Hello everyone, I hope you like this chapter and one of two things, was able to find a transcript of Ep's so hopefully it will indeed save time in typing down who said what as well as why this wasn't finished yesterday, the reason why well...it's was my Birthdayđđđđ and now 21...so yeah. Also, their was a scene intended to be placed in this chapter to draw out Naruto and Kieth's problems with each other yet decided to place that in another chapter, too soon for that scene.
Chapter 4: The Beginning of the Legendary Defenders Part 4
Naruto just blinks as he was still confused to see the clear and utter shock of Pidges face which he immediately checks himself to see the slashed and torn tentacles on him, thinking that was what she was shocked about and quickly tore them off to throw back into the river until they were all gone before turning to still see her shock which furthers his own confusion as well as worry.
"P-Pidge, is their something on me? What is it?!" He asked, not liking what he's seeing which she immediately snaps out of it and points at the water, confusion him which he just leans over to look and at first he saw nothing...until he saw his face. Having red like markings on his face, similar to the Altean's sickle-shaped markings yet his were larger and jagged with being orange in color while also having whisker-like markings on his face. His eyes seemed much more blue than normal with the pupils slit and finally his right ear...
"WTF?! WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO ME, I HAVE WHISKERS AND MY EAR'S NOW POINTY?!" As he shouted that, he fell back on his butt with a shocked expression on his face before he touched his right ear to feel it was now pointy.
"WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME?!" Naruto shouts as he didn't know what was going on whisk Pidge places a hand on her chin in thought.
"I don't know, but you seem to have the Altean markings as well as your ear...it's just a guess but could it be that katana?" When she asked that, his eyes widen and immediately looks to see the katana with a crimson blade and lifts it to look at it with shock.
"W-Wait...when did...I-I don't remember where I got this from." As he said it, he was about to throw it in the water when he felt a pulse deep within him and on his left appeared a sheath that was black with an orange swirl that very much surprised him as he stared at it in shock just like Pidge who watched Naruto pick it up as he proceeded to sheath the blade yet the moment he did so, nothing happened at all and with a shake form Pidge caused Naruto to look depressed.
"Great, just great, how am I gonna explain exactly what happened to me now plus this weird katana, I don't even recall where I got it from but seeing as it the reason why I'm alive I'm gonna keep it, it might help on the mission." After saying that, he directs his gaze to Pidge.
"So, uhhhhh...mind telling me why your dressed as a guy?" Hearing that, she showed surprise before sadness.
"Since you know my secret than I guess you have a right to know the full story. You see, Commander Holt is my father. He and my brother were the ones on the Kerberos Mission with Shiro." When Naruto heard that, his eyes widen all the way as everything basically clicked.
"I've been searching everywhere for him and my brother. You see, after I found out about what happened on their mission and them going missing, I decided to break into the Galaxy Garrison to find out if it's true myself, after a couple failed attempts I finally was able to break into Commander Iverson's office. Just before he found me, I found out the truth. Turns out there was never any pilot error like was reported, the video feeds showed no evidence at all on Kerberos. In the end after demanding the Commander where my family was, I was instead kicked out and never allowed back again." Hearing that, it was than Naruto spoke up despite showing a sad expression.
"So you decided to dress up as a guy named Pidge Gunderson in order to find out more about where your family is." Hearing that, she simply nods with a still bothered expression on her face.
"Than can count me in." When she heard that, she looks up to see him showing a smile.
"Even if I'm not a Paladin of Voltron, I can at least help you guys out by other means." His words only surprised her before she finally smiles just before Naruto realized something.
"Wait, what about your mom? What's she gonna do when you do return home?" When he asked her that, almost immediately her smile instantly disappears to be replaced by fear.
"Oh, she's gonna be so mad at me for running away. I hope I'm not grounded." Hearing that, Naruto had a blank expression on his face.
"Yeaaaah, your most likely gonna be the first human ever to receive a decade grounding." His words only caused her to feel more depressed at the fact her mother will be far from happy. By that time Naruto thought of something and starts blushing while looking away.
"S-So, uh...can we never speak again about the whole naked incident?" When he asked that, he didn't see her blush red whole turning away as she knew if her brother heard about that, he would most likely want Naruto's head.
