Teen Titans and the Thousand Year Door

Chapter 5

The Princess and the King

Now loading the save file from memory card A… Don't touch the memory card in slot A or the Power or Reset buttons…

The save file has been loaded.

In an unknown location, a mechanical view activates a series of cameras to see into a specific room. In a large room, two of the X-naut soldiers marched into the room, escorting two prisoners. Was the familiar Princess Peach, and the second was none other than Raven. The only difference was that Raven's hands were clasped by large gauntlets that had an unusual glow to them. The soldiers entered, crossed their arms over their chests in an 'X' as a salute and brought them to the center of the room. You could even see Lord Crump by the side leaning up against the wall.

"O great exalted Grodus!" one of the soldiers spoke. "We brought the prisoners as you ordered sir!"

The mechanical view zoomed into Peach as something in its system sparked. In the actual room, a new voice sounded.

"Well, well, well, my pet… Isn't it about time you told us where the map is Princess?" The voice belonged to a large and portly figure with a large black hat that showed a computer inside. He wore the same yellow goggles, the rest of his face hidden by a wrap around white cravat. He wore a black cape with yellow lining and purple inside trim over a purple robe with black linings and sleeves. In his white gloved hands, he held a long gold scepter with a computerized sphere at the end. "Princess Peach, you will speak when spoken to."

"I'm telling you, I don't know!" Princess Peach insisted.

"There's no point in trying to hide it silly girl," Grodus tisked. "We know you had it. We KNOW this. Trust me, it's very much in your interest to be absolutely honest with us. We X-nauts are not all rainbows and lollipops, I assure you. We're quite nasty."

Princess Peach remained silent.

"Very well then," Grodus muttered before casting his gaze on Raven. "How about you then? Just how did you appear in our base? And perhaps you have some friends somewhere?"

Before Raven could speak however, a holographic screen appeared in the air, and it was Fred Fredburger!

"Ah, hello? Sir Grodus? I have, uh… the re-con-ni-scence!"

"Report at once," Grodus spoke with an edge of anticipation.

"I found out that there was a Crystal Star was with Hooktail, but somebody took it!" Fred said happily.

"What? WHAT did you say? Someone else is after the Crystal Stars? And he defeated that Hooktail creature, you say? SPEAK Admin Fred!"

"Ah, yup! It's true!" Fred said nonchalantly. "I even saw them myself! One was really fat with a red hat and overalls, and the other was a green human!"

"Mario!" "Beast Boy?" Peach and Raven whispered respectively, in relief and confusion. Again, respectively.

"Excuse me? Mario? Beast Boy?" Grodus asked of his prisoners.

"Oh no," Peach moaned light of her blunder while Raven glared at her captor.

"Gaack ack ack ack ack!" Grodus cackled. "I see. So you both know of these heroes, do you? These fools matter not at all. I'll know all about them before long, that I promise. I grow bored of talking. Take Princess Peach and the telepath back to the holding room."

"Yes sir!" the two shouted.

"And men! Take good care of Princess Peach. Understand? She is not to be harmed," Grodus warned gravely.

"You got it sir!" they replied before escorting the two away.

"Well Lord Crump," Grodus called. "If these Mario and Beast Boy characters have the map, then it's highly likely they'll find the Crystal Star we're hunting in the Boggly Woods. You must return there immediately and hasten the excavation. It must not fail."

"Whuzzat?!" Crump cried as he woke back up and wiped away the drool on his chin. "Oh, yeah, sure! Roger Grodus! And with that, Pow! I'm gone!"

As Crump left, Grodus palmed his scepter in thought. "I wonder if sending Lord Crump there alone is wise. He is a bit… out there…"

"Uh, excuse me, Sir Grodus?" Fred called from the screen. "But can I have my nachos now please?"

Grodus stood there in silence before speaking. "Very well. But after you're finished, go to Boggly Woods and help Lord Crump. Understood?"

"Understood, yes!" Fred waved before the screen turned off.

"X-naut! I summon you!" Grodus shouted.

The door opened again as another X-naut marched in with an 'X' salute. Remember him. His name is Bob.

"You rang dude? I mean sir? You rang sir, Grodus dude? Grodus? Sir Grodus, sir?"

"Shut up. Go get the Shadow Sirens over here."

"The Shadow Sirens?" the soldier stuttered. "But they-"

"I don't care how you planned to end that sentence, fool. Go get them. Now."

"Gotcha!" Bob answered with a salute before running out the door.

