To be honest, I'm not too proud of this chapter. This is one of my least favorites, if only because it contains some of the hardest scenes to write out. Plus, I had to cut out my favorite parts and banish them to the next chapter, and you have NO idea how frustrating that was for me. Still, I had to do it if I wanted to be able to post while still on vacation, and several of the scenes in here are important. I apologize if my lack of enthusiasm somehow affected the way they were written. I'm just thankful my dad let me borrow his laptop so I could.
In the meantime, a few more notes:
1) For those of you unfamiliar with the original comics, Ryand'r really is Starfire's younger brother. I simply reincarnated him into the story, much as the rest of the characters of the series had been. Ta'ragn, on the other hand, is my own OC. Think whatever you like of him.
2) I'm afraid giving away who lies behind the betrothal, along with Blackfire's role in the story, would give away far too much of the plot, as would explaining the Prince's initial reaction to Starfire. In fact, I can't even reveal whether or not the wedding will actually take place. Pay attention, and all will be revealed in due time.
3) I understand the confusion between 'Highness' and 'Majesty', however this applies to Earth monarchies. I figured that on Tameran, 'Highness' would be used to describe the Queen because she is the highest power, so Tameranian translation of English phrases would reflect on that. And while we're on the subject of language, all non-English words (and names) are simply placed in quoted italics, because it's much easier to read than if I attempted to make up an entire language and subtitle it. Keep in mind, however, that Tameranian is not the only alien tongue spoken, and flashbacks are also italicized. It should be pretty easy to decipher what's what just by context.
4) I implore you all to pay little attention to Rurouni Tyriel's reviews. He is on a never-ending quest to uncover my plotline before I do, as is also evident by our IM conversations, and in the process will either give away more than I'd like or throw you off completely. Sometimes both. Not that I don't thoroughly enjoy the guessing games. In fact, I consider it a challenge how long I can keep things in suspense. And I do so love a challenge…
Chapter III
The rays of Vega shone brightly upon the planet Tameran, as if smiling upon the good fortune of its inhabitants. But not a single ray could penetrate the windowless walls of the room, casting everything into shadow. The only source of light was emitted from the several glowing buttons and switches that were meant to operate the large communication system, which was otherwise fuzzed over with a silent gray static.
With nearly unrivaled stealth, a petite figured slipped into the room, finding the darkness sadistically appropriate. It had been easy to slip past those imbeciles who considered themselves royal guards, particularly with the entire building in a frenzy over preparations for that night's festival. A few secure access codes and click of the keys later, and the large monitor came to life, glowing a pale green before fading into a distorted image. Though blurred, it was still easy to distinguish a humanoid on the other end, though neither Tameranian nor Human.
"Report?"
The figure, now little more than a silhouette against the screen light, reclined back in a large chair and crossed a pair of legs over the consul. An aura of extreme comfort and confidence swept over the room. "You'll be pleased to know," came the reply, fluent in the same language as that of the character on-screen, "That preparations for tonight's festival are already underway. No one suspects anything amiss."
"And what reason would they have to? The translation messengers have been with each respective royal court for decades!" sarcastically roared from the speakers, with more than a hint of malicious pride behind it.
The seated figured rolled a pair of eyes and made motions that would imply the inspection of nails, physically emphasizing the suggestion of boredom. "I hope there's a reason behind your insistence on contact other than some more gloating over your success in intercepting official documents. Not that it could have been much of a challenge for someone of your position…"
On screen, purple-tinged facial features narrowed into a stern glare, accenting traces of a few blue streaks on one side. "May I remind you who it is you are on the verge of insulting?"
If there were any traces of inner remorse, they were lost in the figure's apathetic tone. "I'll have you know that there's little else you can do at this point. The course of events have been set in place, and all you need to do now is sit back and wait for the fruits of our labor."
"Yes, that is one issue that still puzzles me." The voice commented lightly. "It's clear to see what I stand to gain from the Prince's foreign betrothal…but what could possibly come of this that would benefit you?"
A faint, ominous smile appeared as the figure stood up, legs disappearing beneath the main consul. One hand reached for the power switch. "That is something you needn't concern yourself with. Let's just say that there's more than a person satisfaction behind my motives…"
And with that, the connection was cut off, plunging the room into total darkness.
o*0*o
Quiet.
