Chapter Text
Broken cables sparked, as Lance sits unconscious in the pilot chair of the blue lion. His helmet visor was broken in shards, cutting his eyelids and nose. The blue duo had chrash landed on wild planet, the damaged lion laid curled in the turned over earth, the skid mark reached over the canyon. The wildlife was of creatures that were born of the curious, lurking herbivores wandered over to the strange blue cat that crashed into their planet. One fuzzy little creature, equivalent to one of earth's wild rabbits, hopped onto the giant metal paw of the mechanical cat, sniffing at the dented metal that reekes of chemicals. Slowly, the space rabbit hopped into a broken compartment of the downed lion, crawling into the cockpit to investigate.
The fuzzy brown and white space rabbit, hopped over to the pilots chair, sniffing the limp arm that hanged over the armrest. The little, button nose, made the slightest touch to the gloved hand, seeming to wait for Lance to wake up and give it attention.
Lance stirred, twitching his fingers at the soft touch of the space rabbit. His neck was in a rather uncomfortable position, lolled to the side with his head resting on his left shoulder almost completely. The rabbit touched his hanging arm again, putting more feeling into waking him up. Lance stirred again, fluttering his eyelids open as he slowly gained consciousness. His gaze traveled to his hand, where he saw the space rabbit look up at him with big blue eyes. It blinked its eyelids vertically. Lance jumped out and away from the freaky rabbit, straining his bruised and battered body in he process.
Lance groaned, rolling his shoulders as he looked out from the cockpit to see nothing but turned over dirt. He looked around the inside of the lion, seeing that there was minimal damage, only displaced metal sheetings and wires. Blue wasn't responding to him, he reckoned that she would need a few days to reboot and charge up. Lance, being surprisingly less injured then he should, stumbled out from his lion, hand covering the glaring sun that shone in his eyes. Around him he could see the dense forests and mountains stretch over the horizon. Wild animals scattered as he limped over to a lake that was a short walk from Blue.
Lance dropped to his knees, cupping his hands into the clear water, and splash it to his face. He shivered from the cold shock, waking himself up more as he scanned the area around him. They crash landed in an open field of grass, boarded with a dense forest. Lance sighed, looking back over his shoulder to see Blue offline in her self made crater, the skidding of dirt lasted on for several miles over the hill they nearly collided into. Lance groaned as he got to his feet, hugging his abdomen with pain. He could feel a wet patch soak his suit. Pulling back his hand, blood seeped through the black skin suit. He gritted his teeth, limp back to Blue to salvage any first aid equipment.
A compartment shelved in the hull of the Lion, opened out to show a supply pack of rations, water, and a first aid kit. Lance pulled out the supplies and laid them out on the fall of the lion, opening the first aid kit with a weak grasp. He unclipped his armour, throwing them to the other side of the lion. He slowly stripped from the black skin suit, being careful not to move to quickly. His chest was riddled with scars from past missions, some small and some large. One large scar ripped from his top left shoulder, ending down at his bellybutton. The scar was made by a sharp piece of shrapnel, propelled from a large explosion that blew in the west wing of a Galra ship. He spent earth three days in the healing pod.
Lance leaned against the metal walls, hissing at the cold touch at his back. He poured the small disinfectant bottle on a cotton sheet, slowly pressing it to his open wound. He screamed with mouth close, making a painful sound as he cleaned his wound. When he finished with the cleaning, he gently held a thread a needle to the gaping wound. Boy was he glad he had some practice with using a needle, thanks to watching his mama repair clothes with her sewing kit.
"Shit." Lance breathed out, cutting the remaining thread with a small knife that was hidden in the supply shelf. He dressed his wounds with a gel patch, wrapped in place with a clean white bandage. Lance gulped down a mouthful of water, sweat dripping down his forehead as he finished his somewhat DIY stitches. Lolling his head against the wall, he saw the brown and white rabbit crawl towards him, nose twitching with curiosity.
