Strength held out her hand to Rock who looked at it but didn't move.
"I'm going to share some of my memories with you, I want you to see how much you've changed." Strength told her.
Rock hesitantly took the offered hand.
"It's not a bad thing, in fact it might even help you protect her even more." Strength smiled. "But you can't forget who you were either."
She closed her eyes and concentrated, suddenly Rock's mind was bombarded with images, thoughts and feelings. All directed towards herself, the fight with Black Gold Saw and Yuu when she had gone insane, all those nights in Hogwarts, breaking into Azkaban, Voldemort's huge army.
It all pummelled into her head at once, the disparity between her own memories and the new foreign ones made her dizzy.
These were things she remembered, the edge of them had become dull and fuzzy, they no longer had the same impact after being confined for eighteen years in a cold, dark room. Barely able to move her head, staring at the same black stone and wondering if she had made the correct decision to surrender for Mato's safety.
She staggered away, disorientated, her mind trying to reconcile the two versions of her past.
Her eye ignited.
She turned her head and stared at Strength, a glimmer of rage on her face.
"I am sorry Black Rock Shooter, but you needed this." Strength said sadly. "You needed to see how you had changed, you needed to remember who you were."
Rock straightened and drew her blade.
"We're trapped, in a totally different world, Mato and Yuu are bound to us in a way no Otherself has experienced before. We cannot afford to be weak." Strength said, matter-of-factly. "It's good that you changed, I truly believe it will help you protect Mato. But at the same time you need to be you if and when everything goes to hell."
Rock studied the shorter girl for a moment before nodding, she slid the sword back in it's sheath and turned away, looking back at the city as her flame died.
Strength shook her head and smiled.
"You always did have a temper." She grinned, standing next to her.
"Crime alert!" Robin yelled as the kitchen started flashing red and blaring a loud siren.
"Oww, does he always have to yell?" Yuu groaned as she folded her pancakes into a rather large ball and stuffed them into her mouth.
"Ehh, you get used to it, it's just how he is." Cyborg shrugged, doing the same.
The Titans ran towards the main screen as Robin remotely turned it on.
"Who is it this time?" Starfire asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Yeah, and why so early?" Beast Boy yawned.
"It's Doctor Light, and he's broken into the federal reserve." Robin said.
"So what's the big deal?" Beast Boy asked. "Just send Raven to scare him again."
"It's not that easy." Raven muttered. "Look."
On the screen was footage from inside the bank, showing not only Doctor Light but also multiple other people, all wearing the same type of body armour that Strength and Rock had encountered.
"Who are these guys?" Yuu asked. "And why do they only ever want to steal from banks?"
"Titans go!" Robin yelled.
"Seriously, we've stopped four bank robberies since we arrived here. Do criminals here lack an imagination?" Yuu complained as she, Mato Robin and Cyborg drove to the scene.
"I guess so." Robin sighed. "What I want to know is who is releasing these guys, we took them all down months ago."
Cyborg looked into the rear view mirror at Mato.
"Hey Mato, you alright girl?" He asked.
"Yeah, you've been quiet since Strength showed Black Rock Shooter her memories." Yuu said.
"I'm fine." Mato said.
Black Rock Shooter hasn't told me anything either, I am being to think it was a bad idea to try and help her. Strength said quietly.
Yuu nodded, but didn't say anything, she'd wait until she was alone.
"We're here, Strength? Rock? You're up." Robin said turning towards them.
The four piled out of the car, Mato and Yuu changing places with Rock and Strength as they did so. Starfire, Beast Boy and Raven landed next to them.
"Alright Titans, we've fought these guys before as well as Doctor Light." Robin said briskly. "It shouldn't too much of an issue but keep an eye out in case Light has come up with any new tricks."
The Titans nodded and entered the bank, immediately encountering the orange-red energy beams and a burst of white light.
"Titans! What are you bothersome children doing here?" Doctor Light snarled.
"Tell your men to stand down Light!" Robin shouted over the whine of the energy weapons. "This doesn't have to end badly for you!"
"No!" Light cried. "With my upgrades, it's going to end very badly, but for you instead!"
He pointed his arm towards Robin and fired a blinding bolt of white light, the air screamed as it travelled, exploding as it hit the ground where Robin had been stood moments before.
"Damn!" Cyborg yelled as he dove out of the way, he got up and tackled a nearby foe.
