Awakening

Peace. The world wasn't white, the absence of color, but black, the combination of all the colors. There was balance and unity. Darkness didn't mean evil, but serenity. There wasn't emptiness, but completeness and what filled that space in the dark was a conscience. Able to create thoughts, think and wonder about the stability and tranquility of the world around it. Drifting and wavering in the dark, thoughts came and went without any memory.

There was no feeling other than the calm peace, which caused the conscience to let go and allow the calmness to consume its being, but a new thought swept over it. Why? New to the thought and idea, the conscience struggled to find the words to describe the thought.

Then suddenly, the thought was gone, fleeting like the others before and unable to remember what it was. Darkness rapidly grewing until the thought returned. Why? Lasting longer than before, but ending the same way.

Something was different though and when the thought returned the conscience recognized it and recalled it. The darkness wasn't as thick and the conscience's awareness overpowered it.

More thoughts came together and the conscience was able to find the word. Curiosity. The idea wasn't new just like recalling the thought, but familiar. The conscience remembered this thought and slowly began to recount others. Where? When? The conscience understood these thoughts but didn't know the words. The conscience's thoughts grew but without understanding. Although familiar there was something missing, the ideas and ability to think wasn't enough, but the conscience wasn't able to grasp what it was.

Consumed by curiosity, the conscience was no longer satisfied and content. The world began to shift and the blanket of darkness no longer snuggly and warm, but restricting and uncomfortable.

Once again the word escaped the conscience until it just clicked. Feeling. That was what was happening. The idea was new but familiar. The conscience had been lost in the endless calm darkness that there wasn't anything else until now.

The conscience's knowledge, memory, and awareness increased alarmingly fast when another thought crossed its mind, but different than before because this thought carried with it an emotion, but one that was not positive and warm like the world. Who? Unable to find the words to elaborate wasn't new, but for the first time, there was uncertainty.

The thought didn't disappear like earlier but lingered. The conscience's curiosity kept the thought from never fully going away. Who? The thought remained, circling overhead and the conscience desperately wanted to give an answer. Why? The thoughts went hand in hand, but there was still no explanation.

The more focus placed on the thought the closer the conscience got. He? That was right. The answer came from out of nowhere. The first question ever asked or defined something. I'm a he. His thoughts shifted to adjust to the proper tense and knowledge, that he was a thing and conscience.

Why? The thought seemed important, but he didn't understand. Part of him still clung to the darkness and didn't want to understand, but the thoughts continued to pop up.

A new word emerged. Reason. The world around him seemed to shy away. His thoughts seemed even clearer. That's why. Reason. He needed to know. The reason was because he was curious. Everything seemed to fit together. It was so natural and familiar but at the same time a struggle.

Why? Why? Why? The question seemed to burn in his mind one realization after another and the answers drained him. The answer never came easy but needed to be dragged out from the darkness, which slowly grew farther and farther away.

Tired and needing the peace the darkness had provided he fled to it. Wrapping himself in the warmth and letting the thoughts drift away, but it wasn't the same. He was something and remembered that. He knew that so long as he remembered and could reason there would always be another feeling and no amount of peace, serenity or tranquility could stop him. He would always have the desire to know more.

Thoughts continued to come to him and he would reason and learn more each time until eventually, the darkness began to fade away replaced by light. His curiosity drew him closer.

He felt the familiar sense of opening his eyes, but his eyelids didn't open. The slow stream of light flooded into his mind until he was blinded by it. In the darkness, there had been nothing and everything all compacted together, but as the light softened there were shapes, colors, and dimensions around him.

He felt like he needed to blink, but couldn't the light grew stronger and he was able to recognize he was in a room. It felt familiar but smaller than he remembered or maybe he was taller.

Across from him, he saw a separate device that's structure didn't quite blend in with the plain walls. The object seemed separated from the layout. He noticed in his peripheral vision that there were an additional three other structures, but he couldn't recall their name. Each was slightly different in size and appearance, but his mind struggled to find words to describe it.

