This is more of an introductory chapter so it's more of a read to learn thing. Also, John, I know you're going to read this okay. I'm not the god of action so just wait until the end of the chapter if you want some. I hate associating with my readers. Especially when they go to my school.
2
I thought it was but a dream. But it was so vivid. The images, the surrounding, so pure and tranquil I knew it was not one of my mind's many conceptions. And in the middle of it all was him. It was like a separate universe constructed by him for me to prove his existence. I soon thought that he himself was only an embodiment of emotions long past and that the world was nothing more than that as well. But this vision was… so realistic. It was as if I had awoken from the dream of life and entered a new world. I began to believe he was really there, but I fought the idea of it, thinking that only in the end, I'd be left with a broken heart and an even tattered spirit.
Chapter Two
Serenade of Darkness Pt. 1
Heartfelt words weighed upon Robin's heart. It was only after Raven told him about a "friend" she'd known for quite a time. Exiting the room, he decided to tell his friends. But after quick contemplation, it brought a grimace to his face as he glanced down the hallway to the main foyer. His ideas vacillated between good and bad. He was doubtful of her, but at the same time, not too sure what to think.
Raven's foresights haven't always been for the best of us, but what if this time—what if she's right? What if he's good? What if he's not? Robin cautiously contemplated to himself. It was always his job to provide safety for the team, but what if his judgment was wrong? He glances back down the hall to the foyer with a less relieved look. Then he decides to take the chance of forwarding the info to his friends, knowing the unlikelihood of them excepting it as good news.
"Okay, here goes nothing." Robin said taking a deep confirming breath, veiling the immense pessimism with optimistic smile. He starts down the seemingly infinite hall with mixed emotions, but the further he walked with light steps, the more his ideas vacillated between good and better.
What if she's right? It's only been the things she's predicted that were bad. But, what if? He considered worryingly, walking tentatively toward the den. I'm taking this way to seriously. If Raven said she's right, then she's right. She hasn't been wrong yet. But what if? We almost lost to Trigon last time. I don't think we can win again if a challenge of that magnitude is place before us. He thought, further approaching them with a smile that grew promisingly and then shriveled negatively along with his confidence.
Moving closer to the foyer, Robin felt the vibration of there voices as they barely trembled the walls. But vocal vibrations couldn't describe the one he heard out the corner of his ear. It was prominent over the others. "Hello." Robin called with a voice that showed little fear. The only response was the fizzing resonation of heated air inside the over energized light bulbs that hung on the ceiling. "Just a light bulb." Robin said with a relieving certainty. Not giving it a second thought, he turned and continued to walk with haste. The resonation grew as he walked, but Robin paid it no attention. It then came to him when he noticed the hall becoming brighter as his shadow below him elongated. He turned back around and looked into the unusually illuminated bulb that grew steadily in brightness. The noise it made grew louder as Robin gazed further into the bulb. "What the…whoa!" Before he could finish his question, the light bulb busted like a balloon brimming with hot air. He lifted a hand to shield himself, but it wasn't enough.
Robin turned and looked with a cautious yet composed eye when another popped further behind him. One by one Robin unusually watched confidently as the lights exploded. Two popped in front of and behind him throwing searing shards of glass his way. He threw up his cape to shield himself. Luckily it worked. It protected his body but also obscured his view. Soon, he could no longer hear the joyous sounds of his friends' laughter or the sound akin to a visually handicapped child having a piñata party in an antique porcelain shop.
"Hmm." He bellowed curiously whilst lowering his protective arm. Once his cape no longer blocked his sight, he found himself in a dimly hallway with new radiant sapphire markings along the walls which provided the slight illumination. What is this? Robin questioned, starting slowly down the hallway. At the end of it lay an old, fatigued, mahogany door, the chipped edges slightly shrouded in a gradient of light. Upon the door resided dusty gaudy gold sign with a "9" on it. The hinges were dry, crusty and reddish with rust.
"Well this can't be as bad as it seems. Won't know until I try." Robin said moving toward the worn out door. The involuntary step he took grew quickly into a slow resentful walking motion. He glanced at the walls around him that held the masterful yet welcoming signatures upon them. "These words are upside down and backwards." Robin declared, walking further.
Once in front of the door, with his right hand, he cautiously reached out. Upon the slightest contact with the door Robin had an unnerving, chilling impulse. Like the metal knob was made out of ice or the feeling of being instantly dropped in pool of ice cold water. Haa Robin exclaimed in surprise, quickly releasing the knob and waving his hand. "Man! Why is it so cold?! I almost froze my hand off." He asked making a fist to warm his hand. Taking another look at the seemingly harmless door, he takes a deep breath, grasped the knob. "What? Well if it's not hurting might as well continue." He said realizing the chilling feel of the door had disappeared. As it opened, the door creaked eerily on its rusty hinges as it opened with little resistance.
Once opened, Robin shifted his eyes from the knob to the source of a growing light. What he expected to behind the door wasn't. Instead, it was a vast abyss of brilliant illumination. The brilliance of it felt like beams of light etching an image into his unprepared eyes that burned his mind. He placed a foot behind him as if to turn and run and shut his eyes tight as a reflex to the light. But to his astonishment and lament, even through his eyelids it still seemed as if it were evening. The light was growing. Robin could tell because the light that filtered through his thin mask and eyelids brightened. "What's happening? What's going on?" Robin asked backing away more. Finding that to be of no help, he tried to open his eyelids only to find they were too heavy. The light wasn't only assimilating him but his energy as well. Soon his knees felt so weak that he could not stand. He began to wobble and sway weakly. A cold, strong wind blew through the door. Robin was now too weak to stand and it blew him over. Falling back, he is caught by numerous ghostly white hands that reached out through the door. They were like strands of warm silk that had a mind of there own. As they lifted him and began to pull him in an ethereal voice told him, "Don't fear me. I'm here to inform you." Robin deliriously responded, "Yeah. I know." That's when it came to him. He'd realized the reason why all of this was taking place. Information. That's when he whispered almost soundlessly a name. "Raven." After completely losing conscious he dropped backwards with a weak simple smirk on his face. The hands quickly reached out to catch him. He was lying as if on a bed.