"He does indeed seem to possess the upgrades." Starfire said ash she hurled starbolts.
Robin growled, extended his Bo Staff and jumped into the fray.
Raven appeared behind Doctor Light and loomed over him.
"Hi." She snarled.
Doctor Light shrieked and stumbled away, eyes wide in terror. Trembling he pressed a button on his wrist and became encased in a translucent white sphere, Raven attacked, squirming her dark tentacles towards him. However they were unable to penetrate the orb, leaving Light unharmed.
With a shaky sigh of relief he started laughing.
"You cannot enter here foul demon, begone with you!" Light cried as he fired a bolt of light at Raven.
She cried out as she was hit with the blast, flying through the air and hitting a wall, plaster tumbled on top of her as she lay unmoving.
"Raven!" Beast Boy cried as he transformed into a cheetah, about to run over to her, he was blocked by an energy blast in front of him. Hissing, he turned to face the attacker and pounced at them.
Rock's head snapped up at Beast Boy's cry, she spotted Raven collapsed at a distant wall with Doctor Light giggling manically in the middle of the large lobby and raising his arm in her direction.
Rock instantly ran towards him, ignoring a sharp burning pain in her lower back that caused her to stagger. She bounced off the sphere as she collided with it, drawing Doctor Light's attention.
"What's this?" He asked himself. "A new Titan? We know what to do with them." He grinned, firing a bolt in her direction. It didn't connect but the explosion threw her several metres into the air, she landed face first onto the hard marble floor and blinked.
Get up!
That wasn't her.
Black Rock Shooter, get up!
Mato. Rock thought, standing up, eye ablaze.
Strength helped Starfire take down the last of the armoured men, while the engagement had been somewhat of a challenge, it hadn't really pushed her abilities. Something she was ambivalent about, she didn't want to hurt anyone but at the same time she didn't want anyone else to get hurt and she had an itch for a fight that would take her to her limits. Although she just chalked that up to Yuu's over-exuberance.
She looked around, noticing Rock with her cannon pointed at Doctor Light, she could hear a high-pitched whine as it charged.
Aww, crap!
Rock fired at full power, shattering the ground around her and sending shards of marble at high speed in every direction.
Doctor Light staggered but remained upright, still protected by his forcefield. He looked into Rock's eyes and gulped at the cold stare she gave him.
Rock slammed the tip of her sword into the forcefield, only to have it ricochet away, she tried again, and again, and again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
The scientist backed away but tripped on a chunk of stone and landed on his back, he threw his arms above him as Rock attacked again, with all her willpower.
She found purchase.
A small weakness in the energy shield, the tiniest shimmer. It allowed her to slowly force the sword through.
"Black Rock Shooter!" Strength cried as she bounded over to the pale Otherself with Robin, Cyborg and Starfire in tow.
"What's wrong?" Robin asked.
"She's pissed is what's wrong." Strength shouted, skidding to a halt.
"She looks okay to me." Cyborg said.
"She only gets that flame when something gets to her." Strength said quickly. "Black Rock Shooter! Calm yourself!"
Without warning a Tyrannosaur was standing over them.
"What the shit?" Strength shouted as she took a step back.
Without moving her head, Rock glanced up at the green dinosaur and locked eyes with the creature. They stared at each other before the gigantic beast gave an ear-piercing roar and clamped it's jaws around the shimmering orb surrounding Light.
Strength could almost hear Yuu hyperventilating about the incredible sight in front of her.
The Titans could only look on with shock as Beast Boy and Rock hammered their way through Doctor Light's shield, with the man inside weeping in fear and begging them to stop.
Eventually, the shield faltered and collapsed, overloading the controls on Light's wrist and burning through to his skin.
He didn't notice this however as he was currently curled up into a ball sucking his thumb. Rock thrust her sword towards the vulnerable man, only to have it blocked by the massive jaw of the Tyrannosaur. It rumbled in pain as the blade cut through skin and flesh, deep into the bone.
The dinosaur lowered itself until it was eye-level with her and slowly shook it's head, gently it gripped Doctor Light between it's teeth and deposited him into Cyborg's arms. With a loud pop he transformed back into his own self and looked up at Rock.
"We don't kill." He said firmly, a large gash running from his mouth to his chin. "No matter what." He added, with a quick look at Raven.
Strength walked over and picked up Raven, still unconscious, and went back to the group.
