Ember sat contently in one of the few chairs that were in the bridge. Her fingers absentmindedly played with the sunflower necklace that she had promise to wear as conversation flowed around the room. 

   "Coran," Shiro's voice brought Ember back from her daydreaming, her body sitting up straighter. "How soon will we get to the Blade of Marmora's base?"

   "Based on the coordinates that Ulaz gave us, we should be there within a few doboshes." Coran answered. Ember let out a little sigh, slouching down again. 

   "I hope Bialar is there," Ember murmured, her thoughts going back to the dark-skinned Majesdanian that she had met. It seemed like a life-time ago since they've met. "Coruscare, too."

   "I can't wait to see it!" Pidge exclaimed, the stars shining in her eyes. "I mean, they were able to fold space-time, and that was just at an outpost!"

   "Mm, the space taco. It left us too soon." Hunk rubbed his growling stomach. 

   "Well, sure, but my point is, imagine how amazing their home base will be!" 

   "Exactly! It could take on any shape! Like a space jelly donut. Or long, like a space éclair." Ember let out a groan, her mind drifting back to the éclair her grandmother use to make. "Or a space cheese blintz with a cherry sauce on top. Maybe a little dusting of powered sugar. That's the stars." 

   "Aw! Now, I'm hungry for breakfast." Lance complained. 

   "Guys, this is a serious mission. We need to focus." Keith reminded them. 

   "We need to focus."  Lance mocked, making Ember roll her eyes with a smile. 

   "The base is in range." Coran announced. Ember dropped her necklace, letting it hang just below her collar bones, and stood up in anticipation. 

   "Take us in slowly." Shiro ordered. 

   "That might prove the tiniest bit of a challenge." Coran said. The tiniest bit of a challenge was just a little bit of an understatement. 

Ember, no matter how many times she tried to listen, could never learn the proper terms anything space related. Besides knowing what stars, suns, and planets were, she was at a lost. 

But she was pretty sure that there were two black holes in front of them, something round and blue in between. Not normal, she'll guess. 

   "Is that a black hole?" Hunk asked. 

   "No, no, no, no, no." Coran denied. "It's two black holes and a giant blue star."

   "That's not better."

   "No kidding. Just inside a black hole, the temperature is one millionth of a degree above absolute zero. But, just outside that, it's hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius."

   "There's such thing as blue stars?" At the looks Ember was receiving, she held her hands up in defense. "I am a medic, I understand the human body. Not space."

   "Okay!" Hunk suddenly exclaimed. "It's like when you try to nuke a frozen burrito in the microwave, and it comes out all scorching hot on the outside, but it's still frozen in the middle, right?"

   "I, somehow, understood that." Ember admitted. 

   "Now, I'm hungry for lunch!" Lance complained. 

   "Guys, quiet!" Keith raised his voice, standing up from his seat. "Coran, where's the base located?" 

   "In between those three deadly celestial objects." Coran zoomed in with the big computer screen. 

   "The perfect defensive position." Pidge concluded. 

   "Or the perfect trap." Allura added with a small frown. 

   "Yeah, I'm with Allura. Maybe we shouldn't, like, go in there at all." Hunk sided with Allura. 

   "What are you talking about? We have to go in!" Keith practically yelled over the team. "This is the whole reason we came out here! There is no other option!"

   "Okay. Jeez. Calm down." Lance uncrossed his arms and did the motions. Keith simply narrowed his eyes in irritation at him and turned away. 

At the sound of beeping, Team Voltron looked back to the screen to see symbols cast upon it. "Identify yourself."  The computer voice demanded. 

   "Open a hailing frequency, Coran." Shiro requested to the older Altean before speaking to the computer. "We are the Paladins of Voltron, sent here by Ulaz and Bialar."

There was an unsettling pause of silence. At least, to Ember it was. 

   "Two may enter. Come unarmed." The computer said before beeping offline. 

   "Why would they insist we come unarmed? Shiro, this doesn't feel right." Allura complained. 

   "We've come too far to turn back now." Shiro decided. 

   "They just sent us a route to the base, but we'll have to move quickly." Coran informed. "Because of the solar flares, it's only open for another varga. Then it'll be closed for two quintants."

   "They're gonna close it for two years?" Hunk repeated in confusion. 

   "Two days," Pidge supplied. 

   "Oh."

