Sadly, I only got one review from Enosthereclass, but the hits counter states that I have thirty hits on my last chapter, which makes the total over 1,100 hits. I'm quite proud of that. And now it's time for chapter fourteen of Nightfire's Origins. After twelve long years of waiting, Starfire will finally tell her daughter the truth about her father. What will Nightfire's reaction would be? Stay tune and find out.

Titan's Age

Starfire-31
Cyborg-33
Raven-30
Beast Boy/Changeling-29
Terra-29
LM-33
Nightfire-12
Angel-11
Beast Girl-10
Terri-10

Whispering: Italics

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans

Chapter Fourteen: The Shocking Truth

When the Anders went back to Earth, Nightfire was pleased to be back to her home, her normal life. But for Starfire, there was a pause for regret that her daughter doesn't know about. It's bad enough to tell Night the truth about her father, but it's worse if she has to tell her that her mother must leave Earth and become the Grand Ruler of Tamaran, and stay there for the rest of her life. And to top it off, she has to tell her little bumgorf that she has to marry a prince from another planet Night knows nothing about. Star knew the world around her is starting to topple down and there's nothing she can do to stop it. If Robin was alive here and now he would've said something, but since he's gone, there's nothing but silence. Two years later, the Titan kids will soon become Teen Titans themselves. But before they do, they have to pass one more test, going on a real mission. But their parents are a little worried and what would happen when their kids turn into teenagers. Over the years since they were teenagers, they fought the most dangerous villains and maniacal madmen; they didn't want their offspring to face them on their first mission. They thought it would be nice to start them off easy, like a simple bank robbery or a small chase. That way their kids would be able to take on tougher challenges in the coming years. But Starfire didn't listen to their strategy, she was in deep thought on her only daughter. She's going to tell her something that she hasn't told her ever since the day she was born. No more bedtime stories, no more religious tales, no more leaving gaps behind. She is going to tell the truth.

Yet another peaceful day at Titans Tower with the sun shining high in the sky and the warm air blowing. At the beach of the island, Nightfire, Angel, and Raven were meditating and chanting "Azarath Metrion Zinthos" once or twice an hour. Raven has changed a lot when she became a mother. She can show little more emotion then before and has a kind and gentle heart with her daughter. Her uniform has changed dramatically. Instead of her usual black and blue color, her hooded cape and leotard is pearly white, two long strips from in front and behind her bottom half went down to her ankles, and white pump heels on her feet. Her purple hair had grown straight down to her shoulder blades and her face looked more like an angel then a human. Speaking of Angel, she was meditating on the left side of Raven. She has changed as well as she looks just like her mother, but behaves like her father, LM. Her light gray skin shines so bright, her blue chakra glows so peacefully, her silver hair was short and designed in spiky like pigtails her father did for her, and her light purple eyes glittered in the sun. She was wearing a black and plaid T-shirt, a pair of Kik Girl Black Embossed Pocket pants, and black Converse All Stars sneakers. Nightfire was at the right side of Raven wearing a light blue T-Shirt with a star on her chest, Capri jeans, and Brooks Epiphany sneakers. They've been meditating for two hours and the mother and daughter seem to work well. But for Nightfire, she was squirming a bit, since she started meditating for the past month and a half. Angel sensed her friend's problem and opened her right eye to see her.

Preteen Angel: "Psst… Tori…"

Nightfire opened her left eye to look at Angel.

Nightfire: "Yeah Angela."

Preteen Angel: "Still having a little trouble meditating?"

Preteen Nightfire: "You could say that. I still don't get why you and your mom meditate so easily while I get impatient in all this."

Preteen Angel: "Don't be so complicated Tori. You know that my mom and I meditate well cause of the bond we share. Besides, your mother meditated too when she was young. She told you about that remember?"

Preteen Nightfire: "Yeah I know that, but this is just plain ridiculous. I mean meditating on the roof or on a beach for hours on end and remaining on one position is a complete pain."

Preteen Angel: "It is not!"

Preteen Nightfire: "Is too!"

Preteen Angel: "Is not!"

Preteen Nightfire: "Is too!"

Preteen Angel: "Is not!"

Preteen Nightfire: "Is too!"