"Hey little guy." His voice was raspy. Lance coughed into his hand, startling the rabbit. Lance groaned, sitting up with his hand reached out, encouraging the rabbit to come closer. The space rabbit came closer, sniffing his fingers. Lance gave a small grin, feeling the soft, fluffy brown and white fur. The rabbit sat comfortably by his hip, looking up at him with big blue eyes. Lance hesitantly petted the soft rabbit, stroking it's long ears carefully. The rabbit, liking the attention and praise, hopped into his lap. Lance was slightly surprised, jumping slightly as the space rabbit curled around and flopped into his lap. The rabbit rested its head on his thigh, eyes closed.
"A nap wouldn't be that bad actually." Lance yawned, stroaking the soft rabbit subconsciously as he drifted to sleep.
Lance felt warm when he woke from his nap. He grasped his fingers at the soft fur pelt he laid on, feeling the soft fur seep through his fingers. Running his hands to his face, he slowly opened his eyes and rubbed away at the crusty sleep. When he moved his hand, he jumped awake in realisation that he was no longer in Blue. Panic flooded over as he looked around, he seemed to be laying on a ground mattress made of fur pelts and thick wool. A soft blanket covered his waist down, fearing the worst, Lance pulled back the blanket, sighing in relief when he wasn't missing anything. Instead of his Paladin skin suit, he wore trousers made of a tan brown cotton, grey stitching running down from the thigh to the ankle cuffs. His chest was bare, his abdominal wound was covered with clean bandages. Lance looked around the dull lit room, making out pillars of blue and white crystals grow out from the stone walls. He then realised he was laying on a mattress, surrounded by a still water pool.
Lance slowly got to his knees, looking over the mattress covers to see his reflection in the calm water. Crystals shimmered at the bottom of the water pool. Lance looked across the cave – well what he seemed was a cave – and spotted his armour neatly stacked on a stone altar table. Lance felt confident enough to trust his weight, so he got to his feet and slowly crossed the narrow stone bridge that lead to the altar table. The cave walls were decorated with hanging baskets of herbs and strange looking flora. Glass jars and bottles were neatly lined on the shelves of crystal and stone. Lance approached his armour, checking over that everything was fine. It was.
"It's good to see you up and walking." A woman's voice suddenly filled the silent cave. Lance jumped from the scare, dropping his bayard that cluttered to the ground. The voice chuckled softly, stepping out from the darkened corner of the cave. Lance turned to see a tall slender woman come out from the dark. Big fluffy ears twitched as she appeared in the light, wearing a gown of soft red and black hues. She was a Galra. Lance stumbled back a bit as the Galra woman came closer, arms held in front of her as she held a kind smile. Streaks of darker purple marked over her cheeks, continuing down her neck, and what Lance thought, down her back to her waist maybe.
"Where am I?" Lance asked. The Galra woman walked past him, showing her open back dress to him. Lance was right, her markings continued on down to her hips. Not meaning to be rude, he looked away with a burning blush. She turned to him again, her arms open to show a pile of clothes that she held out for him. Lance hesitated when taking the clothes.
"You are in the safest place. The healing caves of Garmaili are where you stand, here I left you to rest in the presence of the crystals." The Galra woman answered. Lance slipped on the boots he was given and followed her out of the healing caves, looking around the cave walls to see shimmering crystals glow their path.
"Why am I here?"
"Tietra linked me his location, where you slept in the broken Blue Lion." She answered, walking the shallow steps into a endless corridor of glowing crystals.
Lance looked up at her in disbelief. "That weird space rabbit?"
The Galra woman gave him a look. "Yes, that's him."
The two continued to walk the crystal hall, leading to an open cavern that revealed and underground city. Lance stared in wonder, gazing upon the underground utopia. An enormous waterfall ran through the city grounds, falling down a cliff face that connected to an open channel out beyond the cavern city. The city buildings made Lance think of cities back on earth, tall and short apartment complexes and working towers. Monuments made of giant crystals decorated and lit the underground, cavern city. The luminous glow was beautiful and calming. Lance followed the Galra woman down a path, leading to a walk bridge that connected to a base platform.
