Honerva's Champion

by RonnieAnnRoyals

Summary:

Shiro didn't make good on his promise to never give up on Keith, Instead just as most of the other adults in Keith's life he failed him not knowing it would lead to a series of disastrous outcomes

OR

Shiro abandoned Keith early on causing him to be booted from there Garrison. Shiro lives regretting this decision and when the Galran Empire captures him and his team on Kerberos they use this to their advantage and find Keith to make him the ultimate warrior to fight Shiro who they now call 'The Champion.' Haggar and Zarkon however don't know that the little game they've made could be the end or new beginning of their empire.

They've created the Star Killer, and soon no one will know what to do with him.

Chapter 1: Prologue

The human screams have long died out by now. Hour seventeen of endless torturing had made his vocal chords shot. That got him to shut up. Haggar Grimaced. The witch looked down on his large shaking frame. Sweat beading across his square forehead and eyes squinting as shut as they could manage. 

This was only the beginning. She smiled to herself soon his idea of torture would be more than mental, but not yet still she continued on. Searching through his memories for something to twist. Something to use against him. She wanted to study more about him, learn of the human thought process, but she could not. She was here to do her job and nothing more than that. She skimmed through memories looking for anyone and anything she could use against him. Yet she found nothing. Humans are known for being emotional creatures yet this human didn't have an emotional connection with anyone, did he?  All of the people he loved left him and he did not care for them anymore. Except for the other pesky humans that came with him on their ship,  but they were doing other important things. He knew of this and therefore She could not manipulate him into fighting for them. There has to be someone else. Something else. Something to use against him, But has he truly lost everything and anything? 

Or maybe she can use something else? The idea comes quickly. As she finds the memory she saw a long time ago. She replays it just to watch her prisoners face contort into a deep frown. 

"No- No, No-" He whispered softly. The streak of white in his short black hair only grew. His eyes squinted closed and she smirked at his reactions as the scene played out in front of her. Another human with eyes so bright purple they could almost be Galra, deep black hair ran down his back, some sort of mullet. He's smaller than the other. Blood is cascading down his face in large quantities. His face is contorted into a scowl as he glances up at the human who is consumed with rage. 

"Shiro-" The younger one begins. "I'm so-" But he's cut off.  

"No. Don't even bother." He spat so loudly it echoed across the halls. The younger flinches back. Eyes leaning upwards to show off the shiner on his right eye. "This is your third fight in the past week Keith!" He practically shouts. Keith looks like he is going to speak again but is quickly cut off once more. The true person Haggar has been looking for. "No, don't say they provoked you- they always provoke you, Why can't you learn some self control! People suck! That's life! And they say bad things! That does not give anyone the right to punch them. This is why you're a discipline case! I finally understand why everyone avoids you! Why your teacher said not to send you here" 

"Shiro-" Keith Practically begs. Tears well in his eyes. "Please-" 

"It's not because you're misunderstood, or because your parents left you! Or because you're different. It's because you're a bad person! Who only thinks of himself! Do you ever think how hard fighting for you was for me? First Adam, Now you." The younger boy isn't crying like he looked like he was about to. Now he's glaring. A spiteful individual, yes. Haggar thinks as she watches those purple eyes rise against the taller human. 

"Y-You Promised?"  Keith whispers, speaking now of something else entirely. Haggar can feel the regret stirring deeply. He had let his anger win. That is exactly what she wanted. Finally she found a trigger. 

"I can't help someone who doesn't bother trying." Shiro finished. 

"I am trying!" Keith Shouts! "I have been trying so hard!" But Shiro is already long gone down the hallway. "I did it for you." Keith finishes. "They were insulting you." 

The scene however doesn't end there. Instead Haggar watches as hours later Shiro runs out of his dorm looking for Keith. He doesn't realize what he's done till late at night. He runs to the boys dorm opening the door. Only to find the room empty. It looked not even slightly more empty than usual but Shiro knew. He approaches Iverson The head of this school the two have both seem to attend. Iverson tells him the kid resigned from the school and left. Shiro searches for awhile. He goes to a tall lady but she says Keith never returned to her class. He checks the group homes and looks around at the angered adults who say he never returned, but eventually he gives up. 

Keith is gone. Completely Gone. The Champion is full of so many regrets it pains him. Remarkable how hurting one can make Humans feel so much more for them. Haggar remarks. The scene ends and Haggar watches as Shiro struggles on the table in front of her. trying to rip through the straps that bind him to the table. He whispers so soft that Haggar can barely hear him. 

"Keith-" He shudders. "Keith- I'm sorry." He whimpers before his body goes still against the table. Peculiar. Haggar thought, relishing in his reaction. She must find this Keith. She will send out a team Immediately. 

***

"Haggar." Zarkon states blatantly as she enters the room taking quick and swift steps. Each step her cape billows around her. She doesn't stop until she reaches the edge of the throne pausing not to look him in the face but to bow her head instead. 

"Yes, my emperor." Haggar asked. She doesn't move her head up. She doesn't look at him, eyes focused on the floor instead. Waiting for his sign of approval. Instead it doesn't come. 

"Why did you send out a team to that planet? Without discussing further with me." He states blatantly. Haggar doesn't move as she crafts her answer out carefully. 

"You said The human affairs would be mine." Haggar recalls. "Did this not mean all of them?" 

"What does this have to do with The Humans? An attack on a planet that has already been claimed by one of the generals to destroy? Sendak wants to take over earth. If we are going to take that from him  we must do it without sending his own team out to report back to him. You do realize we are opening a great area for a betrayal from Sendak. Sendak has allies and losing him would cause a power vacuum we can not afford at this time." 

"Sendak is aware of the plan. Which has nothing to do with taking over planet Earth, I assure you." 

"Then why are we sending out a team to that useless planet!" Zarkon snapped. 

"The Humans, The Champion specifically has a friend back on earth-" 

"You're sending out a team so The Champion can have a friend?" He fumes. 

"No! His friend will be used against him. I see within this friend more of a warrior then he will ever be!" 

"Why do we call him the champion if there is someone stronger!? Bring me this warrior immediately!" 

"Yes Sire" 

***

Planet Earth - The Desert 

Keith paces back and forth in his shack. His feet slip across the horrible carpet as he walks. He thinks of what would've been. If he had never left the Garrison. But the Garrison had only proved his point that everyone gave up on him. A little part inside of him wanted to stay at the garrison. In spite of Shirogane. But he knew he couldn't live with seeing Shirogane's face everyday. The face of someone else who left him. The angered face. The side he had never seen of Shiro. 

What happened to the Patience yields focus on Shiro? He had given up on Keith. Just like everyone else. Keith sighed loudly and twisted around. He needed to stop thinking of stupid Shirogane and get over himself He had promised never to give up on him. He said he never would. 

Fucking Liar. Keith spat as he looked down grimacing at the thought of Shirogane’s stupid face. His mentor was the only person he could trust and just like everyone else he broke that trust. Just like everyone else he lied and he hurt. Why did Keith think this time would be any different? He wondered. There all the same aren’t they- 

BOOM! 

Keith jumps back stumbling from the sudden break in his pacing, his legs fumble and he crashes on to the couch as rumbling fills the entire shack. “What the hell!” He shouted, slipping off the couch and grabbing the edge of the carpet to hold himself still. He still crashed against his thighs hitting the ground with such force his head began to pound in tune with the shaking floor. Just as it has begun it has all stopped so suddenly Keith wasn’t quite sure it’s over. He’s left on the ground blinking rapidly to try and get the stars in his vision to disappear.

 “What the hell was that?” Keith mumbled as he lurched to the side trying to get up slowly. He stood and looked around but everything looked intact as if nothing had happened at all? but that couldn’t be true. The aching in his side only proved that. Keith quickly turned a wave of nausea cascades through his mind as he grabbed the door frame so he didn’t  fall as he rushed forward. Even though he can feel vomit bubbling  in his throat and the thumping of his head now matched the beating of his heart. He doesn’t stop throwing himself out of the shack to get a look outside. He crashes to his knees looking up to the sky in awe. Lights so blinding they make the entire desert look dark fill the air one by one crashing miles away. 

From the sky. 

From space?! 

Keith frantically pushed himself up. These must be Spaceships considering the formation of the crash. He bolts to his feet running to the back of his house. Spaceships means aliens. He needs to know who they are. 

Most Importantly he needs to get there before the Garrison. Keith tugs at a tarp directly behind the shack. He tears it to the ground wildly. A hoverbike. Not Shirogane’s hoverbike. His own hoverbike. The one he made. Sure it had some kinks to it because he made it but she would make this trip. She would make it to the Alien Spaceship. She had to. Keith throws his hips over the side finding the key buried deep within his cropped red jacket. The bandages below the jacket burn from the exposure. For a moment Keith debates whether going back for a t-shirt. But his bandage covered chest could wait. 

Aliens could not. 

Keith twists the key into the engine and pulls off into the desert. 

Running into a storm he can never escape. 

“Sendak.” One of Sendak's Generals says loudly. “There is an incoming ship?” He asks quietly as he watches from outside of there cruiser. It’s a small tiny thing. Not even as big as a fighter ship. It looks like some sort of bike. A figure encased In red is zooming to them on it with such speed he wonders how a small bike can do that. 

“That is the one.” Sendak finishes shortly. “He is coming to us? Is this not a catch and return mission.” He questions. 

“Have My Generals failed me?” Sendak asks, gritting his teeth as his arm whirls to life. 

“No Sendak! We never would!” His second general pipes in! “Never!” Fear replaces every one of their faces in an instant as the figure approaches. 

“But what Human would know of us?” Sendak wondered, ignoring the pleading look from his team as he continued. 

From within the Galran Empire's Mothership Haggar watched the scene play out in delight with Zarkon at her side. There he was. She realized watching as the boy hops off the hoverbike so small and lithe even so he would be the greatest of all warriors. 

“All warriors know where they belong In there heart. Even if there mind has yet to realize" Hagger Hummed. Excitement trilling up her viens. "He will be ours." 

Chapter 2: Voltron

Pidge ran a hand through their short light brown hair, moving it from flopping into their eyes as they peered at the computer in front of them. The signal shot across the screen. It was exactly what they had been seeing for weeks. 

 

The same exact signal. Coming from space. 

 

Pidge tugged their green and yellow headphones over their ears and slipped the cord into their computer waiting a moment. Preparing for the loudness. It always started like this. First a loud crackling for a few minutes, and then the words screamed shrilly throughout the air. Pidge flinched anyways even though they expected the loud crackle. They stared at the stars above them as they awaited the words. 

 

The sky was a shade of blue they hadn’t seen in ages. Pidge felt almost as if they could touch it from the roof of the Garrison they sat on, Stars speckled the sky, and a sort of sadness filled Pidge. Someone needed them. Someone out there, and Pidge hadn’t been able to do anything about it. At least not yet. 

 

“Vol-tron.” Pidge jumped, shivers ran up their spine. For a moment they had forgotten about the headphones and the message, “ Vol-tron.” This time something was different. There was no scream, just a whisper. Just audible in the night. Pidge lunged forward on their knees, scrambling through their bag to grab their notepad. 

 

“Vol-tron.” the message began, this time it didn’t end. “ Needs me. Needs you. Not Him. It can’t be him!-” 

 

“You come here to rock out?” Pidge jumped as someone grabbed their headphones, snapping them against their ears. Pidge swiveled as fast as they could to face Lance McClain. His Zip up green hoodie was thrown recklessly over his shoulder as he grinned wildly. Right beside him sat Hunk. The rest of Pidge's flight team at the Garrison. Hunk sat nervously on the ground, he looked extremely uncomfortable being out this late. It was breaking curfew after all. 

 

“Hey.” Pidge hummed. They eased the computer shut and swung their headphones around their neck. “What’s up?” 

 

“Just havin’ some after hours team bonding.” Lance smirked, shaking his shoulders from side to side. “What is that?” Lance asked, pointing at the computer. “Doesn’t look like Garrison Tech.” 

 

“It’s mine.” Pidge snapped defensively. Glaring at Hunk as he eyed the Technology up. “I built it.” they mumbled a little quieter. 

 

“Wait seriously!” Hunk exclaimed, reaching out to try and touch it. His eyes blew open wide in shock. 

 

“Stop!” Pidge exclaimed, pulling the computer close to their chest. “It’s fragile.” Pidge sighed, and looked around. They had a strong feeling neither of the boys would leave them alone. Might as well talk if they would be here all night. “It picks up radio communications. All the way to the edge of the solar system.” 

 

“Woah. Even all the way to Kerberos?” Lance asked, Pidge looked away and back to the stars. Pidge couldn’t let Lance know that was the goal. “Why do you always get like that whenever anyone mentions it?” Lance pestered. “You go all tense and quiet, what are you hiding?” 

 

“Lance-” Hunk began. “I don’t think this is the best idea.” 

 

“Oh shush.” Lance rolled his eyes, leaning over Pidge again. “We’re a team, team’s don’t keep secrets! Your the one always cracking down about bonding-” 

 

“No. Lance I mean-” 

 

“Look.” Pidge stood on their feet slapping open their laptop again. They pointed to the sky, and this time they could feel the vibrations from how loud the communications were now, Pidge didn’t even need to put on their headphones to hear it. All three of them could hear it, and see it. 

 

“Vol-Tron.” The transmission screamed, as something red crashed through the peaceful night sky. It came in at speeds that had to be impossible, heading towards just outside the Garrison campus and into the desert. “VOL-TRON. IT NEEDS ME. IT NEEDS YOU. NOT HIM.” 

 

“A ship.” Pidge stated, the air had practically been knocked out of them. Starring towards the sky. This was what they had been waiting for. 

 

“Holy shit.” Lance muttered, leaning closer to the edge of the roof. I can’t be seeing this!” He exclaimed, turning back towards Hunk and Pidge. “Are you seeing this?! That isn't one of ours.” 

 

“No,” Pidge paused. “it’s one of theirs.” 

 

“No, no, no, no, no, no.” Hunk rambled. “It can’t be. Theirs? Pidge you can’t mean that- Aliens??” 

 

“I’ve been receiving transmissions for weeks now.” Pidge exclaimed, tossing their laptop into their bag and pulling out the notepad. “Talking about something called Voltron.” They flashed the notebook at Hunk and Lance. “I think it’s some kind of weapon here on earth, and I think they're here to find it-” Pidge pointed towards the crashed machine. So in awe they barely heard the announcement from the PA system. 

 

“ALL GARRISON CADETS AND FACULTY WE ARE GOING INTO LOCKDOWN. STAY IN YOUR DORMS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. EMERGENCY FACULTY ONLY FOLLOW YOUR EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS BEING SENT OUT NOW.” Iverson, the head of the Garrison’s voice, boomed across the campus. 

 

“We have to go!” Lance exclaimed, following Pidge as they turned back to the stairs leading from the roof to campus again. “C’mon Hunk!” 

 

“Guys-” Hunk began. “Did you just not hear? We are in Lockdown! Lockdown!” He rushed after the pair even though he clearly protested. 

 

“Aliens! Hunk!” Pidge exclaimed instead as they rushed down the stairs, a door out the building just ahead of them. Emergency sirens blared in their ears so they could just hear Hunk’s retort. 

 

“But we could get detention! Or expelled! Or worse!” He shouted completely out of breath as he took the steps by two to keep up. “We could get murdered by frickin’ killer aliens!” They sprinted out the door past the orange garrison halls and  into the warm desert air, running closer and closer anyways until they hit the large boulder right before the ship. “Guys.” Hunk panted. “This is a bad idea.”  

 

“Well too late we're already here.” Pidge grinned slyly, they dropped to the ground and opened the laptop again clacking away. “I’m trying to pick up the signal they are using inside the ship. Lance leaned over the boulder looking out at the ship. 

 

“Iverson,” He named. “Sanda, Montgomery. All here.” He said, pointing out the figures in big white blow up suits. The three leaders of the Garrison. “This must be some top secret stuff.” 

 

“Look at this.” Pidge said. Lance and Hunk leaned over Pidge and where they sat in the desert sand. In black and white on the laptop a scene played itself out before them. It had to be what was going on in the ship. 

 

“Shiro.” Lance and Pidge gasped. Strapped to a table inside was Takashi Shirogane. The pilot of the Kerberos mission who was presumed dead. 

 

“Who?” Hunk asked, but no one answered him. Instead they focused on the pilot who seemed a different person entirely. The poof of hair in front of his face was snow white, and his right arm gone. Replaced with some sort of prosthetic. Alien technology. 

 

“Iverson! I need you to listen to me!” He shouted as he tried to break through the bonds holding him down to the table. “They are coming! Aliens! Out there! They're coming to earth for a weapon! Voltron! If they don’t do it they’ll do horrible things to our planet! We need to stop it! We need to do something!” Off Camera Iverson spoke softer than any of the three cadets had ever seen him. 

 

“Shiro, you're talking nonsense. We will speak to you when you're in a better state of mind. Put him under.” A scientist in a large white lab coat stepped forward with a syringe purple liquid shining inside. 

 

“No!” Shiro shouted, struggling harder as the needle came near him. “No! You need to listen! They are coming! They are coming!” The scientist injected it and his body went stiff and cold again. 

 

“We need to help him.” Pidge stated in the tense air. “We have to help him.” This time no one argued. Sweat beaded across Hunk’s forehead, but he didn’t say a word against Pidge. Lance stood and peaked over the rock again, watching as a group of faculty flew out on Hoverbikes back to the Garrison. 

 

“As soon as the rest of them leave, we go in, grab Shiro and run.” Lance decided. Pidge stood up too. 

 

“Are we really sure about this?” Hunk asked, one final time. “This is like kidnapping.” 

 

“We can’t just leave him there.” Hunk gulped, but nodded his head anyway. 

 

“And think.” Pidge began. “If Shiro is back what happened to the other members of his crew? What else is out there.” Hunk just nodded his head, he loved space just as much as the others. That was what made his decision. 

Hunk peered at the ship as well, it had cleared out surprisingly quickly. “Let's go!” Lance jumped. He ran forward and Pidge and Hunk bolted after them through the night. As quietly and quickly as possible. It wasn’t hard to sneak into the entryway. It would be the inside of the ship that was the problem. Large white sheets covered the metal sides and any technology had been removed and taken back to the Garrison, but it was still littered with scientists around the table Shiro was strapped down to. Still clearly passed out. 

 

“What are you doing here?” A scientist shouted. “Cadets! Breaching the ship-” Lance attacked before the scientist could finish the sentence. Kicking him into the knees. The scientist fumbled and crashed to the ground. 

 

“Sorry Miss. Sic!” Hunk called after the fallen scientist as they rushed forward. Looking back to her, he didn't notice the person running right towards him. Hunk turned just in time! The scientist hit them square in the chest and toppled over. 

 

“Ha!” Lance cheered. “Nice one, Big guy!!” As he took on more scientists. Ten times better at this than Hunk or Pidge. Soon people were falling to the floot left and right. 

 

“Aw man, That was Mr. Robinson.” Hunk whispered. “Sorry!! Please don’t hate me now.” He whimpered. Only a few people remained, and Lance seemed to have it handled fine. He fought mediocrely, but it was enough. 

 

“C’mon!” Pidge rushed him. “Help me with Shiro!” Pidge seemed to have used some kind of pocket knife to cut the straps, but was half the size of Shiro. Barely over 4’10 with small stringy arms. 

 

“Gotcha! Gotcha!” Hunk fumbled over taking Shiro’s other arm and lifting up as much as he could. Shiro was strong, must've been all muscle, but the two would manage. They set towards the door, and Hunk gasped. A scientist stood there, holding a gun in his hand. 

“Drop Shirogane.” They ordered with a rough and low voice. Mister Emerson. Pidge recognized. The scariest teacher in the entire Garrison. He wouldn't stutter to shoot. 

 

“Lance!” Pidge tried to whisper and shout, but the entire room could hear it anyway. “Lance!” They pleaded growing more desperate. 

 

“Whose a Lance?” Emerson began, as if he was right on time Lance ran through the ship, he climbed onto the table and yelled a single warning to Pidge and Hunk. 

 

“Duck!” Pidge and Hunk dropped, Shiro slumping in their arms as Lance jumped over them. A single shot rang through the air as Lance tackled Emerson to the ground. Hunk quivered, afraid to look up, but Pidge was moving so he had no choice. 

 

“Wasn’t Shot!” Lance cheered, jumping up and down over Emerson’s unconscious body, “Did he hit any of you?” Pidge shook their head, and so did Hunk afraid if he spoke he would immediately vomit. 

 

“Shiro’s good too. Let’s get out of here!” Pidge said, clearly shaken as well, but still moving. “I know a place in the desert we can hide until he wakes up.” Pidge led the way out of the ship, they took a slow pace, but it was all they could manage down the flat plains outside campus. 

 

“Hey Hunk, Pidge.” Lance began, from a few feet ahead of them. He had turned back, blue eyes sparkling in the darkness against his brown skin. “The Garrison is on its way. Iverson is pissed.” He hummed more terrified than amused. 

 

“Oh No, oh No, Oh no  Oh No.” Hunk rambled as he turned back to see Lance was right. Hoverbikes in the distance were tailing them. Getting closer and closer by the second. 

 

“Don’t just stand there!” Pidge shouted. “Help us!” Lance rushed to Pidge’s side, grabbing onto Shiro’s arm and lifting as much as he could. They tried to run stumbling and tripping completely out of breath, but it was no use. The headlights in the distance only grew closer. Shouts from teachers they had known begging them to stop. 

 

“Pidge, come on.” Lance encouraged as he looked back one last time. Pidge has stilled completely! They had frozen in place. “The Garrison is going to get us!” Hoverbikes roared as they drew near and small rays of the sun peaked across the sky. 

 

“I don’t think that’s our biggest problem.” Pidge argued. Not removing their eyes from the sky. Hunk and Lance looked up as well to see what they were looking at. 

 

Something was coming at them, much like the ship that came flaming towards the sky that didn’t belong to anyone from the Garrison. It glowed in the Darkness a bright blue, coming towards them the creature didn’t slow down. Instead it speeded up! Jaw wide and ready to scoop them up. 

 

A spaceship, built as a blue lion, glowing in the break of dawn soared through the sky. Ready to eat them, or to rescue them, nobody knew. 

Chapter 3: Into the Universe

“Lord Zarkon, Sire.” The captain over the transmission crackled loudly. The transmission screen lit up before Zarkon and his throne.The captain kneeled on the floor of his ship as he looked up at Zarkon. His blue skin furrowed and sharp ears flattening. “We’ve seen evidence that the Blue Lion has awakened. Our fleet has turned around from Planet Earth and are attempting to track, but it seems to have gone out of reach for our technology.” Zarkon stiffened in his throne, his large frame practically radiating power as he watched the transmission. 

 

“Is that so?” Zarkon sneered, he didn’t look towards The Captain instead looking to Haggar. She stood beside his throne, purple hood thrown over her face to only reveal her long ratty white hair and the sharp edge of her purple chin. 

 

“It is true.” She stated, a rough voice cutting through the air. “I feel the Blue Lion, along with a resurgence of Altean energy.” Over the transmission Captain Haxus sighed with relief. His suspicions were confirmed and life saved by proof he wasn’t wrong. Zarkon would’ve personally killed him if he had taunted the Emperor with something like this. 

 

“Alfor’s daughter lives?!” Zarkon exclaimed, practically on the verge of a low growl as he glared at Haggar. His rage was so evident Haxus flinched and he was on another ship entirely. 

 

“I know not.” Haggar said, just as calmly as before. “However, It is time for you to take back what is ours.” She hummed, changing the subject, twisting his mind. 

 

“Yes. I shall wipe out the remains of that worthless species once and for all, and take back Voltron.” He turned to acknowledge The Captain. “ Very good then.” Zarkon stated though the frown on his face would say otherwise. “Tell Commander Sendak I request an audience.” Haxus nodded his head and the Transmission video dropped, turning to static. It only took a moment for it to crackle back to life. Sendak appeared on screen instantly, holding onto his large prosthetic arm that was triple the size of his normal one! His muscles barged underneath his orange armor and he looked to Zarkon with the utmost respect. 

 

“Commander Sendak.” Zarkon began, “I have reason to believe The Princess of Altea is alive and well hiding within your sector. We believe she holds the whereabouts of the remaining unlocked lions. Your fleet is closest. Retrieve her and the lions. With Voltron we will be unstoppable.” Sendak grinned wildly, fangs sticking out as his metal red eye glowed. 

 

“No foe, Princess or not, has ever stood against me.”  Sendak raised his arm as he spoke, shaking it in victory. “I will bring back the Lions and the princess, I will conquer in the name of Galra! Vrepit Sa!”

 

“Sendak, Stop.” Zarkon stated coldly watching as he reached out in an attempt to end the transmission. “I have another message for you.” Sendak paused, but listened all the same. “Commander Kogane is also aboard your fleet, Correct?” Sendak’s smile fell. 

 

“Yes, Sire.” He nodded. Sendak did not hide his emotions at all. He despised his fellow commander, at the mere name he bit back a breath and bared his teeth. 

 

“Tell Commander Kogane to go in first with the red lion. Your fleet will follow behind him as a second defense.” Zarkon ended the transmission before Sendak even got the chance to open his mouth and attempt a reply

---

Pidge woke up slowly, the seeping cold from whatever they had been laying on first overtook their shoulders. They tried to shove their shoulders closer into their chest, but it was no use because their chest was the next to feel the cold. Slowly it itched its way up their knees until Pidge had no choice but to open their eyes. That’s when everything came crashing back. The transmissions, kidnapping Shiro, the lion attempting to eat them! Pidge shot up and looked around. They were in a cockpit? It was extraordinary compared to any Garrison cockpit Pidge had seen before. The controls of the ship lit up a dim blue that lit the entirety of the cockpit and it had a singular chair. Was this the inside of the mechanical lion that had tried to eat them? They must’ve been knocked out from the impact. 

 

“Woah.” Lance exhaled, Pidge jumped at his voice and looked around pushing themselves off the ground. “Are you seeing this?” Lance asked, gawking from where he stood behind the pilot’s chair. 

 

“Yeah, Yeah I am.” Pidge mumbled under their breath. They still felt a little lightheaded, but it would be fine. 

 

“I think this is what they were talking about.” Both Lance and Pidge jumped at that, they had forgotten it wasn’t just the two of them. Hunk was still passed out on the floor, but Takashi Shirogane stood strong before them. Still in tattered rags. “This is Voltron. It’s an alien warship.” Before anyone could say anything Pidge’s vision blacked out they took the gasps from the others to mean the same thing had happened. In a flash of light the blue lion sped forward in Pidge’s mind, flying towards other lions and clashing together, they twisted and morphed metal clicking loudly every second before it came together. A huge, metal robot. It was amazing, incredible, horrifying, Voltron. That, that was Voltron. 

 

“Woah! Woah! Woah!” Hunk exclaimed, stumbling to his feet. “That’s Voltron! Voltron is an epic robot!” He shouted. “And we’re- Oh my god we are flying in it.” 

