WARNING: Trigger Warning for those who have been in certain abuse situations. This chapter doesn't contain any graphic descriptions of abuse, but there are several implications. I know for some people implications are enough to trigger, so if that is you I suggest you skip this chapter. If you feel the need to skip feel free to pm me and I will happily send you a summary of the info you need to continue with the story, implication-free.

Please enjoy!

R&R

I don't own Teen Titans.


Airen sat bolt upright in bed. She was so dazed from her dream that she had no idea what had woken her up. The dream had been unusually good. At first, it had started off with the normal horrific nightmares that plagued her every night. But then, just when she felt like she couldn't take it anymore, the nightmare changed into a dream.

She was transported to a small scenic beach somewhere in the Caribbean. She wore her favorite red bikini that Mar'i had designed for her. She looked like her normal self, with no holo ring, minus all of the scars that covered her body. She could hear, smell, and feel the waves which was a pleasant change from hearing, feeling, and smelling the unspeakable tortures she normally had to relive.

The best part of the dream: Johnathan was there. He was there and she could hear him, touch him, and everything as if they were together in real life. Every night she was forced to relive her past tortures. And every night all she had to do was close her eyes and wish for the safety and comfort of Johnathan's arms and there she was, at the beach with him.

For the past few weeks, she would have this dream and they would talk, sun, swim, laugh, and even kiss until morning came and she woke to the bitter reality that none of it had been real. He wasn't there, she wasn't with him. She was once again all alone at home and having to face life and reality alone.

Airen rubbed her eyes and glanced at her window. It was still dark which meant that, in theory, nothing should have woken her up. Typically, it was the sunlight that woke her for a new day in the mornings.

Airen frowned, wondering what could have possibly woken her up early. Her question was answered seconds later.

A bloodcurdling scream came from another room.

'Mar'i.'

Swearing under her breath, Airen scrambled out of bed and grabbed a robe to cover her barely-there sleeping top and bottoms. Airen pulled open her bedroom door and entered the large living area of their family's palace suite of rooms. As she pulled on the robe movement in the corner of her eye caught her attention.

Ryan dressed in only shorts was blearily making his way out of his own room.

Giving him a small smile of appreciation, Airen pulled her hair back with a tie.

"Go back to bed. I git this." She commanded gently.

Ryan blinked at her slowly. "Over the past year, it's been my job to…."

"I know, and I appreciate you stepping in. But it's not your job, and I'm here now. I can handle it."

Knowing better to argue, Ryan nodded and stumbled tiredly back into his room.

Airen made her way to the room that the scream was coming from. Interestingly enough, the scream wasn't coming from Mar'i's room.

Airen hurriedly opened the door to their mom's bedroom and made her way to the large circular bed in the middle of the room. There, Mar'i lay covered in sweat, tangled in the sheets and weeping in her sleep.

Airen turned on the lamp next to the bed, the dim light temporarily blinding her. She then crawled into the bed next to Mar'i. Grasping her shoulders, Airen gently shook Mar'i awake.

"Mar'i! Mar'i! Hey!"

Mar'i woke up with a start and, seeing Airen, began to cry all over again.

"I-it w-was sssssoo…awful!" Mar'i wailed.

"I know, I know," Airen whispered soothingly. Airen gathered Mar'i's shaking form into her arms and gently rocked back and forth. Airen gently pushed Mar'i's dark hair from her eyes and gently rubbed her arm in a comforting motion.

"I-I could, *hiccup* n-not g-get a-*hiccup* way!"

"I know. Shhhh. It's alright, I'm here now. I'm here."

Airen wanted to tell her that she was safe, but that would have been lying. Airen made it a rule never to lie to her siblings, no matter what. The fact was, for them, safety was an illusion, never a reality no matter where they were or who they were with. For them, safety could only be achieved in dreams. That was the nature of their heritage, their birth.

"A-Air'i…" Mar'i hiccupped.

"Mmm?" Airen hummed.

"What's going to happen t-to us?" Mar'i asked quietly.

Airen paused. That was a good question. She had been asking herself that same question since she had heard the news. The truth was, she didn't really have a solution. Not a real one anyway.

"I don't know," Airen admitted with a heavy sigh.

"I don't want to go back," Mar'i whispered.

"You won't. That I can promise." Airen said firmly. She gave Mar'i a gentle squeeze.

"No, no one is going back. If we need to, we'll make arrangements to escape. Go into hiding."

"Earth?" Mar'i's voice held hope as she asked. Earth was a fantasy to them, a safe haven. A dream.

"No." Airen huffed with a sigh. "That would be the first place they would look. No, we would need to send you far away. The Kiron system maybe."

