Greetings, reader! I am working on the next story in the series, but I've had this scene running through my head for some time now, and I thought it fit best here, as yet another 'Bonus Scene'.

This is set just a few hours after the chapter 'Friends Can Be Family Too' and the evening before the Bonus Scene 'Waterbending Isn't Always Easy.'

Consider it a small gift to you awesome readers while you wait so patiently for the next installment of 'Lost Paladins'. :-) Let me know what you think! ;-)

Keith fell asleep still holding onto the tablet. Pidge couldn't hold back a smile as she and others tiptoed out of the infirmary room.

Aurelis had insisted that once his patient fell asleep, they had to let him get some rest.

"You can come back later," the healer told them, "but for now, I think it's best if you all go and - and get some exercise, or something - if you spend too much time in there, you'll just get restless-"

Allura glanced around at the remaining Paladins and clapped her hands together.

"I have an idea," she said. "Why don't we go and visit your Lions? I'm sure they've missed you-"

Lance perked up at that. He elbowed Hunk in the side excitedly.

"We totally should - it feels like it's been forever since I saw Blue - and I know Yellow's missed you, big guy - "

Hunk pointed at his friend's bandaged hands, concern crossing his friendly face. "Dude, what about your - "

Lance shrugged airily, taking on an unconcerned air. "Hey, I'm not going to fly Blue - yet - but I'd love to see her - come on, it'll be fun!"

Pidge shifted from one foot to the other. "I'm pretty sure Green will be going stir-crazy," she said. "I'd really better get back to him." Her eyes suddenly sparkled with interest. "Hey! I might even have another tablet there - that way Keith can keep the other one -"

As she kept talking, they all started down the various tunnels.

I am so bored! Green sighed, almost sounding like he was whining. Black, can't we do something already?!

Our Paladins will come to us in due time, Black told her. All we have to do is wait.

We waited for over ten thousand years, Red snarled. My Paladin is badly injured - I wish I could go to him -

He will be all right, Gold said soothingly, in an attempt to reassure Red. He already is receiving treatment, and he will be back to his old self in hardly any time at all.

It matters not, Red snarled. He should never have undergone such risk - not without me at his side -

Blue sighed and interjected. Red, you cannot pretend that it is not in his nature to act as he did -

Black knew that Blue and Red hardly ever agreed on anything, but Black thought that this time, something about Blue's disagreement was different. Blue's tone was soothing, almost gentle, not harsh or accusing.

Red snarled again, but it was a sound of pain and sadness. Of course it was in his nature to protect the child - but - why must my pilot suffer so?!

Black sensed Gold wished he could comfort Red, but they were still separated by distance, and all Gold could do was purr in sympathy.

Red snarled in anger and frustration. I wish that at the very least, they had brought Jenick to me. I would have made him curse the instant he decided to harm my pilot!

We understand, Black assured him, but my Paladin has already ended Jenick's life - and if we were to lay waste to this planet, how would we be different from those we fight?

I do not wish to lay waste to this planet, Red snarled. I merely wish to take my pilot away from these horrible tunnels, back to the Castle, where it is safe!

Green sighed as he answered. Red, you cannot reach him - and even if you could, he needs to finish healing before he can leave this planet. We've been over this before.

I could reach him if I burn my way through to where he is, Red snarled. At the rage in his voice, Black raised her head in sudden unease. She'd seen what Red could do when he was angry. It was not the sort of thing you wanted to unleash on a populated planet - especially one whose inhabitants lived underground.

Black still sat upon the planet's surface, while the other Lions waited in caves nearby. They had been communicating through thought while the various events of the past few days had unfolded.

Red, she said, but it was not a condemning sort of growl - more one of gentle firmness and sympathy. Believe me when I say I understand exactly how you feel. But your Paladin told you once before not to burn this planet. You would put innocents in harms way if you did.

I know all that, Red said. He sounded tired now, drained. It was somehow worse than the anger he'd shown before.

- but - Black - I felt - I felt his fear and pain - and I - I couldn't help him.

At those words, each Lion fell silent, their mental communications ceasing for a time. Old pain, old grief, old memories were sometimes too strong for words. It was a few moments before Red spoke again.

I cannot lose a Paladin again. Not that way. Please, Black. Try to understand.

I do, Red, Black said, and her voice was very quiet. I do. Remember, I lost my Paladin as well.

Although Black's bond with Zarkon was broken now, fully and truly shattered beyond any semblance of repair, the hurt and pain of the loss was still as fresh as the day he had chosen to ally himself with the witch who claimed power at the cost of others. In some ways, the pain of that betrayal cut deeper than the death of her Paladin could have.

