This had to be the most stressful thing Hunk had ever done in his life. How do you smile and nod at people that you know are working with horrible Galra to enslave their own people? And for days?!

He had secluded himself with the people who worked on the barrier. They were his kind of people. Unassuming, eager to show off their work.

But, as a paladin, he was requested and expected to be in more official surroundings. How Pidge handled it was beyond him; until he saw she was just copying Allura. He couldn't copy Allura. He'd have to find a different way.

It was almost two week before they saw the first sign of rebellion. The capitol city woke up one morning to find every inch of every building and walk way plastered with propaganda. The stories varied slightly and some were completely different, but the root meaning was the same. The evil government kept secrets from its citizens and a lone hero came to stand up for the rights of the people. It was so cliché that Pidge and Hunk had a good laugh over it. Allura was puzzled as to how this would help anything.

Two days later, it happened again. New propaganda, new stories.

"What are these warmongers up to," the leader and head of state, Yukkia, was tapping his foot as he looked out the window.

"They seem to be trying to get a point across," Allura said, kindly. Her warm voice only enriching her diplomatic suggestions, "Though I must say, I can not see what it is."

Every two days was a new 'posting'. Then, when the leadership sent out guards to patrol the streets at night, the postings became erratic. Sometimes it was night after night, sometimes they waited three or four nights.

They seemed to dance in and out of the city without ever being spotted.

"Hey Lance," Hunk called in when he had a moment, "Lance?"

It was a few moments before he answered, "Yeah, what's up?"

"You sound terrible," Hunk replied, distracted.

"Yeah, a few thousand bolts of electricity will do that to you," He said and laughed. Hunk wanted to ask what he meant, but Lance cut him off, "Anyway, seriously, what's going on?"

Hunk filled him in on their end and the well crafted lies they were being spoon fed.

"There's a carnival or something that's going to happen soon, yeah?"

"Well, yeah, but its out and away from the main building."

"No matter what, you guys need to get all the big wigs and everyone influential to that carnival."

"Lance, what I meant by 'out and away' I mean, it's, like, outside of town."

"Hold on," Lance sighed his voice getting quieter, "No Coran, just keep him entertained for a few more minutes... It's as easy as toggling a few switches… No, I'm not going to eat that... I don't care."

"What's up over there?"

"Shiro woke up and thinks he's leaving for Kerberos in two days," Lance sighed, "He's jumpy and freaking out and I am about to spaz."

"But its good that he's alright," Hunk said relieved, "If his memory is only set back that far, then there's a chance they can return."

"Yeah, we'll talk about it when you guys get back, till then, I don't care how you guys do it, but all of you need to be at that carnival. And prepare yourselves for a ton of ham acting. The hero is going to make you either 'see the light' or 'brake the spell' that you guys are supposedly under."

"Right, the propaganda…"

"Stories with the sent of truth and little else have more power than they should," Lance said chuckling, "you guys are playing the part of innocent victims being used by the tyrants, which isn't all the way a lie, and the hero, one of their own, gets to 'save you' and empower the people to fight back against the Galra."

"I'll tell the others the plan and the good news!"

()

It was much easier than they thought it would be.

Allura had proposed the outing to the carnival, and where there was a lot on nodding and such, there was not a decisive 'alright let's go'. A very influential alien with a mouth full to bursting with teeth turned to Pidge, who he insisted sit next to him.

"You do not wish to see such a dirty affair, do you?" he asked with all the pompousness of a flaunting toad.

"I do actually," Pidge said, doing her best to imitate Alluras calm demeanor even though she wanted to run as fast as she could in the other direction, "I would love to see more of your culture, with all of you!"

Plans were made and rides organized in a few vargas; stunning the Paladins.

"that was weird," Hunk said and Pidge shuddered. Allura was trying hard not to smile; she knew what had happened, and had been happening, but she didn't think Pidge wanted to know just yet.

()

Keith hung up with Lance and turned to Farrah. They were sharing a tent just outside of town, getting everything built and ready.

"Shiros awake and, other than missing a few years, he's perfectly fine!"

"That's good news," the Galra smiled, knowing just how worried his little half-brother had been, " is the other side ready to perform?"

"Lance says its all a go."

()

"I don't understand why I can't go down and help!"

Lance took a deep breath and let it out slowly before answering, "Because you will screw everything up."

"I can't let Keith do this all by himself! He-"

Lance put both hands on Shiros shoulders and pushed him lightly backwards till he had to sit in a chair.

"Read my lips, Shiro," Lance said, "and listen very carefully…KEITH IS THE SAFEST ONE DOWN THERE! He is with two highly trained fighters and he's really good on his own, so yeah, HE'S FINE!"

