A/N: Sorry to keep you waiting. I was doing a story on RWBY. A really great web series in my opinion. You can expect at least two more stories by the time Season 7 is released for Legendary Defender, and I am trying at the moment to not make a huge wall of text. I will fix this later on this year. Enjoy. :)

Chapter 24: Stayin' Alive

At the Castle, Allura was on her way to the Balmera while she played with the mice a road trip game that Hunk told them about.

"All right, then, what's the next one?"

The mice squeaked before she spoke.

"Two words."

The mice squawked another hint to her.

"Second word."

The big mouse did a wavy motion with its arm to demonstrate it.

"Waves?"

As an answer, the bigger mouse shook its head and finger.

"So I'm close. Ocean? Splash? Drink? Water?"

Finally, Allura had gotten the answer before it nodded to her.

"Water! All right then. First word."

Then, the mice piled up on the bigger one before they growled, giving a cue to a certain creature they know.

"That's a Bytor! Bytor Water!"

As the mice squeaked joyfully, Allura was thrilled to have gotten the answer.

"Yes! Hunk was right. These Earth road trip games do help pass the time."

Just then, a holo-monitor came up before Babak spoke through it.

"We have an incoming transmission from Olkarion, Princess."

"Patch it through."

Then, Coran's face came into view.

"How are you, Princess? Are you almost at the Balmera?"

"We're scheduled to arrive in just a few doboshes. I hope I'm able to find a crystal big enough for the teludav, especially with Jenny away on a mission."

Coran knew her powers added to Allura's and understood her point.

"Oh, yes. Have you heard from the other Paladins?"

"I had contact with her, Lance, Shiro, and Pidge a little bit ago. They've located Slav. And Lapis was able to take care of the Blades' potential problem."

"What about Hunk, Ayame, Keith, and— and Sandra?"

Babak spoke back with hate towards two in particular.

"Why does it matter? They were our enemy to begin with!"

"No word from them yet. And Babak still hasn't gotten over it, as you can see."

"I have no doubt my scientifically accurate instructional video was of great help."

Babak and Allura has doubts.

"Oh, of course. Why not?"

"I'm sure it was. If they collect enough Scaultrite for the lenses, will your teludav structure be complete?"

"It's nearly done. Zaltron, the Olkari, and I have been working on it day and night. It will be ready in time."

"Oh, I hope so."

Then, Babak spoke to Allura, trying to comfort her and put aside his hate for the moment.

"Are you alright, Princess? You seem anxious."

"I was thinking of my father. He gave his life to try to keep Voltron out of Zarkon's hands, and now we have a chance to defeat him. I... I don't want to fail."

Coran spoke to Allura next.

"You know, Princess, your father would be proud of you. It wasn't that long ago we found out Altea had been destroyed."

"I've never felt so alone."

"Nor have I. And we could have easily given up. But we didn't. You didn't. And now look at us. We reformed Voltron and got the Violet and White Lions. We freed the Olkari and the Balmerans, and now they're working alongside us."

Allura began to smile at how far they've come to defeating Zarkon.

"You're right, Coran. We have allies. And that's what's going to defeat Zarkon, let alone Kaecilius."

Then, Coran did a sign off with his hand on his head.

"Crack a squizzle on the Balmera, Princess."

"Thank you, Coran."

Just then, the Castle entered the orbit of the Balmera as the people there looked up to it and pointed to it in wonder before Allura emerged and was met with Shay and her family.

"The Balmera welcomes your return, Princess Allura."

"Princess, did Hunk accompany you?"

"I'm sorry, Shay, but I've come alone. The others are in missions of their own collecting important elements that we need to defeat Zarkon."

Shay's Grandmother grew surprised that they're prepared to do this so soon before becoming determined.

"Defeat Zarkon? How can we help? The Balmera and its people can never thank you enough for all that you've done."

"If the Balmera will give it, I need a crystal."

