Reunion

Once the energy field dissipated, I saw that we had changed our surroundings. In front of us, and already all around us was a city built in a kind of gothic yet futuristic style. The great city of Azarath. I stood in awe at the pure glory of the only city of peace in existence. The eight of us stood in a circle of glowing blue light within the center tower of Azarath. In front of us, two women in robes similar to Monk Almar's stood waiting. I scanned over them quickly and found that neither of them was her.

"Oh, Monk Almar. It is good that your journey was successful. Is this them?" The first one asked.

"Yes." Almar answered. "These are the Teen Titans and their ally, Master Slade."

"He is not our ally!" Robin shouted. "He's our greatest enemy."

"If he's your greatest enemy, why are you on the same side?" The second woman asked. "Because, he is your greatest help. Especially if Marth has returned."

"Now you know who Marth is." Beast Boy said with a bit of sarcasm, he still held Terra in his arms.

"Of coarse we do, Marth is the prophet of Trigon. And if the stories are true, then Slade helped you to defeat that monster."

"That was a one time thing." Robin said.

"Maybe so, but if there ever was another time when you needed the help of a Masked Master, now would be that time." Her eyes fell of Terra still clinging to life in Beast Boy's arms. "Oh, my poor dear. Please, giver her to us."

"Why?" Beast Boy asked.

"We are healers. That is why we are here waiting for you. We will take Terra and do all we can to help her."

Beast Boy hesitated, looking down into Terra's eyes. She strained, and gave a slight smile. Beast Boy smiled in return and slowly handed her over to the two healers. "Take care of her."

"We will do all we can for her." They said.

"Now, come." Almar said. "There is someone who I think you should meet. A woman who came to us hurt and lost." He started walking forward toward a door in the far corner of the room.

I could feel my heart pound wildly in my chest, beads of sweat dripped across my forehead, I was actually glad I had my mask so none of the Titans could see. I had fought an army of evil cult members, battled powerful animals, tamed monsters of fire, presented the only true threat to the Titans, and even brought down an interdimentional demon. But now, the concept of seeing a single person after seventeen years had me shaken. Frightened in fact.

Almar stopped just out side the door and grabbed the handle. "I'd like you all to meet," he twisted the handle and pushed the door open. "Arella." Light flooded through the doorway, bright brilliant sunlight that blinded me. After my eyes adjusted, I saw a balcony with dozens of white doves standing, walking, and even flying around a single figure. A woman in a flowing white robe. A hood hid her face, but I still felt that is was her. "Arella, I have brought them." Almar said.

"Thank you, Monk Almar." She replied. Almar bowed and then walked away. Arella turned to face us. For the first time in seventeen years, I saw her face. Still beautiful and as graceful as ever. But now, I couldn't find the joy and happiness in her eyes, only sorrow. She seemed sad to me. So sad. Her eyes drifted across the six of us and slowly fell on me. The sorrow disappeared and was replaced by anger. "Slade." She hissed.

I reached out with my hand and stepped forward. "Arella."

"Don't." She snapped. "Don't even think about it." She turned away. "I summoned you here to help you destroy Marth, not to reminisce about old times."

"But I…"

"Just leave me alone, Slade."

I felt my heart sink. A pain worse even then when I fell into melted lava. Heartbreak. After I had finally found her, I'd lost the love of my life again. A tear fell from my eye and rolled down the side of my mask. I reached into one of my side pockets and pulled out a gold heart shaped locket. My name engraved on one side, her name on the other. I stared down at the locket, it used to mean so much to me, but now it meant nothing. I dropped it there at my feet. I then started running.

I ran to the edge of the balcony and leapt, flying through the air until I landed on an adjacent building. From there, I kept running until I jumped again to another building, gradually I made my way down to street level. Once there, I just started walking, slowly walking down the street. People walked passed me, some took no notice, but I remember in particular a mother with her young son. As I approached, she hastily put herself between her and her child, fearing that I might do something.

No one trusted me anymore. Not a single person in the world would ever trust me again.

"Master Slade." A voice called out. I turned around and saw Monk Almar racing after me. "Master Slade, what are you doing out here?"

"Nothing."

"I need to get you to help train the boy, Robin. You are to be one of his trainers."

"No." I said.

"What?"

"Take me home. I don't want to be here anymore. I have nothing left for me here."

"But Master Slade…."

"And stop calling me 'Master'. I'm the master of nothing. Just please take me home."

Almar looked solemnly at me and nodded. "Alright. As you wish." He placed his hands together and chanted the spell again, this time replacing Azarath with Earth. The portal reopened and enveloped the both of us.

Later, the portal opened again just outside my trailer. Although it was my home, the sight of it made me angry. I hated it. "Thank you, Almar." I said, and walked inside.

The inside suddenly seemed tight and cramped. This didn't really seam like the place I belonged. I hated it here. This was more like a prison than a home. The place remained dark, dreary. Hanging on the wall was a full-length mirror, I saw myself in it. In full Masked uniform. I pulled my right glove off to reveal the pale skin beneath. I placed my hand on my mask and the genetic lock detached. I pulled the mask away and looked at my face in the mirror.

It was the face of a stranger. I hardly even recognized myself, the way my black hair hung over my right eye to hide the ugly scar. The face of someone long since dead. I held up the mask in front of my eyes and instantly recognized it. The face of the mask, the evil Slade who haunted the city and terrorized it citizens, this was the me I knew. This was the real me.

"No wonder she hates me." I whispered. I slumped down on the bed, holding my mask in my hands. "Why do I keep fooling myself?" I asked myself. "She'll never see me as anything but a monster."