"So, what it your real name?" He asked her, surprising the girl who answers.
"Katie, tho could you keep this a secret from the others?" Hearing that, Naruto was a little surprise but nods since it's not his business to tell the others since it's between them. It was than that her gaze focuses on what they were headed towards which he too turns to look. What they saw was a root-covered stone temple just as their small boat stops they get off to approach the steps just as the lion carvings on the ground and stairs glows.
"Well, guess that proves that. I'll be waiting right here." He told Pidge who shows a smoke before she runs up the steps and that moment Naruto's heart pulses.
(In time, you will learn to hate them.)
The moment he heard that he turns fast to see a shadowy figure standing behind him, causing a bead of sweat to fall from his face as he couldn't see the figures face before he felt a headache and winces when he looks back up, he saw the figure was gone.
"Whatâ" He was cut it by hearing a loud "Whoo-hoo-hoo!" which causes him to turn just as a loud roar was heard followed by a earthquake before emerging from the the roof tomb was the Green Lion. Seeing this, Naruto just smiles at seeing this.
COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER BACK AT THE CASTLE
"So, how are we gonna explain this exactly?" Naruto asked Pidge who shakes her head.
"I don't know since I've never been in a situation where someone I know sudden transformed." Hearing that, he just signs with sadness as they stop by the door.
"So, whatâ" Pidge stops to show annoyance at seeing Naruto hiding behind a corner.
"Could you go first and try to explain what's happening to me?" When Naruto asked that, she just sighs before approaching the door that slides open so she could enter where Shiro, Keith, Coran, and Allura stood.
"Glad to see you ok, but where's Naruto?" Shiro asked Pidge who tired to explain but stops to show herself having a train of thought to confused the leader of Voltron.
"Did something happen to him?" He asked Pidge who spoke in a very quick tone as she herself was still trying to process "wtf" happened.
"You see, back on the planet, we were on a canoe going down a river led by our large sloth guard when we were attacked by some sea monster that flipped our canoe. I ended up getting pulled deeper into the water when Naruto saved me and got me back on the boat before he was once again pulled into the river, after seeing our guide come up from the water having been brutally killed I thought Naruto died and became hopeless only to have a geyser of water explode in front of me with Naruto standing on the boat with some kinda weapon in hand as well as having undergone changes to his appearance to look different from a normal human!" After she finished, they were all wide eyed.
"Wait, what?" Coran said as he was trying to process what she just said unlike Allura who understood the whole thing yet concerned about the last part.
"What kinda changes?" The moment she asked that the door slid open again to gain their attention and almost immediately they became shocked to see Naruto's changes from his Altean markings, whisker markings, eyes, and ear. It simply resulted in the shock turning into jaw drops before immediately approaching him were both Allura and Coran who were examining his face to see they were indeed Altean markings yet different. Slowly the Princess reached a hand to his ear, feeling it know if it was truly real and not fake while Coran was examining his whiskers a little to close to the point Naruto was about to slap the mustache off his face.
"I gotta say, I never thought I would see the day would get it meet one, tho I don't understand the whiskers thing but the ear and markings are the proof." When Coran said that, the group looks at him.
"Proof of what Coran, you know what this means?" Allura asked the man who simply nods while running his right hands fingers through his mustache.
"Basically, this rarely happens with it comes to the Altean blood mixing with another race. Tho there were reports of changes a mixed undergo when they reach a certain age yet yours is a first for me in person." The moment Naruto heard that, his eyes widen all the way.
"Wait, are you telling me..." As he said it, Keith's eyes widen all the way just as Coran nods.
"The only explanation for this occurrence is that you fall under the rare category do mixed blood but that can only mean that one of your parents were Altean since if it were a generation down you wouldn't have that ear or markings on your face. Either way this explains how you woke us up, this ship was specifically designed to work for an Altean tho...I'm not sure if that's true since it could also be that you guys activated it upon entering the room." Hearing that, Naruto just looks down at his feet, thinking about his father he's never actually met. While he was shocked, another was thrilled and that was the princess. Allura couldn't help but smile at the fact after 10,000 years, there are still Altean's our there.
"What's that?" Coran asked Naruto while pointing it the sword with he unsheathed to reveal the crimson blade reflecting the light off of it.
