Yes! Finally, I could update... Schools out, so plenty of time to write! It's been fun...
I'm currently working on a new story, a HP/SM crossover. I'm working really hard on it...
Enjoy!
The Bird and The Firefly
Chapter 05 - Relevations
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Robin did his best to calm down, but it was extremely hard. He could se the hurt in Hotarus eyes, and how she did her best not to show it so he wouldn't worry about her. Taking a deep breath, he shook his head and drew his hand through his hair. Hotaru looked down, as if she was struggling with herself and they found themselves in an uncomfortable situation.
"Don't tell the others, especially not Starfire… She will be crushed…"
Robin shifted his position and gave her a stern look.
"What about you? Do you really wan't to see his face every day? He almost raped you! I don't care if he was controlled by some damn magic, what I care about is how you will feel!"
He stopped when he saw another tear fall from her eye. She shook her head, again looking down.
"He… We should talk to him first…"
She turned to Speedy, lifting the necklace with magic, and laid it down on the bed beside her. Robin had to admit that it probably was logical to hear him out first before they could continue their argument.
"Fine, but I will knock him out again and we will talk!"
Hotaru inhaled sharply but nodded. Robin grabbed Speedy by the shoulders and shook him violently, and in a minute, he was awake. He grabbed his head and looked up in confusion. He looked around and groaned.
"Why are you in my room? Where we drinking or…"
His eyes suddenly went wide.
"Hey, I was on my way to my room… Then I heard someone calling my name. It came from Cyborgs room so I headed over there… And no one was there…"
He stopped when Robin grabbed him by his collar and gave him a murderous look.
"Why the hell did you touch that necklace!"
Speedy blinked in confusion, still a bit groggy from the blow.
"Whoa! I haven't done anything… At least… I just felt like touching the necklace! It was so… I just had to touch it, it was like it was calling to me… You said it wasn't dangerous! And then I suddenly wake up here with you guys! Where you trying to talk me into a threesome or something?"
Robin punched him in the face and Speedy fell into a lump. Hotaru shrieked.
"Stop! He is telling the truth…"
Robin made sure he was unconscious before he faced Hotaru, who were shivering. She couldn't meet his eyes.
"He said… He said the same that Tristan told me… It must be him."
She yelped when Robin grabbed her forcefully and she starred at him with fear in her eyes. His face where hard, but she could feel his anger bubbling inside. She swallowed.
"What!?"
Hotaru broke down, and told him all about her meeting with him, and exactly what he had said. She felt Robin stiffen, and cried harder.
"I didn't want you to worry… You have so much on your shoulders already…"
He shook her a bit, and she looked up into his eyes. He had taken his mask of, and she starred right into her cold eyes.
"What if I want to worry about you!? What if I want to share your pain!? I think you should in the tower for a while…"
Hotaru slipped out of his grasp, tears still streaming down her face. She was shaking right now, and she glared at him.
"That's why I didn't want to tell you! You would only want me to stay here… But if I do, how the hell am I suppose to find him? I think he came from my dimension, and that he was the one who sent me here! My friends could be hurt because of me! I wasn't there to fulfil my duty… He killed Slade! He hurt Speedy! I have to stop him… I…"
Silence. They glared at each other for awhile, before Robins cold voice broke the silence. His words cut through her like a knife.
"Is there anything else you are hiding from me? I told almost everything about me! And you…"
Hotaru gave him her coldest look she could. She was so angry right now, and felt like she would explode.
"Why, yes there is Mr Grayson. I happen to be the most lethal senshi there is, meaning I could blow up a planet with one blow. I am so powerful that the other senshi feared me and tried to kill me when I had awakened! I had an evil being inside of me, controlling and feeding off me… People thought I was a freak! I have seen my friends die…"
She rambled on and the words came crashing down like thunder, ripping the air apart. Robins mouth was open, his eyes wide with surprise. He didn't utter a word when she stopped and gave him a cold look before storming out of the room.
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Raven jumped as the door almost flew up and an sour looking Robin walked in her room, not even bothering to knock. She where about to protest when he suddenly stopped and looked around. Raven gave him an angry look, when he refused to explain himself and she fumed.
