Chapter twenty: Pidge's Suffering and Matt's Life

After leaving the swamp tree, Pidge and Hunk was checking of the map to findings out their next location, While Lance was cleaning up his guns and Shiro and Keith were clashed swords with might fury.

Just two weeks ago, Keith has a fight with a human turn deamon named Tokajin and during the fight, Keith had suffered major injuries, Including a broken arm that still hasn't recovered. Despise this, Keith still had strength to fight back.

By training himself to his limits, Keith built his strength and endurance up again, it made him feel a whole lot better, knowing he could fight at a level greatest than Shiro.

With Shiro's training with Sokka, Keith challenged himself today more than ever, he fought Shiro even his cast on.

"Are you sure you can handle me!" Shiro said, Competently

"May not have been my brightest idea!" Keith told him, "but at least now I'll be ready for whatever comes my way!"

He made sure to pay attention to his footing, and to protect the sides of his body from Shiro, a strike at him would prove fatal.

The time must have been somewhere around

1:00pm in Earth hours, So Keith and the others had to finding a place to stay, if Hunk and Pidge can find where they are.

"Ok, the closest way is Ariel!" Pidge said.

"Are you sure, i think is Jarre!" Hunk said.

"Ariel!"

"Jarre!"

"Ugh! Find the place, someplace that actually good!" Lance said, cleaning out his barrel.

"Anyway, it's almost getting late. We should find a place to set up camp for the night and continue on in the morning." Shiro said.

"I hate to agree but you're right!" Keith said as for some strange reason, His stomach growled and his mouth beckoned to be quenched, but the mere mug of water he brought with him before training was long empty.

"What's wrong with me?" Keith said as the battle raged on the open field between him and Shiro, Keith noticed his reflexes beginning to slow. His throat was littered with mucus and he found his breath difficult to catch, but with a brief spit to the side, he kept on fighting with Shiro.

Prior to their sword-to-sword combat, Keith practiced his hand-to-hand combat with Shiro for nearly a half hour, taking only the said water break in between before grabbing his dagger and initiating sword-to-sword combat.

Now Keith battled Shiro for nearly an hour. He began to lose focus on the fight, that Something that Shiro begin to notice, "Keith, Are you ok, do you need a breather!" he said.

"I can't stop now, I almost beating you!" Keith said.

But when Keith couldn't properly lift his dagger to swing at his opponent, he knew he had no other choice.

He hung his head and lifted his arm as he gasped for air, his heart thumped in his chest, so hard that Keith was afraid it might burst from its cage. "Ok you're right!" he huffed with all his might. Thankfully, Shiro took the compliment.

He ached all over and his face burned, so much so that he felt for flames that might have generated under his skin, Luckily his sweat was able to cool him down, but he needed a cold glass of water and a good meal because he is starving

Sometime later, as night fell, the heroes managed to find a secluded spot in the forest to camp out for the night. Keith sat before the bonfire, devouring fry bread and ham. Lance and Hunk also sat with him, having already eaten their meal. They was just waiting for Keith to finish eating.

"Ahh..." Keith sighed as he finally finished his food. "That hit the spot."

"Now that we have a moment," Lance began, "I think we can discuss the fact that while we did escape from Tokajin's trap, unscathed..." He then look at Keith's cast. "There is the matter that you still recovered from his attack!"

"So, he pretty much succeeded in shutting down your best weapon, didn't he?" Hunk asked with a serious expression.

Keith nodded, a bitter look in his eyes as he stared at his hand. It was a bit of a bittersweet victory at best. Even though he and his friends managed to stave off Tokajin, the fact that Keith was still rendered powerless for few weeks only made things difficult for the group.

The next time they were in battle, Keith wouldn't be able to use his full strength, Even it all the training in the world will make a difference!

"I'm guessing Haggar using this opportunity to form another trap," Lance mused. "Don't you think, Keith?"

"Yeah," Keith replied. "With Haggar or Zarkon around, we can't even have a moment's rest."

Meanwhile, not too far from the campsite, Stats peered over the shrubs, watching Lance, Hunk, and Keith carry on with their conversation.

"Stats!" asked Stats.

"They are talking seriously about something over there, aren't they you say?" Pidge said.

"If that's the case," Shiro said as he began to undress, "then we should take this chance to jump in the hot spring!"

"You're not worried about Keith peeping on us?" asked Pidge.

