Chapter Text
They made their way to their room quickly. Wanting to be alone after so long away from each other.
The times they spent when they had the time away from their duties. This time always relaxed them, made their time apart easier to bear.
Lance giggled as Lotor ran behind him, their hands together as they would each tug on each other's hands pulling them backwards and snickering when they each almost slipped on the floor of the ship.
Lance watched the dark halls pass by as they ran faster. Trying to avoid Lotor's generals he couldn't help but snicker as they zoomed by Acxa and Ezor standing beside each other, talking about their next missions.
"Hey girls!"
Ezor smiled as she watched them slide to a stop. "Oh, you on your way to have some fun love birds?"
Lotor blushed while Lance laughed. "No, we just want to be in the same room for the night. Who knows when we'll see each other again. Our missions will keep us busy for a while yet. You know how it is, and I want more time with him. You guys get him all the time, is me keeping him from you got a little too much?"
Lance looked a little worried as his thoughts progressed more to worry that he was taking their leader away from them. He knew they all had a close bond with each other.
Lotor grabbed Lance's chin and made him turn to face him. "Love you and I both know that you have nothing to worry about. The girls understand! And they love you just as much as I do! Well, maybe not Zethrid."
Ezor nodded as she giggled, moving closer to Lance and pulling him into a hug. "Lance, I've told you before and I will tell you again. We adore you. You are always putting others first no matter what, and you are especially perfect for Princey here. Don't worry about it at all. You keep him happy, plus, we always enjoy time away from him. We're the ones who should be worried that we take him from you too often."
Lance shook his head as he hugged back. "No, you and I both know that your guys' bond with him is so strong. And I know he has his own missions to take care of. It's perfectly fine, plus I'm always grateful you are all protecting him. He tends to be a little like a certain red paladin who likes to make quick dangerous decisions. So having voices of reason around him makes me worry less not more."
She pulled back and shook her head at him, not being able to help the smile that tugged at her lips. Hearing Acxa try to hide a giggle behind her making her quickly lose the battle at keeping a straight face. "You are certainly the kindest Altean in the whole universe. I'd love to chat more but I know you're ready to take Lotor to bed, and all of us know he needs it as much as you do. Go and enjoy your night. You definitely deserve time together. We'll see you off in the morning Lance! Except Zethrid, she still needs to warm up to you more."
Lotor chuckled as he grabbed Lance's hand and dragged him away to their room. He felt his ears twitch as he heard Ezor and Acxa talking.
"They are so adorable together. I'm so glad he found the perfect mate, Lance is just fabulous."
Acxa chuckled. "Indeed, he's the kindest soul we've ever met. I cannot wait until they both become Kings of all Galra. They'll do a lot of good together."
Ezor snorted as they walked farther away and Lotor could barely hear them. "If only they could make less noise in their room sometimes. That is good for them, but I think Zethrid is ready to gut them both for how loud they get."
Lotor felt his cheeks heat as they finally moved out of earshot. He was glad it was dark enough for Lance not to see. He finally had Lance in front of their room, opening it quickly pulling him inside and shutting it. If only there was a way to make it sound proof.
Lotor quickly turned to look at Lance. "Thank you."
Lance cocked his head, the earrings hanging from his pointed ears hanging low and swinging with the movement. "Why are you thanking me?"
Lotor snorted as a smile graced his face. "For accepting my crew. And everyone. And...me. I know not all Alteans like the Galra, they see us as lesser almost. We're not as, civilized in their eyes."
Lance laughed as he grabbed Lotor's hands and dragged him into a hug. "Love you and I both know I'd never see you as lesser. Anyone who see's another race as less than they are, are fools. Your crew is wonderful, even Zethrid. I love all of them almost as much as I love you. They remind me a lot of the paladins. All goofy and playful, how a family should be. And you love, are the best of the bunch."
Lance leaned forward to rub his nose against Lotor's snickering when it made him smile.
Lotor shook his head making their noses rub again. "I don't deserve someone as amazing as you darling. You're perfect."
Lance snorted as he pulled Lotor towards the bed, plopping down on it and smiling when Lotor joined and laid beside him. "I'm not perfect and neither are you. We're people and that makes us imperfect from the beginning. But you are wonderful and you certainly deserve someone who adores you. And since I do, that means we belong together."
Lotor laughed as he scooted closer to Lance and leaned down breathing in the scent of the shampoo he'd used that morning. He pulled back and started playing with Lance's hair.
Lance couldn't help but smile as he leaned into the caresses.
"What is with you and my hair recently, is it because I cut it?"
Lotor nodded his head. "I don't know. We have similar hair, at least in color but now yours is so short. I can't ever remember you having such short hair even as a child. And then I had a crush on you so seeing you with shorter is different. I still cannot believe you cut it this short. It looks wonderful but still."
Lance smiled as he leaned back laying his head in Lotor's lap and giving him full control of his hair. "Well, I believed it was time. It's been getting in the way on missions and as you said I've never had it short. Much easier to deal with and I don't want our hair getting tangled again. That night was interesting and certainly changed things."
Lotor laughed as he thought of that night. "Ah yes, the nightmare of the tangles. Didn't we have to call in Zethrid to pull us apart? Maybe that's why she doesn't quite like you. She has always been a little stuffy about sex and intimacy. Either way I'm glad it's just as soft. I love running my fingers through it. It calms me, even just thinking of the feeling calms me. You always help me stay calm when you're around, and even when you're not having you on my mind makes me smile."
Lance snorted. "Ah, trying to be sneaky with those lines. Are you trying to steal my heart? I'll have you know I have a wonderful husband who will attack anyone who tries to touch me or take me from him. And I will tell you I love him with all my heart."
