A/N: Welcome back to another installment of A Ripple Through Time. We've only just done the prologue so you haven't missed much! Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Voltron: Legendary Defender or other forms of Voltron. I simply own the computer I type this on.
Chapter One: The Time Spent with Arusians
Warning: Profanity, use of biblical references, sardonic personalities, some meme use and blood? Maybe? Gore? You were fairly warned!
So, I arrived to Arus – conquered the Arusians, lay waste to the Altean castle and waited patiently for the Paladins to appear!
… is what I wanted to say.
Actually, I just sobbed for another half-hour on the ground (my smooth object shifted back once I was somewhat safe) before sitting myself up into a cross-legged position. "God is cruel." I grumbled, wiping my face with my sleeve. I paused before looking down at my outfit. Somehow instead of wiping my face clean I smeared dirt onto it. And- and what's this? I don't remember devouring a cherry pie so why is there…
"Awh quiznak." I whined, running my fingers against my bloody shirt. "They couldn't give me a change of clothes? I have to meet the Paladins in a literal bloody 'cocoa' shirt…and a dirty cardigan… at least my ass looks good in these jeans…" I moved myself to get up from the ground as low grumbles and whines continued to leave me. "Quiznak, man… just quiznak." I shrieked the last word and kicked the smooth object.
This damn object happened to fly off into the Altean castle door. I watched then flinched at the loud bang the object made before my reflexes kicked in two seconds later. I flung myself into the bushes nearby with a shrill scream of "Me-hoy!"
When I realized my utter idiocy, I flattened myself in the bushes and whined even louder. "I hate you Julio!"
I struggled, fam.
I honest to he who must not be named, struggled. I thought my bourgeoisie ass wouldn't make it. As I laid there for a certain time, I tried thinking about the positives. Because- you know, I can't just be a negative Nancy in this the whole time.
"You have another chance at life, which…is quite bogus if you ask me." I scoffed under my breath. "I was doing quite fine until that moron decided to dictate the lives of others in his image…There's the fact that you'll get to see Shiro yell 'Fuck' during a training simulation…" A low chuckle left me right before I sighed.
This could be nice. I could watch the Paladins bond, I can braid Allura's hair, I can watch Keith and Lance's bickering in action and up close – hell, I could even eat Hunk's food. This wouldn't be too bad! I love food.
"But, there's also the fact that you might get captured by the Galra." My pupils shrunk as I stared at the sky. "You could also be tortured and the possibility of you dying again is much greater here. In fact, it's even…dare I say it…. inordinate."
Suddenly, I don't think I want to taste anything here. These Paladins go through so much hell and it happens all before a Friday.
I mean, the most I've done in a week is two exams, one paper and a gilded project on 'The Systems and Factions of Public Health' two hours before it was due in class. Spoiler alert, it was gilded because all my facts were from Wikipedia and my references were garbage links to random pictures of koalas but the teacher didn't find out until the semester ended.
The whole, stabbing and killing and fighting? Haha. Hah. Hah.
That isn't for me. Not a lick of it.
I could see why Hunk was so doubtful in the beginning. I was going to continue to wallow in my-self agony but some odd feeling washed over me. It was quite peculiar to say the least. It was as if something was telling me to get the fuck up right now. My brows furrowed and I immediately sat up only to see two weird creatures holding my smooth object in their hands.
Ah, that's why. Arusians are holding my stone.
…
Wait…
Those were Arusians! And they have my stone!
"YO." I yelled, and the two Arusians snapped their head towards me before a squeal of terror left one of them. The two bolted as I scrambled to get up. "Wait! Wait, don't fucking touch what's not yours! Come back here."
I raced after the two, hopping over random rocks and grass as they seemed to get farther and farther away from me. I needed that damn stone! If I lost that shit I was doomed. It's literally the only source those eggheads gave me before plopping off into this dimension.
