Unable to bear the loneliness outside, Starfire had returned into the Tower. She was still searching for her friends. Despite all the evidence that they were long gone and, indeed, so was much of the world, she stubbornly continued to search for them, lifting up their beds to see if they were hiding underneath, checking inside cupboard doors (Beastboy once hid there, during a strange game of 'seek and hide' they'd played). But alas, no signs of her friends. Not one brightly colored costume filled her field of vision, only the endless empty hallways and rooms of Titan's Tower.
"Hello?" she whispered, her voice slightly hoarse from shouting out for them, thinking perhaps they couldn't hear her. "Hello? Friends Cyborg and Beastboy? Friend Raven? Hellllloooooo....? Robin?"
Again, only her own questions answered her. Only her own footsteps echoed in the empty silence of Titan's Tower. Despair clung to Starfire but she stubbornly refused to accept her fate. She had to find them. To know where they were and why they were not with her.
Starfire...
The Princess of Tamara came up short, nearly skidding to a stop as she glance back down the T-intersection she'd just passed. She could've sworn she'd just heard...
Starfire...
Eager to find someone, anyone, Starfire lifted off her feet and zoomed through the air as fast as a cannonball, turning this way and that following the whispering half-voice, arriving at Robin's room seconds before the door slid shut. She didn't hesitate, grabbing both ends and forcing them open faster than it was capable of, and peering inside, hoping to see someone.
Alas, she did not. There was no one there.
A dejected sigh came from Starfire's lips and her shoulders slumped mightily as waves of despair washed over her slender frame. She was about to depart but the voice, if it had not been her imagination, had drawn her here. She might as well take a look around.
"Robin?" she called out quietly. "Hello?"
Starfire...
Starfire heard the voice again, and glanced down. Past Robin's bed, past the myriad of criminal news clippings and evidence he was often found working on, there was a dresser, simple and functional. Starfire knew from past experience it held the Boy Wonder's many spare costumes, as well as a number of civilian clothes he wore when the occasion required it. Like the tuxedo he'd worn to Kitten's prom. Starfire frowned slightly at the memory, but then smiled, remembering afterwards... after Kitten and her psychotic father had been defeated.
She remembered the dance she'd shared with Robin, and it brought a quiet little smile to her lips.
Curious to know more, the lady Titan opened up one of the drawers, then another, peering inside, wondering if perhaps a clue was hidden therein. An explanation, a note or some such. To her surprise, furthest down, she spotted a rather large book, much like the ones Raven used to read, containing many big, thick pages. The title was 'Memories.'
"How peculiar," she mused, reaching down to obtain the book and draw it out. It opened easily, and she saw that it wasn't a letters book, it was a pictures book. It was a... what was the term? Robin had told her of such things before. Oh yes.
"A photo album," she said aloud.
Inside were memories indeed, frozen in time. Pictures of the Titans over the ages, from as far back as their origins to the modern day. Each time they'd done something momentous there was an image of it contained therein, along with a date beside the photos. Some were somewhat sloppy, half-hazardous, images created by Beastboy during the Titan's infrequent outings out of Titan's Tower to have fun and play. Others were professional images, captured by the security cameras of the places they saved from criminal menaces, or still others from the ever-recording eye of Cyborg.
Curious to see more, Starfire crossed her legs and hovered in mid-air Indian style, as Raven and she often did during their meditation, placing the book in her lap. She didn't feel so sad anymore, now. She didn't have her friends back but she had these rather pleasant memories to keep her company. So she turned the page and began to peruse the images contained therein.
Their gathering, when she'd touched Robin's hand to learn his language.
Her first trip to the carnival and the Ferris wheel.
The time she'd switched physical forms with Raven.
A peaceful outing to the beach, playing a friendly game of no-powers volleyball.
The time she'd consoled Cyborg about his ordeal in the HIVE.
Her trip back to Tamaran, and her joyous return to her real home... to earth.
Starfire stopped on that last page, eyeing a number of images that Robin had dutifully taken and captured with Cyborg's aid, drawing them from his perpetually recording eye. She saw herself there, doing battle with her sister Blackfire for control of Tamaran. And for control of herself. She saw herself... so determined... so brave. Was that really her?
