CHAPTER 10

The Time has Come

Storm clouds threatened the skies over Titan's tower. Lightning flashed over the city lighting it up for only a split second to then let it plunge back into the storm's darkness. Thunder rolled overhead as the Titan's gathered around the living room with a few candles lit around them. The candles were their only light since the power went out in the city. As they were all wrapped up in blankets, Raven flew around them in circles studying books which were levitating and soaring along through the room with her. Everyone waited patiently as she took her time scanning every page for the slightest detail. A bolt of lightning flashed again and raven slammed the last book close.

"Ever since you got here I have been researching my books to see if I could find something about this gate of yours," Raven said to Al and Ed. They were both holding a cup of hot cocoa that Starfire gave them. Ed was drinking his down fast, while Al stared at his soaking up the steam evaporating from the rim of the cup. "It acts like a portal right? Through the dimensions of time and space."

"That's the basics, but its not figuring out how we got here it is also finding the gate and getting us back in one whole piece," Ed stated taking a breath from inhaling his hot chocolate.

"So you mean this mysterious gate thing," Beast Boy mimicked Ed's scientific voice, "could chop you up like mince meat?"

"Well, when you go through the gate, your body is separated into three parts, your body, mind, and soul. If only two of these things make it through, you have a chance of being recalled by some other force on the first side of the gate. However if all three parts go through the gate, your body needs to find another way to get all of its pieces back across," Ed said to him, but the green boy just looked as confused as ever.

"What he means to say is that it is like your home. If you step outside of your home and run around the yard, you can always find your way back to it. If you run up and over the hill, you soon find out that you have no clue where your home was located and your lost until you can retrace your steps," Al told him. This seemed to clear up Beast Boy's mind and put him to rest. Al stood up and took his cup of cocoa to the sink to be washed, though it was still full. Robin looked Ed up and down a few times.

"I am guessing you two ran up over the hill then didn't you?" he asked solemnly.

"Yes," Ed said silently. "But at least I can use alchemy in this dimension. That means I can open the gate by myself, the only problem is trying to get our entire selves through to the other side. Otherwise Al and I will be walking aimlessly inside it with neither our minds, nor bodies."

"Raven," Starfire said to her as she dove back into a book on ancient religions. Raven returned her with a slight nod. "You are from another dimension yourself, couldn't you just transport them back to their original place?" Ed and Al looked at he curiously. They did not know she was from another Dimension like herself, or to what extent her powers could withhold. Raven glared at the two of them pitifully.

"It doesn't work like that," she mumbled to them, and their hopeful faces dropped to the ground like rocks. "My powers aren't made from simple science. They come from my soul self. Without knowing how they will interact with your alchemy, and not knowing exactly where your home is located, I could end up sending you into outer space or trapping you within the gate forever."

"Not to mention the fact that your soul self might accidentally come with us through the gate," Ed commented. The room stood in silence for long time thinking about possible solutions, but none came. Several of the Titans started caving in from tiredness as one by one they drifted off to their rooms for a little shut eye. Al, Ed, and Raven remained to look at various books that they pulled off the shelves. They stood staring at the books until a huge yawn came from the demon girl. Though she can usually study longer than anybody else, the Elric brothers had her beat. She started to halfmindedly pick up a few of the books as she walked off to bed. Ed stood up to stop her.

"Wait," he said quietly. "Might my brother and I continue to read? Some of your books are very accurate and we might actually find something." Raven gave a sad nod and placed the books on the coffee table for them.

"I don't know how you stay focused so long, but it sure does work. Just don't forget to get some sleep," she replied as she floated out the door only half awake. Ed and Al sat in the candle light for several long hours after she left. They read chapter by chapter, word for word, of all the books they had in the room. As Al's metal body quietly slumped over for some sleep, Ed kept searching through the pages. It was only when the clock gave a soothing lullaby at 3:00 that he felt his eyes flutter for a short time. Shortly after, though he struggled to stay awake, Ed slumped over on the couch for a night's sleep.