The White Lion Princess

Blood Duel

We stared at the screen showing Zarkon, Lotor's old generals and Samuel Holt. Pidge and Matt's father.

It was such a relief to see Samuel alive, a little shaken and tattered but alive nonetheless.

But, something didn't feel right. Zarkon wouldn't give up any type of leverage against us.

He had something planned. And whatever it was, couldn't be good.

"Bring me Lotor and the prisoner is yours. Meet my demands if you want to see the Earthling alive." Zarkon said, then the screen went blank.

Pidge and Matt gasped when the transmission ended.

"He's alive! Our dad is alive! We have to get him back!" Pidge immediately said.

"We're going to." Matt agreed turning to Shiro, "What's the plan, Shiro?"

We all turned to Shiro, who held a stern and thoughtful expression.

"We can't rush into anything. We have to think this through." He said.

"What's to think through?!" Pidge retorted, "It's my dad! We're doing this!"

"We need to operate under the assumption that Zarkon will try to double cross us."

"We have Voltron! We can do anything!"

"Pidge!" Matt said, trying to calm down his younger sister.

"No!" Pidge shouted, shrugged off her brother's hand.

"We can't let this opportunity slip away! We're too close! Our father is too close!"

"I agree." I added surprising everyone, "If I had the chance to get my father back, I would do it, no matter the cost or dangers. I'm going with you, Pidge."

Pidge smiled and nodded. We turned back to Shiro for his approval, which he gave.

"Alright." He said, "Pidge, Matt, Zurine and I will go and get Commander Holt."

We all went to get Lotor in his cell.

He was smirking when we walked up to the cell. It only made my cold feeling even stronger.

"Lotor," I said, "In exchange for Commander Holt, we are giving you back to your father, Zarkon. You are to obey our orders or suffer harsh consequences."

He looked up with a bored frown, "My father has held the universe in a death grip for millennia, but he sees it slipping from his grasp because of your efforts and because of mine. With our forces combined, we would provide the greatest threat Zarkon has ever faced. He know we could topple his empire, so this is his attempt to tear us apart. But united, we could forge a new path, open doors to new worlds and crush the tyrannical ways of an old regime."

"A regime you ran. We can't listen to him. He just wants to save his own skin." Pidge said not holding back her distrust.

"It's true." Lotor continued, "If you return me to my father, he would surely see to my demise. And with his most legitimate threat to the throne removed, he would only grow stronger."

Pidge glared at the man behind the prison screen with so much hate. If looks could kill, Lotor would've died a hundred times.

"One less threat to Zarkon and one less threat to us." She said.

Lotor focused his gaze towards me and Allura, "Your father, King Alfor, once stood side by side with Zarkon and protected the universe from harm. And King Arron trusted Zarkon to help save Princess Zurine. There was no for the paladins couldn't defeat. Sadly, that time of peace has been lost, but, together, we can find it once more."