After a long night of tossing and turning, Shiro decided to give up on his futile attempt at rest. He got up and got ready for the day, despite the fact that it was much too early for anyone else to be up. His mind seemed to be running a million miles a minute, and he couldn't seem to relax. His restlessness lead to him pacing the empty halls of the castle.

Maybe you need to think about what Keith really means to you.

He couldn't seem to shake Lance's words and he turned them over and over in his brain. What did Keith mean to him? He was his teammate, and his friend. As a part of Voltron, they'd been through a lot together, and as the leader he'd always seen Keith as his right hand. He had always had high hopes for him.

But that couldn't be all. That didn't explain the horrible, gut wrenching dread he had felt at seeing Lance carry him out of the Red lion, bloodied and on the brink of death. It didn't explain the emptiness and pain in his stomach that he couldn't seem to shake even when he knew Keith was healing. No…he'd been feeling that emptiness since before that. Ever since Keith left the team he'd felt it. He kept telling himself that it was just sadness at the loss of a teammate, but everything inside him knew it was something more than that.

He'd known Keith for a long time. He knew that much, but when he struggled to remember what Keith had been to him back on Earth, his memories seemed to be locked behind a wall built by the Galra. Everything before his capture was so hazy and muddled that he found it difficult to answer the question of what Keith had meant to him before because he truly couldn't remember. And that bothered him more than anything else.

Everything in his body was telling him that he had to protect him. Every time he saw him hurting or upset it was like every instinct in his body told him to help him. Why? Why couldn't he remember anything? He knew Keith had been important to him before. The way he tensed when Keith's safety could be at stake told him that much. His own body knew more than he did. His body could remember what he couldn't. So why?

Frustration swelled in his chest as he gritted his teeth and quickened his pace. Hadn't they taken enough from him already? They'd taken his arm and a year of his life. They took him from his home and made him into a monster. Why did they get to take the memories of those close to him too? Would he ever really be able to escape them? Would he ever regain what they'd taken from him?

The more he dwelt on it the more irritated he became and the faster he paced the halls. To know that you're forgetting something important, but being completely unable to remember it was the most frustrating thing in the world. His surroundings went unnoticed as he passed them by, and he wasn't sure how many times he went past the same doors. Before he realized where he was going, he found himself in the Black Lion's bay.

The beast sat quietly hunched where he had left it earlier and Shiro finally stopped in front of him. Standing here and being angry about the Galra wasn't going to help him right now. The only power he had was to fight them, both as Voltron and in his own mind. The only solace he had in their reign over him was that he would never stop fighting against them. He closed his eyes and took a steadying breath.

Think, Shiro. No one can completely erase memories. They must be there. Just think.

He concentrated on that wall that blocked him off from everything he knew. Keith, Earth, the Garrison; everything about his past was behind that wall. If he just relaxed and focused then maybe he could get through it. This was just another battle against the Galra. He had to fight.

What does Keith mean to me? He focused hard on Lance's words. If he could just focus harder, maybe he could break through the haze of his memories. How had they met? How long had he known him? They were close, he knew that, but were they as close as family or just friends? Come on, Shiro, think!

He set his hand against the Black Lion's leg, gritting his teeth in frustration. It was like he was staring into a black hole in his mind and just knowing that there was so much he was missing was so frustrating.

The black lion's roar suddenly tore through his concentration and he snapped his eyes open. When he did he found himself in the astral plane surrounded by the stars under which he'd once fought Zarkon to win Black's trust.

"What? Why did you send me here?" His voice echoed and he turned to Black who sat quietly perched beside him, but the lion remained silent. When he approached him, he refused to kneel and allow him entry. "What's gotten into you?"

Why would the Black Lion bring him here now? Did he know something?

"Black?" A voice echoed behind him that made him turn on his heel. When he did he was met with the confused and bewildered face of…himself. He stared for a moment with his mouth agape, not quite sure if he was staring into a mirror, but the reflection didn't mimic his movements as he approached the stoic black lion. His eyes were wide with shock and he stared at Black like he was a ghost.

"Who are you?" Shiro quickly activated his Galra arm. This didn't make sense. There couldn't be two of him, and only paladins of the Black lion could enter this astral plane. But Black had clearly brought them both here for a reason. Was this other Shiro some figment of his own imagination or some manifestation of his inner being created by Black? Was this some kind of test to help him rediscover himself? Could this other Shiro answer his questions?

"I'd like to ask you the same thing." The other Shiro held his gaze with Black and his entire demeanor seemed sad. He didn't bother to activate his Galra arm and his eyes seemed almost pleading as he stared at the Black Lion. When the lion made no move to respond to him he clenched his jaw and calmly turned to Shiro. "The black lion brought you here...are you his pilot?"

"Yes." If this was a trial then truthful answers were the way to go, but his response brought on a pained expression to the other Shiro. He looked hurt by the simple response like it was unexpected. Hadn't he already known the answer? If this was just a reflection of himself, why did he look so hurt?

"Why?" The other Shiro gritted his teeth and shot a pained glare at the Black Lion, clenching his fists. His voice rose in confusion and frustration, "After everything that happened, you sent me away! We had a bond! What is it that you want me to do?"

His voice echoed through the astral plane, but the lion remained still. It wasn't so much of an angry statement as it was one of betrayal and confusion. Was this some inner reflection of his feelings towards Black for sending him to the Galra after the fight with Zarkon? It was true he had felt betrayed by Black but he had tried to put those feelings behind him for the greater good. Once he was able to pilot him again he'd thought he'd finally buried the hatchet. Was Black upset about those feelings?

