Chapter VII: Two Nations
The streets of Gotham were currently empty. Except at the Titan's Tower, where a familiar hole had formed in the sky, and stars were falling from the earth. (A/N: After writing this, I wonder if these plot twists mean I'm insane.)
Out from the hole emerged a dark shape against the silhouette sky. The shape was formed as a galleon, and it landed softly in the grass. No one took notice to these strange events, because every one in Gotham was asleep. Coming out of the galleon came a force, a force consisting of twenty Ludiquil faeries, higher beings from another dimension. They marched into two lines, and marched toward the center of the city. They were silent, and no one saw them.
They wore usual Ludiquil fighting attire, plated armor, black helmets, spike boots, loin guards, a belt, gloves, and a katana at the side. Except these were the elite force of a much larger army, and so they had other weapons: a knife in their sleeve, a retractable spear on their back, and miniature crossbows at their sides, while a grey cloak softly flapped in the wind.
On the other side of the city, twenty stars fell into the ground. Out from the multiple craters rose another force. Twenty Tamaranians, each with the ability of flying, and super strength, and energy blasts. They floated inches above the ground. Quietly, each created two energy blasts. The Tamaranians slid into four lines, and left for the center of the city as well.
Two nations are in Gotham, each with the same purpose. To find the missing member of each of their royal families. But what will happen when two different nations meet.
The Ludiquil and the Tamaranians spotted each other at the same time. They both continued their march until the front ranks were only a foot away.
"Who are you? Are you the cretins who took Her Highness Starfire?" the front row of the Tamaranians asked. It was to no avail, for the Tamaranians only spoke their native language, while the Ludiquil spoke their native language and English. Instantly, the front rows clasped hands. The colors of the Tamaranians' energy surrounded them, then they broke, and the aura faded. The Tamaranians passed the knowledge down the line.
The Tamaranians asked their question again in English, only to be met with the demands of the Ludiquil.
"We know nothing of your so-called Starfire. Perhaps you have Prince Fayrii Lijaro?" the Ludiquil spat.
Instantly, the ranks of both side shot insults and jeers to the other. Things might have turned out badly for the two forces had not a boy's voice quieted both sides.
"I know a Starfire," a voice said, and the two Ludiquil ranks made a two-foot gap. Down the gap walked a ten-year old boy, who looked exactly like Fayrii, except his hair was brown. His claws shined in the moonlight, as the boy in white shirt, pants, and cloak stopped in front of the Ludiquil.
"Did this Starfire you know have red hair with green eyes?" the Tamaranian questioned.
"Yes. The Starfire I knew was like that." the boy answered.
"When did you last see her?"
"Exactly two years ago, when she was with her friends. I believe they were called the Teen Titans," the boy thought. The Tamaranians exchanged glances among themselves.
"Starfire was with them two years ago. What is your name?"
The boy's blue eyes shined with pride as he spoke, "I am Jack Lijaro, younger brother to Crown Prince Fayrii Lijaro."
The Tamaranians gave a respectful bow before asking their next question, "Do you think Starfire would return to her friends? And perhaps you could tell us of your brother?"
Jack gave his tale of when he had found his brother with the Titans in the desert. He gave the story in detail, then answered that Starfire would possibly return to her friends.
"In that case," the Tamaranians continued, "It seems our princess and your brother were both friends with the Teen Titans. Perhaps an alliance is at hand?"
"I agree. It is hard enough to find a friend in the shadows," Jack gave his hand, and the Tamaranian captain (who was the one asking questions) shook it.
"Now tell us, what does your brother look like?" the captain asked. Jack and the Ludiquil gave a full description of Fayrii to their last sighting. The Tamaranian captain pointed down the street, saying, "Is that him?"
Down the street where he had pointed was Fayrii, down on fours (as he has been for the whole story), his eyes normal and his tattered cloak fluttering in the wind.
"Fayrii! Is that you?" Jack asked, hope in his voice. Fayrii gave a confused growl and look.
"I do not understand," Jack mumbled.
"Perhaps that is because he does not recognize you while under my influence," Slade stepped out of the shadows. Both forces glared, knowing who he is.
"What have you done to my brother?" Jack demanded, the civility in his voice replaced by dark hate.
"Patience," Slade said. "Dark, bring the boy to me." Fayrii hesitated, wondering who the boy was.
Slade noticed Fayrii's hesitation. With speed, Slade lifted a surprised Fayrii by the arm and inserted a needle containing the chemical into him. Then he dropped him. Fayrii's eyes were red again, gleaming as a light source in the dark night.
"I understand now, you are mind-controlling my brother," Jack warned, and the earth shook slightly. There was no more kindness on his face; it was pure hatred.
"Yes, that is true. Like I said before, bring the boy to me," Slade commanded. Fayrii charged.
Instantly, the Ludiquil ran forward to meet Fayrii with fists and claws, while the Tamaranians fired from behind. Fayrii dodged every blast and smashed into the oncoming Ludiquil. Not knowing they were half his race, Fayrii tore through them with his ever sharp claws. The Ludiquil regenerated, and fought back. Fayrii started backing up, due to the claws and energy blasts.
Slade could recognize defeat, and called, "Dark, retreat." Dark followed his current master, and the two vanished in the darkness.
Jack began to lead the two forces through the city. They knew their opponent, and how to beat him. Silently, they all swore to eliminate Slade once and for all.
Back at Slade's lair, Fayrii was thinking to himself, Why did Slade want me to fight that time when we were supposed to negotiate? And why did he make me attack someone who looked just like me just now? Perhaps my master isn't the good guy, like he says.
In their prison cell, Robin and Starfire huddled together. They were scared, but they were together, and that was how they were going to get out. Beast Boy kept Raven close, while Cyborg watched the electric bars. Batman stood silent in the shadows, thinking.
