Chapter ten: Haggar's True Identity Unveiled

Shiro sighed as after repeatedly descending the tree's branches, day after day, Shiro started to memorize and learn how to avoid most of the traps based on instinct alone.

the constant running and jumping helps to build up his strength faster, with the two being more proficient at using his sense better than before.

With Shiro's eyesight being more redefined and sharper and his muscles feeling stronger than before.

However, as Shiro gets stronger, the traps keep on getting more and more difficult.

Ending each day, Shiro sits next to the window, Looking out to the sunset.

"Shiro?"

"Yeah, Romelle?" asked Shiro as he glanced back at her.

"So How's the training!" Romelle said, trying not to be awkward.

"Oh I'm doing OK, I mean the traps are getting harder every day!" Shiro answered as she looked in the window.

"...Shiro?" Romelle asked with a hint of concern in her voice, causing Shiro to look back at her. "Are you sure you wanna continue Training? Wouldn't you rather go back to Aurs where Keith is?"

Shiro's eyes cast down to the floor.

"Did I say something wrong?" Romelle asked.

"No, It's...it's complicated, Romelle," Shiro answered.

"Are you sure?" Romelle inquired. "Are you sure you don't wanna talk to me about it? Because I am here if you need to talk to me."

"...No, Romelle, I'm fine," Shiro replied. "Really."

"If you say so," Romelle answered.

"Well in the meantime, I have to carry my sword down the tree!" Shiro said. With that, he soon headed out of his room and head back to the top of the tree...but as he did, he glanced over the Distance inside the tree as he felt a strange feeling all over his body. At first, he attempted to just walk on by...but then he sighed as he soon found himself walking toward it, instead.

"I can't help it...It feels so strange!" he thought.

Once there, he opened a door, leading to an unknown Room where it felt so similar to the one place that forgotten, The well house in Shiro's old home on earth, upon arriving at the room, Shiro walked up to a well and surprisingly it was the same one that Shiro fell into.

"What is this!... Why this here!" Shiro said. " What am I doing I should be focusing on something else, like training?" he then sighed before he left the room.

Pidge and Hunk panted as they ran from the monster. They had already gotten far away from Arus and had managed to make it to the clearing where the Well was. As soon as he broke through the trees, Pidge whipped out a few leaves from her vest.

"Multiply!!" she shouted as she threw the leaves into the air, causing multiple clones of Pidge and Hunk to appear, confusing the beast as they all dispersed. The beast blasted its lasers at the clones, but one-by-one, it all vanished. Soon, the beast looked around for the real Hunk and Pidge, but what it didn't seem to realize was that the two were hiding Among on the shadow, taking the crystal fragment with them.

"Happy hunting!" Pidge called...but she accidentally ended up crashing into a tree branch, causing both her and Hunk to fall unconscious on the ground, before dropping the Crystal fragment in the process...and as it hit right next to the well, it gave off a powerful glow.

Shiro gasped silently as he glanced back, just as he was about to descend the branches to the bottom of the tree.

"What in the world?" he thought. "I could've sworn that I sensed the quintessence crystal...no, that's impossible. It's probably nothing." then he returns to go back to training, where he was asked to carry his sword as he ran down the mountain together, dodging the traps with a sword in hand.

What he realized was that with the addition of the sword, his movements were hampered significantly as he had to be aware of the sword's size and how to properly hold it when running down the tree avoided the traps.

With the addition of the sword's, Shiro finds himself getting ensnared by traps he would've previously avoided a lot more frequently, as Shiro currently dangled from a foot trap under a branch, unable to move, who would think with proper simulation would be harder.

"...Why can't I shake this feeling that there's something wrong back there?" Shiro thought as struggling to get free.

"Magical daemon art! iron reaver!"

Keith rent the daemon hornets to shreds with his dagger, but even then, he strained to keep himself from collapsing. Lance and Coran weren't faring much better, the former blasting the insects away with his gun while trying to protect the latter from harm. What didn't help was that the beast kept firing out more lasers from his insides whenever it wants.

