Chapter 6: BlackBurner
He fell from his world to Jump City. He recovered with a team of heroes. He saved a pizzeria from two goons. Now, Ash Ketchum is a Teen Titan… and he began work thanks to the local news. "The Teen Titans have added a new member of their team and he's proving his staying power," a young anchorwoman reported. "The new Titan, only referred to as Ash, has dismantled a few super-villains and saving lives along the way." A chase sped through Jump City which Robin on his red motorcycle pursued a gray-skinned raven-haired man on a black motorcycle. His topless body didn't show much but he soon gained flight.
"Let's see you get me now, you stupid kid!" he taunted. Robin chose not to chase through the air, not because Starfire or Raven were nearby.
"Johnny Rancid's heading your way," Robin informed.
"We see him coming fast," Ash replied. Johnny looked down at Robin, thinking he got away from the Titans' leader.
"Giving up already?" he mocked. "Lame..." In sight, Ash prepared the gecko.
"Bullet Seed!" Johnny turned to the sound but his reaction time wasn't as fast as the gecko as it fired sprays of seeds, pelting him in the face. He tried to cover up but a pair of seeds got him in the eyes after he released the handlebars.
"Ow!" Blinded, Johnny tried to shake the blows. Ash and Beast Boy flew in as a pterodactyl. Ash took advantage and delivered a dropkick, Johnny's face a target. BAM! Both feet struck the biker and Johnny looked like he got launched from a cannon, hitting the pavement in a sickening thud. Robin arrived, hopped off his motorcycle and applied handcuffs. Ash and Beast Boy landed to allowing the morphing Titan to revert to human. He and Ash exchanged a high-five as the gecko scaled down and met the boys.
"I'll bring those parts back to the auto shop that you stole, you stupid man," Robin returned the mock.
"Perfect, Grovyle..." The gecko flicked a thumb up. Another night, a bank heist was the new attention as a blue-skinned white-haired man in a tuxedo and cape carried a large sack from a jewelery store. Security gave chase and it looked like they had the robber at the bottom of a pile of bodies. When they stood up, they realized the robber vanished. All that remained at the bottom was a balloon of the robber. The real robber stood on a rooftop overlooking the confused security.
"Not a bad little trick," he sneered. "I probably should have used a little more abracadabra." Unbeknown to the robber with the goatee, Ash and Raven appeared behind him.
"Allow us to use a little alakazam, Mumbo," Raven teased. Mumbo turned to see Ash with the crab-like creature charging. Too close, both smashed a fist and pincer to Mumbo, knocking him out. Raven used her abilities to lower the loot to the security. Mumbo came down next, shackled. Another successful stop on crime.
"It seems this Ash is making a name for himself and the creatures he calls Pokémon," the anchorwoman reported. One more case, this time in the afternoon at a park involving a machine with a massive heart, literally. It had mechanical arms going everywhere and children in the park scattered. Cyborg's car arrived, its owner, Ash and Pikachu stepping out with Starfire flying above.
"Cyborg, some of your villains are weird," Ash muttered.
"Hey, we didn't create them, you know!" snapped Cyborg. Two little girls tried to escape the arms of the monster. However, the brunette couldn't escape as her redhead friend did.
"Brittany!" the redhead shouted.
"Help me!" cried the brunette. Another arm chased the brunette but Starfire threw green energy sphere to knock them away. Pikachu squeaked loudly to call the brunette to safety which she did.
"I need a few seconds," Ash determined as he viewed Brittany and the arms swinging wildly.
"Do what you need to do!" allowed Starfire. With Pikachu on his shoulder, Ash raced in with Starfire overhead and Cyborg firing from his six. Showing agility, Ash sprinted around each of the creature's arms. Suddenly, his body began to glow again, and sensed the arms' swings.
"Got it." Ash began to jump on the arms like branches of a tree. He finally got to the arm holding Brittany. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!" Pikachu leaped from the shoulder with a glowing tail, the same tail that bashed Beast Boy. It sliced the arm and released Brittany who began to fall. Ash dove and caught her as they escaped the creature's grasp. With a roll, Ash returned to Cyborg's side.
"Ash is clear!" warned Starfire.
"Let's give Kardiak a heart attack!" cheered Cyborg as he and Starfire launched volleys of shots, tearing the fabric of the enemy. Kardiak began to struggle. Pikachu fired lightning from its cheeks and zapped Kardiak. The creature stopped moving. "Booya!" Pikachu also celebrated once he joined Starfire after descending. The redhead came to Ash and Brittany, thankful to see both alright. Brittany, safe, lifted her head and kissed Ash on the cheek.
