Hi all!

Thank you so much for your reviews! I really, really appreciate them!

Anony – Yes, well, there are a few more surprises I have in store. And the kids aren't fighting because that's not how the pilots are chosen and it wouldn't be a good way to start a team.

RedLion2 – I totally agree with you, I think the Lions have minds of their own and are more magic than mechanical. Thanks again for your review!

C-Town Chica – I never really liked second generation stories either, but then I created these kids and I couldn't let them go. This was just the next step!

Starlette Rose – I'm glad you like the chemistry, so do I ;-)

Thank you!

Enjoy,

Failte

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"Schuyler!"

Sky lifted her head from her book as her mother called her, "I'm in my room, Mom!"

A moment later, Darcy appeared in her doorway. "What are you doing holed up inside on a beautiful day like today?"

"I found this book on hand-to-hand combat, I thought I would study up a bit before I start training."

Darcy smiled and crossed to sit on her daughter's neatly made bed. "Want to talk about it, Sky?"

"About what?"

"Well, you're normally up at the castle around about now, hanging out with Cady. These are the last few weeks of freedom you have before you start your training. And you already know plenty about hand-to-hand, Hunk has been training you since you were twelve. So why are you avoiding the castle?"

"I'm not."

"Is it Erik?"

Sky slammed the book shut and glared at her mother, "I just don't feel like going up to the castle, all right?"

"All right," Darcy held her hands up in defense. "I'm just going to say that the two of you are going to be working closely together. If there are any personal problems that will get in the way of that, you're going to want to address them now."

"This is really happening, isn't it?"

Darcy nodded, "You're up at the castle all the time, you know something is coming. We're still gathering information, but, yeah, Sky, it's coming closer. Arus is directly in their path."

Sky nodded, looking down at the cover of the book she held on her lap.

"Schuyler, if you are having any doubts at all, you need to bring them up now. If you don't think you want to do this or if you think you can't do this, we need to know."

She lifted her head and met her mother's gaze, her chin sticking out defiantly. "I can do this and I will do this."

Darcy smiled inwardly, she knew that would get a reaction from her daughter. "I know you will, honey, just remember that this is bigger than you, it's bigger than all of us. The planet and people of Arus are depending on us."

"I know."

"So, if you don't plan on going up to the castle today, what have you planned?"

Sky shrugged, "I'll probably head up later and find Cady. She's having etiquette classes right now."

Darcy laughed, "Maybe we should have signed you up for those."

"Not funny, Mom."

"Well, if you don't have any plans, I was going to go into town if you would like to go with me."

"All right, let me get my shoes," Sky stood and bent over to get her sneakers out from under her bed.

"What's that?" Darcy asked, reaching over and touching the silver pendant that had swung out from under Sky's shirt.

"Oh, uh, it's nothing, it was a gift," Sky stammered, shoving it back under her collar.

With a smile, Darcy stood and said casually, "You know, I remember when Pidge gave your Aunt Becca a necklace. It had been a graduation gift, you know the caduceus she's always wearing? That was before they were even dating and I knew…"

"Mother, don't," Sky interrupted.

"I'm just saying…"

"Nothing, Mother, you're saying nothing. Now if you want to go into town, then let's go."

"All right, I'll meet you downstairs in five minutes," Darcy said, dropping the subject.

After pulling her sneakers on and tugging a brush through her shoulder length hair, Sky jogged down the stairs and stopped when she heard voices in her parents' office. The door was open a crack and she could see her mother standing at the videophone speaking to her father.

"…Lance, Sky and I will be there in a few minutes. Should we bring anything?"

"No, babe, just get here as soon as you can, we have to get started. It's happening a lot faster than we thought it would."

"Will she be able to do this?"

Lance smiled reassuringly, "She is the daughter of two of the greatest pilots the Garrison has ever known, of course she can."

Darcy nodded, "We're heading up to the castle now."

Sky hurried to the front closet and took out her jacket, trying to act casual.

"Plans have changed, dear," Darcy announced as she closed the office door behind her. "We have to go up to the castle."

"What's up?"

"Well, your father and Uncle Keith will be able to explain when we get there, but it looks like your break is over, they want your training to start now."

"Is everything all right?"

"Everything will be fine, let's get going," her mother said, ushering her out the door.