   "So, any thoughts on who's gonna join you on this little mission?" Lance asked the big question. "I'm think things might get a little hot, so you're gonna want someone who can stay cool."

   "You're right," Shiro agreed. "Keith, you're coming with me."

   "Keith's a hothead!" Lance exclaimed. "He's probab;y going to shoot first and ask questions later! And they're not gonna be able to answer his questions because they'll be dead!"

   "We haven't yet severed Zarkon's link with the Black Lion," Shiro started to reason, gently pushing Lance out of his face. "So it has to stay here. And the Red Lion can withstand the hear from the sun. So, yes, it'll be Keith."

Lance pouted with his arms crossed. 

   "The course to the base will be quite treacherous, to say the least," Coran went over the coordinates on the big screen. "You're walking a razor's edge between the gravitational pull of the black holes and the sun. One false move, and you'll either be crushed into infinity or burnt to a crisp."

   "I wanna go!" Ember interrupted, jumping up from the chair, raising her hand like she was in class. "I need to go! What if they don't have proper medical attention in there? There could be injured people there!"

Shiro sighed, dropping his head. He should've known. "No. Ember, they requested only two people. We don't want to--"

   "Shiro!" Ember groaned. "I have to go. What if they need help?"

   "I really don't think --" Keith started, but Ember spoke up again. 

   "I'll stay in the Red Lion! If they don't want me to be in their base, I'll stay in the Lion and wait." Ember offered. "Please. Shiro. "

   "My answer is still no."

▬ ✦✧✦ ▬

Ember stood on the other side of Keith, clinging to Keith's chair as he piloted his way to the Blade of Marmora's base. She wore her suit, including a helmet, and had her satchel. It was filled with medicines, herbs, bandages - anything she could fit in the bag within the small time limit she had. 

While she had somehow managed to convince the leader of their team that she needed to go with, their pilot was still a little bitter. Lance just muttered under his breath. 

But, what Ember couldn't piece together, was why their was a growing amount of tension in the enclosed space they were in. 

   "Keith, is everything okay?" Shiro asked carefully. 

   "I'm fine." Keith replied shortly. 

   "You kind of blew up at everyone back there." Shiro pointed out. "You'll have to control your emotions if you're going to lead this group someday."

Keith chuckled in surprise, and even Ember blinked at the sudden statement. "Lead the group?" They echoed in unison. 

   "When we were stranded, I told you, if anything ever happens to me, I want you to lead Voltron." Shiro reminded him. Ember furrowed her eyebrows at the thought, trying to think back to when he said that. 

   "I thought you were just delirious with pain." Keith said. 

   "I know I was," Ember admitted softly. 

   "Why would you make me leader?" Keith continued, glancing at Ember from the corner of his eye before switching to Shiro. 

   "Because I know what you're capable of, if you can learn some self-discipline." Shiro explained.

   "Why are we even talking about this? Nothing is gonna happen to you." Keith stated firmly. 

   "It's just in case. I need you to get focused." Shirp placed his free hand on Keith's shoulder. "When you and Allura ran off, it put us all in jeopardy. If you're going to be a leader, you've got to get your head on straight." 

   "I'm sorry," Keith apologized, making Ember purse her lips. He apologized to her, yes, but he was a stuttering mess. . .Maybe because they've known each other a lot longer? "I've just had a lot on my mind."

   "I know. We all have." 

Ember couldn't help but nod in agreement with Shiro's reply. There was so many things flying around in Ember's mind, she didn't know which one to tear apart first. It was overwhelming. 

The black-haired girl let out a cry of surprise as the lion shifted dangerously and alarms started to blare. 

   "We're getting drawn in by one of the black holes!" Keith reported. 

   "Get us out of here!" Shiro ordered. Ember clutched the back of Keith's seat tighter as he used his boosters to get them out of the pull. Ember felt Shiro put a hand on her upper back, making sure she didn't fall over as Keith got them back on track. "Good job! That was close."

   "Believed in you the whole time!" Ember said in a soft voice, clutching the seat again. "Whooo. . ."

   "I can tell," Keith let out a sigh of relief. The conversations seem to come to a halt after that, as they stared at the upcoming base. It looks a lot better and bigger in front of her face rather than a screen, no matter how big the screen was. 

Keith landed the Red Lion and they made their down the ramp, looking at their surroundings. There wasn't much. 