"Don't know, while I was drowning suddenly had this appear in my hand a broke free. Pretty sure this was what caused me to change." He said with the others being unsure of the katana tho they couldn't tell as it saved Naruto.
"We should scan it after we deal with the Galra." Allura told Naruto who nods just before a groaning Lance and Hunk enter the bridge.
"You made it." She told the two of them which Lance stretches.
"Yeah, just barely. That was a nightmare. I almost puked out there. I felt like Hunk!" He said which the big man agrees.
"Think how I felt. I am Hunk." He told his friend which Pidge spoke up.
"Yeah...we had a tough time, too. Turns out Naruto is part Altean." Pidge said, she and everyone else not making a big deal yet still processing the fact Naruto is Half-Altean. The moment she said that, both Hunk and Lance look at Naruto.
"WHAT THE?!" Lance shouts as he jumps back in Hunks arms before he rubs his eyes, trying to see if he was seeing things before he was let down so they could than get a close look.
"Yeah, from what I know this means my dad who I never met is most likely Altean which explains why I never met him, or why no one in the Garrison knows who heâWILL YOU STOP THAT ALREADY!" Naruto shouted at Hunk who was about to poke his ear before Shiro spoke up.
"Anyways, we can discuss this later. Have you found the Red Lion, yet?" He asked the Princess yet Coran spoke up as he got in front of them all except for Keith who stood away from the main group, still staring at Naruto at his change.
"Allura just located it. There's a bit of good news and bad news. The good news is, the Red Lion's nearby. The bad news is, it's on board that Galra ship now orbiting Arus. But wait, good news again. We're Arus!" His words only received shocked expressions on understanding what they just heard.
"They're here already?" Shiro immediately demands with worry while Hunk and Lance were already sweating.
"Yes. Guess my calculations were a bit off. Finger countingâI-It's more of an art than a science. Hmm?" Coran said, finding himself in need of an Altean Calculator just before a video transmission overtakes the Castle's screen, and an alien appears on it.
[Princess Allura, this is Commander Sendak of the Galra Empire. I come on behalf of Emperor Zarkon, Lord of the Known Universe. I am here to confiscate the Lions. Turn them over to me, or I will destroy your planet.]
Was all that was said before the feed ends.
"Well...fuck." Naruto said, already having enough for one day at first almost drowning, second having a transformation with some kinda alien katana, third finding out his father was Altean, and fourth now having to deal with an Alien attack.
"All right, let's not panic." Spoke the leader yet the others weren't exactly on board with that.
"Not panic? Th-The scary purple alien thing is driving his battleship toward us. We only have four Lions." Hunk stated yet was corrected by Pidge.
"Technically, only three working Lions." Her words were followed with Naruto showing three fingers with a none too happy expression on his face.
"That's right. Thank you, Pidge. Three working Lions an-and a Castle that's, like, 10,000 years old." Spoke the one who was basically stating facts.
"A-Actually, it's 10,600 years old. You see, it was built by my grandfatherâ" Coran tried to say, but was cut off immediately after stating that unneeded fact by Hunk who covered his mouth.
"Thanks, Coran. Thank you for that. See? Now is the perfect time to panic!" Hunk told the rest yet the Princess wasn't having any of that.
"Wait! This Castle has a particle barrier we can activate." Her words sparked courage as they had a limit yet only one ruined that moment with a joke.
"Girl, you've already activated my parâ" He was cut off by Pidge hitting him upside the head with her hand, gaining an ow.
"âow! What was that for?!" Lance demands yet Naruto spoke up.
"Lance, you know what you did." He told the guy who showed surprise before a little guilty expression with a smile at seeing Pidge's annoyed expression followed by Naruto sighing to himself just as a screen appears to show them it.
"The particle barrier won't hold Sendak's ion cannon forever. The Galra technology must have advanced since we fought them last." Coran said, showing the difference in technology from a 10,000 year gap.
"Panic now?" Hunk asked yet that panic train was sank immediately by Shiro.
"No. We've just got to figure out our plan of action, aaand... figure it out quickly." His words didn't spark much courage as he himself didn't have one.
"I say we pop through a Wormhole and live to fight another day." Lance states, choosing retreat as his best option.
