Allura walked down the hall, dressed in a cream shirt with flowing sleeves, shorts and sandals, waiting for Lance, baby Athea in her arms.

"Hmmm..." Athea hummed, dropping her small blue lion toy.

Allura copied her smiling.

"Hmmm!" Allura replied tickling Athea's stomach.

Athea giggled.

Allura bent over, picking up the toy, handing back, and looking in the direction Lance had exited their room from.

He was dressed in a light blue button up shirt, the sleeves pushed to his elbows, with capris and high tops.

He walked over with a wide smile on his face, taking Athea an tossing her high in the air, and catching her.

"There's my Blue! Happy Birthday cutie!"

Athea laughed loudly, "Daddy!"

Lance carried Athea down the hall, Allura sticking close to his side as they walked to the dining hall.

They entered the room, Shiro and Hunk, Pidge, Keith and Acxa, with their son, all in the room decorated for Athea's third birthday.

They set Athea in a chair, and set a cupcake infront of her, with a swirling white and pink candle on top.

Everyone began to sing, Allura and Lance crouching down by their daughters chair, Hunk taking pictures.

They helped Athea blow out her candle, everyone cheering, watching Athea begin to lick the frosting of the cupcake.

They all began conversing, dividing slices of an already made cake, and sat down at the long table.

"So, we would like to introduce you to Kuro. We're so sorry you haven't been able to meet him. Things have been a bit... chaotic on Daibaazal."

Axca held the small four year old, his features more Galra than human, a collection of both his parents. But, surprisingly, he held more Keith in his face than Acxa.

"No! No reason to worry!" Allura said waving a reassuring hand.

They both smiled releaved.

Lance looked at Kuro, noticing the scar like imprint on his left cheek.

"Hey Keith? His that a scar on his cheek?"

Keith shook his head.

"Galra birthmark. They are extremely common among the Galra actually."

"Hmm." Lance hummed, stabbing his fork into his cake slice, and scooping it into his mouth, smiling at the delicious taste.

Allura looked over to Athea, her smiling, frosting covered face, and cake crumb covered hands showing she was enjoying it.

"Let's go clean you up and then give you a bath." Allura said, lifting Athea out of her chair, and began to carry her down the hall.

Lance turned to Pidge, Hunk and Shiro.

"So, how have things been going at the Garrison?"

Shiro smiled.

"We have had double the amount of new cadets than before. It's amazing, But... extremely tiring at the same." Shiro said laughing.

Keith laughed. "I wonder if their are any as annoying and stubborn as I was."

Everyone laughed, and continued chatting.

Allura came back with Athea, all clean and in a new outfit.

She set her back in her chair, and sat next to Lance, joining in on the conversation.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake, throwing everything off balance, and things fell to the floor.

"What is that!?" Pidge shouted.

"I'm not sure. Maybe we should go check it out." Hunk said standing, everyone followed, and Allura retrieved Athea.

The all ran outside, seeing a large, dark figure slowly began covering the sun, masking everything with its massive shadow.

The ground began rumbling harder, and Alteans began running into the castle for cover.

Athea stared at the sky, and Kuro hid behind his mother's leg, staring up at the sky as well, fear in his eyes.

"Hurry! Get inside!" Lance shouted, trying to help guide the Alteans along.

Allura stopped one of the Alteans.

"Please take Athea inside and take care of her!"

The Altean nodded, and quickly scooped up Athea, clutching her while running to the castle quickly.

"Come now, princess..." The Altean murmured.

"Mama! Daddy!" Athea shouted as she was quickly carried away.

Axca knelt down, resting her forehead on Kuro's, murmuring something to him softly.

She kissed his forehead, shifting his hair, running through it with her fingers.

Axca stood quickly stopping one of the Alteans.

"Find a place for my son to hide."

The Altean nodded and gathered Kuro in his arms, and began making his way back to the running group of Alteans, and inside to safety.

"Now we need to stop that ship!" Keith shouted, dust beggining to coat the ground.

Keith pulled out his blade, and began tying a thick rope to the end.

He swung the rope, and launched is blade in the air, and watched as it dug into the ship.

"Ok! Hunk! Go retrieve the bayards. I think we're going to need them."

Hunk nodded firmly, running to, and entering the castle of lions and disappearing out of sight.

Keith began climbing the rope, his jacket whipping in the wind. He climbed higher and higher, until out of sight.

Everyone watched, anticipation themed their thoughts.

Hunk returned, carrying all the bayards in his hands.

Lance, Pidge, Hunk and Allura all retrieved their Bayards, watching them change and stood ready, waiting for anything to happen.

Keith slid down, landing on his feet, and retrieving his Bayard from Hunk.

"They are Galra. Rouge. They still believe in the whole 'victory or death' motto."

Lance sighed.

"So? What now." Hunk asked.

"We need to be ready to fight. I saw whole fleets of fighters readying take-off."

Allura nodded sadly.

Lance looked at her worriedly.

"If only the universe had continued to be peaceful..." Allura muttered.

