Chapter 26

A/N: alright! Was last chapter angsty or what? If it wasn't, that's fine, angst is not my specialty anyways. I tried. So, once again, I just own the story.

/comms/

Bold is intercoms.

Telepathy/dreams/flashbacks

"I wish Shiro were here to tell us how to go on without him," Lance sighed as they all sat in the common room trying to think of how to reform Voltron.

"Well he's not, we need to do this on our own," Jaz grumbled.

Pidge looked to Allura, "Allura, when we first arrived, you told me I'd fly the Green Lion and I thought there was no way. But then I found it and flew it, and then Hunk flew the Yellow Lion and he's not even a pilot. In fact, you told everyone who would pilot which lion."

"How did you do that? Did we ever find out how you did that? Can you do that now?" Hunk asked.

"Sadly no. When you arrived at the Castle, I immediately recognized the special quialities in each of you. But I don't know how to search the entire universe for a new Paladin."

"What about Jaz?" Lance asked.

The Awoken scoffed, "It would be fun, but something tells me I'm better suited for fighting in the Castle, not in a lion."

"Keith," Coran spoke up and all heads turned to the Red Paladin leaning against the wall, looking much better than he'd been in pervious weeks. "As the Red Paladin you are the Black Paladin's second in command."

"Keith would be the worst—ow!" Lance yelped as Jaz stomped on his foot.

"It would make sense," she smiled sympathetically. "I remember you being quite the leader when we were kids."

Violet eyes flickered away seeming unfocused as he gazed across the room. "That was a long time ago."

"Wait, seriously?" Lance gaped.

Even Pidge looked doubtful, "We all have our thing, I'm the brains, Hunk's the nice one, Allura's the decision maker, Coran's the wise old guy, Jaz is our sorcerer, Lance is the goofball, and Keith's the loner. Him being a leader wouldn't really fit his personality."

"Wait a sec! I'm the cool, ninja, sharpshooter! Not the goofball!" Lance protested.

Keith scoffed and Jaz snorted. "Seriously? Because you still haven't beat us in training," he joked lightly.

Lance scowled. "I'm being completely serious when I say I don't want you to lead me anywhere!"

He nearly flinched at the obvious distrust, but Keith didn' blame him. Who would want him as leader? Unlike what Jaz believed, Keith was certain he wasn't the ringleader of his friends when they were kids. It wasn't his fault their teachers assigned him leadership during training patrols. It wasn't his fault they expected him to be someone who could take command and inspire others, someone who could be a hero.

It wasn't his fault they expected him to be his father.

"Look, I don't want to be leader! That's just what Shiro wanted!" he snapped. Realizing what he said, Keith's eyes windened as he looked away. Quiznak. He did not mean to say that.

"What are you talking about?"

"Nothing."

"Shiro wanted you to be his successor, didn't he?" Katie voiced.

Keith hunched further in on himself. He didn't want leadership. Last time he took it was the worst time of his life. He still wasn't sure how many of his friends died because of his stupid decisions that day.

If he took charge, Keith would lead Voltron to their deaths. He was certain. He wasn't the leader Shiro was…and he'll never be the leader his father was.

"Well I never heard him say anything," Lance hissed corssing his arms, "and how convenient that you're bringing it up now that Shiro's gone!"

"Lance!" Jaz snapped.

"If you want to job so badly Lance, take it!" he exclaimed tossing his arms up in the air.

"Wait," Hunk started before Pidge shot up.

"What about me? I picked up the radio waves that led us to Voltron in the first place!"

"Hold your gazurgas everyone," Coran interrupted. "It's not our decision to make. We must allow the lion to decide."

"Coran is right," Allura agreed. "We must all present ourselves to the Black Lion, to see who will bare this glorious burden."

"What? You Princess?"

"My father created Voltron. How can I allow others to risk their lives in battle and not be prepared to do so myself? I must try."

-.-

"So who's first?" Hunk questioned as everyone stood in their armor before the Black Lion.

"Should we draw straws?" Pidge suggested adjusting her glasses.

"I'm thinking of a number between one and fifty!" Jaz offered and Coran waved his hand.

"I have it: Allura first, Jaz is second, Pidge is third, and then the others."

Lance sighed, "Fine."

Allura walked into the lion, after approximately ten minutes, she returned sulking and Jaz groaned. She jogged inside and returned less than five minutes later looking unsurprised. Katie grinned and ran into the lion after her; she came back several minutes later complaining about the seat.

Now that the three women had tried and failed, Coran turned to the men. They decided Hunk would go first. He came out less than a minute later.

"You didn't even try," Coran chided.

"Yes I did. I sat down…" he trailed off glancing around nervously. "I don't want to leave Yellow! I mean, it's big, it's got this super armor, it's safe."

"But you called the head."

"I know. I wanted to form the head with the Yellow Lion." Coran contunied glaring at the Yellow Paladin. "Fine." Sulking, Hunk walked back inside.

Fifteen minutes later, Coran was calling Hunk out of the unresponsive lion. "Alright, you're not the one. Out of the lion."

Hunk came out and Lance gave him a high five as he rushed inside with a smirk.

