Summary: With Altea and its King gone, the future looked somber. Even after 10,000 years, Kagome's bond with the Lions of Voltron had not faded. To her relief, the parts of the jewel have not corrupted. Though far from prepared, a team of humans are chosen as the new Paladins. With her help, they are on the path to becoming the defenders of the universe.
Pairing: King Alfor x Kagome(Past); Present undetermined.
Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.
Note:
Will lack canonicity for both series!
Flashbacks are written in bulk Italics.
Prologue
"My Love, are you sure about this?"
Deep blue eyes trailed up until they met the blue of the man standing at her side. Dangling from her clasped hands was a silver chain, the pink jewel held tight between her palms. With a smile, she nodded. "Of course, Alfor," she said. Her voice lacked any hesitation as a cracking sound was heard. It was faint but still distinctive in the peaceful calm.
When she pulled her hands from her chest and unclasped them, six fragments had taken the place of the once whole, perfectly round stone. There were five equal-sized pieces and one noticeably larger chunk that rested in her cupped hands. Alfor slowly reached a hand out to pick up one of the smaller fragments. He held it up to the light, marveling as it glittered and sparkled purely.
"This is exactly what is needed," Alfor said as he turned back to the woman at his side. "Kagome, my Love, I cannot thank you enough for this."
Kagome's smile was pure as she handed him the other pieces, keeping the largest for herself. It was still connected to the silver chain, and she wasted no time in fastening it back around her neck.
As he turned his back to her, Kagome remained standing in her spot. She could see him, still carefully analyzing each and every piece of the jewel he had been given, trying to figure out which one was to go into which Lion as though his choice would impact each one differently. Well, even she didn't know how the jewel fragment would react to the Lion it went in.
Something lept up onto her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek with soft fur. Kagome jumped, startled, and turned her head. To her relief, a familiar feline stared at her with bright red eyes.
Kirara was watching her with such an intensity that it almost felt like she was questioning her. Unable to ignore her, Kagome felt compelled to answer her. "I've been thinking about what to do with the Shikon no Tama since forever," Kagome said as she finally started walking to catch up with her husband's figure in the distance. "These Lions… they are a part of something great. What better use for it than defending the universe?" she added on a second later, a soft laugh coming from her.
She knew she'd never be rid of the Shikon no Tama. In the end, it was a part of her and it would be until the day she took her last breath. She let her fingers curl around the piece she still had as she walked. Kirara's tails flicked in sync as she lounged on her shoulder.
Alfor had put off asking her about the jewel for as long as he possibly could. She knew he had been thinking about asking her the capabilities of it since the Lions had become an idea, but he had never outrightly done so. She had shared the troubles it caused her with him over their years together. So when she brought up the idea of using the jewel as a power source he was startled, but still eager to discuss the pros and cons of it with her. Ultimately, they had decided the good outweighed the potential bad. She had broken the jewel into six pieces. One for each Lion of Voltron and then one for her.
"Anyway… after everything this jewel's been a part of, the best thing for it is to be the center of something good," Kagome said, turning her attention up absentmindedly.
The jewel had been a part of many things, most of them far from good. She could remember so vividly how tainted it had been in the hands of Naraku so long ago.
It wasn't a common thing for her to think about- that life of hers. Naraku's defeat ended a hard-fought battle with many casualties. Her comrades and friends had fallen, leaving her behind in a field with death scattered everwhere. Grief and desperation had taken her from there, to here where she found peace and happiness.
She could remember waking in such an unfamiliar place, yet feeling so at peace. She discovered she wasn't alone, much to her relief and calm of mind.
A pair of arms curled around her leg as she finally caught up to Alfor. She was taken by surprise, gasping as Alfor gave a chuckle.
"I didn't think he'd be able to surprise you. I'm constantly proven wrong by the two of you."
Kagome smiled and set a hand on soft, auburn hair. He had grown in their time here, and now he reached her hips in height. Her child, her son, her Shippo.
His pointed ears peeked out from under his long, auburn hair, and his green eyes sparkled mischievously up at her. Kiara lept down onto his head, swatting at the blue ribbon he had tying some of his hair back.
