Raven's 20th birthday is approaching and with it her coming of age ritual. The Titans travel to Azarath and chaos ensues as the seal protecting that dimension breaks and hordes of demons attack. To spice things back home, Mika lives her own adventure along Titans East. FEMSLASH.

This story is sequel to "Creatures of the Night".

Author's Notes: Sometimes characters are called by their real names or their grown up identity.

Robin = Nightwing = Richard "Dick" Greyson

Starfire = Koriandr = "Kori"

Beastboy = Changeling = Garfield Mark Logan = "Gar"

Cyborg = Victor Stone

Raven = Rachel Roth

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CHAPTER 1: A Wish Come True

Raven was never one to believe in childish things, for she was never a normal child. Things like the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy or making a wish and blowing out the candles were not something encouraged by the grownups around her. They believed such notions were dangerous for they would put in her mind a false sense of hope.

The first time she had ever had a party was on the 16th anniversary of her birth. Beast Boy had planned for her a surprise party that hadn't gone so well at first; the prophesy of her birth looming on her head. But then she had given in and allowed them to celebrate her. As Starfire adorned her with a crown of meat and Cyborg placed a huge 8 layer frosting cake in front of her, they asked her to make a wish and blow out the candles. She knew it was a stupid idea, childish things. But then she turned to look at the hopeful faces of her friends and felt with her empathic powers their warm, loving wishes... and she surrendered.

I wish to be normal…

As she saw the smoke of the candles rise in the air, she remembered the many nights she had dreamt of it as she lay in the worn out couch of the crappy apartment she slept in the first nights of her arrival to Jump City. She remembered back then feeling scared, lost, and hungry all the time. The demon halfling had ran away from home to the place she was destined to help her father destroy, in a vain attempt of sparing Azarath form the same fate. Many sleepless nights had she dreamt of being just a normal girl, until the arrival of Starfire, the alien princess that fell from the sky, and the Teen Titans were born.

But even then, even after becoming a hero, even after the death of her father and the promise of a new destiny, some nights she still dreamt of what it would be like to be normal. Now here she was back home, in Azarath, and was faced with the consequences of her wish. Only a few hours separated her from what she had always dreamt of… and she was terrified.

It had all started a few days ago, with the arrival of an unexpected letter.

Raven had awoken that day past noon as it was usual of her nowadays. Between her superhero duties and her vampire girlfriend, she was usually up all night and could rarely be seen sharing breakfast with her teammates anymore. At first they forgot about Raven's new nocturnal lifestyle and they would go barging in her door early in the morning, only to find themselves plummeting out the window encased in a ball of dark energy. After 2 months they knew better than to mess with the dark Titan during her beauty sleep, so they would just leave her alone; and on some rare occasion she would wake up to find them gone somewhere without her.

Today, she was enjoying one of those quiet moments of loneliness in the Tower. The empath had been sitting in the big, half moon couch reading a book for a few hours, when the others arrived with pizzas.

"Yo Rae, you are up!" hollered Cyborg "Good 'cause these babies were not going to last for long. I'm starving."

"Where were you guys?" asked the empath as she took a seat next to them in the table and grabbed a slice. She was used to living with them, and knew that if you wanted to eat pizza you had to be fast.

"There was a bank robbery." said their leader between bites.

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"And face the wrath of the vampire demoness!?" shrieked Changeling "We better risk it with the burglars."

"Not funny Gar." deadpanned Raven "One thing is to wake me up to referee a game of stank ball. Another is to wake me up to work. I don't want you all to think I'm neglecting my duties just because I'm in a relationship."

"Don't worry Rae, we know. It was just a minor league robbery, so we didn't think of bothering you for that." reassured Richard.

"Yeah, since you are looking paler than usual, why expose you to burn in the sunlight just for a petty criminal." quipped in Cyborg.

"I'm not a vampire Cy. I'm not going to burn."

"Right; with that settled, we have more important issues to discuss with you Rae." said the metal teen getting all serious. His mood was interrupted though by the changeling.

"Yeah, we have a surprise for you!"

"I don't do surprises." answered Raven in a monotone voice.

"That's why we are going to tell you beforehand, so you don't blow us out the window when you receive it." Raven arched an eyebrow. Garfield just knew her too well sometimes. "Ok, here is the deal. Your birthday is in a few days, so we are throwing a big birthday party for you."

