32 Productions Presents…

A Teen Titan Fan Fiction The Teen Titans in…

"Nothing but the Tooth"

Chapter Three

Titan Tower: Raven's Room

Raven had lit incense candles all around herself and floated in the middle of them. Her foe had used a sort of magical teleportation…a crossing of dimensions. That was her specialty. When Raven passed through solid objects, she was actually going into a portal to another dimension, then coming out a portal from that dimension on the other side of the object. Raven had never done what she was about to attempt. She had to track the movement of Starfire through whatever dimension she had been thrown into. If Raven was lucky, Starfire was still in that dimension. It would be much easier to find her then. If not, she'd have to poke around the various holes that had appeared in that dimension to see if Starfire was on the other side. This would be tiring…she may even pass out from exhaustion…or simply die. That was possible too. She sincerely hoped it wasn't the last one.

Raven: Azarath…Mentrion…Zinthos. Azarath…Mentrion…Zinthos.

Raven gasped softly as her soul self flowed from her body, peeling down the halls toward Starfire's room. It paused in front of the wall that Starfire had been stuck to, as if looking for the way in, before plunging into it. Raven began to sweat. The soul self peered this way and that, its sense's scanning for the familiar emotions of the Tamaranian girl. None. She wasn't there. Damnation, it simply couldn't be easy, could it? It was as if fate decreed that Raven should never catch a break. Recent portals…where were the most recent portals? Raven began panting. Her soul self had been gone for far longer then she had ever allowed it to go. A half hour…maybe more…she wasn't sure. Time had no meaning now. Box away the pain…save it for after Starfire was found. …if she could find her before the separation took its toll. How long would that be? Raven had no idea. It wasn't a thought she liked to entertain. It could be hours…days…wait…what was that? The soul self paused. Fear. It sensed fear. It was a rare flavor, one it once savored, though Raven would never admit to it. The soul self was far more primal then Raven. The thing of urges and wants, not of logic and reasoning. It obeyed Raven's will because her will was stronger. Yes, it knew that fear. It turned and plunged into the portal. It looked around, trying to make sense of its new location. It sensed Starfire and slithered over, trying to remain hidden. Raven wanted to reach out…to talk to Starfire and ask her where she was. …was that a…?

Tooth Fairy: Alright, child. It's time to begin.

The soul self retreated. It couldn't be found. If the Tooth Fairy suspected that they were close, Starfire may suffer. Besides, Raven had a good idea where they were. The soul self plunged back into the dimension and returned home to its host. Raven let out a choked cry as it sank back into her. She slumped forward, supporting herself with her arms. She felt sick. Choking back bile, she stood, staggering. How long had she been out? Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror told her how badly it had affected her. Her face was pale…paler then usual. Her hair was matted to her head…she reached up and ran her hand through it. Numerous strands of purple hair were stuck between her fingers when she pulled it back out. Letting out a soft groan of disgust, she wiped her hand on her dresser. There was no time to worry about what had happened…but she knew now that if she was to be stronger, she had to train her body to last longer without her soul self. Pulling her hood back up to hide her problem, she glanced at the clock. An hour…that had taken an hour. She had started before Terra and Beast Boy left…and if her senses told her right, they had returned with information. Part of her hoped they hadn't found out where Starfire was. Then it would make what she just went through pointless.

Main Room

Robin sighed. They didn't get much information from him.

Robin: So all he told you was that she needed teeth like Starfire's?

Terra: Yeah…sorry, Robin. We pumped him the best we could, but it was all he knew. She's building something and she needs teeth.

Beast Boy: Being the Tooth Fairy and all, it makes sense.

Raven entered the room. She looked…sickly. Sweat trickled down her face, visible even under her hood.

Raven: I found her.

And suddenly Raven was the most perfect person in all the world. Robin sprang up from the couch.

Robin: Where? Where is she?

Raven: The dentist office. I feel like kicking myself for not thinking of that earlier.

So did Robin. It was so obvious…had he let his concern blot out his rational thinking? Bruce would have his head on a platter. Where else could she properly pull Starfire's teeth? Robin hit the alarm. They were on the move.

Dentist Office

Starfire spat blood into the bowl. This was hellish. Thank X'hal the Tooth Fairy had the decency to use Novocain…and thank X'hal it worked on her. This would be so much worse if she wasn't numb right now. Hell, this was flat out sadistic. Her arms and legs were tied to the chair with more floss.

