Teen Titans; An Eternal Tommorow; Chapter 14: Never Forgetting My Own Wish.
/
Slade had been able to gather up some items given to him by the dwellers of the fairy forest..Young Lady Dearheart was the clan's last daughter, and had taken over her father's position when she had found of his failing heart..
She knew it couldn't have been a coincidence that the dragon's evil energies might have reached their homeworld..or that she now had to pick up in defending from what was to be- the omen of death upon them...
The new comer ; Slade, had not realized that Veronica was watching her back as she tried to carry out gathering an army of her own. Lady Dearheart had come to her senses , backing out of the ploy to overthrow the maniac king from bringing the worlds to a standstill. He wanted them to see that the ways that they lived now, were a fraction of what he planned to build...In the rumors, it had been an entirely new plane even greater than the fabled, lost, Ethereal plane. No one was sure if they wanted the captive villain for an extra helping hand. Giving him the neighboring title ; omen of death, saying because he could not die, he would become a greater threat...Slade didn't disagree with the villagers. In fact , that had already happened on earth! Too many times as the unfazed Deathstroke...He felt that it was better to play the wanderer, in case they decided to probe him for answers...He shivered at the thought,then continued looking out into the mid day sky. Trees hid the people from outsiders that would wish them harm, though it was quite peaceful. He could not stay with them unfortunately. Seeing as the remaining skeptics still dubbed him; Omen of Death...
Chuckling, the tween had felt his body gain back it's strength as soon as he had been able to leave the room inside Melu's ward. She had also been a bit cautious around him. He didn't mind her staring at him like some...criminal...He huffed as he recalled his vast network of elite killers back on earth, and the employers that wanted him. Yes, criminal was too good for him, he would rather be placed in the lone wolf category...
"You are ready?" Melu scuffled behind her teacher as the elder lady asked the question. "The medicine in capsule and powder form is ready .You can carry it when their is any relapse. Other than this-
Melu bowed and lowered her moon shaped ears as the elder put up a palm.
"We are greatful that you have been our honoured guest here, whenever danger arises, fight boldly, but do not overwhelm your still recovering form. I wish you the best of luck. Would you like us to allow a guide to take you to your destination?" She asked the mini assassin who simply shrugged. "Just for the halfway point, don't need to make myself too visible." He replied to the lady.
She brought her dear assistant to find a young spirit healer from their town. Her name was Koko and had the ability to fight as well as defend and heal. Her garb was of many different influences. Though she did not have elven ears, but animal ones! "I am from the Wolf clan in the eastern realm of spirit. You may call me Koko. You will take the path , and I will gladly give guidance when need be." She was too much like that Rini...he didn't groan, knowing they were doing all they could to help a traitor. She he held out his hand to grasp her's. The two waved farewell, and started to climb up the mountain. There they would find a vortex that could take them to the next plane on the list. "She said, in order to get back my lost spirit, and form..I will need to deliver a weapon to the chosen few...-
He froze on the spot. That witch had played him for a fool! The chosen few were the Titans!?
/
The team had finally been able to contact a very concerned lady Isis, who immediately sent word by messenger to all the planes- excluding the one that could not be attracted. Raven explained that their leader had been pursued from under their noses. But by Lilith, and then Roku, who was able to have what he wanted without any complaints from his former ally...
"Lilith is dangerous, but Roku is all set to bring about some sort of...rebirth! I think that from what the goddesses told us, there is a way to get to the plane before the dragon." Raven looked back to her team; the ones she needed more than ever, counterselves and all to stop the take over!
"Then..." Starfire tapped her friend on the shoulder. "We must go, we cannot wait...Arianna has told me that the others are waiting to meet us , to storm into battle-
"Unless we can prevent it...stop the dragon from calling the Ethereal's high order.." Returning to stand as Kay instead of Cal, the prince in white looked to the green fields, something was in the midst of a fight with twin dragons!
"Duck and cover!"Cy and the others rolled down hill to escape the guard beasts from throwing them all in every which direction. "I do see him!It is our 'now sorcerer ally'!" Starfire pointed, then got up to swirve, dodge , and zip through the mist of the fog ridden slope. "Sorcerer Gregory! You are unharmed! Please tell us, is this where you were sent to follow his voice as well? My dear friends will bandage you all up, so please try to stand.." She helped up the stout magic user as he coughed in relief. "I am relieved to see you well too princess..We will not have the effort ..the dragons are numerous. They have just hatched, heh...this must be a nesting ground! My comrades..cough*...Malchior and Lady Alicia will be under the keep. I do think Verra is presently searching as well...Just like old times...eh?..." Starfire saw his pained expression, having fought these children of the earth and sky...she said nothing as she and the team found their way to a door, tucked underneath a wild shrub. "Under..ground...Then that castle?..." Raven stared at the structure surrounded by swirling mist. "This way is easier than my farewell, to Malchior and Allie...They were given direct access when I was being swarmed. You found me...I thought they would have made a supply of my meat.." Greg's grim comedic relief was too grim! Bb huffed as the door undid it's hinges. "To the underground...We'd better get going...I don't think those lizards have seen us, but wouldn't count on it. We are sitting ducks here!" Cy closed the entrance as soon as the others had gone ahead, he was the last to follow. "Sigh*...Next stop...center of the earth!"
