Ch. 11

The Final Test

Robin approached Starfire from behind, she had no idea that he was even anywhere near her in the time that he was reaching arm length. She stood, resting her arms on the couch watching the gigantic television. Starfire gave her full attention to the screen that blared commercials about hair gel and diets. Robin tapped her right shoulder, she jumped and turned quickly taking in a deep gasp of shock. Until she found it was Robin, she calmed down, and sighed.

"Oh, Robin, it is you." Starfire's voice said, echoing in his mind like a beautiful song.

"Starfire, I need to ask you something." Robin's voice sounded as though he was dealing with the evil's within the city.

"What is the question?" she asked, looking concerned.

"Something I heard you and Dark doing. Do you love him?"

Starfire didn't think long before answering, it was as if she were anticipating the answer all along.

"Yes, I do."

"Could you love me?" Robin asked, putting a few fingers to his chest.

Starfire couldn't come up with that answer so quickly. All the times that they had shared underneath the Titan tower couldn't be ignored. She knew deep within her that she loved Robin, it was perfectly clear, but Dark concealed her vision of him. At last Starfire came with the answer.

"I do love you too, Robin. It's just that – Both you and Dark I have to choose from. Raven was right, I should have made up my mind."

Robin had little clue what Starfire was talking about, but discarded the thought by thinking that it was 'girl talk' and no male mind should meddle into those sort of affairs.

"Have you made up your mind?"

"No."

Robin didn't speak, there was silence for the longest time. "I see." Robin then turned, his cape flying behind him, and he went back into the darkness of the corridor.

From the corner, emerged Dark from his cloaked state. "I don't blame you, Starfire. He is a good 'Titan'; I can see it in your eyes that you feel more for him. I understand."

Starfire felt as though Dark's affections toward her were torn away. "Han, I love you too, it's just so hard to choose between the two of you."

"I see. So what do you suggest we do?"

"I don't know."

"You could do it the Tamaranian way." That was simply out of the question, Starfire thought. What he was referring to was the small gladiatorial event when two men fought over one woman, whomever emerged victorious at the end would be with her to the end. Starfire didn't want one of them dead, but knew that one way or another that would happen. Raven predicted it, she knew that at least one would be dead.

Starfire sighed, embraced the inevitable. "Yes, that would – be best." She paused in the middle, fearing to say it in front of Dark.

"I suggest we make it a little more fun. Use the holographs as enemies, they can hurt and will impede the path of both of us, let us prove our worth to you through battle, unless you state otherwise."

Starfire would have preferred anything other than fighting, but knew that it was the only way that either one of them would be satisfied. She nodded, then walked up to Dark, embraced him.

"Dearest Han, I don't want either of you to die." A tear flooded from her eyes, and onto his chest. He brushed her hair and her back, reassuring her that everything would be ok, if she ordered him not to kill, he would gladly do so unquestioningly. Dark was still bound to her through protection afterall.

"It'll be alright, don't worry. Soon we will settle this once and for all. You must finish this, create the board so that we may play."

In the coming days, Starfire was not to be seen, Dark assured everyone that she was safe, and that no harm would come to her. In her travels she searched through buildings that could harbor a fight with Robin and Dark. Until after the third day of searching, did she find a suitable location.

The building was nearly falling apart, but at the end was a unattended golf course that was still well kept, perfect. The building had two separate ways to get to the course, too perfected to be true.

She flew back, and announced to everyone as they sat and watched the television. "Robin, Dark, I have found a suitable location for choosing my love."

Robin having no idea what she was talking about, nor most of the other Titans gathered there save Raven and Dark, they were completely clueless.

"Uh- Star, what do you mean?"

Raven answered before Starfire or Dark could even open their mouths. "Starfire is going to choose her love by having you and Dark fight it out to the death. Something you, Robin, wanted to do since the beginning."

Starfire now had no idea how Raven knew about this. Dark stood, and answered, her expression a dead giveaway to her confusion.

