Equilibruim
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I STILL do not own the Teen Titans. But I do own Fayetilfire, ask before you use her—if ever. Thank you!
Blackfire clutched at her aunt's gown, burying her face into her aunt's shoulder, trying to physically force the visions away from her eyes. Her own mother had betrayed her. The one who should have been the most understanding, the only one who had attempted to understanding. Her own mother.
Blackfire's vision cleared gradually and she stood shakily to her own feet, drawing away from her aunt's embrace. She stared at Fayetilfire, her face emotionless.
"I have." The raven-haired girl stated monotonously, "I have been denied, my birthright."
Something clicked in her mind and Blackfire's eyes narrowed suddenly. Her eyes rounded on her aunt and she regarded her fastidiously. "Why are you here, within the Pool of Exile?"
Fayetilfire stood warily, her dark eyes focused meticulously on her niece; her bitter smile was slowly returning. "My darling baby sister exiled me here." She shrugged impassively. "It was I, whom deserved the throne, and so we had a little...disagreement."
Blackfire fell silent. The seed of trust was beginning to grow in her breast. Fayetilfire was Blackfire's twin soul in life. The both of them had had a sibling rivalry and for nearly the same causes. This woman was the mother that Blackfire had almost had that night her true mother had confessed her heart. It was true; Blackfire felt a love for her mother, but she felt such an opposite polarity when with her family...this woman gave her a strong feeling of companionship. Fayetilfire could comprehend her, could empathize with her obscure emotions.
Her eyes drew to Fayetilfire's shoulder, where a moist stain dampened her aunt's gown. A burn of shame and embarrassment rose in Blackfire and she cleared her throat uncomfortably. Fayetilfire followed her niece's gaze, her eyes resting to the spent tears on her shoulder. Her eyes returned to look intently into the girl's. Her head tilted elegantly to one side.
"You are ashamed?"
Blackfire blinked once but made no reply.
"You poor creature. They have made you believe it is impermissible to cry, to show any emotion." She paused. "Our kin has become more merciless than I recall."
"Mercy is for the weak." Blackfire hissed scathingly. Her aunt gazed in shock at her niece. What have they done to this child? This girl was already twisted and broken and bitter, and at such a young age! She had not developed such terse emotions until she had realized that her younger sister would take the throne. She and her niece were much too similar than she was willing to believe. Was there no escaping this darkness that ran through her family? What was this world coming to? Fayetilfire could not help but feel a little guilt for this child, but then there was a conclusion. Fayetilfire did not birth this child, her sister had. The darkness ran through Luand'r as well, then. Fayetilfire was quite suddenly filled with a perverse pleasure. A cruel smile played at Fayetilfire's lips; there was hope for her yet.
"I am afraid that I must agree. Mercy is for those too weak to seize control." Blackfire looked up at her smiling aunt in inquiry and surprise. It was as if her aunt had read her very mind. "But you are not weak, my young one, you are a sovereign. You will rule Tamaran, as it should be. Of that, I have no doubt."
Blackfire could feel her eyes tearing and her lips trembling. This woman was her mother in every suitable and logical aspect. The feeling was there and Blackfire was not about to dismiss it. Fayetilfire was the mother she had always longed for, the mother she had always had by her side in her dreams. Joy swelled in Blackfire's throat and for a moment, she could not speak, fearful that even a breath of air could ruin this moment; a rightful mother at last.
Fayetilfire coughed lightly into her fist and Blackfire mentally shook herself from her reverie. Fayetilfire's bitter smile had reappeared.
Blackfire returned the bitter smile. "Why have you brought me here?"
Fayetilfire's smile broadened to a satisfied grin. "I knew you were a clever girl." She motioned her niece to follow her and Blackfire complied. The two returned to the edge of the pool where Blackfire had arrived. Fayetilfire turned to face her niece once more.
"Listen and listen well, Blackfire," her smile had vanished and she gazed sternly at her niece, "I give you a choice now and you must decide. I grow weary of this dwelling between reality and existence. I have long wished to pass on to the final resting place and I believe even my darling sister would understand."
Blackfire immediately leapt to a defensive and guarded expression, her body tense. This had been in the stories, in all of the legends. The ancestors always wishing to move forward would ensnare a replacement for themselves, taking another life for their own to continue to the next realm. Her aunt could not be serious.
"An eternity of oblivion is a heartless punishment and I seek liberation...my just deliverance. Will you aid me, my beloved niece?" Her eyes were pleading. Blackfire abruptly realized that she had absolute control over her aunt's fate. The power gave Blackfire a cruel satisfaction as she could twist any pact to lean heavily in her favor. But what could her aunt possibly offer her—a word to her kin that they treat her with more respect? To set her on the throne as the reigning Queen via removal of all of her family members? Hardly. What other assets could her aunt afford to give in the center of oblivion?
