As the corrupted wormhole broke down by Haggar, the paladins and lions were all tossed from the Castle of Lion's and going through different vortex. Lana and Hunk were shouting as they tried to control their Lion's through the corrupted wormhole.
"What just happened?" Asked Hunk panicking while gripping the handles.
"I don't know, but we gotta stay together." Said Lana trying to gain control.
Suddenly the vortex somehow send them to the other side of the universe, suddenly Lana and Hunk both yelled in fear as they from the sky down towards towards a frozen ocean, so they both buckled in and prepared for a crash landing. Lana and Hunk both felt a massive jolt as they hit the surface of the frozen planet, but it was over very quickly, as it turned into a gentle fall, as both the Yellow and Blue Lion are sinking into the oceans dark depths.
"Hunk, you okay? Honey-Bee?" Said Lana worriedly for her best friend, till she heard Hunk throwing up in response.
"I'm fine." Said Hunk groaning after throwing up.
"You just threw up, didn't you?" Asked Lana concern for her best friend.
"Well, yeah. You would too if you got sucked out of a wormhole at light speed, then crash-landed on an ice planet and ended up underwater." Said Hunk with a frown.
"That is what happened to me!" Said Lana frowning what Hunk said.
"Oh, right." Said Hunk in embarrassment. "Sorry I threw up on your head, Yellow."
'That's okay, Hunk, I don't really blame you, I'm pretty that if I'm in my physical form now, I would throw up as well.' Said Yellow with a groan.
"My main system is down." Said Lana trying to restart her Lion, but couldn't. "The crash must have screwed it up. Does yours work?"
"I'm on reserve power. My lion's pretty much dead in the water." Said Hunk with a smug look and Lana groaned.
"This situation's bad enough, Honey-Bee. Don't make it worse with puns." Said Lana with a slight annoyed look.
'Yeah Hunk, we're in a middle of a crises here, now's not the time for jokes.' Said Yellow agreeing with Lana.
"I'm just shocked we hit a planet. I thought Pidge said space was 90% empty." Said Hunk looking a bit shock.
"Well, apparently, Pidge's science is wrong. I mean, they are unknown planets we never actually know, and we need to see it to believe it." Said Lana to Hunk.
"We need to contact the others and get back to group immediately." Said Hunk as he starts contacting the others. "Hello, anyone? This is Hunk and Lana of the Yellow and Blue Lions."
"They know the color of our lions!" Said Lana reminding Hunk.
"Oh, right." Said Hunk in embarrassment. "Okay, yeah. I always forget that. My bad."
"We gotta check for damage and get these lions running." Said Lana looking over her lions system.
"Copy that." Said Hunk doing the same thing.
After a few moments later, Lana and Hunk's lions hit the bottom of the water with a gentle thud, creating a cloud of sand that began to dissipate. Suddenly, the lights flickered around Lana's lion and became brighter, and she was able to look through the Blue Lion's eyes at the ocean around him.
"Oh, good. The Blue Lion's coming back online now." Said Lana smiling at her lion. "Welcome back, girl."
'Good to be back, Lana. Im really glad that water is my element.' Said Blue smiling at her Paladin. 'You doing okay, Yellow?'
'Not so good here, my element is earth, and I'm not really good with water, except for drinking of course. I think I'll be stuck here for a while.' Said Yellow feeling a bit embarrassed.
Blue lifted her head as she sat up, then she turn on her headlights as she starts sweeping over the ocean floor. Suddenly a figure froze in her lights and Lana barely got a glimpse of a pink tail before the figure swim off.
"Uh Hunk, did. . . Did you just see something swim by?" Asked Lana looking like she saw something.
"What? No." Said Hunk and Lana got a glimpse of the figure again before it swims
"No way! This is going to sound crazy, but I think I just saw a mermaid." Said Lana describing what she saw.
"Oh, boy. Okay, how hard did you bang your head when we hit the planet?" Asked Hunk feeling like Lana is seeing something.
"Honey-Bee, I'm serious! Look! There it is again!" Said Lana and tries following the mermaid. "Hey, come here! Where you going? Hey, slow down!"
"Lana, knock it off. We have to stay focused and get to the others." Said Hunk till he saw Lana was out of her Lion. "You're outside of your lion. Great."
I know we have to find the others. I'm just saying maybe this thing can help. Also, it's a mermaid. A mermaid!" Said Lana in excitement. "Come on, let's find it."
"No. No way. Nope. Not going out there." Said Hunk refusing to leave outside his lion.
"Okay, you stay here, by yourself, in the dark, all alone in a lion that's out of commission." Said Lana as she turns away from the Yellow Lion and about to leave, till Hunk quickly eject himself from his Lion, and grabbed Lana's arms.