Shay grew curious as to how big it was meant to be for Allura's favor.

"Battleship class?"

"Bigger."

At Kaecilius' Cruiser, he, Varek, and Vantiv saw the giant robeast of Balmera trapped in a giant crystal as the Rogue Druid glared at it while she smirked.

"Imbecilic creature."

"Haggar must've created it to deal with the Paladins at the Balmera before it died. I bet that was a mistake."

Then, Omegus's voice spoke to her reply.

"Indeed. Nevertheless, its endurance is incredibly a winning factor. Which is why I will claim it as my vessel."

Then, Kaecilius looked to the Chaotic Comet that held his very substance.

"I suppose we'll need to do this swiftly. And discreetly."

Vantiv smiled at his implication as Varek looked to her.

"I trust you can handle it?"

"What do you think?"

At the Blade of Marmora headquarters, Lapis, Adea, Atchiam, and Luzria stood in the main hall as Councilman Sneren and Councilwoman Vrathrea stood in front of them as he spoke to the Blades present at the ceremony, including but not limited to Kolivan, Krolia, Caxas, Pruknak, and Jareth.

"My fellow blades. Today, these young cadets have made their marks above and beyond the call of duty in seeking out the spy that would've resulted in our plan's imminent failure. Today, their bravery and selflessness will be regarded with the highest honor in the war's potential last days. For they shall lead a strike unit, one of which that will be the key to defeating Zarkon's reign and bringing peace to the universe."

Then, the Blades shouted in praise and applause as the cadets smiled to each other before Sneren spoke onward.

"From this day forth, their team shall be known as the 'Rogue Thrust'. For they knew what it meant to put their lives on the line while defying those who would speak against their righteous acts. One even such as I. And for this, they have my utmost gratitude. Vrepit Sa!"

Then, the Blade of Marmora joined in as they put their hands on their chests before speaking in unison.

"Vrepit Sa!"

Then, the cadets did the same act next.

"Vrepit Sa!"

Adea then turned to Atchiam before whispering.

"Am I the only one who feels weird about saying it?"

Atchiam replied back in a whisper.

"Nope."

However, Lapis' was the only one who wasn't celebrating as she sighed.

Back at the Balmera, hundreds of its people joined Allura to assist at retrieving the biggest crystal imaginable as they beheld its majesty.

"Incredible."

"When the Galra were here, these caverns were closed off. As if the Balmera was protecting itself. Now that the Balmera is free and healed, the crystal caverns are opened once more."

Then, Allura placed her hands on the crystal as the Balmerans joined in by placing their hands in the soil as part of the ceremony. As they did, several crystals moved up to the cluster as if lifting it before a rumbling came from above, catching Shay's notice.

"Of what was that rumble? Perhaps a crystal this big has never been asked for."

"No. This is something different."

"Shall we stop the ceremony?"

"Let her finish."

Then, the Balmera produced the giant cluster to Allura before she smiled.

"Thank you."

Meanwhile, Vantiv was using a manual pod to steer toward the giant robeast with a dark purple helmet on her head before she landed on it and got the Chaos Comet out before she spoke.

"I don't see why Lord Omegus would choose this as his vessel, but... it is his will."

With that, Vantiv slammed the Comet into the Balmera Crystal holding it captive before it turned dark red and covered the robeast in red and black lightning as he spoke.

"It is time..."

Far away, Allura was prepared to leave the Balmera, having retrieved the crystal and placing it within the Castle.

"The crystal has been loaded onto your Castle, Princess."

Allura then proceeded to hug Shay and her grandmother before the eldest of the two spoke.

"We wish you could stay longer. I made you stickercup stew for the sky road."

That made Allura quite worried about her appetite.

"Oh, thank you. I'm sure I shall enjoy this immensely. To all you Balmerans, thank you once again."

Then, they all felt rumbling from the ground before Allura grew worried.

"What was that?"

