A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. Let's see what's up next.
Chapter 2: Go Vicky!
Raven's Soul Self shook its head and looked left and right, as if trying to figure out her surroundings. Her eyes fell upon the bed and stared at her limp body, which was lightly breathing, but made no other motions, giving Raven's body a unusual appearance as though she were half-dead or in very deep trance. Raven thought to herself, "My dream must have caused my powers to manifest my Soul Self because my emotions were beginning to get out of control." She looked down at the hands of her Soul Self and saw that they were still slightly crackling with dark energy. Raven sighed and thought, "I still have too much energy to re-enter my body safely. I have to find a way to burn some of it off."
Raven began to ponder how exactly she could do so until she heard a slight noise coming from outside of her room. She turned away from her bed and sleeping body and phased through her door to see what was causing noise at such a late hour. Raven's Soul Self reappeared in the hallway and she continued to follow the noise until she came to Cyborg's room. From outside she heard voices that made it sound as though there many people all talking at once on the other side of the door. Raven thought, "Why would Cyborg be having so many people in his room at this time of night? Robin wouldn't have called a team meeting without me?" Raven phased through Cyborg's door to see what exactly was going on.
Inside Cyborg's room, Raven's Soul Self looked around and was surprised to see no one else in the room but Cyborg on his charger. Raven looked both left and right to make sure she was not mistaken, but there was no one but Cyborg snoring rather loudly a few feet away from her. Raven heard a rise in the voices again and turned in the direction they were coming from, but to her surprise she saw that Cyborg was coated in a blue aura as he was sleeping. From the aura, voices were raising and Raven could also detect a sound that slightly resembled a trumpet being played. Raven drew closer to Cyborg's sleeping body and tentatively raised a hand to the blue aura, hoping her powers would allow her discern why it was there. Suddenly Cyborg's blue aura flashed brilliantly and drew Raven's Soul Self closer until she was sucked into the blue aura and disappeared from Cyborg's room.
A soft wind stirred Raven as she slowly opened her eyes and looked around her. Her eyes fell upon her hands and she noticed that they were no longer made up of the black energy of her Soul Self, but were flesh and blood again. She looked down at her body and touched her face and found that she was completely solid now, although her hands were still giving off slight bursts of black energy. After Raven had finished inspecting herself, she saw that she was in a grassy field and light blue sky above her. Raven felt oddly at ease with this place, but was quickly roused when from out of nowhere a football landed in her hands. Raven raised an eyebrow and turned to see where it had come from, but both of her eyes went wide as she saw two large men in red football uniforms charging towards her. Raven stifled a small shriek and quickly rose up into the air to avoid being crushed as the football players lunged to tackle her. Raven heard a loud whistle from below and saw a lean, yet muscular young man in a referee's uniform marching towards her with an aggravated expression. As Raven flew down and approached him, she saw his spiky, gelled hair peeking out from his referee's hat, and a black domino mask underneath his visor. Raven approached and then tentatively said, "Robin?"
"Sorry Miss, no time for familiarities right now. You are interrupting the game of the century, and I am afraid I am going to have to ask you to leave the field immediately." Raven raised her eyebrow and was about to continue talking when she heard a booming voice behind her. "Now, Now, Ref, you know how fans can be. They're so inspired by my mad skills they'll do anything to get an autograph from the best football player in the world." Raven turned and there standing in a light blue football uniform was Cyborg, removing his football helmet. Raven met Cyborg's eyes directly and said in a disbelieving tone, "World's greatest football player?"
"At your service little lady, but I'm in the middle of a big game now, so …" Cyborg pulled a notepad out of nowhere and quickly jotted down his signature, written in barely readable cursive, and handed the piece of paper to Raven, "why don't you take this memento and show off to your friends that you got to meet your hero." Before Raven could respond, Referee Robin grabbed her by the arm and said, "You're much too kind Mr. Stone, it is amazing that you have the title of MVP of the planet Earth, yet still make time for the little people."
"Oh please Ref, you're makin' me blush. You know I play for two reasons; to win and to show people a good time." Raven's mouth was agape at Robin's groveling and Cyborg's pompous attitude, but she did not get a chance to speak anymore, as Referee Robin unceremoniously deposited her at a bench off towards the side of the field that was in front of bunch of bleachers, and then returned towards the players to resume the game. Raven stared blankly at the autograph in her hands, but was interrupted by a squeal coming from next to her. She turned and next to her stood what appeared to be a gigantic version of the Titan's pet larva, Silkie. Raven jumped from her seat in surprise and dropped Cyborg's autograph on the bench. Giant Silkie's nubby upper legs reached for a seam by his neck that he tugged at until his head popped off. Underneath the fake Silkie's head was a green boy who was sweaty from jumping around in a mascot's costume, but had a very big smile on his face and said, "Is that a genuine Victor Stone autograph?!" Raven asked, "Beast Boy?"
