The Phantom Stranger arrived next morning and did not question Sasu's appearance and demands to come with. He simply took hold of both and escorted them.
The sun rays burnt down on the ground as they arrived, the Phantom Stranger felt nothing and simply walked, Joshua having been given a special bottle by Doctor Fate with infinite water handed it to Sasu first, already feeling the heat making her tongue hung out of her mouth the alien canine girl took a large swig and handed it back to her boyfriend, who followed suit, screwing the top back on he looked at her "Are you sure you still want to help?"
"Josh, I would help you no matter what we face, massive heat, a dragon, you name it and I'll assist."
"Thank you Sasu." He turned to the Phantom Stranger "You said this was a Soft Place what does that mean exactly?"
"The board between the Earthly realm and the Dreaming, a place of imagination and illusion, with the explorations of the Age of Enlightenment when cartographers and explorers mapped the world so that people knew what the world looked like many Soft Places faded, the outback is the largest left."
"So I take it this is where the Dreamtime comes from?"
"That what?" Sasu asked.
"The Dreamtime it a central part of the mythology of the Aboriginals, the first humans on the continent of Australia, they been living on the continent for over forty-thousand years."
"You are partly correct Master Spearing, part of the Dreamtime comes from the Dreaming, but the Aboriginals consider the concept eternal, outside of time. They in fact refer to the concept as the Dreaming not the Dreamtime."
"I see, still it's because of the influence of the realm the Dreaming has thanks to the Soft Place, that the Aboriginal concept of the Dreaming exists."
"Yes, as to why they consider it eternal is because the Soft Place bends time, an early aboriginal could meet us at any moment from forty-thousand years ago."
"Could that also mean it could be months in between are arrival and departure?"
"Most probably, this is possible what is meant when I foresaw this taking a long time, form the point of view of the regular universe."
The couple looked at each other and Joshua lowered his head "I hope the Titans can cope without me."
In the tower, Robin and Starfire saw the threat to Jump City, a swarm of giant mutant moths under the command of a villain calling himself Killer Moth "Unless you want your city reduced to a moth-eaten wasteland you'll do exactly as I say."
Robin scowled "What do you want?"
"My demands are simple, the city will declare me ruler, the Teen Titans will surrender, and Robin," he moved out the way revealing a blond thirteen-year-old girl "will take this lovely lady to her junior prom."
Bemusement encompassed Robin "Um, what was that last part again?"
"Her name is Kitten, and you will take her to prom.", Starfire hoovered up "This prom is some manner of duel yes?" she took off her glove and dropped it the floor, as in throwing down the gauntlet "Robin eagerly accepts."
"It's not a duel Star." Robin said as he caught her glove "It's a date."
Starfire's eyes widened and she gasped before turning back "He does not accept! Do you hear? Robin does not accept!" she felt a hand on her foot and Robin pulled her away outside of the living room "We're going to need a minute."
Furious did not begin to describe Starfire's emotions as she paced up and down the corridor, saying the demands should not be meet. Robin reached for his communicator "Cyborg, report. How bad is it?"
Currently the other Titans tried to stop an initial wave, which Killer Moth sent to get his point across, at the moment they tried to stop the moths from eating away the bridge. Cyborg answered "Bad! Can't hold them off much longer. If you're going to do something do it quick."
"I have to do it," Robin muttered clicking the communicator off and catching Starfire attention, when she questioned this with screeching Robin responded "It's the only way to save the city, the only way to give us time to stop Killer Moth.", the Tamaranean just stared dejected and stuttered "But, but, but…"
"I have to Starfire, no matter how much I don't want to.", the doors opened and the two walked in to greet Killer Moth, Robin continued by muttering "And I really don't want to."
"Do we have a deal?"
"I'll take the girl to prom."
"Don't tell me," Moth said gesturing to Kitten "ask her.", Robin protested but Killer Moth snapped at him to do so, Robin knuckled under "Kitten," he said with distaste "will you go with me to the prom?", when the words escaped his lips Starfire growled.
