Keith knelt with Pidge's limp form once again in his arms. Haggar frowned, the corners of her lips turned down in displeasure. Keith met her eyes and pleaded, "Don't hurt them, please! I swore myself to you like you asked. I'll do anything. I'm begging you, Haggar." Haggar walked to him and knelt. Her cold hand cupped his cheek and he managed not to recoil. Hot tears coursed down his face as he repeated raggedly, "Please don't hurt them anymore, mother."

Haggar's eyes widened a fraction. She barely nodded. "Alright, my prince. In good faith, I will do as you ask."

"Teacher, they-"

She shut the druid up with a look. "Return them to a holding cell until transport is arranged. Then prepare him for the ritual."

Two druids came forward and lifted Alphonse the same way Keith and Lance had carried Shiro from the garrison tent over two years ago. Keith cradled Pidge in his arms and followed. In the cell, Alphonse was dropped carelessly. Keith glared at the druids responsible and set Pidge against the wall. He straightened her ruined dress and brushed her curls aside. Kissing her cheek, he put their foreheads together. The druids waited impatiently, but he didn't want to leave without saying anything, so he closed his eyes and channeled quintessence.

"Keith, you're crying," Pidge whispered a few moments later.

Keith swallowed the lump in his throat and gently held her shoulders. "I managed to keep my promise, Katie. You and Alphonse will return to the castle. You're going home."

"It's not home without you. Keith, I-"

Keith hugged her. "I am home, paladin. This is my home now."

"Brother, it is time," a female druid called.

"I'm coming," Keith answered. He smiled bravely and ruffled her hair. "Goodbye, Pidge."

She clung to him as he stood and her broken voice cried out after him, but he didn't look back. If he did, he'd never leave her side again.

An hour later, he was freshly dressed and his hair pulled into a low ponytail at the nape of his neck. The druids led him into a large room with an occult diagram carved into the floor. The druids left him to stand around the image. Haggar waited at the far end. She announced, "The ceremony is ready. Keitaran, stand in the center." Keith took his place. Haggar and the druids raised their arms. "Begin the ritual."

Keith fought not to hyperventilate. There was no going back now. The floor began to glow and the light traveled closer to him from every direction. Then he felt it. The combined strength of Haggar and her druids funneled into him. His senses ignited and he tensed up. His muscles clenched. He would have screamed if his jaw wasn't locked. He squeezed his eyes shut. There was too much! He couldn't contain it!

A burst of quintessence exploded from him and he fell to his hands and knees panting. He was trembling head to toe. Whatever they'd done was finished. It left a buzzing metallic taste in his mouth like the time Hunk had dared him to chew aluminum. And at his core, a surge of power waited to be dispelled. What had they done to him?

A cold hand touched his shoulder. He startled and looked up with wide eyes. Haggar pushed back her hood and embraced him from the side. "Do not be afraid, child."

"I-I feel... strange. Mother?"

Haggar pulled him to his feet. "That is the strength of our alchemy, child." The druids reached up and removed their masks. Keith gasped. Their marks were unfamiliar, but the rest of their features identified them as altean. He was too shocked to voice his questions, but Haggar explained, "The druids of altea are the counterpart of the blades of marmora. We work in the shadows uncovering the secrets of our enemies. As the blooded son of our royalty, it was always your birthright to take your place among our coven, Prince Keitaran."

The female who had guided Keith before the ritual brought forward an ornate jewel box. Haggar opened the box with both hands and reached inside. Keith fought back tears as deja vu nearly knocked him over. Haggar held a black mask of a hard material that caught and reflected the low lighting. The eyes were highlighted and outlined in white. Keith didn't move to stop her when she lifted the mask to his face. The bird mask was claustrophobic.

Keith felt the consequences of his actions settle in his chest like lead. Despite Haggar's encouragement, he was terrified. Then there was an explosion above. Keith flinched and reached for his knife on reflex. The druids drew their daggers and materialized in a defensive circle around him and the witch. The doors opened and galra soldiers rushed in. "Witch Haggar, Voltron and the armada of the empire are attacking! Three of the lions have already broken through the fleet!"

Haggar grimaced and commanded, "Keep them at bay. We are not yet done. As soon as we finish, prepare to use the teludav. There is nothing here we can't afford to lose."

The soldiers saluted and left at a run. Haggar turned back to Keith and her maternal softness was gone. "Keitaran, the time has come to test your loyalty." She held out his luxite blade.

Keith took it and asked, "What must I do, mother?"

Kolivan sat in the cockpit of the green lion as she dug her claws into the base and began to tear it apart. He was not in control. The lion was rogue, not coordinating with the others. Without Pidge, she couldn't form Voltron. Her anger over the missing paladin was equally impressive and terrifying.

Lance asked over the com, "Have you reached your target, Kolivan?"

