I have gotten over 100 reviews from you and for that I am eternally grateful. I would never have thought that this story could be so successful. Thank you all.
I dedicate this chapter to:
DierDier Shant
The Blackest Darkness
Iris Night
AlyRaven
Moncchichi
Raerob4ever
BrokenHummingbirdWings
Aero
3rd POV
Every pupil was gathered before the front gates hours after the fiasco in the dining hall. Word was out that Kitten had been expelled and her exit was to be immediately after the decision. Raven and Richard were nearest the gates, awaiting her departure. Roy and Garth had to escort her at least a mile from the grounds and was, unfortunately for them, mandatory.
Not a word was uttered as the trio parted through the mass, the enormous wooden doors opened with a loud creak. Kitten never diverted her eyes from the ground as she slowly moved along, her bags overpowering her tiny frame. Raven could tell she was seething with hatred and humiliation but not the smallest bit of sympathy could be found within.
When the blonde reached the gates she halted to stare at the birds, smirking uncontrollably and hiding their laughter.
"I will get what I want, Robbie-poo. You cannot deny me forever." Kitten growled and Richard pulled the sorceress against him and kissed her fully on the lips. She didn't resist as his arms snaked around her waist. The exile gasped and a few moments after, the two broke apart somewhat reluctantly.
"Like hell I can't. Goodbye, Kitten."
She stomped off with her two escorts trailing behind, dragging their feet and sighing dramatically.
Out of nowhere, Master Fung emerged from the crowd and the students bowed as he passed. His face was unreadable. Maybe he was still angry with Kitten or was it something else?
"Good morning, young ones. Headmaster Houkin wishes to speak with Seniors Roth, Grayson, and Stone and Freshmen Strong, Koriand'r, and Logan. Follow me." Master Fung quickly turned on his heel and wheeled off towards the eastern grounds and the called few followed, considerably confused.
"The closest village is just over those hills. I suppose you packed things other than cosmetics?" Garth commented while waving dismissively to the gentle, rolling slopes in the distance.
"Yes." Kitten snapped back bitterly.
"Good. The villagers will only supply you with transportation home." The fine hairs on the back of the archer's neck and he readied his bow. "Something's here."
"More like someone." A dry, haunting voice echoed through the trees' shadows, the source of it was hard to pinpoint. Kitten froze as the seniors stood defensively, glancing around their surroundings.
"Who's there?" Kitten squeaked out and Roy glared at her.
"Use your training, Moth. Who would reveal themselves just because you ask nicely?"
"Never assume what your opponent may or may not do." The voice was closer and before they could move in its direction, a blow struck across the base of their necks and they fell to the ground in an unconscious heap.
"Well done, apprentice." The man finally brought himself into the light although it seemed he was still shrouded in darkness. Only one gray eye was visible through his two-toned mask and another blonde appeared behind him. Terra.
Her delicate face was twisted into a very misplaced sneer and her hands glowed with a golden flame. Kitten now noticed the stones levitating above Garth and Roy and soon they were speeding around her with unnatural speed. She whimpered and stayed immobile, like she could move anyway.
"Who are you two?"
"Someone who can help you get revenge. They, the ones at the Orion Temple, mistreated you, laughed at you, humiliated you. Don't you deserve a chance to rewrite those wrongs with your own hands… in your own way? Don't you deserve what that demon stole from your grasp? He is your destiny. I am your destiny, child." His monotone sent shivers down her spine, his words snaking their way into her formidable mind. He sensed her acceptance and glanced over his shoulder to the geomancer. The rocks floated to the ground and Kitten turned to him and nodded.
"I ask of you only one thing…"
"And what is that?" Kitten implored.
"That you serve Master Slade forever more." Terra stated and stepped forward. After several silent moments, she responded.
"Of course…Master."
"Have you ever seen Headmaster before?" Richard asked out of the corner of his mouth while walking down the corridor, it's walls covered in the pictures of past headmasters sitting in the same poses in every frame.
"No. I don't think no one ever has except for the teachers." Raven answered from her spot between Cyborg and Richard. Kori, Michael, and Garfield were walking ahead, directly on Master Fung's heels.
"If you ask me, it's all kind of weird. How can you lead a school and never be seen in it?" Victor mumbled and they shrugged. It was weird. What did the man do all day? It was like he didn't exist.
"We are here. I am sure you will be respectful. That means pay attention. Good day." The monk walked off, leaving them before a simple door that wasn't there a second ago.
"Tell me, friends, did we behave in a wrongful manner?" Starfire was wringing her hands nervously and the changeling stared at the seniors, awaiting an answer. Instead Michael replied.
"No. I don't think I've done anything today."
