Authors notes: Chapter 2 is up folks, decided I couldn't wait to update the next chapter. One small note, I have had people asking me to make Lotor a good guy in later stories, and whilst I respect those requests and their opinions I will be sticking to the canon series of VLD for later stories down the line. Whilst I agree Lotor may have had noble intentions for the universe, he lost his course in trying to achieve it and the fact he wanted to do good but chose the wrong path getting there is in my opinion a aspect of his character. However I will make an effort to have Lotor's motives seem pure to that of the Frozen crew and as regards the dark creatures I may have plans for them in later stories, as that hadn't been explored in later episodes of VLD.
As I have explained this is set within season 3 of Voltron which seemed short lived for Kieth finding his way as team leader before Shiro's return and he didn't have many missions or even a proper confrontation with Lotor. I hope this clears somethings up and I hope you understand.
For now though enjoy.
Frozen (c) Disney
Voltron Legendary Defender (c) Dreamworks Animation
:Loyalty:
In the deepest sector of space as the lights of the nebular whip and flicker like the Northern lights the Castle of Lions flies silently. Recently the Paladins had uncovered their old friend Queen Elsa of Arendelle frozen on an asteroid. She has been told of the disappearance of the Paladins former leader Shiro and grieves for him but for now they focus on the present. Coran had just recently left for the rip that took the Paladins to Arendelle the first time, to learn what has become of Arendelle after discovering Elsa with no memory of what transpired. On the castle bridge the Paladins now in casual attire share with Elsa all the recent events after Shiro's disappearance and Zarkon's defeat.
"I still can't believe that Zarkon is actually gone." Elsa said sitting in Lances former station.
"Yeah I never thought we'd actually pull it off." Hunk said.
"Yeah you could say he went out with a bang!" Lance said rather cocky.
"Yes, and in the wake of Voltrons victory over Zarkon many planets that have been conquered by the Galra over the years have begun to fight back." Allura explained. " As such we have begun to form a coalition to fight against the Galra."
"So the Galra are still out there?" Elsa questioned. "But I would have thought with Zarkon dead the empire would fall apart."
"Thats what we thought." Pidge agreed.
"Yeah while we defeated Zarkon another rose to take his place." Kieth continued. "Prince Lotor."
"Lotor?" Elsa said.
"Yes he's the prince of the Galra empire… and Zarkon's son" Allura then added.
"Wait! Zarkon has a son!" Elsa gasped not believing how someone as corrupted and twisted as Zarkon had a son.
"Yeah we're still having a hard time believing someone actually had kids with that guy!" Lance said in disbelief.
"Despite this we still strive to assemble the coalition to take back the universe." Allura said confidently but then her mood changed to a saddened expression. "However, they were willing to follow Voltron." Allura then said and Elsa then began to see what the problem was.
"Yeah and given Shiro was ….MIA we had to consider finding someone else to, fly the Black lion." Pidge continued to explain.
"Someone else?" Elsa questioned rather hurt.
"Hey it wasn't an easy decision for us either but we had to think how we could move on without him it's what he would want us to do." Kieth explained rather angered, which did surprise Elsa a little.
"Yeah but it wasn't our choice it was up to the Black lion." Hunk explained.
"So we each presented ourselves to it to see who it would accept." Allura explained "and ultimately, it chose Kieth." She then gestured to Kieth and Elsa was still rather surprised, but knew from her first meeting with the Paladins that the lions decide who becomes their Paladin.
"But if Keith is flying the Black lion who's flying the Red one?" Elsa then asked.
"Oh that would be yours truly." Lance gestured to himself.
"And I now fly the Blue lion." Allura then said.
"What Allura, you're a Paladin now?" Elsa said in surprise.
"Yes I felt it was time I took a more active roll in this fight against the Galra, my father built Voltron I just couldn't allow others to willingly sacrifice themselves without the chance to do so myself."
"Okay but I would have thought you'd be flying the Red lion, you know given your father flew it." Elsa said remembering the story of the original Paladins and Alfor being the original Red Paladin.
"Yes I was hoping for that too but I knew it wasn't meant for me it was meant for Lance." Allura explained.
"Elsa I know you just got thawed from that asteroid but do you recall anything about how you got here?" Pidge then asked.
"I don't know." Elsa said unsure "My memory is a bit foggy its in pieces but not enough to put a story together, but I remember something happened to Anna and a flash of light after that nothing." she then explained.
The Paladins contemplated about what Elsa had just said Pidge was the most concerned of all as to the fate of Anna. "Well hopefully Coran will find something when he gets to the rip." Hunk said assuringly which did put a smile on Elsa's face. However before more could be sent a small alert goes off on the console.
Pidge takes up her station and looks at the alert. "Guys I'm picking up a distress signal from a nearby planet." Pidge relayed.
"What does it say?" Kieth asks. Pidge examines the distress call and deciphers the message.
"It says they're under attack from a Galra fleet!" Pidge relays and Kieth immediately acts upon it.
"Okay plot a course they'll need our help!" Kieth ordered and everyone took their stations save Elsa who was still in Lance's former station.
Several quadrants away:
The Castle exits a wormhole in a green coloured nebula and is greeted by an ongoing fire fight between a Galra fleet and what seem to be triangle shaped alien fighter jets in black and grey. From the bridge the Paladins can see the fire fight in progress. Elsa could hardly believe what she was seeing an alien battle taking place before her, she had seen the Paladins fight the Galra before but this was something else.
"Looks like we got her just in time these people are loosing ground against the Galra." Allura said.
"Okay let's give them a hand get to your lions." Kieth then commanded and everyone went to their respective lifts and entered their Lions. The lions fly out from the Castle of lions and join the battle. Kieth hails the command ship of the fighting fleet.
"Attention this is the Paladins of Voltron we're here to help." Kieth said to the fleet opposing the Galra. A responding communication from the fleet then comes through its a humanoid beast like animal with horns and wearing a gold and blue uniform similar to that a Viking would wear.
"Paladins thank the stars this is commander Zytax of the planet Crydor. The Galra attacked us without warning we can barely hold out." Said Commander Zytax.
"Understood we'll take it from here, Paladins we need to back up this fleet lets take down the cruisers, Hunk you and Lance take down the fighters!" Kieth instructed.
The lions then split up Blue, Black and Green attack the cruisers whilst Red and Yellow take on the Galra fighters. using the Red Lions jaw blade Lance is able to slice the fighters in half, one approaches from the right but the yellow lion intercepts.
"Got your back Lance!" Hunk called.
Meanwhile back on the Castle of lions all Elsa can do is watch from afar seeing what it was the Paladins do to help protect the universe. The Black and Green Lions attack the Galra warship keeping the ion cannons targeted on them.
"Allura take out their reinforcements!" Keith ordered and the Blue Lion uses the freeze cannon to freeze the hanger bays distributing the Galra fighters. The Black Lion then uses its jaw blade to slice through the Ion cannon which explodes after doing so and then the green lion fires its vine cannon at the rear of the ship and the growing vines crush the engines causing the warship to explode.
"Nice work Pidge!" Kieth said. The Paladins could see the remaining Galra ships had been eliminated by the red and yellow lions whilst remaining stragglers retreat.
The Paladins then return to the castle and receive a message from the fleet they just aided. "Thank you Paladins we are very grateful to Voltron for his help." Commander Zytax thanked.
"Its our pleasure." Princess Allura replied.
"We would be greatly honoured if you would join us on our planet to celebrate this victory and to show you our deepest gratitude." Zytaz offered.
"Of course, we'd be honoured." Allura thanked. The communication is then shut down.
"So we're going down to the planet?" Elsa asked.
"Yes we must tend to these people its part of our mission." Allura said.
"But Allura no disrespect but shouldn't we go looking for Anna now I mean she could be out there somewhere." Elsa urged.
"Elsa I know your worried for Anna we all are but right now we should at least land and make sure this planet can operate on its own before we move on." Pidge said.
"But the Galra are gone they know they can't beat Voltron so why bother trying to reconquer the planet?" Elsa argued.
"The Galra don't give up and some planets aren't capable of defending themselves against their firepower we can provide some protection for the time being." Allura then said. "But.."
"Elsa!" Keith then interrupted her. "We have a mission to stop the Galra and free innocent planets, we can look for Anna later but right now these people need us." He then explained.
