Chapter 3: The Jewel Planet System
Two little girls were playing in the garden outside a big castle. Sapphira looked around and couldn't help but feel like she knew this place. She watched the two girls play. Both of them were blonde and blue eyed. One girl was wearing a red sundress and the other a blue one. Both girls were having fun making crowns out of the flowers.
"Sara! Sora!"
The girls jumped up and looked to the tall woman standing a few feet away. She was blonde and red eyed. She was a true Garadonia through and through. She was wearing a long red dress and a red crown sat on top of her head. She just screamed regal. She had to be the queen of the castle.
Sapphira knew she had seen this woman somewhere before, she just couldn't place her finger on where.
"Sorry mother, we were just playing," one of the girls said.
"Yeah, it was all her idea," the other said pointing to her sister. The other scowled at her.
"That is enough, your tutor is here and it's time for lessons," their mother said.
Sapphira sat up straight in her bed. That had been such a weird dream. She got out of bed and left the room. She started wandering the tower.
Sapphira had been with the Titans for almost three weeks now. She was getting to know them better and making friends with them. She bonded with Terra the most for some reason. They were all happy to have her around. She was fun and kept things interesting with her witchy ways or asking about human customs that she didn't know about. She was an alien after all and some things were still foreign to her, there wasn't much that she didn't know, but sometimes something stumped her.
Sapphira found the Titans lounging about. There was no trouble and the Titans had done their patrol already, so there wasn't much to do. The Titans were actually bored. Beast Boy was laying on the couch while Cyborg, Starfire, Terra, and Sapphira sat around him watching TV. Robin was sitting in the kitchen with his head resting on his hand and Raven was meditating in her room.
"I almost wish someone would cause some trouble," Beast Boy moaned.
"Me too," Cyborg said.
"Careful what you wish for," Sapphira said.
"What are you psychic now?" Beast Boy teased.
"No, but the next villain you fight might not be easy to take care of," Sapphira stated matter-of-factly.
"Yeah, well I would welcome that right about now," Beast Boy said.
"Yeah, we haven't really done anything in days," Cyborg said nodding his head.
"She's right," Robin said nodding his head as the Alarm started blaring. Robin jumped up and ran over to the computer. Cyborg was right behind him.
"Who is it? Cinderblock? Plasmus?" Beast Boy asked eagerly. He was ready to do something, anything.
"Doesn't say," Robin said slowly as he tapped away at the computer. A image appeared on the big screen before all the Titans for them to look at. Sapphira jumped up looking at the screen.
"That's a Emadonian vine demon," she said slowly.
"Emadonia is part of the same system Garadonia is too is it not?" Starfire asked.
"Yeah, but we can talk about that later, demons there are not like the people of Emadonia, they are violent," Sapphira said as she turned and started for the door. She turned to look back at the Titans. "I'm gonna need some help," she said.
"Let's go," Robin said. The Titans nodded their heads and followed Sapphira out the door. They all quickly made their way into town. Sapphira was the first to the demon. The demon was in the park causing trouble. It was blowing up leaves and making plants attack people. The demon was about six feet tall and made of vines. It's arms were vines that were spread out and causing trouble. It didn't have any humanlike qualities, except it's face. It had glowing red eyes and a mouth, but no nose.
Sapphira ran forward at the demon while the Titans moved about getting people away from the demon safely. Sapphira caught the demons attention. Sapphira charged at the demon. She had to stop it before it caused too much trouble. She knew her water powers would be no good here, but there had to be a spell to use. None of them came to her though.
Sapphira launched herself into the air and landed on the demons back. She didn't really have a plan. She was just winging it, and hoping for the best. The Titans seemed busy getting people away safely. Sapphira was on her own for the moment.
"Pitiful girl," the demon snarled in it's deep voice. It grabbed her and threw her down to the ground. Sapphira felt the air rush from her body as she hit the ground. She knew that she was going to have to out smart the demon in order to win. She knew her water powers would only make the demon stronger.
"What if something happens and you're not able to use them." Robin's voice echoed in her head. Sapphira now understood what he had meant about a situation coming where she couldn't use her powers, but hand to hand fighting wasn't going to help her here.
"Who are you?" Sapphira asked as she rolled over dodging an attack from the vine that smashed onto the ground just inches from her. Sapphira pushed herself up from the ground and looked at the demon.
