Chapter 15: Fear and Memories(Marinette' POV)
That was too close, way too close. She could have died on that spaceship if it weren't for Thace pushing her off. She starts to tremble as she remembers Thace sacrificing himself for the good of the universe. It is too much, but Marinette must perverse, the universe depends on her as the Red Paladin.
Her eyes widen in surprise at the visible teludav. Shouldn't the teludav being invisible have lasted a lot longer. Then the Central Command Center disappears and they follow to finally put an end to Zarkon.
The other paladins are in their lions, flying right next to her. They form Voltron to destroy the Central Command Center. But Marinette's heart isn't in it.
Her first real mission as a paladin, where she actually gets to fight instead of just protect, and things aren't going great. She needs to go into the Galra Central Command and shut off the power, and then Thace dies protecting her, when she can take care of herself.
She is not a damsel in distress, but why does it keep feeling like she is? Maybe because this war that she's been dragged into by accident is making her actually feel scared and worried. Whereas after an akumas is defeated, use the lucky charm to fix all the damage.
But this war is much more real than that.
Lives have been lost because of Zarkon and his Empire. Lives have been lost. Death has actually happened. Like with Thace sacrificing himself. And this scares her. Suddenly the reality of her situation comes crashing down on her.
Tears well up in her eyes, but before she can focus a voice rings in her head, "What is that!"
She tears herself away from the huddle that she put herself in and looks out the window. A robeast is coming straight toward them, or at least she thinks it's one.
But she has to focus on forming Voltron, but as she does so, it triggers a memory.
"Marinette, that was some fancy flying," teases Lance. "That's not true. I failed, again. If I can't fly this pod then, I won't be able to fly Red! And then Voltron will be weak!"
Allura nods, "This is serious, Lance. She needs to learn how to be a pilot. And if she can't, then we'll have to find another Red Paladin."
"That's cold Allura. Marinette is trying! You can't expect everyone to master piloting in a day! Me and Shiro have had tons of practice, and Hunk and Pidge know the basics because if the pilot is down, someone from the crew has to take over piloting otherwise the whole crew will die."
"But she's right Lance. If I can't learn how to pilot an Altean pod within a week…"
"It doesn't matter! Red chose you for a reason. If she didn't you wouldn't have been able to fly the Lion back from the Blades base. Or show us how much you know about how to pilot a spaceship. And Allura Voltron can't go around the Galaxy to find a replacement for Marinette. She may not be Keith, but she's the best we got."
Lance's past words make her feel better, and she puts her Bayard in to activate Voltron's sword. But it doesn't ease her fear that something could happen and that she might be able to Lucky charm her way out of this.
Her mind goes back to the Balmerans and how a frozen robeast came to life endangering them. Of course she had no fear then, she had to protect the citizens at all costs. Which is why after that battle she felt exhilarated and that she finally belonged. Because she finally piloted Red with ease.
"Good work Marinette! You actually did some fancy flying." Lance praised her. Allura nodded and said nothing. As if her replacing the Red Paladin still stings. She reminded herself that Allura is probably more occupied with the plan to defeat Zarkon and his Empire.
Shiro also congratulated her, "I knew you could do it, Ke...Marinette." He smiled, as if he didn't almost say her name as Keith, again.
It stings a little that she is still under Keith's shadow. After she just proved herself to be worthy of piloting Red.
Hunk said, "Why don't we celebrate? Marinette just piloted the Red Lion! And helped us in battle and helped us save the Balmerans!"
Pidge nodded, "I don't see anything wrong with that. Marinette definitely deserves to celebrate this achievement. Like we did when we finally were able to work as a team."
Lance clapped his hands, "Then that settles it!"
Marinette smiles at the pleasant memory. Everything seemed so simple and not as life threatening then. Then the strangest thing happens, the lights go out in the Red Lion. She tries, and sees that the Lion isn't responding to her commands.
As she looks out her Lion's window she can tell that the other lions also aren't working. Then the Zarkon robeast manages to split Voltron, and she cries out in pain at the forceful split. Her vision gets blurry, but she manages to hear the Castle fighting against Zarkon robeast and she wonders if this is the end?