"Keith doesn't really have a mindset for that kind of thing," Shiro answered. "If anything, he might stumble in on us by accident, but he doesn't mean any harm. Lance's the one we should really worry about."

"Hmm...point taken," Pidge nodded while Shiro, now stripped down to his swim trunk, slipped into the hot spring and gave a quiet sigh of pleasant relief.

"Oh, yeah...that's the ticket," he said. "Are you coming in, too, Pidge?"

"In a minute," Shiro answered as she stripped her clothes and armor off...but the moment she did, Shiro gasped as he saw it: a large scar, right in the middle of her back.

"Huh?" Pidge muttered before she glanced over her back. "Oh...you saw my scar, huh? I guess it's still there, isn't it?" She soon sat down in the spring while Shiro went up to her.

"Umm...did you get that from a daemon?" asked Shiro.

"...yes," Pidge answered, grimly...She remember that she spent the night at the Tsuzumi Castle, Dealing with every Daemon without the help of her brother and and fellow slayers. "I got this scar from my own experience with a Daemon!"

Shiro gasped in horror. "No!"

Pidge answered, sadly as she closed her eyes, the memories still fresh in her mind. "It was at Kyogai's castle...the Galra laid a trap for us. Matt was captured by the Galra...along with Hunk's father and two comrades...and then, you know the rest."

"Matt was always so gentle and mild," Pidge mused. "He was always passionate and never picked fights with anyone." She sniffed a bit when she recalled her older brother and how did she lost him to the Galra.

"Oh, Pidge..." Shiro whispered, sadly. "I'm so sorry...I didn't mean to bring up bad memories like that."

"Thank you, Shiro," Pidge said, "and you shouldn't be sorry. After all, each one of us has some story, right?" She then glared behind her. "And besides...some people are no better!!" She then tossed a rock into the bushes, where they heard a loud yelp...but as they went to look, they saw it was nothing more than a hapless primate with a large bump on its head.

"A monkey?!" Shiro questioned.

"Oops," Pidge muttered, sheepishly.

At that moment, Lance, Hunk, and Keith, the latter covering his eyes with his hands.

"Hey! What's the ruckus?!" Lance said. only to be met with a couple of startled shrieks.

"Haa..." Lance sighed pleasantly...despite being covered in bumps and bruises.

"I told you they were fine," Keith groused as he leaned against a tree with his arms behind his head. "But did you listen? No~!"

"Stats!" Stats said.

"Stats is right, For once, you were really talking seriously." Hunk pointed out. "At least Shiro and Pidge didn't suspect you and me, Keith,"

"Oh, well," Lance said. "We were treated to quite the pleasant sight, weren't we?"

"Only you would think that something like that was pleasant!" Keith barked. "I had the decency to cover my eyes! I only came along to protect Shiro from you!!"

"Call it what you will," Lance said, "but I'm sure they'll forgive us...eventually."

"Uh...yeah, they don't need to forgive me," Keith grumbled. "It's you that they have a problem with...dumbass."

While Shiro and Pidge by the hot spring drying themselves, Shiro wondered that everyone has been drawn into the curse of the quintessence crystal, but he feel most sorry for Pidge, who watched as her teammates and older brother were captured by the Galra!

The following day, the group was continuing on their travels. As they walked, Shiro and Hunk, who was walking behind Keith, glanced back and saw that Pidge was keeping a considerable distance away from Lance, who was tailing at the back of the pack. Shiro couldn't help sighing, while Stats and Kiaion walking besides him. He couldn't blame Pidge for how she was feeling after what happened last night...and the other nights before that.

It was a shame, though. Shiro really thought that Lance and Pidge were hitting it off well, at first...of course, he had to take Lance's perversion into account. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy for them to get along.

Though...Shiro did have to admit that sometimes, Lance did take everyone's safety into account. Yes, he shouldn't have walked in on them, but perhaps the girls did act a bit hasty on attacking him...but then again, who knows what Lance could possibly be thinking?

As for Pidge...well, he didn't know what to think of Lance. A part of her actually did want to trust him, despite his ways. She didn't understand why, though. After all, the moment they met, the first thing was flatter with sweet words. Though, she did have to admit...she actually did like hearing those words come from his mouth...even if they were his attempts at flattery.

The truth was...no one ever called such words like "lovely" or "beautiful". It was true that she was quite strong, but nobody else ever seemed to acknowledge that...not even her fellow Explorers from the village.

