Beast Boy and Rorschach walked down the corridor of the bedroom room section.
Starfire floated passed carrying some of her furniture out of her room, her head low, her eyes shut and tearing.
Rorschach went to get the others and they watched as Starfire silently emptied her bedroom, even taking Sillkie with her.
Nightwing took her hand and she stopped, she looked down and her tears continued further. The former Boy Wonder asked, "Star why are you moving all your stuff?"
"I am leaving for Tamaran, I am sorry to say, but I am not coming back…", the other Titans' eyes widened, Nightwing's especially "Star, is it something I've done?"
"No Nightwing," she tears fell more as she placed her hand on his check "you have done nothing wrong. The Grand Ruler has messaged me." She looked away slightly "I am, getting married.", this shocked everyone further, Nightwing fainted.
'Rorschach's Journal, November 2nd, 1996.
'The other Titans have to leave; Starfire is needed be back on her home world.' Rorschach then explained the morning's discussion '…She said she was to marry a dignitary from another planet, and added she never meet the person before. She said it was tradition for Tamaraneans, of course Nightwing protested however I pointed out that this had been common during the days of European monarchies and only really ended after the First World War.
'I did ask Starfire if the Citadel, those people who wished to put her into slavery would retaliate at her return. However, it appeared the Green Lantern Corps had policed the Citadel on slavery, and you do not wish to infuriate the so-called Guardians of the Universe.
'Starfire wished all of us to come, but, I said someone needed to stay in charge of the Tower, the other suggested honorary Titans, like Speedy and Aqualad, I had heard good things about them, but I had yet to meet them personally, having been on my magic quest, however I said they didn't have the knowledge of Jump City I do, all the back-alleys, escape routes and possible hideouts that Somebody showed me.
'Then another argument started, Nightwing and Cyborg both asked why I didn't put this knowledge into the computer, I said because computers can be hacked, and there are some villainous hackers almost to Batman's level of skills. Nightwing said we would discuss this once the others got back, I have this feeling the former Boy Wonder won't let his girlfriend be married off, and I have the feeling something else is afoot in this political drama.'
Joshua finished is initial entry for the day and switched his gloves off. He sat on the sofa and stroked Cynefrith, the Kitsune missed Silkie.
Presently the doors to the lounge opened and Sasu walked in, the fox leaped from Joshua's lap and jumped onto his mistress causing her to fall over and licked the alien canine girl. Josh smirked and walked to them, he helped her up and hugged her "Thanks for come to help with the crime fighting, you sure you're up for this?"
"Josh, I never got the chance to help you recover your magic, so I want to help you here." She turned grim slightly "Don't try and save me, I can take care of myself.", Cynefrith barked in agreement, and Josh grinned "It looks like the three of us will be a team." he tripped his hat "Let's see what needs sorting out.", he turned on his heels and walked over the computer switching it on, and began a sweep of the cities CCTV cameras for anything villainous going on.
The five travelling Titans reached the Vega Star System.
Nightwing still fumed however as they neared Tamaran laser shot fired upon them and a fleet of ships, looking like insects swarmed around them.
Cyborg manoeuvred the ship away from them "I don't suppose this is some kind of crazy Tamaranean welcoming committee?"
Starfire shock her head.
Raven looked at the radar counting the number of ships "Whoever they are they got us out number us ten to one."
"Not for long," Nightwing called "Titans, separate."
The T-Ship as they called it broke apart, and become smaller individual crafts and they started taking on two enemies each.
Nightwing outmanoeuvred and fired upon his pair, taking one down.
Cyborg, navigated a small asteroid field.
However, they were still overwhelmed, Starfire made a comment of this and Nightwing agreed ordering them to regroup. They flew at each other narrowing the gap before flying straight up, causing the remaining bug ships to crash into each other and destroy themselves. The ship reassembled just before they entered Tamaran orbit.
As they passed through the atmosphere Starfire looked out the window with glee "Oh isn't it the most beautiful place you have ever seen?" she said. But to everyone else Tamaran appeared a wasteland like Mars, Raven spoke "Uh, sure."
