Chapter Eight

Ethan wrestled with the darkness in his mother's magic while keeping up his attacks on Shadow Voltron. His efforts showed in the tremble in his hands and the sweat on his brow, but there was nothing but steel in his eyes. He could feel his mother reaching out to him, trying to draw from his strength, but trying was only making her weaker. Even as she fought back, dividing her attention between flying Shadow Voltron and keeping her energy up to keep it flying was draining her fast. He needed to get her out and he was the only one who could. He barely paid attention to the communication between the team as he tried to get his mother back and his flying wavered.

"We have to get Shadow Voltron to stop," Bethie said, picking up immediately. "We won't be able to cut through in time. She's using up too much energy."

"We can force it down," Jack said. "Primitive, but effective...jump on its back and just fire thrusters at max. Ethan, are you getting this?"

"Yeah." The response threw of his concentration, but he knew that this might be their only shot.

At Jack's word, all five Lions found a spot on Shadow Voltron's back, dug in their claws, and pushed down. With the combined power of all five Lions, Shadow Voltron could not maintain its speed or altitude and it crashed onto the hard rock beneath, throwing the Green and Red Lion wide as it did so.

"Report," Jack said, groaning and shaking his head.

"A little shaky, but systems are normal," Jordan said. "Bethie?"

"I'm gettng tired of being thrown around," Bethie replied.

"Life signs are dim in Shadow Voltron," Matt said.

"Ethan?" Bethie called out.

He didn't answer. Ethan heard her but he was already taking off his helmet and getting up from his seat and he did not bother to answer. He opened the hatch and got out of the Blue. The second his booted feet touched the gleaming rock, he knew that they had picked the worse possible place to land. He felt the power surge through him like he'd plugged himself into an outlet and he had to stop moving for a moment to get his bearings. Ignoring his better senses, he walked over to Shadow Voltron, going around the Yellow and Black Lions and climbing onto its back to where he knew his mother sat. He put a hand on the robot's hull, watched it melt away at his touch. Eyes glowing an eerie white, he pulled Allura free of the cables and the restraints, at the same time infusing her with his energy. She opened her eyes as he was lifting her in his arms. She was so light and so pale and his heart tightened with fear that maybe he was too late. Then, her eyes fluttered open and she looked up at him.

"Ethan," she said, her voice hoarse.

"Hi, Mom," he said.

He set her down gently on the ground, helping her as she sat up. Running footsteps drew his attention from her to his approaching sister and he only smiled when her eyes widened as she looked at him. Jack came up behind her and after giving Ethan a look, he knelt next to Allura. Jordan and Matt stayed in their Lions in case bigger guns were needed.

"How are you feeling, Aunt Allura?" Jack asked, his voice low as if he was afraid that speaking louder would send her over.

"Why am I not in Shadow Voltron anymore?" she asked in that same flat voice that told them she was not herself.

Jack turned to Ethan.

"She's not out of the spell yet," he said.

Ethan took her face in his hands and the light from his body engulfed hers. He watched as her eyes came to life and when she put her hands over his, he smiled. She smiled back.

"That's better," she said, her voice taking on the stronger quality that they were all used to hearing. "Ethan...thank you."

He put his arms around her and held her tight. Allura clung back, fighting back tears at the thought that she had tried to hurt her children. Bethie put a hand on her arm, gave her a small smile. Allura tried to return it but her expression wavered. Ethan drew back and stood, holding out a hand for her to take and she took it, letting him pull her to her feet. She looked back at the fallen robot behind her, her expression darkening as she remembered sitting in that seat. She moved carefully, still weak despite Ethan's infusion of energy and magic, but her expression was hard when she turned to them.

"We're at the Core, aren't we?" she asked.

"Judging by the fact that Ethan is lit up like a lightbulb, I'd say we're there or very close to it," Jack answered. "Ethan?"

"More like close to it," he said.

"We need to go there," Allura said. "Merla wants it and we can't let her. We have to know what it is exactly."

"Matty, can you get in touch with the surface?" Jack said into his communicator.

"Give me a second," Matt said from inside the Yellow. "IAF came through with reinforcements."

"Do they need us?"

A beat of silence.

"Aunt Link says they have it covered."

"Tell her we're investigating the Core," Jack ordered. "Is everyone alright, Matty?"

"She didn't say anything otherwise."

"Good."

"Do you know why Merla built the second Voltron, Mom?" Bethie asked.

"Voltron can survive in the Core," Allura said. "Lion Voltron definitely, but Shadow Voltron theoretically. Nothing else can make it down there without the protection of either robot. Merla wanted me to bring it to her."

"How?" Jack demanded.

"The robot would absorb it," Ethan said, knowing. "The robot and its pilot."

"Yes," Allura said. "That means we can't leave it there while Merla is around. We have to obtain it in order to protect it. Letting Voltron absorb it would keep us safe."

"But there's a reason why it's down there," Jack said carefully. "We don't know what we'll be bringing to the surface and we don't know what it'll do to Voltron. This isn't over yet. We can't risk it."

"Then we'll use the other robot," Ethan said, looking at the robot. "I'm going to fly it."

"Excuse me?" Bethie said incredulously. "Did you see what it did to Mom? What if Merla's magic still tied into it? You're more powerful, Ethan, and if she gets you, no one will be able to get you out of there and you could destroy us."

"I'm more powerful, Bethie. She can't touch me."

"How can you be so sure?"

Allura tilted her head up so that she could look at her tall son. His glowing white eyes were unnerving but the confident set of his shoulders told her that he believed exactly what he was saying.

"I've been inside," she said. "She won't be able to do anything to him."

"The Blue is yours, Mom."

His steps sure, Ethan went to where he pulled his mother out and put his hands on the hull, drawing back the matter holding it together. He stepped in and disappeared from sight. The cables snaked out like they did with Allura, but this time he was the one controlling them. There was something about Shadow Voltron that made his magic flow smoother than it did when he was in the Blue. It was as if there were no filters or barriers between him and Shadow Voltron. That was how his mother had powered it so easily, almost effortlessly flying and pouring her magic into the gigantic robot, but he had to be more careful. He had to exert more control over how he was going to use his powers. However, when he sat down in the seat and powered it up, felt himself become one with Shadow Voltron--he forgot all about control.

"I don't like it," Jack said, staring at the spot where Ethan had descended into the robot.

"We don't have a choice," Allura said, making her way to the Blue. "Let's go."

"Wait," Bethie said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Allura turned and met her daughter's embrace.

"You had me worried," Bethie said quietly.

Allura put a hand on the back of her head and she closed her eyes briefly.

"If I had been in my right mind, I would have sacrificed myself to not hurt you," she said.

"I know, Mom. I know."

"I love you, Bethie."

"I love you, too."

"Your father and Alana...?"

Bethie's lips thinned.

"I don't know. Let's get out of here so that we can see them again," she said.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Allura said.