DISCLAIMER: I obviously don't own the Titans. :(
I'm ba-ack!
Okay, I know that I said that my next story would be 'Starts with Goodbye', but I hit a speed bump with that one, and this one conveniently popped into my head during a very interesting lecture on Julius Caesar!
That has nothing to do with my story, though. XD
I'd like to dedicate this story to Novus Ordo Seclorum; since Novus encouraged me to pursue this sequel after I sent the basic plot in a PM!
Novus also supplied the extremely clever name for this story! (which I fell in love with)
I'd also like to thank TheForceIsStrongWithThisOne; for inspiring me to get up off my butt (metaphorically) and get to work on my next story by his (possibly world record) short hiatus!
So this one's for you guys!
I also am very pleased with my progress; I have improved so much since typing the first chapter of 'Careful What You Wish For'!
Well,
Here we go!
Chapter 1: Broken
The pale-skinned girl rounded the corner at an alarming speed; her feet pounding the unrelenting floor; her muscles burning with exertion as she flew down the imposing steel corridors. A sharp pain attacked her exhausted lungs with each ragged breath. Her ears were tuned to the stampede of numerous pairs of feet echoing down the halls; the sound of pursuit. Her heart plunged.
They're getting closer! I'm not going to make it!
She put on a quick burst of speed; her panic fueling her quickened step. Her short black hair streamed out behind her and her cape whipped out after her as she made her way down the winding maze of dignified corridors.
She could still hear her company far behind her.
Only when she could no longer hear them; she allowed herself to slow a little; then came to an abrupt halt upon noticing a faint rhythmic tapping noise gaining on her.
She looked over her shoulder very quickly; vainly hoping that it was merely her imagination. She caught a brief flash of silver in her peripheral vision, and she lunged to her left hoping to dodge the oncoming attack.
She was too slow.
She cried out in pain as the blades easily sliced across the soft flesh just under her rib-cage.
She huffed as she finally made contact with the ground. She glanced up at her attacker; her defiant expression betraying none of the frenzied fear that she felt. Her assailant wore a smiling Cheshire-cat mask and a green kimono. Her long black hair hung in braids to the back of her knees.
She raised her arm; poised to strike; the blades attached to the gloves that she wore dripping with blood.
The mysterious teen glared at her and then rolled to her feet with little difficulty, just barely avoiding being gouged with the blades a second time.
As soon as her feet were on the ground, she propelled herself forward; speeding away while Cheshire struggled to pull her claws out of the floor.
Her feet battered the ground infinitesimally, keeping time with the steady throbbing of her wounds, as her cloak fluttered behind her. She labored to breathe; clutching the gushing tear in her side.
She turned another corner, and skidded to an abrupt halt, horror threatening to overwhelm her.
Four intimidating villains barred her way.
Madame Rouge smirked at her gloatingly, looking very small compared to her company. Monsieur Mallah stood on her right, and Adonis stood to her left. Plasmus screeched incoherently behind them.
She spun to sprint back the way she had come when a portal opened out of hyperspace and Kid Wykkyd stepped out, crossing his arms silently.
She steeled herself and sprinted headlong toward him at maximum speed, and at the last minute she lunged backward and slid gracefully under him; jumping to her feet once she cleared his purple cape.
She faltered in her step as the motion caused the gash in her side to rip further.
She had taken only a few more running steps toward the exit when Cheshire arrived; leaping nimbly in front of her.
The cloaked teen hurriedly dug her feet into the ground, but couldn't stop immediately; ending up with her face just inches from the haunting mask.
Cheshire's eyes narrowed menacingly and the dark-haired girl gasped, making to back away.
But again, she was too late.
She groaned in agony as ten knives buried themselves in the flesh of her sides.
A demented laugh rang through the air as Cheshire threw her head back and giggled happily as if she had just won the lottery.
She stopped abruptly and gazed intently at the girl who she had just skewered; expecting to see shock and fear; but only hatred and defiance met her cold gaze.
Dissatisfied, she roughly jerked her steel claws out of the girl's stomach, morbidly amused by the exclamation of pure agony that this caused.
"Ugh!" , she sunk to her knees, her arms tightly wrapped around her streaming torso. She suddenly whipped her leg out form under her and her foot connected with Cheshire's ankle; causing the green-garbed villainess to lose her balance and topple to the ground.
The pallid teenage girl jumped to her feet; leaping over Cheshire. But now about twenty-five of Billy Numerous's clones stood in front of her.
Madame Rouge's thickly accented voice floated to her from behind as all of the villains closed in on her.
"Give up, Titan. You cannot possibly win all by yourself."
She's right.
The girl turned to face the speaker; an expression of contempt colored her expression as she muttered a lengthy incantation.
Suddenly a swirling vortex materialized out of the previously vacant air; the girl saluted mockingly as she stepped into the portal and it closed behind her.
Madame Rouge banged her small fists on the wall angrily,
"Grr! She got away! Brain will not be pleased."
