#feral slav energy

[followtheravens]

Badass Jaskier for the ask game?

I got an idea to this fic when I saw a post that talked about Jaskier having feral slav energy. Basically the idea is that bandits surprise Geralt and Jaskier and the bandits somehow manage to disarm Geralt and Geralt is like oh no I failed to protect Jaskier!! But then Jaskier is like: "You hurt my witcher?! You hurt him with your weapons?! Stabs for you! stabs for you until you're dead!" And then he draws a knife from his lute case ect. and kills the bandits. Geralt is very mindblown and also very turned on after witnessing that. That's it, that's the fic. Jaskier being a feral slavic bard instead a damsel in distress.

[geraskierficrecs]

Geralt: Listen here, you little shit. You’re going to stay here where it’s safe and you definitely not going with me—

Jaskier, running around a wyvern with his lute raised like a weapon: GET!!! FUCKED!!!

[ophidiasmadness]

I made myself sad and now I have to share it.

Potential spoilers for the Steven Universe Movie? I guess. I really don't know much about the cartoon besides it being a really great show about acceptance and love and I've never really watched it for myself. Might have to start though...Anyways. My little cousin demanded we watch it while I was minding her at my house and whoo boy.

So, there's a moment in the Steven Universe Movie really close to the end. Spinel is fighting Steven and he's kneeling with his shield and she's just slamming her fists against it. And then she just starts to break down. And she says during a big emotional break down

"... Hahaha (super broken laughter) That's funny, right? At least you found me entertaining. You actually liked me, didn't you? What am I doing? Why do I want to hurt you so bad? I'm supposed to be your friend. I just want to be your friend..."

And my brain exploded in Geraskier freaking angst.

So, it's been a couple years after The Mountain and Geralt has Ciri in Kaer Morhen, and Yennefer just portals in and tells Geralt to get his shit together because something awful has happened to Jaskier. And Geralt just gets his shit because he feels like an asshole for what he said. He missed Jaskier and wanted to apologize but couldn't fucking find the bard anywhere. Plus needing to protect Ciri limited the search time and distance. He feels a bit sick and knows he should have tried harder to find his bard.

A rogue sorcerer found him instead, drawn to the pain and pure chaos of Jaskiers heart break. Because the thing is, Jaskier has chaos he just repressed the hell out of it because he's full on terrified of magic like the kind sorceresess and sorcerers use. This sorcerer used Jaskier, manipulated him, and changed him. Jaskier is now a hyper powerful destructive entity, with power linked to his emotions. And the sorcerer fucking with Jaskiers mind has left the bard unhinged.

Yennefer came across Jaskier as the bard fucking flattened a hill with Nilfgaard soldiers camping on it, sparing not a single one. Not a single drop of sweat or blood shed by the bard. And then he attacked her. And the way he looked was wrong. His playful smile was a rictus grin, stretching his mouth wrongly and tears like black ink fell from bloodshot black lined eyes down cheeks that were pale as death. His laugh was a twisted version of itself and Yen, who really didn't care about Jaskier, felt her insides twist with the warped sound.

Fast forward to The Big Fight TM, and Geralt is just blocking Jaskiers blows, using quen and his steel sword because Jaskier is not a monster.

And Jaskier is just shouting at Geralt to finish him, screaming, singing little mad tunes and Geralt just powers through blocking the attacks, because Yennefer is shielding him from the chaos and Triss is shielding Eskel who uses quen when Geralt's sign fades.

And finally, finally Jaskier is battering against Geralt's sign when black ink tears start to run again and Jaskiers slows down.

"What am I doing? Why do I want to hurt you so bad? I loved you, I'm supposed to be your friend. I just wanted to love you. Even if you didn't ever see me I was just happy to be with you. I just wanted to be your friend."

I'm not sure how it ends in my brain yet, but yeah.

Fuck me up I can just hear so much of Spinel in Jaskier. The pretty toy, happy to play and listen, wanting to just make his Witcher smile. And Geralt just ripping his heart out and abandoning him.

Here's some angst! Sorry!

[savages-weapons]

Jaskier has a real “I fucked my way into this mess and I’ll fuck my way out of it” energy and I’m here for it

[lowkey-revolutionary-raccoon]

If provoked Jaskier would 100% stab you, steal your horse and write a song about how your dick is small and here’s why:

So yes, everyone knows Jaskier is a sweet cinnamon roll, too good for this world, too pure

But

He’s also a completely insane fucking son of a bitch, like did y’all miss how the first thing he comes up with when he thinks he’s got a fucking djinn doing his bidding 

Is sending said djinn to outright kill a motherfucker???

Did y’all sleep through that? Valdo Marx ring a bell?

This bitch has the stones to go around fucking the wives of anyone, no matter how powerful or likely to hang him? Sing about abortion? Get punched in the family jewels by a witcher and keep following him? Make snide comments at Yennefer of fucking Vengerberg and y’all think he’s some kind of helpless puppy?

Jaskier has Feral Slav Energy in perfect balance and symbiosis with Flower Child Energy and I Respect That And So Should You Or Your Mom A Hoe

thank you for coming to my ted talk

[vampiresuns]

Day 1: Hometown

This is the masterpost for @arcana-echoes​‘s first prompt Hometown, and it provides further insight besides the fics for the Trio I’ve posted.

Remember you can always read more about the Radošević-Cassano in this post, with their family tree.

Anatole | Letter To The Boy I Was, From The Man I Became, About The Love He Will Find

Anatole wasn’t primarily raised in Vesuvia, but in Bgraz, the second biggest city in the Democratic Federation of Balkovia, and the capital of its Federative district. He was born at dawn, at 5:47 am, the first day of November, during the first year of the Balkovian Wars. Balkovia is modelled after Yugoslavian territories, and Bgraz after Zagreb. This is because Anatole is a Latine-Slav, like me. Therefore, while it’s not an exact comparison, the Balkovian wars are modelled after the Former Yugoslavian wars, with everything they entailed, which I do not need to go into detail. This comes directly from my identity and the way I engage with it. 

Anatole used to live in a two stories flat in one of the more well-off, yet still central parts of the city with his parents — Vladislav, or Vlad for short (Valerius’ older brother) — and Louisa, his mother, who is coded as a Chilean expat.

The war on itself didn’t occur in Bgraz for the most part, except for one retaliation incident which made the family go to Vesuvia for a short while, though not immediately, as Anatole’s mother, Louisa, is a doctor and volunteered as a doctor during the war, to help civilians targeted during it, so after the attack on the city and her volunteering, they retreated to Vesuvia as a way to take a break, along with other members of the family, like Mircea, Anatole’s grandfather, who is married to a Vesuvian man, called Florentino Cassano.

Anatole’s first memory after the war is his parents wedding, as they had decided to get married after the war was over. He spent his early childhood bouncing and learning, between his parents flat, his grandparents home — an old house on some hills in the city, which had a big tree over it’s back door. It was Anatole’s favourite hanging spot, specially because he got to “surprise” his uncle Valeriy (Valerius), as he used to meet with his boyfriends with that door. Not because he wasn’t allowed to or anything, he’s just dramatic.

The love Anatole has for his home town is completely different than the love he has for Vesuvia. Vesuvia, one of his thirds, always occupied a place of wonder to him, when he was little, he used to say (decree) he would find a job that would allow him to live half the year in Balkovia, half in Vesuvia. However, two things happened: number one, Anatole, as a person, is a meeting point for three different cultural identities which makes him stand out without meaning to. If you consider what I’ve already said about Balkovia, the underlying and not so underlying tensions in it was something Anatole noticed very young, and it positioned him in certain ways towards his identity. While the Radošević are not directly linked to politics, and prefer majorly technical positions rather than political offices, they are heavily influenced by Anatole’s great grandmother, Elysian Radošević who used to be heavily involved with leftist partisans.

On top of that, Anatole is a Cassano. The Cassano, while being a Vesuvian High Family, have a very distinctive pro-city, pro-people outlook at life, and during Anatole’s upbringing, two of his close relatives, his great grandfather Iovanus, and his Uncle Valeriy, where Consuls of Vesuvia, neither of them having, politically speaking, the best relationship with the Countship, specially Iovanus. The saying about the Cassano is that they’re the last thing that will stand between the City and that which seeks to harm it, many og them occupying political offices which directly dealt with welfare and social security, which also deeply affected Anatole. 

Lastly, Anatole is latine, an identity he relates to through music — a lot of it protest music, folklorical new song or party music, which is what his mother listened to — and his mother’s personal history. Louisa is a woman who left her home country because she was sent away to study medicine by her parents because of her political views, which opposed the Dictatorship which her country was going through.

All of this has made him look at his own identity and his own home spaces, as a constant in between. This feeling of in-betweeness and sometimes diaspora (from where? From what? From whom?) was exacerbated when he began being privately tutored from the age 14 and on, as this included travelling around different parts of the world throughout most of the year. He travelled with his cousins, Amparo and Milenko, but they didn’t always travelled together, since their academic curriculums didn’t always align. At this time, he began spending half his summers in Vesuvia, half in Balkovia — where he also spent other education breaks, if the travelling schedule allowed it. His parents ended up visiting more, than he ended up going back to Balkovia.

This, and all the time he spent with his two Vesuvian-raised cousins made him start feeling more familiar with Vesuvia than Balkovia altogether.

When he was 17, he decided to follow the Cassano footsteps into Vesuvian politics. The rest is history.

Amparo | The Thousand Lives of Amparo Cassano

Amparo is the only daughter of Cassiopeia Cassano and Iris Ravella-Cassano. Cassiopea a Vesuvian politician and diplomat — she was the one originally intended to inherit the Consul’s office, not Valerius, but she stepped down out of having troubles with Valerius’ mother, Matilda (Vlad and Val weren’t raised by their parents, but by their uncles Mircea and Florentino), preferring to keep a minor office, and not ending up estranging herself from her family by virtue of arguing with her older cousin. On the other side, Iris was the youngest child of another prominent Vesuvian family, who did not wish to either follow the family trade or marry someone their family approved.

Amparo was raised in the Palazzo the Cassano inhabit, in the Heart District of Vesuvia.

Amparo as a kid was somehow rambunctious and well behaved, at the same time. She was curious and energetic, but she was also liked or tried to pay attention to what was happening around her, often making it a great source of inspiration.

Vesuvia, her hometown, ended up being the greatest inspiration of them all. She lived there until she was 15, when she began being privately tutored and toured around different prominent theatres for the sake of seasonal apprenticeships, which she did with Anatole and Milenko, when their schedules collided. As I’ve already mentioned they all prepared for different things, therefore their itineraries weren’t always the same. She was the one less affected by the travelling on itself, while it changed her, Amparo saw it as a necessary, character building step — as a way to cope and process changes, she made dancing performances in her own room, which she sometimes showed to her cousins. Through movement and stories she found catharsis, in a different way than Milenko: what she sought in these stories was the trace of evidence in them.

Imagine, she would think, all the stories she had to contribute to Vesuvia when she came back. Her relationship with her hometown is a discursive one: she acts, and when she acts for it, she lives a thousand lives which may touch upon others and by doing that, she changes her own.

Milenko | Baby, It’s A Wild World

Milenko, Anatole’s second cousin, was raised, primarily in Vesuvia. His grandfather Blasio and his spouse Ilnya Radošević lived in both Balkovia and Vesuvia on and off, until Ilnya was permanently offered a position as a palace scientist. Blasio is a composer and dramaturg, which is something he could do in both places. Ilnya died rather young, when them and Blasio’s children, Atanasie and Violeta, had a couple of years of age, and the Cassano offered to take them in.

The Cassano and the Radošević see their family cores as one single family, despite many of them are not being actually related, which comes from some of them having been friends before two of their branches married between families. So them being of the mentality of ‘something happens to one of us and it happens to all of us’, they offered to take them in while Blasio got back on his feet.

In the end, Blasio never fully left Vesuvia, taking it as a seat and becoming a notable dramaturg, lyricist and composer in Goldgrave. Blasio still visited his federative quarter of Balkovia (Blasio is coded to be Bosnian) with frequency, mostly to see his parents and his siblings, or those Radošević who were more rarely seen in Vesuvia. The visits stopped when the war in Balkovia began, except for one visit, and after that, while Violeta and Aurora, her wife, continued to visit with some frequency, it was more of a vacation thing than a permanent settling.

