Robin my Houkounin chapter 30: A Great Summoning

I do not own Teen Titans

To: Rekka. Thanks for reviewing, wish you all reviewed like this every chap. The Raven getting pregnant thing is impossible due to her own vampiric nature. Vampires by theyre nature draw life off of other living things to survive and i dont think it would be possible for them to create life within themselves. If a new life were ever created within themselves i think theyre vampiric nature would snuff it out immediately.

To: Raiha1324. Its kinda crummy of you, as a fellow author never to review a story no matter how much you like it, isnt it? I dont do that, and I'd imagine you like to get reviews don't you? Start reviewing, shmuck. Good that your writting and all, but its way uncool for authors not to review.

To: Everyone Ok, votes are in and counted, not changing her for now, maybe never will, i really just needed a general opinion, sorry. Keep reviewing, they inspire me to write faster/better.

Every fibre in her being told her to take the offer, to give in to this temptation and become that which she so vehemently despised. The lavender scent tugged at her, and made a more non confrontational side of her want to stay like this and give no answer, just enjoy the scent. She knew she was being seduced by the offer, the scent, Kali had found a way to stack the cards against her but she did not care. She wanted the power, it was most likely the only way she could ever be her sisters equal again. Her eyes stung with tears, and with a great effort Blackfire opened her mouth to give her answer. "No, I cant do it."

Kali mentally cursed, and promised herself that if she ever in the next hundred years made another, that it would be this tamaranian. Kali felt it in her that this one would make a good vampire. Kali leaned against a nearby wall and put a hand on Blackfires back. It was ridiculous, the girl was denying what was so obvious. She acted just like any student she ever had, and she was not even changed. Kali let it go, for now. She decided she would bide her time, and wait until the moment was right again before approaching her once more on the matter.

At the hospital Beast Boy was the last titan left other than Starfire. He had stayed with her after the others had gone, to offer his support and satisfy his curiosity. He was irritated when Starfire had instead gone to sleep leaning on the hospital bead as soon as Jinx was moved to the ICU. Now he sat in a chair in the room, waiting for one or the other of the girls to wake up, and he doubted it would be Jinx to wake up first. A part of him was glad for this, he did not look foward to saying anything to her reguarding something so personal. Eventually boredom and impatience won over, and Beast Boy began to tap his toes on the floor rapidly, making just enough noise to wake Starfire up. She looked around her, somewhat frightened before laying eyes on Jinx. She calmed for a moment he noticed, but then her shoulders sagged as if bearing a great weight.

"Everyone knows." She said solemly. She closed her eyes, fearfull of what the others might think of her, or say. Her sister had looked so angry, and Starfire just knew she would go home and contact theyre parents as soon as possible, to inform them of the 'good news'. "Are you all upset?" She asked Beast Boy.

Beast Boy fumbled for words for a moment, but found his voice. "No, 'course we're not upset with you." He kicked himself mentally, it was a bold lie. Blackfire had seemed livid and he doubted she would let this go without much conflict. "Just... Shocked, thats all." It didnt make Starfire feel any better. He knew she had thought about Blackfire too. He wracked his mind for a awe-inspiring charismatic, clever and effective thing to say to make her feel better, but could think of nothing. "Its gonna be alright." He told her. "I dont care, your my friend come on."

Starfire leaned on the bed and sighed. Up untill a short while ago sexuality had been such a foreign concept to her, and now it was causing her no end of trouble. She hoped her sister wouldnt do anything rash, she did not want her hand forced in going home for a joining ceremony. She had convinced herself that her sister had changed her old ways, and to an extent she had, but Blackfire still found ways to get at her. She still couldnt let whatever had seperated them at first go. Starfire thought about it for a few minutes, and Beast Boy sat, waiting for her to speak. "Beast Boy?" She began. "I might need something from you, it is important."

Beast Boy sat up straight, eager to help her. "What is it?"

"On my planet, things are not as they are here. Blackfire I think is going to contact our parents, and I and Jinx may be forced to go to tamaran." Starfire reminded herself that she might not have to, that her sister might not go and do this to her, but continued. "I-"

"Wait, Starfire?"

"Yes?"

"Is Jinx a... You know? Vampire slave thingy?"

Under other circumstances Starfire might have laughed over his not being able to remember the word 'houkounin', but she nodded her head. "Kali knew, she knew all along I think."

Beast Boy guffawed. "She planed all this?"