"I second that. Yes. I mean, we tried to find all the Lions, right? We gave it the old college try. Couldn't do it. We only have three. We can't form Voltron. I mean, I guess we could form a... snake? Or a worm! To go through that hole, Lance, that you were talking about." Hunk said which furthers Lance's plan as he approached the Princess.
"Then, it's settled. Allura, you ride with me. One of you take the old guy." His words only caused the "old guy" to seethe in anger while Naruto just turns to look out the window, wondering if this planet has any inhabitants they know of since this has been here for over 10,000 years yet it was empty tho it was very massive.
"We can't just abandon Arus. The Galra will keep destroying planets and capturing prisoners until we stop them." Pidge told the rest, wanting to stick around and fight.
"Okay. If we run, then maybe Sendak will follow us and leave this planet alone, like when we left Earth. We form the snake-worm thingamajig and weâhisss out of here." Yet his very words were quickly shit down by Keith.
"Sendak could destroy the planet then come after us anyway. Staying is our only option." With those words he quickly got in a disagreement with Lance calling him a Quick which could most likely not be the actual term before being called a mullet, it was by then it sparked into a massive argument between the four paladins until they were finally stopped by Shiro.
"Guys, stop! Princess Allura, these are your Lions. You've dealt with the Galra Empire before. You know what we're facing better than any of us. What do you think is the best course of action?" Hearing that, she showed a very unsure expression on her face as she herself didn't know what to do.
"I... I-I don't know." Her words didn't fall straight down the moment she said it, before they could actually have an impact it was than that Naruto spoke up.
"Can't we just split up? One team distracts Sendak while the other goes inside the ship to get the Red Lion?" The moment Naruto said that, he received a lot of surprise looks from everyone, including Keith.
"What? Is it that bad?!" He asked, wondering if his idea was trash yet Shiro shakes his head.
"Actually, it's the best plan we have at the moment. The Galra Empire knows about the Blue and Yellow Lion, but they don't know we have the Green Lion, too. Hunk, Lance, you'll act as a decoy by pretending to give yourselves up. While Sendak is distracted, Keith, Pidge, Naruto, and I will sneak onto the ship in the Green Lion. Keith and I will find the Red Lion while Pidge and Naruto guard our exit. Hunk, Lance, find some way to take down that ion cannon." With the plan set, they all look at Allura who looked very unsure of this plan.
"I..." She tried to say but didn't know what as she couldn't even come up with a plan just before Coran spoke up.
"Perhaps your father can help." Hearing that, Allura showed surprise and just like that the two left to go somewhere, only to return with herself wearing a space suit.
"You five Paladins were brought here for a reason. The Voltron Lions are meant to be piloted by you and you alone. We must fight and keep fighting until we defeat Zarkon. It is our destiny. Voltron is the universe's only hope. We are the universe's only hope." Her words gained agreement from the others despite a couple not wanting to be here.
"We're with you, Princess." With that said, they moved to a new area of the ship.
COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER IN THE PALADIN ARMORY
When they entered the lights had turned on to show five pods holding armor of different color.
"Your suits of armor." Allure told them all much to their happiness at seeing how they look.
"Cool!"
"Outstanding."
"Nice."
"Oh, neat!"
Hunk was the only one doubting he will fit.
"Princess, are you sure about this? They aren't exactly the best and brightest the universe has to offer." Coran asked Allura who shakes her head.
"No, but they're all we've got." She told the fellow Altean before she looks at Naruto who was watching them examine their armor before she spoke.
"Naruto, could you come here." Hearing that, he just did as told right at the same time she pressed a button, causing another pod to come down form the ceiling from the control panel.
"This was a prototype that was used for the creation of the Paldin Armors, it may not be as high-tech as the others such as not having the jet pack function or gauntlet-mounted energy shield, but it does have other functions such as being heavily protected against radiation, extreme temperatures, and impact forces." After saying that, the pod opens up to reveal like the other armors, one that matches it by shape yet unlike them it's primarily color was a light grey full-body undersuit, and is topped by stiffer segments of pitch black armor, accented in place was a grey color unlike the others that had a respective color.
"Boys, it's time to suit up!" Shiro told the group which they do just as that tho the moment Naruto put his on, the grey accented color turns dark-orange much to his surprise.
