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Description
Yes, I made this crossover. The animation was similar enough for it to work! I think it would've been cool.

"Remember," Shiro said as he stepped out of the landing craft, "This society relies on what they see as magic, not technology. They barely know anything lies beyond their planet. So keep the tech use to a minimum. I'm looking at you, Pidge."

"Awww!" Pidge pouted, but did not argue. Much. "But I don't even have to be there! At least not until Father lands! Can't I just go exploring and, if I see a teeny little bit of technology, talk to someone about it? So I'm not bored to death?"

Shiro hesitated, but seeing the eager, encouraging nods Hunk was giving him, he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh...alright. As long as you two stay within communication range of each other, don't start any fights, break any laws, or flirt with someone bigger, scarier, or more dangerous than you."

Hunk snorted. "Seriously? You feel the need to tell us that at every planet we go to? We're not Lance, you know."

Shiro's eyes narrowed. "Do you know what I had to do to get Lance out of that marriage contract with the spider queen? Trial by combat. Against spiders. With venom. I was in the infirmary for days! You better believe I'm repeating the rule everywhere we go!"

Hunk looked scandalized. "You said that was food poisoning!" he gasped. Shiro shrugged sheepishly and gestured towards the city.

"Go, have fun. The palace should be easy enough to find. Meet us there by....Keith, how do they measure time here?"

Keith's ears twitched in a mixture of annoyance and anticipation. "Five bells after the sun is at its zenith. That's when you need to meet us at the building that looks like a giant cat."

The other Paladins drooped slightly. "This is going to be one of the weird missions, isn't it?" Pidge asked.

"The emperor is trusting us to make first contact on his behalf," Shiro replied sternly. "Our feelings of what's "weird" don't come into it. Besides," he cracked a smile, "To them, we're the weird ones. Except for probably Keith."

Keith nodded. "Despite the extreme differences of phenotype and apparent species you're going to see in there, they're all a common root species. The Galra and the Altaens both are said to be descended from them. I'm surprised they still exist, so unchanged. Bola Spymaster will be very interested to know how three generations have lost all use of starships and technology."

With that, the Paladins took their leave of each other, with Hunk and Pidge wandering into the city, cloaked and hooded for privacy, and Keith and Shiro heading for the palace. Pidge soon found herself wandering further into the slums, inadvertently keeping step with another cloaked figure who seemed as ill at ease as she. She witnessed cat-people of every size and description, many of which were outright bullying or oppressing the people who looked like different animals. Pidge pulled her hood further over her face and sternly repeated to herself the rules about starting fights. Thankfully, the other figure took matters into his own hands before she did. Pidge was surprised and impressed that he fought so well -- a little reminiscent of Shiro in his preferred hand-to-hand mode, actually -- and was even more pleasantly surprised to find that he was one of the "noble cats" who was having none of the slum bullies' attitudes. Pidge decided to keep his face in mind in case they met again.

Hunk followed his feet into a slightly nicer part of town, where he discovered a stand selling a kind of roll with a bland appearance but a wonderfully nutty flavor with pieces of dried fruit baked through. He bought three, intending to save the other two for later, but a very soft purr caught his attention. There was a little girl, probably seven or eight at the oldest, watching him with wide, soulful eyes. Her fluffy tail -- which he found odd, considering he'd seen no one else with tails yet -- twitched back and forth. Beside her stood a small boy who, by his markings and facial structure, appeared to be her brother. They blinked up at him, twisting their small, ragged bodies back and forth. Hunk knew a con when he saw one. He lived with Lance and Pidge, for crying out loud! But he could not help noticing the way their clothing hung loosely off of limbs too thin to be healthy.

"Hiya," he crouched to be closer to their level. "Sorry, I don't have much. Want a roll?"

The pair looked momentarily surprised that he'd guessed their game so easily, then the boy covered it with a cheesy smile. "You are too kind, sir! My name is Wilykit, and this is my sister Wilykat."

