Sorry, dear readers, for being gone so long. School-work hit me pretty hard, and I sort of lost track of a bunch of things after winter holidays and the second semester started. Life was tough, turbulent, and eventful. Things were busy, and I had little time to sit down and write. Which might be why it will be a little bit before I can get back to the speed I hoped to post at. Still, bare with me here. I'm sure it'll be worth it.

I'm not even gonna bother with a recap for those of you who don't remember what just happened. Go back and re-read it if you must, for I don't want to keep you from chapter 13 much longer.

Don't forget to Read & Review. I thrive on them, ya know!

Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. Story is mine, but the characters aren't. Everyone here knows that.


Lightning flashed and Thunder rumbled, far above the skies of Jump City, a dance of sorrow, of mourning, the two figures swirling to and fro. Shadows of the sky danced in tune to the grim melody of their stormy dirge. The heavens swarmed in dismal rain, rolling Thunder about in loud crashes and slams, fickle Lightning dancing about the skies and the tall towers. Power, beauty, grace. Sorrow, solemnity, remembrance.

Far in the skies did the two brothers dance, beings of power, forces of nature, paying tribute to one who called them 'friend'.

"Come brother!" did Lightning call, soaring on surges of light, dancing quickly, fleeting. "Let us do honor, and praise! The dirge of power! Of True Friends!"

The dull roar of Thunder sounded from the larger brother, leaping from swirling cloud to swirling cloud. Thunder beat upon a large drum, and the beat set the tune to which Lightning danced. Music and power, two nigh-immortals bringing a storm to the world.

"Here, Brother!" Thunder roared, his voice sounding over the din of the skies, louder than any mortal sound could make. "Poetry, we do make!"

"The Star is yet lost!" Lightning screamed, rushing about the clouds, scattering rain as it fell to the world.

"Time we shall never forget!" sounded Thunder, the roar darkening the clouds and sending the winds into a frenzy.

"Let Gods watch over you!" The brothers cried in unison, thunder roaring as lightning struck from the heavens onto Titan's Tower, lighting up the building in a halo of sparkling luminescence.

And the storm raged.


The Teen Titans stood in Titans Tower, glasses of soda - though champagne would be more appropriate for the occasion, all were minors, and thus champagne would be illegal - in hand. Some sipped from them solemnly as the various young men and women talked. Small talk mostly. Catching up with friends, tales of villains stopped, villains foiled, the occasional mild joke or bad pun. The Titans weren't very punny that night.

For once, the large monitor of the Tower's large living room was not on, not displaying the latest news, nor a movie, nor the action packed video game. It was off, silent, in deference to the solemnity of the occasion. On the kitchen table, food had been put out, but most of the table was covered in Tamaranian delicacies and finger foods. To no one's surprise, there was no significant dent in the food piles - even the more voracious eaters of the Titans seemed to stay away.

The Teens were all dressed in formal wear of black, a violet handkerchief in the coats of the gents, a silver rose in the ladies' hair or upon their wrist. It was a solemn occasion, yet it still seemed that the Titans refused to remove their masks. They were heroes, one and all. They were here to recognize an ally, a comrade, a friend fallen in the course of their combined mission. She was gone, and she hadn't come back.

Cyborg and Beast Boy refused to come inside, still staring at the memorial stone in the rain. Robin was nowhere to be found, and his communicator only brought up static. So it fell to Bumblebee to make the toast. It wasn't that she was uncomfortable with it - which she secretly was - but formalities had to be kept, and the memories of one lost were to be remembered. Bumblebee delivered a speech to the Titans - all Titans present that is - to always think of Starfire not as another soul lost to evil, so much as a light in a world of darkness, a glimmer of hope that fought back the evil's of the universe with all her heart. Someone of joy and love and compassion and certainly odd tastes, but a good heroine nonetheless. An anecdote was shared, a training session between the two. A tear slipped from behind the tough exterior she tried to put on, a tear of sorrow, longing for a dear friend. She drew to her conclusion - a toast.

"To Starfire - a Titan, through and through." Bumblebee proclaimed, raising her glass of cherry soda to the air.

All gathered lifted their glasses to the toast, and proclaimed in solemn unison, "To Starfire."

All glasses were drained, and the blazing electricity surged over the Tower, shining through as light. Flickers of electricity danced in the air about the window, light of all iridescences splayed all about the room, a dazzling work of wonder. The gathered looked on in awe, and appreciation. Starfire would have enjoyed the lightshow. They were sure of it.