Solitude.
Peaceful.
Three words she would never be able to use in reference to Titans Tower, back on Earth. Three words she had managed to achieve for the past few hours as she hovered a few feet above the ground in the center of her designated room, deep in meditation.
An unusually serene smile rested upon the half demon's lips. Raven was in such a state of tranquility, in fact, that when a gentle knock came to the door, she was surprised to find herself lacking in annoyance at the disturbance like usual.
"Enter," she called out, lowering herself until her feet could touch the ground, only to bow in respect as she saw Ryand'rslide into the room. "Good evening, Prince Ryand'r. To what do I owe this visit?"
The Tameranian male smiled sheepishly. "If you do not mind, I was never fond of being addressed so formally by those I consider my peers."
Inwardly, Raven's respect for him grew at the announcement. Resisting the urge to smile, she gave a nod in understanding. "Very well, then. What can I do for you, Ryand'r?"
"In truth, I wish to apologize for before…" he trailed off, and though lacking in any outward nervous habits that would have given him away to anyone else, Raven could still sense his slight awkwardness at the conversation. She knew at once what he was talking about.
A moment of silence passed between the two, in which Raven moved to sit on the edge of what could only be assumed to be a Tameranian bed. Until that point, she had failed to understand why Starfire originally slept upside-down before adjusting to a much more comfortable position. Now, observing the sleeping contraption closely, it all became clear. The "beds" were designed to face the wall, tilted slightly so that the feet were elevated. It had been explained to her by one of the English-speaking servants that this method of sleeping was preferred because it enhanced upper body muscle employment during periods of unconsciousness, not surprising given the warrior-like nature of the Tameranians.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, the girl looked up at her visitor. "You don't need to apologize. Truth be told, I was able to sense your intentions and understand the reason behind your…actions." She paused slightly, turning her head to the side in an attempt to fight the oncoming blush. "I participated of my own free will, so you needn't feel guilty."
There was a sudden shift in weight, and she turned back to find Ryand'r sitting next to her, so close their arms were practically touching. "I suspected as much," he commented lightly. Raven could have almost sworn she heard a hint of relief in his voice. "But I could not be entirely certain. You see, while my sister has told me much of your powers and battles on Earth, she has a tendency to…shall we say, over-exaggerate certain details."
Thinking of her fellow Titan's enthusiastic, emotional personality, Raven nodded in agreement. "I can imagine." Noticing the soft look on Ryand'r's face, she added, "You and she are very close, aren't you?"
He nodded wordlessly.
"Is that why you came to talk to me about her?"
Ryand'r was taken aback by this, giving the girl an incredulous state before sheepishly grinning. "I suppose I should know better than to try and fool one who can read into the minds and hearts of others."
"It doesn't take empathy to tell when a guy is worried about his sister," Raven quipped, then lowered her voice to almost a whisper. "I'm worried about her too. We all are."
o*0*o
He hadn't originally intended to eavesdrop. If he had, there were any number of forms that could have given him a much clearer view of everything done and said. But Beast Boy prided himself on not using his powers for spying unless the situation truly called for it. He may be considered something of an annoyance to most of his teammates at times, but he certainly understood the value of privacy.
…usually.
Like now, for instance. His intentions were to roam the hallways in search of a bathroom, or whatever the Tameranian equivalent was, but no sooner did he leave his room when the familiar sound of Raven's voice reached his sensitive hearing. This was quickly followed by the not-as-familiar sound of Ryand'r, which got his attention at once. It hadn't taken him long to figure out which room they were in, as the Tameranian prince had left the door slightly ajar, and the changeling couldn't help but catch snippets of their conversation.
His initial hostility for the alien boy had simply spun out of an instinct to protect his friends. First impressions were important to him, and watching Ryand'r waltz right up to Raven and invade her space the way he had made Beast Boy's blood boil. It gave him the impression that the Tameranian prince would turn out to be just like his eldest sibling: a selfish jerk who thought only of himself, who took what he wanted and used others.
Never mind the fact that Raven had actually let him get away with kissing her. That had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever….