"Perhaps. May I continue?" Beast Boy nodded. "I might be leaving, my parents would not have me living like this without going through the joining."

"Whats the joining?"

"It is similar to an earth marriage, but on tamaran things are differant." Starfire smiled slightly when Beast Boy pretended to understand what she meant. "There is a large ceremony, and two are bound. The largest differance is that in the marriage there is a third role."

"Huh?"

"There is always a care-taker. All marriages on Tamaran are performed with one. After two exchange vows, a third person takes a vow to look over them and guide them through times of hardship. A care taker keeps the marriage healthy. It is a much respected position."

Beast Boy didnt know what she was getting at, the concept was a little weird to him. "So they stop them from cheating on each other or fighting?"

Starfire didnt understand the concept of cheating, but the fighting part she did understand. "Yes, If the two get into large fights and come close to seperating it is a care takers job to be a negotiater, to help them compromise and help them to make peace."

Beast Boy noted that half of earth marriages could use such a thing. "Star, do what makes you happy. I'm gonna go back to the tower." He looked at Jinx on the hospital bed. He found it hard to hate her now, and now felt fighting with her would almost be like fighting with Starfire. He got up to leave but Starfire held the door closed.

"NO! Wait friend." Starfire made a somewhat frustrated noise. "I want you to come to tamaran with me if I am called back."

Beast Boy sweat dropped and wondered what kind of friction that might cause with Blackfire. In front of him Starfire clasped her hands together, pleading with him silently. He groaned, caught between a rock and a Starfire. "Its not hard, right?" He asked. "I dont gotta like, wrestle a hundred warriors or something in some weird ceremony to prove my worth?"

"No-"

"Then alright, I'll do it." 'Still sounds too easy.'

"But you do have to pass a test."

Beast Boy mentally cursed and wanted to slam his head against the nearest wall. Damn! A test! Anything but a test! "But I dont test good!" He yelled, waving his arms in the air. Starfire put a finger on his lips, silencing him so as not to wake Jinx.

"It is a test of charecter, you will not even know it."

At the first possible chance Raven had retreated to the room she and Robin shared and locked the door. She didnt like to lock Robin out, but she needed to be uninterupted for what she wanted to do. She sat cross legged on the floor, around her she had poured sand out to form certain magic runes. She was trying to contact the demon that had spoken to her earlier. She closed her eyes, and said her magic words. She left her mind open, in a state where even the weakest of demons could contact her. It was like sending out red flags, and just hoping that whoever she wanted to speak to would notice.

"Hello?" She said in the void. She was in luck, the demon from earlier had heard her call out.

"I am here." Said the calm voice.

Raven noted that he did not eagerly skip to asking if he could be let out. He was showing patience, and that was always a good sign. Patience and trust were two virtues demons lacked, and this one was showing both she thought. "Can you show me yourself?" She asked.

"You forgot compassion. I showed that too earlier." The voice chuckled.

"How did you-"

"I can read your mind. You were tallying my virtues, I just thought you forgot one. To answer your question I cannot show myself. My true form is..." The voice trailed off, and Raven thought he sounded a bit uncomfortable on the subject. "Frightening. I will pick a more suitable form, if that is acceptable."

"Alright." Raven let it slide that he had read her mind. She turned around in the void, expecting to find whoever this was behind her. No one was there. "Where are you?"

"Behind you, stop turning around."

Raven turned around again and looked him over. He was five feet tall, and had a three foot braid of thick hair. He was wearing black dress pants, a black dress shirt, a red tie with a crucifix necklace over it and a black trench coat. Raven rose an eyebrow. "Interesting." She said. The demon laughed.

"So, you want to know what I was locked away for, don't you?"

Raven pulled her hood up. "Yes. I cant just help you get out without knowing everything. You have to be honnest with me."

"Its alright, I know." He ran a hand through his bangs. "I was called Shinagami, the god of death, and for a good reason." His voice lowered from its jovial tone to a more serious one. "Centuries ago I was born from a man with much rage, but he had no legs, and but one arm. He lost them in a battle and survived, but always felt such rage afterwards. He was helpless, and his rage eventually consumed him. When he died it lived on without him and took a physical form, that was me." Shinagami stopped to let her ask questions.

"Go on."