/
Verra was first to reach the main hall to the lab center, he just hoped that cats were still lucky in some places! Seeing as his hybrid form would cause a stir...
The puppets in this illusion were not fully , there...almost half of their very souls had been replaced. Drones was all he could think..Rokuro was NOT in this hellish hospital! No way!
~It isn't the past..but it isn't the alternative ..what, or where, is this void? ~
Verra was the first also to see a familiar face in another room he passed on all fours. "That is!-
The mad scientist vibe was written all over the character's features."Regis.!.." The cat hissed and wanted to transform back,to tell that newt that he was an idiot for wanting dark magic to thrive!
The cat slipped back into the shadows, his eyes now slits as he observed the direction his old college bud was going towards. ~ Not getting away!~
Vee felt his blood pump as he dashed, becoming the shadows as he became a blur to tail an old enemy. He could have sworn, that Regis was mocking him, the dragon could knock them both down...but the coward!
"Enough fun and games, old sport." The magic using scientist stared down his attacker from behind. "We should settle the score. I have a busy scheduele and have less time to dawdle. Will you follow me please?" The dragon's doctor pulled the cat forth as he returned to his guardian self. The man blinked and hurried along as to not lose his enemy in the dark. He realized his original intent might be lost, so he paused to question. "You have not seen his motives? Is this the past? The Reginald I remember could never create full blown illusions...or worlds at that..who are you really?"
The imposter let out a laugh as he changed back, to Rokou . "Found me! But this isn't an illusion, that was incorrect.." The fox smile that the dark self flashed, was trouble...
"You are going to be in trouble , I found out that you are here...you sure Roku won't get testy over the mishap?" Veravakumu huffed and smoothed back his hair to tie it. "Just fight me, try it. That is what a prized killer of the king was sent for right? Not a great disguise by the way, if you were to get a number...3 out of 5!"
"Better than zero I suppose.." The teen simply yawned, trying to throw his foe into a daze wasn't going to work on this cat...
"No fight then?...Figures, you are not the original to know what's best anyway..Raku .."
The teen froze, looking off into the warrior's eyes his voice wondered shakily. "W..What did you just, call me?" To the cat, he now knew. Rokou was Not a part of Rokouro's child self..He was Roku's!
"A little birdy told me you had another name, one that was given to you by a djinn, which split from you when -
"End it cat! I no longer follow that sand dragon any longer...was it that damned Eternal whom we locked away?! I saw her...you were too late. She has been dead since the end to end all ends!" He was sweating fear now, trying to be a bully, just to-
"So...Roku is still in your head, kid ..? Call him out! He is becoming too bold for his own good!" Rokou summoned a blade to his side. "Neverr! You lose! Now dissappear, you filthy dog!" The teen had been called out to defend Roku's name..
He was not that being...he was!-
Veravakumu flung his spear to drive the teen back, time was running out . Roku was using the kid as a decoy, he had yet to fall. Veravakumu used one move to knock the kid into a comatose state, but he was surprised when the boy felt too trapped by his grip. The other sided teen, Roko was surprisingly quick, as she kicked from under to force him to allow her to be set free. "Roku...You should find help...You are just going to be!-
Verra now was avoiding the blows as they were easy to evade. His swift four footed work payed off, as he used the cloak to trip up the teen from fleeing the scene for good. "Agh! I will finish you !" Veravakumu returned in form to try again to immobilize the teen . This time he was met with the selves screaming together in unison. What trials had!-
"Just calm down...it's ok..." The teen was again back to a child like state, and again dragged back to his owner...Veravakumu slammed a fist into the floor. The room reformed as the illusion burst to reveal the staggering Rokou heading back into his lord's waiting arms..
He had yet to arrive , Roku was unseen but the teen continued to call out as the dark field grew thick with miasma!
Verra was almost able to see a portal at the end of the darkness, but lost sight when a familiar character's creatures squealed as they crowded him. Shadow was alive?
"Easy my kittens...He is not ready to meet the end yet..." The great shadow rider was as a spectre. He was see through and held a dark atmosphere around him, to cloak his missing pieces. "How are you faring , brave cat? I am glad to see you still kicking!" The demon laughed in a cruel way with a chuckle. He rubbed his chin in thought, trying to decide if he should finish the dog off. Would his lord be pleased with the results of his enemy being eaten head to foot?
"Shadow Von Hert...You were missing nothing I assume? Hiding like the coward you are, you will never be a real threat!" The guardian cried over the squealing blobs of black. "This ends, you of all creatures will be full only when you are finally dead! But that's not possible...the dragon isn't going to let you move on-
"I am in with that..It was never of my intention to leave lord dragon for as long as I wished..." His regal attitude and how he seemed to shine from that mention of being a cronie made Verra's hair stand on end. He shrugged off the dogs as he left the pile to attack the shadow rider.