 

“This is so cool!” Lance exclaimed he threw his leg over the side and slipped into the pilot’s seat leaning forward. “Do you guys feel that?” He whispered softer, and Pidge noticed when they did calm the beating in their chest that they did feel something. Drawing them in closer to the lion. They could almost picture it. The smaller green lion called out to them.

 

“Yeah.” Shiro stated. 

 

“Me too.” Hunk chimed in, anxiously looking around at Shiro. Pidge also hummed in agreement.  

 

“I think, what’s going on connects all of us.” Shiro looked around at them. “I have a feeling we're going to be around each other for a while. I’m Shiro,” He said as he took out a hand for Lance to shake. “You are?” Lance paused before speaking, eyeing Shiro up and the prosthetic arm attached to him. 

 

“Lance. Lance Mclain. Fighter Pilot extraordinaire.” He smirked, meeting Shiro’s hand with a firm shake. “This is my team.” He pointed back to Pidge and Hunk with his thumb. 

 

“I’m Pidge Gunderson, and this nervous lookin’ guy is Hunk.” Pidge said, pointing to Hunk who looked on the verge of vomiting again. 

 

“From now on we are a team, All of us.” Pidge believed the words he said. They knew it probably wouldn’t last when they revealed who they truly are. They weren’t even sure if it would last without that knowledge. Four practically strangers being a team? What were the odds? Something else in their head whispered as well. What were the odds of being in an alien warship? But Pidge pushed that thought out of their head. 

 

“Alright, We’ll your highest ranking officer.” Lance said, tilting his head up to look at Shiro with his wide blue eyes. They sparkled in the dim lighting, radiating a color Pidge had never seen before, almost glowing. “What do you think we should do, Shiro?” 

 

“We should decide together. Do we want to keep going and go through with this?” He looked to them, and for the first time Pidge felt dread crawling up their stomach. “I don’t remember a lot of things from when I was out there, but there’s this race. I tried to warn Iverson about it. They will do anything it takes to find Voltron. They’ve murdered billions, destroyed entire races and planets, and if they will stop at nothing for Voltron, that puts all of us in danger.” Pidge took note of what he said, he didn’t remember much from his mission. That had to mean he didn’t remember where his crew was. He didn’t remember where Pidge’s family was. Each word he spoke was like a gut punch harder and harder to Pidge’s stomach. 

 

“Imagine if they got their hands on something like this.” Lance whispered, fingers sweeping across the control panels. “Or all of it, but Earth.” He turned to finally glance out into space. “Our homes, and families.” Pidge swore they could see tears well in his eyes, they had never seen a shred of real emotion come out of that man. Maybe he wasn’t as annoying as he seemed. 

 

“I know.” Shiro sympathized putting a hand on his shoulder, Lance looked up at him and something about the interaction gave Pidge an almost hopeful feeling. Like maybe this could be okay if they were together. “That’s why I think if anyone wants to back out they should. This could be for the sake of the universe, but I could never pressure anyone into that.” 

 

“Guys I don’t think we’re going to get a choice.” Pidge turned towards Hunk to look at him, he seemed almost far off staring out into space. Pidge followed his gaze, and then they understood. Right before them was something Pidge had never seen before! A swirl of purple and blue had opened itself directly in front of them. It was large and beautiful, a mix of colors they had never seen before and the Lion was heading right to it. 

 

“Is that a wormhole!” Lance exclaimed leaning forward to look at it, Shiro did too, but he was looking at something else. 

 

“That’s Kerberos.” He said, looking in awe at the planet to the right of them. “We’ve made it to the edge of the solar system.” 

 

“No way. We couldn’t have been in here for longer than an hour.” Pidge gawked. “It takes our ships years to get all the way out here.” 

 

“Guys! Hate to interrupt the comments about the Alien warships super speed, but wormhole! Right there! About to eat us whole!” Lance exclaimed. 

 

“Why do things keep eating us!” Hunk exclaimed. He grabbed the back of Lance’s chair as tightly as he could. “Can you try to get us out of here?” He asked desperately looking at Lance. 

 

“I don’t know how to control this thing!” He shouted, throwing his arms into the air wildly. “Uhm! I can try! It’s fine! I always thread the needle!” He said his signature phrase, this time as Pidge watched him and the sweat bead across his forehead they wondered if it was just a cover to make Lance feel better when he was trying to fly. A joke to calm himself down. 

 

“No! Lance!” Hunk shouted, even louder this time. “We want to do the opposite! Don’t thread the needle! Don’t thread the needle! LANCE!” 

 

“It’s getting closer!” Pidge shouted as the Lion shook and shuddered underneath them. 

 

“It’s like she’s doing the opposite of what I’m trying to do!” Lance shouted frustratedly, gripping the controls harder and harder. 

 

“Everyone brace for impact!” Shiro’s voice boomed over all of the noise. Pidge lurched forward and grabbed the back of Lance’s seat both Shiro and Hunk crunching them together. Pidge’s eyes squinted shut and they felt their body go stiff. Everything ached as they were pushed together in every other direction, but never letting go because if they let go they would go flying against metal and that was a whole nother level of pain. Pidge could hear the others shouting, the way their mouth was open told them they had to be screaming too but it all felt far off, distant. Something else was slithering its way into Pidge’s head. Green forests and beautiful rivers, and the green lion again singing an ancient song that Pidge felt they knew all of the words too. As soon as it was there it was gone and Pidge was flickering open their eyes again. They had to find that Lion. They had to do it. It wasn’t optional anymore. 

 

“Where are we?” Shiro asked as he surveyed the blue and green swirling planet. It almost reminded Pidge of earth, but different, An odder sense of alien surrounded it. 

 

“Home.” Lance stated. “I- I don’t know how, but the lion. She’s telling me. This is her home.” 

Chapter 4: The Red Paladin

The planet looked so earth-like it was uncanny, a bright blue sky littered with clouds and a calming warmth that felt snug against Pidge’s skin. Right in front of them was something so remarkable Pidge couldn’t help but gasp. A castle sat perched on an elevated hill. It was tall and white with black and blue accents across its four points. The blue lion launched downward and Lance didn’t bother to stop it. She clearly knew more than any of them and for some reason he trusted her. 

 

“Arus.” Lance whispered in the near silent cockpit as they got closer and closer to the castle. “This planet is called Arus.” 

 

“There’s no planet like that in our solar system.” Hunk gasped, leaning forward to stare awkwardly, crushing Pidge in the process. 

 

‘“I don’t think we're in our solar system anymore.” Pidge said, but their voice was overshadowed by the loud creaking of metal again as the jaw to the blue lion cracked itself open. Light filtered in, the ground right in front of their eyes. Pidge was the first to make a move, mainly because it was uncomfortable squished within all of these people. They stepped forward, then again. Looking back to make sure the others were following out into the planet. Shiro was right behind them. The ground on Arus was tough, made of cracked beige rock. As Pidge stepped forward they felt the lion behind them roar, it was earth shattering shaking what had to be the entire planet! Hunk and Lance scrambled out of the way as fast as they could as the Lion pushed forward directly over them. It ran to the castle with long leaping bounds!

“Please don’t eat us!” Hunk yelled.  “Not Again!” He pleaded, ducking his head down into his arms. His yellow shirt ruffled in the wind and just brushed against the blue lion as she ran over them. ‘Oh.” He looked up again as the Lion stopped at the door. Pidge couldn’t help but laugh. “You're just going to the door, I guess I was wrong.” 

 

“I think it wants us to follow it.” Lance said, he practically leapt forward! Following after the Lion who nudged at the door with its metal head. Shiro followed after and Pidge turned to glance at Hunk. 

 

“C’mon let's go!” Pidge exclaimed before rushing forward as well. Adrenaline rushing through their veins so fast they felt the need to explode or scream! Hunk was quick to follow after them clearly not feeling the same. 

 

“I don’t think it can get in-” Lance began, but as soon as he spoke the door swung open, hinges squeaking loudly as darkness revealed itself to them. A set of stairs cascading into it. “Nevermind. What is this place?” 

 

“Hello??” Hunk called out as he walked up the steps. His voice echoed across the metal walls.  Pidge followed close behind him gasping as lights flickered on along the sides of the walls. Bright blue, leading them onwards. “Hello..??” He called a second time. The lights flickered on, and one final blue light shot to life in the middle of the room! A large beam shedding its glow on everything around them. 

 

“Hold for Identity Scan.” Hunk jumped as the voice echoed across the halls! It wasn’t the voice of anyone in the group! He stumbled into Pidge who fell back a few steps. 

 

“Who are you!” Shiro shouted. “What do you want from us!” He yelled, but to no avail. The voice was gone as soon as it arrived and crashed through the blanket of tension that had thrown itself over them. 

 

“I think we need to go that way!” Lance pointed as torches bounced to life to the right of them. The flames just like the lights were a bright blue capturing everyone’s eyes with their beauty and abnormality. 

 

“I guess so.” Pidge remarked.

 

“I don’t like this.” Hunk hummed nervously, but walked the path anyways, He was side by side with Lance. Something in that made him feel a bit safer. It could be the comforting presence of a close friend or just the fact that he wasn’t the lone soul leading the pack to what layed in the center of the alien castle. 

 

“There’s a door right there!” Lance exclaimed! He skipped a step forward to point at the large door, as if it sensed him pointing the door creaked and shook as if this place was a hundred years old and slid open. 

 

“Everyone stick close together.” Shiro reminded them. For a moment Pidge had forgotten he was even there. They glanced back and took a quick note of the way he stood. He looked ready to attack anything that came at them. Knees slightly bent ready to pounce any second. Eyes surveying everything it could about the dark room. It was almost as if they were expecting to be attacked. 

 

“Pidge c’mon.” Lance said as he walked into the room. Pidge didn’t even notice they stopped! Instead they rushed forward after Lance flinching back as bright, blinding white lights clashed against their vision. Squinting through it all Pidge looked around. The room was large and round. In the middle was a console. A control panel?! Excitement rolled up their spine and they rushed forward. 

 

“Is this some kind of control panel?” They tried to tap at it, but nothing happened. 

 

“Where are we?” Lance asked, he moved towards the edge of the room looking at the oddly colored ground. There were several circles in the ground that didn’t match the bright white at all. Another shade entirely. 

 

“Some kind of control room?” Hunk asked, coming up behind Pidge to look at the console. “How do you work this?” 

 

“Woah!”” Pidge and Hunk exclaimed, Pidge jumped back as a screen activated in front of them. “So that’s how that works?” They tried to touch the screen, but Lance’s shout stopped them. 

“What the hell!” He jumped back from the circle he was examining! It wasn’t just a color, it was some kind of pod rising from within the ground. It rose quickly, fog coming up with it, a dark gray and infiltrating all around them. Just inside the pods they could see two people. 

 

“Are those like dead aliens??!” Hunk exclaimed, tensing quickly, but no one could respond as the glass holding the girl inside of it disappeared and she dropped out directly in front of Lance. 

 

“Father!” She cried out with a thickly accented voice extending her arm outward as she dropped and her long blue hair puffed out around her. Lance extended his arms and easily caught her, his face pulling itself into a smirk as a light blush dusted itself across his face. 

 

“Hello.” Lance smirked, as smoothly as possible, Pidge swore she could hear Shiro drop his face in his hands as he heard Lance speak. 

 

‘Who are you? Where am I? What are you doing!” She exclaimed, rambling as fast as possible as she tried to push her way out of Lance’s arm’s. Her dress fluttered around her legs and they seemed to shake and ache as if that pod hadn’t prepared her to walk. 

 

“I’m Lance.” He grinned, forcing his voice to go deep and sultry. “And you're right here in my arms.” 

 

“Your ears.” She mumbled, staring at him with a confused look. Lance only nodded his head. “They are.. so hideous.” Pidge practically cackled at that and Lance’s face flushed even more. 

“My ears are actually incredible, and they heard what you said-” Lance cut himself off screaming as the girl mobed grabbing him by the ear and twisting him around so she was holding him against her chest as he shouted. “Ow! Ow! Ow!: 

 

“Who are you?!” She asked again. "Why are you in my castle?” Pidge felt their entire body tense as Shiro bit his lip nervously. 

 

“I don’t know!” Lance shouted. “A blue lion took us here! Will you let go of me!” Still she didn’t move, her eyebrows furrowed as she took in his words 

 

“How do you have the blue lion?” She questioned. “Where are the paladins?” She mumbled something under her breath. “Unless, Unless.” She dropped Lance and he stumbled forward, nearly crashing to the ground as he made its way away from her and towards Hunk, rubbing his bright red ears. “How long has it been?” She rushed forward to the control console. 

 

“We don’t know what you're talking about. Why don’t you tell us who you are.” Shiro gestured towards the others as he looked at her panic ridden face. “Maybe we can help.” 

 

“I am Princess Allura of Planet Altea, and I need to find out how long we’ve been asleep.” A serious look played across her face as she placed her hands on the console and it came to life! A bright blue screen appeared. As she messed with it the second pod opened! Dropping out a man with bright orange hair and had the same markings under his eyes. He must’ve been from Altea as well. 

 

“Enemy Combatants!” He shouted, in an even more accented voice than Allura. He lunged towards Lance toppling over on his asleep legs, and Lance easily side stepped him. “Darn these diddly dang dang it sleep pod legs!” He exclaimed, “Oh I would’ve had you easily if I was in fit condition!” 

 

“Oh I would’ve attacked first!” Lance grinned, and Pidge couldn’t help but laugh as he poorly imitated some kind of karate moves at the other alien. 

 

“Not before I gave you the ‘Ol Coran special!” Coran, most likely waved his arms and legs wildly up and down, but Pidge paid him no attention looking back at Allura and the horrified look on her face. “Princess?” Coran asked, watching her carefully. 

 

“It can’t be.” She paused, light tears streamed down her black cheeks. “Coran, We’ve been asleep for ten thousand years.” Allura looked at Coran, she seemed almost far off for a moment. As if the two were having an exchange no one else could see. Then she looked up again, not only with sorrow, but with rage. “Planet Altea, and every Planet in our solar system is gone. Coran, Father is gone. Our entire civilization is gone. We are the last Altean’s alive. Zarkon! This is all Zarkon’s fault!” 

 

“Zarkon.” Shiro whispered, his face paled at the words. He looked cold, almost sick to the stomach. “I remember now, Zarkon imprisoned my crew and I.” 

 

“He’s still alive!” Allura gasped, “Impossible!” 

 

“Who?” Hunk piped up for the first time. 

 

“Zarkon is the king of the Galra, a vile creature and enemy to all free people.” She answered, hatred spiked in all of her words. 

 

“He’s the one searching for Voltron.” Shiro said quietly. The reality of the situation hitting all of them. Hunk gulped loudly. 

 

“He’s searching for it because he knows it’s the only thing that can destroy him, Which is why we need to do it before him. Come with me. All of you!” Allura rushed forward and Pidge scrambled to keep up with her. Allura led them through winding halls further and further to the center of the castle as fast as possible. With her height the pace was easy, but Pidge was practically panting side by side with Hunk as they raced forward. It only took a few minutes for them to reach the door to the bridge. The bridge was a large room, Allura forced her way into the center placing her hands on the two large standing pieces of bright white metal beside her and the room exploded to life. A map of the entire universe sparked to life! Stars and planets Pidge had never even heard of before surrounding them! 

 

“Woah. Did your civilization create all of this technology ten thousand years ago?” Pidge asked. “This is so advanced it’s more than incredible.”  

 

“We did once” Allura whispered solemnly, as she literally scrolled through the map of planets, searching for something in particular. 

 

“Allura!” Coran exclaimed. “It appears we aren’t the last Alteans after all!” She turned, a confused look on her face to see Coran holding three colorful mice! Pink, Yellow, and Blue! 

 

“Oh My! They must’ve slipped into my cryopod.” Allura began, but she didn’t get to finish her sentence, red lights blared flashing as sirens went off in the room. They jumped and Pidge felt Hunk lightly grabbing at the sleeve of their shirt. 

 

“A Galran battleship has set it’s tracker on us!” Coran exclaimed. Gaping at the screen as the sirens died out. 

 

“How did they find us?!” Allura gasped. 

 

“You mean, The evil race that wants to find Voltron and kill us!!” Hunk exclaimed, holding onto Pidge even tighter. Pidge didn’t mind. They would pretend not to notice to make Hunk feel better about it. 

 

“How long until they will get here?”: Shiro asked, completely ignoring Hunk’s comment. Coran looked down at his hands, mumbling as he counted with them. 

 

“I would give it, A day or so?” Before anyone else could respond Allura looked at them. A determined face set in stone as she began to speak. 

 

“Fine! We will let them come, by the time they arrive we will have already successfully formed Voltron.” She stated, her words felt that even with the largest of protest nothing could stop them. 

“Princess, There are five lions. How are we going to find the rest?” Shiro asked, stepping closer to her and looking at the map of stars. Coran answered instead. 

 

“King Alfor connected Allura to the Lion’s Life force. She is the lone key to the Lion's whereabouts.” 

 

“There are coordinates.” Pidge realized. “The black lion already seems to be here.” 

 

“Look at your primitive synapses firing away in your little brain cage.” Coran smiled poking at Pidge’s head, but Pidge dodged his finger looking away uncomfortably. 

 

“Very observant.” Allura remarked, and Pidge felt themselves beaming with pride at her complement. “The black lion is located within the castle. To keep the black lion out of Zarkon’s hands, King Alfor locked it in the castle. It can only be freed if the other four lions have been awakened. As you have noticed the lions choose their pilots. It is a mystical bond that cannot be forged. The Quintessence of the pilot is mirrored in his Lion. Together, they form something greater than science can explain.” An image of the black lion flickered across the screen and Allura pushed it towards Shiro. 

 

“The Black Lion is the head of Voltron. It will take a pilot who is a born leader, someone who is decisive, and in control at all times. He is someone whose men will follow him at all times with no hesitation. That is why you, Shiro, will be the pilot of the black lion.” Allura said. Shiro nodded his head, as the others looked at him. They knew it was true, but Allura’s words made it all more real. Next the Green lion appeared, and Pidge felt that connection again exploding in their mind. 

 

“The Green Lion has a curious and inquisitive personality, and will need a pilot of intellect and daring. That is why Pidge will pilot the green lion.” Pidge felt their heart warm as purring almost entered their head. This was it. This was their destiny. For the first time in years Pidge felt at home. The blue lion appeared next and as the Green lion disappeared the feeling didn’t dissipate. 

 

“The blue lion-” 

 

“Lemme guess.” Lance interrupted as the image floated to him. “It takes the best, and most handsome pilot of the bunch.” he smirked. Allura merely rolled her eyes and moved on. 

 

“The yellow lion is caring and kind.” She sent the image towards Hunk, and Pidge couldn’t say they were surprised. “Its pilot puts others' needs before himself. His heart is mighty. As the leg of Voltron you will lift the team up and hold us together.” Hunk smiled as well and Pidge wondered if he could feel the warmth too. 

 

“Allura, There’s only four of us, Who will pilot the other lion?” Shiro asked. 

 

“My Father once piloted the red lion.” She whispered, holding the image of the lion close to herself as emotion poured out with every one of her words. “The red lion is the hardest to master. She is temperamental and unstable, but she is the fastest and most agile of all the lions. It needs a pilot who relies more on instinct than skill alone. I believe-” 

 

“Allura.” Coran began, cutting her off. 

 

“Yes?” 

 

“The red lion has already been awakened.” The room went cold, Allura’s face dropped. It was more than obvious she wanted to pilot the Red lion. “It gets worse.” he whispered, wincing as he spoke. “The red lion is traveling with the Galran ship. They appear to be talking. They have a communication line hooked up. 

 

“No! The Red Paladin cannot be working with the Galra! They cannot already have a lion!” 

“They could be holding the red paladin captive! Or perhaps our sensors are wrong.” Coran rambled. “I’m going to try and patch a communication line over. He clicked and clacked across a control panel into the silent tense room for several moments. “I’ve got it!” He pulled up a transmission in front of them to replace the stars. 

 

It was only up for a moment, yet it was enough time for them all to take it in. In the pilot seat of the Red Lion sat a teenager who looked around the same age as Lance. He was in purple and orange Galran armor, and his face was distinctly human. 

 

“Keith?!” 

Notes:

It's official yall! We are diverging from the Canon and getting to the fun part of this AU!

Chapter 5: Pidge Gunderson!

Notes:

We hit 10k!! Time to Celebrate!!

Keith Kogane sat before them on the Transmission. Pidge would recognize that boy instantly. From his long black hair pulled back into a mullet and his shining purple eyes. They would always recognize Keith. Even if he was different now, eyes shining yellow along with purple and stripes of purple slashing across both of his cheeks. It’s like they reached up from below his chin and slapped him across the face. He was skinnier than usual, but also somehow stronger. He radiated power, He radiated Galra. It only took a second for Keith to realize what they were doing. He leaned forward a grimace filling his face and just like that the boy was gone. 

‘We’ve been blocked out of the transmission!” Coran exclaimed, but no one paid any attention to him, even Allura was still busy staring at the paladins who looked up in awe at the screen. 

“It’s another human.” She whispered, clearly trying to pry without being too pushy. She pushed her hair out of her face. “And they appear to be working with the Galra.” Her voice dropped. “Do humans ally themselves with the Galra?” Her words caused an outburst from everyone on all sides. 

 

“We’ve been completely locked out, the entire castle, perhaps the Lions could still connect!” Coran exclaimed, clicking away at the control panel. 

 

“That was Keith.” Pidge stated, they looked desperately at the other paladins. “That was Keith! Keith Kogane!” They didn’t know how scared they sounded, how worried it must’ve seemed as they looked at the others. Then they saw Shiro. Shiro had gone cold, his jaw tightened, arms lax, his face getting paler and paler. “You know something!” They exclaimed, jumping forward towards Shiro. He didn’t move, barely even acknowledging Pidge. 

 

“No way!” Lance exclaimed. “No way, Keith Kogane, The drop out could Pilot a lion.” He scoffed. “That’s impossible, He’s not even nearly good enough to be a paladin. We were rivals, you know?” He almost laughed. Pidge couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not and they didn’t care. 

“He didn’t drop out.” Pidge hissed as they took another step towards Shiro pointing a finger right into his chest. “What did you do?!” 

 

“Pidge.” Hunk began quietly. “We don’t know, maybe it just looked like him-” Pidge ignored the rest of his sentence, eyes staying on Shiro. He didn’t even look Pidge in the eye. Starring up and far away from all of them. 

 

“Pidge, Buddy.” Lance began. “You need to relax. What do you care about Keith Kogane anyways, did you two even know each other?” Each word, each question, every second was more infuriating than the last. Lance didn’t know anything. He didn’t know what Shiro did to Keith. He didn’t know that Shiro was some of the only family Keith had before he tossed him out to the trash. Lance didn’t know Keith was like a brother to them! He didn’t even care, he made shitty jabs at Keith regardless. 

 

“Keith was like a brother to me goddammit!” They shouted loudly as they turned on Lance. “As soon as he left The Garrison he spent weeks staying at my house before he disappeared.” The gapes on Hunk’s and Lance’s faces were laughable, and Pidge did laugh, a low loud laugh that they could barely hear Shiro’s words. 

 

“Keith disappeared?” He whispered, mouth barely moving, eyes still staring into the distance. 

 

“About a month after The Kerberos mission failed.” Hunk supplied softly. He was shaking intensely now, but trying to keep it calm. 

 

“They got him.” Shiro whispered, so heartbroken it made Pidge want to scream with rage. 

 

“What do you mean they got him?!” They sneered. Pidge knew they would regret being this rude later, but now the anger fueled them. 

 

“I don’t remember much, It’s slowly coming back to me.” He whispered, still frozen, still afraid. “I remember distinctly when Zarkon’s witch was trying to torture me she searched through painful memories. They found Keith. They replayed it over and over again.” He recalled. “I never thought it might mean something, but this has to mean something. They took Keith and they must’ve done the same thing to me that they did to him. Only he didn’t escape.” Hunk’s heart dropped in his chest, Pidge felt sick to their stomach, backing away from Shiro slowly. “Allura, What are we going to do? We can’t form Voltron without the fifth lion.” Allura, alas, also seemed perplexed watching them all carefully. 

 

“You all knew Keith Kogane?” She asked. Hunk looked away from her blue eyes that seemed to crawl all over him. 

 

“I mean I didn’t, Lance didn’t really either-” 

 

“We were Rivals! You know, Keith and Lance, neck and neck!” He exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood. It only worked slightly. 

 

“Is there a chance we could convince this Keith Kogane to join Voltron’s side, If we were to perhaps corner him away from these Galrans.” She whispered, plotting something inside her head. “We could retrieve the rest of the lions and take down the Galra cruiser then we would have Keith cornered and I’m sure the four of you can take down one pilot.” 

 

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that Allura.” Shiro spoke up, for the first time since he had seen Keith’s face. Shiro beamed with pride as he spoke, but there was also something else mixed in there. A sorrow so deep none of them could understand. “Keith is the best pilot of his generation, Hell he may as well be one of the best Pilots on earth.” 

 

“That’s not true!” Lance argued. “Compared to you he’s nothing, Shiro!” 

 

“Keith has broken every single one of my records at the Garrison if not more.” Shiro said, voice running cold. “If we are going to take him down we need to get the Lions now, and we need to not only do that. But be ready to take down a Galra cruiser.” 

 

“Ok, I’ve set up a pod, Shiro and Pidge will go to the location of the green lion. The pod is already loaded up with the coordinates” Coran began, pointing to the two of them. Pidge wanted to argue, but knew it was better not to. If they argued they would get to Keith and the rest of their family even slower. “Lance, you'll take Hunk in the Blue Lion to the coordinates I’ve sent to your lion.” 

 

“You got it sir!” Lance mock saluted before grabbing Hunk’s arm and turning them around back towards the doors of the room. 

 

“We have a plan.” Allura announced. “Let’s go Team Voltron!” 

 

---

 

The pod ride to the Green Lion is possibly the most awkward encounter with Takashi Shirogane that Pidge has ever had, and believe Pidge, they had a lot of conversations with him. Though most of those were under another name. Back with Shiro was someone Pidge trusted wholeheartedly along with the rest of their family. Pidge remembered the days he would come over to talk for hours with Matt Holt and Pidge’s dad Sam holt. They remembered the countless dinners their mom would make for the whole lot of them, and they remembered the day Shiro sparked Pidge’s need to become a pilot. 

 

It was late into the night again. One of those days where Pidge’s mom would worry about the boys in the basement and convince Shiro to stay the night because it was far too dark. They had eaten dinner an hour ago, and Pidge had climbed onto the roof of the house out their window. Pretending to be studying for some test. Pidge stared at the stars in a loving way they had never known before. Something was out there, singing, calling to them. They needed to get up there one day, just like Matt soon would. 

 

Laughter filled Pidge’s ears, but they couldn’t really register it, enamored by the twinkling lights from above. 

 

“C’mon Shiro.” Matt grinned, his voice was slurred as he spoke and something told Pidge it wasn’t just from sleep deprivation. 