To their horror, they noticed the giant robeast transforming within the Comet, having armor similar to a Galra General, only in full black coloring, the core with the crystal glowing dark red, and a red, ethereal hologram of Omegus' face present as its head.

"People of the Balmera, look upon me and DESPAIR!"

Allura grew frightful of his presence on the Balmera and feared the worst.

"Oh, no! Omegus..."

As the Balmerans ran for cover, Omegus summoned two dark red crystal shields around him while Allura dropped the bowl handed to her by Shay's Grandmother.

"Take cover in the Balmera! I'll hold it off with the Castle's defenses."

With that, Allura went in the pod that went up into the Castle.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Then, Vantiv got on the pod before speaking to her lord.

"Omegus, the Princess is taking leave of Balmera!"

"Good... the whole universe will see her perish."

However, running away wasn't what Allura had in mind first as she got to the main systems.

"Particle barrier up!"

With that, the Castle's barrier activated before firing a barrage of blasts at him. Then, she realized her error as the crystals moved swiftly to block out the shots.

"Those crystals are acting as shields."

As she realized this, Omegus spoke to Allura next.

"Insolent flea. Begone."

Then, Omegus prepared a dark red energy beam on his crystallized chest before firing a black and red blast at the barrier, causing Babak to stumble in the main generator, and falling to the floor before he sent a transmission to her in his frustration.

"What the quiznak is going on out there, Princess?!"

"It's Omegus! Somehow, he's found a vessel!"

"What?! How?!"

"I don't know, but you have to get ready. We need to lure it away from the Balmera!"

With that, the Castle took off into the air as Vantiv went back to the cruiser outside the Balmera's atmosphere with a smile on her face as Omegus glared at the Castle.

"You cannot run."

Then, Omegus held his arms up before taking flight as the Balmerans watched.

Far away, Keith and Ayame were snapping back at Hunk.

"We didn't just turn Galra!"

Sandra smirked at their off-putting temper.

"And you guys thought I have anger management issues."

"Quiet, Sandy!"

Hunk then began comparing Sandra to Keith and Ayame, looking back and forth, catching her annoyance.

"Are you trying to see if our skin is purple?"

"No. Okay, yes. But come on, can you blame me? Sandra is your sister, so by proxy, you should have purple skin too, right?"

Then, Allura spoke to them on their monitor.

"Hunk, Keith, Ayame, Sandra, are you there? Can you hear me?"

Then, Ayame spoke to her.

"We're all here, Allura. What's going on?"

"You must return to the Castle! Omegus has found a vessel and is launching an attack! I need you!"

Ayame's eyes widened to know that Omegus has returned before she and Keith spoke.

"What? So soon?"

"We're on our way."

At the Blue Lion, Jenny, Pidge, Shiro, Lance, Belle, and Slav were going over the plan.

"So, what do we do, Pidge?"

"Let's call Allura, and let her know that we have Slav and we're ready to use the teludav."

That made Slav seem to panic.

"You didn't say we'd be traveling by teludav."

Belle, trying her hardest to be patient, spoke to Slav.

"Is... that a bad thing?"

"No. Actually, it is a very efficient way to travel."

Just then, Allura spoke up on their monitor.

"Paladins, are you there?"

Jenny spoke to Allura first.

"Yeah, we're here. What's going on?"

"That monster that attacked us in the Balmera has returned! And worst of all, Omegus is controlling it!"

The Paladins, along with Jenny, Belle, and Slav grew shocked to hear this.

"What?"

"Omegus?!"

"The Darkness of the Universe?! Against him, there's a 0.0000001% chance of surviving!"

"I need you back here immediately."

Then, Lance spoke to her in a cool voice.

"You got it, Princess. Sharpshooter is on the way."

That made Jenny prick her ears up in confusion.

"Sharpshooter? I get that Shiro called you that, but is that your thing, now?"

"It's my new nickname that I have myself. Just— Just pass it on."

"We're ready when you are, Allura."

