Celestia slowly awoke, finding herself in her bedroom, she tried to push herself up, but a hand touched her shoulder stopping her.

"Don't, you're gonna hurt yourself."

Celestia turned her head to the side to see Keith. "Keith? What happened?"

He could only stare at her. "You don't remember? Zarkon."-

"He's dead!" She interrupted with a cry as she shot up, now sitting to look at Keith.

"Yes." He nods. "You tried to heal Shiro, but you passed out doing so."

Celestia blinked, then gasped. "Shiro! How is he!?"

"He's still in the infirmary, in the healing pod." Keith answered. "It's been three weeks now."

Her eyes grew wide. "WHAT!?" She screamed. "I have been out for three weeks!?"

He nods. "Yeah. But it's been quiet too." He said calmly.

She folds her arms. "The enemy being quiet is never a good sign." She stares at him. "How is Shiro?"

Keith sighs heavily. "Allura said you saved him, and he's really weak and near death." He placed his hand on her arm, gently squeezing it. "He would be dead if it hadn't been for you."

"You and he act like brothers." Celestia looks in Keith's eyes, she can see pain and hurt. "I can tell that you two are close."

"Shiro is always been there for me." He told her, now perching himself on the edge of her bed. "Everything I am is because of him."

She looks down at her lap for a long moment, then looks back up at him. "We can't give up on Voltron." She told him.

"But Shiro's in a coma!" Keith angerly stood up. "How the hell are we suppose to form Voltron now!?" He demanded, anger flaring.

"I did my best!" She yelled back, her anger also flaring. "I can't heal very good!" She looked at her hands as they shook. "I always knock myself out!" Her eyes filled with tears. "Grams always said I try too hard."

Keith reached over, gently wiping a few tears off her cheek. "You did save Shiro. It was Zarkon who's responsible for this aftermath."

"I feel responsible too."

He frowned. "What?" He perched himself on her edge of the bed again. "Why?"

"If I had gone out there sooner, then maybe I."- She trailed off.

"That monster would have gone at you with full force!" Keith told her firmly.

She sighed. "What happens now?"

"I don't know." Keith ran his hands through his raven hair. "But we need to think of something."

XxXxXxXx

Celestia walked into the infirmary, she walked up to stand in front of Shiro, who was in a pod. "Shiro, I'm so sorry this happened to you." She whispered.

XxXxXxXx

Coran stood by the door inside the lounge. Allura and the Paladins sat around on the couches. Keith sat between Pidge and Celestia.

"They haven't figured out their flatbread situation yet, but what they do with those centipedes is just out of this world." Hunk said with a grin.

Lance nods. "And they're totally ready to join the fight against the Galra."

Pidge grins. "Nice!"

Hunk continued to grin. "We brought back a few of their leaders to join the coalition."

Both Princesses beamed, and Allura clasped her hands together. "That's splendid, excellent work!"

"That is wonderful news!" Celestia added.

Lance pulled out his phone. "You know, I gotta say, this is what it's all about." He looked through his phone, looking at the picture of his selfie by being surrounded by several female Puigians. He leaved back, crossing one leg over the other with his arm resting on the back of the couch. "Freein the people, lovin' the ladies, then bombin' down the road again looking for adventure, Voltron style."

Hunk turned his attention to Allura. "Which brings up a little issue. They all want to see Voltron, only we don't really have Voltron anymore."

Allura frowned, looking down at her hands as her eyes started to glitter with tears.

Keith closed his eyes. "We don't have Shiro anymore, either. Everyone seems to have forgotten that."

"We do have him." Celestia paused. "Yes, he's."-

"It may be difficult for us all to accept, but it is time to think about finding a new pilot for the Black Lion." Allura cut in, and all four of the remaining Paladins look at her in surprise.

Keith shot up off the couch. "No! I refuse that! Shiro is the one person who never gave up on me, I won't give up on him!" He turns and stalks out of the room, the others look down sadly as the door slid closed behind him.

XxXxXxXx

Allura stood at the head of the formal dinning room table. Celestia sat near her, followed by Keith, Hunk, Pidge, and Lance sat down the long table. Kolivan faced her at the opposite end of the table. The leaders sat opposite of the Paladin, while Coran stood in his usually place behind Princess Allura.

"It is our honor to have you all here together." Allura began the diplomatic meeting.

The Puigian leader smiled. "I had the biggest bunker back on Puig, but it wasn't nearly this nice."

The leader next to him, also smiled. "Well, I spent the last decade sleeping in a spiny thistle thicket. You look wonderful though, Princess. I'm glad I put on my best tarp." He spoke with a gurgle.

As Allura smiled greatfuly, Hunk walks out of the kitchen with a tray of food, he smiles as he places the tray down on the table. "Welcome, everyone, welcome! I've prepared a few Earth canapes for our distinguished guests to enjoy while we talk galactic diplomacy."

Kolivan stood. "The Blade of Marmora has gathered this intelligence." A large star map appeared over the table, colored in purple. "As you can see, the Galra Empire is still the most massive ruling force the universe has ever seen. The sheer size of it is almost incomprehensible. It seems like it could rule another 10,000 years."

