"You've finally realized the truth, haven't you? I can see it in your face. Figuring out that your dear Princess and her fellow Altean's knew the Black Paladin's darkest secret and kept it from you and your allies as you risked your lives for a foolish cause; it is probably the worse pain imaginable.

Zarkon


The castle's alarms blared as Shiro, Thace and Keith laid Ulaz down onto the med bays nearest bed; just as Pidge and Peridot quickly ran into the room.

"Pidge, Peridot, what is going on?" Shiro loudly asked the two girls; while Thace and Keith searched for medical equipment to use

"A bunch of Galra Dreadnaughts just showed up." Katie quickly explained. "And they brought Castle Doom with them!"

"What?" Keith, Thace, Ulaz, and Shiro all said in disbelief.

"How did they find us?" Keith questioned when Ulaz began to groan in pain; with the feeling originating from his right leg of him.

Curious about something, Thace placed his hand on his friend's sore spot and felt a strange bump, and it was… vibrating. The older Galra's eyes widened as he began to realize he had made a critical error. "All of this ... this was a trap from the beginning; Zarkon knew we wouldn't pass up an opportunity to save one of our own and placed a tracker inside of Ulaz's leg." The Marmora agent informed.

"The particle barrier is up, and the castle's defenses are primed by the loud troop," Peridot explained to the group. "But we need you and Keith out their now; Stevonnie and Amethyst are holding the Galra off as best as they can. However, they won't last forever against forces like these on their own."

"Attacking or defending won't matter if they can follow us again," Ulaz explained. "We need to remove the tracker if they chase us again"

"We don't have time to do an operation," Thace explained to his friend.

"What if we shut it down by electrocuting it?" Pidge suggested as she activated her Bayard.

"Ulaz is in no state to receive anything like that right now." Keith protested.

"The means should not matter as long as the goal is met in the end," Ulaz told the young Galra before trustfully looking at the Green Paladin. "Do it, young one."

The teenaged girl nodded and walked over to the Blade of Marmora agent; rubbing her hand up and down her leg until she found where the tracker was planted.

"This is going to hurt a lot, an apology in advance for it" Pidge warned as she placed the edge of her triangular-shaped blade on the limb of her. Ulaz yelled out in pain as the shocks coursed through her body, but Pidge pulled her weapon away after a faint crackling sound was heard; confirming the destruction of the device.

"We need to get out there," Shiro said.

"Father, look after Ulaz and the others." Keith requested. "I will back when it's all over."

"Do not worry about us." The older Galra assured. "Do what you have to do.

"Everyone else, armor up and get to your Lions!" Shiro ordered Katie, Keith, and Peridot.


Amethyst rammed the Yellow Lion into a Djalg and then an Erto before firing her Maw Cannon at a squad of enemy interceptors while the Castle of Lions gave her covering fire; destroying them with relative ease before flying off.

"How do you like that suckers!" Amethyst taunted her enemy as she flew around the chaotic battlefield for her next targets.

The Yellow Lion barrel rolled away from the incoming enemy fire as half a dozen newly dispatched fighters seemingly came out of nowhere and pursued the mechanical beast.

The Blue Lion flies in from behind the enemies and quickly freezes them in place and maneuvers out of the way before hitting them.

"There's far too many of them to deal with!" Stevonnie shouted over their comms as they flew alongside Amethyst.

Each blast from the Castle of Lions defensive weapons destroyed more than a dozen Djalg's and Erto's at a time. However, no matter how many fighters they destroyed; more would just come out of the Dreadnaughts.

Both Paladins knew that these fighters were a distraction from the Galra Dreadnaughts. All twelve of them were charging up their Devastation Cannons to fire at the castle all at once; back on Arus, the castle's particle barrier barely survived one blast, if they don't do something soon; then there will be no more Castle of Lions.

"We'll hold them off for as long as we can, Petal!" Amethyst responded over her comms.

"Don't worry, we've got you covered!" Keith's voice announced over the communicators as the Black, Red and Green Lions all flew from the castle's hangar to engage the forces of Castle Doom.

"Sorry for being late, we had to take care of something first," Peridot explained over the Green Lion's comms.

"Listen up everyone, Zarkon has brought out the big guns for this fight." Shiro began over his communicator as he and the Black Lion rendezvoused with Yellow and Blue to lead the charge. "If Castle Doom is here, then it's highly likely he's here too. This may be our one chance to end the war for good! But first, we need to deal with those Dreadnaughts before their Devastation Cannons fire; is everyone ready?"

"I'm ready Shiro!" Keith said over his comms with a burning passion.

"So am I!" Stevonnie replied over their comms.

"We read you!" Pidge and Peridot said over their comms at the same time.

"Let's kick his butt!" Amethyst stated over her comms.

"All right Paladins, let's end this once and for all. Form Voltron!" Shiro ordered.


The five lions let out a mighty roar as they soared up into the heavens. The Black Lion's body altered itself; retracting its fore-legs and back-legs and rising vertically upwards; extending out its connector stubs.

"Form feet and legs!" The Blue and Yellow Lion, followed behind their leader; retracting their fore-legs and back-legs, before bending their heads forward in the ninety-degree angle; instantly connecting themselves with the back-leg stubs of the Black Lion.

"Form arms and body!" The Red and Green Lion's soared along aside its leader; retracting their fore-legs and back-legs, and extending their heads and bodies forward, before attaching themselves to the fore-leg stubs of the Black Lion.

"And I'll form… the head!" As soon as the four, multicolored lions attached themselves to the Black Lion, the lead beast opened its maw to reveal the face of Voltron: Defender of the Universe.


"Cheif." Peridot began. "Based on the locations of all those Dreadnaughts; Pidge and I discovered a point where all the blasts will temporarily intersect with each other."

"And that's important, because..." Amethyst questioned.

"If we raise our shield at that location at the right time; we can block all of the blasts at once!" Pidge finished.

"Do you think Voltron will be able to take multiple combined energy blasts of those magnitudes?" Keith asked.

"I don't know, but it's better than nothing," Shiro stated, before opening a communication channel to the Castle of Lions. "Coran, this is Shiro. We need you to divert as much power as you can into the castle's particle barrier."

"I'm on it, Shiro!" Coran responded over his comms as he carried out the task; the particle barrier flicked as its size and density increased. "The particle barrier's defensive shielding has been increased by tenfold!"

"All right, Paladins; move into the intersection point and raise the shield on my mark!" Shiro ordered as Steven and Amethyst maxed out the left and right legs thrusters; arriving at the location as Pidge and Peridot lifted Voltron's left arm and raised their tower shield in-between them and the dozen energy blasts about to hit them in five… four… three… two… one... "NOW!"

