Chapter 1 Changing of the Guard. I don't own Voltron Legendary Defender, just taking the characters out for a spin.


Maya stepped onto the bridge of the Castle of Lions. Coran stood at his station as Keith's voice came over the com system. "There's nothing out here Coran."

Coran bent his head as he seemed to deflate. "I'm sorry, Keith." The words were spoken gently.

"I'm coming home."

"Home," Maya whispered. Her heart still ached for her home planet on Zenox. She looked up at the viewscreen. They weren't in space but parked on an almost inhospitable looking planet. Probably the best place to be to avoid any Galra activity, that is if there was any since the paladins had ended Zarkon's reign.

She felt her chest squeeze almost as if a hand reached in and clenched her heart. It still hurt, but she was dealing with Shiro's disappearance better since she knew that Keith was still looking for his friend and brother.

Coran turned, "Ah, Maya, you're looking better."

She dropped her head, "I'm sorry I worried everyone."

"No recriminations now. I won't hear of it," the ginger-haired mustachioed Altean replied. "Could I get you to stand watch for me? We have worlds breaking free from the Galra, and I need to tell the princess."

"I can," she replied as she walked over to his position and he hurried off the bridge.

She heard Coran say something to someone as she checked readings which seemed to be normal. She stepped back and sat down in the same spot that Lance had occupied when they went to the Blade of Marmora's base.

She heard the footsteps approach and glanced up as Pidge stood by her. "So, Coran has you babysitting the Castle?"

Maya's eyes grew as a picture of her sitting on a baby flashed in her head, but she thought that wasn't right because there weren't any baby's on board the Castle that is unless they considered her a baby. "What is babysitting?"

Pidge realized her mistake and waved her hands in front of her. "I don't mean actually sitting on a baby, but it's when you watch someone else's baby for them while the parent has to go do something."

"Oh, like what I'm doing now since this castle is sort of like Coran's baby," Maya replied.

"Exactly," Pidge said as she grinned. "But the reason I came up here I was wondering if you could shapeshift into anything else other than animals?"

Maya cocked her head to the side as she gazed at the smallest of the paladins. "What do you mean?"

Pidge took a seat next to Maya. "Well, I'm pretty sure that you felt kind of useless while we were doing the fighting against the Galra and Zarkon." Pidge grimaced as she hated bringing up the fact that Shiro was gone but it would have to be addressed sometime.

She cleared her throat as she continued. "But if you could shapeshift into people that would be cool. You could probably go on some missions with us."

Maya propped her head up on her fist as she considered the Green Paladin's words. "It would be nice instead of being stuck on the Castle of Lions all the time."

Pidge pushed her glasses up her nose as a wicked gleam came to her eye. "Yes and imagine the pranks we could pull. But first I have another idea. Everyone is so down about Shiro—"

Maya frowned as the sadness returned to her eyes.

"I'm sorry," Pidge apologized, "I realize he meant a lot to you. But these guys need a laugh. I thought maybe tonight you could sneak into Coran's room …" her voice lowered as she laid out her plan and brought up information on her wrist gauntlet that she'd downloaded from her laptop showing Maya some pictures.


The following morning, Coran so used to routine dressed for the day but forgo to check his reflection in a mirror. He wondered how Lance and Hunk's mission to Puig had gone, "They should be back by now," he said to himself.

Allura, the Paladins, and Maya were seated in the lounge as Coran entered anxious to hear the report for himself.

Lance glanced up, and he fought hard to keep a straight face but couldn't stop himself when he sniggered.

Pidge looked at him, "What's wrong with you?"

Lance pointed his gloved finger up, she turned around and chuckled, pulled out her cell phone, snapped a picture.

Allura turned in her seat broke out in an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Trying to calm herself after wiping away tears between giggles she managed to get out, "Coran please… take those ridiculous… braids out of your mustache."

This brought Hunk, and Keith's attention to the Altean. They both joined in the laughter as Maya chuckled also.

Pidge winked at her.

Coran reached up and grabbed a braid that hung down off the side of his mouth making him look slightly like a Viking from Earth. His face turned red, "Who's the culprit?" he demanded, but as he saw the amusement in the other's faces, he changed his mind. "It shall only take me a tick."

Allura tried to arrange her formal dress back to normal and turned her attention back to Hunk. She giggled again, took a deep breath, and let it out feeling calmer. "You were saying?" but she couldn't stop the little giggle that followed.

"Well," he said as he went back over what he'd told Allura before Coran's entrance. "The Puigians haven't figured out their flatbread situation, but what they do with those centipedes is just out of this world."

Lance beamed as he added, "And they're totally ready to join the fight against the Galra."

Pidge smiled, "Nice!"

"We brought back a few of their leaders to join the coalition," Hunk added.

Allura clasped her hands to her chest as she smiled brightly. "That's splendid. Excellent work!"

Lance leaned back into the back of the couch with a smug smile on his face, "You know I gotta say, this is what it's all about…" he pulled his phone out and flashed a picture of Lance surrounded by some of the Puigian girls around himself to Pidge.

She glared at the blue paladin in return.

But Lance wasn't paying attention as he continued, "… freein' the people, lovin' the ladies, then bombin' down the road again looking for adventure, Voltron-style."

Hunk looked around as he pressed his fingertips together. "Which brings up a little issue. They all want to see Voltron, only we don't really have Voltron anymore."

Keith crossed his arms over his body. He didn't want to hear any of this about Voltron. "We don't have Shiro anymore. Everyone seems to have forgotten that."

Everyone slumped as sadness returned to their faces.

