A/N: Only three weeks left until winter quarter is over, and less than two weeks left until I turn twenty! Yay! Once winter quarter is over, I have two weeks before spring quarter where I can do nothing but write! I can't wait for it! :) The only thing that makes me sad is that I have to leave my internship site. I really like it there, and I don't want to leave. I really like being an intern! :,(
Oh well, all of that personal life stuff is beside the point. You came here for the chapter, didn't you? Anyway, without further ado, here is Part One: Chapter Five of "Firelight". This entire chapter is dedicated to the Titans West, so I hope you enjoy it. Also, I have a HUGE surprise for all of you once you start reading. Hopefully it catches you off guard, and I'm not too predictable. I don't know why I went in this direction. I just thought that it might make things more interesting and give me some creative room? Either way, I'm very happy with the decision I made. Hopefully you're just as happy.
Anyway, that's enough chatter. Enjoy the chapter! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. Just the Dabnodian people and the deceased planet of Dabnod.
Part I: Inception: Chapter Five
Jump City: Titans West Tower
Two Weeks Earlier…
It had been very peaceful in Jump City that day. No robberies had occurred, nobody was held hostage, no evil robots were taking over the city; the day was absolutely perfect. By the time evening rolled around the team of founding Titans was as content as ever. Cyborg and Beast Boy were sitting on the sofa playing the newest version of Mega Monkeys on the Game Station. Raven was levitating in front of the window chanting her mantra in meditation. Robin and Starfire were sitting comfortably on the sofas other end, the Tamaranean explaining to Robin the different breeds of Portkins and the Boy Wonder scratching his head in confusion. A few seconds later, however, the tranquility of that day came to an abrupt and shocking end.
One moment the common room was filled with the cheerful chatter of the Titans and pinging noises coming from the Game Station. The next bright red flashing filled the room along with the loud blaring of the alarm. Knowing well what it meant, the Titans immediately left what they were doing and rushed over to the Titan supercomputer to see what the trouble was. Robin, the first to reach the supercomputer, pressed several buttons in order to bring up the police report. The moment he skimmed it over his posture stiffened, his eyes widened beneath his mask, and an expression of pure shock took over his face. Knowing their leader's normal responses to crime, his very out of character reaction didn't pass them by.
Concern showing bluntly in her large green eyes, Starfire spoke to him. "Robin, what has happened? Is the crime that we are to stop what one might consider 'out of the ordinary'?"
Spine still as rigid as ever, he turned to face his friends. "This isn't an average everyday convenience store robbery if that's what you're asking." After a momentary pause the Titan explained. "A prison break just happened at the Swarzberg Prison, and it's a big one."
All of their eyes widened simultaneously at the news, the whole group of them finally understanding the direness of the situation.
"The Swarzberg Prison?" Cyborg said in disbelief. "Are you sure this isn't the Jump City Jail you're talking about? Nobody could ever escape from Swarzberg! It's the most secure prison on the West Coast. Heck, it might even be the most secure prison in the country. It's inescapable!"
"Apparently that's not really the case. According to the police report, over fifty percent of the inmates have escaped from their cells and now they need our help rounding them up."
The facts finally sinking in, Beast Boy looked at his teammates in fear. "Hold on... If this is the Swarzberg Prison that the bad guys escaped from and not the Jump City Jail, then does that mean we have to help recapture some of the most dangerous criminals in America?"
"Yeah, but only some of them," Cyborg said simply. "If we're lucky it will be the people that commit high-level theft that we have to capture and not the crazy villains with freaky powers."
Beast Boy began panicking at Cyborg's comment, saying that he really didn't like the idea of fighting off ten super dangerous criminals all on his own at the same time. With over fifty percent of the prisoners out of their cells and trying to escape, that scenario seemed more than likely. Raven, who hadn't yet spoken until now, approached Robin with a deeply troubled expression on her face. The whole time she spoke she ignored Beast Boy's frantic jabbering.
"Robin, I'm not trying to sound paranoid, but do you know exactly which criminals escaped? He didn't get loose, did he?"
The Titan leader's concerned expression intensified slightly. "I hate to say this Raven, but Black Shadow was one of the criminals that broke out. Not only that, but he also helped the others get loose; probably as some sort of diversion. He's the main reason why the Titans' help is needed."
If the group of them wasn't anxious previously, then there's no doubt that they were at this point. A long moment passed where the Titans didn't speak. They simply stared at Robin in disbelief. When one of them did get around to talking it was none other than Beast Boy.
"Dude, are you serious?! We could barely beat that guy that last time we fought him! How are we supposed to fight him plus all the other escaped criminals?!"
"I find myself agreeing with friend Beast Boy," Starfire admitted hesitantly. "Black Shadow is quite a formidable enemy. Is it truly possible for us to defeat him and the other escaped felons by ourselves without assistance?"
Before responding, Robin turned back toward the supercomputer and began typing in codes in order to get through to one specific frequency. Meanwhile he said, "No, we can't. If it was Black Shadow by himself we might stand a chance, but not this time. That's why I'm calling for backup."
Nobody needed to ask who it was that Robin was contacting. Each of them already knew. Yet, Raven asked the question anyway. She never was one to leave her facts go unchecked.
"Frostbite?" she asked in a single word.
Robin didn't turn away from the screen even once as he typed in the complex codes. Still, he gave a nod and confirmed her beliefs. "Yes. Frostbite."
Frostbite has never been a hero that's received a lot of recognition. He made Jump City's local News on multiple occasions and the National News once or twice, but that was only due to the times when he teamed up with the Teen Titans to take down particularly dangerous criminals. Even then he's never had to work with them too often. The group of founding Titans is a very capable team and Frostbite is a very capable solo hero. The Teen Titans live in their Tower and get the attention from the media while Frostbite lives in an apartment by himself and avoids the media at all costs. As strange as it might sound, Frostbite doesn't mind this arrangement. If anything, he actually prefers it.
