I do not own any of the original WEP characters.
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"Are you sure you want to do this, Diana?" Hunk asked, coming up behind her placing his hand on her shoulder. "Yes" was Diana's determined reply. Shortly after 9:30, Diana and Hunk left the hangar and cloaked heading for Planet Doom. Diana watched Arus disappear from her view screen. "Nervous?" Hunk asked. "No, not really" she answered. "Let's go over the map of Doom again." The map appeared on the view screen. "We are going to land here." A fighter appeared on the map. "The slave cells are here." A red 'X' appeared. "There are tunnels from the landing zone leading to the cells. We will take one of them. You will head to the dungeons and I will head to the landing bay to secure a ship. But it won't take the guards to longer to become aware of what we are doing." "I know. I will need to work fast." They arrived under the cover of night, Diana and Hunk left the cockpit. Quickly they sprinted to the entrance of the cave tunnels. She was almost to the cell blocks when she ran head long into a muscular form. "Oof," she groaned. "Whoa" he exclaimed grabbing her by the shoulders. Diana immediately recognized his voice, "Sven!" "Who are you?" "It's me Ice." She said moving visor of her helmet so he could see her face. "Ice, what are you doing here?" "Freeing as many slaves as Hunk and I can and taking them to Arus." "Come, I will help you." Together they entered the cell block. One by one the locks were removed from the doors and people were ushered through the hallways to the launch bay. "Hurry, Diana time is almost up." Hunk reminded her. "Just one last cell" "Mother, I came to free you." Diana whispered. Sven came up behind her. "We must go." He said. "Hurry, take the others to the launch bay we must go." Diana rushed through the tunnel to where the Phoenix waited. Just as the guards began firing, Diana took off. Still cloaked Diana flew over the launch bay firing her missiles clearing a path for Hunk and Sven to escape." "We did it, Hunk." "Don't celebrate yet. We are not out of Doom space yet." "I wouldn't think of celebrating yet." "I think we should take a little detour." Sven suggested. "Doom forces will be out in full force as soon as they realized a lot of slaves are missing." "Agreed, where?" "To that asteroid field, there is a good spot on one of the big ones and we'll wait a little while before moving on." Romelle brought it up on her view screen. "All right, I will go tell our guests." Romelle quickly went to the hold area where she was bombarded with questions. "Everyone, please quiet down and I will explain. We are entering the asteroid field between Doom and Pollux. Doom Forces have started mobilizing. As a safety precaution and to insure that we avoid detection we are going to hide for a bit. Then we will proceed to Pollux for anyone who would like to go there then onto Arus." The woman called 'Mother' separated from the crowd. "I would like to speak to Diana." "Come with me. I will contact her for you." Mother and Romelle returned to the control room. "I am happy to see that you were able to escape and you are well. Thank you for not forgetting us." "I could never forget you. I am sorry that I could not have done this sooner. You are the reason that I am still alive. But may I now call you by your true name, my friend Arielle?" "I see your memory has returned." Several hours later, Diana and the Doom ship wound their way through the asteroid field to avoid any fighters on their trek to Pollux. Finally they approached the planet. "Scan for any Doom activity." "Nothing" Diana answered. "Hailing Pollux," Diana waited until a scratchy voice broke the static. "This is the Crown Princess of Arus requesting permission to land and allow Polluxan freed slaves from Doom to disembark. We have a commandeered a Doom slave ship from Doom." "Permission granted, your Highness. Is Princess Romelle among them?" "Yes, she is" Romelle's younger brother met her, "Romelle!" he exclaimed seeing her running toward him. Diana hopped down from the Phoenix. Then with a thump Diana tumbled to the ground. "That was graceful." She grumbled to herself. Sven smiled as he offered her a hand up. "OO," she winced as she put her weight on her right foot. "Are you are vight?" "I'll be fine. I think I just twisted it." "Let me look at it." Arielle pushed her way the crowd. Sven helped Diana to a nearby rock and helped her onto it. Arielle removed Diana's boot and examined it. "We need to bind this tightly." She said. "I have a med kit in the cockpit." Diana replied. "I'll get