" Kieth it's my sister she's everything to me and to all of you and it seems you don't care!" Elsa exclaimed surprising everyone.
"Elsa we do care but this isn't just about finding one person it's about freeing planets from their oppressors." Keith argues back.
"Really, is that what Shiro would do?!" Elsa then questioned angrily which Kieth looked wide eyed at and then got angry he looked like he was about to snap.
"Don't even play that card with me your highness!" Kieth Warned. "You've no idea what Shiro would do! He would know that we have to protect the innocent and yes I do care about finding Anna but right now we need to help these people who have been oppressed by the Galra for years!" Kieth said angrily. "And for the record I didn't even want to be the leader that's something Shiro wanted! I'm not him and I never will be! So don't tell me what he would want you don't deserve to!"
He finally snapped Elsa just stood silently and looked more than hurt by what Kieth had just said as did the other Paladins. Kieth then realised what he just said and looked down rather saddened. Elsa then just left the room rather heartbroken.
"Kieth, that wasn't cool." Lance said.
"You don't think I know that" Kieth just growled. "I just… I just don't know what to do with her." Lance and Allura could see the regret in Kieth's eyes at what had happened.
"I do care about Anna, but I also know we have to free planets from the Galra it's just… we should get to Crydor and meet with their leaders." Kieth finally said.
"Kieth if it's all the same to you I'll stay on the castle, you know with Coran not being here and all." Lance suggested.
"I should be down there too but I think I'll stay with Lance." Allura then added.
"Okay Hunk Pidge with me." Kieth agreed and so the three Paladins went to their lions and followed the fleet back to Planet Crydor but not before they landed the castle behind an asteroid to hide it from the Galra should any still be there.
The Paladins arrived and saw the planet was a frozen planet with structures made of metal which looked a lot like the equivalent of Viking huts.
The Lions landed outside the palace and the soldiers escorted the Paladins in. They now stand in a great hall surrounded by soldiers and in front of them was a viking shaped throne and on it stood the chief of the tribe. He wore Gold and blue viking like armour and beside him stood a young lion like man in similar armour.
"Your majesty." Greeted Commander Zytax.
"So the legends are true, Voltron has returned." The chief said in amazement seeing the three Paladins before him. "I am Valkar chief of the tribes of Crydor, I welcome you to our planet." Valkar greeted.
"I had heard of the exploits of the Paladins of Voltron but I thought they were nothing more than tall tales." Said the young Crydorian said.
"This is my son Prince Zykar." Chief Valkar introduced.
"The honour is ours Chief Valkar." Kieth introduced. "We are grateful to you for coming to our aid long before Emperor Zarkon fell, the Galra have attacked many of our off planet outposts." Valkar explained.
"You maybe the only ones strong enough to fight off the Galra." Zykar explained.
"Well don't worry we'll get rid of the Galra if they come back." Hunk insisted.
The Chief then looked and noticed something about the Paladins or rather the number that were before them. "Wait, I count only three where are the rest of your comrades?" He asked.
"They're on the Castle of Lions in case the Galra should return." Pidge then explained.
"Well I would feel comfort to be greeted by all five Paladins." The Chief explained.
"Duly noted." Kieth then said.
Meanwhile a distance away:
In the distant corners of space a quadrant away from Planet Crydor a ship hovered rather close and it was a large grey, blue and orange ship which looked rather different to the normal Galra warships. Inside the bridge at the controls was four female looking aliens one of them was orange skinned with traces of yellow, purple and green on her skin and tendril. The second was a rather bulky individual with turquoise coloured skin with purple hair reaching out across her pink ears, purple eyes and had a purple like scar under her right eye. The third individual was hooded figure with no eyes but a pair of small ears on her reptilian face which was light blue with a red-purple stripe running down from her forehead to her mouth, with a curvy body and a tail with dark purple and blue spots lining it. The fourth member of this group is half Galran in appearance with blue skin, pointed ears, sharp claws and cat like eyes. On her head she bears four hornlike projections and slicks her hair back. She looks more humanoid in appearance than most Galra.
Each of them bear black, grey, orange and blue armour with shoulder pads that was almost identical to the armour worn by Prince Lotor, these were his Generals who were only half Galra. Said Prince arrived on the bridge.
"Axca report." The Half Galran General Axca then reported to her superior officer.
"Sir we have just received confirmation from the Galra fleet who attacked planet Crydor Voltron is there." Axca reported.
Lotor took time to think about his generals response and knew about his fathers obsession with reclaiming the Black lion, however Lotor wasn't blinded by obsession he attained a clear head and knew when to act.
"Contact our ally on that planet, its time we solidify our, arrangement." Lotor decided he had an informant on the planet the Paladins were on but who?
Castle of lions:
Back in the Castle of Lions, Lance was looking round the Castle like he was looking for something or ,rather someone. He soon arrived at a corridor of the Castle where the Paladins sleeping quarters there he found Allura outside a door that seemed to have some ice on it.
Allura knocked on the door. "Elsa, its me Allura is it okay if I come in?" She asked. However Allura had no response she wanted to knock again but was a little hesitant, she wondered if this was what Anna went through when she isolated herself.
"Allura what are you doing here?" Lance asked.
"I wanted to talk to Elsa and see if she was okay?" Allura responded.
"I came here to do the same thing." Lance said.
On the other side of the door in the guest room Elsa sat crouched up on the bed in the dark with some tears coming from her eyes. She heard a knock on the door again.
"Elsa, i..it's Allura again, and Lance is with me, please let us in so we can talk." Allura said through the door. Elsa was a little hesitant however the door soon slid open automatically, and Allura with Lance in tow enter the room as the door shuts behind them.
"Hey you okay?" Lance asked.
"Am I okay?" Elsa asked slightly mad "Well lets see, I've lost my sister I don't know where she is or if she's still alive I learned the man who helped me be a better person is missing and possibly dead and the new so called leader of the Paladins puts stopping the Galra over finding my sister." She then listed with the presence of tears in her eyes.
"But other than that I'm fine how are you?" Lance and Allura could tell she wasn't okay and was angry at a certain new Black Paladin. Allura sat down next to the ice queen on the bed.
"Elsa, I know that things haven't been great, but understand it's not been the best for us especially Kieth." Allura explained.
"Well he certainly made that very clear." Elsa said sarcastically. "Look try and understand, Kieth has known Shiro much longer than any of us, and well I don't have the full details but all I know is he wouldn't have gotten into the Garrison without him." Lance said backing him up and this had gotten Elsa's attention. "Finding out he's missing after we took down Zarkon and accepting leadership on top of that it's been stressing him." Lance continued.
"And we understand how this looks and we do care about Anna and we will find her but you must understand that we are in the middle of a war now at a crossroads and we must factor the millions of planets still being oppressed by the Galra." Allura continued to explain.
Elsa thought carefully about what her friends were trying to tell her and not considering the affect it was having on Kieth after what Anna talked about him during their time in Arendelle.
"I guess I never considered how it was affecting him, but it's still hard to understand why Shiro wanted him to lead the team." Elsa wondered.
Lance then placed a hand on her shoulder as he kneeled down. "We get it no-one could possibly replace Shiro, I mean I thought the Black Lion made a mistake when it chose Kieth over me." Lance said surprising Elsa a little. "but I realised that it wouldn't have chosen anyone it didn't feel was worthy of leading Voltron, so I respected its choice and you should too." Lance finished and Elsa looked with understanding of the situation now.
"If Shiro wanted Kieth to lead the team in his place, he must have had a good reason." Allura then added. Elsa then began to think about all that had been told to her not seeing Kieth's point of view or his deep personal connection with Shiro whether it was like the one she had with him.
Suddenly they heard some alerts from the castle bridge and so the three made their way there. They arrived on the bridge and Allura typed on the console.
"Allura what's going on?" Lance asked. Allura looked at the console and could see something rather unusual coming from the planet.
"Odd according to the computers there's a cloaked energy reading coming from the North side of the planet.
"Cloaked?" Elsa said in confusion.
"It means it can't be seen by others." Lance explained.
"So how can the Castle see it?" Elsa asked.
"Well Pidge and Hunk have been upgrading the systems since our trip to a hidden Galra outpost where I got captured." Allura explained.
