Azarath
I'm taking you to my mother.
Why?
She'll tell me the truth.
What makes you think that?
Nevermind what makes me think that...
Shouldn't we visit your emotions first.
No.
Mother...are you here?
I am, child. What do you request.
I need to ask you something.
What is it?
Is Braden your child?
Arella's eyes grow wide when she says the girl.
"Ruler of Azarath! Raven, where did you find this child!" Raven shakes her head in surprise.
"Mother, what are you talking about!"
"She...is my child..." Braden looks at her, her eyes searching her fragile face for answers.
"Is that a good thing?"
"No...you were not to be found."
"Well, isn't that just dandy. I'm supposed to be forgotten, aren't I?"
"No, darling, you were the innocent seed. You weren't cursed like your sister. You didn't have the powers, you didn't have the father looking at you as his portal. You were the lucky one, that's why you were given to other parents. So, you could have a normal life. You were mine...not Trigon's." Raven looks at her sister, wishing she was in her position.
"I'd do anything to have what you have, Brade." Arella puts a hand on her older daughter's shoulder.
"Her name isn't Braden...either..." Raven turns to her,
"What's her name then?"
"I can't say..."
"Why not?"
"The Council didn't tell me...we used to call her Brava, meaning brave." Braden shakes her head.
"What am I going to do? What...am...I going...to do..." her mother rests her head against her chest, rubbing her daughter's shoulders.
"You'll be alright, baby girl. You're gonna be alright."
"I hope so..." she whispers back, fighting back tears.
Titan's Tower
Raven's Room
"Hey, aren't we forbidden from Raven's room?" Beast Boy hides behind Cyborg, quivering.
"Yes...but, we need to figure out where they went. Look through the book over there..." Robin points to a book next to an odd mirror, making the two other boys shudder.
"The mirror...the dreadful mirror..." Raven's voice echoes through the room, making the walls rattle.
"Get...out...of...my...room!" Braden puts her arm around her sister, then whispers in her ear.
"It's alright...you'll be okay." Starfire cringes, her eyes turning a darker green than usual.
"Something wrong?" Beast Boy looks over at her, a questioning look on his features.
"What is it, Star?" Raven's eyes widen, and she looks away.
"I sense it too..." Braden nods.
"I also sense it. Someone is here...yet, I can not distinguish who." Beast Boy turns into a bloodhound, then sniffs the air.
"...Terra!..." he runs headlong for the door, into the hallway.
"I need to meditate...Raven, now. I have to, now!" Braden growls and pushes everyone out.
"I need to meditate, get out!" her sister nods her head, and levitates out the door. The door shuts with a muffled slam.
The girl sits on the floor, indian position and closes her eyes. She focuses on her breathing, before long her mind hovers over just her breathing. Her emotions set free, the clutter in her mind harnessed.
"Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos..." she opens one eye as the door opens.
"I said get out."
"Braden...I just wanted to tell you...that we're sorry..." the door closes and she returns to her meditative state.
She starts to weep, out of no reasoning. After five minutes, she stops and smiles. Contentment washes over her, giving her an emotional vacation.
