The Princess and the Pauper

As Told Through a Teen Titan Fanfiction

Part 1

The bell rang, and the young girl picked up her books and purse. Finally, the day was over! As much as living on Earth...no! Can't talk like that...it was the other girl talking. The reason for all of this mess. Why she had to change schools so often, why she could never stay and make attachments.

You don't need attachments, Rachel. The other girl! Shut her out! Shut her out!

I can't be ignored, Rachel. I'm part of you. It's not polite to ignore those who are talking to you.

"You're not real!" Rachel had walked into the girls' bathroom, splashing cold water onto her face. She looked into the mirror. "You're a figment!"

Not a figment, a reality. Embrace me, Rachel, you've been running for too long. Let me show you all of your real memories.

"No! It's not real! Go away!"

Now Rachel's chest was beginning to hurt. Her eyes flashed from a hazel green to an ocean blue. Bleach blond hair became darker. Pain in her ears—proof of the piercings her other half wore.

"Much better," the other girl looked at her reflection in the mirror.

The new girl—Lucianna—had dark blond hair, ocean blue eyes, and fair skin. She was actually a Princess, an "alien" as Earthlings put it. She had been banished from her home Planet and trapped into the body of an average Human. Another of her eldest brother's petty games.

Well, she could adapt.

Her other siblings had run out on her long ago, having abandoned their search.

Maybe they didn't abandon their search. Rachel taunted. Maybe they got trapped like you!

"Be quiet, please," Lucianna growled, "You don't know what you're referring to."

Now, now, manners!

"You're disoriented," Lucianna chided. "I won't argue with you."

How will you walk out of here? Rachel smirked. No one recognizes you.

Here, Lucianna smiled.

"We're going out the window."

Crap! No!

Too late. Luna had jumped out of the second story window, Rachel's books under her arm. Before they were even a foot out, dark blue wings spewed from her back, and they soared silently over the city. Luna slipped into Rachel's opened bedroom window, leaving her books on her desk.

From the open window, a T building could be seen rising out of the water.

Luna took off again.

Within the T building—Titan Tower—a purple haired girl floated inches from the ground. Her name: Raven. Her meditation helped her control her powers, but today, they showed her something else: the rebirth, or rather the awakening, of an alien creature.

"Robin!" she called, coming out of her trance.

Batman's sidekick, a one-man-SWAT, black haired youth came running in.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I saw her again," Raven relayed.

"The alien?"

"I don't think she's an alien, Robin," Raven shook her head, "She looks like one of...you, but her aura suggests something different. Like she's from another planet or something."

"We need to look into this," Robin agreed. "She's been quiet so far, but we don't know what she'll do."

Three other Titans—a red haired alien (for reals, I swear!), a green shapeshifter, and a cyborg—all came into the main room.

"So, who're we tracking?" Beast Boy asked, turning into a blood hound.

"No one, we're surveying a possible ally."

Luna entered the alley cautiously. Rachel was screaming in the back of her head.

Girls don't do this sort of thing!

"I'm getting quite tired of your nagging!" Luna snapped.

"Who's nagging?" a male voice said from behind her.

Luna spun to face a man in an all-metal appearing suit. His mask covered his face, and only one side was clearly visible.

"Who are you?" Luna snarled.

"Down, girl, I came to talk."

"Talk about what? You reek of evil!" Luna shook her head.

"Exactly. You're the new power in town, and I came to harness you for my own. Before the Titans or anyone else can dissuade you."

"Why would I join an evildoer like you?"

"I will make your life hell."

"I'm rarely here in person, how could you possibly?"

"Do you think it's hard to find out that you stay with a high school student?" his voice dripped with venom.

He knows! Oh Gods! Rachel freaked.

Calm yourself! You'll change us back in front of him! Luna scolded.

"So what? I can have friends and family, can't I? Not all heroes need to live alone." Luna rolled her eyes.

"I grow tired of this banter," he shook his head. "Answer me."

"No."

"Such a pity, I had hoped I wouldn't have to kill you."

"What a shame, and here I thought I shouldn't have to kick your ass."

The man chose that moment to run at her. Big mistake. Luna was a trained soldier from her Planet—it was only by sheer jealousy she had been trapped on Earth. But when the time came for her to lash out, she couldn't move.

Rachel! She screamed. Release!

He's gonna kill us! We're gonna die! Rachel wailed inside her head.

He won't if I get to him first, let—

He punched her in the jaw. The uppercut sent her sailing backwards, but she managed to keep her footing when she landed.

"Having trouble?" he sneered.

Oh shit oh shit oh shit! Rachel lamented.

Shut up and give me control!

Luna's arm shot up to deflect a hammer fist.

