Chapter 8: Rebirth

At the Balmera, Vaxel stood on top of the giant cradle, his sword blazing with Dark Quintessence. Pidge scanned the sword and recognized its glow all too well.

Pidge: "Oh, no! His sword's covered in Dark Quintessence!"

Jenny: "Ugh! Why do they gotta keep using that stuff?!"

Hunk: "Please tell me there's not a giant monster in there. Please tell me it's empty! Or full of space candy. One of those two. Either one is fine."

Lance: "I don't think it's a piñata, Hunk."

Sandra: "It's that same cradle that landed on Arus before."

Lapis: "So that means you know what's gonna come out."

Keith: "If it's the same kind of monster that attacked us on Arus, we already know how to beat it."

Then, Keith thrusted his bayard into the key, causing Voltron to forge a sword and shield while Lapis did the same with hers as the Violet Voltron forged her own.

Shiro: "Hold your ground!"

Lapis: "Holding!"

Then, Vaxel jumped off of the cradle before latching his sword onto the cradle, scratching it as he descended while also leaving trails of Dark Quintessence as it spread throughout the cradle, which later came apart to reveal a giant, salamander-like robeast. Then, the creature came to life with a dark hum as its machinery glowed dark purple. Once it's targeted both Voltrons, the robeast's core glowed purple before firing a dark purple blast from it towards Voltron, who blocked it only to be pushed back several feet.

Hunk: "It's not candy!"

Lance: "And it's not the same monster!"

Then, as Voltron got out of the blast's path, Lapis inquired of Shiro.

Lapis: "Great. Now what?"

Shiro: "We need to draw its fire away from the Balmera's surface!"

As the two Voltrons evaded the blasts, they closed in on it, only for the robeast to jump up and fire the blast at them in the air. At that moment, however, the Violet Voltron blocked it and caused Lapis to tense and groan from the pain before being knocked away. As the creature aimed to strike again, Voltron charged toward the robeast and slashed at it, only for it to evade that in the nick of time before firing a blast from his purple eye that rotated toward Voltron. After one hit, it got knocked back before flying away as the robeast followed and fired a blast from its core. As Voltron held the blast at bay, Lance grew worried about the shield's integrity.

Lance: "We can't hold out!"

Pidge: "My lion is weakening! If the shield sustains structural damage, we're done for!"

Keith: "Pidge is right!"

Lance: "Oh, Pidge is right. I'm the one that said, 'we can't hold out!'"

Then, Keith noticed the Blue Lion slipping.

Keith: "Lance, watch your footing!"

It was too late, the Blue Lion has already slipped and fell as the shield broke apart into two wings. That left Shiro no other choice.

Shiro: "Okay, Team Voltron, disband!"

After the five lions split apart while the Violet Lion changed back to its normal lion form, they began darting away from the robeast.

Shiro: "Everyone, evasive maneuvers! It can't shoot us all at once!"

However, Vaxel grinned at their panic before speaking.

Vaxel: "Surround them."

Then, the robeast fired multiple dark lasers from its arms, putting on the deadliest laser show to say the least.

Belle: "Seriously?"

Shiro: "Okay, it can do that too."

Just then, the Castle of Lions appeared and shot the creature to stop it. However, that only angered it as it turned and fired a dark laser from the eye at their shield. Inside, Allura, Babak, Azix, Zaltron, and Coran held themselves together as they braced it.

Allura: "Where does Zarkon get these beasts from? And how do they keep finding us?"

Azix: "Zarkon's witch, Haggar, must be responsible. She's always experimenting with Quintessence for the sake of power. As to how they found us... one of his generals must've been working the area."

Babak: "Well, couldn't you have bothered to say so AHEAD of time?!"

Azix: "In all fairness, you didn't bother to ask."

As Babak growled, Coran saw the status of the particle barrier.

Coran: "Princess, the particle barrier won't sustain much longer. It's still not at full strength after the blast from the Galra ship."