"I was born out of the dirt on his grave. In the beginning I was small, no larger than a common rat. I did not have a human form then. As the embodiment of the dead mans rage I lived off of chickens, cats, and other such creatures for years, but then I found something that made me grow. I found fear. In my unevolved state I always killed my meals quickly, often times never giving them the chance to fear anything. As time wore on enough small animals lived long enough against me to feel fear, and it wasnt long before I realized it was the fear that gave me power, and not the meat."

Raven found it interesting, she had never known much of demons, and this was new territory. She realized he was giving her a chance to ask a question, but she had none. "Go on." She said again.

"As I grew I evolved, I began to become smarter, and I found the greatest source of fear of all." He cast his eyes downward. "I found children. I found that I could exploit theyre fears to feed myself, and many a child died at my hands. Eventually I grew into a human form, and stopped living on fear." He noticed the disgust in Ravens eyes. "I found that fear could no longer sustain me. I went village to village, as perfect rage in the form of a human. I killed with brutality for a few years before I met a holy man. As I was finishing the extermination of one human village he came through. I attacked him, naturally, and tore his innards out. As he lay dying he muttered some magic words and locked me away, from my birth to the time I was locked away I lived twenty years."

"And how long have you been locked away?" Raven asked. She did not try to hide her disgust.

"Two thousand five hundred years. My story is not finished. Once I was locked away I began to meditate. Locked in the void I began to lose the accumulated power I harvested from fear and rage. I began to unevolve. I kept a form similar to a human one, but for five hundred years I existed as nothing. No emotion, good or bad. It was my purging, what I believe all demons go through. Everything that made me what I was was slowly stripped from me, and I was forced to live the final moments of all who I caused suffering."

"Oh?"

"Yes. It was a way of teaching me a lesson. The last eyes I saw through were those of the holy man. I saw how he saw me, and for a moment I realized just how terrifying and ugly I was." His voice lowered to a more somber tone. "Over the years here I meditated, I learned to look beyond the void. Do you know what happens to other demons?"

"No, what?"

"I have looked into other parts of the void, where other demons reside. They are put through the same punishment as I am, again and again. They do not learn a lesson or change in any way, I did."

"And you want another chance."

"Yes." He looked at the floor. "I have changed." He locked eyes with Raven and Raven felt her pulse rise steadily. "I am not good Raven, but I am not evil as I once was. I have devoted my centuries here to change, to purify myself but I can never do it completely."

"This is alot to take in."

"I know, but I will tell you one more thing, I will be honnest with you even though it may make you decide to leave me here."

"And what is that?"

"I will admitt that I am still evil. My evil side no longer controls me, but it is there."

"What about your true form was too frightening to show me?" Raven asked. She didnt think it made sense, he had told her first it was too frightening and then told her he had had a human form.

"That form has no skin."

Ask a silly question, she thought to herself. "Why didnt you ever contact me before?"

"I have spent years at a time meditating, and I only learned to contact those outside the void recently. Its possible I have spent most of your life meditating."

Raven was surprised. She only ever could spend a few hours at a time meditating, but here this demon did not require food or sleep. What it must be like to meditate years on end she wished she knew."Why didnt you go to Kali? She's never too far away from me, and has more power than I do. She could set you free easier." She had tried several times now to find reasons not to let him out, and was looking for signs of deception. Raven wondered how he would answer this.

"I came to you because you do have the power, it does not take much. I also chose you because you are half demon."

"You expected sympathy?" Raven asked, slightly annoyed.

"No, just an unbiased ear." Raven still felt hesitant to let him out, the demon before her sensed this. "If you let me out, I will give you a spell that will put me away again, if your afraid I won't behave myself."

"How?"

"I will give you the incantation used to put me here."

After much convincing the crews at the hospital had allowed Starfire to take Jinx home. She had not yet woken up, but the doctors had warned them that she would sleep alot for a few days. On the short flight home Beast Boy flew next to the pair in the form of a bird. It was a chance to think for him. He wondered if Starfire had asked him just because he was there, of if it was because she would really want him to do it if she had to go through with this. That was another weird thing to him, it seemed almost like Starfire was banking on her sister going and doing this. He guessed it didnt matter, getting joined or whatever. Maybe that was a thing to look foward to, and now that everyone here knew she wanted to go through with it. He stopped and flapped his wings in reverse at the window to Jinx's room and waited for Starfire to open it. Once inside her took his human form again and watched Starfire set Jinx down on the bed. He couldnt help but notice the way the room contrasted. The bed had black satin sheets, but a pink cannopy. Everything had Jinx's name carved into it.

