CHAPTER ONE-
It was near afternoon, a gentle breeze had settled in rustling fallen leaves. The sun was spreading a soft warmth about the land. It was a peaceful day, it had been weeks without a confrontation with Lotor so now the Voltron Force was busy enjoying the day playing with the village children. As Lance, Hunk and Pidge played an intense game of soccer with a few of the younger boys, their game was interrupted by the sound of Lance’s watch. “ Lance here, anything wrong Coran?” he asked, stepping away from the game so as not to interfere. “ No, nothing wrong, but we’ve gotten a message from Galaxy Garrison and I need the team back here as soon as you can.” The intercom went dead, and then Lance searched for Princess Allura. Spotting the princess he strode over to her. “Hey Princess, do you know where Keith’s at?” he asked; glancing up from the sleeping baby she cradled in her arms, her eyes sparkling as the sunlight hit them she answered, “Um, no, but I’ll go look for him, anything wrong?” she asked, worry peering it’s way into the last part of her sentence, Arus had been so peaceful without Lotor, she didn’t want to have to worry now. “ I don’t think so, but Coran wants us back at the castle now.” When she nodded, Lance left to go end the soccer game and get the horses. As Lance left she turned to the baby’s mother and gently placed the baby in the mom’s awaiting arms. “ thank you so much Princess for coming down here” the mother said, “ It’s a pleasure to come down here.” Now, she wondered, where would Keith be? Chewing on her lip she walked off in the last place she had seen their captain, Keith. As she walked on she heard a little girl’s playful laughter, when she turned the corner a bright smile lit upon her face. Quiet and serious Keith had swung a little girl-around the age of 5- up on his strong, muscular shoulders and was prancing around neighing like a horse as the little girl squealed with laughter. A slight laugh escaped Allura’s lips and she quickly put her hand to her mouth. When Keith turned he saw an embarrassed princess, blushing very deeply. “Um, uh, is uh anything wrong princess?” His cheeks flushing red with embarrassment, “ Lance said no, just that Coran wants us back right now.” “ all right”
he said, in one swift motion the little girl was back on the ground. Seeing that the ride was over, her sparkling eyes turned dim and her bright smile turned into a frown. Keith kneeled down to her, lifting up her stubborn chin to meet his eyes. “ don’t worry, I’ll be back again, and tell you what, next time I’ll take you on my horse, how does that sound?” he said. Immediately her smile was flashing bright again and she clapped her hands happily, then she skipped back to her mother and waved good bye. After shushing her daughter back inside, she thanked Keith and closed the door. “ That was very sweet of you” Allura said, breaking through the silence as he approached her, she could feel her heart-beat quicken. Keith rubbed the back of his neck shyly. “Yea, it’s a good thing we come down here when we can, the kids really like it. Um, well we better head back up to the castle, Coran may start wondering what happened.” Finishing he and Allura mounted their horses and joined the rest of the team.
CHAPTER TWO-
Back at the castle, the group had just entered the Control room and were awaiting the news from G.G. When Coran entered the room Keith stepped forward, “ Is anything wrong Coran” “ I don’t know for sure Keith, but we’ll all know in a moment.” Coran said as he turned the screen on. An image materialized and the group all stepped closer to hear. “ Hello Coran, Volton Force, Princess Allura.” The image said in acknowledgment, “ Just wanted to let you know that Lotor has been spotted near Arus, and to keep up your guard. He appears to be nothing for the moment, but watch you backs.” In a moment the image was gone, Coran cleared his throat and looked at the team who in turn looked toward Keith. “So what do we do Keith?” Hunk asked, “ Wait” he said it very patiently and quietly. “ Wait!?, what the hell do you mean wait?!” Lance said angrily, stepping toward their captain, “ Are you out of your mind?” Lance had more to say, but Keith silenced him with a wave of his hand, taking a calm, deep breath he spoke, “ As long as Lotor is doing nothing, than neither should we,”
As Lance started up again, Keith went on, “We don’t want to provoke an unneeded attack from him.” Coran nodded in agreement, “Keith’s right,” he said, “But Coran” “ Now that’s enough, end of this conversation, you’re dismissed. The group all turned and left muttering, Allura wondered how Keith could ever be so calm, she smiled knowing it was one of the many appealing things about him.