"Let me pass!" His claws barely fazed the barrier that had been placed up by the demon to protect himself. The cat had grown fierce...he could use this...
"My wolf companion said only that you were never fit to rule your kingdom! He said you are like shadow, to he ; the mist...how unclear that dog is! Yet I am understanding you perfectly well!" He send a gust to try and dissolve the attacks that the cat was using to defeat him with. Verra landed gracefully, but noticed that an old wound had been uncovered! The dark mark not yet healed by the white wolf spirit!
"You are not going to leave me in the hanging!" His powers slipped over to immobilize the dog from his discovery. "Gah! Shadow! This won't be the end!" His body changed into the dark wolf form, not as badly wounded but easier to manage thanks to a new skill!
The large wolf ripped away the curtain as the shadow rider hopped and levitated over to a better setting-
"Not a very nice thing to show...We shall meet again! Lost guardian!"
The world turned back into the upper level of the castle as Vee was sent back to square one. He right away heard a rring from his side. Turning back into a warrior, he pulled out an old keepsake, it was still active?!
"Titans!? I am here! I know where to look for Roku and your leader! Please respond!" He almost shook the device in a furry, but refrained and waited with eye and arms crossed.
"Vee! Duude! It's the fox! He still has our number! Ach!-
Cy pushed the green teen aside with a playful shove and nabbed the device from his hand. "I thought these were offline? How did you find it? When..no, are you in? When did you get to this place! It took us a while to stop falling into other portals!" Cy groaned at an annoyed Raven, who grabbed the unit from his hand as they went through the hidden passage further. "You are in the castle? Then tell us where to meet. We are currently underground, there was a tunnel entrance that Greg had Alicia and Mal take." She explained as they watched for small yet tremorous cave ins.
"I too cannot see or feel their presence...Verra in that form must be close to contained? They let you off I bet, with a warning?.." Kay looked into the static filled unit. His silvery eyes narrowed as he searched the cousin's background for any evil spirits...
"I met up with Shadow Von Hert...Only after going after a fleeing Rokou...He is disturbed...What the hell is Roku doing? That kid is not a full self..he carries two soul halves..." The guardian's voice darkened as he walked back to retrace his steps. "He is...then what other soul does it's character possess! What have you uncovered?" Greg stopped the team with a whisper. Verra sighed as he recalled the girl of Eternal worlds bound law, kept locked away inside a mirror that had been during the prince's trial in escaping that night. He had failed, and had even gained some praise from his father who caused his fear to grow...of his powers!
"Raku..Ring any bells, cousin? Sorcerer ?" He asked as he slipped un noticed towards a dreary library, that lead him deeper into the castle...
"He...Raku is Roku's old name!" Greg realized as he sped up to catch the teens. "He is...that can only be!-
"His son's darkness...was his own embeded darkness?" Raven looked over to the white haired guardian. "Then Rokou is not Rokuro's other self? Roku made him?!" Starfire gasped and froze at the thought. "Then that bad morblik was a con person...a cat that copies! He was telling the truth...Rokuro is innocent!..."
"Then what about Hakuro ?" Cy added as he trudged up a smaller step, as the way got narrower and shrunk for him...He huffed as the way seemed to only allow one person at a time to lead .
"Hakuro...Was neither of Rokuro or Roku..." Verra bit his lip and tried to find the hidden door, pulling book after book off of the shelves. "He is here because of a bond with Rokuro's past self..." Bb blinked and looked to the cat through the unit. Giving him a hard look he frowned and shook his head. " The little guy...had nothing to do with...Then where did he come from! The *hem sandman guy; Dreamwake I think...said Allie is just like him. She has another fairy...in her too! I uh - mean spirit..." The teen fixed his spoken error and let the older talk. "Alicia too...Wouldn't have guessed, but Roku isn't going after!-
"Vee! Hey! Yo, Verra!" Cy grumbled as the unit went black. "Out of juice?" Asked a curious and concerned changling teen. Cy shook his head in disagreement. "No, I don't think he was alone in that room..."
Bb yeeped with Star as the last remaining door was unearthed. "Fingers crossed y'all, this is it!" The door swung open, to reveal a dark dungeon. The teens shivered but realized that it was not the only room attatched. Starfire pointed quietly to a sleeping guard as they tip toed soon after down a long corridor. That led them to more chambers, which felt dangerous in all honesty to have come across in the first place!
"Not diggin this location..It gives me the creeps!" Bb shook as if he felt a chill. Raven ignored him and trekked on down the passageway. "It's getting close.." Kay and she both nodded in unison.
