*WILL BE EDITED LATER. EXCUSE ANY WEIRD/OUT-OF-PLACE WORDS, GRAMMATICAL ERRORS, AND SPELLING ERRORS*

Inside the cell, Lance pressed his face against one of the metal walls. He slid his face up the wall and hummed curiously to himself. Unable to find what he was looking for, he jumped over to the adjacent wall and pressed the side of his face against it with a focused expression.

Hunk, who was sitting between Pidge and Allura, eyed him questioningly. "What are you doing?"

"I'm feeling for a secret passage," Lance answered seriously.

Keith wasn't surprised by the red paladin's behavior. "You've watch too many movies, Lance. There's no secret passage."

Lance smirked and backed away from the wall. "Oh, really? Then how do you explain this?"He confidently kicked the wall. A shockwave of pain coursed from his foot and up the leg. He felt the pain in every part of his body, a whimper escaping him. He lowered his leg and fought through the pain before trying to recover from his embarrassment. "I meant, uh, this!" He kicked the opposite wall and found himself in more pain. He held his aching foot in his cuffed hands and hopped around with more whimpers.

"Will someone shut him up?" Krolia asked with a frown. She then peered out the slit of the cell door, eyes focused on the galra standing outside. "There's only one guard patrolling out there. If we can get this door open, we can overpower him."

Lance whimpered and walked sulkily away.

"What happened to Coran?" Hunk asked.

"He must have managed to hide when we were captured," Krolia deduced.

Allura smiled as a small hint of hope bloomed in her chest. "At least we have one ally out there still able to fight for us."

"Are you saying our fate rests in Coran's hands?" Pidge asked worriedly.

Realization struck the entire group. The hope they felt vanished. Pidge went to offer Lance her help in searching for a secret passage when she remembered the draconian. Her eyes widen. "Wait, what about Arcadia? Did any of you see her?"

"Last time I saw her she hijacked another fighter," Lance answered.

"I didn't see her get captured with us," Hunk said.

"So that has to mean she escaped," Keith responded.

Pidge smiled in relief. "Okay, I don't feel hopeless anymore."

"Same," Hunk said.

Allura couldn't help but question the situation. "Yes, but was she able to get aboard this ship in time?"

"Even if she didn't, I know she'll come for us," Keith replied confidently. He stared at the door, hoping she was safe.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Arcadia crawled out of the yellow lion's mouth. She looked around the cargo bay of the cruiser to find a single guard patrolling the area. She ducked behind the yellow lion's muzzle and watched the galra closely. As she was trying to figure out his patrol path, she heard faint banging from the black lion.

Wonder what was making such a sound, she wandered into the black lion. Following the sound, she found herself in the corridor leading to the cargo bay. When the banging ceased, mumbling was heard. Puzzled, she found the room where the noise was coming from. She pressed her ear against the metal door and listened.

"Quite the sticky wicket I find myself in, hmm? Absolutely True Tales of an incredibly humble hero. Chapter forty-three: a hero's escape. I find myself in the cargo hold of the black lion, a strategic and very conscious choice on my part. It's on me to free my compatriots and save the day! Luckily, I'm up to the task. Some men shrink in the face of danger while others stand up and say..."

"Coran?" She asked, interrupting his monologue.

"Ah!" He screamed in fright.

"I would ask how you got in there, but we don't have time. We need to save the others." She placed her palm on the door and gave it a quick jolt. It opened to reveal not only Coran but also the mice. She covered her eyes when he flashed her in the face with the flashlight. She reached out and lowered it. "Are you trying to blind me?"

"Sorry," Coran replied. "Oh, uh, just so you know, I didn't scream because I was scared. That was a shriek of intimidation, by which I mean it would intimidate you."

"Let's just say you intimated me and move on," she replied. "We—"

Hearing a faint whimper, Arcadia looked around. She watched the flashlight from Coran and searched the darkness. Curled up in the corner, she saw the wolf. She rushed to its side and kneeled. She patted the top of its head and smiled gently. "Hey, buddy. I'll patch you up." She healed its wound, her smile brightening. "There. You stay here where it's safe. Coran and I will save the others, okay?"

The wolf lowered its head and closed its eyes.

