Disclaimer: I most definitely do not own the Teen Titans franchise, nor do I own any partial part of it, either.
Author's Introduction…
As you could tell by the summary, this is an AU Fic, not set in the traditional Teen Titans universe. Anyway, more importantly, you should probably have read my other fics before you read this one… I have OC's that, if you haven't read my fics, will not make any sense to you. Anyway, if you have read my other fics and already know about my characters, by all means read on… I guess all I'm saying is don't flame me if you try to read this but just get confused by the setting and my OC's.
Moonlight Maelstrom—Prologue
It was in the evening, well after noon… perhaps 3:00 or so… and a lone shape on horseback galloped briskly along a dirt road. The beast's hooves thundered along the ground with great force, for this was a very large steed… much larger than most horses one sees. It's hair was well as it's long, thick mane were both a pearly white with not a splotch of color to interrupt it. It's tail was white also, and fanned out along behind it as it dashed through the dwindling daylight on that old country road. It wore a black-leather saddle with silver studs that clashed with it's white hair.
The rider, clad in an almost jewel-like sapphire-colored armor from head to toe and wearing a long, blue cape with white fur trim, gripped the saddle skillfully and not bouncing a bit as the huge horse ran along. The ornate blue helmet he wore covered his entire head, with only a row of slits for breathing on the front.
He and his mount ride on like this for a good couple of hours, and the sky begins to darken… but no signs of fatigue appear on either horse or rider, both keeping their pace up.
A sound began to grow in the distance… like a vast rumble coming from some huge creature. A moment later, however, it suddenly became clear that multiple voices were ringing out along the countryside.
A shape began to emerge on the horizon… buildings. It was a small country village.
The armored figure abruptly yanked on the reigns of his steed, causing the animal to whinny and snort as it slowed to a stop just outside the gates. Petting the animal's mane fondly with his armored hand, the figure reached carefully toward a thick, gray belt around his middle with numerous satchels and pockets… from which, he suddenly produced a large, red apple. He held it up and the horse whinnied and took it from his hand, chomping noisily on the treat.
The tall and armored shape began marching slowly and purposefully towards the gates… they were wide open, as if the gatekeepers had suddenly abandoned their posts. The cries from the village were clearly audible now.
"DOWN WITH THE KING! DOWN WITH THE KING! DOWN WITH THE KING! DOWN WI—"
The entire time, the man simply walked forward, never stopping or speeding up, never turning his head. After a moment, he finally reached the crowd.
He stood there, making no movements… as if he were merely observing the rioting group with mild interest.
Finally, they began to notice the new arrival. A person fell silent as they stared in surprise. The person next to that noticed, and also fell silent. One by one, the crowd looked over and saw the sapphire sentinel standing there, the moonlight reflecting gently off of it's tall, metallic form.
Someone spoke…
"… Who the bloody Hell is this? Another traveling mercenary?"
"Or perhaps some kind of lune escaped from the asylum?" Another said, brandishing a pitchfork covered in what looked horrifically like blood… as if it had been used recently.
A third person waved a lit torch and cried. "No! I know who this is… Why, it's another one of the king's thugs, come to try and stop us…!"
There was a general murmur of agreement among the agitated rioters.
"Well…?" A woman crowed. "Show your face, why don't you? And we'll know whom we'll have the pleasure of hanging at sunrise!"
The figure in ice-blue, sapphire-like armor just stood silently. But suddenly, and without warning… he waved part of his blue cape back over his shoulder… revealing a long, thin, silver scabbard with a golden handle at the end. He reached down… grabbed the golden hilt… and pulled.
With a soft metallic hiss, a frozen blade, shining in the moonlight with a whitish-blue sheen, emerged from the sterling silver scabbard. It seemed about four feet in length and was very narrow with a pointed, razor-sharp tip. The entire white and blue blade shined as though wet and exhuded a frosty mist, as though made from ice.
On his other arm, he wore a large, perfectly round shield that shared many of the sword's traits, such as the icy form, bluish-white color, and aura of cold mist.