"She's okay, a bit singed around the edges but she'll live." Strength spared a look at Rock.
Rock stared back, ever so slightly nodding.
"Let's get out of here." Robin said. "Rock, I think we need to talk."
"What the hell was that?" Robin yelled back at the tower.
They were standing in his room, he had been yelling for at least five minutes by Rock's count.
"You almost killed him, and injured Beast Boy to go with it!" Robin continued.
He was interrupted by his door opening.
"Strength?" He asked, as the Otherself walked in.
"If you're talking to Black Rock Shooter, you might need an interpreter." Strength stated.
With another person in the room, Robin toned down slightly.
"You almost killed him." He repeated.
Rock made a flurry of hand movements, which Strength translated.
"He attacked Raven." She said.
"That doesn't matter, we, do, not, kill!" Robin said, emphasising each word.
"Mato, feels strongly for Raven, we acted." Rock said with her hands.
Robin paused.
"What do you mean 'strongly'?" He asked.
Rock looked at Strength who replied with a frown, the pale Otherself shook her head to which the white-haired girl nodded once.
Robin looked between the pair in confusion.
"Mato cares about you all, she likes to think of you as her friends. However, because of the help Raven has provided Mato with emotional support, she feels she has a stronger bond with her." Strength interpreted.
"I think I understand." Robin slowly replied.
Rock made a few hand movements.
"It's not romantic." Strength repeated. "More like… I'm not getting that last word."
Rock made a few more gestures.
"Love. But not love?" Strength said, slightly confused.
She secretly found it amusing as well watching Rock struggle to find the right words.
"Admiration?" Robin suggested.
Rock nodded.
"Seriously?" Strength sighed. "You have a word for waffles but not for admiration?"
"Getting off topic." Robin scowled.
"Sorry." Strength muttered. "Mato admires Raven for the help she's given her, when she saw her injured, her immediate reaction was to protect her. That feeling was intense enough to spill over to Black Rock Shooter," She explained.
"What does Mato say about this?" Robin asked.
Rock shook her head.
"Okaaay." Strength said. "Either Mato doesn't want to talk about it, or she's just not saying anything about it at all."
"That's not helpful." Robin sighed.
"I know, I know." Strength groaned, attempting to rub her face. "Can I speak on behalf of Black Rock Shooter? I've known her long enough."
"Go on." Robin nodded, wondering where this was going.
"She isn't going to apologise, she was trying to do what she felt needed to be done. We're creatures of instinct, guided by the deep-seated emotions of our human companions. Like I said I know Black Rock Shooter the best, if she or Mato didn't respect your decision, then that man would already be dead." Strength attempted to explain.
"That doesn't help matters." Robin said. "The fact that we have to keep reminding her not to kill?"
"It'll take time to adjust, but she'll get there." Strength countered. "Just give her a chance, isn't that what good guys do? Look for the best in people?"
She had him there, as much as his gut screamed at him, he had to see the good. After all hadn't Jinx joined the Titans to defeat the Brotherhood of Evil? He couldn't judge her on her actions either, based on what Yuu had told him, battling to the death had been a regular occurrence for her, for both of them. It was their life, what came naturally to them, and yet despite that, neither of them had actually done it since they appeared on this world.
He frowned, cursing his mentor once again for passing his suspicious nature on to him before reminding himself that he, himself, would've been another lonely orphan, uneducated and ill-equipped for life on Gotham's streets.
It was a constant battle in his mind, on one side he wanted to break away, prove himself worthy as a defender and protector of justice, that he could stand on his own two feet and do what was right.
But on the other side was the part of him that realised he wouldn't be who he was today without that man, the man who had taken him in and trained him, taught him, cared for him as much as someone like that could.
Strength and Rock stood silently, watching Robin wage his internal war with himself. They quietly left the teen hero to his thoughts and slipped though the door.
"What happened there?" Strength asked.
Rock shook her head.
Later, Yuu was having a rematch with Cyborg, declaring that they would find out who was the best at racing after many times of equalling each other.
Rock headed down to the infirmary to see Raven, she wasn't surprised to find Beast Boy sitting at her side.
He looked up at Rock and smiled sadly.
"Hey dude, you checking up on her?" He asked.
Rock nodded, she closed her eyes and Mato took control.
"How is she?" Mato asked.