The next morning was peaceful save the fact that a raging storm had come during the night and was beginning to reach it’s peak. As the group settled in for breakfast, Allura looked around, “Lance, where’s Keith?” “Oh he woke up at dawn to go get his horse some exercise before the storm got worse.” Shrugging her shoulders she dug into the wonderful meal Nanny had prepared.
CHAPTER THREE-
Keith looked up to the sky as the rain began to come down harder and harder. He need to get his horse and himself back to the castle before they could get sick. As he urged the marble-white colored stallion into an easy canter, a bright bolt of light flashed in front of him. His horse reared up in fear unseating his rider and galloped away. Keith landed on the ground, hard, and as he watched in a daze as his horse left him he heard a menacing cackle from behind. Haggar.
As the team sat around reading or munching on something, Pidge suddenly ran into the room. One look at his face and Allura knew that something was terribly wrong. “What’s up Pidge?” Lance said from behind his book, “ Keith’s horse is here.” He said in a fluster. Lance gave him a strange look. “So?” He said shrugging his shoulders as he turned his attention back on his book. “Lance, Keith wasn’t on the horse.” Pidge said as calmly as he could. That got their attention’s. In a matter of moments a search party had been formed, and they were ready to be off at any moment. “ Where do you think you’re going?”
Nanny said to Allura, crossing here arms with a look that said you’re staying right here. “ Keith may be in trouble, we have to find him.” Before Nanny could say another word, Allura had mounted her horse and was gone.
CHAPTER FOUR-
Keith awoke to the fierce rain splattering onto his face. With a grunt he tried to rise which he quickly knew was a serious mistake. All was a blur on what had happened with Haggar, all he knew was that he was in major pain, and that he had to get out of the rain. Allura was beginning to give up all hope, it had already been two hours with no success. They had found the hoof prints of Keith’s horse but they had washed away with the rain. As her horse trotted on something red caught her eye frown the forest. Allura had never run so fast in all her life, and in a matter of moments she was at his side. Pain struck her heart as she looked him over, tears formed at the corner’s of her eyes. He looked so helpless, nothing like the brave, young man she knew, his hair was disheveled, his clothes were torn and blood was seeping from a cut somewhere on his head. Quickly Allura had contacted Lance. “ Lance are you there?” “yea, did you find him?!” He asked in earnest, “ You bet, here are my coordinates.” As she began to tell Lance where they were, Keith began to arose. With a small cough he opened his eyes and parted his lips to speak which only resulted as a gasp. Allura turned at the sound, already finished with Lance. “ Thank god, are you all right?” “ yeah, don’t worry, I’ll be fine princess” he murmured, making a futile attempt to get up. Allura knew he was lying, “ Don’t you even think of moving.” She said sternly, Keith made a move to protest but was too tired so he only nodded his head and dozed off. Soon Allura heard the sound of approaching hoof beats. Hunk being strongest of the group gently lifted their sleeping and injured captain in one swift lift. Afraid that putting him on a horse would injure him more they decided to walk back to the castle which was thankfully not too far.
CHAPTER FIVE-
“Ha ha!” Lotor exclaimed from his castle on Planet Doom, “Everything is going perfectly, with their captain out of commission, they can’t form Voltron which leaves Arus and the princess free for me to take.” “Your right, but remember, none of this would be with out me.” Haggar said and she stroked her blue cat. “Right, right, by the way Haggar, how is that robeast coming along?” he said looking at the evil and ugly witch. “ It is the strongest one yet, our plan can’t fail my lord.” “ That’s what you said last time old witch, you better not fail me this time!” he turned away, and smiled, nothing could ruin his plan now he thought as he erupted into a mad, menacing laugh.
CHAPTER SIX-
Back at the castle the rest of the team sat around in silence. Finally Lance broke the silence. “ When I get my hands on that creep” he said, his whole body shaking with rage he slammed his fist against the wall. The rest of the team nodded in agreement, knowing how he felt. Suddenly another voice interrupted them, but this one though it was familiar, had a quiet and raspy tone to it.