   "There's nothing here. This place just looks like a plain asteroid." Keith finally said. 

   "Looks can be deceiving." Ember chided. She clutched her medical bag closer to herself when a loud thud and hiss sounded in front of them. Ember watched as two fully covered and hooded figures rose from the - hopefully - elevator shaft - and stared the trio down. Keith shifted in front of Ember slightly.

There was a long pause, one that caused Ember to cling to her bag some more before a gruff voice spoke. 

   "We said only two." The voice came from the bigger member, whose arms were probably as big as Ember's own head. 

   "Yes, we know. But our medic on the team wanted to tag along." Shiro said simply. When the two hooded figures didn't move or speak, Ember gently moved Keith out of the way and walked forwards. 

   "My name is Ember. I am the medical personnel on the team. If we are to truly be allies in these times, then I would like to see if the wounded are getting the treatment they need." Ember tapped her bag, in mostly nerves. "If not, then I shall simply stay on the lion."

   "We have-" The gruff - man? - started, but was cut off from his partner, who raised - her? maybe? - hand and tilted her head. As if she was listening to someone. Maybe they had comms on them?

   "Are you Ember, the Majesdanian?" The other figure was definitely a girl, her voice wasn't too high but it was enough to tell the difference. 

   "Yes, that is me." Ember nodded. Hesitantly, she took the bag over her shoulders off and held it in front of her. "If you must, you can check my bag."

The two seemed to have a silent conversation between themselves, or just listening to the comms, before the female figure shook her head. 

   "That is not needed. Come."

Shiro, Keith, and Ember let out a small breath of relief as they headed towards the platform. Ember put the bag over her shoulders again, and across her front, before joining the rest of her team. 

If Ember thought the tension couldn't get any worse, she was wrong. Keith, Ember, and Shiro stood in front of the two Blade members. No one said a word the whole ride down, making the area even more tense. 

After a long ride down, they finally stopped at a door that slide open at their arrival. When her eyes adjusted to the sudden bright light, the room opened up. The pathway that lead to who Ember assumed was the leader was lined with Blade members, all hooded and covered like the two behind them. 

Even the leader was completely covered! 

But, above them all, was a holograph showing a purple symbol. The same symbol that shone brightly on Bialar's own knife. When Shiro and Keith started to walk towards the Blades' leader, Ember quickly put herself in between the two, a step behind them. 

It wasn't that Ember didn't trust them, she just felt a lot safer with a paladin on either side of her in this new territory. 

   "I am Kolivan, leader of the Blade of Marmora." Kolivan spoke when the trio was close enough to him. 

   "My name is Shiro and this is Keith. We are the Paladins of Voltron. Ember is our medical staff." Shiro introduced them. Ember relaxed a little at that, before straightening up at the presence of the two Blades' behind them. 

   "I know who you are." Kolivan brushed them off. 

   "Then you know we were sent by two of your own." Shiro countered. 

   "Ulaz and Bialar were fools to divulge this location to you." Kolivan stated. Ember snapped her mouth shut, not wanting to say anything to mess this up. Maybe she could reply to him in French. . . "Ulaz had a penchant for ignoring orders and following his impulses. That's what got him killed."

Ember briefly wondered if Bialar heard her leader talk shit on her lover. It just made Ember even more riled up. Maybe she shouldn't have come along.

   "He gave his life to save us!" Shiro exclaimed. "What he did brought us here today, and Voltron is ready to assist you. Are we welcome here or not?" 

   "I allowed the extra person, simply because she was a medic," Kolivan started. "But you were told to come unarmed." 

   "You also told us to identity ourselves." Keith snapped back. Ember placed a hand on Keith's shoulder, the armor stopping her from really calming him down. "The lions are about as close as we come to an ID."  

   "If anything happens, believe me, you'll be happy you have the Red Lion on your side." Shiro tried to defuse the situation. 

   "I imagine we would." Kolivan admitted. "However, I wasn't referring to your beast." 

Ember let out gasp of surprise as one of the Blades' behind them stepped forward and was quick to put him to the ground. 

   "Keith!" Shiro and Ember called out. They both took a step closer and Shiro was blocked by the other member. But Ember was closer. 

   "Hey, now!" Ember exclaimed, stepping closer. "We can just - Merde! "

The medic let out a curse as the Blade member holding Keith down swatted her away with his other hand, sending her falling back. Even if she had her helmet on, the action alone sent her back in surprise. 