Standing up, Arcadia faced the mice and Coran. "All right. Time to move. Let's go."

Emerging from the black lion, the group spot the guard below. Coran looked around to make sure there weren't any more enemies in the area. Seeing it was just the one, he whispered to the mice and draconian. "Now you all stay here. I'll take care of the enemy combatant."

Arcadia knew the royal advisor wasn't well-versed in combat. "Maybe we should come up with a different plan." When the mice began to squeak, she looked down. She couldn't understand what they were saying. Analyzing their gestures, she got a solid grasp of what they wanted to do. "You want to...help?"

The mice nod.

The girl glanced down at the guard. She didn't see why it would be an issue. "Okay, go for it."

The four mice jump off the black lion and land on the guard. They messed with him as a distraction to give Arcadia and Coran the chance to take him down. Hearing the guard screaming as the mice pulled on his eyelids, Coran haphazardly leaped into action.

Arcadia watched as the advisor misstepped and slipped. He slid down the side of the black lion just as the guard turned around while attempting to pry the mice off his face. They both screamed. Coran knocked the guard out in a way Arcadia never knew was possible—by using his groin. She couldn't help but find it amusing. Jumping off the black lion, she helped Coran and the mice take the galra's uniform off.

As Coran changed into the suit, Arcadia dragged the unconscious galra to a corner. Returning to the advisor, she saw he was done changing. Crossing her arms, she smirked. "Well, I didn't expect us to get the suit THAT way, but I'm not complaining. You ready, Coran?"

"Let us save our compatriots!" He replied exuberantly.

"I'll cover the rear. If anything happens, I've got your back."

Coran nodded and led the way.

Arcadia put some distance between her and the advisor. She kept her guard up as they wandered the corridors of the cruiser to locate the paladins and the others. She was surprised at the lack of pirates that were patrolling the ship. It was few and far between. She wondered why security was rather lax.

Hearing voices, Arcadia hid at the end of the hallway while Coran turned the corner. He approached two pirates casually. "Greetings, fellow scallywags. How's the booty?"

The two pirates looked at each other in confusion and asked in unison, "Booty?"

Arcadia winced, already knowing this conversation wasn't off to a good start. She didn't do anything yet and remained hidden while continuing to listen.

"Anyhow, how's...how about capturing those paladins, eh?" Coran asked, laughing nervously. "Remind me where you're—I mean, uh, we're keeping them."

"Wait a second," the female pirate spoke up, arching a brow. "Thats Blofar's scarf! He stole it from that Valdostian before we flushed from into space."

The two pirates were now suspicious of Coran. They aimed their weapons at him.

Coran tried to quickly wash away their suspicions. "That's right, and I won it from Blofar in a game of Gorblonthian Checkers."

The male pirate, who had circled around to stand behind the advisor, said, "But Blofar hates Gorblonthian Checkers."

Still, the altean kept up his guise as he attempted to lie. "Yes, that's right, which is why we used the Melmakian Ruleset."

Arcadia peered out from her hiding place. She applauded Coran for his quick replies without stumbling, but she knew this wasn't going to end well.

"Did you say "the Melmakian Ruleset"?" The female pirate questioned.

Coran was beginning to panic. "Did I?" He coughed nervously. "What—what I meant to say was..."

"And it's over..." Arcadia groaned under her breath.

The female pirate stepped closer, glaring daggers as she placed her finger on the trigger of her gun. "Who are you?"

Arcadia emerged from her hiding spot and swept the male pirate's feet from underneath him. At the same time, a figure fell from the vent above the female pirate. The person knocked the female pirate unconscious as the draconian froze the male pirate to the floor. His entire body was encased in ice. Stepping away from her victim, she locked eyes with the familiar galra.

Coran, who was situated between both of them, lifted his mask and questioned the galra. "Wait, aren't you one of Lotor's generals?"

"Acxa, right?" Arcadia asked.

"Yeah," Acxa replied. "Surprised you remember, draconian."

"Aaand you don't remember my name..."

The former general smirked. "Trust me, I haven't forgotten who you are, Arcadia Crios."

"Oooh, you know my last name. Nice," she laughed. "From your actions, I assume you're not here to kill us."

"Yes, I'm here to help."