Fayetilfire seemed to sense her niece's thoughts as her ever-present, ever- bitter smile returned again. "I know what it is that you most want. Perhaps we could...strike a deal?"
With that, Fayetilfire summoned the power that blessed all the Tamaranian people. Her palms upraised, rippling and pulsing with currents of glorious bolts of crimson power, her eyes vanishing in the pools of red that engulfed them. She lifted off the ground in regal composure and hovered effortlessly in the air. Blackfire's jaw dropped. The power. Of course! After years of hopeless dream and yearning, the power of the Tamaranian people would finally be hers! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, a never-to-be-repeated moment, and Blackfire knew the answer to her dear aunt's proposal immediately thereafter. She was unsure if she could retain this feeling that flooded her entire being. She closed her eyes and trembled in utter elation, a quiver racking her body.
Fayetilfire settled to the ground upon seeing her niece's expression, releasing her power. A look of triumph passed her slightly ruffled features. Blackfire slowly opened her dark eyes.
"You have a deal."
Was all Blackfire could manage to say.
"Very well." Fayetilfire nodded blithely to her niece, a new emotion had crept into her cool voice. "But in exchange for my life force, the power you receive shall be cursed." Fayetilfire studied her niece's expression swiftly, careful to watch for any indication of concern or distress. Her niece did not stir. "By accepting this power, you shall suffer this fate," she motioned about herself to the darkness, "you shall be kept in this prison, in this oblivion, until your power be passed on."
Blackfire could not help the smile that curled her lips.
"Do you understand?"
"I do."
Fayetilfire smiled a genuine smile. "Then Blackfire, my darling niece, I bestow upon you my power." She held out her palms, facing up in open invitation. An expression Blackfire could not read, creased her aunt's brow and a dark glint flickered across her eyes. Blackfire approached her aunt, trembling in excitement and anticipation. The raven-haired girl stretched out her arms, her hands open to accept the gift which was rightfully hers. She shut her eyes, she could not stand it. Her dream had become a reality. Her dream had become a reality at long last! Blackfire breathed deeply and released the breath, then clasped her aunt's hands.
* * *
AN: Ok, I lied. There will be one more installment. (I wrote more than I thought I would...) How dare I leave another cliff-hanger?? You all can still expect the last chapter during the weekend. In the mean time, maul over a possible outcome to this story and Enjoy!
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I STILL do not own the Teen Titans. But I do own Fayetilfire, ask before you use her—if ever. Thank you!
Blackfire clutched at her aunt's gown, burying her face into her aunt's shoulder, trying to physically force the visions away from her eyes. Her own mother had betrayed her. The one who should have been the most understanding, the only one who had attempted to understanding. Her own mother.
Blackfire's vision cleared gradually and she stood shakily to her own feet, drawing away from her aunt's embrace. She stared at Fayetilfire, her face emotionless.
"I have." The raven-haired girl stated monotonously, "I have been denied, my birthright."
Something clicked in her mind and Blackfire's eyes narrowed suddenly. Her eyes rounded on her aunt and she regarded her fastidiously. "Why are you here, within the Pool of Exile?"
Fayetilfire stood warily, her dark eyes focused meticulously on her niece; her bitter smile was slowly returning. "My darling baby sister exiled me here." She shrugged impassively. "It was I, whom deserved the throne, and so we had a little...disagreement."
Blackfire fell silent. The seed of trust was beginning to grow in her breast. Fayetilfire was Blackfire's twin soul in life. The both of them had had a sibling rivalry and for nearly the same causes. This woman was the mother that Blackfire had almost had that night her true mother had confessed her heart. It was true; Blackfire felt a love for her mother, but she felt such an opposite polarity when with her family...this woman gave her a strong feeling of companionship. Fayetilfire could comprehend her, could empathize with her obscure emotions.
Her eyes drew to Fayetilfire's shoulder, where a moist stain dampened her aunt's gown. A burn of shame and embarrassment rose in Blackfire and she cleared her throat uncomfortably. Fayetilfire followed her niece's gaze, her eyes resting to the spent tears on her shoulder. Her eyes returned to look intently into the girl's. Her head tilted elegantly to one side.
"You are ashamed?"
Blackfire blinked once but made no reply.
"You poor creature. They have made you believe it is impermissible to cry, to show any emotion." She paused. "Our kin has become more merciless than I recall."
"Mercy is for the weak." Blackfire hissed scathingly. Her aunt gazed in shock at her niece. What have they done to this child? This girl was already twisted and broken and bitter, and at such a young age! She had not developed such terse emotions until she had realized that her younger sister would take the throne. She and her niece were much too similar than she was willing to believe. Was there no escaping this darkness that ran through her family? What was this world coming to? Fayetilfire could not help but feel a little guilt for this child, but then there was a conclusion. Fayetilfire did not birth this child, her sister had. The darkness ran through Luand'r as well, then. Fayetilfire was quite suddenly filled with a perverse pleasure. A cruel smile played at Fayetilfire's lips; there was hope for her yet.
