Teen Titans These New Years: Part One

by Inkblot24

The teens reunite with a lost ally and contemplate their returning fears; those fears that can allow their once enemy the Dragon Lord Roku to resurface. Our unlucky leader, Robin of the Titans, is all but surprised once a 'child' is mentioned in the texts to be written on the next pages of our hero's tale. Will our heroes and leader embrace their destined outcome? Find out!

7. Chapter 7

Teen Titans; These New Years; Chapter 7: House Call By The Midnight Hour; The Deadly Hunter In The Shadows Takes A Bow. MayDay Joyride; A Guardian's Calling Is Tested.

/

It's a vague title. I am aware...More importantly; Lothos has gotten his hands onto top secret info - leading he had his partner to the human realm. Lothos is more or less a soul stealer first, and a hungry vamp second. Shadow was his relative but not as well dressed as this new red headed disaster waiting to strike the Titans down. Turns out - Mal will somehow get involved whether he wants to or not. Raven and her team are the half - bloded, teen wizard's responsibility from the shadows. If Lothos learns of Ravenna's interests as well, she may become targetted by the blood sucking fiend! Kyrios is working against the gods with this one. Hakuro had to intervene the last time while still recovering his immense powers, to continue as a voice for the lost Ethereal beings. He; unlike Tsani,is only a seer of the same rite similar to Cecilia in her youth. The rest will be looked at in a flashback!

Reia's daughter to come about in the future, has now been shown to the teens and promises to make their while once they meet again. She is Reia's child, but has never met her mother the same way Tsani never met...name is off limits! We'll call her A' in this case to create a whole new feel , (she is a great keeper of all time as well).

Madame Red's title has been passed on to her subordinate Lizzette. Lizzie is now in over her head with a recruit sent by a two faced ally of the rebels of the spirit world. Kelihatan has to be Kay right now to escape from a brainwashing Sayumon of the Celestial courts. His mama is starting to stir up trouble where she shouldn't , which is giving a very anxious underworld deity a terrible migraine. One; Sayumon had many court her in the past. As a result of this black widow, she made all of them regret it, yet each left her a different Elemental child . Her rank is as a sky being. Her embodiment is as a Fox deity half/ and a powerful court orderly second. Her sons are; Kayumon- Hanumon not Daria was considered the true father . He was a bodyguard that was swayed by her beauty- then, ended up cursed and carried on as an aid of Anieu in the Eternal realm. How he came to know Slade and the red dragon...that's still a mystery...

Second; Thunder and storm elemental son, Ron. He is not described as a real heir or child but as a supporter of Sayumon's spy unit. Sneaky dog! His father is not listed. She had far too much time as an eternal being...?

Third; Kaien was a volcano elemental that is an uncle to Kay, Veravakumu, and Aria. He is said to have caused Verra a world of trouble - his island realm harbors the Southern plane. He and Catherine Daia were allies before Lorelai's betrothal and entrapment. As a guardian, he doted very much on his young relatives. Aria was pampered by him so much, that Verra almost ended up being tied to her by her admiration for her distant relative! He cut the string however, saying they would never be together as long as the Dragon had powers to ruin time itself. He didn't love her; he knew Veronica as a human helping out a lost cause Takahara Shoji in the mortal past. Catherine was, sort of a relation but she refused until her daughter's present state had been returned. She bums herself out that both her children had been taken by the dragon's mind control and tactics...Aaron was only able to remember that his connection to the golden dragon , was a different matter. Alicia is not too crushed now that he has told her...but Aaron lived before even that era as a wandering spirit guardian before the attack on Alicia's mountain fortress . The feeling of betrayal has nothing to do with heartache when he had lost his memories and attacked the teens, (Shadows and Creatures Arc set). She thinks he is as Greg was; leaving them all behind, to work with the Celestials in their realm. Little do the teens realize, Greg is way ahead of the game. Getting top secret info is what he's after ! Then, he can put away Sayumon's mess of the courts for good. She also disregards her superiors and has a way to get her own info from their archives. Was anyone guarding the vault?

Anyway, Slade also has Rokou to bear his fangs when he's only interested in a host. The self doesn't have one and his time is running out without Slade's decision. If Wilson let's the being of dark intent loose, Roko could stir up a whirlwind all the way from Gotham city! Jay wants to stay human..just a little while while Flick and Selina, ( as well as her many more strays), keep the thief company till a cure is found. The clashing 'Rokou', is why (feminine) 'Roko' wants Red to be cured. The self (male) is a bloodhound when it comes to keeping the princess in line! That's Roko not Red!- IF that occurs, Red's body may reject the self's invasion and dispersal, and perish under the turning he's already done for Roko to exist. That could destroy him and leave him a shell; unlike Richard, who has divine protection from all areas of the globe. The time is drawing near to see the cursed self of Rokuro return. Will the Boy Wonder blow it? Will Arianna drag back the prince's darkness just in time? Find out! Chapter seven is full of surprises!

/

The base where Astarte , Nina, and a visitor had collected was cramped. Military bases sure were cheap on presentation!

The lady ally Isis had brought Ava to her dear relative's compound's waiting area. The guards were easy going and chatted with the witty Thirteen year old while the girl's guardian helped in other matters.. She even had been given a violin since Isis still wanted the classics to reside for her future being. Pop idols were out of the question! The youngster had been obsessed with a video program so much that the desert deity had threatened to pull the plug! Ava had protested ; saying that technology was a key ingredient she WOULD be allowed in that future. The mother goddess was unwell again about the desire to show such disregard this early...yet, Ava wasn't meant long for the human realm . A remaining few months at best, Asarte was Isis's ticket to the other side without draining her energies with the child beside her. The trip was not the best setting to go for when the sky villa had not been steady - an intruder had ransacked a conductor in the dead of night once his shift had ended. What fear had that created? The goddess refused and ordered a device built by her relative's division . The ordeal would have them placed back in the Eternal realm. Yet, Isis wondered what warning it had proven...

"Ava is not lacking in talent and understanding of her fate." The war goddess of a chariot's run spoke with her figers interlaced at her desk. Her dark cat's eyes were a powerful snare against those she wished to address. "My cousin, you have kept your charge well, yet she shows interests to commit too llightly to this modernn era's social change . Though odd it may be...Are you not repressing her powers? Did she meet her future ...parents? The chosen were shaken yet stood firm against my hand whence we had last spoken.." Astarte referred to the café in London that foggy night. ( To the future arc)."Their leader was paralyzed by these eyes, Nina saw his heart rate soar. There was fear of a lizard's destruction." Her hands fell to her sides as the deity of tireless wartime stood to stand beside her subordinate Nina. The girl had not grown taller, more so to the age of a young woman, and was aging faster than a normal human's life span could contain. As if using up her time to exist without knowing her real reason for Maya having given the dear a home on earth - instead of beside the wood elf Priscila. Maya was not coming back as a mortal..she had to continue to live on as the earthen guardian Dearheart. ( Maya was originally a scientist working with Takahara Shoji 'Verra' who created Nina as a negotiator of earthly wars. Though Maya never disclosed fully what will happen to Nina in the futire. Read arc; Shadows and creatures!).

"You will not allow the child to realize that her future parents may not end up as a powerful team among their metahuman comrades . They will separate. Bao Shi contacted Maya's child..to tell me of this news." Astarte turned towards the elder deity with stern features showing as a furrowed brow and worrisome frown. "Why were my gurdians not told?" Isis asked curiously. "The ones protecting the chosen-

"Are not given grace by your hand alone." Isis stepped back and shook her head. Her own lines creased on her tan forehead. Her mascara held eyes that shone boldly against her fellow comrade's cat's gaze.

"We are here, you have no need to give way to such conclusions. The council-

"You follow her word? Astarte! Sayumon is ruling the-

"We are aware , we also have protection from Dearheart's barrier now in place. Nothing will give this leopardess queen reason to drown out their suggestion completely. You see, a portion of the council of Eternal is held by Tsukiyume and Aluehainyu. The other.." The deity smirked with a sly grin. "Is our inside runner; Bao Shi Lan."

The desert mother's jaw dropped. "Bao Shi? She is ...then , her elemental abilities are more than we had believed.. " The goddess turned; her dark braides fell around her as the warrior queen returned a gesture to her youthful android helper.

"Nina, I believe Isa Rothschild should be escourted back to her townhouse..rather, you shall do the driving. Will that be too much? You will have the privilege of protecting Ava ; Reia's descendant of the new age. Will you carry out my command?"

Isis seemed perplexed by the request, rather than an order by a superior...Nina took a bow then struck a boot to the ground with a shout to address the one in charge. "Yes Astarte ! I will not fail to uphold our loyalty to Miss Rothschild!" It was far too formal, sloppy..and Astarte seemed more teacher than soldier to young Nina as she prided her dear follower nonetheless.

"That's all there is. I suggest you let my soldier do her best. Rest easy. Dearheart won't let a single soul know about the spy in their midsts." The devilish djinn of a lady left Isis scattered as her dear cousin rushed to close her doors from an old friend..

"I do hope you are on our side, Ava and Bao Shi by this far have promised a wandering Reia that the prophecy will not reset itself. That I will fight against in her stead." The door shut with a thud as the young android beside the deity in human form sighed with a short groan. "Astarte is a real princess. She sees the world differently. You think it doesn't have to change in such a drastic way, but we know this irregularity isn't just a passing fad." Nina huffed with arms behind her back and began to walk down the halls towards where Ava was patiently waiting for her elder guardian.

It came too suddenly for the desert madame once the two had turned the corner. The meeting had been cut short by Astarte knowing ...It all fell into place when a tall soldier held poor Ava away from the hurt or cowering officers. , just as the two had come to retrieve the tween from the meeting's ending...

"A spy!" Nina whipped out a set of 'arms' from her own two*. Just as Cyborg, she could defend her right to stand beside the humans. "Drop the girl...don't make me fire..."

The standstill had Isis draw a breath in a pained way. Ava had been knocked out, was he going to take her away?

"The girl is not that important to bring along right this instant. I had to confirm my suspicions. Sadly, my own idea of going undercover won't do . You should bury this base under the radar. Standing in the ocean won't help if you have waves coming out from the mainland."

"An coomunications expert, what is it you are looking for..? That lil' girl won't end up outside of this compound, not while we have it surrounded!" With a snap the warrior moved towards a hallway and up a ladder leading to the next floor of the ship.

"He's on the move! Alrighty men! Time to make our superior one proud mamacita!" The young soldier grinned and rushed off towards the ladder at lightening speed. Half of her men and woman patrolling stood above ground to stomp out the hit and run assassin. She had even allowed Isis to tag along with Astarte already playing her own mind games against a very, forceful hacker...

/

"My ship is not for your amusement, Deathstroke." The seering madame dropped her eyes, then spun around to block the assassin's hit with one of her powerful kicks. "Think again . You aren't even a human, let alone a leader to these unknowing men and women. Why are you here?" He was still deadly cold in his movements as Astarte sped up to gain back her warrior's strength with a crack and pop of her muscles. "I have to uphold my honor. They are not blind. The one who can not lead, is you! This ship is going to keep out of sight, only when these warriors have carried out their full mission! You , in the meantime may leave this ship to it's captain." Her eyes were as a ferocious tiger ready to pounce the scoundrel meta human into the steely walls.

