Firelight Part IV: Unraveled: Chapter Fifty-Three, a teen titans fanfic

A/N: It has come at last - the finale of Part IV: Unraveled! To those of you who are still here, I appreciate you! I'm glad that you've enjoyed my story enough to read this far. Writing is my passion, and I am always happy to share it with you!

Warning, this is a very long chapter. I wanted to wrap up in a big way, both in length and in plot. The focus of this story is more or less on how the Dabnodians destroyed themselves, not on how Tamaran destroyed them. My primary focus is on using the final chapter of Part IV to drive that point home. I won't elaborate more. I don't want to give spoilers.

Anyway, onward with the chapter. Enjoy, my friends! :)

Note: I did proof read this, but with a chapter this long, sometimes I miss grammatical/spelling/formatting errors. You're always free to PM me or leave a review if I miss something. Thanks! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. Roy Harper and all the other Titans are the property of DC Comics. However, Dabnod and the Dabnodians are of my own creation.

Part IV: Unraveled: Chapter Fifty-Three

Previously…

Three weeks and counting. The hour of Dabnod's detonation is nearly here, and Damiana and Roy still have not located the zirgnant tool that they desperately need to fuel Black Shadow's rift machine. Without a zirgnant tool, they will not be able to create the fuel source that they need to open a rift to Earth during their own time period. They'd tried stealing a zirgnant tool from the Fire Phoenix Compound with help from fifteen-year-old Adriel, but the trio quickly learned that it wasn't there. All zirgnant tools are now being kept at the Royal Palace.

That same day, Adriel learned that he needed to attend a war meeting at the Royal Palace the next morning. His father, Aerad the Ground Badger Patriarch, was summoned to the meeting by her Majesty Queen Guayusa. Aerad convinced the Queen to allow his son to attend. It seemed that, no matter what, the Royal Palace was beckoning Adriel. With this thought in mind, the young Ground Badger found a way to sneak the two Titans into the Royal Palace once the time for the war meeting arrived. Their friends from the Province Nine village of Whisper Valley, Tenna and her eight-year-old son, Caen, were also brought to the Royal Palace.

The four were taken deep into the Palace's basement to hide amongst the ancient archives whilst Adriel attended the meeting. Afterward, they would make a plan for obtaining a zirgnant tool. As the meeting was starting, however, Tenna made a discovery. The Palace's ventilation system allowed them to hear what was happening in the Meeting Room. It was difficult to hear, so it took Roy and Damiana climbing to the top of the archive's shelves, but the duo was able to make out every word.

Guayusa the Death Queen's plan for winning the war were darker than any of them could have imagined. The Raxtin Program, meant for producing children with unmatched elemental abilities, was not a new concept. Queen Guayusa's predecessor, King Brulein, created numerous Raxtin Houses on Dabnod's outposts on the Cintari Moons, Azarath, and Karna. After decades of Damraiken breeding, children were already being born who were stronger than any other Dabnodians. The children had also been used in battle, and Queen Guayusa planned on utilizing them further. With the help of the Raxtin children, the Queen and the Royal Council had planned on enslaving the Tamaraneans.

As for Damiana, it was learned that she and Adriel were meant to be left in charge of the home-front until coming of age and properly honing their abilities. After growing from novices of their elements into masters, they were meant to continue Dabnod's quest for power by enslaving other planets. If Queen Guayusa had her way, then they would have done this hand-in-hand as Dabnod's first Royal Family - breaking the oath she took as Dabnod's ruling Monarch to never again risk the safety of the Dabnodian people by reinstating a bloodline monarchy.

As the Fates always love to do to her, they didn't end Damiana's horror here. The Fates decided to thrust one more final, gut-wrenching, discovery upon her. This discovery alone managed to top all the others.

"Daughter."

The word seems to echo. It does not echo aloud, but it resounds throughout Damiana's mind. "...Nobody will harm a single hair on my daughter's head or give her poor guidance without repercussions." Nothing breaks through the wall of shock to Damiana's senses. Not the sound of dripping water trickling down a musty, gray, wall in a distant corner. Not Roy's raspy whisper of astonishment asking if she is alright. Not the mingled smells of dust and mildew. Not even the sound of Tenna and Caen conversing from whatever part of the archive they're in. For as much as she is perceiving right now, she may as well be floating in a void.

"Daughter. The daughter she's talking about is me. Mama…is not my mama. My mother….is..i-is…"

Damiana isn't sure if it's his smoother tone of voice or the fact that he touches her shoulder, but at long last, she hears Roy. "Easy, Dami. Just breathe, okay?"

Breathe? Damiana is not sure if she remembers how to breathe! She isn't even sure if she remembers how to think. Guayusa the Death Queen is her mother!

At long last, something comprehensible comes out of her mouth. More than that, it does not sound like panicked muttering. Although, there is no denying the palpable fear in her voice. "H-how can she b-be my m-mother? Q-Queen Guayusa can't be my mother! T-that's impossible!"

"I hate to 'rip off the Band-Aid' so to speak, but you knew, Dami. We both did. I think we both have for a while. You remember Prophet Veng's story from the last night we spent with the Fire Lily Tribe?"

She does. Damiana remembers it all too well. It feels like it was months ago, but in reality, it was less than two weeks ago. There are also…other things…that she remembers from that night, but that is certainly not at the forefront of her mind right now. All the girl can think about are Prophet Veng's words. Twelve years prior to the time period that they're currently occupying, Queen Guayusa had planned on becoming pregnant by a powerful Royal Knight. Damiana's daddy, Damraiken of the Fire Phoenix Clan, certainly fit this description.

Long after her daddy's passing, the Fire Phoenix Clan Elders would still tell tales of the strength that Damraiken had possessed. The Elders had even stated that he was on the path of becoming the next Patriarch of the Fire Phoenix Clan. Queen Guayusa being a fire user herself, why wouldn't she pick a fire user who is her equal in strength to produce an heir with? Damiana had considered all of these things when Prophet Veng had told that story. The girl had simply been in too much grief and in too much denial at the idea to cope with it at the time. Overhearing 'Mama's' and Queen Guayusa's conversation at the cabin yesterday all but solidified it for her, but she still didn't want to think about it.

Now, it seems the Fates are forcing her to cope with it. Denying Prophet Veng's story was possible. So was outright ignoring the strange conversation that the Queen herself had with the woman that raised her. But hearing the Death Queen outright state that Damiana is her daughter? No. There is no possible way for the girl to ignore that. Whether she likes it or not, Guayusa the Death Queen is her mother.

"Trust me. I remember. And you're not wrong. I…I guess I have known for a while. I just didn't want to deal with it."

The archer sighs sadly. Emerald eyes appear almost guilty. "I guess I didn't, either. We should have dealt with it that night at the pond. Instead we…uh…" In a way that is most unusual for Roy, his cheeks flush ever so slightly. "We…uh…put the conversation off… and we shouldn't have."

Damiana nods in agreement, and as uncomfortable as it feels, she meets his gaze. "Yes. We've done a good job of distracting ourselves this past week-and-a-half, haven't we?" Smirking, she adds, "But still, I regret nothing. Besides, as much as we tried distracting ourselves, the truth was still forced upon me."

Silence lingers. Only the sounds of dripping water and the distant voices of Caen and Tenna are heard. Although it was very clear from the beginning, it is still difficult for Damiana to process.

At long last, Roy responds. "I just don't understand why learning the truth about all of this is so important." Laughing dryly, he states, "For some reason, it was important enough for the Adriel of our time period to shove us both through Black Shadow's rift!"

"Yeah, I don't know either."

Damiana's head starts to hurt. Then, part of Prophet Veng's story from their last night with the Fire Lily Tribe comes back to her in a flash. He gave Queen Guayusa a single-sentence prophecy. This is probably the prophecy that caused her mother to massacre the prophets in the first place. 'The child that is in your womb will rise up against you'. This is what Prophet Veng had told the young and pregnant Queen Guayusa; a young, pregnant, vulnerable, Queen who was trying to complete a taboo task that hadn't been completed in centuries. Attempting to reestablish a bloodline monarchy at that time probably would have been enough to cause a revolt. Thinking of Queen Guayusa as vulnerable seems almost laughable, but it isn't untrue. The mention of her plan going awry after such careful plotting was probably enough to turn her very, very, unstable.

Prophet Veng's prediction rings through her ears once more; 'The child that is in your womb will rise up against you'. Damiana has to force herself to not chuckle derisively. Every other prediction that Prophet Veng made may have happened, but that one cannot. In less than three weeks Dabnod will be gone, and little Dami will be on Earth. On Earth, Damiana is not Queen Guayusa's apprentice, or her daughter, or the future Queen of Dabnod. There is no Queen Guayusa. There is no Dabnod. Everything is destroyed. If Damiana is the Queen of anything these days, then she is the Queen of Ashes.

Damiana is thankful that Roy doesn't rush them. They stay on top of the shelf in the archive beside the air vent for a while longer. The girl doesn't think that she is capable of moving, and she might not be for a long while.

Aerad is swept away by numerous Royal Council members and by Queen Guayusa's head Advisor. Adriel doesn't get to do as little as bid his father farewell. Multiple emotions fight for dominance as the Ground Badger boy descends the stairs from the balcony. Once he reaches the ground floor, he shoves past the few Royal Knights who still linger in an attempt to reach the exit. He prays to the Almighty Fates that Saeran is not waiting outside. Upon creaking the ornate double doors open, it is relieving to see that there is not a single golden head of hair in sight.

"Praise the Fates!" Adriel says under his breath.

Now he can get to Dami, Roy, and their traveling companions from Whisper Valley. Maybe they've found valuable information about where the zirgnant tools are hidden. After the information learned during the war meeting, the sooner they can obtain a zirgnant tool, the better. Damiana is likely traumatized as it is. The last thing she needs is to learn about her parentage.

Before Adriel can fully leave the Meeting Room, however, a meaty hand grips his shoulder. Even through the thickness of his cold, metal, armor, the weight of the giant hand can be felt. Assuming that it is one of the Clan Elders prepared to haul him away to the Ground Badger Clan Center, irritation surges through him. When he sees the thick beard and distraught charcoal eyes of Knight Master Urrvink, however, all frustration instantly dissipates.

"Do you have a moment, Adriel?"

"Uh…Yes, sir, Knight Master Urrvink! I have as much time as you need."

"Great." Knight Master Urrvink's expression is one of hard concentration, as if he is trying with great intensity to conjure a thought. With a smile that is a tad too happy to be legitimate, the Knight says, "Have you seen the new battleships that our engineers just made? They're spectacular! Let's go down to the lower levels, and I will show you." It is strange watching his Knight Master smile while his beard remains the color of soot.

Adriel quirks a slate gray eyebrow. "Alright. Let's go examine them."

As they fully emerge into the corridor, it seems that this section of the Royal Palace is not as sparsely populated as one would assume. The Fire Phoenix Elders linger. They exchange whispers with the Elders of the Shooting Star and Sky Serpent Clans. Much to Adriel's surprise, their hair is just as dark as that of himself and Urrvink. It takes hearing the sound of the gentleman's voice, but the Ground Badger boy is able to identify the speaker as the Fire Phoenix Elder, Daequel. This is the same man who they'd overheard speaking the night prior at the Fire Phoenix Clan Center.

"Tamaran is going to invade. I'm certain of it. We've ceaselessly and brutally attacked their planet and have destroyed one of their strongest military bases. It is only a matter of time before they try to retaliate."

A single glance reveals that it is an Elder from the Shooting Star Clan that replies. "I couldn't agree with you more. Our outpost Raxtin Houses won't be enough to save us. Not against the Tamaraneans. Queen Guayusa refuses to see it, but they are mighty."

