The Dark Rebellion
A/N: Solor, Starborn/Solor, Soskrein/Susie, the Circle, Vilea and other dragons and Edward are original characters owned by the King of Emerald and Splinter1 respectively. Used by joint permission. Teen Titans characters are property of DC Comics.
[Prologue]
[Sometime after "Transplanted Dragon"]
Vilea, Heiress to Darkness, writes...
It's been a while since Starborn and Edward ended the long war between my father and the Circle and while I have a lot of younger Dragons who want to give Lair a chance, there is a problem that I had hoped wouldn't have raised it's ugly head. There are many older dragons who had sworn their loyalty to my father and until recently, they had laid low. But, now, they have returned to seek their revenge. After Nightmare lost the Bloodbath fight against Edward, Bloodborn was allowed to retrieve Nightmare's charred and beheaded corpse and told the Circle that they were biding their time. It gave us time to prepare for just about anything that they could throw at us. But, there was one aspect that no one could prepare for or foresee...
MALCHIOR.
[Slade's hideout - at the end of "Trigon's Dark Army"]
Slade looked at the video wall and was studying the footage that ended the Dragon War. He was quite curious about the two dragons that teamed up to defeat first Trigon the Terrible, then his benefactor, Oblann the First of the Darkness. When the Teen Titans had taken him down earlier, he couldn't help but notice that they were driven to almost desperation as Solor and Starfire were "missing" at the time. And, while he was behind bars, he had a lot of time to think about things, especially since Terra had him encased in stone and he was quite stuck to the point that the police had a hard time breaking him out of it to allow him the dignity of relieving himself properly.
But, now that he had been freed and managed to accomplish his mission of distracting Edward long enough to summon Trigon, he was forced to lay low in a new safe house.
Beside him lay a white book. There was no title or author written on the cover, just an ornate circle there. It was Malchior's prison that Rorek bound him into hundreds of years ago.
He patiently bided his time until the book was purchased by Raven. He revealed himself to Raven, and almost tricked her into releasing him, claiming that he was Rorek trapped in the book.
However, Beast Boy let it slip that Raven was talking to someone and, well, Solor immediately knew what was happening and raced to her door, almost flattening the others in the process.
He managed to convince Raven that she was being tricked and she said to him, "You played with my emotions, yet, they are mine and mine alone. I sense only deception from you now, and...I know who my true friends are. You taught me how to partially release you and powerful magic, but, you also taught me a curse. Aldruon Enlenthranel Vosolen Lirus-nor!"
With that phrase, the paper body that Raven created was torn apart as Malchior roared, "I WILL BE RELEASED, SWEET RAVEN, AND WHEN I AM, I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"
Raven chanted a different spell, thus binding Malchior further and only she could break that spell. It also silenced the curses and vile threats from Malchior.
Slade was able to steal the portable prison right before Trigon was summoned, seeing as Kreinyol was unable to effectively hide the prison from the mercenary. She had been expecting a dragon to come looking for it, not a human. And an ordinary human would have no idea what kind of prison it was, what it's words were hiding.
But Slade was anything but ordinary.
Opening the book, he scanned the pages until he came unto an illustration of Rorek and Malchior fighting. His eye narrowed slightly, feeling slightly smug. "Hello, Malchior. It has been some time since you've spoken to anyone, hasn't it?"
The young, english voice replied. "Indeed it has. Might I know the name of my new warden?"
"My name is Slade", the mercenary replied. "I was hired by a mutual friend to retrieve your book. Unfortunately, they didn't specify what I was to do with it."
"A mutual friend?" Malchior retorted. He scoffed lightly, not believing him. "Perhaps... and perhaps swine have sprouted extra appendages that give them flight."
"With the right spell, my draconic friend, you know that is possible", Slade reminded the dragon. "And I believe you should have more faith in Nightmare."
That got Malchior surprised. "Nightmare? My old friend? How is he? What has he been doing?"
"Oh, you know. Possessing people, making them do things against their will... although I suppose he has gone into hiding now", Slade responded. "What with the death of Oblaan-"
"WHAT?!" Malchior was livid now. "I know you're lying about that! There is no way in bloody Oblivion that the Grand Darkness could die! He has been in charge of our clan for countless millenia! How dare you-" He was cut off as Slade turned the book, showing him the results of the fight between Oblaan and Filkiin (Starborn). After a moment, he was turned around again, his eyes now wide on the page. "H-How is this p-possible?"
"Solor, or Filkiin as he is known among the dragons, was the First Light's direct descendant. It was his unwitting activation and pure luck that he was able to use the Primal Blessing that was Oblaan's downfall. Had the battle been based on skill alone, Darkness would cover this earth. And that's something I'd much rather prefer."
"A test of skills?" Malchior asked, perplexed.
"Yes", Slade replied. "If a dragon is able to project such a powerful grip on his people... why can't a human? With gifts like those, I would be invincible. All I need... is a teacher."
Malchior sized up Slade. "Your skills are already augmented, Slade. There is something inside of you affecting your reaction times, your ability to read your opponents, your strength... on all accounts, Slade, you should be dead from the poison flowing through your veins." Malchior then let a wicked grin form in his eyes. "Interesting. I shall teach you magic, then, mortal. But it will take time."
"Don't worry about that", Slade responded cooly. "While the Titans are unaware of my presence... we have nothing but time."
So, Slade became the apprentice to Malchior and over the following year, Slade learned what there was to know about the Dark Arts. Malchior was quite knowledgeable and taught Slade everything that he felt the mastermind was able to handle.