 

“I don’t even know if I can fit through this window.” Shiro scoffed. “I’m too buff and muscular for this.” He laughed voice slurred as well and Pidge turned back towards the window to see Matt toppling out of it and Shiro right behind him. He was right, the window was way too small for someone his size, but he managed. 

 

“Heyy! Katie!” Matt grinned, he threw his arms around their shoulders and smiled from ear to ear. “Whatcha doin’ out here sis?” But Matt didn’t wait for an answer as Shiro climbed out and sat on the edge beside Katie staring upwards just as they had been, but this time looking like an absolute toddler who had never seen the stars before. “Oh My god! I’m grabbing snacks!” He exclaimed, rushing away and flopping back in the window. 

 

“I’m going to be up there one day.” Shiro said, almost dreamily pointing to the sky. “I bet you are too.” He said looking at Katie. They weren’t even sure if Shiro knew who he was talking to, yet his words still touched their soul. “With your own crew just like Matt. Discovering the unknowns learning everything this world has to offer. That’s going to be you.” Katie didn’t remember much of what happened afterwards, Matt crazily crashing back in and kicking them out at some point, but they did remember what happened much much further after.

 

Katie remembers Keith, turning up on their doorstep, Shiro’s mentee. He joined Matt and Shiro in their nights full of research despite the fact he wasn’t going on the mission. He slept over spent days with both Matt and Shiro. Until it all ended. 

 

He snuck into the house through the window. Katie remembered because they thought they were going to be robbed, grabbing the closest weapon, a star wars fake light saber and attacking him as soon as he slipped in. 

 

They remember his tear stained face, his small little red bag of all his belongings. He said he only needed a place to stay the night. Shiro gave up on him. He screamed and yelled, so Keith had quit. Katie couldn’t say no. 

 

He would stay for the next three weeks, going into town, looking for jobs. Coming home at night. Katie would sneak him food, talk and laugh with him. He helped them do their homework, even giving them tips to get into the Garrison even if it wasn’t the path he would follow in life. 

 

Then Katie remembers when it really went to all hell. 

 

Pilot Error. 

 

Their father, Their brother, and Shiro all went on the Kerberos mission. Shiro, the youngest, best pilot The Garrison had ever seen, went on that mission. No one came back. 

 

They blamed Pilot error. 

 

The Garrison's top pilot made a mistake. 

 

They were fucking liars. 

 

Katie remembers pilot error. They remember the days blurred together, they started seeing less of Keith, less of everyone. Eventually he went missing, but Katie never really realized it. At some point they started working again. Through the hole that had torn itself through their family. Trying to prove that The Garrison was lying. Trying to make the situation a little better. Their mother had broken completely. Someone had to keep it going. 

 

They snuck into the Garrison. They broke into the labs searching for anything, but they got caught. They got banned. 

 

Katie Holt was banned from Garrison Grounds. 

 

So they made a new plan, this time it wasn’t Katie holt. This time they pulled out a false facade. Pidge Gunderson, Someone new. Someone allowed on Garrison grounds who would find the answers to it all. 

 

“-Idge? Pidge?” Shiro’s voice snapped Pidge back to reality and Pidge blinked away tears. Looking up from where they sat in the pod. The pod was small, it only held two chairs and a single control panel, and behind them was little space to move. It was still the same sleek white and blue design as The Castle. 

 

“Yeah?” They asked gently. They fiddled with their fingers trying to hold back any rage or anger they held against Shiro. He hurt Keith, He may have gotten their family killed, but they know nothing of his side of the story. 

 

“Do you know what happened between Keith and I?” he asked, voice so gently Pidge could barely believe it was coming out Shiro’s mouth. He was the loud, confident, leader type. Not this broken sounding soldier. Pidge only nodded their head. 

 

“Bit’s and pieces, Yeah. Keith didn’t like to talk about it.” They tried, and Shiro nodded his head into the tense air. He didn’t seem like he was going to back out of the conversation any time soon. 

 

“I can imagine. I really fucked up.” Pidge winced, They had never, never ever, heard Shiro swear before. The golden boy of the Garrison never even touched a bad word before this. “I told him all these horrible things. Let out all of my pent up emotions from my failing relationship, my deteriorating health on this kid who I knew would suffer the most from it.” Each word he said was like a gut punch to the chest. “Now he’s suffering because of me. Even more than I did when I was imprisoned by the Galra. I never meant to hurt him.” 

 

“Yeah, but you did anyways, It’s really fucked up, man” Pidge agreed, ignoring the taken aback look on Shiro’s face as they kept going. “You have a chance to fix it though.” They whispered. ‘We have a chance to help.”

 

“You're right.” Shiro nodded his head in agreement. “I don’t know if it’ll work, but I'll do anything for my team." 

“You don’t know until you try.” Pidge argued back. “I don’t want to hold any of this against you Shiro. I don’t want to be biased against you anymore. You know I hated you.” They stated, watching how every word kept reeling them in. “I tried to hate you so much, but I can’t. You're a good person, and I believe you can fix this.” 

 

“Thank you, Pidge.” Shiro said, looking genuinely at them. “Thank you for the benefit of the doubt. I’m going to get your brother back.” Pidge’s heart warmed in their chest, and for the first time they felt a step closer to their family again, even if Shiro had yet to learn about the rest of his crew being their family. 

Chapter 6: Green and Yellow

It didn’t take long for Pidge and Shiro’s pod to reach the coordinates, landing smoothly on the surface of a soft green planet. Pidge was the first of the two to fling themselves out and away from the silence of the cockpit. The silence had turned to a more comfortable affair, and it had almost seemed like old times in Pidge’s mind, but something else lingered there too. An anxiety that slithered in and made home inside their mind. Pidge’s fingers tapped around the Altean device Allura had given them. Looking down and trying to memorize the different symbols and patterns. 

 

“Look!” Shiro exclaimed. Pidge nearly jumped, they had completely forgotten that Shiro was with them. Looking up towards where Shiro pointed with his human hand Pidge gasped. The planet they seemed to have landed on was some kind of jungle that hummed lightly with the buzzing of insects and the softly flowing tide. It was beautiful, and it seemed like they weren’t the only ones. 

 

“It’s whatever that thing is.” Pidge stated, open mouth gawking at the sloth-like creature in front of them. It had light white fur that turned gray in the middle and was standing beside a canoe. A canoe with a lion engraved on the side staring at Pidge. That was the green lion. The sloth-like creature seemed to be analyzing Pidge before raising a soft hand and pointing at the Voltron symbol on the Altean device. “I- I think he wants us to get in his canoe.” Pidge said, absolutely bewildered. 

 

“Huh.” Shiro hummed softly, but he took a step forward either way towards the canoe. How was he so calm about this? Pidge wondered. Are we just doing this? “Coming?” He asked as if it was a completely normal thing. 

 

“Are we actually doing this?” Pidge asked. It was almost ridiculous, follow the sloth on two legs into a boat to lead to the Green lion, Though that did sound better than being eaten by the blue lion. 

 

“We need to get the Green Lion.” Shiro shrugged it off. He took another step forward and this time Pidge followed “I’ve been locked up by Aliens for a year,” He chuckled. “This is nothing.” Shiro’s calmness nearly helped ease the slithering snake of anxiety out of their head. Nearly. 

 

“Thank you.” Pidge whispered, near silently as they wobbled and stepped into the boat. Pidge didn’t even know if the sloth could understand, but the way it nodded its head made them feel a little bit more seen. The sloth stood in between Pidge and Shiro paddling back and forth, and Pidge nearly felt like it was better that way. Every second they felt as if their identity was going to be revealed to him. It shouldn’t have mattered now. Pidge was in space. The garrison was far behind them, but still the thought was just as horrifying. 

 

The jungle around them buzzed with noise and Pidge attempted to focus on that rather than the thoughts mingling around their brain begging for attention. It was all so peaceful, what was the point of thinking when Pidge could have this. The canoe underneath them rockin in rhythm with the soft waves. The gentle winds making the branches fly. Everything felt as if it was singing. Pidge had never been one for nature, but if everything was like this in Space they would no longer be opposed. 

 

“I wonder if Lance and Hunk are having as good a time as us.” Pidge said dreamily. 

 

---

 

"Oh no! Oh no! Oh no!” Hunk practically screamed in Lance’s ear. He held onto the back of Lance’s seat so tight that his fingers paled as his face grew green. Galra fighters surrounded them as soon as they had gotten close to the coordinates of the Yellow line. Missiles shot out at the Blue Lion as Lance attempted to dodge, but there were too many of them! Five fighters had already cornered them! 

 

“I thought Coran said these planets were peaceful!” Hunk screamed as he swallowed back the barf rising in his throat. 

 

“Peaceful, my ass!” Lance gritted his teeth and shouted back, A shot hit the Blue Lion! Lance and Hunk screamed as The lion shifted to the left! Hunk stumbled over his feet crashing to the ground and vomiting across the metal ground of the cockpit. Hunk could hear Lance groaning in the back and noted to apologize for that later. He wiped his face and forced himself to stand on shaky legs. 

 

“Lance! According to the coordinates right now we’re right above the yellow lion!” He shouted as the metal around them groaned and screamed from the shots targeting the falling lion. “It’s right where they're mining!” He pointed down to where the land was carved out and the rock was demolished. Everywhere else the orangey-gray stood strong. Except here. “Do you think they're mining for the lion? Do they know?” 

 

“Well they are bound to know now!” Lance shouted. “I’m going to drop you in and cover you! You got it, Hunk?” He asked, he leaned his neck back for a moment, and a shot from the Galra shooter hit them right in the side. Lance groaned, hands tightly gripping the controls again. “I need to drop you now! Hunk!” 

 

“Me? I-” Hunk began nerves wracking his brain so hard he stuttered over every other word. “I can’t. I can’t Lance!” His voice broke as he spoke, and worried etched itself over Lance’s face. He had seen his friend afraid, anxious, scared, but never like this. “What if the yellow lion doesn’t want me? What if I’m not good enough, What if it doesn’t work. What if I just get all of us killed!” He exclaimed. “I’m going to cry, I’m going to cry. I'm actually crying.” Lance couldn’t look back to see if the words Hunk was saying were true, too preoccupied with the fighters in front of him, but with the small noises Hunk was making it had to be true. 

 

“Hunk, Buddy. Allura, The frickin’ princess told us that Lion chose you. You can do this. I know you can do this. I believe in you.” He whispered, trying to keep his voice calm despite the ever growing army of fighters trying to take him down. 

 

“But-” 

 

“No time for questions!” Lance exclaimed, he slammed his fist down on the eject button. Metal slid against metal and Hunk was gone, dropping through the lion and out into the sky. Lance could only hope that he made the right decision. Trying to tune out Hunk’s loud cry. He knew Hunk could do this. He knew he could. 

 

Hunk plummet through the sky, His arms wrapped tightly around his stomach and tears flying of his face as he flew, he couldn’t help but scream having no clue where he would land, He tried to twist and turn into the air, but all he could see was the darkness of the hole below him dimly lit with purple lights. It was horrifying and coming closer and closer by the second! Hunk held himself closer and closed his eyes preparing for impact. If he was going to die like this he wanted it to be slow, painful, so he could feel the pain and die with his failure. Hunk barely even noticed when the wind stopped rushing around him and the cold chill turned into a comforting warmth. He had to creak his eyes back open because he was sure enough he must’ve already fallen. Is this what death feels like? He wondered distantly as he opened his eyes. 

 

He had landed! Surrounded by soft purple metal. It didn't hurt at all! Hunk bounded to his feet and looked around. He was in some purple kind of mine shaft. He had landed here perfectly. That couldn’t have just been fate. This had to have been the lion. Hunk dropped to his knees by where he thought the controls must’ve been looking up before he peeled off the metal panel.

 

“I feel you.” he whispered to the yellow lion, wherever they were. Hunk quickly looked down, a new found confidence in his step as he worked to hotwire the shaft. His uncle had taught him how all those years ago. His motorcycle had been stolen from some kid who had hotwired it, and Hunk had begged to learn because of how cool it seemed. He messed with the wires until he found the two that needed to connect. The two that made his brain hum. These two would take him to the lion. 

 

As soon as he connected them the shaft shook to life and Hunk felt nerves lighting him on fire once again. Just as soon as the feeling of comfort had gone it was back. 

 

“I can’t believe Lance just did that.” He rambled. “Drop me off on an alien planet full of furry purple aliens trying to kill us. Lovely Lovely.” He hummed spitefully. As the words came out something overtook his anger again. Just as calming as the hum in his head that sounded like a softened electricity, The yellow lion was trying to calm himself down. Hunk knew it. He just needed to let it. 

 

“This is fine,” He muttered again. Trying to feel more genuine about it. “This is fine. Cool. Cool.” He whispered to himself as the shaft stuttered to a stop and the doors mechanically slid open. Hunk could practically see every gear shift and grind. The sounds sharp as a knife to his head. Whoever designed this was going for practicality rather than comfort. He noted as he stepped outside into the cave. 

 

“Now, how do I find this lion?” As soon as he spoke the cave lit up around him! Drawings littered the walls of a lion. The sketches glowed a pale yellow. “Gotcha.” He whispered softly as he walked further in the cave step by step. “So I’m assuming this means you do want me.” The  lighting of the drawings intensified with an even stronger glow. “This is a first.” He whispered. He dragged his hand gently across the wall. The electricity it sent up his palm was incredible. It was magical. 

 

---

 

Pidge’s leg had started shaking a while ago. They weren’t really sure when it had happened. They knew they were already gripped by panic either way so it wasn’t so bad to let some of it out especially when it wasn’t shaking the canoe or anything. The threat of tipping was non-existent. The only problem with shaking was Shiro noticed. 

 

“You seem nervous.” His deep, but kind voice infiltrated the air. Pidge glanced up. They had been staring at the ground of the canoe for so long. They cursed under their breath. They should’ve known that doing that would’ve resulted in someone noticing their current state of mind. “What’s going on, Pidge?” 

 

“I just, I know that the princess said I was destined to pilot the lion, but I don’t know.” Pidge shrugged, looking forward at the land just ahead of them. Pidge knew they were going to stop there. They knew that for sure. “I’ve never flown everything before. Sure I know the Garrison textbooks and manuals by heart, but-” They paused refraining themselves from saying the name. “A friend of mine once told me none of that matters when you're actually flying. I know no one can be as bad as Lance, but what if this wasn’t meant for me. What if this wasn’t what I was meant to do.” 

 

“-Idge, Pidge, Pidge!” Shiro exclaimed. Pidge was so rambly they didn’t even notice Shiro talked. They turned to glance back at him with their brown eyes. Fully open, pouring all of their doubts out. “You're overthinking this way too much.”  

 

“You think so?” Pidge whispered grimacing at Shiro’s expression. 

 

“Listen, when I was on the Kerberos mission our commander, the smartest man I know, used to tell me all of the time ‘if you get worried about what could go wrong you might miss the chance to do something great.” Shiro said. Pidge smiled fondly at that. They had heard their dad say that so many times, when they were learning to ride a bike, when Matt was applying to the Garrison. When Shiro was considering Mentoring Keith. The canoe shuddered and Pidge looked away from Shiro. 

 

The sloth had grounded them on the slab of land. Right there was a set of stone stairs leading to something Pidge couldn’t see through the dense trees. As Pidge clambered out of the Canoe they could feel Shiro following them. They gulped looking at the task ahead of them, but Shiro was there. Comforting arm resting on their back and pushing them lightly. 

 

“Go. Be great.” Pidge couldn’t help themselves. Listening to his words. They rushed forward and pulled themselves up the large steps, one by one until they could see the thing ahead of them wasn’t hidden by the trees. It was the trees curled and curved together to hide the green lion. Excitement rushed up their veins and Pidge started moving faster and harder until they reached the top. Pidge took in a stuttering breath as they reached the top and jumped into the mess of vines. 

 

The Green Lion roared to life beneath them. 

 

---

 

It only took Hunk a few minutes of walking down the cave before he saw it. Mouth gaping open at the side. Curled into the side of the cave was a huge, armor cladened yellow lion. A barrier prevented him from coming close, but something told him if he just took his hand to the yellow barrier that seemed to wink at him the lion would be set free. Hunk stepped forward, then he stepped again. The steps feeling harder and harder by the minute. When he touched the field it was like a wave of relief fell over him. It fell at his touch and the lion glowed to life. Golden eyes staring right at him. As Hunk looked back it felt as if he was looking at an equal. The Lion cried out! An earth shattering, universe tearing, roar! Scooping him up into its jaw, and this time Hunk wasn’t afraid of being eaten. 

 

The lion launched through the sky! This time with Hunk at the helm, his mind racing at a hundred miles per hour. This is what Lance had felt! This is how he had known it would be okay! Rock broke around the Lion as it destroyed the mine and Hunk glanced around eyes ripping up the surroundings to find the blue lion. Lance was right there! He realized looking to his left. He didn’t even realize the lion was moving with him and that his hands were hugging the controls gently. 

 

“Lance!” Hunk screamed rushing forward to his best friend who was surrounded by ships on all sides. He ran into the lion, throwing Blue out of the way and curling up as yellow took the brunt of the blow. Only it felt like nothing. The armor on this thing must’ve been so good! 

 

“Hunk!” Lance shouted his voice filling the yellow lion. “You did it! That’s amazing, Oh my god I thought you had died. How did you take all those blows?” He questioned, Hunk only smiled wider. He felt so safe right now he could almost forget about the aliens attacking them. 

 

“This thing has incredible armor!” He shouted way more than he needed to over the communications line. “Man, it can take a beating!” Hunk was so distracted he didn’t notice the Galran fighters had tripled! 

 

“We’ve got incoming!” Lance shouted.

 

“Look at the wormhole!” Hunk countered. “We need to get out of here! It’s closing!” It was true ahead of them the wormhole’s light was flickering in and out of existence. Hunk’s Lion blasted forward trailing after Blue’s toward the wormhole and he thought

 

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to be a paladin after all. 

 

---

 

It didn’t take long for Pidge to return back to the castle of lions with the Green lion and Shiro. Hunk and Lance rushing after them. The excitement in the group was irreplaceable, and Pidge felt themselves rushing to get back to the Bridge with Allura and Coran. They took the steps too at a time ignoring the laughs from the others. These were Pidge’s people. They felt exactly what Pidge had felt. They were connected to each other, and that made this so much different. It made it special. 

 

It made Pidge care. As soon as they broke through the familiar doors Coran started clapping and jumping on his toes to greet them. 

 

“Well done Paladins! Well done!” He exclaimed happily, his face the complete opposite of Allura’s who merely sighed in relief. 

 

“You made it.” She commented as if she didn’t believe they could’ve done it at all, but the high of flying was still with Pidge and they didn’t care at all what the princess thought of them, it was good Lance still did. 

 

“Yeah! Just barely!” He exclaimed louder than anyone else in the entire room. “That was such a nightmare!” He groaned as if even remembering it brought him pain. “I almost puked out there! I felt like Hunk!” 

 

“Imagine how I felt!” Hunk added in and Pidge felt themself grinning again. “I am Hunk!” 

 

“Yeah.” Pidge nodded in agreement, sharing a look with Shiro that made them only want to smile more. “We had a hard time too.” Pidge smirked. 

“Andddd!” Coran added back in, turning to glance at the screen for confirmation before looking back at the paladins and the princess. “The red lion is so close in proximity that we can almost unlock the Black Lion! It is currently orbiting Arus with the Galran cruiser!” He exclaimed, face drooping slightly, but he forced himself to keep the excitement in his voice. “But wait again! We are Arus!” The excitement in the room dropped in an instant. 

 

“What!” Shiro and Allura exclaimed almost in tune with each other. “They're here already?!” Coran stuttered over his words as he attempted a response. 

 

“I- Uhm. I mean, Yes, Finger counting. Must be a bit off-” But the rest of his response was cut off as the light blue screens were smashed away by another dark purple transmission. A Galran filled the screen. He had furry purple hair and sharp ears almost like the alteans. He wore orange and yellow armor of the empire with gray sleeves. His left arm, looking almost like Shiro’s, but ten times more powerful. 

 

“Princess Allura!” he snapped, his voice was rough and chilling forcing the tension in the air to thicken by the second. “I am commander Sendak of The Galran Empire, I come on behalf of Emperor Zarkon, Lord of the known universe.” Every word echoed and Pidge watched as Allura clutched her hands into fists, as Hunk’s face paled, and even Shiro looked nervous. I came to confiscate the lions. Turn them over to me, or I will destroy your planet.” Seconds later the image flickered away moving as soon as it had come. 

 

“All right.” Shiro said trying to take control of the situation he had no control over. “Let’s not panic, everyone.” He said taking note of all the things Pidge noticed them doing as well. 

 

“Not panic?” Hunk scoffed. Though he seemed calmer than ever. “The purple furry aliens are going to attack us!” he exclaimed, goosebumps popping across his visible skin. “And they have a lion! With Keith in it of all people! We only have four with three amateur pilots and you shiro!” 

 

“Technically only three.” Pidge popped in. 

 

“Thank you Pidge!” Hunk argued even further. “This is the perfect time to be panicking!” 

 

“Wait.” Allura realized. She turned her back on them, fingers flying over the controls. “This castle has a particle barrier we can activate!” 

 

“Girl you’ve already activated my partic-” Lance began earning groans from all of the rest of the paladins. 

 

“Lance.” Shiro scolded, He urged The princess to continue speaking. 

 

“With the Particle Barrier.” She continued ignoring Lance’s comment entirely. ‘We should be able to defend ourselves from Sendak for at least a little while.” She continued rambling. “The Galran technology must have improved since we’ve been gone, and with a Lion who knows what they can do.” She whispered, biting her nails as she thought to herself. “But we have to protect Arus with what we have. Even if we won’t be able to defend Arus for long.” 

 

“I say we pop in a wormhole!” Lance countered. “Live another day and deal with all of this later, None of us are trained! What are we going to do?” 

 

“I second that!” Hunk said near immediately. Pidge nearly cursed themself out for thinking the two would’ve said anything else. “I mean I guess we tried to form Voltron, We found three of them. We gave it the old college try. That’s fine isn’t it?” 

 

‘We can’t do that!” Pidge exclaimed as they moved closer to Lance and Hunk. “We can’t just leave Arus! This place is defenseless without us!” 

 

“Sendak could destroy Arus and then come back after us anyways.” Coran contemplated. “Staying is our only option. The arguing intensified words overlapping. Pidge could barely hear what anyone was saying as they spoke, they just knew they had to be louder, fight harder, to stay for Arus. 

 

“Guys!” Shiro’s shout broke through all of the noise they had made. His voice was harsh and stern, making every single one of them freeze. Even the Princess. “Stop!” He exclaimed. He forced himself between the arguing parties before he continued making sure to push them all backwards hard enough to make them move, but not hard enough to hurt. ‘Princess Allura, These are your lions. You’ve fought against the Galra before.” He said not addressing the rest of them. “What do you think we should do?” His words hung heavy in the air. All eyes on the princess. 

 

“We must stay.” She whispered, voice nearly silent as it brushed around them. “ You four Paladins were brought here for a reason. The Voltron Lions are meant to be piloted by you and you alone. We must fight and keep fighting until we defeat Zarkon. It is our destiny. Voltron is the universe's only hope. We are the universe's only hope.” 

 

“We will fight by your side, princess.” Shiro said. Despite the tentative looks the paladins stepped forward behind Shiro. Pidge leading them all to do so. Showing their allegiance to Shiro and The princess. Even if they thought differently. 

 

“Then we must hurry and bring you to your suits of armor.” Allura said. “Follow me.” She ordered, and this time as they rushed to follow her through the castle there was something heavier in the air. Before none of them had really been taking this seriously, but not the weight of the world had splayed itself across their shoulders. They had to do this. In no time at all Allura led them into another room. A cacophony of gasps filled the air as they saw the armor.

 

 In glass pods there was armor mainly white, but accented with the colors of their lions. The voltron symbol right in the middle. Each paladin could feel themselves drawn to the armor as they approached. Pidge could feel the others trying to get through the glass to touch, to feel. This was their armor. This was all theirs. 

 

“Princess, Are you sure about this? They aren’t the greatest the universe has to offer.” Coran commented behind them. Glancing nervously at the naive looks of awe on the paladin's faces. 

 

“No, but they are all we got.” Allura commented before stepping forward to the paladins. “Each set of armor comes with a bayard," she explained. Passing out the small items in her arms to the paladins. One blue, One green, One yellow. “The bayards are the signature weapon of the paladins and turn into distinct shapes for each paladin. Sadly the black bayard was lost with it’s paladin.” She said, looking sadly towards Shiro who just nodded his head in understanding.

 

“I’ll make do.” He promised. He turned back around to the armor so quickly he almost missed Allura’s next comment. 

 

 “The red bayard seems to be missing as well.” The word sent a chill down the Paladins spine, but they would have to shrug it off. Soon they would be fighting Keith anyways. Still it stung and stuck to the air in a way no one could quite describe. 

 

“You must hurry!” Coran urged them! “The Galra will be here any minute!” He grabbed Allura’s arm and rushed forward back to the bridge. 

 

“Time to suit up Boy’s.” Shiro hummed anticipation infiltrating the air. It was finally time. Time to fight. 

Notes:

Hey Yall... Bet you thought we were getting the first interaction here.

It'll be in the next chapter! I promise!! this fic is sort of a rewrite for me so I want to get as many scenes in here as possible instead of rushing into everything because I have specific arcs for everyone despite the fact this is Keith-Centric!!!

Get excited!!! Keith is comin on up!

Chapter 7

Notes:

I had midterms this week, it was an actual hell, but now I have writing time again

“Ok, Paladins!” Allura shouted over the communications system Coran had managed to patch up between The Castle of Lions and the lions. “Hunk, and Lance will pretend to give up their lions, they don’t know we have The Green Lion so Pidge you will fly around the ship pretending to sneak in. This will draw out The Red Lion. As soon as he’s close enough to The Castle the Black Lion will be unlocked.” She said, She turned on her heels to face Shiro who stood behind Allura and Coran on this bridge.

 

 “Shiro, I want you to go to the Black Lion Hangar and wait. She will come to you when she’s ready.” Allura nodded towards Shiro. He matched her look of determination. “We may not be able to form Voltron, but we will protect Arus from the Galra somehow.” 

 

“We won’t let you down princess.” 

 

---

“Guys, do you see the capabilities on these things?” Pidge gasped as they looked around the green lion. They had never seen a ship this complex. Their hands swiped giddily across the control panels draped in the deep green lighting. They smiled as an excited warmth from the Green Lion filled their mind. 

“Pidge! We know.” Lance groaned from the blue lion as he and Hunk flew up towards the Galran cruiser in the other direction. “Trying to go out and be the bait right now,” His voice softened as he continued. “Can we have this conversation later? If you keep talking, Hunk might actually shit himself.” 

 

“Hey!” Hunk exclaimed grumpily. “I’m fine now that Lance isn’t piloting.” He scoffed jokingly. “I just- I’m not sure how much of a good idea giving ourselves up is.” He whispered anxiously. Pidge could practically see his legs bouncing up and down from within the green lion. 