"Don't leave me!" Shouted Hunk in fear, not seeing the smirk on Lana's face.
So Lana and Hunk began to separate from each other and starts looking for the mermaid. They both turn on their light functions on from their wrists on. Running over the range, they both spotted the mermaid from the rocks.
"Come on!" Said Lana as she and Hunk follow the mermaid.
"I can't believe this! We're really chasing a mermaid." Said Hunk in shock and also a little excited. The mermaid giggled ahead of them, then swim out of view.
"Hey, wait, wait, wait! We're friendly!" Said Lana but the mermaid was already gone.
Suddenly Lana and Hunk began to see a large underwater village made from the sand, rocks, and coral of the ocean bottom. Overseeing a society that seemed like a royal who lives in the prominent palace overlooking the village, and the two Paladins were amazed seeing it, suddenly the mermaid Hunk and Lana followed appeared behind them.
"Hello." Said the mermaid causing Hunk and Lana jump from underwater and turn around to look at the mermaid, who greets them with a warmly smile. "Welcome to my village. Here, all are safe and warm."
The mermaid has pale pink skin and a powerful orange fish tail. She has raggedy pink finlets situated on her hips and pink stripes on her tail and crotch area. Her eyes are fully blue and reflective, with pink discolouration on her eyelids and two spots in semblance of eyebrows. She has long pink hair with prominent side-bangs and a white patch running down the middle. She has flimsy pink antennae located on her forehead.
She wears a yellow, short-sleeved crop top exposing her torso. The shirt has a green ruffle collar, a reverse sweetheart neckline and pink spots on the shoulders. She wears pink ballroom gloves with sharp-looking fins on the elbow. She accessorises with green arm rings. Suddenly Walrus looking creatures appeared behind Lana and Hunk, causing them to scream in fear and hide behind the mermaid.
"Please, do not startle our guests. I am Florona." Said the mermaid known as Florona introduced herself. "The almighty Queen Luxia, keeper of our land, would love to meet with you."
"Wait. How did your queen know we were here?" Asked Lana looking confused.
"Queen Luxia knows all." Said Florona with a simple smile.
So the two soldiers give Lana and Hunk their seahorse creatures for the two Paladin's to ride on, then they starts to lead them through the village to the entrance at the palace. As they passed through, people stopped in the street to watch them go, staring in awe at the two of them.
"Lana, I know this mermaid thing is a dream of yours, but we really gotta go." Said Hunk reminding Lana their situation.
"We will, Honey-Bee, we will, but let's meet this queen first. Besides, maybe she can help us." Said Lana smiling at Hunk. "And, if I just happen to find my future mermaid Prince or Princess, well, then that is all right with me."
"Uh huh, what about Keith, are you trying to make him feel jealous?" Asked Hunk giving Lana a sly smirk, causing Lana to blush in embarrassment.
"Wha. . . I don't know what you're talking about." Said Lana looking away from Hunk still blushing.
It wasn't long before they reached the palace steps, where the queen and a handful of guards stood waiting for them. Lana and Hunk saw that the queen looked the most ethereal royal they've seen, with stronger antennae that resembled a crown, looping hair, and many large fins. The Queen was beautiful to their point of view.
"Space travelers, I am Queen Luxia. I welcome you to our village as honored guests." Said Queen Luxia as her voice was gentle and sweet.
"The honor's all ours. I'm Lana, the Blue Paladin." Said Lana bowing deeply, she begin to tumble over into a very slow somersault, but Hunk caught her leg.
"Uh, Mrs. Queen, Your Honor, Your Excellence, I'm Hunk, the Yellow Paladin, and me and my buddy here, we crash-landed on your lovely planet, but we really need to get back in touch with our friends who are in space. Would you possibly have any way of doing that?" Asked Hunk hoping that they'll help.
"Hunk, Lana, I can solve all of your problems. Here, we are all safe and warm." Said Queen Luxia and from some reason, Lana felt like there was a strange feeling in her heart about the queen.
"You use magic, don't you? I bet this castle's a ship. This castle is a ship, am I right? Just don't say anything if I'm right." Said Hunk as he keeps rambling.
"Here, I've brought you these." Said Queen Luxia waving her hand as another mermaid approach with a piece of red coral seashell. "The bubble coral will provide you with all the air you need."
She placed it near their heads and blew lightly into it, producing a bubble around them.
"Whoa-ho-ho! Thank you, Fish Queen." Said Hunk popping off his helmet and breaths fine with the bubble.
Seeing that Hunk was breathing fine, Lana took off her helmet and found it pleasant and smelled like the ocean.