Outside, Lapis had an idea.

Lapis: "Keith and I will try to draw its fire!"

Shiro: "Good idea! I'm coming from above!"

As Keith and Lapis darted toward the robeast, their lions fired their blasts at it, causing it to turn its attention toward them before firing. Then, just as the Black Lion charged above it, one of its eyes turned and fired its blast at him, forcing him to evade.

Belle: "Well, that didn't work!"

Lance: "We need to find its blind spot!"

Pidge: "I don't think this thing has a blind spot. It has a thousand eyes."

Then, Hunk and Pidge found themselves caught in its devastating laser show and tried to evade them.

Hunk: "Laser eyes. Laser eyes!"

As Hunk screamed, he evaded an installation that plummeted to the floor, only for Lapis to notice this and gripped it with the Violet Lion's paws and set it down before returning to evasive maneuvers.

Pidge: "What do we do? Fighting this thing is like fighting an entire fleet at once!"

Keith: "I think we've got to aim for those laser eyes and take them out."

Jenny: "But how do we do that? The moment we get too close, we'll get fried or worse!"

Allura: "We'll cover you from up here!"

Then, as the Castle fired at the robeast, it retaliated by firing all lasers from its arms and core, causing catastrophic damage as Coran panicked.

Coran: "We've lost the spectral generator! Going to reserve! There's a fire in VIN bay three! Suppressors on! Suppressors out!"

Babak couldn't understand him due to his panic and tried to get him to "speak english."

Babak: "Out with it, Coran! What is going on?!"

Coran: "The ship's being torn apart!"

Babak: "How can a ship that was just cleansed of Dark Quintessence be torn apart?!"

Azix: "The Dark Quintessence we've had to inspect and clean was tame, but this? It's primal!"

Allura: "We're taking heavy fire up there! We're in trouble!"

Shiro gave out the best idea in this situation that'll preserve their lives for the moment.

Shiro: "Princess, pull back! Get out of its range, now!"

Allura: "We will not abandon you!"

Shiro: "You're not abandoning us. We're about to pull back anyway."

Hunk: "We are?"

Shiro: "We can't hold out. We have to. Lions, to the mine shafts! It's the only place the monster can't get us."

Lapis: "But what about Vaxel?"

Then, Zaltron spoke to them.

Zaltron: "Leave Vaxel to me. I'll provide you with enough cover to recuperate."

Lapis knew her father all too well from when she was a child and asked him.

Lapis: "There's more to that, isn't it, Father?"

Zaltron: "Yes. As part of his generals, Vaxel will know the location of Kaecilius and his plans. While I provide you cover, I'll find out what he knows."

Lapis didn't feel that to be right, but knew her father can be stubborn and just went along with it.

Lapis: "Okay. Just don't hurt the Balmera, or let it be hurt. Promise?"

Zaltron: "This I swear."

Then, the Castle flew off just as Zaltron leaped out of it and darted toward Vaxel with a shout as he drew his sword and clashed against Vaxel's as the lions made a break for the tunnels.

Zaltron: "You have no soul!"

Vaxel: "That is why I have no weakness!"

Then, Vaxel thrusted him away before Zaltron recovered and landed on his feet.

Meanwhile, in the tunnels, Keith, Sandra, Lapis, Shiro, Belle, Jenny, Lance, Pidge, and Hunk got out of their lions and went to the Balmerans, who were curious about the happenings on the surface.

Rax: "What is going on?"

Keith: "There's a monster up there that Zarkon sent to destroy us."

Shay: "A monster?"

Pidge: "And that's not the worst of it. Vaxel is commanding it."

Shay: "Vaxel the Vicious? Will Zarkon's savagery never abate? Perhaps our people were never meant to be free."

Hunk: "Shay, don't give up. Zarkon's power grows with every planet he conquers, but he's weakened by every being that fights back."

