Chapter 39: Knights of Light(Part 2)(Allura's POV)

Allura sits beside Kuro. Team Miraculous sits on the opposite side of the Voltron team with the MFEs on both sides of the table. Commander Holt also sits with the Voltron team.

Lotor is standing in front of them, at the head of the table.

"I have gathered you all here because there is something we have decided to do. Me, along with Allura, will join Team Voltron as we go into Honerva's mind. Because of Lasam's condition we decided this is the best course of action we can take if we want to know Honerva's plan so we can stop her accordingly and immediately before she takes action. I want the MFEs and the Atlas Crew to be on guard for anything that might happen. With luck nothing will happen and you won't be coerced into a fight. Voltron will be in sight of the Atlas as I need it to connect Voltron, me and Allura to Honerva's mind. You all have your assignments. Get ready."

With that everyone disperses and Marinette rushes up to Lance to give him a tight hug. Kuro also comes up to her and hugs her tight as well, "Be careful, Lura."

"I promise."

He then pulls away from the embrace and heads toward where her other crew members are going to prepare for the worst. She hopes Coran and Kuro along with the rest of her bridge crew can handle being without her. But she has to do this. She has the Rift Creature inside of her. They will be getting the answers they need today.

Keith's POV

Apprehension grips him. He didn't want this to be the answer to their problem but everyone seems to think it's the best idea ever. But what about Honerva finding out that they are in her mind? What could she do to them inside her mind? And what about the mental blocks she must have to hide what she really wants deep down. Doesn't the mind naturally have defenses when people try to probe it? Or is that just science fiction? Although given the miraculous existing and Voltron too, he wouldn't make it up as fiction just yet.

But he follows along anyway, because majority rules. Another reason why is apprehensive is Gabriel/Hawkmoth could be in there too. He couldn't have just imagined him being there with Honerva in their battle on Oriande. Although knowing the others didn't see Gabriel makes him question it a bit. But why would he imagine Gabriel next to her and not think she was Gabriel. With how much he heard of Honerva's deeds from Lotor he assumed the two were the same in the evil spectrum.

It just doesn't make any sense.

Though he gets into Red, despite his feelings of apprehension. Flying out to meet the others, Shiro says once they are together, "Form Voltron!"

Once Voltron is formed Lotor speaks, "Allura is going to act as our guide throughout Honvera's mind so listen to her in where we must go to get there. The Astral Plane is where we will be until we reach Honerva's consciousness. The Astral Plane is a big empty expanse of space where the dead and the living can go. Voltron is our vessel that will connect us on this journey and connect us to Allura. So the farther we go the deeper our connection with Allura and thus Honerva will become stronger. Though the mind is filled with endless thoughts and distractions so she should not notice us being in her mind until Allura's connection with her becomes very strong. Which should be about when we reach the heart of Honerva's mind and discover what she holds dearest and is making her commit these atrocities. That's when we will all have to focus on making it out of Honvera's conscious before she can do any damage. Are we clear?"

"Crystal." replies Shiro, while everyone else nods.

"Then let's go. Everyone focus. Let me and Allura guide you."

Keith closes his eyes and focuses on connecting to the others whilst also letting control go so Lotor and Allura can guide him. Suddenly he feels like he's floating through space. When he opens his eyes he notices Lotor and Allura are in front of them. Shiro is beside him who is beside Pidge and beside Hunk. He's also beside Lance.

The space in which they are floating looks blue with tons of white strings also passing through the blue. Suddenly they touch the ground which is black. Storm clouds are overhead of them with lightning strikes flashing in the clouds. The clouds for some reason are purple.

"Allura are we….."

"Yes we are. Behind this black barrier is Honerva's mind." Allura interrupts Lotor.

But before she can do anything something black grabs his legs and drags him down. He struggles to get free as Allura cries, "Paladins, what's going on?"

Pidge responds, "I don't know, some force is dragging us away!"

But when he looks around he notices Shiro is still standing next to Lotor and Allura no black substance pulling him down. Then his head goes under. An expansive space now surrounds him. The sky is red with millions of stars doting the sky. The ground beneath him is a solid red. Before he can think about his situation and the place that he is though, a solid red mass appears before him. Its eyes glow a darker red.

"What is this place?" he asks.

But the stranger instead responds with aggression wielding a pure red sword in its right hand. Quickly he summons his own bayard to defend himself against his opponents sword strikes. What does this stranger want from him and should be even fighting someone who only warrants aggression? But he has to defend himself somehow, and even though he is agile he doubts he could dodge the strikes forever.

