you want to go, you will come back a far stronger paladin, faster than you can imagine. 

You will also help the Red one. Trust in me.

"I'm sorry I had to step in back there." Shiro said.

"You didn't have to step in. I thought I was doing fine, I thought we all were doing fine." Keith said turning out from Shiro's arm. "I know coming back and not being in charge of Voltron must be a massive change, but things have changed." Keith said easily. 

"Keith, we're not talking about this, we're talking about how you need to pick your battles better."

"And I did." Keith said quickly. "Shiro, in the end, we did what I wanted to do in the beginning, it was because you came back and constantly questioned my decision that brought the unease amongst the other paladins. Our new Voltron is democratic, I might fly the Black Lion, but I do not have the unquestionable authority you had. I listen to my right hand, I don't command him." Keith bit out.

"You need to pick your battles, do you want the Black Lion back? Are you going to fight for it, or do you believe this battle isn't worth fighting either?" Keith hissed out.

"Keith-"

"It doesn't matter." Keith said simply going to leave. "Just know that I'm trying to give it back to you. I feel it's the worst decision I could make at the moment, but I know, for the best of everyone, and for the long run you need to be the Black Paladin again, but know this." Keith said looking him in the eyes. "I'll be back for my rightful Lion." 

And then for the first time ever, Keith left a conversation with Shiro first, without being the one lectured.

"How'd you do it?" Keith stopped his fuming anger to turn a questioning eye to Lance. 

"What?"

"You knew exactly when and how to move Voltron to avoid the shot, for it to hit the teledov, and for us to get our shields up in time before another shot was fired off, how did you do it?" Lance asked seriously. Keith looked around the hall before grabbing onto Lance's hand and then pulled him into a small hallway closet. 

"Keith what are you...?" Lance asked in disbelief watching Keith close the door behind them and Lance was absolutely flustered. Why was he pulling Lance into a closet?

Why was Lance's brain shouting closet hook up?

"You really wanna know?" Keith asked quietly.

"Yes." Lance said.

"Voltron told me." 

"Like the Black lion talked to you, and told you?" Lance asked confused.

"No." Keith said then he leaned in to conspiringly whisper. "I think Voltron has an entity, like the lions, but separate, and it talks to me. It's not like how the lions talk with words, but Voltron talks with images and feelings. When we're Voltron, I feel every limb like it's my own, every attack like it's against my body. So when I knew what I was going to do, I took a deep dive into that feeling, and for the first time, I talked to Voltron, and Voltron talked back."

"What?" Lance hissed out in disbelief. "What did it say? What did you say?"

"I went deep into my subconscious, into our subconscious and said, that everything I love is on this ship, and I need you to help me time this so none of them would get hurt. I said, tell me when and Voltron said Now. So I followed it's orders I didn't even have to move my controls that much, it moved in a way for me. We were one entity for a moment in time..." Keith said in disbelief and one look at Lance told him that Lance was shocked too.

"That's... Keith that's insane! How is that possible?" Lance asked.

"I don't know, but Shiro's never mentioned it before, not to me or the rest of Voltron as far as I know..." Keith said.

"So why are you telling me?" 

"Because you are my right hand, you lead Voltron as I lead Voltron, you need to know." Keith said.

And Lance was quiet, god damned inferno was blazing and Lance didn't know what he wanted his chest was so heavy and his throat felt dry.

Lance just leaned over and pulled Keith close to him in a hug. That was better.

"Why not tell Shiro, why me?"

"Easy. I don't think Shiro ever got to a point for this to happen, and it seems almost too private to even share."

"So you shared it with me."

"Yes, because it's you sharpshooter." Keith said and Lance needed to get out of there. He was suffocating, this was too much and not enough and he needed more, he needed less. He was an utter mess.

He just held on tighter.

"Thanks for sharing."

"Thanks for listening."

Chapter Text

"Sir, forgive me for this, but I know no other way." And then Haggar began to force the old memories back from Zarkon's head, forcing stimulation, forcing him to wake up.

It forced her to wake up too.

"So what your saying is, Lotor could be anywhere." Lance said. 

"We'll never be able to find him if we can't figure out his plan." Shiro said simply. 

"How about this question? How was Voltron made so powerful by being made out of that comet? What's so special about it to begin with?" Pidge asked. 

Allura sighed in defeat, it was truly time to explain her history with Zarkon and the rest of the paladins. It was time to explain the history of Voltron. 

"My Father discovered another comet like that, before I was born." 

"Your father and Zarkon..."

"This was back when Zarkon was the Black paladin still?" Hunk asked in disbelief.

"No." Coran informed him. "Before." Coran looked quickly to the Princess, and at her nod he continued. It was time to tell the paladins everything. 

"In the beginning the paladins were just five leaders who worked together despite their cultures being vastly divergent. Some of these leaders even had been warring for generations, but they put all that aside to come together. They looked past their differences in an effort to protect their common interests. What was initially an agreement to form an alliance, turned into a warriors bond. They worked together to rid the universe of those who would do it wrong." 

Alfor knew he should wait for back up, he's an alchemist before he was a warrior, but really he could handle three gunman... only with a sword... right?

Well, he's in this situation now, might as well-

He dug through the ceiling to drop kick one soldier in the face, looking up he readied his sword, smirk on his face and-

Shit there are at least 20 of them. 

"Oh Dear." He said before immediately going into action. Slicing and dicing as he tried to protect himself long enough for reinforcements, he was starring down two daggers when his strongest ally and best friend arrived to literally plow through five warriors to free Alfor. 

Then his other three companions came forth and the rest of the gun man and soldiers, were left in the dust. 

"I keep warning you not to break formation and run ahead of us, Alfor!" Zarkon said in a tone of voice that reminded Alfor dangerously of his older nannies.

God, even the rest of his troop were looking at him like he's an idiot.

"You are a far better alchemist than a soldier." Zarkon continued to nag to everyone's amusement.

"And that's what I keep you around for, Mom." And at Zarkon's annoyed flush, everyone began to laugh.

"The original paladins were Zarkon, from planet Daibazaal, King Alfor from Altea, Gyrgan from Rygnirath, Trigel of the Dalterion Belt and Blaytz from Nalguod."

Has Blaytz ever seen such a magnificent being in this whole universe? No, he was smitten, love at first sight, beautiful, amazing. He wanted all of this beautiful boy. Wow. 10/10 would meet again. 

"Mm. Pull up a bench and join the feast." He said, adding a wink in an attempt to win this mysterious waiter over. He didn't want this one going away. 

And at the flush on the waiters face, he knew he was winning.

Zarkon cleared his throat and Blaytz really was ready to groan in disbelief.

"You know that flirting with the servant class is not permitted." Zarkon said simply, done with how many times he's had to remind Blaytz. 

"But he's so pretty!" Blaytz argued, and at a look from Zarkon, he simply rolled his eyes before handing a note card with his log numbers on it, so the waiter could keep in contact with him. He slipped it easily into his pocket before giving the waiter another wink, and saying, "Thanks for the drink, beautiful."

The waiter just flushed and walked away, trying not to act so pleased that there was something in his pocket.

"Blaytz you know it erodes discipline." Zarkon said simply.

"Well, perhaps a bit of discipline erosion would do you good, Zarkon." Alfor said, gaining the mans attention, causing his wife, and his right hand to laugh a little at his comment. 

"Something I will consider the next time you are surrounded by Lambonite scavengers." Zarkon said, reminding Alfor of his earlier failure. 

"You were what?" His wife hissed out at him before hitting him in the arm with the hand that was not holding her drink.

"Now, dove-"

She just hit him once more before ignoring him again, mouthing a quick Thank you to Zarkon, who simply nodded his acknowledgement to her. 

"I was handling myself!" Alfor tried to argue.

"You mean wetting yourself?" Gyrgan asked, causing snorts and laughter to truly erupt around the table. 

"Oh I see how it is! Why I ever joined up with this band of scoundrels, I'll never know!" Alfor said amongst all the laughing.

"Because we're the only band of scoundrels that would have you." Trigel teased before standing up for a toast. "To Us!"

And that's when everything changed.

A meteor had landed on Daibazaal, and that meteor, was Voltron. 

"I have finished evacuating all Galra citizens near the crater. What have you discovered?" Zarkon asked as he entered the alchemy lab on Daibazaal where Alfor was currently working with his top alchemists.

"We're not sure." Alfor said honestly. "This comet is like none seen before. It seems to be made of a material that can pass between realities."

Zarkon wanted to slam his head into every piece of Alfor's very expensive equipment. They might as well be useless considering they were telling him nothing.

"What do you mean?" Zarkon asked.

"Well, I mean that sages have always theorized that there are many realities stacked side by side next to each other. Whole other universes with their own histories unbeknownst to us. But we never had any proof. Until now." Then Alfor was leading Zarkon over to where the crater was, where there was a massive breach in the fabric of realities. It was awe inspiring and something that set off far too many warning bells in his head. 

"When we moved the comet, we found this." Alfor explained to Zarkon. 

"This... is another reality?" Zarkon asked confused. And then he felt something rub up against his leg and he screamed. "What is that?"

He looked down and the thing had the nerve to meow and rub further against his leg.

Then out of the corner of his eye, he saw movement as something went to him to pick up the thing from his leg. 

"Do not worry. It is only Kova. He is from our reality." The voice, a woman's voice told him. When he looked up, he was struck absolutely dumb. Oh no! She's pretty!

Is this what Blaytz always feels like?

"Zarkon, this is Honerva. She is the best alchemist on Altea." Alfor introduced the two before going to look at Zarkon's face and seeing the blushed shock that was plastered all over it. Alfor bite his tongue with so much force to stop himself from laughing he was sure it was bleeding.  "I-" He coughed quickly, clearing his throat to make sure all his laughter was gone before continuing.

"I asked her to come to Daibazaal and lead the scientific investigation. Her expertise will be invaluable." 

And then Honerva leaned in closer to Zarkon to talk and Zarkon just flushed a brighter red and Alfor was leaning against his equipment to stop himself from keeling over.

"Isn't it exciting?!" She exclaimed happily. "It could change the way we understand our entire universe!" She said and waited for a response. She was confused to see the Emperor Zarkon just stare at her for a solid second before Alfor kicked him in the shin, thus jump starting him into action. 

"Well, find out everything you can. I will provide any support you require." He then stared at Honerva for another second before immediately turning around and running out of there. "I must go!" 

"He didn't stay long." Honerva said, confused before turning to her King to see him silently laughing, he was falling over, clapping like a dying seal and Honvera let herself wonder, for a brief moment, if she missed something before going back to her work.

"King Alfor experimented with the comet's ore on his Lab on Altea as Honerva continued her research of the rift on Daibazaal. But Alfor visited often as the years passed."

"Zarkon, I'd like you to meet Princess Allura." Zarkon entered the room where his best friend, his brother, and Alfor's wife sat, a child in their lap. Zarkon looked at the sheer joy on his friend's face as he put his daughter in his arms. Her tiny fists grabbing hold of his armor.

And in Zarkon's eyes that little squealing thing was adorable, and he wanted exaclty 23, no exceptions. 

When Allura made eye contact, Zarkon was gone. "Well hello, Princess! Why aren't you so pretty, just like your mother, thank God."

"Hey!" Alfor began to protest when his wife slapped him in the arm. 

"She is such a little, dew drop. Anyway, it is my pleasure. Please accept this gift in honor of your birth, Princess." Zarkon said before for his servant to present his gift to Allesia.

The mother opened up the gift and wanted to laugh at the ancient helmet. She was so amused by it she immediately placed it onto her daughter's head, laughing at the size of it and how it moved with every movement of her daughters tiny head. 

"Thank you Zarkon, it is wonderful." She said.

"Is it truly Queen Allesia? I was told by Honerva that it's not a common gift in Altea, however a helmet is traditionally the first gift given to a new born in Da-" And Allesia's laughter shut Zarkon down.

"Oh no! It's perfectly fine, I love it, and I'm sure Allura does as well, right dew drop?" She said teasingly before wiggling her finger in front of Allura so the baby went to play with it. 

"Honerva has really softened you up, hasn't she?" Alfor asked turning to Zarkon, a smile on his face. "I never thought I'd see the day the great warrior Emperor Zarkon was married, and to an Altean Alchemist, no less!" Alfor teased.

"Well, she is-"

"Remember when you first met her! My god, you-"

"If it were not for the laws of your planet, and your far superior wife and daughter, I would slaughter you where you stand."

After introducing Zarkon to the Princess, Zarkon took Alfor with him back to Daibazaal so he could see the progress Honerva, his wife, was making on the rift. 

"Honerva, working hard as always. Thanks for the gift, Allura loves it." Alfor said truthfully, his little princess has refused to remove it since it was placed on her head.

"Truly? It is considered a customary gesture here, but I was not sure that it would be so welcome on Altea," She said. 

"No it was wonderful. So tell me, how is our quintessence experiment?" He asked when he noticed Honerva going back to her work.

"It's still running." She said, pointing in one direction to bring Alfor's attention there. 

"Running? It's still running for a full year on one drop of quintessence with no decline in revolutions per dobosh?" He asked in disbelief. He looked towards Honerva to see that there was no shock on her face at all. "No other energy source like this exists! The ships I'm creating for us work on the same principle, and the ore from the comet practically engineers itself!" 

Alfor said in excitement turning towards Zarkon to share in his joy. 

"Endlessly powerful ships for the Galra Empire." Zarkon said in awe, not the answer Alfor wanted.

"And an endless source of clean energy for the entire system." Alfor added on, pleased to see Zarkon flush in embarrassment at immediately going to warships. What could he say, it was the Galra way. 

"Of course." Then a sound dragged Alfor's attention away from the conversation and to a tank that was not there before. There was a creature floating around in it, one Alfor had never seen before. 

"What is that?" He asked in disbelief.

"I sent some signals into the neighboring reality and this creautre answered the call." Honerva supplied. "Nothing from our universe has been able to survive the passage through the rift, but this has." Honerva said, some of the scientific passion coming back into her voice, but Alfor was floored in disbelief.

"What? I though we discussed this, we must exercise caution!" He said desperately trying to regain Honerva's attention. They never planned to make contact with the other side of the rift. "We have no idea what is out there!"

"The ancients thought lighting was arrows shot from the bows of the gods until science proved otherwise." Honerva argued turning from the creature they kept prisoner to Alfor. "We must always push into dangerous territory in pursuit of knowledge!" She argued and then the creature was screaming and the rift was breaking and more of them were flooding into Daibazaal.

They erected a particle barrier around the creatures, but they knew it wouldn't hold forever, they needed a way to defeat them once and for all, to protect Daibazaal. 

All their hope resided in Alfor's project.

And Alfor's project was simply incredible. They were lion's, robotic lions that were nearly indestructible with an endless supply of power and with a weapon system that was, to say, interesting. 

"When I began to test my ship, I started to feel some sort of psychic link." Alfor explained as his crew of scoundrals stood in front of the lions he helped create. "I don't know how exactly to explain it, the ship wasn't just reading my mind, it was communicating with me. They seem to be evolving we don't yet know what powers these ships possess, but we may gain understanding with time." 

And that's what snapped Zarkon out of his awe.

"Alfor, my planet, my people we do not have the luxury of time, we will soon be slaughtered by dark creatures from another realm." Zarkon pushed, and he watched as Alfor caved.

"I understand. It may take some time, these are not just ships chosen at a whim. You do not pick the beast, the beast will pick you." Alfor said as he brought them all to the floor of the lab, so each of them could stand infront of one of the five lions. So they could all feel the psychic connection. 

Then they were off in armor made from the same elements as the ships. When they were free from their planet Alfor began to explain taking the ships slow at first, as a way to get used to them.

"Maybe you should lead Alfor, you know the ships better than I do." Zarkon said, ready to step down, but Alfor was quick to disagree. 

"Zarkon, I thought we all agreed I was a better alchemist than military leader. You drive the Black Lion, you will lead like always, and I will support as I always have." 

"Right then, onward paladins. Right flank, Alfor and Blaytz. Left flank, Trigel and Gyrgan." Alfor commanded through the headset. 

Then they were flying to Daibazaal, and just in time too. Zarkon's planet, his people were under attack.

Zarkon was distracting the monster, while the other paladins attacked from all sides of the monster. They were inexperienced with their new weapons and it was showing.

"Fall back paladins, we must regroup!" Zarkon called out, but Alfor was distracted. 

I have something you might want to try.

And Alfor should have felt panic, this was the first time he'd ever heard an actual voice from his lion, but there was no use doing that, not when it was providing him a way to defeat this creature and to save Daibazaal.

"Wait we must come together in formation!" He yelled out.

"What? Why?" Trigel yelled out, confused.

"I don't know, but somehow I can feel it!" And then they were all feeling it. What was happening, what was going on? What was this? 

And then it was giving them a name. It demaded a name.

Voltron.

At everyone's confused excitement, the monster was able to attack. They found a way to make a shield, but it was not enough.

The monster was ripping into them, and then Alfor knew what to do, and a sword made from his own need was coming from his lion, and they were cutting the beast into pieces. 

The planet was safe.

For now.

"Seal the rift? Why!" Honerva exclaimed in disbelief at Alfor's command.

"It nearly destroyed Daibazaal!" 

"Those creatures nearly destroyed Daibazaal, and you found a way to defeat them." Honerva argued back, but Alfor had no time for this.

"Zarkon, surely you agree with me! It must be closed." 

"Perhaps not." And Alfor was floored, he was in disbelief, and at seeing that expression, Zarkon pushed forward. "Look at what we've gained, Alfor. Your ships are the most powerful machines ever created, who knows what else we will discover if we keep working?"

"You would risk your entire planet, the entire solar system, for what? For more power?" 

"You know it's more than that!"

"We have Voltron, it's enough!"

"I WILL DECIDE WHEN IT'S ENOUGH!" And Alfor was shocked, this was truly the first step to everyone's and everything's demise.

"Despite their differences, Alfor and Zarkon, with the help of Voltron established a new era of peace and prosperity. It was an age of exploration, and Voltron would be known as the Defender of the Universe, establishing the legend that would live on to this day."

"I heard there were three more earthquakes this movement."

"Don't worry, I'm installing bars to allow for the planet to maintain its cohesion." Zarkon argued.

"Zarkon, your planet is fracturing!" Alfor said, trying to get Zarkon to see sense. "Soon, the structural integrity will-"

"I can't stop Honerva's work now! She's discovering more, everyday!" Zarkon said turning his back to Alfor. 

Alfor though was beginning to see everything, Zarkon was bending to Honerva's will, it was no longer about power, not for Zarkon, it was about keeping his wife, who had miscarried three times now, happy. 

She was going insane though, and that's what was bringing the planet to insanity. 

Nothing could have proved Alfor's beliefs more than seeing Honerva at her work. The exposure to quintessence, it was changing her, draining her own life force, maybe that is why she is unable to con-

"Is that Kova? How old is he?" Alfor asked in disbelief. Why that cat should have died years ago, but Honerva was explaining to him how she has been using Quintessence to keep him alive. 

"Quintessence is life itself." She said to him.

"Honerva you've gone too far!" But she shut him down, pushed him out, refused his help and proceeded to focus solely on her studies. 

The quintessence has poisoned their minds.

This was the end of Voltron, Alfor knew it as he walked away from them all.

She was pregnant again, she couldn't stand it, knowing the baby would die within her, but Quintessence is life. It would lead to the birth of their child. 

They needed it.

She needed her husband to understand this.

Quintessence is life.

Zarkon went to the rest of the paladins, he pleaded with them to use Voltron to close the rift, he needed their help one last time. He needed to appeal to their basic instincts of good if this were to work.

He needed them.

Alfor's compassion though, blinded him to Zarkon's true plans. Zarkon was to use Voltron to open the rift and to open himself and his wife to the pure Quintessence of the rift. 

It caused the planet to tear itself apart, it caused Zarkon's and Honerva's death's. Voltron and all it's lions barely made it out alive with their bodies.

They should have left them in the rift.

Blaytz saw him, his secret fiance, the servant he had bought from Zarkon years ago running towards him, panic in his eyes. "What is it, my love?"

"They're alive." He exclaimed, and Blaytz was confused, so, so confused. His fiance was a mess, he wasn't making any sense! "Their corpses are moving! They shouldn't be alive, but they are!" And that is when he heard it, being broadcast all throughout the Universe, Zarkon was alive and controlled by the power of the quintessence and he wanted control. 

He grabbed onto his fiance's hand and together they ran to Alfor's side, they needed to find out what was going on, now. 

The war began after that, most Galra returned to their leader, devastated to hear of Alfor's betrayal of their home planet. The peaceful universe though, was not prepared for all out war, and planets fell faster than four Voltron lions could protect. 

Soon, Zarkon was coming for Altea and in a final attempt to keep Voltron from Zarkon's hand's he sent each lion away, shooting off to another part of the universe, with only the base essence of each lion protected in the mind of his daughter. 

As she slept one night, he forced her into a healing pod, forced her to sleep through the attack on Altea and he forced his most trusted friend, Coran to go with her. 

He tried to save Alessia as well, but cryogenic sleep would kill the baby. 

Alessia ran away at her husbands command, and Alfor was only spared a moments thanks that Allura was already under cryogenic sleep, when her mother's ship was shot down.

The rest of the paladins sent their lions away and came to Altea to defend it with their dying breath against Zarkon. 

He was too late though, and came in the aftermath. 

"Blaytz? Blaytz!?" He yelled out.

"Love?" And he saw it, Blaytz stuck under a fallen support beam on Altea, bleeding out, dying. 

"Oh no! Oh gods no!" He said and he was trying to remove the steel beams from Blaytz body, but nothing was working.

"You must leave."  Blaytz said, grabbing onto his fiance's frantic hands, getting his attention back to him. "Zarkon is going to destroy the planet, you must leave." 

"Not without you."

"Yes without me, my time is up, but yours is not." Blaytz said between coughs, He reached into the satchel he kept on his being and placed it into his fiance's hands. "It was supposed to be your wedding gift, please take it now and go."

"No, no, no, no I refuse!" 

"Please! I cannot see you die this day as well. There is one final cruiser leaving this planet with the rest of the alteans, take it, now, before it is too late!" He yelled out pushing his fiance away from him. "I love you, Marmora. I love you." 

He watched as Blaytz took his final breath and ran to the escape cruiser off the planet of Altea. From his spot on the ship, he watched as it was destroyed and he felt sick. 

He knew what was in his hand. He knew it without having to even open the satchel. He had told Blaytz enough of Galran history to know that Blaytz had gotten him a luxite blade. In his history, slaves had used Blades like this to gain their freedom. When he unwrapped it, he saw the symbol for his name in the handle, and watched as the blade grew in size. It was beautiful, well crafted, and it was the last thing connecting him to Blaytz.

He would not let his fiance die in vain.

"So that's Lotor's plan. To cross into other universes to get the purest Quintessence, possible." Pidge said.

"Then no matter what, we have to stop him." Keith added on.

Haggar, no Honerva, was thrown back from her memories, from her husbands memories when everything made sense.

"Husband?! How could I have forgotten... You brought me back to life long ago." She said glancing to his prone figure. 

"Now, come back for me." And then he woke up.

Chapter Text

They were watching as another Galra ship docked into the base. They were there looking into a rumor they found to, sadly, be true.

The Galra were shipping Quintessence, and lots of it.

"We've destroyed the Komar, so how are the Galra producing such a vast amount of Quintessence?" Kolivan asked his subordinates, not expecting an answer. He turned to one, and then the other and said, "Find out where that Quintessence is going, you get a reading on that ship." 

And they ran to do as he said. 

But Kolivan stopped the smaller one before he could run off, giving him an extra word of advice. "Remember, this is intelligence gathering, do not engage." The smaller troop nodded, before proceeding to do as Kolivan demanded.