The powerful shield manages to successfully take the combined blasts of quaking, dark red energy at full force; protecting Voltron from the deadly power, but the sheer force pushes the might robot back. Despite Amethyst and Stevonnie pushing the thrusters beyond their maximum capacity; they are unable to push forward and are slammed right into the north-east side of the Castle of Lions' particle barrier. Both continued to remain intact, but it required all the Paladins willpower to stay strong and protect the castle as it was being forced back with them.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All the Paladins except for Shiro scream as all five of pilots began to exert themselves

"Keep it steady!" Shiro shouted as they kept the impregnable defense raised for as long as they could; eventually, the combined beams flickered away as Voltron remained standing on the castle's particle barrier. Steam rose all parts of the robot's body as the Paladins heavily breathed from the strain. "Is everyone…"

Several dozen squads of Erto's and Djalg's each began raining fire at the still recovering Voltron; who kept his shield up and took the blasts.

"Get clear; we're about to fire!" Bismuth's voice shouted over the comms as Voltron quickly jumped off the particle barrier.

"Paladins, you have to take out those Dreadnaughts before their cannons charge again!" Allura instructed.

"Understood Princess!" Shiro responded. "Keith, Stevonnie, form sabers!"

"Right!" "Yes, sir!" Keith and Stevonnie shouted as they thrust their Bayard's into their Lion's activation slots.

Voltron's right arm flashes a bright crimson before a large blade appears in his hand; while the right leg of Voltron flashes a bright cerulean before the energy crawls up the robot's body to left arm; where a second saber materializes in that hand.

"Let's go!" Shiro shouted as Stevonnie and Amethyst maxed Voltron's thrusters and charged at his enemies with his hyper-fast speed that made everything appear to move in slow motion; carving through every Galra fighter between them and the nearest Dreadnaught.

The Paladins all release an energized cry as the Legendary Defender charged forward at speeds succeeding his previous ones and prepared to slash apart the Devastation Cannon on the front of the Dreadnaught. Mere moments before the blades could make contact and cut the weapon into pieces; a red particle barrier emerges and pushes Voltron back as it surrounds the entire vessel.

"What the quiznack!" Amethyst cursed as Voltron regained his balance.

"Since when did Galra Dreadnaughts have particle barriers!?" Peridot questioned from the left arm of Voltron. "They didn't have those last time!

"Zarkon must've had them specifically installed for this encounter!" Keith answered.

"All right, these guys are starting to piss me off!" Amethyst angrily shouted as another wave of fighters engaged Voltron.

"We need to move!" Pidge shouted as the left arms scanner beeps fanatically. "The Dreadnaught is powering up its defensive cannons!"

"Allura, where is that covering fire?" Keith asked as Voltron flew to evade all the incoming attacks from both sides of the battlefield; swerving from left to right, and up and down.

"We have enemy fighters of our own to deal with here!" Allura answered back as a crashing explosion was heard over the communicator. "We're supplying all of the aid that we can!"

"What do we do, Cheif?" Stevonnie asked in a panicked tone. "Our sabers didn't do a thing to the Dreadnaught! How are we going to stop it?"

"We could try the regular sword!" Keith suggested. "It's slower than the sabers, but it packs a bigger punch!"

"But we can't afford to be slow with all the fire we're under!" Pidge explained.

"Then let's fix that," Shiro responded. "Form shoulder cannon!"

"On it!" Amethyst shouted as the purple Crystal Gem thrusts her Bayard into the Yellow Lion's activation slot without hesitation. The left leg of Voltron flashes a bright yellow before the power crawls up the robot's body all the way to the shoulder; where the massive shoulder cannon materializes. Amethyst's targeting system begin flashing red as hundreds of marks covered her screen; identifying the fighters as their targets. "Eat this, you janks!" Amethyst shouted as she pulls the trigger; causing the shoulder cannon to charge its energy, before firing multiple scatter shots at the Djalg's and Erto's

"Now let's finish off the Dreadnaught," Shiro ordered. "Form sword!"

Red energy surrounds Keith's entire body as he thrusts his Red Bayard into his Lion's activation slot with a passion-filled cry. The right arm of Voltron flashes a similar radiance before large saber forms in the robot's hand.

The Dreadnaught continued to fire its weapons at the magnificent warrior; who charges head first at the massive vessel's particle barrier. Voltron thrusts his sword forward at the enemies shield and manages to pierce right through the barrier successfully, then through the ship and flies out the opposite side.

Explosions surrounded the destroyed Dreadnaught before being consumed by a more massive explosion that knocks Voltron away.

Stevonnie and Amethyst manage to stabilize Voltron as all the Paladins let out a relieved sigh at the first step of their victory. "Okay." An exhausted Stevonnie began. "One down, eleven more to go."

Voltron's scanners frantically bleeped as more than a dozen Djalg fighters emerged from Castle Doom and began heading towards the Paladins.

"Stay sharp everyone." Shiro announced. "This is far from over."


"Coran, what's the status of the particle barrier?" Allura asked her advisor as Lance, Matt, Garnet, Pearl, Bismuth, Elizabeth listened in; while firing the castle's defenses at the assaulting ships with the rest of the Loud troop controlling in.

"The particle barrier is remaining stable, Princess." Coran frantically informed as I have checked every single one of the castle's monitors. "But with all these blasted fighters that seem to have no end, we are taking a beating here."

"My troops do their best to keep those ships in control but this is beyond them." Elizabeth followed up on Coran's report.

"With the way things are going, I don't know if Voltron will be able to destroy all the Dreadnaughts before they fire a combined Devastation Cannon again." Coran ends his report with a brief nod to Elizabeth.

"How long until those cannons are fully charged?" Allura loudly asked.

"With the amount of power that was placed into those blasts; I have to guess around one varga and thirty dobashes." Matt quickly answered.

"Cousin, is it possible to divert more energy from the castle into the barrier?" Lance asked over the castle's comms.

"That's not possible." Coran instead answered. "We've already diverged plenty of power into the barrier; anymore and we'll drain all of our defenses."

"In that case, let's call back the Lions," Allura instructed. "We'll use the teladuv portals and get out of here!"

"Calling back the Lions now would mean we would have to lower the particle barrier." Coran pointed out. "And we can't afford to do that right now, not even for a tick!" The castle's scanners began to pick up activity from Castle Doom

"What's going on now?" Allura asked; revealing that one of the castle's personnel has just stepped out of the hangar without a ship and is standing on the outer surface. Allura brought up a holo-screen to see who the individual is; discovering, much to her surprise from her, that the individual is actually, "Zarkon!" An idea popped into the Princess' head as she opened a communication channel with the Paladins.


"Fire!" Shiro ordered Amethyst, as she pulled the trigger for the shoulder cannon and launched multiple scatter shots at pursuing the Djalg fighters.

"Form sabers!" Shiro ordered as the twin blades materialized in the right and left hands of Voltron, and charges at another group of enemy ships; destroying them within ticks before they could even fire a single shot.

"Paladins, do you read me?" Allura asked the five pilots over the comms.

"We read you Allura," Shiro answered. "What is it?"

"The castle's scanners have picked up that Zarkon is outside of Castle Doom!" Allura frantically responded.

"What do you mean he's outside of Castle Doom?" Shiro questioned.

