Today Coran gathered everyone in the observation deck for a meeting. Keith had just gotten back from a mission for the Blade of Marmora.

"Okay everybody, today we'll be heading to Ryfon, a planet recently liberated from Galra forces." Coran announcement once everyone was present.

"This is embarrassing. We're basically the grand marshall of a parade." Keith said bluntly.

"Not a parade. A show of arms." Coran said, holding up one of his arms.

"Whatever it is, this is the second one of these we've done just this week." Pidge stated.

"I know it's not exactly battling the Galra Empire, but believe it or not this helps us boost morale and alliances." Allura told everyone.

"Right right, strongholds, blah blah blah. Now I say we go our lion choreography one more time. I don't want a repeat of what happened last time, Hunk." Lance said, glaring at the adorable cinnamon roll.

"I thought my lion had more room." Hunk said, a guilty look appearing on his face.

You felt bad for Hunk, especially after the incident. You lightly patted him on the shoulder, letting him know that it wasn't his fault. Just then, Kolivian appeared on a screen.

"Shiro, my apologies for interrupting, but this is an urgent matter. A Galra supply ship has been spotted past Quarter Omega radar six." Kolivian said as he showed a few things on the screen.

"What's it doing so far from the normal supply routes?" Shiro asked Kolivian.

"We can't be certain, but take in together that Lotor hasn't been seen in quite some time. The emergence of this new form of quintessence, we feel compelled to investigate. Normally we would wait for better intel, but I believe that we must investigate now." Kolivian said as he reappeared on the screen.

"I'll send Voltron to intercept." Shiro told Kolivian.

"An infiltration mission makes more sense. We can plant a tracker and see how far the supply route extends. With all the Empire activity as of late, my agents are spread thin." Kolivian told Shiro.

"Not anymore. Count me in." Keith told Kolivian.

"Hey, what about our performance? We can't razzle dazzle the crowd with just four lions!" Lance told Keith, holding up four fingers.

"This mission is more important than a show of arms." Keith said seriously.

"How long will it take?" Shiro asked Kolivian.

"Not long. But we must act fast, or we risk the ship jumping into hyperdrive." Kolivian told Shiro.

"Go. But when you're done meet us on Ryfon." Shiro told Keith, turning to face the young Blade.

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"Citizens of Ryfon. On this day we thank you for your perseverance. Your refusal to bow down in the face of such adversity is a testament to the fighting spirit of your people. You've put aside your differences and united to dispel the oppressive Galra regime, bringing freedom to all!" Coran said, beginning his speech.

Everyone in the stands cheered loudly. You saw a few fangirls holding up a hand drawn poster of Shiro with little stars around him. You were standing next to Shiro while Thace and Ulaz stood behind you.

"We thank you for joining the coalition and continuing the fight against the Galra Empire that began with the re-emergence of the five lions of Voltron." Coran said as four of the lions flew overhead and did a few stunts.

The crowd cheered even louder when they saw four of the lions. You had seen this show before, but it never got old. Even Thace and Ulaz seemed to be having a good time.

"Right, four lions." Coran said awkwardly.

"I thought Keith said he was going to be here. He's going to ruin our show." Lance said over the comm system.

"Lance, this isn't just about putting on a good show. It's about uniting people and bringing them into the coalition to help in the fight against Zarkon." Allura reminded him.

"Ugh, fine. I don't even know why I try." Lance scoffed.

The Paladins blasted targets that exploded into confetti before flying in a synchronized circle. The confetti rained down onto the cheering crowd.

"By joining the Voltron alliance, you are joining up with the defenders of the universe who will do whatever it takes to spread peace and freedom in every galaxy!" Coran said, making the crowd cheer more.

The Paladins did loop-de-loops in the air with their lions. The crowd absolutely loved the show they were putting on.

"They love us! Razzle dazzle!" Lance shouted happily over the comms.

He and the other Paladins flew straight up in the air before taking a nosedive. As they got closer to the crowd they pulled up.

"And just as Voltron has shown what can be done when five individuals combine powers together, so too can we combine our powers on planet Ryfon and grow just as stronger. For it is the individual willing to take up arms that strengthens the whole. And with that strength we will be unstoppable! And Voltron with a sword." Coran said, completing his speech and saying that last sentence quietly.

The crowd went wild at the end of his speech. Things got super awkward when only four of the lions were hovering above the crowd.