Phase one of the operation was complete, they hacked into the Galra base to find out what was going on, now it was down to the smaller one. 

He was getting a reading, sending it directly to Kolivan who was in disbelief. 

"I've never seen readings like this, they're flying all over my chart!" But of course, the smaller one was caught. They needed to abort the mission, and meet at the extraction point in two dobashes. They needed to get out of there with the information they had now.

The little one refused to use his full blade, but he made it before the other. 

"He's not back?" The smaller one asked.

"No, he's got 30 ticks." And when Kolivan looked back the little one was gone. 

God, Krolia was going to kill him. 

And as that thought went through Kolivan's mind, the small one was back, carrying his other recruit. 

"Is he going to be okay?" 

"You broke protocol." Keith removed his mask, the small human one, to look into Kolivan's eyes as he talked about disregarding his orders.

"I had to." Keith spat back.

"You didn't consider that something could have happened to you! That would make two men down instead of one!" Kolivan argued back at the reckless fool of a boy. "Every Blade of Marmora understands that the mission is more important than the individual. This is not Voltron." Kolivan said to try and let that all sink in.

"Yes I know that!" Keith argued. "Voltron would not have left Regress to die! Voltron would have went back to save Regress, I went back to save the mission." Keith said, knowing this would be the only way to get through Kolivan's thick head.

"Regress had the intel, getting him, and the intel back on the ship was worth the risk." Keith said, and he watched in bitter satisfaction as Kolivan could say nothing.

Keith got back just in time to join the team on a mission, but he needed to share this information with Shiro, and in turn, Voltron now.

"I know about the mission, I'll join them in a tic, but listen I think we discovered a knew form of Quintessence the Galra is harvesting. It's off the charts, Kolivan says it could link to Lotor." Keith finished off.

"Great, we'll talk about it when you and the team get back, they're escorting foreign dignitaries through the-"

"This is Lotor we're talking about!" Keith yelled out frustrated at Shiro. Sure Keith wasn't really leading right now, he was trying to pass the mantle of Black paladin back to Shiro as the Black lion had suggested to him earlier to forge a stronger relationship to both the Black Lion, Voltron and the Red Lion. He didn't want to do this, but, according to the Black Lion, it would make sense in the long run.

But Shiro was really making it difficult by being an ass.

"We haven't seen him in months, I trust my team to lead foreign dignitaries through a peaceful galaxy system, we need to talk about Lotor's plans, we can't let this go-"

"And you need to be the Black Paladin!" Shiro yelled out. Shiro had never yelled at Keith. "I need you to focus on the mission at hand, that's an order."

"Well look who decided to show up." Pidge huffed out in annoyance and Keith knew he deserved it. In an attempt to pull away from Voltron, he'd been pulling away from his family as well, and it hurt. The sting of her rejection hurt. 

"Yeah, are you even taking this seriously?" God, not Lance, too. 

"Sorry. I know I'm late, I didn't realize-"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Hunk said and Keith really felt the sting. God, damn it. This was going to hurt, so, so much.

"Six paladins and five lions"

We do not need to do this paladin, if you stay, you will learn what you need to learn, but not in time to save-

"No Black, I have to do this. Six paladins and Five lions, and lives to save that depend on me leaving, right? And a bond with Voltron stronger than any before."

Yes, I'm just sorry to do all of this, you will feel the pain and sting for years.

"So long as the others don't suffer nearly as much as I will."

Only one will share your pain, but even then it won't be for nearly as long as it will be for you.

"Very well Black, I'll go along with this plan, just-"

I will never leave you, my paladin.

When the lions landed on the planet they needed to get to, Keith immediately looked to go to Shiro.

"Oh, now where are you going?" Lance asked in annoyance. Keith turned to him quickly and went closely to whisper in Lance's ear so others wouldn't hear. 

"We've discovered a new Quintessence, that's why I was late today, Shiro was supposed to talk with Kolivan about it, I'm going to see what new information we uncovered." He said before pulling away to see if Lance understood. Lance gave him a steady nod, and went to go when Keith grabbed onto his hand once more. "Meet me in my room one dobash after we return to the castle and I'll explain everything to you then." 

Lance smiled, just a little, and gave Keith one steady nod before going over to talk to the dignitaries they'd saved that day. Then Keith went to talk to Shiro.

"Any knew information from Kolivan? Did you talk to him?"

"No knew information. And yes, I talked to him, we need to find out where that knew quintessence is coming from. But more importantly, Voltron needs a strong leader." Shiro said turning to Keith.

"Yes, and it needs to be you." Keith said, some part of him not wanting to tell Shiro that this was all according to his and the Black Lion's plan. 

"Keith, we've discussed this before." Shiro said in a stern voice before trying to lighten up with a smile. "Besides we know that the Black lion has chosen you." 

If you are truly ready to commit the next three years of your life to this mission, I will accept Shiro in your absence. 

"I am ready."

"You only tried once!" Keith argued. "If you got in the Black lion now, I guarantee she would accept you." 

"Keith we all have a part to play, this is mine now, and this is yours too!" Shiro said and Keith wanted to roll his eyes. Keith knew his exact roll to play in all of this!

"I support your decision to continue to work with the Blade, but not at the expense of the team, of Voltron. They need you Keith." 

And maybe Keith could have accepted it... if only.

Six paladins and five lions.

The next morning, Coran called all of Voltron forward to talk about a new mission on a planet to raise morale, Keith was watching as Shiro took the initiative to take the front and center position so only he was in Coran's line of sight. So all of Coran's attention was solely to him. 

Keith watched as Coran kept eye contact with Keith, ignoring Shiro, as he gave the run down for the mission. Lance was to his side though, looking confused between Keith and Shiro. Lance was, if he was a little honest, confused and very much annoyed with Shiro.

Like Keith was the leader now, Lance was his right hand. He wanted to tell Shiro to step down, Keith is no baby leader, not any more. He doesn't need Shiro to drag him along, and Lance didn't know how Keith hasn't bitten back yet.

All the other paladins though were hyper confused. They couldn't figure out who was the leader now. 

"This is embarrassing." Keith said, cutting off Shiro without even realizing it. "We'll simply be a commander for a parade."

"No, it's a show of arms!"

"Whatever it is, it'll be the second one we've done this week." Pidge agreed with Keith.

"I know it's not what you want, but believe it or not it helps us boost morale and form alliances." Allura assured Pidge.

"Yeah, yeah, Blah, Blah, Blah..." Lance said causing everyone's attention to turn to him. "Now I say we go over our lion choreography one more time." Lance said, and as he turned to make fun of Hunk, good naturally, they received a message from Kolivan for a mission. 

A new supply ship was drastically far away from it's normal route, it would be the perfect time to strike the ship to get more information about the new Quintessence from it. 

"With Lotor missing, and a new brand of Quintessence in production, we find it imperative to investigate this ship. Normally we'd wait for better intel, but I believe this to be a once in a lifetime opportunity."

"I'll send Voltron to intercept." Shiro said simply, as if he was the one to command the robot.

"No, an infiltration mission makes more sense. We can plant a tracker and see just how far this supply route extends. With the Galra in disarray my agents are spread thin around the universe. That is why I call you." Kolivan said.

"Voltron isn't all too good for a stealth mission, especially for-" Shiro began, when Keith spoke.

"I understand."

"Thank you kit, I will send the coordinates." The Kolivan stopped the video, as Lance turned to yell at Keith in annoyance.

"Hey! What about our performance!" Lance asked.

"They need more people right now, we don't need all the lion's for a parade, but the blade needs people now. I know you're upset with me, I know, I am too, but I can't just stand down when I know that I can be doing something. Your mission is important, and I know that, but you don't need five lion's for a parade. Lance you can hold everyone's attention for hours!" Keith said placing a hand on Lance's shoulder, smile on his face, but it was quickly wiped away when Lance brushed it off.

"We need you here, more than they need you." Lance said, then walked out. Keith just stared at where Lance was, hand still in the air as if Lance had never moved away from him.

When the door finally closed behind Keith, the click shocked him out of his stupor.

"Guys-"

"Just go." Hunk said, hurt, before he too left the bridge along with a confused Pidge. 

Allura looked away from him and Shiro gained is attention.

"Go, but be back soon." Shiro said.

And Keith ran.

"The Lions will be seperated from the Black one soon, he pulls away from them."

"Good work."

"I thought Keith said he'd be back by now!" Lance said, trying to mask his panic with annoyance. Keith had survived every mission with the Blade before, what made this one different. 

"Lance this isn't just about a good show-"

"Ugh, fine!"

Keith was shocked, the entire ship was empty, something was terribly wrong. No one was on the ship, this was a trap. 

It was a decoy ship, they needed to get out.

Kolivan pulled Keith out in enough time to watch Regress die.

He saw Regress blood in the air. Watched as the explosion charged through his uniform to his skin. God. Keith was going to puke, and now he was losing air. His suit was cut up.

He needed to get in contact with people now. He was losing air, and he was in open space, and nobody could hear him. He might die out here, he needed to get home. His story was not over yet.

So Keith let himself lose air, so he could fly through space, faster to the ship, and he made it, just in time. He almost died, Regress died.

He was going to puke. 

And Voltron was just having a parade.

The parade was falling apart, without all five lions they couldn't form Voltron, and Shiro was rather displeased with everything. 

Keith abandoned them, truly, and fully.

The first person Keith saw when he came home was Allura, and based on the look on her face, he knew he was going to get a lecture. But he couldn't deal with that, Regress was family, he was in charge of a lot of Keith's training, and he was dead. Keith wanted to mourn, away from the judging eyes of Kolivan, but he couldn't hold back much longer.

And now Allura was blocking his path.

"Allura, I know you're mad at me, but I'm not in the mood for a lecture." And wow his voice really sounded that broken, huh?

"I know, I just wanted to say that I'm sorry. I heard what happened on your mission."

"Thanks." Keith said simply, looking to the side. Oh fuck.

"I know how important the work your doing with the Blade is, they're important allies, instrumental in our victories against the Galra. And while the news of a new Quintessence is deeply unsettling I cannot help but feel-" 

"I said I didn't want a lecture." Keith said, and he felt a single tear go down his cheek. "Not now."

"Oh Keith." Allura went to step forward, but Keith stepped back. "Since our battle with Zarkon, we've been able to bolster our forces by uniting planets under one symbol of peace. Voltron. It's so much more than a weapon. It's become a symbol of freedom and hope for the oppressed to rally around." Allura said.

"You think I don't know that?" Keith asked, a bite to his tone that made Allura take a step back. Allura had never heard that tone from Keith before. "Allura, of course I know Voltron's importance as a peace symbol. I know it's important, and I know, more than anything that, at least for me, the people inside of it are more important.

"There are six paladins and five lions, Allura and I just watched someone I thought to be my own family die. I almost died tonight and I'm upset, of course I am. But if it were you? Shiro? Lance? Any of you guys are my true family. I refuse to sit here, when I can be out there protecting you-"

"You are the Black Paladin-"

"And I have had a long discussion with the Black lion." Keith said quickly. He looked around to see if anyone else was there before moving to Allura. "I'm resigning from Voltron, for now. The Black Lion has told me she will allow Shiro to be the Black lion once more. She tells me that I need to go, that I need to leave now, she says I could save thousands of lives we don't even know about if I leave." He said.

"Keith, that would kill you." Allura said simply. "You can't run from us, you belong here. I refuse to let you think another home has abandoned you." Allura said going to grab onto his shoulders.

"I know, 'Llura, I know." Keith let himself walk into her, placing his head on her shoulder, so she could bring him into a much needed hug. "You're not abandoning me, I'm not going, not really, not forever. I'm going to go save thousands of people, and if you six are a part of those people, then I can leave happy."

Allura pulled him into a tighter hug, and let him cry, just a little into her shoulder. Her lecture on the importance of Voltron, of why Keith can't leave can wait, she knows it needs to be said, but she can't let this die like this.

"Keith, just know that the Marmora, they have survived without you for thousands of years, and they will continue to survive for thousands of more, but for now Voltron needs you. We need you." Allura said, pulling away so Keith could see her.

"And that's why I must go."

"If the Galra ships are getting smart enough to send out decoys, then we know what they have is important enough to send them out. We've been tracking shipments for new quintessence, we've accidentally found their secret trade route and believe that the next spot will be at one of these several locations." Kolivan explained to his rebel troops.

He turned to look at them to assess their understanding, and began to finally understand why he was quickly making his way up the ranks. The kit was smart.

He then turned to the kit to speak. "Keith you need to get onto the ship undetected, to set up a lot of explosions." Keith heard Kolivan's voice in his head over and over again. He heard the plan being said. 

It was always like this. It was like the universe knew what was going on between him and the Black lion because every mission with Voltron went on at the exact same time as every Blade mission.

The most recent one was where Voltron would be giving much needed supplies to the people of a recently freed planet. 

Keith was looking to Lance, so happy, so smiley, perfect paladin, material, then he noticed that Allura saw him. He pulled up his mask quickly, to make sure the other's wouldn't see him.

He was glad, when Allura turned to look at Lance and decided against telling him that Keith was there, that she decided against telling everyone that he was there. He hated the look of disappointment on their faces. He always hated it.

Lotor was overlooking his new project when Acxa came to him to tell him that the High Priestess, his Father's witch, was calling for him. 

To ignore her would be a sleight that he could not pull, not yet.

"Lotor, while you distance yourself from central command, rebel forces have taken entire star systems from our command." She chastised the Prince. 

"You think clutching onto worthless outposts strengthens our Empire?" 

"Your Father knew those outposts would someday become strongholds." And Lotor truly wanted nothing to do with his father, he hated the man who destroyed his own culture before Lotor was even born to appreciate it. He was Altean first.

"My father is on his deathbed and I'm in control." Lotor bit back. 

"You say you rule, yet you stay hidden. An emperor must be seen-"

"I do not have to explain my absence to you, do not bother me again."

"We must leave immediately, Voltron can keep the Galra at bay long enough to let the medical ships escape."

"Actually we can't." Pidge yelled out in annoyance. "Keith is gone, we can't form Voltron." She bit out.

"They're probably on a mission. I knew this would happen sooner or later." Shiro said in annoyance. "You'll have to go without Keith, I'll send him as soon as I find him."

"We've gotta get that ship out of the tractor beam." Lance said taking the role of leader in Keith's absence. 

"I'll try to ram it out. Cover me!" Hunk yelled out before going into action, but he was quickly over powered. They all were.  

The Galra were everywhere. More fighters than they'd ever seen.

Shiro had to go to the Black lion. He knew he was supposed to feel something, here something, but nothing was happening.

There was no voice as the Black lion turned on.

"Good to be back Black."

Do not get used to it.

And then they were off to defend the rest of the paladins. 

Just in time to it seemed. 

"Keith!" Lance cheered out, just to realize it was Shiro in the Black Lion.

Why did that make his blood go cold in dread. What happened to Keith, if he was no longer here to fly the Black Lion?

After that it was easy to get rid of the galra troops and to save the medical rebel crafts, but Lance felt it. Something was off with Voltron. Something was terribly off.

"Guys, I..." And then Keith saw it. They were mad, all of them were done with him, he could feel it in their stares. Instead of accepting people in my life, I push them away before they reject me.

Keith should have left earlier before it got to this, but he was selfish, he wanted as much time with them as possible before it could all go to shit. 

God this was it. He could never get them to understand, huh? Even if he explained now? Maybe it was best he left and never returned.

No, my paladin you will return. In time, you will know this was for the best.

"I hope you're right Black."

I'm sorry you have to go through this before you can get your happy ending. 

"I heard what happened, I'm sorry I wasn't there to help." Keith said, not daring to look at any of them. God their rejection was going to hurt, far more than what happened with the Galra.

"You keep saying 'you're sorry,' but your actions say otherwise. Do you realize that your absence put the team at jeopardy!" Allura asked enraged. Keith had told her his priority was the teams safety, so why would he run when he knew they were in danger without him.

"And not just the team, the refugees as well." Lance said. He was upset because he felt Keith was not taking his role seriously as more. He thought Keith felt a home here, but maybe he didn't. Maybe Voltron wasn't good enough for the star pilot.

"Matter of fact, the entire quadrant was in danger!" Pidge yelled out, annoyed that her other brother was now leaving her in the dust. She stayed with Voltron when the chance to find her family presented itself, now Keith was being a hypocrite and telling them all he needs to leave, when he was the one that forced her to stay, even if she now loves it.

"This is not how I wanted any of this to happen," Keith said finally looking into everyone's eyes. "But, if there's a bright side to any of this, it's that the Black lion accepted Shiro once more. Everyone is back to their proper lions." Lance took a step back at that. Proper lions? Does that mean that Keith wasn't coming for Red? That Lance wasn't being kicked out, Keith was kicking himself out? What? "I'm not meant to pilot the Black lion, not now, at least. I'm not the leader I'm meant to be yet."

"Is that why you've been pulling away from us?" Allura asked, and without his desire to do so, Keith's eyes met Lance's and Lances own words rang through his head.

"Yeah. I suppose that's part of it." Keith said looking down.

Six paladins, five lions.

"Part of it? Then what's the rest of it." Hunk asked. Poor innocent Hunk, not feeling Lance's turmoil.

"The Blades have made real headway tracking the source of this new quintessence. I'm needed there, Kolivan has lost his two closest allies in the Blade, his third is on a very important mission and I... Something about me, apparently, is different. My body reacts differently to the quintessence, I'm needed there. I'm Kolivan's right hand, I'm the most capable kit the Blade has ever seen. They need my help, more than ever. Voltron needs this information, I need to be there to help them help you." Keith paused a moment before continuing.

"They're planning a mission to infiltrate the system of supply lines. It could take weeks, maybe months to pull off, but if there is a chance, we have... I have to take it. I need to be on that mission."  Keith said looking each one of the paladins in the eye. "I can still talk to Black, with me there, I can rely much needed information to you faster than ever. I'll be gone for a while, but it needs to be done. Shiro, lead the team. You have the Black Lion again, I am no longer meant to be here, if I ever was to begin with."

"Keith." Shiro said coming forwards to put his hand onto Keith's shoulder forcing him to stop himself from ranting on and on. "If this is what you feel is right, then we won't try to stop you."

Like hell we won't! Lance wanted to yell out. Keith wasn't allowed to leave him! They were Lance and Keith! Neck and Neck! Leaders of Voltron. 

Keith wasn't allowed to leave Lance now, all alone when he was confused by the feeling his soft smile and touch left in his heart. God just the thought of Keith gone was tearing him apart. It was tearing everyone apart. 

Pidge was already crying.

"But, just know that we'll be here for you whenever you need us." Shiro said.

"I know you are." Keith said with a sad smile before Shiro was pulling him into a hug. 

Then everyone was joining in, each person was trying to get just a touch of Keith somewhere, it might be the last time they see him for a while... for a long, long while.

"We're really gonna miss you." Pidge said burying her face into his neck.

"Yeah, who am I gonna make fun of now?" Lance said the the back of Keith's head, trying not to memorize the smell of him before it was too late.

"I know you'll make us proud." Allura said, patting his back in solidarity.

They stood like that, all surrounding Keith in a hug for another minute before they went to separate from each other. Keith had to leave.

He was smiling to them, but Lance saw it, as the door closed, the smile dropped. Keith didn't actually want to go.

He didn't want to go at all.

Lance dropped Hunk who was using him as a support to cry on and ran after Keith. 

He needed one more goodbye. He needed it desperately.

"Keith!" He yelled out, he watched as Keith stopped at the end of the hall, allowing Lance to catch up to him. When Lance got there, he opened and closed his mouth for what seemed like a thousand times.

"Should of left the math to Pidge, huh?" Keith tried to joke.

"You idiot." Lance said instead. "We both know Black isn't Shiro's why can't you man up, stay! Please just stay we're meant to be like this. The way we are now! Why can't you realize this and just stay!" Lance yelled out. Keith brought his hand out to ruffle through Lance's hair before letting it rest on Lance's cheek, wiping away a tear Lance didn't even know he shed.

"I have to go, Black and I have discussed it." Keith said.

"But you didn't discuss it with me." Lance said and felt rather stupid for saying so afterwards, but Keith didn't mind.

"I didn't share it with you because I knew you'd convince me not to do it." Keith said simply.

"Yeah, I could have, and I should still try to do it! I need you here we all-"

"If I leave, I'll be gone for a while Lance, far longer than it'll be for you. I don't know why, but that's the way it is. Lance, Black tells me if I leave, I'll come back stronger, and with a thousand lives saved under my belt. A thousand lives more than if I stayed here." Keith pleaded with Lance to understand. "I will come back, I swear I'll come back to you, but for now I have to go."

"Keith I swear to god-"

Then Keith moved forward until his forehead was against Lance's and their noses were touching and Lance was losing all thought. Keith brought both hands up and just cupped Lance's face like that for a moment before opening his eye to look at Lance.

"Let me go, and I promise to return, stronger and better, and when I get back, well I have a feeling I will bring change when I come back, but I need you to know, no matter what happens out there, I will come back."

"You can't know that." Lance whispered.

"You're right, I can't, but I have very good incentive to come back. My families here, you're here sharpshooter, and we both know I'm nothing without my right hand."

"So stay."

"I can't. Please." And Lance looked at Keith and saw how much this was hurting him to leave, and he was going to argue again when he heard a third voice in his head. Another damned lion.

If he does not leave, you will regret it until the day you die.

"Black, I don't want him to go."

You will both grow stronger in his absence. You both will gain the confidence you're lacking. You will both learn, finally, that this set up, you as the Red Lion, him as the Black is how everything is meant to be. 

"But he can't leave me, not now, not like this."

He must, please.

"When will you be back?"

"I don't know."

"Keith-"

"Just promise me this, stay alive sharp shooter, no matter what you have to stay alive."

"You too samurai, you too." And to Lance's shock, he watched as Keith closed his eyes, leaned closer into Lance, and then disappeared around the hallway, out of Lance's sight.

Keith was gone.

And Lance was crying alone in the hallway wishing for something he didn't know how to wish for.

Chapter Text

All she wanted to do was show everyone that the Galaxy Garrison was advancing in every way, shape, and form in the scientific community. She wasn't trying to be a smart-alec, or a nerd, or anything inbetween she just wanted to share what she knew as the truth with those around her.

Screw her and her stupid brain, and screw the Galaxy Garrison and all their cool tech, it just made fitting in so much harder.

"Hey Pidge?" Her brother said, coming into her room, stopping herself from going down an even darker path.

"I hate it when you call me that." Katie bit out.

"Sorry, Katie." Matt said, backing off for the moment, but knowing that once this situation was dealt with, he'd be back to calling her Pidge in no time. "Mom told me what happened today." He said placing a slice of strawberry cake onto her desk, it was a favorite of hers.

"I understand what it means to be the nerd, and how hard it can be, but you've got to keep studying, you've got to keep moving forward." He tried explaining to Katie, hoping beyond all hope that he could convince her to pursue her scientific excellence. She'd been questioning science a lot lately because of school bullying, but Matt wouldn't let her give up her dreams over some mediocre- at best- students.

"What's the point?" Katie said annoyed.

"Well, it was my brain that got me into the Galaxy Garrison." Matt said, deciding now was the time to drop the BOMB of Katie's century.

"YOU GOT IN!?" And then Katie was throwing herself at her brother in a hug. This was her brother's dream, and hers if she were being honest, and to see it come true... it's amazing.

"I mean, it was probably my brains. It could have been my good looks though, or my big muscles." Matt said, trying to make a joke, but Katie brushed him off in her excitement. 

"That's amazing! Oh man I'm so excited to-" And then Matt saw the moment Katie thought of something and confusion washed over his face as he watched her run to her discarded astro-physics book. 

