Titans: Elemental

Chapter 20: Switched, Part 2

A cry from BB is overheard.

Starfire in Raven's body, "Beast Boy!"

BB is above the rooftops, illuminated by the full moon, but soon goes into a sharp descent with talons extended.

Raven in Starfire's body, "you mean zombie Beast Boy. Run!"

The group begins running.

As they follow the alley's turns, Raven starts jumping and flapping her arms, trying to get clear of the ground.

Raven in Starfire's body, "fly! Fly!"

After another turn or two, they slow to a walk.

Starfire in Raven's body, "we cannot fight them again. I do not wish to, and in our present condition, we would surely be defeated."

Jack, "agreed. Two against four aren't good odds."

Rose, "even if you two did learn to use one another's powers, we'd be at a disadvantage."

Raven in Starfire's body, "okay. How do you fly this thing"

She gestures at herself.

Starfire in Raven's body, "you must feel flight."

Raven in Starfire's body, "what?"

Starfire in Raven's body, "when you feel the unbridled joy of flight, you will fly."

Raven in Starfire's body, "unbridled joy? Not really my thing."

Jack, "I dunno, you seem to feel it when we go out."

Raven in Starfire's body, "that's different."

Starfire in Raven's body, "look!"

Her hand movement creates a black spark that throws Raven off her feet.

We see BB, as a tiger, rushing towards them.

Raven in Starfire's body, "what do I have to feel to use starbolts?"

Starfire in Raven's body, "righteous fury."

Rose, "that ain't happening, is it?"

Raven in Starfire's body, "your alien strength?"

Starfire in Raven's body, "boundless confidence."

Raven in Starfire's body, "never mind."

Raven runs back the way they came and yanks Starfire along with Jack and Rose close behind. Jack tries shooting ice on the floor as BB pursues. They take a different turn and wind up in a darker stretch of the alley. Something black swishes by in front, bringing them up short with a gasp; it straightens up to expose Dick's silhouette. They back up a few steps only to find the green jungle cat blocking the retreat. He moves in a little closer and roars, and now Dick brings out his fighting staff and runs at them. BB pounces as well. The group stand pat and sidesteps at the last moment; the two hypnotized Titans collide in midair, and the staff socks BB in the head and goes flying along the alley. The group makes tracks while the attackers lie dazed, Dick pinned under BB. The staff clunks down on the latter's head; both are soon on their feet to continue the chase.

Yet another side passage in the alley. Starfire passes it, but Raven ducks in and reaches out to haul her opposite number back. Jack and Rose dash in with them. They flatten themselves against the wall to stay out of sight of Dick and BB, who pass the corner without a second thought. It's harder, given how there are four of them. A momentary relieved smile from Raven is cut off when two very large and familiar bionic hands smash through the bricks behind them. Raven, Jack and Rose scream in terror and are propelled upward at terrific speed by an inadvertent burst of telekinesis from Starfire, who runs off as Vic knocks the wall down.

Starfire in Raven's body, "wait for me, please!"

Vic drools a little bit as he looks after them. Now they round a corner and stop, but soon they are forced to back up when he steps in after them. He is visible only as a silhouette, and Dick, Blackfire and BB join him. They close in; the girls and Jack backed up to a dead-end wall.

Raven in Starfire's body, "if I can't fly, you have to levitate. You know those words I always-?"

Starfire in Raven's body, "yes!"

She sucks in a huge breath and holds it.

Raven in Starfire's body, "wait! You have to focus!"

Starfire exhales as Jack mutters, "and here we go."

Starfire in Raven's body, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

She goes up like a rocket, dragging Raven by the hand, and both scream as they gain too much altitude. Jack quickly uses his air ability to race after them with Rose on his back. The four puppet Titans stare up after them; Raven and Starfife stop in midair before barreling over the trio's heads with Jack and Rose flying after them. Operating on the ragged edge of control, Starfire tows Raven up to roof level and beyond to soar over Jump City.

Starfire in Raven's body, "I wish to stop! Please tell me the way to stop!"

Raven in Starfire's body, "look at the ground and imagine-"

Starfire turns her gaze downward.

Raven in Starfire's body, "wait!"

