Author's Note: I really want to update as fast as possible, but I don't know if that's going to happen with the amount of projects my teachers are trying to cram in before vacation. However when vacation actually starts I may be able to get in two or three chapters. Either way keep reviewing and I promise I'll update as fast as I can!
Note: the monster in this story is mentioned in the episode: Snow blind.
"You Earth scum will learn the arts of Gordanian war craft as well as our advance weaponry if you are to be beneficial to our race. You will train for several days and master these techniques. If you refused you will be punished, if you try to cheat in any way you will be punished. The ultimate goal is for you to be able to fight in the Citadel's arena for our entertainment as well as for the amusement of our new leader. Some duels you will be responsible to merely disarm your opponent. Eventually, some of you will face an enemy that you will fight to the death. Refusal to any of the arena's rules and customs will result in punishment and perhaps death. However victory will result in reward." Glorthar finished, surveying the expressions of each of the prisoners, with an unreadable one plastered on his own face.
Each Titan presented their own mood in different ways. Beast Boy let out a squeak and immediately transformed into a chicken before being jolted back to his original form by the bronze shock collar that was recently secured around his thin green neck. He winced in pain, subconsciously rubbing the collar.
Cyborg's jaw dropped to the ground before he picked it up again, once he released it however, it instantly returned to its original position. A faint malfunctioning sound in the back of his head could be heard.
Aqualad looked like he had just walked into an all-you-can-eat fish taco buffet. His face took on an unhealthy greenish hue, turning his already pasty skin even paler and more odd looking than ever before.
Kid Flash smirked, like he believed that the Gordanian warrior in front of him was bluffing. His arms were folded, and he was slouched in a certain way, that would give any onlooker the impression that he knew exactly what he was doing, which in reality couldn't have been farther from the truth.
Speedy's expression showed with a new type of determination like he was up for the challenge. After all he did like to win, even if it did mean the stakes were a lot higher.
And then there was Robin.
Robin was angry before, but now he was absolutely furious. It didn't help the situation when he had to deal with a giant pounding headache from a recently received concussion. Not to mention that he had no idea how the girls were, if they were okay…if they were even still alive. He glared at the ground, his angry persona melting away when he thought of how miserable Starfire must be. He had to figure out a way to escape. She had dealt with the Gordanians before and had narrowly avoided capture, and she didn't deserve to be detained now.
"When?" he muttered looking up to make eye contact with the revolting alien.
"You do not speak unless you are addressed individually Wing of Bird," he spat, raising his glaive threateningly to the Boy Wonder's throat. He didn't flinch; instead he stood his ground, glaring at Glorthar with a mixture of hatred and disgust.
Glorthar paused and lowered his weapon before a forced small graced his face. "You are brave for an Earthling, especially one who is not that of a metahuman," he said aloud, his face lighting up in observation as well as slight suspicion. "You watch yourself boy, I may be able to disregard such behavior, but Trogaar will not. Neither will our new leader."
"Who is your leader?" Robin asked coldly, his interrogating instincts taking over.
Glorthar slammed his glaive on the ground, the sudden loud noise causing some of the other Titans to jump, however Robin stood his ground again, determined to get an answer.
"I do not believe I addressed you individually, Wing of Bird," he snapped, his voice snarling.
"You just did."
"Robin," Cyborg warned but he placed his hand up to signal he knew what he was doing.
For a moment it appeared as if the massive alien would slit the boy's throat without a thought, but after a few moments he closed his eyes and took several deep breaths before opening them once more.
"Very well," he spoke finally. "The identity of our leader does not concern you, but you will begin your training immediately." Smirking, his tapped his glaive once more, although this time it was not of anger, but in a more commanding tone.
A trap door suddenly appeared from right under the six males and they due to gravity-as well as the factor of being completely unprepared-they fell down into the pit below with a harsh thud.
It was dark in the room and it smelt really, really bad.
"Aw, BB, are you for serious right now?" Cyborg exclaimed pinching his nose in disgust.
Beast Boy's ignorant cry jumped in. "I'm serious guys, it wasn't me this time, I swear!"
Everyone began coughing violently as the smell entered through their nostrils and open mouths. Eventually the stench became so unbearable that they collapsed in a heap around each other, the fight, determination, as well as uncertainty and fear leaving their eyes.
~0~0~0~
Robin felt something sharp poke his leg. He tried to ignore it. His head was still pounding from before, and he could still faintly smell the gas that had knocked him out. Besides, the ground he lay on wasn't all that uncomfortable. It had been a while since he had gotten a decent amount of sleep.
He then cried out in pain, jerking awake suddenly as he was prodded again with a sharp object. He sprang up instantly, his body automatically going into a fighting stance, even when he realized that it was fruitless, he was after all, surrounded by guards.