Celestia tried her best to stay quiet, biting and chewing on her lower lip.

"However we are beginning to see increase in rebel activity throughout the Empire." Kolivan continued.

The leaders gasped as they began to see a change in the star map. Celestia let out a yelp, then forced a smile to Keith, who's annoyed look disappeared when he looked at her, turned to concern when he looked at her. Celestia turned to give Allura an annoyed look.

Celestia clears her throat as she stands. "We have a strategy to bring these forces together, free more planets, grow our numbers and accumulate an army than can defeat the Galra in major battles." The holograph fades. "But without your help it will be impossible."

The purple alien spoke in an electronic voice. "The forces will all fight behind Voltron, right?"

The Puigian leader turns to Allura. "Yes. Where is Voltron?"

Allura looked alarmed, she stands. "Th, the people you see before you are in the Paladins of Voltron. Together, they pilot the mighty lions that form the great warrior." She turns to look at Celestia. "And Princess Celestia here, has her own lion to help the Paladins on missions."

The Puigian leader looked from one princess to the other princess. "Excellent! Can they form Voltron now?"

Allura fumbled for words. "Uh, well."-

"We can't form Voltron okay?! We can fly the lions, but Voltron is not happening." Keith growled.

The representatives gasp ,looking disheartened.

"What he means is that right now they can't do it but."- Allura tried to explain.

Keith shot Allura a hard glare. "But nothing! Shiro is in a coma! He was the Black Lion! And until he awakes from that, there is no Voltron."

Kolivan tried to do some damage control. "The Lions are still a substanial fighting forces and this castle is also a considerable weapon. the Blade of Marmora can lead you."

One of the representatives leaders turns to him with a glare. "My people have been enslaved for centuries by soldiers who look exactly like you."

The Puigian leader added. "Yes! Our people have heard the legend of Voltron, how he defeated Zarkon. That is what gave them hope. What are we suppose to tell them now?"

"Now hold on."- Celestia started.

Keith suddenly stood up, slamming his hands on the table making the dishes rattle and both Pidge and Celestia jump startled.

"Tell them to stand up and fight for themselves!" Keith yelled with extream anger as he leans on the table towards the leaders. "Voltron is gone!" He pushes himself off the table before stomping off.

Everyone watches as he storms off.

Celestia clears her throat, gaining everyone's attention. "Thank you Kolivan." She said kindly, and he nods. She then side steps her chair. "None of us would be here right now if it was not for The Blade Of Marmora." She was now walking around the table with her hands laced behind her back. "Yes, everything that happened in the last 10,000 years is Galra. Kolivan and his men are also Galra." She stopped to stand next to Kolivan to face the table. "Kolivan and The Blade Of Marmora are not our enemy, yes they are Galra. But they are rebels against Zarkon! The Paladins from Earth would not be here, nor would any of us, if it hadn't been for an agent under cover inside Zarkon's rank. He freed Shiro and helped himself escape, so he could return home to Earth to help warn his people." She started to walk around the table again, everyone watching her. "Also another agent under cover inside Zarkon's rank, helped Keith disable Zarkon's command ship whille the rest of the Paladins fought him."

Everyone just watched her.

"Leaders, I understand that you don't trust the Galra." Celestia continued. "But we are at a point where we need to find allies in this war. The Blade Of Marmora is not our enemy. Zarkon's empire is!"

XxXxXxXx

Keith, now in out of his uniform, stood in the Black Lion's hanger, gazing at the lion who still laid on the floor lifeless.

Celestia paused as she stood next to the other Paladins. "Black Lion, can you hear me?" She asks with worry. "Are you hurt?"

"That fight with Zarkon, took it's toll." Black Lion told her. "I hurt, but I'm ok. I think."

Celestia sighs in relief. "Thank the ancents." She walks up to Keith. "Keith, I know your upset. But."-

"But what?"- He cut her off, a little sharper then he intended.

Lance walked up to them, standing next to Celestia. "Hey man. At least we still have Shiro. It could be a lot worse!" He stuffs his hands into his jeans pockets. "I remember what a thrill it was just to meet him for the first time when the two of us carried him out of that Garrison hospital."

Pidge and Hunk joins them as Pidge spoke. "I grew up with my dad and Matt telling me stories about him. He's a legend at our house."

Hunk spoke next. "The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot! Which isn't much. But that's more on me."

Lance turns to Keith. "You're not the only one hurting, man. We're all right there with you. But you know that he would be the first one to tell us that we have to move on."

Keith turns to glare at Lance.

Allura took a step forward. "Keith, I know exactly how you feel. But our mission is bigger than any one individual. Even those who are complete irreplaceable."

Celestia placed a gently hand on his shoulder, and he turns to gaze at her. "Shiro would want us to continue."

He looks at her for a long time, then turns to look at Black Lion and he's quiet for a long time.

Finally he spoke. "I know you're right. It's time to figure out how to reform Voltron."