: Engele :
- Day Five -
: Disclaimer :
Teen Titans and all its bishounens / bishoujos are not mine
Only Engele and this pretty plotline is mine
: Credits :
Story credits to both Aoi Akiko & (brother) Alexstar Moonlight
- Day Five -
He'd risen before dawn with an idea. Less than half-an-hour later, he tiptoed out of his room and slipped 4 cards with instructions under their respective owner's door…
The rustling of paper against metallic floor made her wake, and so she bade it come with a thought, the white envelope dropping into her lap. Confused, she unfolded it to retrieve what was inside and read its contents…
… she rose an elegant eyebrow…
"Morning, Princess…"
"Unca Cy!" she greeted, running to hug his legs. He chuckled and hefted her up into his arms, "Got that right, Princess… And how's my favourite little tyke angel today…?"
She pouted and protested, "I'm your only little tyke angel, Unca Cy…"
"Hey, don't forget me…!" another voice squeaked from beyond the couch, morphing into a puppy and bounding over the back to sit at their feet. She reached out for him and giggled as he gave her a small lick on the cheek, jumping to one side to return to his original form, "Morning, Princess…"
She hugged him tight, "Morning, Unca BB…"
"Two hours," Robin was saying as Cyborg waved him off, "I'll call for Beast Boy later…"
"No problems, Boy Wonder…" "See ya later, Rob!" "Bye-bye, Robin…"
"Now, what does our little Princess want for breakfast?" the tallest of the group asked, coming down on one knee. She jumped up and down insistently, "Ooh, could we have chocolate-chip pancakes with chocolate sauce and chocolate sprinkles and chocolate everything…?"
He wasn't even sure if there were any other chocolate everythings in his kitchen, but he didn't want to ruin her mood. Laughing heartily, he made a show of jotting her order down, "Pancakes it is, then…"
"Hop on up and I'll show you how to work the Gamestation!" the jovial shapeshifter proposed, pointing to his back, "We're starting on a new game – Mega Monkeys Tropical Island Blast…!"
No less than twenty minutes later, Beast Boy had turned white with shock as he stared at the screen, bottom jaw on the floor. Cyborg snickered as he brought a tray laden with food from the kitchens as Engele danced circles on the couch, "I won over BB… I won over BB… I won over BB…"
"B-but… h-how…?" the defeated one whimpered, a river of mock-tears streaming down from glassy goo-goo eyes, "10,774 points against 2,749(1)…?"
"Bet you can't beat me…" the other resident game-master goaded, picking up the discarded controller and moving away from the growing puddle drowning his green companion.
"You're on…!"
Ten minutes later, Engele was celebrating her victory once more. "I won over Cybie… I won over Cybie… I won over Cybie…"
There was a grumble as a mysterious gray thundercloud materialized over their heads, though it rained only over the mechanical wonder. "Eat your breakfast," he grumbled, joining his friend in the loser's circle.
She wisely came down from her winner's high and thought it better to obey…
Their animal-loving friend had left, leaving them alone to wash up the dishes in the sink. She sat on the high counter with a drying cloth in her hands, waiting for clean plates to be passed.
"Unca Cy, why are you blue…?" she spoke meekly, with no underlying motive to her questioning. He didn't quite catch her words, "Say that again, Princess…" She repeated her question, tapping the transparent blue-on-silver parts of him, "Why are you blue…?"
A nostalgic smile painted his lips, "It happened a long time ago, when I was younger…" He took the cloth from her and began wiping a bowl, round and round and round, "I was in an accident, and was really hurt. My dad found me and patched me up, made me come alive again…" He gave a resolute nod, hoping that it was a sufficient explanation, "That's why I'm blue…"
She stared quietly at the metallic parts of him, "Does it make you sad, Unca Cy? To be blue?"
He hesitated, setting the ceramic item on the countertop. "Sometimes it does…" he began, standing next to her, "But in the end, it's okay… Being blue may make me look different, but it doesn't matter what's on the outside – it's what's on the inside that really counts…"
She blinked up at him, "But what's on the inside, Unca Cy…?"
He took up her hand and placed it at the center of his chest, then took the other and positioned it at her equivalent, "This."