With a thud, Ember landed on her back and had the Blade memebr blocking Shiro put a foot on her chest. 

   "C'était pour quoi?!"* Ember asked with a cough. 

   "He has one of our blades! Who did you steal this from?" The Blade pinning Keith questioned. Ember raised her head, watching him revel the blade to everyone. 

   "I didn't! I've had it all my life!" Keith answered. 

   "Lies!"

   "Can you corroborate you friend's statement?" Kolivan asked. "Does this blade truly belong to him?"

   "Yes!" Ember answered from the floor still, knocking her fists against the female Blades' foot. "I can corroborate! Get your foot off me, dammit!"

   "I was not asking you," Kolivan simply replied. Shiro hesitated, looking between the blade and Keith. 

   "I. . .I don't know." He admitted. 

   "Shiro,  you know me. I promise you I didn't steal it." Keith raised his head to look at the leader of Team Voltron. "I've had this knife as long as I can remember." 

   "We can't trust them." The Blade shoved Keith's head down. 

   "I'm telling the truth. I saw Ulaz had a knife like this. Tell me what it means." Keith demanded.  Ember tried to crane her head to see something besides this Blades' backside and Shiro's side. 

   "Our organization is built on secrecy and trust." Kolivan stated. "You two should leave. Now. Leave the medic or so can care for our injured." 

   "Leave me?! " Ember exclaimed, jaw dropping. The male Blade that pinned Keith down let him up, but the one currently standing on her didn't move an inch. "I only came to check on your people if we had an alliance!" 

Okay, so it kinda went against her code, but after all this bullshit, Ember thought she could at least ask that much. 

   "We came here to form an alliance, but obviously, we're not welcome." Shiro sneered at the Blades' leader. "Come on, Keith. We're leaving." He turned to help Ember, staring down the Blade that stood on her. "Move."

   "Pretty please?" Ember added softly. "I'm not that good at fighting, so I really  don't have a chance."

   "Not without some answers." Keith stepped forwards. "Somehow, one of your knives ended up with me on planet Earth. Tell me how." 

   "Your friend is right. It is time for you to go." Kolivan barely moved a muscle. 

   "Where did it come from? I have to know." Keith urged. 

   "You seek knowledge? There is only one way to attain knowledge here." Kolivan finally revealed. 

   "How? I'll do it!" 

   "The trials of Marmora. Should you survive, you may keep the blade and its secrets will be revealed."

   "Survive?"

   "Survive?!"

   "Keith, this is crazy. If they're not going to help us, let's get Ember and get out of here." Shiro walked over to Keith, grabbing him by the shoulder to face him. 

   "I'm not going anywhere. I have to do this." Keith stressed, glancing at Ember who was watching with wide eyes. "It'll also get Ember out of here safer."

   "I'm not sure that's-" Ember cut herself off at the new amount of pressure on her chest. "I get it! You're all tough and shit!"

   "Antok, give the boy the blade." Kolivan ordered. "Melik, let the girl up."

Ember took in a deep breath of air as the foot disappeared from her chest, letting it out just as quick. "Jeez, do you eat elephants for lunch or something?" She hissed under her breath, rubbing her chest plate armor as if it would help. Shiro offered the young girl a hand, which she thankfully took, and kept her close to his side. 

   "These trials result in one of two things." Kolivan continued as if nothing happened. "Knowledge or death."

   "Keith!" Ember hissed, making a move to step closer to Keith but second-guessed it at the look Antok  seem to give her. "Are you sure about this? What knowledge is so great that death seems like a small accident?" 

   "Don't you trust me?" Keith asked suddenly. Ember furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. 

   "Of course I do. Always."

   "Then trust me that this knowledge is something I can't live without."

Ember bit her lip, eyes staring into Keith's with visible concern. Seeing as he wasn't going to be swayed, Ember nodded her head slowly. "Then I - we'll wait for you." 

▬ ✦✧✦ ▬

Ember watched the screen with arms crossed and a hand to her mouth. Since her armor was on, she couldn't do what she usually did when nervous - which still wasn't good in the first place. 

With her gloves on as well, she couldn't resort to her second option, which was picking at her nails. 

So, now, she simply put a hand to her mouth and played with her bottom lip. 

