Prologue

16 Years Ago

Four people waited in the damp, cold cave. Three of them, an athletic boy with spiky, black hair; a statuesque, golden-tanned girl; and a tall, older boy with a body half made of metal stood close, speaking in hushed tones. The fourth, a small boy with green skin and hair, shifted his weight impatiently from his right foot to his left.

"How long till they get here?" he asked for the umpteenth time, glancing anxiously at the stone girl in the center of the cavern, perched atop her pedestal.

As the rest of the team rolled their eyes in annoyance, the room filled with a darkness that even Cyborg's shoulder-light couldn't penetrate. The four heroes all felt their muscles tense involuntarily, though they knew that this wasn't a threat. As quickly as it came, it vanished, and as the cavern filled with light once again, a tall, gray-skinned girl with violet hair appeared, with three others in tow. She held in her arms a little boy, whose slightly older brother and sister clung onto Raven's cape, their heads still barely reaching her waist. At the sight of the other titans, the little girl grinned.

"I'm sorry Bobby couldn't come, but someone had to stay and watch Teether's teddy and Timmy's blanket." Suddenly, her eyes grew wide and she dashed over to Terra's statue. "Is this her?" she asked in wonder.

Raven handed the littlest, Teether, off to Starfire as Timmy and the others joined the little blonde girl by the pedestal. She drew Robin aside.

"Are you sure that this is a good idea? Melvin's power lets her create things from her imagination, but she's never tried to bring to life anything as complicated as a human before."

Robin's brow creased: clearly he was losing confidence in his own plan.

"She made Bobby real didn't she? I'd think a giant, living teddy bear would be more complicated than this."

"That's different. Bobby isn't fully real; it, he, still lives partially in her imagination, which is why he's invisible to everyone but her most of the time."

Before Robin could reply, Melvin darted over to the two of them.

"I'm ready to try."

Raven had her doubts, but the excitement radiating from the girl was infectious and she found herself grinning along with her.

"All right," she sighed as she let Melvin lead her and Robin to Terra's statue. She released their hands and sat cross-legged in front of the plaque that read, "Terra, a Teen Titan, a true friend."

"We thought this'd help," said Beast Boy as he handed Melvin a photo album containing pictures of the girl.

Raven crouched down next to the girl as she thumbed through the pages of photographs. "You don't have to do this if you don't think you're ready-."

"I'm ready," Melvin chirped excitedly. Raven nodded, stood up, and stepped back.

Keeping the palm of her left hand pressed to the open photo album, Melvin reached out and placed her right hand on one of the statue's cold feet. She closed her eyes and concentrated on everything she knew about the girl; soon, even things that she didn't know came rushing into her head. Terra's memories raced through Melvin's consciousness. Faster and faster they came as Terra's emotions also began to take form in the young girl's mind. She felt all of the hurt, betrayal, guilt, and regret with such intensity that they threatened to consume her. The Titans and her brothers watched anxiously as her hands glowed with white light. Another watched the group from a distance, where the brilliant glow of the girl's powers didn't reach. Suddenly, the light flashed and went out as her powers failed and her tortured scream reverberated off the cavern walls. The shadow looked at the horrified faces of the Titans and he smiled grimly beneath his orange and black mask. When a boy's crying was heard in place of the scream, his attention was drawn to the two brothers and a plan began taking shape in his twisted mind.

"Third try's the charm," he mused to himself.