"Like I'd tell you, you little witch," The demon snarled. Sapphira frowned, this was going to be harder than she thought. Sapphira hesitated and the demon grabbed her. Vines wrapped around her midsection and lifted her into the air. Sapphira started to struggle and try to get free. The more she struggled the tighter the grip on her got.
"Sapphira hold still," Robin ordered. Sapphira froze, trusting him to help her. She heard A whir as something hit the vines and she was cut free. Sapphira fell to the ground and caught herself with her hands before she hit her face to the ground. She looked up and saw Starfire unleash a barrage of starbolts on the demon. The demon swayed but that just seemed to make it more angry. Sapphira looked around and saw Terra coming at the demon with rocks behind her. She started to attack the demon with the rocks. The demon turned to her and Sapphira hollered at Starfire to hit her with her starbolts again. The double assault seemed to be the trick. Once the dust settled Sapphira saw that the demon was on the ground. The vines around the demon had all withdrew back to the main body. Sapphira walked over to the demon and looked at it. It was out and that was a good thing.
"Is it dead?" Beast Boy asked as he and the rest of the Titans walked over.
"No, just knocked out," Sapphira said as she reached into her pouch and pulled out a small vile with a clear powder inside. She pulled the lid off and poured some of the contents on the demon before closing it and putting the vile away. The demon shrank and shriveled up.
"What'd you do?" Cyborg asked.
"Dehydrated it," Sapphira said, "I know for a fact that water only makes this type of demon stronger and the only way to stop it is to take away the source," Sapphira said as she pulled a cloth out of her pouch. She wrapped the vines up in the cloth and turned to the Titans.
"So what happens if it gets wet?" Cyborg asked.
"It does what is just did," Sapphira said. She then crushed the demon up and pulled out a small container from her pouch and placed the cloth inside the container. "Don't worry, I'll keep it nice and dry," she said. She sealed the container and put it in her pouch.
The Titans and Sapphira returned to the tower together. They all turned to Sapphira first.
"How did you know about the demon and what to do?" Robin asked. Sapphira reached into the pouch at her side and pulled out a book and tossed it onto the table in front of her.
"I may not remember who I am, but I had this with me. It's a book about demons," Sapphira said, "I used it to help me kill a few demons when I first woke up. I had to get stop the demons somehow and this book was in my bag among the others I found. This book has all types of demons and they're whereabouts," she explained.
"You've been fighting demons since you arrived?" Robin asked.
"I've only seen like about eight of them in my time here, that was the first one since I came to stay here," Sapphira said.
"Ok now what about the planet system you were talking about earlier," Raven said.
"Ok this one I know, Tameran, Garadonia, and Emadonia are all part of the jewel planet system," Sapphira said putting her demon book away and pulling out another one. "They all represent a jewel that is only found on that certain planet."
"Yes, Garadonia is the garnet, Emadonia is the emerald, and Tameran is the Peridot," Starfire said.
"So why is it it's own planet system?" Beast Boy asked confused.
"There were actually thirteen planets according to the book," Sapphira said opening the book to show them a page with a big illustration that took up two pages. It looked like planet system. "The thirteen planets are Tameran," she said pointing to a small dot on the page and moving to the next as she named the rest of the planets. "Garadonia, Sapphidonia, Emadonia, Sparks, Arakleon, Tectalia, Opeara, Turkalona, Amethystria, Seredona, Tropali, and Aquanali," she said ending on the farthest out planet.
"Out of the original thirteen planets nine are still alive and prospering," Starfire said looking at Sapphira who nodded her head in agreement.
"What happened to the other four," Robin asked.
"Well, hundreds of years ago the thirteen planets that made up the jewel planets were at war with a darkness that tried to consume them. They had to band together to stop them. After the war Sapphidonia, Seredona, Tectalia, and Aquanali died. Their crops stopped growing, the people got sick, and warmth left the planet. The people who were well enough left their home planets to neighboring planets where they live on today," Starfire said.
"What do you mean war?" Cyborg asked confused.
"It was against a darkness that tried to consume the planets," Sapphira said turning the page of her book. "In order to stop the darkness that challenged them, thirteen female warriors were chosen from each planet and sent to fight the darkness with the blessing of the jewel of their planet," She said as she turned a few pages and showed them an illustration of thirteen women standing together. "They each took on a warrior persona and were named after their home planets."
"They fought the darkness with their powers granted to them by their jewels. Each was given a special power that was unique to them and their home planet," Starfire said.