………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Sky was led to the conference room next to Castle Control as soon as she arrived. Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, and Allura were standing by one end of the table talking quietly with their heads together. Erik was sitting in one of the chairs, his back straight and his hands folded on the table in front of him. He looked up when Sky walked in and greeted her with a nod. Declan and Gideon were sitting side by side, whispering to each other, slight smiles on their faces.

"Good you're here," Allura smiled at Sky. "Please have a seat."

She nodded to her father and his friends, taking the empty seat beside Declan.

"All right, we're going to get right to the point," Keith said, setting a small pile of folders on the table. "We now that all four of you have received your callings and you are destined to become four Voltron pilots. We had hoped that we could take our time in training you, but we have received information that indicates a need to speed things up."

He slid a folder to each of them, "About four years ago a series of disturbances that started in the Medea Galaxy were brought to our attention. Over the years that disturbance has risen to a legitimate threat. They are calling themselves the Bittor Coalition and they have taken it upon themselves to bring their own type of justice onto various planets. We have reason to believe they are planning on targeting Arus, most likely hoping to get their hands on Voltron, which would help them in their plan to attack more, larger planets. We also have reason to believe their ultimate goal is to overthrow the Garrison and Galaxy Alliance."

Erik flipped through the folder, "What makes them think they can get to Voltron?"

"They have put together an amazing artillery," Hunk answered. "They are well trained pilots and fighters, we think they've been planning this for several years but have just entered our view over the past four."

"We've been a peaceful planet for eighteen years," Allura added. "As far as they know we are easy to defeat."

"Can they really be that advanced?" Declan asked.

Keith turned to his son, "The biggest mistake you can make is to underestimate your enemy, Declan. We have to be prepared for anything. We also have to be prepared to help defend local planets, including Pollux."

Sky looked over and saw Erik tense, his lips pursed.

"You think they'll attack Pollux?" He asked quietly.

"We hope not," Allura told him. "But our connection is well known and it is a possibility that they would try to use a neighboring planet to get to us."

"Maybe I should be there."

Keith nodded, "I understand your concern, Erik, and you are free to return to Pollux whenever you wish. But this is your destiny, I, as well as the rest of the Force, Allura, and your parents, think this is where you are meant to be. But, ultimately, the decision is up to you."

Erik nodded stiffly.

"We want you all to read through these files," Lance instructed. "Tomorrow we're meeting back here at 0600, if you're late you're off the team, no exceptions. As you four are training, we will also be performing our search for the final pilot. Any questions, you know how to reach any of us."

"How near is this threat?" Sky asked.

"We're not completely sure," Pidge replied. "We do know they are moving closer, but they are carefully covering their tracks and trying to stay under our radar. We want to be prepared."

"You will receive more information tomorrow when we meet, but first we want you all to read what information has already been gathered," Keith explained.

The three of them nodded.

"All right, you're dismissed. Read the files and get some rest. Your lives change tomorrow." Keith told them.

…………………………………………………………………………………………..

Sky was curled up in one of the comfortable, overstuffed chairs on the Observation Deck, her folder open on her lap. What she was reading worried her, but it only made her want to fight more. How dare these men think they could come to her planet and bully them around! They had somehow put together an amazing fleet of ships and planes as well as a huge cache of weapons. Their Intel was still sketchy, but it was enough to start preparing for the worst.

"Hey."

She looked over her shoulder and saw Erik walk in. "Hey there, how're you doing?"

He fell into the chair beside her, "A bit overwhelmed."

"Yeah, me too," Sky pushed the papers back together and closed her folder.

"This happened rather quickly. I knew something was coming, but I don't think any of us were ready for it to hit this fast."

"How close are they?"

He shrugged, "I don't know any more than you do, Sunny."

"This is exciting and exhilarating and…"

"And?"

Sky toyed with the tab on the folder, feeling silly, "I'm a little scared."

Erik had to lean over to hear what she mumbled. "So am I, we all are. I'd be worried if you weren't."

"Are you going to go back to Pollux?"

He shook his head, "No. Part of me wants to, but Father has put together an incredible military machine. When I'm there, I just assist him, he can do it with out me."

"But we can't do this without you," she whispered.

Erik turned to look at her. She had her head down, her hair fell in a curtain, blocking her face from view. "It'll be all right, Sky. We are meant to do this and, well, you and I make a good team."

