Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans.
"This" means that they're speaking in Tamaranean/used for whispering/phone conversations, you'll know the difference, and this is when they're thinking/their POV and flashbacks/dreams.
Hey, guys. :) Once again, thank you for all the reviews. Over a hundred reviews, you guys are awesome. Here's long chapter 9. Enjoy. :D
Your Reason Why
Chapter 9 – Bittersweet
…
"Don't worry, Emperor Galfore, she should be waking up soon. The toxic worked. Let's just give her time to sleep off the tranquilizer I injected her with."
"How long will that be?"
Galfore?
"Soon."
Where am I?
"I assure you that she is fine. The analysis confirmed it. I don't expect any serious side effects for Princess Koriand'r."
"And the struggle earlier this morning?"
Struggle…earlier this morning? What does that mean?
"I suspect she was recalling the last event she remembered. The princess was in battle, which explains the fight. Once her mind settles, she'll be fully aware. We should let her rest."
I don't understand. Galfore, don't leave… Wake up, Kori. Wake up…
oOo
Garfield, Victor, and Raven walked through the crowded mall of Gotham city. Passing several stores, the three stood in front of mall's giant map.
"Okay, so where should we go?" asked Raven.
"How about that one?" asked Victor pointing at the map.
"Dudes, I got it! Come on. I know a great place we can go." Garfield rested his hands behind his head and stepped ahead of his friends. Raven and Cyborg shrugged and followed Garfield to the second floor.
Once they arrived, Garfield took them to toward the end of the mall and they entered a rather large, crowded store. Raven took a look at the store's map.
"Girls section is by the checkout counter." she stated and headed in that direction.
"Guys look!" shouted Garfield grabbing a pair of green pajamas with black outline paw prints from the boy's rack on the way there. "Think Mar'i likes paw prints?"
"Sure, why not?" said Victor.
"Guys, those are boy's pajamas. Don't you guys think Mar'i would like…" Raven walked off toward the girl's section. "…these?" she said, picking out a pair of light blue pajamas with a small, simple ribbon on the pants.
"I still vote for the green pajamas." stated Victor. Garfield eagerly nodded.
"Let's just look clothes for Mar'i…" Taking the green pajamas, Garfield and Victor awkwardly started browsing for girl clothes. "Okay, how about this blouse?" asked Raven holding up a light purple blouse. The boys just shrugged.
"I guess." said Victor.
"If you want to…" said Garfield. Raven gave then a look.
"You're not helping."
"Raven, can Vic and I look for clothes over there?" asked Garfield pointing toward the boys section. Victor nodded.
"Fine. Do what you want. I'll look for clothes on my own. See you in two hours." Victor and Gar headed for the boys section and Raven let out a sigh.
oOo
Blackfire and Wildfire were flying over the skies of Jump City over the clouds to avoid being seen. They were each scanning different areas of the cities for any signs of their niece.
"Don't you think we would've at least known something if she did landed here by now?" Blackfire asked her brother. "Newspapers, reports, something..." she quietly stated.
"If she got lost…"
"Or hurt…"
"No."
"Our best chance is to locate the idiotic clorbag."
"We'll never get anywhere. Let's go back to the Tower and search old files. Maybe we'll find something."
"I checked. All files were destroyed…" she said, her violet eyes never leaving the city below her.
"Something had to be missed. We can fix the main computer and communicate with Galfore back home. See how Kori is doing." Blackfire nodded and both turned back and flew straight for the Titans Tower.
oOo
"Dude, we are so good at finding clothes." said Garfield as he put a blue t-shirt with a race car on it into the overstuffed shopping bag. "We have awesome green pajamas, at least twenty t-shirts, some jeans, shorts, and whatever else seemed cool."
"Sounds good to me. Think we're done?"
"Don't forget we still have to buy her some toys and things for her room."
"Way ahead of you, man. I found some Wonder Woman blankets." said Victor, picking them up.
"We should get her some Batman sheets and Superman pillows to match."
"Oh, yeah. I think I saw some nearby." said Victor. Garfield carried the heavy bag full of clothes and followed Victor down the aisle where they found their objective. "What else is there?"
"Are you thinking Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles action figures?" asked Garfield, pointing to the toy isle.
"Works for me."
"Oh, hey. It's almost time to meet up with Raven."
"We can stop for take out on the way home."
