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