"We better tell the others." Lance advised to which Allura nodded.
Crydor:
A huge celebration takes place in the Palace as the Crydoirans are celebrating the Paladins for saving them the Paladins insisted that they didn't need to but it was tradition to celebrate a glorious victory and not wanting to be disrespectful they accepted. Hunk was talking to some of the Crydorian warriors and Pidge was all but intrigued with how their palace was shaped a lot like the viking structures of Earth.
"Man Pidge some of these guys certainly know how to party." Hunk complimented. "I bet Lance is mad he's missing this."
"Yeah but look around at this palace it's strikingly similar to the Vikings of our world." Pidge said in amazement.
"Oh yeah and apparently they've stayed strong through the whole time that the Galra tried to conquer their planet, heck even claiming the Chief went toe to toe with Zarkon and lived." Hunk added.
Meanwhile, Kieth was outside lost in thought he couldn't stop thinking about the way he treated Elsa, and knew that Shiro would never have approved of it. He knew he needed to make this right but not right now. Soon he was joined by the prince of Crydor.
"Greetings, Paladin Kieth enjoying the celebrations?" He asked.
"Uh yes thank you your highness." Kieth thanked.
"Have I mentioned what an honour it is to have you and your comrades here?" The prince asked.
"Yes you have constantly." Kieth said trying not to be disrespectful.
"You seem to feel rather doubtful in yourself." The Prince noticed Kieth looking rather doubtful in himself.
"Well, if you were handed a responsibility you felt you weren't ready for or thought you could do and when others doubt you how would you respond?" Kieth wondered.
"Ah the doubts of leadership I know that all too well, with me being next in line for the throne I knew I would face a lot of choices, some I didn't think I would be ready for but I decided to try and face it in my own way." Prince Zykar said in a wise way.
"Hm wise words." Kieth said.
"Yes though a leader must lead by example and never weaver, though there are times that my people doubt my fathers will." Zykar then said getting the new Black Paladins attention. "What do you mean?"
"Well some believe if we make a deal with the Galra they'll leave us in peace, some grow tired of this constant war but having Voltron here is great comfort." Prince Zykar explained.
"I see." Kieth then said and then a guard shows up to speak to the prince'.
"Sire." The guard said and whispered something to him and Kieth began to see his change in expressions from confident to rather untrusting. The Prince then turned to Kieth.
"I apologies Paladin Kieth I have urgent matters to attend to." Prince Zykar then took his leave leaving the new Black Paladin a little suspicious. Hunk and Pidge then exited the palace to find their new leader.
"Hey Kieth your missing one heck of a party back there." Hunk said.
"Yeah a warrior tried challenging Hunk to an armwrestling match but thankfully I stopped that before any bones were broken." Pidge then added. Suddenly a beeping noise came from Kieth's gauntlet indicating an incoming transmission from the Castle of Lions.
"Paladins come in are you there?" Allura called as the transmission appeared on Kieth's holo-screen.
"We're here Allura what's going on?" Kieth answered seeing Lance Allura and Elsa on the castle bridge.
"The castle sensors have just picked up an unusual signature on the Northside of planet Crydor." Allura explained then Lance could over hear the cheering of the people.
"Wait a minute are you guys at a party? WITHOUT ME!" Lance said rather angry.
"Lance not now!" Elsa then said.
"Keith I'm worried something doesn't seem right with the signature." Allura then expressed.
"Hm now you mention it something seems off with that prince he said that some of the Crydorians are doubtful in their Chief and how the fighting would stop if they made a deal with the Galra." Kieth then wondered.
Castle of Lions:
"What? Make a deal with them they would never do that I thought you said its Victory or Death for the Galra?" Elsa questioned.
"Yeah she's right that doesn't sound like anything the Galra would consider?" Pidge wondered.
"That didn't seem to stop Hans though." Hunk pointed out. "But the Galra did turn him into a fire robeast that would have wiped out Arendelle in a super nova and..."
"We get it Hunk!" Everyone said.
"Okay can you and Lance take your lions and investigate?" Kieth suggested.
"Well yeah but we'd be leaving the castle un manned without Coran." Lance said from the Castle of Lions.
"Not necessarily within this asteroid belt the Castle is hidden plus we can set up the Particle barrier." Allura suggested.
"Then investigate but be cautious we don't know what we're dealing with we'll join you when we can." Kieth then decided. Then cut off the transmission.
"Okay lets go." Lance said as he and Allura made their way to their lions.
"Hold on." They then turned to see Elsa. "I'm coming with you." She then decided.
"No way it could be dangerous." Lance said "Besides we need someone manning the castle."
"Please I know I could help and all the more reason I should come my powers could help." Elsa then insisted.
"I'm not sure about this." Allura said in doubt.
"Would Shiro stand by if something happened to you?" She then questioned.
"Hm good point, plus she could stowaway on our lions didn't stop Anna." Lance then said.
"Alright you can accompany us." Allura decided much to Elsa's joy "Lets get you suited up and ready." Allura then said.
Later they were at the hanger of the Blue lion and Allura now in her Paladin suit was talking to someone "Okay I'm entrusting you to guard this castle with your lives should the worst happen understood."
However who she was talking to was the Space mice along with Flurry the small snowman made during Elsa's spring fever trouble. The mice saluted whilst Flurry just beamed a smile not understanding the situation.
Soon Elsa arrived in the hanger she was now wearing Allura's spare castle flight suit. "I'm not quite sure about this Allura?" Elsa said as she looked at herself in the suit.
"Why it's ideal?" Allura said.
"Well its just, I've never worn something like this before its a little tight." Elsa said trying to loosen up her suit in some areas.
"Well unless you want to freeze in the coldness of space it kinda has to be, not even your powers could protect you." Lance said coming into the hanger.
"I suppose so, but it could use a little something." Elsa then said. She twirled her hands and a few streams of magic swirled around her suit before the armour changed from white to ice blue whilst maintaining some of the violet blue on the upper waist and shoulders. On her chest and arms were now cyan snowflakes one of which had a small white Paladin symbol in the centre and two small capes came flying off her shoulders with snowflakes on it.
"Much better." Elsa said looking at herself. Lance and Allura looked rather impressed with Elsa's new attire, and Lance decided if they went back to their Earth someday he was taking the ice queen to meet his family he knew his sisters and niece would kill to have magic designs on their dresses.
The Red and Blue lions flew away from the Castle and the particle barrier is raised inside the castle the mice stand on the bridge keeping watch whilst the smallest of the mice rides Flurry across the bridge.
The Lions meanwhile approach the north side of Planet Crydor. In the Red Lion Lance looks at the holo screens tracking the signature. "Allura we're at the coordinates but so far I'm not seeing anything?" Lance relayed in the Blue Lion meanwhile Allura looks on her holo consoles tracking the signal with Elsa standing behind her control chair wearing her helmet which was ice blue like her suit.
"According to my sensors this is where the signature is coming from." Allura wondered Elsa looked down to the surface of the planet and began to wonder why they couldn't see anything then she had a notion.
"Wait Allura maybe we're missing something." she said to the Altean Princess.
"How do you mean?" Allura asked.
"Well I remember something that Kristof said once, when he traveled to the North Valley." Elsa began to explain. "Rocky caverns like these make a good hiding place due to all the rocks covering potential places for thieves to hide or escape into and you wouldn't know to look there unless you looked closer."
"Meaning?" Lance said pitching into the conversation.
"Meaning maybe we need to take a closer look on the ground because so far we can't see much from the air." Elsa finally finished.
"Well let's find out we'll land and take a closer look." Allura finally decided and so the two Lions landed on the ground and their Paladins with Elsa disembarked using the Speeders to cover more ground.
For Elsa it was a little uncomfortable given it was designed to house one pilot and so had to ride on the side of Allura's speeder using her ice to hold her in place Soon they arrive where the Castle picked up the signature and so the two Paladins disembark from their speeders as does Elsa. Lance and Allura materialise their Bayard's and make their way into the cavern. They soon arrive overlooking a small clearing but what they found was what they didn't expect.
"Oh no!" Allura gasped they saw a fleet of Galra fighters with sentries guarding them.
"The Galra here. How?" Elsa wondered in shock. Lance formed his blaster which then shifted into a sniper rifle with an extended scope vision. He used it to spy on the scene.