"Pidge, what-"

"I've gotta get studying if I want to meet you there, can't let everyone think you're the hot shot of the family." Pidge teased, back to her normal self.

"Okay, so what, you broke into official government files when you were 7 and I did it when I was 7 and a half, such an age difference." Matt huffed out annoyed.

"And you're still mad about it!" Pidge teased back.

"Yeah, but I'm in the Galaxy Garrison!"

"And if you got in, I'm sure I'll be accepted sooner or later. After all, they'd want the best Holt, wouldn't they?" Pidge asked challengingly. At the look in her brothers eyes Pidge began to back up towards her bed. She knew where this was going, and she needed ammo.

"Why you little-" And then Matt was picking up a pillow, and Pidge was defending herself with one of her own.

And all the sadness from earlier that day just melted away.

"Pidge, I don't like the idea of you going alone, you sure you don't need back up?" Shiro asked Pidge for what felt like the third time in the past hour. She gets it, they all care about her, they worry about her, but she's a paladin too and can handle herself.

"Yes I'm sure, the intel I got from the shop keeper makes me believe that the resistance Matt is a part of could move from their current location at any time. I don't have time to lose, Shiro." Pidge said, pushing her lion forward.

"Very well, just know that if you need us-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, Mom, I'll call." Pidge said before disconnecting from Shiro. 

Pidge landed on the planet, and hid her lion with ease. She used everything Keith had taught her from their one on one sparring lessons (and from their infamous Voltron hide and go seek games) to mask herself and to prepare for anything. She got the cloak, the walk, she had the weapon at the ready, like she was in an old western shoot out movie. He would have been proud.

How had it only been four days and she already missed that emo fuck so much it hurt?

She doesn't dwell on it though, as she comes across the man she knows will give her the information she desires. 

"Shops closed."

"I'm just looking for directions to a show," Pidge said, act natural, you don't want to seem too interested, they'll smell it on you! Coran's voice rang through her head. "I hear it's something, special."

"So you're the one looking for the nano-thermite titanium-boron?" The guy said, and that's not what Pigde was looking for.

"Keep it."

"You're backing out of our agreement?" The man asked, clearly annoyed, but Pidge brushed it off.

"Altering it, in your favor." She said coming forward to show the man a video of Matt. "I'll give you the money, but, in return, you tell me who is in this video and where to find them." Pidge said looking him dead in the eye.

"How will I know how to find them?" The guy said, pretending to be disinterested. Hook. Line. And sinker.

"Because they used nano-thermite titanium-boron, and you're the only one that sells it for such a... favorable price." Pidge said, the smile on her face telling the shop owner he was, rather easily, screwed.

"Maybe, I sell a lot of things worth a lot of value, and I think the Galra would pay a lot to know how you got your hands on that security footage." The man said, pulling out two knives on her and Pidge wanted to snort. Really, has it come to this? She's faced off scarier baddies, and better knives-men in her own home. This guy's got nothing in his favor, she'll try being civilized once more.

"Put those toys away, you can either help me, and get paid, or help me and get humiliated, your choice." Pidge said and when he lunged at her, she had her answer.

She made quick work of the man with her bayard, she tripped him easily, and tied him up before proceeding to hang him by the ceiling. When she knew he was secure, she hacked into his data base and stole all the answers she needed.

And then, really, she thought of Lance and Matt and couldn't miss out on the opportunity. She tied him up using his own ropes, and left him hanging on the ceiling once more, retracting her bayard on her way out she threw the killer line over her shoulder.

"Thanks for the intel, keep it hangin' buddy."

She found one of Matt's rescuers in the shop owners personal files and was tracking her. Using Voltron, it was very, very easy to find her.

Time to go check out that moon, now.

Of course it was under Galra attack. 

Of quiznacking course. 

They are so, so lucky that Pidge was looking to find them this fine evening or else their planet would be toast.

When Pidge got rid of the Galra fighters, she landed to talk to, who seemed to be, the leader of this rebel fighter base. "What's going on?" She asked.

"We defeated a wave of Galra forces, more are coming, so we're evacuating." He told Pidge pointing to the other rebel fighters who were moving what looked like supplies onto escape shuttles. "But now that you're here, we might stand a chance. Will the other lions be here soon?"

And Pidge, for a brief moment in time, forgot she was only one fifth of the greatest fighting force the universe has ever known.

"I'm sorry, Voltron isn't coming. It's just me." Pidge said honestly. "I'm looking for Te-osh. Is she here?"

"Te-osh is inside the base loading up the last of the medical supplies." The leader said, pointing to where Pidge needed to go. "We were just about to leave, your timing is most fortunate."

"Thank you, I'll give you a hand loading up. I just need to speak with her first." She said before running to where the leader pointed.

Of course the Galra decided to come back now, for quiznacks sake, and now the ships were leaving and Pidge was having to run to her lion in the midst of explosions and laser fire.

Green, can you maybe pull a Red and come get me?

"Why?"

Really?

"Get to cover!" Pidge yelled at the rest of the rebels before using her rockets to launch her faster to the Green lion.

Pidge was pissed, she had a score to settle with these Galra. That was the fastest she'd ever destroyed their squadron. 

"Our ship is ruined, that leaves Te-osh all alone, you must help her paladin!" The leader yelled out.

"What about you?" Pidge asked. She wanted to follow Te-osh so, so badly, she was the one with the information on her brother, but she refused to leave these people alone on their planet without an escape.

"We know what it means to fight the Galra." The leader said, seriously, but sadly. "The supplies on that ship are more important than our lives."

Well that's just stupid.

"Everyone aboard, now!" 

Catching up to Te-osh, stopping the Galra and saving the ship was the easy part.

The hard part was that Te-osh was hit, and she was dying. Pidge needed to save her.

"Stay here, I'm going to get you some-"

"Matt?" And Pidge froze. Did Te-osh just call her Matt?

"He's my brother, I'm trying to find him." Pidge said, trying to stifle down the hope in case this was another dead end.

"You look so much like him." Te-osh said fondly instead. "It's the eyes." And then Te-osh was coughing again, she knew her body, she knew she didn't have much time. She was going to help Matt's sister.

"Here." Te-osh said, handing Pidge what looked to be an Earth Hard Drive. "Every rebel officer has one of these transponders. It's how we find each other in the field. He may not have his anymore, but this is his code." She said, but she was coughing again.

Fight through Te-osh.

Fight for Matt, one final time. 

At least die, spitting in the face of the Galra.

"Now Please, help get these supplies to my people."

And that was the first time Pidge had looked someone in the eyes as they died. She saw Te-osh take her last breath, watched as her body went limp and as the light left her eyes. This was a peaceful death.

Keith saw someone die, he's seen multiple people die, he most recently told her that he saw someone who he considered an Uncle die in front of him. Pidge just saw this stranger die and she could already tell it was screwing her over.

All the other 'deaths' she had dealt were to robots, but this... this one was real, she saw this person and it hurt her. She couldn't imagine what it was like...

Wow, Pidge really needed to stop focusing on the despair of one of her brothers and start focusing on the one she was close to bringing home.

She wouldn't let Te-osh, no, she wouldn't let anyone, die in vain.

"I just got a message from Dad." Matt said to Pidge as they sat on their roof together.

"A message from Dad?" Pidge asked skeptically.

"Well, actually, it's a quantum frequency." Matt supplied. 

"But Dad's on a secret mission, aren't we not supposed to talk to him?" Pidge asked. The siblings made eye contact for one solid second before breaking out into laughter. "Okay, okay, you got me there. How are you doing it under the Garrison's nose?" 

"We're using a special two-step encryption method. A Holt secret family recipe, if you will." Matt said leaning in conspiringly. 

"Teach me." Pidge said, and they spent the next hour on the roof, Matt teaching Pidge the secret Father-Son encryption for messages. She memorized it with ease and began to send her father her own messages as well, under the careful eye of Matt, just to make sure she was getting it right.

He didn't need to worry.

Pidge never failed to impress.

"Alright, I get it, but it seems a little low-tech." Pidge said.

"No it's not, and here's why." Matt said gaining her attention. "You should know best, any computer can be hacked, even one with an excellent processor, but we have the best processor in the whole universe right here." Matt said pointing to his head, specifically his brain, "And that can never be hacked."

"Did you just refer to brain as a computer processor?"

"I'm trying to teach you life lessons and you just make fun of me?" 

"Well Dad's in space, so someone's gotta do it."

Matt's signal was getting closer. 

But it can't be right, Pidge knew this planet, it was a mass grave for everyone who died trying to save the universe from the galra.

No, this cannot be right. She refuses to believe this, maybe he's visiting someone! He can't be in there! He CAN'T!

This can't be right, this can't be her reality. She refused to believe it! It was only years ago when they would play pillow fights, where he would lead her around the Garrison and show her their future, he was her big brother... he couldn't...

"Matthew Holt. 0010.05.25.0014.04.28." The unforgiving translator read into Pidge's ear. No.

"NO!" Pidge wailed into the night. She collapsed in front of his grave and wailed. Her big brother was gone. "I'm so sorry! I was too late! I was too late! I failed you, I'm so sorry I failed you!" She was sobbing into her mask. She couldn't breath, but she couldn't take her mask off either, her tears were just pooling at the bottom, gathering right under the day of his death-

Wait.

Oh my God. Pidge was going to kill him. So what if he was alive, she was just going to kill him the moment she found him because honestly, who uses their gravestone to write an obscure code to their family members when they're probably so sad to see his grave that they wouldn't even think to look for a god damned CODE.

Matt was so, so lucky his sister was a super genius.

He was also so, so unlucky that his sister was a paladin of Voltron and was ready to actually kick his ass.

He gave her coordinates, in his grave, that was the damned message.

Her relief far out weighted how pissed off she was right now, but when she'd see Matt, well... who knows what-

Hey, maybe look at the map?

"Two Galra cruisers? And even more are nearby, well this isn't good." Pidge said after following her lions suggestion. She entered her lion and turned on the cloaking device before she proceeded to fly through them, getting to the planet she hoped beyond hope housed her brother.

There didn't seem to be anything on the planet though...

Nope! Think positive! She had a mission! Find Matt, punch him in the face!

When all is said and done though, she really needs to help the rebels with their bases, because this spy facility was way too easy to infi-

And great now she's under attack, shouldn't the rebels recognize a paladin of Voltron? God, shouldn't someone have warned him of her arrival?

"What have you done to my brother?" Pidge yelled out to her attacker. The attacker finally looked at her and paused in disbelief. Finally recognizing Voltron, huh? Well Pidge was pissed. 

She used her bayard to knock the mask off the rebel soldier before going to place the blade onto his thro-

It was Matt.

The rebel soldier she was fighting was Matt.

"Pidge?" He asked in disbelief. No way his baby sister followed him up to space, there was no possible way.

"Matt?" Holy shit it was her. Then they were hugging and Pidge was explaining everything. "Ever since the Kerberos Mission, they said you were dead, but I knew you weren't. There was no way there was a piloting accident-"

"And I never thought you'd find me! I thought it was impossible!" Matt said pulling away from the hug to look Pidge in the eye.

"The thought of you and Dad alive kept me going, it inspired me to do the impossible." Pidge said honestly. 

"And the impossible you did. Pidge you're in space! And is that... oh my god is that a Paladin suit-" Matt asked in disbelief.

"Hell yeah, your baby sister is the Green Paladin of Voltron, and by far the smartest hacker this universe has every known!" Pidge cheered. "Speaking of which..." Pidge slapped Matt as hard as she could in the arm causing him to wince and back away from her.

"What! Kind! Of! Idiot! Hides! Their! Location! Using! A! Fake! Grave!" Pidge asked enunciating each word with a slap on her brother's arm. 

Matt was going to defend himself, when someone else spoke.

"What a touching reunion." Pidge already had her bayard in her hand.

"Who are you?" She bit out.

"Who I am is not important. I am here to collect a bounty on your Brother Matt, but to have the Paladin of Voltron and the Green lion as well... what a day." And God, Pidge really didn't feel like fighting this guy in front of her brother.

Little did she know Matt was thinking the same thing.

"Stand back, Matt."

"Stand back, Pidge." They said at the same time, each drawing their weapon before sheepishly looking at each other.

"We do this the old fashion way?" Matt asked.

"We do this the Holt way." Pidge agreed. "Let's show this guy exactly what we're made of." 

Fighting with Matt was different than fighting with Voltron. Matt's fighting style was different, he wasn't a heavy hitter like Shiro, nor was he a long range fighter like Lance or Hunk, and he certainly was no bendy, no-bones Keith.

Good thing though he was like her, he used his brains.

"Pidge the panel!"

"Matt now!" Using the electricity from the bounty hunter's whips, they over shot the circuit breaker of the whole building, basically frying him from the inside out. When they knew he would be out of it, together they sucker punched him half way across the base. 

Damn it felt good to work with her brother again.

"Not bad." Matt teased.

"Eh, you were slowing me down." Pidge argued right back.

"Why you little-" Matt was waiting for Pidge to remove the helmet so he could give her the noogie of the century when he saw it. "You kept the glasses?"

He watched in shock as Pidge turned to him, a happy smile on her face as she simply said, "Of course I did."

Pidge remembered the exact day her brother left for the Galaxy Garrison, they had taken a hundred photos in front of that one space ship, her feet were killing her, she was forced into a nice dress and of course she had to say goodbye to her brother.

"All right, Katie-"

"No," Pidge cut off her brother, this would be the last time she'd see him for a while, she could stand the nick name for just a little bit. "Call me Pidge. I'm gonna miss that. More than you at least."

"Yeah, yeah I'm gonna miss you too, but you know, space! I'm so excited." Matt cheered, excited for his future here in the space program. He turned to Pidge, hoping to share in his excitement just to see sadness on her face. Oh. 

"Yeah I know." 

"You know you can talk to me any time." Matt said, before dramatically looking around before leaning in to whisper in Pidge's ear. "I've taught you the code, remember."

"Of course, how could I forget, who do you take me for!" Pidge said, pushing her brother back good naturally. "But still... it's not really the same is it?"

"You're right..." Matt agreed, before quickly coming up with a new tactic. "Hey check this out!" He said before removing his glasses.

Pidge just looked at him, confused when he placed his glasses in her hand.

"Don't you need these? I thought you were legally blind without them?" Pidge said looking from the glasses in her hand to her brother.

"Not anymore, the Garrison fixed my eyes, don't I look handsome now?" He teased, getting a laugh out of Pidge.

"Maybe to some species out there. Hey if you bring home an alien girlfriend, you think Mom would get pissed?" Pidge said smiling teasingly at her brother. He just ruffled her hair affectionately in response. 

"Nah, I won't be there long enough for that." He said before bumping into her. "Don't worry, I'll be back soon." 

"You better, or I'm coming up to space and getting you!" Pidge said, bumping back into Matt, probably harder than need be, but that's what siblings do.

Pidge looked from Matt, lying on the floor, then to the space ship he would be taking that same week before putting on the glasses, and swearing to never take them off.

Chapter Text

She could see it once more. Her real face, before the poisoning of the Quintessence of the other reality. It was Honerva that was starring back at her. 

It was a face she could not believe she had forgotten. 

She needed to fix this, she wanted her great mind back.

"High Priestess," One of her druids grabbed her attention and Honerva was quick to change her altean skin to purple, becoming Haggar once more. "You are needed."

She walked into the room in the middle of someone's torture. 

"Why hide the identity of those who attacked your base, give us the information, and the pain will cease." One of her druids commanded. 

"I'm telling you it must have been Lotor!" The general, the one Haggar recognized as the general who tried to usurp Lotor, said before he was blasted once more. 

"He appears to have no ability to recall what happened." Another druid informed her. 

"No one can completely wipe a memory away." Haggar argued, remembering her own face she had seen just moments ago. "There are always remnants deep within to claw out." 

It was her turn to interrogate the prisoner.

"Why would Prince Lotor attack a base when he could walk in and take whatever he desires?" She asked.

"I don't know." Was his answer, and she did not like it. Her druids told her his answers might be because of revenge. Her son was the one to send him off to a base in the far reaches of the Empire. The druid suggested he must be trying to stain Price Lotor's reputation. 

Haggar though, knew her son.

They were letting more refugees off on Olkairi when Pidge came back. Everyone from her new family was excited to see her return, and they were even more excited in a way to meet Pidge's actual family, they had heard a lot. 

Matt was excited too, he'd heard all about them on the way here, he was nervous don't get him wrong, but excited all the same. 

He saw as the 'space mice' were the first to greet Pidge and watched as she stepped aside to introduce him, officially, to everyone.

"Everybody, I'd like you to meet my brother, Matt." Pidge said, Matt stepped out of the lion and began to count heads, huh, they were missing...

"Matt, this is Hunk, Lance and Coran." Pidge said grabbing his attention. Ah yes, Hunk the literal ray of sunshine and Pidge's astrophysics match, Lance the airhead goofball who was far kinder and smarter than anyone gave him credit for and Coran, Coran, the gorgeous man who was an Uncle to Pidge, who never let anyone grieve when he knew he could put a smile on their face.

"And this is Princess Allura of Altea," Oh yes the Princess who was vicious and loyal and every thing Pidge had wanted in a sister. Matt turned to look at her and OH NO SHE'S HOT!

"It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Matt." She said, and oh god she had an accent! She was a literal, beautiful, space Princess! Matt was speachless. Flirt! Show her your best side!

"Whoa! Oh my goodness! You are so beautiful! It is my honor to meet you, Princess." Matt said, adding some extra suave to his voice. Nice.

Or not, considering the Princess looked confused and both Coran and Lance were glaring at him over the Princess shoulder. God they looked scary, maybe it wasn't worth the effort. 

Oh well, he could appreciate beauty from afar.

Speaking of beauty from afar.

"Shiro?" Matt said in disbelief before going to run up to Shiro, he was going to hug him, and then remembered himself. "It's so good to see you, um, sir." Matt didn't really know what to do, so he stuck his hand out to shake Shiro's reminiscent of how they first met.

Shiro though, just took Matt's hand and pulled him into a much needed hug. He was so glad to see his crew had survived space. Well, he was glad that, at least, Matt was here. Now they just needed to find Samuel Holt.

"Pidge never gave up on finding you." Shiro said, pride in his voice as he pulled out of the hug to look from Matt to Pidge.

"Yeah, she can be pretty stubborn at times." Matt said cheerfully, then Pidge was taking Matt on the ship tour of a lifetime.

Matt just had one question though. "Hey Pidge, where's the red pal-" And at her saddened look, Matt stopped talking, and changed the subject immediately. "SO ship tour!"

And Matt had never seen his sister change moods so quickly. He was glad too, to watch her with pride in his heart as she explained every aspect of the ship and their lives to him. When they got to the hang out area for the paladins though, they were interrupted by Hunk.

"Hey! I made celebratory milkshakes for you two!" He said carrying a tray with the divine drink on them. God Hunk was Matt's favorite.

"Just a little welcome gift to Matt from me and Kaltenecker. No big deal." Hunk said passing the drink to Matt with a wink and a smile on his face.

Hunk is everyone's favorite.

"Fun fact about Alteans, they don't get brain freeze, they just totally sucked up their shakes in one slurp. Lance tried to keep up, and nearly died, anyways..." Hunk said sitting himself down in between the siblings. "What have you been doing since you broke out of Galra prison?" 

"I've actually been stationed at a listening outpost, monitoring Galra radio chatter." Matt said, and he recognized that look on Hunk's face. It was the 'my sister is better than you, she's so cool, look at what she did' face. Matt was glad to see even when he wasn't here, Pidge had big brother's to brag about her.

"Oh really! Well then you should totally check out the Galra finder Pidge created and built. We used it to track down a Galra fleet and save a planet." Hunk said bringing his fist up to bump with Pidge's not needing to break eye contact with Matt to know it would stick.

"Well Hunk made the locator that led us to the first Voltron lion, and we just built an upgraded version of it to track Lotor!" Pidge said, cheering in the fact that she could truly brag about the greatness of her friends to someone so important in her life to hear it and appreciate it.

"Wow, Pidge. Dad would be so proud if he could see what you've done here." Matt said in disbelief. "If he could see what all of you have done." He added on, nodding to Hunk who brushed it off with an easy smile.

Lotor was using his Father's sentries to build the ship that would destroy him once and for all. The irony of the situation was not lost on the son, and he was actually happy to be a part of it. 

"My Lord, we just recieved a message from central command. Emperor Zarkon requires your presence immediately." Axca told him. God everything couldn't be going more to plan, unless he had written it himself.

"Very well. Prepare a ship." Lotor said with ease.

"Do you think he's onto us?" Ezor asked, just a touch worried, but mostly just curious.

"No, my father is simply ready to return to the throne. He can have it. Our plans have not changed. Narti, come with me." He said before leaving behind his workshop and his ship.

He needed to go and convince his Father that he was a loving son, and hopefully his Father will finally free him from the tedious duty of manning the Empire so he may get to the work that truly requires his attention. 

"The rest of you, continue to oversee construction. I will return shortly."

"Hello!"

"Hope we're not interrupting!" Coran added on, putting his biggest smile forward. 

"I don't believe we've been properly introduced." Allura said kindly. She was putting all of her diplomatic training to good use because god damn it.

She wanted another milkshake.

And she was going to get it!

So it was time to sweet talk Kalternecker.

He was not ready to see his Father's witch the moment he got off his ship. 

"Welcome, Prince Lotor. Please, follow me." If she was leading them, maybe everything was more serious than he thought? No. Do not overthink it.

Everything is going according to plan.

So he followed the witch, and catalogued that fact that Narti's cat seemed to recognize her.

When he was face to face though with the Emperor, he cleared his mind, and began his performance.

"Father, it gives me such pleasure that you've made a full recovery." He sweet talked, seeing all the quintessence that was being strapped onto Zarkon just to keep him sitting on his throne. "You look stronger than I've ever-"

"Silence." That was not Zarkon's voice, that was a machine. "I did not bring you here to waste time with your flattery. You are relieved of your position, effective immediately." Zarkon said, dismissing his own flesh and blood as one would a complete stranger.

Which wasn't all too far from the truth.

But, anyways, it was time to act, he can't seem too eager.

"Lord, I beg you, do not discard me. Let me stay by your side." Lotor 'begged'.

"Your short reign will be regarded as a black spot on the history of the Empire." Zarkon said simply. He wanted his son away from his throne, away from it's power, and away from the Black lion.

"Of course, my efforts at ruling the universe seem feeble beside your inestimable accomplishments. But, perhaps, if you were to train me, I could learn." The very idea of that left Lotor feeling ill, but he needed to play up the act to divert suspicion from himself. 

"You are no longer needed."

"As you wish." Lotor then turned to leave, facing away from his Father he finally let his smile show.

Haggar was not fooled by his act. He was her son after all, even if she had forgotten about him, even if he might not know, a mother's intuition is not something to scoff at.

"Something is amiss with Lotor." She said trying to bring Zarkon's attention to it. "I sensed a powerful energy on him when he entered, something ancient." She supplied.

"He is no longer my concern." Was Zarkon's reply.

He might not be his concern anymore, but Lotor certainly was Haggars concern. She made quick work of getting to the hanger before her son did, she had a quick spell she needed to perform.

For dark quintessence recognizes dark quintessence. She called to her old friend, who sat so innocently on Lotor's general's shoulder. When they made eye contact, she had him, and now her long time cat, and Lotor's general were under her control.

She would keep an eye on her son.

For the good of the Empire.

"This is a pretty sweet algorithm for locating Galra targets within a statistically acceptable margin of error. And I love that you color-coded it, because what are we, animals?" And at that both Pidge and Matt were laughing to their heart's content, leaving Hunk feeling a little left out. 

Pidge was his science buddy, they were supposed to be laughing at smart things together. 