"While he's proven his worth as a Teen Titan," resumed the anchorwoman. "Droves of young women have accepted him as the young super bachelor for Jump City." Videos and pictures emerged, showing Ash receiving hugs and kisses from an array of young girls and teenagers. None touched his lips. Back at Titans' Tower, Ash, Beast Boy and Cyborg played a racing game. Robin, Pikachu and the girls watched on. A white flag appeared on the screen.
"Last lap!" sneered Beast Boy. All three players jockeyed for the lead. Ash's race car in blue and Cyborg's car in white pushed the accelerator to the limit with Beast Boy's car in purple stayed close in third. As they twisted around turns, Cyborg slowed and fell to second, giving Ash the lead. Down a straightaway, Cyborg gained speed, nearly over passing Ash on the right. Ash maneuvered his car to keep Cyborg's from getting by.
"No you don't!" he laughed. They hit the last turn and Ash felt confident to win. Out of nowhere heading to the last stretch for the checkered flag, Beast Boy slung around both and found the finish line.
"Wha-hoo! Slipstream for the win!" Beast Boy celebrated while Ash and Cyborg looked in dismay at the come from behind win.
"I'd say Ash is fitting in just fine," Robin observed.
"Yes, I could say that Ash is born a Teen Titan," Starfire agreed. Playing for a while, Ash put the controller down.
"I'm gonna get some fresh air," he excused himself as he stood up and left the room. Pikachu ate, not too worried about Ash's well-being. Raven sensed otherwise. On the roof, Ash looked out at the lit city he's now sworn to protect. The city shined but not Ash's smile. Raven soon joined him.
"Homesick?" she guessed. Ash heard Raven and turned to see her approaching.
"Would you blame me if I said yes?" Raven shook her head.
"You're still young. It's natural that you'd be missing your home world." Ash nodded, understanding the half-demon.
"My friends are wondering if I'm still alive. May's probably feeling guilty for rushing herself to find the next town and to participate in her next Pokémon contest." Raven placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me put it this way. We will find you that way back to your world. Still, whether you're here or with the other Pokémon, you're a Teen Titan, and like Greek mythology, we don't go down easily." Ash nodded to her words.
"Thanks, Raven." That's when Raven's T-communicator sounded. She answered it.
"Go ahead."
"Raven, is Ash with you?" asked Robin.
"Yes, you disrupted our kiss." Robin slightly hesitated to Raven's lie.
"Okay… we got burglary at the museum. Reports of a ninja stealing artifacts in the feudal era section." Raven looked to Ash and nodded, advising her that he's ready.
"On our way." They headed back inside for their mission. Within the city, a silhouette flew in to observe the city.
"How long has it been since I was here and checking in on my good-for-nothing sister?" she wondered. She flew to noise from around her. Near the city's museum, a white-haired man in all black and face covered held a black scabbard, a sword inside.
"Never thought I had to come all the way here for the legendary Kurisutarusōdo," he gloated. He pulled the sword out slightly which the blade appeared to be made out of diamonds. He dashed off when police began to arrive. Thinking he got away from the cops, the ninja relaxed. "I can imagine the yen this Kurisutarusōdo will give me." A car flashed its headlights at the ninja. He turned to find the Titans.
"Couldn't settle for the Masamune?" taunted Robin. The ninja scoffed to the notion.
"The Masamune is a sword known in Japanese lore. I prefer the swords with little or no history, the Kurisutarusōdo for example, the Crystal Sword. Forged from diamonds within Mount Fuji but never used for combat." To Robin and Ash, this ninja was another common thief.
"Only after the sword for its value?" summed up Ash. "And I heard ninjas are suppose to be honorable." The ninja put the sword to his side as the silhouette observed the Titans. Her hiss came at seeing Starfire.
"So there you are, sister," she scorned. That's when she also found Ash. "Oh! That looks like a fine young man. I didn't know Boy wonder was recruiting, let alone handsome." The ninja stuck two fingers from one hand before grabbing it with the other and sticking two fingers from that hand. That's when there was a puff of smoke. When the smoke lifted, five more ninjas appeared. Each looked the same to the first.
"Which is the real one!?" gasped Beast Boy. Two leaped to the rooftops and headed off in different directions.
