Disclaimer: Okay Lupi repeat after me: I do not own Teen Titans
Lupi: (Muttering) I do not own Teen Titans.
Disclaimer: (Teasing) I can't hear you!
Lupi: I DO NOT OWN TEEN TITANS!
Disclaimer: And I never will
Lupi: That's right you never will.
Disclaimer: (fumes silently.) Neither will you.
Lupi: For now my friend, for now. (Brightens) And thank you all for reviewing;! I've got 49 reviews! Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! And Now, to all my fans! I have decided to reply to anonymity, but please login anyway. (And I'll only do it if I know you)
To Princess of Stars: I love your name, and your story Idea, haven't a chance to read it yet… but soon I will, and I'll review. Disney Songs. Who'd of thought?
To starfirefan05: Thank you for making me a Fav. author and this a Fav. Story! I feel so loved. I actually got the idea of this from a dream. And because you asked so nicely here's the next chapter.
To Lupine-Spirit: I'm glad you enjoyed it. And I found your email address so; we are back with email correspondence!
To clueless90: really really great? Me? tears fill eyes I feel so loved!
To QueenPan1295: Tony the Tiger? Really? He scares me. Well have a fun vacation!
To MyMonkeyisOrenge: You're monkey is orange? Really? I've never seen an orange monkey before….
To RstLoversF: You changed your name twice? Wow, impressive.
To BlondeVeo: Katie you finally reviewed! Even after I dissed you story and… he he… thanks for reviewing!
To Cute-Funky-guRL- Sugar Highs are fun, I write my best stuff high on glucose. And you speak a smidgen of German? That is so cool. I know a bit myself…
To: LolaGurl: Silkie rules! Upon pain of Death? But I'm to young to go into the light!
To YukisTears: You'll review everyday? Oh, and I meant 40 reviews total. Not more. Guess I should make myself clearer…
Thank you all for reviewing, now because of all of your requests here is the next chapter! This chapter is dedicated to Lupine-Spirit- my fellow Wolf; I thank you for being a loyal reviewer. Now, to the story!
Chapter the Fifth
Three Tests to Destiny
By Lupine-Eyes
Starfire took a breath and walked into the cave. She started, surprised to find it not lined with rock, but crystal, every wall, and it covered the entire ceiling. The crystal illuminated the cave as well as reflecting her image, like a mirror. As she was examining this crystalline substance a cool wind blew through the cave, smelling of all things mystical, and magickal, and it chilled her to the bone.
She wrapped her arms around herself, hoping to retain something similar to warmth, but the wind tore it away, making her efforts for naught. She turned to the opening, hoping for some sunlight, and found she could no longer see the opening! It had disappeared!
She shook her head and walked deeper into the crystalline maze. She stopped suddenly, entranced by an image that wasn't her own. She leaned in, staring at it, and it consumed her.
Starfire landed, hard, in the middle of the Titan's Tower living room. She stood up, and brushed herself off as she took in her surroundings. It looked the same as before they had left. She shook her head, thinking maybe she had fallen asleep, and her return to Tameran was just a dream. Quietly she left the room, and promptly searched the Tower for her friends.
Suddenly, the alarm rang out, suspecting her friends would be gathered there, Starfire flew into the living room, and was the only one there. Sighing, Starfire checked the screen. "Slade." She muttered under her breath, but then a thought came to her, why wasn't Robin here? Generally if it was Slade causing trouble, Robin was first on the scene. "Maybe he's already left." She rationalized, as she flew off to the crime scene.
She took off, and flew over the city to the cliffs by the sea. The city looked so dead and hollow. It gave her the shivers just to look at it. She reached the cliffs in record time, flying vertically up them to reach the top. She was close to the top of the cliff when a red light collided with her, disorienting her. In a moment of panic, she clutched the top of the cliff with all her strength and tried to pull her self up.
