Five days have passed since Keith lost Lance. Five days he could barely function. Every time he closed his eyes the bloodied head of Lance filled his vision making made him sick to his stomach. Alfor and his fleet are on their way and they will attack at sunrise. Zarkon will be taken down and Keith will enjoy every second of their destruction. They deserved so much worse than they were going to get.
"Our men are ready your Majesty. We will strike at dawn, and we will defeat them. Fo good." Kolivan said and Keith just nodded. He trusted Kolivan to handle it. Shior was still away from COurt having left after adam's funeral. It was Keith's idea for him to leave court for a while. He had argued of course but he could not deny is King.
...
The attack was started right as the sun peeked over the horizon. Zarkon was ready, having sat there for weeks ready. Keith had tried to go fight with his men but his council refused so he was pacing quickly in the throne room waiting for his hourly updates. People were dying right now. Hopefully not his. With Altea's men Zarkon was outnumbered but Zarkon had the witch and she had magic on her side. It was an even battle. Hours passed without an update which was putting Keith on edge. Where was Thomas with an update?! As if on cue Thomas ran in at full speed shouting.
"They've breached the Castle! You must come with me!" Keith stopped pacing in shock. Why..would they have come here? Does that mean all his men are..dead?
"Your Majesty!" Thomas begged pulling his arm. They turned to flee but stopped short as the doors were burst open and the guards fell through it dead. Keith's eyes widened seeing about a dozen Galran soldiers walk in lead by one he knew instantly and with a wave of rage. It was Lotor.
"Well. That was shockingly easy. " Lotor scoffed wiping his hands on his pants with a smirk. Keith was seeing red but Thomas held him back.
"Be calm Your Majesty. He is trying to anger you." Thomas whispered but Keith could barely hear his warning.
"I'm going to kill you." Keith spat at the way Lotor waltzed in, killing his people, with that sadistic smile on his face.
"Oh. Is that so?" Lotor gasped in mock shock. "I thought I would come and say hello and this is how you react? How warm of you, Keith."
"You do not have the right to be here after what you and your father have done. I swear to every God out there you will pay for everything." The room was silent as the two men stared at each other, Lotor amused while Keith fuming.
"You should be thanking me." Lotor said finally breaking the silence. Keith laughed a bit.
"Thank you? For what? What could I possibly be thanking you for?" Keith growled and Lotor turned and motioned to someone towards the back of the group.
"Bring him here." he ordered and the people shifted allowing two people to come to the front. Keith heard the chains rattle before he saw who was wearing them. The figure being pulled forward in nothing but rags. As they stepped closer Keith felt his whole body freeze up at the sight before him. There, in front of him, was Lance. Still breathing. Still alive. He was there. He was okay.
"How..?" Keith breathed. He had seen him.. His in the box. He was dead.
"A little magic goes a long way. We had to execute a traitor and I had the brilliant idea of tricking you and taking him for myself."
"Lance?" Keith said as a sob erupted from his throat. The boy in front of him didn't look up. His body battered and bruised and he was trembling but he didn't look up.
Lotor looked around dramatically. "Lance? Is there a Lance here?" He said and shrugged when no one replied. "Nope. No Lance." He smirked and Keith darted forward but two of his guards held him back.
"Lance! Lance! It's okay! You're okay!" Keith cried out but the boy would not look at him." Lance what's wrong?" He begged the boy to just look up. So he could see the eyes he had been seeing so often in his head. Lotor crouched down next to Lance and smiled a bit.
"I think he is speaking to you? Give him the respect and at least look at him, no?" He finished and the boy slowly lifted his head but the face that made Keith was not Lance's. His eyes were so dull and almost grey and his normal cheery smile was gone. He looked pale and nothing like the boy that stole Keith's heart.
"Lance.. What did they do to you?" Keith said more to himself in utter horror at the sight in front of him. The boy bowed his head again not responding and Lotor straightened up.
"We just fixed him a bit. Now, he's the perfect pet. Obeys as a dog would. He can even sit. " Lotor said running a possessive hand through the boy's hair. "My favorite trick though," He winked and learned over wrapping his arms around his waist resting his chin on his shoulder. "He bends over for me so well. Takes me like the good boy he is." He crooned and Keith was at his thoat in a second having slipped from the guards grip. Lotor was shocked at his speed and was on the ground the next second with Keith pummeling his face.
"I. Am. Going. To. Kill. You." keith screamed his whole being nraged. The thought of Lotor's filthy hands over Lance like that sent him into a animalistic state. He was no longer in control and a fight broke out over the top of them as the two groups charged into a brawl. The only thing Keith wanted now was to hold Lotor's disgusting heart in his hands but Lotor was strong and Keith was thrown off and Lotor lunged on him before he had a chance to attack again.
"What's wrong Keith? Are you envious I was able to have him before you?" Lotor sneered and Keith managed to buck him off before grabbing his throat.
"I'm going to gut you" He roared and Lotor could only widen his smirk seeing Keith in such a state.
"Oh, Please try. I can not wait to see this." He managed gripping Keith's hand tightly. Keith squeezed harder the only thing in his vision was the defiance in Lotor's eyes and he was not letting go until his neck was cold under his touch but a scream of fear tore him away and he saw Thomas grabbed. Keith watched as he was stuck through with one of the galran blades and he fell to the floor lifeless his blood pooling. Keith watched as his friend bled out on the floor and was out of it long enough for Lotor to kick him off. Keith fell back hard enough to knock the air from his lungs. Keith gasped trying to regain his air and Lotor stood over him, sword drawn smiling wide.
"You tired. I respect you for that. You have lost though. Now it's time for you to go." Lotor raised his hand drawing the sword back and Keith's eyes shifted to the sacred boy huddled in the corner watching the fight with wide eyes. He looked so frail, so scared.
"Lance.." keith whispered wanting nothing more than to hold him and let him know it is okay. He smiled a bit and closed his eyes waiting for the blow to end him but a battle cry from outside the door made him open his eyes and see Shro fling himself at Lotor.
"Not today you bastard" He roared swinging his own sword lotr blocked easily and was excited for the new challenge.
"Well. now, someone to actually give me a challenge. " Shiro was in a rage and obviously because he was here to avenge Adam who was actually dead. That was no witch's magic. Keith watched the two dance around the room equally matched in speed and strength. Lotor had an opening and slipped under Shiro's wide swing bringing his sword up and catching him under his arm completely severing his right arm. Shiro cried out grabbing his shoulder dropping his blade and falling to his knees in shock. Lotor was breathing heavily and held his stance looking pleased with himself.
"Not quite good enough hm?" He said. Keith was frozen. He couldn't move. He begged his limbs to move. To go help Shiro. BUt he was stuck and was going to watch his brother killed in front of him. This couldn't be happening. This was never how it was supposed to be.. Lotor laid the cold steel blade on Shiro's shoulders eyeing him.
"Wonder what it would feel like being just a head shorter?" He asked in a singsong voice. Shiro glared up at him his hand dripping with blood from his new stump. He was losing a lot of blood to quickly and was feeling his legs and arm start to get heavy.
Lotor raised his hand ready to take the final blow but lurched forward his eyes wide. All three stared at the blade piperced through Lotor's chest.
"Who.." Lotor managed before falling face first beside Shiro. Lane stood shaking and breathing hard his own hands bloody from gripping Shiro's fallen blade. There was one Galra soldier left who just stood there as his leader had fallen.
"Lance.." Keith said then the world went black.