Starfire was immersed in a hazy mist of lavender. She was confused, disoriented, and a little frightened when a violet ring emerged from the blinding light. It leisurely approached her with all of its radiance and glory, slowly inching its way towards where she stood as she watched it with wide eyes.
"Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran," a gentle feminine voice called to her. "You have lost your one true love, for he has spurned you."
She looked at the ring in utter disbelief, but then remembered the reasons for her heartache. Dick hadn't tried to contact her, not once, during their year apart. Even after he'd promised that despite the distance, their love would prevail. She held on to his words like they were the only piece of hope that she had left, as if it were her lifeline. However, it seemed that he had forgotten.
"The Star Sapphires," it continued, "offer to make your heart whole again. To reunite you, and to become one of our own."
Daintily shaking her head, Starfire declined. "No. He has done nothing wrong."
An amused giggle reverberated from the ring. "Allow me to show you all that he has done wrong."
In an instant, the violet light grew brighter, shaping itself into a mirror-like circle in front of the Tamaranean princess. Images of her beloved Nightwing began to play, and it was as if she were sitting on a front row seat of a movie theater.
At seeing him, she was overcome with happiness. However, that feeling lasted for only two seconds, when she saw that Nightwing had moved on with several women.
Starfire was struck with a pang of misery as she watched Dick proposing to a red-head on a wheel chair. She then witnessed him kissing another woman, this time with inky hair and a purple and black uniform. The last image was of a woman clad in an orange getup with a charcoal spider perched on her chest, whom her love had also kissed.
Feeling absolute dread and sheer fury cancel out her state of sorrow, her expression shifted into that of stoicism.
"He has done you wrong, Princess." The ring spoke once again as the illustrations dissipated. "Join us."
Holding out her hand in acceptance to the ring's offer, she narrowed her eyes as all emotions dematerialized with the images she'd fallen witness to.
It gradually slipped itself onto her finger, where a wedding ring would have been if Nightwing hadn't left. Evaluating it with explicit curiosity, she was alarmed when her newly obtained ring initiated a lilac-colored portal to open. It was prodding her to enter, so she did.
And the sight she saw was unbelievable.
An enormous palace, with a giant Violet Power Battery roosting on top, towered before her, and was surrounded by an abundance of smaller buildings. Female guards dressed in plum-colored attire, all of them holding spears that were obviously conjured from the purple energy, were scattered throughout the castle-like fortress.
Soon, she was greeted by a blue-skinned woman adorning an amethyst crown with a star-like figure in the center. She immediately deciphered that the woman approaching her was the leader.
"Ah, Princess Koriand'r. It joys me to see that you have accepted our ring," she cooed. "I am Queen Aga'po of Zamaron. We welcome you to the Star Sapphire Corps."
Starfire rooted her right fist to her chest and bowed, offering her respect to the Queen by means of her home world.
"I thank you, Queen Aga'po."
"Recite the Oath, young Princess." the Queen commanded. Starfire rose from her inclination and looked at her with a confusion-stained expression. "Hold up your ring," she pointed to the Violet Power Battery, "and aim it in that direction."
Starfire obeyed, and instantly felt like she was being controlled as she chanted the Oath, which she hadn't known only a few seconds ago.
"For Hearts Long Lost and Full of Fright,
For Those Alone In Blackest Night,
Accept Our Ring and Join Our Fight,
Love Conquers All - With Violet Light!"
Starfire was rapidly engulfed in the violaceous aura from head to toe, and as it slowly dispersed, found herself harboring newly found strength and sporting a peculiarly kinky uniform. It was significantly more revealing than her previous ensemble, but she could care less. What intrigued her the most was the fact that she didn't feel the slightest bit of joy, yet she was once again gifted with the ability of flight.
"Now, Koriand'r, you must listen to your heart. What does it tell you?"
"I..." Falling silent for moment, Starfire concentrated on her feelings. She wasn't sure what she felt. "I do not know."
She then felt a sudden presence encompassing her as Queen Aga'po held up her hand, which was coated in fuchsia-colored energy, reading her emotions for her.
"You are in severe pain," she looked at the Tamaranean with a mournful expression. "Perhaps you are wishing for revenge."
"No! I could not. A deed such as that would hurt him deeply."
The Queen scoffed at her remark. "Honestly, has he not caused you enough heartache?"
"He has..." she grimaced, "very much saddened me."
"So why not return the favor?"
"I do not know if I am capable." She looked down at the ground, experiencing the wrath of anguish.
Queen Aga'po placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Yes, you can. With the power of Love, you are able."
Starfire raised her eyes to meet with the Queen's. "I am not so certain."
"You do not need to be. The one thing you must do is obey your heart, and your heart wants to avenge itself."
"But... I do not believe I have the will." She claimed, trying to come up with an excuse.
"Oh, come now." The Queen laughed. "You are no Green Lantern. Your love is the only drive you will ever need."
Starfire absentmindedly nodded as she realized that her new commander was indeed right.
If she wasn't wearing the violet ring, maybe she'd have made a completely different decision. It wasn't in her nature to agree to intentionally harm her love. In this case, however, she was greatly compelled by her new power, and soon believed that it was the right thing to do, and the only option she had.
"Yes, my Queen."
The blue-skinned overseer smiled. "Go now, Princess. Oblige him with the pain and agony that he has forced upon you." And with that, another portal leading back to Earth opened.