"Creepy." He said to himself. The room would give Ravens a run for its money. Several items in the room he noted as Starfires, those items looked more than out of place in the room. Again he wondered how the two ever had planned on keeping this a secret. Starfire set Jinx on the bed and pulled a chair next to it. Beast Boy jumped up on the desk and waited for her to talk. Several minutes went by before either said anything, and the silence was getting to him. "Starfire? You gonna say anything?"

Starfire looked up, startled. She had almost forgotten he was there. She sighed and put her head in her hands. "Are the others mad at me?"

Beast Boy didnt know. "Your sisters not happy. Star its alright." He offered.

"Please watch Jinx for me Beast Boy, I must go and see the others."

The scent of lavender began to decrease, and the warmth she had been basking in just moments before turned to a chill. Blackfire realized she must have almost fallen asleep as she jolted when Kali picked her up and held her out at arms length. A dissapointed sound escaped her throat before she could stop it, and her face turned a bright red when she realized the position she had been so comfortable in.

"Come see me when you change your mind." Kali said teasingly. Blackfire felt her blood heat up with anger slightly. She had done something to her, she had almost made her agree to become something she hated, and now she was acting cocky and confident. Blackfire stared at Kalis retreating form with hatred in her eyes.

"Im not going to." She said to herself. She struggled to understand why the scent and warmth had appealed to her so. She cursed herself for being weak, and tried to convince herself that she had not just enjoyed those few minutes in the vampires embrace. She had work to do now, she had to overthrow her sisters spot in line for the throne. It made sense, Starfire was much to naive to rule, and she was the rightfull heir. With her sister having taken that thing for a mate she would be unable to produce an heir. They would be joined, and each would be considered 'errant princesses'. It grated her that to get what she wanted Jinx would have to be familly, and even worse considered a princess of tamaran, she couldnt decide which was worse, but there would be time for that later. Now she had to find a machine capable of communicating to her home planet, and then she had to build up the stomach to act like she was telling her parents good news. She scoffed at the idea, but she had to seem happy for her sister, or her parents would realize she was too eager for the throne.

Starfire was greeted by the sounds of the video game system long before she arrived in the main room. When she got there she saw Robin and Cyborg, each playing games to pass the time but neither really bothering to play with viggor. She set down in front of them, and waited for them to speak. She didnt know what she was doing here, was she waiting to be punished? She wished she could just lay down and go to sleep, and pretend that nothing was going on, that there were no problems. "I'm sorry." She muttered, fighting the urge to cry. Would they want her to leave now? She hoped not.

"Star..." Robin began. He set down his controller and approached her. "We're not angry, just..." He searched for the right word. "Shocked." He put a hand on her shoulder, and begged the gods above to make the situation a little less akward. Should he really have to tell a team mate he was ok with her sexuality? It had always been assumed everyone in the tower was straight, no one ever considered the possibility of something like this. Robin didnt give a hoot, he was just surprised. He wondered how much this changed things around the home.

"Yeah Star." Cyborg got up and stood by Robin. "Its alot to get used to. We just thought you and Jinx were friends, this is a bit much to take in all at once."

"So you are not mad?" Starfire looked up at them, her eyes glowing slightly.

"That would be messed up."

"Yeah." Robin agreed. "Your still the same Starfire... Right?" He honnestly didnt know. Starfire put her hand over her mouth and chuckled a little.

"Yes. I am still me."

"So whats goin on with everything? Does anything have to change?" Asked Cyborg. Starfire reminded herself of what her sister was probably doing.

"Yes, I might have to leave for a little while."

Blackfire sat down at the titans master computer and began plugging in coordinates for communication via a voice interface system. She was still a little unnerved by the incident on the roof, but felt she could compose herself enough to communicate with her parents. She activated the link and information flew through space in the direction of tamaran. There would be a few minutes gap before a link could be opened, and probably an aditional few minutes before the computers there could decipher and compensate what the primitive computer she was on now was sending them.

"Please dont do this, sister." Blackfire jumped out of her seat. She had not heard her sister come into the computer room. She turned on her younger sibbling, her eyes glowing purple ready to fire.

"Shut up! Its my turn now Starfire! Its time mom and dad realized your not as perfect as they seem to think you are."

Starfire recoiled from the words. "Your turn for what? To be the 'favorite', or is it the throne you want?"

