Disclaimer: No ownership to Nintendo and Game Freak's Pokémon or DC Comics' Teen Titans.


Titan Aura

Chapter 1: CinderBlocked


Nighttime. An illuminated city enjoyed the simple time, coming home from work after a hard day in their businesses. Things seemed normal for a night like this, almost picturesque. That peaceful night shattered. Choruses of screams echoed from a crowd in panic. Charging was a giant rock statue looking, and moving, like humanly possible. "Cinderblock!" one fearing citizen shouted. The heavy behemoth of squared stones stomped down the city, turning vehicles over with ease. Each interection forced it to stop and scan the signs depicting street names. Choosing a street, it traversed the road, leaving craters in the street. An armored truck entered down the road, blocking Cinderblock's avenue of travel. A heavily armed squad exited the back of the truck and faced the rock-beast.

"Operation: Chisel!" the member in front ordered. "Let's chip Cinderblock down to size." Using laser rifles, the squad unleashed a storm of blasts at Cinderblock, covering itself with its massive arms. It fought through the torrent and charged at the squad and their truck.

"Incoming!" another yelled, panicked. The squad cleared from Cinderblock's path, not willing to take a hit from the stone creature. It smashed and tore the armored truck like battering ram. Seeing the aftermath and watching Cinderblock continue, the leader smashed his rifle out of frustration.

"Piece of junk! I told the techs to increase the output!" One more squad member tried to ease the leader's outburst.

"They said they couldn't after running tests!" he reported. "It was too unstable at increased power!" Helplessly, they watched Cinderblock get farther and farther from sight. Cinderblock resumed its rampage a little while longer, the cement face lurking around every back alley around.

"Slade put you through this again, Cinderblock?" voiced a young man. Cinderblock turned to find a young raven-haired teenage boy in a red spandex shirt and green pants. He wore an eye mask and cape while also wielding a collapsible staff. Cinderblock growled at the sight of the youngster. It did nothing to the teen. Out of a back alley was a midnight blue cloak. Pale legs protruded from beneath the cloak

"I suppose that's one way to travel," a young woman murmured. She pulled the hood to reveal a pale teenage, dark purple-haired girl with a gem embedded on her forehead. "Of course, it's the blockhead." Three more entered the scene, one by silver car. Emerging from the driver's door was a bald black young man with half his head being robotic with a red eye. He also had a cybernetic body from neck to toe. There was a green-haired, green-skinned boy in a purple and black jumpsuit. He emerged from the passenger's seat. The last was a tangerine-skinned redhead wearing a purple midriff, miniskirt and boots flying above the other two.

"You will go no further!" she proposed. Cinderblock roared back, taking no words for grant.

"Titans, go!" shouted the teen in red and green. The redhead flew in, raining green energy spheres onto the concrete creature. It covered up to brace damage.

"Beast Boy, your chance!" The green-skinned boy nodded before morphing into a rhino and charging the hostile. Hearing the hooves closing, Cinderblock turned to find Beast Boy closing the gap. It jumped backwards before swinging around, a fist enclosed.

"Uh oh!" he gulped. BAM! Cinderblock crushed a punch to Beast Boy's snout, flooring the rhino before morphing back to himself. The redhead descended to block Beast Boy from more damage.

"Try this on for size!" She shot green laser beams from her eyes, blasting Cinderblock back. This gave the masked one a chance as he pulled discs from a yellow utility belt. Flinging, the discs stuck to the creature's back which exploded. Rattled but undeterred, Cinderblock turned to the masked teen. He had more discs in his hand which the creature reached for. "Robin!" Cinderblock came close to snagging Robin but he proved evasive, lobbing the discs to the underarm. They exploded as well but there appeared to be no damage to the blasts.

"Nothing?!" he gasped. Cinderblock adjusted the aim to take Robin down. The redhead flew in to catch the masked teen before Cinderblock's crush. "Good timing, Starfire!" The hooded figure waved her arms upward as mysterious forces lifted her cloak, revealing a dark blue leotard. Glowing shadows enveloped and pulled on Cinderblock's arms. Quickly, she began losing strength.