Milenko had the inverse process of Anatole about the Vesuvia-Balkovia relationship. For him it is a blend of places, which is impossible to describe and his in-betweeness is simply another item on the list. He asks less what does it mean to be and more what beauty can be taken from it. Both places are intertwined in his imagination, and often run more parallel, blending and reforming, and collapsing and rebuilding over and over again. Everything is, and it sure is a lot — Vesuvia is multicultural, chaotic, sometimes overcrowded, and has been through so much. It’s people are positively feral, and maybe that’s why Milenko thinks of home, and thinks of it as one amalgamation of things: because the energy of these two places, while different in species, belongs to the same genre.

One day, he’ll say about his hometown that when magic dies, Vesuvia will be the last place it will keep on living, completely unaware it will become the type of quote you see on pinterest all the time.

It’s why he came back to Vesuvia after his education related travels were done. While he lived in Venterre for some time, spent a questionable season in Nopal, and had to flee Macawi once, that “itness” as he calls it, is somewhere he’s only found in the sea of Balkovia and the streets of Vesuvia.

[ineffable-monster-romancer]

If you don't get absolute feral slav energy listening to Jaskier singing 'The Fishmonger's Daughter' I don't know what to tell you

[bondsmagii]

it was hard to believe you're irish at first bc you have the wild feral energy of a true slav. and i mean this as a big compliment

say whatever you want about me on anon, i have to post it without any comment 👀

[seagsfusionshowcase]

anyways here's some random facts abt the rest of the jfcu gang cause I love them

jackie and chases fusion is named Jake cause im creative. he has the biggest teen Spiderman energy out of everyone. hes pretty much the only healthy chase fusion but he is a fucking Disaster

I thought about naming chase/henrik Horrace but I fucking hated it so im still trying to decide on a first name. his last name is brodstein. hes a psychiatrist with schizophrenia. he wears converse sneakers and plays Minecraft in his free time to relax

chase and jj’s fusion is named Charlie :) hes based off that one pic of jack where hes wearing the letterman jacket and fedora and everyone called him a modern jj. I tend to see him as the protagonist in a way (like I imagine everything happening through his perspective) even tho it should definitely be chase/henrik

henrik/anti is absolutely off the shits, 100% feral energy, pure unchecked chaos. his hair sticks up everywhere cause he somehow radiates a lot of static electricity. hes actually very smart and clever, and knows way more than he lets on. I like to call him Adrik

id like everyone to take a moment to consider how fucked up of a fusion Schneep and jj would be. the amount of shit they’ve each gone through, on top of being the only two egos to be canonly violently possessed by anti. ill leave u all with that for now 

schneep/marvin is called Maverik and he is......very cursed. radiates big slav energy. he combines both egos weirdness into one condensed being. definitely very useful but like.....at what cost........

jackie and schneep is named Henry!! hes what we like to call “chaotic lawful.” he has a strict moral code but no one can figure out what the fuck it is. is 100% the ultimate mom fusion

I couldn’t really come up with any coherent names with jackie and anti so I might call him Jasper cause it sounds cool. an important thing to note about him is that he is the only anti fusion that doesn’t identify with being “evil” or “edgy,” he still sees himself as a hero. but don't let that fool you. good and evil both have extremes. he is, probably, the most dangerous fusion possible out of the jse egos. dangerous to the point where the other anti fusions are terrified of him. lets just say that physically, hes the biggest out of everyone, the most intense, and he has a very unique feature to him that makes him stand out of the other antis. 

jackie and jjs fusion is, by far, the most pure good boy out of everyone. he was a cop at one point but he was kicked off the force cause he had a very chaotic moral code and an interesting way to deal with bad guys. he does his best!! he is filled with love and determination!!! he shall stop evil at whatever cost!!! everyone loves him!!!! he is a very good boy!!! 

marvin/jackie is named Javier. he is the big brother and tries his best to take care of everyone (except for the fact that he drops off the face of the planet most of the time). hes sorta like captain marvel. thats all ill say

anti/marvin is like a combination of deceit from sanders sides and mysterio from the new spiderman movie. think about that for a bit. im very excited to really explore his character fully, he is definitely very interesting.

anti/jj is a knockoff bill cipher. thats pretty much all you need to know. also not a lot of them even know that he exists but hey. thinking about calling him jantson

[mothmans-juicy-ass]

Ive been told this image of me has feral slav energy

[avidbeader]

Voltron S3 Speculation Fic

Here is the next part of the story, thanks to a writing sprint over at the Dreamwidth Sheith community. A few people wanted to know the flip side and here is the start of that part of the plot. I’ve decided I am going for full Shiro/Keith in this one and you see a mention of it in this part. But the rating will stay a T or maybe even a G if there’s no language involved.

Of course, still debating titles.

Part 1

Part 2

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

“What do we do, Shiro?” Pidge’s voice was getting worried.

Just like Shiro was getting worried. The plan was on the verge of falling apart: Slav was panicking as he tried to extend the life of his gravity generator, they were having to work harder to keep the Galra command ship in place as wave after wave of fighters emerged, and they hadn’t heard from Keith for several minutes, since he reported that he and Thace were trying to sabotage the control hub as a workaround.

“We can’t do anything. It’s all up to Keith.”

And just as a new wave of fighters emerged and swarmed them, the energy bolts trailed off and the Galra ships began going dark.

Shiro’s heart leaped. “Kolivan! Now!”

“The virus is up! All Galra systems are down!

“Keith! What’s your status?” Shiro called out.

“Almost there! I—” Keith’s voice cut off in a strangled cry.

“Keith? Keith!”

Lance’s voice interrupted his shouts. “Oh, god no! Keith!”

“What? Lance, what is it?”

“An explosion! Blew out part of the hull over here! Keith! Mullet, answer us!”

Shiro felt the blood leave his face. “Allura? Any sign of the Red Lion moving?”

“No, nothing!”

“What does that mean? Why wouldn’t Red go after Keith? He’s not…” Pidge couldn’t bring herself to voice it.

“I don’t know! The last time a paladin died the Lion went behind its barrier…the Red Lion is just sitting there…”

Kolivan’s voice cut across hers. “We have to move now, Princess! Activate the teludav!”

Shiro could hear Allura choking back sobs as the wormhole formed above them. He knew because he was doing the same.

 <> <> <> <> <>

 The four Lions emerged from the wormhole and flew toward the darkened ship.

“Um, Shiro? How are we going to do this without Voltron?”

Shiro squared his shoulders. He could mourn Keith later. Right now they had to finish the job.

“Everyone, deploy your Lion’s extra power! Pidge, take engines! Lance, weapons! Hunk, shield generators! I’m going for the bridge! The second your target is down, go help someone else!”

They began tearing the command ship apart. Pidge was the first to finish, taking out the engines with bursts of tree vines, and moved to help Lance at Kolivan’s direction. Hunk was using Yellow’s armor claws to slice apart the generators.

Shiro deployed the jawblades and began ripping through the ship’s hull around the bridge, imagining that each blow was taking down another Galra soldier or druid. His face was wet with tears.

The explosions around the command ship were growing. Kolivan’s voice sounded through their helmets. “You’re doing great—engines and shield generators are completely down!”

Coran’s voice broke in. “Wait, what’s that?”

Shiro looked around for the source of Coran’s concern, then Hunk spoke up. “Whoa, incoming! Shiro, look out!”

The mental assault struck first, distracting him just long enough for the Black Lion to be seized in the claws of a new ro-beast. Shiro felt Black’s power behind his own, throwing Zarkon out of his mind. Hunk careened into the ro-beast, breaking its hold on Black.

Shiro flew out of reach and got a good look at the threat. It was as big as Voltron but there was something different about it, the way it moved. And then Shiro saw the glowing purple sword form.

“Zarkon! That’s Zarkon, everyone get over here and hit him with all you’ve got!”

Lance’s sonic cannon fired, but Zarkon’s reflexes were too quick—he sent a bolt of purple energy from the sword at the Blue Lion before the cannon’s effects hit him and sent Lance into an out-of-control spin.

Pidge had better luck momentarily: as Zarkon brought up a shield against her first shot, she fired again immediately, binding the shield in place temporarily. Hunk grabbed the opportunity and head-butted from behind, sending Zarkon crashing into the hull of the command ship.

Another mental blast rocked Shiro and this time Zarkon was going after him directly instead of his bond with Black.

You insignificant fool! Do you truly believe you can win? Your fifth is missing…

Shiro cried out as the attack cut deeper and Zarkon seized on his discovery.

Your fifth is dead! You will never form Voltron again! Surrender and I might spare the puny lives of the rest of your team!

Images of Keith flooded his thoughts. The almost feral reaction when Shiro met him for the very first time, pulling some fellow eighth-graders off the tiny fifth-grader. Taking him home to his mother to get cleaned up. The friendship that formed after that. Keith following him to the Garrison and finding his true calling as a future pilot. The gradual tilt from friends to exploring the possibility of more. The look on Keith’s face the night before Shiro departed for Kerberos, when Shiro almost asked him for a commitment and hesitated. Waking up to see Keith instead of a swarm of Garrison medtechs. Keith’s anguished cry as not-Shiro walked away from him during the Blade of Marmora’s trials…

And suddenly Black was there. Black was him and he was Black. He was dimly aware that Zarkon was pushing back the other Lions and turning toward him.

They moved as one. Shiro and Black went straight at Zarkon and shifted as the wings unfurled, sending them into the astral plane.

Shiro charged Zarkon, who was completely unaware of his approach on this plane. He spotted the bayard in Zarkon’s hand, snatched and held on, and moved past…

They shifted back into reality and Shiro inhaled sharply when he saw the bayard in his hand, morphing away from Zarkon’s jagged edges to the smooth finish of the others.

“What was that?”

“What happened?”

“What did you do?”

“I…I’ve got Zarkon’s bayard!”

You mean YOUR bayard!

Shiro shook his head, trying to tamp down the reprimanding thought in Keith’s voice.

“Come on, everyone attack at once! We’re running out of time! On my mark, hit him with everything you’ve got!”

They surrounded Zarkon, herding him against the command ship, and Shiro shouted, “Now!”

Mouth cannons and tail guns fired. Vines erupted and a sonic wave washed over Zarkon. Shiro launched Black into the astral plane once more and brought up the bayard. It shifted into a double-sided battle axe. Shiro swung it sideways with all his might and felt it hit home before Black pulled him back.

They emerged on the other side of the command ship. Shiro could hear the others calling retreat and flew around.

“What is it?”

“He’s going nova! Stay out of the way!” Lance’s voice was shrill.

Shiro backed toward the Castle. “Everyone, inside the particle barrier!”

The others obeyed and braced themselves as the shockwave rattled them. Shiro could just see a clump of wreckage around a body, floating near the command ship, motes of glowing energy rising and winking out of existence.

“Paladins, we need to get out of here!”

“But Keith!” Hunk’s voice was shaky.

“He’s gone. I saw the explosion.” The defeated tone in Lance’s voice shook Shiro.

“You don’t know that he was in that!” Pidge protested. “Keith! Come in, Keith! Please!”

Shiro’s throat hurt from holding in his grief, but he managed to hold his voice steady. “Kolivan’s right. There’s nothing we can do for Keith now. The ship’s power is going to come back any minute. Slav, is the self-destruct on the teladuv ready for countdown?”

“Ready, although the chances of—”

“Now, Slav! Allura, activate the wormhole! Team, get to your bays!”

As the Castle dove into its wormhole, the explosions began, taking down the teludav while lights began emerging on the Galra ships.

 <> <> <> <> <>

 As the team entered the command deck, Kolivan approached and held out his arm. Shiro grasped it, elbow to elbow, and Kolivan laid his other hand on Shiro’s shoulder.

“He will be remembered. He honored the title of Paladin.”

