To those who aren't able to clarify for themselves; Alice realizes that Robin has...GASP..revealed that he's quitting the team! She goes to deliver the message sent through Aaron to the Dragon Earth to save his realm from destruction.
One: Slade shows up, but it's him in the body of a child him about 12 years old or over, haven't a clue .He wishes to be free of having to work for Roku. But is planning as we speak... -Roko the counter part of Richard's- counterpart; Rokuro was an evil side to the prince Richard/ Roku. His mother called his true self Richard and his counterpart evil dad's been calling him either. He was supposed to be one: a bad influence on the kids. Rob still does not know who Roku's lackey; the kid Slade is! Kay, Verra and Wiz were once handed over to Rokuro the god by his son. But he fell into despair and made a deal to have them babysit the son. Until they were destroyed as newly made demons...
And lastly: Becoming a helper of Lord Roku as an evil catalyst, he was a light catalyst to help his friends he met on his journey. Way before being tempted to meet his fate at the tower and to turn over his pals... That was how he met the guardians and was turned. Easier said than done right? Uh uh. Raven becomes suspicious of the guardians that have helped her along the way, when so much needs to be seen through to the end! Why are they not going after Roku and contacting Lady Isis? And who was Ravenna in a past life? And who is Nina? A cyber android built by the scientists once hired by Verra's other self as a weapon against any that stand in her way...is she a handful or is she just a character? Richard has gone to find Bruce, finding only now that Veronica Roku's cronie has the man wrapped around her finger. Will Alfred and dick be able to steer the man- soon to be engaged...oops, I let you know too soon...but will Richard stop them in the nick of time?
Arianna, Ravenna and the guardians, Alice and her old counterpart Arisu were all once allied or against the king or his son and family. Alice has collapsed under pressure having once been a mighty lady and an apprentice of a high lord Roku. But now she'll choose the side she wishes to shed the most tears for in times of great sorrow and great accomplishments are to be made... Ok, so enjoy the story some more!
Find out right now! Here we go!
/A
Chapter 18: Dragon Lady; Daybreak Sessions, Under The Weather Much? Night Owls
/A
"What flame? When our bond severed, I thought he...was to blame...you did this didn't you? To save us? To protect-
"Yes and I don't know how it was done.. I have something to say to you all." The beats of all hearts stopped for one moment to listen, to wait for the announcement.
"I'm quitting the Teen Titans."
/
Bruce came into the simple yet comfy setting as the young man lying under the covers watched the ceiling with strained eyes. He seemed depressed since Ronnie had brought up the subject. About his team, his parents and his relatives that he barely knew from birth. That was Bruce's fault as well, he explained to her after getting back from the office meeting room that he had not told her that Richard was under his care due to an incident when he was very young...
"So, how did they take the news? You said you told your teammates...they know you're here ri-
"No...no-not, not really..." he stuttered to the man as he wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve. Sitting up he clutched the side for support and groaned. The markings had only been visible to those who could see them, like Roku's own little heir. He sighed and tried to stand- a bit woozy from sleeping in so late.
"Are you sure you're feeling alright?" Asked Bruce. Why did he seem so concerned? Change of heart perhaps-
"I just got back from the office so feel free to come find me...oddly enough... Arkham has been..."He looked out the window in thought.
"Unusually quiet?" Richard put in as he slowly lifted himself from the mattress. "Alfred's a real chatterbox, I thought he was joking!" Robin let out a high laugh. Not one of his own. That was for sure...
Bruce looked at his ward almost in a stunned way, between that and a bit worriedly. He sure did have time to sort things out while out of commission. But had he been capable of keeping his body and mind strong during the time that Bruce had been abroad?
"Have...have, you been out of bed since the collapse? You seemed weak, I hope you're not going into another one of your late night-
"No! No way am I doing that, it's just...i was able to stretch a bit. I ate in bed this morning but by lunch I was fine..." He lied. He'd been in a coma like sleep for a few hours before asking for food then he had the dream ten times worse than before. That is why he seemed so pale. So shaken up and weak to stand. He'd been bed ridden for a few hours longer than the other few days when he'd felt horrible and sick as ever! Now he was just groggily getting used to moving around. He needed to exercise when the last of him symptoms downed. Then he could start to train with Bruce-
Bruce shrugged and stood to face the window to the front yard.