Raven: "That's enough from you two!"

Raven opened both her eyes and looked at the two girls fighting.

Raven: "Right now, I don't want to hear the two of you fighting. The only sounds I want to hear is your breathing and meditative chants. Understand?"

Angel looked at her mom and put her head down in shame.

Preteen Angel: "Sorry mother. I was just trying to help Tori calm herself down."

Raven turned her eyes directly to Nightfire.

Raven: "Nightfire, explain yourself."

Preteen Nightfire: sigh "Well Aunt Raven, I didn't mean to fight with Angela. But I don't understand why I need to meditate when I already have everything I need to become a leader?"

Raven: "Meditation isn't about being a leader, it's about focusing your energies and soothing your spirit. When your mother started meditating with me, she fought so well and centered herself during a battle."

Preteen Angel: "Not to mention that it helps you control your emotions, which I don't get why have to meditate too? Being that I can show my emotions and not letting my powers go haywire."

Raven revert her eyes to Angel.

Raven: "Now Angela, I have told you before that even though you show emotions, anger is the one you can't control since you share a part of my family's bloodline."

Preteen Angel: "Please, I never show any anger in me."

Raven: "Really? Well what about the time yelled at me about going to the roller coaster and the docks that you caused five garbage cans to explode and let the concession stand food fly just about everywhere?"

Angel just stared blankly at her mother and a sweat drop was dripping on the side of her head.

Preteen Angel: "That was when I was little and I had no idea my yelling would count as anger. Do you really have to remind me of that?"

Raven: "Oh yes Angel, that's a lesson you should learn."

Rae then turned her eyes back to Nightfire.

Raven: "That goes double for you Nightfire. In order for you to be a leader of the Titans, you must meditate long and hard for both your body and mind."

Starfire: "Strange, that's what you said to me a long time ago. Except for the fact that you didn't tell me to be a leader."

The three girls looked behind them and saw Starfire at the entrance to the beach. She was still wearing the same outfit she wore when Nightfire was four, but she started growing her hair as it went past her shoulders. Nightfire unfolded her legs and got out of her meditative pose to walk to her mother.

Preteen Nightfire: "Hi mom."

Starfire: "Hey there sweetie. How are your meditations going?"

Preteen Nightfire: sigh "Frustrating. I don't think I cut in with this whole peace and tranquility crud."

Starfire placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder once she reached her side.

Starfire: "Don't say that Nigthfire. You just started meditating and some people have a hard time with it once it began. Once you give this a few months, you'll get use to meditation."

Nightfire looked up to her mother and gave a warm smile.

Preteen Nightfire: "Thanks mom."

Starfire smiled back, but she knows that it will be the last time Night would smile like that.

Starfire: "You're welcome Tori. Now why don't you go back inside and rest? I think you've done enough training for today."

Nightfire nodded, still smiling, and went inside to get a well-deserved break. Star watched her daughter leave then glued her eyes at Raven, who was still meditating with her daughter.

Starfire: "Raven, may I speak with you, alone?"

Raven nodded and let her feet land softly on the sand. Angel looked up at her mother and Rae looked at her daughter.

Raven: "Angela, I'm going to have a private talk with Aunt Kori. Why don't you go inside to your room until diner's ready."

Preteen Angel: "That sounds fine to me. I've been dying to listen to that new Cradle of Filth CD."

Angel got out of her meditative position floated back into the Tower. Raven approached Star the sighed for her ever-rambunctious daughter.

Starfire: "You're daughter is quite a rebellious girl."

Raven: "I know. Sometimes I wondering if Angela acting more like her father then me? So what do you want Starfire?"

Starfire: "Well I don't know how to say this."

Raven: "You can talk to me Star. We've been friends ever since the Titans were born."

Starfire: "That's true but this is something different. You see, I-"

Star stopped there trying to figure out how to say this to her friend. But Raven knows what the Tamaranean's trying to say by reading her mind and thoughts along with it.

Raven: "You're going to tell the truth to Nightfire. Is that right?"

Starfire snapped out of her trance and looked back to her friend completely surprised. She shook off the feeling and continued talking to Rae.

Starfire: "Yes."