 

“Well none of this is a good idea. I mean I’m trying to bait Keith out, He’s like the best pilot in the entire Garrison.” Pidge continued. “I’ve actually never flown before and were a bunch of amateur, destined to save the world's paladins.” The silence over the comms told Pidge that they weren’t helping at all. 

“Cadets!” Shiro shouted over the comms, The three of them jumped, they had nearly forgotten Shiro was even there. “This isn’t the time to drag ourselves down. I believe in all of you. We can do this. I know this isn’t exactly what all of us thought we’d be doing today, but that doesn’t make it any less important. Now we need to hurry.” 

 

“Gotcha.” Lance nodded his head, and he blasted further into the air, Hunk nervously following him in the yellow lion just a tad slower. Pidge turned and went to the left around the cruiser. Trying to stay as close to the dark walls as possible. Pidge clicked the mute button on the comms and began to examine the lion and all its buttons as they listened to Lance contact Sendak. 

 

“ Attention Galra ship. Do not fire. We are surrendering ourselves.” He sounded so robotic for a moment Pidge couldn’t even believe that was Lance, but they shrugged it off instead looking back down towards the control panel. 

 

“What’s a jaw blade?” They mumbled as they looked at the bright green switch. Unlike the other panels this one was glowing within the darkness of the dimly lit lion; it was as if Green was begging Pidge to use it. Urgency filled Pidge’s mind, Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. They reached to unmute the Comms, but didn’t get the chance. The green lion screamed in Pidge’s air as the red lion came hurtling out of nowhere. 

 

The Red Lion rushed in between Pidge and the wall of the cruiser knocking them completely out of position with its sheer speed! Pidge went toppling through the air as they scrambled to reach for the comm once again, as soon as they clicked it on Keith was almost on them again, but the red lion paused for a moment and his rough voice filled the air. Send shivers down all of the paladin's skin, Goosebumps ruptured across Pidge’s skin. 

 

“ It’s a trap.” Keith stated, as if he had figured out the entire plan in an instant. 

 

“Don’t you dare go in!” Sendak growled, but by the way The Red Lion prowled inching closer and closer to the Green Lion Pidge had a dreadful feeling that there was no way Keith was going to listen to Sendak. 

 

“I’m taking them down, With or without your permission.” With that Keith lurched forward, The jaw of his lion glinting as he rushed forward, a half sword now held within it. That must’ve been the Jawblade! Pidge didn’t have time to do anything else with that realization, grabbing the controls as Keith rushed forward. Pidge tried to dodge and swipe, but Keith was just faster, ending up at every end of her dodges with his blade ramming into her sides. The Green Lion groaned and screamed, Lurching with every hit. 

 

“ This is our cue to get out of here!” Lance shouted over the comms. 

 

“Everyone get on Pidge now!” Shiro shouted, as Pidge grunted and scrambled for anyway to get Keith off of them! “ They need as much support as possible!” 

 

“Make sure to draw the Red Lion towards the lion, With Shiro you can get more backup!” Allura reminded them. Pidge was too distracted by Keith to really listen to them, They knew he was good, but not this good. Another hit of his Jaw Blade and the alarms screamed in the green lion begging Pidge to do anything. A surge of energy surely from the Green Lion grasped at Pidge’s soul and they found themselves slamming a button that they had no clue what did, but whatever it did worked. A blast of blue energy shot from The Green Lion’s jaw and crashed right into Keith. He went flying, but not nearly as far as Pidge. It wasn’t expertly done, but it gave Hunk and Lance enough time to get to the scene. 

 

The blast sent Keith right in front of Hunk and Lance, he turned on them in a second immediately distracted from Pidge, Blade still clutched tightly in Red’s jaw. [

 

“We’ve got his attention!” Lance called out. 

 

“Uh oh.” Hunk muttered, fearing even the look of The Red Lion. 

 

“Hunk, Lance distract him for a minute, and Pidge get out of there, and go to the coordinates Allura’s sent you.” Shiro ordered. Pidge shakily scrolled back to the command Allura had sent the lion with shaky fingers, 

 

“Going now.” Pidge informed them ignoring the way that their voice cracked and they shivered in the lion. Green tried to send some comfort to Pidge, but they were too weak. It was a light beating, but a beating all the same. 

 

“Uhm! Guys!” Hunk shouted, “The cruiser is like, like giving birth to mini fighters!” He shouted over the comms, all of them looked up to see that what he had said was true. It wasn’t just one, there were several of them all zeroing in on Hunk and Lance’s position. 

 

“Hunk!” Lance shouted, Hunk looked down as fast as he could, Keith was speeding right to him, Jaw blade out and ready. He tried to swipe at the yellow lion’s armor. Yellow wasn’t nearly fast enough to dodge, and Hunk screamed as the blade came down on him, but unlike with Green it barely made a dent. Hunk had nearly forgotten. He had more powerful armor than both Pidge, and Lance. He still shouted again as the Jaw Blade vanished from the red lion and its jaw creaked open wider, a large blue white glowing inside. Just like Pidge had done to Keith. 

 

“Get out of the way!” Lance shouted he ran straight into Yellow knocking Hunk out of the way, the hit still landed right in the blue lion’s midsection. He flew backwards and ran into the oncoming fighter ships. The blast knocked at least two of them down. 

 

The red lion roared angrily and set out at another blow, but Lance launched forward bearing the lion's claws out and scratching wildly at the red lion as the other fighters around them shot blast after blast at the two lions. 

 

Including Keith. 

 

“Is the red lion not a part of the Galra?” Hunk cried out. “ They’re attacking their own!” It was true, as soon as Hunk spoke a fighter shot another blast at the Red Lion narrowly hitting the side of the Lion. Keith, distracted for a moment, rushed forward, he grabbed the fighter pilot that dared to hit him with the jaw of the lion and threw it to the ground. It went spiraling downwards, smoke filling the air as it crashed. 

“What the Quiznak!” Coran called out over the comms. “ I’ve never seen anything like it!” 

 

The paladins didn’t get the chance to respond or ask what a Quiznak was, as fighter ships attacked blast after blast, It felt like it wasn’t affecting the lions at all, but Lance had a gnawing feeling in his stomach that in the aftermath of this battle those hits would affect them the most. The tail of the blue lion flickered to life and Lance gasped as it shot perfectly aimed shots at ship after ship, Hunk wasn’t doing as well. 

 

Keith was on Hunk as soon as the fighter ship had gone down, the other fighter pilots didn’t seem as willing to attack Keith now that he had shown that display of not giving a fuck. Sure, they were fine with letting stray shots hit him, but any direct attack they had been planning was over. 

 

Hunk tried to dodge, but he was worse than Pidge, he had to combat every roaring attack that Keith met him with, wether it was a blast of blue light, or a blade to his armor. Hunk didn’t want to hurt him. He remembered Keith vaguely from when he was younger. Sure he was afraid of the kid, but he had been nice to Hunk when no one else had-

 

“Hunk! You need to attack back or else you're going down!” Lance shouted, he sent a blast from his tail gun towards Keith, The red lion shuddered at the hit, but Lance couldn’t keep doing that he was too preoccupied by taking down the fighter ships which had stopped coming down from the cruiser. 

 

Hunk took a deep breath and forced himself into action, He slammed his large fingers across the control panel he let the yellow lion take control and in seconds he had his own blaster to shoot with. Jaws unhinging and going wide the yellow lion roared as it sent out the same light the red lion just had. 

 

Keith dodged out of the lion of fire, and Hunk spun the yellow lion around in a circle hitting in all directions, even a few stray Galran fighters. His gut wrenched as he watched them go down. He spun and spun watching as Keith dodged and ducked underneath the spray of energy, At least now he was getting a moment to collect himself. 

 

“Paladins!” Allura shouted. “We’ve just found out the Galran Cruiser is approaching! They have an Ion Cannon! It could take down the castle of lions any second. It must be destroyed! You must destroy it!” 

 

“We’re a bit busy If you didn’t notice!” Lance argued. 

 

“Pidge, Are you in position?” Shiro asked, calm as ever. 

 

“Yes. If you guys can lure Ke- The Red Lion over I can handle it for a bit until Shiro gets out here. Lance and Hunk could take down the Ion Cannon.” 

 

“Sounds like a plan.” Shiro hummed. Hunk looked around, ignoring the spinning in his head and the nausea threatening to take over. The energy blasting out of him spluttered, but kept going. Attacking at something that wasn’t there. 

 

“Where did the red lion go-” 

 

Hunk screamed across the comms as the red lion came up beneath yellow. Keith rammed into him from behind as hard as he could with his jaw blade, The armor under the yellow lion wasn’t nearly as thick and it felt as if Hunk could feel the pain the yellow lion must’ve been feeling right now as he was raised into the air. 

 

“Hunk! No!” Lance screamed desperately as they rose into the air, but there was nothing he could do with the three fighters still on him. As soon as the red lion reached a similar height to the Cruiser it slipped out underneath yellow and Hunk plummeted to the ground! The sirens in the lion only shrieked louder as he fell. 

 

“Going down! Going down!” Hunk screamed as he plummeted through the air. He flailed to grab at the controls as his stomach flipped and twisted, and vomit begged to rush up his throat. His eyes flickered open and closed. If this was how he was going to die, he was at least going to accept it. It would be coming any moment now as he crashed down on the rocky ground of this out of world planet. 

 

Only the crash never came, People still screamed over the comms, Pidge was shouting in rage. Lance cried out his name. Shiro asked gently for him over and over again. Worry plagued all of them. Even Allura and Coran had gone awfully quiet. Hunk peeled his eyes open, head throbbing as he looked around. The yellow lion was hovering just inches above the ground. The sigh he let out was a fully body one as he slumped against the controls. 

 

“ Guys. I’m fine. I’m okay.” He called out. “ I’m okay.” 

 

“Oh thank god.” Pidge sighed tiredly. 

 

“Hunk! Oh My God! I thought you died man!” Lance shouted  and Hunk chuckled gently as he gripped the controls and raised the lion back up. 

 

“Not yet.” Hunk whispered shakily. “Not Yet.” 

 

“That's good.” Shiro stated gently. “Hunk, Can you get back up to the Ion cannon, What about you Lance?” Just like that one near death experience later they were back to it. 

 

“Already here.” Lance answered swiftly. “I don’t think they have any ships left to hit us with.” He noted. 

 

“I can try.” Hunk whispered. ‘Where- Where did the Red Lion go?” 

 

“Pidge?” Shiro asked. 

 

“ He’s coming at me now. I think he thinks he got The Yellow lion out and decided to go after me because Lance disappeared.” Pidge informed them. 

 

“Ok, I’m ready for the Black Lion. If you need backup, tell us as soon as you can.” Shiro told them. 

 

“Ok.” Pidge whispered, still sounding shaken up by the first attack. They were a little. Arms shaking as they tightly held onto the controls of the green lion. In the air they watched as the red lion bolted towards them as fast as a bullet. Behind them yellow slowly made its way to the cruiser and Pidge could see Hunk and Lance trying to take down the ion cannon, a large cannon attached to the cruiser that somehow none of them even noticed before. 

 

“Shiro. Shiro. Shiro!” Pidge exclaimed, louder and louder as the air seemed to seep out of their lungs and Keith ran forward faster Jaw blade glinting darkly. “He’s here now!” Panic ruthlessly gripped Pidge as Keith hit once, then twice, then a third time within seconds with his jaw blade against the outside of the lion. The Lion’s claws scratched wickedly against Green and the sound of metal scratching against metal was only parallelled to the roar that filled all of Arus’s ears. 

 

The Black Lion had awoken. Shiro had his lion! 

 

Pidge couldn’t dwell on the fact trying to wriggle outside of the red lions grips. They lurched backwards as hard as they could and barely managed to escape an inch. The Jaw blade disappeared and the red lion’s jaw widened right in front of Pidge’s vision. Something red, unlike the blue energy blast, swirled inside of the red lion’s mouth. Keith was going to take down Pidge, just like he did with Hunk, but this time for real. Tears slid across Pidge’s sweat covered face and they winced their eyes shut still desperately pulling back on the controls trying to escape. The sound of metal against metal filled Pidge’s ears again and they flashed their eyes open. The red light inside of the red lion's mouth stuttered. Pidge was slipping out of his claws! Pidge pushed harder, an inch away from escaping entirely when they saw. Shiro wasn’t as fast as Keith so it took him longer to get here, but there he was. 

 

“I’ve got you Pidge.” Shiro shouted before running right in the space Pidge had made between them and Keith. Both the lions went flying and power soared into Pidge’s veins. The black lion’s energy bleeding into Greens. The Black Lion curled around The Green Lion as red came back for more. They could all feel it now. The presence of Shiro intensified the feeling in the back of their minds. 

 

The red lion was angry. Keith was so angry, and now he was absolutely livid. He came back even faster than before. He was a screaming in the back of all their minds getting louder and louder by the moment, and unlike with Shiro giving Pidge some of his power through the lions he couldn’t spread any calmness to Keith. Nothing could stop him now. Just as he reached where the Green and Black lion stood a button lit up red inside of all of the lions. 

 

It was a request. From the Red lion for Keith to enter their communication line. 

 

Shiro Clicked Yes. 

. 

Chapter 8

Notes:

Me posting two days in a row:

impossible!!

“Shiro-” Pidge began, but they cut themself off as the loud click of a button could be heard across the comms and an icon flashed across everyone's screens. It was an icon they hadn’t seen before, a small red lion. Keith’s voice filled the comms before anyone could say a single word or even take a breath. 

 

“Paladins. ” Keith said, his voice sounded cold, devoid of all meaning and truth. “If you give up the lions now The Empire will allow you to keep your positions as paladins so long as you work for The Galra alone.” He was trying to do exactly what they were trying to do. Keith was trying to negotiate and end the fighting right now. Another realization crashed through Pidge’s mind as Keith was met with silence. Keith did not know who they were. He didn’t know it was Shiro, Pidge, Lance, and Hunk in the lions. 

 

“You want us to work for the Galra! The people who have been trying to kill us all day?” Lance scoffed as he broke the tense silence. 

 

“ Lance!” Shiro exclaimed, the comms went more than dead silent. Before they had at least felt the angry energy pulsing from the red lion, and the distinct hum of electricity between them, but now it was all gone. Left with pure silence. The lions floated together into the air as if nothing was going on outside of them. Everything Keith didn’t know, the advantage they had was completely gone. 

 

“What's going on?” Allura piped in. “Have you convinced the Red Paladin to join us?” She asked, She must not have known they were on the Comms with him right now, but he could hear all of her words. 

 

“Convince me to join you?” Keith mumbled under his breath. His voice sounded raspy and confused as he tried to piece together what was going on. The numb persona he had taken on was gone. 

 

“Shiro! Do something!” Pidge snapped at the older paladin. This was their chance! The time was now! Keith knew who they were. Shiro could use his shock to at least try something! Anything! 

 

“I- Uhm, Keith.” Shiro began, he stuttered over his words fumbling around the way Keith’s name felt in his mouth. Shiro tried to open his mouth again, but words failed and someone else took over entirely. 

 

“Why are you here?” Keith shouted, he sounded strained and in pain. Just like that the anger from the red lion was back, this time it was roaring and screaming so loud Shiro almost couldn’t hear the voice that was rushing over all of them in a sinister tone. 

 

“Good job stalling, Kogane.” Sendak’s rough and angered voice commented. Shiro shivered at his voice, and Keith made a confused sound. “ Bring the humans in.” For a moment Pidge is sure that Sendak is talking to Keith, telling him to beat them up again, but the red lion doesn’t move at all as a sinking feeling anchored itself in Pidge’s stomach. Something soft, but just enough to be noticed dragged them forward and together. 

 

“ You knew!” Keith practically growled at Sendak, but it was too late to receive the response Sendak was already disconnecting. It was easy to imagine his amused face and it made Keith even angrier. 

 

“Is this? Are we forming Voltron? ” Hunk cried out excitedly, but he couldn’t be more wrong. 

 

“ I feel like we're all being pulled together! ” Lance cheered in excitement. 

 

“No!” Shiro shouted through the comms. “Look up! Guys!” Pidge keened their neck forward and gasped, a large purple beam of light was hoarding them into the cruiser that had gotten increasingly closer to them during the conversation.

 

“They're sucking us in like a black hole!” Pidge exclaimed, panic seized the paladins so hard that they didn't notice the beeping in the background signally Keith had disconnected from the Comms. 

 

“What do we do?” Lance asked as he tried to move his lion as fast as he could, but it was no use. None of it would budge. 

 

“ We’re going to die! We’re going to die! We’re going to die!” Hunk panicked on the verge of a sob. “ This is it, It’s over, Tell my mom I loved her!” 

 

“Hunk! What! No!” Pidge exclaimed loudly. “How would that even be possible if we were all dead!” They scoffed pointing out the impracticality of it all. “ It can’t end here!” 

 

“No! We can do this. We have to believe in ourselves. We can't give up. We are the universe's only hope. Everyone is relying on us. We can't fail! We won't fail! If we work together, we'll win together!” Shiro yelled to them, He ignited a spark within the black lion and passed it onto the others hoping that its flame would last for all of them. In the back of his mind he also tried to push towards Keith and the red lion, but that connection was blocked by an impenetrable concrete wall. Unbreakable, for now. 

 

“I believe you!” Pidge shouted to Shiro. 

 

“ Me too!” 

 

“Yeah!” With that Each paladin grabbed onto the controls and pulled back as hard as they could, together it was just possible to slink down underneath the rays. Keith had the idea first and was already under the rays as the rest of the paladins ducked below. 

 

“Paladins! The Ion cannon is back online!” Allura called out. “ You must destroy it now!” 

 

“Man, The Galra are fast.” Hunk commented. “ Wait, what about Keith?” He asked, directing his attention back to the red lion who was prowling on the edge of their little group. 

 

“ If the Ion Cannon blasts the Castle will be destroyed!” Allura shot back. 

 

“ Quiznak, Quiznak, Quiznak! The Particle Barrier just went down! All defenses are down!” Coran squeaked. 

 

“ Hunk! Lance! Pidge! Take down the Ion Cannon. I’ll talk to Keith! Go! Now!” ordered, the three flew off as fast as they could towards the Cannon as Shiro tried to pull up a private communication line between the two of them. He waited a moment as he sent in the request gnawing at his lips anxiously. It was denied nearly instantly.

 

The Red Lion soared forward and Shiro jumped grabbing the controls to the black lion as fast as he could to soar out of the way. A jaw blade appeared on the black lion as the Red Lion sent blasts of red flames at black. Shiro didn’t want to fight Keith. He dodged every blast swerving with just as much skill as Keith had. Shiro requested another private Comms line and this time it forced its way through. 

 

“ Keith!” Shiro yelled. “ I don’t want to fight you!” Keith grunted across the comms as the red lion lurched forward and flew underneath and around Shiro. Shiro turned and blasted upwards avoiding another blow, but he knew if he kept going Keith would outflow him eventually. “ Keith! Why are you doing this!” Shiro yelled again, full of desperation. “Join us! Become a paladin with us! We don’t have to fight!” Keith only got angrier letting his full instincts take control. He pounced forward, dropping the blasts and instead matching Shiro’s jaw blade. He moved insanely fast around Shiro. He slashed ferociously at Shiro making the black lion shake. He rammed into the black Lion pushing and jostling Shiro trying to make him fight, but it was no use. Shiro wouldn’t do it. 

 

“Keith! Why won’t you listen! I just want to help-” Shiro began again, but the noises coming from the red lion cut him off. Loud, Malicious, laughter filled the air. It didn’t sound like Keith at all. As Keith laughed the red lion shifted blazing bright white as something attached itself to the back of the lion. Some kind of gun! Shiro froze as it whirred to life ten times more powerful than any weapon he had seen Keith use. 

 

“ Help? Me? Go to Hell, Shirogane!” As Keith spoke the gun shook to life, but it didn’t get the chance to be used. A thick rumbling filled the air and both boys looked up. The Ion Cannon hung on its hinges a slim piece of metal keeping the Galran Cruiser together. The Ion Cannon was still working! Still trying to hit something! 

 

“ Hunk don’t!” Shiro shouted, but it was too late. Hunk slammed through the last bit of metal and the Ion cannon soared at Keith and Shiro. It dropped through the sky rapidly, but the blast stayed the same. It hit the red lion right in the midsection! Keith yelled a broken cry and the Red Lion spiraled away and downwards towards Arus. 

 

“ Keith!” Shiro shouted, but just like that The Red Lion was out of sight crashing further and further as cheers came in from the main communication line. 

 

“ Paladins, you saved us." Allura cheered gently, clapping her hands together as she jumped on the balls of her feet. “ Good work!” 

 

“Thanks, Pretty Lady.” Lance hummed happily. 

 

“ We did it!” Hunk cheered and Shiro watched as they began their descent down back to the Castle of Lions as behind them the Galran Cruiser crashed to the ground as well. 

 

“ Heck Yeah we did!” Pidge exclaimed. “How’d it go with Keith?” They asked anticipation filling the Comms. 

 

“When you took down the Ion Cannon the blast hit him.” Shiro stated darkly. The excitement of victory slowed down as he spoke. “He’s not going to be joining Voltron.” 

 

“Keith is angry. He’s so angry.” 

. 

Chapter 9: Beginnings

Notes:

Me?? Posting three days in a row when its the end of the quarter and I should totally be doing school work

Whatevverrr

Enjoy :D

Dim purple lights greeted Shiro as he awoke. His eyes shot up and he rammed forward back straightening as he glanced around this familiar place. The sight made him feel sick, waves of nausea infiltrating his head as he scrambled to his feet, sawdust kicking up around him. Shiro knew exactly where he was. 

 

The Arena.

 

His worst nightmare came back to life. He desperately looked around, in the stands Galrans cheered and shrieked at the ring, but not at him. Someone else stood in the middle taking down a Gladiator to the likes of which Shiro had never seen. He was quadruple the size of the small figure he was fighting. He was a brute made of pure muscle, but that wasn’t the only thing he was made of. Embedded in his skin was gray shiny metal all across his arms and chest, He held a mechanical baseball bat in his arms that was larger than Shiro and loaded with that familiar purple energy he knew from somewhere. Both the Gladiators arms and legs had been replaced with metal prosthetics. It reminded Shiro of himself. 

 

The Gladiator ran forward and Shiro flinched back pushing his right prosthetic arm forward to protect himself even though it would do nothing. Shiro wasn’t really here. He was just a bystander watching behind an invisible wall. 

 

The Gladiator attacked the smaller figure, shooting blast after blast at them as they dodged past different pillars, rolled on the ground and searched anywhere for a weapon to help avoid attack. He was small and agile, making it hard for the Gladiator to actually hit him when he could just slip out of the way, but Shiro knew from experience they couldn’t play this game of chicken forever. 

 

Cheers and roars heightened and Shiro felt himself gasp as he watched the figure find something in the sawdust. A sword, it glowed white accented with red on the sides. Shiro knew exactly what it was. The Red Bayard. Shiro couldn’t believe he didn’t recognize him before! It was Keith who was fighting. The purple rags he was forced in hung off his skinny frame, and his black hair had grown out longer dipping down past his shoulders. His purple eyes were hungry for a fight and the red bayard had given him that opportunity. 

 

The Red Lion chose Keith. 

 

Keith ran with it, grabbing the sword and dropping to his knees, slipping right between The Gladiator's leg as he fumbled forward. Keith was born to use a sword, he slashed wildly at the Gladiators ankles smirking as he screamed. Keith jumped off his knees and moved behind the Gladiator he stabbed right through his middle as The Gladiator screamed again falling to his knees in agony. Blood bright green and glowing spilled across the saw dust and Keith jumped up using the sword to slash The Gladiators mechanical bat right in half. The metal fell to the ground with a loud thunk as the crowd only grew louder. Keith could’ve stopped there. He won. Shiro recognized, but the younger boy only kept going. He slashed wickedly at the gladiator's neck, slash after slash until the thick skin was flapping in the windy air and blood cascaded down his neck in huge pools, staining Keith’s rags. Keith kicked his bleeding figure down as he groaned in agony forcing the Gladiator to collapse face first into the sawdust. It was sickening. Shiro wanted to run out there and stop Keith, but he couldn’t move. His feet stuck in place as the voice Shiro remembered, and despised filled the arena, echoing intensely. 

 

“I present to you the victor!” The voice screamed as the occupants of the Arena yelled over his booming voice in excitement. Shiro was so distracted by the noise he nearly didn’t notice the figure looming as he stepped into the arena. Locking eyes with Keith. The tall figure had vaguely humanoid anatomy and he approached Keith quickly and swiftly stepping over the piles of blood. 

 

“Tell me your name son?” He whispered in a lower voice. Was this the announcer? Was he real? Shiro wondered, and why would he approach Keith when he didn’t approach Shiro once after his victories. 

 

“Keith.” Keith whispered softly in the air, his voice was hoarse, more than just the average rough and tumble. It made Shiro feel sick. He was in so much pain. 

 

“I present to you!” The announcer started again. This time he grabbed Keith’s wrist, the one that didn’t hold the sword and he held it to the sky. The reaction from the crowd was phenomenal. “Keith! Defeater of The Gladiator! The red paladin! Hero of the Galra! The Star Killer!” The words echoed loudly across the purple arena walls and with each title Keith had been given the crowd only roared louder, but Keith seemed distracted. He turned his head a full one eighty looking directly at Shiro. His purple eyes radiating rage as he looked at him. Keith’s neck cracked and his body shuddered as darkness came down and all that was left in the world was the two of them. Somewhere in the background the screams still thrived, but that wasn’t in this world. 

 

“Your next!” Keith grinned wickedly, raising his sword and pointing it right at Shiro, something inside of Shiro screamed. 

 

 

---

 

“Everybody up! Zarkon’s attacking!”  

 

Shiro shot up in bed, his hands grasping at his chest and slipping on the cool metal as he gasped for air looking around the room Allura had escorted him to last night. The walls were the same blank light blue. There was no dim lighting. There was no stench of blood. There was no screaming. He was safe-ish. Shiro threw his legs over the side of the bed and rushed up metal against metal armor clanging as he ran forward. The doors into the room automatically slid open as he ran through them. 

 

“The castle’s about to be destroyed!” Allura called out over some kind of PA system. Shiro rushed forward as hard as he could, but something felt off about the whole thing. Maybe it was the rush from the dream that hadn’t totally faded, or maybe it was the fact that the castle seemed in perfect shape. Shiro knew when he was hit by a ship, he felt like he would be able to feel if the castle was hit too, but he shrugged off the thought and ran harder towards the bridge. 

 

“ Go! Go! Go! We need Voltron! Hurry! We can't survive much longer!” !” 

 

Shiro burst through the doors of the bridge crashing through the doors to find Allura and Coran standing in the middle completely fine? Shiro stood blankly looking at Allura and Coran as Coran wrestled something out of Allura’s hands and continued speaking. Neither Alteans noticed him at all. 

 

“ Oh No!” Coran cried out through the castle PA system. He slid to the ground as he let out an obnoxiously fake cry. “ Allura is dead! My princess! Aw, It’s awful!” He screamed as he mocked holding her dead body in his arms. Shiro couldn’t help but give a little laugh as Pidge rushed into the room shortly followed by Hunk. Both of them gasped for air as they looked around the same confused look on their faces. 

