Keith's POV
The Arusian warrior… Klyzap… led us into the village, and the entire population greeted us. There was music, and Coran picked up and hugged one Arusian like they were a stuffed animal. And another danced for the Princess. Hunk was prepared and gave out gifts like he was Santa.
"Oh, Lion Goddess," I turned to see a slightly larger Arusian approaching, "I, King of the Arusians, formally beg your forgiveness. Please have mercy on us and accept our traditional Dance of Apology as atonement for our wrongdoings."
The Arusian King then clapped his hands, signalling to another Arusian to stand in position.
"Commence Dance of Apology!" He commanded, "Hoorah!"
The other Arusians cheered as the music started up again, causing the Arusian dancer to begin dancing along—if it could be called dancing.
"Please, there's no need for this." Allura said, causing the Arusian King to command the dancer to halt. Moontow, was it?… had to freeze while balancing on one leg while the music stopped.
"The Goddess has refused the apology. Start the sacrificial fire." We look up to see an Arusian setting a giant funeral pyre ablaze.
"We must throw ourselves in." Wait, what?! I could see one tied up and about to get burned alive!
"No!" Allura panicked when she realized her mistake, "No sacrifices!" That made the Arusian King look back at the Princess.
"So, we may proceed with the dance?" he questioned,
"That's a better alternative." She replied.
With the clap of the King's hands, the music and dancing resumed again until the Dance of Apology ended with Moontow bowing to Allura and every other Arusians, including the King, followed suit.
Normal POV
"Oh, my!" Allura commented before deciding to continue, "Please, please, rise. Thank you for that, but I am not a great being worthy of your worship. I accidentally put you all in danger. It is I who should be apologizing to you." The Arusians raise their heads in confusion.
"I am Princess Allura and these are the Voltron Paladins. Although we originally came from different worlds... and have very, very, very different traditions, we wish to live alongside you as friends."
The King of the Arusians got back onto his feet, "But the mighty robotic angel… has it not come to destroy us because of our immoral ways?" he asked, worried for his people.
"Voltron? No. In fact, that mighty robot is here to protect you." Allura reassured the King before turning her attention to all of the Arusians, "Let it be known that Voltron will protect every innocent being throughout the universe!"
A cheer erupts among the villagers as they gather around the team, and joyous music fills the air. Keith tries to sneak back to his lion to avoid the celebration, only to get glomped by a cute-looking Arusian.
"I don't… usually hug strangers," Keith said awkwardly as he attempted to remove the small alien clinging around his waist, only to be surprised by the Arusian's soft texture.
"Man, you are cuddly."
"Thank you." The alien replied in a jarringly deep and masculine voice, catching the Red Paladin off guard.
Shiro's POV
Using our lions' scanners, Pidge and I found what remains of Sendak's warship not far from an alien village where I spotted the Red, Blue, and Yellow Lions. The impact of the crash-landing caused its crater to be filled with water, becoming a small, newly formed lake. We landed where Pidge picked up on an opening just big enough for us to get inside. Taking a cautious look, I noticed that this was thankfully the part of the ship we needed. We jet-packed ourselves closer, with Pidge getting there first.
"This looks like the master control board," She stated while giving it a thorough look, "but there's no power."
"All you need is power?" I asked while carefully sliding closer to the downed computer.
"Yeah, but one that's compatible with Galra tech."
It made me look at my prosthetic arm, it was made with the same technology… A faint memory of a glowing, human-like hand interacting with Galra tech crossed my mind. Pidge said that my hand reacts to my thoughts when I need to fight, but… I wonder… focusing on that brief memory, I formed my hand into a fist and activated it. Opening my hand again, I place it on the control board– and the screens powered up.
Pidge's POV
"Whoa… I can't believe you got this to work." I was amazed that Shiro's arm could also be used to access Galra information… What else can his prosthetic do? Come on, Katie. Now's not the time to marvel at the tech. I quickly pulled up the miniature computer screen in my armour.
"My dad's and Matt's whereabouts must be logged in here somewhere." I told Shiro, "Once I download this information, I'll find some way to decode it back at the Castle."
