"Well, well, well," began the visage of Zeppo as he looked on at Devilscourge and Voltron, two massive titans of steel and otherworldly power, prepared to square off. "Even if you power was comparable to mine, could you really find it in yourself to harm your friend? Lance seemed to view Shiro as a mentor. I trust the rest of you feel similar. Don't you, Keith?"
"Shiro, please…" Keith said, but was answered by a powerful strike from Devilscourge's fist. The blow sent Voltron crashing to the ground, rattling everyone on board.
"Keith, it's not too late!" Shiro said. "All you have to do is come out of Voltron! Then we can finally get Lance married and focus on the true issue here, restoring Drule to its former glory!"
"Shiro, you're being controlled!"
"Nonsense! The Galra tried to control me and failed! Now I get to have my revenge against them, and so does Queen Merla! Isn't that what we all wanted? Right Princess?"
"I wanted to free the universe from tyranny," Allura said. "I will not trade one tyrant for another, especially one as vile as Zeppo!"
"Then you aren't needed!" Shiro answered as Devilscourge moved to strike once more. "Where Voltron and the Paladins once stood as the universe's symbol of hope, now Devilscourge and the Drule shall take their place!"
"Shiro's not even talking normally anymore!" Hunk said, moving Voltron out of the way of Devilscourge's fist. "Keith, we have to take him out!"
"Fine!" Keith said, reluctance clear in his voice. "Form sword!"
Placing the bayard into the lion before him, Lance watched as the massive blue sword formed in Voltron's hands. Shiro's only response, however, was to laugh.
"You call THAT a sword?! Queen Merla, let's show them a real sword!"
"Of course!"
In Devilscourge's hands formed a sword like Voltron's, black in color from the blade to the handle. The thick blade and wide handle were swung towards Voltron with otherworldly might, the combined forces of the Paladins doing their best to keep from being cleaved in two.
"This thing might be even stronger than Voltron!" Pidge said.
"Impossible!" Allura replied. "Voltron cannot fall!"
"It can and it will Princess!" Shiro said. "But you know I'd rather have all of you on my side! So give up now while you can!"
"He's stronger," Keith said, moving quickly to the right, "so we need to fight smarter!"
CLANG!
Keith's feint was caught by Shiro's blade, while the former Black Paladin laughed at his old charge.
"Did you really think that was going to work? You're ten years too early to challenge me, kid!"
A forceful swipe from Devilscourge's blade sent Voltron flying, while a second slash sent a shockwave of energy towards the Paladins. By only a few meters, Voltron avoided the shockwave, rolling to one side as it stood again.
"Guys?" Lance said. "I don't know if we can take this thing!"
"We have to!" Keith said. "No matter what it takes, we have to stop this thing!"
"Can you really bring yourself to kill me, Keith? Can you lead on your own? You know I'm better than you. That's why you begged me to take back the Black Lion! I'm the one true Black Paladin, and you are NOTHING!"
"Shiro…"
Wasting no time, the machine before Keith drew two massive rifles, one in each hand, and began firing them without any signs of difficulty. The impact of the beams caused Voltron to shake and nearly fall, despite the shield placed for protection.
"Keith!" Lance yelled. "We need to move!"
Moving forward, Voltron drew its sword again, dancing through the air to dodge the rifle blasts. Moving to and fro, the machine finally swept downward, prepared to strike.
"Keith! You're so predictable!"
"Am I?"
The blade of Voltron did not strike the torso, as Keith had done so many times before, but rather the legs, with Shiro's own blade too high to block the strike. The sword ripped through both legs, dropping Devilscourge to its knees as Voltron stood before it.
"It's over Shiro," Keith said, only to be interrupted by the furious laughter from the mirror.
"Zeppo?"
"You fool!" Zeppo said through the mirror. "Devilscourge is an extension of my power, my infinite power! Did you really think a scratch from that little metal blade would be enough to defeat it?"
Accenting his point, the machine stood again, the gashes in the metal ripped open by Voltron's sword disappearing until there was no evidence it took damage in the first place. From inside the machine, Merla cackled.
"Zeppo is light and glory for the Drule! It will take a lot more than the likes of you to defeat him! But for us…"
A bright ball of light formed in the right hand of Devilscourge, with the instruments in the cockpits of Voltron reacting immediately.
"Readings are off the charts!" Pidge said. "I think that thing…created a singularity!"
"What?"
"If it touches us, we're all going to be scattered across two universes, and probably not in one piece!"
BOOM!
A barrage of laser fire struck the ground, causing Zeppo to scream in agony, but more importantly, the singularity in the hand of Devilscourge to vanish. The Paladins could only look on confused until a message came through their communicators.
If Zeppo is linked to the planet, we can stun him by attacking the planet! But the link must be severed!
"Taizon!"
Hurry Yellow Paladin! The Drule fleet is no match for us, but if Zeppo is able to use his power we will fall! Voltron must re-imprison Zeppo!
Allura was quick to realize what had to be done.
