Chapter Text
"Red, I can't be your paladin." I whisper into the mirror. "Red, I can't be your paladin." I can barely believe it, how can I convince her?
"Red, I can't be your paladin because..." I try to breathe through the terror of what these words will mean once I manage to say them. "Because one lion is not enough to stop Zarkon. Because I don't know where the other lions are, and if Zarkon can't find them neither can we. Because, Red, it wouldn't matter if I could stop Zarkon alone, no one would stand with us. They believe in Voltron, not-not in some kid. Red," I stare into the mirror and at my own features.
The features of the Magi-cats. I'm the last one. I've been the last one for thousands of years. 9,510 years. Voltron is the symbol of everything the universe could be, everything we can accomplish if we fight against Zarkon and the Galra.
The Magicats are a reminder of the fighters that Zarkon destroyed. The Magicats are a reminder of how he will always win. I am a reminder of how he will always win. I'm allowed to live simply as a trophy so that our deaths are never forgotten.
What better reminder than the Once Princess, the one that fought Zarkon to protect her planet? The one that the entire universe saw lose. The one from the video they play over and over again, showing that even the strongest, the best fighters, will die against his might.
And they're right.
"They won't follow me, never again. I destroyed any hope they had when I lost. I took his eye, but he took everything else and you know it."
Yeah. That'll convince her.
"Red I can't be your paladin anymore." I deliver my speech without letting any emotion into the words. I pretend that this is simply another diplomatic mission, that this will all be as useless as some trade agreement. I don't hear myself say the words, only tuning back in for the end. "I will not fail my people, never again." I hold up one clawed hand to stop her words before she can make this hurt more than it already does.
"Red, I refuse your offer of paladinship. I sever our ties." For years we've been able to hear each others thoughts. In the beginning, when I was first taken, I believed I had lost my mind. I eventually found her hangar and realized that I wasn't as alone as Zarkon wanted me to believe. Though I am now, I suppose.
"I ask one thing: Love your next paladin. Don't hold onto my loss. We know how to move away from our pain." I pause. "Tell them my name. Not the name Zarkon spreads, but my name." She roars her agreement quietly. I'm grateful that she isn't trying to argue-that would make this hurt so much more. I shakily inhale, tail curled around my leg. It's an old habit, something from a long time ago. A gesture that means fear. I straighten my shoulders, raise my head, and uncurl it.
I am the Princess of the Magicats. I am the sole survivor of my kingdom, of Etheria as a whole. I am a prisoner of war. But when I die it will be in battle and it will be for my cause. I leave Red for the final time, never turning around. Of course I don't, it would hurt too much. I could've regained my name, I could've changed my story and made them all see that I did what I could to save us. I could've been Red's paladin and done my best with what I had-but that would've been the decision of a scared child.
I was a ruler and I know better. I will die as a princess, if only in my own mind. To the rest of the universal I am the girl who failed. To Red I will be the girl who said no.
I hold my head high as I'm summoned into throne room. Summoned is a nice word. I'm cuffed and escorted by three guards. I could kill them easily, escape. I could always escape but I don't. I can't risk it, risk the other prisoners, and my chances to sabotage Sendak. I've done more to help the fighters than anyone knows. I wait as he stands with his back to me. I can see his smile.
"Were you able to bond with the Red Lion?" He asks, calmly.
"No, she still refuses."
"You seem to have forgotten about the back-ups of the camera feed." I pale. My claw extract, in fear. My eyes get slightly wider. My ears, cat-like, shift. I swallow, and make my tail hang normally.
"Of what room?" I ask, calmly. "When did you believe I would need to know of them-"
"Your insolence and stupidity are useless here." I raise my head and calm my fear. You knew this would come and you will live through it. You have made the right decision. "You refuse to bond with the Red Lion?"
"I will not let Zarkon win the war."
"There is no war!" Sendak answers, laughing. Laughing at my sacrifice, laughing at Red, laughing at my hope. Laughing like I'm an insignificant kit, and nothing I do can ever matter.