She gently reached out a hand, touching the small frozen image of herself, marveling at the image contained there. In awe of her own ability to fight. She hadn't needed help from her friends then, though they'd been with her in spirit.
Just like they were now.
"I'm not really alone," she said. "I have you with me in my heart... always."
Starfire gently closed the photo album and slid it back into place, closing the drawer. She could sense it now. Sense the feeling of peace that had suddenly filled the Tower, replacing the despair and emptiness. And though she did not turn, she sensed a presence by the doorway. She almost broke into tears when she heard his voice again.
"Hey Star..."
"Robin."
Darkness engulfed him as he crouched in the shadows. Panting heavily for breath, waiting for his enemies to leave. No, no his enemies. His friends. Again he reached up, tearing at the mask, racking his fingers hard across the surface but as before, it would not budge, would not move. He was suffocating behind the orange and black mask of Slade, suffocating behind the evil that it represented.
Then suddenly, a sound came to his ears. A footstep. Two of them, then a third. Two individuals. Cyborg and... Beastboy, judging from the gait. No, not Beastboy. He couldn't identify the second set of footsteps. And he could only surmise of Raven or Starfire was with them, they floated, they made no sound until they spoke. Nor was he anxious for another encounter with them.
Robin leapt out of his hiding place seconds before a plasma cannon ripped it to shreds, rolling on the ground and moving quick to dodge starbolts heading his way. As always he tried to hold up his hands, tried to show he didn't mean to fight, tried to call out to his friends and tell them who he was. But alas, he could not. They saw and heard only Slade, and they were relentless in their attack on their arch-enemy.
"Stop...!" he tried, his voice hoarse from yelling, his arms and legs weary from dodging and parrying attacks. He couldn't hold them off much longer. He should've run...
... but where would he run to?
Suddenly a horned rinoceous slammed right into Robin's midriff, cracking his ribs and knocking him to the ground, where he collapsed, unable to stand. Cyborg and Starfire took up positions on either side of Beastboy as he slipped back into his regular form, both of them aiming their respective weapons at the masked Robin, unable to tell who he was.
"Stop... please..." he whispered.
"Stop!" said a new voice, a familiar voice.
It was Robin, but not Robin himself. It was another Robin. The Titan Robin, dressed in his bright red, green and yellow costume, wielding his retractable bo staff and making his way past the gathered Titans towards whom he believed to be Slade. The real Robin. He made no effort to move. He had no strength left to do so. The other Titans closed in from all sides, forming a ring that cut off any exit he might've tried to break for, had he any energy to attempt such a feat.
"Slade," said the alter Robin accusingly, with Robin's own voice.
"I'm... I'm not Slade!" shouted Robin, receiving the end of a bo-staff in his chest for his trouble, being hurled back down onto the ground. This upset his injured ribs, and he clutched his stomach as a wave of pain washed over him, agony soaking into his every muscle. "I'm nothing like Slade!!"
"Robin," said the alter Robin again, though this time his voice seemed... different? Cautiously Robin opened his left eye, peering up at himself... he seemed... different somehow. "You're not Slade," he said, speaking in a strange, feminine tone of voice. One Robin recognized with some difficulty... it was... it was Ravens. But, he dared dart a glance over his clone's shoulder... there was Raven! Was this some sort of ventriloquism trick?
"But you are -like- Slade," said the other Robin. "Determined, skilled, daring, manipulative. Tell me... what makes you different from Slade?" he/she/it asked accusingly, raising the bo staff high up over his/her/it's head, ready to bring it down if the response was not the correct one.
Fortunately, Robin had the correct answer.
"Slade doesn't have any friends. I do."
"Then trust me, for I am a friend... let me save you," he/she/it said, still not dropping her bo staff, nor lowering it. Robin, hesitantly, nodded, then gave up all his defenses, putting his trust in the Titans, and prayed to whatever divine ear would listen that he'd made the right choice.
The alter Robin swung down hard with the metallic bo staff, striking Robin full in the face...