The severely inexperienced pilot drops like a rock, Raven goes with her, and they slam down in a huge pile of trash between two buildings. After a moment, they poke their heads up; Raven shovels waste feverishly toward the street. Jack and Rose land beside them much more gracefully.

Starfire in Raven's body, "ugh! I smell like the breath of a Snervian blork worm. Raven, what are you-?"

Raven in Starfire's body puts her index finger to Starfire's mouth, "shhh!"

Leaning back to hide herself behind the berm she has made, she throws a trash bag at Starfire and lands it on her head to drive her down and out of sight. Jack and Rose quickly dash down with them. Dick, Blackfire and Vic walk into view from opposite directions and stop near the garbage to look around a bit. Not seeing anything worth attention, they continue on their respective patrols.

In the trash pile as they leave, we see Jack and the girls huddled behind it. A little aura of energy appears briefly around one of Starfire's hands; Raven gives her a hard look as she moans sadly at having lost control again.

Starfire in Raven's body, "peace, quiet, tranquility…. Peace, quiet, tranquility."

Raven in Starfire's body, "it's all right. They're going."

They peer out at the departing trio through an opening in the wall of junk. A large green rat, BB, pops into view. Starfire gasps in fright and is silenced by Raven's hand on her mouth. Jack does the same to Rose, who bites his hand, making him put his own hand over his mouth. The rodent sniffs the air a bit and climbs up the bags behind them as they remain stock-still. On Starfire's temple; a drop of sweat forms and slides down to the hand over her mouth. Raven's face is framed from nose to chin, with sweat sliding down her cheek as well and her lower lip caught nervously between her teeth. As BB is still sniffing about, the next words bring him to a stop.

Puppet King, "enough!"

The Titan scuttles away.

BB rejoins the others and takes human form; they turn toward the voice.

Puppet King, "we will catch the other four after the ceremony is complete."

He stands on a patch of brickwork on the building's upper stories, near the fetid castoffs, with the other four puppets still in hand, and he steps forward and holds them up.

Dick in Dick puppet's body, "ceremony?"

Vic in Vic puppet's body, "what ceremony?"

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "I don't like where this is going."

Puppet King, "just a little spell that will destroy you four, and make your bodies mine forever. Come, my puppets."

He walks away and they follow.

After they all have gone, in the alley behind the dump heap. A few trash bags are flung away; Jack and the girls step out, and Raven tries to get her auburn hair untangled.

Raven in Starfire's body, "how can you stand having this much hair?"

Rose, "it takes a lot of skill to tame long hair. I should know."

Starfire in Raven's body, "quickly, Raven! Our friends are in danger! We must follow and-"

Raven in Starfire's body, "and what? Save them with my unusable powers while your unbridled emotions blow us to bits? Nice flying, by the way."

A black aura surrounds Starfire.

Starfire in Raven's body, "at least I am able to fly."

Raven digs in her ear.

Rose, "oh no."

Jack, "here we go."

Starfire in Raven's body, "on my planet, even a newborn can unleash the joy of flight. But you are too busy being grumpy and rude to feel anything at all!"

Raven in Starfire's body, "maybe you haven't noticed, but my emotions are dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything, at least not so strongly. You may have my body, but you know nothing about me."

The aura dissipates.

Starfire in Raven's body, "perhaps you are right", Raven turns to her, "and if you and I are to overcome this ordeal, we must know everything about each other. So…. Begin sharing."

Jack and Rose smile as they watch this going on.

Raven in Starfire's body, "alright."

Starfire sits cross-legged as Raven is kneeling.

Raven in Starfire's body, "I was born in a place called Azarath…."

….

We see a decrepit old theater, the Bijou, with a courtyard in front of it. There is a large stone fountain, behind which Raven, Jack, Rose and Starfire have hunkered down to keep an eye on the front entrance. BB, as a Doberman pinscher, paces at the bottom of the steps that lead up to it. All four keep their voices down.

Raven in Starfire's body, "safe to say we're not walking in through the front door. We'll have to try the roof."

Starfire in Raven's body, "agreed. Now, do just as I instructed. Close your eyes and think of something joyful."

Raven rolls her eyes and sighs wearily. Starfire returns to normal volume.

Starfire in Raven's body, "you might choose flowers, or kittens, or the laughter of children, or-"

She gasps as she is hauled up by Raven, who has floated clear of the ground.