Mar'i jolted. "Us? What about you?"

"I would stay here Little Star. Someone will need to if only to keep them from coming after you."

Airen could hear the frown of disapproval in Mar'i's voice. "No, I'm not going anywhere without you! We can't be separated again!"

The despair in her voice was so haunting Airen squeezed her tighter.

"Alright, alright! Shhhh, no one is going anywhere without anyone else, alright? We'll just think of something else."

They were quiet for several minutes as they thought. It was so quiet for so long that Airen thought Mar'i had fallen back asleep until she spoke up.

With a gasp of realization, Mar'i jumped out of Airen's arms and spun to face her. Mar'i's face was practically beaming with excitement.

"I know! The Justice League! We can-"

"No." Airen cut her off firmly and decisively.

"But-"

"We will not involve them with our problems. It has absolutely nothing to do with them. We can handle it ourselves. Besides, there is a reason Malfka did not call them herself."

Mar'i pouted. "She did call them eventually."

"And what happened?"

Mar'i hung her head in defeat. "Nothing."

"Exactly. We are not calling them. We will find another way, but we are not involving innocent people who will only get hurt as a result. We are on our own."

Mar'i flopped back down on the bed in frustration. "Fine." She grumbled.

Airen turned off the light and shifted into the bed. "Now come one, we need to get some sleep. I have a lot of meetings tomorrow and you have lessons."

Airen could hear the muttering and grumbling but felt the bed move as Mar'i complied.

"Good night Little Star."

"Pleasant snorfblogs Sparrow."


Tameranian politics were not only complicated but boring as well. That is, they are to everyone except for Airen.

Airen sat in a political meeting with several members of the Tameranian nobility as well as several scholars and the entire High Council. They were discussing current political issues and their effects on Tameran and the Tameranian people.

"The Gordainians are once again at our doorstep once again and this time they have to help of the Nokra! Our military is no match to such a powerful force!" Lord Tak'an slammed his fist on the table making it and everything on it shake.

"Peace Tak'an. Surely there is some sort of solution." High Chancellor Vet'en reasoned. He turned his attention toward Airen. "Please, what does his majesty the Grand Ruler have to say about this situation?"

Airen opened her mouth to respond but the doors to the meeting room opened and a giant man with flaming red hair and a matching beard walked in.

"Perhaps you should ask him yourself and see." The big man rumbled. Everyone in the room stood and bowed in greeting to him.

"Emperor Or'ranand'r! You are right on time!" Vet'en cooed.

Or'ran huffed as he took his seat. "Do not patronize me Vet'en. Just get on with things. General Talk'in! Report!"

As everyone took their seats Airen crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.

"No, no need to show up on time when you can just burst in, interrupt and force everyone to start all over. Yes, that's very productive." Airen muttered under her breath.

Aunt Komi nudged her and shook her head disapprovingly. Speaking negatively of the Grand Ruler was a punishable offense that was not taken lightly. X'hal help you if he actually heard what you said about him.

Airen rolled her eyes again and sunk lower in her chair. She didn't mind these meetings so long as Or'ran wasn't there. That of course rarely happened.

The general finished his report and sat back down while Or'ran nodded grimly as though he were actually concerned with the current state of affairs.

"What does your majesty think would be the best way to continue?" Vet'en asked.

Or'ran looked up and met Airen's eyes. She saw a hint of the evil smile that said whatever he was thinking was disastrous across his face.

"Uh oh…." She whispered.

"I think an old solution would be the best course of action."

Airen's heart sank.

"An old solution my lord?"

"Yes." Or'ran sat back in his chair smiling evilly, never breaking eye contact with Airen. "An old solution that worked quite well."

Airen glared back at him.

"I think it would be best if we offered the Gordainians a trade. A…prize. In exchange for freedom of course."

There were murmurs throughout the whole room at Or'ran's suggestion. Meanwhile, he smirked at Airen and she could almost hear him say "checkmate". Next to her Airen heard Aunt Komi's sharp intake of breath and whispered "no". Airen snarled.

"No." Airen's voice rang out loud, clear, and firm across the room. She stood from her chair ushering silence from everyone else.

"No?" Or'ran seemed amused. "You would tell your Grand Ruler "no"?"

"You might wear the crown, but that does not make you Grand Ruler." Airen snarled. Everyone gasped and the murmurs and whispers began again. Or'ran frowned.

"As I was about to say before you interrupted me, we already have a solution in the works to solve this problem." Airen continued undaunted.

"And that is?" Or'ran drawled unimpressed.