When he showed up at the Swarzberg Prison, however, he wasn't thinking about any of this. He wasn't thinking about the media. He wasn't thinking about how he'd probably end up on the News again after this ordeal. Heck, he wasn't even thinking about how to get all of the inmates back in their cells. The only thing on Frostbite's mind was finding one criminal in particular. A criminal so dangerous that he managed to break out of a cell that was twenty levels beneath the surface and that had a level fourteen containment field and webs of hidden lasers boxing it in. Not only that, but he was able to break out over fifty percent of the other prisoners in the process. Whatever Black Shadow was up to it couldn't have been good.
Scared at the massive battle that would most likely ensue once they ran into Black Shadow, and even more terrified at what the madman might do if he were to escape Swarzberg's grounds, Frostbite tightened the two sets of dual canteens that crossed over his chest while sprinting. Once the canteens were tightened he readjusted the icy blue mask that covered every part of his face besides his mouth and chin. His costume consisting of the mask, icy blue pants with sapphire blue stripes running up the sides, and an icy blue short sleeved shirt with a sapphire blue "F" in the center, Frostbite honestly doesn't seem like the most threatening hero in the world. Sure his well-built body would seem intimidating, but once people catch sight of the medium-length blonde ponytail that hangs out the bottom of his mask the intimidation usually ebbs slightly. Of course, Frostbite has never cared about seeming powerful or intimidating and has never cared about how people perceive him. All that has ever mattered is keeping people safe, and that is exactly what mattered to him here.
"Frostbite, are you sure that Black Shadow is in this part of the prison? If he released the other inmates it seems like he'd be above ground somewhere."
Robin's voice echoed slightly as the two allied heroes made their way through a set of winding metal hallways that lead deep underground. The escaped criminal's cell was twenty levels underground already, therefore the majority of people believed that twenty stories below is all the further down the prison went. To Frostbite's shock, many of the prison guards hadn't the slightest clue about the negative twenty-first through fortieth levels. Somehow the Teen Titans, Frostbite, the warden, and the veteran guards were the only ones who knew how deep beneath the surface Swarzberg actually ran. Why the people who were meant to keep watch over the prison were left unaware of such crucial information Frostbite will never be able to guess. Had they known about the extra twenty levels, not to mention about how intelligent Black Shadow truly is, then maybe the guards would have stood a better chance of keeping such a massive prison break from happening.
Hearing the Titan leader's voice, the twenty-one-year-old hero was quick to respond. "There's no doubt in my mind that he came this way. Black Shadow obviously did his research, so I did some of my own. It ends out that there's a sewer outlet somewhere on the negative fortieth floor. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but I think we both know what a sewer outlet means for a criminal who's trying to escape a life sentence."
The younger of the two gave an instant nod of understanding. "The sewers mean his ticket to freedom. And if he finds freedom, it could mean the city's ticket to disaster."
"It might not mean disaster only for Jump City," said Frostbite in a firm tone. "Knowing how insane this guy is, it could mean disaster for all of the country's superheroes. I have a feeling that he has a real taste for vengeance now that we've landed him in solitary confinement for the past year."
The two turned the corner and flew down the stairs to the negative thirty-ninth floor before Robin spoke once more. This time he sounded incredibly shocked.
"The whole hero community? Do you really mean that? Black Shadow has never committed a single crime outside the city. I know he's crazy, but he isn't that crazy, is he?"
Frostbite's reply was simple. "I'm not saying he is and I'm not saying he isn't. I'm only telling you that if this psychopath escapes, everybody needs to be on the lookout."
Robin's reply was also simple. "He won't escape. Not if I can help it."
With that said, the duo continued racing down the hallways as quickly as their legs could carry them. Frostbite, who had memorized a map of the near labyrinth on the way to the prison, made sure that they made all of the necessary turns. His ability to learn information and complex maps so quickly is only one of the reasons why the Titans keep him close. He never has known for sure, but he's fairly certain that his vast intellect and incredible abilities with water also have something to do with it. Of course, every time he's asked why they treat him like such an equal they said it's because he's their friend; even the horrendous Tamaranean on their team has said that. Honestly, Frostbite has wondered again and again why they consider him a friend. Every time they've asked if he wants to become a Teen Titan he's told them "no" very clearly…
Keeping these thoughts from entering his mind with too much depth, Frostbite made sure to keep his focus on the hallways. A turn to the right, two more turns to the left, and the negative fortieth floor should be in sight. Sadly for the two heroes, however, the entrance to that level never came into view. They didn't even have time to make it to their next turn before the lights started to flicker. A moment after the flickering began, ominous laughter filled the air around them. The two didn't even have time to feel scared. The Boy Wonder pulled out his bostaff and got into a fighting stance. Meanwhile Frostbite drew two long streams of water out of his canteens and split the liquid into sections, freezing each floating orb into the form of an icy dagger. His frozen arsenal of weapons floating in midair at the ready, Frostbite glared into the waning light.
"Well, my goodness," said a terrifyingly deep disembodied voice. "Look what my little stunt managed to drag in: Frostbite and Robin. How marvelous it is to see you. How long has it been since we last saw each other? A year? Maybe a year-and-a-half? I really don't remember. Time certainly flies when you're stuck in solitary confinement."
"In that case I hope you've enjoyed your hour of freedom, because you're going right back in to solitary confinement where you belong!" Robin glowered threateningly.
The deep voice responded with a sarcastic laugh. "Oh, really? You think the two of you can take me down that easily? The last time we fought it took all five Titans and Frostbite working together for you to even stand a chance against me." Pausing slightly, he added, "Speaking of the other Titans, I wonder where they're at. They're certainly not with you. Are the prisoners I released too much for them? Is that why the Teen Titans had to beg for your help again, Frostbite? Huh?"
Without even realizing it, Frostbite's daggers of ice grew sharper and more rigid. "Enough of this, Black Shadow. Get out here and show yourself. If you really believe Robin and I are that weak, then you would have come out of your hiding place by now."
Again the unseen man gave a laugh. Less than a moment later the lights ceased their flickering, casting the metal corridor in a bright iridescent glow. It is because of this that the solo hero and the Titan instantly noticed how abnormal the shadow looked as it emerged from the wall. It started out as nothing more than an oddly shaped circle that oozed out of a thin crack in between the wall's metal plating. Once it emerged completely the circle shifted to one side of the crack and began growing. It stretched from a small circle to a large oval. A moment later the oval began sprouting arms and legs, a head, and the center started taking on the shape of a male torso. Several seconds after that, the man-shaped shadow peeled off the wall in almost the same fashion as a sticker. From here all it took was a single instant for the featureless persona to turn fully human.