Fists flew as her braides beneath her military cap were grappled by large hands , to steer the desert daughter from the hacker in her midsts. "Keep away! This fight will never end until I have had you tried! You were the reason for the fall again! Your desire is not to be granted! It will devour the last of your humanity!" She warned by reading his pose and in turn earning a hit to the face as the villain shut her up to fly off. The door would not open to his surprise. Slade had not guessed just how cunning this deadly being was...He was trapped inside the controls room with a leopard in for the kill...hunting used to be a past time in order to curb his aggression after the experiment. If the deity was starting to tire , he wouldn't let her get out to call on a storm. That, he would let her drown into the depths by her own defeat.

"Call off the lockdown if you want this ship to float." His lone eye held as a menacing reminder while Astarte eagerly accepted the challenge- it was not a bluff however as her arms lowered by her sides . "You would decimate my craft so easily?...You dare to try and best me at my own game!?"

The assassin cocked his head and taunted her methods far better than she could have forseen. "Your 'bot' is nearing a dead end. We have the girl to claim, thankfully ..she will not see her kidnapper's face once she awakens." The sneering male lifted up his remote well hidden by the suit he wore. "The boat was rigged from the outside. All during your chat with another of your careless friends. It was almost too easy,when you run a boat of dead weight warriors-

"My surviving trust is in their justice. I will not bow to your's..." The cat's eyes returned to dig into Slade's flesh, making him sweat profusely beneath the armor- yet he was inhuman enough to avoid the effects long enought to send his message past the ears of the crew. With a shift towards the intercom, his threat rung out to gather more than enough listeners to stand and shake in their boots. Nina lifted up her head and gasped.

~ Listen well, your ship is currently rigged from the outer shell with explosives that will sink this vessel in 45 minutes. In 5 minutes, my robots will have your subordinates torn to shreds. If you do not comply by allowing the hostage to be left in our care, then we shall sink the craft, leaving you stranded without a reciever to detect your floating corpses. You have 40 minutes remaining, Good luck.~

Isis knew the voice. It made her boil over with raging flames that had been supressed during her recovery in the Spirit World and on Earth. All due to his ability, that monster had brought a young hero to ruin, aroused interest for a cursed dragon to be set free, had killed nameless beings, driven many mad to create strife on both Earthen and Spirit planes...who was the demon here!?

"We have to hold off the bots, then disarm the explosives." Nina nod to her comrades and shifted as softly and stealthy as a thief. "Here..we go!" The first robot was behind a barrel leaning towards the shadows by extra use of it's cloaking tech. Her armed troops hit the sneaky others as they flew in from above. Nina rushed to grab a piece of equiptment to swing her over to the edge of the vessel. "Coming in strong! We have to hold them off till my team retrieves the bombs! Find that detonator and stop it!"

"The new recruit is a sure shot isn't she?" The villain chuckled from the control seat beside the tied down hostage superior. She had to keep her eyes from straining against that gaze. It felt far too inhuman as her senses failed her just by his posture besting her's, for now...He was lying however. A few stray switches had to be inside the ship. Otherwise the threat was only half as effective as an external amount of damage..

"Most wild animals respond to body language. You still aren't human enough to beat me. Those soldiers are being tested. I can always flip the controls in my favor, but that would spoil the fun. I must admit...trying out this...you are turning red Miss? Do you know who I am now?"

The voice wasn't the warrior's anymore, it was too childish and full of tricks to try out. "Then...you are controlling the killer? I would never have seen it of you, Rokou."

/

"Then, you have given your free will to the remaining voice of that cretin!" Astarte watched with a beating chest as the villain was all but controlled by the dark self. "I have, yet the criminal is my ticket- once I have no need , my dear General here, will be set free-

"Though not by his choosing...that is not what you wish. Why is the assassin allowing your aid here in the middle of this city's harbor? The explosives are partly to test my forces? You seek not that answer alone-

The boot of the rogue pulsated the air with a sharp thud* onto the extra seat. His sorry features peered down unto her tied down form, completely at the crimelord's mercy. "Quit acting as if you should play 'deity'. You are too weak to patrol any major waves, let alone those dying men and women you'll dispose of once your job is over. Then, if you want them living, head back to your desert fortress." Rokou had taken over this moment to laugh in her face!

"They aren't going to serve a dying purpose...that is not our!-

"Thirty minutes is winding down to nothing..." Slade now hissed with a blade to her cheek. "Those eyes you can bat all you want . Nothing but a spoiled brat. You are just here to die with them..."

She had seen enough. With left over powers pulsating through her head, the teen Nina heard the location via the link Astarte kept with a trusted few of her soldiers.

"Your blade won't clip my wings, you underestimate a goddess!"

The warrior queen swung back her head and kicked swiftly to stun the man in his shoulder. Then with the blade he'd used as a threat on the lady fighter, she only just came close enough , causing the assassin to wince with a sly grin by the dirty trick.

She flung her own weapon out in time to send him spiralling towards a far wall into the intercom room's window overlooking the fight below.

"You favoured machettes? Really? Heh..Isis serves her own purpose. Your only purpose, is as the queen's watchdog. There is not one ounce of trust left. Will that end here?" Slade was through with Rokou's banter. His objective was the intel , the disc , and cards held by the new arrival . Shoji even had a part ; not to mention a very famous billionaire in a local city..housing his next target.

"Four minutes, deity. My , how time flies . You should better your aim for next time...Farewell, princess. See you in the afterlife." Without the self's own voice, Astarte thought neither Slade nor that child had been the ones taunting her skill. That heavy tone was too much...alike to, the red serpent...

"Don't move!" The duo behind her was too late as Deathstroke fell out of the glass to be transported by a helicopter ladder to a safe hatch inside the gettaway copter. The bots were not successful. Nina had done a miraculous job of redirecting the soldiers on the ship to where hidden switches and bombs were attached to blow them out of the water. "Three minutes remaining... Not bad Boss ! It's a new recc-

"Ava is here." Isis reassured her cousin with a smile. Weakly she lifted her arm to reveal a snuggled up tween beside her guardian's leg. "Then...it truly was a test?" Astarte was without an answer as to why this had happened..Was Deathstroke still at large ? Why was he getting involved with the self Rokou? Was this a way to gather more power? -

"Ma'ame, Governess Catherine Daia is on the line. We have contact. Would you like us to patch her through?" The lady in charge now sighed and shifted her braides to hide her disheveled pride. Really it was to heal her mark by the man's blade...Hopefully she had time to treat her soldiers and herself before the governess had her kicks.. "Put her through, tell her what was happening fourty five minutes prior to the meeting with Isa Rothschild. " She saluted the branch as they went off to explain and maintain the precious trust and understanding with Astarte's closest connection residing on the earthen realm. She would know how to deal with Interpol after the discussion.

Astarte's elder cousin's soft yet sad gaze burned the deity warrior more than it would have in her prime. Earth; no matter how much of a transformation or change, was still riddled with emotion. The gods lacked it in the past to a point that something had changed for the better...yet maybe barring those annoying tears had been smart in the first place..at least you could not look as if a shell of yourself remained?

"Astarte! Ma'ame!" A very quick witted human engineer had run tests on the stored databases. "We missed to look here, info on the new weapon in progress by your staff was...erased! The crook must have made of with a duplicate then erased the rest..That is not a good sign..I'll hold off on the call to your superior till I recover some specs. Just sit tight."

The deity had really messed up now! That was a device that could rip open new worlds! Even save remaining ones..Shoji was roadkill if his idea got anymore vile monsters involved...

"There's no way to contact the creator?" She asked referring to the overgrown hound. "Isis, my offer still stands. You and the child will need protection. No matter how much you depend on your own guard dogs, we are as powerless here as if we were only human...Don't underestimate this realm. Otherwise, nothing will remain..Find that scientist, stat! Have bodyguards accompany Ms. Rothschild back to the mainland. Your orders are received, now head out!"

/

Shoji was nearing a midday hangover yawn from the previous night. His hangin' loose uncle had been a constant nagging mooch for a good week. The night before, the lug had borrowed his nephew's towncar..without Takahara's permission!

The billionaire had boiled over and run after the crabby playboy under his roof , only to end up venting in a bar downtown, with a budding headache and vendetta growing for past - their- bedtime partying. "Yer head was more together than year ole' uncle Kaien's! How many show cars have you received in the years you've been parading as a black cat? Any leads? Would love to have you best this old sailor!" The bearded idiot made the dog growl and wallop the elemental in the skull with a clear thought as to why it count. "Hey!" The red head grunted and rubbed his scalp with a wince. "I cook, clean, I even water your-

"I don't have a garden! This is an apartment! What were you up to! Isis specifically told you and I to locate info on an old foe. You think party hardy uncle Kai is a hero? Were you not aware that you were smacked for that reason?! We have a realm, a new enemy, a big bad reoccuring phenomenon...you think I don't want to take a break? Then why did you wash up on this shore? I think you should spill, now." The cat's eyes were bloodshot as he became Verra in a flash. Yet his migraine had to pull the fox's ears as he switched back to Shoji's form without a clear enough mindset to keep his pounding headache to a minimum. "Just...I had to do this without the heroes doubting my motives. Kay is flat missing, and Greg is floating off somewhere digging up dirt on a corrupted official. Who just happens to be a stinking lover of yours, big brute!"

Kaien grumbled and stood up to face the scientist on the sofa. "Is that all you had to mention? She's more than that, Say u is out for blood. She craves powerful beings enough to be branded as a disgrace to the Celestial Elementals. Yet, she had Aria with me...I thought-

"Wh- Aria is her daughter!? Wasn't Mina the one who...When did you lose your first con-

"In that year, Sayu had fought back when Lady Lorelai's training under an eastern master had gone awry...She was in her teens at the time training her mind and body on every plane to succeed...well, you remember the scare then. She was torn away from the grounds and faced a nameless shadow. For a year her eyes remained cold towards any suitor...until yourself, Kay..and the dragon desguised as a pining snake tugged her away from her seclusion." Kaien sighed and rubbed at his skull to drift back into that time...

"Thing is, the dragon may have been the shadow holding her ready for when he came to her land's plane. If so, then Sayu is never going to forgive her enemy and his scheme...or who was coerced then, yet Sayu...I am terrified of what she's done. Though her head is full of these same fears. Erradicate the beast, be free from it's clutches. Not always how the wheel turns.." He referred to the wheel of fate or fortune in old lore. "Aria was pulled in, but she has no idea that Sayumon is her real mother. That's why Mina protected the child from the vixen's hurting heart...otherwise, she would be swayed into creating a conflict free environment as Sayu obsesses over till time stands still. Without realizing anymore that vanity is mostly void of emotion and all things 'human' to bring about a balanced sense of promise." The dog shoved on his slippers to walk into the kitchenette. "Aria was lied to to protect her innocent heart...lot of good that didconsidering the crush she's had on me since our meeting!" The cat huffed and started to gather ingredients for lunch. "You ok with sandwiches? We can walk and talk on our way to Wayne Enterprises." The older elemental shrugged and leaned into the sofa again with a low sound that was nearly heard as...'cussing*'

"You get a free meal outta me, you old nanny goat! Be greatful, or you'll be charged rent. Have I mentioned how monetary worth is vital in the human world? So much that you can get burned by the logic if ya won't comply! Turn it may, but human life to most is not eternally gracious as you give credit. The deity were keepers of lives. Living in fear could never suppress hope. Isis still thinks we have potential to put up with her plans. Don't want to make her think us failures just because of shortcomings we never guessed we'd have to face!"