I forced my legs to continue running after them before jumping at one of the nearest ones. "Got you, you little shit!" I yelled as I tumbled into the creature. It squawked out in pain and squirmed while I attempted to hold it down.
"Give me back my stuff you unusually soft pillow!" I ordered.
"I-I don't have it! Kliznorp does!" I gripped the creature tightly in my arms and pressed it against the floor as I attempted to get up. It squawked and groaned as I used my back legs to finally heave myself and it up.
"Give me my stuff." I huffed, glaring at the Arusian. "I don't have it! Kliznorp does!" The (I'm assuming its male) Arusian struggled in my arms, "Please do not hurt me oh Mighty One!"
"…Mighty One?" I repeated before shaking my head and squeezing the thing in my arms a little harder. "Did this Kliznorp fellow go to your village?" The rapid shakes of his head made me groan loudly. "Damn, Damn, Damn!" The Arusian yelled with my last 'damn', but not out of anger but of fear. "I have two kids! A wife! Don't end my life!"
"Shut up. Just…shut up. Shut up." I insisted, placing the being down as he continued to scream. I watched him for a little bit with mild amusement at how long he was screaming before it got on my nerves.
"I said, Shut up." I snapped and the being clamped its small hands against its mouth. Its wide beady eyes watered as he stared at me and I could only try to not feel bad.
I shouldn't be mean to these things…but he caught me in a bad mood. I grimaced at how he slowly went on his knees, probably to beg for forgiveness.
Oh for fuck's sake…
"Fam, I'm not going to murk you so chill…please. If you scream again, I'll certainly go deaf." I assured him, and he watched me for a few seconds longer before tears erupted from those large beady eyes. "T-Thank you! Thank you for sparing me! Thank you – "
"You're not off the hook yet! Bring me to your village so I can get my shit back!" I cut him off, narrowing my eyes. "Only then, will your life be considered spared." Great, Amara. Yes – just threaten the locals. This definitely wasn't going to bite you in the ass in a few weeks. Nope. Nice work. Much progress. Such threats.
I'll worry about that when it comes to it, for now I need to get that stone back.
I walked behind the Arusian, scowling at the shrubbery as we made our way to his village. "I apologize on Kliznorp's behalf…he loves to collect shiny things and we had happened to be around the area of the Lion Goddess when we saw your 'stuff'" I pressed my lips to a tight line as the Arusian air-quoted 'stuff'.
"Listen, I call it my stuff but really…" Come on, think stupid! "Really it's a Sacred Stone! It's uh… very important to the Lion Goddess and I… I… the Mighty One! Yes! yes… I am the current guardian of the castle." Julio did say make up a reason as to why I was loitering about the castle. Maybe the Arusians might buy it.
"Oh!" The Arusian yelled in surprise and my brows rose. "We had the pleasure of interacting with a Guardian…and we stole from it?!" I could see the panic settle in his features as he readied to scream again. My hands wrapped around his open mouth and I let out a heavy sigh.
"Shut. Up. Like I've said before, all will be forgiven if you just give me back what's mine." I nearly hissed and the Arusian nodded. "Now, once I let go you will not scream. You will continue leading me to your village and we will find this Kliznorp. Is that clear?"
He nodded once more and I released his face before walking ahead. The scenery looked somewhat similar. "Are we near your village-?"
"Kliznorp! Kliznorp you globtrot! Return the Mighty One's Sacred Stone! She has come among us for vengeance for the stone!"
My mouth dropped as the Arusian sped passed me and through the shrubbery that led to his village screaming. I moved my jaw back into place as I sprinted after the Arusian. This was not my day.
I arrived right as the Arusian that led me to the village tackled the other creature I saw him with before. "Return the stone immediately!"
The group of Arusians nearby gasped at the commotion before Kliznorp (aka the little turd that took my stone) squealed mercy. "Alright! I didn't know!" The other Arusian grabbed the stone and got off the younger Arusian. He brushed any debris off himself and the stone before walking over to me.