Shiro nodded, not trusting himself to speak without breaking down. Pidge and Hunk had pulled their helmets off and were hugging each other as they cried. Lance was standing apart, his hands pressed to his face. Allura was sobbing in Coran’s arms and the adviser had a sickly pallor to his face. Slav was curled up in Keith’s chair, a look of fierce concentration on his face.

“Antok and I will return to headquarters and conduct our ritual for the fallen. You are all welcome to join us.”

Shiro’s thoughts were scattered. Was there an Altean mourning ritual? Would Pidge, Hunk, and Lance prefer an Earth-style funeral? There was no one else on Earth itself that would miss Keith, other than Shiro’s parents and a couple of Garrison friends. They, the Voltron team, were really all the family Keith had.

“I…yes. I would like to join you, at least. I’ll ask the others.”

Kolivan nodded. “Let’s go as soon as the princess can transport us.”

 <> <> <> <> <>

 The ritual had two purposes. The first was to honor those Blades that had died in the name of freedom from Zarkon. The second was to retrieve the actual blades with a magical rite so they could be passed on to new members.

Antok led Shiro to a display of daggers mounted on a wall. He pointed to one. “This was Ulaz’s blade. It awaits its new wielder.”

“I don’t understand. If you conduct these rituals and get the weapons back, how did a blade end up staying with Keith? As far as he knows, his mother was the one with a Galra connection and she died.”

“We cannot be sure. Of course we do not conduct the ritual if we do not know that a Blade has fallen. And even if we did, if the knife was properly passed down it would have a new wielder and would not return.”

“Do you keep records when that happens? When you try to recall a knife and it doesn’t come? That might point toward Keith’s connection to the Galra.”

“We do. It is worth exploring, if it matters to you.”

Shiro paused. Did it matter? Keith was dead and learning his exact ancestry from the Galra would not change that.

Kolivan spoke up from the center of the room. “We are ready.”

Antok led Shiro back to the others. “You may stand here. Please do not speak or move until we say it is safe.”

Allura’s eyes narrowed at that but she held her peace. She was dressed in a formal gown, a crown holding her hair up in an elegant bun. Coran was also in dress uniform but the Paladins were in their armor. The team stood at parade rest while several Blades joined Kolivan in a circle.

Shiro had not known what to expect, but singing was definitely not it. The Blades chanted, the tones moving up and down in a pattern reminiscent of old Earth Gregorian chants. The Blades forming the circle raised their hands slowly, until they were reaching for the stars through the glass dome above them.

As Shiro watched, a beacon of light formed in the center of the room. It brightened to a near-painful intensity before collapsing, leaving in its wake a long, thin, elegant dagger lying on the floor.

The chant ended and Kolivan looked at the blade in confusion. A few of the other Blades began to murmur.

“What? What is it?” Allura demanded in a sharp tone.

“Where’s Keith’s blade?” Shiro asked.

“I…I don’t know! The ritual has never failed before!”

Pidge’s eyes were wide as saucers. “But if his blade didn’t come back, that means he’s alive!”

Shiro felt a wave of dizziness at the sudden warring emotions of grief and hope and horror. “Then the Galra must have him! We’ve got to get him back!”

Antok stepped forward. “Paladins! Stop, think! We need to make a plan. And we need more information to make a successful plan.”

Allura looked at him, her gaze sharp and brittle. “Caution, again? How long will it take to get this information?”

Antok turned to Kolivan. “We need to activate Darvith.”

Kolivan’s expression looked shocked. “Are you serious, Antok? Darvith has been a sleeper agent for decafeebs. You would expose her now? For one person?”

“For the Red Paladin, a member of the Voltron Force. Someone whose actions have already helped take down Zarkon and whose presence is necessary to finish dismantling his empire. Yes, I say we activate Darvith.”

Shiro stepped forward. “Who’s Darvith? And what can we do to help?”

 <> <> <> <> <>

 The first step was to verify the location of the command ship. Allura sent Pidge through a wormhole in a cloaked Green Lion. She reported a colossal amount of debris forming a new trash nebula in the Yggiz Galaxy, but no Galra. Kolivan put the word out among the network of Blades to report the minute there was a confirmed location for the emperor’s command ship.

The second step was activating the sleeper agent. Kolivan explained that many in their ranks who did not succeed in waking a blade chose this option as soon as they reached majority. Their memories as Blades would be locked away and they would be inserted into Galra societies with carefully-constructed false identities. The Blade of Marmora kept watch on what happened to them and, when they were in a position to aid in some major plan, awoke their memories.

Shiro looked up at Kolivan when he paused in his explanations. “I take it that this agent is particularly valuable? You were shocked that Antok would even suggest using her.”

“Not that he would suggest using her, although his caution is extreme. I was surprised that he would do so for Keith. She’s a druid in Haggar’s coven.”

Shiro’s mouth fell open at that.

“Exposing her means that Haggar will almost certainly know of our existence, although it’s possible that she already has an idea from Thace. But Zarkon is down, almost certainly dead, and now is the prime time to strike from as many sides as possible. I would have suggested using Darvith if Antok hadn’t.”

“If you activate her, can she communicate where the command ship is?”

For a long moment Kolivan stared at Shiro and he began to feel nervous. Had he overstepped a line somehow?

“Kolivan?”

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Part 4

[greenflamedwriter]

Galra Lance Official Notes

Check List:

Blade of Mamoura, Lance and Keith go to the trials, Lance re-does the trials along with Keith, to prove his loyalty to Voltron and is salty.

Lance is exposed as a Galra when he's injured, others are surprised and Allura doesn't talk to him OR Keith. Lance gets the brunt of it. But Shiro is a bit more iffy and Lance decides to leave.

Lance reveals he's a test tube baby that Blaytz and the galra servent is his father surprise Kolivan is that servant. He's super old but time dilations happened.

Lance does his dads proud, blaytz and Lance's family died and that caused the riff.

https://voltron.fandom.com/wiki/Voltron_(Legendary_Defender)

(Okay- Voltron upgrades-Have three upgrades to unlock

Blue _Laser_Jaw Blade_ +Sonar Scan. Bayard+Console=

Yellow _Laser_Jaw Blade +Extra Armour Shoulder Cannon

Red _Laser_Jaw Blade +molten lava Saber (Double Sword Ability

Green _Laser_Jaw Blade_ +Plants Arm Cannon

lack _Laser_Jaw Blade_ +Astral Project Saber

Voltron _Can shoot lasers out of it's eyes. (Oh god Bayard combinations create different things owch my head) Green Lion [Shields] [Wings create Shield] Red Lion [Sword] Blue Lion ...? Green+Yellow+Red+Blue = Enlarged Cutless Red + Green = Dual Sabers (Shiro and Keith)Red+ Black = Blazing Sword (Lance and Keith) Red + Black = Flight Boosters

(Possible Abilities)

Blazing Sword. Shield. Lasers. Missiles. Sabers. Cloaking Device. (My own) Energy Whip. Electric taser blast. grapple hook.

(Lion heads can de-tatch from voltron then reaatch)

"Wait the lions head just dettach? Are we still INSIDE when that happens?"

"Oh good if I wasn't motion sick before." Hunk sighs

________________________________________________________________________

Bayard Unlockables:

Ultimate Lockable ALL WEAPONS: Zarkon has- Whip, Sword, Schythe, Blade, Gun, Lance : Sword/ Gun Allura:Whip Keith: Sword Shiro: ??? Katie: Taser Hunk: Canon

___________________________________________________________________________

(Two) Galra Lance Story.

Lance is a galra, and Ex-Mamourian (He was kicked out because he was suicidal and kept getting attention to try to make Zarkon afraid which was the opposite of what mamoura wanted so Lance is a rebel doing his own thing, bounty hunting stealing, raiding and above all about to steal a red Lion on the ship hailed under Sendak and he’s going to get a boatloud of it. Then a cocky kid in a red suit slashes in claiming it’s his lion. Lance wonders if any of this was even worth it?

1 Flash to mind meld plus suspicion lances memories of him in water with mermaids and pre-galran.

2 Flash to “surprise, not a galra.” Lance is exposed and returned and nervous.

3 His father is Blatyz the previous blue Paladin and his other father the Galra whom Blatyz married. (Wait how were you born?) Pidge asked and Lance grinned his tail flickering back like a cats (I was a test tube baby)

4 Keiths initiation Lance returns to the Mamoura.

5) The talk. Shiro comes out of Alfor's room and see;s Lance and instantly feels ashamed after the trials the two talk and begin the

-Next morning- go over bayard upgrades and try to test them out- get inturupted by Kolivan as they have a mission they couldn't do alone but now with VOltron they can now pursue it. It's time for the Blade to make a stand its a gamble their willing to face. next morning with a mission to bust Slav out of jail. This is where Lotor appears straight af, he wants slav for himself for his little pet project that he won't disclouse UNTIL he see's allura and reaks the F out and realises he can use- her ask her for help. (turns out Lotor is a double agents working for the Galra since he was an exiled prince) Lotor and Lance were an old time fling but both only did it for information. Shiro asks Keith if he should grow his hair out...flirts with Lance then gives up and see's allura and they both get along.

6) Lotor reveals the robo beasts and Zarkon creating his own anti-voltron all he needs is a reality comet and he would be unstopable. Until the new robobests are...different they leak into Voltron and almost corrupt the paladins, Lance and Keith take a hit freaking out.

7) Keith is fine he's able to snap out of it, but Lance goes feral and almost doesn't come back to himself until Lotor and Allura pull him back, seeing Shiro taking care of Keith almost makes him lose control again. Coran and Lotor look at the substance and find out what it is.

"Quintescence in its purest form, it can- it can make you mad I think...thats what happened to my parents."

Lotor, we can't change them back it's been thousands of years. I know- I- its for my people not them. Some can't control it.

Lance feels like crap and avoids the others, missing his packmates. Shiro finds him and the two talk. Introducing Fusion tron, Keith and Lance fuse and both co-pilot the red/blue now mixed lion "What the hell? it's like Voltron but less. "It's weird as fuck." Lance said "Is what it is." But at lease he and Keith didn't fuse like that cartoon Pidge said, now the two had seats side by side like Voltron but it wasn't a leg or an arm it was two sides of a body wait.

"Was this what Voltron was supposed to be? If we got closer?" Keith blinked up at him "Um,"

"I mean I see us as brothers kinda, we went through the trials together and rely on each other- or am I wrong?"

"No! No that's...that sounds right." Keith said with a small smile on his face his ear turned pink Lance could only beam and glance back to the others. "Heh, Pidge and Hunk want in."

6) They save Honerva and Lotor and they find a planet and make it habitable and release everyone from the Galra, but some planets are merged some want the Galra gone and some need their galra to remain so Allura and Lotor try to fix things. Lance goes to his planet which is hidden and Allura gasps to see Alteans, Mermainians and Galra there in hiding in a warped hole. She cries and hugs Lance "Why didn't you tell me."

"It would've been safer for them and us, if we lost I didn't want the Galra finding them."

"Thank you," She said watery smile in place.

On a spacecraft floating on the edge of an arus solar system, an abandoned Galra named Lance, was taking a pit stop.

His ship consisted of junk, the pilot hanger cluttered making even hoarders feel disgusted open drinks and snack bars littered here and there and Lance had to squeeze in just to get to the pilots chair, the craft only had one room and a bathroom that stopped working. And his room was the only place that was clean it had an assortment of guns, rifles, snipers, you name it, along with a discarded blade that has seen no use in years with a strange symbol on the hilt.

Lance had music blasting from his speakers some album he bought from an alien shop, the album was called ‘Queen.’ And so far Lance was a fan.

He was flickering through a data pad as many reports scrolled past with anflick of his finger. Galra operations, cargo shipments, military vessels, open channels with radio chatter that Lance ignored. He was looking for something easy.

The life of a thief had its perks, steal medical supplies and weapons and give them to a rebellion and make a profit. Usually he sold to both sides just to live more dangerously. A recommendation opened up and Lance smirked behind his mask with the three circles on the front.

A vessel captioned by Sendek was hovering outside Arus, sliding the panel right and lots of data began to download at lighting speed , appeared and Lance’s smirk grew.

It had some precious cargo on it, a Lion of Voltron to be exact.