Raven: "You think she's ready to hear it?"

Starfire: "I believe she's old enough to handle it. But I'm a little worried about it too."

Raven: "Why?"

Starfire: "Well, I don't know how to say this to her. I've spent twelve years keeping this secret from my daughter but I have no idea how I should talk to her about this."

Raven: "Kori, it doesn't matter how you say it or not. Just tell her the truth, it's just easy."

Starfire: "That's what I'm afraid of. If I told Nightfire the truth, she'll feel devastated. I don't want her to feel sad for the rest of her life."

Raven shook her head and placed her soft pale hand on Star's shoulder, giving her a warm smile.

Raven: "Don't be afraid of what will happen. When I told you and my friends that Trigon is my father, you guys didn't upset or angry. All of you still treated me as a friend and not an enemy and together we took down my demonic father. So Nightfire's going to cry and would feel confused, but no matter what happens, she's still your daughter and she'll always love you. Just tell her what really happened and everything will be just the same as always was and will be."

After that long talk, Raven released her hand from the Tamaranean's shoulder, walked past her, and headed to the Tower. While she was gone, Starfire stayed behind looking at the ocean view that was showing the sun starting to set. After a few minutes, she sighed and floated back to the Tower whispering to herself.

Starfire: "I hope you're right Rae, I hope you're right."

The sun sets a few minutes ago, leaving nothing but dark twinkle sky and a low fiery flame on the ocean floor. In Titans Tower, Nightfire was in her room looking the night sky while petting the Titans very own pet mutant, Silkie. Night knew Silkie ever since she was born and it was the only one that keeps her company besides Angel and her mother.

Preteen Nightfire: How nice the view is from out here.

Night watched the sky for a while when she spotted a falling star coming down the sky. She remembered from her Aunt Terra, A.K.A. Ter Ter, that when you wish upon a falling star, your wish will come true. She bowed her head down, closed her eyes, and wished for the only wish she wants for a long time. The very wish she made when she blows out the birthday candles on her cake, say a prayer in the local church, and dropping a coin into a fountain, to see her father for the very first time, the want to hug him and love him for the very first time just like she loves her mother. What she didn't notice was that Starfire was at the doorway looking at her daughter that was calm and happy. She sighed knowing that she will see Nightfire acting like that for the last time. So she made a few knocks on the wall outside the room to get Night's attention. It did work when Nightfire turned her head and saw her mother standing there looking a little gloomy then when she was at the beach.

Preteen Nightfire: "Hi mom. Why do you look so sad?"

Starfire just kept staring at her daughter as she slowly walks in.

Starfire: "I want to walk to you Tori, something very serious."

Preteen Nightfire: "O.K…"

Nightfire sat up from her seat, approached Silkie's little resting bed, and placed it in there. She then walked over to Starfire, who a sitting on the side of Night's bed, and sat next to her. Nightfire took a quick glance at her mother and saw her looking more depressed. She had never seen her looking like this ever and she's wondering why she's like that.

Preteen Nightfire: "What is it you want to speak to me about mom?"

Starfire: "Nightfire, there are some people around this planet that like to keep secrets. Some secrets are so hard to tell that it can break someone's heart for good. And I have been keeping a secret from you for a long time."

Preteen Nightfire: "What are you talking about?"

Starfire: "It's about your father. Do you know what happened to him?"

Preteen Nightfire: "You told me that he left you when he saved your life and he went to Heaven."

Starfire: "That's just half the story Night. Do you know how he got to Heaven?"

Preteen Nightfire: "Umm…"

Starfire: "Thought so. You see, in order for you to go to heaven, you have to pay the ultimate sacrifice. And for your dad, he had to learn it the hard way. Nightfire, your father died."

Nightfire just sat there starring at her mother with eyes in pure shock after what she heard. She was able to talk with a few words stuttering in her mouth.

Preteen Nightfire: "D- Died? You mean li- like those movies Uncle Gar watches where people get- get shot?"

Starfire nodded.

Preteen Nightfire: "B- But how?"

Starfire put her head down and continued talking.

Starfire: "He was murdered."

Preteen Nightfire: "Murdered by who?"