"Huh. Cool." Said Lana smiling as she can breath well.
"And rest assured, your space vessels will be well protected." Said Queen Luxia gesturing up where a team of massive stingrays carrying the two Lions, who have their their forcefields up, away by the castle. "Now, please, follow me."
"What is that?" Asked Lana pointing at the massive glowing garden swaying in the gentle current.
"That is the giver of life to our people, the Baku Garden. 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." Said Queen Luxia with a warm smile.
However, Lana start to feel that something is going on, because the way the queen repeatedly say "safe and warm," it was like something feels wrong about it, but she shook it off, as the queen led him and Hunk inside.
Inside the castle, Lana and Hunk are both in a large dining hall that was filled with more blue and green bioluminescence, as the queen assigned her servants to bring them food for their guest.
Hunk and Lana wasted no time in digging into the food which was incredibly delicious; a refreshing blend of seafood, fresh-picked veggies, and ripe fruit. Lana was chatting with two of the mermaids while Hunk enjoyed the food.
"Your Royalness. if I may, this food is amazing. It's even better than Balmeran cave bugs." Said Hunk
"I'm glad you enjoy it. It was picked fresh from the Baku Garden." Said Queen Luxia smiling at her guest. "And I hope you enjoy the entertainment."
Just then a spotlight starts shining on a the pair of curtains, as it was outlining a silhouette of a dancer behind the curtains. Lana got curious as the curtains parted, revealing a weird pinkish-purple octopus-like creature with a small version of its head, as it began to dance.
"So, about us getting in contact with our friends how can you help us?" Asked Hunk to the queen.
"Please, let's discuss that after the dance." Said Queen Luxia smiling at the Hunk and Lana.
So the two Paladin's both turn their attention back to the dancing sea creature. The two were mesmerized as the octopus began swirling its tentacles in a spiral motion, as they were lighting up a million different colours.
"Whoa, this dance is amazing. It's the. . . It's the most amazing thing I've ever seen." Said Hunk looking so memorized.
"I'm glad you enjoy it. Put your mind at ease. Let your consciousness drift like the tide." Said Queen Luxia in a soothing tone as Hunk continues watching the performance.
"Yes, I will do that. I. . . Were. . . Weren't we just talking about something?" Asked Hunk feeling like he was supposed to remember something.
"You were just telling me how much you like it here, how much you wanted to stay forever." Whisper Queen Luxia to Hunk's ear.
"Oh, that's right. Here, we are all safe and warm." Said Hunk repeating what Luxia and Florona say. "Lana, I think we should stay here forever."
"Okay." Said Lana feeling a bit trance and floating in the water. "Here, all are safe and warm."
Later the night, Lana and Hunk were sleeping in their giant clamshell beds, as they rested on soft pillows and blankets. While Hunk was sleeping peacefully, Lana was sleeping happily as she was in the middle of a dream, of her with her grandmother when she was just a little girl.
~Lana's Dream~
At her grandmother's garden, a very young Lana was walking down the garden path, with a elder women around her sixties, holding her hand.
The elder women has light brown skin like Lana, long silver-gray hair tied up in a ponytail, and ocean blue eyes. She has long gold earrings with blue circular tops, she wears a long blue dress with medium-length sleeves, a dark blue open front sleeveless cardigan, and blue flats on. Then women's name is Moana, and she's Lance's grandmother.
As they walk, Lana first noticed her Grandmother's blue medallion, and was amazed at how it sparkles in the light.
"Your medallion is really beautiful, Grandma." Said Lana looking at her grandmother. "Where did you get that?"
"I've had it for a long, long time. It's a special family heirloom from my family." Said Moana smiling at her amulet.
Then Moana let her hands fall to her granddaughter's waist and turned Lana's attention to a nearby flower in her garden. Moana would often point out plants, or sometimes small caves and animal burrows she and Lana will see, along with small ponds, lakes, and rivers. Lana's parents were both scientists, and they'd taught her the scientific name of many plants and the names of each beach and rivers, but her grandmother had nicknames for everything and stories about them.
Lana's siblings and parents love her story believing that they are made up for entertainment, but to Lana, she believes that her grandmother's story feel so real. Moana will always tell tales about plants that magical animals used for inventions, tall trees where giants hid and elves build their homes in, and thorny bushes and flowers that elves crushed for medicine. Lana adored every story Moana tells.
Moana always love every type of flower, but her favorite flowers were the snapdragons, originally they are name the Antirrhinum. As Lana and Moana reach to a snapdragon patch, Moana leans down to Lana and touch the flower.