Shay: "Fight back? Against a monster like that? How?"

Hunk: "I don't know, but we can beat it. Tell her, Keith."

Keith: "Can we?"

Shiro: "Yes, we can! This is our first mission and we're not going to fail. We can beat it. We just need some time to come up with a plan."

Hunk: "See? Told you we can. Thanks, Shiro."

Just then, the Balmera shook as it moaned with Jenny's scars momentarily blinking dark purple.

Hunk: "Did you guys feel that over there?"

Lance: "Yeah, we feel it."

Pidge: "It's that sound again. What is that?"

Then, Shay's grandmother noticed it cracking as she placed her hand on it before Rax spoke.

Rax: "That great noise came from the Balmera itself. Our home crumbles beneath our feet."

Jenny figured out what that meant and didn't like it one bit.

Jenny: "Right. They've taken all of the crystals out. On top of that, they installed Dark Quintessence into it. Which means..."

Rax: "The Balmera is dying."

Then, Shiro called out to Allura, Coran, Babak, and Azix.

Shiro: "Allura, Babak, Coran, Azix, are you there?"

Allura: "Shiro, we're here."

Shiro: "The Balmera—"

Coran: "We already know. Our scanners are showing the life energy draining from the Balmera. What's worse, the Dark Quintessence they've installed is rushing the decay."

As Pidge opened up the thermal scan of the Balmera on his wrist, he inquired of Coran.

Pidge: "How does that happen?"

Jenny: "This should come as no surprise, but grandpop said removing the crystals is like performing surgery on someone, except on a really big scale. It gives you a piece and you give yours right back."

Coran: "That's right. After that, the Balmera needs time to regenerate itself to stay healthy, but the Galra's greed may have cost this noble Balmera its life."

Hunk: "So, what's going to happen?"

Babak: "Its core will collapse while thus destabilizing the entire skeletal structure. Normally, anyone or anything on Balmera at this point will be crushed into dust. But with Dark Quintessence in the mix, it'll spread to who knows how many galaxies and poison them, or worse."

Jenny knew what it meant.

Jenny: "So, they're turning the Balmera into a ticking time bomb?"

Babak: "Basically, yes."

Shiro: "How long before its core collapses?"

Coran: "If it wasn't for the Dark Quintessence, probably a matter of hours. Now, there's only one left. The mighty organism willingly gives itself to all, but not all return its kindness."

Jenny tensed her fist as she began to shed tears while Allura contemplated the situation.

Allura: "Then our time is short. We'll evacuate the planet."

However, Jenny snapped back at this.

Jenny: "No! There isn't any time left for that! There's gotta be another way!"

Allura: "What else could we do? We have to think about its people."

Jenny: "There is another way! I know there is!"

Then, Lance tried his best to calm her down while helping her think.

Lance: "Okay. Let's say there is. Was there anything your grandpop told you that could help?"

Jenny figured out where Lance was going before she drew a deep breath.

Jenny: "Well... there was one. A ceremony."

Rax: "What ceremony?"

Jenny: "He told me that a long time ago, back when Alteans were given the gift of crystals from a Balmera, they'd repay its sacrifice by performing a ceremony. A very special Altean would give their Quintessence to it so it could heal. It's like a symbiotic relationship. Is that right, Babak?"

Babak overheard the whole thing and grew very surprised.

Babak: "Your knowledge knows no bounds. But back then, there's a crystal. How are we supposed to heal it without one?"

Jenny: "The ship's got an extra crystal, right? So, we'll use that to fix it up."

Babak: "Oh. How did we miss that?"

Allura: "Jenny, you do realize how risky this is. If the ceremony doesn't work, we'll all perish."

Jenny took it all in for a moment before reaffirming her decision.

Jenny: "I know. But... I'd rather die trying to save the Balmera than live with the guilt and shame of failing if I didn't."

Lance stepped up to join Jenny as he placed his arm around her.

