Breaking free. (part 2)

Where… where… am… I? Who… am… I? Do I… have… a name? I… can't… re…member. Why… do… I… feel… so… so… weak? I…

You… must…

What? Is… some…one… there?

Save…

Save? Save… what? Save… me? How…
The void shakes. Pain erupts from…
Ah! What… what … is…

Please! He's …o stro… …n't hol…

Is… some…thing… there? I hear a sound. The world shakes again, pain flowing from my mind.
Ah! Aah! It… hurts!
Do you want the pain to end?
Huh? Who…
You won't remember me. Not right now. But I can give you the strength to remember what you have forgotten.
My mind burns with images and sounds. Sensations and thoughts. I remember entering a world of magic. I remember the white. I remember the others. I remember the enemy. I remember everything… except myself.
Wh…where is…
I ask you a simple question. You can return to that, be what we have made you to be or you can return to the existence you came from. What will it be?
The… exist…ence? My… life.
I remember the loving grasp of a mother. The encouraging push of a father. The desire to see and learn. I remember that which I had… but not what I have.
Who… who… am I?
That is not something I can tell you. You must choose.
Save th-
The void tingles with a sensation. A need. A desire for… something.
What will it be? Danger or demure? Fight for yourself or live how you were meant to?
Do not-
Why… would I… fight? Can I… not… live… in peace?
If that is your choice.
…I choose…
Please!
…I choose… to…
Help us!
…I choose… to… li-
DIEGO!
The void shatters.
I CHOOSE TO FIGHT!
Are you sure?
I WILL LEAD THEM TO VICTORY!
With what?
WITH THE STRENGTH OF MY HEART! I WILL BE THE STAR THAT GUIDES THEM! TO A NEW TOMORROW!
Then do it. Shatter your bonds. Protect those who light your heart. Awaken, Super Voltron!
AWAKEN!

(With Cracked Sky)

Cracked looked at the battlefield, seeing the multitude of ships destroyed by Zarkon's overwhelming power. Behind her, Shining lay unconscious on the floor of the shuttle. Shining then began writhing on the ground, groaning.

"Jex?" His mother asked in concern, wanting to turn and look at him but needing to pilot the ship.

"Please…" Shining whimpered.

"Hold on Jex. We're going to get you some-"

"DIEGO!" Shining suddenly screamed, his eyes glowing pale white.

"Jex!"

(On the Shadow)

Yarak looked forward at the destroyed Blades ships. The lives lost. Thankfully, the Shadow managed to avoid Zarkon's attacks mostly unscathed, only suffering minor hull damage from fragments of other ships. Kolivan was next to him, leaning weakly against the console.

"Commander, I insist that you let someone take you to-"

"Not while I can still fight. Not while my men are being…" Kolivan trails off.

"Sir?" Yarak asks.

"No… no… please, no!" Kolivan suddenly yells, staring at empty space.

"Sir, what is it-" Yarak steps towards Kolivan.

"DIEGO!" Kolivan suddenly yells, his eyes glowing.

"Sir!"

(Back on Mystacor)

The people in the courtroom help the night princess and the captains to their feet, holding them up.

"Sister, what happened?" Celestia asks in worry.

"Di… Diego, he…" Luna pants, weak and crying.

"He's…" Hammer Strike mutters before they all look up in horror.

"What is i-" Celestia tries to ask.

"No!" They all shout. "No please! Diego!" They all shout in unison, the captains and Luna's eyes all glowing the same colour.

(In space)

Diego's hand reaches out, clenching as his Bayard appears in his hand. His body burns with power as his Bayard glows bright white.

Power level is rising rapidly. 13%. 21%. 34%. 55%. 89%. Progression drive is active. Quintessence amplification subroutine is engaged. Power level is 170%. Form Thaum pistol.

In Diego's hand, his Bayard changes shape, now forming a rectangular barrel and forming into a standard grip. The glow fades, showing the thin silver pistol in his hand. A nearby intact Galra ship turns it's side to Diego, launching fighters at him. Diego raises his pistol.

Acquiring targets. Targets acquired.

ɘɔɒɿT
ɘɔɿɘiԳ

Diego fires, the energy bullet whizzing through space as the fighters draw closer. The bullet changes direction, plowing through the cockpit. Changing direction again and again, it skewers through all the fighters before they get close. Seeing the first wave fail, the carrier sends hundreds more fighters.

Acquiring secondary targets. Targets acquired.