Outside the Blade of Marmora headquarters, Lapis was riding her Violet Lion with Adea, Atchiam, and Luzria. Adea was the most enthusiastic out of the group.

"This is so cool, Lapis! How long have you had this?"

"I've had it since I met the Paladins."

"You have?"

"Yeah. So, I'd appreciate it if you tried to keep your... excitement to a minimum before you break something. And don't touch anything either."

Then, Adea slumped down as she pouted.

"Okay."

Just then, Allura spoke to Lapis on the monitor.

"Lapis, please come in!"

"I'm here, Allura. What's the trouble?"

"The creature from the Balmera has returned and Omegus is using it as his host!"

Hearing this, Adea, Atchiam, and Luzria grew shocked as Lapis spoke.

"Don't worry. I'll come to you."

When the transmission ended, the group spoke their concerns.

"Did she just say Omegus? The same 'Darkness Incarnate' Omegus?"

"How in the universe did he manage to come back?!"

"That guy is basically just the worst!"

"That's why we're going to help, guys. So he doesn't stay that way for long. Buckle up."

With that, the Violet Lion took off in a flash as the rest of the group were bracing its speed, making their faces blurry as Adea tried to speak in the great gale of velocity.

"Th-th-th-this is t-t-t-too f-f-f-faaaaaaaaaast!"

Outside the Balmera, Omegus fired a black and red bean from his chest before grazing the particle barrier. Suddenly, the Violet Lion appeared out of the black space before firing an ion cannon at Omegus' back, earning his angry moan before turning to it, allowing Allura to create the wormholes that brought both groups back to the Balmera before they noticed Omegus' vessel as Lance grew concerned about it.

"Whoa! How is that thing operational? It has a hologram for a head!"

Then, Pidge got a closer look at its shoulder blade, which contained the Chaos Comet planter previously by Vantiv.

"I don't know, but I'm sure it has something to do with that comet."

Shiro wanted to put first things first.

"Can't worry about that now. We have to protect the Castle."

Slav whimpered before he noticed the Violet Lion and his mood changed.

"Wait! The Violet Lion! Aha! Our chances of survival have gone up to 200%! I bet my bottom GAC that the Blades of Marmora are using it."

Just then, a monitor came up showing Lapis, Adea, Atchiam, and Luzria at the cockpit.

"Uh, guys? A little help here?"

That made Slav all the more eager for them.

"Ah, yes! I was right!"

In the Yellow Lion, Keith tried to think of a way to defeat it before turning to Hunk.

"How did we beat it last time?"

"We formed Voltron, then I stuck in my bayard and shot it with my blaster right in its arm lasers. But that didn't stop it so then we had to punch it."

Shiro had a hypothesis.

"So we're gonna need Voltron."

Purge saw a drawback to this plan, however.

"But we only have three lions."

Then, Lance spoke up.

"Well, maybe we can form the legs and kick it."

Jenny offered a better solution.

"Or... maybe Lapis can buy us some time so we can get to our lions."

"Good idea."

Just then, Omegus fired another black and red beam as he spoke.

"Fools."

As it swung and missed the lions and the Castle, Omegus turned two of the neighboring planets onto dust before they scattered away and floated, shocking all of the group. Shiro knee it was the more reason for Voltron to appear.

"That new laser is much more powerful. We're definitely gonna need all the lions. Lapis, you distract it so we can fly into the Castle. Once we get our lions out, we'll cover you."

"Got it."

Then, Adea spoke into the monitor.

"Wait, wait, wait. We have to hold off the Darkness of the Universe by ourselves?"

Shiro grew confused at their presence in the Violet Lion before Slav recognized.

"Uh, who are you guys?"

"Oh, wait! I know these guys! Let me talk with them!"

Slav spoke to them on the monitor for reassurance.

"Don't worry, guys! The Violet Lion should have a 200% chance of surviving long enough for us to get the lions!"

Adea was still stuck on a word in that sentence, as helpful as it was.

