#good news for pidge! he's not brainwashed. he's still totally himself

[discordiansamba]

actually. what if Haggar first wanted to test the procedure with which she turned Shiro into a Galra in the commander and druid AU. how convenient that she has another human on hand in relatively the same age group as Shiro.

anyways what I'm saying is. Galra Matt.

[broke-bitch-mountain]

Total Eclipse of the Heart

@kuichequlgate wow...the last chapter was posted in November. That’s defiantly a while. We finally finished moving the bigger pieces of furniture so all my writing stuff is in the new apartment officially! Now it’s just kitchen stuff! I am still working on getting the Quichetober prompts and have a few finished but not in the right order to post them. So here is this update for now and we’ll see how the week goes!

Chapter Fourteen: Nightfall

The moon was beginning to rise when the two parties woke from their afternoon naps. There was not as much commotion over Lance’s sleeping arrangement as Shiro had worried about. But Keith had been a little handsy with the prince while they packed the rest of their provisions and ate a small meal before leaving the cottage. Changes where they weren’t going to come back. Either they would escort Lotor back to the castle and continue the ritual as they had always known it to be held, or they would return and face whatever mess they landed in.

The cottage was oddly quiet in general. There was a large focus on Hunk who was outlining the possible routes that he and Shay had seen Honerva on. He gave them a small map that the two had made together highlighting the hotspots on the map.

“Just follow the routes and you’ll have a good chance of finding her.” Hunk had told them.

“How do we know which route she’ll be on, though?” Pidge asked. There weren’t a lot of routes, but there were enough that they wouldn’t have time to look on all of them in one night.

“Well, we never set out to find her specifically,” Hunk explained, “we just found her from time to time. As far as we know there isn’t a way to track where she goes.”

“So it looks like our best course of action is to split up and meet somewhere in the middle.” Lotor suggested.

“There are about five different paths that we could travel down and potentially see her, but two of them are rather short. There is a spot in the middle where they meet without a lot of trouble. But we need to split up quickly.” Pidge pointed out. “Narti is still in no condition to travel or fight if we run into trouble, so we should leave her here with Klaizap and in case the druids return. Which leaves us three groups of two and one of three, unless someone else wants to stay behind with the two of them?”

Nobody immediately spoke up so the small princess continued.

“Lotor should go with Shiro, that way if you’re lying he can make sure you are returned to the castle, Keith should go with them to assist if needed. Axca and Lance should be a pair due to their drastic difference in fighting style, Hunk and Zethrid should go together as they match strengths better than the rest of us and which means I’ll go with Axca.”

“Are you sure it’s a wise idea to do one on one?” Lance asked, “I’m sure I can handle my own, and I’m not worried about Keith or Shiro, but are you sure you’re going to be ok?”

“Hunk and I will be fine I’m sure.” Pidge nodded, “Besides, I have a feeling we won’t end up fighting each other tonight.”

“If you say so, we don’t have much time to argue another set up.” Keith said. “Everyone be on your guard. We’ll meet at the rendezvous point as soon as we’re done traveling the paths. Shiro, Lotor and I will take the two smaller ones since there are more of us, the rest of you pick a route and let's head out.”

Long ago, there were two sisters named Haggar and Honerva…

Pidge and Axca ended up taking the path that went behind the cottage and up past two of the other paths. The first bit of the journey was silent, both ladies keeping their eyes on the shadows of the forest. They only had a few hours to meet the others before they assumed something had gone wrong and went searching. But Axca had a question burning in her throat.

“You don’t seem interested in the ceremonies.” She said, breaking the fragile silence between them and the trees.

“That’s because I’m not.” she said. “I think it’s barbaric and archaic to be honest with you.”

“I thought everyone was brainwashed into believe in those old stories.” Axca said.

“How did you see the holes in the story?” Pidge asked, “Clearly you and the others don’t believe it.”

“Lotor showed us all the holes in the stories, and Zarkon’s journals. We couldn’t place what was so off, our whole lives it didn’t quite make sense. Until that moment when we realized that it was all fake.”

The silence stretched as Axca waited for Pidge to provide her own explanation, but none came. So she prompted, “What about you? What made you realized it was all fake?”

