Hi all!

Thanks for the great reviews! I would try and respond to them all now, but I want to get this posted before I head into work. So I will just say this: You will learn more about Sky and Erik's pasts together. It might seem as though it is happening fast, but this has been building up for some time. I won't give you any hints on the new Green pilot, you'll just have to wait and see for yourselves!

Thanks so much!

Enjoy,
Failte

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Schuyler made her way back home in time for dinner. Aunt Allura had invited her to stay, of course, but she wanted to go home and speak to her parents. Uncle Keith had told her that they would need her to move up to the castle, it was important for the team to be with the Lions and be able to get to them as quickly as possible.

A small smile crossed her lips as she thought back over the past couple of hours. She and Erik had sat in the Observation deck reading through their folders and comparing thoughts. He had more insight than she did on the whole situation, but then he had been following it all more closely.

Everything had changed when she had agreed to go out with him. Sky felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her shoulders, she felt freer and happier. Erik seemed happier as well and more relaxed. They were able to talk and kid around like they used to, without the tension of hidden feelings weighing them down. When she had noticed how late it was, Erik walked her to the door and gave her a quick kiss. It had been wonderful.

She wanted to tell Cady, to call it from the rooftops, but she couldn't. They had to keep this quiet, at least for now. Everything was so hectic and unsure now, it wouldn't help if they threw this into the mix as well. And she certainly didn't want to start a relationship in the spotlight. Once it was officially announced that they were the new Voltron Force, the four, well five, of them would be thrust into the public eye. Not to mention the fact that she just agreed to start seeing a Prince of Pollux.

"Hey there, Shorty!"

Sky picked up the pace and ran over to where her father was lighting up the grill, "Hey Dad."

"I thought you were going to stay up at the castle."

"Uncle Keith told me I needed to plan on moving up there. I thought I would start putting stuff together."

He closed the lid of the grill and gave her a half-hearted smile, "Our little nestling is about to fly off on her own."

She rolled her eyes, "Come on, Dad, I'll just be at the castle, we'll see each other every day and I'll be down here all the time."

"Well, I guess I can go back to walking around in my underwear."

"Ugh, please don't! I'd hate to walk in on that."

"Walk in on what?" Darcy asked, walking out the backdoor with a plate of hamburgers. "You want a burger, Sky?"

"Yeah, put cheese on mine, I'm going to drop this stuff off in my room and I'll be right back down."

"She seems to be handling this well," Darcy said nonchalantly.

"Of course she is. Don't worry, honey, she'll be fine," Lance assured her. "We're putting together a great team."

"You think Erik will be all right as leader?"

"Black wouldn't have chosen him if he wasn't. And Keith said he has proven himself as a strong leader. You know he would never appoint anyone he didn't think was capable, this is his home and his family at stake."

"I don't remember being this scared when we were flying."

Lance smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "Because you aren't in control this time. We have to stand by and watch her go off and fight and we can't help her. It is scary this time."

……………………………………………………………………………….

After dinner, Schuyler settled down in front of the computer in her parent's study. She was determined to learn as much as she could about the Bittor Coalition. Most of the information was already in the folder, all the contents spread out on the desk next to her.

They were led by a man named Kabandha Vinn, a large man with a pock marked, deep rose complexion and long, pale blue hair. His eyes were large and dominated his face, a dark violet color. He had gathered his followers using anti-Garrison propaganda, promises for riches and fame that he could never deliver on, and the excitement of battle. His following was huge and his pockets deep. She read some of his propaganda and was horrified to see that Voltron was mentioned on a couple of occasions.

Her eyes scanned the screen and she barely noticed the beeping coming from the videophone. Shaking her head, Sky turned and opened the connection.

"Colliers."

"Hey there."

She smiled down at the image of Erik, "Hi, is everything all right?"

"Yeah, I just wanted to see you."

Sky jumped at the knock on the door, she turned from the screen, "Yeah?"

"Did I hear the phone?" Lance called through the door.

"Uh, yeah, Dad, it's for me, it's Cady," she called back.

"Cady?" Erik whispered.

"All right, but let's not tie up the line all night!"

"I won't Dad!" Sky turned back to the screen and rolled his eyes. "Where are you calling from?"

"Uncle Keith's office. I told him I needed to make a private call, I think he assumes I'm calling Pollux."

"So what's up?"

"I was wondering what you were up to."

"I've been reading up on the Bittors and Vinn."

"Yeah, me too," he sighed. "I found some of their propaganda."

"Did you see where they mention Voltron?"

"Yeah, they mention him several times."

Sky traced the bottom of the screen with her finger, "Do you know what we're doing tomorrow?"