The fire fox cocked his head to eye the grinning hybrid wearing an apron in the mood for a bite as well. "Just don't be in a panic if you and I are called back." The dog dropped the kitchen's most worn wooden spoon as his face turned pale by the elemental elder's murmering. "Called home?..We aren't even close to dropping the-

"Said 'if'. You still go off the handle, the dim eyed rebels are planning an all out hold up of the embassy..though it's only rumor. Something ticked me..yer younger cousin Kayu is in holding by his mum, right?" The ebony haired male stared at the older with a brow raised in perplexity. "Kay is with the Celestial vixen..he's on house arrest on top of Sayu's loss during the trial over our allied Etheral..." He referred to the tween who's sight had been lost during the fight with the red serpentine king. Kaien blinked up and nod to the unaware fox,who was only partly aware of his cousin's changes. "Sayu has him on a a leash..rather He turned outta the villa to high tail it to another plane." Kaien rose from the seat and leaned up over the island counter. Shoji was speechless. "Yer guardian is a run-away this moment and on the lamb. The trouble is, he seems to have..vanished without leaving a trace of his presence behind to track. You must have had some quarrel as a team...I think there may be a way if you call out to him." The elemental shrugged and stood away from a misplaced Takahara . His hair was messy as his ruffled shirt he'd barely managed to hide under the apron covering. "You have terrible timing...ok! Fiine!" The cat tossed the wear to the side and turned off the rice cooker in a huff. "Let's make it quick though. I was going to make pooridge to cool you off, ya kill joy!" He grunted and stomped off to shower up so that they could head over and find Raven of the chosen heroes.

/

Raven had grown more or less used to giving the Titans lectures over what she knew about the control they lacked to fulfill he gods' prophecy. Her eyes never left the two love birds until Starfire had returned with a gasp- the Tamaran teen had spied a 'cat woman' in the snowy courtyard. Bats had tried to talk to the Titans, the last he had understood..Catwoman had been locked up for bad behavior...she could have escaped her holdings , but that had no reason behind it except ...

"Catwoman..rather, the intruder Starfire witnessed in the rosebushes." The elder gent Alfred interjected while Bruce listened intently. "She must have recovered her memory..but that of course is odd..considering coming here for aid..Have you any luck contacting her civilian self, Master Bruce?" The butler was astute as ever this particular afternoon as he worked over the steely knight with a cunning wit Raven even envied a bit. "She isn't there. A lot of her hideouts..mostly apartments were under investigation by James Gordon and officers of the Gotham City PD. 'Batman' was lost on the case after, rather once the intrusion of the U.K' s branch set off a chain reaction. Then, Veronica was the only person that had my interest. After I came back...well, it was definitely just as you remember. Catwoman had been locked up for a few weeks , myself...a different man entirely, all because of a witch trying to scare us into letting down our walls." Bruce didn't dare look Richard's way as he waited for the rest beside Cyborg in the living area. "You were absorbed. That lil' lady had you wrapped around her finger so badly, you were stuck to her like glue!" Cy rembered how the billionaire had acted. He also remembered how torn Robin had been with knowing Veronica was away from any interrogations by the heroes. The mistress representing the dragon in black calling himself either Regis or Shoji..well, Richard had reason to brood. Veronica had shattered his family's security in one another. Now, Wayne wanted to see about making amends..but first he had to apologize without running off with a pout*.

"Master Dick...we are all unhappy about the incident. Master Bruce was nearly driven into a coma while trying to drag his consciousness to remain aware of the dangers...Yet, please do not believe for a second that he -

"It wasn't that..." Richard shook his head . His bangs flopped a bit into his eyes as he settled to brush a few behind his ears. Raven knew the growth of hair was a dragon's distinction of it's powers if in human form. She worried that it had to be trimmed and how that might bring up insecurities in her leader. "Bruce only remembered , before he ended up under that spell. I...just want to ask." He finally turned towards his mentr with a stern expression and a small frown. "How did you recover all of your memories? It was slective wasn't it? You just...ended up putting the pieces back together, but never said a word once I was gone..-

"No one knew that Bruce Wayne had even left the hospital. Alfred was told to cover up the coma..as if it never -

"Don't forget also, Bruce was not where we were . The Titans ended up traveling through space time. Of course he couldn't reach us until you were back on Earth. Don't you remember that much?" Raven interrupted yet Wayne was clear to let her speak. "Robin, rather you as a civilian...we have a new task. None of that is going to bring us to understand what our enemy might have in store." She was trying purposely to shake the heroic leader up; to lead him back out of his doubts and thoughts.

"One question Master Bruce." Alfred leaned in again to rub his chin soon after. "The 'fellow' telling us to remain silent over your awakening from the mysterious state you had been under...she was adament about not saying a word while adding to the disillusionment of the press. You do recall? Her name isn't under orders any longer for questioning since a governess by the name Daia took over the issue...I must add however-

"Daia...? As in Catherine Daia ?" Raven batted her eyes , not nearly as shocked as her three other teammembers.

"Catherine was the one who had arranged and managed the scandal of Veronica and Mister Bruce Wayne being 'hitched'!?" Starfire gasped and realized that Cecilia's long lost mother..was quite a dishonest person to have not put Robin and the Titan's minds at ease then in the city of London. (To the future arc!)

"She was connected to Shoji Takahara , from the wedding guest list...I had no idea after that night that his outside help was centered around the Titans. Rather, the other way around since he had been protecting all of you." Bruce scratched his head and shrugged. "Yet, the officer was someone Catherine had chosen to close doors on the wedding fiasco and false killing. She was almost a soldier by built, but was intent on making it seem like nothing had never changed for Gotham overnight."

"Sooo...this professional was after makin' you look like you never went into the ER ...at all...Why would -

Cy thought back a moment. "Not Is, Ronnie, or ..was that hired pro kinda tall with braides? Looked like a cat with her cool attitude? ...I think , I know your gal." He clapped his hands and was as surprised as his team who followed the big bro Titan's reaction.

"She's a coast guardia- hem* guard called Astarte. She is also a relative of Mrs. Rothschild who we met for the first time. The Titans know her as a goddess desguised as a mother deity called, Isis." Raven nodded off over to her older teammate.

"Then...Astarte isn't from Earth?" Bruce and Alfred gasped a bit , though Bruce seemed interested in the 'coast guard ' position she had woven together with Catherine Daia's help.

"Shoji has connections. Maybe he's still got selective memory loss? Seems like we should have a visit." Richard crossed his arms and let the thought pass over from his second in command's lips. "Verra can tell a lot more. But, I think he still won't break his promise . He wanted to be there for the reason of seeing the ones responsible pay for their crimes. In a way, he's just like us. I think we should not toss out the issue of his association with interdimensional help..but he has to have some word in more than just what's happening. He might have to chose." Robin nodded with his arms still across his chest tightly wound. "Who is he siding with? Us? Or his own . We are being tested, like Raven said. Then Bruce and I can fight the fires this time knowing what the guardians are after.. Seeing as we can't leave till we have an answer from Catwoman." He shrugged and waved to go off to the restroom a moment. " If anyone suspicious comes in shedding all over the sofa, I'll be resting up and looking into Daia's recent rise to fame. And Shoji's return to the spotlight.." He was beat from all of the rumors fly in around...as if had any power in the form of words to tear at his -

With a grip at his chest the teen fumbled with his collar furiously, his body felt as if it had turned to liquid acid and was searing through his chest without warning. "gaaah!*...It's...too sooon!*...hah..." With a gurgle bile felt ready to rip at his lungs. Dick dashed upstairs to the restroom, but ended up returning to his front door . He shook his head and went for the real objective. No more hiding in that place...he had to wake up from the lonely feeling wanting to pull him back in!

"Al..most...gach!*" Richard scrunched towards and held his stomache with a groan,the room's door shut as he tried to rid the excessive pains shooting through his every pore. "Aaagh!" The teen in agony swiveled around to butt into a counter's pointed edge instead. This ache...it was making his ears ring, eyes water..his whole throat was forming less and less a protest as his rushing remors returned. The withdrawl wasn't lost. His heart and face pounded , the ringing grew louder until everything turned..white.

With a shake of his head the hero looked up. The mirror was still in perfect order above him, yet a strange gleam passed over without a second thought. The hero blinked up groggily, yet had trouble keeping awake...Why...was his..vision blurr..y...

The feeling of a tingle throughout his pained limbs woke the teen in minutes, only to find that he had..fainted!?

"Something...was following me.." Her rasped and tried to stand up slowly. Dick held himself to keep his footing against the tile by leaning into the sink. His head rose slowly to look up into the mirror with a squint. "No...nothing is there now?.." The figure of a cloaked beam of light had disappeared. That had been an invisible spy, either that or real cloaking tech! "I was not alone. The Titans-

Dick's heart pounded a bit as he fell short in lessening his stress levels. "Who...ugh.." He held his pounding skull with one hand this time, the ringing had dulled shortly after he'd awoken. "Raven, I have to explain..no more covering this.." It had been symptoms of the withdrawl after missing a sip of dragon's blood . The...dragon, had been sure that Robin would not forget. He needed a cure or technique to drown out the desire to quench himself. His inner obsession was returning. That may have been why the 'shadow' was still haunting the teen. The shadow connected to a red villain after his soul..or whatever he called it.

Picking himself up to splash water onto his pale cheeks , the hero reseated himself in time for supper once Alfred had been ready to address a meal for another guest. One that had arrived with the red headed older male beside him. Kaien..and Takahara...

/

Catwoman had actually contacted Bruce via the batcave's computer just in time. Yet, Richard had walked out before that, fainted onto the bathroom floor for a good few minutes before realizing his missed opportunity. ..

Bruce was still in the cave; whether Robin was allowed a spar...it had to mean he could at least be a little curious?

"Friend Richard?" Starfire shook the hero from his flashback while they waited to chow down. Al had made a very large spread of appetizers before the starter of the meal. The teen's teammates would oggle over the calorie count for weeks. Especially Cyborg who visited the gym as much as..Robin had..

"Master Bruce was rather late to tell that another guest had been on his way. I also had not been expecting another visitor." The butler looked over to Master Richard who felt out of place again. Bruce had not seated himself; a call had been urgent enough to leave the businessman and company, as well as the heroes..without a host beside the young ward to toast them- still gazing out a nearby window...

"No 'notice?' Nothing to tell us he'd be in the cave or out on patrol? Why am I not surprised..." Dick grumbled with a snort as soon as the main dish was on it's way out. "Thank you for the meal Mr. Pennyworth." The oldest Titan proclaimed as a sign of good manners, yet didn't need to seem so unfamiliar to the butler and his family.

"You needn't be stiff as a certain man..Please, call me Alfred as your teammate gladly has. There mustn't be distrust between the heroes that saved our Master Bruce from a terrible temptress who nearly had us in her throws." He laughed it off but the memory of her red blooded horror was still enough to leave the elder gent slightly spooked by the whole ordeal.

"That..is quite alright with me, as for my company...he is a relative who was involved later in your same mention of a temptress. To try and stop her powerful boss." Shoji cleared his throat and started to describe Kaien and his own mission; as well as why the Titans had any memory of ever meeting the clever con man.

"Another...world? It is certainly not as unexplainable as yesterday's discoveries having to do with 'space -time'." The puzzled butler looked over to the bearded male taking a plate for himself. "Kaien? Is that your true name? Here I have noticed that you 'beings' may take on the form of an animal or human . Shoji might as well be proof as we sit here and discuss alternate worlds!"

