Fan Fiction ❯ Blackfire's Return ❯ Past ( Chapter 3 )

Blackfire's Return

A Teen Titans Fiction

By: Chibi-Suiko

A/N: Nothing much to say here accept thanks to those who've reviewed and I hope I continue to receive positive comments! Also, look forward strange and peculiar happenings once you reach beyond the summary.

Disclaimer: Nope, Chibi doesn't own Teen Titans, Blackfire, or Slade. Though I'd do some very interesting things with them if I did...

Summary: Blackfire has come back with her own tale of why she betrayed her sister... Is she really as heartless as she seems? And what's Slade got to do with it? (As if he doesn't have something to do with EVERYTHING that goes on...)

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Chapter Two: Past

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(Scene: Unknown Darkness, Voided Mind)

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The field was barren and dirt was billowing into the sky, making it evident that some sort of battle had taken place just moments before. A young girl stood lone in the center of a deathly thick cloud of dust, hacking bitterly as a few tears streamed down her cheeks. A pair of feet, clad in steel and violet cloth, knelt beside her and brought the small girls face into their hands, drawing her close.

"It's all right, Young Starr. There is no need to cry. Maybe next time..." The woman whispered reassuringly and, looking into the frail face, through the dirt and grime, a smile lit her features.

Twenty feet away, a figure clad in black watched as the younger was congratulated for her... Defeat. She had won! How come the child seemed to be more proclaimed as victor?

~~~

She stood groomed for greatness, her clothes glimmering from their New-Dom and her raven hair drawn back for safety. Her violet eyes glimmered excitedly as she awaited her name to be called and her entry to be finalized.

"Blackfire--!" And she jumped into the air, a lavender hue aura appearing over her hands. It cascaded down her waist, glowing immensely, showing strength, "...Versus Starfire--!" She halted for a moment, shock-ridden and dwindling some time later over her silhouette as she stepped into the battle arena. She saw the burgundy-blend of her sisters hair as her apprehensive eyes stared back.

Obviously, fighting a sibling was just as unprecedented, yet exhilarating, to the spectators because shouts and cheers were heard all around. Blackfire smirked and raised her hand in acceptance to the judges. Her sister did the same.

"Begin--!" Like the sharp blade of a dagger slicing through the air, the Head-Elders wheeze erupted, louder than the entire crowd of three-thousand Tameranians. The two reached the climax of their lightning out-put as their bodies clashed, blightingly fast, toward each other. It took hardly any time at all before the eldest triumphed, her finger emitting a lavender-violet laser beam right across the youngers' forehead. Starfire tried to decrease her breath.

All of the sudden, Blackfire's smirk let up and she grinned whole-heartedly, holding out a newly regulated hand to help her sister up. The crowd screamed, shrieked; shouts of 'Encore!' and amiable applause made the two go bright red in the face. Neither were that used to an entire coliseum's worth of people cheering them on.

The Leader's shouts rung around the field, "Starfire, loss; Three to Blackfire, win; Three..."

~~~

Later that night, both were using their ability to eavesdrop against their newly divided parents. A crisis had arisen since the defeat of one of their offspring in the arena and they were debating about what to do. One was older, this was true; but due to their extensive training towards Starr, pushing her and helping her exceed the limitations of normal Tameranians their age, their abilities and levels should have been marked even. It could have been due to Starr's lack of passion towards battle, her weakness... That was the problem.

Starfire's father just happened to be an elite warlord of their planet, a general of their army, and a highly-ranked official. His name was of common usage on the streets, along with those of his family and fore-fathers. It wasn't as if he were dismissing his daughters ability to restrain from commencing battle, or that he was displeased with her upbringing... It was more the fact that they'd tried so hard and they knew that this was not the full potential she could reach, the pinnacle of her strengths.

"But... Please, listen... Beautiful Starr is not yet ready to qualify..."

The two girls turned back as the argument died away. They sighed and retired to their dorms, both connected by a small peephole they'd built in when they were younger so that Blackfire could whisper sweet words and village chants to her younger sibling and ease her into sleep. Now they would use it to discuss much more important matters.

"What do you think the City Council will choose to do with me, Sister?" The fear in her voice was evident and Blackfire could hardly hear the girl breathing. She didn't know exactly how to console her but, never the less, she tried, "Will they place me in an ETF (Extensive Training Facility)? Or will they exile me..? M-Maybe they will wish to send me away..."

As you could have well guessed, the laws of their planet were more than strict. Blackfire attempted to shake off her exhaustion. She could all ready tell that Starfire was nodding off so she thought of some words to help, hoping that it would cease her obvious terror over the power their leaders held, "Dearest Sister, there is nothing more that I want from you other than to see you healthy and radiant and strong. The Council would never begrudge Father enough to exile his own daughter. This is more about his rank than anything else. He's too proud to see any harm come to you, you know that. As for those ECF's, they would do you so much good, no matter which you were sent to. They won't be placing you there, though, either..."

"...But... How can you be so sure..?" Was the reply.

