The Past Really Explains Things

Chapter 1: The Future

"Time Travel?" Lily asked her mother with disbelief.

"It's the only way to stop what's happening," her mother explained to her.

Raven looked out the tower window. All she saw was destruction. The city was nothing more than rubble. There, robots roamed the city. Trying to keep the new empire in order. Her eyes trailed to the giant statue that he had built of himself. She was disgusted at him. But even more at herself 'how did I let this happen?' thought to herself. Slade had taken over. He came back after the Titans thought he was gone for sure.

"But I only just learned time travel! I'm not ready! Even you said so! What if I go back to the wrong time? What do I do then mom!" she snapped back at her mother.

"I know, I know! But it's all that can be done! If you don't go back now, Slade will destroy us. If I go back, our former selves would know it's me! I'm not that much different as 18 years ago!" Raven said, trying to explain this to her 15 year old daughter.

"Mom, I don't know if I can do this" she said with tears forming in her eyes. "I don't want to disappoint Uncle Nightwing, or Auntie Star, or Auntie Bumble Bee, or Uncle Cyborg, and especially not you and dad," she said as tears streamed down her face and stained her soft pale skin. She was looking at the ground, her violet hair hung around her face.

Raven pulled her head up, and looked into her emerald eyes, like her father's. "Honey, I know this isn't an easy task. I would be the same way. But this is a task I can only trust to you. If I didn't think you could do it, I wouldn't have asked you. But you need to go back to the past and stop this future from happening," Raven waved her hand towards the destruction that was once the sprawling Jump City. "You need to go back and warn us of this future. You need to convince the teenage version of us to believe you and trust you. It's the only way. And me and your father would never be disappointed in you. We love you and so does all your aunts and uncles. When the time is right, I'll come back and get you. I know you and only you can do this." Raven said as small tears threatened to fall down her face. She was so proud of Lily she could cry.

Lily nodded solemnly, "I'll do it and succeed, I won't let down mom. What do I need to know?"

"Alright I'm sending you back to Jump City 18 years ago. On November 2, 2009. Me, your father, and Auntie Star are 16 years old. Uncle Nightwing is 17 and his superhero name is Robin. Your father's superhero name was Beastboy not Changeling. And Cyborg is 18." Raven said looking at the ceiling, doing the calculations in her head while talking. "You have exactly 2 months until Slade comes. When he does come I need you to fix what we did wrong, and you know what that is" Lily nodded. "You must NOT tell us who you are, just from the future. If we knew, things would be very weird. Don't let Uncle Cy take a blood test. Just your from the future and that they can trust you." She nodded again. "Starfire and Robin were dating, but not married yet. Uncle Cy doesn't get the guts to ask out Bumble Bee for another year, and finally..." Lily listened intently to see what she'd say about her and her father.

"Me and your mother weren't together for another 2 months," Changeling said walking into the room casually and flopped on the couch next to Raven.

"And when did you decide to interrupt me?" Raven asked.

"When I knew what you say next," he gave her one of his classic grins.

Raven turned back to their daughter. "In fact, your father annoyed the crap out of me back then!" She said slapping the side of his cheek playfully, with a smile playing on her lips.

"Aww Rae that hurts! You know you liked me then!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah, I totally had the hot's for a midget, green troll, who annoyed me every waking moment!" Raven said with sarcasm in her voice and a giggle on her face as she looked to her husband.

"Yes! Yes you did!" he said confidently but yet sarcastically.

Lily rolled her eyes with a smile upon her lips. She heard the story of how her parents got together a million times! She laughed because her aunts and uncles said that they would always argue. But they loved each other anyway. Raven and Changeling acted like this every day. Lily learned that this playful bickering only brought them closer. They had a love-hate relationship and It was pretty amusing to dad was always so goofy and confident, but serious when he had to be. Her mom was always sarcastic and mature. She kept her dad in line. That's why they were so perfect together, they completed each other.

"Eventually I did, but not then. But you've always had the hots for me!' Raven came back.

"You got that right!" he said pecking her on the lips.

"Do you have to that in front of your daughter?" Cyborg asked as he entered the room. "I'm so sorry you have to see the love hate thing, you can't tell whether they're mad at each other or madly in love!" he threw his arms in the air as he directed the comment at Lily.

"Ah, you're just jealous Cy!" Changeling said, he really hasn't changed much.

"Of you two?!?! Nah!" Cyborg almost sounded disgusted.

The common room doors opened, revealing Nightwing, Starfire, Moonfire, Tyler, Bumble Bee, Spencer, Shawna, and Tech. Tyler in Starfire's arms. Spencer in Bee's arms.

"I'm glad you're all here, I think I found a way to help us against Slade" Raven announced to the rest of her team mates.

"What would that be?" Nightwing asked her questioningly, raising an eyebrow under his mask that cover most of his face.

A raucous crying came out of Raven's pocket. She pulled out a baby monitor. "Hold that thought, I got a call," she said racing out of the Common room.

"I'll go help her," Changeling said gesturing towards the door and then running out of the room to catch up with Raven.

They came out with bouncing Colin a couple minutes later. Happy as ever.