Lance set a reassuring hand on her shoulder, and squeezed her softly.

"Alright! Get ready!" Shiro shouted.

Everyone looked up, seeing the fighters waiting to be launched sit on the edge of the runway, and Galra coming down the ship on ropes.

"Hunk! Shiro! We need you in pods to help get rid of those fighters when they go!" Allura shouted.

Hunk and Shiro nodded, and began back for the large entry door to the castle of lions.

Allura changed her Bayard.

"We must try to reason with them first. If all else fails, fight."

Pidge, Lance, Keith and Acxa nodded, Acxa retrieving her laser gun from her holster.

Five figures slid down, and touched the ground, and began walking towards them.

The moment their feet touched the ground, the grass and plants began to wither.

Allura felt her heart rate intensify.

The rouge group of Galra stopped, around six feet away.

"Well, if it isn't the King and Queen of New Altea. Nice to meet you, really." He said smirking.

Pidge leaned over to Allura.

"I think he may be the leader, based on him speaking so openly and being cocky."

Allura nodded in agreement.

"Please state your business. I do not have time for any amusing tricks." Allura said, eyeing them warily.

The leader laughed, making Lance feel tense and growl.

"Is that what you think? Here for tricks? No, no, goodness no!" He began laughing again.

Allura and Lance exchanged a puzzled expression.

"No, we are not here to entertain you. But we are here to fight you."

Allura felt her eyes narrow.

"Why have you turned your backs on the Galra?" Keith shouted.

"They are trying to be a more peaceful people!" Acxa shouted in return.

The leader laughed again, causing them all to become more skeptical and confused.

"You two sit all high and mighty here on Altea, as if the universe is fine, and were all singing and dancing merrily. Well guess what! Some planets can't go more than a week without one-fourth of the population going sick or dying because of lack of food and medicine!" He shouted, is eyes dancing with anger.

Allura staggered backward.

"Dibazaal has turned into a wrecked society! We used to be the strongest in the galaxy, thanks to Lord Zarkon! Now we have all been brainwashed."

Lance stepped forward, readying his Bayard.

"Alright! That's enough!" Allura shouted.

She turned towards the five Galra.

"The Blade of Marmora is getting all of those who seek help. And Dibazaal has changed for the better. Dispite your intentions."

The leader laughed, but darker.

"We believe in Lord Zarkon's ways. And still believe the Galra rule the universe. And we will fight for it to be that way again."

More Galra slid down, joining the others.

"Well, I hope you have fun. Sadly I must supervise from my ship."

The leader grabbed onto one of the ropes, and they all watched as it carried him back into the ship with ease.

"So what are They? Pirates?" Lance asked.

Keith nodded and gave an annoyed sigh.

"They call themselves 'The Obedience'. The have been causing huge uproars of protests on Dibazaal. The worst they could possibly do is be annoying." Keith muttered.

"Don't jinx us." Pidge said eyeing the soldiers who slowly made their way towards them.

"Am I the only one that thinks that their captain is a physico?" Lance asked.

"We can discuss that later. Now, we need a battle plan." Acxa shouted, firing a few warning shots at the Galra drones.

Allura set a hand on her chin, trying to come up with as many strategies as she could quickly.

She sighed frustratedly.

"All I can think of Is fighting head on."

Keith shrugged.

"Better than nothing."

He charged for the drones, using the black Bayard to slice three in half at once.

Lance bent down on one knee, aiming for the drones, taking out four.

Allura and Pidge tied three them up each, and smashed then together.

Dispite how many they destroyed, somehow twice as many came back.

Allura looked up, seeing Shiro and Hunk in the white pods, dodging the fighters, and taking out a few with the laser.

Axca retreated towards Allura, firing a few shots.

"I need to get up to the ship, of I can jam the door, we will have less to deal with."

Allura nodded, and set a hand on her shoulder.

"Just make sure to come back. Kuro is going to need you."

Axca smiled. "I will."

She ran forward, keeping her gun at her side, and began to climb up one of the ropes, and retrieving Keith's blade from the side of the ship, and quickly ducking inside.

Allura watched until she disappeared, then turned and smash one of the drones in the face with her Bayard.

Lance quickly ran over to Allura shooting a few behind her.

"Watch your left!" Allura shouted, kicking a drone over, then slicing through it.

Lance shot three of the approaching drones on her right side, and stood, shooting another coming behind her.

Allura quickly slid on the ground, using her foot she knocked Lance over onto his knees, and slicing four drones that were no more than a few inches away from him. Lance still on his knees, looked up, and shot two drones coming down on ropes.

Lance quickly stood facing Allura with a smile.

"I love you."

Allura smiled, quickly kissing his cheek, then ran off to help Pidge.

Lance shot a few drones starting towards him before running over to Keith.

"Keith!" Lance shouted, shooting a drone behind him, then running up to his side.

"How many more are there?! This is getting exhausting!"

Keith growled annoyed,

"I don't know! No matter how many I take out, it seems to be leading me no- where!"

