I don't own Teen Titans. This is my first chapter story. I'll be posting the rest of the chapters later. Please let me know what you think! If you don't want me to reply, just tell me. God bless!
Return to Azarath
Dream:
A blinding light stretched out across the universe as a dark curse was lifted. The demon Trigon the Terrible had been defeated. His evil reign was ended and the world was restored. Around the world stone became flesh, fire became water, and the world of mortals was brought back to its original order. As the evil demon let out a roar of defeat, his daughter broke free from his grip. He no longer had any control over her. She was free to live her own life. Raven smiled knowing that she was free.
Then she turned around and gasped. Raven was no longer in Jump City. She was in Azarath. Everything was destroyed just as it had been the last time she had been there. Raven fell on her knees and cried. She had been able to defeat her father and restore the earth, but she couldn't restore Azarath.
End of Dream:
Raven's eyes snapped open as she sat up in bed. The whole thing had just been a dream. This was the third night in a row she had had this dream, but every time she dreamt it, it always felt like the first. Raven took a deep breath so as to calm herself. She was covered in a cold sweat. The young Titan felt the mixture of the heat from her warm bed against the sweat of her cold body and pulled off the covers. Azarath had been destroyed since the day she had left, and that was three years ago. She tried to shake the horrible memory of her destroyed home out of her mind.
"It was just a dream," she whispered. Raven lay back down on the bed.
Her mind flooded with memories. She remembered playing with her mother Arella and meditating with the monks when she was young. Her mother and the monks had been her only source of comfort in spite of what she was to become. She missed her mother more than anything. Raven wanted to introduce her mother to her friends and show her all the good that she had done. It had been seven months since she defeated Trigon, and it didn't make sense that she was having this dream now. (A/N: This takes place some time in March.) Raven let out a heavy sigh as she looked at her clock. It was 4:30 in the morning. The dreams had been keeping her awake.
"Don't worry about it," she said to herself aloud. "I'm sure it will go away eventually." She closed her eyes and fell into a dreamless sleep.
The next morning, she let out a tired yawn and meditated for a half-an-hour. Then she took a shower, got dressed, and went to the main room for breakfast. She needed some herbal tea to calm her nerves. As she entered the room, the others could tell that something was wrong. Once Raven got her tea and breakfast, she joined the others.
"Raven, are you feeling alright?" asked Robin looking concerned. "You look a little disoriented."
"I'm fine," Raven replied in a monotone.
Terra, who had only rejoined the Titans a little less than two months ago, looked at Raven with concern, but decided to stay out of it. She was still getting used to living with her, and didn't want to upset her. The Titans had told her what had happened seven months ago, and she knew that Raven didn't like to talk about it very often. She simply kept quiet and ate her food. Her teammates on the other hand couldn't help but wonder what was bothering Raven. She had been like this for the past two days and they were starting to worry. Suddenly, Raven's communicator rang and she excused herself to answer it.
"Hello?" asked Raven. At first there was static, but then the caller's picture appeared.
"Good morning, Angel," said Aqualad with a smile. Raven's face gained a slight blush as a smile crept onto her face. She walked closer to the kitchen area so that the others wouldn't hear their conversation.
"Good morning to you too," replied Raven. She didn't bother to hide the smile.
"Is that a smile on your face?" her boyfriend joked with a smirk.
"Shut up," Raven smirked playfully. "What do you want?"
"Just wanted to know if you wanted to hang out later," Aqualad replied.
"Sure," said Raven. "It's been pretty quiet around here lately."
"Yeah, same here," said Aqualad. "So, where do you want to go?"
Raven shrugged, "We can just hang out at the tower."
"Sure you want to risk it?" asked Aqualad. He was referring to Beast Boy and Cyborg getting on their case.
"I doubt that they'll bother us," said Raven. "They'll probably be too occupied with their video games."
Aqualad laughed, "Yeah, same with Speedy and Mas and Menos. They'll be too busy killing each other to notice."
