Teen Titans New Generations These New Years: Part Two

by Inkblot24

The new arc is starting! Our heroes are all grown up in this one! Teen Titan heroics are still a touchy subject, especially since Nightwing and Starfire are finally together while raising a family on the west coast. The return of the prophecy of the golden relic described by the other world, (arc part one) is starting to come together around the Grayson family. Find out in new gen!

10. Chapter 10

Teen Titans;These New Years; Part Two- New Generations; Chapter 10: Aftermath; A False World Designed Out Of A Child's Hopes and Dreams- The Prophecy's Key Componant Unlocked.

Aand! Here we have our young newest, Chosen ; finally falling into the trap laid in wit by not Roku- yet his vown sister! She is more or less brainwashed by the fact that she has mixed feeling over losing her powers- unlike Aiden who wants them to vanish with his own!

To warn ; just in case of any confused faces, the spirit world was not Roku's desination in where he's brought the Grayson children. It will gravely encompass our heroes' tale further, so there may be some themes of violent behavior. Doc Regis Holstein is as mad as the Puppet Master had been in earlier arcs. Ava's going to have to convince her sister and brother that the 'hansel and gretel ' lesson is about to take a dive into the sibling's subconscious. Aiden has to supress the urge to avoid any promises of 'normalcy' from the dragon.

Roku has promised; just as his Djinn father was able, that he would grant both children's desire by tampering with the present day...only! If, Ami uses her abilities to complete Roku's devious plot, or Aiden's flames become corrupted by his wish. One last figure will join the heroes since it takes not two 'chosen' to tango, yet the four siblings embedded with a hybrid form of magic are still unawate o the dangerous 'said ' grandfather..Both by Roku's old oath and his son's abilities, and of the Golden Phoenix's order, has had tge dragon turn to his old deviations. Just as his son and many other children fell, Roku would have the i flunce thrive in them greatly for generations onwards.

Aaron ; Alicia Daia's last crush from the past, has reunited with the dragon-ling to speak along side Hakuro on behalf of the new child's mission. He is enveloped within the pint sized golden lizard , still afraid that Roku might harm his host, Alex, or Hakuro. If so, h has work to do for his sorceress whom painstakingly gave his spirit another chance to find Alicia and aid the new chosen.

Aiden lost out by not knowing how to bring up walls as his father (with Raven's teaching of course.) No one had known about the messenger snake until it had been far too late. Ava recalls Crowley as Lilith in disguise . In her crypt of a prison, the child had also learnt from Reia's messages, that her role was far more than a protector of the Dragon of the Golden Dawn.

Ami was turned away to find solice in her destructive choice, while Aiden has no idea why his sister has become a different set of eyes on him!

So stick around . Chapter ten is about to take a trip, hope you enjoy!~

/

While inside of the realm related to Kayu's life time on earth, Yumi had overstepped her boundaries only just by demanding to speak with an old ally. Lady Aria had been on call with the other end of her organization of working spies, agents, even head figures deemed to fail if they pulled the siren's cord twice!

Aria had also been in close contact with Lady Catherine Daia outside the embassy. The council's regal figurehead had risen while in the shadows to finally see what had become of her daughter Cecilia. To her shock, the council had triggered purposely ; with Cici's permission, the taint of the arachnid in order awaken the remnants of the Lady Widow in the flesh. The furious glare of Catalina towards her allies had become something of a mother's second - to none danger zone. Alone, Alicia had not been left to stand as her old self. The only way she could move on properly with Aaron by the two childrens' wishes united, was to empower Lisa Viscado on Earth . She had to free Aiden by breaking the chains that kept the fragment - bound seer silent. Cecilia might not be allowed if the Widow decides to...this was why she had refused for her children to join her relations within the underground order! Crescendo meant by the 'Lunaria' , while Daia held over 'Solaris.' It was not a happy endif you were trapped inside the loop. The ' council' had the whole world at it's fingertips. How could corruption not scare the countess into losing her secure mind - set this time round?

Yumi's difficult headache had only soured further with the relationship, as Kayu , one night had finally proposed...

Was a disaster to occur? Then if the deity of winter moon - sets allowed her emotions to sway so vigorously.. Sayu had finally called her ..her daughter in law..even as the aging kitsune no longer had the ability to face the fires as her deranged self in the past. Yumi was rather relieved that Kay had stayed by them both this long. Yet now, the question was not as so black and white as before. Something had given her a wince of pain inside Yumi's poor skull- before the echoing speech of an old friend had Tsukiyume's magic allow it's range to grow more vividly. Louder as words started to form properly!

~Sister! The keep is under attack! Please ! There is a massive rift from within the time - stream spiral! I have yet to dec-

~Tsani! Bao Shi!..Is she alright? You two were master and student for a great trial, what exactly happened? Is our home?...~

The sniffle of the strong hearted, half -Ethereal, left the daughter of moon born, night stars to wish her little sister right beside her w3ll again. The Earth's pull was not stable. Tsani could not stay within the Earth's field for any more than cut- for - time- moments..

~Are ..Are you with Mistress Havaraiti? Are her children staying with you? We are in need of a message to the high arc leaders! I have been unable to reach our ally Aluehainyu , even Lord Dreamwake will not connect to this plane! There must have been an assault..or...we might work quickly!.. ~

The voice of the young , airy empress turned low within all seriousness in mind. She had never lead a rescue mission..It had been all by the telepathic views of her powers! Now, she would have to claim a vessel temporarily to see to the disaster. Otherwise, it would grow greater than the breach ten years ago!

Tsukiyume had awoken by her sights changing from sapphire blue to a snowflake silver. "Leave the networking to your sister. Just try to contact the council and do save Madame Bao Shi Lan." Tsani's breath hitched by that warning.

Sighing, while rising from the relaxing hotel sofa, the priestess left the room to gather Kay into a conference. The world of spirit was being toppled by another from within the shadows!

~Thank you...I will try to remain brave. Gods be with you my sister!~The girl was bearing a grin as that sentence said the most of her circumstance. As the half-Celestial and far more, all alone by her tone, she tried not to show how frightened her heart truly had been. A bell of a single wind chime; from the homeland she and Tsukiyume had been born, sounded over the girl's pitch. The midsummer breeze...it had been a spectacular summer that era..

With the link left via the speak of ancients, Kay had then been next to awaken from this false sense of safety.

The fox had been trying to apparently gather Kaien to see to the Doctor Aaron's condition. Slade had lost his servant- rather bull dog , to a very sly critter. Not an owl, nor an arachnid...yet a serpent as blood red as an anomaly of a dying doomsday. Roku had eaten Lilith by his powers of absorption. Rather..the vessel ...Richard had...

"Dick...we warned you..he won't let go of his prey...not until he drinks them dry...sigh...* Vee! You little idiot! Pick up!*" With a slam of the cell into the lobby desk, the device suddenly crackled to life. A jammed frequency? Since when did...uh oh..

Sara Santiago had not been far off by boat. Yet this was not her. Nina stood in the doorway with a grim look about her. Trouble.

She stomped off towards the kit with a world of hurt next in line- Kay had a front row seat-. After all!.. It was his funera-

"Have..you..ANY IDEA!? Idiot! Dios MIA! You UNLUCKY BURRO!" Her spanish was mixing with her insults - primarily in English. The android's temper had Kay believe her more human than a prototype of Maya and Shoji's efforts in the past..Nina was almost the same height as her superior Sara- A.K.A Astarte. Would the death metal puncher be welcomed as her original guide had wished? A mediator would not bring a torpedo gun to the -

A wall was set up to block her fists from shoving bag boys into the tiles. It had no effect as the brute female towered over their scrambling forms. Some spoke in their own tongues more profanities than Nina had by her own impatience . Others could bearly get one a word in without whimpering in sheer terror over the amazon's build ! (She's strong. Not because of any other reasons. That term I used for Starfire before as well. Kinda, Wonder Woman - esque. Back to the smack down!..I suppose?~)

The white haired incog - spook looked back with a widened expression; the cell was still in his grip, bearing more static by the Android's external make-up shorting the rest. She was no telephone pole, yet did her metal plates..have to make the daring marine such a hard hea-

"Hey! Listen to me !You messed up! Big time! The Titans are no longer -

With a deep inhale and gruff cough to contain that rage from racking up the damages, Nina attempted to reason with the fake , frequent flier into a different setting. "Me?" He pointed towards himself as Nina truly felt the urge to send the dog back to Jump. A one way trip into outer space!

"You...are in so much trouble..." The confusion on the pup's face soon eased as another drop- dead, unreal ally had come inside the hotel after Nina's 'thrashing' debut. "Isa. Did you , what is happening to the heroes?"Kay dropped the cell back into his pocket while the long maned madame of the sunniest sahara waltzed over. Unannounced, yet she had no need for the best treatment money could bring. Isa was here to speak on behalf of Shoji, Aria, even Brocton and Cyborg on seperate continents.

"The device Takahara Corp had collaborated on with the aid of Star Labs, was the reason for the new breach's effects on three, named worlds. It has the one responsible for the theft interested in tampering with the effects and the reprercussions. The technology was based around nanoscopic advancements in numerous, hospitals' patients. The 'world within a world theory' was treated as if every cell had a space. One could heal by delving deeper into the concentrated network. Just to tamper with human mortality..yet it was still into phase two. Wayne had a hand in the pot if it meant less sicknesses for families with low income. Now..the mastermind ; having stolen the mechanism...is intending to further it's involvement by ripping apart space and time with a series of factors that would prove destructive and highly unstable . "She whispered over to the , scared stiff immortal son. "He needs to be stopped. The risk is far higher than before..the Titans are inside the walls an illusionary void...have your abilities sharp enough to sense the tear..." With a peer over his shoulder as if hugging an old friend,the breach had not been far off.

"It is ruining this current realm by causing delusions to arise. No one can tell if this world, or your own have been switched. " The fox nod with a gruff clear of his own , hoarse throat. "Let me gather my family. Then I will be happy to tell you what I too have discovered." The three, including the now calmed Nina, left to catch the stairs instead of a possibly, drifting elevator.

A false earth..had that been why nothing had changed? The Titans were facing a deadly rip in the very fabric of this normal, every- day! This was..very much not his fault! The dog sniffed by how Nina had blamed the Celestial official for ruining their current time line..maybe after this was over ,the android and her crew would lighten up. The water was fine as long as you didn't wait too long! Maui..it had been perfect? Hadn't it?

/

The crew by the docks had moved from the warf a few miles east, to bear witness to the torrent collecting around the damaged, Jump City. It was more as if no one had lived in the city for ages- just as the Titans had witnessed before getting pulled into the false field. Anna gripped her walkie - talkie as dozens of armed agents did the same. This world was on Earth? Her heart stiffened inside that flittering chest. Her family...everyone..was gone?..

One alert , on guard soldier's mic went off to frighten five other members. Anna pretended to be gazing off. Yet she was afraid...according to Astarte , the rest had been unclear. Her friends were in another town. They had...to be away from this shroud creeping closer...-

Harry started to become concerned with the team's faces while knowing Sara still had yet to meet her squadron this soon.

"Attention! We were trained by the best to beat out the worst from hiding! None of us can kiss this place good - bye until our task is through! " Harry cared deeply for his mates. All the way from Montreal , the hitch-hiker had been picked up from a night on the way to his next ..well, if it had been a home, Sara had made him feel like one of her dearest helpers. A part of something larger, she had respected his boundaries to eventually open up. He joined her 'party' with reasons to be grateful of her kindness.

Ann had gone to face - off with the kid in the same boot camp ; designed for a rather special reason under Santiago's watchful ey, Harry had not known Annie to have ever been this 'on edge' with a mission before today. Sara was counting on her especially to read between the lines. There was someone whom the marine mama had warned the teens about.

"Now, proceed as planned. No back- talk and heads facing ahead, all of you understand ? We have no where to go but foward. Our leading commander will send out the signal. I trust her most off to lead us past this. All in agreement, otherwise, we don't move till they catch us. Then we'll have accomplished nothing. Now, move out. " With an army of super strict principals left to bubble to the surface, the crew swept off towards the larger areas of the city. Mainly a spot where Titans Tower looked far more foreboding than it had ever ...why was it dead? Was there really a problem-

~Halt!~ A strange sight had the teen red head blush madly, then hide from Ron and Veravakumu's glances up on high in those peculiar storm clouds..

The elemental relatives had made amends long enough to follow the trail of destruction. Ronald had backed up Kaien from bursting after Aiden's 'napping', to then help Greg with Aaron's painkiller dosage. The visit was not the last place as the teen Lisa, had shown up to 'come clean' over her true identity and mission. Beside the two dogs were both Christopher; whose new role involved some unfamiliar casting by Ava's affliction onto his being, as well as Lisa Viscado with Alicia Daia's mention in powers. Her brunette hair colour had become lighter by the sun maiden's influence taking over to have them arrive directly by air. While this mysterious realm was rather full of surprises, Allie's eyes had wandered close enough to unveil the largest one of all.

"Pull back! "Veravakumu in his warrior's garb of the Spirit World threw out a palm to have the teens flee the area.

"Who are you? What's goin' on here! We have orders from-

"She's in the real world! This is a fake ; a rift between the realm and a hidden one! The Titans were already pulled in! You kids have to get as far away, before this world collides with your present day's!" Harry was afraid to comment if that ..had actually sounded so simple!

Ann's voice froze before she could move her jaw to make up for lost time away from the thunder - clapper Ronald. "I have news as well." The lightening son was of his near - mortal form before switching to one well recalled. With similar robes of an honorable birth rite as the black cat's , their roles had begun to push forth as Elemental knights..

