AN- Aquagirl, may have been a present concept…but Seala is my first OC. She has quite a few surprises up her sleeves. So here's the deal with this chapter, its night-time, and I'm going to visit EVERY, and yes I mean EVERY character in my story, as they reminisce about their past, their hopes, dreams and secrets. This will show you guys what has passed in the Titans, and how the "Bad Bitches" have come about. The next chapter progresses in time and starts the tournament! Also, if anyone has any cool, strong, teen girl characters that you would like to be in the tournament please e-mail or review and tell me about them! I wanna put in some cool battles showing off the girl's new powers and don't wanna defeat the original titan chicks- Arrowette, Secret etc.

Chapter 4

There was a cool breeze pouring into the room, but Robin felt stifled and frustrated. He gripped the pillow in his hands, thinking back…

The sunlight poured down and made her hair shine an even brighter shade, but the sun was eclipsed by the light in her eyes as she pulled him toward her to go and play the "ball of volley"-

The sound of a dove's whisper as she sighed and leaned against him, too exhausted to walk. She completely trusted Robin to take care of her, and he felt as if he guarded the most precious treasure in the world-

The sadness in her eyes that night on the roof when she told him she cared, and he had to be a good "team leader" and say no to keep the team united-

"Dammnit WHY?" he cried out. For the last 4 years she had become more than a crush, more than a best friend. He felt as if their souls intertwined every time he looked into her eyes, he always knew her mood, she always knew his. He knew when she was in danger, he felt pain as she felt it, and him being the one to hurt her-

He lay in his room for days, not even emerging to fight crime. Raven comforted them both, but that's when Robin and Speedy's friendship proved itself. As much as they ragged each other, Speedy helped him see that he did the right thing for the time- and filled him with the hope that eventually….he could be with her. Six months gone…..how much longer?

Beastboy was in the form of a young puppy, curled up outside Raven's door. He whined and kept pacing back and forth. Two days, two miserable days and he felt like there was no light in his life. That was a laugh- Raven, demoness of the dark being the light of someone's life, but she was. You needed shadow to see the light. When she had finally broken free of Trigon's power, she had conquered him using the one thing the demon could not corrupt, could not understand-

And then……

"Beastboy…I can't. I could at the time….but now it's different. Before I wasn't allowed to….now I don't know how-"

"But you could learn!" he cried. "You could learn them with me; Rae….this isn't familiar ground for me either but together-

CRASH!

The entire wall behind them had blown up, and the rain and the wind poured in, punishing lashes of stinging sea salt. In seconds she was soaked, her cloak whipping about her, lightning illuminating her form, she had looked like the Angel of Power….Angel of Death, Life…..everything that mattered to his soul.

Before he could resume his impassioned speech, she had used her power to push him gently out the room. She had looked into his eyes, and he saw her emotions- no longer single entities, but one whole fighting for control- Timid, Bravery, Love, Lust, Anger, Hope, Wisdom, Jealousy- and so many other shades in between. With tears in her eyes, and not a quaver in her voice, she had condemned him to hell in a way Trigon never could-

"Never."

It was said softly, without ill intent, but that one word ripped through his soul and shredded all- he felt the beast roar-

"No!" he cried. He couldn't lose control. What was with them? One or the other constantly had to keep their emotions in check. It still hurt, it was 3 months ago, but the pain was still there. He had stopped eating for a while, but Star had been there to cheer him up. They had both helped each other heal and not move on, at least control the pain and manage to live.

He sighed. At least they had managed to stay good friends; at least they had saved the world,

At least he had kissed her once. At least for one damn minute in his life something had made sense and all felt right.

Cyborg sat up in bed, tracing pictures on the wall with a mini-laser. He stopped, realizing the forms had taken a face, a face with shining dark hair, mischievous eyes, and luscious lips-

He missed Bumblebee, sure- she jacked his car, but he had to admire a girl with skill like that. She was so fierce, so out-there….so likely to get hurt far away from him where he couldn't be there for her.

