Chapter Text
“Alright everybody to your positions,” Shiro announced from his position at the entrance of the maze “Lance, Pidge, you ready?”
“No,” Pidge deadpanned, running a hand along the wall as they walked.
“Why do we have to be the runners? Why can’t we be the ones doing the chasing?” Lance complained, tilting his head back to eye the massive maze walls like he might find a way up them (spoiler: he couldn’t)
“Look Lance it’s not our fault you drew the short straw,” Keith’s voice came sharp and amused through the comms.
“Shut it mullet,” Lance snapped, glaring in the direction he guessed the entrance was.
He wandered deeper into the maze, deliberately trying to get himself lost so the others would be too. Hah. Genius. He and Pidge had split up the second they stepped inside, divide and conquer or something like that. The drill was supposed to be for… uh... agility? Endurance? Whatever. Lance had tuned most of that out. All he knew was this felt a lot like tag. Or hide and seek. With more walls. Joke’s on them he was a master of both games, trained by years of chaos by his siblings, cousins, and way too many nieces and nephews.
“Cut it out you two,” Shiro cut in. “Lance, everyone gets their turn chasing eventually."
“Doesn’t mean I won’t complain about it,” Lance mumbled as he came to a stop. No point tiring himself out when the game hasn’t even started yet.
“Come on buddy it’ll be like the old days” Hunk chimed in over the comms.
“…The old days were you threw me in a lake?” Lance deadpanned.
“Hunk, you what-“ Keith sounded like he was about to laugh.
“He deserved it,” Hunk said confidently.
“What did I do?!?” Lance squawked.
“I don’t even know what happened,” Pidge chimed in. “But Hunk just so you know I’m on your side.”
“Ass,” Lance muttered.
“Whore,” Pidge shot back without missing a beat.
“Thank you, Pidge” Hunk said happily.
“You’re all traitors,” Lance groaned.
BUZZZ.
Lance jumped, and several startled shouts echoes through the maze. Lance, of course, did not scream like a girl.
“ANDDDD They’re off!” Coran shouted suddenly through the comms, nearly deafening everyone.
“Coran, a little warning would’ve been nice,” Pidge muttered under their breath.
“Hoho, but it’s even more exciting this way number 5!” Coran replied, far too cheerful.
“Exciting for who?!” Lance demanded in a harsh whisper, scanning the maze.
There was a flash oh red.
“WAAA-” He shrieked, stumbling into a run as Keith lunged at him.
“You’ve gotta pay attention Lance,” Shiro says cooly as he joined Keith, both zeroing in on him.
“Keith! What the heck how’d you find me so fast?!” Lance yelled over his shoulder, still sprinting forward.
Keith smirks “Like he said, pay attention.”
“Jesus Christ this feels more like a horror house,” Pidge panted as she glanced over her shoulder.
“Why are you so fast?!” Hunk gasped, clutching his side.
Pidge barks out a laugh and sticks their tongue out.
“Hey why is Keith AND Shiro after me! Pidgeeee” Lance cried through the comms, skidding around a corner to escape.
Pidge gasped for breath “Ohhh HELL no, your problem.”
Hunk was walking, yes, walking. Excuse you, he wasn’t about to waste good energy on running. He’d catch Pidge sooner or later anyway. He thought to where Shiro and Keith were. Heh. Sorry, Lance. He felt a tiny pang of guilt for his buddy, but… well, Shiro and Keith had him covered. He’d be fine. Probably.
He figured he had to be about halfway through the maze by now. Tilting his head back, he studied the tall, empty walls towering overhead.
When he finally looked forward again he caught a flicker of green at the edge of his vision.
“Pidge!” Hunk shouted when he finally spotted them and broke into a sprint.
He saw their eyes go wide before Pidge spun on their heel and scrambled into a run.
“Don’t even, Hunk!” Pidge yelled over their shoulder, refusing to slow.
“Come on, Pidge, please, I’ll—”
“Lalalala, I can’t hear you!” Pidge cut him off, hands over their ears as they ran.
They whipped around a sharp corner—
BANG!
Something slammed against the wall, echoing through the maze. Pidge flinched, instinctively glancing back. Just in time for Hunk to lunge, nearly tackling them. Their eyes went wide as they barely dodged with a shout, scrambling forward again.
Before they can even recover, they see hunk making another grab at them.
