4. From Days of Long Ago

The Yalmor exited the wormhole over Arus, swirling white clouds only making the alien continents more jarring.

"System seems clear," Pidge said from her console.

"Adjusting course," said Allura.

"You gonna challenge Klaizap to a rematch?" said Lance, watching Keith fumble with the Gamara gun.

"There wasn't even a first match to begin with," said Keith. "I think it's broken."

"Always treat an ancient alien artifact like it's loaded," said Hunk, pushing what looked like the business end away from his face.

"Maybe it's like the blade, you need to get your ass kicked first," said Lance. "I can help."

"In this reality Krolia is Altean, not Galra," said Allura, taking the gun. Nothing happened. "How did you activate your blade, exactly?"

"I gave it up," shrugged Keith. "But if I'd done it sooner, I don't think it would've worked. I'm not sure what the lesson was."

"Dramatic tension?" said Hunk.

"We are approaching some kind of structure," said Sven.

"The Castle?" said Lance.

"A wolf den?" said Hunk.

A giant space wreck emerged from the mist, half-buried where it had crashed into the mountainside.

"It's Galra," said Pidge.

"It must've been here for kilo-phoebs," said Slav.

"I was starting to miss the little buggers," said Lance. "It's not the same without them lighting up space with purple ionized death."

"Doesn't look like it'll ever fly again," said Hunk.

"Initiating descent," said Allura, returning to the control platform.

#

The Yalmor touched down next to the battleship.

"I am not picking up any biosignatures," Slav said over the coms.

"Stay alert," said Keith, walking towards the torn hull. "We don't know what's in there."

"Rogue sentries," said Hunk, counting on his fingers. "Evil Alteans, brainwashed Galra..."

The ship was empty, except for whatever Arusian wildlife had made it its home.

The team reached a locked door.

"Keith?" said Pidge.

He placed his hand on the panel, the door ground half-way open before getting stuck.

"Glass half-full kind of situation," said Hunk, squeezing through.

The room was surrounded by cylindrical pods in the usual Galra black-and-purple.

"Okay," said Hunk, "can we at least discuss the option of leaving these…"

A pod hissed open.

"...never mind," said Hunk.

Lance dove to catch the falling occupant.

"It's a dude," he said, disappointed.

"Really?" said Hunk. "But the hair's so soft..."

"Is he Galra?" asked Pidge.

"Skin's purple," said Lance.

"That's racist," said Hunk. "I think?"

"Ears are the wrong shape," said Pidge.

The dude stumbled away from Lance. "Who are you?"

"We are friends of the Galra," Allura said reassuringly.

"Tell that to the billions you've slaughtered, Blood Empress!" he cried, charging.

He was surprisingly quick for someone fresh out cryosleep, but Allura twisted his arm and immobilized him.

"You cannot kill us all," he grunted. "Others will fight!"

"Some did," said Allura, "some did not. It made no difference. You've been in stasis for kilo-phoebs. Altea has conquered most known systems, and no one in the universe understands what you are going through better than I do."

"What are you saying?"

"We come from an alternate reality," said Allura. "In it, our peoples' fates were reversed."

He hesitated. "Alteans lie."

"Suit yourself," said Allura, releasing the hold. "The sooner you accept there are Alteans willing to help, the better for everyone."

His shoulders slumped as he checked a flickering purple console. "All is lost."

A second pod hissed open.

"Protect the Prince!" cried the occupant, firing bolts of dark energy.

#

The paladins dived behind pods, bayards drawn.

"Wait!" cried Allura. "We are not your enemy!"

Lotor stared at her. "It's alright, Haggar. They do not want us dead for now."

"Yes, Prince Lotor," she said, golden eyes glowing under her hood.

"Paladins, sheathe your weapons," said Allura.

"You crazy?" said Lance, rifle raised. "That's Lotor and Haggar we're talking about."

"These are not the versions we know," said Allura.

"Exactly, they could be worse," said Hunk, glancing around nervously. "For all we know Zarkon's in the pod behind us."

"My father is dead," Lotor said bitterly.

"As he said," said Allura, "they do not want us dead for now."

Keith stared at Lotor. "Do as she says."

The paladins dispelled their bayards.

A storm of claws and black fur landed on Hunk.

"Betrayal!" he cried, firing wildly with his cannon.

"Kova!" Lotor called sternly.

"Well, then," said Allura, regaining her composure. "How did you come to be here?"

"After the fall of Daibazaal, my father fought a losing war for twenty decaphoebs," said Lotor, scratching Kova behind the ears. "When Voltron finally cornered the remnants of our fleet at Feyiv he destroyed the planet. Billions were lost."

Allura gasped.

"While that beastly robot savored the destruction, my father wrested control of the Black Wolf from Prince Alric one last time. Alric struck him down, but not before we made our escape. It was my honor to avenge his death."

"Alas, poor Alric," said Allura.

"Wait, who's Alric?" said Lance. "Why haven't we heard of him before?"

"Because in our reality he died defending Altea," said Allura. "We were engaged."

"Eng…" Lance said before Pidge elbowed him in the ribs.

"The ship must've sustained more damage than we realized," said Lotor. "It made an emergency exit from hyperspeed."

"What happened to the Black Wolf?" asked Keith.

Lotor tapped the console, opening the entire back wall of the compartment. The giant mech sat under its particle barrier. "We must keep it hidden at all costs."

"Or we could use it," said Keith, walking up to the barrier.

"You would measure yourself against Zarkon himself?" said Lotor.

"It wouldn't be the first time," said Keith, placing his hand on the barrier.

Nothing happened.

"Perhaps our reality's Voltron is more demanding," said Lotor, smiling.

"What is it these wolves want?" cried Hunk. "Should we have brought Sven?"

"Do you know of the other wolves?" said Allura.

"We only took Black," said Lotor. "Are they not terrorizing the universe for the Alteans?"

"They also went missing," said Pidge.

"Then perhaps we should look again," said Allura. "Let's head back to the Yalmor."

"You're asking me to unleash the power that destroyed my people," said Lotor. "Is anyone able to wield it without becoming a tyrant?"

"I've seen it used for good," said Allura. "You can stay here and hide, but the Alteans will eventually find you. We're offering you a chance to fight back."

Lotor looked at Haggar. She nodded imperceptibly.

Lance noticed Keith was still staring up at Black. "You coming, buddy?"

Keith sighed. "Sure."

#

"Haggar?" Allura whispered in the hallway.

Haggar grunted.

"I know you are Altean. Why do you fight for Galra?"

"I serve the Throne," she said.

"Very enthusiastically, I might add," said Allura. "But why?"

Haggar only stared at her and walked into the bridge.

Allura sighed and moved to the control platform. Holographic star systems danced throughout the bridge. "Black is still dormant, but Green and Yellow have definitely woken up. I've traced Yellow to a rogue moon."

"Hunk, Lance," said Keith, "you take Blue."

"Green seems to be in… Olkarion?" said Allura.

"Awesome!" cried Pidge.

"This may not be the Olkarion we remember, Pidge," said Keith. "I'll go with you in Shuttle 2."

"How many shuttles does this thing have?" said Lance.

"It's like another shows up whenever we need it," said Hunk.

"Allura and I will protect Black until you return," said Slav. "There is a 120% chance that someone with a robotic arm will try to steal it."

Lotor coughed. "It seems you are forgetting part of the team. Haggar shall join the Yellow party, and I the Green."

"Fine," shrugged Pidge.

"Aw man," said Hunk, "why does Pidge get pretty boy while I get the space witch?"

Haggar glared at him.

"No offense!"

"You should get ready," said Allura. "I'll open the wormholes."