Author's Note: My mind needs to slow down with ideas. I need to concentrate my current fics before making a new one, but no, it has to disturb me so here it is.

This story sets up after the end of Season 2 with my own twists and portrayals.

This chapter contains Lotor's POV of his first meeting with the Red Paladin back in Episode 9 of Season 2.

A tall, bulky armored Galran soldier bowed. "Prince Lotor, the witch Haggar has summoned your presence back to Command Center."

"Oh does she." as the prince watched himself from the small mirror that was being held by one of his female servants. Without bothering to look, "Did something happened to my dear Father perhaps?"

The solider stood straight. "He was defeated by Voltron."

Another female servant adjusted his royal Galran armor on his shoulder while keeping the prince's silky, pearl-colored hair straight and out. With two more servants adjusting the rest of his royal outfits and strapping parts of his rough, dark purple metallic armor around his chest, wrists, and shins. His trusted swords strapped around his waist with a good snug against his body.

"Get this ship ready to jump. It has been awhile I've return home."

"Vrepit Sa." The solider saluted and left.

A mischievous grin etched as Lotor dismissively waved at his servants and walked towards the far end of his room where he stopped in front of the glass window. The view of the vast space with the sea of sparkling stars, he crossed his hands behind his back as he admired the view.

The current view was much more beautiful and serene than his previous trip. Sound of his own amuse chuckle echoed in the silent room and placed his gloved hand on the glass.

The flashback memories of being trapped in his own craft in that hideous planet-eating Weblum's stomach.

It was pure luck that his craft was not damaged, but instead, get wrapped up by the creature's veins. Lotor wasn't stupid to get out of his confined space as he knew about the creature's inside defense system. So, he just waited out.

Waited. For how ever long he was confined. He lost track of time after counting one hundred ticks. It was excruciating boring until he saw someone.

Someone in a red space suit crash landing on his craft. It seems that unknown specie fell out from the first stomach, but stood up with a sword in its hand. He knew what was on its hand before it became a red sword. He recognized that particular weapon from seeing it attached to his Father's side.

A bayard. The Paladin's personal weapon.

So, this one is a Paladin. The Red Paladin.

He watched as the Red Paladin sliced up the Weblum's thick veins before holding up his sword straight up and readying to strike.

"Don't move. I'm here to help."

Amusing. It was a male. A young one based on his commanding voice.

No one commands the Prince of Galra Empire of what to do, but he's letting it slide, for now. After all, this one does not seem to know who's he helping. A sly grin formed underneath his helmet as he watched the Red Paladin sliced off the top of his space craft and held out his hand.

The moment he grabbed onto the Red Paladin's outstretch gloved hand and was pulled up slowly, the Red Paladin immediately took his blaster from his side as he was pulled roughly to the side, charged up his blaster and aiming straight at him. Minus of not pulling the trigger, this one didn't seem to hesitate and just kept his position tall and straight with emitting confidence. He could feel the Red Paladin's stare at him behind the helmet.

Not weak as he physically looked.

He wondered what kind of creature is the Red Paladin underneath his space suit. Almost same build and height as himself, he could tell from his outward suited appearance that he was not Galra as they are capable of adapting to harsh environments. This one is completely covered and protected.

"You're Galra."

A quiet chuckle escaped from his lips. He must of saw the Galran Empire symbol on his suit. I'm more than that, Red Paladin.

Of course, the fun had to end when those disgusting jelly-like creatures spotted them and decided to launch its stupid group attack.

Lotor must admit. The Red Paladin was smart to notice his tactic of making his own craft a bomb. What he didn't anticipated on was the Red Paladin activating his shield from his armor and shielded the blast as they both fell into the Weblum's other parts of its stomach.

Even though, the Red Paladin was protecting himself mostly, Lotor knew he was also protecting him.

Foolish, soft-hearted Paladin.

With true Galran instinct, Lotor got up from his fall and ran quickly towards his blaster when the Red Paladin got up and tried to shoot at him. After being flipped over and yanking his weapon back, he aimed his blaster towards the Red Paladin as he raised up his shield up again, but the shots went past him and straight at the three jelly-like creatures behind.

"I guess you can keep your weapon."

He smiled. We're even then.

It wasn't long before they made it the third stomach when another Paladin flew towards them. The big Yellow one.

Without much care, Lotor quietly jetted towards the stomach where the scaultrites would be produced and looked around for any remnant of the sought-after crystals while being amused at two Paladins' conversation behind him. Too amused when the Yellow Paladin thought he was a friend with his partner. The idea amused him greatly and might as well take advantage of it next time. To take down Voltron, one must strike the core.

Voltron's main core? It was their soft-hearted Paladins. Pick them off one by one starting with the Red Paladin.

His thoughts were interrupted when the Paladins made a loud commotion and their weapons out and ready as the Weblum's defense creatures came back for round three. Those things are starting to be very annoying as they were being attacked. Whatever the conversation those two Paladins had, it seemed the Yellow Paladin had an idea and he watched as the big one being sucked out through its hole.

It was just him and the Red Paladin again. Against those annoying creatures. But he doesn't seem to mind as he was enjoying his silent bonding time even though they were in a life and death situation as they waited for the Yellow Paladin to make his move.

The Yellow Paladin must of provoke the Weblum as it was charging up. With his lion. Finding a good hiding spot, both him and the Red Paladin flew into an opening as the Red Paladin raised his shield up again to block the intense heat of the Weblum's deadly ray.

Amused, he decided to take one for himself as the Red Paladin gathered the scaultrites into the space bags.

"So, you're just like the rest of 'em."

He smiled. Close, but I'm not.

Lady luck must been on his side again. He will get to see the Red Paladin again due to his Father's demise.

He'll thank all the Paladins later, but he want to personally give his thanks to the Red Paladin first from his unnecessary confinement.

With an amused smile, he turned away from the window and calmly walked towards the door as if he owned the galaxy around him.

After all, this was the same Paladin who was foolish and stupidly brave to not only take the Red Lion from the Empire after 10,000 years of imprisonment, had the guts to fight with one of Haggar's Druids from one of the Empire's secret Quintessence facilities, and had a serious death wish to battle his Father. All by himself.

He knew those important piece information from his own personal network within the Empire after his return. His curiosity and pride got the best of him.

He will seek out the Red Paladin on his personal accord.

Until then, he has an Empire waiting to be reign glorious once more.

Thank you for reading! 3 Next chapter will be Keith's POV and his piloting of the Black Lion back in Episode 1 of Season 2.