Chapter 23: The Black Lion Paladin is Chosen(Marinette's POV)
Marinette stands next to Lance as Allura comes out of the Black lion after staying there for what seemed like hours. Allura says, "Who wants to go next?" There was obvious disappointment in her voice. No one volunteers.
"Lance, why don't you go next, then Pidge, then Hunk, then Coran and then Marinette."
Lance looks like he wants to protest, but gets into the Lion anyways. Coran outbursts, "Princess I can't go into the Balck Lion! Marinette should go before me! I am better suited to running the Castle than flying one of these majestic lions!"
"But didn't you want to fly Red when I and Keith left the group thinking Zarkon was tracking us?"
"Yes! But only because the other paladins needed Red out there on the field."
Marinette smiles, "Coran you don't know until you try,"
Tikki mutters something under her breath. "Tikki, what was that you said?" "Nothing Marinette!" Her kwami chirps. Marinette doesn't believe Tikki, but she lets it slide. This isn't the time for arguing in front of the others when they are still grieving.
She knows it's hard for them, but this is the right thing to do. The universe needs Voltron, whether or not their fellow friends are emotionally ready for that.
Lance comes out, holding the lion plushie Marinette gave him, "Black didn't choose me," He sounded so mointone when he said it. Like it didn't bother him. But she knows Lance always wants to prove himself to be valuable to the team, so an orrurpinty like this….Oh right! How could she forget, of course he wouldn't want Shiro's position.
Shiro is his friend, or maybe more like family, at the way Lance is reacting. She knows that if she lost her mother, she would never be able to fill her mothers shoes at the bakery. And Marientte wouldn't want her mom's position either.
Because it's her position, and not anyone else's.
Hwo stupid of her to forget that Lance and Shiro were just as close as Keith and Shiro were before the switch happened.
She would facepalm herself, but that would ruin the mood. Pidge goes in and comes out five minutes later, also not looking dejected at Black's refusal to her. Same with Hunk who was also in there for only five minutes. It seems that the only one who really wanted Black to accept them was Allura.
Coran omits his turn and pushes her towards Black.
Marinette climbs in with Tikki. She sits at the pilot's seat and grasps her hands on the handles. Trying hard to connect with Black. She closes her eyes, she hears a roar.
"My paladin!" the roar voices, and the light begins to seep through her shut eyes. Marinette opens them and sees that Black is standing up, that the lights are indeed on. It brings relief to know that Black found her worthy without necessity, like Red had to do.
"I knew we should have just started with you. Black chose you before today."
"You knew Tikki!"
"Of course, but Black wanted the others to come to terms with his second paladin's death. He said the time will be right when I say to them that Marinette is my paladin that I have chosen."
"I guess that makes sense. But who will fly Red now?"
Tikki responds, "Lance will and Allura will pilot Blue. Apparently Red thinks Lance has proved himself, and since he didn't care about being leader, Red is fully accepting him as her paladin of choice. Blue wants Allura to learn to be humble just as Lance did when he piloted her."
Marinette stares at her in shock.
"Oh no, I said that out loud didn't I! You weren't supposed to know!"
Marinette shrugs the shock off, "Well I know now, but I won't tell the others."
Tikki exhales in relief, "Thank you Marinette. The lions stressed that the paladins needed to discover them, choosing them as their pilots, instead of me telling them who will pilot who."
"Well this certainly surprised me. But I promise, just like I did to you Tikki, that I will do my best to make Black proud, and lead the Universe to peace."
Tikki nods in agreement, "Yeah only you said that you would be the Ladybug you could be, after getting over the shock of it all. You've been an amazing Ladybug, so I know you will do well as leader of Voltron."
Marinette nods, grateful for the encouragement her kwami has given her. She heads out of the lion, and smiles nervously to the others. Everyone is in surprise and only Allura says something, " Meet your new Black paladin."
She is surprised to not hear jealousy coming from her.
Lance puts his hand on her shoulder, "Congrats pigtails. I'm glad Black chose you."
Pidge puts her hands on her glasses, "We all are." But from Pidge it sounds a little sad. While Lance he sounded relieved not to be Black's chosen one. Which is fair, from both of them, and the others. She is taking Shiro's place as a leader. But her style of leading is different from Shiro's, so it's not like she's replacing him persay.
"Thank you for your support, but I won't be replacing Shiro. As I am a different person, my style of leadership will differ from his."
"No one said you'd be replacing Shiro," Tikki says to her.
"I know, but I don't want you all to think that I am exactly like Shiro, as you all miss him deeply. I miss him too. I am leading this team for Shiro! Not to replace him, but because I want to continue what he helped start!."
Marinette places her hand in the air and Lance is the first one to put his hand on top of hers. He gives her a smile, and it warms her heart. Pidge and Hunk follow suit and Coran also does. They all look at Allura and eventually she joins in.
Marinette yells as they lift up their hands together, "For Shiro!" "For Shiro!" They yell together as their hands separate. It's the start of a new era, and Marinette is looking forward to what the future holds.
Author's Note: Marinette has been chosen as the New Black Paladin of Voltron finally. In season three it felt kind of odd, even though there was a time skip, that all the paladins except Keith were affected by Shiro's death. Instead they all wanted to have a chance at being leaders. Allura it's understandable, she's been continuing her fathers fight, and hopes piloting the Black Lion will help her continue. But the other paladins don't really have reason, again besides Lance, who wants to prove himself as more than just the goofball. So yeah, in this fic they are more affected with the death of Shiro, their leader, friend, and most likely family. Lance is more affected, same with Pidge because they did know Shiro well. Hunk also knows Shiro, but not as close as Lance, Pidge, and Keith know him. So yeah their times in the lions were reduced, except Allura's, because I do feel like she'd still feel like she'd be able to pilot Black, because again, she has been continuing the fight her father started. Which is to bring peace.