"The ones you are supposed to meet, are on the other side . My companion and I will gladly send you back, yet tread lightly. The reason will not be for mortal eyes to bear against their hearts." The teen Ryan Jostling ; an avid long range sniper, raised his hand politely to ask the males why they had used the word ' mortal.'

The cat cleared his throat and nod to Ron not to get to far from their own topic. "Well, some things to heroes and supernatural beings...are different to take on. Or in in this case. " He kept the response short and sweet with a grin to show- or hopefully not show his ' pearly , pointed whites.' Foxes had canines. That might of course raise suspicion- yet the two were already in role-play gear to twenty well - armed candidates!

Vee sniffed before shutting his cousin up with a nudge. "So, any of you who don't want to stay here , follow us. We are guardians who prevent others from seeing what should never become this frightful a reality. " He replied back with an usher forth , back down towards the reaches of this land of somber woes.

Annie wiped her brow , only to gain as the rest started backing out, that she had spied Christopher beside Lisa from class on the dogs' other left!

"Hey. You look great! Too bad the enemy had you guys take a detour. Ann...I'm really sorry that you...had to hear all that..." The brunette rubbed her arm as if she'd done something unthinkable to a good friend.

Ann simply shrugged to adjust her own weapon from falling flat. Accidentally giving away her comrades had not been the chief's plan. They had been swept of into another dimension practically!-

"Wait!" Annie remembered that the Titans; as Shoji had explained, were still in this world, or one like their current!

"The Titans." She eyed down the boy and his classmate with a serious look in her hazel eyes. "Where are they?"

Lisa had to tell ..well, it was for Ava's piece of mind. As well as Aaron's and Aiden's. "They were after the one to have sent a location...Ava had recovered, they told me that much...Mrs. Grayson was really worried though! Why are we splitting up if the mastermind behind this train wreck...is still at large!"

Chris suddenly felt his ears prickle from an invisible current. So much that his knees had given way with a hit onto the dirty ground. "Chris! Where is your medicine? Are you ok?" The brunette had to take charge since the kid was too clueless to face an actual demon hoard!

He rubbed his temples with a hiss before letting the middle schooler grip his sleeve. "Up ya go! Tell us! What the heck happened..?" Ann had a question as well , more so a dark premonition that Ava or Ami hadn't been ok.

"Who was it?" Hanna asked with her fists clenched. "Was it-

"Ava...she..she's in..danger..." He blinked as if unable to remember how she acted, looked , or even sounded...

Lisa huffed to bring her hands to her hips with a shake of her skull. "He's been blinking way too much ever since I told him your sis really was back! Anywho, unless you wanna jam it with the dogs an' this weirdo, then join our club. It's cozy..even with that end of the world vibe..we could really use your input. What's your take? Head on or find your commander?" She was offering a way to get closer..if the cat and fox had any backing, Hanna had only her squadron to drag on behind.

"I won't leave my-

Ron had heard enough! This was not a place to contemplate rights, wrongs , or mis-made doings!

"Heey!" The red head was tossed over his shoulder with a phwump* . She battled it out unkindly, yet he was the one picking a fight!

"Mutt! Let me down! You tricked us! Sara..Astarte is gonna!-

Ron just waited until Veravakumu had come to guaruntee that the kid would settle. "Hana! Listen . Your mates are fine. We are sending them back to the real world. You are not being lied to! But negative energy is what the rulers of this void feed off of to exist! I want you to come with us. You are as much a part of what's going on. They are at least safe over there if the worlds really do collapse. " The dog was so ...noble! Why was he sparing the crew of Anna's from a detour into the netherworld!?

"I won't have your team lose their lives. The Titans are close by. That was why we came to find their location. It seems a breach was working it's way. Lilith; Ava's captor, had not known the dragon- who by the way is controlling your dad as a vessel, she had not known that the dragon was already contained by your father less than ten years ago. Yes..he was like THAT ten years earlier...this isn't new...so that breach was the dragon returning . The king in red, we call him Roku. He's not from the realm or plane. But another in the past..." Vee sweat nervously, anxiously as the red head took in this info.

"Astarte is Sara to prevent a catastrophy such as the one in ...which your father was a teen , two years later than you and Ava. ..he was a Teen Titan. Robin the Boy Wonder. Nightwing was your dad well before that witch's attempt to take Aiden away by a false Ava...you remember. " Hana nod to this with a lump in her throat.

"Ok, also; we are guardians from that time too. I promised your papa, that if anything happened to him again, that Uncle Shoji would keep you four , and your family and...extended family safe. But that turned to a disaster once 'Crowley ' emerged from her slumber.." The girl decided to ask about that. Vee already had the answer by the kid's expression.

"She was disguised as your vice principal. Yet her true face , was as the deity later turned...Lilith . She had since been plotting to help her old ally Roku, the dragon...into taking control of both our ' worlds'. The dogs' worlds are numerous. You have maybe two, including the realm of dreams...yet we come into being by folks like Aiden, or anyone else, believing we are strong enough to last-

"Fairies?" Ann cocked her head to see into that chuckling cat's eyes. "Nah, close but...more complex...we know elves . Fae died long ago , yet we are not of their blood lines. One friend of our's and your Aunt Rachel's was a survivor. Though you'll not see him since he's passed on...wouldn't bring it up to her yet...too many painful reminders attatched.. So pretty please? We think also that your brother is not in a great place. The tower ...our accounts to contact have been broken off. There may have been an attack, but something tells me...Ron! Lazy bones!" The sky rider blinked with Ann still slung over his shoulder. "Yes sir? How may I assist?" The smug retort of the son of Sayumon had Vee snort by how cutely he'd put that tease. "I need you to turn in with the kids, find Titans Tower. The real one back on-

"But you said this place is where my mom and her team are!" Ann rebuked with a cry."That would be-

"I have to keep you all out of this fight . Until I give a signal. wait by your teammates Annie. Lisa, you'll tag me. Chris, go back and recover. This world is not meant for those unable to stand their demons. Lisa here is crystal clear and well enough to fight. She knows an old ally's dark magic enough to resist losing ground like your black cat Unc! Don't worry! I'll toss her back to you if things do get ugly-

Ron was aghast. He replied with the same views as Ann by this point! That could ruin the pup to...

"You'd be gone on a suicide course! Have you still to thinkin' that you owe the heroes your trust this badly? You'll be wiped out by so many vortex awakenings in one go! Con - cat..if anything becomes of this...you WILL let me drag your hide to dry land! You got that?Two minutes the kids have to duck n' cover if I come back for you! We'll be waiting! Hurry back ! "

The reassurance had made the lightening dog forget. Vee was of darkened shadows by his curse. He had no reason to fear his demons. Lisa had Alicia's dark arts if she needed an extra barrier between the light the girl still held.

"Ready, then-

"Steady as she goes!" The girl grinned with a salute to her companion as the squad left via a large portal. Courtesy of the fat cat himself. "Let's ride. This wave of miasma won't let us through if it starts to move east. Alyssa ? Your public won't hold off for long, so be prepared...entering this line..means no turning back.."

She nod with a fire that would rival the kid phoenix's. Ann had to stay on dry land, the wharf would keep the group masked for that time.

At least Lisa hoped Aiden and her partner Chris , as well as Ava ...were safe from all of this...she would have never known until the yellow headed pip squeak finally opened up. ~Ava's gonna be long...Alicia told me to watch him in the mean while once she passes . ~

With a stare up into the red, ashen skies, the duo set off towards the stream of darkness and fog, to find their way out and back to that promied shoreline.

/

The teen Ava had finally awoken up to a place where she could no longer move an inch. Her eyes were the only working tool she had as the tingling sensation of the doctor's stun potion, brought the girl back from her inner visions, and dreamscape.

With a tug, her arm was able to move, yet not let up from a set of binds ; around her torso, legs, even her throat to prevent her escape. Was this a medeival castle? The table was flat, the room was rather large...however, it had instruments that terrified the girl into gulping back her horrible fate. They intended to break her this time...

Due to her line as a spirit reborn, her ability to come alive even after a sudden death..or dire hit..the doctor must have been able to know through the dragon's spy. The red serpent had always led the teens astray. Painfully Ava wriggled her bound neck and wrists to beat this crazed medical professional's hype. He was a fraud, one that was allowed to mess with the child..she wasn't human either...her only reason for being alive was to save her siblings.

~Then I'm lizard chow...this is not going to stop-

The footsteps of an impatient soul left the child to clam up her thoughts. Her lips were zipped before this oppressive male's stare. Her eyes shut to keep her breathing still. He did something rather rude that had the girl wish she could ease her startled, fluttering chest just then-

*WHAMP!*

The doc had shut the door, only to rattle a table top, scaring the captive girl with a yelp*. Her binds rattled, yet it was the poor dear shaking so awfully from the dragon's cohort. The man leaned over the desk with fingers tapping. Ava's senses reeled as a drop of a flask had her sweating by his intimidating gaze . Glass...so..loud!

Her captor chuckled while getting an interesting relic out from his side closet. It had belonged to the northern sect where Reia had once been born ; a simple antique trinket with the ...the dark shard inside it!

Ava brought her arms to shift any ounce of that energy left that she could muster! Brainwashing was a death wish! she had to help her family!

"I see that the child Anya...was given the boot...poor dear..a shame Lilith believed her powerful enough to aid in his capture...I do think though..." The jerk mused with a hand to his chin, the other still grasping the pendant. Ava gave the criminal a dirty look before attempting to jimmy* the latch supporting her throat's binding ring to the table. "That you are only here , to forget your purpose..." The child's resisting had come to a halt as the shaken teen raised a sweaty brow to snap back.

"I'm not doing this for anyone else! There is nothing you can drag out from me without-

"Killing you is such a bore..." The male motioned his arm to sling over his face with somber way about his tone. "You..deserve better than a less than honorable end, don't you agree princess?" That smirk was not appealing in the least! She shimmied her hardest to rattle the links, yet Regis was a demon. He had the same stance as the crooked king causing all of her hopes to shatter...He would not steal her trust..never!

"Now that we've at least had a moment to discuss your fate? Any lasting requests you'd like to make out before..well, use your imagination! Your just cause did not fulfill those wordly desires...how will this demand you'll ask of me, be able to do anything less?"The doc was a blithering nutcase! There was nothing Ava hated as much as any teen her age, than being messed with by an 'internal brain injury specialist!' Mind games were strictly for those cliche' detective novels!

"Then, if I am gonna die, let me say goodbye to my sister, let me see my fam-

"It's far too soon.." The doctor interrupted with a jingle of the mesmerizing necklace. Ava struggled when that stiff had started to saunter towards her. He was not getting away with breaking anything! She'd bury his lab if he tried!-

"Your thoughts...my lord tells me your heritage is of the Raven Winged..you don't want...to delve into that history...to grizzley. The Raven trickster might peck my eyes out if I live on to tell!" He laughed that delusion cruelly before seeing to her loosened wrists, now driven to straighten even higher behind the teen's head. "The only afterlife I shall grant dear priestess..is of your lost memory! You'll refuse the position..and when you do!..?" He hissed as if she should answer that.

"Agh!"* The girl's eyes lit up a magnificent snowy white as the warlock was soon led to step a tad back. How annoying...

"Reia..why must you interrupt my work? This discussion was not to include the dead.." He shook his head with a sigh as the binds fell away from Ava's figure with a snap*.

~I refuse to relent- not even to a turned one such as ye! Do not dare lay a finger on this children! There is no way to cap my presence whence darkened shadows..." Ava's body remained as it's own, yet her magic over the darkest corners of winter spread along the ground and walls,. Shards of frost and ice formed as her words spelled danger for the doc. He had expected this by Roku's observations of Lil's work. His own mark had been left days earlier...yet that had not been his only shield.

~Are of my greatest strength! Face the truth! Thee children shall not fall ! ~

~SPECULUM SHATTER!~ The glass viles broke to pieces as the sorceress's whip of ice sent the crazed professional against his own wall of text books and more beakers.

The lady in her dark and purple garb of the olden era had Ava's mind preoccupied until that power would be her child's alone.

Regis's face was knicked by an ugly gash. Lady Reia almost felt the child's consciousness stir by the wreckage she had caused...The girl felt the hurt through her own eyes as she stood inside her astral bubble beside the chieftess, to see her full self unbound...

A monster..he was one...there had to be-

Reia brought her words to echo that the girl needn't fear brute strength. Her's was to rid the way of this daemon's counter - element. Ava sighed, then returned with the shaken...Regis was still alive? He was...Laughing!-

~Haahahaaa! You damned little raven! Trying to gauge out my sockets? You hide behind what those monsters really were...your beloved mummy was a demon herself! Hahaaaahaahaa!~

His whooping voice hung across the debris - cluttered domain. Ava's senses refused to take themselves out as a reckless killer, or for she to have to abuse her powers.. With a blink and a gasp suddenly, Ava Marie had remembered, that her oppressor was immobilized ! She could find her siblings!

"...I'm not staying here!" She kicked up a dust of shards before letting the swine sink into his own sense of pain and insanity. Regis had turned too far from his moral code after trusting the soul stealer Roku. Once bound, you could never leave the oath...without paying the full prince of your soul in turn..

Scampering down the freezing hallways with her icy magics right behind to seal off any other doorways, Ava ran. She dashed far away from that lunatic's last gamble. He soon became dust in the wind by the last hours of his feat having lost out.