"Our City was built beneath the planets surface for protection. The beasts that roam the surface are monstrous and extremely dangerous to face. Our Empress, Lady Zantarii, established a peace offering with the beasts that roam the surface, we've lived in peace with the natives as long we don't disown the peace treaty." The Galra woman explained, walking across the bridge. Lance looked around him as they continued their way through another hall of crystals and with sheeting metal.
"You're not just one species. You work together as an ecosystem, to thrive together." Lance spoke up, spotting a group of inter-species.
The Galra woman nodded. "Lady Zantarii wanted a place for those who have suffered from Zarkon. She gave homes to those who lost their, gave them supplies and supported their wealth."
Lance was in awe. Hearing about a inter-species of aliens work together to live in peace.
"I'm sorry for being nosy, but I didn't get you name." Lance leaned over.
The woman chuckled. "I apologise. My name is Kahari, I'm the Grand Healer of Garmaili." Kahari introduced herself with a kind smile.
"That is a lovely name." Lance complimented, earning a soft laugh from the Grand Healer.
"I thank you for the compliment." Kahari smiled.
The leading hall the two walked along, opened into a high ceiling room, a chandelier made of crystals lit the room brightly. Lance spotted serval Galra beings walking through the room, some wore guard armour and others served the Empress. Lance fixed his gaze to the end of the room, where a throne made of fine crystals and silver gold, covered with fur pelts, sat a Galra woman. She wore a headdress made of silver gold and small crystals, gold band earrings caught the light of the crystals, shimmering slightly. The Empress wore a layered dress of fine gold and white silks, gold bangles wrapped her wrists and slender fingers. Her markings were exquisitely unique. White curved down from her stumpy horns, running down the bridge of her nose, curling down her sharp cheekbones to her jawline. Her yellow eyes were winged with the white markings, her long lashes batting softly. Jewels glistened along her neck and anklets, jingling as she crossed her legs.
Lance and Kahari walked towards the leveled throne, bowing in the presence of the Empress. Lady Zantarii raised a hand for them to rise, a curtly smile of her red, plump lips. Lance didn't trust his mouth to say anything, so he stayed silent as Kahari introduced him to the Empress. Zantarii settled her gaze to the Blue Paladin, yellow eyes flashing in amusement. The Empress smiled softly, getting up from her throne. She was a lot taller then Lance imagined. She stood around eight or nine feet tall.
"I welcome you to Garmaili, Blue Paladin of Voltron." Zantarii spoke with a strong, melodic tone.
"It's an honour to meet you, Lady Zantarii." Lance smiled.
They walked together down the palace corridor, approaching a double door leading into a guest bedroom. The two guards opened the doors, revealing the interior of the guest suite. The colour scheme mixed with soft golds and creams, with slight hues of blue in the fine silks and accessories. A large, four posted bed, was rasied on a platform in the west corner of the room, a dresser and side table matching the colour scheme of gold and white. Two large pillars, evenly centred in the room, had vines wrapped around them. Hanging baskets filled with flora, scented the room like lavender and honey. Two long lounges were seated in the east corner of the room, a low table sitting in the curve of furniture. A large armchair was set by a large plant pot, a shelf of books behind it. An open balcony lead out to show the beautiful courtyard of the palace. A cascading waterfall flushed through an open cavern from above, pouring into the large lake that was used as a water farm.
Zantarii excused the servants to leave, letting her spend some time alone with the Paladin. Lance was standing outside on the balcony, resting his arms on the banisters. The Empress walked up to him, the jingles of her anklets made Lance aware that she was coming towards him. Zantarii held her arms in front of her, her fingers interlocked as she looked out over the vast yard.
"Your Lion is safely kept in our ship yard, the best of our technicians are repairing the damage that was done." Zantarii ensuresed the Blue Paladin, who nodded understanding.
"I thank you again for what you have done, Lady Zantarii."
"No need, Blue Paladin." Zantarii grinned. "General Pahlix was arranged a tour for when you are well settled in."
Lance nodded.
"I'll leave you too rest now." Zantarii turned away from the balcony, walking to the door. She left with a small smile, letting Lance have some time alone.
I wonder how the others are doing. Lance thought to himself, looking up at the roof of the cavern.