The moon base's sterile lights hummed above as the room gradually emptied, murmurs fading behind them. Naruto stood quietly at the arched exit, his cloak rippling gently in the recycled air. As the last echoes of the meeting room faded behind him, he turned and spoke with measured calm.
"Okay, thank you for your words. I'll give it a final thought and make my choice."
Then, with a shift in tone—one filled with purpose—he added, "Nightwing, it's time."
The former Boy Wonder, now a seasoned leader, stepped forward from the edge of the corridor where he had been leaning in silence. His posture was steady, composed. No longer was he the hesitant man haunted by old memories. His gaze was firm, tempered by years of growth.
"We can't delay this matter anymore. Things might get too hectic. Are you ready?" Naruto asked, pausing at the intersection of the moon base's inner corridor.
Nightwing gave a single, resolute nod. "I'm ready to face her again."
Naruto's lips curled into a knowing smile. He could sense the change—not just in the words, but in the man himself. Behind Nightwing stood Barbara Gordon, quiet yet radiant, her arm just brushing his. There was no need for words. Naruto saw everything in that small, subtle connection.
"Good," he said warmly. "You've finally moved on."
Barbara flushed slightly but didn't look away. Nightwing gave her hand a soft squeeze, and in that gesture, Naruto could see years of pain and indecision melting into something new—something stronger.
Kara, walking just behind Naruto, stretched her arms above her head and asked, "Is everyone ready for the meeting?"
"I've already informed her of our desire to meet," Raven replied, her voice smooth and steady. "She's agreed. In fact, she was looking forward to seeing us again."
Her tone carried something subtle beneath the surface—memories of battles shared, of alliances once forged in fire. Starfire was no longer just a teammate. She was Queen Koriand'r of Tamaran, and this meeting would shape far more than personal reconciliations—it would influence the alliances of whole worlds.
"No need to dress formally, right?" Kara asked, brushing a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ear. She was already in a red hoodie and black leggings, her usual casual wear.
"Not at all," Raven confirmed. "Tamaranians don't really care for formality. They prefer sincerity over pretense. Besides, she's meeting us as friends before anything else."
Naruto nodded. "Then let's not keep the queen waiting."
They entered the teleportation bay together. The glowing ring lit up as Naruto keyed in the coordinates to Tamaran's royal citadel. This meeting was more than diplomacy. It was a test of old ties, of rebuilding burned bridges… and preparing for what came next.
The planet Tamaran bathed in a warm orange hue, its twin suns casting long shadows across its glistening crystal cities and lush forests. It was a beautiful world, alive with the vibrant energy of its people—a race driven not by logic or pragmatism, but by emotion. To love, to rage, to grieve—these were not just personal experiences for the Tamaranians, they were truths that shaped their very culture.
But even peace-loving worlds are not spared from the cruelty of the cosmos.
Long ago, when the Citadel—a ruthless galactic empire bent on domination—turned its gaze to Tamaran, the Tamaranians were forced to abandon their passive ideals and take up arms. What began as desperate self-defense turned into a war that spanned over a century of Earth time. Tamaranian warriors, blessed with immense strength and flight by birthright, became a race of proud soldiers. Violence became part of their identity, molded by necessity, forged in pain.
When the war finally ended, there was little left of the Tamaran of old.
At the helm of the battered kingdom stood Blackfire, the older sister once cast aside for her bitterness. Against all odds, she had claimed the throne. But she was not alone. Beside her, as a symbol of reconciliation, stood Koriand'r, better known to Earth as Starfire.
Their reunion had been anything but simple.
Blackfire's path to power had been paved with betrayal. Long ago, in a fit of festering jealousy, she had sold her own sister to the Citadel, offering up Starfire as both slave and experimental subject. What followed was a nightmare of chains and cold steel. Starfire had been violated, dissected, used—her body a vessel for pain, her spirit caged.
