The Teladuv portals were a fast travel mode created by Etespharius Maldrett during the time of the great rift (Or the Cicatrix Malidectum by the Imperium) and then perfected by Honerva a decade before the Voltron era. The Teladuv consisted of opening a portal to the warp that would connect one site in the galaxy to another. The theme was that the warp always infects any type of fast travel, but to avoid this: Honerva joined their knowledge together with some Eldar technicians from Alaitoc and Biel-Tan managed to create a Teladuv portal that, one within the warp, would create a barrier that protected the Altean ships from demonic incursions. (It is as if you inserted a solid tube into cement and poured water inside it so that it could come out clean on the other side)

The Castle of the lions advanced without any control in what was once the interior of the Teladuv portal, whose integrity before the Komar's dark energy cannon from Castle of Doom, which left the castle as the people inside at the mercy of the ravages of the warp."What just happened?" Lance questioned Allura and Coran in a panicked tone as he, Pearl, Bismuth, Thace, Matt, Elizabeth and the rest of the loud troop arrives in the castle's control room; along with Lion, who had a scared Pumpkin and quartet of space mice hiding behind him.

"The teladuv's portal was compromised and broke down!" Coran answered as he frantically checked every single monitor in the control room.

"Broke down?" Bismuth questioned. "What does that even mean?"

"It means we have zero control over where we're headed!" Coran answered.

"A-and is that a bad thing? " Lynn asked fearfully in her tone.

"Obviously it's bad." Lisa responded surprisingly calm and analytical to the chaotic situation. "If my knowledge of fast travel is not wrong: without the protections of this portal I think we are at the total mercy of the warp."

They all opened their eyes with fear written in them.

"For the throne of Terra ..." Elizabeth gasped.

"We need to get out of here ..." Lana moaned in fear.

"But how!?" Lola stuck her nose with her twin's with a maniacal look. "At any moment the radiation could turn us into mutants or but ... a demonic incursion."

"Calm down, soldiers!" Lori yelled with an authoritative voice and a scowling look. "There is no reason to panic, the emperor protects our souls against adversity!""Wait, where are the others?" Matt asked the princess.

"We don't know," Allura answered.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Pearl questioned the Altean sovereign.

"Whatever struck the portal scattered the Lions across the known universe," Allura answered. "They're gone!"

"That just means we're trapped in the chaos gods' playground while the paladins were sent to the emperor knows where." Elizabeth questioned with a totally angry look. "This is the worst possible scenario there is."

She allura looked down at the words the commissioner had directed her. At this moment she felt a terrible regret gnawing at her soul; She is the reason why this calamity is happening, if only she would have been honest about the truth about the paladins of yesteryear to the team perhaps this would be a different scenario.

She felt a tap on her shoulder from Thace who gave her a stern but compassionate look.

"This is not the time for negative thoughts, chaos likes those kinds of emotions." Thace said to the princess. "We must focus on getting out of here as soon as possible."

Allura was silent for a couple of seconds, seeing Keith's father's face and immediately gave a firm nod.

"Yes, things may be very bad, but we will make it out of here safely." Allura stands firm with clenched fists.

Meanwhile in another part of the universe:

"Come on, come on, COME ON!" Keith frustratingly repeated to himself as I have tried to stabilize the Red Lion but he is fruitful as there were several failures that prevented it; while she and the Black Lion were in free fall, heading towards a desert planet as the alarms blared.

"Shiro, Garnet, are you there?" Keith asked the Black Paladin over his comms from him; only getting nothing but static. "Shiro, Garnet, do you read me!?"

The Red and Black Lions broke through the atmosphere of the planet: where there was an extensive cracked desert wasteland, full of dangerous cliffs and unknown threats, the both began to heat up as they descended towards the surface; slowly deviating apart from each other as they fell faster. Knowing there is not much he can do now, Keith tightens his seat's straps and grips onto his controls with all his might of him; awaiting the inevitable impact with the ground of the planet.

++Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… two… one…++

...

...

...

Everything went black… but Keith slowly opened his eyes as his ears zumbing after the impact. The young Galra groans and coughs as his de él slowly returned to him; I have somehow survived a crash that ordinary people wouldn't without a single scratch. Red must've taken most of the impact.

"Red…" Keith groaned as his sight and hearing of him returned. "Red! Red, are you okay girl?"

The mechanical beast answered her Paladin by giving him a soft purr. Keith let out a relieving sigh as he placed his hand on his Lion's cockpit; Red was exhausted and in no condition fly.

"All right, girl; rest up," Keith told his friend about him. "You've earned it. I'm going to search for Shiro and Garnet."

The Red Lion responded by opening her maw and letting Keith out of her. Once on the planet's surface, Keith looked around; taking in his surroundings from him. The planet's surface appeared gray and lifeless with nothing but mountains and canyons, and the ground was surprisingly warm.

The Galran tapped into his helmets communicator from him. "Shiro, Garnet, are you there?" Keith questioned. "I landed somewhere, but I don't know where. Please pick up… Takashi, please pick up… Garnet, is Shiro okay… someone, please pick up!"

Keith had made a mistake getting out of the lion so early; because the desert planet he was on was not really deprived of life and that would put his life at risk.

Two minutes before:

Strong footsteps echoed off a small cliff as a large figure calmly advanced through the site in search of threats in what would be his daily patrol, his weapon: a large two-handed pistol that only they could carry, aimed at the different holes in the holes. Which could be a pack of Gray scavangers hiding.

The huge being, not seeing or hearing the creatures, went on his way alone. The rest of his squad were displaced in different places in the desert in search of more nests, the brother-captain of the 7th company warned them to be on full alert while he went to the guard camp to call the ship in which they were found the teacher to pick them up. His job was almost done, all he would have to do now is go back to his group and wait for a Valkyrie to come after them.

Then totally unexpectedly, she appeared.

She was a ship whose shape she couldn't identify, she was plummeting onto the planet's surface in a ball of fire. Theoretical: it is probably an unknown alien who lost control of the ship upon entering the atmosphere.

The impact shook the very ground on which she was standing, creating a huge cloud of dust and debris all over the site, luckily, she was in a very remote place to be a victim of the crash landing.

Minutes passed and nothing happened. Theoretical: the pilot of said alien ship could very well have been killed in the crash. Practical: The alien could well have survived and got out of there, it will probably open an S.O.S signal to send someone to look for it.

He was not going to allow it.

Raising his weapon, he jumped off the cliff with a great leap and quickly ran in the direction of the unknown ship stranded in the middle of nowhere.

"Hang on, Peridot!" Pidge screamed as she and her copilot continue to free fall to a giant mass of space debris while the alarms blared.

"Quiznack." Katie breathed heavily as she asked her Gem friend. "Are you okay Dot?"

"I am fine, Pidge," Peridot assured her. "Well… physically at least."

Katie, Peridot.

"Green?" The girls said at the same time; hearing the exhaustion in their Lion's voice.

"Okay girl, rest for a bit," Pidge told her friend de ella as she fiddled with her seatbelt. "Peridot and I will see what we can… whoa!"

"Pidge?" Peridot looked over at her partner and saw that she was floating.

"I don't think this place has any gravity." The green Paladin stated.

Peridot undoes her seatbelt and floats with the Green Paladin out of their lion and discovers the Green Lion has landed on the remains of almost six derelict spaceships; with countless amounts of debris surrounding it the ships had appearances completely unknown to the two scientists and some ships seemed almost intact.

"We're in a 'trash' nebula," Peridot stated.

"A trash nebula," Pidge said. "Like one of those interstellar clouds of dust, hydrogen, helium, promethium and other ionized gases. Except with… trash. Space trash. Huh, the Orks would have a picnic with all of this on them."

"That would be correct," Peridot answered. "The dust, hydrogen, helium, Promethium and other ionized gases you mentioned are somehow magnetically holding this entire place together, easy for be looting. And it just so happens that 'trash' nebulas are usually located in the MIDDLE OF NOWHERE!"

"Peridot." Pidge began. "We need to stay calm, panicking is only going to make the situation worse. And you know how the old saying goes;" When you get lost in space, the best thing to do is stay put and wait for people to find you. "

"What kind of clod would you say that?" Peridot questioned.

"I… just made it up," Katie admitted. "But the point is, we need to keep our heads clear if we're going to think of a way out of this mess."

"Well, considering out luck." Peridot said exasperate. "Whenever we end up in a mess; something is usually bound to go from bad to worse, who knows: maybe there is a nest of Tyranids, waiting to eat us."

"Sometimes I don't really like your pessimism, Dot." Katie said crossing her arms.

"Yeah ... Yeah ... 'let's wait for the people to find us'" Peridot gestured in quotation marks to the irritation of the human girl.

"I just hope the others are doing better than we are." Pidge concluded.

What Pidge and Peridot did not know was that they were greatly mistaken in thinking that there was no one in the thick trails of debris and garbage that traveled all over the space around them.

A pair of bright, sinister green eyes gazed into the distance as he found himself propped up on a gigantic chunk of rubble.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Amethyst and Connie screamed as they've lost control of their lions; heading straight to a planet as the Yellow and Blue Lions' alarms blared.

As soon as they break through the atmosphere, the legs of Voltron were on a direct collision course with a frozen lake. "Brace for impact!" Connie shouted over her comms as they drew closer and closer.

++Ten… nine… eight… seven… six… five… four… three… two… one…++

The Lions crashed right through the ice and continued descending deeper to the depths of the frozen ocean, but the Paladins found themselves slowing down and were eventually able to stabilize themselves.

"Amethyst?" Connie began over her comms. "Amethyst, are you okay?" At first, the girl doesn't get an answer; then she hears what sounds like… retching.

"I'm fine." A sickly sounding Amethyst stated over her coms. "I just threw up a little."

"Well, we did get sucked out of a wormhole at lightspeed, crash-landed onto an ice plant and are currently underwater." Connie summed up.

"Yeah." Amethyst began. "Things could've went a whole lot worse for you, me and…" Amethyst stopped as her eyes widened in realization. "Steven! Is Steven okay?"

"I… I'm fine guys." A tired-sounding Steven said as he finally woke up.

"Steven!" Connie shouted as she hugged her best friend. "I was so worried when you passed out."

"Passed out?" Steven questioned the girl. "How did I pass out, and where are we?"

"We crashed through the surface of an ice planet," Amethyst stated.

"How did we even get here?" The Half-Gem asked. "The last thing I remember was that Stevonnie and Keith were fighting Zarkon; then, I felt some sort of heat building up in my body… now we're here."

"We all fled from that battle," Connie explained. "But the Galra did something that scattered all of us across the universe."

"WHAT!" Steven shouted with disbelief. "We need to find the others!"

"No can do, bro," Amethyst answered. "The crash screwed up Yellow big time; all of her primary systems are down. Does yours work?"

"That's a negative," Connie answered. "Blue is dead in the water… pun not intended. Even though this might not be ideal, I'm glad we landed on a planet instead of continuously floating; considering that space is ninety-percent empty… according to what I've learned in astronomy."

"I think your school books are no longer relevant in any of these situations anymore." Amethyst jokingly stated, trying to lighten the mood.

"Fair enough," Connie admitted. "But if we're on a planet, it'll give the others an easier time tracking us down."

"Well, why can't we just contact them immediately?" Steven questioned.

"We don't know where we are," Connie said. "So, we can't find where they are?" Connie undoes her seatbelt. "Besides, we need to check for damages and get the Lions running again."

"All right, let's go," Steven said as he and Connie quickly find breathing devices and exit the Blue Lion, just as Amethyst did the same with hers.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us!" Coran stated as he, along with all world checked every single monitor in the control room.

"I've already reviewed them a thousand damn times and there is no place that is taking us, only forward!" Elizabeth reported on the left side of the old Altean having Lisa typing the panel next to her.

"Oh ... Throne, this is getting worse and worse." Lynn says shakily at the aggravation of the situation.

"Lucy: can you show us a safe place in the warp?" Lori asked her psychic soldier.

"I'm not an Astropath ..." Lucy replied with a hint of effort in her voice. "I don't have a third eye that allows me to see warp currents ..."

"All world!" Allura shouted as the scanners beeped frantically. "There appears to be something on the other end, and we're heading right towards it!"

"Scanners show that there's no exit," Pearl answered as she checked the monitors. "It's just nothingness."

"There must be a way out! Otherwise we will be trapped here forever!" Leni said with fear written on her face.

"Don't worry, we just need to find an exit before we run right into that void!" Matt loudly stated as I have tried to figure something out. "Allura, can you do anything to slow us down?"

