Allura slipped into a pair of trousers and threw a long overcoat on. The littlest mouse chirped at her and stood up. Allura smiled and whistled to it, holding open her coat pocket. It took a running jump off her dresser and dived in to bury itself in pocket lint.

She waited in the side of the entryway with a clear view of the bridge. The sun was just starting to rise, meaning the red lion would wake up and Keith would go for his morning run before coming to see Lance, the boy in the healing pod. Sure as a ticker, Keith emerged and stretched. Allura felt a trill of nerves send her senses into overdrive. She had managed to evade Coran over the last few quintants. If he asked her a direct question about why she'd been disappearing, she'd never be able to hide the truth.

Gathering her courage, she glanced around to make sure Coran wasn't in sight and jogged from the castle. Her intention had been to intercept him, but he was nowhere to be found. Suddenly doubting herself, Allura glanced up at the lions then back to her castle. Wringing her hands, she took a step back.

"Princess?"

A small scream escaped her and she whipped around to see the galra boy climbing up the hill from below the bridge. She put a hand to her chest and sighed, "You frightened me."

"Sorry," he replied with a shrug. "What are you doing out here? Isn't your adviser going to be upset you're talking to me?"

"Who said I was coming to talk to you?" Allura huffed and folded her arms.

Keith raised an eyebrow and walked to the lions. "Okay then."

Allura chewed her cheek and looked aside. Her nerves were giving her indigestion, but she wasn't ready to go back inside quite yet. She said without looking at him, "However, I would like to speak to the lions. Will you act as my ambassador?"

Keith tipped his head and looked up at the red lion who lowered her head and pressed her cheek into him. He hugged her to stay upright and shrugged again. "Alright. Though, I don't know if I can really do anything to help you."

Allura looked at the red lion and asked, "May I approach you, Lion?"

Keith nodded. "She... remembers you. You haven't changed since she last saw you."

Allura walked to the lion and reached out one delicate hand. The lion's hot breath bathed her and memories came unbidden to mind. She closed her eyes. "That is because my father... your prior paladin..." Warm metal pressed into her hand and Allura bit her lip.

A hand on her shoulder almost made her forget why she'd come. Keith murmured, "She misses him. When we connected, I felt everything she did when she lost him. Anger... sadness... blame... She felt responsible for his death, Allura. I didn't understand at first. When she woke up, she was confused and scared and in pain. And so was I. I had given up. The empire had me pinned down and I accepted death. But then she was there. I had freed her and she released ten thousand years of fiery wrath upon the ships that conquered my world."

Allura's legs had turned to jelly and she barely caught the second half of his story. "The red lion... she really is tuned to you?"

"Yeah," Keith answered and let his hand slide off her shoulder.

Allura hugged herself at the abrupt loss of contact. Despite everything she had done and said to him, he was warm and kind. "Thank you... for sharing with me. I... I may have been asleep for a very long time, but losing my father... almost no time has passed for me personally. It brings a small comfort to know others grieve him as well. Lion, I believe you have chosen a successor well. Keith, take care of her, please."

Keith's eyes widened and he looked up as the lion purred loudly. "I'll do my best, your majesty."

Allura lifted her chin and turned to the castle. "Will you be visiting later today?"

"Uh, I um... I don't think so. Ulaz asked me to join him for sparring and I don't think I can sneak away because they... they don't want me to, um, be there... especially alone."

Allura paused to consider that. He hadn't told his allies about sneaking into the castle? It was strange to think the two of them had a secret together. "Very well. Until next time."

"Bye, princess."

Allura entered the castle and returned to her rooms before falling face-down on the bed. Pillowing her head on her forearms, she released the torrent of tears she had managed to hide from Keith. She couldn't stop crying once she started. A wriggling in her coat pocket became the mouse which crawled to her face. It gently licked her cheek before curling up in silent sympathy. She didn't leave her room until Coran found her much later.

Keith stumbled and turned before quickly ducking. Ulaz connected with a beam, his blade leaving a sizable cut in the metal. Thace chided, "Don't damage the ship. The drones have enough work to do without fixing your carelessness."

Ulaz shot Thace a look and Keith launched himself while his opponent was distracted. Ulaz lifted a forearm to block Keith without even turning. Ulaz twisted his hips and pushed hard. Keith faltered backward, turning it into a back flip as Ulaz kept up with him.

Krolia walked by and glanced dismissively at them. "You're going too easy on him, Ulaz."

"This is easy?!" Keith shot back.

"Of course. You are but a novice, little one," Thace informed where he stood at the console. "Coleen, how are those codes coming?"

Coleen stretched her hands above her head. "They're not much of a challenge. I've added a couple modulations to increase the firewall. It's incredible the empire hasn't lost countless cruisers with such flimsy anti-spyware."

Keith felt a moment of awe before remembering exactly who her kids were. Katie and Matt didn't get all of their smarts from their dad alone. Coleen had been stationed at the garrison as a computer engineer before becoming a full time stay at home mom. Then Keith was forced to pay attention when Ulaz flicked his forehead for daydreaming.

