"The tower's locked down."

"Good"
Cyborg stood up and activated a wall-console, the streams of data flickering over his glowing red eye confirming his suspicions..

"The watchtower"
Beast boy wandered over aimlessly, still a bit to dazed fro Superman's blow to really think clearly on his own initiative.
"What about it?"

"It's moving… there're moving it for an orbital strike…"

"So you're her saviour…funny, I was expecting someone taller"

"Who are you!"

The voice sounded again; mocking, almost amused in tone "I... I am the darkness in the corners of this mind; the rage that run's through her veins."

This whole 'voice in your head' thing was starting to wear thin for Robin, was everyone above normal talking these day's?

"Where are you?"

"WHERE am I? in this place mortal I am everywhere, but for one who has done so much for my daughter it is only fair that you see the face of your death."

It was the same crimson giant he had seen in Ravens memories, its four flaming eyes narrowed threateningly.
"So you're the Trigon I've been hearing so much about "That I am mortal I assume that you mean to free my wayward daughter"
He gestured to Ravens swirling cage with a vast black-clawed hand "If you believe that you can defeat me mortal, you are sorely mistaken. Worlds tremble at the merest mention of my…wait"
Trigon paused, sniffing the air for a moment before narrowing his four flaming eyes, although whether it was form anger or amusement Robin could only guess "So…you carry the shards…no matter, you can no more stop me with them then you could without them, in fact I should thank you mortal, thanks to all your hard work I need merely to slay you now to cement my hold on this mind forever. For your service I shall grant you a swift death"
Trigon raised his huge fist to strike and Robin knew that in his weakened state he would be unable to dodge it before the giant smeared him across landscape.
But before Trigon could strike he was knocked aside by a blast of black and red power.
Recovering quickly Trigon turned his flaming gaze on the newcomers.

"Who dares?"

"We do ugly."

it was the green robed Raven in even worse shape then before, but this time she was not alone. A vanguard of other Ravens flanked her; Orange, mauve, aqua and violet and behind them, looming over the rest stood a red robed Raven that towered over the others four eyes glowing balefully beneath her hood.
In his rage Trigon lashed out, shattering a pillar of rock like it was made of glass.
"Am I supposed to be intimated by this pathetic defiance? All you have done is hasten your own end"
Completely ignoring this (in Robins humble opinion) impressive of demonic power the green Raven looked back over her shoulder at Robin and yelled "Go! We can deal with him…just hurry."

Robin stared at the green Raven for a long moment before turning and running down the path.

Up close the seemingly calm column raged, tearing small rocks and debris from the ground and hurling it skyward. In between the pulses of power, Robin could just make out Ravens form, kneeling in the centre of the maelstrom. She was hunched over, although whether this was from fear or pain Robin couldn't tell.
A cautious touch resulted in searing pain and a smoking glove, yet there seemed no other way to actually get in, a quick glance back down the path to the battle raging between Trigon and the small battalion of Ravens told him that time was a luxury he didn't have. That left only one option…
Gritting his teeth Robin performed possibly the stupidest action he'd attempted all week; he leapt through the column.
What greeted him was pain, lots and lots of pain. the sensation was not unlike being deep-fried in a freezer but it was soon over and Robin was left on the other side, remains of his uniform and parts of his skin smoking gently. Out of all his immense vocabulary he could only think of one word that seemed appropriate at this time:

"Ouch."

Back down the path Trigon roared in anger as the insufferable green Raven dodged yet another of his blows, stinging him with another blast as she twisted over his fist. These shades posed no danger to him, not even anger, who was undeniably the most powerful emotion his daughter possessed, but they did prevent him from reaching the boy, and if he succeeded in freeing Raven…
He was roused from further contemplation by the aforementioned anger smashing a boulder over his head "That… that actually hurt!"

From Trigon's roaring Robin guessed that the battle was going well…for now, but he had to reach Raven quickly. Slowly, painfully Robin pulled himself to his feet, pieces of his charred and torn uniform disintegrating as he moved. Fortunately he had landed fairly close to Raven.
"Raven"
No response, kneeling down by her side Robin reached out a still smouldering hand and took her by the shoulder, speaking her name again as he did so.
"Raven"
When she turned to meet his gaze Robin fell back with an involuntary gasp. Ravens face was twisted in a rictus of incredible pain, black fire dripped from her mouth and eyes. Her costume was in shreds, revealing horrendous burns and cuts that covered most of her body. Glowing red lines intersected the cuts creating a tattered patchwork of blood and fire that, coupled with the black fire pouring form her mouth made it look like she was being burned alive from within.
"Raven…"

"…." Robin didn't have a clue what to do; the yellow Raven had told him to get to her but had said nothing as to what he was supposed to do when he reached her.