it" Sven offered. Minutes later Sven returned with the kit. Then Arielle bound Diana's ankle. The boot did not want to go back on but she somehow managed. "Sven are you going to come back to Arus with us?" Diana asked. "I am not sure." He answered, looking over to Romelle. "Let me suggest this, come with us now and see the team and then I will bring you back." "Let me talk to Romelle." "Fair enough, but I would like to leave soon. I am sure that these people would like to go home." Meanwhile back on Arus, the castle was in turmoil. Keith sat at her terminal toying with the ring he'd given her that she had left behind and played her message over and over "My sense of justice will not let me rest until I have freed those who helped me during my captivity. Therefore, I am going to Doom. I will be back as soon as I can. And I will face any consequences when I return with as much determination as I am now facing my current task. I could not tell any of you sooner, because you would have tried to talk me out of it. Don't worry too much. I have this down ICE cold. Please, Keith, hold onto my ring. I will be back to collect it. I love you, Keith" Then the message ended. He barely registered the door opening as Allura entered the room. "Keith?" she whispered. "Princess," he stood. "What can I do for you?" "Can I talk to you for a few minutes?" "Sure" Keith closed the message and turned to her. Allura took his hand and led him to the balcony. She turned to face him, taking his others hand. Her ice blue eyes were glassy and her voice was hoarse. "Do you like me?" "Of course, I like you, Princess, we are friends." Her eyes fell, "I was hoping for more," She turned away quickly so he could not see the tears that were forming. "Allura," Keith's voice was barely above a whisper. "I—I can't" It was Keith's turn to move away. Staring out at the lake, Keith took a ragged breath. "Long ago my father made an agreement with another family that I would wed their daughter. I don't agree with the practice but I must honor my parents' wishes." Keith turned and cupped her chin. "I am truly sorry." He slowly walked away leaving her alone.
Coran and Nanny were livid.
That night Keith stood alone at the window of the observation lounge. Absently he toyed with her ring that he now wore on his pinkie. "They are not there, Keith" Coran spoke softly coming to stand beside him.
"They are out there somewhere. I just wish I knew if they were all right."
"You worry about her more that I do, don't you?"
"Yes, and I will continue to do so for the rest of our lives. I love her. I love all of her stubborn ways, all of her icy stares and wondrous smiles." He glanced down at the ring.
"We have a mess then don't we?"
"Yes, we do." Keith smiled slightly, looking up at Coran. "Please let me handle the princess when she does return with no interference especially from Nanny."
"As you wish, your Highness, good night, Keith"
"Good night Coran" Keith scowled at him slightly for using the title, but since they were alone he let it slide.
Diana, Sven and Hunk approached Arus at lunchtime. "How are you going to handle this, Diana?" Hunk asked.
"One step at a time, disengage the cloak. After landing, we will lower the gang plank. I'll exit from there. And wait to see what my next move will be."
She did not have to wait long. The team, Coran and Nanny all rushed out to see the Polluxan transport, the fighter and the crowd of people that emerged from it. Sven helped her from the cockpit but when they approached the ramp she stopped him. "No, I must do this alone." She broke free of him. "Go see your friends. They have missed you."
Diana stood alone at the top of the ramp. She watched the scene unfolding. Coran and Nanny greeted many of the people that were arriving.
"Sven!" Pidge exclaimed excitedly, rushing up to him. Lance and Allura were right behind him. Hunk climbed down from the Phoenix and joined the small group. Cautiously he watched the tension building between Keith and Diana.
Diana was quick to notice that Keith hung back from the crowd. She could sense him analyzing her, trying to figure out who was underneath the black uniform and helmet. His eyes were on her taking note of every detail from the way she stood to the bulkiness on her right foot. She grew nervous. Slowly she removed her helmet and shook out her hair.
Arielle walked up to her and took it from her and set it aside. When she went to steady her, Diana shook her head ever so slightly. "I have to do this on my own." Diana whispered.
Arielle nodded shifting her gaze from Diana to Keith and back again and preceded her down the ramp.