The child was still struggling to realize...the Raven winged were all dead. She was the only survivor..even if Aluehainyu held a great portion of the rights to aid the princess, her magic was far weaker. The clan no longer thrived, just as the Ethereal realm had yet to shut it's eyes away from the horrors of its' children's damned existance.

Ava kept hearing whispers, as if she were being followed...Why? Why was this world bringing her closer to snapping!?

/

Once the Titans had worked their way from before the beady, restless eyes of the towering giants' domain, Raven's silent sneak attack had come about as a distrction for Kid and Wonder girl to zzip after a way out. Both flew by to redirect all attention towards Rachel's magical reins. Her powers tossed the beasts one by one up into the air. Slade saw this through his clouded vision with a grunt. The empath had no idea what this entailed. Th-

"Azarath Metrion! ZINTHOS ASTERION!~ Slade blinked up by her casting ritual from the low ground beside Damian's staring 'daggers for eyes.' She no longer used the same mantra. Interesting. Something to jot down for his encounters with the League..if ever such an offer were not to be refused...

"Quit staring. She's trying to work, coward!" The rude mouthed prince glared back towards the assassin with a finger pointed towards the sky. "Don't even try to run. I'm not letting any of them fall for your tricks, Deathstroke. You'll always be second best to none. So give up if any ideas are running through-

"Your senior is having trouble. " Damian blinked to this mad man's face with his brow scrinched painfully .Then wide eyed into the dircetion of that scarlett sky, he'd seen what the crime lord had been trying to add to their debate..

The creepzillas were not disappearing. They were returning through new vortexes, even when she had just sent eight monsters into the depths of another dimension!

"What does this mean?" He took his frustration back out on the man with an angered growl. "You set us up!-

"No . Sorry kid, she's not getting the point. Neither are any of you . This world is a fake. They are the ones who belong to this rift, not us!" The teen was in shock. Another..it was a trap! A loop that had pulled them in!?

Damian looked around horrified. He turned, then saw the still features of the passive minded Slade Wilson as his counter evil from his right. Right there, the teen decided to bother questioning the traitor. He could be hiding his reason for really getting in the Titans' way..

"So, you are saying that...This world ..is not our, Earth?-

"I saw the signs far better. Did you notice any residents still around? Any noise from cars or even electrical currents from lit buildings still active? This entire illusion is to destroy. It really is a replica of your city. Though , it only exists to distract from the real issue. " Slade pointed to a shifting figure making it's way towards them on stilt legs. These creatures were annoying! None of them knew when to call it quits! Sounded familiar as the dragon's face reappeared to frustrate the mercenary further in the back of his mind..

"They've down sized! I'll take on-

"What! Wha!-

The teen had been shoved to the ground so that the killer could show off by his fullest recovery. An unsheathed sword swang* out to hit the critter directly around it's reptilian collarbone. It exploded into an acidic , tar turned rain as the boy shielded himself with his specially designed cape from the spout.

A puddle of the tar reformed to duplicate the demon into it's exact copy. Slade swished his blade to clean and ready it for another round of that spit fire.

"Are those things!...They are lethal weapons! " The teen avoided a spray of the next to fall's splatteing goo, before the acidic content could kick in to cover Robin's unprotected boots.

Slade gruffly waited until the forms had taken the next rest period . He signalled carefully to immediately depart from the closest the parent puddle before moving on, to then run down the next street with Damian right behind.

Robin tossed a few smoke pellets instead, just to ease up their capture and defeat. The walking sludge bombs had the ability to grow larger with every 'hit and recover ' sequence. Wilson shot them back with a beam from a hand held laser. Slade also had his sword ready to beat the beasts senseless for as many chances as the were to be handed.

Damian clambered from the side to drag out his own blade, yet realized a staff would prove worthless, so his throwing items held more advantage to hit the suckers in their tiny eyes. With each hit, the screech of the jurassic dopes had gotten to the point upon an ear splitting regroup.

Raven still was up in the air with Zatanna facing the gigantic drones out for fresh souls. None of them could leave without figuring out how to defeat the night walkers - they had to dissolve into mud sometime!

/

Bao Shi had other troubles to undo. The miasma had tainted her study, her relics, even then she had to flee to the next stronghold where Priscilla was faring her share of daemon onslaughts.

The wood elven priestess had believed trouble to have arisen from the dragon's conscious self awakening. Yet had the last chosen not rid the Djinn of his entire being? Was it all a ruse after the wipe of the man's memories and his pledge to prevent another breach?

Her world was only being kept clear of lesser spirit invasions. The council had again failed to avoid the conflict of a second fall!

"Mistress ! I am certain that your allies shall arive to free us!" Melu was still as responsive to danger as ever, yet bravest of all inside the woodland lady's coven of her many priestesses . The wide eyed protege smiled back to tug the sorceress maiden's arm back towards their hidden village within the deep wood sanctuary. The sound of a largely drawn bell had alert of those awaited arrival of the rebels still run by thee lady witch to their cause; 'Red' A.K.A. Lizzette Ravencrest.

There were figures in the distance to stand before her folk magician race in the worst of times.

Melu grinned while her teacher still had to buck up in these situations. She was already a figure of power within the council of spirit world affairs. Her standing was to watch over and protect the Dragon Earth's last rise. There would also be a new hero ; granted she'd have permission to meet with him..in the future..

The rebel's leader was Lizzie Ravencrest through and through. She had toughened up her finest crew to act as protectors for the ones closest to the earthen directional realm of the spirit world itself. Where this had all begun , it would end on the plains to stretch towards the end of time's flow.

The reddish hued blonde had kept her looks as she rarely showed signs of aging. Her origin had been a bit bittersweet .

'Madame instead of Lady' had been added to her title when she had married young to a lord within the border of the mysterious Black Forest.(There is one in Germany where the flashback is set! Called the Black Forest. Not to be confused with dark woods or ..back to our terrific tale!~) The spirit world of the western european border had given all Liz needed or could ever wish for. That was, until she'd found out her husband's hidden identity one dreary night..

He was of the Lycan clan's descendents. It was just as they had left her; a servant to an ugly beast she had grown to enjoy very much..So much that her folk magician's art had gained the role as a protector, to keep nosy villagers at bay while her dearest was away on official business as a human male.

The Madame had then attracted another to proclaim themselves before her powers. The odd guest had been an old friend to her beloved husband. Roku had not come to her in form just yet. This was after his banishment into another place from Lorelai's resistance upon her 'last supper'. (Three arcs ago! The Titans learn of the forbidden myth which has sealed their fates, and was also used by unknown figures ( as well as a possessed / partly influenced Slade ) to revive Roku from inside the cell walls of the ominous 'pit of ends' worlds away.)

He had not spoken of the time line while inside her lord's under the facade and guise of a merchent from another land, he had swayed the girl to smile kindly with talk of his adventures to other lands beyond the sands of time.

When her husband had returned from his travels, the Lady had opened up to tell all about her encounter with mysterious man in red, ash, and gold . The wolf became white faced ; paled as the complexion of his own dying day- he held his fist far from the mistress's trust, then forbade the married daughter from practicing her spells ever again if she intended to remain by his side!

Yet that magic had hidden their home from thieves, marauders, even the angry mobs whom still wanted the wolf skinned and run out of town. Without her magic to shield the household, the worst had come about. One late evening, when the lord of his manor had gotten home from another long journey, the ambush of several hired help from the village had sprug their trap at last in the dark of the forest cover.

Lizzette then vowed to make the curs pay upon the report of her dear's suspected's sentence. By her grief, she decided to ask for a wish from the kindly old merchent.

Upon his next descent however into her now lonesome dwelling, he had a different theme about him. Dressed as a king of the far past instead of as a kindly traveller, she asked him why he did not wear his other attire or pleasant features as before? He laughed and left her knowing that there was no way to betray his trust again.

Those words had haunted the dear madame for her every breath of life since . ~He knew I. Though , alas! Your sire refused to enter my realm of possibilites, yet you made his eyes open wide, my dear..~

~Even in death, he still will never trust a single love.~

/

It seemed Roku had attempted before to have the Lycan lord join his sect. Yet the burly king had refused with a great disturbance left to steer him clear of the dragon's wit. His wife had been contacted by the dragon, thus fueling those fires of animosity once again. So much that Lord Ravencrest had forgotten why his lady had done as she had. He had paid with the skin off his back. Lizzie had always known the dragon to be clever...yet never so horrid an example of an omen to so many...He finally had to fall. This stupid curse was by his turning from a neutral- bound deity, to a daemon without a proper cause. Lil had loathed and loved her pupil..if only the strich had gotten her wish of his magic, then none of them would have to face the beast in red again!

The beauty had her scouts secure the forest area.

Leaving not a trace of their scents by brushing down the a powerful deterrent, the Lady Red had her group ready to assemble beside the Wood Elven beings.

Lady Priscilla had to be kept calm by Melu's gentle gestures, yet the council setting only grew more heated underneath a tent pitched by the rebel squadron. The elven elders had drooping features, the young females retained vitality and beauty , as well as the males who acted as the hunter - gatherer category of brawn.

The rest had come from different lands as a diverse symbol of Ravencrest's message. She wanted those who would stand before the flames. Those whom had a deep impact on others and weren't afraid to show compassion through cause and the honor brought by it. The exact opposite of an army. A sanction for healers, helpers to all those in need of mediation between their groups. The rebels weren't miracle workers, yet good humanitarians..

"We feel that the title 'heroes' holds no true reception. Thus we are guides where ye might answer. The rest is as protctors of a divided peace. No nation has need to grow so large that it cannot care for it's citizens. At least, not by it's own is where we of the Bound Brigade have one other role . We live to aid those before ourselves, even while tending to our own sanction,our organization does not see humility as a purest sign all entirely. It must be shown in a modest manner. Never granted by... " The rest droned on until finally, the original mention of the newest threat had been recovered from Lizzie's ongoing tangent.

"Our latest threat expands planes, individualized elemental struggles, even time itself. A seam has been damaged beyond our reach- yet knowing the source of the snip..it was almost expected unto our era . " The elven folk had only a select few who did not know of the fires being faced on other worlds . Some of the yawning elders could not add words of wisdom from having created a dome shaped barrier since sun down, to sun up the previous night. Melu raised a gloved set of fingers to reply. Lizzie thankfully had a kind enough tolerance for her old ally. Priscilla and she had only just known one another through the deity Hecate's act of compassion.

(The part one arc of these new years. Kayu escapes his mother Sayumon's attempts to turn him from aiding the heroes on earth-after the trial in To the future arc where Sayu had flipped over the young Hakuro being sent to stay with her kindly officials for a short while- Kayu was later taken(rescued) from his house arrest by a bet with one of the hand maiden's of the kit's household and an Underworld witch of the young Elemental's past. . The darkly clad Hecate of the Underworld Order had 'spooked' the maiden into saying she'd take her away as well. They were swept off - not the handy maid*- where Kay and Hecate's destination by the crone's wishes had been to act as a rebel ( Kelihatan was the Celestial's incog name as a teenager in form by Hecate's demands Then given that younger body by the loss of his adult form and magic, he met the rebels- rather was konked by one of them...or did he faint ...? Lizzette met then by the squad's encampment to discuss the lady deity crone's demands in full, as Lizzie's co-captain and student in the art of combat from scratch.. Good point in there over Kay's past! The rest had him seen more likable as a sixteen year old without his full abilities! It gets even better! So then back to part two!)

"Will we most likely have enough aid within your borders of added protection?" She asked with a sweet , coy voice as usual. "Our numbers do not extend thousands. We are but sages, farm hands and agriculturists, dabbling unto areas ot herbology and our sacred circles. Our children are not born to bear many. That is not the way of we humble our lands as earthen spirit of wood and the natural flora beside fauna.."

The brilliant sister of her pupil's right hand started to add with a stand from her spot. "My many followers had errected a barrier. Yet our elders cannot cast again until two moons after to - night. I doubt greatly that the ones zapping our forests of their strength, which provide the vital essence of a woodland fae's every fiber, will not retalliate as we enact a plan. There must be a way to see to the dangers from a separate perspective. My brother and sisters have fled from their homelands countless times. Should this not be as those times? If we fall here by blood - shed, there will be an extinction of our kind- just as the Fair folk of Knoll's undoing, or the Raven Winged of the Snowy Barrens. We shan't lose even if we rise to seek shelter. Let my elders at least speak over peaceful matters before anyone decides to toss away their lives by the sway of their sword or war drum."

The student beside the well mannered teacher was speechless! Her tutor was going to have her clan leave their home! It had been many decades since such a disaster..would they still have to keep running away? Why not stay and trust in the red - blonde's power?

Lizzette brought down her eyes to revert to this serious matter. "If you wish not to lose without regrets, then I shall give your elders time to seek wisdom in high places." The wood elven lady bobbed her green strands away in thanks. "I deeply understand. My council of priests and mages will have your answer before morn at the most. " Many had looks of confusion on their faces. Was a seize fire to be called should they have those regrets? Who was willing to repeat the past?

Melu seemed flustered to the wood elf Priscilla Dearheart. Much later, the young mage had gone to return to her works over an elixer she'd dreamt of modifying since her start as a pupil to the great sorceress. The mossy, green headed elder decided to see if this was all her student had to resent in her mentor. When negotiations had fallen on the woodland council's shoulders in the past, Melu had not believed her teacher 'strong enough.' Dearheart did however forgive her beloved student's fussing and skepticism every time.

