Lance slowly came to. At first he became aware of the pressure in his ears and the muffled shouts. He blinked, trying to bring his one working eye into focus.

"STOP IT!"

"YOU'RE KILLING HIM!"

That was Hunk and Pidge.

"Lotor! Stop it!"

And that was Allura.

He shifted, the restraints making it difficult to move much, but he was able to lift his head some and see what was going on.

Lotor was casually kicking what looked like bloody remains on the floor.

Taking the clothes into account, Lance could guess who it was.

"Lotor," he said calmly, "don't cross that line again."

Lotor stopped and everyone turned to look at lance, who was lifting himself up into a sitting position.

"Cross what line?" Lotor sneered.

"You killed a few of my people before," Lance said, just as calmly, "Keith may not be under my jurisdiction, but if you kill him, I will kill you."

"So you have all your memories back?"

"The witch saw fit to…deviate power from those spells to power up her doll," Lance glanced at the clone who clenched his fists, "if she hadn't, I would have won."

Lotor walked over to lance and kicked him instead.

"STOP-"

"SHUT UP!" lotor rounded on Hunk, "I DO AS I PLEASE! I tolerated all of your…sickening naivety and idiocy for long enough!"

He was about to hit Hunk as well, but Lance butted in.

"I challenge you to a dule."

Lotor froze and turned slowly.

"You?"

"I formally challenge you…to the death," Lance said, his face giving nothing away.

"Lance, no!" Allura cried, but she was ignored. Lotor laughed.

"YOU?! A HUMAN!? I've spent deca-phebes building my power and skill and you, a HUMAN, think you can out match ME?!"

"You think Zarkon welcomed me without testing me first?" Lance smirked.

Lotor hesitated.

"You are already restrained," the clone stepped forward and grabbed a handful of Lances hair, "we'll just kill you out right. Why should we let you have a dule?"

"Chicken," Lance spat, "I was taught only cowards refuse a dule."

"Well, then," the clone smiled, "we'll just have to kill all the witnesses as well and our problem is solved."

"Then what's stopping you?" Lance asked, narrowing his eyes, "you could've killed me quite a few times before."

"Mother wants to try one more time," Lotor said.

Lances smirk faltered and was replaced by a shacky smile, "…oh, really?"

"We just have to wait until I get there," the clone said.

"Finally going to come out of hiding?" Lance taunted, "you can't-"

The clone slammed lances head onto the dais, "Silence!"

Lance glared, but knew his place.

"Take all these prisoners and lock them away," Lotor ordered.

"What about the Blade and the red paladin?"

Lotor snorted, "Leave them. They'll just die on their own."

"We need them all alive," the clone said, "To get what we want."

Lotor grimaced, "fine."

()

They sat in the cells in the castle. Allura quietly cursed the Alteans perfectionist nature in making the cells so that escape would be next to impossible. Lance, Hunk, and Pidge shared a cell and across the walkway Coran and Allura shared their cell.

Keith and Kolivan were in the healing pods and the pods were set to freeze the occupants once the healing was done.

"Sooo," Hunk licked his lips in the silence, "Who saw that coming?"

"Keith did," Pidge muttered and the others nodded. They all fell back into silence and Hunk fidgeted. The big guy looked around, trying to find an outlet for his nerves when his eyes landed on Lance.

His friend stared blankly at the floor, almost the way Pidge looked at a computer screen when she was in the zone.

"Lance? You ok?"

He shook him and lance blinked, "what?"

"You ok man? I mean, none of us at ok, ok, but you look a little…"

"Like you're about to throw up," Pidge finished, "Do it over there."

Lance grinned, "I'm not gonna throw up. I'm just trying to figure out how to get out of this situation. Pidge, you did send that message to Krye?"

"Do I look incompetent?" She scoffed, "I got that and a lot more out there. They should be on there way."

()

Lotor paced across the bridge.

"The Empress will be here soon, so calm down," the clone said following Lotor with his eyes.

"We don't have time on our side," Lotor stressed, "where did she even go?"

"To your hunting grounds to recruit the best to her side and ultimately, to yours. Also, since Zarkon is no longer here, she also decided to burry your mess."

Lotor pulled a face and shook his head, "I could've done that."

"But you didn't. You played with your new friends instead of embracing responsibility."

"That mess is a non-issue."

"It was discovered, that non-issue is now an issue!"

Lotor shook his head, "either way, its not a problem. Right now the problem is Voltron. We have to make sure they don't escape or even try anything until Mother gets here."