She turned to face the group of villains behind her.
"Mallah, tell Malchior to seal all of the time travel portals and redirect them to this location."
She grinned wickedly,
"This one shall not escape up again."
Titans Tower…
Raven, Starfire, and Beast boy all sat at the kitchen table; Beast boy surfing the web on his new lap-top, while Raven and Starfire chatted.
Raven held a notebook in her hands and wrote things down as Starfire listed them. The alien princess fidgeted with the golden ring on her left hand as she struggled to remember the next item on her neverending list.
Raven stretched her cramping fingers before speaking,
"You know, Starfire; I can't believe that he didn't ask you sooner."
She cut her eyes toward Beast boy as she emphasized that last word. He didn't notice as she never looked away from the screen as he spoke,
"Yeah, Star! For a guy who's so smart; he sure took a while to wise up."
Starfire giggled contentedly,
"Yes, Robin did take much longer than was necessary to finally ask for my hand."
Raven crossed her arms, glaring at Beast boy,
"Some guys are just so clueless."
Beast boy still stared at the computer screen,
"Didn't it just annoy the crud out of you how he didn't even realize that he should propose?"
Raven slapped a hand to her forehead. Slumping down into her seat; she dragged her hand down her face in expasperation, and pinched the bridge of her nose between her thumb and forefinger; causing her voice to come out distorted.
"Yes Beast boy. It's really annoying."
He looked up at his girlfriend, and worry touched his features,
"You okay, Rae?"
She shifted in her seat, resting her chin on her small fists,
"I'm fine, Gar."
Starfire choked back a laugh at the hilarity of the exchange.
Raven and Beast boy had been dating for a year now, and Raven was enthusiastically helping with her friend's wedding.
She desires marriage also!
Starfire almost squealed with delight at that though, but held it back; turning her attention back to her friends.
Beast boy was prodding Raven, trying to figure out the source of her frustration, and Raven simply leered at the ceiling.
Cyborg and Robin then entered the room, breaking form their daily work-out session.
Robin addressed Beast boy after quickly pecking Starfire on her cheek.
"So are you going to come train with me?"
Gar chuckled as he remembered the first time he'd sparred with Robin after returning from the alternate dimension.
Gar had kicked his butt; no other words can describe that day's events more clearly.
His skill with martial arts had taken Robin by surprise, and he had stayed sprawled on his back in shock for several minutes after Beast boy had beaten him.
He'd slowly gotten to his feet, his breathing heavy.
"Who taught you to fight like that?" ,he huffed.
Gar chuckled,
"You did."
"Beast boy?"
He snapped back to the present,
"Oh, sorry."
He smiled sheepishly, rubbin the back of his neck.
"Maybe later, I'm a little busy right now."
Robin nodded, then grabbed the glass of water that Cyborg helpfully offered to him; taking a seat next to Starfire.
Raven sat next to Beast boy, checking over her list to make sure that she and Starfire hadn't missed anything important needed for the extravagant celebration.
His eyes skimmed over her with admiration; he took in her pale skin, her glossy violet hair, her flawless grayish complexion, her shimmering amethyst eyes, the way she bit her lip when she concentrated, the waning light of the sunset highlighting her porcelain features.
Suddenly, she snickered.
He blinked in confusion as she turned to face him, amusement glinting in her eyes, and a smile hovering around her lips, threatening to crack her carefully arranged stony expression.
"What?"
She cracked into a full-blown smile of mocking amusement as she chuckled again, shaking her head slowly. He bristled,
"What!?"
She sighed, still smiling,
"Nothing, I just-", she giggled once more, then continued, "I felt your emotions from all the way over here. I'm not that beautiful!"
A blush crept across his face and she snickered once again.
"Well, I think you are." , he blushed even deeper at his corny outburst.
Her smile widened as she poked him in his now very muscular chest,
"I wasn't aware that you were such a hopeless romantic, Gar."
He recovered from his embarrassment quickly,
"Guess it just comes naturally, Rae."
He stretched and then draped his sinewy arm over her shoulders, leaning closer to her to speak into her ear,
"Try not to be jealous."
She scowled irritably and crossed her arms,
"Yeah, I'm sooo jealous."
Cyborg stood behind Robin, quietly watching Raven and Beast boy flirt in their own unique way. He shook his head incredulously, muttering,
"They've been dating for over a year now, and I still can't get used to this."
Robin nodded mutely; his gaze equally disbelieving.
"It's just plain freaky."
Raven abruptly stood up, apparently reacting to something that Beast boy had said; dusting herself off,
"I'm going to meditate on the roof."
The rest of the team nodded absently and Beast boy leaned over to lightly touch his lips to hers. Her notebook rocketed into the air, sending sheets of paper fluttering chaotically through the air.
Everything became deathly quiet as they watched the sheets float back down to Earth.
Raven blushed; pulling her hood over her head,
"Sorry."
Gar suddenly doubled over in a bout of laughter while the rest of the team eyed him quizzically.