"What I was saying..." Raven continued."We stop this before it happens" she replied to herself.

Raven told them her plan.

"So you want to send our daughter, to the past, to warn us of what ahead?" Changeling summarized.

"Yes, but we won't know who she is because she's not going to tell us." Raven said glancing at her daughter.

"You know the dangers, right Raven?" Nightwing asked her.

"We both know the risks, but I believe she can do it," she said having total confidence in her daughter.

"Are you willing to do it?" Nightwing asked Lily, just to make she was willing.

"If it will change the future then yes, I'll do it for my family" Lily said completely serious.

"Alright, it may be dangerous but I do think you can handle it," Nightwing also had confidence in his oldest niece.

"Pack and I'll help you create a portal tonight," Raven instructed Lily.

Lily nodded as she started down the hall to her room.

"I'm ready," Lily said as she walked into the common room, swinging her duffle bag over her shoulder. All the Titans, young and old looked towards her with optimism.

She walked past all the Titans who said their goodbyes. This mission ether made the future or breaks it.

"I know you can do this and stay safe," Uncle Nightwing told her. "Also if I got mean and say I don't believe, don't take it to heart, I didn't know you yet," he said with a smile as he patted her arm.

"Good luck niece Lily," Starfire said as she gave her a bone crushing hug. Starfire released with a proud smile on her face. Lily smiled back in thanks.

"When you get to the past, challenge me to a video game, maybe I'll be able to whoop your butt in the past," Cy said to her with a grin. He knew Lily was beast at video games, she got that from her father.

"Keep dreaming Uncle Cy!" she said back to him. Changeling had a smile on his face, he was so proud of her for that.

"You'll do great kid," Bumble Bee said to her with a smile and a shine in her olive green eyes.

"Thanks aunt Bee." Lily smiled.

She looked down at Spencer in Bee's arms, sleeping. "Bye Spence," she said kissing him on the forehead.

She walked up to all her unrelated cousins. They gave her a group hug.

"WOO! Go LILY!" Tech shouted as he patted her on the face.

"Try to get some black mail on my parents," Moonfire said, like the rebel she is. "I want to get out of some training and my dad is a sucker for blackmail!" Lily laughed along with her beast friend.

"I'll be sure to do that!" she whispered back to her.

"See ya Lily," Shawna said giving her the rock with a sad smirk on her small features.

Tyler ran towards her, talking gibberish. "Wily! Wily!" he said as he threw himself into her arms.

"Bye to you too Ty," Lily added sadly and started tickling him. He gave out a laugh.

Finally she came to her family.

Colin was fussing and flailing in Raven's arms towards his sister. "SISSY!" he screamed out.

"Looks like someone wants you," Raven said giving Colin to her.

Cyborg walked over to Changeling with an aggravated look on his face. Changeling was smiling as Cyborg put a 10 dollar bill in his outstretched hand.

"What was that?" Raven asked looking towards her husband.

"Cy bet me if my kid said his first word before his, he'd give me 10 bucks, I JUST WON! WAY TO GO COLLIN. YOU JUST MADE YOUR OLD MAN TEN BUCKS RICHER!"

Raven slapped him in the head and rolled her eyes, like old times.

"Bye bye Colin," Lily said sadly to him. But she didn't want to make it all sad. "High five! You made dad ten more dollars that he's probably going to waste in a week!" Collin high fived her with a big grin similar to her fathers, not knowing anything she just said.

"Thanks for the sarcasm Lily!" Changeling said with a bright smile on his face.

"You're welcome dad!" she mirrored the same smile back.

"I'm so proud of her," Raven wiping a fake tear from her eye.

Lily kissed Colin on the forehead. When she pulled away he had a sad look on his face. She hugged him. "It's ok I'll be home soon." She said cradling him.

After she was done, she gave him back to her mother. Then she turned towards her father. His face suddenly turned serious.

"You'll do good Lily," Changeling said, pulling his daughter into his arms. "I know you can do it," he whispered only to her.

"Thanks dad," she said as they pulled away. Suddenly he pulled her back to whisper in her ear once again, but this time more mischievous. "If you have a chance, pull a prank on your mother with me, I'll be fun!" he pulled away with the classic smile on his face.

"I'll make sure to do that!" she said, maybe that would be fun, and also maybe it'll be fun to watch mom though dad into the ocean!

She turned to face her mom, who gave Colin to her dad. She hugged her. "I know you won't let me down," she whispered into her ear. She pulled away. "If I fling your father off the roof, there's a reason. Don't worry it happened on a regular basis."

She smiled at her mom, "I know!"

Raven smirked at her daughter. "Let's do this."

"First, take a deep breath," Raven instructed her. She did so.

"Now focus on going back in time" Raven instructed, she did so.

They put their hands together. Once there hands connected, the black ora seemed to ooze out of their hands, "Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!"

Suddenly a black portal appeared. It's power vibrating off it's sides.

"There you go, I'll come and get you after this is over," Raven promised her and smiled in encouragement.

"We're proud of you," Changeling reassured her and gave her his trade mark grin.

She gave a last glance and smiled to her big family as she walked into the portal and into the past.