"See how it looks like the face of a dragon?" Asked Moana and Lana nodded her head. "If you gently pinch the sides of the flower, like this, the dragon's mouth opens wide!"
When Moana did what she says, Lana was surprised by how the blossom had almost looked like it came alive, like it really was a dragon's jaw.
"Dragons get mean when they are hungry, so be sure to feed them treats and keep their tummies full! I hear they like cookies." Said Moana smiling down at Lana.
"I like cookies, too!" Said Lana smiling at her grandmother.
As Lana was enjoying seeing the other flower patches in her grandmother's garden, suddenly a small owl with a bright golden mark below its neck, flies next to Lana as it lands softly on her shoulder. Lana was amazed at first till the owl snuggle it's head gently at Lana's cheek, making Lana giggle softly. Then Moana kneel next to Lana as the owl chirp softly at Moana, like it was talking to her.
"What is the owl saying, grandma?" Asked Lana looking curious.
Moana didn't answer Lana's question at first, and she clutched her medallion close to her chest, as she smiles softly and looks at her granddaughter.
"Never forget, Lana, the heart knows the way." Said Moana smiling softly at Lana.
Lana at first didn't understand at first why her grandmother is saying that to her, but she smile softly as her grandmother, as she and Moana pet the owl's head gently.
~End of Lana's Dream~
While Hunk and Lana were sleeping, a hole was cut into the coral wall of their bedroom, and while neither of them woke from the sound the cutting through the wall, three merfolk swam through the hole, each of them with jellyfish covering their faces.
So they quietly and quickly went to work, as they gently untuck the two Paladins and putting them into woven seaweed sacks. One carried Lana through the hole, while another began to pull Hunk through. However, the hole wasn't big enough and Hunk began to get stuck.
"Leave him. We have to get out of here." Said the male mermaid as the three swim away with Lana, leaving Hunk behind.
The three merfolks stared in awe at the Paladin, amazed that he hadn't even roused through all their attempts to wake him up. The one of the mermaid floated over Lana, watching as she slept peacefully with a blindfold kept over her eyes, she poked him by his shoulder a few times, till Lana wakes up and yawns a bit as she turns her head around to see where she is, but her blindfold cause her from looking.
"Hello? Good morning. Where am I?" Asked Lana trying to see where she is.
"She's awake." Said the female mermaid to the other two.
"Why am I blindfolded? Is this a game? I like games." Said Lana as the mermaid squish a puffer fish right into his air bubble causing him to cough. "Wait, where am I? Why am I blindfolded? Is this a game? I hate games!"
"It's okay." Said the mermaid as she took the blindfold off, allowing Lana to see all three of them. "You were mind-swished, but now we want to. . ."
"Kill me? Think again!" Said Lana kicking off the seaweed bed and using her jetpack to zoom past them, her hands still tied behind her back.
As Lana moved through the underwater cave, she took random turns, hoping at least one of them would get her out. However, one brought Lana to where they gave sharp weapons and almost got stabbed, the next one bright her to a pantry, stocked completely with dead fish and other preserves and yelled in shock and disgust before flipping herself around gracefully and zooming to another area. The third one held jellyfish of all shapes, sizes, and colours. Lana giggled as she swam amongst them, but they suddenly began growing the big size and she scream in panic, and saw the three merfolk approaching to her.
"Don't hurt me!" Shouted Lana freaking out.
"Please, we are not here to hurt you. We brought you here to ask for your help. I am Plaxum." Said the female mermaid, known as Plaxum, introducing herself.
"Blumfump." Said the name mermaid, known as Blumpfump, introducing himself.
"Swirn." Said the female mermaid, known as Swirn, introducing herself.
"Are you saying names, or is this some kind of weird spell you're putting on me?" Asked Lana in confusion.
"We believe you are our savior." Said Plaxum as they bow to Lana.
"You guys think I'm your savior? What do you want with me?" Asked Lana looking confused.
"The queen is mind-swishing everyone, controlling their thoughts. We believe you can stop her." Said Blumfump and as the trio lead Lana to their hideout to explain.
So the trio lead Lana to the room where the jellyfish are, and they start explaining to Lana why they need her help, while Lana is sitting on a clam shell.
"Wait. Wait a minute. Okay. You're trying to tell me the queen is brainwashing people? But she's so safe and warm." Said Lana trying to process everything that's going on.
"What do you remember from yesterday?" Asked Swirn looking at Lana.
"I remember we crashed, saw the mermaids and the village, then we had dinner, and then, uh we, uh. . ." Said Lana trying to remember what happened yesterday.
"You can't remember because you were under her control." Said Swirn leaning towards Lana.