"Affirmative. The lion is making our entrance now. Preparing to disembark in twenty ticks," Kolivan confirmed before returning to the holding bay. His agents waited silently until the hatch opened and they dropped to the dry dusty planet.

Kolivan engaged the galra soldiers at the front of his forces with a deadly calm. They pushed through the enemy rank and entered the base before seperating to complete their different objectives. The lion moved onto another target, but stayed near to guard their exit. Hunk spoke through his earpeice, guiding them to the prison cells.

The blades slaughtered any who stood in their way and these were not sentries. Kolivan yanked his sword from another corpse while his tech unlocked the holding cell. When it finally opened, he entered and called, "Katie? Keith?"

"Kolivan?"

Kolivan found her in the dark. "Pidge, it's time to go. Where's Keith?"

She supported a man as she met him. "He's still with Haggar. We have to get him away from her!" Two of his agents took the man from her and Kolivan moved to lift her. She waved him off. "I'm fine."

Light hit the man and Kolivan asked, "You're altean?"

The man smirked, barely able to lift his head. "So you're the one she chose. Well met, blade leader. I'm Alphonse... Keith's father." Then he passed out.

Kolivan had so many questions, but he said into his com, "Katie and another are being evacuated, but Keith wasn't here. Does anyone have eyes on Haggar?"

"No," Allura answered.

"Negative," Gnov added.

Lance pitched in, "Ditto for me."

He frowned before static broke over his com. "Kolivan, we need support! West wing near the hangar! The druids- We're being overrun!" The transmission ended in a guttural cry of pain.

Kolivan was already moving when he asked, "Is anyone else close enough to respond?"

"The blue lion is bringing me there now," Lotor replied.

Lotor dropped from the lion and rolled into battle. He fired his blaster at the nearest soldiers and followed with his broadsword. The blades were pinned down as pressure from Sendak's men and Haggar's druids pushed them closer to the wall. Then the blue lion put her face through a hole in the roof and fired her cannon. It was enough for the blades to reach their wounded and begin retreating. Lotor finished mopping up the stragglers, but the druids were gone. He asked, "Where is Haggar?"

"That way!"

Lotor nodded in thanks and sprinted deeper into the base. The attack above shook the base to its core. Talias wasn't holding back despite the fact that their fleet outnumbered Sendak's ten to one. Even Gnov's ground assault and the blades flanking maneuver punished their enemies deeply.

He exited into a large open hangar when he spotted her. Anger made him snarl, "Haggar!"

She turned and looked down on him. Lotor used his jet pack to reach her level and attacked. She disappeared half a tick before he could land a blow and reappeared further away. He pressed forward leaving no quarter. He watched her pattern and anticipated when she vanished yet again. Now he had her!

A loud clash and sudden resistance made Lotor hesitate. Disengaging, he jumped backward as his opponent countered. Breathing hard, Lotor appraised his new enemy. They were unlike any druid he'd ever encountered. Dressed entirely in silver, they didn't wear the robes of Haggar and her other servants. A hood and black mask obscured their identity, but a simple luxite blade flipped around until they were backhanding it. Haggar reappeared behind them and they relaxed slightly.

"Everyone converge on my position. I've found Keith," Lotor said calmly before removing his helmet. "What have you done to him, witch?" Haggar turned. Keith gave him one last look before following. "Beloved, don't walk away!"

Keith didn't even pause. Haggar vanished and so did Keith a second later. Lotor felt his blood run cold. No. He couldn't be one of them. But even though he tried to deny it, he was forced to accept the truth. Running, he chased them toward a waiting ship. Shouting, he charged the witch.

Keith again blocked him. Standing between Lotor and Haggar, he said, "Go ahead, mother. I will not be long."

Lotor grit his teeth as Haggar slipped away. Keith stood ready to fight. Without another word, his blade awakened into his sword and he lunged. Lotor went on the defensive as Keith advanced. He quickly lost ground. They locked weapons and Lotor had to use his full strength to hold Keith back. He ground out between breaths, "What are you doing, my heart? It's me! Snap out of it!"

Keith's reply came when he vanished and reappeared beside Lotor. His fist connected with Lotor's temple. Lotor flew sideways and rolled down a flight of metal stairs. He threw himself off the landing as Keith dropped toward him.

Lotor stood with his sword before him. "Please, Keith, I don't want to fight you."

The ship Haggar had boarded began to hum. Keith spared it a glance. The bay door was opening. Exhaling, Keith took a running jump off the landing. Lotor tensed when Keith vanished midair and appeared directly in front of him. Lotor bore his teeth and redoubled his efforts.

The cannon fire echoed in the hangar from outside. The armada was beginning its final run. Then Haggar's ship opened fire. Lotor nearly missed it, but the emblem on the bow was easily recognized. He drew his blaster and fired. Keith dodged and the armada's ship crashed in a burning heap. Lotor's gaze snapped to it before he was running. His aunt's name was a terrified scream from his throat.