But really, Hunk knew he shouldn't be jealous, this was Pidge's brother, and like yeah, Hunk felt like he was also Pidge's brother, but like... Matt actually was her brother! So what? That didn't change the fact that he wanted to be in on the joke, too.

"Hunk, using the Fraunhofer lines to track Voltron, and then the comet... I mean, that's genius!" Matt added on when the sound of Hunk's eating finally reached through the sibling's laughter.

"Oh, well, yeah, I try." Hunk said, happy smile on his face at getting recognized by the dynamic duo.

"They say Fraunhofer was the greatest glassmaker in Europe and that when he died, he took all his greatest recipes to the grave with him." Matt said turning to look to Pidge. "So check this out." 

And oh my god it was all the relevant data from Matt's time with the rebels. If they added that to their Voltron knowledge... holy shit.

That could fill in Voltron's missing gaps, they might just have the best anti-Galra intelligence mining operation in this or any other reality.

God.

"You know this one time, we went to another reality. It was pretty lame." Hunk said without thinking. Matt had so many questions, he wanted so many answer's but Pidge's mind was already on the possibility of the greatest anti-Galra intelligence mining operation.

Lance was alone.

Again.

So what did he do when he was alone? He played the video game him and Pidge found at the space mall. Yes, they finally figured out a way to get it working, but was it really worth it?

Lance had spent far too much time in this room, playing this damned video game.  He was really slacking. Without his training partner, he hadn't been training hand to hand as often, he hasn't really talked to a lot of people, because somehow he always turned to his left, mouth open to explain something just to realize no one was there.

He thought he'd be fine without Keith, not great sure, but definitely fine. He means, he wasn't completely alone. So why did it feel like sometimes he was? 

At least it wasn't all too bad yet, he still had Hunk who would hang out with him when he and Pidge weren't trying to save the universe. And Coran was always there for him! But still... it was lonely.

Lance had just gotten so used to having someone practically attached to his hip, and now without him...

"Lance can you assist us for a moment?" Coran asked, and really this was the worst time he was about to die on this level of this damned video game he could not beat.

"Not now!" He yelled out trying to dodge another attack. But of course it didn't matter, he died anyways.

"We were wondering if you could possibly assist us in obtaining more milk shakes." Allura asked, and Lance sighed in defeat. Of course they needed him just for the milkshakes, not for him.

Of course he was annoyed, but he really could never say no to a pretty princess.

"Alright let's go."

"Well, first off, Kalternecker is a girl." Lance informed the two alteans as he got the milk bucket and stool ready.

"Oh! Apologies madame!" Coran said, bowing down to the cow and Lance really, really wanted to laugh, but he let it slide. Cultural differences and everything.

"Also, she can't understand you, because she's a cow." Lance added on. 

Now for the hard part, teaching the alteans about the finer workings of a cow. He probably shouldn't have shown them how to get milk for milkshakes, but God it would be so funny. Maybe it would be a little bit too much, but oh well.

"Let me show you how it's done." And Lance watched the sheer look of horror on the alteans faces, before he proceeded to offer them the fresh milk.

He watched as the blood drained from their faces and they left without a second thought and he was doubling over in laughter before turning to Kalternecker. 

"Don't take it personally girl, what you're doing is absolutely natural, and your milk is fabulous." Lance said to her, giving her a steady pat before going to take a drink.

He had so many stories to tell Keith when he got back.

"How'd it go, are you fired?" Ezor asked when she noticed the smile on Lotor's face.

"It seems I have been relieved from my position, yes." He said, going to stand next to Axca so she could give him the lay down of what was going on.

"The second ship is complete and ready for testing, the sentries are just adding some final touches now." She told him pointed to the stats on her control station. "Sixty percent of the comets material has been used in the production of the first two ships, My Lord." She told him.

Narti heard it, and her darling cat saw it all.

Therefore Haggar saw it all as well. 

What comet? It couldn't be the same comet as Voltron.

But she had never sensed such a power, even through the screen, that could mimic Voltrons and this one was doing it.

"No!" He had found a way to make a ship equal in power to that of Voltron.

They were screwed.

"My Lord, somehow Lotor has gotten his hands on a trans-reality comet." Haggar told Zarkon the moment she entered his throne room. There was no need to announce herself, there never was.

"What?" He asked in anger.

"And worse, it appears that he has already created two ships from the comet, and is on his way to making a third." Might as well tell him everything now. She knew he would not appreciate it if she kept something from him. There has always been a reason she was so close to the Emperor.

"The only reason to keep them secret is to use them agains the empire. But we will strike first." Zarkon then turned to his troops and commanded. "Mobilize the fleet. Hunt down Prince Lotor."

Hunk, Pidge and Matt were busy adding Matt's rebel notes to their Galra tracking technology to create the Universe's best anti-galra system. 

"I think we've just about got it." Matt said, directing Pidge and Hunk's attention to the main monitor. They cheered in triumph as they saw more Galra troops popping up on screen, it worked. They figured out a way to merge to the two separate technologies and information seamlessly.   

"This is unbelievable. We're tracking Galra fleet movements almost live." Hunk said in awe.

"I think I know a few tweaks we can make to extend our range." Pidge began, but something flashing was grabbing Matt's attention.

"There's a scrambled message popping up guys. I've collected hundred of'em. I never crack them though." He added as an after thought.

Hunk snorted and Pidge whacked him in the arm, giving him a quick annoyed look before turning to her brother. "Bring it over here, and let's see if I can work some magic, huh?"  

Pidge put it through her computer and gave it a quick look over as her brother came to stand at her side. "I put it through every decoder order I could think of and I've spent days with just the numbers and a Galra linguist log. Nothing." 

"Maybe they're not words, maybe they're just numbers." Hunk adds on. 

"Maybe they're a frequency?" Pidge said not completely convinced herself. 

"A quantum signal that broadcasts other frequencies to go to? It's too high. These are more than 3,000 gigahertz." Matt said, and that's when Pidge got it.

"Invert it!" She said, getting to work.

"What?"

"For every wave we recieve, there's only partial transmittance, right?" Pidge asked, she was getting it. 

"Oh, right, yeah." Hunk added on, he was getting it now too. "So, we figure the transmission coefficient..."

"And tune for the frequency of the reflected waves!" Matt added on, finishing the sentence Pidge would normally finish. 

Then the Galra transmission became actual words. The trio were so busy celebrating, at first, they didn't realize what the transmission was saying. 

"Zarkon is alive?" Hunk asked in disbelief. Pidge felt her heart sink and the thought of it. Shiro disappeared the last time they tried to fight Zarkon, so many people died on the rebel front, they had risked everything to do it, and he's alive.

"Guys, look at this." Pidge said bringing their attention to the screen that showed where all the galra fleets were stationed.

"I've never seen troop mobilization on this level before." Matt said in disbelief. They were all moving onto one location, and that location was not their's.

So who's location was it?

"You don't think they're mobilizing on the Blade do you?" Pidge asked in distress turning to look at Hunk.

"No they can't! Right? Their headquarters are on the other side of the universe!" Hunk said in equal panic and Matt was desperately confused. 

"Blade... wha-"

"Hunk they have bases everywhere! What if they're closing in on them! What if-"

"Pidge, there's nothing there!" Matt said quickly bringing her attention away from her panic back to the map. "There are no planets, no rebel ships, no Blade people, nothing." 

At that both Hunk and Pidge took a deep breath to calm themselves down. Matt had to ask. "Guys, what has you so scared for those Blade people?"

Pidge was silent, so that left Hunk to speak.

"Keith is there, he's part Galra, he joined a while ago and we're still not used to his absence." Well oh shit. 

"We need to tell Allura." Pidge said before anything else could be asked. She then immediately went to leave followed by Matt and Hunk.

"I don't like it. We should be gathering intelligence, not diving into a fight without knowing why, especially now that we know Zarkon is alive." Shiro said, quick to shut down any one's idea's of jumping into this fight. 

He just got back to team Voltron and his bond with the Black Lion was shaky at BEST right now, he doesn't need it getting close to Zarkon. Not now. 

Everyone else could understand his hesitance, but they were not used to it. Keith as a leader would already be there, using Pidge's lion to scope things out, taking in everyone else's ideas on how to do this as they were on their way to defend who ever the Galra were attacking.

But Keith wasn't leading anymore.

Shiro was.

And Lance couldn't help but think that Shiro would not want his personal input right now. 

"We could check it out through cloaking." Pidge suggested.

"You cloaked the castle?" Lance asked at the same time Matt said, "You have cloaking? Who are you?"

"I'm not sure it's safe for just the Green Lion." Shiro shot down quickly, and Lance wanted to roll his eyes. How could anyone make decisions that quickly? After getting used to him and Keith leading, this felt kind of ridiculous. 

"Yeah, but it wouldn't be just the Green lion. While I didn't cloak the whole castle, I can cloak all of Voltron. We could all go!" She said, fighting back against Shiro's quick decision. It was taking a lot for everyone to get back to the Shiro leader dynamic. 

Lance nudged her in the side, brotherly affection taking over him. "Were you waiting for your brother to show up before you rolled that one out?" Lance asked in disbelieving pride.

"Oh please, why would I need to wait for this loser? I'm announcing it now for the drama of it all." She said wicked smile on her face that mimicked Lance's 'flirty' smile and soon Lance was snorting in disbelief before Pidge nudged him back. She then continued, "No, but it's something I've been working on for a while, but I can't pilot the Green Lion and operate the cloaking at the same time. But if I had a co-pilot..." She said leaving the end of the sentence open.

"Absolutely!" Matt cheered in excitement. Pidge just had a smile on her face as she shook her head in disbelief.

"You're lucky Coran is needed to fly the Castle, or else it would be him as my co-pilot." Pidge teased.

"Thank you, number 5!"  Coran said with a smile on his face, and his thumbs up from behind Allura.

Shiro sighed in disbelief before agreeing. 

"Fine, we can do this then, now let's get to the lions." Everyone was already suited up so it was easy work to get ready and get going.

How were they discovered? The only people that knew about this project were in this room or in a grave. The location was secret, the ship was undetectable, and he knew not one of his generals would willingly betray him. 

So how did the Galra find him just as he finished his ships? What kind of timing is that? They needed to get out of here immediately, Lotor wasn't strong enough yet to fight the whole of the Empire.

He didn't have an army yet, he didn't have the quintessence he needed.

He contacted Zethrid who was manning the main ship that was holding them all off. "What's happening?" he asked.

"A Galra fleet is attacking us." She said defending the ship as best she could.

"Return fire!" Lotor commanded, and then the ship was hit again.

"Wait, there's another fleet!" Zethrid said in disbelief. "And another one! We can't hold them all off." She said in despair. They were going to die if they didn't get out of there.

Lotor cut communication to Zethrid before turning to his three other generals. "Prepare the Sincline ships to takeoff. Load the comet into mine. We're leaving." He commanded as the main ship was hit once more.

"We're getting close. Everyone, get ready." Shiro commanded as the Galra ships began to take shape. 

Pidge turned to her brother and said. "Go ahead. Run the cloaking subroutine." 

"Got it." He agreed without complaint. He knew when to tease his sister and when to follow orders. 

This was a time he needed to follow orders.

"Initializing cloak." He said to the rest of Voltron. "I'm not sure how long we can keep this up." He added on in warning. 

"All right, let's take a look at who the Galra are attacking." Allura said when she noticed the rest of Voltron disappearing. They needed to make the most of their time.

They were shocked by what they saw.

"It's Galra-on Galra violence, again." Lance said in disbelief. Surely, with Zarkon alive and back in action, the Galra would have stopped fighting amongst themselves.

He guessed not.

"Oh, these people just do not like each other." Hunk added on as he assessed the situation as well. 

The other's were silent as they just watched on.

"Divert all the power to the defenses. Hold the attack off until we're away. Then scuttle-" Lotor was cut off by another blast to the ship, sending everyone off their feet. They needed to leave. Now.

"How did they find us?" Axca let out the question that was bothering everyone.

"We must have been tracked." Zethrid added on, but that didn't make any sense. He had removed all tracking devices from his ship, and even if they were tracked he knew the Galra couldn't have figured out what they were doing here.

Lotor knew that Narti's cat had certain quintessence abilities. He thought that since she did not have eyes, Narti would not fall under the influence of his Father's witch, but the cat... the cat could see.

The cat recognized Zarkon's witch.

Oh no.

He didn't want to do this.

But he would to save everyone else. His commander's were his family, and he hated to let one go. He would need to explain everything to his most trusted Axca on the way back. He would not let Narti's death go to waste.

He would use it to progress the Empire.

He took no pleasure from killing her.

"Whose ships are those?" Pidge asked bringing everyone's attention to the escaping ships. 

"It's Lotor." Allura said recognizing the ship design from her own one on one with him.

"Lotor and Zarkon must be fighting for control of the Empire." Shiro said watching intently as they flew away. 

"Guys, those ships are getting awfully close!" Hunk said bringing their attention to their flimsy cloaking device.

But it was too late. 

"The trails from Lotor's ship messed with our cloaking spectrum!" Matt yelled out letting everyone know that Voltron was once again visible. 

"Find a work around." Pidge said, they needed it.

"It's too late. Our cover's been blown. We may have to engage." Shiro said turning all of Voltron around to see the approaching ships. 

Lance was confused.

How could Shiro move Voltron so quickly now, when he had basically let Lotor's ships run into them.

But Lance had little time to think on that as they were dodging thousands of laser fired directly at them.

"Hunk use your bayard!" Shiro commanded.

"Got it!" Hunk yelled and soon they were taking our hundreds of Galra fighters, just enough to take out the front line to give them enough time to retreat. 

Lotor asked to have a one on one call with Acxa and she was rather nervous to answer it. She knew she was his most trusted, but it felt odd to know that he was calling her now.

"My Lord?" She asked when she answered.

"I didn't want to do it, but she was under Haggar's control." He said simply, and though he portrayed no emotion in his voice, Axca knew he was upset. His claws were showing, they only came out when he could not control his anger and anguish.

"I know." She said and then it grew quiet again. Why would he call her not to talk? So Axca just stayed quiet, and let him take his time.

"I want you to abandon me." He said after a moment.

"What?" Axca nearly hissed out in disbelief.

"I will come back for the three of you, I swear it, but I cannot protect you the way you three need protection now. My Father will proclaim me as an enemy to the state. Zethrid and Ezor, they will take Narti's death to heart, far more than you will. Convince them to leave me and to bring me to the Empire as prisoner." He said simply. 

"But you would surely die then." Axca said.

"No, I will escape, I know I can, but if you are shown trying to stop me, Haggar will see your use and bring you to her inner circle, you must go there. It will keep you safe for now." He commanded her.

"Of course, my Lord." She said. "You'll be back?" She asked after a moment.

"My Empire will be for the Half-Galra, I would never abandon you." He said simply.

"Okay, I will do my best." She said.

"Thank you Axca, that is all." And then he hung up, leaving Axca in contemplative silence as she tried to figure out how she'd get Zethrid and Ezor to abandon the one person who had given them purpose for the last ten years of their life.

Of course something had to happen then.

Axca sent it to everyone. "Sire, we're getting a transmission." 

And then she was playing the transmission for the whole ship to hear. Zarkon's voice rang true.

"Attention, citizens of the Galra Empire. From this day forward, my son Lotor is to be regarded as a fugitive criminal of the Empire. All citizens are authorized to use deadly force to stop him or any of his soldiers. I repeat, Prince Lotor is an enemy of the state. Engage with extreme prejudice. Kill on sight." 

Sometimes, Lotor hated being right.

Chapter Text

"Good news. There's been an upsurge of planets that have been liberated by the Blade of Marmora and the rebel forces." Shiro began when everyone was back from their missions. Well, they were mostly waiting on Pidge, who went to drop her brother back off with the rebel forces he was working with before. She gave him a warning to never go ghost on her again or else she'd find him and kill him herself, and Matt knew it to be true. 

But now Pidge was back with Voltron, and it was time to get to work. 

"Convincing these planets to join our coalition is priority one." Shiro said seriously, which only made Pidge want to slam her head into the floor, she knew exactly what this meant.

"Oh, does that mean more Voltron events?" Coran cheered out, he was way too excited about this for Pidge's liking. 

"Yes." Shiro agreed. Pidge couldn't hold back a groan, but was quickly silenced with a soft warning glare from Shiro. "Believe it or not, the Voltron show-of-arms goes a long way in inspiring others to join the fight." Shiro said before bringing everyone's attention to the hologram he brought up.

"The green clusters you see here, here and here represent planets and, in some cases, entire star systems that have joined the coalition. Not coincidentally, those are also the areas we've personally visited." Shiro said nodding along.

Like Pidge really understood that this was important, really, but she had seen rebels die now with her own eyes to get medical supplies to those who needed it. She'd seen the graves, she'd seen a whole planet dedicated to them. She didn't like the idea of just sitting there and doing these little shows. 

It was fun yeah, but she felt kind of dirty for it.

It was no shock Lance found them fun, he liked the attention in a way, a theatre kid at heart and even if Pidge knew, just as well as everyone else, that Lance suffered a lot being out in space away from his family, he really never let it show. 

She could respect him for that.

"Razzle dazzle time!" He cheered, trying to get everyone hyped up for it as well. "For the war effort, of course."

"Coran, can you set everything up?" Shiro asked. 

"I know just where to start!"

Coran really had no idea where to start. Like, helping the hospital get into tip top shape, well that was good and necessary, but performing in front of injured war vets? Putting on a show? Well, nearly everyone was uncomfortable with it.

Like this show they were putting on wasn't even remotely accurate.

"Speaking of which, Allura, you'll be playing Keith." Coran added on.

"What?!" Allura hissed out in annoyance and made an absolutely disgruntled and disappointed face.

"See! You're already in character, excellent!" Coran said.

"But why do I have to play Keith! He was the Red paladin, then the Black One, Lance or Shiro should at least play him!" She disagreed quickly, crossing her arms in defiance.

"Well it's because you're the newest paladin, and you two might as well be siblings you're attached so easily at the hip." And at that Allura scoffed.

"Not as often as he was attached to Shiro, or better yet Lance." Allura said simply.

"Hey!" Lance argued, but he really didn't know why. You know what, he was arguing because he didn't want to play Keith, not because he wanted to dispute the attention Keith had been paying to him.

Not like it mattered anymore.

"Come on everyone, just follow the script and everything will work out fine!"

It didn't work out fine. It was a complete embarrassment, Coran wrote Shiro down as straight. What kind of blasphemy is this? From one man to another, the betrayal really stung.

Plus everyone else was a wreck, Pidge didn't want to say anything that wasn't scientifically accurate, Allura was still peeved about playing Keith, Hunk had stage fright, and Lance was having too much fun.

Coran really should have known it would all go down the gutter when he showed up on stage in a Princess Allura wig.

"Hey, there, friend. You look like you could use a little help." A voice from the corner of the room said. Coran turned around to see a figure in a wheel chair coming out of the shadows to talk to him. 

"I know you. You ran the Unillu swamp shop in the mall." Coran said in disbelief. What was he doing in this section of the universe?

"I saw that space wreck of a show you put on." And Coran was a little peeved, like it wasn't that much of a wreck, just a little one.

Okay so maybe it was a wreck.

"And?"

"Might I suggest using a concious-neezy mind enhancer?" He asked going into his pocket to pull out the good drugs he kept there. "Pop one of these babies under your pillow at night, and when you wake up in the morning, your brain will be filled with brilliant thoughts and ideas." He said holding out the enhancer for Coran to take. 

He was about to accept it when the Unillu said it's price. 12,000 gac? Ridiculous.

"Would you take a used left shoe?"

"I'll accept the yellow Voltron bayard."

"14 nose hairs?"

"Your left arm, plated in luxite."

"A firm handshake and a pat on the back then?"

"I get to ride on your shoulders for one deca-pheob!"

"Well, how about I give you 600 gac and don't tell the staff you're running an unlicensed swamp shop in an intergalactic hospital?" Coran said. This was his killer offer, there was no way he would say no to this.

"Deal!"

"Voltron air show here we come!" Of course Coran had to get the date wrong. Of course this planet was only safe one day of the year, of course they missed that one day.

Of course everyone was frustrated at Coran! Well that's rude! He's trying his best! It was one day! He just wants his space children to be happy.

So that's why that night, he slept with the concious-nezzy under his pillow in hopes that he could turn everything around.

He loved his family, and he thinks it's time the rest of the universe loved them just as much as he did.

Coran could smell colors.

"It's official. We've reached rock-bottom." Pidge said as she stood in the space mall looking upon their new stage.

"Yeah, I don't know if this is the best place to get our message out to the widest audience." Shiro said, agreeing with Pidge.

"Shiro, baby, you're right. And I want what you want, man. But I've had some epiphanies, some ideas, some realizations. What we have to do is broadcast a show across and entire galaxy." Everyone could see something was off with Coran. 

They mostly thought he'd finally cracked.

"We could reach the largest viewership in the history of intergalactic showbiz! But we need to workshop some things before we can take it to the next level." Coran said, conspiringly between Lance and Shiro. He then turned to Pidge and winked. "You with me kid?"

No.

"You seem different." She said instead.

"You mean better." Coran responded easily. "Look, it's my mission to make sure our message really sings."

He then jumped to Lance, went face to face with him and spread his arms out in front of them, as if to show Lance his future success. "Imagine it! Beautiful aliens from here to Vlelar will know your name." And that was just kind of okay with Lance.

Like he'll always be a flirt, it's just who he is and how he makes friends, but... his heart's already kind of set on a certain alien already. He thought as he let his eyes travel to the Princess. 

Keith.

She was playing Keith now.

Lance shook his head to clear his mind of that thought. Coran had kept talking as he sunk into himself and his memories.

"I guess we'll give it a try." Coran had the widest grin on his face, and everyone wondered, if just for a moment, if they'd sold their sole to the devil.

But, against all their beliefs, their show went well. It went unbelievably well. Like they had the audience in the palm of their hands. It was insane. They had people coming up to talk to them, to tell them they'd spread the news of Voltron. 

Now they needed a bigger stage. 

"This is our first stadium, so let's get out there and really win some hearts and minds today!"  And then Bii-Boh-Bi was telling them they had the equivalent of five minutes until show time, and Coran was back as his crazy manager self. 

It was odd to them, how this was becoming the norm now. 

"Voltron on ice?" Hunk asked when he heard Coran's announcement. "Guys I don't know how to ice skate!" 

But it was too late, because the paladins were already being put out onto the ice. 

This was a disaster. In the best way possible though, of course, as Coran hit the lights and the smoke machine and the music. Then Lance, Shiro and 'Keith' were out on the ice and the battle for the defeat of Zarkon was ready to begin. 

If you were to ask the paladins, after this performance, how they got through it, they wouldn't be able to tell you, because they would be just as confused as you are.

"How many of these appearances do we have to put on?" Pidge asked a little bit frustrated. She hasn't been able to use her new Galra tracking tech since Matt had given her the necessary info to create it. 

"I know they seem humiliating, but Coran's ideas are working." Shiro said simply. "Every performance draws more people to the cause."

"Exactly." Lance said from the door as he was forced to sign another persons poster. He liked his fans, he really did, Lance loves the ladies and the ladies love Lance, but his hand was growing numb. Of course though, he knew, one's gotta stay nice to his fans if he wants to keep them. So with a final, smile, wave and 'don't forget to join the Voltron coalition, he was closing the door joining Voltron again. 

"Listen, tonight was great, you're all super stars! But, to go supernova, you gotta push it even further." Coran said pointing at each and every one of them with a crazed smile. 

"A supernova is an exploding star." Pidge said rather moodily, and Coran was beginning to think he'd cast the wrong paladin as Keith.