"Oh Mighty One, here is your stone." He spoke, "I Raibloo, have returned it to you for the –," I cut him off by snatching the stone back into my hand. I inspected it for a few seconds before putting it in my cardigan pocket.
"Thanks." I noticed the expectant look from him and Kliznorp then at the others. "The…uh, Mighty One is pleased. You are forgiven?" They suddenly cried with joy and I took a step back from the octave.
"What is all this commotion?" A deeper voice called out and I turned my head in that direction. Oh…the leader… My face twisted to disdain as Raibloo took to speaking. "Kliznorp and I found the Guardian of the Lion Goddess!"
A lie, but when hasn't my life been full of lies.
His beady eyes widened before he quickened his steps towards me and bowed. "Oh Guardian of the Lion Goddess! We are not worthy of being in your presence!" I watched him for a little bit before coughing. This is getting weirder and weirder. I mean what was I to do? Abuse this newfound lie and get them to do my bidding?
Bingo.
I could almost hear irony screaming that it was going to bite me in the ass when the plot starts. But fuck the plot, I needed allies and a place to sleep.
A few days had gone by in the Arusian village and I've made quite a nice place for myself. They were happy enough to provide me a hut for my needs (to which I immediately washed my clothes because you will not catch me meeting Paladins smelling like day old dirt) and they're quite the huggers. Unlike a certain Paladin, I loved hugging strangers! Especially if they're soft and warm like a marshmallow.
I've taken a liking to Raibloo. He learned quickly that I wasn't a fan of screaming. I've met his children and his equally soft wife.
"You know, this might not be so bad after all. These beings are much nicer than Netflix portrayed them…" I placed a hand over my mouth as a yawn escaped me. "I think it's time for another power nap…" I stretched out and rubbed myself into the grass mat I was given before darkness overtook me.
Instead of dreaming about finishing that tamale for lunch or stealing my friend's black bean soup – I was met with a face I was hoping to never see again…at least until I knew how to murder angels.
"Julio." I seethed, and he looked just as annoyed with me as I with him. Possibly because I insist on calling him Julio, or he was doing something and I (happily) interrupted him. He looked like he was in the middle of cooking. I mean I think he was. He was wearing a 'Kiss the Cook' apron and he had oven mitts on.
"My cobblers." He sighed. "My cobblers, oh no." I mocked and his gaze only grew more annoyed. "Amara. Why have you taken refuge in the Arusian village?"
Ah, here's the scolding. I crossed my arms against my chest and frowned, "Why not? I can't just waltz into the castle! What if I turn Allura and Coran on?"
Wait. I didn't word that right. The angel's brow rose and I cleared my throat loudly. "You know exactly what I meant. What if I accidentally wake them up from their 10,000-year sleep. I'm not really in the mood to fuck shit up." I mean, I'm always in the mood to fuck shit up. But he probably doesn't know that.
"That's a lie." The angel responded and I held in a groan. Right, he read my profile and I've read my profile. 'Shenanigans Highly Likely' was what the clipboard had highlighted under my name.
Welp.
"Regardless of your worries, you should be training. I'll overlook the stay at the Arusian village but you must start using the resources I gave you."
"What. Resources. You stabbed my hand and gave me a stone. That's it! If I didn't know any better I would say you're just messing with me. I know that biblical shitlord – " I faltered at the grave expression the angel suddenly sported but continued on, "lived in the old age where rocks were the most likely weapon to kill someone along with sticks but we're like- in 2014? 2017 if I'm counting out my years before I kicked the bucket."
"Amara…"
"No! Don't you 'Amaruhhh' me. Start giving me help on this or count me out and expect me to live out my days in the Arusian village as the Guardian of Lies." There was sudden silence after I finished, though it was expected. I can certainly say that I did not miss this awkward pause during conversations with this angel. His brows furrowed as he removed the oven mitts from his hands.