"Oh, so orange is your favorite color!" Allure said, surprising Naruto who looks back at it.
"It was designed to change to the color the wearer likes the most, not only that but this one was specifically designed for more of stealth missions yet had to be scraped for more combat ready yet even so it still has the same protections as the other paladin armors." Coran explained to Naruto who's katana was held on a weapons holster before putting on his helmet that was designed like the others yet the white on the helmet was made black while the top being dark-orange.
Naruto couldn't help but smile just like Lance, and Pidge at what they were now wearing. Seeing this, Allura places a hand on the computer console, causing the screen to disappear to reveal four weapons with distinctive colors on them.
"The Bayard is the traditional weapon of the Paladins of Voltron. It takes a distinct shape for each Paladin." She explained to the group which Lance, Keith, Hunk, and Pidge take one yet unlike the others that activated, Pidges was a small grappling hook with a knife head. Gaining kicking from Lance who approached her.
"Aw, you got a cute little bayard." Lance said, earning a strike from Pidge which resulted in the player getting electrocuted as he screamed, falling to the ground with smoke.
"Yeah, it is pretty cute." She said, finding the weapon to be nice while Naruto tried not to laugh at the fact Lance just got electrocuted.
"Shiro, I'm afraid your Bayard was lost with its Paladin." The news only caused him to show a sad smile at hearing that but even so responded with a smile.
"I guess I'll just have to make do." He told her just before they all made there way to the bridge of the castle of lions where Allura explained the plan.
"You'll need to retrieve the Red Lion from Sendak's ship." She told the six with the screejbshieomh the massive ship.
"That's a.. pretty big ship. How are we gonna know where the Red Lion is?" Keith asked the Princess just before Pidge spoke up.
"Oh, it's not a matter of 'we'. It's a matter of 'you'." Her words were followed by Hunk that filled him in on what the plan is.
"Pidge is right. Once we get you in, you'll be able to feel its presence and track it down." Hunk told his teammate just as Lance agreed but as they talked, Naruto just looked down at his sheathed sword as he get anxiety at the fact he's actually going to invade an alien ship, that look didn't go unnoticed by Shiro who suddenly placed a hand on his shoulder, causing him to turn to look at him.
"You don't have to go if you don't want to, we canâ" Shiro was silenced by Naruto shaking his head before he answers.
"If you guys are going than so am I, after all I want to help since well...it involves me too, with me being Half-Altean and all." His words only caused Keith to stare at him with annoyance while Allura showed worry since she didn't want to see Naruto get hurt as he was proof that the Altean race survived more so the fact he is basically one of the only family she has left of her race. In the end she spoke with determination in her tone.
"Keith, remember, the Red Lion is extremely temperamental. You'll have to earn its respect." She told Keith who nods just as Shiro spoke again.
"All right. I'll go over our plan of attack again." And with that said, the plan was a go.
30 MINUTES LATER, WITHIN THE GALRA SHIP AFTER ENTERING
Pidge docks the Green Lion undereneath the warship before it could then proceed to cut a hole into the warship's hull where they proceed to have sneaked inside.
[Pidge, what's your ETA?]
"We're in." She responded to Lance all the while Naruto still felt anxiety yet he didn't let that stop him as they stood in some kinda energy room yet they still moved deeper into the ship to the point they arrived on empty halls they were walking rough. Keith leading the way, then Shiro, then Naruto, then Pidge who was crouching against the walls corner. The moment Shiro turned around he seemed to have had some kinda vision that alerts them from the sounds he made.
"I've been here before. After I was taken by the Galra cruiser off Kerberos, they brought us here." The moment he said that, they were all surprised yet Pidge was the first to know exactly what needed to be checked.
"So, that means your other crewmembers, they might be held captive here. We... We've got to rescue them." She told Shiro who was in disagreement.
"Pidge, we don't have time. We have to get the Red Lion and get back to Arus." He told her, yet she was in complete disagreement.
"But we can't just leave prisoners here!" She told the leader who turns to face her completely with a concerned look.
"Look, no one understands that more than me, but, in war, we have to make hard choices. Now, let's get moving." The moment he said that, she shows anger.
"No!" She shouts, causing them to just stare at her with Naruto looking sad.