The gigantic beast swatted at Keith, who kept leaping away to avoid its Lasers, but he grunted in pain as he clutched at his wound. However, he had momentarily dropped his guard, allowing the beast to smack him away.

"Keith!!" cried Coran.

"He's struggling more than usual, now!" Lance added.

"Yes, his wounds do hinder him," Coran agreed, "but the true problem lies with Shiro. Without his abilities, Keith is unable to use his full potential and stave off the monster!"

Keith growled as he glared up at the beast, who was viciously and advanced on him, like a bear finishing up his prey.

"Keith!" Coran called. "that thing is drawing power from a quintessence crystal shard! I can sense it!"

"You can?!" Keith asked.

"You have to strike the spot where the Crystal shard is!" Coran instructed. "It's the only way to stop it!"

"We need Shiro's help!" Lance added. "hes actually strong enough to defeat this thing!"

"No!" Keith shouted. "Forget Shiro! Don't you get it?! he's gone for good!! Deal with it!!"

"But Keith-" Lance said.

"I said forget about him!" Keith interjected. "I...I mean, We cannot involve Shiro in these dangerous battles!"

"...While I understand why he's doing this," Lance whispered, "it's still Ridiculous...!"

the beast continues to blast its lasers from its chest, which caused Keith to growl as he lunged back at it with his dagger outstretched.

Meanwhile, back in the tree, After descended the tree, Shiro would swing his sword over and over again until his sword nearly falls off.

"998! 999! 1000!!" Shiro yells out, as he swings his sword in rhythm for the final time.

"Now do 500 more!" Sokka's voice sounds out from behind, causing Shiro to freeze and wallow in his misfortune.

Once night arrived, as usual, Shiro managed to keep his mind off of things, as well as practice how to summon magic in a pattern, while Romelle continued to study. When Shiro asked what Romelle was doing, Romelle responded with, "...writing!"

"Ok... So you did figure that out!" Shiro asked.

This caused a small vein to bulge on Romelle's head, annoying and frustrating at the stupid simple answer, twitching.

"No, not yet!" Romelle answered. "I mean I still haven't figure out all the answers"

"Well, I'm sure you'll Figure it out!" Shiro told her. But with Romelle, it almost seems impossible. So it was best for Shiro to not ask any more questions.

But still, Shiro could have sworn that he sensed a shard of the quintessence crystal...he realizes that should be focusing on training...but he can't help feeling worried. Why hasn't Keith come to visit him, yet?

"Uh...Shiro?"

"Huh?" Shiro muttered as he looked at Romelle, who stared at him in concern.

"Is everything all right?" she asked. "You've just been staring off into space."

"Oh," Shiro exclaimed. "Sorry!"

"Come on, Shiro, snap out of it. You're supposed to be having to Focus on training ...Even though it feels like hell." he then heaved a quiet sigh.

"...I wonder...if Keith will join me, what type of training he does with me would be like...? ...Wait a minute, where did THAT come from?!"

"...Shiro," Romelle said, getting his attention. "I...I can't help but feeling like you don't want to be here."

"Uh..." Shiro muttered.

Romelle pulled her book from the desk and put it in her shoulder bag and when next to Shiro.

"After all, we are only staying here until...Keith gets back on his feet, aren't we?" asked Romelle.

"Well that does it!" said Shiro "Come to think of it...Keith did look sick, right before he pushed me down the Skiff...what if...what if he hasn't fully recovered from his injuries, yet? What if he's still hurt...or even worse?!"

he then gasped in silent horror.

"What if he's...dead?! Oh, no...that's probably it! That's why he hasn't come to see me, yet!" he said

"Shiro?" Romelle asked. "I'm sure there is a reason, right?!"

"...No," Shiro answered. "No! There is no reason that not all right! Romelle, we gotta go home! Now!!"

Romelle gasped silently, but then she put on a serious expression and nodded her head.

