I am very sorry I can't really respond to reviews right now, but I will say this; thank you all very much for reading and revewing. I just started college out of State and away from my family, and for a while I've been feeling kinda lonley. So I just wanted to thank all yall for making that a little easier. Enjoy the chapter.

Chapter Nine

A Queen Dethroned

Starfire sat on her bed in her room. Three times in the last hour Robin had come by to try and gain entry. And three times in the last hour Starfire had denied him his request and turned him away. The timid alien girl sat staring out the window. 'Why do I feel this way? I love him.' She frowned from not being able to decipher her own emotions. She could not understand why she felt even the slightest bit of anger toward him at that moment. She had attempted to discuss it with either Raven or Terra but both refused to go into the subject. A light knocking on her door startled her out of her thoughts.

"Who is there," she asked knowing good and well who it was.

"Please Star I just want to talk to you," came Robin's voice. Starfire once again closed her eyes and without knowing why she answered.

"I am in need of the space Robin, please go away." The small thud she now heard indicated that Robin had beaten his head against it.

"Starfire…I'm sorry." She sighed and walked over to her entryway. She stood before it holding her arm. Then she reached over to the small panel beside it and locked her door. Outside Robin heard the small beep and walked away while hanging his head. Starfire held a picture of Robin that she usually kept on her nightstand. Holding it to her chest she slid down to the floor against her door and let a tear escape her. 'Why do I feel this way? I love him. Don't I?'

"Of course I do!" She shouted to herself. She clasped a hand to her mouth and stood still for a moment. In the next second she bounded through her door and began sprinting down the hall. She quickly caught sight of Robin as he slouched his way back to his room. He vaguely heard the air behind him shift and he turned just in time to see Starfire collide with him. They collapsed to the floor Robin lying flat on his back with Starfire on top of him. He gawked at her stupidly while she began thinking of the right words to say. "Robin I wish to-" Robin silenced her.

"Starfire, if I were you I wouldn't feel any different. I would feel betrayed."

"But you were not yourself, you were as they say 'wooed by a pretty face'." Robin looked off to the side then stared back at her.

"Saria is pretty, but I like to think there's a difference between hot and beautiful. She's hot yeah, but you're beautiful…not just on the outside but especially on the inside. You're the only one I love and will ever love." Starfire smiled angelically while Robin ran a hand through her hair.

"Comfortable?" Starfire jumped off of Robin and he scrambled to his feet. Terra stood leaning against the wall with an amused smile on her face. "No don't mind me I was just leaving." Starfire quickly glided away with the inability to show any more redness in the face. Robin dusted some imaginary dust off himself and shuffled past Terra muttering…

"Not funny." He left her alone in the hallway and she smiled in retrospect. She could remember the day she first met the Titans she could tell something was up between Robin and Starfire. Whether even they realized it or not was a totally different issue. Her mind then drifted to when she was with Beast Boy, for however short a time it was. Terra then began to consider; if she had rejoined the Titans under false pretenses could her feelings and relationship with Beast Boy be false as well? Is Raven the one he is supposed to be with? If I learned my lesson the last time I betrayed them why did I do it again a few months ago? The questions raced through her head like drag racers on the final stretch. Whatever the answer was, Terra was sure the outcome of Saria's time here would help reveal it.

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Not too later Raven gathered everyone in the common room with what appeared to an update on the statuesque. Raven flicked on the giant TV screen.

"Sweet! Just in time for 'Monster Garage'," exclaimed Beast Boy. Raven looked at him aversely.

"Not really. I was looking around for any possible news on strange girls accompanied by a half man half machine and this came up." She started up a recorded news cast. The male reporter smiled into the camera and began his broadcast.

"Good afternoon Jump City. I'm Mark Hearsay and I'm pleased to introduce our new queen and goddess; Mar-Saria Forr." The camera zoomed out and Saria was seated next to him. Their jaws hit the floor. "So tell us Saria, how exactly do want us to start serving your every whim?" She pretended to give it some thought then snapped her fingers.

