A/N: Hey, everyone. Sorry this took a long time, but it's a crucial part for the rest of the story. Be ready: paths will cross!

Chapter 2: To the Castle

Robin, who had gotten away from the Forever Knights who had pursued him, was quite upset. In fact, he was downright furious.

"Those Knights!" he grumbled to himself as he walked into mostly destroyed living room. "Wrecking our home and kidnapping my friends?! Wait till I get my hands on them. I can't believe I let'em win! I shoulda taken'em out when I could!"

Suddenly, a thought rushed over him.

Wait; why am I yelling? Maybe I should calm down. That's at least Raven's way…and it might be the right way, too.

He took a few deep breaths and started to think over the situation.

Hmm, I know that wasn't my style, but…come to think of it, Star was right! With those weapons, they would've overpowered me, no sweat. But now they're outta the Tower, I'll find them AND my fellow Titans. Don't worry, guys; I'll be coming.

He took out his T-Phone and found the four dots. They were out of the city, but not too far away, though.

I'd better not be seen; they'll take me out if they do!

He then ran to get his R-Cycle and helmet, putting on the latter and climbing on the former.

"Stealth Mode on."

A field surrounded him, making him virtually invisible. He revved the engine a few times and heard almost nothing. He then activated the cycle's GPS to double-check his destination.

Cyborg was right; this new feature oughta come in handy. If there are any Knights outside or on the streets, they're less likely to know I'm coming. Heck, I'd be surprised if—oh, never mind. I'm on my way.

xXxXx

Thankfully for Robin, woods surrounded the castle to which he was going. This was most fortunate for two reasons: first, the Stealth Mode on the R-Cycle was out of power, and, second, there were a lot of Knights apparently guarding the castle.

Better go in on foot, Robin thought as he removed his helmet. Besides, Stealth Mode only hides sight and sounds, not smells. The R-Cycles exhaust does have a particular smell to it.

Making sure the R-Cycle was out of sight, he slowly approached the edge of the forest and peered out at the castle.

Typical. One big castle, complete with moat and drawbridge.

He then looked at the Knights who were out in front of it.

Pretty heavily guarded. They're probably expecting me…or someone else, at least. But no matter, I gotta get in.

One of the Knights made signals to several others, and they left the drawbridge to go on other sides of the castle. Others came to take their places.

I'd better scout around for a weak spot. One could obliterate me, or worse, let the whole castle know!

He started to sneak around the castle, looking for where the guards were fewest or non-existent. Unfortunately, he wasn't having much luck as there were so many guards out.

I don't have much time. Who knows what's happening inside the castle? Maybe right now—whoa, Robin. Calm down.

He took a deep breath and started to plan again.

Okay, maybe I can distract the guards, make them think I'm in one place but be in another. That could work—

He suddenly felt something on his head; it didn't feel too friendly.

Crud.

"We are not blind, Robin," said the Forever Knight who found him. "Or, at least, I am not."

At first, Robin had the urge to fight, but then he remembered how dangerous the Knights' guns had been. Thus, he decided to obey.

"Now, place your hands on your head."

Robin, again resisting the urge, slowly raised his hands to obey—

—suddenly, there was a swoosh and the sound of someone landing on the ground. He felt the Knight's gun move away from him.

What was…?

He heard an odd sound, similar to a sword being drawn, accompanied by a voice.

"Hey, metalhead! Why don'cha pick on someone with your armor on?"

A metallic clang and a grunt greeted Robin's ear. But he knew one thing: he had been saved! He turned around to look at the person who had punched out the Knight.

The guy who had saved him was tall and had long hair. The most notable thing about him was that this guy was covered with metal! It was the same color as the Knight's armor, Robin noted.

"Uh, thanks," he said awkwardly.

"No prob. Whad'a'ya doin' here, anyway? And who are you?"

Robin didn't get to answer because one Knight rudely interrupted him.

"Forever Knights, beware!" shouted said Knight, pointing. "The accursed Ben 10 has—"

Green rays originating in the air zapped him. The others around him returned fire.

Whoever this "Ben 10" guy is, he's not gonna last long! thought Robin. I'd better help!

He drew and extended his bo and shouted, "Hoooo-wah!" He and the guy started to run towards the area in question.

"Good thinkin', they may need us."

When they arrived, the other guy started to fight while Robin caught sight of the source of the beams. It was really two people! One looked like a red, flying stingray, but the other was a girl with long red hair, who jumped off the stingray's back and landed in front of Robin.