()

"WE HAVE MOVEMENT!"

"Damn-" Shiro hissed. They were almost to where Voltron was.

"Who is it?" Qaltok asked.

"Unidentifiable," the galra replied, "but my gut says it's the witch."

"Based on?"

"based on the fact that she's been missing and all of a sudden this strange ship appears out of no where."

"not a scientific hunch, but logical enough," Qal sighed, "What do you think?"

"Voltron comes first," Shiro said immediately, "she shows up right when Voltron is asking for aid? I think we can nail two birds with one stone."

Qal resisted the urge to ask what a 'bird' was. He understood the saying regardless.

"You're orders?"

All the generals were up on the screen.

"Havla and Romak, I want you with me," Shiro said after some thought, "Everyone else…get the Witch. If you can kill her, great, but don't follow her if she escapes and instead join us with Voltron."

"Yes Sir."

"Sir."

()

Axca came down with Zethrid.

"If any of you try to escape, Ezor is in the pod room ready to kill both the red paladin and the Blade member," Zethrid smiled.

Axca walked over to each cell. She double checked that each one was disarmed and then put them all in separate cells. However, when she got to Lance, she shoved him toward the larger general.

"Goodie," Lance muttered as they began to drag and shove him out of the room.

()

Lotor waited until his generals brought Lance before him, and forced him to kneel.

"I want you to record a surrender," Lotor said, "we will then broadcast it everywhere. You're generals and your men will be ordered under me."

Lance laughed and was back handed.

"I'm not joking."

"That's what makes it funny," Lance spat out a bit of blood, "Even if I surrender, my generals would never follow you and neither would a single one of those under me. If I surrender, it would only be me you would gain."

"You will surrender," the clone said from behind Lotor, "that is nonnegotiable."

"Mmm, no," Lance shrugged, "you can kill me if you like, but I'm not surrendering."

"Then you can watch as each one of your friends desends into insanity," Lotor said with a shrug of his own, "mother will be here soon and we'll start with Hunk."

Lance tried to keep a passive face, but Lotor could read through it and smiled.

"Then we'll whip that little one into shape," he continued, his voice lowering slightly, "then-"

BOOM!

The ship rocked and send everyone sprawling. The screen buzzed and the clone slammed the receive button.

Kryes helmet and Qal appeared.

"Lotor," said the distorted voice of Krye, "We ask for your surrender."

()

"What do you think they're doing?" Hunk asked for the thirtieth time.

"We'll most likely find out ourselves if we wait," Pidge muttered darkly. She was on her back with her feet propped against the wall.

"The witch must have arrived," Allura put in, "and Lance just got his memories back too…"

Pidge scowled," …about that, does anyone else think that what he said before was…hinky?"

Allura scowled as well, "what do you mean."

"I confess," Hunk said, "I don't remember anything that was said, I was panicking too much."

Pidge sat up, "he said something about Zarkon welcoming him and all sorts of weird stuff like it was normal and lotor never really contradicted him."

Coran nodded, "and let's not forget that he also asked for a duel…"

"…I-"

BOOM!

The ship rocked and their energy prisons flickered.

"One more hit like that and the energy will cut here and divert to the shields," Coran said.

"Let's hope for another hit, then," Pidge muttered.

()

"YOU HAVE NO LEVERAGE!" Lotor roared.

Lance had his head up as three swords were pointed at his throat from three different people.

"We will only ask once more-"

"Qal," Lance said softly, "step down."

The pure triumph on Lotors face could have shattered granite. Both the imposter Krye and Qal tilted their heads to one side.

"Alright," Qal said slowly.

"Now," Lotor said, lost in his own high, "I demand all of you to surrender!"

Lance laughed, again.

"Ow," lance winced as a sword nicked his neck, but he still chuckled.

"the witch will be here soon," the clone said quietly to Lotor, "hold them off till then."

The clone then turned and left the room.

"What's so funny?" Lotor seethed through clenched teeth.

"So much about this situation is funny," Lance said, "First of all, you don't even know who you're telling to surrender over there. Second, I already told you that no one would surrender to you. Third, you ACTUALLY think Qal would come here without leverage?"

Lotor turned to the screen and then back to Lance.

"I have no weakness."

"You have plenty," Lance grinned, "I could show you if you like."

"What?" Lotor smirked, "You want to duel again?"

"What do you mean again? You backed out of the last offer like a coward-"

Lotor leaned in on his sword, cutting into lances throat, "keep talking…"

Lance winced again and grit his teeth.