“ You’ll do no such thing Lance . . . . ” “Keith!!!” They exclaimed. Instead of hugging him, Lance glared at him. “What the hell do you think you’re doing walking around?!” he cried, but he smiled brightly to show he was only teasing, Keith returned the smile. Lance then gave him a quick once over. “Man, oh man . .” he said, “ that old Haggar really did a number on you huh?” Keith then gave himself a look, and although he didn’t want to, he nodded his head in agreement. His legs, although not bruised were pretty sore, his head and chest were adorned with bandages and his left shoulder was pretty banged up. Moving gingerly he sat down as careful as he could but still ended up wincing. Hunk spoke up, “ So, uh Keith, what happened out there buddy?” The rest turned and looked at him, all wondering the same thing. Keith sighed, “ well let’s see . . . the rain was coming down hard, and then out of no where some streak of light came down in front of me, spooking the horse and sending me on the ground. I was a little dazed from the fall when I heard Haggar behind me. I knew I should have brought along the stun gun, but I didn’t, so right away I knew I was in deep trouble. Well from then on no matter how well I dodged that witch was right there.” He smirked, “ Never knew that old witch could move so fast. Well that’s all that happened, and I know why.” “Why what” Allura asked, deeply confused, “ Why Lotor had her do it, right?” Lance said, Keith nodded. “Right, as long as one of us is seriously injured we can’t form Voltron and protect Arus, and who better to go for then the captain, Thank god he didn’t try for Allura. Any way’s, this isn’t going to stop us.” He said as he rose from the couch. “Keith, your in no shape to do anything and you know it,” “Your right Lance, I am in no shape to help, but it is our duty to protect the princess as well as Arus.” Before Lance could argue a voice came over the loudspeaker, “Voltron Force come to the Control Room at once, Lotor has been sighted and he is making his way towards Arus.” “Let’s go team” “But Keith!” Lance said, as Keith turned to leave, but he cut him off, looking at him with calm, stern eyes. “I’ll be fine, we need to hurry.”
In a matter of moments they were with Coran, even he seemed surprise that Keith was up and about. “Keith, are you sure your up to this?” Keith nodded, “I’m okay” Coran didn’t look convinced, either did the rest of the team, but Voltron was needed and there was no time to lose arguing. Keith cleared his throat and the rest turned, he smiled, “All right team, let’s go!”
CHAPTER SEVEN-
“Ouch!” Keith muttered as he settled into the Black Lion, he thanked the heavens that the radio was off for the time being. An uneasy feeling penetrated it’s way into his head, maybe he wasn’t as okay as he was claiming to be. Shrugging it off he turned the radio on,
“What the hell?!” Lotor looked at the screen before him, “Haggar!” his cry echoed throughout the ship.
“Well no sign of Lotor so far, with Luck maybe he got smart and turned tail” Lance said with a laugh over the radio, “I doubt it,” Keith replied. Something wasn’t right, where was that blasted devil hiding? “Well speak of the devil himself,” Lance said, the rest looked at their screens. From the darkness came Lotor’s magnificent, and yet terrifying ship penetrating it’s way through space.
“Keith should be fighting for his life by now you idiot!” Lotor screamed, Haggar just looked at him from her hood. “I don’t now what with wrong, I know he’s in great pain, he’s just to courageous to show it.” She cackled, “Well I’m gonna find out for sure whether or not you’re lying you old witch . . . . . . . . . .deploy the robeast!” From a hatch in the ship came the most ugliest, meanest and most terrifying robeast that any of the team had ever seen.
