See-More was not a fan of the scaly looking stairs. It was bad enough that it was taking him forever to walk down the never ending spiral staircase, but just the sinister feeling that they seemed to give off only made him want it to be over with quicker.

"Hey, Fixit, can't I just run down the stairs?" See-More asked out loud. In response, his vision was suddenly pulled downwards, the eyes shifting until it was at the lens that allowed for his eyesight to see vast distances. "Whoa, man, hang on!" See-More called out as he tried to steady himself, the suddenness of the action almost made him fall.

"We will continue our descent at the pace we are going," Fixit's voice rang out. See-More stopped moving so he could focus on what Fixit wanted him to see. The spiral staircase reached down for what looked like miles. "If you go any faster, you will not have the energy to continue once we've reached the bottom."

"Daaaaang. How many steps do you think that is?"

"It is exactly--"

"Wait, wait, no, actually, I don't want to know," See-More interrupted before making his way back down the stairs. Fixit fell silent and the thief continued his solo journey, the only sound being the contact of his feet on each step. "So, do you know what exactly I need to have energy for when I-- er, we get to that dungeon?"

Immediately, his lenses began to shift again until it was at the x-ray vision. His eye was then pulled so it was looking directly at a large room near the center of the numerous hallways that made up the expansive dungeon. Inside that room, See- More could see thousands of bodies. They were too far away to make out any details, but he could tell they were focused on what looked like some sort of alter at the far end of the room. And, while he could tell there was something on top of it, he could not tell what.

"Man...that's a lot of people! Do you know what's going on in there, Fixit?"

"Unfortunately, I am limited to only seeing what you can see."

"Oh, well, sorry about that...So, those are all Tameranians in there?"

"That is most probable."

"So, are we supposed to fight them all?"

"No, we would lose and be killed."

"Oh..." See-More continued down the stairs waiting for anything further as his vision was allowed to go back to normal. "So..."

"It is in our best interest if Blackfire is with them. There is a high probable chance that she will be with her people."

"I see. So, if Blackfire is with them...then we don't have to fight all of the other aliens?"

"Correct."

"And, er, how does that work out?"

"You are going to challenge Blackfire for the crown."

"A crown? Whose crown, Blackfire's?"

"Yes."

"Is it like...really expensive or something?"

"You are missing the point, See-More. You are going to challenge Blackfire for rule over Tamaran."

"Wait, I'm going to what?!" See-More exclaimed, stopping abruptly.Though, not knowing where to look, he chose to stare angrily at the ground. "Wait, man, I can't rule a planet! I need to rescue my friends, I can't be--"

"Calm yourself, See-More, I do not expect you to rule anything."

"Then why--?"

"Continue your descent and I shall explain."

"...Fine." See-More hmphed as he made his way down the spiral stairs again. "So, what's the deal, man?"

"Challenging Blackfire for her crown will force her to fight you one on one and no one can interfere until a victor has been determined. And, should you succeed, we shall be able to escape this planet with no interference."

"...Do you think I have a chance against her?"

"No, not without my help."

"But...I thought no one else was allowed to get in the way?"

"Blackfire believes me to be dead. To her, and everyone else, you will appear to be fighting alone. We shall use that to our advantage."

"So...we're gonna cheat?"

"If you so desire to deem it that way then, yes, we are going to cheat."

See-More grinned. "You know, Fixit, I think spending so long inside my head is starting to mess with your functionality or whatever."

There was silence for a brief moment before Fixit responded. "My functionality is running at normal capacities and is in no way affected by foreign influence."

"You had to check first, didn't ya?"

"The time for questions is over now, See-More. I am proceeding to focus on the task ahead. I suggest you clear your mind then do the same."

"Yeah, yeah."

The rest of the journey down the stairs was a very long one, and not just because the distance was so great. As much as See-More tried to clear his mind like Fixit had asked, he couldn't get them out of his head. How had things gone so wrong?

One day, they were all partners in crime. Doing what they wanted, stealing what they wanted. And, while they had first gotten together as a better defense against the Titan's or the police, he would like to think they were starting to be more than that. That even against the Headmistress's wishes, they were starting to be...friends.

Kyd Wykkyd was your friend.

His footsteps seemed to echo louder the further he went down the stairs.

He was your only friend and you abandoned him.