"Ah quiznack, there are only four lions! I keep forgetting that… A-ah well, uh, when he's together he's like a big man, like this. But you have to imagine it with a sword. And a big laser canon. Pew, pew, pew. Look out Zarkon, I'm Voltron and I'm the biggest robot around! Now he doesn't exactly talk like that, but that's what I imagined him saying he did." Coran said awkwardly, trying to impersonate Voltron.

You felt bad for Coran. He had an amazing speech prepared, but Voltron couldn't form because Keith wasn't around to fly the black lion. You wished that you could do something to help, but the black lion didn't respond to you.

      _________________________________

Keith, Regris and Kolivian jumped out of their ship and turned their jetpacks on. They flew towards the Galra cruiser as fast as they could.

"Triangulate positions around the ship." Kolivian said.

Keith stayed where he was as Kolivian and Regris flew in different directions. His jetpack exploded as soon as he got close to the cruiser. The magnets in the bottoms of his shoes allowed him to walk on the cruiser without floating away. He put something on the cruiser and pulled up a small screen.

"I'm not detecting any biorhythms." Keith said over his comm.

"It could be a crew of sentries. Let's get in and find out." Kolivian said over the comm system.

Keith, Regris and Kolivian each found a way into the ship. Regris scanned the cruiser for sentries and didn't find any. The three of them quickly found each other.

"I completed the sentry scan, there are none on board." Regris said as he stopped running.

"The entire place is empty. Have you ever seen this before?" Keith asked Kolivian.

"Something's not right here, we should leave." Kolivian told the two younger Blades.

"We came all this way. We should at least plant the tracker and see where this ship ends up." Keith said desperately.

"Let's make it quick." Kolivian said, knowing that Keith was right.

Regris scanned the ship and found the main room. He hacked the door and it opened. He, Kolivian and Keith quickly realized that no one was waiting for them.

"I'll check the logs." Regris said as he ran to a console.

"Planting the tracker." Keith said, running to the place where he was going to put the tracker.

As soon as Regris turned the console on, the ship was set to self-destruct. The door they all came through closed on its own. The self-destruct counted down quickly.

"I'm locked out of the system!" Regris shouted.

"It's rigged to blow!" Keith yelled.

"This ship's a decoy. Everyone out!" Kolivian ordered as he and Keith used their blades to open the door.

"Attempting to override." Regris said as he quickly typed.

"There's not enough time, come on!" Keith said as he and Kolivian opened the door.

"Just a few more ticks." Regris said.

Keith tried to run towards Regris, but Kolivian grabbed him. Keith grabbed his grappling hook and aimed it at Regris. Regris was quickly pulled out of the room as Keith and Kolivian dragged him away from the console. Before any of them could get out the cruiser exploded.

              __________________________

Keith slowly woke up after the explosion. He was just randomly floating around what was left of the cruiser.

"Hello? Kolivian? Regris?" Keith asked into his comm, only getting static.

As he floated around he realized that his uniform was ripped and he was losing air. He felt very alone at the moment. He saw that Regris was still somehow attached to his grappling hook. He quickly tied a rope to his blade and threw it. His blade lodged itself in a large piece of metal.

He tugged on the rope, bringing himself and Regris closer to the huge slab of metal. He grabbed on and brought Regris closer to himself. He searched around for the ship.

"The ship. Hold on Regris." Keith said when he spotted the ship.

Regris groaned in pain as Keith grabbed his blade and jumped towards the ship. They flew right through space, getting closer. Keith had to jump off of a few slabs of metal to keep himself and Regris going the right way. They fell right through the door right as it was about to close. Keith removed his mask, allowing himself to breathe.

"You just can't listen, can you?" Kolivian asked Keith.

"I'm sorry. I couldn't leave him to die." Keith replied, breathing heavily.

Kolivian went to the pilot's seat and sat down. He had to take Keith to the rest of Voltron and he was going to drop Regris off at the castle so that Ulaz could put him in a healing pod. It wasn't so long ago that Antok came back to the Blades after healing from his injuries.

       _________________________________

After Kolivian dropped Keith and Regris off he left. Ulaz quickly got Regris to a healing pod. After he was done he went to your room. He turned the light off and got in bed with you and Thace.

"Is he going to be alright?" Thace asked Ulaz.

"Yes, he will live. But he's bleeding internally and he has a concussion." Ulaz replied.

"I hope he gets better soon." You said, yawning a little.

"Today was a long day. Get some rest, Y/n." Thace said softly.

Ulaz pulled the large blanket over the three of you. You kissed them both before you laid down. It didn't take you very long to fall asleep. Thace and Ulaz quickly fell asleep after you kissed them.