Chapter 22: The Grudge(Keith's POV)

"Does anyone else find it strange that Allura changed the meeting place to this planet? The readings say there are high levels of CO2 and low levels of oxygen…."

"Allura must have had a good reason for changing the revenue point, Hunk." Shiro points out.

"But…."

Then the Altas comes into view and Shiro says, "Altas we have a visual….." Suddenly the Altas glitches and reveals a Galra Cruiser instead.

Hunk wails, "It's a trap! I knew something was off!"

"Everyone get off the ground!" Shiro shouts.

But before they can go anywhere they are pinned to the ground by something strong. Keith grunts at the force at which they are pinned down by and Lance shouts, "This is just like when we got caught by those pirates and we're about to be caught again!"

"Emergency Ejection!"

Following Shiro's advice he hits the eject button on his lion and uses his jetpack to escape the light purple ray hovering over their lions. Landing on the ground he runs with the rest of his team. The landscape of the planet reminds him of the ruins of Olkarion except this planet has darker colors then the greyscale of Olkari.

The ship starts firing at them as they run and his teammates all shout various phrases hoping to get the real Atlas's attention. Unfortunately it doesn't work and once they are out of the ship's range of fire they stop to rest. Hunk pants, "How did they do that?"

"They must have jammed our communications and are using some sort of voice modifier to pretend the Atlas was communicating with us."

Then more firepower starts raining down on them from a drone floating in the sky. He continues to run along with his teammates.

"Dang! They must really want to kill us or something!" Lance yells. "Can't you stop that drone from following us?"

"I have an idea, but I need some time!" Pidge responds.

Hunk shouts, "I'll buy you some time!"

Keith stops running and looks at Hunk who shoots two mini shooters from his gun and doesn't dent the drone. Looking at Pidge he sees her smirk, "I've got it. It shouldn't be able to track us anymore."

The drone stops firing attacks and goes in circles before firing again at them. Curses. Why does trouble keep on finding them? They are in a war but still, this is ridiculous! First that ship with the monster, then the ruins and now this.

Then he smiles, I guess it's no different from those daily akuma attacks we had to deal with before we finally got Hawkmoth behind bars and removed his miraculous. That reminds him, he still has the peacock miraculous in his possession. He should return Dussu to the Guardian which is Adrien, but then he'll have to bring up those memories again. He really had to try and stay calm when talking to Pidge about it on Olkari, otherwise he would have broken down like in that ship.

Talking about it should help, but it hasn't. He notices the others have dealt with the drone and have surrounded it. He sighs and that's what he gets for dwelling on the past when he should be focusing on the present. Going over to where the group is huddled he hears Lance say, "So we either take off our suits and get slowly poisoned to death or keep our suits and get hunted."

"At this point it would be safer to leave our suits behind so that way they can't track us….."

"Perhaps….."

"What is it Keith?" Shiro asks.

"Well what if…" he gulps, "there was a way to take our suits off but not get poisoned…"

Pidge looks at him confused, "But that's not possible."

He sighs, "Not if you have a miraculous that can create new suits for us."

"There's a miraculous that can do that!?" Hunk shouts, surprised.

"Yeah, and I happen to have it on me at the moment."

"You have another miraculous!?"

He has never let the peacock miraculous out of his sight after Natalie gave it to him out of fear that if he gave it to the Guardian it would just be lost again. And despite Master Fu having taught Adrien well, he didn't trust the master with a miraculous he lost in the first place. So he tied it to a necklace with the help of a jeweler after confirmation from Roaar and Dussu that it wouldn't mess up the miraculous. Since apparently the magic jewelry is indestructible, which makes sense its magic jewelry.

Taking off his helmet and putting it on the ground he reaches for the necklace. It's a blue peacock charm on a leather cord. A blue light appears beside him and once it fades Dussu appears.

Once his eyes open Dussu smiles in delight.

"Master Keith! It's been so long….."

"I know Dussu but I had to keep…."

"Me a secret so no one could use me for evil again. Like that bad man."

"Are you ready to transform?"

"Master, you aren't serious…. You know what's happened to my past holders…"

"I know but it's just this once and we kinda really need your special power. Just this once. I promise."

"Okay!" Dussu says happily, completely switching her tone in an instant.

"Dussu spread my feathers."

Once the transformation is done he holds up the fan and plucks one of the feathers from it turning it white. "Pidge, can I borrow your glasses for a moment?"

"Why?"

"I need something for the feather to go into otherwise the Peacocks power is null and void."

"Okay."

She hands him his glasses. He puts the feather inside and then puts the glasses on the ground. Closing his eyes he concentrates on creating new suits for them. But if their suits are the problem then perhaps a different suit would be better but still modeled after their Voltron suits but not similar, only giving them the ability to breathe in the toxic air. Once he is finished with the mental image in his head he opens his eyes to find a pile of suits on the ground. He smiles, it worked.