I focus on ensuring that the download progresses smoothly, albeit slowly. There has to be something… anything… about Dad and Matt.
"Oh, no."
"What is it?" I glanced over to see Shiro looking up at something in the sky, but I shifted my attention back to the download.
"Something just entered the atmosphere." Shiro replied, "I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it's big, it's Galra, and it's coming right for us."
I turned my attention to see him trying to leave, "We gotta go!"
If he lifts his hand off the control board, the whole thing will power off and I may end up losing whatever information I have on my family. I can't afford to risk it, especially when he hurt my big brother. He could also be lying about the falling Galra object.
"Shiro, don't move." I carefully slammed his hand back down, "I'm only 15 percent done. I'm not going anywhere."
He looked up at the sky again. I turned my attention back to the progress and typed in the quick-download command to help it along. 40 percent… 45 percent… Just a little longer. There were only 50 percent left to go.
"Pidge, I'm sorry!"
I suddenly felt a strong arm wrap around my waist and we were in the air, away from the control board, "No!"
I doubt Shiro will go back, and I tried to wiggle out. Only to underestimate his grip.
Allura's POV
I smiled as the Arusians played some dancing game around me when I heard Shiro's voice.
"Team, come in! We need backup!" He sounds slightly panicked, "Hello?"
"Shiro?" I asked when I activated my earrings.
"Where is everyone?"
"What's going on?" I heard Keith inquiring before the ground shook and we heard a rumble from the sky. We turned to see something falling toward the ground not far from the village. If Shiro and Pidge are there… Keith must have realized the same thing.
"Oh, no. We gotta get to our lions!"
The Arusians were panicking when I decided to step in, noticing a large cave in the mountain. Coran must have noticed the cave, too, as he began ushering them toward the mouth.
"Everyone get inside and stay down!" I instructed, only to see a brief flash of yellow from the corner of my eye.
"I'm on it!"
I turn to see Keith grabbing Hunk by the back of his armour's collar as the latter runs past the former and drags him toward the lions, "Not you!"
Normal POV
Shiro landed outside the warship's remnant, with Pidge struggling in his grip– desperate to break free toward the computer.
"No! Shiro, let me go! My father!"
A sound catches Pidge's attention, causing the Green Paladin to look up and see the incoming object falling toward their locations– making Pidge realize that the Black Paladin was telling the truth.
"Run!" Shiro shouted as they ran for it, thankfully; the Green Paladin listened. The two Paladins use their jetpacks to help cover more distances when the unknown object crashes into the ground, decimating the previous Galra wreckage in the process.
Shiro's POV
The blast wave caught us while we were in the air, sending us flying toward the mountains! I reached over to grab Pidge and bring her in toward me. I was ready to use my body to take the brunt of the impact when the winds suddenly died down a bit, allowing me to regain control and land properly. I crouched down over Pidge when we noticed movement around us. We looked up to see that it was our lions; they'd shielded us from the blast.
"Our lions just saved us."
"I didn't know they could do that." Pidge commented while I have a feeling that they've always done it. Perhaps… I was even saved by a lion before…
"Um… Shiro?" Pidge's voice snapped me out of it, and I noticed that she was pointing behind me. I turned to see the object that crash-landed nearby, and it was definitely Galra. The outer shell fell apart to reveal a robotic monster as big as Voltron. An inner spire expanded and powered up, causing the monster to suddenly activate. As its camera-like eye focused on us, something told me that it was out for blood.
"Get in your lion!" I quickly tell her, and she thankfully listens this time. We ran toward the lions' respective mouths and got into our seats, just in time to see the monster unleashing an energy orb in our direction.
Pidge and I took off, just barely avoiding the orb. The monster swung its arm, controlling the orb to attack a nearby mountain peak– missing the Green Lion. The energy orb returned to the monster and it swung the orb toward Pidge again!
