Chapter 1: Death and Rebirth
The day had started out so normal…
It was a cold winter night in Jump City, most of its residents were inside enjoying warm drinks by the fire. Our resident heroes among them.
The main console had been replaced with a fire pit after Cyborg made the system wireless. It was lit and the Titans were enjoying hot cocoa, save Raven who drank some tea.
"It's the night before Christmas," Starfire chirped happily, snuggling into Robin's side, a fleece throw over her legs. "When does the man in red appear?"
"Well you have to be sleeping," Beast Boy said excitedly. "And he'll leave us presents then."
"Ooh I am so excited, I can hardly wait!" Starfire smiled happily. "And we exchange our gifts in the morning as well?"
"Yeah," Robin smiled down at her, glad that it appeared even villains took a break on Christmas.
"Well it's getting late, better turn-" Cyborg was interrupted by the wailing of the crime alarm.
There was a collective sigh throughout the group, as the fire was extinguished.
"Do we know who it is?" Raven asked as Robin picked up a tablet.
"Ravager," he grit his teeth. "This can't be good. Titans go!"
They found Ravager holding a gun to the temple of a teenage girl.
"P-Please, I'll do what you want," the girl whimpered.
"You've served your purpose," Ravager said, she threw the girl down hard.
Raven teleported the girl away from danger.
"What are you doing? Work for your father?" Robin asked, a tight grip on his staff.
"Actually, I was just told to get you all here," she smirked. She turned her eyes to Raven. "My orders aren't specific, just take her down."
"As if you could," Raven scoffed.
"Don't underestimate me," Ravager said. She lifted her wrist to her mouth. "Now!"
Members of the H.I.V.E. Five appeared and engaged the Titans, leaving Raven to fight Ravager.
"Why me?"
"Don't know, don't really care," Ravager replied, pulling out her blade. Raven blocked every attempt Ravager made to hit her.
Realizing it wasn't working the way she hoped, she turned and glanced toward Raven's biggest weakness. Beast Boy was engaged with Billy Numerous, she smirked.
"Well if this is how it is, I'll just have to-" in the split second it took Raven to realize her plan, the sword was already thrown toward the unsuspecting changeling.
"No," her eyes flew wide, she made a decision then and there, one that would affect the whole team. She teleported in front of Beast Boy, the exact moment the sword hit. With the force of Ravager's throw, the sword pierced right through Raven's chest.
She didn't feel the pain as she fell, nor when she hit the ground hard.
"Retreat!"
The world seemed to be moving in slow motion as her friends circled her.
"Raven...why...how did….ARGH!" Beast Boy hit the ground. "You could've moved it."
"I made a split second decision," Raven said softly, the pain finally seeping in. He reached for the sword in her chest, but she took his hand stopping him. "Don't, it won't help."
"You can't do this to us...to me," his face ran with his tears. He held her hand tightly.
"I couldn't let you die for me," she smiled and winced as she took a breath.
"Raven…." Starfire fell on the other side of the half demon. "Don't go, please."
"I have to," for the first time she wasn't afraid to let her emotions show. She looked around at her friends, who'd become her family. "You'll always have me, I promise." She turned to Beast Boy, still holding her hand. He held it against his chest, she could feel his heart beating frantically. "They were after me, you should have left when you had the chance."
"We would never have let them have you," Robin's voice shook in his emotional state. "We have the ambulance on the way, just hold on."
"I love you guys, ok? Don't forget me." Everything was beginning to fade, she smiled. Beast Boy leaned down and pulled her forward.
"No don't go, please," he whimpered, she reached up and wiped his tears.
"I love you," she whispered and with the last of her strength she kissed him. Beast Boy was struck silent as he watched as the light left her eyes and she went limp. He tore the blade out, pulling her into his arms as a eerie scream filled the air as Starfire cried.
The Titans watched as the casket was lowered into the ground, each held an identical blue rose. The headstone read: Raven, a hero, a sister, a friend.
