This one got a little longer than I intended, but I doubt anyone really minds that, right?

Eleventh Day of Kidgemas

::Poor Unfortunate Soul::

The loss of the Green Paladin had hit the team and the coalition hard, but no one took it worse than one young member of the Blade of Marmora. Even in the weeks after the others had given up hope of ever finding her, he stubbornly pressed on, convinced that she was out there somewhere, still alive.

"I won't give up on her."

Shiro rested a hand on Keith's shoulder. "None of us want to believe she's gone either, but it's been nearly a year and we haven't found proof that she's still alive. It's time to let her go."

"That's what everyone said about you too. It's why I can't give up," Keith said, turning his attention back to packing his rucksack. "Her family deserves to know the truth, just like I did."

"Her family is why I'm telling you to call this off. Let them mourn, Keith. Let us mourn. We can't do that if you keep this up!" Shiro told him.

Keith zipped up his bag and slung it over one shoulder. "You won't have to, because I'm going to find her and bring her home." He turned around to look his friend, his brother, in the eyes. "Whether you believe I can or not."

Keith didn't stick around to hear Shiro's response. He headed down to the Castle's hangar to stand in front of the Green Lion. He stared up at the great beast, gathering his resolve, and then placed a hand on her massive paw.

"Lets go find Pidge."

The Green Lion bent down and opened her mouth wide, letting him inside.

It took them weeks to find a trail. It was only when they hit the outer reaches of space, that the Green Lion began to move on her own. Keith could feel her anticipation as he gripped the controls, doing his best to help her on her way.

They touched down on a blue-gray planet ringed by ice and asteroids, and the Green Lion pointed him in the direction of the open mouth to a cave before settling back on her haunches and going still. Armed with only his blade, Keith entered the cave.

He soon found that it was more than just a simple cave. It was a whole network of tunnels, which led deeper and deeper underground. Bio-luminescent fungi grew along the walls of the main tunnel and went with his gut instinct to follow it, hoping it would lead him where he needed to be. He couldn't imagine why she would be in such a bleak place, especially when it was so far from where she had disappeared – from where everyone said she had died in an explosion.

Keith clenched his hands, trying not to think back to that time, but it was too late. His mind was already there.

The war was over.

There was no reason to keep fighting, but there were Galra who still resisted and they needed to find out who they were, and where they were hiding. It was supposed to be a simple recon mission. From all reports, the ship was abandoned and was empty of cargo and crew, but the system was still intact. The plan was for her to go in with a handful of rebels to watch her back, so she could get the information they needed to end things for good.

And then everything went wrong.

The Galra had set a trap, specifically for her, knowing she wouldn't be able to resist such tempting bait.

A virus had been planted in the servers and the moment she began her hack, it activated.

Keith could still hear her panicked screams.

He would never forget his failure to get to her in time.

He wouldn't fail her again.

They had recovered the bodies of the rebels who went with her and gave each of them a proper burial, but they never found her. There wasn't a single sign that she had been there. No piece of armor left behind. No scrap of cloth.

Nothing.

And from nothing, was born hope.

A flickering flame, steadily growing stronger, until it blazed as bright as an inferno. There was no force in the universe that could stop it.

Keith paused as he stepped into an open cavern filled with humming machines he couldn't begin to name. He cautiously looked around before moving in, keeping an eye out for the slightest sign of movement.

And then he saw her.

She was floating in a glass tube that was filled with a purple liquid which tinted her entire body in the same shade. There was a tube covering her mouth and nose, no doubt supplying oxygen.

"Pidge," he gasped, rushing towards her prison. He pressed one hand against the glass, hardly able to believe that she was really there, right in front of him. He'd spent so long dreaming of finding her, that he'd never planned on what he would do when he finally did.

"I was wondering when you would arrive," a voice croaked out.

Keith whirled around, yanking his blade free to hold it out in front of himself as he did so. He stood protectively in front of Pidge, looking around for the source of the voice. It didn't take long to spot who had spoken.