"But these look exactly like our suits that are on us right now." Hunk points out.

"Yes but they are only allowing us to breathe in the toxic space. I made sure not to think that they were exactly like our suits so that another drone couldn't pick up on their build or whatever was the problem."

"Well done Keith. Alright everyone suits up with the new suits. Lance, Hunk and I will go try to find the lions. Pidge you and Keith go the opposite direction of us so we can confuse the hunters and hopefully they split up to search for both groups so that way we can beat them if they come upon us."

"But won't splitting up do us more harm than good?" Hunk asks, "We all need to find our way back to the lions and we don't know how long Keith suits he made for us will last."

"They'll last. They can only be destroyed if someone breaks Pidges glasses or I snap my fingers and make the suits disappear. Pidge can also control the suits since she has the item that has their amok."

Dussu had shared this information with him when the kwami had thought he was going to use him like Gabriel had. Mentioning his name makes a vivid flash of memory of Hawkmoth attacking him and he winces at it.

"Are you okay? Your kwami did say something about….."

"I'm fine, it's nothing."

It's not nothing, but he really doesn't want to go through the trauma of his whole experience with that man again. He had neglected Adrien because his wife was more important than spending time with the one thing who had actual ties to his wife. Instead his wife was more important and everything would be justified because he would fix everything. Which is a poor excuse to justify hurting Adrien so badly. Taking a calm breath he reminds himself that now is not the time to think about it. Right now they have to focus on getting their lions back.

"I still think splitting up is more wise. We don't know how many people came to get the Lion along with us. Dwindling the numbers that come after us is better. We can easily defeat them that way instead of being overrun by their full force together," Shiro explains.

"Okay Shiro," Hunk reluctantly agrees.

"Stay safe." Keith says to Shiro.

"Dussu fall my feathers."

He puts on the new armor and walks with Pidge towards the Volcano.

"Sooooo." Pidge starts after they've been walking a while. Dussu still floats by his head happy that he is experiencing something new for a change. "So?" He asks.

"About that wince, was it because of the whole thing you experienced….."

Sighing, "Yeah it was, just the mention of his name, alias or not sends shivers down my spine. He was horrible, but to know that he would kill and justify it because he could fix the universe….." he shudders, "It just doesn't sit right with me."

"How did you manage to keep it a secret for so long?"

"I buried the feelings away like I did with everything before Voltron and Paris. I buried them deep inside so I couldn't confront them. Didn't stop the nightmares or shudders but I put on my model face and hid it. I fooled everyone, even Chloe…."

"Are you two close?"

"Yeah we are."

"How'd you meet?"

"I met her on my first day of school. She was enamored by Adrien and I confronted her about it and then she got all huffy and left. I soon realized we had a lot in common and tried to be her friend like what Shiro did for me. She was also hurt by her mother, her father not helping, and I felt for her and I empathize with her. It wasn't until the Despair Bear incident that we finally became friends when I was the only one to stand up for her."

"So you basically became friends because you stood up for her?"

"Yeah and we've been close ever since. Even became more than friends, though I'm not sure we still are. A lot of things have kept us busy over the past few years…."

"I'm sure she still loves you."

"Thanks but that's for Chloe to decide not for you to assume."

"True."

"But what did you mean by you and her being hurt by your mothers?"

"My mother abandoned me and my father when I was just a newborn. Chloe's mom on the other hand even though she was in Chloe's life neglected her and told her lots of mean things about her. Not to mention she can't even remember her name properly. All Chloe wants is her attention and love but her mother just doesn't give it. At least mine made it clear by not being in my life instead of raising me but being cold and distant."

"That's harsh."

"Yeah. But at least we pushed past the pain and healed from it."

"Of course. How did you and Adrien meet?"

Keith smiles, he realizes what Pidge is trying to do and makes him feel better. She's distracting him from those unpleasant memories and its working.

"His alter ego actually introduced us."

"Adrien introduced you to Adrien?"

"Yeah he did. At the time I didn't know but looking back it's hilarious. He actually invited me to stay with him with his father. Which I agreed to, as I had nowhere else to go. His father had ridiculous standards but I managed."

"Ridiculous standard?"

"He wanted me to do fencing lessons, chinese lessons, which I eventually dropped to work at Marinette's bakery with Chloe, piano lessons, modeling, and schoolwork all at the same time."

"Those are ridiculous, and you were a model?"

"For a short time, but yes I was alongside Adrien."

"Adrien did it too?"

"Yeah he did, along with all the other things I mentioned."

"You were right about his father having pretty high standards."

"Yeah."

He bites his lip trying not to think about the punishments for not following said rules and the one day where it all came crashing down. He could never, ever look at Christmas the same way again after that. Even before moving in with Adrien Chirstmas wasn't really anything special to him but his father ruined it for him that day completely. Adrien had run away and instead of asking why, he punished Adrien harsher than he's ever had.

