As the day progressed the Titans all ended up in the living quarters one way or another. Each interaction seemed to deteriorate into more and more bickering. It started with Beast Boy trimming his nails on the coffee table leading to Raven confiscating his toenail clippers. This led to Beast Boy hogging the remote from Cyborg, which then led to a loud argument between the toe prompting Robin to turn his music up in order to drown out the noise.
Danny watched this unfold in fascination. It was like watching dominoes fall. Each interaction led to more and more frustration. He had been up since sunrise and was currently standing next to the doorway. Just as he was deciding whether he should leave or not Starfire entered the room.
With her she was carrying an assortment of presents and jewelry. Each seeming to be handcrafted with great care. He noted the six pearl necklaces she was holding. They stuck out to him because well, Starfire was holding them outstretched to the room as she entered.
"Happy Blorthog!" She yelled, beaming ear to ear.
Her smile faltered for a moment as she came to be aware of the atmosphere before coming back strong as ever. She approached Danny first as he was the closest and presented him with one of the necklaces.
"Happy Blorthog, friend! Today is the Tamaranian festival of friendship! I, Starfire, give you this Tenabula as a symbol of our friendship!"
Danny allowed her to place the necklace over his head. He gave her a warm smile which she returned before turning to the rest of the team. Danny had always found Starfire interesting. She was the first proof he had that alien life did exist outside of Earth. He had always had a fascination with space, Starfire and her culture were a living embodiment of how interesting it was.
He was brought out of his musings when he heard Starfire yell.
Somehow Beast Boy and Cyborg had managed to break one of Starfire's necklaces. This led to her explaining "The Retmas" a point at which friends drift and a friendship dies. The Tamaranian culture was so very interesting to him. They seemed to value their physical strengths while at the same time promoting a healthy unity amongst its people. Perhaps they were at one point an imperial culture? Valuing conquest and national pride?
His thoughts were stopped by the sound of his communicator blaring red. Perhaps he would join the titans in their fight today. It was Blorthog, afterall.
"The Teen Titans. I read about you in the archives. And Now you're all history!"
Danny watched as the time traveler, Warp, managed to fight off each of the Titans. Blasting and shocking each of them one by one before turning to Danny.
Warp's demeanor seemed to change from smugness to weariness. "Phantom.. I didn't think you were real." He whispered before creating a portal
"Ta-Ta Titans, I have enjoyed our time together but I've got a bright future ahead of m-"
Warp was suddenly tackled into the portal by Starfire causing it to close behind them.
"Starfire!"
Starfire awoke in a pile of snow. She had just ripped a part of Warp's suit off when she was suddenly pushed away. She looked at her surroundings.
It was horrifying. Buildings lay collapsed and that which were still standing were in ruins. The sky was dark, full of swirling red clouds and a black empty sky. Along what was once streets roamed foul twisted creatures. They had the features of people but twisted and wrong in every way. Some had eyes and mouths along their arms or necks. One man stood with only half his head intact. His tongue would flap around. Drooling out the side of his empty face.
Two of these creatures noticed her presence and began to advance on her, groaning and crying as they went seeming to be in pain with every action. She flew up on instinct allowing them to collide with each other headfirst. When they collided they began to eat one another. Ripping and tearing at the flesh with their disgusting teeth. They paid no mind to their own injuries and simply kept tearing away until nothing was left but a mass of bone and flesh.
Starfire felt sick and stared in horror at the world before her. Where was she? Why would Warp bring her to such a hellish place. It was then that she saw it.
Titans Tower stood watching over the ruined city.
She was in Jump City.
She flew through the ruins towards The Tower. Desperate for some familiarity in such a foreign disgusting place. As she flew she noticed a decrepit old man in a gold suit. He was struggling to walk, leaning against one of the fallen buildings in a desperate effort to stay upright. She recognized him as Warp and flew down to confront him.
"What have you done! Everything is wrong why did you bring me to such a terrible place!"
She looked at the old man expectantly waiting for his reply. She was not prepared for what he would say.
"Listen to me, this timeline is wrong. When you damaged my suit we both were flung out of the time stream. Somehow we have fallen outside the barrier and into another time completely. You must find your friends and fix this before-"
He didn't finish… he couldn't finish. As he spoke his body began to fall apart and turn to dust. She watched in horror as Warp's legs and fingers blew away into the air. He gave her one last look of terror before his body was no more. In his place was nothing but dust now. He was gone.