Krolia smiled and said, "Excellent. Can we run a system check?"

"Give me half a second," Coleen answered and started typing. "And... got it! Main boards booting up. Shields are incomplete, so none of that. Weapons coming online. Coms... wait, there's an incoming message. I... It's not an imperial frequency."

"Put it up."

Keith and Ulaz paused to look at the screen where a frequency buzzed and blipped. Krolia instructed without turning, "Ulaz, take Keith back to camp. Coleen, you should probably leave as well."

Keith looked between the blades. Thace shared a concerned look with Ulaz before nodding. Keith asked, "Krolia? What's wrong? Do you know who it is?"

Ulaz put a hand on Keith's arm and guided him away. "Come now, young one. It's time we took our leave. Coleen?"

Coleen looked between Keith and Krolia and shook her head. "I'm going to stay. Keith, listen to Ulaz."

Keith frowned. What was going on? Why were they so insistent on keeping him in the dark? Was it still to protect him? Sighing in defeat, he followed Ulaz outside only to discover the sun had already set. He tried to turn to the lions when Ulaz grabbed his arm. "Not so fast, kit. You don't get to skip meals two nights in a row."

Keith could already smell the burning food that wafted on the night breeze and groaned, "Fine."

Krolia stared at the frequency with a growing sense of anger. Her head was stuffy with it and she couldn't think of anything except the cause. Why was he calling now, when so much time had passed? She heard Thace say, "Coleen, are you sure you wouldn't rather leave?"

"I'm staying," she repeated.

Another minute passed before Thace insisted, "Teacher, we must answer the call."

Krolia put a hand on the console and said, "Do not speak. I will handle this," and opened the channel. "This is Krolia of the blades. We read you, command."

"Krolia?" A man's deep voice answered then growled, "Where have those lions gone that you're the first agent to respond?"

Krolia raised an eyebrow at Thace as he opened his mouth. His jaw snapped shut and she answered, "I've heard news of the blue lion's discovery. What has been done to recover her from the empire?"

"Krolia, do not start this."

Krolia narrowed her eyes at his firm tone. "And why not? You told me she would remain hidden. Those were the terms I agreed to. What have you done to free the lions?"

"Clearly you are too close to this. How is your mission faring? You haven't checked in recently."

"Do not change the subject," Krolia hissed.

"Agent Krolia, you will watch how you speak." The man's voice was thin and brittle, like his patience was being pushed to the limit. "The blue lion is not your concern. Stick to your objectives and check in at your next scheduled report. Do I make myself clear, Krolia?"

"If the blue lion is not my concern, then what of her sister?"

"What?" The man was quickly turning hostile.

Thace shook his head and Krolia leaned on the console. "You know exactly what I mean. The red lion has been in captivity for too long as it is. If they find the others, we will not be able to stop Zarkon. So I ask again, what has been done to recover the lions?"

There was a pause on the other side that lingered for an uncomfortable amount of time. Then he said, "I'm sending Antok to extract you."

"What?! You can't do that!"

"I can and will. You have been compromised, Krolia, and no longer hold the mission in primary importance. Initiate extraction protocol and await your rendezvous. Am I understood?"

"I will not await extraction because I no longer require it."

The man on the other end growled, "Explain."

Krolia answered, "When I discovered the blue lion had been found, I finished my mission and transferred to her planet post haste. Ranveig is dead. I killed him myself before destroying the base and all occupants. Transmissions from that base are set to continue as though nothing is wrong for four pheobs more before feigning officer error. It will look like an accident caused by Ranveig's unauthorized weaponry experimentation."

"And where are you now?" This from a new male voice.

Thace joined, "Leader, Antok, this is Thace. Krolia is here with myself and Ulaz as well as a gathering of prisoners who managed to escape during the confusion. The lions brought us to a small planet called Arus where the Altean vessel known as the Castle of the Lions was hidden. We are waiting on certain... variables to resolve themselves, but our intention is to accompany the lions. Leader," Thace hesitated with a worried glance at Krolia, "did you receive my previous transmissions around the time of the blue lion's discovery?"

"I find it disconcerting that this is my first hearing of such messages. Did you use your personal encryption?"

"Yes. Leader, should we consider our location compromised and proceed with the appropriate caution?" Thace rubbed the pommel of his sword nervously with a thumb.

Coleen said in the following silence, "Excuse me, but my name is Coleen Holt. I was a prisoner aboard the imperial cruiser that held the lions. Am I correct that you think we're in danger here? We are stranded for now."

"Coleen, be still," Thace urged under his breath.

A low growl came through the coms before the leader said as if he'd taken several steps back, "Shoren, double check our intel. Antok, set a course for Planet Arus." Another short pause. Then, "There have been too many risks taken since the lion's discovery. Thace, you are now leading this mission. Krolia is relieved of duty until we arrive and assess the full ramifications of her recent actions. Woman, Coleen, we do not trust outsiders. Our order is one of secrets. Stay with my agents until I judge whether you know too much... and what your fate will be if that is the case.