But fate had not abandoned her. During a raid on the Citadel ship, a group of unknown assailants inadvertently gave Starfire a chance. She escaped, still broken but burning with will. That path led her to Earth, where she met the heroes who would become her new family. Among them, a certain man who would become her light—Nightwing.
Yet even among stars, scars remain.
Though Starfire had found joy and healing with her new friends, the trauma never left her. The nightmares lingered. And as the past crept into the present, threatening to reignite old wounds, she made a choice—for Nightwing's sake, and her own.
She left Earth, returning to Tamaran not as a princess, but as a woman seeking meaning. She forgave Blackfire, not because she had to, but because love for family was the core of her being.
Now, Tamaran stood on the brink of a new future, its people no longer at war—but neither fully at peace.
In the present, deep within the Justice League's lunar base, Naruto stood with his companions—Raven, Kara, and Kushina—as final preparations were made. With the League now fully aware of the impending cosmic crisis, Naruto had one more front to reinforce: Tamaran.
He keyed in the coordinates to the royal palace and turned to his allies.
"Let's go."
With a burst of golden light and a hum of celestial energy, the group vanished.
The planet Tamaran, eighth in the Vega system and located nearly 26 light-years from Earth, was a marvel of paradoxes. Though its civilization had achieved breathtaking heights of technological advancement, its soul remained primal, passionate—rooted in deep emotional expression. The towering crystalline structures of the capital gleamed under the twin suns, their architecture blending futuristic curves with tribal aesthetics. Tamaran was beautiful and wild, radiant with energy, and governed by a race physically and spiritually beyond the limitations of humanity.
When Naruto and his companions arrived via teleportation, they materialized within the waiting chamber of the Royal Palace. The air shimmered with warmth and energy. The hall, expansive and luminous, was decorated in purples and golds, its high ceilings adorned with depictions of Tamaranian history—victories, losses, and legends carved into memory.
Standing near the polished entrance was Starfire, dressed in elegant battle regalia that still allowed her radiant orange skin to glow. By her side was an older Tamaranian man—General Phyzzon, a stoic figure marked by years of battle, wisdom, and unshakable loyalty.
Starfire's eyes lit up the moment she saw them. Her long, flame-like hair shimmered in the light as she stepped forward with open arms.
"Welcome, friends from Earth. I have missed you dearly," she said warmly, her smile bright and free of the sorrow that had once haunted her. Whatever pain she'd carried in the past, she had laid it to rest. It was clear she had found peace.
She embraced Raven first, gently kissing her cheeks in the traditional Tamaranian greeting. Then came Kara, who returned the hug with the same fierce warmth. Naruto watched with quiet interest—he had heard of Starfire, her trials, and her exile to Earth. She was known for her kind heart, her tragic past, and her sometimes impulsive nature. But despite her flaws, no one ever said she was anything less than genuine.
She paused when she looked at Naruto. They had never met, but there was no malice—only a respectful nod.
"Her Majesty is ready to receive you," General Phyzzon announced, his voice calm and formal.
"Understood," Naruto replied before turning slightly to face someone behind him. He patted Nightwing's shoulder with a knowing glance.
The former Robin—now matured into the seasoned leader and strategist known as Nightwing—stepped forward. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes were locked on Koriand'r.
She had changed.
But the feeling in his chest hadn't.
"Starfire, won't I get a hug?" he said softly.
She turned, her emerald eyes widening slightly as her gaze searched his for meaning. "Of course. You are very important to me."
She stepped into his arms and embraced him gently. He held her, firmer than expected, his heart pounding. But he didn't just want a hug—he needed answers.
"Why did you do it, Star?" he whispered. "Tell me now. I want to finally understand."
At those words, her body trembled slightly, and she pulled away. Her eyes dropped, and her expression turned somber.
"I've always regretted what I did to you," she began, her voice quiet but unwavering. "But I didn't have the courage to come back and face you. I loved you with everything I had… You were my heart, Nightwing."