Starfire took a step back in shock before flying towards the Tower at a rapid pace. She must find her friends. They were her only hope.
When she arrived at the tower, she found it in disarray. The walls were just barely standing, The electricity seemed to have failed as no lights would work. She found her way to the living room using her powers to light the way. Something felt wrong. As if a predator was watching her waiting to strike as soon as she let her guard down.
A small animal scurried across the floor. She screamed and blasted several star bolts in its proximity.
As smoke dispersed into the air she walked over to inspect the creature. Holding her hand up and leaning closer to light up it's corpse. She gasped.
It was a rat. She had blown off one of its lower half. The small rodent squirmed and screamed still fighting for life. As she watched in horror, she was even more disgusted as smaller rats came out of the darkness and started to rip at its remaining body. They gnawed hungrily at its flesh ignoring the small screams. Soon the sounds stopped, and nothing remained. Starfire felt tears in her eyes and nausea started to set in her stomach.
"Starfire?" a voice echoed from the darkness.
She immediately swung around and found Danny well, she thought it was Danny. His face seemed… wrong. As if it wasn't his. His body seemed to always disappear into the shadows no matter where she moved the light. There was also something else, although this part could just be the shadows playing tricks on her eyes but, well, It seemed like something was crawling underneath his skin.
"You've been gone a long time, Starfire" Danny spoke "We thought you were dead"
This must've been what warp meant by 'Timelines'. Danny was an inventor though. Surely he'd be able to get her home!
Starfire held up the device she had ripped off Warp's suit. Danny's eyes followed her movements lazily. Why did he look so… well, dead?
"I tore this technology off of warp. We must use this to undo this terrible future! Where are the others? They can help us."
As she said this Danny smiled. A gross hideous smile that filled her with dread. The darkness seemed to lift away and the lights in the tower came alive. She could clearly see now that his skin was crawling. Maggots would fall from his eyes and mouth as he let out a laugh. He raised his arms and rose into the air.
"The others are here, Starfire! Oh, the rats told me you would come! They whisper to me you know. They said you would ask about the Titans. Well, look at us now, Starfire! We're all here!"
She looked towards the edges of the now lit room and saw the others. They were dead. Their bodies lied under swarms of rats and maggots. They'd eat away at what little flesh they could find.
Danny saw her expression and laughed again "Don't worry, Starfire. They're not dead look!"
The shadows warped around the corpses and raised them like puppets. Their skeletons were dragged around causing maggots and little bits of flesh to fall off. Then Danny started to mock their voices as he moves their jaws. The corpse of Beast Boy and Cyborg were chosen.
"We're all here, Starfire! Let's play a game!"
She quickly flew out of the tower with Danny right behind her. Tears were falling from her face as she tried to fly as fast as she could.
"Come Back, Starfire! It's fun! I even have Robin here with me! The Rats told me you like him best!"
She tried to ignore him. This all had to be a nightmare. This can't be happening.
A light shot into the sky. Behind her she could hear Danny start to curse as the light enveloped her.
"You bitch! You've ruined everything!"
She thought he was talking about her before immediately seeing the source of the light.
It was Raven, except she wore white? She was floating ahead of her seeming to radiate a warm, calming light. She smiled at Starfire before addressing Danny.
"You are not welcome here, Phantom. She is not your toy like the others. Leave"
Raven's voice was loud and courageous, commanding authority. Much different then the Raven she knew.
Danny glared at her before lowering into the dark and destroyed city. He melted into the shadows until he was no longer visible. Starfire flew to Raven and began to cry. She hugged Raven who seemed to welcome the touch. She radiated the aura of a mother. As Starfire began to calm down Raven spoke, softly this time.
"You're a long way from home, Starfire. Hand me that device. I will lead you back to the ones you love" Raven extended her hand as she said this. Motion towards Warp's device.
"But how do I prevent Danny from becoming THAT? How do I protect our friends?"
Raven frowned "That is not Danny. He will never become that thing. I promise you"
As she said this, she gently took the device from Starfire's hand. A bright light erupted and consumed Starfire's vision. As the world faded before her she heard Raven's final words.
"I'm glad I got to see you one last time"
A bright light flashed before the Titans. As their vision returned Starfire was standing before them.
"Starfire!" Robin yelled running up to her
She looked around at the others before falling to her knees. Everything that had happened rushed through her head like a nightmare. The images of her dead friends burned into her mind.
"Starfire, are you alright?"
At the sound of Danny's voice, she couldn't hold it in any longer.
She puked.