A girl sits settles down on top of a building during a stormy night. Rain pelts down from the sky, and lightning lights up Jump City. She looks down at the city with smile, knowing that the city is safe from harm. Everyone will be safe tonight.

"Good to see you." a dark voice said behind her. She jumped, nearly falling off the edge of the building.

Once she got ahold of her footing, she glared up at the person who had nearly killed her. The man was bathed in shadows, but she knew instantly who he was. Slade.

"Go away." she growled fiercely. Within seconds, she had her weapon pointed at his neck. A gleaming sword, one that dripped toxic poison.

Slade didn't move an inch. "Why, Arielle, you seem jumpy."

"You know damn well!" the girl flinched when Slade said her name. "Get away from me!"

With an easy hand, he pushed her sword aside. "You know as well as I do, honey, that you can't get away from me."

He put his hand to her face, and she cringed. She didn't hesitate to plow her fist into his face. He stumbled backwards in surprise.

Arielle moved closer to Slade, and with a flash her foot smashed into the side of Slade's face, sending his mask skittering off on the concrete. Slade held his face, now bleeding.

She grabbed him by the neck and choked him upwards. "What do you want from me? I did everything you wanted, and I don't owe you anymore!"

Slade grinned, his teeth gleaming white. His black hair, wet from rain, clung onto his face. A large red scar leaned from his eye to his chin, a scar that Arielle knew all too well. "I'm not here to ask a favor of you."

She pushed him back onto the ground angrily. "What do you want?"

"Terra has gotten out of control," Slade said raspily. "She no longer does what I ask."

Arielle laughed loudly. "That is what you deserve."

A hand grabbed Arielle's arm, squeezed it so tightly that her arm throbbed. She let out a little gasp of pain, and she felt Slade lean in on her body. "Listen here. You will do as I say, or there will be dire consequences."

She shrugged her arm loose. "There is nothing you can do that will hurt me more."

Someone grabbed at her neck this time, and she dropped her sword on the ground; barely able to breathe. She made little choking sounds, but all she could feel was Slade's laughter in her ear. He dropped her at last, and she sat on the ground gagging and gasping.

Slade knelt down beside her and grabbed her face in his hands. "You listen here you miserable girl," he spat. "You have made a pledge to me, and me only. You are cursed, and no one will ever want you. Now, I can either kill you with my bare hands or offer you a deal."

Arielle coughed and nodded at the same time, tears of terror running down her face.

Slade smiled evilly. "That's a good girl."

"What-what do you want me to do?" Arielle rasped dutifully. Her heart felt heavy.

Something skittered on the ground in front of her, and she picked it up. It was a picture of six teenagers, around the same age as her. They all had smiling faces; but one person stood out the most. The most familiar one of all. Terra.

"Your apprentice?" The memories of Terra brought only pain.

"She has proven that she is not worthy of being my apprentice. She failed at her main task."

Arielle swallowed painfully. "What was it?"

"Those five teenagers are known as the Teen Titans," Slade growled. "They protect Jump City from the evil that lurks within the shadows. They are a threat to my plans. Terra's main goal was to rid of them by killing them off, but she failed. Now it is your turn to prove yourself worthy."

She closed her eyes. "I do not want to do it. I will not kill someone!"

"You will do as I say, or I will bomb this entire city," Slade's voice growled in her ear. "Your choice."

Thunder roared above them, and lightning blinded Arielle. By the time she could see clearly, Slade had gone. She looked over to where his mask had skittered, that was the only indication that he had been there.

She wished it was all a dream. She didn't want to kill anyone. But what was more important, the lives of innocent civilians or the lives of five people?

Her tears splashed on the ground in puddles. Arielle knew what she had to do.

"Yo! BB, hurry up!" Cyborg shouted at the top of his lungs. For a shapeshifter, Beast Boy was the slowest person ever.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" the voice sounded irritated.

In a green flash, Beast Boy had seated himself on the couch with his remote control, a bowl of popcorn, and a huge mug of root beer. Cyborg's eyes practically jumped out of his sockets. "Wh...Why didn't you get any for me?!"

Beast Boy grinned. "You snooze you lose."

"I oughta-" Cyborg started yelling on the top of his lungs, infuriated that Beast Boy didn't get him anything to eat.

While the both of them were yelling at each other, Raven sat in her room mediating quietly.

"Azarath metrios zinthos." she muttered quietly. "Azarath metrios zinthos."

The world around her disappeared as it was replaced by her dark birthplace. Large rock formations perched itself up, large ravens with red eyes sat on top of them, peering at her silently. She knew how silly it was of her to miss such a place, but it had always felt like home. She took in a deep breath and continued her mediating, feeling peace flow through her.

"Azarath Metrios-"

"Raven!" A perky voice rang out.

Everything fell apart and Raven opened one eye, her irritation growing. "Yes Starfire?"

The perky red-head grinned. "I have made a pot of Slupgork for the dinner! Do you care to join?"

"No."

She slammed her door shut in front of Starfire's face, not caring if it was rude or not. Starfire didn't get the hint, for she rang out, "I will save some for you later!"

Raven settled back down onto the floor and continued with her chant, finally relaxing once again.

Sirens started to go off, the entire room was bathed in red.

Are you kidding me? She thought angrily.

"Titans! Trouble!" she heard Robin shout.

She grudgingly opened her door and flew out, joining her team.

Please read and review! Hope you like it!