"And what's brighter than that!?" Coran asked annoyed. Then he turned from PIdge to the rest of the paladins. "Here's the deal. I've worked up very specific personas for each of you. This is going to help the audience connect with each of you on a much deeper level than before!" Coran cheered.

Hunk just had one, damning thought.

Coran's making us kpop stars.

"There's Loverboy Lance-"

"Loverboy Lance?" He asked in shock, at least he wasn't the goofball this time.

"Sceince wizz, Pidge!" He said before turning to Allura, "We've got Lone Wolf Keith. That's cause you're Keith." Coran added on and Allura looked even more confused than before.

Really? Keith was the silent but seriously needed attention type. Craved it, she was pretty sure no lone wolf craved constant attention and re-assurance.

"Hunk, from now on, you'll be humorous Hunk." Okay, Hunk got it, he can be goofy sometimes, but he didn't think humorous captured his true essence. Loving, kind, gentle, strong, supportive, yeah those all worked, but humorous?

Like yeah, but that's so not him, he really didn't like being casted so one dimensionally, especially since Pidge was given all the brains and it wasn't like he was an idiot!

"And finally! Shiro, the Hero!" Coran cheered bowing down in front of Shiro, raising his arms up as if to worship him. 

He then took Shiro's human arm and bent it to everyone could see the muscle. And, not like it wasn't seriously, seriously appreciated, but still people weren't exactly happy with their roles.

Well it didn't matter now, once Coran got an idea in his head, it stuck.

So now they were doing back to back shows that kept on getting, more and more in tense until it reached a point where they were fighting life size holograms, making fart jokes about Hunk and engaging the actual Voltron robot.

Shiro tried to pull Coran to the side in an attempt to try and talk sense into him, if only a little. "Listen, Coran, I think it would go a long way if I could give a speech about how we're trying to unite a front and build a coalition." He began just to have Coran cut him off.

"What? Stop talkin'! You're Shiro, the Hero! Heroes don't speak. You're silent ninja." Coran said.

"Wh- But-"

"Shh! Zip it!" Coran cut him off once more, and Shiro was really speechless, has power really gone to Coran's head like this? "Muscles speak louder than words. Right? It's always been my motto."

"Coran, no it hasn't-"

"Now, put on this super tight shirt and get out there!" Coran cheered and Shiro just looked upon it in disbelief.

"Hey, Coran, I'm having real issues with the science you put in the script." Pidge said, now it was her turn to try and talk sense into Coran, when Shiro could not.

"Oh, it doesn't need to be real science!" Coran cheered happily instead.

"But I hate saying all these made-up scientific words!" Pidge said, putting on what Hunk had deemed the Pretty Pidge eyes, the eyes literally no one could say no to because she was a tiny cute girl and everyone on that ship seemed to have an older brother/sister complex. "Isn't the audience going to be confused"

"Oh, they'd be confused if you used the real words, too!" He said getting in her face and Pidge was in shock, the look wasn't working!

Lance wanted to know, 'could this get any more humiliating?'

The answer was yes, yes it could.

Keith was on a mission going undercover for the Blade of Marmora, and if he said so himself, his first solo mission was going rather excellently. He had been glued to Kolivan's side since he joined, but the Marmora were spread thin, even with the new recruits. 

So Keith was doing solo, and no one seemed to notice a thi-

"Look! It's Keith from Voltron!" And Keith wanted to ram his head into a wall. What the quiznack how could they tell! He was wearing a mask!

"And here comes Lance! Wow!!!!!!" 

Lance?

Keith turned around to see where the kids were pointing and saw a giant screen playing what must have been a live feed from the Voltron coalition. He heard rumors that he was in it, but when he watched the video and saw Allura playing him, he almost blew cover he was laughing so hard. 

And then there was Lance, coming out of Red from a rope, doing an upside down split in the air and Keith had to remind himself to breath.

He knew Lance was flexible from his time training with him in the castle, but this, this was something else! 

He didn't know he could do that!

"Voltron figures for sale! Come collect them all!" Keith heard and he looked to his right, and everything could not be more perfect.

His target was selling Voltron merchandise.

"Hey, tall, dark, and handsome, would you like some genuine Voltron paladins?" The salesman asked.

"Yeah, I'll take one of each, if you don't mind. However, I'm not sure if I have enough on me right now to pay for them all... but." And then Keith did a move he learned from Lance long ago. 

He placed one hand on his hip let his body lean forward, and let his head tilt to the side and removed the top of his mask so the salesman could see his eyes and winked. "But there is a quiet place I know we could go."

"Well then lead the way."

Let's say Keith left that mission successful and with an armful of as many Voltron figures as he could get.

When Kolivan asked why, Keith would not give him a steady answer, but it was okay in the end.

Kolivan let him keep every one for his successful mission.

And no, Keith did not say goodnight and good morning to them every day.

You have no proof otherwise.

"Guys, the recruitment rallies are amazing. Look at all the green on this map!" Coran said, turning from the map to them, and that's really when they saw the crazy in his eyes. Maybe it was time to stop.

"We certainly had our doubts at first, but I have to admit, Coran, your plan is actually working." Allura said hesitantly. 

"Why, thank you, Keith! I like to keep you in character." Coran said easily. "And it's only gonna get better with a few improvements!" Oh god, they wanted it to end.

"More improvements!?"

"Please, no more farts." Hunk said.

"Hear me out. First, it's time Voltron starts to talk. Everyone's dying to hear what the big guy sounds like."

"But Voltron doesn't talk Coran!" Pidge butted in.

"Yeah not like people do!" Lance added on, before wanting to gut himself. Oh no. Maybe no one would get that that sentence implied that Voltron can actually communicate to people? Particularly Keith?

"Not the point!" Coran brushed over them before continuing. "Next, we'll introduce new weapons and new outfits for each of you!"

"Coran, what are you talking about? We only have one more show!" Shiro said and everyone sighed in relief. Oh yes, the final show. They were putting an end to this. "After the big intergalactic broadcast, we're done."

And Coran looked like he was about to have a hernia. "What are you talking about? We're just getting started here! We can't stop now!" 

"Uh, Coran, you feelin' okay?" Hunk was the first to ask followed by Lance.

"Yeah, you seem extra twitchy." 

"You must realize that we need to get back to fighting Zarkon." Allura finished off. 

Ah yes, fighting Zarkon, the point to every show they were making.

"But we are fighting Zarkon!" Coran yelled back. Okay someone needed a nap. "Six nights a week and twice on the astral conflux."

And then poor Bii-bo-bi showed up.

"I don't care if the new laser show is here! What have I told you about walkin' in when I'm talking to the talent?!" And wow, everyone was in shock. No one yells at Bii-bo-bi, they all loved him.

"Coran, we have to do our next event, but, after that, no more shows." Shiro said ending any and all discussions. Coran looked pissed, but he had to let it slide. No use arguing with the talent. They were stupid and didn't know what they needed.

But don't worry, he'd help them out.

He'd do what they needed.

This was it, their final show, and Coran was no where in sight. That should have tipped them off at first, but it didn't. They should have probably paid closer attention to all the other shows before, and then, maybe they'd realize the difference between a hologram and the real thing.

But, that's in the past and now they're dealing with a crazy creature who's the size of Voltron, that wants to kill them all while Coran just got off the good stuff and the thousands of people in the stadium and the people all across the galaxy believe this fight to be fake.

God this sucks.

"I've got an idea. We can use the lights from the hover screen to lure the monster away from the crowd." Shiro said.

"I've got this!" Allura yelled out before soccer kicking the lights from the field, the monster running out of the stadium to follow it.

"Nice going, Keith." Hunk teased just for Allura to groan in annoyance.

But they had bigger issues to deal with. 

"I'm so sorry guys. I shouldn't have trusted that strange Unilu. Looking back, it seems like such an obviously bad decision." Coran said sadly.

"Yeah. Worm pills? Gross." Lance said in disbelief.

"I didn't mean to take us this far off mission." Coran added on. 

"Well, believe it or not, the plan worked." Shiro said, trying to lighten up Coran's guilt, if just a little bit. "Our coalition is bigger than ever."

"What? Really?" Hunk asked confused.

"Yeah, we've come a long way, haven't we."

Chapter Text

"Entire Galra fleets have been mobilized, Zarkon seems to be out looking for Lotor." Kolivan told the group over video chat. It was the first time they had seen him in a while, but even more importantly, Keith was in the video, and it was the first time they'd seen him since he left. He looked more serious, more focused on the mission, a rough and tough soldier that could and would kick your ass kind of guy.

Lance was nearly shaking in his excitement to talk to him, even if it was over video, considering how they were not allowed to call him in any way shape or form. Nearly everyone else was as excited to talk to Keith as Lance was, they each had things they wanted to share, things they wanted to hear back from him, but Shiro stuck to business.

Which, honestly, made no sense to Lance. Wasn't Shiro Keith's like brother-father? Wasn't Keith his protege? Wouldn't he want to talk to Keith the most?

"It's only a matter of time before he gets the Empire back in order." He said to Kolivan. "We need to take advantage of this moment." He added on.

That got everyone's attention, even Keith's, who, for the most part, had remained silent listening and looking upon each of his old team mates with pride. God he missed them all, but to say anything would mean never being invited onto one of these calls again.

And Keith could not have that.

"What are you getting at, Shiro?" Allura asked. 

"Now is the time to assemble the coalition that Voltron has been building." He said easily. "With intelligence gathered by the Blades and the coalition observers, combined with Pidge's Galra tracking software, we now have a detailed map of the Galra Empire." 

Shiro pulled up the map for everyone to see before highlighting certain areas. "I've identified an intermittent line of coalition planets that runs through the territory. If you look closely, there's only one Galra-occupied planet left on that line." Shiro said.

"Naxzela."

"Exactly." Shiro agreed before continuing. "If we free Naxzela and solidify that line, we can cut off all the Galra troops behind it from central command and use our position to defeat them." Shiro said.

"Wow, we can take out a third of the Galra Empire in one fell swoop!" Pidge cheered out. 

"Do we have a plan?" Hunk asked, looking from Shiro, to Keith, to Kolivan then to Allura. God having so many leaders was really screwing with Hunk's head.

"We attack several locations across the region, at once." Shiro explained the plan, and Kolivan was about to sign off when Pidge spoke.

"Wait!" 

"What is it, Green paladin?" Kolivan asked rather cooly.

"Can't we.. talk? Catch up, I have so much I need to tell you Ke-"

"He is busy with the Blade, we do not have time for your insignificant wants and-"

"I found my brother!" Pidge yelled out over Kolivan and it's like it started a wave.

"And we've been making milkshakes!"

"I was high off a worm for months!"

"I had to play you for the same amount of time!"

"I miss you!" And Keith's smile just became more and more genuine and happy and sad with each sentence thrown his way. He opened his mouth to talk, but Kolivan cut the video before he could say anything.

Keith looked to him in shock.

"Why did you do that?" He asked Kolivan.

"The mission comes first, that is something you still must learn. If they will be a distraction again, my right hand or not, you will not be permitted to-"

"No!" Keith begged before grabbing onto Kolivan to stop him from walking away. "I won't say anything or do anything anymore I swear, just let me see them through this. Please, I just need to know they're okay, every once in a while, please." Keith said and Kolivan was in shock.

"You have never shown such passion for anything. It makes me want to remove you from them more."

"If you do that, I will die." Keith said it simply. "Not because I will kill myself, but because with nothing to fight for, to protect, I will not care what happens with my life. Do you understand?" Keith said deliberately.

"Very well, now come. We have a plan to execute."

Pidge and Hunk were to start the mission by striking the satellite relay station orbiting Vantax Five. It would cut all communications between the planet and the Galra. 

The first Zai-forge canon, a new Galra ship, in high-orbit around the planet Teq, will be attacked by coalition air forces led by Matt and Captain Olia. 

Kolivan would then lead a Marmoran strike team against the second cannon, located on the surface of Senfama, which is vulnerable to a covert ground attack. 

If they could take control of those cannons, they could then use Zarkon's own firepower against him. They could do this.

Once they had control of these targets, Galra defenses would be weakened allowing them to take down the remaining Galra-occupied planets behind the coalition wall, thus taking out a third of the Galra's Empire. 

While their forces free those planets, Naxzela will already be under attack by Voltron. 

It would be hard, Voltron needs to neutralize Naxzela quickly, before they could contact Galra headquarters. The entire mission was riding on this moment.

Voltron had to do this, and they knew they could.

There will be an opening to take us on Naxzela. I suggest using it.

Thank you, puppet.

"Ezor, Axca, set a course for the coordinates I'm sending you." Lotor said as they were on the run once more after being kicked off the planet they were just occupying. 

"Where are we going?" Ezor asked.

"Just do as I say." He commanded instead. The less they knew now, the better.

Then Ezor cut off communications with Lotor to call Axca, she knew she needed to convinc her if everything worked out the way they needed it to.

"Ezor, what are you doing?" Axca asked.

"Securing communications to make sure Lotor can't hear us." She told Axca truthfully. Axca, already having talked with Lotor, knew where this was going. "Zarkon called him a criminal. Lotor's on the run. As his generals, that means we're on the chopping bloke."

"I know." Axca said instead, and that put pause in Ezor's speech. "For now, we must stick with him, but when the opportunity comes, the three of us, we must stick together." Axca agreed.

"He just disposed of Narti so quickly, how could we be sure he won't do the same to us?" Ezor asked. Axca was silent for a moment before speaking again, but not to answer Ezor's question.

"Have you talked to Zethrid about this yet?"

"No, I thought you would be the one harder to convince, so I spoke with you first." She said, when Axca just nodded along.

"Very well, call her, tell her that at the right opportunity, I will take my chance, for us and if you think she won't agree-"

"She will." Ezor was quick to cut Axca off, she knew Zethrid like the back of her hand, she knew she would agree.

"Very well, when the time comes, follow my lead."

"Thank you, Axca."

Hunk's favorite part about gathering the coalition was getting the chance to see Shay again before going off into battle. He had to make sure his future-wife-who-didn't-even-know-she-was-going-to-be-his-future-wife was safe and sound and not with someone else before they'd go in a fight. He was happy Allura went with him, don't get him wrong, but he was happier to see Shay.

Shiro went by himself to the blob people he helped evacuate from their disintegrating planet. 

Pidge was in charge of meeting with the Olkari seeing that was where she bonded with her lion, again she went alone seeing as Matt was busy, as were everyone else.

And of course Lance was in charge of coordinating the rebel forces and the Blade to make sure their attacks were timed perfectly, he did have a way with people.

He took them to Daibazaal, he took them to the Galran homeworld, and he told them as such. He was taking them to the rift. 

He needed to do this, just one last time, he needed to at least try it, maybe they would abandon him afterwards, who knows. 

If they did abandon him though, before he could go through everything, then he knew where to go.

If they didn't he'd be proud, if not a little ashamed at their stubbornness. They would need to do so eventually, to save their own skin if he wants his plan to work.

But right now, everything was a toss up.

"Alright Princess, it's time to send out the broadcast." Coran said, when everyone was set and ready.

"Have we secured communications?" Allura asked, double checking for what seemed like the thousandth time. She was nervous.

"Yes, Matt and I used the rebels responder transmission, no one except those we want to, will receive the transmission." Pidge said seriously, a soft, encouraging smile on her face. Allura could do this.

So she started up the ship, and began to send out their message to the hundreds of planets that were a part of the coaltion. 

"Fellow members of the Voltron Coalition, if you are hearing me now, it is because you have pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us in our fight against Zarkon's enslavement of the free people's of the universe. But that enslavement is about to be dealt a crushing blow. The time for a full-scale attack on the Galra Empire is now. Far in the future, when they speak of this day, they will speak of our sacrifice, but they will also remember this as the day that freedom began to overtake tyranny. You all have your missions. You know what to do. Good luck. We'll see you on the other side."

Damn did she know how to give a good speech. She had really come into her role as Princess. 

"When you finish taking down the communications hub, meet us at the rendezvous point." Shiro said before cutting off his communications to Pidge and Hunk.

Pidge turned to Hunk though after it was all over, and asked, "You ready to be a hero for Shay?"

"Pidge, I am already her hero, do not disrespect me, or my wife like that again." And Pidge laughed, a good way to start off what would hopefully be a very successful mission.

Hunk finished taking out the last sentry and turned to notice Pidge struggling to keep the head Galra from triggering the distress signal. Her size was not helping her this time. So with a running jump, Hunk was quick to tell Pidge to get out of the way before body slamming the general into unconsciousness.

"What do you think, Pidge? Am I heroic enough for my wife to brag about?" Hunk asked with a 'rugged' smile and Pidge just snorted in disbelief before going to shut down the base.

"Don't lie to yourself, we all know Shay is better than all of us."

"Too true."

When everything was set and done, they left the base to go to the rendezvous point. Stage one of the mission was done, with no bugs in sight.

"Commander, we detect an entire fleet of coalition ships entering the system!" One of her generals told her.

"Very good. Arm defense systems and prepare the main cannon." She said with ease. This would be easy enough for her, she could handle it where all other's had failed.

Or so she thought.

But these were some of the best fighter fliers in the coalition led by a captain who had fought and won a hundred battles before. 

But there was no way they could get through those shields. 

And now the cannon was firing at them. 

So maybe they were a little bit screwed. 

"Blades, we're in trouble! What's the status of your canon?" Captain Olia asked, but received no response. "Blades!"

"Copy Olia, we're in route." Keith announced running next to Kolivan, their troops to their backs. 

Silent and deadly, that's what Keith had been learning to be and that's why with him and Kolivan at the front, they fought down any resistance with ease. He was truly fighting like a Galra now. 

They had made it just in time though, taking out the commander and all his troops before they were to directly contact the Galra headquarters ruining their whole mission. 

Keith was happy to say Kolivan had given him full control on the planet destroying cannon. 

Nice.

"Now, let's see how this thing works." He said happily, going to start it up.

The Blade were in.

Now it was up to Voltron.

"Alright paladins, we've only got one chance to take Naxzela, so let's make it count." Shiro said hearing the agreement amongst the other paladins.

"We can't take this fire for much longer!" Captain Olia informed the rest of the coalition.

Her right hand then gave her a rather smart suggestion. "See if the Blades can use their cannon to take down the shield." 

"Copy that!" Matt yelled out before going to send the message.

"We need to find cover, now!" Olia said before flying her ship closer to the rubble in hopes of finding a place to hide for the moment. Then she saw it. "All ships line up and take cover behind that asteroid!"

Then the cannon was being fired at their only safe point. God they were going to die here, and they wouldn't be able to complete their mission to help save the universe.

"Incoming cruiser, three o'clock!" Lance yelled out to warn the rest of Voltron. They barely dodged the fire, and then they were being surrounded by explosions with no visible source.

The whole planet was a bomb, ready to go off.

"We're in a minefield! The bombs are cloaked!" Pidge informed them.

"Shield!" Hunk yelled out, bringing their attention once more to the battle.

They blocked the laser fired at them in the knick of time, and then Pidge was talking again. "I can create a map to show us where all the mines are, but there's just too many to safely maneuver through them!" She said. "And with the cruisers covering all possible exits from this minefield, we have no way out!" 

Everyone really wasn't appreciating Pidge's negativity right now. 

"What if I could freeze the mines?!" Allura suggested.

"Then we could fly out of here before they explode!" Lance agreed. 

"Alright, that sounds like a plan." Shiro agreed. Then he dropped Voltrons shield and split the lions apart so Allura could get to work in Blue as the other's covered her.

She was a genius. 

Then they were flying out of there, forming Voltron once more to help them attack the planet, and the remaining battle cruisers once more, this time, without the stress of the mines.

"Great work team, let's secure Naxzela."

It didn't work, and he was pissed. He had the opportunity to go there, and even though it upset him greatly, he knew that his generals will abandon him any minute now, just like he'd asked Axca to do.

He hoped he wouldn't have to go to them so early on, but it looks unavoidable now, seeing as his plans failed, and he had no more quintessence left.

"He's gonna turn on us as soon as it's in his best interest." Zethrid said, and it took everything Axca had to remain quiet. She knew Lotor better than anyone, he had been there when she had first run away from home, from her father and sister, not happy with the work they were doing against Zarkon, hoping to do her own part.

She had found him then, and Lotor had promised her a far better world for the half-breed Galra, like her, her sister, and her father.

And he had yet to disappoint.

This, in her opinion, was true betrayal, but she would do it anyway, because it is what he asked of her. 

It was time.

"For Narti." She said, before stunning Lotor. Firing the gun at him as she looked him in the eye had to be one of the hardest things she had ever done.

"Now, help me bind him quick, before he wakes up."

Keith really wished there was a class somewhere on detecting Galra cannons using a Galra cannon. Just as he was about to piss off and see if someone else had better luck, he found it. 

"Got'cha!" He cheered, hoping the rebel fighters up there were still kicking as he charged, then fired the cannon.

Matt had never, in his life, contemplated kissing Keith. He, while attracted to literally everything, found Keith to be a little too much for him, but Matt, in this moment, without a doubt, was ready to marry him.

The shield was down, Keith had saved their ass. 

"Now let's take over this cruiser!"

They got it. "Ready to provide the Taujeerians with cover." Keith said, when Coran announced their victory.

"Cannon acquired. Ready to provide backup." Olia confirmed.

"Copy that. Coalition, you are clear to begin!" Coran yelled out as the rest of the army Voltron brought along with them began their attacks to free a whole Third of the Galra Empire. And Coran watched in awe as more planets went from the purple of Galran occupation, to the green of a new, freed planet.

Lotor was coming to with is hands tied behind his back in his own ship. He knew it was coming, but it didn't hurt any less to know that he was abandoned.

He launched Zethrid from his ship, knowing Axca and Ezor would save her, before taking his ship and flying away.

"What do we do now?" Ezor asked.

"There's still one option left."

The communications system was back online, the distress signals were going out to the Galra, but it was too late. 

Voltron just about secured Naxzela, or at least, they thought so.

Haggar was ready for them.

Chapter Text

"Wait, there's another Galra Cruiser coming to Naxzela." Coran warned the cheering paladins, because of course, every piece of good news is accompanied by the bad.

"Let me see if I can get a line on the battle cruiser!" Matt said from his position on the ship the rebels had taken over. But it wasn't even seconds after he said that when the whole ship shut down. What was this?

"Zaiforge cannon Senfama, are you still operational?" Matt yelled out over the coms. This was bad. 

"Negative." Keith said, as the ship shut down around them. Great, now what were they going to do?

"The incoming battle cruiser must have shut them down remotely." Coran explained and Keith sighed in defeat. 

"Sorry, Shiro. That's it for artillery support." He yelled out. "What should we do about that cruiser?" He added on when he saw that Kolivan was allowing Keith this small bit of leadership.

"That cruiser's gonna be too late. Naxzela's almost secure." Shiro said into the coms, but that didn't mean anything to Keith. He cut off communication to look towards Kolivan. 

"We will hold the base and wait for further instructions, understood?" He asked and Keith gave a steady nod. 

"I'm going to guard the outside, anyone else?" He asked, and at a nod, Kolivan followed him out.

"This has been the most devastating attack on the Galra empire in the last 10,000 years." One of the generals said to Haggar. 

"We left ourselves vulnerable. Now, we face overwhelming resistance." The other added on. "Do we attack now, or should we wait for orders from Emperor Zarkon?" The second general asked. 

"Lord Zarkon is busy leading the hunt for Lotor." Haggar dismissed. She was basically running the Empire now anyways. "We can handle this on our own. Stay on course for Naxzela."

"Sire, one of our deep space beacons just registered some activity. It's not far from our position. I could send a scout." A female officer told Zarkon.

"It's Lotor. All fleets head for that beacon."

He just wanted to take a nap.