Lastly, a huge case of white material, fastened to his back by teal-and-gray straps, seemed to hold a huge, sapphire-blue war-hammer that shone with a frozen texture.
The rebels gasped collectively, and many of their number stumbled back in surprise and awe.
With a calm, deliberate movement, the guy reached up… and removed the helmet…
…Allowing a cascade of long, white hair to flow down. It seemed to shimmer almost, reflecting the dim glow of the night right on down to the teal bow used as a ponytail holder near the middle of his back.
His whitish, deathly pale face framed a pair of blood-hued crimson orbs that served as his eyes… and despite his pallid features, his face was smooth and youthful as though he were only a young boy in his teens.
"Now…" His commanding voice rang out suddenly, startling everyone present with it's power and authority. "… Someone kindly inform me of what's going on."
It was not a request.
For several moments, all were silent… none of them daring to approach the tall, tallow-faced youth wielding enchanted weaponry. Finally though, a person emerged and began to explain of their revolt and listed off myriad reasons for it. The young man examined his hands absent-mindedly, as though not even listening, and when the person speaking had finished… he sighed and glared at them.
"Right. In any case, this has gone on way too long. So…" His red eyes flashed dangerously in the dark, hazy night. "… If you good folks would be so kind as to return to your homes and stop this nonsense, it would be much appreciated."
Everyone stared incredulously, slack-jawed and shocked. Who did this fool think he was…?
"My name is not important." He hissed icily, as though he'd read their minds. "… But if you must have some way to refer to me… most of my men refer to me as Sub-Zero. I am a knight of the royal guard, appointed by his majesty the king to… ah well, to do whatever he wants, I suppose."
The crowd began to mumble and fidget with anger and anxiety. After a moment, a man with a long gray beard of about seven feet in height stepped forward brandishing a large, rusty, wood-chopping hatchet.
"… You know, I would much rather not have to commit any slaughters tonight… I haven't had dinner." The youth sighed coldly, with complete calmness.
"Slaughter…?" the big man boomed. "You and what army, you damnable runt?" He demanded furiously.
Without stopping to think or wait for an answer, the huge rebel roared and charged with axe uplifted, prepared to strike the armored swordsman down. Sub-Zero did not move, and his face remained frozen in an expressionless, hollow stare.
CLANG!
The sound of shattering metal split the night air apart, and the crowd went wild with cheering and hearty applause… until the sparks created by the clash of metal-against-metal disappeared, and revealed what had happened.
Sub-Zero had made no attempt to block or parry the attack. He hadn't had to. The instant the axe hit his blue armor; the large blade had shattered into a swarm of tiny fragments and hit the ground.
The brute looked with a stupid blank stare from the man in front of him, to his ruined weapon…
The knight held out his hand. "Nice try I'm afraid… but you'll have to do better. I'm accustomed to fighting real opponents who actually try to injure you." He sniffed coldly.
Blinking awkwardly at the outstretched hand, the thug grunted and took it as a peace gesture. He grabbed it and shook it.
The last mistake he ever made.
For then, he instantly began to shiver as Sub-Zero's hand glowed with a blue light… and a moment later, his hand was consumed by frost. He yelped in fright and tried desperately to withdraw the frozen appendage, but to no avail. Within moments, his entire form was engulfed by a snowy breeze and turned to shining ice, and the unfortunate rebel had time enough for one anguished wail before his head was consumed by ice.
The knight withdrew his hand, leaving nothing but a ghastly ice sculpture in front of him. With a flourish, he puckered up his pale lips… and blew forcefully.
The statue wobbled, and then, sank to one side with a shrill creak… just before shattering noisily among the ground, the multitude of tiny shards creating a pattering sound that echoed off into the night air.
Sub-Zero turned to the stunned crowd. "Right then. Does anyone else wish to die tonight…?"
Silence.