"Wow," Robin said in awe. The rest of the Titans were in the same state as him. They were all shocked to learn about this history.
"So they defeated the darkness then," Raven asked.
"Yes and no, they didn't kill the darkness they only locked it away. It was too powerful and the guardians realized that and one warrior sacrificed herself as they transferred their energy to her and she managed to seal the darkness away," Sapphira said turning the pages to show an illustration of one woman with light around her.
"After that the jewel guardians were formed to protect the place where the darkness was locked away from anyone who's tried to open it. Every new generation brings a new generation of jewel guardians. Each new generation picks up where the last left off and they protect the planets and keep the darkness sealed away. I have yet to hear of the new guardians yet. I am afraid the cycle might be broken and the guardians might not show," Starfire said.
"Would that be bad?" Terra asked slowly.
"Yes, It is the jewel guardians' job to keep the darkness sealed away and if we have no guardians then it can be opened. If that happens the darkness will be free to return and maybe even move past the jewel system to this planet system," Starfire said.
"How does someone know if they're a guardian?" Terra asked.
"The jewel of their planet will reveal itself to them in a vision and they must find it to become a guardian," Starfire said.
"So how long has it been since the last guardians showed themselves," Robin asked curiously.
"Almost eighty years," Starfire said.
"The next cycle should have revealed themselves by now," Sapphira said looking down at her book.
"I know, but during my last transmission with Galfore he seemed worried something was going to happen. Tameran has no guardian," Starfire said. "I have yet to hear anything else," she added looking away from the Titans. The Titans all remained silent as they thought over the new information that they had received.
-The Seventh Titan-
Robin made his way up to the roof of the tower. It was almost sunrise and the other Titans were still sleeping. Robin loved watching the sunrise. It reminded him of a time when things were simple, back before he became a hero. He loved the calming effect the sunrise had on him. He let out a breath and sat down and looked across the bay. He could see the sun starting to come up. The sky was orange and purple against the sun. It was breathtaking and just relaxing.
"It's beautiful isn't it?"
Robin looked over his shoulder and saw Terra standing in the doorway that led back inside. Terra smiled and walked over to him. Robin hadn't even heard her come up behind him.
"Yeah it is, but what you doing up this early?" Robin asked.
"Woke up a while ago and couldn't go back to sleep, I decided to come up here and watch the sunrise, but it seems like you beat me to it," Terra said shrugging.
"So how are things with Beast Boy then? I mean you guys seem happy," Robin said conversationally. Ever since Terra had rejoined the team, Robin was the one she had gotten closest to, besides Beast Boy. It was easy for the two to talk, maybe it was because out of all the Titans they were the closest to normal as they could be. Granted Terra had powers but she chose not to use them whenever she could. She only really used them when they were facing someone tough.
"There are days I wonder how I fell for a goofball like him, but more often than not things are great," Terra said looking across the bay as she talked. It was easy for Terra to talk to Robin when he was relaxed and not in hero mode. It wasn't often he let his guard down like this.
"You make him happy Terra, please don't mess it up," Robin said. Terra knew Robin cared for all the Titans. They were all a family now. For most the Titans was all they had.
"I know, I've made my mistakes and I've learned from them," Terra said nodding her head. She knew she didn't have all the Titans complete trust yet, but she would earn it back. "What do you think of Sapphira?" she asked after a moment of silence.
"I don't know, I mean she seems alright," Robin said.
"Don't be too trusting though, I mean look how well that turned out," Terra said.
"Why do you not trust her," Robin asked.
"No, I do trust her and that's what's scary," Terra said.
"I've noticed everyone seems to like her," Robin said nodding his head. The two sat in silence thinking over the last couple weeks with Sapphira. Sapphira had managed to make friends with the whole tower. She seemed genuine and honest from what they saw, but that was only because she couldn't remember who she was. No one knew what would come once she remembered everything. "I could see her becoming a Titan is she wanted to," Robin said breaking the silence that had fallen between them.
"Me too," Terra said nodding her head.
"I mean she needs some help in some areas, but she's got some potential," Robin said.
"Let's worry about helping her with her memory first, who knows maybe once she remembers who she is, she'll want to leave," Terra said. Robin just nodded his head.
-The Seven Titans-
Terra and Sapphira laughed as they walked through the mall together. Terra had taken it upon herself to show Sapphira the joys of shopping. Sapphira had been getting frustrated about not being able to remember anything. Her vision of the twins didn't help her one bit. She honestly wasn't sure which one she was or if she had the vision because she was supposed to help them or something.
