Having been worried about Lance, they wake up early to check on him. Allura stops them from opening the pod early.
"I can't tell if he looks healthy or not." Pidge messes with her glasses.
"I think he's breathing weird." Hunk peeks in.
"Oh, come on!" Keith tries to open the pod.
"Not yet! A few more ticks." Allura slaps his hand away.
"How much better do you think he's gonna get in a few more ticks?" Keith rubs his hand. "And what exactly is a tick?" He seems confused.
"You know, a time slice." Nau explains.
"Like a second?" Shiro ponders.
"What is a second?" Nau's ears twitches with curiosity.
"Like this." Pidge pulls out her timer.
"I'm not sure. I think ticks are bigger." Allura stares at the ticking clock. "Coran, do you have a ticker?" She glances over at him.
"Right here, Princess." Coran pulls out a different type of clock.
"I think ticks are a little slower." Hunk glances at the two clocks.
"I can't tell. We have to start them at the same time." Pidge ponders.
"Okay. Ready, go!" They start them at the same time.
"Yes! I think we're winning." Hunk cheers.
"Winning what? The intergalactic time-measuring competition?" Keith sighs as he watches them tick.
"You guys having a clock party?" Lance walks over to them a still bit out of it.
"Aw, Lance, you just ruined it." Hunk sighs then it clicks. "Hey, Lance!" He cheers as he hugs him.
"What happened?" Lance glances at the others.
"We can tell you all about it while you get something to eat." Allura places her hand on his shoulder.
"Are you able to walk?" Nau seems a bit worried.
"Talking? Eating? Are you asking me out on a date?" Lance smirks.
"Yep, he's okay. Classic." They sigh.
"You'd be Sendak's prisoner right now, if not for Pidge." Allura explains after telling the story.
"Well, you wouldn't have survived the explosion if Hunk and Coran hadn't gotten a new crystal." Pidge smiles at him.
"Wow. Thanks, everybody." Lance feed the mice his food. "Sounds like the mice did more than you, though." He glances over at Keith.
"I punched Sendak!" Keith tries to defend himself.
"Yeah, apparently after I emerged from a coma and shot his arm off." Lance huffs slightly.
"We had a bonding moment. I cradled you in my arms!" Keith announces.
"Nope. Don't remember, didn't happen." Lance shakes his head. "So, what happened to Sendak?" He turns a bit more serious.
"He's frozen in a cryo-pod. We're keeping him here in the Castle." Coran explains.
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Lance seems concerned.
"He's too dangerous to be set free. Besides, we might be able to get some information about Zarkon from him." Shiro explains going into soldier mood.
"So, what's the plan now?" Nau glances at the others.
"We have to get back to the Balmera and save Shay and her people." Hunk announces.
"Wow! You are really hung up on this lady." Lance jokes.
"No, it's not like that. Look guys, when you see how Zarkon has treated these people and destroyed their home they've been under his thumb for so long, they don't know what it is to be free. It's up to us to set this right. This is what being a paladin of Voltron is all about. It's time to man up." Hunk seems hyped up.
"Then let's get moving. Time to go defend the universe." Lance stands excited.
"Wait, I have something to say first." Pidge announces. "I need to come clean. I'm afraid this may change the way you all think about me. Just so there are no secrets between us anymore, I can't "man up." I'm a girl. I mean, I can "man up" because that's just a figure of speech. I don't have to actually be a man to "man up." I just have to be tough. But what I'm saying…" She fixes her glasses.
"Wha? You're a girl? How?" Lance seems confused.
"I've known for some time, but I'm glad you've shared it with everyone." Nau nods to her.
"Yeah, I figured. Oh, yeah, me too. Wait, we were supposed to think you were a boy?" The others announce.
"Pidge, owning who you are is going to make you a better paladin." Shiro announces.
"It's good to get that off my chest. Now, let's launch this Castle-ship!" Pidge runs over to the others.
"Wait, what? Pidge is a girl and the Castle is a ship? How long have I been out?" Lance is completely confused.
They get the palace ready then head off to space. While out they find a downed ship and begin to help. All but Hunk are happy to meet them.
As it turns out the downed ship was a trap to gather info and/or supplies. Hunk fumes after he realizes that he was right and Blue is almost taken.
Sometime later Nau is loading a medical supply bag. Shiro walks in with two water pouches.
"Catch." Shiro tosses it to her.
"Thanks." Nau catches it with one hand.
"What are you doing in here?" Shiro glances at the satchel.
"Medical supplies. They may need treatment or bandages." Nau sips her water.
"What about that power of yours?" Shiro ponders with curiosity.
"It takes a lot out of me and I can only do so much." Nau shakes her head slightly.
"Takes a lot out of you? Do you use your own energy?" Shiro seems surprised.
"Mom used to say that we took in Quintessence differently. We could take it in and purify it, use it like the others couldn't." Nau twirls her necklace. "Sh-she once healed a dying forest. It was the most amazing thing to witness." She has a far off look.
"She sounds like an amazing woman." Shiro smiles softly at her.
"She was." Nau laughs sadly as she sips her water.
"You are too. I'm sure she'd be proud of you." Shiro pets the top of her head then heads off.
Nau flashes back to her dad doing the same thing. Touching the top of her head, she flushes slightly.
Arriving at the Balmara they come up with a plan to try drawing Zarkon's men out. That doesn't quite work how they planned. The Paladins head down to fight and free the prisoners.
Down in the cadicomes they find the prisoners and then head for Shay. Knowing they're most likely running straight into a trap they keep up their guard.
Sealed inside the Balmara's core, all they can do is hope Shay's message is sent out so they can get to their lions.
"We'll fight the ships. You try to keep the Balmara from taking any more hits." Shiro instructs.
"Got it." Nau nods heading for White.
Nau moves around to keep Balmara from being hurt anymore as the others take out the ships. Allura and Coran take on the main craft. But the canon does far more damage to the castle then they thought it would. The guys go to help and are able to chase them off. At least for a short while.
As Zarkon's monster arrives, the Paladins and Allura try to get the Balmaran's to the palace before the Balmara dies. But they soon realize that won't work.
"We can't get everyone out in time." Coran announces over the coms.
"Then let's not run." Nau glances around at the frightened faces.
"What do you mean?" Shiro calls on the coms.
"I can heal the planet." Nau kneels down into the dirt.
"No! It can kill you!" Allura shouts trying to help as many Balmarans as possible.
"It's the only way to save everyone." Nau touches the ground feeling the small heartbeat of the Balmara.
"We'll keep you safe!" Shiro announces over the coms.
Nau begins powering her energy into the Balmara. But she begins struggling half way through.
'I… I can't do it.' Nau begins to feel herself slipping.
'You can do it.' Calls a distant yet familiar voice.
'I can't, it's too much.' Nau shakes her head with in her mind.
'Yes, yes you can.' A glowing person appears. 'I will help you.' She places a hand on the ground then on Nau's hand then reveals herself.
'Mom?' Nau's eyes widen with shock.
'I'm with you pup. Don't worry, I'm with you.' Rue smiles at her daughter.
Finishing, Nau passes out on the healed beast. Her glowing body slowly fades back to normal as the others head over to her. They quickly bring her into the palace placing her in her room.
"Will she be alright?" Shay seems concerned for one of her saviors.
"She will be after some rest." Coran places a cool cloth on her forehead.
"Please give her this from us." The elder offers a large bowl of soup.
"Thank you so much." Allura takes it with a small head bow.
"No, thank you." The elder smiles at them as she bows.