Disclaimer – See the first chapter.
Warning – Stupid humor, eventual f/f romance.
Other – I was having trouble with this story. One, I forgot about it with school and my life. Two, I couldn't figure what I was doing. So I went back and edited the first two chapters to give myself a little wiggle room.
Hopefully this means I'll update better. I just realized just how long it was since I last updated. Oops. Cue the "Woh-woh-woh" noise.
And reviews are always appreciated, even if it's just to tell me that I'm an idiot for not updating quickly enough.
The moment of quiet passed and the girl on the bed blinked warily, "Who are you?" She glanced at Starfire, eyes wide and suspicious.
It took Star a moment to respond. Her heart was thudding loudly and her breath had caught in her throat. This girl was stunningly beautiful and as Star eyed her, she could have sworn a herd of buffalo was charging around her chest. It must have been audible for miles, she thought. The buffalo were complemented by a flock of butterflies dancing in her stomach and her toes tingling pleasantly.
"I am Starfire. Just Star." She murmured. A blush painted her cheeks a pale pink, though she didn't understand what she was embarrassed by.
"Oh." The girl got off the bed, "I'm Raven. Just Raven." Her gown pooled around her ankles and she ran a delicate hand through her hair. "I suppose you're here to rescue me?"
Star nodded, mute. Her tongue felt several sizes to large.
Raven gazed at her blankly. It had been terribly long since she had been in the company of living humans, "I suppose that is a blessing. I must admit that I expected a brave knight to rescue me, not a… girl."
"Oh, do not have the worries! I have the strength you require." Star lifted the bed frame as an example with ease.
Raven nodded, face still emotionless. Star found that odd, but made no comment. Perhaps Raven did not want to be rescued? Before speaking again, Raven went to her bookcase and tucked one well-worn book into her shirt, for safe keeping.
"Well, let's go, then." Raven glanced around, "Can you get us down from this tower?"
Star beamed harder, "Oh yes!" She quickly wrapped her arms around Raven's stomach and lower chest and lifted. Floating out the window, she headed towards what she thought was a safe place. A moment before she landed, the dragon's tail crushed it and she jerked to the side, grip on Raven shifting. She didn't realize it but she was now gripping a rather uncomfortable area on Raven, and Raven squirmed.
"I thought you took care of the dragon!"
"It is on my to-do list?" Star laughed nervously, "Beast Boy! Come on! We need to get out of here before that dragon roasts us."
A flash of green told her that Beast Boy was currently up to his pointed ears with dragon-troubles. Star found a safe place to deposit her package before running towards the dragon with green fire igniting around her hands.
Beast Boy was trying his best not to become flame-cooked bacon, but it was harder than he thought it would be. The flames would graze his foot and he'd wonder if the next blast wouldn't hit straight on. He was losing energy, and quickly, as he wove around. Star's arrival was life-saving as she started her vicious attack on the threat.
Her beams of energy seemed to have no affect on the monstrous beast. They would blast into its sides and sizzle out. Never before had Star found a creature that wasn't susceptible to her powers. She grew slightly angry and beams exploded from her eyes.
The beast threw its tail around, colliding with her smaller body and sending Star hurtling down and smashing into the stony outcroppings of the castle. She didn't move from her resting place, though a small breeze rifled through her hair.
Raven nearly groaned. She was so close to freedom, and her hero appeared dead. As a last resort, she pulled her book out and flipped through the pages. Murmuring under her breath, she opened the book and pointed the pages at the enraged dragon. A blast of black light billowed forth and wrapped tendrils around her foe. The dragon bellowed and fought, but couldn't keep himself from being sucked down into the pages.
Slamming the covers together, Raven sighed with relief. Although the book was ruined, the dragon was gone and she was released. Feelings of guilt made her search for the fallen Starfire. She found her hero still motionless.
Black fire emanated from her slim hands; Raven placed her hands onto Star's chest and closed her eyes, letting her powers do all the work. A few moments passed and Star's eyes flickered open. Star sat bolt upright, staring around wildly.
