I watched the Titans take their turns with slapping cards onto the steadily building pile, each newly called one overpowering the previous one. Robin called out the last one, dominating the pile.

"I'm out of cards." Raven said, holding up her empty hands.

"Me, too." Beast Boy sighed and slumped back in his chair.

Starfire, holding a few cards, grinned and looked around. "May I... go the fish?"

Raven and Beast Boy glanced over at Starfire's cards.

"If I were you, I'd fold." Beast Boy said.

"That is good, yes?" Starfire said. Beast Boy and Raven shook their heads, and Starfire sighed and laid down her cards.

"Sorry about that, Starfire. I guess I'm just too good at this." Robin said, standing up and scooting the card pile closer to him.

"Not so fast, Bird Boy." Cyborg said, wiggling a single card in his hand. "I'm still playing."

"All right, then. Just promise you won't get angry when you lose."

The corner of Cyborg's mouth twitched amusingly, and I stood behind him and stared at the card in his hand. His thumb covered most of it, but I could still make out a large, flaming asteroid.

"You're totally luring him along." I whispered, and I covered my mouth to stifle a giggle.

Robin slammed his card onto the table. "Tornado!" he cried, leaning back into his chair with a smirk. "All right, Metal Gear. Just try and beat that."

Cyborg shrugged. "If you insist..." Cyborg jumped out of his chair and slapped his card onto the top of the pile. "Booyah! Meteor!"

"What?!"

"It's so beautiful..." Beast Boy said, wiping away a tear.

"So much for being good at this game! I'm the champion!" Cyborg gloated as he cabbage-patched and collected the heaping card pile.

"I want a rematch!" Robin cried, pounding his fists against the table.

"Sorry to break the news to you, man, but you don't have any cards."

Robin growled.

"Don't worry, Robin, you'll have your time to shine..." I said, glancing at the clock. "Right about..."

There were three consecutive flashes of light, and Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy disappeared from the table.

"Now." I said. I took the card pile and shuffled it back into a neat stack.

"Our friends! Where have they gone?" Starfire gasped.

"An alternate dimension. The three have to compete with other superhero teens in a rigged contest by a host that'll try to absorb all of them and gain their powers. They'll be back tomorrow."

"It will only be the four of us?" Starfire's eyes lit up, and she jumped out of her chair, the movement so rapid that her chair toppled over onto the ground. She slammed her hands against the table, making the wood quiver and the card pile fall off and scatter its contents across the ground. "I have conjured up a brilliant idea! With our fellow male Titans away, it will give the rest of us time to enjoy the company of one another! Friendship strengthening and bonding is in order!"

"Um... no thanks." Raven said. "Bonding is definitely the last thing I'd want to do with Terra."

Starfire's shoulders drooped. "Must you insist on this distrust? The Terra we know now is not the same one we first met. Not only have her powers changed, but I believe that she herself has changed as well. I desire for you to give her another chance."

I stood up. "That's a good idea, Starfire. I think this bonding thing will be fun."

Starfire grinned. "Wonderful! Let us tell Terra the good news!"

"You get a head start. I'll join you in a moment."

Starfire hurried out of the room. Raven folded her arms.

"Why are you doing this?" she said.

"Everyone except Starfire and Beast Boy knows about Terra's true nature. They're the closest she'll ever have to friends. I couldn't bear the burden of breaking the news to them." I said.

"So you're just going to let them find out for themselves?"

"I've got to save some of the original plot... If they get angry at me, so be it. For now, I'll enjoy their happiness."

I exited the living room and made my way to the bottom floor. Exiting the Tower, I walked around the outskirts and to the training grounds.

"That sounds like a great idea. I'm in!" I heard Terra's voice as I drew nearer. I reached the large control panel and looked down at Starfire and Terra. Terra hopped off a large rock she sat on and let it crash to the ground. The ground rumbled mildly underneath me from the impact.

Starfire clapped her hands gleefully, and my heart deflated. How could Terra not see the genuine love and care from those around her? Did Slade force so much nonsense into her brain and lead her so far astray that he numbed her heart from knowing these things? Starfire turned and saw me, and I straightened up to seem cheerier.

"Come, my friends! Let us travel to the mall of shopping and eat unhealthy amounts of expensive and greasy, yet delicious foods!" Starfire said. She looped her arm through Terra's and hurried over to me. Looping her other arm through mine, we walked back to the Tower.


"Out of all the places to 'bond', she chose the busy, noisy, hot mall?" Raven said, leaning back in her chair and crossing her arms.