They opened a new door, only to come face to face with two of their guardian allies. "Raven! Just in time. Wh-
"I am sorry! He has been out of sync since finding this spot!" Alicia groaned and hung her head with a sad expression. "I can only recall, he may have been exposed to a bite from a hairy...bug...It has not left his system! I am not able to retrieve my satchel. It was discarded in the field where-
"Wiz!" Her eyes shown while fighting back massive tears , trying to gather her thoughts together!
"I am well...But Malchior...Why is he.."
"A spot shant harm the living! I think tea time is in order!...Hello Raven, I am very happy to see you too!-
She almost felt like laughing her lungs to death! He was dillusional! "How long was it since he was bitten? May we not tend to-
"He is...also recalling his dark dragon self! If you try to reason with him! -
"Agh!" Alicia was knocked over by the teen's now prominant purple dragon tail. "I am fine, fine! I will be better when I have a cuppa! Now don't be shy!" Raven gasped as the others went to help a helpless Alice from the stone floor. She just stood, confused and shocked as to what had happened to her...companion...?
"Stand back!" Sorcerer Greg had been able to collect back some of his energies, but this was out of sorts indeed...
"Aura Of Shadows! Lend me your ability to see through to the lost spirit's heart!"
A light blue flame surrounded the exiled prince. Raven tried to back up Greg, while Star and Bestboy guarded Alice from the blast. "Malchior! You promised that you would stay ! What is wrong with your powers!?" Raven struggled as his tail knocked them back. He was manifesting a tea pot set, and a setting to go with it?
Taking a long sip, the teen's eyes opened to reveal slits...of a dragon...
"Might you be interested in some information? Why am I a dragon in the flesh... or becoming one? Quite a confusion for myself as well! One minute I am talking to my old foe, Rorek...the next...poof!"
"Umm, you said poof? What are you! A kid? Stop letting him win! You are gonna go-
Mal was not satisfied with their noisy voices. "Kid? I am just a gentleman weary of the fighting life! You might join me if you had any brains, what do you say? Bygones be!-
Sorcerer Greg gasped as his spell started to take full effect. "Wh- What is this magic?!" He cried out as the relieved older magician started to use a binding spell to keep him from running off!
"Hah! You shall not hold me long! Wh- Wait...why are you!?"
Raven and Kay combined their energies to knock the teen out cold, yet his tail had shrunken but not fallen off...
"Has to be a trap...Whoever is responsible, Come out now!"The one to answer them was none other than Isis in the flesh. "Malady...What are you doing here!" Greg gaped as she removed the mark from the dragon boy quickly. "They are not going to wait for us to arrive to stop a thing! Veravakumu is far ahead, he made it to the lab section...it was a warped illusion. Even you, Alicia and wizard Malchior met the fabled queen down those halls!" She pointed at the princess with golden tresses and frowned. "You too almost lost yourself to his world!"
The poor girl bowed as she had realized her error. " She did not send us to this part of the keep, we were lured here! Though I cannot recall the attacker's face..."
The goddess of the old world looked to Raven next. "The hall to your left will have a portal. It will send you to where Verra is, who has already continued to carry your weight.."
Raven stood before the lady queen exited the dark chambers. "Why are you telling us to hurry? Isis! Robin is being held ...if Roku makes him non existant in Rokuro's place!-
"You are guardians. There is no need to fret...It is almost time! Please listen to my words! If you wish to save him, then go!"
The teens had understood, carrying their pride behind them, they could not win. For there was no longer a time limit!
/
Hakuro was less and less talkative, not his normal peppy self at all...Roku had been able to play on the tween's fears of losing his own voice before. When in the past, Rokuro had been in control. Rokou feared him, as well as followed him to meet the end.
Richard struggled, now half aware that his body was regaining consciousness. He took it upon himself to gather information...
A lab built out of thin air, an illusion and a prison that held the selves separately...
The dragon was mixing something...his mind tended to stay grounded, but sometimes tried not to recall the past. Dick did not remember the past through his eyes! So why recall it at all? A faint feeling of a chill passed over the teen. They were being watched...
Hakuro was now wide awake, trying to identify the intruder's presence. He needed to play the follower to fool that damned criminal...But was he really fooling anyone?...
"Young ?..You are an Ethereal spirit!" The shadow wolf that had been hiding behind the container gasped. "This is not a place to tread upon...I have lost many to this prophecy...The young prince is no exception. You two must unite!"
The tween put on his poker face once more. "You are not welcomed here..Rokuro is not your owner. He does not wish to see you!-
"Many lies! You have been chained down to this realm. For it is of the past, it is in the vault guarded by a keeper like yourself..." The boy froze as he felt his spirit leave him. "Spy then? Why have you come here!" The wolf pardoned it's nosiness as it sat it's rump to the floor to continue.
"Aleiah sent Tsani to guide you...if this should continue, you might never be able to finish the rites of passsage on that plane.." The boy started to tremble. "H- Ha- How do you know about me? I was abandoned ! You are wrong...!"
