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Episode 5; The Ruins
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[ Luna's POV ]
Fortunately, After what happened to Keith and I yesterday, we were somehow closer than we were before.
Though this time, I couldn't help but see that he's more cautious this time around me, and that sets me a bit on the edge.
But remembering that we have bigger matters to deal with right now, lets my mind drift off from that very specific topic.
The fact that I haven't seen Kolivan at all after these past three years without any contact at all, especially with the Blade of Marmora specifically, I had the role to protect them but I wasn't by their side when they needed me...
What could've happened to them..?
" Princess? " A voice wrung me out of my countless thoughts, making me look up to the person that had called my attention.
It was Keith's Mother, Krolia, wearing worried expression plastered on her features as she looked down on me as I sat on my bed behind the cockpit of the Black Lion from a sleepless lay.
" Huh? " I responded as I raised my head, knocking myself out of my trance.
" Are you alright? You look... troubled.." She asked as she made her way to sit next to me by my bed.
A bead of sweat ran down by cheek as I recognized her concern as a parent of.. well... Keith. My partner... before..
For short, yeah, it was awkward. For me at least.
" Ah.. Yes, I am, Krolia.. I'm sorry I was just.. Well.. Thinking.. " I answered as I set my head down to my arms laid on top of my legs after setting it in front of my chest.
" Sounds like you need someone to talk to.. " The female soldier smiled lightly and went to my side, sitting beside me with an ear ready to lend.
" Go on. I'm listening... " She said, gesturing for me to talk.
I sighed inwardly before opening my mouth to finally speak.
" It's nothing, Krolia. I'm just really.. I just feel like my mind is everywhere.. After all that's happened in my life, I've been fine with that..
But.. Losing my sister, my best friend.. and.. the love of life.. After losing them, That was when I finally believed that my life turned into.. a huge mess.. " I sighed in exhaustion, and slightly blushing at mid-sentence due to the fact that I just called her son: "The love of my life" which is deliberately strange of me to say. Which she slightly smirked at.
But, almost immediately, her eyes softened as she gazed to me as she slowly understood my words, processing it in her mind that I was somehow feeling lost.
" Luna, I know what it's like to feel that way, trust me, I truly do. But if you want to find yourself again, You're gonna have to move on and follow what your heart yearns for you to do for yourself. It'll work easier and ease that pain in your chest. Trust me, dear. " She smiled as she patted my back before standing after seeing my thankful smile.
I guess she has a point..
So before I can start another drama, I stood from my seat and finally went to the cockpit along with Krolia to see what was our current situation.
" Wait, I know that signal... " Krolia halted them as she recognised the beeps we have hearing ever since we entered the cockpit as they talk about Pidge's transmission to Earth.
Then my eyes widen at recognition as soon as I heard the whole signal.
" That's traditional distress signal of the senior members of the Blade of Marmora..! " I exclaimed, making my presence known to the Mother and Son in front of me before I sprinted to the front.
" Where is this coming from? " Krolia asked Pidge, finally hearing what I was hearing beforehand.
" From a planet at the Fier system.. That's not really far from here.. Should we sidetrack? " The brunette asked with a questioning voice, unsure of her own question.
My eyes glared in the air with determination on finding out who can be sending this signal, this might be Kolivan for Alfor's sake..!
Which means we can't let this slip like nothing.. even it's Kolivan or not, If it's a member of the Blade of Marmora, it's already a big of a reason to go in without hesitation.
" We should check who it is, whoever it is, they need help. We'll go back in track later.. " Keith decided as I notice him take a wary glance at me.
" Roger. " I heard the others reply as we made our way to the planet.
" I'll go and get ready. Call me if we're there.. " Krolia nodded to her son before making her to the back of the lion, leaving me and Keith alone in the cockpit with the sleeping Cosmo in the corner.
But I couldn't careless about the awkwardness especially if Kolivan was the one troubling my mind.
As I felt my forehead scrunch up from the pressure that was growing inside me, I finally heard Keith's voice call me out of my internal dilemma.
" Luna? Hey.. Is there something wrong? " He asked mellowly, like when we just met back at Thaldycon.
I felt my forehead scrunched more at the very large distance he has been giving me after our talk.