Raven cleared her plate easily as e had not felt this famished in a very long time. Her appetite had returned thanks to Richard's acceptance that his team was on his side. Yet,Shoji worked between realms as a guide and follower of the ones that ; in a word, wanted the Titans to remain the cause. It was easier to pin point the dragon's past involvement if they remained the ones in the wrong..but it solved nothing if more of these power sources ' existed throughout history and time. "Kaien's actually what we 'spirit' call an elemental." Cy's jaw dropped as the morsel in his hand did the same. "Shoj! You can't act like Alfred isn't new to all this magical mayhem! He was wiped clean after Wayne was out of Veronica's hands! He doesn't remember-

"Yet you forget, Mr. Stone. My Master Bruce is a crime fighter and one of the Justice League on top of fighting beings without superpowers. He has seen as much as I have been apart of, due to my aid being too useful and an ally of Batman in particular." The butler beamed proudly that Richard's eyes had to fall onto his old care taker's tireless one's after

far too long of the distance between the teen and his co-caregiver.

"Sorry..but the fact that it was more than the wedding, Veronica's plots against us, and that creep dragon playing by the 'rules', none of us should feel like Alfred in particular is against the Titans or guardians." Richard said across the table to his second in command. Raven shook her head but remained less of a stubborn hot head than her co leader.

"Agreed to a point." Starfire spoke before the empath could pass a few words along to her team. "Mr..Alfred is very generous. Also, did he not help our Robin to be ready in fighting back against the morblik?" It must have translated to cretin or monster in Tamaranean tongues , everyone recalled the mental picture of the battered hero up against a spectre racing after the teen's trust.

" Yes, that is true." Raven had not enough words , but her voice returned with an inhalation of breath. -

"He can be trusted as an ally of a human. One that wasn't sure that there would be a meeting. I think ; from what I have gathered just by speaking with Wayne, is that he is still too wide open for something to overtake him again." Kaien had butt into the conversation; on top of Kori, Richard, and Shoji...the flame spirit spelled trouble...

"Are..you saying Bruce is in danger if we share ANY of this?" Richard exclaimed from his seat. "I came here to drive out-

"Don't you think it peculiar fer you to have returned after the takeover and trials to the one place crawling with the darkest energies?" Kaien had fiddled with a toothpick as he spoke the question aloud. "Why..I came here? It's my!-

"Yet home is where the heart resides. Many a creature must a ' sensed yer troubles and driven -

"Uncle! Please don't play 'bad cop good cop' at the dinner table! The kid's fighting what YOU aren't well aware-

"Show em' the mark. All it takes is to stop hiding from the whole truth. Otherwise , you'all end up dragging yerself and the ones you love into danger-

"Do not say another word!" Kori rushed over to her hero who had an expression of worry already turning into shock. This bad fire - fox was too nosy for his own 'goodness'!

"Richard is recovering from what the monster tried to instill! You must not judge so very rudely when you are not aware as Shoji has said!" The red headed lady had glowing gems of emerald only for the wily fool in her sights!

"That, are you sure nothing needs to be let go of in the first place?" Kaien grunted to the dog beside him. "Let me tell you just how familiar I am with cursed family members." The fox huffed cinders that were safe enough not to catch fire to the table cloth.

"Dim- eyed Vee here is one of those fools that has to maintain what the DRAGON cursed him with!" He pointed to his nephew with a hearty cry. "You never told these kind folk just about why you strive to give any aid. Just talk top- dog!" The black cat fumed but was helpless to this mind bender's request. "The truth...yeah, I was nearly as innocent as the prince that tried to find his sense of security then." He flopped the napkin beside his plate "The way to control it , is to tame that side as if it were a beast with willpower you can only just hope to understand. To become friends with your fears is no easy task. You end up locking the concept of 'failing or falling' away soo much, that you lose yourself . If you want all if the rage to be caged, you will not have the will to be a hero in the balance anymore." Raven could not believe the dog had been this direct! It was too cruel! Robin could never be his same old self then again!

"But ..Robin has agreed to return to the tower!" Starfire stopped the businessman with a sharp sound. Her voice was breaking again...

"I can decide for myself if Robin and the Titans won't continue. Cat, you and your company I hope enjoyed the food. Then you can leave after tonight. Don't judge us just because a book and ghost are counting on us to lose! You actually believe we'll end up gone ? What do you even care about anyone but your bosses then? What side are you on? The Titans don't want Verra to butt in if all he can do is put humanity down and at risk!"

"I was explaining why it's a terrible mistake to try and cure you!" Shoji flung himself across the table as Verra in his big , rabbit eared form. His red eyes still made Richard angrier than the last time he had promised not to bail...the cat was aweful with promises - he was a pro in the art of lying however!

"Cure? Read my lips. I am not going to lose. No one here is depending on a stupid prophecy!" The teen was egging the cat who had shoved the hero's breakdowns back too many times to name. Yet..it was the dragon involving Slade that had caused a neverending scar to form across the boy's logic . The hero really had forgotten who the enemy was here!

"I am just trying to!-

"You keep stalling us! We could be stopping the 'breach' before it reaches our earth! Why are you just waiting? You are nothing but a tool for the one you work for to keep us in the dark! Why is it too hard to tell them to -

"ENOUGH!" Raven had no choice as she flung both fighters back into opposite walls. "WE are to blame for not finishing what was started with the Order of the Spirit council ! Verra is the last guardian still not swayed by those that follow Sayumon who put us into this position!" She yelled out and nearly left the hero to bat at her emotions in the form of a hard slap on the cheek by a projectile arm. "Raven! You are not going to do any of 'the getting through' if you too become violent! Robin is resting in his childhood dwelling! We feared for an enemy realizing this and came post - haste! No one is in the wrong! You may stop accusing our allies of pointless 'messing up now please!" Starfire pleaded with the team to calm themselves before the few returned to the discussion. "That is correct." Verra watched as Kaien got up from his seat to dust off and return to his flame haired fox hybrid form - similar to Verra's dark form as a dog hybrid. It's big eyes scanned over the teens with such precision that Cyborg had to eep* out of it's way once it passed over his foot. "You are just like Vee!" The older teen pointed with a gasp. "Raven bit her lip and checked over Richard who had slumped back into his chair with a blank expression painted over every ounce of her leader's once well known pride...where was this going?

"You get the picture? We all have woes on this boat called 'destiny' . Prophecy, whatever they call ya- Just show off a little!" The grinning hot head hopped over to the hero's lap and yipped cutely. "Take the wave and ride it. If your pagehasn't been told, then be the one to prove it's legendary! No one will forget a hero . Lost ones are just as their name implies. Nothing remains. Rak-

"You can't ! There was a powerful spell cast too prevent that monster's return just by erasing his real name!" Raven snapped her head to turn angrily towards the red flamethrower. "No more Why are you tagging along? Richard is not supposed to remember the past that ended up changing all of us! Don't. name!"

"Fury is a power that my kind have long since tamed. We of the wild volcanic beginnings are tormented by rage. As well as what can bring about and end or creation of a new form of breathing life!" The fox started to confront the teens head on. "I was sent just to catch up on what the kid was keepin' bottled up. Catherine is a war lord even today...Sigh.*..Looks like rage is key to finding the real issue. Nephew, I can point out only that a dragon's rage still hasn't left . You were not long to keep us in the dark yerself..flame is cleansing. Mind if I work a bit of magic of my own?" The mutt's appearance changed drastically to that of a gleaming fireball in midair. "This...is what you still fear..makes a lot more sense than a shadow..."

The teen blinked back , not knowing Kaien had gone into his subconscious for a clue or two. Raven waved her arm up in defense. "That...he!-

"Not feelin' so bloodthirsty now, are ya hero?" The smirking Kaien wagged it's tail as a sign of it's work temporarily havng brought the Titan to feel...a bit lighter - the withdrawl!

"I...I don't have tremors...what was that light?" He was speechless as the teen's second in command blinked and walked over to ask in a curious way just what, tremors...?

"You still were fakin'." Cy realized out loud and refused to let Rob run off in defeat. "Raven..it was as if I couldn't remember.."

"Alterations to your memories? When did you get them last...in the!-

The boy blunder nodded sadly and sat up. "Need a group discussion away from the draft." Raven agreed as the group huddled over to shuffle into the living area. "Kaien..what was your power just then? Did you know he could do that Verra?" Raven had questions. This was...just spiralling all over!

"I..am relieved to hear that Richard no longer has remaining symptoms..yet when ever did he have them to begin with? This is all from the drinking of the morblik's essence, correct?" Kaien grunted and revert to his hard headed human form. "Vee knew it, ya had that selective memory reoccuring from when this all started!" He had the right to whack one in the skull that send poor Shoji to return as a moping adult. "Yeah..but that energy..you were trying to imitate the orb! Why? It's composed of both dragon and phoenix energy from ancient times! The criminal king stole it ! Why wasn't that a clue enough? How did you see it before us-

"I am a fireball myself! Well, when the elemental presence is that strong, you just have a very sure feeling that there is no second guessing in the long run." The elder laughed with a gruff chuckle . The teen leader was dumbfounded that he had not remembered the events since the faint moment in the restroom!

"Just as yer teammate honing Ravenna's energies, you should know dark magics are universally linked to that law. Since ancient times balance is maintained by those of such a rite. I can name the infinite oceans far more than the vast and neverending night skies. More to dictate. Human law is written as -

"Yes..thank you Kaien..Alfred and Cyborg are going to lose consciousness if you go on a rant." The scientist sighed and hung his head . "We know everyday. That..makes me wonder though. As an elemental, is Verra also a dark arts practicioner?" Raven's eyes followed the dog as if her pathway had been widened. A new array of truths awaited.

"I was supposed to , be a realm's king for my home world. A warrior who had defense magic but never offensive. The dragon's minions including the strich made my own energies tainted by the fear of ruling...the way I knew was to run away when battles came on. I was a bodyguard, that's how I made my living as an..adult guardian. Why else would I have protected the prince and his allies in our quest? I was a useless killer...but the stupid curse then is now my last hope when the time comes to draw it out. I intend to stand and defend your plane with my own life.." The male had become Veravakumu in the flesh as he drew out a sheathed blade for Richard to make the first move. "I choose the side of justice without victims.I want to remain by your side as an ally in driving away the same daemon that ruined our world. Please accept my oath!" The hero was ...taken aback but knew the long haired exiled royal spirit wasn't lying this time. Were those tears!?

"Sure you won't run off and change-

"It's my solid oath ...I want to protect the chosen..knowing you have lost your guardian's trust...I was the one to have tested that..Kay...is fighting who he was..Alicia is trying to bring her fears of needing a savior to rest. She has friends where she resides..Many others YOU freed! Cici is a protege to Greg...Also, Mal is-

"Malchior?!" Raven gasped with her team. "He's..still active? Wasn't he.."

The red headed brute shook his head. "Swear in and never look back." He reminded his cowering nephew. "You have all come to face this hound as more than a single aspect. He's no hades' guard dog I can tell ya!" The grinning fool winked in appreciation and Veravakumu continued to give his very spirit to the Teen Titan's cause.

"I..." Richard rubbed his neck anxiously and sighed. "I want to apologize for my calling you a 'tool..and a liar..it..was really not the right thing to do..will you forgive all of us? Myself included mostly...?" The smile was a start as the hybrid self returned and knocked over the hero playfully as an overgrown puppy.