However they weren't close to him like they usually were. They were spread out each about thirty feet away from him. They stood with their back facing against durable looking steel walls each lined with different varieties of weaponry that Robin had never even seen before, and he had seen a lot of weapons in his career as a hero.
As the world began to appear clearer and clearer to him, he realized he wasn't dressed in his usual "Boy Wonder" attire. Instead he was dressed in a type of uniform. His legs were covered with a type of thin black spandex, with metal bracers wrapping around his calves. Although the material appeared flimsy, Robin realized that it was made out of a similar material as his cape. His feet were squeezed into steal toe boots that were actually rather heavy to move in. His forearms were wrapped in metal bracers, similar to the ones on his calves, and his neck, shoulders, and upper chest were covered by a neck brace, slightly larger than the one Starfire usually wore. He also noticed that the shock collar he had previously been wearing was no longer around his neck.
Robin's hands instinctively went to his eyes and he breathed out a sigh of relief when he realized that the mask was still in place. Perhaps the Gordanians thought that the mask was his natural appearance. Either way, he was most thankful that everything seemed to be in place.
Or did it?
Where were the others? Glancing around once more, Robin couldn't locate them anywhere. Two heavy footsteps sounded behind him, and he turned, expecting maybe Glorthar, but found Cyborg instead. Both teens breathed out a sigh of relief upon recognition of each other.
"Hey man," Cyborg, laughed shakily scratching his head. He wore a similar uniform as he did, however it appeared to not be a perfect fit. The material he wore seemed rather stretched out, and he lacked the neck brace that Robin wore. "Pretty weird, huh? Don't really know what they're planning, but doesn't look like we'll be getting out anytime soon."
"We have to," Robin murmured. "We have to find the girls too."
"I really don't think they're in all that much trouble right now," Kid Flash said, zooming out to meet his friends. "I mean, if we're helping these guys out, who's to say they're not?"
"Are you so sure that's a good thing?" Aqualad pointed out, plucking at his metallic gloves.
"Who cares? I just figure we should kick ass while we're here," Speedy remarked, smirking. Aqualad rolled his eyes.
"At least those shocky collar things are gone," Beast Boy pointed out, turning into a variety of different animals. "Those things hurt like a mother."
"Not really digging this style though," Kid Flash commented dryly. "Black is so not my color."
"We can worry about your wardrobe malfunction later," Robin replied, irritated. "We need to figure out where they're keeping the girls."
"Then let me set your mind at ease," Trogaar's voice boomed around the makeshift arena. The boys looked every which way and that, until Aqualad pointed out a balcony up near the top center of the giant walled stadium.
Trogaar sat his commander's throne, staring down at them as if they were mere ants that he could step on at any moment. He made a gesture over his left shoulder and suddenly Jinx, Bumble Bee, and Raven were pushed through the door, each wearing shock collars and bound bracers on their forearms.
As soon as they appeared the six boys had the decency to avert their eyes directly, not because of the current bruised state the girls were in, but because of how much of the girl's current states they could see.
They were each clad in a different color attire, Bumble Bee obviously being yellow, Jinx a bright pink, and Raven a navy blue. However each was clad in nothing more than a skimpy outfit that looked like a scantily made bikini with urban strings and neck braces covering their shoulders. By the looks on some of their faces, they were clearly outraged, and otherwise completely embarrassed.
Robin recovered the quickest, easily noticing that one of the girls was missing, and he wasn't surprised when he realized which one. "Where's Starfire?"
"You mean Princess Koriand'r?" Trogaar asked, uninterested. "She is in her quarters, being prepped for service. You are not to see her. Your purpose is to fight." He slammed his glaive with such force on the balcony that it sent violent vibrations throughout the stone, causing the girls to shake.
"Let the Duel of the Warriors commence!" he roared, and then all hell broke loose.
There was a tremendous crash, then another, then another. As the other Titans glanced around wildly, Robin remained staring at the ground, feeling the vibrations as identifying them as footsteps of something large. How they managed to encase an alien being on he didn't know, and he didn't particularly want to find out for himself.
The periods of shaking stopped abruptly, and a dead silence hung in the air. The Titans waited with baited breath. The only thing that could be heard of was Glorthar's quiet chuckles, coming from one of the lower balconies in the stone arena.
There was a giant cawing and then the swooping of wings as an alien creature-one which looked quite similar to that of a pterodactyl except for its numerous eyes and claws protruding from its limbs-soared above the Titans.
A small gasp could be heard somewhere above, and Robin turned around abruptly, as did Trogaar. However only the same cold steel walls greeted him. The Boy Wonder wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he saw a flash of ruby hair.
"Earthlings, meet your opponent, the Focknar."
Author's Note: Yeah, I know, semi-cliffhanger, I'll update soon I promise! Please review!