Chapter Eight Fighting
The Watchtower was silent. It was only a few short hours till the Challenge would begin. Right now everyone was sleeping.
Each champions dream was haunted by nightmarish images. Everyone involved was scared not only for Robin, but for themselves as well.
The rewards if they won where great. If they won Robin would be free. He couldn't ever be touched by evil again. He would become a key in the timeline to a new era of peace and goodness.
But if they lost the results would be disastrous. Not only would they lose Robin and he would become evil, but also he would become a key to an era of destruction and evil. Plus they lose their crystals and the protection of Star the Spirit of Justice. Without the crystals the world would be unprotected. They drew much of their power from their crystals and relied on them heavily for help.
Starfire tossed and turned in her bed. Clutching her blanket tightly she screamed in her sleep. In her dream she saw Robin dead and Slade and Julian were laughing at her. "NO!"
"Starfire wake up!" Raven said shaking her awake. Starfire sat up quickly and looked around. Jinx, Terra, and Raven were sitting on her bed beside her.
"Friends I'm sorry if I woke you." Starfire said guilty.
"Its okay Starfire. We couldn't sleep anyways." Terra told her.
"Don't worry so much. I know I'm a former bad girl, but if Cyborg could turn me good we can rescue Robin." Jinx said softly patting her on the back.
"Don't give up hope Star. Even if we don't have the Spirit of Justice backing us up we can still beat Slade. We've done it before." Raven said
"Thank you friends for your concern. Come I'll go prepare breakfast." Starfire said getting out of bed.
"I'll help you." Jinx added
Raven got up from the bed pulling her cloak tightly around her. "That was a nice thing you did for her. Maybe you're not as creepy as I thought." Terra said to her.
"Thanks Terra. You know for the longest time I couldn't forgive you. But after these last couple of weeks I be proud to call you my friend." Raven said to Terra hugging her. Terra returned the hug not noticing her crystal changing from red to blue.
Meanwhile Batman was trying not to be so dark for a while. Cyborg and Beast Boy needed him. "Don't worry. I know we will win. No one can beat us." He told the two heroes'
"Please would all champions report to the cafeteria for breakfast." Starfire said her voice coming over the P.A. system.
The two teams sat down at the table and looked at the food. Star had made Pudding of Sadness, splutnicks, glorp, and for beverage French mustard. "Please eat."
"Uh, Starfire not to insult your cooking but this doesn't look edible." Terra said cautiously.
"Yeah the HIVE served better food than this." Jinx complained.
"Enough guys. Come on we have to eat something." Cyborg told them.
The teams managed to swallow their breakfast. Let's face it what they were about to do was way worse than Star's cooking.
After breakfast they spent the morning going over their strategy. Johnn would be in the infirmary while Superman, Flash, and G.L. monitored the fight. If anyone cheated they inform Wonder Women.
"Okay does everyone know their job?" Batman asked. Everyone nodded their heads.
"Guys, listen up. We've just received a transmission from an unknown source. It's an invite to tour the place where Robin's been staying one hour before the Challenge. Everyone ready?" Superman asked
Everyone looked at one another. Determination was in their eyes. Nodding their heads they stepped into the transporter units and signaled their ready. "Titans go!"
They arrived right outside the main doors. "John can you hear me?" Wonder Women asked.
"Loud and clear Diana. I'll keep a lock on you guys." Green Lantern informed them.
They went inside and started to explore the place. What they found shocked them. The entire mansion was full of things that should that Robin, Julian, and Slade were a family. There were family photo albums and home videos in the TV room and adoption records in the study. All this disgusted them.
"Slade and Julian really have gone all out to convince Robin they're his parents." Batman said angrily glaring at the family portrait that hung in the main hall.
"Do you think its possible for them to even love him?" Starfire asked. Everyone just shrugged unsure what to think. This wasn't what they expected. It looked like Robin had been well cared for but where was he?
Suddenly the floor dropped out from under them. They all went screaming down a tunnel landing in a holo chamber. Instantly two Sladebots grabbed Diana and strapped her to a chair in an observation deck. Sitting calmly next to her was Brother Blood.
"Welcome champions. I hope you enjoyed your visit to my country estate." Slade said stepping out of the shadows. His team joined him. Something was different about them but they couldn't put their finger on it.