"You see, I can't go because Commander Holt is my father. He and my brother were the ones on the Kerberos Mission with you." When she said that, Shiro went completely wide eyed.
"Commander Holt is your father?" He asked her, disbelief in his tone at finding this out.
"Yes. I've been searching everywhere for him and my brother. And I'm not going to give up looking when I'm this close. I won't!" She said, turning around just as Shiro spoke up.
"I'm coming with you." The moment those words were said, Naruto who was about to offer to go with Pidge and Keith who needed help finding the Red Lion, both simultaneously said "What?".
"I remember where the prisoners are held. Keith, Naruto, you two go find the Red Lion." Hearing that, Keith immediately showed disagreement.
"With him?! Shiroâ" He was cut off by their leader.
"Minor change of plans. You two will be fine. Just remember, teamwork. Whatever is going on between you two, pick it up laterâ" He stops the moment they all heard doors opening and turn in the same direction as the door down the hall was.
"Run!" With that order, Naruto dashed off in the opposite direction while Shiro and Pidge the other, leaving Keith who looks down in annoyance before he closes his eyes with anger appearing in his face before opening them again with determination, knowing the mission is more important right not and followed after Naruto just before he was seen. Only stopping when they arrive at an intersecting corridor.
"Great. Now, which way?" Keith asked while he was looking both ways with Naruto just looking behind them until the two heard it and took the right just as a mechanical foot soldier walks by. After some time passed again they stop at another multi passageway before they continue onwards as they start taking lefts and rights until they arrive.
"You've got to be kidding me...!" Keith shouts in anger as he was having a hard time.
"Keith, we need to hurry!" Naruto told the Red Paladin who shows anger yet in the end, he takes a deep breath and was about to concentrate which he proceeded to get the exact vision and faces the direction.
"This way." With that said, in a matter of minutes the two quickly entered the hangar room as they made their way towards the Red Lion guarded by a force field.
"Bingo. Let's get out of here. Open up." Keith said while he places his hand on the Lion's force field yet nothing happens.
"It's me. Keith. Your buddy. It's me! Keeeeeeiiiiith, yourâI. AM. YOUR. PALADIN!" His words only equaled to nothing happening which Naruto just sweat drops as he watched him knocking on the force field just like Lance did but immediately they duck after blasters zoomed by them and turn to see the mechanical guards, the sentries approaching them with laser guns. Signaling Keith to block them with his armor's shield while Naruto got behind him.
"I'm bonding with you! Hey! Come on! We're connected!" Keith shouted yet it doesn't respond.
"I don't think shouting will cause a 10,000 year old mystical cat robot to except you!" Naruto shouted at Keith just as the Paladin summons his Bayard as a katar and just charges at the sentries while Naruto himself draws out the katana.
"Here we go." Naruto muttered as he immediately dashed for one of the sentries, passing Kieth who was busy dealing with one while Naruto somehow found himself dodging laser blasts as he approached one and much to his shock he cleaved one of the machines in two with a single slash. When he turns to see one of the other sentries aiming a gun at him he immediately threw his katana directly at the machine which pierced through its head just as Naruto quickly grabbed the blade and swung to cut its head off. After that he runs towards Keith who was facing the still unresponsive Lion.
"What does it want?" He asked, gaining only silence until more blasts shot over their head and they turn to see dozens of sentries entering the room, causing their eyes to widen.
"HOLD ONTO SOMETHING!" Keith shouts as he made his way to the controls, slamming his fist on a button that causes the hangar doors to open up while Naruto helmet shut like Keith's as they were hit by a massive gravity that starts pulling them in with Kieth holding onto the controls yet he was slipping as the rest of his body was being dragged in while Naruto was on the other side, able to hold himself in place unlike Kieth.
"KEITH, GRAB MY HAND!" Naruto shouted as he extended his left hand to Keith who stares at it in disbelief before he quickly turns away just as a falling debris hits his right hand that forced it to let go. Slowly, he tried reaching his free hand to Naruto yet another hits his that causes him lose his grip as he falls towards space. Seeing this, a single memory of the two as kids smoking together while covered in dirt cane to mind.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" As Naruto screamed that, his katana suddenly unleashed a powerful light that Naruto couldn't see through and from it shot out multiple tentacles as they wrap around the shocked Keith who was held in place with Naruto just staring at the form his katana had taken. It transformed into a gauntlet that had openings that shot out tentacles that grew in size.