"I mean he's outside." Allura clarified. "Standing on the castle's outer plating near one of the hangars; completely defenseless. This could be the shot we need to take him out and bring an end to this madness."

"Understood," Shiro responded. "Let's finish this Paladins!"

"Right!" Stevonnie, Amethyst, Keith, Katie, and Peridot all said at once as Voltron trades his sabers for the sword and charges at Castle Doom.

Multiple Erto fighters cut the Legendary Defender off from his designated path as they begin to open fire.

Voltron responds by raising his shield and plowing right through the squadrons as if they were bowling pins lined up before a bowling ball. Then… they see him. Emperor Zarkon, standing on his own, holding out nothing but a strange device in his hand. This is it, this is what the Paladins needed, just one swing from Voltron's sword and it will all be over. The Defender of the Universe raises his blade against the tyrannical Galran, ready to end this, and then…

He freezes…

"Guys, what's going on?" Amethyst asked with fear in her tone as she couldn't move the left leg.

"I can't move!" Keith shouted in frustration as the right arm remained frozen.

"Are we malfunctioning?" Peridot asked as she and Pidge frantically try to figure out what is going on from the left arm.

"Voltron's frozen up!" Stevonnie anxiously announced as they tried to move the right leg with no success.

"Shiro, what's going on?" Allura questioned with panic in her tone.

"I don't know!" Shiro responded. "We can't move!"


"And like desperate fools; you so easily fell for an obvious trap." Zarkon proudly said to himself as the mysterious device in his hand glows a bright purple; causing electricity of the same color to form around Voltron.


"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" All the Paladins cried in pain as they were violent electrocuted, with a strangely added feeling of dismemberment thrown on top.

"WHAT'S HAPPENING!" Stevonnie cried in pain as the feeling grew worse and worse and then… a flash of bright light emerges from Voltron as the Legendary Defender's Lion components are ripped off and sent hurling through the area.

"Voltron's been torn apart!" Pidge and Peridot both cried in fear as the Green, Yellow, Red and Blue Lions are flung away from the Black Lion; who forcefully ejects Shiro out, causing him to hit the left toot of her lower jaw before she slowly flies towards Zarkon in a trance.


"No… that's… that's impossible." Allura said as she, Coran and the rest of the Castle of Lions' crew looked on in horror as they witnessed what happened to universes only hope; completely ignoring the battle that was still taking place.

The Princess remained frozen as a horrifying thought popped into her head; could it be that Zarkon still has the…

"No… that can't be…"

"Allura… Allura…" Shiro's panicked voice shouted over the comms; snapping the Princess out of her shock. "Allura…"

"Shiro," Allura said out loud as she opened her communications. "Shiro, are you all right? What happened?"

"I… I don't know…" Shiro responded inhaling and exhaling at an unhealthily fast pace. "Zarkon did something to the Black Lion… my… suits oxygen tank has been ruptured… and my suits thruster pack is busted… I'm losing air… and fast… I don't know if… if I'm…"

"Shiro, stay with me damnit!" Allura screamed at the Black Paladin. "Just focus on my voice and don't you dare close your eyes, you hear me!"

"I'm sorry… I'm sorry…" Shiro repeatedly groaned in pain to himself, sounding depressed and dazed from the lack of oxygen. "I guess… I guess I'm not coming home to you, Adam."

"We need to get him a new tank, now!" Allura shouted over the castle's comms in frustration.


"How?" Pearl questioned as she and Garnet continued to fire their weapons at enemy fighters. "With all the chaos outside, we wouldn't be able to get to him; even with a shuttle!"

"I'll get the oxygen to him!" Garnet assuredly informed as she left her station and proceeded to walk out of the defense room.

"How are you even going to get it to him?" Pearl understandably questioned.

"You would try to stop me if I told you," Garnet answered. "And I need you to trust me; I know what I'm doing."

"But who's going to manage your station while you're gone?" Pearl asked.

"I'll take her place for the time being." Thace's voice announced over the comms. "I have Ulaz and the two human guardsman resting soundly, and his injuries stitched to best of my ability."

"Garnet, we are all counting on you." Bismuth stated over the comms. "And you better make it back here; I still owe you an apology."

"I know, and I won't let any of you down," Garnet responded as she finally exited the defense room and made a mad dash for castle's supply cache; grabbing the first, full tank of oxygen that she could find and sprinted to the hangar. Inside the hangar, Garnet grabbed the nearest thruster pack that she could find and strapped it on her body. "Coran, how long can you lower the particle barrier by the hangar for?" The Fusion asked.

"We're dealing with fewer fighters now than we were earlier; so, I can lower the shielding for no more than ten ticks," Coran informed. "Whatever it is you're planning to do, you better make it count!"

"I intend to," Garnet said to herself as she ran towards the hangar's exit, gradually increasing her speed until she reached the edge and leaped off into space; just as the opening in the particle barrier revealed itself. The two-Gem Fusion activates her thruster pack; dramatically increasing her speed as she flew out of the castle, just as the shield closed.


None of the Galra Djalg's or Erto's have noticed her yet, and she planned to keep it that way as she soared through the battlefield with the cannister of oxygen held tightly in her arms. After a few seconds of flying, she spotted Shiro; he was still spinning and breathing heavily.

"Come on, come on." Garnet chanted; extending her arm out as she drew closer to the Paladin and managed to grab him. "I've got you, Shiro," Garnet assured the man as she quickly traded out his oxygen supply.

Shiro let out a breath as he took in the fresh air and noticed Garnet holding on to him; while they were slowly floating through space.

"Garnet." Shiro began, looking at the Gem Fusion's two, currently, good eyes. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Garnet said as she tried firing her thrusters again; only to get no response. "Uh-oh."

"What's…" Shiro began to ask but stopped as he realized the two of them were about to crash right into the side of Castle Doom.

"Hang on!" Garnet cried as she forcefully angled her body so that she would take most of the impact; knowing she would survive it.

The two of them pieced right through the surface of the Galran Castle's outer walls and tumbled together for a few seconds; eventually stopping as the castle activates an interior forcefield and re-balances the artificial gravity.

"Are you all right Garnet." Shiro sorely asked as he, unknowingly, held onto the Gem.

"I'm fine." Garnet bluntly answers. "I think we can let go now."

"Right." Shiro agreed as they awkwardly released each other at the same time and stood on their feet; looking around the area. "Now, let's find a way out of here."


"Come on Red, wake up!" Keith begged as he and his Lion continued floating in space.

"Come on Red, please respond!" The young Galra cried out. "Agh! We can't give up, after everything we have been through! Ever since we found each other; we've been through the thick and thin of things. We can't let it all end here; I'm not going to die out here, and neither are you, you hear me! We are not going to die out here! DO YOU HEAR ME, RED!" A crimson aura surrounds Keith's entire body as he cries out his Lion's name, and as if by a miracle, the Red Lion began powering up again and lets out her mightiest roar; the loudest Keith has ever heard from his longtime friend.