"At your service!" the little girl curtsied playfully. Hunk grinned and shook his head, and handed them each a roll.

"I have no idea where I am," he admitted. "I guess I could use a couple of guides. Can you show me how to get to the palace? I'm supposed to meet my family there."

"Why sir!" Wilykat seized one hand, and Wilykit the other, "You've come to the right kittens! Follow us!"
Hunk did as he was told, but resolved to keep a close watch on his money pouch and his armband. He doubted they had the physical strength to remove it, but he wasn't sure he liked the way they were looking at it either. He hoped Shiro and Keith had made contact by now.

***

First contact had been....a little awkward. As Keith actually resembled a Thundarian and was in casual dress, and as Shiro was an alien species in armor, the guards assumed that Keith was the representative and that Shiro was some sort of bodyguard. Hence they addressed all their statements to Keith, until the frustrated Thirdborn finally corrected them. To say that the officer in charge of the gatehouse was mortified would have been an understatement. Shiro did his best to convince him that no offense had been taken, but the horrified cat still wouldn't look him in the eye as they passed.
The throne room was small and round, held up by pillars carved to look like trees and filled with a warm, golden light. Upon a short dais sat four thrones in a semicircle. Shiro already knew that Lotor would take an interest in the design for when he became emperor. The center throne was occupied by a huge man who was very clearly a lion. For a moment, the breath seized in Shiro's lungs as echoes of roars and dark laughter played through his mind, sending a sharp twinge of pain through his metal arm.
No, he reminded himself, They are not the Lions of Voltron. It is not fair to associate them with him.

The boys approached the dais calmly, and both noticed the very clearly tiger-like male sitting at the lion's right hand. He had a casual, almost lazy, air about him, as though he'd nothing better to do but nowhere else he'd rather be. The tiger's eyes lit with interest upon seeing Shiro, and Shiro resigned himself to being labeled a curiosity for the duration of the mission. He stopped, three paces from the dais, and bowed. It was not a low bow, nor a completely formal one. Lotor had worked extensively with the Second and Thirdborn to teach them the proper ways of greeting various political leaders. King Claudus of Thundara was a powerful leader, but Zarkon was far more powerful, and so it would not have been considered entirely proper for the son of an emperor to bow as low before a king as he would to his own father.

Standing in a modified parade rest, Shiro addressed the monarch. "I am Prince Shiro," he began, proud of himself for pronouncing the title without tripping over it, "son of Zarkon, Emperor of the Galra. I have come on behalf of the Empire as an envoy, hoping to secure an alliance between our respective peoples." He paused and indicated Keith, who stood stiff and formally, though his eyes moved here and there, piercing and observing. "This is my younger brother, Prince Keith, and in the city are two more of my kin."

Claudus stood, revealing himself to be only a few inches shorter than Zarkon, though undoubtedly wider at the shoulder, and his slitted pupils widened with some interest. "Yes, our clerics received word of your coming from your...druids? Yes, your druids. Tell me, Prince...Shiro, was it? What lands does your emperor control? Of what is he the emperor?"

Shiro glanced over at Keith, silently asking how much he thought he should say. Keith deliberately lowered his ears a fraction. It was not a Galra or Thundarian signal for anything, but it was a silent go ahead that he and Shiro had arranged between themselves and the other Paladins.

"They are not...lands, as such," Shiro cleared his throat a little. "They are civilizations. Pollux, Galrea, Galleria, Nemon, Oran, and Doom."

Tygra blinked and sat upright. "You are certainly heir to a vast empire! Your family must be very powerful....forgive me, I'm not certain of the proper address for your species." There was something calculating about the way he said that. Some hidden question that Shiro wasn't sure he understood.

It took great self control not to fidget awkwardly, and another exchanged glance between the Paladins left it decided to go ahead and bite the proverbial bullet.

