Changing of the Guard, Red Paladin and the Hunted

After the heated battle against Zarkon and Dark Haggar...Keith was searching for Shiro after he mysteriously vanished after the Paladins and their allies had crippled Zarkon and Dark Haggar's mothership and ultimate weapon. The Red Paladin was in constant contact with Coran, asking his friend. "Coran, have you picked up anything on the castle's radars?"

Allura's faithful servant and advisor stated over the intercom system. "Sorry Keith, but the radars aren't picking up anything. I'm also afraid to request that you return to the castle to refuel the Red Lion. Your energy levels are dangerously low. If you stay out there any longer, the odds of you making it back to the ship will be slim."

Knowing that his friend was right...Keith muttered softly before turning his Lion back to the castle. "I won't stop looking for you, Shiro."

Meanwhile, inside Allura and Haggar's bedroom

The Altean princesses and future wife and wife, were resting peacefully in their underwear under the covers of their bed before hearing a knocking on their closed bedroom door. Allura asked softly with her lover slowly waking up after her. "Yes?"

Coran answered softly from outside his princess' bedroom...as he had a good idea that Allura and Haggar weren't decent quite yet. "I apologize for disturbing you and Haggar, Allura...but, I'm afraid that I have unfortunate news. There's still been no sign of Shiro and Keith is on his way back to the castle."

After hearing how there still had been no sign of Shiro, Allura said with a frown, alongside her lover. "Thank you for letting me and Haggar know Coran. We'll meet you after we're dressed for the upcoming meeting."

After Coran had stepped away from their closed bedroom, Haggar stated while turning to her beloved. "We'll find Shiro, my love. I'll do everything in my power to help find him."

Allura stated with a warm smile, as she appreciated her lover volunteering to help to locate Shiro. "Thank you, my darling princess. I deeply appreciate you volunteering to help locate Shiro. We really need to find him. The team has barely been holding on ever since we defeated Zarkon and Dark Haggar."

Her lover nodded in agreement, especially since there had been a huge friction created between the team after Shiro's disappearance: Lance had continued being distant towards Keith, which had also created a gap in his friendship with Hunk, as he was growing rather annoyed with the Blue Paladin's attitude towards the Red Paladin and Katie had buried herself into computer work, in order to avoid being dragged into taking sides while also looking for her lost family, which both princesses sympathized with and had even offered to help her. Haggar then stated while holding her Allura's hands in her own. "He's still alive and we'll find him, Allura."

Allura and Haggar then locked lips in a loving kiss and after her princess' back was turned...Haggar playfully smacked her appealing ass, which earned a playful 'eek' from her lover. "Oh I can't wait to get you back in bed tonight, my sweet princess."

After a few minutes, Coran entered Allura and Haggar's bedchamber, seeing both Altean princesses in their dresses, to look presentable to the Cubserion delegation. He looked a bit surprised to see Allura smelling her dress.

When Allura saw Coran, she explained. "I'm worried it smells a bit musty. It's been a while since I've had to look presentable."

Haggar shrugged as she hadn't worn a dress this nice in over 10.000 years. "I feel the same way, Allura. I haven't worn a dress like this before in over 10.000 years."

Coran joined them and said. "The Cubserions just declared independence after a thousand years of oppression, so they probably won't notice."

Allura looked at herself again in the mirror, saying worriedly. "Then why am I getting all puffed up like a Trufalian meringue? This is going to be a serious diplomatic meeting?"

Haggar looked at herself in the mirror too, while Allura put Haggar's hair more nicely for her. Haggar sighed deeply. "I just hope they'll see the truth that I'm no longer under Zarkon's control and no longer his high priestess."

Coran ensured the princesses while saying. "Remember, Princesses, 70 percent of diplomacy is appearance. Then 29 percent is manners, decorum, formalities and chit-chat. It's really only one percent..."

Haggar finished Coran's sentence by saying. "Serious business about fighting for the freedom of the universe?"

Coran nodded. "Yes. That. Oh, and I forgot hors d'oeuvres. Oh, that's at least two percent. So I'll have to recalculate my..."

Allura then truthfully said her worries. "We just freed these planets. Do you really think they're ready to come together to fight the Galra?"

"I don't think it's a question of wanting to fight back, but of believing that it's possible. It's up to you two to give them that faith." Coran said honestly to the two princesses.

Haggar looked back in the mirror, looking sad. It had been weeks since Shiro went missing. And without the Black Paladin to control the Black Lion, the others could not form Voltron anymore. "It should be Voltron that gives them that faith."

Allura shared her sadness with her lover and held her hand while softly rubbing it. Coran then tried to tell them that they cannot always put the fate of the universe on Voltron. "We can't always put the fate of the universe in the hands of a giant weapon. At least, that's what your father believed, Allura."

When Coran saw that the two princesses needed some alone time, he excused himself and left their bedchamber. Through their mental link, both Allura and Haggar knew that they could not win this war against the Galra if they could not form Voltron, despite the fact that Haggar's powers were equal to the legendary defender.

Allura put her arms around Haggar's waist as she sighed while holding her hands on her chest. She nodded and knew that Allura was right. "You're right, my love. We need to face the fact that... Shiro might never come back. We need to think about finding a new pilot for the Black Lion."

Meanwhile on the planet Puig

Lance and Hunk were assisting Kolivan and the Blades of Marmora in fighting against a fleet of Galran sentries attacking the locals...even though they couldn't assemble Voltron due to Shiro's disappearance. But even though it was a tough battle, they were successful in driving the Galra forces off the planet. The people of Puig thanked them but we're still uneasy about having the Blade of Molmora with them. They then wanted to know where Voltron was, as the natives had heard of its victory over Zarkon and Dark Haggar, but Hunk and Lance couldn't answer them.

Meanwhile, from inside her personal room on the ship...Katie was going over the video recording of herself, with her father and brother before they were attacked by one of Zarkon's cruisers and would state softly. "I know you're somewhere out there, Matt. I'll find you and Dad...no matter how long it takes me. I'll find you both." Before Allura and Haggar walked in and gave her a hug, as they had heard her words.

"We know you'll find them someday, Katie. We promise you that you'll be reunited with your father and brother." Allura said before giving Katie a kiss on her forehead.

"And I promise that I'll do everything in my power to help you, Katie. But you must remember that you can't obsess over this. It'll take its toll on you and you'll end up losing who you are." Haggar added after her lover.

"Then... I'll count on you 2 to make sure that doesn't happen to me." Katie said with pleading eyes, making both altean princesses hug her and kiss her forehead as a promise that they would.

After the Blue and Yellow Paladins had returned to the castle from Puig, they joined Keith and Coran in the living room...with the Blue and Red Paladins ignoring each other due to Coran and Hunk's help. Hunk asked while looking directly at his friend and teammate. "Any luck, Keith?"

Keith answered truthfully. "Not a sign of him, Hunk. I searched the entire area of where we battled Zarkon and Dark Haggar...and I didn't find anything that could help us find Shiro."

Hunk asked softly. "Do you guys think he's still alive?"

Keith answered plain and simple. "He's alive Hunk...and I'll find him."

Lance simply scoffed and muttered softly. "Good luck with that."

The Red Paladin stated while glaring, as he heard that remark. "Got something you want to say, Mr. Ass Clown?"

The Blue Paladin snarled angrily at the name Keith had just called him. "What did you just call me, hybrid freak?"

Hunk stated while defending the Red Paladin. "Would you like him to spell it out for you...Captain Idiot?"

