Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans, or anything you can recognise from the comics and television show. I don't own the Phoenix and its associates either.

Rating: T, for themes and violence.

Summary: For years, Robin always wondered what it would be like to have superhuman powers. But some gifts can be curses. Such power can make you lonely, indeed. Emotions and alliances burn, as a lone bird destroys the world... and creates a new one from the ashes. Non-slash; not pairings-driven.

Expect lots of Robin, Slade and the psychological mess that comes from those two. Couples (if any) will be pulled from canon (comics and TV show), so don't be surprised to see hints of RobStar, BBRae, among other couples...

Spoilers: Haunted, obviously. Chapter One starts in the middle of that lovely episode. Events will start to diverge after that, however.

Notes: The Prologue is set in a universe which someone of you may recognise. However, don't worry: this is not a crossover. Chapter One and the rest of the story will be back in our lovely Teen Titans universe. And characters from the Prologue's universe will not appear and only ever be mentioned for the rest of the story (except one certain woman, obviously).

I know that I should working on my Potter story, but I caught the stupid Teen Titans bug. Blame it actually, on that new show, Young Justice. Watching it reminded me of Teen Titans, which I love tonnes. I'll post a Tempus Tale chapter after my exams are over.

Firebird

– Prologue –

Phoenix Rising

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-X-X-X-

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-?-

?, ?

Inhuman screams slashed the sky. Smoke rolled outwards. Ash fell like snow.

Celeste jumped forward. Her blue eyes, glowing brilliant with energy, searched for her comrades. So far, she could only locate her sisters, Phoebe and Mindee – and that was because of the telepathic bond she shared with them. The fray of battle was making it hard to concentrate. Why did everything have to be difficult for her and her friends? Only minutes ago, she was having a nice, hot shower in the Island's bathroom, when the siren blared and declared that their home was under attack. Supervillains, megalomaniacs, and the other assorted loons. Huh, fate never gave up.

The hulking figure of a Predator, fur gleaming silver, loomed over her shoulder. The beast brandished its claws, as Celeste prepared a Psionic bolt. However, before she could fire the psychic energy, a levitating steel beam slammed into the Predator and skewered it against a wall.

"You looked like you needed a hand," said a boy from Celeste's right. Focusing his telekinesis, the boy hurled another Predator away from their vicinity.

Celeste gave the boy a blank stare, and he winced. Images of irritation and annoyance flickered in his mind, bearing the touch of Celeste's telepathic powers.

"I don't need help, Hellion," Celeste said slowly. She released his mind.

"Do not interfere again."

Rubbing his head, Hellion scowled.

Having boy troubles, Celeste?

Celeste ignored Mindee's telepathic call. There was flurry of movement, and Celeste slammed another Predator with enough telepathic energy to knock it out.

Of course she is. She never likes it when we butt into her business, why shouldn't she be the same with Julian?

Celeste's eyebrows twitched. The smug tone in Phoebe's voice was… galling.

Shut it, both of you, she broadcasted. Aren't you forgetting that a bunch of superpowered monsters are trying to butcher us? No time to chat, ladies.

Disregarding the girls' telepathic snickers, Celeste tried to force her psychic will over a horde of Predators which were screeching ahead of her. Her blue eyes burned, as she drew upon her inner-most psychic energies.

Inside her, the Phoenix fragment in her heart hummed. At first, it resisted. Coaxing it to obey, Celeste tugged against the Phoenix's formidable willpower. After a moment of struggling, the fragment yielded to Celeste's mind and released its considerable powers – as it always did.

Phoenix sigils appeared in her blue eyes, shifting them red.

"Listen to my voice… and surrender!" Celeste said to the Predators.

The creatures buckled at the knees, unable to disobey Celeste's Phoenix-powered mind control. Very few could. With a burst of psionic light, the silvery beasts crumpled and twitched on the ground. Glee glinted in the sisters' telepathic hive mind. Victory was near –

Then, it happened. Pain struck her like a jackhammer. Celeste dropped her control over the Predators as she gasped. Clawing at her mind, the inner psychic energies exploded within her with the force of a thousand suns.

"No… Not now," she cried, dropping to her feet.

Hellion was already by her side.

"Celeste? What's wrong? Celeste!"

Shuddering, Celeste tried to subdue the telepathic tumult thrashing inside her heart. But the Phoenix fragment was just so… powerful. The screams of Phoebe and Mindee overlayed over her own.

"The Phoenix… it's leaving me… leaving us," Celeste whispered.

"Leaving you?" Hellion repeated, his eyes widening. "Celeste, that thing can't possibly be – "

Burning with strength, the Phoenix fragments sealed inside Celeste and her sisters flared again. Celeste choked in pain.

"It's chosen a new avatar; it's returning to its master," she said quietly.

Celeste, it hurts so much!

Sister, we can't hold the Phoenix any longer! We're running out of time!

The girls' telepathy hive mind squirmed in agony. Then, with a burst of fiery light, a ray of psychic energy burst out of the sisters, who collapsed in a heap. All around the Island, people stopped even their fighting to stare at the firebird coalescing above them.

The Phoenix screeched.

Fire tore the heavens.

Holding Celeste's limp form in his arms, Hellion could only watch as the Phoenix, that vast cosmic entity, soar into the bloodstained sky and disappear through a dimensional schism.

"A world," Hellion said in a small, fearful voice. "Is about to burn."

-The White Hot Room-

Nexus of Universes, The End of The Circle

Immortal burning. The pieces of the Phoenix swirled and combined into a pool of raw, destructive energy. The firebird cawed, releasing a deluge of heat and psychic force. Only a few fragments remained scattered in the universes before it was complete, whole again…

A part of its massive conscious that could only be the White Crown whispered into the void. The Crown wished to spare another person the difficult fate of becoming the next Phoenix avatar.

It is unavoidable, replied a greater consciousness of the Phoenix. By adopting another human, we can channel the precious human energies and emotions to concentrate our powers… accelerate the search for our final fragments.

A flame flickered, and the White Crown murmured and conceded reluctantly. Is there a way of avoiding our first home, then? Our previous universe.

Opening its talons, the psychic entity trilled. It was not too horrible an alternative to consider adopting the next avatar from a new, foreign universe.

The White Crown released a soft pulse of relief.

But the next avatar must be more emotional than the last, demanded a part of the Phoenix. The telepathic girls were too frigid and unfeeling to drive the psychic gestalt. More anger, more passion this time.

Agreed, the Crown answered.

And so the Phoenix, nearly at a whole, dove into the multiverse and began its search for a new avatar.

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-X-X-X-

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