"I can't." The Princess admitted. "I have no control over the Castle of Lions."

"We're about to hit the void!" Coran shouted.

"Everyone, brace yourselves!" Lance ordered as he and Allura held onto each other; while the others grabbed on to whatever is bolted down and prepared for the collision.

Everything went black...

...

...

...

But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned, and with it a disturbing discovery.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us!" Coran stated as he, along with all world checked every single monitor in the control room.

"I've already checked them a thousand damn times and there is no place that is taking us, only forward!" Elizabeth reported on the left side of the old Altean having Lisa typing the panel next to her.

"We're… we're okay!" Lance ecstatically shouted as he hugged his cousin with relief.

"What are you talking about?" Coran questioned. "We've lost all the lions!"

"And we are falling to our doom!" Elizabeth accompanied angrily.

"Are you stupid or what, Xeno?" Lori said annoyed with a very different tone than she was before.

"We just smashed right into a black void. Do not you remember ..." Allura began to question her advisor when both she and Lance looked around the control room and discovered that Pearl and Bismuth are shorter now. "Pearl, Bismuth, are you two okay?"

"What are you talking abo… ah!" Pearl screeched as she and her fellow Crystal Gem look at each other. "What happened to our bodies, we're the size of rubies!"

"How the heck did that happen?" Lance questioned them.

"Our bodies are made of light." Pearl began to explain. "Usually, they form a mass dependent on the air pressure and the level of gravity in the environment, but we're in a situation where the normal laws of physics don't apply."

"That's the immaterium for you, xeno doll." Lynn said mockingly.

"Can't you shapeshift back?" Allura asked them.

"The ship seems to be putting out an energy field that is keeping us in this shape." Bismuth guessed. But before anyone else could ask any more questions Lion ran was running around the room in a panic; except, he was yellow instead of pink, Pumpkin was now a watermelon, and the space mice were now space squirrels.

"What happened to the animals?" Lance asked with disbelief at what he was seeing.

"What are you talking about?" Lana asked confused since it was she who was assigned to keep the animals calm. "They always looked like this for me."

"Bu-B-But they've transformed!" Allura said before turning back to Coran and Elizabeth; making both hers and Lance eyes widen in surprise.

"Why're you looking at us like that?" The advisor questioned the sovereigns.

"Did you see a ghost?" Elizabeth arches a confused brow.

"No ... is that ... you two look ... younger." Allura said as she looked around the rest of the room and saw that both Matthew, Thace and the rest of the louds (except for Leni) were younger looking too.

"There appears to be something on the other end, and we're heading right towards it!" Coran shouted as the scanners beeped frantically.

"Scanners show that there's no exit," Pearl answered as she hopped up onto the monitors to check them. "It's just nothingness."

"Lucy: can you show us a safe place in the warp?" A Younger Lori asked her psychic soldier.

"I'm not an Astropath ..." A younger Lucy replied with a hint of effort in her voice. "I don't have a third eye that allows me to see warp currents ..."

"Don't worry, we just need to find an exit before we run right into that void!" A slightly younger Matt loudly stated as I have tried to figure something out while Leni looked at him confused.

"Allura, can you do anything to slow us down?"

"I can't." The Princess repeated. "I told you all, I have no control over the Castle of Lions."

"Since when did you tell us that?" The tiny Bismuth questioned the Princess.

"We need to find an exit before we collide into the void!" A slightly younger Thace added in.

Allura and Lance brought up several holo-pads and began entering different coordinates; all of them being denied.

"The castle isn't taking any endpoints," Lance stated. "We can't get a signal out or in.

"We're about to hit the void! Everyone, brace yourselves!" Coran ordered as Lance and Allura held onto each other; while the others grabbed on to whatever is bolted down and prepared for the Collison.

Everything went black...

…

…

…

…But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned ... and with them things changed again.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us!" Coran stated and the two Altean princes widened their eyes when they saw that not only did their advisor grow younger, he was now wearing a different outfit. this Coran seemed to be on the cusp of his adult with his hair combed up and his characteristic trimmed mustache also having a little muscle mass in his body; his attire was a blue militia vest with white stripes that exposed his thick arms in which they had two blue wristbands.

"I've already checked them a thousand damn times and there is no place that is taking us, only forward!" Elizabeth like Coran also underwent changes in her appearance: her face was completely clean of battle scars and the cracks disappeared from her cheekbones revealing the same attractiveness as the Altean, her hair was no longer tied to a tail and fell freely like a golden waterfall; despite this, she still wore the same commissariat's regulation suit, but that didn't stop her hips and cleavage from standing out.

"Oh no! You two are even younger now." Allura worriedly said as she looked around the control room. Lance on the other hand stood stiff with his eyes open and drooling down the fleshy legs of the commissioner, something that Allura fixed by slapping the back of his cousin's neck. "Come back to reality!"

"What's the matter, Prince and Princess? You both look confused." Coran questioned, then inexplicably flexes his right arm with a smug smile that only the power of youth can achiever "Do not worry, Prince and Princess, I'll get us out of here in no time."

"Don't be fooling yourself with arrogant promises, Xeno." Cain said arrogantly imitating a sexy pose while tossing his hair to one side, casting small particles of light with a disinterested look. "Arrogance is the first step to fall."

"Woooohooo!" The regents looked to his right and saw teenage Luna, Lynn and Luan with a small Lola, their military garb barely fitting. "That's right, Commissar!"

"Ah!" Pearl screeched as she and Bismuth look at each other. "What happened to our bodies, we're the size of jaspers." Pearl groaned to herself as her body of she glowed, but nothing happened. "I can't shapeshift back!"

"The ship seems to be putting out an energy field that is keeping us in this shape." Bismuth guessed. But before anyone else could ask any more questions Lion ran was running around the room in a panic; except, he was blue instead of yellow, Pumpkin was now a butternut squash, and the space mice were now space… hippos, a Child Lana tried to calm them with no results. At this point, Lance and Allura weren't in the mood to question it. Allura and Lance looked around the rest of the room and saw that both Matthew, Lori, Lucy and Thace were even younger looking now.

"What's going on?" Lance asked his cousin of him.

"We appear to be in some sort of time loop that's affecting everyone but us." The Princess answered.

"I don't know guys, but this is already proving very strange to me." To the surprise of both young aliens: Leni was still the same as she was before.

"Wait ... how are you still like this?" Allura asked cautiously.

"Oh, I'm not really sure ..." Leni massages her chin until her face lit up. "I know: I think the warp doesn't affect me because I'm an outcast."

"Are you immune to the ravages of the warp?" Lance said in amazement. "That explains."

"There appears to be something on the other end, and we're heading right towards it!" Coran shouted as the scanners beeped frantically.

"Scanners show that there's no exit." The jasper sized Pearl stated as she squatted down to check on the monitors. "It's just nothingness."

"Lucy: can you show us a safe place in the warp?" An ever younger Lori asked her psychic soldier.

"Hugh… I'm not an Astropath..." A younger Lucy replied with a hint of effort and irritating in her voice. "I don't have a third eye that allows me to see warp currents... So stop bothering me will you?"

"Don´t speak me like that, Soldier, I'm your superior." Lori scolded the Gothic Loud.

"Don´t worry, we just need to find an exit before we run right into that void!" An even younger Matt loudly stated as he tried to figure something out. "Allura, can you do anything to ..."

"… Slow us down." Allura finished. "I can't, there's no exit point for any of us to lock on to."

"We've got to find a way." Coran energetically stated. "We can't give into nothingness."

"To my greatest disdain, I agree with the Xeno. My sacred imperial line cannot end here." Elizabeth boasted arrogantly.

"We're about to hit the void! Everyone, brace yourselves!" An even younger Thace ordered as Lance and Allura held onto each other; while the others grabbed on to whatever is bolted down and prepared for the Collison.

Everything went black…

…

…

…

But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us!" Coran stated as he and all world checked every single monitor in the control room.

"Shiro, Garnet, are you there?" Keith's voice questioned over the comms. "I landed somewhere, but I don't know where. Please pick up… Takashi, please pick up… Garnet, is Shiro okay… someone, please pick up!"

Shiro groaned in pain as he reached for his communication device in his cockpit; trying to not agitate his wound any further.

"Keith, are you there? Keith?" Shiro questioned over his comms of him.

"Shiro, Garnet, can you hear me? Shiro, Garnet?" Keith just responded.

"The signals too weak." Shiro deduced; groaning as he tried to stand from his chair. "Black, open up; I need to get to higher ground."

The Black Lion responds by opening her maw and allowing her injured Paladin to climb out. Once outside, Shiro began to slowly scale the surface of his Lion; suffering of he wounds but eventually climbing on top of her head from her.

"Shiro, Garnet, are you there?" Keith's voice continued to question over the comms. "Shiro, Garnet, are you there? Answer me!"

"Keith, I'm here," Shiro responded. "I'm okay."

"Ha! You guys made it!" Keith enthusiastically shouted with relief; unintentionally causing Shiro to guiltily sigh. "But I guess it will take more than a fall from the upper atmosphere, and crashing into a hardpan surface, at what I'm guessing is about 25 meters per second squared, to get rid of you ... I haven't heard from Garnet, is she okay? "

"Keith…" Shiro grimly began, it hurt him emotionally to say it but he couldn't keep it to his friend "she She she did not make it."

The comms went silent for a half-a-minute; before Keith picked up again and sympathetically said. "I'm sorry."

"The hard part about this is, how I am going to tell… AGH!" Shiro yelled in pain.

"Shiro, Shiro what happened!?" Keith worriedly asked.

"It's the wound Haggar left," Takashi answered hissy. "It's acting up and it's hurt a lot."

"Wait, a wound; what wound?" Keith questioned with fear for his friend of him.

"Black is too weak to fly right now; can you get Red to pick me up?" Shiro asked with a groan.

"Red's tired too," Keith answered. "But hang tight, I'm on my way."

Shiro then heard what sounded like growling and snarling nearby and spots a pack of reptilian wolves coming out from an underground den; eyeing Shiro like he was there next meal. "You'd better hurry, Keith," Shiro told the young Galra as the creature drew closer.

"I spy with my little eye something… green." Peridot said; trying to fight off the boredom that came with floating in the trash nebula.

"The lion." Pidge dully answered.

"And it is." The green Gem answered.

"I wish we had some poker cards or something," Pidge complained. "I-spy is starting to get dull."

As the two green girls continued floating they eventually caught sight of multiple glowing "eyes" hiding inside a dark hole and chattering. Pidge quickly summoned her Bayard while Peridot raised her fists defensively.

"Who's there?" Katie asked.

The glowing "eyes" emerged from the hole; revealing themselves to be small, fuzzy creatures with that came in multiple colors; shades of pink, blue, yellow, and green, with tan segmented underbellies and eight tiny stumps for legs; also having glowing facial markings.

"Aw, hey, little guys." Pidge greeted the creatures as she and Peridot let guards down. "Aw, you guys are so cute; too cute to be found in a dump like this. Are you guys the only ones living here? I hope our rough landing didn't disturb your day."

"These creatures look like tribbles from Star Trek." Peridot compared. "Or one of those cute creatures you'd see in a Studio Ghibli production."

"You maybe be right" Pidge said to the green Gem. "It's too cuties!"

The creatures continue their chirping as they watch the two girls.

"Don't mind us." Katie began. "We'll only be here for a short time. We're waiting for our friends to find us. We were separated during a wormhole jump."

Five the creatures float forward, and all happily squeaked.

"Yes, friends!" Peridot answered.

"I sure hope they'll find us soon." Pidge said as she looked up at the stars.

He dug his long fingers over the other floating debris to get closer to that strange ship when the furry ones came out of hiding despite having warned them otherwise, it seems that his curiosity far outweighs his survival instinct.

He has no choice, he will have to move quickly if he wants whoever is in that ship, he dares to hurt the only company he had since he was stranded in this place.

Wait... something happens...

One... no, two people got out of the strange craft. the second was a dwarf with green skin and a triangular head, something he had never seen before, the other was twice as tall as the previous one and was thin but if he paid enough attention, he immediately realized that it was a human.

That gave him more reason to go and eliminate them, it may have been I don't know how long but he still remembered the kind of treatment that humans did to those who are not like them.

He grabbed the edges of the floating debris and pushed himself out into space and then clung onto a huge metal plate and there he saw the Fuzzies come towards the strangers with the greatest security in the universe.