But before any more insults could be made, Haggar, Allura and Katie entered the living quarters and the princesses demanded while Katie went to sit down. "What is going on here?!"

Hunk answered truthfully while scoffing. "Lance is getting into it with Keith again."

Coran added after the Yellow Paladin. "We were just discussing if Shiro could still be alive. Keith said he would find him...and that was when Lance decided to be an idiot and insult Keith, since he hasn't had much luck yet."

After learning what the bickering was about, Allura and Haggar had angrily turned to look at Lance, who simply stated while defending his actions. "I didn't mean to insult Keith...I was just saying that he shouldn't get his, Hunk's and Pidge's hopes up. We've been searching for Shiro for days and there's been no sign of him, anywhere. Not even our allies have seen him."

After allowing the Blue Paladin to explain his actions, which saved him from a serious 'talk' with Haggar, Allura took a deep breath before saying. "While I do not condone how Lance handled the subject...I'm afraid that we should consider the worst scenario."

Katie stated softly. "Allura...please, no."

Her princess and friend stated softly. "Katie..I'm sorry. But we should consider the possibility that Shiro may be dead...and that we should consider looking for...a replacement Paladin to pilot the..."

But she was cut off by Keith shouting while he got in her face. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Allura!"

Hunk stated, surprised by the Red Paladin's surprising burst of anger. "Hey Keith, take it easy."

But Keith shouted before storming out of the living room. "No Hunk! Shiro is alive! The rest of you may have given up on him, but I won't! He never gave up on me when I first discovered that I was half human/half Galran and I'll never give up on him! You guys want to give up searching for him? Fine. But I'm going to find him!"

But while everyone stared with surprise, Haggar looked very angry at Keith for yelling at her sweet princess. "I swear, if that fool yells at you to your beautiful face like that again, my sweet princess, I don't care if he is a paladin of Voltron or if Shiro was his friend. I'll make him wish that he'd never have been born!" She told Allura through their mental link.

Meanwhile, in the Galra mothership

Zarkon, who was still comatose, was laying on a bed, his eyes closed as Dark Haggar stood across the room and watched over his body with a dark smirk on her face. "I told you that your obsession with the Black Lion would lead to your undoing, you pathetic weakling excuse for an emperor. Now, with you out of the way, your son will be my pawn to take over this empire... and eventually, all of reality. So, say goodbye to everything you've worked for, Zarkon. This universe is mine!" She said with insanity before she left the room, and spoke to a druid, who along with the rest, had pledged their loyalty to her now that Zarkon was out of the way. "No one is to be allowed to see that worthless weakling. Understand?"

"Understood, my goddess." He said before he walked away.

"Excuse me." A commander named Throk called out as he walked up to Dark Haggar.

"What is it, Commander Throk?"

"Would it be possible to speak to Zarkon today? Another planet was lost to rebellion and I feel he must be informed." Throk reported, wanting to inform his master of what happened today.

"Zarkon is fully briefed on all imperial matters. He certainly doesn't need your input." Dark Haggar said, while secretly lying to hide her plans for the empire.

"Of course. It is just that I fear if we do not take decisive action soon, the Empire will crumble completely. Rebel activity should be crushed with our full might before more planets are inspired to fight against us." Throk told her, fearing for the empire and what would happen if more planets fought against them.

"Lotor has arrived at headquarters at Zarkon's request to take command of the Empire. Under Zarkon's guidance, of course." Dark Haggar told him, while secretly grinning evilly, knowing that with Lotor as her figurehead, the empire and the universe would be hers eventually, after she kills all her enemies.

"Lotor? Why is he not at his father's bedside?"

"Zarkon needs no one by his bedside, least of all you!" Dark Haggar yelled out with a bit of force, not wanting anyone to see that weakling before she walked away from Throk, while unknowingly being watched by a Half-Galra looking female who had uncloaked herself and had been watching and listening a few feet away from where Throk and Dark Haggar had been standing. She smiled evilly, before clocking herself again.

Meanwhile

As the delegates had all taken their seats, together with the Paladins, Kolivan, Allura and Haggar, Allura welcomed the delegates while sitting close to her darling princess and Katie. "It is our honor to have you all here together."

The chief of Puig was impressed with the luxury of the castle "I had the biggest bunker back on Puig, but it wasn't nearly this nice."

The other delegate said. "Well, I spent the last decade sleeping in a spiny thistle thicket. You look wonderful though, Princess. And you too, Princess Haggar. I'm glad I put on my best tarp."

Allura smiled at his compliment as Haggar smiled as well, seeing that word about her changing sides had spread throughout the universe, and also felt relieved that the people weren't uncomfortable with it, or mistrustful of her.

Hunk then presented the delegates some small dishes from Earth for them that he prepared. "Welcome, everyone. Welcome. I've prepared a few Earth canapés for our distinguished guests to enjoy while we talk galactic diplomacy."

One of them tried a canapés and loved it. "By the ancients! This is delicious!"

Kolivan cleared his throat, as he was about to speak. "The Blade of Marmora has gathered this intelligence." Before he showed a holographic image of the universe, now still largely controlled by the Galra Empire. "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 for another 10.000 years."

Kolivan's words made one of the delegates shiver in fear before Lance whispered to Kate. "Not the way I would have started this pep talk, but okay."

But then, Kolivan said. "However, we are beginning to see signs of increased rebel activity from within the Empire." Before he then showed the number of star-systems that have started to rebel against the Galra, making all the delegates gasp in fascination, as seeing the number of rebel activity was years ago only a fantasy to them.

Haggar then spoke about what their strategy was. "We have a strategy to bring these forces together, free more planets, grow our numbers, and accumulate an army that can defeat the Galra in major battles."

Allura then spoke to the delegates, trying to encourage them to join them to defeat the Galra. "But without your help, it will be impossible."

A female delegate then asked in an electronic voice. "The forces will all fight behind Voltron, right?"

The others too wanted to know where Voltron was now, so the chief of Puig asked. "Yes, where is Voltron?"

Allura looked worried, as she didn't want to discourage the delegates that Voltron could not be assembled right now without Shiro, so instead she introduced the Paladins to them. "Th-the people you see before you are the Paladins of Voltron. Together, they pilot the mighty Lions that form the great warrior."

Hunk waved while having his mouth full of food. Keith held his arms crossed without looking at them. Katie nodded friendly. Lance gave a smirk, showing his charms. The chief of Puig nodded. "Excellent! Can they form Voltron now?" He asked again.

Allura didn't know how to explain it. "Uh, well..."

Then Keith spoke up. "We can't form Voltron, okay?! We can fly the Lions but Voltron is not happening!"

Hearing Keith say that they could not form Voltron made the delegates gasp in shock. Haggar frowned at Keith for saying out loud that Voltron could not be assembled now before Allura tried to ease the situation. "What he means is that right now they can't do it, but-"

"But nothing! Shiro is gone. He was the Black Lion. And until we find him, there is no Voltron!"

Haggar felt now that Keith nearly blew their chances to form a coalition against the Galra as she looked at him with anger. 'That reckless fool is ruining everything!'

Kolivan then said that the other four Lions are still powerful enough to stand against entire Galra armies. "The Lions are still a substantial fighting force and this castle is also a considerable weapon. The Blade of Marmora can lead you."

The female delegate was unsure that her people should be led by The Blade of Marmora, as they are mostly former Galra soldiers themselves. "My people have been enslaved for centuries by soldiers who look exactly like you."

The Chief of Puig agreed to that. "Yes! Our people have heard the legend of Voltron, how he defeated Zarkon. That is what gave them hope. What are we supposed to tell them now?"