What started out as a flat two-dimensional figure immediately began thickening into a three dimensional form. As it thickened unbelievably pale skin began appearing along with short coffee brown hair, a long pointed nose, and beady hazel eyes. Being medium height, medium build, and having a smile that could belong on a Colgate commercial, the man didn't appear that menacing. Even so, Robin and Frostbite weren't about to underestimate him. They'd already made that mistake last time. Besides, any man with enough intelligence to break out of a prison like Swarzberg should never be taken lightly.
Not wanting to give him the chance to start fighting, Frostbite immediately started launching ice daggers at him. Sadly, this attack accomplished nothing. Black Shadow was able to dodge them easily. There was a particularly large dagger that came close to skewering him completely through, but he simply transformed his midsection into the form of shadow and allowed the glorified icesicle pass through. Irritated by this, the blue-clad hero reliquefied the ice into water and combined it with more water from his canteens. Transforming it into a whip as thick as an anaconda, he wrapped it around the criminal and forced him against the metal wall before freezing the water once more. Shaking his head at them in disappointment, Black Shadow transformed the parts of his body that were trapped into shadows and simply walked out of the icy prison.
Upon seeing this, Frostbite lost his grip on the ice and it fell to the ground in pieces. He wasn't the only one surprised by Black Shadow's new trick, because Robin nearly dropped his bostaff at the sight. Realizing that the dangerous criminal was slowly moving closer, Frostbite regained his stance and took back control of his ice. Meanwhile, Robin's stance stiffened and he tightened his grip on his staff. Despite the fact that their eyes were both covered by masks, they glared at the evil man.
"What is this, Black Shadow?! What kind of trick are you using?!" Robin exclaimed.
Hazel eyes narrowing into conniving slits, he gave an innocent shrug. "Trick? This isn't just a new trick, Robin. While I was imprisoned I unlocked some incredible techniques; techniques that haven't been seen in people with my abilities for generations. Before I was able to command shadows that already existed and I could turn myself into a shadow. But now, now I can control which parts of me transform and which parts don't. Not only that, but I've also learned how to make my own shadows from absolutely nothing and turn them into anything I want."
Eyes widening simultaneously, Frostbite shot another ice dagger at him and Robin threw several bird-a-rangs. Just like before, he dodged every weapon. The whole time Frostbite spoke to him.
"What? You must be lying. Shadows can't be made from nothing. That's impossible!"
Black Shadow gave a nonchalant shrug. "I thought so too until a few months ago. But, much like me, you're about to learn that nothing is impossible for the Master of Shadows. Just watch."
With that being said, the man aimed both hands at the wall behind them. The moment he did this bolts of black left his finger tips and attached to the cold metal in the forms of misshapen circles. Completely taken off guard by this, Robin and Frostbite whipped around one-hundred and eighty degrees and faced the wall. What was previously a duo of oddly-shaped circles were now transforming into large beast-like creatures. One was long, winding, had a large head, and four legs with claws, appearing similar to a Chinese dragon. The other was large, bulky, four-legged, and had three heads, looking much like a three-headed dog in one of the Grecian legends about the Gods.
Another second passed and they peeled off of the walls much like Black Shadow had done in the moments prior. As they transformed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional forms, shiny black scales began appearing on the dragon as well as fangs and glowing red eyes. As for the dog, dark gray fur started sprouting along with razor sharp teeth on each mouth. Like the dragon, its eyes were a dangerous shade of red. Immediately understanding their targets, the dragon and the three-headed dog moved in on Robin and Frostbite while growling viciously.
"Meet my dear pets, Max and Fang. Be careful with them. They like to play rough," said Black Shadow smugly. After a moment of hesitation he added, "Well, with my fellow convicts occupying your friends and with my pets keeping the two of you busy, it looks like I'm free to go. Until next time."
Surprisingly, Black Shadow didn't transform back into a shadow and seep through the cracks in the walls like the heroes had expected. Instead the villain disappeared into thin air. One moment he was there and the next he was gone, almost like a phantom. If the shadow creatures weren't enough to shock them, then this definitely did the trick. Robin, who was busily throwing bird-a-rangs at the three-headed dog, expressed his shock vocally.
"What?! How is that even possible?!"
Frostbite replied as he formed every ounce of water at his disposal into a massive floating orb. "It doesn't matter how he did it. All that matters is taking out these monsters so we can recapture Black Shadow and put him back in prison."
Bow staff and grappling hook in hand, Robin gave a stiff nod. "My thoughts exactly."
Without another word the Titan leader and the solo hero jumped into battle. Using his grappling hook, Robin tied up the legs of the three-headed dog in attempt to confine it. Once confined, he risked whacking it several times in one of the heads with his bow staff in hope that it would lose its balance. Of course, when it broke free from the rope, grabbed the end metal staff with its teeth, and tossed Robin ten feet through the air, all thoughts of taking the beast down easily were dashed. Under normal circumstances Frostbite would have rushed to Robin's aid. Although, due to his own set of circumstances, helping his young friend was quite impossible.
Blood-colored eyes locked firmly on the water user, the dragon stood at an angle so that its large scaly body was blocking Frostbite off from Robin and the three-headed dog. Knowing that Black Shadow was getting farther away by the second and not wanting to waste another moment, Frostbite continued putting all of his energy into the watery orb he was creating. Even after using all the water from his canteens and stretching the water as far as it would go, it only reached half the size of the dragon. Frostbite sighed in irritation at that point, wanting nothing more than to take oxygen molecules from the air so he could convert some of them into water. However, this technique being extremely advanced and having...a particularly irritating side effect…he immediately decided against it.
"Oh well," said Frostbite internally. "I guess I'll have to make do with what I have."