"A treaty. A real peace treaty between ourselves and-"

"Little girl, treaties with the Gordainians do not work. We know this already from history. They simply delay the inevitable. A prize, however…."

"Will not work either!" Airen shouted. "As we can also see from history prizes do not satisfy the Gordainians for long it at all! Not to mention that no member of the And'r family will ever be a prize again."

Or'ran stood so quickly his chair fell over. "The And'r family is under my control and will do what I say!" Or'ran roared.

"Wanna bet?" Airen snarled, eyes glowing in anger.

"You wish to challenge me?" Or'ran shouted.

"I'd love to challenge you," Airen replied.

"Really? Then do so! But I should remind you, should you challenge me and win, I am still head of the And'r family and by law, I can do whatever I wish to them with no reason should I so desire it."

Airen paused then slowly backed down. Clenching her fists, she hung her head. Or'ran smirked knowing he had won.

Determined not to let him completely run over her, Airen looked back up.

"As I was saying: the treaty would not be with the Gordainians. The treaty that we have spent so many long years putting together is with the Nokra."

"And what makes you think they will sign it?" Tak'an asked.

"Because we began working on this treaty long before the Nokra made their alliance with the Gordainians. In fact, negotiations are already taking place with Nokra representatives to create the treaty in everyone's interest. We have been meeting with these representatives over the treaty for weeks now over transmissions. And the first I person meeting is taking place today, later this afternoon in fact. We also know from these meetings that the Nokra have not officially finalized their alliance with the Gordainians and are willing to abandon it provided we can offer them a better deal."

Airen looked around the room. She had sold everyone else, now she just had to finish off Or'ran.

"And might I remind you, Grand Ruler, that you agreed to let us pursue this treaty with Nokra provided we could see it through."

"Yes, but that was before you ran away from your responsibilities for a year." Or'ran snarled. The rest of the room began to murmur and whisper as they watched her.

"My year-long, absence was due to research of a delicate nature. Mostly in pursual of this treaty."

Everyone looked back at Or'ran. Glancing around at everyone he shifted in his seat nervously.

"And if I don't agree?"

Airen smirked. She had him and he knew it. While Or'ran was the Grand Ruler he was hard-pressed to make decisions based on the political powers that had placed him on the throne. Airen had long suspected several members of the High Council had been blatant Or'ran supporters and had a direct role in putting him on the throne. On top of that being Grand Ruler came with a price. While the Grand Ruler made many day-to-day decisions, they needed the High Council's approval to make any major political decisions and the approval of the five leading generals to make major military decisions.

"Then I would be obligated to remind you that we would make certain enemies of the Nokra for cutting off treaty negotiations at this point. That will assuredly drive them back to the Gordainians and lead them to attack. Which, as the general has reported, we do not stand a chance against. Versus them not having anything personally against us yet and if we do not insult them by suddenly cutting off negotiations so close to signing? Well…we might actually have a chance." Airen smirked and crossed her arms.

"And when is this signing supposed to take place?"

"Four months."

All heads in the room swiveled to look at Or'ran.

"All due respect majesty, but the treaty does sound like a better idea than the prize trade. If the Nokra sign the treaty, then that will weaken the Gordainians numbers to an amount that our military can handle." Vet'en pipped up.

"Yes. Pursual of the treaty will reduce the war projection length to 5 years instead of 15. If our armies even made it the full 15 years and were not completely destroyed in the process." General Talk'in added.

"And need we remind you majesty that all And'r children are already betrothed which would interfere with any usage of them as prizes for trade?" Lord Tak'an stated.

Airen looked expectantly at Or'ran. He snarled at her before responding.

"Fine. Pursue the treaty."

The room burst into chatter of approval and agreements as nodding heads made the room appear to swim. Airen breathed a sigh of relief as she sat back in her chair.

"Whew! For a minute there I thought you were going to be traded!" Tal'an, Lord Tak'an's son said from the seat next to Airen. "Then our betrothal would have been broken and our wedding would have been off!"

Airen frowned. She knew that Lord Tak'an had only spoken up for the greater interest of himself and his son. No Airen, no wedding, no marriage, and no connection to the And'r family and the throne. Just remembering that the treaty would keep her betrothed to the slimy coward of a politician's weakling of a son made Airen almost want to change her vote to become a prize for the Gordainians. Almost.

While Tal'an and Aunt Komi congratulated her from either side, the rest of the room continued the meeting. Airen began to listen before she caught sight of Or'ran. He was glowering at her with a fiery rage in his eyes that Airen knew well.

She sighed deeply knowing what his look meant. It meant that later she would pay dearly for her insolence.


The sound of keys clanking in locks brought Airen out from her train of thought. The door to the solitary confinement wing of the dungeon swung open before her.