"How did Team Miraculous come to be?"

"Master Fu gave me and Chloe our miraculouses at the same time. Zoe found the fox miraculous by accident, and Kagami was given a miraculous by Adrien to help us on Heroes Day."

"And when did you all reveal your identities?"

"Before the Lady Time incident occurred."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

They walk in silence for a bit after that comment. And he can't really blame Pidge, she didn't know when the incident happened, he just told her it happened before Miracle Queen, not when they revealed their identities. Which just made that experience ten times worse because his close friends were killed. He takes a deep breath, they're fine, they're alive on the Altas. They're okay. His mind calms down a bit, when suddenly a shot fires straight at Pidge.

Panicking he crashes into her, making her fall instead of taking the shot meant for her. Breathless he asks, "Are you alright?"

She nods and he sighs in relief. Getting off her he crawls towards the nearest rock. His heart races, and he has to regulate his breathing to remain calm.

"I know you're there paladins. I didn't forget what you did to my ship. I'll make you pay for what you cost me and I don't care which one of you pays the price!"

His heartbeat intensifies and his mind is a whur of emotions. Not thinking clearly he dives out of the rock and faces the two that came up behind him. One is wearing a mask that isn't covering her upper face revealing her eyes and purple skin, while the other is wearing a full face mask. Once again not thinking he strikes the one with the mask only covering her lower face, knocking her out in an instant.

He goes to do the same to the other one but his fist gets caught by their hands.

"You will pay for what you did!"

Fear racing up his spine and flashes of that ugly memory flashing in his head, he strikes again not thinking clearly.

Pidge's POV

Pidge watches from the rock as Keith fights the unknown person. She hopes Keith is alright, but from the way he's fighting it's clear he doesn't have a good mental state. But perhaps unintentionally bringing up the trauma from that Lady Time incident as he called it wasn't a good idea. And now with her life on the line he must be having flashbacks to that time.

Stupid, stupid…. Shouldn't have kept asking questions about his time in Paris, she knew she was only trying to help, but it didn't do any good in the end. She just wanted to help him the way he helped her on Olkarion. He divulged information to her, that not even his girlfriend knows, to her to cheer her up. To know she's not alone in asking why did this happen? And it was nice.

She shakes her head and returns to attention back to the fight.

Keith looks a little shaken up, but not too badly, though that ledge near the volcano crater could be an issue.

"I don't know what you think we did…."

"You took Ezor from me! She was my one light in this miserable world and you took her from me! You Paladins killed her by destroying my ship and now I'll make you Paladins suffer the same fate of losing a loved one. And the loved one they'll lose is you!"

Pidge's eyes widen, "Axca," she whispers. She honestly hadn't thought about Axca and Ezor after the whole ordeal they all went through. Her mind was on Chloe and her story and how to get back to Earth before the Galra destroyed the resistance that was left.

And Keith wasn't there for it. Marinette was. She groans, Keith has to defeat her. He cannot die for something he wasn't aware of.

"You're hurting?" Keith asks.

"Yes! And soon your friends will too!"

"But I have gone through what you're going through. I've lost people I care about and I've suffered. Revenge isn't the way, killing isn't the way."

"And what makes you so sure?"

Pidge sees Keith tense at the question and she remembers that because he had been so mad and upset that he had killed Hawkmoth.

"Because I did kill. And it didn't feel gratifying. Instead I felt worse and it won't bring Exzor back…"

"I don't care! I am lonely without her, she was my everything and then she was ripped away so fast! I don't care."

"But you will and you will regret it, just like me. I still have trauma but…."

"Then I will be doing you a favor. By ridding you of your trauma, of your burden. And causing pain to your friends so they understand my pain and suffering."

Axca then charges at Keith but he dodges, seeming much more calm and less jittery. More in control of his movements instead of acting in fear. Which is a relief. Though Axca is a bit faster and manages to hit Keith smack dab in the chin, causing him to fall.

Axca then picks him up like nothing and starts choking him. Suddenly Allura and Lotor appear on the ground.

"Axca stop this." Lotor starts… But Axca cuts him off while putting Keith infront of her holding him tight, "I don't have to. You're not my emperor."

"But I am. You are Galra just like me and I am the Emperor so as your Emperor I demand that you release him."

"I don't have to answer you. You were gone for years and now that you're back you think everyone will want to listen to you. You abandoned your people!"

"I didn't do it by choice. But I'm here to fix that, unite the universe in peace."

"Lies."

"No."

Axca then releases Keith and then walks backwards. Pidge opens her eyes in realization, she's going to….