"Guys, I can't hold him for long!" she warned.

"We're coming, Raven!" shouted Beast Boy before he transformed into a cheetah. He sprinted to Raven's side as Cinderblock broke the shadow hold with sheer strength. Robin glanced to the black teen who appeared to have a plan.

"Let's hit Rocky with the Sonic Boom combo," he suggested. Robin nodded, hoping that would work.

"You got the sonic, Cyborg," he identified as he attached two more discs to each end of his staff. "I got the boom!" Robin lead the attack by leaping to the air. Cinderblock turned to find Robin and tried to intercept, but again did Robin's speed throw the golem off kilter. Robin swung the staff with one end making contact to Cinderblock's torso. The explosion staggered the giant slab of walking rock. Robin wasted virtually no time by flicking the other disc from the staff toward its face as Cyborg dove at the enemy.

"Here's dynamite in your eyes!" One of Cyborg's arms became a cannon which shot a blue blast of energy at Cinderblock's face. KABOOM! The concussive blast covered Cinderblock in smoke while everyone felt the ripple of the force as Cyborg and Robin reached the others now gathered. To Cyborg, the attacks scored directly at their adversary. "Booya!" Premature celebration as the smoke cleared and Cinderblock looked untouched. The group looked on in dismay.

"Do you want to take the 'Booya!' back?" asked Starfire. Robin cringed at the still standing enemy.

"We're hitting it with everything we have!" he growled. "How's it still on its feet?"

"Not everything yet," Beast Boy grunted before racing at Cinderblock while morphing into a gorilla. Both Beast Boy and Cinderblock clasped arms. Cinderblock gave one yank to lift Beast Boy to the air.

"Beast Boy!" That's when Cyborg saw an opening and turned to the redhead.

"Double Shot, Star!" he called down. "Now!" Cyborg aimed her cannon and Starfire gazed down Cinderblock. The brawling statue chucked Beast Boy at the group, knocking all but Raven down as she flew to the air. Beast Boy reverted back to human form, somewhat while Raven returned to the street.

"Okay..." he ached. "Now, we've tried everything." Cinderblock let out a ferocious roar as it stared down Raven, supposedly the last line of defense.

"Azarath..." she muttered. "Metreon… Zinthos!" She flung her arms down after raising them for her chant. A veil of black enveloped Cinderblock and began to compact it. Raven's attempt to stop it failed as Cinderblock overpowered the veil and broke free by tearing it apart. She gulped at the strength from the behemoth.

"Raven, get out of there!" Raven wanted to move like Beast Boy wanted. Cinderblock started its charge at the pale teenager. Within feet, Cinderblock began to fall, a roar of pain as it lost footing. The statue collapsed, crashing on the asphalt. The Titans weren't sure what happened as they viewed Cinderblock motionless.

"I believe a 'Booya!' is in reorder?" mistaken Starfire. Cyborg disagreed to the timing.

"Star, only when I deal the last blow," he corrected. Robin dug into another pouch and threw what seemed to be another disc but this one unveiled chains that wrapped around Cinderblock before releasing a white substance that covered its body.

"That should keep Cinderblock still," he assured. "Speaking of still… Did we weaken Cinderblock enough?" Raven and Beast Boy looked baffled to the outcome.

"I don't know," Beast Boy shrugged. "I mean… We have no idea what blockhead was after." Raven had a guess on her mind.

"Didn't you ask if Slade sent Cinderblock?" she recalled as Starfire glanced away from the downed enemy. Something caught her eye that caused her to float away from the rest.

"I did," Robin recalled. "I'm thinking it may be after Plasmus like before… and considering the path it took, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the case. We're a few blocks away from where Plasmus is held." That's when they found Starfire holding a red baseball cap a few feet from Cinderblock. The front of the cap was black with a small green circle with a bigger semicircle acting as a dome.