"I count at least nearly seventy fighters." Lance said "Hold on?" He suddenly sees something from the corner of his eye and it appears to be some cloaked figures approaching the site.
The figures approach then from a line of sentries appears generals Axca and Zethrid. The cloaked figures then appear in front of them. "I was expecting to meet with Prince Lotor?" Said the cloaked figure.
"Prince Lotor will be here momentarily so your positive you came here alone?" Asked Axca.
"Positive we were not followed." Said another cloaked individual.
From their position Elsa and the two Paladins could sense something was afoot. "Who are they?" Elsa asked looking at the two generals.
"I don't know?" Allura wondered.
"Kieth come in you may want to see this" Lance then patched the visual of his visor through the comm line to Kieth.
On the other end Kieth receives the transmission via his wrist gauntlet Hunk and Pidge gathered to see what's going on. "Whoa what is this?" Hunk asked Pidge then took notice of the individuals in the footage.
"Wait those are Galra fighters?!" Pidge exclaimed.
"But how did…" Hunk asked until Kieth came to a sudden realisation.
"Wait a minute that attack on the planet before must have been a diversion so those fighters could slip in unnoticed." He devised.
"But how could they the only way is if someone knew where on the planet they could land." Pidge theorised.
"You mean.." Hunk said knowing where this was going.
"One of them is a traitor, keep monitoring the situation guys we'll inform the chief." Kieth ordered.
"Gotya" Lance replied.
From their vantage point the two Paladins and the Ice Queen watched the scene below transpire. The leader of the cloaked individuals approached the generals. "I must admit I'm surprised that Lotor agreed to this I thought the Galra didn't need allies?" The leader said.
"That was Zarkon's old regime new times are coming." Zethrid answered simply. "I'm just more surprised you want to join the new empire but I guess it's understandable if you get tired of fighting." She then said. "Your highness." She then smirked.
This caught the spying Paladins and Ice queen's attention 'your highness' that meant only one thing.
"Indeed." The leader removed his hood to reveal its actually Prince Zykar of Crydor. "Thats why those that are loyal to me have agreed to join the empire." He addressed.
"What of your father I'm sure he wouldn't approve of this?" Axca wondered.
"My fathers a blind fool he believes that the ancestors of our planet would never give up for honour and valiance." The prince explained "However the old times are over the warriors of old can't stand up to the Galra so don't worry about my father I shall deal with him in time." He finished.
Elsa could not believe what she was hearing this planets own prince was selling them out because he was tired of fighting them despite knowing the devastation the Galra have caused, giving up hope is what they want.
"Ancestors what does he mean?" She whispered to Allura.
"Well according to the lore of Crydor the Crydorians are descended from warriors who fought with honour and courage never wavering wearing armour with horns on their heads." Allura explained.
"You mean like the vikings on Earth?" Elsa wondered.
"Yeah but right now we're looking at the start of a coup!" Lance whispered.
"Then we better.." Elsa moves but suddenly some small rocks rolled down the hill when she moved the crashing noise whilst small had gotten Zethrid's attention she looked up and saw Lance, Allura and Elsa on the ridge above them.
"Witnesses!" Zethrid cried and Axca fires her blaster at the ridge only for Lance to repel it with his gauntlet shield.
"Lets go!" He then cried as the trio quickly made their escape suddenly their path was blocked by Galra sentries, however these were different than the normal sentries these now had more cube based heads and were more muscular in design. They were though armed with the same blasters which were now armed.
Lance was about to blast them when suddenly with one wave of her hand Elsa uses her powers to generate ice spikes on the ground which pierce the sentries destroying them.
"Nice!" Lance said Elsa smiled in assurance. Suddenly from below a laser blast from the sentries below collapses the ridge and the trio with it. The smoke clears and the two Paladins along with Elsa are trapped under the rubble. Elsa looses consciousness before they are approached by the two generals and the traitors to the planet Crydor.
Hours later Elsa begins to stir from unconsciousness, she could hear Lances voice. "Elsa, Elsa you okay?" He said and Elsa turned to see Lance and Allura restrained and their Bayards in a small confinement cell. She tried to move her hands but she was restrained in cuffs.
"Well well well." A voice called and they looked to see Zethrid and Axca standing above her accompanied by Ezor and Narti who had recently arrived.
"Two of the so called Paladins of Voltron and a new recruit gotta say I was expecting more." Ezor said.
"Who are you?" Elsa demanded.
"We are generals to Prince Lotor heir to the Galra empire." Axca answered Elsa was rather confused they were part of the Galra Empire but they didn't look like the rest of the Galra.
"But you don't look Galra?" Elsa wondered and was suddenly greeted by Narti who just looked at her even though she had no eyes it didn't half creep the ice queen out especially by the cat she had on her shoulder .
"Careful Narti." Zethrid said.
"We may not look it but we have the blood of a Galra coursing through us, we serve for the honour of Lotor." Axca explained which left Elsa all but surprised they were like a certain former Red Paladin she knew.
"Serving the son of a monster like Zarkon where's the honour in that?" Elsa questioned.
"Yeah what she said" Lance agreed.
"What would you know of such matters." A voice emerged from behind the generals and they stepped aside to reveal Prince Lotor himself. Allura and Lance looked in shock seeing the son of Emperor Zarkon they only heard his voice the first time but to see him in the flesh, Elsa wasn't sure what to expect.
"Greetings Paladins, I am Prince Lotor, son of Zarkon heir to the throne of the Galra Empire." Lotor introduced "And you must be Princess Allura Daughter of Alfor one of the survivors of the Planet Altea." He said noticing the Altean amongst the group.
All Allura could do was glare as could Lance. "So your Lotor?" Elsa said getting his attention who then looked to her.
"And who might you be?" He asked Elsa glared for a moment before speaking.
"Elsa." She said "Queen Elsa of Arendelle" The Generals were rather surprised to hear this notion whilst Lotor kept a calm demeanour.
"A Queen well aren't we humbled." Ezor said but Lotor raised his hand telling her to be silent.
"I am familiar with you and your kingdom your highness its something I learned from the Witch." Lotor explained "I must say the gift you posses is quite impressive for someone so timid." Elsa just glared.
"Flattery will get you nowhere." Elsa said "but I knew your father he was insane must run in the family." She said.
"Call me what you will but my father was obsessed with power, and wanting to reclaim the Black Lion. That obsession was his downfall, my father built this empire on the bones of his enemies however I seek allies." Lotor explained.
"But if they don't submit you just wipe them out like your father did!" Allura glared Lotor closed his eyes and said nothing until the Prince of Crydor approached.
"Lotor offered us a place in the empire guaranteeing a future for my people." Zykar explained.
"But your betraying the ideal that your people stand for!" Elsa exclaimed "its not preserving its an act of cowardice you don't think your people can stand for themselves but they can and now with Voltron back."
"DON'T LECTURE ME!" Zykar snapped at the ice queen "That may apply to your kingdom but not here and need I remind you that the Galra have been ruling for ten thousand years because Voltron disappeared abandoning us and all that time my people have suffered since the day I was born I've battled for so long and I see the slaughtering of my people and for what Honour and Valiance!" The prince explained.
"No more if we swear allegiance to Lotor the fighting will end and my people will live forever!"
"What about those who won't submit no matter the cost?" Allura questioned.
"Then they shall be left to survive on their own if they are strong then they will." Zethrid then said.
"Hmph Victory or Death now that's more like the Galra." Lance cracked.
"Never the less, the new empire will ensure this planets life for millennia." Lotor proclaimed.
"At what cost?" Elsa questioned "You can't trust them they'll betray you when they get the chance, someone who wanted my kingdom did the same thing by using my own sister and he nearly succeeded but he didn't thanks to her not giving up on me when I fled my own home to protect her but she followed anyway because she had hope and love!" Elsa said which Lance and Allura all but took in even Axca found this a rather moving speech.
"Oh bo ho ho," Zethrid then said.
"yeah in case you didn't notice your all alone." Ezor the two Paladins and Ice queen could hear something echoing throughout the cavern and Elsa could only smile as she knew what that sound was.
"No your wrong we aren't alone there's always hope and look here it comes!" Elsa said and suddenly laser blasts came down from above destroying the Galra fighters they all looked up and it was the Green, Yellow and Black lions of Voltron.
