The Legend Begins

In Zarkon's chamber

Dark Haggar was standing beside Zarkon, who was still in a coma, thinking of a way she could influence Lotor even more while making the comatose emperor her slave in the process. "All right, you pathetic, worthless weakling, let's see what memories are in that obsessive brain of yours first, and then the real fun begins." She said with an insane grin before touching Zarkon's face and using her power to see into his memories, seeing decades of his life, including a certain Altean woman who was nothing more than a personal concubine, making the evil sorceress grin as she kept looking for details about the concubine.

Meanwhile, in the castle on the bridge

Katie was looking at how she and her team and friends could locate Lotor by looking at the places he or his generals had been to. "He fought us here, his generals were here and he stole the comet here."

"So Lotor could be anywhere." Lance concluded.

"We'll never be able to find him unless we can figure out his plan." Shiro said. But we're totally missing the big picture."

"How about this question: why was Voltron made out of the same material as that comet? And what's so special about it?" Katie asked.

That was when Allura spoke. "My father discovered another comet like that before I was born."

"Your father... and Zarkon." Coran said with reluctance.

"So this was back when Zarkon was the pilot of the Black Lion?" Hunk asked

"Before that, before Alfor built the Lions, with help from Haggar's father and mother." Coran corrected.

"I know this is going to be painful to talk about, guys. But if we're going to stop Lotor, we're going to have to hear the rest of the story." Shiro said to his Altean friends with sympathy.

Coran looked at his princesses before they held hands and nodded. "In the beginning, the Paladins were just 5 leaders. Who despite coming from cultures that were vastly different, and in some cases, had been warring for centuries, managed to put aside their differences and work together to protect their common interests. What was once just an agreement to work alongside each other, soon became a true friendship. And together, they worked to rid their system of those who would do it harm."

Flashback

A group of masked bandits, two of whom ran past one who was firing a blaster, were fleeing from Alfor as he gave chase, but was too late to follow them as they ran into a cave and the door slid shut behind them. The bandits waited, prepared to attack, before pebbles began to falling from the ceiling as 1 of the bandits looked up just as Alfor dropped in from above onto his head, having cut a hole through the cave roof. Alfor sweeped his cape aside and readied his sword before looking up, eyes widening as he realized that he is badly outnumbered.

"Oh, dear." He said with a bit of embarrassment.

The bandits charged toward him, many of them dual-wielding daggers but Alfor managed to fend some of them off before being body-checked from the side, his sword flying out of his hand. The bandit who struck him leapt on top of him, making Alfor strain to keep away the blades, which were mere centimeters from his face, before both he and the bandit looked up at the sound of someone knocking people aside... before Zarkon rushed forward, throwing bandits aside with a club and knocking away the one attacking Alfor in one swipe before uppercutting another.

The other 2 unnamed male leaders knocked the other bandits aside as the female leader struke three with her staff before all the bandits were unconscious on the cave floor before the five leaders stood amidst the defeated bandits.

"I keep warning you not to break formation and run ahead, Alfor." Zarkon told his ally and friend as he and his fellow leaders looked at the Altean king. "You are much more knowledgeable as an alchemist than a soldier."

"That's what I keep you around for, Zarkon." Alfor said with humor as he smiled.

Later, on Diabazaal

In Zarkon's imperial palace, with warships flying overhead, at his banquet table, the five leaders, Alfor's wife Melenor, and Coran were all gathered and being served a meal by Galra waitstaff.

"The original paladins were Zarkon of planet Daibazaal, King Alfor from Altea, Gyrgan from Rygnirath, Trigel of the Dalterion Belt, and Blaytz from Nalquod."

Blaytz looked up to see a Galra servant offering him a tray with a full goblet and took it while speaking directly to the servant. "Pull up a bench and join the feast!"

But Zarkon cleared his throat, making Blaytz look startled and disgruntled as the Galra emperor handed his goblet to another servant while saying to his fellow leader. "You know that fraternizing with the servant class is not permitted. It erodes discipline."

"Well, perhaps a little bit of discipline erosion would do you good, Zarkon." Alfor told his friend.

"Something I will consider, the next time you are surrounded by Lambonite scavengers." Zarkon countered.

"I was handling myself."

Gyrgan smirked. "You mean, wetting yourself?"

Alfor glared at him as Trigel, Blaytz, Gyrgan, and Coran burst out laughing, with Blaytz doing a spit take and Coran hitting his head on the back of Alfor's chair. Even Melenor had a laugh at her husband's expense.

"Why I ever joined up with this band of scoundrels, I'll never know." Alfor said with a smile.

Trigel smiled. "Because we're the only 'band of scoundrels' that would have you." Before she stood up and lifted her goblet to make a toast. "To us!"

Suddenly, Trigel and Blaytz looked up and gasped as the ground started to rumble and the sky above them was lit up in an orange light.

"By Willow!" Gyrgan said with shock.

They looked up at the ceiling as the skylight gave them an exterior shot of Zarkon's palace and the city beyond as a comet smashed into the ground beyond the mountains, leaving a massive dust cloud and shockwave in its wake.