And to his pleasant surprise, he saw how the human took one of them with her hands and caressed them with the small creature imitating her, both with ridiculous smiles on their faces. It seems that they found them somewhat attractive and worthy of her attention and she did not see any hostile movement towards them... for now...

The Blue Lion's eyes glowed brightly as she let out a proud roar.

"You're up and running." Connie happily said as she and Steven swam around the massive vehicle. "Good to have you back girl." While the Blue Lion was functioning; the battle against Zarkon and the crash did a number on her outer plating and wouldn't be up for flying from the look of things.

Before Steven could add his input; he spots a shadowy, humanoid figure swimming by at high speeds. "Guys, did you see that?"

"See what?" Amethyst asked over her comms.

"I think… I just saw a mermaid." Steven honestly admitted over his comms.

"Connie, are you sure Steven didn't hit his head in the crash?" Amethyst asked the girl.

"It was probably just a big fish," Connie stated over her comms.

"I don't know, it seemed like a…" Steven began, only to see the same shadow once more. "There it is again!" Steven began swimming away from the Blue Lion. "Hey! Excuse me! We could use some help here!"

"Okay, say that it is a real mermaid, what do we expect her to do?" Amethyst began to question. "Keep our spirits up by singing a musical number with a Jamaican crab, or something?"

"While that would be nice; if that was a mermaid, there is probably an underwater city that can help us out," Steven stated

"That is a possibility," Connie admitted. "It wouldn't hurt to investigate, but we shouldn't go too far from the Lions."

"So, we're chasing after a fish person now." Amethyst groused as she and Connie swam behind Steven. "Sure, let's find your 'little mermaid'. Ha. See what I did there."

The Paladins of Voltron swim away from their Lions as they see more of the beautifully unusual sights of this strange planet; passing by seaweeds, coral and small fishes so distinct there is nothing on Earth to compare them too.

After a few more moments of swimming; the three Crystal Gems began to hear giggling and spot a bright light in the distance. They all swim towards it and find themselves staring in awe at an underwater village inhabited by, none other than, mermaids… alien mermaids.

"Hello there, travelers." A naïve sounding voice said as an alien mermaid with long pink hair and an eye-catching yellow and pink-scaled tail approached the trio. "Welcome to my village. Here, all are safe and warm."

Florona

Mer of the Merman Kingdom.

"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle. A real-life mermaid." Amethyst said with genuine surprise.

"I am Florona." The mermaid greeted with a bow. "The almighty Queen Luxia, the keeper of our land, would love to meet with you."

"Wait." Connie began, having a feeling that something was off. "How did your queen know we were here? We haven't been here that long."

"Queen Luxia knows all," Florona answered in an unsettling drone-like tone.

"Well, my friends and I are in trouble, and we could use some help; if your Queen is willing to," Steven stated calmly.

"Queen Luxia would be honored to help you," Florona stated. "She makes sure that everyone is safe and warm."

"I don't know Steven." Connie began. "I have a really, really bad feeling about all of this."

"Well, Florona said this place is safe and warm," Steven stated. "And they're willing to help; I think we should welcome their hospitality."

"Connie does have a point though," Amethyst admitted. "We shouldn't let our guard down."

"Come quickly. Queen Luxia is dying to meet you three." Florona said as she swam ahead of the others; with them following behind her.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us!" A now-adolescent Coran said in an indifferent tone as everyone checked every monitor in the control room, his height had dropped, his mustache had disappeared leaving only a fine facial hair and his hair fell like a mane disorderly.

"Coran please! I don't need any of your bad attitude right now." Allura said as she and Lance looked around the control room.

"You don't understand me at all! You have no idea what I'm going through! I'll be in my control area! Aagh!" Coran was interrupted when a small hand tugged at his long ear with force, and said hand belonged to a teenage Elizabeth.

"Shut your mouth once, useless Xeno!" Elizabeth's shrill voice screamed into the Altean's ear. Elizabeth were the same height as Matt and her face had rejuvenated, her hair was shorter and her body was not as developed as her young adult form. her wardrobe changed to a red engineer outfit but her cap was still on her head. "You better give up this rebellion of yours before I send you to the firing squad"

"Ha! Really!? You and who!?" Coran released himself from Elizabeth's grasp and pointed to the now Valhallan children.

Lynn's face was wrinkled from the effort to hold her laser rifle up as Luna and Luan tried to lift them.

"Don't worry Commissar!" Lynn's infant voice rang out along with a grunt of effort. "I hit it!"

"Ah!" Pearl squealed as she and Bismuth looked at each other. "What happened to our bodies? We are the size of topaz." Pearl moaned to herself as her body glowed, but nothing happened. "I can't shapeshift again!"

"The ship appears to be emitting an energy field that keeps us in this shape." You guessed bismuth. But before anyone could ask any more questions, Lion ran across the room in a panic; except this time it was green, Pumpkin was now an apple, and the space mice were now space snails; Lance and Allura still weren't in the mood to question it. The Altean Prince and Princess looked around the rest of the room and saw that Matthew and Lori were now crying little children, Lucy wasn't crying which was scary and Thace looked even stepped off the control room's pad and picks up the toddler Holt and her Sargent and brings him back to Allura and Lance.

"It's okay little Matthew and my sargent. Everything will be okay." Leni assured as She, Lance and Allura carefully held the little kids.

"We need to locate the Lions. If we can find them, then we can pilot the castle to them and out of this time loop." Lance said.

Before anyone could speak, however, loud operatic music begins booming out of all the Castle of Lion's speakers; making Matt cry while Lance tries to calm him.

"Coran, turn that down!" The Altean Prince ordered.

"I can only express myself through music!" The teenager rudely responded.

"Ugh, you call that music?" Elizabeth asked with a wrinkled face. "Where are the litanies and hymns to the emperor that the entire ecclesiarch reproduces in all corners of the empire?" Elizabeth raised her arms in what sounded like a fanatic chant.

Coran seemed to want to vomit at the teenage girl's musical tastes, something Elizabeth noticed and made her childishly enraged.

"Coran, if you don't turn that down, I swear I'll turn this castle around and…" Allura began; only to be interrupted by the alarm… again.

"And what? We're just going to run into this void that's coming up here. I hate everybody!" The teenaged Altean whined crossing his arms.

"Scanners show that there's no exit." The topaz-sized Pearl stated as she squatted down even more than when she was a jasper to check on the monitors. "It's just nothingness."

"We're about to hit the void! Everyone, brace yourselves!" The younger Thace ordered as Lance, Allura and Leni held onto each other with little ones; while the others grabbed on to whatever is bolted down and prepared for the Collison.

Everything went black…

…

…

…

But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned.

"Let's check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us! Whatever that means." A child Coran stated as he, along with only Allura, Bismuth, Pearl and Thace checked every single monitor in the control room,; but Lance discovered that Matthew, Lori and Lucy hasn't even aged at all. Whatever was keeping the Altean Princes and the sniper unaffected, it was now doing the same thing to the orthers. But they can't take the time to figure this out at the moment.

"I've already checked them a thousand damn times and there is no place that is taking us, only forward!" A girl Elizabeth said and immediately covered her mouth with her hands and looked at Coran in amazement for some strange reason her hat was still on her head which gave an adorable impression.

"You said a bad word!" The infant pointed mockingly.

"No, it's not like that!" the girl/commissar tenderly tried to excuse herself. "Don't tell my grandmother!"

"Ah!" Pearl screeched as she and Bismuth look at each other. "What happened to our bodies, I'm the size of you, Bismuth." Pearl groaned to herself as her body de ella glowed, but nothing happened. "I can't shapeshift back!"

"The ship seems to be putting out an energy field that is keeping you in this shape." Bismuth guessed. But before anyone else could ask any more questions Lion ran was running around the room in a panic; except, he was teal this time, Pumpkin was now a banana, and the space mice were now a four-headed mini-hydra; That Coran and Elizabeth was playfully riding on, Cain accidentally fell to the hard ground and is provoked a crying fit. Coran immediately got off the hydra and extended his hand to the little girl to get up with a friendly smile, it took Elizabeth to decide but finally agreed and both went to chase the creature in an act too cute.

The Altean Prince and Princess looked around the rest of the room and saw that Thace was collecting the rest of the Loud children scattered around the place and took them to the three of them to prevent them from continuing to rejuvenate, when they saw him they noticed that he was now in his teenage years, yet he was still acting as mature as he was before… Mamoran disciplinary training must be something.

"What are we going to do?" Lance asked Allura. "We've tried everything, and nothing's worked. We have to find a way out of here before you, and I are the only adults left onboard."

"Just blast your way out! Duh!" The childish Coran spoke up.

"Yeah! Explosions! Pium! Pium!" Elizabeth raised her hands in amusement.

"I suppose it's worth a try." Allura guessed. "The Castle defenses just might have enough firepower to destroy the tunnel."

"And it'll go boom!" The young Coran and Cain giddily stated."All right, you look after the kids. I'll fire the weapons." Lance told his cousin as he handed her the toddler Matthew; before rushing to the control panel and firing two energy blasts.

The blasts fly outward, only to loop back around and strike the Castle of Lions, making kid Coran and toddler Matt cry. "I didn't work, it's like we're shooting at ourselves." Allura said as she tried to calm down the human toddler. Lance rushed back to Allura to figure out what to do next.

"Shiro, what's going on?" Keith asked over his comms from him, hearing the panic in his friend's tone from him. At this moment, the red paladin was running on flat ground towards the position of his friend.

"Several creatures are coming after me," Shiro replied over his comms, with snarling and roaring being heard in the background.

"Hang on, I'm on my… huh?" Keith began, stopping as soon as he felt the ground rumble beneath him. He turns around and sees geysers erupting from behind him and drawing closer to the Galran.

"OH CRAP!" The Red Paladin makes a mad dash away from the exploding spouts of hot water.

"Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! Crap! CRAP!" Keith cursed in a panic as I have kept on running. But no matter how fast the Galran ran, the geysers eventually caught up with him, and the surprise burst sends him flying into the air. Once he lands on the ground, he begins tumbling towards the edge of a cliff. Wasting no time, Keith quickly activates his luxite blade and stabs it into the wall of the rock just as he falls over; dangling over the edge.

"Keith, are you okay, what happened!?" Shiro asked with concern, with the snarling and roaring still in the background.

"Minor delay," Keith grunted as he lets out an exhausted sigh. "But I'm on my way. How are you doing?"

"I'm doing all right." The Black Paladin assured. "But the creatures are getting closer, and they are giving me a nasty look."

"Stay… put!" Keith groused as he pulled himself up and lied on his back from him; breathing heavily. "I'm on my way. I just need to figure this out. Patience yields fo-"

Immediately, a large shadow loomed over the red paladin, taking him by surprise. He didn't have time to pull out his bayard as the giant in red grabbed his arm and threw him like a rag doll across the acantilid. The young Galra rolled on the ground several times with grunts of pain, Keith got to his knees and saw the individual in front of him face to face.

And his eyes widened in fear.

It was large, no, massive, it wore thick, bloody red ceramite armor, two of its shoulder pads were white and on the right it showed an arrow pointing upwards while the right showed the emblem of a black bird with a red drop in the center, his chest was emblazoned with the same emblem as his shoulder pad, and his helmet was thick with emerald green lenses.

In the giant's arms lay a Bolter, a truly deadly weapon that would reduce people like Keith to a tangle of scattered parts.

The red paladin instinctively took out his bayard and turned it into a sword, also invoking his personal particle shield against the opponent in front of him.

Since his opponent is nothing more than one of the most feared warriors in the universe, one of the best soldiers of humanity, one of the Emperor's death angels.

A Space Marine.

"My name is Keith; I'm so angsty," Pidge said in a tone that was clearly mimicking the Red Paladin. With no idea of what their next move is, Pidge and Peridot decided to put themselves in their friend's shoes; figure out how they would hand this current predicament. While the Studio Ghibli Tribbles, as Peridot calls them, watched the girl in confusion.

"Don't look glum; we'll get through this if we work together. We're a team." Pidge said in a manner Shiro probably would.

"Oh, Rose I wish you were here. We're lost without you." Peridot over-dramatically said, impersonating Pearl.

"Sup beautiful, I'm Prince Lance," Katie said, parodying Lance.

"I am a Fusion, and I am awesome," Peridot responded; mimicking Garnet. "Wow, all this food smells so good; I just want to eat it all!" Peridot said, impersonating Amethyst.

"Paladins, please. We must defeat Zarkon." Pidge said, impersonating Allura.

"Don't worry, Katie your big bro is here to save the day," Peridot said, acting like Matthew.

