I don't own Voltron: Defender of the Universe. I may be wrong but I think this is my first story in this category. I've done Voltron; The Third Dimension and Voltron, Legendary Defender, but not Defender of the Universe. So, here it is.

Part One

Prince Lotor of Planet Doom knelt at the foot of the steps of his father's throne. He had been summoned to the throne room and felt that he was going to be treated to yet another rant about failing to destroy Arus and Voltron as well as Lotor's many failures. Normally, Lotor would assure Zarkon that this time he had a foolproof plan to destroy Voltron and enslave the planet, but this time he had no plan. He had analyzed all his past attempts and came to the conclusion that no robeast could beat the might robot. Clearly bigger isn't always better and smaller may not be any better. Even if I introduced a small robeast into one of the lions to sabotage it, somehow it too would fail, most likely by being detected. It had been in the midst of his musings and the halfhearted design of a new robeast that he was summoned.

Zarkon looked angrily at his son. He had thought that if anyone could defeat Voltron, it was his son. After all, he had brought many planets to their knees and brought glory to the empire. But when it came to Voltron, Lotor had failed time and time again. He had given Lotor more chances than he gave Yurak and he could only chalk it up to fatherly love. Well, no more.

"Lotor. My son. You have assured me over and over that you had a plan to destroy Voltron and every time has met with failure."

"Father," Lotor said, looking up. "I have analyzed my past attempts and I believe-,"

"Silence!" Zarkon ordered and Lotor bowed his head again. "I'm tired of your excuses and your failures! I have decided to banish you to Arus; since you have failed to destroy it, it would be fitting for you to reside there as a remainder of your failures."

Lotor's head shot up. "Banished? Father, no!"

"I, King Zarkon, have spoken. Hagger, take my son away and prepare him for his journey."

"As you wish, Zarkon." Hagger leapt from her place near the king, landed before Lotor, and seized an arm. "Come along, prince. Don't make me use force."

Lotor allowed Hagger to lead him out of the room and down to her lab. He was a bit confused: If he was being banished, why was he being given time to prepare? Banishment was usually quick; just shove him into a coffin ship and send him on his way, so why the preparation?

A coffin was open and the ceiling above was also open, but he wasn't pushed in. Instead, he was pulled toward the lab table where Hagger poured a clear liquid over a medallion before speaking several words and pushing it into Lotor's chest. The flesh healed and a white glow outlined his body. He put a hand to the spot. "What was that?" he demanded.

"Part of your punishment. You see, you will live in the wilds of Arus as an animal." She cackled.

"What!? You…" Lotor's words trailed off into growls and a hand went to his mouth.

Hagger bared a wicked grin. "You will have your own mind but your body, voice, and instincts will be an animal. Of course, there is a way to restore your voice but I won't tell you how to do it." She cackled again as gray fur grew over Lotor's body, shredding his clothes. His body turned skinny, showing the ribs of a four-legged creature. His arms stiffened into legs and a whine escaped as his spine forced him onto all fours as his hands and feet formed into paws, claws concealed within.

He growled as his nose and jaws pushed out into a muzzle of sharp teeth while a full tail grew out behind him. His ears, now gray furred, moved to the top of his head while his eyes turned golden and the pupils turned round. A flood of emotions and instincts washed over him and made his head hurt. He then yelped as he was thrown into the coffin and the lid slammed shut.

"Hagger!" he cried, a howl emerging from his throat as the ship lifted off and was soon traveling through space. Lotor had no room to move and remained on his side. His eyes focused on his forepaws and, after examining them and the sounds he had made, deduced that he was some kind of canine. Well, I'll have a better idea once I've landed.

Hours later, the coffin fired its reverse thrusters as it landed and once the lid had opened, Lotor stood and leaped out of his confining ship and onto soft grass. It was night on Arus with a half-moon overhead, but his eyes saw everything clearly. I can see in the dark, he thought before slowly turning in a circle to take in his body. It was still skinny but had the muscles he had had before. He closed his eyes to examine the instincts he had gained. They were primal and a bit feral; if he didn't have his own mind he likely would have surrendered to them. Hmm, based on everything I've seen and felt, I would say that I've been turned into a wolf. Well, it could have been worse; at least I'm a predator. Lotor stumbled into the forest, not quite used to four legs. He needed to find water, shelter, and food if he was to survive.

Lotor felt warmth on his face and carefully opened his eyes to adjust to the light. Morning, he thought. My first day as a wolf. He got to his paws and stretched them before shaking himself out and moving confidently to the mouth of a hollow tree. He had been lucky to find a big and deep hole in the trunk and chose to make this his home. With shelter figured out, water was his next concern. He lifted his nose into the air, breathed in, and then sneezed. A myriad of scents had flooded his nose and caused him to sneeze. He tapped his instincts before breathing in again. This time, his nose filtered out the different smells and one made his stomach gurgle: His instincts called it prey.

He licked his chops and stalked toward the scent. His body moved automatically to keep his prey oblivious to his approach. The scent of water grew stronger as did his prey and he crouched behind a bush and his claws kneaded the dirt and grass beneath his paws. He bared his teeth before bursting out of the fauna and charged after his prey which had taken off upon seeing him. Lotor increased his stride and speed before leaping forward, his forepaws hitting the back before his teeth latched onto the neck and bit hard. He heard a death rattle and threw back his head to howl at his success.

He laid down and hungrily tore into the rabbit, his tail swishing in joy. That was amazing, he panted. Exhilarating. The thrill of stalking and chasing. I'm strong and fast as I ran the rabbit down. He tore another bite, impressed with how easily his teeth cut the skin, meat, and fur. He found that he liked eating his kill raw and reasoned that animals can't cook their food and thus their stomachs had developed so it could digest raw food.

And as I am an animal now, I have to eat my food raw too. He licked his chops and found that he was full but still had plenty of rabbit left. I'll take it home and bury it so I'll have food if hunting is scarce. He seized the carcass and dragged it back to his home, passing a river on the way. Once he had secured his catch, he returned to the water to slake his thirst. He lapped up the cool water before looking into it to see a gray face with gold eyes stare back.

Anger flared in him and he growled to express it. Yes, he had failed countless times and yes, banishment was a normal punishment but to be exiled in another form? That was going too far! I swear if I can strike back for this treatment, I will take it. True that having the senses, strength, and speed of a wolf is awesome, but being unable to talk is a disadvantage.

Of course if my revenge could be fulfilled by the Voltron Force that would be enough. I'm convinced that nothing Planet Doom has can defeat Voltron. He exhaled and his reflection rippled from his breath. I'd like to be able to talk, but I don't know how to get it back. The witch knows but she won't tell me. I doubt it's a potion as a potion-coated medallion inside me is what changed me.

Lotor stepped away and headed home, shaking his head. He was trapped in this body and could only make wolf sounds. He had his higher intelligence but, unless he wrote somehow, it was useless. He sat in his tree and howled his frustration.