And yet, if what Beast Boy had "accidently" overheard was true, then it would seem this boy was exactly the opposite of what he'd been expecting. Rather than Blackfire, it was his other sister Ryand'r took after. The way he spoke, the way Raven, an excellent judge of character, treated him with a lack of hostility…it was all the proof one would need that this guy was indeed someone the Titans could trust. Befriend, even. That thought alone should have overjoyed the young changeling.
"I participated of my own free will…"
He was crushed.
"You can come in now, Beast Boy."
The boy jumped slightly at the sound of his name, but quickly realized that Raven must have sensed him brooding in the hallway. He feigned a look of innocence, putting on one of his famous smiles before entering the room. "H-hey, Raven. Hope I'm not interrupting anything."
The half-demon raised an eyebrow, but otherwise remained stoic in expression. "Is there something you wanted that had you standing outside my door for the past five minutes?" She seemed entirely unconcerned that she and Ryand'r were sitting so close, despite her usual insistence on personal space.
"Actually…I was looking for you," Beast Boy announced, surprising everyone in the room by turning to Ryand'r. "I wanted to say I'm sorry about earlier. You know, the attitude an all. Guess I'm still a little put off at the last Starfire sibling we met." If he hadn't already been feeling downtrodden inside, the boy would have laughed at the expression on Raven's face. She obviously hadn't expected him to say that.
Though slightly confused at the particular choice of wording, Ryand'r nodded. "That is understandable."
"So…" Beast Boy extended a hand, "What do ya say? Friends?"
Raven stared incredulously at the boy for a moment. A mixtures of emotions at his sudden actions welled up inside her, and her brows furrowed together in slight confusion. She had been certain that hadn't been the reason why Beast Boy was snooping outside her room. In fact, she'd sense nothing but a strong dislike for the Tameranian male up until that moment.
It briefly dawned on her that Beast Boy's actions merely be a sign of his growing maturity. For some reason, the thought brought a faint smile to her face as she looked up, glancing between the two boys.
Ryand'r stood up with a smile and shook hands. "Friends." As they separated, he continued, "Actually, I am glad you are here. The matter I had wished to discuss with Raven concerns the rest of your group as well. Tell me, where can we find them?"
"We can't," Beast Boy replied. "Cyborg went off with one of the royal mechanics to check some of your planet's technology, and who knows where Robin is?"
"I know." Simultaneously, they both turned to stare at Raven questioningly. The girl had her eyes closed in light concentration. "And I doubt either of you should interrupt him right now…"
o*0*o
The girl known to her friends as Starfire, but to her home planet as Princess Koriand'r of Tameran, stood in front of the mirror with a blank expression. The reflection staring back at her was one she barely recognized. Traditional festival clothing had replaced her battle uniform, which had been deemed inappropriate for such an occasion. In place of her knee-length boots were a pair of platform sandals, the straps winding several times around her ankles before disappearing into soft, deep purple leggings. A sheer, ankle-length skirt draped over them, held up by a single rope belt made from pure Tameranian silver. The top came just above her midriff, with long sleeves and a neckline she wasn't quite used to: off the shoulder and displaying a slight amount of cleavage.
As her mind continued to wander, Starfire nearly forgot about the other presence in the room until he was directly behind her. She turned to face him with a sad smile as he placed the ornament on her head, pushing her hair back gently behind her shoulders so that it alone framed her face.
"Since you were young, I have come to expect great things of you, my little one." Galfore bent down on one knee so that he could meet the princess at eye level. "It gives me great joy to see the kind, beautiful woman you have grown into, and I feel such pride as if you were one of my own."
In spite of the circumstances, Starfire couldn't help but smile at her knorfka, welcoming the unusually large man into a warm embrace. While, at a glance, he appeared to be little more than a frightening giant, she knew Galfore's true heart, the one beneath his enormous size.
"I have missed you greatly, Galfore."
"And I have missed you," he replied, his expression saddening. "I only wish the circumstances of your return had been different."
Starfire shook her head. "You must not think that. I am overjoyed to be home and see everyone again. It has been far too long."