"They could have never known that that very night [shot of the five leaders standing on the mountains overlooking the crater, the fate of the universe would be changed forever."

Several weeks after the comet had hit Diabazaal, a huge energy dome was built around the crater, thanks to Alfor and his Alteans.

Inside the newly constructed facility, Zarkon met with Alfor, who was busy on studying the mysterious comet's ore. "I have finished evacuating all Galra citizens near the crater." Zarkon said as he walked up to Alfor "What have you discovered?"

Alfor was unsure and answered. "We're not sure. This comet is like none seen before. It seems to be made of a material that can pass between realities."

"What do you mean?" Zarkon asked, as his interest grew.

Alfor explained. "Well, I mean that sages have always theorized that there are many realities stacked side by side with each other." Both Alfor and Zarkon walked up to the center of the crater, now releasing small lights into the air. "Whole other universes with their own histories unbeknownst to us. But we never had any proof. Until now. When we moved the comet, we found this."

Zarkon took a look at the lightened center of the crater, which was now a rift into a whole different reality, while Altean and Galra scientists were studying it. Amazed by this, Zarkon said. "This... is another reality?"

Just then, an Altean woman and man walked up to Zarkon, with the man saying with a smile on his face. "This is... an historic moment for the whole universe."

The woman, clearly his wife, agreed with her husband "Most importantly, it could change the way we understand our entire universe."

Alfor introduced the Altean man and woman to Zarkon. "Zarkon, this is Lena and her husband Gafron. They are the best alchemists on Altea. I've asked them to come to Daibazaal and lead the scientific investigation."

Zarkon gave them a friendly nod. "A pleasure to meet you."

Lena and Gafron gave a friendly nod back, with Gafron saying. "It's an honor to meet you, emperor Zarkon."

Zarkon then asked Lena. "You're... sure that this rift into another universe could change everything?"

"More than we've hoped, Zarkon." Lena answered. "Down there, is an endless void of undiscovered knowledge, waiting to be shown to us."

Zarkon was very interested in what this rift could bring, especially to the Galra empire. "Then find out whatever you can. I will provide any support you and your husband require."

Lena gave another nod, being thankful for being provided all they needed for their research. "Thank you, Zarkon."

"King Alfor experimented on the comet's ore in his lab on Altea, as Gafron and Lena continued their research of the rift on Daibazaal. But Alfor visited often as the years passed. But the research was also taking a negative toll on the relationship between Gafron and Lena."

Lena and Gafron continued to research the rift on Daibazaal. However, as their work on the rift began to take up too much of their time, Lena had thought for a long time about starting a family with Gafron. They'd tried for years to have a child, but were always unsuccessful. And so, while Lena noticed that her husband was more into their work than her, they sometimes argued, with Lena saying that they should stop working on the rift and return to Altea, due to her missing her home planet and wanting to have a baby, but Gafron always refused, arguing with her that their work was more important than her wanting to go home and start a family.

A few years later

Zarkon and Alfor came to the research facility, to see Lena and Gafron's progress. While Gafron remained focussed on the monitor, Lena glanced at Zarkon and King Alfor, with a smile growing on her face.

Alfor friendly greeted the two Altean alchemists. "Lena, it has been a long time. And Gafron, working hard as always."

Lena gave a small bow. "It has been a long time indeed, King Alfor. How is Queen Melanor, now that she's expecting the next monarch of Altea?" She wandered, wanting to know how Alfor's wife was doing.

Alfor gave a smile back as he answered. "She's been doing alright. The doctors say that the baby is growing healthy."

Lena was happy about that great news, though she then looked a bit sad, as she and Gafron had still been unable to bare a child.

Alfor knew Lena's desire to have children one day and felt for her. But he remained friendly and asked Gafron. "How is our quintessence experiment, Gafron?"

Gafron pointed to the small experiment, without looking away from his monitor.

Alfor was amazed by how much energy one drop of quintessence could produce "It is amazing, Zarkon. Running for a full year on just one drop of quintessence, with no decline in revolutions per dobosh."

Lena nodded as she added. "No other energy source like this exists."

Gafron then said, while still typing things on the monitor. "The ships we're creating for us work on the same principle, and the ore from the comet practically engineers itself. This could provide an endless source of clean energy for the entire system."

Zarkon smiled as he thought what he could do with that much power for his empire. "And provide endlessly powerful ships for the Galra Empire."

Though Lena and Alfor didn't really like that idea for the newly found energy to be used for, they didn't say anything.

But then, a little screeching noise came from a big tube. "What is that?" Alfor asked, while the little violet orb creature moved around, trying to find a way to escape.

Lena tried to explain. "King Alfor... we..."

Gafron stopped working on the monitor, saying without showing much emotion. "My wife and I sent some signals into the neighboring reality and this creature answered the call. Nothing within our universe has been able to survive the passage through the rift. But somehow, he arrived unharmed."

"What?" Alfor asked in near shock "I thought we discussed this. We must exercise caution. We have no idea what is out there."

