Chapter 5: Return of the Gladiator

Back to the Galra Empire, Zarkon was kneeling on an altar as dark quintantess was being absorbed into his body, he opens his eyes as he was feeling even more powerful. "Sire, the beast is almost to Aurs." the head druid informs him. "This quintantess gives me so much power, I could fight the Paladins myself." he states and the head druid smirks. "there is no need my creature will destroy them and capture the Voltron lions for you, then the most powerful in the universe will be ours." she states, "Are you forgetting, mother." Lunza states as she suddenly appears next to her, they both looked at her. "The White Paladin will not go down without a fight and you need her alive if I am ever to rise again." she informs them, "Hm, that you are right daughter, that you are right. If the white Paladin survives, I will have her captured." he states.

Lunza nods at him, "Now go, you cannot be exposed to quintantess for too long." he orders her, she nods at him and vanishes from sight. In space, the ship of the beast was hurling right for Aurs.

~8~8~8~

Back on the planet Arus, everyone walked into the dining room, "Great job training today guys, we're really getting the hang of Voltron." Shiro states with a smile, "With each day, we're getting stronger." Kellina states as she pulls her helmet off. "Seriously, how far do you think that Lion kick that broken Alien ship. It must have been like a mile." Lance states as he was proud of himself. Keith just glares at him, "Yeah, that will come in handy if the Galra challenge Voltron to a soccer match." Keith snaps at him and Kellina frowns as she did not like hearing those two fight about everything.

So she sets her helmet back down. "Hey, I did something cool and you can't handle it. I get it," he states, acting smug. "Your kick ruined our balance. We fell." Keith reminds him and walks forward as Kellina walks past him. "Well, that falling part was Hunk-Huak!" Lance said in shock as Kellina held him in a hold. "Don't fight." she orders him, he gags and grips her arm, "Uncle, Uncle!" he pants and she lets him go. "And you!" she snaps, pointing at Keith, "Don't encourage him." she orders and Keith he held his hand up in surrender and nods at her, she just rolls her eyes and stood next to Shiro as Hunk pulls his helmet off his head and Lance jumps them, rubbing his neck. "Way a go on handling them." Shiro tells her, and she shrugs, "I have to handle kids more challenging and rowdier than these two. This is a walk in the park for me." she informs him and Shiro chuckles.

Then the door opens and in sets, Coran "Hello guys, how was the Voltron work out?" he asks them as he held a plate in his hands, Kellina and Shiro look at him, "There are a few bumps here and there, but we're good so far." Kellina answers him, "We're getting there. Are you and Allura almost done fixing the castle so we can leave this planet? I feel like we're sitting ducks here on Aurs." Shiro asks him and Coran sets the plate on the table. "Just about. In the meantime to get your mind of those duck seats you're worried about. I made you guys an authentic Paladin lunch." he said and Hunk smiles, but as the lid was lifted, it looks like something with a thick green worm sticking out of it. With yellow goo leaking out of it. Kellina gasp in fright as she was suddenly on Shiro's lap and cling to him. The others groan as Shiro just looks at it. "Coran, you just got me hunk on that goo and now you're switching it up?" Hunk questions him. Shiro slings back onto his chair and pats Kellina's head calming her down. "That's not even food!" Kellina deflected "This is pack with nutrients." Coran defended. "Um… Coran when was the last time you cook or ever cook?" Kellina asks him as Hunk leans forward and smells it. "Ugh! It smells disgusting!" Hunk states as Coran smell it and were happy.