Melu Elona Ainesworth was a very dutiful sorceress in training by now under her mother's long time friend and ally. Priscilla had come to Melu when her fifteenth hundred year had approached. They had spoken of the newly granted apprentice's areas under a previous teacher's hand. According to her records; in the same academy as both Piper and once Aluehainyu, as well as Skylar Thompson, Melu had not made the cut. Yet her score in every class had been perfect, all but one subject.

Alchemy and herbology had been where the young student had fallen short of her perfect grade marking. During the season in which Piper had entered into the Academy for tireless magicians, Priscilla had found of the ceramony conducted for the ones unable to pass. Right there she had seen her candidate. The one to replace the old half- fae sorceress into her last hours.

Melu was not just an apprentice in the healing and defensive arts, she was also a vassal to the wood elf of old. Dearheart intended to tun that that negative thinking around. Melu would be succeeding a Spirit world council's daughter. Strength had more than one name. Priscilla was certain it had been wise enough for future plans.

Now, if Mel suddenly backed away from the offer, if she no longer trusted the priestess of the ancient forests, then that would spell the demise of her people's last area of solice. Melu Elona was vital to the continuation of the Deep Wood sect. She was a sage only second to a healer.

Melu had also battled with Slade Wilson's (upon chaging back to Will in the elven ladies' home) ,taint which the dragon had taken little action to contain. It had been thought that ; while the meta - human had been overshadowed by a category A ; Soul Stealer previously rather than occasionally, "the influence well known as black blood had formed into a mass from within the crime lord's body. After reclaiming reason to betray the red dragon lord in his keep ; though losing to the reanimated puppet Rokuro, the bubble had burst to loosen and overtook Will's system. That had been where Priscilla had 'kidnapped' Will to return to her hut for treatment in the earthen sector of her home world. It seemed the tar stained taint had a cure, though it took an old book of medicine and spells from Orion the white knight and seer's personal works to have the treatment finalized. Slade no longer needed to take the medicine, which was a very good turn in his case. The same had been said to supress the dragon for the previous chosen Richard . Slade himself had been asked to hand deliver a light shard with the ability to repel the king from inside the teen's body. Now, the effects had worn off. It had been too many years since the last area of treatment for the grown male and father. As Roku had won over the arguement...even without the man's consent, new trials had appeared in the spirit mother's mind-

No, Priscilla shook her mop of green and woodsy waves to tie them back from her eyes. ~The chosen shall not fail us. I have put far too much faith that the golden dragon might thrive ..as well as our Phoenix of olden...~

Her sigh was quiet. Tightly to her chest , she clenched that flickering pain to dull it's chronic affliction within her body. Being a seer and prophetess meant not looking into your own future. Only those in need of your guidance...Her chest stiffened painfully as the sorrow enveloped the high arch priestess. ~I shall go to Sir Gregory..perhaps Dreamwake has...medicine...~

Melu had seen the lady collapse in her tired state. The last act of a barrier had deemed itself too powerful for the witch any longer...with tears in her student's eyes, the sorceress rested . This next era would not have it's old mistress, yet a young one. So went as the sacrifice of many...a prophet to the good , deep wood..

/

Greg had stolen away after another matter. The matter of Min or JinMae's interference. That kniving feline had decided to play enchantress, yet why?

He snuck aroud from getting pulled in with the other Titans. Cy was busy in the real world Tower setting, with Gar as Changeling sniffing the base top to bottom. No kids anywhere!

"Aagh! Star's gonna put me in a crate for life ! I was supposed to know where he was ...Cy! Any luck on Ava-

The grim faced dad only tapped louder against his keys before setting the board aside. "No! She's gone, he's missin! You think we should stay put? Kori wasn't where we sent everyone! Somethin's not right ...but what is it? I saw a change in waves..overrr..-

Gar gaped over Cyborg's shoulder by the virtual patterns on the large screen ."A..rift? No wait! That's why we can't reach their units!They are-

"In another dimension and we will be too if we don't find out where it's commin' from! Gar! Do your boy a favour an' get Bart on the line-

"Why? " Gar scratched his head as a chimp and tried to decide it they shouldn't phone-

"Wait! " Greg popped into the room from sneaking by walls and corridors with his invisibility turned to full power. "Gwaah! Don't scare this primate to -

"Oh man! Greggie! Good timing as ever , but..layin' low in our base? What are you doin! This is a major -

"Crisis is just what it should be Stone. Garfield, I apologise for the startle. My senses picked up a greater influence from inside the city limits. Something that was of your earth opened this vortex.." The interdimensional wizard figure of the long sought Digitalis joined the lug to find out more over what had been, making waves. That was the reason then..Greg's 'hunch' had been dead on as his aching spine...

"Did by any chance,you two come across a vortex? Or something that might have the power to -

"The device from the cat! " Cy got up from his seat to exclaim. "Who's got their hands on it?! You musta' found some clue?" The bot was one hundred percent correct as Greg attempted to sigh away his retort..such a well planned one tooo!*

"I have in fact almost Victor. Changeling, was it now? Sounds familiar..?" Gar just grinned to remain his chimp-tastic self. He rubbed his neck though a bit embarrassed. "Heh! You caught me! It's not gonna be an official title once I grow old n' grey!"

The sorcerer's cloak turned to white and silver by those senses returning. "Aha! There it was! Spying where the world still tilts? Jin Mae! Send out your guard!" The sorcerer was furious as his powers emit as badly as Raven on a..good day?..

Looking up to the ceiling with an intent to rip it from the base's structure , the enchantress Rinkasu relent with a groan.

"Ahh!~ My old fellow! Your senses are not as keen! Have you forgotten the children are still amiss? The only one truly interested in separation would be...-

"You know." Cyborg and Changeling looked down towards the ominous, wizard's features. "You know who has the!-

"I tried to stop him! He will not listen! That , girl I know had the black cat on speed dial..the youngest...I fear for her sa-

"Then why did you not stop the one responsible!?" Greg's blood pressure heightened possibly over the wall as Gar forced his way by to deter the face - off from ripping their Tower to shreds! The wizard by that action cooled off with a huff*, then switched his cloak to that of the old Gregory. A dingy earthen shade of brown amid slights of grey was what felt most reliable.

JinMae meowed* to this , rather as a relief that the morpher had a the way of a mediator. "Then will you let me speak?" Greg nod to the deity of clouds- unbound. Dreaams were not where she lay beyond the void, yet prophetic matter of the very subconscious...

"Rinkasu-

""Byakumu..If you will not call me by my host's title, I shall not allow you to demean my own. Go on." She was quite the sight. The cheshire cat could not rival that stance as she levitated out of the heroes' reach.

"Then, you did in fact catch a glimpse of the culprit? " Greg did not want his temper to flare while working...around immortals...it was not a fun task to undergo! Regardless of the message!

"I did not see. I did sense it. Long , wriggling worm! It was after the boy, so I had his guest room where the cresture could not pry...then he left it's walls..." Wiz knit his brow . "A..worm you say? Was it a ...was it in form ?"

She shook her head with a palm to her face. " Nay. A ghoulish , greedy messenger for another...it refused to allow my poor spirit to interfer...so I did as any great protector might! I scratched out it's -

"Aye!?" You damaged the thing astrally then?" Greg was shocked that the big cat had such power- even a descendant of the Sphinx herself.

"Gods! How would I? No, I stole unto thee memory of the one to have sent it astray. "

Gar interrupted with a hand raised. "Then you do know why it came here? Why was it...Ava said a red...serpent?.. I heard she an' Rae talking about that! "

The lynx mother scratched her long haired scalp to pause by this. "Ha! Ye have had more in this matter child! " The morpher beamed by the lil' lady's praise. "Then...the red snake!" Cy had remembered the debate earlier with a swat to his brow. Rinkasu smiled by how their 'reconnection to stale sources ' had not been discarded as a short term memory project for her comrades.

"The snake...could it have been...-

Greg blinked by the thought inside his skull. Only one so devious would see kidnapping as a normal tactic...

"Roku..." The three males froze by that name from the deity's lips "Your mystery beast of an astral demise, was in fact the god's incarnation left to gather what it might...Your boy..was it's target...sniff..*."

She seemed to be pitying the child, yet Greg wondered why the guardian spirit had not done by leading the child back to safety!

"Roku..has..he took all three of Kori an' Dick's kids!?" Gar was sweating,..shaking..the dragon had a monstrous appetite for wanting to cause the Titans to fear him. He had gotten too close when the teen leader Robin had fallen back then...Gar had almost hated Dick for giving in..though Roku was a bad dude if he had a vendetta as if he were like!-

"Then what of the reason? Was the snake hiding the reason to it's task ? Byakumu ?" The sorcerer of his light self had returned as Greg readied for the hurried departure. "There is no one left to guard. Changeling, Cyborg, we have nothing if your team is truly lost along with the children and Chosen." The two nod. Cy however felt differently on the matter. "I think our Darwin over here should stay in case we need a shout out. G, you have to watch out for the whole group. We could use your ears on this end, ya get me?" Cy nudged the morpher who raised his head with a smirk. "I'm the look out! You couldn't be any more right bro! Leave it to the Titans' finest!"

JinMae's facial expression changed to a more innocent tone before laughing sweetly. "Then I shall add myself as a comrade ! Allow my aid to deter the demon aura still residing within this tower? It will not dispell completely until your friends have destroyed it's puppeteer on the other..side?" She was certain that the one controlling the opening of the void via a device that humans had built, would not rest in shutting away all contact till then.

"Can we trust what she says, Greg?" Cy whispered over to the sorcerer with his back turned a slight. Wiz sighed before givig his companion an answer, then turning to Byakumu, his words rung powerfully as both a reminder and warning for the trickster to follow.

"You...despite the stalling of our time, malady, you have indeed led us closer to our answer. I shall allow your aid once more, yet not as a surveyor, you will face the demons with physical mastery of that form. Otherwise, face the shadows as a ghost among us! I know you hold back due to JinMae's condition. Yet as a protector, our lives are more so secondary to our charges' peace of mind. If anything becomes of our world's surveyor; Changeling, I will not be able to secure our agreement any longer which would not only hurt we, yet JinMae's own kin...remember You did announce yourself to be a temporary guardian. "

The cat nod with a mischevious grin.

"I do not intend to lose my rights here. Very well! Now keep that promise to return JinMae's old self whence you defeat the dragon, so that I may return to my domain wholly." The bow of the grat deity cascaded around in the air as a fan of petals all inlaid upon her garb's mandala shape.

"I trust you this much. Do not fail our team , thank you Rinkasu." She blushed anxiously by how he'd teased; while knowing that old name made the maiden cringe. Clever oaf...the golden lord would have him understand far more than she could speak for her old companion-

~Bao Shi. Our tide is changing ever so...~ Another nod came before the spirit mother had turned away to secretly 'speak.'

~Hurry, awaken the fires to melt away the frost from their hearts...otherwise...~

The maiden felt her eyes cloud as a sense of the void's presence overwhelmed that demand. ~Otherwise our kind shall wither to ashes...underneath falling snow..~ To be forgotten, to lose this fight and it's chosen yet to decide their fate.~ She sighed softly without letting the boys see her pride crimpled as her skirts.

~Silver ..your eyes do not wish to know such brilliance...little king. ~ Her softened eyes turned towards the skyline beyond the tower's glass.

This had to continue...regardless of the dragon's repent, the boy would find out. Time was unconsciously deciding a new role...oh Aleiah...she had never felt her bones ache..Even now, the powerful relic of time and space had no where left to turn...

/

Greg was only just one of many facing areas of strife. Within the void containing the children of the chosen destiny, there lay someone else whom had no intention of ever losing it's grip. The texts said that the boy had to first bare the whim of absorpion before his role had been filled. Just as Rokuro,.Richard whom had nearly been won, and this child..the brat Titan's ...

The grinning serpent returned to speak by mind with it's king. The redness of it's form had become permanemt instead of a ghastly see - through complexion. "Ah...things are looking up. Yet we have work to do! Tell me, my pet? Where is the child Amelia? Right as we chat here , please do not allow her to meet with her siblings this moment...sigh..* That would spoil all of the fun..besides! Reia's only born has gotten loose..What do you belive should be done my dearest incarnate?" The wrigging demon in it's shape responded while also growing a tad larger for his lord to see to the matter, with less pressure.

~Ssire! This sservant shall not lossse to thiss bunch...Have me sssecure thee winged heiresss!~ The dragon in the form of a man; aside from the cop's own, nod in thanks as the next to enter, had been Roko wishing to do well by her...lord from the next hallway.

"My lord Roku "

The madame bowed low in her newest garb. A bit low cut to the navel, it looked part loincloth of a huntress . The piece still had the white over black and silver , just as her old uniform surprisingly. Her boots were longer and had a length's reeach by the mid - calf area. Her hair was pulled back to side into a partial warior's tail .The mask had no longer any pupose as her face now lay marked by Roku's possession of his old aspect. The self again was recalled by the demise of the old Raku's drunken care taker. Whom had shattered his poor mother's skull badly enough to force the boy to do the same- though in drag to the brute one long night...how mundane the times those seemed...Roko was the self of that era as' Raku' who had later gone to the realm of Lord Destiny's to become his pupil. Then Lil had wandered in to turn his eye from order and HAD to ruin the Eternal ruler's relationship! Without her , things were more defined for HIS take - over. Grayson's old humanity was to be lost as the chosen boy...became the power- source the Titan had refused of this kindly old king...

"If only you had left me to act as a second conscience...Silly hero..you forgot one thing! I became your eternal shadow before the sentence!" The man god chuckled to this scheme. Running back to the present was near impossible. The children would indeed face the dragon , now that their father had ultimately failed!