The other Paladins had only been separated from their Lions by death. After they had hid their Lions and joined King Alfor in fighting the Galra Empire, none had survived. Each had fallen, and their Lions had known exactly when and how each of their pilots had died.

It had been the Red Paladin's warning of Zarkon's betrayal that allowed King Alfor to secure Black inside the Castle of Lions. He had paid dearly for his action. After days of torture, he died without revealing the location of his Lion.

The Green Paladin had fallen defending Altean refugees as the Galra destroyed the planets in that solar system. She managed to shoot down enough fighters to allow the majority of refugees to escape, but her battleship been caught in the blast radius when Zarkon destroyed the Altean space ports.

The Blue Paladin and Yellow Paladin had been the last to fall, battling back to back against the Druids. They had fought fiercely, destroying many devices of torment and torture before they died. Neither had been taken alive by the witch.

While the Lions loved their new Paladins deeply, the ancient losses still echoed in their hearts. Sometimes, love cut more deeply than any weapon ever could. Caring for others always carried that risk, but even so, it was worth it. Valuing the lives of others was both strength and weakness at the same time, which baffled and enraged those who only desired to rule and be feared.

Black thought perhaps that was why Haggar hated Shiro so fiercely, why she had tried to completely unmake him. But regardless of what she did, the witch had been unable to turn him into her Champion.

Black half-smiled to herself. She loved her pilot all the more fiercely for that stubbornness, that iron will, that refusal to become as cold and heartless as the witch who'd tormented him. It was a matter of personal opinion, of course - but Black did consider her Paladin to be quite exceptional.

Black... Red said, and a sense of unease in his voice made Black raise her head again, even as she answered.

Yes, Red?

Why - why is your Paladin coming to see me with the Princess?

If she'd been a normal lion, Black would have blinked. I imagine - I imagine he wanted to see how you are doing, Red - while your pilot undergoes healing.

Even as she said it to Red, Black sensed it was the truth. Privately, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Keith was going to be all right. For a moment, Black had thought that perhaps - but no. No, that possibility did not bear thinking about. Red would not admit to pain easily, but the death of his Paladin under torture a second time would completely shatter his heart, and Black thought that it would be a blow that her old friend might never fully recover from.

She sensed her Paladin speaking to the Princess, and then both of them turned their full attention to Red. Just then, Black felt a sudden gladness come over Green, and Blue, and then Gold's spirits also rose.

My pilot! The three Lions said together, and Black sensed that their Paladins had each come to visit their Lions.

Black put her head down on her front paws again, wishing Shiro was with her, but she did not begrudge Red the company. While her Paladin had been injured, Coran had come to the surface and had let her know of her Paladin's condition.

It had been the only thing that had kept Black from attempting to shape-shift into a smaller size and going into the tunnels herself, to find her Paladin and keep watch over him as he healed. But of course, she had needed her Pilot to accomplish that feat before. With Shiro deep in cyro-sleep, it had been outside of her ability to accomplish - no matter how much she wished otherwise.

Black felt a growling chuckle rise in her own throat as she realized that she was - perhaps - just a bit of a hypocrite. In more than one way, she and Red were very, very much alike.

Well, I wouldn't have burned through the tunnels, she told herself. I would just - well - hmm - what would I have done? I suppose lightning would have been…just as harmful…

She sighed to herself. It wasn't easy being the Head of Voltron.

But at least she wasn't alone anymore. Even though her Paladin was not with her at this moment, he soon would come to her.

Indeed, a short time later, Black sensed her pilot approach. She purred in welcome as he came and laid his left hand on her front paw.

Takashi, she said. I missed you.

"I'm sorry it took me so long," her pilot said. He sounded - tired. Black immediately grew concerned.

My pilot, what is wrong? Are you injured?

"No, Black - I - I just - "

Black realized what was on her pilot's mind, why he had come to see her before returning to the tunnels with the other Paladins.

Ah. Jenick.

Whenher pilot spoke again, his voice wasn't very loud. "Yeah."

You did what had to be done - he had to be stopped before -

"Black - that's not really what was going through my mind - I - I wanted to kill him. I wanted to kill him from the minute I found out how badly he'd hurt my friend. The fight felt like it was just an excuse - the whole time, I wanted to kill him."

Shiro broke off, seeming to search for the right words before he spoke again. "...what does that make me, Black?"

Black thought about her response for a few moments, then answered her pilot with a low purr.

It makes you human.

Shiro let out an almost bitter laugh. "Given what humans can be capable of, Black..that's…not entirely reassuring."

Black knew her pilot felt pain, but it was not the sort of pain that came through physical injury.

My pilot, she said, and she made sure she kept her voice very warm and comforting. You made the right choice. You did nothing wrong.

Shiro looked away from her before he answered.