Keith watched her intently as she walked. Suddenly, he started walking swiftly toward her. She barely cleared the ramp. The crowd parted as Keith approached her. Very softly he growled venomously in her ear, "You hid your limp fairly well, but I bet it is very painful if the size of your boot is any indication."
She hung her head. She could not look at him, she was afraid to. His anger overwhelmed her. Suddenly she found herself swept off her feet. Keith settled her in his arms and began to carry her into the castle.
Nanny bristled and made a move to go after him, but Coran put his hand on her arm and with a shake of his head stopped her.
"Nanny, let Keith handle this." He spoke quietly but firmly. Nanny quietly fumed, but did as Coran asked.
Diana was silent as he carried her along the hallways to med bay. She risked a quick glance to his face. His face was fierce. His eyes were like chocolate daggers. Diana caught a tiny red glint. Looking down, she found her ring on his hand. A nurse saw him approaching, "Room one I will notify the doctor."
Keith set her on the bed. Then he knelt down and began to remove her boot. The look on her face when he pulled it off told him volumes. "So when did you do this?" He asked quietly as he removed the wrapping and then he swung her legs onto the bed.
"Yesterday, after we arrived on Pollux."
"And you didn't stay off of it did you? Or ice it"
"I had a ship to pilot."
"We will talk about that later."
"Well, well what do we have here? Are you trying to take over Keith?" Dr. Gorma asked cheerfully, crossing the room.
"Not at all Doctor, I was just helping."
"Thank you." Dr. Gorma examined Diana's ankle. "Well it is definitely swollen, young lady, and very bruised. I want to x-ray it to see if you broke anything."
"Yes, Doctor." Diana murmured softly.
"Keith could you wait outside for a few minutes?" he asked.
"Yes, Doctor," Keith left without argument.
After the door had closed behind Keith, the Doctor spoke again. "You are very subdued today, your Highness, very unlike you."
"I suppose, I guess I am preparing myself for the confrontation that is to come."
"Now it can't be all that bad. Can it? You should have known before you left that everyone would be upset that you set off on your own."
"I did. And I do not regret my decision, not at all. I did what I felt was right. Many slaves have been freed. I wish that I could have freed them all. I did bring Arielle home. "
"Then why do you look like you have just lost your best friend even though you just rescued her."
"Keith and I had just started making up from the fight we had had and now I think we are back to square one."
"Give it time, child, everything will be all right."
After a quick x-ray, Dr. Gorma announced that her ankle was not broken, just severely sprained. "I will allow you to go to your rooms. And be up and about but I want your ankle iced several times a day for the next several days and I also want to see you elevate it. But I do not want this brace wet. No showering. Help can be arranged to help you bathe."
"I will see to it that she complies, Dr. Gorma." Keith re-entered the room. "Personally" His tone left no room for argument.
She nodded solemnly. "I understand. In a few hours may someone be sent to my rooms to help with a bath? I would dearly love to rid myself of the Doom grime."
"Certainly, now let me go find some crutches I do not want you to put any weight on that ankle."
"Yes, Doctor."
The room was unbearably silent while the doctor was absent. "Here you go." He helped her up and onto the crutches. "Take it slow."
"I will" she whispered. Slowly she crossed the room. Keith picked up her discarded boot and followed.
"Keith, a moment please"
"Yes, Doctor," Keith stopped.
"Try not to be too harsh." Dr. Gorma whispered.
"I will do my best."
In the hall, Keith walked beside her. "Go to my office. I will be there in a couple of minutes."
"As you wish," She replied quietly.
Keith watched her limp away. "I have never seen her like this so—so broken." He thought. "It is like the fire has gone out of her."
He turned to go to the kitchen. Dropping her boot by the refrigerator he went looking for a bag to put ice in.
"What are you looking for?" Glaring, Nanny asked a touch of anger was still in her voice.
"A bag so that I may put ice on Princess Diana's sprained ankle." Keith replied, ignoring her looks.
"Oh," she went to the cupboard and handed him a bag.
