The first fanfic I've done in a while. I went on hiatus for a while due to exams and uni and other things. But I'm back and with a story I'm determined to finish – a lot of it has been written in advance to avoid falling behind. Might return to my previous works but they all need a good revamp.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. I never have and unfortunately never will.
Azarath, metrion, zinthos…
Raven's incessant mantra punctured the silence of her room but it was not as soothing or as peaceful as it was usually. Her voice was disturbed, strained by the need to meditate yet the inability to find her centre prevented her from doing so.
Her meditation was disrupted by the relentless feeling that something was wrong. She ceased her chanting and strained her ears for reassurance.
She could hear Starfire humming pleasantly to herself while she placed the last of her presents beneath the Christmas tree, Robin working up a sweat beating a punching bag in the gym; Cyborg working contently on upgrades for the T-Ship and Beast Boy had apparently given up trying to beat the high score on their game and took to wandering around the corridors.
She opened her eyes in defeat. Nothing was raising a red flag. Nothing was out of the ordinary. But she couldn't shake the feeling…
A loud metallic thud pounded at her door.
"Rae? You in there?"
"What is it Beast Boy?"
"You've been in there all day, just wanted to check you're okay."
She rolled her eyes and glided to the door, stopping only to pull her hood over her head before opening, as though it would help her seething headache.
"I'm fine."
Beast Boy looked unconvinced; he ran his fingers nervously through his verdant hair. After the events with Malchior and Trigon, he'd become uneasy with Raven spending long periods of time in her room. It was a small gesture, but it had touched Raven that he made the extra effort to ensure that she was never alone for too long.
"Okay, well we're gonna go get pizza soon anyway, you coming with?" He asked, looking adorably hopeful.
Raven considered, finally coming to the reasoning that coming out of her room wasn't going to make the slightest difference. "Sure, why not…"
"Sweet!" He cheered as they began walking to the common room. "So, what you been up to in there any how?"
Raven shrugged, trying to ignore her exacerbated heart rate as a consequence of her persistent bad vibes. She massaged her temples. "Meditating."
"Guess there's no point in asking how that went, huh? How thrilling can meditation get?" He asked with a beaming smile.
"Uh-huh." She'd wished that she could have given something more, but couldn't seem to muster up the strength or concentration. The vibe was growing stronger, her pulse faster. Beads of sweat were beginning to appear on her brow. She swallowed hard.
"Rae, are you sure you're okay? You look…paler."
She nodded absent-mindedly but inside she knew that something, somewhere, was most definitely not okay. Behind them, a train of light bulbs smashed. The Shapeshifter was beginning to panic at Raven's rapid deterioration and sudden weariness.
"Rae, you really don't look okay…do you want me to get you some water?"
She choked down a lump in her throat. Beast Boy grabbed her by the waist.
"Raven, what's wrong?"
Beast Boy asked her again but she didn't seem to hear. She dabbed her hand across her forehead and took a deeper breath. He said something else but it was distorted, metallic. Her vision began to fade as the air was sucked out of her lungs. She heard Beast Boy shout. She heard many different voices. There was a sudden harsh blow to her legs. She saw red spots, darkness. She clenched her eyes shut.
This time, she heard a hushed deep voice, hissing and echoing several times. Raven felt as though she was floating but could not open her eyes. She was forced to listen.
On the seventh day…on the seven day of the New Year…
A child conceived…a child conceived through evil, born to do… born to do evil's bidding,
Will arrive…a child will arrive on Earth…on Earth…to the ruins where He shall have his vengeance…
On the thirteenth hour of the child's sixteenth birthday…birthday…He will rise…
Forces…forces of an unimaginable magnitude will storm…will storm the Earth… Engulf it with his fury…
The second coming will prevail. He will have his destruction. He will have his rule of the galaxy…
He will have his revenge.
"Raven?"
"Shh, BB, I think she's coming-to…"
Slowly, Raven's eyes lulled open to see the blurry image of her friends hovering over her, concern plastered upon each of their faces. A moment of silence passed as Raven focused her vision. She blinked hard.
"How you feeling?" Asked Cyborg.
Raven rolled onto her side, and vomited.
On a planet somewhere between Tamaran and Earth, two alien guards stood watch over the threshold to their city. They stood completely still, their tridents placed firmly in their left claws.
The first caught sight of something in the distance, seemingly getting closer. He stepped forward, pointing his weapon outwards, ready for battle. His companion soon followed suit. The green light got closer, but it was weak and travelling slowly. Its green trail faded and the figure began to free-fall the remaining distance to their planet.
The first guard approached cautiously, the second lingered behind.
"Identify yourself." Said the first guard, keeping a safe distance between himself and the stranger.
At first, there was no answer. The figure shifted slightly and struggled to their feet. His injuries were too much to conceal. His blood gushed from his head and arm down his orange skin, his leg was too painful to lean on.
"I am Ryand'r of Tamaran." He stated though his voice was barely audible.
"State your purpose."
His green eyes opened and pleaded with the guard's.
"Earth." He replied. "I need to get to Earth…urgently…help…" With that, he collapsed.
Review, please!