Keith then smacked his hands on the table and fiercely said while nearly jumping off his chair. "Tell them to stand up and fight for themselves! Voltron is gone!" Before he then left the room.

Haggar then stood up, excusing herself. "Will you excuse me for a minute?" And followed Keith, while trying to remain calm.

Once Haggar had left the room, Hunk nervously chuckled while asking if any of the delegates wanted some other dish he prepared. "Pizza roll? Pig in a blanket?"

The chief of Puig looked for a few seconds to the two dishes and said. "I'll have a pizza roll."

In one of the hallways, Haggar marched over to Keith. "Keith! What the hell was that back there?!"

Keith just leaned to a wall with his arms crossed. "What's the point, Haggar? Without Shiro we can never form Voltron, and you know it!"

"This is a very important meeting, Keith! We need the help of these people to defeat the Galra, and there is no room to say out loud what is on your mind! Especially if it discourages everyone!"

Keith looked at Haggar, with huge frustration. "Why not?! Everybody is thinking the same thing, Haggar!"

Haggar's eyes glowed purple as she became very angry and pinned Keith to the wall and looked him in the eye. "KEITH! I know that you're upset about the loss of Shiro, but moaning around, telling all your frustrations and discouraging everyone is not making the pain go away! If you still want to be a part of this team, we need cool heads. You need to learn to control yourself, before you tell your problems! And trust me when I say that I meant it when I said I'd make you wish you had never been born if you endanger my Allura or Katie!"

Keith became nervous after seeing Haggar so angry before her eyes dimmed back to their normal color as she let him go, waiting for what Keith was about to say. He sighed deeply and left, trying to think about his actions before Haggar left him, feeling that he was going to think about what she just said.

As Haggar was about to go back inside, she heard Allura's voice through their mental link. 'Is everything alright, Haggar?'

Haggar ensured her lover. 'Keith needs some time to get his head back together, my sweet princess. He'll be alright.'

Meanwhile

In the Galra arena, a crowd of Galra were roaring as a beast warrior in the center of the ring roared and charged his smaller opponent. "I tried to speak with Lord Zarkon today, but the witch stopped me again. But somehow, she seems more... different. And not just her changed appearance, but her personality as well." Throk told his blue Galra friend that was sitting beside him.

"I fear the Emperor's condition may be worse than what she is telling us. I'm not sure he will ever return to the throne." The blue Galra said with concern.

"Agreed. And now prince lotor is taking over? We've fought by Zarkon's side forever and now we're passed over by this exiled brat." Throk said with disgust.

"I've heard rumors he fights alongside his enlisted men like a lowly private."

"Worse than that: his top generals aren't even pure Galra. They are half-breeds at best. He has no honor.

"Some say he allows the planets he conquers to continue to rule themselves. Can you imagine?" The Galra general asked as the slim coliseum fighter dodged another sword strike.

"Clearly he's a dangerous lunatic. I've already spoken with the other officers in my sector. They've all agreed to back me if I fight for the throne. Normally, I would never think of such a thing but…"

"What choice do we have?" The Galra general asked, finishing his sentence for him.

"Then you'll support me?" Throk asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes."

Throk smiled as the blades clunged in the background as they turned their attention to the fight.

"Who's this little fellow?" The blue Galra asked.

"I don't know. I've never seen him before." Throk answered, having never seen the new warrior before.

The crowd cheered as the 'little fellow' flipped over the much taller opponent, and landed before dodging and rolling out of the way of sword-club swings. The beast swung again before he noticed his opponent was gone and before he appeared from the other side, disarming him before the beast warrior fell to the ground in defeat.

The victor then took off his helmet, revealing long platinum blonde hair and a lavender face. Throk eyes widened in horror and shock as he knew who the victor was. "Lotor!"

The now revealed prince Lotor drew his sword from the ground, pointing up to Throk. "Throk! You wish to challenge me? Then come down and claim your crown."

That made the crowd gasp and whisper among themselves, with some of them side-eyeing Throk. "True Galra do not take the throne by stirring up insurrection in darkened chambers, they rise through honorable rite of combat. Defeat me here and throne is yours."

The Galra audience cheered in approval as 1 of them reached for her cloak and took it off, along with 3 others in the same unique armor as Lotor revealed themselves. A large woman with blue fur and large eyes akin to Sendaks, the woman with red skin, a woman with no eyes or a mouth and her pet cat, and a blue skinned woman with blue hair and yellow eyes: Lotor's 4 generals.

Throk was surrounded before he stood up and said with determination. "I gladly accept your offer. Now all will see who is the rightful leader." Before he stepped into the arena. "I have fought thousands of battles and left many enemies much more fearsome than you wasting on the battlefield."

Throk then charged Lotor with an aggressive yell and violent swordplay as Lotor parried and dodged calmly, seemingly unruffled. Lotor then parried another strike, which took a few locks of his hair. "You have flawless technique. That, I'll grant you. But still, you must realize at some point that your repetitive attacks are getting you nowhere."

Throk attacked again with anger and aggression, igniting another fierce clash of blades before Lotor attacked with an elbow jab, knocking the wind from him and slicing Throk's sword in two, ending the match with a rather dramatic finish before Throk tumbled to the ground, allowing Lotor to level his sword at the Galra general's throat.

"Your tactics are stale. And in the end, your own aggression was your undoing." Lotor said while pointing out the flaws that cost Throk the fight.

The crowd began chanting. "Lotor! Lotor! Lotor!"

When Lotor withdrew his sword, Throk was surprised before Lotor spoke to the crowd. "My father built our empire on the bones of his enemies. But the time has come to change the old ways and inspire not fear from those we rule but loyalty. We must not waste our energy fighting to keep our subjects down but rather multiply by allowing the worthy to rise and join our ranks." He told them before he offered a hand to Throk. "The Universe can no longer doubt our strength. Each ally gained only makes us stronger. While those who continue to stand against us... will be crushed."

Throk took Lotor's hand and the new ruler pulled him up. "Lotor, we pledge our loyalty to you. Vrepit Sa."

When Lotor's generals saluted him, the other Galra slowly stood and did the same, even Throk's friend. "Lotor! Lotor! Lotor!" The crowd chanted.

A bit later, Lotor's 4 generals were waiting in the corridor as the eyeless general petted her cat. As Lotor approached, the Four Generals stood at attention, saluting their new ruler "That went well." Lotor's red general said with a smile.

"The masses are easily manipulated. Have Throk transferred out to the Ulippa system immediately. Let him rot with the ice worms." Lotor ordered with an evil smile before walking away.

Meanwhile, at the castle hanger

Keith was watching the Black Lion. Deep down, he missed Shiro and didn't know how things would be without him.

That was when the rest of the team came into the hanger. All glanced at each other, seeing who would talk to Keith first. Lance sighed and walked over to Keith, saying. "Hey, man. Listen... we all miss Shiro. I remember what a thrill it was to meet him for the first time when the two of us carried him out of that garrison hospital."

Hunk and Katie joined in as well, with Katie saying. "I grew up with my dad and Matt telling me stories about him. He was a legend at our house."

Hunk then started saying. "The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot. Which isn't much, but that's more on me."

Lance nodded and said to Keith that he is not the only one who was hurting. "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 then started looking at Lance, feeling that he was right that Shiro would tell them all to move on.

Allura and Haggar then walked over to Keith, with Allura telling him. "Keith, me and Haggar know exactly how you feel. But our mission is bigger than any one individual. Even those who are completely irreplaceable."