Lance was having the time of his life knocking out guards ninja style was just so easy, he had the red lion in his sights.

“Well hello gorgeous, mind dropping down that barrier and getting out of here?”

Suddenly he heard a nose and hid behind a pillar in the shadows, just as more galra guardsran into the hanger.

Lance turned and frowned to see a boy in red and white armour (like thats not inconspicuous) and took them down, Lance grew more suspicious this kid fought like a galra. But he didn’t wear mamorian armour or any rebel armour that he knew. Could be a threat.

Until the kid went to the barrier “Alright open up.”

…it did nothing, the boy growled in frustration “Ugh-we don’t have time for this! It’s me keith! You’re I AM YOUR PALADIN!”

Lance couldn’t help it, he laughed.

The kid whipped around activating a weapon, a sword.

“Stay back!” Lance shook his head “No, wait,” he was still chuckling holding up his hands “I’m not-”

Suddenly more guards made themselves known and the two found themselves with their hands full.

Lance wasted no time shooting the Galra, even took care of the kids blindspots, this jlb was bigger than he thought maybe if he helped the kid out they can split the money fifty fifty.

That was until.

“You’re not getting this lion!”

Keith slammed his hand against the panel, and opened up the interlock, the vacum

Shot the galra forward and Keith was barely gripping onto the panel.

Lance cursed then used his grappling hooks to latch onto a structure beam.

Suddenly Keith’s slipped and he was pulled into space.

Lance acted on instinct he unlatched grapplings and shot out of space after the teen. He easily grabbed him stopping them both from slinning.

“Let go!”

“Shut up, I’m trying to save your life.” Until the kid screamed Lance turned in time to see big metal jaws clamp shut around them.

Both screamed as they tumbled along the inner corridors, Lance was usually could at improvising- but this was going so far out of left field!

He had no clue what was even going on anymore.

Both were on their hands and knees panting from the sudden death experience, until Lance heard a high pitched sound and turned his head slowly.

Keith held his red sword against his face. Lance could only stare- oh well, stare in his mask and ex-Mamourian armour as much as he could.

“Who are you?” Keith growled. Lance knew he could knock the kid out and take the lion. But he’d have no idea if it’ll even respond to him, and Keith is a fighter and wouldn’t let this thing go, heck heleaped out of an airlock for this thing.

A crash outside saved his interrogation. “A rebel, against the Galra,” he rushed out (which was sorta true)

“Honestly I would tell you more but we don't have time!”

….It turns out Lance got involved in something much bigger than him.

This...this was Voltron.

His childhood stories, the one his dad told him about. The universe’s last hope before Alfor hid them away.

They returned!

Kinda, with one blue lion shot, it just sat there with it’s barrier up. Useless. Not doing a thing….sounded like his type of girl. Chilling alone while the whole universe wasn’t in chaos.

But even with four lions they were able to take down a fighter craft, one with Sendek attached as it crashed onto the planet before him. Colour Lance impressed.

Keith wasn’t too bad either during the battle. He was an excellent pilot and a fighter, but he had a very bad habit.

“Green is wide open,” Lance said with a sigh as he watched how obvious it was that the green Lion had three fighters on their ass.

“Help them out.” Dumbass, he left unsaid.

Keith seemed to hear it.

“I know-” keith instantly covered them and Lance saw fighter ships approach from the main craft. “Your right-” Keith barely managed to dodge.

“Will you quit back seat driving!?”

Lance almost stopped until he saw the black paladin was in distress “The Black lion-”

Keith was moving before he even finished. Keith was good, just had to see the bigger picture.

Once they defended Arus and went planet side, Lance had already made a decision, as he left the red lion trailing behind Keith he saw the others landed beside them.

A woman appeared out of the castle looking relieved, until her eyes clocked his and Lance almost ran back up the mouth of the lion.

“Who is he?”

Allura demanded once all the pilots had landed.

Lance brightened behind his mask, his lilac tail flicking back and forth as he descended the mouth of the lion and held his hand out.

“Oh hello, I’m Lance.” He over exagirated his movements the more big and dumb he looked the more trusting, Allura took his hand tentively.

“You can’t tell with the mask, but I’m winking.”

Allura pulled her hand away still suspicious. “Keith!”

Keith glanced at him curiously. “He was with the red lion,”

With no warning, Lance felt Allura grab his arm and twist him around onto his knees, Lance yelped.

“Ow, ow ow- that hurts lady- ow!” His hand was trembling and clenching as Allura dug her palm into his shoulder.

“What were your intentions with the red lion?”

“I was planning on stealing it,”

Allura looked very alarmed, until Lance gasped on. “But now? wouldn’t dream of it!” Allura growled “Why should we trust you?”

“My dad told me about Voltron,” Lance wheezed god this lady was tough.

Allura let him go surprised and Lance fell over with a yelp just barely catching himself, he turned and pointed at her with a scowl (That she didn’t see)

“Look I know what this looks like but I know that, this,” he gestured at the lions as he stood up ”This isn’t some collectors item, this is VOLTRON! The people’s hope, if anyone found out I-” Here he slapped a hand to his chest “-was responsible for sabotaging Voltron I’ll be doing the Galra a favour, Which is the opposite of what I want to do.”

Allura and the others who looked defensive, straightened once Lance said his piece.

“Is there anyone out there fighting Zarkon?” She asked, Lance placed a hands on his hips “Still? Jeez Lady where have you been? There is no more fighting, Its just surviving at this point.” He flapped his hand lazily “I already gave up on that freedom pipedream long ago, but yes other rebels are trying. Chances are if you make a dent in Zarkons oppressive system the rebels will come flocking.” And if the Mamoura catched wind of Voltron Lance wanted to be out of there ASAP.

He waved at them taking a step back “Good luck to you,” He patted the barrier of the blue lion and continued to walk away, hoping he could get enough of a signal to his ship to get him as far away from this planet.

Until the barrier collapsed with a swish.

He stopped walking as the others gasped. No.

Lance turned to see the others gape at the lion (Now free) then their gazes turned towards him.

Coran came to himself before the others. “It seems we have found our blue paladin.”

Lance looked around then back at them, wait they meant him?

Oh Gaia, no.

Lance lay ontop of the bed that the princess graclessly gave him, they all had rooms of their own. The Paladin rooms. He was a paladin.

Oh Gaia.

He shuffled over his armour digging into his side, no way in hell was he not wearing his armour, especially with the company he kept, he had no idea what they would say if they knew.

That he was a Galra, an ex-mamourian.

He placed his hands over his mask and groaned, if what they said was true then he would run into his ex-cult sooner or later.

Gaia, he respected them but if you don't agree with everything they say do you cancel you, he tossed and turned in dread.

And his team, the ...humans he was with, some were nice but others made him wary, Shiro. He was the galra's champion. Lance wondered if he remembered everything he'd done in the Arena.

It was the reason he hadn't revealed himself to them yet, he knew the leader of Voltron would hate him and Allura lost her family.

Lance turned on his back and gave a nod, he'll tell them once he gets close, when they get to know him and hopefully won't be afraid.

He shut his eyes, he doubted it.

The alarms blared and Lance sat up straight his dagger in hand at the threat his heartbeat in his throat, "What the hell?"

He barely slept at all during the night and this was jarring, he leapt out of bed and almost ran into Shiro, who was already in his armour?

hmm....

Lance kept up and both ran to the bride to see Allura and Coran turn around.

"What's happening? Are we under attack?" Shiro asked his eyes tense, Lance had to internally grimace, how was the man even staying together he'd never know.

"No, that was a test." Shiro's shoulders slumped "Test?" Lance looked away, ouch.

"At least Shiro was in his armour." She gave Lance a pointed look and he flinched his tail flickering "What? I have armour! And blue isn't my colour." He crossed his arms.

Also their armour had a clear helmet so you could see the persons face, no thank you.

She huffed then glanced at her data pad "We just have to wait for the others." Lance glanced at the door and crossed his arms, he had to admit if these were going to be his new pack mates fighting against voltron he felt worried.

He had no idea while he gazed at the door, Shiro was watching him.

Lance's tail flickered back and forth in agitation, he had a large build and long legs if Shiro could describe him, Lance almost looked like Deadpool, he glanced at his belt at the blade hanging from his thin hips, it had a symbol and Shiro squinted, it looked familiar.

"Okay lets make a bet," Lance spoke suddenly shocking Shiro out of his thoughts. "In order, I think it was be the...Red Paladin, then Green then Yellow."

Shiro raised an eyebrow "You do know their names, right?" Lance glanced at him and Shiro tensed, he had no idea if he was looking at him directly it was...weird not looking someone in the eye.

"Psh- Yeah, defiently...I know their names....um, Hank?" Shiro felt himself smile despite himself "No,"

"Kleve?" Shiro shook his head "Not even close,"

"Podge?" Now Shiro laughed, looking away "Don't let them here you say that."

"Well then, who do you think is going to come through that door?"

"Keith first, defiently,"

"The red Paladin?"

"yes, then...Hunk the yellow paladin."

"Ah, the Podge the green Paladin?"

"Pidge, yeah I think they would be last."

"Okay, your on."

Just as they finished Keith ran through the door, with a blade in hand and his civilian clothing. Lance had his arms crossed then tensed as he saw the blade.

"Whats going on?"

Allura sniffed "We'll wait till the others are here." She looked very disapointed, from what Lance learned being admist a war zone then waking up in present time Allura was still battle ready like no time has passed.

The others? not so much.

Then Hunk walked in and Lance cried out "NO! argh god dammit!" Hunk was still in his pajammas and paused "What-" He cut himself with a yawn "What'd I do?"

Lance shook his head "Nothing bud," he glanced at Shiro and held out a hand, he did not miss the flinch the Black Paladin did but continued like he barely saw it.

His wrist activated and a hologram appeared "Well you won the bet theres a twenty." Shiro blinked "What?"

Did...humans not use Gac?

"Oh, thats amazing! Did technology move to contactless?" Coran asked leaning close to the holagram that had 20 [GAC] on the screen, Coran looked amazed "We might need to use this to replicate, maybe we could transer Gac to the other Paladins," Lance shrugged "Well I'll get it to you later,"

"What's Gac?" Hunk asked his eyes squinty and dead looking, guess the poor fella missed out on some sleep.

"Space currency." Keith guessed and Lance shot him a finger gun "Got it in one," Then Pidge walked in, in her casual clothing.

Lance stared them down.

"What? Why's he looking at me?"

"You lost me 20 Gac, Green Paladin."

"Paldins."

All discussions ceased as they turned to Allura, her eyes looked thunderous. Lance ducked his head as she took in a breath.

"This was a test, which you all have failed! If zarkon attacked we would be dead!" Lance glanced at the others and saw most looked disapointed, except Hunk, his dead eyes only gazed at Allura.

"Well sorry, but in a few hours we were on Earth and now we're here in a space ship fighting an intergalactic war we had no idea even existed it takes a while to get used to." Lance had to admit he had a point and their leader, he glanced at Shiro his eyes tight and...nobody noticed.

Changing enviorments with no control, he was surprised the guy hadn't had a break down yet. Lance saw it in other soldiers, some became numb and suicidal.

"Enough, this is war and you have an obligation to be a Paladin, now suit up we're forming Voltron I want to see if yesterday wasn't a fluke." She turned around to Coran an obvious dismissal and Lance had to shake his head.

It's like he never left the Mamoura, geez.

"Hey," He jumped with a yelp his tail spiking up. Pidge looked uniterested "You're an alien right?" Lance lowered his arms "Yes- no...technically you guys are the aliens! I'm normal."

"So what are you?"

Quiznack um-

"Uh Aquatica Species," He saw Coran jump then turn "What?"

Lance shrugged "The reason why I wear this armour, I can't breath....this." he gestured around and the others looked surprised then understanding. Pidge nodded "So you're armour has ulti-functions? it can work in space and breathable air."

"This air is not very breathable to some people."

"Paladins. Lions, now." Pidge jumped and scurried away and Lance chuckled until he passed Keith and almost faltered at the look on his face.

Keith was watching him with...suspicion, his eyes flickered to the blade at Lance's hip and Lance felt himself pale, Keith knows- Keith knew he was lying.

