By Nyassa Kaiba
Notes: I'm sorry I've been away so long. I've been having a ball on Soucon and working on a yaoi webring titled "The Yaoi Network." Plus a character site for my Soucon profile and you get one busy Fictor! But I'm going to try with Phoenix Rising.
It was evening at Titans Tower, and the Teen Titans were playing basketball. There was, however, an extra rule. No flying allowed. So Starfire and Raven were having a little bit of trouble.
None of them saw the two flying specks on the horizon, coming nearer and nearer, and nearer. Finally the two figures became visible. And still the Titans didn't notice. Not until the basketball rebounded and sailed over the side, and Starfire went to get it, did they notice.
And then Starfire came nose to nose with another teen superheroine who had, appearantly, caught the ball. This girl had short red hair the same color as Starfire's. It was cut short with a rat tail in back. She looked about a year younger than Starfire and had true blue eyes instead of green.
She wore an outfit like a traditional Japanese monk, only bright blue with a golden phoenix coiling up the body. A glass flute shaped like a phoenix was tied to her belt along with a sword that had a dragon for a pommel. A sapphire blue L.L.Bean backpack looked horribly out of place on her back.
The girl smiled shyly at Starfire. "You dropped your ball." She said shyly, shooting it back to Starfire in a perfectly executed pass.
The other figure, (also a girl) stayed well back. This girl, however, was easier to recognize. The white half top with a red and gold 'S' and half length cape gave it away.
The Titans were staring now. "Um… who are you?" Beastboy asked the girl.
"My name is Phoenixfire." The girl replied shyly. "My mother sent me to find Starfire."
"That is me. Who is your mother?" Starfire asked, curiously.
"Tormyand'r." Replied Phoenixfire.
"TORMY!" Starfire cried happily. "She sent you? Where is she? I haven't seen her in years."
Phoenixfire and Supergirl landed on the roof. The older teen let Phoenixfire out with her story first. "She… she died… pneumonia. The doctors couldn't stop it." Phoenixfire said sadly. "She left a note saying to seek the one who's heart burns with Star's fire. I assumed she meant you."
"She most certainly did!" Starfire glomped Phoenixfire. "But poor Tormy."
"Hang on a second." Cyborg came forward. "Phoenixfire can you hold out your hand for a second. I want to run a DNA scan."
Phoenixfire held out a hand. Cyborg placed his palm against hers, and his hand glowed for a second. "She's half human half Tamaranean!" Cyborg exclaimed.
"What?" Demanded the other Titans.
Supergirl laughed. "So that's where your powers come from Phoe. I was beginning to wonder."
"Half Tamaranean? Oh glorious!" Starfire cried, her hug renewing strength.
This time Phoenixfire did get squished. "Star… squish…" She gasped.
Starfire let go of her. "I'm sorry."
"So you got escort duty huh Supergirl?" Robin asked with a chuckle.
"Actually Robin, I'm here on orders from the Justice League. They need whatever information you have on HIVE academy and whether or not you recognize this…" Supergirl extended a folded piece of paper."
"A symbol?" Robin asked, ignoring the extended piece of paper.
"A hallmark. It's a long story. And I think Phoenixfire should finish hers first." Supergirl replied.
"Come inside." Cyborg told the two girls. "I'll make waffles and we can talk."
Robin nodded. "I think that would be wise. But I want to know whatHIVE has been doing in your territory."
"Actually what they've been doing in /your/ territory." Supergirl replied as they headed down the stairs. "Arson. For some reasona mysterious arsonisthas started targeting HIVE academy with fires, nasty ones that no amount of magic or technology has been able to stop. We could care less about HIVE, but there's always the danger that one of these fires could get out of control and attack the city."
Robin gasped. "I don't think… how could we not have seen these?"
"Because you weren't looking. We wouldn't have seen either if Hawk Girl hadn't been here on vacation and seen one of them in progress. She stayed through the whole thing, helped evacuate the building, and then gathered what evidence was left for us to analyze. She didn't realize who it was until she ran into Citrine."
"Citrine?" Raven asked, arching an eyebrow.
"Slade's sister and the new Headmistress of HIVE academy." Supergirl replied. "We're hoping to coax her away from the academy, but with the fires, that will have to be put on hold."
"A bad guy turned good?"
"I would never expect that of anyone related to Slade."
"Every barrel of bad apples has to have a good one in it Robin." Supergirl replied. "We'll just have to wait to see whether or not she's got it in her."
"Personally I think you're crazy." Cyborg spoke up. "But if you wanna try it wouldn't hurt."
Robin rolled his eyes. "I don't think there's any goodness in that family. We met Slade and his daughter Rose." Robin shuddered. Rose the Ravager had almost killed Robin and Beastboy a couple months ago, and if Starfire and Raven hadn't come when they had the Titans would be reduced to three.