He tried to move to see farther to his side but realized he couldn't move. He became more frustrated with the situation. What am I? He was certain he knew this answer, but in the light, he had changed. He wasn't just something. He tried to reason further as he looked at the structures. I'm the same. He became convinced it was the truth, but it felt wrong. He wasn't a structure there was another word. An object. The thought seemed closer, but not quite right. His thoughts got stuck on the word, object, and he repeated it over and over thinking a new thought or word would come to mind. Surprisingly it did. Body. It was the closest he could get. I am a body. Uncertain on what it meant, but satisfied with the answer to the original thought.

Like he realized before, once one thought was satisfied another quickly replaced it. This time his thought was different, there was no question in it. He was certain and the thought told him he should be able to move. He tried again but wasn't able to. Why? He searched for an explanation to supply his thoughts and realized his body felt heavy. He tried to fight against it, but his body still wouldn't move.

A new word entered his mind. Doubt. Thoughts flooded his mind all telling him that he was wrong. He wasn't able to move. He wasn't an object or a structure. He wasn't something. He was nothing.

He didn't understand and felt more confused than anything. The more he thought one thing the more convinced he became of another. He felt his mind adjusting to the new situation, but he couldn't remember the old. The more he tried the farther he grew.

He tried to remember the questions and his previous reasoning but couldn't. He became convinced that he was overall wrong. The words sounded familiar but every time he got close to the meaning the thought drifted away. He thought if he was truly nothing and knew nothing there wasn't a point. But he could reason and feel and a whole new question opened up. How? How did he feel or even know he was wrong?

He began to contemplate the idea. His list started with; able to think and reason, but he wasn't sure what he was trying to accomplish. He decided it didn't matter so long as he could give the question a reason. However, the extent of the list ended in those two points and he didn't think being able to reason was a go enough reason. His mind started to hurt and he wanted to retreat into the darkness again, but at the same time, he didn't want to leave the light.

He wanted to know more and didn't know where to begin. He wouldn't leave until he was convinced he would come back. The light slowly receded whether he wanted it to or not until the room was gone and he returned to before, but it wasn't the same but more grey, an attempt at a more middle ground between the light and dark.

He wasn't satisfied with either because it wasn't what he wanted. He was getting used to the idea and experience of new feelings, but this one seemed different it was stronger and felt the most familiar. It wasn't just a thought, but a current that swept over him. Rage.

He couldn't do anything. He was nothing. There wasn't a point. He tried to reason with the negative thoughts that bombarded him, but he couldn't. Useless!

The thought didn't come from him but echoed through him. The light appeared in the distance and once again grew brighter until it consumed him and he was back in the familiar room.

The room was fuller than before. On the floor were smaller objects and they were moving. This was a waste of time. He heard the voice again and searched the room for its origin. He noticed all the objects were facing another who was wrapped around strands of cords, which stretched towards him and the other matching structures.

He observed the objects trying to determine what it actually was. The movements, body, and appearance looked so familiar. He felt the answer was staring at him, but he couldn't name it.

The object stood up and went to a stand. A light appeared and it seemed to reflect some kind of text and the object was doing something with it. Suddenly there was a slam and the object yelled, "Quiznak!" He chuckled remembering he had said that before or at least he had thought he did. He drew his focus closer to the object taking in the white top and dark body. Another object moved behind with an orange top and light body. He watched the white top push the orange top away and bend over the stand.

His attention was drawn to the white top. It stirred something inside of him and he felt the rage continue, but also something else. It was similar to knowing there was something missing, but stronger. He understood that there wasn't only something missing but whatever it was could never be found. It was knowing that what he wanted was never possible. He didn't understand the reason, but his curiosity peeked with his new intense feelings being connected to this new object.

He watched as the white top moved towards another structure this one had black trim. The object spoke, but the voice was muffled. He heard more of a rumble, but slowly he was able to interoperate the noise. "Why did he do this? What was the point?" The questions were the same as what he had asked and he realized that he and this object were the same. He wasn't all that convinced, but if they weren't the same they were at least. Similar.

He liked the sound of that, and with the growing force of his feeling of rage and desire, he moved even closer towards the object. He watched him touch the black structure and felt himself erupt. Why? He didn't reason for an answer. He didn't want one. He wanted the object to notice him. He wanted this similar body to recognize him and help him understand. He called out and a loud rumble echoed through the room.