Outside, the air was chaos. The gas of the planet swirled as ships veered in and out of hiding. The ground wasn't much better. All the damage to the base had cracked the surface. Large sections of open water were separated by glaciers of ice. Lotor didn't get more than a few seconds to take it all in before a kick landed on his side.

Groaning, Lotor turned back to Keith. "Stop this! You are not yourself, beloved!" Keith hesitated and flinched. Lotor pointed to the burning ship. "Don't you see what's happening? Talias was aboard that ship!" Keith stopped breathing and the faintest hope blossomed in Lotor's chest. Keith's blade went dormant and he reached up to remove the mask. Lotor gasped and covered his mouth. "Keith, what's happened to you?"

Keith barely looked the way he had the last time they'd been together. His eyes glowed yellow and his skin was a dark violet. His long ebony hair was streaked with purple. And running down his cheeks were matching crimson markings. Lotor saw Keith's fangs as he answered, "You shouldn't have come for me."

Lotor's arms were trembling so hard he dropped his sword. He fell to his knees shaking his head in disbelief. "Keith... my heart..."

Keith vanished and reappeared in his arms. Lotor held Keith expecting him to disappear. Keith repeated, "You shouldn't have come for me, my darling. I would have found my way back to you."

"Keith, I-" Lotor was silenced as Keith kissed him. Talons carefully held his face before sliding down to the back of his neck. Keith's eyes were closed as his body said everything he couldn't. His tears landed on Lotor's cheeks and mixed with the tracks already there. Lotor closed his eyes and gave everything to Keith. For that kiss, there was nothing else. No gunfire. No screams of war. It was just Lotor and Keith, the pretty boy who controlled his heart in all things.

When Keith broke the connection, he put their foreheads together and held Lotor's hands in his own between them. Lotor's breath stuttered through his teeth. "Why? Keith, I love you. If you love me, tell me why you're doing this?"

Keith shook his head. "I can't explain. There's no time."

"Then the kiss?"

Keith's eyes shone with tears. "I'm apologizing in advance, my love, for everything you're about to witness... and everything that follows."

Lotor felt a moment of confusion that ended in pain. His eyes widened in betrayal. Keith stepped back unarmed. Lotor coughed up blood and looked down where the luxite blade was embedded in his side. "Keith?"

Keith reached up and put the mask back on. Then he put his foot to Lotor's chest and pushed him into the water.

"No!" Kolivan shouted and ran forward as Lotor vanished over the side of the ice shelf. Keith's attention snapped to him before he took a step back and disappeared. He reappeared a short distance away sprinting toward the Retribution. Kolivan debated for a split second before pursuing Keith.

"What just happened?" Hunk shouted in his ear.

"Keith stabbed Lotor! He's joined the druids!"

"What?!" Lance shrieked.

Allura asked equally frantic, "Is Lotor stable?"

Kolivan answered as he gained on Keith, "He fell into the water. I'm pursuing Keith. We can't let the Retribution leave the atmosphere."

He didn't hear the reply as the black lion dropped from the sky. From the corner of his eye, Kolivan saw Lance dive headfirst into the icy waters. Keith jolted and slowed to stare into the lion's eyes as it watched him and growled. Kolivan put on a burst of speed and tackled Keith.

The boy struggled to break free of his full body headlock, but Kolivan refused to yield. "Son, it's me! You're safe now! Stop fighting!"

Keith screamed as his shoulder threatened to dislocate. Then Kolivan held air. Keith landed heavily on his side ten feet away and scrambled to his feet. His movements were fueled by fear and desperation. Then he vanished and reappeared on the floor of the loading bay of the Retribution. He picked himself up as it closed and the ship went airborne.

Kolivan turned at a loud splash and ran to where Lance was dragging Lotor from the water. Lance began chest compressions while Kolivan stabilized the knife. Lance removed his helmet and put his mouth over Lotor's, plugging the prince's nose. Allura's voice shouted through the helmet, "What's wrong? Red! She's not listening to me!"

The armada's command was in shambles as Gnov tried to give orders from the ground, but something was wrong with her as well. Kolivan heard the report of a teludov opening followed by the announcement of the enemy slipping through their fleet and vanishing.

Kolivan lowered his hood and screamed in frustration. Then Lotor coughed and began spitting up water. Lance rolled him onto his side and said, "Easy, Lotor. You've been stabbed."

"I've noticed," Lotor growled sarcastically and groaned. "Keith... where..."

Kolivan met Lance's eyes and answered, "He's gone. I'm sorry, Lotor, but he has betrayed the empire. From this moment, Keith is an enemy of the state."

So once again, I cried while I was writing this. It's crazy how much this story has evolved. I completely rewrote the end with this. Also, freaking parallels wreck me!