Strengthening his stance, Frostbite performed a complex set of arm motions that only a true professional could achieve in such a short span of time. Less than a second later the orb moved to engulf the dragon. It engulfed everything from its head all the way down to its middle stomach. The shadow creature struggled fiercely from within the orb, appearing both angry and terrified. As it kicked, clawed, and squirmed, Frostbite stood firmly in place in order to keep the orb from splashing to the ground in a puddle. Ordinarily the young man would never dream of using the water orb for such a thing, but seeing as this creature isn't truly alive he's decided to make an exception.
It took several moments, but eventually the dragon ceased in its struggling. Once this happened Frostbite performed another set of complex arm motions which caused the watery orb to swell to an unbelievable size before bursting. The water fell from the air like rain a second later, the drops of liquid mixed with soot-colored bits of shadows from the dragon. Frostbite smiled at the sight, happy to see that the fanged beast reverted back to its original shadow form like he'd expected. However, also like he'd expected, the part of the dragon that didn't fit in the orb still remained. Not just that, but the back portion and lower stomach of the previous dragon sprouted a new head, forming a new smaller creature for him to battle.
Not wanting to give the creature the slightest chance to get to its feet, Frostbite re-conjured the water he used to destroy the original dragon and immediately got started on another orb. As he worked he was disappointed to discover that over one-third of the water he'd used previously had vanished. It most likely evaporated into the air from the intensity of the last move he'd used. Would it have been possible for him to convert the water vapor back into liquid? Absolutely. However, like converting oxygen molecules into water molecules, this technique is highly advanced. Like every highly advanced technique, it comes with that one irritating side effect that prevents him from using it.
Sighing in aggravation, Frostbite decided to stretch the water he had the best he could. Even with one-third of his previous water supply gone, he could still have enough to use the water orb one last time. Then again, if he used up another one-third of his water, what would he have left to defeat Black Shadow with? He certainly couldn't use one of his advanced techniques. There was no doubt in his mind that it would ruin everything…
Suddenly, before the man had a chance to contemplate whether he should do another water orb or use a water serpent instead, a bolt of green shot past him and hit the foul beast squarely in the head. Startled by this, Frostbite spun around in the opposite direction. To both his relief and his irritation, the rest of the Teen Titans had come to aid them. Cyborg, Beast Boy, Raven, …Starfire…, all of them were there. Robin, who had been whacking at the dog's legs with his bow staff and was in the process of tripping it, looked up at his team with a smile.
"Hey, I'm glad to see you all made it! Quick, help us beat these things so we can go after Black Shadow! If we don't hurry up, he's going to make it to the sewers!"
Out of the four Titans that most recently appeared, Beast Boy was the first to respond. "Dude, Black Shadow made those things?! Are you serious?! The last I checked he was just some creepy guy who could turn into a shadow and make the shadows of gumball machines chase you!"
Frostbite, who finally decided on using a water serpent, replied while attempting to strangle the dragon. "Yeah, but he taught himself a few tricks while he was locked away. Now he's going to be harder to defeat than ever."
Starfire, who wanted to finish this battle every bit as much as Frostbite, flew closer and shot several more starbolts at the monstrous dragon. Meanwhile she said, "The new abilities Black Shadow has acquired do not matter. We will find him and we will capture him the same as before!"
Frostbite couldn't stop himself from glaring at the Tamaranean. "Starbolts and super strength would never accomplish anything against someone who can avoid strikes by turning into a shadow. Your powers are useless against a villain like that. I don't mean to put a damper on your optimism, but someone else is going to have to handle Black Shadow."
He didn't even bother looking at Starfire. It is because of this that he never saw the hurt welling inside of her deep emerald eyes. Of course, even if he did see it, it wouldn't matter. Frostbite wouldn't have cared either way. Doing her best to hide the pain, Starfire addressed him along with others. Still he didn't look at her. He kept his all of his focus locked on the dragon.
"Friend Frostbite could possibly be correct. Perhaps I should stay here and defend against Black Shadow's creatures while the rest of you seek him out."
Opening his mouth partway, Robin was ready to reply to her statement. Before he could, however, the dragon broke free from Frostbite's water serpent. The moment it was free it stood on its hind legs and released a loud echoing roar. As it roared the creature grew longer. Less than a second later it was the same size as when the battle started. Each and every person's eyes widened, completely dumbfounded by the sight. His staff in one hand and bird-a-rangs in the other, Robin spoke.
"How about Cyborg, Beast Boy, and I stay here too. It looks like these things aren't going to go down easy." After a slight pause he added, "Frostbite, Raven, go find Black Shadow. If you need help, backup is just a call away."
Hearing the Titan leader, Frostbite exchanged glances with the gray-skinned girl and nodded.
Re-conjuring as much water as possible back into his canteens, he motioned to her. "Come on, Raven. Let's take this guy down before he escapes Swarzberg."
The last time Frostbite sprinted through the sewers was when he and the Titans were in pursuit of a group of four bank robbers. Capturing them wasn't nearly as hard as they thought it would be and the quartet of criminals went down fairly easily. Of course, after that battle, Frostbite swore that he would never go down into the sewers again. They smelled awful, there were rats everywhere, and he was almost certain that he saw a group of hobos playing strip poker… Over all, the sewers were a dreadfully unpleasant place and Frostbite has always preferred to keep his distance from them.
However, in this particular situation, he couldn't have cared less about how unpleasant the sewers were. The only thing the water user wanted to do was capture Black Shadow before he found a manhole cover and exited to the surface. Based on the intense violet eyes of the Titan's darkest member, Raven was clearly thinking the same thing. Having searched the entire fortieth floor without spotting the slightest trace of Black Shadow, it could only have been assumed that the monsters he distracted them with gave him just enough time to make it to the sewer outlet. So, at this point, this is where Frostbite and Raven were. They were dashing through the sewers in search of the criminal.
"I'm starting to wonder if he found a way above ground already," said Raven. "It isn't like Black Shadow to hide from a fight."
Frostbite replied from his place running alongside the floating girl. "I know. I've been thinking the same thing. He's either escaped successfully or is lying in wait ready to attack with his new powers."
A moment of silence passed before Raven spoke again. "If he is lying in wait for us, do you think that we'll be able to handle him or will we need to call Robin for backup?"
