A/N: With Netflix taking Voltron off, it will probably take me a lot longer to finish this. I am sorry for the delays. My work and schoolwork have been rough. I am also in the process of moving which I didn't realize takes forever and there is a lot more work in it than you think.

Season 6, Episode 4: The Colony

The Ship:

Lotor and Allura stare at the results of their project. The creation of ships from the core of quintessence.

"I have waited for an eternity for this," Lotor states to Allura in awe of the ships.

"We've done everything we can to prepare us for this moment. We're ready." Allura replies to Lotor.

Allura and Lotor stare at one another. They feel the connection that is growing between the two of them. They want to feel one another's warmth.

"It means so much to me to share this with you," Lotor says to Allura staring into her eyes.

"It does to me as well," Allura replies to Lotor.

Lotor and Allura head into the new ship they created. Lotor takes the front seat while Allura is in the back. The ship starts up as they look at the ship's maintenance information. The ship is fully functional and ready to be flown.

"Beginning system check." Lotor looks over the equipment in front of him. "Front and rear stabilizers."

"Front and rear stabilizers is go."

"Quintessence collection array?"

"Quintessence collection array is go."

"Infracells?"

"Infracells up."

"Dynotherms?"

"Dynotherms connected."

"Switching on mega-thrusters."

"Mega-thrusters are go."

The ship begins to start up. Everyone else is watching and listening to Allura and Lotor starting up the ship. Coron stands with a disappointed look on his face with his arms crossed.

"I can't be the only one who sees that this is nuts, right?" Hunk asks everyone in concern for their teammate. "Just getting in there is a long shot. Then they must make it out again?"

"I agree with Hunk," Coron states with his disappointed voice with the plan. He cares for the princess's safety more than anyone. "This plan is a foolhardy and unnecessary risk."

Pidge lowers her head and crosses her arms in concern. "I don't know. We've traveled through the quintessence field to another reality. This isn't just theoretical physics." Pidge sighs to herself. "Mathematically, we know it's possible."

Coron runs to Pidge and gets close to her face. "Well, it is hard to argue with math. Believe me, I've tried."

"But even if they do reach the quintessence field, then what?" Lance wonders to the group. "The last time anyone got in there, it turned Zarkon evil. Linna has almost died from the dark energy from the quintessence fields."

Coron runs over to Lance with a huge smile. "Lance makes a fine point! Take that, Math!"

"Zarkon fell prey to his own evil instincts. The quintessence field didn't create them, it revealed them." Shiro states to them all.

The ship doors open for Lotor and Allura to descend the ship to outer space. Allura and Lotor feel the ship move up and towards the sky. Lotor looks at the gauge to push the ship forward. There is a slight hesitation before he pushes it to send the ship through the opening. They feel the pull of the ship as it flies out of the castle and into the open space air.

Everyone watches as the ship flies toward the place Zarkon once called home. The planet Daibazaal.

"So, this is goodbye..." Coron whispers to himself. "For now."

Everyone stares with worry and anxiety on their faces. They hope their teammates return safely.

"Allura," Lance says to the microphone.

"Yes, Lance."

"Get back safe. Linna would be upset if you were gone when we find her."

"I will."

They all stare at the opening core. The entrance to the quintessence field. The center of Zarkon's home, planet Diabazaal.

"T-minus ten ticks to gate entry," Coron states, hiding his fear of losing Allura. "Nine. Eight. Seven. Six. Five. Four. Three. Two. One."

The ship covers in quintessences as it closely approaches the center. Allura can feel the pull of it. The need to enter.

"Are you ready?" Lotor asks her.

"Here we go," Allura replies with determination in her voice. She is ready. Ready to discover the quintessence field?

Allura stares at the white space around them. The glows of quintessence floating around them.

"Extraordinary," Allura states to the magnificent world of quintessence before them.

Lotor smiles at their accomplishment. They are within the quintessence field, finally.

The Castle:

Alarms start blaring over the whole castle. Coron bends over to the computer system to figure out what is happening.

