Chapter 14: Changeling
Chapter 14 dedicated to: TTHP Fan
Starfire was the first to draw her gaze away from Raven and back through the gate. Before them rolled a lush landscape. It was strange, stepping through and looking straight into a rainforest of sorts with a world of titanium to their backs. She eyed the thriving plant life curiously. The next gate could not be seen due to the thick spread of towering trees before them. A rolling mist seemed to slink along and weave around the trees and ferns. From somewhere within the forest, a pair of yellow eyes winked out at them and then faded into the shadowed world.
Raven was in a rather pensive mood, even more so than usual. It was perfectly reasonable, though. They would each face a turn of conquering their deepest hates and fears in order to save their friends. Raven didn't know if she would be able to. Demons aren't easily persuaded to step down once in control. To top off the nagging thoughts was a splitting migraine that she attributed to their gradually closer proximity to the power source. Starfire was also beginning to emit a very slight aura of dark magic, unknown to her of course. From beneath her hood she glared out. And then there was the fact they were virtually abandoning their fallen friend for the time being…
She set her lips into a thin line and stalked after the other three who had already taken a few tentative steps into the new precinct. Starfire had a rather pained look on her face that stated clearly she hated leaving Cyborg. Robin was blank-faced. Beast Boy, on the other hand, was looking around with big eyes. He gulped quietly. Somehow he got the feeling that Raven would have to wait a bit for her turn with Trigon… this place looked all too perfect for a task set for him… the one and only Beast Boy.
Of course, he could be wrong. That was something that happened often to the changeling. He grimaced to himself. None the less, he would keep on guard. He wasn't going to hurt his friends like Cyborg had, albeit against his will. Robin took the lead and Starfire didn't complain. She stayed close behind him. Beneath their feet was damp earth and the air was thick and smelled of rotting leaves and growing things.
"We must all keep close to one another… and we must keep an eye on each other as well. We must be prepared for… whomever it is that is tested next. I believe we shall be victorious though. We are all very loyal to one another, yes?" Starfire murmured. Ahead of her, Robin nodded.
"Yeah, I'm sure we'll pull through well enough. The Titans haven't failed yet," he replied, a note of consolation in his voice. Raven sniffed from behind.
"Not to be dreary or anything… but there's always a first." She sighed. Robin grimaced as he continued to walk, now entering the trees.
"Yeah, but we can always recover if we fall… so no worries… really…" he stomped forward. Starfire lightly glided between the trees and paralleled herself to Robin. She looked over at him.
"You truly believe we will be victorious?" she asked hopefully. Robin spared her a glance and gave her a lop-sided grin.
"I know we will, Starfire. We're a strong team. We're even stronger friends," he said.
"Amen to that!" Beast Boy cheered, trying to perk up despite the absence of his best friend. Raven huffed. The green elf looked over. "What, you disagree?" he asked, wrinkling his nose.
"Of course not…" she muttered. However monotone, it wasn't sarcastic and that was good enough. Raven eyed the other titans. "How come none of us are… ya know…" her thoughts falling back on Cyborg's psychotic streak. Robin shrugged up ahead, winding around a large tree.
"Who knows? But we should be happy that nothing is happening at the moment. Still, keep yourself alert. We want to be ready for everything and anything." He said firmly. Raven was silent, gliding over the soggy ground.
"Robin, what is your deepest hate… or fear…?" Starfire asked, twirling a lock of hair between her fingers as she floated along. Her shards were glowing quite magnificently as they were getting closer to the power source.
"Do we really need to get into that?" the Boy Wonder growled. Starfire bit her lip.
"It might be helpful to know what is to come when it is you that faces a test of loyalty but… I suppose it-it is not totally necessary that you tell me…" the girl trailed off. "Um, well, Friend Raven has spoken and Robin does not wish to so… what about you friend Beast Boy?" Starfire asked.
There was a soft cracking sound as Beast Boy's frame expanded and grew large, his frame covering with fur. His eyes had squinted shut and his uniform began to tatter and tear as he continued to grow. Just a foot or two in front of him Raven turned and went a shade paler. Robin and Starfire whipped around as well. The three collectively swallowed.