As time passed, Keith felt the weight in his stomach growing. With each rejection, the odds of the lion choosing him grew. Keith didn't want to lead, everyone hated him as it was, his bad leadership skills would just make things worse. Who would listen to the "loner" of the team? The person who kept too many secrets? There was always the chance that he'd be discovered and have to leave, unless Voltron wanted more enemies breathing down their backs than there already were. A lone Guardian to many would be seen as easy pickings to bounty hunters, slave traders, Hive, Galra, and Cabal alike; especially if they believed he didn't have his powers.

His team would end up getting hurt because of his existence.

"So," Pidge drawled, "how long are we gonna let Lance sit in there?"

"Yeah, it's been half a varga," Hunk agreed.

Jaz sighed walking towards the lion. "I'll get him." Going inside, she came back out a minute later with a fuming Blue Paladin tailing her.

Tossing his helmet down, he fell to the floor like he was throwing a tantrum. "It's useless! The Black Lion hates us all!"

"Keith. The Black Lion hasn't responded to any of us," Allura spoke looking to the Red Paladin. "You have to try."

He closed his eyes and lowered his head. That's exactly what he feared.

With a small gulp, he walked into the dark cockpit of the lion feeling lost. This was Shiro's lion. He didn't deserve to be in there. He wasn't a leader. Sitting down in the chair, he hesitated as he reached out to grasp the controls. What if Black accepted him? Would the others even respect him as their leader? And what did that mean for Shiro? There was a chance that meant he…no, no. Keith shook his head dispelling the thought. Shiro was fine. If he was accepted, it would just be a temporary setting. Once they found Shiro everything would go back to normal.

"I know you wanted this for me Shiro, but I'm not you," he whispered grabbing the controls lightly. "I can't lead them like you."

For a few moments, Keith could sense Black judging him. Hope grew in his chest as she seemed to be uncertain, maybe she wasn't as willing to give up on Shiro as the others were either.

Energy thrummed under his fingers and his hope was effectively shattered as everything began to power up.

"No," he murmured, "please no."

Black roared as she powered to life. Despite his wishes, Keith was now the leader of Voltron. She lowered her head, letting him descend the ramp towards the others.

"I'm proud of you Keith," Allura spoke, "I wish you were getting the job under better circumstances, but congratulations."

"Congratulations Keith," Pidge nodded.

Hunk waved, "Ditto man."

"Shiro'd be proud," Jaz smiled.

"I don't accept!"

They all gasped. "But you must. The Black Lion has chosen you."

"I can't replace Shiro. You guys are right, I'm the loner! I'm no leader."

Lance stepped up and placed his hand on his teammate's shoulder. "No one can replace Shiro. But the Black Lion wouldn't choose anybody it didn't feel was worthy to lead Voltron. I respect it's choice, you should too."

Keith frowned looking back to Black. "But what about Red? Who will fly her?"

Jaz promptly grabbed Allura and slung the Princess over her shoulder. "Let's find out!"

"Jaz!" Allura protested.

Twenty minutes later, both women returned to the common room. Jaz looked miffed while Allura looked despondent. "It didn't accept either of us. You getting anything from her Keith?"

"She's sulking. But so far I'm getting the feeling she doesn't think you're a match for her yet."

"I'm sorry Princess. I know how much you wanted to pilot the Red Lion," Coran apologized.

"I'm fine."

"Good because now we need to find someone to pilot Red," Jaz deadpanned. "So overall the situation's still the same, now just for a different lion."

"Aren't you a ball of sunshine," Lance grumbled.

"Where would we even start looking?"

Lance smirked, "I think we should start getting some alien diversity on the team, and I know some cool mermaids who could be good at it."

"You just want to see them again," Hunk muttered.

"Exactly."

"What about the Blade of Marmora?" Jaz offered. "I'm pretty sure Red would take one of them, they're almost as reckless as Keith." She elbowed her friend with a teasing smile, pouting when he only gave a tiny one in return.

"Or the Olkari!" Pidge threw out.

The screen activated revealing the chief of Puig. "Voltron—we need your help! The Galra have returned! Once you left we were defenseless! My people are trying to hold out but the Galra are too powerful."

"The lions are on their way! Hold you ground and protect your people until we arrive. Voltron stands with you."

-.-

Getting to the bridge, Keith stopped himself just as he was about to enter the elevator to Red's hangar. Right, he wasn't supposed to do that anymore. His throat suddenly went dry as he walked towards Black's. Were they sure that this was right?

"Keith," Allura said. "The Black Lion has chosen you. You can do this."

"You'll be fine you delc!" Jaz waved wearing a wide grin.

Stepping into the elevator, Keith couldn't find it in him to share their sentiments.

The path to Black was practically the same as Red's, however, in the place of red lights illuminating the passage, there were violet. Getting to the cockpit, he grabbed the controls. "This one's for you Shiro."

Flying out, he began dispensing orders. "Alright guys, we're not about to let the Galra take back this planet, so follow me."

/Where's Lance?/

"What?" checking his scanners, he frowned seeing the Blue Lion had yet to join them. "Lance! Where are you?"

