Author's Note: And you thought this story was over! But it isn't! However, there is just a few more quick chapters left. Thank you for patience!
It was a still morning—ten days from the happening, the memory of it slowly emerging from fog that swirled in between her thoughts. Words wisped though her lack of memory and those words, she knew, weren't hers, but others' as if she had been asleep when she had heard them. For, they took on other voices and they were mournful. Oh how they shook. To Starfire, what hurt the most was that they were the voices of her friends.
Her eyes began to tremble and she pushed them into a fix, locked on the window—they to glisten in the new light of three suns topped on each other like a high rising tower during that time of day. Outside spiraled hills, jagged, marvelous, white, epic, sparkling beneath the rosy spill of clouds. Above, the pink skies brushed hues in through the window and dressed in that rosy veil of light, Starfire sat upon the various layers of her childhood's bed. Her bear arms draped around her bare legs and pulled them closer when she could not find an ocean or a Jump City. Home was so far away. She found her hands entwined in purple uniform, her top, skirt, and boots that lied upon the sheets before her. Far off memories that she could not grasp limited her from knowing. But she sat in silence, letting the solemn death of her sister sway itself into her memory, a tear to fall in reaction.
"Starfire! You're awake!" Wildfire stood in the door, his hands in the motion of pressing to his mouth to call down the hall. She darted to him, flying into his torso, her arms suddenly to clench around his waist. No taller than she, he was. Slowly, his hands descended from his mouth and wrapped around his only sister.
"It's all over," they kept whispering to each other, wishing another was there to know. A sister remained far off beyond their reality, but through each other, they could see her.
Slowly, Starfire drew back, faint-smiled, pushing an arm to her cheek to brush away falling steams of tears. He followed, his eyes glistening happily against hers.
"Thank you." She smiled, huccuping, "Thank you for saving my friends."
"Starfire." He spoke, beaming. "Sister, I've traveled billions of light-years in the last ten years—since I have been gone. The worlds out there are beautiful—big. Just like the stories mother use to tell us." He gave a warm smile. "I have seen so many things! People! Places! But never had I ever seen love like you showed for family, the Titans. And most importantly, the love they have for you."
The pink light, dawning from the skylight, soaked the two. There, upon her face, lit a smile that descended into a sorrowful frown, her frown browsto push up in sorrow. Her gaze flooded to the floor.
"Speaking English is the way you connect with them, yes?"
"They are gone now. All humasn are to banished in respects for the treaty. I am afraid I cannot work myself to speak anything but English. Please forgive me, Brother."
He smiled, "I shall speak in English with you for now on if you would like."
A cheerful gasp and she smiled wondrously, leaping into another embrace."You have much to tell me!" She reminded
"And you have much to tell me as well. But in due time." Her last sibling she held oh so tightly. Blackfire was close enough to feel and Kro'ka was somewhere off, smiling down alongside his brother.
"Will it be the okay?" She asked, frightened. "What is he like? My fiancé? I am allowed to ask?"
Wildfire opened his mouth, his voice to be interrupted by two quick knocks upon the wooden door.
"Wildfire." Five maidens poured in, carrying white garments, the silk fabric and lace flowing behind as they entered. "I am afraid I have to ask you to leave. We are to prepare the princess for her wedding."
Lips unhinged, Starfire floated forward, innocently caressing such familiar faces. "You speak—English as well?" She turned back to find Wildfire smiling.
"Tamaraneans who know the language have been spreading it since your revival. In honor of you and your friends."
"Oh, Wildfire!" He stepped forward, placing what felt like a crumpled piece of paper in her hands.
"This is how I found Robin."
She unraveled the paper in her palms, to see the image. Robin and she in a slow dance at the junior high dance. Her eyes twinkled, she to hiccup, placing her hands to her mouth, chocking on the emotion of a memory.
"Three days before the war's beginning, I snuck away from the feast and found myself walking under the stars. And it was a full moon. You were not at the military base like Kro'ka had promised, Sister. I looked everywhere for you." His voice shaking, he slowly looked to her. "Mother was gone. Blackfire was gone. And I was afraid you were too. Peaking above the northern cliffs, I found the U.F.E's base beneath, outlined in shimmering lights. Just then, Robin's picture tumbled into my side. He had brought it here. I know who he was then and there and then I found him in the pit-"
"Wildfire—I."
"This photo. It led me to them and maybe someday it will do the same for you. It will lead you to Robin."
