AN* see previous chapters for disclaimer
Fanning the Flames
Shinku had been staying in the tower for several days and had been helping with their search for any information that would help them find the mark that was on Slade's head. Shinku searched through histories of Earth and many other civilized worlds that could possibly have any information on the mark.
"Have you found anything?" Robin asked as he pulled himself away from the video screen that had recorded the battle.
"Nothing." He sighed as he tossed another book into his mountainous discard pile. Shinku grabbed another book and flipped through the pages, slow enough to see what was on each page, but still quick enough to make some progress. That night the alarm sounded and they found Slade burning down an old district that was due for demolition in a few weeks. They all separated throughout the district, each trying to stop Slade. He finally moved in front of Shinku who had decided to end this quickly. Focusing on his magic he summoned two knives and moved in close to strike. As he swung one of the knives he transformed the knife into a long sword, slicing into his arm, but no blood came out when he had made contact.
"Not bad." Slade said as he hurled a massive fireball at him. Reacting he transformed the blades into a massive wall shield, blocking the attack. Transforming the magic again into a massive buster sword he smashed the ground where Slade had been standing. Leaping after the masked criminal he utilized every ounce of his magical energy to try and destroy the foe. After chasing and managing to get in a few more unfazing wounds he felt his body reach the limit of his magic abilities and stopped, doubling over to catch his breath from the sudden depletion of energy. He looked up to see Raven about to confront Slade but he disappeared suddenly marking that the second sign had been delivered.
Once the blaze died down the only building left that was unscathed was an old library that they decided to search. At first there was nothing but eventually Robin found the mark of Scath as he said Slade had called it. Raven touched it and it sank into the floor revealing a staircase that was going to lead them to solving the mystery. Once they entered they stood in an antechamber. Once Raven entered spirits from the statues emerged and they began to speak out the prophecy at Ravens birth. As they talked symbols appeared on Ravens body, shining through her leotard, while Shinku's gems began to burn and through the leather gloves the mark of Scath appeared on his hands. Turning quickly they both left the room which was noted by Robin who came after them.
"What's wrong?" he asked as he faintly saw the symbols on Raven.
"I can't go down there." She said as she teleported away.
"I am in no condition to go down with you. I'll go back to the tower and keep an eye on Raven, while I try to recover my powers." Shinku said as he opened the portal. Before Robin could protest he left, appearing in his room where he prepared to tempt fate.
Sitting on his bed he began to focus his mind and enter his inner world. After a few minutes he finally pierced through his mental barrier and landed in the forest of his mind. It was just as he remembered it, with towering trees and clear blue skies that could be glanced through the green canopy. Floating in the sky were dozens of pieces earth that varied in size from a small boulder to the size of a large island. Heading to the top of one of the nearest trees he prepared to leap to the floating rocks, avoiding the presence of his inner emotions that he was sure would pester him to no end. Leaping to the rocks he headed for the one of the largest. It was dome shaped and had a single entrance into its dark depths, a large stone door with the mark of Scath upon it. Touching the door he entered and saw the four glowing eyes of the demon that would soon bind him into service.
"Trigon." He said coldly.
"Ahhh. Shinku, what brings you to speak with me on such short notice?"
"Power. I want more power."
"Ha ha ha. Of course you do."
"I want you to give me more magical power. You have nothing to lose if you think about it. You seem confident that you will be free so why not start getting me accustomed to an increase of strength." Shinku grinned.
"Very well. Though you should know that there is nothing that you can do. This worlds fate has been sealed." Trigon rumbled as released more magical energy into him. Feeling his power restored and his strength increased he left his inner mind and headed for Ravens room to talk to her. Knocking gently he probed for her magical energy only to find her not there.
'Odd. How is it that she is not here?' he thought. Walking away he felt her presence return into her room and turned around. Knocking again he waited to see if she would open the door. Not five seconds after knocking she opened the door and hugged him tight.
"You alright?" Shinku asked, worried that she was hurt.
"No. I went to see my mother. She says that I can't escape my fate." She sobbed. Wrapping his arms around her tightly he whispered to her "You are only trapped if you see it like that. There is always hope."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Simple, I have never been one to lay back and accept fate; I fight to change what has been preordained." With that she released him and he wiped away a tear that was about to fall "Now. How about we go and help the other Titans. By now they have to be in trouble." This got her to grin as she opened a portal for them to where their friends were.
They found the Titans bruised and almost about to die with Slade standing over them.
"No you don't!" Raven shouted as she used her magic to hurl a giant stone block into him. Feeling his palms burning again he muttered blaze and the black flames appeared, though they felt different. They made him feel lighter and stronger than he had before.
'Thank you Trigon.' He thought as he rushed Slade who was getting up Moving so fast that there was only a blur around Slade Shinku utterly destroyed the masked villain with every attack that he could do that was short of actually channeling the flames. Once he stopped Shinku moved back so that Raven, who was glowing with the symbols again, could have her crack at the masked warrior.
After utterly destroying Slade and forcing him to retreat they took the Titans back to the tower.
"Scath is the name that he uses with his followers. His real name is Trigon, my father." Raven explained. This caused everyone to worry with Cyborg actually asking the important question.
"How do we stop him?"
"We don't." Shinku sighed "In all reality we cannot stop the demon from rising." This made all of them look downtrodden before he spoke again.
"But I'll be damned to the deepest pits of hell if we don't try. From now on you four will be undergoing training with me. By the time it comes for our final battle we will either win or do enough damage to his armies that he will never forget what we did. Be prepared for hell, because my training is not for the faint of heart, we'll start tomorrow morning." Shinku said, looking at each one of them for any signs of doubt. The four titans nodded while Raven just shook her head, thinking about how her friends were sure to be doomed if they tried to oppose Trigon.