Lotor threw his head back and laughed. "Ah Love, I love you so much. And I promise I won't piss off your husband. I have much respect for him but I adore you too much to not try and win your heart."
Lance smiled as Lotor leaned in for a kiss, their lips touched, a light peck, still rushing warmth through Lance's body. "You silly Prince. You won it long ago, and it's still yours. But that joke wasn't that funny. You know I've told you. You don't have to laugh at the jokes that aren't funny."
Lotor pulled Lance up from his lap and turned him around. "I know. But I adore your jokes. Especially ones that tell how I feel about you. I would certainly protect you from anyone else. You are mine now and no one else is allowed to have you."
Lance nodded. "Same for you darling. You're mine if I'm yours. I would go anywhere, even Woblay to keep you safe." He felt the nudge against his brain and smiled, giggling slightly. "Blue would also like to say she'll protect you for you protect my heart. Blue, I thought I told you, you don't need to hit on my husband for me. I can do so myself."
Blue snickered in his mind before pulling away and leaving them alone again.
Lotor smiled as he laid his forehead against Lance's. It's fine, I may protect your heart Love, but you protect everything I am. I know it's cheesy, but you are everything to me. Without you, I don't know how I'd survive. I don't know how I survived without you as my husband."
Lance smiled and wrapped his arms around Lotor's waist, melting into his husbands embrace smoothly. He always loved being held by Lotor. Both of them supporting each other and keeping each other sane when they needed it.
Lotor nudged Lance to force him into bed. "As much as I'd love to hold you like this all night and do some other things; we need sleep. You have a meeting with all paladins but my father on Altea. Which lasts a week, and I have a meeting with my father about something important apparently. Which will also last a week. We'll probably be sent on separate missions again."
Lance nodded as they both laid down. "You are correct. So let's sleep, I want to remember holding you while we're away from each other. Maybe it will keep me from late night sparring, awaiting when you're back in my arms."
Lotor nipped Lance's ear as he pulled him closer underneath the covers. "Yes Love. We can call if we need to. Thank Coran for making those small comm devices, whenever you need help sleeping activate the comm. I'll be there."
Lance yelped and brought his hand up to rub the slight sting from his ear. He sighed as he saw Lotor's smirk before he snuggled closer. "Alright, you do the same. No matter what time I'll be there to talk. I promise, now let's rest."
Lotor nodded wrapping his arms around Lance and smiling as he did the same.
They both pulled each other impossibly closer as they breathed in the scent of the other. Lance couldn't help but reflect on how happy he was to be beside Lotor before they left on anymore missions. He didn't know when they'd see each other again but being with the man made him realize it didn't matter. He knew they'd be together forever, even if it was far apart and just in each other's hearts. They would stay together as long as they were able.
They both fell asleep in each other's arms, content in the moment, completely oblivious to the future that would await them, and the pain they would both be forced to suffer.
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Lance watched Altea burn. Watched it destroyed by the man his father thought of as a brother. He had gotten Allura into a pod and set it up for Coran as the man smiled sadly at him, the tears staining his face as he froze. Lance was so sorry for him. The man had lost his children and his spouses. They had all perished, not in the castle. No one who had been outside the castle had survived. The other paladins had fallen as well. They'd been in the gardens with their families.
Lance couldn't believe their home was gone. He turned to his father. "We have to find Lotor. He couldn't have known what would happen. We must save him from Zarkon. If he's willing to destroy our planet and us, then he must be willing to hurt Lotor for daring to marry me."
Alfor looked at his son, they both had tears in their eyes, both heartbroken over their planet and people being gone. Alfor knew that Lance could tell he was barely holding it together. Could feel it through the fragile paladin bond. The one that had been battered with each of the other paladins deaths. He sniffled as he pulled Lance into a hug. We'll save him, we'll find him and protect him from his father. But first we must hide the other lions. Blue and Black will stay here, yellow will have to go as well. But....those can stay locked in the castle. We must hide Red, Yellow, and Green. Zarkon can't have them. If he does he'll have the power to destroy so many other worlds, just like Altea. Will you help me Lance?"
Lance's hand fisted on his father's back, he didn't want to leave Lotor alone. He knew his husband probably thought he was gone. Especially since the comm device Coran had given them was broken. It'd been crushed when they had barely made it from the blast. There was no way to contact them, to let them know he was alright. He didn't want Lotor to feel the pain of losing him, didn't want him to lose hope. Especially since it was Zarkon, Lotor's own father who had tried to take him from Lotor. Lance steeled himself before he spoke, he didn't want to leave Lotor alone to believe he was dead. But what his father said was true. He couldn't let Zarkon get the lions. They couldn't let it happen, if they did there was too much of a chance of him destroying the whole universe. Of making an empire of it all. That was too big a risk. "I'll help you Father. But the dobash we're done we find Lotor. He must believe I'm dead.....I can't leave him with that kind of pain. He must be suffering and I can't leave him to that for long. We have to go for him as soon as possible."
Alfor placed a kiss on his son's head. "We will absolutely do so. The very tick we are finished, we will go to get him. I don't want him hurt either. I just wish I could have stopped all of this. If only I'd known what Zarkon had planned before it happened. Maybe I could have stopped it."
Lance hugged his father harder as he shook his head. "No, we couldn't have stopped this. The quintessence and losing her and the way she came back..... All of it must have come together and made this happen. It was no one's fault, he couldn't let anyone fix it, so this is the result. But we can stop him from doing anything else, at least with the lions."
Alfor nodded and together they made their way to their chairs. They would find a way to stop Zarkon, no matter what was to come. And they would save Lance's husband, no matter what it took.
And once that was finished, they'd find a way to build their civilization back up from the ground. If it was possible to do so after the destruction that had been wrought.