"Queen Guayusa isn't just refusing to see the Tamaraneans' strength. If you ask me, the woman is completely delusional. She thinks that we as Dabnodians are invincible." Daequel sighs heavily. "I suggest that we take drastic measures…"

The boy tries stopping to listen, but Knight Master Urrvink doesn't allow it. Adriel is dragged down the corridor away from the Clan Elders. It seems that they aren't the only people unsettled by that war meeting…

Adriel tries speaking, but is shushed harshly. "Those new battleships are incredible! We can talk about the battleships once we get there." The boy doesn't miss the amount of emphasis put on the word 'battleships' or on how Knight Master Urrvink raises his voice at that word.

It could be argued that the battleships are stored in an even more remote part of the Royal Palace than the ancient archives and the armory. By the time they reach their destination, they are at the same level of the basement as the archives. The only thing making it slightly less abandoned are giant metal chutes that enable the vehicles to exit the building. Knight Master Urrvink ensures that the heavy metal doors closing off the chutes are sealed. He also makes sure that the door of the entrance is shut and locked. Only then does he speak.

"We're in a situation; you, especially. Are you alright?"

Adriel does his best to straighten his posture, but he finds himself slouching. Is he alright? That is such a strange question. He isn't sure if any adult in his life has ever asked about the state of his well being. It feels…foreign. The nature of the questions causes Adriel to lean against the nearest, hulking, orb-shaped, ship. The boy doesn't even care if he scratches the sleek, silver-colored, metal or the emerald green Crest of Dabnod.

Normally he would lie through his teeth. That is all Adriel does is lie. He doesn't like lying. He does it because it is the only way to get by. Right now, however, the Ground Badger surprises himself. The truth comes out in a voice so shaky that he nearly sobs; but he doesn't.

"I'm not alright at all. I haven't been for a while. Knight Master, I just want all of this to end."

Urrvink rests a meaty hand on his shoulder. "The Fates have a plan for you, and it is not to be the next bloodthirsty ruler of this planet. Despite what Queen Guayusa would have you believe, you're not a tool at her disposal." Sighing, the man confesses, "Something needs to be done."

"Yes. Something does need to be done. The outpost Raxtin Houses, enslaving Tamaran, reinstating a bloodline monarchy… Knight Master, if something isn't done, we could end up destroying our entire galaxy! You saw what Queen Guayusa made us do to Province Five! If Tamaran starts to rise up against her, enslaving them won't be enough. If Tamaran is too difficult for her to handle, she will destroy their entire planet!"

The Royal Knight's beard shifts from black to a blinding shade of sapphire blue. "You understand. There aren't too many people who understand. Queen Guayusa doesn't stop at seizing control. Control isn't good enough for her. It is difficult to explain, but there is something dark in that woman that craves destruction."

Silence lingers. Adriel hasn't a clue when it happens, but his own features shift to sapphire blue. Of all the curses it seems the Fates have bestowed upon the Ground Badger boy, Adriel is at least thankful that Knight Master Urrvink is not one of them.

"I hate that Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council have gone this far. I was hoping that asking you this would never be necessary, but these are desperate times." More silence. Knight Master Urrvink rests his chin against his fist for an eternity before continuing. "Can you sneak away from the Death Queen and your father long enough to come to the Shooting Star Compound tonight?"

Sapphire blue shifts to vivid green. "Yes… I can…" Adriel scratches his head. "Why?"

"It's best not to explain here. Just show up tonight once the sun is set. Go to the north entrance. The guardsmen will be expecting you. Go to the Clan Center once you're inside. We will talk about everything after it's safe."

"Okay. I'll be there."

"Good." Urrvink's sapphire blue beard is suddenly mingled with strands of inky black. "Just know that whether or not you participate is entirely your decision."

With that, Knight Master Urrvink leaves. He probably says goodbye, but Adriel doesn't remember. The boy never leaves his spot beside the warship where he stares blankly at the wall. The sinking feeling in his gut continues sinking ever farther into the deepest trenches of his being. Is going to the Shooting Star Compound the right thing to do? Heck if he knows! Adriel only knows one thing. Going is of the utmost importance, so he must - whether he wants to or not.

"Have you found anything useful?" Damiana, Roy, and Tenna are surrounded by piles of scrolls and stacks of tomes. Their forlorn expressions are the only indication Adriel needs that they haven't found anything. Damiana seems particularly distraught. Unable to force himself into being chipper, the boy allows himself to frown. "It's alright. I don't know where Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council are keeping the zirgnant tools, either. That war meeting told me absolutely nothing."

"We know," Roy rasps out in a whisper. "Dami and I were listening through an air vent. The chambers toward the back have vents connecting with the Meeting Room. We…well…we heard everything."

Adriel's skin pales as his features shift to the color of deep plum. "Oh." His gaze meets Damiana's eyes, which are pure soot. "Are you alright?"

She smiles sardonically. "When have I ever been alright?"

Silence lingers. Based on the mountaineer's baffled expression, it is clear that she doesn't know what they'd overheard. Yet, Tenna doesn't ask. She walks to another part of the room where Caen is reading a book with bright pictures of animals.

All the while, Damiana continues. "We shouldn't stay here in the archives. We aren't going to make any progress. Let's try places where the zirgnant tools might actually be, like the armory."

"That's a good idea," Roy agrees. "Let's go."

Actively searching takes all of Damiana's strength. She shuts out thoughts of Queen Guayusa, reminding herself that it doesn't matter if the Death Queen is her mother. There is no Guayusa the Death Queen in the future that she and Roy come from. As for the outpost Raxtin Houses, those thoughts take the same route as thoughts of Queen Guayusa. Those Raxtin Houses no longer matter. Dabnod is gone, so even if the Raxtin Houses on Cintari, Azarath, and Karna remain, their relevance is null and void without Dabnod. Soon there will be nothing left to worry about; nothing significant, anyway. Soon, Damiana will get to be a Teen Titan again.

As for the search, they didn't have any luck with the armory. They also didn't have any luck with the shipyard that Adriel took them to; they searched every ship high and low. Once the sun went down, they even took the risk of searching the Meeting Room and Queen Guayusa's office. It was all, of course, to no avail. Not the tiniest trace of a zirgnant tool was found. Tenna decided to remain in the archive with Caen and read. She didn't find any clues within the texts, either. If not information about zirgnant tools in particular, then Damiana would have thought that perhaps an alternative method for constructing a fuel source would have been found. Of course, Tenna found nothing.

As of right now, the group is gathered around a dusty table. They munch on bread, cheese, and starberry pudding stolen from the kitchens. Damiana takes a long, thoughtful, look around. Their time is running out. Less than three weeks is what they have. If they leave the ancient archives and try to come back in the morning, there is no guarantee that any of them will be able to gain entry into the Royal Palace a second time. In her mind's eye, she imagines that the shelves containing reading materials are magically transformed into beds. All it would take is removing the books and adding pillows and blankets.

The archer must be reading her thoughts. "We're going to have to expand our search. We need to start again immediately in the morning. Dami, I think that you and I should stay here. Tenna, you and Caen can go back to the Ground Badger Compound if you want. It's more comfortable there, and there's no reason for you to stay at this point."

The mountaineer surprises all of them. Tenna quirks a mint green brow at the teenagers. "Do you truly think that I would abandon you? I will stay with you here. I will be with you until the instant you get that machine working and tear open a rift home."

Numbness has been the only sensation experienced by the would-be Queen all day. Suddenly, the nothingness is shattered by a pang of mingled astonishment and gratitude. "Thank you, Tenna. That means a lot. Just make sure you and Caen make it out of here, too. Alright?"

"Of course I will. I wouldn't have it any other way."

They eat in silence for a while. The next person to take the risk of ending the comfortable quietude is Adriel. He does this while removing two more loaves of bread, another chunk of cheese, and another jar of pudding from a bag. The items are placed neatly on the table before them.

"I wish I could stay, but I have to go. I don't know how long I'll be gone. It could be a while, so here's breakfast for tomorrow."

Worry strikes. Adriel's face is forlorn, as are his plum-stained eyes and his waist-length ponytail. The Ground Badger's expression triggers memories that she previously thought were buried. The look he gives them is the same look that he wore during Dabnod's final days when she was a little girl. Adriel looks nothing short of horrified.

Damiana stands and meets his gaze, her eyes shifting from pale pink to stormy gray. "It sounds like you have somewhere to be." Remembering exactly what's coming, she sighs. "Do what you have to do. Just…please be careful, Adriel."

He smiles, but it is a far cry from a gleeful grin. It is some combination of despairing and caustic. "I'll be as careful as I can be."

With that, Adriel leaves.

Golden clouds float across the silver sky. The waxing gibbous grows ever larger. Tonight the lilac moon is nearly full. In two more days, it will be. Adriel never thinks about the phases of the moon, but right now he is. At this very moment, he is watching Dabnod's last lunar cycle. This will be the last waxing moon. He will never see this moon again.

Much to the boy's astonishment, there is not much time to linger. He is not alone in the foliage outside of the Shooting Star Compound. He is far from alone. It is Knight Master Urrvink that speaks first, but his Knight Master only serves as a means for noticing the rest of the group. Elders from the Sky Serpent and Fire Phoenix Clans loiter at the outermost edge of the violet brush. A wide assortment of low-ranking Royal Knights are deep within the trees, only the glinting of their breastplates against the moonlight giving them away. Other Knight Masters, like Urrvink, are here as well. Adriel recognizes the Knight Masters of Squadrons Two, Six, and Fourteen in particular. There also appear to be a couple of Squires present other than himself.

The person who stupefies him the most, however, is the Fire Phoenix Elder, Daequel. As elderly, as bald, and as frail as he appears, fire ignites in his blinding, orange, eyes, and his short, carmine, beard almost appears volatile. Hair is supposed to color less brilliantly as Dabnodians age. Daequel alone manages to blow this generalization out of the water.

All the while, Knight Master Urrvink whispers, "I'm glad you came. I'm happy to see everyone here, but you most of all. With you here, we may be able to convince the masses that we have a cause worthy of sacrifice."

It is a strange night. The gates of the Shooting Star Compound are wide open. The Shooting Star Clan Elders stand tall at the entrance to greet the coming throng. In the midst of the Elders, to each and every person's astonishment, is a member of the Royal Council. Adriel's jaw practically hits the ground. He and Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan make direct eye contact. The Councilman appears just as gobsmacked by Adriel's presence. Of course, none are as surprised as the Clan Elders at the amount of people who have shown up. They mutter amongst themselves sounding both panicked and excited.

At last, one of the Elders adjusts his Shooting Star Clan belt, straightens his posture, and speaks. He doesn't speak loud enough to be heard outside of the immediate vicinity, but it is the perfect volume for those around him to hear. "Everyone please make your way to the Clan Center. Our wives are serving cider and briet cakes. Make yourselves comfortable."

Adriel makes the familiar walk to this compound's Clan Center on autopilot. He has never been inside the Shooting Star Compound, but each Clan's Compound is nearly an exact copy of all the others. Even the Clan Center has no notable differences; not from the Ground Badger Clan Center or the Fire Phoenix Clan Center. Nothing besides the image of a golden star with a copper tail engraved into the post above the entrance, of course.

Somehow, Adriel ends up at a table of Squires. He eats his briet cake and drinks his cider without tasting it. All of his focus is on how he is on the receiving end of every pair of eyes at the table - eyes that are varying, vivid, shades of neon green. He doesn't know a single one of these Squires intimately, though some of them do appear vaguely familiar. Yet, it is clear that they all know him.

