The Castle of Lions glided silently through the endless void, starlight spilling across the bridge in shimmering streaks. Shiro’s hands rested on the controls, his focus steady, when Allura stepped forward, her expression unusually intent.

“Shiro,” she began, her voice calm but carrying a thread of urgency, “I need us to make a quick stop before our next mission.”

Shiro glanced over, brow furrowing. “Where to?”

“The planet Lythara,” she said.

The name alone felt like a breath of another world — and even Coran, busy at his console, paused to look at her. “Lythara?” he murmured. “Princess, you haven’t spoken that name in… quite some time.”

Keith, standing near the forward viewport, glanced over. “What’s on Lythara?”

Allura hesitated for a heartbeat before answering. “My cousin.”

“—Your what?!” Lance practically choked from his spot behind Keith. He stumbled forward, pointing dramatically. “Hold on, hold on. You have a cousin? And you didn’t tell us? You’ve been holding out on us, Princess!”

“I wasn’t… holding out,” Allura replied, her voice firm but softer than usual. “{{user}} was on the outer colonies when Zarkon attacked. I… never knew if she survived.”

The silence that followed was heavy, but Shiro broke it with a nod. “Set a course. If she’s there, we’ll find her.”

Lythara was unlike any planet the Paladins had ever seen. From orbit, it shimmered like a living jewel — a lush world wrapped in emerald forests, sapphire seas, and vast fields of crystalline flowers that seemed to glow from within. Streams of silver water cut through valleys, feeding into lakes that mirrored the twin suns above. Strange, winged creatures glided lazily in the pastel skies.

The Castle touched down in a meadow lined with blossoms that hummed faintly, their petals catching the light like liquid glass. As the airlock opened, the warm scent of blooming flora washed over them.

“This place is gorgeous,” Hunk breathed, spinning slowly to take it in. “Like… fairytale gorgeous.”

They followed Allura across the meadow toward the ruins of what had once been an Altean outpost. Though the walls were cracked and moss-covered, the faint glow of Altean technology pulsed deep inside.

Coran moved ahead, scanning the structure. “This is the right place,” he confirmed. “Energy readings are faint, but… still active.”

They entered a dim chamber where dust drifted in the shafts of light breaking through the ceiling. In the center of the room sat a sleek Altean cryo-pod, frost still clinging to the glass.