BOOM!

Lotor and the others were unprepared for the attack. Unlike before, Kryes ship kept firing. The ship automatically threw up the shields.

Lance rolled out of the way. He reached a far wall and braced himself.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Isn't it obvious?" Krye's voice replied.

()

They were free.

"Ok," Allura pulled Pidge and Hunk back, "we need a plan."

"shoot Lotor," said Pidge at the same time Hunk said, "good idea."

"I think we-"

The door opened and the clone strode through the door. He sighed as he saw the four of them.

"I knew it."

"Pidge," Allura said quietly, "get Keith and Kolivan. Leave the clone to us."

Pidge barely nodded, saying she understood.

()

Keith opened his eyes and the first thing he heard was a heavy thud.

He still hurt every where, the pod not being given enough time to heal him completely.

"Seems I was too late."

Keith stepped out, a little wobbly, and almost tripped over Pidge. She was on the ground, where she'd fallen, blood pooling beneath her.

Then clone walked forward.

Keith panicked and threw up a quintessence shield.

The clone stopped.

"Well…this is annoying."

While the shield was up Keith moved quickly and put Pidge in the pod he had just occupied. As he worked he winced as the spells the clone was throwing at his barrier.

"A solid structure," the clone complimented, "but easy to shatter once my creator get's here."

"Where-" Keith tried to speak but the ship suddenly rocked violently.

The clone sighed, "the shields are almost out of power."

The lights flickered.

"Why serve Lotor?" the witch had created a being with a separate mind, perhaps he could turn it…

"I don't," the clone raised a glowing hand and pushed against the barrier, "I serve the Witch. What she wants is what I live for."

"But why? When you can do anything you want-"

"Because I also want what she wants."

"And what does she want?"

The clone smiled, "not telling."

The ship rocked again and the power went out. In the dark keith ran. He made a bee line for where he knew a door was and he kept his barrier up. He also kept an eye on the glow of the clones hand.

"So bothersome," the clone sighed.

()

The lights continued to flicker and go out for long periods of time. Keith never looked behind him, but knew for a fact that the clone was still there- following him at a brisk pace. The monster was going to let him ware himself out and then…

Then what?

Kill him? If that was the case then why had he been in the pod?

Was he going back to the pod?

Whatever it was it would be the opposite of what he wanted. Keith was breathing hard when he reached the stairs…

Stairs…in a space ship.

He would have to take to Allura about this.

On the stairs, however, he could hear someone else coming down.

"Sir! There's a barrier on the stairs!"

"Break it."

It was a simple command and before Keith could brace himself the quintessace barrier he'd created had shattered. Whoever it had been must be strong-"

A private rounded the corner. Keith noticed Kryes insignia on the galras armor.

"Its one of the paladins!" the private shouted.

Keith looked behind him. The clone was gone.

Behind the private a galra with blue and purple fur walked up. He maneuvered past the first galra and stood before Keith.

"We are here in response to your call for aid. How bad is the situation?"

"I…I don't know, I just…just…"

"I see," there was no judgement in the others face or voice, "Maliq, take this paladin and get him fluids-"

"I'm fine," Keith protested, not sure what to make of the situation even more than before, "I think we just need to get to the bridge, I'm sure that's where Lotor is-"

"You are injured," the galra replied, "where it is noteworthy that you wish to still fight, my lord would never allow it. Heal first. Leave the rest to us…or why did you call us in the first place?"

Keith had no argument for that. While he babbled a little in protest, he also made no move against the private who pulled him along up the stairs passed many more of Kryes soldiers.

"I will get you to General Romaks ship," the private said, "there you can-"

"But I have to go and help-"

"our lord has told us that an injured soldier is a useless soldier," the galra cut in, "general Romak will take care of the rest."

()

Lance stood, his hands free, holding Zethrids gun. Ezor, who had come running to the bridge when the ship firs started to take impact, lay dead at his feet.

"Who's next," Lance asked. Zethrid herself was holding a wounded shoulder and Axca stood at the controls.

"You will pay for that," Lotor growled, "you will pay for everything-"

"My wallet isn't that big, nor is my heart," Lance spat.

Lotor didn't dare move and Lance was outnumbered. Moments passed and only Lance noticed Shiro remove himself from the screen. Qaltok stood in full view.

"Tell me what's going on, Qal," Lance said, raising his voice, "speak freely."