"Wh-what are you doing here?"

Adriel gives what is supposed to be a chipper grin. "The same as you, I imagine. We're all here to discuss how our galaxy is doomed and what we're supposed to do about it."

They don't have a chance to reply. Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan stands from where he has been sitting at a long table at the front of the room. The four Elders sit on either side of him. The entire room stares stoically. Adriel has never sat in a space this utterly silent. Not even the city center in that town in Province Three was this quiet when Queen Guayusa killed Prophet Veng. This is a different kind of quietude. It feels final. When Councilman Three finally speaks, their gathering doesn't feel any less final.

"Drastic measures need to be taken. Gentlemen, ladies, it is worse than you know. For those of you who attended this morning's meeting, it's worse than even you know. If we don't take action soon, it could mean the end of us all."

One of the Knight Masters in the crowd scoffs. "Overly dramatic as always. Aren't you, Councilman?"

"Mock me if you must. Just know that mocking me doesn't make the reality of our situation any less dire. If we win this war, it will mean the end of our galaxy. Queen Guayusa is ruthless. We all know it. Weren't most of us present for the destruction of Province Five? Haven't most of us witnessed the systematic annihilation of the prophets? Haven't we watched Provinces Eight, Nine, and Ten, which were fully independent under all previous Monarchs, get raided by Her Majesty? The people of the mountains and of the forest used to be left alone. These days they are being raided by the Royal Council and by Royal Knights for soldiers and resources.

"Guayusa the Death Queen has also taken every single one of life's small pleasures from us. Alcohol. Caffeine. Toys for our children to play with. Freedom to read whatever books we choose. Everything I am talking about right now, this is just what the Death Queen has done on planet Dabnod. Imagine for a second what would happen if the entire Andromeda Galaxy was under her control."

The Royal Knights who had previously sneered at Councilman Three are now exchanging glances. To say the least, they appear concerned. Adriel praises the Fates that nobody has any other challenges for the man and that he is able to continue.

"It is time for all of you to know the full truth. The facts presented at the war meeting were only the beginning. As a member of the Royal Council, I can tell you that more is happening then what was stated publicly. We are on track to win this war. After the success that was had with the Outpost Raxtin House children, it goes without saying that Queen Guayusa will utilize them again. Our Queen is so confident in the abilities of the children that Tamaranean Education Centers are already under construction. We all remember reading about the Ancient Era in textbooks, don't we? Within a few decades, this is the era that we will be living in if we do not act. There won't be anywhere to run or anywhere to hide. Guayusa the Death Queen will have control of the entire galaxy, and she will find us."

Panicked muttering is the result. Fear can almost be smelled in the air. Horror seems almost as explosive as gas. If a fire user were to light a flame, Adriel cannot say with any level of certainty that the room wouldn't ignite.

When someone manages to break through the chaos, it is one of the Squires at Adriel's table. "I understand that it's bad right now. We can all see that! My question is why do we need to do something? Clearly Sir Adriel is here amongst us. As our future King, can't Sir Adriel convince Lady Damiana to take a step back with the insanity? Yes, I have read school textbooks. All I saw in those textbooks were periods of freedom and periods of extreme restraint. We are in a period of extreme restraint right now, and it will eventually be lifted under another ruler. If we wait, it will pass."

Muttering turns to shouting as accusations are thrown his way.

"This child is completely mad! Who raised him?!"

"Never trust a Water Flower!"

It takes one of the Shooting Star Clan Elders to bring the room to order. "Be silent! Anyone who does not want to take part in our cause may leave. But before you go, I at least hope that you will stay and finish hearing what our humble Councilman has to say."

At long last, calmness reigns. "Thank you, Elder Qael. If I may continue, waiting is a non-option. If Queen Guayusa gains control of Tamaran, all will be lost. There is a reason why we Dabnodians have increased our attacks against Tamaran. There is something on Tamaran that Queen Guayusa wants. It is something that has only recently been discovered. Squadron Twenty-Three discovered the rarest mineral in the galaxy. The mountain ranges of Tamaran are flooded with it - foarock."

Adriel swears that the room's temperature drops by a full degree. Barely audible gasps flood his ears from the surrounding tables.

"You can't possibly mean that. How do you know for certain that it's foarock?" Someone asks.

"Samples were brought back. There are no doubts. Tamaran has massive deposits of foarock. If Queen Guayusa obtains enough of it, she will be more powerful than all of the Raxtin House children combined."

"Unless the Raxtin House children use it, too. All of them together could blow the entire planet of Tamaran to smithereens!" the same gentleman exclaims.

"Exactly. Thus, our need for action. If anyone wants to act, stay here, but only if you have the strength. The course of action that I am about to suggest is not for the faint of heart."

It starts with one person getting up to leave. Then another. Half of the room is empty, and then three quarters of the people are gone. By the time everyone leaves, there are only enough left behind to fill two tables. For whatever reason, they wait. If Adriel had to guess, he would assume it is to see if anyone wants to come back. Nobody does.

At last, Knight Master Urrvink speaks. "So, the Death Queen is going to possess ten times her usual strength by getting some foarock jewelry. What do you suggest we do?"

Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan answers without missing a beat. "We need to start with the Royal Council. Without the Royal Council, Queen Guayusa will be helpless and will be vulnerable to attack. They all need to be taken out in one night. So does Queen Guayusa."

Adriel pales. His skin somehow feels both cold and clammy. "Hold on. When you say 'taken out', you don't mean-"

"Oh, don't question it. It is exactly the way it sounds. We need to kill everyone else on the Royal Council and Queen Guayusa." Councilman Three stands and walks to a door at the very back of the Shooting Star Clan Center. His hand rests on the doorknob, but he doesn't turn it. "I did say that this isn't for the faint of heart. I'm not asking anyone to do what's right. I'm asking anyone who will take on the task to do what's necessary. Necessary does not always mean right. Sometimes 'right' is so subjective that it becomes irrelevant, and the only thing left to do is take the course of action that you feel will do the least amount of long-term harm."

One other Squire besides Adriel remains. He exclaims, "Even if it means murdering the Royal Council and our Queen? Are you NUTS?!"

"We either spare ten people in exchange for the future sacrifice of dozens of planets, or kill ten people to save a galaxy. Both choices could be right. Both choices could be wrong. Who knows? All we can hope is that the Fates see what we're trying to do and that they will spare us from eternal damnation eventually. In the end, it's your choice."

Another table of people leave. Adriel stays. The Ground Badger catches a glimpse of his hair in his peripheral vision. It is sapphire blue, which is strange. Adriel can count on one hand the number of times it has turned that color.

At last, the Councilman throws open the door. All that is in there is a table and a tapestry. The tapestry is a plain, yellow, background bearing a black, waning, crescent. Aside from an assortment of needles and a large jar of black ink, the table is bare. Nonetheless, Councilman Three ushers those who remain into the room.

"Those of you who would like to make the choice to move forward, please come inside. I need one final act of dedication before you join in our task. For anyone who still has doubts, it isn't too late to leave."

This time nobody else walks out. Knight Master Urrvink is the first to enter the room. Adriel is the first to allow the ink-laden needle to make contact with his left pectoral. Hours pass in that small room as they each take their mark. Not once does Adriel regret his decision.

The following days pass in a blur. Damiana and Roy search the recesses of the Palace by day, and the main levels of the Palace by night. Sometimes Adriel is there, but other times he is nowhere to be found. When the Ground Badger is around, he is uncharacteristically quiet. That is alright, of course; at least as far Damiana is concerned.

She doesn't like to think about it in the slightest, but she completely understands why Adriel is so on edge. The girl remembers very distinctly what happened on her home planet during the end of its existence. The planet is about to fall apart. Adriel's connection to the chaos made no sense as a little girl, but knowing what she knows now, his connection is clear. Even worse, his connection seems necessary. She never thought she would hear herself say this, but the horrendous acts that are about to befall Dabnod are nothing more than a necessary evil.

When the reality that the those terrible events are only a week away strike Damiana, the girl jolts as if she was physically struck. Sweet Fates! An entire week has gone by in the ancient archives already. There are only two weeks left on Planet Dabnod. Somehow in all the time that has passed, the two Titans are not any closer to laying their hands on a zirgnant tool.

Great. It looks like Damiana isn't going to be gone in time. She was hoping that she wouldn't have to experience the mass panic that overtook the Capital City twice. At least she was naive and innocent when she was eleven. At age sixteen, and with the full knowledge of Queen Guayusa and the Royal Council's atrocities, the would-be Queen isn't entirely sure how she is going to feel this time. A dread completely unrelated to Dabnod's destruction begins setting in.

Thankfully, there is still a glimmer of hope. As they search Queen Guayusa's office for the fifth time this week, it occurs to her that there is still a week left. Maybe Damiana and Roy can still return to their time period before the massacre.

Although, that will do little to lessen the horror that will be experienced by Tenna and Caen. Damiana has not had enough compassion in either of her hearts to warn them about the massacre. With everything else that's coming, she figured that adding anything else to their plate would be a disservice. Not to mention, if they remain in the hidden depths of the Royal Palace until Tamaran invades, they might not even learn about the murders - or their friend Adriel's vital role in orchestrating them.

As has become the norm, it is the archer's voice that brings the girl out of the vast depths of inner thoughts. He is hovering over the Death Queen's impressive desk. The white wood is polished to perfection, and the carving of the desk's feet into the shapes of flowers must have taken nothing less than a prodigious carpenter. The brass handles match the shape of the feet perfectly. Not that Roy cares, of course. He is too busy pouring over endless stacks of today's business-related documents.

The redhead sighs in irritation. "Each squadron gets four sacks of bintlints, a case of reizen, a barrel of cider, and two cases of armor polish. Zirgnant tools aren't listed on today's supply list, either. And none of today's records show where they would be stored. Another dead end, Dami."

"I know. I figured it would be, but I couldn't think of anywhere else to look."

"Eh, I see no problem. This is the only place in the Palace with a steady flow of new information. We've checked every other place that makes sense."

Damiana doesn't answer. Instead, she goes over every place they've looked in her head. The ancient archives and the new archives. The armory and the ship yard. All of the meeting rooms, the private conference rooms, and this office. The storage rooms. They even took the risk of dressing as servants and checking the Knight Training Center and the quarters of the Royal Scribes. They have found absolutely nothing.

"You're right. We haven't left one stone unturned. This is impossible." Titan Firelight collapses against the nearest wall surrounded by inventory records and the most recent reports from the war front. For the briefest instant, Damiana allows herself to feel frustrated at Queen Guayusa. If only she could pull the knowledge of the zirgnant tools' locations out of her mother's slumbering mind. Slumbering mind… Then, slapped by a sudden stroke of genius, Damiana sits bolt upright. "Sweet Fates! We're wrong, Roy! We're absolutely wrong! There is a place that we haven't checked - Queen Guayusa's chambers!"

The redhead stands so suddenly that he knocks a pile of papers from the desk. Parchment flutters to the gold tiles in a harried flurry. "Are you crazy?! We can't check Queen Guayusa's chambers! This is the same woman who burned Province Five and the Fire Lily Tribe to the ground! If she catches us, we're going to meet these Fates that you keep talking about."

"I know it's less than ideal, but what other choice do we have? It has been a week!"

He opens his mouth halfway, as if preparing to make an argument. As soon as Roy tries to speak, he closes his mouth again. Then he shakes his head. "Fine. Let's do it. Just know that I'm not agreeing to this lightly. We need to search quickly and get out." Emerald eyes no longer appear frustrated, but are overflowing with sympathy. "We need to get out for your sake even more than for our safety. Dami, will you handle being in such a familiar part of the Palace?"