Presently they narrowed in on a culture of buildings, built into a thin and massive, almost column like mountain. Some buildings even seemed to go into the mountain as well.
Cyborg saw a landing pad and put the ship down. They jumped out but the cybernetic jock noticed the smoke coming from the damaged areas. Still, he joined the team traveling up the walkway.
They stopped before an ornately gilded door. It opened, literally the door open upwards, and revealed a large man, larger then Cyborg by quite a way, bald on his scalp but thick breaded and with long hair reaching down to his back over the thick fur coat he wore. Only his left eye glowed, as his right eye was scarred and blind. A group of guards stood either side of this giant.
Starfire flew up to his eye line and the giant spoke abrasively and loudly "Nooba gulshtik Koriand'r sol.", Starfire went right into his face and spoke in a similar tone "Hesbad rutha Galfore kank.", the giant raised his hands high into the air, and Starfire screamed.
Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven got ready to attack, but Nightwing stopped them "Star explained this me," he turned back "see nothing to worry about."
Indeed, the giant merely tickled her. Nightwing chuckled and walked up to Starfire as she recovered, the giant putting his massive hand on her shoulder, the Princess spoke "Friends, this is Galfore, my K'norfka.", Nightwing saw the others confusion and spoke "It's means guardian, he took care of her and trained her like with me and Batman.", he walked up and bowed "It's nice to meet you."
Galfore banged his fist into his chest like a salute before he looked up to the ship and spoke in English "I see you have met our new enemy.", Nightwing's eyebrows frowned "Then you know who attacked us?", Galfore nodded and walked over to balcony, he pointed to a valley the Titans did not see when they arrived.
Hundreds of the insect ship rested on the ground of the valley, Galfore explained "The Great Drenthax Army, they threaten to overthrow our planet, our way of life." he turned angry "And if I were Grand Ruler I would…" he stopped and sighed "Well, I am not," he turned and looked to Starfire "let us just say that much has changed since you departed.", she put her hand onto his shoulder "I have missed you Galfore."
"And I have missed you," he knelt and bowed his head "Princess Starfire." he stood up again the group began to walk into the palace. Beast Boy walked up to Starfire "You know you never got around to explaining the whole Princess thing."
"Oh, I told Nightwing, I must have forgotten, I am second-in-line to the throne of Tamarus, the largest nation, the other nations acknowledge Tamarus as superior and called its monarch the Grand Ruler, and in their presence the Grand Ruler is called Emperor or Empress."
The others nodded and looked around, they walked along a large corridor with tall pillars, large sharped toothed quadruped creatures chained to the base each. Beast Boy examined one "Alien animals, cool", the creature roared and the changeling rushed back the group, Raven glared at him "You're the alien here."
Nightwing walked closer to Starfire, he wanted to touch her, but she mentioned in their private talk on Tamaran "outworlders" are forbidden to touch royalty. She looked at him and they both share a moment of sorrow.
In the banqueting hall, the group sat in massive chairs surrounded by other Tamaraneans, members of the noble families. Starfire and at the head of the table, the other Titans sat to Starfire's left, Galfore on her right. Beside Starfire sat the tallest chair, which remained vacant.
In front of them sat massive goblets, Starfire's former guardian stood up and raise one to begin a toast "To our beautiful Princess and her new husband.", Starfire turned to her friends, Nightwing especially, she took a goblet with ease "And to my good friends.", the other tried to lift the goblets, not even Cyborg could lift his, nor Raven with her magic, still Starfire continued "I am very happy you could be here to celebrate my wedding, but also let us toast those who could be here today." she banged her goblet into Nightwing's, it rang like someone banging an oil drum. Nightwing let go of his and looked to her "We're, really going to miss you.", Starfire looked as if she was going to say something, however a bowl filled with a whole fish-squid like creature, this caused the Princess to change the subject "Please eat." She said as more bowl of bizarre foods were placed on the table.