Keith turned around and left and Lance felt tense through the duration of the day.

Trying to form Voltron? Did not work, mostly because Lance had no idea what he was doing and the first thing he did was grab his ship.

"Lance- Where are you going?" Shiro growled and the ex-Mamourian grimaced "I can't just leave my ship out there, it has my stuff in it- two ticks."

"Ticks?" Lance grabbed his ship with the blue lion and began his descent back to the castle.

"Wow is that you're ship?"

Lance preened "Why yes it is-"

"It looks like shit." Lance frowned, he had a feeling that...wasn't a compliment.

"Hey don't diss my ship, it got me through enough scrapes with the Galra and pirates."

He went into the hanger bays and depositated his ship, then turned tail and leapt back into the air. Before the others could ask questions they heard Allura through the screens.

"There is too much chatter, does this mean you formed Voltron." Lance internally grimaced.

"Um, we're getting there, Princess. Don't worry we'll get this before dinner." He bopped his head then paused "I'm winking in case you couldn't tell." She ignored him and glanced away "We are teting the castle's defence systems, maybe during duress you might form Voltron."

Shiro cut in "Allura I don't think-"

A laser shot out and the ground exploded next to Pidg'es feet the others yelped and scattered dodging blasts and such, they barely had time to even think of Voltron their first thought was to dodge everything the castle was trying to throw at them.

Lance had no idea how Voltron even worked he heard stories from his parents before they...But they were supposed to be close- like pack mates. They were new, they were strangers. Aqquantiences in one of those space malls with spritsers how could they be open with their bonds for their lions and each other in the span of a few vargas?

The lasers stopped and the shield around the castle went down, the others glanced at one another.

"Maybe if we..." Hunk padded to Keith and shoved him.

"ow- Hey!"

"Sorry I thought we could...combine!"

"Well we could try that..." Shiro said speculating.

"What slamming into each other?" Keith growled avoiding Hunk and moving away.

"No a pyramid."

"Like cheerleaders." Pidge intercepted and Lance leaned back in his chair. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"Okay, the legs of Voltron," Hunk moved and Lance just stood there glancing at the others, who was the other leg?

"Lance?"

"hmm?"

"Can you move beside Hunk?"

"huh- wait I'm a leg?" Lance gasped "oh, I had no idea." He padded over to Hunk and stood next to him.

"how do you not know?" keith asked and Lance scowled "I don't know what Voltron is Keith, I heard stories but I have no idea-"

"It's okay, we had like a mind meld with the lions they should us what Voltron looked like." Lance pouted "That sounds like fun, shame I missed out."

Long story short, the 'pyramid'? As the humans called it, tumbled and collapsed.

Hunk called it quits and stormed into the castle, "Alright, we'll take a break and try again in an hour."

Lance had no idea what an hour was but decided not to ask.

"I'll stay out here, bond with blue- it might be me since this is the first time flying a lion."

"Okay, don't stay out too long," Shiro said and he watched the others fly towards the castle and Lance sighed and gazed down at the controls.

"Okay beautiful, lets see how you can fly." He pushed forward on the controls and yelped, this thing was faster than what he was used to and...easier to use.

But at the same time "Why is this in archaic altean!? Such outdated language- what does this button do?" Lance graced a panel and yelped when the lions tail shot out a bolt

"Oh so that's what that does," Lance activated his mask and swiped through the options before his eyes, in space he created virtual stratergys from his previous missions, one for combat and another for flight. He activated it and braced himself.

"Time for some manouveres".

The others collapsed onto a couch "This is so freakin hard." Pidge groaned covering their face and Hunk glanced their way "I know I thought Voltron would be cool but this is just...urgh it's worse than math I just don't get it."

Allura opened the door and the others tensed "What are you doing? Have you formed Voltron?"

"No, we came in when the castle lost power." Her gaze was murderous "Are you telling me you havn't formed Voltron?"

"Where's Lance?" Coran asked as he saw the room lacked their dark large counterpart.

Allura tensed when Keith spoke "He's still outside with the lion-"

"And you left him? What if he stole it?" She growled and Pidge shrugged "Don't know why since he dumped his ship in our space garage."

"Whats a...space garage?"

Shiro just walked in and saw Allura - shit.

"Hey we're not taking a break." Keith glared his way and Shiro crossed his arms.

"Let's get our blue paladin," Coran said once he realised how tense the atmosphere was "Maybe if we do training excersises together it might make you closer as a unit."

They all stood to go to the control room to get Lance, but all of them paused to see Lance outside during his formations.

"Oh wow, he's good." Lance did a corkscrew in the air and did a manouver even Keith struggled with.

"Um, Lance?" Allura asked and the visual of Lance appeared with his hood up and his mask glowing, it was...omnious.

"Oh hey Allura hold on-" He patted his mask and the light dimmed "Did you want something?"

"Return to the castle, we decided to try something different."

"Okay, gotta say- Blue works like a dream kudo's to the archetecture." Allura flushed "T-that would be my father."

"His work is amazing, so simple to use and powerful except for the Altean text- I can't understand half of this." Lance admitted flying through to the hanger bays.

"What do people use these days."

"Galra script, everyone speaks Galra since they colonised everryyy- shutting up, I'm gonna stop there." Allura blinked she had no idea what her face looked like but he must of noticed.

"Can you come to the control room?"

"sure thing."

Lance was passed a mind meld and glanced at the others "um,"

"I can see you number 2."

"Number- what?"

"I numbered you all in height, you and Shiro are close in height but since Shiro's the head that makes him the winner." Lance could only stare and saw Coran begin to sweat and moved away "SO the mind melds! The give inside into your minds there is nothing you won't be open to it will be a short cut to make you all intimate with one another, the previous paladins fought together in war and combat and opened to one another in time...time we DO not have!" He said perky but Lance was stuck on Coran not looking at him was he...intimidating?

Nah, that could be it, Lance was the regular goofball others told him that plenty of times.

Wait- mind melds.

Pidge put it on and already flashes of someones life appeared through she gasped taking it off.

"Concentrate, you don't want to reveal too much."

Lance's tail began to fuzz with agitation, he couldn't wear that- how could he get out of this?

Shiro saw Lance looking calm and relaxed...if it wasn't for his tail bristling like a ghibli character, his eyes narrowed what did he have to hide?

Lance took a breath and accepted the meld "Think of something important and use that to concentrate on Voltron."

Something told him even Coran had no idea how Voltron worked. How do you bond with the lions? with your paladins is it wishful thinking, is it...like family?

No one knew. Maybe they were just team mates, strangers who had one goal...maybe it was that one.

He saw the others put on their melds and Lance took a breath then placed his on- wait memory.

He thought back long and hard on a memory something that kept him going, that made him help people as much as he could.

Keith's was a...wooden hut in a desert? But something about it felt cozy the house was intact and the doors opened with a child running out (Keith) and a older man, at first Lance thought it was Shiro then saw he looked different, maybe they were related but then again all humans looked the same to him.

Hunk was food, okay but then it exapanded a table a feast with other humans all looking at him warmly oh he made the food that was amazing oh gosh now Lance was hungry...Shiro was of a craft it was a weird design and pointed up? how strange he had his arms around two people one was of Keith looking up at him with pride and the other was a man of the same colour as Hunk with a soft brown hair and eyes. He could feel it, their love and pain with these memories. These were not good memoiries maybe they missed their planet.

Then Pidge with a smaller human with longer hair, they looked cute for a furless speicies.

He could feel them through the bond and shivered wow, is that how their were supposed to feel like through the lions? This without devices that was some high pyschic powers he wondered if humans were gifted with it.

"Lance? Is your meld supposed to be blank." Lance flinched "Well they do call me empty headed- just thinking." He took a breath and focused on his oldest memory.

One were he was underwater with his father, he could only breathe under for small amounts of time, he glanced down the soft waves reflecting of his skin before his fur grew in, the Aquatic man was speaking but Lance was too young to remember what he said on that day, his other father was above the waves with his feet Blaytz put a finger to his lips and gestured up and Lance watched as he swam upwards and grabbed the feet and lanked him into the water the water rippled and bubbled around the other so the others couldn't see.

Lance was crying thankfully the masked kept it hidden but by their faces they could feel it, Lance straightened up "now what?"

"Use that memory to form Voltron."

Was it a reason? His memory shifted into the blue lion as the others changed as well, the lions moved and Lance peeked an eye opened to see the visualization, So thats what Voltron was supposed to look like....Until the green Lion glitched back into the image.

"Pidge stop thinking of your girlfriend!" Pidge growled "shut up I'm not!" It changed back but that disrupted them all Lance could feel it that tranguil bittersweet feeling was gone and in it's place was stress.

It flickered again "Pidge!"

"forget this!" they slammed his mind meld down and the others flinched and even Shiro saw the tears at edges of their eyes.

"Lets...take a break."

Lance took his meld off and gave a sigh of relief, he hoped the Paladin bond wasn't on all the time he doubted he would be able to keep this up for long...

Lance sat at the table with Allura and Coran gazing at the others, this day felt like a huge waste, he could see the panic setting in but he had to admit this was overkill.

"You know I can't eat because of the mask? Can I go to my ship?"

"No this is a team excersize." lance sighed he had to feed Hunk thankfully Keith didn't have to do anything.

"Okay um, how about we make one hand lax and the other eats." Lance demonstrated making his hand with Hunk limp and raised the other in a demonstration.

"We can try."

Who knew it would be so difficult Lance shoved his food goo forward since Keith had too many close encounters and Shiro just looked so sad that he couldn't eat properly.

Lance was so focused on feeding Hunk he missed the whole alteraction with Pidge and the princess until he was suddenly hit in the face with food goo, he cried out as he heard the others laugh.

"Oh it's on!" Lance shook his head to dispel the goo and was slammed back again by another one and felt both his arms raised to start throwing food goo without his permission but they were laughing.

What was even happening?

If he did this in the blade they would be in trouble, he saw out of one eye the princess laughing and Coran was going crazy and moving around which was not fair.

He grinned using his tail to chuck food goo on the floor to trip him up,

"Nice one Lance!" He felt himself flush at the praise from Shiro and soon enough it died down.

"Enough don't you realise what you're doing!?" Lance's tail lowered between his legs but puffed his chest up, he already yelled at a leader of a rebellion before he would do it again there was drill sergents but then there was this.

"You're working as a team!" She beamed and Lance had to blink.

"What?"

The others laughed "Who feels like they can form Voltron!?" Keith yelled and even Hunk laughed "heck yeah I can- I can feel that we can do this, y'know?" Lance wiped the goo of his mask then scowled as it smeared around making his vision blurry, he gazed around looking for a cloth still attatched to Hunk and Keith he reached out and sudden movment had them tumbling "oh!"

"ah!"

they all fell over in a heap and Lance may have realised it was his fault. "I didn't do it!" Like quiznack he would admit it though.

___________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Two.

Working with Voltron was...an experience. Loads of things happened, Coran almost died in an explosion, Shiro- how did the green Paladin put it? Yeeted him out the airlock. Admist the whole panic when they finally had a moment Lance could finally relax.

But something Lance enjoyed the most, was training. He was always the runt of the litter in his packmates always the baby blade.

So bossing people around right now? Was awesome, they did a usual team exercises and saw the team weren't improving, it made Lance worried that the team stuggled against his simulations even the ones for begginers. If they fought the Galra now.

Panic, that was...he was feeling panic right now.

"Okay, team meeting, Allura can you come in please?"

Allura slipped through the doors as Lance had the team standing.

"Okay good work today team, but I noticed alot about all of you individually and you have strengths and weaknesses we have to work on. But we don't have the time, so Ive worked on a training plan."

Hunk and Pidge groaned "No!"

"Seriously!?"

"Ah-ba-ba!" Lance hushed them he turned and pointed at Shiro and Allura and moved them to stand before the group.

"Here's the top tiers, Shiro and Allura. They are the only ones that can take a Galra in a fight." Both flushed at the praise until Lance barrelled on "But Allura has inner rage that clouds her judgment and leaves her open and Shiro tends to....space out." Shiro glanced away and Lance patted his shoulder. "It's okay, Buddy."