Damiana inhales deeply and exhales slowly through the nose. "Yes. I'll be fine. All I want is to find the zirgnant tool. I swear."

Her teammate only appears more skeptical, but he concedes. "Alright. Whatever you say. Do you want to wait until Adriel gets back tomorrow morning? Maybe he can help."

"No. It's now or never."

Under normal circumstances, Roy would insist that they take time to reevaluate their idea. Plans need to be thorough. One misstep is all it would take to get them kidnapped by the Brotherhood of Evil or dissected by Brother Blood. Of course, these aren't normal circumstances. They've covered every corner of Dabnod's Royal Palace without finding a single scrap of anything that could possibly be a zirgnant tool. There are only two weeks left until the entire planet detonates, meaning time is not necessarily on their side.

Then, as though the situation weren't tense enough already, Adriel has been acting strangely. It is as if a dark cloud is hanging over him. The Ground Badger acts gloomy, doesn't like being spoken to, and always seems distracted. Adriel genuinely seems like he is trying to help them get home. If only he were more focused!

Thankfully, if they find the zirgnant tool tonight, Adriel won't need to be more focused. They also won't need to worry about Dabod's detonation anymore, and they will no longer need to worry about making plans. Roy and Damiana will be back on Earth and out of harm's way.

Roy fantasizes so much about the chance of returning to Earth soon, that he almost gasps audibly when Damiana pulls him into a nearby closet. It is only thanks to the grace of whatever deity is watching that the archer doesn't make a sound. Two servants scurry past, one carrying a tray with tea and cakes, and the other toting an assortment of bath salts. Never has Roy been happier to see servants in a chatty mood.

"I can't believe I forgot that Lady Damiana prefers floral teas and not spiced teas. That is the first thing you taught me during training!"

"It is quite alright, dear. The child is currently talking Her Majesty's ear off. We will set out their snack in the sitting room and draw Lady Damiana's bath in the attached bathing chamber. They won't notice our tartiness."

Only after their footsteps fade does Roy risk a glimpse at the teenage Damiana standing before him. Her hair and eyes are lime green. "Oh. I must be staying at the Palace tonight…"

"Maybe we should turn back."

"No. Don't be silly. This is perfect! Queen Guayusa is distracted. I haven't even had my bath and tea time yet. We will have thirty minutes, and that is at the bare minimum."

Doubtful though he may be, the redhead nods. "Since you're sure."

They leave the closet and tiptoe up the corridor. These corridors are longer and narrower than the hallways on the Palace's bottom floor. The tiles are also shinier and squeakier. It takes an inconceivable amount of care to keep from making sound.

When the duo reaches a door that is slightly ajar, Roy swears that his heart skips a beat. Not much is seen. The only thing in sight is the back of a couch and a short head of bright, rose red, curls. There must be multiple pieces of furniture. The Death Queen's voice sounds much farther away than that of the girl's. Roy almost feels like he wants to pass out. Aside from a slight difference in pitch, the eleven-year-old's voice is completely identical to that of the person lingering beside him.

Sixteen-year-old Damiana is pale. She looks as if she has just seen a ghost. Lengthy curls and wide eyes are obsidian.

"Queen Guayusa, is there an almanac in the archives about Province Seven's flora and fauna? I'm having trouble finding a clear reference to it in this storybook. I can't get a picture in my head of the fisherman's town."

The gentle, lighthearted, chuckle, that sounds in response makes Roy's blood run cold. The hard, cold, voice that spoke at that war meeting last week can't possibly have the same owner as this carefree laugh. "Sweet child, you're reading a story with fictional characters. Why do you feel the need for an almanac?"

"It will help set the scene."

"If you're going to request almanacs during leisure time, then you may as well be studying."

Little Dami's jovial giggle is heart-wrenching. It must be for his teammate as well. Gray streaks her blackened tresses. "I wouldn't mind it. Would you like me to practice using the Neiten Scrolls again?"

"No. You've mastered those. Review the Xerit Stances instead. You seem to be struggling with those - at least according to the Clan Elders."

When Roy and Damiana finally manage to make it all the way past, it is not without witnessing an expression of stunned disbelief and mild terror on his teammate's face. She doesn't give him time to ask if she is alright. Damiana nods at a door looming ten feet away from them. The Titans dash toward it while making as little sound as possible. Roy isn't sure how they do it, but they enter Queen Guayusa's quarters without the door making even the slightest creak.

Damiana immediately enters a large walk-in closet and begins rummaging. Roy, on the other hand, is too stunned to move. A bedroom doesn't need a crystal chandelier, but the largest chandelier that Roy has ever seen dangles in the room's center. The glass coffee table with gilded trim also seems unnecessary. Truly, the massive bed with overhanging curtains may not even be needed. The scarlet sofa and armchairs surrounding the coffee table look comfortable enough to sleep on. Thinking back to the months spent traveling through the wilderness and living in Whisper Valley, this room is the definition of excess.

"Close your mouth. You'll catch flies." A smirk is heard in her voice. "You would be ashamed of my room. It is nearly identical to this one. The only difference is that my furniture is blue instead of red. My closet is also a little smaller."

Suddenly remembering the reason for their presence here, Roy scans the rest of the room. The entire left half of Queen Guayusa's bedroom has bookshelves and numerous chests of drawers. "You keep looking over here. I will see what I can find in her drawers."

The results for the first two sets of drawers is nothing. The Death Queen has jewelry, jewelry, and more jewelry. Every gem is arranged by color and is then further divided into a subcategory of earring, necklace, ring, bracelet, or broach. The archer finds himself wondering if Her Majesty has worn even half of these items. It is only when Roy reaches the third chest of drawers that his previous train of thought comes to a halt. These are not neatly organized. Gems and trinkets are scattered about. Raising a curious ginger brow, Roy begins sorting through the drawers with careful precision.

Exactly as was suspected, the jewelry occupying these drawers are merely decoys. At the bottom of drawer number one are instructions for operating a one-person space shuttle. The next drawer has a manual for finding and growing food on other planets. The third contains a handwritten atlas of Azarath, Karna, and the Cintari Moons. The atlas has detailed instructions on how to reach each Raxtin House. The fourth drawer contains a small handheld device with buttons and a screen. If Roy had to compare it to an Earth equivalent, the device is not much different from a smartphone or his Titan communicator.

It is only when he opens the fifth drawer that he hollers for his teammate. "It is time for you to do the 'I was right and you were wrong' dance. Checking the Queen's quarters was the right move."

Damiana pokes her head out of the closet. Curled ringlets are glowing bright lime. "Sweet Fates! Did you find it?!"

A long, silver, cylindrical object is held up in full view. Yellow buttons and varying dials bedeck the surface in neat rows. The end has two prongs. When Roy gives one of the buttons an experimental push, a short bolt of blue electricity zaps before dying out.

"Yes, I think I did."

Yesterday marked exactly two weeks until Dabnod's detonation. As of this morning, thirteen days remain. Yet, his planet's imminent end is not the most important thing on Adriel's mind these days. This past week, Adriel has been staying at the Shooting Star Compound until the moon begins dipping near the horizon. Only a handful of people attend these meetings: himself, Knight Master Urrvink, Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan, Elder Daequel of the Fire Phoenix Clan, a Knight Master from the Water Flower Clan, a Knight Master from the Sky Serpent Clan, and of course the Elders of the Shooting Star Clan.

Each night, all Adriel can think about is how these meetings don't feel real. As the words of the Councilman flood his memory, the Ground Badger tells himself that this is a bad dream that he is going to wake up from; a bad dream that he must wake up from.

"There are several things that we must keep in mind before next week's attack. We absolutely must not utilize our elements. Using our elements could give away our identities. Not to mention, our elements may not make for a quick kill. What we need is a quick kill; our plan is to sedate and strike. One drop of this red syrup on their tongue will be plenty to temporarily paralyze them, so use it sparingly. We never know if we'll need more eventually. Once they're paralyzed, use your sword. One stick through the vital organs will be enough. Stick them once, and get out. This isn't a crime of passion; you aren't enraged lovers. You're men on a mission, so act like it."

Adriel knew for certain that his ponytail must have been black. A question stirring, the boy stood from his seat. He stood silently until Councilman Three took notice.

"Ah, young Adriel. Is something on your mind?"

"Yes. What if someone interrupts us while we're carrying out our mission?"

"Sedate them, too, if you can. Regardless of whether or not you can sedate them, absolutely kill them. A witness isn't a witness if they're dead."

The Councilman stated this so matter-of-factly that it gave Adriel chills. As he makes his way down the stairs to the ancient archives of the Royal Palace, thinking of the late night meetings still gives him chills. He looks forward to mindlessly searching empty rooms for a zirgnant tool to help numb his emotions. When the Ground Badger opens the chamber door, however, he gets a surprise. Damiana and Roy run to his side, both of them talking loudly over each other. Damiana jumps up and down while the redhead excitedly waves his arms. Only after closing the door behind him does the Ground Badger speak.

"One at a time, please. I can't understand either of you."

The Titans don't speak one at a time, but they no longer speak over each other, either. In unison, they declare, "We found it!"

Before he can ask, Roy thrusts an item into his hand. An item that Adriel has only seen in textbooks is now being clutched in his grasp. Smooth metal glistens, and black dials stare at him tauntingly. It's as if the device is mocking him, saying, "You didn't think they'd find me, but they did!" In truth, the device isn't wrong. Adriel had given up hope days ago. He was beginning to think that they wouldn't find it. Yet, here it is - the desperately sought after zirgnant tool.

"How does it work?" pleads the would-be Queen. "Show us! Roy and I have been trying all day, and we don't have a clue."

"It's nothing like any of the technology that we have on Earth," the archer states almost defensively.

For the first time in days, Adriel grins. "No problem. Zirgnant tools are difficult to use, even for a seasoned Knight. There are instruction manuals for them in the armory. I'll be right back."

When Adriel takes his leave, he is surprised by how abruptly his emotions have shifted from an odd sort of sad terror to joy. Roy and Dami finally get to go home.

All three teenagers, and Tenna, have poured over Adriel's manual for the zirgnant tool. The frequency has been adjusted two-dozen times. The order in which the buttons are pressed has been altered three-dozen times. The vengat clay and the ser stone have been placed on surfaces made of different materials with the hope that it will increase conductivity. Nothing has helped. The ser stone and the vengat clay have not merged into the single, powerful, fuel source that was read about in the book where servengat was discovered. Damiana is getting so frustrated that she could pull her hair out.

"What the heck? Why isn't this working?! What have I done to the Fates? Why do they hate us? I'm sorry, Fates!"

The archer sighs, sounding exhausted. "Damiana, I'm sure that shouting at the Fates won't help. We'll need to rummage through the armory tonight after everyone leaves and find more reading material on servengat. We are clearly doing something wrong."

"Agreed," says Adriel without making eye contact. The Ground Badger's eyes are glued to the dials as he carefully turns them. "I have to confess, I've never seen a zirgnant tool in all my life. Royal Knights aren't even taught how to use them until after we rank up from Squire to Knight. Royal Knights have a year-long probationary period where we learn essential intergalactic survival skills such as operating a zirgnant tool, which I haven't learned yet, so I'm next to useless."

Damiana wants to cry, but she doesn't. Although, she does collapse into a heap on the floor. "I need a quill pen, a vial of ink, and a piece of paper. I want to write down all of my confessions before I die, because we're not going home. Roy, we're going to die."

Roy stomps over, takes her by both wrists, and heaves her to her feet. A firm, yet gentle, hand clasps her shoulders. "Don't give up yet. We're getting out of here. We'll get the zirgnant tool figured out. We still have two weeks!"