"OH YEAH THE CAVALRIES HERE!" Lance cheered one blast hit the sentry that was keeping the cuffs on the trio and it immediately deactivated their restraints using this Allura and Lance grabbed their Bayards and formed their weapons. Allura's bayard weapon was similar to Pidge's however she swung her weapon and let loose a chain that struck down all the sentries and retracted back to the Bayard.
"Kieth you there!" Lance called up to his leader .
"You guys okay?" Kieth asked from the Black Lion "Yeah but Kieth the Prince.."
"I know we heard everything over the comms we can't let the Galra take this planet try and get back to your lions we'll cover you." Kieth said interrupting and Allura used this chance to get to their speeders but were met by the Prince and his fellow traitors.
" You won't stop me from saving my people!" Zykar said and the men attacked Elsa quickly acted and stomped the ground creating a sheet of ice causing the warriors to slip and loose balance giving Elsa the chance to encase them in ice so they wouldn't escape.
Prince Zykar couldn't believe what he was seeing. "How is this possible you have Cryokinetic abilities yet you are human!" The Prince exclaimed.
"You have no idea what I can do." Elsa said but are then met by laser fire from Axca and the generals Zethrid tries to strike Elsa but she uses her powers to make a shield to hold her back then pushes back and fires Ice at the ground making Zethrid slip into Ezor.
"We can't get to the lions they're blocking our way." Allura said.
"Maybe we should give them something else to worry about!" Elsa took a deep breath and began twirling her hands around generating her ice magic creating a blizzard which began to take shape into something else and the shape it took was that of her ice palace guard Marshmallow.
The Generals and traitors looked in complete shock and their jaws dropped with shrunk pupils. "Wow!" Was all Ezor could say.
Marshmallow let out a thundering roar and charged them whacking them to the side and giving Zethrid an upper cut she tried to fight back with her strength but it was no use and when she punched him her hand got stuck in the snow. She looked up and Marshmallow just roared at her generating ice from his mouth and hands.
"Opps!" She said as she was punched into a wall. The generals could only retreat with Lotor in their fighters whilst the Crydoiran defectors continued to fight.
"HA HA I love that snowman!" Lance exclaimed.
"Nice work Elsa!" Allura said.
"Thanks now lets get to the lions!" She said knowing how good it was to say that.
Soon the two Paladins arrived in the lion cockpits of their respective lions and Elsa was with Allura in Blue. The two lions took to the sky and joined their pride. "Good to see you guys are okay." Hunk said from Yellow.
"Thanks Hunk." Elsa said from the Blue Lion standing by Allura's side.
"Elsa's with you?" Pidge asked.
"Well be glad she is." Lance added from Red. Suddenly they saw a Galra fleet in the upper atmosphere lead by Lotor's ship. In response the Crydorians launch an attack with their ships.
"FOR CRYDOR!" Cried a warrior in a fighter ship.
The Lions could see the people of the planet fighting back but were beginning to loose ground every fighter they destroyed more took its place.
"We've got to get up there and help!" Pidge exclaimed and so the Lions hurried to battle but as they flew up towards the battle they noticed that the Crydor defectors were escaping in their ships.
"The defectors are getting away!" Elsa said seeing this from the Blue lion.
"We need to go after them!" Allura agreed.
"No we've got to help the Crydorian fleet!" Lance said.
"Guys we need to do something Kieth!" Hunk then asked the leader of the Paladins.
"We have to stop the Galra!" Kieth said.
"But if the defectors get away they'll just attack the village, or even attack the palace." Lance said.
"But if we don't stop the Galra now they'll just come back!" Pidge said.
"Kieth what should we do?" Hunk asked. In the Black Lion Kieth was just frozen in anger he didn't know what to do stop the fleet or stop Zykar and the defectors. Though in the Blue Lion Elsa could tell this was having an affect on Kieth and though she didn't start well with Kieth as the new leader she remembered something that Shiro had told her.
"Thats what a leader does, he or she gives their teammates the power to succeed." She heard Shiro's voice echo in her mind "Even when I lead I wonder if I made the right decision but I choose not to worry I choose to face it." She then realised what she had to do.
"Kieth" She said opening a comm line to Kieth from the Blue Lion. " I know this isn't the easiest decision to make and I know you'll carry the consequences no matter what you decide." Elsa began " I know you think your not the leader Shiro was, so don't be him be you, do what you truly think is right and remember what is Voltrons purpose?" She said Kieth began to take all this to heart and went deep in thought and realised what was the most important thing.
"To defend the universe." Kieth breathed.
"Kieth?" Lance said over the coms.
" Guys we are stopping the Galra we're not about to let them reconquer this planet." Kieth began as everyone listened.
"Prince Zykar and his defectors have proven one thing to give up in the face of the enemy is letting them win, and giving up everything they've sacrificed to stop someone more powerful conquer their home, that's not what we do, we protect and defend those who need us Zarkon has spent ten thousand years conquering this universe but now we have a chance to take it all back, we can track down the defectors later but right now the protection of innocent lives outweighs all else, we're the defenders of the universe its time we act like it!" Kieth said.
The team listened to their new leader taking in what was said and Elsa all the while listened knowing she had given someone a chance to succeed. The other Paladins knew he was right they had a duty to defend the universe and take back what Zarkon had taken.
"You sure team leader?" Lance asked.
"Its what Shiro would do." Kieth decided and the Lions took to the sky and headed to the battle field " If we're going to stop the fleet there's only one way to do it!" Kieth said.
The lions soon reached the upper atmosphere and glowed in their respective colours as they came together.
"FORM VOLTRON!" Kieth declared and the Lions came together in a bright light.
The Black Lion let out an ear splitting roar as each lion began disassembling and reassembling into their component parts. Blue and Yellow Lions from the feet and legs, the Green and Red Lions formed the arms and body, as each component locked into place Black with Kieth at the helm formed the head.
The Galra fleet closed in on some of the remaining fighters in the Crydorian fleet. However a sudden blast of light sliced a warship in half which exploded soon after the light faded to reveal, Voltron armed with his sword which sliced through the warship.
"Allura! You're a leg!" Elsa said to Allura in the Blue lion.
"I know amazing isn't it!" Allura said excited.
The Galra warships focused their fire on Voltron who barrel rolled to avoid the blasts and then formed his shield to block the blast to then reflect it onto the other ships in the fleet.
"Hunk FORM CANNON!" Kieth ordered and Hunk inserted his Bayard forming Voltrons Shoulder cannon which fired multiple blasts at the fighters in the fleet. Soon the remains of the Crydoiran fleet began to rise and fight again.
"FOR CRYDOR!" Cried Commander Zytax. The fleet rises and eventually wipes out the remainder of the Galra fleet save for Lotor's warship who leaves the scene.
The defectors meanwhile was a distance away from the battle site and on the bridge Zykar stands on looking at the remains of the battle site. Suddenly the alerts sounded and were soon face to face with Voltron. The Prince knew he had been defeated and could only surrender.
Planet Crydor 3 hours later:
Outside the palace the Paladins and Elsa stood with the lions as the traitors including Prince Zykar stood in a line in restraints.
"The enemy is defeated we thank the Paladins of Voltron for defending our home and brining our secret enemy to justice." Chief Valkar congratulated. "Guards take the traitors and my son to the tower!" He then commanded and the guards took the traitors away.
"Father." The prince said "All I ever wanted was our race to survive, you must see why I had to betray you." Valkar did look with sympathy with a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
"You didn't betray me my son, you betrayed yourself, you betrayed the oath you betrayed our ancestors." Valkar said disheartened as his son was taken away to answer for his crimes.
"Thank you Paladins for exposing a conspiracy within my home." Valkar then thanked.
"Chief Valkar." Elsa then approached. "I'm sorry for your son and the path he chose."
"Yes sometimes when we allow our emotions to control our actions we give the enemy an added advantage, and while we think we maybe doing the right thing we are only fooling ourselves." Valkar said.
"From one ruler to another I understand that I've let my emotions control me and it's made me say and do things that I later regret." Elsa said as she looked to a certain red clad Paladin who could only give a slight smile.