He had just escaped and now when he was taking a moment to himself, his father was already sending people to capture him. And based on who was there now, he was sending a lot of them, and Lotor guessed that his father might also make an appearance.

He needed an out now, before they could show up.

Good thing he knew how to fly.

But how was he going to dodge whole cruisers on his own? Looks like he needs to go to an unstable star, with his flying skill and the solar flares, he's sure he could make it out alive, safely.

It was risky, but he knew his ship could handle it, if only he could. 

He watched his father's troops pull back, thus he pulled back as well, he survived for now, it's time he made contact with his only way out.

"Stop the ship and hold this position. We're close enough to Naxzela now." Haggar commanded the troops before going to walk between them.

"Close enough for what? Voltron has captured the planet. There's no way for us to attack from this distance." The male general argued. 

"We need to gather every available ship and get ready for the fight of our lives." The female general added on. But Haggar just ignored them and made her way down to the belly of the ship. It was time to activate her own plan. 

She turned to her personal druid and said, "Make sure no one disturbs my ritual until Naxzela is destroyed." She then entered the room and closed the door behind her. 

With her chosen druids Haggar called forth the dark magic she needed to make her spell work.

Something was happening to the planet and Lance did not like it. It started off as an Earthquake, and then the planet was changing, pillars were emerging from its core.

They needed to get out of there now. "Pidge plot a course for our escape!" Lance commanded.

"NO! We need to know what these things are!" Shiro argued.

"Yeah, and we can do that from a safe distance from the planet!" Lance argued back.

"Stand down!" Lance flinched, he kept on forgetting that Shiro wasn't Keith and wouldn't appreciate his commands as much. And for some reason, that set Lance's blood on fire.

Then they were caged on the planet, and Lance went against everything that told him to yell out an 'I told you so!' 

"Do you feel that? That wave of Darkness?" Allura asked in despair. She was always the one most in tune with quintessence. She would know best.

And then everyone could feel it, they couldn't move Voltron. The planets gravity was pulling down on them so hard it was making moving impossible. 

"We have to get out of here!" Shiro yelled out. "If we stay here, we'll be crushed. Everyone, we have to focus! Give everything you've got and maybe we can fight through this energy field." 

Then using their combined effort they tried to launch into the energy field, but the gravity was just too much, and they were being crushed into the planet.

"Maybe if we go to the planets surface, Hunk and I can figure out a way to destroy this energy field!" Pidge suggested.

"That sounds good, except for the zillion robot dudes still kickin' around down there." Lance said bringing everyone's attention to the oncoming sentries.

"We're gonna have to stay in tight formation." Shiro said. "Watch each other's backs, lets move!" He said before abandoning his seat in Voltron. Everyone was quick to join, dodging all the laser fire as they went.

"Pidge and Hunk, do your thing and do it fast!" Shiro instructed. 

"We can't detect any part of the energy core that could be causing all of this!" Pidge informed them.

"Then we'll need to follow it down to the core!" Allura told Pidge when Hunk finally found a way to open the door leading to the central hub of the planet.

"It's open, let's go!" Hunk informed the paladins. Hunk didn't think he'd ever get used to the feeling of free falling.

"What is that?" Hunk asked when they reached the core of the planet. 

"This is Zarkon's witch's doing." Allura exclaimed in annoyance. "The energy I felt... this must be the source."

"Allura, this facility..." Shiro said gaining her attention, and directing it to the ceiling. "It looks Altean." 

"I'm afraid you're correct, Shiro." Allura said sadly. "This is a decommissioned Altean terraforming plant." She explained walking closer to the core.

"Somehow, the witch has been able to reactivate it remotely." She said looking at it more closely.

"Can you shut it down?" Shiro asked.

"I can try." She said before going to reach out to it with her own essence, but then it started to backfire and drain her. God she was in so much pain. Everyone went to help her stand though, giving the her energy so she would not collapse. 

When it finally freed her, Lance was quick to help her up, he cradled her quickly in his arms and asked, "Are you okay?" 

"It's too powerful." Allura said before brushing off Lance's help and Lance felt kind of cold at that. He felt like that didn't go the way he wanted it to go.

Lance, are you okay?

We did it, we are a good team. 

Easy there sharp shooter, I got'cha. 

Ah, so that's why it didn't feel quite right. And then Hunk got everyone's attention.

"This soil is so weird." Hunk said. "It's so white and powdery, like ground-up rocks or earth..." And then Hunk was examining it and realized it was made of- "HEXIMITE!"

Then they were under laser fire once more, they needed to get out of there. 

"What's that?" Lance yelled out.

"The whole planet's a bomb, one that's big enough to wipe out several solar systems!" Pidge yelled out, and Lance missed for once in his life, in shock.

"It's under increasing pressure, and when the pressure reaches a certain point, it's going to explode." Hunk explained. God they were trapped on a bomb.

A bomb.

"How long do we have?" Shiro asked.

"Maybe 20 minutes!"  Hunk said.

"We have to get off this planet and warn everyone!"  Lance exclaimed taking out another sentry.

"Anyone within ten solar systems of us is going to get blown to pieces." Hunk said, and it was finally starting to hit everyone.

"They could take out Voltron the rebels, and the Blade of Marmora in one fell swoop." Allura explained.

They could all die without ever getting home again, without completing their mission, without seeing their family again.

They ran out of there faster than ever before.

Keith felt uneasy. This wasn't right, sitting there doing nothing, especially since Voltron hasn't gotten in contact with them in a while. "Coran are there any targets that need support?" Keith asked.

Something was wrong, he knew it.

"I haven't heard of anyone needing help." Coran said simply looking around the map, from where he was sitting, everything looked okay. "And that Galra fleet heading towards Naxzela stopped."

Keith went stiff, something was wrong. Why would it stop?

"Stopped?" He asked.

"Yes. Quite a distance away, too." Coran informed Keith, and at that Kolivan became stiff, too. He was beginning to realize something wasn't right, as well.

"Perhaps the Galra decided it's too well-fortified to attack?" Kolivan suggested, but Keith knew the galra, far more than people thought, they'd never give up.

"'Victory or death' is the Galra way. They never stop attacking." Keith replied quickly. He was trying to work his mind a mile a minute, and it just wasn't working. 

Why would they stop by Naxzela, surely Voltron had already destroyed the pla-

"Voltron." He said in realization. They were in trouble. "Shiro, can you hear me? Shiro?! Lance?!" Keith yelled out hoping beyond hope someone would answer.

But no one was answering. 

"Something's wrong." He said before turning to Kolivan. "I need a ship, now."

"Go." He said simply. 

"Get everyone off this planet, something doesn't feel right." Keith said, and with a final nod from Kolivan, Keith was running to take over a Galra ship.

"Matt, something's wrong. I can't reach Voltron." Matt shook himself out of his shock though at being directly addressed.

"Keith? What do you mean?"  And then Matt registered that he was right, Matt hadn't heard from Voltron either. "We can fly to Naxzela to check on'em." 

"No, I need your help." Keith said, once he had the plan all laid out in his head, he knew what was needed to be done. "I can't explain why, but I know we need to attack that fleet."

Welcome back my paladin, you're truly coming into yourself.

"Black what's going on?"

Get out of here, you will perish- 

"Not if I can stop it and save all of you-"

You're our only hope.

"I thought the fleet had stopped." Matt said in confusion to Keith's call, looking around to see the rest of his troops ready for action.

"It has... but we're afraid it has something to do with Voltron- no I know it's got something to do with Voltron." Keith explained, and with a steadying nod, Matt tell everyone to get to their ships. They've got a cruiser to destroy. 

"We're heading out now."

"Copy that. It's good to have you on board." Keith said happily. 

They'll be out of the blast rang.

"The blast?"

"I'm coming too! It might take me a minute, you know since I'm on the other side of the galaxy, and I don't have enough of Allura's energy left to work the teledov." Coran said.

"No! Stay in position, we might need you there!" Keith said, this was going to get really bad really fast, and Keith did not need Coran in the mix.

Lotor was connected to the Galra net, and he was hearing all the people who were coming to find him to kill him, then he heard it.

There would be a massive explosion by the planet Naxzela and he knew his last saving hope was currently there, fighting a battle.

God he was really about to save their lives, huh? Good thing, too. He did need something to make them believe he was "good" now.

God, he needed to get there fast.

"Coran? Keith? Matt? Do you copy?" Shiro asked the moment he got back to Voltron. "Anyone? Hello! We've lost communications, Pidge can you boost our signal?"

Pidge was trying her best but there was just too much electrostatic repulsion!

Lance got into his lion, when he heard Red trying to call to him. 

He's coming.

Oh God, Keith was on his way here? Now? He was going to die too! No!

"Seventeen minutes left!" Hunk yelled out in warning.

"We have to get off this planet immediately." Allura yelled out, stating the obvious. She was the first to move, then Hunk, and together Voltron was standing once more, but then they were falling quickly, down to the core as the planet began to collapse around them.

They could barely fly out when they were higher up earlier, and now, they're at the core? They were screwed. Come on Lance, motivational speech, they needed optimism here.

"Listen. We've come through a lot as Voltron. We just have to think." Shiro said, yeah like that'd work! 

Wait!

"Allura!" Lance called out, making a direct call to her from Red. When he got her attention she continued. "You felt the dark energy when it first started. You have a connection to this magic. I know you can get us out of this somehow. We all saw what you did on the Balmera and how you power the castle."

"I- I don't know. I haven't been trained." Allura tried to explain.

"No one trained you to save the Balmera, but you did that." Lance explained. He needed to get through her thick skull, he knew, deep in his bones, that Allura could get them out of there, and he needed her to know as well. "I know you can do it. There's a reason the Blue Lion chose you."

What has he always wanted to be told?

"You're the one who brought everyone together. You can do this. Every moment we've had together, they've all led to this day. This is your destiny, and in spite of being a leg, you are the Heart of Voltron." Lance said, adding a bit of a laugh at the end to add more to his speech. To add more.

"Okay, I'll try."  And then Allura took a deep breath and explored the magic she felt in the planet further, the magic she felt in the Blue lion, in Voltron, it was an alchemy she remembered, but had never had the chance to accomplish. 

"Help me Father." She said, and it was like a flood gate opened, she could feel everything, she knew what she was doing was right.

Then they were launching out of the Planet's core and through the ceiling of the barrier. They were going to make it out of there, if it's the last thing she did.

"Thank you, Lance." Allura said, a softness in her voice she wasn't used to using around the boy. Oh no, what was this?

"That was all you." Lance said, and Allura felt herself melt back into her seat, completely drained, but needing to keep pushing forward. 

They had a whole galaxy to evacuate. 

"We still need to defuse that bomb!" Hunk was quick to remind them, then Shiro was making a call.

"Keith, can you hear me?" Shiro yelled out, and Keith was quick to create a video link between the two of them. 

"Shiro! Where are you? Is everything okay?" He asked. 

"Not for long if we don't stop Zarkon's witch." Shiro explained. "She must be aboard that battle cruiser." And Keith nodded along, it wasn't something he didn't already know.

"I know Shiro, I'm heading there now." Keith informed them. "And I've brought some back up." He said, tuning in the other rebel fighters to the video call. 

"Rebel squad is on route!" Olia cheered.

"Good to have Votlron back in the fight!" Matt agreed. 

And together they were flying at the cruiser when Olia saw it. It looked like a weapon, but it was a weapon like they'd never seen before. But they didn't get a chance to think about it, as they were quickly being put under heavy fire.

Matt finally got a front row view of Keith flying, and might he just say, Pidge was right. 

That boy could fly. 

No wonder we was considered the worlds- no, Universe's best fighter pilot.

"Coran you need to get as far away from Naxzela as possible. Pick up any members of the coalition who are nearby, but go!" Shiro informed him. 

"What's happening!" He asked.

"Naxzela is a bomb, and it's about to go off!" Allura explained to Coran's horror.

"But what about you?" Coran asked in dismay.

"We'll stop it if we can, but we need you to do this! Please!" Allura pleaded with Coran. 

"Yes, Princess."

There was a shield around the weapon. There was no way they could take down the weapon without taking out the shield. God then the bomb would go off.

They needed to get rid of this shield, now, but how?

Oh God, Keith knew how, and his ship was already groaning, and the planet was exploding, and Lance was...

"We're not gonna make it!" 

Lance wasn't gonna make it, none of them were. His one family wasn't going to survive this. Keith was going to lose them all if he didn't do this.

His life for theirs, for all of them.

He would die happily then. 

"We'll never penetrate those shields!" Matt said, and it was the first time he got to look at Keith's face and Matt saw the conflict flash through his eyes before resignation took place.

"Maybe not with our weapons. When it comes down, get ready to fire." He said before shutting down his video call with Matt, before sending out a voice call, praying above all else the person would answer.

Lance heard the call, it was from an insignificant Galra ship, a voice call, he almost didn't answer it, he was running for his life, but something told him to pick it up.

"Sharpshooter?"

"Samurai!?" Lance asked in disbelief. "Keith why are you calling m-"

"I should have done it. Before I left, I should have done it." And Lance's blood ran cold. This sounded like a goodbye. Lance just remembered the feeling of Keith's forehead against him, a warm comfort Lance was only beginning to register he would never feel again.

"Keith, what are you talking about, what are-"

"I should have kissed you..." 

Oh no.

"But, since I don't think I'll be able to, just promise me this instead..." And then Lance heard Keith's ship start up on the other end.

"Keith, what are you doing?" He heard Matt yell out. 

"Get home, and stay safe. For your family, for me."

"Keith, No!" Matt yelled out.

"Keith stop, please!" Lance asked, and now he was crying, oh god he was crying real tears, he was about to do something. Keith was about to do something that would probably kill him just to save the rest of them.

"You know, I always wanted to go to the beach." 

"You can come with me, you know... come home with me and see the beach! Yeah, I'm sure my Mom would love you! She-"

"I've got to go, Lance. Stay alive, Sharpshooter."

"NO!" Lance screamed out as he heard it, the explosion of the weapon, oh god, Keith, he must have flown into it, he killed himself so they could breath another day. 

Lance couldn't fly anymore he felt himself go numb in his lion.

He was going to puke oh god, oh god, oh god.

The planet didn't explode, Keith succeeded.

"Good work, Keith." Shiro said, and Lance wanted to wail out that Keith wouldn't answer.

"It wasn't me." And Lance wanted to choke, it was Keith. He was alive. How? "It was Lotor. The cannon on his ship was the only thing powerful enough to take down that shield." Keith explained.

What?

Lotor was here? How. 

And then the cruiser was flying away and Lotor remained.

"Attention, Paladins of Voltron and rebel fighters." His voice called out to every ship that had fought alongside Voltron. "I know we've had our differences in the past, but I think it is time we had a discussion." 

Chapter Text

"You are half-galra?" Was the first sentence Lotor said when he gazed upon the soldier he had inadvertently saved when saving Voltron. He did not know anything about this creature, except that he was very much like him. 

"And?" He asked, approaching his once enemy uneasily. Lotor had promised he would go with Keith willingly, but Keith still wanted to be cautious as he placed his hands in cuffs. 

"I just did not realize more of us were out there." He said easily looking down on the boys head. His hair was fluffy, rather nice if he did say so himself. Keith just stepped back to look at Lotor uneasily when he saw his odd expression.

"What does that mean?" He asked, looking Lotor up and down, before bringing him back towards the central command of his ship.

"I collect people like us. Half-Galra have to stick together." He said rather easily, as he got into the main deck of the ship he was flying in before. He was comfortable here it seemed.

"So you're half-galra?" Keith asked, looking quickly over the ships commands before taking the pilot seat.

"Yes, might I suggest, I drive though. This ship was built specifically to me so it might be difficult to fl-" And Lotor might as well bite his tongue, because under Keith's hands the ship moved with ease, anchoring another free, undamaged Galra fighter cruiser from space to it, before going to where he presumed Voltron was. "How did you-"

"I have yet to meet a ship I can't fly." He said rather easily.

"Now I am even more confused with your upbringing than before. I surely would have collected you. You are a rebel fighter, half-galra, the best pilot I've seen out there, and now here you are bringing me to imprisonment with my hopeful allies. Where were you?" He asked, a purr to his tone that made Keith rather uneasy.

"Somewhere the Galra haven't reached yet." Keith said bitterly. 

"Ah, but your existence does not support that claim. Come now boy, and humor me. My mother's planet no longer exists, what about yours." He asked the creature that seemed to be flying his ship as well as he ever could.

When he did not answer, Lotor just kept talking.

"You know, my mother's planet was Altea, that's why my ship looks like this. I'm not sure if you've ever heard of it, since it's been gone for-"

"10,000 years, yeah I know. Allura's going to get a kick out of this." Keith said before turning away from the controls, putting his mask on as he went. "We're here." He told Lotor to his confusion. Lotor looked out the window, and in the distance saw the Altean Castle Ship coming closer to them. They weren't there, yet, but the little soldier was already leaving.

"And where do you think you're going?" Lotor asked, watching as the soldier readied himself to be launched into open space.

"Back to my crew, my mission with you ends here." He said simply.

"Do I at least get a name?" Lotor asked, but then he just jumped out, and Lotor had the pleasure of watching him fly through space, unhooking the Galra fighter cruiser from Lotor's own ship, and flying away.

He was rather put out if he were honest, and before he could even move to take control over his own ship, the Castle Ship was taking control, using a hook to reel him in like one would powerless ships in open space.

He was greeted by a pretty boy sobbing in blue paladin armor. Maybe this was the paladin that had impressed him all those months ago?

"Keith?!" The boy sobbed out, and Lotor let out a smile. He could play this game.

"So that was his name. What a fine little half-galra you have found for yourselves. If I had known he'd existed, he would have been wearing my armor a long time ago." Lotor said looking back towards the ship before looking to the Blue paladin once more. 

Nothing could have prepared him for the fast approaching butt of a gun coming at his head. 

And then he was out cold.

Lance got back to the castle and immediately went to the loading dock where he knew Keith would be when he dropped Lotor off as a castle prisoner. He was glad he knew the castle so well because he could barely see through his tears. Everyone saw him running though and they were so, so confused. Like they'd all almost died, yeah, and Keith would be dropping Lotor off, yeah, but that didn't warrant the sobs wrecking Lance's body.

By the time they'd followed Lance into the docking room, they saw him sobbing just as violently as before, but this time, there was an unconscious Lotor at his feet.

"Detain him!" Allura commanded to Hunk, Matt, and Shiro who were quick to follow her orders, then Allura and Pidge were making their way to Lance. Pidge went straight to the Galra ship, looking for the face she knew wouldn't be there, but hoped would.

Allura looked to Pidge who just shook her head. "He's not here." 

"Of course he's not! That selfish, selfish bastard." Lance said between heaving sobs. Lance really didn't know why this hurt him so damned much. He loved everyone on Voltron equally, they'd all been to death's door before, so why was this one so terrible for him?

"Lance?" Allura's sweet voice asked, and when she placed her hand on his shoulder, he turned numbly into her shoulder and just let her hold him as he cried.

This was terrible, he normally would have loved to have Allura embracing him, holding him as tenderly as she was now, but he was too busy feeling so many things about Keith. Stupid, stupid Keith. Stupid, stupid Keith who calls him to talk to him one last time. Stupid, Stupid Keith who's last phone call was him.

Stupid, stupid Keith who would have died letting Lance know he would have... he would have...

Stupid, stupid Keith.

Lance hated him.

So why did it hurt so much?

After they had gotten Lotor safely tucked away into the prison cells on the castle ship, Matt told team Voltron what happened.

Or more importantly, he told them how he saw Keith, about to throw his ship into the shield that held the witches charging the planet-bomb Naxzela. He was telling them how he saw Keith's ship launch itself with reckless abandon at the shield that would have killed him, in hopes that his death would allow them the chance they needed to save themselves.

The reactions were what was to be expected. Allura was closest to Lance, in the way that she was sobbing heavy, ugly tears. She could have lost her best friend, the closest thing she'd ever had to a brother, hell the closest person to her outside Coran, who at this point was her last link to Altea, her father, her family, her everything. She had thrown herself into said man who holding back his own tears. 

Pidge was clutching at her own hair, tears slipping past her eyes as she had just shook her head back and forth, as if to shake the thought from her head. Soft "no"s were coming from her mouth. 

Hunk sat down in a huff, he had pulled into himself, and had looked at each one of the paladins as if to ask them if this was their new reality. If Keith killing himself for them, if that had almost happened. If they would be living in a Keith-less world if Lotor was just seconds late.

It didn't feel real.

Shiro was the one that, surprisingly, showed the least amount of emotion. He was stoic, but everyone could see the bruises he was putting inflicting onto his arm, just holding himself steady. He was mourning in his own way.

Lance, after having cried into Allura's shoulder, had gone rather comatose, in a way. He didn't do anything, he had sat there, and looked into the void, and the void looked back.

Hunk knew something was wrong with Lance. Hell something was wrong with all of them! Keith just tried to kill himself, and none of them were the wiser.

That is, except Lance.

Hunk think Lance knew about it, and that was why he was already sobbing when they met to go and meet Keith, who was not even there. 

Hunk really wanted to give Lance space, but he was curious, and he knows that Lance hates being alone. So maybe this is Hunk being a good friend, and not selfishly wanting to know why.

He knocked, but let himself in anyways when Lance didn't respond. He walked into the room to see Lance wasn't there. Hunk was confused, took a step out of the room, then let his gaze drift next door from Lance's room, to Keith's.

He entered this time without knocking, and wasn't shocked to see Lance on Keith's bed, his jacket tossed to the side, and Keith's wrapped around his shoulders. Something was wrong here, something was seriously, seriously wrong.

"Lance..." Hunk said, voice strained as he went to sit down next to him on Keith's bed. He saw the turmoil in Lance's eyes, he needed to get him to open up. He needed to help. "Lance, please, please..." He said, he put his arms around Lance's shoulders and pulled him into his side. Hunk knew he was a good cuddle partner, he knew Lance needed this.

"You knew... didn't you?" Hunk said, more than asked.

"He called me, before he did it." Lance said, Hunk only had a moment, to breath out an 'oh god' before Lance kept going.

"He- He called me, not on video, because, I-I think he didn't want me to see the actual impact. I-I, oh god Hunk, he..." And Lance was crying again, putting his head into Hunk's shoulder. "He called me as he was running into the shield, he said he regretted not... not kissing... not..." And Lance couldn't move on, couldn't continue.

"You were his last call before he was to kill himself, he needed to hear you one last time before going..." Hunk trailed off, feeling Lance nod into his shoulder. "He said he regretted not kissing...you?" 

Hunk was freaking out a little. When did this happen? When did Keith get the chance to make Lance like this? Lance was a mess, a right mess and Hunk understood, his right hand had nearly killed himself and had called Lance when it was happen-

"Hunk, I'm so confused." Lance seemed to whisper.

"Lance, do you...?" Hunk whispered just as quietly. Could Lance... it would make sense for Lance to feel this way after Keith tried to kill himself if-

"Hunk, I don't know... oh god, I just don't know..." He said, but Hunk just stayed quiet. "I wanted him, too. I wanted him to..." 

And Lance had cried himself to sleep, wearing Keith's jacket, on Keith's bed and Hunk had never felt such sorrow and anger before in his life.

This was simply unfair.

Maybe in another life, in another reality, maybe they'd meet at school and be normal kids, maybe Lance would have slowly gotten to this point through coffee shop 'study dates' not like this.

Keith had set in the coordinates to his next meeting location with the Blade, he got intel on his next mission a while ago. He was now letting the ship fly on auto-pilot allowing everything to catch up to him.

He had almost died today, he let that truth sink in. Not only had he almost died, he was the one that caused his brush with death. His last words would have been 'Stay alive, Sharpshooter,' and he wouldn't have regretted it. But as the deep dark recesses of his mind began to remind him of the panic he had felt in that moment, he let himself do something he had not done in a long while.

