Chapter 85: Mistress of the Flames
A/
"There it is…Right where we left it." Verra ran towards the gate. "We were transported outside the place once the battle started. Slade lured us away."
Beastboy looked about. "But why? No one's here." He pointed towards the building, it was true. Not one guard was to be found. Oddly even so, Raven was getting dizzy as they began to approach the castle itself. "Maybe…you should go, I'll stay and watch Robin…" She decided. 'I don't think I can stand this place much longer…ugh!" Falling onto her knees and catching herself with Star's help, she was able to catch her breath. "My powers…Are drained, somehow Slade, he —
It was the magic used by us all that drained you, you aren't used to using given magic's without choice." Wizardmon said. "Once we find Malchior, we'll alert everyone and meet back here." Verra finished with a sigh. "Let's move." His voice was cold, rock solid as he made his way through the gates of the back of the castle. "Like Raven said."
He reminded turning back to the others. "Robin will stay here, we'll alert anyone who needs to know a thing, now we go."
The doors were very large for someone half the size of the dragon himself. And Cyber had to do the honors with the guys. "It is very much quiet in this dreadful place." Starfire floated in and landed onto her feet. Raven waved as she gave them a 'good luck.'
"Are you sure they'll be ok?" Asked Beastboy who avoided the door from being closed on him. "Yeah, they'll be fine, don't you worry your pretty little head —
Hey! They're my friends, I have to worry about them!" Beastboy balled up his fists in front of his face. "You don't know them like I do..." His ears lowered at that last part. Verra was silent as he looked at the little guy.
"Verra?" The cat turned to Starfire whom was pointing at a woman with a flowing and puffed up red dancer's dress. She had a hat that looked like it was used for a doll once, and she was sitting on a platform not too far from the door, only on the platform was the bubble of energy holding their friend. The older woman chuckled. Her curled yellow golden hair bounced back.
"Greetings, and welcome." She said in a sweet tongue. It sounded like she was trying to lure them towards her, but her plan would soon cease to exist. The woman smiled coolly. "My name is Lizzette, and you are…?" Her smile faded as she puzzled over the mystery guests.
"Ma'am, sorry to bother you, but our mission was to come here and save someone from some men called Roku and Slade. We don't have time for introductions." Cyborg looked up at the mistress as she got down from the platform. Beastboy elbowed his friend as she came closer. "Oh, and so you wish to pass my challenge in order to free your friend. Isn't that right, Greggie?"
"Tis the truth Mademoiselle." Gregory said. "But even a spirit like yourself knows horror and pain cannot be overcome without the proper tools. Cooperation is in fact —
Don't give me that, old friend. Come back later for I am weary from last night, you see, plotting takes up most of my area…" She showed her teeth in the smile she gave. Two of them were pointed, the rest normal.
"Fight me for his right to live, and I will tell your friend where my master has hidden…" She pointed to Robin in the doorway. No, Roku in the doorway. "Madam Lizzette, I accept your challenge." The demon lady smiled. "Good boy —
Did you teach him that Gregg?" She asked almost near the brink of smiling until her teeth showed again. Her eyes blinked twice before she revealed her weapon of choice. It was a staff with a flame at its tip and a red ruby gem.
"Let's fight." She insisted. Roku nodded with a staff of his own now in hand.
/
"You see children, a staff is a weapon of highly-thought power. Roku and his family were said to be the youngest generation to own one each, even his wife as a child. As well as himself and his sons and daughters." Roku nodded at this, as his own wooden staff was not able to hold up against her ruby one. "Sweetheart, dear…perhaps Arian wishes to partake in our game?" Roku balled his hands into fists. "Never! I would never risk the life of my dear, sweet love…"
Starfire cupped her hand to her mouth and blinked at him blushing. He turned back to the Madame. "Lizzette. This will be taken to the chambers —
On the other hand, we can always bring the chambers to us…" The walls began to reshape themselves until none looked the same any longer. The chamber for fights was now in their sights. "How'd she do that?" Gasped Bb. Raven made her way up the steps. "Robin! You can't fight her! I know her heart, she's a monster…" Lizzette looked at Raven unkindly.
"Silly sorceress, you have no control over him." She blasted at Roku with beams of sonic energy, pounding against everyone's skulls. "Ow! What was that?" Cyborg took his hands away from his ears. The Madame frowned. "What's the matter Robot? Don't like my music?" She now took out her staff and exchanged glances with Alice. "If I win, I want that child and her sibling back. My master pines for them so…" She held out a hand as if asking her rival to come to her. Alice wanted to blast the woman to her death, but was no longer able to use her power fully, at least not now.
Verra cleared his throat. "I think we need some fight music to set the go aflowin." He suggested. Wizardmon told him after not to encourage the two as it would bring disorder at the least.
"So? Nothing's wrong with wanting to win this shindig." Kayu but in. "And Robin has to win if we ever wanna see Mal again. Rae knows that." Verra and Wiz glared at the other guardian. "Don't bring this up to her, she didn't want him to participate in the first place!"
Raven held her arm with her hand as she waited for the two to start fighting. "He can't do this…" She said to herself.