There was an old woman with white hair, cloaked in black, who slowly emerged from the shadows. Her glowing, yellow eyes were fixed on him. "There is no need to worry, young one. Your friend is safe. More importantly, she is alive. You should be grateful."

"Grateful for what? You're holding her prisoner!" Keith snarled.

"I am not the one keeping her here," said the old woman. "But I can see you will not believe me. You wish to ask her yourself?" She reached out with one gnarled hand and pressed a button, which initiated the pod to begin draining.

As the last dregs of purple liquid drained out the bottom, the doors opened and Pidge fell forward. Keith moved just in time to catch her in his arms and gently lower her to the floor.

"Pidge! Pidge, can you hear me?" he asked, his voice rising in fright. He pushed her wet hair away from her face and brushed against a pointed ear as he did so. He drew his hand back and took a second look at her. He'd assumed at first that it was just the liquid which made her skin look purple, but she was free of her prison and the color remained.

Keith glared at the old woman, who kept her distance on the other side of the room. "What did you do to her?!"

"I saved her. She knew the consequences and she was willing to pay them."

He tightened his grip on her. "What did you do to Pidge?"

"...Keith?" Pidge's voice was weak, but it was the most beautiful thing Keith had heard in months. And when she opened her eyes to stare at him with open confusion, he couldn't even bring himself to care that her eyes were more gold than the brilliant brown he remembered.

"It's okay, Pidge. I'm going to take you home. Everything's okay now," he promised.

Pidge's brows furrowed. "You're not supposed to be here. You weren't supposed to find me."

"What are you talking about?" Keith asked. "Why not? I've been looking everywhere for you! It's been – it's been a year, Pidge. Everyone thinks you're dead! Your family thinks you're dead! And you're first words to me are: 'You're not supposed to be here'!? Why the hell not, Pidge? Why am I not supposed to be here?"

"Because I'm a monster!" Her words lacked any volume, but that didn't make them any less deafening to Keith.

All of his rage deflated. "You're not a monster."

Pidge turned her head away. "Look at me. What else would I be?"

Keith cupped her cheek, gently turning her head back. "You are a Paladin of Voltron and one of the most brilliant people I know. You're stronger than this. I know you are. Come back with me and I'll spend as long as it takes to prove to you that you are not a monster."

The old woman cleared her throat, reminding them both that she was still there.

"Do you have a problem with that?" Keith snapped.

"Well, there is still the issue of payment to settle. I am not asking for much. It is just a token – a trifle, really," she said. "What I require is a sample of blood. Preferably one from each of you. It would greatly benefit my work here, you see."

"I don't understand. Why would that help you?" Keith asked, plainly confused.

The old woman chuckled as she began to bustle about and gather her equipment. "It is quite simple. I study hybrids. Often they are the combination of the strongest traits of each of their parents – it is quite fascinating. Through my research, I found the way to save the life of your friend." She walked towards them, heedless of the way Keith was glaring at her the whole time. "Earthlings are an unusual species. Very adaptable. More so than any other I have studied. The process is one that many others have been unable to survive, and yet here she is. Perfection."

Pidge shied away from the old woman's gaze.

"And I can see that you are a true hybrid, born of Galra and Earthling," she said, removing a syringe from her case. "If you would-"

Keith held out his arm before she could finish her sentence. "If it means I can leave with Pidge, then take what you need." He looked away as he felt the pinch of a needle against his skin and focused on his friend instead, taking in the changes she had gone through. Her hair was the same, albeit longer than he'd ever seen, and her skin was a pale lavender in color. Her pointed ears were hidden beneath her hair, with just the tips trying to peek through.

She was hardly the monster she believed herself to be.

In short time, the old woman finished with her work and bid the pair goodbye. She bustled away without looking back, muttering to herself.

Keith tried to help Pidge stand so they could leave, but quickly realized she'd lost too much strength during her recovery in the pod. Instead, he swept her up into his arms and carried her back through the tunnels.

The Green Lion roared in triumph at their return and soon they were on their way home. And though he didn't have to, Keith held her in his arms the entire way.