"Wait. 'Should?'"

"There's no time to argue. We got to do this now."

With that, Adea gulped before speaking again.

"I never thought I'd say this, but... Oh, Quiznak!"

At Kaecilius' Cruiser, Vantiv walked into the main chamber as she smiled.

"It is done. The comet has been placed in the robeast."

Varek then stated the obvious as he pointed to an empty rift.

"We can see that. It's a wonder Zarkon hasn't gotten here yet."

"It's safe to say he's tiring himself out. He's getting really sloppy."

Then, Kaeciliis spoke next.

"If that's true, he'll be as vulnerable as ever. Once he's gone, the Galra Empire will be no more. And in its place, the Drule Empire will be the rightful heirs of the universe."

At the Balmera, the Violet Lion shot its ion cannon at the vessel with no success as the crystals blocked them, much to Lapis' frustration.

"The crystals are blocking all of our attacks!"

Luzria tried to suggest a different idea.

"Why don't you just get in its face?"

Then, Omegus roared as he fired a black and red laser at the Castle's particle barrier and destroyed it, leaving it vulnerable.

"That's why, Luzria. That, and do you really want to turn into dust?"

With that, Luzria spoke against herself.

"I'll be quiet now."

Then, Lapis spoke to the rest of the group as the Violet Lion charged toward Omegus.

"If any of you got a plan to distract him, I'm all ears."

As it charged, Adea had a suggestion.

"Try ramming the crystals! Maybe it'll knock them off balance!"

"Okay!"

With that, Lapis thrusted the levers forward, smashing the crystals away before Omegus called them back and growled at them before chasing after them.

"Good. He's chasing us."

Atchiam and Luzeia glared at Adela before she explained herself.

"What? She said we needed to distract it, not take it out."

At the Castle, the Paladins went to their lions as Slav marveled the Castle and Alluea gave the condition of the particle barrier.

"Ahh..."

"The particle barrier is severely damaged."

Shiro turned to Jenny and Ayame before speaking to her.

"Jenny, Ayame, get back out there to give Lapis cover. Lance, Sandra, Belle, Keith, Pidge, Hunk, and I are right behind you."

The two of them agreed intermittently.

"Got it."

Then, as they went to their lions, Slav had a suggestion.

"Don't worry about me. I'll just hang out here."

"Actually, Belle, Sandra?"

"Hmm?"

"Yeah, Shiro?"

"Can you and Slav help the Princess restore the particle barrier?"

Slav answered for them quickly.

"Yes."

After a moment of standing still, Belle cleared her throat.

"He meant right now."

"Oh, you mean in this reality. Got it."

Then, Slav got to work on it as Belle sighed and Sandra turned to her.

"Where'd you find that guy again?"

Meanwhile, Lapis was steering to the directions of Atchiam, who was a skilled pilot in her training.

"Bank left! Barrel Roll! Nose dive!"

Lapis, having known those maneuvers by heart, spoke to her.

"I got this, Atchiam. Thanks for the suggestions, though."

Just then, the rest of the lions came out before Ayame appeared on her monitor.

"Get some rest, guys! I'll take it from here."

Adds noticed her and grew baffled.

"Wait, that's Xaira? But where's the purple skin?"

Lapis wasn't in the mood to talk about it.

"It's complicated, Adea."

With that, the Violet Lion took off from the laser before Omegus proceeded to fire at the White Lion, only for it to dodge and hit the Violet Lion, earning their screams of agony as Ayame and Jenny grew worried.

"Guys!"

"Oh, no!"

As a result, the Violet Lion began to shut down before it fell down, angering Ayame as she lurched the levers toward it while Shiro went to the Violet Lion. As he did, Adea spoke to Lapis.

"Uh, is it supposed to do that?"

"I can't get it working! It's shut down!"

Then, Omegus prepared to fire the black and red laser again.

"Disappear."

