Chapter 10: The Journey Home(Marinette's POV)
"Maybe we could try running this configuration…" Kuro says.
"Still nothing. Lance, try the sonic wave again," Pidge comments.
"I'll try…" Lance responds doubtful.
"It's still not working. And it probably won't until the lions power-cores are completely recharged."
"Roger that. Our long range scanners still haven't detected any planets nearby. No star systems, nothing."
"How long have we been out here?" Lance complains.
"I don't know…" Pidge responds, "I haven't exactly been counting."
"How long is it going to take us to get to Earth anyway?"
"I said it would take one and a half earth years."
"And how much did we shave off of that?"
"I told you, I haven't been counting….."
Shiro responds, "Look we knew this wasn't going to be a quick easy voyage but replacing the Castle of Lions is our main priority. We just have to maintain discipline and be sharp."
Marinette sighs. Listening to them drone about how long it's going to take is driving her a little crazy. That and there's nothing else to do except sit and fly in space through a galactic void not knowing when we'll find a star system perfect, just perfect.
"Although…." Shiro mutters, "I think I have an idea on how to recharge the lion's power cores."
"And you're just now mentioning it?" Lance questions.
"Sorry, with the stress that's been going on I forgot to really think about it the past few weeks."
"What is it Shiro?" she asks. Curious about what Shiro is going to say.
"It's difficult to put into words, but remember when we were fighting Zarkon, and he zapped the Quintessence out of us?"
"Yes, you were all incapacitated." Allura explains.
"But then we somehow managed to recharge Voltron ourselves…."
"Wait just a minute…." Zoe exclaims, "You're telling us that you magically recharged Voltron when all your quintes… energy was zapped out of you?"
"Yeah we managed to regenerate enough energy to keep on fighting. I think that's how it's supposed to work. Us using our quintessence to fuel Voltron. Before the switch and after we never relied so heavily on the Castle to recharge Voltron. It was only when I.. uh… disappeared that you began relying on it."
"But we hadn't had much opportunity to fight in this setup. It was only weeks after the switch that we had the fight with Zarkon and you disappeared." Marinette says, feeling guilty.
And then Adrien beside her smacks his head. "I'm an idiot."
"What do you mean Adrien?" Marinette asks him.
"I just realized that we could've use the Horse Miraculous to transport us home when Pidge brought up how long it's going to take to get back."
"And why didn't you tell us!?" Lance questions, peeved.
"I guess like Shiro I forgot all about it in the heat of things. But that means that we don't have to stay in this void or hope that Earth will be okay while we journey back." Adrien explains while rubbing his neck sheepishly.
"But that means we can go home. Help fend off the Galra invaders."
"Yeah. But we'll have to park Voltron outside of Earth on one of the planets nearby. If the Galra notice Voltron is back they could use it as a bargaining chip for Earth ..."
"And they wouldn't keep their end of the deal. Either make Earth enslaved or destroy it like Altea since it is defying Galra rule," Lotor comments.
"Yeah, but which planet would be suitable?" Marinette asks, but dread fills inside her stomach. Going home…. That fear of her being replaced makes her heart hammer inside her chest. But she tries to calm down by making her breaths steady.
"Probably one of Pluto's moons. It's at the end of the Milky Way and Sendak's cruisers are focused on Earth. Once we use the horse miraculous and land we can then use it to teleport to the Galaxy Garrison base without anyone noticing. Though we'll probably have to contact the Garrison so our arrival isn't off putting or a big surprise." Adrien explains.
"Then it's settled."
She looks at Adrien who pulls out his baton. Reaching into a glowing green hole coming from the baton he takes out what looks like sunglasses. He puts them on once his green mask from his aristocrat suit shimmers away.
Kalki appears beside him and he says, "Kaalki, Plagg unify!" A blue glow surrounds Adrien but it disappears soon after.
"Voyage!" Adrien shouts a blue portal opens up around the Lions. Trusting Adrien she moves into the blue portal being instantly transported to Pluto and its surrounding moons.
"Pluto…" murmurs Shiro. "It's been so long since I've seen it."
"Let's land the Lions and get a connection through to Commander Holt and then I can use Voyage again."
"But I thought that we could only use a miraculous power once and then detransform back within five minutes." Marinette questions.
"I'll explain that little tidbit later. Right now our focus should be Earth." Adrien responds.
Once landing the Lions Marinette heads out with Adrien. She breathes in the cool air from Keroboes. The moon is covered in ice making it a bit chilly, but her armor blocks out most of it.
"It's nice to see a familiar sky," She comments.
"Yeah."
She looks around and sees the other Paladins, Lotor, Romelle, Coran and the rest of Team Miraculous. "I can't believe we're back in the Milky Way. Seems like a long time since we left Earth in the Blue Lion."
"I bet it was." comments Adrien.
Pidge then comes rushing out of the Green Lion. "Alright, I managed to contact my father. They're alright. And Kerobos should keep the Lions out of sight and out of Sendak's range."
"That's the first bit of luck in forever." Kuro comments.
"Now are you guys ready to head home?" Adrien asks.
"You know it!" Lance replies.
"Voyage!"
Another blue portal opens and everyone walks in. She turns back to the Lions and hopes Kaltenecker and the mice will be okay. Turning to the blue portal, she takes a deep breath and walks in.