Chapter VI: White Stranger
Starfire woke up to the first light of the early dawn, but did not smile as she used to. She stood up and put on fresh clothes, then walked out into the dark, cold halls. She lit the lights, and then walked to the kitchen area. She ate, and then went back to her room, never smiling the whole way.
Raven was awake now, meditating in her corner, straining to keep back the emotions. Starfire sat on her bed for a couple of minutes, then left to go outside. The guards were sparring, like she and Robin used to. She sighed and continued on, thinking to herself.
I do not want to be married to anyone, she thought, except for Lover Robin. I miss him. Starfire walked out of the castle area, and over to a Tamaranian forest. Once she was out of sight of everyone, she tried to fly into the forest. She flew about ten feet before crashing into the pink and white dirt.
Starfire stood up surprised. She brushed herself off, and then tried again. She just stayed there on the ground. She had no more joy. Starfire couldn't fly anymore. She sighed again, and walked into the forest on foot.
It was dark deeper inside, and the trees were bare and leave-less. Starfire made a small starbolt to light her way. Starbolts were probably the only thing she could do now, since they worked off her righteous fury, and she felt a lot of that, along with anger.
The young Tamaranian wandered off into the forest, leaving everything behind.
"Hey Raven, is Starfire in there?" Blackfire asked, knocking on the door.
"No. Why?" Raven answered, opening the door psychically. Blackfire sat on the bed.
"Father and Mother are arguing about the wedding. Father wants Starfire to prove he's right that she wants to get married," Blackfire said with her usual tone.
"I haven't seen Starfire since she left after coming back for breakfast," Raven said, still meditating.
"Strange, it's not like my little sister to wander off like that. I always was the better wanderer," Blackfire bragged, and began another story of some time. Raven didn't hear it; she psychically shut off her ears. But she did agree with Blackfire that it was unusual for Starfire to do that.
Starfire increased the starbolt's power; it was getting misty. The trees were behind her, and she appeared to be in some misty plains within the forest.
Starfire squinted, and up ahead was a large rock, jutting out of the earth. She walked over and sat on it, huddling.
"I do not remember this place on the map at my home," Starfire spoke to herself.
"Probably because you are the first one to find it," a younger voice spoke. Starfire spun around to see someone she had never imagined before.
"So, do you ever wear anything besides that cloak?" Blackfire asked. Raven had stopped meditating, and was floating above her bed.
"Why should I? It holds up my symbol as Sister in the Order of the Psy. Besides, who has time to go shopping?" Raven questioned. Blackfire grinned evilly.
"Well, since my unfortunate sister has to get married, you have to wear something else, since weddings usually don't have blue or black," Blackfire said, "Plus, they don't have cloaks here at Tamaran."
Raven eye's widened with horror at the realization of what Blackfire was saying. "You don't mean..." she started.
"That's right, Raven, you and I are going shopping," Blackfire finished, and grabbed Raven by the wrist, flying her to the nearest dresses shop.
"Who are you?" Starfire asked, no too trustful of strangers, ever since her transformation. The stranger was a boy, or at least an outline of it. His entire was simple white lines, which outlined his body and clothes. He seemed to be wearing a normal shirt and pants. Where there wasn't a line, Starfire could see through him. The boy's eyes were a shining pure white, nothing else.
"I am a Balancer, young Starfire," the boy answered, smiling warmly. Starfire still didn't trust him.
"What is a Balancer? How do you know my name?" Starfire asked. The boy smiled again.
"A Balancer is sort of...well...what holds a place together. I am what prevents this galaxy from erupting into chaos. I am why gravity pulls things together, the reason you fly, and why all things exist here," the Balancer told her. (A/N: For those who have no idea yet, this takes place in an Alternate Universe.)
"But why do you know my name?" Starfire asked. The boy sat down next to her, kicking his legs in midair.
"Young Starfire, I created the Tamaranians with my own power. I know everything that happens in my realm, and I can do anything I want about it, as long as it is not directly. I have made my own rules for myself, for everything must be contained somehow, am I right?" he asked. Starfire nodded, then brightened, yet still didn't smile.
"Then you know about when my friends died?" Starfire asked hopefully. The boy's smile faded.
"Yes, I know that massacre," the Balancer said.
"Then could you bring my friends back?" Starfire asked, hope gleaming in her eyes. The boy knew what she was getting at and frowned.
"I'm sorry to crush your hopes young Starfire, but I cannot interfere directly," he answered. Starfire's hope faded instantly. Suddenly, the Balancer smiled widely.
"But, heck, I'm the reason there are bad consequences; who says I have to punish myself?" the boy shouted aloud, jumping onto his feet. Starfire stood next to him.
"First, let me make a few changes around here," the Balancer said, and put his hand on the ground. Great trees sprouted fully grown, and the mist faded. The boy took his hand off the ground. He folded his arms and proceeded to think.
"Balancer, what is your name?" Starfire asked. The boy smiled.
"A name. I haven't had a name for a long time, ever since before I became a Balancer," the boy said aloud to himself. "I remember that my name was...Ilidil."