"Our theory is, the queen controls minds by using her voice to strike certain head switches in your ear pan." Said Blumfump showing Lana a drawing he made.
"And her magnetic stare locks on to your eye-to-brain pathway plug." Said Plaxum showing Lana another drawing.
"Plus, her mind-control sonar is always broadcasting through the waters." Said Swirn making bong sound effects at the end.
"And she trains her people to use hypnotic movements to lull you under her control." Said Plaxum explaining more.
"I do remember a dancer." Said Lana remembering the dancer from last night.
"Good, because I haven't finished my picture for that one." Said Blumfump putting away his drawings. "But you see, she was infecting your brain!"
"Holy crow! I had a mind-controlling brain infection!" Said Lana freaking out a bit as she floated a bit. "And my best friend is in trouble, I need to rescue him, who knows what they'll do to him now!"
"Sit." Said Plaxum making Lana sit back down while looking for a jellyfish.
"The entire village is under the queen's mind control. The only reason we aren't is because we wear these jellyfish that hide our brains from her powers. It's like we have no brains whatsoever. You can't control what doesn't exist." Said Blumfump while pointing at his jellyfish.
"Right. Of course." Said Lana sarcastically at Blumfump.
"Our heads are completely empty." Said Blumfump while his eyes are swirling around.
"Yeah, I get it." Said Lana while Swirn starts measuring Lana's head.
"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." Said Swirn explaining to Lana while measuring.
"What size?" Asked Plaxum to Swirn.
"Eight and seven-eighths aquameters." Said Swirn as Plaxum starts looking for a jellyfish.
"But what's the point? Why mind-control the mermaids?" Asked Lana still confused why the queen would do something so horrible.
"To kill them!" Said Blumfump intensely.
"What. . . Really?" Said Lana horrified.
"Well, we don't know that for sure, but hundreds of mermaids have disappeared and never come back." Said Blumfump explaining to Lana.
"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." Said Swirn explaining to Lana.
"Found one!" Said Plaxum finding the jellyfish with exact same size as Swirn measure Lana's head.
"What do you want from me?" Asked Lana still understanding the situation.
"We saw the mer-cat you came in. We think it can stand up against the queen and her forces. But first, you'll need one of these." Said Blumfump explaining as Plaxum swim next to Lana with the jellyfish.
"Now, they sting pretty bad and don't smell great." Said Plaxum explaining in advance.
"If my theory is correct, the smelliest ones block the most mind-control rays." Said Blumfump remembering the theory of putting on the jellyfish.
"Are you a scientist?" Asked Lana raising an eyebrow.
"No." Said Blumfump feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Also, they can sometimes make your face swell, and you might experience hearing loss." Said Plaxum explaining.
"It's okay, I understand completely, I've been through worse, so it's fine." Said Lana as Plaxum place the jellyfish on Lana's bubble and the jellyfish starts attaching on Lana's head. "AAAHHHH. . . It sting!"
"That means it's working!" Said Plaxum excitedly and Lana's face began to swelled up a bit.
"So, what's the plan?" Asked Lana looking at the trio.
So the trio mermaids lead Lana into the rebels' war room, as they stood around a table with a crudely drawn map and carved figurines.
"Here's what Blumfump came up with. This is you. You act like you're still thought-swirled and get past the guards. Get your mer-cat and grab the queen. We'll mount a full-scale attack on the castle and free the people." Said Plaxum explaining the plan.
"After that I'll be a hero. I'll bet I might receive an award, like possibly a place in the mermaids court, or possibly a mermaid boyfriend." Said Lana smiling about her possible wish. 'Or maybe even a mermaid girlfriend.'
"Of course here's another thing, if your acting fails you, this holds three doses of antidote to use on the guards." Said Blumfump giving Lana small fishes. "It should interrupt the queen's mind-control long enough for you to escape."
"I don't think I'll be needing this. I missed 14 days of the third grade for a stomachache I never really had." Said Lana smiling a bit slyly.
When Lana was in sight of the Lions, she saw that it was guarded by two guards, so due took a deep breath and put on a goofy grin, using her jetpack to kick lazily towards her Lion, catching the guard's attention.
"Hello, mer-guards! Isn't everything just so safe and warm here? Anyway, I'm off to my lion." Said Lana smiling goofy.
However, just as Lana was about to reach for her Lion, a spear flew right by her and she yelped, yanking her hand back.
"Oh, come on!" Said Lana as the guards brought her inside the throne room.
"I had a feeling you'd come for your vessel. Servant, take Lana to the Baku Garden." Said Queen Luxia as Hunk have enter the room.