Slade's augmented intelligence allowed him to absorb the knowledge that would have taken another spell-caster, Raven included, several years.
Malchior was a hard taskmaster, seeing how he had sworn revenge on Raven. He wanted out of that book badly, but, he knew that while he could communicate, he was well and truly locked away in the book.
Slade's problem was procuring the required powders and potions for some of the magic spells, and, even Malchior warned Slade that some of the magic was extremely powerful and was forbidden to be used by the Circle. Not that they should concern themselves with a bunch of hidebound and backwards old Dragons.
One day, Malchior asked between lessons, "What became of Trigon, Oblann's son?"
"He was banished after a long fight between himself, that damned Solor and another dragon who was impervious to Trigon's weapons," Slade replied.
"Interesting," Malchior said, "Before I was bound into this prison, one of my brothers said he mated with another dragon who was looking to lay a brood and didn't care what clan she had to screw to get it. We heard that she indeed laid a single multi colored egg and we made plans to raid Lair to steal the whelp. I was not honored with being allowed to take part, but, it did not matter. The raid failed, and the whelp disappeared. Grand Darkness assumed that the Circle may have banished the whelp as he was not heard from or about again."
"Then, you may be interested in seeing this," Slade replied, pulling the video of the Battle of Titan Tower and the Battle of Washington.
Malchior watched in great interest as Edward and Solor worked together to fight off the Dark Dragons, and when the other dragons arrived to provide assistance, it was obvious who was in charge of the defense.
"That confirms what was thought," Malchior replied, "That is the hybrid of all the clans, my friend. But, notice that between the battles something changed with the hybrid. He is far stronger in the second fight and more durable. His usage of the Blessing of Light is brighter in the second fight. Yet, Starborn in the final fight was acting alone. The Hybrid looked like he was down and unable to fight."
"That's because he overused those powers," Slade replied, "The media reported that Edward has a resistance to magic and the new abilities were lost. I assume that is something that most of your kind have?"
"For the most part, that is true, but, the dragon would have to be nearly immortal," was the smooth reply.
"This Barnes creature is immortal," Slade reported.
"Then, we will need a dragon who can also use a Primal Blessing to kill this hybrid," Malchior replied wickedly, "A normal Dragon who is not of direct lineage would rather die first as the use of that powerful of magic would leave the dragon in a state of living death."
"A vegetative state," Slade realized, "Who can we get who is a direct descendant of the Grand Darkness? His daughter turned traitor."
"No need to worry on that account, Slade," Malchior said coldly, "I am one of his sons. Had Raven released me, the world would have seen this."
"We have the same goals, then," Slade said, "You desire the destruction of the Teen Titans, as do I. But, I also want control of Jump City."
"I shall give you that control, Slade," Malchior replied, "It will be a fair price to pay for your assistance. I get the rest of this wretched planet to rule."
A year had flown by in the time that the two villains went over magic. One long year, filled with nothing but training, spell lessons, and occasionally, idle banter between the two. They did get along rather well, but this was a business arrangement. Malchior told Slade that in exchange for teaching him magic, the mortal would find a way to release him. Slade agreed, but only after he had learned all the magic he could. After a while, Slade came with grim news to the dragon.
"It appears your friend attempted a coup against the Dark Dragons", Slade said one day. "Edward Barnes, three weeks ago, had been caught off guard by a dragon child, temporarily banished by a Tear of Oblivion. He's only recently been brought back, and told the media that the dragon in question was in custody. Judging by his slightly angered response to certain questions, he intends to kill the offender."
Malchior nodded, his face grim. "Likely, Edward will ask for a Bloodbath. It pits the two against each other, and only the victor is allowed to leave alive. The other is killed. It's a shame, really... we could still use Nightmare's skills."
That was when Malchior got an idea.
"Perhaps... we still could", he said, smiling wickedly. "If we can get a hold of Nightmare's body, then we will be able to raise him, make him fight for us again."
"Necromancy?" Slade asked. "The art of raising the dead. That could be quite useful, in a war against immortal dragons. Every enemy they lay to waste, every ally they lose... we can raise them and force them to fight for us."
"Exactly", Malchior said. "There is only one moral dilemma. Even Grand Darkness would not use such magic without expecting some sort of repercussion. He expressly forbade us from ever using Necromancy."
"The Grand Darkness forbade it? Why?"
"He may have been... insane, if you want to go by the terms of the Circle, but he still respected the dead, and understood that if they were dead, their time on this world was over. In his mind, they earned their place and should be honored for their sacrifice."
"The leader of Dark dragons had a sense of honor..."
"Indeed he did", Malchior said. "Desperate times, though, call for desperate measures. I will teach you about this magic. It will take some time for you to master it though. We can take it for a test run in Edward's home universe later, when you know what to do."
"Of course", Slade replied, smirking.
A month after Slade reported this to Malchior, he came back and said, "You were right. Barnes demanded this fight you were talking about. Nightmare, according to Barnes, died after a long and brutal battle that ended when Barnes shoved his lightning breath down Nightmare's throat, beheading Nightmare in the process."
"Then, Nightmare is with the First," Malchior said sadly.
"No," Slade said, "His soul feeds Trigon. Raven and her twin from Edward's universe made sure of that. I am surprised that they were permitted to carry out that sort of punishment, though."
"N-No! His soul should be with the First!" Malchior cried, "I SHALL AVENGE MY BROTHER! HOW DARE SHE SEND NIGHTMARE TO TRIGON!"
Even Slade was suddenly fearful of his business partner's wrath. But, he dared not show that fear, ever.
So, the training resumed after Malchior was given a few days to mourn.
No one could have seen it coming.