"That's not a surprise Gar. You do that every year."

"Oh but this time it's special, you are turning 20, which means you are no longer a teen. So, in this special occasion we are inviting all Titans and Honorary Titans to throw the best party you've ever had!" her green friend was obviously daydreaming about the party. Last time someone had turned 20, which had been Richard, the older boys had gotten beer and he had sneaked some for himself, even though he was not legally allowed to. A drunken bunch of teenage superheroes was not her idea of fun.

"Guys, I appreciate the gesture, but how do you know I don't already have plans for that day… somewhere else…"

"Oooohhh does your girlfriend have something romantic planned for you?" wondered Starfire with lovey dovey eyes.

"I'm not saying a thing… just please cancel the party, I might not be around that day."

Raven grabbed another slice of pizza and left to head for her bedroom.

Once the dark titan left the common room, the voices in her head made themselves present; which usually happened when there was big turmoil in her psyche. As she walked down the hallway she began an interesting argument with herself.

Why did you do that? It's not like Mika has anything planned for that day… she doesn't even know it's our birthday that day! – chastised Happy.

"She's not supposed to know…. Not yet."

Why?

"She will probably go overboard and do something extremely special for that day to make me feel like a princess."

And that's bad because… - her overly enthusiastic emotion was not sure what was her point.

"Because I don't like it when she spends so much money on me. I know it's maybe a vampire thing to be all classy and luxurious, but I just want something simple."

Then why don't you just tell her your friends are throwing a party for you, so she doesn't plan anything big on her own. – irrupted Wisdom in the conversation.

"And have Mika mingle with all the other superheroes? I don't think so."

You are embarrassed!? – yelped Brave stunned. Apparently the conversation had dragged the attention of several emoticlones.

"No! Well maybe a little." admitted the Titan "It is awkward enough being around my friends when she comes to the Tower; just imagine how awkward it will be with all the other Titans. I don't want to deal with a public coming out on my birthday."

She's right… we are not ready for that… - commented Timid in a low voice.

Fair enough. But don't you think you should tell that to your friends? What if they accidentally out you with the others? – asked Wisdom worriedly.

"They are not that stupid… well maybe BB is. But even so, I think it is awkward for them as well to see me with a girl, I don't think they are going to talk about it with other people."

Alright, what are you telling Mika? Will you admit to her that you want to keep her a secret from the rest of the world?"

"I don't know, I'll think of something. Plus, she's always been very patient with my process. I don't think she'll get mad."

You talk about her as if she were a saint. She's nice to us, but she's no white dove, she's going to get royally pissed by it or at least feel enormously disappointed. – her emoticlones had a point, but she decided to deal with it later.

As she arrived at her room she noticed there was something different. Like a presence of some sorts. Everything looked the same though. Raven's room was very dark; her curtains where barely open so everything was in shadows. Her demon eyes allowed her to see perfectly in the dark, but even then she could not pinpoint what was different. In a quick scan she noticed her books were in place, her laptop was on top of her desk where it should be, her crystal ball was on top of her drawer, and her bed housed the two stuffed animals she owned: a wolf Mika gave her on a date and the big chicken Beast Boy had gotten for her at a fair. Everything looked the same as she had left it.

She opened the curtains to see with more clarity and there's where she saw it. In the window, seen against the sunlight, was a letter imprinted on the crystal. She immediately knew it came from Azarath, her homeland. Since a great amount of energy was needed for the passage between dimensions, the easiest way to send messages was through mirrors and crystals. In the lack of a vanity mirror, this message was imprinted on the big window in her room. What amazed her was that it was written in English rather than Sanskrit, the official writing of the monks. The letter was from her mother.

[Greetings my beloved Rachel,

I hope you are alright. I know we have not seen in a while, and when we did it was not in the best of times. But I write to you now in more joyous light. Your 20th birthday is approaching, and as you know, it is a special occasion here in Azarath. I urge you to come home soon so we may discuss the details of your Zarathian Passage. There is plenty for us to arrange before the day comes. I'll be waiting for you.

Farewell my daughter, may Azar bless you.

Arella.]

Raven sat on the floor in front of the window, reading over and over again the short message. In 6 years never had her mother written to her and she was very confused by the meaning of it. It was as if she could feel the message; it was written in a mixture of excitement and nostalgia.