Raven snickered, "Yeah, that's true. How did we become surrounded by such idiots?"
"You've got me," replied Aqualad. "So when should I come over?"
"Whenever you want," said Raven with another smile.
"Alright, I'll be over in about an hour. See you then," said Aqualad with a smile of his own.
"Alright," said Raven. She saw no point in saying good bye or anything like that.
Raven closed her communicator and turned to her teammates. "Aqualad is coming over in about an hour, so be on your best behavior. That means you, Beast Boy."
"What?" Beast Boy asked self-defense. Terra nudged him jokingly and giggled.
The Goth Titan waited for her boyfriend on the rocky shore of the island. She needed to clear her head from the dream. Raven worried about Aqualad finding out about her dream. She wanted somebody's opinion of what the dream meant, but she didn't want him to worry. Raven became so deep in thought she didn't notice Aqualad coming onto the shore. He saw that she hadn't noticed him and got a mischievous look on his face. Aqualad usually wasn't like this, but he usually just liked to tease Beast Boy and his girlfriend. He snuck up quietly behind her and he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and hugged her. Raven gasped as she jumped and turned around.
"Garth, gosh, you scared me!" Raven exclaimed. She would only use his real name when they were alone.
"Sorry, Angel, I couldn't help myself," Aqualad smiled. He kissed her cheek in apology.
Raven glared playfully at him. "Just remember that I can send you to another dimension," she warned with a smirk on her face.
Aqualad laughed as he offered her a hand to help her up, "I'll remember that next time." Then he pulled her into a hug, "Hey, Angel."
"Hey, Garth," said Raven. She didn't let him see the slight blush across her face.
They walked up to the tower and entered the main room through the main sliding door. Sure enough, Cyborg and Beast Boy were playing video games while Terra watched. Robin and Starfire were seated at the breakfast table talking. Everyone turned their attention to the two Titans and greeted them with a hello.
"Aqualad, what's up, man?" asked Cyborg as he greeted him with a rock handshake.
Aqualad returned the gesture and smiled. "I'm doing well. Hey, Beast Boy."
"Hey, dude," said Beast Boy as he gave Aqualad a high five.
"Hey, little dude," replied Aqualad.
"Hi, Aqualad," said Terra.
"Hey, Terra, what's up?" Aqualad asked the geomancer.
"Not much," Terra replied with a polite smile. She was still getting used to the other Titans that she had recently met.
"So, who's winning?" Aqualad asked.
"Cyborg," replied Terra, who now had her eyes fixed on the screen. She was watching to make sure neither of the boys cheated. (A/N: Though I don't know how that's possible.)
"Cool," replied Aqualad. "Well, we'll be seeing you." He and Raven headed to her room.
"See ya," the two boys called back. Just then, Beast Boy made a move that put his space ship in front of Cyborg's.
"Yo, how'd you pass me you little grass stain?" Cyborg asked accusingly.
"Talent, my friend," replied Beast Boy with a satisfied grin on his face.
"Woo! Go Beast Boy!" shouted Terra as she lifted her fists in the air. Beast Boy felt a boost of confidence to hear Terra say that.
Meanwhile, in Raven's room, the two teens were talking, listening to music, and looking over Raven's books. (A/N: The ones that Raven would let him look at.) Aqualad was flipping through one of Raven's scrap books while Raven sat on the bed. Then he had a question for her.
"So, what made you leave Azarath?" he asked. Raven's face became serious.
"I had turned sixteen that year," Raven explained. "It was the same year I met my team. I felt his power over me had grown stronger since my birthday which had been a couple months earlier, and I thought I could contain it. But I couldn't, so I left. Then…he came."
"And destroyed your home," Aqualad replied solemnly. Raven nodded.
"…And killed my mother," Raven spoke gravely. A single tear came to her eye.
Aqualad looked at Raven and saw that she was upset. He sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her. "I'm sorry," he whispered. He wiped the tear from her eye and leaned his head on her shoulder.
