That night, dinner was relatively quiet. The assassination attempt
had left many in castle worried, nervous, and more suspicious. Even Robin
began to get worried, wondering if he could be the next target again. The
only one that seemed normal was Slade himself. After all, he had single-
handedly killed 4 of the six attackers and he seemed to take a pride in
this. He had a bright smile on his face and bragged to Cyborg about how he
dispatched the assassins so easily. "My friends!" Slade spoke aloud. "This
is a day of celebration. For I honor those that tried to kill me today. Not
many would have such the courage to defy death itself." The guards laughed
at Slade's half-assed joke. "But I need not celebrate just yet, without
bringing into the light the person, who by his reflexes, saved my life from
that of an assassin's arrow. My dear Prince Robin." Robin perked his head
up in a surprised notion. "My friend, if it weren't for you, I'd have been
lying on the ground earlier today in a pool of blood. You risked your very
life to save mines and for that I thank you." "Um, yea, don't mention it."
"I thank you my brother and I would be honored if you would have my
daughter's hand in marriage. Both Starfire and Robin were surprised by this
but both blushed at the thought of it. Slade lifted his cup and said, "TO
ROBIN, The noblest one to have come in many generations." "HERE HERE!" the
guards yelled. Robin felt his heart quench inside of him. This was Slade,
his most hated enemy, but yet he felt a sort of pride being accepted by him
as well, a son, if not a son-in-law. After the announcement, the dinner was
more lively and even Starfire managed to have fun. Everyone did except for
Robin. "I can't do this anymore," Robin thought, "The thought of Slade
seeing me as a son and me accepting it, I...it...I just can't. I have to find a
way to end this." Robin then snuck out of the dining hall without anyone
noticing. He had something to attend to. No one noticed him except Beast
Boy.
What the resistance against Slade was for was just one of the questions he wanted answered by the so called "bird that flies through the night". But his major reason was to find out how he could himself and his friends back into their world. As he walked through the village streets in the darkness, his eyes constantly stayed alert to the shadows. He felt the feeling that he was being followed. He turned around to look. "Nothing but a cat." Robin continued his way to the shop of the "bird that flies through the night". In the daytime it was creepy enough, but at night, it scared him worse then Kitten did when they had their "prom date". An open window near the entrance lured Robin in. "So you actually believed that dying archer's words." "Who said that!?" "See the dark bird that flies through the night and your path will be revealed." "Show yourself!" Beast Boy came from the shadows. "Bea-Barlan, you. How did you..." "Hear the words of that archer...I have my ways. The major thing is that, you somehow felt the urge to believe him." "Like it or not, I'm going into that shop, and there is nothing you can do to stop me." "Oh really?" When Robin turned back to look at Beast Boy, Beast Boy was dashing towards Robin with his staff which had somehow taken the form of a scythe.
Had Robin stood still a second more, his head would be rolling down the street. "Now look I said I was going into that place regardless of what you do." Robin said, "But don't expect me to attack you. I can't bring myself to doing it." "Just like Capt. Hallen told me. You seem to have a certain aura of a link between certain people. Why I might never know, but you won't enter that building!" Beast Boy came at him with another attack. Robin only stepped back a bit because he was well out of the scythe's reach. Or so he thought. Beast Boy continued his attack, but his slash brought up a blade of wind that struck Robin and sent him flying. "No broken bones, thank god." Robin got back to his feet and brought his hand down to his sword, but only to defend. Beast Boy came at him again. This time Robin blocked. Beast Boy struck again and Robin blocked. Beast Boy jumped back and sent another wind blade towards Robin. Robin then brought his sword back and in a swift move, cut the blade of wind into two. Robin looked back up, his eyes blue with rage. "Hmm...she was right, you are good." Beast Boy then flipped a switch on his staff and the scythe blade retracted into the staff. "Come with me Robin, I'll take you to her." "Huh?" Robin was simply dumbfounded at this. "Wait a sec, time out. A minute ago you were trying to turn my head into a garden ornament, now you say you're taking me to her." "Whatever a garden ornament is...I have my reasons for doing this, now come on." Robin was reluctant but followed.