"I've slipped into Raven's mirror accidentally for kicks. I told her about it after getting a near flogging." Dark glanced to Raven who gave a small smile.

"Dude, you mean to the death right?" Beastboy asked, making a face.

"Yes. It is Starfire's decision, I'll go along with it. I'm sure I know who the winner will be." Robin answered going back into the dark corridor.

The others followed, uncertain and nervous. Dark, although seemed rather optimistic as he followed Raven. If I have served Starfire to the best of my ability, then dying here today will be not be a complete waste.

Upon reaching the abandoned building, Dark and Robin took their positions. Both were on parallel lines leading to the course. Between both of them was an extremely long line of shelves.

The sphere that once resided in the training room, now left and stood thirty feet before them, between the wall. Dark wore the lax uniform and began to stretch; Robin looked at him and grunted. Robin did not need to exercise; it was a waste to Robin.

Beastboy, Cyborg, Raven, and Starfire watched from above as Raven had a black transparent carpet floating them around. Each watched in anticipation. Cyborg spoke up to Starfire. "You know Star, one of them is gonna end up dead. What if it's Robin? Who's gonna be leader then?"

Starfire lifted her knees, and wrapped her arms around them, she turned her head from him. "I don't know."

Raven did not seem at all shocked at her decision, although one would be dead, they would never be forgotten. Raven's poetry always depicted death and darkness, though never seeing someone she actually had come to like on the verge and choice of death was a revelation toward her.

The sphere lit up, and hummed to them once, then paused. Dark crouched down, as if he were in a race. The second hum came and Robin took his position, expelling the collapsible staff. He swung it around in his hand, and then gripped it with one hand and prepared to charge.

The sphere hummed the third time and the images appeared all of Slade's men. Dark and Robin shot off like bullets and attacked their imaged enemies as if they were real. There was a tiny shock to when each hit was taken, to make the simulation at least somewhat real.

Dark flew through and blasted his blue energy through the rows coming at him. Robin on the other hand did many maneuvers to dodge, kick and bash down the enemies impeding his path. Both fought vigorously, and didn't seem much of a threat, until the sphere continued to move and produce even more images at a much more rapid rate.

Soon an overwhelming sensation would come from both teens. The images around them felt as though a flashlight were surrounding them sending shocks that felt as real as a true punch. Dark shot small blasts in every direction like a berserk, there was no pattern to his attack pattern and each enemy continued to pile on around him.

Robin meanwhile slammed the staff into all of his enemies and breaking them down as if they were nothing. Dark looked through the bookcases, and saw Robin was advancing. Dark powered himself up, and let his long white locks fly up. In a rage he pushed through them and skidded on the ground. He held out one hand and outstretched the palm. The blue energy that shot forward enveloped the light, and sent the sphere forward to keep the advancing Robin from continuing.

Dark advanced and created energetic sword with his hands. As the enemies of light came into sight he twirled around in a blur and chopped the images down. Robin had still no trouble, until he looked to Dark, who continued to advance.

"Starfire will love me and belong to me!" Robin called, as he continued his fight with the images.

Dark stopped and flew back a little chopping down a few images that came closer. "The only person she belongs to is herself, only she can decide who she will be with in the end."

Dark continued, as well as Robin. It was not long until the light of the golf course was in direct sight. The enemies were just a means of wearing both opponents down, it had worked to an extent.

Until both had exited the back of the building did Starfire call to the sphere: "Stop Sphere." The sphere did as it was told and shut down, falling to the ground and making a thud.

The course's grass was smooth and soft, it was a pleasure that few people had known of. The carpet that held the four other Titans flew above Dark and Robin, both facing one another.

"You may both – begin." Starfire choked, and put both her fists to her mouth, she had fear for both of them.