"Hunk? Hey, Honey-Bee, it's me! Snap out of it! It's Lana!" Said Lana trying to get Hunk out of his trance.
However, Hunk didn't listen as he was about to drag Lana to the Baku Garden, until Lana grabbed the pufferfish, and was about to use it, till Hunk smacked it out of his hand, and Lana began to swim away.
"Everyone, capture him!" Said Queen Luxia as they all went after Lana.
However, Lana used her jetpack to swim away from the guards, as she was grateful for his years of swimming, dancing and gymnastics during her childhood. As Lana was about to reach for the fish, Hunk grab her foot and swing her around and throwing her into the wall so hard it cracked.
Lana felt the air get punched out of her lungs and barely had a chance to catch her breath before Hunk was on her again, throwing him to the other side.
"Hunk, Honey-Bee, please! I don't want to hurt you!" Said Lana trying to get Hunk snap out of his trance.
"Must keep Queen safe and warm." Said Hunk still hypnotize.
Hunk threw Lana into the ground hard, and Lana realized that if she continued to hold back, Hunk would probably kill her. Suddenly, Lana saw guards approaching behind Hunk and Lana kicked her friend, activating her boot's booster to send him flying back into the guards.
Lana looked around and saw the pufferfish floating just outside in the courtyard. She flew towards it, grabbing onto it. Suddenly Hunk tackled her to the ground, as the pufferfish flies out of her grasp. She managed to wriggle out and reached out for the puffer fish, but Hunk grabbed the jellyfish's tentacles on Lana's head, yanking the top half of her body back as her lower half continued forward.
Seeing it as the perfect opportunity, Lana use her right leg and connected with the pufferfish, angling her foot and kicking back to nail the pufferfish right into Hunk's face, releasing a cloud of gas, he started coughing and letting go of Lana.
"Whoa! Where am I? What am I doing? Is that a jellyfish on your head?" Said Hunk till his eyes widen in shock. "Lana, what happened to your bubble?"
Lana's eyes widen as she reached up to her head to find that her air bubble had popped. She realized that it must've popped when Hunk threw her against the wall, but somehow she didn't realize it as she was able to breath really well underwater, unknown to her, her amulet was glowing in a bright blue light inside her Paladin suit, but Lana didn't seem to notice it glowing bright.
"What the. . . Never mind, Hunk, you've been mind-controlled by the queen and you're trying to kill me." Said Lana telling Hunk what had happened and worrying about her breathing underwater later.
"Oh, really? Sorry. My bad." Said Hunk feeling a bit guilty.
"We're kind of in the middle of a battle, Honey-Bee. So, I'm going to need your help." Said Lana looking serious.
"Got it." Said Hunk as he and Lana were about to swim to their Lions.
However the guards surrounded Lana and Hunk, and they realized that they are surrounded, so Lana activated her Bayard and getting ready to attack, when suddenly Plaxum, Swirn, and Blumfump start attacking the guards by throwing smoke bombs and ninja-starfish at them.
Seeing the perfect opportunity, Lana starts lunging forward and lands a kick right to a guards chest, causing him to be knocked off his back.
"Wait, who are these weirdos?" Asked Hunk in confusion.
"Those weirdos are with us." Said Lana answering Hunk's question.
"Come, we must hurry to your mer-cats." Said Plaxum to Hunk and Lana.
So Lana and Hunk swim to their Lions. As they were in, the forcefields dropped and the Lions stood up, causing the ground to shake. The fight below stopped as everyone turned to look up in awe as the Lions looked down at them. A second later, the Blue Lion swiped away the guards, sending them tumbling.
'Lana, it's so good to see that you're okay.' Said Blue happy that her Paladin is okay.
'You too, Hunk. For a minute, I thought we were goners.' Said Yellow happy to see Hunk as well.
As the Blue Lion opened her mouth, Plaxum wasted no time before swimming in and holding on as the two flew off back towards the palace.
"You hanging on?" Asked Lana to Plaxum.
"Yes!" Said Plaxum hanging on tight.
"What's the plan?" Asked Hunk to Lana and Plaxum.
"We need to grab the queen and take her to an ice prison Blumfump built, where her mind-control powers will be trapped because of the thick ice and the jellyfish." Said Plaxum answering Hunk's question.
"Okay, who's that?" Asked Hunk in confusion.
"It's Plaxum. Just go with it." Said Lana answering Hunk.
When they came to the palace, Luxia had come out into the courtyard with a handful of guards.
"There she is!" Said Hunk warning Lana and Plaxum.