"I understand," she said. "we go home, right away! After I'll get the skiff ready!"

"Thank you, Romelle," Shiro replied, "Ok, I hope that Sokka will understand!"

"I'm sure he will!" Romelle assured.

"Yeah...maybe," Shiro replied. "Thanks, again."

Soon, Romelle got the skiff ready to go for the trip to Aurs. While Shiro felt very guilty for leaving his training right now with Sokka but Keith is his top priority right now.

Subsequently, before he parted with the tree, he suddenly he felt the energy of the quintessence crystal, he quickly raced to the same place, the house where the well stood, and soon he opened the door, he looked around, panting feverishly.

"I don't see it, but I can sense it", he said to himself. "Where is it? Where?!"

"Shiro, what is it!" Romelle said as she swung open the door. "What are you doing here!"

"I don't know I felt something here!" Shiro said.

"Like, what!" Romelle said, she then turned to the well where it was catching her attention.

She pulled her book from her shoulder bag and started to look at it even further information about what she was researching about and realize what she's been missing.

On the other side of the world, Pidge and Hunk groaned as they began to regain consciousness...but as they looked up, they gasped as they saw that the beast, staring back at them, Repairing for the kill.

"Uh-oh!" Pidge cried as she and Hunk backed away.

"They found us!! Someone, help us!!" Hunk said as he then covered his head and screwed his eyes shut.

Just then...there was a flash of light, and Hunk and Pidge gasped as they opened their eyes...and they almost couldn't believe what they were seeing: it was Romelle, Shiro, and Stats, sitting beside them with the latter on his knees while holding the quintessence crystal fragment!

"S...Shiro...R...Romelle?" Pidge asked. "Is...is that you guys?!"

"...Pidge?...Hunk?..." Shiro asked as he noticed them.

"Shiro!" Hunk cried as he got him to a quick hug, sobbing tears of joy. "You're Back!! I Missed You!!!"

"Aww, Hunk!" Shiro cooed as she hugged him. "I missed you, too!"

"Excuse me, how did we get here!" Romelle questions.

"I don't know!" Shiro answered.

However, Before He could figuring out more the reunion was interrupted by the shadow of Something sinister, causing the group to look up and see the beast, flashing its Lasers, causing the group to yelp in fright.

Back with Keith, Lance, and Coran, the trio found themselves still surrounded by the Galra Robots...when all of a sudden, Keith's body trembled, causing him to gasp before he turned around.

"It can't be...!" he whispered. "Shiro?!"

"What?" Lance asked. "Shiro?!"

"Are you certain, Keith?!" Coran inquired.

"I'm positive!" Keith answered as he darted off in the direction of the Well. "That's Shiro's Energy! I'd know it, anywhere!!"

"Stop him!" Adam's voice coming from the robots, Under his command, the robots attempted to shot down the half-daemon, who leaped up into the air.

"Ah, Shut up!!" he shouted as he kicked every robot in the jaw, knocking them down to one knee. "I'm putting an end to this!!" Soon, he drew his dagger from its scabbard and slashed every robot across the chest.

"Incredible...!" Lance whispered. "Keith's strength has returned!"

Suddenly, Keith dashed off, quicker than lightning, heading toward the forest!

"W-wait!" Lance cried. "Finish them off before you go to him!!"

"Grr...Damm it" Adam roared as he witnesses the entire scene, "That was our last Chance!"

Back at the wall, Shiro, Romelle, Pidge, Hunk, and Stats backed away into a corner as the beast began to fire, determined to make them its next victims.

"Hunk, what's going on?!" Shiro asked. " What the heck is that?!"

"Keith hasn't had enough time to recover from his wounds," Hunk answered. "This monster is determined to take advantage of his weakness!"

"What?!" Shiro questioned. "Why did I realize it sooner!"

The Beast fire with its lasers, shooting in multiple directions, forcing the group to scatter, "We are so going to die!?" Hunk screamed. And soon, the group found themselves back to the tree that Keith knocked out and with nowhere to go.

