Alexnandru Van Gordan (on ch.6)- Yes, the Slade/Robin aspect is exactly what I was going for! I've always been fascinated with the aspect of "when heroes go bad", which is why I even wrote this fic to begin with, and when I saw the Apprentice eps, I went bonkers. The idea of Robin reverting back into Slade's apprentice was too good to pass up. And yeah, I try to include some mystery into what happens when, while still leaving you in the dark. I can't give all my secrets away! And thank you for the applause! Bows gracefully I try. LOL! Thank you for reviewing.

Aeris-Raven- Nooooooo, Jinx isn't stupid and evil! I personally love Jinx, and she's a good character to play with, but she isn't stupid and evil, I swear! I see Jinx as a young lady who, like Terra, is in a position she can't get out of. She hates where she is, she wants out after doing too many horrible things, but someone or something is blocking her way. The only thing she loves about it is that she gets to use her hex powers. So, she tries to make the best out of the situation she's in, and tries to enjoy herself, even if it is half-heartedly. (If you notice in this fic, however, I've actually given her a bit less self-indulgence, meaning she's not as snarky and full of herself as she usually is.) The only difference between her and Terra is that Jinx has the experience in doing this. It's actually possible that she's done the bad girl thing for so long, she doesn't know what it's like to be on the right side of the road. Plus, I believe in the comic books, Jinx actually joined the Titans for a bit before going off and doing her own thing. BTW, 'Poor Raven' is right, you should see what happens to her and to the others when Slade's plans come into the light, and what exactly has been done. And thank you for the compliments! Blushes I try my best to write these things as best I can, when I can, and I want to read through this story and smile because it was something I myself would like to read. Thanks for your review, I appreciate it!

KaliAnn- Yes I did use Dark Robin in here, and I didn't think you'd mind. I was sitting here, going, "Ok, Sarah (that's my real name btw) you need something else here, something that reflects Robin's situation and him being evil. What's a name I can use...?" And I automatically thought of your fic. So, that just goes to show you how much I treasure feedback: I do, on occasion, throw something in there in honor of the wonderful people who take the time to read my fictions! And you're right, Robin denies his evil side and tries to see things in black and white. But he can't do that: it would kill him indefinitely. He's going to learn a lesson in acceptance very soon, and it's going to be a very, very painful one at that. And yeah, I thought the normal convo with Raven and Cyborg was a nice touch too. Jinx is nervous, more like despairing if you think about it, because I think she does love Cyborg in a really "in like" way... Your wish is my command as well: this chapter is going to be super, super long, just like you asked. I had already planned on it.

sYnergY's Duality- Thank you very much! And don't worry, I'll be updating VERY soon! I can't keep away from this fic if my life depended on it!

If you guys can believe it, we're at the highest point in the fic: the climax. This chapter is going to be VERY, VERY long, because I have a lot to explain, and an abundant span of 'canvas' to paint my masterpiece, so I better get right to it.

Oh, and just for the record: the end of this story's going to be a shocker. You're going to hate me for it, you'll be so pissed at me... But I'll say this: nothing in this fic is absolutely permanent.

You've been warned. Anyway, on with the show!


Jinx hobbled away from Raven's room when she stopped and cried. No, she couldn't. Slade be damned, she couldn't do it, not now, not ever. The Titans were the only ones who could help her now, who could shelter her from his wrath, and Cyborg, surely Cyborg...

She moaned loudly, her wounds throbbing. They felt like wildfire inside and out, and the bandages around them were already soaked with blood. If they kept bleeding like that, then Slade wouldn't have to kill her: his goons had already done it.

"Better... make the most... of it," she stuttered, and turned around, stumbling back to the half-demon's room. "Get... the... mirror..."

A shadow fell upon her, and she felt herself being lifted, collapsing in the embrace of Raven's powers. "What are you doing near my room?" the hooded figure demanded. "I thought you were in bed, Jinx!"

"The... mirror... mirror... Raven..." mumbled Jinx before she passed out yet again.

"Mirror?" Eyes wide, Raven yelled for Cyborg to hurry over, and left the pink-haired witch in his mechanical arms, hurrying through the door and to her mystical mirror. She picked it up and studied it, not sensing anything threatening, and she relaxed a bit, shoulders slumping slightly. False alarm.

Sighing, her fingers rubbed over the scrolling markings and raked horns at the top, grateful that nothing was wrong. She still had an uneasiness about Jinx being there, and she had said "mirror... mirror..." when Raven had come along...