... and he felt nothing, felt no pain, only a sudden release as the hated mask of Slade cracked, broke, and then shattered, scattering all over the floor into dark fragments than instantly vanished into dust. As the dust rose, Robin coughed, holding up his hand to instinctively cover it, and saw that the hated gray gauntlet had vanished as well, replaced only by his green glove. All his injuries were gone. He was himself again. Not Slade, but Robin.
Inside and out.
He snapped awake, really, truly awake, surprised to see that part of his dream was real, that the Titans had gathered around him in a semi-circle. But gone were the looks of hatred, replaced by concern and… upon seeing him awake… gratitude. Starfire made her way forward, clinging tightly to him, and he gave a reassuring pat on her back, telling her all was well.
But a single glance told him not all was well, and he gently slipped out of Starfire's embrace as he saw the other Titans. Raven was not among them. They did not exchange words, a glance told Robin all he needed to know, and the other Titans made their way to Raven's room, determined to end this once and for all time.
"Rage shall consume all!" roared Raven's father, high above the landscape. His power was growing, and so was his ego. He kept repeating that damnable line over and over again, even as his energy continued to grow in power. Raven was beginning to get downright sick of listening to that annoying voice of his.
"All will be laid to waste before me!" he roared.
"I'd pay real money if he'd shut up," Raven muttered under her breath sarcastically.
Sarcasm had always been Raven's natural defense, it was her own way of dealing with her inner emotions, be they fear, anger or despair. She always had prided herself on her quick wit and glib tongue, but now neither of those was going to save her.
"Raven…?"
Raven glanced over her shoulder, not surprised that the source of the voice had been Hope. Her white cloaked self stood there quietly, but there was a bright shine in her eyes that would have looked out of place on the real Raven. Much like Happy's great big smile.
"Whats happened? Why're you here?" asked Raven. "I thought I asked you to…"
"I did. It worked," replied Hope.
"They're all safe?" asked Raven. "Cyborg, Beastboy?"
"All of them, even Terra."
"Terra? Why would Terra be trapped in a nightmare, she's solid stone," replied Raven in confusion. A low roar and a crash of thunder drew the attention of both her and her emotion to her father, still raging above. "Nevermind, we'll figure it out later. Right now we need to deal with Daddy Dearest," she grumbled.
"Raven, if I may…?" began Hope. Raven nodded. "Draw him down into the Forsaken Chamber. Our allies can meet him there and destroy him."
"But Timid and Gross aren't fighters…"
"Raven please… I know you have lived your life without me, but please trust me now," said Hope. "I am perhaps the only way to defeat him. You know this."
Raven frowned darkly but eventually nodded her head. "Go make preparations… I'll get him down there."
"We'll be waiting," said Hope, vanishing as a black raven of energy engulfed her, teleporting down to the Forsaken Chamber below the surface.
Raven wasted no time in chanting her mystic words, launching up into the air, her blue cloak fluttering about her shoulders like a cape as she zoomed through the lightning-charged air, heading right towards her father. The great red demon of a man barely even noticed her, too interested in sowing chaos. Well, she'd certainly get his attention. Conjuring her power into a lash of black energy she struck him across the face, whipping it and drawing his fatal attention easily.
"You dare to strike me?!" he roared. His four golden eyes glowed and Raven flew out of the way, only barely dodging the blasts of energy that poured from each one. "I will crush you for this!" he bellowed, his fatal gaze following after Raven as she zipped back and forth, dodging the blasts and angering him further.
"I will lay waste to your mind and take your body for my own!" the great red demon roared, chasing after Raven with slow, methodical steps as she zipped down low, cruising at a fast pace only a few feet above the ground, hoping to keep away from his further attacks. Raven's father thrust forth his hand, and a great wave of fire washed out, blasting at the ground, and Raven had to teleport to avoid being burnt to a crisp.
Raven reappeared several feet to the side of where she'd previously been, her black raven 'soul self' floating out behind her like a second cloak as she zipped across the ground, her raven's wings flapping to propel her more quickly along. She needed to reach… there!
The entrance to the Forsaken Chamber loomed on a rise in the mental landscape, a dark and gloomy place that even Raven's emotional selves dared not go. It was a great hole in the side of the rising hillside, surrounded by jagged stalactites and stalagmites that resembled the sharp teeth of a monster. A place where her power was strongest. Hope had chosen well. She only hoped that her allies were prepared. As she'd said, Timid and Gross weren't good fighters, though Smart was a good tactician where it counted and Brave of course could always be counted on in a fight.