The Zarathian Passage was an important ritual in her people's culture. It was a coming of age ritual to welcome a new adult into Azarath's society. Azar herself, their ruler and spiritual leader, presided over such events, where she bestowed blessings and assigned the role the new adult would play in their peaceful society. It was a joyous occasion and everyone attended with gifts and food to partake of a huge feast.

The Titan was shaken by it. Never had her mother celebrated her birthday, for reasons obvious to Raven; and now she wanted to prepare a Zarathian Passage celebration. It was just too much to take. Her concerns about flashy parties, and coming out to her friends were thrown out the window.

Arella says she'll be waiting for us. Let's just go see her and get all those questions out in the open.

Raven agreed with her wiser side, so she lit up some candles in a circle around her and began her incantation to go back to her place of birth.

"AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS… KALAZON RACASHOS ENDARATH… VASIRIX ZENDREIN AZARATH… AZARATH AZARATH!"

Raven traveled through dimensions in a swirl of blue lights. This time there was no hell fire trying to bind her to earth and she swiftly got to the portal leading to Azarath. Once there, the seal that protects that dimension from demonic invasion activated, recognizing Raven's heritage. And just like last time, the daughter of Trigon had to push herself though in order to go back home.

Next thing she knew she was not levitating above Azarath like last time. Now she was floating in water in the middle of a lake. As she swam to the shore she recognized she was not in the main island, the capital city of Azar had no lakes. She was probably in one of the little floating islands that orbited around the city.

After a few minutes she finally reached the shore and walked to a cottage nearby. The place was unlike any other building in that dimension; Azarathian architecture was futuristic in style. Still, it looked familiar somehow, like she had been there before. Outside the cottage there stood a tulip garden and a big apple tree with a swing hanging from one of its branches. The cottage itself was made of wood and painted in a washed out pink color. She got to the porch and there were wind chimes hanging in the shape of white doves. As the wind caressed the chimes a melodic sound filled her senses and she felt completely relaxed. Then she remembered why it looked familiar…

"It looks just like Love's cottage." murmured Raven, remembering the realm where one of her emoticlones lived. It was a place she rarely visited in Nevermore, but she was certain that was it.

"Love's cottage?"

Raven turned around at the sound of a voice behind her, to find her mother was standing a few feet away with a bag of groceries in her hands.

"Arella."

"Raven."

They just stood there for a few minutes; it had been a while since they last saw each other and they seemed to be taking in each other's presence. Arella gave her a small smile which Raven returned.

"Mother what is this place?" finally asked the Titan.

"This is where I live. I am actually glad you found your way here so fast."

"Once I went through the seal I immediately appeared in the lake. I just had to swim here."

"Yes, I can see you are wet. You might get sick. Come, you need to change. I'll lend you some fresh clothes."

Arella walked her inside, and Raven was welcomed into a cozy living room with a chimney with warm fire. On a far end, there was a piano next to a big window that overlooked the lake. Arella disappeared in one of the rooms and emerged with clean robes on her hands.

"Here, you can change in that room." said her mother pointing at a door. "While you change I'll start to prepare dinner."

Raven went in and she found a kiddies room. The walls were painted baby blue and had cute bears on them. The bed was small and there were a few toys on a rocking chair. She changed her clothes and realized they were just like the robes Arella used. With her clothes she looked just like her mother, the only difference being her skin color.

She got out and headed for the kitchen were her mother was cooking. Arella turned around and gasped. "You are so tall."

"Guess we are the same size now."

"Well, come my child, dinner is ready; you must be hungry from your travel."

"I'm not really hungry."

"Then please join me; I made plenty for both of us."

Raven sat down and Arella placed a vegetable soup in front of her and a basket with fresh bread. The Titan began eating slowly. The food was warm and fulfilling. She savored the taste remembering the dishes the monks used to feed her back at the temple, mostly vegetarian; Garfield would have enjoyed it.

"Do you like it?"

"Yeah, it's good. It's been a while since I ate something like this."

"What do you usually eat?" asked Arella making small talk.

"Mostly pizza…" Raven smiled a little at her own admission of unhealthy eating habits "I know, not that healthy but I grew up with a bunch of teenage superheroes. All we ever have in the kitchen are frozen food, root beer and potato chips."

