TW: light mentions of suicide if you squint, swearing, blood, poison, and death.

Highly suggested you listen to Truce by Twenty Øne Pilots when it starts being sung in the minific!

Third Option

"Green Paladin." Pidge groggily opened her eyes to see a teal- skinned, red- eyed alien in her face. She startled, trying to swing a punch at the intrusion, but she was stopped by restraints around her wrists. She growled as the alien smiled. "Good to see you're awake. Take a look around yourself." Pidge complied. "You see all of your friends around you? I have a task for you. You will choose one person from this room to die in one varga or I kill all of them in front of you. Zarkon wants entertainment, but I think your group is interesting, so I decided to spare the rest while pleasing the emperor. As soon as the timer starts, all of you will be released and your friends will be woken up. Choose wisely. As soon as you choose, the person will be administered a very dangerous poison. You will not leave until one person is dead, then I will allow you to take them back to be laid to rest. I will be watching, so don't try to escape. Try and make this entertaining." The alien abruptly vanished and left Pidge in the chair, mind reeling and teary- eyed. She struggled against her restraints until the timer started, falling out of her chair when she was released.

It was at this moment Pidge felt the pain. There was a searing agony across her left side and when she looked down, she saw fresh blood flowing from her suit. She remembered what happened now. She and her team were separated in battle and she was stabbed in the side, passing out soon after without an idea of what had become of the rest of the team afterwards. She startled as a shout rang through the room, looking up to see a very worried Shiro and Coran running up to her.

"Pidge!! Are you alright!? I heard your scream and I was so worried-" the black paladin stopped short at the sight of red blood on the green insignia of Pidge's breastplate. She coughed, hard, and was surprised to see blood on her hands and taste it in her mouth. Shiro immediately kneeled to her side and placed pressure on the wound, earning a pained whimper from the girl. "Okay... okay... you're alright, Katie. We'll all get out of here and get you healed up." The girl in question shook her head and shakily told Shiro the situation, begging him to not tell the others but wanting him to know. Coran stood back out of whisper range, waiting to be called upon for assistance. Shiro paled and cupped her cheek. "Oh, Katie.... I'm so sorry you have to do this... choose me, alright? I'll be okay; Keith can take over for me." Pidge's face grew red in anger.

"No, Takashi! I'm not doing that to him! He doesn't want that position!"

"Who doesn't want what position?" Lance asked, rubbing his eyes as he walked up and stiffening at the sight of Pidge's blood. She just sighed and shook her head, pushing herself away from Shiro to stand up shakily. She saw the rest of the team slowly approach, rubbing various bumps and nursing various wounds, but nobody was seriously injured.

Then, it clicked.

Pidge knew what she had to do.

She sighed and looked to Allura, swallowing a lump in her throat.

"Allura. You're like the sister I always wanted. Thank you for reminding me that girliness isn't a bad thing." She smiled at the princess, earning a confused but thankful grin in return. Shiro's face darkened and his voice took on a warning tone.

"Pidge..." she didn't listen, looking to Hunk next.

"Hunk, thank you for being my emotional support after Kerberos. You're an awesome friend and I hope you remember that you're as useful as anyone on this team." Hunk teared up at the heartfelt words, gently hugging Pidge in thanks. She looked to Keith next. "Keith, thank you for fiercely protecting me at all costs and showing me that my size isn't a hindrance." He nodded in return, completely confused at this turn of events. Pidge was starting to grow dizzy; and sat on the floor, placing her hand against her wound and not being the least bit surprised to find that she was bleeding internally. Lance was next, and he'd caught on.

"Uhm, Pidge? Wh-what's going on?"