Cold air suddenly pelted his bare chest, sending chills down his spine. See-More reached up with his hand to feel his body, the skin was still warm from where Starfire struck him with that bolt.

He was just trying to protect you from her.

See-More still remembered that look on Kyd Wykkyd's face. That large smile he had when that claw tore into her face and back. It was the exact same smile Raven had when she almost killed him.

He was turning into something...Something I can't...I can't...

And you couldn't be there for him? You couldn't help him?

No! I mean...what could I do? I'm just...I'm just a criminal...

You were also his friend. His only friend. And you left him.

"See-More," Fixit called out suddenly, making the teen jump.

"Wha-?"

"Something troubling you?"

"No...It's just..."

"Kyd Wykkyd."

"I...How...Yeah..."

"Continue walking, See-More."

"Okay..."

"You are having doubts about leaving Kyd Wykkyd behind."

"Sort of...I mean...I don't think we should have just left him like that."

"Kyd Wykkyd has begun to succumb to the demon within himself. There is nothing more we can do for him other than keep him from interfering."

"But he's still one of us! We should stick together...No matter what!"

"You speak as if we are all attached in some way. I cannot say what your relationship is with Kyd Wykkyd, but neither I nor Red-X hold any such bonds. Blackfire brought us all together to serve her own means, just as I joined to serve my own."

"Why'd you join anyways, Fixit?"

"I wished to be human."

"Whoa...Really?"

"Yes."

"And Blackfire could make you human?"

"That is what she told me."

"Then we gotta make her explain how to do it!"

"See-More, that is not our objective. Our objective is to eliminate Blackfire and escape this planet. There is no room for error or for additional objectives."

"Screw objectives, man! Blackfire made a promise that she'd make you a human and that's what she's gonna do!"

"Do not be foolish, See-More. While there might have been hope earlier, I am nothing but a program now. I left any remaining human functions in my previous body. There is no possibility of me becoming human."

"Not if you keep talking like that there isn't! Maybe you forgot, but one of the first things about being human, besides getting to do whatever you want, is having lots of hope when there really doesn't look like there should be any! When I got trapped in that Titan's alternate dimension thing, I didn't think I'd ever get out, but, sure enough, I did!"

"You escaped through random circumstance and chance. By no means did 'hope' apply to any of those probabilities."

"Maybe not. But it sure did help in giving me the motivation to keep going, even when it all seemed pretty pointless."

"That is incredibly foolish and irrational."

"If you wanna be human, sometimes you gotta be a little foolish and irrational."

The silence continued again between the two as See-More continued down the stairs. It persisted long enough that the teen could finally make out the very large wooden door that would led them out of the spiral staircase.

"Finally made it!" See-More cheered, this time going down the remaining steps at a much faster pace. "Took long enough, eh, Fixit?"

"...Do you really believe there is still a chance for me to be human again?"

See-More slowed down in his descent at the question, but a wide smile quickly spread on his face. "I think there is always a chance that we should at least try!"

"...Very well. Let us meet our destiny, See-More."

See-More stopped right before the door, he didn't need his x-ray vision to know that the large room was just behind it. That Blackfire was just behind it.

"Hey, Fixit?"

"Yes?"

"Even though you might not think it, that Red-X is long gone, or that Kyd might be lost forever, I still think we all made a pretty good team. And, even though you don't want to admit it, I still think you're a pretty good friend. Same with Red and Kyd. We're all friends in this and I don't think we should leave without them."

Fixit did not answer right away, but See-More refused to open the door until he got an answer. Finally, after several moments, the program in his head answered: "Let us focus on one task at a time. We eliminate Blackfire, then we locate Red and Kyd."

The grin on See-More's face stretched from ear to ear. "Sounds like a plan to me! And don't forget we gotta find a way to make you human again and how to unfreeze everyone that got caught by the Titans!"

"Of course. Now, after you, See-More."

"Right!"

And with that, the two friends pushed with one arm, swinging the door open to their destiny.

...

"Well, well, well who do we have here?" Blackfire announced as the door at the back of the massive room swung open. Thousands of Tamaranian heads turned to see the single figure standing in the light given off from the spiral staircase room. Although his form was cloaked in shadow, it was still one that was clearly recognizable.