"What the hell are you doing in my room?"
She was tired and was just about to get to bed when she was disturbed and she didn't like it one bit. If Beast Boy had come instead of Robin, he had probably been a little red pool on the floor by now. Robin seemed to be shaking, either out of anger or something else.
"Where is Hotaru?"
Raven sighed and slapped herself.
"You came in here… Well I thought you two went to have some 'fun' together… Jesus…"
He glared at her and she raised an eyebrow in response.
"I take that as a 'No Robin, I haven't seen her.'. Damn…"
He blinked when she stepped up to him, eyeing him closely. If he uses sarcasm then something is really wrong…
"What happened? Is she missing?"
The guilt on his face was enough and she grabbed his collar, startling him.
"What the hell did you do to her?"
His anger flared up again and he forcefully made himself free from the empaths grip.
"What I did? Who where the one who said that the necklace weren't dangerous huh?! If someone is to blame it is you!"
SLAP!
Robin froze, and Raven suddenly towered over him, her eyes blazing dangerously. The sting on Robins check seemed to fade in his mind as he felt her whole being pulsate of darkness, and he found himself shivering in fear. Her eyes bore into him and he was rooted to the spot.
"Tell me exactly what happened and pull yourself together!"
Her voice roared in the room and the only thing he could do was comply. She paitently listened, and finally threw her hand s up in annoyance. No wonder his temper was so sensitive right now… She sighed and just wanted to scream, since her own mood was very bad right now. Glaring, she gestured towards him to follow her to Speedys room.
He was still lying on the floor, completely knocked out and bleeding from a corner of his mouth. Raven hid her smirk from Robin, feeling a slight bit of satisfaction. She had always thought of Speedy as a cocky guy, and would never have hesitated at a chance to slap or hit him.
"Maybe… Just maybe… No, forget it he deserved that. Where is the necklace?"
Robin pointed and she used her magic to pick it up and isolate it. She did not look at Robin when she began to march out of the room.
"Get the others and find Hotaru, I will try to figure the magic out, it might lead us to Tristan."
As she mentioned Tristan, she glanced at Robin. He flinched and tightened his hands, face twisted in anger. She gave him a glare and turned her back towards him, completely ignoring the leader of the titans. Before she managed to leave, his hoarse voice stopped her.
"Raven… I'm sorry…"
She could feel him struggle with himself, trying to find the right words to express his actions and feelings. She only sighed and decided to give him a wink.
"I'm not the one you should apologise to…"
A crashing noise made them both jump in surprise and turn toward the sound. Beast Boy was lying outside Ravens door, evidently, he had been in such a hurry he had crashed into the wall. Raven put the necklace in her spacepocket and hurried up to Beast Boy, Robin just behind her. He dragged the teen up and shook him gently. Beast Boy snapped out of it and looked at them wildly.
"There are explosions coming from the city!"
Robin darted towards the living room and pressed himself against the windows. His eyes widened and when Raven stepped up beside him she could have sworn she heard him whisper Hotaru. With a determined expression, he turned towards the titans, now all standing before him except Speedy. Inside, his mind was storming with all kinds of feelings. Anger, fear, love, confusion, guilt… The leader of the titans didn't even flinch when the alarms went off. Cyborg blinked. There where so many… More explosions went off in the city, and they where still standing in the tower when the alarms went off. Robin didn't utter a single word when he turned and ran, the other's just followed him.
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The silence had taken it's toll on her and she had succumbed to the tiredness she had been feeling more frequently. Allowing herself to sleep, she found this the only way to distract her raving mind. The guardian of time awoke when the presence of her father, the god of time, Chronos, yet again grew strong. Gripping her staff, she helped herself up. Something was different this time…
She had been under his protection far to long, and not being able to use her power during that time was beginning to make her feel even worse. And the sickening feeling of dread, the fear of her friends and companions being dead was too much to handle. Setsuna held up her staff, and the garnet orb begin to shine. A glimmer of hope. Thrusting the staff to the floor, an echoing boom broke the silence.