The green boy looked confused and said, "Who? My name's Green Bean." Raven sat back down and took in the unusual sight of Beast Boy dressed in a Silkie mascot suit. Raven held up the autograph and nonchalantly said, "You can have it if you want." Beast Boy took the autograph and said excitedly, "Thanks! I am the official mascot of the Larvas! Led by World MVP, Victor 'Cyborg' Stone, who has single-handedly won every game that he has every played in! In fact, I'm his biggest fan! That's one of the reasons I took this job." Raven rubbed her aching head as she took all of this information in, Cyborg was a Football Player? Robin was a Referee? Beast Boy was a Mascot? That accounted for three of her teammates, but where was Starfire?
As if on cue Raven heard a sweet, happy voice ring out, "Largnarfs! Largnarfs on a stick! Get them while they are gelatinous and fresh!" Beast Boy turned and waved his nubby, costumed hands, "Hey, Largnarf Girl! Throw two Largnarfs this way!" From up in the bleachers, a young woman with long red hair and bronze skin flew down, wearing a purple dress with a white apron and a vendor's hat. On her waist was a box with a lid on top and written on the front was the slogan "GO LARVAS!" with a picture of a dancing Silkie drawn next to the words. Raven rolled her eyes and silently thought, "Well I guess I found Starfire." Beast Boy waved Starfire over to them and said, "Hey there Largnarf Girl! We'd like two piping hot Largnarfs please."
"With or without mustard, valued patron?"
"Um…With."
"Excellent choice sir."
Starfire opened her box and pulled out two purple blobs with orange chunks mixed in, held fast on two sticks. She reached in the box and also pulled out a bottle of mustard, which she squirted all over the blobs and handed them to Beast Boy with a big smile on her face as she said, "Enjoy! I am most hopeful that the Larvas shall win the big game, despite the fact that Player Stone is their only player…Oh, it seems that the half-time show is about to begin!" Raven turned her head and saw two groups comprised of ten girls each making their way to the center of the field. One set of the girls was wearing yellow cheerleader uniforms, while the other group was wearing cheerleader uniforms that were combination of pink and purple glittery material.
Upon closer inspection, Raven noticed that all the girls in the yellow looked identical, with dark brown skin and poufy black hair tied back into two puffballs with ribbons that were tied to form yellow bows. The girls in purple and pink were also all identical, but instead their skin was all the same shade of gray that was not too far from Raven's own skin. They all also had long pink hair that was tied into two pigtails that stood straight up, giving the girls a look that was both mysterious yet mischievous. Beast Boy turned to Raven, handed her the two Largnarfs, and said, "I gotta go, but I'll be back in a second."
Referee Robin left the field and entered a door a small distance from the bench Raven where was sitting. Moments later he exited, carrying a large throne on his back. It was obvious that it was incredibly heavy, but he made his way to where Cyborg was standing and placed the throne in front of him. Cyborg ceremoniously took a seat and Robin began to fan Cyborg with a palm tree leaf. Music began to pour out the speakers near the bleachers and an announcer's voice said, "Please put your hands together for a musical performance by The Bumblebee Honeys, The Jumping Jinxes, and everybody's favorite invertebrate, Silkie the Larva!" With a hoot Cyborg rose and shouted, "Heck yeah! Now that's what I'm talkin' about!" The girls in yellow began to clap their hands and sang;
"Oh Vicky you so fine,
you so fine, you blow our minds!
Hey Vicky…Hey, Hey…Hey Vicky!
The Jumping Jinxes moved in front of the Bumblebee Honeys, living up to their name by doing a series of cartwheels and jumps that even Raven was impressed by. The Jinxes then came together and arranged themselves in a chorus line and then began singing;
Hey, Hey!
You've been around all night,
And that's a little long
You think you've got the right,
And I think you've got it wrong.
The Bees came forwards and linked their arms with the Jinxes and all the girls joined in singing;
Oh Vicky you're so witty,
But you need to understand,
You take me by the heart,
When you take me by the hand.