Lena apologized. "I'm sorry, King Alfor. I tried to convince Gafron to not send any signals, but-"

Gafron interrupted his wife, by saying in near anger "Don't you understand what we're about to discover right now, Lena? The ancients thought for millennia that lighting was shot from the bows of the gods until science proved otherwise. We must always push into dangerous territory. In pursuit of knowledge."

Lena shook her head and marched towards her husband, having had enough of Gafron's obbsesion. "No! King Alfor is right. We never should have done this. You've gone too far!"

While their argument heated up, the small creature looked with some 'interest' at Lena.

"Too far?!" Gafron asked, but then fired back. "We're on the brink of discovering the answer towards everything, Lena! And you want to throw that away!?"

Alfor tried to ease the argument. "Lena, Gafron, calm down."

Zarkon didn't say anything, but noticed the small creature's strange behavoir as it was looking at Lena.

Lena had enough of her husband's excuses and asked with a serious face. "Is it really for the best of the universe you try to search for, or only for your own personal glory?"

Gafron didn't answer, as he'd never seen his wife acting like this.

Lena frowned at Gafron, saying. "When we came to Diabazaal together, we were into this together as a team. But clearly you don't need me at your side to fill your thirst for knowledge... or even have a family together." As some tears formed in Lena's eyes. "I'm going back to Altea... today! Good luck with your new life, Gafron." Lena finished as she turned her back on her husband and was about to leave the facility.

Gafron was nearly shocked that Lena wanted to leave him and wanted to go after her. "Lena...! Wait, I-"

But then, the creature screeched out loud, making the others look in shock. Suddenly, the rift exploded as a huge wave of the same violet creatures emerged from the rift and suddenly grabbed Lena after remerging with its lost small part!

"LENA!" Gafron yelled out before he tried to help his wife, but was unsuccessful as Lena is dragged by the creatures, sending shockwaves throughout Lena's body, hurting her greatly (while also secretly fertilizing the egg cell in her womb).

But thanks to Zarkon and Alfor, Lena was saved as the facility was being destroyed but they were able to get out in time.

"King Alfor and Gafron erected a particle barrier around the crater, containing the creatures. But it wouldn't hold forever."

As the wave of creatures tried to escape the barrier, thousands of Galra soldiers were stationed around the crater, to be sure that if the creatures escaped, they would destroy them on sight. But all were nervous, as they weren't sure that they could stop the creatures.

As Lena lay unconscious in a hospital bed, while being checked by the doctors. Gafron had been extremely worried about her condition.

The female Galra doctor then answered, giving some relief to Gafron. "Your wife is going to make it. Surprisingly, none of her organs seemed to have been damaged. I advise that she should take it easy from the next few months."

Gafron gave a nod. "Thank you, doctor." And as the doctor left, Gafron sat next to Lena, holding her hand, saying. "I'm so sorry, Lena... you were right. I should have listened to you." He said with regret before he stroked her chin, hoping she would awake.

At that moment, Zarkon came into the room, asking. "How is she?"

Gafron stood up as he said. "The doctor said she's going to make it, but..." Before he worriedly looked out the window, seeing the creatures trying to break through the barrier. "This is all my fault. I should never have sended those messages to another reality. Now all of Diabazaal... no, the whole universe will suffer for my selfishness."

Zarkon shared Gafron's worry. "Once those creatures escape, my forces will quickly be overrun. Let us hope that Alfor's experiment will save us."

Gafron hoped the same, but then returned to his wife's side, vowing to himself as he held her hand. 'I promise... when this is all over... we will return to Altea... and start a family of our own. As we've always dreamed about.'

Later

Alfor, Zarkon, Gyrgan, Blaytz, and Trigel were going down in an Altean elevator when Zarkon spoke. "I trust this plan of yours will work, Alfor.

Suddenly a bright white light flashed off the glass of the elevator, drawing all the leaders' attention as they turned to see a large, lion-like head, making Blaytz Trigel, Blaytz, Zarkon, and Gyrgan gaze in awe, while Alfor smiled with pride.

"By Willow!" Gyrgan said in awe as he and the other 4 leaders, who are looked at the magnificent creations.

"Incredible!" Trigel said with amazement.

"Alfor, they're amazing. How do they work?" Zarkon asked.

"I made them from the quintessence-infused ore of the comet, which provides them with an endless supply of power." Alfor explained.

Zarkon was amazed at seeing this. "Remarkable!"

Alfor also added. "The comet alloy also renders them nearly indestructible."

"What sort of weaponry do they have?" Blaytz asked.

"This is where things become more...interesting. Altean alchemy can accomplish some incredible feats of engineering, as you know, but...in testing my ship, I started to feel some sort of...psychic link. I'm not sure how to explain it, but the ship...it wasn't just reading my mind. It was communicating with me. They seem to be evolving. We don't yet know what powers these ships possess, but we may gain understanding with time." Alfor explained while sharing his experience with his new creations.

But Zarkon was against that idea of understanding the ships with Time. "Time?! Time slips away even as we stand here! My people will soon be slaughtered by dark creatures from another realm! Without these ships, all hope is lost!"

