Chapter 14: Fakers or Heroes?

Morning birds flew together in a flock, in a shape of a large "V". They flapped their wings up and down, shaking their feathers off from their bodies as well as water from the storm that had finally came to pass. Tree branches were dripping with water from the storm and the grass fields were flooded with water. A few trees had tumbled over because of the harsh winds and a few dangerous lightning bolts.

The clouds had faded away as the winds helped clear it out and now it was turned into a dark indigo sky with just a few stars flickering in a dim light. An orange crest of light crossed the distance over the field, just pass the Tamaran palace, and pass the large lake. Rays of this light started to spread as sunrise was coming.

Soft footsteps rustled over the wet grass, squishing into the mud in result from the rain. Slowly, the footsteps multiplied and the wind whistled around a cliff as five small shadows approached the dark and stopped at the edge of the cliff.

Cut and bruised up, the Teen Titans looked over the fields of Northern Tamaran. The wind blew around them softly, blowing their hair and capes like a flag on a pole. Their faces pained and their stomachs turned as they looked down over the cliff, spotting their fully repaired T-Ship below on the field, abandoned probably by Karras when they were arrested.

The ship was there, waiting for them. But for some reason, no one took a step, not even an inch to approach the ship and leave this planet for good.

"Good-bye..." The wind seemed to whisper. That mystical, soft voice ringed in their ears, but at the same time, what was beautiful and admirable, they dread.

"Uh…it may be just me, but I think that I'm getting sick." Beast Boy said lowly, wrapping his arm around his stomach and placing a hand over his mouth as if an attempt to block the flow of vomit from escaping.

"No, it isn't just you." Raven replied, her face distressed as she flipped the hood over her face to hide what was really under there. Her violet eyes narrowed still though and they watered, ready to cry again.

"Yeah, but why are we feeling this way?" Cyborg said, feeling something cramping inside of his circuits.

"I believe it is something called 'guilt.'" Redfire replied, standing beside Cyborg and Beast Boy. His face was twisted with wrinkles and his lips curled in a very strange way, it wasn't a smile, but it wasn't a frown for anger either. It was a sad smile. It was a smile full of despair, sorrow, and also guilt just as he described to the others.

Beast Boy twitched his eye as he looked over toward the T-Ship. "Man, this reeks. What are we going to do?" The little green changeling turned his head to their leader, Robin. But his face froze still as he looked upon him.

Robin just stood there quietly, blocking any thought from crossing to his mind. He just stood there still, letting the wind blow swiftly around him, his cape curled around his perfectly straight body and his untidy hair flapped against his masked eyes. The eyes under the mask were fierce and determined, but quiet and upset. Sparks of light from the rising sun flashed in front of his eyes and bolts of color encircled his vision. He tilted his head to the T-Ship and took the first jump over the cliff.

"Robin!" He heard Beast Boy call out. But he ignored his cry.

Robin groaned as he started sliding down the cliff, dirt and pebbles rumbled around him as they followed him down the cliff. The dusty air filled his lungs and clogged his throat, but he only let out a small cough and continued on, dodging around large boulders and tree branches that had been carried by the wind from the night's storm and had been left out along the side of the cliff.

A log was in his pathway. In an instant, he grabbed the log and jumped over it, swinging his legs apart and wide. He groaned again as he maintained his balance and continued on. From afar, where the others were, he was nothing more than a dust ball rolling down a mountain.

"Robin!" They called again and went after him.

Beast Boy transformed into a dark green hawk and glided down the cliff, with his wings spread out. Raven and Redfire followed him in pursuit while Cyborg started running down the cliff, groaning and jumping over logs and punching large boulders to make haste.

Robin started running, accelerating faster since he was going down the cliff. He stopped himself after he reached the bottom. His iron shoes slid to the side to slow down until he made a complete stop. Dirt and rocks rolled to his feet and dust clouded by his legs like a fog of smog.

His eyes glanced forward, his lips curled down in a frown, at the T-Ship. He started walking through the wet grass field, moving the tall strands of thick grass aside. His arms scratched against the spiky tipped grass. He ignored the mumbling voices screaming out his name.

Robin was just a few steps away from the ship when their voices shouted out for him, stronger than ever, and it finally made him stop.

He turned his head around as the others finally approached him. Cyborg was the last to come and he was panting heavily for air. He bent his knees to catch his breath. He looked up with his human blue eye confusingly at Robin.

"Robin, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like to you? We're leaving."

"What?..."