"That is has," Galfore agreed, rising to his full height. "But not so long that I can not tell when my little one is feeling so sad. Tell Galfore what it is that troubles you so."
Turning back to face her mirror image, the girl nervously fumbled with the delicate material of her skirt, smoothing over invisible wrinkles. "I do not know what you are talking about."
With a stern but caring look on his face, Galfore held up one hand. "Do not try to fool an old—"
A rustling outside the window interrupted him mid-sentence. They held perfectly still for a moment, thinking that perhaps it had been the wind, or even their imaginations. It came again, this time accompanied by the sound of a faint groan of protest, so soft that they almost didn't catch it. Both turned towards the source, and within seconds, a hand appeared over the balcony ledge.
"An intruder!" the knorfka gasped. Within seconds, a blur of red, green, and black jumped into view. "Assassin!" he cried out, drawing his sword upon noticing the creature's masked face.
"No! Wait!" Starfire exclaimed, stepping in front of the larger Tameranian with her arms extended. "He is a friend," she added, in English no less, before turning to their unexpected visitor, helping him rise to a stand. "Robin, what are you doing here?"
"I came to see you," he stated simply, smiling as she led him inside. The slight flush in his cheeks gave away his exhaustion from scaling the outer wall, though he tried to appear unaffected by the physical task. "You seemed really upset before, and I wanted to make sure everything was okay. Everyone's worried."
The heat rose to her cheeks as she returned his smile and shook her head. "Your concern is most appreciated, Robin, but it is not necessary. As you can see, I am perfectly fine."
Robin glanced down at the outfit she was wearing, thinking to himself that it made her look even more like a princess than she already had. She always looked beautiful no matter what she wore, but he had grown so accustomed to her Titans uniform. The thought that he may never see her in it again saddened him. And from the look in Starfire's eyes, he could tell she was thinking the same thing. Barely offering the room so much as a glance, he placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder and looked her straight in the eye.
"Star, you don't have to pretend in front of me." His voice was quiet and low, filled with sincerity. "I know you better than that. You're not one to hide your emotions about anything from anyone, not matter what they are…so why start now?"
She stared back wordlessly for a moment, almost as if she would argue back. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. Then, without warning, the Tameranian girl collapsed into his arms in a fit of tears, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head in his shoulder. Robin was caught slightly off-guard, and not knowing what else to do, awkwardly wrapped his arms around her waist and proceeded to ignore the slight difficulty in breathing
If there was one weakness in him that made the Boy Wonder seem more like a normal boy than anything else, it was his inability to properly handle a crying girl.
Meanwhile, Galfore had retreated into the background after seeing the "intruder" was merely one of the princess' friends from Earth, busying himself with the task of unpacking some of her things. Such a visitation was not normally allowed, but he'd seen the look in his little bumgorf's eye when she spoke with the boy. Nothing could have brought the agingknorfka to tear that away from her. Not when she was already going through so much.
It was when he opened one of the last remaining suitcases that he found it, buried beneath a pile of clothing. The square block of brown wood stuck out amidst the brightly colored cloth, immediately drawing his curiosity. He picked it up, eyes softening as he saw what it was, and turned back towards the couple.
"Shh…it's okay, Star," Robin murmured, though his uncertainty and awkwardness were clear to everyone but the girl in his arms.
"Oh, Robin…" Starfire managed as the tears began to subside, picking her head up to meet him in the eye. Her face was streaked with tear trails. "I do not wish to go against my mother and High Ruler…but I also do not wish to leave Earth and the Titans." Leaving one hand on his shoulder, the other was used to wipe at her eyes. Her cheeks were flushed with embarrassment at her actions. "I will miss you all far too greatly for words to express."
"But you are not, as of yet, separated," Galfore stepped up to the couple, speaking in English so Robin would be able to understand as well. In his hand, he held the tiny wooden frame. "And, if you remember correctly, tonight is the First Night's festival…"
With a knowing smile, he handed Starfire the picture. The girl smiled upon seeing what it was, holding it in both hands. She hadn't even realized she'd packed it.
Robin turned to the large Tameran. "First Night's festival? What's that?"