Pidge's POV
I fired at the orb with the Green Lion's mouth cannon… only for the cannon to not have any effect on it! The energy orb was too powerful, and knocked my lion out of the sky and crashed into the ground on her side… Yeah, that's going to leave a mark on us.
The sound of heavy footsteps made me realize that this… monster robot was charging toward us, with the arm controlling the orb ready to strike. Only for the Black Lion to pounce on it from behind and bite down on its neck. That will certainly distract the robot, and it work… until the robot tosses the Black Lion off.
It raised its arm again, ready to unleash the orb on Shiro– only to see it getting attacked by a barrage of familiar laser blasts.
"Lay down some covering fire so they can get out of there!" It was Keith, and he's not alone.
"I'm on it!" Lance responded as the Red and Blue Lions fired their respective mouth and tail cannons at the robot, distracting it.
"Check this out!" I can hear Hunk radio in as the Yellow Lion charged toward the robot from behind, "Battle-Lion head-butt!"
The impact of the Yellow Lion's headbutt caused the robot to tumble forward onto its hands and knees. I would have laughed if the situation had been different.
"You guys okay down there?" Keith asked as the Green Lion regained enough energy for me to help her onto her feet.
"Still alive for now." Shiro replied, taking off with the Black Lion. Hunk and I followed suit, not wanting to be on the ground when the robot picked itself up.
"Are the Galra behind this?" Hunk questioned, knowing that Shiro and I were the first to encounter it.
"I think so," Shiro responded truthfully, "but I've never seen anything like it."
"So, what's the plan?" Lance asks, "Shoot at it with everything we've got? Take out its weapon? Call it names?"
"If we want to take this monster down, there's only one way to do it." Shiro answered, causing the lions to roar.
"Form Voltron!"
Normal POV
Voltron dropped from the sky and stood back up to face the robotic monster.
"Remember, we are one unit, fighting with one goal." Shiro reminded his fellow Paladins as the monster generated a new energy orb, causing Voltron to charge forward.
The monster fired the orb, only for Voltron to dodge it and send a punch– only to get blocked by his opponent. Seeing an opening, Voltron uppercuts the monster, causing it to stagger backward. Voltron proceeded with a third attack, only to get hit by a returning orb. The robot controlled the orb to attack again, causing Voltron to dodge it at the last second.
"I thought Voltron was the most powerful weapon in the universe!" Keith said as the monster sent the orb after Voltron.
"Yeah, so how is this monster kicking our butts?" Hunk asked when Voltron avoided the orb, only to get blindsided by the monster.
Shiro's POV
We all felt the impact when Voltron was thrown to the ground, but the sight of the Arusian village made my blood run cold.
"Oh, no! The village!" Coran and Allura are still there, "We have to protect those people!"
We got Voltron back up in time to see the monster firing its orb. We braced for it, but the orb was too much and we were sent flying off the cliff overlooking the village. Thankfully, we got the thrusters ready in time to fly away from the Arusians' homes. That was close… Way too close for my comfort. I just hope that they're safe. But right now, we need to get that monster away from the village.
Voltron flew past, getting the monster's attention enough for it to chase after us.
"We got him away from the Arusians," Pidge spoke up, "but we can't take him down!"
"I got it! I'm gonna power-kick that orb thing!" Lance suddenly said, reminding me of what happened in our earlier training.
"No!" Keith cautioned him, "The last time you did a kick, we fell!"
"Stop living in the past!"
I just hope Lance's idea works… Voltron turned around and charged toward the monster before going into a flying kick… that missed the orb.
"Oh, no!"
The orb hit Voltron in the head and we crashed into the ground with the monster charging toward us.
"Pidge, fire lasers now!" I ordered as we got Voltron back up,
"Got it!" Pidge said as she got the Green Lion's mouth cannon ready, "Fire!"
But instead of a laser blast, Voltron's wings suddenly got in front of the Green Lion and formed a shield.
Keith's POV
"Oops!" I can hear Pidge say before I checked on her with the Red Lion's screen; seeing her trying to deactivate the shield.
"No!" Shiro said, "Lasers! Lasers!"
