With Or Without You (fourth in Destiny Series)

6) Nightmares in Reality

Changeling felt his heart stop beating. He knew those voices, just as he knew in his heart who the figure floating before him was.

He had seen the figure clearly, but his brain was refusing to register this fact. The shoes were black and supported by metallic soles.

The grey skin of the figure's legs was also covered in metallic black bands. The leotard was black and indigo, as if the figure was a ghost or shadow of the person she once was.

More metallic braces covered the arms of the figure over her costume. The hooded cloak was also black and fastened with the insignia of its master, Slade.

Glaring out from under the hood were two dark eyes that quickly split into the four red ones that Changeling knew so well. The figure touched down and regarded the Titans without expression. 

Changeling could feel every fiber of his being screaming. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing this to be another of his nightmares. He knew that it wasn't, though.

She waved one hand, and all the wedding guests except the main Titans collapsed.

He knew that when he opened his eyes, she would still be standing there, glaring down at him. Very slowly he opened his eyes, and there she was standing in front of him. Alive.

Yet, all he could feel was more pain. He never would have wished for this. Starfire was the first to her feet, "Why have you done this?" She asked.

It was a question that Changeling was wondering himself. As a response, the figure raised her hands. Pieces of rubble lifted and hurtled towards the startled alien.

Nightwing pushed her out of the way, and was hit by the rubble instead. "No!" Starfire rushed over and began to pull the bits of debris off of her fallen fiancée.

Cyborg had helped Bumble Bee to her feet, and they were both staring at the figure.

"Necronom Hezberek Morton!" the figure bellowed. Fiery energy flew out of her hands and engulfed the couple. They screamed.

Starfire turned when she heard this and her eyes narrowed. "Oh no you don't!" she exclaimed. She flew over and raised a fist. Changeling realized that he was holding his breath.

He watched as the figure looked up at Starfire. Then the alien princess found herself wrapped in fiery energy just like Cyborg and Bumble Bee. She cried out in pain.

"No!" Changeling ran forward and grabbed the figure's shoulders. He turned her to face him, her four red eyes burning into his. "Don't do this!" He begged.

She glared at him, and he felt her fiery energy encase him. He screamed as the fire tore at him. At the sound of his pain, the being before him faltered, and her eyes returned to normal.

The fire around him instantly disappeared. Tears began to run down the figures cheeks. Changeling tried to embrace her, but she phased out of his grasp.

'I'm sorry'  her voice was a whisper in his mind, barely even there. But it was just enough to show Changeling that the woman he loved was still in there, somewhere.

The creature turned away abruptly and began to pelt rocks at the fallen Titans. Cyborg was using his body to shield Bumble Bee from the attacks.