Inside the shop it was really something. Cobwebs were found just about everywhere in the corners. Bottles and vials of who knows what littered the shelves, desktops, and cabinets. Only a few lit candles were the sources of light. Then a voice spoke. "Is he here?" Beast Boy responded. "Yes, he is the one." "Bring him to me." Robin didn't like the sound of this. As Beast Boy led him into the shadows, Robin saw her. It was Raven, still dressed in the cloak only this time wearing actually clothes under it and not the skin tight speedo she was used to wearing. "Raven, it's good to see you." Robin said. "It is true my name is Raven, but the one you speak of is not me. I am a simple future reader. I sensed you when you came past my shop the first day you entered this town. Now come closer." Robin brought his head loser to Raven's. "She still as hot as ever." Robin thought. "But she's still maintaining her queen of the undead get-up." "Not many people consider me beautiful, but although my shop may not be the most inviting of places, I assure you I do not control the dead." Raven said in a stern voice. "You mean you can..." "Read your mind? To a certain extent." Raven then held her hands against Robin's temples and said a quiet chant to herself. "Well, it's true you are the one. Your mind- power does not lie to me." "And he bares the eyes of the one when in battle. I've seen it for myself." Robin had no clue what they meant (Robin's eyes may turn blue when he fights but he doesn't know this because he still sees normally). "All right then." Raven said. "Follow me, I have to show you." Robin's curiosity had taken the better of him and he followed her willingly. "Wait a sec, Beas-I mean Barlan, aren't you coming too?" "No Robin, I shall return to the castle. You need not worry though; I shall keep this meeting my own secret. None shall know." "Are you doing this for me?" "No, I do this for myself, because one side will always lose and I choose to help myself only." With that Beast Boy left the shop and Robin and Raven went down a secret passage under her shop.
What Robin saw startled him. Under the shop was a chamber. A chamber large enough to hold two T-Subs in it. In the chamber were more of the assassins, at least a good 1000. Stockpiles of swords, axes, bows and arrows, spears, and shields lay in a small room. "This is where the resistance makes its base. It remains a mystery to the Imperial Guard. We have almost a good 2,500 resistance fighters." Raven said. Robin was simply amazed to see such an organized fighting force. "Now look, I've been hearing about this resistance forever, but what is it for? What is Sla- Alhrik doing that is causing you people to use guerilla warfare?" "If you must know, it involves you." "Me?" "Yes, you don't know this, but deep inside your body lies a powerful aura. A rare type that hasn't surfaced in over 300 centuries. Alhrik has a similar aura but because of his age, it is much weaker then yours. However he knew that you, Prince Robin, had this special gift. That is why he seeks your companionship so much. He seeks your aura. Once he has it, his tyrannical ways will be revealed. All he needs is you." "So that explains why he is so nice to me all the time." Robin thought. "So what do you guys do?" "We try to end his life at any chance we get. But up to this point, all our attempts have ended in failure. Despite his weak aura, it's still powerful enough to protect him against simple assassins." "So you guys want me to join your little band?" "No. I have a vision that we cannot force our ways onto you. Neither can Alhrik. The choice will be yours to make and yours alone. When you will make it is a mystery. But it won't be as easy as it seems. Now go, before you are discovered missing."