"Whenever you feel up to it we can arrange for you to see Leslie." Leslie was a doctor friend of the Wayne family and treated hero after hero when the going got tough after a fight with some dangerous villain. She knew who they were sort of yet Bruce didn't want to bring her out into the open so he left her guessing for The Batman's secret identity.
"Thanks. I'll keep that in mind." Richard finally bounded off to the bathroom attached to his room. "I'm going to wash up. Don't wait up for me."
Bruce's didn't smile very well but this time he was willing to return the gesture. Dick gave him a wave to let him be for a bit. He didn't smile, his mouth formed into a tiny thin line, one that was barely considered a happy reunion grin...
/B
"How is Master Dick faring?" Whispering, Alfred brought himself to ask their Bruce Wayne he stood waiting outside the young man's door.
"He's...-
Bruce thought for a second. He looked pale, which either meant poor conditions OR something from living away for so long from Gotham...He lived in California and that's what should have given him some sun. So, was it something else? A fever that was getting worse? No, no. He didn't want to think ahead too quickly. Robin was no longer available but Richard Grayson had to pull through.
"He needs time to recuperate, he's still a bit upset..."
~No doubt dwelling on an incident that he would have been mad over instead...~
"Oh! About that trip to Ms. Leslie," Bruce looked up from staring at the floor. "You were eavesdropping Alfred? What's gotten in to you all of a sudden? First you talk about the crime rate and now...-
"Master Bruce, if I may." Alfred held up a hand to assure that he meant every word. "Why was it that you had NOT told him of the break off with Miss Selina Kyle? He may not need to know all the details yet there is no need to keep him in the dark about your, fiance...
"You mean my meeting Veronica? We needed to spend time with other people...She wanted revenge for goodness sake! That's almost never like Selina!" Bruce walked down the stairwell with his faithful friend to his left. Yes, she'd gone off the deep end with a client and was willing to kill just to prove her point; it was a good thing that The Batman got her to come to her senses and Bruce was the one to help her into therapy.
Yet it happened and there had been a series of murders too many to number...they all pointed towards her...his one soul mate...
"Maybe I'll pay the Gotham Police a visit, as The Batman- I don't believe that she could be a killer..." He loved her once, he knew she had a story to tell, the evidence at each scene had been the same. Claw marks. And ashes for a face of a person...that didn't seem possi-
"Don't be blind like that, Master Bruce! You have a duty here as young Master Richard's guide. Right now he needs you more than ever."
"Alfred...what are you say-
The stood in the doorway of the kitchen and gaped with widened eyes and one of them looked just about ready to chuckle.
Veronica was making dinner? That didn't seem highly her style...She hadn't cooked since they'd gotten back to America. She was waited on and served herself when she wished to. But this...i guess...
"Good evening love! How is, everyone?" She seemed carefree in the kitchen with her apron(Alfred's apron) and a cutting board with some veggies getting ready to go into the dish.
"Are...are you almost done with that entire-
"Why? Yes! Yes I am!" she embraced poor Bruce as the kissed for a short time before the boiling pot began to gurgle. Al spun towards the stove to lower flame."Let me get that, you must be exhauste-
"No Alfred dear, I can handle anything your kitchen can throw at me!" He sulked to himself eventually, while she turned to the water and pasta that was about ready to be drained.
/
Upstairs, Richard had just pulled on some new pants and a loose fitting tee. His skin still burned from the hot water and soap that penetrated every wound that wound around his arms and legs, torso and back...though the marks formed a shape that was impossible even for a tattoo or henna artist...
"What is this..." slowly he reached to smooth down the pain. "Even if this isn't a good idea, or a real scar- it could still go away like one if I try right?" he snorted and reached next for a tube of ointment from the medicine cabinet. The itch grew stronger until it burned his flesh like a brazing iron!
"OW! OW! AGH!" The tube fell to the floor, the scratches didn't want to be touched or cared for...as if they had a mind of their own. Plans for their host...egh!
The mark? Was...was it glowing? ~That was like my experience as a sa-
Knock, Knock, Knock! Someone had possibly heard him scream! What if they tried to ask? He had to hide the freaking things...
Running over to the closet Dick rummaged through his old belongings to find...got it!
A hooded sweatshirt to burn out the fever and to hide the painful marks...
"Come in!" it was all he could muster as he shrugged off the vile feeling of fatigue and sickness. He was working up a sweat too, that wouldn't help. So the bathroom would be a good place to hide. For a while, until the rest was made clear...