But Keith also recognizes what Axca is doing and turns around and forcefully pushes her away from the edge. But the force of the push is too much and Keith ends up falling off the ledge instead. NO! She screams in her mind but the Red Lion dives in. When the lion comes back up she opens her mouth to reveal Keith safely inside. Relief washes over her and she runs to hug him.

"Don't do that again!" She cries hugging him tightly.

"I just couldn't let Axca throw her life away. She may be hurting but that doesn't mean she should give up on herself and life."

"I know its just, if it weren't for Red, you could've…."

"But I'm okay. Red saved me."

"But she could've been too late…."

"What matters is that she did."

She just hugs him tightly. She was getting to know him, know him besides the walls he put up when they were all Paladins, and because of Axca she might have lost someone who was becoming her family. He was her family before, but now it seems they're closer, now that he shared something vulnerable to her.

And she couldn't lose another person who was her family. She was a wreck after Shiro disappeared and a wreck when her father and brother were declared dead.

Later:

Once on the Altas, she notices that Dussu hasn't left Keith's side, still staying silent. Although he is rubbing Keith's cheek.

Then Adrien enters and when he looks at us he looks relieved until he spots Dussu. His expression changes to anger.

"Keith you've had the peacock miraculous this whole time?!" Adrien shouts outraged.

Keith looks hurt but replies, "Yes."

"And how did you get it? You know me and the others have been wondering why Mayura stopped appearing!"

She steps in front of him, "It isn't his fault!"

"Yes it is. He kept the peacock a secret for no reason!"

"No."

"What's going on?" Chloe asks but her question fades as she realizes what Adrien has.

"Keith, you have the….."

"Yes he does and he forgot to tell us." Adrien confirms.

"But why wouldn't you? Do you not trust us?" Chloe asks, hurt in her green eyes.

"It's not that…."

"Then why?" Chloe demands. Standing in front of him she hears Keith's breathing become quickened. He must be remembering that awful event.

"He doesn't have to tell you!"

"Pidge, what is going on?" Hunk asks, worried. And she doesn't blame him.

"Our friend didn't tell us he had the peacock miraculous in his possession despite knowing that we were frantically wondering what happened to it since Hawkmoth revealed that his moth wasn't created by Mayura."

"I remember he was gloating about it." Chloe recalls, still a little pissed at Keith. But if they knew how he got it then they wouldn't be so angry at Keith. However it's Keith's story to tell not hers.

"Keith, did you really not tell your friends about your second miraculous?" Shiro asks.

And Keith snaps.

"Yeah, I did!"

"But why?" Shiro asks.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Keith all I want to know is why you….."

"I don't want to talk about it!" snaps Keith and then he runs off. Lance asks, "What is his problem? All we wanted to know is why he hid the peacock miraculous from his friends. He didn't have to react so harshly about it."

This time she snaps, "Well maybe if you knew what happened you wouldn't be prodding him about it!"

Not waiting to hear their responses she runs off in search of Keith. She almost misses him standing in one of the hallways. His arm is gripping his left tightly and he looks like he's in a trance. When she gets closer she notices his irises are small in fear and that he's trembling.

She puts her hand on his and that snaps him out of it. He then slumps to the floor, "I don't know what I was thinking…."

"About what?"

"About using the peacock for the first time. It was the right thing to do, but now I've upset my brother and my other friends, and I made a mess out of….."

"No you didn't. What you went through was traumatizing. And you only told me because you felt like I needed to hear it. Which I did. But when my father and brother were declared dead I also was traumatized, so much that I broke into the Garrisons files to see if it wasn't true because my family were the only friends I had. And when I found it wasn't I became so obsessed with finding them and bringing them home that I didn't even tell my mother what I discovered but instead went into the Garrison undercover. I even almost left Voltron until your words, while harsh, I realized were true after Sendak took over the Castle."

"So I helped you?"

"Decide to stay. Yeah. But the point is I was also traumatized to the point I also shut everyone out. So I understand."

Keith chuckles, "Sometimes I forget you also lost your father, but you found him."

"Also?" She echoes, not sure what he means.

"I lost my father pretty young, if it weren't for Shiro I wouldn't be here right now."

"But you're hurting."

"But I met awesome friends along the way."

"Really?"

"Really. And thanks Pidge for distracting me from the memories while we were on the volcano. It helped."

"It did?"

"Yeah. I just think because I've buried these memories away for so long, I don't have a coping mechanism to deal with it. And that's why after that ship it's been hard to push the memories back down. But with you distracting me I haven't thought about it. I just don't know how I'm going to explain to them how I got…."

"Don't. Not until you're ready. Besides, wondering how you got the Peacock Miraculous isn't important right now. Honerva and whatever she's planning is."

"You're right. And I am not ready to tell them just yet."

"Then let's go to that debriefing that's supposed to happen in a few minutes to discuss what I have discovered about the Robeasts and focus on that."

"Sounds like a plan."