"The emperor is Galra. As is the majority of the empire. We are a diverse people," Keith offered, speaking aloud for the first time. "Shiro, however, is called a human. As are several of our siblings. However, for the sake of clarity, "Galra" will suffice to refer to all of us."

"I see." Claudus stepped down from the dais and loomed over the pair, stroking his beard. "And why should such a powerful ruler wish to make an alliance with the Thundercats, if his empire is as vast as you say?"

"I believe that is a matter better left between the king and the emperor, your highness," Shiro said politely. "Forgive me, while I am privy to the majority of the emperor's plans, I find I am not completely comfortable sharing them without my father being present. If you are agreeable, he intends to enter the city tomorrow morning. He sent us in good faith as his emissaries."

Claudus considered this for a long and uncomfortable moment, then laughed heartily. "Yes, I suppose discretion is a valuable trait in a prince. We will arrange a place to stay for you and your kin, and on the morrow I will speak to your emperor." He turned and waved attendants over, ordering them to find quarters for the visitors. Then he turned to Tygra.
"Go with them, Tygra, I am sure it will make a nice change to have royalty closer to your age visiting."

Tygra offered the king a cheeky salute and hopped down off the dais. "As you say, Father." Then he loped along with the small party to find quarters.

"So..." he began, bending slightly to look at Shiro's face. "You are not Galra. A human? I don't know where humans come from, but I kind of hope you don't meet my younger brother. He will pester you about your culture and origins until he passes out from lack of oxygen. And you are heir of five civilizations at least? Your father sounds like a mighty ruler indeed."

Shiro felt a swell of pride at this, but quickly corrected the other prince. "I'm not the heir, actually. I'm Secondborn. If something happens to the Prince Imperial, then I'd be the heir."

Tygra cast a glance back at Keith, who -- feeling his gaze -- twitched his ears and hunched his shoulders, then nodded knowingly. "Yes," he said in a surprisingly bitter voice, "I know how that goes."
Shiro had the feeling there'd been a misunderstanding, but he didn't find out what it was until later when he was standing between Tygra and an enraged Keith.

Description
Yes, I made this crossover. The animation was similar enough for it to work! I think it would've been cool.

"Remember," Shiro said as he stepped out of the landing craft, "This society relies on what they see as magic, not technology. They barely know anything lies beyond their planet. So keep the tech use to a minimum. I'm looking at you, Pidge."

"Awww!" Pidge pouted, but did not argue. Much. "But I don't even have to be there! At least not until Father lands! Can't I just go exploring and, if I see a teeny little bit of technology, talk to someone about it? So I'm not bored to death?"

Shiro hesitated, but seeing the eager, encouraging nods Hunk was giving him, he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh...alright. As long as you two stay within communication range of each other, don't start any fights, break any laws, or flirt with someone bigger, scarier, or more dangerous than you."

Hunk snorted. "Seriously? You feel the need to tell us that at every planet we go to? We're not Lance, you know."

Shiro's eyes narrowed. "Do you know what I had to do to get Lance out of that marriage contract with the spider queen? Trial by combat. Against spiders. With venom. I was in the infirmary for days! You better believe I'm repeating the rule everywhere we go!"

Hunk looked scandalized. "You said that was food poisoning!" he gasped. Shiro shrugged sheepishly and gestured towards the city.

"Go, have fun. The palace should be easy enough to find. Meet us there by....Keith, how do they measure time here?"

Keith's ears twitched in a mixture of annoyance and anticipation. "Five bells after the sun is at its zenith. That's when you need to meet us at the building that looks like a giant cat."

The other Paladins drooped slightly. "This is going to be one of the weird missions, isn't it?" Pidge asked.

"The emperor is trusting us to make first contact on his behalf," Shiro replied sternly. "Our feelings of what's "weird" don't come into it. Besides," he cracked a smile, "To them, we're the weird ones. Except for probably Keith."

Keith nodded. "Despite the extreme differences of phenotype and apparent species you're going to see in there, they're all a common root species. The Galra and the Altaens both are said to be descended from them. I'm surprised they still exist, so unchanged. Bola Spymaster will be very interested to know how three generations have lost all use of starships and technology."