"Oh Robin sweetie," Kitten said, her voice the most annoyed pampered drowning "I thought you'd never ask."
"Stay close behind me," The Phantom Stranger said "if anything catches your attention ignore it unless I say it is necessary."
Joshua nodded and linked his arm around Sasu, she smiled and blushed before they continued walked.
In the distance they heard the sound of horses and shouts. A ghostly dust cloud rose across the horizon. Joshua's eye narrowed "Traveller?"
"Yes, they have been trapped in every Soft Place since time immemorial, at some point the Lord of this realm will release them."
"I see," Joshua looked to the horizon again, the travellers disappeared, in their place stood a distant white tent. "Somewhere to rest?"
"Yes, we need to be there."
On the bridge the Beast Boy, Cyborg and Raven watched the swarm of Moth fly away.
"Um," Beast Boy said jumped done "what just happened?", Raven reached for her communicator and opened it as Robin called "I've bought you some time." He said before explaining about Killer Moth, "…find him and stop him, you search starts with her." An image of Kitten came onto the communicator screen.
"Who is she?" Raven asked before Starfire interjected "She is a manipulative gremplork not worthy of Robin's time."
"Name's Kitten she has some kind of connection to Killer Moth. Find the connection and I bet you'll find him. Starfire will join you to help with the search.", the Tamaranean groaned. Then Beast Boy spoke "Hey what about you? Aren't you going to help us?"
"I can't. I have a date.", leaving the three confused and astounded.
Robin on the R-Cycle arrived at the location. A cruise ship. Dress in a tuxedo still with his mask on, he pulled at his collar "Really hoping she doesn't turn up.", he received a tap on the shoulder and annoyed he turned around, then he blinked.
Starfire stood illuminated in the moonlight dressed in prom finery, Robin blinked again "Starfire?" 'She's gorgeous.', she held out a white rose "On such occasions," she said "I believe it is customary to wear a dead plant?" she then put the rose in his button hole as he questioned "Star your supposed to be helping the others track down Killer Moth?"
"Your orders were to investigate the girl, I intended to investigate her thoroughly. Besides you may require saving. This Kitten is perhaps some form of ooze monster in disguise, she certainly is ugly like a monster yes?", before Robin could speak a car horn beeped and the two Titans turned around.
A pink limousine rolled up.
The back door opened and Kitten stepped out, a white rose on her dress as well, she saw Robin and openly called out to him "Oh second thought." Robin muttered to himself "Maybe I do need saving." He walked up, Kitten loudly proclaimed him her date and ordered him about.
Starfire fumed royally. Her eyes glow. She slammed her fist on the bonnet of the limo. It buckled massively.
Kitten forced Robin to dance. As they did so Robin opened his communicator in desperation "Please tell me you guys have found Killer Moth."
"Not yet." Cyborg said from inside the house "But we tracked down your girlfriend's home address."
"She's not my…", Beast Boy cut Robin's furious response off by touching a horse statute and a secret flight of stairs Raven spoke "Well that's not suspicious."
Beast Boy walked down first and flicked the light on as the other two walked up to him. With the light on the found themselves surrounded by dozens and dozens of giant mutant moths inside of glass holding cells. All three reached for their communicators and spoke "Found him."
"Yes," said a voice from above "you found me, but you'll soon be wishing you hadn't.", the lights went on and off.
They looked up to see Killer Moth, gripping onto one of the massive lights. He jumped off and growling descended on them.
In the Titans ended they all lay on top of each other. Beast Boy shook his head "You know, for a guy who lives in his basement, this guy's pretty tough."
On the boat Kitten tried to pull Robin into a kiss. The Boy Wonder stop her, pulling out his communicator, having received the message about Killer Moth, assuming the others would take care of him he tried to walk away.
Kitten however pulled her rose off and revealed a trigger "Daddy's not calling the shots tonight Robbie-poo, I am."
