Author's Notes: This is my first fanfic ever and I'm not that great of a writer. I just wrote it and thought "Why not post it?". So here it is. I will add other chapters in due time.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN VOLTRON: LEGENDARY DEFENDER
Chapter 1: Mysterious Adventure Zone
Maz had heard the stories. Who hasn't? You don't become a semi-permanent resident of the Castle of Lions without hearing about every battle. Many aliens come and go as they are rescued from Galra prisons and sent home. But Maz has no home. Her planet was drained of quintessence shortly after her capture. It was a place of bright, vivid colors, but now it's nothing more than a dull, gray piece of rock. She was part of the selected few to be taken while the Galra left the rest of her people to die with their planet. Others that crossed her path would say Maz was a lucky soul. She didn't feel lucky though.
But her situation could have been worse; much worse. She could have been among her people when the quintessence was drained. She could have been a Galra prisoner for longer than a few cycles. Voltron could have not come at all. So Maz didn't dwell on the hardships of her past. Instead she looked to the hardships of her future. Her coping mechanism worked... most of the time.
She did what she could around the ship: helping Simac, head of the extremely small medical team, in the med bay and cleaning guest bedrooms and lounges. That was fine, but Maz's favorite thing to do was learn. Learn how to write code and hack Galra tech. Learn the mechanics of the ancient Altean technology that surrounded her. Learn how to defend herself so she would never be helpless again. Maz didn't have teachers for these things. War never offers such luxuries. Actually, the only ones with the knowledge to further her skills were the Paladins themselves.
What a thrill it would be just to see one pass by, but that was just wishful thinking. The legendary defenders kept to themselves in their part of the castle. Those areas were restricted to all guests. It made sense that the bridge, primary kitchen and dining room, primary lounge, primary training deck, and the Paladin's living quarters would be closed off. Oh, don't forget the huge hangers that housed the lions themselves. Going there didn't even seem possible. The med bay was the only possible area that Paladin and guest might meet. Unfortunately for Maz, if a Paladin or one of the two Alteans needed the mad bay, only the medical team was allowed inside. But those moments were few and far between. The Paladins weren't legends by getting hurt every battle.
She has, however, seen the Altean royal advisor a few times. Was Coran his name? It was easy to spot his bright orange hair and mustache from across the room. The color reminded Maz of the sacred spring fountain back home. She would always go there after a tough day to watch the sun disappear beneath the horizon. Also, by sheer luck, Maz passed Princess Allura in the hallway once. She was speaking to Coran about something Maz didn't catch. She walked with such grace and confidence that Maz almost missed the sadness lingering in her blue eyes. It was surprising to realize how similar her people looked like the Alteans. Even with these few occasions, it was hard to believe that the universe's defenders existed.
Team Voltron was so cautious, it made Maz laugh. Only the medical team really knew what the Paladins looked like. But even they referred to the heroes by color. Maz is convinced that only the Alteans and the Paladins themselves knew their true identities. Many rumors roamed around the ship about why there was such discretion. Personally, Maz believed it was to protect the Paladin's loved ones back on their home world. It made sense to her, but she had no proof.
Maz dreamed of meeting a Paladin of Voltron. Little did she know; the universe was listening.