The Purple Paladin

Chapter Two : The Other Paladins

 When we emerge we don't recognize any of the surrounding planets or stars. "Where are we? Where are you taking us, lion?" I ask, looking around.

Then I flinch as the same voice from before whispers in my mind again, 'I'm taking you to my home. You are to be my paladin so we must return to the Castle of Lions and pray that the other lions return soon as well. Also, my name is Violet, not lion.'

"Hey, you alright?" Alec asks.

I nod, "Yeah, I... I think the lion just spoke to me. It said that I'm its paladin. It also said that its name is Violet"

Alec's eyes widen a little, "So you're a part of Voltron!?"

"I guess so," I say.

"Look!" Alec points at the holographic screen that displays the outside world. Another lion, a blue one, has appeared out of another wormhole and is flying towards the same planet we are.

'It's Blue! I knew I chose the right time to return!' Violet says happily.

The other lion seems to hear mine and turns. The two lions regard each other and then both roar and dive down towards the planet again. We break through the clouds and I gasp, "It's the Castle of Lions," I breath, "After all this time researching it and trying to find the lions, we're actually here."

"Yeah," Alec agrees, "But we still don't know who's aboard that other lion. We have to be careful."

"Right." I agree as we land in front of the castle.

My lion leans down opens its mouth. Alec and I climb out and face the Blue lion as those onboard it climb out as well. "They're humans," Alec whispers. My wings twitch. It's instinct for Animarians to hide their animalistic aspects from humans, but I also know it's already too late to hide mine.

"Who are you?" asks one of the humans, he's obviously the leader of the group, a tall male with black hair that turns pure white near his bangs. He has a scar over the bridge of his nose and is wearing an all-black uniform. His right arm has been replaced with a cyborg prosthetic that I recognize as Galra technology.

"Could as you the same question, human, especially since your group seems to know nothing of this place or of these lions. Not to mention the fact that your arm is made of the same technology that the sworn enemy of these lions uses," I growl, tensing and continuing to eye him and his companions.

Another male wearing a black t-shirt, red jacket that is unzipped and only goes down to about his torso, black pants, and a pair of boots that are mostly black and white with red around the toes and the very top of them, steps between me and the other male and looks like he's about to attack me. Before he can attack, however, Alec and I glance at each other and, after a nod, transform into our animal forms. This makes the whole group take a step back. A large male, wearing a yellow t-shirt, green vest, tan cargo shorts, running shoes, and an orange bandana tied around his head keeping his dark colored hair out of his face, actually screams.

"Hunk, relax. Keith, stand down I think they felt threatened by you." the first male says calmly, never taking his eyes off mine.

"No duh," I snort, pawing the ground with my hoof. Alec gives a low growl.

"But Shiro," protests the boy in red, who must be Keith, as he continues to glare at us.

"No buts, Keith, stand down." the male called Shiro orders.

The one called Keith reluctantly turns away and goes to stand next to the two other members of their group. Both are male and the shorter of the two is wearing a white shirt with orange cuffs and green around the waist and neck. His light-brown hair is pushed up near his ears by his glasses. This human doesn't seem as scared or startled as the others about Alec and my change in appearance. In fact, this short human actually seems curious. The taller of the two is wearing a gray t-shirt with a dark-blue collar. He is also wearing a dark-forest-green jacket and blue jeans with gray running shoes. "Nice going, Mullet," says the taller. My guess is he is referring to Keith's jet-black hairstyle.