"Look I don't know who you are, or what you want from me, but do we have to fight?" He asks the entity. But it responds with another slash from its sword which Keith blocks perfectly. He notices that the strikes aren't strategic but rather coming from anger. Using this to his advantage he ends up using the technique in which he spins his sword along with the other persons and essentially knocks it out of his hand.

The red entity falls to the ground and Keith holds his blade to his opponent's throat.

"Now who are you and what do you want with me?"

Suddenly his lion appears out of nowhere beside them. To answer his question the Red Lion eyes glow and he suddenly sees a flash. After the flash fades he notices it's a memory, a memory of what looks like to be Alfor. His predecessor. He sees Alfor's passion for Alchemy, his love for his family, and him piloting alongside what he assumes are the original paladins.

Then the memories fade and he turns to look at his opponent. But instead of seeing all red he sees King Alfor donned in his paladin armor looking shocked. He says, his voice raspy, "Has it really been ten thousand years?"

Making his bayard disappear he helps Alfor to stand up.

"Yeah, it has been."

"So then, Zarkon really…."

"Yeah."

"I was such a fool! I should have never sent the Lions away. All it brought was misery and heartache for the whole galaxy."

"Don't beat yourself up. So you sent the universe into a ten thousand year war, big deal. Me and my friends are mending the universe. We made a lot of progress over the years."

King Alfor chuckles, "Ah, I suppose you did. But still I shouldn't have let the responsibility fall onto people who were not involved in the original conflict. It should have been my duty to end Zarkon, my dear friend, when he turned out to be evil."

"You made your choice. You can't dwell on the past."

"How right you are, young man. When the Red Lion was showing me all that you and your fellow paladins have done, I am proud to have you as my successor. You and I both have a preference for strong leaders and we often go on instinct alone. That and you managed to gain her trust so easily where your successors failed in your absence to achieve the same trust."

"Did you have to earn her trust as well?"

"In order to form a stronger bond, yes. I was quite behind my other paladins in strength because I did not have her trust just yet until I proved myself to her like you did when you first met her."

"Something to do with having to save her?"

King Alfor chuckles, "Something like that, yes."

Suddenly the scenery changes back to the storm cloud sky and black ground. Looking around he notices that all the lions are standing beside their paladins and that the others have one of the original paladins standing beside them as well.

Shiro rushes into him and gives him a tight squeeze. "You guys are back. Thank goodness." He then quickly releases him to tussle his hair, "You had me worried sick."

"Judging from his armor this is Zarkon's replacement?" King Alfor asks.

"And you must be King Alfor, Allura told us so much about you." Shiro responds.

"Father!" Allura says as she rushes to give her father a big hug.

Alfor stumbles a little surprised. "Allura, my dear daughter, I thought I would never see you again."

"And I you."

"But just what are you doing here? This is the Astral Plane, you haven't killed have you?"

"No. We just need to get some answers through there." She points at the ground below them.

"But that's Honerva's mind!"

"How can you tell, father?"

"I can just feel it. No…..you didn't. Allura tell me you didn't….."

"I did. I bonded with a Rift Creature and it's going to help me end this war."

"I could sense the darkness within. My daughter, do you realize the creature inside you is exactly what attacked Honvera and Zarkon, making them go mad!"

"It's the only way to get answers."

Lotor pipes up, "Besides she's not alone. She has us to look out for her and we are fully prepared for whatever comes our way."

"Are you Galran or Altean?" King Alfor asks, now noticing Lotor's presence.

"Both. I'm a halfblood."

"Impossible…. And why are you here with my daughter and our successors?"

"I am the one who brought them here. Allura is merely our guide to Honerva's consciousness."

"What does that mean?"

"It means he passed the White Lion's trials and I did not."

King Alfor looks on in shock, "I am so sorry daughter. I know how much you wanted to follow in my footsteps….."

"It doesn't matter. What matters is getting answers and Honerva has them. We have to stop her at all costs."

"Are you sure?"

Allura nods.

"Then we will aid you, but I am disappointed you chose to walk in the path that made Honvera and Zarkon corrupt."

"It had to be done, there was no other way."

Keith looks at Alfor who clearly wants to say something more but decides against it, allowing Lotor to bend down.

"Here we go, Allura, take my hand. I need your help to guide me to Honvera's mind that is on the other side of this barrier."

Lotor extends his hand as he crouches to the ground and Allura expects. A white light begins to glow and envelopes the floor they stand on. Next thing he knows is they are standing in front of a castle that looks a lot like the fortress that was on Oriande. Allura puts her hand on the door. "Are you ready?"

Everyone nods, and Allura pushes the gates open.