"Sounds like you have a lot of fun there."

"With a bunch of immature, super powered brats living under the same roof? Not as fun as it sounds." admitted Raven, making Arella chuckle. "Mother, speaking of immature, whose is that room I went into? And why does this place look so familiar to me?"

"That was your room Rachel. This is the place where you were born. We both used to live here before you went to live at the Temple of Azar. This is your home."

Raven took in the information and turned to look around a little surprised. It was exactly as Love's realm in Nevermore. She had only been there once, but it kind of made sense that part of her psyche was shaped after the place she was born.

"How come I don't remember?"

"You were a baby back then. And now you are a beautiful grown up woman."

"Which reminds me of what brings me here." said Raven cutting to the point, not wanting to get yet into emotional matters.

"Yes, your Zarathian Passage. I am glad you came. I was afraid you might not want to partake of such an important celebration for our people."

"I never imagined I would ever have a celebration like that… I mean, I am not exactly popular here. Most people are afraid of me." said the gloomy empath.

"You would be surprised then of how much things have changed."

"What do you mean?"

"Raven you are a hero. You defeated your father and changed the destiny of Earth and Azarath. Your legend will be told to every newborn for generations to come. Everyone is excited for your upcoming birthday. Expect a huge celebration in you honor my daughter."

Raven was in shock. Her brain was not processing the information. Inside her mind, Nevermore was in disarray. Her emoticlones had gathered in Wisdom's library and were all now talking at the same time trying to make sense of how she was supposed to be feeling. She felt glad, she felt mad, she felt confused, she even felt outraged.

"You look surprised."

"I am." accepted her daughter.

"Well I just hope it is a pleasant surprise."

"My friends where planning a big party for me back home, with every Titan on the planet. And I thought that was too much, that they were overdoing it. I even told them to cancel it. But this…"

"You are much loved Raven. Please accept participating in your coming of age ritual. Your friends can join the celebration; the Titans will be praised as heroes. They'll have a royal treatment."

"I don't know. This feels like a dream. I have to admit I was very surprised by your letter. I never had a birthday party before here in Azarath; I never imagined you would call me for my Zarathian Passage."

"You did have a birthday party once…" assured her mother.

"I did?" asked Raven even more surprised.

"Yes…" Arella stood up and grabbed a photo from a drawer, and handed it to Raven. "Here…"

In the picture there was her mother holding a gray skin baby girl with huge violet eyes like her hair. They were in front of a birthday cake with one lit up candle.

"You were only one. That was the only birthday I was allowed to have you, the next year they took you away to the temple to begin your training."

"I don't remember this…"

"You were very little. But I do remember. I remember holding you in my arms and blowing out the candle, wishing for us to one day to have a normal life."

"Wishes are for children."

"Well, I was not entirely a grown up back then."

Raven looked at the image in silence for a few minutes; taking in the moment. She was overwhelmed by different emotions and she was afraid that might cause her powers to unleash, so she began internally chanting her mantra. Arella said nothing, waiting for Raven to regain her composure.

"I always wished to be like the other kids, and participate in their games and festivities, but I was always frowned upon and the monks preferred I stayed in to meditate. I got used to living in the dark."

"Well, part of the ritual is to leave behind childish conceptions and fears, and embrace light as a new person. Azar herself will bless you with spiritual gifts that will grant you the possibility to feel more freely."

Raven meditated her words for a few minutes.

"You said in the letter there were various things to prepare before the big day. What kind of things?"

"We have to prepare your vows as a new adult, you will need a special diet with no meat in your meals for the previous 3 days, prepare an offering to take to the temple, and we have to make your ceremonial robe. We can choose the colors today, and tomorrow I'll get what we need."

"Can I wear dark blue?" asked the Titan.

"I don't think it's such a great idea. Colors are symbolic, they represent different things. Imagine your ceremonial gown like a wedding dress; you wouldn't want to wear a red one."

"So, should I wear something like white then?"

"White would be the most ideal choice… you are a virgin right?"

The empath was still a little too overwhelmed and didn't know what to answer at such an intimate question. She just grabbed bread and stuffed it in her mouth, hoping Gar's lame distraction technique might work. It didn't.

"Raven?"

"Am I supposed to be?"

"Well like I said, it is like a wedding dress, everyone uses white regardless of their purity anyway."

