Keith and kosmo teleported to another room underground when everyone was frozen by the device where the Druid left them. He looked around wide eyes but hid hearing footsteps coming towards them.

A blade scrapped across the stone ground behind macidus as Keith hid under the wooden bridge with his wolf, he waited hearing the Druid walk above him, there was a sound in the corner.

Macidus didn't waste time to attack the cargo with black lightning that he thought someone was hiding behind, little creature pests skidding around from the cargo. He growled a little seeing no one was there but continued to walk to the other door.

As soon as he was out sight Keith gulped a little and went to go back to the others.

Suddenly a sword went through the wooden bridge only inches from his face, Keith let out a scream backing away as macidus was now above them.

His hand charged with lightning but Keith hugged kosmo to teleport immediately from the bridge and behind him, running the opposite direction to escape.

But macidus cut them off as he teleported to the entrance with his blade ready, Keith glared taking his bayard in hand again. He went to run the other direction but the Druid was fast and already behind him making Keith gasp and swipe his blade at the druids mask, slicing it in half.

The mask fell and broke when it hit the ground. Only revealing macidus's true face, as he laughed menacingly before teleporting away.

"There is no escape but death," macidus chuckled as Keith frantically looked around to see how close he was.

He came from the side as Keith ducked and rolled to the side as kosmo teleported out of the way for Keith to fight against the Druid. He moved side to side avoiding the blade that was close to hitting him. Losing his bayard he grabbed his Marmora blade and blocked the druids.

Kosmo growled jumping at the Druid to help Keith but macidus vanished before the wolf got him. Keith panted looking around but tried to run again.

—

Allura focused her energy on trying to bring the devices effect to an end, using whatever power she had to use her magic, slowly but surly she was progressing to the power on herself to free the others. Hearing the noises below she knew Keith needed help against the Druid.

—

Keith panted to a stop as a tunnel he ran to suddenly had two ways to go, he used the moment to catch his breath and try to figure out where to go. He heard macidus teleport behind them and he glanced over seeing the Druid was still out for his blood.

He ran not caring where the tunnel took him, using kosmo to teleport ahead as the Druid was close on them with laughter echoing the air like it was a game.

Keith focused on running ahead but kosmo saw the Druid above with his sword coming down on them, using a moment to teleport them farther in the cavern and away from the sharp blade.

Keith looked alarmed seeing it was a completely different part of the caverns, a new light and no one around them. He looked behind where the light was coming from and gasped shocked seeing his marmoran leader tied back to the ceiling, a rope holding each limb.

"Kolivan," Keith breathed wide eyes. He was alive...

The sound of the galra breathing told him he was in pain, it was ragged and shaky, slow as well.

"I'll get you out of here," Keith gripped the blade tightly in his hand walking towards him.  But the familiar laughter of a cruel Druid stopped him.

Macidus appeared in front of them, between him and the galra.

"Our high priestess Hagar has forsaken us because of your treachery, but after I kill you and the other Paladins, Hagar will allow me to return," macidus smiled like he's lost his mind, he stared at keith like a prize.

Keith put a hand on his wolf ready to kill the Druid.

It was back and forth between teleporting and blades colliding, Keith avoiding the raging swings of the blade and blocking them with kosmo teleporting for his advantage but there was no hesitation from macidus, no time to take a moment to think. Only to rely on instincts and whatever skills that could save him from the Druid.

—

Allura grunted as she was able to pull the magic into her own body as the glow surrounded her and knocked her to her knees, the pressure of the magic was overwhelming and felt like a building fell on top of her.

"Allura are you okay?" Pidge got up as soon as the Paladins were free.

"Pidge lock onto keiths location!" Allura breathed heavily trying to control the magic.

"Hes directly below us," Pidge pulled up a map on her device to show each Paladins location.

"Stand back!" She looked at them clenching her fists.

Allura inhaled deeply getting to her feet as she turned to the center of the room, using all the magic she soaked up and slammed her fist into the ground making it crack and break under them to get to Keith faster.

Keith grunted when he was hit with lightning as he fell back and kosmo was elbows back by macidus but they all looked when the ceiling caved in and the Paladins appeared from above with their weapons.

"How?" The Druid snarled with wide eyes. Lance didn't miss a second before firing his blaster straight at macidus.

"I'm going to enjoy making Kolivan watch your end," he teleported to the side with a glare but used his power again to teleport behind the Paladins with hunk blasting his own weapon but the Druid was to fast for his blasts or lances to hit him.

