Whew! The muse has hit me today. Two updates in the same day! I hope everyone enjoys the battle scene!
Chapter 5: Stolen Dreams
Legions of soldiers advanced on the massive creature of sugar and sweets, archers launching volley after volley of arrows. The wooden implements thudded harmlessly into the beast's oozing hide, eventually sliding to the ground, covered in white chocolate. A phalanx of soldiers gave a battle yell and charged the creature, but were all easily swept asunder by one movement of it's massive hands, scattering them like toys.
"Whatever it is, it's after Star," Robin stated grimly, "We have to stop it. Titans, go!" The group of teens ran to face the candy monolith.
"What's this?" the creature jeered, voice gravelly with amusement as it peered at the four titans standing in it's path, "Is the Queen so desperate that she has stooped so low as to hire the services of vagabonds? Ha! Begone with you!"
The group split up just as the massive candy claws of the Candyman swiped along their position. Beast Boy shifted into a green panther and lunged at the Candyman, teeth sinking into the oozing chocolate flesh. The Candyman let out a roar and reached down to grab the titan by the scruff of the neck, tearing a piece of the chocolate away as he did so. Yellow liquid poured from the wound and Beast Boy licked his chops. "Lemonade?"
The creature pulled Beast Boy up to it's face, glaring curiously at the green teen with his black eyes. The wound on his leg quickly oozed over, healing it and stopping the outpouring of lemonade. The Candyman pulled back his other massive hand and was about ready to skewer poor Beast Boy when he was hit from behind, causing the mound of sugar to lurch forward and drop the panther.
"Booya!" Cyborg cried triumphantly, lifting up another picnic table to lob at the creature, "No dessert is going to get the best of the Teen Titans!"
Roaring angrily, the Candyman ripped one of the fair booths from the ground and lobbed it at the hybrid, burying him in rubble before turning back and focusing on Queen Kory. He took one step and hissed again as Beast Boy had once again sunk his panther teeth into the candy flesh. With a savage kick, the blob sent the green cat flying towards the same rubble pile Cyborg was in.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Raven spoke the familiar magic words, her eyes glowing brightly as shadow tentacles burst forth and tangled around the arms and legs of the sugary monstrosity.
The Candyman turned his attention briefly towards the gloomy girl, black eyes narrowing in hate. With a mighty pull, the chocolate mound wrenched the tentacles free and sent Raven flying through the air. She smacked hard against one of the walls of the city, sliding down unconscious.
Closer still he drew to the circle of knights protecting a clearly frightened Queen Kory. "Not so fast, big, blobby and ugly!" The Candyman turned slightly towards the sound of the voice, only to have his face be covered in a cloud of explosions from disks tossed by Robin. The beast roared and staggered back slightly, but otherwise seemed unharmed. "Insolent insect!" the creature yelled as a massive fist struck down where Robin was standing.
The boy wonder dodged the attack easily, but was buried under rubble as the vibrations from the fist smacking the earth caused a building to collapse on him.
Once more, the Candyman turned his attention to Queen Kory and her coterie of knights. Several broke ranks and charged the beast, managing to evade the creature's heavy blows and land a few cuts with their swords. The tiny papercut wounds didn't last long, and soon oozed over with white chocolate, healing them. With little effort, the Candyman brushed the knights aside.
Queen Kory was defenseless, except for one lone knight in shining white armor who stayed his ground, staring at the monster. "Stay back, m'lady!" the knight said in a voice eerily familiar, "I'll protect you!" He then charged with a yell, striking the beast with a flurry of blows that sent the Candyman reeling backwards. The Candyman raked his claws down on the knight, who deftly blocked the razor sharp talons with his sword.
The battle between the two continued, with the Candyman managing to slowly but surely advance as they exchanged blows. Fatigued with the fight, the brave knight made a nearly fatal error and was hit hard with a full force of the Candyman's blow. The shock from the concussive force knocked the knight's helmet off.
Queen Kory made a motion as if calling out, but made no sound. She reached out an impotent arm to the fallen knight, as if to help him, her lips soundlessly mouthing 'Sir Robin!'. Indeed, the way the shadows obscured his eyes, the unconscious form did resemble Robin, albeit a much older and more muscular version.
"I have you now," The Candyman stated, grinning demoniacally as it reached for Queen Kory's form.
"We're not through with you yet!" cried a voice from behind, causing the Candyman to stop in his reaching and look over his melting shoulders.
There stood the four Teen Titans, a little scuffed, but otherwise seemingly quite fine. And ready to fight.
"It seems these vegabonds are more powerful than I thought," mused the Candyman, stepping away from Queen Kory. Briefly, it considered it's options then grinned evilly. Running with surprising agility and quickness, the candy villain scooped up the unconscious Sir Robin and jumped over the city walls, landing on the other side with a loud boom. "Hear me, Queen Kory!" he called over the wall, "I have taken your precious knight. If you do not come to my factory and surrender, I will kill him. Horribly. You have twelve hours." Having said that, the hulking creature ran off into the distance.
"Should we follow?" Raven asked, hovering in the air.
Robin considered, pursing his lips as he looked over at the direction the Candyman had fled then back at Queen Kory, who had collapsed to her knees and was sobbing silently. "No, not yet," he said, "We don't know enough about him to defeat him. We need more information. Hopefully, Star will give it to us."