Chapter Text
Four months later, Allura and Matt were married. They and Lotor joined together to disband the remaining forces occupying the Realm. People, Galra or otherwise, were set free and returned to their families. Homes and towns started being rebuilt. Lingering supporters of the Empire were weeded out and peace began to return once again. Kolivan became the new Emperor of the Galra, and with the help of the Marmora, the new systems of government were set in place. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.
An award ceremony had been planned for this day, and those attending were dressed in their finest, while the kitchens of the Elven King were busy preparing the feast that was to follow. Morla walked briskly through the halls of the palace and then let herself in to one of the guest rooms. She heard a child babbling and a deeper masculine voice speaking back to him. As she poked her head through the doorway of the bathing room she saw a black, but soapy, head of hair.
“Shiro. I thought you were getting ready for the ceremony. Why is Keith still in the bath?” Metal grey eyes found hers and brightened. Shiro’s hair was now completely white, instead of the dark brown it had once been.
“Morla! Look at the fierce Galran warrior!” Shiro’s one soapy hand pulled away from the top of his son’s head, where he had been styling the black hair into a Mohawk. Keith let out a loud yell-like roar and hit the water with his little fists, further soaking Shiro’s grey shirt.
“So ferocious!” she teased them. “But even Galran warriors need to be on time. Do you want me to help you?”
Shiro chuckled. “Yeah. That would be great. Thanks.” He grabbed a small pail among Keith’s wooden bath toys and filled it with water. “Ok, Keith. Here comes the water,” he warned before dumping it over the little one’s head.
*
After Morla helped both Keith and Shiro dress for their big day, she walked with them to the main room and sat with them in the audience. Keith was on Shiro’s lap and gazed at all the faces around him. Every race was there and the room was so packed that many had to stand along the sides and back. Shiro and his family were near the middle.
Up on the podium stood Lotor, Allura and Matt, and Kolivan, along with their own personal guards and advisors, including Coran. The Marmoran, now Emperor, stepped to the front and addressed the hushed crowd.
“Today, we celebrate those who helped us end the war between the Galra and the rest of the peoples of this realm. We celebrate their strength and courage, as well as honor the ones that could not be here with us today. For them, I would like to start with a moment of silence. Please join me as we honor their lives and their sacrifice.” The room fell quiet, with the exception of some sniffling and weeping. Even the little babes hushed themselves as everyone gave some thought to the ones that had already passed on.
Afterward, Kolivan cleared his throat. “As you may have heard, the Galran Empire has begun changing and new ways of living are being introduced to its peoples. As the new Emperor, I have asked Lotor, the Elven king of this land, and his fellow allies for aid in this endeavor. Though years of strife and hatred have separated us from the rest of the world, it is my hope that we may all heal and work through our experiences together. Let us not forget all that took place before now, and endeavor for a new era of peace.
“While it seems impossible to name all that have had an impact on bringing out the end of the war, there are some that I would like to call out to and honor in particular.” Kolivan went on to list the names of those who perished at the hands of the Galra and stated that their names would be engraved on several memorials erected throughout the Realm. After, he called out the names of those who were still alive, but not able to be present. Their awards and medals would be delivered to them in person at a later time. Finally, he stated that Lotor and Allura would help him give out awards to those who were in present company, and then called out those names as well.
Eventually, Shiro heard his own name and passed Keith off to Morla before standing. He got only a few steps away before the sniffling cries of his son stopped him in his tracks. He rolled his eyes before he turned around to backtrack. Keith pushed himself out of Morla’s arms and toddled over to him. When he returned back to the kingdom, Shiro discovered his son had developed a bit of separation anxiety and demanded to be near him almost all the time.
Though Shiro didn’t need it anymore, he wore his enchanted arm, and used it to help scoop his son from the floor and into his embrace. The room was heard cooing and chuckling at the little half-breed toddler as he turned back to the front and walked up to the podium.
Keith’s cries quieted as Kolivan approached. “Shiro. Your scars tell of your struggle against the previous Empire and its supporters. Because of you and the Dragon called Voltron, we were finally able to defeat Zarkon and end the war. I honor you and your sacrifice.” Allura came forward then to place a golden medallion around Shiro’s neck. She smiled up at him proudly and held Keith’s hand playfully before stepping away. Keith, confused about the new toy his father had just received, babbled out his opinion, whatever that might have been.
Kolivan chuckled and smirked at him. “And little Keith. It is fitting that you be up here as well. You lost your family to the Empire and gained a new father in Shiro. If it wasn’t for you, we never would have even found Voltron or the strength to defeat Zarkon himself. For all that, I honor you.” From out of his pocket, Kolivan produced another golden medallion, much smaller than the ones awarded to the adults, and put it over little Keith’s head himself. The toddler grabbed the trinket at his chest and stared at it, then at Kolivan, then his father, and back down at the medallion in his hand. A small round of celebratory whistles sounded from Matt, as well as Morla, and Keith’s answering smile caused the audience to coo and squeal once more. Then all the royal leaders stepped back and gestured to those who stood on the podium. Shiro and his fellows turned to smile broadly at the audience.
“Thank you all for your service and sacrifice!” Kolivan announced. “May peace and joy be yours through the rest of your lives as well as to all who live in these lands!”
Lotor stepped up next to the new emperor now; “From this day forward, let us celebrate and help each other as we move forward, together!”
“TOGETHER!” echoed the room.
The rest of the day was a whirlwind of celebratory feasts, dancing, and laughter. And even though not all of Shiro’s friends could be present, he made sure to visit their graves later to honor them himself.
*
Shiro eventually found true love. After traveling south with Keith, now a bit older, he met a man named Curtis, and with Keith’s help and blessing, they wed and became a family.
Keith would later grow up to become the first Paladin, wielding both magic and sword, and with the help of his mystical teleporting wolf, Kosmo, he would defeat the necromancer Haggar and her army of undead. After, he would find his own everlasting love in his childhood best friend, Lance, and together they form a new order of knights to watch over the realms and help keep peace within them.
And they all lived happily until the end of their days.
The End.