YOOOOO GUESS WHO ACTUALLY WROTE THE SECOND CHAPTER
I know it's only been like fifteen hours since the last upload but eh have it.
WARNING: I haven't proof-read this bc I'm a scrub so be prepared for mistakes. If I complete this fic or if enough people like it, I might go back and edit it all later.
A year ago, Pidge had imagined tropical planets, ice worlds, the average sci-fi movie stuff. Not once had something like this crossed her mind.
As if the last sequence had been an activation code, the ground beneath them shuddered, creaking and squeaking and morphing. Like trap-doors, the tops of the pillars, every pillar, unfolded, resembling the reverse-engineering of origami boxes, opening up to uncover-
"Is that a city?!" Pidge gasped, practically bouncing in her seat, watching with eyes as round as her glasses as through the tops of the columns rose platforms of old, Earth-like houses, with slate roofs and red brick, of larger squares the base of sky-scrapers, and others of green grass, of forests and farmland. "No way…" She could have cried at its beauty. An entire world, suspended on platforms. It was surreal.
The control panel flashed.
"We're receiving a call." Pidge announced, watching the graphic appear on her screen.
"Take it."
At Shiro's approval, she leant forward and pressed the accept button on the dashboard and a visual appeared before them. They were tall, imposing, their identity hidden behind a geometric mask, shining black like the pillars and obscuring any expression.
"Greetings, Voltron." Though their posture was stiff and language was formal, the voice behind the mask was actually rather excitable. "Welcome to our camp."
"A bit more than a camp…" Pidge observed.
"Put me through." Shiro muttered and she nodded, flicking the switch to make the connection mutual. "Hello there." His tone was even, diplomatic. These people knew they were Voltron, meaning they were probably the reason for the failed engines. "It seems we were expected."
"Anticipated, but not expected." The smile could be heard from under the mask, "Your arrival is being celebrated as we speak. We have found your signal and are sending you coordinates now."
On cue, the cockpit beeped and a map pulled up on the screen, a destination point flashing a few hundred metres to their left.
"That's an area where you can land your lion. I will meet you inside the Mirror." And they were gone.
"…What?" Pidge grumbled, "Did you guys hear that?"
"Yeah, that's definitely a trap." Lance concluded.
"Coran, have you found any info on this planet yet?" Inquired Shiro.
"No. We've never been in this galaxy before – you're on your own, I'm afraid."
"Okay." The Black Paladin sounded confident, "Well, we've come this far. I say we land, but if anything seems anyway out of the ordinary, we leave. Does that sound okay?"
"Yep," Pidge agreed, leaning across the control panel to press a few more buttons, "I'll keep the line to the Castle open so Coran and Lance can watch the lion. If anyone goes anywhere near her, let us know, okay?"
"We've got you, Pidge, don't worry." Lance assured her.
"Great." Shiro said, confident. "Take us in."
The 'landing zone' was a courtyard, one you'd expect to find in fancy English mansions on Earth, with bright, bushy trees and a lawn dusted in something akin to blue cherry blossoms. It was in a lower column, burrowed amongst shards of black stone, and had an odd feeling of safe seclusion.
When the Green Lion landed, it wasn't really a massive shock to the two paladins that a group was waiting for them. It wasn't a crowd – there were too little people for that, and it was obvious, even with their masks on, that each was a different species. There were impossibly tall, thin creatures stood next to dumpy little men, ones with ten arms and others with four legs.
Gathering her breath, Pidge got out of her seat, turning to Shiro, who nodded at her. Okay.
Stepping onto alien soil was always something Pidge took the care to notice, and never had she been more aware of it. The grass was just that little bit too flat.
The courtyard was dark, cut off from the setting sun splurging purple across the sky, and the paladins neared the greeting party – five people, as Pidge now counted, all wearing masks. They were geometric, but different colours and shapes. Interesting.
"Hello there, Voltron!" A very short, young little girl with plaits as long as her full height peeped, standing to attention and whipping up a salute.
"Oh, um-" Shiro stumbled his words as the other four did the same, "Thank you for inviting us in."
"It is our pleasure! Though, if it's okay, why are there only two of you?" The little girl lowered the salute and cocked her head, "There is a reason you have come here. Can we assist?"
Pidge felt uncomfortable. This girl's language just wasn't right – one moment she spoke like a child, the next she would seem like a perfectly fluent adult.
"One of our engines have failed. We've been stuck above your planet for a few days now." Shiro explained briefly.
"You come for our assistance?" That tall, thin person spoke.
"Well, that and-"
"Nah, mate, we'd be honor'd!" A knobbly old, green-scaled woman chattered, "To help the legendary Voltron-"
"Anythin'!" The dumpy man bounced up and down, "Say anythin' a' all an' yer've got yerself anythin' ya need!"
"Oh." Shiro peeped, obviously rather taken-aback, though it wasn't long before he rearranged himself, "Well that's very kind of you, thank you."
"Where's the guy we spoke to?" Pidge jumped straight to the point. Though she was coming round to believe this place wasn't dangerous, there were a lot of questions left unanswered.
"Inside the mirror." The one with four legs pointed behind them with their toes. Oh.
That was certainly a mirror. The back of the courtyard was bordered by one massive wall, a perfect reflection, and the group had begun to move toward it. But… there was no door?
"Come with us, we'll show you to them! They are the overseer for this week!" The little girl sprung ahead, leading the paladins to the mirror.
"'This week'?" Pidge questioned.
"Yeh!" The old lady nodded vigorously, so hard her mask looked in danger of falling off. "We all take turns of being in charge, keeps everythin' equal, ya know."
"Yes, if being in Galra captivity taught us anything," The tall man rumbled, "it's that equality is something we must strive to preserve. It's our freedom."
"Galra?" Shiro caught up with the man, almost jogging to keep up with his long strides, "You were prisoners?"
"Well waddyer thin' we are? We' a refugee camp." The dumpy man stated.
"Oh?"
"It's a very nice camp." Pidge interjected.
"We were lucky." Four legged person explained in a grave tone, "We found this planet when we were getting low on fuel. Perfect defence system, perfect resources, just everything we needed."
"Other people, unfortunately," The little girl stopped, her shoulder millimetres from the mirror. "well, they don't get is as easy as us, that we know." And, without a pause, she lifted a small, delicate hand and pressed it to the surface. Woa.
As if disturbing… not water, but a thin film of plastic, the mirror wobbled from her touch, spreading and spreading until her whole arm had been sucked inside. With a smile, she let it take her.
"Um… Shiro?" Pidge stepped back apprehensively. "I don't know if I like the look of that."
But as the others of the group all stepped inside, Shiro placed a hand on her shoulder, and suddenly her freak discomfort melted away, "Don't worry, Pidge, I won't let go."
And they stepped through.
I don't know what's in there either yet.
Btw don't be shy to leave a review, whether positive or negative. Thanks!
See you next chapter~~~