"Good. I thought as much. Run along now, and get back on home." He turned and began to walk back to the white horse, which had been waiting patiently near the gates. Then, he abruptly stopped as though he had just remembered something. "Oh, and the next time you have any complaints against the way his majesty does things… write a letter, won't you?"
Then, with a gallop and a whoosh of air, he and the horse were gone.
That night, the humbled villagers went back home and knew that the old saying was true after all.
Death really does ride a pale horse.
Sighing, theknight left the village at nightfall...
It wasn't a rare occurence that he had to put down rebellions. Most people were happy with the good King's rule, but... a single man's protest could spark an entire riot.
It was his job to prevent this.
In truth, he often acted cruel, but... He wasn't really such a bad guy... he didn't think so anyway. Just becuase he took his profession seriously, and wasn't afraid to use force, didn't automatically make him cold-hearted, did it...?
Heh... Cold Hearted. That fit well. He had, after all, inherited his family's innate mastery over elemental frost... Hell, his chilling demeanor and freezing powers had been the reason for his men giving him the moniker, "Sub-Zero"... He cuoldn't recall the last time he'd used his real name... Oh well...
He departed the village on his horce, hooves thumping softly on the dusty road as he went...
A Couple Miles Away At A Local Convent…
"Sister Jeanette "Jinx" Black… you have formally been accused of attempted murder as well as the use and extensive knowledge of witchcraft. How do you answer?" A tall elderly woman with a hooked nose and wearing black robes demanded crossly.
Just across from her, sat a young girl in a small, wooden chair. She was tied to the chair with rope, and her hands and feet were bound together with iron shackles. She was dressed in a rather shabby tan gown that seemed several sizes too big for her petite frame.
Stranger yet was her appearance. Pale gray skin, the shade of a shadow, combined with a shock of neon-pink hair tied into two bullhorn-shaped pigtails, gave her a very unique look.
"If anyone here has attempted murder here, you old hag…" She hissed silkily, her catlike eyes narrowing hatefully. "… It's you. Those servant girls did nothing except accidentally knock over a candelabra… and you gave them 30 lashes with a whip!"
The girl, Jinx, remembered the occasion well… she'd been so outraged by the injustice of the punishment; she'd hexed the whip so that it flailed backwards and began lashing the one wielding it… the biggest mistake she'd ever made.
"SILENCE! My authority will not be questioned, you little witch-whelp!" The convent mistress crowed angrily.
"Do what you want." Jinx answered with a shrug. "… I don't really care anymore…"
Ever since her parents had sent her away to live here, her life had been even more miserable than at home. She'd always been different. And feared because of it. Between her bad-luck causing magic, and her rather dark appearance, it was no wonder she was thought of as a witch.
"Fine!" Spat the old woman. Her eyes, though they'd been flashing with malice a moment ago, suddenly displayed an immense satisfaction.
She snapped her gnarled fingers. A moment of dead silence passed, then, a couple of monks in brown, hooded robes shuffled slowly in.
"You summoned us, ma'am?" One asked respectfully.
"Yes…" She answered with a deadly calm. "If you would be so kind, please go and fetch some oil. Oh and a few bales of straw… and a crate of torches."
"Oil… straw…and torches?" The second monk asked, clearly puzzled. "But… why…?"
"Why? Why, because we are to have ourselves a witch-burning in exactly one hour."
The monks stared confusedly… but then their gaze drifted over to the young girl shackled to the chair, and their eyes widened with shock.
"Ma'am… surely you jest! The church forbids convents from enacting such punishment! And besides, 'tis but a girl…"
"DO YOU WANT TO BURN WITH HER?" The old crone screeched.
"… N-no ma'am…"
"Then do as I say!"
Meanwhile…
"Thank the Good Lord..." Sub-Zero groaned softly, catching sight of a large, looming building in the distance... a convent. Surely, THEY had a room he might borrow for the night.
Making his way up the dark, dirt path, he knocked carefully on the huge, wrought iron door. A small slit opened up, revealing a pair of nervous eyes.
"Um... Wh-Who is it...?"