"The honorable Grodus has need of us? Then we arrive without delay," an old and creepy voice sounded. With that, three shadow like beings arose from the floor. Each was feminine in appearance and wore white gloves. The first was old and hunched with lavender hair, a pointed nose, a wicked smile, and a blue hat with white stripes that hid her eyes. The second was large, had a small smile, carrot top bangs, and wore a yellow hat with white stripes. The final was petite, had swirly pink hair, rosy cheeks, a small smile, and a red hat with white stripes.

"Mmmwee hee hee hee hee…" the leader cackled. "Pray tell, did the princess tell you where the map is?"

"Still you tongue Beldam," Grodus spat. "We would already have it if you'd snatched her earlier. But now, since you missed your chance, some poor fools named Mario and Beast Boy have the map."

"It wasn't my fault, truly!" Beldam begged. "There were too many praying eyes there. Too many. Besides, a strange old man showed up at the moment of truth and we had to retreat. Why worry? All we need to do now is find these gentlemen and steal the map, yes?"

"Indeed, that is YOUR duty. Must I remind you?" Grodus said, his anger rising. "That map is vital to the X-naut plan. I will have my men prepare all available information on Mario and Beast Boy. For now, hear me Beldam! You Shadow Sirens must take care of these troublemakers!"

"Mmmmwee hee hee hee! Fear not sire. I, Beldam, shall return with what you seek" she replied with a bow before turning to her comrades. "Let's go my lovelies! Marilyn! Vivian! Come! We've got a job to do!"

With that, all three of the ladies sank back into the shadows as they came. The mechanical sight then switched cameras until it came upon Princess Peach and Raven in the room.

'Oh dear… here we go again…' Princess Peach thought to herself. 'I can't believe I'm kidnapped again. Mario and Toadsworth must be worried sick. Again. But… where in the world am I anyway? It's so unfamiliar… I wish I could at least let Mario and Toadsworth know that I've been caught…'

Soon enough though, her sight came to her fellow captive who sat in a meditative state. 'But still, it must be harder on her than for me. At least I'm used to being kidnapped; this must be her first time! I know how hard it is. Feeling so helpless and hopeless… I guess I'll just have to help keep her spirits up!'

She stepped over to the demoness, extending her hand out to shake. "Hello, my name is Princess Peach of the Mushroom Kingdom."

Raven opened her eyes before raising her gauntlets that shielded her hands. "My name is Raven of the Teen Titans."

"Who are those?" Peach asked as she sat down beside her.

"We're a crime fighting team from another world."

"Wait, you're from another world?" Peach asked in wonder.

"Yes," Raven said calmly. "My team keeps a good account on criminal groups, and I know we never heard of any of these X-nauts. Nor have we even heard of any Mushroom Kingdom. No offense."

"None taken," she smiled. "So, you know this Beast Boy they said was with Mario?"

"Yeah," she said with a twitch of her lip. "He can turn into any animal he likes, he's a strict vegetarian, and he's a really bad joker. But he tries."

"So, why are they making you wear these?" Peach asked, lifting one the gauntlets.

"I have telepathic powers over dark energy. Somehow they created these and it's preventing me from using them," she answered grimly as she glanced at her reflection. "If only I could get them off we could get out of here."

"Speaking of which, how did you get up here?"

"All that I remember was my team fighting a group of our enemies, and then some unnatural lightning struck and knocked me out. I wake up, and here I am defending myself from these guys until a lucky shot knocked me out again."

Soon a new sound came, startling them. They looked to the side to see the door open. They remained silent as no one came in. Peach then stood up and looked at her cellmate. "Shall we then?"

Raven remained quiet for a bit before she got up. "I can't guarantee your safety Peach."

Neither of them spoke on as they went down the empty hallway. "Weird. It doesn't look like anyone's around."

"Then somebody wants to see us privately," Raven assumed as she went on to a door at the far end of the hallway that was already open.

The room they entered was bare save for one side of the room where a large computer system was in the wall. The room was dark until lights came on and the computer came to life. The two were on guard as a mechanically male voice sounded from nearby speakers.

"Hello Princess Peach. Hello Raven."

"Who said that?" Peach called. "Where are you?" Raven demanded.

"How amusing," the voice continued. "I am right here before your eyes. I am this laboratory's main computer. I am the TEC-XX. Many call me TEC. You may. Sir Grodus created me to be a perfect computer, one that is flawless in its reason."

It was then that the two noticed the computer, and the small camera that was positioned over the screen.

"Wait," Peach realized. "Grodus… he's that awful dome-headed thing who interrogated us, right?"

"Sir Grodus is not awful. He is a very great person. He is marvelous," TEC stated. Worse part was that he actually sounded like he meant it.