They had never moved past the kindergarten phase of teasing, but they both knew what was what. The prospect of a long-distance relationship had deterred both. He knew he should be lucky he didn't have heart-ache like BB and Rob….but at least they had something. He missed the girls too, Rae was his little sister, and Star was one of his closest friends. He smiled….no matter what bad guy they had to fight….no matter what planet was being attacked, or demon to be vanquished, magical hats to escape out of, or even plain-old-pain-of-being-a-teenager…..they always had each other. And that was something.

Star woke with a pang- he was sad! He was sad and she was too far to do anything. Her heartbeat slowly dropped back to normal. She tried to meditate as Raven had taught her- to center herself and block him out. On a good day, she could block him for about 4 hours. Tonight, it seemed hopeless. Feelings of despair and regret and love, yearning, nascent love washed over her mind, and she buried her face in the pillow lest her tears awaken Seala.

She knew, she KNEW! She had known the moment she said it, the moment he opened his mouth to answer her, and her heart had been crushed in that moment. Raven's battle with Trigon had allowed her to free ALL her powers, that mixed with Starfire's Tamaranian ability to absorb certain "emotion-based" talents, allowed her a certain level of empathy. She would never teleport, or even move things, but she could now feel the true emotions of those she opened her heart to. It was a blessing in many ways, she knew his real reasons, so she loved him still- he meant for the better, and she felt first-hand the hatred he had. She tried to make it easier on him, but it hadn't stopped his nightly barrages of guilt. In the Tower, she had been able to emit "soothing waves" which eventually calmed him to sleep…but here…..here she was so FAR!

At least her powers helped her calm Raven, and had even helped her mend Beastboy's heart. Starfire had known being a Princess was hard, she had known being a hero was even harder- but to be in love…unrequited…

Seemed to be the biggest trail of them all.

Unbeknownst to Starfire, Seala had heard her cries. Well, not really heard….she was a telepath….she had been torn from her reverie to feel Star's pain. She smirked as she came upon the thought of "soothing waves". It was a clever idea, and she realized Star must be a more powerful empath than she had thought. Closing her eyes and centering herself, she emitted the same soothing waves to Star. Within seconds, the princess was asleep- dreaming of a moment that may never be.

She heard what most people only heard in a seashell- the constant, reassuring sound of the ocean, it thrummed in her very marrow. She sighed as she snuggled against her- she'd die of shame if anyone, especially him found out- Speedy doll that her mother had bought for her. She thought of the young super-hero and smiled. She closed her eyes, at peace. For once, she was Seala, not Aqualad's little sister, not a freak…but a person, with friends. It was an amazing feeling for the lonely girl. Growing up around mostly older guys who didn't pay attention to you wasn't much fun.

The first time she saw him, she had been trying to sneak on the island to scare Aqualad by putting coral chips in his toothpaste. Coming out the water, she quietly climbed unto the rock. Suddenly a masked figure appeared before her, a glowing arrow poised to shoot.

She gasped and flipped back into the water, waiting….but nothing was sent after her. She cautiously raised her head and looked at one of the most handsome males she had ever seen.

He smirked at her hiding in the water. "Aqualad told me about you, but you shouldn't sneak around like that….you could have gotten hurt."

Before she could protest that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself, he whisked her up and had carried her up to the tower, and to- an irate older brother.

That had been two years ago. Speedy still intrigued and infuriated her. He looked out for her, and though whenever Aqualad was there he treated her like she was an annoying pest, when they were alone they would sit and talk for hours. She adored him, she knew it wasn't love, but she had such a crush on him. Maybe hanging out with the other Teen Titan girls would make him see her AS a girl, and not as his best friend's little sister. Bumblebee knew about her, but had never met her; in fact….none of the Titans except Speedy knew her.

She was suddenly angry as she realized what had happened. Her brother KNEW her strengths, and afraid the Titans would see that and make her a member…he tried to keep her away from their eyes…..but one pair of eyes had already held hers. She cursed. No wonder she could never go to the Tower without him being there….he would send everyone else out.

She was every bit as powerful as Aqualad, and more so- the power of the ocean being female. She swam faster, was more agile-her fighting was more of a deadly dance and acrobatics than hand-to-hand. Her empathy and mind powers were stronger and had a further reach. Unlike him she had not left home early to join mortal teen heroes- she had learned more in strategy, more of the creatures, more of tactics and powers and fighting than he. Hmph…she yawned…she would show him….she'd win the contest….and prove….she….was….:snore:.