"Father!"
She was rewarded with silence, but the intensity grew. She could feel her staff vibrate with power, and her doubts shattered away. Sailor Pluto began to hope.
"Daugther…"
A voice, old yet newborn, with a strange echoing sound like it was heard simultaneously in every dimension filled the space at the gates of time. Setsuna bowed. Her heart ached, both for news of her friends and longing for her father, Chronos. A father she would never know, a father she could never reach, a father she could love… For eternity.
"I can feel your pain, Setsuna. It is regrettable, but necessary. We have been given important roles to play in this matter called destiny. We all follow the path given to us by the one. Do know though, it pains me also."
There was mildness in his voice that she had never heard, and it touched her deep. She could feel burning tears threatening to break through, but she held them back. It was hard though, she had been under a lot of distress.
"Yes, that has always been clear to me father."
Her grip on her staff tightened.
"I have come, for I have grave news."
Her head snapped up, although she had known he had not come for nothing.
"There is a new evil rising, and as you have feared, he has claimed your universe and captured your comrades."
Her eyes widened, and she began to shake.
"Why…"
The voice took on a serious tone, and she bit her lip.
"Do not question my judgement. I will explain my actions, although I am not obliged to do so."
Nodding, she looked down at the floor, patiently waiting for him to continue. Something changed in the air, and she wasn't sure, but it almost felt like pride? She blushed, not daring to think that he was proud of her, but couldn't help the brief bolt of joy through her body.
"I dare say they are not dead, although I am not entirely certain. Hades has been in a foul mood recently, I do believe he is concerned for Saturn, alas I have not been able to find out. If you had foreseen this, the consequences would have been severe. Hiding it from you and closing off your powers was the only way for me to protect you."
There was a slight desperate tone in his voice, and Setsuna closed her eyes and restrained herself so she wouldn't lash out the questions bombarding her mind. Her heart was beating fast and her mind racing.
"Listen carefully, for what I am about to tell you is important. You, like every senshi except Saturn, had brothers and sisters. They where mortals with no powers and not worth remembering and thus, the senshi doesn't remember them. You and Saturn where exceptions. She had no brothers or sisters, but you were the only one that had a twin, a brother. You remember him don't you?"
Her face darkened and her eyes thinned.
"He left without a word. I loved him, but he hurt me more than anyone I have ever known."
Of this, Chronos said nothing and continued.
"As I am the god of time and space, I have two powers flowing in my being. When you where born, you were the one wielding the power of time. He had been given the power of space. This was also why you were an exception. Both of you had been blessed with powers from me. Tristan was a good man, but something had tainted his heart. As I saw it grow, the future was clear to me. He planned to leave, to fulfill his wishes of power and greed. Sealing him into the planets core, I linked some of his powers to you. That is why you have been able to travel through dimensions among other things Setsuna."
She couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Are you saying that he is the one… He broke free?"
"Yes, he did. And he wants your power, that is why he tried to reach you. I stopped him however, the only way I could think of. To seal him in the planets core again would be impossible now. I must leave you now, my daughter. Take this under consideration, I must return to my duties. I shall return."
The staff feel from her hand, as his presence left her empty and in chock. She stared at her staff, lying on the grounds. Then something just smacked her, and her eyes widened. 'Hades has been in a foul mood recently, I do believe he is concerned for Saturn, alas I have not been able to find out.'… What did he mean by that? Something must have happened to her…Calm down Setsuna. Sit down. Sinking down on the ground, she tried to puzzle the pieces together and clear her mind.
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It had been so easy that he almost regretted it. A battle, too easily won. Perhaps his memory had deceived him, or he had simply imagined that day for too long. He had been sealed into Pluto's core after all, for more than a thousand years, so the last alternative was most likely. It had been the only thought that kept him from going insane, and her…
Standing on a building near the park, Tristan had a perfect view of the Titans tower. Smiling under his cloak, he hummed his favourite melody;
"The bird and the firefly are not meant to be…"
True, he might bee slightly insane, something he would never admit and no one foolish enough to tell him. Those few who had he had already taken care of. Oh, the senshi yes. Weak, mild hearted… How could the moon have defeated chaos? She was the easiest one to take down. When I had rid of my future wife, the senshis attempts were futile. Uranus I admit have my respect. Nice moves… Ke ke.