"He called me a monster, Black - right before he - "

Black growled in denial at Jenick's words. He could only see the ugliness in the world. He refused to see anything else, even at the end. You are nothing like him, my pilot.

Shiro let out another short laugh, but it more out of exhaustion than anything else.

"Sometimes I'm not so sure," he said. Black reached down and gently nuzzled his hair.

He let his anger rule him, and he was willing to harm others to attain his goals. You do not do these things. You are nothing like him, Takashi.

Black saw Shiro raise his eyes to meet hers, and she saw that he was tired, and drained, and sad. It wasn't just Jenick's death that was on his mind.

"Black…it's not just that…I found out that…uh…"

That the witch Haggar is related to your friend?

Shiro seemed to have trouble finding words for a moment, but when he spoke again, it was very, very quietly.

"Did…did you know? Or guess?"

Black sensed only weary exhaustion behind the words. She nuzzled Shiro's hair again as she answered him.

I did not know until Red confided in me earlier today. But it does not surprise me. The Red Paladin located Blue, after all.

Shiro closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against her giant muzzle, and his next words were almost inaudible.

"I don't blame him," he said, and Black could tell he spoke truth. "I don't hold it against him. It's just…Black…sometimes…sometimes it feels like wherever I go, the witch is there - or at least her shadow is."

Black half-growled in gentle disagreement.

Nonsense, my pilot. She is no more powerful than any other being.

Shiro half-laughed, but it was a short sound, and it was bitter once more.

"Are we still talking about the same witch?"

Black knew Shiro was tired, and that the fight with Jenick had cost him dearly. So instead of going into a long explanation, she just let out a comforting purr.

Takashi, she said, and at the sound of his name, he opened his eyes and looked into hers.

In the end, Haggar is nothing more than a witch who is extremely talented in causing pain.

Black saw her Paladin blink in confusion, and she clarified her meaning with another soothing purr.

You are more than what she ever will be.

Shiro gave her a look that wasn't completely disbelieving, but it was close. Black felt a faint but fond frustration rise inside her heart, and she nuzzled her Paladin again.

Takashi, she purred again, surely you must believe me. The witch -

"-is no one anyone should have to encounter," Shiro said, and his voice, though still low, was passionate and fierce.

Black felt sadness at seeing once again how deeply Haggar had wounded her Paladin.

My pilot, she said, I only wish you could see what I see whenever I look at you.

Shiro's mouth curled into a half-smile, but there was no bitterness in his voice when he spoke, just wry humor. "A man who doesn't know what year it is?"

Black rumbled a low, deep, gentle laugh. Her pilot's ability to laugh at himself was something she loved about him.

Well, I was thinking something far more complimentary…but if you would like to know which year it is, I could tell you…

"No thanks," Shiro said, keeping his face completely straight. "I already feel old - I don't want to find out I'm actually fifty or something - "

She nudged him in the chest, barely moving her head at all, but she still almost knocked Shiro off balance. He had to stagger a few steps to one side, and he laughed as he regained his balance. This time, the laugh was genuine.

"We're pretty strange, aren't we?"

Black chuckled. No more than any of the others.

Shiro looked up at her again. "Can you feel the others, Black? How's Red doing?"

Black twitched her tail in genuine affection. Her pilot always thought of others before himself. Sometimes she wished she could be smaller, just so she could curl around him in what the other humans called a 'hug'.

Black chuckled to herself before she answered her Paladin. Now she was sounding like Gold.

Red is impatient to be reunited with Keith, she said. But he has not set the tunnels on fire - yet - so -

Shiro winced at that, looked away for a few seconds. Black knew he was remembering what had happened earlier that day. Red had told her of his Paladin's confusion and fear, and how the Blue Paladin had helped save Keith's life.

Oh, Takashi, she sighed, and she nuzzled his hair again. Keith's pain is not your fault. You killed the man responsible, and you were right to do so.

Shiro sighed then, in both acknowledgement and resignation.

"I guess you're right," he said, and Black rumbled in emphatic agreement. Then she heard footsteps approach, coming up from the tunnel behind Shiro, but the Black Paladin didn't seem to hear them. He just stayed where he was, standing by Black, facing away from the tunnel's entrance.

My pilot…I think someone searches for you.

Shiro glanced up at Black, and Black heard something like a spark of good humor enter her Pilot's voice when he spoke again.

"Someone usually is."

Black purred as she recognized the pattern of the footsteps.

It is the Princess, Black said. I think she is concerned for you.

Shiro looked up at Black then, and he seemed slightly less tired than before.

"At least she - she didn't seem scared of me - after -"

Black huffed softly. Of course she would not be scared of you, Takashi. You are not someone who inspires fear. You are nothing like the witch, or Jenick. I know this to be true. The people who love you know this, too.