Robin stared wide eyed at this bit of information "Daddy?"
"And unless you want me to let those nasty bugs out for a late-night snack," she grabbed the front of his shirt "you'd better pucker up." She pulled the Boy Wonder in closer as she prepared herself and Starfire stared horrified unable to do anything.
Robin put his finger to her lip "Not even if you pay me." He said grabbing the controller from out of her hands. The two struggle until Kitten saw someone "Fang?" Robin looked up and froze "That's your boyfriend?" he said as Kitten took back the controller.
The boyfriend in question happened to be some form of human-spider hybrid, having the body of a spider for a head, he walked, on his four, not eight, spider legs towards the duo and looked down hard on Robin. Fang and the Titans fought earlier in the day when the teen spider robbed a jewellery shop. "Get your hands off my girl." He said.
Robin dropped Kitten and proceeded to dodge one of Fang's leg before being knocked away. The teen spider walked up to Kitten but a Starbolt knocked him back.
Starfire arms glowing yelled "Keep your legs of my boy.", the Boy Wonder got up and dusted himself down and Starfire walked up to him "Robin are you injured."
"Best I've felt all day."
Fang got up as Kitten scurried over to him "Fangie-poo, you really do care." She said as she stared into his multiple eyes.
"Let's never fight again baby." He said getting down on his human legs and using his spider legs to show several items of jewellery, the ones he stole, as presents to his beloved Kitten, she hugged him "Oh Fang." She said before kissing him.
"You know," Robin called, he stood next to Starfire "you two make a really bad couple.", at this Fang charged and fried web slick like gunk. Robin dodge however Starfire took a shot.
Fang then fired off paralysing venom, accidently hitting a young couple.
Robin jumped out to the railing of the boat as Fang tried an attack with all four of this spider leg. Robin deflected them all and the leg got tangled. The Boy Wonder grabbed hold of them and threw the teen spider overboard.
Fang simply climb up the side. The fight continued with thrusts, dodges, throws ending up on the light fixtures. Robin swung along the cables before launching himself up and kicking Fang down.
The teen spider grabbed the Boy Wonder with his spider legs and threw him away.
Kitten watched "Oh isn't it romantic? Their fighting over me."
Starfire having removed the slick webbing from her face at that moment stared on "They are not fighting over you." She yelled. Kitten proceeded to grab the Tamaranean, however Starfire flipped the blonde over onto a table of food. Kitten grabbed a pie and shoved it in Star's face before flipping the pair over. Starfire furiously wiped the pie off her face. She stared with her glowing eyes at Kitten. grabbed her shoulder and threw her across the table before pouncing. Kitten stop Star with her feet. The she dunked the Alien Princess into the punch bowl. Star wrapped her leg around Kitten's waist and levied her into the multilayer cake. Kitten looked down at the food stained and shrieked "You ruined my dress." And with that she pressed the button.
"Start talking," Cyborg said holding Killer Moth in a police hold "how do you control the…" siren went off "bugs."
The cells opened the swarm began to stir.
Beast Boy gave the order "Run!" however Raven closed the door with her magic "We can't let them escape, seal the exits.", the three proceeded to do so, but with them lock in they would have to deal with the swarm.
Robin did another drop kick, Fang staggered backwards and dropped onto a table.
Kitten charged at Starfire, but she dodged before firing a small Starbolt at the controller and knocking it away. Robin stopped it rolling with his foot "Consider yourself dumped." He said before smashing it.
Kitten screamed.
In the basement the swarm all of a sudden transformed from moths to massive larvae much to the three's confusion.
The police arrived and escorted Fang and Kitten away. Finding Killer Moth inside the police van as well.
All the Titans stood on the boat listening to Kitten's screams of revenge.
Beast Boy held one of larvae in his arms "You know, now that nobody's make them all mutated moths, these things might actually make good pets.", Raven looked down at him "Don't even think about it."