Then they both said up as Lance was covering his mouth and Keith was disgusted. "I know. That's how you know it's healthy." he states and Hunk looks at him, "Coran, we're on a planet with fresh herbs, spices and what this thing? A tuber?" Hunk asks, "From the looks of it, yes." Kellina answers as she got off Shiro's lap, much to his disappointment. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to head back to the kitchen and spice things up." Hunk tells him waking to the door. "Oh! Let me come with, I have a few skills in cooking." Kellina states and jogs up to him and they both entered the kitchen. "Where's Pidge?" Shiro asks as Coran was eating the food he brought out, Lance and Keith were sitting on the far end away from the food. "He's probably checking on the prisoners we rescued from Zarkon. They'll be waking soon in the infirmary." Coran answers him and Shiro stood up, "Open the hatch." Coran states and he offers a fork of the food to him, "Food lion coming in." he tells him and makes a weird sound. "No, just no," Shiro tells him as he moves away, walking to the door. "You don't know what you're missing," Coran shouts at him, but Shiro was pretty sure he did know.

As he was walking down the halls and remembered the dream he had last night, it was a nightmare at first, but somehow it turned into a paradise and Kellina was there too. -Was she trying to take away my fears? Was she trying to help me?- Shiro wonders to himself. Then he remembers how he felt whenever she was near. He was… clam, relaxed, at ease and can trust her with anything. He couldn't help but smile a little.

~8~8~8~

Pidge sat in the pod room was her leg was twitching, she was anxious about today, then Shiro walks into the room. "You're as anxious as me," he states and she finally notices him. "These Aliens we saved know something about my family, they have to." Pidge informs him, "I hope so." Shiro agrees with her.

Then she looks back at him, "They recognize you, didn't they. They called you champion. What does that even mean?" she asks him, Shiro was confused on the word or why they even called him that. "I don't know, I can't remember very much from that time. But, the way those guys looked at me when we freed them. I don't know if I want to find out." Shiro states and one of the pods hisses and gets their attention. The shield came off and the alien breath as he was awake.

~8~8~8~

Hunk and Kellina walk back into the room and sets down the bowls of the Paladin lunch, Keith and Lance were drooling and the two dig into the food. Hunk and Kellina high-fived each other as they were proud of themselves. Then Kellina pulls out hers and eats as well. Coran was just sulking as they did not lick his food. "They lick the Paladin lunch." Allura states as she walks into the room, "I don't want to talk about it." he grumbles and she looks at him, "I just got the final nebulon booster working." she states and he turns to her. "We should be able to leave planet Arus tomorrow and take the fight to Zarkon." she states and Kellina smiles at her "And we will, just you wait, Allura," she tells her then the alarms went off, everyone was alerted Keith and Lance were on their feet as Lance slurps up his up his noodles. Then they look at the screen as it showed the front door. Something scrambles along the ground. "What's that?" Kellina asks and the screen zoom in and it was a native of the planet, it has curled horns on his head as he was trying to stealthy sneak closer to the castle.

Kellina giggles at its attempt to sneak, "I don't know, it may be a local Arusian." Allura states as he scrambles to the next rock, "He's approaching the castle." she states and Kellina smiles "Okay, I can't be the only one that thinks his adorable." Kellina states with her hands on her cheeks. "Aww." Hunk agrees, "It doesn't look too dangerous." Lance states "You never know." Keith states and summons his Bayard, "No. Aliens believe in peace first. Let's go welcome them." Allura states and both she and Coran walk to the door. "Wait for me!" Kellina states and followed after them. "That's adorable." Hunk states and jogs after Kellina, "Maybe we can knit him a little sweater." Lance suggest and Keith looks down at his Bayard. "I'm not taking any chances," he states and hurried after them.

~8~8~8~

The front door them opens and the little local panics and hides in the bushes, he waited ever so quietly but then heard someone kneel down in front of the bushes, "Hello?" Kellina calls out and his eyes lock onto her, "I know you're here, I can see you." Kellina said with a smile, the little local couldn't help but blush at her sweet smile. "Please, I wish to talk, can we talk?" she asks, holding her hand out, but he jumps out of the bushes and held his weapon ready. "Aww." Hunk said, "A skilled warrior I see, I salute you." she said to him, "Wait, he could be dangerous. Drop your weapon." Keith orders with his Bayard ready. "Keith!" Kellina growls at him. "No one takes Klaizip's weapon." the creature called Klaizip growls and points his blade at Keith, "Keith stand down." Kellina orders, "But-" he states, "Stand down!" she said again, he groans and steps back. "Sorry, Keith is just looking out for us." she tells him, he looks up at her, "Please good sir, we are very sorry," she said to him as Klaizaip turns his weapon back to her. "Let's try this again, My name is Kellina, I am the Paladin of the white Lion of Voltron." Kellina introduces himself. He looks at her and lowers his weapon, "I am Klaizaip, bravest of our warriors. Out village is over Gazrel Hill. I come seeking answers as to why the lion goddess is angered with her followers." Klaizaip informs her.