"It's always nice to have another ally."

"Follow me."

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Back in the cell, the group kept their hope up. They trusted their friends would come for them. They were growing somewhat impatient, but their impatience was replaced with worry as the door to the cell opened. Ezor and Zethrid entered.

Ezor grinned at the sight of their newly-acquired prisoners. "Look who's here. It's Voltron."

Zethrid cracked her knuckles with a smirk. "We're going to have a little talk."

Lance recognized the two generals. "Hey, you're the guys that Lotor shot into space."

"And the ones that were trying to kill us," Pidge added.

Hunk, being the sunshine he is, tried to look on the bright side. "Yeah, sure, but we're all friends now, right?" He did his best to smile. "I, for one, am glad you survived."

"I'm glad you survived, too," Ezor responded. Her small smile turned into a sinister smirk. "It's no fun torturing a dead person."

Hunk was taken aback for a second. His smile vanished. "Oh. So maybe not?" He tried to smile again, but it was shaky and nervous.

"Where have you been all this time? And what happened to Lotor?" Zethrid inquired.

"What are you talking about?" Shiro retorted.

"We're talking about your little disappearing act," Ezor answered.

"Answer the question!" Zethrid hissed. "How did you survive that explosion?"

"Dont you know? You were there," Hunk replied.

"I think there's a little confusion about how the "we ask questions, you give us answers" scenario works," Ezor responded.

Zethrid was growing tired of the lack of answers. "Enough of your games. Where is Lotor?"

"Lotor's dead. We left him in the quintessence field," Keith replied with a glare.

"Yeah, that doesn't really add up. Why aren't you dead?" Ezor wondered.

"Because..." Hunk thought for a second. "Of the power of teamwork?"

Zethrid was drawing closer to lashing out. "I'm going to ask you one more time, and then we're going to have to take a more extreme approach."

"The fun part," Ezor smirked.

"What happened to Lotor and where have you been all this time?"

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Acxa, Coran, and Arcadia were hiding behind a crate. Both girls were watching a nearby guard patrol the corridor. As Acxa turned around, she came face to face with Coran.

"What are you doing here?" the royal advisor asked.

She lashed out her hand and put some space between them. "I picked up the signal you were sending to your home planet. I assume that's how Ezor and Zethrid were able to intercept you."

"So those two are running this show?" Arcadia questioned as she ducked behind the crate.

"Yes."

"But why are you helping us?" Coran pondered.

"We don't have time for that now. Your friends are being held in a detention cell several floors below us. We have to find a way to free them, get to your lions, and most likely blast our way out."

"Well, that'll be a challenge. The lions are nearly too weak to fly. They'd be little help in a fight."

"So if the entire pirate fleet comes after us?" Acxa wondered.

"We'd be right back here or shot into space."

The galra turned her attention to Arcadia. "You draconians are fierce, I should know after going against you. Think you could take down an entire fleet?"

"It would require a lot of mana, which I don't have at the moment. However, I do have a better plan. How does a distraction sound?" Arcadia asked.

Acxa's eyes widen as she knew what the draconian wanted to do. She activated her gauntlet and pulled up a schematic of the cruiser. "Good thinking. A distraction will do just fine. We'll also need an escape route."

Coran examined the schematic and pointed to a part of the cruiser. "Oh, there's an ion cannon in hangar one, right next to the lions."

"That should work." Acxa disabled he gauntlet. "In the event of a hull breach these cruisers are designed to seal off the other hangars in order to maintain the ship's integrity. We can use the ion cannon to blast a hole in the hangar door. The other doors will seal."

"So the pirates would only have escape pods to chase after us until they override the system."

Acxa and Coran stood up. "You two free your friends and find your helmets and weapons. Once I blow up the hangar, you and your lions will be sucked into space."

"Right," the advisor replied. "We'll be ready to go in five doboshes. "

"Hold on," Arcadia interjected.

Acxa and Coran eye her, wondering what she wanted. They watched in awe as the draconian used an illusion spell to create two copies of herself. Not there were three Arcadias.

"Three?" The galra asked.

"I'll accompany Coran. One illusion will go with you and the other is gonna wreak havoc on the ship to create a second diversion," the snowy-haired girl replied.