Once the food was on the table the Tamaraneans literally pounced onto the food and stuffed their faces. Nightwing blinked seeing Starfire act this way "I'm guessing you picked up your table manners on Earth?"
Starfire turned to him and preceded to yell "Hurry or you won't get any."
"Hello?" Beast Boy yelled "Vegetarian in the house." He turned to Cyborg and pointed at the nearest bowl of food "Does this look like a veggie to you?", the mechanical jock shrugged before proceeding to eat it. The changeling sighed "I'm not hungry."
After the meal, the people started to clean up, including the guests.
Suddenly loud trumpeting echoed through the room causing the four from Earth to cover their ears wailing in pain.
The Tamaraneans meanwhile knelt and bowed their heads.
Two large doors at the end of the room opened showing a highly-illuminated room, a female figure stood silhouetted.
The other Titans figuring what's what knelt as well.
Once they all knelt Galfore spoke "All hail the Grand Ruler of Tamaran, the Empress.", Starfire looked up and gasped "Blackfire?"
Indeed, Starfire's elder sister, whom the Titan's believed to be serving time in Alpha Centauri, for stealing a Centauri Moon Diamond, stood before them in a deep purple robe and silver crown headdress, "Surprised to see me little sister?" she said smugly.
"I am," she stood up his eyes starting to glow "surprised to see you out of prison."
"Oh," Blackfire's eye glow violet and the energy seeming escape her eyes and act like flames "that. Well after you had me thrown in jail I got bored so I broke out and took over Tamaran for kicks. But enough about me," she stepped off to the side "I'm sure your eager to see who you'll be spending the rest of your life with.", as she stepped away she revealed a Tamaranean youth with his back to them. The boy turned around, thinly built but athletic, a mane of red hair blew behind him in a non-existent wind, his face well within what humans would described as a "Pretty Boy".
Starfire blinked and looked back to Nightwing, the former Boy Wonder, looked annoyed but when he looked to Starfire he gave her a smirk, as if to say, "I'm happy for you."
Starfire turned back to the youth with uncertainty however she became shocked when the man turned around again and wiped something off the floor before leaving.
In his place dropped, literally having seemingly been staying of the ceiling, a sickly green blob creature on a floating platform, it made incoherent and rather vulgar sounds. Blobs of green muck fell to the floor from its numerous bodily holes. The "Pretty Boy" returned and wiped the mucus away.
Starfire's face fell and she heard Nightwing behind her try to form a protest, but Blackfire cut them off "Starfire meet your groom," her face turned to one of disgust "Glrdlesklech.", then she started laughed.
From behind the shocked Starfire and the fuming Nightwing, the other Titans just stared, Raven broke the silence with her trademark sarcasm "Uh, he's cute."
Starfire finally shock herself from the shock "My groom? But his is, I cannot…", Blackfire interrupted "You can and you will. You see sister dear; this darling creature is the exalted ruler of the swamp moons of Drenthax Four and since his invasion army is parked outside our castle I arranged your marriage save our beloved Tamaran from annihilation. If your groom can't kiss his bride we can all kiss Tamaran goodbye."
Starfire dropped her head "I am sure we will be, very happy together.", Glrdlesklech floated up to her a belched, Blackfire proceed to translate "He says he can't wait to take you to his swamp planet far, far away" she then looked up to all the gathered "We celebrate my sister's wedding at moonset, tonight.", every Tamaranean besides Starfire and Galfore cheered.
Nightwing whoever grumbled "Tonight? Starfire, are you sure?", the Princess didn't turn back, she simply uttered "Yes."
Blackfire spoke up again "Take the Princess to her quarters so she may prepare.", two guards walked up and escorted Starfire away. Blackfire spoke again "And keep an eye on her friends." with that she left herself.
In the chambers Beast Boy screamed, he currently struggled to get out of a calm like thing.