Blackfire grabbed her sister by the collar and slammed her against the wall. It only made her angrier that her sister allowed her to, she knew full well that if Starfire had not wanted to be slammed she would not have budged from her spot. "Both!" She spat. "They have always handed everything to you, and its about time I got mine!"

Starfire pushed her sister away with no effort, but tried to make it appear as if she was struggling. Inside she was struggling, she had thought these conflicts were over. She was wrong. There were some things her sister just couldnt let go. "You can have the throne, that has never been my goal!"

"Good, because soon as that link opens its as good as mine."

Starfire bit back tears. "Why are you doing this? Why do you hate me?" The words struck a chord in Blackfire. Was that how she was acting? Was she really acting like she hated her sister, or was she acting like she was trying to get what she wanted. She shook her head and banished those thoughts, but her sister was not yet finished. "She makes me happy, why does that bother you? I am not trying to compete with you for anything yet you try to hurt me every chance you get."

Blackfire lowered her gaze. Her sister was right. "Starfi-"

"You can have the throne! Take it! It was never what I wanted. Just please let me tell our parents." She lowered her tone and looked at the floor to hide her tears. "Please."

Blackfire looked from her sister to the screen. The numbers were counting down fast until a link would be opened. "I'm sorry. I dont like her."

"You dont have to." Her sister stressed.

"I'm sorry for the things ive done. You tell them." Blackfire felt ashamed, and suddenly her 'victory' didnt seem so fun. She pushed past her sister and headed for the door.

"It is alright sister. Thankyou."

Blackfire looked back over her shoulder at her. "Whatever, long as the thrones mine." She said. Starfire understood it was the closest she would get to an appology, and turned to the computer. She wiped her eyes, and counted down the seconds until the link activated. There was not much time left, only half a minute. It was one of the few times she would curse in her life, but no one was around to hear so she let a colorfull word fall from her lips.

"Shit." If she was right her parents would send a ship for her and Jinx as soon as they were done talking, and she would have to leave the tower around midnight. There was so much to explain to everyone, she had to pack, and find a way to get Jinx back on her feet. It wouldnt do for the future princess to appear gorked in front of the honnor guards that came to get them. "Ohhh, doubles upon doubles of shit!" She said to herself as the link opened and her parents appeared on the screen. Her mother was the first to speak.

When she spoke, she spoke in tamaranian. Her mother did not speak english, nor did her father. They both looked at the screen quizickly, somewhat perplexed. "What does 'shit' mean?" Her mother asked her. Starfire kicked herself for having sworn in front of her parents, and made up a lie.

"It is a typical earth greeting, parental units." She lied, sounding overly cheery even for herself. "SHIT TO YOU ALL!"

Her mother shrugged. Of all the planets her daughter had to pick earth. "Shit you too dear, now why have you contacted us?" Her father leaned in close to the screen.

"Enough shits. Have you found a suitor yet?"

Starfire felt the color drain from her skin. She had been hoping to lead them through a conversation about her recent exploits, and eventually, gently lead them into that issue. "One might say so father." She put her hands behind her back and kicked at an imaginary rock on the floor.

"Well? Who is he?" Her father asked. The large tamaranian was intimidating even from light years away. "Tell us now, or would you rather we waited to send you a ship and left it for a surprise?" He asked, sounding jovial.

Starfire mused that that would put the inevitable off for almost a whole day. "You will be surprised either way father."

"Whats his name dear?" Her mother asked, pushing her father out of the way to get close to the screen.

"Jinx."

"Is he of a good bloodline?"

"The blood is good father." Starfire felt herself shrninking physically. How deep did she plan on digging herself here?

"You have to come home for the joining, immediately." Her father bellowed. He sat back on his throne. "The populous could use such an event as a boost to morale. They have missed theyre princesses."

Starfire tried not to play with her ears. She heard that when humans lied they played with theyre ears, and hers were suddenly very itchy. "Well, mother... Father, I have something else to tell you about Jinx." Her father leaned back in close to the screen, knocking her mother out of his way.

"What? Is he weak?"

"No, Jinx is quite strong."

"Ugly?"

"No, Jinx is most beautiful. Stories of Jinx's beauty will be told for generations." This was true. A pale skinned, pink haired woman with narrow eyes would be considered beyond exotic.

Her father crinkled his forehead. "Sounds like a pretty boy to me Starfire." Starfire flinched under his gaze. Her parents wondered when theire daughter had become so fidgety.

"Pretty is a way to put it..."