Which is true.
"We have already won. There is no Voltron, and there is no hope. There is no noble goal you're sacrificing yourself for." I stand firm, and refuse to let my eyes die.
"Then why keep the Red Lion? Why not destroy her?" He chokes me, raising me off the ground.
"You don't get to ask questions, child." I glare at him, and he laughs again.
"You're a pest." He says, slamming me into the ground. "We eradicated your kind, and kept you as a prize."
The last of the Magicats, a trophy nothing more.
"And you will remain that." He smirks. "And you won't need to remain un-scarred for it." I glare up at him. He laughs, and I learn a new meaning of the word strong.
And the true definition of sacrifice.
Two Months Later:
I wait for the guards to switch rotations, taking advantage of the half hour gap between shifts. I claw through the wall, the sound ringing through the room. The metal clangs to the ground. I stand straighter, pain coursing through every part of me. Ulaz waits impatiently.
"Oh shut it." I hiss at him. "I can feel your condescension." He rolls his eyes and we walk to the medbay where Shiro is waiting. I wait while Ulaz beats up the other medics and shoulder half of Shiro's weight. Ulaz speaks to Shiro as he groggily looks between us.
"Zarkon has located the Blue Lion of Voltron on your planet, Earth. You must get it before he does."
"This is who we think can manage it?" I snap. "He can barely stand on his own two feet."
"He has been drugged. You know as well as I that he has allies on his mud planet."
"You have to go with him."
"I can not risk being caught. We follow the plan."
"The plan is ridiculous." He shrugs and Shiro stammers out a question.
"Who are you?"
""I am Ulaz. Now, come on! Zarkon will know that I released you, so I must disappear. But if you survive, go to the coordinates in your arm. The Blade of Marmora is with you. As are the Magicats."
"Yeah, cause that matters." I mutter. I grab his face, claws digging into his skin making him look at me. "I have given up everything to get to the lions Earthen. You will succeed or you will face my wrath."
"You're a cat."
"The ruler of the Magicats, yes. I planted a bomb to cover your escape."
"Why aren't you coming?" Shiro asks as he enters the pod. "You're hurt."
"Of course I'm hurt, Sendak has been attempting to break me for two months. I must distract them here." I close the door and run. I set off the bomb once Ulaz is gone and the guards enter. I hear them scream before they finally die. I take their guns, two of them, and pause. One man is still alive, but far too injured to be saved.
"You have died an honorable death for your cause. I wish we had met on other sides of the battlefield." I end his misery and go through the halls, killing as many as I can until I get to the cells. I whisper the same phrase as I kill each, though I do not have time to fully recognize each sacrifice. I open the doors and look at all of the people being held here. My voice cracks as I speak to them.
"Voltron lives to fight another day. You will all live to see everything change." They follow me through the halls, but not because of my words. They would take any escape, it does not matter that I am at the helm. The coms buzzes in my ear.
"This was not the plan."
"The plan was to cause chaos. I'm causing it. You've escaped, it won't effect our plan."
"They will kill you."
"And?" I snap, unaware that the others are listening. "I will not let anymore die when I could protect them." I hack into a ship and load them all on it. I set the course to Planet Arus, where hopefully the natives will be of some help. I see the guards behind me on the glass and duck away from the gun shots. I shot them, easily killing the Galra filth.
"What do you plan to do then?" Ulaz asks as he leaves. He didn't like this plan, thought it wasn't necessary. I argued, saying that we had to do everything we could to stop Zarkon from getting to Shiro again.
"I plan to free every prisoner. Only three more cell blocks to go."
They catch onto what I'm doing once I get two groups of prisoners out of the ship. I know that the third will be surrounded by guards hoping to catch me. I whisper my apologies to the prisoners, but I know we all would rather kill the Galra than live here a day longer. I set the bombs there a week ago, knowing this was coming. I put my back to the wall, tears streaming down my face as I press the detonator. I hear it go off. I hear the screams before the wall is destroyed and space sucks them all away. Emergency protocols engage as the ship starts to break. I get as far from there as I can, hiding in a vent. I hug my knees to my chest, regretting their deaths.