Just then, A man, covered in blood, was stumbling toward them.Surprising the group in horror

"AAH!!" Hunk screamed before he ducked behind Shiro

"H...help...someone...!" the man groaned. "Anyone!"

"Oh, my god!!" Shiro cried as he ran up to him, just as the man collapsed on his knees. It looked like whatever attacked him used some sort of kicks...or maybe punches. "What happened to you?! Who did this?!!"

"It...it was...a young man," the man answered.

"A young man?" Keith repeated.

"There's no way a man like that could do something like this," Lance added.

"He...he had...Orange hair" the man said, causing Pidge's eyes to go wide, "And a thin scar under his left eye!"

"...Orange hair and a scar...?" Pidge whispered.

"He also wore some strange armor," the man added, "and...he was holding some sort of weapon. It looked like a staff...and he had the cold, heartless look of a killer in his eyes. He appeared so suddenly...and without warning...he captured every man, woman, and child in Ariel...!!" He then coughed up blood before he finally collapsed on the ground...breathing his last breath.

"...Oh, no...!" Shiro whispered.

"There's no way a boy would do this," Keith said. "It has to be a daemon...either way, the way he came from...there's a strong smell of human fear."

"Pidge, Hunk, what do you think?" Lance asked as he glanced at Pidge...only to gasp as he saw the look of horror and disbelief in her eyes. "Pidge?"

"What's wrong, Pidge?" Hunk asked, worriedly.

"...No..." Pidge whispered. "No, no, it can't be...! It just can't be!"

All of a sudden, she took off running in the direction that the bloody man came in, and Kiaion scampered after her.

"Pidge!!" Shiro called.

"Pidge, wait!" Hunk cried. "Come back!!"

"We gotta go after her!" Keith shouted before they all turned and followed their companion.

Pidge panted as she ran through Ariel's streets...and all around her, she could see the bloodied corpses of the villagers, all of them sporting deep lacerations. As she went deeper toward the heart of the village, she spotted a group of survivors, alive and well, but the body count still increase...and Pidge began to feel sick to her stomach as she found herself surrounded by the stench of death.

It was then that she heard a scream of agony, prompting her to pick up the pace as she kept running...until finally, she arrived, only to gasp.

There, standing over the body of a bruised man...was a young boy, wearing the armor of a daemon explorer...and in his hand was a staff, the tip of the weapon was dripping with blood.

"...No...it can't be...!" Pidge whispered, and as if he heard her, the boy stiffened for a moment before he turned to face her. The moment he did...Pidge felt her heart drop right into her stomach. Even Kiaion, who managed to catch up to his friend, seemed horrified at the sight before her.

It was Pidge's older brother...Matt.

Pidge gaped in utter horror and disbelief at the sight before her. She hoped...she begged that the sight before her was just some horrible nightmare that she would soon awaken from and yet. She saw him, lying on the cold dirt in a pool of blood.

Pidge's older brother, Matt, had somehow escape from the Galra.

"Matt...!" Pidge whispered in horror. "What are you...?! How is this possible?!"

Matt didn't answer her. He just stared, a blank, cold, lifeless look in his eyes...a look that Pidge couldn't recognize. She knew her brother. She knew that he would never look at her the way he was looking, now. He always had this brightness in his eyes and a sweet, happy smile that always greeted her.

This Matt that was standing before her...she didn't recognize him at all.

"Pidge!"

Behind Pidge, Keith, Shiro, Lance, Hunk, and Stats finally appeared, only to gasp as they all laid eyes on Matt, who glared at them while he brandished his staff.

"It is a man!" Shiro exclaimed. "And he's wearing the same daemon-explorer armor as Pidge and Hunk...! So...that means..."

Keith scoffed as he drew his sword. "It doesn't matter. The Guy's still a murderer and I'm gonna teach him a lesson!"

"NO!!" Pidge yelled as he suddenly tackled Keith to the ground, to everyone's shock.

"What the hell?!" Keith questioned. "Pidge, get off me!!"

"Sango, what are you doing?!" Hunk asked in shock. "Have you lost your mind?!"

"I won't let you kill him!!" Pidge shouted with a furious look in her eyes.

"Why?!" Keith questioned. "The kid's a killer!!"

"You don't understand!!" Pidge cried.