"I understand. It may take some doing. These are not regular ships to be chosen at a whim. You do not pick the beast; the beast will choose you." Alfor told his fellow leaders

Later, outside of Alfor's castle

After doing as Alfor had said and the Lions had chosen who would pilot them, the 5 leaders rocketed their Lions around Altea's bridges and towers before launching into the atmosphere before the Blue Lion slowed down to savor the moment before shooting upward to join the rest while Blaytz whooped in delight.

When they got to the outskirts of the rings of Altea, Alfor told everyone through his comm. "Now go easy at the beginning. This is greater energy than you have ever worked with before."

"Perhaps you should lead the formation, Alfor. You have a greater understanding of the vessels than anyone." Zarkon suggested to his friend.

"I'm a better alchemist than military leader, Zarkon. I'll stick with being your right hand." Alford told his friend.

Zarkon accepted that. "Very well, then. On my mark, paladins! Right flank, Alfor and Blaytz! Left flank, Trigel and Gyrgan!" He ordered before the Lions as they shot forward and began to fly upward in formation.

Later on Daibazaal

The rift creatures were growing stronger and more intense. And, working together as one, they rocketed upward and smashed their way through the barrier, becoming one to form a quadrupedal monster with a gold symbol at the head!

The Galra sentries fired, but the creature fired a laser from the gold mark, destroying them before the resulting explosion was seen over the mountains as Lena and Gafron were watching from Zarkon's palace.

Suddenly the Black Lion soared above them, making the couple astonished as the Black Lion flew close to the ground with the others. "Paladins! I'll fly ahead and divert its attention! The rest of you, attack from all sides!" Zarkon ordered before the Black Lion fired its laser through a column of smoke and flew straight through the creature. "Fire!" He said before the monster fired its lasers at the other four Lions as they flew around it and shot with their lasers! "Keep firing!"

The Blue Lion fired at the monster and shot across its back before several rift creatures broke off and pursued him. He evaded them for a moment, but they eventually trapped the whole Lion.

"These blasted things are covering me!" Blaytz said with worry.

Alfor watched as the creatures began to pull the Blue Lion to the ground. "Blaytz!" He cried out before he fired the Red Lion's mouth cannon, which dispersed the creatures as the monster fired its laser again.

But the Blue Lion was freed and flew up to join Alfor. "Th...thanks, Alfor!"

"Anytime!"

The Yellow Lion suddenly cut in between them as Gyrgan charged downward while screaming as he began to spin the Yellow Lion like a drill toward the monster. "Spinning head smash!"

But the monster opened a hole in its back, making Gyrgan panic, but it was too late, as the Yellow Lion collided with the ground. Fortunately, it drilled through and flew out of the ground a few yards away and joined the Black and Red Lions in the sky.

"I can't hit it!" Gyrgan said with worry.

"Fall back, paladins!" Zarkon ordered. "We must regroup!"

Alfor then closed his eyes as the interior began to glow. "Wait! We must come together in formation!

Trigel was confused at that. "What? Why?"

"I don't know, but somehow I can feel it." Alfor answered honestly.

The Lions came together in formation and began to fly upward together as their rocket exhausts began to glow yellow, green, purple, red, and blue.

"Hey, I feel it!" Gyrgan said as he felt something happening.

"I do, too! What's happening?" Trigel asked.

The Lions themselves began to glow as Alfor, who heard the roar of a Lion as the glowing eyes of a face shined behind him in his mind, as he saw a vision of the Lions flying toward a massive humanoid figure made up of all 5 of them.

"Voltron!" Alfor said

As Voltron's face shined, Galra sentries, who looked up at the sound of something smashing against the ground. Before they and the monster looked up to see a brilliant blue light in the sky as the 5 leaders all shouted in determination while Voltron flew implacably downward and its right arm punched the rift monster downward, making the creatures disperse as a shockwave sent dust and earth out over the ground before it parted to reveal Voltron standing tall.

"I can't believe we did it!" Blaytz said with amazement.

"How did this come about?" Trigel asked with amazement.

Gyrgan eyes were shining with joy. "Am I a leg?"

"This power...it's unbelievable!" Zarkon said with astonishment as he felt such unbelievable power.

"This...is Voltron." Alfor said, giving the robot his future name.

Voltron turned as the ground began to rumble and when the rift creatures launched out of it, the monster re-formed before firing its laser at the robot's left side, making Trigel gasp as she braced for impact before looking up and realizing that the robot had formed a shield!

"A shield!" She said with amazement.

"Well done, Trigel!" Zarkon commended.

The monster then fired two more lasers, overwhelming Voltron by the force and throwing it backward before the creatures swooped in and formed a whirling dome around Voltron.

"It's trying to rip into us!" Zarkon said, knowing what the creature was trying to do.

"We have to get it off!" Blaytz told his fellow leaders and friends.

Alfor was suddenly alerted to a port on the right side of his console, as his Lion communicated with him again, as if telling him how to defeat the creature. "I know what to do!" He said before he summoned the red bayard, plunged it into the port and twisted it.

The Red and Green Lion's jaws then came together and slid apart to form a sword, which sliced its way around the rift creatures. The monster took one final humanoid form, full of glowing blue cuts before exploding as the leaders gazed in awe.