Raven wasted no more time, trusting herself to hoping for the best, and sped down into the cave. Her father, the great red demon, slowed at the entrance, too big to properly fit inside.
"You think you can hide from me, daughter?!" he roared, making the landscape shake. Then, his body stretched, pulsating, and exploded in a shower of red. Each red piece of the great demon formed into a new body, forming a multitude of red-cloaked Raven's with four glowing red eyes each. Anger had split, forming a multitude of lesser dark Raven's. Rage, Hated, Prejudice, Jealousy, Fury, and more. A swarm of red-cloaked Raven's sped down into the Forsaken Cavern, flying in small groups of twos and threes. Inside, the cavern was mostly empty, a great number of interconnecting caves and tunnels, great huge stalactites and stalagmites hanging from the ceiling and floor, as well as a number of deep crevices. It was a perfect hiding spot. The perfect place for an ambush.
"Spread out," ordered Anger, directing her brethren. "She's hiding here somewhere."
Suddenly the blackness of the cave was illuminated as a bright bolt of emerald fire lanced out from a hidden corner, slamming full into Anger's stomach and doubling her over, even as it slammed her full force into the cave wall. She slumped to the ground but pushed herself up again immediately, her crimson eyes glowing with fury. From the source of the blast now was visible. A pair of glowing emerald eyes, glowing in the darkness.
"No. Raven and we are done hiding," remarked a musical voice as its owner strode out of the shadows and into the light. Crimson red locks flowed down behind her head, her bright green eyes glowed emerald, pulsating with power, as did her hands as they were filled with starbolts.
"Come and 'get some', you velt-rax mal'chers!" said Starfire angrily.
Author's Notes:
Starfire's the heart and soul of the Titan team, but I think often underestimates just how powerful she is on her own. And we've all seen she can hold her own in a fight, like she did against a souped-up Blackfire. The photo album has significance, as I honestly don't peg Robin as the kind who would keep one. It's going to appear in one of my later stories and be more fully explained there. Robin's overcoming the similarities between him and Slade, as well as the shattering of the mask, are both tributes to 'Apprentice part II.' Raven's mindscape seems to have rather cheerful names, like the Forbidden Door, so I came up with the Forsaken Chamber one. Anger actually splitting into multiple sub-emotions I borrowed from Happy-Raven's (the authoress) story 'Raven of a Different Color.' Next chapter: Final battle, dawn's light and wrap-up of events.
Todd fan: I believe you refer to 'Bunny Raven' or perhaps 'Spellbound'. The second was cute, the first is coming up later and I hope will be the same, since it involves Mumbo and I dunno about him as a villain.
Yomiori-wolfdemon: Blame the sugar, always works for me. You indeed need to see more of Terra, she's a richly complex character among the Titans. Probably, but since you've asked me to read it I'll try and offer constructive criticism, rather than flame it.
Crystal Renee: Definitely a good thing, thanks for reviewing and enjoying the story.
Ray1: Yeah I said pretty much the same thing, but she's Raven's 'inner meditator' or something. Go figure. The story makes more sense if you read it.
Spazzfire: Yup! I iz the gretest! Hooray!
Nariko: Nah, it happens. I guess Tyriel isn't distinctly male enough, go figure. No, downplay works, and I understand what you mean. And while I say I don't like Beastboy the way I like the other titans I still like him as a Titan and I try to let him shine as best he can. Good luck? I don't need luck… I got skill.
ViciousAssassin: Well that's Hope's form in Starfire's nightmare, just a disembodied, whispering voice. But it seems you were dead on with Robin. I dunno if that means I've become predictable or if you just really know the Titans as well as I do.
ShadowSage2: It is something easily over-looked, but now in 'Wavelength' we saw him do a lot more to Cyborg with that Sith-style lightning bolts he threw at Cyborg, plus those mad kung-fu skills for a guy who's past his prime. Must be something out of the ordinary there, and I hope they explain it later. The Abyss you say? Say 'allo to Slade for me if he's there.