Allura and Pidge regrouped with Keith and Lance, and forming a tight circle.

"Watch your backs!" Keith shouted slicing through two Glare drones.

"Working on it!" Pidge shouted, firing her Bayard and watching it impale three drones, then began swinging them around and flung them off.

Hunk and Shiro contacted them in the air,

"Guys! We are getting our butts handed to us up here!" Hunk shouted.

"We can't shake 'em!" Shiro chimed in.

Allura growled in frustration.

"Keith! Have you heard from Acxa?" Allura shouted.

"No! Not yet. But she has been in there for a while!" Keith responded.

Lance looked out to the castle of lions, where one of the Alteans was running towards them, with something in her hands.

Then another Altean came, carrying something a bit larger.

"Athea?" Lance whispered.

The Alteans came close, seeing it being the ones Allura and Acxa gave Athea and Kuro to, to watch after.

"Queen Allura! The princess! Her Altean markings are glowing!"

Allura took Athea, helping her stand on the ground, and saw that her blue Altean markings were indeed glowing.

"And the son of Miss Acxa, his Galra birthmark appearing to be glowing as well!" The Altean added, worry coating his voice.

Keith jogged over, leaving Pidge and Lance to watch their backs.

Keith gently rubbed Kuro's cheek, seeing it some kind of glowing paint. But of course it wasn't.

"Allura? You got an explanation for this?" Keith shouted worriedly.

Allura shook her head.

"I'm just as confused as you are."

Athea closed her eyes, and so did Kuro.

Acxa quickly began retreating down the rope from the ship, soilders following.

As seeing she couldnt get closer to the ground without helping the soilders get close, she used Keith's blade to slice off the rope, making her fall the rest of the way.

She tumbled to the ground, landing on her knees, then began running towards everyone.

She stopped by Lance helping hold back the growing army with her gun.

"Keith! What's Kuro doing here?!" Acxa shouted worriedly.

Kuro and Athea opened their eyes, everyone seeing as they glowed gold.

Suddenly two giant objects came dashing through the sky, smashing all the fighters with incredible speed.

Using a laser they took out all of the drones on the ground, and then turned and began firing at the main ship, exploding some of the main control boards.

Realizing the situation, the main ship quickly made its way back into the atmosphere, retreating.

The objects had two, gold glowing eyes, and stared down at the Paladins below.

After a moment of everyone processing the sudden and extremely quick turn of events, the two objects flew away.

"Was that was I think it was..." Lance muttered.

"No...way." Pidge whispered.

Hunk and Shiro landed their pods, and rushed out to everyone.

"Did you guys just see that!? That was insane!" Hunk shouted waving is arms around in the air.

Kuro and Athea both blinked out of their trance like state, their eyes returning to their normal color.

"Huh?"

Axca and Keith both slid on their knees and hugged Kuro tightly, Lance and Allura doing the same to Athea.

"Kuro! Thank the Ancients your all right!" Acxa shouted worriedly.

They both relaxed, pulling away they saw Kuro's confused expression.

"What's wrong Mama?" Kuro asked.

Axca sighed releaved.

"I just was worried you were going to get hurt."

Kuro raised an eyebrow confused.

"But Mama, The Lion told me I would be safe. And that he would make everything better."

Keith and Acxa exchanged glances, confused, before smiling and simply hugging their son again.

Lance bent down to Athea holding one of her small hands.

"Blue! Blue, Blue, Blue!" Athea shouted repeatedly.

Allura walked over to the withered spot in the ground. Digging her fingers into it, she shot quintessence through, reviving the ground.

Everyone sighed, releaved the chaos was over, and headed back to the castle of lions.

That night, everyone had decided to stay, all of them fast asleep.

Kuro slipped out of his parents guest room, and down the hall to Athea's room.

He waited until the metal doors parted, and stepped inside her room quietly.

Athea was on the floor, quietly playing with her blue lion plush, but averted her attention when Kuro entered the room.

Kuro slowly walked in, and sat on the ground, before giving a shy smile.

"Hi... my names Kuro."

"My name is Athea!" Athea said brightly.

Kuro smiled, picking up the other colorful lion plushes she had, he examined the Black one, taking a liking to it.

"Do you want to play with me?" Athea asked smiling.

Kuro nodded.

They both began playing and 'exploding' toy ships, and pretending the plushes were flying through the air.

Kuro stopped, focusing on the Black plush in his hand.

"Do you remeber what happen earlier?" Kuro asked.

Athea nodded.

"Blue said he was going to help."

Kuro smiled, and they continued their game.

I am so sorry I haven't posted in a while, I have been hitting some writing blocks, so I have made an extra long chapter for your enjoyment, as well as another Athea and Kuro edit as the chapter cover.

HUGE SHOUTOUT TO HALEX27 for commenting and suggesting this chapter, it wouldn't be possible without you!!! Thank you all for being so patient! Remeber to stay tuned!

Have an amazing day!!!

🤗