"I'm glad you asked me that slave Mark. You see there are three females roaming about the city at this very moment, and I am saddened to say they have done me a great evil." She sniffled and wiped her eyes. "They stole two of my loves from me, and now I fear they wish to harm me." Mark shook his head.

"Ohh tsk tsk tsk, that's terrible news Mistress. Please tell us if there's any way we can humbly be of service to you, any way at all."

"Well…" She turned to the camera now speaking directly to her audience. "You can search the city from top to bottom until you have found these three girls and have them brought before me!" As she spoke the pictures of Starfire, Raven, and Terra appeared in the upper right corner of the screen. Mark nodded with an enthusiastic smile.

"Well folks you heard our goddess, time to get on out there and find them while the weathers still good." The screen then popped to a renowned auto parts dealer. "This message has been brought to you by Midas, trust the Midas touch."

-Click- Raven switched off the TV.

"I like that girl less and less every time she says something," said Terra.

"There are about ten thousand men in Jump City, she's got the makings of her own army how can we possibly hope to snap them all out of it," remarked Beast Boy. Robin then furrowed his brow in thought.

"How exactly did you guys wake us up a while ago?" Starfire then presented the small stunner.

"We merely gave you both 'the zap' from Cyborg's new piece of technology."

"Can I see it," asked Robin extending his open hand. Starfire placed the compact ray gun in his palm and Robin looked it over for a second. "Cyborg's done really well with this. Fires a small burst of electricity, small enough to knock someone out but not enough to kill them. It has to charge an amount of EMP before firing; I would guess that's why it makes that chirping sound."

"How does that help us," asked Raven.

"Well any electronic device like a microwave or a lamp gives off an EMP pulse just not a very big one; it's so small it's hardly noticeable. The city's power plant is equipped with a buffer which monitors the energy output going to each part of the city. That buffer is the only thing keeping the plant from generating uncontrolled amounts of energy."

"I believe I am beginning to see your plan Robin," said Starfire comprehensively. Robin continued.

"If we can hook up Cyborg's toy to the output filter and disable the buffer, then there will be nothing to stop a city wide overload of just about all electrical appliances, zapping anyone near it."

"Waking them all up simultaneously," finished Raven.

"Now you're getting it," said Robin with a smile. "Now if I were a power hungry witch were would I be?"

"City Hall maybe," suggested Terra.

"That's a distinct possibility," said Raven. "Traffic surveillance cameras have spotted a large gathering around City Hall followed by mass chanting which we can only assume is mass prayer." Robin nodded.

"Alright, under city hall is a single subway train leading to the power plant. Raven you take this," he threw her the stunner. "Hook it up and take out the buffer. Starfire and Terra, you two will take care of Saria."

"Hey why can't I have a piece of her," complained Beast Boy. Starfire took his shoulder.

"Because there would be the possibility of you falling back under her control. And at the present moment that would be most unfortunate." Beast Boy reluctantly nodded in acknowledgment.

"But what are we going to do about Cyborg," asked the changeling. They all looked at Robin.

"We'll get him back, that's what will we'll do." They all nodded in a agreement. "Okay let's get moving." Raven, Beast Boy, and Terra filed out as Robin started walking he felt Starfire take hold of his arm. He cocked his head back and saw an almost teary face.

"While we are attempting to accomplish our endeavor, please be careful Robin. I do not wish to loose you a second time." He smiled, reached up and brushed his fingers against her cheek.

"Don't worry Star, everything's gonna be okay." Not doubting him for a second Starfire nodded defiantly and they ran to catch up with the other three.

AN HOUR OR SO LATER…………..

In the tunnels beneath Jump City Robin sped along on his R-Cycle, Starfire, Raven, Terra flying overhead, and Beast Boy keeping up as a humming bird. Over the echoing noise of Robin's vehicle Starfire pressed her hand against her ear piece.