"What is that?" Hunk wonders to the group.

"I've got an incoming craft," Coron shouts in fear.

"Shields up. And pull it up on-screen." Shiro orders Coron.

Coron does as he is told and pulls the ship up on screen. "That... That can't be. It's an Altena pod! A really old one!"

"What's it doin' out here?" Lance asks the question that everyone is thinking.

"Let's find out. Attention, Altean pod, identify yourself." Shiro orders the pod.

Keith shows up on the bid screen. "Shiro, It's Keith."

"Keith! Are you okay?"

"Where have you been?" Pidge wonders.

"How did you get your hands on that pod?" Coron wonders to Keith.

"Does he look bigger to you guys? He's bigger, right?" Lance states to everyone. "No?"

"Where's Lotor?" Keith asks the group.

"He's in the quintessence field." Hunk replies.

"Oh, no."

Quintessence field:

"Readings are beyond anything I could have imagined." Lotor states to Allura. "What we do here today will change the source of the universe forever."

Allura stares at the quintessence coming from her hands. She remembers when Linna had done this once before her when they were young. She remembers feeling the warmth that Linna brought with the quintessence in her hands.

"In the hands of the wrong person, this power could easily corrupt." Allura states to Lotor.

"Together, we'll see it never does," Lotor replies to Allura. "And continue the work your father started so long ago."

"And Linna," Allura whispers her name as she feels a pull in her power. She feels something off within her as she passes through the quintessence field.

"Now, Let's see if we can collect some samples."

The Castle:

Keith lands his ship and gets out to see everyone waiting for him.

"Keith, it's so good to see you," Shiro speaks first as everyone is shocked at how older Keith looks compared to everyone.

"Hold on. How do we know you're the real Keith and not his bigger, cooler, more handsome, grizzled older brother?" Lance wonders as he walks over to Keith.

"I don't have time for this, Lance!" Keith replies.

Lance smirks to Keith. "Hey, everybody, Keith's back!"

"We need to stop Lotor. He's been lying to all of us!

"Wh—Lying about what?" Shiro wonders.

"Everything!" A woman's voice comes through.

Everyone looks to find where the voice came from. They stare at the Galra individual and the one next to her. An Altean with green markings under her eyes. Her blonde hair in pigtails standing next to a wolf.

"You're... You're Altean!" Coron yells in shock.

"And who's the Galran?"

"Is that a Wolf?"

"Where did you come from?" Coron wonders to the Altean.

"I promise I'll explain everything once we get to Lotor," Keith announces to the group.

"We can't get to him. He just entered the quintessence field with Allura." Pidge explains to Keith.

"We traveled through realities before. Can't we fly in there and attack?"

"She said Allura is with him. We can't risk hurting her, Keith." Lance states.

"Why are we even attacking?" Hunk asks in confusion.

"Look, Keith—Everyone, calm down," Shiro states to the group. "When they return, we'll get this all sorted out."

The Quintessence Field

"I can feel the quintessence coursing through me." Lotor stares at the white field before him in awe.

"It's like my spirit, my whole being, is more alive." Allura states to Lotor. "I wonder if Linna has had this feeling before."

Hagar:

Hagar stares at Keith and the Altean through Shiro's eyes. She can see the anger in them both.

"Lance is right. You have changed." Shiro states through the crystal before Hagar.

"Time is different where I've been."

"Shiro, I am Krolia."

Hagar stares at the woman and wonders what her next moves will be. Linna kneels in a cell staring at her comrades' realizing Hagar has control over Shiro. Her mouth gagged as she felt her arms chained to the cell's bars behind her back.

"Mmm." Linna tries to yell out, but nothing gets through the gag.

Hagar stares through her crystal as Krolia approaches Shiro for a handshake.

"Keith has told me all about you," Krolia states to Shiro. "Thank you for raising him to be the man he is today."

"Krolia is with the Blade of Marmora. Also..." Keith averts his eyes for a second. "She's my mother."