They all blink at him, "Followers?" Coran asks, "Loin Goddess?" Hunk asks as well and Klaizaip points over to the rock with a craving on it. "Oh, would you look at that." Kellina said in surprise, "The one the ancients spoke of." Klaizaip informs them. "What makes you think she's angered?" Allura asks him, "Destruction is everywhere. In the past few suns, fire has rained from the heavens and a giant has danced in the sky." Klaizaip informs them, "I think he's talking about Voltron." Hunk whispers to Lance. "Yeah, I got that." Lance tells him and Kellina shook her head, "She is not angered Klaizaip, that I can assure you." she informs him, "How can you be so certain?" Klaizaip asks her and Kellina smiles, "Because this is Princess Allura." she said jesting to Allura, who smiles and bows at him "And this is your castle." Kellina said pointing the castle. Klaizaip gasp as he looks at Allura. "Lion Goddess," he said and bows before her as she and Kellina were confused. -Wait, Allura is this Lion Goddess?- Kellina questions.

She shot a look over at Allura, who shrugged at her then she looks at Klaizaip "Please bravest warrior, take us to your village so that we may meet our neighbors." Allura asks him as Kellina stood back up. "What about our mission to get off this planet and fight Zarkon?" Keith asks her and Allura look at him "Part of the Paladin mission is to spread peace and diplomacy, Aurs has been our host for ten thousand years, these people deserve our thanks." Allura informs him and Kellina smacks his shoulder a little, "And what kind of people would we be if not thanking the host?" she asks him, Keith looks at her and sighs, she smiles at him as Klaizaip was smiling at them.

~8~8~8~

Pidge handed one of the prisoners a drink, "How long were you held captive by Zarkon?" Pidge asks him, the alien just looks down into the cup. "Some for years. Decades maybe, it's hard to tell. Time becomes a blur." he answers and slips the drink. "Then you must have been there when my dad and brother arrived. Sam and Matt Holt." Pidge asks him, "I never knew their names, but certainly remember the other two earthlings that arrived with champion." he states, looking at Shiro as he was confused on why he was called that. "Champion? Why do you keep calling me that?" Shiro asks him.

The alien looks at him in surprise, "You really don't remember? Unbelievable." he states, then looks back at him, "We were a legendary gladiator, undefeated in the ring. You defeated an infamous Galra gladiator, known as Mizaex. That was the day you earned the name champion." he states and Shiro was still confused. "I was there, as was the young Earthing. We were all prisoners, forced to fight for the entertainment of Zarkon. That day we were sent to fight Mizaex; a vile beast that many thought couldn't be defeated." he states then looks away, "Slaughter awaited us all, "This Matt was the first of us sent to fight, but fate had other plans. You were so thirsty for blood, you injured your fellow earthing." he informs them. Pidge was in shock and she glares at Shiro. "You attack my brother! Why?!" she questions him as Shiro was also in shock. "No, it can't be true," he states as he didn't want to believe it either. "I was there, we all were." the alien states and Pidge look at him, "After my brother was injured, where was he taken?" she asks him and the Alien looks away from her, "I know not," he answers her.

But Shiro shook his head, "I don't believe it, there's not to be more to the story, I-I… I couldn't have hurt my friend." he states, refusing to believe it. Then it hits them, "That ship that I was on, it crashed landed here. It may have prisoners logs, some information." he states as he was walking away, "I'm coming with you!" Pidge shouts and she ran after him.