"Ilidil, why do you not partake in the joy of friendship?" Starfire asked.
"Young Starfire, it's not because I won't, it's because I can't. I will live forever, and any friends I have will die, and it will be hard for me. I will only die when another takes my place as Balancer of this galaxy," Ilidil spoke sadly.
"Then why do you help me?" Starfire asked.
"Because, even as Balancer, I need someone to talk to, and you seemed like the right person," Ilidil answered. Starfire smiled slightly, and then stopped.
"Now, I don't remember...what were your friends' names?" Ilidil thought.
"There was Robin, and Beast Boy, and Cyborg, and Fayrii," Starfire recited. The Balancer raised one hand and put it back down.
"It's done," he said simply.
"Are you sure?" Starfire inquired.
"Who is standing behind you?" Ilidil riddled. Starfire spun around to see Robin, Beast Boy, and Cyborg. She squealed, and launched herself at them, hugging them all tightly, while they suffocated happily.
"Friends! I am happy to see you because I never thought I would see you again and Raven and I flew from the tower and we were chased by a figure and we went to a big lake and the figure followed us and we came here and I was supposed to be married and the figure came and it ran away and I was sad and I came here and I met Ilidil and now you are here!" Starfire shouted happily in breath. Robin smiled as she let them go, then his face turned very, very dark. Starfire sensed him, and was happy that the link was back, but she didn't like the murderous feeling she was getting from him.
"Who's trying to marry you?" Robin asked, looking ready to spring off and kill. Starfire's smile faded.
"The evil man who killed you," Starfire whispered. Robin grunted, and Ilidil coughed gently. Beast Boy looked around.
"Yo, where's Raven?" he asked.
"Raven is back at the castle meditating with Blackfire," Starfire answered, her smile returned.
Unbeknownst to them (except for Ilidil), Raven didn't want to admit it, but she was enjoying shopping. She looked around through the dresses, and found three nice white ones. She tried them, picked one, put it in a box (In case Starfire should see), and walked to the castle with Blackfire.
"See, that wasn't so bad," Blackfire taunted. Raven pulled her hood over her head.
"Yes it was," Raven lied, trying not to smile.
"Riiight," Blackfire said, catching on.
"Ilidil, why is Fayrii not here?" Starfire asked, while the boys looked around for him.
"He isn't of this galaxy, therefore, I have no control over him," Ilidil answered. "But someone approaches."
The Titans turned and saw the dark figure slowly coming forward. The Titans prepared to fight, but Ilidil disintegrated their weapons.
"Wait, and look," he commanded, pointing. The figure continued to creep forward, and the four waited to see who it was...
Starfire woke up to the first light of the early dawn, but did not smile as she used to. She stood up and put on fresh clothes, then walked out into the dark, cold halls. She lit the lights, and then walked to the kitchen area. She ate, and then went back to her room, never smiling the whole way.
Raven was awake now, meditating in her corner, straining to keep back the emotions. Starfire sat on her bed for a couple of minutes, then left to go outside. The guards were sparring, like she and Robin used to. She sighed and continued on, thinking to herself.
I do not want to be married to anyone, she thought, except for Lover Robin. I miss him. Starfire walked out of the castle area, and over to a Tamaranian forest. Once she was out of sight of everyone, she tried to fly into the forest. She flew about ten feet before crashing into the pink and white dirt.
Starfire stood up surprised. She brushed herself off, and then tried again. She just stayed there on the ground. She had no more joy. Starfire couldn't fly anymore. She sighed again, and walked into the forest on foot.
It was dark deeper inside, and the trees were bare and leave-less. Starfire made a small starbolt to light her way. Starbolts were probably the only thing she could do now, since they worked off her righteous fury, and she felt a lot of that, along with anger.
The young Tamaranian wandered off into the forest, leaving everything behind.
"Hey Raven, is Starfire in there?" Blackfire asked, knocking on the door.
"No. Why?" Raven answered, opening the door psychically. Blackfire sat on the bed.
"Father and Mother are arguing about the wedding. Father wants Starfire to prove he's right that she wants to get married," Blackfire said with her usual tone.
"I haven't seen Starfire since she left after coming back for breakfast," Raven said, still meditating.
"Strange, it's not like my little sister to wander off like that. I always was the better wanderer," Blackfire bragged, and began another story of some time. Raven didn't hear it; she psychically shut off her ears. But she did agree with Blackfire that it was unusual for Starfire to do that.
Starfire increased the starbolt's power; it was getting misty. The trees were behind her, and she appeared to be in some misty plains within the forest.
Starfire squinted, and up ahead was a large rock, jutting out of the earth. She walked over and sat on it, huddling.
"I do not remember this place on the map at my home," Starfire spoke to herself.
"Probably because you are the first one to find it," a younger voice spoke. Starfire spun around to see someone she had never imagined before.
"So, do you ever wear anything besides that cloak?" Blackfire asked. Raven had stopped meditating, and was floating above her bed.
"Why should I? It holds up my symbol as Sister in the Order of the Psy. Besides, who has time to go shopping?" Raven questioned. Blackfire grinned evilly.