Acxa grinned. "I like the way you think, draconian. Just don't get too reckless."

With that, they split up.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

"If you insist on maintaining this charade of ignorance, you leave us no choice but to apply pressure," Zethrid growled.

"Finally," Ezor smirked at the paladins. "Who's our first victim?"

The two generals scanned the group for their victim. Their eyes fell on Pidge. "You," Zethrid said. "Id bet half my fleet this group of heroes has a soft spot for the small one."

Ezor crept towards Pidge with a malicious smirk.

"Dont you touch her!" Lance bellowed. He leaped into action and swung his cuffed fists at Ezor. She nimbly dodged and kicked him away. He fell to the floor on his back and tried to get up, but he stopped moving after seeing one of the pirates was aiming their gun at him.

Zethrid scoffed at the red paladin. "Your defiance is adorable and so very misguided."

"Leave us alone!" Pidge shouted.

Just as Ezor was about to grab the green paladin, she looked around again. She finally realized there was one face missing. "Oh?"

"What is it?" Zethrid asked.

"Did nobody find that lizard girl that was with them?"

"You mean the—?" Zethrid's eyes widen. She searched the cell to realize Arcadia wasn't among them. "The draconian... Where is she?!"

"Like we would tell you," Keith sneered.

Ezor set her sights back on to Pidge, but stopped once again. She huffed out a sigh and saw her breath. "What the...?" She felt the air around them grow colder.

"What's happening?" Zetbrid asked, looking around in confusion.

"Oooh, you're about to get your butts handed to you!" Lance laughed, recognizing the cold. "That's what you get for calling space dragon a lizard!"

Ezor's and Zethrid's eyes widen when they knew what the red paladin meant. "She's here..." Zethrid growled. "Find her!"

The two generals and pirates left the cell, the door closing behind them.

Pidge sighed in relief knowing she would be spared from torture thanks to Arcadia. She puffed out and saw her breath. "She really is here."

"Yeah, but where?" Hunk asked.

"She can't be too far," Keith said. His eyes stared at the door. "She has to be—"

Hearing the pirate outside the door cry out in pain, they all gasped. The door slid open to reveal a smiling Arcadia. "I know a few earth puns about jail, but now isn't a good time for jokes."

Hunk sniffled as his eyes became watery. "I've never been happier to see space dragon!"

"Dry those tears, Hunk. We're not out of the woods yet. We've gotta get back to the lions."

The mice had been accompanying her and they started to squeak. Allura understood what they were saying and gasped. "Acxa is helping us?"

"What?" Keith gaped.

"She and Coran are to thank for the distraction." One by one, she destroyed the handcuffs. Once everyone was free, she said, "Speaking of Coran, we should really go help him now. I'm not sure how much longer he'll be able to fight against that robot-looking pirate."

"Lead the way, Arcadia," Allura said.

The draconian, with the mice on her shoulders, ran in the direction she left Coran. She wanted to help him, but he kept insisting he could handle the large pirate. She decided to be the one to free the paladins while he distracted the pirate.

When they found Coran, they saw the large pirate punch him. He stumbled back with a groan. He didn't fall and confidently stood his ground. He swung his fists weakly and continued to taunt the enemy.

Allura snuck up behind the pirate and grew in size. She swung her fist as hard as she could and knocked him out. The pirate collapsed and Coran saw the faces of his friends. Wounded from his fight, the advisor groaned and fell to his knees. Lance and Keith ran to his aid and supported him. "See? You got lucky."

"Coran, where's Acxa?" Keith asked the injured altean.

"I don't know," he mumbled. "Where am I?"

"Are you okay?" Shiro asked worriedly.

"Never better. Now let's get our belmards and hayards..."

Lance smiled. "Don't worry. We got you."

Coran, in his delirious state, replied, "Oh, thank you, Princess Allura."

Lance's smile fell into a disappointed frown.

Arcadia made her way over to the advisor and provided some healing. It healed his external wounds, but he still had a mild concussion.

"You are too kind, Mr. Snuffleflump," Coran delusionally thanked her.

"Who the heck is Mr. Snuffleflump?" Pidge asked.