Lena and Gafron watched as Voltron destroyed the creatures. "Gafron... it's unbelievable."

Gafron agreed, having no words of what they had just witnessed.

After the battle was over, Gafron and Lena met with Zarkon and Alfor. Lena watched with astonishment at the sight of the Lions and asked. "Alfor. This was the experiment you were working on?"

Alfor nodded. "Yes. Together, these ships... these Lions...form Voltron."

Gafron was finally able to say something, as he saw that Voltron had given him hope. "It is incredible, King Alfor." However, he then apologized. "I'm sorry for everything, my king. This is all my fault."

Alfor ensured him. "It is alright, Gafron." Before he then looked down at the rift. "We must find a way to seal up this rift, so Diabazaal or the universe will ever be threatened again."

However, Zarkon disagreed. "Perhaps not. Look at what we've gained, Alfor. Your ships are the most powerful machines ever created. Who knows what else may be discovered if we continue working?"

Alfor couldn't believe what Zarkon was saying, neither did Gafron and Lena. The female Altean had enough of it and told Zarkon. "Continue working?! The rift nearly destroyed Diabazaal."

"Those creatures nearly destroyed Diabazaal." Zarkon said back.

Gafron too shared his worries and agreed with his wife. "No, Lena is right. We cannot do this any longer. You would risk your entire planet, the entire solar system, the whole universe, for what? For more power?"

Though Zarkon hadn't expected Gafron to object to his ideas, the Galran emperor said. "You know it's more than that. You, who have dedicated so much to this project."

Now Alfor was the one that objected to Zarkon's insane plan. "Zarkon, we already have Voltron. You have to know when it's enough."

"I'LL DECIDE WHAT'S ENOUGH ON MY PLANET!" Zarkon yelled, surprising Alfor, Lena and Gafron. Zarkon sighed as he took a moment to control his anger. "I'm sorry, Alfor. The work will continue."

Gafron shook his head as he held his wife close. "Then... you can do it without us."

This surprised Zarkon. "What?!

"This rift nearly destroyed everything I held dear. I cannot be a part of this."

Lena couldn't believe that her husband had finally seen the writings on the wall and smiled brightly.

Gafron then walked away with Lena, saying. "We're going back to Altea. Farewell, Zarkon..."

Zarkon frowned as the Altean alchemists turned their back to him, but regardless, he was going to continue the work, with or without his allies.

"So, even without Gafron and Lena to help him, Zarkon continued his experiments on the rift. Despite their differences, Zarkon and Alfor, along with the other Paladins, established a new era of peace and prosperity. It was an age of exploration and Voltron became known as the Defender of the Universe. Establishing the legend that would live on to this day."

1 month later

After returning to Altea, Lena discovered that she was pregnant, much to her great joy and Gafron's as well. The 9 month of pregnancy was a bit joyful and hard at the same time as Lena went through the puking, cravings and mood swing phases as her belly grew. But the couple was strong and we're going through it together for the sake of their future child.

But when the day of delivery had come, the baby had complications at birth and had died for a few seconds. But miraculously, the baby girl was brought back to life by some strange magic that the doctors couldn't explain.

When Lena held her baby in her arms for the 1st time, she cried out of happiness, with Gafron at her side. After Lena had recovered, she and Gafron visited King Alfor and Queen Melanor, who held her baby princess, who'd been born a few months before Haggar and had been named Allura.

As the years passed and Haggar grew into a strong and very knowledgeable Altean prodigy, getting good grades in every 1 of her classes and achieving so much that she was able to skip a few grades, especially her classes in studying the quintessence, making Gafron so impressed with his daughter that wanted to further her education by taking her across the universe, and also due to her powers, which were growing exponentially with every passing year to the point where she could even rival Voltron himself.

But he wasn't the only one interested in Haggar's powers and knowledge. Zarkon learned of Haggar through spies that he'd sent to watch Gafron and Lena. But in the process, he'd learned of Haggar and what she was capable of and told his spies to watch the child very closely.

After they'd reported everything they'd learned of Haggar to their emperor through her childhood to her teenage years until she turned 14, Zarkon invited Gafron to Diabazaal to talk with him about his daughter. "Hello, my old friend, how have you been doing?"

"I've been doing fine, Zarkon. My wife is still working while making time for our little prodigy. My little Haggar is becoming smarter and more knowledgeable every day. I dare say that she'll surpass her parents 1 day. And for a number of reasons, I've decided to take my daughter across the universe to further her education." Gafron answered with pride for his daughter.

Zarkon didn't seem to like that and asked. "What if... she did need to travel across the universe?"

"What do you mean?" Gafron asked with a raised eyebrow.

"These powers she has, they continue to grow with each passing year. And her knowledge on the quintessence has already surpassed even yours. But without a proper teacher for her, the things you've been worried about will eventually happen. But...if she is educated and trained in the proper way, she could reach her full potential. What I'm proposing...is that you bring Haggar to Diabazaal, to help me with the rift...as my High Priestess."

