Chapter 62:In Which Talking Occurs(Lance's POV)
Lance sighs. Shiro is back. He should be happy, but instead it feels like Shiro intruding. Especially since they dedicated so much time and effort into establishing the new team setup. Tikki has gone to talk to the Lions, while Marinette gets Shiro presentable.
But why was Marinette so nervous? Well if Shiro had come back to life when he was leading Black, yeah he would be nervous too.
Allura clears her throat, "So Shiro is back…"
Why was she stating the obvious? He didn't like it. Also shouldn't they wait for Marinette and her kwami? He doubts that Tikki would lie to them about what the lions wanted. Unless Allura just wants to generally talk about the situation without the former Black Paladin and the current one.
Pidge nods, "It's strange. He vanished without a trace and now Marinette finds him months later. And he seemed to be wearing prisoner clothes from the Galra like the ones me and Shiro recused when we got the Red Lion."
"Shouldn't we wait to discuss all this when they get back?" Lance suggests. This talking between themselves won't help. Shiro has memories of his time being a prisoner. So maybe they could ask him and figure it out sometime. Also Marientte is the one who rescued Shiro, hearing her story would help them figure something out, instead of talking about the little details they noticed which will probably lead them nowhere.
Allura shakes her head, "No. Marinette was acting nervous, and she deliberately dragged Shiro away from us."
"Well who wouldn't be? Besides, Marinette wouldn't deliberately do anything unless it was for the team. That's not her."
Allura glares at him and Lance returns it. He can't believe Marinette would take Shiro away to hide something from him. From what he has seen of her, she isn't that type. And hopefully she comes back soon, otherwise things might get more heated.
Tikki's POV
"Black, why'd you wait to bring us to Shiro?"
The Black Lion leans towards her. "Because this Shiro is a clone. And I couldn't bear to think that it would suffer a similar fate to my Shiro."
Tikki gasps, "The Shiro that is with Marinette is a clone? Why'd you let a clone into the Castle! It could be a spy, it could be.."
"That does not matter. The clone only has the memories of Shiro, and if it is a spy, it has no awareness of it. Besides, I don't like letting people die. Voltron was born for the purpose of saving people, no matter if they were our enemies or not. It goes against my nature to ignore my feelings of saving people. I think you would understand that best as well."
She nods. "Yes, as the kwami of creation I like to create. It's been hard to live my nature ever since my power was contained in the earrings. But living with my owners, especially the good ones, has made it all worthwhile."
Marinette was her first holder in a long time. It felt great to finally be with an owner again. To have some purpose. But that still didn't address the issue. Shiro is a clone and is with the others.
Red speaks, "Yes it is in our nature to save our paladins and others. Which is why you must not speak of Shiro being a clone. The others must figure that out for themselves. Otherwise it spoils all the fun."
Tikki glares at her, "Fun?"
Red huffs, "No need to say it so scathlingly. And yes fun. The others must come to the conclusion themselves and see if they want to keep the clone around. Another test by our big brother to see if the paladins have what it takes."
Red seemed a little miffed at that last part. As if she thought Black didn't trust their paladins. As if she was just saying fun, to make it sound like she agreed. Then it hit her, Keith would be living in this exact situation right now if it weren't for the switch.
Then Red must think that Black wouldn't have trusted Keith with the decision. Even though Black knows that Keith and Shiro were close. Very close. Like brothers, at least from what she's heard.
"I do trust the paladins if you're implying I don't Red. I just want to see what they'll do in this situation. And again I couldn't just leave the clone out in space. He is a part of Shiro, whether I like it or not. And I would do anything for Shiro, you know that Red."
All Red does is turn away, growling. Which reminds Tikki of the first time she spoke with the lions. Red had wanted to go to find Keith, but Black didn't allow it. And now Black, probably unintentionally, is rubbing salt into the wound by saving a clone of his second paladin.
Which is just great. Having divisions in a team is a bad thing, as she remembers all the teams she has been a part of. Although she's not sure she can handle bringing the lions together in unity.
Although she does see why Black saved the clone. She's sure Marientte would've done the same if it was a clone of anyone else. Because well, Black is right, Voltron was made to save people. It's in their nature.
Author's Note: Alright two-three more chapters to go with this mini arc and then its Hero's Day. Now that we've got everyone's feelings on the matter of the clone, the next chapters will focus on planning and eventually a fight between Lotor and Voltron. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)