"Who doesn't like a little people-watching?" Terra said, watching a large man in a Hawaiian shirt walk by with a tray stuffed with food.

"I'd rather do that with some distance." Raven eyed the shrieking two-year-old a table over.

"I'm sure Starfire thought of this place with good intentions." I said. "After all, she and I came here last time, and it was pretty fun."

"I have returned with our meals!" Starfire said, approaching us with multiple trays of food lining her arms. Terra and I scrambled to place the trays onto the table. We divided the food to the correct owner, with Terra and Starfire competing for the most.

"I bet I can eat all of my food faster than you." Terra said, grabbing a fork.

"Perhaps it would be fair to tell you that all nine of my stomachs are empty." Starfire said with a glint in her eyes.

The two girls dove into their food, swallowing mouthful after mouthful of whatever they saw on their tray. Raven and I watched the two in horror as they diminished their piles of hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza, and fries. A squirt of mustard landed on my cheek, and I flinched and wiped it off with a napkin.

"I think I'll just get this to-go." I said, pushing away my tray of a cheeseburger and soda.

The contest lasted at least a minute or two. Starfire and Terra slumped back in their chairs, their bellies full and bloated. They sighed contently.

"I think that's a draw." Terra said, picking food out of her teeth with a toothpick.

"Agreed. You battled honorably." Starfire said. A burp ripped out of her mouth, so powerful that it blew our hair back. Starfire covered her mouth and blushed. "Pardon me."

Immediately, Terra answered with another loud, wet burp. Both of them looked at each other and broke out into a flurry of giggles. I couldn't help but smile at their joy.

Starfire wiped away the tears streaming down her face and stood up. "Excuse me while I depart to the room of bathing." she said.

"I'll come with you." I said, and we both stood up and headed to the bathroom, dodging the rampaging shoppers and squeezing through airtight food court lines. We entered the nearly pristine bathroom and to the sinks to wash our hands.

"Tell me, Ciela," Starfire said, pumping soap into her hands, "how has your world fared you?"

"Actually... pretty good." I said, running my hands underneath the cold water. "I spent a long time trying to rid myself of my demons, and I think I finally conquered the biggest one of all."

"You speak of the girl from your world, yes?"

"Yes. Jane's her name." I dried my hands and turned to Starfire with a smile. "Now you've got the full-fledged Ciela."

"I am glad to hear that. I much prefer this Ciela."

"Me, too."

We left the bathroom and regrouped with Terra and Raven. We walked side-by-side through the mall, passing by more citizens going in and out of stores and conversing on benches.

"So you're the newest Titan member?" Terra said, walking alongside me. "How long have you been a part of the team?"

"Um..." Since time in this world flowed differently than in my world, I couldn't say a mere few weeks; it wouldn't make sense.

"It's been about seven months." Raven said on the other side of Terra.

I raised my eyebrows. That long? Thinking back to when the show was first made, perhaps she inadvertently referred to the time from the release date of episode four, when I became a Teen Titan, to now. It's strange to think that seven months have gone by in just a little over three weeks.

"That must be so great." Terra said. "I can't wait until I become a Teen Titan. It'll be so much fun!"

"Agreed! Perhaps after some time, Robin will change his mind." Starfire said.

Raven and I glanced at each other.


"Many thanks for joining me yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment!" Starfire said as we gathered around the dining table for breakfast.

"As much as it makes me uncomfortable to admit it," Raven said, "it wasn't half bad."

"You know, I haven't seen any of the guys since yesterday. Where are they, anyways?" Terra said.

"Not sure, but they'll be back soon." I said.

Immediately following my words, there were bright flashes of light. Terra, Raven, and Starfire disappeared and their spots were replaced by Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy.

"Uh... I need a nap." Beast Boy said, standing up and leaving the room.

"Ooh, waffles!" Cyborg said, retreating to the kitchen and stacking multiple on a plate.

"Where are the girls?" Robin said.

"They're about to do the same things you three just did. It's a shame the Master of Games didn't deem me worthy to compete in his tournament." I said. I snorted. "Of course, I don't have much to offer, power-wise."

"No offense, but I doubt you'd get far."

I scowled. "What, you think I'm inept to take on a bunch of crazy, super powered people? Have you seen the giant bazooka that I carry around?"

"I never said you were inept... although you could do a little bit better in training."

"You better watch your words, Bird Boy. By the end of this show, you'll be flat on your back after I've finished kicking your butt."

"I'd pay to see that." Cyborg called over his shoulder. Robin rolled his eyes underneath his mask while I laughed.