Haggar then said. "I know it's gonna be hard to accept that Shiro might be gone, but we have faced bigger challenges before, and I know... that we will see this one through as well."

Keith nodded while looking down. "I know you're right, Haggar." Before he looked more determined than ever. "It's time to figure out how to reform Voltron and find a new pilot for the Black Lion."

Sometime later on Puig

The Puigians are busy repairing the damage done to their settlement after their liberation from Galra control. Two children ran down a street, laughing while they were playing before everyone's attention was drawn to the sky as a shadow fell over the settlement, revealed to be cast by Lotor's ship.

"We're under attack! To battle stations!" A Puigian warrior told his people who could fight.

From the ship, Lotor's generals surveyed the land below them through an open hangar before jumping off and landing in a seemingly deserted area of the settlement. "Ezor, find the leader. Narti, Zethrid, take prisoners. Kill no one." The general named Acxa ordered her fellow generals

The other generals proceeded to follow Acxa's orders before she was under fire from a band of Puigians. She dodged their fire, returning it as she ran towards the group attacking her. before knocking one of the Puigians over as she passed behind them, driving a series of metal spokes into the ground surrounding her attackers before a containment barrier was erected around them after she pressed a button on her gauntlet.

Kova, the alien cat, jumped onto a ledge behind a rooftop, on the edge of which two armed Puigians were huddled behind the lip of a wall as Narti was walking along the street below, the Puigians ducked out of what they thought was her line of sight before Narti turned her back to the building and used her psychic powers to look through Kova's eyes, allowing her to see the Puigians preparing to attack her. When they stood to shoot, she was no longer in the street, instead reappearing and quickly eliminating them from behind.

Kova meowed as 3 Puigians ran, but were captured in a net shot at them by Zethrid before a Puigian on a giant, yak-like beast tried to trample her, but she used her incredible strength to throw the beast and rider aside.

From atop a hill, the Puigian leader turned away from watching the attack and ran to a cave, trying to reach a communication device that could contact Voltron. But just as he grasped it in hand, an invisible force struck him, knocking the communicator from his grasp before Ezor materialised herself and the device fell into her hand.

"What's this? Some sort of communicator? You weren't trying to call for help, were you? Prince Lotor would not like that." Ezor said with a smirk.

The Puigian leader rushed at her, trying to reclaim the communication device but Ezor dodged his attacks with ease, flinging him across the room. When he looked up, the rest of Lotor's generals, plus the Prince himself, were standing before him, weapons at the ready before Ezor grabbed his shoulder from behind and wiggled her finger in a don't try it gesture.

The Puigian leader sighed before asking. "Who-? Who are you?"

"You dare speak to Prince Lotor?" Axca asked threateningly.

"Now, Acxa, that's no way to treat our new ally. Let him continue." Lotor said, wanting the leader as an ally rather than an enemy.

"We will not be enslaved again! We are free."

"According to whom? Your saviour, Voltron? And where is your precious protector now? Gone. Leaving you with nothing but a hollow promise of freedom. And now you must answer for what you've done." Lotor said with distaste for Voltron.

"Please, spare my people. Show them mercy." The leader begged, wanting his people spared.

"Mercy has never been the way of the Galra... until now." Lotor told him, making the leader gasp in confusion before he looked up as Lotor kneeled down to address him eye-to-eye. "How would you like to become a valuable part of the new Empire? Join us... and you'll never need Voltron again." The half breed prince promised.

The Puigian leader looked afraid, not believing Lotor's words. But from behind him, Ezor grabbed his cheeks and contorted his face into a forced grin. "Smile! We're a team now."

Meanwhile, in the castle meeting room

The remaining Paladins, along with Allura, Haggar and Coran were thinking who would be best to pilot the Black Lion. Lance sighed, wishing that Shiro was here to tell them how to go on. "I wish Shiro were here to tell us how to go on without him."

Katie then said to Allura how she was able to connect with the Green Lion. "Allura, when we came here, you told me I would fly the Green Lion, and I thought there was no way. But then, I found it and I flew it. And then, Hunk flew the Yellow Lion, and he's not even a pilot. In fact, you told everyone who would pilot which lion."

While Allura nodded, Hunk wanted to know how she did it back then and if she could do it again to pick a new Black Paladin. "Yeah, how did you do that? Did we ever find out how you did that? Can you do that now?"

But Allura shook her head and answered. "Sadly, no. When you arrived at the Castle, I immediately recognized the special qualities in each of you. But I don't know how to search the entire universe for a new Paladin."

Haggar sat next to her lover and rubbed her back while saying. "Well maybe, my sweet princess, one of us can pilot the Black Lion."

Coran thought of that and asked Keith. "Keith, you piloted the Black Lion when you had to save Shiro. Perhaps you're the one."

Keith looked away, as he didn't want to become the leader of Team Voltron. Lance immediately dismissed the idea to put Keith in charge of the team. "Keith would be the worst leader of Voltron."

Though Katie didn't like to dismiss Keith as a bad leader, as he was a part of their team, but agreed with it some as everyone has their thing. "Even though I don't like to say this, Lance has a point. We all have our thing. Keith's the loner. I'm the brain. Hunk's the nice one. Allura and Haggar are the decision makers. Coran's the wise old guy. And Lance is the goofball."

Lance nodded with a smirk. "Mm-hmm. Yeah, exactly. Totally right- Wait a minute! I'm not a goofball! I'm like the cool ninja sharpshooter."

Haggar just rolled her eyes at Lance telling them that he's like the 'cool ninja sharpshooter' while Keith scoffed at what Lance said. "Are you joking?"

Lance stood up with an angry look on his face, telling them very seriously. "I'm being completely serious when I say, I do not want you to lead me anywhere."

Keith then snapped and said. "I don't want to be the leader! That's just what Shiro wanted!"

That made everyone look at Keith in shock. Hunk stared at him with wide eyes and asked. "What... are you talking about?"

Keith looked away, trying to dismiss it. "Nothing."

"Shiro wanted you to be his successor, didn't he?" Katie asked.

Keith didn't say anything. While for Haggar, it made some more sense of why Keith was acting like this. He wasn't just dealing with losing Shiro, Keith was also afraid to take over the banner of being the leader of Voltron. But the Altean sorceress felt that Keith would be a terrible leader and could put the whole team, especially her precious Allura and her best friend and sister like figure Katie in danger.

Lance started off saying. "Well, I never heard Shiro say that, and how convenient that you're bringing it up now, when Shiro is gone."

Keith snapped and said with anger at Lance. "You want the job so badly, you can have it!"

Hunk tried to tell that he wanted to be the leader from the beginning. "Now, now, hang on. I've called the head from the very beginning."

Then Katie jumped from her seat, saying. "What about me?! I'm the one that picked up the radio waves that led us to Voltron in the first place."

Haggar then called out. "Enough! It's not our decision to make who will be the new Black Paladin. We must allow the Lion to decide."

Allura nodded and stood up while saying. "Haggar is right. We must all present ourselves to the Black Lion to see who will bear this glorious burden."

Haggar held her hand and said. "That means all of us. Even me."

Coran was surprised that Allura, and even Haggar needed to present herself to the Black Lion. "What? You, Princess? And you too, Haggar?"

Haggar nodded while Allura said. "My father created Voltron. How can I allow others to risk their lives in battle and not to be prepared to do so myself? I must try... both of us" Haggar stroked her lover's hand in support.

After they all headed to the Black Lion, they discussed who should go 1st, with Haggar asking Allura to go 1st, followed by Katie, much to Lance's annoyance... before he got a warning glare from the Altean sorceress, which shut him up.