She stepped into the room and chuckled to herself with that pale paled complexion staring poor Dick right in the face!"What are you? A vampire, child?" It was Veronica the evil specter. At least Richard wasn't as pale as this woman...Or Raven combined; or even Mal for that matter!
She sauntered over to the window gazing at the gray sky that gave way to accumulate with the whitish fog from the rain storm. "You should stay here tonight, they say another storm is on its way here..." she smiled behind the facade of lies. This one was true though. It was going to rain for a time before the brat could do and, heh...heavy lifting...
A part of her knew it was only a matter of time before the two- boy and king would wind up meeting one another again. Very soon...
"You're not just here for me...why are you clinging to Bruce? What do you want with us?"
Ronnie should have smacked his arrogant little face with the back of her hand, here and now. Yet she only sighed turning to smile weak and annoyed at the boy. Her locks fell loose from her up do bun. That made her even more irritated inside. She never liked her hair brought to be this long. Her mentor Lilith told her that this was the only way to win Bruce over, the old fashioned way that he so preferred... "I'm just passing through. Nothing to get alarmed at, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if your teacher chose my opinion over yours or..."
"That's..!" Dick protested before she gave a silencing glare in his direction.
She settled with a smirk, a wide grin that would have you on the edge of your seat. Yet the young master didn't see things that way. She was a thieving ruthless woman demon who lived in a world where she committed crimes as villains did so here on earth...
"Or of course, Miss li-ttle Kyle...you never truly saw them as a match made in Heaven did you, squirt?-
Grinding his teeth with the rage and anxiety of the marks building Robin came into play. To help in this situation that could not be reasonably handled by fighting the lady tooth and nail he raised his eyes to her. This called for some bad manners...!
Another knocking at the door took place while they both turned to see whom it was. Al had taken some notice of the red blouse that Ronnie had been wearing since that evening during the work hours she'd suffered through. Wasn't it time for a change for them both and-
"Oh dear! Master Dick! What has gotten into you so suddenly? Why are you dressed for the cold in the middle of August? I know you are indeed under the weather, perhaps there is another choicer shade for you to try on before we set the table down stairs?" He begged for the boy to try on another outfit with a lesser appeal to gloom and doom...Robin knew there was now little comfort in those lady's eyes nor his old friend's since he knew little of the foul truth that the boy hide beneath his sweater.
"..I...I'm fine Al! I just have to wash u-
"Agh!"
But that pulsating pain that just would, not go away! It was horrifying!
Ronnie sneered at the child as her other lady self in the form of a soul searching human imp tried to pretend to seem as if she were helping him.
~At this rate my lord he'll have blown your cover! They'll put the blame on any newcomer they can get a hold of!~
~ Not so Malady not truly so...He doth hold the key yet...how will it be that they blame you? When he can barely speak?~
The other self of Veronica smirked a while as she thought out the plan as it was passed on to her bit by bit at a time. Though some pieces were left out to assure victory in the end. She was a pawn. And like all pawns some must be shattered in the end...
/Ni/Cy/Bb/Rae ;etc
"Okay then little lady! You think you got what it takes to be a Titan? Big whoop!"
Beast boy paced up and down the training hall in front of a 'standing as tall as a tree' Nina. She was built to be a soldier. Cute, but none the less a lady soldier with combatant skills that would knock your socks off!
Her eyes were in position to look only to the front and by the sides of her lay her arms with fists attached. She was going to be ready.
"I was in Doom Patrol, one of the top hero leagues of super heroes! But you don't hear me bragging about such! Now...drop and give me forty! Hop to it-
"Ahh-
Nina was still looking directly at Beast boy face but she'd noticed something odd about him in the process...He interrupted her, seeming a bit offended though he was in his character now.
"Do I look like i'm joking to you? This is a big important job! If you ever want to save the world or a city for that much...i expect you to endure!" Her scrunched up his face and made his muscles large and pumped up. What a joke! Behind the scenes in the watchers' facility the other members of the team had cheeks of fire and purple faces from laughing so hard and running out of breath!
"Um... Mister?-
"That's...Lieutenant Beast Man to you little lady-
He brought his face into her's and raised a brow.
"It's Nina, an-
"Don't just stand there soldier! Spit it out!"He pointed at her and said, she had a feeling this might hurt his pride..so much!
She huffed in a small fit. Her eyes not closed but laughing on the inside she pointed at his side belt pocket. Snuggled in deeply there was Calumon who slept as if nothing had been going on.