"The name I gave the stuffed animal Coran gave me when I first came to Altea," Arcadia answered. "He'll need some rest to recuperate from the concussion. Besides that, he's fine."

"Sooo, how are we supposed to find our helmets and bayards?" Hunk asked.

The draconian smiled. "No worries. I know where they are."

Arcadia led them to a room not far from their current location. There, they found two pirates messing with the helmets and bayards. Taking cover behind the doorframe, they carefully watched the two pirates.

"Our bayards," Keith whispered.

"They have weapons and we don't. Any suggestions?" Lance inquired.

"Walk right in and kick their butts," Arcadia bluntly replied. "Easy and simple."

The red paladin eyed her and sarcastically replied, "Oh, okay then. Let's see you try."

"Okay."

Lance blinked in shock as she watched her enter the room. Keith tried to grab her, but she was already out of his reach. She whistled and grabbed the attention of both pirates. They spun around with bewildered expressions. She smiled and waved at them. Just as they charged at her, one of the clones she made emerged from a vent and knocked one pirate unconscious. The real Arcadia then sprinted forward and kneed the other pirate in the gut, successfully knocking him out as well.

Standing beside her clone, she smiled at the illusion. "Nice going, me," she giggled.

"We're awesome!" the clone chanted, giving the real girl a high-five.

Lance stumbled into the room, eyes wide as saucers. "Did you just give yourself a high-five?"

"I did. Wanna give yourself a high-five?" Arcadia asked.

"Yes, please!"

"Focus!" Keith shouted as he and the other paladins reclaimed their helmets and bayards. "Lance, lead the way. Keep the team together."

As Keith went to leave, Lance stopped him. "Wait, where are you going?"

"Acxa saved our skin. I'm not gonna leave her behind."

"In that case..." Arcadia's first clone vanished. "I'll go with you. I know where she is."

Keith glanced at the spot where the clone once stood. "You made two clones, didn't you?"

She smiled. "You know me so well."

He hadn't planned on her tagging along, but he was happy she wanted to help Acxa too. "All right." He looked back at Lancd. "We'll meet up with you guys soon."

Leaving the small room, Arcadia used her connection to the second clone to locate Acxa. Luckily, she was still near the hangar where the lions were once being held. Running through the corridors of the cruiser, they soon found themselves just outside the hangar. Acxa was fighting against Ezor while the clone was brawling with Zethrid.

"Help Acxa," Arcadia told Keith. "I'll help the clone."

Keith nodded and ran to aid Acxa.

Arcadia decides to shatter the illusion to regain full control of her alchemy. She dodged Zethrid's punches and delivered a kick to her gut. It sent her skidding backwards. Spotting movement from above, she saw Ezor had leaped over her to regroup with her fellow general. She let out a huff as Keith and Acxa stood on either side of her as they faced off against Ezor and Zethrid.

Esor grinned at seeing the draconian and paladin. "Oh, look, Acxa, it's your favorite paladin and your new best friend."

"So do you guys actually know each other?" Zethrid asked.

"Yeah, don't you remember how she never wanted to kill either of them?"

"I guess it is true love, but not for her."

Arcadia felt her eye twitch while Keith shouted, "Can't we just fight?" He charged at Ezor while Acxa targeted Zethrid. Arcadia jumped into the fray and tried to help both of them, constantly switching between the two generals. Amid the battle, a pain wracked her head and incapacitated her.

Zethrid took the chance and punched her in the gut, sending her flying back. Her body slammed into a wall and her ears began to ring. She felt the familiar warm sensation of blood trickling down her cheeks. Her eyes were bleeding. She heard Keith shout her name as Zethrid rammed her foot into her side before she could recover from the previous blow. The galra tackled at hearing the cries of pain from the draconian. "I've always wanted to kill a draconian. I heard those eyes of yours can give anyone immense powers. I just might have to try these powers for myself."

Before Zethrid could deliver another kick, Acxa intervened. She kicked the general away from the girl and stood in front of her as a shield.

Arcadia managed to use the wall to support her as she got to her feet. She wiped the blood from her eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled a shaky sigh. "What bad timing..." With the two clones she created earlier, the little mana she had left was depleted. She was running on fumes and it was starting to affect her body.