"This is fun," Sapphira said.
"Yep a nice day off everyone once in a while is needed," Terra said nodding her head. They had gone clothes shopping and gotten some food. They were just wandering about right now.
"Thank you for this Terra," Sapphira said.
"No problem," Terra said waving her hand. "I've been dying to get out of the tower myself for awhile now," she added.
"Yeah, me too," Sapphira said nodding her head. "I mean I've been doing too much research and all. But I love having an actual roof over my head," she said quickly.
"I get it, and we're not going to kick you out," Terra said.
"I know, but what if I never find anything, I mean you guys are a team and you can't support a stray forever," Sapphira said.
"Maybe you won't be a stray forever," Terra said as she walked ahead of the blonde alien. Sapphira thought for a moment before catching up with Terra. What did she mean? Was she saying that Sapphira thought she was saying.
"What do you mean?" Sapphira said wanting to know just what Terra meant.
"Well, Robin and I were talking the other day," Terra started.
"About what?" Sapphira asked slowly. She wasn't sure she knew where this was going. She hoped it was going where she thought it was.
"Well, we'd like to see what you can really do. We want you to train with us," Terra said.
"Train?" Sapphira asked, "like workout and stuff," she asked. Terra chuckled and nodded her head. Sapphira was speechless. Terra had more or less just said they might want her on the team. "Sure," Sapphira said nodding her head.
"I'll let Robin know you're interested," Terra said smiling at the blonde alien.
"So I've been thinking about the vision I had the other day and I've got a few theories as to who I am," Sapphira said. She had shared the details of her dream with Terra. Terra was the one Sapphira trusted most. They were similar.
"Lay 'em on me," Terra said.
"Well one, I could be either Sara or Sora," Sapphira began. Terra nodded her head in agreement. "Or maybe I was a guard who looked after the girls and I was sent here to find one or both of them, but I lost my memories along the way," she reasoned.
"That seemed as plausible as anything else at this point," Terra agreed.
"I know right," Sapphira said.
"What I don't get and don't take this the wrong way,' Terra said.
"What?" Sapphira asked.
"Well when Starfire first got here she didn't speak English and when she learned she wasn't that good at it and still doesn't get some of the puns or things we say," Terra said.
"I just woke up with the knowledge which leads me to believe that I might have been to earth before," Sapphira said.
-The Seventh Titan-
"We have to find out which one she is!" an evil voice hollered his voice echoing in the darkness. Sitting at a big throne of demon bones was a demon more fearsome than any other in the universe. His skin was black and scaly, he looked very snakelike. He had two eyes that glowed red with rage. On top of his head were his horns. They gnarly and big and black. He looked to the shadows to his messenger.
Out of the shadows stepped Trigon. He had been resurrected after his daughter killed him. He had been brought back to serve as a messenger. It was all he was good for anymore. He was weak and not worth anything else. He had been defeated by his daughter who was supposed to be his portal to taking over the mortal world.
Trigon had his head lowered as he spoke, "Dark Guardian, my lord, I am afraid that we don't know which of the girl carries the 'gift,' yet."
Rage entered the Dark Guardian's blood once more. He had spent centuries searching for her and even come close to catching her a few times. She was sneaky and conniving. She managed to outsmart him every time he encountered her. Every time he even got a little bit close to her she somehow managed to get away and pass her "gift" on to her next incarnation. She was the Dark Guardian's worst nightmare.
"We have to find out which one she is. If we kill the wrong one she'll know and get away again," the Dark Guardian said.
"There are thirteen of them, we have to figure out which one is her incarnation. You know after the planets were destroyed the people fled to several different planets scattering their bloodlines," Trigon said.
"Time is of the essence, we have to find her fast before she gets too powerful," the Dark Guardian hissed at the smaller demon.
"I know my lord," Trigon said.
"The Guardians have to show themselves sooner or later. Some fool will try to get to the darkness," the Dark Lord mused.
"I know, as soon as they show themselves we'll be able to locate her," Trigon said.
"Then it will be too late," The Dark Guardian snapped.
"We've also got shadows out looking for her, we will locate her as soon as we can, my lord," Trigon said raising his head to look at the Dark Guardian. An evil smile crept onto his face and evil suddenly laughter filled the dark room.