Raven, Cy, and even a chuckling Mal who noticed the lovable teddy all laughed at the tease.
Sighing with a whine able to escape, soon after the mishap Bb left the girl to be tested by the real initiators.
Cy and Raven were ready. "We can start her on level three. Or is that too easy?"
"Do it" Cyborg said without fear of seeing a mangled form before them, she'd catch up.
In the next box Veravakumu's - Takahara Shoji was waiting to see with Maya; the android child's creator just how well she could defend a world, and herself...
"Ready Miss Nina?" Asked Maya as the dial was pressed and speed rapidly increased in the boxed in platform world. As if it were a time space realm like the ones that Maya had spoken of from her storytelling of the old villages she'd visited long ago...it was cool...to be known as a friend and ally...of something great.
/
Voices, and she didn't bother to answer to that one in particular as it called her name more times over...why?...
~Frreeeeeeeeee...~ The first was very weak and sounded as if it had been through a war...the next was just askin` for trouble...!
Freeeeeeeeeeee!~
"Get your head in it to win it-
"Yo! Don't taunt her B! If you do I'll come over there an-
"Uh oh..." Calumon shivered as he burrowed to become the size of a pear in young B's pocket. What was it that had him scared so badly?
Takahara's chin rested in his hands. The girl looked spooked - and he meant every meaning of the word!
Maya called out to her somewhat of a daughter science experiment, the glass was far too thick. Then she heard it too...The voice of a sing song children's old world tale from the ages...could it be?
She felt a scream gargle up into the back of her throat. The demon was witness to her attempts as she was its. He struck from the shadows but Verra was ready. As the overgrown razor clawed wolf in the plane of Shadow the Shadow rider king saw the beast he swept it back into its hole from whence it came. "A portal to a realm of daemon?"
The wolf growled in his throat as he drove out the attacker once more, he hated that dragon with a desire for...
"Verra!" Maya used her fists to combat the strange specters. The had slowly used the same skill as the blobs of the tower of illusion!
They were not figments though, they looked almost skeletal with blue veins pulsating and hearts and lungs breathing. Gasping for that lost bit of life the groaned as the tried to bring her back with them into the floor, where their master of fate nearly waited on the edge of his seat! Their faces of course were cold, hollow, and hungered for something else in the room...
By racing up the walls he made a dent, light hit the creatures from outside the box. They were gone in a puff of smoke by the looks of things that had gotten preeety ugly! Sighing from the freed stress in her mind Maya soon came back to reality when another came to mind!
Verra mind spoke to her through the barrier of miasma and foggy memory.
"Where are the Titans-
Where is Nina?"
There in the next box they were trapped inside as the trap had finally been set and sealed. The two, wolf and scientist looked at one another anxiously. There was no way that there were more?
/Br,Ri,Ve,Al
/
The dining room was set in a way that Bruce thought Veronica had broken her back over while cooking meals, cleaning up the room and setting out the dishes. That had never been asked of her at all yet she wanted to please and let them all enjoy her fine cooking skills. Alfred had been awestricken to see that all had been done without having to ask him to lift a finger...it was strange. When she'd arrived by way of acquainting herself with the businessman Bruce this had been a first only knowing so now. But, Robin didn't feel up to getting his butt down the stairwell on his own; he got there with Al's help. Veronica right behind them watching diligently with a world of trouble around her.
~I'm not ok...~ Dick though. His body forcing out shaky tremors as he tried to fight the way he did during illness, though it would not really help in this situation. This felt like a new influence...weather the King or the marks he had...this was a Dr. Leslie moment sort of...
"Master Bruce? Something seems to be terribly wrong with Master Dick. I know that the dining can wait until Miss-
Alfred was caught off guard by Ronnie who sighed and began to find covers for her finished dishes. "Oh. Don't worry!" She smiled to the other men. As they started to feel pity for her having worked up a storm she brought herself to go over to lay a hand onto Bruce's shoulder.
"He NEEDS to see a doctor immediately, I agree. Go, I will be cleaning up." Since when did she feel sorry or worry for-
Roku, this had to be another way to control them...if they went...What about Leslie?
"Let's get our coats shall we? The rain's still out there even while we waste this much energy discussing what needs to be done."
~Thanks Al...~
Dick tried to keep a real smile this time but couldn't, he'd have to take it easy again.
/
"Where..." Leslie was treating some old wounds, some that the guys hadn't told her of in days or months.
