"FIRE!" The puppet king jumped up and raised of his arms up in a mocking pose, one of the disadvantages of being a puppet.
Twelve robotic soldiers at the base of the throne raised their rifles now, clicking them before letting loose a barrage of bombs that sent the rest of the skylight shattering to the ground.
Starfire evaded the shots, swerving left and right and firing her own Star bolts at the soldiers. The robots disappeared into a green flash as the entire base of the mountain of presents exploded, obscuring it in smoke.
"Yay!" Beast Boy's doll shouted in jubilation. "You go star!"
"BOO YAH!"
"Do not fear my friends, for I shall get you out." Starfire powered down her eyes now, and flew straight for the four puppets dangling from the ceiling.
Five rifle shots bursted through the smoke, and one of them had hit Starfire, sending her reeling back in shock.
"Star!" Robin shouted helplessly.
The smoke lifted now, revealing twelve Robots standing in front of Star with leveled muskets. None of them had a scratch on them.
Ok…if starbolts won't work, then….
Starfire dove down towards the soldiers now, like a hawk diving to earth to catch its prey. Her eyes were charging up, along with her body, and soon she was shrouded in a shell of green aura.
The soldiers fired, but their bullets exploded harmlessly on Starfire's barrier. The Tamarian screamed with righteous fury () as she plowed right through the first robot like a hot knife through butter. The Robot, unaware of the huge gaping hole in his chest, tried to turn to catch Starfire, but soon froze from the damage, then exploded into a million pieces.
Before the other robots could scan for her presence, Starfire was already swooping in for the next attack. She converted her entire shield into one concentrated beam now, and flanking the line of Robots she fired at their heads.
The beam sliced through about three Robots' heads, since they were all standing in a straight line, and their lifeless bodies fell over like a line of dominoes, one after another.
There were still about a dozen robots left however, and they charged starfire now, each of their rifles now tipped with menacing bayonets, which glinted in the blue light of the Puppet King's cauldron.
Starfire wasted no time and charged, hoping to punch one of the Robots and swerve up to the ceiling to avoid them.
The Robots broke into a run now, their bayonet swords all pointed towards Starfire.
Right before they impacted however, every Robot, instead of using their bayonet, fired their rifle, sending a surprised starfire smashing against the wall.
Starfire groaned, and watched in frustration as the Ten foot automatons resumed their monotonous march with the precision of a parade, walking slowly toward her with their guns drawn.
The Tamaranian was scared, but she knew she had to be brave…if not for herself then for her friends. She charged both her hands now, and a whirling aura of green energy began surrounding her, sending gigantic swirls of dust and smoke into the air. Her entire body was glowing green.
The robot soldiers paid no heed, and they continued marching on. Then starfire attacked.
One gigantic Starbolt was hurled right into the middle of the Robot line, resulting in the largest explosion to date. Robots were thrown right into the air like rag dolls, while the rest of the troops were sent reeling to the ground or into the walls from the sheer force of the blast.
The room was quiet now, and nothing stirred in the gigantic smoking crater that Starfire had blown into the room…..
She exerted too much power however, and soon she dropped down to her knees, taking the time to recover.
Then…..there was a laugh in the distance. The Puppet King.
Before starfire could even more, a sonic blast pierced right through the smoke, sending the exhausted starfire back with a grunt.
It was finished….
Starfire awoke with a start, hearing a series of screams echoeing through the grimly lit mall. It felt like someone was pounding her brain with a jackhammer and she groaned as she tried to get her bearings…
She was chained against the wall, but…she was still in her body.
"Finally awake I see." The Puppet king said sinisterly as he walked towards her, although she was chained to the wall, the mountain of presents was right next to her, so Starfire had to look up before she could see the villain's deranged face.
Starfire struggled with the chains that bounded her to the wall, and she watched in surprise as the Robots stood on guard beside her. How did they……she remembered now….the blast that knocked her out.
"How did you…." Starfire began.
"Oh it wasn't me." The puppet king gave a deathly grin. "Thank my puppets for lending me a hand." The puppet king waved his hand at the Cyborg, Beast Boy and Robin, who stood obediently next to Raven's chained body.
Starfire opened her eyes in surprise. "But….the Red X, how did…."
"He ran away deary, I guess he wasn't really your friend after all." The puppet King replied smugly.
"He is not my friend." Starfire shot back.
"No matter…..i kept you in your body my dear….because you have caused me the most trouble. And as I result, I will let you experience it first hand, as I sacrifice your body, and the body of my puppets in my ritual."
"Star….fire!" Robin shouted weakly from somewhere. The Puppet King smirked as he held the four titan's out in his hands. Starfire watched in horror as the ceremonial cauldron in the middle was moved to the base of the mountain, beneath the Puppet King's toy throne.
"But first….I will destroy your precious friends." The puppet king laughed, holding the four titan puppets over the edge, dangling precariously over the flames.
"Please! Let my friends go!" Starfire pleaded
"Oh I will my dear, I will. I will be enjoying this especially. Soon your friends' Screams shall fill these darkened rooms with anguished cries of mercy, and you shall see their fate first hand and cower at the might of the Puppet King!"
"noooo…..stop…" Was all cyborg and Beast Boy could say.
"Goodbye Titans….and thank you for the bodies."
A flash appeared from the ceiling now, and the puppet king was thrown back in pain as two red blades appeared out of nowhere, digging into his wooden shoulders. He fell down, dropping the Titan puppets harmlessly onto the floor.
"Who dares interfere with the Puppet king?!" He demanded contemptuously.
Red X smirked, appearing on the santa display that hung from the ceiling in front of the mountain of Presents.
"Geez, And I thought Bird boy was the only one who needed to lighten up……"