"You have 5 minutes." The burly guard ordered.

Airen nodded once in understanding and made her way through the door. She knew better than to jump when the door swung shut behind her.

She walked quickly through the dark corridor ignoring the cries coming from the various cells on either side of her. At the end of the corridor, she dropped down to the floor in front of a solid door. A guard stood on either side of the door each looking extremely gruesome. One of the guards hit a button on the wall next to the door. A section of the door slid up to reveal bars covering the square-shaped slot. Airen lifted the hood of her cloak off of her head and leaned down to grasp the bars.

"Malfka?" She whispered into the bars. There was some shuffling on the other side of the bars before a cold orange hand grasped one of her own.

"Air'i?" The quiet voice whispered hopefully.

"Yes, it's me Malfka," Airen said reassuringly.

The person inside the cell moved to where Airen could see her fully. Her orange skin was pale, fiery red hair stringy and greasy as though it hadn't been washed in months. Her vibrant green eyes were dull and full of tears. She was thin enough that Airen could see her ribs sticking out and in several places, her skin hung off of her bones. She wore a faded strip of cloth that barely covered her in areas that even Airen thought were necessary to cover. What was left of her was covered in wounds, fresh, old, open, scabbed over, and even infected.

Airen gripped the bars in anger and swallowed a thick ball of emotion in her throat.

"Oh Malfka, I'm so sorry. I should have never left." She said.

"Hey, hey! Shhhh. It's alright! My little bumgorf, everything is alright! You are here now, and that is all that matters." She whispered.

"No, it's not alright! I wasn't here when you needed me! Mom…."

"Air'iand'r listen to me. For whatever reason, you needed to leave. It does not matter now why. All that matters now is that you are here and that you have learned from and are better for your journey. Can you honestly say that you did not learn anything?"

"No, but-"

"And can you honestly say that you are not better for it?"

"No."

"Then there is no point if "what ifs" and "should haves". What is done is done. You are here now and must focus on the matters at hand. Understood?"

"Yes, Malfka."

"Good. Now, tell me about the treaty."


Airen tied her hair up in a high ponytail as she walked into the living area. She had just gotten back from visiting her mother down in the palace dungeon and was about to go work out in the training arena.

"Yes, I'll hold." Aunt Komi sat back in her chair at the transmission desk. Confused, Airen walked over to join her.

"What are you doing?" Airen asked.

"Hmm? Oh, we got a transmission from Earth. The Watch Tower specifically."

"The Justice League?" Airen asked surprised. "Why are they calling?"

Aunt Komi shrugged. "No idea. I just answered and they asked me to hold for Martian Manhunter. Honestly, I'm curious what it is they're calling about after all this time. This is the first time we've had a transmission from them since…well, I guess since before your mom came back from Earth."

"So almost two decades?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

Just then the screen beeped then flashed to a picture of a green man dressed in a blue cape with straps across the chest.

"Ah, good. You got my transmission." The man said appearing to be relieved.

Airen and Komi exchanged confused looks.

"Of course, we got your transmission. Why wouldn't we?" Aunt Komi responded.

"Well, it seems that as of late our transmissions have either not been making it through to you or have been blocked altogether." He replied.

Airen blinked in confusion. Leaning over Komi's shoulder in order to be seen she asked, "What do you mean "not making it through to us"?"

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Martian Manhunter asked skeptically.

"Martian Manhunter this is my rude, if not well-intentioned, niece, Princess Air'iand'r," Komi growled shooting Airen a warning look. Airen shot her an "I don't care" look in return.

"Hi." Airen greeted impatiently.

"Uh-huh…." Manhunter cleared his throat. "Well, what I mean your highness is that for the past several years many attempts have been made in order to contact you, or at least, the royal family of Tameran. However, for some reason, every time we call someone else on Tameran intercepts the call feeds us some sort of excuse or political line and cuts us off. And that's if our calls make it through at all."

Airen put a hand on her hip and exchanged a look with Komi.

"Odd," Komi said.

"Oh, it's more than odd," Airen said darkly.

"In the interest of political protocol as well as on request per Batman we have continued to try and contact you. Once a month we send a transmission to try and communicate with you. At this point, we have only continued to do it merely because Batman told us to.

"But I must ask, do you know of anyone who would want to cut you off from all contact with Earth?" Manhunter asked.

Airen and Komi exchanged another look.

"Well…." Komi started.

"We don't know of anyone specifically." Airen began.

"You don't have any suspects?" Manhunter said.

"Actually, no. That's the problem. We have too many suspects." Airen clarified.