Turning to face her, Frostbite smiled. "You have your spells and I have my water. I'm sure we won't need to call for back up right away." Pausing he added, "Besides. You were raised by the monks of Azarath and have been learning their spells since the cradle. That alone makes you very powerful."
Raven raised a brow beneath her hood as she eyed him curiously. "You told us that you're an orphan who's lived on Earth your entire life. What would you know about Azarath?"
In all technicality Frostbite should have been incredibly nervous at Raven's words. Instead he simply averted his gaze and looked at the scummy ground as he spoke under his breath. The girl wasn't meant to hear the words he confessed, but there's no doubt that she heard him either way.
"I know a lot more than you think. If only you knew, how surprised you would be."
From here the two said nothing. They simply continued searching in silence. Of course, even if they had wanted to carry out a conversation, there wouldn't have been time. Not even sixty seconds passed before a deep, menacing, voice came out of nowhere. Unsurprisingly, it was the same voice as before. Upon hearing it the hero took some of the remaining water from his canteens and formed a water whip while the Titan used her dark energy to lift a large boulder defensively. Just like the battle previous, Black Shadow did nothing but laugh scornfully.
"I have to admit, you heroes really seem to be struggling this evening. First you can barely handle the prisoners I released and now it's taking four out of six of you to defeat my shadow monsters. Without your assistance, Frostbite, it seems like the Titans would be completely sunk." After a slight pause he added, "Then again, it's not as though you make too much of a difference. Do you, Frostbite? All you do is toss your silly little icesicles at people and splash around. I do believe that another shadow monster or two is all it would take to keep the two of you occupied so I could make my final escape."
"Enough toying with us and enough games," said Raven in a harsh monotone. "If you're going to fight us, then show yourself."
Again Black Shadow laughed. While doing so he split apart from a group of shadows and shifted into his human form. This time Frostbite noted that the transformation happened much more quickly. He wasn't sure if this was due to more practice or to growing tired of dramatic entrances, but either way Frostbite knew that he had to be on higher alert. Being so close to freedom and so close to revenge, Black Shadow wasn't ready to back down so easily. At last the villain spoke once more.
"Ah, Raven. You're always such a ray of sunshine. What a pleasure it is to see you."
Using her dark energy, Raven wrapped him tightly in a cocoon-like fashion and shoved him against one of the dank stone walls. Black Shadow struggled, though he didn't break free immediately. Rather, he watched the female Titan as she approached him with a firm expression.
"Just so you know, the feeling isn't mutual. Once you're back in prison, stay there so we never have to deal with you again."
Despite the fact that he was wrapped up tightly in her dark energy, the man gave a shrug. "I'm sorry sweetie, but I can't do that. I have evil plans to make, things to steal, stuff to destroy…. Being in prison would simply be too inconvenient." Pausing, he added, "Although, to be honest, I wouldn't mind fighting you again sometime. Most people don't appreciate the beauty under that dark cloak of yours."
Growing irritated, Frostbite took his water whip and aimed it at the villain. His intention was to wrap the liquid around his mouth and freeze it to prevent him from speaking. Once that was done he was going to throw together a makeshift waterfrost orb to keep his body trapped. Being a step up from a simple water orb, the waterfrost orb is nearly indestructible. The only thing sturdier than a waterfrost orb is an ice prison, but considering how it takes extreme concentration to create one and how only a person truly skilled with their water abilities could build it effectively, it wasn't even worth trying. Also, with the level of proficiency an ice prison takes, Frostbite didn't want to risk that irritating side effect popping up again either…
Sadly for the two heroes, however, the water whip never had time to reach him. In the blink of an eye Black Shadow managed to shift back into shadow form, escape Raven's grip, and return to the damp stone ground in the form of a human. Stunned at how quickly he managed to perform this action, Frostbite and Raven gaped at him as they stood stiff in preparation to fight.
Crossing well-built arms over his chest, hazel eyes stared them down mockingly. "You still haven't learned, have you? I'm not an average villain that can be defeated with a few icesicles and some magic spells. If you really want to return me to prison so badly, then I suggest you put some effort into capturing me. Otherwise I'm going to escape and both of you are going to look like fools."
"You shouldn't underestimate us, Black Shadow. Raven and I have more tricks up our sleeves than you think," said Frostbite as he created a second water whip.
The man raised an amused yet skeptical brow. "Oh, really? We'll have to see about that."
Smirking viciously, the man stretched both palms in the directions of the nearby shadows. A bolt of black shot out of each palm like charcoal-colored lightning, causing Raven and Frostbite to move backwards instinctively. Less than a second later the shadows touched by Black Shadow's power started shifting, arms, legs, and blood-red eyes sprouting simultaneously. The moment the body parts appeared the shadows locked eyes with them and began screeching at a pitch so loud that it was practically deafening. With at least a half dozen shapeless blobs with limbs making the noises at once, the two were forced to cover their ears for relief. Only when the creatures stopped did the two set their glares on the monsters' creator.
"Using existing shadows to form your creatures instead of making your own? I have to admit that I'm disappointed. You were bragging up your new techniques to Robin and me a short while ago."
Black Shadow gave a shrug. "Yes, but I can't depend only on my new techniques. My old pets feel left out otherwise. Not to mention that they're very effective to use in battle all by themselves."
Before going after the creatures, Raven and Frostbite exchanged glances. A second after that the two sprang into action. Coating several monsters in her dark energy, Raven squeezed them as tightly as she could until they burst into pieces like black balloons. Meanwhile, Frostbite forced his water into the air and allowed it to fall like rain. Doing a quick set of arm motions, the rain converted into frost and froze the remaining monsters from head-like blob to toe-like blob. Once he was certain they were frozen completely Frostbite moved both arms in a single swift motion, causing the ice to shatter. When it shattered the shadow monsters broke apart along with it. Turning back to Black Shadow, the solo hero and the Titan gave him a critical look. The whole time the brown-haired man scratched his neck in embarrassment while giving an awkward shrug.
"Okay… Maybe they're not so good to use in battle… Now I remember why I had to upgrade."
Frostbite gave Raven a side glance and re-conjured his water from various places on the ground as he addressed her. "Raven, take hold of him and don't let go. Put as much energy into keeping him trapped as you possibly can."