Kagome felt Alfor's hand rest on the small of her back, his other patting Shippo's head affectionately. She noticed he no longer held the fragments of the jewel- he must have put them away in his bag for safe-keeping. She could still feel them near.
With the final piece of her jewel, the Lions of Voltron were complete. She had cautioned Alfor many times that even she couldn't predict the effect the Shikon no Tama would have on his creations. To her relief, and to his most likely his as well, it had been nothing but positive results.
The Paladins of the Lions had been chosen by the Lions themselves. It would seem each Lion had specific ideals inside them and only allowed the right person to pilot them.
"Well, I did say it had a possibility of happening," she mumbled thoughtfully to herself. Her hand rested on the swell of her stomach. It seemed like she was getting bigger every day, even if she knew that wasn't the case. She spoke to the life inside her as if her daughter was able to respond.
It didn't surprise her that the Lions of Voltron had their own level of sentience and that their voice would be shared with the paladin that piloted them.
Oddly enough, or maybe it wasn't odd at all, but she could feel the aura of each Lion. She didn't know what exactly made her so in tune, but she'd bet everything that it was because of the Shikon no Tama. Each one, she could feel them and feel the distinct trace of their individual ideals. She could tell very easily who would connect with which Lion with so much as a simple glance.
"Father! We must fight!" Allura's voice was slightly drowned out due to the alarms already going off. "We don't have a choice anymore."
Kagome stood next to Coran, Shippo not much further away. Alfor turned to face his daughter, his expression complicated. Kagome knew what his response would be.
She stood idly by as Alfor decided to hide the Lions away far from their enemy's hands. Even as Allura fought to insist they face the Galra head-on, Alfor still decided on his idea.
"Mother…!" Allura turned to her then, desperate to get her to agree with her. "Please!"
Kagome froze, startled by her daughter's desperation. She glanced at her hands, but she couldn't find her words. Kirara rested in Allura's arms, mewing to try and ease her nerves some.
When Alfor stepped up to Allura and put her to sleep, Kirara jumped from her arms as he caught Allura. Kirara bounded over to Kagome and nuzzled against her soothingly as the woman watched Alfor set Allura in a pod. When he turned to them next, she knew there was no way she'd be able to change his mind.
"My Love, please trust me," Alfor said as he came over to where she stood. Kagome turned to Shippo, who looked back at her with emerald eyes.
In these years, he had grown so much. He now stood well above her in height. He understood just as well as she did. He knew that Alfor was doing what he saw fit in order to protect his family no matter what. Shippo was more willing to be put to sleep, and, much like he had done to Allura, Alfor then set him carefully into a pod to hide and protect him from the enemy.
She knew she was next, and she smiled at him reassuringly. "Of course I trust you, Alfor." She felt his hands on her arms, a second later she felt tired as he put the same sleeping spell over her. Her vision faded out as she fell forward, being caught by Alfor.
"Worry not," he whispered in her ear, "should everything work out, I'll see you soon." Alfor paused as he picked her up and put her in the pod between his two children. "And if not… then at least I know you three are safe."
As her pod closed, at last, he stepped back and turned to face Coran. He was standing, watching and waiting for his King's next course of action. "King Alfor?"
"There's one more thing I must do," he said as he walked over to Coran. "I'll need your assistance," Alfor said as he made his way past the Altean. Coran wasted no time in following behind him.
"Of course, King Alfor," Coran said. "I'll do anything I can to help."
Only once his memories had been stored in the Castle of Lions did Alfor command Coran to join the other three in the pods.
"King Alfor, are you sure?" Coran asked as he stood before the last pod. It was ready for him the moment he stepped in. "I-"
"Join them," he said, his voice certain. "Should I not return to them, they will need you the next time they wake."
Those words pushed Coran to step into the pod. As he joined them in their slumber, Alfor was content. With them safe, he could go now.
He was just about to leave when a pair of red eyes watching him froze him in his tracks. Kirara stared up at him with an unblinking gaze. With a somber smile, he reached out to his wife's companion and patted her small head.
"If I don't return, protect them," he said as he knelt to be on her level. Her fur bristled as if she was declaring her desire to join him in this battle, but he refused. He picked her up as he stood, and he carried her back away from the door. He set her in the middle of the room and quickly backed away.
