Raven and I meditate for hours and the alarm sounds. We fall to the floor being thrown out of our meditative states which leave us hovering in the air. We quickly stand up and rush out to the living room. We look out and see something going down on the oil rig, a light shining brightly in the night. We rush over to the rig to find Dr. Light doing an "Evil speech of Evil" saying, "Once I drain the energy from 15,000 barrels of oil, I'll flood the city in never ending light."
Robin and Cyborg attack him, distracting him from his energy consumption.
"You know Dr. Light," Robin says as the smoke in front of us clears. "For a guy obsessed with illumination, you're not very bright."
"Next time you're looking to steal something, you might want to pick a target we can't see from our living room," Raven adds drolly.
"Oh," Dr. Light says, realizing that we were in fact right. "Well, um," he splutters and finally attacks us. Raven and I sink through the metal floor while the others scatter.
"That's a real pretty light show," I hear Cyborg say. "But sound packs a bigger punch." I hear Cyborg fire his weapon and look at Raven.
"I'm going to help them. I'd suggest you be our last item since he's afraid of you and the whole dark thing. Me, not so much fearing since I'm very bright," I say to her.
"I don't want to be alone," Raven admits. "And besides, there isn't anything you could do. Since you are light, he'd just try to take you along and absorb your attacks."
"But I'm also magic," I say pointedly.
"I don't think he cares. You're energy, and that's all that matters to him."
"Well, I'm going to check on them, see if they need us or anything," I say to her. I poke my head through the metal floor and look around at the scene. Robin and Beast Boy draw his fire away and I know that's our cue. Sinking back through the metal I look at Raven and say, "You're almost up."
"Sounds good," Raven says. Above we hear Dr. Light saying, "No one defeats Dr. Light! No one!"
Raven immediately rises up through the metal floor while I go in search of Cyborg. I fly over the ocean and find him swimming towards the rig. I hover right above him and say, "Take my hand, it'll be faster."
He takes my hand and I teleport us back to the rig. We climb up the ladder as Dr. Light says, "I'd like to go to jail now please."
Cyborg looks at his clock and says, "All right! The butt kickin's over and it's almost midnight. Time for doughnuts!"
I walk over to Raven while Robin and Star lead Dr. Light away. "I'll see you back at the tower," Raven says turning away.
"But Raven," Robin says turning around to see us.
"You do not wish to enjoy the nuts of dough?" Starfire questions sadly. "It is like eating sweet, tiny wheels," she finishes happily.
"I just want to get home before tomorrow comes," Raven says.
"What's so special about tomorrow?" Beast Boy asks.
"I'll come with you," I say getting closer to her.
"No," she says, holding out her hand to stop me. "Go and enjoy the doughnuts."
"I can't. My head is swimming with stuff and I should sleep," I say standing next to Raven.
"You're not coming either?" Robin asks me.
"No, My head is starting to hurt and I just need some sleep," I say walking back him. Raven turns around and flies off to the tower and I say, "Have fun with them. You've been with me this entire time. You should see your friends."
"I know but I just love spending time with you," Robin says quietly.
"Well if you don't go with them now, then I'll teleport you to them when they leave. Sound fair?" I say laughing.
"Fine, but I'll check in on you when we get back," Robin says. He places his hand on my cheek and kisses me lightly.
"Now go have fun," I tell him mentally.
"I will," he replies. He backs away from me and goes with the team to take Dr. Light to jail. I fly back to the tower and enter my room. I lay on my bed and let the pain take over, knocking me out with a deep sleep.
"E," Robin's voice calls. Jarred out of my coma like state I groggily open my eyes and sit up.
"Yeah?" I ask lazily.
"Are you all right?" He asks, concern written over his face.
"I'm fine, just a little sick," I say quietly. I wince at the light in my room and quickly motion for the curtains to close. They move themselves to block out all the light in the room. I create a light that wouldn't cause me pain and make a ring of the small glowing orbs above Robin and I. Robin sits on my bed and watches me carefully.
"Since you didn't come with us, I thought I'd bring you back something," Robin says holding out a box.
"You shouldn't have," I say taking the box from him.