 

“ Oh My! Allura’s head! She’s speaking to me-” 

 

“ Coran.” Allura warned as she glanced over and caught sight of three out of the four paladins.

 

“ Her severed head is trying to speak to me!” He said back still faced to the not amused paladins. “ What is it? What’s your final words Allura’s head-” 

 

“Coran! It’s over!” Allura snapped. Coran looked at her a moment before slowly turning his head when he saw the glimmer of Shiro’s paladin armor he scrambled and jumped to his feet fumbling with the metal in his hands. 

 

“Oh I know.” Coran nodded, improvising once more to not make himself look like a fool. “If only Voltron had been there to save us.” He chided gently. 

 

“So there isn’t an actual attack.” Shiro hummed, he felt less on edge knowing that this was all fake and it was just Coran’s dramatic antics that had brought them to the bridge, but something else had him on edge. Keith had gone to the arena. Just like Shiro had. Unlike Shiro he hadn’t escaped. Trapped within the Galran clutches and now somehow working for them. It didn’t add up. How could Keith have even gotten here? He wondered distantly, but Allura’s voice drew him back in an annoyed tone. 

 

“That was much too long. You must always be ready to fight Zarkon and the Galra. Look at you.” She scoffed as she pointed to them. “Shiro is the only one in uniform. Hunk, Pidge, Where are your bayards? Where is Lance?” Shiro did look around at that. He didn’t even notice Lance wasn’t in the room with them, Maybe that’s why it was so quiet. Just as Shiro thought that Lance strutted into the room. He walked in casually with his hands in his pockets as if sirens hadn’t been blaring encasing the castle in red lights. 

 

“Morning.” He smiled calmly. “What’s up?” Shiro wanted to cackle out loud, but he didn’t for Allura’s sake. 

 

“Coran and I have been up for hours!” Allura fumed. “We have been getting the castle in order, and needed to test the alarms, so we decided to test you as well.” She tutted. “If it wasn’t obvious the test failed.” 

 

“Hey Man, You got to sleep for 10,000 years. On monday I was on earth getting ready for family dinner, Now I’ve flown in space, found out I was destined to save the universe and been attacked by killer aliens. This is a lot to process. You could give us a bit of a break?” He tried. Hunk trailed off as he saw the reaction on Allura’s face go from amused to enraged, but the princess took a deep breath in and calmed herself, Shiro untensed her shoulders as she did so. 

 

“ You must understand the stakes of our mission.” Allura practically pleaded. “Over the last 10,000 years, the Castle picked up distress beacons from the following locations.” She raised her hands and pulled up the map of the universe again. Red dots burst upwards. There had to be hundreds on every planet. “ So, we have to assume that Zarkon has conquered almost the entire known universe.” She swiped her hands back to where Earth had been. The red bursts lessened, but they were still there.” Earth is here. An attack on your planet is inevitable.

 

“No.” Lance began, jaw dropping as he watched Allura speak. 

 

“Exactly.” Allura hummed.  “Our mission is to free all those planets. Coran and I are getting the Castle ready to leave Arus. During that time, you have to learn to form Voltron, so we can begin fighting Zarkon” 

 

“How can we form Voltron without one of the lions?” Pidge pointed out. It was the question they had all been avoiding. The large elephant in the room. They couldn’t form Voltron without the red lion. That wasn’t an option. Allura seemed perplexed for only a moment before she spoke. 

 

“I’ve never dealt with a situation like this before.” She stated earnestly. “I can think of only one time something similar has occurred, but I believe we will deal with that when the time comes. For now we must at least train you how to fly a lion of Voltron if we are going to go anywhere at all.” 

 

“Excuse me, Princess.” Pidge cut in. “What was the other time something like this happened? Wouldn’t it be important for us to know considering it’s our situation?” They asked, it came off a little rude, but Pidge didn’t mean for it to be that way. Watching as Coran and Allura exchanged a look. 

 

“Sadly Pidge that is not my story to tell.” Allura said, She glanced at Coran who was staring at the ground. It was the quietest Pidge had seen him. 

 

"Well I’m sure that dropout will get his head outta the gutter and be begging’ to join us sooner or later.” Lance laughed, shrugging his shoulders softly. Shiro wasn’t so sure of that. He went along with the conversation anyways as it dropped into an awkward silence. Shiro had forgotten what this was like. Having a semblance of control because after all these were just kids. They had no clue what they were doing. Just some awkward teens thrown into this. 

 

“The princess is right, we should at least get to our lions and start training well they finish work on the castle.” Shiro suggested to them, Allura and Coran nodded their heads and Shiro turned on his heel, but a loud ping made them all freeze. Just as Allura was going to swipe the map away from them and out of their space another red light appeared. Another distress beacon. The time right from Arus. 

 

“That’s where we are.” Lance gawked.  

 

“Are there other inhabitants here?” Pidge asked, instantly stepping forward to the map. Allura zoomed in on the location and she froze. It wasn’t far from here, not far from here at all. Blinking what had to be less than a mile out, begging the paladins to save them. 

 

“The red lion is right there.” Allura said, pointing to a red mark near the distress beacon. The air in the room intensified once more. 

 

“Well, I guess this could be our first lesson in training.” 

Notes:

The next chapter is my absolute favorite so far

Saviour or Enemy

^ Next chapter title drop

Chapter 10: Saviour or Enemy (The lines are getting hard to see)

Notes:

Hey yall! If you like this fic and are looking for more of my writing with similiar vibes to this fic with a different plot and more unique story lines you should totally check out the new fic in this series I just posted called 'The paladin diaries'

I'll be working on these fics at the same time so if you don't get updated for one it's most likely because I'll be working on the other!

Pidge’s leg shook anxiously up and down from where they sat in the pilot's seat of the Green Lion. They tried to ignore the other paladins watching Pidge’s every move over their shoulder. Pidge understood the point of only taking the green lion rather than the entire armada to investigate the distress beacon. Especially with the red lion so close. If they were going to lose a lion it would be better to be one then several. Still Pidge wished it could’ve been any other lion. Or more importantly any other pilot. Pidge was the least experienced of them all. Still they forced themselves to take a deep breath in and out. It was time to get this show on the road!  

 

“It seems like part of the Galran cruiser fell where the distress beacon is coming from.” Allura reported over the comms. “Be careful, the Galra are sly. With the Red Lion close this could easily be a trap.” 

 

“Everyone stay on guard.” Shiro reminded them. “I know single handedly what they can do.” He whispered, Pidge could practically hear everyone glance at his metal arm. What they had done to him. Pidge could only hope their brother and dad didn’t go through the same situation. 

 

“Woahhh. Way to bring down the mood.” Lance scoffed. “C’mon guys this is our first mission! Get hyped up!” He exclaimed. His hand landed on Pidge’s shoulder shaking lightly and Pidge nearly jumped. 

 

“Yeah, Yeah, Sure Lance.” Pidge scoffed, ignoring the dejected look on Lance’s face as he turned back to face the others. 

 

“No. He’s right.” Shiro argued. “We have to keep our energy up. If we’re constantly at each other’s throats we aren’t going to work as a team.” Lance beamed at Shiro’s words and smugly glanced at Pidge who couldn’t look back, still flying them to the location pinging across the dashboard, a bright contrast compared to the low green lighting.

 

 “Look, maybe this could be a chance to get Keith back on our side if we see him.” Shiro bargained. 

 

“We have to.” Pidge stated determinedly. This time they turned to look right back at Shiro. ‘We have to do it right this time.” They said, Hunk looked up as well from the ground and so did Lance. 

 

“We’ll help you all we can.”  Hunk said, stepping forward for the first time. Even if he was afraid he still agreed. He was still kind about the entire thing. Even if it wasn’t his battle they were fighting. It made Shiro’s heart warm.

 

“If it’s the dropout we want, The dropout we’ll get.” Lance added in sweetly. “Though I don’t see why you need him when you have me.” He flaunted, and Shiro groaned. There was the familiar Lance again. At least it made Pidge laugh a little. 

 

“We’re here.” Pidge stated. Looking out they could see the still smoking It was a small section of the huge cruiser, Aliens were crawling out of the remains right in front of a large outcrop of rocks. The red lion was feet away from the cruiser. 

 

“And so is Kogane.” Lance mused intrigued. He leaned forward to watch, and just like Lance said they could see his frame standing between the prisoners. “We better get out there before he forces them back into the wreckage or something.” As soon as Lance spoke Pidge had them land behind the first outcrop of rocks so Keith couldn’t see them. 

 

“Let's go.” Shiro ordered. He clambered out of the Green Lion. Shiro was the first out of the ship. Rushing forwards. The others shortly followed behind him at a similar panicked pace. Shiro made his way quickly through the outcrop of rocks. Each rock seemed to be situated into different rows. A large circular maze prevented them from reaching that outskirts where the prisoners lay. 

 

“This way?” Pidge asked as they pulled up a map of the outcrop on the little panel of controls that was in the armor of their right arm. Pidge pointed to where the map they pulled up showed a straight path to the outer ring of rocks. 

 

“Good idea.” Shiro praised as he moved forward. He felt like a predator hunting his prey as he moved forward. Cowering beneath rocks waiting for the right time to strike. It was a familiar feeling that made him feel sick. 

 

“You alright there Shiro?” Hunk asked. “You look a bit like me?” He joked half heartedly.  Shiro only nodded his head. He didn’t speak again until he reached the last rock separating the paladins from Keith. Shiro’s head could easily be seen by anyone who dared to look his way. His eyes scoured across the rocky land and they set on Keith. Who was looking at the prisoner's with such a muted expression that Shiro couldn’t tell what he was thinking at all. It was at that moment that Keith decided to turn his head right at Shiro. 

 

Shiro gasped, He grabbed Pidge by the collar of their armor and immediately tugged them to their knees behind the outcrop of beige rocks around them. The other paladins dropped side by side with Shiro and Pidge all watching carefully at the situation. 

 

Keith Kogane stood before them. Staring right at them. Something must’ve been off with the Castle’s sensors. They said he shouldn’t have been this close, but there he was. Shiro had seen him when they landed. He shouldn’t have been so shocked, but Keith looking at him was still so jarring. 

 

Keith’s helmet was discarded somewhere and his black hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail, his bangs fell across his porcelain skin. Even in space he still had a mullet. His gray full body armor accented with purple and orange was dented and bruised. Blood dripped from his forehead. His purple eyes looked like insanity. No longer did they carry an enraged calm, but instead they were shattered glass piercing every direction he glanced.  

 

“I see you!” He sneered loudly looking directly at the rock the paladins were hiding behind. Both Pidge and Shiro’s eyes widened with shock as Lance’s jaw dropped and Hunk whimpered softly. He raised his right hand and the small red gun he held, and bullets rained across the rock they were hiding behind! There was no method to where he was shooting. Just all across the outcrop. Shiro knew he wasn’t a master marksman, but this was insane. It was like he wasn’t aiming at all! Shiro realized. He leaned out from behind the rock for a moment. Ignoring Hunk’s pleas for him to move back and he gasped. On the other side of Keith’s side lines of people dressed in purple rags rushed past him. Pidge leaned in beside Shiro and saw what he was seeing as well. 

 

“What’s going on?” They asked, but Shiro couldn’t answer as Keith’s voice filled their ears once again. This time it wasn’t targeted at the paladins. 

 

“There’s an Arusian village not far from here.” Keith said loudly so he could be heard over the bullets. He stopped a tall alien with six legs and an oval shaped head with a single eyeball. Grabbing one of his arms gently. It was a gentleness none of the paladins expected from Keith. “It’s a mile or two out. Do you think you can make it? Red isn’t ready to go back out yet, but if it’s necessary we can make it work.”  The bullets were a cover so he could help the Aliens escape. Shiro realized. 

 

“Yes. We can walk.” The alien whispered in a hoarse voice. One of his arms reached up to touch his neck gently prodding at where his vocal cords must be. His eye nearly watered with the pain of speech as he looked to the other aliens. They had the same determined and emotional expression he had. 

 

“Have someone tell them who you are. Prisoners of Sendak who escaped sent by me to receive help. They can help you there more than I can right now” Keith ordered. The alien tried to open his mouth again, but Keith immediately stopped him. “Don’t speak.” He hushed. “It’ll make it worse.” He spoke the words so confidently it was as if he had been through the same thing. 

 

“Thank you.” The alien croaked out again. In a sudden movement that caused Keith’s entire body to stiffen, the alien threw its arms around Keith’s shoulders and hugged him tightly as more aliens walked past them whispering Keith words of thanks in their own languages. Keith awkwardly patted the Alien’s back well, still shooting at them with the metal gun in his hand. 

 

“Is he helping them?” Lance gaped. Shiro jumped! He hadn’t even realized the other paladins had leaned over the side of the rock as well. Keith noticed in seconds and turned. Aiming right at Shiro as the Alien flitted away. The bullet just brushed Shiro’s human arm as he pushed back and forced all of the paladins back behind the rocks. “Why is he helping them if he’s on Sendak’s side?” 

 

“I don’t think this war is as black and white as Allura’s made it out to be” Pidge muttered under their breath. Their eyes scanned around them, but seemed to be far off. Trying to connect some dots that none of them could see. 

 

““It never is, is it?” Shiro muttered under his breath. “I’ve seen that prisoner before.” She realized as memories flooded his brain in bright flashes. The arena, The ship, all came crashing down. His hand curled against his mouth as he backed against the rock. Mouth wide behind his helmet. “I was on that ship. I was on that ship.” He realized again. “That’s where they kept me.” The realization sent a chill through the air. 

 

“That could mean, the rest of your crew! They could’ve been on that ship!” Pidge exclaimed, Pidge practically launched to their knees. Trying to jump above the rock that was only a few inches taller than them. 

 

“Pidge no!” Lance shouted. He moved to reach Pidge, but he wasn’t fast enough and instead Hunk launched forward, grabbing Pidge by the midsection and quickly pulling them back. Pidge moved to argue, but the sound of bullets getting louder made them pause. Fuck. They had forgotten about that. 

 

“Shit. Shit. Shit.” Pidge cursed. “Sorry.” They muttered to the others, but none of them replied as the bullets stuttered to a stop. Pidge gave them all a remorseful look, but Shiro ignored it as he realized the sound of metal pounding across rock had stopped. Pidge stopped looking for a response as well. Hunk stared upwards, holding his breath as if he was waiting for something to happen. Both his arms were shaking heavily and Lance put a gentle hand on his arm to try and calm him down, but it was no use. His anxiety had already run rampant trying to imagine every possible situation that could happen in this exact moment, yet nothing came. Just silence. 

 

Pidge moved before the rest of them. Creeping to the edge of the rock to peer out at the other side. For a moment they only stood there before gesturing for the group to join them. 

 

“Look.” they whispered at the edge of the rock. Keith was still there. He stumbled forward and crashed next to where the red lion lay. He pushed himself to lean against the metal with shaky arms. As he situated himself he pried the armor off his left leg and Hunk’s face grew green. Pidge didn’t blame him. Keith’s leg was covered in blood. 

 

“Holy shit.” Keith cursed under his breath. He grabbed the gun he was holding up, and now the paladins saw it they realized what it truly was. The Red Bayard. It lit up in Keith’s hand and shifted forms into a small pocket knife. Hunk nearly vomited as he pushed the knife down to cut the snug black undersuit of his armor. 

 

Keith groaned loudly as he cut off the covered in blood cloth and looked down at his thigh. He groaned again as he used the square of fabric he cut off to wipe up the blood. Without all the blood it didn’t look so bad, but it was deep. He would need stitches or staples or something. As if the Keith and Pidge were on the same wavelength, Keith's bayard turned into a staple gun. Hunk ducked behind the rock covering his mouth in an attempt not to vomit. Even Lance had to look away and some days he could be the most gruesome of the lot of them. 

 

Click! 

 

Click! 

 

Click! 

 

With each slap of the staple gun Keith laughed and laughed harder and harder. Insanity spiked in every single little sound he made. Shiro couldn’t look away. Even as behind him Hunk begged to get out of here. The green lion was mere feet away hidden within the rocks, but Shiro couldn’t stop watching Keith. Eventually he discarded the staple gun throwing the bayard to the ground and it vanished from the ground. 

 

Keith  fumbled to his feet, petting the red lion's middle gently as he barely held himself up. Keith’s eyes grew yellow, lighting up in the darkness as he picked something out of his pocket. A small purple syringe. He uncapped wildly. As if he was an addict who desperately needed another shot.

 

Shiro didn’t think he would actually do it, but Keith moved quickly and recklessly. His limbs flopping about like a rabid animal. He stabbed it straight into his neck. Hunk bit back a groan, Lance tried to rub his back to stop him from vomiting, but the scene only grew more gruesome. Keith’s smile grew wider. His canines looked sharper than a vampire’s and blood gushed down his chin, the scars across his cheeks lit up and his veins glowed an eerie purple in the morning light. 

Keith groaned loudly, licking his lips as he relished in the pain and looked right at Shiro’s plain eyes. Purple versus gray. A battle of the ages. 

 

“Oh you stupid little paladins!” He cried out. His voice broke as he spoke. “You should’ve run when you had the chance.” 

 

Chapter 11: The hierarchy is screwed (And so are you)

Keith moved faster than humanly possible and Shiro wondered if he was even human anymore. 

He didn't look it. 

Just as soon as Keith was in front of them he was gone running towards the outcrop of rocks. Before Shiro could even realize what was happening Keith kicked his legs up and hit the outcrop of rocks using the momentum to throw himself on the rock.  He perched like some kind of monster on his toes looking down at them. His bayard appeared in his hands instantly as a sharp red and black sword. Hunk gaped. Looking right up at Keith. Eyes wide with fear almost paralyzed in place. Keith only grinned further at his reaction revealing teeth sharper than the sword in his hand. 

"Boo." Keith deadpanned. Hunk jumped back hard! He scrambled to his feet, tripping into Lance behind him and knocking them both into the dirt. Pidge tensed and jumped to their feet Shiro following right after. Pidge's bayard zapped into their hand, and the look of guilt on their face only urged Keith on. 

Keith laughed loudly, a wicked, horrid sound. He jumped from the rock landing right where Hunk had been kneeling down. He brandished his sword at all of them, but paused. 

"Hm." Keith hummed gently. As if he was debating what to eat for dinner. "How should we do this?" He asked. Then he looked up right to Hunk. Asking him personally. "You wanna be sliced?" He asked gesturing to his sword. "I could slice up your friends here and then we could cook them in a soup." He offered as if he was asking for help in the kitchen. "What, Your the cooking guy right?" Hunk's stomach lurched and he turned to the side spitting up green bits of his breakfast onto the ground. 

"Huh. Not your style. Shot then?" Keith asked. The bayard shifted and then it was that gun he had just been shooting at them with. Hunk gagged again. 

"Stop it!" Lance shouted at him. Seething with rage. "You sick fuck!" He yelled. 

"Fine. Fine." He scoffed as if this was just some game to him. It probably was. "We can do something more fun if that's what you're into?" He grinned even further and Shiro swore if he smiled any wider than that his jaw could dislocate. The bayard glowed bright red in his hand waiting to be ordered another form. Shiro didn't even know that they could change weapons. Let alone with such control. Shiro pressed down on the button on his rest hoping Keith wouldn't notice. It was the SOS button Allura and Coran had told them about. It would request their immediate backup, and Shiro had s feeling they would need it. 

"Fine!" Keith huffed as he stomped his foot into the rock causing it to rumble underneath him. "We can do this the classic way since you guys are so boring!" He whined. He sounded like such a child Shiro couldn't believe what Keith was about to do. With a flash of dark light his bayard flashed back to the sword and Keith dropped to his knees sliding right up to Hunk. He grabbed the boy by the neck! Shiro hadn't even noticed, but Keith's finger nails had turned black and sharp like claws. He slid his sword right against Hunk's neck. Hunk's adam apple bobbed against the cold metal. 

"Don't touch him! Or- Or! I'll kill you!" Lance shouted as he reached forward to grab Keith's wrists, but the glare on Keith's face forced Lance to drop his hand to his side where he squatted beside Hunk. Who had tears streaming down his face. 

"Oh with what?" Keith mocked him, and Lance looked around and realized he wasn't even holding his bayard. He leapt to his feet and flexed his arm next to his thigh! In seconds his sniper appeared in his hands. 

"I'll fucking shoot you!" He shouted positioning his sniper right at Keith's face. Pidge snarled as well in return and took another step forward. 

"Don't think I won't hit you either!" Pidge called out. Their voice shook as they spoke, and Shiro backed them up hoping it sparked enough confidence for the three of them that they could do something for Hunk. 

"It's one against four, There's not much you can do." Shiro snapped. His Galran prosthetic glowed a dark purple beneath his armor. The same color as Keith's veins. 

"What would Matty think?" Keith taunted as he looked at Pidge. Pidge gawked in shock. 

"Where the hell did you see Matt?" They questioned reeling from shock, but Keith had already moved on to look at Shiro. His eyes drilled holes into Shiro's soul. 

"And you." He laughed. "Your just another fucking liar." He sneered venom laced in every word he said. His blade dug deeper into Hunk's neck, beads of blood bubbled in a thin line across his throat. "No one can trust a single word you say! All bullshit!" He shouted only getting louder and louder. 

"Keith, You know it wasn't like that-" 

"Oh I don't know shit." Keith spat at him. The look of hatred in his eyes silenced Shiro as Keith moved on to look at Lance. Lance's arms were trembling as he held up his sniper with both arms. Glaring at Keith with everything he could. It still wasn't enough to match Keith. 

"And you." He leered leaning backwards on his heels to get a full face of Lance. "You wouldn't dare hit me if your friend was on the line." 

"No, But I would." The thickly accented voice caught them all off guard, but the blast even more so. Allura stood before them, her blue dress was gone she was instead in a tight flight suit with a similar color scheme standing by Coran. A blaster in hand. She shot Keith square in the shoulder. Keith didn't even have the chance to look at her as the blast shot him to the side crashing at Pidge's feet. Pidge lunged forward instantly with their bayard, but Keith jumped back up. He grabbed them by the collar and used the momentum Pidge already had to throw them to the ground with inhuman strength for his lithe body. 

"Don't worry I won't rough you up too much!" He said a promising tone in his voice. "Wouldn't want to make Matty mad would we?" He turned on his heel making sure to kick Pidge well they were down right in the stomach. 

"Don't you dare touch them!" Lance screamed! He and Allura let out an army of blasts and bullets at Keith. He raised his bayard up and it lit up! Changing into a bright blue shield instead deflecting the blows back on the two of them. In seconds he got bored and tossed the Shield at Lance knocking him off his feet and to the ground he turned on heels to look right at Shiro who had been paralyzed watching the fight play out. 

"I hope you rot in hell!" Keith grimaced and he sent his fist straight into Shiro's face! Shiro fumbled backwards from the power of it all and his body stung and stumbled. Whatever he had injected himself with strengthened him by tenfold. Shiro tried to compose himself as the others tried to get up and Keith approached Allura with even more anger. Her hand quivered holding the gun under his insane gaze, but she didn't drop it. She didn't shoot it either. 

"So your the racist little shit I've heard so much about." Keith practically growled. He reached out his hand and his bayard back in sword formation flew back to him. 

"Don't you dare insult the princess!" Coran shouted and he pounced forward, But Keith grabbed him by the throat with his sharp claws and lifted him to the air. Coran gasped for air trying to fight Keith's grip, but it was no use. 

"Coran!" Allura cried out pointing her blaster at him, but Keith swiped it away, knocking it to the ground with his sword. Allura wrenched herself forward anyways trying to punch him, but Keith only ducked out of the way. He raised his sword higher and swiped at her face as she tried to push towards him. He landed two hits! Slashing under her altean marks! Pink blood dribbled across her face and she gasped reaching up to touch it! Keith tried to swing again, but a new voice entered the din of chaos making them all freeze. 

"We are supposed to bring the princess in unharmed, Kogane." Goosebumps ran up Shiro's skin as he turned to see Sendak and another soldier approach them. 

"Drop it." Sendak ordered. Keith listened for the first time all day. He dropped Coran and Allura fell to hold him as he wheezed for air. Shiro looked around at the paladins. They couldn't win this fight. Lance was holding onto Hunk his bayard discarded behind him and Pidge was barely holding themself up. Shiro was the only one left standing. 

"You don't order me around." Keith stated. Despite the fact he had listened to Sendak completely. "You don't get to do that. No one gets to do that. Not anymore." He seethed with a silent kind of rage none of the paladins had seen from him. His fingers curled at his side in fists. 

"Well that's quite the contrary." Sendak argued his voice was no longer rough, but an infuriating silky smooth. Like he was just using this tone of voice. Shiro couldn't help but watch the scene before him. Even if the other paladins were plotting an escape he stayed watching enamored by it all. 

"You see Kogane all you are is a mutt! A dog for the emperor's use, and once he's done with you he's going to throw you out." Sendak said taking slow careful steps forward, making sure the other soldier was still ahead of him. Still closer to Keith. 

"You're just The Witch's little play thing. You don't really matter." Sendak scoffed. "Your not like me. You didn't work for this. You showed up and you'll leave just as fast." 

"Fuck you!" Keith spat.

"Now Haxus!" Sendak shouted, as Pidge shouted something else. A million things happened at once! Pidge tossed their bayard forward and Keith shouted as it knocked him to the ground hitting him right in the knees, Allura and Coran sprinted forwards towards Pidge and Shiro, and Hunk and Lance were already halfway back to the Lion, but Shiro couldn't move because something was happening right before him. Haxus clicked a button on a remote and the entire world erupted in screams. 

A high pitched ringing filled Shiro's ears and he crashed further to the ground hands reaching up to rip and tear at his ears screaming from the pain of the ringing. Keith shouted as well. He dropped further down tremors racking through his body. Haxus and Sendak only grinned. 

"Shiro! Shiro!" Pidge shouted, shaking him back and forth, but it was no use. He only stood their shaking and crying out his brain shrieking for the pain to end. Pidge grabbed his shoulders tightly as they glanced around desperately to the others for answers, but none came as Shiro and Keith writhed on the ground. Pidge watched Shiro, then Keith. Keith and Shiro, but they paused as they looked back to Keith again. He had full body collapsed on the rocks, but his hand flexed against his side. In seconds his bayard flashed to life and he chucked it without really looking. 

It hit Haxus impaling him right in half. 

As soon as the sword hit the Galra the noise was gone and Shiro was able to unfold himself from the ground. 

"C'mon we need to get out of here." Pidge urged Shiro by the hand and pulled his shaking frame up. Shiro gave one last glance to Keith in front of him. His body was shaking and quivering, the purple light that had ignited his body was fading in and out of light, and Sendak was stomping towards him with an angry, hungry, look in his eyes. Discarding Haxus's limp frame entirely. 

"C'mon Shiro!" Pidge repeated, and Shiro followed after them as quickly as possible. Shiro didn't look back. 

 

Chapter 12: It's time for a Lion swap babes!