" It's nothing... I'm just worried is all..." I sighed before I made my way to Cosmo's side of the corner. Petting him as he laid his head on my lap.
I heard Keith heave a sigh and made his way to my side.
' Okay, Black. Pilot on my place for a few ticks.. '
As he sat, I didn't spare a glance to his side and simply focused on petting Cosmo.
" Come on, Talk to me. " He spoke with a gentle voice as he scooted closer.
I hesitated for moment before slowly deciding to talk to him, and at that moment, he gladly smiled slightly before I started talking.
" It's just about Kolivan.. I'm worried that I might've left him and the Blade of Marmora in open... I don't think I'll ever forgive myself if something had happened to them.. I can't, Keith.. " I slowly explained, almost having trouble to keep my voice from cracking in fear.
Keith's eyes widened at shock for some reason but it immediately softened as he came to an understanding why I was feeling this way.
" It's okay, Luna. If it's truly Kolivan, then we're not gonna let him go easily.." He spoke with a soft voice, but after that, his words made me look up to his eyes, my eyes displaying worry.
" Sure? " I asked silently.
" I promise... " He answered with a gentle smile, placing his hand over mine.
I slightly flinch at the contact.
But I decided to ignore it and smile at him with appreciation.
" Thanks, Keith. " I smiled shyly as he smiled back to me.
" Now, C'mon. We got a Marmorian to rescue... " He said as he stood from his seat. Offering me a hand to help me stand from the floor.
" Roger. " I beamed confidently.
Not noticing Krolia from behind the cockpit, watching everything with a glad smile on her lips.
' Finally... '
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After this certain Macidus spoke about what happened to the Blade of Marmora in this place, I couldn't help but feel weak-kneed and faithless.
Knowing that information makes me feel like I just went back to nothing like what happened to me before back when I was just a child.
As I felt a wave of Nausea hit as they continue to conversate, I stepped back slowly, not deciding to face the end of the story.
But as I did for a few seconds, I met the end of the room, but it wasn't a wall of stone like I expected,
It was a cloth with a small space inside it, with the utter curiosity in me and the bad feeling in my gut, again...
I lifted the sheet away from my way and saw the most horrific sight I had just seen after my own Mother's death.
It was a rampage of blades, the ceremonial blade of the members of the Blade of Marmora...
Just by looking at this makes me even more sick knowing the meaning of their blades hung in that stone wall.
" What's the meaning of this??! " I shouted at the top of my lungs, facing Macidus with utter fierce.
" Those are the blades of the Warriors that stood alongside us during the battle... I hung them there to honor their courage and sacrifice.. " He answers with a quiet voice, though still hearable
As my eyes started to water from the gathering tears, I slowly walked inside once more to take the most familiar blade to my hands.
Kolivan's Blade.
A few tears dropped to the blade as I gripped it tighter around my hand, drowning myself with guilt and melancholy.
But as I held back my whimpers, I felt a hand on my shoulder, followed by a comforting grip on them.
I simply closed my eyes forcefully to let the tears fall from the revelation that I had found out about the group that had taken me in as a child.
And as soon as I opened them to wipe off the tears that was gathering even more, I saw a glimmer of purple on the blade that I was holding.
Could that mean--?!
" Wait... Did it... " Krolia's voice trailed off in shock.
" It shimmered..! I saw it..! " My eyes widened with utter shock before relief flooded my expression.
" He's still alive...! Kolivan's still alive..!" I let out with a glad smile, looking up to see Keith smiling the same way as I am.
But both of them faded once we heard a dark and mischievous chuckle behind us...
From Macidus himself.
Then that was the moment a glare grew through my eyes and pierced through him.
" You... " I growled with hatred in my voice.
He chuckled darkly as he stood from his seat, making the others stiff out to their fighting stances.
" Kolivan's distress signal has been truly helpful, really. Because of that I have you all here.. But I guess he still has a fight inside him after all. It seems that he still wants to see you after all... Princess. " He grinned devilishly as his dark eyes peered to mine.
My teeth gritted as I gripped unto Kolivan's dagger. Preparing to charge at him and dig it to his skull.
But before I can, he dropped a sinister cube before warping away from us, and at one split second, it let out a shriek with a minor explosion.