"Robin!" Beastboy called out from his bound position at the altar. Raven looked up weakly from her own spot, but quickly let her gaze fall back to the ground.

"No..." she whispered under her breath.

"Let them go, Blackfire!" Robin ordered, shutting the large wooden door behind him and pulling out his bo-staff.

"My, big words coming from a cold hearted killer." Blackfire sneered while slowly walking down the stairs from the altar to the floor where the rest of her people stood. The large crowd of glaring Tameranians parted so that a wide line of space was formed between the two.

"What are you talking about? How are you even here? Starfire banished you!"

"Robin! Blackfire is making them think we killed Starfire!" Beastboy called out "She-!"

"I said enough from you!" Blackfire shouted, pressing a button on the device on her wrist. Electricity shot through both Beastboy and Raven, the two Titans screaming in agony.

"Beastboy! Raven!" Robin cried out in horror, his masked eyes quickly returning to Blackfire. "Let them go, Blackfire! I'm not going to warn you again!"

"And just what are you going to do? Kill me like you Titan's did to our beloved princess and king?! To my sister and father?!" There was real fury in Blackfire's voice. Robin could tell. This wasn't her acting or trying to play the part. There was true malice in her eyes.

"Starfire came here to try and find out what happened to our friends. I see them, but where is Starfire? What did you do to her, Blackfire?"

"Do not try to place my sister's death on me! I loved her, despite everything she put me through. I still loved her with all my heart. And my people loved their princess, just as they did our king. Oh, how I would enjoy ending your life myself, but I believe my people have a score to settle with the leader of the group that tore their princess and king away from them. Guards!"

At her final word, four large Tameranians dressed in elaborate purple armor arose to the air from the crowd, large spears in their hands and glowing green eyes all focused on the Boy Wonder.

"Detain the murderer, but keep him alive! I'm sure my people would love to watch him suffer with the rest."

The thunderous cheers of the Tameranians rang out just as the guards descended upon Robin. The Titan's leader acted quickly, focusing on the closest guard as he swung down with his spear, pointed end coming dangerously close to Robin's face as he dived out of the way. He landed just in time to bring his staff up to block another blow from the second guard. The guard, however, kept the pressure on and the Titan was quickly getting overwhelmed by the sheer strength of his opponent.

Looking to either side, Robin quickly took note of the remaining two guards quickly moving to attack him at his exposed flanks. He forced himself to hold out against the guard he was blocking against for just several seconds. Then, just as it looked like the other guards were about to pierce him through either side, the Boy Wonder shifted all his weight to his right leg and side stepped away from the pressing force.

Though he managed to escape, Robin looked on in dismay as the guard he was entangled with only stumbled a single step while the other two guards managed to stop within inches of colliding. They quickly turned their spears to face him, though they did not attack right away, and Robin instantly realized why.

With less than a second to spare, Robin moved with his hips, dodging away from the very sharp tip of the spear as it tore through his cape. But, as he watched the rest of the spear slice through, he noticed that its bearer was holding it with only one hand. He barely noticed the detail when the force of a freight train collided with the side of his head as the guard sent a fist into him, sending Robin careening into the crowd. The Tameranians quickly ran and flew out of his way, allowing the boy wonder to fly through empty air and skid across solid ground.

Although the pain was intense, it was nothing the Titan leader hadn't felt before. He quickly returned to his feet, and though his vision was slightly blurred, he could still see the bright purple armor of the guards as they approached him. His hands feeling strangely empty, Robin searched for his staff, but it had become lost somewhere between being hit and hitting the ground.

"Perfect," Robin hissed under his breath.

He then made a run at the guards as they flew towards him. The two sides where mere feet from colliding when Robin reached into his belt and pulled out a small, metallic orb. Throwing it to the ground, the small ball immediately broke into a massive cloud of smoke upon impact, easily encompassing the guards and the Titan.

The guards quickly flew up and out of the smoke. They stood hovering above the  cloud for several moments before looking at each other and, coming to a general understanding, shifted their spears to one hand. With the other, they pointed with open palms at the smoke cloud and began shooting large bullets of green energy into the smoke.

The sound of the energy blasts quickly filled the chamber, drowning out previous Tameranian jeering and cheering. When the guards finished with their blasts, the smoke had finally cleared, revealing nothing but holes where the energy had make contact with the ground.

