Following day in Starfire's quarter, she stood in front of the mirror in her room, the second time that she held her wedding dress in front of her. She couldn't believe that after Blackfire's 'announcements,' Richard actually agreed. Today was going to be one of the happiest days of her life. Closing her eyes, she imaged her life in the near future with Richard's arms around her. She would follow him anywhere, would do anything from this day forth, and she was the happiest she could ever be.

Knocking on her door caused her to return the dress to its stand. Approaching the door, Starfire opened the door.

"Sister, what bring you here?" asked Starfire surprised to see her.

Smiling, "Am I not allowed to see my sister on her wedding day?" replied Blackfire

Blackfire gave her sister a powerful hug. Starfire returned it with pride.

"I'm so proud of you. I cannot wait to perform the Matory Dous."

Breaking the embrace, "Sister, you cannot be serious," said Star stepping back, "Nightwing does not even know the meaning behind it."

Smiling, "I plan on seeing him next and explaining it to him. Don't worry little sister, if he truly loves you like I've seen, he will not be afraid of a bit of pain."

"If your sure," said Starfire nervously.

"Sister, what is wrong?"

"Why are you doing this sister? Why are you marrying us?"

Giving a kind smile across her lips, "Because, you're my sister. I've hurt you far too much, and by not giving you to your human love, then I could hurt you even more. And by marrying you, we both are helping our people by showing there is happiness in the darkest of our times. So by me doing this, I can improve everyone's life at the same time, rather then just my own, or yours," sighing, "Wished Ryand'r was here."

"It was not your fault," said Starfire nodding, "I understand why. And thank you."

"You are very welcome sister," said Blackfire with her own small smile, "I shall leave you to prepare while I talk to your husband to be."

"Yes, I have so much to do."

Blackfire smiled as Starfire began to move around the room, starting a dozen things at

once. Leaving her sister to her privacy, Blackfire headed towards Nightwing's quarters.

Knocking, she waited. Opening of the door, she saw the same surprised look she received from her sister.

"Blackfire, what can I do for you?" asked Nightwing.

"I wish to speak to you about the ritual I am going to perform on my sister and you," she said.

Looking her over, he ushered her inside.

Once in the room, Blackfire stopped allowing Nightwing to close the door.

Standing beside to her, Nightwing crossed his arms crossed.

"So, what do we need to talk about?"

Looking him over for a minute, "I will be performing a ritual called Matory Dous."

With a confused look, he started to open his mouth until Blackfire raised a hand to stop him.

"I realize you have no idea what it means, which is why I'm here," she said, "Do you remember the first time I was going to marry Star?" waiting for his nod, "That was just a simple mating ceremony, where two people are joined, even though they have no feelings for one another. The Matory Dous is on its own level."

Raising his eyebrow, "How so?"

"It's a blood ritual," noticing Nightwing going pale for a bit, "the ceremony is two join to hearts already forged by there passion for each other. I feel that this is really the only way I can give me sister away to the man she truly loves."

Thinking for a moment, he stared directly at Blackfire.

"What must I do?"

Being led in chains like animal, the mighty Val-Tor betrayed by weak lieutenants. Heaven hates cowards. Two Troq guards led him to his cell until a proper trial for war crimes. Only crime was that whore Troq was going to judge him. Him, that would bring a new golden era onto the universe.

Hate burned from his eyes. A metal piece prevented the truth of their Empress, her sister, generally all Tameraneans from being heard and they existed to lick his boots. Already thoughts of punishment, he'll inflict onto the naked body of their Empress and her sister kept his soul from being consumed by despair.

Stopping, a head of them was an Earthwoman wearing a black cloak with gold trim which looked like a single roll of cloth covering her body.

"Should you not be with the other liberators celebrating the marriage of Princess Koriand'r to Nightwing Grayson of Earth.

"I'm not with those losers," she said rushing towards them.

In a blink, she beheaded the guards. Prepared for death. His eyes didn't flinch as the curved blade headed towards him.

Slicing through the mouth guard, "Listen, cockroach, I would crush you if my master didn't have a use for you," leading him through a portal.

In a makeshift throne room, Nightwing waited with a room full of Tamerans, along with the male Titans acting like his best men and the bridesmaids for Starfire. Captain Adama, Altair, and Daria were also in the hall. Altair and Daria held hands. As for Adama's presence, being that the Battlestar was still in orbit, Blackfire felt that he should be here to represent his ship. It had been a bit of a shock for those that were not paying a attention to learn that Altair and Daria had become a couple and no one seemed to mind it except for Jake. He always did have trouble grasping the obvious.

Standing just in front of Nightwing with her rebuilt throne behind her, "Present the Bride!" boomed her voice.