"I'm not. But do you think Mother and Father would give you over to them without a fight? Father is strong, Mother is willful; a lethal combination if you ask me. No one will separate us, at least not for long." She yawned and heard her sister do the same, "...When you train yourself up a bit... How about a rematch..?"

"A rematch..? Do you not see, Sister? You are better than me. There is no way for me to compare."

"However flattering you may be, you know that isn't true. I am better only because you fear battle; you are such a peaceful thing... Dearest Starr, never try and morph your incapability's into something more... Unlike you. There will be many who will grieve... So, how about that rematch..? Not now, not necessarily soon; whenever you are ready, I will be waiting for you to come and refer to me..."

"Perhaps it is for the best to learn these skills... They will help me please our people when our parents have deceased. They will be most proud of their daughters once we reach the pinnacle of our abilities..."

"...Starfire..? You should know that they all ready are..." And those were the last words of the night as both teenage Tameranians fell asleep.

~~~

"You must train Starfire, dearest daughter..." Her parents stares bored into her own as her lips pursed in fear, "You must do so before you leave us. You must be ready for anything, wherever you are sent. Your skills will be needed when you come across the Justice Reinforcements on your new home planet, after you leave..."

"I'm...leaving..?"

"To travel to another quadrant of a distant galaxy. For research. And for first-hand experience." First-hand experience..? But she could get that here! Why should she have to travel a possible million miles when she could easily become a well-known warrior right on their home planet? Her father sighed and looked her up and down sympathetically.

Blackfire stood behind her in astonishment.

"We're sorry, Starr. Truly, we are... But it was the Council's final decision and not even I can change their minds. Please know that we tried to help alleviate your sentence. You'll not be under surveillance though. They know that you have it in you, they're just hoping to bring it out. This is more like a long-term session... You'll be back someday and you'll be thanking them all on bended knee..." He lost eye contact, "There is nothing more that we can do..."

"... 'Long-Term'..?" Starfire murmured disbelievingly, not even listening to him further than that line. No one chose this time to answer her as they knew it wouldn't help matters. They were temporarily going to be separated and, being the youngest, they would be forced to miss, what could be, ten years of their daughters life. The thought was not very pleasing to them, "There is nothing you can do... Father..? Please, you know that I tried..."

"Yes, I do... But your weakness for peace is not on your side, I'm afraid. And it's unacceptable for an Elite's child to borne no urge for battle. I'm afraid this is a lesson that you must be taught. In two weeks time, this will no longer be your home. The Leaders have requested your presence in a weeks time to discuss your departure and cluster coordinates." None of them looked at her as she felt four tears trickle from her eyes. One for each member of her family, including herself, for there was no one who could take this harder than them.

Quickly, she disbanded from the ground and left the home, leaving them all be. It was at this time that Blackfire chose to make herself known as she followed after her. The parents lifted their eyes and saw tears falling. They felt the pain as well, but the sisters were going to spend the next few years not knowing each other. And that made the situation just *that* much worse for them.

~~~

"You can turn this down, can't you..?" Blackfire and Starfire, sisters, stood alone on the pinnacle of their civilizations Godly monument. Neither moved accept for their lips and the occasional side glance at one another. They knew that if either got even the slightest bit emotional, the other would soon follow.

"Sister... And I thought you knew all about the Regulations of the Council Law." Starfire sighed. She honestly was wishing at that moment, that she could step forward and decline the journey; but it was impossible. Their leaders were the law and whatever they said, went. There were NO exceptions. And that meant that in two weeks, (not even, now that 'Deroje', their Sun, was descending beyond what they claimed a painting-worthy horizon), they would be forced to say goodbye to one another till the next time they were to see each other, "I am leaving and... As un-average of me as this sounds, I am almost looking forward to it... To see Father's proud face when I return, it was always something I've wanted. And you said you'd help me? Please, Blackfire, Sister; please..." She begged her sibling, dropping to her knees and grabbing at the hem of her dress.

"Starfire... I will help you.... But not right now. I'm-I can't bring myself to assist your skills, just so you can fly off into the universe... And leave me here. Who knows what would become of me..?" Blackfire tried to console her sister and make her understand at the same time, "You don't get how hard this will be for me..."