Just as he got far enough away, her small form was swallowed in a blaze of flames. When the fire died down, she sat in her larger form.
"Remain here, Kirara," Alfor said as he closed his eyes. He was just about to leave when he stopped himself. He removed the cape he wore and clipped it around the feline's neck. It curled around her and pooled at her feet as she sat there. "Keep them safe."
Kirara watched as he left, her large tails thumping the floor impatiently as she awaited his return.
But… no matter how long she sat and waited, the King of Altea never returned to his castle.
The castle before them stood tall, but upon entering it looked as if it hadn't been occupied for years. They followed down the halls as the lights lit up a path that guided them to a location they didn't know.
"Where are we?" Shiro murmured as they rounded a corner. It led them to an empty room. It was spacious, empty except for what looked like a control panel in the middle.
"Is this the Lion's home?" Pidge asked, "why else would it come here?"
There was a low, rumbling growl that reverberated off the walls, and Pidge nearly jumped into Shiro's arms upon hearing it. The group of five stopped in their tracks at spotting a pair of large, red eyes glowering at them. As the lights came on in the room, they were left to see the large, cream-colored cat standing there. The saber-toothed feline had a cape draped over her shoulders, though it looked a little tattered and dirty. Her fur bristled as she sized them up from where she was.
"Woah!"
Kirara stood in the middle, fur on end as she sized up the unfamiliar faces. Her fangs barred, she snarled and they took a collective step back.
"Is… this cat the only thing here?" Keith questioned, seeming to speak what was on everyone's mind.
"Well, that blue lion brought us here," Lance said. "Maybe this is some kind of alien cat species." He stepped back when her red eyes went to him.
Hunk peered around from where he hid behind the others. "What if that one's the leader!?" He set his hands on his head. "D-Do you think they're friendly?"
She took a step closer, and Shiro threw an arm out to separate the others from her. "No one move. Any sudden movements might startle it."
She kept approaching them, taking tentative sniffs of the air. Soon she was right in front of them, and they realized just how large she actually was. She stared Pidge in the eyes on all fours.
She sniffed each of their frozen forms before she sneezed. She shook her head and turned on her heel, trotting away from them. Her actions left them standing still and confused. Kirara sat down and scratched behind her ear, her attention no longer on them.
"Um…" Shiro glanced at the others once she sat down, seeming to have no more interest in them. He took a cautious step, and her eyes went back to him in an instant. She watched him silently as he kept walking further into the room, but she made no move to stop him. "Come on, I guess she doesn't mind us being here."
Though hesitant, then each followed him at their own pace.
No matter what they did or where they stepped, nothing stopped her from her intense watching. She didn't even seem to blink as they searched around.
"This place looks to be completely deserted," Lance commented as they looked around.
"Not completely," Shiro said as he turned back to the cat. She had yet to move again. She was sitting still, almost as if she was a statue.
"But why is the cat just here on its own?" Keith asked. Kirara darted her eyes to him when he stepped too close, and her fur bristled some as she gave a warning growl to him. There was something to his scent that set her on edge, but it was faint.
Keith immediately took two steps back when she growled at him. Shiro glanced at him and followed his gesture.
"Best not to get too close," he said. "We don't know why it's here or what it'll do if we overstep." He glanced at her teeth and nervously laughed. "I definitely don't want to be the one who finds out."
A few more minutes passed before several things abruptly rose from the floor, and Kirara bolted up right away as she circled around each one. She gave each a quick sniff before she backed up a few paces.
"Those look like sleep pods," Pidge said upon getting a good look. The one closest to her didn't look to have anyone in it, and she back away. "This one's empty by the looks of it."
Lance walked up to one of them at random and knocked on it. Or was about to. Before he could make contact, he was suddenly tackled to the ground by the large cat. She growled and stood between him and the pod, her fur bristling in anger.
"Lance!" Shiro ran to get between the cat and Lance before it decided to pounce on him, but she never moved towards them. Not even three seconds later, the pod opened and a body fell forward. At once, Kirara's attention went to the figure, and she hurried to catch the falling figure on her back.