Feeling a little uncomfortable, Sky stood and crossed to the large window in front of them. Clouds had moved in, blocking out the sun. Her eyes scanned the sky, half expecting to see an enemy ship flying in. "I wonder who the other pilot will be."

"There are rumors about a couple of pilots. They will have to fly with Green, see if the Lion accepts one of them."

"I can't wait to get back into Red, I haven't flown her in about two months."

Erik stood and approached the window, standing close to her, "I'm a little nervous about flying Black. No, I'm not nervous, I'm intimidated."

"She's a powerful machine."

"It's a huge responsibility."

They stood, watching as a breeze tossed the treetops. The silence was heavy and Sky felt her heart race at his closeness.

"You're wearing the necklace," he murmured.

"It's a beautiful necklace."

"Schuyler, we need to talk."

"We are talking."

"I'm serious."

Taking a deep breath, Sky turned and looked up at him, shocked at the obvious play of emotions on his handsome face. "Erik…"

"Just let me get this out," he interrupted. "Sky, you are my best friend, you have been for as long as I can remember. I can't ever remember a time when I couldn't talk to you about something. Everything is going to change, Sky. When we start training tomorrow, everything will change. I don't doubt my destiny, but I do…I do doubt my ability to work with you."

Sky suddenly found it hard to breathe. There is no way he was asking her to give up flying Red! It was what she was meant to do, from the time she was six, she knew it was what she was meant to do. But, like her mother said, this battle was bigger than both of them. If the safety of Arus and its people were at stake, then she couldn't be selfish. But then it was selfish of him to ask her to do this! And she couldn't let Erik go off to war without her! They were in this together!

"Schuyler," his voice snapped her out of her internal argument. "You have to know how I feel about you. I don't want to lose you as a friend, but your friendship isn't enough for me any more."

"We tried this Erik," her voice cracked. "It didn't work."

"We were children, Sky. I was fifteen, all I knew was that I liked kissing you and I liked holding your hand. A lot has changed over the past few years, I've changed, and I have come to realize how much you mean to me."

"If it didn't work out, I…I don't want to be without your friendship. You're important to me."

"But if it does work out, it could be the greatest thing to happen to us."

"We can't work and date at the same time."

"Tell that to Keith and Allura or your parents."

Sky felt her head swimming. She didn't know what to think or what to feel. This was just too much to handle in one day. Why did he have to do this? Why now? But then she couldn't deny what she felt. For so long, she had been afraid of what she felt, afraid that it would ruin their friendship, afraid that he would laugh at her. But here he was, putting it all out for her and she didn't feel like laughing at him.

"Sky, I have to know one way or the other how you feel. I, uh, I understand if you don't feel the same way, but I have to know. I'll find a way to deal with it."

"I care, very much, for you Erik. More so than for anyone else, for any guy I have ever known. But, I am afraid of so much," she admitted quietly.

He reached up and gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips, "Then let's be afraid together."

Heat coursed through her body at his touch, "But if…"

"No, Schuyler, no what ifs. Yes or no."

"We'd have to keep it quiet. I mean, it is incredibly stupid of us to start a relationship just as we start training to go into war. And you're going to be my commanding officer, I don't want anyone to think you're playing favorites. And…what?" She stopped when she saw the grin on his face.

"So that's a yes?"

Gnawing on her lower lip, Sky looked at him and said, "Yes."

Still smiling, Erik leaned down to kiss her but was stopped when she placed a finger on his lips.

"If this doesn't work out, I'll never speak to you again."

"Deal."

"And keep in mind that my father taught me many different ways to hurt a man."

"I know."

"And…"

"Shut up, Sunny," he whispered, gently pressing his lips to hers.

Sky slid her arms up around his neck, deepening the kiss as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. "You know," she whispered when they broke apart. "You were my first kiss."

He smiled, "I remember. You were nine, I was ten. You were so angry because Cady wanted to have a tea party and you wanted to play soldier. I was trying to make you happy."

"I punched you in the stomach."

"You aren't going to do that now, are you?"

"No," she toyed with the hair that brushed the collar of his shirt. "This is a really stupid time to do this, Erik."

"I know."

"We can't let this get in the way of our training."

"It won't."

"I think we should keep this just between us, for now."

He dipped his head and trailed kisses up her jaw to her ear, "Our little secret."