"Well, since my unfortunate sister has to get married, you have to wear something else, since weddings usually don't have blue or black," Blackfire said, "Plus, they don't have cloaks here at Tamaran."
Raven eye's widened with horror at the realization of what Blackfire was saying. "You don't mean..." she started.
"That's right, Raven, you and I are going shopping," Blackfire finished, and grabbed Raven by the wrist, flying her to the nearest dresses shop.
"Who are you?" Starfire asked, no too trustful of strangers, ever since her transformation. The stranger was a boy, or at least an outline of it. His entire was simple white lines, which outlined his body and clothes. He seemed to be wearing a normal shirt and pants. Where there wasn't a line, Starfire could see through him. The boy's eyes were a shining pure white, nothing else.
"I am a Balancer, young Starfire," the boy answered, smiling warmly. Starfire still didn't trust him.
"What is a Balancer? How do you know my name?" Starfire asked. The boy smiled again.
"A Balancer is sort of...well...what holds a place together. I am what prevents this galaxy from erupting into chaos. I am why gravity pulls things together, the reason you fly, and why all things exist here," the Balancer told her. (A/N: For those who have no idea yet, this takes place in an Alternate Universe.)
"But why do you know my name?" Starfire asked. The boy sat down next to her, kicking his legs in midair.
"Young Starfire, I created the Tamaranians with my own power. I know everything that happens in my realm, and I can do anything I want about it, as long as it is not directly. I have made my own rules for myself, for everything must be contained somehow, am I right?" he asked. Starfire nodded, then brightened, yet still didn't smile.
"Then you know about when my friends died?" Starfire asked hopefully. The boy's smile faded.
"Yes, I know that massacre," the Balancer said.
"Then could you bring my friends back?" Starfire asked, hope gleaming in her eyes. The boy knew what she was getting at and frowned.
"I'm sorry to crush your hopes young Starfire, but I cannot interfere directly," he answered. Starfire's hope faded instantly. Suddenly, the Balancer smiled widely.
"But, heck, I'm the reason there are bad consequences; who says I have to punish myself?" the boy shouted aloud, jumping onto his feet. Starfire stood next to him.
"First, let me make a few changes around here," the Balancer said, and put his hand on the ground. Great trees sprouted fully grown, and the mist faded. The boy took his hand off the ground. He folded his arms and proceeded to think.
"Balancer, what is your name?" Starfire asked. The boy smiled.
"A name. I haven't had a name for a long time, ever since before I became a Balancer," the boy said aloud to himself. "I remember that my name was...Ilidil."
"Ilidil, why do you not partake in the joy of friendship?" Starfire asked.
"Young Starfire, it's not because I won't, it's because I can't. I will live forever, and any friends I have will die, and it will be hard for me. I will only die when another takes my place as Balancer of this galaxy," Ilidil spoke sadly.
"Then why do you help me?" Starfire asked.
"Because, even as Balancer, I need someone to talk to, and you seemed like the right person," Ilidil answered. Starfire smiled slightly, and then stopped.
"Now, I don't remember...what were your friends' names?" Ilidil thought.
"There was Robin, and Beast Boy, and Cyborg, and Fayrii," Starfire recited. The Balancer raised one hand and put it back down.
"It's done," he said simply.
"Are you sure?" Starfire inquired.
"Who is standing behind you?" Ilidil riddled. Starfire spun around to see Robin, Beast Boy, and Cyborg. She squealed, and launched herself at them, hugging them all tightly, while they suffocated happily.
"Friends! I am happy to see you because I never thought I would see you again and Raven and I flew from the tower and we were chased by a figure and we went to a big lake and the figure followed us and we came here and I was supposed to be married and the figure came and it ran away and I was sad and I came here and I met Ilidil and now you are here!" Starfire shouted happily in breath. Robin smiled as she let them go, then his face turned very, very dark. Starfire sensed him, and was happy that the link was back, but she didn't like the murderous feeling she was getting from him.
"Who's trying to marry you?" Robin asked, looking ready to spring off and kill. Starfire's smile faded.
"The evil man who killed you," Starfire whispered. Robin grunted, and Ilidil coughed gently. Beast Boy looked around.
"Yo, where's Raven?" he asked.
"Raven is back at the castle meditating with Blackfire," Starfire answered, her smile returned.
Unbeknownst to them (except for Ilidil), Raven didn't want to admit it, but she was enjoying shopping. She looked around through the dresses, and found three nice white ones. She tried them, picked one, put it in a box (In case Starfire should see), and walked to the castle with Blackfire.
"See, that wasn't so bad," Blackfire taunted. Raven pulled her hood over her head.
"Yes it was," Raven lied, trying not to smile.
"Riiight," Blackfire said, catching on.
"Ilidil, why is Fayrii not here?" Starfire asked, while the boys looked around for him.
"He isn't of this galaxy, therefore, I have no control over him," Ilidil answered. "But someone approaches."
The Titans turned and saw the dark figure slowly coming forward. The Titans prepared to fight, but Ilidil disintegrated their weapons.
"Wait, and look," he commanded, pointing. The figure continued to creep forward, and the four waited to see who it was...