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Lotor struggled against the hands that held his arms behind him. He cursed the modifications Hagar had been doing. Cursed the decisions that had led to what his father was doing. He had to stop this. Before they lost everything.
"Father, stop what you're doing! What are you thinking! Those are our allies! My husband is down there! Lance is still on the planet and so is Alfor and the other paladins! Everyone we care about is there. Altea is our home! Don't do this!"
Zarkon ignored his son's rambling, he didn't care, not anymore. He brushed his son's words aside like snowflakes from his shoulder.
Lotor growled as he kept trying. He couldn't allow such madness, his family was down there, their friends. The protectors of Voltron were down there. They needed all of it. He hated himself for not helping his father earlier. He'd known after his mother had died. After his father had lost her that he wasn't alright. But when she came back, when the quintessence had seemed to fix them, he'd thought...... He didn't know what he'd thought. He'd thought everything would be alright. That everything was back to normal.
Lance was alright, as was he. His parents were together again, and everything was okay. But as he watched his father and his mother stand together, neither of them who he remembered them to be, he knew it hadn't been. Nothing about this was right. No matter what he said, no matter how hard he's tried to reach them again, they couldn't stop this outcome. If only he could stop it now. His father believed it was Alfor's fault, Altea's fault. If they'd been smarter, if they'd helped more. Lotor kept trying to reach his father, even if it was one last time. He needed to stop him and Haggar, the woman wasn't his mother anymore.
He watched his father and mother both give the order. The cannon charged.
"Father! Stop! Don't do this. My husband is there and so is Alfor. This is madness!"
Zarkon finally turned to him. He scoffed at his son, his eyes cold and not the warmth he'd seen since he was a child. Haggar watched the exchange with disinterest, her eyes also cold.
Lotor couldn't stop the sting of tears as he realized his parents weren't here anymore. They'd died that day, these people were not his family.
"There is nothing wrong with my actions, and there is no madness. That husband of yours and his father caused her death. And in doing so have shown their uselessness. Once they and their planet are disposed of.....I'll find you a better husband. One worth something."
Lotor felt the rush of anger run through him as his sad tears turned to angry ones. He grit his teeth and watched as his father gave the order again. His efforts tripled to get away from the soldiers holding him. He screamed, yelled, and fought against the hands holding him. Anything to stop this. He tried to pull as the beam shot from the canon and hit the planet. He watched as the planet lit up, disintegrating before them. It blew in a flash of light, broken apart into pieces. It was gone. Completely. Nothing had escaped the blast, all of it was gone. Destroyed by his own father.
Lotor's knees gave beneath him as he sobbed. He couldn't stop staring at where Altea had once been. Only debris and rocks left as they floated where the planet once was. He couldn't stop the tears that flowed from his eyes. He felt his Generals behind him, each of them also had tears staining their faces. They felt the same pain he did at losing Lance. He felt the pain of losing his home as well. The one they'd built together, but the pain of losing Lance, the love of his life, his husband was what hit all of them harder than anything.
Zarkon walked over to where Lotor sobbed on the ground, he scoffed at the tears and the gasping breaths coming from his son. "Stop crying for such a worthless man. We'll find you a better consort. One that is worthy of taking on the Empire we will build now that Voltron is no more.
Lotor's tears dried quickly with those words, his hands clenched as he stood. His Generals stood behind him all of them glaring at Zarkon, for this insults to their Leader and their friend. Even Zethrid was angry at the words. They all stood with him in the decision he was making, knowing what he would say even before himself.
"No, Zarkon, you will not find anyone for me. And I will marry no one you choose."
Zarkon froze slightly at the use of his name and the defiance he heard in his son's voice. "What do you mean, boy?"
"I won't be doing anything you say. I'm tired of the way you have ruled us. And I'm tired of you insulting my husband. I will marry no one, no matter the circumstances for I am already married, even with him gone, he is still my husband. And I will never follow you after what you've done to him and our home. I will certainly never forgive you for what you've done to my husband. I will challenge you for the throne.....Zarkon."
He lunged at Zarkon, attacking him with the sword from his hip. They exchanged blows back and forth, both trying to break through the other's defense. Lotor tried to keep an upper hand, but Zarkon had been fighting longer than he had. He had also trained him himself. Zarkon threw his sword aside and pulled his bayard, shooting Lotor in the shoulder, knocking him aside. He put his bayard back in the holder and walked over to his son. He reached down and wrapped his hand around Lotor's throat, dragging him into the air he sneered at his son's face.
"You are exiled along with your Generals and crew. All of them are to stay out of main Galra systems. You will stay at the edges of our systems and run any missions I give to you. Otherwise each of your Generals will die in front of you, just as your pitiful husband has. Now get out of my sight, I don't want to see the face of a traitor."
The members of the ship that followed Zarkon started exchanging the word traitor among themselves. Zarkon smiled as he heard them all call him traitor, never speaking his name. Zarkon let Lotor slip from his hand, he coughed as he laid on the ground. Trying to breathe again.
His Generals made their way over to him immediately, he let them help him up, standing quickly. He felt the tears prick his eyes. He held them back as he moved towards the doors.
He stopped right before them, his men and Generals behind him, saying his parting words to the man he now couldn't see as a father. His father had died in the explosion along with his mother. The two in this ship were just monsters. He said the last words to the father he would now forever believe had died months ago -
"I will make you pay for killing my husband. Even if it's the last thing I do, you will die for what you did to him and our home. This I promise."
He left the room with his men and Generals, all of them making their way to their ships. Exile was hard for Galra, they were always honor bound. But either way it was better to him than staying on the ship with the man who had murdered his husband before him.
He went straight to the helm of his ship, yelling orders for them, overseeing the take off from Zarkon's ship.
He sighed as he opened the channel to every ship in the fleet.