The man wasn't worried about the resistance in this dimension any longer, since he had taken out the biggest threat to him. Slade had proved to be a rather entertaining opponent, and to his credit he had almost managed to defeat Tristan once. It had been her, the one, who had 'saved' him. He had hunted Slade down and had at the time been unable to use his power; alas, Slade had actually managed to beat him with rare force and skill.
When she had captured Slades interest, he had taken his chance and escaped. It had not been the right time to reveal himself, when his powers had been at a low point. It was the only reason he didn't use his power to transform all his foes into other dimensions, it cost to much power and took a long time to build up again.
Now, the time had come. The dimensions would be his to rule, as he had been blessed with the powerl of space. He would fulfil his wishes, and his duty. Smiling evilly, he raised his key staff.
"Father, you knew it would come to this. Your attempts where futile, and I will claim what's mine! Then, I will take you out Setsuna!"
The staff began to glow in a black light, emitting a deepening darkness. Then, something caught his eye. He stared down into the park, starring at his deepest desire. His smile widened and a small cackle escaped his being. It seems lady luck is one my side, but hasn't she been the whole time? Ke ke.
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Clutching herself, she refused to cry. Yet, something wet streamed down her cheeks. The cold wind ruffled her black hair, and it whipped her in the face. She could have cared less. There was only one thing on her mind right now; he hated her. She had run, when it hit her. Robin wouldn't love her anymore because she had lied to him and she ran. Somehow, she had wound up in the park where they first meet.
She sank down on her knees, tears staining the earth beneath her. It hurt so much she couldn't breathe, and she gasped for air as she sat there. Oh Starfire, was this how it felt? I'm so sorry… Sorry… I'm so sorry. Robin I love you…
"Hotaru?"
She knew this voice… Yes, it was Jinx. She looked up, and meet a worried gaze. The pink haired witch knelt down and laid her hand on the senshis shoulder, in an attempt to comfort her. Hotaru closed her eyes.
"He hates me."
Jinx considered her words for a moment, and then took a deep breath.
"I'm not so good at this but hell, I can try for you. Did he really say that?"
Hotaru blinked, momentarily confused and tried to wipe her tears away. She realised then that in Jinx, she had someone who might understand her in ways Raven couldn't. Raven was still the closest friend she had, but she couldn't talk with her about relationships. She tried to smile as if to thank her, but failed miserably. Jinx nodded slightly.
"What? Oh, no. He didn't have to. I lied to him, kept secrets from him."
Suddenly, a surge of power made her snap out of it and before she could react, she was thrown backwards crashing into a tree. An explosion blinded her and she had to shield her eyes from the bright light. When the light faded, she stood up, desperately looking for Jinx. Hotaru didn't care that her back hurt, she deserved it anyway.
"Jinx! Are you hurt? Jinx!"
Her vision caught the sight of pink hair and she rushed towards the fallen witch. Jinx twitched but managed to rise, cringing a bit at the pain in her left shoulder. Hotaru was about to raise her hand to heal her when a someone roughly grabbed her.
"Stay away from her!"
Hotaru gasped and felt the panic rise. Jinx shook her head, a bit dazed.
"No flash, she's my friend. It wasn't her."
As soon as he let her go, Hotaru spun around quickly, adrenaline pumping in her veins. She was meet by the sight of a young man in a red suit. She gave him an almost furious look.
"How the hell did you get here so fast?"
Again, she was thrown back, but this time she froze in midair. She was caught in something that seemed to resemble a bubble, too chocked to react. Jinx held her hand up, summoning some magic. Her hand glowed in a faint pink, growing stronger for each second.
"Flash, someone's causing this, you have to find him! I don't know if she can breathe in there!"