Silently, Raven levitated, folding her legs underneath her as her cloak billowed around her. She closed her eyes and focused, determined to figure out what Jinx meant. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos," she chanted, honing her mental and spiritual powers towards her mirror, her eyes two glowing jewels in the darkness under her hood.

She prepared her mind for her voyage, but this time, something was wrong.

Desperately, desperately wrong.

As soon as her mind touched the world beyond her mirror, a vacuum of brutal force began to pull on her spirit, drawing it further and further into the mirror. Horrified, she tried to break loose but to no avail: it had a firm grip on her consciousness and wasn't letting go anytime soon.

At last, she couldn't resist any longer, her mind sucked into the world of her mirror while her body still levitated in place, white eyes glowing eerily in the darkness.


Alarm claxons went off inside the Tower, and Cyborg glanced up hopelessly, cradling the pink haired witch in his arms. Raven still wasn't back yet, Jinx was unconscious again, and now, someone was trying to destroy Jump City. Great. Just what he wanted.

Picking her up, he attended to her first by putting her back in her medical bed and pulling the covers over her tightly, letting her rest. Then, he busied himself by running straight to Raven's room, hoping she had solved whatever problem she had in there.

To his surprise, she had chosen that moment to meditate, her blank, glowing white eyes staring off into nowhere.

"Raven!" he yelled, frustrated. "Come on! We gotta go!"

But she didn't move.


Inside the mirror, Raven whirled around at the landscape of broken meteors and twinkling stars, nervous. This wasn't like any other time she'd ever been here before. The atmosphere was bone chilling, like an icy veil creeping in the shadows, with everything seemingly darker, more sinister, unappealing. The stars were tinged in red, and a minute cawing that sounded like little tiny squeaking sank her heart into her stomach.

Those bird calls had been there when-

A blast of ruby red power drilled straight into her, answering both her fears and suspicions.

When Raven was flung backwards a few paces, her attacker took advantage of her vulnerability and delivered a solid right hook to her exposed face; a left jab broke her nose and drew blood. The half-demon sputtered, and tried calling her soul selves, hoping they could alleviate the pain and strengthen her power but she was blocked by the monstrosity in front of her. Cackling laughter echoed in the stillness as Raven fell hard against the rocky crevice she was standing on, and looked up at a photo copied version of herself in a dark red cloak, twin sets of eyes glowing hungrily red. "And I thought there was more to you than that, Raven. Tell me, how does it feel to be trapped, in a place where no one can hear you scream?"

It was her anger, the one thing Raven knew could bring disaster to the world. Anger brought two things: trouble, and Trigon, and neither one could be contained once they were unleashed.

At this moment, exposed and without help, she felt true, deep fear for the very first time.


"Titans, Plasmus, Cinderblock and Overload are creating havoc in Jump City Central Park!" screamed Beast Boy into his communicator, frantic. "Robin, Star, Cy, Raven! We have to get down there now, dudes! They'll wreck the city!"

Robin answered immediately. "Titans, let's move it! We've got no time to waste!"

"Rob, there's something wrong with Raven!" yelled Cyborg, staring at his friend's levitating body. "She's in some kind of trance or something! I don't know how to wake her up without hurting her somehow! And Jinx is out cold!"

The Boy Wonder fumed. "Who cares about Jinx? She can take care of herself!" Running down the stairs towards the garage, he punched the wall, leaving a small but noticeable dent in the metallic paneling. "And damned good time to go start meditating! We need Raven, now!"

"Dude, look, you, Star and Cyborg can go deal with Slade's goon squad, ok? I'll sit this one out and..."

"No, I will," insisted the half-machine, shaking his head. "If Robin can spare me." A slight beeping sound started in the middle of his speech and he sighed. "Besides, I'm low on juice. Have to charge up for five minutes anyway."

"Fine, whatever," snapped Robin. "Do what you have to do Cyborg, then rendezvous with us ASAP. Hopefully, we won't die by the time you get there."

"I am making my way to the lot of parking to meet up with you, Friend Robin and Beast Boy," interrupted Starfire. "We shall go and do battle with the fiends in the park of the center of the city now, right?"

Robin scowled, but agreed grudgingly. "Titans, go!"


Cyborg frowned, worried about his friend. It wasn't like Robin to just spout off at everyone like he seemed to be doing more and more. Ever since he knew Slade had come back, he had been thinking of only one thing: destroying Slade. Robin was beginning to be a loose cannon, explosive and dangerous, more so than he was when he was infected with that psychedelic dust. He was showing a side of himself that Cyborg had never seen before, a side that scared the taller Titan, and he was afraid for him too. If Robin went over the edge, he wasn't so sure if he could be pulled back. There was a bigger chance of falling at this point, and he dreaded every moment Robin was pushed, further and further towards the abyss.

