Day 11-Peridot

The planet they had landed on was a beautiful paradise. Z'kria was luxuriant, full of live. The trees, the mountains, the earth itself was thriving. Creatures of all kind, big and small alike, were running around, not scared by the paladins visit.

The natives were a peaceful tribe, respectful of life in all its diversity, eating only what they needed and honouring the one they had killed to survive. They helped the trees grow big, and helped the animals that they meet. Their culture was placing life above anything else, above conflict or tensions.

They probably had never meet the galra, and the paladin intended on protecting this safe haven. The z'krian had meet them with curiosity, like children discovering new playmates. They had warm up quickly, kind and offering. They had offered the paladin shelter, and for that they were grateful. It was nice to see some friendly aliens, once in a while.

The houses they were staying in were not carved in the tree but made around them, and as the trees had grown, their strong trunk had covered every wall excepted for the door. It was a symbiotic relationship, that gave protection to the tribe.

There was a feast tonight, and everyone was preparing for it. The paladins had all separated to explore on their own. Shiro, curious about the land, had follow a path toward the mountains, that seemed to protect the village, its rock solid. Strange green stones could be seen all over the mountain, shining under the light of the sun.

It was a marvel to look had, colours of all kind crossing the stone. Shiro recognized gneiss, andesite, quartz, and all kind of minerals from his garrison day. A tunnel had been carved in the mountain, or maybe it was the mountain itself that had offered a path. The relationship between the tribe and their environment was kind of strange and inexplicable. It makes one wonder about will and gods.

Still Shiro advanced in the cave, oddly comfortable and trusting. It was like the stone was calling, asking him to visit and move forward.

The inside was as beautiful as the rest of the planet. Millions of green gems were covering the walls, reflecting the light and shining, giving the tunnel an eerie air. Following his instinct, he continued to walk, looking at all the different gems, experiencing their beauty. But none feel right to him, until he stopped. His eyes had been lured by a green stone, not that different from the other. But Shiro knew it was the one.

Approaching his palm, he careful touched it. It glowed for a moment, before detaching itself, floating in front of Shiro. He reached out for it, and the gem obediently settled in his hand. Then Shiro blinked.

What was that just now? He couldn't find an explication, and had to admit it was most bizarre. Still he did not let go of the gem, as he made his way back to the village. Here another strange thing happened. People were whispering on his wake, smiles on their face, like they knew something he did not. Many were looking at the gems in his hand.

Peridot, peridot, peridot. The word was frequent, and Shiro deduced that it must have been the name of the gem. Like those of earth, he remembered. It was incredible, that in the immensity of space, another gem was given the same name.

When he finally made it to his friends, Allura and the tribe elder were in the middle of a conversation. Hunk, Coran, Lance and Pidge were here as well. No sign of Keith, but it wasn't that alarming yet. They had just arrived on the planet.

Upon seeing him, the elder had stopped and gaped, before smiling.

"You are most blessed, Black paladin of Voltron, for the gods have chosen you."

The word seemed religious, like the beginning of a ceremony. Shiro didn't know how to respond, or what had prompted the elder to give this benediction.

"Hum, what? No offense but I don't understand." Lance interrupted.

"None taken, paladin. It is a happy day for your friend: the mountain had given him Peridot."

"Peridot? Like the gem" Pidge asked.

The elder nodded.

"For you it may only be a gem, but for us, it is Peridot. It is a blessing, the promise of a love greater than death."

This had the paladins even more confused. How did it have to do with anything? Seeing their perplexity, the elder began a story.

"At the beginning, when no moon was grazing the sky, the mountain fell in love with one of the tribe. They were kind, brilliant, a star that had fallen on earth. Everyone loved them, and their smile was a beauty to behold. Their eyes were gems, peridot that shined in those dark time. For the god of the mountain was dying, a land destroyed by abuse and overexploitation. But Peridot refused to let him die, and gift their heart to the mountain so that he could live.

But their love was great, greater than dead, and instead of disappearing, two became one. Peridot blossomed all over the mountain, paring it in green light. To this day, the peridot still glows in the calm of the mountain, the true heart of the land…"

Hunk was nearly crying.

"It's so romantic." He sobbed.

"But what does it mean?"

The elder smiled.

But as they opened their mouth, to finish their tales with doubt, Keith appeared. He froze upon seeing everyone, surprised by the silence that followed his arrival.

"Am I interrupting?"

Nobody had time to respond, as the peridot in Shiro's hand began to glow once again. It shined, and floated in his palm, and suddenly Shiro was coming toward Keith. He stopped just in front of him, and stretched out his hand. Everything was still.

Shiro didn't know what had him move like that, or make this gesture. He couldn't understand, but didn't try to comprehend. It was the right thing to do.

So Shiro was gifting Keith the peridot. It felt like he was holding his heart, for Keith to take or to broke. He couldn't see anything outside of him, trapped in a world that was only the peridot and Keith.

And Keith seemed confused at first, before looking in Shiro's eyes. There was love, so tender and free, giving without expecting anything in return. Keith's fingers were hesitant, slow and steady. He cradles the gem like it was the most precious thing in the word. And it was. It was Shiro's heart.

Green light embraced them both, before disappearing. The gem was now split in two, one half of it still in Keith hand, the other returned to Shiro. Together forming the gem. Together becoming whole again, two part of the same crystal.

The elder smiled, and continue their tale.

"The peridot cannot be harvest, broken, or taken by force. The mountain had to gift them to a lover, whose love is so precious that two become one. Upon receiving this gift, one become two, and two become one, and the Peridot, heart of the heart, is shared between the lovers."

Nobody was saying anything, contemplating the tale and looking at Keith and Shiro, that were now holding hand.

It was Pidge who interrupted.

"When you said sharing a heart, it is only a figure of speech, isn't it?"

"Who knows."