"The first night," Starfire answered, showing him the framed photograph of the two of them dancing, "is a celebration of the everlasting bonds of True Friendship."
o*0*o
A traditional Tameranian dance, the Blortha is performed by many and a favorite of all. Its simplicity and lack of formal rules make it easy for humanoids of any race to quickly catch on, and the Titans were no exception. The series of spins and intertwining moves between two people reminded them a lot of Hispanic dance styles on Earth such as the Salsa and Meringue, and in fact the High Ruler had verified to them that there were many planets with dances that held similar patters to it. Some things were simply universal.
On the way to the Grand Hall, Starfire had explained the symbolism behind the Blortha. Every step represented a different aspect that went with the trials and bonds of friendship, which is why it is often referred to as the Friendship Dance. At least one pair of hands must remain clasped at all times, like the unbreakable bonds between two people. While there is never one designated song played for the entertaining ritual, the medley of various tempos ("Because life never moves at the same speed for any given length of time") always ended at a slow pace to signify a happy, peaceful ending. No one is to know precisely when this moment comes, and half the fun is seeing which position each individual couple will end up in when it does.
There is also an old Tameranian superstition behind it, nearly as old as the dance itself. According to belief, those who end up facing one another at the end are destined to live a long life of happiness and trust between them, and the closer their proximity, the closer their bond. If one person faces the other, but the other has their back turned, that other is destined to betray his or her friend. Both backs turned signifies a lifelong friendship, but filled with mutual deceit and lies. Of course, this is only superstition.
Still, few present hardly found it surprising when the dance abruptly ended, and Robin found himself staring straight into a pair of emerald orbs from so close a distance he could practically see his reflection in them. The couple had to smile at the awkward position the Blortha had left them in: one arm stretched directly above, as Robin had spun her around seconds before, with Robin's hand loosely at his side and Starfire's extended for balance. Together, they laughed at their situation, blissfully unaware of the extra attention received because of Starfire's royal status.
"Why, Robin," the princess giggled quietly, not wishing to disrupt the ritual before it ended. The last few bars were still being played by the band. "If I did not know better, I would assume you were almost having fun."
He grinned, knowing she was mocking his workaholic nature and taking it in stride. "Now, now…you shouldn't go jumping to conclusions like that."
"Jumping where? And what is so funny?" She asked, stepping back as the Boy Wonder burst into a small fit of laughter.
"Nothing, Star." He almost felt bad for laughing at her, but it had been so long since he'd needed to correct her on her English, or she'd needed an explanation that he'd forgotten what it felt like. Even then, surrounded by all the glamour, and with Starfire dressed the way she was, to him she was still the same girl as the day they had met.
As his chuckles subsided, he was about to offer an apology when a noise sounding suspiciously like a slap rang throughout the entire room, echoing off the cathedral-like ceiling. All events ceased, discussion and music alike, as everyone simultaneously turned to one corner of the room. As Robin and Starfire followed everyone's gaze, the crowd seemed to part, revealing a furious Raven glaring at Beast Boy, who was holding his left cheek in pain. Above, several of the lights flickered threateningly, the ceiling crackling with black light.
If Tameran had been home to the cricket, one would have chirped in the silence that followed. Neither of the two so much as flinched, sharing mirrored looks of hatred, until Raven abruptly turned and stormed out of the room. The sound of her footsteps bad barely faded before Beast Boy did the same, only heading in the opposite direction.
Cyborg took a step forward. "Okay, y'all. Show's over. Nothing to see here." He waved his hands about, ushering the crowd into diverting their attention elsewhere.
Starfire and Robin shared a glance. They were about to head over to their hybrid friend, when a hand was placed on Starfire's shoulder from behind. She turned to see her brother sending her a comforting look.
"It is time, sister," he simply stated. "Mother is waiting for you out by the courtyard."
A wave of sadness washed over the girl, though she tried to hide it behind a smile. "Oh. Yes. Of course." She turned to Robin. "Forgive me, but it is part of the ceremony that I must partake in."
"Hey, don't worry about it." Robin insisted, trying to remain casual about it. He wanted to ask exactly what part of the ceremony it was, but figured that Ryand'r would fill him in on the details later. "I…should probably go check on the others. Make sure Raven hasn't blown up half the place. The usual."