If Robin fell to Slade once again, what hope would the Titans have to get him back?

Walking to his room, he plugged himself into his charger, full of questions, regrets and worries. Closing his eyes, he managed to utter a few words before he yawned widely and went to "sleep". "I hope Robin stays with us..."

Something inside the charger activated, sensing the flow of power into the human cyborg, and it complied, downloading itself into his mainframe. He'd never know what hit him when the time was right. He would never know.


Helmet flipped down, Robin zipped down the wide and open road towards Central Park, Starfire and Beast Boy in a hawk form flying right above him. He felt inadequate with only half his team with him, but his stubbornness and obsessive behavior just spurred him on, too determined to face this one without them and face Slade once again.

He knew that Slade was coming. Almost with a sixth sense, the Boy Wonder snarled, his lower lip curling with ferocity as he pictured his archenemy there. There was no way he'd miss this, most likely there to crow about his beloved plans and how wonderful it was to see Robin perform like some sort of circus monkey. But that was the way Slade was to Robin: just a spectator, watching him from every viewpoint, judging him, manipulating him. He was sick, an insane madman that needed to be stopped at all costs, and the Boy Wonder was determined to bring him down, no matter what the cost. He was the only one smart enough, capable enough, cunning enough, athletic enough. Slade was his. He would be taken down, and he'd show him what it meant to be the loser.

He'd show them all that he wasn't crazy. When he caught Slade, they'd all see he was right. He'd show them.

Narrowing his eyes, he spotted Plasmus ahead of him, eating a park bench, his putrid, oozing mauve goop sloshing about, spraying everywhere. Overload wasn't doing much better, sucking up the electricity from a park light and increasing his size and strength. Cinderblock was howling like the possessed, tearing up concrete and landscape like confetti and stomping around, creating mini earthquakes with every step he took. The monsters were having a grand old time, but the park was the farthest they were going to go; they'd go nowhere else to spread their "happy hour".

They were going down.

"TITANS, GO!"


Raven was fighting for her life, sending psychic force bolts at every opportunity, although her evil clone never really gave her one. She was bleeding in various places, including her nose and slashes on her arms and knees. An ankle was broken, she was sure of it, and a few ribs were cracked, all telltale signs of her growing weariness. She was beginning to tire when Red Raven was barely breaking a sweat, the doppelganger still leering and laughing at her for backing away. She was trying as hard as she could, fighting with the best of her abilities, but it never seemed enough.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" she screamed again, pushing her arms forward and sending another bolt towards her foe.

Red Raven just laughed more, and dodged, sending another red bolt towards Raven's abdomen. "Poor Raven, are you getting tired yet? Have you had enough? I don't think you have."

"Stop, please," she asked, almost begging. "Stop this! You're never going to rule my life! I won't go back to Trigon! He can rot in whatever hell I sent him to the last time!"

"Oh please," scoffed the other in disbelief. "Do you think I'm doing this for him? Do you really think Jinx would have gone and released me just so Trigon could satisfy his vendettas? Think about it, you freak of nature! Why would she ever help Trigon when she doesn't even KNOW HIM?"

Raven was shocked. "Jinx? She did..." Suddenly, it all fell into place and she growled, furious. "She hexed my mirror!"

Red Raven kicked her in the face. "What you should be asking, Raven," she began, "is why?"

"I'm betting you know," moaned the other, spitting blood out of her mouth. "Why? Why would she do that?"

"Oh, you can bet that she didn't want to. She almost had second thoughts because she actually thought she could live with you Titans like she was one of you. She thought you'd give her some sort of haven, a life away from Slade, but he'd kill her first before she even got the chance to become a Titan. Face it, you half-blooded harlot, you have no idea how close she was to actually sparing your pathetic life. I'm glad she didn't!"

"Why? What's the point in hexing my mirror in the first pla..." Suddenly, the pieces began to fall into place, and she moaned again, horrified. "Robin. He wanted Robin alone."

Red Raven sneered cruelly. "Wow, you're not half as dumb as you are. Yes, Slade wanted Robin. He's always wanted Robin, and don't you know? He'll get him, now that you're preoccupied with yourself." She crowed joyously, dancing in circles and using her powers to create a light show above their heads; terrifyingly enough, some of the spells she used were ones Malchior had taught Raven before, the dark magic swirling into shapes and fireworks of unearthly proportions. "All of you Titans will fall, and Robin will be alone. With no one to stop him, no one to be there for him, and no strings to his past, he'll come crawling back to Slade and beg forgiveness for ever running away from him. Oh, if only I was there to see it!"