The child got out his only weapon. As himself. "You have ...to leave! Rokuro...just forget about him!-
"I am afraid I cannot do that. For I too was tasked in aiding the prince...He summoned me, thus I must carry out my mission-
Hakuro started to laugh, a bit high pitched as he tried to keep his emotions at bay. " He doesn't wish to fight for himself, so he summons us! Just to fight and be destroyed by his father! I get it now, wolf! You are being tricked! He will never end this fight! I won't except it ...nononononono !"
His powers swept him into the air , all while trying to banish the wolf before Roku returned.
"Hakuro!" Dick shouted over the winds as the teen weakened from the call back to his current world. "I hate...you Rokuro!" Richard's eyes widened as he continued to fight the fear that he would lose as a falling Ethereal! Just like Roku had wanted...
"That is enough !" The tween let out a frightened gasp and fell onto his side. "Roku...He is not!-
Roku said nothing as the boy curled up and shook , trying to stand and look the dragon in the eye. He found that the dragon's sight was too strong and turned away with a sniff. "The wolf...you knew nothing about that creature called on by my son...from the underworld of the gods'."
He watched the young Ethereal try to grasp what had occured, almost baffled at his own messy hair and clothing, he knew this would have to end soon...-
"And it will.." Roku replied as the boy growled back. He had found his connection through Rokuro to be useful in keeping the lost gatekeeper in check.
His eyes glanced up to the ex Titan, still trying to see through the mist covered glass of his container. "The time to settle this dispute will come to a close, right now, we are going to start faze two...Follow me." The dragon watched as the container holding Richard started to fall teen rubbed his muscles and tried to stand. "We are going to stop you..." The teen grumbled to the god, loud enough to be heard.
The king had heard, he had also read the boy's unmasked features. His fingers waved over to Hakuro who had come to his knees. "Bring him along. Do so, and your other 'friend ' will be forgiven." The youngest did not protest this time, as he staggered over to his new rival, and proceeded to drag him along down the hall.
"Wha-
"Be quiet. You will not win, let me do this.." Richard complied and pretended to be asleep, just so that it would be easier on his dwindling strength.
/
They had arrived inside a room that held many different instruments. This was not appealing to poor Hakuro who tried to just ignore the voice calling him to his world.
The older teen soon was dropped, hard onto a table. Noticing he had not just fallen asleep, but felt like his body could not move, he tried to speak. That only earned a bound wrist to the table, his head was looking into some vortex. That must have been...
"Hakuro! Don't do this! He's trying to trick you into changing! You have to fight back!" The hero panted fear as his whole world did a back flip.
"The last pieces are in place...to fight? When are going to stop believing what that dragon says and start trusting yourself! He is using you! -
The tween returned with only himself , a weary smile across his cheeks. "I have always know of the powersource ...it was because of me that you existed differently , changed by our prophecy...Now, you can have it back!"
Richard's arm was pulled to rest onto the Ethereal's chest. "Sacrifice my spirit, and live ! You can end it, save your world through Rokuro!" He was...
"You are absorbing him? He allowed it? I will not though, you are nothing but a vessel! Give him to me!" The dragon sent Rokou to fight back, causing the older to try and use that power to escape, while holding onto the little essence of Hakuro's remaining life.
He shielded the child from his attacker. Dick tumbled onto the stone floor, scrambling to stand or at last scurry low to the ground. The child of light was becoming stardust in form as the titan tried to fix the magic by returning it . To no avail...
"You are going to fall apart! Haku! No! Wake up!" The teen trudged to reach an exit, yet found it blocked. His eyes were filled with tears almost, possibly from the tween's dying influence. "I won't let you leave here regretting your choice! So please! Wake up!" The dragon had his blade to the back of the older boy's neck, just as Rokuro had tried, he too would fail to defy a god!
" Return at once! It is your own fault that Hakuro is losing his power. He has wasted precious energy. On you! If you do not finish the rites, then I fear he will become a wanderer of shadow! Hand him over, now!"
Richard felt his body grow cold. Was this the end? Was he going to lose his spirit and strength at the feet of this monster? Hakuro...was counting on him!-
~ Do not cry...Please take my form, it will become a power to cast out the dragon from your world..~ The young Ethereal returned to lay beside the older human boy, but not as a being, but as a blade of light.
"Hakuro...you are right..."
The god retracted his dagger. "Hmm?"
"You are going to help me, to free the prince's world!"
/
A thunderous pounding sounded right outside of the doors to the keep, keeping the fabled hero at bay. The dragon rose to see to the racket. It was too late to demand a thing as four guardians, and four remaining Teen Titans took the room by storm!
"The end isn't happenin' on our watch." Cy held his energized cannon steady.
"Right here." Bb had become a griffin as he continued. His talons razor sharp, he could only imagine those looks on Tara and Skylar's faces. He looked pretty good in a lion hearted way...
"And forever..." Star brought her powers of both her's and Princess Arianna's to light.
"Titans Together!" The team charged into battle, weapons up, fighting spirits higher than they had ever been. They had the advantage, to stop a war!