The Red Lion's scanners picked up several Djalg fighters heading towards them, all flying in the way of Keith's actual target, Zarkon.

"Out of my way!" Keith shouted as he activates the Red Lions Jaw Blade; charging through and slicing apart all the incoming ships as if they were made of paper.

"Keith, what are you doing?" Allura's voice asked the young Galra over the Red Lion's comms. "You're heading right for Zarkon!"

"I know!" The Red Paladin quickly answered. "I'm going to take out Zarkon for good and remove whatever psychic control he placed on the Black Lion!"

"Keith, don't! He's too powerful! Listen to me; it's imperative that you don't engage the..." Allura tried to warn, only for the Galran to deactivate his comms.

"All right, girl… LET'S GO!" Keith energetically shouted as he maxed his lion's thrusters.


"Yes." Zarkon began as the Black Lion drew closer to him. "Your mighty power has been wasted on weaklings. Now, my Black Lion will finally be returned to her original and rightful Paladin!"

The Black Lion opens her jaws; giving Zarkon permission to pilot her, but before the tyrannical ruler could even step forward, he halts upon hearing the Red Lion's roar as it charges and crashes right into the Galra Emperor; forcing them both into Castle Doom's hangar while freeing the Black Lion from her trance.

Before taking the hit, Zarkon managed to transform his alien device into shield; which soaked all the damage that he may have received, as he regains his balance on the new ground he stands on.

The Red Lion's maw opens as Keith leaps out and charges Galran Emperor with his Luxite Blade in one hand, and his Red Bayard sword in the other; furiously shouting one word. "ZARKON!"

Keith swung both of his swords at Zarkon's shield, which then morphed into purple cutlass; holding the Red Paladin back with only one hand. Keith looked examined his opponent's weapon and came to the horrifying realization of what it is based on what he has seen of it. "This… this is a Bayard!"

"Indeed, it is." Zarkon calmly confirms as he pushes the young Galran back. "The Black Bayard."

Keith stumbled back from the push and sudden strike; he began to remember what Allura had told Shiro when they first became Paladins.


Allura took a moment to regain her composure, before looking at towards Shiro.

"I'm sorry, I cannot present you with your Bayard, for it was lost with its original owner."

"Don't worry; I can make do without it," Shiro assured her.


Keith angrily tightened his grip on both of his swords… she knew… Allura knew who had the Black Bayard this entire time… they trusted her… they all trusted her… and she… she…

"You've finally realized the truth, haven't you?" Zarkon asked the rage-filled Keith. "I can see it in your face. Figuring out that your dear Princess and her fellow Altean's knew the Black Paladin's darkest secret and kept it from you and your allies as you risked your lives for a foolish cause; it is probably the worse pain imaginable. However, you don't have to risk your life anymore; allow me to take the Black Lion, and I will call off the attack and spare your friends."

"No." Keith bitterly answered; not believing his opponents words for a second. "I swore an oath to end your reign… AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO!" Keith let out a rage-filled scream as he charged the Galran Emperor again with multiple slashes from his blades, as Zarkon stood on the defensive; ready for the attacks.

Keith goes in for an overhead slash; only for the Galran Emperor to block it and hold the Red Paladin in a stalemate.

"That sword you wield…" Zarkon began as his eyes examined his opponent's weapon. "That is Alfor's blade!"

Keith breaks free from the stalemate and tries to stab Zarkon, who manages to dodge the attack before delivering a flurry of slashes; which were quickly blocked by the Black Bayard's blade.

"Ha! How ironic that a member of the race responsible for his demise now wields his sword and lion. How cruel it's the universe." Zarkon said sarcastically the last word taunted the Red Paladin; who responded with a deep growl as he resumed his assault.

"The fire in your eyes and the ferociousness in your combat; it reminded me of myself when I was your age." Zarkon egotistically admitted.

"I am nothing like you!" Keith venomously responded. "I am a blade of marmoran and I going to end you right now!"

During their clash of swords, Zarkon manages to kick Keith in the stomach; pushing him away by a considerable number of meters and leaving Galran coughing as he tried to take in some air.

"Before I end your life in this duel, I am curious as to why hate me so," Zarkon said. "I know it is not from you Marmoran oath, so what is it that drives such resentment towards me?"

"Because." Keith began as his breathing returned to normal; looking at Zarkon with murderous intent. "You killed my sister."

"Boy, I've killed plenty of sisters, and I going to kill more. Once voltron is mine, there will be no one in this universe who can stop me." Zarkon admitted, riling up Keith as he charged the Emperor once more.


Shiro and Garnet explored Castle Doom together as the battle raged on outside; searching for a way out of the massive space fortress, searching for an escape pod, or shuttle or something they could use.

"Garnet, can you use your Future Vision to help us find a way out?" Shiro asked the Fusion.

"I can't," Garnet admitted. "My third eye is still damaged from the encounter with the Druid."

"Well, let's just keep searching," Shiro responded. "We should be able to find a…" Before Shiro could continue, he was cut off by seeing own breath, and felt the air beginning to grow colder… a coldness he hasn't felt since…

"He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" A sinister, female voice happily chuckled; one Shiro swore that he heard a long time ago. A storm of dark smog emerges in front of Shiro and Garnet; containing a powerful gust that nearly blows to two of away as a figure begins to manifest from to contained chaos. A woman who had a purplish-blue complexion with dark yet sage-like yellow eyes and long silvery hair, all hidden behind an ancient looking robe… Takashi knew who she was… Witch Haggar. "So, our Champion returns. He-Hahaha!"

"Another Druid!" A flustered Garnet said as she materialized her gauntlets and took a fighting stance.

"No, she's far worse," Shiro said as his cybernetic arm glowed a bright violet; taking a fighting stance.

"He-Hahaha! Come now, my dear Champion." Haggar began. "Is this any way to repay the woman whose occult science is responsible for that arm of yours? As far I am concerned; everything you have accomplished thus far is because of the Galra Empire."

"I never asked for any of this!" Shiro bitterly responded. "Your Empire abducted me, and my friends and hurt those that we all cared about. We're ending this, right here, right now!"

"Very well." Haggar casually responded. "You wish to die as a noble fool, and so you shall!"

Black and purple lighting erupt from Haggar's hands as she throws the dark energy bursts at the Crystal Gem and Paladin; who both dodge the strike and assault the witch together. Garnet unleashes a flurry of punches at Haggar, who just casually dodges them before pushing the Fusion away with a burst of dark lighting. Shiro rushes to strike the wicked sorceress who quickly disappears into smoke, only leaving behind a malevolent cackle; before re-appearing right in front of him, grabbing and twisting his mechanical arm of she before tossing him away.

"You could have been one of the Empire's greatest weapons." Haggar taunts Shiro as both he and Garnet get up to find themselves surrounded by more than a dozen Haggar's. All of them saying in unison, "Now, you are nothing but our greatest disappointment."