Gafron didn't like what Zarkon wanted to do with Haggar, as something in him told him that the Galra emperor was only interested in Haggar's growing powers. And how did Zarkon even know about Haggar's powers when not even King Alfor knew about it? "I'm sorry, Zarkon, but Haggar will not be setting foot on the planet as long as that rift is on it."

"That wasn't a request, Gafron! Your daughter is the key to immortality! The ones who took yours and your wife's places discovered that when their cat was sick and treated him with the quintessence! Because of that, he's lived beyond his normal lifespan! If they could discover that, imagine what your daughter could do with it! And if I taught her to reach the full extent of her powers, and combined her with Voltron, the universe could be a far better place and the Galra empire would be unstoppable!" Zarkon yelled before looking Gafron in the eyes. "You will bring your daughter here and she will become my High Priestess, like it or not!"

At this point, the Altean alchemist now had his final reason to send Haggar off to study to learn to control her powers: to keep her as far away from Zarkon as he could. "Never, Zarkon, you will never have my daughter! As soon as I return to Altea, we're taking my daughter and we're leaving the planet for good! I'm Haggar's father and I know what's best for her! Goodbye, Zarkon, I hope we never meet again."

Zarkon was furious, but Gafron walked away, leaving Diabazaal behind him for good. 'I will have your daughter, Gafron. Her power will be mine, 1 way or another. That is my promise.'

But a few hours after Gafron left, King Alfor had arrived and informed him that because of the rift, Diabazaal was fracturing and that soon the structural integrity would destroy the entire planet. But instead of listening, Zarkon told his fellow Paladin of his discovery about the quintessence and tried to ask him to bring Gafron's daughter to him and his intentions for her and his ultimate goal of ruling the universe for all eternity. But Alfor thought of it all as madness and that prolonged exposure to the quintessence had poisoned and corrupted his mind before leaving, despite Zarkon trying to command him to help with his insane plans.

5 years later

Zarkon still planned to have a now 19 year old Haggar at his side and to open up the rift even further using Voltron. But he needed his allies to do it. So he manipulated them by lying about coming to his senses and wanting to finally close the rift, making them all agree with him, even Alfor.

"But Alfor's compassion for his old comrade blinded him to Zarkon's true plans.

After Voltron had cleared the way, the Paladins formed the sword and stabbed it into the rift to make it bigger in order to gather the power of the quintessence to finally close it. But it was all a lie in order for Zarkon to expose himself to it. So, unknowingly helping Zarkon in his plan, they did as Zarkon ordered and opened the rift further but Voltron ended up falling into the rift, rendering the Paladins unconscious. But when they finally awoke, Alfor saw Zarkon get out of Voltron and expose himself to the quintessence just as he had planned before another creature just like the 1st one came and wrapped itself around Zarkon, turning his eyes purple as a sign that he was fully corrupted.

Alfor then ordered his fellow Paladins to fire all the lasers, destroying the creature before grabbing an unconscious Zarkon and getting out of the rift. But after they got out, they looked at Zarkon and saw that he wasn't moving and Alfor checked his pulse, finding no heartbeat. It was then that the other Paladins thought Zarkon to be dead.

"But Zarkon had succumbed to overexposure to the quintessence. The other Paladins had been deceived by him and had unwittingly enlarged the rift, which further destabilized planet Diabazaal. And so, King Alfor was forced to evaluate the planet. He then destroyed the rift the only way he knew how: by destroying the Galra Homeworld. King Alfor and Queen Melanie held a state funeral for Zarkon in their Royal hall, but what happened next, they could never have guessed."

As king Alfor and Queen Melanor held a state funeral for Zarkon in their royal hall, Allura was contacted by her one true love, Haggar, who informed her that she was finally coming home.

Meanwhile, Zarkon came back to life, resurrected because of quintessence. And once he was strong enough to get up, he went to the door and asked the soldier guarding it in a more deeper and monstrous voice. "Where am I?"

"On your ship, Sire." The soldier answered nervously.

"Take us home." Zarkon ordered, wanting to make a plan for capturing Haggar and forcing her to become his High Priestess by force.

"I-i can't, Sire. Diabazaal...has been destroyed." The soldier said with regret, making Zarkon angry.

A short time later, Zarkon had made a galaxy wide announcement to all Galra that even King Alfor and his other fellow Paladins saw, while secretly making a plan to capture Haggar. "My fellow Galra, King Alfor of Altea has destroyed our planet. He must pay dearly for his crimes. Rise up and join your Emperor! Revenge will be ours."

"Zarkon had become pure evil, obsessed only with quintessence. In order to open a new rift between realities, he needed Voltron. And so, the war began. The Galra immediately responded to their leader and attacked. The peaceful planets of our system were not prepared. Soon, they had all fallen, except for Altea. During the assault, most likely Haggar and her parents were captured and then... well, you already know what happened. In a final attempt to keep Voltron from Zarkon's hands, the Lions were sent to the far corners of the universe, Zarkon flew into a rage. He killed King Alfor, then avenged the loss of Daibazaal with the destruction of Altea, making it nearly uninhabitable and wiped out the rest of the Alteans."

Flashback end

After hearing this tale from Coron, the human Paladins and even Keith and Shiro were shocked to hear this.

