The Paladin's Honour

King Alfor

Keith's POV

I had mixed feelings about being left behind with the two 'aliens' that I've met minutes ago while Shiro leave with Pidge to retrieve the Green Lion while Lance accompany Hunk to grab the yellow one— especially after what Coran had said. But I have faith in my brother's piloting skills and know that he'll come back... I thought back to how I got myself booted from the Garrison, with Commander Iverson blaming Shiro when he knows as well as I do that my brother would never crash— let alone endanger anyone on board with him. Shaking the memory out of my head, I wonder on what to do. I could offer to help... but reconsider how useless I'd be due to my lack of understanding when it comes to Altean technology. Feeling the boredom creeping in slowly, I decided to explore the castle before bumping into Shiro and Pidge. I smiled out of relief that my brother made it back safely, and with the Green Lion.

About 20 minutes has passed before Hunk and Lance returned, both of them were groaning. "You made it." Princess Allura said in relief, "Yeah, just barely. That was a nightmare." Lance said as he rubs his shoulder. "I almost puked out there. I felt like Hunk!" "Think how I felt. I am Hunk." Hunk retorted, "Yeah. We had a tough time, too." Pidge said, smiling at Shiro. "Did we find the Red Lion yet?" my brother turns his attention to the Alteans. "Allura just located it. There's a bit of good news and bad news." Coran replied, "The good news is, the Red Lion's nearby. The bad news is, it's on board that Galra ship now orbiting Arus. But wait, good news again. We're Arus!" "They're here already?" My brother asked in a shocked voice, "Yes. Guess my calculations were a bit off. Finger counting— It's more of an art than a science." Coran admitted sheepishly before an image of an alien with a cybernetic eye appear on the screen. "Princess Allura, this is Commander Sendak of the Galra Empire." He said, "So he's part of the 'empire' we're supposed to take down..." I thought to myself while wondering on why he seems somewhat... familiar to me. "I come on behalf of Emperor Zarkon, Lord of the Known Universe." Sendak continues, "I am here to confiscate the lions. Turn them over to me, or I will destroy your planet." And with that, the transmission cuts off.

~~~~~v~~~~~

Shiro's POV

The atmosphere felt heavy from Sendak's threat, "All right, let's not panic." I spoke up, "Not panic? The scary purple alien thing is driving his battleship toward us. We only have four lions." Hunk said in a panicked voice. "Technically, only three working lions." Pidge reminded, "That's right. Thank you, Pidge." Hunk said before continuing. "Three working lions and a castle that's like, 10,000 years old." Coran interjects, "Actually, it's 10,600 years old. You see, it was built by my grandfather—" Hunk cuts him off there. "Thanks, Coran. Thank you for that. See? Now is the perfect time to panic!" he said before Princess Allura's eyes widen, "Wait! This castle has a particle barrier we can activate."

"Girl, you've already activated my par—" Lance began before I gave him a warning glare. "The particle barrier won't hold Sendak's ion cannon forever. The Galra technology must have advanced since we fought them last." Coran said as he pulled up the battleship schematics onto the screen, "Panic now?" Hunk asked. "No. We've just gotta figure out our plan of action, and figure it out quickly." I said, "I say we pop through a wormhole and live to fight another day." Lance suggested with Hunk agreeing. "I second that. Yes. We tried to find all the lions, right? We gave it the old college try. Couldn't do it. We only have three. We can't form Voltron. I guess we could form a snake. Or a worm! To go through that hole, Lance, that you were talking about."

"Then, it's settled. Allura, you ride with me. One of you take the old guy." Lance said, earning an annoyed look from the said 'old guy'. "We can't just abandon Arus. The Galra will keep destroying planets and capturing prisoners until we stop them." Pidge said level-headedly, "Okay. If we run, then maybe Sendak will follow us and leave this planet alone, like when we left Earth. We form the snake-worm thingamajig and we— out of here." Hunk throws in his two cents, along with a hiss. "Sendak could destroy the planet then come after us anyway. Staying is our only option." Keith said rationally, "Here's an option: shut your quiznak." Lance countered. "I don't think you're using that word correctly." My brother retorted, "What do you know, Mullet?" Lance shot back. "We're staying." Keith puts his foot down, "Leaving!" Lance retaliates. "Staying!" Pidge sides with my brother, "Snake!" Okay, this has gone too far... "Guys, stop!" I barked before turning my attention back to the Princess, "Princess Allura, these are your lions. You've dealt with the Galra Empire before. You know what we're facing better than any of us. What do you think is the best course of action?"