"Thirteen days, actually," Adriel corrects him.

Roy merely scowls. All the while, Tenna smiles at them serenely.

"You're Teen Titans. It sounds like you've both faced a lot of challenges in the past. I'm certain that this zirgnant tool is not stronger than the other challenges you've faced."

Damiana isn't sure why, but Tenna's words are exactly what she needs. She smiles back. "That's true. Adriel, give me the manual. Maybe going through it again will help."

The Ground Badger complies, again, without making eye contact. He tosses the thick tome at her. Then she sits and begins reading. This is how Damiana, Roy, and Tenna spend the next five days - reading. By the time they understand what they need to do, only seven days are left. Not only that, but Adriel has practically disappeared.

One dark night, Damiana reads by the flame of her own hand. The ancient archives are dusty and smell of mildew. She was rendered wholly unable to spend one more second in the ancient archives. Tonight, she is in the archives on the Royal Palace's main level. She threw a cloak over the top of her royal blue dress, now stained beyond repair, and snuck upstairs during the guards' shift change.

Damiana thought that she was all alone in this maze of tall shelves, but she thought wrong. Now, as she skims through a book all about the properties of vengat clay, footsteps echo behind her. Horrified, Damiana spins around with the full intention of using her fire. Thankfully, she stops short. It is only Roy.

"What are you doing here?"

Despite the tension that has been felt these past couple weeks, he gives his familiar, playful, smirk. "You know me. I love libraries!"

The girl purses her lips skeptically, amusement dancing in her soft pink irises. "Ah, of course you do. Why else would you be here?"

The archer gives her a peck on the lips and removes a book from a small stack she'd gathered. "Where would you like me to start?"

The book he is holding is titled 'Every Imaginable Use for Ser Stones'. "Actually, the one you're holding is perfect. Skip to the chapters about how Ser Stones interact with Vengat Clay. I will do the same with my own book. Maybe if we combine our efforts, we'll find something."

The girl expects that by the time the sun approaches the horizon, they will be dashing back downstairs to the ancient archives without knowing a single new thing. Learning no new information whatsoever has been their fate these past several days.

Tonight, it seems the Fates are showering mercy upon the two Titans. An hour after Roy had joined her in the backmost part of the main archives, the girl finds herself reading through the nineteenth and final page of 'Chapter Fourteen: Vengat Clay's Best Parter, the Ser Stone'. Damiana is already imagining herself discarding this book and retrieving the next one from the pile between her and Roy. The girl is so thankful that she'd made the decision to finish reading the chapter. It is only a single paragraph, but she believes that it contains all the answers that they have been looking for:

"...While a zirgnant tool is certainly the most effective method for combining the vengat clay and the ser stone into the highly potent power source, servengat, a zirgnant tool alone is not enough. Gurt vinegar is the key! Soak the vengat clay in gurt vinegar for no less than seven days to bring its strongest properties to the surface. Then, by use of the zirgnant tool, it will easily combine with the ser stone. It is a long process, but you will never regret having servengat in your pocket. You never know when you'll need an emergency fuel supply for a crashed or damaged ship…"

"Roy!" She whispers as loud as she dares. "We need to go to the kitchens now! Right now! Come on! We need to go!"

The redhead leaps to his feet. "What? Why?" Her response is shoving the book in his face. A moment later, he grins. "What are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Damiana takes him by the wrist and leads him to the servants stairs, though she knows this is unnecessary. After their excursion into Queen Guayusa's chambers, not to mention digging through closets for buckets, soap, towels, pillows, and blankets, Roy is very well aware of how to navigate the servants' stairs. For a second, she suspects that perhaps he doesn't pull away because he likes holding her hand…

Before she can mull over this realization with too much depth, they emerge into the empty kitchen. The only thing lighting their path are the ocher flames dancing in her palm. Now Roy is the one leading her. The archer practically drags her to the pantry as they dig frantically through shelves seeking gurt vinegar. Roy finds it first. He pulls a large glass jug off of the bottom shelf. Damiana digs through cupboards until locating a cooking pot. The duo dashes back downstairs to the ancient archives before the racket they're making alerts the guards. The slamming door wakes Tenna and Caen upon their return.

"Is it morning already?" asks Caen groggily.

"No it's not. Sorry to wake you," Damiana apologizes. The clanging of placing the pot on a nearby table hardly makes the apology seem genuine.

"What are you both doing?" asks Tenna as she sits up on the shelf that has been temporarily converted into a bed.

"We've found the answer to our problem. We need to soak the vengat clay in gurt vinegar! This is going to make it malleable enough for the zirgnant tool to combine it with the ser stone! The only downside is that it needs to soak for a week."

Roy dumps the entire jar into the pot while Damiana places the clay inside it. Whatever it is they read must be accurate, because the color of the clay transforms from red to mustard yellow. Damiana takes a second look at the book in which the information was discovered. In the following paragraph, it states that the clay will turn blue once it is ready for use. She shares this information aloud with the room.

"Alright. I guess all that's left now is waiting."

"And figuring out the correct settings for the zirgnant tool," the would-be Queen adds.

"We can get started on that first thing in the morning," the archer says grinning. "Nothing can possibly ruin this night!"

The Shooting Star Clan Center appears dark from the outside. The building's occupants are in the tiny back room, a towel tucked under the crack in the door to stop light from filtering through. It takes every ounce of self-restraint for Adriel to stop himself from shaking.

"Everyone has been assigned their target and given their instructions. We have planned this as thoroughly as possible, so I am not anticipating any errors. After tonight, the throne will be usurped and we will be able to turn the tide in this war." Councilman Three smirks. "I simply need everyone to promise me one thing - that Guayusa the Death Queen is mine."

Adriel suddenly finds the care that they took with blocking out the light ironic. Cacophonous cheering is certain to give away their location. The only people not cheering besides himself are Knight Master Urrvink an Elder Daequel of the Fire Phoenix Clan. It is the latter who speaks, the old man's orange eyes blazing.

"Are you certain that you want us to make such a promise? Her Majesty Queen Guayusa is not to be taken lightly."

No man has never appeared more arrogant than Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan does at this moment. "I have been studying Queen Guayusa's every move for months. I can handle her."

"Don't taunt the Fates," Knight Master Urrvink retorts. "If you think that you might need help defeating her, now is the time to ask."

"I promise that I won't need help. Tonight will go off without a hitch."

Jaegana is in her bedroom sewing a tunic for her son. Father is at the Royal Palace. Mother is sleeping with her bedroom door securely locked. Adriel is perfectly and completely alone.

The windows are shuttered. Only three tall candles and a small lantern illuminate the prayer room. Adriel is posed in a deep and unmoving bow before the statue of the Fates. The rope binding the Fates together reminds the Ground Badger boy of how he managed to bind himself to the coup against Queen Guayusa. He wonders why he didn't walk out on that fateful night last week. Now his bond to the coup is unbreakable.

Yet, Adriel does not regret his decision in the slightest. The destruction of that Province Five town flashes into his mind's eye so vividly that he starts shuddering. Recalling how Guayusa the Death Queen so brutally murdered the Fire Lily Tribe worsens the shudders. As for the news of her chaotic, power hungry, plans for the Andromeda Galaxy, thinking about it turns the Ground Badger's blood to ice.

Adriel hates this. He wishes that there was another way. But there isn't. The ends never justify the means; murder is and always will be wrong. Adriel firmly believes this. Yet, he sees no other way. The only way for him to help save the Andromeda Galaxy, and what will be left of the Dabnodians once this whole thing is over, is to kill the Royal Council Member that he was assigned. Councilman Two of the Ground Badger Clan. Thus, Adriel remains in his deep bow before the Fates' shrine.

In addition to the stone goblet, the phoenix feather, and the knot of golden rope arranged in the shrine's three corners, the Ground Badger boy has added one other item - a pale pink, rosestone, rock inlaid with an obsidian waning crescent. He crafted the stone himself with the hope that adding it to the shrine will provide more clarity. It has, but not the clarity that he'd hoped for.

During the countless hours spent in the prayer room, the Fates' only response are flashes. Adriel used to fight against the flashes. These days he doesn't fight them nearly as often. For the most part, he stops resisting and allows the flashes to come. Mostly, this is because they will come anyway.

A massive burst of orange, yellow, and maroon against an inky, star-specked, backdrop is always the first flash that comes. This vision isn't of Dabnod exploding, but of Tamaran. He also sees Damiana marching alongside Guayusa the Death Queen and burning down cities on other worlds. He sees himself lording power over his fellow Dabnodians, not as their equal, but as their King. There are also flashes of Dabnod growing more powerful with each decade, thus, enslaving more planets.

The last vision that the Fates always give Adriel during prayer is of intergalactic war. In this vision, it is every single planet rising up against the other; not only against Dabnod. It is not only Dabnod that is destroyed, but all life in their galaxy, and also the destruction of worlds in other galaxies. Even Earth is destroyed.

When not in the prayer room, Adriel asks himself how the Fates can want anything or anyone to die. This question plagues his mind the whole day long. But then he reminds himself that the Fates are All-Knowing. Who is he to question them?

So, when this question strikes one final time during this sacred moment of prayer, Adriel stands. The Fates are All-Knowing. He still doesn't understand why killing the Royal Council and Queen Guayusa has to be the only answer, but he does know that if they don't die, there are a lot of others who will.

With his soot-colored ponytail swishing behind him, Adriel strides across the hallway to his bedroom. He rummages for his sword that hangs from a hook on the wall, and then for the vial of red syrup that is locked in a dresser drawer. The door closes with a click that echoes slightly. Little does Adriel know that he will never get to see his bedroom again.

Earth: April 7, 11:02 PM

"Please, Adriel, you are certain that friend Speedy and friend Firelight are returning shortly?"

All of the Titans are gathered together in the common room. Starfire, Robin, Cyborg, Bumblebee and Aqualad are clustered around the main console. Beast Boy, Mas, and Menos are asleep on the sofa. Raven is in the kitchen brewing tea for herself. The only person absent is Saeran, who is asleep in his designated guest room.

Adriel gives Starfire a small smile. "Yes. I promise. They are coming back on the eighth of April. I'm certain of it."

Bumblebee narrows skeptical chocolate brown eyes. "If we don't see anything by noon, we're pulling them back through ourselves. If you try to get in our way, we're not afraid to lock you up again."

"That won't be necessary. If you try to open a portal, I won't stop you."

"I just hope that Speedy and Firelight are okay," mutters Aqualad, black orbs never leaving the screen where Dabnod's location is displayed. "Even if they come back in one piece, I'm sure they've been through a lot."

Adriel's eyes had been cherry red, and his long ponytail was sunset orange. Now all Dabnodian features are shifting to plum. "Just do what you can to be supportive. It will take time, but they will heal."

Silence ensues. The Ground Badger thinks that nobody else will speak. That is when Cyborg shouts to Raven in the kitchen.

"Rae, can you brew some coffee? I'm sure none of us are sleeping. Not now."

"I'm on it."

Nobody sees as the teen boy weaves stealthily between buildings in the dim glow of the waning moon. Nobody hears as he sneaks into the mansion through an open window. There is a very convenient tree just outside of that open window.

Adriel reflects on all the nights of detailed conversations that occurred at the Shooting Star Clan Center. Councilman Two of the Ground Badger Clan and his wife haven't been getting along, so they've been in separate bedrooms. His bedroom is on the topmost floor at the back of the house. He gets hot at night, so the window beside his bed is usually open. Councilman Two's wife always complains of her husband's snoring, so his mouth must be open when he sleeps. The guards posted in front of the Councilman's bedroom door tend to doze off, so it isn't likely that they will hear a disturbance. All of this information is clearer in Adriel's mind than it ever has been.