Jack can't help but smile proudly at his girlfriend before flying up with Rose.

Slowly but surely, they ascend to the roof and are not seen by BB; he perks up his ears and turns to look in their direction, but they are already out of sight. The four of them touch down next to a locked trapdoor.

Starfire in Raven's body, "very, very good! What was your joyful thought?"

Raven in Starfire's body, "you don't want to know."

Starfire in Raven's body, "oh, but I do. Please tell me. What did you imagine?"

Raven in Starfire's body, "you not talking."

Starfire's eyes pop.

Starfire in Raven's body, "oh. Well…. I am glad I was able to help."

Jack and Rose can't help but snicker at the exchange.

Rose whispered, "I thought she was gonna say something more inappropriate."

Raven looks at her, then down at the lock, then at Starfire again.

Raven in Starfire's body, "your turn. Find your center. Focus your energy on the lock."

Starfire closes her eyes for a moment. When she opens them again, they are glowing white as when Raven uses her own powers; she raises her hands.

Starfire, "Azarath…. Metrion….", the lock floats up as far as it can, "... Zinthos."

On the last word, she brings her hands down and the lock snaps. She giggles.

Raven in Starfire's body, "nice work."

Starfire in Raven's body, "success!"

The outburst causes her abilities to flare up; the trapdoor flies open and sends echoes throughout the theater.

Raven in Starfire's body, "nice work."

Rose, "give her some slack. Now, let's head inside."

….

We go to the stage in the auditorium. The Puppet King stands before a large bowl filled with blue-white flames. Candles have been set up and a scenery flat is to one side; the puppets are hanging over the top edge of the latter. He has his wooden cross piece in one hand and a test tube in the other. The echo of the trapdoor draws his attention, and he gestures with the controller toward the flat.

Puppet King, "search and destroy."

Dick, Vic and Blackfire stand before him.

Puppet King, "I do not want an audience."

They move off.

Puppet King, "well, Titans….", he uncorks the tube and pours the contents into a bowl, "... Time for your grand finale."

The flames blaze up. Just below one of the catwalks as sparks float toward it, Jack, Raven, Rose and Starfire are watching from here.

Raven in Starfire's body, "no."

The Puppet King holds up the four figures, "it's going to be a real showstopper."

Dick in Dick puppet's body, "stop!"

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "please don't!"

Vic in Vic puppet's body, "don't!"

BB in BB puppet's body, "please!"

Vic in Vic puppet's body, "hey!"

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "let us go!"

Dick in Dick puppet's body, "no!

Vic in Vic puppet's body, "stop!"

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "don't you dare!"

BB in BB puppet's body, "help!"

Puppet King, "don't worry. I'll take good care of your bodies. After all, they'll be mine forever."

He lets go of the strings, and the puppets drop toward the flaming oblivion he has prepared for them. Before they can land in the bowl, though, Starfire's telekinesis catches them and lifts them away to the catwalk. She sweeps the four wooden figures into a crushing hug.

Starfire in Raven's body, "my friends! You are unharmed! Hehehe!"

Dick in Dick puppet's body, "Starfire?"

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "sister?"

Raven in Starfire's body, "it's a long story."

Jack, "one we don't have time to tell."

The angered villain gestures with his crosspiece; in response, his four victims step toward him.

Puppet King, "go, my puppets! Capture them!"

They move out; BB transforms into a vampire bat to fly up with Blackfire while Dick clambers up the scaffolding. Starfire stands on the catwalk, still reveling in her rescue of the puppets, but is yanked away by Raven and the others.

Raven in Starfire's body, "move!"

They run along the planks, but scream as BB and Blackfire bring them up short. Dick vaults up and crouches behind them, and Vic leaps onto the railing with his cannon ready to fire. The blast sends Jack, the girls and the puppets flying every which way; the latter tumble onto the stage in a heap.

BB in BB puppet's body, "dude, get your butt outta my face!"

Dick in Dick puppet's body, "can't move. Deal with it."

Blackfire in Blackfire puppet's body, "at least your face isn't pressed up to Vic's-"

Vic in Vic puppet's body, "don't say it!"