The palace doors opened. A reveling of armed royal guard in ceremonial uniforms marched in. Sets of two breaking off and standing either side of the makeshift aisle. They formed a protective line in the middle of room.

The bride in question began her slow walk up the pathway as the guards saluted with their spears. She wore a white dress without gloves covering her hands. Behind her, walked Terra, Raven, and Jinx in that order. In the Matory Dous ritual, they were in a way, bridesmaids, but more so as personal guardians of the bride. And in so, they did not wear dresses like Starfire, but fresh Titans' uniforms.

The male Titans wore new uniforms expect for the polished up Cyborg. Jake wore a full combat officer's uniform with his pistols at his side.

As the bride approached, Nightwing couldn't help but stare. Yes, she was beautiful, he always knew that. Right now, she was his goddess. Smiling at his look, she stop in front of him.

Blackfire opened her mouth only for Nightwing to stop her.

Fear came over Starfire's eyes when he looked at her.

"If we are to be married Koriand'r, I will not wear my mask."

Removing it in front of her, she saw those lovely blue eyes melted all of her fears away.

Richard gave a small nod towards Blackfire, signaling her to continue.

"Guardians!"

The remaining members of the Titans walked in front of the three forming a half circle. It was the term, as it was explained to them, that they were the line of defense as two warriors joined in spirit and hearts. Each group of three protected either the bride or the groom, until the ceremony. Many times in the past, someone would interrupt and issue a fight to stop the wedding. The guardians were to protect the two until the ceremony was completed.

As the six Titans watched the crowd, Blackfire called out to all, "We are here to see the joining of my sister, Koriand'r of Tameran, and Richard 'Nightwing' Grayson of Earth. This will be no simple wedding as these halls have seen before instead it is a ritual of the Matory Dous. I have seen in them both, the fire of passion and strength of two warriors, completely taken with each other's lives. Should anyone challenge this joining, they must first face the chosen guardians of groom and bride. Are there any challengers?"

The six Titans watched, tense, and ready to fight. Jake had the urge to pop his claws out, but restrained himself at the silence.

Acknowledging the silence, "Very well. Then allow us to begin," grapping a pair of daggers off a red cushion.

Gripping a dagger in each hand, she approached the two. She presented the blades to each. Starfire took hers without question. After a moment, Richard followed.

Looking into each other's eyes, they saw the shared love between them as they each drew the blade across their left hands. Red blood began to stream out of Richard's hand as a paler red blood came from Starfire's. Blackfire held the pillow. As the blood crept down their arms, the two placed the bloody daggers on the pillow.

Once the pillow was returned to its resting place, Blackfire said, "Please join you hands."

Richard and Starfire brought their hands together, but neither closed.

"Warrior Grayson, if you take Koriand'r as your bride, do you swear on your life and the life of your guardians, that you will protect, love, cherish, and above all, fight along her side, until the day that you ether fall to another's blade or time itself?"

Fighting to stay up from the shock of seeing ones own blood, he didn't black out.

"I swear on everything I hold dear," he called out for the entire hall to hear, "I will."

Looking to her sister, "Warrior Koriand'r, if you take Richard as your husband, do you swear upon your own life and the lives of your own guardians, to follow him into battle, to care for him when he is wounded, and to love him, no matter the wounds he receives upon the field of battle?"

Looking into Richard's eyes, Starfire saw the pain. Her alien nature didn't mind seeing her own blood, but she knew he was having trouble.

"I swear upon my own life, I will."

Nodding her satisfaction with both answers, Blackfire stepped forward closing their hands.

"Then let it be known," she called out with her purple star bolts forming, "that they have pledges their lives and the lives of others to each other, and as Empress of Tameran, and I grace this joining."

Gritting his teeth, Richard watched Starfire through Blackfire's purple spheres. He would do anything for her. Starfire also watched with her fear growing at his pain. She knew that he loved her, and fighting to make her happy.

Soon Blackfire's star bolts depowered.

Stepping back, "I give to the people of Tameran, Richard 'Nightwing' Grayson and Princess Koriand'r have become one warrior, joined together not through emotions, but of blood. AND MAY THE GALAXY FEAR THEM, SHOULD ANYTHING COME BETWEEN THE TWO!"

Roars of applause filled the room. Staring at his arm, Richard saw the blood was gone only a scar remained. The shock passed. He felt something new. Something closer, even if possible, more in love with Starfire. Looking into her eyes, he wrapped his arms around her kissing her deeply.