Qaltok took his time answering, "Havla and Romak have invaded the castle-"

"What?!" Lotor rounded on Axca. She hurridly pushed a series of buttons.

"I don't see anything…" she reported, "wait."

She could barely detect movement from the preifferial vision of the cameras.

"Each of our soldiers has a reflective crystal that diverts mechanical attention," Qal explained, "you would know more about this had you exchanged with us sooner."

Lotor swore and began to pace.

"Continue Qal," Lance said.

"The other generals are facing off with what was confirmed as the Witchs ship not twenty doboshes ago. They are instructed to let her go if she runs away, but to take every opportunituy to kill her-"

"NO!" Lance and Lotor cried at the same time. Lotor turned in amazement to Lance who was staring at the screen.

"CALL THEM BACK NOW!"

"My lord, i-"

"NOW QAL!"

"Then I shall do that."

The screen when dark as Qal cut communications. Instead Kryes flag ship could be seen in all its glory. Twice the size of the castle and all its cannons and guns directed at it.

"Why do you wish to save your enemy?" Lotor asked.

"I don't," Lance said through his teeth, "I wish to save my men."

Lotor laughed, "so you admit you're weak!"

"I admit the Witch is strong," Lance replied, "without your mommy you'd be a fish on a line."

"You're not making any sense."

"OK, I'll spell it out," Lance stood straighter, "you are a pill, Lotor, huge, annoying, and charismatic, but a pill. You are nothing without your mother and would've been crushed by your father had it not been for her whispering in your ear. Have you ever actually had a thought of your own?"

Lance stopped when it was clear Lotor was about to blow. They stood in silence for a long while until Lance delt the finishing blow.

"You had better leave now. You've lost this round…or maybe I should just kill you here?" Lance lifted the gun and aimed it, "you have three tics to make up your mind."

"My Lord," Axca ran forward and got in between Lotor and Lance.

()

Keith stared down at the cup in his hands. The fact that he didn't know what was going on was freaking him out.

"Keith!"

It was Kryes voice and Kryes helmet that rounded the corner.

It was the look on Keiths face that reminded Shiro that he still had the helmet on. He quickly took it off.

"Its me! I swear!"

Keiths face contorted into a mixture of amazement and disgust, "….Lance was right…"

"Keith, how is everyone?"

"I don't know," Keith said and then told the story from his perspective.

"All I know is that Pidge is safe in the healing pod."

Shiro nodded, "I just got done talking to Havla. She says everyone is already in, if not heading to the healing pods."

"What about the clone?" Keith asked, "and Lance? And-"

"I'll go after Lance," Shiro said turning, "you stay and-"

"I don't think so," Keith stood and set the drink down, "I'm fine, let's go."

()

"One," Lance said and waited.

Axca could feel a cold sweat start. She'd fought against him before and barely made it out herself and Ezor and Zethrid were evidence that she didn't stand a chance on her own.

"Two."

She braced herself, lifting her weapons.

But Lance just lowered his gun. The look on his face one of…pain? Sadness?

"You better go Axca," he said looking past her.

She turned around to see that her lord was no where to be found. He had already left.

"I may not have much of a heart, but I still don't like shooting people in the back," he said, "get going."

Axca hesitated for only a moment before running after her lord.

Lance lowed the weapon and took a deep breath. His knees shook slightly and he gave a watery smile.

"Lucky," he muttered to himself as he reached up and scratched the scabbing on his neck.

()

Shiro and Keith burst onto the bridge to find Lance at the controls talking to Qaltok.

"Bring everyone in accept those that are under in Jakals and Greshiks command," Lance said and the galra saluted before signing off.

"I see you took care of everything, again," Shiro said pointedly, looking at the corpses.

Lance turned and grinned, "you sound dissaponted."

"What happened?" Keith snapped.

"Oh, Lotor postured and preened, I pissed off his generals, and then I somehow managed to make him believe that he'd lost."

"but…hadn't he?" Shiro asked, "we not only out numbered him but-"

"I openly recalled the attack on the Witch," Lane said, "If he waited a bit longer, or if he truly wanted to, he could've given himself up and he's a dangerous prisoner to have. Not only did I convince him to run, I had to convince him that was his only option. If he had picked any other alternative, we'd be in a lot of trouble."

Keith opened his mouth, but realized he had nothing to say.

Something wasn't right.

"you recalled the attack?" Shiro snapped, "But this is our chance! If we can get the right amount of forces on her without Lotor then we should be able to get rid of her and then sweep Lotor under the rug!"