Allura went in and tried to concentrate on getting the Black Lion to respond but it did nothing, making the Altean princess sigh before she got out and Katie tried, but was too small. "Hmm. I wonder if I can adjust the seat?" She asked before getting out.

Hunk then went in but left without even trying, which all 3 Alteans noticed before he got back in, as he didn't want to anger Haggar before he tried sounding like Shiro giving orders to the Paladins, much to Haggar's annoyance. "All right, you're not the one. Out of the Lion."

Then came Lance's turn, who tried to concentrate. "Okay. You can do it. This is your moment." He said before closing his eyes.

Everyone waited for a long while as Lance tried to connect with the Black Lion. "So, how long are we gonna let Lance sit in there?" Katie asked as she stood close to Allura and Haggar.

Hunk checked his watch and said. "Yeah, it's been like half a varga."

After some minutes, Lance came out irritated and sat down on the floor with his arms crossed. "It's useless. The Black Lion hates all of us."

Allura then said to Keith, as it was his turn now. "Keith, I know that you don't want to lead, but you have to try."

Keith sighed deeply. But as he was about to step forward, Haggar stopped him. "Wait." Before everyone looked at Haggar, wondering why she called Keith to stop as she looked at Keith and asked. "If it makes you feel better, I'll go before you...if you want?"

Keith looked at Haggar for a moment, but then nodded, allowing Haggar to go in the Black Lion before him. "Hope she does it, cause I don't want to. I'd rather the Black Lion be destroyed and Voltron never be formed again than ever lead a team."

As the Altean sorceress/princess entered the cockpit and sat on it's seat, Haggar sighed deeply and held the controls. When nothing happened yet, she closed her eyes and seemingly spoke to Shiro's spirit seriously, yet sadly. "I know you wanted Keith to lead the team, Shiro. But he's not like you. He can't lead them like you did. I'm not saying he's worthless, he's a great asset to our team, but I can feel that he could do something that could endanger us all. I can't bare to lose anyone close to me again like I lost my mother, my home planet and my people." She said as tears started to form in her eyes, as if she was begging the Black Lion. "Please... let me do it. Let me lead them."

Then all of the sudden, the controls started to turn back on, making Haggar gasp. The Black Lion had chosen her as his pilot. Haggar started to form a smile while she wiped away her tears. "Thank you." She said to the Black Lion, praising the Lion for accepting her as his new Paladin.

The Black Lion came back to life and roared before it allowed Haggar to leave it. Everyone couldn't believe that it was Haggar who had become the new Black Paladin and leader of team Voltron, but then they all were happy for her, especially Allura and Katie as they hugged each other in happiness.

Keith sighed in relief and said under his breath. "Thank God." As was thankful that he wasn't going to be the leader after all.

After Haggar came out of the Lion, Allura hugged her before they shared a passionate kiss. "Congratulations, my darling princess. You now have the glorious honor of being the paladin of the Black Lion and the new leader of Voltron."

"I'm happy for you too, Haggar. Now we can fight more closely together." Katie said with happiness as she hugged her friend.

Hunk and Lance just gave Haggar a thumbs up, along with Keith before Allura suddenly took her darling princess by the hand. "I think this calls for a celebration. And after that, a... special celebration...in our room, my darling princess Haggar."

Haggar smiled at that and took everyone to the living room to celebrate...but also to honor Shiro.

Meanwhile, with Lotor and his generals

The poor little Blade of Marmora's defenses are spread so thin, they cannot any of the insurgent planets." Ezor reported to Lotor.

"And what about their rebellion?"

"Crushed." Zethrid answered with a smirk.

"As for the whereabouts of the Voltron Lions: we've had reports of yellow and blue in the Paglium quadrant." Alexia reported while Lotor a map of where the Voltron Lions had been in the universe. "The red one has been seen throughout these quadrants. And the green one here, here and here.

"No Black Lion?" Lotor wondered, knowing that the Black Lion was the most powerful.

"We've questioned the planet's inhabitants. No one has seen it." Acxa answered.

It's like it just vanished. Poof!" Ezor said, still smiling.

"No Black Lion, no Voltron." Lotor said before looking at his blind and mute general. "Narti, go to planet Puig and speak with their leader."

Meanwhile, back at the castle

The Altean princesses, Coran and their Paladins were in the middle of a celebratory earth movie that Katie thought Allura and Haggar would enjoy: Disney's Tarzan, which was very entertaining, seeing a human raised by a family of gorillas, but had a bit of dislike for the leader, Kerchak and an even greater hatred for the hunter Clayton and his plan to cage the ape family and sell them on the black market for money, especially Haggar and Allura, due to loving animals but were glad when he got his poetic justice by hanging himself with the vine that wrapped around his neck. They shed a few tears when Kerchak died and finally accepted Tarzan as his son before dying and passing his leadership to Tarzan and they especially loved Terk, Tantor, Jane and her father, who shared their love of animals and were joyful when Jane and her father chose to stay in Africa with Tarzan and his ape family.

When the movie was over, they suddenly got a communication from the Puigian leader. "Voltron, we need your help. The Galrans have returned. Once you left, we were defenseless. My people are trying to hold out, but the Galra are too powerful.

"The lions are on their way. Hold your ground and protect your people until we arrive. Voltron stands with you." Allura told the leader with the words of a promise.

"Thank you, Princess." The leader said... before he was knocked out by Narti, who was setting up team Voltron.

"Everyone, get to your Lions." Haggar told her friends, who did just that.

Before she went to the black Lion, Allura embraced her darling princess. "Haggar, my darling princess and 1 true love, remember that the Lion chose you to be its paladin. I look forward to seeing you lead them. You'll be a great leader to them. Just remember that Katie and I are right here with you."

"I promise, my sweet princess. I'll try my absolute best to honor Shiro, your father and the Paladins of old." Haggar said with a determined smile before she kissed her sweet princess before she headed to her Lion.

An hour later

As the Paladins approached the planet Puig with their Lions, a large, strange Galra ship came out of lightspeed and stopped in front of the Lions. Haggar gasped as she recognized who that ship belonged to. "Lotor..."

That was when a voice message was sent to the Paladins, saying. "Attention, Paladins of Voltron. This is Prince Lotor, son of Zarkon, Emperor Pro Tem of the Galra Empire. Surrender now, or you will be destroyed."

"We've been set up!" Katie called as this was all a trap.

As the Galra fighters attacked, Haggar called out to the other Paladins. "Evasive maneuvers! Everyone, watch your back!" Before all the Lions flew out, avoiding the fighters while attacking them.

Allura saw it all on her screen on the Castle, and said to Coran. "Coran, we have to get there immediately!" Before Coran nodded while setting course.

In Lotor's ship

Ezor saw on her screen the Black Lion and called enthusiastically to Lotor. "Hey! It's the black kitty!"

Lotor narrowed his eyes as he watched the Black Lion, who hadn't been seen for weeks. "So, it survived." Before he smirked while saying. "Send out the rest of the fighters. Let's see if we can draw them out and see what these Paladins are truly made of."

As the rest of the fighters were being launched and attacked the Lions, Hunk and Katie had a hard time to avoid the hundreds of Galra fighters before Lance came to rescue them. "Pidge! Hunk! Behind you!" The Blue Lion fired many shots and saved Hunk and Katie in the nick of time.

"Thanks, Lance. I just hope my Lion's super armor holds up."

Then Katie noticed that Keith wasn't anywhere near them. "Where's Keith?!"