"Alright." He responded and my lips pursed. "Alright, what?" His sharp gaze at me reminded me that I was still very much under him and had to give him respect. Listen man, respect was earned. Don't come for me and then expect me to be like 'mmh yes my lord'. This wasn't Black Butler.
This was, unfortunately, life for me now.
"Sorry…but what." I bit back some annoyance as he untied his apron and it disappeared. "I can see you're frustrated. That's understandable. But please recognize the dire situation at hand. This world and all its people will not only fall into Zarkon's hands but also Cain's. The world will invert into itself and everyone here will die. You are the only one who can save them, Amara."
"…I mean when you put it that way…" I mumbled before deadpanning. "Looks like this world's doomed. You got me fucked up, mister." He took a sharp intake of air through his nose in response. "Why are you like this."
I rose my hands up in frustration. "I don't know? Maybe because this is how I cope with being shoved into a new reality when I simply thought I was going to see my grandma and my little brother again in Heaven? But I'm stuck here? In a universe thought to be fake but so clearly isn't!?"
Julio sighed and I let out an angry cry. "Yeah, sigh! I can do that too! Look, I don't know how to do war! Put me in a ring with some people and I'll fight but a full-on war? Aye non me gusta señor. Je n'aime pas. Hell to the no. There I gave you three languages."
"…Are you done?" Julio chimed and I let out a frustrated growl. "If you're that worried about this – "
"I'm petrified." I cut in, and he ignored it as he continued, "Until the Paladins arrive I will aid you in mastering the use of the stone. The other resource I gave you won't function until you understand how to shift and alter the dimensions of that stone to your needs."
"…Ok so what does that mean then?" I asked and the angel sighed. "It means my cobbler's ruined and for the next few weeks you're not going to be sleeping well at all."
Ah…Ah…shit.
"Deadass?"
"Yes." He didn't even hesitate to answer. There was even a ghost of smile on his face.
Damn you Julio.
What is sleep. Like what is it, really? Why do we need it? Is it truly a necessity?
I only ask this because this is day 10 of being sleep deprived and I haven't necessarily died of exhaustion yet.
Though, the term yet is being used sparingly. I might die of something else though.
I had asked the Arusians to only wake me when they saw an angry angel in the sky and until then they had to make sure that there would be no disturbance outside my hut. That was two fucking weeks ago. They've probably thought I died or was angered with them since I never came out of the hut except when I 'died' in my sleep or had to go eat and pee.
Not in that specific order, of course.
"It's a good thing you aren't human anymore or else I'd have to worry about your health as well." Julio spoke and I simply glared in his direction just before flinging my body to the side to avoid the razor-sharp disk coming my way.
"I still need to fucking sleep, you turd." I called out to him, but I immediately realized my mistake. The angel simply wrinkled his nose and two, much larger razor disks came in my direction. I scrambled up from the floor and started sprinting away.
"If you can't shift these into your image, you will wake up…and I don't think you want to wake with the feeling of dying again." He was such a shit.
"Oh, how I'd hate for that to happen." I cried out, skidding to a stop and turning to face the two disks rushing my way. Come on, come on! Staff Staff Staff Staff-
My eyes widened as one of the disks morphed and shifted until it became a staff. "Aha-!" I yelled out in joy, but it got cut short.
That's not the only thing that got cut, unfortunately.
The angel grimaced at the large disk embedded into my face and whizzed a bit before stopping once it got into the middle of my skull. He let out a low 'oh my' before watching my body fall to its knees then crumple into the ground, lifeless.
"I warned her…That's going to hurt in the morning."
"Ugh…"
My hands immediately went to my face as I slowly rose from the grass mat. "That was such a fatality…ugh my schnoz." I gingerly poked my nose before groaning. Nearby me was the stone, which had shifted into the staff that I wanted from my mind space – you know right before my face was split open like I was in Mortal fucking Kombat.
I slowly glanced at it before groaning at the motion. "I didn't know angels can be so ruthless…what the hell…"
"Uhm… Mighty One?"
