I do not claim Teen Titans, or anything to do with Dragon Riders. (Eragon, Eldest, et cetra)
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Dragon Riders? Recap: When the Titans returned from defeating Cinderblock, all they found was the tower trashed! Much to their discouragement, almost everything in the tower had been destroyed by the five dragons and Silkie. Can they keep their dragons under control?
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Pronunciation: Zarathustra: Zarr-uh-thust-trah (thust rhymes with thrust)
Xenos: Zee-noss
Laetitia: Lay-teet-tee-uh
Hytimjir't: High-tim-jurt
Aedh: Aid-h
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The Goth stepped into the common room, where everything was normal; Robin was listening to music, Starfire was cooking up something and Cyborg and Beast Boy were fighting over the game controller. The only differences were the dragons assembled there. Xenos had a plate filled with tofu on it and he held a disgusted look on his muzzle as he sniffed it. But with a quick glance at his Rider, he took a hasty bite, grimaced at the taste, swallowing it anyways.
His tongue lolled out of his jaws, and his eyes were wide and large. Hytimjir't was staring down into the bubbling pot on the stove that Starfire was busily stirring and adding in more ingredients. Her eyes were narrowed to slits as she stared with boredom at the bubbling mess, recoiling when her Rider pulled the spoon out. The mixture was on the spoon and the water dragon could've sworn it was still alive as her Rider pushed the spoon closer to her jaws.
"Taste," the alien said softly, although there was decision in her voice.
Without waiting for her dragon, she stuffed the spoon into her small jaws, releasing it. Choking on the large spoon that she had almost fully swallowed, she spit out the spoon, but to keep her Rider's feelings strong, she swallowed the goop. She grimaced at her idiotism; it tasted horrid and she could feel the chunks sliding down her throat.
Aedh sat on top of Robin's CD player, his eyes staring at the speakers that blasted out the music that was much too loud for his liking. Nonetheless, he didn't complain once; he was trying his best to get back on his Rider's good side after what happened to his bedroom. He didn't dare even make a peep about the music, merely pushed his ears against his horn to try to block out some of the noise.
Laetitia sat excitedly on the back of the sofa, her long body sitting up high in a large hump. Her eyes followed the controller as she waited for her turn, which-not at all to her knowledge-would not occur.
"Yo, BB, I'm in the middle of a one-player game!" Cyborg complained bitterly.
No one noticed Raven walking to the edge of the sofa, or her sit down, or her open her book and begin reading. No one noticed the head that peeked out from her cloak, its red eyes staring at the new language. Though currently the dragon had no knowledge of the words that were not English, Zarathustra's Rider was translating the words to him in their minds and he was paying good attention to the text.
"I don't care! It's my turn, dude!" the changeling retorted.
"Shut up! I can't think with all this bickering!" roared an angry Robin, who's mask had begun to twitch with frustration, but only Starfire and four of the five dragons paid attention to him; Beast Boy and Cyborg were to involved in their argument and Raven and Zarathustra were to engrossed in their reading.
"It is not! You just woke up; go eat your tofu, you little green bean," snapped the metallic man.
"No way, dude, it's my turn! Besides, you need to go buy more groceries, including my tofu!" challenged the green boy, tugging harder on the controller, but the robot tugged back.
"What do you mean it's my turn to buy groceries as well as your stupid tofu? It was your dragon that ate the food and your dragon that's eating the rest of your tofu!" Cyborg bellowed.
"Hey, Cy! It's not my fault I was hungry," complained the earth dragon between mouthfuls of tofu, but he was ignored.
"Let go already!" the changeling whined.
"No way, man!" snarled Cyborg.
A large, metallic hand released itself from the controller and the robot jerked it backwards to punch the little green boy. In doing so, his elbow hit Raven in the head hard, forcing her to fall over the side of the couch. Hearing a thump, Cyborg let go of the game controller, sending the green changeling flying over the other side of the sofa, controller in hands. When the Goth rose, she glared at the metallic man while Zarathustra went to retrieve the book with bitterness.