Lance: "If you're willing to die trying to heal it, then I'm with you."

Allura: "Then it's settled. We'll bring the ship to the Balmera and heal it with the ceremony."

Hunk: "Okay, that sounds like a good plan, but how on earth do you plan on landing the Castle with that monster-thingy on the surface? And Vaxel?"

Pidge: "You'll need a distraction."

Shiro: "We'll engage the beast in our lions. With it distracted, Allura, Babak, Azix, and Coran will land the Castle and set up the crystal. Look, we don't have to beat this thing. We just need to bait it away from the ship. Provoke and evade."

Hunk: "Okay, here's the thing. I'm worried that we're going to be really, really good at the provoking part, and then, like, really bad at the evading part. But if this is what it takes to save Shay and everyone on the planet, then I'm in."

Jenny: "Good. I'm really glad you're on board with this. Shay, can you contact the other Balmerans?"

Shay: "I can, but I know not what they'll say."

Jenny: "It'll be fine. We're not asking you to leave your home. We're asking you to help it."

Allura: "The Galra have only been taking. It's time we give back. I'm coming down."

Coran: "Princess, no! It's too dangerous!"

Allura: "This is really important to Jenny. Someone has to be there to help her out."

Babak: "Well, if you're going, then as your bodyguard, I'll follow you to the ends of this universe."

Pidge didn't think it to be wise, given the conditions of the surface.

Pidge: "You're coming down? That thing will spot your pods and blow them to pieces."

Babak: "This isn't my first rodeo, number five. Let us worry about that."

Allura: "You just focus on keeping the creature distracted."

Then, Lance turned to Jenny before she spoke.

Jenny: "I'll be okay, Lance. They need you."

Then, she gave him a small kiss on the cheek before she spoke further.

Jenny: "Just go. Be the Paladin of Voltron."

Lance didn't like leaving her, but what choice was there? He also knew how stubborn she could get.

Lance: "Alright. Just don't kick the bucket on me, okay?"

Jenny: "Don't worry. I won't."

Then, the six lions took off from the tunnels and attracted the attention of the robeast as Vaxel combated Zaltron.

Vaxel: "Thank you, Zaltron, for delivering Voltron so that I may erase it from existence!"

Zaltron: "Not while I stand before you, Vaxel!"

As they continued their clash, the robeast chased after the lions with a rocket booster on its back as it fired its dark lasers at them.

Hunk: "Okay, we've provoked.

Time to evade!"

While Hunk evaded the robeast that collided with a structure of the Balmera, Allura and Babak went in their own pods as Shiro spoke to them.

Shiro: "Princess, Babak, we've lured the monster away. It's time."

Babak: "Copy."

Allura: "We'll contact you all when we're on the ground."

Coran: "Be careful out there."

Then, the pods launched out of the Castle, catching the lions' attention, as well as Lance.

Lance: "Is that Allura and Babak?"

The robeast noticed them, too, and began targeting them.

Hunk: "We've got to protect them!"

Then, Hunk made a break to get in between them and the robeast only to end up caught in its laser blast before Shiro hopped onto it and off of it, causing it to focus on him before Lance froze its head in vain as its lasers broke it.

Meanwhile, Allura and Babak successfully landed in the tunnels as they descended smoothly once they put their legs in and put the pod upwards.

Allura: "We're on the ground."

Babak: "Hoo-ah."

Shiro: "Hurry! I don't know how long we can hold this thing off."

Then, Allura and Babak ran to Jenny and the Balmerans.

Allura: "Shay, we're going to need your help."

Shay: "Princess?"

Jenny: "Have you contacted the other Balmerans?"

Shay: "We have. But..."

Allura noticed a look on her face that things won't go the way as planned.

Allura: "What is it? What's going on?"

Shay: "All Balmerans give thanks for the kindness you and the Paladins bestowed upon us, but, alas, our home can't be saved, nor can we take leave of it."