"Before we move on let's talk about how we all feel," Peridot said again, mimicking Steven as best as she could.

"I'll be by your side Steven, who I may or may not have a crush on," Katie said, acting like how Connie would.

"Shut your mouth and die for the emperor!" Peridot screams immitating Cain.

"Yes, commissar!" Pidge screams acting like the loud troop.

"Enough chit-chat, let's get down to bismuth," Peridot said in tone mimicking Bismuth.

"Blah, blah, blah! Crazy words. Mustache… Huh?" Pidge said, impersonating Coran; but she stopped as she and Peridot notice the Studio Ghibli Tribbles squeaking.

"What's wrong little guys?" Peridot asked as the creatures.

Katie, Peridot.

The two girls turn around and see the Green Lion reactivate right in front of them.

"Hey, you're working again! Welcome back!" Katie excitedly said as she and Peridot float towards the mechanical beast.

As the two girls continue floating, the stop as soon as a large piece of debris floats in front of them from below; making sure not to get hit by it. Once the object came into better sight, the two pilots of the Green Lion see that it's an old, rusty satellite. Then an idea popped into team Pidgidot's heads.

"If our friends can't find us." Peridot began.

"Then maybe we can find them." Pidge concluded as two of them high-fived each other.

What the two did not know is that there was an individual behind them, watching them from the floating debris. One of the Tribbles noticed it and happily approached him, then a pair of long, metallic black fingers stroked his head.

Steven, Connie, and Amethyst swim behind Florona as they all enter a magnificent underwater palace; with the first thing coming to Connie's mind being ancient Greek architecture.

"Behold her royal majesty, Queen Luxia." Florona introduced as the trio found themselves before a regal looking mermaid with a navy and teal patterned fin and hoop-like hair of the same color.

Luxia

Queen of the Merman Kingdom.

"Space travelers, I am Queen Luxia. I welcome you to our village as honored guests." The mermaid Queen introduced with a graceful, yet also dronish tone.

"Uh… thank you… your honorable excellence." Steven said as he swam forward. "I'm Steven, but you probably knew that already; anyway, my friends and I crashed on your planet and we need to find our friends. We could use your help… please. I mean, if your lovely looking castle is a spaceship we could really use it to…"

"Do not worry, young ones," Luxia replied in her unsettling tone. "I can solve all of your problems. Here, we are all safe and warm. And rest assured, you space vessels will be well protected."

"Oh, well… thank you for your assistance, your majesty." "Thanks fish Queen." Connie and Amethyst thankfully replied. However, they were still uncertain about everything going on; while Steven seemed to remain optimistic and oblivious to their suspicions.

"Please… follow me." Luxia requested as she swam ahead of the group, who were urged to follow by Florona and some guards. The three young Crystal Gems followed the mermaid Queen past a beautiful, underwater garden of the likes they've never seen.

"What is that?" Steven asked with some wonder.

"That is the giver of life to our people, the Baku Garden." Queen Luxia answered with an innocent giggle in her tone. "When the waters froze over, we were forced to live down here. The garden provides us the warmth and food we need to survive. Because of it, we are taken care of. Here, all are safe and warm." As they all continued to swim, they eventually find themselves in what appears to be a dining room. "Come, you all must be famished; help yourselves to whatever you wish."

"We mean no offense, your grace." Connie began. "But Steven and I can't breathe underwater."

"And I just don't breathe, period," Amethyst added in.

"Worry not," Luxia said as she twirled her hands in a mesmerizing manner; creating two large bubbles. "These bubbles contain pockets of air within them, and any physical object may pass through them without fear of bursting them."

The bubbles floated over to the two kids; Steven took a deep breath and quickly removed his breathing gear and placed the bubble over his head. "Hey, this actually works." The Half-Gem stated. Connie decided to do the same; deactivating her helmet's breather and putting the bubble over it.

Steven, Amethyst, and Connie head over to the dining table; where an assortment of vegetables was laid out for them all. Amethyst greedily took a handful and shoved it in her mouth. "Yo fish Queen, this food is delicious." The purple Gem said with a mouthful, as Steven and Connie ate some of the plantations as well.

"I'm glad you enjoy it. It was picked fresh from the Baku Garden. I also have some entertainment set up; I hope you enjoy." The mermaid Queen happily stated as some sultry-sounding music began to play in the background.

"So, anyway." Amethyst began. "Do you think you can help us get in contact with our friends, or…"

"Please, let's discuss that after the dance." Queen Luxia hypnotically said. "Put your mind at ease. Let your consciousness drift like the tide."

"Yeah… it is beautiful sounding." Both Steven and Connie said in a dronish tone; scaring Amethyst as she realized what is happening. At this point, the purple Gem would summon her whip and kick all their asses… technically tails… you get the point; but if she's hypnotizing Steven and Connie, she doesn't want to put them in danger.

"It is beautiful sounding, isn't it?" Luxia said with some malevolence in her tone. "So beautiful, that you just want to stay and listen to it… forever."

"Yeah, we want to listen to it forever." Amethyst lied, pretending she's in the trance to avoid suspicion. Things have just gone from bad, to so much worse.

"Let's check the Wift Exit Powsitioning Monitow to see whewe this wowmhowe is twaking us! I hungwy!" A toddler Coran started to cry and hit the control panel.

"Me too, whers my Mommy!?" A toddler Elizabeth started to cry too.

"Hey, no! That is not a toy!" Allura shouted as she ran over and picked up the childrens in the middle of his tantrum. While Lance continued to hold toddler Matthew and Leni the rest of the toddler loud troop with Bismutt, Pearl and Thace checked every single monitor in the control room. "You're going to break the castle, and everything will stop!"

"Ah!" Pearl screeched as she and Bismuth look at each other. "What happened to our bodies, I'm the size of an Emerald." Pearl groaned to herself as her body de ella glowed, but nothing happened. "I can't shapeshift back!"

"The ship seems to be putting out an energy field that is keeping us in this shape." Bismuth guessed. But before anyone else could ask any more questions Lion ran was running around the room in a panic; except, he was orange this time, Pumpkin was now an apricot, and the space mice were now space seagulls; Thace was now a child; yet he was still acting as mature as he was before.

"Can you stopping for a frakking tick!?" Leni desperate shouted to the two gems shocked. "And help with this kids!?"

"Wait a tick?" Lance said with some realization. "Allura, what if we shut down all the thrusters and stop moving; the castle should come to a halt on its own."

"That could work. I'm shutting down all the thrusters." Allura said as she pressed every button and flipped all the switches; while still holding the toddler Coran. But there was no change; they were still in the time loop.

"It didn't work." Coran and Elizabeth begins to cry as Allura carries them back to Lance and Leni; trying to soothe the both. "I know, I know. Who wants to check the Rift Exit Positioning Monitor to see where this wormhole is taking us? You do, that's who."

"Scanners show that there's no exit," Pearl answered as she checked the monitors. "It's just nothingness."

"We're about to hit the void! Everyone, brace yourselves!" The childish Thace ordered as Lance and Allura held onto each other with little Mathew; while the others grabbed on to whatever is bolted down and prepared for the Collison.

Everything went black...

...

...

...

But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned.

"Patience yields focus." Keith's growled his mantra as he planted his feet off the ground with his shield raising blocking the explosive punishment from the Bolter bullets the Astarte was gifting him.

"Keith? Keith!" Shiro called out concerned. "I'm hearing gunshots in the distance, what is happening there!?"

"I told you, a minor delay." Keith responded and charged as he heard the click of the Space Marine's Bolter.

Keith slid down the ground and made a horizontal slash at the warrior's leg who reacted quickly by taking his foot away from him and pulling the magazine out of his weapon and then going towards the red paladin and swinging it vertically like a club. Keith got up and blocked with his

he swung the blow where his entire body vibrated when he felt the enormous strength of the Astarte, however Keith did not give in and pushed back when he saw the massive red fist of his opponent.

Keith raised his guard and stared at the Space Marine calculatedly; in this instant he felt like a cub fighting a big bear. His training with the Marmora told him that if he ever confronted an Astarte it would only open up two future scenarios.

1) You being killed by him.

2) You running away from him ... if you can.

He did not like the results, although those of the sword are skilled fighters, the members of the Adeptus Astartes are on another level. What's more: normally a Marmoran avoids open combat if he has a choice.

Well ... we will have to populate a different scenario.

"Listen!" Keith yelled at the marine in front of him when he saw him reload his Bolter. "I know you can understand me, I'm communicating in your-!"

The 'dialogue' ceased when the Marine charged like a freight train towards the red paladin who let out a small cry of surprise before taking off from the ground generating his particle shield. The new Bolter rounds slammed into his shield and exploded in front of him, Keith appreciated that Pidge had upgraded the shields to withstand projectiles of this caliber but it didn't mean he could feel the jolt from every shot.

Keith planted his feet on the surface of a rock and used it to propel himself toward Astarte with a battle roar of his own. His particle shield collided with the red ceramite armor but didn't dent it, just briefly staggering Marine.

"Hey I'm talking to you!" Keith roared being five steps away from the super soldier. "You have to stop me for a moment, a person could die at any moment, just let me g-!"

The Astarte shot towards the young Galra, catching him off guard this time. Keith could only block himself with his bayard when he felt the powerful tackle of the shoulder pad that made him sweep the ground with his body.

A few seconds of silence passed when the red paladin absorbed an exaggerated amount of air and emerged from the small mountain of earth that created his body; it was like he was hit by a car. Again, he had to thank Pidge for having improved the material of the suits since if he did not do it at this time he would be finished, however, that does not take away the pain of the sensation.

Keith let out a grunt of pain and slowly got to his feet to the slight surprise of Astarte who stared as he rejoined and raised his sword taking deep breaths.

"So it's going to be like this, right?" Keith said between exhales, he swallowed and his steadied when he pulled out his Luxite blade. "I'm not going to let anyone get in my way to save Takashi!"

And with that, he charged towards the space warrior with a battle cry of his own.

At this very instant, Takashi had regretted stepping out of his lion's cabin.

After being chased by a pack of five wolf-like space creatures who tried to devour him. The black paladin sought refuge within a narrow cave which was only ten meters away from his lion and will serve to keep him safe for now from those wild creatures.

"Argh!" Shiro felt the sting of pain coming from his wound, however it did not affect him and he kept crawling to be far enough away from those things.

He could almost hear the multiple roars of those beasts and… weapons? It had to be his imagination.

"Keith? Keith!" Shiro called out concerned. "I'm hearing gunshots in the distance, what is happening there !?"

"I told you, a minor delay." Keith responded by adding more dismay to the Voltron leader.

Other roars echoed inside the cave, those things trying to make their way through the cave towards him, Shiro lay down and crawled on the ground despite the agony he felt at this moment.

"Shiro ... promise me ... promise me you'll tell him."

Shiro stopped his advance when he remembered the last words of the gem fusion, enormous emotional pain washed over him like a big wave. Garnet ... maybe the two had not known each other much, but in the same way they understood each other thus forging a good friendship, I swear that he would protect Steven, Connie and Amethyst but he could not protect her, such a feeling of helplessness ... if only he had been stronger, maybe Garnet would be-

Shiro.

Takashi paused in his thoughts as he felt his lion calling out to him, filling him with a soft warmth, comforting him from the doubts that gnawed at his mind. Shiro let out a contained sigh, there will be time to mourn the loss; now right now he just needs to hang on long enough for Keith to come and save him.

Another roar came and with it a cracking rock which put the black paladin on high alert, somehow the herd of space creatures were making their way into the narrow cave he was in. Shiro cursed and crawled as far out of reach for those things, but he was of no use as those monsters proved to be relentless.

Shiro was in a panic: So this is it? This is how it will die? Devoured by a pack of extraterrestrial wolves with no chance of being rescued and no chance of ever seeing his friends or Adam again?

And suddenly something happened that made the beasts stop in their tracks and leave the cave in a hurry leaving a scared and dismayed Shiro.

There was a powerful roar from an aircraft engine plus a couple of explosions that shook the ground itself. Shiro was completely silent until a roar was heard from the pack leader followed by the rest of them seeming to attack something that let out a bunch of shocking gunshot sounds followed by the familiar roar of Lincoln's Chainswords plus the roar agonizing of every beast that pursued the black paladin.

Then everything was silent...

Shirogane's heart was hammering in his chest, I completely ignored his injury when after a moment's hesitation, he decided to surface to see what the hell had happened out there and maybe say hello to the would-be 'saviors.