Bruce looked at the scrape from that time himself on his arm. "That was when Barbara and I fought Riddler in the-
"No, I mean the one on poor Robin-
Oh god...she found them...i thought-
No gauze could cover up a mess this dramatic!
"What?" He bent over his side to see what in the world Les was getting at. He wasn't happy with the results. No one knew what the strange, powerful, alien markings were or where they'd come from.
Bruce's distinct look of confusion and denial as to how they- the marks could match like puzzle pieces etched together so perfectly...made him feel inconvenienced. He was sure his ward felt the same. Very easily Leslie helped the situation by holding back a gasp, and getting right down to the point.
"Unless this is teen psychological side affects, his having ruined his skin due to god knows what...i know its not...you weren't attacked by something? Or ever-
"I...Robin thought of the dark, the waters that stung and chilled him to the bone... the temple and the blood drinking cup(See Story A new beginning, the next chapter, rest of us.)A time he'd acted out in a way that made his friends doubt who was in control...Slade had betrayed the truce. The feeling of knowing that your enemy wanted you to suffer, was very strong in him..
Yet why did this all point to Roku being in control? What was his real plan?
"It's ok, listen." Leslie brought herself to calm him by letting him gather his thoughts properly.
His eyes were blurred a bit, looking for a way to answer them.
~What can I tell them, Bruce? Doc? Anything from the time that a talking cat/dog/fox Veravakumu? Or maybe a tell tale dragon coming out of the somewhat made up world of the unknown? How was that explainable?~
"Henna?...we, were-
"That, does not resemble any henna art I've ever seen by any artist! You sure this isn't some kind of-
"I'm positive!" Robin shuddered from the chill in the air as she gave his wound a disinfecting. It was feverishly warm...it still hurt but-
"Tell us the truth Master Dick. This might as well become a real dilemma if it's going to interfere with your home life here." Alfred was leaning against the door and waiting patiently like a good butler in the next room. He came down the hall, he must have heard Richard's screaming...otherwise he wouldn't be in the room now!
"He's right, just...think back." Leslie told him to invision a place- to think back where he and his friends might have gone, or perhaps if they'd come across someone of the same intent-
wha-
"Wait? You think I did this to... myself! I'm not suicidal, Bruce!" Robin tried to stand as he pulled some of the pant leg of his jeans down to prevent the wound from showing."I-I'm not finished-
An offended Les tried to bring him to sit still with a firm grip, it wasn't enough by the teen's will he would find their support, or he would go somewhere where he'd get his own.
"We didn't say you did, but maybe you went out, you and your friends could have had to fight or...
"No way, I can't say it...!-
"But you must! Master Bruce and Leslie Ky-
Why wasn't the one cornering him Slade or a filthy villain?...like...like Shadow?
"I...i have to protect you...just a little bit longer, its my problem. Not-
Bruce lowered his gaze, giving off the impression that 'he didn't want anyone to get involved either but, his ward had to be stronger and move on.
Ward...he was a protege second, not nearly a son or a blood relative to Bruce... he didn't want this leading to suspicions among other friends and associates or passerby even! The ward of Bruce Wayne; a turn for the worst...those rotten images flashed in Dick's blurred mind as he tried again to bypass those fearful, remorseful faces of his old friends...
If they were his friends, they could try to trust his judgment more, or at least try to be cool about a few bites and scratches. But they weren't and that got Dick all riled up as Roku began to sneer as a specter to him in his head in a hateful manner. Robin's eyes were alert as that shard ticked sideways and shattered to pieces as the djinn broke free from its magic lamp.
"Could I...be excused...? I have to rest a moment..." Holding his skull as he lifted himself as limply as he could to seem damaged enough to pass them, Robin's- Roku, gave a groan of sad fake pain.
"But-
Leslie reminded him this as to letting him get what he wanted out of them,
"Be back soon, the restrooms are down the hall and the waiting room is right where you saw it last." she replied. The boy blunder didn't like to lie; it seemed too late for him otherwise, a new way to escape...but this wasn't him! He was protecting the demon prince outcast!
Shutting the door with a click the child planned to act sooner than expected.
~What do you plan to do to cover the curse?~
"I..." He froze. He didn't really have any powers like Raven, Wiz and Malchior had had since they'd been alive...or like Verra the shape shifter thing...of course lets not forget cloud runner Cal. Or the power wonder guardian sorceress Alice! Man, he'd have wished for anything to have the things removed from his arms, legs, and torso.