“Shiro was on that Cruiser.” Pidge rambled for what seemed like the hundredth time in the past hour. They paced across the length of the rec room as they spoke. “The rest of your crew must’ve been there. Which means they could be in the Arusian village. We have to go to that Village. The prisoners there might even know what happened to you when you were imprisoned.” Pidge mumbled, they kept speaking under their breath pacing faster and faster now. 

 

“That sounds like a good next step in finding them.” Shiro said, he bit back the words ‘ your family.’ He didn’t really remember when he found out that Pidge was Katie holt, but he wasn’t going to blow her cover if they didn’t want them to know, even if it was fairly obvious. 

 

“Are we just going to move on to the next thing?” Hunk asked, for the past hour he had been trying to pull himself back together, but he was a wreck. His eyes had huge dark circles underneath them and he had vomited way more than once. 

 

“We must.” Allura stated, even as her fingers rubbed gently against the bandages under her Altean markings. She stood up from where she was sitting on the long circular couch that filled up the room. “The Galra aren’t going to stop, and neither should we.” She looked around at the distraught paladins. Lance was sitting on the floor beside Hunk frowning at the ground. His eyebrows furrowed as he glared at something they couldn’t see. Allura looked back at Coran and winced. Red marks covered his neck, but he would be okay. Coran gave Allura a weak smile and she continued. 

 

“However Personal Missions should come second to Voltron.” Allura stated, Pidge stuttered to a stop and turned to look at Allura from behind the couch. Allura forced herself to continue on even though Pidge’s hurt face made guilt stir in Allura’s chest. “We must begin training, and fix up the castle so we can move on. We need to save the universe.” 

 

“Save the universe how?!” Lance snapped. “We just got beaten to a pulp!” He yelled, and Allura nearly jumped back she had never seen Lance angry before, his laid back persona was gone. “There is no voltron Allura, don't you see that!” He threw his hands out gesturing to all of them. 

 

“We are a wreck! We don’t have all of the lions! We are just a bunch of teens from earth who weren’t built for this!” He shouted, Hunk stumbled to his feet beside Lance. “We're not a bunch of toy soldiers for you to play with like! Like! Toy soldiers!” 

“We aren’t the defenders of the universe you're looking for.” Hunk whispered as Lance jumped over the couch and tried to leave the room, Hunk turned on his feet to join him, but the entire room froze as a noise infiltrated their heads. The entire castle froze as a roar, loud and mighty shook through the air. It made the air tremble with its power and it made everyone’s blood still as they glanced around.

 

It was the Red Lion. 

 

“No!” Hunk panicked as he looked back up to the sky where the roar must’ve come from. “This can’t be happening again! Not already!” He pleaded desperately, but the roar had already come and gone. The call was already made. 

 

“Paladins! Get to your lions!” Shiro shouted instantly. “Allura, Coran, Get to the bridge we may need backup fire, but we’ll try to keep the red lion as far away from the castle as we can!” Allura nodded her head and grabbed Coran’s arm pulling him up and rushing the opposite direction. Shiro rushed forward, Pidge on his heels, but Lance took a slower approach as he glanced at Shiro. After this he was done fighting for them. 

 

Lance felt an anger rise in him he had never truly felt before. Harnessing the rage of someone who no one ever listened to, ever appreciated, ever understood. It was as if his untapped emotions back on earth were boiling to the surface threatening to break through, but he wouldn’t let it. He would finish this fight, and go back home to his family where he couldn’t mess up the princesses plans. 

 

Lance stepped towards the lions bay and as he took a step forward he felt something in him shift. He felt his energy he used to portray the persona he lived up to so well drained away. Exhaustion poking at his limbs in a way he had never felt before. It felt like his skin was dragging him down as it got heavier and heavier slipping across his bones. His head ached, pounding with each and every slow step. 

 

“Why isn’t the red lion doing anything?” Pidge asked across the comms and Lance wrenched his head up looking around. He had completely forgotten there was a battle outside. He rushed forward unsure of what that feeling was that was stopping before and ran towards The Blue Lion. 

 

“She looks hurt.” Hunk began, his voice pitched with empathy. What was going on? Lance wondered, but his attention shifted as he reached the blue lion. A large shield of blue was surrounding her. Just like the yellow lion had been trapped in a circular yellow shield. 

 

“ No.” Lance whispered. He ran forward banging his fists against the lion. “No! Blue! I’m sorry! Please! ” He cried out, ignoring the concerned noises coming from the rest of the Comms. “ I didn’t mean what I said. I’m stressed. I’m sorry! I broke.” He whispered. He leaned closer to the lion leaning his forehead against the shield, but it was no use. It stayed strongly put in place. 

 

“ Guys, I think the red lion is trying to talk to us. Coran! Allura! Get out here!” Pidge called out across the comms. “ You too Lance! What are you doing?” Lance didn’t even ingest the words Pidge was saying as seering tears fell across his face and Lance fumbled a sob out of his lips. He craned his neck forward to look back at Blue as her eyes flickered gold one final time. This time Lance didn’t feel like they were watching and following him. He could only see where she pointed them. 

 

There was a door. At the edge of the bay he hadn’t noticed before. The metal creaked against each other and led outside to Arus. Lance choked back another cry as he looked to the blue lion and then the door again. 

 

“ I’m sorry for failing you.” He whispered, and just like that he all but sprinted at the door. Running into the outside world to join the rest of the crew. The ones who were genuinely worthy of carrying such a burden as being a paladin of Voltron. Lance practically crashed out the door tripping over his feet and gasping at what he saw. The other lions were lined up on his side and he watched as Pidge, Hunk, and Shiro clambered out of their lions to join Lance. None of them said a word about the Blue Lion being missing. In seconds Allura and Coran had joined them as well. 

 

The Red Lion stood before all of them. She seemed distraught. Her head bowed as she took small steps towards the rest of the paladins. Her pilot was nowhere in sight. Scarlet blood streaked down the side of the lion. Mud engraved in her paws. Smoke clung to her like dust. She approached and Lance looked up watching as her eyes flickered golden trying to stay awake for just another moment. She was trying to stare at Lance. Not Allura, whose desperate eyes were pleading for another chance.

 

Rain softly fell through the sky, pattering gently again the metal of their armor. Gray clouds pushed their way into the sky covering up any warmth they might have had in victory. The rain washed away the blood and pain. It made the red lion look anew. It was one of those moments when even nature takes a hand in human fights. The red lion shined gently and her brothers and sisters took a step forward. The other lions offered their support as she continued forward. 

 

They all knew what it was like to lose someone. 

 

They all knew what it was like to have to move on. 

 

The Red Lion was looking at Lance. Even if it hurt her, She stepped closer to him. The paladin's eyes all shifted to the boy clad in blue armor, mouth slightly agape. She limped ever closer and Lance mirrored her moves. Stepping to his new lion. They stopped inches away from each other, all the paladins could do was helplessly watch as the red lion leaned her head against Lance. Golden eyes flickering to black and falling at his feet. She whispered one last sentence before succumbing to rest that pushed its way into all of their heads. 

 

He. He is not my paladin anymore. 

 

Her heartbroken words wove their way into their hearts pulling at the strands and forcing all of them to feel something. It was sickening. 

 

He is gone. 

 

Too far gone for saving, The new enemy in the making. 

Chapter 13: You and Me, Monsters we are

Notes:

Just to confirm for you guys this isn't apart of the febuwhump story! This is the next chapter in the main plot line! A Keith POV Chapter!

Haggar sat at the foot of Zarkon’s throne gently touching the glowing edges of the purple circle she surrounded herself with. She watched carefully and dutifully at the scene playing out before her. Her creation. Her monster, Fighting valiantly as always against their enemies. It made her beam with pride, but as the scene continued to play out her face shifted into a scowl. The other General had to interject. Stopping her creature from fully turning. Sendak hadn’t let him fully give into the quintessence and it made her blood boil! How dare he step forward and take matters into his own pathetic hands! Hands that Haggar had given him. 

 

“It appears as if your champion has failed.” Zarkon remarked. His voice carried heavy through the air, and Haggar wondered if he had even seen the same battle that she had. Though her creation had not succeeded in tearing down Voltron he had done more than anyone else. This was progress, but it did not matter what Zarkon thought because Haggar could easily change that. 

 

“It appears as if Sendak is the reason for that, not my champion’s own volition.” Hagger replied calmly. She kept her voice down and low, but pitched with a wicked kind of feeling and a rugged sound that she knew would make it work. 

 

“That must be so.” Zarkon agreed distantly, and Haggar looked further down, letting her mask fall over her face even more to hide the shallow grin of sharp teeth she was holding.  “Sendak and your champion are both still alive on Arus. I will give Sendak instructions on how to proceed. You must do the same for your champion.” 

 

“Are you sure he is trustworthy?” Haggar asked. As she spoke something felt different. The quintessence in her veins didn’t flow as usual. Something disrupted the takeover she had all those years ago. Something in her felt actual concern? 

 

“Sendak was trained well in the name of the empire.” Zarkon said, this time his voice raised. It echoed across the walls of the throne room, Stirring an achy feeling in Haggar’s chest that she hadn’t felt in ages. A feeling she was sure had long died. “He fights just as any Galra shall. He takes everyone who isn’t of our superior race and puts them back to where they belong. Even that Monster Champion of yours.” Haggar’s face contorted into a grimace as the words came spilling out of her throat with no way to stop them. 

 

“ Is that why you have me sit here? Beneath your throne, because I too am just your monster.” 

 

---

 

 

Keith woke up slowly, it was something he hadn’t experienced in years. In the empire if you weren’t awake when the alarm bells sirened then there were worse things coming to you than having to get up early. In battle sleep was limited and rest was never really restful, but at this moment Keith was going to take all the rest he could. He tried to ignore the growing ache in his bones and his limbs and the seeping cold that tried to infiltrate the little warmth he had left. Keith turned and rustled further into the itchy fabric on his side in hopes there was more warmth there, but none came. 

 

“I would give him some more rest.” A voice said. It sounded slow and sweet as it entered Keith’s ears, but the moment he heard he was on edge. His back became rigid and body froze as he continued to listen to whatever was being said, even if the discomfort made him want to rip his spine out and tear at his skin. 

 

“What do you think happened, Kerkta ?” Another voice asked. This one was thicker, with a full feeling that left Keith with a sour taste on his tongue. “This is the champion from the arena is it not?” Keith bit back an angry retort and took another light breath in trying to attempt to remain sleeping as he took purchase of where he was. He was laying on some sort of cot, with that familiar itchy fabric and it must’ve been early morning because of the way light protruded against his eyelids. 

 

“Yes. It is the champion whom you speak of.” Kerkta must’ve said. Her sweet and milky voice flowing through the air again. “Though this is just more proof that the stories the village speaks of are our truth. He is like us.” She stated, and as she spoke a gust of wind blew over Keith’s back making the boy shiver. “He is not just a hero who shows weakness, but a savior of the people. Just as the village speaks.” She hummed again. 

 

“I understand now, dear sister. We shall let him rest.” Keith could hear footsteps retreating from the room, but he didn’t dare move at all until he was sure whoever had been speaking was completely gone. Until the voices were just another hushed noise in the wind. 

 

Keith cracked his eyes open and looked around. He was on a cot a few feet into the air in a small room with straw walls. It looked almost like a little cottage. There were a few gaps in the straw that Keith assumed was some kind of window. A few paintings hung from the wall. This must’ve been the Arusian Village Keith had found. He sat up slowly hovering his legs above the ground before he realized it was dirt and it wouldn’t creak under his weight. 

 

Keith stood up, he paused for a moment recognizing the distinct buzz of pain sparkling up his bones. God, he had forgotten about the fight. His brows furrowed as he remembered what had happened. Stupid Sendak. He cursed under his breath. He had ruined the mission, again and again. Keith had to ruin him. Keith had to break him. He decided. He looked around the room and noticed his armor was nowhere to be seen. He was left in his black leggings and red undershirt. He didn’t even have his cropped jacket on him. He sighed under his breath, but kept moving. 

 

The windows were small, but easily large enough for Keith to slip through them. He walked towards it quickly. He would just go for a quick stroll through the village and figure out what was going on, then he would come back, thank the villagers for their kindness and be on his way to kill Sendak. It was a perfect plan. What could go wrong?

 

Keith shrugged off the growing despair in his gut and slipped out the window. He flinched at the light and held out a hand to Arus’s version of a sun as he looked around. He was in a row of the cottages. They seemed all the same going on for quite a while before they bridged out somewhere else. Keith looked forward and saw the same thing. They were an organized little village. He'll give them that. Keith decided to take note about how everything was perfectly even. The way each cottage was placed out the same on the green grass that tickled at his ankles. 

 

The wind blew gently and the blue sky grew a little darker as Keith walked along the rows of cottages. He distantly wondered how long he had been out, but something inside him didn’t really care that much. An easy sort of feeling overcoming any real thoughts. There was a sheer kind of emptiness in his head that made him feel sick. 

 

An absence of warmth. An absence of comfort. An absence of her. 

 

It only took Keith a moment to realize who was missing. Red. Her calming warmth had dissipated, she was always here after a tough battle or day. She was always here for him, and now she was gone. Keith held his hand out with a single thought and in seconds the red bayard was in his hand. The red and black sword it morphed into seemed just as before. Keith weighed it in his hands. Something felt off. A light pulling in the back of his head that made his sword feel way to light. As if it could fly away. 

 

“Guys do you feel that?” Keith jumped at the voice. He hadn’t even realized he was so on edge. Keith ducked behind one of the Cottages. He squatted down and forced himself to listen even if he stared down at his sword which was changing? Moving? 

 

“It kind of feels like when Blue saved us. I knew what she wanted and where she wanted to go.” 

 

“Fuck.” Keith cursed under his breath hoping it wasn’t as audible as it seemed. It was those stupid paladins again. Bothering him every turn they could. If the paladins were here, Shiro must’ve been too. Keith’s heart dropped in his chest. 

 

“Maybe it’s the red lion?” Another voice said, confirming there were more of them. Keith didn’t really focus on that however. He focused on the words. Why would it be the red lion? Unless- No. It couldn’t be. Even as Keith thought it he watched as his sword flickered in and out of his hand. 

 

“No, No, No, No,” He mumbled. He tried to heighten his concentration. Focusing only on the bayard, but as he did this it seemed to make it worse. Panic gripped him by the throat taking a stronghold in his chest as his breaths became more and more choppy with the passing second. He squinted his eyes tight trying to wrap his hands hard around the sword, but as he did so his nails only met his flesh meeting his hands clenched into fists. 

 

“Woah!” The first voice shouted getting closer and closer and Keith cried out a mix of agony and rage that would be audible throughout the entire village. Tension filled his body about to snap as the entire world went quiet with them. He had lost red. Keith lost red. It was over. They could form Voltron now! It was over! 

 

You can’t let them win young hero. 

 

A hushed voice lingered in his head as the wind intensified and brought words with it. Keith tuned in to listen. Still crouched on the ground with his hands clenched into fists around nothing. His flesh felt as if it was burning and the agony of emptiness gripped his soul, but he listened anyway. 

 

Run! 

 

The voice, who must’ve been Haggar, yelled its final note and Keith was up and moving before he even knew what was happening. He bounded to his feet and broke out from behind the cottage. He turned left as fast as possible, rushing forward past cottages as the wind whipped around him. 

 

“Look there!” One of the paladins shouted pointing right at him. Keith was sure, but he kept going as pounding footsteps followed his punishing pace. 

 

“What’s going on?!” Another voice gasped, Keith turned his head right in time to see the other paladins emerging from the other rows of the Cottages. He ran right past the yellow one and two alteans continuing to sprint forward like a madman who had lost his way. Behind him the blue, green, and black paladins sprinted to keep up. 

 

“Keith!” one of them shouted, the voice felt familiar, achingly so. Keith ignored it anyway, his heart pounding relentlessly in his chest. He could barely breathe shallow heaps of air flowing in and out of him. As he threw himself around corners in different directions trying to lose them as fast as possible. Soon he would have to stop, but that wouldn’t matter. They ran at a humane pace. Nothing like Keith who could run faster than some of the fastest species in the galaxy. They couldn’t catch up to him. He checked behind him one more time. This time he saw nothing behind him and he ducked behind a cottage. He sunk against the straw cottage wall watching as his purple veins rushed and flickered in and out of life once again. 

 

“Shit.” Keith cursed under his breath again. He had forgotten about the quintessence he had stored in his armor. Now at the hands of these Arusians. He let the thought flow away however. Other things are too busy running rampant in his mind to focus on. 

 

Keith rocked back and forth across the straw wall, surprised it was letting him do so without crashing in on itself. Keith took deep breaths, but none of them really seemed to go through. He dug his nails into his knees as his breaths got faster and faster with every second. He didn’t know what to do. He wasn’t a paladin anymore. These people were and they knew he was here. 

 

Shiro was here. 

 

The reminder was cold and heavy in Keith’s heart and his breathing only got faster as his rocking increased and the purple in his veins grew stronger and stronger by the minute. Shiro was there with his new friends. His new team. 

 

A team he didn’t abandon. 

 

The words crashed into his chest so hard the remaining air he had left was knocked out of him and he was desperately wheezing in and out for air. His palms hit sporadically at his head, his elbows pointed outward and his fingers trying to rip and tear at his ears as he moved back and forth faster and faster with every passing second. 

 

Keith didn’t know how long he sat there shaking and rocking. Sweat dribbling across his forehead and his eyes watering from lack of air, but it was enough for them to catch up. Even Haggar’s screams couldn’t get to Keith now. 

 

“Look there!” Someone shouted and they turned on him, but the running stuttered to a stop as they saw Keith before them. A wreck prone to destruction in every passing second.  They all stood in front of them and bile rose in Keith’s throat as he tried to look to the ground instead of them, but his hands seemed to force his head up. Force him to endure this pain. 

 

Shiro and Pidge stood in front of them. The two were the only ones who had seen Keith like this before back in the past. The thought of that made him even more sick. The yellow one, Hunk or whatever his name was, looked sickly, but also worried somehow? Both the Alteans were looking at him as if he was a monster. The blue paladin however, Oh the blue paladin made him shake even worse. He was holding Keith’s bayard. Only knew it was red and white. Flashing of purity and goodness. Keith wanted to pounce, but he couldn’t even breathe let alone get up there and fight seven against one. He could destroy all of them at once if he tried, but today wasn’t one of those good days. 

 

“Keith?” Pidge whispered softly, Keith made a broken noise at the familiar sound. The familiar voice of his past. It all ached. It hurt so badly he wanted to slash their throat right here, right now to end the agony of remembering. 

 

“Hey, Buddy.” Shiro whispered, he knelt down taking control of the situation just when Keith was down. It made Keith so angry that his breath stuttered to a stop completely. It took all of Keith’s effort to keep breathing. His face contorted from hurt to rage and every single paladin saw it. They swiftly moved backwards, but Shiro didn’t. He extended both his hands in sympathy. He had done this before many times to Keith to stop him from melting down. Keith hated it. 

 

Keith hated the way Shiro still believed he had any semblance of control over him. He hated the way Shiro was convinced he was still the same old Keith on the inside. He wasn’t that Keith anymore. He was Haggar’s Champion. He wasn’t Shiro’s little mentee to play games with. Not anymore. 

 

“C’mon Keith.” Shiro whispered gently. “You can do this.” He encouraged, but another voice overpowered his own. 

 

“Oh Heroes!” A voice exclaimed, and the entire group jumped, but not Keith. His body relaxed. Tremors still filled his body, but they lessened as he realized he was gaining more ground on all of them. “We assumed you went on a walk!” The small Arusian exclaimed. It was Kerkta. The one who had saved him, and her sister. Her sister was holding a tray of items Keith knew all belonged to him. 

 

“We decided to bring your things we gathered!” Kerkta’s sister exclaimed gently. Holding out the tray. They all saw what was inside. Keith’s jacket, his other sword, and all the quintessence anyone could ever ask for stored in little syringes. 

 

Keith forced himself to move forward even if a chill filled his insides as he hurriedly unfolded himself. He sent a fist hard right into Shiro’s face before anyone could comprehend what was happening. He ran towards the tray grabbing a syringe and stabbing it right into his hip where his red shirt had hiked up showing off his side, and everything began to feel alright. 

 

Keith was a monster now, he knew that’s what they all had to be thinking as he turned on them. He tossed his cropped jacket over his shoulders and relished in the look on all of their faces as his eyes grew yellow. He wasn’t going to fight them now. Not in front of the kind Arusians, but he still relished in their fear. 

 

If he was going to be a monster, he was going to be a damn good one. 

Chapter 14: Onwards Ho!

Notes:

Been awhike huh.. thats my bad

“Thank you, Miss Kerkta.” Keith smiled smoothly. He could feel the confidence flow back into him as his veins rushed forward and life came back fleeting and powerful. ‘And your beloved sister.” He flashed a smile at her and the smaller Arusian blushed, spluttering out a small thanks. His body ached, but it all felt like it would be okay. He pocketed the rest of his items quickly and he paused. Something inside of him, much like Haggar’s guiding voice flickered to life. A feeling he knew all too well. Haggar always provided answers when he didn’t do enough research on the culture of the planet he would be visiting. 

 

Keith bent his knees gently and he curled his arms inward with his coat leaning forward quickly in a semi bow. The highest form of respect that you can show to an Arusian without being wildly inappropriate. 

 

He was going to be a little fucking shit and mess with these new paladins. 

 

Both Arusians gasped and Keith smiled gently, he wasn’t sure how much longer he would be able to contain himself from showing off. He moved to turn back towards the Paladin’s but words filled his head instead. 

 

“Anything.” Kerkta responded, she curtsied gently and let her voice drop, she slipped into her native tongue and Keith could practically see the bewildered look on The Paladins face as she spoke. She asked him in Arusian if they were bothering him. Picking up the language was a good idea on Keith’s part. A hum of energy and excitement filled him once again as he replied to her. He decided to speak in English, another way to show respect to the Arusians. Speak in your native tongue, they can understand all languages. 

 

“No,” Keith smiled, deciding to speak vaguely. “There are no problems here.” He started a little loudly. “We would never wish to disturb your peace.” He glanced back not bothering to look at any of their faces, just their feet and the gleaming red sword that caught his eyes. A shake of head’s met his answer and Keith turned fully. He was going to leave and walk right past them before making their lives a living hell. He was going to find Sendak. Mess him up, and then take Shiro down too. 

 

“Wait!” The younger Arusian exclaimed. Kerkta slapped her on the back of her head, but Keith turned his sweet smile and placid look on his lips. “Why does he carry your sword?” She pointed wickedly towards Lance. Keith felt anger rise in him, but he took a deep breath and just like that he turned to face Lance. 

 

His smile dropped. His eyes raised, he could feel everyone looking at him. “I’ve been a paladin for long enough.” He whispered a voice rustling through the air harsh and wicked. “There are further places for me to go.” He stated. He swung his knife back and forth as it pulled it out of his pocket where he has clutched it tightly and in seconds it transformed into a sword. “Thank you, Once again for your kindness, but I must be on my way.” Keith paused and let himself slip into Arusian as he spoke once more. “Because of the damage done we will send a squadron with supplies to take care of your repairs. As a Thanks from the Empire” He smiled and both the sisters said gentle praises saying they would carry on the message in Arusian. Just like that, Keith turned on his feet and walked away. Keith walked further without another word. He strutted past the paladins letting his sword graze Shiro’s armor, the sound of metal scraping filled the air as words gently morphed from his mouth as he passed by. 

 

“Coward.” He snapped, and just like that he was gone. His sword glowed an ominous shade of purple as fog seemed to wrap around his limbs! Purple light flashed and he was gone with the wind, another person Shiro didn’t win. It shocked all the paladins still staring in awe at what had just gone down. This wasn’t the Keith they had seen before. Reckless, and aggressive. This was calm, confident, and cocky. Someone who knew when to pick his battles, and Lance didn’t remember that Keith at all. 

 

 Lance held his bayard closer to himself as he looked around at the others. Uncomfortableness rising up his skin and bones. Shaking him to the core. Lance looked to them with some kind of confirmation, Keith didn’t seem bothered at all by the fact that Lance had control of the Red Lion. What if he was just going to take it back? He knew he wasn’t meant for this. He was just another boy from Cuba, but weren’t they all? He wondered, he looked up again trying to get Hunk to say something to him, but he was still distracted. They all were. Looking at the two Arusians. They were whispering together words that Lance couldn’t quite understand but two of them stuck out like spikes. 

 

“Star Killer.” Lance overheard “Star Killer.” It wasn’t spoken with fear, or horror, it was spoken with admiration. They were talking about Keith. Lance knew it somewhere in his chest his heart puttered at the words, filled with the same admiration for some freakish reason. He knew it, and from the looks of the others so did they. 

 

‘I’m sorry,” Hunk interrupted, walking forwards. “What were you saying?” He asked. Neither of the Arusians answered Hunk giving him the dirtiest look they had ever seen. 

 

“I don’t like these new paladins.” The younger Arusian smiled and just like that they walked off into the distance. The sunsetting behind their backs. Shiro turned back to look at the others all full of empty hands unsure of what to do. 

 

“How did he know how to do that?” Allura asked as soon as the Arusians vanished. “How does he know Arusian? And the proper etiquette of the Arusians. The Galra  never cared for the etiquette of other people.” She stomped, but no one responded instead all of their eyes were drawn towards Shiro. He had a pensive, but horrified look on his face. As if he had just seen a ghost. Then he spoke. His hard, and strong leader of a voice sounded broken. 

 

“I’ve seen that sword before.” He whispered throat dry. “I think Keith was in the Arena with me. I think he saved me.” 

 

“What do you mean he saved you?” Pidge and Allura both burst into the thick air. The tension was so large a knife could hardly cut through it. It made the wind echo, and the cottages beside them shook with ingenuity as emotions poured into their little group and Shiro spoke, confused and frustrated. 

 

“I don’t- I don't remember most of my time in the arena.” He said. A hand rubbing at the nape of his neck as his brows furrowed. “I think. I was on Sendak’s ship, and the symbol, on Keith’s sword. I’ve seen it before. Someone held that sword when they saved me. It had to be Keith. Which means he was In the Arena somehow?” 

 

“Well Lad, I too have seen that symbol before!” Coran argued. “If I remember correctly we have something in the Castle’s database on that symbol.” He pouted hand holding his chin as he thought. “Though I’m not sure what that could be.” 

 

“Let’s get back to the castle.” Shiro ordered. “We can do research and keep working on our training with Lance in the Red Lion. I have a feeling this isn't over yet.” 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 15: Dreams of Afar

Notes:

Soo...
I've begun to notice that I'm not liking a lot of the character development and vibes of some of the characters in this fic, I might do a rewrite if anyone's interested, but if not I'll keep this one up, because I think I can still go the route I want to.
Anyways sorry for the long break hope people are still interested in this fic if not I may just start the rewrite 3

Lance wakes up gently, the sound of the sea slowly drifting in and out of his ears getting louder and louder as his blue eyes flickered open and were met with an equally as sparkling site. The world around him was more gorgeous than he had ever seen.  Bright beams of sunlight cascaded his skin with warmth, and the sky was the brightest Lance had seen it. The sand below him didn't burn his feet once! Instead it pushed him further, he felt himself laugh as his body was pushed along to the oceanside. For the first time in forever he felt unafraid. he felt at peace with who he was. He was meant to be here, on this empty beach, but as soon as he thought the word empty something shifted. 