“GAH—!” Pidge twisted sideways at the last second, practically scraping the wall to slip free. Their eyes widened as Hunk’s shadow passed over them, and they let out a strangled shout before tearing forward again.
“Whatthefuckwhatthefuckwhatthefuck!” Pidge hissed under their breath.
“Aw, come on, Pidge!” Hunk called, struggling to keep pace.
“Sorry! I’m not about to be the dumb one in a horror movie, and I never will be!”
They darted left, then right, skidding on the smooth floor as Hunk barreled after them. His breathing was ragged, but he didn’t slow.
“But I can-” Hunk panted, voice breaking as he tried to keep up.
“STOP BRIBING ME WITH FOOD!” Pidge yelled, nearly tripping as they rounded another corner. Their heart thudded so hard it felt like their ribs would crack.
Pidge glanced back for a split second, bad move. Hunk was closer than they thought. They yelped, stumbling forward with a burst of speed.
“Oh, come on!” Hunk wheezed. His chest burned, lungs about to give out, but no way was he backing down.
A voice in his head that sounds an awful lot like Lance echoed in his head “Never back down, never what?!” shaking his head he charges harder. Not the time!
Pidge, meanwhile, threw themselves around another corner, shoulders brushing the wall as they scraped by. Their lungs screamed, but they refused to stop.
“THIS IS BULLSHIT!” they shouted to no one in particular.
“Just- hold still!” Hunk gasped, swinging around the corner right behind them.
“NEVER!” Pidge’s voice cracked, but their legs kept moving.
Lance ran with only one goal in mind:
To troll Keith and maybe Shiro... but mostly Keith.
He has a feeling Shiro isn’t taking this seriously anyway.
His legs pumped hard against the smooth floor as he rounded a sharp corner.
Keith was hot on his heels, grinning like the crazy maniac he is, while Shiro followed close behind, his expression a full of amusement.
Lance exhaled sharply, a grin tugging at his lips. This is harder than I thought… I love you so much, long legs.
He pushed himself harder, a wall loomed ahead, and Lance’s instincts kicked in. With a running leap, he launched himself upward, flipping over it and landing behind Keith.
Keith skidded to a halt, hands slamming against the wall to steady himself, while Shiro charged forward. Lance barely managed a dodge, flipping just in time as Keith lunged from behind.
He began a dizzying dance, weaving, spinning, and leaping, forcing his pursuers to react quickly or lose their balance.
“Hah catch me if you can Mullet!”
Keith swung a precise kick, which Lance narrowly avoided, while Shiro’s strike nearly collided with Keith, sending both of them off rhythm.
“K holy cheese never mind” Lance squeaked.
The chase turned into a whirlwind.
Lance flipped, spun, and twisted around the two of them, each move teasing and taunting.
Lance laughed, high on adrenaline.
He manages to back away from both of them for a moment before he dodges another hit.
Spotting a perfect opportunity, Lance slid across the floor to escape, almost losing his balance in the process. Breathing heavily, he sprang back to his feet and fully sprinted, finally rounding a corner so sharply it might have sounded like someone hit a wall. You know maybe someone did, he hoped it was mullet. Oh well no turning back now.
He ran until the footsteps behind him faded into silence.
“Alright, we’ve just hit our 10-minute mark! Paladins, weapons are now available!” Coran announced cheerfully.
Pidge’s heart stuttered “WHAT THE FUUUCK-” They barely had time to scream before a burst of light exploded behind them. They whipped around and suddenly bolts were raining down on them.
“Pidge, language.” Shiro’s voice crackled through the comms.
Pidge was panting hard now. “YOU’D BE SWEARING TOO IF THE ONE CHASING YOU WAS OPENLY FIRING!”
“Shit I lost him.” Keith muttered to Shiro.
“HAH! Take that mullet.” Lance crowed smugly.
“Sure, Lance make some more noise,” Keith replied dryly. “iIt’s like you want us to get you.”
Shiro lifted a hand and motioned for Keith to split off. Keith gave a quick nod before darting down a different corridor.
“Well, contrary to popular belief Keith, I am excellent at hiding. Which technically makes me a master of stealth,” Lance said smugly, arms crossed like he’d just dropped the greatest fact in history.
The moment lasted about 3 seconds before a flash of violet light streaked across his vision. Shiro lunging at him with his hand-weapon glowing.
“WOAH- HOLY CROW!” Lance yelped, stumbling back. “Shiro! PUT THAT THING AWAY!”