"Are you disappointed?" asked the empath timidly, unsure of what emotions her mother was feeling.

"What? No, not at all my child. I was 16 when you were born, is not like I am one to judge regarding that matter."

"Right…" said Rae as she resumed eating.

"So, you have a boyfriend?" asked her mother.

"You could say that…"

"Are you two being safe?" wondered her mother.

"Safe?"

"Yes, you know. Do you take precautions? Have birth control plans?"

"Arella! Do you really find it appropriate that we talk about this?" blurted out the empath. She was extremely embarrassed.

"Sorry, I should not pry on your private life. But I am still your mother, even if we are not very close. And I worry."

Raven said nothing. She was glad for the food in front of her, for it gave her an excuse not to talk. This was an awkward moment. She had never sat at the table with her mother, let alone had a mother-daughter talk; and now here was Arella trying to "bond" and have the "bees and birds" talk.

"I would like you to meet your siblings." Arella finally interrupted her train of thoughts.

"I have siblings?"

"Yes. Milo and Kamile, they are staying at Azar's Temple right now, but you'll meet them soon."

"Arella you got married?" Raven thought it was just too much new information for her.

"No, I did not get married."

"Ok, now it's my turn to ask if YOU have birth control plans?"

Arella chuckled. "I adopted them after you left for earth."

"Oh… Why?"

"Guess I missed you."

Raven rolled her eyes and then realized her mother had caught her in the act of been rude. "Sorry, I find it a little hard to believe. You rarely visited me at the temple."

"I was not allowed to." confessed her mother.

"Why?"

"They believed it was dangerous, you were still learning to control your emotions."

"I guess I get that. I was a demonic child. But, did you really wanted to see me? Didn't I remind you of him? Even my skin color is different."

"I have to confess to you Raven that I suffered all my pregnancy, had it not being for the Azarathian monks that found me; I would have committed suicide before you were born."

"So, you really didn't want me then?" asked Raven a little hurt by her comment.

"No… not at first. But the moment you were born and I grabbed you in my arms for the first time; you were so small with eyes so full of wonder, I knew I had to do all in my power to protect you. I'm sorry for not having been around as you grew up, but I was learning to control my emotions at the same time you were. My emotional imbalance would have affected you in your learning." Arella's face betrayed no emotion; she was a devoted practitioner of self control. But Raven was an empath, and she could not hide from her the pain of being separated from her child. "But I am glad to know you can now even have a romantic relationship and stay in control of your powers."

"Yes, well it is kind of hard actually; I had never been close like that to anyone before."

"He must be a kind man… Right?"

Raven just nodded into her soup.

"Oh Azar… you are like me, you like the bad boys, don't you?"

"It's not that mother. I don't like bad boys… actually I don't like boys…"

Realization finally struck Arella. She turned to look at her daughter. The controlled and cool Raven now looked uncomfortable in her own skin. "Well, at least I don't have to worry about you making me a grandmother too soon?"

"You ok with that then?" asked Raven.

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know. I don't know you so well; I thought you might be a little more conservative."

"Conservative? Raven I used to be a demon worshipper. I do not get scandalized easily. I think I can handle your choice of partner." answered Arella as a matter of fact.

"Right…" Raven was seeing her mother under a new light; she was being very open for the first time. "I guess I never really asked about your life before coming here."

"I used to be known as Angela… the irony of it since I was no angel. Like you, I did not grow knowing the warmth of loving parents, and ended up in the streets of Gotham."

"Sounds like a harsh life."

"No harsher than yours. But now my life is very different. I became a pacifist."

They smiled at each other and finished their meal quietly. Raven offered to do the dishes and as they were finishing cleaning up Raven turned to look at Arella again.

"I never imagined having this conversation with you…"

"Never did I my sweet child. But I am glad we did."

"Thank you for the meal mother, but is getting late, I should go."

"Very well, will you come tomorrow?" asked her mother hopefully.

"Yes, I'll be here." then looked at the picture in her hand. "Here…"

"You can keep it… we'll take another one on your 20th birthday when you make your own wish."

With that Raven stood up, picked up her clothes and headed back to Titan's Tower. As she left the cottage, she felt Love rejoice inside of her as she hanged some white dove wind chimes in her little place in Nevermore.

To be continued…