"Thank you Nanny" He took the bag, filled it, retrieved the boot and left.
He quickly strode to his office to find her standing in front of his desk waiting. "Please sit down." He gestured to the couch on her right. Slowly she turned toward it and positioned herself at the far end. He took the crutches from her and leaned them against the wall.
Setting the ice on the coffee table he grabbed a pillow and tossed it on the couch. Then he picked up her right leg and set her ankle upon the pillow. He picked up another pillow, "Lean forward a little." When she complied he put the pillow behind her back. "Are you comfortable?" She only nodded. He disappeared into the bathroom and took a towel from the cabinet. Laying the towel on her ankle he added the ice on top. She groaned a little. "Sorry"
"It's all right." She stared at her ankle. She looked like she was about to cry. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to gather her strength, preparing for his anger to be unleashed.
He placed a chair in front of her and sat down. "Why did you do it?" He asked quietly. When she didn't answer or look at him, he gently took her chin and turned her pale eyes to him "One lone fighter against all of those Doom cruisers. What were you and Hunk thinking? "
"I had to. I just could not leave them there any longer. I made a vow to myself on that night I escaped. Hunk would not let me go alone." Her voice cracked a little, "It was my last thought as I climbed into the life pod. As soon as I was able I would rescue them. I-" Seeing the hurt in his eyes made her water colored eyes fill with tears. She looked away.
"We--I could have lost you." He murmured as he took her into his arms. "I just got you back. I am not ready to let go yet." He took the ring off his finger and slowly slipped it on hers. "This belongs to you, remember? Along with my heart"
"I'm sorry. But it was the right thing to do." Her voice was muffled in his shoulder.
Leaning back and looking her in the eye, he said "Promise me you won't do something like that again. Promise me"
"The best that I can say is that I will try not to."
"I suppose I will have to accept that." She pulled away from him leaning heavily upon the pillow. "Why don't you rest a while? We will talk more a little later."
"Thank you." She closed her eyes. Keith took the blanket from the back of the couch and covered her up. Then he sat at his desk and to do some paperwork and watch over her while she slept. Several times he found himself just staring at her angelic form.
An hour or so later his door beeped. He quickly moved to answer it. "Shh," he hissed.
"We got worried." Lance whispered. "You two have been in here for over two hours."
"She's been sleeping for the last hour." Keith whispered. "I am going to let her nap a little longer then wake her so she can bathe for dinner."
"Since you have everything under control we will leave. We had been afraid that the two of you might have killed each other since we didn't hear any yelling."
"We have not seen the need to raise our voices. In fact Diana has been quite submissive."
"Ice? Submissive? I don't think you are talking about the same Ice we all know." Lance retorted.
"I wish I was wrong. I am hoping that her nap will snap her out of it."
Soon Keith shook her gently. "Diana, it's time to wake up."
She groaned. "What time is it?"
"Time for you to take a bath and change for dinner"
"Oh." She was slow to move.
Keith picked her up and began carrying her. "My crutches"
"I will come back for them. The nurse can help you in the mean time."
"All right," Diana took a chance and laid her head on his shoulder. She sighed. Keith did not complain. When they arrived two nurses were waiting outside her door.
He let them in and explained about the crutches. Then he left, silently bringing the crutches in while they were still in the bathroom.
Diana tried to wear one of her normal dresses but with the length and all the material it was too difficult for her to operate the crutches. So she chose one of her other shorter lighter and less bulky ones.
Once she was clean and dressed she made her way to the window.
"Was it worth it?" she heard as Hunk joined her.
"Yes, I still think so," Diana whispered. "The yelling or lecturing has not started yet and Coran has not been present so there is probably more to come, but I will handle it. If I can handle Keith's commander mode I should not have any problems with Coran's lectures. Have you gotten into much trouble for helping me?"
"Don't worry about me. I'll probably be on the night shift for the next month or so, but it was worth it. I wanted to help you like you helped me. I'd better go." He slipped away.
Meanwhile, Keith and Coran were in Keith's office. "You are not being too hard on her, are you?"
