Starfire blinked her eyes open, what had happened? But more importantly, where was she? She rose to her feet and looked around. Surrounding her was a blue sky and a strangely soft green growth on the ground.

"Oh X'hal, what is this strange place?" Starfire wondered out loud.

Sighing, she began aimlessly, nothing was familiar to her! Then, Starfire stumbled upon a golden path. Unsure of what to do, she decided to follow the yellow brick road. There was nothing and no one around.

After a while, she flew past a garden. Strange plants grew from the ground and stretched as far as the eye could see, except for the very center of the garden. Lying at the center was a strange masked figure, dressed in red and green, the figure seemed to be made of… plants?

Intrigued by this, Starfire flew over to the figure. Something about this masked figure was so familiar. Something about the figure made her feel more at peace.

"Excuse me please, excuse me," Starfire inquired politely, as she shook the figure.

Unable to solicit a response Starfire turned to fly away, but stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Miss…uhm… what was it that you wanted?"

"Eeep!" Starfire screamed, a bit startled, "Oh, why yes, I came to inquire the whereabouts of this place… and, might I also be so bold to inquire who and what you are, sir?"

"I'm sorry Miss. You see, I'm a scarecrow, no brains, "the figure chuckled nervously, "I'm not sure I understand those big words. By the way, I'm Robin, who are you?"

Starfire starred at the outstretched hand of the figure-er, Robin. What was he doing? Was a ritual of some sort.

"Robin, I am afraid I do not understand. What does this odd gesture mean?" Starfire asked mimicking Robin's out streched hand.

"Why it's a hand shake ma'am. It is uh... well it's uhm..," Robin sputtered as he searched for words,"it's sort of a greeting, like saying hello."

"Oh, I see!" Starfire beamed, "sticking out her hand with confidence, "I am Starfire. It is glorious to meet you!"

Grasping her hand, Robin shook it up and down, "So where are you headed, anyways?"

"Actually, I am unsure. I am unfamiliar with this place… but perhaps if I had a guide, I could find my way home."

"I could be your guide, where is your home anyways?"

"My home is Tamaran!" Starfire said with a giant smile plastered on her face.

"Huh, I've never heard of it. But then again, I haven't heard of a lot of things. I'm sure we will find your home." assured Robin.

"Thank you, does this mean we are friends?" Starfire asked her smile hopeful.

"Yes, we are friends," Robin said, returning her smile.

So the new friends continued on their merry way, down the yellow brick road. (Well after discovering that they had to walk, because Robin couldn't fly.) The garden turned into a dense forest after a few minutes of walking.

"Friend Robin, look! A little house! Perhaps we should stop and ask for directions?" Starfire asked.

"Yes, let's do that! You sure are smart Starfire," Robin said smiling.

At this, Starfire beamed, and the pair ran down the path to the little house. Sitting in the front yard was a strange sight. A half man, half robot sat, unmoving, in a chair in the front yard.

"Hello strange man, I am Starfire of Tamaran, and this is my friend Robin. We wish to inquire directions from you. Hello?"

"Helllooooo…?" Robin asked, waving a hand in front of the strange man's face, "Huh, maybe he is functional?"

"I believe you are right. How do we make him functional, Friend Robin?"

"I'm not sure Starfire, I'm just a scarecrow, remember? No brain," Robin sighed.

"Oh," replied Starfire, a bit disappointed.

Starfire's disappointed response stirred something deep inside the scarecrow. He didn't know why, but Robin wanted to impress Starfire, and for once in his life, not be so brainless.

"Maybe… maybe he has a switch? And maybe right now his switch is off?" suggested Robin as he furrowed his brow, "no, never mind, that couldn't be it…"

Starfire paid no heed to Robin's second guessing, following Robin's guess, she tilted the robot man over and examined him.

"You know, I couldn't be right. I'm just a scarecrow," mumbled Robin with his arms crossed, "my ideas aren't thought out. I—"

"I've got it!" exclaimed Starfire cheerfully as she flipped a switch on the robot man, "Friend Robin, you were right!"

"I-I was?" stammered a confused Robin. As realization hit he exclaimed, "I was right! I can't believe it! I was right!"

"You were right!" Starfire exclaimed.

"I was right!" Robin yelled.