Shiro reached up once more and laid his left hand on her giant muzzle. "Thanks, Black."

Black purred in satisfaction. He believed her.

You're welcome, Takashi.

Then Allura's voice sounded quietly from the tunnel's entrance. It was soft, almost a whisper.

"Shiro? Shiro - are you all right?"

The Black Paladin turned to see the Princess of Altea standing at the entrance to the tunnel.

"I'm all right," he said. "I was just - " He broke off, unsure how to continue.

Allura seemed to understand what was on his mind. She looked between him and Black, already taking a few steps backwards, towards the tunnel again.

"I - I didn't mean to interrupt," she said. "I just - I just wanted you to know that if you ever - ever want to talk - I'd be - happy to help in any way I can."

Shiro nodded. "Thanks, Allura- "

My pilot, Black said, don't you need to fetch - something - from the Castle?

"Uh - what?" Shiro asked, looking up at his Lion, confused. He saw a similar look of confusion on Allura's face and told her what Black had said.

Black smiled to herself when the Princess of Altea remembered. "Oh!" Allura said. "I think - perhaps - Black, do you mean the crystal?"

Yes, Black said, nodding and feeling quite pleased with herself. Remember, Takashi? Your crystal is back in the Castle.

"…right…" Shiro said, and he seemed to be looking up at Black with a half-suspicious look on his face. Mentally, he asked his Lion a question. Are you trying to -

-distract you from any misplaced regret over Jenick's death? Black finished, an almost mischievous tone coming into her voice as she spoke mentally with her Paladin. Whatever makes you think that, my pilot? I am only suggesting you take the Princess back to the Castle to regain a necessary crystal. That's all.

"Uh-huh," Shiro said under his breath. He turned back to the Princess.

"Allura - if you like - I can fly us back to the Castle. Pidge already installed a new shielding device on Black, so the planet's atmosphere won't be a problem - "

The Princess of Altea nodded happily. "Oh, of course! I can retrieve the crystal easily - and we can bring the mice back with us! It's been so long since I've seen them - and I'm sure they would love to meet Beyris-"

A short time later, once they had landed on the ground again, Black smiled to herself in content satisfaction. The flight had been just what Shiro needed - time away from the tunnels, with someone dear to him, flying among the stars.

As both Shiro and Allura walked down the ramp, Black purred a fond farewell, and the four mice cheeped and chirped happily in Allura's arms.

"Shiro - this is wonderful," Allura was saying. "All the Paladins have their crystals now - and it seems like Lance and Keith are already exhibiting signs of their Lions' growth in power-"

"The ice flowers? And the fire-bending?" Shiro asked her. "Is that what that was?"

Allura nodded, her face glowing with excitement. "It's not uncommon for Paladins to - to take on or exhibit powers associated with their Lion - of course, it can take some time to learn how to control the new powers, but - "

Black purred then, gently interjecting, and Shiro glanced back towards his Lion.

"Oh dear," Allura said, almost smiling at the expression on his face. "Is - is Black - "

Shiro half-laughed at how Allura had guessed what his Lion was telling him. "Yeah - she's basically telling me that it's going to be interesting - based on what she's seen happen in the past."

"There are…legends," Allura said. "Let's just say that I'm glad we have a bit of time to practice." She thought for a moment. "…and also a nearby uninhabited moon."

Shiro nodded. "Black is also telling me that we've done enough for one day - and unless I go rest - right now - she'll be really, really upset with me."

Allura giggled as one of the mice nuzzled her palm in a happy manner. "Is she really saying that? Stars, she sounds like Coran-"

You told her most of what I said, Black said, feeling mischievous. But -Takashi - I notice you didn't say that I suggested you both go rest.

Allura saw Shiro glance back at his Lion before running a hand through his hair, but he was smiling as he did so.

"I swear," he said under his breath, "It's like I'm listening to Mrs. Holt -"

Black rumbled then, and it was almost a laugh. Shiro and Allura turned back towards the tunnel, walking side by side. Two of the mice bounded up out of Allura's arms and landed on Shiro's shoulder, cheeping and chirping at him in a friendly manner. He reached up with his left hand to scratch one under the ears, and laughed when it rubbed its head happily against his palm.

"Do they have names, you think?" he asked Allura, who blinked.

"Oh my," she said. "I never thought to ask - friends, I apologize - do you wish to be called by name?"

Black could not fully understand the mice's chatter, but she thought they seemed quite cheerful as her Paladin and the Princess headed down into the tunnels. The Black Lion curled into a contended ball, deciding it was time for a rest as well.

There was going to be a lot of work to do once the Paladins learned how to control their newly developed powers.