Now that he was lying down, it gave him the opportunity to make out the flipped and reversed words. Although to him blurry, they clearly read out For Raven. For on the left and Raven to the right. They lifted him off his feet and carried him into the divine radiance of the door. It closed behind him with only the unsettling shriek of the rusty hinges and once closed the ring of illumination slowly faded.
Titans tower
"Hello. Is someone there?" Raven asked, turning tiredly over in the plush circular bed.
Weary midnight purple eyes shift to the long silhouette that lingered beneath the narrow slit under the door. Rising slowly from the circular bed, she says tiredly rubbing her eyes with her palm and smoothing her hair back behind her ear, "Come in." She said with a voice that sounded less tired than usual. She guessed who it was. Besides, it is only a coincidence that she would come in after Robin.
"Hi." Starfire greeted Raven halfheartedly with a tentative stare. "Hi." Raven responded equally feebly. No eye contact was made between the two. The reason being was either tiredness or just not wanting to see the other. While trying not to look at Raven the wrong way, Starfire happened to catch a glimpse of a new white eiderdown that covered Raven's legs providing them warmth. Raven lifted one over the other to get Starfire's attention.
"How are you Raven? Is there an emergency?" Starfire asked caringly, taking two small, weak steps toward Raven.
Raven responded "Fine. Just fine." With a weak smile that was half-concealed by the darkness and a tone that hinted an obvious trace of falseness. Raven diverted her attention to the crashing waves along the rough, rocky shoreline, hoping that when she looked back which would be in about four more crashes, Starfire would've lurched away quietly like she usually does after she realizes Raven wants nothing to do with her.
A glare of concern beamed across Starfire's face as Raven gesture only caused her to move even closer to Raven. This time her hands were clasped Showing Raven she wanted to know, direly. "Please. I can tell that something is wrong. Tell me." Starfire said considerately.
Still staring outward to the sea, Raven responds dryly, "I'm not feeling uneasy at all. I'm actually little better than usual I guess. I have been going through some of things Star. That's all." She said in an annoyed voice.
"Oh. " Starfire said dropping her arms in disdain.
Raven takes an emotionless glance to Starfire and says again dryly, "I had a vision Starfire. Nothing more. That's all." She then again averts her attention to the crashing violet waves amongst the rocks, giving Starfire the same gesture.
"Alright. Well Raven, do you wish for me to leave now?"
"Please. If you don't mind. I would like to go to sleep." Raven said with a displeased tone.
Starfire looses a depressed sigh before heading toward the door. The edge of it felt as burningly cold as Raven's last unemotional, condescending words. Without a second thought glance and a warming goodnight, she exits.
Raven caught an indication of the depressing frown on Starfire's face when she turned to disappointedly saunter down the hallway.
Raven took her miserable grimace to heart and mind. Usually it would brush right off and become no more than an easily forgotten memory but this time, it stayed with her, attached to her usually impenetrable conscious like a saddening parasite. Usually she would be careless toward her and accept her absence as a blessing but now, she felt reproachful about her immediate action toward her. The knick less knife of sympathy had finally breached her pale, cold outer shell so she felt obligated to make it up to her.
Then something inside of her clicked.
A voice said disapprovingly, What did you do that for Raven? You should be ashamed of yourself. Raven questioned it not and almost instinctively raised a hand toward the door that became vacant in the time she looked away.
"Starfire!" Raven called with exoneration, "Wait! Don't go!"
First a golden brown hand reached from around the edge. Starfire leaned over so she was looking in, her ruby hair hanging freely, the wall obscuring the lower half of her face. "What is it Raven?"
"Listen. I'm sorry for what I just did. I don't know what came over me." Raven said, wondering if that was her apologizing or not. She quickly found it was being that she was smiling while she spoke.
"Instead, you know how you always want to share secrets with me? Well, I want to tell you about my vision. If it'll make you happy."
Starfire's jade eyes widened as happiness flooded them instantly.
"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!"
She explodes from behind the door, a joyous smile replacing the heartcrushing frown on Starfire's face. She floats, as if lifted by no more than joy approaches the bed and plops heavily beside Raven.
Maybe this was a mistake. Raven said to herself, watching the physical embodiment of elation float towards her.
"Oh friend! Tell me, what was the vision about?! How good was it?!" Starfire asked grasping Raven's hands and bouncing up and down on the bed which in turn bounced Raven up a little.
"Wait, slow--- down Starfire. Stop so--- I can tell you." Raven said, her impacts with the bed breaking her speech.
"Hurry Raven, I want to know!" Starfire requested, clapping in her usual giddy way.
"You want to know? Then shush."
Starfire sits still, but still with the same hyperactive smile and overzealous jade eyes.
"Well here goes." Raven inhales deeply. "Okay, when you all left I began to meditate right? I had this dream or vision right, and the dream or vision Starfire, was so genuine and vivid. It was as if all of my natural powers had multiplied and they created this place where me and--Me and who?" Starfire interrupts.
"I'm getting to that, you see---That is good! But I don't understand Raven. Elaborate further please." Starfire interrupted once again.
"I'm about to! Someone whom I used to know and care whom I though was dead, but isn't. Think about this for a minute. If Robin were to die and you had a dream about him, and he told you that he wasn't dead and that soon he'd rejoin you, wouldn't you be happy? I mean too stay and everything."
"Was it a girl?" Starfire asked vacant mindedly.
"No stu…haa" Raven paused, pulling from her drying well of sympathy.