"You have died an honorable death for your cause. You have died an honorable death for your cause. You have died an honorable death for your cause."
They died for the survival of Voltron. They died in battle, rather than in captivity. They died an honorable death.
I just wish they didn't have to die at all.
"How many?" Ulaz asks, but the comm is crackling. He's almost out of range.
"Thirty four."
"It was a necessary sacrifice. They will be remembered."
"Good." I slide downward through the vent and towards the command center, not allowing myself anymore weakness. There is no time for kindness or pity, no time for regret, not in this war. "I'll send you the supply chain routes of Zarkon's main fleets soon."
"What?" He snaps. "Do not attempt-"
"I'm not dying in that room Ulaz." We met simply because he was meant to treat me after one of Sendak's torture sessions. I knew he was Blade from how he carried himself. I grew up with them, I know one when I see one. He recruited me in the hopes of sending me off with The Champion. I refused.
He knows why now.
"This is how you choose to die?"
"For the rebellion." I whisper back. "For my people."
"You would do more good as a symbol that the resistance can not be broken."
"We both know that no one will place their trust in me. Not again."
"You were a child when you were sent to murder the ruler of all Galra."
"I was a princess, the princess of warriors whose one point in life was to murder Zarkon. I was prepared."
"You managed to do what no one else could. You took his eye. You made him bleed."
"And it meant nothing. He broke me."
"He has broken many. No one has broken him."
"I'll send you the codes."
"Go to the Red Lion. She will take you as her paladin and-"
"No. I refused her, the offer is not allowed twice."
"You do not know that."
"Yes. I do." I answer and drop into the control room. I dodge their bullets and claw through ones neck. I roll under the other and kick them in the back of the knee. I claw at their face and stomp on their throat. I walk away from the dead bodies hacking inside of the computers.
"There. I have them. Now leave."
"I'm getting the rest."
"There are thousands of-" I lock the doors putting the room in emergency mode. Now I'm trapped inside, but more importantly they can't get in. "You are stubborn, your majesty."
"I am a multitude of things Ulaz. I thank you for your assistance."
"And I for yours." We don't say anything else, he's out of range. We wouldn't have anyway, there is nothing else to be said. But he gets all the files I send him. It's an impressive amount, dozens of files on vital information, before they manage to get through the door. Then I take a gun and shoot the keyboard. The ship will continue to fly, but it'll be out of commission for at least a few hours.
Shiro will be safe.
I did it. I turn to face Sendak and his tropes, gun aimed, fire in my heart and eyes. I will die in battle, I will die for Voltron, and I will die proving to my world that I have not failed the Magicat legacy.
Seven Days, Four hours, Five Minutes, and Three Seconds later:
It's been too long. Ulaz believed that Shiro would be back for the red lion in 4 days. It's been longer. It's been longer. I was supposed to die but Sendak wouldn't let that happen. Instead I'm locked in the cell where I first freed the prisoners, a reminder of those who I killed. Their screams are playing over and over again over the speakers. It's pitch black and even with my heightened senses I can't see anything. I can't do anything more than sit here and try to stay sane. Sendak wants to be able to showcase me when I'm broken-always has. He only stopped torturing me when they found Red. More importantly when I was found talking with Red.
Stupid. So stupid.
But it worked, for a few thousand years. But Shiro has been caught. I killed those people for nothing.
You got Ulaz the codes, you killed dozens of the guards, you saved many lives.
And that means nothing. I have always been an all or nothing person. I failed. That is all that matters. I wanted to die honorably, but I will die in this room I know it. Every part of my body aches, it's ridiculous. I am a ruler, I am a princess, I am strength and the embodiment of pain.