"He's getting away!!" Lance yelled as he pointed at Matt, who turned and ran off. As he did, though, Shiro gasped silently as he spotted a familiar gleam at the base of his neck, just a little to the right side.

"That man...he has a shard of the quintessence crystal!" he thought. "But where did he get it from?!"

"No, wait!" Pidge cried as she and Kiaion soon ran after him, the latter transforming into his larger form, prompting his friend to jump onto his back.

"Quick! After them!!" Shiro shouted as he and the others soon followed.

"I've never seen Pidge act this way!" Hunk exclaimed. "And that boy...he was wearing the same armor as we were! Could it be he from the Daemon explorer Village?!"

"Who cares?!" Keith questioned as he kept running after Pidge. "When I catch up to her, I'm giving her a piece of my mind!!"

Just then...both Pidge and Kiaion seemed to vanish into thin air.

"What the-?!" Shiro questioned. "They're gone!"

"Where'd they- AGH!!" Keith started, only to yell out in pain when he suddenly crashed into something, giving him a powerful shock before he was forced to step back and saw a huge, purple film. "It's...it's a barrier!"

"This is just like what happened with Allura and her Soul Collectors!" Lance added. "Someone only wanted Pidge to get through and not us!"

"...Guys...there's something else you should know," said Shiro, causing the others to look at her. "Just as that young man was running away...I sensed a shard of the crystal in the base of his neck."

"What?!" Keith and Lance questioned.

"But...where'd he get the jewel from?!" asked Hunk.

"...I think I have an idea," Lance said, grimly, "but I don't like it."

"Oh, dear..." Chief Herschel muttered as he suddenly appeared from behind them. "I was hoping that boy wasn't who I think it was!"

"Dad!" Hunk questioned. "what are you doing here!"

"Ah! Hunk!" Chief Herschel cried. "I just received word from the locals!"

"Chief Herschel...do you know how who that young man was?" Shiro said.

"I'm afraid so, Shiro," Chief Herschel nodded. "That young man...was Pidge's older brother, Matt!"

Beyond the barrier, Pidge and Kiaion continued to rush through the forest, trying to track Matt's trail. Both their hearts and minds were at one at this moment. Just like Pidge, Kiaion never imagined that something would like this would happen, which was why Pidge could see that she flying with a little more desperation than before.

The thought that there was another daemon explorer out there...let alone Pidge's older brother...it left both hopeful...but also scared.

Was that truly Matt? Had he really come back from the Galra? And if that was the case...why did he harm innocent people? What reason would he have to turn his weapon against humans?

At that moment, Kiaion suddenly came to a stop, causing Pidge to gasp as she saw Matt, standing in front of her...his eyes blank and listless.

Matt stared at Pidge...before he slowly took off his mask, fully revealing his face. He had the same hair...the same scar...those same brown eyes...and yet, the expression on his face that Pidge still couldn't recognize it.

"Matt...!" Pidge whispered with tears in her eyes. "You're...you're really alive!"

Matt just stood there, to Pidge's surprise and growing sadness.

"Matt?" Pidge asked. "Why don't you say something? It's me! Pidge, your sister! Don't you recognize me?!"

"I'm afraid he doesn't, my dear."

Pidge gasped as she heard that sinister voice...and soon, out of the mist, she appeared: Haggar, wearing her black cloak.

"I've been waiting for you...Pidge," Haggar said with a malicious grin.

"Haggar!" Pidge hissed in utter disdain.

"My, my, such hostility," Haggar said, mockingly. "Is that any way to thank the one who save your brother from the Galra?"

Pidge only glared at the madwoman while Kiaion snarled behind her, glaring at Haggar with glowing yellow eyes.

"What?!" Keith questioned as he looked at Chief Herschel. "That kid with the staff is actually Pidge's brother?!"

"I wasn't sure, at first," Chief Herschel answered, "but now that I got another look at him, there was no mistake. That was definitely Matt!"

"But Pidge said that he captured at Kyogai's castle!" Shiro exclaimed. "How is that he is here?!"

"Have you nothing to say, Pidge?" asked Haggar. "No 'thank you' at all?"

"Why in the Seven worlds would I thank you?!" Pidge questioned. "You're what had Matt captured in the first place!! And not just him...Hunk's Father...and all my friends and neighbors at the village!! Everyone almost died because of you!!! How did you even bring Matt back from the Galra?!!"

"Simple, my dear," Haggar answered...before he revealed another shard of the crystal. "By giving him the same thing I gave to that monster to kill the samurai!"