CHAPTER EIGHT-
“I think I’m gonna be sick . . .” Lance muttered. Allura closed her eyes, that thing scared her to death, even Hunk and Pidge were beginning to feel a bit woozy. Meanwhile Keith was fully prepared to pass out. His head was swimming and he felt sick to his stomach, it even hurt for him to have to close his eyes. A voice came over the intercom. “Keith, hey you, captain.....Keith!” Lance called to him, Keith opened his eyes, a nausea’s feeling coming over him. he couldn’t let the team down, he had to do something or they wouldn’t make it. Lance was getting worried, it was taking Keith too long to respond. “Don’t worry Lance, I .....have a plan” Keith said weakly over to intercom. Lance sighed in some relief, Keith talked on, “I don’t..want to take any chances. let’s form Voltron.” Lance nodded, “all right Keith, I’ll tell the rest.” Keith sat back, he pulled off his helmet and wiped at the sweat beading down his face. He blinked his eyes to clear the blur, this wasn’t a good time to lose it. “Form feet and legs.” “Form arms and body” “And..I’ll form the head” Keith cried, and the rest off the team cried out in cheer. With Voltron formed they charged in. The robeast roared and thundered towards them and crashed into Voltron. It was enough to make Keith lose it but he held on. As the robeast tried to tear into them he gathered his remaining energy. “Form blazing sword” A flash of light erupted from the head lion’s mouth and the Blazing Sword came forth. With a mighty thrust they slashed across the monsters chest. A moment later and in a terrifying roar, the robeast blew up into micro-pieces.
From his ship Lotor smiled, which was odd since by now he’d been in outrage at losing yet another battle. “True it wasn’t planned Haggar, but we’ve gotten him. Having him help the team did it. I did it!!” he cried, rising from his chair in a fit of happiness.
CHAPTER NINE-
The cheer from inside Voltron slowly quieted as they went back to the castle. A disturbing feeling came to Lance, he quickly pressed the intercom button. “Keith, hey buddy.......come on answer. Keith. Dammit..Keith!” lance hollered, he slammed his fist against the chair. He pressed another button to give him a visual from inside Black Lion. Keith lay slumped in his chair, unresponding and barely breathing. “Shit’ Lance whispered. He told the others what was wrong and they hurried back to the castle. Lance jumped down from red lion and raced over and climbed up on Black lion. He clawed at door as it slowly opened. Fear struck him as he still saw his friends still form. He gingerly picked him up. “Come on keith, stay with me here buddy.” He mumbled as he made his way back outside. Keith groaned and raised his head, Lance smiled in relief. “Ev....everyone’s okay? We beat.... him, right?” Lance nodded his head and waited as the rest of the team came back with the castle paramedics. Tears stung at Allura’s eyes as she grasped Keith’s hand, the doctors words repeated in her mind “he might not make it through the night”. She kissed his hand and brushed back a lock of his ebony hair. Outside the room Lance was lapsed in silence, his only thought’s of his best friend. The rage trembled through his body, he just couldn’t take it anymore. Turning on his heel Lance stormed of to Red Lion, brushing past Hunk and Pidge in the hallway. “Hey Lance what’s wrong, buddy?” Hunk said, as Lance went by without in answer he looked to Pidge who shrugged his shoulders. Keith began to dream, but it was more of a nightmare. The thoughts of Lotor capturing Allura and the rest of the team haunted him. He dreamt of being in chains, helpless as he watched Lotor have his way with his beloved princess. He groaned, startling Allura from a quick nap. She squeezed his hand, tears of joy flooded her eyes when she felt a faint response. “Keith I’m here. Oh god please keith wake up..open your eyes Keith, please” She whispered, she kissed his cheek. He moaned again, moving and raised his eyelids. Allura smiled and hugged him. “Guess I wasn’t as okay as I thought, huh” keith said,smiling he stopped when he saw Allura’s -don’t-get-me-started- look on her face. His eyebrows furrowed for a moment, he had a very odd, uneasy feeling. “What’s wrong, keith?” Allura asked, Keith shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know Princess, I just have this weird feeling. Where’s Lance?” Allura thought a moment and then went out the hallway, she spotted Hunk and Pidge at the end, she called them over. “Hey guys, do you know where Lance is?” “Not really Allura, last time we saw him he was storming out of the castle.” Pidge said, Allura frowned. “Where in the world would he be going?” Allura though aloud, “Planet Doom, that’s where.” Keith said from behind her, he leaned heavily against the wall. Allura wanted to kill him for getting up, but she held her anger in check. Keith knew he’d get an earful from her later, he didn’t care, what was important was what Lance was going to do.
CHAPTER TEN-
“Come on kitty-kat, we got something to settle” Lance purred to Red Lion as they headed of into space. “Okay kitty, let’s go to Planet Doom.’ Lance murmured as he set the radar to find Prince Lotor’s home planet.