But I am also only physically fourteen. I may have been alive for thousands upon thousands of years but I haven't grown in them. I haven't learned in them. Simply been carted from one ship, one prison, to the next always being fueled with quintessence. What good is a trophy if it doesn't last as long as you do? I don't think Zarkon cares anymore, seeing as he's got the Red and Blue lion. I curl into myself, allowing a few minutes of weakness. I mindlessly pick at the grey shorts and shirt I've been in for ever so long. I remember how much I loathed ceremonial garb that I was forced to wear for diplomatic missions. Of course I never voiced that, it was not wise to argue with my so called Mother. The lies they told me for years still fester in my chest with nowhere to go. I would do anything for one item to have survived. Even as I think it I know it's a lie. I would sacrifice any part of myself, but not of others. I know my place.
I do wish something of the Magicats had survived. I hear the door open and stiffen. I turn and look at the two-
Shiro? H-He's alive. He's in the paladin armor-
I stare, eyes giant.
"You're alive." I whisper. "I thought-The lions, do you have the lions?"
"Do I...know you?" I groan and stand with a small wince.
"I freed you from Zarkon's grasp. I saved you so that you would form Voltron, do you have the lions?"
"Yes. We do." Green Child of Unspecified Gender answers. "I'm the green paladin."
"You look...young."
"And? So do you!"
"I'm not." I exit, wincing as I walk.
"Where are the other prisoners?" Shiro asks, unsure as he follows me.
"I set them free when I saved you. Most of them."
"Did you see anyone who looked like me?" Green Kid asks.
"No. I apologize. I'm assuming they're your family?" They nod. "I wish I had, green child."
"That is not my name! Where are you going?"
"I am just getting away from that room." I admit. I can still hear the screams.
"What was up with the yelling?" Green Kid asks. I don't look at either of them. I believe Shiro understands that it was some form of torture, though he doesn't understand the depth of it.
"We need to get to our lions." He says, looking me in the eye. "Come with us."
"Who's the red paladin?"
"Keith. I'm Pidge by the way."
"Deyza, ruler of the Magicats."
"Wait, you're a queen?"
"I do not know what that is. I am a princess."
"But you're just a kid."
"I am the only remaining tribe member of the sacred blood line."
"Why weren't you rescued?" Pidge asks as we walk down the halls. I note that a Galra bot is following us. Strange. I believe it works with them, otherwise they would've attacked it by now.
"I am the only one remaining."
"Oh. Sorry."
"It is fine. They died honorable deaths."
"How long ago was it?"
"Nine thousand five hundred and ten years."
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen. But I have existed for 9524 years, I believe."
"How does that work? Are you immortal or just have a crazy long life span?"
"They have altered my body many times. I am trophy, a sign of conquest. The Magicats were the most prominent members of the rebellion, even moreso than the Blade."
"The who?"
"The Blade of Mamora. I will explain later. Which lion do you have, the black or the green?"
"The green, but we have the rest too. And we know where Black is." I nod, ignoring the pain tightening in my chest. I was only a few months from freedom. If I had just left-
There was no way to know. There was simply no way to know. You did what you needed to.
I just wish it didn't hurt so much.
"Why are you all beat up?" Pidge asks. "I mean, if you've been a prisoner for that long-"
"They were punishing you. Because you saved me." I shrug at Shiro's words.
"I killed dozens of their members and I sent vital info to an enemy. There were many reasons." After the first few hours of being tortured I was locked in that room and left to listen to screams. I'm surprised I'm as composed as I am. I stare at the Green Lion for a full thirty seconds before I force myself to enter. And even then it's only because we're being shot at. Shiro turns around to fight and his arm glows. I wince slightly at the sight.
It's not his fault, he was a prisoner too. We are all just pieces fractured by the Galra and Zarkon
"Whoa! Where did you learn to fight like that?" Pidge asks, eyes wide as three guards drop to the ground after Shiro's attack.
"I have no idea." We enter the ship and I sit against the wall wincing slightly. "What did they do to you?"