Robin made his way back to the castle. As he walked the castle corridors, his mind raced. "She said it wouldn't be easy, but yet, I have the strange feeling that she's right." Robin thought. "I mean, my mind along with Star's is hell-bent on getting back to our time. Yet Slade and I have well, bonded a bit. Why in the hell am I given a decision like this? And I don't even know when I have to make my choice either. I have to tell Starfire." Robin went to Starfire's chamber and awoke her. He told her everything he had seen, heard, and done. Soon Starfire's mind began to wonder as well. "But Robin, what if this decision comes too late. What if by the time you have to make the choice, both of us will have forgotten everything?" Starfire began to cry. "What if we forget our friends, our home, our world? What if we forget each other?" "We won't Starfire, I'll see to it." "But what can you do?" "...I don't know. But I won't forget. If I have to etch everything into my own skin I will, but I won't forget." "Ohh Robin..." Starfire let her head fall into Robin's chest as Robin held her close to him. "Don't worry Starfire," Robin said, "I won't let that..." But before he could finish, Starfire embraced him in a kiss that caught Robin off guard. "Uhhh..." "That can be one thing you can remember." Starfire said with tears still in her eyes. "It might help you remember what you have to make a choice for." "Starfire..." The two locked eyes and then kissed passionately as the two enjoyed what they both had dreamed for so long. While they never admitted it back home, Starfire and Robin's feelings for each other could've been seen by a blind man. That night the two found comfort in each other, and pleasure as they stayed together the rest of the night. This is what they would be fighting to remember for.
To Be Continued...
What the resistance against Slade was for was just one of the questions he wanted answered by the so called "bird that flies through the night". But his major reason was to find out how he could himself and his friends back into their world. As he walked through the village streets in the darkness, his eyes constantly stayed alert to the shadows. He felt the feeling that he was being followed. He turned around to look. "Nothing but a cat." Robin continued his way to the shop of the "bird that flies through the night". In the daytime it was creepy enough, but at night, it scared him worse then Kitten did when they had their "prom date". An open window near the entrance lured Robin in. "So you actually believed that dying archer's words." "Who said that!?" "See the dark bird that flies through the night and your path will be revealed." "Show yourself!" Beast Boy came from the shadows. "Bea-Barlan, you. How did you..." "Hear the words of that archer...I have my ways. The major thing is that, you somehow felt the urge to believe him." "Like it or not, I'm going into that shop, and there is nothing you can do to stop me." "Oh really?" When Robin turned back to look at Beast Boy, Beast Boy was dashing towards Robin with his staff which had somehow taken the form of a scythe.
Had Robin stood still a second more, his head would be rolling down the street. "Now look I said I was going into that place regardless of what you do." Robin said, "But don't expect me to attack you. I can't bring myself to doing it." "Just like Capt. Hallen told me. You seem to have a certain aura of a link between certain people. Why I might never know, but you won't enter that building!" Beast Boy came at him with another attack. Robin only stepped back a bit because he was well out of the scythe's reach. Or so he thought. Beast Boy continued his attack, but his slash brought up a blade of wind that struck Robin and sent him flying. "No broken bones, thank god." Robin got back to his feet and brought his hand down to his sword, but only to defend. Beast Boy came at him again. This time Robin blocked. Beast Boy struck again and Robin blocked. Beast Boy jumped back and sent another wind blade towards Robin. Robin then brought his sword back and in a swift move, cut the blade of wind into two. Robin looked back up, his eyes blue with rage. "Hmm...she was right, you are good." Beast Boy then flipped a switch on his staff and the scythe blade retracted into the staff. "Come with me Robin, I'll take you to her." "Huh?" Robin was simply dumbfounded at this. "Wait a sec, time out. A minute ago you were trying to turn my head into a garden ornament, now you say you're taking me to her." "Whatever a garden ornament is...I have my reasons for doing this, now come on." Robin was reluctant but followed.