"NEVER!" screamed Raven, her wrath intensifying her power as she shot a blast forward. "He'll NEVER FALL!"

"Oh Raven," mocked the other, snickering as she deliberately dodged the blast. "He probably already has. Now that I'm released, you'll never see him again. It's too bad you never said good bye. But I promise, in the next few moments, it's not going to matter. You see, you weren't the only one who was 'infected' by something that won't stop until you're no longer breathing."

Her eyes wide open, the witch gasped, terrified. "Oh God, no... He didn't..."

"He did, you crow. He did."

"My friends! You can't!"

"My dear, he already has." Red Raven approached, lifting Raven up by the front of her robe with one hand, and charging the other with an intense red globe of power. "In seconds, the Teen Titans will be no more. They'll be destroyed and six feet under."


Robin revved up the engine of his R-cycle and charged ahead, jumping off the motorcycle at the last minute before it hit Cinderblock in the center of its chest with a massive explosion. Unhooking his bo staff, he extended it and started hacking away at the concrete villain, hollering and whooping at every hit and punch. Cinderblock roared and started slapping at him but the Boy Wonder was too quick. For every time the baddie swatted, Robin had hit it about four times, eventually chipping away and even breaking parts of concrete off. Snap kicks and karate chops began to take their toll, and the thing was off balance about fifteen minutes later, dazed. A bo staff blow to his head, and Cinderblock tumbled backwards, falling over on its back and down for the count.

"Robin one, Cinderblock zero," grinned Robin, pleased. His satisfaction didn't last long, however, because he saw something moving out of the corner of his mind. "SLADE," he hissed, and gave chase. The hunt was on.


Starfire, upon seeing her target, immediately started throwing her starbolts in Plasmus' direction, flying circles around the monstrosity and dodging his attacks the best she could. He slobbered everywhere and roared, throwing blobs of his muck in every direction until finally, one hit.

Like a fly in a glob of peanut butter, she fell, covered from head to toe on a foul smelling, slightly orange goop. "Ewwww," she screamed, grossed out. "I am covered in strange colored mucus!" Disgusted, she shot beams of green light from her eyes, and gritted her teeth. "I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DISGUSTED IN MY LIFE! NOT EVEN WHEN MY SISTER PROMISED MY HAND IN MARRIAGE TO GLGRDSKLECHHH! UGH!"

Plasmus seemed to be laughing at her, and this made her even angrier. "I THINK NOT, PUTRID MUGGLESLITITCH!" The Tamaranian started pounding away at it, burying herself more and more into the goop that was this monster and hacked away, eventually, with the help of the drizzling rain,reducing him far enough to where his plasma self began to shut down, weakened. Instantly, he shrunk back down to his humanlike self, and he shivered, exhausted.

"That is the last time you ever throw your repulsive mucus at Starfire!" she added, triumphant.


Beast Boy was having a swell of a time trying to bring Overload to justice. Usually the one reserved for Star or Raven, he busied himself by trying to distract the electric monster, rapidly changing from one animal form into another, and back to himself. "Hey, Electric Mayhem! Follow the green birdie!" He morphed into a raven and flew around his target's head, managing to grab a few pebbles and throwing them whenever he could. "Looks like you're dumber than a light post, Overload! Bet you can't hit me!"

Overload was not pleased, especially since the rain was distracting him from hitting the Titan with aimed direct hits. Bolts of lightning issued from his hands, and Beast Boy narrowly escaped, singeing many of his tail feathers in the process. "OW! OW!" he managed to cry out between his usual form and his animal forms. "THAT HURT! STAR! STAR, I COULD USE SOME HELP OVER HERE!"

Seemingly satisfied with the short work she made of Plasmus, she joined him, and began to beat Overload into submission with her starbolts. The electric villain swatted them away, distracted, and took a few steps back towards a spurting fountain a few hundred feet away. "Beast Boy, the fountain! The rain with the fountain shall help us with this fiend!" cried Starfire, and pointed with a finger.

"Gotcha," replied the changeling between forms, and changed into a mammoth in the blink of an eye. Together, they forced Overload back, a mixture of energy blasts and tusks the catalyst, and Overload flopped over into the pond, shrieking in pain as the water short circuited him.