~I, think I might be able to solve that...the one you seek is the one who cursed us. The trouble started with- my half demon brother, a child demon creation called-
"Roko?"
~He hides within us, this body contains memories and a solid crystalline heart that needs to-
"STOP!" Robin cried to the ghostly guy above him. "You're, talking in riddles and I'm sick of it!" He stomped over to the sink and scorned the day that he'd ever said anything to his team of little importance, something that would ruin their friendship. He did this, that, that...
"Go...away or I'll make you go back to that place!"- he referred to the castle of living dummies.
"Take all of your, curses...and spells and monsters and just...just..." he was hearing a toll of a large droning bell. Out in the distance stood a world not his own, he didn't belong to their world. The demon half only chuckled while still as ever crossing his arms in mid air.
"Why so soon? I didn't tell you the best part! In order to break the spell...-
"Just!-
"You have to become one, absorb him as if it were life to feed...my son..."
/
There instead of Rokuro the son stood the pig headed father to be king of all...he was drawn in a dark shade of maroon and black with some golden trim to his cloak. It shone light like a sunny day, or a violent and mysterious treasure lost.
His lips curled back into a grin. He seemed aware that he'd gone from his castle to find his vessel'-up son. Yet your average wolfish grin could not compare to this one that knew too much about...everything...
His brain ticked back to when he'd been in a tizzy about not wanting to have anything to do with spirit or their monster buddies-
~You've a sin dear child...~ What sin could that possibly be? Robin was the good guy here! Otherwise the citizens and the world wouldn't be safe-
"Your world, there are countless others just waiting to be unlocked by you and I, just waiting to burst from their evolving shells...we can harness that. Take sight of that and use it to our own knowledge of the world...we can be its king."
He seemed too sure of the boy's fear of him and that disgusted the child ever the more. That wasn't right...harnessing power from untold sources? But why was he so...
"Ah, you do not yet know why you and your companions were chosen...i see through that...it is simple really..." the god lowered his gaze to meet a quivering Richard by the door. He wasn't done. Not here not ever.
"How...simple?" The mind of this child needed proper molding by a great master of the art...it was too much to take back. All of this cursed power would belong to this little weak mind and strong heart until it was as shallow and as frozen ice.
Breakable. Then he could work with the rest with ease, forming the center to where this could be laid upon his chest so that he could, would never forget...that he belonged. To the Ethereal the Eternal and enriched with power...he would melt into a pool of enlightenment. That was what needed to be done to this point on.
"You...just want to use Rokuro's power...there isn't room...go away-
Feeling as if he could walk on water the test had only just begun as Roku's energy released itself into the form of something in his eyes. That of a snake's gaze, that of a serpent that could easily hypnotize fell in directly over the poor boy's head. Getting ready to unlock the shut door to the restrooms, Dick pushed lightly and sprawled out onto the hallway floor; on his bottom and palms looking up at the ghost only he could see.
"Don't, you dare." the god devil hissed as it prepared to strike the ground. With a whack it cracked its opponent's sitting place in two. Those eyes never left their target for a clear second.
"You can't fight me here! There are too many people!-
Robin crashed into the hall as he got away from the swords and their force as they came down by his head.
Rokuro the son was protecting him! He'd had him yanked out of the way mainly by means of tele-portation but to also evade his evil father. "You'll be safe here, when you awaken this will have been no more than a dream on his behalf."
"You-
"You can talk? And you're not a spirit/ghost?"
The god devil young man only huffed as he bundled up his cloak and felt around for some type of special device to work with.
"Here." The demi-demon said to Dick as he pulled out a thin slip of paper about a width of a book marker and the length of a small ruler. "Why-
"Do you want to get better or conceal your power marks or not!" The god puffed a sigh and shoved the slip into the hands of the young boy across from him. Rokuro looked about the same age, maybe a year younger or so than Robin as he fled back to the wall where Alfred was leaning fast asleep.
"Now, every night recite this line", he pointed to it in time. "And when you do remember to think only of the whole of your lifetime, not negative. If you feel the influence coming on, try not to shock it out. That is all I can tell you of my past experience with the mark...for you shall have another..."He turned around and pointed to the back of his neck.
"There? But why? What do they stand for? Why do I have them? What does Roku want from me so badly that he can't just-
"It is retelling an ancient untold tale of tragic evil upon the lands of earth, water, fire, air, and spirit."