"The sword! It can close and widen gaps in dimensional fabric! It can cut off Zeppo's link from his prison!"
"Then," Keith said, "let's hurry!
Drawing its sword back, Voltron prepared to strike the mirror with Zeppo's visage. Before it could, the image changed to a being in black armor with two glowing green eyes and no mouth.
"I am not so easily defeated, Paladins! But perhaps you would join me in another universe altogether! Daughter! Deal with the Galra!"
"What?!"
A bright flash appeared, and both Voltron and the visage of Zeppo were gone, leaving Shiro and Merla alone on the battlefield.
"We must deal with the fleet!"
"Of course!"
The engines of the massive machine roared as it headed into space to deal with those that would dare oppose Zeppo.
"W…where are we?"
"Instruments can't find anything! No sign of Drule, or that enemy machine! We're in a void!"
NO, YOU ARE NOW UNDER MY POWER. I AM NOW FREE, AND I NOW CONTROL THE FABRIC BETWEEN DIMENSIONS. MY POWER IS ABSOLUTE, PALADINS OF VOLTRON!
"ZEPPO! SHOW YOURSELF!"
I HAVE A BETTER IDEA. I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU THE COMPLETE FUTILITY OF YOUR QUEST TO STOP ME!
Without warning, a bright streak of light struck Voltron as the void around them started to become clearer. Looking around, the Paladins noticed a familiar sight.
"Guys!" Lance began. "That's Earth!"
"It is!"
"And that's about to hit it!"
Turning to their right, the group saw a massive asteroid on a collision course with Earth.
"What's going on?" Hunk asked. "Isn't this an illusion?"
IS IT? MAYBE I SENT YOU TO THE EARTH IN THE FUTURE! MAYBE I HAVE SENT YOU TO A PARALLEL EARTH! NONE OF THESE THINGS ARE BEYOND ME!
The voice of Zeppo was deep and haughty, his smug confidence dripping from every word. Unsure of how to proceed, they flew towards the asteroid, only to be struck again by the streak of light.
"Zeppo?! Is that you?"
"KEITH! I will have your head!"
The voice was different but recognizable. The streak of light stood still, revealing that said "light" was merely exhaust from the engines on the back of a gigantic purple machine with two shoulders broad enough to be wings and a face with a single red eye. In one hand it held a gigantic rifle, in another, a shield. The single eye stared at Voltron menacingly as Keith recognized its pilot.
"Lotor!"
"Emperor Lotor, Keith! Emperor under the dominion of Zeppo and the new United Diktat! You drove me to this!"
"I…I what?"
"Don't pretend otherwise! During your battle with Acxa and the second comet ship, you struck her down!"
"I…I what?"
Hunk, Lance, Allura, and Pidge all looked on intently to Lotor describing an event that, to their knowledge, hadn't occurred. Or rather, hadn't occurred as of yet. Did Zeppo truly fling them into the future?
"Don't you remember Keith?"
Acxa, please! We gave your friends asylum, we can do it for you!
Their asylum led to Lotor killing all of them! I…I…can't leave him!
But why? You know we're the same! Zarkon and Haggar are dead! There's no Empire left to fight for!
Why couldn't I have met you earlier?!
"Were it not for the interference of that fool Romelle…she would have survived. Instead…"
Emperor, look out! AHHHHH!
Acxa!
Acxa, no!
"You loved her, same as I! And if you couldn't have her, I couldn't either! Well, two can play this game, Keith! You've taken away everything from me, my family, my empire, and drove me to the service of Zeppo! Now I'll take everything from you, starting with your home!"
This…felt like the future to Keith, or rather, 'a' future. A way that time had moved to this point, after dozens if not hundreds of other choices that led him there. The deaths of friends, enemies, and if Lotor was correct, finding love and hate. It was overwhelming. But it made no sense. Even if memories flashed before his eyes, Keith felt like the story was someone else's, that he was forced into the narrative.
Allura meanwhile, was focused on one name.
"Romelle?"
"Who's Romelle?" Lance asked.
"Romelle was my cousin."
"Is she single?"
"WAS. I'm sure she's dead now. For Zeppo to claim she still lives is absurd."
Keith ignored the contemplation, his focus squarely on the enemy before him. "You're just a pawn of Zeppo!'
"Zeppo is light!" Lotor said. "He promised me an army and a galaxy to rule to spread his dominion over this universe! Now die!"
From the wings of the massive machine, several floating cannons began to move and fire at Voltron from all directions. Their small size and incredible agility made targeting them incredibly difficult, even as they continued to chip away at Voltron.
"Pidge! Shield! Hunk! Cannon!"
"GOT IT!"
The shield of Voltron formed to deflect the blasts while scattered fire from the cannon attacked the small cannons flying about.
"They're agile, but they can't take a lot of punishment!"
"Like you can?!"
A massive blast of energy struck Voltron's shield, but with enough force to send it spinning towards the asteroid. Lotor's wasted no time, flying towards Voltron guns blazing.