"Dude, you so read my mind…"
oOo
"Where could Mar'i be hiding?" asked a twenty-three year old Koriand'r. A giggling four year old Mar'i floated behind her mother's desk. Wearing a purple royal Tamaranean gown with flats and her M-shape silver tiara, Kori chuckled and walked toward the center of her bedroom.
Her gown flowed down toward the pink-peach carpet covering her shoes. It had a transparent, shimmering layer on top of the solid purple. She wore a silver V-shape band that hugged her waist and the usual silver clothing around her neck, gloves, and armband. The M-shape silver tiara framed her face and her red hair was slightly longer and curled.
"I know she is in here somewhere." said Kori to the room. She heard Mar'i giggle once more and Kori headed toward the desk and turned her back towards it. "Did she disappear?"Kori glanced at the desk where Mar'i ducked her head and gave another giggle. Koriand'r gave a small laugh as well. She walked toward the desk and kneeled down where she met a floating Mar'i. "Found you!"
"Noo!"said Mar'i, surprising her laughter.
"No? Than who is this?" said Kori, tickling her daughter. Kori stood up and Mar'i laughed as she came out from under the table and into her mother's arms. Wearing a pretty silver-grey dress decorated with a simple bow around the waist, white socks, and short hair tied into a ponytail that came down above her shoulders, Mariand'r looked up at her mother as her laughter settle.
"I was hiding real good, mommy, I was! Cause you did not find me and then you did!"Kori giggled at her daughter's excitement and place her down on her feet.
"You were." said Kori, taking Mari's hand and leading her toward the door. "But now it's time to join the family for dinner." Mariand'r nodded but stopped and turned around.
"Mommy, shoes." she pointed toward her shoe-less feet and then toward the bed where her shoes laid.
"I almost forgot." Koriand'r sat her by a nearby chair and walked toward Mar'i shoes. Grabbing them, Kori stopped and turned towards the balcony.
The sky was filled with a bright light and a high, pitch sound filled the air followed by an explosion making the room shake. Dropping the shoes, Koriand'r ran towards the balcony and looked around. An alarm had sounded and Tamaranean warriors took flight. Restless noise began to take hold of them and more explosions hit the ground as well as the air. The room shook once more.
"Mommy?!" yelled a frightened Mariand'r, standing on the chair.
"Stay where you are, Mariand'r!" screamed Kori. She looked out once more, unknown enemies started to fly down their ships carrying heavy weaponry. Tamaranean warriors were mobilizing and the once peaceful night was filled with noises of attack. Shells started to come down in the direction of the castle, panicking, Koriand'r turned around and ran inside. A shell hit the castle and the explosion caused Koriand'r to fall. Parts of the balcony started to crumbled and the room violently shook. The edge of the balcony fell and Koriand'r, still on the ground, flung herself toward the entrance of her bedroom.
"Mommy!" Mariand'r climbed out the chair but froze at the sound of her mother's voice.
"I told you to stay where you are!" she screamed, standing up, she ran then flew toward Mariand'r but was blasted to the floor by another explosion causing her tiara to be flung off her head. The roof collapse and blocked the exit toward the balcony. Furniture from the floor above had crushed on the floor and somewhere in the room furniture was crushed. The lights had gone black and the room was shaking in complete darkness. The shells were started to come down fast. Mariandr's screams were drowned by what was happening outside.
"Mar'i!" Kori yelled into the darkness. "Where are you?" Getting up, she lit up her eyes and summoned a starbolt. Kori removed her hair off her face and then proceeded to rip her dress just above her knees to make movement easily. "Stay where you are! Mommy is coming to get you." The room shook once more and Kori took flight to maintain her balance and placed her free hand over her head in case the ceiling came down again.
"Mommy!" Kori found her clutching to the chair, tears coming down her face. Another explosion was felt and Mar'i fell to the ground. Mar'i crawled toward her mother and Koriand'r picked her up and embraced her with force.
"I am going to get you out of here." Mar'i nodded and dug her face into her mother's hair. With her free hand, Koriand'r blasted the door. The ceiling came down and Kori stepped back covering Mari's head and yelling out Tamaranean curses. When it settled, she shot a laser beam and their entranced was cleared. With a crumbling ceiling, she flew down the hall with a crying Mariand'r. Ryand'r appeared shortly in front them.
"Thank X'Hal you two are fine. Come on." Ryand'r flew ahead of them clearing the way. Kori stayed closely behind.
"What is going on?" she asked.