He cried.

Ugly, wet, disgusting tears.

But no one was there to hear him. So when the time came, he wiped his own eyes, took the ship off auto-pilot and flew to his desired destination and let the damning thought ring through his head the whole way there.

If it meant their safety, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

But not even an ex-paladin suicide attempt could stop Voltron. The universe needed them more, and it's not like Keith was dead... he'd just tried to die.

Yeah no one was taking it all too well, but just because the Galran Empire just lost a thirds of it's territory doesn't mean they'd just give up and die.

So it was back to missions, this time using Lotor's insight to strike preemptively allowing Voltron to always have the upper hand. This time they were infiltrating some moon to take out a Galra base that was making more advanced sentries. Destroying this base would mean the Galra wouldn't be able to resupply their bases and ships for months. It would be a serious victory for Voltron.

"And we're sure this isn't a trap?" Lance asked.

"All the intel's checked out so far." Shiro said, and sure, he was right, this was the 6th mission they'd done using Lotor's intel, doesn't mean Lance trusts his word. Lance kind of hates the guy if he's being honest.

Sure, maybe Lance should like the guy, give him the benefit of the doubt seeing as he'd saved Keith's life, but Lance just couldn't bring himself to like him.  

Maybe it's the way they started off. Who knows?

Maybe Lance just knows what an ass hat looks like.

And now Lava was at their heel and they were trapped in a dead end, trying to destroy said Galra base. They formed Voltron quickly to escape the Lava, using it's sword to cut their way through the top and into the base.

So what if the mission got a little risky, they'd successfully destroyed the factory, all is well that ends well.

Doesn't mean Lance trusts Lotor. 

"Going on missions is a lot easier when someone gives you the information you need before you get there." Hunk said, starting the conversation he knew they were bound to have. Starting the conversation they needed to have. Lotor has helped them succeed on 7 missions now, that was, in his book, a rather significant number, and he'd saved Keith's life. Did Hunk truly trust Lotor, no, but was he willing to give him a chance? Willing to let him out of his prison cell?

After 7 successful missions and a still breathing Keith, of course he was. He just hoped everyone else was on the same page.

"There's no doubt about it, we haven't encountered a single problem." Shiro added on. 

"I must admit, we took down a vital target today." Allura agreed, though not as readily as Shiro. 

"It may be time to consider taking the next step." Shiro pushed forward, and Hunk watched as Allura placed her elbows on her knees and looked to the floor rather haunted.

"I'm still not comfortable with this. It just doesn't feel right." She said finally. Hunk knew where Lotor stood. Pidge and Lance trusted him as far as they could throw him, while he and Shiro were willing to give him the opportunity to succeed.

Allura was the deciding vote, and she was neutral. 

And this was a neutrality Shiro knew he could win.

"Your intel checked out."

"You still feign surprise." Lotor was quick to respond. "All of the information I've given, proved useful. Every target I've provided, easily dispatched. Yet, you still look at me-"

"As if you were the leader of the most bloodthirsty race of murderers this universe has ever known." Allura chimed in. Keith had done a lot to change her perception on half-galra and the galra in general, but that did not change the fact that Allura still hated the royal family with a vengeance. But God he was useful.

And not exactly ugly.

"Can people not change?" He asked, knowing how the Half-Galra Pilot, Keith, seemed to have her favor. "Is it so hard to believe that I wish to return the Galra Empire to a bygone era of peace?" He asked.

And it was the truth. 

His people had been scrounging the universe for this god forsaken Quintessence for years, and he was now perfectly positioned to obtain it, or at least research it. Allura was a full-blooded altean, unlike himself, she knew her culture, their culture, she remembered it. She was the daughter of a great alchemist, just like he was the son of one.

They could bring peace, true peace, to the universe together. Couldn't she get that through her thick skull?

"Our fathers were friends once, long ago. There must be hope for us." He pleaded with her. 

Shiro looked once to Allura's hard eyes and sighed. "I guess we- she still needs convincing." He said before finally turning to look at Lotor.

"The facts speak for themselves. The Galra Empire is completely reliant on quintessence." He said, he needed to explain everything to them while he had their attention. He was not given this opportunity before once in his week long, two week capture, he would not let it go to waste. 

"Serve that need peacefully, and you have a complete paradigm shift, a new dawn for the old empire." He pleaded.

"And you're the man to make this happen?" She asked in mild disbelief. Good, he at least had her on the hook now.

"My plan from the beginning has been to find a way to harvest quintessence without resorting to the barbarism of the Komar. Extracting quintessence from entire planets at the cost of every living thing? I think not." 

And yet she still looked angry.

How much more back and forth needed to be done before she realized he spoke true. He just wanted a way to give the Empire their energy source without wiping out entire civilizations. Can't she see he needs her help for this, without them, he'd be doomed. He has everything to lose, why would he double cross them.

"All I ask is to be judged by my actions rather than your preconceptions of my race." He said finally. Maybe with this, they could move forward, finally. "If that is beyond you, maybe you should just finish me and get it over with."

Her silence spoke volumes.

"Clearly, Princess, you are not ready to end this war." 

"Princess, the meetings about to start." Lance said coming into the bridge of the ship, where he knew Allura to be. He entered and made his way to her podium as he watched her examine file after file in front of her.

"Just a second. If I'm expected to lead this, I need to know what I'm talking about." She said without removing her eyes from the information in front of her. 

"Yeah, but no one expects you to memorize everything." Lance said easily looking from the information to the Princess with a simple shrug. "You have thousands of planets to defend, millions of cultures to memorize, I don't think they'll be too mad if you haven't memorized everything about everyone."

Allura just turned to him, and gave him a rather stand-off-ish look that had Lance feeling both reprimanded and annoyed. It was a weird mix of emotions.

He was only trying to help. 

Before he could defend himself though, Pidge sent a message to Allura alerting her that everyone was ready. This was going to be a big meeting.

The whole league of Voltron supporters, their leaders would all be in a video call, that meant the Blade of Marmora would be there too, which meant they'd see Keith, but at the same time, they wouldn't be able to say anything to him because of the professional environment.

Lance would just have to live with looking him over through the video, making sure he was still breathing.

Oh his poor heart.

"But we can not grow complacent." Allura said, shaking Lance out of his observations. Keith looked safe, sad, but at least he was still breathing. It was time for him to pay attention to the meeting again. 

"The rebel coalition is winning because of you, Princess Allura." One of the Leaders said, sucking up to her rather obviously. "You and Voltron."

He added on then went into a spewl that none of them were truly interested in, but he went on anyways. 

"This bid for liberty is only possible because of all of our sacrifices. And we still have a long way to go before the entire universe is free." Allura placated quickly before moving on.  "We will reconvene soon. Until then." She said, before ending the call. 

Then they were back talking only with their closest ally, the Blade. Allura went to go and say something, anything, she wanted to reprimand Keith, yell and scream at him for what he did, but at the same time she wanted to hug him and ask if he was okay.

They all wanted to do it, and before any of them could do it, Shiro was talking, and talking business only.

How rude.

"The information we've received from Lotor has consistently checked out." Kolivan confirmed Shiro's question. Right. Business.

"With all these successful missions taking place in such a short period of time, it won't be long before the Galra realize we're using inside information." Pidge said quickly. If they were going to use this information to the best of their capabilities, they shouldn't rely on it so often as to draw attention to them. 

"That's true." Kolivan agreed. "We should expect the enemy to change protocol soon."

"Then we need to act fast and hit as many targets as possible." Lance said looking between Keith and Allura. 

Man would he always be stuck in between the two?

"We'll talk to Lotor and see if there's anything else he can give us." Shiro said, but that made Lance very uneasy.

"I can't stop thinking that we might be an unwitting part of a much larger ulterior motive." Allura said looking to Shiro before talking back to the screen. "Keith, what was your read on him?" She asked instead.   

Yes, keep it strictly business, then he could stay there longer.

"I believe he genuinely wants to change the Empire, to at least make it more inclusive. He is like me, half-Galra, kept on sprouting none-sense about how we should stick together in the changing Empire. I think he offered me a job as his general." Keith said, but with a warning glare from Kolivan, he finished off his assessment. "I think you are a part of his ulterior motive, but at the moment, I don't think that motive is against you."

"Every lead I've provided you so far has been unerring, exact, and relatively easy to accomplish. Anything I would give you now would be somewhat more perilous in nature. I trust Voltron to handle them, and of course your pretty half-galra pilot, but I have no frame of reference for anyone else. I must warn you of this ahead of time." Lotor said looking from Allura to Shiro and back again. At her nod he continued.

"I have some information I believe you would consider important on a more personal level. There is a prison, formerly under my control. It houses a special inmate. I think it would be important for you to know of it, because this man, I believe, is from your home planet."

"Pidge, you've got a message incoming." Rolo called out to her. She and Matt were currently with the resistance, fixing and enhancing rebel fighter ships after they survived the attack against the Empire. She was glad she had her brother with her when she received this message. 

The call was from Shiro and Allura, and Pidge could tell it was a solemn message based on the seriousness of their faces. 

"We have a lead on Commander Holt." Pidge had to sit down. Matt stood ridig next to her. "Lotor gave us information on his whereabouts."

"Because your father was considered a valuable scientific asset, he was moved to a remote prison with others like him. They're being forced to work for the Galra Empire." Allura continued. 

From there, they were getting the coordinates for the prison, and together with the rebels with them at the moment (just Rolo, Nyma and Beezer) they went to save their father.

They were going to bring their father back, they had to.

"Approaching the prison, cloaking engaged." Pidge said, but it didn't work, they were detected, but how? They were in trouble.

Then Galra fighters were firing away at them. Maybe they should have waited for back up, or maybe they should have done some more research before running off.

But there was no time for what ifs when they were being fired upon. 

Looks like Pidge was going to have to drop them off. She took a nose dive to the jail planets surface, opening the hatch to let Rolo, Nyma, Matt and Beezer out before going on to distract the Galra fighters.

The prison was already shut down, something was very, very wrong here. 

"What's going on?" Matt asked before running into the prison, very carefully. No matter how far in they went, they couldn't seem to find a single sentry that wanted to kill them. Nothing was attacking them, somehow that made Matt more worried than if they were under constant fire.

God what was wrong?

What was happening?

All the scientists were there though, they were working as if nothing was wrong, and then Rolo ran into one of them.

"Everyone relax." He began when he saw he had everyones attention.

"Please don't hurt us!" One of them asked.

"No one's here to hurt you." Nyma continued to explain. 

"You're not with the scary lady?" Another scientist asked.

"We're here to rescue you." Rolo began again, to the shocked gasps of the scientists. Then it hit him. "Wait, what scary lady?"

And as Rolo was explaining everything, Matt realized he couldn't see his Father. There were more people back in the cells, thank God. He told Rolo to get every scientist out, he'd meet them outside with the rest.

But no matter how many cells he opened, no matter how far into the prison Matt went, their dad wasn't there.

Oh God, how was he going to tell Pidge.

"Pidge what if I brought the group to you?" Rolo asked. They needed to find a way off this planet, and Pidge was too occupied to come down and get them, she was under too much fire power.

So they had to get the prisoners to her.

He knew he saw a pod here, so what if it was only meant to carry five passengers, he's done far stupider things in his life.

And when Matt showed up without their Father, well Nyma felt for him, she truly did.

Now though, they needed to focus on breaching the atmosphere. They had to do it, there was no way they could give up now.

They needed to contact Pidge, she could catch them. She was on her way to pick them up, it would be close, but when the Green Lion went belly up to catch the escape pod, let's say everyone in there saw their life flash before their eyes.

But they were alive and safe now.

They were escaping their prison now.

And now Matt had to deal with telling his sister that their Dad wasn't there. That their Dad was already gone.

He held onto his little sister as she was crying once more in the Green lion's cockpit. His poor sister, she'd lost too much for someone her age, she'd lost far too much.

"Don't give up Pidge." Matt said to her, "We know Dad's alive. We'll find him." He swore.

But Pidge kept on crying.

And Matt couldn't blame her.

Axca knew she had a bargaining chip, she knew Lotor knew about it, and she knew he might not forgive her for using it, but she had too. 

Her main priority was, as of right now, keeping Ezor, Zethrid, and herself safe. To do that she needed the bargaining chip.

So she betrayed Lotor, and took the human. 

She was sure he would need him to gain Voltron's trust, but maybe he didn't. Voltron had been attacking, successful mission after successful mission, Lotor must have been with them, so maybe he did not need Samuel Holt.

But she did.

"What do you want?" Zarkon asked her, and it took everything in her being not to quake with fear. This man held her life in the palm of his hand and he was ready to squash it. 

"We have something in our possession we think you'd be interested in." She said keeping her voice as even as possible. "We are willing to trade it for our safe passage back into the Galra ranks."

"I'm listening."

They never expected it. For Zarkon to contact them directly, it was something that never crossed their minds. So when he did, they were already shocked.

But when he spoke...

"Paladins of Voltron. I am making a one-time offer, I have something of value to you." He said stepping aside for everyone to see the human he had in his possession. 

There was no mistaking it.

That was Samuel Holt.

That was Pidge and Matt's Dad, and Zarkon had him.

"I will hand him over, and in exchange you give me my son, Lotor." 

You Cannot Do That! Yelled the voice in Shiro's head. It was splitting, but he did not show any sign of discomfort. He would follow this order, even if the rest of them were to disagree.

What a mess they were in.

Chapter Text

They were taking the altean pod down to the planet to meet with Zarkon. They were meeting him on a neutral playing field with no one there to interrupt them. They were here to discuss the trade that was to take place. The trade of Lotor, for Samuel Holt, for Pidge and Matt's father.

Pidge remembered it all so clearly. The moment she had seen her under weight father she knew she had to do something, nothing would hold her back. Her father was alive her father needed her. 

She remembered Shiro telling them how they couldn't rush into things without thinking it through. Pidge had been annoyed with Shiro before, but she'd never hated him more than in that moment. 

"What's to think through? It's my dad! We're doing this!" Pidge yelled out in retaliation. 

"We need to operate under the assumption that Zarkon will try to double-cross us." Shiro argued back, and sure Pidge could understand that, not rushing into anything was important, but this was her Dad and they've rushed in for less important things.

Pidge thought this was very important!

"We have Voltron! We can do anything!" She argued back. 

"Pidge..."  Matt started, trying to be the bigger person, but she just couldn't do this.

"No!" Pidge yelled out, moving away from the comforting arm Matt was trying to put on her. First she almost lost Matt, then she almost lost Keith, she's been lucky so far, she didn't want that anymore!

She was scared she'd run out of almost's.

"We can't let this opportunity slip away! We're too close! Our father is too close!" Pidge yelled, turning to face her brother so he could see her despair! He had to know!

But that argument didn't matter anymore because now they stood on the planet together, her, Matt and Shiro all awaiting Zarkon's arrival. She was uneasy, she hated this feeling, but there was no turning back now. 

Zarkon emerged from his ship and Pidge could only think back to Lotor's words before this.

"My father has had an iron grip on the universe for the last 10,000 years, but he sees it slipping from his grasp because of your efforts and because of mine." He told them looking between each of them, as if he would find a friendly face in the crowd.

"With our forces combined, we would provide the greatest threat Zarkon has ever faced." He pleaded with them. He could not be handed over to his father, not yet, he had so much more to do in this universe. He needed to achieve so much more, he needed to make his mother proud.

"He knows we could topple his empire, so this is his attempt to tear us apart." And he kept going, this speech was his last chance at life, he'd give it everything he had.

"An empire you ran. We can't listen to him. He just wants to save his own skin." And like, sure, the gremlin was right, doesn't mean he doesn't also want to work with Voltron.

"It's true." Lotor admitted trying a new way to win them over. "If you return me to my father, he would surely see to my demise. And with his most legitimate threat to the throne removed, he would only grow stronger." 

"One less threat to Zarkon and one less threat to us." Damn, that child really had something against him, huh? But he didn't really know what was going through her head right now.

Her family had been separated by this war, her family was separated by him, in a way, she wanted them back, no matter the cost. Lotor could never really imagine loving his father so much, he wanted to save him, it just wasn't his way. 

Alright, maybe he should try winning over the Princess, and not the gremlin. They were both Altean after all, maybe she was weak to him because of it.

"Your father, King Alfor, once stood side by side with Zarkon and protected the universe from harm. There was no foe the paladins of old couldn't defeat." By the look in her eye, he was winning. Well, not really winning, but he was swaying her to his side. He tried to not look at the Gremlin, or the Pretty Pilot's mate because they both seemed to greatly disapprove of him.

"Sadly, that time of peace has been lost, but, together, we can find it once more. Princess, imagine, a new generation that could lift the mantle of peace. The children of King Alfor and Emperor Zarkon, you and I, a royal alliance between Altean and Galra... if my father was never poisoned by that witch Haggar and her magic, we would have grown up together, we would have defended the universe together long ago. But this, right here, is our reality, and together, I truly believe we can save it, and bring it into a new era of peace, a peace the universe has never seen before." 

"Lies!" The gremlin yelled. "Every word is a lie!" 

"And what of Zarkon's words?" He bit out, couldn't this child see! If she were to give him to his father, she would be playing right into Zarkon's hands. "You think he'll return your father as he says? You think the corrupted leader of a ruthless empire will be true to his word?" Lotor asked.

They were tough questions, but this child needed to see the bigger picture. How they had let someone like this pilot a lion of Voltron confused him to no end, but he did not have much time to think on it now.

He needed to save his skin and he only knew he had Hunk, the yellow paladin's, confidence definitely for he is the one who would bring him food, who would take pity on him and chat for a while.

Lotor had known Hunk for only a day and he knew if anything happened to him he would kill everyone in the universe and then himself. 

"You think he'll double-cross us?" The Champion asked, gaining Lotor's attention. 

"I think he'd do anything to rid himself of me and claim the Lions of Voltron." Lotor said truthfully.

Lance stepped up next to Allura when he saw the indecision on her face. She was there when he was at his weakest a while ago, he would be here for her. 

He loved her after all.

At least, he thought he did.

Stay alive, Sharpshooter.

Lance just shook his head as Allura began to talk. 

"An alliance with the heir to the Galra throne could end the war..." Allura was thinking out loud when Pidge cut her off.

"What?" There was so much anger in that word.

Allura turned to Pidge, she needed her to understand. "It's not ideal. I don't like trusting any Galra that isn't a part of the Blade, but it could be our best option." 

"No." Pidge spat.

"Pidge, think of the lives we could save." Allura pleaded. Pidge was her sister, she needed to understand. "Think of the countless worlds we could free."

"Think of my father!" Pidge argued back. Why was everyone so against this? So against her seeing her father once more? So against freeing him?

Could she even call people like this her family?

"I'm with Pidge, we can't forget about her father." Lance said turning to Hunk. "What about you."

And Hunk looked at the Galra Prince who he had gotten to know. The Prince who talked with him, and whom he talked to when delivering food, and he gave Lance his honest answer. "I don't know. I believe him to be on our side, but I don't know a way we can get Pidge's father back without using him. Sorry, dude." 

"Thank you, Hunk, it's fine." Lotor said, nodding to him, before turning his attention to the rest of the paladins who were busy deciding his fate.

"We are turning him in and getting my dad back!" Pidge yelled through the chatter. "We have Voltron to bring peace to the universe!"

"Don't play into Zarkon's hands!" Lotor warned, but since he raised his voice, it was enough to set the other's off.

"That's enough!" Shiro yelled out, and that shut everyone up. Shiro never raises his voice unless it was to yell commands over a loud battle field. For him to yell out, it was enough to get everyone's attention. 

And now Shiro was standing on the battle field staring Zarkon down with Pidge and Matt, waiting for the trade to start.

He could not convince the paladins against saving Lotor, but he could convince them to let him lead the captive Lotor to the ship.

That was where he slipped it to him, and based on Lotor's shocked look turning into something akin to understanding, he knew Lotor knew what this meant.

He hoped it would be enough though. He hoped everything would work out. 

"Show me Lotor." Zarkon yelled out across the field.

"Show us Commander Holt first!" Shiro yelled back.

Pidge saw him first, and Shiro was ready to catch her when she went running. 

Haggar walked through her liquid quintessence pool. Now that she'd seen her face, her true face, she knew she needed to use her powers to dive into the past. She needed to remember everything to move on in the direction she was always meant to go. 

She needed to remember Honerva.

She let herself be consumed by her magic, she let it show her the memories she'd long forgotten. She let it show her, her self, pregnant, so many times before.

It showed her the time she traded her life to Quintessence so she could succeed. She watched as she gave birth to her son, to Lotor and immediately handed him off and she felt shame like never before. 

She just handed him away, the reason she entered the quintessence field in the first place. Could she have been so blind? So foolish? Her own son?

How could she forget sending the boy away as if he were nothing, sending him away to grow up to hate her, to become the monster she knew could and would destroy everything they'd worked towards.

But it did not matter to her, not to Honerva.

The only thing that mattered to Honerva, was getting her son back.

Lotor stepped out of the pod, the Black Paladin's bayard clutched safely in his side, hidden away from normal eyes. He just hoped it would work for him.

He didn't want to think about what would happen if it didn't.

"Send us commander Holt!" Shiro yelled out.

"Release him." Zarkon responded, and without turning Zarkon allowed Sam to walk past him, to make his way to the awaiting Pidge. She was so happy to see her Father, but Lotor was more worried about the way her father seemed so... 

Not alive.

Something was off, something was terribly, terribly off. 

He knew his suspicions to be true when he saw the little Gremlin run through her Father. From there he was quick to break out of his chains and to call forth the paladin weapon on his person. It was time to fight for his freedom. 

Her husband was about to kill her son.

Time for stage four.

With a quick nod from both Shiro, and Axca, Lotor made his move, it was time to face down his Father, and with the paladins of Voltron fighting for the little one's father, he's sure he'd win. 

They could fight for their father, today he finally gets to fight his.

He couldn't wait to kill the bastard who ruined Honerva.

"We need to get Sam!" Shiro had told Pidge and Matt the moment he saw Zarkon was occupied. Lotor had the black bayard, he was sure everything would be fine on his end. Shiro needed to focus on Sam now.

The three of them were flying across the planet as fast as they could, watching as their father was taken into the ship that was flying away.

At the sight of Zarkon's ship flying away, at team Voltron mobilizing on the Planet, at the sight of Zarkon's fleet moving in, Lance knew it was time to move.

"Everyone, get to your lions. We need to protect our team and get Sam." He ordered, Keith had prepped him for this, they've been on a hundred missions together, and they'd lead those missions together. This was Lance's turn to lead.

Allura was pleasantly surprised by his dedication and leadership.

Pleasantly surprised indeed.

Shiro, Matt and Pidge were quick to cut their way into the space ship, that was taking Sam away.

Lance was quick to send Voltron as back up against the incoming Galra, and Lotor was quick to block another blow from his Father.

For the first time in his life, he was scared during a duel. His father was powerful, the most powerful opponent he had ever faced one on one. 

He couldn't think about that now though, to think about his own demise would bring it.

He needed to win, he needed to survive to make the future he wanted a reality.

So he dodged another blow, and swiped his weapon and thought of nothing outside the battle. 

"You have Altean blood running through your veins, poisoning your very being." Zarkon had told Lotor when there was a pause in the battle. "Finally, my darkest shame can be wiped from the universe forever." He said and then Lotor watched as he began to pump unfiltered quintessence into his very being.

God this was going to be so, so bad, but he needed to fight on. 

"You're going to become another one of the witches monsters!" Lotor yelled out. "Does she control you as well." He teased, hoping it would stop Zarkon from doing it, from taking in all that Quintessence.

But what was done, was done. 