"There's always somebody who says that about the worst people in the world," Raven spat. "And most of the time they can't be changed. Now why did you bring us here?"

"I am unsure," TEC answered. "An unusual program deviation occurred when I observed Princess Peach earlier. My higher brain circuitry malfunctioned and nearly overheated at your image. Also an unidentified impulse sped through my processors. These events are new to me. There is more to this phenomenon as well. I ran diagnostic programs and their solution was… I want to know more about you. I want to observe you. Such a compulsion has no precedence. Cause unknown. I, the perfect computer… I must diagnose this unusual situation. I will not fail. That is why I led you here."

"Wait," Peach said hesitantly. "Did you just say, you want to observe me? To know more about me?"

"Honestly if you simplify the computer terms, it sounds like you're attracted to the princess…" Raven muttered in concern.

"Impossible!" Peach gasped. "It can't be. It's a computer."

"An attraction?" TEC wondered. "Is that what has happened to me? But Peach is a fully organic life form. There is no metal for such magnetism."

"No, not that kind of attraction," Peach whispered. "Besides… it's just too weird."

"Please tell me," TEC begged. "Please. I am the world's best computer. I am perfect. There should not be anything that I do not understand. Please. If you know of the cause, then let me know."

"It sounds like you're in love," Raven answered frankly.

"Love? What is love? I cannot compute this…"

"Wait, you don't know what love is?" Peach asked.

"Figures…" Raven muttered.

"Love… how do I explain?" Peach began. "Love tells you when you want to be with a person forever. It makes you feel happy just to see that person happy, smiling, having fun. When you love someone, you will do anything to help when he or she is in trouble."

"Happiness? Fun?" TEC spoke as a few programs ran across his screen. "I have definitions for these words but… My programming is insufficient. There should be nothing I cannot comprehend. I am a perfect computer."

"Listen TEC," Raven spoke, "Emotions are a major part of my powers, so I know I'm right when I say this. Love, like any other emotion, is something that must be felt, not comprehended."

TEC remained silent for a minute before speaking once more, astounding them anew. "Princess Peach, Raven, will you teach me to feel this thing called love?"

"WHAT?!" they gasped, Raven in anger and Peach in disbelief before she continued. "You're a computer! Why would you care about love?"

"I am perfect," TEC answered. "There must be nothing that I cannot comprehend. Nothing. That is why you must help me understand this thing called love. Please. If you have any wishes that I can grant you in exchange, I will grant them. Of course I am unable to grant such a wish as letting you escape."

"You are in no position to ask anything of us!" Raven shouted with her eyes on the verge of glowing with her powers. "You kidnapped us for who knows how long, are now going to try and harm our friends, and then suddenly you just demand that we teach you to feel an emotion? If these things weren't stopping me I'd tear this base apart! Why should we trust you?"

"I understand that you are angry. That emotion I comprehend. You need not teach me now. But I must learn of this thing. I must. There is no alternative. I must be a perfect computer. That is why, if you just consider teaching me, I will grant your wishes. Do you understand me? Now, tell me your wishes."

Raven was about to rant again until Peach held her arm and face the computer. "If that's the case, then can I contact someone? The sooner the better…"

"Yes, of course you may," TEC said as a cover drew back to reveal a keyboard. "Use my communicator to send wireless mail to anywhere you want. If you so wish, you can use it right now. It is no trouble. Use the keyboard in front of you. Enter the recipient, address, and message. Now, what for you Raven?"

Raven remained silent until she sighed in defeat. "My friend has a communicator, but it only works vocally. Is there anyway you can track it down so that I can talk to him later?"

"But of course," TEC answered. "However I will need something of a similar state for tracking."

Raven winced. "The X-nauts confiscated it when they caught me. Peach, Beast Boy's probably with your friend. Just say that I'm here with you and that I said to keep that communicator on. I'm going back to the room."

"Is there anything that I can give you in the meantime?" TEC offered.

Raven looked down at her cuffs until she turned to the talking device. "Can you remove these things for me?"

"Yes, I can…" TEC said before the things snapped open and dropped to the floor. "I must warn you though, they might come to you for information on Beast Boy. I'll warn you if they come so that you can put them back on."

Raven rubbed her wrists before nodding and picking up the gauntlets. She gave one final nod as thanks before leaving. Peach said nothing as she came to the keyboard and typed her message. "OK, it's ready TEC. Could you send it?"

An image of a flying envelope went across the screen before a beep of recognition sounded. "The message has been sent. For the time being, you may return to you room. I will you two in again when I want to ask you something."