/
Dick moved and dodged the weak blow, the king gave a growl and slunk back to avoid the teen's new sense of security in his hand. "He manifested that, from his dying self? Then he is still alive in you! My mistake for thinking you had anything to do with my son's control..in fact..." Richard felt at his face as the red sight returned to engulf him further.
"Rokuro was taking a nice long nap.. The fact that you exist, means that he will need a vessel! You do not know his ability to control...he hides it well, yet will that save you from being destroyed by him!" The teen's gazes fell onto the outlaw in red and black. The dragon was laughing loudly, and changing! "She will come to me! For she is the only being alive that can stop me!" He took hold of the world, warping it once more as the teen struggled with a little of Hakuro and Rokuro still existing in his world. Rokou soon was pulled in, knowing what was going to hapen, but dreading it all the same!
The winds whipped around the group as a larger vortex opened inside the space. They were drifting up, higher higher , higher into the realms of oblivion. The forgotten plane, where it once stood, was at the center of nothing. Just as a void it allowed nothing to shift, or change shape. Rokuro laughed as he realized all of the power from the teens had indeed come together. Strong enough even so to bring him to Aleiah's world...
/
"It looks like somebody just wrote stuff on a chalkboard...and then..." The realm's power spiraled around as it settled where it needed, then vanished into that starry eyed dusk.
Bb yelped when he thought that he would be next. The the young Titan's surprise, that wasn't the case at all. They just remained, floating in that world of mysterious magics and symbols, hoping that they were not alone or unable to go back...until they could go.
"Where in Zaal's name have we been transported to now?" Arianna's eyes returned to answer her vessel's question. "The lost plane of the Ethereal's ...was brought to ruin, but was rebuilt to house very few . Only a chosen few may tread here, even the great lady known as...
"That is...Then , she is here? Roku must have been after her...she was said to have had a connection to Queen Lorelai!" Malchior awoke to the sight of an empty, silent, yesterday. "Have you come - to?" Questioned a still rather worried Alicia. "I , was supposed to save Hakuro...he is not here! He was not even alive...what happened?!" She cried next to Raven, who shook her head. "That woman, Time's daughter...she and Rokuro's mother, his real mother are..."
Her head spun back around to see her worst fears be realized. "Get down!"
She shoved her friend's forms to be unnoticed, noticing that the dragon had now returned to his full strength. He had Rokuro, as Richard's ...as himself...which meant...He had done it.
"So, here we are again..." The dark lord's eyes looked like a raging fire from the bowels of the plane of Lilith's that the teens had witnessed earlier. "I have won. You have never met the creature that cursed my ability to transcend time and space...it was hard enough recovering at least some leftover portion to maintain a slightly, longer visit.."
The prince was dripping fear,anguish, and sorrow, as it soon melted away into another form. "Yes sire..." His voice was a drawl agreement that he could forget, could lose every hope of being freed.
He was slowly forgetting his role as savior! At this rate,Robin would be..
"Now, come out fabled goddess of creation! You cannot hide your face forever!" Roku swung his power over a relic of Death's to hover over their heads, trying to tear away the veil!
He slashed and tore all of the creative formulas to leave them broken and withered. The voices of the prince's selve's became fainter and fainter. He was slowly going to forget! Yet, his own power, his own spirit!
The sounds of the sickle thrashing around in the space time room made the prince more nervous...Roku was going to kill her!
The room echoed , causing the mists of the world surrounding it to open wide. ~ I know why you have come...~ The goddess's voice echoed through a much older speak. ~ It was to curse me for giving you your one happiness, only to throw all of that away, to know nothing would change in the end!~ Her powerful form was similar to Queen Lori and Rokuro's own. Yet her hair was a darker teal, straight, while her body made of the dress called the stars and the moon billowed around her. All as she held a musical instrument to her chest the manifestation of her song took hold of the heroes hearts.
"I do curse beings like yourself , that is too true..." The god chuckled in her presense as the lady's hollow blue and star filled eyes narrowed.
~ You wish to do away with more than just man, not to simply recreate life, only to see it lose all strength..for this I have always feared of you since long , long, ago...~ Her body wa now floating down to feel through the walls that held her power over time itself.
"As do I recall, as to why you say that the consort I took was my happiness...you are sorely mistaken...she is dead by my hand. You will never see her again while that Dragon Earth holds a portion of what remains.."
The goddess shook her head. ~ You do not fight for her,but for your perfect answer...that I will give no one the rite to know. For if the truth were to be seen-
"Enough of this trip down memory lane tip off, WHERE is that golden dragon? I have been told it lived during my past, yet would you know yourself? It still exists - a being of great proportion that has the power to rebuild!" His grin grew large, while Rokuro's body started to shake.
"The dragon is said to reside in the future...a reincarnation to the boy's own blood! The one I bring before you, had not sired it...he was put to ends when it would have been your undoing! That is why I could not live! He had to die for my sake!"