"Today?" Raven questioned him, still wary of the peculiar student. The door swung open and a tall, slender man ushered them in.
"Have a seat." His aura was one of sophistication and wisdom and Raven sensed it the moment she entered. Perhaps the others did as well. A large circular table was in the center of the room and the students sat obediently. Master Houkin was oddly comfortable, even with the six pairs of eyes staring at him.
They always imagined the headmaster as an old man with copious liver spots and silvery white hair but this was not what they expected. His hair was a jet black, no greys in sight, and his skin was pale but clear. This handsome man was at least in his mid-thirties with piercing ice-blue eyes that scanned every detail within seconds. He sat back and looked over all the pupils he summoned as if he couldn't find the words. Something was off. Something was wrong if the headmaster couldn't articulate.
"All of you were called here because you have a significant role in what's to come. Every single one of you, believe it or not."
"If you do not mind me asking, sir, but how so?" Raven asked.
"I shall answer that question, but there is more that must be explained. You were chosen by him, by Slade. The man who has been attacking our temple. His hands reach far beyond the distance that we originally thought. None of you have anything in your pasts that are similar except for one thing. You were all affected dramatically by some traumatic ordeal. Things that drove you here, things that motivate you to fight as warriors, and all things that transpired because of Slade."
They all scanned their memories for their worst ones that did not take long to find.
"Raven…your mother's death by your father's hands. Richard…theaccident that killed your parents. Victor and the S.T.A.R. labs. Garfield and the rare disease. Koriand'r and the Tamaranian War. Michael and your abandonment. All of these events caused you to come here, exactly where he wants you to be."
"Why us? Why here?" Garfield choked out, still reveling in the memories.
"There is a prophecy that states that you all will be major players in the apocalypse. In the end. He wants to stop you before you can even try. The reason why he chose this place is because he can only destroy you together and here is the only place that you would ever gather without suspicion. Without it being obvious."
"So this man…Slade…drug us through the mud only to throw us off a cliff when he feels like it? He destroyed our lives to stop some damn prophecy?" Richard was close to shouting and Houkin remained tranquil.
"There is an exception. Together is also the only way you can defeat this. The end, Slade, everything that is an obstruction to this world."
"To this world? Are you saying that we are supposed to protect the world even when we stop this apocalypse? Oh, wait… if we survive this Slade character, of course." Cyborg tended to become sarcastic in stressful situations. Raven chuckled and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I know that this is overwhelming but you have to-"
"What or whom says we have to? Your trivial prophecies seem a way to throw your 'overwhelming' problems, as you say, on someone else's shoulders and a way to avoid handling said problems yourselves." Kori interrupted and several nods agreed with her.
"I understand that you are young and such things seem to come too early in your lives, but there are always people who have to aid this world and its people. There are always people who have to stop enjoying life and start fighting for it. Unfortunately, those people are you, young ones. And I am truly sorry for it. You start training with me tomorrow. I advise that you prepare for the remainder of the day. Until tomorrow." Houkin moved to the door and opened it. They filed out rather quickly, determined to leave behind the information that changed their lives forever.
In Cyborg's Room
The facts were slowly seeping in for them. The duty of saving the world was just dumped on their shoulders and… there was no way to shrug it off. Of course they came here to make a difference, to make the world better but… not like this. This was too much. It wasn't what they expected nor what they wanted. Who would want it anyway? No one wants to take that responsibility. What if they failed? They would forever be remembered as the teenagers who didn't know what the hell they were doing and fucked up the entire cosmos. Again… that is too much. Way too much.
"Who thinks we should run away? Hands?" Garfield said, waving his hand in the air. Surprisingly every hand rose with his. The solution was simple but the effects it had surely made carrying it out difficult. Richard sighed.
"But we can't just run away and hide. As much as we may want to, everyone is depending upon us. We can't just leave and let it end." Robin said, torn between unknown factors. He couldn't say why they should leave without making him sound selfish, conceited, and like a jackass.
"And if we do, what happens then anyway? If this apocalypse comes, everyone's dead. If we fight and fail, everyone's dead. We're in a lose-lose situation here but there's a slim chance that we won't fail. If we do nothing, the end's a sure outcome. We can do something and say at least we tried. That's better, isn't it?" Raven voiced the optimistic side of her personality even though it sounded more pessimistic than ever.
Her reasoning was a reality though. It shed light on their predicament. It was right there now. Why they should fight. Because they could win, they could defeat Slade and everything else. Who says that they couldn't?
"So….. we're doing this? We are going to… save the world?" Michael spoke for the first time since they left. The group looked around at each other for long seconds.