"Ah. Well, with your permission the League would be happy to send a political envoy to Tameran to help you figure this out and-"

"No."

"I'm sorry?"

"What!?"

Komi swiveled around in her chair to face Airen. She and Manhunter had the same astounded "have you lost your mind" look on their faces.

"Thank you, but no. We can handle this on our own. With all due respect, this is a Tameranian matter and there is nothing the League can do to help. Even if we needed help, which we don't. So, there's no point in sending anyone. Also, I would appreciate it if you didn't tell Batman that you finally got through. Thank you and goodbye."

"But-" Airen shut off the transmission before Manhunter could finish his protest.

"Have you lost your ever fucking mind!?" Komi exploded.

"No," Airen replied simply.

"We need their help! What are you thinking to tell him otherwise!"

"I was thinking that any off-world help would be useless to us and only put innocent people in danger! I don't know what you expect them to be able to do! Green Lantern can't help us, I doubt Kryptonians, and Martians know anything about Tameranian politics or Themiscirans for that matter. And humans? You can forget it! Besides, there is a reason Mom hasn't called them! And if that weren't enough, their transmissions are being actively blocked, Aunt Komi! Yet this one managed to get through. How? Because someone let it. Because someone was listening in. Because someone wanted to see what we would do. And had we told them that we needed help…."

"They would have been ready for them." Komi finished sitting back down numbly in her chair looking pale.

"Or we would all be dead before they even boarded their ship," Airen said.

Komi put her head in her hands and shook it moaning. "I'm sorry. I know that. I guess," She looked up and Airen could tell she was fighting back tears. "I guess being trapped here, under house arrest is driving me crazy."

"I know," Airen said sympathetically.

Just then they heard the door open.

"Knorfka Komi!" A small orange and red blur flew across the room and into Komi's arms.

"Hey! How was your lesson?" Komi asked sniffling.

"It was okay, but I would have much rather gone flying instead." The young boy about 8 years old said from Komi's lap.

"Hey! Little Bullet! Where's my hug?!" Airen asked, feigning indignance.

The boy gasped at seeing Airen.

"Air'i!" He squealed as he tackled her. They tumbled over backward into the floor laughing together.

Airen sat up dragging the boy with her. "I hope you were good for Mi'nah," Airen said, shooting her ladies maid a questioning look. Mi'nah smiled and nodded in response.

"His highness Prince Or'lanand'r was very good today."

"Well good, maybe I won't have to feed him to the Shorpa plant today," Airen said mischievously to Or'lan.

"Hey!" He protested. "You wouldn't do that!"

"What?!" Airen pretended to be shocked. "I wouldn't?"

"No!" Or'lan giggled.

"And why wouldn't I?"

"Because you are the best big sister ever!"

"I am?!" Airen gasped in fake shock.

"Yes!"

"Well then, I guess I can't feed you to the Shorpa plant now."

"Nope!"

They all laughed at Or'lan's logic.

Suddenly they heard a door slam from down the hall through the open door. It was soon followed by the loud bellowing of Or'ran.

Airen's laughter stopped and her smile melted into a serious expression. She had forgotten about her coming punishment.

She met Komi's purple eyes. Komi had heard it too.

"Where are Ryan and Mar'i?" Airen asked standing from the floor.

"At the training arena. They have another hour of training at least." Komi replied also standing. Airen nodded.

"Or'lan, I think it's time for Aunt Komi and Mi'nah to take you to watch Ryan and Mar'i train," Airen said.

"Aww! But can't you take me?" Or'lan protested.

Airen smiled down at him.

"I'm sorry my Little Bullet, but not today. Maybe another day. Now go on." She ushered him toward Komi and Mi'nah who were waiting to each take one of his hands. The three of them quickly left the suite, closing the door behind them.

Airen took a deep calming breath to calm herself. She hated this part. Knowing what was coming with no way to speed it up. She closed her eyes and floated up in the air crossing her legs and assuming the meditation position her mom had learned from Raven and then taught her. It wasn't much, but it gave her peace from the coming storm.

The doors slammed open and then shut.

Airen took a deep breath.

A whip cracked.

Everything went black.


Abuse is not a joke. I do not now, nor will I write about abuse as a joke. I take it very seriously and so should you. The American National abuse hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE. If you are in an abusive situation please call.

Just as a heads up: I wasn't too graphic in my abuse descriptions in this chapter, but that doesn't mean that I will always skirt around it. Sometimes it will be necessary to the story, like a battle scene. Again, I will post a trigger warning at the beginning of those chapters.

Malfka-Mother or Mom

Thank you for reading! I appreciate all of my readers! (No it's not the end of the story, just thought this needed to be said).

Read and review!