Then, it was all over. "And another one bites the dust," said Beast Boy, grinning and doing a dance. "Go Beast Boy! Go Starfire! Go Team! Go team! Go Titans! Go Titans!"

"But... where is Robin?" asked Starfire, looking around. "Robin is not here. Shouldn't he be celebrating with us?"

"Oh no," moaned her friend, realizing. "What could make Robin disappear in the middle of a fight?"

"SLADE!"


"SLADE!" Robin screamed, giving chase to the shadow across the lawn. "You're going down!"

"On the contrary, Robin: I've only just begun," came the spooky reply, Slade's voice sending chills up and down Robin's spine. From the direction he spoke, Robin saw his form disappear, and the rustling of the bushes near a fence indicated that he'd jumped over the far wall.

Determined, the Boy Wonder never lost sight of his prey. He made the same move, jumping over the wall, easy as breathing, and down the other side. Slade ran right in front of him, and he pursued, anticipating the confrontation that would come at the end of this venture. He would end this, once and for all, by any means necessary.

Slade was his, and he'd be damned, he was going to end it.

Plunging into the darkness, he couldn't see a thing. However, it seemed that Slade could, for he knew exactly when Robin had entered. "Good, Robin. I see you haven't lost your touch."

"It's over, Slade! You're finished! Starfire and Beast Boy have got Plasmus and Overload under control, and I took down Cinderblock. They're all waiting for the police to lock them up, and I'm pretty sure you're going to join them!"

"Really? Overconfident as always. You always did forget the bigger picture. Tell me, what did you learn from the last time we were alone together? Is the witch and the bucket of spare parts somewhere in the wings? What about the alien girl, or the changeling? Are they waiting for you to give the signal to back you up?"

"I don't need them to take you down," growled Robin, arming himself. "I can take you down myself."

"My, my. Impetuous today, aren't we? Remember the last time you tried to 'take me down'? Careful, Robin. Those who do not learn form the past are destined to repeat it."

Robin scowled, whirling around at the voice that seemed to come from everywhere. "I will never serve you again! You've got nothing to keep me from-"

"-From seeing things my way? Oh, but I think I do. You'd be surprised, Robin, because I have ways of destroying every single one of your friends right here, right now. Just test me."

"You're bluffing."

"Am I? Can you ever be sure? I could break them, Robin, break them as you could a pile of plywood. Their lives are held in my hand, and in an instant, they'd all be dead."

"You LIAR!" screamed the Boy Wonder, slamming his bo staff into the bricked walls and tearing them apart. "YOU DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF POWER! YOU CAN'T PLAY GOD WITH MY FRIENDS!"

"Oh, but I can," soothed Slade, appearing out of nowhere behind Robin. "And since you don't believe me, perhaps I'll have to teach you a lesson." A remote control looking device with four buttons on it appeared in his hand, and Robin turned around fast enough to see him push button number three. "Say good bye to one of your so called friends."


The sound of a bell echoed in Raven's mirror, and Red Raven smiled evilly. "Guess it's time to end it all." She looked directly at Raven, who was too weak to move, and held her high, the power blast she held in her other hand glowing more intensely as she brought it to Raven's face. "Good bye, Raven."
In the silence of her room, the body of the half-demon Raven shuddered violently, and a blood-curdling scream escaping her lips before her body collapsed on the rug, lifeless.
"If you value your friends' lives, you'd give me what I want," said Slade, his voice oozing malice and determination. "Deliver yourself to me on top of the Wayne Enterprises building, and I just might spare the rest of your friends."

"You've got to be an idiot if you think I'd fall for that crap again!" answered Robin, staring down Slade and gritting his teeth.

"Maybe. Or maybe not. You never know. You have one hour. For every twenty minutes, another of your friends dies. Tick tock, Robin." He melded into shadow before Robin could reach him,

The Boy Wonder screamed furiouslyinto the drizzling night, cursing his name."I'LL KILL YOU, SLADE! YOU HEAR ME? I'LL KILL YOU!"

"ROBIN!" screamed a voice over his communicator, and Robin snarled at Cyborg's voice.

"WHAT, CYBORG? WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

"My god, Robin, something... something's happened to Raven! I came in here after I heard her scream and...God, she's not moving!"

His heart sank in his throat. "WHAT?"

"Robin, God, GET OVER HERE! Raven... RAVEN, she's... Oh god, no... no... NO!"

"Cyborg, what-"

"Robin, she's dead!" he sobbed, the half machine seemingly dumbfounded and disbelieving. "She's dead. Raven's dead!"