"Indeed Crydor is forever in your debt Paladins should you ever need our aid we shall heed the call." Valkar said as he and his men bowed in respect to the defenders of the universe and the Ice queen all but felt humbled by this.
Later on the Castle of Lions:
The Castle of Lions had left Crydor and was now flying through a blue nebula. In the room that Kieth had settled into since he and his fellow Paladins arrived on Arus, he was sharpening his Marmora blade as his jacket hung from the wall. Suddenly he heard a knock on his door he got up to answer.
"Yeah?" He called the door opened and it was Elsa still in her flight suit he was rather surprised.
"Hey is it okay if we talk for a moment?" Elsa asked.
"Uh sure come in." Kieth just said.
Elsa entered his room and the door shut behind her as she faced the new team leader. "Kieth, listen I just want to say, I… I'm sorry for what I said earlier about how you were putting the war before finding Anna I forgot how your still fighting despite Zarkon being gone." Elsa said as Keith listened "and it was wrong of me to question what Shiro would do."
"No Elsa it's okay." Kieth said stopping her mid apology. "If anything I needed to hear it, to be honest I haven't been the best leader I can be." He said sitting down on his bed.
Elsa was all but surprised given what she had seen today sure Keith still had a lot to learn but he handled himself well but never the less listened.
"When Shiro lead he knew exactly what to do despite knowing if it was the right call, but I'm young I have no experience I never wanted this responsibility but I took it because I knew it was what he would want." Kieth explained "But my first few missions leading I didn't know what to do and I even lead them into a trap Lotor set on Thaserix where we couldn't see or do anything Allura couldn't connect right with the Blue Lion and Lance still hadn't mastered the Red Lions speed but I still pushed them to go after Lotor." Elsa continued to listen.
"I was so caught up in stopping him I, I didn't listen to my team, I pushed it and as always I made the wrong decision."
Elsa then sat down next to him. "Kieth, no one said you had to be a perfect leader, we all make mistakes." She said.
"I know but let's face it I'm not Shiro, I can't lead them like him." Kieth then said. All Elsa could do was smile in understanding.
"But that's just it, you can't be Shiro, you can only be you." Elsa explained "How do you think I felt when I became Queen, I've made my fair share of mistakes, and so did my father when he was king." Elsa said reflecting on what happened during her coronation.
"The point is we make mistakes but we learn from them to grow and understand." Elsa said. "Today I saw that a leader gives his or her teammates the confidence to succeed, you did that today you were faced with stopping the defectors or saving the planet and you made the right choice."
Kieth looked to Elsa and smiled slightly. "Your starting to sound like Shiro." Kieth said.
"Yes he does that." Elsa said smiling, but then decided to ask the question that's been on her mind for a while. "Kieth, how… how did you and Shiro first meet?" She asked which did surprise Keith a bit.
"Its just Lance said you knew Shiro longer than anyone and the way you spoke about him shows something personal." Elsa then explained. Kieth took a minute to think about it and took a deep breath and began.
"Well its because he made me the man I am today." Kieth then said and Elsa listened closely. "You see it began years ago when I was younger, I didn't know my mom she left when I was a baby and I was raised by my Dad, he was a fireman but he perished in a fire years ago and I ended up in a children's home." Kieth began as the scene fade to white.
Many years ago before Kerboros:
Its day time and inside a school building students were listening to their tutor and in one of the tables looking out of the window in wonder was a younger looking Kieth with a red and white hoodie. The teacher then spoke
"I've brought a special guest with me today, I'm sure you all recognise him he's the youngest pilot ever to lead a mission into space." The teacher spoke as she introduced her special guest.
"Takashi Shirogane." She said and the audience applauded as it was a younger looking Shiro with full black hair and wearing a Garrison uniform.
"Thanks for having me." Shiro thanked and all the students could not help but whisper seeing that a famous pilot from the Garrison had come to their school all the students except Kieth who only looked out the window.
"Shiro just broke the record for the fastest orbital velocity." The teacher explained while Kieth just looked out the window as the audience applauded again.
"The Galaxy Garrison has sent me to schools in the area to find the next generation of astro explorers." Shiro explained "Who's ready to find out if they've got what it takes?" The students all raised their hands wanting to sign up.
"Alright alright," Shiro chuckled "Well in order to do that, we're going to give you a test." The students all groaned at the mention of that knowing they could be in for a boring pop quiz.
"By playing a video game." Shiro then mentioned and the students moods peaked up, Shiro then noticed young Keith in the far back staring out the window.
Later all the students were outside and Shiro stood next to what looked like a simulator. "Introducing the Orbit Axiom X the Galaxy Garrison's most advanced flight simulator." Shiro explained and all the students looked in amazement.
"Cadets not much older than you use simulators just like this to train to become the next generation of space explorers, now let's see what you got." Shiro said and the students were all but ready to get started.
They started using the simulator which involved flying through an asteroid belt passing multiple checkpoints one student had just made it past the first checkpoint and cheered in victory " Cool you made it past the first checkpoint." A student dressed in a blue shirt congratulated.
However as the student tried to go further he crashed into an asteroid and a huge FAIL sign appeared and the students groaned. This rather set the tone many students tried but failed again and again and again much to their annoyance.
Later Keith was sitting on a step near the simulator. "We've had some great tries but no ones made it passed the third level yet." Shiro observed he then turned to Kieth who had yet to have a go.
"Looks like your the only one who's left." He said getting the boys attention "Think you have what it takes?" Kieth was rather surprised but never the less he took up the controls. He flew the simulator passed the asteroid belt and was going much further than the other students.
"Whoa the emo kids doing it" Said one of the students in amazement. Kieth flew the simulator fast and accurately eventually reaching the checkpoint and the simulator showed he had made it past level 5 much to the amazement of the other students well not all of them.
"No way! Kieth made it past level 5 the thing must be broken" he said much to Kieth's annoyance.
The teacher then handed Shiro a checklist "I've compiled a list of students who I think would be the best candidates for the Garrison." She said. Shiro then looked at the simulator seeing how well Kieth was doing on the simulator.
"Is this guy on there looks like he's just about ready to fly the real thing." Shiro asked.
"Kieth?" The teacher questioned "He's a bit of a discipline case I don't think he'd necessarily fit in with the rigid Garrison culture." Kieth listened to what his teacher said and he cringed when she wasn't convinced of his worth.
Another student then approached dressed in grey with brown hair and lightly tanned skin. "This is James Griffin, he has the highest grades in school." The teacher introduced.
"Its an honour to meet you Mr. Shirogane" James then greeted. Suddenly the simulator sounded indicating the simulation failed and Kieth was nowhere to be seen. Then Shiro heard the sound of a car engine starting and it was his car which started up and drove away. Everyone was in shock.
"Is that your car?" The teacher asked and Shiro could instantly guess who stole it but could see why.
Flashback paused:
"Wait you stole his car?" Elsa questioned.
"Yeah, I wasn't exactly the best kid back then." Kieth explained.
"Well I can understand why." Elsa said "That teacher had no right to doubt your capabilities despite your… temperamental issues." Elsa tried saying in the nicest way to which Kieth raised an eyebrow.
"So what happened after that?" Elsa asked and Kieth continued his story.
Flashback resumed :Young federal detention centre:
Later at the nearby young federal detention centre Shiro and young Kieth exited the building Shiro had just bailed Kieth out after stealing his car and the two walked over towards it.
"I don't get it, I steal your car and you respond by helping me out?" Kieth asked in surprise as Shiro entered his car.
"Yeah so you owe me one." Shiro explained and then handed Kieth a card with an address on it. "Meet me at this address at 0800 hours." Kieth took the card and looked to Shiro who had a smile on his face. "Your getting a second chance." He said as he drove off.
"Some time after that I headed down to meet him at the address he gave me." Kieth said.
Later at the Garrison Garrison, Kieth had arrived at a hanger and looked to see a large space ship one he recognised. Shiro then joined him."Thats the Calypso the first ship to carry astronauts. to the moons of Jupiter" He then explained.
"It took them three years to get there the longest voyage of its kind." Kieth then said which rather surprised Shiro.
"Thats right." He chuckled. "Reading about that mission is what made me want to be a pilot." Shiro explained "Those astronauts braved the unknown, people can accomplish incredible things things if they're willing to put in the time and effort."