She felt the rhythmic pulse thudding under the seemingly unnatural shell, in awe that though it was slightly slower than her own, it was the same powerful heartbeat that told her they were both wonderfully alive, they were uniquely human, and as humans, they could feel in every sense of the word. Her face lit up with understanding, smiling slightly, "Love you, Unca Cy…"
"Love you, too, Engele…"
A horse and an open-carriage stood waiting for her outside the Tower entrance, the Tamaranean acting as coachman (or coachlady) opening the door out for her, "Greetings, Earth Princess…"
"Mama!" she returned, her affections towards the elder more important than the attention she received, "Are we really going for a ride…?"
The elder nodded whole-heartedly, "Indeed – friend Beast Boy has been most agreeable to take us around the island."
"Two hours, Star…" "Of course, friend Cyborg." (whinny) (neigh) "Bye-bye, Unca Cy…"
"Where shall we ride off to, Earth Princess?" the alien girl inquired, taking up the reins, easing the green equine into a slow trot. Her charge bounced gaily beside her, "The special place – with your flowers and Auntie Rae's waterfall…!"
The emerald horse before them shuddered, remembering the exact memory of what he'd been in the midst of when the aforementioned Auntie Rae's waterfall had come about(2)…
Even before they reached their destination, Starfire had picked enough blossoms to teach Engele how to make garlands for herself and her companions. Beast Boy stood amicably as a particularly rosy ring was placed around his neck, sneezing on fallen pollen and snorting up a storm…
"You look pretty, Unca BB," she whispered as she climbed onto his back, braiding his mane and stroking his neck. She fingered the slight bit and brindle, "Are you comfortable…?"
He gave an equine-shrug, shoulders shifting slowly under her.
She tugged gently at the cords, intending to release him. They turned to see if the foreigner would approve, finding her hovering a fair distance away with a growing pile of in her arms. She put her finger to her lips, "Let's run away, Unca BB…"
He narrowed an eye at her, as if to ask if it were wise.
She giggled, "Do you really want another daisy-chain…? In pink this time…?"
That was reason enough, him shaking the metal links and leather straps. He looked over his shoulder and found her wrapping arms around his neck, "Ready when you are, Unca BB…"
There was a flash of green and a blur of petals… and when the dazed out-worldly teen looked up, all she saw was a fast-fading cloud and a note stuck to her nose, Be Back soon…
"BEAST BOY!"
They tumbled down the small hill leading to a shaded clearing by the shore, laughing all the way. She glanced around her as she hit the bottom, "Unca BB…?"
A bunny rabbit hopped to sit by her side, only to disappear into a sparrow when she tried to catch him, then a flying squirrel that leapt away from her quick fingers, making her climb after him…
"Unca BB, do you like changing into all kinds of animals…?" she wondered, picking the stray petals on his shirt as he settled beside her on the sturdy branch. He rocked himself backwards and forwards, once hanging upside-down as a spider monkey and then back again as himself, "It's okay, sometimes even fun… So yeah, I kinda like it…"
"Even the scary ones, Unca BB?" she continued, knocking her heels together, "Big scary animals with sharp teeth and sharp claws and sharp everything…"
He slowed his playing around, "When I do those, we're usually on a mission…"
"But isn't it bad…? To become a mean monster?" she argued, frowning, "What if you can't change back? What if you lose yourself and stay a mean monster forever…" She lowered her head, "I don't want you to be a mean monster forever, Unca BB…"
He opened his arms to let her climb into his lap, "Did ya know I saved your Auntie Rae once by becoming a gigantic beast?" She shook her head, "Well, I did – not that your Auntie Rae's going to let me bask in that glory…
"It isn't bad if you become a fierce creature to protect your friends… And as for worrying about losing myself – as long as I know who my friends are, and how much they mean to me, it'll keep me in control… And I'll always, always come back to them, just the way I am…"
She smiled, "Promise…?" He nodded, wide smile in place. She dropped her head onto his chest, "Love you, Unca BB…"
"You too, Engele… You too…"
"You are the It, Earth Princess…" she exclaimed, tapping the other on the shoulder. Only, her Tamaranean tap was equivalent to an Earthly kapow, sending the smaller one into rapid cartwheels in mid-air. She hovered over to steady the littlest angel, swirley eyes still in motion, "ThE sKy'S gReEn, MaMa… pLeAsE dOn't MaKe ThE eLePhAnTs EaT iT…"
"Oh, my cereae, are you alright?"
Honey-brown ponytails flew up as the girl giggled and bopped the other on the head, "Tag, you're It…!" before zooming away from her guardian, a puff of smoke in her wake…
"Oh, CEREAE…!"