"I can't believe she's gone," Cyborg said, his voice sounding hollow. "We lost a family member."
Robin's fist tightened around the stem of the rose. "No, she was taken from us."
"Robin please," Starfire spoke up, her voice hoarse from all the crying she'd done in the last week. "She wouldn't want vengeance."
"But she deserves it," Beast Boy whispered, he threw his rose into the grave onto the casket. "Bye Rae." He transformed into a hawk and took off toward the tower.
"He is hurting the most," Starfire whimpered.
"He needs time to adjust, we all do." Cyborg put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go home, everyone else has."
Starfire nodded as they all dropped their roses in the grave. The boys headed to the car. Starfire walked over to the headstone and rested her hand on it. "Farewell my friend."
Raven opened her eyes, she no longer felt pain or the cold of the ground she'd fallen on. She stood up and looked around. "What?" It looked like Azarath before it was destroyed by her father.
She looked down and found herself in a white chiffon gown. "What happened?"
"My dear Raven," a beautiful voice spoke.
She turned and gasped as a lovely woman came up to her. "Lady Azar!" She rushed to bow, but the woman stopped her.
"You need not bow to me," she smiled at Raven. The events leading up to now finally caught up with Raven, she fell to her knees sobbing. "What ails you?"
"If I'm here, I died," she gasped, her chest hurting from the effort it took to try and breathe.
"I know dear," Azar knelt and pulled Raven into her arms. "But you were able to express your love with your last breath."
"I don't understand, why did I die?" Raven looked up at her Lady.
"Because it was meant to happen," Azar replied simply.
"I wish I could be with him, there is so much I didn't get to say," Raven sighed. "I miss them all."
"Do you wish them dead?"
"What? No!" Raven shook her head. "I just wish I could live, to be able to really love."
"Do you wish to make a deal?" Azar smiled, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
"A deal? What kind?"
"I can give you another chance, but you have until midnight the 31st of December. You would take on a new life and appearance, you would not be able to speak."
"What's the catch?"
"You must earn that boys love in return, but you cannot tell him who you are. Good luck dear one." Azar planted a kiss to Raven's forehead. "And just so you know, it has been a year."
"Thank you my lady," Raven smiled.
"Welcome back to life, your name will be Luna Roth."
Starfire stared out the window as the snow once again fell. It has been one year since they lost Raven. She felt a tear slip down her cheek.
"Star?" She turned and glanced at Robin, who looked at her sympathetically.
"This has been the longest, worst year of my life," she whispered, she wrapped her arms around herself. "I am still having trouble adjusting."
"You're not the only one," he pulled her into his arms, realizing he'd finally hit a growth spurt and was now taller than her. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Beast Boy hasn't come out of his room at all this week. If we're going to make it through this week, we should be together."
"It's not the same without her," Starfire whimpered. "I bought her a Christmas present."
"Star you can't do this to yourself."
She pulled back, her eyes leaking tears faster than she could wipe. "I'm going to go out and get some fresh air." She gave a sad smile. "I will be ok." She left.
"Raven, I'll never understand why you had to go. Wish you were still here."
Starfire walked through the silent streets, everyone inside enjoying the warmth. The cold didn't bother the alien princess, since she was immune to it.
She watched the ground as she walked, hoping her tears would slow soon. Just as she looked up she ran into a short girl, both fell over.
"I am sorry!" Starfire said hurriedly trying to help the girl up. When they were standing the girl moved her hands in a strange way. "Wha-" then without thinking she kissed the girl, learning her strange language.
The girl moved her hands again, signing "it's ok."
"What is your name?"
"Luna," the girl signed with a small smile. She had long black hair in a plait down her back, she wore a black hoodie and jeans. "I know you, you're Starfire!"
"Yes, why are you outside at this time?"
"Nowhere else to go," she shrugged.
"Let us get you out of the cold, I'm sure my friends wouldn't mind having you for awhile. At least until you can figure out what to do." Starfire wasn't sure why, but this girl made her heavy heart feel lighter.