It's boys like you Vicky,
It's what ya do, what ya do Vicky,
Come take my heart Vicky!
The music slowed to an end, and behind the girls fireworks were launched into the air and lit up the sky, despite the fact that it was broad daylight. Suddenly at the very end of the number, Beast Boy in his mascot costume did a somersault and landed in front the girls, waving his nubby arms and saying, "TADA!" The crowd remained quiet at this little stunt and from Beast Boy's left, someone threw a Largnarf that hit him directly in the head.
Beast Boy walked back to the bench where Raven was sitting and removed his costume's head and said, "Geez, tough crowd today. Some jerk threw a Largnarf at me!" He took his Largnarf from her and said, "Hey, what happened to yours?" Raven let a little smile grace her face and said, "I… finished it." Beast Boy shrugged and happily slurped up his snack. He then looked over towards Cyborg, who was being fawned over by both sets of Bees and Jinxes, and sighed, "Man, that guy leads a charmed life. It's almost as if he's living a dream." Raven's eyes widened and she quickly turned towards Beast Boy and said, "Repeat what you just said." Beast Boy looked confused and said, "Nothing, I just said Vic's life is like a dream come true. Is something wrong?"
However, Raven was no longer paying attention to Beast Boy and began muttering to herself, "That's it, it all adds up. It explains why everyone is acting so weird and why there are a million Bees and Jinxes." She turned to look at Cyborg and saw that the Bees and Jinxes had started to fight over Cyborg and suddenly all the girls were all mud-wrestling, while Cyborg was drooling over the scene. A vein popped onto Raven's forehead and she muttered, "Yep, definitely a dream that Cyborg would have." Raven sighed in frustration and sat back down. She now knew that the blue aura and the noises she had heard were energies that represented Cyborg's dream, but she also was weighed down by the fact that she could not return to her own body until she worked off the excess energy her dream had left her with." Raven clutched her head with frustration and all of the sudden; the Bees and Jinxes all froze and dark energy surrounded their eyes. The energy faded and the girls looked around as if confused. One of the Bees looked around and asked, "Hey, why are we all covered in mud?"
"Yeah!" respond one of the Jinxes, "And what the heck is up with these ridiculous outfits."
Cyborg walked towards the girls and said, "Ladies, Ladies, there's no reason to fight over little ol' me, why don't we all kiss and make up, who wants to go first?" Cyborg then took out a tube of breath freshener, spritzed his mouth two times, and puckered in front of the girls. Raven cocked an eyebrow and said, "Oh, he did NOT just go there." Raven lifted her hands and suddenly the Bee's and Jinxes' eyes were surrounded by dark energy again. They all moved simultaneously and pinned Cyborg to the floor. Cyborg's face turned red and he said, "Ladies, Ladies, there's enough of me to go around. But y'all gonna need to play nice and take turns." The smile from his face faded as he noticed that the girls' expressions were less than ideal. He chuckled nervously and said "Ladies?"
One of the Bees looked at one of the Jinxes and said, "For the world's star MVP, he sure got pinned down easily by a bunch of girls." The Jinx she was talking to replied, "Yes, this seems to be in quite a dilemma, how do you propose we rectify the situation?" The Bee smiled and with a flick of her wrist, all of the sudden a bowl of steaming hot, white bean curd appeared within her hands. She said plainly, "Boy needs a good ol' helpin' of TOFU to get some strength in his bones."
"Good Idea." replied the Jinx she had been talking to, and a bowl of tofu appeared in her hands as well. Cyborg's face flushed and he began to stutter, "Now come girls, don't play me like this. How about we go back to my penthouse suite and have a nice, juicy steak." The cheerleaders pinned Cyborg firmly to ground while the Bee and Jinx who had been talking slowly advanced towards him, lifting spoons from the bowls, filled to the rims with tofu. Cyborg tried to get free of the girls but found that he could not move. He was now begging, "Come on girls, anything but THAT! Have Mercy! Wait…Please…NOOOO!" Raven watched as Cyborg's nightmare played out and said quietly to herself, "Well, he won't be objectifying women anytime soon." With a small smile under her hood she flew into the sky of Cyborg's dreamscape and exited his dream in similar manner to how she had left her own.
A/N: Anyone guess what old pop song the Bees' and Jinxes' cheer was based on. First person to guess gets a hint as to whose dream Raven will be entering next. Lastly, remember to leave me a review if you're liking this so far.