"Hey! You must get off of Robin's lap , Verra!" Starfire felt left out and tugged at the dog to quit acting like one!

"That side , is his so called cursed 'daemon'." Raven laughed at the mention when Kaien had yet again been a rather very good storyteller...Cy just watched with Alfred who'd gone mid way through the talk to wash up in the kitchen. Cy shrugged and went to happily lend a few extra arms for the old timer.

"Yup!" The pup was too much for Kori who scratched it's ears just like when they had first been introduced. (Arcs after A new beginning). Vee had a big eyed grin he felt more than happy to keep that feeling for his entire next lifetime. As long as the teens could never give up, he was right by their side. A dark knight! Hah! The title was already claimed..

/

On the night time streets of the teen hero's city, a pair of sly foxes dove after one...well! It had been Kyrios flying after his partner Lothos who was peckish after their arrival to the earthen plane. It was..as if he were trailing a hungry were beast!

The blood leacher had tested the prince during his training under the dragon lord's instruction. The reaction of hearing such a rumor turned the teen sorcerer of dark arts' stomache once it had been announced between the two in a downtown alleyway on the way to their destination. The dragon's presence overshadowed the lesser daemon wanderers as soon as the killers had landed. Kyrios had insisted on staying in a nice hotel until their contact in range had a spare arrangement...Lothos however had no true self control and decided to drink in the nightlife...prince of sheer terror..

"Have you any brains , bat chatter- for - thoughts?!" He cried out in a low croak once his legs started to wobble in exhaustion. The chance to act would have to wait till the creeper had returned from his stroll as a malicious marauder in the night. The ones he'd usually chased, were likely to either do his bidding, or escape with half of their soul still intact. .

"Slobbish bore is what he is...was , is more like how I see the ghoul as my partner just hours ago!." The sorcerer in his dark shirt shuffled back to reside once again within the hotel suite. The benefactor must have wanted a real revolution if the kindness was this lofty a presence...

"I do hope we meet the one responsible for the invitation..otherwise, my mind will be to drag that half breed dragon brother back into Knoll's wastes...he does not deserve to roam free...not after letting me do as I had to the keep...that witch of a queen was no honorary child, nor was that coward of a king.." The outlaw muttered and fell back against the sheets with a snort. "Not at all was Knoll meant to be tested...not by a black sheep...that I had become ...yaawn!*...I do hope that no good scoundrel blood - letter leaves no trace of...our ...journey..."

The snoring outcast son slept on , while the flamboyant elder drank in the city's beautiful dark aura with a single whiff.

/

Raven had rested back inside her guestroom for the third night. Wayne had not returned to the manor and the diligent butler was starting to fret if he had made it over safely to the thieving cat's pad.

Raven frowned with her head adjusted to stare up towards the ceiling. Her arms supported by the soft pillows made it easier to relax, and think .

"Something isn't right.." Her eyes scrunched to focus up towards the light of the room's glaring lamplight. "I have to investigate...the Batman is only visiting an intel dealer...why so late? Robin hasn't got any ideas other than a patrol round...might have to see about that." Her body shifted to send out her form through astral projection. Richard had mentioned that the dragon had used the same ability to monitor the curse's effects. During the showdown in the hospital( An Etermal Tommorow),

the aspect of the red dragon's human self had been shoved into a vortex created by the powers of both Titans and Guardians. However, there was no mention if the self had faded and returned back to it's real body...the curse implimented by the Queen Lorelai had been to prevent a long stay in the first place. So, was the magic containing his sealed fate running out? If the spell no longer could prevent the breach, then the teens had to clear up the mess in time for the Eternals and Celestials to judge if the prophecy was null..or alterations would accommodate it. "Gods or not, they have no power strong enough to divide our futures! Send me to him! Where is the one I seek?" Her whisper turned to a cry up towards the heavens as the empath Azarathian child sped up into the spiralling dark passage in search of Gotham's caped crusader. To her suprise , he was at the scene of a dangerous attack that had littered it's energies all over! Raven had to cover her nose and mouth even as a projected-

"Wha!" Her entired body fell through the park background while Batman looked over the mess-

"Who's there?" The snap of his movements shifting towards the falling intruder amazed the teen to dust off her visible self. "I...meant to see if you had made it alright. My whole body was transported instead of my spirit self...that has never happened outside of my power.." She shook the loose branch from her hair and cleared her throat. "You never told your partner Robin..or your guests, that you'd be pulling an all nighter." Her arms were hidden inside her cloak to stay warm. February was no better than the dead of winter ! Gotham had harsh climates compared to Jump City. The occasional quakes never occured on a daily or weekly basis. San Diego might have been close enough to compare the climate to Jump's luck in not having such phenomenon leave large dents in the stratosphere. Gotham had as much pollution as Chicago or New York City; even without The Joker or the many batvillains to add too the smog ridden portrayal. of industrial and economic damage to the ozone effect...

"I had been given a call from the department . A criminal was reported having done...something gruesome in the dead of night. The city park is now under investigations . The culprit was, involved in...-

"Any chance now that I'm here you can explain in more in detail? Killings and murder won't scare me. I have a dangerous history with demented beings ; just being alive here prooves that they didn't stand a chance. Let me offer you some insight. I am after all, half the blood of an interdemensional demon." The Titan was pushing the crime fighter to let her aid his search and uncover more evidence. Any news as to whether the creep had been there to startle the hero into moving fowards. "The criminal , is not human...it is just like the crime when Catwoman was framed for murder before meeting Veronica ." Gulping down the memory, the dark knight continued. "Claw marks; just as that victim that she had been framed for , disposing of." Raven's eyes narrowed as she paced a few steps. "Not human...care to tell me how far you've gotten? How many nights was this on high alert? -

"Just tonight. As if the killer was just bound to arrive on scheduale." The Batman rose from crouching over the body of a young woman lying face up under the tarp. "She was ...the killer's victim..." Raven look over the body with a powerful gaze that no mere mortals could posess. "She...wait!" Raven touched the neck of the lady and saw very definite proof in the form of a set of fang marks. "No question." Her blood ran as cold as an icy river in the midst of the season they now witnessed this murder. "A vampire..." Batman blinked and stood over to examine the wound. He nearly joinedc her in the position too gather a better view from another perspective. "I...don't believe it." The crime fighter shuffled off towards his ride , ushering the dark sorceress to join him . She was not reluctant and obliged to finally see the Bat Mobile up close. "Robin left Jump, but you haven't let him join you on a single watch." The teen frowned and buckled herself up quickly. The drive was a series of sharp turns and flashy swerves as the two set off towards the manor with a very puzzling case on the bat' s conscience.

"A vampire? Batman, this I can say, is going to need the Titan's cooperation and our new allies . Those beings are connected to their spirit territories where we fought a relative of the race called Shadow Riders; who happens to be working with... This could involve the Titans as well-

"Which is why, you should finish the request made by your extra helpers, and leave as soon as possible with Robin." Batman 's expression had become grim as he wiped his brow. The cowl had been peeled away as soon as they'd rrived within the cave beneath the family estate. "You did enough . Let Gotham's law enforcement...and the league keep the criminal out there and elsewhere in check." Raven gaped up towards the older male with brow furrowed slightly in irritation. "You chose for us to fight, here we are. Why are you not being clear with any of the happenings in Gotham? Especially with Robin! Isn't he your partner? It seems all you've been doing is keeping him and the rest of us in the dark." Her pride echoed fiercely , for her friends to join the moody detective on his rounds, this stiff would have let his protege and team engage in Gotham's latest case!

"We don't want you to take charge. This was our fight to begin with!" The teen flustered in front of this infuriating man all too easily . Why was it not surprising that Robin felt sheltered even fighting as a sidekick to the dark knight?

"He had his chance, and it only ended up staining his future-

"The story thus far, is that we the CHOSEN had to face the enemy. You are just making him feel less supported by being away and fighting his battles! Don't make-

Bruce halted the empath's demands with a scowl. "That's enough. Richard is here for assurance...that isn't him acting strong enough, or else, I have made a mistake in letting him lead himself down this path..." The elder hero's fear littered new words unspoken.

"Bruce...he was haunted by -

"Until we can get to the bottom of the curse and treatment...he's not to be Robin off the radar. That includes the Titans acting on their own during Gotham City's nightly patrols. Nothing is going to change my mind. If you'll head back now, we can start -

"Stop is more like it." The empath glared up and felt her blood boil down as she heaved a sigh. "I won't let you mistake the real issue. We'll let you work in peace, though you can not face an undead demon like the one we are also chasing. Asking the league is worthless. The energy I felt there at the scene.." The teen stated. "Was familiar to the Shadow holding our leader still. It's not something you can face without magical resistance. Just a warning of what we are up against." She turned to the elevator and sniffed. "Do not underestimate your own student. He's better with fighting back against the monster, than you see in him now...more than you could in his position." She left with a wave into darkness and a bitter attitude as soon as the moon rose higher in the sky two hours later , before the day's rays of sunlight made the Titan squirm underneath her comforter.

When Raven had arisen from the mattress that morning; no more afternoon by then, her thoughts had been on why Bruce had banned the Titans from finding out the truth before Gotham's finest could solve the murderous case. The league was not getting involved in this one. Prophecies were tricky subjects that could end up with irregular upsets by another's interference from outside it's texts creating a loop in the space time's equilibrium! She dreaded the feeling of the adults bringing their world to shatter by one hero's indicision on whether his ward was still in one piece.

"Richard and the Titans will show them just how wrong they are...before more energies break the balance..." Her head throbbed lightly but made the sorceress of Azarath cringe from the ache in her skull more tan that single twinge of fear.

"Wait...is that!"

It was Richard in his dream - Then..She still had the bond in place...but the dragon's involvement had severed the link! Why was it easier with 'one ' throb? That was the most likely way, as an indicator of his heart rate and -

~ Dick! I have no choice...not helping Robin recover wasn't listed in Batman's demands. I have to find out!~ Her energy burst past the walls to reside within the Titan leader's dreamland. ~Show me the disturbance...~ Raven shifted her arms to feel for any clues that could lead her towards the deafening intrusion . ~ I don't sense any...!

~ Aren't we nosy little priestess! You are the vessel of my maiden? Well! Isn't this reunion somehow...nostalgic.~

The laughter did not die as it echoed throughout the voidless darkness. ~ Who's there? You aren't a shadow rider...that aura!~

Her brow started to swelter in a pained way as the miasma cut off the link's effects. Raven gasped and started to pull out, only to become entangled inside a spider's web surrounding the space.

~Loosen your hold! Who ARE you!?~ Her eyes shone bright and emit her power that travelled throughout her entire being. The binds snapped into silken waves - no stronger than a dying wraith's thinning head of hair. ~ Tell me...or I will find and erase you from here myself!~

The empath went onto the offense as her dark magics took hold to grant the teen immense abiliies. Ones gained soon after her father Trigon had been put to rest. ~ Azarath Metrion Zinthos Asterion , Astrion!~ An added bonus to her light form was a new incantation while studying a while under Lady Dark of the Celestial Elementals . ( An Eternal Tommorow arc).