The room full of objects turned to look up at him, but he only saw the white top object, who finally saw him. The object stood frozen, staring at him. He stared back trying to understand their connection and suddenly he knew the word. What the object was what he understood himself to be or have been. Person.

Roughly ten thousand years later, Radar lounged in his subconscious plain. It was what they had decided to call it. Each of the lions had one and reflected their Paladin's ideal place of peace. He remembered Alfor's to be the riverside on Altea with the soft green grass and hills, but Keith's was completely different. The ground was dry and dusty, but warm. The sun shone down brightly almost blinding and the whole area was a mixture of red, orange, and brown colors, except for the small brown house and a single tree in the back.

It had taken many years learning from Alfor, his first Paladin, to understand his situation and the question of who and what he was. The knowledge came with a price and it caused a lot of disagreements and arguments and eventually contributed to not only Alfor's downfall but the other Paladins as well. The hardest part out of all of it, though, was the Lions inability to communicate with their Paladins. Now they seemed to have the opposite effect. That time had seemed short and insignificant to the time he had spent with Keith. Knowing himself wasn't enough, he was finally able to communicate with his Paladin more than ever before, but although he could reach out, the young Paladins ability to understand was a different matter.

Radar rolled on his back rubbing his head in the earth trying to scratch behind his ears. His form wasn't something new. When he was able to understand that he was one of the five Lions of Voltron he became able to replicate the image with his Paladins unknowing assistance, of what he looked like. Like the plain, which was created from the Paladins subconscious, Radar's Lion form also resided in the memory of the Paladin, but unlike the real world, Radar was able to move more freely without using is quintessence.

Radar rolled over facing the front of the house. His head lay touching the ground, but eyes met the second-floor windows. A gateway opened up and the Yellow Lion came through. The gateway bent the subconscious reality to allow another Lion to pass through so long as they were in close proximity of each other.

"I'm not in the mood Lux," Radar said dragging his head along the ground as he turned in the opposite direction of the Yellow Lion.

"Hey, don't shoot the messenger. Therron is asking everyone to meet with him."

"Then he can come tell me what he wants to my face."

"I think that's the point of the meeting."

Radar stood up on all fours and with his head hung low he padded towards Lux. Radar was smaller then Lux, he was the smallest out of all the Lions and that bugged him. Even Sorrel was taller then him and that brat was half his size in real life. His younger sister was slightly taller than him as well. Lux liked to tease him and say, "You already look down on everyone, why encourage it and give you the height to help you do it." Radar had brushed it off then but knew that part of the reason the black lion was the largest had something to do with Therron's large ego.

As Radar passed Lux he said, "The reason for the meeting is most likely so I don't kill him." Radar didn't wait for a response as he went through the gateway crossing into Therron's plain.

He expected to see the deep space, which reflected a mirror image of itself. Radar did not only know the reason but could feel it. Lost. Space was so huge and aimless that it reminded him of the darkness that surrounded him in the beginning. However, the reflective image was to establish the two sides. Therron had struggled for over a month to determine where his loyalties lay only to realize too late. The Lion's had changed nothing and failed their Paladins once again.

However, when Radar crossed the barrier it wasn't the two-sided space, but the hangar. It was the same hangar where they had first met the original Paladins, the one that Radar had been thinking about when he first awoke. He had been right. They were back at the beginning once more.

Radar lowered his head farther and crept into the room. Waverly was already there and she rushed to his side rubbing her head against his side. Radar returned her affection and held her close while they waited for the others. Therron didn't say anything but laid down with his head resting on top of his paws.

The gateway opened and Lux came through carrying Sorrel by the nape. He was struggling and complaining as they entered the room. "This isn't my problem. I don't want to listen to the two of them argue. Why can't you all keep me out of it? I did what I was told." Radar and Therron both lowered their eyes.

Lux let the Green Lion go, but placed his paw on Sorrel's green tail and extended his claw to keep him from running away.

"Lion's assembled," Lux said, exhausted.