For an eternal minute, he sits on the window's ledge and drinks in the sight of the room. A short bookshelf is directly beneath him, and in front of that is an area rug. Sticking his head inside ever so slightly, it is seen that the Councilman's bed is a scant three feet to the left. The middle-aged, potbellied, man's snores are louder than the caw of a mating phoenix. Charcoal-colored eyes never leaving his target, Adriel quietly stretches his body over the bookshelf and onto the area rug. Barely a peep is made. There is only a slight creak, which could easily be caused by the wind.

Councilman Two stirs. Adriel's breath hitches. Then the snores become long and even again. The Ground Badger boy's posture instantly relaxes with relief. He digs into the pocket of his tunic as silently as possible, grips the small, red, vial and uncorks it. It occurs to Adriel that the Fates must truly want this to happen, because the Councilman is sleeping on his back with his mouth open wide. Four steps is all it takes to bring Adriel to his target's side.

He looks from the red vial, to Councilman Two of the Ground Badger Clan, and back again. An eternity must pass while contemplating the weight of what is about to happen. In reality, only about ten seconds go by. Adriel takes a deep breath. "Sweet Fates, give me strength and give me wisdom. Please don't let this be a mistake!"

Before he can change his mind, he quickly pours two drops of the red syrup into his target's mouth. Councilman Two sits bolt upright with a sharp gasp, beryl irises locking onto his assailant. He doesn't get the opportunity to scream, because his entire body turns rigid and collapses back into the bed motionless. Councilman Two gawps at Adriel in comatose horror. Gulping, the boy draws his sword in one swift motion.

Adriel barely processes his movements. His body feels less like his own and more like the body of a robot. It is only the feeling of warm, sticky, liquid splashing his arms, face, and tunic that brings him back to his senses. At which point, Adriel collapses to the floor. Kneeling in front of the bed, Adriel stares at Councilman Two who, not only was a member of the Royal Council, but was also one of his clansmen.

"Sweet Fates! What have I done?!"

There is not even a partial second to contemplate this question. It comes to his attention that the moon, which had been high in the sky, is starting to dip ever so slightly. Sweet Fates! He needs to get home before he's missed! The Ground Badger leaps out of the window and dashes into the nearby foliage. His deepest hopes are that he can make it home and be found asleep in his room. It will be the perfect alibi.

But as always, the Fates have a different plan.

Adriel doesn't hurry as quickly as he should. Adriel saunters through the forest leading from the Palace City to the Ground Badger Compound. He gazes at the stars, soaks in the moonlight, and inhales the scent of the trees. Anything to calm his frazzled nerves. Anything to stop his hands from shaking. Anything to distract him from the heavy, metallic, smell of the blood covering him.

When the boy finally approaches the West Entrance to the Ground Badger Compound, he expects that he will be able to enter without hindrance. However, there is something at the gate stopping him that he never would have anticipated. Not once in his fifteen short years would he have expected this. Aerad the Ground Badger Patriarch stands outside the west wall with ramrod straight posture, eyes boring into his son. Aerad's eyes are midnight blue. For the first time in his life, Adriel feels afraid of his father. Deathly afraid.

"I just returned from the Royal Palace. Something dreadful occurred. You won't believe it. Someone tried to assassinate Her Majesty."

The boy doesn't have a mirror, nor does he need one. He is already very aware that he is turning pale and that every strand of hair is blacker than the night sky. The ruse is over before it begins. "That's horrible."

"Quite horrible." Adriel feels his father examining him down to the bone. "Royal Knights were flooding the Palace Courtyard panicking as I was leaving. Several members of the Royal Council are dead in their beds."

"How dreadful."

Aerad stomps his feet and widens his stance. The ground tremors. Trepidation coursing through his veins, Adriel lowers his arms until he feels the energies in his second heart connecting with the surrounding rocks. Is this really happening? This can't be happening.

"What is that all over your clothes, Adriel?"

"Father-"

"Answer the question, my son. What is that you're covered in? How are you involved? What have you done?"

Silence lingers. Adriel is trembling. As he trembles, the shuddering of the ground beneath them only increases in intensity. "I did what I had to."

A boulder is removed from the compound's west wall and tossed at Adriel. The boy barely manages to dodge. "I have been suspicious of you for months. Perhaps even years. I was hoping that I was wrong, but unfortunately, my hunch appears to be correct. You've never been on Her Majesty's side, have you?"

That same boulder is redirected back at Aerad, who is not nearly as spry. A fatal hit is avoided by mere centimeters.

"How am I supposed to be on her side? The woman is mentally unstable! She was going to destroy everyone and everything, and you were going to let her! Why should I be expected to stand around and do nothing?"

"Because you were going to be the King of Dabnod!"

Aerad locks onto five more hulking rocks in an attempt to send them flying at his son. Adriel hadn't a clue that he could do this until now. He grasps the boulders using his abilities and makes two tight fists, turning them to sand instantly. Aerad gawps.

"I don't want to be the King of Dabnod. I don't want to marry Damiana. I don't want to enslave Tamaran and conquer the galaxy! It's wrong! All of it is so wrong! You weren't there when we destroyed Province Five. It was awful! How was I supposed to do that exact same thing to entire planets, and do that as Dabnod's King?"

Aerad stomps. The ground rolls into a high wave, as if it were water rather than dirt. Trees are uprooted and animals scurry in all directions. Adriel raises himself away from the wreckage atop a massive pillar. He shifts the oncoming wave backwards, knocking the older man off balance. His father collapses.

Although the Clan Patriarch is down, this doesn't stop him from shouting, "They were traitors to the Monarchy, Adriel!"

"Traitors to a murderous, insane, Queen? Why wouldn't someone turn against a ruler like Guayusa the Death Queen?"

"You're speaking blasphemy! Silence yourself, or I will kill you where you stand!"

Adriel scowls bitterly. "You couldn't if you tried."

"I can, and I will. Your involvement runs deeper than I imagined, I'm guessing. You killed one of those Councilmen, didn't you?"

The boy takes a deep breath. Somehow with one jerk of his wrist, he makes the entire west wall of the compound tremble. "I did, and I would do it again."

In a fight for dominance, Aerad pulls another flurry of rocks from the west wall. The rocks range in size from a man's fist to a full-size person. They flash through the air with the speed of a hurricane. Stones are so numerous that they block his father and the compound entrance from sight. Adriel barely has time to tear open a crevice in the ground between the fallen trees. He leaps into the dark hole, thankful that his father's attack has blocked his own visibility as much as Adriel's.

The boy isn't entirely sure how he guesses Aerad's location. He believes it is because the area his father lays in has the least amount of quaking. When Adriel reemerges above ground, he is directly behind his father. Another flick of his wrist leads to a second shuddering vibration rebounding throughout the wall and its gate, but he doesn't allow it to collapse. Rather, Adriel opens a hole in the dirt directly below his father. Aerad is swallowed up to his waist, his forearms encased in the rocky soil beside him.

"I want to let you out. I really do." His father may have just threatened to kill him, but Adriel still means these words with both of his hearts.

Aerad's midnight blue features gleam dangerously in the darkness. "You think you're the one in charge here? I'm the parent; not the other way around. I will give you one chance to let me out. Then I will make you face justice with your life. What you've done is nothing short of evil, Adriel. You must pay the price."

It must be an impulse leftover from earlier. The Ground Badger boy acts before he can fully think the consequences of this action through. He gives his right wrist a strong, downward, jerk. The western gate, used countless times during his childhood for innocent excursions, crumbles before his very eyes along with the entire west wall of the Ground Badger Compound. Aerad shrieks with such terror that it reverberates through the clammy nighttime air more loudly than the crashing rocks.

Adriel should stay to watch, but he doesn't. The pure, biological, urges of adrenaline and impulsiveness are in control as of right now. Thus, he takes to the woods before any of his clansmen show up. Never has the boy been more thankful for the cave that eleven-year-old Damiana discovered beneath the bush. Adriel doesn't leave the cave until the early morning cawing of nearby grass phoenixes alert him that it is daybreak.

It isn't the sound of the kitchen staff arriving for their day's work on the Palace's main floor that wakes the group hiding in the archives. Loud clanging wakes them. Echoing, deafening, bongs bounce off the walls. That sound could only be one thing; the gong. The joy that Damiana had felt only a few hours ago vanishes. Today is the day. Damiana assumed that it was, although she'd hoped desperately that she'd gotten the date wrong. Sadly, the gong tells her otherwise.

"What's going on?!" Roy jolts upright from where he slumbers in the makeshift bed. Emerald eyes are wide with befuddlement.

Damiana is already changing from her nightdress into her day dress in a haphazard flurry of tangled limbs and gnarled ringlets. "The last week of Dabnod's existence. That's what's going on. It's about to get really, really, bad. We should probably look for a more secure hiding spot. It's about to turn nuts."

Tenna doesn't bother questioning what's happening. She stands and gets dressed as well, instructing Caen to do the same. All the while, she faces Damiana. Never has the would-be Queen appreciated the mountaineer's unbreakable demeanor more than right now. "These archives go quite deep. Toward the back of this level are stairs leading down to more hallways, which lead to more rooms. We can burrow deeper if need be. Or perhaps Adriel can suggest a new hiding place."

"Going deeper is a great idea. Let's go!" A sinking feeling punches her in the gut at the mention of Adriel. The girl has a feeling that depending on Adriel may be a convenience of the past. Before she can confess this unfortunate new reality aloud, however, Roy adds his thoughts.

"Hold on. You're asking me to hide down here and not look at what's happening outside?"

"Yep, exactly. Trust me. Once you see what's going on, you'll wish you hadn't seen it."

The archer's emerald gaze connects with hers obstinately. "Our Adriel sent us back in time for a reason, Dami. We owe it to ourselves to go upstairs and check things out. Even if you think you know exactly what's going on, who knows? There could be some new facet to whatever is happening that you need to see."

Soot-colored curls gain midnight blue streaks. "If you're really that curious, nine out of ten Royal Council members were just murdered, and someone tried killing Queen Guayusa!"

The archer pales. Midnight blue returns fully to black. Tenna is already taking Caen and vanishing into the distant depths of the archives. They hardly notice the mother and son retreating. Their only focus is on each other.

Roy coughs uncomfortably. "Okay… You never told me that someone tried organizing a coup…"

"I don't like talking about it. All of the memories I have of this week are bad, and I already have plenty of bad memories haunting me."

"Yeah… I know."

Damiana listens to Caen and Tenna's retreating footsteps. She should be grasping Roy by the wrist and dashing after the duo. Instead, she guides him to the exit leading to the Palace's main level. She hasn't a clue why she does this. Perhaps Roy's harsh words got through to her.

The archer gapes astonished. "What are you doing?"

"We're going upstairs. You might not be wrong, and you may as well witness the full story."

Crowds are loud. Crowds are rambunctious. Crowds are always filled with energy and excitement. This has always been Roy's experience; at least until today. The Palace Courtyard is packed with people who don't speak. There is barely any space for himself and Damiana to squeeze in. Yet, they somehow manage to find a tiny open patch at the edge of the courtyard near the Palace gates. Nobody gives them even the slightest glance. Horrified black and gray eyes are all locked onto Queen Guayusa.