It had been sometime into the evening that Speedy and Aqualad were discussing recent activities in smuggling across the Atlantic with Hot Spot. The Titans East and South had been working to find the head of the smuggling ring, but their work was still in the air. It seemed that the smugglers had gotten a hold of tech that made them too dangerous for the conventional authorities - repeating laser cannons arming the boats, cloaking devices, super-suits… The Titans figured they could clear it up in another week.

The three had migrated as they walked, finding themselves wandering through the Tower, eventually reaching the lobby of the Tower. Speedy snagged a couple toffees from a bowl on a desk, popping them in his mouth as he talked. Hot Spot looked a little peeved, his expressions more apparent without his pyrokinetic aura flaring up. The Moroccan didn't approve of the archer's care free attitude. Aqualad was set to play the go-between for the two.

They didn't expect Kid Flash, suit and tie in disarray, appearing rather disheveled, and, very unusual for the speedster, out of breath. Loose papers and objects rustled as he drew short from his blurring run.

"Whoa, what happened, KF?" Speedy wondered aloud, eyeing the speedster cockily. "Lost your strength while you're away? Man, that girl must be…"

He didn't finish, a stern look from the usually cheerful Kid Flash cut him off, as the fastest boy alive instead blurted something out at super speed and moved to get past them.

"Hey, slow down man." Hot Spot said, putting an arm in front of the red headed hero. "What did you just say?"

Kid Flash looked at them exasperatedly. He said, though still a little out of breath, slowly and clear, "Kyd's here, we have to get the others."

Speedy raised an eyebrow. "Well, look what we've got here then. You come back, and expect us all to greet you? You're not that important, they should be greeting me? Why didn't everyone greet me when I got here?" the red archer cockily began to spew till he was silenced by a punch from Aqualad.

Kid Flash merely rolled his eyes, muttering something along the lines of not having time for this nonsense, and said, "Kyd Wykkyd is gonna be here. Tonight. In the Tower. If he isn't here already."

Everyone's eyes went wide.

"Warn the others." Hot Spot said first. With a nod, Kid Flash was gone, a blur trailing up the stairs.


The shadow moved silently in the bedroom, scanning the shelves quickly. It had to be here. The shade knew it must. It was here, in this room. Somewhere.

The room was much like his own; aesthetically at least. It was dark, kept that way despite the time by heavy shades. The hues were cool, dull, mysterious. Shades of blues and grays, purples and blacks. It was comfy, dark, and dried candles littered the room. The bed was soft, seemingly untouched, unused for a long time. It was still as neat as when the owner had left it. The entire room seemed that way.

The shadow moved across the room, scanning the shelves; shelves covered in large books and stacks of scrolls, archaic runes and sigils over the hidebound and dusty covers. Ancient tomes and grimoires dark, secrets trapped in their pages. He glanced at a mirror on a dresser, one that seemed to shine his reflection despite the darkness. A gloved hand reached out to grasp it, but drew back reluctantly at the last second. Not what he came here for. Another day perhaps.

He searched, looking for the book he wanted. The book he needed. The one that would help. Frustration began to build in the shadow when he realized it wasn't on the shelves. The lithe shadow tore open the dressers and drawers, rifling through the clothing and private things kept within the sanctum of the room. He didn't care. Once such a deed might have drawn a blush to his face, but now? Now, he ignored it, searching for the book. He didn't care about anything else as he turned the room upside down looking for it.

It wasn't in the drawers, nor the closet, nor under the bed. But, there was a chest under the bed. That was likely. The figure grinned, putting it up on the bed. Checking the engravings and seals on the outside with his red eyes, the shadow knew it was locked. Both physically and mystically. It was a good thing he didn't need to open the chest.

The shadow brought his cloak to rest over the chest, flourished a hand, then stuck it into the cloak. His hand went through the cloak, through the chest, and into the black, such that the shadow's arm appeared chopped off. A little feeling around, and a flash of teeth accompanied the shadow's mischievous smile, a glitter of accomplishment in the scarlet eyes. His arm drew back, and his hand reappeared, now clutching a large tome.

A white book, with black leaf gilded on all corners. Upon the book's cover was a single black circle. It was plain, but the shadow could just feel the powerful secrets it's pages held.

Kyd Wykkyd grinned.


Oooh. Suspense! A cliffhanger ending! Who knows what's going to happen next?!

Oh, wait. I know. But I'm not telling. :P

So Please don't forget to Read & Review!