She offered a genuine smile at his attempt at a light joke. "Of course. Farewell, Robin." With a polite bow, Starfire turned and exited the hall through one of the numerous side doors.
Robin allowed himself a noiseless sigh as he watched her leave before turning to address the matter at hand. With Ryand'r at his heels, he approached Cyborg with a raised eyebrow. "So…care to explain what the hell just happened?"
Muttering a few choice words under his breath, Beast Boy stormed down the hallway in a fit of frustration. He'd been so desperate to get away from her that he'd forgotten the Titans' rooms were all located in the same wing. By the time he'd reached the kitchen on the opposite side of the building (not exactly the worst detour to have made) and realized his error, he was practically fuming.
As if his latest tiff with Raven hadn't been enough to send him over the deep end already…
"What is your problem?" Raven nearly shouted. "You're acting even more immature than usual, if possible."
Beast Boy had been trying to maintain his cool up until that point, but at her latest quip at his expense, he too nearly exploded with anger. "You wanna know what my problem is?" he snapped crudely, "I'll give you a hint: she wears a blue cape, never smiles, and holds more loyalty to her books than her friends!"
"What on Earth are you blabbering about now?" Raven snapped.
"Listen here, Miss ROTH," Raven audibly gasped as he used her last name. It had been something she'd confided to him in secrecy some time before. "I'm tired of being treated like dirt. I may be the youngest, I may not exactly be the smartest, and sure, I may even be something of a clown at times, but the only reason I've put of with your insults and attitude for so long is because that's what FRIENDS do. Forgive each other. Friends," he repeated, "Do you remember that word? 'cause for the longest time, I actually considered you and I to be just that. Way back when H.I.V.E. first attacked, before we got caught up in all that Slade business…when Cy and I helped you battle a certain four-eyed creature inside your head, despite you telling us to leave and let you handle it by yourself…"
Raven was completely speechless, eyes widened in shock. Beast Boy paused to take a breath, and the two were vaguely aware of the crowd beginning to form around them. Even those who had never absorbed the English language could sense the rising tension in the air. The half-demon was frozen in place as he continued.
"Well, that's all in the past. It took me until now, but I've finally realized that I don't know who you are anymore. I don't even know why I liked you in the first place." He folded his arms and muttered, "For all I know, you could've been using those emotion-power thingies of yours to mess with other people's heads, get them to think they actually li—"
And that's when the slap had come. Only Beast Boy had been close enough to see the tears rimming her eyes at his words, but he was too caught up in his anger to notice. Or even care.
He shook his head, banishing the images to the back of his mind. The last thing his rage needed right then was a bit of rationality telling him he was wrong to have said the things he did. Yet they kept sneaking back, replaying over and over again, and with every time he saw himself yelling at the girl, he grew a little guiltier.
It was the guilt slowly welling up inside that turned his head as he passed Raven's room, the door once more ajar enough for him to catch a glimpse of her inside. It was the unusual position she was sitting in that had him pause in his tracks.
No matter how 'upset' Raven had ever gotten, the changeling had never seen her let it get to her before. Not visibly, at least. And yet, the Raven before him was sitting on the edge of her bed, legs pulled to her chest as she lightly rocked back and forth. Her arms came around to hold them in place, hands clasped timidly at her robe and eyes staring at the floor absently.
His anger forgotten instantly, Beast Boy tentatively knocked on the doorframe. "Raven? You okay?"
Raven's head shot up at the sound of her name, and seeing Beast Boy standing just inside the room caused her eyes to go wide. She stood up abruptly, though her posture was nowhere near as confident as usual. Instead, she was hunched over slightly, as if trying to make herself appear as small as possible, and almost immediately directed her sight elsewhere.
"I-I'm sorry I slapped you," she murmured quietly. "And I'm sorry I made you angry enough that you had to shout at me the way you did."
Beast Boy's eyes widened. Not just because Raven was openly apologizing to him, when it should have been the other way around (not that he was ready to admit that yet), but because he had once before seen her act the way she was acting now. And, technically, it hadn't even been Raven. It had been…
"Timid?"
TO BE CONTINUED…
