To answer a comment from my first reviewer: Sarah thank you for reminding me and I do have in mind that Raven is more powerful than any Azarathian (since she is half-demon). In upcoming chapters everything about the other Azarathians' powers will be explained.
"So are you ready?" Raven asked looking at the rest of the teams. They nodded. Then the girl turned to Azarathians. "Ok, so I will perform the spell to take us to Azarath since Lupe cannot cast it properly." She said. Lupe nodded in agreement but not without folding her arms over her chest angrily. She didn't like that, just because she was younger than Leon and Raven, they didn't trust her in performing complicated spells. Of course Raven was right to not let her go through the spell again but still it annoyed her. And since it was a complicated spell it required at least two Azarathians casting it to be completed, so Leo couldn't cast it on his own. Raven was the only one powerful enough to perform it with only her own powers.
"Guys, better hold hands with each other. The ride might be a bit rough." Raven warned as they all stepped inside the circle she had created using what magical sand she had left. When all of did as she said, she closed her eyes and concentrated. Although she had casted the spell only a handful of times in the past, the words came in her mind with ease. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos…Carazon Rakashas Enderez…Vaserix Endrien Azarath…Azarath, AZARATH!" As she shouted the last word, a sky blue light emerged from the sand, forming a cylindrical barrier around them. On the ceiling above them, a swirling vortex appeared and they felt themselves being lifted in the air.
Suddenly they found themselves floating in a bright electric blue energy-tunnel. At the front Raven and Leo were leading them with Lupe just a step behind them. "Keep your limbs away from the tunnel's ends if you want to arrive in Azarath with all of your limbs intact." Lupe told them and Beast Boy immediately withdrew his right hand which was ready to touch the tunnel's walls. They continued floating. When the Titans had started to think that the tunnel was endless, an overwhelmingly bright pure white light surrounded them. The next thing they knew, they were standing, their feet touching the ground and were looking astonished at the city which stood tall in front of them.
"Guys, welcome to Azarath. Welcome to my home." Raven announced letting the tiniest of smiles to appear on her pale grey face.
Circular building stood tall, many connected with one another by bridges, pathways many feet above the ground. The streets between them were made out of stone and trees were scattered randomly amongst the entire city. At the center of the city, the tallest building stood, resembling the Earth's ancient temples with its stone walls and tall towers at every one of its corners. And an engraved dove decorated the front wall of the building.
The entire city, which seemed to spread for miles and miles, actually stood atop a single rock of enormous size that floated on mid-air.
And they were standing on the edge of said-rock.
Beast Boy let out a shriek, noticing the cliff behind them and took a few steps forward, putting some distance between him and the edge. Leon laughed at his reaction. "Don't worry. Wards cover the entire area surrounding Azarath. You wouldn't be able to fall over even if you tried." He explained and took a rock from the ground. He threw it with force. The rock flew in the air but before it could reach the end of the ground, it hit on an invisible wall, on which it bounced and then fell on the ground. "Nothing, living or not, can fall off the edge." Lupe said.
"So the entire dimension is this town?" Cyborg asked. Lupe nodded negatively.
"There are two other floating islands, like this one, on the other side of the town. Bridges connect all three islands with one another. The one we are standing on is the original Azarath. The second was created when the number of our people increased. And the third one was created after Trigon was defeated. Many people of the worlds he had destroyed had the same fate as ours, imprisoned in his dark soul until Raven defeated him. After we were free, many asked for shelter, as their planets were destroyed and they had nowhere else to go. So a third island was necessary to house everyone." The younger Azarathian explained, moving her cloak as to cover the bloodstain on her shirt, not wanting to make people freak out.
Raven was the only one of the Azarathians who stayed silent, eyes glued on the city before them. Due to it being rebuilt from almost the beginning, many things had changed. She would look at one direction, where she remembered for example a tower, and in its place she would see a lower house. It made her sad and kind of nostalgic. Not even in her wildest dreams would she imagine of seeing the place of her birth again and now she was there but everything had changed.
Robin noticed her discomfort. The other Titans, even though they were her family, were preoccupied by staring amazed at the city before them and besides, they were used to Raven's silence. But the masked leader could tell that his teammate was sad and he didn't like it.
"Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's go!" he said to no one in particular and moved forward and towards the first line of the building just a few meters away. As he passed Raven's side, he raised his hand and placed it on her shoulder. The gesture only lasted a few moments, not enough for anyone but Raven to notice. The girl tensed at first, not comfortable with either being touched or the calming vibe Robin was pushing her way through their psychic bond. Her eyes narrowed as they all walked towards the city and she glared at her leader. But a tiny smile appeared on her face just for a moment.
As they entered the city, walking on the stone pavement, many people turned towards them. Some smiled in recognition of Lupe and Leon, who had taken the lead, only for confusion to take place at the sight of the rest of the group. Many, probably members of the post-Trigon Azarath, seemed to recognize Raven and their reaction unsettled the Titans because even though some smiled, most of them took a few steps back, a bit of fear in their eyes.
"Friend Raven, why are the people looking at us with the expression of fear?" Starfire asked her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Raven sighed. "Star, I was partially the reason Azarath was almost destroyed. Do you really think that all Azarathians would be happy to see me, with a team of absolute strangers no less?" The dark-haired girl explained, her voice betraying not even the slightest hint of emotion.
"But you were also the one to save them all in the end!" Cyborg exclaimed, obviously displeased that Raven's own people didn't want her there.
Leon turned his head to look at them, having heard the entire exchange. "The news of how we were saved hasn't really reached the general population just yet. It had only been two months and we have been busy rebuilding to take care of that. The only thing that they know is that Trigon is gone forever." He said. Beast Boy glared at him. "So what, you mean to tell me that you didn't even bother telling everyone that it was Raven who saved them?" he asked, his green eyes shining with anger. "We had other, more pressing, matters to attend to. We will explain everything to the people during the coronation ceremony. So don't get worked up about it, kiddo." Lupe said. "Who are you calling kiddo?! We are probably the same age!" Beast Boy protested loudly.
As the two younger members of the group continued bantering with Lupe's dismissive comments on one side and Beast Boy's protests on the other, Raven held the bridge of her nose with two fingers, feeling a headache building up rather quickly inside her head. This was going to be a long trip…
I know it is kind of small but if I had continued it, due to the upcoming events, it would have become a long and tiring chapter. Anyway just to clarify it, the ages of the characters are:
Cyborg: 19
Starfire: 17 (I know that is not correct but I've always felt she is the second oldest of the Titans, despite her naïve and sometimes childlike behavior)
Robin, Raven and Leo: 16
Lupe and Beast Boy: 14