Raven floated a few feet in front of the other Titans. Her senses were honed in on the other girl—Lucianna. She was in trouble, her aura was sending out frantic waves. Raven opened her eyes at the corner before an open alley.

"She's down there, with Slade."

"Damn, he tried to get to her first!" Robin punched a fist into his other hand.

"But she won't join him, and that is why they are fighting." Starfire—the red haired alien—quipped.

They rounded the corner just in time to see Lucianna blast Slade through the alley mouth with a large blue flame. Her eyes blazed defiance before she sank to the ground. Knees met pavement with a loud smack, and her hands saved her from face-planting. After a few deep breaths, she stood up—and froze upon seeing the Titans.

"Greetings," Starfire stepped in front of the others. "I am Starfire, from the planet of Tameran."

"I am Lucianna," Luna replied, "Head Heiress to the Throne of Saturn."

"Star..." Robin cautioned.

Starfire ignored him. "What brings you to our Earth, Lucianna?"

Luna didn't answer, folding her arms over her chest.

"You are a princess too, are you not?" she asked instead.

"Yes," Starfire agreed.

"Have you siblings?"

"A sister."

"Indeed? I, too, have a sister. Two brothers, as well."

"Enough small talk!" Robin pulled Starfire back and went to stand toe-to-toe with Luna. "Are you friend or foe?"

"I can be either," Luna answered.

Robin raised an eyebrow.

"Robin, she is no threat to us," Raven assured.

"With ammo like that, she could have turned it on anyone, but she let loose on Slade." Cyborg put in.

"It could have been us," Robin shook his head.

Luna sighed.

"Stop speaking of me as if I am not here with you. Yes, it could have been you on the receiving end of my magick blast. But it was...Slade, because he threatened me. No harm will come to you."

"I think she's telling the truth, dude." Beast Boy shrugged.

Robin planted himself in front of Luna, eyes narrowed. She stared back at him, her face composed.

"Uh...Robin?" Cyborg raised an eyebrow.

"No, it's alright." Luna didn't take her eyes off of Robin. "Let him get the macho out of his system."

"Macho!" Robin snarled. "You show up fighting m—our archenemy, claiming to be some princess from within our own solar system, and you expect us to believe you?"

"You believe Starfire is a Tamaranian," Luna pointed out.

"That's different!" he protested.

"Is it?" Luna asked. "Is it really any different, Robin? If it's so easy for you to believe Starfire, why not me?"

"I don't KNOW you!"

Luna shoved her face into Robin's so fast he couldn't react.

"Then take your best shot, bird boy."

She backed up, spreading her arms and retracting her wings.

"No powers. You and me, Robin."

"Fine," he smirked. "But don't cry to me when I beat you."

"How about a little wager then?" Luna smiled. "I win, I get to join your team. You win?"

"You leave my city."

"Done."

They took their positions. The rest of the Titans backed up to the wall. Inside of Luna, Rachel was screaming.

Are you insane?!? You can't take him! Do you have any idea who he is?

No, Rachel. I'm getting into this fight with no prior knowledge of my opponent. Luna inwardly rolled her eyes.

Then you know you can't beat him!

And what makes you think I can't?

He's a one-man SWAT team! Batman doesn't choose weak sidekicks.

All the more reason for me to test him out.

Huh?

Robin attacked first. Bringing out his staff in a single sweep, he brought it down towards Luna's head. She sidestepped, blocking the blow with her arm. Sweeping her arm in an arc, she brought his staff into the crook of her arm, then stepped inside Robin's guard and punched him in the nose. He let go of his staff and staggered back. Luna's attack had taken less than a few seconds.

Starfire gasped.

Robin braced himself. Luna didn't move except to throw the staff to the ground behind her, never taking her gaze from the short kid in front of her. Widening her stance, she raised an eyebrow.

"So you're fast, big deal." Robin rushed her.

Luna sidestepped him again. He followed her and punched. She ducked, catching his fist. Flipping him, she twisted. Robin landed on his stomach with Luna twisting his arm behind his back.

"You're fast, little bird, but not fast enough."

"Dude!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "She downed Robin! Not even Cyborg can do that!"

"Yes I can..." Cyborg mumbled.

"Let me up!" Robin yelled.

"Don't think so," Luna replied calmly. "Not until you calm down."

"I am calm, dammit!"

"No, you're not."

Suddenly, Luna released him, clutching her head. Blond hair tainted brown.

"Are you alright?" Starfire asked, coming toward her.

"Stay away!" Luna—no, Rachel—pleaded. "I-I have to go!"

Turning away, she fled.

"Wait!" Raven called after her.

Give me my wings, Rachel!

The girls in one body took flight.