"She is being harder on herself than I ever could or would be, Coran. When I brought her in her to talk it was like I was taking her to her executioner. I am worried. I have never seen her, quite this broken or defeated ever." He shook his head. "We will need to keep a close eye on her for a while." Then he thought to himself, "This is even worse than that rainy night on Earth."
"Agreed"
"Let us adjoin and I will escort her to dinner." They parted and Keith returned to her room.
"Enter." She called.
"Are you ready for dinner?" he asked.
"Yes" she answered crossing the room.
The dining room was empty. The others would be arriving soon. Keith held her chair for her when she sat down. He took her crutches and leaned them against the wall. Then he sat down beside her. After about five minutes, he noticed her starting to fidget, "What's wrong?" He leaned over and whispered to her.
"My ankle is throbbing." Looking up, she whispered shyly.
"Lift your leg." He ordered softly, catching it in his hand and laid it on his knee. "better?" She nodded.
Throughout dinner, Diana toyed with her food, and fought to stay awake. Keith was the first to notice that she had fallen asleep. Gently he lowered her foot, as he gestured to Coran to look at Diana.
"Coran will you please ask Nanny to bring the crutches to Diana's room and then help her into her nightclothes?" Keith whispered, pushing his chair back and gathering Diana into his arms.
"Of course" Coran nodded to Keith.
Nanny rushed to catch up with him. She pulled back the covers for him to lay her on the bed. Then she shooed him out the door. "Nanny, please put a pillow under her ankle. It helps stop the pain."
Keith was restless. He found himself standing in front of the Phoenix. "I have so many questions about you." He stood.
"What do you want to know?" Hunk came to stand behind him.
"First, is this the Phoenix?"
"Yes, I found it just where Coran said it was."
"So, you rebuilt her?"
"Yes, I fixed it and presented her to Diana for her birthday."
"Why didn't you talk Diana out of her fool hardy plan?"
"I saw the look in her eyes. I knew that I could not convince her to not go through with it. So I thought it would be better if I insisted that I go with her. I was going to protect her with my life if need be."
"Why didn't you come to us? Let us know what she was planning."
"There was no time. What would you have done?"
"Why didn't you tell us that you knew the fighter when Diana joined the battle a few days ago?"
"It was not my place."
"You have the graveyard shift in Castle Control until further notice starting tomorrow night." With that Keith turned on his heel and left the hanger. It was late, so he went to check on Diana.
He entered her room quietly. He heard her whisper "You won't break me, Yurak." Then she groaned and arched back as if she'd been struck. Keith took her into his arms and held her. He felt helpless.
Just before dawn, he untangled himself and retreated to his room. Falling on his bed he slept fitfully.
Nanny brought Diana breakfast at 9:30 waking her up. "I brought you some food since you were too tired to eat last night."
"I am sorry. Thank you, Nanny." Diana murmured starting to sit up. Then she caught a scent of sandalwood. As she moved she turned her nose into the pillow a little. "He was here." She thought and smiled.
"Now I want you to eat everything."
"I will try."
"I will be back later to pick it up."
"All right," Diana began eating. It took a while but she finally managed to eat it all. Then she slowly got out of bed. "Ow" she exclaimed when her feet hit the floor. "I almost forgot." She reached for the crutches. She went to her closet and found her jeans and a shirt. Once she was finished she sat on her bed. "Now what?" she thought, "Do I dare leave? Should I go find Keith and finish what we started last night and so maybe we can move on?" She picked up her pillow and breathed in his masculine scent. "He held me last night. I must have been having those nightmares again." With renewed determination she stood up with her crutches and limped her way to Keith's office.
Not finding him there, she ventured to Castle Control, "Coran have you seen Keith this morning?" She asked politely but a bit subdued.
"No, your Highness, I have not. Allow me to scan for him."
"Thank you"
"Keith is still asleep in his room."
"Oh, all right." She turned to leave. "I am going to ice my ankle in the lounge and wait for him." She thought to herself "He must have stayed with me all night. I have never known him to sleep this late."
"I will tell him."
