"So what am I doing?" Nightwing asks as he sits cross-legged at the foot of Starfire's bed with Raven and J'onn floating next to him.
"Just relax you mind." J'onn says calmly as he closes his eyes, mirroring what Raven is doing.
"And hold on." Raven adds. Richard tenses as he world around him is replaced by different one from the hospital room on the satellite to a dark world with no light, the only thing he can see is his two companions; Raven and J'onn.
"Darker than I expected." J'onn notes.
"After two years of being in a coma, it was to be expected." Raven adds.
"We are inside her mind?" Nightwing asks.
"We are, it was the only way I could think of where Star can see you." Raven replies. "Here she comes." She adds while turning to face a certain direction.
"I will go transmit." J'onn says before fading out of view.
"I asked him to relay all we say in here to the others." Raven answers the unvoiced question.
"Friend Raven, is that you?" Nightwing's heart leaps at the voice of Starfire, it hasn't changed a bit from what he remembers. Neither has the Starfire that steps out of the darkness, she is the image he had of her, same long red hair, same dress. The only thing missing is her smile that has been replaced by a face filled with hurt and worry.
"It is Starfire." Raven greets her and is immediately embraced again. "Star, I have someone you need to see." She says quietly, feeling Star is on the verge of tears again. The girl lets go and looks behind Raven where Nightwing is standing. Her eyes grows to the size of saucers at the sight of him, slowly she let's go of Raven and carefully approaches him.
"Robin?" She asks in disbelief.
"It me Star." He says.
"You are not a trick of my mind?" He shakes his head at her while smiling.
"I'm real, it's me Star."
"ROBIN!" Starfire squeals as she grabs him in a fierce hug, inwardly Raven is glad this is not the real world, or Nightwing would be in a hospital. "My prayers have been answered!" Starfire cries as Nightwing hugs her back. As Raven has the time, she notes the world around them becoming slightly brighter, in the distance she can begin to see the silhouettes of things, but not determine what they are.
"It is good to see you again Star." Nightwing says as he takes a look into Starfire's green orbs.
"But Robin why are you in the Wing of Night costume?" She asks as she notices it, then gasps in realization. "Have the terrible future come to pass? Raven are you angry?" She asks as she turns to look at Raven who quirks an eyebrow under the hood, before realizing what she is talking about.
"No Star, I am sane. And Beastboy is not bald." She adds.
"Glorious!" Starfire squeals happily. "I shall make the pudding of happiness!" And instantly she is holding a bowl of pudding in one hand "Please have some." She pushes a spoon full of the pink stuff into Nightwing's face. He can't refuse her, not now, and takes a taste, blinking a few times.
"Tastes like strawberry?" He looks up in surprise.
"Oh, yes, I realized that I could not replicate my puddings with Earthly ingredients, but what is this strawberry you mention?" She asks.
"We will show you some time." Raven adds as she steps closer, her own hidden desire of strawberries drawing her closer. "Can I taste?" She asks, which surprises Starfire, it had finally dawned on Star that Raven didn't want any of her cooking while they lived at the Tower.
"Of course friend Raven." Starfire says and hands her a spoonful. Raven chews on it for a few seconds, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
"Mmm, that's good." She says, it reminds her of strawberry pudding.
"Glorious!" Starfire squeals again, happy that her friend likes it, Nightwing stands surprised.
"I didn't think you were a strawberry person Rae?" Raven smirks at his question.
"Oh friends, while I am most delighted to finally see you all, I must know what has happened since I left Earth. It has after all been two years." Both Ravens and Nightwings hearts sink at her question.
"Star, it's been four years since you left Earth." Nightwing says quietly, she turns to look at him to see if he is joking. Finding no sign of deception she turns to Raven.
"Is it true?" She asks.
"I am afraid it is Star." Raven sighs taking on a downhearted look on her face. "Starfire, how much do you remember?" She asks.
"I remember the journey home, that I was ambushed by my sister…." She trails off and tears appear in her eyes. "I remember so much pain, until I wished it all away to awaken here. "Please, I need to know, what has happened to me?" Neither of the two wants to be the ones to tell her. "Please."