“They announce the paladins as young as sixteen.” Pidge explained, “My brother was chosen originally for the ceremony. But at the last minute, Shiro offered himself as a replacement and the druids accepted it. The idea that I was going to loose my brother never sat well with me, but I was able to swallow it because of traditional nonsense that I didn’t understand. I didn’t want to understand.” She mumbled out the last bit, but Axca could hear the bitterness in her voice. “When they allowed the swap, everything began to crumble. They insisted that the paladins where selected by the stars that the Druids read in order to please Haggar, so why would they change their mind? If Shiro was the paladin, then why didn’t they find him first? Why would the switch happen at all? And then I did a little digging on who was selected and saw that some were political problems for the druids. There were too many coincidences for it to be written in the stars.”

“Well, I’m glad you believe us.” Axca said. “I hope we’ll be able to convince the others too.”

“I’m not sure about the Lotor’s side of the story either. But I’m sure that there is something fishy going on with this whole deal. I want to know what is going on.”           

Both where well trained in magic, using the culmination of their experience and skill make their small corner of the world the best that they could.

But they both wanted more…

The far path on the left was where Lance and Ezor set their feet on. Despite the circumstances shrouding them, the minute the two where reasonably out of earshot of the others, a friendship started to bloom.

“That fiance of yours is really cute.” Ezor started, and Lance began gushing about the most trivial things about his betrothed.

“You have no idea how long it takes to brush all the knots out of his hair after training. But he purrs so sweetly when they’re all out and I’m just brushing it.”

“You sound quite taken.” Ezor sighed, “So why are you staring at that other fellow so longingly?”

“Shiro?” Lance flustered, “I’m just really impressed with everything he’s done and all he’s doing to help bring peace and order to the land. It’s nothing that will get between me and Keith, in fact if you notice Keith gives him the same admiring looks, we’ve talked about it alot these last few days.”

“Relax, I’m not challenging your engagement.” Ezor giggled, “I’m just curious. It’s not that out of place for anybody, even royalty, to take on a third partner. But neither of you have made a move on him.”

“That’s because at least one of us is going to die when we get back, either all three of us because we couldn’t bring Lotor back, or just Shiro.” Lance sighed, “There isn’t really a point in pursuing a relationship that only lasts a week.”

“So if none of you die, then you’ll pursue it?”

“If Keith was okay with it of course. But that assumes that everything you’re tell us is true, or at the very least the part about the Druids being part of a giant conspiracy.”

“Well then I’m glad to be the bearer of good news.”

The sisters wanted to spread their message of peace and prosperity as far as it could go to give as many people as they could a rich and wonderful life. But when they brought their desires to their king, they were refused.

The rest of the group began their journey together. The four paths that they were assigned to travel started on the same dirt path and branched off in a multi-path fork. The far right one was a dead end the Shiro’s group was going to follow, but the one just above it was the path that Hunk and Zethrid were going to take. It was a shorter one in comparison to the ones for Pidge and Lance but it also had a rougher terrain that he was more accustom to.

“Soooo...what brought you and Lotor together then?” Hunk attempted conversation. Zethrid seemed more eager to count shadows and footfalls then talk though so Hunk quickly gave up on small talk. Instead, he focused on the path ahead of them, offering warnings when they were coming upon roots, rocks and pitfalls. But even those were met with grunts of acknowledgement.

Most of the path was empty of life. Which put Hunk on edge as they continued down the path. Even on the darkest nights, there was always some kind of skittering on the forest floor. At least that’s what he had always thought. When he and Shay would walk these paths they would be in constant conversation with each other and weren’t paying attention to their surroundings beyond the path they walked.

“It’s ah...kind of quiet don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“Isn’t it unsettling?” Hunk pressed. “There should be some kind of wildlife even this late at night.”

“Maybe they’re clearing a path for Honerva?” Zeithrid groused. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near her energy when she touched the ground.”

“Fair...which means we have to be getting close right?”

Zethrid pointed to the open field that they were meeting at. A bright light in the center of the moonlight touched the ground lightly.

“That’s her!” Hunk said excitedly.

Honerva took their rejection with grace and continued about her business, slightly discouraged but no less determined. But Haggar…

One of their paths had a dead end, but the other was going to go straight towards the meeting place. Their timing would end them at the meeting place at the same time as the other’s paths but Shiro didn’t like the idea that they would have to backtrack. Having Keith’s company helped ease his nerves quite a lot. A lot more than he thought it probably should.

“So dear brother, what will you do when you discover that we are telling the truth?” Lotor asked nonchalantly.

