After a rather confronting and brash argument, Keith found himself rushing after the green paladin who was being consoled by the yellow paladin. Pidge had verbally made clear of her desperation, Lance and Lotor had quickly squashed her selfishness. Hunk had stayed silent, not wanting to weigh in his opinion, knowing, either way, it would upset someone whether it was Pidge or Keith. Allura had quietly agreed with the blue paladin and Galra prince, Coran stepping in when the distressed girl turned to vent at the princess. Pidge's last defence was to plead with Shiro and Matt, the black paladin gazing at her in guilt as he shook his head while Matt was still complementing the situation. The green paladin had gazed at her brother in bewilderment and ran out of the room, the betrayal of her friends and how close she was to seeing her father again caused her to break down.

"You should not disregard such a swap." Nara had offered up after the girl disappeared, crossing her arms at them in disappointment. "We can use this to our advantage, don't you think?"

Keith listened to what his mother suggested, the others quickly weighing in their own opinions before the red paladin slipped away. He found Pidge and Hunk by her Lion, the girl dressed in her Paladin armour, her helmet sitting hesitantly in her grasp as the yellow paladin tried to dissuade her.

"Pidge?" Keith called out, apologising as the duo jumped in fright. Pidge swiftly rubbed her eyes, sniffing before turning to the red paladin.

"I just want my dad back." The girl's voice broke a little as she spoke, dropping her helmet as Keith approached her. "I'm sorry."

Keith's eyes widened as Pidge threw her arms around him, the red paladin unsure on how to respond. He gently encircled the girl into his arms and cleared his throat, patting the girl's back awkwardly.

"We'll get him back, we'll do the swap," Keith announced, Pidge blinked up at him in astonishment.

"You will?" She wiped her nose on her sleeve and smiled at the man. "Really?"

Keith nodded and let out a small groan of surprise as Hunk swiftly swept in and wrapped his hands around the two of them and squeezed them tightly.

"Oh, I love it when we all get along." Hunk grinned at the two, Pidge laughing at the distress on Keith's features. After Pidge had calmed down the three headed back to the others, the green paladin apologising for her behaviour, assuring them that she hadn't meant to come across so careless. Matt had wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulder, Hunk and Lance quickly following with a hug.

"Are you sure about this, sister?" Lotor spoke from beside the Galra princess who rose a brow and turned to her sibling.

"It is the perfect opportunity, with his fleet far away we can strike."

"We do not have our defences either," Lotor pointed out, recalling his father's demands. "Zarkon isn't weak sister."

"Well, neither are we." Nara stood tall, smiling confidently at her brother who rolled his eyes, huffing out a sound of disapproval before smirking at the woman.

  ***  

Everything had been going according to plan until Pidge ran forward unable to wait any longer to be in her father's arms, soon revealing that Sam Holt was, in fact, a hologram. Keith's eyes widened from beside Ezor as commander Holt appeared in front of him, the victorious smirk on Zarkon's lips soon squashed as Lotor brought forth Shiro's Bayard and surged forward. Nara and Keith were quick to follow the prince's lead, the Galra princess slamming into Zethrid and Narti who held Pidge's father hostage. Keith parried with Axca as Shiro, Pidge and Matt rushed frantically towards them, managing to make it to the ship just as Keith was pushed out by Ezor. The red paladin's eyes widened in horror as the ship began to ascend back into the atmosphere, Keith quickly rolling away as Lotor was thrown back towards him. The red paladin watched on helplessly as Lotor clashed brutally with Zarkon, the Galra leader slowly overpowering his son. 

Keith knew he had to intervene, a dangerous choice but he could see the strain Lotor was exhibiting and he knew Zarkon did too. When the ground in front of Keith rumbled and shattered by a bolt, the red paladin gazed up to see the Galra fleet upon them, shooting its offence. Lotor managed to give the Galra emperor a hefty blow, swiftly coming to Keith's side, pulling him behind a large wall of rock.

"Stay here, you may be a paladin of Voltron, but you are also the Galra heir's son." Lotor spoke in all seriousness, pushing him against the rock, "Let me handle my father."

"Lotor, I can help!" Keith scowled, eyes widening in horror as the Galra prince clutches were ripped away as Zarkon threw the prince away and narrowed his blood-red anger at the paladin in front of him.

"The paladin's of Voltron have caused me a great deal of trouble." Zarkon's tone filled to the brim with malice and detest. "You, my so-called grandson, more so than anyone else."

Keith's eyes were drawn to something sticking out the man's broken armour, the familiar red and white colour of his Bayard had the red paladin pushing forward. When Zarkon struck Keith dodged and slid from underneath the emperor managing to steal his Bayard in the process.