"How is it you know of these tunnels Robin?"

"If you had been searching for Slade as much as I had been, you would have come to know the city layout just as well," answered Robin into his own ear piece. They reached their destination and Robin parked his motorcycle off to the side. He then stared up a tall metal ladder built into the wall. It led straight up to what appeared to be a manhole cover.

"I think this is where we need to go if I remember correctly." He then turned to Raven. "Okay Raven this is where we part ways for a while. Head down that way a few hundred feet and you'll find the service train that leads to the power plant. Get there as fast as humanly possible and do your thing. I guess we'll know it worked if-"

"If everything starts going right for a change," said Raven with a small smile. Robin smirked and nodded.

"Yeah, I suppose so." Raven then began gliding off then stopped and turned back.

"Keep an eye on her please," she said pointing at Terra. Terra slouched her shoulders despondently. Raven then disappeared into the darkness ahead. Beast Boy laid a hand on Terra's shoulder while he waited his turn to start climbing the ladder.

"Don't worry, she said 'please'. I'm telling you its happening," added Beast Boy as Terra gave him an unconvinced shake of the head. "If I didn't think it was possible I wouldn't have told you about it but, I think Raven's starting to like you again." He gave her a smile then began climbing. Terra looked down the darkened passage that Raven had ventured through then made her way up the ladder. The climb was long and slow but they all finally emerged in what was undoubtedly a shower room in the lower halls. Beast Boy surveyed the room then adopted a look of disgust.

"Ewww, this place reeks of sweaty gym socks." Robin looked back at Beast Boy then motioned forward.

"Come on." They climbed several flights of stairs leading up to the main offices and conference rooms. They stood hidden behind a corner while a group of Saria's intoxicated zealots ran by obviously still searching Starfire, Raven, and Terra. As soon as they passed Robin began stepping out into the hall only to be hit dead on by a blue sonic blast. They all ran up to Robin then looked back to see Cyborg lowering his cannon.

"You've been a bad boy Robin," said Cyborg. At once a host of police officers and other regular civilians filed in from behind Cyborg. "Star, I'm sorry but you, Raven, and Terra have to come with me."

"I don't think so!" Robin leapt up in front of Starfire. Cyborg hung his head and sighed.

"Come on Rob, please don't make this any harder then it already is." Robin eyes darted from Cyborg, the horde around him, and finally to an unguarded stairwell leading to higher levels.

"Alright I'll make it easy for you." He threw a small disk directly at Cyborg's chest. It connected and at once the teen let out a loud screech then fell over like a rag doll. Soon after they watched as Saria's mark on his neck faded away completely.Robin quickly turned to Starfire and Terra. "You two get on up there and give Saria a bad day."

"Robin you are suggesting that we leave you and Beast Boy to fight this-this…group of hostile individuals."

"Yeah we can't just drop this on your lap," agreed Terra.

"No worries Terra we've got this," said Beast Boy. Starfire and Terra glanced at each other cynically. "We've got this," he repeated. Starfire then nodded.

"Very well, and please do be careful." With that she and Terra flew up the stairs before the crowd of loyal men could stop them. They instead refocused their attention on Robin and Beast Boy. The green Titan morphed into a gorilla and Robin extended his staff. After cracking his neck here and there Robin bounced about on his feet.

"Alright guys, show us what you've got." The hostile group of men happily obliged and after encircling Robin and Beast Boy began aggressively charging them in turn. Robin stepped forward and clothes lined the one closest to him. Gorilla Beast Boy plowed on through three or four on a collision course for Robin's back. Avoiding a cheap shot to his back Robin extended his staff and swung at anyone or anything that dared to come their way. From a far away view one could only see crowds and crowds of men running up to something then flying backwards.

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A midsized subway train slowed to a stop aside a docking station next to the plant. She hopped off the train and ran to the middle of the control room. She moved in an agitated circle looking around for anything that looked remotely like what she needed. She ran a hand through her hair and bit her lip.