"An invasion. They've caught us off guard. Galfore is already mobilizing the warriors. The children and pregnant women were already taken underground. We have to get down there…and fast. It won't take them long for they get inside the castle and try to capture the royal family." They took a left down the hall and flew down the stairs.
"I shall join you in battle."
"Kori, that's crazy. You have your daughter. You and Komand'r are staying underground."
"No. I'm going with you." The ground below them shook and they met a blocked exit hall.
"No and that's final." Speeding up his velocity, Ryand'r gave out a screamed and cleared the way with his fist. Koriand'r followed behind through a cloud of dust. They reached a locked room and Kori blasted the door away. Both of them landed on the ground and Koriand'r kept her strong embrace on her daughter. Ryand'r opened a secret door on the ground and Koriand'r jumped in followed by Ryand'r.
They flew down a long staircase until they reach an underground cave. Flying at full speed into it, they reached the exit in seconds. They came into a flat area lighted with torches where Komand'r was waiting for them with a servant and a guard near an open metallic door.
"Is everyone inside?" asked Ryand'r as he landed in front of them.
"Yes." Komand'r responded. "And Ryand'r, I am going with you."
"So am I." said Koriand'r and she hugged her daughter tighter.
"No. You're not. You're staying here with Koriand'r. That's an order." he raised his voice, as her turned to Komand'r and then to Koriand'r.
"I caused a war in this planet years ago. This time, I am going to defend it and protect its people. And last time I checked, I was the oldest in this family. Therefore, I am going into battle and that is an order." Komand'r glared at his brother and he glared back.
"Fine. But Koriand'r stays."
"No! I will not stay here when I know I am of use."
"You're not going!" Ryand'r barked back.
"You do not tell me what to do." said Koriand'r in a dangerously low voice. Ryand'r let out a scream of frustration.
"The three of us have a duty. We're all going. " stated Komand'r. It was the final statement.
"So stubborn! Fine but be careful." yelled Ryand'r. Both sisters nodded and Ryand'r took off.
"It's hard but do it fast." said Koriand'r refereeing to Mar'i. Kori nodded and watch Koma take off behind Ryand'r. Koriand'r removed Mariand'r from her shoulder and wiped away her daughter's tears.
"Mommy has to go, Mar'i. But I will be back soon." She placed a kiss on her forehead and hugged her tight. Tears escaped from her eyes. Removing Mar'i from her arms, she handed her daughter to the servant but Mar'i didn't want to let go.
"Mommy!" she yelled between cries. Koriand'r finally freed herself and lit up her eyes, tears disappearing behind the green glow.
"Bolt the door!" she gave the order. The servant carrying her crying daughter and the guard stepped inside the metal door and locked it. Koriand'r took flight and disappeared inside the cave…
oOo
Richard was now fully rested and dressed in a red t-shirt and black sweats. He had taken a shower and had slept straight for two hours. He head toward the kitchen to get a bite to eat. Opening the freezer, he took out the chocolate ice-cream and dug the spoon into it. He savored the moment for he had not eaten ice-cream like this in years.
"Daddy!" came Mari's scream from the leaving room. Richard widened his eyes and dropped the ice-cream on the counter. He ran toward the living room, where Mar'i stood on the couch with anxious eyes.
"Mar'i, what's wrong?!" he asked worried. He scanned her for injuries and then the room for anything unusual. Nothing.
"I have to go!" said Mar'i quietly.
"Go where?" Richard noticed Mari's little dance and understood. "Oh, the bathroom." Mar'i quickly nodded, her eyes growing wider. He sighed in relief and took her hand. Mar'i pulled him along as she flew toward the bathroom at great speed. It took him by surprised as he found himself running besides her causing him to almost trip over the couch. Once they arrived at the bathroom, Mar'i landed in front of the door and her potty dance continued. Richard quickly opened the door and Mar'i stepped inside.
"Wait for me, please." she said as she closed the bathroom door. Richard cached his breath and leaned against the wall.
"She also has super strength." murmured Richard. "Then she probably shoots starbolts as well…" he said to no one in particular.
Why would Kori not tell me that she had a daughter? I was engaged and she still named her after my mother. I am an idiot…
Richard's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his cell phone. He reached into his pocket and answered it.
"Yeah?"
"Richard, can you please tell Garfield that we are not getting Mar'i SpongeBob boxers." rang Raven's voice on the other side of the line.
"Dude! They have SpongeBob's face on them."
