Egal is a Paladin of Voltron. It's like a dream come true! On Egal's planet, stories of Voltron were told to the young sprouts about how Voltron saved those in need and the Paladins were heroes for all . . . Except now that Egal has met the Paladins, the Paladins don't seem much like heroes anymore.
It's already been about a phoebe since Egal joined the Paladins as the pilot the Red Lion and in that time, Egal hasn't once felt like Egal truly belonged. Shiro, of course, tries to tell Egal that the others just need time to adjust to the changes. Shiro seems to be the only one on Egal's side in this endeavour. The Princess Allura hasn't been outright hostile, but every time Allura looks at Egal it's with suspicion and sadness. Allura doesn't trust Egal yet.
Hunk seems to be indifferent, but Egal can see that Hunk wishes that Egal wasn't there, that the missing Paladin was there instead. Egal can understand Hunk's feelings. Hunk is sad about the missing Paladin, but it still hurts every time Hunk leaves the room.
The worst one though is Pidge. Pidge is just straight up mean and doesn't hide the fact that Pidge doesn't think Egal should be there in the first place. Pidge is always shouting at Egal, telling Egal to just 'get lost' and worst of all, making fun of Egal's confusion with some of the weird 'pronoun' words the others use. It had started when they first met.
"Are . . . are you a he or a she?" Hunk had asked bluntly. "I'm sorry, I honestly can't tell."
Egal had tilted Egal's head in confusion. "Egal is Egal. What is a She?"
"Uh, you know, like gender?" Hunk prompted.
"Gen-drrr?"
"You know what? Never mind."
"Who is You? What does You know?"
"Ugh. Forget it."
But Egal didn't forget about it. In fact, Egal thought about it very hard and tried to figure out who the others were referring to when they called each other You and He and She and I . . .
It—it just frustrated Egal. One should call themselves by their name. Why add in unnecessary words to complicate things further? If Egal is referring to Egal, Egal will say Egal. If Egal is referring to Shiro, Egal will say Shiro! Where do these 'pronoun' things come into play? Pronouns are redundant and dumb! Why bother with pronouns in the first place?!
Allura and Shiro tried to speak clearer when Egal was around, and Hunk had at one point tried making a game of it to teach Egal about these new words. But Pidge . . . Pidge was just so unreasonable! And Egal knew that it was because Pidge was frustrated because of Pidge's situation and not being able to go on missions, but Egal could only take so much of it. So Egal had done the rational thing and tried talking to Pidge, tried to make nice and get to know Pidge better. Try to be a better team mate.
"It doesn't matter what you want," Pidge had snapped at Egal. "Because as soon as we find Lance, and we will find Lance, you're gone. You're only here right now because we need a fifth Paladin to form Voltron and for some messed up reason the Red Lion's letting you pilot her. But don't get too comfortable, because you're just a substitute. Soon enough we won't need you anymore."
Egal hasn't tried talking to Pidge since then. Egal hasn't said much of anything to anyone. Shiro noticed and tried asking Egal what was wrong. Maybe it was because Shiro was the only one who was truly on Egal's side, but Egal told Shiro what had happened.
"Maybe Pidge is right. Egal isn't a real Paladin, just a substitute. Why is Egal even here? Would it be better if Egal just went back home?"
Shiro watched Egal with a strange look on Shiro's face before responding. "The Red Lion chose yo—uh, chose Egal to be a Paladin. Whether the others like it or not, that fact isn't going to change. Egal is here for a reason, trust me."
"But what if the missing Paladin comes back," Egal asked. "Everyone is still looking, right? Will Egal have to leave then? Should Egal just leave now and save everyone the trouble?"
Shiro sighed, "I can't say what the future will bring. But I—Shiro knows that we—the team—needs you now. So, for now, this is where you belong."
