Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter 14.

Chibi Malchior

Darkness.

That's all Raven saw.

And it was all she would ever see.

"Raven?" The voice was filled with concern.

Raven groaned. "Is it dark?"

"Er…" The voice hesitated. "Well… some of it is."

Raven opened her eyes.

And saw Starfire leaning over her, looking concerned.

"What's going on?" Raven sat up and saw the others all standing around her.

"Rorek managed to break Wraithe spell." Said Starfire. "Then we saw you fall. Beastboy saved you and the something came from Wraithes hand."

"What?" Raven dreaded the answer.

"Darkness." Said Rorek. "Enveloping darkness that covered the city in a shroud so thick no light can penetrate it."

"We fled from the darkness as fast as we could." Said Starfire. "And we were fortunate that it stopped halfway over the sea."

Raven looked out the window. And saw the darkness covering the city.

She hung her head. "I could have stopped it." She said quietly. "But I was… weak… Wraithe was threatening Malchior and I… I shouldn't have cared… but I couldn't let her hurt him…" She felt a hand on her shoulder.

"There is nothing wrong with caring for someone." Said Starfire. "Even Malchior."

"Speaking of which," said Rorek, "where is Malchior."

Raven turned to him. "Malchior is… gone…"

"Gone?" A shrill voice snarled." I am not gone! I am Malchior."

Raven felt searing pain in her shoulder as a tiny dragon scampered out of the folds of her cloak and clawed its way onto her shoulder.

Everyone looked at him. Malchior glowered.

"Er… " Raven glanced at Rorek.

"Wow…" Beastboy whispered.

"Oh!" Exclaimed Starfire. "He is so adorable!"

"I'm not adorable!" Snarled Malchior. He was about ten inches in height.

"Oh, I don't know." Rorek seemed to be trying not to laugh. "I think it's a good look for you."

Malchior glared at him.

Raven gently lifted Malchior off her shoulder. She held him up to her face by his wings. "Er… Malchior… are you alright?"

"Of course I'm not alright!" He barked. "I'm… I'm…"

"Tiny?" Suggested Terra.

"Cute?" Offered Starfire.

"I don't want to be cute!" Malchior wailed. "I am Malchior the terrifying!"

"Terrifyingly cute." Said Starfire.

Malchior growled. "Alright, so we've established the fact that I'm tiny. Now shall we worry about the city enshrouded in darkness?"

Raven let go of him and Malchior hovered to the ground. "He's right." She said. "What do we do now? The city's a major hazard. No one can see anything."

"Look's like Wraithe won this time." Said Terra glumly.

"Possibly." Said Raven. "But there could be a way to remove the darkness from the city. If we had enough light."

"Oh come on." Snapped Beastboy. "Who knows that much about light?"

"More to the point." Mused Robin. "Who's so fanatical about light that they'd know how to drown out the darkness."

Everyone stared at him. "Somehow boy wonder," said Raven, "you always manage to find an answer."

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On the outskirts of the city, just out of reach of the darkness is Jump City prison.

Contained in many of the cells are Jump Cities numerous supervillains.

In one cell in particular, there was light. Lots of light.

So many lamps covered the roof, the walls and the floor that the light was blinding. But that was how the occupant of the room liked it. "Yes." Purred Dr. Light. "Drown out the darkness." He was holding a torch and flicking it on and off in a compulsive way.

Suddenly it was encased in black energy and ripped from his hand.

"No! The light!" Exclaimed Dr. Light.

"You can have it back later." Said Raven, from outside the cell. "Right now we need a favor."

Dr. Light edged away from her. "What do want?"

Raven sighed. "We need light."

"Everyone needs the light." Dr. Light smirked. "The light can never be extinguished."

"Actually," sighed Raven. "It can." She opened the cell door and walked towards Dr. Light. She reached out and flicked off a lamp that was perched on the windowsill. She pointed out the window. "Look."

Dr. Light followed her figure and his eyes widened. "It's dark." He said. "In the middle of the day?"

"Exactly." Said Raven. "That's why we need your help."

"Why would I help you?" Sneered Dr. Light. "What's in it for me?"

Raven looked at him calmly. "If you don't help, then the entire world will be plunged into darkness." She smiled evilly. "And I know how much you hate darkness."

Dr. Light swallowed nervously. "Perhaps… perhaps I could help… just this once… in my own best interest of course."

"Good." Said Raven.

"And," continued Dr. Light. "I'll be a hero. People everywhere will praise my name!"

"Er…" A drop of sweat trickled down Ravens forehead. "I wouldn't go that far."

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Wraithes citadel.

A massive construct, huge and black and spiny. It was formerly Titans East headquarters but Wraithe felt she could make better use out of it.

If someone were to focus their attention on the floor of one of the halls then they would see a vortex appear in the floor and someone shoot out of it.

Speedy landed with a thump.

"Ow." He stood up with a bemused expression. "Where am I?"

"Somewhere where you shouldn't be." Said a familiar female voice.

"Cheshire." Said Speedy. "Good to see you."

Cheshire loomed out of the shadows. "It won't be nice for long."

"Where am I?" Repeated Speedy.

"Wraithes citadel. Formerly Titans East headquarters." Cheshire smirked behind her mask.

Speedys eyes narrowed. "You'll pay."

"Oh dear." Said Cheshire. "You're not worried about your team are you? I'm sure they're in a better place."

Speedy snarled and lunged at her. He bowled Cheshire over and pinned her to the ground. "I'll send you to a better place!" He snarled, raising a fist.

"Now Speedy." Cheshire sighed. "You wouldn't hit a girl would you?"

"No." Said Speedy. "But I'll hit a demon!" He pressed his elbow into her windpipe.

"I'm seeing you in a new light." Croaked Cheshire. "I had no idea you could be so dark."

Speedy increased the pressure but Cheshire made no move to stop him.

"Aren't you going to fight back?" Speedy growled.

Cheshire slowly reached up and touched Speedys cheek. "Why would I do that?" In a blur of movement Cheshire knocked Speedy over and ended up on top of him. "I'll win anyway."

"Why are you doing this?" Whispered Speedy.

"Because I have to." Murmured Cheshire, leaning down so her mask was an inch away from Speedys face. "I'm an assassin."