"Now you see the true power of Zeppo! The power he's given me through the Crimson Dawn and through this asteroid! The power I'm going to unleash upon the cosmos!"
The remaining ships from the Drule fleet were in full retreat from the Galra forces. Offering himself a moment, Yurak smiled. After all, the operation was going fairly easily. Perhaps they would bring in the druids in time so they wouldn't even need Voltron. He'd be hailed as a hero. Perhaps even given a promotion to Zarkon's inner circle.
"How much longer before the collector is in position?"
"Another 20 or so doboshes till they're primed!" a voice answered. Smiling, Yurak turned his attention to the retreating ships.
"Then let's mop up here! Enemy units are pulling back!"
"Commander!" Taizon yelled. "There's a new enemy coming from the surface!"
"What?!"
Soaring into the battlefield was a massive humanoid machine with glowing eyes pointed right at the fleet.
"What is that?"
"I think that was the machine engaging Voltron sir!"
"Well, why should they get to have all the fun? Continue paving the way for the druids. I'll handle this myself!"
Moving quickly towards the machine, Yurak's Wraith quickly began to move to and fro to dodge machine gun fire from the new enemy. Two beams fired from rifles, in turn, merely bounced away harmlessly as Yurak closed in.
"I don't see why the Paladins had such a difficult time with you!"
Cannons from the Wraith opened fire on the new machine, but only for its attacks to vanish into a huge black ball held in the machine's right hand.
"W…what is that?"
"Sir!" Taizon yelled. "We're picking up what looks like a spacial singularity! It's right next to you! Get out!"
"I can't let this thing get near the fleet!"
"QUANTUM IMPACT!"
The voice of Shiro roared throughout the comm channels as the singularity in Devilscourge's hand collided with the Wraith and Yurak. Static soon enveloped the channels of the Galra forces as Taizon looked on from his position on the bridge of the Galra ship, a brilliant light vanishing into nothingness.
"Commander Yurak! Commander Yurak!"
No voice responded.
"Commander Taizon!" a helmsman said.
"What? What is it?"
"The Supreme Commander…he's…"
"He…"
Taizon was unsure of how to respond. He didn't know Yurak for very long but came to respect the honor-driven Galra for both his demeanor and the fact that he took a mere librarian to a position of honor. This should not have been his reward.
"Our orders were if the Supreme Commander…if something happened to him, you were to take command of the fleet. Your orders?"
"Commander Yurak cannot have died in vain. All ships, full volley towards the enemy! We must let the druids complete their task!"
"Of course sir!"
Cannon fire streaked across the bows of all the ships towards the target, but none seemed to impact. Then, without warning, the machine moved towards a Galra cruiser.
"SOLAR STRIKE!"
A bright yellow flash of light flew through two cruisers, followed by both exploding into brilliant fireballs. Keeping his eyes on the unit, another call took Taizon's attention.
"Sir! We have reports from the surface! The debris on the planet, it's being…"
"Being what?"
"You had better see this sir."
"On-screen!"
Looking on at the surface, charred metal sank into the planet, as if it was being absorbed by it. Soon, Drule fighter jets, seemingly fresh from the factory, emerged from the ground, as if the planet was churning the debris into new weapons.
"Sir, orders!"
"Destroy those new ships before they can get up here! The rest of you, after that machine!"
Sitting in the captain's chair of the Galra battleship, Taizon gritted his teeth.
"Paladins, where are you? We are running out of time!"
Jerking the controls violently to the left, Voltron avoided the swipe of the Crimson Dawn, Lotor's mecha relentless in its pursuit of Voltron. Looking on at it, none of the Paladins were sure how to face the machine until Pidge spoke up.
"Guys, I have an idea, but it banks on this all being a lie!"
"What?" Hunk asked. "What do you mean a lie?"
"This isn't the future. This is a script from an HBO show. Zeppo just put us and Lotor into the roles of those characters!"
"DIE PALADINS!" Lotor yelled, even as another barrage of lasers nearly cut Voltron's head clean from its body. Wasting no time, Voltron readied its sword.
"We can't get near that thing without eating lasers!"
"It's not our target," Pidge said. "If my theory is correct, we need to strike…there!"
"The asteroid?" Allura asked.
"If Voltron's sword can pierce dimensional fabric, it can shatter Zeppo's illusion! And that thing is the biggest target in this illusion!"
"And if you're wrong?"
"If I'm wrong Lance, it won't matter because we'll be dead! But fighting an illusion here is pointless if I'm right!"
As fast as its jets could take it, Voltron flew towards its intended target, with Zeppo in close pursuit. Lotor quickly took notice.
"What are they doing? I won't allow you to escape!"
"Keep moving! We're almost there!"
Drawing its blade back, Voltron prepared to plunge its sword into the asteroid, only for the presence of the Crimson Dawn to be felt behind them, a blade of energy drawn to strike Voltron down.
"KEITH!"
"Keith, do it now!"