Chapter Text
The dark sky shimmers with muted shades of purple and smaller planets orbit the planet, Etheria. Beyond the flowery meadows of Etheria, a city rises out of a patch of scorched earth and an outcropping of jagged rocks. Raised roadways and ghoulish robotic structures surround the city landscape. A young man with sun-touched skin and bright blue eyes cinches a belt around his waist and puts on his shoes. The man goes over to his mirror to start his 30-minute-long skin care routine. He only knows how long it takes him because a certain someone keeps complaining how log he take to get ready.
The man, Lance, leers at a picture of an evil figure on his punching bag. “Hey princess, you looking at me?” before scoffing as a woman on the PA tells them to report to the training area. Lance soon takes his place with 3 other recruits.
“Has anyone seen Keith?” Lance whispers to the others, who shrug or shake their head. Lance resists the urge to groan, muttering a ‘not again’ under his breath. The commander walks up to them. “At attention, cadets. Your simulation is about to begin. Here's your scenario. You'll be passing through the treacherous Whispering Woods to reach the heart of the rebel insurgency, Bright Moon. Your mission is to defeat King Alfor and liberate Bright Moon in Lord Lotter's name. Where's Keith?” he said, looking directly and lance.
“He'll be here, I promise,” the commander looks unconvinced at his reply, but moves on anyway. “The Whispering Woods is full of princesses. Vicious, violent instigators. They will take you out if given the chance. Don't give it to them. Good luck, recruits.” He says as the four head into the training area where holograms of the princess appear. “Watch out,” Lance shouts as the princess fires, and Lance hurls an explosive.
None of them sees a figure with a long mullet watching them from above, growling softly. Ryan gets hit as his teammates turn to him. His suit is sizzling, and an X appears on the plate. Ryan mutters a quiet ‘fuck’ as James says sarcastically, “bra-vo.” The dark-skinned man frowns as three princesses hover over them. “Seriously,” Lance says before telling them to run. Ina tries calling out to Lance as he sprints ahead. The alarm goes off as red hexagons glow under Lance's feet, and a robotic orb shoots up from the floor. The orb morphs into a four-legged robot as Lance runs to it with his saber, bashing its guns with it. Lance then takes a deep breath before yelling as he smashes the robot and it sinks to the floor, he leaps off, and lies face down on the floor.
The mullet man finally makes his presence known as he strides past Lance and pushes him and pushes the crackling robot into the floor. Lance raises his head, and the man points to the res symbol beneath him. Just in time for Lance to fall with only his saber to keep him from falling deeper.
“Hey lance hows it hanging?” There in all his glory is Lance's best friend since forever keith. “Keith did really show up late and let us do all the hard parts? That is low, even for you,” he says this with an exasperated tone, but still can't keep the smile off his face. Keith chuckles lightly, a sound the lance would never admit to loving. “Aw. You know nothing's too low for me,” he says before breaking out into a smile as big as lances. “Now come on, you look stupid hanging down there.”
A little while later keith is still laughing, leaning against Lance's locker, “You should've seen your face. You were like, "Aah, no! Betrayal," Lance scoffs, “come on, Keith, we're senior cadets now. I can't believe you're still pulling such childish, immature-- Is that a mouse?!” Keith jumps in excitement, his fluffy era perking up. “What!? Where!?” as Lance laughs, “Are you ever going to not fall for that?” “I don't know. Are you ever going to let it go? That was one time,” the shorter replied, pouting. Still snickering, “ yeah yeah, but its stil funny every time.”
A cloaked figure with a hood covering most of their face walks up to the boys' “lance.” “Haggar,” the woman now known as Haggar, reaches them. “You have done well. You've completed your training course in record time.” Lance huffs at the praise, a little embarrassed. “It wasn't just me, you know keith did too.” Haggar looked over to Keith, “Ah, yes. How someone as unmotivated as you completed the course in that time, I'll never know.” “Always serving up those pep talks, huh, Haggar? Keith seemingly defelats.
“Silence. Do not be flippant with me, cadet.” Haggar all but spat, and Lance winced for his friend. “Sorry, Haggar,” she ignores him and puts her attention on Lance. “Lance, walk with me.” Lance obeys but not without a quick glance at Keith, who shrugs. After they're out of earshot haggar speaks. “Lord Lotor has been watching you. He thinks you are a fine candidate for Force Captain.”