It was good exercise, she supposed, whizzing after the angel mastering both speed and agility as she defied aerodynamics. One could not be more glad, watching her as she skillfully navigated her way about the skies only after one lesson… She supposed it must be something ado with her uniqueness of entering a new birth year every day, processing and committing everything she'd learnt that day into memor—
"Mama…?"
A child's face hung upside-down in front of her, eyes scrunched up quizzically, wondering why she had stopped chasing after the easy target. So she took every advantage presented, "I have you now, my cereae…!"
"Eep…!"
As they sat over the ledge of the roof overlooking the harbour, the newest addition stopped making strange noise with the loop-the-loop straw and turned to her, "Mama, how do you fly?"
She gave a happy smile, cheeks pink with pride, "It is because I am from Tamaran… We combine the brightness from the sun and the brightness of our soul into flight energy, making us gloriously light(3)…"
Her charge stared at her with awe, "Is Tamaran a nice place to be?"
If it were possible, her smile grew wider, "Oh, the most wondrous of places, my cereae…! It is a land where we may consume vast quantities of Glorg and listen to the many Glorgian bagpipes and play with N'jub-n'jubs all day long(3)…!"
She sweatdropped at the other's expression, question marks flying about her head as she blinked in confusion.
"Are they words I should know, Mama…?" the younger one questioned, turning her head to one side, "Auntie Rae keeps scolding Unca Cy to stop using words I shouldn't know…"
"They are all good words. Friend Raven need not be consulted…" she assured, then her smile turned softer, "Words may make or break a person, my cereae… but when it truly matters most, the words from those dear to you are all that is valuable…"
"Like the word Love between you and me?" her voice was strong with emotion, eyes bright for all to see. She broke into a wide beam as her elder nodded. "Love you, Mama…"
"And I you, my cereae Engele…"
"Azarath…" :Azass…: "Metrion…" :Methon…: "Xinthos…" :Zyntoo…:(4)
"Azarath…" :Azass…: "Metrion…" :Methon…: "Xinthos…" :Zyntoo…:
"Azarath…" :Azass…: "Metrion…" :Methon…: "Xin—" she opened an eye and stared at the entity floating beside her, "What are you doing here, Princess…?"
Her new-found companion opened the opposite eye and grinned, "Meditating with you, Auntie Rae…"
Frowning, the sorcerer checked her clock, "Ah, so you're on my watch now…" Out of the blue, she asked, "So… how was your day today…?"
"Wonderful!" the girl squealed, breaking out of her solemn pose and flitting about the ceiling, "Unca Cy made choco-pancakes, and Unca BB took me riding, and Mama taught me Tamaranea—" A black aura caught her and covered her mouth, indicating she should quieten herself.
Beat. "Riding…?"
"Mm-mm… Unca BB was a horse and we ran away from Mama and stole apples from the trees…!"
Beat. "Tamaranea—what a minute… apples?"
Nod-nod-nod.
Beat. "MY apples..!"
Blink, "Am I in trouble…?"
(thud) (thud) (thud) The Halfling lifted her forehead from the wall, "No… Beast boy'll pay for them, I'm sure…" A mutter, "Glow worms in his bed for a weak ought to do the trick…"
A giggle, "You're funny, Auntie Rae…"
She smirked, "Yeah, just your average evil demoness on the loose…"
The laugh faltered, wide blue-violet eyes blinking up at her, "But, Auntie Rae… are you really evil…?"
She opened her mouth to reply, but nothing really came forth. Memories of the past year flashing in her mind, making it difficult to decide her answer… but as the movie in her mind drew to a close, she was reminded of what the reply should be…
"I don't think so… at least, not anymore…" she brushed violet-gray fingers over the other's fair forehead, "When I was little, they told me that I was born evil, yet here I am – with wonderful friends, with a true family… So I guess it isn't all true – no one is born evil…" A rare smile, "There's always hope…"
Arms wrapped themselves around her torso, squeezing tight, "I'm glad you're here, Auntie Rae…"
She returned the embrace earnestly, "I'm glad for it, too…"
"Love you, Auntie Rae…"
"… love you… Engele…"
They'd placed a blindfold over her eyes, a long white ribbon tied behind her head. They had a surprise, and it wouldn't be a surprise unless she couldn't see it…
Someone was leading her by the hand, and she followed it readily. These were the hands that had cared for her, the hands that had guided her, the hands that had molded her… She would forever know these hands…
Cool and delicate – those belonged to Auntie Rae… Long and gentle – those were Mama's… Warm and fuzzy – she wasn't sure how he'd actually looked, but it was Unca BB alright… Encompassing and strong – Unca Cy's was her presumption, though she really didn't need to guess…
Then there were the hands that she loved most, with or without his gloves. They were the firm hands that assured her nothing would come between them, yet tender enough to carry a promise that he would never leave himself. While she would let the other hands direct her path, only this pair was allowed to hold her tight and never let go…
"You can open your eyes now, love…" he whispered, the silken barrier lifted from her eyelids.