It was one of the servant girls, apparently.
"I'm sorry to intrude so late, but..." Zero yelled through the door. "... Please. I am a soldier of his majesty, the king... and I am seeking a room for the night. The nearest in is in the next town, many miles off... might you have a room I could use...?"
THe girls eyes went wide as dinner plates.
"Oh! I..I... I am terribly sorry, Sir Knight but... We... er... have just..." Her eyes shifted nervously. "... Rented out the last to some minstrels." She squeaked. " I am afraid you will have to bed down in the woods, tonight."
Then, the little opening popped shut again, leaving a shocked knight standing there hot, tired, and hungry.
He looked incredulously at the massive, multi-storied, brick-and-earthen building before him... there was... no WAY... they had every room occupied.
He looked back and forth to make sure no one was watching...
... And started to climb the wall...
"To Hell with Minstrels..." he muttered crossly. "I need a damn bed..."
Jinx gazed dully out into space as the workers poured buckets of crude oil at her bare feet, soaking the dry straw that had been heaped around her. Her hands were shackled, and her ankles tied together with rope, and her eyes blindfolded.
She could have escaped easily... but the fact was, she didn't want to. She just didn't care anymore.
If she was going to die... she might as well die this way...
"Hm...Almost...got it..."
Zero grabbed the top of the wall, and pulled himself over with a pant...
Once on, he lay down and sighed. It wasn't exactly chivalrous to sneak into a convent and use a bed, but... He was tired. And he knew they were lying...
About to leap off the wall into the courtyard, he froze at what he saw.
A girl. A girl, tied to a post like a prisoner, bound and blindfolded...
He was confused until... he saw the straw. And the oil... and the lit torch held by a nearby monk...
They intended to burn her!
"Well... Minstrels, huh? Indeed!" He snorted. "This is why they didn't want me in there... Burning is strictly prohibited for the Church! If they wield this kind of power... why… The word, 'Sanctuary' will mean nothing..."
As he watched, he saw the torch flung to her feet... and the oiled straw burst into flame...
The captive, though she'd remained motionless and calm, must've felt the heat of the encroaching flames, because instantly she cried out and began wriggling desperately against her bonds...
He knew what he had to do...
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Jinx was afraid. For the first time in her sixteen years, she was deathly afraid. She had been indifferent before, but now... now that death was literally at her door...
She screamed, struggling against her bonds as some of the flames rose higher adn began to scorch her pale, bare feet.
Suddenly... she was aware of a gust of cool wind... and suddenly, the chains, ropes, and blindfold all fell off... her vision was blurry; she felt faint from the heat, but...
Jinx could make out a shape... of... a man? With a mane of long, white hair down to his back, and ruby-red eyes, and wearing pure white robes with shining blue armor.
"Hold on to me..." he whispered in a soft, almost musical voice...
Jinx, in her slightly delirious state thanks to the heat, thought surely this was some strange angel or spirit come to deliver her from the fires... gladly, she threw her newly-freed arms around him...
"I'm sorry, Madame... but as you know, Burning it strictly prohibited for the church... So I'm afraid I'll have to confiscate this..." He motioned to the girl in his arms "... Ta-ta!"
Then, he leaped over the wall and he was gone...
Setting the girl down once he and his horse were a good distance away from the convent, he gently kneeled over and held out his palm... a breeze of cold air blew out, soothing her burnt feet.
"Allow me to introduce myself, Mademoiselle... I am Sub-Zero, or at least that's what they call me. What's your name, Madame?" He asked her softly, concerned for her safety.
She looked up at him with tired, bleary eyes... they reminded him a bit of the mountain lions he'd seen in his travels; very catlike... and she spoke.
"...J...Ji..Jinx... My name is.. Jinx."
Well, that's the first installment of my new AU fic… hope you find it entertaining, if only because it's a change of pace. The other Teen Titans characters, as well as my other OC's will be introduced soon as well.
Read and Review!
--The Mad Phantom…