Inside the shop it was really something. Cobwebs were found just about everywhere in the corners. Bottles and vials of who knows what littered the shelves, desktops, and cabinets. Only a few lit candles were the sources of light. Then a voice spoke. "Is he here?" Beast Boy responded. "Yes, he is the one." "Bring him to me." Robin didn't like the sound of this. As Beast Boy led him into the shadows, Robin saw her. It was Raven, still dressed in the cloak only this time wearing actually clothes under it and not the skin tight speedo she was used to wearing. "Raven, it's good to see you." Robin said. "It is true my name is Raven, but the one you speak of is not me. I am a simple future reader. I sensed you when you came past my shop the first day you entered this town. Now come closer." Robin brought his head loser to Raven's. "She still as hot as ever." Robin thought. "But she's still maintaining her queen of the undead get-up." "Not many people consider me beautiful, but although my shop may not be the most inviting of places, I assure you I do not control the dead." Raven said in a stern voice. "You mean you can..." "Read your mind? To a certain extent." Raven then held her hands against Robin's temples and said a quiet chant to herself. "Well, it's true you are the one. Your mind- power does not lie to me." "And he bares the eyes of the one when in battle. I've seen it for myself." Robin had no clue what they meant (Robin's eyes may turn blue when he fights but he doesn't know this because he still sees normally). "All right then." Raven said. "Follow me, I have to show you." Robin's curiosity had taken the better of him and he followed her willingly. "Wait a sec, Beas-I mean Barlan, aren't you coming too?" "No Robin, I shall return to the castle. You need not worry though; I shall keep this meeting my own secret. None shall know." "Are you doing this for me?" "No, I do this for myself, because one side will always lose and I choose to help myself only." With that Beast Boy left the shop and Robin and Raven went down a secret passage under her shop.
What Robin saw startled him. Under the shop was a chamber. A chamber large enough to hold two T-Subs in it. In the chamber were more of the assassins, at least a good 1000. Stockpiles of swords, axes, bows and arrows, spears, and shields lay in a small room. "This is where the resistance makes its base. It remains a mystery to the Imperial Guard. We have almost a good 2,500 resistance fighters." Raven said. Robin was simply amazed to see such an organized fighting force. "Now look, I've been hearing about this resistance forever, but what is it for? What is Sla- Alhrik doing that is causing you people to use guerilla warfare?" "If you must know, it involves you." "Me?" "Yes, you don't know this, but deep inside your body lies a powerful aura. A rare type that hasn't surfaced in over 300 centuries. Alhrik has a similar aura but because of his age, it is much weaker then yours. However he knew that you, Prince Robin, had this special gift. That is why he seeks your companionship so much. He seeks your aura. Once he has it, his tyrannical ways will be revealed. All he needs is you." "So that explains why he is so nice to me all the time." Robin thought. "So what do you guys do?" "We try to end his life at any chance we get. But up to this point, all our attempts have ended in failure. Despite his weak aura, it's still powerful enough to protect him against simple assassins." "So you guys want me to join your little band?" "No. I have a vision that we cannot force our ways onto you. Neither can Alhrik. The choice will be yours to make and yours alone. When you will make it is a mystery. But it won't be as easy as it seems. Now go, before you are discovered missing."
Robin made his way back to the castle. As he walked the castle corridors, his mind raced. "She said it wouldn't be easy, but yet, I have the strange feeling that she's right." Robin thought. "I mean, my mind along with Star's is hell-bent on getting back to our time. Yet Slade and I have well, bonded a bit. Why in the hell am I given a decision like this? And I don't even know when I have to make my choice either. I have to tell Starfire." Robin went to Starfire's chamber and awoke her. He told her everything he had seen, heard, and done. Soon Starfire's mind began to wonder as well. "But Robin, what if this decision comes too late. What if by the time you have to make the choice, both of us will have forgotten everything?" Starfire began to cry. "What if we forget our friends, our home, our world? What if we forget each other?" "We won't Starfire, I'll see to it." "But what can you do?" "...I don't know. But I won't forget. If I have to etch everything into my own skin I will, but I won't forget." "Ohh Robin..." Starfire let her head fall into Robin's chest as Robin held her close to him. "Don't worry Starfire," Robin said, "I won't let that..." But before he could finish, Starfire embraced him in a kiss that caught Robin off guard. "Uhhh..." "That can be one thing you can remember." Starfire said with tears still in her eyes. "It might help you remember what you have to make a choice for." "Starfire..." The two locked eyes and then kissed passionately as the two enjoyed what they both had dreamed for so long. While they never admitted it back home, Starfire and Robin's feelings for each other could've been seen by a blind man. That night the two found comfort in each other, and pleasure as they stayed together the rest of the night. This is what they would be fighting to remember for.
To Be Continued...