I immediately looked up for the source to see Raibloo peeking into the hut. A surprised squeal left him when he locked eyes and he moved his head away from the entrance. "I apologize for awaking you!"
"It's no problem…" I called out, rubbing my face tenderly. "Is there something you need, or did you want to bother me for shits and giggles."
The creature shifted nervously before twiddling its fingers. "I'm unsure of what shits and giggles are…but it was not for that. I had to inform you that one of our scouts found someone around the area…"
That perked my interest and worried the living shit out of me.
"The Paladins? They're already here?" I asked before the Arusian shook his head. "It's just one being." I frowned and forced myself to stand up and walk out of the hut. The Arusian moved out of my way and peered after me before ducking as the staff flew over his head. It hit my back and I bit back a snarl before grabbing the item and walking off towards the direction of the village head. "Show me where your scouts found this…person."
Something in my gut told me that already the story has shifted and today might be the day I die.
Fan-freakin'-tastic.
Thankfully I had warned them to not bring any strangers into the village before addressing it to me. The last thing I needed was an accidental Galra man coming and slitting my throat while I'm sleep-training.
The Arusian hopped next to me before wringing his hands nervously. "Oh I hope it's not another Guardian of the Lion Goddess… if she sends another we have surely displeased her…we might have to do a sacrificial fire."
I paused in my footsteps and the Arusian did as well, curiously looking at me. "Is something the matter, oh Mighty One?" I blinked rapidly before putting the staff under my armpit. "No…Just…Shut up for a second." I ordered and he 'eep'ed and pressed his hands against his mouth.
I wrapped my hair up with the excess strands as a makeshift hair-tie before starting my walk. The Arusian followed immediately after, removing his hands from his mouth. "They're not too far from here, Oh Mighty One."
"Good." I spoke and I looked at the staff. My brows furrowed at it and for a moment it shrunk before it morphed into a ball.
"I was hoping a knife…but I guess I could maybe bash their head in." I mused. "Stay here." I looked over at the Arusian before sprinting in the direction he told me to go.
"Just feel the inner warrior, Amaruh. Imagine the knife in your enemy's skull Amaruh… I'm starting to think Julio used to be a serial killer from Britain before being an angel…can't even say my name right…" I grumbled as I paused near a tree. There was someone there…and they didn't look friendly. They seemed to be searching around the Altean castle for something.
"Oh quiznak…" I whispered quietly before pressing my back against the tree and glared at the ball in my hand. There was no fucking way I would be able to do anything with this. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll happily swallow it and choke? Save me some trouble?
Wishful thinking, I know.
I peered from the tree and whipped my head back immediately as the male looked in the direction of the forest.
Fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck-
I bit my lower lip and gripped the ball tightly in my hand as I prayed for some guidance. The male started to move towards the entrance of the castle and I took the opportunity to get out of my hiding spot and chuck the ball at the male.
Hopefully my aim doesn't suck ass.
The good news it doesn't.
The bad news is that he moved his head out of the way just in time. The ball smashed into the doors of the castle with a loud bang and he whipped his head to my direction. My mouth dropped and before I even registered the fact that I was royally fucked, the male was in front of me…and he had a large shimmering machete.
Oh Quiznak.
"… I…uh…totally didn't mean… to throw the ball at you…honest." I spluttered, but the way his eyes slowly narrowed meant that he didn't believe shit. "…O-Oh look! THE CASTLE DOORS HAVE BEEN OPENED." I screamed pointing at the obviously not open doors of the castle before scrambling to get the fuck out of there.
The male looked over, a low 'huh' leaving him before he whipped his head back to see me scrambling downhill towards the rocky desert and away from the shrubbery. He pointed the machete in my direction and I let out a scream of terror when the tree I ran by disintegrated.
"This was bad…real bad…. Michael Jackson."