"It was boy okay. And I'm pretty sure it was real. But when I opened my eyes I was in bed right and there he was at the door."
"Do you have any proof of this?"
"Well, no. But it's got to be real." Raven testified strongly, not realizing that her fingers were dug deeply into her pillow. "Only he could produce the sight that I saw. I thought I was awake for a moment. The sounds were so crisp. I could feel his presence Starfire. It was as clear as day!" Raven said falling back onto the bed.
Listening to Raven, Starfire noticed that a smile grow to on Raven's face as her words and thoughts continued to increment her emotions. It got to the point where Raven had a rather blissful beam on her usually lethargic face. Her pale skin had now turned rubicund with affection and the more she went on, the more redder her face became. To her, Starfire thought it was something else; especially coming from a girl whom she once though had no heart.
"Starfire, I probably been sounding crazy to you. But I've never felt this way. I feel...happy. Very happy." Raven said, her visage mottled as if by affectionate embarrassment.
"No, Raven. No need to feel the emotional embarrassment." Starfire said taking Raven by the shoulders and lifting her up back to her sitting position. "If you believe so, I do to. You're hardly ever wrong. Would his arrival and uniting with us make you feel better?" she asked as if promising her his alleged arrival.
"It'll give me someone to talk to more often." She said with an ascertaining smile.
"I know he will come. If he's felt the warm, relaxing glow of love he'll come back. If it's for you then he must!" Starfire exclaimed, shaking Raven mid-stride in her exclamation.
"Okay, alright. Thanks Star. Thanks for the sentiment."
Rising from the bed, Starfire asks, "This is great news. Does Robin know?"
Raven looks away, thinks and then gives a "yes" nod.
"What about the others?"
Raven gives a similar gesture, only this time dropping the nod and replacing it with a blank stare. "Really. I don't want them to know. Let this be our secret, okay Starfire."
She gives a solemn gesture. That being holding her hands and nodding her head almost violently.
"Alright. Let's go."
With a smirk, she rises promptly from the bed, sweeping the new pallid cover off. It billowed elegantly through the air as it fell gracefully to the floor. She wraps it around her neck and buttons it with one of the large red discs. She tugs and releases at the cape, attempting to relieve the wrinkles and creases that rested at the bottom and to shift it so that the slit where the sides met revealed her body. At full length, it draped pass Raven's feet and beyond.
With stars in her eyes, Starfire asks, "Where did you get such an elegant cape? Are you planning a makeover soon? Maybe I can help you? We can braid our hair like I suggested."
Buttoning the large red disc at the neck of her cloak she responds, "Maybe. I like it this way." Taking a quick look at herself again she adds, "A little. The cloak is too long." pulling at it to loosen the last crinkle that rested on the floor. They both exit the room that was lit only by a hair's breath.
Raven's room lie empty. No sounds passed. That would explain the grey book upon the floor in front of the bookcase dislodged itself and fell as if it waited for the opportunity.
Once outside Raven decides to have conversation for the first time with Star. It has been a while. That's why Raven thought that all this time if Starfire wanted to talk she might have something to say.
"Starfire, what would you do if Robin died?" Raven asked, glancing over to Starfire who was walking beside her with a joyous smile that stuck from their earlier conversation. She knew she was taking a shot in the dark with such an inquiry.
"Really Raven I don't know." Starfire responds quickly as if to evade the question.
"No. Answer the question. What would you do? Really?" Raven asked pulling forth any kindness she had left. Starfire gives at first a momentary expression that showed no answer then soon after an expression that showed hard contemplation.
Even the rhythm of her steps changed as she began contemplated profoundly. "I don't know, but if I got a vision like you did from Robin after he had died, I'd believe him wait until he came to me. I'd wait forever if I had to. I'm sure he'd do the same for me."
"I hope Alastor does the same for me too." Raven said with a hoping face.
"He will Raven. I know it." Starfire said, softly placing a promising hand upon Raven's shoulder.
"By the way. What is his name?"
"It's Alastor. Alastor Avian Aurelia." Starfire stops, her joyous smile now veiled by a terrified look.
"What?" Raven said with a look of surprise.
"Raven, the word Alastor on my planet means destruction."
"What do you mean?"
"Alastor, in legend was god who brought destruction to our world, Tamaran."
Raven looks to Starfire for a minute after the disturbing silence settled in. "I don't think so. Besides, Alastor is…"
"What? Is it something I said? I'm sorry Raven! I did not mean to!"
"Shhh! Did you hear that?" Raven said, focusing all of her power on her hearing while looking around. "It sounded like…..faint breathing?" Raven asked turning around quickly.
Raven looks around slowly, trying to pinpoint the sounds origin. It was of no avail, as in no more than minutes, she had scanned the proximity.
"I don't hear anything." Said Starfire who no matter how she looked truly heard nothing. Even though she looked around as much as Raven did, she saw nothing irregular in the area.
"Come with me." She said streaming past her.
Starfire follows suit and flies behind Raven.
Beside the fact that what they heard was back in the direction of Raven's room, they noticed that the lights lost their radiance in a succession as they approached the immediate turn.
"The breathing. It's getting louder." Raven said, not losing any pace.
Once they reached the turn, Starfire, not without a gasp, was put into a state of surprise and Raven stood just as bewildered.
"What happened here? Raven what is this?!" When they curved the weakly lit hall, they noticed the lights had become over zealous and exploded and in the middle of the hallway, surrounded by shards and remnants of the light bulbs, lay an unconscious Robin laying face up, his hand over his chest.
"I hate it when I'm right." Raven quipped ruefully inching toward Robin.
"Robin!" Starfire calls before quickly taking to her fallen friend's aid. "Raven! What happened here?!" Starfire asked, placing her hand under Robin's head. Upon further examination of his face, she saw that he was perfectly fine, but he was in a state similar to sleep. The only thing was his eyes were half open.
