Nyle POV 

It's been a few months since our battle with Zarkon, and the day we lost Shiro. Keith has been taking it harder than anyone. And I understand why he was closest with Shiro. He's known him longer than any of us. 

I haven't seen him smile in a while. And it's definitely been hard for him. The only time he was happy was when Mereida said her first words. Her first words were 'dada' and that of course threw him over the moon. And I liked seeing him like that. But, sadly it didn't last very long. 

Keith soon came back from one of his searches for Shiro and I saw him in the hallway. "Hey. Did you find anything this time?" 

He sighed and shakes his head. "Nothing again. We're running out of leads Nyle. What if, what if we never find him?" 

I shake my head and hug Keith tightly. "We'll find him, Keith. I know we will. We're gonna get our Shiro back." 

He hugged back and leaned his head into my shoulder. "I hope you're right Nyle." 

I let out a small laugh and hum softly. "We all know I'm never wrong Keith. Anything else?" 

He let out a laugh and looked at me. "We have a meeting later alright?" 

I nod and hum softly. "Alright, I'll be there for it. Get some rest ok? You look absolutely exhausted Keith." 

He hums softly. "I can try. But, did you put Mere down for a nap, or is she up?" 

I laughed and smiled. "She's awake. I just had to get one of her toys from your room. You can go and hang with her if you want to." 

He hums and kisses my cheek before heading off to my room. 

                                                                        ~~~__~~~

All of us were sat in the lounge, sitting around and talking. Mereida was sitting on the floor in the middle of us, babbling and playing with her toys as we talked. 

"They haven't figured out their flatbread situation," Hunk started. "But what they do with those centipedes is just out of this world." 

"And they're totally ready to join the fight against the Galra," Lance quickly adds. 

"Nice!" Pidge exclaimed. 

"We brought back a few of their leaders to join the coalition," Hunk says. 

"That's splendid! Excellent work!" Allura exclaimed. 

"You know, I gotta say, this is what it's all about," Lance starts to say. "Freein' the people, lovin' the ladies, then bombin' down the road again looking for adventure, Voltron-style." 

"Which brings up a little issue," Hunk says. "They all want to see Voltron, only we don't really have Voltron anymore." 

"We don't have Shiro anymore, either," Keith jumped in. "Everyone seems to have forgotten that." 

We all hung our heads at that before Allura started to speak up. 

"It may be difficult for us all to accept," She started. "But it is time to think about finding a new pilot for the Black Lion." 

"No! I'm gonna find him. Shiro is the one person who never gave up on me. I won't give up on him," Keith stated as he stood up.

We watched Keith leave the room and I sighed softly. Mereida watched him leave too and babbled. "Dada." 

I couldn't help but smile and pick her up. "Dada's gonna be back honey." 

                                                                              ===++===

It was time for the meeting to begin and we were all in our paladin armor, sitting at the dining table. I was sitting in between Keith and Hunk, just looking at the leaders not sure what to do. 

"It's an honor to have you all here together," Allura spoke. 

"I had the biggest bunker back on Puig, but it wasn't nearly this nice," The leader Hunk and Lance brought back says. 

"Well, I spend the last decade sleeping in a spiny thistle thicket," The next leader adds. "You look wonderful though, princess. I'm glad I put on my best tarp." 

Allura sent a shy smile to the leaders as Hunk walked in with food. "Welcome everyone. Welcome," He started, putting the food down on the table. "I've prepared a few Earth canapes for our distinguished guests to enjoy while we talk galactic diplomacy." 

"The Blade of Marmora has gathered this intelligence," Kolivan started, standing up as a big purple holographic ball grew in front of us on the table. "As you can see, the Galra Empire is still the most massive ruling force the universe has ever seen. The sheer size of it is almost incomprehensible. It seems like it could rule another 10,000 years." 

I saw Lance and Pidge talk to each other after seeing one of the leaders shaking from the talk. 

"However," Kolivan started again. "We are beginning to see signs of increased rebel activity from within the Empire." 