~8~8~8~

The others were in the village as the Aursian were greeting them, Hunk was giving them fruits, Coran was just hugging a few, Kellina was sitting down as a few were gathered around her, Allura was listening to a few, Lance was talking to the females as Keith was just glaring a few, then the chieftain walks up to them, "Oh lion Goddess. I, king of the Arusians, formally beg your forgiveness. Please have mercy on us and accept our traditional dance of apology." he asks them as Kellina stood back up, she looks at Lance and Allura and Lance shrugs at to the two. "Atonement for all our wrongdoings," he states.

Then he claps his hands and a dancer ran out, "Customize dance of apology, Hoorah!" he shouts and the horns blew and the dancer dances. Kellina did like the tempo of the music but felt a little uncomfortable with the dance. "Please, there's no need for this." Allura tells them "Mooto halt." the chief orders her and she do so as she was just standing on her foot. "The Goddess has refused the apology. Start the sacrificial fire, we must throw ourselves in," he states and both Allura and Kellina panics. "NO! No sacrifices!" they both said and the chief turns to her. "So, we may proceed with the dance?" he asks them as Kellina was looking at the little Arusian that was tied to a log, -How did they move so fast?!- she questions. "That sounds like a better alternative." Allura states. The Chief claps his hands and the dance processed, Mooto spins gracefully and ended the dance with a bow and the others bowed before them. "Oh, my." Allura states as she looks at them, "Oh my indeed." Kellina mutters, "Please. Please rise." Allura asks them, "Thank you for that, but I am not a great being worthy of your worship. I accidentally put all of you in danger. It is I, who should be apologizing to you." she tells them as they raised their heads and looked at her. "I am Princess Allura and these are the Voltron Paladins. Although we originally came from different worlds and have very, very, very different traditions. We wish to live alongside you, as friends." she informs them.

Then the chief stood up, "But the mighty robotic angel, has it not come to destroy us because of our immoral ways?" he asks her and Kellina steps forward, "No, it's the opposite, the mighty angel is Voltron, The defender of the universe and we Paladins of Voltron only have one goal, to protect the innocent, not destroy them." she informs them and they smiled up at her, "Let it be known that Voltron is here to protect every innocent being throughout the universe." Allura informs them, the Aursians cheered and hugs them. Coran, Hunk, and Lance were having the time of their lives. Keith went to walk away as Kellina went to stop him, but one of the Aursians jump at Keith and hugs him, "Um… I don't usually hug strangers, but… man." he states placing his hand on top of the Aursian's head. "You are cuddly." he states, "Thank you." the Aursian said in a deep voice. Keith was just in shock, then he heard snorting, he shot a glare at Kellina who was trying really hard not laugh. But she gasped as she was pulled into a vision, a ship of Galra was flying right for Shiro and Pidge. The energy inside was dark, hateful and out for revenge.

She blinks and looks up at the sky as Keith notices the look in her eyes, "Kel, what's wrong." he asks her and she looks at him, "I have to save Shiro and Pidge." she tells them and ran for her lion, "You stay here!" he shouts, "Wait, Kellina!" he calls out for her, but she was always gone.

~8~8~8~

Shiro and Pidge arrive at the crashed ship and they used their thrusters to jumps to the main controls. "This looks like master control board but there's no power." Pidge states. "All you need is power?" Shiro asks her as he slides to slides to the board. "Yeah, but one that's compatible with Galra tech." she informs him, "Shiro looks down at his hand, clutched his fist, powering out his hand and touches the board and the main computer came back online. "Whoa. I can't believe you got this to work." Pidge said in amazement, then pulls up her panel. "My dad's and Matt's whereabouts must be logged in here somewhere. Once I download this, I'll find some way to decode it back at the castle," she states.