He's alright, but I wonder what could've caused this. Raven thought, looking at Robin who was being cradled by Starfire. "C'mon." Raven responded taking an alleviating sigh. "Right now let's get him to the foyer."
Raven lifts Robin up, placing one of his arms over her shoulder. They then proceed with him, his feet dragging lifelessly, hastily to the foyer with a few unanswered questions.
Somewhere
"Where am I?" Robin asks, jadedly lifting himself from the snow clad ground. His sense of feeling was all he could go by until his filtered lenses, along with his eyes, became clear again. Slowly regaining sight from a seemingly soporific coma he his greeted with the prefecture of an area predominated by silky, glitter-esque snow and rainbow like leaves. Wiping and shaking it free of his hands he realizes it's not cold, but a comfortable warm temperature. "What is this?" Robin asked rising from his knees after lifting himself up from the snow. He received no answer to his question, but his surround made a clear statement.
It was a quiescent landscape doused and covered by the porcelain white snow and the rainbow fashioned leaves. It was like an overly-vibrant kaleidoscope. A deciduous tree withstood the frigid assault, isolated on a tiny island in the center of the motionless, circular, unfrozen pond that surrounded it. A bench rested conveniently near the border of the pond as if put there to provide a comfortable view for those that could only spectacle at the pure, marvelous, unscathed tree they'd only touch with their rueful sight, knowing they'd only be within vision's restraint.
"You're wondering why it isn't as cold. Dear boy, I didn't want you to freeze you know." A calm voice answers teasingly. "Get up, Robin. I have things I have to ask you." Robin walks forward, looking around taking in his new lush milieu.
"Do you like it Robin?" asked the mysterious boy who sat upon the red wooden, snow covered bench. The bars that held it up were rusty yet safe to sit upon.
"It's…amazi... Hold on. Who are you and what is this place? How did I get here?" Inquires the astonished Robin who was approaching the bench, head fixed and his eyes still ingesting the environment they're strongly immersed in.
In front of him was a tall boy, about 5'9 who had on a suit that resembled a white hooded Cossack. His white shoes seemed to be merged with the pure snow that almost camouflaged them. His ridged white hair along with the two tails that hung from it on each side of his face seemed to grow as more snow fell upon it.
"Wait, it's amazing you say? I take that as a complement. I would've done better but you're not the bird I meant to catch are you? Besides, nothing impresses you right?" He asks with sly sneer.
"Your welcome but don't you think it's a little rude to not introduce yourself after teleporting someone somewhere." Robin asks with cocked eyebrows and a draw of impatience in his tone. "I guess you're right. I can't be mad. Where indeed are my manners? My name is Alastor Aurelia Avian. Yours must be Robin, I presume."
"How do you know me?" asked Robin, finally having his attention yanked from the resplendent surrounding. "Your reputation precedes you. Wait. I'm sorry Robin. Here. Take a seat. Get comfortable." Alastor responds patting the vacant area on the bench, kicking up the light layer snow and dust.
"I'd rather stand. Thanks." Robin responds sliding his hands into his cold, empty pockets. "Suit yourself. You know, it's going to get colder, Robin." He remarks lifting his leg over the other, crossing them and then placing his gloved hands upon his knee. It only took a minute for Robin to reconsider his choice and take a seat in the snow that had filled that vacant area. "I decided to sit." says Robin as a transparent excuse.
Alastor only looks at him, chuckles with a grin and responds resting his arm along the back of the bench, "I'm sure you did Rob." Minutes after sitting, Robin looks over to Alastor with a stare that in itself asked a question. "What is it Robin? Something you need to know?"
"What is this place Alastor? Did you do this?" asked the perplexed Robin. "You finally caught on Robin. Your super perception isn't so super. Yes I did. I made this place to think things out." Alastor sarcastically responded, looking at Robin through the corner of his eye.
"You made this place for Raven to feel comfortable the next time she goes to sleep. Am I right about that?" Robin asked leaning forward to get a look at his surprised expression. "Predictable. I knew a few more clues and you'd have the answer. Besides, I know Raven told you. Strategy can't beat intelligence you know." Alastor responded with a swaggering smile. "You have to fight smarter not harder." Robin countered with a smirk. "Touché Robin. Your signature phrase Robin. It never gets old. Now that introductions are done," Alastor said placing his pearlescent white shoes upon the ground, "Have anymore questions for me?"
"Okay a few more. Alastor, did you really make this for Raven or is it just somewhere to be?" Robin asked looking out past the pond to the tree that set idle in the middle of it all.
"C'mon now. The answer is in the surroundings. Look at it Robin. What do you see?"
"A snow covered place and a lake with a tree in the middle. What else?" Robin responded emotionlessly, giving a quick coup d'oeil outward.
"No Robin. Think with your heart, not your mind. Who does this make you think of?"
"No one. It's just a lake with a tree." Robin responded obliviously impassive.
"Robin, its beautiful is it not!? Think with your heart not your mind! Being here should conjure some though of the one you care about the most. Especially when you're here all alone. Being in a place like this should make you wish you could share it."
"Let me guess. Your thinking of Raven right?" Asked Robin who took a glance toward the sky, "Now that I think of it, I know who I'd share this with. I can see her now." Robin said, closing his eyes for a second to think of her. "She'd be cheerful to have such a place to herself." Robin exclaimed.
"You comprehend. Good. Anyway, this creation is only a fraction of my fondness for her. If I remembered how to use my powers correctly, this'd be real. If I could Robin, I'd give this to Raven as you would to Koriand'r or Starfire as you call her. Would you not?" Alastor asked shooting a questioning leer into his eyes.