The girls are doing a little short-range skydiving of their own. Starfire tries to grab a curtain cord to stop herself, Raven does her best to start flying, and neither one has any success. BB is in human form again; he hops onto the railing and turns into a gorilla, and he and Dick jump over the edge. Their two targets have finally managed to hit the brakes and are floating near another catwalk. They scatter an instant before Dick swings across the space on a rope. Starfire makes her way through the jumble of rigging, barely staying ahead of him, and both light on a walk to face off.

Starfire in Raven's body, "Dick, I do not wish to fight you."

She avoids his next punch, but he turns the move into a grab for her cloak and gets it, throwing her toward the railing. He moves a few steps toward her, ready to finish the job. He stops; one of his feet is within a loop of rope that lies on the boards.

Starfire in Raven's body, "but I will if I must!"

She levitates a nearby sandbag and drops it over the side. The rope attached to it is the same one whose loop Dick is standing in, and he is quickly dragged up by that leg.

Jack and Rose are running from Blackfire as she shoots seemingly endless starboard at them, which they avoid.

Jack quickly takes aim and shoots a ring of ice at her that hits her and sends her into a wall, trapped by the ring as Jack starts freezing her arms and legs while Rose looks out for any more danger.

Now Raven flies through the support framework, doing her best to stay ahead of Vic and BB, both of whom are swinging among the cables to get at her. The latter finally finds a grip and bears her down to the catwalk, but she kicks him away and quickly backs up to the wall as Vic rejoins the attack.

Raven in Starfire's body, "okay, Raven. Starbolts. Just let go of your emotions, feel the righteous fury, and…."

The attempt comes to a very sudden end when Vic aims a punch at her and knocks out a few dozen bricks. BB tries to seize her again as well; she dodges away, but he counters by slamming his clasped hands onto the catwalk to break it. Raven hurtles toward the stage, but manages to reverse course and deliver a walloping uppercut that dumps the shape-shifter, now back in human form, at Vic's feet.

The big man jumps onto the railing, grabs a rope, and swings across at her. She has just enough time to get airborne before those enormous metal boots crash through both sides. Realizing that he is now below her, she angles herself for a diving kick and connects to drive the rope out of his hands. He plunges toward the stage and passes Starfire, who gasps in shock and gathers her energy.

Starfire in Raven's body, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

As she says this, we see the pile of puppets on the stage; they are directly underneath the falling Titan and will be crushed to toothpicks upon impact. The spell catches him and pushes him out of the way.

Blackfire manages to break out of the ice and dashed forward, grabbing Jack and Rose and sending all three of them towards the others.

Back to Starfire, who smiles a bit as she moves her hand to direct Vic's motion; she looks upward, screams suddenly, and dodges a falling sandbag. A snarling Dick has gotten loose of the trap she sprang on him and is diving with enough speed to peel his lips back from his teeth. An instant after he lands on the catwalk, Vic, still moving under her influence, sails across and plows him away.

Rose starts grabbing rope and runs around Blackfire as she tries to blast Jack, who is dodging them as fast as he can before they manage to tie her up!

Raven lands on a higher walk and smiles down at Starfire, but a loud growl from above draws a shocked gasp and sets her running. BB, in gorilla form again, leaps down to her level in a bid to crush her, he misses, but the tremor from his landing throws her off her feet. She gets up and holds one hand straight out in front of herself as he approaches.

Raven in Starfire's body, "righteous fury, righteous fury, concentrate…."

A green spark flickers from the extended hand the beginning of a starbolt, but his swipe at her ends the experiment. She lifts off only to have one of her ankles caught by BB; he hurls her back to the catwalk and lifts his clasped hands to smash her apart once and for all. Only a last-second roll to one side saves her life. Fetching up against the railing, she looks down at the sound of a scream from Starfire. The latter is still dodging Dick's strikes.

Starfire in Raven's body, "Raven, help!"

Vic charges in to throw a punch, but Raven can do nothing to help, BB plants one of those huge mitts on her head and lifts her up by it. She shakes loose and drives the sole of her boot in his face before leaping back to perch on a scaffolding.

Raven in Starfire's body, "Starfire!"

Starfire looks up toward her, Dick goes up for a kick, and those violet soles push off from the framework. Raven goes into the fastest dive she can do and tackles the Dick in midair, driving him off the catwalk and catching the edge of his suit in one hand to leave him hanging.

Starfire in Raven's body, "not me! Them!"