"But I know they are your favorite," Robin says smiling widely. In the box lie three doughnuts, my three favorite types.
"Aww, that is so sweet of you," I say smiling.
"I thought you'd appreciate it," Robin says laughing slightly.
"I do. But I can't eat anything right now. My headache is just, to much," I say laying my head down on the pillow.
"Well, I brought you some of the tea you like," He says reaching over to grab the porcelain mug. I take it from him and the warmth of the liquid seeps through the porcelain and into my body. I sip the liquid and smile.
"You made it just how I love it. Thank you Robin," I say drinking more of the warm liquid.
"I've never seen you in this much pain," Robin says, moving to sit next to me.
"That's because I haven't been. If you could, get me three leaves from that silver jar on my dresser," I ask sitting up slightly. He quickly goes and gets three of the silver leaves and comes back to me. I take them from his hand, set them in a dish, and light the leaves on fire with a lit match. The aroma swirls around the room quickly and my pain starts to subside.
I breathe in the scent and sigh heavily. "There we go. This is doing quite a lot," I say quietly.
"I'm glad," Robin says, sitting back down and taking my hand. "What are those leaves?"
"They are from my home, a special and sacred tree to my family and me," I explain.
"Wait, your family has a sacred tree?" He asks, confused.
"Yes, it's kind of like in the Greek mythology how the gods have something sacred, well; this tree saved my great-great-great grandmother's life. So ever since it has been sacred," I explain, only omitting that it couldn't be found on Earth.
"That's amazing," he states.
"I think it is as well," I say quietly. "Thank you for the tea and doughnuts, but I should be getting back to sleep. This is helping my headache and the more I sleep and breathe this scent in, the better shape I'll be in later."
"All right E," Robin says, leaning in so our foreheads touch. "I'll check on you later."
"Thank you Robin," I whisper. He kisses me sweetly and I smile. He then leaves the room and I eat one of the doughnuts. My stomach bubbles at the food and threatens to make me sick. I put the box down and vow not to touch it until the pain in my head vanishes completely. Rolling over I can't help but think something bad is going to happen.
I wake up hours later to no headache and no stomach pain. I smile and get out of bed, look at the box of doughnuts and eat the last two. I reheat the mug of tea and swallow it after the fried dough. I bring everything out to the living room and notice the group setting up a party.
"What are you all doing?" I ask confused.
"Enchantress you are feeling all right?" Starfire asks floating over to me.
"I'm feeling better," I reply.
"We're setting up a surprise party for Raven," Beast Boy explains, holding streamers in his hands.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I say quickly.
"Why? Everyone loves their birthday!" He says, hugging the streamers close to him.
"You think that Beast Boy, and don't let go of it," I say patting him on the shoulder.
"We could use your help if you wouldn't mind," Robin says holding up a banner.
I smile and say, "Pendet a laquearia." The banner flies from Robin's hands and I fly up to make sure it's tied tight enough to stay up there.
"Hey E," Cyborg says from the kitchen. I turn around and say, "Whatcha need?"
"Do you think Raven will like this?" He says showing the famous eight layer cake.
"I think she'll like it. Maybe not at first, but she will," I supply quickly. I help Beast Boy hang the streamers while Starfire creates her ceremonial item.
"You think you can get her here E?" Beast Boy asks looking at me.
"Sure, I'll do that," I say, landing on the floor next to him. I close my eyes and create the scene of Raven coming out of her room to check for the sound of a noise. "There, it's all set. Now we should all hide and turn off the lights."
Robin turns off the lights and we all hide behind some furniture. I hide next to Robin and I make sure that nothing is visible until we want it to be. The door opens and we turn on the lights while we jump out with the confetti, streamers, and banner falling as we shout, "Surprise!"
Raven screams in shock and disappears through the floor. Our smiles fade into frowns and Cyborg says, "Uh, Raven?"
"It is merely us, your friends, with warm wishes for the day of your birth," Starfire explains.
"I told you a surprise party was a bad idea," Robin says blandly.
"I said the same thing," I add.