"Keith your middle tier. I would've put you with Shiro and Allura but you tend to rush in on missions recklessly and forget your fellow Paladins are struggling." Keith scowled and Lance gave another shoulder pat "We'll work on it."

"Hunk and Pidge." They both stared as Lance stared "Lower tier."

"Dammit."

"These tiers are based on the level you have to reach to not only beat the Galra," Lance turned his arms locked behind his back "But to stay alive no ifs buts or maybes. The Galra will kill you, they don't discriminate."

Here he glanced at them all "So, here's a demonstration all of you guys are going to have to attack me. If you can beat me then you're ready to face the Galra it's as simple as that."

The others glanced at one another. Shiro frowned "Lance I don't think-" Shiro leapt back when Lance lunged his fist missing Shiro's shocked face he felt Allura move behind him and crouched sweeping his leg and she yelped falling to the floor, he heard Keith more than saw him and reacted still kneeling he grabbed Keith's arm and took a step pulling Keith and slammed him into Shiro just as he realised what was happening and the two collided and stumbled, he faced Pidge head on evading each punch and throw and pushed them hard making them tumble onto their backside.

Hunk was next and Lance actual felt treipdidtion, Hunk would've know if he saw his tail twitch.

But thankfull Hunk was not overly confident and was holding back, Lance was able to trip him with his tail making him fall on his stomach.

Keith came back and Lance had to admit, he wasn't that bad, Allura grabbed him around the neck and Lance fell making her stumble as he dropped his weight, he backrolled through her legs and kicked her backside making her stumble into Keith.

He ducked when his armour sent a warning and almost cried out when Shiro gave him his full attention.

The others weren't getting up, their focus was on Shiro and wondered if he would beat Lance, no one wanted to get in the way.

Shiro grabbed his arm and spun Lance around and pushed holding his arm in a deah like grip, Lance jabbed his stomach and Shiro pulled back and Lance kicked him once, then again Shiro blocked his punch then the next Lance spun with a leap and kicked him in the sternum- Shiro grabbed his leg and spun him around and Lance fell back with a cry until he grabbed Shiro's arm breaking his hold and pushed making Shiro bend down in pain as his arm was twisted. He cried out and Lance's fingers twitched almost wanting to let go, until a weaponised hand sliced across his face, Lance pulled back in time and behind his mask he smirked.

Now this was getting interesting. He wasn't fighting Shiro anymore. He was fighting the champion.

The others must of sensed it, Keith almost took a step forward until Lance held a hand out, he had this. Shiro took that as a sign of attack and lunged.

it was desperate and chaotic, it took Lance everything not to get impaled- hah, and not in the fun way. All he had to do was...wait for an opening.

He could tire Shiro out and wait for an opening, but it came when Shiro's movements became too wide and unfocused.

Easily when the arm grazed Lance's torso he grabbed the appendage and pulled.

He...may have forgotton how light humans were, Shiro went flying.

If Lance still didn't have hold of his arm Shiro would be half way across the room.

Shiro fell to the floor in a pained yelp and Lance grimaced.

He let go immedietly and circled round to the fallen leader, thank god he was in Paladin armour.

"Shiro are you alright?"

Shiro's face was flushed his eyes wide but not unclear, at least he was back in the right mindspace now.

"I uh that." Lance chuckled "You did amazing, a few more practice's and you'll pinning me soon enough." He held his hand out and Shiro blinked, his hand around Lance's hand twitched. "What?"

Lance pulled Shiro up and tilted his head "Are you okay? Not concussed?" before Shiro could even speak, Lance jumped back as Pidge with a battle cry tried to skewer him then yelped tripping over their feet.

"Whoa- Spider-monkey!" Lance yelped looking at Pidge and body tense waiting for anymore spider attacks. Pidge groaned "Really!? not even a surprise attack!?" Lance chuckled and stroked the back of their neck.

"It's no problem Pidge, you all did well." He turned back to the team and nodded "Not bad. Not good, but could've been worse. Hunk." The Yellow Paladin stood up straight "You could've beat me." Hunk blinked surprised "Wha no way-"

"Yes...way, I'm smaller and weaker than you, you held back your punches and hesitated you need to be more confident with your body to use it as a weapon. Pidge." they turned with a raised eyebrow.

"You almost had me, you're small and quick if we hone that down you could take out an enemy in just a few jabs. Luckily you have your bayard to shock a Galra but bigger Galra with..." Lance huffed a breath "Speical enhancers a shock won't be enough."

He glanced at Keith "I see why the Red lion choose you, but you need to think out your attacks a bit more, wait for an opening like Allura did I almost lost there. You two make a good team." The two flushed and that's when Lance realised the humans were all panting and flushed.

"Are you guys okay? I mean- you're not dying are you?"

Hunk laughed "Dude, I feel like I've been put through olympic training that killed me."

"Even so, this has gained new insight on us as a team and what we should work on." Shiro said placing a hand on Lance's shoulder. He had to admit he felt warm and fuzzy helping the team.

Allura nodded "This has been insightful, but I think our human friends should take a break."

"How are you not even affected- damn you!" Pidge directed at Allura and Lance who glanced at one another.

Lance shrugged "Well I've been fighting since I was a kid, not so sure about Allura." She sniffed "So have I? Fighting is essentiel in Altea." Keith crossed his arms "Really? I thought Altea was supposed to be peaceful?"

"Peacful doesn't mean we are a doormat, if we are threatened we defend as simple as that."

Lance glanced away, okay that went awkward fast.

Allura seemed to feel so.

"Lets have a break, you have all worked hard today."

"Awesome," Pidge fist pumped and turned to Hunk "I thought we would never have free time."

Lance's tail flickered "Well that gives me enough time to clear through my ship." He stretched feeling his stomach pull. "I need to get rid of some junk." Pidge and Hunk glanced his way and Lance tilted his head.

"What?"

"On second thought, we're going to your ship."

"What?"

And that's how Lance found himself with the paladins of Voltron + the alteans looking at his ship.

"My it looks..." Coran saw Lance turn to him and flinched "not that bad." Lance sighed, he had to admit it was a piece of junk but it was his ship dammit!

"Alright, lets give you the grand tour!" Lance gestured broadly and practically skipped towards his ship "This baby has got me through so many scraps so be nice." he patted the control panel that fell off and he jumped trying to shove it back onto the slot.

He could feel the others staring at him. "Mind he mess I never had to show off my- well to anyone," Here he paused and gazed up "I've been so lonely..."

He shook his head and kicked the door and it opened with a whoosh, and a pile of junk fell out, Pidge grimaced.

"On second thought I think I might- wait is that a Queen CD!?" She grabbed it and Lance jumped "Careful thats the only existent one in the entire moon swap!"

"Moon swap?"

"Where it's a space mall, it has so many cool stuff from other planets their's one shop that has many strange things." Lance picked up a t-shirt that had martians on it.

"I got a bunch of stuff from there,"

Pidge frowned "This....this is from Earth?"

"Earth? huh, is that where you're from?" Lance stepped over the trash and yelped when his foot concaved and he almost fell over before going further in, the others peared around not sure with wanting to go in, Until Lance starting throwing everything on the floor outside the ship to clear the way.

Allura sniffed "i hope you're cleaning that up." Lance waved his hands "i will- oh, Allura since you're here!" He ducked under a desk and reached under for a box and dragged it out.

"Found them," He had no use for these, he had them from....the mamoura and realised he probably won't be using them anytime soon well, until today.

"Here is everything me and my blade have on the Galra, schematics of all known buildings, fight simulations, physical combat key codes, the works everything till current day I always updated it whenerver I could." Allura's eyes shone and unlike Lance that was stuggling with the weight she easily held it.

"I...thank you."

"No worries."

"Boy you live like this?" pidge asked becoming ore adventerous and grimaced at the food cups and mold growing in places. Lance scowled about to yell that it wasn't that bad.

"Pidge, I've seen you're room. You still have those floating ghibli things in there." Hunk said and Lance chuckled.

"God everything is so messy-oh." A door swooshed open and there was Lance's bedroom, clean pristine and full of guns.

The others stared, it was obvious the weapons were next to his bed. They turned back to him in a silent question and he shrugged "I was in space with Galra and pirates, sleeping with weapons is normal."

Keith peared in "It's kinda amazing..." he trailed off what he saw a dagger and froze, he leaned down and picked it up, it was so familiar and....his eyes widened at the symbol at the hilt. Lance snatched it "Don't touch that." He shoved it under his pillow and slammed the bedroom door shut. The others barely saw the interaction too busy trying to manouver the mess of Lance's ship.

Keith could only stare, his hands sliding to his own Dagger, the hilt covered in bandages to hide the symbol.

Hunk glanced down and gasped "Oh my gosh-"

"Hunk no!"

"Is this your family?" He asked, there were photo's, of Blaytz and his father.

"Who's that?"

Coran gasped "I know who that is!" he took the photo and Lance easily grabbed it "Careful-" He snapped and the others stared and his tail lowered "it's the only photo I have." Coran's smile waned "Sorry my boy, may I?" Lance hesitated then gave it to him.

Coran thumbed the photo.

"This, is the previous Blue Paladin, he piloted alongside your father." He aimed at Allura who gasped and Lance's tail flickered he knew this, but for the Paladins to remember.

"When you said Blaytz I wasn't sure how- it's been thousands of years." Lance shrugged "Time/space Dilation? A thousand years to you could be like a month to the Galra, and they were put in sleeping pods."

"They...who is this one?" Allura asked her lips turned downwards, Coran glanced at him and brightened "Oh Kolivan! He was a server at our Paladin meetings the two took a shining together they - are they still?" Coran asked and Lance shook his head.

"We were, on a planet it was hidden away from the Galra but they found us and everyone..." Lance trailed off but he knew they got it and shrugged "Well that's why I joined the mamoura to help others like he did y'know."

But he knew he was letting him down, he just lost the will to care. Now he was flying his fathers old Lion? What were the odds in that?

"Well, looks like you have a full day ahead of you cleaning..." Shiro glanced around "This."

Lance jumped back "What!? You wanted to look at my stuff then leave me? This could be a team bonding excersize!"

"Nope."

"We're good."

"I think the mice are calling me," Allura was so fake it looked plastic.

Shiro patted his shoulder "Good luck, Buddy." Lance slumped until he felt Pidge tug his tail he turned snatching his tail and curling it around his body.

"What!?"

"Don't trash everything, I might want to keep some of it." Lance crossed his arms.

"You could help?"

"No thanks, Deadpool."

Lance eyes followed Pidge out beyond confusion "Deadpool?"

It took him all day, he had huge piles Junk and maybe savagable, Coran gave him some sort of trolly to take his stuff into his new room although- he did leave half and half in case he had to make a quick get-away...better safe than sorry.

Funny thing though, Pidge pretty much took his junk and everything he thought was salvagable ended up getting tipped. Humans were weird.

"Lance?" Allura called on the com and Lance perked, thank god anything away from the hoarders nightmare that was his ship.

He raced to the training room and saw allura downloading all the info he had "Yes, Princess?" She smiled his way and Lance had to calm himself down, be still his beating heart.

"I saw some of these programs and thought they were intriging but...this file it's not true is it?" She asked and Lanced glanced at the file in question and grimaced.

"I'm sad to say it is true, Hagger she along with others experimented on other intelligent or non-intelligent life forms and created robo-beasts." The hologram shifted revealing the know robo-beasts that were stationed around the universe.

"If a Galra fails their mission they are taken and reprogrammed into a robo-beast." Allura looked disgusted "Its horrible what the Galra have done..." Lance tilted his head then shrugged, he could say 'not all galra' but he doubted Allura would care.

There was always a few bad people in every group that reflects badly but when the whole group acts a certain way is a cause for concern. Allura probably wouldn't want to know that half the Galra were groomed and punished if they spoke out against the Galra.

She had to be clear and focused any hesitence could cause them everything.