Then, his crystals blocked the attack of the White Lion before Pidge spoke to Shiro.

"We need to protect Lapis."

"I've got her."

As Pidge attacked the vessel, Shiro moved in to clutch the Violet Lion before he moved it to the Castle while the Green and White Lions were shooting at the crystals. Ayame wasn't afraid to express her anger.

"I'm getting real sick of that crystal. How do we get rid of them?"

Jenny had an idea about it.

"Let's try ramming into them. After that, Pidge, you, Lance, Keith, and Hunk go all gangsta on him!"

"On it."

As the White Lion charged at it and collided with the crystals, Lance and Pidge proceeded to shoot the front of him while Keith and Hunk shot the back side, only for Omegus to swerve the shields to counter all of the other lions before Omegus moved in toward the Castle as Pidge spoke to Shiro.

"Shiro, he's on his way to the Castle!"

"I got it."

Then, Shiro left the Violet Lion in the air as he went toward Omegus, much to the worriment of Adea.

"Well, who's got us?"

Then, Lapis tried to connect with her lion.

"Come on, Vi. I need you to pull through. You've got to."

Luzria felt confused at this.

"Wow. I think she's lost it."

Meanwhile, Shiro entered the fray.

"Form jaw blade!"

Once it did, it tried to pierce the crystal barriers before charging at it again, clashing as Lapis tried to connect with it.

"Come on, Vi. Everyone needs you. I need you."

As Omegus formed the barrier and defended himself from the ramming technique, the rest of the lions shot at him as Pidge spoke.

"We'll keep the crystals busy. Shiro, you attach from the other side."

"On my way."

Then, Omegus shot the laser at Shiro, only to miss and barely graze the Violet Lion before it came online again.

"There you go, girl."

Just then, Omegus came near the Violet Lion, terrifying Adea.

"Ahh, he's getting closer, he's getting closer!"

Then, he clutched the Violet Lion in his grip before Atchiam commented on the situation.

"Oh, great!"

As the lions shot at his back, the crystals held it back as Omegus spoke.

"This is your end, Paladin."

However, a bright light that attacked his front said otherwise as it forced him to let go of the Violet Lion before it turned to see the White Lion. Jenny checked up on them to be safe.

"You guys okay?"

"We are now."

Then, Adea remembered a certain detail.

"Oh, wait! Can't you just turn it into some kind of Voltron?"

"Good idea, Adea, but I don't think it's gonna just sit around and wait for us to do that."

Just then, Vrathtea came up on the monitor.

"Let us worry about that."

Atchiam grew surprised to see her in the monitor just as her fighter appeared along with countless others. It was like any Galra fighter except the red coloring is purple.

"Mom?! What are you doing here?!"

"We were with you from the beginning, but you took off faster than we did."

Lapis felt sheepish about that.

"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that."

"Never mind that. We'll take care of this."

With that, Vrathrea joined in on the fray as she fired bullets at Omegus as did the Paladins while Hunk saw the bright side.

"I don't know what the heck's going on here, but at least we outnumber those crystal shields."

Lance could agree with him there.

"Yeah, he can only block two of us."

As he fired his laser, Pidge came up with an alternative.

"I think I've got an idea. Guys, see if you can get me an open shot at its chest."

"Got it."

Then, the lions shot at the center, causing it to put up the shields before the Blue Lion shot a blue ray at it and froze them together. Next, Pidge fired a green ray at it, causing vegetation to clutch at his core.

"What?!"

"Nice job, Pidge. Now form Voltron!"

"Yeah!"

Then, Adea grew excited.

"Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Yep."

Then, Lapis stuck her bayards in place before the Paladins formed Voltron while the Violet Lion evolved itself into the Violet Voltron and both prepared a sword and a scythe. Adea was really getting very giddy at this.

"Oh, my gosh! She has a scythe! Just like me!"