"Hey, Dick, mind if we use your credit card to buy takeout?" Victor's voice was heard in the background.
"Uh…"
"And that we have to leave the puppy."
"But Vic and I already gave him a name!"
"Do you want Chinese or Pizza?"
"I–"
"And that we are not buying boy's clothes?"
"But there is some really cool stuff!"
"Oh, and we'll need drinks as well."
"Guys!"
"Right?"
"No."
"So…"
"Uh…yes." Richard answered confused.
"See. Now return everything." said Raven talking to Garfield.
"Aw man."
"Cool."
"Okay…" Richard closed his phone and set it back into his pocket wondering what just happened. He looked toward the bathroom door and found Mar'i waiting by the door.
"Who was taking?" she asked, looking up. A confused expression formed on her face. Richard grabbed a towel from inside the bathroom and dried Mari's hands.
"I just took a phone call." said Richard.
"Oh." Mar'i then hesitated. "Daddy, will I sleep in your room tonight?" she asked.
"Uh…don't you want your own room?" he asked confused.
"I already had my own room but I wanted to stay with mommy but I couldn't. I want to stay with you because I don't like to be alone…"
"Mar'i…" How was he going to explain to her that he was Nightwing and that he was gone all night? That he worked from morning till evening or that he spend most of his time training? That he would barely have time for her and that she would have to spend many times alone in the mansion just as in the castle because Gotham needed him? He didn't. "We'll see." Mariand'r smiled and her eyes expressed joy. They started to walk back toward the living room until they heard a grumbling sound coming from Mar'i.
"Daddy, can you please serve me some Glorg?" she asked, grabbing her tummy.
"I don't think I can cook Tamaranean food…" he said awkwardly, remembering the strange looking dishes.
"Oh." Richard looked down and saw that she looked disappointed.
"Well, I'll see what I can do." He took her hand and led her to the kitchen. He picked her up and sat her on a stool. Spotting the ice-cream on the counter he grabbed it and set it aside. He was new to parenting but even he knew about the rule where desert comes after dinner. Not that he followed it himself but he wasn't going to let her know that.
Sushi mixed with ice-cream…
His mind recalled. He was certain that the green gelatin thing was what Mar'i wanted. He walked over to the fridge and took out a plate full of fresh sushi that had luckily not been destroyed by Mariand'r that morning. He dumped the sushi into a bowl and scooped some ice-cream into it. He was going to let that rule sly just this once. Mar'i watched him curiously as he did this and once he set the plate in front of her she made a face. Richard chuckled.
"I know it doesn't look like it but it's supposed to taste like Glorg." Mar'i gave the plate another strange look and picked up her spoon. She swallowed a piece of sushi covered in ice-cream and didn't complained. Richard picked up the mess and sat next to her eating his own bowl of ice-cream minus the sushi. "Taste good?" he asked, breaking the awkward silence.
"Do you want some?" Mar'i asked, offering her plate.
"I…uh." Mari's eyes grew wider in anticipation. It reminded him of someone but he couldn't remember who. "Sure…" He took his spoon and quickly swallowed the food. It took a couple of minutes for him to take it all in. "Not bad." he finally stated. Mar'i smiled and returned to eating her substitute Glorg. He watched her as she ate and he smiled.
When she was finally done, she climbed on her daddy's lap which caught Richard off guard. He took the napkin from the table and wiped her mouth. She buried her face on his shirt and was ready for her next nap. He couldn't blame her; both of them hadn't slept much last night. It surprised him that it had only been last night when he had denied she was his daughter and now she was asleep on his lap.
Feeling sleepy all of a sudden, he carefully stood up from the stool and walked over toward the living room where he set her down on the couch. He sat opposite to her and fell asleep as well.
This isn't so bad…
oOo
"We're here!" yelled Victor from the door, carrying the pizzas and drinks. Raven and Garfield entered through the door shortly behind carrying shopping bags.
"We're over here!" yelled Richard from the living. He and Mar'i sat on the couch and were watching cartoons on the flat screen. He stood from the couch and went over to help his friends with the bags.
"Well, Mar'i is all set." stated Raven as she set down the shopping bags on the floor.
"Dudes, I'm so tired…" said Garfield, letting himself fall on the couch.
"I am starving. Where do you guys want these?" asked Victor referring to the pizzas.