"Friend robin"
"Wha"
Robin spun around in shock, that voice… it couldn't be…
"Hello Robin"
"Star"
Starfire stood before him, completely unharmed and wreathed in a sparkling white light. Her arms outstretched in welcome.
"But how?"

" I was called, by you…and her." She gestured to Raven's tormented form with one glowing ethereal hand and moved closer, brushing his face lightly with the other.

Her touch was light and airy, filling him with renewed strength, even as he felt his heart breaking.

"But…but you died"
Starfire nodded solemnly "Yes, I did indeed die down in that vault. But your need has given me the strength to return…for a short time at least"
"You mean…"

"Yes, my time here is short. But do not grieve; know that I am at peace and will never, NEVER truly leave you Robin." She was interrupted at this point by a roar that echoed from all around and shock Robin's bones "But now is not the time for farewells, for now we help Raven."

"how though,

As soon as their lips touched Robin and Raven were caught up in a swirl of memory and sensation, each reliving scenes from pasts both there's and not.

Raven watched powerless as her parents fell to the unforgiving ground, forged an identity out of rage and hate and ran through the night with another soul, so like her own.
Robin screamed as he watched his father tear his world apart, could only sob helplessly as Trigon slowly rung his mother out like a cloth before dropping the shattered pile of gore to the floor and turning towards him…
Robin felt the soul-shards leave him in a rush, and with each one Raven grew stronger, her grasp on his arm tightening until, in a final rush and an explosion of power contact was broken.
Robin looked up as the smoke cleared, Raven stood straight and tall, no trace of the cuts and bruises that had covered her body. The marks however, remained, yet as Robin watched their angry red glow slowly changed to a pure sky blue as her robes assumed a blinding white hue.

"Raven?"

"Yes Robin?" her voice had also changed, before it had been hoarse and pained, but now it was strong, humming with the voices of her other selves to create a powerfully choral effect.
"It is good that you are well again Friend Raven"
"Starfire"
Robin interrupted before they got too distracted "Long story, don't ask"
"Thank you"
Trigon's roar of rage shattered their moment of quiet solitude "NO! I will not be thwarted again"
Raven turned back to her father, looking on him with an almost bored expression as he thundered down the path towards them, his heavy footfalls shaking the very rock beneath Robin's feet.
"You can and you will, I am strong again father, and you… you are gone! AZERTAH METRION ZINTHOS"
The power unleashed by Ravens incantation was staggering, even Robin who was standing outside its area of effect was thrown backwards, skidding painfully over the rocky ground and into unconsciousness so he missed whatever effect Ravens spell had on Trigon.

"uhhh"
The air felt different, less oppressive, cleaner somehow. Blearily raising his head Robin saw Starfire and Raven standing before him, entwined in a long slow kiss that ended even as he staggered upright, only to fall into their arms as his tired and aching legs gave way.

"Careful Robin."

"Are you hurt? Is anything broken"
blearily Robin noted the differing textures of their touches; Raven's was solid and firm, yet soft at the same time, Starfire's was ethereal and warm, the memory of a caress rather then its real substance.
"Ow"
Both girls giggled at this, which momentarily annoyed him, he had spent the last few hours getting pummelled and blown up for these two, and here they were laughing at him, that's gratitude for you.
Starfire leaned down to look into his eyes "Silly boy"
She murmured as she lightly stroked his face again, as though she knew that this would be the last time she would get the chance.
"Goodbye friends, and go with love…" moving in to kiss him as she spoke, and as their lips met, Robin's world went black.

End Chapter 3

Okay, first things first Opinions: was this chapter too long or too short?
How out of character was Starfire?
Any character you guy's want to see in later chapters?

And now, to address those people kind enough to review:

Chaos tears: Thanks or the reviews and glad you like it!
Psychic werewolf assassin: sorry about the long period between updates.
Ryan L. Spradling: A copy of the bunny dictionary is winging its way to you.

Thanks to all of you for reviewing at all.

Any chance of you reviewing my other fics?

And if anyone wants to see one of my older fics check out BAD BLOOD RISING on Kanseuke's profile, a mate of mine who hosted my fictions while my membership was being sorted out.