Starfire only nodded, soft glimmering tears streaming down her face. She didn't bother to wipe them away, her sister's words were all ready doing an acceptable job. She looked up at her elder and smiled, hoping to reassure both of them that what was going to happen wouldn't be permanent, or damage their relationship in any way. They both knew, though, that it would be much harder to accept on the day of her transfer.

~~~

The Council stood before her, dressed in robes of pearl satin and gold. She stood on a silver steel platform below them, hoping to ignore the sensation of their weary eyes boring into her skin. It felt so strange; most of their people had never had to be presented to the Leaders until the age of 23, and that was only to initiate the Banquet of Age. Unless they did something wrong, that was.

She heard their words and her Father's pleas to rethink their decision. But she, even at her age, knew it was no use. After all, hadn't her Father just said so one week before? Blackfire had not shown up yet. The last half a month had been spent mostly alone, her returning home late and waking before the sun never matching with Starfire's methods. they had talked little more than three conversations-worth since their standing on the topmost mark of their Godly structure.

Her mother stood in the Jury's Box; she was one of the seven chosen to judge the situation. And it was all ready evident that her one vote to keep her daughter home had not succeeded in swaying the others. Starfire was leaving her planet, her galaxy, her home... And there was nothing that she, or anyone else who cared, could do about it.

There was a blaring tone and the Conviction of Sirr Sapph-Gem Isareal's failure to commence his daughter in proper Tameranian executional warfare, the battle all ready lost, had begun.

"Starfire Lyndrell Isareal; you have been brought forth among the Tameranian Courts due to your ongoing struggle in the art of Tameranian combat... Such a fault is a rare sign of insubordination with the Tameranian Law; though, no matter how subtle the chances are for gaining such an unadmired quality, we cannot overlook this... The charges hereby bring us to the following decision..." Everyone held their breath as the consequences were given, "...Starfire of the Isareal heritage, you are hereby disbanded from your family name, under temporary circumstances, mind you, to live amongst the Civil Actors on one, fellow planet Earth. Unsupervised, long-term, and free will acknowledgment probation... Do you accept the terms?"

She choked back a slight sob as she nodded her head. This was it... The Leaders would give her a week to pack, plan, say goodbyes... She never thought she'd see the day when she'd be forced from her bearings and sent to an unknown land so far away...

"Due to your consideration and agreement of the above stated, we grant you seven moons before your departure. Plan well, child... You'll be needing every gift that you've received..." The Council turned away and the audience began to rise from their seats, "This court is now adjourned..." And Starfire raced into her mother's arms while her parent held her trembling daughter as she cried openly.

Her father stood tall and proud behind her, knowing that it had taken such bravery to stand without shaking before the admirable power of their Elders.

~~~

The Shot-Pod was ready and Starfire was loading two bags of things such as her favorite violet robes and her most-favored Tameranian snack 'Glorm-Lou Chips', the sight of which looked like regular potato crisps, only they had been combined with, what seemed to be, rotting cheese (Though they actually tasted like very fresh, home-made Blue Cheese dressing). She gave her Mother and Father one last goodbye and began to board her only means of leaving. Blackfire had never shown up, still choosing to disappear at the oddest of times. This allowed Starfire to remember the fact that Blackfire had promised to help her... It was a promise that she had never kept.

Suddenly a voice called from behind her. She turned, a smile lit her features, and she ran into her older sisters arms, "Blackfire, Sister! I would have thought that you'd forgotten or chosen not to come!" She was nearly in tears again as her sister held her close, running her hands through her bright auburn hair.

"Sister, I would never let you leave without telling me goodbye. Now was it me, or were you half-way onboard that shuttle all ready?" They both smiled at one another as they pulled away, "I am going to miss you, you know that?" The younger chose this moment to nod, "And I won't break my promise to you. Inside your bag is a gift; something that I thought you'd like to have, and something that I found would be of use... Keep it close at heart, as it has a piece of all your family within it." With that, she was ushered confusedly to her ride and blasted before she could reply.

Blackfire still stood lone on the platform, three tears trickling down her cheeks and waving with as much physique as she could muster in her current state. Her Mother and Father stood behind her, encouraging her departure with smiles that showed how proud they were of her maturing. She was saying goodbye to them now, without words. Yet she didn't think she'd ever spoken so much in her entire life.

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(Scene: Alleyway, Downtown Metropolis, Earth)

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Starfire lifted her eyelids to the sounds of angry shouts before her. She was still in the arms of the newly emerging form that was her sister and suddenly began to remember what had happened. How long had she been out? She still felt unable to move, though. Whatever her sister had done to her spinal cord had temporarily paralyzed her body. She heard Robin shouting from below and tried to catch his eye.

"Let her down NOW!" Probably the only words he had the mind to say, too shocked to believe that her, supposedly relocated sibling had appeared so soon before them, "STARR-! STARFIRE, CAN YOU HEAR ME?!" She attempted to speak, raise her hand, anything, but the most response she got from her nerves was a hiss of pain. She felt as if her whole nervous system had been electrocuted from the center of her cranium. Robin pleaded once again, in a amazingly concerned and (almost) frightened tone, for her sister to hand her completely useless form over, "Please, Blackfire! She's your sister! Give her to me, she may be hurt!"

But what happened next was beyond principle; at least, when it came to her sisters morals, as she felt them descend and casually, yet carefully, she was placed into the Boy Wonders arms...

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A/N: Yeah; I know this chapter took a LONG time to post but it's a little bit longer, I think. I wanted to give my idea about what Starr/Blackfire's home planet was like before we went any further. You know, an overview of their customs and such. I also wanted to give the feel that things weren't always to... Difficult to understand between the two of them because, in my opinion, anyone related by BLOOD to Starfire can't be potentially evil. They just can't...

PS: I didn't tell you what Blackfire gave to Starfire on purpose so don't complain that you think I forgot it or anything if/when you review.

Anyway, ciao, ja ne, whatever till next we read my fans/friends from the digits!

-- Chibi