Silver-and-white ornaments danced in the air, ribbons curling from every other strategic point. "Bir-th-day…?" she read aloud, staring at the word drawn in wide cursive letters on the glittery banner above her, "It's my birthday…?"
Four eager Titans, each in silver-and-white, nodded in agreement – but it was his hands that came to her, sliding a modest little tiara into her hair, "You're five today, love… And so we decided to celebrate this special day…"
She fingered the simple loops and swirls upon her head, giggling, "So that's why everyone was calling me Princess, today…"
"Mm… and every Princess should have a Prince, yes…?"
She gaped at her guardian, dressed in the same shades of silver-and-white – but his was different, because unlike the rest of them, he was distinctively her own. He was her Prince… He was her Robin…
There were pizzas and cake and an all-out food fight (she liked Unca Cy's berry-muffin-assault-cannon, but Auntie Rae and Unca BB had the advantage of pelting 16 chocolate-coated-donut-bombs all at once)… There were games where she had to freeze in her tracks or risked being tickled to death, find all her presents before time was up, and seeing who could make the best ice cream sculpture (she wasn't sure what Mama had made – a ballerina hippo thingy with a unicorn's horn and four wings) … Then there were the gifts, a flurry of cards and ribbons and wrapping paper…
"Robin…?" she opened the box and took out the singular item.
"It's your communicator, love…" he replied easily, "You're one of us now…
"You're a Teen Titan…"
"Robin…!" she flew into him and bowled them both over, "Do you really mean it? I can stay here, with all of you – forever…?"
He nodded, "If that's what you want…"
"You're the best, Robin…" she whispered graciously, standing on tippy-toes and falling into his arms, embracing him for all his worth, "… love you…"
"Blessed birthday wishes, my Engele…"
Past the witching hour that starless night, a silent melody beckoned… A fragile doll stood spellbound, pulled inexorably towards his call…
Straight dark hair whispering past pale shoulders, wide haunting eyes devoid of pupils swirled with crimson, silver-gray wings trailing past the empty hallways…
"Master…"
"Good, sweet Innocence," he purred, cradling the child in his arms, "Ready to make your first kill…?"
"Yes, Master…"
Her victim did gasp, a sad reaction making her maniacal grin widen. And the last her victim did see was a mask hovering past her shoulder, ebony threads striking into the nape and faded all vision past…
Aoi Akiko rambles:
(1) 10,774 and 2,749
10,774 refers to the number of words before this sentence. 2,749 refers to the number of words in this chapter...
(2) Beast Boy remembering when Raven was making her waterfall
For those of you who pay attention to every little detail, I took this from S2: TRANSFORMATION. Go figure...
(3a) Starfire describing Tamaranean flight
Brightness from the sun, because according to TT Animated Site sources, Tamaraneans are able to convert light into flight; Brightness of our soul, because according to S1: SWITCHED, Tamaraneans' flight is fueled by emotion
(3b) Starfire and Tamaran
Glorg is a food and Glorgian bagpipes are musical instruments - these have been mentioned in TT before. N'jub-n'jubs are pets - these are mine, for weirdness reasons...
(4) :Azass… Methon… Zyntoo…:
All © to the lyrics of Raven's new chant belongs to Aoi Akiko & Alexstar Moonlight
Cyborg, "… it's doesn't matter what's on the outside - it's what's on the inside that really counts…"
Origins, S1: SUM OF HIS PARTS
Beast Boy, "… as long as I know who my friends are… it'll keep me in control…"
Origins, S3: BEAST WITHIN
Starfire, "… when it truly matters most, the words from those dear to you are all that is valuable…"
Origins, S4: TROQ
Raven, "…no one is born evil, there's always hope …"
Origins, S4: THE END (trilogy)
These phrases will return again in : Day Seven :