Tables and chairs laid out on the beach popped up all around him, small kids with adults suntanning and watching filled the beach in an instant, but Lance couldn't complain. In fact in that instance he felt more comfortable. he loved the sound of happy kids laughing and playing games, building sandcastles and the smell of barbeque and sunscreen mixed together, but something else tugged in Lance's gut. deep inside like an anchor tugging on his ribs dragging him down so his gaze returned and was pinned back onto the ocean. 

On the edge of the ocean where the sun was glimmering across the perky waves an image appeared, an image of people wandering and splashing, people Lance knew all to well! His sister Veronica cheered as she beat up her younger brother is volleyball, the little siblings scrambled around her desperately trying to get the ball back as Lance's mother cooked in the kitchen with their father, side by side the two shared a kiss as they continued cooking, his tia's lined the counter dropping drama Lance hadn't heard in ages. Lance never thought he would actually miss that, but something deep inside of him screamed, because he did miss it. He missed Veronica's teasing, his Tio's hair ruffles, his mothers hugs, his siblings cried. He missed it all so much, gone less than a week and yet he was desperate for it.

They were all just a little further out beyond the waves. Lance felt himself diving before he truly knew what he was doing, he was barely aware of his body and the fact he was inside of it as he sprung forward into action, kicking through the waves, but they seemed to change from light and fun loving. They got choppy and cut across his body in painful waves of agony. He couldn't even see through the water any longer, his eyes filled with salt and it burned as he tried to blink it away and find someway to swerve up and breathe once again, all he wanted was to breathe, but his eyes wouldn't let him, seaweed stuck to his legs dragging him down and exhausting flowed through his veins, plumping him up with horror as blue faded to red and pain, he needed to see his family, but he couldn't swim! His body seemed as if it was lit on fire, the tingling sensation burning up his brown skin all around him as he tried to flee to the surface, but blue turned to red, and red faded to green. 

Life breathed into his lungs and tossed him away, Lance screamed water purging out his lips as he flailed forward only to find no water, but Pidge. their frame fighting past green plants being lit afire as they burned into Lance's world. Two worlds fading to one in flames. Lance was trapped. He couldn't move back towards the water, nor did he ever want to again, the saltwater still bubbling in his throat, but he couldn't scream towards Pidge either. Couldn't run to try and save them as they screamed and burned. Stuck between limbo, floating above the water, on the other side of an island. To low for Pidge to see, Lance's lips were sealed tight by the sea, but Pidge's and Lance's death's weren't the only one at the scene. 

Hunk is alone in a dark room, he can't see them. He can't see anything. He's trapped in darkness and in seconds so are Lance and Pidge, still trapped in the scene of their own nightmares, paralyzed still, but watching from the burned circle, like a deck of cards the ace of hearts has burned a yellowing whole through for them to watch as Hunk curls up in a corner and realizes he will never wake up. He will spend the rest of his life in this room, with no friends, no family. The place a coward is meant to be. Not piloting Voltron. Until the smell of the sea too invaded his dreams and he was also carried away. 

To the one who started the flames, who invited him in. 

---

The arena lights shined down on Shiro bright purple, he took a deep breath in and sawdust swarmed his lungs sticking to them like syrup and drowning them in their smell, This time was different than Shiro's last dream, this time he could move and fight like he used to be able to do, an axe in his hand found warm welcome to people's heads as they ran at him. Blood splattered across saw dust staining the ground an irksome kind of brown and making the stench in the air get thicker by every moment. Shiro could do nothing to stop the onslaught of violence against these people. They ran at him one by one as if they no longer cared about taking down each other. As if he was the only target in sight. The real enemy. The real one they needed to take on. 

Shiro tried to stop, to shout and reason with them but it was as if rags had been stuffed in his mouth and forced down his throat blocking him for ever speaking or using his vocal chords ever again, Shiro tried to glance around but it was as if his head was no longer on it's own axis. He had no control over what he did, he had no control over who he was. It was as if the witch was controlling him all over again, as if her sharp and wicked hands had taken the liberty of digging into his skull with sharp claws and making sure he felt inch by inch as she took over. 

A four armed alien ran at him now, his body almost clear if not for the green tinge and blood that stained his hands, his eyes looked greedy as if he was lucky to take on the champion and maybe have a chance at winning. Only that slim chance he thought he had was obliterated in seconds, Shiro threw his axe down and cut through one of his arms watching as he screamed, and he twisted as fast as he could too his back before sending his axe flying through one of the outliers. A purple alien, most likely Galra, but not furry at all. The crack of wood against metal shuddered through the Arena as Shiro summoned his Bayard back to him. 

Only it wasn't his Bayard. Red light glinted off of it in a way that Shiro had never seen before. Shiro had never had a Bayard. Not since he joined Voltron.  In fact Shiro looked down at his arms and they were way to skinny and pale to be his own. 

Keith. This had to be Keith. This wasn't one of Shiro's nightmares. This was one of his. The ground around him shuddered almost as if the careful glass floor of the dreamscape was shattering beneath his very feet and in seconds the world had upturned itself. Flashes of the other paladins broke through his mind. Hunk alone and suffering, Pidge over the body of their older brother. Lance so close to his family but being torn away by war, and then Keith in the middle of it all thrown on the ground shuddering. His image was the clearest of all. So clear all of the paladins suffering had shifted, instead it changed and morphed into something different as a scene or a memory played out before them, as it happened to them as well. 

Screams echoed through the sudden silence as hands and darkness succumbed over all five of them. The hands slid rough and tumble over Shiro's skin grabbing and pulling, or maybe it was Keith's skin, or Lance's or Hunk's. He couldn't tell the difference anymore. Either way Shiro shuddered as spikes of pain ran up his body as bruises were beaten into him relentlessly and he was tugged and dragged backwards against cold hard metal, he was incapable of thought, incapable of hearing, incapable of seeing, all that existed was pain, until grunting, shrill, shouts broke through. 

"No!" A voice sobbed ripping through the pain and agony tearing through every one of them as if a knife had been thrown at their heart slicing through the dagger near violently. "You can't take me back!" The voice screamed again as it flinched in and out of existence a mix of every paladin and a mix of every voice. It's tone pattered up and tone shattering through space and time. "You were supposed to help! You were supposed to save me!" 

Shiro doesn't know when it started, he doesn't know when it ends, but all he knows is the symbol that flashes before his eyes. The one he had seen on Keith's sword. 

The symbol that had saved him. 

 

---

All across the Castleship the paladins bounded forward out of bed in Alarm. Lance tossed his headphones and facemask violently to the ground he ran outside of his door to be met with matching looks of concern on both Hunk and Pidge's face. Shiro lay in the middle of the hallway skin red and flustered, his metal arm glowing a deep red. 

Chapter 16: Mindlink of my Heart

Notes:

Alright guys hear are my thoughts:
I am not going to do a rewrite, I'm gonna keep writing this version of the story and power through because I enjoy writing it and if it ever comes to the point where I don't enjoy writing this story I'll maybe start thinking of a rewrite.
Anyways! I'm gonna try and post weekly updates! Enjoy!!

The medbay lights hummed distantly and Coran craned his neck to get a good look at Shiro's expression. The man sat up tall, and all of his data appeared to be fine, and yet his metal arm still glowed red. Searing hot to the touch Coran noted to himself. The other paladins stood side by side with each other in the room and even Allura looked dismayed. 

 

"Should we assume this is the Galra's doing Coran?" She asked trying to remain calm as ever, but her tone indicated something else Coran didn't like. Fear.

 

"Well according to number four that isn't possible with this kind of tech." He reminded her and Allura nodded her head. Pidge took another deep breath and huffed loudly as they dived back into typing on their computer. Coran glanced up to Hunk but he just shrugged at him, as if whatever the young paladin was doing was a complete mystery to everyone in the room. "And you all speak of a shared- what did you call it again? Nightmare?" Coran asked them, and Hunk paled again before gulping and nodding his head, before anyone else could speak Lance cut in. 

 

"I think Kogane was doing something to us!" Lance exclaimed, "one minute I was with my family, and the next minute I was drowning, Me! Drowning! and I was watching Pidge and Hunk literally suffering and Shiro doing god knows what!" Lance exclaimed. "Who wants us suffering and wants to interrupt my very important beauty sleep? Keith! Who was also there in said dream and was the reason it ended so frickin terribly! Keith! It was like he was pushing all his pain onto us or something it was awful!" Coran took quick note of that adding it onto his clipboard of odd things that had occurred since the Paladins had a run in with the former red paladin. 

 

"Lance I don't think Keith was doing it on purpose." Shiro said, watching as Pidge carefully tilted their head back up from their laptop to lock eyes with Shiro curiously. "I think it may be the Paladin Mindlink you mentioned earlier Allura. Red just changed her mind maybe she's still connected to Keith. Maybe he's having nightmares too." Shiro sympathized before looking away. "I also don't think it's a bad thing if we ignore my arm and the pain because I saw that symbol again maybe if we can strengthen the mindlink with Keith we can figure out who saved me, what happened, and where to find the rest of the pilots on my mission." 

 

"You want to risk my beauty sleep to get into Keith's brain!" Lance exploded, but Coran cut him off- 

 

"That does not sound like a good idea Lad." Coran said resting a hand on Shiro's normal arm. "Mindlink's are dangerous and are not meant to be tampered with unless trained under the proper conditions. Voltrons relationship with the former red paladin has shown strain as the Red lion returned to us earlier. I don't believe it would be safe for us to travel across such an endeavor just yet." Coran finished gently, but Shiro's eyes didn't look any less determined, instead they seemed even more steely. Grey boring into dark blue. 

 

"Well we do have one advantage, an expert trainer that wants to get this show on the road right?" Shiro asked smiling up at Coran. 

 

"Oh you cannot be serious-" Hunk began. "I'm on Lance with this, that is so dangerous we can't just break into people's minds!" He exclaimed exasperatedly. "We also are actively missing a paladin-" 

 

"Well Number 1's idea may be dangerous we can at least start with Training, as for the new needed Blue Paladin, That is another matter to be discussed." Coran hummed in agreement. "I believe the arm to be fine so I say we continue on with the training regiment today." Coran determined turning the floor to Allura.   

 

"Yes, Paladins please meet Coran and I at the training deck in one varga where we will begin your training to take down the Galran empire once and for all." 

 

A chorus of agreement filled the air, but the eerie filling inside the paladins didn't dissipate. That nightmare happened. It was too real, and one question wouldn't leave any of their minds.

 

What if it happened again? 

---

“One, Two, Two, Two, One! Ah, There we go!” Coran cheered and Shiro looked up from the plain white floor of the training deck as Coran cleared his throat over the intercoms installed in the newly discovered training deck. The other paladins surrounded Shiro all looking similarly wary, but Shiro forced a smile on his face and another placid calm look at least encouraged them a little more. If they were going to beat Zarkon (Shiro refrained from thinking of anyone else.) They needed to do this now. Learn how to train perfectly.  Shiro shook any extra nerves from his not so restful night and composed himself. He at least needed to be composed in front of his team. He could panic later he reminded himself. Pushing down any thoughts of fear. Instead he examined the room. It was tiled white everywhere, almost looking institutional and glowed softly. It was unlike any Arena Shiro had ever participated in, and that in itself made him feel incredibly safer. 

 

It wasn't dark and shaking with limelight, it as quite the opposite, white, and so obviously loved with the pristine care Coran had in taking care of it. Shiro snapped himself out of his own thoughts when Pidge tugged on his Armor and glanced at the balcony that glowed a careful blue and jutted out from the plain and perfect walls. "Ok Paladins," Coran continued, "so according to the paladin handbook of knowledge, you must be able to trust each other. It demands that you put your fellow paladin’s safety above your own. A swarm of drones is about to attack, it’s up to you to keep your teammates safe.” As soon as Coran finished speaking the training deck roared to life illuminating a pale blue color! The sound of swift metal filled the air and Shiro looked down as several pops joined in on the noise! A blue shield had appeared in his hand and as he glanced around the other paladins had them too. It wasn't grimy metal covered in rust and blood. Shiro reminded himself, though his days in the Arena still tried to roar back to life. 

 

“What the-” Pidge mumbled beside Shiro. Examining the shield carefully and with such rigor that they completely missed the panels of wall clicking and bursting open as drones small and disc shaped popped out, almost like Galran cruisers they fluttered a little before the five wall panels that had popped out and then roared to action fluttering into the air and rushing towards them! Hunk’s voice practically drowned the roar of action and metal whirring out completely! He was the first to see the drones flying towards them faster than ever! A shrill shriek filled the air. It was of obvious fear, and not just for himself. 

 

“Wait! Wait! What Coran! What’s going on!” Hunk shouted, but it was too late for any of them to protest, the drones were swarming as if they were wasps roaring for attack.  Shiro could practically hear the drones hunger for attack, he could feel Hunk trembling, Pidge's lack of confidence, and Lance's heart drop almost as if it was all happening to him as well, but he fought through the common despair. 

 

“Get Ready.” Shiro grunted through his teeth. In mere moments they were standing shoulder to shoulder, the four of them ready to face anything. They could do this. Shiro convinced himself. They could do this. He thought, almost as a mantra rather than as a singular coherent idea. Shiro looked around each and every one of them was in a ready position. He hummed to himself gently, so they did remember their Garrison training, he couldn’t survey much more however because just like that the drones began to swarm, circling them with ease as each of the paladins raised up a shield. 

 

“Remember to succeed you must protect each other!” Coran cheered, as each drone began to shoot laser like shots at them! Blue and electric they zipped through the air. Shiro lunged forward instantly his adrenaline on high as he blocked a shot from hitting Pidge square in the face. Hunk yelped again from behind him and Shiro could only get a short glimpse of Lance lunging to clumsily and to slowly before the shot hit Hunk! 

 

"Hunk!" Lance and Shiro screamed almost in unison, Lance grabbed his arm, Shiro grabbing the back of his shirt as Pidge deflected blast after blast for them, but it was too late, the floor flickered and blinked underneath Hunk and he fell into Darkness loud screams echoing behind them, Shiro curled his hand into a fist and returned back to his position closer within their triangle (now.) of protection, he cursed lowly under his breath hoping none of the paladins could feel that as well, but he did feel Lance's heart sink deeper his brain receding into disappointment.  

 

"What the hell Coran!" Lance shouted up at control room that pushed out onto the training deck almost like a balcony. It only blinked up at them glowing blue in contrast of the white plated room. Lance however received no response, only silence as the drones got louder. "This is insane!" He exclaimed, but he moved backwards anyways, that disappointed feeling trying to take over in a fog, but Shiro wouldn't let it. This was their first day. Mistakes were going to happen. 

 

"C'mon team we got this." Shiro encouraged again. As they got closer together. His body felt electric where their shoulders connected. This was his team. They could do this. He knew they could do this. The shots got closer and louder by the drones and Shiro could feel the others moving lunging around each other, not in synch. Nowhere near close as to what they were going to need to be to save the universe, but this was working. He could feel happiness prickle up his spine, this was working. 

 

"Shoot! Pidge!" Lance shouted, Shiro blinked. In protecting Lance both of them had missed the shot that went straight at her legs snapping them to the floor with a cry as another panel blinked and in seconds the Green Paladin was gone. Shiro pushed backwards back hitting Lance harshly, but the other paladin got the memo, Overcome and adapt, overcome and adapt, overcome and adapt. That's all they could do to power through.  The drones only got louder as the shouts grew less sporadic and more violent in the evercoming seconds. This time it isn't Lance who may have the advantage of being lanky and flexible, but lacked the actual strength to block as many hit as Shiro. It was Shiro who couldn't lunge fast enough and sent Lance spiraling into the darkness and shortly afterwards himself. Shiro's legs stung as he was flung into Darkness body flailing as he attempted to stay put. Air wrapped around him and all Shiro could do was tense his eyes to stay open and not imagine what his fate would be, in seconds which could have been minutes, or even honors, Shiro's back hit hard metal. A soft clang filled his hears, near jarringly and he looked around. 

 

He was back on the training deck? Again? The other paladins surrounded him as well folding in on themselves to stand up. Hunk was rubbing his neck hastily and Lance was looking down on the floor. Expression all but abysmal. 

 

"Well," Allura tutted. "Ignoring that Awful performance, We will now be fighting the Gladiator instead, maybe you need more hands on combat?" She suggested, her regal voice bouncing around the wall. "I'm sure you've had lots of experience with this Shiro." She continued before cutting the intercoms. Shiro's entire body stiffened. Pidge's jaw dropped. 

 

'What's that supposed to mean?!" Pidge shouted upwards furrowing their brows at where they assumed Allura would be, but once again they received no response. Shiro glanced at Pidge gently trying to convey something, but Pidge just looked away, it was as if all the anger she had pent up was exploding out. Every single thing that had happened to her finally crashing down and no longer being used creatively to find her family. This was just frustration. Lance cut in before Shiro could. 

 

"C'mon guys!!" Lance exclaimed jumping on his toes in a fighting stance. "We can take down one gladiator we got this!" He encouraged, his eyes felt empty, it was like he was running on something Shiro recognized. A darkness of insecurity. A darkness he had seen many times to many. 

 

"Lance is right, We need to train to be able to form Voltron." Shiro stepped in, and for a moment as he spoke to his team he no longer felt like he was an observer in his own life. He felt as if he was stepping back into the world. He was a leader, he had trained since he was fourteen frickin years old to be a leader, and he knew he could do it now. "Even if we aren't great at Allura's programs that's the reason were doing this, to learn each other's strengths and weaknesses, so we can help and learn from each other." He explained gently, watching as stressed faces morphed, not into relaxation, but at least a little bit into hope. 

 

"I think everything I do is a weakness." Hunk stated under his breath, he was looking away again, but Shiro could see the way his tears flicked off his face onto the floor. Gentle pools of water dripping onto the ground. Lance was grabbing him by the shoulder instantly, and this time instead of watching the interactions Shiro cut in as well. 

 

"Hunk, your doing incredible for someone so young, you and Pidge are some of the best engineers I've ever seen, quite frankly if Lance and I could have shielded all of us I bet you guys would have been able to tear down those drones without even having to fight, which is for the better when we need all the energy we can get." He grinned watching the way both Pidge and Hunk grinned as they looked up, "and Lance-" 

 

"Yeah, Yeah, I know I'm awesome." Lance smiled flexing his arms out joyously. Shiro merely rolled his eyes as Pidge made a jab at Lance, figuratively and then literally jabbing him in the ribs. 

 

"Ow! Pidge!" Lance groaned loudly as Hunk laughed at the two of them so hard he almost keeled over right their. 

 

"C'mon team. Let's go get that Gladiator huh?" Shiro asked, and as if on cue the training deck started whirring around them. In seconds right behind Shiro a whole cart of weapons blipped into existence! they were built just like the training room white and blue spears, swords, and guns galore lined the cart as across the room a much higher panel. A body peeled itself out from within the wall climbing through the tunnel that had appear and flopping on the ground a pile of metallic limbs before it stood. 

 

"Level 1 training." The Gladiator droned loudly. Shiro's arm lit up changing from deep red to the purple he knew so much, and he watched as the others, more seriously known joined in fighting stance. Lance held the sword of the Red Bayard, and Hunk held his heavy weight gun on his shoulder a newfound confidence in his step. 

 

"Begin." 

 

---

 

"You see this?" A familiar voice droned on in Keith's head. He stood on the edge of a ship. Sendak droning on in the background about his plan to corrupt the Paladin's castle.  He spoke with such reverence to his commanders, as if this was actually a plan that could work, but Keith knew the truth.  He knew what Haggar would be sending, her own form of aid and apology. "You see what he's done without you?" Haggar asked again, and Keith nodded his head. His arms trembling as he played with the syringe of quintessence with his fingers. Anger rippled up his fingers and into his bones, everything he felt consumed by the trembling rage. 

 

"Takashi Shirogane." Haggar practically screamed in his ear, a seething whisper of pain. Keith's knees felt weak but he stood strong. Ignoring the pit in his stomach filling with rage and agony. "He made his own crew. He moved on without you. He didn't care about you like he cared about them! You understand?" She screamed and Keith could only gulp and nod his head. He knew it was true. That's why he was here. and those phony paladins were their. In Shiro's atmosphere being noticed, cared for, and loved by him. Just like Keith had been before he realized he was broken, and Shiro did too.

 

"Zarkon doesn't think he needs us either." Haggar continued, and this time Keith could feel her own rage in his head simmering like bile ready to be pushed past his lips and burn up his throat. "Zarkon  is similar to Takashi Shirogane, which is why when his champion comes you will take him down, Just as you must destroy Shirogane, and Sendak." Haggar reminded him. "Do not forget your goals. Do not forget who you are loyal too." 

 

"Understood?" She asked, though it wasn't a question. It was a command, and Keith was all but happy to comply. Keith nodded his head and pocketed the quintessence. "Good." Haggar agreed, "You'll need it all for later." She nodded, and Keith severed the link between them turning on his heels back towards the interior of the ship as night fell around him. Sendak tried to speak to him as he headed for the barracks, but Keith ignored him. His mission goals repeating dimly in his head as he headed for 'rest.' 

 

Mission Goals for Agent Kogane (Star Killer.): 

- Protect the Arusians 

- Destroy Zarkon's Monster he is sending to Arus 

- Eliminate Sendak and other crew members 

- Eventually Eliminate Takashi Shirogane 

And Lastly 

- Do not let Voltron fall into the hands of Zarkon. No matter your allegiances. 

 

 

Chapter 17: Episode 3

Summary:

The Paladins attempt to learn how to work with one another, with mild casualities.

Notes:

Officially written 1/3 of season 1!!! Since this fic mildly follows the canon events in the story. Also happy end of february!! March here we come.

"Ughhhh." Lance groaned as he lay sprawled out on the couch, in a position that could not be comfortable. "I don't think I can ever train again." He groaned face down into the cushions. Hunk mumbled some kind of agreement from his position practically laying against the couch and on the floor. Pidge was so exhausted they couldn't even bother responding from their position flopped in the middle of the 'lounge room.' as Lance had dubbed it on sight. Shiro hummed appreciatively, but he was stuck in his own thoughts again. The Gladiator had absolutely destroyed them, even at the easiest level for "An Altean child." as Allura called it had been exhausting. Shiro had only been able to defeat it because he was thinking back to his time in the Arena. (Having flashbacks, though he denies though from existing. Shiro swears he does not have PTSD. He is a Liar.) 

 

"Paladins!" Coran cheered as he marched into the room followed by a semi scowling Allura, who had obviously not been happy with anyone's performances. "You've made it through your first day of out of lion training!" He cheered happily, Allura did not have the same enthusiasm. "You should be proud! Now we have a baseline for our next training and we can continue in with even better training! We are one step closer into whipping you humans into shape!!" He exclaimed cheerily, his orange hair bouncing as he spoke with enthusiasm. 

 

"You should also know that being Paladins does not just include awful performances on the training deck." Allura snarked. Her scowl was becoming all too common, It was as if she had expected heroes to arrive out of the blue perfectly trained and ready to assist her mission, in one way it angered Shiro, but in the other way it made him hurt. That's all Allura wanted. Someone to help her face a gigantic foe. That's why he spoke up ignoring the groans of the others and the snide looks they shared between each other. 

 

"Do you mean forming Voltron, Allura?" He asked making sure to keep his voice even even though he was exhausted. Allura shook her head dismissively with a sigh. "Diplomacy." She encouraged instead. "Diplomacy. On our last trip to the Arusian village we did not make a good impression."

 

"That wasn't really our fault." Pidge chimed in, just as Shiro was about to. "We only barged in to see the prisoners are try and provide aid, but-" 

 

"Yes, Yes I am aware, which is why I thought we could visit the Arusians again!' She exclaimed, "Coran and I will be in our best this time and you will all be suited with your Paladin armor. My plan is that we take the Lions of Voltron with us, and we show them Voltron is not a myth anymore, and that we want to help, How does that sound? And everyone will be at their best, you will provide honor for the name of Voltron. You will not make them ashamed of us anymore." Allura finished harshly. She glanced around at all of them as she finished. "Thoughts?" She asked, though it was obvious anything against it wouldn't be taken seriously unless it made actual sense. 

 

"Shouldn't we be focusing on fighting the Galra?" Pidge asked, "Not just our impressions of people?" Shiro expected a harsh remark about how Pidge was not classy enough for this, but he paused instead as he watched Allura think of a way to phrase this. 

 

"I've tried to show you before," She began softly. "But coming from earth with limited contact to the rest of the galaxy I don't believe that you can understand the sheer amount of planets the Galra has hold over, and the planets just in general. This is a lot to take in, being a paladin of Voltron is a lot, and even with a powerful weapon that we have had bestowed upon us we cannot defeat Zarkon alone. My father tried that before he passed and failed. I will not let any of us die again." Coran placed a hand on her shoulder and she glanced at him before continuing to speak. "We need allies. We need diplomacy, because if they don't like us and we don't have support we are never going to defeat Zarkon." Everyone had looked up from their positions on the floor, sat up and listening intently to the intensity of her words. This is why she was the Princess after all. She easily caught people's attention with just a few sentences. 

 

"Damn." Hunk muttered under his breath, he awkwardly played with his fingers as we glanced around. "Kind of sounds like were gonna have a parade with the Lions! I used to go to parades with my family all the time!" He exclaimed, and Lance jumped with excitement it almost looked as if he had flopped on the floor like a fish and jumped back ups. 

 

"I love parades! My mama used to take me all the time when I was younger, but Veronica would steal all the candy we got." He pouted,  he paused for a minute before he turned and glanced to Allura. "Do Alteans have parades?" He asked. "I bet space parades are so cool." Allura paused for a minute and glanced at Coran. 

 

"Have you ever attended a parade before Coran? I've never heard of such a thing." She commented and Lance gasped aloud so hard that Pidge burst into laughter and Shiro could've sworn he sounded like he had a broken rib from all that wheezing as he nearly topped off the couch. 

 

"Once I attended a sacrificial parade, it was for the march of Sooni a very good friend at the time, who had an odd thirst for blood. He enjoyed parading everyone around and then picking people off one by one. Similar to a Galran approach I suppose." Coran continued on and the room went silent. 

 

"Earth parades are not that bloody." Shiro explained softly. "They mainly involve important people, or holiday themed pieces to drive around a certain area well people watch, they typically involve treats or something!" He explained watching as Allura's eyes light up. for a moment she didn't look like a princess and she looked like a kid again, she truly was just a teenager like the rest of them. Shiro remembered. She was asleep for those a thousand years not functioning. 

 

"You need to see a parade! I'll definitely take you to one, Allura." Lance winked at her, and Shiro rolled his eyes. 

 

"C'mon everyone enough about parades, lets go talk to those Arusians." 