The Death Queen's hair is as black as everyone else's and is also streaked by purple. As for her eyes, they are the exact same shade of stormy gray as the girl standing beside him. Her voice is deeply pained, but more than that, the Death Queen sounds enraged. "Fellow inhabitants of Planet Dabnod, I have invited you to the Palace not for a time of malice, but for a time of grieving. I'm certain that word has spread to all of you by now. Because of this, rather than allowing my subjects to depend on the accuracy of news heard through the grapevine, I will confirm to you the events of last night.

"Last night during the waning moon, nine of my ten council members were murdered inside of their homes during their sleep. My most high-ranking Officials are taking measures to find the person responsible. Not much is known about the murderer, as they didn't use their natural element to assist them in the killings. However, it is suspected that the person has a connection with one of my Knights, because each of the nine council members was killed by use of a sword.

"Also murdered last night was Aerad, the Patriarch of Dabnod's esteemed Ground Badger Clan. As far as my Officials are aware, his murder is not connected with the murders of my council members. He was killed by use of a massive rock-wielding attack, and was found dead outside of the Ground Badger Compound this morning. However, even if the murders do not appear to be linked, my Officials are still investigating the scene for any signs of attachment. There is a killer on the loose even in light of our current disagreement with Tamaran, and we will not rest until this person pays for their betrayal to the Dabnodian Monarchy."

Frantic chatter overtakes the courtyard. It still is not loud, but somehow, the low hum of petrified voices is worse. Fear manages to invade every bone of Roy's body. Queen Guayusa's gray dagger-like eyes are skimming the crowd, as if searching for the killer in their midst. "To every single one of my Knights, Squires, and Pages, I have but one request. Keep your eyes open for any individuals bearing crescent-shaped tattoos. If any of you come across a person with a waning black crescent tattooed onto their left pectoral or onto the center of their upper back, report it to me immediately! This is not a suggestion, and this is not optional. Report it to me immediately, or you will face the wrath of Queen Guayusa of Dabnod!"

Queen Guayusa leaves the balcony as quickly as she appeared. All of a sudden, Roy wishes that he'd listened to Damiana and retreated deeper into the ancient archives with Tenna and Caen. The crowd, previously silent enough to hear a pin drop, is thunderous with chatter, and then with shouting.

"I bet it was one of the Water Flower Clan Elders! Those Water Flowers are always testy about being ignored by Her Majesty!"

"No, it must have been the Mountain Uiikin Clan. They're really secretive and really shifty!"

"What? How could you insult me like that? We Mountain Uiikins are the epitome of service and loyalty to Her Majesty!"

Damiana grabs his arm and drags him out of the gate, and it's just in time, too. The Mountain Uiikin that feels insulted unleashes a barrage of fiery blasts on a Knight from the Sky Serpent Clan. From here, an all out brawl breaks out.

As they're departing, Damiana comes to a sudden halt. Roy is about to ask what's wrong - besides the obvious, of course. Before he can utter a word, however, she tugs him behind a nearby statue. Then the archer sees what caught her eye. Saeran.

Saeran's short ponytail is transitioning from black to bruise-colored purple, the Queen's orders likely fresh in his head. Walking beside him is little Dami. It is very strange for Roy to see her in full view. Little Dami wears a long royal blue dress. The fabric appears high-quality. It must be made out of something like silk. As for her hair, it appears soft and shiny. The same could be said for her skin. Expensive products are probably used during her baths at the Palace. This child is such a far cry from the sixteen-year-old that he met in Lola's Cafe that Roy has to do a double-take. How is this the same girl that he met who was wearing ragged jeans, a frayed sweatshirt, and wielding an old, splintering, guitar?

Damiana must be thinking the same thing. She smiles darkly. "Poor kid. She has no clue what's coming. Enjoy your bubble baths and bedtime sweets while you can, kid. There aren't many more of those."

The archer smirks teasingly. "So you're saying you don't want me to buy you some bath salts and some finger foods for your bath time at Titans Tower? I thought I had your nightly routine memorized, Lady Fire Phoenix!"

At last, he sees it. An honest smile glowing with amusement. All it takes is overhearing a single remark from Saeran to steal that smile.

"I'm taking you home, Dami. Please don't leave the house."

Little Damiana answers, her voice a higher pitch than present-day Damiana's. "I'm scared. Can't you stay?"

"I can't. Didn't you see Her Majesty? She was very sad about the Royal Councils' deaths. She needs my help. I have to help find the person who did this and bring them to justice."

The siblings continue walking until they're out of hearing range. Only then do the two Titans leave their hiding spot behind the statue.

"Let's go find Tenna and Caen. I want to make sure they're safe."

Safe becomes something nonexistent. The next day, Roy discovered that Damiana had been very right. Queen Guayusa's speech was only the beginning. A commotion was heard on the Palace's main level the same as the day prior. Even from the deepest depth of the archives that they could find, the commotion was still audible. Caen cried into the front of Tenna's dress while Roy made the mistake of asking to return to the courtyard. Damiana hesitated, and she hesitated for a long time. The girl nibbled her lower lip as her hair shifted to the color of deep plum. Her eyes turned stormy gray.

When she finally spoke, she said, "Fine. We'll go upstairs since you insist."

It was chaos. A high, wooden, platform was dragged to the center of the Palace Courtyard. Standing on it was who Queen Guayusa introduced as Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan. The gentleman was chained to a tall, wooden, post that was surrounded by lilac-colored hay. The Death Queen took time to interview him, but the conversation was short. Based on the Councilman's putrid green hair and muddy brown eyes, Roy wonders to this very day if Councilman Three of the Shooting Star Clan had truly been honest.

"You acted alone, good Councilman?"

"I did."

"Do you regret the murders of your fellow members of the Royal Council?"

"I do not. They requested that we as a people commit war crimes."

"Blasphemous brute! You've destroyed our primary means of winning this war with Tamaran! Because of your actions, this war with Tamaran has been prolonged. Selecting a new Royal Council is a months' long process, and assigning each Councilman a task will take longer still." Queen Guayusa's hair and eyes were such a dark shade of midnight blue that Roy thought they might turn to ice. "You made an attempt on my life as well. Do you regret the attempted murder of your Queen?"

"I do not. My only regret is that I failed."

Midnight blue tresses turned to fire, and eyes turned to glowing coals of hot amber. When Roy sleeps at night, he can still hear Councilman Three's screams. His screams are one of an entire chorus of shrieks. At night, Roy also hears the screams of Prophet Veng and the Fire Lily Tribe.

The day after watching Councilman Three meet his fate, Roy and Damiana made the mistake of going to the Palace Courtyard again. It was much like the day prior, but on a much larger scale. People from high ranking clans, from mediocre clans, and poor civilians from the south side of the city were all gathered together. A significant portion were not part of the crowd, but were on the raised platform tied to pillars. Before Guayusa the Death Queen ended them, she forced them to show their tattoos to the crowd. Each individual had a black waning crescent. The men had theirs on their left pectoral while the women bore theirs on the center of their upper backs. Later that night, their cries joined the chorus.

On their way back inside that day, the redhead overheard whispers in the crowd. The whispers were being exchanged by Knight Master Urrvink and by a very old man adorning a Fire Phoenix Clan belt. The man was very clearly a Clan Elder.

"We made a mistake allowing Councilman Three to go after Queen Guayusa alone. We should have gone with him. Then we would be in charge, and we could be putting all our focus on winning this war," Knight Master Urrvink seethed.

"The time for worrying about winning the war is past. The war is lost, and we both know this. Tamaran is going to hear the rumors of the Royal Councils' deaths soon, and they're going to seize their opportunity."

The archer caught a glimpse of Urrvink's beard turning dark purple. "I know."

"Then ready the escape pods. We've made a vast error in our assumption that we could retake Dabnod, and now all of Dabnod is about to pay for our mistake."

"The entire planet would have had a price to pay regardless of our decisions, Daequel."

Five days have passed since then. Roy and Damiana have not left the ancient archives, though they have had to move rooms more than once. Royal Knights have searched the archives for any traitors trying to hide. It is only by the grace of the Fates that they haven't been caught. Even if they haven't been caught, however, it is clear that others have been. Each morning always brings more screams raining down from the Palace Courtyard.

Right now, Tenna is in the corner cuddling Caen against her chest. She tells him stories of Whisper Valley and of all the happy times that they shared. Somehow, the stories are enough to distract the child. Meanwhile, he and Damiana snuggle in a distant corner. The girl's head rests in the crook of his neck white he rests his jaw against her hair. There are more blood curdling shrieks. They won't, but if a single one of them opened the door leading out of the archives, burning would be smelled. The last time Roy inhaled the scent, it reminded him of a burned pot roast.

It is not anticipated that Damiana will speak. The would-be Queen has barely said a word in days. Right now, however, she chooses to say something. Tears roll down her pale cheeks as her small form shudders.

"I did what Saeran said. I didn't leave our cabin, but it didn't help. I still heard the screaming, and I saw the smoke rising from the Palace City. Every night Saeran came home, he smelled like charred meat and he always had blood on his armor." A sob chokes her. The archer doesn't expect her to continue, but she manages one final statement. "I wasn't stupid. I knew that something awful was happening, and I was in denial."

Roy kisses her head of soot-colored curls. "You're not in denial now."

"No. I'm not."

Screaming is what wakes her, but it is not the thing that gets her to leave the archives. It is the reality of what day it is.

Tenna and Caen are still asleep. Damiana rummages the shelves for a blank piece of paper, a quill pen, and a vial of ink. She scrawls a quick note:

Tenna,

Thank you for your kindness to Roy and I these past four months. It has made our time on Dabnod bearable. Knowing you and Caen has been a pleasure. Please get to the escape pods. Take a left down the hallway at the archive's exit. The escape pods are through the fourth door on the right. Don't try to find us, and don't try to say goodbye. Don't bother waiting for Tamaran to invade, either. Take Caen, get on an escape pod, and run. Get as far away from here as you can. Please stay safe. May the Fates protect you.

Signed,

Lady Damiana of the Fire Phoenix Clan, the Queen of Ashes

Damiana gives a small, sardonic, smirk at her signature. During her time on this planet, people referred to her as the future Queen of Dabnod and as the Queen's apprentice so much! The girl is sick and tired of hearing it. If she hears this title used even once when she is back on Earth, this is what she plans on telling everyone. There is nothing left for her to be Queen of. She is the Queen of Ashes. There is also the afterthought that she signed as the Lady of the wrong Clan. These days, she is the Lady of the Flying Arrow Clan.

The thought makes her look at her teammate with a gentle smile before rousing him. "Roy, wake up. We need to go."

He mumbles drowsily. "I don't want to go to school. Five more minutes, Ollie."

Her gentle smile becomes genuinely amused. "Seriously. Wake up. We need to leave. Tamaran is invading today, and I don't want to be anywhere near the Palace City when it happens. I want it to be a once in a lifetime experience. Believe me."

The word 'Tamaran' causes him to stir. The next thing she knows, he's sitting up. "Dear God, today's the invasion day!" Roy frantically pulls on his tunic. "How is the vengat clay?"

Damiana peers into the pot that she stole from the kitchen. The vengat clay is not yet blue, but it is nearly blue. Right now, it is an interesting shade of blue-violet as it continues soaking in the gurt vinegar. She praises the Fates that it is nearly ready. It will most certainly be ready before tonight.

"It's almost there."

"Good! I'll pray to the Fates that the zirgnant tool works once the clay is done. It's our only shot at getting out of here!"

The would-be Queen smirks playfully. "I thought you said that you aren't religious."

"We're about to die. Right now, I'm very religious!"

Adriel hasn't left the forest in days. Knight Master Urrvink pulled him from the crowd on the day of Queen Guayusa's speech and told him to run.

"Hide. Stay away from the Royal Palace. Whatever you do, don't come back!"

