The temple was lonely.

No music. No voices lifted in prayer. No welcoming smile from a minister.

It was clear to her that it had been waiting a long time for someone to fill it with sound and motion. A spark of warm torchlight from its interior seemed to be a wistful acknowledgment of a much-anticipated visit. The Princess gazed around her in awe, drinking in the breathtaking sight created by her ancestors, while feeling the warmth of Sarita's strongly brewed tea coursing through her veins.

The columns of stone reached skyward, as strong and immovable now as they had been for centuries, serving as silent sentinels to a gateway intended for only a few worthy warriors. They formed an impressive barricade around the perimeter of the sanctuary. Above the supports, the five carved lions romped across the gable, their muscled bodies stretching to their limits, as if attempting to take flight.

Allura lowered her gaze to scan the carved bases of the monumental pillars, resisting the urge to reach out and slide her hands across the rounded surfaces; somehow, it seemed to be too familiar a gesture. Clasping her hands, she gazed beyond the columns into the airy openness of the ceremonial chamber. She noted with surprise that the ancient granite floor inside the building had a polished patina rivaling that of the floors of the Castle of Lions. As remote as it was, the temple still had the look of a highly maintained site. After briefly bowing her head in respect to the aged structure and the spirits it held, the Princess entered, eager curiosity in her expression. Her companions followed her at a respectful distance, after taking a moment to also show their reverence for the timeless edifice.

Once inside, the sound of her swiftly indrawn breath was audible to all.

A shadowed mosaic of inlaid tile highlighted the temple's inner sanctum. The mosaic consisted of five colored spokes spanning the distance between the pillars and the heart of the sanctuary. Exactly where the spokes met was unclear; a sunken pool hid the hub.

Beckoned by the fresh scent of clean water, Allura softly padded forward to gaze into its clear depths. A bubbling spring stirring in the depths of the pool softly percolated into the stillness of the atmosphere. The gentle uplift of liquid suddenly changed to a miniature geyser as it called out to her, seeming to gurgle a joyous welcome. Allura smiled at her whimsical notion. Or was it a notion? An overwhelming sense of peace had washed over her as she listened to the spring, which now had tempered to a soothing murmur.

The torches set within the temple's inner recesses glowed invitingly, the light from the flames bouncing off the pool and creating a rippling reflection of shadows and light upon the surrounding pillars. As Allura moved toward the pool, a globe of light seemed to envelop her, her hair and womanly form illuminated by the spellbinding halo effect. She paused, directing her gaze upward at the smaller but brilliant specks of light twinkling at her through the open roof of the building.

She felt a shift in the air beside her, and knew without looking that Keith had joined her. They stood side by side, looking at the stars, wordless communication humming between them.

Keith felt the tranquil nature of the Blue Lion pilot touching his soul, and smiled. Allura felt the power and passion of the Black Lion pilot embrace her, and smiled. Their amulets began to glow in response to the connection; it seemed to be a signal of sorts, for Sarita's voice finally penetrated the reverent silence.

"It's time to begin. Please take find a place for yourselves at the spring."

Lance, Pidge and Hunk followed her directive, positioning themselves around the pool, facing outward to listen for further instruction.

Varten came forward to lay a hand on Keith's shoulder. "You and I will prepare for the bonding, Sarita will stay and assist the others."

At Keith's nod of assent, the somber faced warrior turned and led the Voltron Captain to the back of the temple. The two men vanished into the looming shadows of the rear pillars.

Pidge's eyes grew large as he watched them disappear. As long as Keith was present, he had always felt secure, less alone. His Captain had always been there to help shoulder the burden of any battle; now the Green Lion pilot knew he was truly on his own. He glanced at his remaining teammates and was slightly mollified; at least they looked as nervous as he felt.

Sarita walked to a center position in front of the men, and gestured to the Princess to come stand next to her. Once Allura had taken the spot, the older woman handed her a small terra cotta bowl, which was elaborately painted with scenes of past Arusian battles. The vessel contained clear oil, which smelled faintly of juniper.

After a brief conversation between the women, Allura nodded. "I understand," she said softly. Sarita smiled approvingly at her and then turned to the others.

"Princess Allura will now perform the Warrior's Rite of Initiation, as generations of her ancestors have done before her. Princess, please repeat the liturgy after me, as you anoint each man. Pidge is to be first, an honor he has certainly earned by past words and deeds." Sarita beamed at the apprehensive boy, seeing a glimmer of gratitude flash in the soulful green eyes.

Lance and Hunk exchanged surprised glances, and then smiled.

Allura glided over to stand directly in front of her young friend, the bowl resting in the cupped palm of her left hand. Pidge looked up into the serene blue eyes, seeing the ever-present smile in their depths as they gazed warmly at him. Her lips curved upward as she deliberately closed one eye in a brief wink.