Shiro then turn to young Kieth. "I want to help you Kieth." He began as Kieth listened. "I think you've got a lot of potential, but what you decide to do with that potential it's up to you."
Kieth could only look in surprise no one had ever said that to him before and now a complete stranger is offering him the chance to do something with his life.
"So I took Shiro up on his offer and he got me into the Garrison."Kieth explained.
"I take it it didn't go smoothly either?" Elsa asked.
"Yea pretty much." Kieth said as he continued.
In the Garrison training deck were a series of simulators and Shiro was coordinating the exercise for the cadets. " Bank right and maintain heading at 0.27 degrees." Shiro instructed from the control room where he sat with Comander Iverson and other members of staff.
"Increase throttle by 35 percent and bank left." Shiro relayed. On the screen was the simulation of different Garrison ships and visuals of the cadets flying them two of which were a younger Lance and Hunk, James Griffin was also among these cadets.
Inside the simulator, Kieth now in an orange and white Garrison cadet uniform piloted the ship however he yawned as he was getting bored. "Increase elevation 15 degrees" Shiro then instructed and the ships began climbing however young Hunk was feeling noxious.
"Uh I'm getting dizzy." Hunk said as his stomach growled "I knew I shouldn't have eaten so much make it stop!"
Suddenly the ship Kieth was flying jetted forwards at top speed breaking formation which did irritate Lance. "Fall in line cadet!" Iverson ordered.
"Sorry just testing my controls, sticks loose" Kieth apologised out of boredom.
"Keep this up and you'll be stuck as a cargo pilot" Lance warned.
"Yeah Kieth your gonna get us in trouble." Griffin agreed whilst Kieth was just getting impatient.
"Decrease elevation by 22 degrees." Shiro then instructed, however Kieth just does the opposite and flies down at top speed much to the irritation of his fellow cadets.
"Kieth!" The cadets cried.
"Looks like we've got a show off." Iverson said as he made his way to the simulators. Shiro looked back to the screen in concern. Later the cadets were lined up in front of the simulator as Iverson gave them a scolding.
"I hope you all like it in the simulator, you can thank pilot fancy pants over there for spending the next three weekends in here running DRILLS!" Iverson said squinting at Kieth before taking his leave. Griffin turned to Kieth and grew tired of him.
"Thanks a lot" He said in sarcasm.
"My pleasure." Kieth simply replied.
"We all know the only reason your here is because of Shiro" Griffin then pointed out and Hunk just looked nervous as Kieth frowned.
"I can out fly anyone in this building." Kieth retorted which was true.
"Oh really is that what mommy and daddy told you before…" This tripped a nerve in Kieth who clenched his fist and threw a punch at Griffin right in the face much to the surprise of the other cadets and a fight broke out which got the attention of the other Garrison staff, Iverson was able to pull the two apart but it did leave a bruise on Griffins face.
"Well I can't say I approve of your reaction but he had no right to talk about your parents like that." Elsa said.
"Yeah well that's not what they thought." Kieth continued.
Later outside a teachers office Kieth and Griffen sat outside whilst Shiro was talking to one of the officers in the office. Kieth could hear what they're saying.
"The only reason this kid is here is because you vouch for him." Said the officer talking to Shiro "You need to make sure this doesn't happen again."
"Understood I'll handle it." Shiro said understanding.
Shiro leaves the office then stood aside so that Griffin could pass who just glared at Kieth. The door closed and this left Shiro and young Kieth alone. "Hey" He said to young Kieth who soon broke silence.
"Look I know I messed up." Kieth said simply knowing he was in trouble. "You should just send me back to the home already, this place isn't for me." Kieth had all but given up on being part of the Garrison but Shiro wasn't ready for him to give up yet.
"Kieth." Shiro began. "You can do this, I will never give up on you, but more importantly you can't give up on yourself." Kieth just frowned but then looked to Shiro in surprise.
"You don't even know me?" He questioned why Shiro was even helping him in the first place.
"Your right I don't." Shiro admitted. "But sometimes we all need a hand." and Shiro offered his hand to Kieth and he was all but surprised and he soon gained a confident smile as he accepted Shiro's hand and so began their brotherhood.
Present day:
"Even though Shiro didn't know me, he still didn't give up on me." Kieth explained. "All my life others just abandoned me so I felt I didn't need to accept anyone else in my life just to save them the trouble of abandoning me again maybe because my mom left me."
Elsa just couldn't help but sympathise with him ever since she had powers she felt she had to be distant from everyone else, so they wouldn't think of her as a monster or so she wouldn't hurt her loved ones though she understood Shiro's pain during his time as a prisoner of the Galra, she felt she may have found a new kindred spirit in Kieth.
She placed her hand on Kieth's shoulder in sympathy. "But Shiro was right, you do have a lot of potential I can tell I mean if those cadets or teachers could see you now they would be the fools for not seeing the potential you have." Elsa said and Kieth did crack a small smile.
"Yeah Shiro believed in me and I trusted him, in a way he was like the brother I never had." He then said and Elsa smiled seeing the obvious brotherhood between him and Shiro.
Years ago on Earth:
The story then flashes to a desert on Earth several miles away from the Garrison, Shiro and Kieth were in the desert in their casual attire but Shiro's consisted of a black and grey jacket with grey pants and wore grey goggles on his face, he and Kieth are riding hover bikes coloured in grey, white and orange with numbers on the side of the rear. The bikes had wings with hover engines on the side and tail fins on the rear.
The two were racing these bikes through the desert. "Heh ha come on catch up!" Shiro called to Kieth who rode on the other bike.
Shiro zooms ahead but Kieth is not far behind. Kieth changes a gear and zooms ahead of Shiro, and angles his bike to the left to avoid the sharp rocks on the ground as does Shiro. Shiro regains the lead and the two hover over to the cavern to the other path and race along it drifting. Soon they were approaching a sheer cliff edge and Shiro didn't hesitate to zoom straight off the cliff whilst Kieth swerved to stop. Shiro's bike flew down the cliff edge nose down but then pulls up near the ground near the last second. He continues riding which leaves Kieth all but amazed by the move he saw.
"Whoa!" He breathed in amazement.
Later as the sun was setting in the desert Shiro and Kieth met at the bottom of the ridge. "Whew alright you won this round but I'll get you in the next race old timer." Kieth breathed in amazement.
"I don't doubt it." Shiro chuckled.
"How did you do that dive anyway?" Kieth asked.
"You liked that one huh." Shiro noticed. "Its all about timing, you pull up too soon and you won't have the momentum needed to create lift, too late and their won't be enough lift to avoid the crash." Shiro explained and Kieth listened.
"You think I'm ready to try that?" Kieth wondered.
"What do you think?" Shiro asked Kieth took a moment to consider his response but soon had an answer.
"Maybe I should be patient, and keep focusing on the basics first." He then answered.
"Ah Your learning." Shiro said knowing he was remembering what he taught the young cadet. "So you grew up out here?" Shiro said looking at the sunset in the desert.
"Yep, just me and my pop." Kieth answered.
After a minute of silence Shiro then broke it " He was a , he was a fireman right?" He asked.
"Yeah he was a real hero." Kieth said a little down "Everyone told him not to run back into that building but, couldn't tell him anything." Shiro could see this was how he lost his father many years ago.
"Sounds like someone I know." Shiro complimented, suddenly he felt some small pain and a beeping noise came from his wrist something Kieth noticed and he saw the grey and orange bracelet on his right wrist.
"What are those?" He asked and Shiro looked to him.
"Oh uh they are just some electro stimulants to, keep my muscles loose." He then explained.
"Whats wrong with your muscles?" Kieth then asked.
"Ah nothing this is just what happens when you get to be an old timer." He dismissed as he mounted his bike. "Come on we should get back to the base." Shiro started his bike but Kieth couldn't help but looked a little concerned he could tell Shiro was hiding something.
"Sounds like you two had a close relationship." Elsa said.
"Yeah but there were somethings that, he didn't tell me?" Kieth then said.
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked and Kieth now regretted saying that he knew he was bringing up something Shiro wouldn't want him talking about. "Its not my place to say." Kieth explained.
"No please tell me, I want to know." She said in a determined voice. Kieth knew he shouldn't keep secrets from Elsa especially involving Shiro so as he breathed a sigh.