"What about-"

"The other's will be fine as well! With this scheme the ones in power get put into jail which frees all of us to go take down all the ships that are hiding just out of sight. And with the Galra gone and the dirty leaders in Jail, they can put someone a little more strong willed on the seat of power, we form an alliance, Allura and Coran get an upgraded particle barrier, the others can spend time to convince you that everything I told you is true while I take my leave and do my own thing. That is the happy ending we're all going for, k?"

"Lance, we have a problem," Keiths voice came over the console.

"NOT NOW!"

"Whatever that means," Keith said and continued, "the hero we picked out was fine so long as he did everything at night where hardly anyone was looking. Getting him in front of a crowd is going to be almost impossible."

"Give him the receiver," Lance said, painfully aware of how little time they had.

"H-hello?"

Gosh that voice was so small! Lance wondered just who they got to play this role!

"Hey, my name is Maltak, what's yours?" Lance asked as if he were speaking to a child. He used his other name to make sure his position remained obscured.

"Its Rallif."

"There's a lot of people out there, Rallif?"

"Mm…"

"Why do you want to get rid of the Galra, Rallif? What makes you fight back?"

"They scare me."

"Do they scare you more than that crowd?"

"…yeah."

"Why else do you fight?"

"…I want my sister back."

Lance grinned, "Then you need to go get her. You face that crowd that isn't as scary as the Galra, and you do what you have to in order for your sister to come back. Only you can help her. No one else will. She is relying on you and you alone."

There was a very long pause as Lance made sure his words sunk in. Then Keiths voice came through the com.

"I don't know what you said, but he's never looked so pumped."

"Keith," Lance sighed, "I think your hero is a girl."

()

"What an honor!" the carnival master roared over the heads of the crowds as three transport vehicles pulled up and the paladins and every 'big wig' got out. They waved and nodded in their self-importance and took places right up front.

It was more like a circus and the Paladins were seriously enjoying themselves. It had been too long since they had seen a show like this and they forgot that they were supposed to act.

"If you find it this enjoyable, I can have them preform every night," Said the man to Pidges left.

"Ach, Fobil, that would get old," said another man behind him, pushing his way next to Pidge, "I could have them preform any time you wish it."

"What's going on…" Pidge hissed to Hunk who was standing at her right.

"I don't have any idea," Hunk shook his head, "That's above my pay grade."

"I'm being serious!"

"So am I- oh look!"

"Ladies, and Gentleman," Said a small, yet very old, alien dressed all in black, "I ask you to listen well to my words…"

"Many years ago we Grumlins were a mighty people. We loved our machines and our intellect. But we were never afraid to go to war and take to wear the bones of our enemies and we did so with pride. There is an old tale that speaks of a youngling, for younglings are pure of heart and soul. It speaks of a darkness overhead and a sickness in our people. Where is this Youngling? How have we sunk so low as to steal and wear the bones of each other?!"

The leader scowled and turned towards the guards posted beside him, "Silence him."

"But I wish to hear more," Allura said, effectively stopping the guard, "May I?"

"I wish to hear more as well," Pidge said and Hunk only nodded; he'd realized a long time ago that he held no persuasion here.

"It is the story that is the disease," The leader countered and waved the guard toward the stage, "I will not have it."

"And I will not have this!" Cried a very young voice as an equally small Grumlin stood in front of the guard to protect the old man. She was dressed in all black as well with a black cloak, but around her waist was a bright blue sash.

"What is this?! You dare fight against my decision?" The Leader blustered.

"And what of everyone elses decision?" The Youngling asked, "We use to make these choices as a whole, but now you make them for us. I don't remember you asking if we were ok with selling to the Galra! I don't remember my sister willingly walking onto their ship while you just stood there! We all have lost someone under the disguise of your 'better society'! I am here to put an end to the death of MY PEOPLE!"

There was a murmur and a ripple through the crowd as everyone safely agreed while hidden in the numbers. Allura took her cue.

"It seems as though we've been on the wrong side!" She gasped, playing up the look of horror on her face.

"But how could that be princess," Pidge couldn't hide the grin, but she at least sounded sincere, "we were treated so well and saw so many pleasant things!"

"I do believe we were fooled!" Hunk said as dramatically as he could, "Here we've been wasting time and all the while I bet the Galra have been calling for reinforcements! We must get to our lions swiftly!"

"Oh, Youngling! We do ask for forgiveness! Allow us to make it up to your people by taking down the Galra Ships!"

"G-Go!" Rallif said as firmly as her stage fright would allow her to, "I and my people will settle our own disputes!"

As they ran back to the cars through the crowd of stunned and pathetic leading figures, Hunk had to drag Pidge because she couldn't stop laughing.