The girl responded with a nod as she trapped Black Shadow in her dark aura once again. It could easily be seen that the aura was much stronger than during her previous attempt. Black Shadow squirmed and struggled, appearing to have an incredibly difficult time transforming. As he struggled he shot the Titan a sharp glare.
"W-what the heck is this?! Why can't I transform?!"
"Frostbite wasn't bluffing. This is one of the tricks up my sleeve that he was talking about," she said with a slight smirk.
Meanwhile, Frostbite was doing another complicated set of arm motions, these being much more complex than the ones performed to create the water orb. As he did this the water came together in the air to form a large sphere. With each movement the water in the orb started to ripple and create waves, causing it to appear wobbly and unstable. When some of the waves started to freeze over, however, it became apparent that this was completely intentional. The whole time he was constructing the waterfrost orb Frostbite couldn't help but be nervous. Once this move was complete, three quarters of his remaining water supply would be gone. If this didn't work and if the other Titans didn't make it to them in time, then he would be left with very few defensive options. Sure sewer water could be an option, but for some reason it never quite responded to him correctly. Another reason why he made it a personal mission to try avoiding the sewers…
"Oh well," Frostbite said internally once the orb was complete. "Here goes nothing."
The waterfrost orb now being a sturdy mixture of air on the inside and water and thick ice on the outside, the twenty-one year old gave the command. "Raven, let him loose!" Raven didn't hesitate to obey. Giving a stiff nod, she released the criminal from her dark aura and let him fall through the air toward the ground. Even so, Black Shadow never got the chance to make contact with the cold stone. Before he could he found himself trapped inside of a human-sized ball constructed of ice and water. Once he was stuck inside Raven took hold of it with her aura, ensuring that he absolutely would not escape. He was banging on the inside of it with his fists and shooting bolts of black at it, but it was completely useless. The criminal was trapped just as Frostbite had planned.
"Alright, Black Shadow, the fun's over. You're going back to prison and you're staying in prison where you belong," said Frostbite while nearing the waterfrost orb.
Black Shadow, who'd stopped trying to escape and was now standing inside the sphere calmly, released a chuckle at his words. It didn't take long for the chuckle to turn into loud guffaws. Frostbite and Raven stared him down in a mixture of irritation, confusion, and concern.
"Is there a reason why you're so giggly?" asked Raven in an annoyed monotone.
"Of course there is, sweetie. The reason is simple," Black Shadow said with his arms crossed leisurely. "You can't actually defeat me. Not really. Not with this little crystal ball of yours."
Eyes widening beneath his mask, Frostbite walked closer to the orb and scowled at him. "What? You're bluffing! The waterfrost orb is a high level technique! It's practically indestructible! There is absolutely no way that you can bust out of that! It's impossible!"
Meanwhile, Raven said in the background, "Stop calling me sweetie."
Both of the men ignoring her, Black Shadow raised a skeptical brow at the water user. "Oh, really? You honestly think that this over-sized snow cone is going to keep me confined?"
"Yes," replied Frostbite steadfastly. "It's kept everyone else contained, so it will contain you."
Shrugging a shoulder, the villain leaned against the wall of the orb nonchalantly. "Okay, then. If you really don't think I'm capable of busting out of here, I'll just have to show you what I can do."
With that being said, Black Shadow pressed both of his palms together. For a moment it appeared as though nothing was happening. However, upon a second glance, a tiny ball of black lightning was seen coming together. Suddenly understanding that Black Shadow wasn't bluffing in the tiniest increment, Frostbite and Raven leapt backwards. Raven strengthened her black aura around the frosty sphere and Frostbite took the waterfrost orb back under control, both of them doing their best to keep the criminal contained. Unfortunately for them, their efforts were entirely useless. In less than ten seconds an echoing electric zap was heard along with the shattering of ice. So great was the impact that Frostbite and Raven flew back by several feet before smacking into a wall.
Of course, the impact did nothing to stop them. Rubbing his head tenderly, Frostbite worked his way to his feet. Raven stood up as well, appearing every bit as ready to fight as before. The throbbing in his head vanishing after a few seconds, the solo hero scanned the area with his eyes. Based on the intent expression in her violet irises, Raven too was searching the area. To their surprise, Black Shadow was still in sight. The thing that wasn't surprising was the fact that his figure was retreating down a stone tunnel filled with stench. Not only that, but he was retreating fast.
"We have to go after him," said Raven determinedly. "He can't escape!"
More than anything, Frostbite wanted to say that exact same thing. Knowing how close the manhole cover leading to Jump City's streets was, he wanted to spring into action and charge after him. Sadly, he couldn't. Not after using the water orb and the waterfrost orb so close together without a place to restock on usable water. Pursing his lips in concern, he voiced his thoughts to the girl.
"I'm sorry Raven, but you're going to have to do this without me. Either that or we're going to have to call one of the others to back you up. There's no way I can keep fighting this guy. Almost my whole water supply is gone. It evaporated after creating the orbs. I have nothing to left to fight with."
The girl's violet eyes widened as she spoke sounding anxious. "What? You can't just leave us to deal with Black Shadow on our own. The reason we were able to capture him last time was only because of your powers. Without you he would have escaped. If you don't stick around to help capture him, then this time he will escape."
Not knowing what else to do, Frostbite gave a sigh. "I'm sorry, but I can't help. Not until I restock on water. Unless I do that, I'm completely useless."
The young man crossed his fingers and hoped that the Titan girl would take the bait. Sadly, she didn't take it in the least. Instead she pointed something out that he'd hoped she wouldn't think of.
A look of pure curiosity came across her pale gray features. "If the only thing your water did was evaporate, can't you transform it from water vapor to liquid using your powers? You can transform liquid water into solid ice and then reliquinate it. It seems like you should be able to do that too."
Biting down on his lower lip, Frostbite rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Well…if you want to get technical… then yes. I can turn water vapor back into liquid. I can even turn oxygen molecules into water molecules if I need to. It's just that…those are extremely high level techniques... Master level techniques, actually… And strange things happen when I use those moves."
Arching an inquisitive brow, she asked, "What kind of strange things? I've never heard about side effects happening to people who have elemental abilities."
