The MFEs went through so much shit
Lance was 17 when the Blue Lion left, so it's safe to assume the MFES were too. Sam's back a year later, making them 18ish, little over a year later Sendak invades, so they're 19/20.
Since James is outside when the invasion starts, it's safe to assume the others are too. So they see their teachers get gunned down. They see Adam (who I hc as a mentor for them) die.
Meanwhile, Sam is telling Sanda that a bunch of 19, maybe 20 year olds are their best defense. So, after the first wave is wiped out, they send out the MFES.
they've spent the two years preparing for war, and now they're fighting. They survive, and within a few hours, go on their 1st ever mission to retrieve supplies with Veronica, meeting her for presumably the first time.
(Also, can we take a second to appreciate the fact that Kinkade is casually balanced atop a moving vehicle? )
Anyways, as they're loading up the train, senteries attack.
And the weapons that were supposed to keep them safe? Do nothing. Then Veronica sacrifices herself to save them, a bunch of kids she barely knows, and they're devastated. This is their first ever mission, and some dies.
Can you imagine being 19/20 and watching someone die? Their first day, first few hours in a centuries long war, and they've just seen people who trained them, who watched them grow up, along with someone they barely know yet sacrificed herself for them, die.
And yeah, Veronica comes back, but until then, they'll feel responsible, even guilty for her death. We have no idea what else happened between then and the paladins return. But it's war, so they almost die a lot, they get injured, they carry each other back to base and fall apart together, mourning all that they've lost.
Later on, they're making their big stand against Sendak
once again, they're the only real weapon the Garrison has to defend themselves against the Galra. They have been for three years. This is their last stand, and while there's always been the threat of death, now it's almost certain.
they're going in with the assumption that they'll die, they have 12 minutes to live, but maybe, just maybe, the Atlas will be able to launch, and the others will be safe. Voltron is captured right now, and they have no weapons left, so this is it. They're 22/23 now, still fighting in a war older than their galaxy, one that has destroyed their home, and are buying time for their only hope.
They went through so much, yet their experience is talked about so little. Witnessing the invasion firsthand, watching Earth become a collection of ruins, not knowing if those they love are even alive, nearly dying themselves.
They should be out drinking, going to clubs, concerts, taking little risks and making fun mistakes, not risking death every time they leave base. Yes, the paladins had their teen years and adulthood ripped way from them, but the MFEs did too. Why don't we ever talk about that?
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