Meanwhile, Keith was using the Red Lion to destroy more fighters and became frustrated with the number of increasing Galra fighters. "Grrrrrraaaah! Damn you all!" He yelled and fired so many shots that it nearly hit the Black Lion!

"KEITH! You nearly hit me!"

Keith tried to apologize. "Sorry, Haggar." But then he noticed that he her barely did any fighting. "Why aren't you doing much!?"

Haggar tried her best to help, while saying. "I'm trying!"

Katie could hear Haggar's frustration and tried to calm her down. "Haggar, listen. We had trouble too when we flew our Lions the 1st time, but we managed to do it. Just focus. The Black Lion chose you for a reason. You can do it."

Lance nodded while he said. "Yeah. There's no one else in the universe, besides Shiro, I would follow as our leader."

Hunk then also said. "We would have never gone far without you, Haggar. We believe in you."

Keith also tried to encourage the new Black Paladin. "Just snap out of it. We all know you have it in you."

The Paladins' encouragement warmed Haggar's heart. She nodded and closed her eyes, and focused. She could feel her connection with the Black Lion increasing before the Black Lion's eyes shined and roared. Haggar's eyes snapped open with determination and used her bayard to use the Black Lion's wings to destroy over 50 fighters at once!

Katie cheered for her Altean friend. "Woohoo! That's what I'm talking about, Haggar!"

In Lotor's ship

The new ruler of Zarkon's empire watched with interest for a moment. He thought that the Black Lion wasn't in control, and now it was. So he called his other general to use the ion cannon. "Zethrid, use the ion cannon to shoot the Black Lion!"

"Why the black one?" Zethrid asked, confused.

Lotor explained. "There's something different about that lion. Its pilot isn't yet completely in control. And, Zethrid, just graze it. We don't want any permanent damage."

Zethrid rolled his eyes in annoyance while pressing some buttons. "Fine."

Back outside

As the Paladins had got rid of a whole swarm of fighters, all 5 readied themselves to face another wave as Hunk asked Haggar. "Haggar, what should we do?"

Haggar thought for a few seconds and said. "We need to attack the larger ship. Lance, Keith, you will distract the fighters! Katie, Hunk, you will destroy the main weapons on the ship! I'll head for the bridge."

The other Paladins nodded. "Right!"

While the other 4 did what Haggar told them to do, Haggar headed to attack the bridge. But then the ion cannon hit Haggar head on and blasted her backwards!

"Haggar!" Katie yelled in shock.

Haggar breathed in frustration, but recovered quickly. "I'm okay. I didn't know that Lotor had installed that ion cannon on his ship."

Lance then asked her with surprise. "Wait! You know that guy?!"

"More than you think, Lance." She said with dread.

Then the ion cannon fired again on Haggar, but this time she was prepared and fired back at the shot, stopping it in midair and before it exploded!

Lotor just smirked as he was impressed by this 'new' pilot that controlled the Black Lion. "Aha. Looks like this pilot can fight better after all." But then something hit the ship, making it shake. Lotor asked what was going on. "What was that?"

"It's the Altean ship." Acxa answered as the Castle was attacking their ship.

"Need some help?" Coran called while Allura fired another energy beam at the Galra fighters, destroying more of them.

"Thanks, Coran" Haggar said with a smile to the Keeper of Altea. Then she called out to the other Paladins. "Everyone! We need to form Voltron if we're gonna try and knock out Lotor's ship." Before they all nodded in agreement.

Acxa then asked Lotor. "What are your orders, sir? Should we fire on the lions?"

Lotor however knew already what the Lions are capable of if they formed Voltron and answered. "No, we've seen enough. Retreat." Before they all nodded and set course to leave the system.

All the Paladins cheered as they won. "We did it!" Lance called. "I mean, it was a little touch and go there for a second, but, yeah, we made it."

Katie said with pride, as she couldn't be any more proud of her Altean friend and sister like figure. "Haggar, you were awesome back there."

Haggar smiled. "Thanks Katie. Thank you all."

Keith however, wasn't so cheerful, as the revelation that Zarkon has a son worried him. "Now, we know that Zarkon has a son. But why haven't you told us, Haggar?"

Haggar sighed while she confessed. "Lotor hasn't been seen for a long time. Zarkon had sent him away to the furthest parts of the universe. Never thought he would eventually show up after..."

"After what?" Keith asked.

Haggar then said. "I'll explain to you guys later. Let's head back to the castle."

Later, on the castle

Haggar started to tell all she knew about Lotor. "What Lotor said was true. He is Zarkon's son."

"But how?" Hunk asked.

Haggar sighed again and looked with a look of regret. "It was not long after the destruction of Altea. Zarkon's men captured a few Altean survivors. Most of them were executed not long after by Zarkon. But one of them, a beautiful young Altean woman named Honerva caught Zarkon's eye. Instead of killing her instantly, Zarkon made her... his concubine." That last part came with disgust from Haggar while she told further "After a year… Honerva gave birth to a son, Lotor. Half galra and half Altean. Something that nobody saw was possible, as hybrids between Galra and other species were very rare. As the child grew, Zarkon saw his son's Altean heritage as a weakness. So, as his High Priestess, he ordered me to use quintessence to root out his weaknesses." It pained Haggar when she remembered how she tortured the child, Lotor and even enjoyed it. "Honerva then fell into a sickness that put her into a coma, so Zarkon chose to leave her in her coma to rot on a far away planet that only he knew about while also keeping her alive with the quintessence... while also keeping her a secret from Lotor...never letting him know about her... despite me wanting to tell him every day since."

All the Paladins, Allura and Coran couldn't believe what they heard from Haggar. Allura tried to comfort her lover through their mental link. Haggar nodded and told further. "But no matter how much I tried, Lotor never became the warrior his father wanted him to be. So when he became of age, Zarkon banished him, never to return. But now... he's back."

Allura could still feel the regret that Haggar was having for what she did to Lotor, when she was still Zarkon's High Priestess. She walked over to her, holding her close while she softly said. "You're not that evil person anymore, Haggar. It was Zarkon that ordered it all."

Haggar however, shook her head. "It's still no excuse. And now that Lotor is back, I can't imagine what he's going to do, now that he's ruling the empire in his father's place."

Katie came to her Altean friend and rubbed her arm. "Don't worry, Haggar. We'll get through this. With you as the new Black Paladin, we can defeat Lotor."

Haggar smiled and said while rubbing her hair. "Thank you, Katie."

Lance and Hunk were ensuring Haggar that she would do a great job as their new leader. But Keith... he was having different thoughts. Now that Prince Lotor had shown himself, he was worried what this would mean for the war, and all the people of the universe as his eyes frowned, as he thought that he had to do something.

Later

Haggar showed her new Paladin's armor, which had purple in it. Allura smiled, happy to see her lover in her new armor. "That new armor suits you well, Haggar."

Haggar nodded while saying. "Yes. I thought that this color would be the best choice to honor the Paladins of old...and Shiro."

Allura put her hand on Haggar's cheek and rubbed her red marks. "You're going to be a great leader to them, Haggar."

Haggar smiled at her lover and future wife. But as they were about to passionately kiss, Coran called to them. "Princesses! The Red Lion is leaving the castle!"

Haggar immediately contacted Keith. "Keith, where are you going?!"

While the Red Lion flew out of the castle, Keith answered by saying "I put a tracker on Lotor's ship. I'm going after him."

Haggar was immediately against this and ordered Keith to come back. "Keith! Come back to the castle, now!"