"I don't even want to know why you have this on you." Keith shook his head before letting his sword and shield come forth. Zarkon yelled out in pure rage before surging forward, the red paladin parrying with a rather substantial amount of effort. Four of the five Voltron Lion's appeared keeping the Galra fleet at bay, Lance's voice flittering though Keith's helmet.

"Come on Keith, we need you."

"Little busy here." Keith managed to grunt out, glaring at the sadistic eyes of his grandfather.

Lotor shook the dizziness from his head, his fingers clutching at air, unable to find the black Bayard. His focus slowly returned, head turning to watch as Keith fell onto one knee as he struggled to keep Zarkon from pushing him through to the core of the planet.

"Ah, sister," Lotor grumbled unhappily to himself before rising, grabbing a protruding piece of metal from the ground and rushed towards the two. As the prince thrust the piece of metal into the broken armour and found flesh, Lotor held his breath at the sound of a staggered and pained grunt left Zarkon's incensed lips. Keith moved away and watched the light in Zarkon's suit slowly fade, turning his gaze to Lotor who stood rigidly facial features a blank canvas.

"Are you okay?" Lotor asked the red paladin as he gazed up at the battle above them. Keith nodded despite the man not looking his way and held his side as the pain began to throb.

"I thought you wanted to save him?" Keith watched the prince turn his attention back to Zarkon and withdraw the piece of metal, the emperor's blood staining the rod.

"I have a feeling that he was too far gone."

"KEITH!"

Keith winced at the loud voice of Lance piercing through his helmet.

"Alright, alright, I'm on my way." The red paladin stood on his shaking legs, thanking Lotor as he came to his aid.

  ***  

The castle had managed to get close enough for Keith to call the red lion to him, with Lotor on the ground in case by some miracle Zarkon resurrected. The paladins formed Voltron and fought back against the Galra fleet. When everything had calmed down the paladin's returned to the castle, Lotor and his father already inside.

Nara was covering Zarkon's body with yet another funeral cloth, her brother standing opposite her gazing at his father in detest.

"He's gone for good this time," Lotor assured her, arms folded in confirmation. Nara weakly nodded before standing tall and let out a deep breath.

***

Pidge and Matt were gushing at their father, speaking of their adventures in pure happiness. Sam was smiling happily at his children a warmth he hadn't felt in many years filling him to the brim. The commander swiftly held them close, Pidge and Matt abruptly silencing at the sudden show of affection. They smiled at one another before they hugged their father back.

"I'm so proud of you both," Sam pulled back for a moment gazing over at the two. "Look how far you've come."

"Thanks, dad." Matt smiled nudging Pidge who chuckled and nudged her brother back.

  ***  

"There you go," Coran nodded at his patched work before moving away. Keith swatted at Lance and Hunk as they inspected the advisor's work before letting his arm fall bringing his shirt back down.

"Thanks, Coran," Keith called out soon finding himself sandwiched between the blue and yellow paladin's. They both looked at him in regard. "What?"

"Just checking up on you." Lance narrowed his eyes at the same time as Hunk clasped his hands together.

"I'm fine," Keith tilted his head in confusion.

"Good, good." Lance nodded, shrugged before leaning back. Keith furrowed his brow at him before turning to Hunk who was still extremely close.

"Seriously Hunk, I'm okay." Keith let a flicker of a smile grace his lips, Hunk swiftly sighing in relief before wiping his brow.

"It's just you were being attacked by your granddad then saw your uncle kill him and now your mum is going to be the new Galra leader and she very may well be assassinated!" Hunk exclaimed quickly not leaving anytime for a breath.

"Assassinated? What?" Keith couldn't help but laugh at the yellow paladin, amused at the boy's vast imagination.

"Lotor told us that they aren't the only ones that can now officially take the throne," Lance explained sitting up again, Coran having now turned around to listen. "Anyone worthy to take the throne can, they don't have to be blood-related."

"Ah, yes," Coran nodded, recalling when Zarkon had taken the throne. "Zarkon was a Galra general before he ascended the throne."

"So, all this talk about me being the heir was all hearsay?" Keith folded his arms, both relieved and annoyed at this information.

"Pretty much but Lotor seemed really keen to make you emperor." Lance pointed out to which Hunk nodded in agreement.

"So how will Nara become empress? If everyone else can be?" Keith asked to which the others shrugged, quickly snapping their heads to the door as Lotor and Nara entered the room.

"We will be going to the planet Feyiv and Nara will participate in the Kral Zera." Lotor explained, "I suggest gathering the others so we can discuss our plan of action."