Raven was deep in a troubled, disturbed sleep. Broken images and sound clips floated through her mind at frightening speed. Nothing made sense-

"Never" it echoed in her mind, but every time it sounded like something broke, sounded like Trigon's roar, like Terra laughing…NEVER….never…NEVER…never….

A small kitten curled up next to her sleeping sweetly the day after being forced to watch a scary movie…

She and Star karaoke-singing "I will survive" at a local club as the boys cheered them on- one of the few times before defeating her father she had allowed herself to have fun-

Terra's look of hatred tonight….Terra being incased in stone….Beastboy crying…..How? HOW?

The word swirled around her brain, ricocheting off everything, drowning out the never, and she sat bolt upright as she gasped feeling like someone had attacked her…."How?" she whispered.

Her magic….Cyborg's technology, Star's prayers…..nothing had revived her….what power….what ….who could have freed her?

And Kitten….Kitten had been sentence to Arkham for the criminally insane…..

Blackfire was supposed to be in jail in the Sentaury moons….

Jinx was supposed to be back in jump city…..in jail….

She jumped out of bed, dialed the Titans private line, and left a message when the phone wasn't picked up.

"There's something wrong…..some people are here…tomorrow we'll talk on the Communicators….but I didn't want to alarm you too much….I need information…Out."

She fell back in her bed exhausted, feeling as though she had spent all her powers….and fell asleep.

Bumblebee was dream-training, remembering the hours she had devoted to karate and the martial arts…..

She remembered chasing a butterfly….she remembered the sting…

She remembered becoming a bee….a Queen Bee.

And then she was in a dress, and there was Cyborg, and they ran to each other,

And kept running,

Because she was on a treadmill,

Training,

And Brother Blood was yelling at her to go faster….

She turned in her sleep, but did not wake.

Across the hall, in fact, in another wing of the mansion, 4 girls shared an apartment, completely different from our young heroines, but inside, oh-so-the-same.

Blackfire and Kitten shared a bedroom, as did Terra and Jinx.

Blackfire had not yet fallen asleep. She lay on her bed awake, gripping her sheets in anger, repeating a mantra in her mind- I shall not strangle the cat, I shall not strangle the cat-

For Kitten was snoring…..loudly snoring.

Blackfire's eyes glowed, but she restrained herself. Everyone on her team needed to be alive to win this contest. She made virtue of necessity, and began going through her plans and goals in her mind, realizing sleep would not come until she had a chance to buy ear plugs….

"I shall NOT strangle the cat" she reminded herself. She breathed in and out slowly, as images and thoughts floated lazily through her mind…..

Being sent to that damn prison! As if SHE, Blackfire, of the Royal House of Tamaran would go to a PRISON! She had surprised the guards and escaped before they reached. She took refuge on a small comet, it was an oasis- it had water, fruit trees, that kind of thing. She spent time there healing and thinking, trying to plan her revenge. She realized she would need help to defeat her sister and her sister's annoying little friends.

So she went back to earth quietly, and resided in Spring City, a small suburb off of Jump City. She spent days researching the Titans, reading newspaper after newspaper of them. And in her mind, she mulled over who she should make her new allies.

The first choice was Jinx- the girl had style. Something about the power of bad luck appealed to Blackfire's darker instincts. It had been a piece of cake to persuade Jinx to ditch those losers she was working with and team up with her to defeat the Titans.

It was Jinx who had told her of Terra. Blackfire shuddered. The girl was amazingly strong- her powers seemed almost limitless, the only place Blackfire could think of that would inhibit her powers would be outer space. Even in the deep sea, she was only closer to her element. It had taken all of her cleverness to free the damn girl- and make sure none of the Titans heard what was happening. The first thing she had done was blast her free from the rock, and then use her eyes to sculpt an exact replica. They had taken the "Terrastone" as she called it back to Spring City.

"SNOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE". Kitten turned and Blackfire once again exercised complete control to not blast the girls head three blocks down.

And THEN, in Spring City, they had found Kitten, fuming in a coffee shop about Robin….something about a "prom". Blackfire still was not clear about the concept, but it appeared the girl had been scorned by Robin for Starfire, and she was lusting revenge.