"It's okay," Raven replied, though she didn't really mean it.
"Do you miss her?" he asked.
Raven nodded solemnly. Aqualad wrapped both arms around her and hugged her. "I'm sorry for bringing that up," he apologized.
"It's alright," said Raven. She didn't want him to see her cry and decided to change the subject. "…Garth, I need to talk to you."
"About what?" he asked as he lifted his head.
"I've been having this dream," Raven explained. "It's been going on for three nights now. I defeat Trigon and everything returns to normal. Then the next thing I know, I'm in Azarath again, and everything's still destroyed."
"What do you think it means?" he asked.
"I wish I knew," Raven sighed.
Her boyfriend stopped to think. He thought long and hard about it before he came to a conclusion. "Maybe it's your fears. You're afraid that Azarath will never be the same as it once was," Aqualad suggested. Raven looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
"You think so?" she asked. Raven wasn't about to argue and deny that she was afraid. She knew she was afraid.
Aqualad nodded. "You miss your mother and the people you used to know, and you want to go back. But you're afraid of what you'll find."
"Maybe you're right," said Raven. What Aqualad had said made sense to her. "So what should I do?"
"What do you think?" asked Aqualad as if it were obvious.
Raven thought for a moment. "I need to see Azarath for myself." Aqualad nodded again. She looked doubtful, "But what if it is still the same?"
He saw the fear in her eyes and pulled her into another hug. "You still have your friends. And you still have me," he told her.
The Goth Titan smiled, "Thank you, Garth."
"You're welcome, Rae," the aquatic Titan smiled back.
That evening, Aqualad returned to Steel City. Raven spent the last remaining hours of daylight meditating. She was deeply considering about returning to Azarath, and yet fearful of what she might find, so she needed to calm herself. Suddenly, she heard a knock on her door and opened it to find Robin.
"Hey, Raven. You've been in your room for a long time," he informed her, "are you okay?"
"Yes, Robin, I'm fine," said Raven. Her tone of voice disagreed with her. She wasn't sure if she wanted her friends to get involved.
Robin noticed her uncertainty. "Are you sure?" he asked. He could always tell when there was something wrong with her.
"Actually," she began. Her voice became more insecure. "There's something I need to tell everyone." Robin nodded in understanding.
"I'll go call the others," he informed her. Raven gave him a thankful smile. Robin had always been like a brother looking after her. (A/N: So take that Robin and Raven shippers!)
The Titan leader called the others into the main room. They all sat on the couch: Robin on the far right, Starfire next to him on his left, Cyborg in the middle, Beast Boy next to him, and Terra on the far left. Raven stood in front of the TV and faced them. Once she had their attention, she spoke.
"As you all may have noticed," Raven began, "I haven't been…acting myself lately."
"You've got that right," said Beast Boy. Terra nudged him to tell him to keep quiet.
"Ow," muttered Beast Boy as he rubbed his arm.
"Ahem," said Raven. "As I was saying, the reason for my strange behavior is because I've been having a strange nightmare three nights in a row. Last night would be the third."
"Why didn't you say something?" asked Cyborg, "What was it about?"
"Shh, she's getting to it," said Robin.
"Thank you, Robin," Raven spoke softly. Her voice became louder. "For the past three nights, I've been having a dream of the day I defeated Trigon. There's a bright light, and everything is back to normal. Then the next thing I know, I'm in Azarath and nothing's changed. I talked about it with Aqualad earlier today, and we believe that it's because…I want to go back to Azarath to see if anything's changed, and yet I'm…afraid that nothing's changed."
"So…what are you going to do?" asked Terra.
Raven took a deep breath. "I'm going to Azarath tomorrow to see whether or not my visions are correct. Aqualad has agreed to wait for me and comfort me in case my visions were correct. If my visions were incorrect, then I want him to be there in case…" she paused. "If Azarath really has been restored, then I hope to bring my mother to Earth. I want you to meet her…if she's alive."