Raven follows her gaze; her face registers the same shock that set off her counterpart's panic. The Puppet King runs towards the flaming vessel, carrying the others' replicas; he holds them over the fire.

Puppet King, "the Puppet King is in command!"

Raven's free hand blazes green.

Raven in Starfire's body, "NO!"

Jack sees this and joins in with his own blast of fire!

Raven hurls a full-strength starbolt to the the product of the fury she has been trying to capture that explodes with the force of a small bomb upon impact, Jack's own ball of fire making it even more destructive!

The puppets and their maker are flung across the stage; his cross piece arcs high over the scene, bounces off a sandbag, and drops neatly toward the blue-white fire. It flares up brilliantly when the wood falls in.

Puppet King, "my control!"

The blaze shapes itself into an approximate likeness of his face, and he starts to twitch and jitter in his prone position. Light pours from his eyes and mouth.

Puppet King, "NOOOOOOO!"

The influence lifts him to his feet, and the fpur puppets tremble as the souls trapped within them fly free and return to the right bodies. Starfire's spirit pours out of the blue-cloaked body it has been inhabiting. Raven's spirit does likewise as Dick rests in her arms. The two girls' life forces intertwine briefly before returning to their proper homes.

Jack and Rose cheer as they see this.

We see the four puppets on the stage, now just lifeless pieces of wood, Starfire lands and sets Dick down. Raven joins them.

Starfire, "I am me! And you are you!"

Jack runs up and hugs and kisses Raven saying, "thank God."

Vic, Blackfire and BB emerge from the wings. The latter is in human form again, and all four have completely recovered from the madman's influence.

Vic, "and we're us!"

Dick, "thanks to you four."

BB, "you go, girls! And guy!"

Starfire, "Raven, Jack, Rose, we have done it!"

Raven finds herself swept up in a wildly enthusiastic hug that is nowhere close to her liking.

Raven, "you're hugging me…."

Starfire lets go as Jack says, "she only likes my hugs."

Raven nods at her boyfriend's words.

Puppet King, "NOOOOOOO!"

He is sprawled out on the stage and trying to crawl forward. The light still pours from his eyes and mouth.

Puppet King, "the magic! Without it, I'm just a…."

The luminosity fades away, and he collapses as a slack-jawed, googly-eyed figurine without being able to finish the sentence.

Blackfire said, "can we please burn that creepy thing?"

….

Back in the living room. It is now later in the day, and Raven floats near the windows, meditating.

Raven, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…. Azarath Metrion Zinthos…."

We see Starfire standing behind her.

Starfire, "Raven, forgive my interruption, but…."

Raven, "I haven't seen Dick, Vic, Blackfire, Rose or BB. Jack is napping in his room with Percy."

Starfire, "truthfully, I am wishing to join you in meditation."

Raven, "really? All right."

Starfire flies over and assumes Raven's pose, floating at the same height above the ground.

Raven, "find your center. Focus your energies, and…."

Raven and Starfire, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…. Azarath Metrion…."

Raven breaks off and opens one eye as Starfire completes the mantra.

Raven, "Starfire?"

Starfire, "yes?"

Raven, "after this... Would you like to go to the mall?"

Starfire, "mmm-hmm."

Both close their eyes.

Raven and Starfire, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…. Azarath Metrion Zinthos…."

The two friends finally enjoying something together is where we end off….

….

Reviews:

Bailey Radcliff: thanks for the kind words and praise. We'll meet Jack's brother after the season 1 finale, and Jack may or may not meet Raven's mom.

raven 2012: glad to hear it.

DaV1nc136: well, I'm glad you liked the chapter, and yeah, I always found this chapter quite interesting.

J: Starfire says she's sorry ans has bought you some replacement mustard.

Jinero: Kori and Raven would find the Omnitrix and Alien X interesting, Kori would be happy to let Ben scan her DNA, and Trigon would definitely see Alien X as a threat.

Ushindi: glad you liked the chapter, and agree with Jack and Rose's choice to lock up their puppets.

….

One of the trickiest to write, given the body switching and all that. I hope this turned out alright.

The next episode will be another og chapter, where we'll see Victor helping Sarah with her class, and the two of them growing closer.

Also, heads up, I've got a poll for Ben 10: Alien Rebirth up, if anyone wants to take a vote on it?