Killer Moth had gotten out of jail a few weeks previously. Blackfire had "convinced" him to help- the same way she was ensuring the girls went along with her plans and she stayed leader. She fingered her amulet happily. It was a deep purple, almost black until the light hit it, and one of the most beautiful, not to mention useful things she'd ever stolen.

Jinx had performed an "anti-Jinx" on Terra, removing bad luck from the girl's statue. Then, Killer Moth had spent weeks painstakingly breaking the genetic code on her and reversing the stone process. Terra had been very grateful at first, not realizing who her rescuers were, and eager to go see the Titans.

She sighed…she was tired and no longer wanted to think. She grudgingly admitted she was still sore from that battle…

"SNORRR" BAM!

Kitten woke up screaming. Blackfire glared at her. "Shut UP already you buffoon!" With that, she turned over and finally fell asleep, as Kitten cowered in the corner.

Kitten sat up in bed and realized she was too terrified to go back to sleep, in fear the Tamaranian would blast her again. She gulped. She regretted the day she met her! At first she thought she could get Blackfire's help and take over the Titans…and then all she saw was a purple light…and then woke up to find herself obeying Blackfire's every command. She could still think for herself, thankfully…but she couldn't disobey a single direct order.

"I want you to make hologram copies, and do that tedious "work of paper" to ensure the Titans assume we are all safely behind bars!" Blackfire shouted.

"But….who cares? They won't know we are going to the convention until it's too late and then-

"NOW" Blackfire screamed, glowing. Kitten promptly shut up and go to work. She made a hologram for each of them, and admission papers to Arkham for Jinx, Jump City Jail for herself, and someplace called the "Sentaury moons prison" for Blackfire.

Why did she ever have to meet her?

In another room a Teen Titan and a True Friend stared out the window from tear-stained eyes.

She was so SICK of being used! When she had awoken…she found herself staring at someone who looked like Starfire, a guy who looked like a bug and a blond-haired princess. She assumed the Titans had called for help in reviving her and she had been so happy! She started asking when she would be allowed to see her friends, when the Tamaranian- Blackfire- Starfire's sister (apparently EVIL sister) told her that would happen soon enough.

Terra had gotten suspicious when she saw her ordering the other two around and demanding records to be made for holograms and prison records. When she confronted her, a battle ensued. The girl was almost more fierce than Starfire herself, but Terra had truly come to crux of her power, and was unstoppable, and then…when she hesitated before crushing her with a rock-

Blackfire looked up with maliciously glittering eyes, and then there was a flash of purple, CRAP- I've been hit with starbolts! But no…she woke up….to find her unable to disobey a single command. And Blackfire taunted her….how she would be forced to DESTROY the Titans, and how they all would think she was a "filthy little traitor" again.

She collapsed in tears…unable to escape the misery in her heart.

Raven…..for a minute she looked happy to see me…and then she looked blank…

And Star…oh Star, if you only knew….I would never be doing this…

She felt a hand pat her back consolingly. She looked up into the pink eyes of Jinx.

"We'll find a way to break her stupid hold on us, we at least still can think like ourselves. Ohh…when Gizmo and Mammoth find out what happened to me…she's so dead. And I'm sure the Titans will realize that your statue isn't real."

Terra saw a glimmer of hope- "We left my statue in the cave!"

Jinx caught on- "When they tell the boys what happened…they'll go check the cave…and then they'll KNOW something's weird!"

Terra said happily, and went to sleep. Jinx looked at her face wistfully. Mammoth and Giz were her friends… but she wished she could be a Titan. If they were willing to take TERRA….maybe they would take her…and then she and Cyborg…..

Jinx blushed hotly in the darkness. With that happy thought she tried to get some sleep…tomorrow was the first day.

AN- Ok…long…I know. So, what do you guys think? In case anyones confused…Blackfire is using her amulet to mind-control the other girls, and they desperately want to be free. Next chapter will take a week…mega battles coming up! And the boys realize something is going on…And Bumblebee finds out Jinx likes Cyborg….and Aqualad hears about his sister being in the tournament….and secret crushes and evil manipulations and kick-booty battles and intrigue and dark secrets and love and hope and insane funny adventures abound! Read and Review please!