The was a frustraited groan. /My lion's not responding to me!/

Keith wanted to bash his head against the console. Of course, his first mission as leader would go this way! It was just his luck! Now instead of being one lion down they were now two lions down.

"Figure it out and catch up!" he commanded as they sped towards the planet.

"Keith! Incoming!"

Hitting the brakes, Keith managed to stop as a Galra ship jumped out from hyperspace. "Attention Paladins of Voltron. This is Prince Lotor, son of Zarkon, Emperor Pro Tem of the Galra Empire. Surrender now or you will be destroyed."

"Zarkon has a brat?! Who would want to tykk him?!" Yorak exclaimed and Keith found himself agreeing with the latter question. But what had him concerned was the phrase "Emperor Pro Tem" that typically meant temporary so unless…

Keith paled. Qogralbar, Zarkon was still alive. Their mission failed.

Shiro's loss had been in vain.

/We've been set up!/ Pidge exclaimed as fighters began to fly out from the warship.

"Evasive manuvers! Everyone, watch your backs!"

Keith flew Black weaving the massive lion through the battle. She was slow in comparison to Red and every other ship he'd flown, so it was an adjustment he was dealing with. Just one he wished he wasn't needing to figure out in the heat of battle.

"We've got a problem."

"What?!" Keith snapped blasting at a fighter.

"Oh nothing just the swarm of Galra fighters coming our way."

"What!" he exclaimed whirling Black around to see the horde. Several split off to go after Pidge and Hunk, both of which were handling covering each other's backs just fine. That just left him with the group now currently following on his tail. "Pidge, Hunk, these controls don't respond like Red's. I need some help."

/There's too many for the three of us!/ Hunk called as they were cut off by a group.

Growling, Keith fired another blast, spinning Black in the hopes that the moving beam would take out or damage enough to even the odds. "Lance! Get out here now!"

/He's on his way! He had to take Red!/ Jaz informed.

"Red?"

/Yep! Allura's got Blue now!/

"Yay," he replied watching the two fighters chase him.

/Incoming!/ Pulling Black up, Green shot past ambushing the two fighters.

/Keith, what should we do?/ Hunk questioned.

"We have to attack the ship," he supplied.

/Uh, can you be more specific, we need an actual plan!/ Pidge protested.

A light caught his eye and Keith had barely any time to brace himself as a blast grazed one of Black's wings, sending his lion spiraling back. Quickly getting her back under control, he glared at the ship.

/Keith!/

"I'm fine! We can't take that guy on alone."

/You won't have to!/ Lance said zooming past in Red, leaving a trail of explosions in his wake.

"Seems like Lance is handling Red well."

"Ha saads fe cesflel hos sdaad a loffla mela fheygh [He needs to control his speed a little more though]," Keith remarked.

"True, at that rate he'll crash at somepoint."

An explosion rocked the main ship. /Need help?/ Coran asked as beams from the particle barrier shot out and ripped through the fighters.

"Thanks Coran!" Keith called, ramming Black into a fighter. He had to admit, what she lacked in speed was made up for in brute strength. "Alright everyone! Let's see if we can focus our attacks on the primary ship!"

A growl rumbled in his mind and Black yanked herself out of the way as the laser fired again, hitting the Castle. /HEY!/ Jaz screamed and a shield materialized over the particle barrier as another beam hit. Hopefully she could hold them off long enough for them to take down the ship.

Flying around the ship, Keith arrived just in time to watch Lance barely avoid slamming Red into it. "Hey! Careful with Red!" Traveler if he damaged her Keith was going to knock Lance into next century.

/Fly your own lion, Keith!/ he exclaimed turning Red to look at them. And then they crashed into a fighter. /I meant to do that!/

Lance was so lucky the explosion didn't damage her.

/Wow, we're really kind of a mess/ Pidge remarked. /We need to get organized. Keith! What should we do?/

"I don't know! We need to form Voltron but we're still short a lion," he replied. Where was Allura? Jaz said something about her and Blue.

/Not anymore!/

Speak of the devil.

/Awesome!/

Once Blue came out, the ships turned around and went into hyperspace.

/We did it!/

/I mean it was a little touch and go there for a second, but, yeah, we made it!/

/Allura, you and the Blue Lion! How cool is that?!/

/Yes! It was a bit of a surprise, but a happy one/

"Zarkon has a son," Keith stated chewing the inside of his cheek as he mulled over the new information.

/Yes…this is deeply disturbing/

"We need to find out more, something tells me we haven't seen the last of Zarkon."

/What makes you say that?/ Jaz questioned.

"He said something about being Emperor Pro Tem."

/Oh…fhsusc'hhk'h!/

-.-

Keith walked up the ramp to the Black Lion, putting on his helmet. Swinging his hand, Yorak materialized, quickly flying over to the controls. "Is it working?"

"The tracker is active."

"Good," he said sitting down and grabbing the controls. "Let's go."

The ghost blinked, looking at the Castle before turning to face Keith. "What about the others?"

/Keith! Where are you going?/ Jaz questioned.

"Have everyone get to their lions, I put a tracker on Lotor's ship. We're going after 'em."

/Now?!/

"They wanted me to lead Voltron, right? Well this is how I lead."