"It'd be faster to tell you what they didn't do. Compared to Galra and most other species Magicats heal at accelerated rates."
"More damage, less recovery time. Sounds like fun." Pidge notes. "Keith did you get the red lion?"
"Yes, but we have to go back."
"What? Why?" Shiro asks, leaning over the back of Pidge's chair to talk into the mic.
"Red said that there's a kid there, a girl, who was going to be Red's Paladin. She's being tortured. Red won't stop yelling about how important she is-We have to go back!"
"Uh what's her name?"
"Neko. Or Deyza, I don't know, Red keeps switching."
"We got her." Shiro answers.
"What? Is she alive?"
"Yes. Injured but alive. Red's talking to you?"
"Red always was one to break the rules." I note quietly. "Hello Replacement."
"Neko?"
"Keith." I answer, and I sigh. "Red, what are you thinking? You're not following the Lion's Code."
"Red said that she hasn't followed it in years. What are you two talking about and why am I the telephone in your weird game of-," He pauses, searching for a word. "Of telephone? Can't you talk to her?"
"No. I denied her offer of paladinship."
"...why?"
"Red can explain."
"WHO ARE YOU ALL TALKING TO?" Someone yells.
"Is that a girl? Is she hot?"
"Lance." Everyone seems annoyed with this Lance person.
"You left Red because you wanted to be sure Voltron would survive?" Replacement asks quietly.
"Of course I did. I...now see that it was pointless, but at the time I believed it would be helpful."
"Princess Deyza? Is that you?"
"Coran?" I ask, smile poking out for the first time in months. "You're alive?"
"As is Princess Allura! How are you alive?"
"I could ask the same of you."
"How old are you?" Lance asks.
"Fourteen."
"What?"
"But I've existed for 9524 years."
"Literally so confused." A voice I have no name for offers.
"Princess Deyza, what is the status of the Magicats? Why have you not stopped Zarkon and the Galra?" I don't answer for a moment.
"I..."
"She said they're gone." Pidge offers. "She's the last one."
"My deepest condolences your majesty."
"It was a long time ago. What is the Alteans status?"
"There are two of us remaining. And some mice!"
"Ah." I massage my temples. "The Castle of Lions?"
"On Arus and mostly operational!"
"Good."
"What of Etheria?"
"Gone. They imploded it. All Etherians died. Reinforcements from the princesses is impossible. Have you met with the prisoners I sent to Arus?"
"No we have only just awaken."
"Crynosleep?"
"Yes. How are you alive?"
"Quintessence abuse mainly. Not by choice. How far are we from your base of operations?"
"WHO ARE YOU?" Lance yells again.
"I am Princess Deyza of the Magicats, ruler of Etheria, and leader of the rebellion."
"You're the princess and ruler of dead people?"
"Oh my god Lance."
"Dude."
"Are you that oblivious?"
"Dude."
"Are you seriously that dumb?"
"Dude."
"STOP SAYING DUDE!" Yellow Lion Person snaps cutting off Keith and Pidge. Shiro finally says something.
"Lance we're all way out of our depth. This is not a new war, this is not a new fight. Deyza knows more about this than any of us, other than the Alteans."
"She knows more than we do."
"She knows more than any of us." Shiro corrects at Coran's words. "You'll speak to her with the respect she's earned."
"Sorry Shiro."
"And we're here!" Pidge tells us. I exit the lion, holding onto my side. Red lands and roars. She runs to me and almost knocks me over as she headbutts me affectionately.
"You're the size of a traluk you have to be more careful!" She roars gently. I see the person who must be my replacement. He's holding his helmet to his side clearly uncomfortable.
"You can have her."
"What?"
"Red. She's yours, she was yours way before she was mine. She-She told me everything. Everything they did to you, everything you two went through for each other-She's yours." He thrusts the helmet out to me. "Also do I bow or something?"
"Generally yes. But that is not necessary. And she is yours now." I sigh softly, hand on her muzzle. "I love her. I always will. But I said no."