He shook his head, "I don't. They might want to start us with workouts or take us up in the Lions. You and the twins have an advantage over me, Sunny, you've all spent time in your Lions. I mean, I've been up in Blue and up in Yellow once with Uncle Hunk when I was a kid, but I've never actually flown a Lion."

"I wouldn't worry if I were you, Erik, I'm sure Black will accept you without a problem."

His eyes were caste down and he mumbled, "Yeah, I hope so."

"Erik."

He looked up at her.

"What is it?" She asked gently.

He shrugged, "I don't know, I guess…I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed."

"This is a lot happening, fast."

"Yeah."

"But you're not in this alone."

The corner of his mouth quirked up in a half smile, "Thanks, Sunny."

"Go get some rest, Erik."

"All right, I'll see you in the morning. Good night, Schuyler.

"Good night, Erik."

He winked at her and closed the connection.

Sky sat back in her chair and sighed. Her heart racing. It was a wonderful feeling to know that he felt comfortable to come to her with his worries, she wanted to help him. To be there for him, to continue to be friends. She now felt she knew what it meant to have your cake and eat it too.

She picked up all her stuff and shut off the computer. After bidding her parents good night, Sky went upstairs to throw a few things into a bag to take up to the castle with her the next morning. She didn't need to move everything up there at once, there was still plenty of time for that. But she did need to be prepared, to completely immerse herself in her training.

………………………………………………………………………………..

Sky woke early the next morning to see it was still dark out. Grumbling under her breath, she pushed back the covers and flinched as her feet touched the cold floor. She pulled them back quickly and took a larger step to stand on the carpet. The house was silent as she crept into the bathroom for a quick shower, groaning when she saw a clock that read 4:30.

Who in their right mind gets up this early, she thought.

The scent of a warm breakfast greeted her twenty minutes later when she jogged down the stairs, bag in hand.

"Good morning, Sky," Darcy said, standing over the stove.

"'Morning, Mom, what are you doing up so early?"

"Well, I couldn't have you going off to start training without a good breakfast. You are not leaving this house with only a granola bar in you."

"That's not necessary, Mom."

"I know," Darcy set a plate covered with scrambled eggs, wheat toast, hash browns, and a couple of pieces of bacon. "But you need your strength and that starts with a hearty breakfast."

Sky felt her stomach clench at the sight of the food in front of her. She was so nervous that the thought of eating such heavy food made her feel sick. "I, uh, I don't know if I can eat all this."

"It's just nerves," Lance said, sitting down beside her and stealing a piece of toast off her plate. "But if you don't eat, you'll regret it later."

"What are we going to be doing today?" She asked, taking a bite of egg.

"You'll find out when you get up there."

"Come on, Dad, you can tell me."

"Then you would have an unfair advantage, you would know what to expect. From now on you're part of a team, Shorty, you have to think of the team."

"I bet Uncle Keith has already told Dec and Gideon."

Lance shot her a look that clearly said he disagreed with her.

"Okay, so maybe he hasn't."

"Don't worry, honey," Darcy set a plate in front of Lance and sat down across from her daughter with her own breakfast. "You are going to do a great job."

Sky nodded, "Are you guys going to have anything to do with our training?"

"Of course," Darcy replied. "Your father and the rest of the Force will have a huge part in your training and I will be helping you all with some tactics."

"But you, Gideon and Declan have been around the Lions your entire lives, the flying will come easy for the three of you. Erik is going to have more to learn right off the bat," Lance added. "But then again, he has been training with his father and the Polluxian military for a few years, so he is a step ahead of you all in that aspect."

"I thought Gideon wasn't going to fly a Lion."

"He got his calling, from Yellow, of all Lions, and we can't ignore that."

"You guys didn't get a calling, did you?" Sky asked her father.

"Not really," he sat back in his chair, setting the fork down on his empty plate. "We were assigned here because they needed to send someone out here and we were their only choice. But there was an almost instant connection between us and this planet as soon as we arrived, it was like coming home. And the first time we flew the Lions, they accepted us. Everything happens for a reason, Sky, and I really do believe we were sent here because the Lions needed us. You know that they are more than just machines. The Lions have souls and minds of their own with a deep connection to Arus and its safety and their pilots."

"Is, uh, is Uncle Keith disappointed that it was Erik and not one of his kids that got the calling for Black?"

"Keith doesn't have a say in it, this is up to the Lions. More than anything he was surprised when Gideon got his call. We all thought he would be in Castle Control, running things from the ground. But the Lions know that something is coming and the messages have been coming more quickly. Gid actually started having dreams about four months ago, but he didn't tell his father until a couple of days ago."

"Why?" Sky asked. "I thought he would be thrilled."

"I don't know, but, just between you and me, I think he might be a little disappointed that he didn't get the calling from Black."