~ Stray from your cover! You will not control my team! Get out!~

With a smack into a dark set of shadows ; ones that moved as if the wind were creating a breeze ,were brushed aside to materialize into one lowly being. Lothos bowed curtly to the reincarnated veseel of his Lady Ravenna. ~ How do you do..~ The grinning vamp stood down nearly onto one knee . ~ We have, only just met, in person. My lord sends his regards , especially towards your hero in hiding . Not a very safe bet to have returned to a town ruled by my kind. Was that entirely his doing you suppose?~ The demon quizzed the Titan with a hand now clasping her's by pure intent. ~ I have missed the time since then when your dear 'Ravenna' aided in killing off my presence from the world of my lord ..you have another scent...~ The cretin whiffed with a wide smirk and eyes half shut. ~ The brother of my partner is still watching ...even in death.. Although, was that all of the truth he could muster?~ The demon' grasp loosened to allow the sorceress free range again. ~ What did you say..?..~ Her eyes softened a bit yet her fists were still glowing with power.

~ Malchior of Knoll's elder son is my , protege...more or less lacking in that department. I was you see, witness to the dragon's takeover and the kingdom's fall. As were you...Ravenna , Asterion..~

The winds whipped around the teen to switch her 'self' with the priestess of the spirit world's ancient Greece . ~ Lothos of the dark blooded race..My comrades were not expecting another face to upsurp this moment..~ The priestess hissed angrily that such a traitor had reawakened to shake up the time line ever so...

She did not ermbrace the fact wholy that her vessel was inside of a trick void created by the blood drainer. ~ Shadow was no match for the guardians..I am his relative..though no one has allowed this old rougue a second glance! Odd that these times repeat thermselves so lightly..Ravenna , your young body is a bit of a drag...your Eternal form is much more-

~ Keep your unruly claws off of my charge!~ The lady holding Raven's consciousness in check shouted from mid air. ~ She is to allow my aid to the chosen few. That is not for you to do as you please in my absence! Damned monster..if you even think that this is a game...do not worry about finding yourself back inside the underworld prisons! Do you hear me? Steer away from this child...or I shall not allow you to repent your evils, only suffer as you replay your reconing and destruction...~

~How dare you suggest that I should do such wrongs by an old friend!" The monsyer was taken aback, though this young chosen had an aura he was quite taken by already. He swished his long mane of passionate graces behind him and rebuked a bit this 'accusation.' Yet it was a tempting idea..what a wry sense of humor his lady had! - While even in death.."No...I was saying she is not much of a threat, yet..malady...Her dark magics are her trademark in this case..it is no wonder as to how you to are more alike than we daemon would have considered!~ With a bow and wave of the demon's blood red cloak ,the sly trickster fell back into the illusion he had created to fight another time..too soon he so hoped. Young Ravenna's present body was, a real puzzle in itself...

~ Daughter of dark histories, I bid you adeiu...and do not fret! This will not be the first meeting in which to enlighten your...charge!~ Raven gasped back to life as her feet held her steady before a lone arm prevented the empath from collapsing on her way to Richard's door.

It had been a trap. The message was false enough to convince the Titan that her comrade had been in mortal danger. With a wavering heart, the teen heroine sighed with her brow still coated. That had been a scare...Ravenna of the prince's lifetime knew the demon , who was the vampire she had sensed the energies of during Batman's investigation! Her headache had dulled thanks to the priestess guiding her pain away .The Titan nodded and set herself to rest awhile longer until she had fully recovered her fullest strength. ~ His lord...Malchior's older brother...and the vampire working for...who is he?~ The thought lasted throughout her rest period creating no space for quiet or relaxation. The teen grumbled into the pillow a mantra that had once been her own. ~ Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos...~ It held up a little better to lessen the influence and Lothos's words. She could not be swayed by his mysterious questioning. Not only that,.but she longer for the chance to know how involved Ravenna was in the Kingdom of Knoll's existance.

Sleep took her late, up until midday did she rise to greet a winter sun.

/

Within the killer's consciousness Lothos was perturbed by a dark coat wearing partner once he had returned to their hideout. The girl harbouring his lovely prophetess was by far going to be a lot of laughs ...especially towards having his way against the mistress that had burried he and his king dragon's reign under blood red skies!

"I had the most interesting theory to test these young heroes...care to pick at my ego just once , outlaw of Knoll?" The fiend grinned and leaned back against an armchair with weary vision. The very youth he had been after , was too close for comfort. The child's aura made his bones ache as it might have Shadow Von Hert's undead spirit. The heroic leader beside his dear priestess's vessel , was still carrying the energies of his lord's last son . Though faint to tell if the mad demon were truly certain, he had his ownviews over the topic of seeing his nephew ; though not by blood, to bring about that fated transformation..

"Our connection here was just able to reach this place. He is fleeing towards us now. The time to follow has come. Lothos, you should refrain from feasting the human world dry a bit longer. We have to move once he gives the signal." The outcast royal looked down to his watch's face and frowned impatiently. "I will explain his actions for summoning us on such short notice." The dark haired sorcerer turned towards the lethargic prince of devils .

"Do as you must..I will play along as long as I must to gather my desire...yet, are you certain the contact is as you commit to so highly?" The smirk played across the demon's lips with a gasp from his partner barely audible . "Watch that known as trust. You must keep on your toes even during this safe a circumstance it might seem. I am trusting my old pupil to remember we are not welcome in this waste of a human realm. That I can count on in you?"

The dark son of Knoll's fallen empire shrugged and flushed out of sight. "We are -..We are going to finish up quickly so that our kind might find their reason for striving to gather here. !" The slightly shaken prince winced away and dashed by towards the balcony window to watch for a signal from their mysterious benefactor.

"There. Are you ready to fly , damned beast of your own demise? We are not to turn back or away!" The sorcerer dropped suddenly from the ledge as the red headed sire blinked open his eyes to see the fall in a milisecond. "Damned youth..! You will do as he says, yet I've taught my students countless measures in surviving free falls! The reason is clear! Let me join this link you chose to blindly follow!" With a flash of light, the demon powerhouse fell along towards the streets, while the railing of the fire escape made a perfect latch to grab hold so his break would not mean a wound to gather on their trip back to the spirit world. This earth was barren of most of the powers to keep the demon lord breathing sound. Kyrios was a teenager as far as he was concerned. One that had the blood lust of a warlord if he so wished to lead himself down that inescapable road. Now, their contacted foe was calling out. The lad was off on his own mission that involved the youngest son of Knoll he had cursed by becoming involved with dark arts, and the red serpent out to reap what had been owed to him.

"A royal with a firey past, ashes will surround and cloud that wizard's judgement. The end will be for naught if my dear student is without an able guide. It would certainly aid his desire to crush the second son of his lord..heh*.." The dark eyed demon chuckled as he swiftly maneuvered the walls down into the alley ways of Gotham's fabled underground.

"Might bring him some insight into whom he should really be watching..tick tock my pupil..Lord Lothos has returned from his slumber to finish what was started...before you fell into the hands of a goddess of starlight." The dragon'sson's lover Arianna was recalled as the one to have broken the hold kept over the young sire. He still waited, waited for the past to come to light! Lothos would gladly give his all in recovering what had been lost during their time apart. While the prince had been the dragon's student, the vampire soul stealer had been a substitute on the king's days off. His grinning was painful as the essence of the son washed over and made the demon thirst for contact. His aura's display now resounded through those the prince connected to. The youthful Ethereal was also still connected, by a small thread barely visible to those unworthy of it's protective abilities. The young son had to remember..

The demon panted hungrily. ~ I am not through with gaining his blood!~

/

Richard groaned and lifted from his childhood home's bedroom mattress. The lights had dimmed to mid evening. Had he slept in since morning?

"Gah! ..Al didn't even come in once? Why was I-

A creak on his doorframe and a tap of a knock* alerted the team that he had a visitor. It was Kori in her day clothing still while he had slept the whole time in his ...own tee and jeans?

"You were not well . I do not know how it would be best to explain your , condition...may I join you as to

"Wait!..I have to wash up first, then you can come in. Just a sec." Kori was overjoyed as she smiled curtly and nodded before leaving to wait beside the outside of her friend's door. It took moments before her teammate's head popped back through to let the alien teen know he had a spot for her to settle. She could..go inside of his childhood bedroom...it was nerve racking at first, but soon a casual discussion resumed as to how the day had gone while Richard had been 'on the grid.'

"Mister Wayne has been most odd in suddely deciding we are not required to solve his criminal cases...It does not feel at all welcoming to remain in the city of the Batman..."

She sighed and felt Richard clasp her hand with a small smile into her own eyes. He was trying to support her by saying his mentor would not object if his ward spoke up..but they had tried after Raven's evening mood at the dinner table made the butler caution against bringing up the warning a second time. Bruce had retired to eat in seclusion. When that had been told to the young ward of the manor's keeper, Dick had flung himself into a state of disassociation early before the meal's conclusion. Raven had done so right after her portion, only to wake the heroes the next afternoon with a gasp that she needed to meet with the Titans in private. So, then why was he here? Sleeping so late it was nearly the next day!

"Shoji and Kaien have insisted and will go with Raven to find more clues about the current crime in progress. He says that the criminal is familiar with Raven, though she refuses to be kept indoors." The teen princess of Tamaran was close to her limit before he embracd her in to a tight hug without warning.

"Then I can face him with you guys." He exclaimed in a croaking whisper. "So...just wait for me . I won't let Bruce free me from being Robin too soon. No one's better at solving cases than that-

Starfire blinked and held a puzzled expression by the use of 'Robin's' title. "You are Robin, then why are you acting as if you will not be. .will you change your identity into!-

"Not certain.." The teen shrugged and brushed back his short tail from his shoulders. "Might have to help me remember who I am in the Titans' future?" She beamed by this request and landed a sweet peck onto her hero's cheek. "I would be most delighted in doing so!" She took in a breath and recalled the tall vigilante defending Jump from the shadows. "Guess it might be time to-

The communicator sounded inside her belt compartment before Dick could respond further in thanks. "It is Cyborg!" She gasped and saw him scaling a rooftop for a criminal that had crossed his shadow's patg not too long before the call.

/

"Deathstroke...Deathstroke of all!-

"We cannot do any searches till we get in touch with Astarte." Veravakumu in his cloaked demi god form whispered harshly from beside the Titan. "Kaien was on his way to her base when that creep made contact with him as a human in form." The cat hissed at the pain shooting up his leg from the latest high flyinbg showdown- though with a few extra punches left over to pout from. "Is is is with her ; says my sailor of a comrade. The deity was there to see her, to warn the other that she was in danger of getting involved." The dark eyed ally crouched into the shadow covering and ran alongside to return to where Raven was tailing a certain Dark Knight.

Her ears picked up noises that made very little sense to the empathetc sorceress. Was she being blocked by the creep soul stealer from the trip in to darkness?

Something felt arwry...seemed to not fit into this mystery of the Bat's questioning. "Who is pulling the strings this time?.." Her eyes squinted more than once to see what the detective saw. It was another victim. This time, a child with blonde features who had barely seemed mature enough to take down a killer...Raven's eyes watered as before until they popped open by whom it was that had arrived to send off the dead. Aluehainyu was leading the child away to rest inside the netherworld for a fail trial. To rest in eternal slumber and be taken from it's misery.

~Well, not a shock that you should be the one I've been searching for.~ The pink haired Eternal swished side to side in mid air above the crime send off complete,the teen had more time to act as she had never known she might need to. Raven had already followed suit as the two powerful witches bargained the fate of the worlds they would have to protect.