"Here they come!!" Pidge and Hunk both cried..."Save us!" On cue, Shiro removed his sword from its sheath and block the lasers. Shiro grunted from the attack but at least he holds out. Just in, the tree was suddenly yanked out from the wall's opening...and it was soon revealed to be Keith, hefting the huge tree over his shoulder as if it were light as a feather!

Keith turned to see the beast, who roared as he charged at him...but the half-daemon sneered as he flexed his arms, making the muscles in his biceps bulge.

"You could use a little more FIBER!!" he shouted as he threw the tree right at the beast, shoving it right on its chest, causing it to explode before he eventually collapsed in defeat. Not long after, the Robots soon Retreated into the woods.

That's when Shiro and the group looked on as well as the former looked up, her eyes locked with the Violet eyes of Keith, who slowly floated down toward the ground. It was almost as if the two had stared at each other for hours, even after the half-daemon had landed. He stared at him, unable to think of what to do or what to say...while he slowly walked toward him.

"Keith! Oh, Keith!" Shiro said as he drew closer...while he glared at him.

"What are you doing here?!" Keith questioned. "I told you to stay away!!"

To his surprise, though, Shiro ran up and hugged him tightly, causing him to gasp.

"Keith!!" he cried as he practically threw himself at him, wrapping his arms around his back and hug him. He stumbled for just a moment, but managed to keep his footing...and imagine his surprise when he smelled the salty yet somewhat sweet scent of his tears.

"I was so worried!" Shiro wept. "I was beginning to think the worst! I almost thought that you had died of your wounds because you didn't come to see me, this time!"

"...You...you thought that I died...?" he whispered with a surprising look on his face. "You were worried about me?"

"What's that look? Didn't you want to see me, too?" Shiro asked him. "I was so scared! I didn't know what I'd do if I never saw you, again!! I..." he looked up at him, her tears spilling. "...I missed you..."

"Shiro" Keith whispered...before he suddenly wrapped his arms around her as tightly as he could. "It's good to see you again"

"Aww," Romelle smiled. "What a happy reunion."

"You said!" Hunk said.

Yes, it was indeed a warm reunion...but it would not last, for little did they realize that the shadows were lurking within the trees. Adam glared from behind the tree...his eyes, particularly on Shiro. There seemed to be a trace of bitterness in his glare, while Haggar has one of dark intrigue.

"Hmm...that boy..." she said.

As Keith and Shiro embraced each other, Lance and Coran appeared at the hilltop at that moment.

"Hey look, Shiro has returned!" Lance exclaimed.

"So it seems," Coran replied, although it seemed like his attention was elsewhere as he glanced suspiciously over his shoulder.

"What's wrong, Coran?" Lance asked. "Shiro has come back to us. It's time to celebrate?"

"Lance, do you not find it peculiar?" asked Coran. "The droves of Galra Robots disappeared without warning."

Lance gasped as he noticed that Coran was right: the swarm of galra robots had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

"You're right," he said, "but how can that be...? Unless"

Hiding within the trees, Adam, Sendak, and Haggar spied the group as they began to gather together...but Haggar's gaze was mostly set upon Shiro, who was being showered by welcoming jesters from the group.

"...That man..." she whispered. "he looks like...the samurai? Nay...The samurai perished years ago." She then smirked. "Nonetheless...he seems to be of some importance to Keith."

At that moment, Shiro tensed up as he felt a familiar sensation, causing him to gasp as he looked back.

"What's wrong, Shiro?" asked Pidge. "Are you okay?"

"Someone's here…who possesses the Quintessence crystal fragment," Shiro said. "Lots of them!"

"What?!" Keith questioned as he, Lance, and the others looked around. "Where?!"

"That way!" Shiro answered as she pointed in the direction where Adam and the others were hidden...and sure enough, he spotted them, staring from behind a tree. "I think they're coming from...them?"