Allura/Jenny: "What?"

Shay: "If our great Balmera's life cycle is over because of us, then our desire is to stay with it until the end."

Jenny: "But if you stay here, you'll die! Don't you understand?!"

Rax: "We contacted the others and all agree. It's not right that you risk your lives for us."

Babak: "Of course it is! We didn't come all this way just for you to accept your demise!"

Rax: "Please, Away. We ask for no more guilt and shame upon us."

Shay: "It is our wish. The wish of all Balmerans."

Jenny began to grow into a desperate fit.

Jenny: "WHAT ABOUT MY WISH?!"

Allura and Babak turned to Jenny in surprise and curiosity.

Babak: "What do you mean your wish?"

Jenny proceeded to explain as she placed her hand on the wall.

Jenny: "Ever since grandpop told me about you, I've always wanted to meet you and even be with you. Im not going to let my first time seeing it be It's last. Not if it means Zarkon wins. I'm not going to let it end this way; I won't let you do this!"

Shay: "But we do not ask this of you. Please!"

Jenny: "I SAID NO!"

Then, Jenny began to shed tears faster than a waterfall as her desperate need to save it grew in her heart.

Jenny: "It's bad enough I've lost my home planet that I never even knew... but by staying here and dying, you're making this impossible for me to live with my own guilt, to live knowing you chose to die because I did nothing. That's why I'm not going to give up on you. I know what it's like to be burdened with it, so don't you dare force it on us by staying. If you really care about the Balmera, don't let it die in vain. Fight back against the Galra. Help me make it right. I beg you..."

Then, Shay's grandmother spoke to her in a soft tone as she sobbed her tears on the ground.

Shay's Grandmother: "Your words have touched our hearts. Though it may be ill, the Balmera carried your words."

Jenny looked to see the Balmera glowing blue where her hand had been placed and turned back to her before smiling at her and sniffling.

Jenny: "Thank you."

Shay's Grandmother: "No, thank you. You've given us reason to hope again."

Then, Jenny snapped out of her state before she took a deep breath and turned to Allura.

Jenny: "Alright. What's next?"

Allura: "I need you to tell everyone to head to the caves just under the surface."

Then, Jenny had an idea.

Jenny: "Actually..."

Then, she grabbed Allura's hand and placed it against the Balmera, causing Allura's eyes to widen.

Jenny: "They'll hear it better from you."

At the Castle, Coran saw a multitude of Balmerans head to the surface.

Coran: "Princess, Jenny's tantrum must have worked. The Balmerans are moving toward the surface!"

Jenny heard that and grew very angry.

Jenny: "Wait, tantrum?! Is that what you said?!"

Coran panicked and responded casually.

Coran: "Did I say tantrum? I meant to say, uh, speech of passion. Yeah, that's what I meant."

Jenny: "Ugh. Guess who just got on my list?"

Meanwhile, Allura, Jenny, Babak, Shay, Rax, and the other Balmerans went just outside the tunnel of the surface.

Allura: "Coran, we're just beneath the surface. Triangulate our position. This is your landing zone."

Then, they braced themselves as the Balmera shook.

Coran: "Yes, Allura. Readying ship."

As soon as the triangle appeared on the monitor, Coran moved toward it.

Coran: "Castle of Lions, coming in! Paladins, how are you holding up?"

Meanwhile, Keith distracted the robeast alongside Lapis.

Keith: "I think we've got him pretty distracted."

Lapis: "Are the Balmerans ready?"

Jenny: "Yep. They're making their way to the top."

Allura and Jenny looked down to see a multitude of Balmerans climbing up to the surface and staring in awe at its beauty. Then, Allura turned to Jenny.

Allura: "There's something I must ask you, Jenny."

Jenny: "What?"

Allura: "Why were you so determined to keep it alive?"

