Hey, Titans! Yeah, I know my updates are getting slow by the moment. Even though I have three-day no school, teachers had to barge in and lash out the projects needed by the end of 'no school'. Sigh Sorry, I took so long. But no fear, for I have more ideas had came into me while I was finishing my homework. So don't really expect that this One-shot story will be ending just because of some hiatus or setbacks.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans or DC.
When another attack just came in to Earth. That threat, Blackfire, just said for her sister that just changed her perspective of things all around her.
Starfire sat at her pink chair, in front is a dressing tablet containing a mirror and some dressers for storing. She sighed, following her thoughts back at her big sister. What she said about her was making her offended, and felt something.
... An aura that could change her. Yes, she will use this. So that she won't be as a disgrace. Won't be a Troq. She smiled at the mirror, readily prepared for a battle if so.
And well, guess what?
A siren came across the whole room to the hallways. The alien girl stood up and flew out of her room. Seeing her friends' room hadn't opened, she guessed she was late and they were on the living room already.
The girl flew airborne as fast as she could until leapt to a stop once she got to the door entering to a living room. There she saw her friends already stood before the big television, looking at the trouble will seek for today.
"Johnny Rancid." Robin announced, making Beast Boy groan. "Really? That guy again?"
"What he got this time?" He added.
"Don't know, wasting time. Titans Go!" Robin yelled out, with little nods they went off.
"That's right, Jump City. FEAR ME!" Johnny Rancid laughed maniacally as he released a swarm of medium-sized metallic dogs braking angrily and endlessly. Citizens were evacuating the area, exiting in their cars while the on traffic, and leaving buildings close to the near danger. The villain laughed at the people, who were currently screaming and running away as always.
Unfortunately, Rancid's dogs were pretty fast and agile than normal dogs. The metallic dogs were nearing to the runaway citizens. And when Johnny got them, he took a sight of couple of red and yellow color. Noticing it fully, it struck at the end sides of the metallic dogs and it was...
Birdarangs.
Widens eyes at the realization, he quickly used a remote that he took from his pocket and pressed a button.
The dogs were immediately covered up with purple forcefield that the birdarangs failed to destroy the main targets and blown uselessly. "Your little toys won't bother my pets anymore, birdboy." He smirked, pressing another button on the remote.
That caused the dogs to run and bark rabidly as the people fled. The cries of the children lured the dogs to them, children just stood paralyzed.
However, just as when they got near, black shades of darkness loomed around the dogs, trapping them in a big black bubble. "Wha-" Before Johnny could process, he had bit hit greatly at the face by the swing of a metal bo-staff. He was staggered back and grunted, feeling the hot seeping pain at his face. Then turned to look in front of him.
"You better teach your dogs some good manners before you take them to a walk, Rancid." Robin stood at a fighting position, whilst at the back, were the others handling the citizens and Raven pursuing the dogs inside her bubble. Johnny didn't make any sort of remark, as he saw the odds of him winning are little. He growled at the heroic boy, tried punching him left to right.
Robin blocked the punches and looked for a clean attack to sneak in. He immediately thought of an idea and caught the hand of the man before he could land a punch. Robin got the upper hand and kicked him in the stomach flipping back to avoid landing a fall. Johnny was again staggered backwards.
Meanwhile, Raven focused on the bubble, hearing the barks of robotic dogs inside. "Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos..." Raven chanted and began shrinking the bubble which crush the metal immensely. Then, she completely crushed the dogs, hearing the slight metal bend screech. Raven sighed in relief, released the dogs out of the bubble.
Well, not looking like dogs anymore. The pieces of metal were all over. Seeing bear traps just set to be the mouth of the dogs and some adjustment wires ahead. Raven looked back at her friends. Robin seemed to be doing good as he summersaulted the opponent. Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire were evacuating the people to safety. But, something just doesn't feel right.
She felt a dark aura. Raven tried locating it and was surrounding Starfire.
Her, of all people, couldn't be...
Could she?
Raven shook her head, thinking that she could be wrong. Starfire would never be as dark as her. She's too innocent, sweet, and kind.
Or so she thought.