Cyborg rushed over and help prise it open, the changeling fell out, he stood up and started moaning "I can't tell what's a bed, what's a chair and what's alive." He scrubbed his hands over his face "How am I supposed to take my beauty nap?"
Nightwing paced up and down the room "How can you even think about sleep? We can't let Starfire go through with this."
"Come on man," Cyborg said, "you sure you not you know, jealous."
"Starfire's my girlfriend, she's admitted her feeling for me, and I definitely love her. I'm not jealous of that ugly, smelly, whatever it is. You saw her face Cyborg, she doesn't even like him."
Raven walked up "True, but maybe she doesn't need to. Things are different here, who are we to question her culture?"
"Starfire told me about her culture, this isn't what normally happens. Blackfire arranged the whole thing, how do we know if any of this is real? Cyborg and Beast Boy, check out the Drenthax Fleet. Raven see what you can learn about this thing she's marrying."
Cyborg raised his eyebrow "And you?"
"I need to see Starfire." And he walked away.
Cyborg cut his way into one of the ships and he and Beast Boy entered. A short way in Beast Boy fell over, Cyborg whispered a little annoyed at the changeling's actions "What are you trying to do, wake the whole…" he stopped and look ship realising something "Where's the crew?", Beast Boy got up a large cable on his head "Out to lunch?"
They walked up to the cockpit finding a seat for one pilot, they walked up closer and turned it round, a piece of machinery sat into the chair with tentacle like cable connecting to controls of the vessels, they retracted as Cyborg turned the chair around "Remote control. They got a whole fleet of ships…"
"But no army.", Beast Boy finished.
The sounds of blade scrapping caught their attention and they turned around seeing a group of Tamaranean guards pointing their spear like weapons at the pair.
Cyborg's face turned grim "And Blackfire doesn't want anyone to know."
Raven appeared via her portal in the room set aside for Glrdlesklech.
She looked around and noticed a small box, like a jewellery box. She lifted the lid and an intense red and white glow came from it.
A voice came from outside. Raven shut the box at looked back as Blackfire and Glrdlesklech entered, the Grand Ruler spoke "Yes my plan was brilliant, wasn't it Glrdlesklech?", the creature responded with a series of guttural grunts as they entered.
Raven hid by opening a portal into a watch from the ceiling.
The blob lifted the box as Blackfire continued to exposit "I give you my pesky little sister, and you give me." the groom opened the box and the same glow emanated from it, now fully open Raven saw the diamond shaped jewel, just from the glow she could tell the power it possessed.
Blackfire took hold of it "The Jewel of Charta." she held it up and red energy began to cover her hand, her hair and robes started follow on their own, she continued to speak "With its powers enhancing my own I can rule Tamaran with an iron fist, no one would dare challenge me."
Glrdlesklech looked up and mumbled something before shooting mucus right at Raven, she fell to the floor. The two approached the Grand Ruler grinned "Well done Glrdlesklech, you've discovered a spy." her eyes glowed red and she charged a red Starbolt instead of her usual violet colour.
In her chamber, Starfire checked her wedding dress, it looked like it would fit, like a glove. She glanced at her Titans communicator her face fell, she put the dress down and walked out to the balcony. She put of hands on the edge and looked out at her home world, her face showed contemplation.
From behind her she heard someone call "Starfire.", she turned around and saw Nightwing, she smiled and walked closer "Richard, I," she stopped and changed the subject "I hope you are enjoying your stay."
The former Boy Wonder held out his hand "Come on. We're getting out of here."
She sighed "Oh Richard, I am sorry, I cannot." she turned around and walked away from him.
Nightwing spoke from behind her "Starfire you don't want to marry him."
"Marrying him will bring peace to my planet, it is good for everyone."
"It's not good for you."
"Richard, if you can't be happy for me," she lowered her head "then perhaps you should not attend my wedding."
"Starfire…" he then gave this muffled yelp, the Princess turned around and found herself alone, she closed her eyes, lowered her head and slowly walked back into her room.