Starfire was furious. Arianna in a projection aided her to stop the show - down between the dragon and high lady goddess, her bolts flew far off into the dragon's line of vision. He turned and laughed at the thought of being stopped by a descendant of the Star kingdom.
"Robin will not dissappear ! Rokuro knows that we all want him back from your evil clutches!"
The Tamaranean powerhouse dove to rush to her leader's side. "You have not tried to change! Rokuro is not going to either...you must-
The lady Ethereal queen stopped her in her tracks; her musical notes from her instrument mirroring a small mix between a cello and violin, as well as guitar, made the world dance like nothing the heroes had ever witnessed before! ~ Here we shall decide the outcome. If your prince shuld vanish, or be saved...!~
Her hand swept out to point in the direction of the dragon. Starfire could have sworn this god - like being was staring through her from the sidelines as well...
The dragon king broke from the glance and went into her free space, trying to gather power from a small sharp shard. A remaining red one!?
Raven bolted after whispering to her team mates to stop the dragon. Just like before, he had less power here. They could shut him down in one foul swoop.
She turned to shadow as her projetion of the great Raven she had been endowed with, took flight.
Rokuro threw up a shield as Cy's cannon proved less effective without a boost. Bb got into the form of the tiger from the fest with the elemental brothers of the stormy skies. He circled the teen as his leader's eyes tried to remain blue,as red and black irises were trying to take over his sight. ~ Dude! Snap out of it! We are trying to bring you back! Roku's using his own kid to get revenge! C'mon! Even you know he's loco already! Don't...Give ...Uuuuuuup!" The teen pounced and was able to pin the older to see his eyes come back to their normal shade.
"B...he's...in...!" The dragon's son shoved and thrashed as his own set of claws retracted. "Aagh!" His body was much smaller than the tiger's , but his inner power was tough to understand. His fists struck the tiger in the side while his boot decked the beast in the chin.
"Dude!" Bb tried again, this time as a bat he had the way of the dark in this world. " You are not even trying!" He flew and swooped over to blind the teen, giving his face a good scratch with his tiny claw toed foot. "Wake up!"
The teen's reaction was to transform his hairtie, to turn it into a sword. Bb gawked and dropped his guard. The enemy attacked. The poor green teen flew back over as a bat to Cy who shivered as his bud clung around his arm. Trying to see that the fight would be fair, they switched while Beastboy went to help Rae and Star fight the dragon. Alice pushed on, seeing as she could get through to her dear cousin. "No more!" Her arms out stretched, she flung herself into battle. Her great staff clashed with his borrowed power's sword. A part of Hakuro existed trapped inside,ready to let him know...he was going to cause the rift to deepen.
His arms moved on instinct, measuring Allie's hits and sending them back ten fold!
Alicia felt her face beat red, sweat dripped down her chin. Her cape around her helped a bit to minimized her exposure to this teen. Two voices mirrored one another as her eyes shut for a time. A barrier prevented anyone from entering her space. The time she had here, was all because of her new allies and friends...Her power grew, her very being became white light as Hakuro's had been. He would not die this way! She would help the Titans to set the prince free!
Alicia's Arisu projected as a helper, holding the prince's blasts off while Alicia in her almost Ethereal appearance gained the strength to stand. " I offer truth that has been lost. Spirit that has been cursed! Light that has been stolen...Be returned!"
Rokuro did not even try to flinch as the magic of a second child of light washed over him, bringing him to his knees. His eyes and hair changed as his power by his father's desire lessened it's hold over him. Richard blinked up. He discarded the borrowed blade, to return to grasp the one that was currently Hakuro's form.
He stood , ready to step into the light as the dragon cussed under his breath, discovering that the goddess's chosen few had beat him...
"I refuse to come quietly! Rokuro will return to my side, seal that prophetic will all the while! You have not seen the last of me! Titans!" With a touch by the goddess in blue's fingertips, he melted away, leaving the shard below where the great dragon had walked.
"We...he...just went, poof!" Mal slapped his face from the younger teen's comment. "Yes, but where to-
The ground suddenly started to raven haired teens looked to one another and nodded. "What? What is happening? Did we not vanquish him to the depths of any such demise? Why is he simply unseen?" Arianna quaked in her own boots as Starfire returned to see to her leader. "We must leave here! The spirits of this world Princess Arianna said , will not remain very friendly for long!"
"Raven glanced over to the Tamaranean girl, a dire sort of dread filling her unconsciously. "How do we get back to the Celestial-
The fair hearted lady of time levitated over to reveal a part of her form to be more human. ~ Like the Ethereal and Eternals I do not speak in many languages.~ She replied while noticing their pain. "We...you are Aleiah...Time's Daughter..." Raven gasped at how noble she truly was in their presence. ~ That is a very out of date title, I am merely a goddess that sees to the balance between the many worlds. Tsani, Tsuyume, and my dear half children Lorelai and many others as wellas oneyou may remember...she died by the prince's hand in a collapse..Her name translates to 'Reflection through the mirror's surface...~
/
Vee had been busy with helping the guardians fight the rift's tear. He had used too much energy just to patch up the seams. In the form of a warrior he recalled the record keeper from the past image of the castle. "She died during an excavation of the Ainsley Castle's ruins...Rokuro was back to find out more from the time of his journey...he ended up sealing her by his father's influence over Rokou...I met her when she told me, she had already died. Being able to look back, he had a lot of hardships to take...just to supress his king's regret...damned dragon!"