They all snapped their fingers and behind Shiro and Garnet a multitude of thunderous footsteps could be heard coming in their direction. a couple of seconds later about five Jugernaught appeared: two of them carried heavy axes and one she a power sword and a shield while the last two had bare hands that glowed in a dangerous purple hue.

"Take care of the fusion." Haggar ordered and directed a cold glance towards Shiro. "I'm going to break this fool."


"Stevonnie, Pidge, Peridot, Amethyst!" Allura's voice shouted over the Blue Lion's recently reactivated communications. "Please, someone… anyone… respond!"

"I'm here Allura." The human Fusion assured the Princess over their comms.

"We read you." "We're here." Katie and Peridot both responded over their comms.

"Loud and clear, Princess," Amethyst responded over her comms.

"Thank the Altean Pantheon," Allura replied with a sigh of relief.

"I don't know how, but Zarkon did something to Voltron," Stevonnie informed the Princess. "Where's Keith and Shiro?"

"Shiro is in Castle Doom," Allura answered. "But Garnet is with him."

"How did she even…?" Amethyst began to ask.

"That's not important right now, where is Keith?" Pidge asked.

"Keith just rammed the Red Lion into Zarkon," Lance answered over the comms. "And is facing him alone."

"Is he nuts!" The Blue, Green and Yellow Paladins all shouted simultaneously.

"One of you needs to get into Castle Doom and bring him out of there," Allura instructed. "He doesn't know what he is dealing with."

"We're on our way," Stevonnie replied as they and the other prepared to fly to the Galran castle.

The three Lions of Voltron were forced to scatter as more squadrons of Erto's, and Djalg's began firing on them; with assistance from one the dreadnaughts.

"All right, new plan." Amethyst began. "Petal, you grab Broody; Pidge, Dot and I will hold off the ships."

"Are you sure?" Stevonnie questioned her fellow Crystal Gem's decision.

"Positive, now get going!" Amethyst loudly answered as the Yellow and Green Lions charged at their new targets. The Yellow Lion rams into several ships while Green Lion destroys several more with her Maw Cannon and Tail Laser.

"Hang on Keith, I'm on my way!" Stevonnie shouted as they maxed out the Blue Lion's thrusters.


"He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" All the Haggar clones wickedly laugh as Shiro strike one after the other; but with each clone destroyed; more just keep manifesting until all that is heard in the room is the laughter. "He-Hahaha!

Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!"

Garnet lunged at the Jugernaught with sword and shield, and slammed his enlarged gauntlet into the shield causing him to be sent backward with his feet staying on the ground. The two bright-handed Jugernaughts attacked the fusion with a series of cuts and claws that she was lucky to dodge, but it didn't last long as another came and kicked her in the ribs causing her to sweep the ground to a few feet away from the Galra trio.

The gem opens her eyes to see another Jugernaught with the ax raised to its zenith to swing it vertically towards the gem's neck, but she swiftly turns and makes a sharp sweep toward the blade, knocking it out of the way and leaving the heavy Galra open for Garnet stood up and with a roar hit his stomach with such force that he sent him flying towards a wall. She immediately turned around invoking her gauntlets again and used it to dry catch the blade of the Jugernaught's powersword whose shield was slightly drowned.

The gem grunted due to the enormous effort, these guys were strong and there were five of them. She saw out of the corner of her eye that the other Juger with the ax swung her horizontally to cut her waist but she jumped back, avoiding both blades of death. Garnet's gauntlets glowed and began to spike at the knuckles (one of Bismuth's recent work) and she saw the other two bright-handed Jugernaughts attack and begin a series of exchange of blows.

Shiro on the other hand, faced the fake copies of Haggar who only taunted him or beat him when he was open or had his defenses down. Shiro received a touch on the helmet that forced him to turn around hitting the fake-Haggar only to receive a tremendous kick from behind, you can underestimate his physique but Haggar was actually someone physically strong. The air left the paladin's lungs for a second until another Haggar jumped on top of him, stamping her face against the ground.

The black paladin rose quickly and with a roar returned to confront the doppelgangers.

"You're struggles are in vain as you determination" The real Haggar says as she strikes Shiro with terrifyingly fast speeds; leaving claw marks on their skin as they try to anticipate her next attack. However, before they can even do so, the vile sorceress blends back in with her maniacally hysterical doppelgangers. "He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!"

"Show yourself, you coward!" Shiro frustratingly shouts as she ragefully and swiftly charged at her multiple enemies; delivering a flurry of punches that only increase witch's numbers before the real one emerges and causes severe damage to Shiro with numerous strikes across her body; forcing her onto her knees.

"He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" The witches continued to laugh as they circled around the exhausted Black Paladin.

Garnet gave a powerful kick that unbalanced one player and struck the other in the rib causing him to roar in pain and then grabbed the arm and thrown towards the Jugernaught with the sword and the shield who made a quick vertical swing cutting in two to his partner in a show of total disregard for his companions. Garnet froze at the horror of the demonstration, and this gave the second Jugernaught the opportunity to strike with a powerful claw that almost divided the fusion's face into several sections had it not moved in time.

But it turned out to be a terrible mistake as the other Jugernaught with the heavy ax was swinging it back towards him and she leaned her torso back avoiding the vibrating blade just inches from her face and then wrapped her arms around the Galra's waist and apply a powerful suplex to him, causing him to drop his ax to the ground and Garnet rejoin at high speed to take it.

The Jugernaught was only on one knee when she saw Garnet with her own ax being swung over her left shoulder in a diagonal slash so cleanly and with such force that it split part of her torso in a powerful clang thunder and fleshy.

Garnet with a small grunt takes the ax from the dead Galra and looked at the other two remaining with the weapon in her hands. The one with her sword and shield remained unfazed while the one with her glowing claws let out muffled snarls from her helmet as she hunched over to attack.

And so it was for the Jugernaugh Galra, who took a tremendous leap into fusion to skewer her with her claws while the one with the sword carried his shield raised. Garnet dodged the descending attack and with a roar swung the ax horizontally, severing the Jugernaught's arm before being struck against the other Galra's shield, knocking her to the ground and dropping the ax.

Meanwhile, Shiro keep fighting the doppelgangers of the witch, but, suddenly the real Haggar emerges once more and this time grabs Shiro by the throat before dragging him into the hysterical illusions. Takashi struggled in the strong woman's grip as she easily held him up with her left hand.

"And now Champion." Haggar began as an obsidian aura with purple lighting surround her right hand. "This is where you die."

Shiro tried gasping for air as he feels the witch's long, sharp, colds hand of her impales his stomach of him; he feeling as if his life of him was being sucked right out of him meanwhile the devilish stared of Haggar was his own eyes of him. He tried struggling, and nearly managed to make Haggar loosen her grip at first, but it was of no use in the end as he did not have the strength to continue lifting either his natural or cybernetic arm of her.

Everything was going dark as the Black Paladin began to see his life of the flash before his eyes of him; the highlights of his childhood from him, the day he joined the Galaxy Garrison, the moment he asked Adam to marry him, meeting Keith and traveling the Galaxy to get back to Earth, and of course, forming and leading the Paladins of Voltron.