"The elements?" Robin asked before trying to calm his nerves by thinking of one person, Starfire and her welcome...
"The Titans you call friends also have a role to play, once you see the ladies of Dark and Light you will know and they shall know. But be aware of this..."
Robin looked at the god, he was vanishing and the room was beginning to go dark...
"There will be battles, people will get in the way. You must be strong young one...i only lived to see the moon rise every sunset, but never witnessed the sun rising over us every beginning. It leads to demand, you must not-
BEEEEP!
/
So no one had a memory of the fearful events in the hall or the leave of young Master Richard. They did however remember to assign him to a therapist to see once a week and to regularly exercise again, get out for a ride into the city, or some other fun non business type leisure activity-
What! He wasn't a senior! And poor Bruce had to wait to send him out on patrol as Robin again! It reeked. So much that Dick lost some of his time to stay with Bruce to Ronnie - even Al felt sorry for them! He did however remember the spell work and spoke it out weakly but surly so that he could hear himself. To break the hold of the curse it would take more than a hero to save this life.
By the last few days of casting he'd seen an improvement that made him smile. The thought of never having to itch or howl in pain again for a long time made Richard super excited.
He plopped down onto the bed and sighed. How was he lucky? "I guess...the unexpected bring more than just surprises." The voice was gone, he could finally rest his head tonight knowing that evil was kept at bay again. But...all in all it was great to be home...safe and secure.
"Thanks, mom and dad..."
/
They caught him! The culprit behind the treachery of the training hall. He wasn't as slippery as before as he called them names and made poor Starfire fume. That was a shocker. He said something about a messenger. A falling stone.
What could that be?" Verra tried to ask Raven who was knee deep in books buried up to her ankles in spells and charms and talismans.
"Crystal! Eureka!" Wiz unfortunately for the hunters had found the first clue.
"The stone is a power source wielder's crystal!"
"A who, say what now!" Cy was looking up the terms in the storage database from an online server. Here was no good either! He turned to look to wiz for answers. "Do you recall the crystal that Slade had taken by Robin and Seth tried to use a crystal shard duplicate as Robin told us?
"To..." Star frowned at the wiz and tapped her fingers against the kitchen island.
"To do what?" Raven and Starfire looked at one another as they gazed into the past together looking back at the events leading up to now. Robin wasn't himself, and it was up to the Titans to expose that to use the evidence against Roku to defeat him in battle.
"A crystal is light and energy, it maintains the body/spirit by the user's call if that person is bonded." Verra said this with great ease as he slipped by Rae and turned back into Takahara.
"When the god uses his crystal it says he can do just about anything with it! Grow flowers, heal the sick, ward off evil, it's magic..." Raven looked up to Verra. "Why can't it be limited? That's against regulation and code of magical law... isn't it-
"The ancients don't believe that..."
"Stay out of this one Malchior! There's nothing for you to talk about." Barked the fox guardian Vee as he stomped his foot down in front of the young exiled wizard prince.
Cyborg lowered eyes to the keys and the screen above as it came alive, before that he was sure the others were starting a fight due to kept secrets between them. He didn't like Verra's way of holding information so he'd mask his respect for the guy who'd "Ver!" Beast boy had to point that out the obvious way...Panting, he and star lunged in at the group members through the sliding doors. They were holding the talisman from the bazaar in the spirit world. Not one of them seemed sure that this could be it...it didn't feel like the real piece.
" I did some digging, and found a clue...you won't like it...might be false though maybe just my imagination though but, was that charm Star got for Rob anything like the one you guys are saying he needs now-
Mal looked at the dressy little trinket and stared as he stood, taken aback at that moment."Wha-
"You mean Roku? Or Robin? Which? They have to be a lead to this thi-
"They do not! Robin is not this maniac man deity's, son, nor has he ever meant to be..." Starfire shuddered and cringed as the Wiz reached out to speak and console her. "Has he not been there for us even when we believed him to be not of his own-
"It doesn't matter now..." Raven was sure her power had yet again felt the dragon's breath against her defenses. And Richard's...