"As for the mission itself, you are correct to accompany the lions. The empire has not made any move to your location, but news of Sendak's demise has been widespread. They know it was an inside job, though if they are aware who was behind it is unclear."

Thace asked, "When can I expect your arrival?"

Antok answered, "Nine quintants. We'll see you soon, Thace... sister."

"Remain vigilant. We are treading unfamiliar waters now. And Thace," the leader said, "resend those transmissions. I want to know what hell awaits us."

The call ended and Thace slumped over the console. Coleen asked, "What did he mean about me? I'm only trying to help." Thace moaned and covered his eyes.

Krolia stood frozen, reeling in anger. Relieve her? He needed every blade at his disposal and he wanted her to stand down?! Then she gasped and glared at Thace. "What transmissions did you send?"

Thace flinched and retreated a step. "Teacher, we had to. We were caught completely by surprise. If it had come to choosing between the lions and him, we would have been forced to keep to our original objective."

Krolia narrowed her eyes against her tears as betrayal clutched her heart. "Don't, Thace. Don't you dare resend that intel."

Thace threw his arms wide and exclaimed, "What else can I do, Krolia? We all knew something happened on your mission twenty deca-pheobs ago, but you refused to confide in anyone. We're in this because you kept silent. We would have taken him, Krolia! He wouldn't have..." Thace blanched as he realized what he was saying with a panicked glance at Coleen. Composing himself, he said evenly, "Krolia, I'm going to have to take your blade now."

"You may try," Krolia threatened.

Thace took a step toward her, his hand on his sword hilt. "Do not make this harder than it already is. When Kolivan arrives, I will defend your actions until my dying breath."

"How admirable," Krolia spat.

"I know it is not me you are angry with. Teacher, please." Thace held out his hand. "The blade?"

Krolia's cheeks were damp with tears. Taking a deep breath, she glanced to Coleen who nodded encouragement. Krolia's heart ached when she passed her blade to her former student. Thace's 'thank you' didn't reach her as she turned on her heel and left the ship. The cool night air forced her to notice the wood smoke and laughter floating from the direction of camp. She stalked the other direction and walked into the wilderness.

When she finally stopped, her thoughts of failure threatened to consume her. She fell to her knees and held herself to keep it contained. Then a hand squeezed her shoulder. Her chin trembled and she gave in fully to her pain. The grass compressed beside her and the hands of her comforter guided her against their chest.

She wept into their neck until she couldn't cry another tear. When she tried to pull away, they held her tighter and whispered, "You gonna be alright now?"

She breathed through a hiccup, "Yes, Keith." He let her distance herself, but he kept his hands on her shoulders for an extra moment while he tried to make eye contact. Krolia avoided his gaze and wiped at her cheek with the back of a hand. "How many times must you aid me? It is I who should take care of you."

He shrugged and settled beside her, "You've done so much for me. I just wanted to return the favor."

She smiled bitterly at the ground in front of her. "It should not fall to you. I should not be so emotional."

"Why not? You're just a person." Keith shook his head and said firmly, "I know you're in trouble... because of me. Thace and Ulaz... they said you broke the rules for me and the others."

"Keith-"

"I mean, sure, I may be part galra, but you really didn't have to. No one would be any wiser. But you still... Krolia, you saved me and Lance and all the others and that is never wrong." Keith glared at his hands in his lap. "If your leader can't see that, then I'll tell him myself."

"Keith... my precious one, you will not have to go that far." She reached toward him and cupped his cheek with one palm. "Little kit, if Kolivan will not accept what I have done, he is much less than I thought him to be... and I will renounce my oaths. All we did was out of love for you. You are worth... every sacrifice, Keith. Never forget that." Krolia wrapped an arm around his shoulders and pulled him into her side. They sat quietly together. Every passing minute brought more clarity to her troubled mind. Then she asked, "How did you find me? I expected Ulaz or Coleen would seek me out first."

Keith smiled over his shoulder. "Red told me. I mean, Blue saw you head off by yourself and she picked up on your emotions. She asked Red to take me to you."

Krolia followed his gaze to where the red lion laid on her side a short distance away. "She is an incredible creation. Has she told you of the others?"

Keith shook his head against her side. "I feel something missing, but she's worried about Blue and Lance. It's all she thinks about. Can..."

"What is it?" Krolia encouraged.

Keith mumbled, "I was just thinking... if you knew about the healing pods... we could go see how much longer he's going to be in his coma."

Krolia tsked. "I'm sorry, but I don't know how they work. Ulaz may have some knowledge, though he would not condone entering the castle without permission." Krolia put her cheek to Keith's hair and sympathized, "I know you miss him, but it is only for a little while longer. When he wakes, this loneliness you're feeling will fade."

"I'm used to being alone."

Krolia kissed his hair and hugged him. "No one is leaving you, Keith. This I promise."