"I am afraid that I must agree. Mercy is for those too weak to seize control." Blackfire looked up at her smiling aunt in inquiry and surprise. It was as if her aunt had read her very mind. "But you are not weak, my young one, you are a sovereign. You will rule Tamaran, as it should be. Of that, I have no doubt."
Blackfire could feel her eyes tearing and her lips trembling. This woman was her mother in every suitable and logical aspect. The feeling was there and Blackfire was not about to dismiss it. Fayetilfire was the mother she had always longed for, the mother she had always had by her side in her dreams. Joy swelled in Blackfire's throat and for a moment, she could not speak, fearful that even a breath of air could ruin this moment; a rightful mother at last.
Fayetilfire coughed lightly into her fist and Blackfire mentally shook herself from her reverie. Fayetilfire's bitter smile had reappeared.
Blackfire returned the bitter smile. "Why have you brought me here?"
Fayetilfire's smile broadened to a satisfied grin. "I knew you were a clever girl." She motioned her niece to follow her and Blackfire complied. The two returned to the edge of the pool where Blackfire had arrived. Fayetilfire turned to face her niece once more.
"Listen and listen well, Blackfire," her smile had vanished and she gazed sternly at her niece, "I give you a choice now and you must decide. I grow weary of this dwelling between reality and existence. I have long wished to pass on to the final resting place and I believe even my darling sister would understand."
Blackfire immediately leapt to a defensive and guarded expression, her body tense. This had been in the stories, in all of the legends. The ancestors always wishing to move forward would ensnare a replacement for themselves, taking another life for their own to continue to the next realm. Her aunt could not be serious.
"An eternity of oblivion is a heartless punishment and I seek liberation...my just deliverance. Will you aid me, my beloved niece?" Her eyes were pleading. Blackfire abruptly realized that she had absolute control over her aunt's fate. The power gave Blackfire a cruel satisfaction as she could twist any pact to lean heavily in her favor. But what could her aunt possibly offer her—a word to her kin that they treat her with more respect? To set her on the throne as the reigning Queen via removal of all of her family members? Hardly. What other assets could her aunt afford to give in the center of oblivion?
Fayetilfire seemed to sense her niece's thoughts as her ever-present, ever- bitter smile returned again. "I know what it is that you most want. Perhaps we could...strike a deal?"
With that, Fayetilfire summoned the power that blessed all the Tamaranian people. Her palms upraised, rippling and pulsing with currents of glorious bolts of crimson power, her eyes vanishing in the pools of red that engulfed them. She lifted off the ground in regal composure and hovered effortlessly in the air. Blackfire's jaw dropped. The power. Of course! After years of hopeless dream and yearning, the power of the Tamaranian people would finally be hers! This was a once in a lifetime opportunity, a never-to-be-repeated moment, and Blackfire knew the answer to her dear aunt's proposal immediately thereafter. She was unsure if she could retain this feeling that flooded her entire being. She closed her eyes and trembled in utter elation, a quiver racking her body.
Fayetilfire settled to the ground upon seeing her niece's expression, releasing her power. A look of triumph passed her slightly ruffled features. Blackfire slowly opened her dark eyes.
"You have a deal."
Was all Blackfire could manage to say.
"Very well." Fayetilfire nodded blithely to her niece, a new emotion had crept into her cool voice. "But in exchange for my life force, the power you receive shall be cursed." Fayetilfire studied her niece's expression swiftly, careful to watch for any indication of concern or distress. Her niece did not stir. "By accepting this power, you shall suffer this fate," she motioned about herself to the darkness, "you shall be kept in this prison, in this oblivion, until your power be passed on."
Blackfire could not help the smile that curled her lips.
"Do you understand?"
"I do."
Fayetilfire smiled a genuine smile. "Then Blackfire, my darling niece, I bestow upon you my power." She held out her palms, facing up in open invitation. An expression Blackfire could not read, creased her aunt's brow and a dark glint flickered across her eyes. Blackfire approached her aunt, trembling in excitement and anticipation. The raven-haired girl stretched out her arms, her hands open to accept the gift which was rightfully hers. She shut her eyes, she could not stand it. Her dream had become a reality. Her dream had become a reality at long last! Blackfire breathed deeply and released the breath, then clasped her aunt's hands.
* * *
AN: Ok, I lied. There will be one more installment. (I wrote more than I thought I would...) How dare I leave another cliff-hanger?? You all can still expect the last chapter during the weekend. In the mean time, maul over a possible outcome to this story and Enjoy!