"Okay, maybe I forgot to mention I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing." She then spotted a set of gauges along with a control panel marked Input/Output Control. She swiftly walked up to it and set the stunner to the side and looked about the various gauges and controls. A few black energy streams from Raven's fingertips removed the screws from the control panel and began reworking several of the variously colored wires.

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Starfire and Terra meanwhile stiffly made their way up the stairs to the main office. They reached a closed door and crouched on either side of it. Terra cautiously gripped the knob and slowly turned it just enough to make a small crack to look through. Inside she saw Saria looking out through a window behind the desk she now claimed as her own.

"I always knew she wanted that chair," muttered Terra. She moved away to allow Starfire to peek through.

"How now do you suggest we proceed?" Terra shrugged.

"Well there's no telling when or even if Raven's gonna blow that plant so, let's just wing it." Starfire thought for a mere second then took the initiative. She burst on through the door and flew straight at Saria. The evil temptress spun around and extended her hand. Starfire stopped dead in the air and flew backward into Terra who had tried to follow in after her. The two scrambled to their feet only to be surrounded by a SWAT team.

"Please, please lower those unruly weapons," jibed Saria. "They are not going anywhere after all." A few of the team lowered their rifles but still held Starfire and Terra at bay. Saria walked up to Terra and circled her. She finally stopped before her and tucked a lock her hair behind her ear. "Yes, I was right to choose you." Terra frowned.

"Choose me for what?" Saria smiled impishly and moved in front of Starfire.

"I really miss my Robin." Starfire narrowed her eyes.

"He is not your Robin, he is nobody's Robin."

"Whether that's worth arguing or not is irrelevant. You are alive still only because I may utilize you in order to require my lost loves."

"Oh you are really wasting your time," said Terra. Saria shifted her eyes toward her. "There's no way Robin or Beast Boy would let us ruin the only chance of freeing the city."

"Now that is debatable," said Saria with a smile. She walked back to her desk and sat down where upon she received some notable pampering. "As you can adequately see I have a number of things that would greatly interest my dear Robin. I have your city under my control, I have his friend Cyborg, his Starfire, and his baseball glove!" She snickered. "If he has the slightest bit of interest in any of those things he and Beast Boy will come up here and turn themselves over. And considering the kind of person Robin is, I'm sure he'll be along any minuet." She shifted her foot off the button that monitors the loud speaker. "Any minuet."

Robin and Beast Boy through off the last of the guards they had been made to deal with. They then looked at each other pensively.

"So now what do we do," asked Beast Boy. "You heard her, if we don't show up soon we may be two friends short."

"I know Beast Boy, all we can do is hope Raven does her part soon enough." They heard a groan down the hall and walked on over to help Cyborg to his feet. "Hey Cyborg, how ya doing?"

"Are you trying to be funny," grunted Cyborg. He rubbed his temples rhythmically at which time Robin's comm. link started beeping.

"Robin this is Raven." He opened up his communicator and her face appeared.

"What's your status?"

"I'm ready, once I disable the buffer I figure it will take about thirty seconds for the overload to occur."

"Gotcha, we'll be ready." Robin pocketed his comm. link while Cyborg looked at him perplexed.

"What does she mean overload?" Robin shifted around nervously.

"I'm really sorry Cyborg but your about to get zapped again, we all are for that matter." Cyborg gaped at the two of them with an open mouth. "Just to make sure we snap everyone out of Saria's hocus pocus."

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Back up in the main office Starfire continued to send Saria a murderous glare. Finally Saria sat up straight and shoed away the ones indulging her.

"I could have your head for the amount of insolence you and your little band have committed against me, me your goddess."

"Your attempts to convince me of your falsely divine essence are futile," retorted Starfire. "You are no more a goddess then Robin is your slave!" Saria snapped her fingers and a man behind Starfire immediately hit her off the back of the head. Terra bent down to help her up.