“I’m not sure, father will not be pleased at our interruption. So the question is, who is in on the secret?”

“I don’t believe the Druids have let anybody else in on their conspiracy.” Lotor said, “Too many strings for the wrong nose to follow. Besides, they’ve had enough people looking into them to risk a lot of loose ends to tie them up like nooses.”

“The forest is quite tonight.” Shiro pointed out. The two brothers turned their attention edges of the forest. There was no noise from even the leaves falling to the ground or branches settling down in light of the night frost.

“She’s on her way then.” Lotor smiled. “At least we know that this trip won’t be worthless.” The end of the path came quickly. Only about a mile or so out from the cottage. The way back had Shiro more tense then the way forward. The feeling of somebody following them was hard to shake.

“Why do you keep looking behind us?” Keith whispered.

“No reason. Just paranoid.”  

Keith didn’t believe him. That much was clear in his eyes, but he allowed Shiro to drop it without any more discussion. The cottage was back in sight, and so was the fork that they had separated from the others from.

“One more path. Shame we didn’t see Honerva down that first one. Would have made tonight so much shorter.” Lotor complained. “I was so sure it would be, considering the absence of all the wild life. Maybe that’s just the effect on the forest in general.”

“You seem rather eager to be done with this whole thing.” Shiro accused snidely.

“You seem rather eager to die.” Lotor shot back.

Keith tensed up like he was ready to deck his brother. But Shiro placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Normally such a blatant act of restraint would increase his anger, Lance having been the only exception until now. Keith immediately relaxed, and Lotor seemed to notice. “Like a well trained puppy. What happened to your fiance?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Lance and I are still happily engaged.” Keith said.

“Of course, I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.” Lotor said.

“Of course you didn’t.” Keith glared. “You know that we have to take you back if you’re lying. Why take the risk that she won’t come?”

“Because she’s coming to meet Zarkon.” Lotor said with an air of confidence that shook even Shiro’s silent demeanor. “Love has a certain consistency. I’m sure she will come.”

The rest of their short walk was spent in relative silence. There was heavy weight in the air that made it hard to breathe the further they walked. Coming to a pinnacle when they came to the clearing the group had agreed to meet at almost three hours earlier. Keith was nearly gasping for breath. He was used to heavy training exercises, and was no stranger to how to properly breath in times of stress. But this was oppressive beyond what any of them had experienced before. Even Shiro’s pace had slowed to accommodate his breathing.

“What kind of lover would attempt to suffocate the path that her lover walks?”

“One that doesn’t want anybody else to find them.”

The clearing was bathed in light brighter than the moon’s light could possibly give on even the darkest night. Across from them, Shiro could see Lance, Ezor, Hunk and Zethrid, and he could guess that Pidge and Axca were just to their right. But all eyes were on the center of the clearing where a female’s figure was expunging a luminescent glow that eradicated the shadows in the nearby trees.

Haggar was not pleased.

[avidbeader]

Voltron Season 3 Speculation Fic - Part 5

I thought it might stay G-rated, and then I had an on-page death, so T rating for mild violence. Sheith pairing.

I’ve developed this mini-rhythm of long chapter, “interlude”, long chapter, “interlude”. I have thought of something for at least one more short interlude, then at least one more longish chapter that should deliver on the Sheith.

Still debating titles.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

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

Shiro studied the updated plans of Zarkon’s command center from the agent, noting just how deep in the red dot showing Keith’s location was. His chest ached at the thought of Keith in Haggar’s hands, remembering bits and pieces of his own torture. The need to get to him before she could do any permanent damage ate at him. What if she discovered he was part Galra? How would that change her tactics? Would it make it easier or harder for her to brainwash him the way she had tried with Shiro?

Pidge watched him from her station.

“Is there any chance of replicating the virus attack? That would give us a huge advantage.”

Shiro shook his head. “We can’t count on it working again. Zarkon’s programmers almost certainly came up with a defense for it. Plus, we don’t have any way to get the codes to this Davrith.”

“You and I could take Green and sneak aboard. Or one of the Blades could come with me.”

Shiro paused at that. “You have a point. Maybe. What I’d really like to do is find a way to boost the Blue Lion’s sonic attack so it could take out the bigger target and leave it down for longer.”

“Have you asked Lance about it?”

“Not yet. He’s still dealing with his misplaced guilt over assuming Keith was dead because he saw the explosion and jumped to conclusions.”

