32 Productions Presents…
A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…"The New Titans"
Chapter Three
The Walk Home: Nine Years Later
Debra sighed as she walked toward her house after school. She was in eighth grade now, her younger siblings both in seventh. School wasn't easy for her, being the only green skinned person in the building. …for that matter, she was probably the only one in the city. Her friends were few. Not that she cared. In truth, unlike her mother did, she preferred to be left alone. While Raven had forced herself into isolation, Debra sought it. It worried her family, but she didn't care. It was easier that way. …easier to control Appa. The chakra stone on her forehead only did so much for her. It was a birthday present for her seventh birthday. She was thrilled…or as thrilled as she allowed herself to get. Debra looked up to her mother then…well, even now, though she was less likely to admit to it. She had even taken to studying the teachings of Azar. Like her mother, she preferred to keep a hood over her head, wearing a blue hoodie when weather permitted. She was growing up nicely. Besides meditation, she also liked to perform yoga and tai chi (or is that one word? I dunno. You know what I mean) which has kept her in decent shape. Her purple mop was neatly trimmed, kept just above her shoulders as she detested having to brush a long mane like her mother now possessed. For some reason that amused her parents…Debra had no idea why. There was that one part of her hair that continuously fell into her face unless she gelled it back. Her gel long since weakened, it was currently dangling in her line of vision. She had grown used to it though and it didn't bother her much.
Arella: Yo, Sis! Wait up!
Debra stopped walking and turned to face her sister. Arella was almost her opposite in every way. Stubborn, aggressive, cheerful, and active were all words that described her. While Debra hid as much of herself behind clothes as she could, Arella wore cargo pants and a tank top. On colder days, she wore a jacket, but she had some of her father's tolerance to cold. Speaking of, she also had a portion of his powers, along with some of Raven's. She could manipulate shadows, but not create them nor bring them to life. She could solidify them, but their movement was solely dependent on her moving them. Fortunately, what little of her mother's telekinesis she possessed allowed her to do that from a distance. Both Debra and Arella had a sensitivity to emotions, particularly dark ones. Debra was more sensitive then Arella, but Arella also possessed her father's enhanced senses. Debra couldn't shift her own body, but Appa sure could. The problem being that Appa had a mind of its own, just one that was open to suggestion. It struggled for dominance, but it wasn't very powerful, mentally. Still, it was nearly constant with its attempts, stopping for an hour or two, only to start again. Debra wore make up around her eyes to hide the rings sleep deprivation caused. She had to take drugs every three days to get a night's sleep without horrible nightmares. She could sleep without the pills, but Appa would torment her with terrible images. As for Damien…he didn't display any powers at all. It confounded his parents, but he didn't seem to notice. After all, he was still smarter then his sisters. While Debra wore earrings and an oddly shaped ring on each hand, Arella stayed away from jewelry unless they were doing something where they had to dress up. Then she wore a gold necklace with a crucifix on in. Arella was NOT a follower of Azar, finding pacifism to be boring. Back to the matter at hand, however. Arella wasn't alone. Following her was a red haired girl, no doubt the same age as Arella. Her expression was pretty much one of boredom. She wore a pair of shorts and a t-shirt that showed mid-drift. She was fairly pale, though nowhere near the pasty color Arella seemed to have been cursed with.
Arella: I'd like you to meet my new pal, Ashley Winston.
Ashley: Wow, you really are green. And here I thought it was a metaphor.
Ashley's voice was as bored sounding as her expression was bored looking. Sometimes Debra questioned Arella's choice in friends.
Ashley: Well, as fun as this has been, Allie, I need to get home. I'll see you tomorrow.
Ashley turned and walked in the opposite direction. Debra shook her head.
Debra: And why did you befriend this one?
Arella: She's funny when she wants to be. And she can solve puzzles like you wouldn't believe. We had this crossword for extra credit and she finished it before the class let out…which was roughly five minutes. I barely finished the across and I rule at these things.
Debra: I see. No after school activities today?
Arella: Nah. Just going to spend some quality time with my punching bag.
Debra: The one in the basement or the one who lives up the street?
Arella winked, grinning.
Arella: Why, Debbie…are you saying that I'm so violent that I would seek out a bully to pound on?
Despite herself, Debra smiled softly.
Debra: Perish the thought, Arella.
Arella: Dammit, why do you and Mom insist on calling me by my full name? I like "Allie" better.