The other Shiro was facing him again. "Why did he bring you here?"

Why? He wasn't so sure. But the Black Lion may know more about him then he did himself. He knew of his feelings of betrayal, so what else could he know? He must have some answers about Keith. Maybe he could help him break down that wall. If this was Black's way of communicating with him, then he would cooperate. He deactivated his arm and glanced at the lion. "I think he knows the things that I can't remember. I came here because I need to know about Keith."

"Keith?" A look of surprise and then fear ran across the other Shiro's face. "What happened to Keith?"

Didn't he already know? Black had been there. He had seen everything. How would this repetition help him remember anything?

His slight pause was enough to cast worry across the other Shiro's face. He stepped towards him and repeated himself with more stress in his tone."What happened to Keith?"

"He was hurt. He's healing but even though I know he'll be fine, I can't shake this dread in my stomach. After hearing Matt say that he almost sacrificed himself and then seeing him covered in blood I…" He felt his throat tighten slightly, and he was surprised that the truth seemed to come out so easily. Being in this place seemed to draw out his honesty. "I know there's something I'm forgetting. I need to know what Keith meant to me before all of this. I know he's been there to save me so many times but…I can't remember."

What was that look in the other Shiro's expression? He couldn't quite place it. Shock? Fear? Relief? It changed between a series of emotions so quickly and unexpectedly that he couldn't figure out what he was thinking. He opened his mouth to speak. "Keith-"

His words were cut short when Black suddenly rose and released a deafening roar that that they could feel through their bones. With that roar came his words as if it were their own.

"You both have questions which you cannot answer. Understanding cannot be obtained alone. You, my paladins, each have the answers that the other desires. Only together can you become whole. Rely on each other to reach your goals."

Rely on each other…? So this wasn't his imagination? He made it sound as if this other Shiro that stood before him was an actual person. How? Where did he come from? But only Black Paladins could come here. Was it possible that the Black Lion could bring himself from the past or the future? All of this was only creating more questions and no answers.

The other Shiro stayed still, watching Black. He stood so still and focused that for a moment it seemed as if he was receiving a message from the lion privately which Shiro could not hear. Just as the thought crossed his mind, the other Shiro turned to him and his eyes were different now. They were filled with a fiery determination.

In two long steps he was suddenly right in front of Shiro and he clasped his hands tight on his shoulders. His stare bore into identical eyes and his words were full of strength. "Listen to me. Know who you are. You're the Black Paladin of Voltron. When you forget everything else remember that. The others will help you. Keith…"

He paused at the name, and a gentle smile found its way to his lips and his grip softened a little. "Keith knows me…he knows you…more than you'll know yourself sometimes. Rely on him. And let him rely on you. Protect him. He'll always protect you. With him there, you won't go astray."

"Why…?" The word escaped him before he could stop it. He knew the words were true, but he couldn't remember why. A seed of desperation grew in his chest. He had to know why.

"Keith is the most important person in your life." The other Shiro looked much softer now, and he squeezed his shoulder a little. "And he'll continue to be. Work with me, and I'll help you remember. Keith and I can help you remember who you are. But there's too much to tell you now. Listen to me, Shiro. Things are going to get harder for you. You need to-"

"Shiro."

For a moment his concentration seemed to blur and when the other Shiro spoke he couldn't quite make out his words. He tried to clear his foggy mind and focus.

"-your thoughts may not seem like your own. Remember who you are. I'll help you. But please, don't fall into their hands, Shiro. They'll be in your mind. Don't let them use you. Rely on us, rely on the Paladins and on Keith. He will help you. Are you listening to me? Shiro, you are-"

"Shiro."

There it was again, the sound of someone calling his name. The entire scene in front of him seemed to warp at the sound and he struggled to comprehend the muddled words that left the other Shiro's lips. What was he saying? What did he mean? Who would be in his mind? He still knew nothing about his past with Keith. How was any of this helping him understand what he was forgetting? He clenched his jaw and tried to focus on his words.

He felt someone touch his arm and in the blink of an eye the scene in front of him changed completely. In an instant he was back in the bay with the Black lion sitting in front of him as though he hadn't moved at all. The other Shiro was gone, his words left unheard, and instead Allura stood beside him with a concerned looked and a hand clutching his arm.

"Shiro, are you alright?" She seemed to trace his face with her eyes and her worry deepened. "You're absolutely ashen."

"I'm fine." He brought a hand to his face and felt beads of sweat along his forehead. His mind swam with a thousand more questions and no answers at all. Who was that other Shiro and how did he have the answers he needed? How was he supposed to help him? Would he see him again to get some answers?

Allura's concerned gaze bore into the side of his head, so he forced a small smile for her. "I was just…spacing out. Sorry."

She didn't seem entirely convinced at that answer, but she let the subject drop and pulled her hand away hesitantly. "All right then. Whenever you're ready we should gather the others. We have a lot of questions for Lotor, so once everyone is together it may be time to release him from the holding chamber."

"You're right. Let's call everyone down." That scene was over for now, and it was time to be the leader of Voltron. He had to focus on the team right now. He turned to follow Allura out of the bay, but paused for just a second to glance back at the Black lion. His answers were locked away somewhere with some other Shiro from who knows where or when. But they were there, and that meant he could reach them eventually. That alone would be a victory against the Galra.