"Wrong again, Kid!" Raven and the other Titans heard as they saw Johnny held a white remote, and pressing the very red button. Before the teens could react, the ground was rumbling, like so to be an earthquake, little pebbles jumping at the intensity.
It is, however, not from the ground.
Raven saw the metal parts began to... mix?
The metallic components were melting, combining magically to another. Making the bear trap dog heads at the top, looking to be a head; the bodies of metal and aluminum combined itself to a large body; and the arms and legs being from every parts of leftover metal dogs. It was horrifying sight for children, especially their young mind could not handle such... sharp situations.
Starfire immediately hushed and shooed the children back at their parents, who were waiting in their arms. While smiling slightly by the care of a parent, she wondered if she would be one. But for now, she would need to focus the trouble at hand. Not that it mattered anymore. Since she will fight head on. The large body of head bear traps scarred other little children that they had seen the transformation. And Starfire was not pleased with what Rancid did. She glowed green, intesity of fire like she would never have to before.
Robin still fought Johnny, but momentarily stopped as the large metal heads bear traps kicked him off his master, landing him off too where Johnny left a big dent on the brick wall.
Beast Boy transformed into a bull, fuming angrily feeling the air he exhaled was a smoke from a fire. Then lunged at the opponent. However, automatically the large dog knew and barked with great amount of force to push back whoever was in front of the big metal villain. The buildings almost collapsed, cars flew also back but for small setback force. Other people tried to scurry off the scene, but caught off guard with a loud bark, that flew them forward off the area. Luckily, they didn't land roughly, as the Azarathian casted a spell to make a large soft platform for them to easily stand and run. Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy were affected but had their force to keep steady. Starfire, greatly unusually angry, flew fast up to the large dog.
"How dare you hurt the innocent people." Starfire muttered, especially showing affection for Robin that Johnny's pet kicked him unconscious. Even though it was a minor setback for the spiky-haired boy.
Robin stood up, groaning and... now noticing the big dog and Starfire racing in.
The alien girl pushed her thoughts further into anger. 'Righteous Fury' she thought, keeping also intact of her powers coming from her emotions. She blew a punch at the dog/metallic contraption at the chest, that was close forbher expectations as the contraption-along with Johhny- flew back and landed on the ground with a great impact. Starfire, satisfied, smiled at what she had done. 'I have proved my worth, big sister.' Starfire thought feeling the victorious cheer inside her head.
However, she was not done with this kind of act. She will still try proving a point. For her friends, that without knowing.
She saw a movement from the big metal dog, the arms still functioning.
But not for long when Starfire raged with fire intentionally, swooped to hold the arm. With a war cry like she was in her home for training, she pulled off the arm. Sparks and wires dancing crazily as the jointed metal had come to its very end. Johnny, taken aback seeing the girl had removed the arm, roared for the dog to fight back.
And so it did.
Starfire was too late, as the metal contacted to her pulling her back then roughly falling to the ground. The arm she took out had fallen on the ground also, kicked off by the contraption after staring at it moments ago. The other Titans immediately took off near the fallen Titan. Robin ran as fast as the speed of light and checked on Starfire.
"Starfire...?" Robin mumbled, seeing the girl groaned made his heart beat slower than the last time. He really thought she would... but the thought in his mind began questioning...
Since when did Star showed pure anger? So much... hate?
Robin shakingly still knelt beside her, while the others are attacking Rancid's pet. He thought about it. It could've been his fault, he was sure it is. All the fury, hate, anger... That started with him. Ever since the obsession of finding Slade's identity, he was trying... turning into not something similar to what Slade would do. He knew he affected his friends a lot, especially Starfire with her innocent guilt lingering inside her. Robin could only blame himself, as for the deed was done and there was no fixing his mistakes.
"I'm sorry, Star." Robin whispered to her, making sure she didn't hear it even though he really wanted her to hear.
The ground shook beneath the surface. The rocks tumbled and the buildings were shaking as if they're gonna fall by an earthquake. Starfire opened her eyes, seeing upon a worried glance of her best friend. She didn't mind that pity, she wanted this to be finished. And then, without a thought, Starfire blasted away leaving Robin kneeled with weighing guilt.