Behind Beast Boy a dark circle appears and Raven rises through it. "How did you know it was my birthday?" She asks angrily. Beast Boy shrieks and runs away from her.
"Remember last night how you made that big deal about tomorrow? Well we started wondering what tomorrow was so we did some snooping," Beast Boy explains. Robin, Cyborg, Star and I look at him with expressions of malice and Beast Boy quickly says, "Ok, I did some snooping. And I sorta found a restricted file in the 'off-limits' area of the Titan's computer that kinda had your birthday on it."
"And we have been preparing your celebration ever since," Starfire adds elated.
"We put up tons of decorations," Beast Boy says, sidling up next to Raven.
"I made my famous eight layer cake with three kinda of frosting," Cyborg says revealing the masterpiece to her.
"And I have assembled for you a traditional Tamaranean Throknar, the crown of meat," Starfire says, showcasing the crown on a purple pillow for Raven to see.
"I hope this is ok," Robin says, stepping forward. "We just-"
"No," Raven says cutting him off. "It's not. Look, I really appreciate what you're trying to do here but I'm not interested." She turns around and walks away from us.
"But there will be music and the iced cream," Starfire pleads, stepping in front of Raven. "And a strange game that involves pins and the behind of a donkey."
"We got a piñata shaped like Beast Boy," Cyborg says trying to entice her, holding up the green humanoid party favor. "You know you wanna smack it."
"I said no," Raven reiterates angrily.
"Come on Raven," Beast Boy pleads. "I know you hate fun but it's your birthday. It's special; you can't let this day end without-"
"No!" Raven shouts. Her magic destroys the party decorations and trashes the food. She then walks out of the room leaving us all with confetti in our hair and a layer of cake on Beast Boy's head.
"I told you a surprise party was a bad idea," Beast Boy says lamely. I quickly rush after Raven with Robin in tow and he says, "Give it a rest."
"Raven," We say in unison as we pass through the doors leading into the hallway. "What's wrong?" Robin asks.
"I just don't like parties," Raven replies.
"It's more than that," Robin says. "I can tell. We have a bond remember? You've been inside my mind, let me inside yours."
"I don't think that would be good," I state quietly
"Robin, you know me better than anyone. You should know there are places in my mind where you can't go. Where no one should ever go," Raven says ominously.
"I'm willing to try if you'll-"
"I can't," she says cutting him off.
"Tell me what's going on," Robin pleads.
"Just trust me, if you knew anything about the day of my birth, you'd know there's nothing to celebrate," Raven says as she walks away.
"Raven," I say walking towards her. I grab her hand and connect to her telepathically. I know you won't let me in fully, but you have shown me glimpses of your past. I've even seen some of your future. I know you Sister. I know that you don't want to celebrate this day because it means so much to you. But, if you don't tell us what it actually means to you, then we cannot help. And we really want to.
Raven looks at me and replies, I know you want to help and I know you've seen pieces. But I cannot admit to myself that what is going to happen actually will. And if I have to tell you all, then I have to admit and I can't do that.
"Raven, you'll always be my closest friend, the one I trust more than anyone. Nothing you do or say could make me feel any differently about you. We made our own bond, as sisters," I say aloud holding up my right hand. Even though covered by silver fabric raven knew what was underneath, a small cut where we had pledged ourselves to one another and created a blood bond, a sisterhood. That way we could always tell what the other was thinking. We could hide it from anyone, but not completely from each other.
"I know, but this is something I definitely wouldn't want my sister to go through," Raven says finally. She then walks away and I walk back to Robin. He hugs me and says, "Do you know what's going on?"
"Not completely. I've been inside her head briefly, like she has with me. But she knows you better than I do. Anyway, that's beside the point. I'm sure we'll know soon enough though," I say. He kisses me on my neck and I move closer to him. He wraps his arms tighter around me and just holds me.
"Robin, something is happening with Raven," I say quickly as we hear her scream. We rush to her room and Robin knocks on her door.
"Are you all right?" I ask her. Before she has the chance to answer the alarm sounds and Raven says, "Trouble."
"Let's go," I say we rush out of the hall and meet with the others to head to the source of the alarm.