"Starfire is something wrong?" Her mother leaned in closer again and Starfire wished the screen was not so big. It made her feel insignificant, looking into a five foot tall video screen of her mothers face.

"Mother, Father..."

"What is it, speak."

"I.. You must sit down for this." Her parents gazed at her and gestured at the thrones. Okay, she thought. She had tried. "I cannot take the tittle of queen."

"WHAT!" Her father slammed his hand down on the throne and the arm of the gigantic chair shattered. It didnt matter, this happened on a weekly basis and there were more than enough thrones in storage to last him a good while. "What are you babbling about, this is insane! Of course you will be queen."

Starfire felt better after having taken the first step. She took a deep breath. "I cannot take the tittle, I must take the tittle of errant princess, and so must Jinx." Starfire watched her father and mother sit in confusion. She could see the wheels turning in theyre heads.

Her father sat back from the screen, scratching his head around his crown. Errant princess, what was that again? Ah, yes. That was when a princess took someone of the same (or in some cases similar) sex as a mate. Now, why would Starfire need to take that tittle? His mind worked a little harder to figure it out. She had said Jinx was beautiful, alright, that was okay. Now, he tried to put it all together. Jinx, Starfire, joining, errant princesses. His mind went into overdrive, as he realized his daughter had decided to marry another of the same sex. That would explain the errant princesses (plural). He beamed, and nodded his head, pleased with himself for having put all of that together in such a short time. He looked at his queen, still beaming, she was not beaming. She looked distant for some reason. Then it hit him that this was not something to beam over, and his mind downshifted from fifth gear to first, and the engine sprung up through the hood in his mind. "WHAT?" He bellowed. "I forbid it! I won't tolerate such a thing, your supposed to be the queen!" His wife put up a hand and stopped him in mid rant.

"Dear, you cant do that."

"I'm king! I'll forbid whatever I want!"

"No, cant do that."

"Why not?" He asked, his voice low and dangerous.

"Because." His queen responded, lowering her voice and making it sound a good deal more dangerous than his own. "I wont let you."

"Oh." He rubbed the back of his neck. "Forgot about that."

"Mother? You are comfortable with my decision?" The royal couple looked back at the screen, haveing forgotten theyre daughter on the other end.

"Starfire, come home for the joining. We'll talk about this when you get here." At this her mother cut the com link, but not before an ILUVU virus found its way to the tamaran computer systems.

Starfire felt dread crawl up her spine. She had only heard that tone in her mothers voice once, when she had brought a wild rettew deb into the palace and tried to keep it as a pet. Starfire sighed, knowing a ship was already on its way. She was royalty on her home planet, she was supposed to be allowed to do whatever she wanted. Why did she feel so naked in front of her parents about this? She sat down in the computer chair and sighed again, louder this time. She could only hope the event was over quickly, she did not wish to spend any more time than necessary away from earth.

Beast Boy was getting nervous as he watched Jinx. Several things were starting to dawn on him. The first of which was that he could not be on both Starfires, and Blackfires side in this. Push come to shove he didnt know which of the two sisters he would side with. He had told Blackfire she was his favorite, and he was not lying. But if she started doing things, and was the one being wrong he couldnt side with her, could he? Another thing that crossed his mind was that Starfire might actually want to go home on some level. She didnt act like it was the worst thing in the world -or universe- that could happen. The final, and most insignificant thing to cross his mind was that he did not travel well, he got car sick easilly, and he doubted he would fare all that well on a spaceship. The thought of it turned him greener. Jinx began to stir on the bed, and he looked around himself desperately for somewhere to hide. He did not under any circumstances want her to wake up and find him in her room, watching her sleep. No, that would be a very bad thing.

Jinx opened her eyes and immediately closed them again. She didnt notice a green fly on the wall nearby, all she noticed was how bright the lights were. She weakly swung her legs over the side of the bed and held a hand to the side of her head to try and quell the pain. She began to stand bug she was dizzy before her weight had even nearly left the bed and settled for sitting up. Damn, she felt like she had been hit by a truck, a very big truck, with lots of sharp pointy stuff on its bumper. She searched her mind for the last thing she could remember, something in the mall. Fleeting images of being inside an ambulance, and maybe a hospital. She shook her head to try and clear her thoughts, but that only made the pain worse.