"Star, this will take some explaining and I am not sure what will happen here when I tell you. Nightwing would you mind?" Raven asks, he just nods in understanding. "J'onn you can take him out." She says to the darkness.
"It's been good to see you here Star." Nightwing says before he fades out, leaving a confused Starfire with Raven.
"Please, I am confused, who is this J'onn?" Starfire asks, Raven sits herself down on the ground.
"You might want to sit down for this." Raven says, Starfire sits down in front of her while pulling her knees up to her chin. "The day after you left, the Teen Titans disbanded. Cyborg went to Metropolis, Beastboy returned to the Doom Patrol and I stayed behind…" And such Raven begins telling her friend about what has happened in the past four years, her lonely vigil in a hostile city, her encounter with the dragon and what has happened since, skimming quickly over her own trials with the League. Ending with the rescue mission they just returned from, Raven pauses a little when she mentions the wounds Starfire still carries, which Starfire assures her she is aware of being hurt.
"So my sister is with these Guardians yes?" She asks.
"They promised they would keep her locked away, and for her sake, I hope they do." Raven replies.
"I see." She sighs before looking into the distance. "Raven, am I a horrible person to deserve such a fate?" She asks half heartedly, something inside Raven breaks at the question, how could Starfire think like that?
"No, no you're not, no one deserved such treatment." She replies sternly.
"But why then?" Star asks.
"It has nothing to do with you Star, it is that monster you have as a sister."
"She is ill perhaps?" A part of Raven applauds Starfire for trying to defend her sister, and another part wants to hit her and tell her that she is better off forgetting she has a sister.
"No, she is not, or her actions could be possibly excused. Your sister has urges to bend everything around her to her will, to be the one who decides everything for everyone. To her there is only one person that matters, herself, everyone else are there to serve her." Raven explains, Starfire just looks at the ground disheartened.
"Her family as well?" She asks.
"No, she doesn't understand the concept of a family. She doesn't want it and the one she has is a threat to her, a hated enemy. Starfire, I won't tell you how to handle your family, but I will ask you not to think of Blackfire as your sister, because she will never see you the same way."
"I will think about it." Starfire says sadly. "I wonder what she made of Tamaran?" Raven sighs.
"I can show you, but I am certain you won't like it."
"Please, I wish to know." Raven closes her eyes as she brings her memories of the flight to and over Tamaran to life around them. Starfire sees the fleets, the defenses and the changes to the capital and the palace. Starfire sheds a tear for her homeworld as the images fade. "My home…is no longer beautiful." She says sadly.
"I am sorry Starfire." Raven says, knowing what it is like to come home to a place that has been changed.
"What shall become of me now? I can no longer assist you in my condition." Starfire asks after a few moments of silence, as Raven gets up.
"We will find a way to heal you, I promise." Raven replies, Starfire smiles slightly.
"I am glad I have friends like you Raven. I shall wait for the day when I can see you again with my real eyes." She says while embracing Raven.
"So what now?" Cyborg asks Nightwing after Raven comes back; the others had the whole thing transmitted to them by J'onn.
"Well, I bet Rae will be hitting Fate's library after she had a chance to rest." Raven nods at the suggestion. "In the meantime, Cy, is there a way we can possibly copy your design? In case Ravens search proves unsuccessful."
"I'm not sure man. The entire half of my skull is mechanical, so I am not sure if it is possible, but I will have a look." The half-man replies, knowing fitting Starfire with his tech is a last resort other than leaving Star in her current condition.
"Good, I will ask the League if there is anything they can do. Gar, how long can you stay?" Nightwing asks, knowing Beastboy had only said that he could stay till they got Starfire back.
"For as long as I want, the Patrol can handle itself." Beastboy replies sternly, Nightwing gives him a appreciative nod. "Besides, I'm needed here as emotional support." He gives a grin before turning into a green kitten that meows once before running into Starfire's room.