Hearing the painful cries of Keith and Acxa, Arcadia lifted her head to see they both had been tossed through a wall. They laid on the floor next to rows of canisters. She couldn't hear what her allies were talking about until she heard Keith's command on the comms. "Guys! Zero in on my location and fire on the ship."

"Are you sure?" Allura asked.

"Just do it!"

Arcadia wasn't sure what he was planning until she took a closer look at the canisters. "Oh, no..."

The five lions fired at the ship and triggered an explosion. Just as the canisters exploded, Keith activated his jetpack and shield and soared out of the room with Acxa. Arcadia was taken by surprise when the former general grabbed her arm. The three flew out of the cruiser and towards the black lion. Without looking back, they made a quick retreat.

•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

On a desolate planet with an abandoned galra facility, everyone was gathered around a fire inside a cave. Hunk had left a few minutes and returned with a pile of sticks to kindle the campfire. He glanced around worriedly at his teammates. "I just looked at the lions and they're in words shape than ever."

"We should give them some time to recharge before we head back on our way," Shiro replied.

Lance was still in shock from their recent dilemma. "Wow, a lot of things have really changed over the past few weeks."

"Weeks?" Acxa spoke up in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"The last time we saw you. You were fighting us alongside Lotor," Allura clarified.

"That was three decaphoebs ago. No one has seen you since your fight with Lotor."

Keith couldn't believe what she said. "That's impossible."

"It's true," Acxa replied. "After Lotor jettisoned us, we managed to make it to cover on a meteroid. There we saw both Voltron and Lotor disappear. Eventually, Voltron reemerged...alone. But then there was an explosion, and after that...nothing. That was three decaphoebs ago."

"Whoa," Lance gasped.

"So, as far as everyone else in the universe is concerned, Voltron has been gone for three decaphoebs?" Allura inquired.

The sticks Hunk had gathered toppled from his arms as he was consumed with shock.

Pidge gazed sorrowfully at the fire. "That explains the discrepancies in the star charts in our lions." She lifted her arm and activated her gauntlet. "I thought they were off because of our inter-dimensional jumping, which I guess they were, in a way. Because when you think about it, that must have been the cause of the time slippage between our experience and that of the rest of the universe."

Keith glanced at Acxa. "So how did you end up here, helping us?"

"Zethrid, Ezor, and I were marooned on the meteroid for days. Finally, a galra ship came to investigate Lotor's last known whereabouts. We took it over. With Lotor gone, it was clear that there was a power vacuum in the galra empire. Zethrid and Ezor wanted to exploit that for their own gain, but I knew I had to find my own path." Acxa lifted her head and met Keith's gaze. "And it led me to you."

"Thank you...for saving us," Keith smiled gratefully.

Once again, she looked away. "I hope that this makes up, in some way, for the wrong I've done. I realize now that Lotor wasn't the man I thought he was. He preached unity, but in the end, he sought only power."

Allura stated melancholically at the campfire. "I understand how you feel. I fell for Lotor's lies as well." She lifted her head and glanced at Arcadia, who was standing beside Coran. "I nearly lost my dearest friend because of his deceit."

"I'll do everything I can out here to help the Voltron Coalition," Acxa announced. "

"Wow," Hunk chimed in. "So everyone that was helping us thinks we're dead."

"Wait," Pidge interrupted. "I haven't been able to get ahold of my dad on earth or Matt and the rebels. What's happened to them in the last three years?"

"And if Ezor and Zetrhid became warlords in that time..." Allura started. "What else has changed?"

"For now, let's focus on recuperating," Arcadia spoke up after a prolonged silence. "If anyone needs healing, please come to me. I'll be outside if you need me."

The draconian left the cave and wandered to the lions. She stopped in front of the black lion and placed her hand on its muzzle. She closed her eyes in an attempt to contact Proliux, but she couldn't reach him. The lion was too weak, meaning so was Proliux's spirit. She desperately wanted to speak to him after Acxa told them three years had gone by. She was worried about her shortened lifespan and if those three years had affected her body in any way even though she had been with the paladins at the time. She placed her head on the lion's muzzle with a shaky sigh. Tears of frustration streamed down her face. "Please talk to me, you old fool..."