With that, the Paladins took their leave of each other, with Hunk and Pidge wandering into the city, cloaked and hooded for privacy, and Keith and Shiro heading for the palace. Pidge soon found herself wandering further into the slums, inadvertently keeping step with another cloaked figure who seemed as ill at ease as she. She witnessed cat-people of every size and description, many of which were outright bullying or oppressing the people who looked like different animals. Pidge pulled her hood further over her face and sternly repeated to herself the rules about starting fights. Thankfully, the other figure took matters into his own hands before she did. Pidge was surprised and impressed that he fought so well -- a little reminiscent of Shiro in his preferred hand-to-hand mode, actually -- and was even more pleasantly surprised to find that he was one of the "noble cats" who was having none of the slum bullies' attitudes. Pidge decided to keep his face in mind in case they met again.

Hunk followed his feet into a slightly nicer part of town, where he discovered a stand selling a kind of roll with a bland appearance but a wonderfully nutty flavor with pieces of dried fruit baked through. He bought three, intending to save the other two for later, but a very soft purr caught his attention. There was a little girl, probably seven or eight at the oldest, watching him with wide, soulful eyes. Her fluffy tail -- which he found odd, considering he'd seen no one else with tails yet -- twitched back and forth. Beside her stood a small boy who, by his markings and facial structure, appeared to be her brother. They blinked up at him, twisting their small, ragged bodies back and forth. Hunk knew a con when he saw one. He lived with Lance and Pidge, for crying out loud! But he could not help noticing the way their clothing hung loosely off of limbs too thin to be healthy.

"Hiya," he crouched to be closer to their level. "Sorry, I don't have much. Want a roll?"

The pair looked momentarily surprised that he'd guessed their game so easily, then the boy covered it with a cheesy smile. "You are too kind, sir! My name is Wilykit, and this is my sister Wilykat."

"At your service!" the little girl curtsied playfully. Hunk grinned and shook his head, and handed them each a roll.

"I have no idea where I am," he admitted. "I guess I could use a couple of guides. Can you show me how to get to the palace? I'm supposed to meet my family there."

"Why sir!" Wilykat seized one hand, and Wilykit the other, "You've come to the right kittens! Follow us!"
Hunk did as he was told, but resolved to keep a close watch on his money pouch and his armband. He doubted they had the physical strength to remove it, but he wasn't sure he liked the way they were looking at it either. He hoped Shiro and Keith had made contact by now.

***

First contact had been....a little awkward. As Keith actually resembled a Thundarian and was in casual dress, and as Shiro was an alien species in armor, the guards assumed that Keith was the representative and that Shiro was some sort of bodyguard. Hence they addressed all their statements to Keith, until the frustrated Thirdborn finally corrected them. To say that the officer in charge of the gatehouse was mortified would have been an understatement. Shiro did his best to convince him that no offense had been taken, but the horrified cat still wouldn't look him in the eye as they passed.
The throne room was small and round, held up by pillars carved to look like trees and filled with a warm, golden light. Upon a short dais sat four thrones in a semicircle. Shiro already knew that Lotor would take an interest in the design for when he became emperor. The center throne was occupied by a huge man who was very clearly a lion. For a moment, the breath seized in Shiro's lungs as echoes of roars and dark laughter played through his mind, sending a sharp twinge of pain through his metal arm.
No, he reminded himself, They are not the Lions of Voltron. It is not fair to associate them with him.

The boys approached the dais calmly, and both noticed the very clearly tiger-like male sitting at the lion's right hand. He had a casual, almost lazy, air about him, as though he'd nothing better to do but nowhere else he'd rather be. The tiger's eyes lit with interest upon seeing Shiro, and Shiro resigned himself to being labeled a curiosity for the duration of the mission. He stopped, three paces from the dais, and bowed. It was not a low bow, nor a completely formal one. Lotor had worked extensively with the Second and Thirdborn to teach them the proper ways of greeting various political leaders. King Claudus of Thundara was a powerful leader, but Zarkon was far more powerful, and so it would not have been considered entirely proper for the son of an emperor to bow as low before a king as he would to his own father.

