So I’ve seen some posts and comics in regards to the S3 Preview trailer and Keith flying Black and Lance flying Red. It’s always depicted as a peaceful transition. Or at least peaceful in that it’s made during down time between battles.
And that is not how I imagine it going down. Not. At. All.
It’s in the middle of a battle. Lasers everywhere. There’s a Robeast. To no one’s surprise, the particle barrier is going down. Hunk is most likely screaming. All of the Lions are out in battle.
Because she is Not Happy.
She is Not Happy because her Paladin is piloting Black, not her. She is Not Happy because her choices of a pilot if she wants to destroy Galra ships (and we all know she wants to destroy some Galra ships) is either Allura or a member of the Blade.
And Voltron is desperately needed.
Allura and this poor Blade member try desperately to bond with the Red Lion. Keith is shouting unhelpful bonding advice during this whole time; Lance makes a quip about how “If that’s your definition of bonding, Keith, you can’t really be too upset that I don’t remember our bonding moment.”. Red is flat out ignoring them, and instead arguing with Black the entire time. The conversation goes something like this:
“Get a pilot and get out here! We need you!”
“Alright, give me back my Paladin and I will!”
“I need him more! He’s mine! Not yours!”
And it goes back and forth until finally Black tells Red:
“JUST PICK A PILOT NOW OR EVERYONE--INCLUDING YOUR PALADIN--WILL DIE!”
“Fine. I want the Blue one for the duration of my Paladin’s stint as your pilot.”
In which Blue gets involved and protests because how dare Red try and steal her Paladin? Then Black reissues the same ultimatum, and suddenly Lance’s controls go out in the middle of the battle. He’s freaking out, understandably. The others are yelling at him, asking why he’s going back to the Castle, what’s wrong?
“It’s not me, it’s Blue!” He yells, trying desperately to regain control.
It’s not Blue’s hanger they enter.
Blue lands and there is this epic stare-down between the Blue and Red Lions. There’s growling involved. Lance, Allura and the Blade member are all terrified to move.
And, finally, reluctantly, Blue basically spits out Lance, sending him tumbling out and landing in front of Red, who opens her mouth for him.
“Lance! What the quiznak is going on?”
“Uh, Keith...? I think your Lion wants me to fly her...”
Impatient, Red just kind of snatches him up despite Lance’s loud, vocal protests and declarations of being confused.
Blue then just grabs Allura or the poor Blade of Mamora member. It’s not that she’s not picky, she’s just annoyed and wants to get this over with.
But not before the Universe’s tersest custody battle was fought.
Everyone can feel the tension between Red, Black, and Blue.
So everyone’s feelings of joy and relief are multiplied by the thousands when they find Shiro. Because now Red, Black, and Blue are happy because they have their Paladins back.
Because when the Lions aren’t happy, no one is happy.