A land clouded in smoke and red flames...it was a wafting odor that awoke the teen blonde from his sister's impulsive hit. What...was that scent? It smelled of...incense...or was it-

~I can't move!~ The child felt his spoken words pop out, as the ability granted by Ami still had not diminished!

Frantically the boy swang his arms, wailing without sound. Where was this? It felt far too futuristic! Was he .. someone's lab rat?..it was off! Way way off!...

~Rrahh! Let me goo!~ The shifting complex was a levitating ' bubble' similar to the one Richard as Roku had trapped Amy inside of. It was impossible to burst - with thicker walls than a soap sud's spit of dry air! Aiden flailed as the creases across his heavy brow were on fire. His forehead pulsed as his arms reached up. Fingers gripped the pounding spot while his scream continued..so..tired..what...

With a fall to the base of the structure slowly, the last face the teen had wanted to see appeared to watch the draining of a portion of the brother's magic fire. Amelia glanced up as if unable to shed a tear. His ears were pounding, though her own two primarily remained shut to any other noise unless it were a demand from the dragon.

"You should have decided. " Her words left him desparate, upset. While unable to escape the trap laid by this ' king' and his army, his sister had been taken as an accomplice..she had to be rescued so their mom..and dad...where were they now?

~Ami! You are being tricked! Wake up! ...Please! I..I don't under..stand...wh-

"You would not, big brother..." The girl glanced down to her fingertips,only to gasp by the blemished middle digit that should have been...

"Excuse my departure. Rest assured..You will be...the one to ...goodbye!" The girl wasn't making sense as her reaction was to find the king of this place.

Just to ask him if her ..hunch wasn't alone, or figurative at best!

She could not look her coward sibling in the eye..she was so cruel! So ..how would the dragon have her act..Amelia felt in her gut an odd wince as her reaction only grew more painful to clench back.

Aiden shook uncomfortably as the field keeping him contained had begun to melt away, just to unveil where he had been spirted away to.

It was a crazed cult setting! Just like out of the movies! Only..it was real...it was real..it was wrong! Ami..Amelia couldn't have known that ..this!...

Roku's laugh rung out amid the darkness while the child fought to remember if this place had left him his belongings. The king was growing closer. An echo resounded to drive the boy to his knees as Aiden attempted to mask his amber eyes from the dragon's temper. That mastermind was not human...he had taken their dad'd life to become..a cruel, monster!

"You look confused. It's still no shocker that you refuse to be give credit for ..well, let's just say that magic is a gift. From your belated Grandfather-

~Liar!~ The blonde spat with a snarl. He felt more dog than fire breather. ~Give back my sister, my dad! And my-

"Your happiness..what a pity..you never did give full credit enough either, for your fool- hearrty answer. You see..whether you wish to recall it, or rather wish to desire it, I am never going to disappear. Not EVER again. Your father was persistant. " Roku's powerful boots knocked against stone to clatter the child's wits further into frustration over his capture.

"He continued to deny my offer. Again and again! You were the compensation for his dismissive hand, yet...your sisters are far more powerful . Amelia was touched by the ability and powers of Amaterasu. The Shinto goddess of Japan's solar aspect. Your sibling Anna; just as you, she originally was given praise as a guardian amid the Phoenix spirit's flames. Ava as you call her...she had a destiny to protect you AND the youngest! As well, as that golden , spark* you hide away from your family!" The grin was slightly hidden, yet the king was enjoying the back lash onto his own prize.

~I..you knew everything! Then let them-

"Impudent as ever...and the son of a detective- not a lawyer...perish the thought...You are to become someone else...you claim this life has fulfilled your needs. So let me add." The dragon swept his cloak to begin with another offer . Aiden brushed back against the magic capsule with a grimace.

"Would you be satisfied if I told you alone..that I can make dreams into reality?" Aiden sniffed to this. Too easy. These adults made him gag!

"I am half Djinn. My ability to add fact to plain fiction just to make my contracted 'happy' was what your father refused-

~He was smart!~ Aiden shot back angrily. ~ You don't get things just by wishing! It's..not right-

"You can however...If my magic of a dragon's rite flows in you...then perhaps you too might see things differently as well.." Aiden shifted with a shake of his head. His eyes grew in disbelief. ~I..you're lying! I'm not like you!~

"Manifestaion child. "Roku paused a moment to say before seeing to the boy's tantrum. "You humans shun the ideal, yet I bring your desires in to play. If I am a part of your -

~Shut up! I'm not a freak! Get out! You should just rot in!-

"Would you like for me to open up that capsule?" The child's tears shut back with a gasp..no more..he was bluffing..it..it wa..wasn't...

"I can help you. " Roku beseeched to the boy in a wallowing fit of self-pity and rage. Was it? He had the power to do worse!

Aiden shook his head harder. ~No!...You..you just mess with people! You're...no ...not! ..~

The boy's eyes burned further with an odd ' snake' of white smoke coming from his sockets. "You'll at least let me treat your burns before they set." The god frowned while stepping closer towards the unapproachable brat.

Aiden could not lose his eyes.. his only way to know if Ami...His mom...Ava..Ann...Dad..!..They all,...-

With a burst of the magic spell keeping the blonde from fleeing in his state, Roku acted without fail to catch the dim- sighted child from his frantic fury. "Let us see now if you'll have the power to oppose my gesture. Then, let my staff do their very best..to ward off the hate in which you still carry..." All went blank for the teen as his eyes suddenly could no longer...see the dark of the room. If the drago ..n..

...Aiden wept inwardly without stopping. He had been tricked by his own enemy. His sister was not on the' good guy's' good side...Ava was..possibly hurt because he had been..well..afraid! Ami was a kid! She couldn't end up in the ground from some...the rest was that vile taste of incense he now loathed were back...so..much pounding..lights ...where..where was he going to go?

/

Ava's mad escape route had narrowed dangerously with the return of that evil, spying, serpent. It had found the panting girl's scent long enough to give chase where no one else could dare to search.

The child was honestly afraid of the being inside her mind named Reia..the fact that the original, unborn Anya from the past was her..and Reia was...if her mother was that creature who controlled ice and frost,she could too! Yet the witch had said very little before the girl had escaped her hell hole of a cell.

Lilith was gone...she was not after Ava's life. This slithering freak was however; this dragon's man-handler was far more powerful, sly, and devious...her father was trapped because of the creep! This whole world was a delusion awaiting to be given HIS sole purpose..so why?-

The next corridor had a dead end, save for one doorway. It lay as small and narrow as an air vent. Ava had to go, as the creature was close behind at full speed!

With a neck twisting , ear crashing bang* the girl knocked the dented area clear. Just as a dingy air vent, it relented. ~I am no cat burglar! This place is history once I get Aiden and Ami home! Kawabungaaa!~

The teen fell feet into the shaft before turning from her original twist in the bend,to alter it as far as her senses could see. Deep before her was a second way out. "Finally!* " She breathed in a rough whisper. "I have t-

A rattle resounded as her entire network of tunnels shifted , as if in a kids fun tunnel on the pavement border of a local amusement park! The swaying was painfu...oww!*

"Gah..!*..What was..?...-

Another set of very faint alarms sent the child to dash ahead on her hands and knees for dear life!

With each pant* her ragged breathing quickened. Each crawl fowards, the girl felt her skin prickle with sweat. She was in a furnace..it was too close a call! No! Almost!-

A dive onto the ground had Ava topple out to find one other still...not yet out of her way..-

A spectral dopple of Lothos from miles away had been working on a strange, tall, and metallic -

"Hey!" She cried out once the goon's grabby demons had gotten closer. "Intruder alert? Should I tell him? " The fake half - self; which had split between the endless void and the Eternal's main keep, scratched his chin then frowned.

"You..these monsters are your's! " She exclaimed with a swat to one blob's face..or tail...

"Tell them to lay off!" The girl had trouble remembering what the creeper's name was..Aiden had met this jerk! Anya as the dopple had helped him to commit-

"Oh hoh! You are my old partner in crime! Though..you are not as puny...hummm..I do wonder where my old lady went wrong with her plans...yet to the dragon, I am originally bound! " He chuckled this before setting off for..a lock down switch! She'd be captured! No way was this tall, dark and scary going to beat her to her brother's holding place!

"What are you doing? All of what you guys are trying to commit..this is not even the real world! Why are you helping him! " She had no time to goad, not as much as to distract while Reia's powers kept the blobs far back.

Lothos looked up to ponder the question. "Well...I suppose curiosity has it's own ' just rewards' -

"Desserts ." Ava corrected plainly with a grunt. "You are just doing this for the science aspect? This is a lab. I'm not blind. So , what's he got it for? Care to send me off as the 'big baddie' without letting your captive off with a -

"Clear your head of such action! Science you say? Well, you could say all of...yet no...My real body is a false one. Your dear father's comrade mangled my original one which had yet to rise! Stop the chatter little mouse! You are not in the right even if you youself decide my ills!" The male demon had red hair as long as the dragon's. His gaudy garb was more westernized than the dragon's old world barbarian -

"Hah! Where do you dare insult where you yourself cannot fathom the content!" He had read her mind then...crap!

"So wait tight little girl! Your king is a very busy -

"I...I want to change..change my fate! " With a swish of her hair of silver and pale lavender, with side- swept strands away from her neck, the teen madly let her eyes travel towards the false Lothos's red orbs. Wait! He was a!-

"I am glad you can stand up. Even knelt before the ground, you emit the powers of an ice queen I too once recognised..my late mistress was not wrong...you do have the power to defy..."

Ava's flux and flurry of snowflakes scattered round the room . All but the odd, human - made device that had been from against the farthest wall. Floors with tens of thousands beakers were left to collapse about the place last."What is that ? Is that what you are using to keep this world together!? I won't let your plans work!"

With an inhale of breath, then an exhale of painful whisps of icy air,the teen had her first spell by the tip of her tongue.

~DIMITTITE MUROS!~ The walls cracked by her frigid ice having widened the cracks a slight. Magic had also had the false replication of the red haired demon fade into mist. Had he been up to just as much madness as her real prison guard?

"Heey! Don't fly away! I'm not done here! " She gripped her fists painfully closed, as the world soon felt a twinge by her trying to rise from the metal flooring. "I wanna know what it's for! Come back!"

He had escaped..she had only frozen a few inches from the floor to the doorway.. .way!

"If you won't tell me, I'll just have to track down the real criminal behind this. . Hold out a little longer Bro...Ami..."

With a sigh and swift display of super-speed, the teen left through the open door. As if it were only or her mission alone to free her family, now no one else was left to know the truth behind the strange fluxing and waning of the tides!

With a roar fowards in her eyes, Ava flung after the invisible draft that had sent her..where she had refused to witness by those lavender eyes...

Roku was no king, no dragon. A menace from lands far , far away..where time took no stance. Only silence. This was true darkness. Nothing touched the halls except an occasional drip* drip* from the howling caverns.

Every room led to another world! This was not real! It had to be an illusion..just as the witch owl had fabricated from Ava's memories as a ...creature in the 'snowy lands...'?..-

The hollow echo of those drifting departed frightened the child. Even with this ability to end up bruised, maimed, beaten, sickened, poisoned...her fear only escaslated over if she COULD die..! This was an illusion of her fear! It was a fake Underworld!

She grit her teeth and kept dancing the cruel reality away with each brush past imaginary figures. Some characters she knew only by how Reia's wavelength had heightened. Others remained mysterious as time itself. Her flight was almost as if-

~Wake up!~ A heavy paw bat out to fluster the teen by it's odd ...a plop onto her nose, it did not extend it's claws to harm-

A teddy bear..the dog!

Ava gasped, then blinked up to the air above her. Verra, as the hybrid animal self, grinned with all canines sharply held.. ~You never rung me, so I went on ahead of the gang! By the way, did you know abou-

Whether shock or another area of mind control, Ava swung out a blade made of crystaslized ice and metal to shove the clown away. She was frightened. Vee saw this as when he'd seen Prince Rokuro's face after the other incident with the recapture inside Lord Roku's keep.. How lost...why was she here?

~You have to trust me Av-

"No!" The blizzarding winds behind the teen had Shoji try to recover his immortal /elemental self of shadows- yet it was impossible inside the dragon's den. Verra turned to his firm mental voice without the pattern of a human's jaw instead.

~Turn off the waterwords Marie! It's too early to give in!~

The fifteen year old's expression shut down as a single name fell from that quivering set of frost bitten lips.

"Ai..den..." To her knees she knew this was the last of the girl's outburst left to shout. Verra had proven that with his small talk, that words could become a vice. Something the red dragon and witch owl had tainted of the teen's mortal - bound confidence, Ava needed that hope such as any other teen in her school. Hope was what they had to face the draconic kiler with .

"He..he's not.."Ava's eyes began to grow moist with tears. Not here..her head was still...-

~Acha! We have to beat it from this place! Ava! This world was designed by interdimensional science and alchemaeic abilities of that creeper! We have to defeat him before R-

"I dislike doggies. Cats are much cuter. Ones without their awful noisiness are well prefered over those, trouble makers."

Ami was within the darkened spot despite having gone to look for her dragon keeper earlier. Vee was in a mound of trouble, as her formless energies over a borrowed dark art came towards the guardian as a lion tamer's whip! His reaction was to dodge, yet the one to prevent that had the cat angrier than before.