Starfire: "Johnny Rancid, a dangerous criminal we faced when we were young. There was some strange activity going on in one of the warehouses at the docks. We went to investigate but found out it was an ambush by Johnny and a group of ruthless men called the Hoodz. We tried our best to take them down and we almost succeed in our mission, but Johnny took the cowardly approach and used a sniper rifle to kill each of us, starting with me. Tim came to the rescue and pushed me out of the way the same time Johnny fired. But instead of hitting me, the bullet hit Robin and…"

Starfire stopped there and started to cry not wanting to think what happened next. But Nightfire knew what transpired as water started to appear under her eyes and were about to come out.

Preteen Nightfire: "Mom, I didn't realize… How was I supposed to know about this? Why didn't you tell me sooner!"

Starfire: "Because I was afraid on what your reaction would be if I did tell you the truth. I for one can't take the pain from my heart and the final image of your father was such a heavy burden to me. When I peeled off his mask to see his eyes, when I kissed him for the last time, he uttered his final words, "I love you." and died right before my very own eyes. Soon after that, my heart had taken over my body, the rage and anger were pumping through my veins, and I charged in without hesitation to kill Johnny there and now. I was able to get my revenge, but the wound in my heart would never heel and killing him would never bring Robin back. I felt lost, lonely, not able to live without having someone to love. But every dark cloud has a silver lining."

Starfire then looked at her daughter and smiled with tears still coming down her face.

Starfire: "That's where you came in."

Preteen Nightfire: "Me?"

Starfire: "Yes. Soon after Tim's death, I found out I was carrying you inside of me. And when I brought you into this world, my life was changed forever. I never thought of an abortion, or taking you to an orphanage. I want to keep you with me because you're the only person I can love and care for. I raised you and gave you everything you need when you were growing up. But when I watch you train to become the next leader of a new generation of Titans, you kind of remind me of your father, fighting to protect his friends and commands in battle. Ever since then, I'm worried that you will suffer the same fate as your dad. So promise me you won't die just like him. Promise me."

Nightfire remained silent for a long time but understood every word her mother said. She tried to talk but can't seem to get it right.

Preteen Nightfire: "Mother I… I…"

But soon, she immediately gave Starfire an embracing hug and cried her eyes out. Star felt sorry for her and hugged her back, not holding off the tears. She could tell by Nightfire's actions, it counted as a promise and felt better that she told her daughter the whole truth. But still there were two more things Star's keeping, two that will turn this situation from bad to worse.

Late in the night, rain started pouring outside and the sound of thunder was heard. But inside the Tower, there was another sound, the sound of whimpering in Nightfire's room. In her room, it was dark and cold, and Night was still crying over the fact that her dad is really gone. She never left her room ever since her mother told her the bad news. She didn't eat, couldn't sleep, or never talk to her friends. All she did was sitting at her desk with her head down on the surface and cried and cried. Next to her sulken head was a picture of Robin, the very picture she had when she was only a baby.

Preteen Nightfire: "Why? Why did you have to give your life up dad? You could've stayed alive and you and mom would've made a wonderful couple. And I would've had a father to love me. Why?"

Night kept crying for a few more minutes and then stopped in an instant. She then raised her head up and her depressing face was changed into a face of pure anger and hatred. Suddenly, she pounded on her desk with righteous fury.

Preteen Nightfire: "It's all Johnny's fault. He was the one that killed my father and made both Starfire's and my lives miserable. He's the one that's to blame not my mom, not her."

She then got up, pushed her chair to the floor and walked up to the water soaked window. The view of lightning and the sound of thunder could make anyone jump and run for cover, but for Nightfire, it was a wake up call for something dormant inside.

Preteen Nightfire: "I swear, until the day I die. If I ever find a way to go back in time, I will personally kill Johnny Rancid myself before it's too late. And that mother, is a promise."

Nightfire's eyes suddenly glowed bright blue in pure fury the same time lightning flashed and thundered roared.

And that's how I end chapter fourteen. Sad yet interesting chapter. It's so depressing during it, but you can tell in the end that Nightfire's revenge would lead her up to the first Nightfire story. On the next chapter, Nightfire goes on her first adventure with her mother and the Titans. Please Review.