"You also did flight simulations?" She asked and Lance perked "Yes, here. I think Pidge can download them into the lions so we can practice and hone our abilities. I hate to say it princess but...they're no way near ready for the Galra Shiro and Keith maybe but as a team..." He had the Mamouran blade to fall back on as a point of reference but they were so laid back as if they weren't in a war it was werid and anyone else would be mad but-

Lance had to love the for it, it's exactly how he would've acted to deal with the impeding doom that is the Galra and he liked them. Kolivan would pop a blood vessel at them.

"I feel the same," Allura spoke watching them in the training room, Keith and Shiro sparring while Pidge and Hunk fiddled with the training bots to make their own sentries.

"But they are so talented, I have faith in my Paladins." Lance nodded "Humans are amazing aren't they?"

"Annoying, but yes, they are gifted." Lance took a step back "Well if there's anything else-"

Saved by the Alarm Allura tensed then used the speaker "Paladins they're is a distress signal- suit up and report to the control room."

And that's when everything went sideways.

Lance had to admit he went a bit above and beyond for his pack-mates, in the midst of battle Pidge was downloading data from the Galra prison they were trying to rebaliatate.

"Is it normal for you guys to do side missions."

Pidge grunted and that was answer enough. He glanced nervously at the door then cried out when the whole base rumbled his feet leaving the ground for a second.

"What the quiznack!?" Pidge shot up "It's a self destruct- we gotta go!" Lance scowled and picked Pidge up "Ah- HEY!"

He ran and saw the others running towards their lions, until he saw Shiro getting trapped by the Galra Keith and the others were in their lions at that point.

"shiro!" Pidge cried out Lance placed her down and shoved her towards her Lion.

"Go to your lion, Stop those fighters." Pidge glanced up and saw the Galra escape in pods or fighter ships and were now attacking the lions.

"Go!" He yelled when Pidge hesitated, Lance turned and sprinted towards Shiro seeing too many Galra crowd him.

Shiro was fighting like his life depended on it his arms gloweed purple illuminating his face, Lance had to admit, for a human he had a striking form impressive even to Galra standards.

All of these guys were impressed as well but they were more focused on their job than courting a human enemy of Voltron.

Lance slid in and shot at any Galra that got too close paving a path for Shiro to get to his lion which luckily was in a barriar. Shiro faltered "Lance-"

Lance waved "I'll be fine, boss!" He fired at another Galra and turned back before Shiro could say anything all Shiro could do was get in his lion as the base rumbled again, Lance barely had to fire as the Galra suddenly....retreated.

He paused "What the...?"

Hold on.

He turned too late as the base suddenly exploded throwing him backwards his suit taking the most impact. And a floating Prison base in space crumbled into debris.

Lance never thought he would die like this, falling through space his body numb and in constant pain from the impact his vision going blurry. He died doing the right thing, saving people at least, he chuckled but even that felt weak he was worried. That he would die being a coward, proving Kolivan wrong that he cared for no one but himself.

Everything went black.

The others found him floating in space, if it wasn't for Keith they might not have saw him since his dark mamouran clothes blended into the dark stars of space.

"We- we need to take him back- now!" Shiro ordered and the others moved like demons, Shiro watched the body limply being held by Keith and when they got to the castle of Lions and ran forward Coran already had a pod up.

"Put him here, luckily his suit took most of the damage, but his air supply was damaged that's why he's unconcious-"

"He's not-"

"We have to open up the armour just to check, then put him in the pod before irreparable damage goes to the brain." Shiro nodded using his arm he sliced open the front of the armour chipping away, it felt painstakingly long to open.

"Paladins! What has- oh my Gaia!" Allura cried out at Lance's prone body, Shiro tried to focus, the guilt the overwheling anxiety that this was his fault kept assualting his thoughts.

Then the armour slackened and fell away and their relief was cut short at the body inside, it was not an aquatic alien they expected but a Galra.

The others froze unsure how to proceed until the Galra groaned his voice higher pitched that the armour allowed.

"Put him in here-"

"No! He's a Galra!" Allura hissed and Shiro growled "Who saved my life!" He reached in and gingerly took the prone body and balked.

He was...smaller than the armour, he was the same height as Shiro but here he was a head or so smaller, his form not as bulky he was thin with small fur covering his arms, and his face was squished in pain and Shiro placed him in the pod delicetly. All of the Paladins could only stare at the alien unconcious in a pod vunerable for all to see.

Lance thought these were his pack-mates but once he woke up, he had no idea what would happen next.

Pidge and the others watched his vitals, Lance's skin was pale before but now brightened to a more purple hue. Shiro had his arms crossed and had no idea on what to think. From what all the Paladins knew the Galra were the bad guys, this whole time, was Lance a spy?

Was he sent to infiltrate Voltron? Shiro could feel himself begin to pace at the thought that they were almost tricked, was he going to betray them later on or-

"Shiro- Chill." He stopped as he watched Pidge glance up from her laptop.

"Lance has done nothing suspicious in the time that he was here, we were all watching him like a hawk." Shiro sighed "But he didn't tell us, shouldn't we be concerened."

Hunk looked up "Maybe that's why he didn't say anything, I mean the Galra are terrible but what if Lance isn't? what if he's like a good Galra?"

Shiro would love the benefit of the doubt but the Arena...he had too any bad experiences with them.

"I wish I could believe it, but we can't blindly trust anyone, Lance could be on our side but he might not be."

Allura nodded "He needs to be placed in a holding cell once the pod opens up."

"Wait-what?" Hunk cried out looking shocked "We can't do that- he's it's lance he's our team mate I thought it meant we were a family?"

Shiro took a breath "Hunk it's for our safety if he reacts violently-"

"So what? You need us to form Voltron but if we don't look like a human we get the boot?" Hunk scowled and Shiro grimaced. "That's not..."

The pod opened up before the others can work up a fight, Lance slipped out the pod his eyes fluttering, the others were startled that his eyes were...different from galra's. Not fully yellow, he still had a pupil and were still blue.

He fumbled and Shiro reached out on instinct to steady him then drew back, glancing at his Galra prostehtic Shiro grit his teeth and looked away.

Lance was still out of it to realise what was wrong.

"Urgh I feel like I crushed then brought back to life," Lance moaned leaning back against the pod, he gazed up a gesture he did all the time, he always looked serious and no nonsense but his lips quipped up into a smirk. "So what happened?" His tail flickered back and forth.

It was weird, before in his armour they had no idea what Lance looked like, the faces he pulled behind the mask the only clues they had was the ticks and moveents of his tail.

It was swishing side to side, relaxed.

Then he saw no one was looking at him "What?" He raised a clawed hand to his face "Is there something on my-" Mask, he would've said until his hand brushed through dark purple hair he stiffened eyes wide in shock and his tail began to fuzz in distress.

"Lance-"

He bolted, dived straight over them and began to sprint towards the corridors, Shiro tensed he knew it.

They gave chase the others splitting up to find him faster, Shiro gained on him and saw Lance moving towards his ship- he was going to escape.

"No!" Lance faltered and Shiro lunged colliding with the Galra and both tumbled to the floor in a heap with Shiro on top his arm activated and glowing against the lilac form, Lance looked petrified.

"Are we going to do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Lance's eye's flickered then sighed closing his eyes and slumping against the floor.

"Does it make a difference?"

Shiro hesitated "It does, why ask?" Lance smirked "I'm a Galra, either it's slow torture for information or 'yeet' me out in an airlock."

Shiro gaped offended "I would never do that!" Lance opened one eye "You did for Sendek." Shiro clenched his fist and saw it was still activated embarresed he settled down and heard footsteps.

"Shiro- oh." Keith paused and slowed to a stop, "Should I leave you too alone?"

Shiro scowled "Keith-"

Lance shoved him off and sat up, Keith pointed his bayard at Lance "don't move." Lance froze then growled when Keith bent on his knee took the Galra's hands and tied them up in cuffs.

"We have questions."

They were in the kitchen, because Hunk was stressed and wanted to bake and gave a plate of weird goo cookies for Lance. The Galra perked now thankful to eat without the armour getting in the way. His room was full of crumbs.

Pidge grabbed the plate and pulled it back "Snacks are for talkers." Lance pouted "Fine, okay um, surprise I'm a Galra!" He did jazz hands which looked odd on his over compensated armour but it suited him.

"Okay- why are you so small?" Pidge asked and Lance straightened up "I am not! Bigger space suits were safer, the lithe ones were always cut to pieces and being alone in space I was not chancing it."

Allura cleared her throat and Lance ducked his head his tail flickering, "Um yeah." He sat up Straight as Allura placed her hands on the table.

"All this time you were Galra and you said nothing about it?" Lance blinked glanced down at his cuffed wrists then back up at Allura.

"From what I heard when I joined the team," He glanced at them all in turn "Allura your father and people were masacred from the Galra." He turned to Shiro "You were captured and forced against your will to fight to survive, Pidge you lost your brother to the Galra." He then leaned back "Keith and Hunk and everyone was fighting the Galra when you first got your lions- I would've left you too it, but the blue lion responded to me." He raised an eyebrow "Wouldn't you think the blue lion would accept me if I was your enemy?"

Allura slammed her fist on the table "Zarkon was the black Paladin and look how he turned out!"

The silence was deafening, Allura realised her mistake when Shiro spoke his eyes hurt "What-"

She turned to him looking panicked "I uh,"

Lance almost wanted to say who was keeping secrets now?

but everyone looked upset even Pidge jumped of the table "And you think we should'nt have KNOWN THIS!?"

"Zarkon flew the black lion!?" Lance eyes flickered over all them but then his eyes slid over to Shiro and swallowed, Shiro looked close to losing it.

Lance took a deep breath "Shut it!"

They all stopped and turned his way his tail flickering in agitation "Last time I checked I was being interogated here or being a galra." The others seemed to come back to themselves and Hunk who was in the back spoke up.

"Um If you I mean you're a Galra of course so I um," Lance smiled his way "Yes Hunk?"

Hunk stared "Man that is so weird and jarring usually the big suit makes you look so serious but...you look kinda cute." Lance's face fell into a frown. "Your question, Hunk?"

"Oh right, why are you- y'know fighting the Galra? Aren't they you're family?"

Lance raised an eyebrow and took a breath.

"Don't you always know right from wrong? What the Galra are doing is wrong but it's not like I can walk up to Zarkon and Hagger and go hey can you stop being a quiznack and let people go? People fight back," Lance hissed leaning forward.

"My father was the blue paladin and he told me all about you and Alfor princess." Lance said "That Alfor was a coward and hid the lions away-"

"Hw dare you-" Allura growled as Lance stood up.

"Blaytz was defencless I had to watch my father DIE without you- without Alfor from Zarkon all because Alfor was his number one fan I wouldn't be surprise if Alfor worked for Zarkon himself!"

"Enough how dare you lie about y father that way you-"

"Who built the lions, Allura?" That drew her back "What?"

"Who. Built. The. Lions."

"Alfor."

"And who did he give the Black lion too, Alfor could've piloted black everyone knew this. But he gave the Black Lion to Alfor." Lance sat back in his seat "Almost romantic, isn't it?"

"Wait-" Keith started ignoring the seething look Allura was giving him "If this Blaytz guy was your father how are you...?" he gestured and Lance glanced down "Oh!"

He beamed up at them "I was a test tube baby! They took Blaytz DNA, and my other fathers and combined the two, but Galra DNA is much more dominant so yeah." Coran nodded.

"You do look like him." That stopped him short he ducked his head "Thanks." Coran placed a hand on Allura's shoulder "I think I can take it from here, Princess. The rest of you disperse."

"I think I'll stay," Shiro said and Coran nodded.

"Coran I don't think-"

"You can watch the castle footage if you need, I don't think Lance would cause a problem." Lance shrugged in a cute 'who me' gesture and Allura scowled and left the room with the others followed. Keith faltered but then left with the others.

Coran sat before him and paced him the plate "You spoke alot, I think you're allowed a cookie." Lance perked and took one he wasn't half way down before Shiro spoke.

"Who do you work for?"

Lance paused "Mfh Hol om." He swallowed then tried again "I told you, I worked for Blades of Mamoura."

"Worked?" Lance glanced away "We had a few disagreements so I left."

"What were those disagreements?"