"So, that's Lotor's plan." Katie/Pidge said with dread. "To cross into other universes and get the purest quintessence possible."

Haggar sadly nodded. "That was another reason that he needed me. Once Zarkon had his hands on Voltron, he would have made me make the purest quintessence. Making him like... a god."

Just then, Haggar saw a flashback before her eyes, remembering something that her father had told her during their journey back to Altea.

Sensing that Haggar had seen something, Allura asked worriedly. "Haggar, what is it?"

"I... I remember now." Haggar said. "My father... he told me that the source of my powers came... from those creatures that had attacked Daibazaal."

The others had no idea what Haggar meant by that before Katie asked her confused. "From the creatures from the other reality? What do you mean?"

Keith had a sudden feeling where this was going. "Hang on... the creatures that... grabbed your mother and..." He started before he then realized what it meant. "No way."

Haggar sadly nodded. "Yes. I was only born because... of those creatures from the other reality. When they grabbed my mother that day over 10.000 years ago, those creatures had somehow... fertilized one of my mother's egg cells, thus... I was then created."

The others couldn't believe what Haggar was telling them, even Allura was in shock as this had never before happened before.

"My... father told me when we were on our way back to Altea. He said that after I unleashed my powers the first time when I was 4 and were attacked by those predators on that safari planet, he... did some checks and... he saw that my genetics only came from my mother... but none from him. So in other words... though he raised me as my father... he wasn't my biological father."

"So... that is why your strength is possibly equal to that of Voltron. You gained those powers because of those creatures from another reality." Coran said, realizing now how Haggar was born with her powers and her naturel knowledge of quintessence.

Haggar had just given them a nod, when suddenly she gasped as she had more flashbacks, starting to see herself, growing inside her mother's womb. And on the day she was born, a power awakened within her, nearly killing her.

Flashback

After Lena gave a final push, Haggar was born, but didn't make any cry or sound.

The Altean doctor said with a smile. "It's a girl." But as she checked, she saw that the baby wasn't breathing, nor moving. "Oh no..."

Lena's heart froze as she realized what had happened. "No!"

Gafron too was in shock.

Another doctor and a nurse came to check on the baby. But after a few minutes of examining her... the male doctor sadly shook his head as he glanced at Lena and Gafron. "I... I'm so sorry. She didn't make it."

"No! No, my baby! No!" Lena cried, while Gafron held her, letting her cry on his shoulder, as he too was sad, seeing that the child they'd always wanted was stillborn.

While the nurse was about to place the deceased baby into a different cradle, a small purple light came from Haggar's heart, unbeknownst to anyone. As the light faded, Haggar's heart started to beat, making baby Haggar gasp for air as she cried out loud!

Everyone was shocked by what had just happened, with the parents being both in shock and happiness.

The nurse and doctors quickly checked baby Haggar with their equipment, with all being surprised that she was alright and healthy.

"By the ancients... it's a miracle." The doctor said with a smile, as they'd all truly witnessed a miracle as the baby had suddenly been brought back to life.

A nurse quickly cleaned her, covered the baby in a blanket and carefully handed her over to Lena. "She's alright."

An overjoyed Lena took her baby, crying out of happiness that her child was alive before she kissed her on the forehead while holding her close.

Gafron was also happy to see that their child was alive and asked Lena. "What shall we name her?"

Lena smiled at her husband, saying. "Let's call her: Haggar."

Gafron gave a nod. "Yes. Haggar. A fine name for a strong girl like her."

Flashback end

Then Haggar saw another flashback, seeing King Alfor and Queen Melanor visiting them a few days after her mother had brought her into the universe.

Flashback

Baby Haggar then saw baby Allura, who Melanor held close to her. "Allura. Say hello to Haggar. She was born a few months after you were and will do great things for the whole universe. Just as you will 1 day when you're queen."

Baby Allura gave a smile and reached out her hand to baby Haggar, and she did too. As their hands touched, Haggar had sent some kind of small energy into Allura, making both babies eyes glow white for 1 second before the two baby girls looked at each other and then began to laugh.

"Your Majesty, how about we let our babies play together while we catch up on things? I'm sure they would really love that." Lena suggested with a smile.

"That's an excellent suggestion, Lena. Let's take them to the play room. Your little Haggar will just love the toys in there. My baby sure does." Queen Melanor said with a smile before both mothers took their daughter's to Allura's playroom.

When they got there, they placed the babies safely on the very soft floor, not having to worry about anything as nothing was in the room but toys and a small pallet with pillows and a blanket made for 2 babies, along with a few monitors with speakers on them so they could see and hear what the babies were doing.

The mothers then said gently and softly to their children. "Now, you and your new friend enjoy your playtime together, my dearest Allura. But no rough playing, alright?"

"Same goes for you, my sweet little Haggar. No hurting the newborn princess and your future queen, okay?" Lena gently told her infant daughter, before both babies smiled and nodded. "Good girls. Your Mommies will be back in a while. Have fun." She said before she and the Altean queen left the room, with the monitors turned on after the door closed.