Then Shiro heard something and looks up at the sky, "What?" he asks and saw something was heading right for them. "Oh no," he mutters. "What is it?" Pidge asks him. "Something just entered the atmosphere, I'm not exactly sure what it is, but it's big, it's Galra and it's coming right for us. We need to go," he tells her, she got a glare right at him, slamming his hand back onto the panel. "Shiro, don't move. I'm only 15% done. I'm not going anywhere." she snaps at him, he looks back her then back at the sky as the ship was coming. He glares, but then gasp as the white Lion was right above them, shielding the two and she charges right at the ship, "Kellina?" he asks and Pidge looks at him. "What?" she asks her. Then Kellina contacted, "Whatever you're doing, do it fast. I'll hold of our visitor and Shiro, this thing, it's after you!" she warns them as her lion slams against the ship. "Kellina!" Shiro calls out to her as she was pushing the ship out of their direction, "Shiro. Don't move." Pidge orders him.

Shiro looks down at her, then at the screen was the download was almost done, then he looks back up at the white lion. Then he looks back at the download as it was almost complete. "I'm sorry Pidge!" Shiro shouts as he removes his hand, throwing Pidge over his shoulder and threw out of the ship. "NO!" Pidge shouts at him, but it was already too late. "Team, come in, we need backup!"

~8~8~8~

Allura was laughing with the villagers as Keith was leaning against a tree close to her. "Hello?" Shiro calls out, "Shiro?" Allura asks, "Where is everyone?!" he calls out again. "What's going on?" Keith asks her, then the ground shook. They look up and saw the white lion was pushing against the ship that was coming in hot, literary. "Kellina!" Keith calls out as the white Lion was on fire too. "Oh no, we got to get to our lions and help her!" Keith states and the Aursians ran for cover, "Everyone, get inside and stay down!" she orders as both her and Coran were directing the Aursians into the castle. "I'm on it!" Hunk shouts as he too ran for the castle. "Hm?" Allura wonders as she looks him as Keith was dragging him back. "Not you," he states as Hunk was just whimpering.

~8~8~8~

Pidge was struggling in Shiro's grip as he landed, "Ah! NO!" she snaps. He steps her down and holds her back. "Shiro, let me go! My father!" she shouts and they both looked up, the white lion was steering the ship off from the crashed warship. "Come on, we can do this!" Kellina shouts. "Run!" Shiro shouts and they both ran for it. The White Lion and the ship crashed into the ground, destroying the crashed warship, Pidge just screams as they were seconds away from being destroyed if the black and Green lions did had not shown up.

The wind blew from the crash site as the dust settled and then the green and black Lions lift their heads as both Shiro and Pidge stood up and they looked up at the lions. "The Lions just saved us." Shiro states as he was amazed. "I didn't know they could do that." Pidge states. Then she looks at them. "Um... Shiro." she states and Shiro looks behind them seeing the ship and the white Lion was next to the black lion as electricity was cracking on the white lion, "Kellina! Kellina are you aright? Can you hear me?" Shiro calls through the comms. Kellina groans as the white lion stood on its feet. It went to collapse, but the Black lion catches her. "Yeah, I'm okay," she mutters as shook her head, but then gasp. "Shiro, get away from that ship now!" she shouts as the ship opens. And there stood the beast. Kellina growls and the white lion moves in front of them. "Stay away from my friends!" she growls at him, the beast powers up and looks down at the two paladins at were right next to White lion's foot. "Get in your lion!" Shiro orders and they ran for their lions.

Then the beast raised its hand and a dark orb was formed, Kellina growls and fired at the orb, the blast threw of the beast and the white Lion charges right for the beast, the white lion jumps at it, gripping the arm of the beast, then twist onto her feet, Kellina bellows as she then forces the head to throw the beast to the side and it smacks against the mountains, the two looked at her in amazement, then in the dust the orb came right at her and she braced herself. The white lion was smack and sent flying back, Pidge jumps right over her as she slides against the ground, "Kellina!" Pidge and Shiro shout to her, then they looked back and saw the orb being thrown again. They jumped out of the way as the black lion grips the white lion and pulled her out of the way. Then the beast threw the orb again and Pidge fired at it and it hits, but the orb came right at her.