"Hey Jinx! Looks like you joined the geek patrol. How lame." Gizmo taunted.
"Yeah. Especially since you dumped us for a hunk of junk." Mammoth added laughing.
Jinx's face flashed with fury. "For your information lame brains Cyborg isn't a hunk of junk. He's the sweetest guy ever. You know what else? I love him and I want to be good!" Her crystal changed to blue. They entire team was now good.
"Shall we begin? Everyone knows the rules. The chamber will divide you up for one on one battle. The last two champions from each side will battle till there are only two people left. They will face off in a match to the death or surrender. The winner will get to face Robin." Brother Blood explained to all.
"Where's Robin?" Raven demanded.
For an answer a platform rose up from the ground. In a chair sat Robin. Before they could get closer a glass cylinder encased him. No one would get close to him until after the Challenge.
"Release your crystal energy. The combined power of the crystals will be given to the winner and used to decide the fate of Robin." Wonder Women instructed as every Crystal Carrier released their energy. Now the Challenge could begin.
The chamber lit up projecting an octagon arena that divided everyone up. The battle was about to begin.
The opponents were as followed: Cyborg vs. Gizmo, BB vs. Mammoth, Raven vs. Plasmius, Starfire vs. Julian, Jinx vs. Overload, Terra vs. Cinderblock, and Batman vs. Slade.
When the bell tolls you may begin. Ring!" Brother Blood said.
"Ready to lose robo wimp?" Gizmo asked.
"Shut your mouth pipsqueak." Cyborg said firing his improved sonic cannon. Gizmo flew out of the way creating holograms of himself. He started to fire electro disks at him. "You can't beat me snot face."
Cyborg used his eye to find the real Gizmo and took him down. "You done yet smart mouth?" Gizmo eyes flashed red and suddenly Cyborg was on the ground in pain. His systems were on fire. "You lose wimp." Cyborg was defeated but Gizmo was disqualified for using a virus.
BB had morphed into a gorilla and was fighting in hand-to-hand combat. "You won't win you wimp. I'm stronger than you." Mammoth growled. A collar around his neck glowed red giving him extra strength to beat BB but again he was disqualified.
"Can't your students fight fair?" Wonder Women demanded to Brother Blood. He only shrugged and smiled at her.
Raven had her hands full. The ooze monster squirted goose from his eyes at her. "Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" she chanted sending it back at him. Plasmius glowed red then got Raven trapped in his muck. Raven was defeated.
"Diana! They're cheating! Brother Blood is helping them." Superman yelled over the link.
"Got it. You are busted pal." Wonder Women said lassoing him up and tossing him into Plasmius. She watched as they disappeared off to jail.
Meanwhile Starfire and Julian battled. Starfire's eye beams kept being diverted by Julian's TK. "I won't let you take my son from me!" Julian yelled telepathically to her.
"Robin isn't your son!" Starfire yelled sending a massive wave of starbolts at her. Julian tried to use her PK to chuck a piece of the wall at her but failed. She lost the round.
"Overload will destroy you!" Overload shouted at Jinx as he sent electric charges at her. She flipped out of the way using the crystal to heal the burn on her hand.
"Your nothing but an annoying pest. I call this attack pattern Omega." Jinx yelled. Jumping up she kicked off the walls flipping over him while sending a huge hex at him. Sticking her dismount she turned to face him. "Your luck just ran out." As Overload fell defeated.
Terra was having trouble-beating Cinderblock. He seemed immune to her powers. "Why won't you go down?" she wailed. Cinderblock merely laughed flinging her across the chamber. He tried to squash her but her crystal created a force field. When it became too much she passed out listening to Cinderblock cheer.
The fight between Batman and Slade was intense. The two were both angry at one another.
"You are going down once and for all." Batman threatened throwing a batarang at Slade's head. He narrowly avoided it.
"You are a fool. All I've done is try to make Robin realize his full potential. You're the one who held him back." Slade taunted. It worked because Batman attacked in blind anger and lost.
Round two started immediately. The chamber changed to downtown Jump City. Up in the stands the Titans and Julian cheered on their friends.
"You take Cinderblock I'll get Slade!" Ordered Jinx. Nodding her head Starfire went after her target.