“Conclusions that the Galra wanted us to jump to.”

Shiro dragged his hands down his face. “I know. But Lance isn’t listening yet.”

The doors slid open and Kolivan entered. He wasn’t smiling but had an air of satisfaction about him.

Pidge tilted her head. “You look like the cat that ate the canary.”

Kolivan’s eyebrows knit together as he tried to parse her statement. “Is that good?”

“She means that you look like you have good news. Do you?”

Now Kolivan’s mouth quirked up at the corners. “Yes. We have a contact who deals with highly specialized chemicals. He has reported an order placed by a Galra commander on the main ship for a very specific gaseous compound that is used to provide sustenance for someone encased in an isolation unit.”

“Sustenance…for a prisoner?” Pidge caught on immediately.

“An isolation unit? That could explain why Red didn’t go after him! She can’t find him!” Shiro pounded one fist on his console.

“And…we have a way to get the virus on board, if Slav can alter it enough to guarantee that it will work again.” Kolivan’s face showed a proper smile at this.

<> <> <> <> <>

Slav came through in a big way. Shiro told himself he would never, ever lose patience with the troubled Bitor again.

The initial thought of getting the virus code to Davrith through the delivery of the gas tanks was immediately shot down by Allura.

“We have no way of communicating with her that it will be there and no way of knowing what kind of scanners they might be using to screen the delivery. We have to think of something else.”

“Elves!” Slav shouted.

“Uh, no. She said ‘else’.” Lance tried to reason with the suddenly excited scientist. Slav ignored him and began leaping around the room.

“Computer elves! Tiny, tiny computer elves that will crawl everywhere and shut down everything when we say so! There’s over an eighty percent chance that it will take down the entire ship if we give them twelve vargas!”

Antok stepped over to Slav and laid one hand on his head. To Shiro’s astonishment, Slav immediately calmed down.

I have to remember that trick…

“Please explain, Slav. And talk as if you were telling Borot.” Antok’s tone made it clear that Borot, whoever he was, was not very bright.

But all Slav had to do was say, “Nanites!” and Pidge was on her feet as well.

“Yes! That’s perfect!”

“Nanites?” Allura looked lost.

Pidge bobbed her head eagerly. “They’re super-tiny machines, like microscopic computers! We can plant them on the delivery and activate them once they’re inside! They’ll multiply and spread throughout the entire ship and on our command will dismantle anything we tell them to! We’ll be able to walk in the front door totally undetected!”

Slav waved multiple arms. “And if we vary the attacks the nanites can cause and set them to deploy in waves, we might even have vargas of time to work with!”

Hope rose in Shiro’s chest. “Pidge, you and Hunk work with Slav to get these nanites ready. Allura, would you contact the Olkari and see if they might be able to help them? Lance, work with Blue to see if you can get any more strength into your sonic canon as backup. Kolivan and I will set things up with his contact. Coran, we need the Castle’s teludav in perfect working order for a fast getaway.”

He looked around. “Is everyone clear?” He got a round of nods. “Then let’s get our Red Paladin back!”

<> <> <> <> <>

They approached the Galra command ship from the other side of a red giant star, stationing the Castle out of view in the atmosphere of one of the system’s gaseous planets. Coran and Allura had prepared the teludav to allow up to three wormhole jumps without her presence. Shiro waited with Pidge in the Green Lion’s cockpit. Hunk, Lance, and Antok would take one of the cloaked pods. Allura and Kolivan were in the other.

When the command ship went dark, Pidge gripped Shiro’s hand briefly before guiding the cloaked Green Lion in toward a large landing bay. He gripped back, then let go so she would have both hands to land.

“I’m coming in hot!”

Shiro shook his head. They had to stay focused.

“Team Alpha is in position.”

Hunk’s voice responded, “Team Beta is ready.”

Allura finished the roll. “Team Gamma is in position.”

“All right. Move in and head for the Komar lab.”

<> <> <> <> <>

They met no resistance at first. The metal bodies of deactivated sentries littered the hallways, but there was no sign of any Galra soldiers. Pidge connected her vambrace interface to a console long enough to send a command to the nanites: open all doors and lock them in place.

Moving freely through the corridors, they worked their way in. Things had been going smoothly long enough for Pidge to get careless and she moved into the next hallway without checking it closely.