Then Lana began firing a few blasts from her Lion's tail for smaller, more precise blasts around the guards, allowing Plaxum to sling shot the fish with the antidote at them, which stunned them. Then Plaxum pull out a rope and lasso at the queen, as she dragged her into the Blue Lion's mouth and Lana shut it.
"Got her!" Said Lana as the Lion's swim away.
"Where am I? What's going on?" Asked Queen Luxia as she regain consciousness.
"What's going on is you're not mind-controlling these people anymore, Your Majesty." Said Plaxum glaring at Queen Luxia.
"What? Mind-control? Me? No! Please, my people are in danger! You must go back!" Said Queen Luxia beginning to panic.
"What's going on?" Asked Lana sounding confused.
"Nothing! It's a ruse." Said Plaxum answering Lance.
"Are you sure?" Asked Lana feeling like something is off.
"I wasn't controlling anyone. The Baku!" Said Queen Luxia as her eyes widen.
"She's lying!" Said Plaxum denying the queen's word.
"I'm not. Please! 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." Said Queen Luxia explaining what she last remembered.
"Wait a second. We've been eating that plant. And it's delicious! It's so safe and warm." Said Hunk blissfully.
"I knew it! Mind-swishing! It was the plant the whole time. And Queen Luxia was the first one to be mind-controlled." Said Lana putting together everything that really happened.
"But why?" Asked Plaxum not understanding the situation.
"The Baku has been harvesting us all. We are its food source." Said Queen Luxia realizing if horror.
"No way!" Said Lana looking horrified.
"I think she's telling the truth. Look out the window." Said Hunk telling everyone.
They all look out of their Lion's to see that the Baku Garden began to shake from the ground and suddenly the Baku have began to reveal its true form.
The Baku is a giant worm-like creature with a wrinkly white underbelly, and an orange hide covered in swaying green vegitation. It doesn't appear to have any facial features: instead, it's face opens up and separates into four jaws, like the petals of a massive purple flower. Each jaw has a row of small teeth, with a secondary ring of teeth located at the top of it's oesophagus. It has one long pelvic fin which runs the length of it's belly, as well as two wing-like dorsal fins.
'Oh my god, what is that?!' Asked Yellow in horror.
'That must be the Baku's true form!' Said Blue in shock. 'That would explain how the mermaids disappear, while being mind control, it made them feed themselves to it!'
'Okay, that's wrong in so many ways!' Said Yellow in disgust.
"You two get somewhere safe." Said Lana as Queen Luxia and Plaxum swim for safety. "Okay, Honey-Bee. The queen is actually good and that thing is the one that cause the mermaids to disappear. Let's take it out."
So Lana and Hunk began leading the Baku away from the underwater village before shooting at it, however, it was just too fast and lithe, that it just kept dodging their blasts.
"That thing's too quick for me and Yellow. I can't hit it! My lion's not very good in water." Said Hunk exclaiming.
'Hey, can you blame Hunk?!' Said Yellow in frustration. 'My element is earth, I'm basically a little heavy to be floating in water!'
"Really? My lion's moving better than ever. There's something about fighting underwater that's making me feel extra quick and powerful." Said Lana as she drives Blue gracefully in the water.
'Well, it's like what I said before Lance, they don't call me the Lion of Water for nothing.' Said Blue dodging the Baku while trying to hit it with her lasers
"I think I know how to stop that thing." Said Lana coming up with something.
"How?" Asked Hunk to Lance.
"We gotta stop shooting where the creature is and start shooting where the creature's gonna be." Said Lana explaining to Hunk.
Lana watch the Baku, as she waited for the right moment, calculating its movements, before firing an ice blast at its head, making a spiked collar of ice exploded into existence at the Baku's neck, but the Baku quickly destroyed it.
Then as the Baku was about to pass through some rock pillars, Lana took a shot at them, causing them to collapse on top of the Baku, trapping it.
"I got it! Now, the hunter becomes. . ." Said Lana till the Baku got free from the pillar. "Oh, no, he's free!"
So Lana and the Blue Lion began to swim away from the Baku, as it began chasing them. Lana realized that she needs to think something quickly, or the Baku will destroy them.
'My Paladin, I think it is time for you to use this.' Said Blue as the panel slide up for his bayard.
"What? Said Lana as she looks at her scanner. "Here goes nothing!"
Then Lana and the Blue Lion swam down at the bottom of a canyon and grounded themselves on the seafloor, facing the Baku. As the creature swim towards them, Lana slammed her bayard into the slot. Suddenly, a giant cannon with two prongs formed on Blue's back. And right as the Baku approach to them, Lana activated the cannon, releasing a wave of sonic energy.