Raven's eyes narrowed under her dark cowl,
"It's not funny."
He only laughed harder,
"You're right, it's hilarious!"
Still chuckling, he moved to sit back down. Raven's eyes zeroed in on his chair; and she smirked impishly as she focused her negative energy on the target.
A loud thump reverberated through the Tower as Beast boy missed the chair and landed on his backside.
"Oof! Huh?"
Raven crossed her arms, a smug expression colored her pallid features,
"Now that's hilarious."
Cyborg and Robin both convulsed with loud laughter, wiping tears form their eyes as Raven gracefully exited the room.
Gar glared at his two supposed 'friends' who were shaking with laughter while Starfire simply shook her head at them.
"It wasn't that funny."
Meanwhile in Jump City Plaza…
Civilians bustled around the busy city square; rushing home with their bags, running from store to store, and making their last-minute purchases before the stores closed for the night.
Several teenagers lounged on the benches, chatting and listening to music.
It was a busy day in the Plaza overall, and very peaceful in its nature. A warm, salty breeze caressed the skin of the busy shoppers.
The calm was shattered as a swirling vortex materialized in the middle of the crowd, which dispersed hastily screaming in terror.
The mass of people pressed to the outer edges of the square, trying to be as far as possible form the mysterious rift in the center of the plaza.
They silently watched as the other-worldly hole grew in size rapidly, and a ragged teenage girl stumbled out of it.
A pool of scarlet formed at her feet; it flowed freely from several gashes in her torso.
She staggered forward, a myriad of crimson droplets leaving a grotesque trail behind her.
The crowd gasped as they caught sight of the girl's familiar face. She looked extremely weak and seemed to be on the verge of collapse; she trembled with exertion, and the crowd listened to each of her ragged breaths reverberating through the silent plaza each one expected to be her last.
The citizens watched in wonder as the girl forced her shaky legs to carry her across the square, the crowd moving out of her way to form a path.
She forged on past the teenagers, who watched her in silent awe.
She stopped at the edge of the pavilion, squinting into the sunset. She noticed a T-shaped outline in the distance; her one ray of hope.
She encased herself in negative energy and teleported.
She arrived on the shore of the island that was situated in Jump City Bay.
A looming T-shaped tower stood proudly in the center of the island, and she knew that she was only a few feet from safety.
Using this knowledge to push her forward, she dragged herself; by force of sheer will-power; up to the giant doors.
She lifted her trembling hand; index finger extended; and reached for the little round button that would sound the doorbell and signal safety. The edges of her vision flickered as she struggled to remain conscious.
Her finger closed the gap, and a tolling sound echoed through the halls of the Tower.
Titans Tower Commons Room…
The four teens all sat at the table; happily eating their dinner while Beast boy and Cyborg disputed the nutritional value of soy.
"I don't care what nutritionists say; tofu aint real food!"
Starfire bit into her hamburger with enthusiasm while Beast boy cringed.
"This 'hamburger' is delightful Cyborg! Though I still do not understand why it is called a ham burger if it is made of the meat of a cow and not of pork."
Beast boy shuddered, and Robin lifted his own burger and was about to chomp into it hungrily, when the doorbell rang.
He quickly stood up; forsaking his burger,
"I'll get it."
He took the elevator down to the foyer, promptly crossing the high-ceilinged room. He punched the button that commanded the massive doors to slide open, and was greeted with a shocking sight.
A pale teenage girl stood on the doorstep, a pool of crimson at her feet, her arms wrapped tightly around her torso, and blood streaming through her long slender fingers.
Her joltingly familiar pallid face was contorted into an agonized expression under the shadow of her hood; and her all-too-familiar voice drifted to him as she spoke weakly,
"I made it."
She suddenly lost consiousness and collapsed into Robin's arms; drenching him with blood.
As he stood there in shock, supporting her unconscious form, his brain automatically clicked into leader-mode.
He swept her up in his arms and briskly carried her to the elevator, where he waited impatiently for it to arrive at the Commons Room.
The doors slid open and Robin entered, a trail of scarlet droplets marking his path.
Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast boy sat with their backs to him, still arguing about tofu. Robin issued his order with utmost urgency,
"Cyborg! I need you to get the infirmary prepared!"
The three super-teens turned around to see what caused Robin's sudden serious command.
He held the cloaked girl in his arms, blood smeared his costume and dripped from her pale fingertips to the floor, her labored breathing was momentarily drowned out by the three gasps from the direction of the table.
Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast boy all shouted their exclamations in unison,
"Raven!?"
Well, what did you think?
How do you think that real Raven should react to Alternate Dimension Raven?
I need help here; I can't continue the story without your suggestions!
Okay, that being said and done; I'll tell you right now; the updates will probably be less frequent for this story! Maybe weekly…?
That's because I really liked the outcome of the grand finale; and I want all of my chapters to have much the same effect!
Well,
Please Review!
Later Days!
~Rosalind2013