After an incident like that Robin had had a few words with the Titans East and his friends. And it was decided that if Robin were ever killed or injured, or if more than one Titan had to leave the group for whatever reason, that the Teen Titans would consolidate their forces with the Titans East until a new leader or member could be chosen. It was an option that they all hoped would never be used. But with the Brotherhood of Evil around, and the rumors that HIVE had been reopened, plus Slade still out there, casualties became more and more likely.
Increasing their numbers would make life safer for all the Titans, and Robin really did hope that Phoenixfire would stay.
Raven fell into step next to Robin. "Any thoughts?" Robin asked Raven softly. "About Phoenixfire I mean."
"She's a lot like Starfire, only she doesn't have as much confidence as Star does." Raven replied. "If you want her on the team you'll have to go easy on her." Raven whispered. "And there's something on her mind besides Star. Something's nagging at her."
They made it to the common room when Robin cleared his throat. "Phoenixfire, Super Girl, welcome to Titans tower. I'm sure you'll be comfortable while you're staying. But I think you two have some news to share?"
"Friend Phoenixfire, did your mother leave something with you? A small black cylinder?" Starfire asked. "It should contain her last wishes."
Phoenixfire nodded. "Is this it?" She asked, handing a cylinder of that description to Starfire.
"Yes, this is it!" Starfire replied as she squeezed one end of it. A small hologram of a woman in traditional Tamaranean battle dress appeared before the Titans.
"Dear Koriand'r, and Komyand'r if you're there. If you're getting this message, it means I am no longer alive. I suffered from a lung ailment similar to pneumonia, Railer's disease. For Kori's friend's benefit, it is a genetic disease that affects the immune and respiratory systems. Were I on Tamaran, the symptoms could have been slowed and I could have lived long enough to pass this news on, to tell my darling Phoenix about her Tamaranean heritage. But human medicine is not advanced enough to deal with the disease. The antiviral and antibiotic medicines the doctors tried would, of course, have no effect on a genetic illness.
"I therefore leave with Koriand'r my final request. In the tradition of the Tamaranean Royal Family, please understand that according to the tradition, she cannot refuse." Tormyand'r's hologram replied. "My final request is simple, that Starfire, as she prefers to be called, take my daughter in, teach her as a Tamaranean, train her as a Titan, and care for her like a Sister." That was said with a snort. "Though I know how Blackfire has been." She said with a giggle that broke off into a severe, hacking cough. "I'm sorry Kori, I hung on as long as I could…" She said sadly. "Swear for me… by the Blood of the Father… the Body of the Mother… and the Soul of the Eternal Dragon."
Tears streamed down Starfire's face as she knelt before the hologram. "Duchess Tormyand'r of Tamaran's South Jungle, I Princess Starfire swear before you by the Blood of the Father… the Body of the Mother… and the Soul of the Eternal Dragon… to take Princess Phoenixfire under the Wings of My Dragon's Soul, to teach her as a Tamaranean, train her as a Titan, and care for her as a Sister." Starfire said with her head bowed. The hologram flickered and died out, and Starfire stood. "Robin, please allow Phoenixfire to stay as a Titan, and allow me to train her? She will be my responsibility."
"Why not? The more the merrier." Robin said with a smile. "Although, Phoenixfire, it's a hard time to be a Titan. We've got three enemies just waiting to take a crack at us. And each of them are more dangerous than the last."
Phoenixfire nodded. "I'll do fine."
"She's trained with me. I first taught her to use her powers. And when a member of the Justice League trains you it sticks right Phoe?" Supergirl asked, giving Phoenixfire a noogie.
"Ack!" Phoenixfire cried. "Supergirl you're embarrassing me!" Phoenixfire cried. "and Robin, I won't be a bother, and I won't weigh the team down. I may not have much experience, but I'm strong…"
"How many of your superpowers have you mastered?" Asked Raven, curiously.
"Everything but my alien strength. When I asked Superman he thought that because I'm only half Tamaranean, that I may not have it as an ability. So I never really worried about it."
"Which I think is bullshit." Supergirl replied. "You just don't have the confidence enough. Remember what your mother said? Boundless confidence!" Supergirl said, gesticulating slightly. "Now, Robin the reason why I'm here. There's been a series of fires at HIVE bases. We suspect arson, and nothing anybody has, not magic or technology seems to put them out. And these fires are vicious. There's a risk that they could spread elsewhere in the city if left unchecked. The HIVEr's have been trying to fight them on their own, no luck."
"Why should I be interested in something bad happening to HIVE?" Robin asked, arching an eyebrow. "We'll keep them from spreading to the city but…"
"If that doesn't get your attention then how about this?" Supergirl extendedthe small, folded piece of paper. "We find this symbol on an untouched portion of wall at every fire we investigate."
Robin took the photo. His eyes widened, then his face curled into a hateful snarl. "Slade."