"Red says she doesn't care."
"But the Code of the Lions does." The other lions roar in agreement. It is a loud, deafening sound. "I denied her offer. I-" My voice cracks. I straighten, looking Keith in the eye. "I wish to play a role in your fight against Zarkon. But it can not be at the helm of the Red Lion."
"What about the Black lion?" Shiro asks from his spot against the wall. "I haven't bonded with him yet-"
"No. That is your burden to bear." Princess Allura. I turn to the doorway and bow. She does as well and we rise at the same time. "It has been many years Princess Deyza."
"Indeed, Princess Allura."
"How old were we? When we last saw one another?"
"I believe I was 10."
"I thought you were 12."
"Eleven, actually." Coran notes and goes into a deep bow. "Your majesty."
"Rise Coran." He does. "I thank you and you as well Princess Allura for your sacrifice in the fight against Zarkon."
"And we thank you." Allura agrees.
"What weird alien royal thing is going on?" Lance asks, leaning against a larger Earthen. They are so many different colors, it is quite interesting. Keith hits him over the head.
"Can you shut up for five seconds?"
"Hey-"
"I need to treat my wounds. You need to unlock the Black lion. Keith, may I speak with you? You as well Princess." We exit and we quickly update each other. Keith walks respectfully behind us. Coran stays to update the other paladins.
"To be held by the Galra that long-How did you survive?"
"I am alive because I was a trophy."
"Let's make Zarkon regret his hubris." I smirk.
"Indeed Princess."
"Allura. You may call me Allura."
"Deyza." She nods. We continue to talk as I stitch my wounds, clean them, wrap them. I'm thankful that she largely updates me-though I know ever so much more information than her-and I do not have to speak as I fix my battered body. I finish and update her quickly. I ignore her often times horrified look. I ignore Keith entirely, not wanting to think about all of this quite yet.
"We don't have long before Sendak gets here." I stand, wincing slightly. "Allura, can you man the castle?"
"Of course." She leaves.
"Keith, you're Red's Paladin."
"I'm not."
"I'm injured and I'm not meant to be hers. I said no." I look him in the eye, making us both pause in the hallway. I'm short, and I've always hated it. I reach his shoulder largely negates my station and knowledge of our subject. "I do not take that burden. There are many things you can not understand, you were not raised in war. Specifically, you were not raised to end this war. I was. This decision must be one of strategy. You will pilot the Red Lion."
"For now." I nod.
"For now."
For Now is a magicat saying meaning To Honor For Now And Forever. Apparently to Earthens it just means for this period of time. He runs off to join the others and I join the Alteans at main panel. Alarms go off, informing us of Sendak's arrival.
"How can I speak to the paladins?" I ask Allura. She gestures to a chair and I nod. I love Altean tech, it feels like breathing in fresh air again.
"Man, those Galra guys repair things fast."
"What is your name yellow one?"
"Uh, Hunk?"
"Hunk, you are more fortified than the others. You will need to act as a shield when possible."
"Wait are we seriously taking orders from-" Everyone yells at Lance who promptly shuts up. "Not questioning space-cat got it."
"Shiro you need to lead them into forming Voltron. It must be done now, the Castle can not hold up against the ion cannon for long. I'm assuming that's what hit us?" I get confirmations from them all. "Keith, trust Red. It will be startling at first, to hear her voice in your subconscious, but...as you Earthens say 'Roll with it.'"
"How in the quiznak do you know of Earthen Culture?" Coran asks, eyes widening.
"Other prisoners. Now, Lance-"
"I know how to pilot!"
"Exactly. Be in the moment, do not try to think too far ahead."
"Oh."
"Little Green One-"
"Pidge."
"Pidge, you hacked the Galra drone?"
"Yep. And?"
"You're the analytic. You will come up with a strategy along with me and Allura as the fight commences." The fighter ships appear. "Their weaknesses are in the underbelly, next to the wings."
"Understood."
"Got it."