A purple energy bolt just missed her and Shiro yanked her back. Laser fire came from the other end of the hall and they heard Lance yell, “All clear!”

<> <> <> <> <>

When the lights suddenly went out, Davrith reacted instantly. She slapped one hand on the control panel for the iso-pod, sending magic into the unit to maintain its power. A few other quick-thinking druids raised their hands, casting faint light around the lab.

Haggar looked at them, then tried to raise the commanders. When she got no response, she gasped. “The emperor! He’ll be defenseless!” Her gaze swept around the lab, nodding approvingly at Davrith. “Yes. You and Kalech stay here and guard the paladin. Everyone else, come with me!” Puffs of inky smoke erupted as the rest of the Komar vanished.

Davrith shifted so she could change hands, ostensibly leaving her dominant hand free in case of an attack. Kalech headed for a communications panel and tried to power it up. She counted thirty ticks, waiting for him to get heavily involved in his task, then summoned her power.

Lightning shot across the lab and engulfed Kalech, turning him into a pile of dust on the floor.

<> <> <> <> <>

At the next turn they found Allura, shifted into a Galra appearance, with Kolivan and Antok. They had managed to obtain guard uniforms. The leader of the Blades indicated the upcoming left turn. “That’s the entrance to the lab.”

Shiro nodded at Allura to try first as they had planned. She strode into the open doors and called out, “You there! We need support at the bridge!”

The response was an instant magical attack. The paladins cried out at seeing Allura hit. But before any of them could get a shield up and intercept, a vivid aura formed around her.

Everyone paused. A lone druid halted the attack and tilted their head, watching as Allura looked in shock at her glowing hands and arms. Shiro ran toward the druid, intent on taking them down before they could pull their vanishing act.

Pidge raced with him, her speed making up for his longer legs. Then she skidded to a halt as she spotted just who was inside the chamber that the druid seemed to be guarding. She screamed, “Keith! Keith!”

Shiro swung and overbalanced in surprise as the druid did not vanish but ducked instead, keeping one hand planted in place on the apparatus. Shiro grabbed their free hand with his human hand and twisted the arm up, forcing them to bow. “Back away from him!”

“I can’t if you want him to live. I am the only thing keeping this pod powered right now, and we can’t set him free until I’ve had a chance to disengage it properly.”

Shiro eased up the pressure at those words. “Davrith?”

“Yes.”

Shiro let go immediately as the others gathered around, Lance and Hunk facing the doors. The druid used her free hand to remove the mask covering her face and pull her hood back, revealing a Galra with sharp features and a long mane of hair. “Hello, Kolivan.”

“Hello. You’ve done well here. How can we get Keith to safety?”

She pointed back to the hallways. “We need an antigrav runner, the biggest one possible. There should be some two hallways to the left in a cargo bay.”

“Antok, you and Hunk get it.”

“I can camouflage us as we move, but we need another way to keep this iso-pod powered.”

A memory flickered across Shiro’s awareness.

All you need is power?

Yeah, but one that's compatible with Galra tech.

“I can do it.”

She glanced down at his cybernetic hand and nodded. “Yes, your hand will work. Here!” She reached over, guiding him to lay the metal palm and fingers on the panel next to her hand. He activated the hand and she nodded.

“Between you, me, and the princess, we can keep it going until we get it to your ship.” She stepped away and pulled off the hooded robe, tossing it to the floor with the mask.

Kolivan watched. “I take it you’re coming with us now that your cover is blown?”

“It might not actually be blown, if I can pull this off. Princess, I need your help.”

Allura moves to stand beside her.

“I am going to funnel a bit of my quintessence into these, enough for Haggar to get a reading and be able to identify me. I need you to take that energy within you, what you just used to defend yourself, and turn it outward. Make it an attack—I want this uniform burned to a crisp.”

Allura nodded. “This will suggest that you died trying to prevent us from rescuing Keith.”

“Exactly.”

She waited as Davrith sent waves of power into the robe and mask. When the agent lowered her hand, Allura reached in, looking for that same path to her inner self that she had used in the Balmera’s rebirth. She focused a small part of that energy into her hands, then shoved…

The clothing turned into ash before her.

Davrith nodded. “Consider this my notice, Haggar.”

<> <> <> <> <>

Shiro crouched next to the pod, riding the transport as the Blades and Hunk directed it toward the closest of the ships, Allura’s pod. Pidge rode on the other side, trying to establish the iso-pod’s parameters on her interface. Allura and Lance were on the front, ready to attack if they were detected. Davrith rode on the back, keeping up the illusion of empty hallways as they moved.

