It started small, but it only grew more out of control.
Only three lions should have been awake and out of the Galra's control. But the Black Lion had awakened. Lance saw the reports. Especially the one attacking the Bulmeria he was initially going to see with his Lady Blue. He didn't know why it was suddenly now active. It's paladin should still be Zarkon as he was still alive shouldn't it?
He bit his lip in worry and frustration. Zarkon was the Black Lion's original paladin. What was to stop Blue from picking another paladin?
He felt a deep rumble in both his mind and chest coming from his lion, reassuring him that he was hers. It was soft and comforting. But also anxious.
Just as she could feel his distress of her possible abandonment of him, he could feel her melancholic nostalgia of wanting to return to the other lions of Voltron.
Humans. They were humans. The very notion made his blood feel like ice. Zarkon had made his deal with Lance that he wouldn't touch anyone on Earth. He made it clear when Matt and the Champion appeared, as well as apparently Matt's father.
Just a few more years. Just a few more.
"I hate to have such a change of plan now," Lotor practically vocalized what Lance was thinking.
"Same. This is really happening isn't it?"
The silence did not deny the question. Lance's face hardened slightly.
"If we make it through all this, I'm taking you to Earth for some real home cooking."
"And if we die?" Lotor asked just as casually.
"I hope that our dead bodies get buried on Earth or our quintessence makes it back to Earth."
"You know I wasn't born on Earth."
"Hey, we all need somewhere to go back to eventually. And like it or not Lo-lo, you are now my brother. So my stomping grounds are yours now too."
"Thrillingly."
"I can feel the sarcasm Lotor."
"As you should."
"Just wait. One day, I'll take you to Earth and I know you're going to love it. And you are going to love Mami, and everyone. They're going to love you too."
Lotor hummed but didn't argue.
"Hunk and Sha-ay sitting in a tree~" Pidge sang embarrassing the large yellow paladin. Hunk was blushing fiercely at the younger Paladin's little cheer.
Shiro assisted in carrying an exhausted Allura back into the castle with Keith by her side.
Matt ran toward the group with worry and relief on his face. Without hesitation, he scooped Pidge protectively into his arms.
"Gah! Matt! Too tight!" Pidge squeaked out but hugged back just as tightly, betraying her nerves from the seemingly impossible battle. If not for the Bulmeria, if not for Allura... They could have all easily died.
The name of Voltron rang in their minds. The warrior giant they should have been able to form. And the missing enemy paladin. Lance.
"No. Pidge that was crazy. I'm not letting you go until my heart rate goes back to normal."
"Great," Pidge muttered. Despite the dislike of physical contact, she relished her brother holding her close after searching and fighting.
"Princess, we should get you to the healing pods. You shouldn't have used so much quintessence."
"I had to help them. These people... They were dying Coran."
"I know Princess," Coran said softly, "I just worry about you."
"There is plenty enough to worry about. But we have four of the Lions of Voltron. That's not nothing. And I'm sure we will be able to have the Blue Lion on our side in no time. We just need a plan."
"Rest first princess. Good ideas were never made when you're dead tired."
"What? C'mon Acxa, you know I'm better with a gun than a sword."
"You shouldn't just fight with a gun."
"Please. You know I'm subpar with Galra's blades at best."
"Good thing Lotor got you a small present."
"What? It's not my birthday," Lance smiled and pivoted around to see Lotor entering the training room with Zethrid and Ezor hot on his heels. Narti being elsewhere completing some assignment from the higher ups in the Galra's empire.
"If it keeps you alive, then that works well enough," Lotor stated as he held him a blade. Lance looked it over in confusion. Carefully, he grasped the handle from Lotor and felt the unfamiliar weight. It was straighter than the curved Galra's blades and reminded him of the stories his mother occasionally told of King Arthur and the Knights.
"This, is Altean Broad Sword. It is a... Spoil of the destruction of Altea. If the archives are to be believed, King Alfor of Altea wielded the same type of blade."
"Alfor? Wasn't he the paladin of the Red Lion?"
"He was."
Lance could almost feel the rumbling from his memories of when he and Blue had passed the ship carrying the Red Lion.
"Right. You think I can fight with this?"
"We're about to find out."
Lance jumped, raising the sword to defend against Acxa's onslaught from her blades.
To everyone's surprise, he moved elegantly using the large blade, easily using it as a defensive weapon and making clean sweeps Acxa only just avoided. Zethrid grinned and stepped into the ring, joining Acxa in testing Lance by battle. Lance yelped as he dodged not only Axca's curved blade, but Zethrid's steel like fists.
"Not cool you guys."
"Life isn't fair! Deal with it brat."
Ezor giggled as Lance was pushed to the ground by the dual onslaught and pinned by Zethrid, his hand still holding tightly onto his sword.
"Well, that settles that."
"No more swords? I go back to guns?"
"What makes you think that Lanza? I believe we just found you the perfect blade to spar with me."
Lance let out a loud groan at the prospect.
Lance! Lotor! All the wild times. Choices and decisions must be made and plans are in motion. Motion I say! Now I just need a road map.