Smiling, he wrapped her hands around the photo as servant's playful arm lassoed around the boy, whisking him away from the princess and out the door. Starfire's eyes pinned to entrance, a servant took her left hand and slowly led her onto the white cirular platform, stationed in the middle of her grand room. Arms around herself, she clenched the photo tightly, trying not to breathe the breath that encouraged tears to fall. They undressed her, rubbing away the cuts and bruises upon the tan tint of her body. Her eyes flooded against the photo she held beneath her stomach, tracing over his smug smile, wishing it was real. His skin was of the lightest shade, and his hair represented night. It was familiar, the way it spiked.
"I still don't know your name."
"In your language, it would be Star…Fire."
"Welcome to Earth… Starfire
She stepped into her dress, finally looking up long moments after. It was truly beautiful. The sleek and shimmer of the white silk slimmed down her chest and tucked away at her waist where layers of fabric fanned out in an A-line. Her arms were bare and her shoulders were bound in tamaranean armor. In the reflection, she gave a weak smile for the maidens fawning in the back.
"What do you think, Princess?"
"Oh—its. It's lovely!" A voice chimed from behind. A massive man stood against the large steel door, one arm wrapped around himself while the other rubbed his rosy cheeks. At the twinkle in his eye, Starfire rejoiced.
"GALFORE!" And she collided into him, he to spin his little bumgorf in circles.
"Oh little one! Well—" He placed her back upon her feet, "Not so little anymore" He gave a roaring chuckle. He looked to her with an endearing smile, hands upon her shoulder. Soon, seriousness befell upon his expression and his eyes rose to address the maidens. "Maidens, may I speak to the Princess alone?"
They happily nodded and made their way to the door, it to slam with a resounding gong. After a moment of silence, Galfore descended upon one knee, looking his bumgorf into her brilliant green eyes, wide with curious innocence.
"Starfire." He said slowly. "I have a message for you." She tilted her head with question, he to rise, crack open the door, and peak through. He bowed his head and slowly turned back to Starfire. "Your fiancé has requested a favor of me."Suddenly, he swung open the door, the gust to sweep through the young woman, blowing her long hair back. He descended down and gestured to the hallway.
"Go."
"I am afraid I do not understand."
"Yes. This marriage is important, but he refuses it to be forced, especially upon you."
"He-he is giving me the choice to leave?"
"To be forced, he does not wish this marriage to be."
"But how will the treaty be sealed? Will Earth and Tamaran stay protected?"
"Who is to know?" His voice was stern, calm. "Consequences come with any decision we make. For this war has taught me that. And you have taught me another: a third option is always available. However, I trust you shall make the right decision."
And for long moments, Gaflore stood firm at the door. Slowly, she unraveled her palms, the photograph of Robin to beam back at her. Huffing to find breaths, she cupped her mouth, pacing back and forth. She neared the exit and rose her hands as if touching the distance. For it pulled her forward, calling her name with the voices of her friends. Her eyes were wide and her heart bet to the images of the memories of Earth, filling within her head.
…Silence…
Slowly, her arms wrapped around herself, tracing the fabric of the wedding dress that hugged her waist. Solemn, scared, she turned back to the warmth of Galfore's expression. "I-I love him—I love all of them." Her eyes flooded against Robin's image, a tear welling from her eyes, running down her cheek. "And that is why I need to stay—to protect them. To protect Raven, Cyborg, Beast Boy, oh, and Robin."
With his deep voice, he had read the fairytales she loved so much as a child and until she fell asleep, Galfore remained upon her bedside, watching wisdom itself sing the words of her mother mid-dream. With a steady breath, a smile rising between his cheeks, he rose, careful not to awake her.
Down the halls, he walked, letting the memories of her pass with each to step. Down her timeline he went. Down the wide halls, marbled and shimmering in the lucid lights above, he arrived at a massive metal door. One hand pressed upon against it, festooned in textures and decorations, he entered the Grand Ruler's Chambers. At the crack of the door, four to jump out.
"What did she say?"
"What was her response?"
"Can we see her now?"
"Is she still here?"
Smiling, he waved down their anxiousness, beaming vividly. Galfore collected his propriety, quickly fixed his posture, stuck up his royal nose, and smiled with grand pride.
"And by love," Myand'r he spoke, stepping into the room, his deep voices resounding off the marble walls, "a treaty will be sealed."
"Robin!" Wildfire plus the Titans roared, their voices penetrating the room divider. "Come out!"
In silent seconds, a man stepped out into the room, vivid eyes, blue and bare, slowly looking up from the crescent mosaics upon the floor and into the light where he stood tall, baring the armor of Tamaraneans.
"Because you gave her a choice," Myand'r began, turning to Robin on his left, "I shall give you, Robin of Earth, my blessing. I shall repeat, and by love, a treaty will be sealed."