I closed my eyes and waited for the impact, but when I opened my eyes, it was questionably dark, other than that, I can also hear and feel someone breathe.
I look up, only to see Keith embracing me as if he intended to shield me from earlier's explosion with all he had, with Cosmo around us as if to protect us.
Wait... The Explosion..!
" K-Keith..! Wait, Are you alright? " I asked out in a worried whisper.
His head lifted to only see my eyes looking straight at his, then when he realized we weren't with the others, he somehow sighed for some reason.
" Yeah, I'm alright.. How about you? " He replied as he let go of the embrace but held both my shoulders instead.
" I'm fine.. But.. Where are we..? " I wondered as I looked around to see an endless tunnel once more.
But once I heard a warp shot up a few distances away from Keith and I, my adrenaline kicked in and held his hand and manipulated some photons to make us appear invisible along with Cosmo on tow.
Both of us made our way to hide under the planks of wood to somehow hide and not overuse my abilities.
Keith never let go of my hand, and even gripped unto them as Macidus crossed the planks and made his way to the other side of the cave.
When he was already out of earshot, Keith whispered to my ear.
" We're gonna go after him. Still remember our drill? " He asked silently with a small smirk.
" Yeah, I know the drill. " I wore a sly smile as I eyes him back.
I gripped unto Kolivan's dagger, intending to use them as well, and grabbed mine from my small sheathe behind me.
But before we can make our move, the planks above us blasted into splinters, making us forcibly engage to combat.
Keith tagged along with Cosmo to be able to maneuver fast, while I ran to Macidus first with both blades on my hands.
I tried with full force to slash through him, but he warped away from me just in time with a sinister chuckle that made my blood boil.
" You cannot land a hit on me, Princess. That's the farthest you will get to me before I can evade. You are no match for me.. " He spoke darkly, I can almost feel his grimly grin.
I clicked my tongue in annoyance. But luckily as I gathered my strength, my eyes lighted up with it's turquoise glow as I intended to play his way, manipulating uncountable photons to teleport me as we battled.
" Two can play that game.. " I growled as I was teleported in front of him, I let out a slash and was only enable to put a small gash on his stomach.
Then as he prepared to launch a beam to me, I teleported away from him with haste tailing me.
As I got away from Macidus, it was Keith's turn to attack along with Cosmo to help him maneuver faster than moving.
But when he is almost hit by Macidus' fist powered by his magic, I teleported immediately to its point of impact and planned to block it with a barrier, but I wasn't able to do so in time and was hit sideways, making me fly back to a stone wall of the cave, causing a mild rumble.
My head spinned horribly as I felt the cold stones, my back aching badly as I felt my breathe taken away from my lungs, I let out a pained groan as I landed back on the ground from the wall.
" Luna..! " I heard Keith shout out and groan right after, hearing multiple swipes of his blade,
I raised my head slowly, bearing with the pain that I was currently feeling from my back.
But what I saw took my mind into a paradox on whether to be glad that we just found Kolivan, or be worried due to the fact if he's gonna make it in his current state.
Due to seeing him, I clenched my hand into a fist and forcibly stood up, not giving any attention to any pain as I grabbed both fallen blades from the ground.
Once I saw and felt the energy surge from Allura and saw her pierce through the stone ceiling with an absorbed energy from Alfor knows where.
With this, I used all photons around me with pure concentration and manipulated it to be able to teleport near the startled Macidus.
Then swinging my blade across his body with a satisfying sound of the blade's swoosh.
Once Macidus disappeared with the purple light, I met Keith's eyes with a familiar glint of relief on them.
After a few seconds, my mind immediately went to Kolivan and automatically made my feet run to him and let him down from the chains.
Keith willingly helped me get him down and set him laid to a stone wall for more support.
" Kolivan..! Kolivan..! Can you hear me? " I called out for him with a slightly loud voice, my worry washing over me the longer he stays non-responsive.
Hovering my hands over his body and let out a sapphire glow as I healed his body to somehow help him regain at least his consciousness.
A minute lasted as the others made their way beside me as well, especially Krolia since she was a blade as well.
" Kolivan, answer me please... " My voice suddenly became desperate as I waited for at least a little reply.
I closed my eyes in desperation.
Not until I heard a groan from in front of me, I opened my eyes only to see his eyes slowly opening and his body struggling to move.