Lance's eyes flickered up "Knoledge or Death," He sneered "It's their cult mantra, it literally means die for the mission any chance you have if it'll give you a sliver of the chance to stop the Galra." Lance leaned back "No one helped me, I had to save myself, I had to get stronger and smarter on my own and watched younger blades die because they weren't lucky." Lance took another cookie "If I believed that I would'nt have gone back for you Shiro, you would've had to fend for yourself and Voltron would have left you behind." Lance beamed "Lucky that I didn't believe in that garbage." Shiro fidgeted under the stare and Coran spoke up.

"Who is the Blade of mamoura?" Lance's eyes moved to Coran.

"The survivors. The ones left behind when Alfor sent away the lions and hid his daughter away, the Aquatic speicies and the Galra who rebelled against Zarkon." Lance shook his head "Coran, you knew Alteans and the Galra were together, families children terrified that their loved ones would die since Zarkon was all anti-altean." Lance sighed leaning back his eyes shining "My dad - he sacrificed himself and the ones left created the Blade of Mamoura that self sacrifice has dictated our way of life to the point of suicide when that's not what he wanted." Coran reached out and touched his wrist Lance flinched and saw Coran.

"I'm sorry," Lance shrugged "It wasn't your fault."

"No but I was there, I....I knew Blaytz and Alfor, we would always go on space adventures together."

"You miss them." Coran nodded "I miss all of them."

Shiro suddenly felt like he was intruding, but....even though what Lance said was emotional it hit too close to home for Coran too similiar. Lance could've worked on this story for a while some sort of cover up if he got caught.

"You said you let the mamoura. what did you do then?"

Now Lance couldn't look him in the eye, "I um, not really proud of what I did after, I went solo trying to help people but...I ended up getting stabbed in the back, they- they were probably nice people but they almost gave me up to the Galra even though I just saved them. And well, I stole supplies from the Galra and gave them to the rebels." Lance said and Shiro nodded

"That doesn't sound too bad."

"Then I stole weapons fro the rebels and gave it to the Galra."

"You...What!?"

Lance held his hands up "Don't judge me!"

They both looked horrified and Lance's tail bristled and his teeth gritted into fangs his hand clenched.

"You want to defend people? I am the people, we are bitter and hopeless and will sell anyone to the Galra to survive if you can't handle that then maybe we don't need you to be the defender of the universe."

Shiro leaned forward "Is that what you're going to do? Help Voltron then give it to the Galra when you get bored?"

Lance tilted his head "No- what do you take me for, Shiro I did what I had to because there was no getting rid of Zarkon don't you think we tried? He has a witch for a sidekick everyone not killed or tortured was turned into robo beasts." Lance brushed a hand through his hair "I said Voltron it's actually- it's actually packing a punch it's- the Galra are scared that's never happened before." Lance looked at both Coran and Shiro and knew they didn't believe him. Why would they?

"Look, if it's going to affect Voltron then I'll leave. I mean Zarkon was the Black Paladin so now you are so Paladins can get replaced. If you guys think I'm going to betray you then why not just cut your losses and abandon me on a planet somewhere and leave?" Shiro shook his head "There is no replacing, we just want to know if we can trust you."

Lance blinked "You can download my memories like you did with Sendek? Would that help?" Coran paused.

"We could- it wouldn't take long we can hook you up to the castle and it would tell us if you had bad intentions or not, nothing can hide from Altean Alchemy."

"Alright so when can we do that?"

Coran beamed "right now Number, ah....you've shrunk Number 4."

"What I've been demotted in height! that's no fair!"

Coran chuckled as he turned and Lance followed the way Shiro stood too and when Lance got too close, Shiro flinched.

Lance moved away "Ah- sorry I...Sorry," He walked faster towards Coran and Shiro could only slump in dismay.

Getting used to...lance...that was going to take a while.

[geraskierficrecs]

Old Guard AU

I finally added a new chapter to my Old Guard AU for those of you who have been waiting to see how Jaskier gets his revenge on Cahir.

Here’s a teaser:

The other man reached out to try to dislodge Jaskier’s grip on the knife, but stumbled ungracefully through the motion.  Jaskier easily stepped out of reach, eyes dark as he watched the painful struggle.  It took Cahir a moment longer to realize why his body wasn’t recovering as quickly as it should.

“What did you do to me?”

Jaskier reached out almost casually to slice across Cahir’s outstretched hand, relishing the pained grunt.  “It is terrible not to heal, isn’t it?” he asked.  “It’s easy to deal with the pain when you think it will end.”

Cahir hissed out a breath between gritted teeth and stumbled backwards, graceless.  His hands scrabbled at the nearby dresser, searching for the weapons he’d stored there.  When he found nothing, he turned back to Jaskier with his lips curled into a snarl.

“You can’t think I’d make this easy on you,” Jaskier admonished.  “You owe me too much.”

[geraskierficrecs]

Jaskier: Some people say I’m over dramatic and talentless...

Jaskier, pulling out a knife with a slow smile: But they don’t say it for long.

[geraskierficrecs]

For more Fae Jaskier, check out the AO3 story here.

His hands were covered in blood.

Geralt made a rough sound, fighting against the urge to panic.  The body in his arms shuddered again as he ripped off his shirt and pressed it against the open slash across her stomach.

Her stomach.  

There’s no pretending the tiny, shivering mass in his arms was a monster.  Whatever was left of the curse that created the striga, it had left behind a child that had already lived a life of pain and agony.  

Gods, he’d really thought he would be able to save her.

He’d tried so damn hard.  Even though he knew how difficult it would be.  He’d looked at the father’s face and saw a man who might actually try to give the child a chance.  He’d heard the story of lies and lust and horror and thought only about the innocent child who’d been left to bear their burden.  Deep in his mind, he’d remembered the line in a forgotten book hidden among Kaer Morhen’s keep and thought, I could save her.  I could make this right.

At first it had even seemed like he would succeed in his ridiculous plan.

He’d managed to keep the striga at bay through the long hours of the night.  It had been little more than a gory game of cat and mouse, hampered by his desire to keep from doing any serious damage.  All he had to do was survive the night.  If he could keep her alive just a little longer, she could go home.  She could be free.

He should have known better than to try to be a hero.  He should have remembered the lesson he’d learned the first time he’d turned, covered in the life’s blood of another, only to hear the screams begin again.  

Even with all his training, he couldn’t keep himself from the choice that always came in battle--who would fall.  Was Geralt willing to lay down his life to try to save a girl who’d never truly lived?

The answer, apparently, was no.

He’d reacted on instinct.  Sword moving like an extension of his body.  Sinking deep--too deep.  Burying into the stomach of a face shifting from monster to an innocent in one shocking flash.

“Someone help!” Geralt shouted, hoping against all hope that the soldiers of the local lord who’d played his part in this tragedy would hear.  Maybe their mage would be enough to save her.  “Help her!”

“Only if you ask nicely.”

Geralt froze, shock overwhelming his panic in a dizzying rush.  He spun, still holding tight to his makeshift bandage and took in the sight of the fae lounging indolently across a broken, rotting pew in the midst of the ruined chapel.

Despite the five years that had passed since their last encounter, there was no sign of any time passing on his beautiful face--not that Geralt expected it.  Fae were immortal, unchanging.  A creature dedicated to cruel mischief hidden behind a beautiful mask.  The fae watched him in the shadows of the old shrine with a small smile like he knew how much research Geralt had done on the fae after their last meeting.  The warnings repeated over and over by countless Witchers rumbled in his ears like an oncoming storm, but it was already too late.

“What are you doing here?” he asked hoarsely.  Geralt focused on not looking down at the dark line that wrapped around his forearm like a tattoo.  It itched and burned slightly, eager within to be close to its creator.

“How could I not when you were crying out so sweetly?” the fae asked, not looking bothered by the girl bleeding out in Geralt’s arms.  “I couldn’t risk someone else coming along and taking advantage of you.”

Geralt’s eyes narrowed on the creature.  “All you want is for me to owe you another favor.”

“That is one of the many things I want from you, dear Witcher.”

“Can you save her?” The question was tempered by the heartbeat beginning to slow beneath his fingers and the glassy sheen on the girl’s eyes.

The fae barely glanced at the dying girl.  “Do you think she should be?  You’ll be condemning her to a life she doesn’t understand--if she ever will.  She’ll be seen as a monster.”

“It wasn’t her fault!”

“That rarely matters.”

Something in him wanted to rage at the truth of the fae’s words.  It settled oddly in the air between them, like an invisible force too large for the space between them.  There was something complicated hiding behind the small, humorless smile on the creature’s face--like he was waiting for Geralt to understand something.

But the smell of blood felt like it was all he could think about and the Witcher tightened his hold on the girl like he could channel some of his own strength into her fragile body.

“She deserves a chance,” he rasped, dangerously close to pleading, “please.”

The fae’s smile went flat, a new darkness flickering through his eyes.  “You should never beg to a fae.  I might begin to crave it.”

Geralt ignored the shiver of anticipation that curled through his stomach at the dangerous rumble.  “What do you want then?”

“You’re not ready for the answer to that question, Geralt.”

“Stop being so damned secretive and help me save her!” Geralt growled.  “I’ll give you another favor if that’s what it takes.”

“You shouldn’t be so quick to offer such things,” he warned, “There are many who would take advantage of such a thing.”

Geralt’s lips twisted into a bitter line.  Why should it matter what happened to him?  He was a monster, just as hated as any fae or striga.  The humans tolerated his presence when they needed him and the creatures he hunted hated him for what he did.  No one would mourn his passing if he were to hand himself over to the fae’s cruel entertainment.  

The fae seemed to understand the direction of his thoughts because it stood and moved closer.  “Fine then--I’ve never been good at passing up temptation.” He stood just outside of Geralt’s reach and put his hands on his hips.  “But my price has gone up.”

Geralt glared at him.  “What do you want?”

“This time I want two favors,” he said breezily, brushing away a speck of dirt, “I can’t allow anyone to think I’m going soft.”

The girl’s heartbeat stuttered and Geralt felt his own heart lurch in response.  He knew his expression was far too panicked and desperate to attempt to bargain.  There wasn’t enough time.  It came down to whether Geralt was willing to risk himself and his future to a fae in order to complete this impossible task.

“Fine.  Hurry.”

The fae’s eyes went bright and electric, shining with an unholy light as Geralt agreed to his terms.  The thin veneer of humanity seemed to tremble beneath his skin and Geralt felt his heart speed up in anticipation--of an attack or something else, he wasn’t sure.  

“It’s a deal then.”  

As if the words released his magic, the room was flooded with the sharp scent of power and old magic.  It crackled along his skin like a lightning storm, bringing with it the scent of meadowgrass and dandelions.  Geralt raised his hand to shield his face when light flared out from the girl in his arms and winced when it was paired with a bone deep hum that seemed to dig into the very core of him.  

The magic seemed to pulse in hot waves, pressing against the girl’s skin until it began to knit together in front of his eyes faster than even a Witcher could claim.  She sucked in a shuddering breath that Geralt subconsciously mimicked.  His blood stained fingers raised to trace over the pulse in her neck, slowly growing stronger.  He smiled slightly and closed his eyes as the magic began to fade.

She would survive this.  He had saved her.

Now he just had to survive the ramifications of his bargain.

The fae was watching him curiously when he opened his eyes again.  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you cared for the girl?  I thought Witchers didn’t have emotions…”

Geralt didn’t answer the question hidden in the last statement in favor of looking the girl over.  “Will she live?”

“I always keep my promises,” the fae said with a tight smile.  “We’ll have to see how well you’ll keep yours.”

“A deal is a deal.”  Even if it meant more suffering on his part, he couldn’t regret his decision when he could watch the steady rise and fall of an innocent chest.  “I pay my debts, fae.”

“Jaskier.”

Geralt looked up with a frown.  “What?”

The fae shrugged and turned to talk away.  “My name,” he called over his shoulder, “so you know who to cry out for next time.”

He disappeared before Geralt could say that he had no intention of calling for the fae again.

[geraskierficrecs]

Fae Jaskier Update

Make Me a Bargain, Dear Heart has a new chapter featuring our favorite feral fae.  :))