"NO!" Garnet screamed; snapping Shiro back to reality as the Crystal Gem's glowed brightly and began to increase their size to the point where Garnet shouldn't, visually, be able to lift them. However, somehow, with her hers enhanced Gem strength of her, the Fusion was able to lift them, before slamming them onto the ground with all her strength of her; creating a massive shockwave that sent the two remaining Jugernaught flying towards the walls and destroyed all the Haggar illusions and forced the real one to drop Shiro and teleport away before being hit.

"Shiro!" Garnet shouted as she ran over and picked up the Black Paladin; whose side was bleeding not only blood but as well as traces of strange purple energy. Likely some sort of residue from the witch's foul magic. The real Haggar re-emerges several meters away from the two warriors and hisses at them like a snake; Garnet knows that they can't beat in the condition they are in now and decided to pick up Shiro and run like hell to find a way out of this nightmarish structure.

Haggar turned his head to glare at the two Jugernaught plus a third who got up quickly and picked up his ax.

"Go after them!" The witch barked at the Galra with the sword and the one with the ax who immediately ran in pursuit.

Only the one with the severed arm remained, the great Galra tried with a little effort, got up and tried to stop the excessive bleeding from his amputated arm. The witch narrowed her gaze at this display of weakness and with a roar unleashed a stream of warp fire that completely engulfed the unsuspecting Jugernaught and only dust remained.


The Yellow and Green Lions continue their aerial battles against the Galra fighters; as well as avoiding as avoiding the defensive cannons from the Dreadnaughts.

"It won't matter how many fighters we take out if those Dreadnaughts keep deploying more!" Pidge shouted over her comms before the Green Lion fires it's Maw Cannon and Tail Laser again.

"But how are we going to get past those particle barriers?" Amethyst questioned the Green Paladin as she rammed into several enemies.

Amethyst.

Amethyst recognized that the Yellow Lion was speaking to her again, just like on the Balmera; as the Bayard-shaped slot opened near the control panel, once more.

"All right girl, let's see what you have in store for me today!" The purple Gem shouted as she thrusts her Yellow Bayard into the slot; the Yellow Lion begins emitting an amber radiance as the body of the machinal beast begins to change. Once the light disappeared, Amethyst bared witness to additional armoring on her Lion, with extended, sword-like claws on each paw. "Power Armor and Power Claws!? Oh, hell yeah!" Amethyst happily shouted as Pidge and Peridot watched in surprise with stars in their eyes. "Well, don't just sit there you two; bring out your big guns!"

"Right!" Both Katie and Peridot shouted as the former gripped her Bayard and thrust it into her Lion's activation slot; jade energy radiates from the Green Lion as the massive Vine Cannon materializes on her back.

"I think the Lions are telling us to use these on the particle barriers." Amethyst guessed.

"I don't know what they'll do," Pidge admitted.

"There's only one way to find out, though," Peridot added in. "Let's go for those Dreadnaughts!"

The Green and Yellow Lions broke off from each other and went after one ship on their own; the Yellow Lion received an oncoming barrage of laser fire from a group of Erto's, but Amethyst refused to change her course.

"All right, let's see what these claws can do!" Amethyst energetically said out loud as she maxed out her thrusters and charged the enemy ships head-on; slicing through them with far more devastating damage than a standard Jaw Blade.

Amethyst kept her eyes on the Dreadnaught as she got closer to its particle barrier and dug the Yellow Lion's claws into the energy shield; slowly and brutally ripping open a hole large enough for the mechanical beast to enter and charge into the actual dreadnaught. Landing on the massive ship's surface, Amethyst wastes no time ripping into the ship and tearing it apart from the inside out; leaving a trail of explosions where ever she went.

She eventually destroys the particle barriers generator and flies away from the Dreadnaught before a massive explosion consumes it.

Pidge pilots the Green Lion while Peridot fires the Tail Laser at all the oncoming fighter as they eventually draw near their targeted Dreadnaught.

The Dreadnaught fires its weapons at Katie's and Peridot's Lion, but they successfully evade each of the blasts and precisely aims the Vine Cannon at the enemy ship.

"Firing the Vine Cannon!" Peridot shouted as she launched its booming blast on the Galra vessels particle barrier; several large vines shoot out of the forcefield, wrapping around and constricting it. The vines grow tighter and tighter until they eventually burst the shield and tighten around the Dreadnaught itself; crushing vessel into nothingness, which concludes with it exploding.


Keith continues his duel against the Galran Emperor who continued to overpower the young Red Paladin and kicks him to the ground.

"Your effort was valiant, but futile nonetheless." Zarkon complimented the young the Galra. "It's a shame we're on opposite sides; you would've been a valuable ally."

Before Keith could retaliate, both combatants are caught off guard by a Lion's roar as they see the Blue Lion charge towards them; opening her jaws and ejecting Stevonnie, who used their floating powers to control their direction charge at Zarkon. The Galran Emperor quickly reacts and jumps out of the way just as Stevonnie summons not only her Bayard sword but also draws Rose's sword to go in for a twin slash.

"Stevonnie, what are you doing?" Keith questioned the human Fusion with frustration in his tone.

"I'm here to get you," Stevonnie responded. "Allura said that you shouldn't have engaged Zarkon."

"That's because she knew what Zarkon had." Keith bitterly answered as he points at Zarkon's sword. Stevonnie's eyes follow the Red Paladins finger and realize that the Emperor of the Galra was holding a Bayard in his hand.

"Is that…" Stevonnie began to ask.

"Yes, the Black Bayard," Keith answered, and making the human Fusion realize how Zarkon managed to take control of the Black Lion.

"So, I take it that you must be the hybrid?" Zarkon asked Stevonnie, much to the Crystal Gems unnerving surprise. "Haggar told me about seeing you; totally disgusting, it's like someone fornicating with a rock."

"How... how do… how do you know about me?" Stevonnie nervously asked as their hands trembled.

"Haggar has an acuteness for sensing extraordinary power," Zarkon explained. "She'll find a use for you miserable and abhorrent existence."

"You won't lay a quiznacking finger on them, monster!" Keith angrily shouted back; entering a protective stance.

"This is already getting so long and I have a Waagh to destroy personally, surrender now, or neither of you will receive any mercy from me." Zarkon boasts as her charges at the two Paladins; who respond defensively.

Even when taking on two enemies who were dual wielding two blades; Zarkon still managed to overpower and exceed the two warriors with sheer strength and skill.

Zarkon dodged two strikes from Stevonnie and Keith each; before he punches the latter in the stomach and kicks him away, turning his attention to the human Fusion who continued to fight for their lives against this seemingly unbeatable foe.

Stevonnie continues to hold off Zarkon's assaults, but the Galran was physically stronger than the human Fusion and demonstrates this power by slashing the Blue Bayard sword out of their hand. Zarkon goes in for an overhead strike, but Stevonnie manages to block it with quickly summoned shield before going on the offensive.

