Author's Note

Almost forgot to publish this but I didn't!

Also, this chapter is named after a song (which I do NOT own)

Comments are appreciated.

This will be the day.

This will be the day.

"You have been brought here for a simple reason. To follow me as we crush our enemies. Your lives mean nothing else. You shall fight for victory or you shall die. Today, a foolish machine thinks itself above me. Today, pestilent rebels think they have the might to overthrow my empire. Today, I, with you standing by my side, shall vanquish these insolent insects. You have been selected for your might, loyalty, numbers and your tenacity. You have never failed me before. Do not do so now, or you shall face the consequences. You shall be my vanguard into battle. For victory. Victory or Death!" Zarkon shouts, the many standing before him roaring in agreement.

"VICTORY OR DEATH!" They all chant.

"Silence." Zarkon commands, the enter crowd dead quiet. "The enemy we shall face is one you have heard of. The White Knight. One who deludes itself as powerful. We shall show it the true meaning of power! We shall show it true pain!" Zarkon declares, another cheer coming from the crowd.

"VREPIT SA!"

"Good. Now, let us begin the conquest." Zarkon says, turning to face the wall of the massive hall. The wall begins lowering, showing the massive construct in front of the Emperor. All the soldiers stand silent, shocked into muteness. Before then stands a nightmare manifest into metal.

(Mystacor)

I wake up the next day from another psychedelic dream, feeling refreshed but… off put. As though something is weighing me down or weighing down on me. I decide to get in some practice with my hidden back weapons, as I had been neglecting to use them.

Hovering above the clouds over Shadowhowl forest, my Bayard merges with my wings, transforming them. They extend into my Signal cannon.

~~Alright, let's see if I still got it.~~ I say. I fly straight towards a cloud in front of me, shouting loudly. The Signal cannon fires, scattering the cloud completely. Banking upwards, I shout again, blasting through another cloud. Looking through the two large holes in the cloud cover, I see the pitch black forest down below.

Scanning: Scans show there is a large population of Nightmali and other possibly dangerous species in the forest.

~~Enough to be a threat?~~ I ask.

Response: Possibly. I recommend we lower the population, to prevent overcrowding and rogue pack migration.

~~You read my mind.~~

Response: Of course I did, we're both connected. Voltron sasses as I fly down, landing in a familiar clearing.

~~Deja vu. I feel like… wait, is this the crater I landed in?~~ I wonder.

Response: It would seem so.

Huh. That feels like forever ago. I say as I hear something snap behind me. Turning to face it, I see a pair of glowing yellow eyes peering at me from the dark canopy.
Those don't look like Nightmalice eyes. Too glowy. I think as I turn to face the pair of eyes, hearing a low growl. More yellow eyes appear in the dark, growling and barking now filling the clearing.
Let's try something different. Form Armour-claws.

Command: Registered. Forming Armour-claws.

My Bayard teleports up my arm again, remerging with my wings and making them swell up, armour plating forming over my arms and hands.

~~Alright. Here boys. I got something to give you and it isn't a bone.~~ I say, taunting the animals with my arms. They start moving out of the shadows, showing their bodies for the first time. They appear to be large wolves or hounds, made completely out of wood.

Notice: They are Timberwolves. They are magical creatures that typically infest forests. Beware: They possess the ability to regenerate and merge together using wood from each other or from the surrounding trees. Voltron informs me.

~~They can regenerate? Perfect.~~ I say, as the wolves all pounce. I huddle close to the ground, letting the pack land on me. They all scratch and bite at me, not doing any damage to my armour. ~~Three, two, one.~~ Igniting my new thruster, I blast straight up, scattering wood everywhere. Landing a moment later, I watch as the pieces of wood all glow green, magnetising together. The wolves all start reforming, pouncing at me again.

This time, I blast them with my hand blasters and tail, smoking the scattered wood. A familiar howl suddenly comes from the forest, shaking all the remaining wolves. The broken wolves reform, the entire pack running away as a large shadow stretches from the edge of the clearing.
A Nightmalice. Been a whi…
The shadow starts rising from the ground, a large familiar scarred head emerging from the shadow.

~~No way. You again?~~ I say in surprise, seeing the large alpha male I fought before. The alpha emerges fully, standing tall in front of me. It growls at me. ~~Oh, I remember you too.~~ I say, pointing my hand emitters at him. He suddenly stops growling. He stares at me for a moment, his broken teeth and scarred side glistening in the morning light. He takes a step forward.

I prepare to fire, thruster glowing in preparation.

The alpha kneels before me, body flat against the ground.
Uuuuh… I think, surprised at the strange behaviour. I take a step closer, hands still raised to fire. The alpha simply stares at me with cold empty eyes.

~~What is it doing?~~ I ask silently.

Response: It appears to be surrendering.

~~Surrendering?~~

Response: Yes. It seems as though it recognises that it cannot fight you and win, so it seems to be surrendering. Voltron says.

~~Didn't think this thing was that smart.~~ I say, crouching down but still keeping my guard up. The alpha looks up at me before closing its eyes, still and quiet. Looking at the scars along its body, I see what it wants. ~~Oh. I see. You must be very old, aren't you? A big old man like you, you've probably lived long enough. And now that I'm here again, you can go out like your packmates.~~ Raising my hand above his head, I rest the clawed hand on its skull, my emitter glowing.

~~Rest now, warrior.~~ I say, firing. The alpha's body begins vanishing, the magic of its self returning to the air. I stand, ready to continue my training.

(The Dagger)

"…Dagger, there is a …eet heading towa… I repea…" A transmission plays, staticky and distorted.

"Unknown transmitter, identify yourself."

"This is base Oscil …ma Kilos. We have detected a massi…eading towards you. I repeat…"

"Communications, see if you can clear up that signal." Yarak says.

"Yes lieutenant. …There, we should be able to hear it clearly now. Unknown transmitter, please identify yourself." The Blade says as the message repeats, now clear of static.

"Attention Dagger, this is base Oscil Lima Kilos. We have detected a massive fleet heading towards you. Ten assault ships, ten carrier ships, multiple squadrons of fighters and what appears to be a ro-beast coffin is heading straight towards your location. You must leave that planet now!" The signal suddenly stops.

"Send a message to commander Kolivan, NOW! Code omega red! Tell him to contact Diego immediately!" Yarak orders.