Several days later, Raven is still pouring over ancient books and scrolls in Dr. Fate's library. Only taking time out for herself to rest and meditate when her search becomes too frustrating. Yet a cure continues to elude her. Finding the 26th lead another dead end, she groans loudly as she drops the book on the table before her in frustration and slumps back in the chair.
"Another dead end?" Dr. Fate asks as he enters the library, Raven just nods too tired and annoyed to face the man. "You could ask Amazo to read it all through?" He suggests, said android had tried to get Raven to rest more and join him for a game of chess, but had been waved off.
"Does he know the difference between a Tamaranian eye-ball and that of a N'krar?" She asks, the N'krar are small magical imps with green eyes that prefer walking on their hands.
"I doubt it, but I won't claim to know a spell as specific as the one you are searching for." Fate says as he looks at the pile of books Raven has already gone through and the even larger pile she has yet to begin on. "If you can spare the time, I was looking to talk to you."
"I'm listening." Raven says while rubbing her eyes while grumbling internally over the poor lighting in the tower.
"You know Shayera went to Jump City after we sent you back?" He asks, getting a nod from Raven. "While there, she visited S.T.A.R. Labs where they keep the remains of the dragon you fought, Shayera advised me to go there and help them in their research. When I got there, I did have to deal with an angry doctor who seems to dislike the League, but I was allowed to examine the body. I hope you can shed some more light on the subject, since you are the only one who has really observed him while he was still alive." Raven sighs at him.
"His name was Malchior, he once ruled a kingdom called Malkuth till the wizard Rorek challenged and imprisoned him in his book. Over the course of millennia Malchior subtly changed the insides of the book till it was just another story book that passed thought various owners, until he finally landed in the hands of a lonely girl. A girl he tricked, lining his words with honey he made her believe he was the wizard and that he cared for her. After teaching her his craft, she released him, realizing too late her error. He was free but only for a short while as the girl learned the original curse and sealed him back into the book. Later the book was stolen, but it went unnoticed and the dragon was freed again, but he choose to remain hidden until he joined a society that hated the girl and her friends. He and the girl never met face to face as he encountered a man who sent him to another world. A year ago, the dragon returned at the wish of a madman. Seeking vengeance, he burned the girl's home to the ground and devastated her city, the city she had sworn to protect. The girl and he fought a vicious battle in the clouds over the city. Wanting her to suffer and knowing what she was, he cast a spell that turned the girl into a hideous monster, a monster that proved to be his own undoing. The duel ended with his death as his heart was impaled by the girls power, the girl then vanished and has never been seen in her city again." She sighs having repeated all that like reading from a story book. "But I figure you knew all of this."
"I could not deduct his name from my own examination; his body was heavily warded against such spells. How did you bypass that?" He asks, having seen the fatal wound.
"I made a bubble of my powers expand rapidly within his heart, his wards only worked against spells affecting his skin. It was something I noticed when I blocked his breath." She answers before lapsing into silence, waiting for the next question, when none comes she asks one of her own. "Can I ask how your search into me is going?" He looks up in surprise. "Batman monitors all traffic going in and out of the Watchtower, he told me after I was cleared by the founders."
"After you left, I was reminded of something I once read regarding demons. Your father was known as the Eight Devil, ruler of his own level of hell, a level he created when he conquered his home dimension. The inhabitants slowly changed into the demon armies he commanded. This you probably know already, but it was something I had to read up on." Raven nods at him; she had commanded one of those armies for a short time after usurping Slade. "What sparked my curiosity was the memory of the demonic hierarchy; each hell has a supreme ruler, a being of untold power who rules with an iron fist. While rare and far between, changes in these greater hierarchies are not unheard of, but they are never peaceful. Do you understand where I am heading?" He asks Raven who looks bored.
"My father was a ruler of his realm, what you are saying is that because I supposedly killed him, I happen to be the new boss." She says, having often thought it was most likely the case if she was ever to show up down there.
"You knew?" He asks.
"I figured it would be like that." She shrugs. "But I have no interest in any of it." Fate nods at this.