Egal left that conversation feeling marginally better, but that doesn't mean that Egal would start talking to the others. The only one that Egal did talk to was the Red Lion. The Red Lion would sit and listen, not as Egal talked, but to Egal's thoughts. Sharing a mind space took some getting used to, but Egal now took comfort in the little voice that shared encouragement in Egal's head, that would help sort through Egal's thoughts and restate that Egal had a place on the team. . . even if the others didn't quite recognize that yet.
Even now, the Red Lion was a strong pillar for Egal as Egal and the rest of the Paladins (minus Pidge) were flying over the water covered planet to where the Fire Relic was supposedly hidden.
"Why is it that the Fire Relic is located on a water planet?" Hunk asked through the coms.
"Focus, Hunk," Shiro reprimanded as they skimmed over the ocean toward the only land mass in sight.
"I'm just saying that it's a little weird, is all."
"The Relics work is odd ways," Coran's voice crackled from the Castle. "They also cause interesting phenomenon, so keep an eye out."
"Right."
As they approached the island, the Paladins got their first look at the mountain that dominated the landscape and the giant tree that grew from it. The island, which was obviously once lush and green, was now full of colourful browns and reds as the last of the leaves piled on the ground and autumn came to a close.
"It's beautiful," Allura breathed, taking it all in. "Amazing how such a large tree can grow straight out of solid rock."
Egal had the urge to correct Allura and offer up that most likely there are pockets of soil and nutrients that the tree and other vegetation could live off of but Egal held back at the possibility of a reprimand that Egal knew wouldn't come, but was scared of none the less.
The Lions set down in a clearing on the coast of the island and Coran's voice crackled in their ears again. "Now, if I remember correctly, the Fire Relic should be located at the top of the mountain, sheltered by the big Euphorian Tree."
"All the way up there, huh," Shiro said.
"The people who live here have built their villages around the base of the mountain, which they worship as their god," Coran continued spewing facts.
"Really? A mountain god?" Hunk questioned, skeptical.
"It has something to do with the island's cycle of rebirth," Coran waved it off. "But in any case, they may not be too happy with you all going up there and messing around. I suggest you meet up with their leader so as to not cause any unnecessary conflict and hostility."
"In that case, we best leave the Lions where they won't be mistaken as a threat," Shiro said.
"I agree," Allura added. "Coran, can you direct us to the village?"
"Scans of the island are complete," Pidge's voice came over the coms from where Pidge sat on the bridge of the Castle with Coran. "Sending the quickest calculated route to the nearest village. Hope you guys like hiking."
Hunk groaned as everyone emerged from their Lions and took in their surroundings. There was nothing but forests and trees and fallen leaves around them. A map popped up in each of their visors, outlining a vague layout of the island and a red flashing line that showed them the way to go, which was entirely through the forest.
"Great," Hunk resigned to fate. "You know, nature walks were never really my thing."
"Come on, big guy," Shiro gave Hunk a light smile and tapped Hunk's shoulder to get Hunk moving. "We got this."
Allura took the lead and Egal let the others trail ahead before bringing up the rear, as Hunk kept babbling.
"I mean, like, this is the Fire Relic, right? And I know I've pointed this out before, but we're on a water planet, on a little island that's mostly forest, heading for a giant rocky mountain . . . Anybody else catching my drift here? There's like everything here except fire!" The others only seemed to shake their heads and take it in stride, but Egal couldn't help but furrow a brow.
Wasn't time of the essence? The Paladin's were in a race to seal the Relics, right? So why is the Team wasting time being diplomatic instead of flying straight to the top of the mountain and being done with it all? What if, while the team is wasting time talking, the enemy steals the Relic? It doesn't sit well with Egal, but Egal keeps quiet and follows the others who were weaving through the trees toward the mountain that could still be seen through the bare branches of the forest.
Other than the crunching of leaves and the occasional scamper of an animal, it was quiet. Hunk eventually ran out of things to complain about and the team walked in silence, following Pidge's pre-planned route. After half a varga or so, the heat and humidity started to get to Hunk who started fantasizing about things called smoothies and cold watermelons and ice cream sundaes until Shiro told Hunk to give it a rest because it was making Shiro hungry.