~~~~~v~~~~~

Allura's POV

"I... I don't know." I said, completely unsure— I've never dealt with a decision like this before, plus the argument only made me realize that I was never truly prepared to lead... "Perhaps your father can help." Coran said, causing me to look at him in confusion. "My father?" I asked only for him to ask the Paladins to wait in the bridge before asking me to follow my father's advisor. I looked back at Shiro and silently thank him, only for him to nod his acknowledgement before turning his attention back to his fellow earthlings. I followed Coran to a room I have never seen before, "Coran, what is this?" I asked as I look around. "King Alfor knew there was a chance he might never see you again." Coran explained, "So, his memories, his very being, were stored in this computer for you." It was then I notice a light pulsing in front of me. When I went to touch it, the light disperse and the dark room was then transformed into a scene all too familiar to me— Juniberry flowers were blooming by the thousands, and in the distance, were mountains that I can see from my balcony back in Altea.

As I take in the nostalgic scenery, I heard something behind me— causing me to look back and see an image of Father. "Father!" he looks exactly how he did when I last saw him 10,000 years ago, "Father, it is so good to see you." I ran up to him. "Allura, my only child, how I've missed your face." He said, before I remember Sendak's threat. "I'm so frighten. A Galra ship is set to attack, and I don't know what to do. Please, Father, I need your help." I plead as I knelt down beside the computer, "I would do anything to take this burden from you." Father said in a comforting manner. "I don't know if we should run to preserve what we have or stay and risk everything. I want to fight, but the Paladins of old are gone. I know what you would do." I said, remembering not only the original Paladins, but my friends as well; along with Ryou. "I scattered the Lions of Voltron to keep them out of Zarkon's hands. You urged me to keep them and fight, but, for the greater good of protecting the universe, I chose to hide them." Father explain, "I think I understand." I began before Father interjects. "No, daughter, you were right." I look at him in surprise, "I made a terrible mistake, one that cost the universe countless lives. Forming Voltron is the only way to stop Zarkon. You must be willing to sacrifice everything to assemble the lions and correct my error."

~~~~~v~~~~~

Shiro's POV

Hearing the door open behind us, I turn to see the Princess wearing her hair in a bun and a battle attire that compliments her form... wait, why am I looking at her like that? "You five Paladins were brought here for a reason." She said with a determine tone in her voice, thankful for the fact that it brought me back to a more appropriate attention. "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." Allura continues, "We're with you, Princess." I said with my resolve matching hers. Both the Princess and Coran then lead us to what appears to be the armoury, "Your suit of armour." She said. We walk up to the five pods containing the armours; they were mostly white and black with accents of the colours corresponding with the lions, I somehow found myself walking up to the armour that matches the Black Lion. With how it appears to be my size, I couldn't help but feel that I've worn the armour before...

"Boys, it's time to suit up!" I said before taking the armour out and putting it on, with the others following suit. The armor fits me like a glove, thus continuing a suspicion that I've definitely worn the armour before— especially since I somehow know how to put it on in the first place. And despite Hunk's doubt, he managed to fit into his armour... or rather, the armour managed to fit him— along with Pidge, Lance, and Keith. The Princess place her hand on a nearby screen, causing it to dissolve and revealed four weapons that looks... familiar... "The bayard is the traditional weapon of the Paladins of Voltron." She explained, "It takes a distinct shape for each paladin." Hunk grabbed a bayard matching his armor, causing it to change into a cannon that briefly upset his balance a bit. The red bayard transformed into a sword the moment it's in Keith's hand, only for a translucent, blue shield appear on the other hand— causing me to realize that the armours are equipped with the same shield. Lance's turned into a blue rifle, and Pidge's becomes a small grappling hook with a katar attached to it. "Aw, you got a cute little bayard." Lance commented, earning himself an electric shock from Pidge's 'cute little bayard'. "Yeah, it is pretty cute." Pidge snarkily replied before Princess Allura approached me with a concern look on her face, "Shiro, I'm afraid your bayard was lost with its paladin." She told me. So that explain why there were only four... "I guess I'll just have to make do." I reassured her before we left the armoury and head back to brief over the plan of attack.