Pidge grunts as she was sent flying back and smacks against the ground. The beast raises his arm to finish her, but the black Lion jumps right the beast and bites down onto the shoulder. The white Lion growls and joins in and bites onto the leg. The beast stumbles and threw Shiro right off and kicks Kellina next to him, the white Lion shook her head and looks up seeing that the beast was going to strike again, but she jumps in the way and the beast was fired at, "Give them covering fire so they can get out of there!" Keith orders and he fires at the beast. "I'm not it!" Lance shouts and fired at the beast too. Hunk was charging at it from behind. "Check this out. Battle lion headbutt!" he shouts and headbutted the beast in the back. Throwing it off. "You guys okay down there?" Keith asks as he zooms in on the three. The lions then stood up on their feet. "Still alive for now." Shiro answers and they flew up, joining the others.

Then they all looked down at the beast as it stood up and glares at them, "Are the Galra behind this?" Hunk asks "I think so but I've never seen anything like it." Shiro answers. "So what's the plan? Shoot at it with everything we go? Take out its weapon? All it names?" Lance asks, Kellina shook her head. "Turn its strength against it, that's how" she answers him. "If we want to take this monster down, there's only one way to do it." Shiro states and the lions roared and they flew up. "Form Voltron!" Shiro shouts and they formed Voltron.

The giant robot stood form as it faces the beast, "Remember, we are one unit, fighting with one goal!" Shiro reminds them, "But be cautious. I've felt this beast energy and it's out for blood." Kellina warns them, then they charged forward. As the beast threw the orb, but they dodged it and charged, Keith bellows as he threw a punch, but the beast blocks it. Then Pidge threw a punch as well and knocks the best off its feet and stumbles back, then they charged again and slam both fists down, but the beast blocks it and summons back its orb. Kellina senses it and looks behind them. "Look out!" she shouts and they looked behind them and the beast moves out of the way and it smacks against Voltron, smacking them against the ground and Kellina screams in pain. "Kellina!" Shiro calls out to her, "I'm okay." she whimpers. The beast stood up and raised its arm, making the orb raise high in the sky, "Everyone, move!" she shouts and they used the thrusters and moved out of the way. "I thought Voltron was the most powerful being in the universe?!" Keith questions. "Yeah, so how is this monster kicking our butts?" Hunk asks as well. As they dodge the orb, Voltron stood back on its feet and looks, at the orb, but then looks back as the beast charges right at them and sucker-punches Voltron in the chest.

Kellina cries out again in pain. "Kellina!" Shiro calls out again and they smack against the mountains and Voltron lifted his head, "Oh no, the village, we have to protect these people states as they stood back up and the beast threw the orb again, but it throws them right back and they fall to the villages, Kellina gasp and she works quickly. Then pulls the control back and the thrusters were engaged. "Phew, that was close!" Shiro states and they flew away and the beast follows after them. "We got them away from the Aursians, but we can't take that thing down." Pidge states. "It's metal to too strong for us to make a dent in it." Kellina states, "I got it, I'm going to power kick that orb thing." Lance states, "Seriously Lance?" Kellina questions as Voltron lands and turns back to the beast. "No, the last time you did a kick, we fell." Keith reminds him. "Stop living in the past!" Lance shouts and they charged forward. "I have a bad feeling about this!" Kellina shouts. Then Voltron jumps up into the air and they charged for the orb.

But they missed. "Oh no." Lance and Kellina whimper as Voltron was then hit right in the face and they smack onto the ground as the beast was charging at them. Then Voltron picks himself back up. "Pidge, fire lasers!" Shiro orders, "Got it!" he answers and the arm was raise and formed a shield instead. "Oops." Pidge mutters, "No, lasers! Lasers!" Shiro reminds her as she tries to fix it and they were punched by the monster and knock back. "Seriously!?" Kellina questions as she was irritated. "Every time we focus on the master, we're blindsided by the orb and every time we focus on the orb, we blindsided by the monster!" Hunk states the obvious "then what do we do?" Lance questions him. "Orb!" Hunk shouts and they were smack against the mountain by the orb.