"Maybe… he hated what he had done… maybe he-he's afraid of his, erm, inner beast taking over again?" Raven suggested. And there Beast Boy stood in that hulking form of a creature. His eyes glittered yellow. The dark girl took a step back and then levitated the rest of the way over to Robin and Starfire quickly.
"Yeah. Maybe." Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask at Raven. Then, he returned his attention to Beast Boy, who was simply standing and staring. Saliva dripped down his furry green maw. Raven swallowed. Last time, he had saved her in such a form. But now… now she thought otherwise.
Black energy flamed to her fingertips. Robin swept out a fan of birdarangs. Starfire stood. She stared. She would never find herself capable of accepting she was about to fight a teammate. Again.
"UURRRAAAHHRRR!" Beast Boy bellowed and lunged forward, yellow blazing in his eyes.
"Azerath, Metrion… ugh!" Raven was tossed backwards by the neck of her leotard which Beast Boy had caught onto one of his long claws. The obsidian energy that had been at her fists hissed away with the loss of concentration. Starfire took a few hurried steps backwards. She held her breath. No. She didn't want to fight him. Robin sent her a quick glance backwards and a tiny frown made its way onto his tensed face. He returned to the task at hand.
Raven picked herself up from the ground with eyes blazing brilliant white. Two thick tendrils of ebony snaked from her out-flung hands. Beast Boy's shuddering frame swatted the magic binds away with heavy forelimbs.
Robin let the first three birdarangs fly.
SWISH…. "RAAAHHH!" Beast Boy snarled as a birdarang was narrowly dodged. The weapons stabbed into the ground behind him.
Robin growled and whipped out an explosive disc.
"No!" Starfire was instantly at his side, tugging the disc from his hands.
Raven sent a powerful wave of energy at BB, sending the changeling onto his back.
Beast Boy flipped easily up, unfazed. Robin stared at Starfire for about two seconds before reaching into his utility belt and pulling out a handful of smoke pellets.
Raven yelled as Beast Boy plowed into her. "Raven!" Robin snarled. He let the pellets fly.
Beast Boy roared and stumbled through the blinding smog. Raven groaned. She sat up, rubbing her head, only to gasp and fling herself flat back onto the ground again as Beast Boy leaped over her, charging through the dissipating smoke at Robin.
Robin yelled something akin to a war cry and went flying at Beast Boy with bo-staff out. Starfire gasped as Robin's staff plowed hard into Beast Boy's furry chest. Beast Boy grabbed onto the staff and shoved it back, sending the Boy Wonder with it.
Raven tried once again to stand but she fell back with a weak thud. Stupid Beast Boy…
Starfire narrowed her gaze and lifted into the air, flying towards the green teen. Or what was in the green teen's body… "Friend Beast Boy! You said you would not be conquered!" Starfire accused. Beast Boy looked up at the annoying little alien with narrowed yellow eyes. "Beast Boy, listen to me!" Starfire persisted.
Beast Boy bared his fangs.
Raven pushed finally to her feet.
Robin panted, catching his breath and standing as well.
"Beast Boy. Control yourself." Raven spoke, catching on to Starfire's method. Beast Boy's head swiveled to face the petite girl.
Raven stared evenly back. Starfire bit her lip. Robin stood rigid.
"Beast Boy. Remember. What makes you a man is knowing how to CONTROL your inner self. Beast Boy. Be. Strong." Raven hissed.
Beast Boy growled. He took a menacing step towards her. Then paused. Growled a halting snarl again and shifted. His eyes flickered. He panted.
"Beast Boy, please…" Starfire added. The three… sane titans were holding their breaths.
Beast Boy's animal chest heaved and shuddered. His eyes turned their normal white; he shrunk to elf size just long enough to croak out:
"R-Raven… knock me out… p-please!" his plea shifted to a howl-roar as he shifted back into his inner beast, yellow eyes and all. Raven swallowed, stepped away from him and looked at Robin.
The Boy Wonder seemed to snap out of his hushed stage. "Raven, you have to do as he says… NOW!" He snapped. Starfire gasped. Raven swallowed.
Beast Boy roared.
"AZERATH! METRION! ZINTHOS!" Raven shouted. A blade of obsidian energy stabbed into the air and slammed hard into Beast Boy's skull. He teetered. He blinked. He fell.