 

"Ay Ay Captain!, Or should I say head? Leader? Somethin like that!" 

 

---

 The lions of Voltron didn't take long to get out of their hangers and in minutes they were walking slowly across the planet Allura and Coran leading the way. Lance sputtered around as he tried to move red along, but she was stubborn and argued with him in every single step he attempted to make. He either moved to fast or to slow or somehow out of rhythm with the other four lions, with Shiro at the head of their patrol and Lance directly beside him. It felt wrong, but Allura had described the Red Lion as Shiro's right hand, but Shiro was a god tier pilot. Lance knew he couldn't compete with that. He couldn't help with that. Lance shook the thought out of his head as Red grumbled disapprovingly. 

 

Red was nothing like blue, she was loud and blunt with what she thought about Lance. It was almost as if she didn't want him but had no choice but to settle for second. The thought made Lance's stomach churn. He wouldn't be second best. Not this time, and with that he steered red forward against trying to relentlessly pull her forward. She didn't like being showed off, but it was for her own good. For the universe's good, that got her purring to stop, but the lingering dread didn't leave his head. Lance wondered if red was having some effect on his emotions but pushed the thought out of his instead he let his lithe fingers skim against the panels of the lion and opened up the comms. 

 

"No, that has to be a Galran ship, can we get the comms set up for Allura and Coran as well?" Shiro asked through the comms and Lance's entire body froze. Galra?? Where? he glanced around, but their were no looming black and purple ships in the distance at all. He squinted forward to the Arusian village his eyes caught site of a small ship. It was sleek and black nothing like Lance had seen before, a figure Lance couldn't really see was pulling crates out of the ship towards the Arusian, even though Lance couldn't see them properly through roughs of huts he could see the purple armor of the Galra in an instant. 

 

"On it." Pidge reported back their face flashing on the screen for a minute. Hunk stilled almost seeming frozen. 

 

"I see it too Shiro, Should we prepare for a fight?" Lance asked trying to figure out what he was supposed to do. He was the right hand now. It was partly his job to help. Red rumbled in approval at the thought of a fight and Lance could fear her roaring to go already. That's why she liked Keith so much huh. He thought to himself. 

 

"Shiro? Hunk? What's going on?" Allura's voice interrupted blasting throughout the comms. "A Fight?" She asked, she must've heard the last of Lance's sentence. "Remember this is a diplomatic mission. We are not intending on fighting the Aruisans have you seen them?" She laughed, and Lance felt shame flood through his body. 

 

"Allura, do you see the ship at the edge of the village, from the lions we can see a Galran ship, they're unloading something. We can't tell what." Shiro stated matter a factly, perfect at his job of being leader, almost the opposite of how Lance felt at the moment, but he sucked in a breath and remembered what his Mother told him. Don't compare yourself to others or you'll never go anywhere. 

 

"Oh! This is a perfect opportunity to show the Arusians we are on their sides, take out the ship you see, it should not be hard if it's only one then come back down and the Arusians will be so appreciative they'll understand that we just want to help!" She cheered. "You've got this paladins. Show em what you can do." She encouraged. 

 

"Alright team, We've got this." Shiro stated, "Fly in formation like the Garrison taught you until we get to the other side of the village, once were past the village at the ship we can start fire if necessary and take down the ship. Got it?" Shiro stated and a chorus of yes sir's filled the comms as the pride of lions took to the air. Red stuttered as she flew into the air and over the village, Lance tried to direct her upwards but she almost seemed as if she was desperate to go back down. That fiery passion to take into the air that she had a mere moment ago was gone. Someone asked him something over the Comms but Lance couldn't answer in seconds ringing, a painful, piercing ringing shook through his head, his stomach turned as he gripped the controls of red so tight his skin shifted a shade paler. He felt like he was going to vomit and scream all at once as red soared up and down just barely scraping by the huts, enough to make each one shake in it's foundation. 

 

Red was scared. Lance realized. She was debilitatingly scared. It took him a moment to figure out why as he squinted his eyes shut as fast as possible pain vibrating through his bones and thrumming through his head, then his mind wandered back to the Galran ship. She was afraid of the Galra. 

 

"Oh what did they do to you?" Lance groaned under his breath as he leaned so far forward his forehead was almost leaning against the control panels, his stomach ached pain spiking up more, all he could think hear and feel was pain, pain, pain. Lance tried to move his heavy bones, his arms shaking as they moved forward. No! He thought. He couldn't get stuck in pain he needed to get out. If he could defeat the Galra he could prove himself. Prove himself to his friends, to Shiro, to the Princess, and to Red. His eyes flashed open as he hefted himself up despite the pain, his eyes glazed over with tears but he blinked fast enough that he cleared! 

 

"Shit!" Lance shouted, red was headed straight down seconds away from hitting multiple huts crowded together, The comms blasted as suddenly everyone's voices screaming at him to get a grip finally filtered through his head. "Shit! Shit! Shit!" He shouted again pulling the controls up as hard as possible, Hunk was moving yellow before Lance could even see running directly into Red and throwing her askew. Lance braced for impact eyes squinting shut again as the lion stumbled sideways! He could feel something rumbling hitting against the lion, but all he could see was that ship. It was if as if his vision had gone red along with the lions. He clawed himself off of the ground, Red rushing forwards where the ship could be seen now surrounded by four robot like soldiers. Move! Move! Move! He thought to himself as hurriedly as possible he tried to push forward brushing past walls of huts lined up in a row so hard he swore a few fell as he went through them! He was so close! He was close! 

 

"Lance stop!" A familiar voice shouted, Hunk's light and calm voice flowed through the air, now buttery and serious. A fear ripping through him that made Lance stop in his tracks as another shout tore through the sky. An Alien stood before the red lion, both arms outstretched. It was one of the Galran prisoners Lance had seen before. He had six arms and one large blinking eye that remained open, hundreds of other people stood around the ship, holding each other. The same look of Fear in every single one. 

 

"Shit." Lance called out again. "Shit." 

 

"What the quiznack was that?" He heard Allura mutter under her breath, but Lance couldn't see her and he didn't dare to respond as the comms stuttered into an awkward silent, Lance took a good look around and gasped. When Hunk had pushed him down he had hit at least three different huts and completely destroyed them. Another line of huts had fell as he tore through them to try and get to the Galran ship, and those aliens. They looked incredibly afraid of him. He wants to sit in Red and hide forever, shame climbing up his throat, he wants to vomit up his insides and rescind being a paladin, quit and move on or go back home. Do anything that is easier than this, but Shiro is climbing out of the black lion towards the Alien and red, he can feel Hunk's eyes on him as he follows suit Pidge looks just as worried as they tumbled to the ground and rolled out. 

 

Lance had to. Right now he didn't have a choice. The universe needed someone, even if it was someone as mediocre as him. Lance laid his hands on Red's panel once more, and he felt the same shame flush up his neck again. "I'm sorry red." He whispered just so it would not be picked up the comms. "I need to find a better way to pilot you, I can do it like Keith did. I can't do it out of anger and fear like that." He stated to her, and for a moment the tone in his head shifted and the ringing and pain fell away, instead she hummed a small sound of approval. She did not want that life anymore. Lance realized. She may be fiery but she didn't want that life anymore. Red hummed again, and Lance found his feet moving him outside of the lion, he needed to see the others.

 

"Champion?" Came the croaking voice of the Alien that Lance had recognized early, now his arms curled around himself as he glanced at Shiro. His one eye blown completely wide. "I never thought we would see you again." The Alien stated, and in seconds he threw himself at Shiro wrapping his armors around the taller paladin, Shiro looked uncomfortable but took it in stride his eyes still pinned on Lance. 

 

"Are you okay dude?" Hunk mouthed at Lance, he looked so worried he might puke and Lance nodded his head. He would explain later. He decided as he took his place beside Shiro and Pidge in the line, Allura still sending numerous glares at him from where She and Coran stood a little off to the side. 

 

"I'm sorry, Do I know you?" Shiro asked again, as soon as the other Aliens, the king of Arusians, as well Lance assumed had gathered to take a look at Lance's mess. The Alien pulled back from Shiro for a moment and paused scanning his face as if it was some joke, when Shiro didn't laugh he continued. 

 

"It is me. Xi. Remember?" He asked again, and Shiro's frown deepened on his face. "From the old Arena?" He asked and the more the Alien spoke the more his accent thickened. "We fought of the first day, became allies and attempted to overthrow the Arena? remember we worked with Baarek and the others? Glitenz?" Xi asked again, "And Forle?" Still Shiro didn't respond. "You came in with the other human, and our attempt to overthrow failed. You disappeared we assumed the witch had punished us by killing you." 

 

"Matt?" Pidge questioned before Shiro could respond and in seconds Xi was nodding their head. 

 

"Yes, you two and the other made an incredible team," Xi continued. "If you had stuck around you would have seen the actual great coup we created." Xi continued as he turned to address Shiro again. "Oh, you should have seen! We destroyed the Arena, was took over and threw a coup. as the third called it." He continued, his one eye seemed to water as he nodded his head and the others around him agreed with some kind of sentiment. "The Arena is over." He finished happily smiling up at Shiro, they looked at him like a Hero, having only eyes for him. Just as Lance and Hunk had done at the Garrison. 

 

"Third person?" Pidge asked, hoping for some kind of reference of their father. Lance could hear the desperation clinging to their voice and looked away. They wanted to comfort Pidge with kind words about how they knew they were going to get their family back, but Lance didn't even know if he would ever see his family again. It was too heartbreaking to lie to Pidge, and his mother always said that he sucked at it. Thankfully Shiro cut both of them off before they got the chance to speak. 

 

"Wait, Why are you accepting help from the Galra then?" Shiro asked completely taken aback as he motioned to the four soldiers, who the more Lance looked at them , stopped looking like soldiers and more like robots adorned in purple. Instead of Xi replying, even though he attempted to the Aruisan king stepped forward and Lance could feel Allura step closer now interested at the promise of a king and a group of allies, as they were supposed to be gaining those today not destroying their villages. The King is a small and stubby man much like his people, he had glands of fat sticking out of his skin and his green shirt was adorned with pins and other items that looked like military awards given out at the Garrison. He coughed and cleared his throat elbowing Xi in the side to push the long and lanky alien away. 

 

"Excuse me." The Arusian puffed, his voice was high pitched, but thick. In a way he sounded almost throaty. "These are not Galrans. They do not work for the Galrans." He stated simply. "They work for a separate agent I have been told that was delivering us Aid and helping with the refugees we have taken in since that terrible attack on the planet some days ago." He explained gently. "Now may I ask why you have your lions running about ruining things! That red one has destroyed much of our village! We will need even more support and aid now!" He said something under his breath that had to be some kind of curse Lance couldn't understand, but Allura and Coran were both gasping. 

 

"If you'll excuse me." Allura said curtly cutting in front of Lance to speak to the king. "I am princess Allura of Altea." She stated, and the King paused mouth agape. As if her title meant more than him and his whole village did. Lance could practically hear the aliens murmurs about her as she continued. "We can provide as much aid for you as you would like. I would like to introduce you to the paladins of Voltron." She continued and another heavy pause filled the air. 

 

"Voltron?" The king stated gently. "You can't mean?" He asked. "These are the lions of Voltron?" Xi hummed in approval behind the King as he stared at them. Allura simply nodded her head rather than continue letting the weight of her words sink through the air. "Well than you must provide aid for us." He stated gently before pausing. "Will you? After this destruction your paladins have caused." 

 

"Our paladins are new to this job, as are we all to having the weight of universal safety on our soldiers." Allura justified. "we are attempting to train the paladins to defeat the Galra, so yes. We'll we are sorry you cannot blame our paladins for not knowing how to do their jobs yet." She said glancing at Lance. he could feel people's eyes on him. and he wanted to curl around himself and die of embarrassment in a ball on the ground, but he wasn't sure if that would be diplomatic enough. "Rather than just provide aid we would love if you would join us and become one of our first allies in the coming war." She stated gently. The king paled. 

 

"Us, Involved in war?" He asked again. "My people, we are not warriors. We do not fight." He continued again. "If you will not provide your aid otherwise we will be fine working with said Agent, they have provided much for us. We will live on like that." He continued voice panic stricken as he looked towards his people. "If you mind I would rather discuss an alliance in private." He stated blatantly eyes trained on the ground. 

 

"That sounds wonderful." Allura stated perfectly rehearsed. Perfectly Princess. "Also, We would never force you or your people to fight. We want to help and protect you." She promised relishing in the way that The King looked up a smile perching back on his lips. 

 

"What do you mean by your agent?" Coran asked curiously. "What kind of agent, I've heard of estate agents, agents of the empire? Whom exactly are you working for?" He asked. "The more people we can get to side along with team Voltron the better." He stated and the King paused this time he glanced at Xi and the other alien refugees rather than keeping his eyes set on his own arusians who seemed to be approaching the lions now touching the metal. Lance could almost feel their foreign hands as if it was on his own skin. He felt violently attacked by the Arusians touching the lions and by the look on Pidge's face Lance knew they felt the same. 

 

"You may ask them." The king stated gently. "I need to continue help with Aid, but they have been giving us the same message for hours, perhaps even longer." The king stated and Allura thanked him for his time and continued speaking, but a motion of her hand gave Lance all that he needed to approach the robot soldiers? For a second his hand reached out for his Bayard, but he paused. His stomach felt sick at the memory of Keith with his black and red sword. The anger they had all felt that moment they connected. He let his mind freeze and stop. he wasn't like that. he wasn't angry.

 

He was Lance. That was all he needed to be. 

 

"I can't believe you don't remember. " Xi piped in again. "And I'm surprised you don't know who sent us aid? Who else would it be?" He asked Shiro persistently. As they approached together. the five of them way too close together. Pidge was almost buzzing with questions to ask Xi, but they waited for Shiro to respond. 

 

"I'm sorry. I really don't remember any of my time in the Arena." Shiro stated quietly. He looked down as if he was doubting himself. "I really am sorry Xi, but I don't remember any of this, do you know who sent the aid?" 

 

"And have you see Sam or Matt Holt?" Pidge asked bouncing on their toes to try and get Xi's viewpoint, but he paused looking into distance. His mouth falling open as he stared at the sky, in seconds Lance was turning from the blubbering soldiers into the sky as well. This time another ship soared past the sun of Arus and towards them. It wasn't sleek or black, but bright purple and it almost looked like it was a cage falling from the sky. Ten times bigger than any cage Lance had seen, but a cage the same. The symbol that had been plastered all over Sendak's cruiser nearly pulsed in the sky in the middle of it. That ship was definitely Galra. Pidge cursed under their breath and Hunk trembled, but set his eyes straight towards the ship. 

 

"Allura-" Shiro began calling out, but she was on it before any of them could even say another word. 

 

"That has to be another Galran cruiser! They must've sent something after Sendak failed to take us to Zarkon!" She called out. The Arusians and aliens around them gasped and fear struck up their spines climbing and embedding itself in everyone's skin. "Paladins! Get to your lions! Whatever you do protect the Aruisans!" In seconds the paladins were turning and running Arusians and Refugees alike clearing the way from them, it was silent enough for a moment that the robots from the ship could be heard loud and clear. 

 

"We do not come in harm. We do not work for the Galra. We are here to provide aid for the Arusians and protect the Arusian village at all costs. We work for Agent (Information classified.)" 

Chapter 18: Episode 3 Pt. 2

Summary:

Extra help comes in handy, if you know who to find. (or they find you.)

Notes:

Guys help I think I hyper fixated on my own AU.....
anyways expect lots of content soon hope you enjoy this more actiony packed chapter than the langst last chapter (Never did I ever think I'd be writing langst in a Keith centric fic but whatevs.)

"Lance." Shiro stated connecting a private comm link to him as soon as he had thrown himself into the black lion, fingers around dashing across the control panel and to the screen. "You've got this." He stated, in seconds dismissing the connection and bridging over to the one with the entire group. he doesn't need Lance to respond, he need Lance to feel his confidence. To feel that Shiro believed in him. Sometimes that was all it took.  Shiro doesn't know if he sounds condescending, but he does know that he needs to keep them moving, get up in the sky and go. He pulses his lion with encouragement letting black know exactly what he was thinking. In seconds the others were behind him chasing the falling object as it descended gracefully from the sky. Almost near the castle Allura and Coran were making their way back to now. 

 

"Alright everyone, be careful." Shiro stated gently. "We don't exactly know what were up against right now." He hummed and the others nodded in agreement. 

 

"It doesn't look like one of the cruisers." Pidge noted. "So it won't be as many ships, but I want to know what's inside of it." They continued and Shiro chuckled as he felt the flush of curiosity from the green lion rise up his spine. It reminded him of his grandfather who would pat him on his shoulder when he talked about space. It was warmth, but it didn't last for long as the yellow lion began to sour and hiss inside Shiro's mind. 

 

"Guys! Guys!" Hunk said almost as if on cue. "What is that thing?" Shiro gaped below him as his eyes caught what Hunk had seen. The monster was taller than all of the lions stacked up with bulging arms ripped with muscles as he tore away the doors of his cage and stomped across the land. He had to be some kind of giant eyes glowing a sickly yellow that nearly matched his skin. He held what looked like a glowing baseball bat in his hand. He swung it around his shoulders and it smoldered with smock furling into the air as he aimed it straight at Shiro. Shiro got ready to duck in an instant expecting a full bat to be swung at him, but instead an orb of glowing light pulsed from the bat and flew across the sky faster than Shiro could have ever imagined! He ducked underneath it just in time to barely get skimmed by the red hot heat of the thing. 

 

"Lance! Pidge!" He ordered loudly. "You too have the fastest lions I want you to get in close and try and draw it out, I'll be at your side Pidge, Hunk be on Lance. You can move faster but we have heavier duty lions! Try and draw the attack to us until we can figure out how to defeat it!" A chorus of yes sir's filled the air and in seconds Shiro was tailing Pidge. Pidge dove in and out around the monsters arms. She kept her distant though, not as close as Shiro would have liked, but she was new, and Shiro couldn't let them get hurt. They flew around the monster as he swatted their arms violently around trying as hard as it could to hit Voltron. Shiro shot blast after blast at his chest and arms as Lance tried to take to his legs with Hunk, but each blast just bounced off of him as if it didn't do anything! As if it was all in vain. It only took a minute for the monster to gain his bearings, he moved forward with sloppy steps crashing into Lance, but Hunk was there in seconds to cover for him as they moved. 

 

"Voltron! Pull back!" Shiro ordered as they swerved around. "We need to lead him away from the Arusian village!" He called. "Lance, get ahead draw him after you! We need to figure out how he works!" Shiro shouted as a zap of electricity filled the air. Pidge was shouting before Shiro could call him screaming at Lance to duck and he nose dived barely avoiding the blast of purple sent at him. He flew back up just in time rather than crashing into the ground. Much better than he had done during training. Maybe Red was a better fit for him. 

 

"What the quiznack is this thing!" Lance shouted. "Our shots don't do anything! How are we supposed to fight it!" Lance shouted, Shiro's vision blacked out. His lion shook as purple flooded his mind. Violent colors of darkness. Splashes of blood. Hidden behind a barrier Shiro can feel himself watching the monster. He had done this in the arena. He had done this in the arena. 

 

"Shiro move!" Hunk shouted, and in seconds yellow was rushing into Shiro to stop him from getting struck by another purple blast as Shiro's vision zoned back in. He needed to get under control of his flashbacks. He needed to get in control of them right now, but first they had to kill this thing. 

 

"I know how to defeat it-" Shiro began, but Allura's regal voice cut through the air. Sharp and loud, but shaking. 

 

"Draw the creature to the castle!" She began, but her voice ran cold as something shifted into the arm. A warm comfort, soft and slithering as it crawled up their arms and blanketed the paladins together in warmth. In completion. As if they were whole. "Do you- Do you feel that?" She asked, sounding very, very afraid. 

 

"It's blue." Lance started. His voice very very low as he led the charge towards the castle. "Allura it's blue." He stated again. "She wants you." The weight of his words felt heavy through the air. "It's just like red." He explained. "She's calling to you. She needs you. I think I was meant to help calm down Red, and you were meant to help charge up blue again." The revelation fluttered through the air. Thick and dark, but inside of it came a light. They could form Voltron. They could form Voltron. 

 

This was the way it ought to be. Shiro realized. "Allura! Get down her now!" he called out to her. He could feel the princess's nerves in his every being, but they didn't have time for this. They needed to go now. "Allura!" He shouted again, and she responded some affirmative, but he didn't know what she said as he raced ahead of Lance. "I know exactly what we have to do. It can only fight with that bat! We need to take it down between when it charges up. We need to hit the center of the bat!" He called out, "As soon as it starts charging up!" 

 

"It charges on a six tick interval!" Pidge shouted in agreement, if we can get someone to draw it out and ready for attack I can use my cloaking device to get in close and hit in where we need to!" Shiro nodded and charged off with Lance at his side they weaved across barren lands as the rumble of the Blue Lion taking off filled their ears. 

 

"Lance! Duck!" Allura called out and both Shiro and Lance nosed dive towards the ground plummeting before pulling themselves up at the perfect angle. It was almost as if they were in synch. Behind them Pidge's lion roared as it took the shot, but the moment of joy, the happy adrenaline vanished. Pidge's shout tore through the air as a arm violently swatted at her uncoordinated but impactful. The cloaking blinked and faded and soon the green lion was fumbling forward trying to get out of reach. 

 

"We need more power!" Pidge shouted desperation clung through the air. Cold stricken and wet. "It didn't work!" They nearly sobbed out as the purple balls of fire came faster this time repeatedly at them. It was almost as if the monster had taken their failure as a joke and was laughing as he powered forward faster now practically sprinting at the somewhat miniscule lions. 

 

"I know what we need to do!" Shiro said loudly, he watched across the comms as the group pulled together. Even Allura had recognized the familiar pattern of flight as they rushed onwards fleeing practically from the monster. Even Coran had hummed in agreement from the castle. He knew what they were going to do. "Everyone! Form Voltron!" As if on command the lions connected. They could all feel it. The moment their mind, bodies, and souls connected to create something greater. The shift and twist of gears and metal was like distinct music to Shiro's ears, as if this is what his entire life had been for. All of the torture, all of the stress, all of the pain had led to this moment. 

 

Voltron was beautiful, She was gigantic. Almost taller than the Monster himself. With her wide arms and the small wings that expanded out her back she was the definition of perfection. Confidence ebbed through all the paladins know, and though Shiro couldn't figure out who it was coming from it was more than enough to have them twisting and turning as oohs and ahhs from the other paladins filled the comm link. They didn't even have to express the feeling in words. They could all feel it. The tension wafting away, the pure power. 

 

"You did it!" Coran cheered from somewhere far off. "You formed Voltron!" but his excitement only lasted a mere moment as he shouted something else out. The moment had gone and passed. They were Voltron. They had a fight to win. "Watch out!" Coran shouted! A purple sphere double the size of the previous one was flying at them. 

 

"Move!" Shiro tried to shout, but the movements of Voltron were sluggish and slow. They had never done this before! "Shit!" Someone shouted, Shiro wasn't sure if it was himself or Lance or one of the others but in seconds they were crashing onto an outcrop of rocks. Pain rocked up Voltron, ten times worse than the great feeling they had just moments before. "C'mon guys we need to get up!" Shiro encouraged though he sounded more annoyed than anything. "We can do this." He hummed desperately. 

 

"Yes we can!" Hunk gritted out, and in seconds Hunk and Allura had them on their feet, but it was too late. Another ship had joined the fray. Slick and Black just as they had seen before in the Arusian village. "No way..." Hunk mumbled under his breath, and Pidge gasped as the small ship took it's chance it surrounded the Monster and flew directly into it's bat. The crunching sound of Metal had them all flinching. It had shoved itself directly in between the center of the bat and where the next purple orb had been charging up. Shiro distantly saw a figure jump out of the ship, rolling to the ground in what must have been a painful crash as purple surrounded the crunching ship. The bat flashed and in seconds it was on the ground the bat discarded and the monster crying out as the fringes of his arm turned a burnt dark black. 

 

"Now's our chance!" Allura cried out and they were moving in an instant. Rushing forward, at the fumbling Monster, but as they approached Lance paused an idea coursing through his veins. A feeling so strong all of Voltron could feel it. 

 

"I think Red wants me to do something!" Lance called out, and Shiro wasn't the only who let out a distinct 'do it!' through the comms. In seconds Voltron was flashing a large blade extending from the mouth of the red lion and stabbing directly into the Monster's chest! The monster screamed as green ghoulish blood erupted from his chest exploding across them all. He gurgled on his own blood and fluttered on the ground, Voltron watched him until he went very very still. 

 

"Holy shit." Pidge muttered under their breath. "Holy shit!" 

 

"Nice one Lance!" Shiro added in, laughing as Pidge asked a thousand questions she spoke a mile a minute trying to figure out what exactly Lance had done, how he had done it, and why Pidge was incapable of producing the same action as he was, but Lance was more focused on the bigger picture and Shiro could practically feel his compressed joy before he even spoke. If this is what Voltron was like every time Shiro was kind of loving it. It made his job as leader easier when he could feel everyone rather than making the wrong assumptions. 

 

"We did it!" Lance cheered loudly. "We formed Voltron and took him down oh my god!" Allura responded rapidly to him, but for some reason her words went in one of Shiro's ears and out the other. He felt far away. Almost lost. Maybe it was because of the flashback he had, he thought almost drowsily, but Shiro forced himself to perk up for the others, 

 

"Maybe we were meant to be the defenders of the universe." Shiro said to himself. Relishing in the pride he felt from the other paladins, but something stopped him. He could still swear that he felt something watching him. It was as if the others had forgotten about the ship that did half the work for them, but he couldn't let himself dwell on other problems. Even though he was sure it was Keith who had made that drastic move and rolled out of a burning ship, but Right now he needed to focus on Voltron. He needed to focus on saving the universe. At least that's what his excuse was. 

 

"Let's get back to the castle." Allura instructed bringing Shiro back to the others who had not seemed to notice the paranoid feeling filling the back of his head. "From their we can have Coran connect with the Arusians again, and maybe we can host a diplomatic event back at the castle to celebrate Voltron's first victory!" 

 

"Like a party!" Lance cheered excitedly and Hunk said something in agreement that Shiro couldn't quite hear. 

 

"A diplomatic party." Allura reminded them shortly. As they pushed back to the castle, flying much faster than before now they were fully connected as Voltron. 

 

"Yes!" Lance agreed. "It's time for a space party! 

Notes:

Officially formed Voltron how we feelin yall?

Notes:

THIS FIC IS NOT RELATED AT ALL TO THE SECOND FIC IN THIS SERIES!

They are both completely different AU's that have been put together in a series because 1. They both are as the series says 'Self Indulgent Keith Fics.'
2. They both take on the Voltron universe and add a bunch of different world building and character elements.
3. They give off the same vibes!

So if yall like this fic you should definitely take a look at the other fics in the series! All of them are ongoing, and I'm kinda working on them all at once! So Enjoy!

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 1 of Self Indulgent Keith Fics