"WTF?!" The two shout as they did not understand what they were seeing while without realizing it the tentacles were pulling him back in the ship, just enough so that he could quickly press the controls to shut the hangar door just as Keith was dropped with the gauntlet glowing brightly before turning into a steaming sword that stabs into the floor. The two just stare at it in complete shock as they forgot everything before that except for the katana.
"How did it do that?!" Keith demands from Naruto who shrugs while a very confused as hell expression on his face.
"How would I know, I just got this thing the moment I was being drowned by some tentacle monster!" Naruto shouted as they just stare at it until a roar was heard and they turn to look at the Red Lion who no longer had a shield up while it kneeled in front of them. The two just look at each other before they run towards the Look with Naruto grabbing the katana and sheathing it fast as they made they way on board with Keith taking the pilot seat with Naruto standing next to him, holding onto the seat as he would rather not have a repeat of what happened last time.
"Good kitty. Let's roll." With that said, a single explosion could be seen outside of the warship as the Red Lion flys out quickly to meet up with the Blue Lion, Green Lion, and Yellow Lion.
[Hunk-You guys made it!]
[Pidge-Kitty Rose has left the stage!]
[Lance-Let's get the heck out of here!]
[Hunk-I hope I stopped that cannon. I could barely make a dent in it!]
With that said, the group retreats back to the planet where the stood in the castle main hangar where the four lions's eyes simply glow one by one, causing the large doors to open to reveal the Black Lion where Shiro stood before it just as it's eyes flowed followed by a single roar which they all did the same but the joy was short lived from hearing alarms before Allura could be heard.
[Allura-Sendak is entering the Arusian atmosphere. We need Voltron now!]
Hearing that, Naruto turns away from Keith while making his way towards the exit but as he was, Keith was glancing back at him and was about to say something before he stops and turns away, showing a very confused expression mixed with anger and sadness but in the end focuses on what was important. The moment Naruto got out, the five Lions launch with him watching them leave through the massive launch hole above them. Seeing that, Naruto ran full speed back to the bridge and only arrived seconds after the castle shook from being hit by something, in moments after he entered the Bridge to find Allura and Coran at the controls and watching the fight.
"The barrier gets weaker with every blast. Once that shield goes down, the Castle will be defenseless." Coran said while turning to face Allura all the while Naruto showed shock as he ran to her side, looking over the controls.
"I can give you cover with the Castle defenses for a while, but you have to form Voltron now or we'll all be destroyed!" Allura shouting, rushing the five with Naruto just watching on he sidelines as he saw the ion cannon unleash a second blast hook the barrier, causing it too weaken even more as it is.
[Shiro-Listen up, Team Voltron! The only way to succeed is to give it all you've got! This looks bad, but we can do this! Are you with me?]
[Hunk-I'm nodding. Is everyone else nodding?]
[Keith, Lance, Pidge-Yes.]
[Shiro-Let's do this!]
With that said, they watched the Lions run forward and exit the barrier under heavy fire from Galra fighter jets with Naruto just watching with a serious expression as he could clearly see during the entire time they were having problems on his exactly to form Voltron.
"Quickly, Paladins! Our energy levels are getting low!" Allura rushed them as she stumbled a little before regaining her balance.
[Shiro-Maybe if we fly in formation, we'll just combine. Take off on my cue. One, two, three, Voltron!]
With those words they witnessed the five jump off the cliff as hey all flew high in formations but as they did so they were stopped by being hit by the sudden tractor beam of the warship just before it fires another ion cannon that completely knocks out their shields.
[Shiro-Oh, no!]
[Hunk-I-I don't care what you say, Shiro. I'm panicking now!(starts to scream.]
[Pidge-It can't end here!]
[Lance-This is it!]
[Keith-It's been an honor flying with you boys.]
[Hunk-Oh, no!]
"WILL YOU GUYS JUST SHUT UP!" Naruto screamed as they all stopped panicking, causing Allura and Coran to turn to face the serious Naruto who was gripping the hilt of his Katana, but as he did so he felt something come over him, as if he was speaking but with someone else as well.