A single Blade member rose from a platform in the room Keith was in. Shiro, Ember, Kolivan, and a single Blade members watched the screen in anticipation. 

   "Surrender the blade."  The screen Blade demanded, unsheathing its own blade in warning. "You cannot win."

Keith charged without a second thought. Ember held her breath, watching as the two figures on screen battled it out. 

   "Keith!" Ember yelped when the Blade member manged to slice Keith's shoulder open. 

   "Come on, Keith," Shiro murmured under his breath, taking Embers' hand gently in his. Ember was quick to bury herself into Shiro's side, but her eyes never left the screen. "Have more faith, Em,"

   "Having more faith doesn't stop the injuries from coming," Ember's voice shook slightly. On screen, the Blade member had locked Keith into a painful arm bar, his blade placed against Keith's neck. 

   "Surrender the blade and the pain will ceased."  He stated. 

   "I won't quit."  Keith declared. Ember felt herself deflate, not wanting to watch Keith get injured even more. 

   "Then the pain continues."  The Blade replied, dropping the arm bar and blade. Keith stumbled to his feet, eyeing his opponent wearily. "You are not meant to go through that door."  

But Keith jogged through the sliding doors, knife clenched in his fist.

The next room held two Blade members, who said the same exact thing as the first one did. They fought and Keith barely managed to get away with a couple blocks before getting kicked down. 

   "This is not a fair fight!" Shiro exclaimed. 

   "He hasn't even been treated to his shoulder wound yet!" Ember added on, her hands beginning to steadily shake with anxiety. The mantra that Kolivan stated to them earlier repeated in her head. 

  Knowledge or death.

  Knowledge or death.

  Knowledge or death.

   "Nor is taking on the Galra and Majesdanians, yet that is the fight we face." Kolivan retorted. 

Thus, the two members of Team Voltron continued to watch the Red Paladin get beaten up. For every room he entered, the same exact amount of Blade members rose from the floor. But Keith never gave up. 

   "How long does this go on?" Shiro snapped. 

   "Sometimes, the greatest challenge is knowing when to stop." Kolivan said. 

   "He'll never quit," Ember mumbled, eyes trained on the screen. 

   "One way or another, this will end. Knowledge or death." 

That was the end of that conversation. There wasn't anything else to say, or anything to say that would get through to him. Galra or Majesdanian, both were a stubborn race. 

Ember flinched ever time a serious injury was inflicted onto Keith, muttering what the injury could be and the best way to treat it. 

Nothing notable happened within the next three to five rounds. That was until Keith threw his knife with such precision, the knife landed into the shifting platform and held it open. 

   "He isn't meant to go through the door," Ember murmured to herself, watching as Keith battled his way to his only weapon. When a member threw him, he threw Keith next to his knife. 

The Red Paladin disappeared beneath the same platform the Blade members appeared. 

   "Keith!" Shiro started forward. Ember held fast. 

   "He wasn't meant to go through that door," Ember whispered to Shiro. "They never said anything about a shaft."

   "So. . ."

The screen switched, showing Keith stumbling out of another doorway, but this time into an empty room. He was clutching his bleeding shoulder that had yet to clot, because of his fighting. 

   "Guess I really wasn't supposed to got through that door." Keith groaned, holding onto his shoulder tightly. "Maybe Ember has something for the pain. . ."

Towards the middle of the room, he slowly fell into a stop, until his body thumped to the floor. Ember turned to Kolivan, eyes narrowed. 

   "Show me where he is," Ember demanded. 

   "The trial is not yet over," Kolivan replied evenly. 

   "I could care less about the trials now!" Ember snapped. "My teammate is bleeding out on the floor," Her gaze snapped to the screen, back to Kolivan, before doing a double-take. ". . .And apparently talking to Shiro and I. . ."

   "The trial is not yet over," Kolivan repeated. Shiro turned to Kolivan, placing a gentle arm on Ember's shoulder. 

   "Is that a hologram?" The real Shiro asked. 

   "His suit has the ability to create a virtual mindscape, reflecting its wearer's greatest hopes and fears." Kolivan supplied. "And, at this moment, your friend desperately wants to see you two."

   "But why me?" Ember mumbled to herself, staring at her double on screen.

   "What is it with you and that thing?" Shiro-graph asked, Ember-graph tilted her head in a confused way. 