ɿɘiʇilqmɒ ɿɘwoԳ
mƨiɿԳ

γʇilqmɒ ɿɘwoԳ

ɘɔɒɿT
ɘϱɒɿɿɒd lɒɈnɘmɘlƎ

Diego fires three shots. The first seems to simply disappear after a few metres. The second flies for a moment before suddenly exploding in several directions, the various energy bullets vanishing a moment after that. The third shot flies forward as a radiant burst of colours, rushing forward for a moment before stopping at the same place the first shot disappeared.

Like the second shot, it bursts outward in a myriad of directions, each individual bullet now a single colour and even larger than before. The energy bullets curve through the air, locking onto the army of fighters. The fighters and hail of bullets clash, a plethora of explosions and debris littering the void. A fighter is engulfed in flames here, another is crushed into scrap. A fighter is frozen solid there as another stops in place, held in a magic field. A pair of fighters melt into slag as even more explode and get ripped to shreds. Barely any fighters are left undamaged. A battle cruiser fires a massive energy net at Diego. Switching hands in an instant, Diego aims at the net.

ƨƨυɔnoƆ

Diego fires again, a shockwave blasting the net at a squadron of fighters. Diego turns, aiming straight at Zarkon.

ɘϱnɒɿ ϱno⅃
ɘɔɿɘiԳ

The energy bullet sails through space, traveling until it reaches the imposing mech. Zarkon blocks with a clawed hand. The shot pierces through the armour, bouncing off of the head of the Eradicator, a hole clean through the hand.

Diego stares at the Eradicator as he places his Bayard in his chest port.

ENGAGE.

Zarkon stares at his destroyed forces in annoyance as he watches his enemy transform.
How did he regain his quintessence so quickly? It shouldn't be possible, unless… he has some sort of backup energy source. If that is true, he won't be able to battle me for long.

"Come!" Zarkon challenges, his mech broadcasting his voice for all to hear. "Face your destruction!" Zarkon races forward, negative quintessence building in his hands. His opponent draws his sword, white burning plasma wafting off of the blade as his shield assembles on his free arm. Shifting his own glowing purple blade-wings into attack formation, Zarkon the emperor charges, meeting sword with blades. "I ask you a question, machine. Why do you care for these insects?" Zarkon taunts, pushing forward.

«Why do you oppress them?» The machine rebukes, resisting Zarkons pressure.

"It is my right to rule. From the day I was born, it all belonged to me. Those who resisted were destroyed, as all shall be. As you shall join them!" Zarkon sidesteps the knight, slashing at his side and preparing another negative quintessence blast. The machine blocks the slash with his sword, bashing the Eradicator a moment later to throw off Zarkons aim. The blast of black magic flies into the void of space harmlessly.

«All you do is destroy and ruin. You could have used your great intellect to help the universe. Instead, you serve nothing. You merely steal from those who cannot fight you and foolishly destroy those who do. You are true evil. I have no pity for you and you shall have no mercy from me.» The machine declares, his sword burning hotter.
It can't be a second energy source. The amount of power he is displaying is even greater than what I absorbed. Zarkon thinks as he fires at the machine with another black blast. The machine counters, knocking his hand away again.
He must be receiving power from something. But what? How? Zarkon slashes at the machine with his wings again as it backs off, forming it's arm cannon as it's shield returns to its back as wings. The machine fires at Zarkon. He blocks with his wings, a shield of pure quintessence stopping the blast.
There must be some… no, it couldn't be.
Zarkon attacks with negative quintessence again, draining the machine for once. The machine shrugs it off, instead forming its large shoulder mounted cannon. Zarkon blocks again as he is struck by the powerful attack. The beam deflects off the shield, narrowly avoiding a Blades shuttle.
It must be. It knows the secret of quintessence amplification. I must capture it! Zarkon resolves as he fires on the machine again.

The machine takes the hit but Zarkon absorbs notably less quintessence from him. The machine charges forward with his sword still burning, backing Zarkon into the destroyed wreckage of a Galra carrier. Zarkon grabs the massive wreckage as the arms of the Eradicator glow. Pulling the wreckage through space, Zarkon bats at the machine.

The machine slashes at the ship, cutting it in two as it melts into molten metal. Suddenly, the machine's flaming sword vanishes. Zarkon stares at it as the machine punches at the Eradicator.
Is it running out of quintessence? Zarkon thinks as he cautiously slashes with his wings. The machine feints away as a different sword appears in its hands.
It was a trick!
The new sword forms, a obscenely large scimitar now in its hands as it slashes back at the Eradicator. The battle is not over yet.

To be continued…