At a loss for how else to explain things, he turned his back to Raven as he spoke. "Look. It doesn't matter if you've heard about it or not. The point is that I can't use my Master level techniques. If I do, it will ruin everything for me."
Once the words were out, the two of them looked back down the tunnel. Black Shadow was growing smaller by the second, now only the size of a pebble. Irritated, Raven addressed Frostbite.
"It will ruin everything for you? Is that all you're concerned about? A dangerous criminal is about to walk free through Jump City. If we don't stop him innocent people will be put at risk, and the only thing you're worried about is what could happen to your image?"
Normally Frostbite would be irritated at the way she spoke to him. In this case, however, her words sunk in. Was he really willing to risk the lives of thousands of civilians just to keep his secret? If people got hurt then it would be his fault and it would all be because he was too afraid for someone to know the truth about him. Not only that, but in the process of his panic, Frostbite forgot one crucial fact. Raven was born and raised on Azarath. If anybody should understand him, it's her. Releasing one last sigh, Frostbite turned to face the girl.
"Raven," he said slowly, "you were born on the planet Azarath, right? And you share the beliefs and views of your people?"
Based on the look in her violet irises, the question took her off guard. Yet she still answered. "Yes. The monks raised me and taught me everything there is to know about my powers. Because of them, I am forever loyal to Azarath."
Frostbite simply nodded. "Very well. The Azarathians were always very kind to my people and the planet Azarath was considered our strongest ally for over five thousand years. It is because of my people's debt to your people that I will let you in on my secret. Just don't tell anyone, okay? Or I'll make sure you regret it."
As Raven's eyes widened and as she stumbled backwards, a wave of understanding washed over her. The whole time he looked at the girl, Frostbite knew that she understood exactly what he was talking about. Even so, neither of them said a word. Knowing that Raven would keep his secret, and also knowing that they would never be able to capture Black Shadow without using his Master level water techniques, Frostbite shifted into a stance that he hadn't used in nearly five years. Once his feet were firmly planted, he performed a set of arm motions mixed with hand movements. The sight of it was so complex that it almost looked like some type of alien sign language.
It took several seconds, but eventually water started appearing in the air. It showed up in cloud-like clusters, slowly transforming from clouds into thick streams. As the water vapor turned fully into liquid, Frostbite streamed it inside of his canteens with as much speed as possible. However, it wasn't the water that caught Raven's attention, and Frostbite knew this well. The whole time he was reliquinating the vaporized water he could feel her eyes fixed on one specific part of him; the medium-length ponytail that hung freely down his back. As he performed the Master level technique he felt that one irritating side effect take place.
Frostbite's hair, that usually looked blonde and as normal as ever, turned completely to frost. The blonde color frosted off and fell to the ground in a heap of snow, revealing it to be nothing more than hair dye. Once he had all the water he needed from the air around him Frostbite screwed the caps back on his canteens and allowed his luscious mane to defrost. Once it did he cringed beneath the mask and Raven gasped slightly. As hard as he tried to ignore it, the youthful man was still able to see loose strands of sky blue and aquamarine in his peripheral vision. As the seconds passed they shifted to navy blue and sapphire blue, confirming for Raven what she had guessed.
"There. Now you know," said Frostbite without looking at her. Then he added, "I have plenty of water now, so come on. Let's go capture Black Shadow."
With that being said, the two made their way down the tunnel with as much speed as possible. Black Shadow was still very far ahead of them, but this didn't last. Using her powers to make up for the large gap in distance, Raven tossed a large rock directly at the criminal. It made contact with his back only a second later and caused him to tumble to the ground with an echoing crash. The instant he was off of his feet, the girl picked him up with her aura and trapped him for the third time in fifteen minutes. Considering how he struggled against the dark energy, the girl was putting every ounce of effort into it that she could. His dark blue ponytail shifting to apple red, Frostbite gave Raven a smile.
"Excellent job, Raven! Keep it up! I'm going to see if I can whip up a sturdier prison."
Looking at him out of the corner of her eye, she asked, "Is this 'sturdier prison' another Master level technique that will cause your hair to turn to ice?"
Already uncapping his canteens and streaming out his water, he gave a nod. "Yes. Also, I should probably mention that I don't want you to tell the Titans about any of this. The extent of my abilities with water and my rainbow hair are to be kept secret. Never tell any of them; especially not the Tamaranean Princess who you call 'friend'. Understand?"
Raven nodded. "I understand completely. This can stay between us."
Hearing their conversation, Black Shadow's gaze shifted to Frostbite. Upon looking at him, the villain's eyes widened in shock. "Hold on a second. You do have rainbow hair! What the heck are you?!"
Frostbite didn't respond to the man's frantic cries. Instead he shifted his attention to the Titan. "Raven, lower him to the ground, move him away from the wall, and make sure you don't let go. He's going to freak out in a minute, and I don't want him to be free when he does."
The girl followed Frostbite's instructions without protest. The moment Black Shadow was in the right spot the hero began performing another exceedingly intricate set of arm movements mingled with hand motions. As he did this, the stream of water moved to the ground and split into three different entities. Slithering along the ground like snakes, they made their way toward Black Shadow and circled around him in the forms of rings. Once they stopped moving Black Shadow appeared as though he was standing in the center of a target. The whole time he remained helplessly trapped inside of Raven's dark energy. It's a good thing, too, because he started to freak out at the sight of the rings surrounding him just like Frostbite had predicted. The sight of his hair turning pure white with frost didn't help the situation any, either.
"No, wait! What are you going to do to me?! What's wrong with your hair?! What kind of creature are you?!"
Not once hesitating in the set of arm movements, Frostbite looked at the criminal as three different layers of ice started to rise up around him. The innermost layer was thin yet extremely cold, forcing him to stand completely still at the icy chill. The middle layer was thick and rigid, making it difficult to break through upon escaping the first layer but also extremely painful. Then there was the outermost layer which was glossy and as thick as ice could possibly get. Frostbite knows from personal experience that the ice prison's outer layer is more effective than bulletproof glass. Knowing that he most likely wasn't going to escape from this, Black Shadow began uselessly squirming under Raven's aura as well as the growing ice. The whole time he shouted at Frostbite.