"My men, Generals, everyone, I am sorry for causing you all to enter this exile with me. I know I am not the best leader, but I hope you are with me in knowing that Zarkon was in the wrong," he took a deep breath and still his words shook, "he has killed the Paladins of Voltron, including my husband. And he destroyed the planet Altea, before us. He will spin a tale that it was because they struck first, they were in the wrong. But we all know the truth, he destroyed them for power. I know you will all would wish to be with your families and if they would like to join us, I allow it. Any family that wants to come with us is allowed, but I am very sorry you are forced into this, I hope you will all follow me in destroying Zarkon's plans and stop him from destroying anymore planets and breaking up anymore families. Even if it isn't my right to ask you all for this when I have caused you all to be exiled."
Zethrid was the one to speak first. "Lotor you are worth more than you believe, and none of this is your fault. You are the best leader we could ask for. I think," she paused as she sniffled slightly, the sound barely heard, "I think, Lance himself, if he were here would tell you that. We all know how much you loved him and all of us cared for him as well. He was a wonderful paladin and a wonderful Altean. We will all mourn him and the loss of Altea and it's people. We are not angry that we have been exiled with you. We promised to protect you, gave our word to Lance. And we will not take back our word, we will protect you and avenge the life of the man who would have been the best ruler at your side."
Lotor was speechless, he knew Zethrid hadn't hated Lance, but he hadn't known she'd cared this much about him. Ezor was next to speak as Lotor tried to gain the ability to speak again.
"She's right Prince. We loved Lance too, he was......amazing. And I wish I could talk to him again. But even gone I can definitely hear him asking us to watch over you, even after his death. He would never want you to blame yourself. And sir......Lotor. We will follow you no matter what, you are our Ruler, no matter what Zarkon says, you have always been the one we saw as our Leader."
He heard all of his men chime in and say the same thing. They all agreed he was their Prince, he was the one they would follow, no matter what. He felt a sad smile claim his face as the tears fell down his cheeks. It would be just like Lance to make sure he was looked after no matter what happened to him. Lotor had always hated the sacrificing part of Lance, too many close calls always making him worry. Now that he was gone he could certainly hear Lance berating him for not taking care of himself. Lance had always worried he wasn't eating enough. He took a deep breath before speaking again.
"Thank you, all of you, You are very right that Lance would say such things, he always did care about others more than himself. Thank you all for your support. Together we will stop Zarkon from the destruction he plans. Now let us fly from here, we need to get as far from this ship and the.......pieces as possible. From there we can start our planning. Now I will retire to my room, thank you, all of you."
With that he cut the channel and made his way out of the command room. He was......he held it together barely. Even as he heard Lance's laughter as he remembered running down the halls. The Altean games they'd played through the ship. The smiles and laughter that had permeated his ship when Lance was around. The way he'd always made Lotor's generals even brighter...everyone brighter when he was around.
Lotor made it to his quarters and laid against the inside of the door as he let the pain finally hit him. Less than a week. It'd been less than a week since they'd been together. Since they'd touched, held each other, kissed. Less than a week and it seemed so surreal that he was gone.
They'd always promised together forever, even if one of them was to die, they'd live on in each other's souls. Lotor chuckled darkly as the tears fell down his face. They hadn't known that forever would be cut so short for them. They had been so happy together, had so many plans for the future. All of them had been taken in seconds.
He'd lost the love of his life, and he didn't know how he'd survive without Lance by his side. But he would have to. And he would do so to avenge Lance, no matter how long it took.
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Lance felt the tears fall down his cheeks as he stared at Zarkon. "What did you do to Lotor?"
Zarkon smirked as he shrugged. "Simple. I killed the traitor with my own hands. He thought you were dead. We both did and I am glad you're not, I can properly destroy you now. But either way, my son was a traitor. He challenged me for my throne after he saw you supposedly die. Said he would never follow me again. I have a strict belief that all traitors must be dealt with. He is gone paladin. He died believing you were gone. If only you had stayed with him, maybe you could have saved him. Or maybe you're as worthless as I believe and you would have died with him. Either way, I will now kill you for good this time, and you both shall die, together and be with my son and the rest of the Alteans that perished when I destroyed your planet. And once you're dead I'll take the black lion back. Sad that the others are gone as well. If only you could have saved those too, but they and their paladins are gone. Poor Black all alone probably wants my comfort even now." The transmission cut off and went black as the connection was pulled.
Lance laid his hand against his chest as the tears fell harder. Lotor had died because he hadn't been there. His husband was gone and now he knew how he had felt when he believed Lance was gone. As he died believing his husband was also dead. He clenched his teeth hard and went to get into Blue to kill the man who'd taken his husband.
Alfor stopped him and pulled him into a hug. "Lance stop. I know what you're about to do, but you can't. You are Blue's paladin. You are also the only one who can keep your sister sane after you all wake up in the future. They need you, not me. Plus....I'm ready to follow your mother. I want to see her again. I need you to stay here and pilot the castle away, take it to that planet we decided on. Make multiple jumps and confuse anyone who would track you. We don't know what kind of technology Zarkon has especially now that he has Haggar using magic. Please son, please live on with your sister."
Lance fought against him as he cried, but his father held him tight. "No she'll need you! She never listens to me and you're the one with all the information, you've been King for so long!"
Alfor sighed as he pulled back and grabbed Lance's shoulders. "No. I am a King with no kingdom or people to rule. There are Alteans scattered across the galaxies, many in fact. But there is no planet for me to rule any longer. And all the information, all the things I know.......I have uploaded them onto this ship as an AI. Everything I know, everything I remember is there. If you two ever need to talk or you need to ask me anything, I will be there."