   "You seem overly-protective of it."  Ember-graph stated. "Why? It's just a knife."

   "It's not just a knife,"  Keith looked down at the glowing symbol. "It's the only connection I have to my past. It's my chance to learn who I really am."

   "You know exactly who you are, a Paladin of Voltron."  Shiro-graph said roughly. "We're all the family you need."

   "Aren't we enough?"  Ember-graph asked. 

   "Shiro, you're like a brother to me. . ." Keith started out softly. "Ember, you're the first friend I've really had stick by me, but I have to do this." 

   "No, you don't. So, just give them the knife."  Shiro-graph replied. 

   "I can't do that."

   "Just give up the knife, Keith!" Ember-graph exclaimed.

   "You're only thinking of yourself, as usual!"  Shiro-graph added on. 

   "I've made my choice."  Keith stated firmly, not willing to meet either of their eyes. 

   "Then you've chosen to be alone."  Shiro concluded. Putting a hand on Ember-graph's shoulder, Shiro-graph led the two away from Keith. The real Ember watched on with her lips pulled down into a frown, muttering French curses under her breath.

   "Shiro! Ember! Wait!" Keith called out finally, running towards the two of them. With a gasp, Keith stopped mid-stride and tipped over. He landed on his back with another thud, making Ember finally break out of her trance. He twitched, giving them signals he was alive, before letting out a pained grunt and groan.

   "You need to get him out of there." Shiro demanded.

   "He can decide when to leave." Kolivan replied. 

   "You're messing with his mind. You're going to kill him!"

   "Lead me to that room before I find it myself!" Ember spun to Kolivan.  He looked over at the two, barely casting Ember a glance before stating, 

   "Knowledge or death, Shiro."

   "That's it." Ember grumbled, spinning towards the doors and marching off. Two more Blade members stepped into her path, halting her. "Move, or get blown through."

   "Knowledge or death."

   "Then we'll find out the answers a different way! Not with only two options!" Ember started to walk forwards again. The member to her left reached out to shove her back by her torso, but Ember grabbed his wrist and twisted it away, shoving him back. 

The other one grappled with Ember, the two of them dodging and weaving between each other before the Blade member grabbed Ember's arm and twisted it behind her back, kicking her knees out from under her. 

The same moment her knees made contact with the ground, the whole base shuddered as if there was an quake. "That wasn't me." Ember rushed out, watching as Shiro was trying to shove his way towards her. But the two guard members' held him back. 

   "The Red Lion is attacking the base! It's trying to break through!" Someone ran through one of the doors to inform Kolivan.

   "It has a link with Keith. It knows when he's in danger. It's coming for him." Shiro tried to explain. Another blast hit the base, causing the wall near with crumble. Not wasting any more time, Shiro shoved his way out of the two Blades that were holding him, and shoulder checked the one on Ember. 

Ember went along with it, spinning around and running after Shiro. Not without stomping on top of the Blade that had her in an arm lock. 

She wasn't that petty.

Shiro and Ember frantically ran down the halls with the footsteps of the Blade members following them with every turn. It didn't seem like they were going to let Shiro and Ember get Keith peacefully. 

It wasn't until they were a couple floors down did they finally find the room Keith was passed out in. The two hurried towards the boy, just as another rumble passed through the whole base. 

Shiro helped Keith up while Ember watched their back. "Keith, are you okay?" 

   "Stop what you're doing!" Ember held her hands up as she stood in front of Shiro and Keith, daring the small group to try something. 

   "What are you talking about?" Keith asked drowsily, still waking from his sleep. "What's going on?"

The building shook again, causing Ember to stumble slightly before gaining her balance again. 

   "Call off your beast!" Kolivan demanded. 

   "Move out of the way! We're leaving!" Shiro retorted, Keith's arm wrapped around his shoulders. Ember clenched her fists tighter while her hands slowly started to glow their iridescent way. 

   "You're not leaving with that blade." Kolivan said. "It does not belong to you. You failed to awaken it!" 

   "What does that mean?" Keith asked. 

   "Give up the blade!"

   "Move it or lose it!" Ember snapped, the colorful hue reaching up her arm and just past her elbows. 

One of the Blade members unsheathed his/her sword and went to attack. Ember threw up a shield, blocking the attack,  while Shiro rushed forwards for a counter-attack with his glowing robot arm. 