"It's an honor to meet you."

"What? Okay, this is nuts!" Lance yells, jumping into Shiro's face. "You come back with your Galra mom, a wolf, and an Altean?"

"Yes, I'm waiting to hear the story of how you found this Altean." Coron chimes in. "I only know of Allura, me, and Linna."

"And why we're supposed to be attacking Lotor." Hunk adds on.

"This is Romelle, and I think she should tell her own story."

"I come from a planet where there are thousands of Alteans. We have lived there since the war with Zarkon began."

"What? That's impossible. Altea was destroyed. Allura, I, and Linna were the only survivors."

"Every Altean child knows the story of how Lotor saved us from destruction. When Zarkon attacked, many were off the planet on trading expeditions. When news spread about the destruction of our home, those of us who remained went hiding for deca-phoebs. But Lotor, with his deep knowledge of Altean culture, managed to track some of them down. He even had an Altean at his side to convince us to go with him. He said he created a haven for us to keep us safe from the Galra and preserve our history and culture. To keep the Alteans secure, Lotor hid them on a remote planet beyond the quantum abyss."

"So, Lotor saved the Alteans? And who was the Altean you mentioned that was with Lotor?" Coron wondered to Romelle.

"Man, Lotor is even nicer than we thought." Hunk replies.

"And over time, the Alteans came to worship Lotor as their savior. Generations ago, in an effort to increase our odds of survival, Lotor announced that he was creating another colony far from our own. But in order to do so, he needed to assess which Alteans were viable to survive the journey. One by one, every Altean in the colony was given a series of tests where the Altean with Lotor would decide if they were viable to make the journey. Those who were deemed fit for the journey were loaded onto a cargo ship and taken to the second colony. It was considered the highest honor. Any communication between the colonies was strictly prohibited for fear it would compromise the other's location. This was the world I was born into, one of unquestioning devotion to a supposed messiah. My brother Bandor was always faithful, but I had questions. So many of our people have gone to the new colony. Petrulius, Gnautu, Rahz, and of course, mother and father. I missed them so much. My brother spoke of hope in seeing them when we are chosen to the new colony. Eventually, Bandor grew old enough to be assessed for the journey to the other colony, and he was selected to leave immediately. My brother had made me a communicator so we would never be separated. When Bandor left, I felt completely alone. I tried to use the communicator he had given me, but it never worked. The communicator worked and it was my brother. He sounded injured and scared. I ran to find him as soon as I could. There was a ship in flames where I found Bandor completely drained to nothing but mere bones. He told me that the new colony was all a lie." Romelle paused at the thought of her brother in her arms as he died. "My brother was dead. I knew the truth or at least part of it, but I also knew that no one would believe me without proof. When Keith and Krolia arrived, they were my last chance of finding it. I told them what happened to my brother, and as it turned out, so many Alteans that had been taken before him. As they explained their mission to me, we knew there must have been a connection between the missing Alteans and the pure strain of quintessence. What we found on the planet's moon was horrid. Alteans being drained of their quintessence energy."

"That's horrifying." Hunk states.

"All this time..."

"I can't believe he fooled us." Lance lowers his head in disbelief.

"He's a monster," Keith states with no emotion but anger towards Lotor.

A beep comes through the system on the castle. Everyone looks up in panic before Coron brings up the ship where Lotor and Allura are.

"They're back."

"What are you waiting for? Open fire!" Romelle yells in anger.

"NO! Princess Allura is with him," Lance yells at her in anger.

"We're gonna let him back on board?" Hunk asks Coron.

"We must! To keep Allura safe." Coron states to them. "As long as the princess is with him, we cannot risk any sort of attack."

"Coron and Lance are right. We can't do anything until the princess is safe. Once Allura is secure, we will take Lotor down." Shiro states to the team the plan.

Lotor and Allura park the ship in the dock. Allura trips as she gets out of the ship into Lotor's arms for comfort.