Lance paused for a second, “Really? Force Captain? He said that about me?” jogging to catch up, “Oh yes. He sees great promise in you. In fact, he has elected you to the honor of leading a squadron in the invasion of the rebel Fortress of Thaymor.” Haggar replies, “Thaymor? You mean we're finally seeing active duty?” Haggar looked at him, “You are seeing active duty”.
“I'm not bringing my team?” “Your team is not ready. They'll only slow you down.”
“Haggar, with respect, they've been training hard for this, too. And Keith, all she wants is to get out there and prove himself.” “Then he should have worked harder to prove himself to me. This is what I raised you for, Lance. Now is your chance to prove yourself, “ the woman said without hesitation, holding out the force captain badge. Lance takes it, trying not to sigh.
Haggar looks at the boy and cups his cheeks. “I saw talent in you the moment I found you as an orphan child and took you in. Is this not what you've wanted since you were old enough to want anything?” Lance dips his head down. “Yes.” “With you at the forefront, we will crush the Bright Moon Rebellion once and for all. Do not disappoint me.” Lance nods, then gazes out the window after Haggar leaves.
On the other side of the woods, a white castle is perched on a mountain beside a blue lake. Inside, i white hair man sits on the floating throne. “Send her in,” the man's voice booms in the hall. Flanked by guards, a young woman with similar white hair enters the royal hall and approaches the man sitting on a throne. She kneels. “Your Majesty,” the woman says. “I'm told you disobeyed orders and led the Rebellion into a dangerous combat situation after you were ordered to retreat.” “I was trying to protect a village from falling into The Horde's grasp, “ the girl replied without hesitation. “You were reckless and put yourself and the other rebels in danger.”
“Fighting is supposed to be dangerous! How are we going to hold our own against The Horde if we keep retreating? Pretty soon, we won't have anything left to defend.” “I'm growing tired of your back-talking, Commander Allura.” The woman now known as Allura, Princess Allura, looks at the man, frustrated, “Why did you even make me a commander if you won't let me fight?” “That's enough! You're grounded!” the man says, equally frustrated. “Dad!” the man, Princess Allura's father, King Alfor, says, “You heard me!” “You never let me do anything!” Allura shouts, “We are not having this discussion tonight. You are embarrassing me in front of my royal court.” Allura scoffs, “Oh, I'm embarrassing you?” The king says, “Go to your room!” “I'm going,” Allura shouts as she storms out. After Allura leaves, Alfor sits down and sighs.
Lance gazes over the city and pulls the badge from his pocket before pinning it to his jacket. He then grunts as Keith leaps onto him, “What'd she say? Hey, what's this?” Keith swipes the badge and jumps onto one of the pipes out of Lance's reach. “Hey! Give it back.” “No way. You've been promoted?” Keith exclaims, his tail swishing. “Well, kind of. I mean, yeah, I guess. Heh. But it's not a big deal.” Lance says sheepishly, running the back of his neck. Keith jumps down. “Are you kidding? That is awesome. We're gonna see the world and conquer it. Adora, I need to blow something up.” Circling Lance, then grabbing and shaking him lightly while purring.
“Uhhh,” “what?” “Haggar says you're not coming.” Keith lets go of the other boy. “What? My time was just as good as yours today. What is her problem with me?” “You're a little disrespectful.” Keith rolls his eyes. “Why should I respect her? She's just bitter that she doesn't have any real power that doesn't come from lotor, and everyone knows it. I guess it sure must be easy being a people pleaser like you.” Lance sputters, “I am not- keith wait!” Lance runs after Keith.
Lance finds Keith alone on the roof, walking over to join him. “Look, I'm sorry. I didn't even think you wanted to be a Force Captain.” Keith huffs, “I don't. Here, take your stupid badge.” Handing it over, “Come on, Keith. "This is what I have been working for my entire life. I was hoping you could be, I don't know, happy for me.” Keith groans, “Ugh, whatever. It's not like I even care. I just wanna get out of this dump sometime before I die of boredom. I wonder what's even outside the Fright Zone anyway.” Lance smirks and holds a key. “Why don't we go find out?”