"Welcome to my inner sanctum,Veravakumu of the four passages...he whom was once turned himrself. " The dragon's sepent's hiss* had the fur of the pup's stand on end. Ava grasped her chest by how they'd let him find their hiding spot - it had been to lead the two back to the beginning, as the alter of that terrible sort appeared suddenly through the clouded smog. Incense prevented Ava from using her energies to topple..yet she was afraid..he held Ami's heart in his clutches with her brother's very will possibly beginning to waiver !

/

~Cool it Av...I don't think he's gonna do anything rash..~ Vee whispered back to the only other remaining Grayson child; besides Anna , who was miles to light years from this night - scape!

The dragon did something despite the cat's unimaginative 'feelings' . He snapped his gloved fingers for flickering lights to sputter on . Ami's mind had gone into a shut - down session , that was unless the dragon called her to fight her sibling and uncle again.

"In this center of the ring!" The guardian and teen half- eternal were in awe. The lights were even brighter as they overlooked the king's main event. Aiden was a prisoner inside what looked to be a see - through , globe shaped, spinning relic of light and ancient arts. The cell was where the wish had be made,a die had been cast far too late..

"You see? Yet you failed to subdue that much! A big sister? The child you now see in suspension has my magic ability through Rokuro's influence over Richard's current life - time. " Vee growled as the hair - raising kitty hybrid. His lips curled back as dangerously as the sorcerer and dragon king's silent smirk had left Ava badly shaken..

"You failed to recall what he had promised me. This is payment! " The red lord proudly looked up towards his prize inside the field of riddles that the teen Eternal could not possibly hope to grasp . Her brother had not relented of course. This was to rewrite enough to ready for a proper awakening!

Vee was livid. He no longer waited for his kin to show. This was payback for all of the humiliation! The constant bending- over - backwards for this giant liar, in order for the dragon to spare his son from such rites!

~Damnitt! Ava! Get Ami! Hurry!~ With a shot forth in the form of a shadow of fog, the sillouhette hit Roku's defenses. -

By a swipe away, the dragon had only to wave his wrist. The cat froze into mid air with a stunned yelp. "Not this time mutt. " Vee's spine was left to collide into a pillar of the king's throne. It . Hurt. Slabs of stone and iron had grazed not only the cat, yet the seat where Roku's triumph was to be had.

With a wail of a howl from the pooch's corner, Ava froze before shaking her head to go after Aiden insetead. He was the cause!Her bro was..he would..the dragon!

Her icy eyes were no match as Ami awoke to grip the elder's arm with a band of tainted fingernails. Wincing by the direct contact of Amelia's poisonous points, the dead - eyed youngster finally spoke in a low voice.

"They say you creatures cannot die...let me find this out."

Without emotion. Without pity..this was NOT her little eco- friendly fan girl of all things kawaii! Kawai!Not good!..

"Amy! It's your!-

With a swing of the projected whip , Ava had no choice but to fend off the ten year old terror!

Meanwehile, Verra was accumulating eighty thousand more bruises by Roku's brutal swats. Another hit unto the cat as he got up to stampede towards the daemon -

Another whimper onto the stone flooring as finally..the last strike, no powers left-

"UNCLE SHOJIII!" Ava flew by the bratty puppet's side to dive after the toppled dog. He lay in a heap. Cuts everywhere made Ava wonder if the cat would change back...

"Your puppy wasn't well cared for. Of course it would act out against-

"RRAAAHHH!" Ava was infuriated enough. No more peace talks! A line of ice, more frost...it all had to destroy the real demon!-

Ugh!*..." Ava gripped her shoulder to see what had send her into such a sprawl to her own knees...He was...

Ami. Ami was still brainwashed! ...She was throwing dangerous weapons! The monster was a-

"Let's begin the rest..once your dear Hana has arrived , the setting shall ultimately be -

Ava was out cold...her own sister...what...what had they done. ~.Sh..o..ji...d...on't...d..ie...~

With a cough into her chest, the teen's body soon shook repeatedly to obliterate the hurt. Her shoulder blade ached so much that the girl let out a cry of pain. Her arms had been met with restictions and magical binds.. The odd field had risen to cover the two; Ava and Aiden inside the orb shaped vessel. They were without Ami who had no clue what she was about to commit to.

Ava had her voice stolen back by a painful seam across her face to bind the girl's shouts away. Aiden still lay unconscious as the worst had only made Ava wish his pain away. Her own would heal. It was the only other resistasnce these monsters could toy with besides her past ..

As soon as her hitched breathing had returned to normal, Aiden's own body had suddenly vanished into a poof* of light. Her head looked back towards the floor, then right beside the teen where her brother had been held prisoner.

~Aiden!-

~Gah!" The girl's ability had been stolen away by Ami , to no longer have the strength to further communicate with either red headed twin. Yet she had not told Amelia that her birth given rite was by the speak' s power. Reia could back her on that, anytime!

Her echos were soundless as the laughter of the youngest had the elder teenager of the moment with a heavy heart. Ami..had to wake up from this nightmare! She was never going to be able to leave..just as Ava and the witch! Roku was her more powerful manifestation of doubt..but how!?

Verra was able to crawl. He was unable to escape the buzzard known as the lap dog Roko however. With a kick to the cat's healing ribs, the violent creature of her newest attire laughed aloud so that poor Ava coud see her expression. A cruel, dishonset and even...loathsome aura...

Shoji...her heart hammered away without stopping. Clutching her battered knees to her chest in mid- suspesion, Ava tried to dull the echoes of splattering , the resistance of her ally was ...he could make it!

~ Pleease...change back!..Dog! ..hah!" Her ability was still a shock collar of surprises as the cat whimpered until Roko had decided to shut the pup down. "I have a reward on his head. Don't want it. ..Though I DO want to see your earth burn instead! Hahhahhhahaaa!"

The grinning psycho had no choice but to serve in solitude by her king's every whim. Too bad this cat was going to leave without seeing his charges become ripened fuel for the aspect, under Lord Roku's firey rule to descend!

/

The cat lady JinMae sniffed the air as Gar Logan typed away his response to the Titans' senior mentors world-wide. The League had to watch for rift openings as well from far off on other missions. The Doom Patrol was miles south of the Sahara, there was no way he'd get to them without sattelite access! Or com communication might have worked without a jungle fortress to subdue! Mala had very much been active on his own to save The Brain- again! So cliche' ...

With a groan into his hands,the cat behind the tapping fool paid no mind yet to swat intruders away. Miasma mounds had piled up by the entrance. To possibly block their way? Min had never seen such lively dark energy so active...her claws ached for a cat fight!

"You ..are actin' pretty quiet from there...is everything al-

Changeling's head had turned from the computer seat to find the spot behind his skull, unoccupied! Jin had vanished! With ten to twenty blinkels , rotated by head turns, the hero had enough of a chance to scream in shock. "Wwwaaah!*" Cy isn't gonna like this! We had to play watch..un.m...where are you off to? Fuzz brain! Hey!"

He tossed the sofa over as a gorilla before heading to the kitchen island across from the main scene below in their city. "Darn! Not funny cat - face! You are supposed to not lie! So where did ya go!" The green hero heard with a raised brow and ear after the plain outburst . A skrit scrit* had come from before the other side of the entrance. But that way was!...

"You..don't tell me..they!-

With a rish into the miasma field, it lay -

"Clear?" The man blinked to this with a gasp. His war shout was useless!

The snicker * of a precarious feline in the midst of the brawl to supress the goons in shadow, leapt up to send the surprised and frightened morpher to topple back intlthe main room. The oir shut while Gar threw his ears against the locked down, metal surface. Claws, hissing,spitting, it was messy on her end! She was erasing the creeps! Notjust getting them to pack up an' move! The cat was a wild-

With a last clatter of a shattered dead- soul against the side wall- on the other sjde, the rest of the cronies had beedn disposed. Min had a smirk against her lips and was covered in their darkened essence. With a shake and a douse of the deity's own potion by her pocket, the aura soon withered to return the lynx from the havoc of turning.

"Ahh! That was fun! Your hallways are clear, though I do not believe they will regroup until we have caused their pack to ..fluster..." The fan from the deity cat's side slipped out from by her immortal waist to whipe away the extra smea off of the Changeling's cheek.

Her head tilted with a glint of curiosity in them. "You were in the midde of my -

"Yes! Cause you just left! " Gar reprimanded the ..old enemy turned ..was she tl be trusted with such sharpened * motives! Was everyone forgetting the cat's past!

"I see dismal lines across your temples. Elder lords have not these in my home realm. Perhaps monks who fear their humanity as greatly as ye!" She chuckled her riddle while Gar bearly had time to wrap his skull around her insults. "You aren' t supposed to act on your own, tuna- breath! This is serious! Neither of us can get out to the Titans cause we have to -

"I fear, for their humanity..it has no choice...your team..has fallen into another realm of impossible understandings. Believe me as I speak well of my words, boy. A cat sees what the living cannot . That fear your enemy intends to divide from this,..well..I hope you are able to swim. " Gar raised a brow by what she had meant. "No..that's! " It was the two; Titan and big cat, up against a massive tidal wave! Impossible! It was going to-

"Yyee!" The green hero forced himself not to shatter with the walls of glass. "Let your stronghold not become our tomb, yes morpher?" The kid faced feline grinned before shielding dirty waters from the green man's face. Her fans grew to twice the size of her robes! This was an incredible sight as Gar stood , bearly awake.

"I have the power to see what you refuse! Well? Climb onto my back!" The hero gulped by what she had said. Min as Jin Mae's possessor, was puny! He was going to crush her if he tried!

She sniffed away a strand of stray locks before realizing her firm was the kid's. ~Then your ride shall be by tigress!" The cat reshaped hersef to become the big Lynx from the Eternal realm and Skylar's disbelief! (She looks like a giant hybrid. The build of a tiger, the markings and insight of the Lynx spirit. Min is raring to go sky high from that wave!Back to the story!)

The heroic transformationist was unable to fathom how amazing thi creature's eyes really were..Wait!

"I know those cats!" Gar suddenly remembered studying the short tailed woodland mammals. "You guys aren't that good! -

The witty retort that came from the kitty's lips had Changeling gape in his stance as a Titan. She swang her winds of illusionary trust towards the enemy with a flick of her - Paw?

~Seeing is not always by eyes alone. Our acute hunting prowess makes up for lost time napping in the good wood! ~ With a wandering gaze towards the window's nearshatteredglass, the rest of the Titans' fortress had lost it's hold. This new , endless , strange realm was not a Titans' worst nightmare.

"The end..of the city? Then!-

The two; tiger sized Lynx and hero, had been dragged into the field where Roku's castle hid itself among - not their eyes alone, yet where many mortals were unable to grasp. Between a false reality and a true region before their home's demise..

~This, is where your comrades were stolen. This is the illusion in which another has invited to swallow your city whole.~ Min stood on four solid limbs with her ears twitching. The signal..an aura so very close...A bird beside it's presence..

A rather strong bolt of lightening thundered off from the distant way , the crumbling buildings swayed by the passage of two more guests to it's voidless depths. Secret to whom? Meta - humans and arc spirit had been pulled inside it's gates ! It was an eater of false security within many...so many as the trip left Gar Logan mysteriously drained.

"Then Rae...an' Cy...they are all here? We have to go back to the tower!" He exclaimed with a gasp to his growling companion. "We promised the team that they'd get to trust you! "The hero frowned, jumped from the deity's riding seat, then stomped up to look the cat into it's large orbs. Cloudy as her smoke filled pipe of prophetic notion, the Titan knew Min could hear his contempt. He did not want the heroes to find her as a dangerous criminal! JinMae had not broken her promise yet!

~You'll go back to your world. After we defeat..a deadly serpent from stealing more lives, more dreams in it's wake...~ The reply was icy. She really had a grudge over that red snake in the grass's move on Aiden's mind! The cat..was not a villain..she cared after all...

"Then where do we go." Gar pointed out against the desolate setting; his arm heavy and weary from replaying the story of a tragic end, even after Trigon, Raven had never lessened from her gaze into the far future. Greg's magic had to remain there. A light to guide them after their comrades in this darkness...

"So, then help my team. JinMae. Greg wants to trust you. I do too." He said passively yet a bit intimidated by those paws.

~I am only to determine the hiding place of the beast, the boy, and the dragon. ~ The tiger - age kindred spirit let a rawl* emit from her lungs . Cats always seemed to land on their feet. Min could follow suit if end up inside the bowels of the fire - breather . Her options were lessening hour by hour. The golden lord would arrive!

"Then let's find the Titans! Your trust an' mine depends on us stickin' together!" Gar grinned stupidly to the Lynx mother, yet her eyes searched his features warmly. He had an aura that was forever you at heart. His animal selves would ; if they had bodies to tread presently, agree forever more that their guided hero was not unworthy of such an amazing gift.

~Then climb on board once more !~ The below of a sound replaced the cat deity's frustration as the roar ledup int the reddened air. The clouds did no more than carry that roar of power towards the ones most of all, who could hear it's melody resound.

A cry to battle. Whatever the cost, the spirit world would back decent order. Their allience with earth after all, was a massive history in itself.

/

The rest of Aiden's moments had a sense of danger. Always he was warned; be careful crossing the street, don't talk to strangers...yet why had this all seemed ...unclear? His head was bogged down with trustng the dogs ; his dad was a possesion of a tyrant lizard..yet it had promised a way back! Back to his years as a , normal human...without magic or any odd fireballs to toss. Why had it been ..so wrong to feel...as if that should happen? Aiden saw a reflective projection of himself in what felt an endless world of mist and confusion. Without words he had no true say in his fate.