Dark nodded, as well as Robin. Both narrowed their eyes as they both charged. Robin put forward the staff to block the oncoming energy blades of Dark. Robin fell back under the power, and threw Dark behind him onto his back now. Both stood, and charged again, still as relentless as ever. Robin jabbed with the staff, Dark pushed it away and made a quick right punch to Robin's chin. It hit with devastating power, Robin flew back and did a flip to keep himself from hitting his back again.

Robin raised a hand and curled his fingers toward himself, "Come and get me Dark!" Robin called.

Dark did just that, and made a quick horozontal swipe of his energy blade aiming for Robin's neck. Robin lowered himself and shot the staff into Dark's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Seizing the moment, Robin landed a number of punches to Dark's gut. It wasn't until Dark sputtered blood, that he had had enough of this. Dark gripped Robin's hair, yanked him upward, and shot a surge of power through Robin. Then with such force twirled about and shot putted him across the golf course. Robin's landing was less that harsh, the grass was upturned and Robin lay sprawled on the ground with his belly to the grass.

Dark flew for Robin, and as he got closer, Robin twirled about and took a 'rang and cut Dark's left eye, making a scar nearing his hair line and edge of his mouth. Dark flew back and clutched his eye, he could never see through it ever again. Blood oozed from the wound.

Dark's voice changed, and turned to that of an enraged lion. It was no longer the voice of the charming young Tamaranian teenager, it was now that of his true battle hardened self.

"Come here!" Dark reached with his right hand and gripped Robin's shirt, forcing him toward Dark. With a quick blast sent Robin once again down the field, toward the second hole.

Though the pain was excruciating, Robin looked as though he had been through nothing. Dark flew to the hole that was made, and reached in for Robin. Upon grabbing onto him again, he flipped him up in the air, and landed hundreds of attacks all over Robin's body. It was like a flash of white and black was spinning around the body that slowly fell to the ground that continued to move suddenly from position to position.

At last, a spun kicks to the back of Robin's head sent him careening to the building again. Dark flew with speed he didn't know he hand, and again pulled Robin up to his face, to show him his new eye that Robin had given him.

Starfire flew down, and brought down Robin, and the grip of Dark's hand. Starfire took hold of Dark and looked into his eyes and he into hers. It was clear she didn't wish to see any more of this.

"Please- please stop!" She pleaded. Robin lay on the ground, beginning to move the staff in his hand. Dark nodded, and calmed down, he lowered his head, "I ask for your forgiveness."

"There is nothing to forgive, Han."

Robin stood, and with a burst of movement, shoved Starfire out of the way. Dark widened his eyes, and without a chance to move, Robin ejected the blade from the staff and struck it deep into Dark's chest. It punctured his right lung, but missed his heart. Dark gurgled his speech as he fell to the ground, still alive, writhing in pain. Starfire stared at Dark's fallen body, still clutching to the staff. Robin let him fall, and grasped onto Starfire, and looked at her with affectionate eyes.

"I love you Starfire." He said. Dark pulled free the staff blade and let it drop to the ground. Robin charged forward and landed punches to Dark's face and cheeks. Blood shooting from Dark's mouth like a cannon.

Starfire stood there, shocked. She couldn't move, she is in pure fear now. Robin roared at Dark as he landed punch after punch. "Die...You.... Tamaranian...Bastard!" Robin stopped, as Dark rolled his eyes, and rolled to the side, apparently now dead. Dark was limp, and lifeless. It was then a white light was seen below him, it was faint. It then shot him upward and toward the Titan Tower, though none of them made any note of that.

Raven's powers of her black magic carpet waned slightly. She lowered her head, and whispered "Be at peace, Han." Each of them lowered their heads in sadness, save Robin, who was more pleased with winning with Starfire's test. Her final test.

It was then in the future days to come that Starfire did come to love Robin. Each of them never forgot about Dark, his days there had passed, and they were no more. A monument of stone, presented by Aqualad, it stood as a second monument toward the Titan tower.

It was Raven who seemed so unaffected by this, and remained in her room, though this too was never noted. It was heard in her room that she was sometimes talking to someone.