"You have a mental link I see", the small wiz said quietly to her as the girl's mouth opened trying to let her answer him to her fullest. "You know, I couldn't hide it from any of you...Robin said- his mind's walls are breaking... Before when I tried to find him in my room while meditating...they were closed shut. There was someone past them...i can't guess the aura, or the feeling, but it was stronger...stronger willed than Robin's own-
There was a chill and a silence that echoed past the halls and across the room past the walls of the tower. That was indeed dangerous...Raven had sensed a stranger in Robin's mind...probing for answers? Perish the thought! His name was his own, his identity, memories of every joyous time together with friends and family...all his alone. Who could do such a thing as to want to steal away and pry at such a person's ideas and dreams altogether...a soul less one that's who.
"That is...not..." Verra was sweating and in a world of musings. He had to find the gods quickly or at least get their permission to, .Robin.
"We were so close...how could...it...get worse!"
Calumon sighed with a whine, and curled up with a pillow on the sofa to rest. He liked the human world but didn't like not getting to use his powers...that was what drained him, and made him very sick.
When they'd been in the desert and Kay had fought Verra for the right to take out the threat- their boy wonder reincarnation blunder...Yep there was a universe sized loophole in the middle of a good god gone rogue king. Calumon's, Kayumon was a prince of a far away spirit past. Like Veravakumu he watched over the Aisley's child Loralei, as the cousin of interest next to Vee.
While old and disguised to be young once more to win the lady's heart, said Prince Roku was under their noses the whole time. Plotting to plague the beautiful kingdom from head to foot.
Coughing, the little puffy guy grumbled a name and continued to groan in pain. His stomach ached heavily and his heart felt low of energy that came from good spirit. He whined himself off into a cuddly long needed sleep.
/
Starfire decided not to stutter, to cry any longer when she knew she could do something all along. And just because of a feeling of depression it would have to leave saying; no! ~ Don't let go of meee! I'm all you've got of him!- WRONG!
She had that feeling of his warmth, their part they shared. The part of her heart she had to let go was grief. Completely and honestly she left the room of her choice- the main hall with all the share of burdensome pain and honor all rammed into one.
"He may chose this world...yet...what does he chose?"
"Eep!"
She shone in the dark with her power even if it was weakest without the sun and stars. Leaning against a wall was Rokuro or Roku's evil double. And Robin's enemy from the start. How did he know where to find th-
Through that...it could not...!
"Princess, it's been a while, allow me to introduce myself..."
Starfire huffed at the offensive little man about Robin's own height and wearing the attire of Red X?
"You are not the Red X in which our leader Robin created? Then who are you? I am no longer royal to Tamaran! You know nothing of my past. So leave us in peace-
"Us?" The sternness of the X clothed villain doppelganger made her scoff back and turn away in shame of it all. He was no one, and would remain that way. "My name is the prince's yet I copy what good does and bend the rules to my own perspective..." Starfire turned her head and gave him a repeated frown. Here she was powerless to run from her troubles...good.
"Your prince charming still remains well, my double Rokuro goody goody made sure of that." Smiling as he began to return the mask to his face from his own hand she spoke out for him to refrain from doing so. He had her.
"A...prince...Rokuro was a prince of evil intent, not Ro-
"Oh?" he wondered as he began to slide by her without notice. "This Robin you speak of has been a vessel to more than one for more than 8 years, about one more in the way of that to matter." Why tell her now? Keep her guessing? Make the fun more fun! And...she would end up chasing him for eternity until it was too late...
"Vessel...!"
"The guardians were saying the same! Why do you know? Roku sent you, did he not?" She helped him towards the back wall to a dead end. They were in a circular dance for moments as they waited for the first blow to come.
Heh, so? The guardian's pride was shot full of holes. Well, well...they weren't honest at all to their word were they now?
"Why did they hide this from me...your king IS bad and unreal to human eyes! I have only seen him through Robin." She passed the hallway and shoved him into the corridor with her shoulder blade. He didn't even flinch.
The god's demon cronie was unharmed as he stood to dust himself off. She gasped. Panicked now she was unsure of whether to attack again! "How were you able to miss my attacks! You could have collapsed or-
"Because little princess," His eyes shone through the darkness. Piercing at her iron will like a thousand tiny needles. "It is not my time...nor is it yours, we will meet when the time draws close at hand. When voices become less than a whisper." He was sure that this would make her run to the loyal guardians and Titans, gods perhaps? If they could be found among the smoky mist.
He disappeared with those wolf eyes still in the shadows staring her down from the floor, he was gone...
/
Yeah, it's cliff again, but...i liked how it turned out when all was said and done. You know? Well I take em as they come so send you reviews of what you believe the story to seem here. Or just enjoy the ride.