Keith’s voice came over the comms flat and unimpressed. “Isn’t stealth all about being quiet.”
“SHUT IT MULLET!” Lance snapped, already bolting down the next corridor.
Keith rounded the corner falling in step with Shiro.
“You’re not taking this seriously are you?” Keith panted.
“Whatever do you mean?” Shiro replied nonchalant.
“Lance why don’t you try firing my boy?” Coran advised over the comms.
“Coran not the time!” Lance wheezed.
“I’m merely trying to help..” Coran muttered and Lance could practically hear his pout.
“Yeah well I cant exactly shoot my behind while running full speed!” Lance snapped, just as Keith lunged at him out of nowhere, blade whistling past him. “Ah- HOLY CROW KEITH! I’D LIKE TO KEEP MY ARM THANK YOU VERY MUCH!” Lance yelped, barely able to twist his body in a flip vaulting off the wall to dodge.
He stumbled back into a sprint, flailing his arms. “No offense Shiro.” He added, almost tripping over himself.
“None,” Shiro grunts as he tries to land a blow on Lance “Taken.” Shiro replied flatly.
“Number 5! How’s it going!”
Pidge flinched, pressing their back to the wall. “Please go back to annoying Lance, Coran.” They whispered harshly.
“Woah nice hiding place!”
“Coran! Shush” Pidge hissed.
They risked a glance around the corner. Coasts clear. They make a run for it.
“Uh.. guys? I think I’m lost,” Hunk said scratching his head as he squinted at the endless walls.
“Hunk!” Keith snapped, already sounding done with him.
“This place is like a maze!”
“Why that’s the point number 2!” Coran chirped happily.
“Hunk behind you shoot!” Shiro shouted.
“No, buddy, don’t shoot!” Lance cut in fast.
But before Hunk could even raise his weapon, Lance fired off two quick shots, one disarming him, the other hitting him square in the chest. As Lance sprinted past, he gave Hunk a shove that sent Keith and Shiro stumbling to dodge.
“Oh come on!” Hunk groans as they zoom past him.
Lance lets out a breathless laugh. “Sorry buddy gotta run!”
“And that’s one out! You’ve put on quite the fight number 2!” Coran’s voice boomed overhead.
“Thanks Coran.” Hunk muttered as he sank to the floor with a sigh.
“Pidge!”
“Ah!”
Lance caught Pidge by the wrist before they collided, spinning them forward and dragging them along as the two bolted side by side at full speed. They tore down the corridor, breaths ragged, their footsteps pounded against the floor, echoing through the maze walls.
The path split ahead, two ways to go.
“Split up?” Pidge asked quickly
Lance nods breathless but determined.
“You take Lance, I’ll take Pidge!” Shiro ordered, gesturing to Keith.
“Yes sir.” Keith nodded.
“Why the heck do I always get mullet?!”
Lance skidded to a dead end and spun on his heel just in time to fire his blaster. The shots whizzed past Keith, who barely managed to dodge, raising his shield just in time to block. With a grunt, Keith rammed the shield forward, forcing Lance to jump back several feet. Thinking fast, Lance flipped to the side with a cartwheel, landing lightly on his feet, and lashed out a low kick to Keith’s legs. Keith stumbled for a moment before recovering and swinging his sword toward Lance. Lance yelped and leapt backward, but Keith’s foot caught his ankle mid-jump, sending him sprawling onto his back. Keith loomed over him, sword pointed at his throat.
“Almost had me there, sharpshooter,” Keith breathes out heavily, chest rising and falling with each heavy breath.
Lance let his head drop to the floor, staring up at the ceiling as sweat dripped down his forehead. His lungs burned, his muscles are probably gonna ache after this.
“And that’s game!” Coran announced.
“I- what- Pidge! You got caught already?!” Lance shot up from the floor.
Keith held out a hand, and Lance grabbed it, letting himself be pulled up.
“You try running from a beast!” Pidges voice crackled in the comms.
“Great work everybody,” Shiro praised as the maze walls fade down and the training setting fades away.
Hunk is revealed sprawled on the floor like a starfish.
“Hunk, nice work but try not to get lost next time,” Shiro said with a small smile.
“Yes Shiro.. I fell for Pidge’s illusion trick at the very end,” Hunk said, glaring halfheartedly at Pidge’s smug expression.