Upon exiting, Shiro was immediately targeted by two Bolters in his face. The black paladin gasped in fear when he saw two huge individuals with intimidating blood red armor and helmets with emerald green lenses that gave them a threatening tone, when he saw the logo on the chest of one of them, he immediately noticed that these individuals were the space marines he had heard so much about since he began his journey through the universe.

Takashi was silent without taking his eyes off the two Space Marines who had him surrounded. He looked as if they were evaluating him in some way as he could tell how the gaze of one of them was leaning the gaze of each other. The black paladin's gaze focused on the individual behind the two Astartes.

This one looked different, his armor instead of being a bloody red was a purplish blue with some emblems stamped in wax on his knees and forearms, all with scriptures that he could not read from here and he carried a kind of sacred staff with a double-headed golden eagle prostrate on the top point. The Astarte was standing behind him facing the black lion for what seemed like an eternity.

And finally, he turned around in his direction revealing something that surprised him even more.

This Astarte had no helmet on revealing a human being. His face gave the impression of being someone in his forties, there was a horizontal scar on the side of his left cheek while the rest of his face was flawless, he had a short beard that took up half of his face and his blond hair was combed up. , but it was the eyes that shocked Shiro.

It was a very light blue that seemed to glow with great power and knowledge, the expression it was giving him had him mesmerized as the marine slowly approached him.

Armandus Winsthaker.

Librarian of the 7th company of the Blood Ravens.

"Deponite arma." ("Lower your weapons") The Librarian spoke to the other two Astartes with a commanding voice "Est ac mundo." (It's Clean)

The two Astartes stared at their captain for a moment, it only took a glance from the Armandus to make the two Marines obey and lower their weapons to make way for the Librarian.

Shiro was silent when he saw the intimidating being towering over him like an eagle of prey, he still felt mesmerized by the power that carried his gaze.

"Sorry if my brothers scared you." The librarian said with a stony face that snapped the black paladin out of his thoughts, then held out the huge gauntlet towards him. "Could you tell me your name?"

"That should do it," Pidge said as she, Peridot, and the Studio Ghibli Tribbles moved the final pieces of the quickly made satellite made with parts and junk into place; before hooking it up to the Green Lion's power core.

"Now ... let's see if we can get a hold of the Castle of Lions," Peridot said as she Katie activated the device. The machine begins humming and glowing; before fizzling out.

"No! No! No! This should be working!" Katie cried out in frustration as she banged on the satellite. "We need to find our friends! Work damnit! Work!"

The machine begins humming and glowing again; this time stabilizing as GPS coordinates began to appear within Pidge's helmet. Much to the Green Paladin's excitement. "IT'S WORKING! IT'S WORKING!"

"WATCH OUT!" Peridot screamed as she pushed the green paladin to avoid a large debris heading for her position.

The debris slammed into the satellite in a thunderous explosion that doubled the satellite and completely deactivated it.

"Do not!" Pidge screamed in horror as the satellite they were working on had been destroyed. "WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN!?"

"Ehm... Pidge..." Peridot called upon seeing something moving through the cloud of dust and debris.

"WE HAVE WORKED HARD IN BUILDING THAT SATELLITE AND NOW IT IS NO LONGER!" Katie ignored her and continued her ravings.

"Pidge." Peridot called again in fear as she saw the dust settle, revealing something ... no, someone.

"WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO NOW!? WE WILL BE TRAPPED HERE FOREVER, UNTIL WE DIE OF HUNGER OR WORSE!"

"PIDGE!" Peridot roared thus managing to get the young Holt out of her episode and then point out the place where the satellite was. "Check it out!"

The space dust finally dissipated as did the debris scattered around the place, revealing ... something they had never seen before.

The thing looked like one of the Star Wars droids, only this one was black onyx chrome, it had the appearance of a metal skeleton and it projected a dim green light where its ribs went, its shoulders were wide and symmetrical and on its chest was an arcane emblem.

The gem and the human remained static with expressions of astonishment and fear on her faces. Then they saw the metal being slowly rejoin and look at the two with dull eyes, then they lit up in an intense and menacing green color.

"AAAHH!" Peridot screamed and took refuge on the back of Pidge who was pointing his Bayard at that thing. "What is that thing!?"

"I don't know, but he doesn't seem friendly..." Pidge swallowed nervously and put on a threatening look when he saw him approach them. "Back! Stay away!"

The robot either did not listen or the two did not represent a threat to him since despite the warnings of the green paladin, he continued to advance threateningly. The two girls were trembling not only from the fear that emanated from this being but the imposing aura of death that ripples around them.

The Ghibli Tribbles hummed happily and fearlessly approached the metal skeleton.

"Wait!" Pidge cried out in fear at the thought of what sorts of things that being would do to his little friends.

And, to the great surprise of both: they saw the imposing metallic being stop when he was surrounded by tribbles in a dizzying tornado of tenderness. The robot's bright eyes dimmed as he looked up at the little ones and reached up with his bony hand where one of them rested on his palm and brought it to him to gently caress him.

Pidge and Peridot were very surprised, it seems that the Ghibli Tribble Studio knew this being and seemed to be very fond of him, therefore he did not seem to be a real threat at all.

The two stayed watching the little show until Pidge took the courage to approach the metallic skeleton who was distracted by the furry creatures, the being quickly caught his approach and his eyes shone again (not as threatening as recently) towards little Holt .

"You ..." Pidge began nervously. "Can you ... understand us?"

The black robot stared between Pidge and the Tribble he had in his hands and then he looked towards the green paladin, his mouth opened and with them words came out that completely wound his skin.

"I do."

Amethyst was trying to keep calm and pretend to act like a drone to avert suspicion as she swam around the palace; with that song from dinner still being played in the background. Whatever Luxia did to Connie and Steven, it didn't affect her; so now she needed to get them out of here without drawing attention. The downside to this plan is the mermaid Queen had sent the three of them to new quarter the rest; now Amethyst must find where her two friends are being kept.

As the purple Gem continued exploring; she spotted three odd-looking mer-people enter a room across from her. Amethyst quickly and quietly swam over to see what they were up to and discovered they had entered Connie's quarters and are looking at the girl. "Get away from her!" Amethyst shouted as she prepared to summon her whip. But was quickly stopped by a mermaid with blue and teal scales.

"Wait, we're here to help!" The mermaid stated as she wrestled Amethyst; unintentionally waking Connie in the process.

"Hello. Good morning." The human girl said in a hypnotized tone, as one of the mer-people with green scales placed something in her ears. "What… huh… where am I? How did I get here? Who are you?"

"Connie!" Amethyst called out as she pushed the blue and teal mermaid away and swam to her friend with worry.

"Amethyst, what's going on… how did I get here?" Connie loudly asked in a confused tone. "Who are these people, and why is it hard to hear?"

"Connie, what do you remember?" Amethyst asked.

"I remember… we were dining… then some music came on… then we were here." Connie summed up. "I'll ask again, what happened?"

"The Queen mind-swished you into becoming a drone." The green scaled mer-person stated in a masculine voice. "We placed some sponge in your ears to block out her control."

"The music." Connie and Amethyst said with realization.

"Yes, it was that hypnotic music." The green merman stated; before turning his attention to Amethyst. "But I do wonder, how were you not affected?"

"Probably because I'm a Gem," Amethyst stated. "But we'll discuss that later. Who are you, people?"

"My name is Blumfump." The merman introduced.

"I am Plaxum." The blue and teal mermaid introduced.

"And I am Swirn." The final mermaid with blue and purple scales introduced. "And we believe you can help us."

"Help you?" Amethyst and Connie questioned.

"The queen is mind-swishing everyone, controlling their thoughts. We believe you can stop her." Blumfump explained.

"Wait, where's Steven?" Connie asked as she looked around. "Amethyst, have you seen Steven?"

"I was going to go search for him, but I found you and them first." The Crystal Gem explained. "But I'm going to go search for…"

"You can't," Blumfump explained. "Our presence here may have already drawn suspicion. We must go, now."

"We can't leave him…" Connie began to protest.

"We will come back for him," Plaxum assured. "But the fate of our people is on the line. Please, we beg of you."

Connie and Amethyst look at each other for a moment; they know Steven can look after himself, and he's always the kind to put others before himself. After a moment of silence, they turn back to the mer-people. "Fine, we'll go with you." Amethyst begrudgingly answered.

"We will ensure he's unharmed, but we must move now," Swirn concluded. "We'll take the way we came in to get out." The five of them quickly swim out of the room with the two Paladins following behind the mer-people.

"My queen, I have urgent news." Florona nervously said, while remaining drone-like. "The Gem and the air breather are gone."

"How could this have happ…?" Queen Luxia began with a passive-aggressive tone but stopped upon realization of who could've done this. "The Insubordination. They still haven't given up their rebellion to overthrow me. Those meddling mermaids are harmless, but the air-breather and could prove troublesome if we don't get them back. Guards, make sure the one called Steven continues to remain safe and warm."

"Yes, my Queen." Two merman guards saluted before swimming off.

"We'll destroy what remains of those pesky rebels," Luxia said before turning her attention back to Florona. "But first, Florona, you were supposed to oversee our guests. So, now, it is time for you to take a swim in the garden."

"Yes, my Queen," Florona said as she swam out of the palace and approached the Baku Garden while Luxia watched.

"Goodbye, Florona. It is time to return to the giver of life." Luxia said to herself as the mermaid disappeared into the massive brush; which was followed by a blood curdling scream, before silence.

"Guys!" Leni moaned with exhaustion, her hair is disheveled and showing dark circles as she carries the sergeant and Lucy in her hands while the rest of the now little girls trying or fighting for her attention. "I cannot anymore!"

"What are we going to do?" Allura panicked as she held the toddlers Coran and Elizabeth in her arms, while Lance looked after toddler Matthew. "We've tried everything! I'm sorry, everyone… I'm so s…"

"Allura! Don't give up, there's a way out of here!" Lance shouted.

"But where!? How will we get out of here!?" Allura asked desperately in her tone

"Well... that would be easy." A new voice came to his side and both sovereigns were shocked to see their unwanted guest.

The man who was standing next to him wore an exquisite domino suit with an elaborate gabardine with squares of distorted colors, wore black boots with a bell on the front toe and wore a white mask that reflected a diabolical smile accompanied by a red crest. Above his head.

This is the typical clothing of the Eldar Harlequins.

Masquerade

Harlequin-leader of the roses of cegorath.

The children who saw Masquerade widened their eyes and screamed in pure childish fear.

"I guess this is not the right audience." The Harlequin let out a theatrical moan.

"W-W-W-Who are you!? H-How did you get into the castle!?" Allura brought a frightened Coran and Elizabeth to her chest protectively of her.

"Uhh... how to say..." Masquerade massaged the chin of her mask imitating a shameful tone. "You left the door open... but don't worry, I'm not going to hurt ya."

"You... we... What?" Lance stammering unable to keep up with the equation.

"A Tap, tap, tap." Masquerade silenced the diatribes of the prince. "Don't worry. You did your best." The Harlequin said before chuckling and then clapping his hands to get the attention of the place.

"All right I publish, I need your attention! My name is Masquerade and I come on behalf of the roses of Cegorath and the clairvoyant Guren de Siam-Tamm to rescue them from this hole of nightmares! Yes, very good. Thank you, it has not been any trouble. . "

They were all staring at the Laughter God Harlequin with looks of fear and utter confusion at the spiel that was being launched.

"For this I will need a volunteer and one that comes from a species which has one foot on the grave." Masquerade said theatrically and then addressed Allura. "You, princess. You would be an excellent volunteer."

It took Allura a second to understand what was happening, but if this man can be the key to her salvation in this cycle.

She looked at Lance and Leni who fervently shook their heads in response to her not trusting the Harlequin. Right now I wish I could listen to them but you have to.

"Hold them for me," Allura said as she handed Coran and Elizabeth over to Lance and Leni; then he went to the piloting center and put his hands on her on the pads. "What's next?".

"You just need to open your mind, princess." The Harlequin counseled his son like a father. "Her power over the ship will amplify her aura and that will allow our operators to open a portal to her location. But she must stay focused for it."

Princess Altean nodded and closed her eyes, after a few seconds she was surrounded by a blue light while the marks under her eyes glowed pink.

"Well, it's working, keep it up princess!" Masquerade encouraged and began pressing buttons on the control panel.

"Wait, do you know how to use that?" Lance quickly asked Masquerade who let out an irritated sigh.

"Will you please leave me alone for a few seconds while I text my classmates, for the love of Cegorath?" The Harlequin said irritably towards Prince Altean.