~ You are back in the human world...earth?.. Why are you not tangible like the last time in London?~ She was raising a brow to this;the court orderly of Eternal resonance pushed away a dark wisp from her side that had seemed to be in her way. ~ It takes magic far unlike your own to know when extending a full fledged form to materialize onto an unknown plane, the bearer must have strength to not drift away. I lost a great deal by exerting my energies to aid the chosen's cause. To nearly have been tainted by the dreaded serpent's puppet , almost losing my mentor Destiny in the process ...It shall not happen a second time over . I advise you as an advocate for the earthen realm, too keep your comrades in line. Especially the one's to bear the child touched by the golden dragon's light. It is a warning you were too unaware this moment to have forseen child of Arella. My powers are needed even while I am here to locate a traitor under-

~ Wait ...a spy? Who is doing harm within your world since-

~ A Celestial was taken by the one strich you defeated only just after the capture...she dissappeared days later along with her ex-pupil Bethel.~Raven's eyes

narrowed by this. ~Veronica...was not alive after we saved London from the witch Lilith? (To the future arc).

The Eternal shook her head . ~ No. The demoness Lilith was suspected of coersion with the orderly , Sayumon Havarti .~

~ What?!~ Raven gasped in shock . ~Sayumon, was working with Lilith? Why was this a secret ? Is Lilith-

~She sent her spirit to resume itself as a half-blood for now, in the future. We of the Eternal and Celestial sanctions are working hand in hand with the Ethereal beings this time. The see and light entity Hakuro has shed his old title . He is now the keeper of sacred time lines, as well as still wary as to how your team leader is faring. Tell me, is the chosen's energies...a bit different than before? We are looking into-

Raven rasped underneth her hood wit a gaze filled to the brim with distaste for these entities of order. ~He is going to return to us as a hero strong enough to bare his curse. Make no mistake , our leader will be more than willing to test your predictio of the Titans' future.~ Her eyes shown as powerful as the last time the two had crossed paths. The Eternal was still siding with the hero's disposal from existance!

~We may only determine the outcome thus far.~ The immensely powerful girl in black sniffed and turned to depart. ~Relay this to your friends; We are not letting down our guard this time , even if your guardians face the courts. Yet do not despair. I am sure this will be no more than a reminder as to not side with demons and dark forces. Even if they seem to mean well. Fare thee well Miss Roth. Should we ever need your magic, I will know where you reside.~

The stuffy magical brat was gone in a glance as the empath of Azar's teachings shook off her weariness to return full the manor a fourth night. "That wasn't what I had sensed earlier. There was a rip in the seams,. time is being manipulated again.." Her forehead rested against the balcony as the witch flopped onto the landing with a soft thud. "Batman...is not able to sense time magic...I saw that switch...where is-

~Raven!~ The empath blinked down to notice her unit had reactivated from the fall switching the screen on. ~Raven! Heads up. We have big news. Vee's got a lead on who's been messin' with some evidence ...are you ok? What happened? Rave! Are you still gonna- Hey! Vee..I think your uncle should hurry his fuzz butt the heck up. This is getting to weird to keep tabs on. Rave, stay put. Rob is with Star and aren't far . They stayed behind earlier. I'm gonna patch through. Just hang in there...jeh! You cat faced guard dog! Why isn't that flamethrower keeping an eye on-

The sorceress sighed and tried to adjust her weight to shift towards the balcony . Then, with a hand now reclaiming some grip, Raven shuffled herself to lean up intl a white wall beside the night time entranceway. "Wayne is in over his head...so are we. .dick..get here soon..I...feel weaker than I should...Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos..." Her eyes closed slowly as her meditative state eased the growing fears she still had not dispelled into light. There was no escaping the shadows in this dreary cityscape. Gotham was forever haunted by ill fortune. Bruce was the only knight still standing until it was burried forever under an eternal cloud of fog. Never had she seen such a city still stand however against that fate. Against demon, cursed landscapes, oddities and corrupt, immoral beings. .was it just like any other city? Was Shoji telling them the truth? It was supposed to be clear...but it was not.

/

The self Rokuro within it's cage writhed inside the shell that held the daemon from escaping of it's own free wishes. Slade had gone off with the older daemon Rokou tagging along. Now, the child's mind wandered endlessly to find a way out. The self had not been given the right to go with his other half composed now of mostly his father's presence. ~The dull minded assassin is falling into his hands again...Rokou is not as he was in captivity ...~

The self of Rokuo's cursed darkness bit his lip and scoured the room with a pitiful gaze towards the locked exit . Just a door without a barrier surrounding it...why the cube he'd been placed in alone ? The whole room was useless then!

"Room to spell...or deteriorate...I have to try...before Rokou reveals his nature! There was no present sign of Roko...that's it!" The self exclaimed with a short gasp; Roko was his ticket- Yet...the thief still maintained her form..was he close by? Would it be too late if the message went to the demi self of Rokouro's Rokou?

"I still believe the selves had become more independent since my departure..." The room seemed ominous a moment by a recollection of memories rearing their ugly heads to surface, and frighten the self into a shiver. ~Was the opportunity really gone from their lives completely? This is OUR chance to take command! Freedom is absolute!~ The self that was truest to the prince, realized it was no pasing chill he had been victim towards; It was the dragon's last breadthe down his pale neck..sweat trickled as if he could feel the sensation shatter his confidence. No longer was he alone...the dragon had a method of being heard- directly through the ones touched by his dark powers...

/

~ You...were sealed by the sacrifice! You are not still-

~I am far from through with that insolence. The mortal with the possession through his bones is now reacting towards the consumed dragon's life blood...it was all thanks to the selves' cooperation and the lady Lil, whom you allowed to plant the shard...in you...without those reminders, I would have had to drag you out of hiding myself...not a pretty sight? None of it will seem once my war begins on the ear then plane. You are no more than a puppet, the one to have collectedv passing energies as if they could keep you alive. That, is your king's duty. Now tell me, Rokuro; is that the name given during the ends war? (Desert end to end all ends war in past. Rokuro was used to gain access to the Ethealrealm by merging with Hakuro from that spirit plane. Hakuro was captured when the prince had been forced to extend his powers in an experiment. Hakuro wanted to save the son so he bargained to remaib- only to be swept up so that the pact no longer allowed him freedom from the prince's powers. The dragon lord was the one to have used both to start the war. Atop a tower in the center of a distant nowhere...)

~The merge...is how I came to exist...though I would throw away my entire being to recover the true prince's!-

"Gahc!*~ The teen was swept back to ramm into the opposite wall of his prison. The dragon had his body pinned well as the infuriating puppet master!

~ Can not...lose!-

~That is all you can admit ? It's worthless drabble at the moment. You will free this vessel self so that my presence may break the damnable god's control. The brat Grayson longs to free himself entirely by reliving your hatred!~

The teen pummeled his jaw without warnibg, beating himself into the floor as his dark energies became visable as swarming miasma. ~Nah!~ His long, matted hair was tugged as tears filled the void he had longed to burry in the darkest of his memories. ~Noo! Not Now! You Beast!~

The self's perptrator king's spirit chuckled from within his heart, as the younger self clad in his battered and bruised existance tried to not let his emotions in the form of magic power break the seal keeping him oddly sane. ~You also are fearful of those that think your return is a sham. The foolish killer wants you surrendered to those that will return you to that shell within the crypt. It will not seal my own spirit however, seeing as you are the most powerful and corrupt of my manifestations; born from my very heir...wouldn't it be interesting to find just how that theory isn't left to dusk? You may as well be the remainder of my son's power! The very child in his newest guise...now, break this spellwork! Show me just how worthy you've become..my dear prince...~

The very scene of a dying world warned the self composed of Rokuro's fears to shun the ungodly shadow's command. To let himself free..would mean releasing the serpent to destroy the human and spirit worlds! He had been unaware of how the dragon had regained control..was that how the cursed self had ended up wishing to grant an old accomplice's desire , in order to allow the king to rule as compensation?

~I was led ..to..cough!*...The mortal..plane! To recover magic..and awaken ..you..?...~ The self breathed a haggard gasp as his lungs threatened to explode by the little air he could expell. ~Very good. You realized the trick, yet continued to grant my wish...the assassin is just fodder in this new time line. I have no need for his services as an undead..however tempting it might seem an idea...Unless you would rather pass out for your jailkeeper to mock your presence further...I suggest you make do with some of your free time. Freedom , is that all you ask? How of this! Drink in the energies in place for now..~ The daemon king seemed to smirk. ~Let it be an essence you'll pine for , enough to break away from your captive state. I am far more merciful than you have given credit...tick tock my child...return the Titan to me, in place of gaining your well earned, peace. I 'll be waiting!~

With a zzap* of the long haired boy's confidence, the dragon's words clung throughout his needed rest until a cry echoed unexpectedly from his parched lips. ~No...I will...free ...no!no!no!~ The boy chomped onto his arm to shut out the pain of those commands. It would ache with a set of his own marks to remind the self that he could endure! Richard would not forsake ..he would try to wake up in time to find out that the shadow was far from scattered! It was moving silently in the darkness. The underworld would even take notice if all remained a fog over their minds..

~How to...warn..or do...I can't! The daemon Rokou belongs to my ...sire...and the meta - human Death...-

~Yes!~The self chuckled weakly , staggered to stand up and leaned foward into view of the locked door. ~He must be still out of range...I must bring him here! Nothing will come of cowering...I will-

~I...~The sensation of internal agony from long ago made the self grow faint. ~No...let...me! Leave me!~

Clutching his scalp in a mess of sweat, bruises and tearstreaks, the boy cried out with the voice he had not recognized since his days of servitude under the dragon. ~My...song...nooo...~ The voice was powerful as any brainwashing siren..now, his mother's magic of the Ainsley line had resurfaced...and the dragon must have known. Enough torture would bring out the powerful aura he had smothered. The magical prowess of the assassin side in his past. The side that pined for attention and wished for answers. Alicia...she too had Arisu..as Arisu had done the same once after her capture...a second self resided in them all ..this one , was his last battle to play out. The last calling card , should the world fall to pieces all over again around the chosen.

/

Alicia swirved around by a single presence. Malchior had returned from his venture . The sorceress guardian sighed in relief that the wizard teen had not been another; certainly not an enemy from the outskirts. The light haired male shoved his cloak of a sandy shade and his brimmed hat onto the floor. The teen looked...exhausted of his powers. How had he returned to the spirit world of the west via a portal in days? It should have taken miliseconds!

"Are you in need of a cuppa my dear comrade?" The blonde offered with an arm out to aid her partner of the dark arts. "The water has an interesting quality , especially the herbal brews seem flavorful and more so full bodied than the well water by our previous rural outpost. It may be that a spring is not far south of this continent-

"That sounds, fine..I met someone very much on my hit list since day one." The teen grunted warily and sat by the dwelling's largest chair, plopping directly into it's depths without a second thought. "Oh?...Who would have been that peculiar indeed to have been granted the honor by you? That being or person by far must have magical abilities..or perhaps..-

"My brother ; the first born of Knoll's second consort to the first king, and second in line to myself. He was the very reason the red bloody lizard was given lee way into our walls...why my mother and father were practically devoured by his soul stealer's capabilities ..why I became his loyal dog!" The wizard had not forgotten becoming a monster to never return..to never revert back into a fair child of the Knoll line!