"Yes I would. How do you know who Starfire--Don't worry about it. I just know these things. When you spend close to ten years here, you begin to see things without impedance or obscurities. Also Starfire wouldn't want it to herself; she'd want to share it with someone. You"
"The way you can see things like that would make you a good addition to the team, Alastor."
"The team?" Alastor questions strongly.
"The Teen Titans. Our team."
"You really want me to join, or do want me around for advice, Rob?" Alastor asks leaning forward.
"No! It's just your reconnaissance skills. They're beyond Raven's." Robin said with a compelling tone.
"Really? Okay Robin. How bout this. I know how well you fight. If you can beat me in a skills test, then I'll join. I'll preview your skill and you'll preview mine. Fair deal?"
Robin takes no time not even time to think to respond almost reflexively, "Yes."
"Good. We'll be fighting here. Alastor said standing, loosening his cuff buttons once at full height.
"Fine with me. When do you want to start?" Robin asked also standing full.
"In a few minutes. I want to meditate if you don't mind." Alastor said taking a look to Robin and back to his sleeve he was fidgeting with.
"Hey Alastor, in every way you are like Raven, except you don't wear a cloak? Why?" Robin asked before taking his place among the snow.
"I don't do that cloak crap. I like suits better. I might wear it one day, but not today. Another thing is to assume my skills. They could be better or worst than Raven's. Isn't that what you were afraid of?" Alastor said talking a walk to the soft marsh that encircled the edge of the lake.
Robin knew what he was talking about. How he panicked for the safety of the team and weather or not Raven was right. It seems he got his answer.
"Yeah. I know you're not going to meditate in the cold snow. Wouldn't that tarnish your suit?"
"I'm going to a place where there is no snow Robin." Alastor said, looking beyond to the glistening lake and the white tree whose leaves unloaded snow once it got to heavy. Conveniently though, the snow covered the out area and not the grassy inner so sitting under it would not leave any stain.
"I didn't want to show you this until we fought, but I guess you already know. I'm going to fly over to that island."
"Oh? Well fly." Robin said with a teasing smirk that hinted slight disbelief. No matter what it hinted, it just incremented Alastor's ego.
"Alright." Says Alastor as he closes his eyes, brushes the snow from his pale hair and extends his arms outward. "Okay then. Watch now, because if you blink you might miss it."
"Do it." Robin said waiting for a reaction.
"Azarath!" Alastor exclaimed with force. He quickly opens his eyes revealing that his pupils that rested inside the white of his corneas had become white and lucid. The nerves in his eyes were rather visible, as if energy was being pumped straight into them. He crossed his white sleeved arms. He stood with a smirk, in a stance that personified his grand ego.
His grayish corrugated hair began to billow upward as the white helix of his light energy that encircled him rotated. His hooded coat also began to waft fiercely behind him revealing Alastor's white khaki like pants and a black belt. "Ha! Now what do you have to say Robby? Amazing or what?"
"You're still not flying." Robin said hunching his shoulders.
"Metrion!" The snow is blown violently from under him and finally, without effort, his feet are elevated at first inches from the ground then meters then feet.
"Zenthos!" Alastor shoots vertically into the air leaving behind him a light trail and bare circular area that seemed as if the snow had never touched it. Robin smirks promisingly taking a look at the circle that measured at least a foot in diameter.
Slowly raising his gaze to Alastor, Robin quickly realizes that Alastor would be more than just a great temporary adversary. He would be a great addition to the Titans. The only problem is… he has to win first.
"HA! You see Robin!" He yelled with a powerful grin, as he made a sharp backwards turn. Once he was completely parallel to the pond he stops and freefall. Alastor's coat began to whip in the air beside him as his body slowly became gravity's victim
He's good. Robin thinks to himself as Alastor stops, the water waving outward from his mass stopping abruptly above it.
Alastor puts on an aerial show for Robin. Compared to Raven, his flying was blindingly fast and well crafted. He flew close to the chilly water to exemplify the velocity. A V-shaped waved followed him complementing his speed that endured every turn.
"Wow." Robin said, watching a sight that was as impressive as anything else. I hope I win because he has got to join the team.
And just as elegantly as he flew, he landed softly on the once thought inaccessible island no more than a billow of snow and a wisp of his coattail.
"See dear boy! Don't doubt the immaculateness of my powers! Now if you don't mind, I have meditation to attend to!" He sits, legs crossed, his middle finger and thumb connected over his gloved palms on the dry patch under the snowy tree. He then enters his trance with the three words,"Azarath Metrion Zenthos."
Wow, just like Raven. Amazing, yet confusing. Walking toward the nearest tree he adds, But, this guy is something else. I can stop Raven, but this is different. I wonder how I'm going to beat him. I need a strategy.
"Hey Robin, from this tree to where you stand is about 500 meters! Keep that in mind! It'll come in handy!"
Turning back around after receiving a not so helpful hint from Alastor, Robin responds under his breath, "Yeah, whatever. I guess I better get to stretching."
Titans Tower
Raven and Starfire are on their way towards the den with Robin, dangling unconsciously over their shoulders. His head bobbed back, forth and side to side with each one of their heavy, tiring steps. Even though unconscious, his supposedly lifeless muscles had produced a weak smirk upon his face. It was a smirk that had sprouted unnoticed like a tulip in a bed of roses.
"So Raven." Starfire asked looking over at Raven who still had Robin's left arm over her shoulder. "What are we going to tell the others?"
"Well Starfire, about that. I decided that I really I don't want them to know. If I told them, then that would…it would mess things up for me."
"Raven, I respect you enough not to tell. My lips are sealed." Starfire responded, running her index finger and thumb across her lips "zipping" them.
"Thanks again Star. But still, I have to think."
"Hey, have you noticed that Robin is smiling?" Starfire asked, catching the sight as she looked over to Raven. She noticed a contemplative stare upon Raven's face. Also, Raven didn't answer.
"Raven!" Starfire called again.