Lance shook his head. "What can I do to help anyone....Father I....I left my husband to die....I.......because of me he's." He felt the sobs rack his body as he tried to reason with his father. He couldn't do anything anyway. He should be the one to go.
His father grabbed his shoulders and shook him hard. "Lance! Stop letting Zarkon take over your mind with his words. You are not at fault. Whether you had been there or not, Lotor would have been killed. You just would have perished with him. And yes that might have felt better but you must fight! You must live on. I loved Lotor too. He was perfect for you and you for him. You were soulmates, this I believe. But we both know what he would say to you right now. What is it Lance? Tell me what he would say to you."
Lance felt the tears fall harder as he knew exactly what Lotor would say to him right now. He swallowed hard and said exactly what Lotor would have, were he here. "Stop being so silly Love. It's not your fault, and you should live and travel the galaxy. See all the things we never did together. You are beautiful and strong enough to live on without me. I believe in you, and I love you more than anything in the Universe."
Lance let out a sob before he took a deep breath and wiped the tears on his sleeves. "You're right, he'd certainly want me to smile and keep living. He always did want me happy. Fine, I'll stay with Allura and Coran. Once I make it to the planet I'll go into the cryopod too. I don't know how long we'll sleep for, how long did you set the time for?"
Alfor sighed as he let his son go. He was glad he accepted the words of his husband so readily. "I set it for when the lions return. Once someone enters the pod room, they will wake you all. I don't want you waking until the lions bring new paladins. It shouldn't take many years. The lions will find the perfect paladins. We both know they will choose the right ones for the job."
Lance nodded. "Alright father......I..." He broke off as the tears threatened to start again. "I'll miss you. So much."
Alfor dragged Lance into another hug, the tears falling freely from his eyes. "I'll miss you too son, tell Allura that.....I'm sorry I couldn't see her again. And that I saved the lions from Zarkon, hopefully she won't be so angry with me for putting her into the pod against her will."
Lance shook his head as he hugged his father tight before letting him go. "No, she'll understand." He cut off before he smiled sadly. "After she's angry with you for a while."
Alfor nodded. "I must go now. Take care of your sister. I know you'll do wonderful Lance, take care of them. Especially Coran, he'll need a lot of support for what he's lost. And they'll both support you. Goodbye son, you'll make your mother and I proud."
With that Alfor left, making his way to a pod quickly. He'd give Lance the time to get the ship out of there. The Galra had very few ships that were as fast as the castle when they needed it to be quick.
Lance ran to the control panel. He set the castle's course to the planet they had set for the castle to stay safe.
Lance started moving the castle away from Zarkon's ship. He watched the pod Alfor had taken, it took on all Zarkon's fighters.
Lance smiled sadly as he wormholed away from the galaxy that had held Altea, the galaxy that would be the resting place of his world, his family, his husband, and his father. He whispered a goodbye as he wormholed to a new galaxy. His silent tears fell as he wormholed again. Each just coming faster than the last. He jumped hundreds of time, both himself and the castle being close to giving in when Blue sent him some calming waves. He smiled to himself as he felt her warmth wash over him like waves. "Thank you Blue, I know you're here with me. And once we wake up so too will the new paladins and Allura and Coran." He let the tears hit him again. "But Lotor won't be there, and neither will Father. They are both gone, killed by Zarkon. I don't know how I'll survive without him Blue."
She sent him more waves along with her thoughts on the matter. He snorted as he wiped the tears away and sniffled one last time. "You're right girl, he'd be so angry with me right now if he heard those words. We're here Blue. The place we'll rest until it's time to wake. Until the new Paladins make their way here. I certainly hope they make it here quickly, I have an Emperor to kill and a husband to avenge."
He landed the castle and sent Blue his love as he set his own pod for the same as his sister's. As he looked at each pod he realized his father had always planned to sacrifice himself for them. Only one pod was set with the same wake settings. He sent Blue his love as he stepped into the pod. He watched as it closed. He closed his eyes quickly, letting his last thoughts be of Lotor and how much he loved him.
The pod closed him inside, lulling him to sleep quickly. The pod descended into its container. The castle lights all went off one by one, Black and Blue both sending themselves into a rest as they as the Alteans in the castle, didn't know when the other lions would find the paladins for the others and Black. They both sent each other calming sensations before they too powered down.
The castle sat, closed to all, dark and believed to be abandoned. It would sit as such, forgotten for almost ten thousand years.
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Ten Thousand Years Later
Pidge grumbled as Hunk, Shiro, and Keith made their way into the giant alien castle.
"Anyone else wonder why we are just walking in here with no plan? I mean I like making it up along the way as much as the next person but.....this seems a little reckless? Just maybe?"
Shiro sighed as they kept going forward. "What else can we do Pidge? We have to either go in or get back into the Yellow lion, and since it looks as though it won't open again, not even for Hunk, we need to go inside. That's obviously what it wants.
Keith nodded in agreement, not that Pidge didn't expect that. The boy needed to seriously tell Shiro about his feelings, not that Pidge was going to get in on that little bit of drama....especially not now. "He's right Pidge, while we all want to go back home, even if this is exciting. This is the only option we have."
Hunk nodded sadly. "As much as I wish I could go home, preferably with smoother flying, even if I was the one to fly. I can feel that Yellow back there won't let us back in until we do whatever we have to here. Sadly that's going into the giant, abandoned, haunted looking alien castle. Not that I'm scared or anything.......maybe."
Pidge snorted but followed them deeper into the castle, they couldn't help but comment at the cool tech as they followed where the castle would light up. Each hall or staircase lighting as they made their way close to it.
Hunk whimpered again as another light popped on. "This castle isn't haunted....you don't think?"