"And now," the announcer called "the moment you've all been waiting for, the king and queen of this year's prom are, Robin and Starfire.", the Titans took this by surprise, until Robin smiled and turned to the Tamaranean "I guess one more dance wouldn't kill me." He said taking Starfire's hand and escorting her to the dance floor.
As the two waltzed Robin looked into her eyes 'This feel wonderful, haven't felt this happy since my parents were alive.' He sighed.
"Robin?" Starfire asked "Is something trouble you?"
"No I was just thinking, how I like this, right now, and our little moments together I like them."
"I like them too Robin, they have been so wonderful, and I wish we could do it more."
"You know Batman has no objections, unless it affected our crime fighting if we were to."
"Do the dating?"
"Yes. Starfire?", she nodded before the Boy Wonder continued "Would you be willing to be my girlfriend?", she smiled widely before hugging him "Oh yes Robin, it would most gloriously."
"I promise I'll be as good as I can.", she put her forehead to his "You already are.", Robin smiled before leaning into a kiss, which Starfire gladly received.
The three other Titans looked on Cyborg crossed his arm "Well it's about time."
"Yeah, the pheromones those two gave off nearly drove me wild, at least they know now."
"Pheromones?" Raven asked.
"You know the phrase, they can smell fear?", she nodded before the changeling continued "People's scents change when they change emotions, those two have given off desire almost since they meet.", Raven's eyes widened "I'll be back at the Tower." And she teleported away.
Beast Boy sighed and handed the larvae to a policeman before turning to Cyborg "It looks like the two lovebirds will be here a while, want to get pizza?"
"Sure BB, as long as I get to choose.", the two started walking off the boat as Beast Boy protested "Dude, you know I'm vegetarian."
"Yeah, I can list off how many times you've said it. Can't you for once eat meat?"
"Can't you for once try tofu?"
"Last time I had some of that stuff it disagreed with me green elf."
"What last time? I wasn't around to see you eat any tofu rust-bucket."
Cyborg groaned 'I really wish Josh were here…'
"Too bad Rorschach's gone, he'd offer to share a plain cheese with me and let you order an all meat."
"Yeah, but he's got more important things then pizza to worry about right now."
"I guess; just wish he were here."
Raven appeared in the living room thinking about what Beast Boy said 'He can smell emotions? What if he smelt?' she shook her head 'I need to meditate.' She started to hover and utter her magic spells.
After a few minutes her eyes opened and she turned to the door. She blinked and sighed 'Rorschach would usually come in to meditate himself about this time.' Shaking herself from her force of habit she returned to meditating, again Beast Boy crossed her mind 'I think Rorschach is right, I do like him. Why didn't I speak with him before he left?'
Robin and Starfire left the boat and returned to the R-Cycle, Robin put his helmet on and gave a spare to Starfire, she smiled and put it on "Robin remind me to thank Friend Rorschach."
"Why Star?"
"Because he kept quiet over my feeling for you, while he also encouraged me to peruse them, and…"
"Really, because he knew about my feelings for you too, and encourage me as well."
"He said it would be better if one of us told the other not for someone else."
"Makes sense, too bad he couldn't be here to see this."
"Yes, I hope Xhal watches over him and I wish he makes it back to us soon." Robin tilted his head "Star your English has gotten better, how is that?", she explained her species biological trait Robin eyes widened "So that's why you kissed me the first time.", she nodded "Friend Rorschach also explained the human meaning of lip contact, the kiss we shared tonight was of affection.", Robin smiled "I could tell Star, thanks."
"You're most welcome Robin, please is there something else I may call you?"
"When we're back in the Tower and in private I'll explain.", she nodded and stepped onto the bike. Robin reeved the R-Cycle and the new couple speed off.
The Phantom Stranger opened up the flap to the tent, as Joshua and Sasu reached it. A voice spoke "Welcome, come and sit.", the teenager looked inside and their eyes widened.