"What? Oh yeah, right, listen I forgot something in my room. I'll be right back." Raven hurries to her room without a second thought, leaving Starfire in the hallway with the heavy unconscious Robin.
"Hurry back!" Starfire yells as Raven takes off down the hall with her colorless cloak billowing behind her.
"Knowing Starfire, Beast boy will coax her into telling him what happened. It's inevitable then. Great. I could either tell them to butt out or else I could let them know. Starfire and Robin know. well I guess it won't hurt. I don't care too—ouch!" Raven exclaims steeping with a bare foot on the hard spine of a fallen book. "I thought I cleaned up today!" Raven angrily exclaimed as she bends over, picks up the book with an aggravated hand and inspects it. It was one of the strangest books she'd ever seen. She'd seen all her books so a new one would seem strange. She began to flip through the pages and found that all the pages were clean and inkless. The book itself was clean. It was so fortified that when Raven stepped on it, the spine didn't bend.
"I don't remember bringing this with me from Azarath." She said staring puzzlingly at the novel size white book.
As she turned through the pages looking for a beginning in its voided pages, she found nothing, until she reached page 1995. "What is this book? I--What in the world is…Alastor?" And without a doubt, her navy blue eyes became fixed upon the page that upon was Alastor currently meditating in an unfamiliar location.
"I wonder what Raven is doing. I wish she'd hurry." Then out of nowhere, "STARFIRE!! COME HERE!!!"
"What's wrong?!" Starfire asked running into the room with Robin cradled in her arms.
"Look at this book." It was rather different book because in it weren't words. In it was a page sized film-like projection of a boy who to Starfire was completely unknown. "Raven look, do you see that? He has on nothing but white. Like the pallid knights of my planets." She adds looking to Raven, "Just like you. Wait, is that?"
"Yes. That's Alastor, Star. That's that boy I told you about. But how can that be? He's supposed to be dead." Raven slams the book shut.
Starfire looks over to Raven who still as concrete.
"Raven do you know what this means? He's not dead. He's alive." Starfire said slowly, placing a hand of Raven's shoulder. "Open the book, Raven."
Reluctantly almost with conscious consent, Raven's hands move apart opening the book in the process. With a twinkling tear of uncertainty streaming down the side of her face, Raven responds with an incredulous tone, "Maybe so."
Somewhere
It's been thirty minutes now and he's still not done meditating? I hope he doesn't get like Raven and just cancels the whole thing.
"Alright!" Alastor yelled back to the impatient Robin, still sitting beneath the snow gathering tree, "If you're going to rush me, I guess I shouldn't keep you waiting. But first before we begin, I must apologize for my brash attitude. Sometimes I do that to those who haven't seen me in action. I did that to Raven when I first saw her!"
"I forgive you! Just C'mon! I want you on my team!" Robin said waving to Alastor who was still on the on the far off island. "Are you sure you're ready Robin!?"
"Yeah! Let's go!"
"Alright. Get ready!"
Alastor stands, brushing the snow from his bottom as Robin cracks his neck and knuckles.
"Azarath." Alastor closes his eyes. Robin digs his steel toed shoes into the ground. "Metrion." Alastor unbuttons his hooded trench coat. Robin gets into a basic stance. His hands were held out, his palms facing opposite his chest as he stood, feet shoulder width apart. "ZENTHOS!" Alastor opens his eyes revealing that once again they'd become completely white. His pupils vanished. Robin stood waiting for a reaction.
Alastor takes flight again and jets across the half frozen lake. "I have a feeling this is going to be easy." Alastor said lazily, lamenting the fact that now he had another challenger that seemed all too easy. He reached the land in seconds, landing right before Robin.
"You are ready right?" Alastor asks, stretching his arms and then cracking his knuckles. Robin only nods. "Good. I want you to know. This isn't going to be easy, Robin."
"I certainly hope not." Robin responds with a small grin.
Some dying leaves ruffle and crumble under the wintry breeze that blew over them. This caused only Robin to flinch as well as stare harder at his seemingly feeble opponent. An ostentatious, toothy smirk began to rise from Alastor emotionless face as he raises both his hands and pulls off the gloves that warmed them. They were pale and smooth as if under worked.
"Your eyes tell me you think I'm weak." Alastor said looking at his pale hands that held no prints.
"What?" Robin retorted.
"I heavily suggest you reconsider that thought because if you can't beat Raven, you definitely can't beat me. Also, I can tell that even though you think I'm weak you a little intimidated too. Your eyes haven't remained fixed on me every since I landed. They keep on twitching with growing fear. Just for your good, I'll let you make the first move."
They both stand dormant, staring at each other waiting for a sudden movement. Alastor on the other hand saw Robin's motions perfectly. He could see that even from far off, Robin was a little intimidated. He smirked, knowing that he could use that to his advantage, but only to an extent. Even with this info, he still stood examining Robin even further.
"I'd rather let you go first. I have the next 200 moves already thought out. Oh yeah, I can beat Raven." Robin said, sliding deeper into his stance. He braces himself by turning his back foot perpendicular to his body.
While Robin on the other may have been intimidated, he stood watching Alastor's highly unusual eyes. There was something strange about them. Raven's eyes are strange like his, but Alastor's eyes were like ocular windows to the home of another world. A dimension of unknown things, yet they seemed like clear and calm the night sky. A bead of sweat formed upon Robin forehead. It rolled into his eye which caused him to reflexively blink at least three times. Once he opened his slightly irritated eye the third time, Alastor had vanished leaving nothing but two footprints in the snow.
"You're pretty quick." Robin said after quickly perceiving that Alastor was currently in motion around him.
"Close to light speed actually." Alastor said while still in moving. He was moving around so blindingly fast, his voice sounded as if he were all around. "Let me give you a tip Robin. There are three differences between me and Raven. One being greater than the other. The least greatest difference between me and Raven is that while she uses umbrakinesis I use photokinesis. I have control over light."