Starfire called out to her beloved. "Please be careful! We do not wish for her to harm you!" Lizzette snickered. "But I do…"
With a flip in the air, the lady threw spear-like blades at the boy she'd been willing to fight. When her feet hit the floor, she blew fire from her lips by blowing between her lips! Making her hand look like an O, she cupped it and brought it to form around her lips. She breathed again.
Silent as a ninja, the boy dodged until he was back by his friends and she was sure to go again. Bursts of firey enhanced power made Roku jump back to warn the others, but all he could do was ward off the energy by putting energy and magic into his only staff. 'Grr…"
The woman came at him from above.
"Wasn't she —?" Beastboy pointed up at the two in combat. Taking out her staff again, Lizzette made him fall back as Roku was almost chopped in half by her staff's power. The blast he had missed hit the opposite wall. "They are flying!" Gasped Starfire as she looked around the room at the two, keeping watch. However, the victory was not a pleasant one. Lizzette teleported to Alice and took her by the waist. Alice was silent.
"Then, let us see how you do with a hostage situation like your master has taught you, eh?" She sounded knarled in voice and body, her beauty was wilting away. Her eyes lit like fire as she hit at him again. This time he would not escape.
/B
"STOP!" Suddenly Roku became a white beacon of fluorescent light. Gatrhering up the powers around him he was able to make a sheild until he was at full power once more. In a burst of suddeness, he was soon transformed, with a white long cloak, embridered with mysterious symbols. His hair was held back in a short ponytail/warrior's tail, and his mask was gone. Opening his eyes, Richard looked down at his friends from above. "What happened?" he said almost embarressed with his new look. "I look different…" He avoided the cloak so that he could move about freely. Wizardmon looked upon him as if he were prince Roku himself. A voice popped into his head as soon as he'd gotten used to the looks he'd been provided.
Go at em! You can do it.
"Huh?" Robin turned around. "What was that voice?" The ugly woman sneered. "Enough of this mindless chitchat. You either come or I drag you down!" Starfire grew angry. "No. You. Shall. Not…!" Alone she flew up to the evil doer and swung a fist by her head. "Ugh!" The woman used her staff to hit back but lost balance it the air. Alice fell into Kayu's arms. Starfire flew to Roku. "Are you hurt, did she 'get' you?" Robin shook his head. "No, Star…I'm fine." She smiled back weakly. "I am glad." Cyborg and Beastboy saw this coming but noticed that the witch was angrier even still.
"I do not lose! You will not escape me!" She blew out her lips again at the two. But this time Robin was ready. The flames bounced off his staff of power and back at Lizzette whom was sent down into the ground. She groaned with her cut lip. Starfire jumped for joy and hugged her friend who blushed.
"It seems as if we've won, now to claim back our friend." Wizardmon looked towards Malchior who tried to ward them away from the spot. "AAAAAHHHHHH!!" Wizardmon was hit by a barrier that was a full-blown attacker. He was knoxcked unconscious as soon as he'd stepped up onto the platform holding his friend. "NO!" Kayu ran with Verra to the spot where the guardian had fallen.
"The dragon will have to give you a key." Lizzette smirked. "On the other hand, you could always ask for forgiveness from his lordship, and in return I get to bring him the boy…" Starfire's eyes lit up. "We will do no such thing!" She shouted at the woman. "Very well." She said. "Then let the boy rot in his prison."
In a burst of light, she was gone from the room for good. Starfire flew down with Robin, who protested that he not be helped. But she would not say no otherwise. "I do not wish for the dragon Roku to know that we have defeated the lady Lizzette…. Robin?" She watched as they unlinked arms and robin had gone up to the platform unharmed.
"Dude, how'd you —?"
Beastboy was unable to finish as Robin had reached into the glass orb like prison and brought out an arm. Just another tug…
And he was out. Coughing, Raven noticed as her eyes bulged and she ran up gasping for air after. "Is he ok?" She asked Robin without more questions of how he had broken the hold. Cyborg stood gaping. "Man, who are you?"
Robin turned around and spoke. "My name is Rokuro, and I am your prince."
/
"What? You aren't our prince, we go by someone els —
NO. I rule you all." Wind swept past the titans as robin was no longer himself. His cloak was now black as night and the symbols had changed. Alice got down from Kayu's grip. "Stop, Brother! These are not you servants, we are friends and guardians —
I don't need assistance…" he interrupted. "I need…POWER!" Starfire gasped. "What is happening?" she asked Verra from across the room. Verra was blow off his feet with Cyborg trying to bring him back down to earth. "Watch it! You amost kicked me." Bb said. The two were not even that close in the beginning, got him down after. Thanks…(wipes forehead with paw).
"No problem!" Cyborg smiled relieved. Verra was not though. "Rob, come down before you get a bruise or something…please?" Verra went over to the barrier. Shaking his head, Robin groggily replied. "Ugh…what happened?" He asked Starfire next to him. A glow was comeing from his chest. It was red and light like a pair of glowing eyes. They shined very strongly.
Suddenly guards in the shadows started coming out from all around. "Time to go kids." Exclaimed Verra. With that, the group dissapeared into smoke by a bomb by Kayumon.