They reached the pod without incident. Allura took the pilot’s seat with Kolivan next to her. They shifted the iso-pod into the hold, Shiro maintaining contact. He looked around and made a decision. “Allura, swing around to the landing bay where the Green Lion is. It’ll be safer to circle the ship instead of going through it again. We don’t know how much longer the nanites will keep their systems down. Pidge, you take everyone else around to the other pod for Lance and Hunk to pilot back.”

Within a few minutes everyone was en route back to the castle. Shiro laid his free hand on the glass separating him from Keith. “We’ve got you. We’re going to get you out of there.”

Abruptly the pod rolled and Shiro was tossed to the side. As his cybernetic hand lost contact with the iso-pod, the lights flickered out, enveloping Keith in darkness.

“NO!” Shiro’s body seemed to be all knees and elbows as he scrambled back, smacking his metal hand back onto the control panel and ramming power through the connection. The lights flared and inside the pod he could see Keith, the cords in his neck standing out as he strained against something.

No, no, please no!

The pod veered again and Shiro braced himself into place.

“Allura, what’s happening?”

“A Galra warship just came out of hyperdrive! I don’t know how, but they can see through the cloaks! Pidge is on it—” Allura broke off to yell in joy, “Coran! Coran’s bringing the Castle in!”

“Allura, your priority is to get inside that Castle now! Where’s Davrith?”

“She’s with us!” Lance replied.

“Head straight for the Castle—we need her to dismantle the iso-pod. Then get your Lions and help Pidge. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Whoa! Nice shot, Pidge! I think she’s got it covered, Shiro. She already vined up their engines and she just took out the ion cannon by firing vines into the hull under the particle barrier! They tore it apart!”

“Yeah, I need just one more shot at the bridge—whatever their sensing capability is that ruined our invisibility is likely to be there. We don’t want them to keep that.”

“Bay doors are open for everyone! Hurry!” Coran shouted. “Wormhole is ready as soon as we’re all on board!”

“Make sure you close the doors before we jump this time!” Hunk shot back.

<> <> <> <> <>

They set the iso-pod up in the cryo room, in the center. Shiro peered in at Keith, who no longer looked like he was in pain, but had a frown on his face that had not been there before.

Soon, we’re getting you out of there soon, I promise.

Davrith entered with the others and strode over to Shiro’s side. She zeroed in on a line of code flashing and threw a sharp look at Shiro.

“When did you interrupt the connection?”

“Allura had to evade out there. The first time I wasn’t expecting it and got tossed away from the pod. How bad is it?”

“Rather bad. I have no idea what interrupting the illusion might have done to his state of mind. I can still draw out the illusion itself, but his mind may have set up his own parameters and I have no way of reaching him without knowing them.”

“Reaching his mind? Like connecting in each other’s thoughts?” Pidge asked.

Davrith nodded.

“We can do that, can’t we? We can use the mind-meld bands!”

Shiro brightened in hope. “Yes! I’ll do it! Coran, can you get those for us?”

Davrith waved at Allura. “We’ll need you, princess. We have to maintain power until he’s completely clear of the chamber. If Shiro is going to connect mentally and I am detaching him from the illusion, you need to keep power going. Place your hand here and channel your energy like you did before, but slowly and gently.”

Allura let the Galra woman place her hand on the control. She summoned the power within her and let it flow in a minute trickle into the machine.

Davrith laid her hand on top of Allura’s. “A little stronger. A little more. There, try to keep it steady.”

On her other side, Pidge and Hunk were talking a mile a minute about interfaces, Shiro trying his best to follow along. Pidge asked Coran to bring the head of one of the training robots as well as two mind-meld devices and Hunk sent Lance out to fetch his toolbox.

The Blades were standing to one side, unsure of how to help. Davrith called them over. “Kolivan, look inside. Can you see any physical connections between the paladin and the pod?”

Kolivan leaned over and peered inside. “It’s a bit hard to see through his hair, but yes. I see three, maybe four cables running from the panel behind him into his neck and shoulders.”

“I was afraid of that. This is going to take a while. Champi—Black Paladin?” He looked up at her. “If you’re the one who will be entering a mind joining, I strongly suggest you take a few minutes to change from your armor. The more comfortable your body is, the easier it will be for you.” He looked through the glass at Keith, clearly reluctant to leave him even for a moment.

