Chapter 17: The Past That Makes The Future


Coran had just explained the history of Voltron, and the previous generation of Paladins. Including Zarkon, and his lost Altean wife Honerva. To say the Paladins were shocked was an understatement. They could never have imagined that the history of the Voltron Paladins was so dark, and sad, but if there was one thing the story provided, it was an explanation of what Lotor was planning.

"So, that's Lotor's plan. To cross into other universes and get the purest quintessence possible." Pidge deduced.

"No matter what, we have to stop him." Keith said, and everyone agreed.


Later that night, all the Paladins were back in their rooms, Kuro himself had the room next Shiro's, and were sound asleep. Unaware that a presence had snuck aboard for the Paladins, for there was more to the story than meets the eye.


Lance opened his eyes to find himself before a beautiful scene. He was standing in a field with beautiful pink flowers, it was night and the vast purple, blue and pink sky was filled with shining silvery stars. It was magnificent to see. Lance looked down at the flowers and picked one up. It was certainly lovely, he takes a whiff of its fragrance. It smelled so sweet.

"It can't be." Lance turned at the voice and found the Princess standing a few feet away, looking down at the flowers. She looked like she was about to cry. Lance walked over to her with the flower in hand.

"Hey Allura." He said as he stopped next to her. The Altean looked up at him.

"Lance?" She asked. The Blue Paladin then handed her the flower he was holding. She took gently and held it up, like Lance, she took a whiff of its sweet fragrance. "It really is… juniberries." She said solemnly looking on the verge of tears.

"Princess?" the two turned to see the other Paladins walk up to them.

"What's going on?" Keith asked looking around.

"Yeah, where is this place? And how did we get here?" Pidge asked confused.

"Actually, I brought you all here." They all turned to see a cloaked figure. The figure then removed their hood to reveal a familiar person.

"Zarc." Allura said, then looked down at the flower in her hand. "What is this? How are juniberries here? Is this Altea?" She asked and the others were shocked.

"Yes, but not your Altea, I'm afraid." He answered. "This is here another Altea, one from my memories of a previous life." He added as he looked at the planet.

"You wouldn't happen to mean the Altea from that alternate universe with the evil Alteans would you?" Pidge asked. Zarc looked back at them with a solemn expression.

"Yes, but they weren't always like what you saw. It seems after the death of Empress Allura, the Alteans had lost their way. She would be mortified to see how her people have strayed." He said.

"You knew the alternate Allura?" Lance asked, while their Allura looked at him.

"Yes." Zarc nodded. "In fact, in one of my previous lives, I had helped defeat the Galra and ascend to the Altean throne." He explained. "She was very strong, and brave, and kind. How far her people have fallen without her guidance hurts." He said and clenches his scaled arm over his heart. the others felt sympathy for him.

"Is there any particular reason you brought us here?" Keith suddenly asked.

"Yes. I needed to talk to you all." The being said then sighed. "It's about what happened ten thousand years ago. With Zarkon that is." He explained.

"Wait, how do you know about that?" Pidge asked while everyone else was silent.

"As Zarc, I have limited ability to see through time. However, it's very dangerous if used irresponsibly. Learned that a few lives back." He muttered that last part. "And, all those years ago, when Voltron went into the breach, the old Paladins did not make it into another reality." He explained and the others were confused.

"What do you mean?" Shiro asked.

"The breach where the asteroid hit, was not a full gateway. Voltron instead only stopped in the place between realities. It's known as the in-between, or the quintessence field." He explained. "Think of it like a doorway with two doors. One is open and the doorway is as well, but the other door is closed." He added, the others kind of got it.

"There's more. In the in-between, are creatures made of quintessence. There are those who are good, but they are those who became corrupted. They cannot survive on their own outside of the in-between, so they lure others in, and take them as hosts. In other words, Zarkon is their host, which is how he's stayed alive for ten thousand years. If you can call it living." The being explained.

"Wait, are you saying the Zarkon we've been fighting isn't really Zarkon?" Lance asked, that got everyone thinking.

"If only it were that simple." Zarc said solemnly. "The corrupted ones are drawn to dark emotions, such as uncontrolled ambition and greed, in other words, Zarkon's own action let him be taken by those things, but it is still him. However, there is little of the person he once was left. Now he is nothing, practically a body animated by the corrupted, and motivated by his desire for power." He explained.

"I see…" Allura says. All this time, and she never knew.

"Zarc, there's something I've wondering about since we last spoke." Keith suddenly spoke. "You told me about how you were once Yuya Sakaki, before you became Zarc, and that you became Zarc to find someone. what did you mean?" The Red Paladin asked. the others looked at the being, waiting for answers.

"Zarc's soul is immortal, as such can reincarnate, and has for centuries in different worlds. I am the latest in that line. Zarc's job is to keep balance between realities and protect it, to do that, Zarc can freely travel between realty itself. I first found out when I was young, before that, I was just a normal boy in my world, when I was Yuya Sakaki, however, I did not take up the mantle then. I didn't understand.

"As a child, I lived with my mother, and father. My dad worked as an entertainer, making people smile when on stage. He was also a researcher with his friend, and my honorary uncle Leo, they studied the prospect of different worlds, other than ours. It was around that time the gauntlet that held Zarc's power had come into my possession. I had already had the pendant that contained all my predecessor's memories, but they had not awaken, until I had the gauntlet and everything came to me, who I was and was meant to do, but I didn't put the gauntlet on.

"Then, disaster struck. My father and uncle had built a device to help them travel to other worlds, but something went wrong. The result destroyed the project and the lab, and my father had disappeared when he went in. Uncle Leo blamed himself for what happened, and the guilt tore him up. It was then I remembered who I was and about the multiple realities, so I put on the gauntlet, taking up the mantle of Zarc, and went to look for my father across dimensions.

"As I traveled, I finally began to understand my task and importance. There are many realities, some so similar, some so different, but many needed help, my help. It's been years, and I haven't found my father yet, but I'm still searching." He finished his story and it was silent. Suddenly he was enveloped by a group hug.

"That's so sad! We're sorry for your loss! We're here for you buddy!" Hunk was sobbing, the others had small tears in their eyes as they hug the life out of him.

"Ah-haha! Thank you. For listening." Yuya thanked and slipped out of the hug. "I'm afraid this is where we'll have to part for now, but I promise I'll always be watching." He said. "It's time for you guys to wake up." He added. Wait, what?

"Wake up? What are you talking about?" Keith asked confused.

"This is a dream isn't it?" Lance said, and they others starred at him. "What? He said this is from his memories, in other words in the subconscious." He explained.

"So you can connect to the person who you bestowed powers to?" Shiro asked.

"Yes, though these powers are your own. They are actually from your bonds with your Lions. I used my power to help manifest it, it is now truly your own. In order to so, I gave a piece of my quintessence to you, we are now connected. Truth is, everything is connected." He said, and things became clear for the Paladins.

"What about me?" Allura suddenly asked. "I don't pilot a lion." She added.

"No, but you do have a connection to the lions, and something more, that's where your power comes from." He answered and pulled up his hood. "This is where we part, but I'll be there to help when you need. You should also know, that things are not always as they seem." He said as he faded away, along with the dream landscape, and the Paladins and Princess woke up.


AN: So how was that? We finally learn Zarc's, actually Yuya's origins. What's next? By the way, I'm going to be taking a leave for a bit on this story guys. Also! We've finally hit over 500 reads! Yay! See you all next time!