Lance scowled and turned grumpily away from Masquerade.

"Very well, message sent; now in a few seconds our friends will send us some coordinates. That will be their signal to activate a Teladuv portal so they can get out of here." Masquerade turned and nonchalantly sat at the control panel.

"Since when did you become an expert in using Teladuv portals?" Allura said skeptically with a raised eyebrow.

"Since yesterday." The Harlequin answered, suddenly a beep was heard and he turned around to see the panel. "Alright, captain, the coordinates are here."

Allura was taken by surprise at the quick response, but she quickly put her aside and concentrated on opening that portal that would lead them to the exit of her.

At the end of the abyss a blue portal appears in front of them and completely engulfs the castle.

Everything went black…

…

…

…

But several short moments of darkness, the light eventually returned. Allura looked around and discovered they weren't in the loop anymore; Bismuth, Pearl, Thace, Pumpkin, Lion, the Space Mice, Coran, Elizabeth, the Loud Troop and Lance were all back to normal; with the latter two being held in Lance's arms.

"Well, this is awkward," Matt said as he gets out of Lance's arms and stands up, along with Coran.

"What happened here?" Elizabeth asked confused and looked at the effort Leni was putting on. "And why are you carrying me, Soldier?"

"Come down this very instant!" Lori ordered and Leni released both women before falling asleep on the ground.

"It is also a pleasure to see them safe…"

"Wow ... that was a travel. Youknowwhyimean Right?" Luan added mockingly.

"Not now, sis." Luna grunted still dazed from the warp's exit.

"We're all back to normal." Pearl excitedly said. "But, how did we?" "Hello there." Masquerade introduces himself, surprising the skinny gem. "I am Masquerade, and I am not thanked for getting him out of here alive."

"Ok ..." the gem mumbled looking away.

"What is a Harlequin Eldar doing in the castle?" Coran asked when she got out of Lance's arms and pointed accusingly at him. "And more importantly, where are we?"

"I think it would be a good idea if you see it for yourself." Masquedare said crossing his arms behind his back and heading out of the control room.

Immediately everyone looked out of the ship and what they saw left him astonished.

"I cannot believe it." "Holy Altean Pantheon." "Is that what I think it is?" "Who built that!?"

In front of the Castle of the Lions, was one of the aeronautical wonders of the universe, one of dozens of ships built to protect the Eldar from their imminent fall, a ship so massive that it could house an entire system and one that served as a home improvisational for the surviving civilizations of a fallen empire.

A Craftworld…

Keith let out another battle cry as he struck both blades on the Space Marine's powersword. He had spent a short period of time in their confrontation; Astarte gave respect to his name in combat but Keith has tried hard to stay afloat against his formidable adversary, between the feet of the space warrior was his Bolter which was divided into two parts after having blocked one of the vertical cuts of the Luxite Blade which ended up destroying him and forcing him to use his melee weapons.

Keith was ecstatic, he couldn't believe he was making a Space Marine enter the playing field, his Galra roots of his were slightly clouding his judgment that he had almost forgotten what his initial purpose was.

The red paladin lowered himself to the ground and quickly leapt to perform a slash combo to the armor of the Astarte who knocked Keith on top with a blow to the left side. Keith coughed up blood as he was sent to the side but remained standing and blocked a vertical cut with both arms that nearly cut him in two. The red paladin grunted when he felt that the Astarte was putting extra weight on the blow that was slowly bending his back, Keith did not allow it and activated the thrusters in his back with a second part of power which made him return to his old ways.

"Cmon…!" Keith growled with a savage grin on his face. "It's the best you can do!?"

The Astarte narrowed his gaze into his helmet and put more weight on his sword which caused Keith to drop to his knees suddenly. Keith was taken by surprise at this and decided to increase the power of his thrusters to be on par again. This was what the marine wanted and he quickly released the pressure of his weapon on Keith's and he flew out of position, but the Marine grabbed his leg at that very moment and slammed him to the ground, breaking the side of his visor and like a rag doll I throw it towards a huge rock.

This time Keith cried out in pain as he felt the tremendous impact on his back that completely destroyed the thrusters. I think he was overconfident for this occasion, Keith did not have time to think when he moved quickly to avoid a stomp that would crush his head and with his Bayard he blocked an attack only to be pushed back by the force used on it .

Keith grunted and coughed when he tried to get up, heard the footsteps of his powerful adversary approach.

"Damn it all ..." Keith cursed in his thoughts. "It is very strong. This confrontation is only a warm-up for him; I am not a warrior, I am a marmoran sword, I am the red paladin."

Keith.

The young Galra opened his eyes when he felt his Lion calling out to him, so he awkwardly got up from the ground and looked toward the horizon.

The Astarte also stopped when he noticed something strange about the Xeno, then he started to hear something and also looked in the same direction as Keith.

The two individuals watched as the Red Lion flew through the air towards him with a proud roar that even the space warrior could feel. They both backed away as the Lion crash-landed between them and the Lion looked at his pilot.

"Thanks for coming back, girl." Keith raised her arm as the lion lowered her head to allow him to caress her. "You have saved me from a great predicament."

The scene of this left the Space Marine static. Even he could feel that roar, it was as if it reverberated in his own soul, it was as if the creature-shaped ship had a consciousness of its own, like a machine spirit.

Before more thoughts accumulated in his already disastrous mind, a lightning bolt struck both his side and Xeno's on the ground and from that bolt appeared the Librarian Armandus who on his face showed seriousness towards the battle brother.

"It is enough, brother." Armandus said with his staff pointing his staff at the red lion. "You cannot win this match, so put your weapon down."

The Astarte looked at Keith and the huge lion, then lowered his sword and shoved it into his sheath.

"Good. Now we have to return to the camp, the brother-captain informed that Master Angelos will come here in 2 varga, you better be with your squad when he arrives." The Librarian explained.

"What about the Xeno and the mechanical creature?" The Astarte asked looking up at the top of him.

"I take care of that. He did not come alone and I have already questioned his companion." Armandus responded and that caught Keith's attention strongly.

"Did they find Shiro !?" Keith asked concerned as his lion growled menacingly at the two Astartes. "Did they hurt you?"

Armandus extended his arm in non-hostility. "Yes and no. At this moment they are taking care of him in our camp. If you follow us we will be able to lead you to him, on the condition of not showing any hostility towards our chapter. "

Keith was silent as he looked at the psychic Astarte for a sign of lies, and not finding it, Keith let out a restrained sigh and nodded seriously.

"Well, take me to him."

"Okay, we both knew something weird was going on," Amethyst admitted as she and Connie talked with the three mer-people in their hidden lair. "But you're telling us that the fish Queen is brainwashing her own people."

"Yes, we are." Blumfump clarified. "Our theory is, the queen controls minds by using her voice to strike certain head switches in organic ear-pans." Blumfump continued, looking at Amethyst.

"And her magnetic stare locks on to your eye-to-brain pathway plug." Plaxum continued.

"Plus, her mind-control sonar is always broadcasting through the waters," Swirn added in. "It didn't seem to affect you, Amethyst, because you're not organic like your friend or us."

"That, or I've got a brain too big for her to control." Amethyst confidently joked.

"There was also, that strange music we all heard," Connie stated.

"That music is an extension of her mind controlling power," Blumfump explained. "The entire village is under the queen's mind control. The only reason we aren't is that we have these sponges in our ears that block out her hypnotic voice."

"If you can't hear the sound; she can't control you." Connie surmised.

"Precisely," Blumfump answered.

"But that just leaves one question; what's the point of all of this? Why mind-control your people?" Connie asked, getting a nod of agreement from Amethyst.

"We believe that many years ago, the queen froze over the surface by blocking the thermal vents. She forced everyone to the depths, where she began to brainwash them. They became her prisoners. So, she could kill them!" Plaxum dramatically theorized.

"But why?" Amethyst and Connie asked at the same time.

"Well, we don't know for sure," Blumfump admitted. "But hundreds of mermaids have disappeared and never come back."

"We've tried to take out the queen but failed several times. And every attempt depletes our numbers. Now, there are only three of us left. Without you, there is no hope." Swirn stated in a low tone.

"Then we'll help you," Connie said. "To save our friend Steven and end a tyrant's reign."

"But before we do anything." Amethyst began. "We need a plan."

"We believe the vehicles you came in may be able to stand up against the queen and her forces. But first, we need to retrieve them before we can mount an attack." Blumfump stated.

"Got it, get the Lions then attack the Queen." Amethyst summed up.

"We're ready whenever you are," Connie concluded as they all prepare to execute the plan.

Connie and Amethyst slowly and carefully swim back to the castle with their mer-people allies alongside them. According to Blumfump, the Lions are being held in a highly secured area, surrounded by several guards. They find the mentioned location; Amethyst summons her whip while Connie activates her Bayard. Connie swiftly swims towards one of the guards and knocks him out with the butt of her sword, while Amethyst ties up another one with her whip before slamming against a nearby wall; knocking him out. "Is this the right place?" Connie questioned. "Security seemed lighter than Blumfump said it would be."

"He was probably wrong, but who cares," Amethyst stated as she opened the door to the area. "Let's get the Lion's and get out of…" As soon as they entered the structure, they found Queen Luxia with a mind-swished Steven waiting for them.

"I had a feeling you'd come for your vessel. Steven, take them to the Baku Garden." Luxia ordered.

"Yes, my Queen." Steven dronishly said as he summoned his shield and swam towards his friends.

"Steven snap out of it!" Connie begged as the Half-Gem rammed into her and Amethyst; who grabs Steven from behind and wrestles with him.

"Steven, it's me, Amethyst; your oldest friend…" Amethyst stated as the Crystal Gems struggle for dominance over the other. "I've been like a big sister to you; the one who'd lay down her life for you. Ugh… You can fight this! Fight this, for Connie and me!"

"Must keep Queen safe and warm," Steven replies as he nearly breaks from the purple Gem's grasp.

"Hold him steady, Amethyst," Connie ordered as she swims in front of her Jam Bud and places the sponges in his ears; causing him to stop struggling.

"Whoa! Whoa! Where am I? What am I doing?" Steven asked Steven and Connie as his voice returned to normal. "Are these sponges in my ears?"

"Steven, you were mind-controlled by the Queen, and she tried to make you kill us," Connie explained to him.

"What! Are you guys okay?" A shocked Steven asked with worry.

"We're fine, but we need to stop the Queen before she…" Amethyst began, turning around to discover Luxia is gone. "Quiznack! We have to find and capture her before she escapes."

A bright flash fills the entire room as Steven and Connie merge into Stevonnie. "Let's get to the Lion's and search for her." The human-Fusion stated as the trio swims to their respected Lions; which let out roars as they swim and terrific speeds.

Luxia was fleeing to the Baku Garden; but was blocked off by Blumfump, Plaxum, and Swirn.

"Found you." The latter stated as Queen turned around the flee; only to be cut off by the Yellow and Blue Lions. Before the Queen could reach, the three mer-people grab her and hold her down as she struggled for freedom.

"You're not mind-controlling these people anymore, your Majesty," Plaxum said as Luxia continued to struggle.

"Let me go, it must feed! It must feed!" Luxia cried out.

"Wait, what does she mean by "It must feed?" Stevonnie questioned over their comms and through the Blue Lion's outward speakers.

"It's probably a ruse, trying to trick us?" Plaxum stated. "But she won't be telling us anymore lies when we entomb her in a prison of ice."

Something wasn't feeling right about this entire situation; Stevonnie and Amethyst both felt it. "Wait, put the sponges in her ears." Amethyst requested over the comms and through the outward speakers.

"What?" Blumfump questioned.

"Please, we need to test a theory," Stevonnie begged.

"Very well," Blumfump replied as he placed two sponges into Luxia's ears.

"What's going on? Where am I?" Queen Luxia questioned in a scared, sincere tone.

"What is this supposed to prove?" Swirn question the Paladins.

"Queen Luxia, what's the last thing you remember?" Stevonnie asked the mermaid.

"The last thing I remember is that organism in the garden falling from space. I went to inspect it. I thought it was a plant." Luxia explained. "It seemed nutritious, and it felt safe and warm."

"It's not mind-control powers." Stevonnie began. "It's the plants; whoever eats them are prone to the power of suggestion."

"So, someone else has been pulling the strings the entire time?" Plaxum guessed. "But who?"

Connie's side of Stevonnie couldn't help but connect something she read in school with the plants and their "hypnotic" properties, as well as with what Blumfump said about hundreds of mermaids disappearing, never to be seen again. That's when a horrifying realization came to the human-Fusion's mind. "The Baku Garden! It's a parasite; it's mind-swished you into feeding it your people!"