"We got this!"
"We're all gonna die."
"You should be the one in Red." I sigh, rubbing my temples.
"Keith, do your job. Red, keep him in check." She roars back. I recognize those words. I smirk softly. "Oh, watch your mouth." The other lions laugh. There's another blast rocking the ship. My claws latch into the ground and counter of the ship, holding fast against the cannon.
"I can cover you for now, but you must act quickly." Allura orders. They're all moving, fighting quickly and as one.
"And do what?" Lance asks, confused.
"Form Voltron." I answer. "You must form Voltron."
"Uh...we don't know how to do that." Hunk answers.
"Figure it out."
"That's it?" Shiro asks. I shrug.
"I've never done it."
"Alright, listen up, Team Voltron! The only way to succeed is to give it all you've got! This looks bad, but we can do this! Are you with me?"
"I'm nodding. Is everyone else nodding?" Hunk would not have lasted long on the Galra ship.
"Yes!"
"Let's do this!" Shiro will be a good leader. I am glad that Allura said no to the offer of the Black Lion for me. It is not my place, nor do I want it.
"Uh, how?" Pidge questions as they dodge blasts from the ships.
"Good question. Does anyone have any ideas of how to form Voltron?" The yellow one attempts to help, but fails. "I don't see a "Combine Into Giant Robot" button anywhere on my dashboard."
"This is insane! Can't they just cease fire for one minute so we can figure this out? Is that too much to ask?"
"Of course it is! You must figure out how to combine your lions! Breathe and feel the others quintessence and life force!"
"That is not helpful!" Lance yells back at me. I cover the microphone.
"Do they have no training?" Allura sighs wearily.
"None whatsoever." I nod.
"I can manage."
"I hope so, I can barely keep the particle barrier up and provide them with support." I uncover it and go back to attempting to coach the pathetic earthlings. Pidge destroys two and so does Keith.
"Hey cat person? Do you have anymore ideas?" Lance asks frantically.
"I'm thinking. I barely know more about these lions than you."
"What!?!"
"I know Red, but-" I exhale, rubbing my temples.
"We've got to do something." Keith snaps, aiming at another plane.
"Combine!" Hunk slams the Yellow Lion into the Red Lion, knocking it over. "Hey!" Keith objects. "Okay, that didn't work." Hunk admits.
"Quickly Paladins! Our energy levels are getting low, soon they'll be able to shoot at the castle!"
Shiro is the first to answer. "Maybe if we fly in formation, we'll just combine. Take off on my cue. One, two, three, Voltron!" They all take flight and I feel Red calling out to me. I snap back at her.
Focus on the battle.
"Here we go!"
"Come on, come on!"
"Nothing's happening." Lance's voice takes on a hopeful tone as I look up and my eyes widen in fear. "Hey, w-wait, wait, wait! I feel something!"
"I do, too. I feel it. It's like we're all being pulled in the same direction!" Hunk agrees ecstatically.
"Get out of there! They're pulling you in!" The Galra ship is getting all lions in one fell swoop. "Out of there now."
"What the cheese?"
"Sendak's ship is sucking us in like a black hole!"
"And like a black hole it will kill you. Get away now." The Castle is rocked as they manage to break through the barrier. No. No I only just got away, I-
Recenter. Patience Yields Focus. I will handle this.
"I-I don't care what you say, Shiro. I'm panicking now!" Hunk screams as he's pulled in.
"It can't end here!" The child-they are just a child-yells out, still fighting. I try to think of something, anything, that could help. I share a hopeless look with the other two. There is nothing we can do.
"This is it!"
"It's been an honor flying with you boys." Keith says, voice full of respect.
"No!" Shiro's voice is full. Full of belief and fire and rage. Full of destruction and strength and perseverance. It is full of hope. I can see them all straighten, all immediately quiet to hear what he has to say.
The paladin of the black lion indeed.