Pidge felt a loosening of the knot twisting in his gut. Allura would be with him, no matter what. A small smile touched his mouth and his face shone brightly, much like any child's would on an anticipated holiday.

"I'm afraid you'll have to remove your glasses, Pidge." Allura whispered to him.

"Oh!" He reached for them quickly, sliding them off his eyes and folding the bows neatly. "Would you hold them for me, Princess?"

"I'd be happy to." She took them from his unsteady hand and hooked them around the little finger of the hand holding the bowl. Her right hand lifted to the bowl, dipping the index and middle fingers into the oil.

"Princess, repeat after me- In the name of the mighty five, I anoint you a Lion Warrior. Your life essence will belong with the spirit of the lions for eternity, as theirs will with you."

Allura repeated the solemn words, her eyes expressing her pride and love for her friend and teammate.

Sarita nodded, and Allura reached out to dab the oil on her friend; first on his forehead, then his mouth and finally in the vicinity of his wildly beating heart. Pidge felt his face flush at the contact, but Allura didn't seem to notice, so intent was she on the intricacies of the ceremony.

She repeated after Sarita, "Open your mind to the power, speak with the wisdom of the ages, feel their existence within your heart."

"Now place your right hand upon his chest, over his heart." Sarita instructed softly.

The Princess did so, and her amulet seemed to spark. Pidge felt a surge of warmth and love toward the woman in front of him. Impulsively he reached up and covered her hand with his own.

"Good," Sarita murmured. The youth had instinctively done the right thing; now his quest could begin. She recited a prayer. "Mighty Lions, though he is young in years, Pidge is a most worthy and mature warrior, please help him find what he seeks."

Lance and Hunk watched with widening eyes and parted lips as Pidge slipped easily into a trance. His time had come.

A black void enveloped him for a moment, an occurrence that had become all too common in his dreams. Patiently he stood, not panicking, waiting for his inner sight to adjust. Ah, that was better, he was beginning to see shapes, gray and blurred to be sure, but at least he knew something was present in the nothingness to give him a point of reference.

The void continued to dissipate, until at last it totally vanished, revealing the place to which he had traveled; a deep, dark forest filled with lofty oaks and pine. Not a leaf stirred in their outspread branches, and no sounds of wildlife could be heard scampering above or below his view. The underbrush remained undisturbed; there were no signs of insect life or birds flitting from tree to tree. It was like walking into a silent movie, one in which he was the only actor standing in front of a painted backdrop.

Pidge began to walk deeper into the wooded glen, for lack of a better plan. He had no ideas as to what the place was, but he knew that he didn't want to be here. His crunching steps echoed loudly in his ears, drowning out any other noises that might be heard. From time to time, he paused, listening intently for any sound, and watching closely for any sight that would indicate he wasn't. -

Alone.

The wave of despair crashed down upon him with no warning, dragging him under in its cold undertow. He was alone again. His teammates were gone, just as his family and planet were gone. He was stripped of his childhood. Once again, he'd have to forgo life's simple pleasures as he fought to eek out an existence in this cold realm. He was so tired for having to do that; why bother if he was the only one here/ Why bother with trying to survive when no one would be there to share his successes or commiserate with his failures? There would be no one to reward his accomplishments or to show concern for his problems. What connection could he make here? It was hopeless. Life was hopeless. A familiar pain started to throb behind his eyes. Oh great, a migraine. Some dream quest this was turning out to be.

He cast his gaze around, hoping to find a suitable spot to rest his aching head and heart. His eyes fell upon a patch of ferns, their unusual fronds looked soft and inviting. He made his way to the patch of green, inhaling the earthy scent of the plants and idly admiring the unusual foliage, and his spirits lifted. Nature had always been a balm for him, reminding him there were other types of life to be appreciated.

He hitched up the sarong and knelt, preparing to crawl into a soothing emerald embrace.

A slight rustling in the brush ahead of him made him jump, then wince as his throbbing head protested the sudden movement. He felt the air around him begin to stir; it brushed lightly across his and naked chest and whispered in his ear. Smiling in pleasure at the familiar sounds, he glanced up.

His smile froze at the sight of two blue eyes peering calmly at him through the thicket.

The wolf was huge. The noble head was held high, and the glossy gray fur looked soft and sleek. The narrow snout wiggled as the animal memorized his scent.

Moments passed as boy and wolf stared at each other in curiosity.

Growing impatient, the boy decided to break the silence. "Hello there. I am happy to see you. For a moment I thought I was the only living creature here."

The wolf cocked its head in amusement, the blue eyes glowing warmly.

"You are never alone, even when you appear to be. Remember that."

The voice was soft, resonant and unmistakably female.

Pidge blinked in astonishment. "Did you just…talk?"

"Yes." The voice was laced with humor.

"I can't believe it," the youth whispered.