"Where did he go?!" Blackfire called from her position on the altar. Just as she spoke, a shadowed figure approached from behind her.

"Right here," Robin whispered, and, just as Blackfire whirled on him, he spun his body, foot out, the heel of his boot connecting with the side of Blackfire's head, sending the Tameranian off the altar and onto the ground with her people. Her simple, silver crown flew from her hand and landed beside her.

"How dare you!" Blackfire hissed, but before she had a chance to get up, Robin was in the air again and landed directly on top of Blackfire, one hand on her chest, the other holding the sharp end of a bird-a-rang to her throat.

"Call off your guards!" Robin ordered, seeing the four in question quickly making their way towards them.

"Do you really think you can hold a Tameranian captive?" Blackfire hissed at him, the hatred in her eyes never leaving as she looked from Robin to someone behind him. "Raven tried, and see where it got her? She had to kill her captive just as you killed yours. You humans are too weak to hold us prisoner, your only option is to kill us! And, being the mindless animals you are, you take that choice, you take it with joy!"

"Blackfire, what's happened to you?! Why are you doing all this!" Robin demanded. 

Blackfire looked deep into Robin's masked eyes. "I am doing only what is expected of someone who has lost everyone they have loved. I am doing only what a Tameranian would do when their entire livelihood is threatened. The Titans will never overcome us; the Earth will pay for what has been done here today!"

"But Starfire is still alive! She should be here somewhe-!"

"Enough!" Blackfire shouted, her eyes moving to somewhere above them. "Forget torture, this Titan dies tonight!"

Not taking any chances, Robin leapt away from Blackfire just in time to see three spear tips dig into the air space where he just was. Blackfire looked unfazed at how close they had gotten to her and she even smiled at Robin as the fourth guard helped her to her feet.

"Do you see how fruitless your attempts are? Even if you do manage to best my guards, there are still thousands of my people itching to tear you to shreds."

Blackfire then waved her hand dismissively in Robin's direction and the four guards immediately began to approach the Titan, spears gripped in both hands. Robin fell into a defensive stance, brain rapidly going over each gadget and how best to use it. Though, before the fight could kick up again, the door at the end of the room suddenly flew open with a loud bang. Robin, Blackfire, the guards, and every Tamaranian turned until they were facing the once again opened doorway where another solitary figure stood in the shadows.

"Who else dares interrupt our ceremony?!" Blackfire hollered, flying back to the top of the altar.

"Er, are we in the right place?" the figure asked back, rubbing the back of his head nervously. 

Robin recognized the voice, but only just barely. Blackfire, on the other hand, looked very surprised at first, but the surprise quickly melted into a cool, calculated smile.

"See-More. How kind of you to join us."

"What? Oh, hey, Blackfire! We were hoping you'd be here!"

"We? Who else is with you?"

"Enough of this, See-More. Do it now," another voice, void of emotion and strangely faintly familiar to Robin as well suddenly ordered.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Blackfire, I challenge you for the crown!"

A hush fell over the entire chamber. Very slowly, everyone, including Robin and the guards, turned from the figure in the shadows to Blackfire who stood on her altar, looking stunned and absolutely horrified.

"You...what?!"

"I, er, challenge you as, uh...ruler of...Tamaran?"

"You dare attempt to challenge me?! No mere human can challenge the rightful heir for her throne!"

Everyone's gaze then turned back to the shadowed figure, who was looking a lot more uncomfortable.

"Oh, really? That uh...sucks."

"This is true, sister, but you are not the rightful heir!" a third voice called as two new figures suddenly appeared from thin air beside the figure. 

Robin recognized this voice instantly. "Starfire!" 

"Kyd!" the shadowed figure exclaimed, jumping back in surprise from the two people who had appeared beside him.

"Starfire! My sister is alive?" Blackfire said. A large murmuring broke out in the crowd, at which the Tamaranian quickly took notice. "What have you done with my sister?! Do you Titans hold her captive in order to taunt us?!"

"I am not being held captive!" Starfire declared, attempting to stand on her own only to almost fall, forcing Kyd Wykkyd to grab her around the waist to keep her steady. "You will release my friends, at once!"

"Starfire! Blackfire is trying to-!" Robin tried to get out, only to have a sudden purple armored arm swing around his field of vision and grip fiercely around his neck, cutting off any chance of further speech as the guard held him in the air.