"Starfire?!"

"Who's Starfire?" she asked.

Robin realized that she was wearing Earthly clothes and that she had used a contraction. His eyes became wide with embarrassment.

"Oop—! Sorry, thought you were…someone else."

"It's okay," she said. "Look out!"

"Wha—?"

A pink sphere formed around one of her hands, and she lobbed it at a Knight who was standing behind Robin.

"Thanks! I owe you—whoa!"

He took out a disc and hit the Knight who was about to attack her. His armor was covered now in ice.

"Huh?"

"Freeze disc. Comes in handy sometimes."

"Thanks," she said before calling, "Uh, Ben! A little help, please?"

"Comin' right atcha!" responded a somewhat strained voice to Robin's right.

The stingray thingy swooped down and shot more green rays from its eyes and tail. The Knights, again, shot at it.

"Time for me t'put on some weight!" it said.

It landed and brought its hand to an unusual looking circle with a vertical bowtie shape on its chest. There was flash of green light.

Robin almost fainted upon seeing what happened.

"HUMONGOUSAUR!"

The stingray had transformed into a giant dinosaur. The circle, however, was still there.

"What the—?! How—?"

"Talk later! Fight now!"

"Couldn't agree more," said Robin, taking out some of his exploding discs.

xXxXx

"Whew! No more guards t'fight," said the first guy Robin met. "That was satisfying."

He was back to normal, it seemed. He didn't any metal on him anymore.

"You said it, uh…I don't think I ever learned your names," Robin pointed out.

"All right. I'll start. I'm Kevin Levin. And these are Gwen and Ben Tennyson."

He gestured towards the girl and the dinosaur.

"We're Plumbers."

"Wha—? You work on pipes but you're fighting these bad guys?"

"No, no, no," said Gwen. "Plumbers are intergalactic policemen."

"Wha—? Huh?"

"We'll explain later. What about you?"

"Oh, me? I'm Robin of the Teen Titans."

"Robin?" asked the dinosaur. "I think I've heard of you! Didn't you work with—?"

"Please, let's not talk about it." Robin looked as uncomfortable with the subject as he sounded, but then softened. "We…don't work together anymore. Anyway, what to you happened while we were fighting? What does—?"

"Oh, this?" it asked, touching the circle.

"Yeah, what does it do?"

It twisted the circle, and there was another flash of green light. The dinosaur had disappeared. It its place, there was a brown-haired guy with green eyes and a green jacket.

"Okay, you're just freakin' me out now, uh, Ben?"

"Yep, that's me. Ben 10, wearer of the Omnitrix."

"The…Omnitrix?"

Ben held up his left arm. An unusual looking watch decorated his wrist.

"This little thing. Lets me turn into ten different alien superheroes whenever I'd like."

"Whoa," said Robin in surprise. "Cool! That stingray thingy and dinosaur were—"

"Excuse me?" Gwen interrupted. "Forever Knights with Imitators inside?"

Robin was a little confused.

"Imitators?"

"Galvan Imitators," Kevin informed him. "Can take any machine or stand of DNA and imitate what the original can do. Pretty high level alien tech."

"I can imagine," said Robin.

Then he realized something.

"Oh! Maybe that's why they kidnapped my friends! To power the Imitators!"

"Your friends? They have special powers?"

"Oh, yeah! They all have in-built or natural powers, but I don't have any, so I didn't get caught. Now we gotta get in! Now!"

"But how?" asked Kevin. "The Knights musta rigged the door with an alarm."

"Nothing to worry about." Ben was somewhat relaxed. "I'll take care of it."

"Oh, ya gonna use the one who became a—"

"Kevin!"

Ben seemed reluctant to talk about this subject.

"What are ya talking about?" Robin wanted to know.

"Never mind, let's go!" Gwen said urgently.

Robin watched as activated the Omnitrix and turned it to a cloaked figure. He then took his right hand and slammed it down. There was another flash of green light.

"Big…CHILL!

The blue moth spread its wings and flew at the drawbridge. At first, Robin thought he was going to smash into it, but Ben flew right through it as though it wasn't there! A moment later, it slowly fell to the ground.

"Come on!" Ben called to the others. "We're in!"

The other three ran in to join him, being sure to close the drawbridge behind him.

A/N: They're in. Now all they have to do is rescue the four Titans and get out, right? Predictions, suggestions, and comments are all welcome. Oh, one more thing, remember: Star herself is an alien.