"Yeah, yeah! I heard you guys the first time! He was right. Wait, what was he right about?"

"Eeep!" screamed Robin and Starfire at the sound of an unfamiliar voice.

The pair turned around to see that the half robot man was now functional. The man sat up and looked at them, and opened his mouth to speak.

"What? Why are we screaming? Ah, Ahhh!" the man yelled.

"Why are you screaming?" Starfire asked, confused, "are you injured, sir?"

"Who me? No, I'm fine. I screamed because yall did. I was feelin' a bit left out. Anyways, I'm Cyborg. Thanks for turning me back on guys," the half robot said, extending his hand.

Excited to fulfill the new greeting ritual she learned with Robin, Starfire grabbed Cyborg's hand and shook it wildly up and down.

"I am Starfire, and this is my friend Robin. Do you wish to be my friend?" Starfire asked.

Cyborg flinched." Woah, easy. You've got some grip girl," he said as he pulled his hand back and shook it, then with a warm smile he added, " I would love to be your friend, but I don't have a heart, I'm not sure if I would be a good friend."

"Nonsense! You would be a great friend to have," replied Starfire.

"Really?" Cyborg asked.

"Of course," Starfire said turning to Robin, as if searching for approval.

"Yeah, sure" Robin grudgingly said.

"Glorious!" Starfire exclaimed, "Might I inquire why it is that you live in this very lonely place friend?"

Sighing Cyborg stroked his chin, "I'm a Cyborg, half robot. I'm heartless, and until now, I've just never had a friend. Everyone thinks I'm cold and dead inside, like a real robot. If I had a heart, I know I could be a better person. I could be a real person."

"Oh friend Cyborg, I am so sorry to hear this sad news. But never shall you fear. For I do not care if you think you are lacking the necessary parts to function. I believe that you have them all," Starfire said, shooting Cyborg a reassuring smile.

Robin slowly decided to turn Starfire's attention back to himself. She needed to get back to Tamaran, and while he was lacking in brains, he made up for it with courage. They had woken Cyborg up for a reason!

"Well...uh Cyborg, it's nice to meet you . But we woke you up for a reason. We are trying to find Starfire's home Tamaran, do you know where it is?" Robin asked.

"Hmm, Tamaran? I'm not sure I've heard of it. But I could search for it on my scanners," Cyborg said.

"You can? That would be wonderful," Starfire said smilig.

"Thanks," Robin replied feeling a bit jealous to have Starfire's attention stolen, "just give us the directions and we'll be on our way."

Cyborg's brow furrowed as he said "Crap, my scanners aren't workin'. No service out here in the forest."

"That's too bad you can't help. We'll just be on our way. Come on, let's go Starfire," Robin said, secretly happy that Cyborg had failed.

"Well actually, I could help you, just not out here. If we got out of the woods, my scanners would work…" Cyborg began, feeling hopeful," if you guys still need my help, we just need to head out a little further on the path. If it's okay with you guys."

"Yes, that would be glorious new friend! Please, you must accompany us on this strange golden path, right Robin? If you agree, I know it shall be right, because you have yet to be wrong!" Starfire said smiling.

Seeing Starfire attention turned toward Cyborg, Robin felt left out. He had felt special when Starfire became his friend, when no one else would. She awokened something deep inside him and made him feel like for once in his life. Maybe he did have a brain. And for a split second, Robin felt as though he should say no to bringing Cyborg along. But then, Robin relaized that this exact feeling was probably what Cyborg was feeling right now. And at that moment, Robin believed that he should not feel resentful toward Cyborg anymore.

Robin promised himself at that moment he would make sures Starfire made it home. Despite his lack of brains, he did have heart, and despite Cyborg's lack of heart, he did have brains. To get Starfire home, they would need to work together.

"Of course Starfire. Cyborg we would be glad if you would come with us," Robin said turning to Cyborg with an extended hand.

"Booyah!" Cyborg exclaimed punching the air with his fist, "Goodbye lonely old house, hello new friends!"

"Hello? But I thought we have all already made our acquaintances?" asked a puzzled Starfire.

Laughing, three new friends, a lost princess from Tamaran, a "brainless" scarecrow, and a "heartless" Cyborg, continued arm in arm down the golden brick road. Walking of course, beause once again, neither of Starfire's new friends could fly.