"Robin!" Starfire cried out, trying to move but being held back by Kyd and her own frailty.

"Your 'friends', the Titans, have committed a great crime today," Blackfire announced, looking gravely at her sister. "I'm afraid I cannot allow them to go free."

"What do you mean, what is going on here?" Starfire questioned as she looked around at all of the sullen, glaring faces of her people. "What has happened, sister?"

"Galfore is dead."

"...What?"

"See for yourself, sister!" Blackfire continued, stepping aside to reveal a coffin, big and black, situated at the center of the altar she stood on. "See what your Titans have done to our King and your k'norfka!"

"No...You're lying...This is just another lie!" 

"It is no lie," Blackfire said. "I watched with my own eyes as she tore him apart, piece by piece!" She said this as she pointed to Raven. Raven, in turn, kept her head downcast, her hair shielding her face from the world. 

Starfire looked directly at her. "Raven...is what my sister says...."

"I'm sorry, Starfire..." Raven muttered, and it was clear in her voice that she was crying, black energy sparked sporadically around her. "I'm so, so sorry."

"No, this can't be. This cannot be true..."

"She didn't mean to, Starfire! He thought you were-!" Beastboy tried to call out, only to have electricity shoot through his body once again. It was with enough force to knock him out cold.

"I warned you to keep your little green mouth shut!" Blackfire hissed.

"Damn you, Blackfire..." Robin whispered as he struggled to breathe against the guard's grip.

"Let me go. Now!" Starfire commanded. The thief that was holding her looked at her for a moment before slowly releasing his arms, his gaze going back to Blackfire as he stepped away into the shadows. 

Starfire managed to remain standing, though it was on very shaky legs. "You sent guards to attack me," Starfire said, her head downcast.

"My guards must have mistaken you for someone else, sister. We all believed you to be dead! But now you are here, and you can fight with us. Please, Starfire, stand with me. Stand with your people."

"Raven..." Starfire went on, looking up now at her fellow Titan across the room. "Please look at me."

Raven did not move at first, but, slowly, she brought her head up until her wet eyes were locked with Starfire's clear, green ones.

"Tell me, is it true what my sister says? Did you kill my k'norfka?"

Raven bit her lip, the tears flowed ever harder, but she kept her gaze with Starfire. "Yes," she managed to choke out before she was forced to look away again. "Yes, Starfire, I killed him." The Titan then broke down into silent sobs, unable to get anything else out.

Robin looked frantically between the unconscious Beastboy, the shattered Raven, and finally Starfire, now as still and quiet as stone. Very slowly, he felt his heart sink down into his stomach.

"I am with you, sister," Starfire said, her gaze focused on the ground.

"Starfire, no!" Robin cried, fighting frantically against his captor's grip, only to have the arm wrap tighter around his throat.

"Oh, sister, you have no idea how happy you have made me!" Blackfire cried, arms open wide. "Together, we shall lead our people to victory!"

"But first, you must accept the challenge," Starfire continued, still not looking up.

"What?"

"After I banished you, you were no longer entitled to the throne. You may have found your way back into power, but anyone now has the right to challenge that power." Starfire then looked sideways at See-More. "You must accept any challenge, and defeat it."

"But, sister--"

"If you do not accept it, I shall reclaim my right to rule and make sure your next banishment is much more permanent," Starfire said with an air of finality as she locked gazes with her sister. And, while Blackfire glared back, she quickly broke the gaze.

"Very well, sister, I shall do as my princess commands." Blackfire flew down from the altar as her gaze then shifted to See-More. "Well then, murderer, are you ready to die?"

Blackfire's eyes and fists then began to glow purple as she looked on at See-More with a fierce intensity. See-More's whole body grew cold, even the parts that were burned.

"You know, Fixit, suddenly, I'm not so sure about this..." See-More whispered.

"It is the only way," Fixit replied. "Either we fight, or we die."

"Hey! What about that whole hope thing I was talking about earlier? Didn't any of that get through to you?

"My apologies. Either we fight, or, I hope, we don't die."

See-More grinned as he placed his hand on the dial, eye focused directly on the glowing Tamaranian. "Better. Now, let's show Blackfire what a couple of humans can do!"