“I take it all back. You're officially awesome. I can't believe you actually stole a skiff.” Keith laughs happily. “Borrowed” lance corrects, “and please don't make me regret this.” Keith pushes Lance out of the way. “ I've always wanted to drive one of these things. Here, gimme.” “Whoa, there. Save us enough fuel to get back.” Keith laughs again, “That's a problem for future Lance and Keith”. The boys pass control of the skiff, arguing over who can drive. “Keith!” Lance yells as they stop the skiff at the edge of a dark forest.
“Wow, what is this?” Keith looks around in awe. “I think this must be the Whispering Woods. They say there are strange, old monsters in there, and the trees move when you're not looking. Every Horde squadron they've sent in there has never come out again.” Keith grins at Lance's words, “Let's go in.” “Wait, what!?” Lance's head snaps to Keith's. As the shorter takes control, and they enter the woods, veering around the winding trunks of towering trees. Lance screams, “Keith, slow down, Keith Tree! Tree!” Lance quickly takes control and tries to fly up, but a vine catches his neck, and he falls backwards. Lance falls and crashes face-first on the ground. A small glowing white orb floats over him.
Lance wakes up with his head pounding and whispers seemingly all around him. “Keith?” Lance tries to call out as he spots A spotlight shining on a sword, entangled in vines, in a clearing. “Wow,” Lance breaths out, walking towards the sword, touching the handle as the sword glows. “Agh,” a female voice seems to speak in Lance's head, “Balance must be restored. Etheria must seek a hero.” he hears a baby crying, “Lance lance.” The female voice speaks, “Hey, Lance? Lance!” Lance snaps out of his trans like state, looking to Keith, “Keith? What happened”
“You fell out of the skiff after you drove it into a tree.” “No, you drove it into a tree.” Keith shugs, smiling now that he knows Lance is ok.” Up for debate. Come on, let's go.” “Wait. Where is it? Where'd it go?” Keith made a confused noise. “There was a sword. It was right here. I tried to touch it, but it got really bright.” keith grabs lances face looking for any injuries he might of missed “Are you brain damaged? Don't be brain damaged. Oh, haggars gonna kill me.” lance pushs him away “I'm not brain damaged. It was here, I saw it.” keith then drags the other boy by his collor so they can return to the skiff “Well, there's nothing here now. So, come on, let's go.”
As Keith drives them away from the forest, Lance glances back at the clearing.
Allura is sitting in her room with a notebook open on her lap. "Dear dad, I know you'll never read this, but I have to say it somewhere. I feel like you... don't respect me.” Allura pouts, not knowing how to put her thoughts into words. She doesn't have to think for very long as an arrow shoots into her room. Allura shrieks, then picks up the arrow, which has a note saying ‘look outside’. Allura groans before looking out the window, “Watch it! You almost hit me!” she calls out to the man who shot the arrow. “Hey, Allura,” the man near shouts, “shh! Hunk, what are you doing here?” The man, Hunk, yelled back, “What did you say? Come down here.” ”I can't, I'm grounded.” “Huh.” “I'm grounded.” “What?” Allura groaned again, trellaporting to hunk and back to her room with him. He shouts in surprise. “I'm so mad at my dad,” Allura says, sighing. “Is this about the siege on Elberon?” Hunk says, raising an eyebrow. “I was just trying to defend another one of our villages from falling into The Horde's Clutches. he stationed me all the way out here because it's too remote to ever get attacked, but then it did, and it was my one chance to prove that I can do this. But he acts like I can't do anything because I'm just a princess.” Allura grumbles.
Hunk huffs, “That doesn't make any sense. Everyone here is a princess. I'm, like, the only one who's not a princess.” Allura just groans, “Tell that to my dad.” “Hey, where does this go?” holding an object, “Bottom drawer.” “Anyway, your dad might have a point. The only reason you got out of there is because of your teleportation powers, and, let's face it, they don't always work that well.” Allura scoffs, “Looking for support here, hunk!” “I'm just saying, if you wanna prove yourself, it's gonna take more than running recklessly into any old battle. Luckily, I've got just the thing. Check this out. I detected a piece of First Ones tech in the Whispering Woods. A pretty powerful one, too, by the size of these readings. If you find this one and bring it back, your dad is bound to be impressed.”