She took a deep breath, gathering strength to reveal the truth.
"But you're human. There were limits you couldn't overcome. Every month, my body enters a state—our kind experiences a surge in desire that is… intense. Uncontrolled, it could've killed you."
Nightwing stiffened slightly, but she continued.
"I tried to hold it in, to resist. But the urges built up. I was weak. I… used others. Not because I didn't love you, but because I wanted to protect you. I made the mistake of thinking it wouldn't matter if it was just physical. But when I saw your face… the pain in your eyes…" her voice cracked ever so slightly, "I realized too late how much I had hurt you."
She folded her hands in front of her, fingers trembling slightly.
"I never stopped loving you. But I destroyed that love with my own selfishness. I've spent every moment since regretting it. Still… I am happy—truly happy—to see you well now."
The room fell into a heavy silence, charged with emotions unspoken for years.
Nightwing said nothing at first. He just looked at her—really looked at her—and saw not just the pain of the past, but the woman she had become.
And somewhere inside him, something shifted.
Whatever came next, at least now… there was clarity.
The words sank deep into Nightwing's mind, not as accusations, not as absolution—but as truth.
Hearing Starfire's confession, the raw honesty in her voice, and the sorrow behind her reasons, Nightwing found himself staring not at the girl he had once loved, but the woman she had become. For a long time, he had carried the weight of betrayal, the sting of heartbreak, and the bitterness of not being enough.
But now… it all made sense.
He understood that she hadn't acted out of malice. She had acted as a Tamaranian, as someone led by emotion and instinct. And though her decisions had hurt him, they were never meant to. She simply hadn't understood the damage until it was already done.
And he—he wasn't blameless either. He had tried to love a being far beyond him in every physical way, without accepting the full implications. The emotional bond was real, but their species, their desires, their instincts—those were never aligned. The gap was too wide. She needed something he couldn't give. At least, not then.
Now? With the gifts from Naruto, with the sheer power he wielded, he probably could handle her. He could overpower her. He could prove a point. A dark part of him even wanted to.
But that wasn't love.
And in that moment, he let that shadow of resentment melt away—for the sake of who they were and what they'd shared.
"I forgive you," Nightwing said softly, his voice lighter than it had been in years. "I've moved on now… I'm with Barbara. And you… you're with him."
He glanced toward Phyzzon, whose calm but protective gaze never wavered from Starfire. The man radiated quiet strength. Tamaranian to Tamaranian, he was exactly the kind of partner she needed.
Starfire's lips curled into a genuine smile as she floated over and gently took Phyzzon's arm. Her eyes sparkled.
"He is my fiancé," she said proudly. "We plan to be married next year."
Her smile wasn't one of victory or nostalgia. It was one of peace—the kind that came from finding happiness again after everything had burned.
Nightwing nodded, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Congratulations, Star," he said sincerely, his hand tightening slightly around Barbara's, who now stood beside him. She had been quiet, supportive—but cautious. Her worry faded when she felt the warmth in his voice.
Kara grinned and stepped forward. "Congrats, Star. You two look good together."
Barbara added her own congratulations, polite but kind, while Raven handed Starfire a gift—an ancient Tamaranian crystal, imbued with memories of Earth and their time together. It pulsed softly in Starfire's hand as she smiled at her old friend.
And just like that, the weight of the past was no longer a burden. It was a memory—bittersweet, but no longer painful.
Naruto, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, gave a small nod of approval. He respected closure, and he respected growth. With a confident step, he walked toward the large, ornate doors that led to the throne room, placing his hands on them.
"Okay, since we're done here... let's go."
The towering gates creaked open with his push, revealing the vast, royal hall beyond. Marble floors, flowing silk banners, and guards in ceremonial armor framed the path ahead.
Without looking back, Naruto walked forward, leading the group into the heart of the Tamaranian Empire—with clarity, with peace, and with strength.
The past had been confronted.
Now, it was time to shape the future.