"I suspected you wouldn't. I just wish to warn you that there may be people who will come for you because of it."
"I know, but thank you for the warning." Raven sighs as he gets up and offers his hand.
"Come, Inza has prepared supper, and you seem you could use a change of scenery." He says, he had become increasingly worried about his visitor who rarely left the library.
"Thanks, I believe you are right." She says, now that she is reminded of it, she wonders how bad she actually looks after being cooped up in here for so long. Fate had informed her earlier that day, at least she thinks it is the same day, that she is there on the 5th day running. "And when we are done, you need to sleep in a bed and not in the chair I've found you in so often." Raven had turned it into a habit of reading for as long as possible before she simply dozed off in her seat, when she thinks about it, last time she slept in bed was the night before she left with Green Lantern, and that has been two weeks ago.
"Doctors orders?" She asks, letting on a tired smirk.
"Doctors orders, but maybe a shower would be a good idea first?" He notes, Raven is currently too tired to care about it.
"You know, you really should consider getting some more light in there." She notes as they walk down the corridors.
"I will see what I can do, Inza rarely reads from the books in there and I have other means of reading, so do you I suspect."
"I can absorb a book, but everything becomes a mess when I do it. It's how I learned Dark Magic."
"Hmm, like Amazo you carry a wealth of knowledge, but not the skill to use it?" He thinks out loud.
"It's what you get for taking the easy way I guess." Raven sighs, in her own mind she compares it to having bought a car but not having the faintest clue on how to drive it.
"If time allows it, I could see if I can train you in some of its uses."
"As long as you don't call me apprentice if I say yes." Raven replies before walking though the door to the kitchen, getting greeted by the smell of chicken soup.
Late that night, which Raven had been informed was actually her 7th in the tower, she is sleeping peacefully in the bed she woke up in during her first stay. She gets a good 8 hours of sleep before something decides to interrupt the weird dream she was having, a strange mix involving green eye-balls, pudding and strawberries.
Tweed…tweed…tweed…tweed….tweed…. The constant beeping slowly brings Raven from the realm of dreams and into the real world.
"Huh? Whu?" She looks around the room to locate the source of the noise, finding it dark and mostly empty, the only thing there besides the bed is the chair Raven has thrown her cloak over and the nightstand next to it. It is while scanning the room she realizes the sound is not coming from the room, it is coming from her. Confused she lifts her sheets and finds a light show. The sound is coming from her bracelets, a small square area on both of them are blinking yellow in tune with the beeping. "Oh crap…" Raven manages as she realizes what it is; Themyscira's distresses call. Quickly she leaps out of the bed and summons the League communicator to her ear while searching for a way to make the alarm shut up, while dialing up Diana's number she manages to shut the alarm off by pushing the left square. "Diana? It's Raven."
"You got the alarm?" Diana asks.
"Yes, it's the real thing?" Raven replies, having lived with Robin in the same tower, the other Titans were sometimes woken during the night by the alarm simply because Robin wanted to test their reaction times or tried to sneak around the alarm system for his own amusement.
"My mother would not joke about something like this."
"Good, I will see you there." Raven receives a short farewell before the line is closed, as she fastens her cloak around her someone knocks at the door.
"Is everything well?" The androids voice sounds from the other side; Raven opens the door to face it.
"I have to go, there is an emergency I have to address." She replies while dialing up the Watchtower. "Watchtower, this is Raven."
"Watchtower here, go ahead Raven." Judging from the voice, Raven guesses it is Mr. Terrific at the other end.
"I need a teleport from Fate's Tower to Themyscira."
"Figured you might, get outside the tower and we will pick you up." He replies before turning off the line.
"You have to leave?" Amazo asks.
"I do, tell Fate something has come up." She says as she prepares to teleport outside the tower, which is a bit difficult with the numerous wards on it. "I will return." She says before disappearing, leaving the android behind, a few seconds later Fate shows up, having been woken by the disturbed wards.
"Raven has left the tower; she received a signal from somewhere." The android explains as the mage looks at him.