"Well, several days before the Kerberos mission…" Kieth began.
Several Days before Kerberos:
In the Garrison at Shiro's office he and Commander Sam Holt (Pidge's dad) were having a conversation with Admiral Sanda she wore a grey uniform similar to that of Sam and Shiro except she had medals on her chest and wore a soldiers hat on her head. Shiro had shaved marks on the side of his head.
"I was between classes at the Garrison and decided to stop by Shiro's office but I over heard something."
"No absolutely not." Sanda said in a serious tone.
"Why not he's cleared all his physicals?" Sam protested.
"I don't care what the doctor says." Sanda explained "This man is sick and he shouldn't be sent on another mission especially as far away as Kerberos. I'll have to report this to flight command" She then decided and Shiro looked angry by this revelation, however.
"Shiro is the best pilot in the Garrison by far." Sam then defended much to Shiro's surprise "He's saved my bacon in deep space more times than I can count. If he doesn't go on this mission neither do I." He finally said making his case for Shiro.
Unknown to all of them Kieth now age 18 was listening in on the whole conversation this would be considered a violation of privacy but he couldn't believe what he had heard his friend and brother figure was sick but why didn't he tell him?
Present day:
Elsa was more than surprised by this revelation. "So, Shiro was sick?" She said.
"Yeah I don't know all the details but it had something to do with his muscles and it was affecting his physical health." Kieth explained.
"So that's why no one would let him go on the mission?" Elsa asked.
"Yeah the Garrison didn't want to risk it and Adam was dead set against it too." Kieth went on.
"Adam his partner?" Elsa remembered that name when she and Shiro were talking at the Ice Palace.
"Yeah he knew about it too and didn't want Shiro taking the risk." Kieth continued "Because well…"
"They were more than partners." Elsa answered before Kieth did which shocked him.
"Yeah but how did?" Kieth asked.
"Well the way he talked about him at the Ice Palace, it sounded like he was talking about someone he loved." She explained remembering the tone in his voice from that moment.
"Yeah and it didn't sit well with him about Shiro going on another mission despite his achievements." Kieth said.
"And what about you?" Elsa wondered.
"Well I did the only thing I could , confront him about it."
Days before Kerberos:
Later in the yard close to the Garrison launch site Shiro was doing some work on his hover bike still thinking about what was said by both his boyfriend and his superior officers about his condition. Kieth then approached him in the yard.
"When were you going to tell me?" Kieth said rather upset.
"Oh hey Kieth" Shiro said in surprise.
"So what is it are you sick or something?" Kieth then asked which did surprise Shiro as he didn't know how Kieth found out about this. He stepped down from the step ladder.
"I' I'm not sure I follow…" "I was outside your office" Kieth interrupted Shiro. "I overheard you and commander Holt talking to Admiral Sanda, tell me the truth, tell me what's wrong I'm not a little kid I can handle it!" Kieth then said.
Shiro was still taking in what Kieth had said he didn't want to tell him, however he knew he couldn't keep this a secret from someone he considered a brother after a deep sigh he decided to tell him.
"I have, a disease" He began. "and it's getting worse, I'll only be able to maintain my peak condition for a couple more years, after that." Kieth was shocked by what Shiro was telling him this was indeed a serious condition. Shiro then turned and leaned on another hover bike.
"The Garrison doesn't want me up there, neither does Adam." Shiro then explained.
"So, what are you going to do?" Kieth asked. Shiro took a moment to consider this but he soon grew determined by what he said next.
"I'm going on the mission." He said with every inch of seriousness in his voice. Kieth could see he was dead set on seeing this through.
Present day:
"So despite everything he went anyway?" Elsa said rather amazed.
"Yeah, that's the Shiro I came to know over the years whenever he puts his mind to something he stuck to it no matter the consequences or risks." Kieth then said with a slight smile.
Elsa began to see that side of him more given how when she left Arendelle with Shiro to draw the Galra away he went with her to ensure her safety which did have the side affect of being outnumbered when Sendak showed up with Hans and Throk to have him nearly get killed protecting her.
"Anyway after he disappeared on the mission I became more disobedient which then got me booted from the Garrison and well the rest is history." Kieth then finished his story.
"Sounds like you two had quite the history, in a way he raised you like you were his own." Elsa then said in sympathy.
"Yeah, Shiro never gave up on me, so I'm not giving up on him." Kieth clenched his fists "I know he's out there somewhere and I'm not going to rest until I find him." He said determined he then felt a hand on his and it was Elsa.
"I understand more than you know, but your not alone you have Lance, Allura, Pidge, Hunk, Coran and me." She said in sympathy and Kieth did crack a small smile, and he soon made a decision.
"Elsa, I can't say I pretend to know the future but, if Anna did end up here the same way you did we'll find her." He then said and Elsa looked surprised.
"Wait what happened to stopping the Galra first?" Elsa asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Lets just say I remembered we don't just fight the Galra we help those in need." Kieth said "Plus Anna helped me in a way reminding me that I'm not defined by what's in my blood how I'm still human, I owe her that."
Elsa was all but touched by what Kieth had just said but was still a little doubtful. "But how do you know if she's here or, if she's even still alive?" She asked Kieth then cracked a smile.
"Because, she's just like Shiro, a survivor if she can survive climbing the North mountain, a frozen heart, her crazy ex and an alien armada from another universe she can survive what's out there." Kieth said with assurance.
The Ice Queen couldn't believe how sincere that Kieth was being and out of nowhere she embraces Kieth in a hug much to his surprise. "Oh.. okay I guess we're hugging." He said simply slowly returning the embrace.
"Thank you Kieth" She thanked she broke off the hug and left the room, leaving Kieth with a smile on his face knowing he'd made peace with his friend.
Elsa walked down the hallway a little happier about things knowing that maybe she misjudged Kieth and how she may yet find her sister. "Hello Elsa." Said a voice which startled Elsa seeing it was Allura now in her flight suit.
"Oh hey Allura." She said.
"I take it you and Kieth have made amends?" Allura asked.
"Yes we have and maybe I understand him better now." Elsa said.
"Well I'm glad." She said with an understanding smile and Elsa responded with her own.
"Well I'm going to turn in good night." Elsa said bidding Allura goodnight as she headed down the hallway.
"Elsa." Allura called, Elsa turned to look to the Altean Princess. "If you ever need someone to talk to, my doors always open." She said and Elsa gave a knowing smile in return and all was well, but...Suddenly an alert goes off throughout the castle and they hurry to the bridge.
It isn't long before the other Paladins arrive on the bridge as Allura took up her station. "Allura whats going on?!" Keith asked.
"Yeah are we under attack?!" Lance asked.
"No." Allura said bringing up the holo screens and it showed what it was. "Its a distress signal from one of our Altean pods?" Allura said which to everyone knew only one thing.
"Corans back from Arendelle?" Pidge said and Elsa knew this meant he may have found out what's happened to Anna and Kristof.
"Allura open a wormhole to that signal NOW!" Kieth commanded.
The wormhole opened in the quadrant where the rip to Arendelle was and the Castle of Lions appeared. On the bridge everyone was at their stations not knowing what to expect.
"I'll scan for the pod." Pidge said at her station clicking on her control console to lock onto the signal until she found something.
"Got it" Pidge then showed everyone on the main holo-screen. However what they saw they were never ready for. They saw the pod its rear engines were completely frozen as was most of the craft.
Everyone was frozen in shock and horror to see this. "Coran come in!" Allura said over the comms "Coran, Coran, CORAN!" Allura yelled but there was no response.
Authors notes: Chapter 2 done, and now things are starting to get mysterious. Now if you have noticed I have made a reference to the series Voltron Force namely planet Crydor which was where Sven was living after the bite he suffered from a certain witches cat. I felt this could prove to be an interesting planet for the Paladins to explore. Also to show how wavering its people was when under threat of the Galra.
I've also included the story of how Kieth and Shiro met, now I know thats not until season 7 but I felt it was necessary for Elsa to understand the history behind the two of them for her to better understand Kieth's character. Plus I liked how said origin story showed a side of Shiro's character whenever he puts his mind to something he sticks to it.
Now Elsa's had her first meeting with Prince Lotor and his Generals and now a mystery. What happened to Coran whilst the Paladins were saving Crydor.
Find out next chapter.