Wasting no time, Keith, Lance, and Hunk ran toward the forest, just as Adam, Sendak, and Haggar turned to flee...but they didn't get very far. Using a tree branch as a springboard, Keith leaped high into the air before he landed right in his path, and soon after, Hunk and Lance emerged from the shrubbery with guns in their hands. The group glanced between the three young men...but Haggar seemed to be more focused on Keith, who glared at her with a growl in his throat.

"I thought I might've sensed you, nearby," Keith said. "I guess that defeat wasn't enough for you guys."

At that moment, Shiro, Pidge, Romelle, Stats, and Coran also appeared.

"Adam!" Shiro whispered.

"Don't get too close!" Keith called to them. "These guys dangerous!, Remember that".

"Keith...!" Shiro whispered, worriedly, while Stats hid behind his shoulder with a small whimper.

Haggar smirked as she looked back at Keith, who glared at her bitterly. It was as if he was staring at the face of an old enemy...and in a way, she was. This woman...this witch turned him and Allura against each other, all for his sick little amusement...and Allura and Takashi paid for it with their life.

No matter what...he would never forgive her.

"...You witch," Keith said. "Answer me one thing before I avenge Allura and Takashi's deaths: what the world do you have against me?"

"Hmm...good question," Haggar replied, almost mockingly, "and such a good question deserves an answer...lest eternal rest surely elude you in death."

"I can't believe its her again!" Shiro told himself. "the one we encounter back in Arcadia"

"What do you mean!" Keith questioned. "Unless..." He then looked at her even further.

"It's you!" he whispered, causing everyone to glance at him.

"Keith...?" Coran asked. "What do you mean?"

Just then, Haggar walked at Keith and Then Transform into a severely injured woman, surprising everybody, especially Keith.

"So it was you!" Keith said. "you must be Orenda, are you?!"

"Orenda, you say?" Haggar asked as she Transforms back to her original form. "I've not heard that name in ages..." she then chuckled. "Yes, I was her, the injure outlawed woman That you and Allura look in!"

"What?!" Keith questioned.

"She was the one!" Coran said. "The one in the cave!"

"Oh, My God!" Shiro whispered in horror.

"Allura was indeed a powerful priestess," began, "but in time, her powers waned, unable to recognize me...and why do you think that is?" She then glanced back at Keith. "Because of you, Keith."

"M...me?" Keith repeated. "What are you talking about?!"

"Because the priestess had been reduced to a powerless girl, this region teemed with war. All because the priestess…Allura…had fallen in love with a worthless half-daemon".

Keith growled at that...and his eyes seemed to flash red, momentarily.

"She gave in to childish desires…tried to use the power of the Sacred Jewel and was punished. Keith, you experienced the punishment yourself along with Takashi". Haggar continued.

Keith gasped silently, remembering when "Allura" attempted to shoot him with her arrows before he attacked the village and steal the crystal.

"The day Allura attacked me...it wasn't her," Keith hissed. "It was you, wasn't it, Haggar?!"

"Ah, you finally figured it out," Haggar replied while clapping her hands mockingly. "Clever Mousy."

"Don't call me that!!" Keith spat.

"Keith, calm down!" Hunk shouted. "she's goading you! Don't let her get in your head!!"

"Grrrr...!!" Keith growled. "How dare you?! You tricked us! You tricked Allura and me into trying to kill each other!"

"Oh, did I?" Haggar asked. "Tell me something, Keith...did Allura did destroyed the trust in you?"

"W-what?!" Keith said.

"Of course, she did!" Shiro answered...although she sounded unsure, herself. "She...she cares for him?"

"If this 'care' that you and Allura bore for each other was true," Haggar began "then why did you fall in love with the samurai!"

"Uh...w...well...it's because-" Keith stammered.

"Because Allura didn't 'care' you," Haggar replied. "She simply saw you as a means to an end."

"...She...she what...?" Keith asked.