Zarkon's sword begins to glow a deep violet as it shifts its shape into a massive battle ax; he grips the weapon with both of his hands and swings it at the defending Stevonnie, shattering their shield with a single swing and knocking them to the ground.

"You are skilled, but you lack a killer's drive, the rules of this universe around survival are these: Here, its kill or be killed." Zarkon stated as he charged toward the downed Crystal Gem at terrifying speeds; not giving them a chance to recover. Zarkon tightly grips and swings his weapon at his opponent before they could even summon their shield; forcing Stevonnie to instinctively use Rose's sword to protect them from the strike.

The impact from the strike sent Stevonnie flying back; their vision was fuzzy at first from the harsh impact, but when they finally got their head straight, Stevonnie stood up and realized Rose's sword felt lighter. They look at their well-known weapon and horrifyingly discover that the blade has been destroyed; with the hilt being the only thing left intact.

"This… this can't… be…" Stevonnie said in complete shock; distracting them from Zarkon, who stood over them and prepared to deliver the final blow.

"Ragh!" Keith screamed as he charged at Zarkon from behind, but the Galran Emperor quickly turns around and blocks the attack, before grabbing Keith by the neck and smashing him onto the ground and then stomping on his chest; which snapped Stevonnie back to reality.

"Your interference comes to an end." Zarkon coldly said as his Black Bayard transforms back into a sword and prepares to stab Keith.

"NOOOOOO!" Stevonnie screamed as their gemstone glowed a radiant pink with their skin and eyes changing into the same color and her pupils changed shape to a diamond, as a shockwave of rose-colored flames erupted from the human Fusion's body and struck Zarkon; pushing him off Keith and sending him crashing into an Erto that collapsed on top of him.

A surprised Keith turns to the human Fusion as he sees them glow brightly before splitting into Steven and Connie; the latter was breathing heavily from exhaustion, but the former wasn't moving at all.

"Steven!" Connie screamed as he lifted her Jam Bud's head with worry; with Keith scurrying over to the two young teens.

Connie worriedly placed her ear on Steven's chest; listening to his breathing and heartbeat before letting out a sigh of relief.

"Thank God you're alive," Connie said, sounding like she was on the verge of tears.

Keith looked at the unconscious boy and felt anger towards himself; if he just left with Stevonnie as instructed, this wouldn't have happened. The Red and Blue Lion's let out faint roars as they flew to their Paladins. Keith helped Connie onto her feet as she carried Steven with her arm around him to their Lion; once the two Crystal Gems were safely onboard their vehicle, the young Marmoran agent returned to his. As Blue Lion already left; Keith takes one look over at the ship Zarkon was buried under, he secretly prayed that he was dead… but he had a feeling that was unlikely…


Garnet could hear the near-deafening sounds of two more Dreadnaughts being destroyed as she ran down the halls of Castle Doom with a mortally wounded Shiro in her arms; trying to put as much distance from them and the two Jugernaughts who chasing them, shooting energy beams in the canons of the upper-side of their arms, meanwhile Haggar se desplazaba detras de ellos en una nube de oscuridad total.

"He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" The witch was taunting them as she drew closer; Garnet could feel her cold presence as they sensed her dark get nearer and nearer to them mientras she hace lo possible para evading that mortal beams.

The Crystal Gem blocked out the noise as she kept running more fast eluding the two Jugernaughts for a time; despite her best efforts to seal the wound, Shiro was still losing too much blood. She kept looking around for anything that could get them both off the ship in one piece; eventually coming across Galran escape pods.

"Shiro, stay with me," Garnet told the Black Paladin; who was trying his hardest to stay awake.

"Garnet." Shiro weakly said to the Fusion.

"You just need to stay awake, Shiro," Garnet instructed. "I'm getting you out of here. Just stay awake for me."

"He-Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha! Hahaha!" The laughter was even closer now; Garnet didn't think the wicked hag would find them that fast. Garnet didn't know how the control panel for the escape pod worked; so, the fusion pressed random buttons on the pad, and after her fourth try, the pod doors finally opened, reveal… the escape pod has enough room for one person.

Garnet carefully placed Takashi into the pod and strapped him inside. "We made it, Shiro," Garnet said with a small smile.

"Ugh… good." Shiro said, trying to combat the pain. "Now hop in, and let's get out of here." Garnet remained silent, much to Shiro's confusion as he looked at the Crystal Gem. "What are you waiting for?"

"Shiro…" Garnet solemnly began with tears in all three of her eyes. "Promise me…"

"Garnet?" Shiro began to ask, only to stop when hearing more of Haggar's laughter and the heavy footstep of the Jugernaughts.

"Promise me…" Garnet continued. "You'll tell them."

The Black Paladin's eyes widened in horror and struggled to free himself from the pod; completely ignoring the pain upon realizing what Garnet was about to do.

"NO, DON'T!" Shiro screamed to the Fusion in vain.

Without a second thought the Crystal Gem Fusion closes the pod and ejects it into space; just as she is struck by a bolt of dark lightning that forces her on the ground. Garnet gets up and stares down the alien witch; summoning her gauntlets and charging at her with a hard, but the sword's Jugernaught suddenly appeared and cut the fusion's right leg as if swimming with its power sword leaving only a shiny stump where the leg once stood, the gem screams in pain and falls to the ground grunting loudly, she wanted to get up but a huge boot fell on the side of her head, slamming her against the ground, thus breaking her sunglasses.

"I am curious, Gem." Haggar began acercandose a la gema sometida. "Your kind is far stronger than humans will ever be, than what the false Black Paladin will ever be. So why are you risking your life to protect him?"

Garnet does not respond as he was growling at the effort to free himself from the Jugernaught's heavy boot, but the Galra warrior grabs her arm and lifts her off the ground to prostrate her in front of the witch.

"Huff… Huf… Because… Because you're wrong about him." Garnet began as she found the strength to looking into the malevolent sorceress eyes. "…He is the true Black Paladin… the true head of Voltron… the one who'll lead all of them to the bitter end… and beat you. No one… needs Future Vision to see that truth."

"Your hopes are misplaced," Haggar said in an ice-cold tone as she strikes Garnet with another storm of dark lighting. The Fusion felt all her strength leave her body while it was sustained, but she did not lose the fight… she knew what was coming… and decided to do with a smiled of challenge to Haggar; honestly surprising the witch with a display of willpower she never expected to come from what she deemed to be a lesser being and resource in name of the close her eyes and her maroon skin began to lose its color as slowly transitioned from life-filled purplish red to a dull gray, and her physical form began to crumble. However, she did not panic, instead… she allowed her mind to be filled with nothing but happy memories she has gathered of her long and wonderful existence. The day she first came into this universe, the moment she joined the Crystal Gems and met Rose, being introduced Amethyst, meeting Greg Universe, and the most important part of her life that she wouldn't trade anything for; being able to raise and know Steven.