Hunk was blasted by lightning as he slammed into the wall and the Druid grabbed lances neck and slammed him into the ground as Lance cried out feeling the grip tighten around his neck, gasping for a breath. Axca snarled about to grab macidus to get off her friend but the Druid teleported out of her reach and threw her against the wall.

He went after each Paladin with his lightning and knocking them away with strong kicks as Keith was still getting to his feet.

Keith grunted holding his ribs that felt bruised already as he held his sword tightly. Keith looked around seeing each Paladin was down, he inhaled deeply feeling his heart race. He had to take him out before he actually killed one of them or more.

As soon as Keith locked onto the Druid he was gone. He looked around quickly but the Druid was no where to be found. Keith closed his eyes focusing on listening for the man as he could hear the laughter getting closer and closer and closer-

Keith threw his sword straight ahead with a yell and gasped when it impaled a body.

Macidus stood there shocked with the sword through his chest. Lightning erupted from the wound and a moment later the lightning took him out in a flash with black dust falling to the ground and a painful scream echoing the cavern.

As well as the blade.

Everyone panted from the adrenaline rush as they slowly got back to their feet.

"Good job Keith," Lance laid on the ground with a thumbs up.

"Yea, I thought this was going to end with my face melted off," hunk held his head in pain.

Axca helped Pidge off the ground as she looked at Kolivan with a small gulp. She pursed her lips and went to go help Keith take him down from his bindings.

—

"Hes in pretty bad shape but it looks like he's going to be okay," Pidge scanned Kolivans body as Keith and krolia were knelt down to the galra who leaned against the wall holding his torso in pain.

"I... I'm sorry my code lured you here," Kolivan looked at them shameful.

"There was nothing you could do, that's not your fault," Keith told him gently.

"The coordinates I gave you, the altean colony, did you find it?" He asked and the alteans perked up a little.

"I sent a team, there was nothing there, just an empty facility, they were all gone," Kolivan grunted and Lance pursed his lips looking at Axca. They knew of the alteans but didn't know what happened to them...

"Looking at the blades macidus has, he may have delivered a critical blow to the marmora, but he didnt defeat us," krolia looked behind her at the swords in the wall. Her fallen soldiers.

"I must find the others," Kolivan sighed. "The universe needs us now more than ever,"

"I will join you," krolia told him after a moment of silence. Hesitating to leave her son again.

"We will revive the blades together, we'll just need to find a ship," she nodded confidently not looking at her son who was surprised.

"The Druid has a cruiser stored not far from here, we can use it to reunite the blades," Kolivan agreed.

"Axca.." krolia looked back at the other galra.

"Will you join us? We could use a soldier like you, and your experience," she smiled gently.

"What?" Axca whispered.

"Do it," Lance told her keeping his eyes ahead.

"It'll save you from whatever shame being a general has marked you with, you would fit in perfectly with them," he smiled back at her. Axca was shocked hearing lances words but she agreed.

"Okay, I will," she gulped as Lance grabbed her hand in comfort.

"This is our first bit of luck in a long time," krolia smiled relieved.

Kolivans eyes struggled to stay open. Krolia told him to rest as everyone discussed the next move now as the galra rested for a few minutes.

"Keith, I-I'm sorry I have to say goodbye to you for a second time," krolia walked over to her son as they left Kolivan alone for a little.

"It's not goodbye, take this, you can return it when we see each other again," Keith told her as he held the blade they shared out for his mother to take.

Krolia gently hugged her child as Keith embraced her back, he's never felt a mother's love before, he felt lucky to have a parent again, that his mother still wanted him after eighteen years of wondering where the other would be. They were the only family they had in the universe.

"I love you Keith," krolia whispered to him as her hand gently stroked his hair.

"I love you too mom," he closed his eyes. "Thanks for everything you taught me,"

"Keith, it's time to get going," Shiro sighed sadly seeing the two.

"You going to be okay?" Lance looked at Axca with his arms crossed.

"You're right, this is a good start for me, if the blades will have me I'm honored to help," Axca nodded softly.

Lance pursed his lips inhaled a deep breath, he was started when he heard her laugh a little.

"You really haven't changed to much Lance, I know you like to look out for others.." Axca smiled at him and lances heart sunk, he's been told this one to many times, that he's replacing someone once again...

"Trust your gut, and take care of yourself for once," she looked at him gently as Lance was surprised by how much she cared.

"I'll try," he gulped.