Debra: "A dog wags its tail when it's happy and growls when it's angry. I growl when I'm happy and wag my tail when I'm mad. Surely I must be mad."
Arella: Huh?
Debra: A rendition of a line from "Behind the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carol.
Arella: You lost me.
Debra: …"Alice in Wonderland."
Arella: Oh! …I don't remember that.
Sighing, Debra shook her head. Arella was that type who always said, "I'll wait for the movie" when it came to books. Sometimes it was hard to believe they shared any blood at all.
Debra: It was the Cheshire Cat talking to Alice about everyone there being mad. "I'm mad, you're mad…" "But I'm not mad." "Oh, but you must be mad. Otherwise you wouldn't be here. We're all mad here."
Arella: …wow, that doesn't sound like the movie at all…
Debra shook her head again.
Debra: Never mind. Let's get home.
Junkyard
Ashley sighed as she walked through the piles of rubble and trash. She patted the large Doberman on the head before pushing past the old car and pressing the code on the keypad. The door hidden in the piles of crap opened and she stepped inside. She stepped over the cleaning robot that went by, sighing again. She hated living in a junkyard. She hated a lot of things about her life. Her obsession with puzzles for one thing. When she saw a puzzle it took all her will power to resist solving it. Then of course, there was the whole thing about being a freak.
Gremlin: There you are.
Gremlin stepped out of the darkness. He was taller then before, bulkier too. He almost looked like Slade in a Gremlin costume. Of course, Slade had disappeared years ago. Ashley tossed her book bag down.
Ashley: Hey, Dad.
Gremlin: Have fun at school?
Ashley: Oh yeah. A blast. …I made a friend.
Gremlin, who was about to continue his work, froze. Ashley had never had a friend before.
Gremlin: Really?
Ashley: A little overly cheerful, but definitely nice.
Gremlin: I see. Well, it's time to continue rebuilding your mother.
Sighing, Ashley nodded. It was an impossible task. Neither she nor Gremlin could figure out what exactly he did to create G-9. Even Ashley herself was mostly made of stolen technology. Ashley was beyond a robot. She grew, she aged, even her nails and hair grew out. Organic on the outside, mechanical on the inside. …and she hated it. All her life, it was like people instinctually knew she wasn't human. They teased her, avoided her, or sometimes even tried to hurt her. Of course, she was capable of punching through a brick wall, but that wasn't the point. Unlike her father, she had something. Something important. She had a sense of right and wrong…and sanity. She definitely had that. So saying, she couldn't just cream a bully just because she was angry.
Gremlin: Ashley, hurry up.
Ashley: Right, Dad. Coming.
Knight Household
Debra and Arella came inside. Debra planned to do her homework right away, while, as usual, Arella put it off as long as she could. …in fact, sometimes longer then she could, which resulted in her writing the answers down in class.
Arella: Hey, Damien! We're home you little hell raiser!
No reply. Not that this wasn't common place. Damien often didn't reply to Arella. Debra frowned.
Debra: Arella…
Arella: (whisper) I know. Keep quiet. Act normal. We freak, they freak and something bad happens to somebody.
Debra nodded and they entered the house. Debra sensed others within…those who didn't belong there. Excitement…boredom…two different sources, naturally…and pain from a third source. The third was her brother, she knew that. Arella could smell the trespassers as well. Female…or gay, judging by the fruity smelling shampoo and perfume. As they walked into the kitchen they were both blasted by something. Something purple. It hurt, but only a little. It was just enough to daze them. They were then pinned to the wall by two white glowing hands. Hands made of pure light.
Blackfire: Looks like the gang's all here.
Krystal: Goodie. Let's have a look at you kids, hmm?
Shaking off the blow, the two kids got a look at their captors. They could see Damien tied to one of the dining room chairs. The chair had cinderblocks tied to the legs to prevent him from hopping away. Blackfire looked virtually the same as she had years ago, her hair only slightly shorter. She probably just had a trim recently. Krystal on the other hand, was different. Older…finally more mature looking…and in a wheelchair. The reason for the wheelchair was hidden by a blanket on her lap. Under that blanket was…well…a couple of stumps. Krystal had lost her legs. It happened shortly before Shade left the Titans. Krystal was celebrating her birthday in her usual fashion; blood, mayhem, and maybe a party clown to make balloon animals. The Titans came to stop it, as usual. During the battle, however, something unfortunate happened. Krystal was accidentally flung into a garbage truck. The impact triggered the compacter. Panicking, she managed to crawl mostly out, her knees and below still inside as the metal closed down. They were turned to mush. Blackfire cauterized the wounds with the intense heat of her fully charged blackbolts, preventing the stumps from bleeding out, but there was nothing that could be done to save her legs. Hell, it was hard to find much of them inside the truck afterward. Krystal studied the faces of her new captives. She snorted as she looked at Debra, quickly dismissing her. Instead, she focused on Arella.