Starfire: Why…why are you doing this?

Well that's what she wanted to say. What she DID say was…

Starfire: Whyb? Why abe youb dobing this?

Tooth Fairy: Why? It's simple, really.

She pulled another tooth.

Tooth Fairy: I'm the Tooth Fairy. The TOOTH FAIRY. How is that fair? My powers are limited to dental work, nobody believes in me past the age of eleven at the most, and even if they did, they stop losing their teeth, so I can't do anything! I'm so weak in comparison to other fairies that I'm not even allowed to go back home. And why? Is it my fault? Was I born this way? No, it was decided by the powers that be, that I be named Tooth Fairy. Did you know I don't even have a real name? I can't even remember names because of what I am, so I make them up! You could tell me your name fifty times and I'd still call you Alice. But soon…soon I will have more power then any fairy. Enough power to bust down the gates of Edithia and take it for myself. But to gain that power, I must have the right kind of teeth. Your teeth, I'm sorry to say.

As she said this, she continued to pull teeth. She wasn't just saying it either. She was sorry. This poor girl hadn't done anything to her…but she'd be damned if she was going to remain on this mudball forever. Finally the last tooth was pulled.

Tooth Fairy: There we are. All done. Now let's get at that other set.

Starfire's horrified expression told the Tooth Fairy what the garbled mess that left her mouth was.

Tooth Fairy: No, no, no! I'm not going to go into your gums to get them. I'm the Tooth Fairy, god damn it. You think I can't make them sprout?

She tapped her finger on the bleeding gums and Starfire's teeth popped into place. Taking her pliers-like thingies, she clamped onto Starfire's incisor. Before she could pull, the door was kicked down and a birdarang struck her wrist, making her drop the tool.

Robin: I'm going to say this once. Let her go, NOW!

Beast Boy: Told you dentists were evil.

Judging from their expressions, the Titans were ready to put the hurting on her if she didn't obey. Cyborg's cannon hummed, rocks whirled around Terra, Beast Boy shifted into a leopard, and so on. She gathered up the teeth she had pulled already and put them in her pouch.

Tooth Fairy: Come now, children…I can give her a good set of dentures. She'll even be able to chew gum with them. I just need her teeth and you can have her right back.

Shade: (growling) You're in no position to bargain, hag.

Shade was pissed. He could smell Starfire's blood. And he was pretty sure that wasn't paint on the fairy's gloves. The Tooth Fairy clenched her fists.

Tooth Fairy: What did you call me?! You need to watch your mouth…or better yet, not use it at all!

She pointed her finger at Shade and suddenly he had a set of headgear on him that kept his mouth wired shut. It hurt like hell. The Tooth Fairy swore. She had acted out of anger and it was about to cost her.

Robin: Titans, GO!

They attacked viciously. The Tooth Fairy was slammed against the opposite wall by a blast from Cyborg's sonic cannon. Fortunately, she was the Tooth Fairy and as long as people believed…anywhere in the world…she would live on. She got back up, healing rapidly…at least visibly. She could feel herself growing weaker. She would need to rest soon or she risked fading from existence temporarily. Spinning a net out of floss, she caught the rocks Terra hurled at her and swung them with strength that seemed impossible from such a tiny woman into Beast Boy as he leapt at her. He yowled and hit the wall, shifting into a gorilla instead. She wanted to play hardball, he'd play hardball. Raven floated over to Starfire and wrapped her powers around the floss.

Starfire: Do not bother, my friend…they are unbreakable.

Raven: I see…

She focused her powers on the chair instead, tearing it apart completely. With nothing to be tied to, the floss was limp enough for Starfire to free herself. Starfire rubbed her wrists as she took flight.

Starfire: I thank you, Raven…now if you shall excuse me…

Starfire plowed into the Tooth Fairy, raising her fist high.

Starfire: …I have much rage to work out now!

Robin: …whoa…

Beast Boy: Dude…

Starfire: Any last words, wicked one, before I inflict much pain on you?

Tooth Fairy: Just two. Root canal.

Starfire clutched her mouth as it was suddenly in agony. The Novocain did nothing all of the sudden. The Tooth Fairy sprayed her goop on the ground and dove into it. As soon as she was gone, the pain stopped. At the same time the headgear on Shade's face vanished, leaving him sore, but able to speak again.