"Lance, there's nothing to worry about. I just think you guys should know this. You're the glue of this team, McClain. Keep smiling and making jokes, no matter how bad they are, because even though we might groan and roll our eyes, we really do appreciate you lifting the mood. You stood in for Matt and I couldn't be more thankful." She looked to Coran, not giving the blue paladin time to respond. "Coran, I know you've lost a lot. Don't be afraid to grow attached again, because to live is to love. I know you want to help us with anything and everything, but don't forget to take days for yourself, too. Thank you for always being there for Team Voltron." The advisor nodded, grimly accepting the decision Pidge had made. He caught on to more than he showed and had known the predicament as soon as he awoke. Then, Pidge turned to Shiro. The man swallowed thickly and tried to speak, but Pidge interrupted him.

"And Takashi. You've been with me the longest, and you're a brother to me. Don't forget that your heart is human, and you're allowed to be weak. You've taught me so much about life and showed me that there is another way to be productive without destroying my own life. Thank you. Can you.... tell my brother, okay?" The man just nodded, hugging Pidge close, openly crying. Everyone else was confused until Pidge looked at what she assumed to be the observation window and said "I've chosen. I choose myself." The window changed to transparent to show the alien clapping and shaking his head in appreciation, looking at the clock to see that she had around twenty- seven minutes** on the timer left. Pidge pushed Shiro away gently and shifted so everyone else wouldn't be hurt by what was coming. A dart flew out and into her neck and she didn't pull it out, hoping the poison would take affect quickly and end her suffering. She collapsed after a moment, a wave of dizziness and pain crashing over her. There was a chorus of cries and footsteps as everyone rushed forward as a unit to catch her in a cradle of arms.

"Pidge!! What's going on!?"

"Don't pass out on me now, Katherine!"

"I-I'm so sorry..."

"I swear to God I'm going to kill everyone in this facility!"

"G-guys..." The room fell silent. Pidge winced as the dart was plucked out of her skin. "I had to choose one person to kill in one varga." She coughed, blood speckling her chin, Allura quickly wiping it away. "I'm bleeding out, so I was the most obvious choice. Even if I weren't, I'd still choose myself. I-I love you guys, and..." She panted as she felt the poison's effects take hold. "I know Green likes La-Sai from Olkarion, so... I have a replacement. M-my bases are covered..." she coughed again, the sounds of quiet sobs covered by the violent shudder of her small frame. Shiro pulled Pidge close, everyone else shifting around the two to comfort her. The black paladin was openly crying now, stroking the girl's hair and rocking her gently.

"Please, Katie... don't leave me... I promised your father and brother I'd protect you! J-just... don't go..." he buried his face in her hair and shuddered, trying to control himself. Pidge shakily rested a hand on his cheek, smiling reassuringly at him before looking at the rest of the team. Lance spoke up next, surprisingly calm for the situation, though the pain was evident in his eyes.

"Do you... want me to... sing you to sleep?" He asked, smiling softly. Pidge nodded, too tired to speak, struggling to keep her breathing under control. Lance started up his song. After all, this was just like the nights Pidge had panic attacks, right?

"Now, the night is coming to an end." Hunk looked up, recognizing the song. Pidge smiled as she heard Lance's beautiful voice mix with the yellow paladin's in the next line.

"The sun will rise, and we will try again."
Their voices were warm and soft, intertwining to create a soothing sound.

"Stay alive, stay alive for me." Keith joined in as well, silent tears slipping down his face.

"You will die, but now your life is free; take pride in what is sure to die." The three sang together, voices slotting in perfectly with one another.

"I will fear the night again." Shiro finally looked up, singing along and gently wiping the tears and blood from Pidge's face.

"I hope I'm not my only friend." Coran and Allura picked up the song, remembering it from Lance's Earth music sessions.

"Stay alive, stay alive for me." Pidge's eyes slowly dropped shut, comforted by the sounds of her friends' voices.

"You will die, but now your life is free." She cuddled closer into Shiro, shivering slightly as she fell asleep.

"Take pride in what is sure..." The man hugged her closer and rocked her gently.

"To..." Pidge's breath slowed.

"Die."

Her whole body stilled, and the room was left completely silent.

Katherine "Pidge Gunderson" Marie Holt was dead.