Then, the two Voltrons charged toward the vessel who got the vegetation away before he turned in time to see the Paladins as they shouted while Omegus prepared a barrier. However, while the sword was caught in the barrier, the scythe pierces him from behind, sticking out of its core as Omegus seemed indifferent before speaking.

"Perhaps this vessel wasn't worthy enough... but know this. I shall return."

Then, the hologram disappeared before it began to break apart and explode as they watched before Allura spoke.

"Great work, Paladins. Now return to the Castle so we can get back to Olkarion."

At the Castle, Slav was making changes while laying on the table.

"Why is there a grand entrance on the 40th floor? And what's with all the ziplines? You have hover technology."

Allura never asked for his opinion.

"Well, you know what? Ziplines were quite fashionable 10,000 years ago."

Just then, the Paladins came in as Keith spoke to her.

"Allura, have you heard from Coran?"

"Yes. I've checked in with him and the felucca is nearly complete."

Babak then spoke to Hunk.

"Thank you for getting the scaultrite, Hunk. Without you, it wouldn't have been possible."

"No problem."

Then, he reminded him of a few others as well.

"You know, Keith, Ayame, and Sandy were there, too."

Babak only glared at Keith and Sandra before he walked away. As a wormhole opened up and took the Castle and the other Blades to Olkarion, Vantiv was on a manual pod and scavenged the Chaos Comet leftover from the collodion as she clutched into it with her hands and went back in the cruiser.

Meanwhile, on Olkarion, Coran spoke to them about the teludav.

"We've made great progress while you were gone. And now that we have the scaultrite, we should be finished in less than a quintant."

Lance and Jenny were astounded by the sheer size of it as Keith felt it was praiseworthy.

"Wow. That is one giant teludav."

"You can say that again."

"Nice work, Coran."

"Good job, Coran. Fist bump."

Then, Hunk engaged in doing a fist bump with Coran as he opened his hand before he spoke.

"Now blow it up."

However, that made Coran angry, thinking he's suggesting that he destroy the teludav.

"Oh, don't you dare! It took forever to build this teludav. And let's not forget it's a pivotal piece that we need for our plan to defeat Zarkon and stop Omegus from coming."

To his surprise, a monitor came up to show Slav on the teludav, banging a rock against it.

"Aaah!"

"I've made some improvements to your design. This will increase our chances of survival in this reality up to 205 percent."

Coran turned to them and asked them.

"Is this guy a little—?"

Belle answered first before Shiro, Pidge, Lance, and Jenny.

"Nuttier than a fruitcake? Yeah."

"Yes."

"No doubt."

"Not a fan."

"A little cuckoo-crazy. But kinda funny, too."

However, Coran shouted at Slav in an attempt to stop him.

"Stop hitting the teludav!"

However, it was too late as a part of it exploded on him.

"Ow."

Meanwhile, Allura was staring out at the sun with Jenny and Ayame.

"Can you believe how close we are?"

"Yeah, Allura. To think it felt like it was yesterday when I turned into an Altean."

Then, Allura noticed Ayame's dismal look before getting the feeling about what it was about.

"You're worried for Zark— I mean, your people?"

"It's okay to ask that, Allura? And, of course I'm worried. My mother believed there was good in him, even after she died. But... no one else seems to believe that. So I'm scared. What'll happen when I do face my father? Don't get me wrong. I want what's best for the Galra Empire and bring it back to the light, but... I don't want to have to kill my father, either. I know what you would do after what he did to you. And I don't blame you, but..."

"I never wanted that, Ayame. He may have done terrible things, but none of that was his fault. Our fight against Omegus proved that. I won't let it end like this. I promise you I won't."

Ayame has doubts as she hung her head down.

"Are you sure you even have a choice?"

Just then, Coran walked in.

"Princess, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

"What is it Coran?"

"This plan of ours, it's... well, it's dangerous, you know? We're taking certain risks. You are taking certain risks. This teludav, the amount of exertion it will take, I ju— You and Jenny may not survive."