Jenny: "Well, to tell you the truth, the Balmera, its people, they're what's left of my grandpop in the universe so far. To lose that... would be to lose a part of him, too. I just... I just couldn't live without it. Because I'd rather be dead than go through that. You understand?"

Allura: "All too well."

Then, the Castle appeared as it landed before they ran toward it and helped the few Balmerans up on the ladder as the pod from below the ship fell down and opened up to reveal Coran, Azix, and the crystal he's retrieved from Balmera before.

Coran: "We've got the crystal!"

Azix: "Everybody make room, posthaste."

However, Vaxel noticed this during the clash and forced Zaltron off of him before he got out his sword and yelled out as he slammed it in the Balmera, creating a streak of Dark Quintessence that was headed toward the crystal. However, Azix noticed this and chucked it onto Coran, who could barely hold it up before the Dark Quintessence streak could reach it. But that didn't stop it from striking the ladder away, causing it to fall into the tunnels while causing the Balmera to quake. Jenny and Allura looked on in horror as the Balmera began to split apart.

Allura/Jenny: "No!"

The Balmera soon began to cause rockslides that frightened the other Balmerans down below as Azix turned to Coran.

Azix: "Is the crystal intact?"

Coran replied weakly.

Coran: "Yes."

Azix: "Good."

As Azix helped lift up the crystal with Coran before setting it in place, its started to turn dark purple until its become a dark crystal.

Coran: "Uh, guys? We might have a bit of a problem!"

Rax noticed this and turned to Jenny and Allura.

Rax: "What now?"

Jenny: "We're still doing the ceremony as planned."

Rax: "They're trapped! And the Crystal's corrupted! What can be done? Time is short!"

Just then, Vaxel landed a blow on Zaltron, knocking him all the way to where Jenny, Allura, and the Balmerans were as the robeast fired at the lions.

Hunk: "Every hit weakens the Balmera. Have you guys got it ready yet? What's happening?"

Coran: "The Balmerans are trapped. Just keep distracting that beast!"

Hunk: "Uh, do you want us to distract it by dying? Because that's what's going to happen!"

Shiro: "Guys, remember when I said we didn't have to beat it?"

Hunk: "Yes, I remember that."

Shiro: "Well, we might have to beat it."

Meanwhile, Vaxel spoke to the crowd.

Vaxel: "Your efforts to protect one of the universe's most sacred relics are futile. Our beast is within reach of decimating your Balmera to its core. And we both know that Quintessence cannot thrive in a poisoned well."

Shay began to believe this and give up.

Shay: "We're lost! All are trapped with no chance of escape!"

Allura: "We can't give up."

Shay: "But what can be done?"

Vaxel: "A question, Balmeran, that you'll take to your grave."

As Vaxel raised his sword, he ended up being shot at, but not by the Castle, or the lions. Vaxel turned to see a familiar ship and guessed who was piloting it. Jenny recognized them, too, and was surprised.

Jenny: "Huh? Isn't that..."

Vaxel: "Rolo."

Rolo glared at mechanized Galra General before firing at him. Then, Vaxel reflected the blasts, worsening the Balmera before Jenny initiated a transmission with it from her wrist.

Jenny: "Rolo, you might want to take it easy."

Rolo: "I know, but I wasn't aiming for the Balmera."

Jenny: "Um, yeah, but could you maybe not shot at us, either?"

Allura: "What are you doing here, anyhow?"

Rolo: "We hijacked the necessary parts for our ship from a Galra ship when they landed on the moon. Now, do what you need to do and hurry!"

With that, Rolo shot at Vaxel as Zaltron stood up on his feet.

Zaltron: "We must make use of the time he's buying us."

Rax: "But how can we do that? The Dark Quintessence can't be removed."

Then, Jenny turned to the crystal before having an idea.

Jenny: "I've cured that sort of thing before. Maybe I'll cure the Balmera with it, too."

Allura saw her point and joined in.

Allura: "Of course. It could work. Well just need to connect with the crystal on the bridge and use the Castle's power as an amplifier."