"Believe, Pidge. We have always talked to you; you just haven't heard us. And why is this so hard to believe? You speak and understand mice rather well, as I recall."

"Yes, but…" he broke off, fearing to offend his new acquaintance. "How do you know about that?" He asked instead.

"Green Lion told me of course…she's very proud of the fact that you respect all forms of life around you, and fiercely defend it at the possible cost of your own. You have sacrificed much in this cause; it hasn't gone unnoticed, believe me."

Pidge shut his open mouth with a snap. Green Lion was real! Joy spread through him, infiltrating every fiber, every recess of his body.

"Please come with me," the wolf requested, turning toward the heart of the forest.

Pidge did so without question, feeling a powerful energy surge through him as he got to his feet. The headache was gone, replaced by mind-numbing excitement. They were there. Everywhere he went, they were with him, around him. With buoyant steps, he trotted after the wolf.

As they traveled, he could hear a symphony of sound erupt around him. Birds, squirrels, snakes, and other wild creatures called out as he passed by, seeming to welcome him to their realm. He fancied he could hear conversations between the raccoons as they fished in a nearby stream, and chipmunks chattered in a rapid dialect he couldn't quite make out. All the animals had their specific language and expressions. It was glorious. It was a dream…

The wolf led him to an open place, where a huge rock lay prominently in the middle of the clearing. The wolf continued striding to the rock, pausing briefly to wait for his follower to catch up.

Pidge approached the rock with trepidation; it seemed as though nothing was there. He hesitated; waiting for something without knowing how he knew it was coming.

A strong wind whipped and growled through the encircling trees, and suddenly, he found himself looking to the pinnacle of the rock. The most magnificent creature he had ever seen stood regally atop the massive boulder, looking directly at him.

The lioness was beautiful and compact. Her toned muscles were covered by green tinged fur, which glistened as brightly as any emerald. Her leonine head inclined in greeting, as she gazed kindly upon the courageous boy, who she knew was visibly trembling from excitement, not fear. Her piercing yellow eyes gentled as she spoke.

"You are ready, Paulos Renner Trewold. I deem you worthy. Please accept this token of my esteem." Her voice was a mild rumble.

An object gently floated into his hands. It was an amulet.

"Thank you, I will do my best to prove to you that I deserve this," Pidge vowed, clutching the stone. He glanced sideways at his canine companion, who winked.

"I know," replied Green Lion. "That is why I gave it to you."

After that, the blackness closed round him once more, mixed with the howl of a wolf and the thunder of a lion's roar.

"Pidge, wake up! Are you okay little buddy?"

The piercing voice of his best friend jolted Pidge out of his altered state. He blinked owlishly up at his teammates and Sarita who surrounded him as he knelt next to the spring.

"What ha-…" Suddenly he realized his hand was holding something smooth and round. Slowly his fingers parted to reveal the amulet. The emerald glowed and the burnished lion's head sparkled, ready to come to roaring life.

"You did it Pidge!" Allura rejoiced. "Oh, here are your glasses." She handed them back to the squinting youth, who slid them on with a sigh of relief. He examined his prize with renewed delight.

"Put it on," Lance urged, getting caught up in the moment.

Pidge so, and they all exclaimed in admiration. Green was Pidge's favorite color, and it suited the red haired pilot. The emerald blazed against his lean chest, its brightness rivaled by the smile on its owner's face.

"Think ours will just appear like that?" Hunk threw Lance a questioning glance.

"I don't know, but you are going to find out next." Lance replied, shrugging.

"One down, two to go," Hunk murmured.

"Are you ready Hunk?" Sarita asked quietly, ending the celebration.

"Guess so, ready as I'll ever be." Was the terse reply.

He stood straight and tall as Allura performed the rites, chuckling quietly when she had to tiptoe to reach his forehead. The soft brush of her fingers against his lips set them tingling; the palm that came to rest on his chest was soft and reassuring. He looked down into the beautiful azure eyes; eyes that expressed her love and concern for him. His steady black gaze smiled back at her and his huge hand covered hers as he listened to Sarita's final prayer.

"Mighty Lions, the strength of this worthy man not only lies within his physical gifts, but within his heart and mind. He has proven himself a Lion Warrior by thought and deed. Please guide him to what he courageously seeks."

For a moment, Hunk stood upright, his gaze unwavering. Abruptly his body tensed, becoming almost rocklike for a timeless moment, before he sank to his knees.

His eyes closed, and his breathing slowed as the vision took him.

He found himself facing the steel guardrails of a bridge, barely discernible in the murky fog that hung in the air. Tentatively he extended his huge arms, trying to determine if any obstacle was in his immediate vicinity. The cold mists from the gushing water somewhere below were rising and drifting around the area in which he stood, concealing all but the few inches between his eyes and outstretched arms. He shivered as the clammy air touched the skin of his bared torso, enveloping him in its damp folds.