A young man, possibly nineteen or very early twenties sat in the lotus possession. His skin bone-white, messy strings of whited hair arched off his head. Dressed in white Asian style robes, the ends resting on his ankles, a glowing emerald around his neck. His eyes the most striking, black voids with star light glinting from within. He motioned with his almost rake thin arm for the three to sit.
Joshua and Sasu did so while the Phantom Stranger remained standing.
The man sighed "Forgive me, I was thinking, diplomatic meetings often drain me. I came here to think, I felt you enter the Soft Place."
"You felt us enter?" Joshua said unnerved by this figure.
"Yes Joshua Spearing, I am the Lord of the Dreaming, I am Dream of the Endless."
"The Endless?"
"Yes, but that is a private matter." Dream turned to Joshua "And according to your ten-year-old self Master Spearing I am a berk.", Joshua blinked then gulped, the Dream Lord smirked and got up "Follow me I will bring you to my palace.", the tent disappeared and instead of the Outback they found themselves on a path that led towards a castle, a place you might have seen in your dreams.
Dream walked in front and reached the gates "I have returned." He called to the three guardians, a gryphon, a wyvern and a hippogriff, only with a horse head not an eagle's, the gryphon spoke "Yes my Lord and your guest?"
"They have journeyed here, have rooms given to them and tell the kitchen staff you prepare meals."
"Very well My Lord.", the doors opened and they four walked inside.
A white raven flew onto Dream's shoulder "I'm glad your back Lord Daniel, how did the thinking go?"
"Not to my liking Tethys but I will contemplate another time right now I must act as host."
They reached the throne room, the doors opened and inside stood an extremely tall man with around glasses "Welcome back my Lord, the rooms have been prepared for you guest."
"Thank you Lucien, you can return to the library, Nuala," on the stairs to the throne cleaning them stood a small elf like girl who looked up when the lord spoke "I wish to speak to my guests alone for a short while."
"Of course my Lord." She said getting up and joining Lucien she looked back at Joshua before looking up at the librarian "Isn't he the boy Ella gave the badge to?"
"I noticed him wearing it yes."
Dream remained quiet until the doors closed and walk up to the throne, he sighed and looked directly at Joshua, "You will need to rest and eat first, Zirnitra will not be easily convinced that you are worthy after your actions, it is more than likely you will have to fight him.", Joshua gulped "I've never fought a god before."
"It will be hard; you have my sympathy. However, I must lay the ground rules, only you can fight Zirnitra, no outside help."
Sasu looked with puppy dog eyes but Dream stayed unfazed "I am afraid I am more of a cat person Miss Sasu Kay Ser, my younger brother and youngest sister would be more moved by you attempts. Besides it was not me that made these rules, Zirnitra demanded it when he entered his solitude in the mountains beyond what was Fiddler's Green."
"Look here oh might Lord of Dream," Sasu said getting up "I did not come with Joshua to be told I can't help, so help I'll…"
"It is unwise to threaten one of the Endless, we are more powerful then gods. Had I been my previous aspect I would have punished you for simply threating me, but I am not him, so I will merely warn you.", Sasu stood down.
The door to the throne room opened a chief walked in "My Lord the food for your guest are ready."
"Thank you Taramis, we have nothing else to discuss, go to the dining hall and enjoy your meals.", Joshua and Sasu nodded and walked towards Taramis, Josh looked to the chief dream being "What is it you have prepared for us?"
"In truth honoured guest anything you wish, simple think of it and it shall be handed to you on a plate, such is the nature within the Dreaming.", Joshua titled his head but followed none the less.
Dream turned around to the Phantom Stranger "You are not going to follow?"
"I do not need to eat, I simply wish to give you my congratulations and formal acknowledgement. I did not get the chance during your funeral."
"I did not attend as my family were not allowed to acknowledge me until after the funeral, as well I thought it foolish to mourn myself."
"I am aware of that, except your brother Destruction decided to visit you during the funeral, he offered you to give up your duties as he did."