"So mote it be for the moment Malchior...that crude aspect only has shown more powerful when the dragon's torturous ways that era litter your mind..do not forget what has been gained in that same day and age!" The girtl smiled instead , yet held her arms to her chest with fingers clutched tightly, interwoven and worn. "Raven, our heroic allies, the ones that were once unable to trust our Ill fortune; we have survived due to living this new lifetime...do not throw that away..even my sister and mother were freed. . " She'd helped herself up by a shrill whistle of the small kettle in their hideaway beneath the moorish cliffs of a green field indicating a perfect steep. It was the old setting Greggory had lived and served the people ; by storing works no page master could bear to be far from. He had healed many sick, given teachings of ancient folk texts to do well unto the earth, even saved the ones suffering from recalling their deamons so freely!

"We were also given the title heroes, and thus, will continue to guide the chosen until the day we shall once again meet. It was a promise then, as it shant be in vain for today." Alicia beamed warmly down beside the slouching shape in the arm chair of the great sorcerer still on his own mission..far off into another realm from what the two could barely guess.

/

The thief had been stashed away in the next room while Selina had gotten her coat and boots to leave the apartment for a quick breather out of doors.. "Take care of my darlings!~ " Jay mimicked in a high voice to soon snort in disapproaval as to how HE had become cat sitter?!

Flick was still his closest bosom buddy on the sofa,while numerous others could only act coy around new comers for the most of his stay. "Let's see...food is in this spot, bowls, sink is actually squeaky clean..she's no cat lady who's a careless groomer...thank goodness.." With a breath of stale air, the self stung the teen with an obnoxious glare. ~Start finding that contact and get the treatment! She only went to a warehouse for treating heroes- you dork! It's not the same stuff!~ Roko was more than restless- she was pushing to shove X into the dirt, without caring if he fell head first int another coma upon his landing. "You are too loud! Be quiet! That cure is a great big fake anyway- I am no addict to the mythical beastie's bodily fluids. You had better cool your attitude or we'll both end up six feet before the next bus-

The girl inside Red's consious mind snort with a sneer. ~Hah! What is that supossed to mean? You half a brain dunce! I am trying to save you from ending up as a drooling lunatic before..?-

The thief froze and interrupted the teen daemon's train of thought. "Before what? Why is keeping you happy supposed to solve my problems? It's not for me! You just want to be the insaniac so you can drown out what went down in that fairytale castle! Stop day dreaming and wake up!" He shouted and caused Flick to dash behind a table in fear of the sudden switch.

"Red ..I have to keep you from falling over the edge with me!" Roko spoke by use of Jay's body and lips. Her red eyes nearly overshadowed the teen's green. That had been too close as Jason readjusted to contain the self into it's magic lamp again. "No, you are going to involve me just because I know bird boy chuckle's history! He doesn't know that much...you might as well be under oath to...-

"The feeling of his presence, was too strong..last night.." Roko reminded with a shake of Jay's own shoulders. "You have to let me-

"Then win, not run away and hide! I want to go back to being a ressurrected dummy brought back by Batman's old enemy...not your vessel or whatever you have planned. We can work in sync, then get the heck back to when this all ended up screwing up because of that freak you think so highly of! I know you hate him to for leaving you like that, for making you suffer for no real reason. Fight by me, with us...then...you might find a better reason instead of living in my skin and bones body- my head is too full, just like this thief's ego!" He prided proudly that he had this much confidence to sway a half demonic girl ; such as an aspect of a real one!

"You may end up skewered by that show of ignorance,.are you sure my comradery won't be a big mistake for the notorious Red X?" She chuckled with a toothy grin. He did regret making that request. It terrified the teen till he froze up by the thought of losing his mind and body to a real killer...

"I am pissin' my pants over trusting a monster's clone*- huh...if I seven your big boss creepzilla again, make sure we both give him a hell of a wake up puch in the face and send that sucker off flyin high!" The self resided again inside of the thief with a giggle that would not go away! ~You are nuts if you think it'll be one time! You will have to break every bone to beat his odds! Good luck !*~

Her laughing made the delusional side of the male criminal half center his madness with an easing deep breadthe, before it became contagious enough to frighten his feline bunkmates all night long!

"Flick...poor lil' guy..c'mere, no one is coming tonight...I need a few extra layers. Heard it's going to snow 5-8 inches by night fall...think we can agree to disagree pal?" X, was trying to bargain extra body heat from another species by word of mouth. Roko couldn't help but snicker relentlessly from the display of tom foolery in her absence. Red would have to settle asthe daemoness's frenemy for now. Mutual partnership usually , resulted in betrayal and bloodshed...yet, Roko wanted to make it up to those that she felt worthy of her mention. Why did this squirt make her feel powerless at times? With his spoken word, it had melted away the iron mask she never let out of her sights. Red eyes dulled and shut slowly as sleep claimed cats, teen thief, and daemon drone...just until Selina returned to greet the quiet of her shelter..

~ I am growing too attached to this hoodlum..~ The girl reminded herself. ~I will be long lost before the war even begins...or may not live longest, enough to keep your trust, my ally...~ The teen felt her heavy lids shut with an invisionment of something ..that piled up higher as a barrage of returning evils she had commit by the perp's calling. Something inside Red's head was rebelling! It was not the princess this time, yet her dear dragon's second favorite puppet. Rokou was there to let the pale faced, daemon being of his humanity , in almost mortal form, fall to her knees in a weakened way he had found them...which could only describe the horror once the truth unveiled itself in a wicked gleam of the male daemon's glinting red orbs. The dragon had resumed his activities..all from the shadows he had done more in that time than as a tangible force!

~You are clinging to this human ; cursed by corrupt powers, just to forget...no longer shall he hide you from us! My creation of purest emotion...you must have had a terribly long wait!- No longer shall you lack that presence. I shall have the thief, as if it were you acting through him for-

"I refuse!" The girl did not borrow her daemon's tongue , instead it felt powerful in another way- as if her damned magic had been stripped away. Roko had lost the magical abilities that allowed the 'mind spoken art' to be well to her use. ...The dragon had stolen that rite..in order to leave her helpless. He however, had no way of removing her stealth. X had given the teen a boost to remain more so agile as the cats burrying her host as one giant fur ball fiasco. "It will not stop me. The mind spoken strength was not alone the power you had assigned for I, the self of Raku's former nightmare," Her hands deflected the energies that whizzed by as swift as murderous daggers. Rokou by the dragon lord's order , felt that it was easy enough to hijack the thief she had clung to for too long..

~The robber will be the one to possess you..I shall see to it that my indecent and selfish mortal half cannot bond with her host...he will have the luxery of boxing you into his subconscious, then! I will extract that weakened willpower and strangle it entirely of all resistance towards a new -

"The criminal is trying to do that already!" The bratty miss with her swealtering mat of long locks laughed in a mocking tone. "He has no need if I am not to agree to the partnership that was already decided! A promise ..." The self flared with light of a mad shade surrounding her. "We made the pact by our decision! You are too late!-

~ Defy me all you wish !~ Warned the male daemon with a cursed gaze in the copy cat's direction. ~I will bury what you exist to bring! The one to keep the lord dragon...in line...will not be a mere fake!~The teen with his hell bent passion towards ruining the once connection to the self of both prince and king, was starting to tremble by the oppression of his puppet master. "You do have a wish! Not to be in debt to these rulers and their petty!-

~You cannot speak!~ The self roared without warning and sprang forth with it's ruthless claws ready to dive; tearing away the bratty copy's determination would bring the son's failed aspect closer to the dragon's side..he wanted the position to rise from the earth, to breathe out his victory by a fierce battle cry!

~Weak! Always the weakling who could never protect them! You are a sham! A no one! Resist your fate no more!~

With a shout he rushed to shove the teen back into a wall of darkened chains ; locked away was the plethora of fears X would let know one have the right to witness. The resurrection of a dying teen, the colours he doned were enough to throw off the daemon girl's motivation. That was , until Red called out from another central point of his still conscious mind .

~Are you gonna fight him or just wait till it's all over?~ The teen criminal questioned from his meditative stance on the other end. ~Give him a real reason why you kept on fighting to be free! Roko, that was who you were ..it's a new concept, but this might help!-

~Do not interfere! Mortals born of such sorrows will never amount past their failures! Give up on the witch. She has nothing to say-

~I do though. Roko; from now on, you can have a new name . I kinda did some research when we had bunked with ole' Sladey. This might be a way to make you even stronger than that creep. Now! I am giving you a brand new contract!-

The girl's jaw nearly dropped with the feelings of many returning to haunt-

~Akane. You have to remember that It'll be you when he has nothing left to lock you up with, or chain us down. Masquerade! Revive ! Beat him to a sorry pulp if you wanna feel way better ! Akane!~

The self started to laugh by the gesture of two indecent killers wanting to best a being of high standing supremacy. ~Ha! The two of you should stay bonded! The idea of crushing your spirits brings my senses to flare up even more...even so!-

"I...cough!*" The self with a new power in her grasp ; somewhere it had to remain hidden, spit a trickle of blood from her internal scars slicing back open by the treasonous selve's attack. "To think...you were the one...gah!*...Who...had the temper...ment...of a ...wild ...beast!*..." Her lip curled into a snarl as she sprang forth to blind her foe with Masquerade's old cape behind her to keep him busy. A sword swung across to slit the covering and cause the masculine side to scurry into the teen villain's darkened corners of his subconscious. X yelped* in pain as he slept through the battle going on with his say so. Though not as he had believed, it took far to long for the strife to settle, the limbs of the dopples to go swaying. All while the puppeteer awaited his next step. The two were keeping busy...yet Roko was abandoning her post ..if so, she would be decimated as his weakest link. None of her incomplete being would survive into a new role. The dragon refused to let a traior pull his arm - especially one that could do far more damage to his plans than she knew originally. Little Arisu was another spectre just right for gathering his newest commandos - this was his war, nothing was reversing towards a happy end again!

/

Kinda nuts from the two selves and their vendetta! One loved to serve, and the other swore to protect the last to have become possessed by both! Now, poor Red has to fend off a murder weapon and a king's loyal assassin. Will Roko's new name make her free from the dragon's dark history at long last? Raven has discovered as well an enemy that is after herself and Ravenna of the foe's own past. Malchior returns and has made himself in charge of observing and protecting the heroes of Earth from a safe distance. Only thing, the teens are starting to recognise just whom that protector may ...be..?

The dark self of Rokuro ; once Kuro, is fighting the dragon's powerful grip. Believed to have been locked up in the endless array of time lines throughout time and futures unforeseen, the dragon has made contact with his old followers just before a rebellion is about to shake the city where the Titans now are resting. Richard has been located and will continue to resist the limitless anxiety known as 'a possible future , not remaining a Titan' . Nor a human in spirit. The dark king really has a way of eating what you did feel in past times, or what you do not want to face eventually in later years. Soul stealers are masters of manipulation to gather what essence they crave to consume for many eons off into eterninty.

The teens are waiting to see just how close to a crumbling future they have come to meet. This time, the dragon intends to bind itself eternally to the chosen's later line. If Richard remembers that much, or tries to speak at all about the pact ...it might mean a real nightmare will occur , out for the hero's human fears and insecurities. Stay curious! Isis has no choice but to allow her sharpshooter cousin the honour of guarding Ava and herself, to keep the dragon's minions far from their sights. Find out in the next chapter: 8 Eight to infinity; Buying time, The very vain cannot rest until the night has ended. Find out! Read on!