"Starfire, Raven, you go after those two," Robin instructed. The girls flew off with Pikachu on Starfire's shoulder. The other ninjas dashed as well. Beast Boy changed to a cheetah and pursued one of the ninjas.
"One of them has to be the real thief!" believed Cyborg as he chased another ninja. Robin and Ash raced after the last two. The silhouette watched as the last Titans split to intercept their ninja of choice.
"Time to have a little fun," she sneered. Ash cornered his ninja in a dimly lit back alley.
"Not much of a ninja, are you?" he mocked. The ninja turned around and unsheathed a sword, not the Kurisutarusōdo. The ninja slashed but Ash sidestepped before delivering a roundhouse punch. It jostled the head from the shoulders, only to reveal itself as a wooden doll. The rest of the ninja doll fell apart. Ash examined the sword, finding it as cracked and worn. This ninja wasn't real. "Got me." His T-communicator sounded. He answered. "Got a fake one. The Kurisutarusōdo isn't here."
"I also got a fake ninja," Starfire explained. "I guess the rest will have to find the real ninja." Ash heard Pikachu squeaking in concern. "I'll clean up here. I see that you are close so I will be with you shortly."
"Understood." As Ash waited for Starfire, the silhouette flew in for a closer look.
"So he's with Koriand'r, I see," she named. "I'll have my plans for you a little later… little sister." Ash stood around, hoping Starfire came with Pikachu. That's when he heard footsteps. Ash saw the silhouette and appearing like Starfire, assumed it was her.
"There you are. What, did you continued to use your Starbolts to-" Seeing the silhouette walking to him, Ash saw lilac eyes, not Starfire's green eyes. "Hold on… you're not her..." The silhouette walked under a light, revealing herself as a raven-haired version of Starfire. She wore black oppose to Starfire's purple clothing and seemed to be wearing steel plating to cover skin.
"Do I look familiar, handsome? Don't be too surprised. After all, Starfire and I happen to be sisters." This stunned Ash, learning about another Tamaranean, let alone a relative to Starfire.
"I can tell. Star never mentioned that she had family around here." The new Tamaranean giggled to Ash's curiosity.
"She's usually forgetful at times. Then again, I hardly see her so I can't blame her for not remembering." She walked to Ash with an alluring smirk. Ash's nerves began to show as he took a step back to the wall behind him. Pinned to the wall, the raven-haired placed a hand on his head, digging her fingers through the boy's hair while her other hand smoothed his cheek, the soft baby-like skin tickling her. "Like new Teflon, smooth as silk." Her eyes glared to his as she pressed her lips to Ash's cheek. "So smooth, it's a magnet to be kissed." She licked her lips, savoring the taste of the cheeks. Hesitant, Ash gulped to the Tamaranean's lull.
"Wouldn't be the first time." Her hand entered beneath Ash's tops. Her hand felt more smooth skin and more.
"Dear… I've never felt a chest this smooth, especially- Your heart? It's pounding pretty good..." She giggled to Ash's heartbeats, much to Ash's hesitation. "I wonder why? Is my beauty that alluring to you?" Ash wasn't sure how to respond to the Tamaranean.
"W-Well… Y-You see… I-It may be..." The girl placed a finger on Ash's lips, hushing him.
"Sh… Relax. I can tell. Smooth chest, strong heart, soft cheeks… I'm interested on how your lips would feel… and taste among mine." She attached her lips onto his. Her lips pried his mouth to open and her tongue felt behind Ash's teeth, licking the roof and his tongue in the process. As if acting like a vampire, Ash felt his consciousness draining the more she had her lips held his. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. The kiss took his breath and his consciousness away. Still held up by the girl, Ash looked lifeless as she licked her lips after a minute on his. "The taste of youth… Mouthwatering… Don't mind if I have more, my handsome boy." She leaned in for more.
"Komand'r!" shouted Starfire. The girl now turned to the other Tamaranean with Pikachu on her shoulder. Finding Komand'r's face, Pikachu did a double-take to how similar the two girls looked.
"Hello there, sister. I was just introducing myself to a friend of yours. I could say that he's been knocked out by my appearance." Pikachu growled to what Komand'r did to his trainer.
"Ash is my friend! I will not let you have him!" Starfire shot more green orbs which Komand'r flew from. Pikachu leaped down to get Ash back on his feet. After a little while, Starfire returned to Ash and knew he was out of commission. She got on her T-communicator. "Titan is down! I repeat, Titan is down!" Cyborg heard the call.