Ami wasn't going to change unless the blonde went back, before ... Before those abilities had ever changed them!..Yet the dragon - ling had not forgiven this urge to pursue a time vortex..they all wanted him to fight! Aiden wanted to be so normal! So human he could live without regrets or supernatural laws! He had to do it...-

~Then you agree to my terms? ~ The dragon's voice echoed throughout Aidedn's skull. His eyes had gone dim by the vast area the king had corrupted. ~Y..yes...I..want...my...life back...grant...it...please!...~

The great serpent had fully entered his subconscious. It wound left and right. Soon it had turned into the largest mass of an egg shape, all of it trapping the youth inside. His eyes turned red instead of amber. A lit scarlett that only saw his desired outcome ahead, the boy forgot his present day. He slept in fetal position covered over in an ominous glow.

The rest would set their time back..his dream, was not to live as anyone other than Aiden Grayson..even if it meant giving up that power ..he'd let the dragon-

~NOOO! Stop! He's going to eat youuu!~ The dragon-ling! It was flickering boldly without scorching against the child's unclothed chest. ~Grrrawwa!~ The little young- ling nipped Aiden on his finger before the child could blink himself to see the result of his fears. ~Wh..at! No! This..this. ..What have...You!~ His eyes battled the sight of a vast cage. It's walls were a red dragon's form entangled as rapidly as spreading, clustering,vines. So enclosed was the teen's entire space that immediately claustrophobia has Aiden cover himself with his arms , wrapped around his chest. It..was hard to breathe...he..had wished to destroy the world!

The ooslzing self - hatred gave rise to a ricketing edge of despair. The little dragon against Aiden's shuddering , sob filled chest had looked up from the base of the dark world, to the tip where-

~We caan!~The happy go lucky baby dragon exclaimed for only Aiden to reply back to. ~All...the way ..up there .?...I..I..Can't...sniff!..*...I..can't fight...-

The bite from the dragon was a tug this time as the boy's matted scalp was tugged lighytly to look up further. ~We must try!~His eyes shone pure. Better than how Ami had...Aiden wobbled to stand before feeling some sort of tug against his leg. The boy's eyes widened with a cry as his entire form came crashing back to the ground with a smack.*

The young fledgeling dragon forced it's claws to prry away one thick vining rope. It. moved ; live and ready to drag the child to fall silent, Aiden cried out. The golden aura rose towards where the the little lizard had nipped the teen's folicle. The rest of that dim, lamp - lit glow from around the teen slightly turned his attention towards the cell's closing wall. The ceiling was high up. He would have to grow wings-

~I can! Fly with mee!~ The young ,golden child dragon grew to the size of a large dog. It's wingspan was far larger , yet did not brush the sides of the egg containing the chosen from the real world.

~You! You can do...then let's try ..I will fall when you do. So go with me!~ That remark sounded regretful to the young - teen age lizard as it's speed left it not with long wings and limbs, yet just as the red dragon of the far east's embodiment. The two would make their way back towards reality..it had!-

Aiden had not remembered the agressive tendrils of this place. They gave chase as drone keepers of this cell. The blonde's light shielded him from being dragged back, yet the young dragon!

It's long form was similar to a sea serpent. It's entire body moved fluidly as a winding only' bend ' to avoid was the mass right below it's slinking tail. Aiden gripped tightly to the mane of the feathery creature. His heart beating into oblivion if they ended up-

The young dragon of gold and light was gripped. A large enough arm had the two toppling dow down, down. Once apart, the child lost his fearless resolve while the dragon revert to it's chibi - child form. Tears formed as the boy cried out soundlessly as the wind. All before he was swept further and further from the now captured -

A portal! It was taking the baby away! Aiden screamed out as the vines held him from going along. Roku had finally found it..the dragon of golden light - Aiden was indeed chosen to grant his revival!

/

The squirming entity was dragged roughly into Roku's throne room. It's tubby, puny body was not as the dragon had expected. It must have been reborn no more than a week before. His smirk had the snivling cutie growl back towards it's own estranged kin.

"You..are not as the texts described thousands of years prior..." Roku looked over the dragon babe with his curiosity suddenly piqued. ~You..you are not my brother! Bring me back to the chosen! You are cruel and -

"How adorable! You thought my Djinn blood had some,familiar essence. " Roku hissed with a grin. The deadly claws of both extended , yet Roku just took his gloves off to restrain the pint sized kid's flames. It was too much to bear as the eyes of the young-ling soon grew to resemble a true carnivore's.

~Let..my..friend..go.!~ The golden fire - light flickered to start a blaze inbetween the mad demon's set of claws. ~Hot to the touch..what do you take me for? Not on your level brat!~ The powerful back lash had the extra drain from simply keeping this youth still ..it felt as if he had Aiden's-

"I sense one more ." The king used his other set of fingers to rub his chin. Intrigued as it attempted to speak back.. ~I know you...my original spirit knew your ...creator-

The demon dragon gripped the young entity's wings painfully to respond. His darkened sight was nothing as the elderly Djinn Eternal in the ranks! The golden lord had to stop his enemy! Aiden had to face the-

"Ahah..! So you DID revive! What a world as it turns! ..Aaron StellaNova..of the Star Capital to damn this lord!" With a trickle, the light in the youngster's eyes shut away. A cry emit as the teen aged Aaron from the Titans' mis -adventures, came toppling as a spirit , out of the lizard child's incomplete, near tangible form.

~You are a beastly ghoul! Let the boy go! ~The magic as before had changed Aaron to seem a bit older. The light blonde tail that held to his side was cropped back to remain hidden. A small relic was attached to the teen self's hair tie. His robed form was a ghost as the capelet swept round to encompass the falken soldier. Roku had to fall today, yet the golden hatchling was still not ready to fight fire with dark artistry!

The king cocked his head as if amused. He certainly had been correct. Aaron of Alicia Daia's affections-

"She,your dearest princess is where I might dwell? Why indeed had I not seen your distress sooner!" The dragon's fangs shown terribly as he laughed this discovery to rest. The intangible Aaron became quite pale. Alice was...

With his arms open wide, the king decided to let the rebel child know. He had only caught a glimpse of the chosen's new role. Why not decide if the rest should follow suit? Roku would send the teen to fly back to his sorceress. The dragon boy's aspect, would stay . Aiden had yet to fre it's truest guise. The phoenix would not reach the king's realm even with that obnoxious notion over the sun's direction!

"Yes..your lady is waiting. Once I overtake both earthen- and Eternal sanctions! ...Then, once I reap every last mass of misery from their worlds, there will be no happy reunion left to comfort your send - off." The blonde stole a glance over to the dragon babe before vanishing to return to!-

A whack!* Aaron in spirit..could be rejected? The king laughed to this without any pity in his features. A vile damned..he was still not repenting enough!

~What have you done?~ That could only mean, Aiden had lost his fire. The dragon child was not strong enough to repel the soul stealer king! Aaron could not roost within the golden hatchling's aura...he was going to lose his form!

The dragon chuckled as the young sage of old crawled away. He reached out with arms that were not there to save his companion. "So, he was your host, Aiden was in fact his. However, that is to be questioned. The little one here belongs...you, do not. " The flash of fire from the king's next attack had the seer struggle to dodge the blast. He missed his opportunity as a second wave of the dragon's control left the blonde teen twitching in pain. He reached out with arms he did not have. Not strong enough to hold her..to save the golden...-

Another hit had the spirit's ability to remain tangible dampen. His form flickered as a thousand fluttering insects. ~Make this so dragon! I will not be beaten!..R..re...turn! H..him! NOW!~ Another pulse unseen sent the sage to take the blow miserably, just as Roku had desired the lost soul to return as. In shambles.

"Oh don't worry about your charge! " The dragon grinned while the blonde's false body had begun to break to pieces. "My Alice,my Arisu is not dead yet .." The look on the seer's face disbelief. Denial. A tear trickled down before he'd finally left the hell - hole to it's recent victims.

The king swept his cloak to the side with a sigh. The young dragon-ling was still within his left, clawed hand. With a grip far more devastating if Ami as her old self had seen, the king squeezed out that light to revert back into the speck of fire light. Before the young lizard had ever been granted a form... Aiden's companions were far from yet to arrive. "The boy's power gave you a form...Manifestation..even if he denies the majority..we share the same destiny.." The king laughed,then had a drone shadow figure bring out a darkened, yet tinged red shard. "You just won't embrace it...so play your happy story over and over inside that box...it will not allow your humanity to remain...not while your rite carries MY essence!..My !* Lord Destiny? Why did you hide him from my sights? A grandchild...just as the prophecy shall conclude..." The dragon's energy of a flickering flame was then encased within the shard. An heir...finally a reason to move foward...

"This is my master plan Titans!...I intend to devour your time into the void, as you'll soon lose sight of your world! ..The one to see to this,will be my protege ...the same payment* you took from my good deed. I will reclaim them all, as your very final demise...!"

Without a sign that all would be ok; without the voice from within his miserable heart, whatever washed over his senses, came as a wave to struggle towards the light unfound.

/

Aiden bobbed upon the seas of his own subconscious. His limbs felt next to non- existent. His eyes were not shut, yet they could not see. Pitch black as a night without stars, the boy scrambled for a switch that was not there. Just as his family's premonition had lasted, Aiden had been chosen by an odd source.

A king.

A Dragon...

A destiny...a destined...-

With a cry to awaken his senses, the boy awoke to someone he wished had died long ago. ~Mortal no more...~ The hollow, ghostly moan of the one responsible for dragging the true demon from his underworld cell. Lilith's disembodied...

~A ghost! You! You...you should be dead. After what you did to my sister!-

The deity damned for eternity shook her wafting white strands to respond. ~He was my only affection. You too will die to be reborn, just as a Phoenix.~ Her smirk remained passive. He would suffer just as the last Power Source before he- And the last before the very era!

As a wraith currently, Lil had no reason to aid the chosen she had once wished to drink dry. By now, Roku must have sensed her presence . The boy had to hear her words quickly before her unruly student caught their converstaion mid- way.

~Then listen well to my warning child, if you so desire to remain yourself.~ The cat's eyes of the witch unwound to mesmerize the boy- yet he saw through her gaze to peel away. ~No. You'll just take me away and hurt my family like your-

~Quiet boy! Your are playing right into HIS hands! He intends to break you by every way possible! That includes methods of absorption; which if you did indeed take my note over that, you'd be away in time to save your heroes before that becomes of your humanity!~ Lil had never been this...tooth aching , cavity wrenching enough to consider herself a sister! She felt her eyes wash away what could have been , enough to realize that the young child of fighting flames NEEDED her guidance!

~You are just as cruel as the guy keeping us all locked up! How CAN I trust any of you?~

The witch wondered if the child felt too sheltered as before. Being kept in the dark wasn't any fun. Not all alone in your dreary dwelling- now placed within a hopeless labyrinth of turmoil.

The wraith had of course no desire to save the boy on her own- Roku would gladly admit her soul , he would acknowledge it before she'd have the chance to wring both their necks! Oh , if only her beloved student had gone about her generous offer...in a different manner...

~If...~ Aiden had trouble forming his words to not agitate this already insufferable woman spirit. A ghost. Was she going to haunt the blonde until the dragon destroyed them both?

With a gulp, the fourteen year; old, floating as his astral embodiment of the self, finally grew the courage to continue. No matter what, she may have...been pulling strings, but for reason to use that ...if Aiden could escape...

~If I let you work, to help us both out of here, will you keep your end?~ His eyes turned towards her slowly. The gleaming orbs of two backstabbing individuals held strong behind each of their gazes towards one another. Lil saw an unknown factor behind that boy's hazel turning to a reddened amber. ~Roku...you wish to stop him? Why not let mommy and Oh yes...he was dragged off into your manifestation with the king!~ Her sneer had Aiden wish her ability to flee his own. If only she'd...

~Dad isn't dead yet. If I stop him...there may still be-

~Time unfortunately stands still for no man, woman or offspring to a daemon. You have less hours to ponder the answers, than you originally had given...the questions? ~ Aiden wrinkled his nose to think of why the witch had spoken so oddly...

Her amethyst eyes had his attention now...

~Those mutts and tyrant spirit priestesses knew. They believed you'd eventually see reason! 'Stay far from our fight!' 'Let mumsy keep you safe from we devils!' ...Yet unlike you mortal souls against your allied gods, we were once as mortal as they come than your gods. They threw away that sorrow. That joy... No longer the earthen realms did they give upon it their branded 'justice!' You and I? Left over to bide our time before your world had yet to turn to ash by a simple want of an 'answer. ' ~ Lil's polished fingernails still remained pruned, dangerous and rather curved towards her next victim.

~I still want you to fix this. He's as big a monster as you say you're not! Lying about it won't help anything. First step. You turn yourself over to my dad and mom's 'Titans' when we finally fix this whole mess!~ Aiden swished his arm purposely out to display a world outside the wall of their voidless dance.

~Do this, and I won't let anyone else see you again. You'll be free to get caught by someone quicker than dad or the Justice League. Save my family, get me out of this stupid tunnel, then put everything back to the way it was. ~ The kid was demanding the impossible as Lil felt her jaw want to snap over his ...she had never been so rudely demanded of..the child had an ability unlike his Phoenix fire twin's..she felt...he should be a power source..the material matter drove her to promise that unthinkable whim.

~Once my body is near- whole, I do advise you , hire a powerful saint by your side. I am after all , the lust of power and desire that your...family has been happy to avoid until ...~ He did not let her end her sentence with a stomp fowards into this drifting air. It was a wave of sound so rivetting Lilith thought her hearing had been lost temporarily.