Starfire had almost succeeded when a steel-toed boot stepped on her arm. She grit her teeth in pain, and looked up, expecting to see Slade. And there he was, Robin. In all his dark glory. Starfire gasped, and hung, suspended in the air. "Robin?" she asked uncertainly. The Boy Wonder smiled darkly, and only then did Starfire notice his clothing.
It was the armored suit of Slade's apprentice.
"Robin?" she asked again "Is everything… alright?"
"Everything's fine Star." Robin drawled, charging up the heat ray in his hand.
"Please tell me you are… please don't do this Robin." Starfire pleaded with him, hoping against all hope this was some sort of sick joke, that Robin would smile and help her up, and they would defeat Slade, together.
"Good Bye Star." Robin replied as emotionless as ever. And he fired.
"No." Starfire whispered as she fell, and the ground came up to meet her... and the end. "NO!"
Starfire fell into the opposite wall in the cave, then onto the dirt floor. She lay there, breathing heavily, tears running down her face. Slowly she got up, rage showing plainly on her face. "No." she said quietly, then her voice crescendo-ing into a bellow. "NO!" her eyes glowing green, and shooting beams which were absorbed by the walls. "Robin would never betray me-us like that!" Then she fell down, crying, before being swallowed up by another vision.
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Outside the Cave, Robin looked up from what he was occupying himself with, namely pacing around aimlessly. Starfire's scream registered in his mind. She was in trouble, hurt or… worse. No, he would think about that. "I'm coming." He said, racing for the entrance to the Cave.
"Robin, what are you doing?" Raven asked wearily.
"I heard her scream." Robin yelled back, reaching the entrance.
"NO!" Wildfire yelled. "You must not interfere!" But Robin had already jumped head first into the cave. The other Titans ran after him, to lend a hand if needed, but stopped abruptly as royal guards blocked the path. "You must not interfere." Wildfire repeated.
"Why not? Why can't we help our friends?" Beast Boy snapped, impatience and anger showing plainly on his emerald green face.
Skyfire sighed. "Because, the cave only takes one person at a time. It will be a miracle if Robin survives." Beast Boy growled and took Robin's job of pacing. Raven sighed, and started to meditate, getting her emotions under control. Cyborg distracted himself by talking to Dragonfire. They were just going to have to wait it out.
Robin ran into the cave, searching frantically for Starfire. He quickly got lost in the maze of crystiline mirrors. Suddenly, out of curiosity, he glanced into one. He saw not his own reflection, but that of a girl's. Her ginger hair was in a rain soaked ponytail, her emerald eyes, red, puffy and terror filled, and staring right at him. A wet purple jacket clung to her back, over a black tank top and a pair of ratty jeans. He studied her closely, and he started to fall into the mirror.
He stood in a dank back ally, surrounded by graffiti covered brick walls. He looked down at himself, and found his skin to be, …transparent. He was ghost-like. The very thought exited him, until he saw the girl from the mirror, looking strait through him. Not noticing he was there.
He looked behind himself and saw a man approaching. He wore all black, from his large trench coat to the jeans and shoes. His black spiky hair pierced the air like a pitch-black iceberg. He seemed familiar, but there was a fog-like presence over the man's face, obscuring Robin's vision, but not, it seemed, the man's. The Girl behind him seemed to have no trouble either seeing his face.
The Man passed through Robin's body, leaving each of them whole, but Robin a little shaky, trembling as though extremely cold. "Hello Starfire." The Man said, barely a foot from her. The Girl-Starfire's eyes grew wide, and she turned, and bolted.
The Man watched her go. "Why don't you fly?" He said mockingly, before calmly walking after her. Strangly he was faster walking then she was running. Robin sort of floated after them, feeling himself compelled to see how this played out. The Man almost overtook her, and then pulled out a heat ray from one of the duster's many pockets. He aimed, seeming to take his time, then fired, a red bolt spinning through the air, colliding with Starfire's arm.