"Oops, uh, sorry Rae," he apologized, trying not to get killed, but nothing he did could stop it.
With a zap from the charka gem on her forehead, Cyborg was catapulted over the back of the couch, landing with a thud on the ground behind it. In doing so, he hit Laetitia on the way, but before he could land on her, she got free, the large teen barely missing her. She let out a hiss of warning before he lunged upward, landing on the back of the couch. Grumbling, she settled herself in.
Book in mouth, the dragon of darkness returned to his Rider who had seated herself back on the couch. He dropped it in her lap, then lay down on her legs to continue reading when Starfire came around the side of the couch.
"Try!" she ordered the Goth, shoving a mouthful of her recipe in Raven's face.
She recoiled. Red eyes boring daggers into the alien, the dragon knew exactly how to save his Rider; in fact, it was the only way.
He ate the slump.
He choked on the stuff in his jaws, but he had at least cleaned the spoon, leaving the alien to stare down at the empty wooden spoon in her jaws.
Horrid food! He complained to the Goth as she glanced up at the girl.
That's what you get in trying Star's cooking. For your own safety, I'd suggest you don't try it again, she answered coolly.
It was the only way to save you! He retorted, growling low as Starfire walked back to her dragon, who was staring intently at the pot.
Laetitia glanced at Hytimjir't, giving her a nod.
"Hey, Star!" Laetitia called, making the alien turn around to stare at the dragon; the perfect distraction.
"Yes?" she inquired, the same moment Hytimjir't had dumped the goop in the garbage and was just returning with the empty pot.
She set it down in the normal spot, taking her seat before it, her tail flicking from side-to-side. Cyborg and Beast Boy-whom had finally risen from their positions on the floor-chuckled at the devious plan, while Robin just shook his head.
Pretty good plan, wouldn't you say, BB?
What? Hey, who said that and how did you get in my mind?! He immediately stopped laughing, but no one took any notice.
There was a scoff in his head before the reply: Can't you recognize anything? I mean, if Raven were to talk to you in your mind, you'd know who it was, wouldn't you? There was a chuckle, followed by a smooching sound.
Cut that out! The changeling snapped.
Fine. Now, to answer your questions asked earlier. I am Xenos, your dragon. Gosh, you're so stupid. Anyways, Rider and dragon are connected by minds. Thus I can speak to you in my mind as you can to me as well. In fact, all Riders can do that. I'm sure Raven and Zarathustra are doing it currently and that's why he knows the odd text in her book. Anyways, your emotions are my emotions; your thoughts are mine, as mine are yours. I'm surprised you haven't noted my thoughts on the tofu. There was another chuckle, then a pause before the dragon continued. Now, do you not agree with me that it was a devious plan and quite intelligent?
Uh, okay then dude. And I do have a brain; I just don't use it much.
Sure, scoffed Xenos.
Shut up. Anyways, uh, I guess it was a pretty good plan.
When Laetitia didn't reply, the girl shrugged, walking towards her recipe. When she looked down in the pot, she saw nothing there and cried: "Eeep!"
"What's the matter, Star?" Raven questioned monotone, not even bothering to look up from her book.
"Someone has eaten all of my glorbnefft!" she complained in a squealing voice.
"Uh, oops. Was I not supposed to eat it all? It was so good; I just couldn't help myself," Hytimjir't apologized, a sly grin forcing itself on her muzzle.
The other dragons chuckled softly before resuming their current duties.
"Oh. Never mind then."
"Okay Titans, let us begin," Robin announced. "Dragons, you can learn something from this."
The five teens and five mischievous dragons had gathered in the training area. Cyborg, Robin and Starfire were seated on the bench with the five dragons beside them. Raven and Beast Boy were in the middle, standing facing each other. The changeling fidgeted, while the Goth stood calm and quiet, her violet eyes staring coolly at the boy.