"I guess we are. We're a team now. What we do now can never be undone. Are you all sure you want to do this?" Richard took the lead as always. It was his nature and nobody really minded.
More nodding and more agreements. Robin grinned.
"Fine. So… what are we going to call ourselves?"
Okay. Kind of lame if you ask me but I had to do something for you guys. Very important and not all humorous but I think it served its purpose.
Notes:
1.) If you didn't understand, Slade planned all of this from the beginning. I know in the shows and comics that there are different explanations but roll with me here. I wanted to be different.
He founded the cult that 'recruited' Raven's mother.
He arranged the fall at the circus and the bombing of S.T.A.R. labs, killing Cyborg and Robin's parents.
I'm not necessarily sure as to what happened with Beast Boy's parents so if you know please tell me.
Starfire's mother was killed in a Tamaranian War when she was a baby, a war started by Slade.
My OC, Michael, was abandoned at birth and was left to fend on his own after coming of age, which was eight. Slade killed his parents as well.
2.) Slade is NOT ordinary at all. Slade, in my story, is a very powerful being. Almost like Trigon but not as demony-looking. That is how he was able to do the things mentioned above.
3.) Dedication for those who guess who Headmaster Houkin is based on.
Reviews:
pinkprincess- It was a mean prank, I know but I needed something that would really open the gates between Robin and Raven, you know? Garth will get over her soon. I don't know how but he will. Anyway, thanks.
Delirium24- I love your reviews! I mean…thanks…
Cherry Jade- Thank you and I love you too! People said I didn't have enough ass-kicking but there will be more. Everything you say is always so nice! You rock… MORE! That's final. And thanks for the heads-up… and I'm waiting for another BTW.
The Blackest Darkness- One word: Thanks!
Aurora Mikayla- Robin grew his pair and there was a Kitten beat-down all for you. I'm glad you loved it.
Hound Archon- Comedy is viewed differently by all. A sick viewpoint is most likely the most typical way. I know it's my way. Thanks.
Tecna- I love you too, most awesome and excellent writer! There will be more Kitten bashing, literally.
SilverRain- Kitten's leaving for a little while but will come back for more beatings in the future.
DITZY- That one punch is not the last, I assure you. Richard will not punch Kitten…yet.
Dark Shadows 01- Your fic is awesome and I'm looking for the next chap. I needed a better reason for Raven to beat her to a bloody pulp so just wait for it.
Aero- Thank you and I brought her back for a comedy factor.
Gilraen R. Luinwe- I love you in that platonic way as well. I'm glad you didn't think this was pointless. I thought that people would find it boring and lose interest.
Iris Night- I'm getting so many 'I love you's' lately and I'm so overjoyed. I love you too. There wasn't too much rob/rae this chapter but there will be more.
AlyRaven- That's why I'm keeping her… she's funny.
BrokenHummingbirdWings- Thanks. I'm sorry that I don't have much more to say.
Moncchichi- I see Raven as a tremendous fighter and if she wanted to, she could do some serious damage without her powers. Thanks for being a faithful reviewer.
Lady Serenity Moon Child- Thank you and there is your fluffy moment!
Alena-chan- It was about time I let them get together and I'm happy you liked it. Protective Cyborg and Robin is just… awesome to me. Kitten's back and just to let you know, she will never be on the good side again. I don't know if I reviewed for your story so if you see my name twice, that's the reason. Thanks.
Empyreal Melody- Kitten is meant to be hated so I have succeeded. I don't have a place to put a tournament but there will be more fights.
ghostfang- thanks
DierDier Shant- It's okay that you didn't review last time. At least you made up for it. I'm getting used to the lengths but the answering of review take up a lot of space, anyway. Thanks.
Haruka-Clone- I strive for uniqueness. Thanks.
SilverBlueEmpath- Great idea! I'm sorry I didn't have a space for it. Thank you.
Raven1777- You're welcome and thanks. Kitten did get expelled but she is not gone yet.
Raerob4ever- Cyborg's reaction depended on the texture of their relationship. They are friends but not very, very close… not yet anyway. Thanks.
The Komodo Dragon Phoenix- Hello, my friend! I love the cold, by the way. People think I'm insane when I refuse to put on a jacket in the middle of January. Your one-shot was awesome!
Amber Myst- I took your idea or either you guessed it, but whatever. I'm happy that you liked Cyborg's reaction. Consider this my RSVP for your anniversary party. Thanks.
Jerlayne Roth- Thanks so very much.
God, this is tiring. Promotions has produced an extreme case of writer's block and I'm stuck. If you have any theories, submit them and I'd be much obliged.
If you want a dedication, PLEASE ask! I can't bear for any of you to be angry with me.
Until next time,
BirdsOnTheBrain