She saw the other Titans falling down against the contraption, while the metal dog was in such a bad condition, maybe due to the her friends' efforts they fought to it.
She smirked. Never in a millions ways would she smile at the enemies she faced. Never in a million ways would she pull out an arm of an enemy, crushing them mercilessly. And that left her in thought, she had been keeping her true powers for so long. Maybe it's time to give it a go.
And so she, with her all-powered strength, flew towards the big metal's chest. Causing a massive hole with burning tips of green and orange. Johnny gasped in horror for his creation, later then punched by the face of Starfire's fury. The giant fell down, malfunctioned. The creator groaned in such pain on his now left red face, add that with blood on his nose and trickling also on the head. "Anything you have to say?" Starfire let out a threatening glare and showed off her starbolts, taking a stance.
Rancid knows he lost, he was just not admitting it to a girl who just kicked his *ss. "As if girlie! You still haven't beat me yet!" He spat, giving Starfire the rage she will endure to the man. Hence, she tried punching him again.
"Star, STOP!" Keyword: tried.
She looked from behind to locate the voice that wishes her to stop. And then there she saw...
The face of the horrified Titans. Her friends. That snapped her back. Starfire looked back at the enemy, also seeing the fear inside of the anger's face. Starfire backed away, the fear evident on the citizens. Never had they seen the most innocent and kindest Titan, would be doing the fear for them. Then the girl was confused. Why weren't they proud? Why were they horrified? Didn't they want me to...?
The alien girl fought back tears, feeling offended drifted to the Titans Tower ignoring the cries of her friends.
"Dude, what's gotten into her?" Beast Boy stared at the girl as she flew away. "I don't know. But I do know it's not her intention to..." Robin hesitantly said, doubtful of what he believed.
"Yeah, Star wouldn't do this unless there's a reason." Cyborg added.
Raven knew of the aura surrounding her. She just didn't believe her friend would... do that.
"Raven...?" Raven tilted her head towards the Robin. Looking sadly, shook her head. "Starfire's aura... it's not normal at all. I felt it, she seemed very... distant. Her emotions continue to pursue the blinding rage of her, resulting her powers were deadly..." Raven bit her lip.
"...For now."
The three boys nodded slightly, taking the information all in. Robin assumed already it was his fault. That even before the 'Apprenticeship',
Right now, Robin first took care of the enemy putting him in jail and the Titans taking the giant metal to the police for the metal contractors.
The four Titans arrived in the Tower after the clean-up. Cyborg and Beast Boy raced up to the living room, that could be heard just from downstairs of their bickering. Raven and Robin stared at them amused silently. But Robin couldn't shake of the fact that Starfire would be violent. Well, maybe he was just missing something. Was it like a tradition to Tamaraneans? Was it his fault, the Apprenticeship? Was he so blind that she was always like this in her planet? Or was he too focused on her being too innocent and naive that he did not notice her strength?
"You seem troubled." Robin snapped back from his trance, looking at Raven who he assumed she was the one who spoke. "You know why, Rae." Robin rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. Raven though, also worries about Starfire. I mean, she had helped her with such control between neutral to emotional. Their bonding time spent on shopping and meditating if there's spare time to do so. two girls had a sisterly relationship. "Maybe try talking to her." Raven suggested. Raven knew of their own relationship. Awhile, they both have their moments, Raven saw it, but always ended with trouble from the city. She knew Robin was the closest of 'friends' to Starfire, as she was to him.
Robin thought about it.
"I'll keep the two quiet as I can, you try talking it out." Raven walked away leaving Robin to think about what he was gonna do.
Starfire laid down her bed, feeling the guilt and yet anger coursing down on her. How? How would she able to reach the full potential? Why weren't her friends not proud of her?
She was frustrated.
Until a knock came out.
"Star?"
In seconds, she stood up, almost tripped for being too fast. She heard Robin knock again, that the other side Robin was waiting patiently and worryingly. Starfire felt a little hesitant, though she would not shut Robin off. She knew she did something uncommon, coming from her. But she still did not understand.