Krystal: Hiya! Guess who I am?
Arella: My new punching bag if I ever get loose.
Krystal: Ooo! Feisty, feisty! You are so my brother's little girl.
Debra: B…brother?
Krystal: Hey, Ms. Iwasanaccident. Butt out. Family time.
Arella: You're crazy…
Krystal: That's what the doctors tell me. Anyway, I've got big plans for this little family reunion. See…
Krystal pulled the blanket off her lap, revealing her stumps. Blackfire clenched her fists. She hated being reminded of that…how she had failed to save her. Despite reassurances otherwise, Blackfire always blamed herself. She had been close enough to save her, but figured Krystal would teleport. In her panicked state, Krystal didn't think to do so.
Krystal: Your dad and mom made this happen to me. My own brother cut off my legs! …and all I ever wanted to do was kill him! How mismatched is that?!
Debra: But…with your powers, can't you just create new legs?
Krystal: Duh…why didn't I think of that…maybe because I can't hold it forever! It takes energy to do that! I only do that when I have to. The point is, I'm pissed. Shade broke the rules. It was bad enough when he almost killed me, but THIS!
She pointed at her wheelchair, her teeth clenched in anger.
Krystal: This is too much! Those were my walking feet!
Arella: Last chance Aunt…uh…what's your name?
Krystal: Krystal. This is my life partner, Blackfire.
Blackfire: (bored) Charmed.
Arella: I'm Arella, that's my brother Damien, and this is my sister Debra. Anyway, last chance Aunt Krystal! I will totally kick BOTH of your asses if you don't let us go.
Krystal: Like I said, you're so much like my brother. So much it makes me sick.
Arella cried out as the hand around her started to tighten its grip.
Arella: Argh! D…Deb, you got to use Appa!
Debra: U…use Appa? B…but…
Arella: TRY!
Use Appa? Appa was a dangerous creature she could barely keep under control in her own body! To let Appa out…would…would be exactly what Appa would like. Appa would love a chance to be violent. If she could direct Appa's violence, however…maybe…just maybe it would work. Her eyes rolled back and Appa emerged from her chakra stone.
Krystal: …well, crap.
Howling, Appa transformed into a panther and leapt on Krystal. Debra bit her lip as she struggled to keep Appa from killing her. The hands faded and Arella popped her neck.
Arella: I warned you, didn't I?
Krystal blasted Appa off her, forming legs of light and climbing out of her wheelchair.
Krystal: You know, I was just going to mutilate you kids a little…maybe hack off an arm…
Krystal's body began glowing brightly.
Krystal: But now you've gone and pissed me off. Change of plans, Blackie. We kill them.
Blackfire: Now that's more like it.
Appa reformed next to Debra. It was easier now…Appa almost wanted to obey Debra. Anything for a chance to get revenge for that last attack. Arella cracked her knuckles. There weren't many shadows nearby...but she could remedy. With a motion of her hand, she pulled the blinds for the windows down a little, creating shadows. Krystal noticed and laughed.
Krystal: Oh, I see! You can't create shadows on your own, can you? You little wuss.
Blackfire: Can you even fly, little girl? Let me tell you something before we kill you. It sometimes took all of the Titans to take the two of us down. What can you little brats hope to do?
Not much…but their mother would be home soon. She must have been at the store, since she still didn't have a job that required her to leave the house…or maybe she was at the gym. Either way, she wouldn't be gone for too long. If they could stay alive until then, everything would be fine. …right?
Arella: Let me show you what this little brat can do!