"I will not tolerate such impudence for much longer." Terra sent Saria a fierce look. Saria then backed away into a corner and began trying to stifle a series of hoarse coughs. Terra smirked over at her.

"What's wrong? Need a lozenge?"

"YOU SHALL SPEAK NO MORE!" Saria stomped on over to Terra and Starfire, however before she could perform her intended task the lights began flickering. She looked around the room apprehensively. She finally settled her gaze back onto Starfire and Terra. "What is that?" At once everything electrical around them exploded releasing a pulsing wave of energy that covered all parts of the room, everyone received a volt of electricity knocking them off their feet. Throughout the entire city similar discharges took place resulting in the restoration of the male side's normal senses. Saria was the first to recover from the initial blast then Starfire and Terra. She stared fearfully ahead then with her powers blasted the desk before her straight at the two girls. As they ducked for cover Saria made her escape towards the roof.

"We must not allow her to get away once more!" Shouted Starfire. She glided out of the broken window closely followed by Terra balancing herself on a rock platform. They appeared over the edge and saw Saria standing not far from them looking over the other side.

"Didn't really think this through did you," asked Terra with a smile. Saria spun around and balled up her fists. "You can't fly can you?" Saria growled out loud and sent a wave of energy at them. They both flew out of the way avoiding the attack. Starfire circled around sending an endless line of starbolts down at her enemy. Saria did her best to dodge the balls of energy but was just not as versatile as the Tamaranian. Terra closed her fists tightly until they glowed a bright yellow, she then summoned about half a dozen rocky spikes. She shot her arms forwards and the long spikes flew by Saria like darts. Saria then stopped one in mid air and sent if back at its attacker. The large rock struck Terra close to her stomach and sent her flying off to the side. Saria grinned in victory only to have it wiped off her face by a starbolt to the chest. Saria looked up and saw Starfire pelting right towards her like a hawk and jumped up to meet her. The collided in mid air and fell to the roof top. Once at their feet they began throwing punches and kicks as hard as they possibly could. Saria grabbed a handful of Starfire's hair and pulled her into a head lock. She then bent down and spoke in her ear while Star struggled to get free.

"Go on Star! Say it! Say you love him! I haven't had my morning laugh yet." A tear trailed down Starfire face and she could bear this girl no longer. Starfire released her arms and instead reached up and gripped her head. With a bounding use of her alien strength she threw the girl over her shoulders and into a large A/C unit.

"I shall make you pay dearly for what you have done to my friends! For what you have done to Robin." Saria staggered to her feet.

"You may save me the sanctimonious claptrap. I stole him fair and square." Starfire yelled out and charged forward letting loose her eye beams as she went. Saria leapt aside and charged forward also. Just as Starfire was about to reach her foe Saria blasted Starfire in the shoulder sending her flying backwards. Starfire flew in a corkscrew motion and landed in semi-split. Now with all her might Saria made a made dash for Starfire who at this time was off balance from her landing. Saria would have caused Starfire more harm but for one thing a large solid wall of rock suddenly burst up before Saria blocking her way. Unable to stop in time Saria ran right into it. Her rage still in the red Starfire charged up the strongest starbolt she could muster and let it loose upon the wall before Saria. The rock shattered and Saria was blown off the side of the roof. The blast seemed to have impaired her ability to scream for they heard nothing except something pound against the street below them. Starfire flew over to the edge followed by Terra and they gazed over at the Saria who now lay sprawled out in the middle of the road. Terra glanced over at Starfire seeing new fresh tears staining her face and took her shoulder.

"We should go." For a moment Starfire didn't answer but only stared down at Saria's body. She then finally turned away and said no more.

THAT NIGHT AT THE TOWER…………..

"So Cyborg's okay," asked Terra. She and Beast Boy moved down the hall to her temporary dwelling.

"Yeah, sort of. He's still beating himself up over not picking up on what Saria was all about from the first place. Keeps saying he's the reason we all got compromised."