Davrith looked sympathetic, but insisted. “Shiro, was it? I mean it. Go, get changed and return.”

Allura added, “That goes for the rest of you. Pidge, Hunk, you can set up your machine after Coran gets back.”

<> <> <> <> <>

Shiro would be lying if he said being out of his armor and back in his own clothes didn’t make a difference. But he still seethed at the delay.

He entered to find Lance directing Antok in setting up one of the cushioned chairs from the observatory next to the iso-pod. Pidge and Hunk scurried in behind him, making a beeline for Coran as he arranged things.

Kolivan’s voice carried over the activity. “That’s three! Can you tell how many more?”

“Two more…” Davrith’s voice sounded strained. “Shiro, get in place. You will enter the mind meld first, alone. Once you are fully immersed in your mind, you will be able to join with the first presence you detect. That will be Keith, as soon as these two finish getting the two machines to talk to one another.

“It may take quite an effort on your part. Keith may not believe that you’re actually present. You’re going to have to coax him back.”

“I understand. Do it.”

Coran placed the device on his head.

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

Part 6

[demenior]

Have you considered: fairy tale au? Shiro being cursed? Rahjim or Ulaz (or both) saving him? To quote disney: "magic spells, far off places, a prince in disguise!". I am particullary fond of imagining Shiro turned into something like an animal and when he changes back, keeps some of the features. Like having a wing for an arm or he has animal ear and a tail, something like that.

Rahjim tilts his head to the side as he thinks, “Of course I’ll do anything I can, but I don’t understand how I’m the key to breaking this... what did you call it?”

“A curse,” Shiro says. It’s hard to talk with his new muzzle.

“The druids attempted to give him a form that would be easier for them to control,” Ulaz elaborates.

“They said they’d show the true me,” Shiro mutters, “so they made me a monster.”

“And they were wrong,” Rahjim says sharply, “you’re as handsome as ever.”

As if to prove a point he moves forwards to stand in front of Shiro. It’s weird to be eye-level with him, Shiro thinks. Rahjim reaches up without fear to stroke the short fur on Shiro’s muzzle, avoiding cutting himself on Shiro’s sharp fangs that jut out past his lips like tusks. 

“I think the fur is very sensible,” Ulaz points out. 

Shiro presses his ears back and flicks his tail nervously. He can’t help but lean into Rahjim’s touch. Even if Rahjim’s hand feels smaller than it normally does. Everything feels weird right now. 

“And these!” Rahjim comments, slowly moving around Shiro to look at his wings, “these are glorious!”

“With the right atmospheric conditions, he should be able to fly,” Ulaz says.

“A dream come true,” Rahjim says with a grin.

“Knock it off,” Shiro grumbles. 

Allura clears her throat, reminding them that they aren’t the only three people in the room.

“I believe we came here for a reason, Shiro,” Allura says. 

“Yes,” Ulaz nods, and turns to Rahjim, “the humans have legends about curses, and ways to break them-”

“They’re not legends,” Lance scoffs, “they’re practically bedtime stories.”

“And lots of movies,” Hunk points out. 

“It’s Hollywood brainwashing,” Pidge muttered.

“What is it?” Rahjim asks. 

“A last resort,” Shiro grumbles. 

“We kind of know it works,” Keith points out.

“What is it?” Rahjim asks again.

“A kiss,” Ulaz explains, “we think if you kiss him, it will break the curse.”

“Not just any kiss-- true love’s kiss!” Lance adds in. Shiro bares his teeth at him, though Lance only laughs.

“True...” Rahjim trails off, “is this a joke?”

“No,” Allura says, “we were out of options, until Ulaz discovered a potential cure.”

“I kissed Shiro and the magic was dispelled momentarily,” Ulaz says.

“And just his top half,” Pidge snorts, “Shiro was like a weird cat-dog-bird-thing centaur for a day.”

“And then it wore off,” Keith says.

Hunk chimes in, “So we knew we were onto something, and then Allura told us how apparently love has some sort of quintessence all of its own? I don’t know the rules of magic, they’re very confusing, but True Love is kinda universal, you know?”

“But you got your True Love’s kiss. From Ulaz,” Rahjim says to Shiro. Shiro ducks his head and stares at his claws. 