Babak: "Absolutely not! Performing rejuvenation on a single crystal or precipice is difficult enough. But performing it to a global scale on a sentient being?! Besides, direct exposure to that much Dark Quintessence will debilitate you! You haven't built up an immunity like the Galra have."

Coran: "He's right. I beg you. To heal an entire planet, it could take more energy than either of you possess. You may not live through it."

Jenny: "I know what I signed up for, Coran. I appreciate your concern, but this is the only way."

Allura: "We know you're scared for us, Babak, Coran. But we must try."

With that, the Balmerans placed their hands on their sacred ground as Jenny and Allura stood in front of each other before they held their arms out. Then, as the Castle's light shone upon them, the light beneath them began to spread.

Meanwhile, the lions were still evading the robeast, who pelted the Paladins with its deadly lasers.

Keith: "Guys, This isn't working. We'll never take this beast down in our lions."

Pidge: "Well, forming Voltron didn't work, either."

Lance: "Not without some way to shoot all those laser eyes at once."

Then, Hunk noticed a slot with a keyhole opening up.

Hunk: "That's weird. What are you trying to tell me?"

Then, Hunk got out his bayard and figured it out.

Hunk: "Guys! Guys, something's happening here! I-I think there's a way to take down all those laser eyes at once."

Sandra: "Then, by all means, let's hear it!"

Hunk: "Do you remember how Voltron formed that sword with Keith's bayard? I think my Lion's telling me I can do the same with my bayard."

Keith: "Are you sure?"

Hunk: "Let's find out. Form thingy!"

Hunk slammed it into the slot and turned it, but there was no effect.

Hunk: "It didn't work!"

Belle: "Maybe because we haven't formed Voltron yet?"

Hunk: "Oh, right. Yeah, I know."

Sandra: "No, you didn't."

Pidge: "Guys, whatever we're planning, let's hurry up and do it."

After the robeast saw the blue light on the ground, it turned to see the Castle and go towards it, much to Lapis' horror.

Lapis: "Oh, Quiznak!"

Shiro: "We've got to defend the Castle! Everyone, follow me. Form Voltron!"

Then, the five lions went up and became Voltron as the Violet Lion transformed on its own. As the robeast prepared to fire, Voltron stopped it with the Red Lion's blast and co fronted it before forging a yellow cannon on its shoulder and concentrating a blast while the robeast did the same with its arms and core. As the blasts fired, they collided with the dark blast overpowering Voltron.

Shiro: "It's not enough!"

Then, the Violet Voltron impalas the creature in the back through the core before forcing it up diagonal ally to the left, firing the ongoing blast away from the Castle with a rush of wind. Before the robeast could respond, the Violet Voltron then slashed at its eyes before they could fire at her, giving Voltron the opportunity to scan the other cannons.

Hunk: "Are you guys seeing this?"

Sandra: "Yeah. Let's use it while we have the chance."

Keith: "Roger that."

Shiro: "Let's see what this thing can do. Engage!"

Then, Voltron fired his shoulder cannon again before it spread into multiple beams and hit the robeast's many cannons and destabilizing them, much to Vaxel's chagrin.

Vaxel: "No! Impossible. They're ruining everything!"

Then, Zaltron hit him in the face with his fist before drawing his sword and holding it to his neck.

Zaltron: "Why is Kaecilius manufacturing Dark Quintessence? What is he attempting to build?"

Vaxel: "You'll have to kill me before I talk."

Then, Vaxel formed a cannon from his arm before Zaltron sliced it off and pointed it back.

Zaltron: "Answer me. Now."

Vaxel smiled before he spoke.

Vaxel: "That's the spirit. But I was a champion in Daibazaal not only due to my savage might, but also my cunning."

Then, Vaxel swipes Zaltron's legs before disappearing in a dark mist. Then, he reappeared before Zaltron noticed and countered with his own punch to the chest, knocking the tyrant to a great distance toward the robeast.