"A shard of the crystal...!" Pidge whispered in disbelief. "Well, then...I'll just take it out-"

"Ah-ah-ah~!" Haggar chided. "Not so fast...if you were to do that, your brother would soon be a lifeless soul."

Pidge gasped in horror at that.

"Do you understand what I'm telling you, Pidge?" asked Haggar. "Your brother's life is in my...actually...your hands." She then chuckled sinisterly while Pidge glared in disdain.

"You witch...!" she hissed.

"However...seeing as how I'm such a generous women," Haggar began, "I will allow you and Matt to be reunited, permanently...however...there's something you have to do for me, first."

"What do you mean?" asked Pidge with a bitter glare.

"Pidge...I want you to take Shiro's sword," Haggar began, "and give it to me...only then can you have your brother back."

"What?!" Pidge questioned before she brandished her Boomerangs. "I will NEVER resort to thievery, you daemon scum!!"

Before she could swing...Matt suddenly threw his staff at Pidge's weapon, deflecting it back at her. The force was so strong, it caused her to stumble back and she would have lost her footing had Kiaion not been there to catch her. Still...Pidge was shocked as she saw her older brother glare at her while swinging his staff in his hand, standing before Haggar...almost as if he was trying to shield him.

"M...Matt...?!" Pidge whispered in horror. "Why?!"

"I told you, Matt doesn't remember you," said . "As far as he's concerned...your brother is now my devoted lapdog." As if to emphasize that, he reached out and patted Matt's head, causing Pidge to grit her teeth.

"You monster!!" Pidge shouted. "I ought to-"

"If you're that desperate to get him back," said Haggar, "you know what you have to do."

Pidge seethed as she glared bitterly at Haggar, who grinned in a malevolent manner before he opened up his cloak, causing a cloud of noxious purple fumes to come bursting out. Pidge gasped before she quickly put on her mask, shielding her face from the fumes...but as quickly as it came, it disappeared.

"You will bring me Shiro's sword, Pidge. I'll be waiting for you, tonight."

On that, a sinister cackle rent through the air...while Pidge seethed in fury and frustration. She soon dropped to her knees, pounding the dirt as tears threatened to escape from her eyes...then she glared up at the sky.

"Damn you, Haggar...!" she cursed. "Damn you to the neverworld!!"

Keith, Shiro, Lance, Hunk, and Chief Herschel all stood outside the barrier, waiting for any sign of life. It felt like an eternity since they saw Pidge and Kiaion disappear within the invisible wall. They could only wonder...what was she doing in there?

"...I'm going in there," Keith said as he prepared to approach the barrier.

"Wait, Keith!" Shiro exclaimed. "The barrier will only shock you!"

"I don't give a care!" spat as he attempted to draw his dagger...but then, Lance held out his hand in front of the half-daemon, causing him to stop in his tracks.

"I wouldn't be so hasty if I were you, Keith," Lance said before he looked up at the barrier. "Look."

To the surprise of the others, the barrier began to fade away.

"It's lifting!" Shiro exclaimed...and not long after, someone stepped out from the mist. To everyone's relief, it was Pidge...but her eyes were hooded. Behind her, Kiaion had shrunken back to his normal size, looking just as forlorn as Pidge was.

"Pidge!" Shiro called, causing the young girl to look up at him...and for a moment, her eyes seemed to brighten and she gave the group a small smile...albeit a forced one.

"Hi, everyone," she said. "Sorry...did we worry you?"

"...Pidge..." Shiro started. "Umm...we don't mean to pry...but...well-"

"Quit beatin' around the bush, Shiro!" Keith barked before he turned to Pidge. "Pidge...is it true what Chief Herschel said? Was that guy really your brother?"

"Keith!!" Shiro chided. "God, does subtlety mean nothing to you?!"

"What?!" Keith questioned. "We might as well as her-"

"He wasn't Matt!" Pidge suddenly spoke, gaining everyone's attention.

"But...Pidge...he was clearly-" Shiro started.

"Enough!" Pidge snapped, causing the 24-year-old man to gasp as he stepped back, and almost instantly, the daemon explorer felt a slight tinge of guilt form in his chest before she sighed. "I'm sorry...I shouldn't have yelled like that."

"I-it's okay," Shiro assured. "I guess I shouldn't have pried."