Then Keith pulls himself up, "Shiro we got to move! Shiro are you there!" Keith asks him as Shiro just started at the beast and Kellina just looks at it, -It moves the orb like a mace as if…- she states and it hits her. "That sound, I recognize it in my time from Zarkon's prison. I know how to beat it." Shiro states as it hits him. "This beast! I know what it is or was." she informs the others. They look at the screen. "This beast is a gladiator and he moves the orb around like a mace." she informs them, then they looked at the beast and jumps right out of the way. "Listen, there's a lot sound for when the orb returns to the base of the weapon and every third time that orb needs to charge up. That's this monster's weakest point, that's when we strike." Shiro informs the others. "Okay, so what do we do in the meantime?" Hunk asks him, "Defense!" Shiro answers. "Pidge we need that shield!" Shiro shouts and they braced themselves with the shield. The orb hits and returns back to the weapon. "That's one, two more to go!" he shouts and the beast swung it's arm and the orb was send right back to them and they braced themselves again. The orb hits and bounces back as Voltron took a step back. "We can't take much more of this!" Hunk shouts. "We can! Hold together!" Kellina shouts and the orb was sent right back at them. "Last one! Brace for impact!" Shiro shouts and the Orb hits their shield one last time and the shield broke off and Voltron fell to his knees.

The wings hit the ground and they look up at the beast as the orb returns to the weapon and Shiro gasp, "Now!" he shouts and Keith fires at the beast, knocking it off it's feet and smacks against the ground. Voltron stood right up and they look at the cloud of dust. But the beast stood right back up "It didn't work!" Pidge shouts, "So now what?" Lance shouts and they grunted as they were hit with the orb and knock back, but Voltron pulls himself right back up. "When I attack him before I had a sword." Shiro informs them "Orb! Orb!" Hunk cries out and they braced themselves. "We can't take another shot like that!" Pidge warns them and Keith groans, but his lion growls at him softly then he looks over and saw the board raise and showed what looked to be a keyhole. "What a second guys. I think my lion is telling me what to do." Keith informs them, getting their attention. "Whatever it is, hurry up and do it, he's about to fire a third shot." Lance warns him as the beast swung it's arm.

Kellina growls as she clutched her fist. "No!" she shouts and the orb stops in mid air. "Whoa!" Pidge and Hunk said, "What the?! Lance questions, "It's just like with the Galra ship when we first found blue." Shiro states and then it hits him, "Kellina!" he calls out as the chest of Voltron was glowing. "Do it Keith! I can't hold out for long!" she shouts and Keith nods and looks at the keyhole, he then bellows and slams his bayard into it, then both the hands, smack together and Voltron looks up at the beast as the orb was sent back and the beast charges and jumps at them. Then Voltron unsheathed the sword and slice right at the beast as Voltron was behind it and the beast touched down.

It drops to it's knees and explodes and Voltron stood victorious, "Yeah! We did it!" everyone cheers as Keith was just surprised and Kellina was slum in her chair, panting from all the energy she used. "How did you do that?" Hunk asks and Keith just looks at his Bayard, "Whoa." he said in amazement and then chuckles, "Thanks Red."

~8~8~8~

The head druid was in shock as Voltron has defeated her beast, "NOO!" she shouts and looks at Zarkon. "I'll make another. More powerful." she promises him, but he looks away. "That won't be necessary. Sendek is still alive on Arus, I've given him instructions on how to processed." he informs her, "Can he be trusted?" the head druid asks him, "I agree with mother, father. Sendek may say he loyal to the empire, But, I've sense his greed. He will betray you father." Lunza warns him.