"Hey, Star!" called Cyborg. "What did you find?" Cyborg and Robin came to Starfire with the cap.

"Did Cinderblock take a little boy's hat on his rampage?" she questioned. Beast Boy and Raven also came by to view the item.

"I hope not," Robin muttered. Another armored truck arrived with more heavily armed security applying hi-tech restraints after removing the substance.

"Thanks again, Titans!" one member praised. Beast Boy excused the security before turning to see Robin with the cap.

"I haven't seen a cap design like this anywhere." That's when Starfire looked to find something blue and yellow several feet away. She flew to check what lied down. There was a raven-haired boy in a blue sleeveless hooded jacket over what seemed like a black t-shirt and jeans. By him was a large yellow mouse with large ears and a zigzag tail like a lightning bolt. It also had a pair of brown streaks on its back. Both laid strewn on the street unconscious.

"Are you okay?" she asked. The boy didn't respond. She began to fear that he died but felt air emitting from his mouth, his breathing shallow like he had the wind knocked out as much as him. 'He's alive. Thank goodness.' Seeing the mouse, Starfire believed it was alive as well and picked him up as the rest came over.

"Who's this?" wondered Raven.

"No clue. I just found them scattered from where Cinderblock was stopped." The mouse suddenly felt itself in someone's arms and began awakening.

("We stop falling yet?") it squeaked as it started to open its eyes. Starfire heard the creature she cradled and looked to find it coming around.

"Are you… okay?" she asked. Ears perking, the mouse looked up to find Starfire.

("I am but what about Ash? And who are you?") To Starfire, all she heard were a series of "Pika," "Pika Pi" and a "Pikachu." Despite not being able to understand the mouse, she grew giddy.

"You are just so adorable!" She hugged the mouse with a bear hug, holding the critter with a crushing squeeze, irritating it.

("Hurting…! Can't breathe!")

"You and Silkie can be bestest of friends!" Beast Boy noticed the mouse's struggle.

"Starfire, take it easy!" he warned. "You don't want to kill that weird mouse!" Starfire paid more attention to the mouse than her green-faced friend. She wiggled her body playfully as the mouse began to panic from lack of air.

"Starfire can make sure you're taken care of, whatever you are!" Having endured enough, the mouse let out a blast of electricity, shocking the tangerine-skinned girl. The shock stopped Starfire's tight squeeze on the mouse, though she didn't release it. She felt the electricity stop any movement but her mouth. "Mice… don't… have..." The mouse jumped down to check on the boy as Robin and Raven came to the mouse's side. Robin made a conclusion as to understanding the relationship.

"This boy must be your owner, right?" he guessed.

("He's my trainer and friend!") it squeaked in concern. ("I can't leave Ash alone!") While not understanding the rodent, Robin realized the boy needed help.

"He does need medical assistance," Cyborg noted. "I'll call for an ambulance to-"

"No, Cyborg," Robin denied. "Let's bring him to the Tower. No doctor will see that mouse as normal." Starfire shook off the electricity and listened.

"Agreed," she acknowledged the idea. "I'll take the mouse there. Raven, think you can keep the boy comfortable?" Raven irked to Starfire's request.

"You want me to be in Cyborg's car and in the back seat with his head on my lap?" she gawked.

"We don't know what injuries he has," Robin pointed out. "Besides, it would be best if he remains hidden due to the mouse." Cyborg lifted a lid on his arm and hit a few buttons. The car rolled to the group before it opened doors. Raven entered before Robin and Cyborg loaded the boy inside, resting his head on her lap. Cyborg got behind the wheel. He drove away from the scene. Beast Boy transformed into a flying squirrel and tailed Cyborg's car as Robin got a red motorcycle, much to the mouse's astonishment.

"Don't worry," Starfire reassured. "My friends will make sure he's okay." The mouse wanted to believe her. She began to fly toward a T-shaped structure overlooking the city on a rocky island. The mouse only wondered how these people would help the boy it called Ash.


TO BE CONTINUED...