"I see that your fast but that won't help you one bit. I've fought people like you. So I already know your weakness. You speed is your defense and offense so your finished already." Alastor stops Just out of striking range of Robin. "Oh really? Well then, I want you to stop me." Alastor's body seems to phase away as he speeds up again to the point of near invisibility.
"Alright." Robin closes his eyes, using the sense of sound to track Alastor's soft yet snow crushing leaps. He found a pattern in his steps, that being he was moving in for an attack. From his utility belt, Robin throws a birdarang to a nearby tree. It connected with the tree at Alastor's eye level, stopping him in his tracks. It wobbled blaringly then it was still after a few seconds.
"I see you have skill. Good." Alastor said, forcefully removing the gadget from the tree in front of him. "Well since you've figured that out, I guess I have to use my other line of defense. Physical defense." Alastor said tossing the birdarang behind him. "I've learned from Raven that you are a master of the hand-to-hand arts. Let me tell you now Robin, I'm more of a soft style fighter. You use hard attacks that tend induce contusions, bruises and broken bones, like the Xíngyquán style. I use the Baguazhang style; A style that hits the opponent directly where it hurts but in a very accurate and soft way."
Robin looks over to him with a still fervent grin. "At least you know your stuff. Let's see if you can use it."
Alastor took an unusual stance. He stood generally straight with a skill veiling smile. "I may look defenseless but I'm not. I have the perfect guard. Bring it." He beckons gesture to Robin with a waving hand.
"Whatever you say Alastor." Robin responds taking off toward him.
"HIYAA!" Robin throws a quick left jab at Alastor. The connection of his attack seemed imminent until Alastor threw a blinding right open palm up stopping Robin's fist completely. "Is that all?" Alastor asks grabbing Robin's fist.
"Nope. HURAA!" Robin spins quickly and releases a powerful heeled kick that was precisely aimed for the side of Alastor's head. Unfortunately that too was effortlessly dodged as quickly Alastor ducked at the last second, grounded himself with one hand and swung his leg around which swept Robin off his propping leg. He fell to a light layer of snow with a painful sounding thump.
"Well…" says Alastor standing back up and then staring off into the distance almost as if giving Robin another chance to attack. From the ground Robin spins on his back in an attempt to maneuver Alastor away, but he only takes it as an invitation for a rather demoralizing attack on Robin and an insult to his skill.
Without looking he places an instinctive hand out in the invisible track of one of Robin's legs. His leg gets caught by Alastor who then hoists him up with one hand and then proceeds to sling him into a nearby tree. Robin's spine cracked loudly as it bent upon contact with the tree. He then slid down it and his ribs slammed against the dense cold root of the tree. A bit of snow fell on him as well a few mahogany leaves.
Alastor sighed disappointedly with his backed turned to a now animosity driven Robin.
Robin was beginning to become rather livid from Alastor's antics. His masterful moves being were either smoothly blocked or shrugged off with the opening of one palm. Alastor, a boy who stood in a defenseless stance, was completely controlled the fight. Robin smirks, wiping a little blood from the side of the web of his lips and looking over to Alastor who was staring at black birds that were perched over on the bench. "Not done yet."
He staggers up, even placing a hand on his slightly injured knee to lift himself and run to Alastor. He came at him with his right fist drawn back. Alastor ducks and aims a small yet sharp elbow precisely for Robin's solar plexus. Robin predicts it and swayed fluidly dodging the move and going straight his own attack. He swings the back of his fist around, hoping it would connect with Alastor's face but Alastor only back flips quickly dispatching Robin again with a hand standing kick to the intended target located a little below Robin's chest. Robin stopped. The pain that ran through his torso was immense as he collapsed, eyes opened wide. The stinging sensation that felt like being shot with a hollow-head bullet had now moved throughout Robin's entire chest. Alastor pulled his white narrowed toed shoe from his torso as Robin fell. He then rotated himself on his hands and replanted his shoes in the snow.
Robin, close to wits end, takes another half-sighted look at Alastor for any visual giveaways but still found none. Even the long tail of his suit didn't prove to be a weakness. It seemed that his so-called super defense had earned its name.
What is going on here? Not even 15 minutes into the fight and he nearly killing me. I swear he knows what I'm going to do before I do it. It's like he has eyes in the back of his head! But how?!
Alastor glances down at Robin, applauding his almost futile attempts to hit him as well as finding humor in said predicament. "Well now Robin. You're reputation must precede you because you totally suck. You really truly do. Now get up. I'm ready to end this." Alastor said turning a blissful face into a serious glare.
Struggling back to his feet again and raising a face full of acrimony to him and wiping a little more blood from his lips, Robin throws a punch at Alastor once more. This time with a little more drive. "Goodnight." Alastor said, focusing his eyes even more. He ducks does a half turn and strikes Robin in the lower shoulder and chest with his index and middle fingers. Everything at that moment stopped.
That wind that ruffled the leaves before blew again unrelentingly. It brought forth a chill that signified something had transpired. Some snow had fallen from a nearby tree and landed softly upon the same root Robin had landed upon. The birds that were perched on the rickety brown bench ruffled the snow from there wings took flight in the opposite direction of the clash. It was quiet for a moment. Then Robin let out a yell that was the vocal embodiment of the pain that was just inflicted upon him.
"UGHHHAA!" A deep throated yell loosened itself from Robin as he staggered back and fell. At that moment, Robin's entire right arm and chest felt as if thousands of burning needles were shot deeply inside of them. It was more agonizing then the kick that was recently delivered to him.
Robin lie on the ground rolling, caressing his lifeless but painfully throbbing arm staring at Alastor through one eye with a look of enmity. "What did you do to me?! I can't feel my arm!"