"Coran, we know the risks."

After a moment of silence, Allura looked back to the sunset before Coran spoke again.

"Your father would be proud of the leader that you've become."

Far away, the Paladins looked out at the sunset with Pidge bringing up a question.

"What's everybody thinking about?"

Keith and Shiro answered at the same time Hunk did.

"Zarkon."

"Calzones."

That made everyone look at Hunk before he grew nervous.

"I mean, uh, heck, yeah, I'm thinking about calzones, okay? I mean, does it always have to be about Zarkon? He's a bad guy. We're trying to defeat him. I get it. I'm hungry."

Then, Keith spoke up about the reason why he's thinking about Zarkon.

"Actually, I'm thinking about how Ayame would feel about this. Every time I mention him, she looks... so anxious. No one knows what'll happen to her once we... you know, right Shiro?"

"Yeah. She's trying to think about what the right thing to do is. And I don't blame her."

"Me neither. We've come a long way, after all."

Then, Lance spoke up next.

"Yeah, remember when Hunk used to throw up from riding in the elevator?"

That made Hunk growl before he spoke up about another memory.

"You guys remember that Arusian? Klaizap, I think his name was? Cool name."

"Yeah. He tossed his stick at Varek when he took over the castle even though he's the size of a peanut."

Keith grew defensive at Lance for bringing that up.

"He was their bravest warrior!"

Then, Pidge laughed about a memory when the Castle was invaded by a ghost.

"How about the tone the food goo machines attacked us in the kitchen?"

Hunk didn't like that part one bit.

"That was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me the entire time I've been here."

Lance bumped his arm as he spoke.

"Oh, come on."

"What? It's the truth!"

"We faced sentries, mad scientists, a haunted castle, giant Robeasts, magic soldiers, a mall security guard."

Pidge brought up the most recent memories on Olkarion as well.

"And don't forget that cool cube thing."

"Yeah, and that awful cube thing."

Then, Shiro spoke of another topic, concerning the aftermath.

"You realize once we defeat Zarkon, the universe won't need Voltron anymore."

That made Lance think about it more determinedly.

"We can return to Earth."

Pidge and Keith spoke next.

"I can look for my family."

"I guess I could look for mine."

"This is it. As long as everything goes according to plan, we can't fail."

Then, they all stared up to the sky, determined to bring the universe to peace.

Far away, Ayame and Jenny were still out at the sunset before Lapis, Adea, Atchiam, and Luzria joined them. When Jenny noticed, she grew happy and smiled.

"Hi. Here to watch this, too?"

Adea nodded to her before Atchiam spoke up.

"We just didn't have anything else to do."

Next, Luzria spoke to Ayame.

"So you're Xaira, and you're fighting against Zarkon? How do you feel about that?"

"Conflicted, I guess. I mean, I just want what's best for the Galra, but... what am I gonna do when I face my father?"

"Uh, defeat him, of course!"

"It's not that simple. There's good in him. I know there is."

Luzria had her fair share of doubts about that.

"If there was good in him, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

Then, Lapis cleared her throat before she stopped her and spoke to Ayame herself.

"Look, Ayame. Zarkon didn't make you who you are. Sure, he gave you life and your blade, but what else did he ever do for you?"

Ayame looked at her luxite blade before looking back to Lapis.

"I'm not doing this because I'm his daughter, Lapis. I'm doing this because he needs to be saved."

At Kaecilius' Cruiser, Vantiv returned with the Chaos Comet before placing it in the container and extracting the dark red Chaotic Quintessence from inside before injecting it into herself, urging herself not to fight it and to make it fear her. As a result, her Quintessential arm changed its color from red and light purple to dark red and black as her eyes turned red as well before changing to their normal color as she examined her arm. After which, she gave her own Quintessence to the Chaos Comet, causing it to glow bright red at the cracks in the process.

"They think the day is theirs, Omegus. But they're wrong. As you said, you will rise before this day's over..."