"YOU NEED TO BECOME ONE! NOT JUST BY COMBINING THE LIONS BUT BY BECOMING ONE! THIS ISN'T ABOUT ME, YOU, OR ANY OF US HERE BUT THE UNIVERSE ITSELF! YOU ARE EVERYONE'S LAST HOPE, SO DON'T EVER GIVE UP!" Naruto shouts at the five who were very much surprise but more so Lance, Hunk, and Pidge as during the time they've spent with him, after the incident he's never acted out like this. Yet even so, for some odd reason it was as if he had lit a flame inside the five of them.
[All Five-Yeah!]
With those words shouted in response, the Lions break free as they form Voltron, combining all five to create the universal savior just as the ion cannon unleashed another blast at the castle of Lions, the destruction was diverted with a single punch to the cannon which the blast exploded from a distance away. Watching this scene were the three and Naruto couldn't help but smile from what he saw on the smoke. That being a giant mechanical robot.
[Keith-I can't believe it!]
[Pidge-We formed Voltron!]
[Hunk-I'm a leg!]
[Lance-How are we doing this?]
[Shiro-Seems that thanks to Naruto we were able to snap out of it, I don't know how, but it's thanks to him!]
Hearing that, Naruto couldn't help but scratch the back of his head sheepishly yet didn't know what came over him but in the end they watched al Voltron tips off the cannon before unleashing a single beam that ripped through its ship, repeating the process before they finally ram into it, ripping through it to cause it to explode.
10 MINUTES LATER BACK AT THE CASTLE OF LION'S
Naruto, Allura, and Coran meet the exhausted Paladins out in the courtyard where they had sat and stood.
"Good work, Paladins!" The Princess said, congratulating the five.
"Thanks, pretty lady." Lance told Allura with a smile on his face filled with confidence.
"We did it." Shiro told the five of them with a smile.
"Heck yeah, we did." Keith said in agreement while taking off his helmet like the others.
"I was just, like, screaming the whole time." Hunk said, causing Shiro to turn his attention to Naruto.
"If it weren't for you snapping us out of it, who knows what would have happened." Shiro told Naruto who was surprised but looks away in a little embarrassment at being congratulated just before he found Lance wrapping an arm around his neck.
"Man, who knew you had it in you? I haven't heard you make an outburst like that in a long time!" Lance told Naruto with Hunk nodding.
"Yeah, you always had that affect to motivate us back when we all started the Garrison. Tho now that I think about it, back then you earned the nickname "Loudmouth Baka"." When Naruto heard that, he starts sweating with his mouth being forced while his eyes twitched.
"Yeaaah, thanks for reminding me, Vomit Guy." Hearing that, Hunk shows some shock and annoyance when he heard that.
"Oh why you gotta be like that, you know just like everyone else I had problems with my motion sickness back than!" Hunk said yet Lance just stares at him with a raised eyebrow, thinking about his pants that got vomited on. But all the jokes ended up being put to the side when Pidge looked dejected from not finding either missing family member; yet Hdiro places a hand on her shoulder.
"We're not going to stop searching until we find your brother and father. Wherever they are, I know they'd be proud of you." His words only caused her to smile in happiness before she turns to Naruto who gives a nod in agreement just before Allura spoke up.
"We won the battle, but the war has only just begun. I'm afraid Zarkon will not stop until he gets these Lions." She told them all, giving the major bad news of the hunt.
"Good thing you Paladins know what you're doing, because you're going to have to form Voltron again and again." Hearing that, it only sparked a single word that could describe what they were feeling, well two words to be exact.
"TotallyâWait, what?" Hunk said, not liking what he's hearing.
"We barely survived forming Voltron this one time. Do I really have to keep hearing Naruto give speeches?" His words earned a narrowed eye look from Naruto who showed annoyance at the insult.
"You Guys do know you only had to fight one ship. Wait until you have to fight a whole fleet of them! It's not going to be easy being the Defenders of the Universe." When he said that, they all showed surprise.
"Defenders of the Universe, huh? That's got a nice ring to it." Shiro said while they all looked back at their lions.
ON PLANET â
Deep within the earth, hidden from the light of day lay dormant a mechanical beast that was in a deep slumber, slowly it's eyes began to open.
xxxxxCHAPTER ENDxxxxx