Robin: Star, are you okay?

Starfire: …I have had my teeth removed…one at a time. Though numbed, I had the horror of seeing each one laid out before me in a tray. No, Robin. I am not okay…and I shall not be okay until we insure that the Tooth Fairy is stopped.

…wow, that just sounds kind of silly, doesn't it? Cyborg shrugged.

Cyborg: Didn't we just do that?

Starfire: She may not have my third row of teeth, but she still has all of the second. That is enough to empower her, enabling her to try again to claim the rest.

Robin: Raven, can you track her?

Raven paled…to do it again so soon… No…no, she couldn't. Fear gripped her. She didn't realize it before…how scary it had been. Deep inside she knew it wasn't her fear. It was her soul self. It didn't want to try again. If Raven died, it would be "corrupted" by the remains of her soul…it would no longer be itself.

Raven: No…no, please…not again…

Raven pulled her hood down and the others gasped. She looked terrible. Her face was gaunt, her eyes weary…she looked like she hadn't eaten or slept in days. In time she would recover.

Shade: Raven, what happened to you?!

Raven: It was too much…separating from my body for that long…I can't…not now.

Cyborg: Don't got to. I figured she might pull a fast on, so I hid a little something in that sonic blast of mine. She was hit with a tracking device that imbedded in her skin.

Robin: Good work, Cyborg! Raven, you go home. You look terrible.

Raven pulled her hood up and shook her head.

Raven: I'm fine…so long as I don't have to do that again, I'll be just fine.

Robin: That wasn't a request, Raven.

Raven opened her mouth to protest, but clamped it shut. She sighed softly and nodded. Now admitting her weakness to herself, she suddenly felt truly tired and more then a little hungry.

Raven: …Shade, take me home. I'm too tired to do it myself.

Shade took her home and teleported back. Cyborg activated the tracking device and they started on their way.

Forest Outside of the City

The Tooth Fairy panted, tired. She needed to recharge her energy…or improve it. She reached into her pouch and pulled out the teeth. She had come to this clearing many times before. It was where she first arrived in the mortal world after she was appointed Tooth Fairy. It was the only place she could hope to use the power Starfire's teeth channeled to their fullest (wow, this story is really getting weird). Soon…she'd have all the power she would need to claim those remaining teeth. Placing the teeth in the proper designs on the ground, she began to concentrate her magic through them. Before they could be used, however, the ground swallowed them up. Terra smirked and held out her hands as the Earth spat the teeth into her palms.

Terra: Well lookie here. You owe me big time cash, Fairy.

Tooth Fairy: I don't give people money! That's the parents doing that! Now give those teeth to me!

Terra threw the teeth toward her. Before they could reach her, Shade opened a shadow vortex and all the teeth fell into it. The Tooth Fairy's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in horror and disbelief. It was a bit cruel for the Titans…but the bitch deserved it. Terra covered her mouth like she had done it accidentally.

Terra: Oops.

Tooth Fairy: No…no, now I'll never go home…

She sprang at Terra, creating giant drills in her hands.

Tooth Fairy: I'll make you all pay for this!

Terra moved left, bringing up a wall for the fairy to crash into. The drills got caught in the thick earth. Two large hairy hands grasped her and threw her up into the air. She struggled to right herself up, her wings flapping frantically. Shade created a fist of shadows and brought it down on her, knocking flat onto the ground. Her strength was waning quickly. She had to esc… Her thoughts were interrupted by a vicious uppercut from Cyborg that sent her up into the air again. Starfire grabbed her leg as she flew by and spun rapidly. She let go and the Tooth Fairy slammed into a tall oak tree. She fell to the ground with a thud. As she slowly climbed to her feet, a cable wrapped around her and the tree, binding her completely.

Robin: You're finished, Fairy.

Groaning, the Tooth Fairy tried to look up at her opponents. Her body ached…everything ached. She laughed bitterly.

Tooth Fairy: You think you've caught me? Think again, boy. You can't catch an idea…ideas just fade away.

She started to disappear, her power completely drained. She smiled wickedly.

Tooth Fairy: But ideas have a funny way of popping back when you least expect it. Next time, I'll be prepared for you all. Next time I'll…

The cable fell limp around the tree, the Tooth Fairy gone. Beast Boy scratched his head, confused.

