Chapter 25: A Riddle Unsolved

It seemed that everyone rose with the suns after hearing of a change that Queen Elylena's necklace being found. Many began to offer their assistance in finding the missing jewelry, only to be reminded that Princess Koriander's birthday was right around the corner. Many excused themselves to make haste for the celebration, leaving only the ones needed to search for the necklace.

Tameran's most smartest gathered around the table to hear the queen's riddle. Starfire began…

"Should the time come when you shall need my power,

It lays dormant in frozen time.

Found only with the naked eye,

You may have already passed it by.

Only with royal hands may hold,

Unless it's destructive power evil will unfold.

Turn left and right, looking where you may,

It will never be found until the end of all days."

Starfire looked up to see everyone as puzzled as she was.

"Is there no more?" An elder asked.

Starfire looked her head. "It ends there and there is no more pages."

"Perhaps she left a clue in her entries before?" Another asked.

Star once again shook her head. "I have read it five times over. She mentions nothing of it."

The group of men and woman moved into a corner, murmuring amongst themselves.

Galfore murmured under his breath. "It is not likely we will learn from them anything we do not already know…"

Star placed a comforting hand on his arm with a soft smile.

"At lease they are trying…"

She turned to Nightwing, who was silently rereading the riddle. He sighed, feeling her arms resting around him, her chin upon his shoulder.

"Anything?" She asked.

He shook his head. "I'd rather not get anyone else involved either…"

Star took the book carefully from his heads, resting it on the table before climbing into his lap.

"They will not figure it out on time…" Starfire spoke of the group.

Nightwing raised a brow.

"How do you figure that?"

"My mother was a great riddler. Only my father could've figured her riddles…"

Nightwing thought for a moment.

"What about you and Blackfire?"

Starfire shook her head.

"Blackfire is too much like our father to know…" She suddenly leaned up. "But maybe I can solve the riddle…"

They watched her meditate, Raven talking to her softly.

"Focus Star, think of the riddle line by line…"

Starfire nodded slowly. "…I think I have some of it…"

"What can you solve?" Blackfire said.

"The ending…only someone of royal family can control its power on the day of the end of everything."

Nightwing wrote it down next to a copy of the riddle.

"Anything else?" Raven asked.

"….it's in plain sight…"

"So we've already seen it…" Blackfire stated.

"What of this frozen time?" Galfore asked.

Starfire landed from her meditation and opened her eyes, gaze meeting Nightwing's gaze.

"A statue…" Starfire and Nightwing spoke as one.

"Which on princess?" An elder asked.

"Yes…there are so many…" Another asked, her voice high-pitched.

"It must be one of my mother…" Starfire spoke boldly.

"Who else would wear the royal necklace?" Blackfire spat to the elders.

Starfire led the group into the throne room to gaze upon the large, ceiling high statues of the king and queen of Tameran. She quickly floated up to the statue of Queen Elylena and let the power flow to the right hand, erating a green glow. The necklace on the statue began to glow bright causing everyone to shield their eyes.

When they removed their arms from their faces, Starfire stood before them, a beautiful silver necklace with a glowing rainbow gem in the middle resting in her open hands.

"That is it…Queen Elylena's pendant…" Blackfire said.

"…beautiful…isn't it?" Bluefire said.

"…yes…so beautiful…so powerful…" Starfire stated.

She suddenly laughed, placing it around her neck.

"Star…what are you doing?" Raven asked.

When Starfire looked up, the group backed up slowly.

"…no…" Nightwing whispered.

Red blazed brightly from Starfire's eyes as a smirk graced her lips.

"Oh yes…beautiful on my hostess isn't it? I do adore powerful things…" Starfire replied deeply.

"Let her go!" Nightwing exclaimed.

Starfire now deep voice laughed once more.

"Sorry…but I need my new friend to finish what I started…"

A roar escaped her throat as she blew a hole into the wall and flew out, leaving the group to hold Nightwing back.

"STARFIRE!"