"Yes, you know why I refused, I view my reasonability highly, and after Burgess trapped me and the damage to the Dreaming done I knew I could not leave, it is too important to me."
The Phantom Stranger nodded, bowed and walked out of the room.
Tethys look at Dream "Are you sure that Master Spearing will achieve his goal my Lord?"
"I am not sure, no, it depends on Zirnitra."
"I wonder what those years in those mountains did to him."
"I would not like to hazard a guess, though I am surprised he held his own against the Furies and fought them to a stalemate."
"It's not going to go well for Josh is it?"
"As I said it depends on the Black Dragon, the Wends believed him to be an evil deity."
"Raven?" the Blue Witch opened her eyes and turned around to see Beast Boy, she sighed "What?"
"Just wanted to join you meditating."
"You're joking."
"No Raven, serious, I just don't like seeing you alone, usually you have Rorschach with you I trust him, but…"
"You don't think I can meditate on my own, in the comfort of the tower?"
"No it's just," he sighed "I've been breathing in your scent, I know you act like you hate me, but in truth…"
"I don't hate you Beast Boy, your attitude and jokes on the other hand."
"I'm trying to make you smile, like you did the morning after the Gordanians."
"You know I need to control my emotions."
"Controlling doesn't mean you need to supress them."
"In my case yes it does, my powers could go out of control and things get bad should they do."
"Can I at least keep you company."
"As long as you don't annoy me then yes.", Beast Boy smiled and sat down next to Raven, surprising her by actually meditating and uttering her words. A blush crossed her checks, she turned her head forward and began meditating again.
"Brother," Dream stood at his gallery, pictures of his siblings, the Endless, on the wall, currently he stood at the picture of his elder brother, Destiny and held his emblem, the book, "it is Dream, I am in my gallery, I wish to speak with you Brother."
The portrait came to life "I am here Brother, what is it you wish to ask?"
"Merely the current status of the group known as the Teen Titans, in Jump City, as you have no doubt read their friend has come to my realm, and I wish to give him good news before he goes to face the Black Dragon."
"You were never this concerned over a single person so freely before."
"I was a different person then, and do not forget I was once human in this aspect though I wonder why my past aspect decided that I would take his place?"
"I cannot give you that knowledge Brother, but I will tell you of the Titans." He told Dream of the recent events, the Lord Shaper nodded "Thank you Brother, I hope to talk to you again soon." The Dream Lord turned away from the painting and walked the corridors of his palace until he came to Joshua's room "Master Spearing I wish to talk to you."
Joshua opened the doors "Of course your Lordship, what do you need to discuss.", Dream smiled and walked in before explaining what Destiny had told him.
The door to Robin's office opened and the Boy Wonder and Starfire entered before it closed.
"Robin, you said once we were alone you would give me a name other than Robin to call you by."
"And I plan to tell you Star, but can we also get to know each other better, our histories you know.", she smiled and nodded.
Robin proceeded to grab a briefcase with his symbol on it "This is probably my greatest secret.", he opened it and pulled out first a scrap book "It's all my adventures with Batman." He put it down on the table then brought out another smaller scrap book "But this is the real secret.", Starfire took it, read it, she eyes widened, and after a pause she look up "Richard?", Robin smiled before taking off his mask, revealing his blue eyes.
Starfire smiled and held his check "Your eyes are softer then Rorschach's, there beautiful, you're beautiful Richard, and so very handsome."
"Thanks Star, you know Batman's probably going to kill me when he finds out."
"Then he will have to go through me."
"I want to get a piece of that action Princess", her smiled faulted slightly "I am still yet to tell you about that, aren't I?"
"That's partly why I wanted to speak in private."
"Yes, thank you Richard. Where do I begin?"
Author's Notes
So Rob-Star is early and hints at Rae-Be (or is it Be-Rae, I forgot). And I choose the Daniel Hall dream instead of Morpheus simply because I'd like to see more stories with this version of Dream.