And Lotor had kept going, had kept yelling every hateful thing he had ever wanted to say to his father. It was therapeutic in a way, it would make killing him a whole lot easier.

His father was a Zombie anyways.

A kick here, a punch there, jump, dodge, do everything in your power not to die now!

That was his motto.

That was Shiro, Pidge and Matt's motto as well as they made their way to try and free Samuel Holt.

The ship they were on was unsteady at best, and now they were free falling, and they needed an escape. 

They were all gonna die, so Sam went to grab the controls, but they were all free flying now, and the ship was heading towards the planet.

"We can't let the Galra take that shuttle, Allura, take the left, I'll take the right, Hunk barrel down the middle!" Lance ordered, approaching the Galra fleet they were intercepting. 

"Roger that!" Allura and Hunk said at the same time before unquestioningly following his orders.

It was almost like normal, before Keith...

Lance didn't think on that long, he activated his jaw blade and went to town on the right side. He needed to do everything to keep the Galra away from the planet and his family.

The three of them were doing quite well, in his humble opinion.

Lotor was getting weak, but he could see his father getting weak as well, his father was using all his energy stores. He just needed to last until he spotted an opening and there-

He sliced his way down the back of the technology that was keeping his Zombie of a Father alive, and watched in sick, sick pleasure as his life essence pooled out of it.

Now it was just a waiting game, he needed to survive long enough to watch his father run out of time.

Lance saw it happening, they were starting up their canon fire, they were going to hit something, Lance couldn't figure out where-

Oh no.

There was no time to move. 

But of course, Coran decided, as usual, a fashionably late entrance was always the way to go. Coran had just saved Lance's life in that moment, and now they were back in the fight better than ever.

They had won the day, now it's time for Pidge's end of the mission.

"Shiro, Pidge, the sky has been cleared of all Galra. What's your status?" Lance called out just to get a biting remark from Pidge.

"The shuttle is not clear yet!"

Pidge dodged another fist thrown her way in an attempt to get control of the ship. 

She got kicked back, and fired her weapon at one of the Generals allowing Matt's adversary to be distracted enough to take a hit to the face. 

Then Sam got control of the shuttle and began pulling it out of their nose dive, separating the generals from the paladins and Matt. That's when Pidge had an idea and opened the hatch of the ship. 

She turned around to watch Lotor's ex-generals get shot out into the open air, before quickly closing the doors before any of her friends got out. Once the ship was stable, and they'd all got their breath Pidge finally spoke. 

"Shuttle is clear, we've got Dad."

Then Her and Matt were running to her father, allowing Shiro to take command of the ship, flying them home to safety, staying away from their family bonding moment. 

Shiro watched Lance, Hunk and Allura flank the shuttle for protection when the thought hit him.

"Guys, where's Lotor and Zarkon?" And shit, Lance completely forgot about that plot line. 

Together they flew to the destroyed part of the planet just in time to watch Lotor cornered by his Father who was holding the Black Paladins bayard, in the form of a canon, pointing it to his prone form. 

They had to act fast, so Hunk was fast to shot down upon the pair. He needed to defend the prince if there was any hope for a peaceful empire.

Too bad their aim is shit when it comes to such a small target. 

But they gave Lotor the opening he needed.

When Zarkon's back was turned to fire at the Lion's, Lotor had taken a spare piece of sharp metal from a destroyed Galra fighter, and used it as a sword to impale his father.

The gun powered down.

Lotor heard his father stumble behind him, before he heard his body hit the ground. He turned around then, and walked to his father's body, he took the Black bayard from his father's dead grasp and stood up tall.

It was finally done. 

"Why?" Lotor asked. He was with the Black paladin, just that thought would make his father roll around in his fresh grave, especially considering how he was returning the Black Bayard to said paladin.

"Why what?" He asked.

"Do not act stupid, it does not suit you." Lotor said instead causing Shiro to let out a loud, resigned sigh.

After the battle, Pidge had called for the Green Lion to come and pick her up along with her Father and Brother so together they could have time to themselves. Shiro was then left to take Lotor back to the castle ship. Lotor decided this would be the perfect opportunity to ask the Black Paladin his questions.

"I could not let you go in there unarmed, the Black bayard is undetectable, it is also loyal to me in the same way the Black Lion is. I knew it would work for you." Shiro said with a shurg.

"But why give it at all?" He pushed on.

"You have been a valuable asset to this team, you will continue to be a valuable asset to this team. I could not let you die." Shiro said simply.

And Lotor actually believed him, which was just as much a shock.

They were greeted in the ship dock by the gremlin herself, by herself. Lotor was definitely confused, seeing as this little demon was ready to sell him out at the drop of the hat mere seconds ago.

So why was Shiro, literally the only person besides Hunk who doesn't outwardly hate him, leaving him alone with this thing?

"Good luck." Good luck? Do not leave me here!

But Lotor's silent message did not seem to reach Shiro as he just walked out of the dock. When the door closed, the room got defining in its silence. 

Oh she was going to kill him, and he's not exactly sure he'd survive, not after just fighting his Father. He watched uneasily as she approached him before extending her hand.

"Thank you."

"I beg your pardon." Lotor asked not going to reach for Pidge's hand. She just held it there as she kept talking.

"You tried to tell us that it was a trap, and I was blinded by my need to save my family. Even if we forced you in the end, you still fought with us and for us, and my family is back together because of you." She said with a shrug of her shoulders, and Lotor just didn't move. 

Wow, Voltron was really just like that, huh?

"Listen, my arm's tired, you can accept this peace offering, or you can ignore it, so-" And Lotor was quick to accept the hand shake. Slowly, but surely it seemed, he was gaining the trust of all the paladins.

"Thank you, Green Paladi-"

"Just call me Pidge, Purple one." And Lotor let his hand fall in shock. No one has ever had the nerve to call him anything other than his title to his face, and this tiny child just called him 'Purple One.'

"Wha-"

"See you at dinner." And that was it.

Lotor was not brought back to his cell, so he figured that he was free to go about the ship. Dinner wasn't for another 'couple of minutes' whatever that was, so he decided that since he was no longer a prisoner here, he guessed he could find his own living quarters.

He stumbled across the paladin's quarters, he only knew it because each door had a name on it, he walked past each room, seeing everyone's own door decorations when he cam across a bare one.

Well, an almost bare one. The name Keith was on it, and Lotor remembered that being the name of the pretty pilot whom he'd saved, but he was no longer here, why would they keep his room. It was next to the Blue one, another rather fine looking specimen, so maybe, since he was no longer there, his room would be up for-

"That one's occupied, can you not read Altean?" The Blue one asked coming from his room to glare at Lotor.

"I can read it, although I thought he was no longer residing here." He said simply turning to face Lance.

"We like to keep it ready for him, in case he returns." Lance said simply, looking uneasily at Lotor before sighing in resignation. He nodded to the door on the other side of Keith's room. "That one's free, you can take it if you want."

"I see, very well then." Lotor said before entering, but was confused when he did not hear the door close behind him. He was going to turn to close it himself when he saw Lance standing in the doorway. 

"If you don't have anything to unpack here, I'd suggest heading towards the dinning hall, dinner's gonna be ready any minute now." He said before turning away from Lotor to give him some privacy.

Lotor looked around the room once more before leaving to walk with Lance. Chatter did not flow easily between the two, but that was fine seeing as they were at the dinning hall soon enough.

When Lotor entered there was a full display of foods he had never seen before, and a drink that looked oh so good sitting in front of a full plate.

Lotor saw that full plate was next to Hunk, who had a wide smile on his face and was waving him over to sit down.

"Hey man, welcome to the official 'Welcome to the Team' Dinner! I made everything myself, even the lovely milkshake I do hope you enjoy!" He said with a wide smile on his face, and Lotor was genuinely touched.

He'd never done this before, sat down with his troops. His most trusted generals didn't even eat with him. Axca never dinned with him, but here at this table, everyone was eating together as equals. He looked around and saw everyone digging in, sharing conversation, teasing each other and for the first time, Lotor thought he finally understood what it was to be a family.

He reached first for the milkshake, something Hunk had taken great pride in. His mouth was half-way to the straw when he made eye contact with the Princess' handler, Coran, across the way. Without blinking he shook his head back and forth, giving Lotor the impression he should not, under any circumstances drink that.

He slowly put the drink back down, and he watched as Coran's face became more relieved the closer it got back to the table. 

When he had finally placed it down on the table, Coran gave him an absolutely over exaggerated wink and Lotor let one thought slip through his mind as he dug into his food.

He was going to like it here. 

Chapter Text

"Sometimes I miss my people's exile in the forest." Ryner said to her guests, Pidge, Matt and Samuel Holt. "But since Olkarion became the hub for the refugees of this quadrant, it made sense that we should return to the city and transform it into the Coalition's capital." 

Sam was in a state of awe, he had been working for the Galra now for somewhere close to two years, and he thought their technology was advanced. They had nothing on the Olkari and the Olkari had nothing on Voltron. He was absolutely floored by everything here.

"So much has changed so fast." He said pressing his face to the glass to look out more into the amazing city. 

"For the better." Pidge added.

"Yeah, well, Zarkon may be dead, but-" Matt said.

"Party pooper." Pidge interrupted.

"BUT the war's not over yet." Matt continued on. "I know it sucks, but it's something we need to acknowledge." 

"That is why the Olkari are grateful Voltron is here until our defense systems are fully functional." Ryner pushed on. "I fear tumultuous times are upon us."

"Emperor Zarkon... is dead." The Galra general said. "And this time we know it is true, he had been... impaled and left to bleed out, we were unable to reach him in time for treatment." 

"And is the intel true, that Voltron is on Olkarion?" The soldiers general, Branko, one of Zarkon's more skilled generals asked. 

"Multiple intelligence reports say so, sir." He confirmed.

He watched, as his general simply smiled before turning to him and commanding they set course for Olkarion. 

They were going after Voltron.

Lotor sat in the castle ships bridge with Allura, she had so graciously showed him around the Altean ship, around his mother's culture and now they were situated here.

He was truly grateful for the experience, he did want to see what his culture was like, before the Galra.

They were in the castle ship bridge now, for they were waiting for the rest of Voltron to arrive. 

"They should be here any minute." Allura defended, taking on Earth time rather easily.

"Good. There is much to discuss." Lotor agreed. 

Allura though turned to Lotor, a concerned look on her face. She hadn't realized how much it would be for him to see Altean technology, authentic Altean technology, he seemed rather in awe, and unnerved. "Are you okay?" She asked him.

She watched genuine shock cross over Lotor's face, as if it were the first time someone had asked him that. Maybe it was, knowing his father.

"I'll be fine." He said after a moments pause, and Allura frowned at that. She had gotten used to the Earthlings, who would talk rather openly about a lot of things, and if they didn't want to talk about it, Allura knew them well enough now to know rather easily what problems they were all having.

She had no idea what was going on in Lotor's head. And she hated to admit it, she really did.

But that intrigued her.

Maybe he was feeling guilty over killing his Father? Sure he was Zarkon, but he was still his father.

"What you did was for the greater good." She tried starting there. "And for many of us, proof of your intention of peace." She added with a smile, but it was quickly slipping off her face as she watched Lotor's face remain stone cold. 

But before he could respond, the rest of the team was there, and Lotor was standing up to greet them. 

"Guess Lotor's just hanging out on the bridge now, huh?" Lance said in disbelief. If this was going to be happening often, he needed to get used to it, to get used to not having an instant fight reaction to his presence. 

"I suppose we'll have to get used to it." Coran said, voicing Lance's thoughts.

Shiro though, was the one who went straight to business.

"What's going on Lotor?" He asked.

And Lotor got right to the point. "The death of my father has created a power vacuum within the Galra Empire." Lotor explained as the other paladins come to join the conversation. "The most formidable Galra leaders will gather for what is called the Kral Zera sometime in the next two days to decide who will take the throne. We must be there."

"So, you want us to fly you into the middle of a meeting with all of the most powerful Galra leaders?" Lance asked in disbelief. Yeah, when you put it like that it did sound crazy. 

"Lotor, we appreciate all that you've sacrificed, but this sounds far too dangerous." Allura said agreeing with Lance. How would they possibly do that? How could they possibly do this?

But they have done the impossible before.

"We've been in more dangerous situations with much less to gain." Shiro responded. For some reason, Shiro knew, he needed Lotor on the Galra throne. It wouldn't work out, not for anyone, if they didn't get Lotor on the throne... "Putting Lotor on the Galra throne is what we've been discussing." Shiro pushed on.

"Yeah, but no one told us that would mean flying into a war zone." Pidge said. "The only way this could possibly work is if we used the Green lion, or all of Voltron, and this is too dangerous to send all of Voltron, and the Green lion is not meant to fight that many on it's own." 

"Why would the Green lion be the-right cloaking." Lance began before answering his own question. 

"Could you put a cloak on another lion in time for the-"

"We can't plan an operation this important so quickly." Allura said simply. She would not risk Voltron for another throne. 

They could figure out another way, they had to. 

"We don't have a choice." Shiro said.

"I'm with Allura. We need time to think this over, come up with a plan that won't kill-"

"Lance, this is not your call." Shiro cut Lance off. And it was in that moment that Lance was reminded once again, Shiro was not Keith, he did not listen to Lance's word like it was as important as his own. This was a whole different dynamic and they still needed to figure it out.

But Shiro kept talking over Lance's own deprecating thoughts.

But Shiro would never... would he?

"This is too dangerous to pull off last minute." Pidge said.

"Agreed. So, it looks like it's four-to-two, in the Princess's favor." Coran added on. Thank god, maybe they wouldn't need to do this.

"Look this isn't a vote. I'm the leader of Voltron. I'm making this decision." Shiro said, and Lance almost took a step back at that. What whip lash. Something was seriously wrong, Shiro, even during his worst times, always believed Voltron should vote on our options.

What was this?

"Like when you armed Lotor with your bayard without consulting the rest of us?" Allura bit back, sure it worked out in the end, but she didn't want him to have the satisfaction. 

"That's right. Making the decision resulted in the removal of Zarkon."  

"You put the entire operation in jeopardy."

"I put an end to Zarkon's reign. Now is the time to finish the job." 

Oh no Mom and Dad were fighting.

Maybe Lance should step in.

"Shiro, we're all on the same side here."

"I told you to stay out of this!" Shiro, instead of calming down, roared at Lance, and Lance genuinely shocked took a step back. What happened to Shiro?

He's never been like this! Hell he only started acting like a dick when... when they... no.

No, somethings wrong.

Lance couldn't know for sure, but he thinks that's not the real Shiro, if anyone could tell though, maybe Keith would.

You are right.

"Red?"

Something is wrong, but I don't know what. We must trust Black though, she would not needlessly endanger us.

"If I do not return to fill the power void, there is no telling who will." Lotor said.

"Good, then it's settled." Shiro said, dismissing everyone, but Lance was confused.

Was it really settled?

Has he really grown so? He is going after the throne, good, she will be there to help him. She will bring a champion of her own, of course if she just showed up to support Lotor, her plans, and probably his, would not be realized.

She thinks they have the same plan though, without even realizing it.

"My son." She said, fondness in her tone. She looked at him through the Black One's eyes. 

This was working a little too well.

Of course that's when assassins decided to attack her, fools, they were no match for her. And she disappeared without a scratch. They would be dead soon.

"With that witch out of the way, I'll be one step closer to taking power." General Sniv said, to the surviving assassin. 

"Wrong, Commander Sniv." Haggar said using the body of the assassin as her puppet, she pulled it's sword from it's sheath. One less general for Lotor to fight against.

The three of them were in prison, with no escape in sight. Axca knew it was too early for Lotor to be saving them, so who ever came through that door next would probably be their under taker. 

So when the door unlocked she felt no fear, she had been prepared for Death. 

However when she turned to see Zarkon's witch standing there, offering them employment, she was happily surprised. 

The Galra cruiser was fast approaching Olkarion, it was time to wipe out the capital planet of the Coalition. General Branko smiled as he watched the payload fire at Olkarion. "By this time tomorrow, the Galra High Command will realize I am the only one worthy of the throne."

They watched the missile come into their orbit, they watched it crash land into their planet, they felt the whole world shake. They needed Voltron, they needed it now. 

The missile was releasing toxins, it was making the forest evil.

"Are you planning to seize power?" Zethrid asked, standing at attention in front of Zarkon's witch.

"No. The empire will only accept a ruler with Galra blood." She said, and Axca saw the other two flinch, just slightly, it wasn't common knowledge that Haggar's witch wasn't Galra. 

Very few of her druids were full Galra. 

Most were at least part Altean. Quintessence works best with Alteans.

"It needs a natural-born leader, with an iron will to match his iron fist. Bring him to me, and I will pardon your past misdeeds." She said simply.

They could do that.

Lance was in the training deck, firing away at the drones that presented themselves to him. Normally this would be a rather easy task, that is, if it had his full attention, but it didn't.

Lance was thinking about Shiro, about Red's words, something just wasn't right, something wasn't right at all.

Shiro would never yell like that, he'd never done it before, he'd never done it at the garrison either. He was kind when Lance had first met him in Keith's shack so long ago, and he had just escaped imprisonment then, too.

Keith would know what Lance was saying, he knew Shiro better than anyone. Keith would know what to do here, hell Keith would at least listen to Lance before yelling at him.

Lance felt the sharp pain of a bullet to his back, huh, how absolutely fitting. In thinking about Keith, he had left his back open, acting like he normally would when they fought together.

Lance would fire at the far away sentries, Keith would clean up the scraps that got through his fire. They watched each other's backs.

He didn't have anyone to watch his back now, and the bullets kept firing. He pulled up a shield, but it was no use. The bullets just kept getting closer, and closer. God he needed a close range weapon.

He needed Keith.

And as that thought passed through his mind, he felt his bayard change again, but to what he wasn't sure. He didn't know what kind of laser would help in in close quarter comba-

It was a sword. The Red Bayard provided him with a sword.

He didn't know how to use a-

You're gangly, use your limbs to your advantage and slash.

And so Lance followed Red's orders, and moved in a way he'd seen Keith do before. 

And soon, the drones were destroyed. When Lance was finished with his exercise, he took a moment to look at the sword, a smile on his face.

"Wow."

Maybe, he didn't need to be so reliant on Keith after all.

"I haven't seen that for 10,000 years." Allura said and Lance could hear equal amounts of joy and sadness in that tone. And it really clicked with Lance then, this was her Father's bayard, this was her Father's sword, to see someone else using it, well Lance didn't really know what that would feel like, he couldn't even imagine.

"Allura?" Lance asked, uneasily, she was totally about to yell at him, he was probably holding it wrong for all he knew. He'd only ever practiced with something like this once with Keith before, and even then it wasn't swords, it was knives.

"It's an Altean broadsword." Allura told him. "My Father used one just like it."

"I have no idea how I did this. I was just thinking about how I don't have... how I didn't have someone close range defending my back and..." But Allura just gave him a knowing look all the same.

"I think your bayard has shown you what we've all been noticing. You have greatness within." She said, and it really hit home for Lance.

"Huh. I don't think Shiro has noticed." Lance said instead, and immediately regretted it. He wasn't just supposed to blurt that out to the princess! What kind of-

"Shiro has been quite difficult lately." Allura agreed. So she had noticed. "I'm not sure what to do, we seem to constantly be at odds." 

"You guys are under a lot of pressure." Lance said trying to diffuse the situation, he feels like that's all he's been doing now. "Having Lotor around doesn't help."

"For someone who was so adamantly defending Keith's Half-Galra nature, you're very much against Lotor, why is that?" Allura asked him and Lance just scoffed in a way to say really? 

"He is the reason Keith's alive." Allura said gently.

"Don't." Lance warned gently, and that was enough to keep Allura at bay. "I can't tell you why, but he just doesn't rub me right, no matter how hard I try to like him, and I know I should give him a chance, but I just..."

Seeing Lance's uncomfortableness at the conversation topic, Allura was quick to change it, she could always get back to this, but for now she had to cheer Lance up. She had said something that had really bothered him, and right when he was having a break through. She should fix it.

"It's okay Lance, really... you know, speaking with you has actually made me feel better." Allura said, in teasing disbelief.

"What do you mean "actually"?" Lance asked with a raised brow and Allura felt that warmth in her chest once more when she was around Lance. She didn't think it was romance, and even if it was, she would not act on it, but it was something there. She treasured Lance, and all his fool-hardiness with all her heart.

She wanted to make him smile again.

So she had the perfect idea.

"Oh, and, Lance, if you're going to try to control a sword this powerful.." She said as she got behind Lance, putting her arms around his body, she guided him into the proper position to hold the sword, and just as she suspected, Lance was too distracted by her, to pay attention to HER.

So when distracted she used her legs to swipe Lance's feet out from underneath him, disarming him in the same motion. She stood over Lance's body, sword in her hand and triumphant smile on her face.

"You're going to need to work on your stance." She said smile on her face.

And God Lance thinks he's in love.  

Pidge was telling her father all about her lion. All this technology was things they'd talked about before, but only in their wildest dreams. 

"I can't wait to tell your mother." Sam said to his children. "Look at you, all grown up, she'd be so proud."

He watched as his children shared a worried look, as if he didn't already know what they were going to tell him.

"Well, Dad, between the rebels and Voltron, Matt and I have a lot of work to do before we can go back home." Pidge said, an uneasy expression on her face.

"Right. We need to stay, until the Galra are defeated and we can rest assured Earth will always be safe." Matt added on just as seriously, and it was taking everything in Sam not to both laugh and cry at their expressions.

Oh his little scientists have grown up, where had the time gone?

"We can't go home with you Dad." Pidge added on, and she must have taken his silence for something it wasn't.

"I know." He said sadly. "I know."

Shiro could not believe it.

The Galra turned the plants evil.

"Coran, send out the team!"

The evil plants were taking root in the newly refurbished city. They needed to destroy them before they could do any more damage. 

"The forest is being corrupted." Ryner said.

"It looks like it's an invasive gas, it's taking control of the plants, Coran have my brother and father analyze it and get back to us immediately, we need to know exactly what it is to fight it." PIdge said.

"Righty-O number five!"

"Right now, we need to form Voltron!" Shiro yelled out.

They took the shield to smash directly into the plant cannon. When they fell though, away from it, the vines immediately began to wrap around them preventing Voltron from moving.

"Seperate into lions!" Allura yelled out.

"We can't! We're trapped!" Shiro said instead, watching as Voltron was trapped in a giant pall of plant vines.

The plant cannon that was firing at them was running away now, and Shiro had an idea where it was heading.

"Ryner, is the ion cannon finished?" Shiro asked.

"No, it's still not finished. At best it could manage perhaps one shot."

"Well make it count, 'cause that thing's headed right for you." Shiro yelled out. Now Voltron needed a way out of their prison.

Ryner was firing up the cannon. 

They were so close, they had the cannon charged to 95% but it was shutting down. It wasn't working, no, her technology had never failed her before, why now? Why when she needed it?

"The ion cannon! All of our systems, they've been compromised." Ryner yelled out. She needed Voltron, desperately. 

"Matt, Dad, these vines?" Pidge's broken message went through to the castle ship.

"They're like a computer virus!" Matt explained. "From the data you sent, it appears the plasma substance is self-replicating organic wetware. Which creates a single expanding system, giving it the ability to interface with nature the way the Olkari do." 

"So a computer and virus rolled into one?" Pidge clarified, just in time for Voltron to go offline.

"If the plasma mass has the properties of the computer, there must be some way to hack into it and shut it down." Sam said, gaining Coran's and Matt's attention.

"Conceivably. If we could just figure out how to interface with it." Matt added on.

The holts were back in action.

"Listen, this virus is attacking Voltron on a sub-molecular level. To drive it out, we have to tap into the quantum energy of Voltron." Pidge yelled out over the panicked paladins.