" You really thought.... that... I'd go down.. easily like.. that? " His voice came out shaky and struggled, though a small threat remains inside of them.
" Then here I.. am thinking that-- *cough* I raised you... pretty well... " He coughed as he spoke with a hard-pulled smirk. His eyes peaking to me as he struggled to move or talk.
I chuckled shakily and tackled him with a tight embrace. Knowing that it might crush him.
" You scared me... " I lightly sobbed on his shoulder, gripping tightly on his shoulders.
He reciprocated my embrace with all his strength, looking as if he was worried for me as I am worried for him.
" I thought I lost you already... Good thing I'm wrong... " His voice came out soft but strained, I smiled at it since we had become closer as a family despite on not having any connection by blood.
" We're glad you're back, Kolivan. " Krolia stepped in with a sympathetic pat in his back.
I smiled as I finally found a reason to do so.
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" What? What do you mean? " Keith asked as he stood with his mouth agape from what his Mother had said to him.
" If Kolivan is gonna be finding the other Blades who had been in hiding from Haggar, Then I can't let him go alone. " She said as she laid her arms to her son's shoulders.
" But-- " Keith sighed in defeat.
" I know we just got together again, I don't want to leave you again but.. I have to do this... We'll see each other again, don't we? " She asked in a motherly tone, her eyes hopeful for her son's agreement.
" Yeah... I guess so... " Keith answered sheepishly, avoiding eyes contact.
" Just promise me you'll be careful.. After all, I'm not leaving you alone this time around... " Krolia commented as a small smile flew into her lips, glancing to the Neogetion female who has been saying her goodbye to her Father figure.
Keith's cheeks glowed slightly pink as he finally got what his Mother meant.
Krolia chuckled, entertained by her son's reaction, then taking this chance to embrace him on her arms like she always wanted.
" You're doing great son... I'm proud of you.." She said softly on his hair as she rubbed the back of her beloved son.
Keith's eyes slowly waters as he heard his Mother's words, happy that he actually heard those words that he never expected to hear after all the time he thought that her Mother was dead.
" I love you, Mom... "
" I love you too, Keith... "
The two parted from each other's arms with smiles on their faces before looking towards Kolivan and Luna who was walking toward them.
" Are we ready? " Kolivan nodded towards Krolia while having a small smile from his daughter-like talk.
" All set. " Krolia replied with a stiff nod, smiling to his son as he nodded as well.
Before they got on a pod that was somehow found functional, Krolia gave Keith one final hug before stepping in.
" Take care, Keith... " She smiled at him.
" I will, Mom. I will. " He reciprocated the smile, even when his Mother finally got on the pod, but that was when Kolivan passed by him.
His body stiffened as he thought that Kolivan might have a small grudge on him because of how Luna and him left each other on bad terms.
" Keith.... " He spoke in a warning voice, giving Keith a reassurance to the idea.
' I think I might die here... '
" Y-Yeah? " He replied, reluctantly meeting Kolivan in the eyes.
Kolivan sighed before deciding to speak.
" Look after Luna, alright? Despite what happened to both of you... I know I can still trust you for her safety.. " The commander stated with utter trust, nodding Keith's way.
Keith nodded as well with a saluting smile,
" Roger that... " He gladly said, before Kolivan stepped into the pod as well, starting its engine.
During that time, Luna made her way beside Keith, looking up to the pod's window.
She sent a smile towards Kolivan which he gladly reciprocates before the pod launched into deep space.
Both of the raven haired teens sighed in exhaustion at the same time, making them smile slightly at each other.
" I guess it's up to us then... I can't believe Kolivan didn't even thought of taking me with him on the mission.. " Luna huffed in slight annoyance, but she can never be annoyed for long.
" Tell me about it, me neither... " Keith huffed as well as the same thought grazed his mind.
Both were silent as they stood with each other's company, but they can't deny that they didn't dislike each other's presence.
" If you two cry right now, I swear, I'm gonna make sure your parents will know about it... " Lance perked in a joking manner, but clearly, he was trying to annoy them in some way.
Both teens grew furious at this.
" Wanna kill 'im? "
" Not if I kill him first..! "
" Hey..! You guys..! I was joking!! Hey!! No!!! "
=END=