Arella leapt at Blackfire. Blackfire's eyes widened. The style of attack was an almost exact replica of Shade's. She moved her head back and the clawed hand passed just in front of her nose. However, unlike Shade's style of using his claws or feet, Arella swung her hand back, this time catching Blackfire with a backhand. It didn't do much. Blackfire had been hit harder then that before…but it annoyed her. Blackfire swung at Arella and hit a shadow wall. However, Arella wasn't prepared for the blast of light that sent her into the kitchen cabinets. Debra sent Appa at them in the form of a serpent, wrapping around them both. Blackfire smirked and fired her eyebeams. To the surprise of everyone present, Appa suddenly moved in front of the blast, ignoring Debra's orders completely. Appa knew that if Debra died, so did it. The fight continued for some time, but it was apparent from the start. Krystal and Blackfire were toying with them. Blackfire could have destroyed the house and Krystal could have teleported behind either of them and blasted them before they knew what happened. Finally Blackfire grabbed Debra by her throat.
Blackfire: This is getting dull.
Krystal sighed as Arella struggled back to her feet. Her clothes and skin were singed. Her hair, for some reason, seemed more resilient. Alien stuff no doubt.
Krystal: Yeah, you're right. Let's kill these two, maim the boy and go home. My cartoons will be on soon.
Blackfire: (groan) Honey…
Krystal: What?
Blackfire: Never mind.
Blackfire threw Debra through the backdoor. Appa cushioned the impact and kept the broken glass from the window from piercing into Debra's skin. Arella ran out after her.
Arella: Deb! You okay?
Debra: No. We're
going to die…Damien is going to die…and we've done nothing but
provide them with temporary amusement.
Arella: We can't give up
now…what would Dad say?
Raven: He'd say he's very proud of you.
Raven lowered herself down between her children and their attackers. Krystal's smile turned into an angry scowl.
Krystal: You…
Raven: Don't you DARE get angry with me! How dare you come into my house…hurt my children?! After all we did trying to help you, you DARE attack us?!
Raven's eyes glowed brightly.
Raven: This sensation…this emotion is beyond anything I've felt before. I'm enraged, but with sound reason…I can't explain it…but I know…I'll make you pay for hurting my kids!
Raven flew at them. Blackfire hurled a bolt at her, but Raven deflected it with ease. Startled, Blackfire was unprepared to be hurled over the house and into the street. Krystal moved to attack but Raven manipulated her emotions, causing her concentration on her legs to be disrupted. Krystal fell as her light based legs vanished.
Krystal: Not fair…
Raven: Normally I'd be sympathetic…but not today.
Raven picked Krystal up with her mind and flew over to where Blackfire was recovering from landing on a car. By the time the police arrived, Raven had trussed the pair up nicely. Her burst of power faded as she realized her babies were no longer in danger. Raven went back inside and found Arella trying to untie Damien.
Damien: Ow! Be careful!
Arella: Sorry.
Raven motioned with her hand and the ropes snapped.
Raven: Are you all okay?
Arella: A little singed, but I'm good.
Debra: I'm alright. Appa took most of the impacts.
Damien said nothing. He merely rubbed his wrists to get feeling back in them. Raven sighed in relief.
Raven: Come here, Arella.
Raven healed the slight burns on Arella's body.
Raven: You're a tough girl, sweetie. I've seen Krystal reduce humans to ash.
Debra: She was toying with us, Mother.
Damien slipped from the room. Some might think he was upset about being ignored. In truth, he couldn't care less. It just annoyed him that he had to listen to them prattle. Raven looked at the trashed kitchen and broken door.
Raven: …looks like we're ordering out tonight.
Arella: Who was that legless nut?
Raven: …your aunt.
Debra: She said as much, but we doubted her sanity.
Raven: Oh, she is mad. But her memory is fine.
Arella: Did you really fight her a lot?
Raven: Reoccurring foe.
Arella: Sweet!
They stared at her a moment. Arella coughed.
Arella: I mean…tragic.
Raven: …your father and her were once very close. When Krystal lost her mind, it tore him up inside. He tried everything to help her, each time only fueling her bizarre belief that they were playing a game. …when she lost her legs…it was the first time I saw Shade drunk. He just couldn't handle what had happened, so he drank himself into a stupor.
Ugly things came up that night. It was part of the reason they broke up. Raven shook her head, forcing it out of her mind.
Raven: …Debra…we're going to start training.
Debra: P…pardon?
Raven: I've been foolish. I thought I had left it all behind…but we have enemies. People who would hurt you to hurt me…and I can't protect you every minute of every day. I'm going to teach you how to control Appa better. How to use it…make it a tool.
Debra: Y…yes, Mother.
Raven: Arella, you train with your father. Tell him if he has a problem with that, he can look at the backdoor then talk to me.
END PART THREE