His Beautiful Nightmare 》Voltron [Voltron WA 2017]

Chapter 68

Azalea found Keith, and collapsed beside him.

Tears streamed down her face from the pain of the gaping hole in her chest.

She weakly reached over and grabbed his pinky finger. She could hear his shallow breathing.

"It's okay Boots", she cried quietly, "We're going to make it."

Starlin stumbled through the doorway, looking entirely disheveled.
She ran over and kneeled beside them.

Starlin sharply inhaled at the sight of their wounds.

"I don't think my gifts can heal this ", she said quietly.

Azalea shook her head.

"The Castle of Lions...", she said faintly, "Take him to the healing pod."

"I can't drag you both!", Starlin exclaimed.

Azalea looked at her warily.

I'm not going.

Starlin gasped.
"No! You can't!"

"Someone needs to destroy the armada before it does any harm to anybody else. Only I can do that."

"But you might not make it!"

Azalea looked at the ceiling, gritting her teeth in pain.
"Who cares", she finally said, "The only way I will die is by my own hands. This is it."

Starlin brushed a strand of grey hair out of Azalea's face.
"Are you brave enough, dear sister?"

Azalea snuck a look at Keith.

For him...

I would do anything.

Starlin, the stone-cold daughter of Zarkon, started sobbing.

"I'm sorry I ever helped him!", she cried, "This is my fault!"

Azalea smiled through her pain.
"No it's not. He killed your little brother. Our little brother."

"I lived a decent life", Azalea whispered, "I had a family. I had friends."

She gripped Keith's finger tighter.

"I fell in love..."

She weakly reached up and held Starlin's shoulder.

"It's your turn to be happy, little Star."

Starlin smiled faintly and held her sister's hand.

"You meant more to me than I thought you ever would", she cried quietly, "Is there anything I can do to repay you?"

Azalea nodded.
"Get him to the healing pod. And... Can you leave some of your fire behind?"

Starlin nodded and placed a handful of blue flame in Azalea's weak palms.

"Go. Quickly", Azalea instructed, "Get him and the others as far away as possible."

Starlin nodded and picked Keith up. Azalea unwillingly let go of his finger, letting her own slump back down to the floor.

Starlin looked at her again.
"What if you survive?", she asked.

"You'll know if I did", Azalea promised, "Now go."

Starlin nodded and took off through the hole in the wall as fast as she could, carrying the Red Paladin in her arms.

Azalea was left alone.

In the cold room.

She focused on the fire as much as she could and did the same thing Ferin did to her.

She spoke through the paladin's minds.

Hunk...
Stay strong for me buddy.

Pidge...
Find your family. I know you can.

Shiro...
Keep them all safe.

Allura...
Thank you for treating me so kindly.

Coran...
Don't stop being yourself space uncle.

Azalea felt herself slipping away, but she still had a mission.

She tossed herself into Keith's mind.

Boots...