But Keith didn't listen, as he looked with a fierce look to where he was heading. "I'm not gonna stand by and watch another Zarkon take over. I'm gonna end this war, once and for all...by killing Lotor!"

"Keith! You come back to the castle immediately! That's an order!"

However, Haggar's words fell into deaf ears, as Keith just said. "Sorry Haggar, you're not getting through."

"KEITH! IF YOU DO NOT PULL BACK, I'LL-" But Keith just broke off contact and headed faster to Lotor's location as Haggar kept trying to contact Keith "Keith?! KEITH?! Damn it all! Paladins, get to your lions! We're going after Keith!" Before the remaining Paladins did just that.

"Haggar, I'm coming too. I want to help you and the others." Allura said with determination to help her darling princess and Katie.

"Allura, Keith is being extremely stupid and reckless right now. I don't know what will happen out there, but I don't think it will be good, especially since Lotor is involved." Haggar told her sweet princess with concern.

"I'll be alright, my darling princess. Katie built a new Voltron fighter that is more durable than the last 1. I promise you that I'll be careful and stay close to you and Katie while we're out there."

Haggar didn't want her sweet princess in danger, but she understood that her lover wanted to do more than just sit in the castle. So after thinking it over and knowing that they didn't have any more time, she nodded and quickly kissed her. "All right, my sweet princess, but promise me you'll be careful out there... please."

"I promise, my darling princess. And if anything goes wrong, I'll get out of there and return to the castle." Allura promised before they shared a hug and kiss before they headed to the hanger.

A bit later

Keith caught up with Lotor's ship on the other side of a nearby planet and just as he was about to engage the new Galra emperor's ship with the Red Lion, the other 4 Lions tried to keep up with him, while Haggar tried to order Keith to turn back now. "KEITH, YOU IDIOT! TURN BACK RIGHT NOW!" But Keith didn't respond and kept heading to Lotor.

Meanwhile, in Lotor's ship

Lotor found it interesting that only the Red Lion was about to attack his ship and sensed that there is some diversity between the Paladins, which he saw as a perfect opportunity to get rid of Voltron. So he prepared his fighter to attack the Lions himself. "Keep the ship on this heading until my return. Prepare my fighter. I'm going to deal with Voltron myself."

"You'll never take them all out alone." Zethrid said with concern.

"I don't need to. The diversity between the Paladins will help me with most of the work." Lotor said with a smirk.

"Haggar, I'm getting a single fighter on my screen, but I don't see anymore coming out." Hunk reported to his new team leader.

As sensed that the pilot of the fighter was Lotor, she warned the Paladins. "Watch yourselves, Paladins. It's Lotor who's flying that fighter, and he's far better at piloting than you think he is. Believe me, I know." Before she tried to contact Keith again. "Keith! You cannot fight Lotor all by yourself. You're going to be destroyed!"

But Keith did not hear her as he had shut down all his communications and kept heading to engage Lotor. Haggar then tried again, but again to no avail. "Keith, do you read me? Keith!" Before she told the others. "He's still not responding. Everyone, on me! We're going to help him."

The space fight was going well a bit, but Keith is doing most of the fighting against Lotor. But he could not get a clear shot at him and kept getting shot by Lotor's fighter. As 1 shot nearly took him out, he was saved in time by Katie. But instead of thanking her, Keith just pushed her Lion away hard. "Stay out of this, Pidge!"

"Keith, are you crazy? I'm trying to stop you from being stupid!" Katie told him, beginning to get mad at Keith for pushing her like that before Keith pushed her away from him harder.

"I'm not being stupid, Pidge. I'm stopping another Zarkon from taking over. If you don't like it, you and the others can get the hell out of here!" He told her, beginning to get angry.

That was when Allura tried to help. "Keith, you're acting crazy! Stop this madness now! You can't beat Lotor like this!" She yelled as Katie got close to Allura to help her get Keith to stop this madness.

When Katie tried to help Allura by getting to him the 3rd time...he pushed them both away again before turning on them. "I said... STAY OUT OF IT, YOU BITCHES!" Before he blasted them away with his blaster and kept attacking Lotor's fighter, who was heading toward Thayserix in order to lure the Paladins there.

When Lotor's fighter left and Keith followed him, the others checked on Allura and Katie to see if they were alright, with Haggar being the most worried about them. "Katie! Allura! Are you both alright?"

Allura and Katie groaned after she regained control of her Lion. "Yeah... I'm okay. I just hope that Keith didn't do any permanent damage to the Green Lion."

"Why did he do that to us?! We were just trying to help him! What is his problem?!" Allura asked as she regained control of her fighter.

Haggar became angry as to what Keith nearly did to her sweet princess and Katie but calmly said. "He's lost it, that's what his problem is."

Hunk then suggested. "So... should we call it quits? Maybe go back, regroup, get a meal and let Keith blow off some steam?"

Haggar shook her head. "No! We need to get Keith back to his senses, and I mean not in the polite way of getting him back to his senses. Where are Lotor and Keith heading?"

Katie checked to see which course Lotor's fighter set and said. "It looks like his heading towards a planet called Thayserix."

Haggar's eyes went wide in shock, as she knew how dangerous that planet was. "Oh no. Everyone follow me! We're going after them!"

As they all prepared to head to Thayserix, Hunk asked. "Haggar, you seemed to be very worried right there when Pidge mentioned about Thayserix. What's about that planet anyway?"

Haggar then explained. "The planet is made of dense gases and has unusual magnetic poles that distort and wreak havoc on normal sensors."

But that didn't really make any sense to Lance, so he asked. "Okay, can you be a bit more specific, Haggar?"

"Lotor is leading Keith into a trap, that's what I'm trying to say!"

Katie already knew how dangerous that sounded. "Of course, if we are there, our sensors will go blind." Before Haggar nodded as they headed towards Thayserix.

Unfortunately, Lotor's generals knew that as well and recalibrated his fighter to adjust to the planet so he wouldn't be harmed and his sensors wouldn't be affected in any way. "Keep the ship in orbit around Thayserix. All flush the Lions out 1by 1 for you to capture." Lotor ordered with an evil smile.

When the others got to the dangerous planet, nearly all of the Lions got into trouble because of the dense atmosphere of Thayserix, with their senses going offline before Allura fell behind and barely avoided crashing into a rock, but lost control and began to crash out of control. "Haggar, I can't get control!"

"ALLURA!" Haggar shouted in fear for her 1 and only love.

"Don't worry, Haggar! I'll go after her!" Hunk told his leader as he broke off to save Allura.

"Right behind you, Hunk." Katie said as she, Haggar and Lance followed Hunk.

Haggar looked at Keith, who was still following Lotor recklessly and carelessly with a very angry glare. "Keith, you reckless, careless and foolish bastard! You have put this team, especially my Allura and Katie in danger for the last time!"

As the others quickly found Allura and Hunk, Katie said with worry. "Allura, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm alright, Katie. I'm sorry I scared you all like that." Allura apologized.

"It's not your fault, my sweet princess. It's that bastard Keith's fault! He's the 1 who caused all this. Let's go find him and get out of here, and don't use talking, use whatever you have to do to restrain him, even if you have to injure the Lion or him to do it." Haggar told her team with seriousness.

"You got it, Haggar! After what he did to me and Allura, I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get back at that bastard." Katie said with understandable anger at Keith.

"Just keep close to Allura, Katie. I don't want anyone else hurt. We'll get Lotor another day. Let's just get Keith and get out of here." Haggar told her friend and the 1 who was like a sister to her and Allura.