Robin moved away from them and started walking toward the ship. Beast Boy dashed after him and appeared by his side, waving his hand in front of Robin's face, but it didn't do anything to stop him.

"Uh…" Beast Boy started, his tongue twisted of the words he had wanted to speak, but he couldn't form the right sentences to his lips; because anything that he would say would lead to the discussion of Starfire. "Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked slowly and carefully, his forest green eyes confused and full of wonder.

"You heard Starfire, Beast Boy. We gotta get out of this planet…for good. And unless you are coming with me, then get out of my way." Robin replied harshly and pushed Beast Boy aside. Beast Boy looked back at him, shocked by his attitude and cold shoulder as Robin didn't turn back to even glance at them.

"But Robin, do you really want to leave?" Raven asked as kindly and softly as she could. She hid herself in the warm of her cloak, although it still had a few scratches and holes by the helm of the cloak. Her dark violets eyes were hidden under the hood as she looked at Robin. But this time, her arms came over her neck and she unveiled the hood, revealing her awfully pale and bruised face. "You're…You-You're going to just leave her like this?"

Robin's body tensed at the mention of her. His arm had reached out to open the door to the ship, his fingers urging to grab the handle and him to jump to his seat, and leave this planet once and for all. But he stood there still. His blood turned cold while his muscles contrasted, hurting him and making him grow numb.

"Yes." He said with a monotone, his voice colder than any of the other Titans had ever seen. Their eyes turned white with disbelief and widened. They stood there like statues, unsure what to do. Beast Boy gulped and scratched the back of his neck when Robin spoke again.

"Are you coming or not?" Robin asked in a commanding, dry voice. But he didn't look at them straight in the eyes. He had his back turned toward them, waiting for them. Slowly defeated, the others started walking toward the ship as Robin started punching in the combinations. The ship hissed and smoke sizzled into the air as the glass panels to each of the Titans' compartments opened up.

The only one standing behind was Redfire, his eyes still small and white with shock. He watched with horrid eyes as the Teen Titans started climbing up the ship. His aqua eyes narrowed, his eyes arched down to the middle of his forehead with rage. Robin was about to climb up the ship when suddenly a rock pebble slammed to his head. He groaned and rubbed his head when he heard a screeching, angry voice yelling at them.

"I can't believe this!"

All of the Titans turned toward the young Tamaranean prince. Most of their faces looked at him with empathy and pity. "Redfire…you heard what Starfire said." Cyborg called out to his young friend.

"I know what she said." Redfire replied, gripping his fists tightly.

"And you know that she was serious, dude. I mean she said for us to go, she doesn't want us to be killed."

Redfire crossed his arms and tapped his foot to the mud puddle beside him, but he didn't care about the muddy water splashing to his thighs. He looked at the Titans and they could have sworn that they saw flames burning in his intense eyes.

"Redfire, your sister is saving your life and giving you freedom. Isn't that what you want?" Robin looked at the young boy, his face as cold as stone, with no visible expression. "Let's go."

He waved his hand over his shoulder, gesturing Redfire to come to the ship like the rest of them. He turned his head again when yet another rock hit the back of his head.

Robin rubbed his head and was about to shout at Redfire for his childish games when his mouth was zipped up by the outburst, yet calm tone of the Tamaranean.

"I'm not going."

"What!" The Teen Titans looked at him, shocked. "Why, don't you want to go to Earth?"

"We don't want to make things harder for her here as it is." Raven said kindly, but she couldn't try to form a smile on her face, even if she tried. She was used to not smiling often and sometimes when she did want to, it turned into a sad or disappointed frown or even a scorn.

"You think that things aren't hard for her now as it is?" Redfire yelled at Raven, surprising her and her whole body turned white with the fear of his glowing orange eyes as orange as the sun that had started to come. "You know nothing."

"Oh come on, Red." Beast Boy started, but—"No. I won't. I won't go to a planet full of clorkhogs."

"In English?"

"Fakers."

"Fakers? What do you mean?" Cyborg said, scratching his head.

Redfire looked down and picked up a small rock in his palm. He held it up in between his middle and index finger, his eyes concentrated to it. "All of my life, I had dreamt of going there. I wanted to learn about Earth and everything about it. The only reason I wanted to go instead of staying here because of the great stories about the Teen Titans."

The others stood silently, hanging alongside the ship, looking at Redfire softly as he spoke. The wind whistled and howled in their ears, blowing their hair in front of their faces and twirling Raven's cloak around her petite body. Cyborg's robotic eye blinked in a flash of red light as he observed him. Robin didn't express anything in his face again, his arm holding onto the stair toward his cockpit. Beast Boy seemed uneasy by Redfire's look. He had never seen him this upset before.