"We have a strategy to bring these forces together, free more planets, grow our numbers, and accumulate an army that can defeat the Galra in major battles," Allura adds, standing up as well. "But without your help, it will be impossible." 

The presentation goes away as one of the leaders spoke to Allura. "The forces will all fight behind Voltron, right?" 

"Yes, where is Voltron?" The first leader asked.

"The people you see before you are the Paladins of Voltron," Allura started. "Together, they pilot the mighty lions that form the great warrior." 

"Excellent!" The same leader exclaims. "Can they form Voltron now?"

Allura panicked as she tried to speak. "Uh, well-"

"We can't form Voltron, okay?" Keith said, aggravatedly. "We can fly the lions, but Voltron is not happening." 

The leaders gasp as they all stare at us.

"What he means is that right now they can't do it, but-" Allura tried to say again before she was interrupted. 

"But nothing. Shiro is gone. He was the Black Lion. And until we find him, there is no Voltron." 

"The lions are still a substantial fighting force and this castle is also a considerable weapon," Kolivan pipes in quickly. "The Blade of Marmora can lead you." 

"My people have been enslaved for centuries by soldiers who look exactly like you," One of the leaders piped in. 

"Yes!" The first leader says again. "Our people have heard the legend of Voltron, how HE defeated Zarkon. That is what gave them hope. What are we supposed to tell them now?" 

Keith slammed his hands on the table and shot up, making us all jump back a little. "Tell them to stand up and fight for themselves! Voltron is gone!" He turned and he walked away. 

We sat in silence for a minute before I got up, clearing my throat before looking at the leaders. "I'm, I'm so sorry you had to see that. Everyone's been having a rough time lately. Some, some more than others." 

I walked out and raced after Keith, calling his name before we stopped in his room. "Hey! What the hell was that Keith?" 

He just looked at me and sighed as he started to change out of his armor. "It was nothing alright? I just, I don't wanna talk right now Nyle." 

I narrowed my gaze and crossed my arms. "Well, I do. You can't just blow up at people like that! Those leaders are our chance at finally getting this all done!"

He turned to me and glared at me. "And Shiro is our only option at leading us! Without him, we can't do anything! Just, just go Nyle. I don't want to talk right now." 

I sighed before shaking my head, leaving his room to go to mine to change. Thankfully when I went in, Mereida was still asleep. So I quickly changed and headed to go find Keith again. Mostly because I wasn't gonna let him hurt like this. 

I found him in the Black Lion's hanger and came over. "Keith, have you calmed down now?" 

He looked over at me and sighed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "Yeah, I'm alright now. I'm sorry for yelling at you. I was just mad." 

I hum and pat his back. "It's alright Keith. I know that you're just upset and overwhelmed at Shiro being gone now. But, you know you can talk to any of us." 

He let out a small laugh as he stared up at the lion in front of us. "I, I feel like the only person I can talk to besides Shiro is you." 

I smiled and leaned my head on his shoulder. "Then come talk to me. That's what I'm here for Keith. To talk and listen." 

After a few moments, I noticed that everyone else had come in. I saw Lance walking over so I back up a little to let him talk to Keith. 

"Hey, man. Listen," He started. "We all miss Shiro. I remember what a thrill it was to meet him for the first time when the two of us carried him out of that Garrison hospital."

"I grew up with my dad and Matt telling me stories about him," Pidge spoke as she and Hunk walked up as well. "He was a legend at our house." 

"The guy taught me everything I know about being a pilot," Hunk started. "Which isn't much, but that's more on me." 

"He was definitely always there for us when we needed him," I piped in as well. "He's probably the best and most caring leader anyone could have."

"You're not the only one hurting, man," Lance started again. "We're all right there with you. But you know that he would be the first person to tell us that we have to move on."

Keith looked at Lance as Allura spoke up. 

"Keith, I know exactly how you feel. But our mission is bigger than any one individual. Even those who are completely irreplaceable."

I know you're right," Keith started. "It's time to figure out how to reform Voltron."