When they all tried to find Keith and Lotor, they were being engaged by the new Galra emperor, with Keith firing his blaster, exploding a lot of gas that hurt the team greatly! But this time, Haggar was separated from the team, while Katie and Allura hid from Lotor. "I'm impressed with how you're able to hide, but I will find you." He said threateningly as Katie and Allura stayed close to each other.

Meanwhile

Keith now realized his mistake as he put the whole team in danger. "Oh man, I put the team in danger. Haggar was right. I fell for Lotor's trap. But they shouldn't have even come in the 1st place! Grrrrrrr! Guess I better go find them."

Meanwhile

Hunk was getting scared as he was alone out on this dangerous planet. "Hello? Anyone?" He asked before he saw something coming, which was revealed to be Haggar. "Haggar, you're alive! I'm so glad you found me."

"Where's Allura and Katie?" Haggar asked with worry for her true love and the 1 she thought as hers and Allura's sister.

"I'm sorry, Haggar, but I haven't seen them or Lance." Hunk answered sadly.

"What about Keith? Where is that bastard?!" Haggar asked with anger at the 1 who got them into this mess.

"Haven't seen him either. Hope he's hurt because this time, he's gone way too far!" Hunk said with the same anger.

Meanwhile

Lance concentrated and the Blue Lion spoke to him by activating a new power: a sonar map, which helped Katie and Allura avoid Lotor...but not before he wounded them both: Allura by crashing and breaking her right arm and Katie by her left leg getting burned as 1 of the systems exploded when Lotor hit her Lion! After Lance got Lotor away from them by luring him into the gas and freezing the left wing of his fighter, they found Keith, becoming very angry with him due to it being his fault for everything that had happened to them.

They then found Haggar and Hunk before Katie saw something. "Haggar, it looks like Lotor called for backup." Katie told her friend, spotting a Galra fleet above them in space.

"Haggar, my love, I'm scared." Allura cried while holding her broken arm.

"I know you are, my sweet princess, but we must work together to get out of here. All of you, listen to me. Because of Keith and his reckless and careless actions, we've all been put in danger. But we can still get out of this. We may have come here disorganized but Shiro always believed in us, including me when I went with you on your 1st mission. Honor him, honor Allura's father and the Paladins of old and let's take this fight to Lotor!"

Everyone agreed and after trying, they finally formed Voltron, despite everyone still very angry at Keith for what he did. After that, they got off Thayserix and engaged the Galra fleet, with Allura so happy that Haggar was now the head of Voltron and as such, had proven herself a worthy leader.

"Haggar, my darling princess, you've done it! You're now the head of Voltron!" Allura cried out happily.

"Thank you, my sweet princess." Haggar said sweetly and lovingly.

"How's it feel, Haggar? Feels like an honor, doesn't it?" Katie asked, happy for her Altean friend.

"A true honor, Katie." Haggar answered with a smile, happy to have the great honor of being the head of the legendary defender.

The Galra fleet fought back but with Haggar using her powers, they were easily outclassed and after most of the fleet was destroyed, Lotor and his generals escaped. "Haggar, Lotor's escaping." Allura told her lover.

"Let him go, my sweet princess. We'll fight him another day. Let's just get back to the castle." Haggar told them before they all headed back to the castle.

When everyone got out of their Lions and Allura got out of her fighter, Haggar saw Katie limping before she fell to the floor and Allura holding her arm that didn't seem to be moving. "Allura? Katie? Are you alright?" She asked with concern as Coran came in and checked on them.

"I'm afraid that Allura's arm is broken, Haggar." Coran said with worry before he got Katie's leg armor off and saw her leg, which had 2nd degree burns on it. "Oh by the ancients." He said with a gasp.

When Haggar saw how wounded her 1 true love and sister-like figure were, she was beyond enraged as her eyes glowed purple before looking at Keith, who began backing away in fear. "YOU!" She yelled before lifting him up with her power and breaking off his armor before throwing him into the walls 10 times, hurting him a lot before bringing him to her fast before she punched him hard in the gut, making him cough out a mouthful of blood. "YOU PUT THIS ENTIRE TEAM IN DANGER, NEARLY GOT EVERYONE OF US KILLED, BLASTED MY ALLURA AND KATIE AND GOT THEM GREATLY HURT! Before throwing him hard to the floor.

"You… shouldn't have... followed me in the 1st place, Haggar! If you hadn't come after me, I would have killed Lotor. It's all your fault, too!" Keith yelled back.

But this only got Haggar more angry. "You dare blame me for your mistake?! I told you not to go after Lotor and you would not listen to me! And because of you, my Allura and Katie are greatly hurt... AND YOU BLAME IT ALL ON ME?!" She asked with fury before she used her electric power to shock Keith, hurting the disgrace of a Paladins greatly as he yelled in pain!

"Haggar, stop!" Allura cried out, making Haggar stop as Katie hugged her legs to help calm her down.

"Haggar, he's not worth it. Please don't do this. We're angry with this bastard, too but he isn't worth killing." Katie cried as tears fell from her eyes.

"He does deserve to be punished, my darling princess, but not killed. We'll punish this bastard another way. Just stop and let's all just get some rest... please, Haggar." Allura cried as she touched her lover's cheek with her unbroken arm.

Haggar looked softly at Allura and Katie and knew that they were right. Keith deserved to be punished, but not so far as to die. She then kissed Allura on the lips and Katie on her forehead before looking angrily at Keith again before pulling him to her. "You are so lucky that my Allura and Katie were here to stop me, you disgraceful bastard, otherwise I would have taken your pathetic life. But just because I'm letting you live doesn't mean you won't go unpunished! You have endangered us all... for the last time." Before she put her hands on his head and her magic went into Keith's head before it stopped and Haggar threw him to the floor.

Keith was horrified, as he felt like something was taken from him inside. "What... what have you done to me?"

Haggar looked with anger and disappointment at Keith. "I've severed your connection to the Red Lion. You have crossed the line this time, Keith, by facing Lotor alone and putting us all in danger. Now you will live with the consequences of your actions. From this day forward, you are no longer the Red Paladin."

Everyone agreed with Haggar, as Keith had crossed the line for the last time. "Hunk and I will take Allura and Katie to the healing chambers, Haggar. It's best to get them healed right away." Coran said seriously before he gently took Allura while Hunk gently and carefully carried Katie.

"Do that, Coran. And when they're healed, send them both to mine and Allura's room. Katie is sleeping with us tonight. After you do that, get some rest. Lotor is still out there and I want him to pay for his part in this when we encounter him again." Haggar told everyone.

"Haggar, what about him?" Lance asked while pointing at the now former red Paladin.

"Take him to his room and lock him in there for the rest of the night. It'll give him time to reflect on what he's done." Haggar told her teammate as she looked at the disgraced Paladin 1 more time in anger before walking away, leaving Keith devastated, as he now saw that he should have learned to control himself sooner and not take the fight to the Galra all by himself as Lance took him to his room, threw him in and locked him in there.

During the night, Allura and Katie spent a few hours in a healing chamber, which completely healed their injuries before they went to Allura and Haggar's room, where Haggar had gotten some clothes for the both of them. After they took separate bathes, with Haggar bathing Allura and Katie to help them relax, the green Paladin got on the couch that Haggar had set up for her and quickly fell asleep before the Altean princesses did the same, snuggling close together and holding each other tightly as they drifted off to sleep.

There you go, my dear friends. The chapter is complete. Next is the Hole in the Sky episode. Rate and review. See you all soon, my dear friends.