"You can't do this to me! My powers are meant for battling humans! Not whatever the heck you're supposed to be! Are you some sort of mutant or a monster?!"
Shrugging, Frostbite gave the villain a smirk. "Oh, no. I'm nothing of the sort. I'm something much more terrifying than that. What I am is an alien. Now hold still or I'm going to suck out your brain."
Black Shadow opened his mouth, appearing ready to scream. Before he could, however, the ice came up past his head and froze him solid. It was only after he was coated by all three layers of ice that Raven finally relinquished her hold on him. Meanwhile, Frostbite felt as his hair returned to its normal state. Considering how both Raven and the criminal saw his actual appearance, the hero should have been feeling increasingly nervous. Yet, he didn't. The fact that his hair was still at a bright happy shade of apple red made this fact well known. Crossing his arms over his chest, he laughed.
"Wow. I haven't used my Master level techniques in ages! It feels so good! Maybe I should try using a wig instead of hair dye so I can use the full extent of my abilities more often. I wonder if a wig would work better or if that would freeze off like the hair dye…"
Putting down her hood, Raven moved closer to the alien as he spoke to himself. Frostbite didn't even notice her. The only time he remembered her presence was when she addressed him.
"I've had suspicions that you might a Dabnodian from the start, you know. Azarath and Dabnod had one of the strongest alliances in the galaxy for over five-thousand years. I know a Dabnodian when I see one."
Hair shifting from apple red to a deep shade of forest green, Frostbite turned to face the girl. For the first time since meeting the Titans two years prior, he lifted up one of his hands and pulled up on the icy blue mask. In no more than three seconds he had it completely off, revealing everything from a thin nose, arched brows, an excessively masculine facial structure, and lovely eyes that were currently an amber color. So surprised was he at her confession that he didn't notice the powdery blush that came over the dark Titan's cheeks at the sight of his face.
"You knew I was a Dabnodian the whole time? How?"
"It wasn't hard to figure out," Raven replied a moment later. "Your powers, your hostility toward Starfire, how you've had to rush home several times over the years to dye your hair… I pieced it all together."
Shaking his head in disbelief, Frostbite gave a chuckle. "Of course. I should have known that I could never hide my heritage from an Azarathian. That's why the alliance between my planet and your dimension lasted for so long was because of the Azarathians' sharp level of intelligence." After a moment of hesitation he asked, "What about the rest of the Titans? Do they know that I'm not actually human?"
Raven immediately shook her head. "No. I never told any of them. Not with Starfire on the team. Most Tamaraneans are under the impression that all of the Dabnodians were killed in the destruction of the planet. The majority of them had no idea about Queen Guayusa's escape pods." Pausing, she added, "Not to mention, if Starfire found out that you're a survivor from Dabnod and that her people destroyed your home, it would completely devastate her."
Frostbite gave a nod. "I can understand that. The last thing the Teen Titans need is an emotional teammate. That could destroy the entire team."
Once the words were out, a long moment of silence passed. Even so, the silence wasn't wasted on Frostbite. Reaching his free hand toward his now emerald green ponytail, he took out the tie holding it up, switched his mask to his mouth, and used both hands to tie his hair into a form of sloppy bun. As he tried accomplishing this task, Raven couldn't help but catch sight of his hair tie. It wasn't something plain that a person might find at Walmart or a dollar store. Instead his hair tie was a thin golden band with a silver charm holding the two ends of the golden band together. To anybody else the silver charm would've looked like something completely random. If Beast Boy would have been there, he probably would have described it as a sideways hourglass or an infinity symbol trapped inside of a weird diamond shape. Raven, on the other hand, recognized it instantly. When she recognized, it she felt her heart sink.
"You're carrying a Zirnoth Charm with you," she said in a sympathetic monotone as she got a few steps closer. "You're wearing it in your hair, too. Whoever she was, she must have been special."
Without warning, Frostbite's eyes turned dark gray and his hair a deep shade of plum-colored purple. "Yes," he said slowly. "She was very special. She was one of the three special people I was forever separated from the day Dabnod was destroyed."
Her heart sinking deeper, Raven moved closer than before and rested a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry. I know it must be painful to suffer the amount of loss that you've suffered."
Shoving his hair which was now in an askew bun back in his hair tie, Frostbite gave a small smile. Meanwhile, his hair and eyes lightened from dark gray and plum to pale gray and light violet.
"Don't be too sorry, Raven," he replied. "Two special people, my mother and the woman who gave me her Zirnoth Charm, are dead. There's no changing that. But my third special person is still alive. I know she's alive. I shoved her onto a pod and got her off the planet myself."
Surprised, the dark Titan gaped at him. "Really? Someone you know survived? Who?"
"My baby sister," he said with a smile. "She's intelligent, determined, has probably read every book out of Queen Guayusa's library, can speak languages that even the Palace scribes couldn't figure out… She's the best baby sister a brother could have. Wherever in the galaxy she's at, she's the same age as you; sixteen. In a way, you kind of remind me of her."
Hearing this, Raven returned his smile. "It sounds like you really care about her." After a momentary pause, she asked, "What's your sister's name?"
Frostbite replied without a moment of hesitation. "Damiana. Her name is Damiana."
From here the two went silent. Lucky for them it was a comfortable silence. Pulling his icy blue mask back on so that every strand of hair was covered, he motioned to Raven so that they could depart from the sewers. With Black Shadow trapped in ice unable to escape, they figured it would be safe to contact the guards and have them take the villain to a secure cell. It's only too bad that the solo hero and the Titan didn't notice how empty Frostbite's ice prison was before they left. Had they noticed, then maybe they would have had time to recapture the criminal before he escaped Swarzberg Prison and fled from Jump City.
A/N: So...how do I put this simply...? Surprise! :D
Did I catch any of you off guard with "Frostbite"? Hopefully I did, as that was my goal. This isn't the last we'll be seeing of him and the Titans West, either. Of course, as for the next chapter, we will be journeying back to Steel City to see what's happening with Damiana and the Titans East. I hope that all of you are enjoying the story so far! Until next time, my dear readers! :)
Forever and Always,
OCQ