"Yes," Lance said folding his arms and tilting his head to one side, "but I know something you don't. The witch is the most powerful being in the universe right now. There is no 'right amount of force' she will win no mater what. We have to attack in a way to subvert her power which is not going to happen any time soon."

"but-"

"THERE YOU ARE!"

The three of them jumped as the private stormed onto the bridge waving a blanket at Keith.

"I've looked all over the place for you!"

Keith made a face and moved so that Shiro was between him and the approaching Galra. The galra narrowed his eyes.

"Keith," Lance grabbed his shoulders and shoved him towards the galra, "go get better."

"What?!"

"Yes," Shiro nodded, "Go."

Keith looked like he'd just been kicked again.

"Private Gradik!" Lance snapped. The galra came to attention, but gave Lance a confused look.

"Sir…?"

"I want you to take the red paladin back to the healing pods. Your squad are going to be in charge of watching over Voltron. I expect to be notified the moment each of them are fully healed."

Gradik, still confused nodded, saluted and grabbed Keith, who dug in his heals.

"I don't- I'm not a baby!"

"No, but you are injured," Shiro said putting a hand on his shoulder, "Please? When everyone is better we'll all sit down and have a long, long, long, long talk."

Keith, after a moments hesitation, finally gave in and allowed himself to be escorted to the healing pods.

"He looked terrible," Lance muttered, remembering the bloody pulp Lotor had made of Keith earlier that day.

But he didn't get very far in his thoughts before he found himself in a hug. Shiro held him tightly and Lance had to fight.

He patted Shiros back and forced a smile as Shiro pulled away.

"See? I told you I'd survive!"

Shiro scowled, "cut the BS. You had no idea Lotor was going to use you as a way to further gain Voltrons trust."

Lance laughed, "I love that you picke3d up on that! Or was it Qal? You can be honest with me-"

"Lance," Shiro leaned forward a little, establishing better eye contact, "you ok?"

Lance felt his smile falter a little and knew he wouldn't be able to hide it for very long. Not if he was going to have to explain himself to everyone during that "long talk" Shiro had promised Keith.

"I just don't know. Everything seems right and wrong at the same time and if I have to choose, I'd rather be Lance-"

"Who said you had to choose?"

Lance rolled his eyes and turned around and back, running his hands through his hair, "my head is full to bursting and I'm not sure what to do or think or say! I put so many of you in danger and i…I'm a horrible person…strip everything away and I'm the worst…"

He hung his head, defeated.

"Funny," Shiro shrugged, "I was about to say the exact opposite."

Lance didn't move.

"stripped of everything you were you still fought against evil in the only way you knew how. You could still tell the difference between good and bad. Instead of just following orders you somehow KNEW were bad, you took the harder road and fought back. Qal and the others don't follow you because of Zarkon or because they were told to, but because they saw someone honorable worth following. They don't even care if you're a galra or not. They didn't bat an eye. They'll follow you no matter what and THAT kind of loyalty doesn't come cheap."

"I don't know what to do with it…"

"Yes you do."

Lance shook his head and Shiro decided to use his trump card.

"even I followed Krye before I knew he was already a friend."

"…you never did tell me how you knew."

Shiro snorted, "Your secret tell was a wink, if that doesn't scream "hi, I'm lance, hear me roar," then I don't know what does."

Lance snorted as well and raised his head. He searched Shiros face for the lie, but didn't find it.

"Krye and Lance are the same person," Shiro said, "and that's not too far fetched."

He waited to make sure his words were sinking in. Then they both winced as a commotion could be heard coming from down the hall.

"We can't leave them alone for a second," Shiro muttered already heading to the door, but Lance stopped him.

"Shiro?" Lance said quietly, lowering his voice.

"Yes?" Shiro replied, doing the same.

"I'm sorry."

There was a pause before Shiro said, "And specifically what are you sorry for?"

"Everything," Lance sighed, "I hurt you guys, I left you in prison, and even after I realized who I must've been I still acted the way I did-"

"Let's get something straight here," Shiro interrupted, "First: You didn't know who you were at first and were trying to do what you could to survive. Second: I would've have died without your intervention. Third: just because you figured out who you were in the past didn't give you a detailed memory or even a blueprint to your old personality. You did what made sense and no one can or will blame you for that."

Lance blushed and scowled, "Damnit, Shiro, will you just let me apologize?"

Shiro laughed, "Sure, fine, I'm sorry."

"Thank you."