A pair of guards dragged Nightwing into an underground containment area. Filled with individuals of all shapes and sizes trapped within tubes. They brought him to the tube which held the other three and they threw him in.
"So," Beast Boy said, "I guess where going to miss the wedding?"
The former Boy Wonder didn't stand up, he just knelt with his hand on her floor "I couldn't talk her out of it. She has to marry him, for her people."
"No," Raven said, "she doesn't", Cyborg continued "It's all a lie, the army, the war, everything. Blackfire set her up."
Nightwing got to his feet "Then we have to tell Starfire the truth, before it's too late."
Starfire stood before the mirror, sadly examining herself in her white dress. She saw Galfore walking up behind her, she turned around and he spoke "I have never seen a more beautiful bride." he placed a headdress on her and noticed her expression "Something troubles you my little bumgorf?"
She shook her head, and fake a smile "Nothing troubles me.", he held up his hand "Do not attempt to fool an old k'norfka. I raised you.", she lowered her head, but he placed his head on her shoulder "I have always expected great things from you my Princess, and tonight is no exception."
"Yes," but she lowered her head again "I will do what is right for Tamaran.", Galfore gently pushed her head up "You must do what is right," he leaned in closer "in your heart."
The sound of the doors opening caught their attention. They turned and looked as the doors swung open fully showing Blackfire and a pair of guards. The Grand Ruler walked in "Ready sister dear?", Starfire looked to Galfore before flying up to hug him. With them embrace done she fell out the room.
In the cells the room shook from an explosion, the Titans emerged from the dust cloud. Nightwing charged and jumped kicked at two guards knocking them out before running to the exit.
The other guard cornered the other three, Beast Boy suddenly transformed into one of the weird creature they saw changed up in the hallway, he roared and the guards ran away. He changed back and looked at the surprised pair, Cyborg asked the question "How did you know you could do that?", the changeling shrugged "Lucky guess."
The doors to the great hall opened. Starfire held Galfore's arm as they entered. Blackfire stood at the end acting as the authority for the wedding and Glrdlesklech floated just in front of her.
They proceeded to walk up the middle. When they reached the end Galfore looked to the blob and growled before leaving Starfire, the blob floated up beside her. Starfire looked around at the witnesses "Where are my friends."
"Guess they had better things to do. Now smile pretty for your new hubby.", Starfire turned to Glrdlesklech and fake a smile.
Blackfire looked to the gathered "My humble servant, we meet at moonset to bind my sister to this handsome young Sklerch in joyous betrothal. an any among us offer reason why these two lovebirds should not be together, forever?" the room became silent for a few moments before the Grand Ruler spoke again "Didn't think so. Then," she turned to the groom "Do you Glrdlesklech take Starfire to be your wife as decreed by the Grand Ruler of Tamaran?"
Glrdlesklech gave his response, it sounded like a person's dying croaks. Blackfire continued "And do you Starfire take Glrdlesklech to be your husband?", Starfire looked at the blob "I, I…"
"Yes, sister dear?"
"Starfire!" came a shout from above, the Princess turned around, looked up and gasp.
On top of the viewing gallery Nightwing fought a group of guards.
The gathered started to murmur.
"Silence." Boomed the Grand Ruler, she turned to Starfire "Do you wish to do what's right and take this thing for you husband."
"I do," she paused before her expression turned grim "not."
Blackfire wailed, her eyes turned a glowing red and she charged and red energy covered her hand "Treason!" she fired a supercharged Starbolt at the Princess who fell across the room, the Grand Ruler floated down the step "I thought we agreed you would do what is best for Tamaran little sister. You will marry the Sklerch."
The door burst opened and the other Titans rushed in with Nightwing leading the charge "Starfire it's a trick, all of it, Blackfire's been lying to everyone.", as the crowd murmured Starfire stood up and removed her headdress "You are not best for Tamaran."
"You dare to challenge the Grand Ruler?"
Starfire let her energy follow, which disintegrated the wedding dress but left her regular outfit intact "I challenge my sister, for the crown."