"He couldn't have seen this coming," said Terra.

"We all know that and we've been trying to get it through that Cyborgie brain of his but…he's Cyborg," finished Beast Boy through a shrug.

"So Robin and Starfire are fine?"

"I would say they're getting back to normal, so I would say we'll be seeing them all lovey dovy with one another again pretty soon."

"What about the witch herself?"

"There was no evidence of her body; by the time paramedics arrived she was gone."

"Probably one of her zealots didn't get zapped and carted her body away for some kind of twisted sentimental value."

"We hope anyway," said Beast Boy. They reached Terra's room and she stepped inside though fell short of closing the door behind her. "Good night Terra, see you in the morning." She turned to face him and couldn't help but feel the heat in her cheeks rise.

"Beast Boy I need to ask you something."

"Terra…"

"No please Beast Boy, I really must know." To say Beast Boy looked tense would be so obvious that to mention it would qualify as an act of mass stupidity. "Beast Boy, if you were given the choice between either me or Raven…who would you choose?" Beast Boy's mouth parted. He spoke wordlessly for a second.

"Terra…how can you ask me a question like that?" She stepped forward and took his hands.

"Look Beast Boy despite what's happened between us recently and over the years there are some feelings that until late have been buried; feelings for you." Beast Boy swallowed and looked down at her hands grasping his own. "I really am sorry for putting you in this position right now, but I have to know before I get sent away for another month or so."

"But Terra, I really can't say right now." Terra shook her head.

"That's not going to work Beast Boy, please…tell me." He honestly tried to answer but every time felt he should say something else. He gazed into her eyes and closed his own sadly.

"Terra I remember when we first met a while ago and you were just a nomad." She smiled at his reminiscing. "Were we in love? Or was it a simple crush?"

"Beast Boy you were the only real friend I had then. The only one who I could talk to about anything, the only one who really cared about me." Beast Boy smiled also but dropped his gaze.

"I felt no different." Terra looked almost overjoyed. "But that was a while ago, and things have happened." Terra's smile began to fade.

"What are you saying?"

"You and Raven are very different-"

"Its okay Beast Boy I understand completely," she said shortly.

"No Terra let me finish."

"You don't need to; really, it's pretty clear where your feelings are."

"Terra please-"

"You better go Beast Boy; we wouldn't want Raven to see us talking together." Beast Boy sighed apologetically.

"I'm really sorry things turned out this way." She nodded with a noticeable frown.

"Yeah me too." She then closed her door and assumed he would be standing there for at least five minuets. She stood in place herself for twice as long trying make herself believe the last conversation had not transpired. She wiped her eyes and decided the best thing to do was to go to sleep and get her last day at Titans Tower over with. She turned to her bed and let out a screech as the battered and bloody form of Saria appeared before her. She covered her mouth and backed up against the wall.

"NO! It can't be!" Saria extended her hand Terra felt herself pinned up against the wall. Terra's wide eyes gawked at the supposed to be dead girl before her. Saria hung her head while keeping Terra at bay and seemed to be taking in slow steady breaths. She finally raised her head to show Terra a pair of bloodshot eyes.

"I can wait no longer; you will fulfill your service to me and in so doing shall grant me another two millennia of life." Terra's mouth trembled.

"What are you going to do to me?" Saria coughed and spat an amount of blood onto the floor.

"I have failed here in this city, a failure which shall not happen again." She walked up to Terra and forced her down to her knees. "Be honored, you shall join the several others that have granted me the precious gift of life." She then placed her hands on either of Terra's temples, closed her eyes, and cocked her head upwards. In the next second Saria's hands began to emit a strange golden light. As soon as it came in contact with Terra's head her eyes rolled up and she knew only the feeling of being utterly drained.

As much as I would like to keep typing I have to stop because it is very late at night and I have school tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and am sorry to say that this story just may be reaching a close. Laters!