Starfires father, Starfire, sat with his elbow on the only remaining arm rest, and his chin in the palm of his hand. What good was an errant princess? Sure, they made great diplomats. You could send one and her mate to another world and they always did great work keeping the peace, but that was not what he had wanted from his second born daughter. There was something else he did not want for his daughter, the ridicule. Sure, everyone said they loved her no matter what, but they said that about her cousin, Stardust too. Stardust, the 'queer' of the family. He was a good lad, everyone knew, and everyone liked him to some extent. That did not stop them though, soon as he was out of earshot people would talk of him, and not in kind ways. He would not like his daughter spoken of in such ways in the royal courts.

And his wife, what was her deal? It wasnt like her to oppose him. He supposed she just wanted her daughter to be happy, which was all well and good, but she had a rough time comprehending things like the ridicule this might earn her and the familly. He sighed, there was no question where Starfire got her naivety, her mother was almost as bad. This could play to his advantage though, he could stall on the ceremony and try to pursuade his daughter not to do this. Starfire (the elder) was pulled from his thoughts when his good friend, marriage caretaker, and his daughters 'nanny' entered the throne room. Starfire looked up at the larger man and sighed. He had just finished speaking with his wife, and his expression looked grim. "I am in trouble?" He asked, his deep voice sounded childish when the other man responded.

"Aye. You are in the rettew deb house."

Starfire laughed. After his ascention to the throne, this man was the only one who still dared to talk to him like a commoner, but he was glad for that. "Why is she so upset?"

The one eyed man shrugged. "Little Starfires chosen her way, the queen doesnt think it right to try and interfere. The little one is not so little anymore. Any interference, even successfull might drive her away from the familly."

The king sighed. "Your on her side, arent you?" His words were not accusing, but more inquisitory. His most trusted servant made no move to deny what he said. "I just never would have expected something like this."

"You have always known Starfire was not fit to rule, she has always been too naive."

The king bit back a small fit of rage. "Thats why I trusted she would find a suitable king, Troiock." He said through clenched teeth. "I should have chosen for her." He added as an afterthought.

"And she would have hated you for it."

The king growled, he just could not win. "I dont have to like this, I dont have to like whoever tis Jinx is."

Jinx felt better when she saw Starfire come in the room. The alien looked around, as if confused and Jinx noticed her gaze fall on a fly on the wall for a moment. Bits and pieces of her ordeal had come back to her, but all she could remember still was that there was someone who looked similar to her, and had the same powers. She had pondered about the 'die mother' remark, and didnt think it made sense. She decided she must have heard wrong, perhaps the girl had called her her sister, or cousin? The more she thought about it, the more she was sure the girl had said cousin. That was still a problem, Jinx knew she had been genetically engineered, and as an embryo implanted in a host mother. The host mother had been paid to carry her, couldnt call that familly could you? And she never knew who the woman was, so it should have been impossible for anyone to trace that. Unless, she thought, the lab that had created her created another.

"Your awake." Jinx thought Starfires voice sounded a bit too loud, and with some finagling managed to burry her head under the pillow, away from the lights and sounds. She dove back into her thoughts.

"Yeah, please be quiet." Outside, where she couldnt see it Starfire cocked her head to the side. Why would Jinx want her to be quiet? She sat down on the side of the bed and rubbed Jinx's back. Under the pillow Jinx continued to think. Could one really have a cousin if you're genetically engineered? That presented a whole list of problems, because if your genetically engineered you don't truly have a father, or mother outside of the woman who simply incubated you. It was enough to cause a headache, if you didnt already have one. Suppose the 'material' she was made with was altered slightly, alright, that would make for a brother or sister, but how would you alter it for a cousin? Maybe if you changed half of it completely, and married its mother to some jerk named 'Dave', would that make a cousin? Which half? Ouch, thinking too hard, gotta stop that. Alright, so she must have said sister, thats the only thing that made sense.

Starfire was certain Jinx was deep in thought. She could feel her mind at work as she rubber her back. Jinx arced slightly, insisting she go on. Starfire wished she would tell her what had happened, but knew she would when she was ready. "Are you feeling better?" She supposed it was a stupid question, she had been clinically dead earlier, so of course she was feeling better. Starfire shuddered at the memory of what she had looked like dead. She did not look peacefull, like she was sleeping, she looked dead, broken.

"Much. Keep doing that." What could have made her 'sister' angry with her? Jinx knew she had been grown in a petri dish, that didnt bother her. It didnt bother her in the slightest that her genetic material was all made from scratch. She didnt care, because in her opinion whoever did it did a damned good job. She gave up trying to figure it out, and decided to fill Starfire in on what had happened, and learn how she had gotten back to the tower. "Someone claimed to be my sister, and stabbed me." She said.