Meanwhile, Jenny and Allura were still maintaining their pose before they suddenly knelt down and placed their hands on the Balmera, causing blue light to engulf it as the two Voltrons looked on.

Shiro: "Guys, look!"

As the blue light swarmed around the Balmera, traces of Dark Quintessence vanished and had now become cleansed as pure Quintessence. Vaxel looked on in anger before turning to Voltron.

Vaxel: "Unbelievable!"

Then, the Vaxel slashed a dark energy blast from his sword toward Voltron, only for its Violet counterpart to block it and be kicked by the Violet Voltron into outer space.

After which, Allura and Jenny both fell to the floor and while Shay held Allura, Jenny laid on the floor.

Shay: "Princess, Jenny, are you alright?"

Jenny was the first to reply as she opened her eyes and replied as if it didn't faze her.

Jenny: "Yeah. We'll live."

Allura: "Did it work?"

Rax felt the Balmera healing and smiled at them.

Rax: "Yes. The Balmera lives. It thanks you."

Hearing this, Jenny grew overjoyed and piled herself on Allura.

Jenny: "You see that?! We did it! We did it, we did it! We saved it, Allura!"

Allura: "Yes. That, we did."

Suddenly, the robeast began to rise up, catching their attention as it once again flared dark purple light from its eyes and core.

Allura: "No!"

Then, the robeast prepared to fire before it suddenly began to sink as crystals began covering the body. It then roared in defeat as it was finally encased in Balmera Crystal. Lapis was confused by what had occurred.

Lapis: "Um, okay. What just happened?"

Coran: "The Balmera just saved us."

Then, Allura looked to the floor as more of it popped up.

Allura: "Look at the crystals!"

As the crystals appeared, Jenny grew amazed at the sight.

Jenny: "Wow. It's so beautiful. Just like grandpop said."

Hunk: "Oh, who's a good Balmera? You are. Who are the big monster? You did. Yes, you did. Yes, you did."

Keith: "Dude, what are you doing?"

Hunk: "What? It's alive, and it luvs my scwatches."

As Hunk soothed it, Jenny placed her hand on it and confirmed it.

Jenny: "No lie. It really likes it."

Lance turned to Jenny and smiled at her.

Lance: "Wow, Jenny. You really did it."

Jenny: "Yeah. I finally did. Huh, Lance?"

Then, Lance scooped Jenny into his arms bridal style.

Lance: "You've been working real hard. You're ready for a break, aren't you?"

Jenny: "Honestly, I'm about ready to collapse."

Then, Jenny and Lance chuckled with each other as the Paladins looked toward them. Then, Rolo landed his ship before walking out with his crew and seeing Lance holding Jenny. Nyma noticed this too and smiled.

Nyma: "Well, you two must be lucky to have each other."

Lance: "When did you guys get here?"

Rolo: "Our ship picked up some parts from the Galra Cruiser. Don't worry. We're on your side, like we said. We distracted Vaxel for you guys."

Hunk glared at him before smiling at him.

Hunk: "Thank you, man. You really did us a solid. Then, he extended his hand toward Rolo, who shook it back.

Rolo: "I'm just glad we weren't too late."

Later, Shay and Hunk were on top of the Yellow Lion.

Shay: "Thank you for honoring your vow to return."

Hunk: "I should be thanking you. You made me understand what was most important."

Then, Hunk looked up to the sky and saw a multitude of stars.

Hunk: "Zarkon, Kaecilius, and their Galra Empire are destroying lives. I'm a part of a team that can change that. I know that, now."

Then, Shay grew astounded by the sunset that rose up.

Shay: "What is that?"

Hunk: "It's the dawn of a new day."

Out at space, Vaxel's armor appeared to have frozen from entering the cold, lifeless void of space before his dark purple eyes flared.

Vaxel: "I will be... avenged."