~Then if you lose one of my wishes, slip up on any of those orders...I'll exercise you myself. A pro would be kind and painless...~ The shiver of the succubus had Aiden mentally pissed. Witches like the dark haired kidnapper shouldn't hold any power. They were pitiful...so weak...

~If I do...so now, we will have remained well aware regarding one another's warnings!~A devil's chirp was enough to ripple against Aiden's comfort level. His blood boiled as if she were a flea in need of the exterminator.

Red inside the powerful, dulled amber had Lil look past his true emotions. Roku would toy with both his captives..how could she convince...

~Child, I know a way to gain acces to his side of the veiled - over illusion. ~

Aiden raised a brow with an attempt to cross his arms. ~What then?~ He frowned, waiting for the evil being to share with the boy her idea.

~There is an..interesting character whom willingly serves that king...~Lilith rubbed her see- through chin to ponder the past. Roko was a weakling for his admirations.

~Yeah? So , can't you just fly out..oh...you want ..a host!? I should ha!-

~Matter child! I will never rise to assist where there is no outlet! I require a breathing body to make mine for the time remaining on the surface world! Your mind believes dark and light to never have such a luxury , just to coexist? I do not do as you not say! I am helpless without a form to cling to!~ Aiden felt his chest beat frantically. No deals..he had marked someone's life to let the owl devour them!

~I will dispose of my role within that host, all as soon as Roku is destroyed. My promise is not for those unworthy and my boy, you are anything but special...Roku is attempting to harvest enough energy from your siblings...he can never be satisfied with one soul ! The source he seeks ...is as an everlasting spring...ever flowing...so! You will do it? Permission then to harvest my mass of a vessel and move fowards ? I will not let you starve inside these walls. You indeed called out..~ Lil faked a sweet smile to cool the child's jets.

~You...you'll be out..how will we get there? Is this really another-

The bold witch shook her head. ~It is all an illusion. To gain something..even I have no way of truely guessing the dragon's intentions...So listen close. Do not strain your ears. After being granted this allowance of my power, I shall not fail your word...No mother of the day should ever be left to become her own 'ghost in the mirror...' ~ Aiden nod by her reply as the void turned to spin faster . Round , around. Her magic would not lessen here...her powers would last..until the final step...*

/

The finicky beasts belonging to both Lothos ; and once Shadow Von Hert , had been given limbs to grip with. Even eyes to see as they slunk dangerously amid the streets of Jump City, all the way directly towards it's largest local board walk.

The pier was dead of course. This dystopian earth was not full of joyous moment , nor anyone eartling to dispense upon it's amusement rides in droves. Carnival staff were none. Sounds; zero. Sights were of despair and solitude among the destruction of the Titans' last home. They had to figure out a way to blast the Nightwalkers to kingdom come! Slade was left with his uniform ; filthy and singed by the beasts' lethal , toxic sludge.

Robin; a.k.a Damian Wayne,was busy trying to signal the heroes via unit. Oddly enough, it crackled but worked in spurts of conversation. Raven still had Zatanna as her go-to for a boost if their reserves dipped too quickly.

She and Cyborg had different areas of recharging. He remained with an extra pack of juice, or durable cables. Even during some missions,the bot's extra battery was already replaced and ready for action. Raven though, had to depend on something different than only electrical currents.

~Azarath Metrion...Zinthoos!~ Another hit had the giant towering nightwalker to it's knees before a second scout had come to -

It had been unlikely that the younger members of the Titans would recover by what had to come next.

The old; the one Raven had beaten to a pulp had been joined by...the new scout...who ran in as a veloceraptor, swept over towards the dying mate, then dove in for the kill. Limb by limb it became wholly part of it's kin. It's action as prey had fuelled five more to do the same. Only the raptor eaters on the ground floor by Wonder Girl , Kid Flash, Slade , as well as Damian, were still not as attracted to live prey as their older mates hovering above.

Raven stood stalk white when she'd seen both the tragedy and Zatana's widened eyes. Her mouth remained covered by the gloves of a magician's daughter.

This wasn't good. It was a hunting ground..and the Titans were officially live game!

Slade hit a box of crates that splintered all across the walk. Damian had not seen the worst as the tar coloured fluid from the creatures...had started to form a single vessel! The blobs moved as blob monsters to cross across the bridges,roads, parkways, they were immense! The vast majority had still grown! Why had Deathstroke not skewered this dragon's ...he had..it had only built more in the dead's place!

"Those originally...were tons!" Wally gaped with his poor jaw past aching. "You..we have to bust these butt- less things? I don't wanna end up lizard meal for an ugly-

The sounds of snorting pigs filled the space. Those blobs, the cattle, had come to lay down ther lives...even as a single destructive force to erase for their king. Since being born by miasma given shape, the creatures had never been able to carry anything out other than their direct orders.

Hunt.

Capture.

Kill.

Eat.

Drink.

Combine.

Programmed from afar, Lothos had to be in a bundle of gut-wrenching fits. Raven had to mentally prepare for the fated wave.

Her eyes and clothing turned brilliantly of light to shoulder her area as the last survivor of Azarathian law.

Zatanna was dumbstricken- yet Raven was about to fly off!

~Electro Speculatum!~ A bit far fetched, the magician's child forced out her electric spin on the battle with a few bolts. One in particular was met by someone in the air-

~Gar! She had forgotten to use his identity instead,yet the demons were of no use in the area for mind games. Destroying the faliures came first and foremost.

~Watch your flank young lady!~ The tigress or lynx without it's tail..yet the size!...Changeling was flying as a crane beside the powerful deity!

~Wah! Oh, Right! ~ A hit from behind the girl had been dodged with time to spare. JinMae's madame had completely shut the Tankit clan child away from this battle.

Gar let out a holler as his sandhill crane body swooped down for the touch down. His long legs gracefully felt the dusty red earth without fault.

~Why are you not with Cyborg! ~ Raven reprimanded with her powerful sights far too full of light to see behind. Min as her adult hybrid woman of the veil's form looked right through her defenses. They were not making enough progress...

~Listen! Cy's ok! He was with us but the tower..was pulled in..too..-

Raven said not a word as she and Zatanna continued to beat back the largest Nightwalker . It was absorbing the blobs, the few stilt legged land dwelling demons,even the air was losing it's vital importance They'd be dead of deprived oxygen before the start!

"No time!" WonderGirl flew back with the stampeding clumps at her heels. Their objective was to become the rest of the gigando Night Walker ! Raven still had not recovered! Also, was that-

"Oooohh mama! Here they coome!" Wally forced his legs to lead the blobs to water, a large enough body to drown the mass. It was what he'd felt could have ended their trip -

"Incoming!" The speedster saw one other diving their way. One seriously hot - to the touch - Kori who had an expression enough to-

"Make waay! " Starfire dove to shower deafening blasts onto the squirming creatures. Some lost their shape, others moved towards dry land. The rest had found that terrorizing Damian and Deathstroke raised points. WonderGirl shot off to catch up while Starfire , Zatanna, and Raven kept the dangerous Night Walker menace from gathering it's sacrifices.

Wally head off after the heroine super star to keep an eye on Wilson's stunts. This battle was way over Damian's head! The kid had more bruises than the two could inflict upon the demons. The stilt walkers still acting as mad as possible had gone after the males to gather their strength. Slade had no choice but to keep his word that the 'prince ' would not fall by his blade. As long as Slade did not have a damn batarang in his gut, they could run as far astheir legs could handle .

The mutation from stilt legged to praying mantis had the boy on edge. "We have to find the Titans!" Robin ran out of pellets far before his staff had been snapped in two by the strongest's jaw. The swords and few batarangs remaining..one smoke pellet...yet...

Slade had the gems of a true merc.

His body WAS a weapon. His grip was iron fortified by mega - science. All for war? Yet that never passed the assassin for hire long enough until his next strike. Wally burst past with Wondergirl. Just a few grazes left the beady eyed mantis minions to sniff the teen's blood wounds. Their legs picked up speed to near - rival the Kid Flash's two fancy feet.

" Roob!" The teen smiled sweatily while knocking over the actually clutzy demons , while brushing by Slade's attempts along the trek.

"Took you long enough! Help us out! I'm down to my last weapon-

"Then claw your way through!" The deity Min had separated enough to have her Lynx form rip through the spectacle.

"Old ..wise man was it?" The sniff of Slade to the cat's comment had her chuckle.

(Slade in arc three to four of this tale, used the guise of the old man from the Teen Titans cartoon. He had Veronica posing as a dance academy's owner. Yet Roku back then to the male was still an enigma. Slade was as the one doing the king's bidding, able to form as allies with JinMae's bad daddy from under the heroes' noses. He was just a fat cat, she the spoiled child in arc three. So there was a connection...yet Roku ruled the eastern direction after winning the place instead of Bao Shi. Thus, he took over with an iron fist to forge his alliances just helped to bond them back together after the dragon's banishment to the pit. The other arc where Dick escapes and meets a kitsune named Hajii is why Roku had such power behind the scenes. The emperor under the red beast's protection was proof of that as well. The Titans were deemed outsiders and the ones to recognise the difference were of an open mind and heart , as well as spirit. Back to this arc!)

Min's big cat self was merciless against the hunted. The mangy dogs squealed far too loudly!

"I..will hunt these demons..you...raww!..To your comrades! Go!" "

The shreds of dead shrounds turned to sand meant that 'mud'* was no longer 'fertile..'*

(Sand or rocky minerals such as perilite, lime, etc are mixed with loamy medium to reduce excess moisture in gardening indoor/outdoor and to alter care. Mud on the other hand is rich sometimes for plants to grow after the rain. It holds pleanty of organisms to promote a healthy earth for garden life. Indoor plants, they need more time to dry a bit. Sand is partly a loss of vitality which means the mass monsters cannot grow.*)

Slade spun back towards the grinning she- devil with a grumble. Yet his tongue was held for other matters once Damian had shout out across the pier side for his long- time enemy.

"Get moving! The boardwalk is gonna collapse! Huury uup!" Kid Flash grabbed the young leader who had no reason to protest as far as the speed of light would bring them.

Wally pushed on to grab out for Slade's arm, instead, he had been shot down with a smack on the wrist to go without him. "You're crazy! They are gonna break the entire!-

"Falling into a pit of lava was far worse Titans. I assure you. Get out of this place! Do as the cat says!" With another Shwing!* of the man's aching sword,the cat lady knew his heart had strayed in..a different direction. ~I grant there the power to shower the earth! Bear your wits! Fight!~

The roar of JinMae's tiger sized nocturnal left renewed energy to flow throughout the assassin's bones. "Thought your daddy hated my old-

~Nay..~ The kitty said via the speak plainly. ~ I seek no grudges to last for my remaining hours...face the battlefront, ye of a reknowned honor!~

Slade did more than face the threat. He became it's worst nightmare to date.

/

Wow! I think the Titans will have to learn how to deep sea dive unless they can obliterate the 'core' issue. It turns out Roku has taken a shine to his son's last vessel's children. Evedn proclaiming his right to be their mentor and..grandpa?..Well, Slade hates the dragon's allies . Though Min is gracious enough for giving extra gun - power to a down - and out - assassin - for - hire! Dearheart was not so lucky with her choices. An illness has overcome her enough to collapse after a war council meeting! Lizzette has no intention of seeing her village burn however. The rebels are on the march!

The guardians are pretty high strung as well. Their efforts to deter the chosen from running into the enemy's arms..not so perfect.

Kayu is even being pushed fowards by Nina- who was not precisely missing in the meanwhile...

Isa and Astarte had become separate forces. Thus, Nina wanted to be on the winning team. Kaien is pulling his youngest ; Aria's leg for a meeting with Catalina. So far, the true notions vehind the black widow, have seemed less cut and dry as Sayu's possession of her mark.

Cecilia is in fact bargaining her life and strengths with the widow to gain access to space time. Even with foresight as the Crescendo's priestess, Cici cannot go to the worlds she sees in her dreams. Raven and the high arc Ethereal can for an alotted period of time.

Alicia Daia has even dragged her host's classmate to go after the chariot racer Astarte's posse. Anna Grayson does not realize why the few were taught valuae skills , nor why Astarte had sent them to a dangerous world. Truth; she did not. They were pulled in like the Titans searching back in their timed line. Illusions seem to be a specialty for our dragon lord. Even if his lady Roko did steal a device to enhance the flow of time!

Lil is not done making a mess of the heroes. She wanted Roku beside her. Yet he wanted her drowned beneath the bay. Now, her astral left - overs are pieced together enough to scare Aiden witless in suspended animation! Alchemy paved the way for many scientific no- nos. Such as trapping someone inside a globe shaped, magic mind- control bubble.

Though, has Amelia really done her worst? Ava had to scurry off in time with Shoji..though never got her chance. While the dragon plots, the tides rise higher.

Aiden is teetering between falling flat,and losing his old life to live a new one. Aaron Stellanova has been beside the teen to revisit Alicia within Lisa one day. Now, the dragon- ling has paid the price for hiding it's light away. In arc; An Eternal Tommorow, Roku was obsessed with the Golden Dragon, knowing what era it was to arrive, yet seeking the decimation if Alieah's last resistance. The teens stopped his attempts by a single banishing .

Now, the dragon knows how to get his prize. Since Grayson only compensated with his mortal form, Aiden and the children would be pegged as the payment to undo the hero's curse. A not so happy end since Kori will burst through to supernova dive into the creep dragon's lair! So stick around for chapter eleven! The plot thickens so read on!*