"What?" Starfire had a hard time believing it. In all the profiles the titans had read of Jinx when she was on the 'other side' she had never had any listed familly.

"Dont know, how'd I get back here?"

Starfire decided to leave the more gruesome details for another time. She didnt want to bring them up. "Raven healed you at the hospital." Starfire moved her hands up to Jinxs shoulders, still massaging. "Jinx, theres something we need to talk about."

"Yeah, some crazy out there thinks she's my sister." Jinx said dripping with sarcasm. "That, and she put a knife in my chest. She just made my list, whoever she is."

Starfire allowed herself to get a little side-tracked. "She had proof?"

Jinx grumbled, she liked being the bad luck charm. The thought that someone out there was copying her was unapealing. "She had my powers." Jinx sighed. "You were saying something?"

"Ah, yes." Starfire trailed off, looking for an appropriate way to say this. "Jinx, have you ever considered becoming a princess of tamaran?"

Oh boy, of all the things someone could say out of the blue, that one must be pretty high on the list of things you'll probly never hear, Jinx thought. "What are you talking about?"

On the wall Beast Boy kept trying to keep his attention off of Starfire massaging Jinx back and shoulders, but his eyes wouldnt look away. He just couldnt seem to get his mind out of the gutter. He had tried making his wings buzz a few times, to warn Starfire he was still there. He was waiting for her to signal him that it was okay to reform. Oh man, this is bad, he thought. As if on que several female flies sensed his hormones and landed near him. He looked at them all one by one and shuddered.

"Hey, ladies." He said nervously. "Uhhhh, whats up?"

"Jinx, the others know." Starfire waited for Jinx to bolt up out of bead and demand how they found out. She expected her houkounin to scream and rant and rave and roar about the matter. She expected long fights with the others, and for lots of things to get broken with hex blasts, but Jinx didnt move even. Starfire watched the pillow she hid her head under, wondering if she had fallen asleep and not heard. "Jinx?"

"I heard you, good." Jinx didnt care. She wanted them to know, let them bother her about it, she planned on knocking teeth out. "I dont care what they think."

On the wall Beast Boy continued having women troubles, the flies were now climbing all over him, trying to get him to do the reproductive dance. "NO! OFF! SHOE FLY SHOE!"

"But I do care what they think Jinx." Starfire felt her go tense, and she removed her hands. She plied her new mind reading abilities to see what she was thinking.

'She cares what they think more than she cares about me.'

Starfire made a desperate face. "They are my friends, I must care what they think, but of course, I would never let that get in the way of you." She offered. Alright, she took that news easily enough, now lets see how she does with news about going home. She waited just long enough for Jinx to relax again before she spoke. "Jinx there is something else."

"What?"

"You and I must go home, to my planet."

"WHAT?"

"My parents have found out, and demand we come home."

"WHAT?" As weak as she was Jinx saw red. In her mind she just knew it had had to have been Blackfire. "It was your sister, wasnt it?" She demanded. "She found out or whatever, and decided to go telling on you."

"No actu-"

"I'm gonna kill her! Whats the best way to kill a tamaranian? Tell me!"

"I cannot be sure what the best way is bu-"

"No buts! She's dead! I dont wanna go off to some weird world I wanna-"

"I told my parents Jinx. It was me." Starfire waited for the brunt of Jinxs aggression and anger to hit her, but it never came.

"Oh, thats differant. Tamaran sounds nice, when do we leave?" Starfire cringed at how quickly Jinx could change tunes. In her mind she thought about how fickle women could be, and laughed when she realized what she had just thought. Starfire realized Beast Boy was still waiting for her. She looked to the wall where he had been as Jinx crawled out from under the pillow and laid in her lap. "What are you looking for?" Starfire didnt answer, but kept looking for him. Neither girl noticed the green frog sitting on the floor nearby, looking happy and well fed.

There, thats the end of this chapter. Dont worry, there will be more conflicts about Star and Jinx later on, i'm saving them. Gonna have a buncha fun chaps soon, so sit tight. I'd also like people to say that i was pleased with the reviews the last chap got, and I'd like those of you who reviewed last time, or have not reviewed yet, to review again this time. Its the least you can do, and i'm not asking for much here, 10 seconds of your time.