Alastor walks to Robin menacingly, blinking his eyes to return them to their normal lavender hue. "Man. You still don't get it do you? Well let me tell you. This is one of my abilities, EM sensory. Because light is no more than electromagnetic radiation I can change the wavelength I see on. I can change it to X-ray, Ultraviolet, Infrared and my favorite 360. I've kept 360 on all the fight."
Robin's eye that wasn't buried painfully in the snow widen as Alastor began to elaborate his only known ability. "That's the reason why you could see me turned around!"
"Exactly!" Alastor replied, congratulating Robin's perceptiveness again. "I like 360 vision because it allows me to see things far away as well as around me. Including people, so I know where to hit you. Also my sight reaches 500 meters without it all so you're beat. Right now your right arm's circulation is gone because I crushed your pressure point so you won't be moving it for a while. If we were fighting outside of this mental construct, chances are you'd never use that arm again. You should quit my friend. You can't escape my sight, your fighting arm is gone and you're tired."
"No." Robin said raising his functional left arm. "I want you on my team. We need you. Raven needs you!"
"I don't need you to tell me that." Alastor snapped. "All these powers came from mere meditation. Maybe if you all didn't disturb her so much then…"Alastor responds, his vision turning on again from sheer drive. "Just get up." Alastor said resuming his stance.
Robin staggers to his feet once more, spitting away the blood that accumulated in his mouth. "Time to even the odds Alastor. I'm ready to get you on my team." He goes in his utility belt and pulls a birdarang.
"You tried that remember?" Alastor said, inching towards him ready to end the farce. "No. This is not an average birdarang. It's a sword." It immediately extends to the length of an average katana.
"Oh. A weapon." Alastor says, moving to the side of the staff as it slammed into the ground kicking up snow in its wake. "I have one to." Alastor moves his coat from his hip and unsheathes a right handed saber-like rapier.
"A saber. Nice." Robin proclaims, reorienting his left hand grip on his sword.
Alastor watches as the sunlight slides up and down the edge of his saber as he tilts it, examining it for any nicks.
"Just one more thing Alastor." Robin lifts his right leg up and remove removes his metal plated shoes. He follows suit and removes the other. His bare feet now rested in the comforting snow. He wriggled his toes in it, letting his feet become used to it.
"Watch this." His shoes, once dropped from at least five feet, buried themselves at least a meter into the ground, even with the snow suppressing the impact a little. Next he removes six tiny lead weights from his utility belt that by themselves were ten pounds. "I've never had to do this in a fight. Not even against Slade. You should consider yourself lucky that you've made me do this. Especially this early in a fight."
"What the? What are those?" Alastor asks, looking at the shoes examining them with his super vision.
"Weights. My master gave them to me before I left. All together they're 160 pound. You remember that speed you showed me earlier? I'm pretty sure I can replicated it myself now so get ready. This fight is about to be over." Robin takes a breath, letting his body become use
"It won't matter because when I finish with you, you will be completely immobile. Now let's end this." Alastor's lavender pupil less eyes turned blue green. "I've just combined X-ray with 360. I'm going to crush all of your pressure points. After that, I'll finish you." Alastor said, placing his right hand in his pocket and holding his saber fencing style with his left.
"You won't hit me anymore. I just lost 160 pounds and I'm confident in my style." Robin said, holding his sword kendo style with his left hand.
"Just so you know, instantaneously losing that much weight won't have you moving as fast as me." Alastor said his eyes
"Oh won't it. You don't move as fast as you say." Robin responds quickly.
A blatant, pretentious smirk developed slowly on both they're faces as they glare at each other with stares of approval, esteem and slight traces of respect.
I have to keep my cool now. Alastor said focusing heavily on Robin's internal system. That look of fear I once saw in his eyes have become a look of confidence. It won't matter; I still have the upper hand. His fighting arm is gone and half his chest is useless. But his left side has gotten stronger as well as his legs. Still, I can't lose my cool…
I need a plan. He's canceled 100 of them with his last move. I need to think. His become intimidated, I can tell that, but I don't know the extent of his power. Robin contemplates. This isn't looking to good for me. My left side is gone. All I have is my legs and right arm. I have to make due. I got it! It'll take some maneuvering though. I can only hope this works…
"Robin. I must apologize again for demeaning." "Apology accepted." Robin responds.
"Before we continue," Robin intercedes, "I need to know something. Is this all that you can do? I mean, you and Raven—Me and Raven. I traded al my time for internal development so I have more protective skills than she has. She can move outside things with her mind while I'm more of a internal guy. Also, if it's any consolation, I can shoot a wide or focused beam of light from my hand or finger. That's about the only external thing I can do. Does that answer your question?"
"I see now why you want to come back to Raven. You need her to teach you how to work externally. Your eyes and speed aren't enough. You both need each other."
Alastor gives a light smirk. "You're right again. These powers aren't enough. I need more. Raven needs more."
"So even if you lose... We can learn a lot from you Alastor. How about you just join us, for the adventure? What do you say?"
"Okay Robin. If it will get you to leave me alone. I will join your team. But just know it's only for Raven. Not you, not anyone else. Anything else you need so we can begin?"
"You mention the word internal a lot. Were you taught these skills?"
Alastor gazes downward with almost sad look. He wasn't distressing but his memories of his powers haunted him a little. "Robin, that question. Okay these eyes weren't always as good as they seem. Robin before I met Raven was blind. I was born without sight…"
Titans Tower
Because one of my formal closest friends keeps on complaining and whining like an abandoned infant about the length of my chapters, I will have to split this in two. But just know it will take place immediately where this leaves off. Also, the next half is a must read, I would tell you why, but it'll spoil it, (for those that actually read this.) A hint for you is Raven will know the meaning of an "Aching" heart. Peace and love, Peace and love. Oh yeah John, you want action, you'll get action. You'll get action…