"I had admired these people for a long time, not only because Starfire was a part of it, but because they were my heroes. They've fought endless criminals and powerful enemies without giving up hope, even if when all things failed. They had the strategy, they had the teamwork, they had the support of one another to keep the team strong in spirit and in fighting, they had powers, but that wasn't what made them great.

"They were heroes because they had brought hope to others, to youngsters who believed that they aren't worth it or they couldn't push themselves over the ledge because of fear or anger or pain or misery or death. They were heroes."

"But…we're still here, Redfire." Cyborg said slowly and softly, with open arms.

Redfire gripped the small rock tightly in his eyes and for the moment, he forced his eyes closed. When he opened them again, he looked over the Titans with fiery red eyes that glowed with internal flames. They were shocked to see him and felt the air growing thick with his anger and power. For the moment, their throats were clogged up with mucus.

Redfire's eyes flared as he looked over them. "No! They're gone! You're gone! Just like this rock!" Redfire turned his body about ninety degrees to the left and his throat rolled out a loud, battle cry as he threw the rock over his shoulder like a baseball. The rock rolled around in a perfect sphere through the empty valley. Grass was cut shorter as the rock zipped through like a bullet and in a few moments, the rock was lost and engulfed inside the light of the sun.

"Redfire…"

"You are all fakers!"

"Redfire…"

"Fakers!" Redfire pointed an accused finger at them all, his eyes flickering with flames and orange mixed with his hot red hair. "I mean, you are her friends! HER FRIENDS!"

"And we listen to what our friends had to say and she wanted us to leave." Raven said, growing impatient of being kind and gentle.

"And besides, Redfire, even if we did rescue her, Karras still has power over this planet. If she refuses to marry him, he could have us killed or the whole planet killed. Starfire doesn't want any of that to happen! She cares for you!" Robin screamed back at him, but it didn't stir up Redfire's attitude any better. He still scorned at Robin with disgust.

"Does it really matter?" Robin continued anyway, "Because either way, Karras wins! If she doesn't marry him, he'll kill everyone when he gets the chance without holding back. And if she does, he'll be the most powerful man in this Star System. We lost, Redfire."

"Giving up that easily makes you even more pathetic than you are."

"What did you say?" Robin asked, his eyebrow was raised up high as he jumped away from the ship and approached Redfire.

But Redfire stood his ground and wasn't intimidated by Robin's evil glare. He crossed his arms and looked at him straight through his masked eyes, a mask that hid the eyes of a coward. They glared at each other for a long time and Robin felt static electricity prickling his skin and making the hair on his arms go straight out. Redfire's Tamaranean power was growing stronger and stronger with his anger, but he repressed it and didn't attack Robin although he had that look in his eyes that he wanted to. He didn't lose control like his older, experienced sisters had.

Redfire raised himself up, already two inches taller than Robin. His eyes didn't flinched as he looked pass this scum. "You heard me, Robin. You.Are. lost his senses and he gave Redfire a punch, which surprised everyone, but before he even laid a finger on Redfire's cheek, Redfire grabbed his wrist and twisted it until a bone snapped. Robin screamed in pain as Redfire tossed Robin to the ground like he was nothing to him.

"Robin!" Raven shouted as she and the other boys came down from the ship and ran to Robin's aid. They kneeled down beside him and looked up with fear as Redfire looked at them, but his eyes no longer glowed with the hateful red sparkle. But his face still squirmed with his hatred and heartbreaking disappointment of the people he had grown to admire for so many years.

"I would think that the friends of my sister would actually care what happens to her."

"But we do care, Redfire…" Robin said softly, his eyes pained at last and filled with the emotions he had tried to block from his face. He rubbed his sprained wrist and stood up without the support of the others holding. They looked up at their leader as he looked at Redfire.

Redfire raised his fists up and the way he looked right there, in that same position—with his legs apart, his body crouched low to the ground like a tiger or panther ready to attack his prey, his eyes flaming in orange instead of green, his red hair blowing with the wind as his energy continued to build, his muscles burning to attack—just like the way Starfire would in battle. They looked so much alike, the same spunk, the same determination, and defiance.

"Then why are you running away?" Redfire spoke lowly, the orange brilliance in his eyes dimmed as they returned to their normal aqua shade of innocence.

"I…well she said—"

"You know, having a brother or sister, you would do the total opposite to what they say."