"All right, children," Darcy stood and stacked the plates. "You guys need to head on up to the castle."

Sky stood and grabbed her bag, "Aren't you coming too?"

"I'll be up later, but you cannot be late, honey."

"Come on, Shorty, I'll race you to the castle!" Lance called as he threw open the back door and ran out into the yard.

"That's cheating!" She yelled racing out after him.

…………………………………………………………………………

Sky handed her bag to the maid who greeted them at the door. A room was being set up for her and she would be allowed to settle in later. Lance patted her shoulder and told her he would see her in twenty minutes in the conference room.

She was alone and feeling very nervous. All of a sudden the realization of what was about to happen was closing in on her. What if she wasn't good at flying? Or tactics? Or target practice? What if people died because she was unable to do her job properly? What if she made a mistake and Arus fell to Bittor because of it?

"Hey there, pretty lady."

Looking up, Sky was startled to see Erik walking beside her. So lost in her thoughts, she had no idea where he had come from. "Uh, hi Erik."

"Come here," he took her arm and directed her into the rec room. As soon as the door was closed behind them, he pulled her into a tight hug. "It'll be all right, you'll do great."

She tilted her head back to look at him, "What?"

Erik brought his hand up and rubbed at the spot between her eyebrows with his thumb, "Whenever you're worrying you get this line right here. You're worried about what's going to happen."

She closed her eyes as his hand cupped her cheek, "You shouldn't sneak up on me like that, I could have hurt you."

"You wouldn't hurt me."

She opened her eyes and found herself staring directly into his. They were dark with emotion and her heart stopped, "We have to be careful."

"You're worrying again," he dropped a kiss on the spot between her eyebrows. "Stop it. No one saw us."

Sighing, Sky tightened her arms around him and laid her head against his shoulder, "I don't want to go too fast, Erik."

"We aren't."

"Yeah, we are. I want to take it slowly. So much is happening right now."

"Sunny," he cupped her chin and tipped her head back so he could look into her eyes. "I lo-

"No," she clamped a hand over his mouth. "Too much, too soon."

Erik nodded, feeling a little hurt. "Okay, we'll slow down a bit."

"Thank you," Sky brushed her lips over his. "It'll be better this way."

"But you know that my feelings for you aren't new."

"I know," she whispered. "Neither are mine for you."

……………………………………………………………………………..

Keith was standing by the door watching the clock when Sky and Erik walked in. They had beat the deadline by nineteen seconds. He nodded to them, "Have a seat."

Declan and Gideon were already seated at the table, both looking bleary eyed. Erik and Sky took the chairs beside them. Allura sat at the head of the table with Keith on her right hand side and Lance on her other. Hunk and Pidge sat across from the twins.

"All right, now that everyone is here we can get started," Keith began. "I know this is early for some of you, but get used to it. We have made up a schedule for you all." He passed out stapled sheets of papers, "You will begin at 0600 sharp. The mornings will be spent working out and then hand-to-hand on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Fencing and swords Tuesdays and Thursdays. After breakfast will be flight and target practice. You will all also be trained to stand guard in Castle Control. This is not a game. When it comes to Voltron and the Arusian military I am not your father, your uncle, or your father's best friend. I am your commander. I will expect to be treated as such while you are under my command. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," all four replied in unison.

"As you know, we are searching for a pilot for Green," he continued. "Pidge is working with a few possible candidates and we should have the position filled by the end of the week. Now you all have different levels of training, so to keep it fair we are going to start at the beginning. You are a team and once the team is complete you will all start at the bottom and work your way up together. Schuyler, you will be able to move into your room during your free time, the rest of your team will help. Erik, your parents are sending your things and the same goes for you. You all will be working together under intense circumstances. It is good to know that you all get along already, it's important to have some sense of friendship in this situation."

"But that can also be a hindrance," Allura added. "You are a team, Erik will be your leader with Schuyler as second-in-command."

Sky started at that announcement, not at all expecting that.

"Being friends might make you feel you deserve special treatment, that won't happen. Nor will you be getting special treatment from us. You are all equal and will be treated as such. If there are any problems you will need to work them out together, there can be no hidden feelings or resentments, they only end up causing bigger problems in the long run." Allura stopped and looked at the four children, no, they were no longer children. Her boys, they were still so young in her eyes, and she had watched Sky and Erik grow up before her eyes. When she spoke it was in a controlled tone to hide the emotion welling up inside her. "I know we're asking a lot of you, but it is no more than what we dealt with all those years ago when we were not much older than you are now. If there is ever a problem or if you need to talk, you can come to any of us, any time."

Keith stood, "Do you have any questions?"

"When do we start?" Erik asked.