Adversity has the effect of eliciting talents which in prosperous circumstances would have lain dormant.
-Horace
Chapter Four
Alana could see Merla's power. It was difficult to describe how her senses translated to this spiritual form, but that was the best word for what she was doing. Merla was like a black shadow cutting across the white light that was Arus' magic. It was easy for her to gather herself and surround that blackness. Archent did the same, providing a second layer, but Ethan kept his distance. She could sense him, on the edges of the action, like a lion waiting to pounce. Merla's magic brushed against hers, but it was not concerned with her power. Alana had spread herself thin in order to completely surround Merla and Archent had done the same. They were helpless against her if she could break free but that was why Ethan was not yet stepping into the ring. When he did, that was when the real fight would start.
You're just keeping me warm, Merla taunted.
Then why do you sound so nervous, Ethan retorted. Cockiness is not a weapon, Merla. You're just wasting your energy baiting us. If I were you, I'd pay attention to the big giant robot taking swings at me.
Are we watching the same thing, Little Prince? Your Voltron is not exactly living up to his name at this moment. If I'm so weak, then how come it hasn't destroyed me yet?
You're using Arus like you always did, but it's going to bite you in the ass real soon, Merla.
The surge of magic was unlike anything Alana had ever experienced before and it was all Ethan. He enveloped her and Archent, and then Merla, imprisoning them all in his power and what he had gathered from the Core. It was impressive and frightening at the same time because it was unstable. Alana could feel it and she knew that Ethan would not be able to maintain this shield for very long. He was struggling already, but Merla did not know that. She was too busy trying to break free.
NO!! Merla shrieked.
She struggled against Ethan's power but he did not so much as budge. If it had just been him, she would have had a chance, but with the layers of Archent and Alana, she did not have a chance of breaking free. But Alana was not sure how they would go about destroying her.
Shadow Voltron needs to be destroyed for her to die, Ethan said, answering her unasked question. It's the only thing keeping us both here.
What do you want us to do? Archent asked.
You have to move fast, Archent, Ethan replied. Get back in your body and tell Jack to destroy this robot as soon as he sees that the shield is down. I've got control of Shadow Voltron now and I'm going to lower it for him, but he's only going to have one hit. It'll just be me and her in here by then so he has to make it a good one.
Just say when, Archent said.
When.
Jack could barely understand the words that Archent was shouting at him but he got the gist of it. He heard Allura's sucked in breath, felt the knot in his stomach get tighter, but he would do it. Not blinking, he stared at Shadow Voltron which was now just hanging in mid-air, limbs loose. The glow surrounding it flickered...
He heard a yell, unaware that it was his own, as he pushed Voltron forward at full speed, sword held in both hands. When he pierced Shadow Voltron's armor until the point of the sword came out the other side, he felt it in his gut. When he jerked the sword upwards, firing boosters and propelling Voltron upward until it sliced the other robot in half, he felt it in his heart. The Blazing Sword had hit the mark and Shadow Voltron looked like a grotesque puppet, torn in two perfect halves. Its face, expressionless and in two, stared at Voltron, at Jack, and he knew he would be seeing it in his nightmares.
"It's done," he murmured.
Time seemed to stand still as Shadow Voltron began to fall to the ground, the cut the Blazing Sword made a visible red line. It exploded before it hit. Just like that. It, Merla...and Ethan were gone.
"We still have one more problem to deal with," Allura said. "The Core."
Keeping a tight rein on his emotions, Jack turned Voltron towards the hole.
"What'll happen if we absorb it?" he asked, though he really didn't expect anyone to know.
"I don't know," Bethie said.
"I want you all out of here," Jack said, reaching for his helmet and putting it back on. "We're not going to take any more risks."
"We're not leaving you here," Bethie protested. "I already lost someone I love today, Jack. I'm not gonna lose another. None of us are."
"Honor aside, we have to be realistic. There's no reason for all five of us to stay in here when it only takes one person to drive the big guy. Don't make me throw you out, Bethie."
"No," she said firmly. "I'm not leaving. You don't know a lick about this magic and you need me here to control it for you."
Allura stood. She did not want to have to tell Link that she had let her son die that day, but there was no other choice and Jack was not going to budge. She wanted to beg him to reconsider, to let her pilot Voltron, but she knew he would have no qualms about picking her up and depositing her outside if he had to. This boy of Lance's was more than she had ever expected him to be and that had been considerable. It took a good man to lay his life down for his planet and his loved ones without hesitation and she would be sure to tell Link and Lance that.
"Let's go, Elisabeth," she said tiredly.
"Mom, no!"
"It's not just your life now, but also your child's. Jack can do this alone. The magic is drawn to Voltron like a moth to a flame. He doesn't need anyone here with him."
Jack looked up gratefully at her, but he found no warmth in her gaze...just naked fear. She put a hand on his shoulder, slid it up to pat his cheek.
"Don't do anything stupid," she said. "I agree with, Bethie. I already lost one son today, Jack."
"I'll be back," he said, though he did not believe it anymore than she did.
He landed Voltron carefully and waited until the other four pilots filed out. He did not want to get out because he was afraid he would not go back in if he did. The gunship that his father was in had landed as well and he could see them all gathered at Voltron's feet. Allura was in Keith's arms, holding on tight and Bethie came up to hug them both. Jordan went to her father and he was sure that she was crying. His own father was standing with Matt, one hand on the tall boy's shoulder, but his eyes were pointed up at the robot. Jack could see his mouth moving as he held his communicator up, but Jack had turned his off. It was cruel, but he could not listen to their voices. He did not want to die, but he was not going to turn his back on this one. He'd always wanted to be a hero...but he should have been more specific about that. A live hero is preferable to a dead one, in his opinion, but as usual, no one paid that any heed.
He raised his hand in one final wave as he prepped Voltron.
And blinked in the sunlight when he found himself standing outside.
"Jack?!?" Lance exclaimed.
Jack stared at them.
"What just happened?" he asked.
But no one could answer his question as their attention was pulled to the robot, flying on its own.
"Ethan," he said.
"No," Allura said, one hand over her mouth. "Alana."