"A few bumps and bruises but she'll be okay." Beast Boy said in a quiet voice.
"That's good." Mato replied, tearing up slightly.
Despite her best attempts to hide it, Beast Boy saw her tears, he stood up and walked over to her.
"Hey now, what you crying for?" He asked.
"It's silly." Mato said, shaking her head. "She was so nice to Black Rock Shooter and I, she helped us when she didn't need to." She looked at Raven's prone form. "It's difficult seeing her like this."
Beast Boy wrapped his arms around her.
"I know dude, I know. Raven's one of my closest friends. But she's tough and it won't be long before she's back on her feet." He smiled reassuringly.
"About what happened. At the bank?" Mato asked, wiping her eyes.
A shadow passed over Beast Boy's face, then he broke out into a grin.
"I wouldn't worry about it, everybody has their off days." He said brightly.
"I was there Beast Boy, inside Black Rock Shooter. I could feel your anger, you wanted to hurt him as much as I did." Mato whispered.
"Nah, you must be mistaken." Beast Boy said, widening his smile.
"I know what I felt." Mato argued. "Before you stopped me, for a brief moment you wanted it as well."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Beast Boy said, talking a step back.
"You do, I'm not saying it should've happened or that we should be proud of it. But if I've learnt anything from Black Rock Shooter, it's that bottling up your feelings only hurts other people. If you can't admit it to me then at least admit it to yourself." Mato said, rubbing Beast Boy's arm.
The smaller Titan, closed his eyes and hesitantly nodded.
"You care deeply for her, don't ashamed of that. It's okay to have those feelings, but keep them in check. Life is a balancing act." Mato said sadly.
She squeezed Beast Boy's arm, briefly looked at Raven sleeping in the medical bed, then turned and left.
Why did you do that? Rock asked as Mato walked down the corridor.
Because he was hurting, he needed to know it was okay to have those feelings so he could heal. Mato replied.
What about you?
What about me? It doesn't matter, as long as my friends are okay. Mato shook her head with a grimace.
Later that evening, Mato snuck out of the tower and entered Jump City proper. She looked around at the tall buildings as she weaved her way through the bustling streets, taking a deep breath to clear her thoughts.
What's wrong with me? She thought. I've been a mess ever since I came here.
A lot has changed. Rock answered.
Black Rock Shooter, why do I have memories of you in the Otherworld? Why do I know about your time in my world?
Mato felt a cool breeze blow through her jacket, with a shiver, she zipped it up.
Strength shared her memories with me, to remind me of who I was. Rock answered.
Then why do I have them? How can I feel what you felt?
You were asleep, you should not know of them.
But, I do Black Rock Shooter, I know what you felt when you were in that big black prison to save that werewolf man. All that pain. Mato wept, leaning against a shop window.
Mato.
I wanted Doctor Light to stop hurting people, I wanted him to never hurt anyone ever.
I know.
Even after I realised you were about to kill him, I didn't try to stop you. Mato sniffed. Did I?
No.
Am I a killer? Mato asked.
No.
"Then what am I?" Mato cried.
Several passing people looked at her with confusion.
You are the most caring and compassionate person I know. It is your willingness to help others that allowed me to end their suffering.
I've created a monster.
I am a reflection of your inner self. Polar oppo…
Black Rock Shooter?
Alleyway.
"Huh?" Mato asked. She looked around and noticed a gap between two buildings, with hesitant steps she entered.
Let me take over. Rock asked.
Mato didn't hear her, the drumming in her ears drowned out the voice. As she left the safety of the street lights and stepped into the darkness, a sneaking suspicion that she had made a bad decision entered her mind.
Mato, let me out! Rock demanded.
Mato was about to agree when a voice made her jump.
"Hello my dear, I've been watching you."
"W-who are you?" Mato stuttered as she stumbled forwards away from the voice.
"I?" The calm, smooth voice repeated. "I am the one who has been paying close attention to your burgeoning career."
"It hasn't been two weeks yet." Mato said, turning around and stepping back.
Mato!
"And yet." The voice said. "You've already made an impact. Most impressive my dear."
The strong male voice seemed to both soothe and put her on edge, comforting almost but with obvious danger lurking beneath it.
LET ME OUT! Rock screamed.
Mato didn't hear, she was too entranced by the voice.
"I can help you, come with me and I'll teach you how to harness your power properly." The voice said.