Allura huffs again, “Did you forget I'm grounded?” she says before freezing up as someone knocks on her door. “Allura? Are you in there?” She quickly returns Hunk to the forest, “uhhh…” “ack!” “Allura, are you ok?” “Everything's fine, Dad,” Alurlla sputters out, “Is someone else in there? I heard voices.” “No one else is in here. Can you please just leave me alone?” Allura can hear the frown in Alfor’s voice when he speaks again, “I don't appreciate your tone right now, young lady.” “What tone?” “That attitude of yours is never gonna help you, know.” Allura tries not to groan, “Dad, you always tell me what to do-” “You cannot act that way!”” --And that's not fair!” Allura slams the door, which has been opened the tiniest amount before joining Hunk. “I'm in.”
Lance tosses and turns in his sleep while Keith sleeps at the foot of his bed—the same female voice from earlier starts chanting his name over and over. Lance jolts up and looks around, smiling at seeing Keith sleeping peacefully. He then gently eases himself out of bed. Keith opens one eye as he walks away. Lance exits the room, and Catra appears behind him.
“Where are you going?” Lance doesn't hesitate. “Back to the woods. There's something I need to figure out.” “What? You're not–” Keith can't finish because Lance put his hand over the other outh when a roboat passes. “What is wrong with you? You've been acting weird since we got back. Are you sure you're not brain-damaged?” Lance shakes his head. “Look keith, I know I saw something out there. I need another look. It feels important somehow.” Keith sighs at his friend, “Alright then, let's go.” Lance shakes his head again. “No. I don't want you getting in trouble on my behalf. Just cover for me, okay? I'll be back before anyone knows I'm gone,” he ran off before Keith could say anything.
Hunk and Allura walk through the woods, seemingly lost. “Come on! Come on!” Hunk hits his machine lightly. “Please tell me we're not lost!” Allura looks at Hunk. “No, this thing is just acting up. Looks like it's being overloaded by the tech's signal. We must be getting close!” Allura then points to a light, “I think it's that way.” “Huh”. Hunk says as they run towards the light.
“What are you doing out here, Lance? Keith's right, this is crazy. There's no sword; you just got hit on the head a little too hard. You should just go back home and forget about all of this.” Lance separates the bushes after spotting a glowing light. He finds the same sword in the clearing.
“Hunk let me lead the way.” “The light came from the edge of the forest.” “Yes, you saw the light. It's this way.” Allura says, pointing to the light. “The trackpad says otherwise.” “It's this way-” she cuts herself off as she sees Lance. All of them gasp, but Lance and Allura recover quickly. “Horde soldier!” Allura says before rushing towards him. Lance runs towards the sword, but Allura tellaportes to the sword and throws in to hunk “ hunk catch. “Give me the sword.” Allura then jumps on his back as Lance flings her off, then spins a weapon.
“Get off. Stand down. I don't wanna hurt you.” “Since when do Horde soldiers not want to hurt anyone?” Allura shouts as she explodes a glitter bomb in his face while reaching for the sword, but Lance leaps on top of her. Hunk jumps on Lance, and all three of them tussle on the ground. Lance reaches out and touches the sword. A light emanates from the weapon. “What?” Lance says a little breathless, and sparkles appear around him. The female voice from before speaks to him, “hello lance” “Who are you? What's going on?” “My name is Light Hope. I have been waiting a long time for you, but I could not reach you until you forged your connection with the sword.”
“You sent the sword?” “The sword is meant for you. Etheria has need of you, Lance. Will you answer its call? Will you fight for the honor of Grayskull?” “What are you talking about? What-- What is-- What's Grayskull? You're not making any sense! I don't understand!” Light hope smiles, “you will,” then she vanishes, and Lance gets blown backwards. Noticing that his wrists are bound, he groans.
“Hey, he's awake.” “What happened?” “Quiet, Horde spy, I ask the questions. How did you make it this far into the Whispering Woods?” Allura snapped, Lance rolled his eyes at the princess, “I just walked in. And I'm not a spy.” “ Sure, sure. You just so happened to find yourself in the Whispering Woods, like you just so happened to try and steal our sword.” The blue-eyed man scoffed, “It's not yours. I found it first.”