Pidge snickered as they snuck up on Hunk and tickled his ribs. He jumped at least a foot or two into the air and jerked around sighing when it was just Pidge. "Are you afraid because of the lights? If so I suggest you not be. I think it'd just the technology of the castle. We have lights that pop on when you enter a room on Earth as well. So why wouldn't an alien castle?"
Hunk sighed his shoulders relaxing slightly. "You're right Pidge thanks for the words of wisdom. I'm so glad you're so smart."
Pidge smiled as they wrapped their arm around Hunk in a side hug. "You're just as brilliant Hunk, but either way I am glad to experience this with you."
They made their way down another staircase, finally the lights popped on in a room that opened up more with a small panel in the middle of the room. Pidge immediately made their way over and stopped around it, poking it and trying to get it to work. "How does this work exactly?"
As Pidge tried to figure it out Hunk walked over to the little doors on the floor and peeked at them. Suddenly one opened and Hunk let out a small shriek leaping behind Shiro who had been right behind him.
Three of the pods came out of the ground and rose in front of them.
The first to open had a woman with pointed ears reaching forward. She called out 'Father!' before falling from the pod, right into Shiro's arms. "Well um.. hello?"
The woman blinked slowly as she stared up into Shiro's eyes, her own darting over to his ears and taking him in slowly. She mumbled slightly dizzy from the pod. "Your ears are hideous."
Pidge snorted as the woman pulled away from Shiro quickly. "Who are you? And where is my father Alfor? How did you gain entry into this castle?"
They all looked to Shiro to explain, he was the eldest, he sighed as he turned back to the woman. "We don't know who Alfor is, we are humans from Earth, we were brought here by a giant Yellow lion robot."
She turned to the panel as the other pods opened. Coran woke first, slowly as he finally realized what was happening. "Who are you? If you've hurt anyone or plan to hurt anyone I will attack you with a huwha, huwha!"
Lance made his way out of the pod by himself, he looked at Coran and smiled as the man kept making the noises and demonstrated his 'fighting prowess' to the humans in their infirmary.
Allura gasped in horror and they all turned to her, Lance was the first to ask.
"Allura what's wrong?"
She shook her head as she stared at the panel in front of her. "We were asleep for ten thousand years."
Lance choked on air as Coran's eyes widened. Ten thousand years..........that's such a long time, he couldn't believe it had been so long. It was horrifying.
Allura swung to face him quickly. "Lance what happened to Father. Where is he?"
Coran nodded his head as he awaited Lance's answer.
Lance sighed and he couldn't hide the pain on his face. "Father......distracted Zarkon so the castle and the two lions still here could be safe as well as the three of us. We had already hidden Red, Green, and Yellow. Zarkon believed only Black was still around. He tried to take her, so Father took a fighter pod and distracted them so I could take the castle here to hide us."
Allura let out a sob. "Why.....why did he put me in the pod? I could have helped!"
Lance and Coran both shook their heads. "No Princess, if King Alfor put us both in the pods, he did it for a good reason."
Lance nodded with Coran. "He's right Allura. I was awake after it happened, and there was nothing we could do. Once I came here I realized.....he never readied a pod for himself. Only the three of us standing here. He always planned to sacrifice himself to keep us safe and hidden. He just did it with me awake."
Allura nodded as she wiped her tears. "You're right. Father always did things for the right reasons. He would always think at least twenty steps ahead of all of us. But if we're here, and Father is gone.....then.....where is Lotor? He would never have left you after what happened."
Coran nodded as he laid his hand on Lance's shoulder. "She's right. You were both inseparable when you were near each other, and with the planet being destroyed that man would have been right by your side the instant he could."
Lance sucked in a breath as he felt the tears flood his eyes quickly. Because of the humans he hadn't thought of his husband since he'd woken. Even if he had been the last thing he'd thought of before he was put to sleep.
"He.......Father and I went to hide the lions together. We were going to go back and save him after we finished. And we did, we went as soon as we could. If Zarkon was willing to kill us, and destroy Altea, he would do anything, even kill Lotor, especially since he loved me. But when we got there... Zarkon told us that........he killed Lotor himself. Lotor died believing I was gone. Killed by his own father. My husband was killed because I wasn't with him. And worse he died believing I was gone. He challenged Zarkon, and apparently he doesn't stand traitors to live."
Lance cried into his hands. He felt Allura hug him as sobs racked her body as well. Coran turned away the tears falling from his face as well. Both of them knew how much Lance had loved Lotor. They had both been soulmates. More in love than any other couple they'd ever known. And now he was gone. No....he'd been gone a long time. And Lance would have to live with it.
Coran wiped his eyes, he would have to be strong for his nephew and niece and for these new paladins. Who were looking sympathetic but also very uncomfortable.
Coran cleared his throat to gain their attention and he let the siblings hold each other. "Alright new Paladins. Welcome to the Castle of Lions."
They all looked at him each of their eyes sliding back to Allura and Lance. She seemed to be doing better but Lance was still a mess. Shiro was the one who asked, worriedly. "Will he be alright?"
Coran sighed and shook his head. "Probably not. Lotor and Lance were married. They were the happiest most in love couple we Alteans had ever seen. It became a story all children knew. The Soulmate Princes. They were so perfect for each other that they were believed to be the perfect match, in essence, soulmates. They were happiest together, and honestly it broke everyone's heart when they had to say goodbye. Together they brightened every room with their love. It was.....a sight that I had never seen before and expect I never will see again. Lance.....he always said that if he ever lost his husband he'd be lost. I just hope all of you as his fellow paladins will be able to help him heal. Even if only slightly. Damn Zarkon for what he took from him."
They each looked horrified at the lose that Lance must feel, they all felt so bad for the man. But Shiro's face hardened at the end. "You all keep saying Zarkon.....that's the Galra who is Emperor, he's the one who's after these lions and Earth."