Baby Haggar and baby Allura then looked at each other and gave cute little smiles at each other before the baby princess gently pushed Haggar down and started to tickle her, making little Haggar laugh with joy. "Hahahahaha. Hahahahaha. Hahahahaha."

When baby Allura stopped, Baby Haggar then tickled her new friend back, making the baby princess laugh with the same joy. "Hahahahaha. Hahahahaha. Hahahahaha."

When both babies stopped tickling each other, they began playing with the toys in the room, beginning with taking turns wearing the helmet Zarkon gave Allura for her birthday present before playing with the baby rattle.

Baby Haggar then saw a softball and eagerly crawled over to it before rolling it around with her tiny hands before little Allura crawled over to Haggar and hugged her from behind.

"Whaa ohh pa pa pa." Baby Haggar cooed while patting the ball.

"Waaaa oohhhh. Wwaaa. Hahahahaha." Allura cooed while clapping her tiny hands.

Little Haggar then crawled away with the ball before turning around and sitting down, ready to roll the ball with her new friend before the 2 baby girls rolled the ball around the room between each other as they crawled around the room.

For the next hour, the 2 baby girls played with each other, having fun with all the toys until they felt sleepy, having tired themselves out while playing and having fun.

The babies then yawned while rubbing their cute little eyes before baby Allura crawled into her pallet and layed down on her pillow before patting the other side, as if inviting her new friend on the pallet with her.

Baby Haggar cooed and smiled before crawling over to baby Allura before they covered up together and layed down on the pillows before both babies looked into each other's cute eyes and smiled before baby Allura hugged baby Haggar close to her, making little Haggar hug her new friend back as they fell asleep together.

A few hours later, both mothers came back and were awed by seeing their little girls sleeping closely together. The cute sight made both mothers very happy but also sad because Lena was going to leave Altea for a few years with her baby, because of her husband, making both a bit guilty to separate their little girls, as it looked like they could be great friends for life.

Lena then took her little miracle baby in her arms, waking baby Haggar in the process before the infant looked at her mother. "Time to go, sweetie. We have a long journey ahead of us in a few hours and we shouldn't be late to meet your father."

But when Lena turned to leave, they heard the baby princess, who was in her mother's arms, cooing as she reached out for baby Haggar, making the Altean mothers smile before they held their babies close together.

The baby princess then drew Haggar in for a hug, making baby Haggar smile before she hugged back, making the mothers say "Awww." Before they separated.

When Lena turned to leave again, baby Haggar saw Allura wave her little arm at her. "Ba ba."

Baby Haggar waved back as she was carried away by her mother. "Ba ba."

And from that day forward, a powerful bond between both Altean babies was formed, a bond that would 1 day reunite them, allowing it to increase even more and eventually, become something more special for both babies when they grew up.

Back in the present

Haggar was shocked to see her infant life flash before her eyes, not having even known that she still had those memories.

Allura was worried about Haggar's sudden condition, but then Haggar suddenly held her sweet princess close to her. "Oh, Allura. I finally know now why we are bonded."

Confused, Allura asked. "What do you mean?"

"I... I just saw me and you... as infants... touching each other's hand. That very moment, Allura, I... I had accidentally sent some of my power to you."

Allura's eyes went wide after Haggar said that.

"This is why our bond is so strong, it was because of me having yet any control over my powers. This accident... forced our bond together, a bond that re emerged when we met again as 8 year olds and only grew stronger the more we were together. And a bond that had even stood strong after 10,000 years."

Seeing the real reason why she and Haggar had such a strong spiritual, physical and mental bond, she smiled as she shook her head. "No, my darling princess, it was no accident. It was fate that we were brought together. It may have separated us for thousands of years, but the strong bond between us eventually brought us back together. And now we're finally together as we should have been, regardless of everything that tried to keep us apart."

Haggar smiled before both princesses then hugged and though everyone was happy for Allura and Haggar, Keith however showed some worries, now knowing why Lotor needed the comet. "No matter the cost, we have to stop Lotor."

Everyone agreed with Keith, even Haggar gave a nod, knowing how dangerous Lotor's ambitions could be if he ever gained even stronger quintessence than Zarkon ever had.

Meanwhile, with Dark Haggar

After the insane madwoman found out everything that she needed to know about the Altean woman, who was really Lotor's long lost mother, Honerva, she finally got what she needed to get Lotor as her personal pawn. "At last, I have everything I need now." She said with an insane grin before looking at Zarkon. "And unfortunately for you, weakling fool, your usefulness to me... will soon run its course. But don't worry, I'll keep you around a bit longer... before your son becomes my personal lust slave and eventually, my personal puppet. Enjoy the last days of your pathetic life... while you can. Hahahahaha. Hahahahaha. HAHAHAHAHA!" She laughed before leaving the chamber... before Zarkon's eyes... opened, the Galra emperor having finally awoken from his coma and having a strong sense for revenge on Voltron and Haggar and having a score to settle with his weak son and even his new High Priestess.

There you go, my dear friends, the Legend Begins chapter is complete. Next will be the Code of Honor episode. Rate and review and I'll see you next time, my dear friends.