"The truth in that anger… Bitter anger set you against each other. That is the true legacy of the trust you had for each other. Allura could not understand. Instead of choosing death, she should have clung on to her life and used the Quintessence crystal. Had she pleaded for her life, her wretched wish would have been easily granted and she would have understood the ultimate truth of darkness. Such a foolish woman. The Quintessence crystal grows even more beautiful when it is tainted." Haggar Explaining.

Keith didn't reply...but his hands curled tightly into fists. "Shut up..." he hissed.

"Keith, don't," Lance warned.

"Did I strike a nerve?" asked Haggar. "I'm only stating the truth...Allura used you, Keith. She never trusted you to begin with."

"Shut up!" Keith barked.

"Keith, no!" Shiro cried. "Don't listen to him!"

"Calm down, Keith!" Romelle urged.

"And I'm willing to wager," Haggar began as he glanced at Shiro, "that the reincarnation of Allura and Takashi will turn on you, as well."

"I Said Shut Up!!!!" Keith roared as he lunged at Haggar with his dagger outstretched, who jumped out of his way. Lance yelped as crashed into him, but the half-daemon growled as he turned to the direction that Haggar fled. With a roar, Keith sprang to his feet and gave chase.

"Lance, are you all right?!" Hunk asked as he helped him to his feet.

"I...I think so," Lance said, "but...don't worry about me! You have to stop Keith! He hasn't completely recovered from his wounds...and if he engages Haggar, now...!"

Shiro gasped before she turned to the direction where Keith took off, then he began to run after him, himself.

"Keith! Wait!!" he called. "Come back!!!"

"Shiro!" Adam said.

Keith growled as he continued to be in hot pursuit of Haggar, who proved to be just as capable of maneuvering of jumping across the trees as he was. Not only that, but Keith winced as he felt pain jolting through his stomach, right where his injury was. Nevertheless, the half-daemon continued his relentless pursuit. There was no way he was going to let Haggar escape from him! Not this time!

"Turn around and fight me, Haggar!!" he shouted. "Fleeing from a battle is cowardice!!!"

"Very well, Keith," Haggar said. "I'll entertain you...for only a moment." Suddenly, she raised her left arm...which twitched and writhed before it morphed into a giant spider claw, which snapped the tree that Keith was standing on in half, causing him to scream as he fell to the ground and landed with a harsh thud.

"Ah...Darn it...!" he cursed.

"Aww, did the doggy fall?" Haggar asked, mockingly as his claw returned to a normal human arm.

Keith growled, "Hey, Haggar, I'll show you what tainted is! I'll make that tainted blood of yours flow!" before he grabbed his dagger by its hilt and drew it out, then leaped at, once again. Just as his foe turned to flee, Keith swung his dagger at her back...tearing off a part of her cloak to revealing a grisly burn scar in the shape of a hideous spider.

"You wretch...!" Haggar hissed before she held out her hands...and suddenly, a huge, noxious cloud burst from them, forcing Inuyasha to shield himself from the toxic fumes. His red jacket burned away into shreds while the trees, bushes, and other plants died around him. As quickly as it started, however, it was over, and Keith raised his head...but Haggar was nowhere to be found.

"Where'd she go?!" Keith questioned as he looked around. "Where is she?!!"

Suddenly, his ears picked up the sound of Haggar's voice, chortling darkly. He tried to find the source of the laughter, but he couldn't find its owner anywhere.

"Haggar!" Keith shouted. "Get out here and fight me!!"

"We will meet again, boy!...but only on my terms...hahahahaha...!!!!"

As Haggar's cackling echoed throughout the sky...Keith seethed, his frustration beginning to take hold. He had finally found the one who had murdered Allura and Takashi, all those years ago...and he let him get away, again. Not only that...but he missed his chance to avenge Allura and Takashi.

Infuriated, humiliated, and despaired...Keith threw his dagger against the ground and let out a furious scream. All the while, Shiro had just appeared after finally catching up with Keith...and all he could do was watch sadly as his friend screamed out in anguish.