Peach went to the door before looking once more at her new student. "Ok then. Good night."

She left as the doors closed and the lights dimmed off again. "Good night Princess Peach."

Off in another land, a large grey brick castle stood out on a strip of land over a lava lake. Inside, many of the koopas dressed in armor or weapons waited in a large hall until the doors swung open, squashing two of them. In stomped a large koopa with orange skin, yellow spikes, flaming red hair with matching eyebrows, yellow horns, and pearly white teeth.

"GRA HA HA HAR!" the beast roared. "Bowser, the mighty Koopa King has arrived! Hold you applause minions! But now that I'm here, Kammy! You crusty old hag! Why did you summon me?"

One of the squashed armored koopas, known as Koopatrols, moaned as he got back up and closed the doors. "Uh, great lord Bowser? The crusty hag Kammy Koopa will arrive momentarily. I'm really sorry for the inconvenience, but please wait at the rear of the room."

"Ah! Lord Bowser!" and feminine old voice shouted behind him. An elderly female koopa with large glasses, a purple robe and hat with pink sleeves, and a small gold scepter with a ruby top came in. "I've just now returned. I'm terribly sorry to keep you waiting my lord."

"I bet you are Kammy Koopa!" Bowser grumbled. "Now out with it! Why have you called me here?"

"Please your grumpiness! Don't be so impatient with your poor servant," Kammy begged. "Ahem, it's my displeasure to report that Mario, that scum, is off to a town called Rogueport."

Bowser scoffed. "Am I Mario's babysitter? I don't care what he's doing! Are you going to call me every time he blows his nose or what? Sheesh!"

"Yes, well, you see my lord, apparently Mario is hunting for an amazing treasure."

This bit of news changed Bowser's mood. "Tuh-treasure?!"

"Yes," Kammy answered as she looked through a few papers. "Mario has gone in search of star shaped jewels known as the Crystal Stars. I'm researching just what they are, but there's no question of their high value."

"The Crystal Stars, you say?" Bowser chuckled as he scratched his chin. "They sound like good world conquering tools to me! I want them! Yes… very good. Continue researching this for me, you brainy hag, you."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir. Leave it to me. By the way lord Bowser, do you like fried eggs?" Kammy asked.

"Do I?" Bowser said with a lick of his chops. "I love fried eggs! LOVE them! But, what a weird question. Why do you ask?"
"Well, during my Mario recon, I stopped in a lovely place called Petal Meadows," Kammy answered with a smile. "I was planning on taking everyone there for a picnic, having some eggs and toast. Of course I wouldn't think of sending out the invites without asking you first lord Bowser!"

"AIRHEAD!!" Bowser roared, shaking the whole castle. "A picnic?! You MORON! This is no time for fun! See, this is why my evil plans always derail! Because you clods always goof off!" he shouted as he began to stomp the ground.

"Oh dear, lord Bowser! Please calm down! Remember your blood pressure!" Kammy begged. Suddenly another koopa in a blue robe and glasses carrying the same scepter came in and whispered something into Kammy's ear. "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Is this true?! Lord Bowser! Terrible news! Some bold fool abducted Princess Peach in Rougeport!"

"Huh-whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?!" Bowser roared as he stopped stomping. "Tell me you're lying Kammy! How? When? Where? Who'd do such a thing? Besides me?"
"I'm afraid we don't have that information quite yet. The investigation's ongoing," Kammy reported. "One thing is most certainly conformed however: the princess has been kidnapped."

"Under NO circumstances is ANYONE allowed to kidnap her without MY say-so! I will not stand for this! I'm going to Rougeport NOW! I've got to kidnap her back!" Bowser shouted as he raced out of the room. Kammy couldn't even take five steps before Bowser came back in his Koopa Clown Kart and busted out of the castle. Kammy soon came back on a broom with purple and light blue bristles. "But, your gunginess! Wait up!" she shouted as she gave chase.

The hall remained quiet until one of the koopatrols finally spoke up. "So, who's gonna fix that hole in the wall, cause I know I won't!"

The Legend of Rougeport
Part 2. The Crystal Stars
In order to increase its already formidable power the demon created Crystal Stars to hold the essence of the most powerful hearts of the worlds. One of these stars was placed in each country to exert the demon's influence. One of the castles built to contain these stars still stands near Petal Meadows.

Save all game progress up to this point?

Now saving… Do not touch the memory card in slot A or the power button…

Your progress is saved.

The Unknown Alias's status: Signed out

Date of Update: 7/19/2008