She sent the magic towards the sphere. It bounced off, not harming it in the slightest. Her eyes widened a bit. What the hell is that thing? It's like my magic simply cant touch it… As another explosion went off in the distance, she cast a worried look around. Closing her eyes, she reached out with her magic, surrounding the sphere. Sweat ran down her forehead as she concentrated, focusing, trying to find anything that could break it.
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As the picture finally penetrated his mind, all logic and rational reasoning disappeared from his head. Hotaru, floating in a dark sphere, surrounded by pink glow, was held captive by Jinx. Screaming with an uncontrolled rage, he lashed out towards her frail pink body. Jinx was thrown back, totally unprepared for the blow. Robin would have grabbed her if Starfire wouldn't have caught his hand.
He growled in anger but stopped for a moment, only breaking out of it when Starfires worried voice made him look at the sphere.
"It's not glowing anymore. I think she tried to help…"
The witch sat up, now with a fearful expression on her face. Raven walked up to her and bent down, starring intensely at her. Then she stood up.
"She is actually. Tristan is near, be prepared."
She held up her hand and tried to blast the sphere. Nothing happened. Her eyes widened.
"It's like my magic can't feel it…"
The group froze when a cold laughter erupted under the sphere, and Tristan emerged. Clad in his cape, he took his hood off and the orb on his staff began to glow an ominous shine. His bloodred eyes pierced into Raven and she felt a shiver ran down her spine. Smiling a wicked smile, he swung his staff and a body appeared beside him. Jinx gasped and cried out.
"Flash!"
Tristan turned his gaze towards Robin.
"Tell you what? I'm gonna entertain you all with a little story. But first, I need a complete audience."
The sphere disappeared and Hotaru fell down into Tristans arms. She was barley conscious, her power drained by the magical orb. Robin clenched his fists, barley able to contain himself. Tristan smirked.
"Good bird, it's wise of you not to make a sudden move. Now, where was I? Oh yes, a story…"
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Her world had turned to a complete oblivion, an endless sea of blackness. Hotaru felt a feeling of panic when she realised that she could not feel her body. Was she dead? How the hell… But then, why was she so cold? A familiar voice startled her.
"Hotaru! You must listen to me! I only have a few moments…"
She screamed, both in relief and happiness. She wasn't sure, but it was possible that she was crying…
"Setsuna! I missed you so much, I just wan't to se you again…"
"Please, just listen. Tristan is my brother; he has the power of space. He was the one who sent you to this dimension so he could take over our universe. He succeeded."
Silence. Hotaru felt it turn colder as she realised that her fellow senshi could be dead.
"He wants complete dominance over all dimensions, and he can only reach that goal with you by his side… The guardian of time and the messiah of silence, the rightful rulers and guardians of the ten dimensions. That is how it is supposed to be…"
With a pang of fear, Hotaru gasped.
"You mean… I'm supposed to be with him…"
Setsunas voice was suddenly filled with sadness…
"You are the only one that can stop him... How, I don't know… You two are destined to be together… I'm sorry but I just don't know. I believe in you Hotaru…"
Setsunas voice faded away…
"No! Setsuna! Come back!"
The blackness swirled, and she felt very heavy. A vision was suddenly opening up to her, and she found herself starring up into Tristans face. He was speaking, but she couldn't make out the words. She did her best to focus and her senses slowly returned.
"…we will take what is rightfully ours. You have no saying in this, birdie. We are destined to be together for all eternity!"
Hotaru felt anger well up inside of her.
"Hell no!"
Tristan almost jumped, unprepared for her early awakening. He smirked down at her.
"I like strong willed women… Heck I think I just like you even more now…"
Robin sprinted forward, filled with anger and humiliation. He wasn't going to do just nothing, he would fight for Hotaru with his own life. Tristan swung his staff, and Robin was thrown back right into Cyborg who caught him. Raven tried to use her magic, but she couldn't get all the way to Tristan. Her eyes widened.
"It's no use demon, I'm warping the space around us. Your magic can't touch me."
Hotaru began to struggle, and Tristan took a firmer grip.
"Now now, I know you really want us to go to bed but we have to take care of this first lovely."