The mer-people and Paladins feel powerful vibrations within the water as the latter group spots the Baku Garden beginning to rise from the ocean floor; revealing itself to be a giant, eel-like dragon, that lets out a roar so mighty, it causes the palace to begin to collapse.

"Blumfump, Plaxum, Swrin! Get the Queen out of here, Stevonnie and I will hold off the giant monster." Amethyst ordered as the mer-people did as they were told. The Baku lets out another roar as the creature charges at the Blue and Yellow Lions; knocking them aside as it continues its rampage.

"You all right, Amethyst," Stevonnie asked.

"I'm fine." The Yellow Paladin assured. "We need to lead that thing away from the village." The two Paladins max out their Lion's thrusters and charge towards the Baku; the Blue Lion was moving faster than ever, but the Yellow Lion was sluggish. "So, it appears my Lion isn't made for the water."

"Well, we're moving faster than ever!" Stevonnie stated. "I'll hit it from the front, you hit it from the back!"

"Copy!" Amethyst responded as the two Lion's fire their Maw Cannons at the eel creature, garnering its attention. Purple lights begin to glow from inside the Baku, as it slowly opened its mouth; firing a beam of energy at the Paladins and striking the Lions. "AGH! Stevonnie, are you okay?"

"I'm fine." The Blue Paladin assured. "But that attack… it felt like… the dark energy that struck the wormhole."

The Baku lets out another roar as it charges the two Lions; who managed to evade in time and get the creature to follow them into a trench. Stevonnie flew their Lion above the trench and the Baku, before firing a beam of ice at it; freezing it from below. Amethyst slams the Yellow Lion onto the walls of the trench; bringing down rubble on top of the frozen creature, just as she escapes.

"Yeah! How do you like that, ya ugly leech!" Amethyst celebrated, only for it to be interrupted by the Baku bursting out of the rubble; it was injured, but now angrier than ever. "How's that thing still kicking?"

"I guess we need to find another way," Stevonnie said, trying come up with an idea.

Stevonnie.

The Blue Lion's Bayard shaped compartment by the control panel opens. Without wasting a moment, Stevonnie lets out a passion-filled cry as they thrust their Bayard into the slot. The Blue Lion begins emitting a caerulein radiance as something starts taking shape on her back. Revealing to be a triangular-shaped cannon.

"Whoa!" Is all Stevonnie could say. The Baku lets out a roar; as it begins to glow purple again. The Blue Paladin grips their Lion's control and pulls the trigger for their new weapon; releasing powerful sonic blasts that push both the Blue Lion and Baku away, sending the latter crashing back into the rubble and kicking up a lot of underwater sand.

"Stevonnie…" Amethyst began to ask her friend with some concern.

"I'm fine," Stevonnie assured. "What about the Baku…"

As soon as the sand dissipates, the two Crystal Gems find the giant eel impaled on a sharp rock; struggling in pain, before the life leaves its body. Stevonnie let out a sigh, feeling kind of bad for the creature; but they knew it had to be done as the returned the underwater village.

"I want to thank you all for what you've done. You've freed my people from the Baku, and I will do all I can to protect that freedom." Luxia stated to the Crystal Gems, along with Blumfump, Plaxum, and Swirn.

"No problem, fish Queen," Amethyst responded. "Now the reason we came here in the first place was to see if you could help us find our friends.

"Of course. It has been many years since we have activated the energy beacon, but perhaps it is time to rebuild our civilization and reach out to interstellar travelers once again." Luxia stated. "Blumfump, would you kindly activate energy beacon!"

"Of course, my Queen." The merman said as he, Swirn and Plaxum activate strange device within the palace; sending bleeps out into and above the frozen ocean. After a few moments, a signal was reached.

"We, we got a signal." Blumfump said but his gaze turned strange. "But there is something weird."

"What is it, Blumfump?" Luxia asked as confused as Steven, Connie and Amethyst.

"The sign says it's an Eldar ship." The merman responded and that created surprise on the faces of the mer-people and fear on the faces of the three paladins.

Could it be the Drukhari who had attacked them long ago? Did they come here seeking revenge? Because if so, both the people here and they are in grave danger.

"Only one you say?" Connie asked carefully. If only one ship came to this place, between it the blue and yellow lions could destroy it. "Did they send a message?"

"Uh ... yeah, they did" Blumfump said as he checked the beacon. "They say they came on behalf of the clairvoyant Guren of Sain-Hamm and the Roses of Cegorath to rescue the two paladins of Voltron. They also say that the crew of the castle of lions are safe in their Craftworld."

"Craftworld?" "Sain-Hamm?" The Jam-buds looked at each other totally confused until Steven looked at his sister. "What do you think, Amethyst?"

"What do I think? There's only one way to find out."

"So ... let me recap: you are a Necron ..." Peridot began to recap the information he received from the robotic alien while Pidge and the rest of the tribbles repaired the satellite.

"I am Bennadekh of the Sautekh dynasty." The immortal Necron said while crossed on his knees with one of the tribbles on his lap.

"yeah... you are a living consciousness inside a robotic machine, forms or ... you were part of one of a ship." Peridot spoke until she was interrupted by Bennadekh.

"That's right ... our ship was returning from a successful raid, our Overlord was about to initiate another when we were engulfed by a warp storm." Bennadekh said.

"Yes, which is why you are here and why you are the only survivor." Peridot said gathering the facts.

"I remember well… the Daemons were too many for even us, by the time we came out of the warp, we have collided with a set of ruined ships. I was the only one who could survive." Bennadekh said in a tone unrecognizable to the gem.

"That's sad, you must have been here for a long time in solitude, surrounded by garbage." Peridot said sadly.

"I wouldn't call it that." The Necron said softly as his gaze dropped to the Tribble in his hands. "Since I woke up, they were the only company I had in my loneliness, it can be ridiculous coming from a murderous machine like me, but they were these furry ones who helped me overcome this adversity and regain what I was before I became a this."

"Aww, that's sweet." Peridot smiled fondly.

The Necron looked behind him at Pidge who was giving orders to the tribbles to rearrange the satellite.

"Who are they?" The Necron turned his gaze to Peridot. "Why did they come here?"

"Oh well ... hey where do I start ..." the green gem scratched its head to devise a correct way to start. "First of all, we are paladins of Voltron."

"Voltron ..." Bennadekh muttered he repeated the words with an air of recognition. "... I swear by the triarch that I could recognize that name ... yes, I think I can remember it"

"Yes, we are the defenders of the universe, five lions that form a gigantic robot whose function is to protect those who cannot protect themselves from the greatest threats in the universe." Peridot proclaimed with some pride. "That few fifths of us were in a war against Zarkon and the Galra Empire."

"Zarkon ..." The lights in the Immortal's eyes flashed a little in recognition. "Paladins of Voltron, Defender of the universe. Yes, I remember very well. It was you who thwarted Imotekh's plans at the time of the great rift. "

"Seriously? How do you know?" Peridot asked.

"Because I was one of the immortal legions that you smashed to pieces when you came down to the battlefield." The Necron pointed his thumb at the green lion. "They were too fast to be hit by our Gauss cannons and our black moons."

"Ehehe ... I didn't mean to offend you ..." Peridot scratched nervously.

"No offense taken, Peridot of the Green Lion." The Necron made a dismissive gesture. "For millennia, we did not have the freedom to make our own decisions, we were only sacrificial pawns for our superiors forced to go to the battlefield to annihilate anyone who crossed our path. Then Voltron came and was able to give our kind rest. "

"Wow ... I mean: wow, you're almost like me." Peridot said looking away. "Gems do not have a will of our own, we are only born to serve our diamonds, that was the only thing we considered as honor and the mere fact of failing them at something terrified us deep down. But I have met Steven and the Crystal Gems, they taught me to stand up for myself and be my own gem. "

Silence fell over the place with Pidge and the Tribbles being the only noisy ones.

"Pidge and I ended up here by accident, the Galra proved too much for us and something happened at the Teladuv portal that took us here, in this place, with you." Peridot finished summarizing and pointed to young Holt who was connecting some pipes and cables. "At this very moment we are creating a satellite for them to come and rescue us."

"OK, everything is ready!" Pidge announced landing between the gem and the Necron. "It was not as bad as it seemed, I just had to put together some pieces and cables, reposition the satellite and a piece of cake."

Bennadekh rose from the ground with his gaze directed at the green paladin. "I am very sorry for the damage I have done, it was not my intention to postpone your rescue attempt any longer."

"There is no need to apologize." Pidge made a dismissive gesture. "We also did not intend to break into your home with the Tribbles."

"Alright, then we can call our friends again!" The green gem proclaimed enthusiastically.

"It means that this would be a farewell." Bennadekh said.

"Aww, don't be bad, we'll come visit you." Pidge tried to console. "Well, if we have our agendas free, saving the universe is not an easy task."

"We have to reorganize in order to plan our second offensive against the Galra." Peridot followed with fire in his gaze.

"Then I wish you both good luck, may the triarch protect you in this vast and cruel universe." It was the Necron's last words before he turned around and leapt into space with Studio Ghibli Tribble following him.

"Well ... that was weird, but it wasn't so bad after all." Pidge crossed her arms as she watched the skeletal robot go.

"Yeah ... let's get out of here, this place is going to drive me crazy."

"Thanks for saving me." An exhausted Shiro gratefully said the Hospitalarian sister of the camp.

"Thank the god-emperor and his angels for taking you here to be treated, try not to move too much to heal the wound" The doctor made a grateful bow before leaving the room.

Shiro rested her head on the pillow. After being rescued by the Bloody Ravens (This was the name of the chapter Astarte) he was taken to the base of him located a few kilometers from where he was to tend to his wounds with the black lion following them.

Upon arrival, he was taken by the hospital women who, before treating his wound, had to purify it from the residues of warp energy, it was something that Armandus explained and with the information that Shiro provided, it was more than enough to prepare them.

It was something very strange for the leader of the paladins, but leaving aside the chants and the purification ritual, they managed to sew up his wound and bandage it.

Shiro asked what had happened to Keith, to which the librarian replied that he was already on his way to his position. The black lion was stationed a bit far from the base but would be with him in case there was a problem.

The doors opened and Takeshi could see that it was Keith himself although covered in dirt and his suit was cracked in different places.

"Shiro!" The young Galra jumped on top of him and surrounded him with a tight hug. "Shiro, I'm very sorry, I couldn't get to you."

"Easy, boy. Nothing happens." Takashi wrapped his arm around the young man's back with a smile on his face. "I'm fine."

They then started talking about what had happened lately, about how Keith fought a one-on-one duel against a Space Marine, Shiro being rescued from the wolves by the Astartes. then they talked about Zarkon and his connection to the black lion.

Keith was furious, Allura had lied to them, the woman they trusted so much had withheld very important information from them about the relationship between Zarkon and the former paladins; If only she had revealed that information, none of this could have happened and Garnet would still be alive.

Shiro consoled the red paladin saying that things happen because of something and if Allura had something to say about this she would do it and everyone would be there to listen and judge her in her way.

Without warning, Armandus entered the room. Next to him was an individual who frightened Shiro by the exaggerated amount of cybernetic enhancements that he had on almost all of his face except for his right eye, he was only dressed in a crimson priestly robe with gold edges that slightly exposed all the mechandrite and gears of his chest and on his belt was the emblem of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the other side the emblem of the Blood Ravens.

Durin

Magos Biologis of the 7th company of the Blood Ravens.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting your conversation." Armandus double took the young Galra and looked at Shiro. "But I wish to inform that the master of the chapter will arrive in half varga. Next to me is the magicians Biologis Durin who will be in charge of his quick recovery."

"Uhh ... hi." Shiro greeted the tech-priest awkwardly.

"++It is an honor for me to meet said man who owns a powerful machine spirit++" The Magi spoke in a language that sounded like a printer to Shiro's ears. "Ahem, excuse my for my Lingua Technis."

"The Magi means that he is honored to meet you, Lord Shirogane." Armandus said.

"Thanks and just Shiro or Takashi would be fine, calling me lord is too formal where I come from." Shiro said kindly.

"If you wish, sir." Durin bowed.

"I know it goes against Sister Berice's warnings, but can you stand up?" Armandus asked.

"I think so..." Said the black Paladin looking at a Keith who stood aside from the conversation. "I'm going to need a little help from my partner."

"...Good." The librarian said with a long look towards the Xeno. "There will be a Neophyte who will guide you to our location when you are ready."