"Thank you"
Diana struggled to the kitchen, where Nanny was supervising the lunch preparations. "Diana, you are up. Did you eat all of your breakfast? What can I do for you?"
"Yes, I did, Nanny. May I have a bag of ice and a towel please? I need to ice my ankle."
"Certainly, child, are you going to your room?"
"No I would like to go to the lounge."
"All right you go ahead and I will bring the ice to you."
"Thank you," Diana turned to go.
Diana had just settled down when Nanny brought the ice. Nanny straightened the pillow for her and placed the towel and the ice on her ankle. "Is there anything else that I can do for you?" she asked.
"No, but thank you I think I am just going to enjoy the sun for awhile."
"All right," then Nanny left. Diana leaned back closed her eyes and sighed.
Later, smiling softly Keith leaned on the door jam and watched her. The summer sun caressed her gentle frame and kissed her chestnut brown hair. Without opening her eyes, she asked "Are you going to just stand in the doorway watching me? Or are you going to come in and sit down, Keith?"
"Now that's more like the Diana I miss," He chuckled as he walked into the room. "How did you know I was there?"
"I always know when you enter a room." She sat up and removed the bag of now water from her ankle. "I iced it" She turned and set it on the table with the towel. Looking up at him, she asked "Would you like to finish the conversation that we started last night?"
"All right, I talked to Hunk last night." He sat on the coffee table in front of her. "Why didn't you tell anyone that she had been found and repaired? You were flying her against Lotor. And you never told us, why?"
"Yes, I guess the reason I didn't say anything was the fact that it was like an adventure for me, a big secret. And if you didn't know about her then there would be no reason to think that I would go off and do something rash."
"Which you did go and do and you got Hunk involved."
"Yes, but we had a plan. And for the record it was executed perfectly. We could have blown up Zarkon's castle but we didn't. We kept the plan simple. We just rescued as many slaves we could and then left. Zarkon didn't know we were there until it was too late. We did not take any unnecessary chances."
"That must be one heck of a cloaking device."
"It is. She is very special. And the Phoenix can fire lasers and missiles while cloaked."
"So that was you in the asteroid field too then?"
"Yes," she bent her head in shame. "You got 'Iced'."
"Yes, I did," he laughed and his eyes sparkled.
"You are not mad?" She looked up looking hopeful.
"I can never stay mad at you for more than a few minutes. It is just that you drive me crazy with worry sometimes."
"I am sorry for that."
"I would not have you any other way my Angel Eyes." He leaned forward and captured her lips softly. Diana wrapped her arms around his neck. When he had pulled back, "Everything will be fine, Diana. Especially now, that you are sounding more like yourself."
"Was I that different?"
He chuckled, "You could not have been any more opposite of your normal self. I have never seen you like that and never want to see it again."
"Oh, that bad, really? So when is Coran going to start lecturing me?"
"He's not."
"What?" she looked bewildered and shocked.
"I asked him to let me handle the situation. He agreed." Keith thought to himself. "He wasn't about to argue with the future King."
"Wow, I am impressed."
"Are you ready for lunch?"
"Sure" She reached for her crutches.
Keith and Diana were the first to arrive. "You need to be off your feet." They took their places at the table. "Give me your foot," he smiled as she put her leg in his lap again.
"What would Nanny and Coran say if they saw this?"
"It keeps it from throbbing doesn't it?"
"Yes, but the scandal." She rolled her eyes and laughed.
Soon everyone began milling into the dining room. Everyone witnessed a welcome sight. Keith and Diana were sitting at the table and Keith was holding her hands in his. She turned more serious. "Remind me soon, and I will share with you my time on Doom. I think it is time for me to try and let go of it."
"Then maybe it will help your nightmares go away."
"I hope so." She smiled, "By the way, thank you."
"For what?" he looked puzzled.
"I had a nightmare last night didn't I?"
"Yes, you seem to have them often."
"Last night you held me."
Keith's face grew warm a rosy red glow spread over his cheeks. "How did--?" Diana laughed.
"Well that is encouraging." Coran murmured seeing them.