All the Alteans sucked in a breath at those words. Allura immediately left Lance's side to step closer to the new paladins. "How is that possible? How could he still be alive after ten thousand years?"
Lance watched the exchange before he gasped. "The witch."
Allura and Coran cocked their heads at this. "Witch?"
Lance sighed. "Remember how Zarkon's wife was killed a small while before he destroyed Altea? How she came back but...different?"
They both nodded as they listened to Lance explain further. "Well she didn't come back the same. I talked to Lotor almost constantly. He was adamant that Haggar.......she wasn't his mother. The quintessence that brought her and his father back changed them. Haggar could suddenly wield magic. She started using it to change Galra, to experiment on them. To make them stronger. She would play with prisoners like they were toys. She must have found a way to keep them both alive until now. I don't know how but........quintessence is the only answer."
Pidge butted in, actually moving in between the Alteans, their excitement for more knowledge evident. "What is quintessence?"
Lance smiled at Pidge's excitement; no matter how sad he was, he did always enjoy when someone wanted to learn, Lotor had been the same way. "It's what powers all life. Everything in the Universe itself is made of it. But it mostly resides in living things, planets, animals, beings. You can have more quintessence than someone else or less. Unless your race uses it a lot to power things, or has high potential for magic use, it doesn't matter the level you have. It just keeps you alive."
Pidge's eyes widened. "Then why don't humans know about it? We've studied our bodies for generations and have no studies or information about such a thing."
Lance snorted. "Your race wouldn't unless you use magic or use quintessence to power things. Like this castle has it's own quintessence but the person who uses it as a weapon or uses it's shields, or uses it to wormhole, adds in their own quintessence, which replenishes over time, like energy. But it's more precious and can't be gathered in a physical form. It's a kind of magic that flows through everything."
Pidge nodded. "Makes sense. I'm still interested to learn more."
Lance smiled but Shiro moved closer. "You said Haggar, correct?"
Lance's smile fell as he turned to the oldest human. "Yes I did. She used to be a wonderful woman with a different name but.....ten thousand years ago she was horrifying."
Shiro hummed in agreement. "She's still terrifying. She's the one who....oversaw the removal of my arm. She was the one who was in charge of me while I was in Galra hands."
Lance's nodded. "Makes perfect sense if Zarkon is still alive she would be." He laid his hand on Shiro's shoulder. Shiro could still see the tracks of tears that had fallen down the Alteans cheek, right over the small blue triangles on the man's cheek bones. Lance squeezed slightly and smiled slightly when Shiro met his eyes. "I'm glad you're alright though. I am sorry you had to go through such and am sorry you fell into Zarkon's hands."
Shiro smiled slightly to Lance. "Thank you. Now would you explain to us what these paladins are? How are we paladins exactly? As much as I appreciate what you've told us, I am still very confused as I'm sure we all are."
Allura nodded but as she looked at Lance her face tightened. She could see how tired her brother looked. Even with a ten thousand year nap, the new information, as well as the past was affecting him hard. It must hurt even more to know that Zarkon and Haggar were still alive, but Lotor wasn't. She couldn't relate to her brother, she had never had a husband nor a consort set to be her husband, nor had she ever been in love. But she could see the strain it was taking for him to be alright. He needed time to break down, time to come to terms with what their present was and what their future would be. Without Lotor with them.
She turned to the humans before them. "I understand you want answers, and we will give them to you. But may I ask that we all rest for the night? Coming out of the pods after so long is tiring, funnily enough. And we have each had quite a few shocks today. We need to rest, as I'm sure each of you do as well?"
She looked at each of the humans before her and they all looked tired as well. Shiro smiled slightly his own eyes slightly heavy. "That sounds like a good idea Allura. We are all beat from all the excitement. If you'll just show us to some rooms if you don't mind?"
Allura nodded as she looked at Coran. Getting the hint quickly he jumped into action. "Alright paladins! Follow me to your sleeping quarters, we will speak of the important duties of a paladin and what exactly a paladin is! Follow me."
They shuffled out of the room behind Coran and Allura turned and looked at Lance.
"Brother, do you want me to stay with you tonight?"
Lance chuckled sadly as he shook his head. "No. But thank you Allura. I have to face this on my own, to come to terms with it. Lotor would want me to live on, and I need to find a way to do that. And spending the night with you will just make me hide it, push it away. I just need......time."
She nodded before she placed a kiss on his cheek as she left for the door. "Alright brother. I'll miss him too. But take all the time you need, Coran and I are both here if you need anything."
He nodded and gave her a slight smile as she left the room. He left and went to the room he'd had since becoming a paladin. He couldn't believe it'd been ten thousand years. It felt like he'd lost his husband just days ago. He ran his hand through his hair, feeling the short strands and stiffened as the memories flooded him once again. The kisses, laughter, and the smile of the man he loved.
It was all ashes in the past. Lost in the thousands of years he'd been asleep. Their love, their story, their existence forgotten, as Altea was. For they were both dead to other people, one was truly dead and he would never come back.
Lance felt his hands shake as he realized he'd never see Lotor again. It had been a week then. Since they had held each other, they had been ready for missions, ready to spend long periods of time apart again, before Altea burned and disappeared.
But that was when there was the promise to see each other again. The promise that together they would always be. He clutched at his chest, his other hand clenching as he wanted to find Lotor. Wanted to hold him, tell him everything would be fine. That even with his father gone they would find a way to stay together. He wanted more than anything to make sure he was alive.
He had instead helped his father get Allura into a pod, Coran had gone in willingly. He'd helped hide the lions from Zarkon. All but Blue and Black, together in the castle like Alfor and Lance had been.
