Disclaimer: I own not any of the following.

Summary: What happens when Raven finds herself in a series of strange dreams. Or are they dreams at all?

"The Tale of a Raven"

—How the Mess Began—

ONE

"Ugh! I can't believe this!" She was frustrated, annoyed, and about to lose her temper for at least the sixth time at her team that day. She just couldn't take their incompetence anymore. They were as clueless as a brick and hardly contributed to the team — if you could even call it that. She cleared her throat loud enough for the entire team to take notice. "Listen, guys, because of your poor performance this morning —no, throughout today— I'm gonna go chill while all of you work on your battle formations. Which you will, or there are going to be heavy circumstances to pay when I get back. If you need any help at all, you know who not to call under any circumstances." Finally satisfied with seeing her "teammates" nod under her death glare, she walked through the main living area and out into the street via the secret entrance that separated the outside world with their lair.

"Who does she think she is? Our mother?" They asked each other after she was sure enough out of their base and definitely out of hearing range.

Leaving the team and her stress behind, she walked away from it all. Away from the whining and complaining, the arguments, and, most of all, the sofa cushion fortresses. Shaking her head to relieve herself of thoughts of those demeaning teammates, she followed her boots through the streets, occasionally turning here or there until she saw the glimmering, blue-green water of the bay. That, of course, wasn't what caught her eye. Something much larger, expensive, and more promising to her was what she was staring at looming over the bay.

Walking with more of a bounce in her step than before, she made her way to the long bridge over the ocean water. She quickly thought of all the things she could or should do, and silently thanked the fact that she left her team at the base. By herself, she would do more than just raid their fridge. In fact, she had a pretty good idea what she wanted to do. With a grin on her face she told the rest of her team to go burglarize the jewelry store down on tenth street through her communicator.

"When should we meet you there?" See-More asked her.

"I'm not coming. I trust you can handle this little operation without me. Or else." The latter she told them in a threatening tone that promised pain with just one slip-up. They might be as dumb as a brick, but they got her message. "Yes, boss!" They all answered more or less in unison.

"Good." A maniacal smile made its way to her face.

After silently crossing the bridge undetected to Titans Tower, she walked to the right and sat behind one of the larger rocks in their obstacle course field. As she sat there, she felt her stomach do flips as her excitement grew. She would be the first of her team to successfully steal from the Teen Titans! Now, the only question was, what to steal?

She didn't care really for anything too high-tech since she was anything but a nerd, so Cyborg would not have the pleasure of being stolen from.

Nothing pink, that was for sure. She wouldn't even touch the stuff to get back at the boys for not practicing their battle routines. She, knowing her teammates, could tell that they wouldn't practice their formations no matter how much she threatened them if she wasn't going to be present. So, say goodbye to Starfire.

Robin? "That walking traffic light obviously has no taste in fashion. At least he changed his outfit when he came to Jump. Seriously, super-hero underwear and pixie boots? Don't get me started!" She laughed and decided she didn't even want to see what was in his closet.

She thought about Beast Boy. He was definitely too much of a slob to begin with, but his room? That was one sight worth sparing in her mind and in most everyone else's, as well.

So it was decided; she would see what Raven had stored in her room. Hopefully, she could find something to tip the scales in her favor whenever they fought. Even if she didn't, she still got to steal from a half-demon. Don't get to do that everyday, now do you?

"Yes! They are finally leaving." She saw the T-Car and R-Cycle rush past her hiding spot in haste to get to the scene of the crime, leaving their home to become an even bigger one. She stood up from behind the rock after a minute's time and made her way to the entrance.

Walking in and getting past their security was a cinch. Cyborg really needed to invent something that overpowers bad luck. Walking past fried electronics and sparking wires in the entryway, she openly grinned at the treasures that lay ahead. She kept walking through their kitchen/living area to a ridiculously long hallway that obviously held the Titan's rooms. Following the path past Cyborg's and then Robin's room, she found herself at the one desired. 'RAVEN' read the nameplate on the door. Evilly grinning, she reached for the doorknob only to find that there wasn't one. She looked around until she found that she needed an access code to open the door. "A little bad luck can fix this." And with a wave of her hand the code was disabled and the door hissed open.

"Now what should I take from lil' miss Raven?" She walked into the room with the illumination from the doorway as her only light. She looked around at the dark, but attractive, furnishings for anything, well, secretive. "She's got to have something hidden underneath those black wings." Going through drawers, shelves, and opening this and that she only found things like meditation mirrors, bottled powders of precious gems, metals, ground up plants, candles for light and for aroma therapy, in fact, make that many candles, bowls of silver and gold, healing stones, and books —a great amount of books. "This is utterly boring. You'd think she'd having someth—" And that's when she noticed it.

There was a dark-colored wooden chest at the foot of Raven's bed. It was covered with a cushion to make it look like a seat, but it wasn't. She could tell. It wouldn't have caught her eye if it hadn't been locked. Not only with a lock, but with a spell. Now, what could be so important —or deadly— that she would have to seal it away? There's only one way to find out, right?

With another flick of her wrist, the spell dissipated and the physical lock fell to the ground. With the greatest of care she opened it the lid to the chest. She stood up at what she found in disappointment. "Well that's no fun. I thought there would be at least something half-interesting in here."

"Are you calling me boring?" She took a half-step back at the talking book —with a very attractive accent— that had opened of its own accord. "O-kay. There is something definitely wrong with Raven if she keeps talking books for company."

"Who are you?" Came the voice from the book, again. "Raven doesn't let anyone in her room, and by the looks of you, she wouldn't welcome you into this tower." There was a pause as the book hesitated, "Well, she doesn't really welcome anyone, now does she?"

"Are you quite finished?" She asked with her hands on her hips in impatience.

"I asked you a question." The book told her very snobbily.

"And I asked you one back." She replied.

The book seemed to sigh, "Mortals. . . So impatient; so rude." There was a pause as she started to tap her foot. "You must be a enchantress to have broken the seal." He finally spoke.

"And what if I am?" She countered, still not believing she was having a conversation, nonetheless arguing, with a book.

"If you help me get out of this book, I can help you in whatever you desire." His voice was purely bewitching, as if he was putting a trance on her. And maybe he was.

"How do you know that you can help me with what I desire?" By the skeptical tone of her voice, she sounded like she had just about had it with this talking book. However, she actually was quite intrigued. This book could be using her, but it could also bring about many possibilities.

"I know many things." She could hear the grin in his voice. "One of them is that you want to take down Raven, one of which I would be happy to help with." She could feel the sinister aura emitting from him and that reassured her to a small degree.

"Hmm." She thought for a moment, debating whether or not to get involved with this. . . evil book. "What is your name, book?" She asked it.

"My name is Malchior, and I am no book."

—Fin—

A/N: Well, that's the first chapter, and if it isn't obvious enough, the 'she' is Jinx from the HIVE Five. I tried to rewrite this so it was somewhat humorous. I hope I can keep it that way. . . ^^' And yeah, I know, I know. I have three unfinished stories (that desperately need to be updated), and here I am, starting a new one. Makes no sense whatsoever, but I felt the urge and I'm going with it. Sorry for those who are *still* waiting for me to update "I Love You, Forevermore", "Troubled Mind", and "Amongst the Quiet". If it's any reassurance, I know what's gonna happen, I just gotta write it!

Signed,

Her Sappiness