Beast Boy groaned and shrunk back to his little elf self. His breath was slow, satisfied. His uniform was tattered. Robin took Starfire's arm and turned her quickly before more tears could come. Behind them, Raven lingered.
"One more… down…" she murmured.
And then she followed Robin and Starfire in silence towards the next gate. Black iron.
Starfire shivered. He was only unconscious, but shy did it feel like he was dead? Robin's grip tightened. "It'll be ok Starfire. I promise you. It'll be ok. They'll be ok."
Starfire sniffed and looked at him with big emerald eyes. "I hope so. I r-really, really do." Star looked down. "He is as dedicated to us as Cyborg…" she commented softly. Raven was silent behind them. Why did that hurt her so much?
She knew very well that he would be alright.
She knew very well she had done the best thing.
But it hurt.
It hurt.
Raven squinted her eyes and touched the edge of her hood. It protected her. It shielded her. The next gate. The next task. Her head hurt. She felt dizzy. "Guys… I don't know if I'll be able to make it past the gate after this. The dark magic is… really hard… to take…" Raven droned. Starfire looked behind her at her friend.
"Do not force yourself. Raven, I am thankful that you have even come thus far." Starfire looked down. Robin's hard grip on her arm became gentle and lightly massaged the amber skin. Starfire shivered.
Raven scowled. "I'll push myself all I want," she snapped back. Starfire couldn't help but smile weakly at the retort. Just like Raven to argue. The dark girl eyed the even darker gate ahead. Was it her turn?
Was it Trigon's turn?
…
…
…
…
…
They stepped to the foot of the gate. Raven suppressed a shiver. She let her thoughts fall back on Beast Boy and Cyborg. Would she pull through as they had? Just in front of her, Starfire had floated up and wrapped a petite hand around one of the black iron bars. Beyond was white nothingness.
She stared out curiously. It was the same as the land beyond the copper gate had appeared until she'd opened it. She wondered now what the next precinct truly looked like. Starfire gave a weary sigh and flew back to Robin and Raven. She landed.
"Robin…" Starfire halted. What was there to say? What was there to ask of him? The Boy Wonder watched her as she seemed to stumble over thoughts in her mind. Finally, she bit her lip and tossed her arms around him. He hugged her back gently. "Robin… you could be next… Raven could be next… oh, I do not wish to see you all hurt," Starfire murmured into his shoulder. Robin pulled back and kissed her softly.
"I told you, Starfire. We'll be ok. Just keep going. Keep strong and keep going, ok?" he said. Starfire stifled a sniff and nodded before floating over to Raven. She hesitated.
"…" Raven stared blankly at the red-head.
"Friend Raven, please… you and Robin must be safe," Starfire demanded, hugging the half-demon. Raven stood cringing in Starfire's embrace.
"Sure…" she droned. "Now let me go,"
"You are not feeling too ill? If you are… you can stay where it is more comfortable…"
"Starfire. I already told you, I'll be as uncomfortable as I'd like, ok?" Raven huffed. "Open the stupid gate," she wriggled out of Starfire's hug. Star nodded and hovered mid-gate.
She easily felt the even greater amount of energy rushing through her limbs and throbbing in the shards. Her hand went out and her entire body glowed emerald. A massive starbolt was shot forward, and the gate slowly swung open.
The three remaining titans stared into the new precinct. "Wow, that looks… different," Robin commented. Raven swallowed. The third precinct was suspiciously similar to her mind.
"Um… I think I'm next," Raven said quietly. She really didn't want to have to deal with Trigon right now…
Starfire gave her friend a mournful glance and then let it drop to her feet.
Author's Note: No, Raven wasn't after Cyborg... Beast Boy was. Hmf. Anyhow, Raven's having the most trouble with all of this because, well, she's got to deal with a demon... not just some inner beast or possesive circuitry. There's not much in the way of Titans News today and I appologize that the chapter was short, but Beast Boy's little task thing wasn't as hard to overcome, really. The next three chapters are probably going to be the most lengthy. I think. Oh, and the story should be finished in about four chapters, the last of which will be a short epilogue type thing. Oh, and then my, er, interview. I think. I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday but I like to take Sundays off. So, um... yea. I would really, really appreciate your reviews!
Love, Princess Starfire of Tamaran