The bridge could have gone on for miles, or ended two feet ahead of him. He silently cursed his forced immobility; he was used to seeking things out, not waiting for the action to come to him. Impatiently he began to ponder the wisdom of trying to move forward; it could be dangerous, but anything was better than staying put. Problem was, he didn't know if he was supposed to go forward or backward.

Would it make a difference?

A sudden gust of wind parted the fog, as if in answer to his unspoken question, and at last, he could see what lay before him. The bridge extended for a good mile; at its center, there was a small gatehouse, a sign that this was a retractable bridge. Obviously, the body of water that lay below must be quite sizable to be spanned by this type of bridge. The mists seemed to be dissipating more quickly; he squinted hard at the pavement ahead of him, and gasped softly as he spotted a dim figure standing in the distance.

He started to run, wanting to know who it was that appeared to be waiting for him. His eyes started to make out hazy details, the silhouette was definitely feminine in shape, and the female appeared to be young. Drawing closer, he spied the glorious golden hair and a happy smile spread across his face as his strong legs propelled him forward. Why was the Princess here? She shouldn't be alone like that. What if that creep Lotor showed up? She reached out to him as if imploring him to help her, a gentle smile lighting her beautiful face.

Then it struck him; he was at the scene of one of the most embarrassing goof ups of his life; the Love Bridge. Because of his incompetence, the Princess had almost been captured, and he had suffered the indignity of being defeated without Lotor having to strike one blow.

Maybe if he hadn't been so quick to fling himself at the Evil Prince, but had thought it out, things might have been different. The same went for his attempt at decking Arturo; his strength had proven quite useless. He definitely wasn't used to assuming the role of hero, preferring to bask in the light of his teammates' reflected glory. After all, he didn't have the polish and savoir-faire of Lance, the spunky, yet intellectual charm of Pidge, or the intense bravery and superior piloting skills of Keith. He was just Hunk, a strong ox of a man who had a knack with mechanical things, no big deal.

~Just about even with the gatehouse now. Gotta keep going.~ His sprint slowed as he spotted the yawning chasm just beyond the square structure. The rest of the bridge was not deployed!

"Hunk, you must hurry, I can feel him- he's coming for me. Please… don't give up…" The anguish in her voice was unmistakable, as it carried over the gaping void.

"Don't worry Princess, I'll think of something…hey- the controls!" He dashed to the gatehouse and threw open the door, seeing the control panel blinking and humming as it waited for further instructions. He glared at the panel, trying to locate the lever or switches that would close the bridge. Instead, he saw a series of disks, each with a foreign looking hieroglyph engraved upon it. The control center had a series of slots, evidently intended for these disks.

~I bet they need to be in sequence too,~ Hunk thought gloomily. Mechanical glitches and overrides he understood; this system was set up as a test of knowledge.

He sighed. ~Why oh why didn't I pay attention in old man Tarkin's class at the academy?~

It was required that all cadets take a series of basic hieroglyph and pictogram courses, along with Greek and Latin, in preparation for the top secret decoding techniques they would learn later. He never had understood why learning ancient runes and stick figures was important to decoding; that sort of work usually involved numbers, and the Garrison- issued decoding devices did most of the work. Why even learn the ancient inscriptions? The reason was smack dab in front of him now, bringing the lesson to heart with a vengeance.

He scrutinized the board, hoping to find some kind of pattern. The hieroglyphs seemed vaguely familiar and he scrutinized them intently, reaching deep into the vast stores of trivial knowledge he had collected over his twenty five years of existence.

As he did so, an ominous rumbling sound filled the air, and the vibrations transmitted though the layers of steel and asphalt, to send tingles through the bottoms of his bare feet and up the backs of his legs.

A cry of horror had him spinning to dash out onto the bridge. A single black as night, bat winged space fighter jet was slowly rising in the gap between the two sides of the drawbridge. Hunk could see the massive winged helmet of the pilot; every muscle in his well developed physique went rigid, and his square jaw clenched at the loathsome sight. His piercing black eyes blazed a message of hate as he stared a hole in the back of the Prince's head.

Lotor!

The Princess was an easy target for the slimy bastard unless he could get the bridge to work. He couldn't force the mechanism under the bridge; it would probably short out, even if he would've had enough visibility to get under the bridge to attempt it. Allura was now blocked from view, the harbinger of Doom hovering directly in their field of vision, completely cutting him off from the Princess. His fists balled and his eyes closed in desperation, as he tried to suppress his rising temper.

He had no choice. He had to figure out the damn disk configuration, or Allura was done for, and this would be one failure he wouldn't survive to be teased about.

He strode into the gatehouse with grim purpose etched upon his blunt features. This time it would be different.

No more excuses.

No more failures.