Chapter Twenty-Eight: "Choose Wisely"

Raven had just completed telling Starfire everything she knew about the Shadows. She got into her meditation stance.

"Raven what are you doing?" Starfire asked as Raven began meditating.

"Getting ready to loan you some of my powers." Raven replied uneasily.

"Oh." Starfire replied, looking away for a moment.

Without any warning a string of Raven's dark powers flowed from her gemstone on her forehead to Starfire's stomach. Starfire gasped as it hit her, and she fell to the ground.

Raven opened her eyes to find Starfire lying on her bedroom floor.

"Starfire?" Raven asked kneeling beside her. She received no answer. She slapped her face lightly a couple of times and saw some eye movement from her. After about ten minutes of trying to get her to wake up she gave up.

She took her meditation stance and began meditating.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos, Azarath Metrion Zinthos . . ." Raven chanted.

Half an hour later Starfire fluttered her eyes open to the sound of Raven's chanting. She slowly arose and grabbed her stomach.

"What happened?" Starfire asked, looking at her stomach.

"I gave you part of my powers and you needed time to adapt." Raven replied like it was obvious.

Starfire began to worry and in doing so a black aura broke a couple of glasses on Raven's shelves.

"EEP!" Starfire shrieked. "I am very sorry Raven!" Starfire ran to the broken glass and began picking them up.

"Starfire--"

"I am so very sorry. I shall attempt to replace them." Starfire gave a weak smile.

"Starfire--"

Starfire went to close her palm to throw away the glass but ended up cutting her hand. She shrieked again, but this time in pain.

"Ow, ow, ow..." she said. Ravens hide a smile at the site of Starfire trying to express her pain.

"Starfire, throw the pieces in the garbage and come here." Raven demanded. Starfire did so and approached Raven. "You have the power to heal yourself. Concentrate on your wound and see yourself healing it. Now say Azarath Metrion Zinthos." Raven instructed.

Starfire concentrated, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos." Her skin began to heal. After it was completely better she gave Raven a hug. "Oh thank you dear friend!"

Raven grabbed Starfire's shoulders, "Starfire! My powers are driven by emotions; the more you feel the more energy you released remember?" Raven quickly told her.

"Yes Raven. I remember." Starfire lowered her head.

"Now that you have some of my powers I must show you how to use them. We don't have a whole lot of time so you must pay attention." Raven instructed.

Starfire nodded and so began her second lessen for the day.

"What home?" Robin asked.

"Titans Tower. You're old home." Kayla announced.

Suddenly a million pictures buzzed in his head. Suddenly everything stopped and he was once again in a giant round shaped room. The walls painted dark purple and a single light glowed in the middle.

"Where am I?" Robin asked into the dark, walking closer to the light. As he got closer to the light he saw a figure in the distance, coming towards him fast.

"Robin!" The figure shouted to him. "Someone is chasing me, please help me."

"Starfire!" Robin shouted almost immediately. "What are you doing here Starfire? I thought I told you to stay home." Robin demanded to know, as he held her close. He took his cape off and draped it around her.

"I...I could not stand by and watch you marry this creature. So Raven transported me here so that I may fight for your freedom. I'm sorry Robin, I'm so sorry." She buried her head in Robin's shoulder. "I lost Robin. I have failed. I'm so sorry." She cried.

Kayla appeared before him and Starfire smiling.

"You again!" he shouted. "Leave Starfire alone." He shouted at her in a stern voice, trying to scare her.

Kayla took a few steps closer. But soon fell through the floor. This time Robin held Starfire close, not leaving her side. Kayla reappeared a foot away from the couple.

She quickly waved her outstretched hand and Starfire turned into another Shadow. Robin couldn't touch her.

"NO!" Robin shouted.

Kayla approached Starfire and held her with one hand around her her arms and chest. Holding her in place. Starfire couldn't break the grip she had on her.

"Let me go!" Starfire demanded.

"Say goodbye Robin." Kayla smiled.

Kayla pulled a dagger out from behind her and planted it into Starfire's side. Starfire screamed and Kayla pulled it out slowly, to cause as much pain as she could for both Robin and Starfire.

"STARFIRE!" Robin shouted. Tears began to flow down from underneath his mask.

Kayla let go of Starfire and she fell to the ground with a thud. Robin rushed over to her but still couldn't touch her.

"NO!" Robin shouted, attempting to pick her up.

Knowing that Robin could not save Starfire's life now, she waved her outstretched hand and Robin was able to pick Starfire up. He took his cape off and tried to stop the bleeding, but it was too late.

"Robin, I am sorry." Starfire looked up at him.

"No Starfire. Hang in there! You can make it, please don't leave me!" He pleaded softly.

"I will not make it Robin." she coughed a few times, "I love you Robin." She said giving him a happy, but sad smile.

"You will make it Star. I love you. You have to make it." he whispered to her, holding her closer.

Robin kissed Starfire fiercely, but soon pulled away knowing that Star had passed away. He held her close to his chest, crying and outraged.

"You murderer!" Robin accused.

"What?" Kayla asked as if she had just gotten to the scene.

"You heard me." Robin said through clenched teeth, eyes burning under is mask.

Out of no where a flood of pictures swirled by him and he opened his eyes to find that he was still being held by his shoulders by Kayla. He pulled away from her instantly.

"Witch!" Robin cried.

"Choose wisely Robin." Kayla whispered as she disappeared.