"What?! I can't just hide like a coward!"

"You're the farthest thing from a coward that there is, Adriel. I dragged you into a futile coup, and now it looks like I might have a price to pay. I don't want you to be part of that price. As your Knight Master, do me this one favor; live."

That was the last time Adriel saw Knight Master Urrvink. The cave beneath the tree, little Dami's hideout, is where Adriel has been staying. Adriel has been filled with terror, remorse, and many other negative emotions that he is too distraught to attempt naming. Only two thoughts have been on repeat in his head. One is that he murdered two people, and it was all for nothing, because they didn't seize control of Dabnod. The other is that older Damiana and Roy probably need him, and he hasn't been there. He just disappeared. What kind of friend is he?

Adriel knows that he shouldn't be wandering in the foliage outside the Palace City, but he can't stop himself. If Tamaran is truly invading at sunset and if this is Dabnod's last day, then he needs to be near the Palace. He will need to access an escape pod. He wants to go check on Damiana and Roy, but they're smart. They are probably gone by now.

That, however, is when Adriel hears voices. They are coming from deep in the woods. He saunters toward the sound of bickering with disbelief, feeling in complete denial of what he is hearing.

"I don't think it's blue enough. Maybe it needs more time to soak."

"Damiana, it's bluer than the blood of your ancestors! If it were any bluer, it would be Habsburg! Let's try to use the zirgnant tool."

Adriel gazes at them through the cracks in the foliage. His eyes aren't deceiving him. Damiana and Roy are really out here!

"Sweet Fates! You two aren't gone yet? Hurry! It's already noon!"

The two Titans practically leap out of their skin. Roy drops the vengat clay, but thankfully Damiana catches it before it hits the ground. When they catch sight of the Ground Badger, they smile with relief. Damiana goes as far as sprinting over to hug him.

"Where in the world have you been?!"

"Hiding for my life the same as you. I'm not ready to die yet, either! I didn't intend on abandoning you and Roy. Knight Master Urrvink asked me to go into hiding away from the Palace, and I complied." Pointing at the blue lump in her hand, he asks, "Is that the vengat clay? Why is it blue?"

"We found a book," answers Roy. "Gurt vinegar is supposed to make it more pliable for the zirgnant tool. Unfortunately, it took a week of soaking for it to work."

"Or at least we hope it will work. We haven't tried it yet," Damiana clarifies.

The Ground Badger smiles, "Then I suggest we get to work. Give me the zirgnant tool. I think I have the settings on it figured out."

Earth: April 8, 2:27AM

Bumblebee, Robin, and Starfire fell asleep at the kitchen table. Cyborg fell asleep on the couch alongside Mas, Menos, and Beast Boy. Aqualad retreated to one of his pools that are accessible from the common room's balcony. Only Raven and Adriel are still awake in front of the main console. Of course, this only remains true for another second. Suddenly, a blinking orange blip appears on the side of the screen set in the present day. With this blip comes ear-piercing beeping.

"Wake up!" shouts Raven. "Get over here, quick!"

Cyborg, Bumblebee, and Robin are the first to awaken. When they see the screen, they sprint toward it.

"Quick! Lock onto their location, Rae! The rift they're opening is weak, but a weak rift is better than no rift!"

Beast Boy is rubbing his eyes groggily. "Are we sure it's them?"

Cyborg scowls. "Of course not, BB. It's those other time travelers trying to open a rift to Titans East Tower from five years into the past on Planet Dabnod!"

The green Titan rubs his neck sheepishly. "Hehe, right…"

Sadly, before Raven can lock onto it, the orange blip vanishes. Collective sighs of irritation and anxiety flood the common room.

"Adriel, I changed my mind," exclaims Bumblebee. "They get one more hour. If Firelight and Speedy aren't back here in an hour, we're tearing open a rift ourselves!"

Twenty-year-old Adriel's cherry red eyes sparkle. "That's fine. It won't be long now, anyway."

It took all day. For hours, fifteen-year-old Adriel toyed with the zirgnant tool's settings. At long last, he found a setting that seemed to work. The blue clay and the yellow ser stone combined into a green crystallized mass. The trio cheered excitedly. Once they'd calmed, Damiana placed the newly crafted servengat stone in the fuel chamber of Black Shadow's device and turned it on.

The girl expected something big; a massive, black, void, to be precise. What she didn't expect was for the machine to buzz briefly to life and then stop working. She has turned it on twice since then, and each time it turns off after lighting up for only an instant. The sun is vanishing beneath the horizon, and the machine still has not buzzed fully to life.

Looking into the sky, Damiana sees that there are more stars than usual. Her silly, eleven-year-old, self is probably enjoying the stars. At sixteen years old, she knows better. Those bright lights are Tamaranean battleships. They are reviewing their plans and perfecting their final strike. Roy peers at the darkening sky, too, also noticing how unusually bright it is. The archer appears notably disturbed, as if fully comprehending her tale of Dabnod's destruction for the first time.

Adriel is no longer using the zirgnant tool. The Ground Badger's hands are thoroughly investigating the lump of the servengat stone. "Maybe it isn't the power source that's the problem. It could be the zirgnant tool. Maybe the zirgnant tool isn't a strong enough tool to combine the vengat clay and the ser stone. It takes a much smaller piece to power a Dabnodian battleship. I'm thinking that the amount needed for the rift machine is too much for the zirgnant tool to handle."

"Then what are we going to do?!" Damiana exclaims.

It is here where it occurs to the girl that Adriel may not have appeared at their location by chance. She feels as though he were sent by the Fates. "It's a long shot, but maybe I can fully combine them with my abilities. I've seen servengat before. A servengat stone is supposed to be smooth. This stone is too rigid. I don't think the zirgnant tool could combine the ser stone and the vengat clay thoroughly enough."

The redhead gapes. "You're going to try combining them using your powers? You can actually do that?!"

"I think I can. Just give me a minute."

The sun fully sets as Adriel works. The lights that Damiana thought were stars as a little girl start to grow larger. It takes heavy vibrations to distract her from the foreign invaders. Mild quaking happens as Adriel puts all of his focus on the servengat stone. The Ground Badger's waist-length ponytail turns copper and takes on the same texture as sandpaper. Eyes also begin glowing copper.

Heavy vibrations transform into bone-rattling tremors. Damiana hears as a tree topples nearby. Beads of sweat are visible on Adriel's forehead. Combining these two very strong elements must be putting as much strain on him as creating lightning puts on her. The girl does not envy him, neither does she discredit the Ground Badger's immense effort. For a single endless minute, she starts to think that perhaps Adriel won't be able to accomplish the task. Then, an echoing crack emanates from the servengat stone. It sounds very similar to breaking glass. Only, instead of breaking, something new is forming.

The servengat stone had been rigid, almost like asphalt, and had been the color of swamp algae. As the stone reforms, the lumps and crevices turn into flat, smooth, even planes. There are three planes that glisten the color of mint, and the surface is sleek and glossy.

Roy lets out a low whistle. "Wow. That zirgnant tool wasn't strong enough after all."

Damiana takes the stone from Adriel while giving him a crushing embrace. "Thank you!"

"Don't thank me yet. See if it works."

The two Titans do exactly that. They open the black hatch and securely place the servengat stone in the fuel chamber. Once a click is heard, Damiana is satisfied that the stone will not move. After this, they re-check the settings. It is set for the eighth of April, and it is the same year that they came from. The coordinates are set for Titans East Tower in Steel City. They tried setting it for the same day they came through the rift, the fifth of April, but they can't. The dial is stuck.

"We're going back a few days late," Damiana voices aloud, "but we'll be okay."

"I don't care if we're late. As long as we get there."

The would-be Queen takes one lengthy moment to observe the rift machine's dented silver surface and the royal blue stripes bedecking each side. The silver buttons sparkle in the light of the oncoming battleships, as if telling her that time is wasting.

More has happened than she ever could have imagined. They traveled for months to get from the Outer Provinces to the Capital City. She had to marry Roy, live with mountain people for a month, see the ruins of Province Five, and watch a Prophet and his tribe die. She learned that, not only was she meant to be Dabnod's next Queen, but that she is Guayusa the Death Queen's daughter. The person she thought was her brother isn't her brother, either. He was born in a Raxtin House and given to her parents to raise, and is also a deadbeat dad. As for Adriel, he didn't make friends with her and Saeran by coincidence. The Ground Badger's presence in her life was due to a marriage prearranged by Queen Guayusa. Adriel was her fiancé.

Everything is different. Nothing will ever be the same again. Yet, when Roy takes her by the hand, none of that matters somehow. "Let's try again. Hopefully the fourth time's the charm."

Damiana doesn't watch as Roy activates Black Shadow's rift machine. Instead, she watches as battleships and as monsters with orange skin and glowing green eyes descend to the planet's surface. Thankfully, the Tamaranean invaders don't spot them. Their sights are set on the Palace City. Damiana is so thankful that she isn't there right now.

It is the shift in the air as the machine reaches full power that gets her to turn around. The entire machine glows white. What sounds like the Fates themselves tearing apart a piece of the universe is the noise that permeates the solitude of the forest. It sounds like ripping paper, the single difference being that it is the air itself splitting in half. The machine is no longer being held by Roy. Rather, it floats in midair. Several feet above the device is what can only be described as a thick, black, void. Not only does it sound like the universe is splitting, but it also has the appearance. A very visible pocket rips open in the air above them, nothing seen through it but blackness.

Neither she nor Roy are afraid like last time. Winds that are nearly tornadic pull them into the sky toward the void as the pocket tears open wider. Much to their astonishment, Adriel hasn't left. He stands amongst the trees gawping with wide, lime green eyes and lime green tresses. The girl shouts as loud as she can, praying to the Fates that he hears.

"The invasion is happening now, Adriel. Go! Get out of here!" As an afterthought, she adds, "I'll see you in five years in Metropolis!"

He must hear her, because he nods, and then he dashes in the direction of the Palace City. The Tamaraneans are already dots on the horizon flying toward the Palace. Meanwhile, the rushing wind becomes ten times stronger than before, sending the Titans careening. Penetrating cold encases Damiana's legs as she and her teammate are sucked into the void. Before her home planet vanishes, Damiana breathes in the scent of the violet grasses and takes one last look at the lilac moon. Her last glimpse of Dabnod, but for real this time.

Roy's hand grasps hers tighter. In spite of how devastating these past four months have been, she smiles. She imagines that Dabnod is not a hulk of rock floating through space. She imagines that Dabnod is alive, and breathing, and that the planet can somehow hear her.

Before the void fully engulfs her and the violet grasses fade to black, the would-be Queen whispers, "Goodbye."

~End Part IV~

A/N: How was Part IV? I know it was long, but was it worth it? I hope so, because I loved writing it! And, yes, there is a reason why Damiana had to learn everything that she did. Dabnod might be gone, but her story isn't over. As for Adriel's role in this story, it could be argued that Adriel is just as much of a main character as Damiana and Roy. Even though they're off of Dabnod and Adriel did what he had to do, his role is far from over.

Aside from the plot points, I hope you enjoyed learning about what exactly happened on Dabnod, and I hope you enjoyed being immersed in the Dabnodian culture. Writing it was a pleasure!

There is going to be one last part to this story - Part V: Crossroads. It's going to be shorter than Part IV and significantly so. After Part V, Firelight, is done!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to PM me or leave a review. I love hearing what works, what doesn't work, praise, and constructive criticism. I like to grow as a writer. Or if you don't reach out, I'm just glad that you're enjoying the story.

I'll see in you in Part V: Crossroads!

Forever and Always,

~OCQ