You know, for that I wouldn't blame the dude for shooting me in the mouth. But what can I say, all good memes come sporadically and in the worst times. I tripped over my feet and barrel rolled into the sandy and hard ground. I quickly flattened myself as a shot zipped by where my ass used to be in the air.
I scrambled up and ran towards the area where the Paladins trained to form Voltron.
I started to sprint when I heard the male's footsteps running and catching up to me. I didn't dare look back as the edge was near. Maybe, if I nosedive to my death, he'll leave me alone-
I skidded to a stop while the male landed a few feet ahead of me.
Double Quiznak.
A low guttural growl left him and I took a reflexive step back. "I…uh…" I couldn't even think of something witty to say. Shit.
He pointed the machete in my direction and I took a few more steps back. If I turned my back on him, I was going to get shot point blank in the back.
He took a step forward and I took another step back. He broke into a vicious smile as he took quicker steps towards me before he jumped into the air to land a blow.
"Cain. Will. Reign!"
Would this be a bad time to tell you I started screaming bloody murder for Voltron?
I started screaming bloody murder for Voltron.
Surprise, surprise I'm not dead yet.
Like before, I'm using yet sparingly as death is literally not too far from me. The only reason why my stupid ass is alive is because of one thing and one thing only: pure luck.
As I screamed for, you guessed it, Voltron to help me – I instead got to see something bright come in between me and the swing of the machete.
With a resounding boom, the male's weapon made contact with the object in front of me before he was thrown back from the shockwave the two weapons made. I crumbled into the ground as my eyes scanned over the thing in front of me before my brain realized what it was.
The stone!
"It…it's a fucking disk…"
Ironically the same razor sharp disk that embedded itself in my face during my sleep. I grabbed the object and looked at the being that was struggling to orient himself after the shockwave. Gripping the disk tightly, I could feel anger and disbelief running through my veins.
I almost died.
Again.
My brain registered my body was moving before it could stop me. I ran towards the being and the disk shifted in my hands. I didn't care if it allowed me to fucking saw this fuck's head off-
An angry cry left me as I jumped at the male and swung whatever the stone had created, just as the being got up from the ground. He had looked up just in time to taste some good ole fashion metal.
And his own blood.
I bared my teeth as I continued to press the freehand abrasive saw into his face.
"Vrepit Sa." I snarled out, before my eyes widened at the sudden shift of air and – oh god why why why – he's falling. We're falling. Shit.
Unfortunately, the force of me jumping on him and currently sawing his face caused the body to shift backwards, until we both started to fall off the cliff. I was going to let go of the saw but suddenly his arms wrapped around my form and squeezed as we plummeted.
A shriek left me and I tried to move out of the vice hold but the body wouldn't budge. "Let me go! Let me go!" I cried out, pressing the saw more into his face. It whirred to life I guess when it cracked through the nose bone since it easily sliced through the male's head.
The blood splattered in my face and a shocked and gurgled noise left me before the body loosened up and we were free-falling.
"FUCK."
Now, that's a better last word before dying. I couldn't see anything since there was blood clogging up my vision but with how sharp the wind was around me; we were getting closer to the ground and it was not going to end well.
It'd be great if I could fucking hover right now!
I spat out the blood that managed to get in my mouth to scream before I landed on a hard, smooth surface. I rubbed my face into my arm to smear the excess blood off and pried my eyes open to see that there was a disk under me.
"Oh thank you Jesus." I exhaled, just before hearing a thud below. I peered over the hovering disk to see dust clouds forming over what used to be a live body. I stared a while longer before a low retch left me and I vomited.
Thank God I didn't die.
Also. Fuck God, I almost died. I needed the paladins to come now so I could hide out in the castle and not worry over this shit.
I flinched at the pain in my arm and held it gingerly to my chest as the disk continued to hover over the desert. As I did, a random thought crossed my mind.
"…why Vrepit Sa though."
Seriously, out of all the cool battle phrases – I say the one thing that's taboo in this universe. Smooth move, idiot.