Not the Same

Team Training

Three days after Lance's return, the paladins (along with Coran) could tell something was different with him. Everyone knew it was because of the time in the alternate reality. But he was different. He had grown quiet and spent most of his time either with Red or on the training deck. At dinner, Hunk had made fantastic foods, but Lance barely touched his meals.

After dinner, Keith caught Lance while the others left.

"Hey, Lance," Keith yelled, running to catch up with him.

Lance turned around. "Yeah Keith?"

"We've all noticed that you've been distant lately. We understand that it may be from the other reality. But we are all worried. Is there anything you want to talk about."

Lance could tell that his eyes meant well. But something knotted in his gut. It felt weird that Keith was asking if he was alright. He wasn't usually open...maybe being a leader has changed him. Or Allura told him to do this. "Uh, thanks for your concern. But everything is fine. I just need time to adjust."

Keith nodded, he understood. "Okay, If there is anything you want to talk about, you can come see me."

"Thanks Keith." 

"In half an hour, we're going to start team training at the training deck."

Lance nodded. "I'll be there."

Lance walked in the training deck in his blue paladin armor. It felt so familiar yet so strange. When he walked in, Allura and Keith were having a deep conversation. He had a feeling it was about him. But instead of pondering it, Lance shrugged it off.

Hunk and Pidge suddenly burst through the doors. "We're here." Pidge said, jogging up to them.

"Great, now we just need to wait for--" Allura turned and jumped when she saw Lance. "Oh, Lance, you're here. Never mind than. We can start."

"What are we doing today?" Hunk asked.

"I don't know. Coran?" Keith turned and looked at the control area where Coran was standing. 

"I was thinking that we could start warming up with some drones." Coran said into the speakers, his voice echoing through the room. "After that, we could try the gladiator."

"Sounds great." Lance heard Hunk mumble. 

Lance knew that Hunk hated the gladiator. At one point, Lance did too. But that was before he was captured by the Gulra and Alteans. Now he had worse things to dislike than the gladiator. 

"Alright everyone, get your bayards ready." Keith instructed. "Protect your team mates."

Lance's bayard teleported from his suit to his hand. Then it transformed into a double-edged broad sword. Ever since he got back from the alternate reality, his bayard has changed into a sword instead of a gun. But at times he has been able to transform the sword back into his gun. Now, he prefered the sword though.

"We're starting in three... two...one..." Coran pressed a button on the control panel.

Three doors in the floor opened, five drones flew out of each door. Lance counted fifthteen drones total. His eyes watched each drone like a halk. He waited until one of the drones started shooting. Then he would attack.

To his right, Lance saw Keith step out of his position to attack the drones. Lance shook his head but kept his eyes focused on the drones. 

Finally, the drone shot a lazer at Lance. He moved to the side, dodging the lazer. Then Lance ran up and sliced the drone in half in one long stroke. After Lance attacked the drone, more turned its attention towards him. The drones fired more lazers at once. 

At one point, Lance transformed his bayard into his rifle. He found it easier for him to shoot his targets. A couple minutes later, Lance looked around and saw no drones flying.

"Good job paladins!" Coran cheered. "Now for the gladiator."

"Good job team." Keith said. "Now get ready."

The first gladiator they took out was easy. But one by one went down as the gladiator got harder and harder. Pidge was the first to go. Then Hunk, Allura, and Keith. Lance was still fighting the gladiator when the ground opened underneath Keith. 

Lance blocked every attacked the gladiator made. But his arm was getting tired and a minegrane was forming in his head. Lance hated minegranes. They were the worse. He never got them until he went into the alternate reality. Now he got them pretty often. 

At one point, the tunnel vision appeared in his vision and he blacked out for a second. That was enough for the gladiator to hit him in the waist. Lance fell to the floor clutching his head.

The gladiator approached Lance, sword ready to attack. Suddenly, the floor underneath it opened up and the gladiator fell in. 

"Lance that was amazing!" Coran said. "Are you okay."

Lance nodded his head. But pain shot through his skull. He became aware of several people standing over him.

"Lance, what's wrong?" Someone said. Lance could barely think.

"—Minegrane—" Lance managed to say, as the headache worsened. 

Lance could barely see because of the tunnel vision. Suddenly, the nausea hit. Causing Lance to throw up his dinner.

A ringing started in his ears. he felt tears streaming down his face. He felt someone lift him up. But everything was mixed together. He couldn't see, his head felt like knifes stabing into his skull over and over again.

Please...someone...make it...stop...please. Lance thought.

Lance felt himself being set down. Something cold pressed against his forehead. Lance hung on to the sudden coldness, releaving some of the pain. He let out a shaky breath before drifting asleep.