Spirit of the Lioness (Keith x OC): A Voltron Fanfiction

Chapter 19: Space Mall

Nifa stood with the rest of the team as Shiro spoke. "Okay, look. I now know for certain that Zarkon is tracking us through the Black Lion. We have to find some way to stop him."

"How are we gonna do that?" Pidge asked him.

"We've never had this situation before," agree Allura. "Two paladins battling for the same lion."

"Maybe I could try to talk to the Black Lion and convince it to stay on our side," Nifa suggested. "I mean, I'm the spirit guide now. It's most likely Black will listen to me."

Allura shook her head. "That's too risky. Now that we know he's not tracking us through you, it's clear to see he doesn't know about you yet, thank goodness. However, if you try to speak with the Black Lion while Zarkon is still connected to it, he may discover you."

"Princess, with all due respect, that's the most asinine logic I've ever heard of. How the heck would he be able to enter the astral field?"

"Never mind how! You're not capable of standing up to him if he catches you alone, so stop acting like you are!"

Allura had hit a nerve. Nifa felt her mind go blank with rage. Her claws involuntarily unsheathed and she took a step towards the princess, feeling her eyes flare. However, sensing trouble, Shiro put himself between the two.

"Let's not argue, guys. Whatever the case, unless we want Zarkon taking control of Voltron every time we get close, I'll have to forge a new bond with my lion. One that's stronger than his. But, in order for the best success, I'll need to do it alone."

"But Shiro-" Nifa protested, but the senior Garrison officer gave her an expression that was deadset on his decision.

"Allura said that the bond with a lion is mystical and can't be forced. The Black Lion needs to know that I'm really trying and not piggybacking on you. I know that you'd find some way to convince it, but that won't hold for long. If I want to bond with it, I can't do it halfheartedly."

"It's not halfhearted if you have me helping you! If anything, it'll show the Black Lion that we're doing all we can to guide and lead it down the right path!"

"This is MY lion, Nifa. I need to use the power I've earned as a paladin to make this right."

Nifa wanted to argue with him so badly, but the points he posed were so good, she found herself spoken into submission. "Alright, Shiro," she said bitterly. "Yeah, I get it. I'm the 'spirit guide', but I guess that's just another word for 'nosy parker'. I'm just some useless stowaway at the end of the day. Thanks for reminding me."

"What? No, that's not what I-"

"Oh, save it! Do whatever the hell you want!"

With an angry stamp, Nifa heel-turned and stormed out of the bridge in a foul mood. As she stomped off, she could hear Coran try to thin the tension in the room with the mention of the teludav lenses, how they needed a fix-up, and where they could find them on a swap moon not too far off. 

Nifa thought for a moment, thinking of how much time would be wasted sniffing around for those lenses if they went together. "'Not capable', huh?" she said to herself as she made her way to the pod hangar. "Well, we'll see who's 'not capable' once I've already picked up those lenses before you finish your chit-chat." 

Meanwhile, unaware of her departure, the team was still being briefed on the trip to the swap moon. "The Unilu were traders and pirates that roamed the galaxies and dealt in black market goods," Coran explained. "Umvy spice, by-tor water, little bottles of infinity vapor. Of course, you had to bargain. No one could bargain like the Unilu. Last time, I ended up giving away three-quarters of my shipment of Lango in exchange for a used pogo oscillator."