"Arcadia?"

The draconian lifted her head. She quickly wiped her tears and turned to face the person behind her. "Keith, is something wrong? Does someone need healing?"

He saw her reddened eyes and disregarded her questions. "You were crying..."

She huffed out a sigh. "Just a little..."

"What's wrong?" He asked as he closed the distance between them.

She contemplated whether to tell him or not. She had been hiding this from him for a while now. He had the right to know about her shortened life, especially after how much kindness and love he's shown her. She also felt it would only hurt worse if he heard it from someone else, and if she waited too long, it would only make the talk much more difficult.

Seeing they were alone and far away from the cave, Arcadia came to a decision. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. I haven't been able to figure out the best way to say it, but I don't want to keep you in the dark any longer. If I keep prolonging the inevitable, I fear the pain will only be worse and you might come to hate me for keeping such a secret."

Keith took her hand and gently squeezed it. "I could never hate you, Arcadia."

Hearing his kind words made her heart waver. She gripped his hand and willed herself to tell him. "Keith, I...I never told you what happens to my people after they become a master alchemist, did I?"

"You told me a little. Why?"

"I left out something very important, and I should've told you earlier." She looked away, unable to look him in the eye. She was afraid. "Along with mastering alchemy, a draconian's life span is shortened significantly."

Keith's eyes widen in horror. He felt a jump forming in his throat at the heartbreaking information. "...How long?" He choked out.

"Three years at most."

He remembered what Acxa told them. "If you hadn't been with us, then..."

"I would've perished." She placed her free hand on the black lion's muzzle. "There is only one remedy, but it is impossible without another draconian."

"The eyes," Keith remembered. "You told me the eyes of draconians can be used to extend the life of a master alchemist. There is still a chance for us to save you."

Arcadia blinked in shock. "Are you talking about Master Zenio?"

"When we stop him, you can get the rest of your life back."

She loved away. "I still don't see how I can take down a master alchemist like Zenio."

"Like I said, you have us. You're not alone, Arcadia, and you never will be. And that vision I saw in the quantum abyss...We have a future together and I know it will happen."

She wanted to cling on to the hope that she could defeat Zenio. And if she did, then she would have her life back and spend the rest of it with Keith. The sorrow and dread that had drowned her heart vanished. She saw a glimmer of hope and clung to it. She smiled warmly at him. "Thank you, Keith."

"I'm just glad to see that smile of yours," he sighed.

"Speaking of smiles..." Arcadia pulled her hand out of his and turned her back to him. She wanted to tease him. "I saw that smile you gave Acxa earlier. I'm kinda jealous." Hands clasped behind her back, she started to walk away from him slowly.

Keith hadn't yet picked up on her teasing and pursued her. "Wait, do you think I have a thing for her? Because I don't, I swear! I was just grateful for her help! And for yours, too! You have no idea how happy I was when I saw you open the cell door."

Arcadia stopped and spun around to reveal her smirk.

Keith blinked owlishly before pouting. "You were teasing me..."

"Mmhmm!" She hummed. "I know how much you love me. Never have I doubted that."

"You are..." Keith's voice trailed off.

"I'm what?"

He shook his head as his cheeks turned red. "Never mind..."

The couple returned to the cave. There, Keith chatted with Shiro while Arcadia found herself conversing with Acxa. The two sat by the fire.

"I have to say, you're one tough girl," Acxa commented. "Having made two clones with fighting abilities must have been difficult."

"I may have pushed myself too hard," Arcadia laughed in embarrassment.

"I could tell." Acxa met the draconian's golden gaze. "That clone of yours really helped. Thank you."

"I should be thanking you. It was because of you the mission was successful."

"I think you would've been fine without me."

"Let's just agree to disagree," Arcadia giggled.

Acxa smiled. "Deal." She looked back down at the dancing flames. "I never got to thank you for saving my life."

The draconian looked puzzled. "When did I do that?"

"Inside the weblum."

Arcadia gasped in realization. "That was you? I had no idea..."

"Thanks to you and Keith, I'm still alive."

"What a strange turn of events."

"Very."

After her conversation with Acxa, Arcadia decided it was time to take a nap. She got as comfortable as possible and fell asleep by the campfire.