“Well I...” Shiro’s tail lashes uncomfortably, “I guess... I have a lot of love to give.”

“You...” Rahjim trails off, tilting his head to the other side, and then his eyes widen with surprise, “oh. Oh.”

Shiro’s wings ruffle, feathers fluffing, as he shuffles on his paws, “Yes,” he says meekly.

Rahjim doesn’t reply, and turns to everyone else, “May we be alone for a moment?”

“Of course,” Allura says.

“I wanna see the kiss,” Hunk whines.

“Don’t hurt him,” Keith warns.

Once the doors have closed, silence falls on the three of them. Rahjim, Ulaz, and the beastly Shiro avoid making eye contact. Since Shiro and Ulaz starting dating seriously, the three of them have slept together several times. They have a good thing going.

And now Shiro’s gone and ruined it because he couldn’t stop himself from getting feelings for two different aliens.

he decides to break the silence, “I’m sorry-- I didn’t want to do this. I’m making this so awkward. Allura says the magic might just wear off, so you don’t--”

“Shiro,” Rahjim cuts him off, “are you saying you’re in love with me?”

“In the alien way,” Shiro nods, “I’m sorry.”

“The humans believe that True Love’s kiss can break the spell,” Ulaz explains.

Rahjim furrows his brow, “What is this ‘True Love’? Is that-- is that the human love we talked about? The alien way?”

Shiro nods.

“So the humans think that’s why I was able to briefly repel the curse on Shiro,” Ulaz says, “because he has True Love for me, but I wasn’t able to break it entirely because I am not his only True Love.”

“Ah,” Rahjim nods, “and they think that together you and I can break the curse.”

“You don’t have to,” Shiro says again, “I know you don’t commit and I don’t want to force you to do anything and I’m sorry we even came here at all to ask for--”

“Shiro,” Rahjim cuts him off, “it’s okay.”

Shiro whines, and his ears flicker nervously.

Rahjim touches Shiro’s furry cheek, and holds out another hand to Ulaz.

“I have enjoyed our time together,” Rahjim says, “and you know that I love you both.”

“Not the same,” Shiro mumbles.

“Shh,” Ulaz scolds him.

Rahjim smiles briefly at Ulaz, “Loving just one person is strange to me, but... Shiro. Loving two people is perfectly normal. You need my help, and I am glad to give it.”

“It’s only a kiss,” Ulaz adds.

Rahjim laughs, “Neither of you ever need an excuse for me to kiss you.”

Shiro makes a loud, happy rumbling sound that vibrates low in his chest. Rahjim and Ulaz flank him, and as if they rehearsed it, they both lean in and kiss a side of Shiro’s muzzle.

And then their lips aren’t on sleek fur, they’re pressed against soft human skin. Shiro has to look up at both of them again.

“Oh,” he says, startled, and looks down at his hands. They’re blunt and have five fingers again. Also, he’s totally naked.

"I’m me again,” Shiro realizes. He looks up at Ulaz and Rahjim standing over him, “thank you. Thank you so much. And this, um, I never meant for either of you to find out... about the love thing, like this, anyways...”

“It may only be a temporary solution yet,” Ulaz comments. He reaches behind Shiro and as Shiro turns, he starts to register that he’s back in his body.

Well, almost. He still has wings, apparently. 

Ulaz’s claws trace through his feathers and Shiro shudders. 

“Is there someone you’re not telling us about?” Ulaz teases.

Shiro takes a nervous breath and bites his lip before he replies, “There’s no one else in the universe I love as much as you two.”

Rahjim notices this, and leans down to kiss Shiro, “Perhaps we should kiss you more. It might have a stronger effect.” Three of his hands are on Shiro, while the fourth is still holding Ulaz’s hand.

“And we should search for other anomalies,” Ulaz points out, “very thoroughly.”

Rahjim nods like this is a logical thing to do, “I’m afraid we’ll need to examine you for the entire afternoon, Shiro. We’ll have to check every inch of you.”

Shiro’s wings ruffle up in excitement, and he has to fight off a smile, “If you think that’s best...”

Ulaz and Rahjim can’t keep their hands off of him. They’re still going to have to figure out a way to break the curse-- but for now they have a solution. And maybe all it’ll take is to convince Rahjim to travel with them for a while. 

Shiro’s pretty sure he can convince him to move in with him and Ulaz pretty easily. It’ll be getting out of the bedroom that will be the hard part.