A dark outline appeared in the darkness, tall, broad-shouldered, it was too dark to see his face but even so Mato could make out the rippling musculature underneath the black bodysuit and grey armour. It stepped forward and held out a hand.
"Join me and learn your place in the world." He said.
Mato I am sorry, please forgive me!
The teen grabbed her left eye and screamed as fire burst out of it and spread over her face, she sank to her knees in pain as Rock forcibly took control.
Rock stood up and looked at the man. In a blur of movement, she unsheathed the Black Blade and thrust it towards him only to bury it deep into brick.
She blinked as she removed it and looked around, the tall man had disappeared.
"Most impressive." Came the voice behind her.
She turned and brought her sword up, ready to strike.
"I've watched you in the tests I've set up, your speed and agility never cease to amaze me, my dear. You are the equal to Robin." The voice said, now above her.
She looked up and saw a dark shape falling from a rooftop.
Rolling out of the way, Rock slashed forwards narrowly missing her attacker. The large black-clad man kicked an armoured foot towards her head at blindingly fast speed. Unprepared for a human who could move so quickly she took the hit on her jaw, snapping her head to the side. He tried to follow up with a series of punches but none ever made their mark.
Rock was up and running, she sped around to his back and performed a spin-kick to his ribs. She continued spinning and plunged her sword into the man's back to the hilt, she back-flipped away, summoning the Rock Cannon at the same time and began to charge it up.
With a grunt, the man pulled the Black Blade from his back and looked at the weapon.
"A fine blade." He said, in the same calm, deep voice. He tossed the sword to the ground. "You will join me, in time, my dear."
He threw something at his feet, it exploded with a dazzling flash and a cloud of smoke.
Rock fired the cannon but the shot sailed harmlessly through before it impacted the opposite building and detonated, causing half of it to collapse.
Her eye flickered and the flame went out, without a second glance she walked back to the tower.
Inside Titans Tower she quickly located Robin, he was on the large couch cheering Beast Boy on as he fought Cyborg for the lead in a video game. She tapped him on the arm and motioned for him to follow her, she did the same to Yuu who was sitting on the back behind Cyborg.
"Rock what's wrong?" Robin asked.
She didn't make any motions instead lead them up to the roof, outside she pointed towards the city. Specifically at a billowing cloud of smoke.
"What happened?" Yuu asked.
Rock pointed at Yuu then brought her fists up in front of her face.
"Strength?" Yuu asked.
Yeah, let me out. She wants me to translate. Strength said as Rock nodded.
Yuu closed her eyes and relaxed, the skin on her forearms and hands split open and flaked off as metal took their place. Growing quickly to be larger than her entire body, hair rapidly faded to white and a pair of shining, ringed eyes looked out underneath her hood.
"What's up?" Strength said seriously.
Rock quickly told her what had happened and Strength relayed the information to Robin.
The Titan's leader went very pale.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
Rock nodded.
"It can't be, we dealt with him." Robin said.
"Who?" Strength asked.
"Slade, it has to be." Robin snarled. "He's caused us a lot of trouble over the years. Did he say anything else?"
Strength looked at Rock who shook her head.
"I need to go tell the others." Robin said shaking his head in disbelief.
They watched him depart, Strength looked at Rock.
"What didn't you tell him?" She asked.
Rock told her.
"And you think Mato was considering it?" Strength asked.
Rock shrugged then moved her hands.
"She is in a vulnerable state right now, those memories must have seeped in through her dreams." Strength suggested. "I never meant for that to happen Black Rock Shooter, I didn't even know it was possible otherwise I wouldn't have done it."
Rock nodded accepting the explanation.
"How is she?" The tanned Otherself asked.
Rock shook her head, she hadn't heard from Mato she she took control.
"It hurt her, didn't it?" Strength said, recognising the subtle shift in Rock's face. After a nod of confirmation, she continued. "You had to do it, it's obvious he was a danger to her and didn't you two agree that you would only do that if she was at risk?"
Another nod.
"Then I wouldn't worry about it too much, it hurt and probably scared the shit out of her but Mato is smart, she'll realise you only meant to protect her." Strength comforted her.
Rock hoped she was right, she watched Strength swap with Yuu who left the roof with a sad look back at the Otherself, leaving Rock alone on top of the tower. She looked up at the stars and inwardly sighed.
Forgive me.