"Star, can you get him back to the Tower?" he questioned.
"I can!"
"Okay. We have the suspect cornered." Starfire put the T-communicator away before plucking Ash from the ground and flying with Pikachu on her back. Once returned to the sofa, Starfire shook Ash gently by the shoulder in order to bring him back from the sleep.
"Ash, please awaken! It is I, Starfire, your friend!" The other Titans arrived to find Starfire try everything to get Ash's eyes open. She snapped her fingers. She waived her hand. Nothing seemed to work. "Ash?" She even patted him on the cheek.
"Starfire, what happened?" asked Robin. Starfire turned to the other Titans as they came to check on the situation.
"Blackfire! I found her with Ash and I cannot wake him!" The detail had the other Titans gawking.
"Dude, what did Blackfire do?" wondered Beast Boy. "He's out like a light!"
"Yeah, he looks like he saw her transform into something that blew his mind," Cyborg guessed. Seeing no change, Pikachu squeaked for Starfire to backup.
"Pikachu?" she called. Sparks emanated from his cheeks. He unleashed a small burst of electricity that seemed to jump-start his friend. Ash awoke, finding himself back in the tower.
"What's going on!?" he gulped. Finding Ash alert, Starfire hugged Ash, knowing that he'd be alright.
"Thank goodness!" Ash didn't know what happened to him. "I am sorry for what my sister did to you! I was not aware she was in the city!" Ash blinked, not sure what Starfire meant.
"Your sister?" That's when he remembered Komand'r, though he didn't know her name. "She did say something about having a sister..." Robin decided to fill Ash in on the girl.
"Starfire has an older sister named Blackfire," he informed. "She's a Tamaranean, but she and Starfire don't see eye-to-eye."
"Yeah, Blackfire can take advantage of anyone she sees," Cyborg expressed. "Heck, she got us as well." Ash palmed his face, the girl forcing him to submit his consciousness displaying intention.
"So that's who took my breath away, literally..." he groaned. Starfire palmed Ash's back, comfort after the ordeal.
"You still must be exhausted," she noted. "Sleep. It would be easier to relax after that episode." Ash bobbed a nod, still feeling drained.
"Good idea." He plopped his head back on the sofa and the Titans backed away.
"That was an eventful night," Robin huffed. "We got the sword back to the museum, Kotaru's arrested and everyone's gonna be okay… for the most part." An hour passed where everyone entered their rooms and called it a night. Pikachu joined Starfire in her room and snuggled alongside Silkie. Starfire struggled to sleep, her sister's arrival and her role on Ash plagued her consciousness. She woke up, palming her chest.
'I was not aware of my sister's acts on Ash,' she minded. 'I should have been there to make sure he would be okay.' She began to pull her legs from beneath the sheets which stirred the Pokémon. Pikachu looked to see Starfire exiting her bed. "It is okay," she whispered while petting the mouse. Pikachu trusted Starfire and resumed his sleep. Starfire exited her room and found Ash, sound asleep. Seeing him in peace, it looked as if Ash let the incident fade quickly from his head. Starfire wished the same would apply to her. 'I was the one responsible for his health. It is my fault that he was seduced by my sister.' In an act of remorse, Starfire petted Ash's hair like Blackfire before. This made Ash wake to see the Titan by him.
"Star?" he groaned.
"Ash, I am sorry for my sister and what she did to you. I did not mean to make you wait after finding the fake ninjas." Ash smiled, petting Starfire's cheek.
"It's all good. Like you said, no one knew about Blackfire in the city."
"Yes but I still cannot-"
"Besides, Cyborg did say that you saved me when I was in trouble." Overcome by his forgiveness, Starfire hugged Ash, tears trickling down her face.
"Ash, I do not deserve a friend like you!" Ash hugged her in return.
"Let it go and get some sleep."
"Okay." Ash adjusted his body and fell back to sleep. Starfire, viewing him sleeping, leaned in and kissed Ash on the cheek. Her guilt may have been lifted by Ash's words but she wanted to do more to make sure. She crawled onto the sofa with Ash and snuggled with him. Her arm and leg wrapped around him, the alien girl fell asleep with someone to cuddle. Ash's role as a Teen Titan had some rough patches. What other acts could he do as a Titan?
TO BE CONTINUED...
(Congratulations to the New England Patriots for their 5th Super Bowl after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in the first Overtime in Super Bowl history. Tom Brady has guaranteed himself into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility. What a game last night in Houston for Super Bowl LI.)