They were all tired. It was the day after their big battle against Zarkon. The dark magic had sucked their energy and it took the last remaining combined strength in Sorrel, Lux, and Radar to share with their Paladins the memory of Therron's stepping down to get them to accept that Shiro was gone. Their attempt had failed because the stubborn, hotheaded, Red Paladin refused to give up. Radar admired the kid's conviction, but it didn't change the situation it put the Lions in.

They were at a standstill and too weak to communicate. Radar was convinced that communicating wasn't going to help, but doing nothing hadn't proved to work either with Keith's plan to place himself back in danger alone to search for Shiro. Radar didn't care, but the others all seemed to disagree with this plan.

"Thank you, Lux." Therron finally said. He didn't make eye contact but continued to observe his paws as he spoke. "The reason I called this meeting is to discuss the current situation. My connection to Zarkon has permanently been severed."

"It's about damn time," Radar mumbled to himself.

Waverly snuggled closer, purring to cover up his voice.

"My connection with Shiro has also been severed." There was a long pause as the Lions let the possibilities for what that meant sink in. They waited for Therron to elaborate, but he never did. "If we are to continue we need to focus on moving forward and not looking back, which means I'm going to need a new Paladin."

"Great, let us know when you find someone," Radar snarled. He didn't believe Therron didn't know where Shiro was. He could understand that the link was severed, but Radar knew the Black Paladin couldn't have disappeared without Therron's help.

"I have found someone, Radar," Therron said. He continued to stare at his paws, but when Radar didn't press him for an answer Therron took a deep breath and raised his head towards Radar. "I want Keith to be my new Paladin."

"Well, that's nice." Radar stood up pushing Waverly off.

"Radar," Waverly said sympathetically like always she was trying to manage him and keep him from lashing out.

"It's not happening!" Radar snapped back.

"Ugh!" Sorrel sagged to the floor covering his ears with his paws.

Lux still held the Green Lion's tail between his claws as he watched the argument form.

"This isn't a request, Radar."

"Well, I'm getting really tired of your orders." Radar's claws dug into the floor. It was his last attempt at holding himself back. "It's not your call to make. It's Keith's choice whether he wants to leave and I'm not letting him go unless he decides he wants to leave."

"Shiro wanted him to be the leader."

"And Alfor wanted Zarkon. Just because someone wants something, doesn't mean they should get it!"

"This is different," Therron growled standing up to tower over Radar.

However, he refused to back down. "Well like you said, Shiro isn't here. So his say doesn't count."

"Then I will get Keith to leave on his own."

"I would like to see you try." Radar stepped forward, but Lux jumped in between the two.

"That's enough both of you."

"Stay out of this, Lux." Radar and Therron said together.

Surprised, Lux stepped back. Waverly crept around to his side and pawed at his shoulder wondering why he would let them continue, but the Yellow Lion just shook his head.

Radar's attention turned back towards Therron. "My connection with Keith is stronger than anyone else's. It only continues to grow and the rest of you should try to do the same. Maybe then there won't be cause to worry about them changing sides and if they did there wouldn't be any problem recognizing it and preventing any hesitate to end it at the start."

Therron growled. "And what are you doing."

"I'm protecting a good Paladin. I'm not going to give him to you to corrupt. Like the others." Radar turned away to return to his own plain.

Before Radar could leave, Therron yelled, "Because experiencing a horrific death is the better alternative."

Radar wanted to fight back, but tonight he was too tired. He returned to the desert and slumped down in the warm earth. He wouldn't allow Therron to take Keith away. He was his Paladin and Radar made a promise that he would protect him and defend him until the end. He owed his mother that much.

Kestle:

Hey, Y'all! Here is the promised first chapter of Voltron: Lion Origins. I thought it sounded better than Voltron: Origins Lions.

I hope the beginning wasn't too hard to follow:( It was hard to write. If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

I hoped you liked it. I got it done really fast because I was inspired by the comments on Voltron: Origins.

So please don't forget to comment they really do help me write faster :)

My next post will be for Voltron: Origins

Like I said in the previous chapter, I will be alternating between the two until they connect.

Until next time,

Thanks for Reading :)