"But if we do try to save her, Karras will—"

"The only way of not letting Karras win, is well…not letting him win."

"Defeat him for good?"

"Exactly." Redfire winked.

The Teen Titans all stood up and looked over their shoulders as the sun had finally risen. Its solar flares slowly crossed the land with its amazing light, stretching its arms toward the Tamaranean Palace. The sky was gloated in a milky orange color with streams of pink as clouds. Birds flocked together and crowed loudly together as one. They crowed again and flew just over their heads.

Feathers came from the sky gracefully as snow and fell at their feet. The wind rustled through the trees of the morning breeze, the air was clean from the wet, musky night from the rain, and everything was presentably dry.

And all of this meant one thing. Today was the wedding. Before noon, Karras and Starfire are meant to be wed.

Robin looked over Redfire with a gratifying smile. "Thanks."

Redfire nodded, "No problem, dude."

Robin turned toward the others, waiting for him to say the word. Robin gave them a small grin and waved his hand over his shoulder, gesturing them to come. "Let's go, team. We have a planet to save. Not to mention, a friend."

The sun was glowing intensively in orange over the grass fields. But coming over the high cliff were five dark figures, blocking the light. Their shadows stretched as far as the eyes could see, aiming toward their destination. All of them stood in a line, letting the breeze caress their faces and letting the warriors inside of them grow strong for the upcoming task.

Robin gulped as he swallowed a small gumball into his mouth and his hidden eyes, by that same black mask, glared at the magnificently tall palace that awaited them.

"Titans, Go!"

In moments, all of the Teen Titans levitated from the ground, or spread their wings, and together as one like the flock of birds, stormed over the empty fields and flew over the long, glistering lake, praying inside that she will be saved. Their dark shadows were reflected over the water's glassy surface. The waves were low until their bodies zoomed through and created such waves, it ruined the fish's guide to their meals for that morning.

Inside the royal bedroom of a fair princess, with the balcony opened wide for the mighty sun to shower her with its light, was Starfire. She stood in front of a golden mirror as long as her body. The curtains flowed up and down gracefully as the breeze came and touched her face, soothing her for only a moment's time.

Starfire wore a beautiful, silky white dress that reached passed her toes. The skirt trailed back behind her, dragging along as her body moved from each direction of the room. Crystals hung loosely around her waist. Half of this crystalline belt was hanging just below her waist. The dress was divided into two parts: the skirt and the actually top. The top ended above her small waist, revealing her belly button. It was sleeveless, except for some strands of crystals that acted as sleeves.

Her face was shining with white makeup, a very rare tradition in Tamaran. The white eye shadow was mixed with silver, brightening the features in her green eyes. Her cheeks are unusually pink, as pink as the roses she had adored once before. Her small lips were glistering brightly in silver as well. But she didn't wear any earrings or a necklace around her neck. Everything else about her resembled her as she once was.

She looked at her reflection, half blinded by the sun's light. She clasped her hands together, her emerald eyes looking sadly at her pitiful image. Although an occasion such as this should be rejoiced and be filled with smiles, she wasn't happy. She was rejoicing about getting married. She was misery.

Starfire sighed deeply as her eyes watered with white tears. But she repressed her tears by wiping her face with her palms before they had the chance to slide down her cheeks. She sniffled and cleared her throat to calm her nerves, although her legs trembled to keep her standing.

She turned her head to see the same crystal tiara her mother had given her on the day of the ball. It was still shining beautifully, especially under the sunlight. But her face was pained and frowning with despair. She grabbed the tiara carefully in her hands and slowly placed it over her head. She placed it just right and the crystals dangled in front of her eyes. Strands of her hair came alongside her sad face as the image was complete.

At that moment, the door opened and she turned her head to see a shadow observing her carefully. A white smile made her uneasy as a long tanned hand reached out for her.

"It's time." Karras' majestic voice called out to her, almost hypnotically and soothing as if he was chanting a spell in hopes she would fall under. Although her eyes remained the same, she walked slowly toward the door and regrettably took his hand. Karras smiled at her as he swiftly rounded his arm by her waist and guided her from the room, closing the door behind them.

But just at that moment, before he had closed the door, there was something afar. It was barely noticeable, but still there. Flying away from the sun in dark dots, five figures as large as eagles were flying toward the palace, in a shape like a "V."

"We're coming, Star…" Robin's voice whispered to the air, carrying his message to the throne room that would leave their message heard and the final battle, the finish line, the time line where all things will be decided. Whether or not they will make it, they had to save their loving friend Starfire from marrying an evil man.