Starfire sighed, hoping to find an explanation from her best friend. She didn't fly as usual, she didn't feel like to have happy thoughts today. Instead, walking towards the door, she opened to see Robin standing, looking with such concern and nervousness. "Yes, Robin?" Starfire asked politely, not trying to ruin up the conversation because of her mood. Robin, being trained with a detective, knew she was in a bad mood. Her face, deep inside, looked with guilt, shame, and frustration. Little did he know, she was confused in all this. "Star, can we talk?" He asked.
"Of course..." Starfire hid her emotions into her innocent, happy self letting Robin enter her room. Robin accepted the gesture and looked at her with a 'thanks'. He sat down the edge of her bed, patted the bed beside while on eyes on Starfire. Knowing what the sign is, she walked towards him, sitting beside him.
There was an awkward silence. Starfire, witing for the teen to talk, and Robin trying to come up something to start it.
"So..." He trailed off.
"What really happened, Star?" Robin was not repeating what happened, more like he asked what had Starfire unusually done. "I do not understand." Starfire sighed, with Robin also gave a confused look.
"Huh?"
"It is just... I thought you would all be the proud of me." Starfire said, now staring at Robin.
Robin was utterly confused as ever. 'Proud?' He thought, shaking his head making sure he was hearing right. "..What do you mean, 'proud'? Star... I've never seen you so..." he hesitantly said.
"Is it because of me?" He asked now bowing his head, guilt and shame written all over his head.
Starfire widened her eyes. Her best friend's fault? No way, why would he think...
Starfire clicked at the idea. Of course... the Apprenticeship and her saying he and Slade were similar. The Tameranean wasn't stupid to figure that out. He had a hard time trying to forget about it. And so was Starfire's relationship with him. He was distant and cold when Slade came up into the picture. Sometimes, banging his clenched fist onto the desk. Robin thought Starfire was affected in all of his doings up until now. Starfire never and ever she would be a disappointment to him. And now she was feeling like she did it.
"Robin, it is not your fault. I so thought that being cold and strong could..." She said, now Robin glancing at her without noticing because of the domino mask. "Could make me to a real Titan." Robin didn't get surprised by this, which Starfire's expectations failed to do so. He thought about it. He knew being like that. He knew he acted that in the past. But Starfire?
"Star, you don't need to be strong and cold as us. We have different ways to be a hero. Whether from too much kindness or not, to prove they're a hero, is to prove how they'll be one." Robin held out his hand to hers, comforting her but failed. She struck away and continued looking at the floor. Robin sighed and spoke again.
"You had a different trait. Kindness is your main strength to your noble heroics. Changing into cold and calculated like me doesn't change the fact you're a real Titan. Every hero could have different acts to know who you are. Look at BB. He, on the team, is the most annoying and youngest member. Raven is the most quietest person and coldest in the team. Cyborg is the most smartest and a mechanic in the team. You are the most kindest here. That doesn't change or really need to change to be a real Titan." Starfire looked up at him, rubbing her eyes to remove the tears.
"That is... true?" She asked innocently. "Yes." One answer came out making the girl smile slightly.
"Thank you friend Robin." Starfire immediately hugged before Robin could retaliate. But as time passed, he gave in and returned the favor, surprised also for Starfire not crushing him. "Never change, Star. It's you who matters." Robin mumbled, letting Starfire hear it.
"I promise." Starfire said.
The moment passed on, as the two teens got a little talk and went out to meet the whole. Starfire was back at her usual self, forgetting about Blackfire's unruly advices. The three others asked her about what happened and resolved quickly enough with Robin's brief explanation.
Luckily, no one took malice and suspicions, as they got back to their usual doings. Beast Boy had suggested her to join their three-player game. As always, Star would accept and leaving Robin and Raven watching the three play.
Starfire was happy to be her once again.
Sorry about the rush talk with Rob and Star, got a little frustrated about the long story and all. But hey, at least I enjoyed it. And internet's kinda a bummer right now. Couldn't work. So I tried getting internet on our neighborhood, by meaning they don't know I have been connected to their server. So that means I will have slow updates, but I'll try my best making it early.