It is okay, Beast Boy. You can do it. Just think she's another criminal, Xenos coaxed.
But she isn't! Whimpered the changeling, glancing at the dragon, whom was sitting there, wearing a green cap he had found.
His eyes flicked to the black dragon, who also wore a cap, but it was a black baseball cap with a raven on it. He hissed at the changeling, making him flinch.
You can beat him; easy. I can feel your powers surging through you. They are strong, commented a dry voice in the Goth's head.
I know, Zarathustra.
"Titans, go!" ordered Robin, who was sitting quite close to Starfire and had his arms crossed over his chest.
Taking a deep breath, the green boy closed his eyes for a second before he morphed into a ram. When his eyes opened, the girl was no longer there.
Where'd she-
TURN AROUND! Hissed Xenos, but it was too late.
As soon as he had begun to turn around, he was kicked hard in the flank and sent flying, skidding across the floor as he morphed back. Rubbing the back of his head when he stopped, he rose to his feet, a determined look crossing his face. His pupils turned to slits and he increased in size as he became a pterodactyl. He flew forward towards her, stretching out his talons. He tried to claw at the Goth, but she slid to the side easily.
She didn't expect him to change quickly into a tyrannosaurus rex though and slam his tail into her. It pinned her against the wall, making her grimace in pain as the wall cracked slightly.
G- Zarathustra began, but she cut him off.
I know what I'm doing, she answered sharply, although there was more to her voice in her mind than just her normal voice.
Her body melted into the wall and the changeling changed back, searching for her. A leg connected hard with his legs, knocking him off his feet before he was jerked into the air by a black aura. It pushed him against the wall, not as hard as he had the Goth, but still pretty hard.
The aura disappeared and he slid down the wall, looking around for the girl, but he still couldn't see her. A foot slammed into his back, making him fall flat on his face as Raven emerged from the wall, her hood up, although her face remained emotionless.
Get up; don't give up; you can do it if you put your mind to it. Put them self-esteem into it! Cried the earth dragon, but again it was just too late.
"End!" cried Robin. "Raven, congratulations. Beast Boy, good job."
"Sure," he muttered under his breath, staggering weakly to his feet and stumbling towards the bench, where he slumped down beside Cyborg.
"Looks like mister almighty got his ass kicked by a girl. Man, you got creamed badly; that was a petty fight you put up there," Cy taunted.
"Hey! I wasn't trying to hurt!" complained an angry changeling.
"Mmm, sure you were," mocked Zarathustra, who motioned to the cracked wall where Beast Boy had smacked Raven against it and the blood smeared there. "That's why you caused that."
He gaped at it, grappling for his voice before he whispered hoarsely: "I didn't."
"You did," said an icy voice as the Goth sat down beside her dragon.
Blood tricked down her forehead and her palms were bloody, but she didn't care.
"Oh my god, Raven, I'm so sorry!" Beast Boy apologized swiftly, reaching over to help her.
He retracted his hand sharply when that same tail slammed down just a centimeter from his fingers. Zarathustra hissed at the boy, then turned to Raven, who was staring at him intently, knowing he had a plan. Using the bottom of his tail to wipe away the blood on her hands, his red eyes glowered at the flesh that had been stripped of her hands. Spreading out his wings, he touched his muzzle to her hands and new skin began to form over the wounds until it looked as though nothing had ever even happened.
Surprisingly, it didn't hurt anymore either. Wiping the blood off of the bottom of his tail, he climbed onto her shoulder, wiping the blood on her face before he touched his nose to the gash on her head, healing it as well.
How'd you do that? She asked when he finished.
Not sure. Dragons have powers that even we don't know about; it happens and we don't have a clue at how it occurred, he answered simply.
Beast Boy glared at the dragon, his brow furrowed as Starfire and Robin began to battle with each other.