“The Whispering Woods is under the Rebellion's protection. You were lucky to make it as far as you did. Come on, hunk. Let's get this spy back to Bright Moon, where he can be interrogated properly. This is perfect. Not only do we First Ones tech for the rebellion, but we've also captured a Horde spy. My dad's gonna be so impressed. Now come on, on your feet.”
“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” “I know what I'm doing, hunk. Can you please just trust me for once?” Allura groans again; she's been doing that a lot recently. “You know I always trust you, but I'm starting to get a little freaked out. I mean, I pretty much grew up in these woods, and I've never even seen this part of them. I've heard stories about weird stuff out here.” Hunk puts his arms in defense. “It's fine, okay? Just let me figure this out.” “ Okay! Touchy. Sorry about her. Usually she's really nice. Not much for talking, huh?” Lance huffed at the other man, “I prefer not to swap pleasantries with my captors.” Lance said plainly. “That's fair.”
“You know she's a princess, right? How can you follow her? Princesses are a dangerous threat to everyone on Etheria.” Lance says as Allura teleports. Hunk raises an eyebrow. “Is that what Lotor told you?” “Well, I thought it was just common knowledge. They're violent instigators who don't even know how to control their powers.” Allura shouts in the distance, “You've never actually met a princess, have you?” Lance huffs, “Well, maybe not in person, but…” Lance doesn't finish his sentence as they hear Allura whimper.
When they find Allura, she's standing before the ruins of a forest dwelling. Allura bends to pick up a cracked drawing of a young child, holding the hands of an adult. “What happened to this place?” Lance looked around in what could only be described as fear. “Don't play dumb with me. I bet you were part of the raiding party that did this.” “What are you talking about? The Horde didn't do this.” Allura just drags Lance to a Horde robot crashed on the ground. “Oh yeah? You're a heartless destroyer, just like all the rest of your people.” “I'm not a destroyer. Lotor says we're doing what's best for Etheria. We're trying to make things better. More orderly.”
“This is what's best for Etheria? Ever since The Horde got here, they've been poisoning our land, burning our cities, destroying everything in their path. And you're a part of it! How's that for orderly?” Lance blinks and shakes him up. “This doesn't make any sense. The Horde would never do something like this.” “Did you really not know any of this? I mean, your army is called the Evil Horde.” Hunk says, trying to meditate. The tan-skinned man snaps his head to Hunk, “Who calls us that?” “Everyone”
“The Horde rescued me when I was a baby and gave me a home. They're my family. You-- you don't know them as I do.” “The Horde rescued me when I was a baby and gave me a home. They're my family. You-- you don't know them as I do.” Hunk shrugs. “Maybe you don't know them like you think you do.”
“There's something out there. Something big.” Allura shouts. “How big?” Hunk says as the ground rumbles, a giant insect-like creature pops out of the earth. “So, pretty big then,” they hear screeching as it extends six-clawed legs. “Watch out!” Allura leaps onto the bug's head, and it tosses her backwards. Lance's foot gets stuck in a crack in the ground. The beast turns to him, and he tugs on her trapped foot. Hunk shoots an arrow, and a web covers the creature's mouth.
Allura throws a series of glitter bombs at the creature, and it whacks her into a tree. She slumps on the ground, and Hunk aims an arrow. Lance frees her foot. The beast flings Hunk into a tree trunk, and Lance looks at the sword. Allura kneels and shoots glitter bombs as the beast draws near. The sword crackles with electricity in Lance's hand. “Hey, bug brain! Come on, Magic Sword. Oh, where's a blinding flash of light when you need one?” The beast charges toward him, and he fumbles the sword. Lance picks it up and lifts it above his head. A flashing beam of light radiates from the blade.
He hears light hope repeating his name over and over. Then he hears a baby crying. “Will you fight for the honor of Grayskull?” “.. honor of Grayskull?” Lance suddenly put the sword to the sky, “For the honor of Grayskull!” Allura and Hunk shield their eyes as the light glows around them. The beast kneels. And the two look at Lance, whose hair has turned longer and silver, his build has become broader, his height taller, and his clothes have changed.