It caused the Baku to pause, roaring in pain while attempting to stop the noise. However what the Baku didn't know, was that the sonic waves reached the rocks and destabilized them enough to come toppling down on top of the Baku, crushing it to its death.
"This place is coming down! Let's get out of here!" Said Lana as she and Hunk pilot their Lion's away from the sight.
"Girl, you just dropped a sonic boom on him!" Said Hunk in amazement.
So Lana and Hunk have arrived back at the village, where a large crowd gathered at the palace courtyard. The Blue and Yellow Lion touched down just behind the palace and swam down to greet the other.
"So, Blumfump, the jellyfish, the magnetic stare, the hypnotic dance You got it all wrong. It was the food." Said Lana explaining to Blumfump.
"Well, I did say they were theories. Mer-science isn't always about getting the right answer." Said Blumfump defending himself.
"I want to thank you all for what you've done. You've freed my people, and I will do all I can to protect that freedom. I vow to be the voice of my people." Said Queen Luxia as she turn to the trio. "I beg of you to help. Will you be my advisors?"
"Of course, Your Highness." Said Blumfump pulling out some paper. "I have some great ideas. Have you ever heard of electricity?"
"And I wanted to personally thank you, Lana." Said Plaxum giving Lana a simple hug, course Lana was shock but didn't want to be rude while giving Plaxum a small smile. "Finally, I can remove this thing."
Then Plaxum remove the jellyfish off her head, revealing her face for the first time. It was a dainty face that was fairly similar to another mermaid.
'Whoa! She's so pretty, but she also reminds me of someone.' Said Lana looking a bit confused.
"Plaxum?" Said a familiar voice and they turn to see Florona. "Big sister!"
"Florona!" Said Plaxum swimming forward and embracing her sister in a tight hug.
"Woah, Plaxum and Florona are sister?" Said Hunk in confusion.
"Wow, no wonder why Plaxum look so familiar." Said Lana swimming towards the two mermaid sisters.
"Plaxum, I'm so sorry!" Said Florona hugging Plaxum tightly.
"I'm just really glad to see you again, little sister!" Said Plaxum smiling at her sister.
"I'm glad that you are reunited with your sister." Said Lana smiling at Plaxum and Florona.
"Thank you Lana, for reuniting me with my sister!" Said Plaxum as she and Florona hug Lana, causing her to blush.
"Your welcome." Said Lana hugging Florona and Plaxum back.
"Queen Luxia, the reason we came here in the first place was to see if you could help us find our friends." Said Hunk looking at the queen.
"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." Said Queen Luxia as the guards bright a giant clam and place it at the center. "Activate energy beacon!"
Then the pearl in the clam began to ignite, sending out a bright beam of light straight up into the air, straight to space. Suddenly the beam observed as an image of the Green Lion.
"There is a mer-cat in our system that appears to be heading our way." Said Queen Luxia smiling at Lance and Hunk.
"It's the Green Lion and Pidge!" Said Hunk happily.
"See, Hunk? I told you they could help us. Now, the next time I go swimming after a mermaid, I hope you won't be complaining the whole time." Said Lana smirking at her best friend.
"Lesson learned." Said Hunk smiling at Lana.
After saying goodbye to the mermaids, the Blue and Yellow Lion flew up to the surface into space, as they have found the Castle of Lions. Then the Blue and Yellow Lion flew into their hangers, as Lana and Hunk both exit out, and head into the hallways, with their Lions beside them.
"Man, that was some adventure we had." Said Lana smiling at Hunk.
"Tell me about it." Said Hunk smiling back.
"Guys!" Shouted Pidge running up to them, with Allura and Keith behind her, along with the Red and Green Lion.
Suddenly Lana, Pidge, and Hunk wasted no time as they are gathering in a bone-crushing group hug.
"Oh man, I'm so glad that you two are okay!" Said Pidge smiling that her friends are okay, while the four Lion's embrace each other.
"Man, you had no idea what we had to go through." Said Hunk smiling at Pidge.
"I'm just so relieved that you two are okay." Said Allura hugging both Lana and Hunk, and Lana let go of the hug.
"Keith!" Said Lana smiling at Keith. "I'm so glad that you're. . ."
However just as Lana was about to finish that sentence, suddenly Keith began to hug Lana tightly as he was happy to see her unharmed. Lana was shock at first as she blushed a bit, but she hugged Keith back.
"I'm just glad that you're okay." Said Keith softly at Lana.
Lana was shock that Keith was worried for her, but she smile as she hugged Keith closely to her. After they hug, Allura began to tell Hunk and Lana what they had missed out as they all head to the medical bay to check up on Shiro, and they all hope he'll be okay. Little did they know is that this is just the beginning for them to meet new planets and new people.