"...Yeah..." Keith muttered as he looked away. "Sorry about that, Pidge."

"It's fine, Keith," Pidge reassured before she turned to Chief Herschel. "Chief...if you please could...help these poor villagers of Ariel!"

"Of course," Chief Herschel nodded. "We will have with any way we can!"

Soon, everyone got to work in burying the dead villagers and assist the survivors. As they did... Shiro noticed Pidge seemed to be a bit too focused on the task at hand. While she helped the locals by bandaging their wounds, she didn't give anyone so much as a passing glance and she had this bitter expression on her face. Shiro felt his heart sink. It was almost like she was seeing the young girl who had lost her friends and family all over again.

As for Pidge...she was beside herself with turmoil. On the one hand, some part of her was happy that her brother had been rescued...but on the other, she was furious that Haggar was now using a sweet, kind man like him as a killing machine. If Matt had any conscious mind of his own, right now, the boy would no less be horrified by what he had done.

What could she do?

Meanwhile, Keith glanced over at Pidge while Shiro, Hunk, and Lance finished burying the dead villagers. Stats and Kiaion had brought some flowers from the forest nearby and laid them on the fresh graves. Not long after they did so, however, Kiaion soon went over to Pidge's side...his tails and ears sagging sadly. His friend didn't even give him a sideways glance. She just quietly stroked his head while she looked at the sky.

"Poor Pidge," Shiro whispered.

"Yeah, and Kiaion, too," Hunk added. "They both seem so sad."

"What do you think, Lance?" Shiro said.

"About what?" Lance said.

"What do you think might have happened in that barrier, Lance?" asked Hunk.

"I don't know," Lance answered, "but whatever happened...Pidge seems to be in some pain. Let's leave her alone for now. I'm sure she'll talk to us when she's ready."

"...I hope so," Shiro said.

"Damn..." Keith cursed. "How can you be so nonchalant?! He may be a puppet with a quintessence crystal fragment, Matt's the one who attacked Ariel! If Pidge can't kill him, I'll do it in one swing!" he then looking into the distance and shouting. "Hey Pidge! Any complaints?!"

But Pidge standing up and turns around and gives Keith the evil eye. She walks away in silent anger.

"Good job, Keith," Shiro sarcastically said as he put his hand on his shoulder, "thank you for sooo insensitive!" Then he chases after Pidge. "Pidge, wait!".

"But, practically speaking, what will we do? Kill him?" Lance added.

"Of course!" Keith said, even if he doesn't want to do it.

"No matter what?" Lance said, doubtful.

"Of course! Think about it! Haggar sent Pidge's brother believing that we wouldn't be able to kill him. No way will I fall for that!" Keith said.

"Don't try too hard." Lance said, in a serious tone.

"Shaddup, will ya!? Damn!" Keith said, momentarily lost for words.

Lance nodded as he walks away from Keith.

"I hate my role but I'll have to do it. Though I feel sorry for Pidge…" Keith thought.

Later that night, the group managed to find an hut to sleep in so that they could rest for the day. Shiro and Stats lied together on a pile of hay, the latter tucked into the former's arms. Pidge was lying on a reed mat with Hunk, Kiaion, and Lance sat against some barrels of firewood. As for Keith, he sat against the wall by the doorframe, his eyes closed but remained alert.

As the small fire crackled, Pidge opened her eyes, showing that she wasn't really asleep. How could she, anyway? After what happened today, though she was exhausted mentally and physically...her heart would not let her fall into slumber.

"Matt didn't react at all when he saw me. Has he truly forgotten all about me? No…He doesn't even know that Haggar is our sworn enemy and it vexes me that Haggar manipulates Matt! I want to take him back, away from Haggar's evil grip!" Pidge thought as she furrowed her brow and clenched her fist, tightly.

"Somehow...I'm going to get you back!"

That's when she remembered Haggar's orders.

"You will bring me Shiro's sword, Pidge...I'll be waiting for you, tonight..."

Pidge bit her lip. She was no fool to Haggar's lies. Not anymore. She knew that he was a treacherous being and would no doubt make an attempt on her life as well as Matt's, even if she did honor their bargain...

...But...still...

As Pidge glanced over her shoulder, she saw Shiro, who kept his precious sword close to him, ready to draw it at even the slightest sound or scent of danger.

Steal Shiro's sword…In order to save Matt!" This something that could Pidge do, but that is up to her to decide.