The monster punched Voltron while we were distracted, and sent the orb immediately after.
"Every time we focus on that orb, we're blindsided by the monster," Hunk observed, "and every time we focus on the monster, the orb hits us!"
"Then what do we do?" Lance asked.
"Orb!" Hunk's warning came too late as Voltron was sent flying into the mountainside, I could see that the monster was calling the orb back. It is a matter of time before it unleashes its orb attack again. But Voltron isn't moving…
"Shiro, we gotta move!" I radioed to my brother, only to hear silence.
"Shiro, are you there?" I checked on the Black Lion's cockpit on Red's screen, and saw that he's freezing up again!
"Shiro!" I called out to him. Come on, Takashi… Please…
Shiro's POV
As I looked at the monster… my mind flashed back to the arena where I was forced to fight for my life. All for Zarkon's entertainment… My very first opponent had a weapon similar to this monster… Wait a minute… That sound…
"I recognize this monster from my time in Zarkon's prison." I suddenly spoke up, "I know how to beat him!"
The monster charged toward us, only for Voltron to effortlessly dodge it– now that I recognize his attacks.
"Listen, there's a loud sound when the orb returns to the base of the weapon, and every third time, that orb needs to charge up." I informed the team, "That's this monster's weakest point. That's when we strike."
"Okay, so what do we do in the meantime?" Hunk asked.
"Defense!"
Myzak unleashed the orb toward Voltron.
"Pidge, we need that shield!"
Voltron got his shield ready in time for the orb to hit the shield and got deflected off. My mind briefly flashed back to how I hid behind one of the arena's pillars to avoid getting hit by Myzak's orb before bringing myself back to the present.
"That's one! Two more to go!"
The orb hit Voltron's shield the second time, causing everyone to groan from the impact. Better the shield taking the brunt of the attack than Voltron.
"We can't take much more!" Hunk spoke up as Myzak sent out his orb for the third time.
"Last one! Everyone brace for impact!"
Normal POV
The impact was enough to break the shield in two and bring Voltron to its knees, and the orb return to the monster's weapon.
Shiro's eyes widen as he quickly recognizes an opening, "Now!"
Keith fired the Red Lion's mouth cannon at the monster, hitting it directly in the chest. Clouds of dust billowed as the monster fell backward to the ground.
The Paladins watched with bated breath until the clouds dispersed, revealing the robotic monster was completely unscathed and getting back onto its feet.
Keith's POV
"It didn't work!" Pidge commented, feeling anxious.
"So, now what?" Lance questioned before the monster unleashed the orb on us, causing Voltron to fall to the ground.
"When I attacked him before, I had a sword!" Shiro recalled, but where will Voltron get a sword?
"Orb! Orb!" Hunk warned us, only for the orb to hit us the second time.
"We can't take another shot like that!"
Pidge was right– without the shield, Voltron is completely vulnerable to the monster's attack.
*Keith, use the bayard.* Red echoed in my mind as I noticed something rising from the dashboard. It looks like an enlarged ignition lock, And I'm guessing the Bayard is the key…
"Wait a second, guys!" I told the others, "I think my lion's telling me what to do."
"Well, whatever it is, hurry up and do it!" Lance radioed in, "He's about to fire his third shot!"
I summoned my bayard and was about to insert it when the orb hit Voltron for the third time, upsetting our balance and sending Voltron sprawling to the ground. We worked together to get Voltron back up and our scanners picked up the monster running toward us!
*Hurry! Use the bayard, now.*
The monster jumped into the air, ready to land a final blow. But it was also vulnerable with the orb returning to charge. It's now or never!
I quickly inserted my bayard into the console and twisted it, materializing a sword for Voltron to wield. With a single swing, Voltron's sword sliced through the monster– causing the monster to explode!
"We did it!" Pidge cheered as everyone else celebrated our victory, while I was stunned.
"How did you do that?" Hunk's question made me look at the console where my bayard was sticking out from. I twisted it back before pulling it out.
"Whoa…" I breathed in wonder before letting out a small chuckle, "Thanks, Red."