Beast Boy: Ooookay. Anyone know what just happened?

Shade: What do you think happened, knucklehead?! She got away!

Starfire: I do not think so.

Landing, Starfire picked up the loose cable and held it in her hands, running her fingers along it.

Starfire: As we have seen, she may only teleport if she uses the pink goop. I see no traces of it. I do not think she escaped as such.

Cyborg: Check it out…

Cyborg picked up a small metal object from the ground.

Cyborg: …my tracking device. Wherever she went, this baby couldn't follow. Think she's dead?

Robin: …it's like she said. She was an idea…a creature of imagination. As long as people think there's a Tooth Fairy…there's going to be one. She's gone for now…but eventually, she'll be back.

Starfire gripped the cable tightly in her hand.

Starfire: And I shall eagerly await that return. I do not enjoy being tortured

Terra: I thought that's what torture was…

Starfire: Now let us go home…I do not feel comfortable wearing my night garments in a public setting...someone may take the picture for the tabloids.

Titan Tower: Raven's Room, The Next Night

Raven examined herself in the mirror. Her skin no longer looked so sickly. Pale as it usually was, it didn't seem as bad. Reaching up, she tugged on a strand of hair gently. It remained rooted. She let out a long sigh. It seemed she was finally recovered. There was a gentle knocking on her door. Raven spoke loud enough to be heard from the other side of it.

Raven: Yes?

Starfire: Raven, it is, I. May I enter?

Raven motioned with her hand, opening the door. Starfire stepped in, pausing when she saw Raven still staring at herself. She cleared her throat.

Starfire: Raven? Are you…well?

Closing her eyes, Raven sighed. It was a fair question. She had been asleep for quite some time. She suspected that somebody drugged her tea to ensure her rest. Whether or not she was angry was something she was still debating, as she did feel much better. She turned to her friend and nodded.

Raven: I think I'm almost at a hundred percent.

Starfire: Wonderful. I was most concerned. I heard you did this to yourself to find me.

Shrugging, Raven leaned against her dresser. She always felt more casual around Starfire. Girl to girl bonding, or whatever you liked to call it. Something Terra and herself still lacked.

Raven: You'd have done the same for me, right?

Starfire: Most assuredly…but I had to be sure you were not still suffering on my account. I understand that Shade has been most concerned for you.

Raven: Hmm. I'll have to show him I'm okay then…how about you, Starfire? In all the commotion, I never had a chance to ask. How are you doing now?

Rubbing her jaw, Starfire let out a soft sigh.

Starfire: I am well enough…though my jaw is in a slight amount of pain still…and I doubt my teeth can still penetrate crab shells as they did on our vacation.

Raven sweatdropped.

Raven: Starfire, you're not supposed to bite into the shells, remember?

Starfire: True, but as you recall, the true method made a mess.

Raven: …ah yes…the buttery mess.

Raven sighed and headed for the door. Shade probably hadn't eaten in a while…or maybe he's eaten every piece of meat in the fridge. It was hard to say. Shade would be very distraught, that much was guaranteed. She stopped once she got to the doorway.

Raven: I hope this experience hasn't made you afraid of dentists, Starfire.

Starfire: …let us just say that I shall be taking excellent care of my teeth from now on, and leave it at that.

Raven shook her head, a slightly amused expression on her face.

Darkness

The void of nonexistence was cold. Empty. All around her were unfamiliar faces frozen as their very timelines had ceased to be. Swallowed up by the blackness. The Tooth Fairy floated, sitting on nothing, drumming her fingers on her leg. There were times when this seemed better then living in the mortal world. It was quiet. No distractions…no nothing…or rather, no everything.

Whisper: Poor Tooth Fairy...defeated and battered when all you wanted was to go home.

Tooth Fairy: What?! Who?!

It wasn't possible. Nobody but an immortal being could survive in the blackness of the void.

Whisper: I can help you. I can give you the power you need to defeat them next time. And…I can point you in the direction of MORE teeth like young Starfire's. With hers…and the ones I will lead you to…you will have more then enough power to claim your home of Edithia for yourself.

Tooth Fairy: Who are you? Where are you?

Whisper: Where? Here, there, and everywhere, my dear. As for who…well…all in good time. All in good time.

The emptiness filled with a dark chuckle.

THE END