His father had sent him off with the castle and it's contents. He could still remember the last hug his father had given him. Telling him it wasn't his fault that Lotor wasn't with him, and that he was sorry they couldn't save his husband.
He still remembered the smile Zarkon had on his face while he recounted killing his own son.
Lance remember his father's last moments with him, but not his words. He just remembered the pain and his resolve, from the words his father had made him say. The exact words he'd known then and still believed Lotor would tell him.
He leaned against the wall, sliding down until he could hug his knees as the tears came again.
Ten thousand years of cryosleep, and waking to his husband still gone and a war to fight. He had a new team of paladins; they even seemed like they'd be good fits, he could already guess at the lions that would fit each of them best. But......could he train them with Coran and Allura to be able to take down Zarkon? Could he help them to grow as a team without Lotor by his side to keep him sane?
He didn't know if he could survive for that long without his husband, didn't even know if he could survive at all. But that was what losing someone was. You learned new ways to live, no matter what you would live on for the one you'd lost, even if it hurt you more than anything else ever had.
He let the tears fall and let the sobs rack his body yet again over the lose of a husband he felt he couldn't live without, and a love he would never be able to replace as long as he lived.
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Lotor stood in his fighter on the edge of one of the many Galran systems.
Ten thousand years since the fall of Altea and the death of his husband. Living without him had been hell, and it still was. But at least he was closer to taking down his father. Just a little more and he would be able to do it.
He heard a channel come in from Zethrid, he patched it through along with his other generals.
"Yes Zethrid what is it?"
"I have interesting news."
Lotor smiled as he knew she waiting. "Alright tell us, we're all waiting."
He heard Ezor snort and Zethrid slightly growl before she continued. "Our colleagues in the Blade and our own spies have sent news. Apparently Zarkon has found two of the Voltron Lions. They were hidden from him by someone. Even better, and I don't want to get your hopes up, especially not when it's been so many years but......the Castle of Lions has been found as well. It was taken to a planet and landed. It's been sitting in the same spot for ten thousand years. According to one of the top Generals, one that Haggar has kept alive as she has all of us.......Alfor was the one who distracted the forces to keep the castle from being caught. Someone else flew it away and hid it from Zarkon for so many years. Do you think it could be? If Alfor survived and the castle did as well......."
Lotor was speechless. The Castle of Lions was still around, and someone who knew how to fly it, someone who knew how to jump enough times to make it impossible to track would have been the one Alfor would give the castle to. He knew Allura could pilot the castle, she'd practiced often when Altea was still around. But she had never had the quintessence to jump enough times to protect the castle.......but Lance did. Lance had always had an insane amount of quintessence, enough to keep the castle from Zarkon and hide it so he wouldn't find it.
Ezor whooped in excitement. "Does that mean he's alive? Could our pretty prince Lance still be out there? I've certainly missed talking to him. Do you think he still remembers us?"
Acxa and Zethrid snorted, Acxa speaking first. "If he remembers any of us it will be our wonderful Leader over there who's still in shock from the probability of his husband being alive. But I believe the possibility of Lance being alive is high. He was always incredibly smart and sneak when he needed to be. But....does he know we're still alive? It has been ten thousand years. And if he was still alive and met Zarkon all those years ago one last time.......it must of been to save Lotor from his father."
Zethrid and Ezor both sucked in a breath, Ezor groaned. "That....is the truth. Of all the things Lance would do....going after Lotor to save him from his father is one of the first things he'd want to do. Which begs the question, if he met Zarkon why didn't he immediately make his way here and grab us before hiding the castle. Even if he is smart we all know what he would do for Lotor."
Lotor gasped as Acxa sighed. Ezor jerked at the sounds. "What is it?"
Lotor growled quickly and banged his fist into the metal before him. "My father. He must of told Lance that he killed me. He'd already told his own men I was a traitor. He believe me dead to him, so he told Lance he killed me. He would do it just to watch Lance suffer. He told my husband I was dead. Alfor must have sent him and the castle to the planet it's on now to protect them. My father lied to him, and let him believe I was dead. Quiznak!"
He punched the metal again, satisfied when the metal bent slightly.
Zethrid and the other all groaned as Ezor spoke up. "So what are we going to do? Lance believes we're all dead, and he's either still in cryo sleep, or....awake, how did they find out about the castle Zethrid? Is Lance fighting for his life or is he still tucked into his pod?"
"There were a group of humans that found the lion that had been hidden on their planet. They boarded it and flew it to the planet, they passed the Galran fleet set to extract the lion they flew away. It was followed and they and the Yellow lion they had taken were all taken into the castle. My guess would be that he's awake now. And from what we all saw ten thousand years ago......he's probably about as broken as Lotor was then."
They all flinched slightly as they remembered. Lotor himself was horrified. He knew how hard it hurt even ten thousand years later to believe Lance was dead. To know that Lance was probably going through the same fresh pain he had all those years ago. "We must go to him. I can't leave him in pain like that, he must know that I'm okay, that we're all not dead. And I......I need to see him again. It's been too long."
Ezor agreed quickly. "Absolutely, I want our Blue man back, he certainly knew how to drink with a woman. His games were also so much fun. And honestly.....just talking to him would be nice. I think we've all missed the way he could light up any room, no matter how dark."
They all chuckled at that and Zethrid spoke again. "So Lotor, what is the plan, and what are your orders?"
Lotor smiled. "We go and make an alliance with the new Voltron. We will also find my husband so I can remind him how much I love and have missed him in the ten thousand years we've been apart."
They all whooped and Zethrid helped them set the coordinates for the planet the Castle of Lions resided on.
Lotor himself couldn't stop the smile on his face and the excitement in his chest. He was going to see his husband again. He needed to see Lance again. And this time he would never leave his side again. Missions or wars to come be damned.