I'm very sorry to have to leave you, but our time here together is over being with all of you has been for me the greatest adventure I have had in my thousands of years of existence. Pearl: From now on I hand you the mantle as leader of the Crystal Gems and I hope you manage to live up to things as I did when Rose did the same, you have been my great friend and I wish deep down that you can be strong not only for her, nor for Steven, nor for me. Amethyst: I know you've spent little time with us, but those centuries were undoubtedly the best thanks to you; do not change at all. Bismuth: Forgive me, but I won't be able to apologize to you for our argument. You are absolutely right, I had no right to say these things to you when you have spent a lot of time in solitude; I don't know what happened between you and Rose, but I hope you've found the heart to forgive us both. Steven ... oh my sweet Steven: Go ahead and do not look back, the universe has great things planned for you even if it is a dark and cruel place, I know that it will be strong against any adversary that gets in your way to save the universe. "

"And to everyone I have known throughout my life, I thank you for having been part of my universe, I love you very much ...

Garnet's physical form finally broke apart as the ruby and sapphire gemstones fell to the ground, their colors flickering before slowly fading; leaving nothing in the end but gray… lifeless rocks.

One of the remaining Jugernaughts raised his foot to destroy both stones.

"No." Haggar stopped the action the warrior was about to take. "Their empty shells can help me experiment."


Shiro felt his escape pod shake from the explosions outside; trying to stay awake as his injury began to act up. He was in a state of disbelief... Takashi knew Garnet was in no shape to fight Haggar and the other two warriors half, and the Fusion knew it too… she still did what she did… how could he look at Steven and tell him that the person who raised him his entire life is gone now? Shiro made this call; he gave the order to go after Zarkon; he wanted to return him to his husband, and everyone else to their families, not taking a moment to think about the consequences of his actions. He's their leader… he should be better than that.

Takashi then heard three engines draw close to his pod; he looked out the window and saw there were three Djalg's, all aiming their weapons at him. Shiro wanted to close his eyes and let death embrace him; but instead, he felt a will to live like no other. The Black Lion flies in and destroys the Galran ships with her Jaw Blade, letting out a mighty roar that is heard in the void of space; before opening her maw to her Black Paladin. Shiro opened his escape pods door and leaped out of his seat; all the while ignoring the pain as his Lion caught him. Inside of Black Lion's cockpit, Shiro opens a communications channel with the other lions and the castle.

"Is anyone there?" The Black Paladin asked his teammates.

"Shiro, you're back!" Pidge answered over her comms.

"What took you so long!?" Amethyst asked over her comms.

"Are you all right!?" Keith asked over his comms.

"What happened in there!?" Connie asked over her comms; much to Shiro's surprise and hoping that Steven was all right.

"Connie, is Steven all right?" Shiro asked the girl.

"He's fine just resting," Connie answered back.

"Good. I'll answer all of your questions when we get out of here," Shiro answered. "Allura are you there?"

"I'm here Shiro!" Allura answered. "Thank the gods you're all right."

"Get ready to open a teladuv portal," Shiro ordered the Princess. "We're leaving now!"

"There are fewer fighters than there were before," Coran added in. "We'll get that portal open, as soon as possible."

"Understood," Shiro answered. "All right Paladins, form up; we're getting out of here!"

"Roger!" The Red, Green, Yellow and Blue Paladins all responded at the same time as they grouped up and followed behind Shiro in that exact order.


Zarkon effortlessly lifted the Erto off him and realized that the Red and Blue Paladins have already fled; he looks out of the hangar and sees the Black Lion leading the others back to the Castle of Lions, just as a portal begins to open.

"Haggar!" Zarkon shouted, resulting in the dark sorceress to appear beside him in a cloud of black smoke.

"My Lord." The witch greeted appearance recently to his Emperor.

"Activate Castle's Doom's Komar Cannon," Zarkon ordered. "Do not let them escape."

"Yes, my Emperor." Haggar quickly said as she vanished once more; teleporting to a mysterious chamber of the Galra Empire's mighty castle, surrounded by her ever-loyal Druids, who respectfully bow to their master. "Activate the Komar Cannon and initiate the ritual!" Haggar ordered her Druids as they carried out the tasks.

"For the Lord of Change and the Galra Empire!" The Druids recited at the same time.

The entire room began to move down and shift itself as the ground Haggar stood on began to change into a carved, circular pattern that she stood in the center of; a wall of black smoke appears before her as mystical footage of the Lion's and their castle attempting to escape was presented. "Mistress, the ritual is ready to begin." One of the Druids proudly stated as several others surrounded her; all of them holding large canisters of Quintessence… both normal and Gem.

"Proceed," Haggar ordered her minions, as they poured the Quintessence into the circular carvings, all flowing down the lines and meeting in the center; where the sorceress began absorbing it into her body. She dropped onto her knees as the power surged through her; enjoying the pleasure-filled, high until there wasn't a single drop left. Obsidian and violet colored lighting began to gather in the palms of her hands; a power like no other, a force she felt the urge to release.

Haggar lets out a demonic cry as she slammed her palms onto the ground, shaking the entire structure as she fires a massive surge of dark lighting at the teladuv portal; striking it just as the Lions of Voltron and the Castle of Lions flew through it.


"What's happening?" Shiro asked the castle as they and the other Paladins were then struck by the dark lighting within the portal; making them all scream in pain.

"The teladuv is breaking down!" Allura announced, trying to fight the pain. "We're all going to be separated!"

The dark lighting continues to strike them all and build its energy until there was a massive explosion; scattering the Paladins of Voltron to different corners of the known universe.


II: The Legendary Defender Arrives.

THE END.

Ending Song.

SLANDER & Said the Sky – Potions (Feat. JT Roach) [Au5 Remix]

-I remember when I saw you at the end of that night-

-I was lookin' for some trouble you were lookin' alright-

-Every time you said a word I was staring at your lips-

-I don't think I´ve ever been so close to a love like this-

-I never met someone, met someone like you-

-I never felt this away, felt this way, ooh.-

-For you love-

-I would take potions-

-For you love-

-I would cross oceans-

-All the hurt and the pain and you could take it all way-

-For you love-

-I would take Potions-


THE DEFENDERS OF THE UNIVERSE RETURNS.


(1:27-2:18)

-Sippin' on a little somethin' I been sippin' too much-

-I just poured myself a double and I'm thinkin' 'bout us-

-Everytime I see your face-

-I think of what I lost-

-How could all the little moments that we had be so far gone-

-I never met someone, met someone like you-

-I never felt this wat, felt this way, ooh-

-For you love-

-I would take potions-

-For you love-

-I would cross the ocean-

-All the hurt and the pain and you could take it all away-

-For you love-

-I would take potions-

(3:21-4:50)


Hi there! I hope you liked the last chapter of this story.

But don't be alarmed! It will follow in another story that will be the continuation of this one and will have a different title and will also cover the events of the second and third seasons.

And the title will be: The Defenders of the Universe Strikes back.

Without further ado, I wish you all a good evening and a thank you to every reader who took the time to read this.