"Actually, set them in the kitchen. Alfred and Bruce will kill me if we eat here." said Richard, standing up. At this, Mar'i climbed down from the couch and followed Richard closely behind. Richard took half the pizzas from Victor and headed for the kitchen. Raven laughed as she saw Mar'i trying to catch up. The room froze and heads turned.
"What?" asked Raven as she saw her three friends' eyes on her.
"You don't laugh randomly. What's so funny?" Victor asked, rising an eyebrow. Richard had the same expression on his face while Garfield waited for the answer. Mar'i stood next to Richard wondering what was going on.
"Oh. It's just that Mar'i is following Richard all over the room. It's…cute." she said, her face getting red. Richard chuckled and they proceeded into the kitchen. Raven stayed behind waiting for the blushing to stop. Garfield also stayed behind, his eyes never leaving Raven.
"What?" she asked, feeling a little uncomfortable. Garfield's eyes dropped to the floor.
"Nothing. It's just that I almost forgot how beautiful that smile looks on your face…" he said. Garfield quickly ran away leaving a very confused and blushing Raven behind.
oOo
The medical room was filled by an increased beeping sound and Kori was aware of it. She lay on the bed attached to more machines than she was this morning. Toward the corner of the room, there was a table filled with fresh clothes and food. On the nightstand, papers and data were piled in a messy stack. The room seemed busy and loud.
Koriand'r awoke with a jolt and sat up on the bed, her hands on her head. Her eyes adjusting to the light, she looked around at her surroundings. Her vision was spinning and she didn't remembered how she got there. After her vision settle, she stood up with support from the nightstand. Her body felt weak and stiff and so she sat back on the bed. Kori removed all the cables that were attached to her hands and the machines in the room went dead. She didn't want to be there. The door of the room opened and Kori turned her head.
"Princess Koriand'r, I see you're awake. How are you feeling?"
"What happened?" The doctor ignored her question. He walked over toward the nightstand and picked up a pile of papers. He stated to shuffle through them.
"Get some rest. I will be back shortly." he said as he headed for the door.
"Where am I?" she asked. At that moment, the door opened and Galfore stepped inside. "Galfore!" Galfore too ignore her. Kori felt confused and hurt.
"So it's certain?" whispered Galfore.
"Yes. I don't know if it's permanent but it's certain." The doctor responded. "Other than that, I don't find anything else wrong."
"Very well."
"I'll come back later to check on her. You should explain to it to her but it's better if you wait and let her rest." Galfore nodded.
"Thank you, doctor." The doctor exited the room and Galfore faced Koriand'r.
"Galfore, what happened?"
"You should rest first."
"No, I want to know now." Galfore let out a sigh.
"Kori, you were in a coma, a very rare coma. Tamaraneans don't tend to wake from it."
"But I am fine now." Galfore hesitated before he went on.
"You don't understand. You were gone for a really long time. Mariand'r hasn't seen you since–"
"Mar'i!" Kori interrupted. Remembering the flashback, she tried to get up. "I need to see her."
"Koriand'r don't get up!" he ordered. Koriand'r ignored him and started walking toward the door. Galfore didn't stop her. She tried opening the door but she couldn't. Kori summoned her super strength but let it go quickly as it came. Pain shot through her body and she let go of the door. Panting she look down at her hands.
"I am too weak."
"It's not just that, Koriand'r. You can't use your powers. Not unless you want to feel pain. It's a side effect."
"Side effect?" she questioned. "How long will it last?"
"We used a toxic to wake you from the coma. If we didn't, you would've died. And the doctor is not sure. Anything that would be easy to lift or move for a Tamaranean, it's hard for you: a door, a giant glass, a table... basically, everything that Tamaraneans lifts with ease. If you use your Tamaranean strength, flight, or your starbolts your body will produce pain." Kori was looking at the ground taking it in. Perplexity filled her mind and was at a loss of words. Frantically looking around, she stepped aside of the door.
"Galfore, I need to see Mar'i."
Cliffhanger! Sort of… Mar'i is not there to see Kori. Dx But on the up side, Mar'i and Dick were bonding and let the bbrae moments begin. :3 Oh, the part with the younger Kori and Mar'i was a flashback just in case you got confused. Review!
Next chapter: Kori freaks out. She gets an assistant. Okay, fine a…babysitter. Alien enemies are getting impatient. Richard and Mar'i bond some more. Gar and Rae flirt…more on Gar's part. And something else happens!
Review! :)
-RobStar4ever