Standing in a modified parade rest, Shiro addressed the monarch. "I am Prince Shiro," he began, proud of himself for pronouncing the title without tripping over it, "son of Zarkon, Emperor of the Galra. I have come on behalf of the Empire as an envoy, hoping to secure an alliance between our respective peoples." He paused and indicated Keith, who stood stiff and formally, though his eyes moved here and there, piercing and observing. "This is my younger brother, Prince Keith, and in the city are two more of my kin."

Claudus stood, revealing himself to be only a few inches shorter than Zarkon, though undoubtedly wider at the shoulder, and his slitted pupils widened with some interest. "Yes, our clerics received word of your coming from your...druids? Yes, your druids. Tell me, Prince...Shiro, was it? What lands does your emperor control? Of what is he the emperor?"

Shiro glanced over at Keith, silently asking how much he thought he should say. Keith deliberately lowered his ears a fraction. It was not a Galra or Thundarian signal for anything, but it was a silent go ahead that he and Shiro had arranged between themselves and the other Paladins.

"They are not...lands, as such," Shiro cleared his throat a little. "They are civilizations. Pollux, Galrea, Galleria, Nemon, Oran, and Doom."

Tygra blinked and sat upright. "You are certainly heir to a vast empire! Your family must be very powerful....forgive me, I'm not certain of the proper address for your species." There was something calculating about the way he said that. Some hidden question that Shiro wasn't sure he understood.

It took great self control not to fidget awkwardly, and another exchanged glance between the Paladins left it decided to go ahead and bite the proverbial bullet.

"The emperor is Galra. As is the majority of the empire. We are a diverse people," Keith offered, speaking aloud for the first time. "Shiro, however, is called a human. As are several of our siblings. However, for the sake of clarity, "Galra" will suffice to refer to all of us."

"I see." Claudus stepped down from the dais and loomed over the pair, stroking his beard. "And why should such a powerful ruler wish to make an alliance with the Thundercats, if his empire is as vast as you say?"

"I believe that is a matter better left between the king and the emperor, your highness," Shiro said politely. "Forgive me, while I am privy to the majority of the emperor's plans, I find I am not completely comfortable sharing them without my father being present. If you are agreeable, he intends to enter the city tomorrow morning. He sent us in good faith as his emissaries."

Claudus considered this for a long and uncomfortable moment, then laughed heartily. "Yes, I suppose discretion is a valuable trait in a prince. We will arrange a place to stay for you and your kin, and on the morrow I will speak to your emperor." He turned and waved attendants over, ordering them to find quarters for the visitors. Then he turned to Tygra.
"Go with them, Tygra, I am sure it will make a nice change to have royalty closer to your age visiting."

Tygra offered the king a cheeky salute and hopped down off the dais. "As you say, Father." Then he loped along with the small party to find quarters.

"So..." he began, bending slightly to look at Shiro's face. "You are not Galra. A human? I don't know where humans come from, but I kind of hope you don't meet my younger brother. He will pester you about your culture and origins until he passes out from lack of oxygen. And you are heir of five civilizations at least? Your father sounds like a mighty ruler indeed."

Shiro felt a swell of pride at this, but quickly corrected the other prince. "I'm not the heir, actually. I'm Secondborn. If something happens to the Prince Imperial, then I'd be the heir."

Tygra cast a glance back at Keith, who -- feeling his gaze -- twitched his ears and hunched his shoulders, then nodded knowingly. "Yes," he said in a surprisingly bitter voice, "I know how that goes."
Shiro had the feeling there'd been a misunderstanding, but he didn't find out what it was until later when he was standing between Tygra and an enraged Keith.