"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!" They all cheer and it happens. Voltron is formed. For the first time in so so long I see the colossal figure of Voltron in all of it's glory. Forged from the Magicats magic, the Alteans fusion of quintessence and tech, a masterpiece. A weapon.
A symbol.
They punch the cannon sending it flying off the ship and saving the castle. They scream and cheer and rejoice. I sit there, feeling Red make a decision. As they cheer I feel something deep inside of my chest stir.
Keith laughs out loud saying, "I can't believe it!"
Are you sure Red? What are you even offering me?
"We formed Voltron!" Pidge is so excited, so full of hope. They do not even understand what they have begun, not yet.
I am sure.
"I'm a leg!" Hunk seems like someone who will never stop fighting, never stop trying in the face of everything. Someone I will be proud to fight beside in the end.
But what does this mean?
"How are we doing this?" Lance asks, yelling at the prospect of change and ability to survive another day.
Do you trust me?
"I don't know, but let's get that ship!"
Always.
I feel everything all at once. I feel Voltron steady thrum, the emotions of the other lions as Red breaks some very important rule that she believes has no real standing. I feel Black acceptance, Green's anticipation, Blue's wonder, Yellow's protection, and Red...I feel everything she must think of me.
Strength and destruction
Wisdom and Patience
Kindness and loyalty
Humbleness
Mine
That one seems to repeat as she opens a door to my mind. That I am hers, she is mine, and Keith is hers as well. But I was hers first, and I will always hold the place in her heart as her first cub. I blink as my eyes open, and I know Allura felt it. I turn to look at her, feeling the thrum of quintessence under my skin, somehow healing my wounds almost entirely, and I can hear the other lions.
I blink.
"Red...what did you do?" I whisper quietly.
"I think she did it to me too. I asked her what happened and she asked me if I trusted her. I just kinda said yes." Keith offers, sounding dazed. I feel the rumble of Black in the back of my mind and my hair stands on end.
"What's going on?" Lance asks, confused.
"Keith, can you hear the other lions?"
"Kinda...they're far away. They definitely seem like they're laughing at us."
"They definitely are." I agree. Coran oohs.
"It seems that Red has allowed you both into the quintessence connection between the lions. You will all experience it to some degree, but only with your own lions."
"Red, you broke another rule?" I ask, groaning. Black agrees with me as the others laugh. Yellow rumbles sympathetically and I feel my breath catch. It's so much, but it feels so-so right. Like I'm meant to understand.
"We can regroup and talk at the castle." We all agree with Shiro, me and Keith semi-awkwardly bumbling around in the 'group chat' of the lions who find us quite funny-in a way they would kindly laugh at a new cub attempting to walk for the first time.
I do not like the comparison.
We all gather at the gates of the castle, a little breathless very disheveled and full of hope.
"We did it." Shiro says, beaming.
"Heck yeah, we did." Keith agrees with a smile.
"How did we do it though?" Hunk shrugs.
"I was just, like, screaming the whole time. Maybe that did it."
"We're not going to stop searching until we find your brother and father. Wherever they are, I know they'd be proud of you." Green Kid Of Unspecified Gender smiles back. I nod in agreement.
"I will not let another family be separated."
"Thanks Deyza."
"We won the battle, but the war has only just begun. I'm afraid Zarkon will not stop until he gets these Lions." Coran nods as he agrees with Allura.
"Good thing you Paladins know what you're doing, because you're going to have to form Voltron again and again."
"Totally—Wait, what?" Hunk asks, getting nervous.
"We barely survived forming Voltron this one time!" Lance agrees.
"And you only had to fight one ship. Wait until you have to fight a whole fleet of them! It's not going to be easy being the Defenders of the Universe."
"Defenders of the Universe, huh? That's got a nice ring to it." I smile softly, looking at the lions then Allura. She smiles back. I feel Red's presence in my mind along with the others. Keith is standing protectively next to me, with Shiro on his other side.
Defenders of the universe?
Yeah. Yeah, it does.
Hopefully I'll help, rather than doom yet another team of heroes.