It wasn't too much longer until the tree-cover broke and a large clearing that spanned all the way to the base of the mountain opened up. Sprawled out before the team was a set of big, barren fields and farther back was a number of small buildings, huts and even some tents.
"Is this it?" Hunk asked panting and slumped on a tree. "Are—are we finally here?"
"According to Pidge's map, this is the village," Allura said, double checking their position. "And it looks like we've gotten the attention of the locals as well."
Sure enough, Egal spots a small figure fleeing back into one of the huts and moments later a woman comes out and ushers the child further into the village.
"Well, they don't look hostile," Shiro notes, relaxing a bit as the woman approaches with no weapons in hand.
Egal inspects the woman who stops a fair distance away, and took notice of the pointed, furry cat ears sprouting out of the woman's head.
"State your business," the woman yells from a safe distance away. There wasn't hostility in the voice, but it wasn't welcoming either.
"My name is Princess Allura," Allura stepped forward, taking off the pink helmet and smiling kindly. "My companions and I wish to speak with your leader."
"And what business do you have with the Shah?" the cat woman asked.
"We wish to gain safe passage up the Mountain."
The woman's brow scrunched, "Why would you want to go up there?"
"That is what we wish to speak to your leader, uh, the Shah, about," Allura quickly adapted to their terms.
The woman inspected the team with a critical eye, then with a nod of approval, the woman waved them forward. "You can call me Rosa. Well, come on then. I'll show you the way."
"What!?" The child from before had returned with another, bigger, cat person with grey ears in tow. This man did have a weapon and mean looking eyes. "They're Outsiders! Why are you letting them in!?" the child continued to shout at the woman.
"Hush now, Mateo," Rosa scolded. "They are obviously not from the Tyke clan."
"That's what you said about the other Outsiders who passed through and look where that got us!" The child turned and fled deeper into the village.
"Mateo!" Rosa called after the child and sighed. "I apologize, but we have not had the best luck recently with Outsiders."
"These are trying times," Allura nodded. "But then why are you trusting us?"
"I don't trust you," Rosa said simply. "I'm simply giving you the benefit of the doubt. After all, that's why I had the child fetch Greyson here." She gestured to the warrior who had come to flank her side. The warrior inspected each Paladin in turn, a dark gaze lingering on each as if assessing each persons' threat level. The warrior seemed to come to the same conclusion as the woman did and nodded in acceptance.
"I will take over from here," Greyson said, stepping aside to let Rosa return to the hut.
Rosa nodded back and turned to the Paladins. "I hope you can find what you are looking for."
And with that, Greyson led the group past the farmland and into the small village.
"This is the Toms Village," Greyson introduced, leading them down the main path. "You caught us just as we're finishing the harvest. The winter months are quickly approaching and there's still much preparation to do."
The village was composed of a couple of rows of huts made of stone and mud. The gaze of every cat-eared person was drawn to the group of Outsiders being led through the streets. It seemed like everyone stopped what they were doing and watched as Greyson led he team up to one of the huts that didn't stand out from the rest in any way.
"Greyson, who do we have here?" a white-haired Tom asked, coming up beside the group with weary eyes.
"Shah," Greyson bowed respectfully. "These Outsiders wished to see you."
"I see." Now it was the Shah's turn to examine the Paladins. "Well come in and let's talk."
A/N: Fun Fact! I created the island of Firannial for a One Piece fic that I started who knows how many years ago that goes into more detail about the lore of the island, their past and their internal struggles between the two feuding villages. If you'd like to read more about it, you can check it out but . . . yeah I haven't updated it in forever :S One of these days I'll get around to it again. And this isn't the only time I've also used this island, it seems to pop up in almost all my writing, fanfiction and otherwise :P
Other note, do you realize how hard it is to write in the perspective of someone who doesn't understand pronouns?! It takes some very careful writing and editing and make damn well sure there ain't none hiding in there that I missed! And if I did, our poor little Egal is finally learning to use human pronouns. :D