Something broke inside of Hotaru. Suddenly, she was overflowed with her own power, and her eyes turned white. Her voice was suddenly very deep, the area had suddenly turned very cold.
"I might be destined with the guardian of time, but who said that specific guardian would be you?"
Tristans eyes widened and he tried to let her go but was frozen in place. Panic was suddenly evident in his face.
"Oh no… Chronos you wouldn't… Father!"
Hotaru smiled.
"Hello son. Why don't you greet your sister?"
He turned his head and was meet by the sight of Sailor Pluto. She just gave him a cold stare. Tristan was unable to speak, he only gaped at her.
"Since Hotaru is going to kill you, in a sense, I'm glad that your not begging me for forgiveness. You deserve it."
Hotaru placed her hand on his heart, smiling a wicked smile.
"Thou are not a son of mine, may the power know my true son."
Tristan screamed as he was enveloped in a black glow. Then it disappeared and Tristan staggered back. Hotaru held up her hand, and her glaive was summoned.
"May your afterlife be terrible and filled with suffering my former child."
And with a swing, his head was lying on the ground, the body collapsing above it. Hotaru cast a spell of fire and the body began to burn. Suddenly, she dropped the glaive and collapsed on the ground. Robin rushed up to her, cradling her in his arms. Her eyes glowed faintly in white, and she gazed up at him with a small smile on her face.
"She loves you dearly, son. I am Chronos, the god of time. Thou shall be filled with the ancient power of space!"
Robin gasped as Hotaru placed her hand on his heart and a strange power flowed into his being. Setsuna smiled towards them.
"Robin, you are the new guardian of space and son to the eternal god of time, Chronos. I am Setsuna, Sailor Pluto, the guardian of Time."
But he didn't seem to hear her, all that mattered to him was Hotaru. Her eyes turned back to normal, and she smiled towards him. He bent down and kissed her.
"I don't care what I am, just as long as I we can be together. I'm sorry Hotaru, I've been a real bastard…"
She shook her head.
"No, don't. We have nothing to be sorry for now… Let's just focus on the future for now…"
Hotaru turned her head towards Setsuna, a worried expression in her face.
"What of the others… What happened to them?"
Setsuna smiled.
"You shouldn't worry… The moment Tristan was killed, I could sense them again. He encased them in a sphere of space, he didn't kill them for some reason. I am certain that Robin will be able to release them since he is the new guardian of space."
And with a smile, Hotaru fainted. Robin lifted her up, and gave Setsuna a questioning gaze. She nodded. He sighed and turned to the others.
"I'm sorry guys, but it seems that you will have to manage without me for awhile…I know you can do it."
Cyborg nodded, the others looking a bit chocked. Robin nodded to them again.
"Starfire, I hope it works out for you and… Speedy."
He couldn't help but make a face when he had to mention Speedys name. She nodded.
"Raven, look after them will you? And Beast Boy, keep yourself in check. Cyborg, good luck."
Suddenly, he was enveloped in a blue glow with Setsuna before he could say anymore. He waved as they faded away. He had never been good at goodbyes; maybe this was for the best. It felt strange, and he knew he would miss them and think a lot of it during the nights. Setsuna turned to him, stroking some hair of Hotarus face.
"You have much to learn, but I know Hotaru will help you. Don't hesitate to ask me anything, I will help you as much as I can."
Robin sighed, his gaze attached to Hotaru.
"I will never live with them again will I?"
Setsuna shook her head.
"They think I will… Maybe it's for the best to let them believe that."
Setsuna nodded, and as they arrived at Crystal Tokyo, Robin laughed. Setsuna looked at him in surprise, startled by his sudden change.
"Although, I wish I could have seen their faces if I told them that…"
The guardian of time realised that was how he would handle the loss, always remembering the memories the titans shared. She nodded in relief and turned her attention to the orbs surrounding them, each containing a senshi…
THE END
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Thank you all for reading and especially those who reviewed. Maybe the end was a bit rushed, but I guess I haver to work on that... Anyway, I'm happy damn it! I managed to finish it! Maybe, just maybe, I will make a sequal...