She had long white hair and pink markings just under her eyes. She was tall and lithe, and she wore a circlet on her head.
Allura landed with a soft gasp. "Father, please-!" Allura paused and glanced around. "Father..?" She stood back up with Kirara's assistance, recognizing the dirty and tattered cape right away.
She didn't have time to speak before another pod opened. From this one emerged a male with long, auburn hair pulled into a high ponytail. Though a lighter shade, he also had a long tail with sleek fur. Allura stood back up and watched as his eyes opened and he stepped out of the pod.
"Brother?" Her voice was quiet as he slowly regained his bearings. His eyes landed on Allura and he ran to her instantly, ignoring the humans with them. He threw his arms around her as she clung to him out of relief to see him.
"Allura, it's okay," he said against the crown of her head. He didn't know how long it had been, nor did he know who stood with them, but he didn't care about figuring it out right now. He let go of Allura and his eyes landed on Kirara. She stood dutifully next to two more pods, and he grinned at the feline. "Kirara!" He walked over to her, still ignoring the humans as he wrapped his arms around her in a hug as he fell to his knees next to her.
Allura smiled at her brother's antics and walked to join him. She set a hand on Kirara's fur, her fingertips brushing against the cape on her. This cape… it was her father's. She could still see him wearing it draped over his shoulder.
A third pod opened then, and another woman emerged from this one. Her hair was a long inky black that was left free. She was smaller than the other two, and she and metal decorations on her ears shaped to a point. Tiny jewels and crystals were embedded in the length of metal, soft blues and deep reds standing out in her dark hair.
Her eyes opened slowly to reveal deep blue and she took a careful step to keep from losing her balance. Kagome rubbed her head, struggling to pull her senses back from their slumbering state.
The first thing she noticed was Shippo and Allura looking at her with Kirara by their side. The next, however, was the humans that had found their way into the Caste of Lions.
Her eyes landed on them and she stared them down. "Who are you and what are you doing in my castle?" She demanded an answer. This was the first thing she said to them, and her harsh tone startled them.
"We were brought here by a blue lion," Shiro spoke up for them. "I'm sorry for intruding, but we don't even know where we are."
"... You're in the Castle of Lions," Kagome said as she went past him. "Blue must have brought you here for some reason, but-"
"Where is the Blue Lion's Paladin?" Allura questioned them. "Why do you have the Blue Lion with you?"
"We found it on Earth, and it brought us here."
Kagome ignored them as she set her hands on the control panel. At once, everything came to life in there. "I need to know how long it's been," she said. "I need to know…" she trailed off as searched for what she needed.
As she looked, the fourth pod opened and a man with orange hair and an orange mustache stumbled out. He took one look around and gave a shout of, "intruders!"
Kagome ignored him and his antics as she kept searching. Her breath got knocked from her when she saw that it had been ten-thousand years. If that were the case then… then Alfor hadn't been able to win against Zarkon and he had fallen to him.
Her tense form was noticed, and Allura and Shippo looked her way. "Mother?"
"It's been ten thousand years," she said. Her heart pounded in her chest as she realized Zarkon had been free to conquer the known universe in those years. How much destruction had he caused?
"What?" Coran's voice was as soft as her's as he came up to the three. "Then that means…"
"Alfor is gone," Kagome whispered. It hurt to say it out loud, and she felt tears form in her eyes. "And so is Altea."
Allura and Shippo watched their mother as she ran to Coran and threw her arms around him in a tight hug. Having nothing else to do or say to comfort her, then joined in.
Kagome clung to them, holding them both close in their huddle. Kirara let out a sad rumble as she slowly made her way to her companions. The cape dragged the floor as she nudged against Kagome. Her ears were flat against her skull as she tried to comfort them.
C.R: I'm working on updates for my other Voltron/IY fics, but this idea kept getting in the way of finishing anything for them.
So endgame pairing isn't final. Kagome and Alfor were married, so she might not even have a pairing outside of that. If it's shown to be wanted, I'll consider options.
Anyway, hopefully, I caught all the errors in this before uploading. If not, sorry. Spellcheck isn't working correctly rn.
Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!
Bye for now~