"I hope you remember I'm stronger than I look." Starfire yelled ramming into Cinderblock. Picking him up she whirled him around and sent him flying. Panting hard she turned to help Jinx.
Jinx cartwheeled around Slade. Moving in for the kill she prepared a huge hex. "Your finished."
"I think not." Slade said calmly as he tripped her up. She went sprawling across the floor. Picking her up by her pigtails he attacked an electro disk to her back. "Your done Jinx." Slade whispered as she screamed in pain. "Jinx no!" Star cried out.
"Now its your turn princess." Slade said turning to her. He beckoned her to come closer.
"You have hurt my Robin for the last time. For what you've done I will show no mercy." Starfire said eyes blazing. "Lets get this party started."
Both hit each fast and hard. Blow after blow was thrown. Starfire tossed huge starbolts, which he countered with by hitting her in the stomach.
From the stands the Titans screamed for Starfire to keep fighting. Julian inspired Slade to fight on. The truth was without the full power of her crystal Starfire was done for.
"I will enjoy getting rid of you. Robin is mine!" Slade yelled Grapping her by her throat he began to chock the life out of her. Starfire began to glow green all over. No way would she let him win. "NO!" Slade soared through the air landing unconscious on the floor.
Panting hard Starfire got up. "I won." She whispered to herself. She raced over to the platform to free Robin. "Robin!" She cried.
Just as she reached the platform a knife sent her back. "Huh Robin?" Starfire asked shocked. She took an involuntary step backwards taking in Robin.
Robin wore a red leather outfit like Julian's with an S on it. He had a black cape that was lined with red. He also had a scabbard attached to his utility belt. "I shall take great pleasure in destroying the Titans leader." Robin said coldly. The chamber changed to the Towers main room.
"The Titans leader? I'm not the Teen Titans leader you are Robin." Starfire told him confused. Why was her betroved acting so weird?
"Liar. I know you are the Titans leader. Only you could be the winner. Now lets fight shall we?" He said using a whip to trip her before putting it away.
"No Robin I don't wish to fight you." Starfire said scared as he threw another knife at her. This one barely missed. "Should off thought of that before you tried to kidnap me from my parents."
"They are not your parents Robin." Starfire screamed at him.
"You are trying to confuse me again. I won't fall for your tricks again. Take that!" Robin shouted throwing his last knife at her.
"Starfire you have to fight back!" Cyborg yelled at her.
"I can't do that. I love him." Starfire shouted up to him.
"You have no choice." Raven replied.
"Do what you must." BB added.
"If you love him you will fight him." Terra called down
Starfire flew towards the ceiling while Robin chucked throwing stars at her. They cut her in several places. Using his agility and strength her brought her down.
"Ready to give up yet? No? Then take this." Going into a perfect pioret Robin kicked her across the room. "Ballet, the dance for fighting."
Starfire looked at him noticing her crystal now was black. That symbolized he was evil. If she lost he would be evil forever and evil would reign. "Never, I can't lose." She thought hurling starbolts at him.
She missed he slashed her with his sword. "There has to be a way to defeat him." She thought crazily.
Robin was bringing the sword down for the final blow when she hit him with the full force of her eye beams. He screamed in pain as he fell to the floor. "Please let this work. Robin they may have your mind but your heart belongs to me." She thought.
Starfire kneeled in front of Robin as he got up to continue his attack. She showed him the ring. "Listen to me Robin. Don't destroy this ring. It represents our friendship as Titans and the love we have shared. Please don't you remember?"
Robin lowered his sword clutching his head. "I'm confused. All these images in my head they don't make sense. I don't know what or who to trust."
"If you can't trust your mind then trust your heart. It will never lie to you. Put the ring on and all will be clear. You have to believe me." Starfire pleaded.
Robin took the ring and put it on his finger. Suddenly a yellow glow spread through his body. Dark Robin and Annie were freed in his mind while the mind control serum was wiped out. The brainwashing disappeared as his crystal turned from black to blue.
He collapsed into Starfire's outstretched arms. "Robin!"
"Starfire it's me again. I'm back to normal." He whispered to her.
"I'm so glad my love." She whispered back hugging him tightly.
Glancing over Stars shoulder Robin's eyes went wide in anger. "You!" he shouted as Slade got up. "You've hurt me for the last time. I'm going to destroy you once and for all. Phoenix Flames!"