Zarkon looks at them, "I've trained him and he has his mission. He fights in the name of Galra. Only success for death will stop him." he tells them. "Then death awaits him." Lunza informs him and the druid smirks.

~8~8~8~

From afar the survivors from the warship were looking down at the castle. "Zarkon has challenge us to raise from the mud and prove our worth. We will not let him down." Sendek states as he was ready to prove himself. "Sir. How are we going to take the castle with just the two of us and five damaged sentinels?" the pilot asks him.

"And the white Paladin will know that we're coming before we even do." he also warns him. "By exploding our enemies weaknesses." Sendek answers him, "What weakness?" the pilot asks him. "The worst weakness of all; the value the lives others and the White Paladin, she values them more then her other paladins do." he answers with a smirk on his face.

~8~8~8~

In the hangers the prisoners were loaded onto a pod, "Good luck out there." Lance informs him and the prisoners bows to them. "Thank you all for everything. We never dreamed we'd see our families again, but you gave us hope, you have the universe hope." he tells them and boarded the pod.

The pod took off as Pidge was watching from the distance, with the mice next to her. Then Shiro walks out to her, "Pidge there you are." he states. Getting her attention, "Why would you hurt my brother, you were friends." she asks him as he stood over her. "I did it to save him." he answers her and she looks back up at him, "You saw the gladiator we faced today, your brother couldn't stand a chance against a brute like that." Kellina calls out and they both looked at her, "What?" Pidge asks her and they both sat down next to her, "My memory of the event came back to me when we were fighting the monster. Your dad was being sent of with the weaker prisoners to a work camp, meanwhile Matt and I were forces to fight in to gladiator arena. Matt was going to fight first. He was scared, we all were." Shiro tells her.

Then Kellina was kneeling between them, she touches Shiro's tell and then touches Pidge's temple as showed Pidge what happened.

They all were standing in the Galra arena tunnel as Matt was in the front and Shiro was right behind him. "I'm not going to make it! I'll never see my family again!" Matt whimpers as he was panic. "You can do this." Shiro whispers to him then the door opens and the sentient offers the sword to Matt. Then Pidge looks at Shiro as he held this look on his face, knowing that he needed to do something. He cries out as he charges, pulling Matt back and he took the sword.

Pidge gasp and Kellina grips her hand tightly, "Watch." she tells her, "This my fight!" he shouts and cuts Matt's leg and he cries out in pain, laying on the ground and gripping his leg, then Shiro charged at him as he was terrifying Matt. "I want blood." he shouts and just trembles, but Shiro's looks softens. "Take care of your father." he whispers and was pulled away from Matt and into the Arena.

Kellina pulls her hands away and Pidge looks at Shiro with tears in her eyes "You… you saved him. You attack him so they would choice you instead." he states and Shiro smiles gently at her, she then launched herself at him and was hugging him, Kellina smiles as she sat next to Shiro and the mice ran up to Pidge's shoulder. "I'm so sorry I doubted you. Thank you, thank you so much!" she says to him. Shiro just smiles and hugs her, "I can tell you really miss them. I know they miss you too, but I know that they would be proud of you Kaite." Shiro said and Pidge gasp and he looks up at him, "Don't worry, your secrets safe with me." he tells her and she pulls away and smiles at him.

Kellina just smiles at them, "I know I know why the black lion chose you." she states and Shiro looks at her. "How so?" he asks and she leans in close to him, "You may have a the requirements for what a paladin of the black lion nears, but you have the one thing that the black lion sees in you." she states and places her hand over his heart. "You have a noble heart and the black lion saw this in you, we all saw this in you and choice you to but our leader and honestly; I don't think there is anyone I would follow into battle with, besides Keith." she states as she leans back and Shiro smiles at her. "That means a lot, Kellina." he tells her.

She just smiles at him, "I hope so, I am the Paladin if the white Lion, I have to make sure my comrades strength is at 100." she said as she sat up straight, Shiro just rolls his eyes and pushes her shoulder his his arm, "Yeah, whatever you say." he states and she just giggles.