She gasped in pain and surprise, and changed directions, running, like a typical victim, into an ally with no escape. She turned back around and saw the Man there, blocking the only way out. By this time Robin had floated to the top of one of the graffiti covered buildings, confining the two, he tried to move, to do anything to stop the Man, but found himself stuck in the spot.
The Man approached her, and she backed up, terror filling her emerald eyes, unspilt tears making them bright. Her back collided with the wall, and the Man cornered her, placing his hand over her shoulder, trapping her there. "Now." He said, his voice calm and reasonable. "Give me the access codes."
Starfire swallowed her fear, rage showing in her gorgeous green eyes. For a second, her eyes blazed green, her power showing through them, and then it died, and she could not summon enough strength to use her powers again. The Man laughed, and cupped her cheek with his free hand. "You know that's what I love about you. No matter how the odds are stacked against you, you still try to fight." He forced her chin up, and kissed her long and deep, until Star ripped away, and wiped her mouth in disgust.
Robin bristled with anger, again he fought the invisible bonds, and again he failed. "Now, the access codes if you please." The Man said again.
"Not on your life." She replied stubbornly, folding her arms acrossed her chest.
"Come on Star…" the Man said using her nickname as he traced her cheekbone with his finger. She flinched and looked away, he placed his hand on her cheek, and forced her to look into his eyes. "Star… come on, be reasonable, we used to date… right? You even told me you loved me." At this he laughed. "If you tell me I'll even allow you to live…"
"Loved you?" she laughed, high and grating, the laughter of an innocent now jaded. It broke Robin's heart to hear. "The one I loved died and the creature before me took his place. Thanks to Slade." She spat the hated name. "I'd rather die then allow that information to fall into Slade's hands."
The Man glared at her, the insult to his Master cutting through his calm demeanor. He whipped out the gun again, and placed it to her chest, Robin could hear the whine as it charged up. "That can be arranged." The Man said through gritted teeth.
Slade suddenly appeared behind them. "No." he said. "We still have use of her."
The Man turned and as he did, the mist around his face cleared. Robin saw the face. It was himself.
The Elder Robin knelt before Slade. "But Master." He said, looking at the ground respectfully. "She insulted you…"
"The insult will be repaid. But right now we have use of those codes. And after we have them, you can do what you wish with the girl." Slade replied his tone icy.
The other Robin nodded, as he turned to face her, his blue eyes glinting in the absence of a mask, a lewd grin plastering his face. "Did you hear that Star, after you tell me, we can have some fun." He said softly.
Starfire shuddered, then quick as lightning, pushed Robin down and grabbed the gun. She pointed it at Slade, her hands shaking.
Slade chuckled "You can't do it girl." He said. "That's why I didn't choose you, you don't have to ability to kill."
"No, that's why you decided to torture me and take my powers instead." Star replied. "And I don't want to kill you." She pointed the gun at herself.
"No." the real Robin whispered, struggling futilely against the bonds.
"I'm so sorry Robin. I wish things had turned out differently." Starfire whispered, tears running down her face as she looked up and the sky. Suddenly the older Robin got up and ran towards her, as if to try and stop her, just as he reached her…
BOOM.
Robin's older self caught the shell that Starfire had once inhabited as it fell. Slade looked on icily, as Robin (the elder) dropped the corpse. He started to walk away shaking his head. "Pity." He muttered "I really needed those codes."
Lupi: Hey everybody Thanks for reading. Sorry to just not finish the test on this one… but I wanted to draw it out. I'm so cruel. Anyway I need 50 or more reviews (total) for this one! Also, in your review, give your answer to this POLL!
Which name would be a great name for a Goddess/Raven illagetament daughter?
Branwen- White Raven
Lilith- Queen of the Night/ Death Goddess
Laila- Dark as Night
Xandra-Helper of Humankind/ Serene Beauty.
Some have multiple definitions. Please post your favorite name! Again, thanks for reading!