New Beginnings: A Voltron Story

Chapter 1: Continuation of the End

Silence was not a common occurrence on the McClain farm. There was always noise coming from somewhere, whether it be from any of the animals (particularly Kalteneker the cow), the chirping bugs, or the rapid stream that marked the border of their land. Predominantly, noise burst from the many children that lived on the property. Each of them chased each other around the chicken coop and through the barn, before pausing their race inside the large farmhouse to grab glasses of fresh lemonade.

The house looked worn down with it's chipped beige paint and squeaky white shutters, but it had been rebuilt within the last two years after Voltron had driven out the Galra invasion.

One of the young boys broke off from the game of tag and scurried off towards the orchard, knowing his favorite Uncle would be there. He dashed past Beast's pen (the first goat they had brought to the farm), and into the orchard.

It was fall and so their trees were full of fruit. The boy had to watch his step to make sure he didn't step on any over-ripened fruit. Mama and Abuela would always get mad when he tracked in mushy fruit guts, and there was no way he wanted to make them mad.

That would be scary.

~*~

After filling two pails full of oranges, Lance decided he would direct his labors towards the peach trees. Peaches were his favorite fruit and during this time of year, they were perfect. He loved how the fruit could be furry on the outside, but crisp and sweet on the inside. The seeds were fun as well. He and his brothers, Luis and Marco, used to crack them open and stuff messages inside, tying the seeds back together with twine.

Only a few of the seeds he had saved were able to be salvaged after the war. The old McClain home had been demolished by a crashed Galra warship, most of their belongings being too mangled to repair. At least a few things survived, among them being the hard shells of the peach seeds.

He had just finished filling the last two buckets with peaches when his ears pricked at a noise from behind. A branch snapped on the ground and Lance's hand instinctively fell to his hip, imagining his Bayard in his grip.

No Bayard came as he flipped around to see his nephew wrapping him in a bear hug. "Tio Lance!" The boy cried.

After a moment of realization, Lance returned the tight embrace. "So good to see you Benji."

The boys released each other as Benji began to rapidly talk about his day. Lance drew a hand through his (in need of a trim) hair, and kept his other arm wrapped around his nephew.

He tried to avoid the thoughts that assailed him. The images of destroyed planets and withered plants; toxins spread throughout the air, the missions and finally, her. The woman he had fallen in love with, only to have taken away. Allura.

The war had affected him more than he thought. On more than one occasion he found himself waking in a cold sweat due to the endless nightmares. The couldn't stand the images, especially when his dreams would torment him with visions of his friends dead by his mistakes.

"Lance?"

Lance blinked, turning his attention back towards the boy next to him. None of it was real, the nightmares were just dreams. He had been getting better too, being able to distinguish reality from the dream more often. Living on a peaceful farm helped. "Hm, you were saying?"

Benji tugged on the hem of his shirt. "Were thinking about it again? The war?"

Eyes widening, Lance sighed, "I'm fine, if that's what you're asking. But how did you know?"

"Well," Benji reached up and patted the marks on Lance's cheeks. "Your cheeks dim every time you think of it."

Lance reached up and touched the Altean marks on his face. Were they really giving away that much of his emotions? No wonder his mom would always know when to cheer him up. "Huh, I never knew that."

The little boy reached over and shoved a peach into his uncle's chest. "Here. Papa always said these cheer you up." He lifted his hand and patted his cheek, just as he had seen his abuela do. "Be happy."

Lance shook away the hand and hugged Benji, carefully placing the peach aside for the moment. "Benji, you make me happy."

After the hug, Benji squirmed out of Lance's arms and darted towards the buckets. "Abuela made lemonade! Let's go get some."

"Alright, but I've got to bring the fruit down. Want to help?" Lance laughed.

"Ya!"

~*~

A new morning dawned and Lance groggily got to his feet as the rooster crowed out his window. The night had been long, what with Lance waking up at least twice, and now there was a pounding headache attacking his brain.

"...stupid rooster..." Lance muttered, rubbing his throbbing head. He wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and sleep forever, but chores required his attention.

Begrudgingly, he got to his feet, swaying slightly. He threw on a blue plaid shirt and some jeans before heading downstairs. Hopefully they had some Advil.

"Morning." His sister Veronica cooed as she munched on her early morning Cheerios. She was the only one up at this time, other than Lance. (The only "morning person" in the family)

Lance only grunted in response, taking to scavenging in the medical cabinet.

"Well aren't you just chipper today." Veronica teased. Jeez, her voice was so loud right now.

"Will you just be quiet?" Lance moaned, clutching the sides of his head.

At this, Veronica stood up. Her brother wasn't looking too well. "Are you doing ok?"

"Just fine."

She couldn't help but notice him swaying (and not the dancing kind), nose still buried in the cabinet.

"You're not fine." She growled and grabbed his wrist, turning him to face her. A gasp escaped her as his Altean marks began to glow, rapidly flashing.

"I told you," Lance mumbled weakly. "I'm fine." At the end of his statement his eyes rolled back into his head, and he was out.

~~~~~

A/N

Hey guys! I'm back for another story and I hope you guys will like it. I want to give thanks to two friends who encouraged the creation of this story~

shaye2021 and Sierra_Gatrell

Thank you guys SO much for your encouragement and comments on this (and other) story(s)!

You guys ROCK!

...

Furthermore, this will be a SLOW UPDATING book. I have two other books I'm working on right now, so this one will be a bit more sporadic.

:)