"So...you are omnipotent. Which means you know the truth. Why we are , unable to know how to go back-
The goddess held up a small palm to the Titan's leader. ~ You have no need to fear , Roku has been banished to wander in an endless void, created by his victims' dark sorrow...~
"The pit of ends?" Cyborg asked slowly, still having trouble with being so light up high in the air!
"You...created a new world? Incredible..." Alicia gasped and thought of that power being greater than Roku's stolen sort.
"Yet a prison...Will he have any way to break through? If it is the case...You must find if he is truly trapped! Perhaps that form of his...Rokou is not his son's. We believe it may have been a combination of their souls...in order to take control over my cousin Richard Ainsley's powers!"
The lady of stars and galaxies did not blink. She had always felt that the dragon's thirst would one day be forced upon his own son...
"Then can we not remove the curse? Will our leader truly never be what he was on earth? Please, merciful one of many mysterious truths..." Starfire got to her knees and bowed low, she did not want to lower herself, not unless it was for her friends...
"Please save our hero!"
~ I have already found what it is that ails his heart...~ The goddess returned to her great space as it switched to form a mandala over their heads. ~ He has to quell the sadness in Rokou , then Rokuro will be able to be released from the dragon's claw.~
"Rokou..But he is the past of Roku! He might!-
Mal was hushed and let the lady finish her mind spoken explanation. ~ If he is able to thaw the cursed child's heart, all will return to the present...Roku should not interfere. If anything should be known, whether sorrow or unhappiness, call, to your guardian. Hakuro should answer...~ With that, the lady opened a new portal, asking that the fallen leader enter inside. ~ You cannot call upon a greater power from your friends.~ She turned slightly to face the prophetichero from earth. ~ It will all depend on your ability to resist the dark. Be well, and may all of the world's blessings reach your own energies. Bring him home, this I am sure you and only you have the ability to make right again!~
The teen did not hesitate as he hugged his friends one by one, soon filled with a great power unseen by the naked eye. As he was enveloped into the portal's light , the teens shouted enoragement. They would have him return , together ...they would return to earth; Speedy would already have been led back by young Aluehainyu. While the co titans would be waiting with fingers crossed for the rest of their friends to come join them for another celebratory bash!
/
Inside of the drifting void, Rokou lived out the loop with a frown on his face. He never cried when he was made to take the blame, and became more distant than his creator had originally expected.
Dick looked down from the doorway leading towards a pathway that allowed the two to meet.
~ Been a while, you fought the dragon? Any luck in rescuing the little guy...~ Rokou mumbled a bit of his speech through the speak.
Dick nodded. ~ He was able to save my life, and then Rokuro' s.. just lie he promised. Then...~ He clutched the small blade in his hand. ~ It was all because Roku was unable to face that guilt as himself, instead he used his only son Rokuro to fulfill his desire of getting revenge on the world that had made it impossible for him to leave. He went crazy...but, he remembered his revenge and imprinted that hate into you 'selves' ~ Richard reached out a hand to the prince's half self, his inner voice that had been bound by Roku's law.
The teen swished back his hair, shaking his head with a weary chuckle. ~ It's like you lived his pain...~ The Titan continued. ~ I promised to set you free. That is why I am here. None of this is something that will go away. I have promised to carry your own weight-
~ But you will! -
Dick grabbed a hold to the teen's dark clad shoulders. ~ I did this all of you! So that you can be happy!~ In a great bear hug, the dark teen was crushed. His eyes were turning red and puffy, his nose ran, he shrunk in height, his whole being felt an extreme relief wash over him. For the first time, in a very long existance that had been cursed, he was happy...Someone wanted him to live on! To breathe the same air, to accept the same comfort and warmth...that he had only dreamed of!
With a sigh and a whisper, he was going to be able to leave the confines of Rokuro's saddened world. He could move on by passing on. With that one last bit of life of his previous confinement, he left the closed realm, those words still lingering in his savior's ears. He was set off, finally smiling with own joy tokeep safe.
"Thank you...my hero..." Were his last feelings of that fleeting 'Good Bye'...
/
Oh...wow...Such a fluff moment I almost cried...sob*
We are coming to a close very soon,now that Dick has fulfilled his promise to set the dark counterself free from his father's wishes. Hakuro will be back, but not as himself...He has one more task before moving on to return to his own world. Maybe a parting gift? The dragon of golden light was found to be Grayson's own unknown kid? In the future? What will the future bring for our heroes! Find out next time, the finishing chapter is on it's way! Read on, to find out soon!