The streets of Gotham were currently empty. Except at the Titan's Tower, where a familiar hole had formed in the sky, and stars were falling from the earth. (A/N: After writing this, I wonder if these plot twists mean I'm insane.)
Out from the hole emerged a dark shape against the silhouette sky. The shape was formed as a galleon, and it landed softly in the grass. No one took notice to these strange events, because every one in Gotham was asleep. Coming out of the galleon came a force, a force consisting of twenty Ludiquil faeries, higher beings from another dimension. They marched into two lines, and marched toward the center of the city. They were silent, and no one saw them.
They wore usual Ludiquil fighting attire, plated armor, black helmets, spike boots, loin guards, a belt, gloves, and a katana at the side. Except these were the elite force of a much larger army, and so they had other weapons: a knife in their sleeve, a retractable spear on their back, and miniature crossbows at their sides, while a grey cloak softly flapped in the wind.
On the other side of the city, twenty stars fell into the ground. Out from the multiple craters rose another force. Twenty Tamaranians, each with the ability of flying, and super strength, and energy blasts. They floated inches above the ground. Quietly, each created two energy blasts. The Tamaranians slid into four lines, and left for the center of the city as well.
Two nations are in Gotham, each with the same purpose. To find the missing member of each of their royal families. But what will happen when two different nations meet.
The Ludiquil and the Tamaranians spotted each other at the same time. They both continued their march until the front ranks were only a foot away.
"Who are you? Are you the cretins who took Her Highness Starfire?" the front row of the Tamaranians asked. It was to no avail, for the Tamaranians only spoke their native language, while the Ludiquil spoke their native language and English. Instantly, the front rows clasped hands. The colors of the Tamaranians' energy surrounded them, then they broke, and the aura faded. The Tamaranians passed the knowledge down the line.
The Tamaranians asked their question again in English, only to be met with the demands of the Ludiquil.
"We know nothing of your so-called Starfire. Perhaps you have Prince Fayrii Lijaro?" the Ludiquil spat.
Instantly, the ranks of both side shot insults and jeers to the other. Things might have turned out badly for the two forces had not a boy's voice quieted both sides.
"I know a Starfire," a voice said, and the two Ludiquil ranks made a two-foot gap. Down the gap walked a ten-year old boy, who looked exactly like Fayrii, except his hair was brown. His claws shined in the moonlight, as the boy in white shirt, pants, and cloak stopped in front of the Ludiquil.
"Did this Starfire you know have red hair with green eyes?" the Tamaranian questioned.
"Yes. The Starfire I knew was like that." the boy answered.
"When did you last see her?"
"Exactly two years ago, when she was with her friends. I believe they were called the Teen Titans," the boy thought. The Tamaranians exchanged glances among themselves.
"Starfire was with them two years ago. What is your name?"
The boy's blue eyes shined with pride as he spoke, "I am Jack Lijaro, younger brother to Crown Prince Fayrii Lijaro."
The Tamaranians gave a respectful bow before asking their next question, "Do you think Starfire would return to her friends? And perhaps you could tell us of your brother?"
Jack gave his tale of when he had found his brother with the Titans in the desert. He gave the story in detail, then answered that Starfire would possibly return to her friends.
"In that case," the Tamaranians continued, "It seems our princess and your brother were both friends with the Teen Titans. Perhaps an alliance is at hand?"
"I agree. It is hard enough to find a friend in the shadows," Jack gave his hand, and the Tamaranian captain (who was the one asking questions) shook it.
"Now tell us, what does your brother look like?" the captain asked. Jack and the Ludiquil gave a full description of Fayrii to their last sighting. The Tamaranian captain pointed down the street, saying, "Is that him?"
Down the street where he had pointed was Fayrii, down on fours (as he has been for the whole story), his eyes normal and his tattered cloak fluttering in the wind.
"Fayrii! Is that you?" Jack asked, hope in his voice. Fayrii gave a confused growl and look.
"I do not understand," Jack mumbled.
"Perhaps that is because he does not recognize you while under my influence," Slade stepped out of the shadows. Both forces glared, knowing who he is.
"What have you done to my brother?" Jack demanded, the civility in his voice replaced by dark hate.
"Patience," Slade said. "Dark, bring the boy to me." Fayrii hesitated, wondering who the boy was.
Slade noticed Fayrii's hesitation. With speed, Slade lifted a surprised Fayrii by the arm and inserted a needle containing the chemical into him. Then he dropped him. Fayrii's eyes were red again, gleaming as a light source in the dark night.
"I understand now, you are mind-controlling my brother," Jack warned, and the earth shook slightly. There was no more kindness on his face; it was pure hatred.
"Yes, that is true. Like I said before, bring the boy to me," Slade commanded. Fayrii charged.
Instantly, the Ludiquil ran forward to meet Fayrii with fists and claws, while the Tamaranians fired from behind. Fayrii dodged every blast and smashed into the oncoming Ludiquil. Not knowing they were half his race, Fayrii tore through them with his ever sharp claws. The Ludiquil regenerated, and fought back. Fayrii started backing up, due to the claws and energy blasts.
Slade could recognize defeat, and called, "Dark, retreat." Dark followed his current master, and the two vanished in the darkness.
Jack began to lead the two forces through the city. They knew their opponent, and how to beat him. Silently, they all swore to eliminate Slade once and for all.
Back at Slade's lair, Fayrii was thinking to himself, Why did Slade want me to fight that time when we were supposed to negotiate? And why did he make me attack someone who looked just like me just now? Perhaps my master isn't the good guy, like he says.
In their prison cell, Robin and Starfire huddled together. They were scared, but they were together, and that was how they were going to get out. Beast Boy kept Raven close, while Cyborg watched the electric bars. Batman stood silent in the shadows, thinking.