"We accomplished something amazing today, and it would've never happened had it not been for you," Lotor states staring into Allura's eyes.

"It is a moment that I truly will never forget." Allura states to Lotor.

With all the emotions flowing through their bodies, Lotor leans into Allura as their lips interlock with one another. All of the feelings that they have been wanting to express to one another have finally been spoken. They have allowed their emotions to take over and embrace one another.

As they finish their kiss, they head towards the main hall of the castle where everyone is waiting for them.

"What's going on?" Allura wonders.

Keith and Krolia approach Lotor in the back with their weapons drawn. Lotor stares at them in anger. Lance summons his weapon and points it at Lotor.

"Allura, step away from Lotor."

"I will do no such thing. Tell me what's happening here." Allura states to the group in confusion for their actions.

"Lotor is a monster and has been harvesting Altean quintessence for generations!" Romelle yells at him.

Lotor panics at the sight of Romelle. He could not believe someone lived.

"An Altean!" Allura says, shocked at what she sees.

"You killed my brother and thousands of others."

"Lotor has been lying to us the whole time. He's a murderer, just like his father!" Pidge states to Allura.

"You know nothing about what you speak." Lotor replies to Pidge's statement.

"What are they talking about?" Allura questions her feelings and feels a pit of guilt in her stomach.

"Allura, listen to me." Lotor begins. "I've dedicated my life to preserving Altean culture. Now that we have unlocked the quintessence field, all of your people, who would have been hunted down long ago had it not been for my intervention, can live in peace. Were some lives lost in the process? Yes. But they were martyrs to a noble cause. Just like Linna was in the invention of the lions. She was my partner in preserving the Altean culture. I sacrificed a few to preserve the future for millions. Allura, do not let this ruin everything we've worked for. Think of what we experienced in the quintessence field."

Allura feels Lotor grab her hand. Her anger takes control as she grabs his shoulder and flies him across the room. She feels her heart break at the sight of him passed out on the ground. She feels the guilt of letting her emotions take over and kissing him in the loading dock just a few moments ago.

Alarms begin blaring around the castle. Coron pulls up the loading dock before them. "The hangar's been breached!"

"It's Lotor's troops. They're stealing the ships!" Hunk screams in annoyance.

Shiro stares at the screen before feeling a strike of pain hitting his head. He feels an agonizing pain within his head causing him to fall to his knees.

"Shiro?" Keith wonders.

"Give in. You cannot resist." Hagar's voice comes through Shiro's mind.

"What's happening to him?" Coron asks.

You are mine now. Give in!" Hagar shouts at Shiro. Hagar focuses all of her power upon Shiro as Linna tries harder to get out of her chains. Linna must save Shiro. She has to fight.

Shiro feels the power attack him as his eyes change to the color purple of Hagar's magic.

"Allura and I will secure Lotor. Hunk, help Shiro." Lance starts shouting demands. "Everyone else, get down to the hangar and stop those guys."

Linna stares at Hagar taking control of Shiro. She watches as Shiro attacks his fellow teammates without realizing it. He throws Hunk at Coron. Lance's terrified face stares at Linna. She never wanted this for her friends. She watches as Shiro knocks everyone out as he takes hold of Lotor's unconscious body. Linna watches every trying to stop Shiro, but she knows they can't. Linna watches as Shiro stares at Pidge. She wants to stop him, but she doesn't see Shiro as the enemy. She sees him as their partner. Their friend. Pidge could never do that.

"Good. Now, bring him to me." Hagar tells Shiro.

"Mmm!" Linna screams through the gag. She wants to yell and fight but she feels drained from the chains around her wrist. They are quintessence absorbing changes. She can feel her body getting weaker and weaker.

Linna feels her power fading. She knows that her time is limited. She feels her connection with the lions is becoming weaker. She suddenly feels a different connection appear though. She feels the calling of a different paladin. She feels Black choosing her final paladin.

'Keith...' Linna whispers in her head as she feels the tears fall down her eyes. 'You are safe.'