Ember narrowed her eyes, trying to shove the Blade member back as he put pressure on the shield even more. 

   "Wait!" Keith exclaimed. "Just take the knife!"

When the Blade member dropped his sword, Ember dropped her shield and Shiro dropped his arm. The two stared at Keith in disbelief. 

   "Keith," Ember started softly. "That knife means too much to you. It's your past."

   "It doesn't matter where I come form," Keith looked Ember straight in the eyes, his lips pulling up a little. "I know who I am. We all need to work together to defeat Zarkon. If that means I give up this knife, fine. Take it."

The symbol on the knife flashes, making Ember's eyes lock onto it as a purple light started to fill up the room. Squeezing her eyes shut, Ember held her hand up to block the bright light as the Blade members behind her seem to wake up. 

   "You've awoken the blade!" 

The light died down, making Ember flutter her eyes open before gasping softly. What looked like a new, longer blade was held in Keith's grasp. 

   "The only way this is possible is if Galra and/or Majesdanian blood runs through your veins." Kolivan explained, before adding, "But I highly doubt you have a drop of Majesdanian in you."

▬ ✦✧✦ ▬

Ember rushed around the infirmary that the Blade of Marmora  had set up for the few wounded they had. One of them was Keith, who slipped into a quick nap as soon as the whole thing was over. 

Shiro had called over the Black Lion for Kolivan to meet with Princess Allura while Ember stayed behind to work her magic. 

By magic, she meant nursing. 

   "Jeez, don't you guys have a medic here?" Ember grumbled to herself, re-wrapping Keith's shoulder wound before going over to an injured Galra, giving him a few pills to dull the pain. 

   "We did," The Galra man admitted. "She was killed in battle recently, though."

   "Oh. . ." Ember trailed off, checking the Majesdanian that was passed out on the other side of the Galra before adding, "I'm sorry."

   "Nothing to be sorry about," He replied, golden eyes fluttering close as the drugs started to work. "She died fighting for. . .her beliefs. . ."

The soft snoring made Ember chuckle before walking back over to Keith, getting a damp rag and wiping off the sweat that stuck to his face. 

The Red Paladin let out a groan, fluttering his eyes open and looking around. "Where am I?"

   "Infirmary on the Blades' base," Ember replied soft, stretching her arms above her head. Her uniform was on the table with her open bag, showing she was just wearing her black tank top. "How are you feeling?"

   "Tired. . ." Keith mumbled, furrowing his eyebrows. "Where's Shiro?"

   "He took Kolivan back to the castle to meet with Allura." Ember walked over to her bag, getting out some herbs with a small cup and water. "I told him that you need to get checked up, and have a small nap. You haven't slept long, maybe half an hour?"

   "How do I know this is real?" Keith suddenly asked, making Ember pause. Her grey eyes looked over her shoulder, seeing Keith look around as if this was in his mind. 

   "What happened down there?" Ember murmured to herself, finishing off the tea before walking over to Keith. "It's real, I promise."

   "Prove it," Keith demanded. "How do I know this isn't all in my head?"

Ember furrowed her eyebrows, nodding slowly before putting the cup on his bedside. "Give me your hand."

Reluctantly, Keith placed his hand in Ember's, the girl staring Keith in the eye as she brought his hand down to her inner wrist on the other arm. 

Rough lines going in different directions made Keith look down in surprise, not expecting Ember's soft skin to have any blemishes. Sure enough, long jagged lines criss-crossed on her arms, going horizontal and the most recent ones vertical.  

   "What. . ." Keith trailed off, looking back up at Ember. A small smile crossed her face.

   "If this wasn't real, you wouldn't be able to feel texture, much less these scars. Kolivan said your mind projected images into your mind, which meant that you knew everything about what you saw. But you didn't know about these scars, making you project a clean arm." Ember tried to explain. "It's all about what you mind precedes as real or not. Another way to check if you're in a dream or not, is to look at your palms. The lines on your palm are too complex for your mind to copy."

   "T-That. . .Doesn't make any sense." Keith admitted, his fingers gently running over her scarred wrist. "How, what. . ."

   "Another time," Ember promised, pulling her arms away before placing a cup in his hands. "Tulsi and honey, it'll give you energy. We have to get back to castle. I've already taken care of these two." 

*▬ translation ▬*

"C'était pour quoi?!"

v

"What was that for?!"