The Titans looked astonished. From what they knew, Azarath and all its inhabitants had been destroyed.
"So what you're saying is," said Cyborg, "if this thing works, you're going to bring your mother here?"
Raven nodded with a small grin as a slight blush spread across her face. Starfire suddenly rose up and floated few feet above the ground. She went up to Raven and gave her a choking hug.
"Oh, that's wonderful news, Raven! We are most eager to greet your mother," said Starfire excitedly.
"Uh, Starfire, it hasn't happened yet. I'm still not even sure if she's really alive," gasped Raven. Starfire gently released her.
"What do you mean?" asked Robin confused.
"The last time I was there, I only saw a vision of her. I don't know how it's possible, all I know is that she wasn't really there," Raven explained.
"Kind of like a virtual voice-mail," commented Robin. Raven nodded.
"Well…whether it works or not, we just want you to know that we're here for you," said Terra. She carefully placed her hand on Raven's shoulder. Raven could sense that Terra was nervous, but she welcomed the gesture with a gentle smile.
"Thanks, Terra," said Raven softly. Terra smiled with confidence.
"Sure thing," she said. Then Raven did something rare and hugged Terra.
At first, Terra was taken aback. Then she welcomed the embrace and hugged her back.
"Alright, y'all," said Cyborg breaking the silence, "I say it's time for waffles!"
"Waffles?" asked Raven raising an eyebrow.
"Well sure," said Cyborg with a shrug.
Raven smiled and shook her head. "Fine, waffles it is then."
The others smiled as Cyborg went to the kitchen and made the waffles. During "dinner" the other Titans asked Raven questions about her mother and her life in Azarath.
"Where did your mother come from?" asked Starfire.
"Earth, but she gave birth to me in Azarath," replied Raven.
"Did she know about the prophecy?" Cyborg questioned.
"Yes, she did," Raven said solemnly.
"What was your mom like?" asked Beast Boy.
"She was very nice," said Raven with a smile. "She always took care of me. Arella knew that I was good, despite what I would become."
"What was it like living in Azarath, and what do you miss most about it?" Robin asked.
"There were a lot of buildings and a large temple. I spent most of my time with the monks in the temple, and on occasion visited my mother. Everyone who lived in Azarath knew who I was, so…I didn't make many friends," explained Raven. "And I miss Azar, the head of the monks in Azarath, and my mother the most."
"Who taught you how to control your powers?" asked Terra.
"Azar and the other monks taught me. My mother raised me until my powers started to develop then I went to live with the monks," Raven explained.
She decided to meditate before she went to bed. Usually, Starfire and Terra would join her, but this time she meditated alone.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion…"
"Why do you bother going back? You know that your visions are only telling the truth. There's no hope for Azarath. Why are you hoping for something that isn't going to happen?" asked the brown cloaked Raven. (A/N: I looked at the emotions, and I think brown might be doubt or pessimistic.)
"Earth was restored. Trigon's reign is over. It's only logical that Azarath would be restored as well," said the yellow cloaked Raven.
"But what if Azarath really is destroyed? Then what shall we do?" the grey cloaked Raven trembled.
"Yeah, all that work for nothing," orange cloaked Raven chimed in.
"Come on, guys! We can't give up! There's still a chance," said the green cloaked Raven.
"WILL YOU KEEP IT DOWN? I'M TRYING TO MEDITATE!" Raven shouted in her mind. "We're going to Azarath tomorrow, AND THAT'S FINAL!"
"Sorry, Raven," Raven's emotions apologized in unison.
Raven took a few steady breaths before she started the chant again. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"
She continued her meditation until she decided to go to bed. Raven slipped under the covers and rested her head on the pillow. A few minutes after she closed her eyes, she fell into a deep sleep.
Special thanks to teentitan'sgirl for reading it and giving her opinion. God bless!