Allura glanced around then decided to broach the subject which she was positive it would just antagonize Keith more. But it had to be said. "It may be difficult for all of us to accept, but it is time to think about finding a new pilot for the Black Lion."

Shock appeared to varying degrees on everyone's faces. Keith leaned forward. "NO! I'm going to find him." He stood up and added, "Shiro never gave up on me. I'm not giving up on him!" He turned and stormed out of the lounge.

Maya got up and ran after him. "Keith," she called out.

He stopped and turned around. His voice dripped anger as he replied, "What?"

She stopped and considered reaching out to him but in this state, it might not be a good time to approach him, but she plowed through. "I need to try to shapeshift into a person. Could I study you for a little bit?" The skin on her cheeks darkened as she turned away. Her head lowered as she spoke, "You don't have to if you don't want to," it dropped to almost a whisper.

Keith put his hand on her arm. "Only if you prank the goofball."

She lifted her face slightly, "goofball?"

"Lance."

She giggled.


Allura sat at the head of the formal dining room table with Kolivan at the opposite end. The different leaders faced the paladins and Coran. Maya stood behind Allura in her position as a protector. Her armor gleamed under the lights with the burn and scorch marks cleaned and polished away.

As the diplomatic meeting started, she found her mind wandering as she remembered the last time, she wore this armor. She felt the electricity again, and her body shivered. 'Stop it,' she told herself quietly.

Hunk entered bearing his canapés.

As he took his seat, Kolivan stood. As he spoke a star map appeared over the table drawing everyone's attention. Only one planet drew her attention, Zenox, which remained purple.

Allura rose from her seat which caught Maya's attention. "We have a strategy to bring these planets together, free more planets, grow our numbers, and accumulate an army that can defeat the Galra in major battles. But without your help, it will be impossible."

One of the leaders, whose voice bore a robotic semblance spoke.

Maya let out a soft sigh. Would they stop harping about Voltron? She thought as the idea also came to mind that it was tacky to even bring it up. The Puigian leader jumped on the bandwagon wanting to know if the paladins could form Voltron now.

Maya's hands curled into fists. Were they stupid? Of course, they couldn't form Voltron. Oh, how she wanted to throttle the Puigian. How could they do this to Keith, to her? She and Keith were still struggling with their feelings over Shiro's disappearance.

Allura tried to tactfully explain why they couldn't form Voltron when Keith suddenly burst out with, "We can't form Voltron, okay? We can fly the lions, but Voltron is not happening?"

A collective gasp came from the leaders while Maya was torn. Half of her wanted to cheer Keith on while the other half wanted to smack herself in the face with the palm of her hand.

Allura smiled trying to perform damage control, "What he means is that right now they can't do it, but—"

"But nothing," Keith said as he butted in. "Shiro is gone. He was the Black Lion. And until we find him, there is no Voltron."

Kolivan added, "The lions are still a substantial fighting force, and this castle is a considerable weapon. The Blade of Marmora can lead you."

Maya considered what Kolivan said. He made sense. Though she wondered if he felt the sense of loss since Antok's death.

The leader with the robotic voice said, "My people have been enslaved for centuries by soldiers who looked exactly like you."

The Puigian leader jumped in, "Yes! Our people have heard the legend of Voltron, how he defeated Zarkon. That is what gave them all hope. What are we supposed to tell them now?" he asked.

Maya saw and felt the Red Paladins anger and frustration. What is it with these people that they just won't listen to anything anyone has to say.

Keith jumped up and slammed his hand on the table rattling the china. "Tell them to stand up and fight for themselves! Voltron is gone!" He left his place at the table and stormed off.

Maya couldn't agree more with Keith. She'd learned the hard way that you can't always depend on someone else to save you.


Maya found Coran in one of the storage rooms. "Coran, I need some help with something."

The ginger-haired Altean turned to face her, "What is it?" His eyebrow rose as he studied her.

"I need some wax to make a candle."

"Why would you need a candle? The Castle provides us with all the light we need."

Her voice quavered as she swallowed hard. "I-It's for a ritual. To say a prayer for Shiro," she said as she wiped the tear away that leaked from one of her eyes.

"I'll check the ship's stores," he said gently as he gave her a comforting pat on the shoulder.

She nodded then left to search for Keith.


She found him and everyone else in the Black Lion's hangar. Everyone made their Lance their spokesman.

He sighed as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and stepped up to stand beside Keith. "Hey, man. Listen… we all miss Shiro. I remember the first time when the two of us carried him out of that garrison hospital."

Pidge and Hunk stepped up to join their teammates. "I remember dad and Matt telling me stories about him. He was a legend in our house," she said.

Hunk added, "The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot. Which isn't much, but that's on me."

Maya stepped up to join them. "He taught me that you all are my family." Her chest still ached, but not as hard as earlier.

Lance turned to Keith, "You're not the only one hurting, man. We're all right there with you. But you know that he would be the first one to tell us that we have to move on."

Keith turned to stare at Lance. Maya stood ready as she felt Keith's intention.

Allura defused the situation quickly. "Keith, I know exactly how you feel. But our mission is bigger than any one individual. Even those who are completely irreplaceable."

He turned his head away as he gazed at the deck. "I know your right." He closed his eyes and for the first time showed that he might have the mettle for the mantle of leadership. "It's time to figure out how to form Voltron."

Maya felt pressure in her head as she stared at the Black Lion. She tried to focus, but the pain increased. Was it Viho trying to tell her something? She closed her eyes and blocked it as much as she could. She didn't have time to sort through this until after they got the Black Lion on his feet again.

She turned and followed the others out of the hangar.