Starfire returned it feeling such passions coming from the man she could now truly call her husband. She felt closer to him. She knew it was going to happen. That was the point of the warrior's wedding. With the joining of the two hearts, they could feel each other's pain in battle, but also feel each other's love and passion for one another. They didn't become psychic in anyway, but they just became closer. Ending the kiss, they smiled at each other.

"You know," jokingly Richard said, "everyone on earth we know missed our wedding. We might have to have an earth wedding when we get back."

Smiling, "If it is what you wish, husband, "her heart soaring at that word" Richard, then I will gladly do it again on Earth."

"Do you really mean that?" Richard asked.

Standing in the darkness, actually another led up to another test from his captors. Increasing the blood flow to his irises allowed him to use what little light he had to focus on the door before him. The door slide open.

"Prisoner 770219 step through the door."

He didn't let's test them.

The wall behind him crackled with electricity slowly inching him closer to the opening. Finally walking through, his eyes studied his surroundings. Below him a long way to fall and above him a long way to the top. Xina and Miguel joined him. Xina's neck length hair proved they were in zero gravity shaft.

"Prisoners. It's a race to the top. Those who lag behind are killed."

Placing his foot against the wall, Nemo propelled himself towards the other two contestants. Gripping their prison uniforms, his feet against the metal walls upwards thrust of both his legs and arms sent the two skyrocketing upwards.

Running upwards, then jumping side to side, he caught up with them and repeat. Three repeated attempts got Miguel close, however a cable tangled up Xina. Bouncing off the walls at an forty five degree angle, Nemo zig zagged his way towards her. Freeing her, he applies a little palm power to start twirling. Holding her ankles, he gains speed letting go, she rocketed towards Miguel. Knocking them both through the exit.

"Alright, jack asses, your choice," said Nemo smirking.

After eating a light meal of military rations, the dancing had begun. Strange, how belly dancing is an universal thing. Starfire and Blackfire joined the dancers telling the story of how love formed the universe. Then Starfire and Richard had their first dance as a couple.

Noticing her dance partner missing, "Where did he go off?" Raven thought getting up.

Heading outside, she found him staring at the setting sun with his hands in his pockets.

"Why is he out there?" she wondered walking towards him.

Lost in his thoughts prevented from hearing until her hand touched his arm. His head turned from the sunset to her lovely face.

"Penny for your thoughts," she said.

Smiling, "No, I was thinking about you. And you are worth for more then a penny."

Smiling, "So what would I be worth then?"

"A quarter," he replied with a smile.

Trying not to roll her eyes, she just smiled.

Holding his hands, "And what were you thinking about me?"

Jake went quiet causing Raven to raise an eyebrow.

"You truly mean a lot to me, Raven," he said, "more then anything. I know you deserve better." Yeah, she does.

"Jake, please, I…"

"No Angel, let me finish," he said, "We've been together through very bad times, with only having each other for the good times. And you've been there for me every moment I've needed you," watching her smile, "But I feel that, I haven't been able to be there for you. I haven't been able to fully support you, and you deserve better because of it. I've only hurt you by being with you." Is he finally seeing the truth about himself?

Stunned from listening to him. Didn't he love her, because damn it, she loved him more then anything she's ever known. Actually, she doesn't know any better.

Staring her dead in the eyes, "But I have done my best to protect you, and I will for the rest of my life, together or not. But I want us to be together." Or until a better woman enters his life.

"What are you saying?" she asked feeling his nervousness and fear.

Pulling out a box, "Raven, I love you more then anything."

Dropping to one knee, he opened the box revealing a gold ring with an amethyst stone.

Then her heart stopped when he asked, "Will you marry me?"

Had she heard it right? She saw the ring, he was on one knee, and he was looking on, in fear of failure. He just proposed to her, over looking a city devastated by war during a sunset.

Smiling with tears ready to flow, "Yes, I will."

Jake had the biggest smile she's ever seen. Standing up, he pulled her into a deep kiss, which she gladly returned with such passion that it rivaled his. Pulling apart their lips, Jake took the ring from the box placing it on her finger.

Smiling, she stared at her boyfriend now turned fiancé.

"I want you to know, you have always been there for me, don't ever think I will never want to be away from you. I love you."

Smiling, "I love you too, more then anything on any of the worlds I've been to."

Smiling, she shared another passionate kiss. After a few moments, their lips separated.

"You know, we're going to need to tell the others," said Raven , "and do things properly."

Smiling, their embrace ended.

"I think I can do that."

Together headed back to the ceremony like a guided missile to announce their big future moment. Not knowing the storm waiting to turn their world and understanding of it upside down. For now, Raven was soon to be his wife, and he loved her to where it was the most painful thing he's ever felt. And he loved every freaking minute of it.

To be continued in Teen Titans: Demon Knights