"Where is the dragon? I must stop him from roasting Beast Boy!" She gasped, panicked.
"I stopped the dragon – you and the little green thing are safe." Raven intoned.
"Oh! Well, then I should I find Friend Beast Boy and we should return to the kingdom for your wedding."
Raven narrowed her eyes, "What's this?"
"I was sent by a Prince to fetch you to be his wife." Star gazed at Raven, eyes wide. It was difficult to hide her emotions, but she really didn't want Raven to know how enraptured she was.
Unfortunately, Raven was fairly good at reading people. "Seems to me, you'd rather take me yourself."
A dark blush colored Star's cheeks, "I am to take you back to the castle where you will live happily."
Raven sniffed, "We'll see. Before we go back to wherever you're talking about, I have to get my curse lifted."
"Oh, Friend Raven, you are cursed?" Star gasped.
Before Raven could answer and explain, Beast Boy hurtled down next to them quickly morphing from hawk into boy. He was more forward than Star was.
"Dude! Whoever you are, we should totally go and get some dinner." He gave Raven what he considered a very dashing smile.
Raven scowled, "I'd rather date your friend here."
His balloon busted, Beast Boy deflated, "Lot of fun you are."
"Oh hush, Beast Boy! Do not pester her!" Star waved her hands at him, hoping this would cool his jets. Raven's comment, though, had elicited strange feelings in her heart, an almost strangled feeling, like her heart was constricting.
"It's fine, as long as he doesn't touch me. And eyes count. Don't look at me, grass stain." Raven glared at him with delicate precision.
"Yeah, whatever." Beast Boy sniffed, "Like I'd ever date a pale pinprick of a girl like you."
The air suddenly filled with a heated tension. Starfire glanced between her new friend and her companion and could nearly see the daggers they were staring at each other.
"Please, Friend Beast Boy, leave us?"
With a final huff, he turned and flew off, leaving the two girls to exit the castle on their own. Raven relaxed as soon as he was out of view.
"And you traveled with that guy? And didn't kill him?"
If Starfire wasn't mistaken, that might have been a smidgeon of humor poking through Raven's rough exterior.
"Yes, it was hard. But he is very amusing." She shrugged her shoulders, overcome with shyness again.
"When we get out of here, we'll need to travel south. There is a wizard living at the edge of a dangerous forest, and only he will be able to fix me." Raven rattled off – she'd practiced this speech in her tower for years, waiting for the day she would finally use it.
"And then you'll return and marry Prince Robin?" Star questioned, eyes averted.
"You do know that I'm supposed to marry the knight who rescues me. That's part of the deal. You have more of a claim over me that he does." Raven droned. Her voice was flat and uninterested, as if she didn't care who she married. The truth was, though, that she was more inclined to marry a pretty red-headed girl then an unknown man who sent others to do his work for him.
"I could not betray the Prince like that." It killed Starfire to deny Raven, but she had to put her duty before her desire.
Raven nodded, "Do you mind if we set out, then? I'd like to get this curse lifted before too many people get hurt."
"Is your curse dangerous?" Star began to trot along the wall, watching the ground for rough patches and missing stones.
"I guess. During the day, I'm fairly harmless, if I don't let my emotions run loose, but nighttime is a totally different story. At night…" Raven trailed off. She hadn't had a friend since she was very young, and Star was the closest she was getting. Telling Star what she turned into seemed like a sure-fire way to lose her only friend.
"At night?" Star pushed a heap of rubble out of the way.
"At night… I like to be left alone."
Unwilling to talk further, Raven fell silent, ignoring Star's comments and questions. After Starfire got the hint it took nearly ten minutes to find their way out of the decaying castle and scurry across the bridge.
Starfire eyed her new friend cautiously. If there was danger present, she couldn't sense it. Perhaps Friend Raven was exaggerating?