And with that, the Librarian and the Tech-Priest left the room, leaving the two paladins alone.

"Well ... that was weird." Shiro said after a long breath.

"I suspect they like it when a human is a leader who wields a part of the most powerful weapon in the universe, knowing his history with the paladins of yesteryear." Keith crossed his arms and then glanced at Shiro. "Do you need help getting up?"

"Sure, let's see what this holds if it helps us find our friends."

Both paladins left the infirmary with Shiro having her arm wrapped around Keith's shoulder, her wound didn't hurt as much thanks to the hospitable ones who purified her of Haggar's corrupted magic.

Both were escorted by a neophyte to the outskirts of the base where they were greeted by a large number of Space Marines accompanied by almost a battalion of the imperial guard and a small group of techno priests, beings both machines and men who were on their knees in front of them. to the red and black lions performing chants and prayers in their ´Lingua Technis' as the Magi Durin called it, there were also some Guardsmen and Astartes who looked at the huge machines engrossed in their own conversations, some of them directed curious looks at Shiro and others of spite towards Keith.

The Neophyte led them to the Librarian who was with three other people: the one on the left was another Astarte but he had several scriptures stamped on his Power Armor and was not wearing a helmet, revealing an older man with hardened eyes and a straight jaw. of hair and some scars on his face. The other person was a normal man of the imperial guard: he was wearing a soldier's uniform that seemed to be of high rank with some medals in green armor and his khaki pants, the man's face seemed to have just reached 50 but something told him Shiro who was older than that, his left eye was replaced by a telescopic sight. The one next to the man was a woman who was in her thirties, her skin tone was brown and her hair was a short dark brown, her uniform was a standard imperial guard armor and her face was clean but hardened and both his eyes and his superior's were a dull purple.

Hector Isaias.

Brother-captain of the 7th company of the bloody ravens.

Edwin Roderick.

Commander of the 667th Cadian Regiment.

Quinn Ergon.

Captain of the first line of the Cadian regiment.

"They arrived just in time." Armandus greeted and introduced the three people who were with him. "This is Brother-Captain Isaias, Commander Roderick, and Captain Ergon."

"A pleasure." Shiro saluted Captain Astarte and the two high ranking Guardsmen. "I am Takashi Shirogane, Former Captain and Space Aviation Instructor of the Galaxy Garrison and leader of the Voltron Paladins."

"What was that?" Keith arched an eyebrow at the black paladin.

"It is the custom we have in my world." Shiro replied with a shrug.

"You are the leader, the leader of Voltron." Captain Astarte said. "Then it means that you are the black paladin."

"Noting the obvious, yes sir." Shiro answered straight as he had acquired it in his years as a pilot.

"Then it is a pleasure to meet you as well, Takeshi Shirogane." Captain Isaias nodded, then addressed the two Guardsmen. "Commander Roderick and Captain Ergon are part of the Cadian regiment of the Imperial Guard."

"Are you part of the imperial guard?" Shiro asked with raised eyebrows.

"And the best there is." Captain Ergon replied smugly. "Right below the Death Korps of Krieg."

"I know your kind, Captain." Shiro said gaining the attention of both military leaders. "It may sound crazy, but in the castle of lions we have as guests a troop belonging to the 1216th Valhallan regiment led by Commissioner Elizabeth Cain."

"The descendant of the hero of the empire?" The commander asked as he exchanged looks with a surprised Quinn.

"This is how the Loud troop call it." Shiro replied.

"Let's save the talks for later." He would release announcement when his gaze landed on the sky. "The Master has arrived."

*Insert Song: Gold (By Excision ft Illenium) 1:25-1:45*

Everyone looked at the sky and from there they could see how the huge imperial ships descended from the atmosphere. Shiro was more than shocked. The Galaxy Garrison has tried to rise to the stars for years, many companies and technology companies have invested millions and technologies that allowed them to discover new frontiers, many people invested decades of their lives in making that possible through trial, failure and error. The maximum time it would take for a Garrison ship to reach Jupiter would be a total of two years.

Now he was seeing a faction of humanity descending on the surface of a planet in huge ships that looked like a combination of a small town and a sea cruiser.

It was an incredible sight.

The fortress ship was the same color of the chapter with some white and gold tones, on the side of the ship was the emblem of the bloody ravens stamped proudly and with it were other smaller ships in which they descended faster on the platforms of landing for the Imperial Guard to embark.

"Incredible ..." Shiro whispered as he saw the fortress ship suspended in the atmosphere a kilometer above the ground, even from that height it was as massive as the Galra Dreadnaughs.

"A Valkyrie will come down here in 15 Ticks to pick us up." Isaias announced looking at everyone around him. "After that, Armandus and myself will escort you to our Master's chambers."

Both Paladins nodded at the captain's words, drawing stunned looks and changing them into a firm attitude.

Inside of the Ship-Fortress of the Blood Ravens:

This was on another level.

The interior of the ship that Shiro and Keith were in was undoubtedly both a temple and a royal ship compared to the cold, dim hues of the Galra battleships. Each room they entered had an exquisite marble floor as well as good lighting, a pleasant atmosphere and background music that according to Shiro could be compared to the Vatican itself. The interior was full of life with some Astartes of the chapter moving around with some individual of the imperial guard or with those 'Servoskulls' that lurked in the air, if Pidge were here and saw a flying skull with cybernetic parts she would be terrified.

The lions were put in the docking bay on the fortress ship which luckily they could fit. They were both being escorted by the captain and the Librarian plus a group of four Astartes surrounding them with Bolters in hand. The walk lasted about five minutes, Shiro felt a little better to be able to walk on his own without help from the young Galra.

"We are already here." Isaias announced and the two together with the four battle brothers stopped in their tracks in an orderly fashion, the place where they stopped was a large double door made exquisitely of marble and gold, in which the double-headed eagle was sculpted and under it were two Marines Spacers posing heroically.

Seconds later. A loud 'click' was heard and the doors opened in a dramatic, rumbling crash. Inside the room were three individuals.

The individual who was standing on the left was a very elderly woman but looking at her showed the same unwavering strength, her hair was short and she was wearing a hat that resembled that of the first settlers of America. He was wearing a uniform that gave the sign of being someone of high status, it was a shiny black with a heavy black leather open and several medals and pamphlets and on his neck he had two necklaces: one was a gold "I" with a skull on the center and the other was the emblem of the empire.

Amberly Vail.

Lady-Inquistor of the Ordo Xenos.

The one standing on the right was another Astarte, but his armor looked different than that of the Blood Ravens: they were a dull gray with vermilion in some parts, he wore the same pamphlets on his shoulders and waist, on his chest he wore the same Gold-plated "I" and the emblem of an open book on his shoulder pad and on the side of his leg was a sheathed book. The Astarte was not wearing a helmet revealing a man whose face gave the air of a Spanish feudal nobleman with a braided brown beard and a short mustache and eyes that conveyed the same power and knowledge as Armandus. His hands were resting on the hilt of something like a Claymore (but more advanced) stuck in the ground..

Rodrigo de Sable

Member of 4th Company of the Gray Knights.

The individual in the center was literally a giant. He wore a large ceremonial-looking Power Armor, his face was uncovered revealing an old man who was in his last but refused to surrender without giving a last battle, he had cybernetic enhancements on the upper left side of his face while the rest were almost covered in scars from the countless battles I face. His left hand was clenched on the handle of a great hammer, a gift from the Eldar of Biel-tan.

Gabriel Angelos.

Lord of the Blood Ravens Chapter.

The Marines knelt in front of the chapter master with Shiro and Keith being the only ones standing unsure what to do.

"Welcome back, Captain." The Lady-inquisitor saluted the squad leader.

"You honor me with your words, Lady-Inquisitor." The Space Marine said.

"Captain Isaias." Angelos spoke, his voice had the same force as ever. "I see they came back in a piece of Reaguardiz Epsilon."

"Yes my lord." The captain looked up from him. "We have secured this world to be turned into a mining colony for the Imperium."

"And we see that you brought two unexpected guests with you, Captain." Amberly said fixing her gaze from him on the two Voltron paladins.

"I thought Librarian Kallus had passed the-" Armandus looked up at the inquisitor who gave an amused snort.

"Just kidding, we have received the memo from your fellow Librarian." Inquisitor Vail waved her off.

"Entonces las sospechas eran ciertas (So the suspicions were true) The Gray Knight, Rodrigo spoke in a steely Spanish that surprised Shiro himself. "Vosotros sois paladines del defensor legendario" (You are Paladins of the Legendary defender)

"It seems that the surprises will never end." Shiro said to himself before coming back to reality and nodding. "That's how it is. I am Takashi Shirogane, I come from earth and I am the leader of the paladins. "

Everyone was silent for a few seconds until Amberly spoke again.

"You say Earth? Adeptus Terra? " Amberly arched her brow eceptively. "The birthplace of mankind."

"Inquisitor: the empire found worlds that also had the same name as Terro, upon making contact they thought that Terra was destroyed during the dark age of technology or the age of conflict." The Gray knight spoke this time with a basic low gothic. "Planets with the same name are still being found."

"I see."

"Our ... chapter has had a history with the paladins of yore." Angelos revealed with everyone being expectant. "I remember that we fought together in different scenarios: The Red Lion descending from the sky like a winged avenger, destroying ranks of Necrons with one shot, the Yellow Lion easily crushing the Waaghs Orkoids and also to push back the massive hordes of Deamons and the same black legion of that bastard from Abandon, Yes… I remember their faces so well. "

The chapter master turned his gaze from him to the young Galra who was standing still like a statue but when he felt the gaze of the old man Astarte, his brain worked automatically and he took off his helmet so that everyone could see his Galran features.

Rodrigo frowned slightly as Amberly lifted her nose, both of them staring at the young red paladin.

"You are Galra." Angelos mentioned impassively. "And yet I can see in your face that you saw the dark side of the history of the ancient paladins."

"Yes." Keith looked down with shame and anger on his face. "I always thought of Zarkon from the beginning. But discovering that he was not only a paladin of yesteryear but a former owner of the black lion, makes my faith in this cause unknown. "

Shiro gave the teenager a sad look.

"We all have our side of the story ..." Angelos said softly. "But there is only one true version of events."

"And! Is in Sain-Hamm." A jovial voice spoke from a dark corner of the room, then dramatically revealed itself as a Harlequin of Cegorath's roses. "Greetings, new paladins of Voltron."

"A Harlequin Eldar?" Keith spoke with venom in his voice. "What's a space clown like you doing here?"

"Ouch, hurts!" The Eldar let out a well-orchestrated groan of pain, leaning his torso back. "And I wanted us to be friends, but it seems our savage brothers from Commorragh left a bad impression on us."

"What is Sain-Hamm?" Shiro asked the young Galra, completely ignoring the Harlequin who was offended by that.

"It is a Craftworld, it is in imperial space as refugees by order of the Primarch of the Ultramarines." Keith responded with his brow furrowing. "My father said that he was one of the first Craftworlds that Zarkon wanted to destroy in his campaign to annihilate the Eldar."

"And that's where your friends are." The Harlequin reported with crossed arms. "Our leader Masquerade saved them from a missing fate in the warp and just informed me that they found the rest of the paladins and are leading them to Sain-hamm."

"That is good news." He said the Black Paladin letting out a sigh of relief upon learning that everyone is safe.

"And when will we go to Sain-Hamm." Keith asked determined.

The Harlequin seemed to smile inside his mask as he added dramatic silence to the scene.

"Right now."

III: Retaliation.

-Opening song: Somewhere (By Muzz)

-I can't get back on my feet, I fall right to you-

-In the air an angel cries, oh what a wicked ruse-

-And all of my senses, my hearth screams the truth-

-And I can't help it, I walk straight to you-

-If love is my weakness, I'll crawl straight to you-

-No I can't help it, my heart leads to you-

(1:30-1:50)

-Will you take me somewhere else?-

-Take me, far from here-

-With you-

The Defenders of the Universe Strikes Back.

(2:12-4:00)

-If love is my weakness, I'll crawl straight to you-

-No I can't help it, my heart leads to you-

-Will you take me somewhere else?-

-Take me, far from here-

-With you-

(4:46)

And ladies and gentlemen. the curtain opens to receive the second part of the defenders of the universe.

This chapter was hard, I had planned to go up at the beginning of the month but things got complicated for me. well, at least I finished it.

Save the group's reaction to Garnet's death for the next chapter so you can cram it all into one for the next.

Remember to bookmark and leave comments. bye!