The two took off into the air, Blackfire's launch powerful enough to create a crater in the ground, she fired a beam at Starfire and knocked her into a pillar.
The Princess quickly got out of it as the Grand Ruler shot in and through the wall.
Nightwing ran up, but Galfore held his arm out "Hold, it anyone interferes the challenge is void, the Princess will lose."
"Besides," Cyborg said walking up to him "your girl can handle herself."
Starfire dodged each Starbolt and eyebeam, but every shot she fired Blackfire stopped with an energy field, however the explosion obscured her view, when the smoke cleared Starfire already flew in fast and punched her into the wall. Blackfire started to fly away as Starfire went on the offensive.
After flying into another room, filled with chairs and sofa and a long volley of Starbolts the Princess stopped, but the Grand Ruler remain unharmed, she tapped the jewel on her collar "The Jewel of Charta," her eye become red again "I'm invincible.", Blackfire started throwing furniture, and even batted Starfire with a pillar.
As Starfire got up her sister landed "Besides," she said, "you'll always be my little sister."
"I am not so little anymore." To prove it she fired her eyebeams at the Grand Ruler and knocked her back. As Blackfire looked up from the floor Starfire flying kicked her through the floor. They landed beside a massive tree. Blackfire fired her supercharged eyebeam straight into Starfire's face. The Princess flew back but fired Starbolts again. The Grand Ruler ran out of the way. The flew up the tree.
Blackfire shot a branch off and charged. She pushed her sister into a wall "Earth has changed you Starfire" she swung her twice into the wall. Fell up back to the great hall and threw Starfire to the floor.
Starfire got to her knees as Blackfire closed in on her "That's right, bow down before your Grand Ruler."
"You may be the ruler of this planet, but as they say on Earth, you are not the boss of me.", Blackfire again charged herself thanks to the jewel and created a ball of energy. She fired it. Starfire dodged.
The two flew at each other again. Starfire grabbed the jewel, cracking it in her grip. The energy burst out. The stood on the floor in a standoff. Blackfire looked down and saw the jewel missing from her collar, she gasped a looked back to her sister.
Starfire opened her hand and discarded the remains of the jewel. She charged, shot her eyebeams, and Starbolt after Starbolt. She landed. The smoke cleared. Blackfire stood, but she quickly collapsed. The headdress crown fell off her head and clattered to Starfire's feet. She took it and put it on her own head "The challenge is over. Tamaran has a new Grand Ruler.", the people cheered.
Glrdlesklech floated up, but Starfire spoke "I am sorry," she tried to say his name but failed "you. There shall be no wedding.", the blob sighed before Starfire continued "And henceforth my sister Blackfire shall be banished from Tamaran."
Blackfire recovered just to here this decree "Banished? Our joking? Where am I supposed to live?", Glrdlesklech floated up and via what someone with a bad cold snorting in suggested something, which Blackfire took offense "You wish.", a pair of guard took hold of her and took her away "I won't forget this sister dear."
Nightwing walked up to her "So now that you rule the planet," he expression turned sad "you'll be staying here?"
"I must do what is right for Tamaran.", she turned and walked away. Nightwing sighed.
Outside on a massive balcony Starfire and Galfore the people of the planet cheered for her, Galfore raised his fist "All hail Empress Starfire.", the crowd again cheered but Starfire spoke "Someone very special told me to listen to my heart. And so, I overthrew my sister because she was not best for Tamaran." She turned to look at the other Titans, her gaze stopped at Nightwing before she turned back to continue her address "And now my heart tells me, I am also not best for Tamaran.", the crowd gasped before she continued "My life and my heart are on Earth," she looked back to Nightwing "that is where I belong." she turned back and removed her headdress "But I leave you in good hands, the hands that cared for me as a child." she float up and place it on Galfore's head "All hail Emperor Galfore.", the people cheered and repeated the decree.
Starfire returned to the others "Let's go home, my real home.", the Titans walked away. Galfore smiled noticing Starfire and Nightwing walking away hand in hand.