“Happens to the best of us,” Pidge shrugged, clearly pleased with themselves.
“Pidge, try not to give up right away when I’m the one chasing you” Shiro deadpanned.
“Like I said you’re a beast,” Pidge simply replied.
“And Lance nice work surviving that long,” Shiro continued.
“I tripped! I would’ve survived longer!” Lance protested.
Keith smirked and Lance glared at him.
“You beat your own record my boy!” Coran said, walking towards them bringing refreshments.
“We all know Shiro was holding back on me,” Lance muttered, grabbing a drink and turning away, a hand on his hip.
“Amazing reflexes Keith but be aware of who’s next to you-,” Shiro sighs and crosses his arms. “You almost sliced my other hand off multiple times.”
“Really?” Keith blinked before sipping on his drink.
“Remember guys this training was focused on survival, endurance, agility, and quick thinking as a practice to be able to escape situations we cant avoid or pursuits; but even so please don’t forget to work together, Lance, Pidge” Shiro added.
“Yes sir,” Lance replied.
Pidge just grunted.
“Alright lets-“ Shiro began, but Allura’s voice cut through the speakers.
“Paladins! To the control room! We’ve got an emergency signal!”
“Aww come on! I wanted to chase Keith!” Lance groaned.
“Lance, stop being gay,” Pidge deadpanned.
Both Keith and Lance blushed.
Lance squints at them and shot back. “why don’t you go back to your nest pigeon”
“Ohhhh nice one Lance!” Hunk cheered from the floor.
The doors to the control room slid open, revealing Allura standing at the center, poised and battle-ready. Before her stretched a vast projection of the galaxy, countless star systems glowing in shifting constellations. Some shone red, still under Zarkon’s forces. The system they were in right now shined a faint blue having been liberated a day before.
Allura’s eyes narrowed as she zoomed in on the planet. The flicker was obviously a distress signal.
As the paladins filed into the room Lance set a gaze on the planets name brow furrowed. Planet Heirilia. Huh, must be one of the worlds the original paladins once saved.
Allura folded her arms, one hand pressed lightly to her chin, her expression caught between thought and worry. Her brows furrowed as the rest of the Paladins quietly moved to their assigned seats.
Coran slid into his own station, squinting at the starmap before he presses a few series on buttons as he muttered something too soft for Lance to hear.
“Ah! I knew this looked familiar!” Coran exclaimed, snapping his fingers and twisting his mustache.
All eyes shifted to Coran, all their attention now on him.
“This is the planet Heirilia a quiet world known for its solitude and remarkable hospitality. It is said that either the planet itself, or perhaps its people, selects and welcomes warriors of all kinds, giving them a place to rest. Why, King Alfor visited many times, you know. Sometimes with the Queen, sometimes with the paladins of old. Why, even young Allura traveled there once.” His tone softened at the end as his gaze flicked toward her.
Allura’s lips curved into a small smile. “Yes, I celebrated a birthday there.”
Coran’s face darkened. “But if that’s the case.. why are they sending out a distress signal?”
The team turned their gazes to the planet. Its system was haloed in blue, normally a sign of peace, untouched by the Galra influence.
“That’s what I’ve been wondering too, Coran,” Allura admitted, her tone thoughtful.
Lance leaned back in his chair. “What if they, like.. I don’t know, butt-dialed us?”
Coran blinked, his face twisting in confusion. “How would their butts dial us?”
“Or maybe they were checking if the signal works or not,” Pidge added.
Shiro leaned forward. “Well, if they need our help, then let’s go help them.” Shiro said firmly.
“Agreed,” Allura straightened. “Everyone, prepare for a wormhole jump. This signal could have been active for some time already. I know you’ve just come from training, but we can’t ignore their call.
A chorus of agreement filled the room.
Allura raised her hands, and glowing pillars rose around her, the air humming with energy. Space rippled as she opened the wormhole, light spiraling before bursting apart into glittering fragments that lingered like stardust.
A collective breath escaped the Paladins as the wormhole cleared.
Before them was Planet Heirilia. At first glance, its beauty felt unreal, as though it belonged to a dream. Lush greens and glistening waters visible even from orbit. The longer they looked, the more the planet’s beauty felt wrong, like something dangerous lurked beneath the surface.
“Whoa..” Lance whispered under his breath, but the awe in his voice was edged with unease.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Something about the planet felt.. off.