Ch 37

'Raven! RAVEN!"

Raven gasped as she awoke, sitting up abruptly in a bed that wasn't hers but in a place that seemed familiar. Looking down at her body, she realized she was dressed in what was a white silk dress. "Where am I? What—

"Raven!"

"Cyborg, where—She was interrupted by his arms around her. "Something bad happened, didn't it?"

Cyborg let go of her and sat beside her on the bed. "We were fighting Slade. Man I swear that guy's got nine lives our something. Anyway he had new monsters at his command so we got back up from Titans East. You got hurt pretty bad and somehow you opened a portal. Slade saw this and was coming for you, but Bumblebee and I intercepted. His monster left the other Titans and was heading our way. The odds were against us, so Beast boy told us to go into the portal and look after you. That's how we ended up here."

"Garfield, the others, are they—?"

"I—I don't—wait you said Garfield?"

"Yes, I call my boyfriend by his name. You can make fun of me later."

"You got your memory back."

"I lost my memory?"

"We fought Adonis. He knocked you out and then your aunt and uncle kidnapped you. Luckily we found you but you had no memory of us. We were helping you remember."

"Ho—how long?"

"Two years. Raven we've been here for a year. We don't know how to leave this place. We were hoping you would."

"What is this place?"

"New Azarath," said Bumblebee as she walked into the room. "Good to see you awake."

"No," said Raven as she got off the bed. "We have to leave now," she said. "Azarath Metrion Zinth—Ah!" she screamed as she suddenly felt dizzy and sat back on the bed.

"Get your strength back first girl," said Bumblebee. "I'll get you something to eat."

"Thanks," said Raven. This place felt different from Azarath. It hadn't been tainted by her yet. She wanted to keep it that way.

Raven had showered and dressed in another dress given to her by the doctor who took care of her during her coma, but this dress was black and flowed down her body making her look like a dark greek angel.

"Wow you look amazing girl," said Bumblebee.

"Uh thanks," she said as she blushed.

"Ready to go?" asked Cyborg.

"Yes, let's get out of here," said Raven.

Following Raven to a safe and secure place, they came upon a field. The field seemed to stretch on forever and gave Raven a sense of piece. Taking a breath in and then out, she concentrated on the task at hand.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven said as a dark portal appeared before them. Then she concentrated on the place she wanted to be. As she opened her eyes, an image of Titans Tower came into view.

Cyborg smiled. "Well all right!" he exclaimed. "Way to go Raven."

"You two go first," said Raven. "I hold the portal and follow."

Raven watched as her friends entered the portal. Looking around the field for the last and only time, she stepped out of New Azarath and into her home, Jump City. When her eyes fell upon the tower, she was horrified.

"What happened to the tower?" asked Cyborg.

"It must have suffered some destruction when we were fighting Slade," said Bumblebee.

"Where are the others?" asked Cyborg. "There's no one here. Raven you think you could sense them?"

"They're all at the hospital. They're alive, but we won't know the extent of their injuries until we get there."

"What about Slade Raven?" asked Bumblebee.

"I—I can't sense him. He could be dead, or he knows how to evade my powers somehow," said Raven.

"We should get to the hospital," said Cyborg. "Do you have enough energy to get us there Raven?"

"I should be fine but just in case be prepared for any kind of landing," she said as she covered Cyborg and Bumblebee with her powers as she took off as fast as she could to the hospital. She was hoping she could get them there safe.

The trio ended up in the hall of the hospital. Raven felt a little dizzy as she held onto the wall until Cyborg helped her to a chair. "Thanks Cyborg."

"No problem."

"Titans East are in the room second door to the left," said Raven.

"Thanks Raven," said Bumblebee as she kissed Cyborg before checking in on her team.

Raven got up from her chair, found her footing, and led Cyborg to the room their team was currently in. She felt butterflies in her stomach as she reached for the doorknob and then she felt Cyborg's hand on her shoulder, encouraging her to open the door.

"Hey y'all we're back!" exclaimed Cyborg as he entered the room with Raven.

"Friend Cyborg, friend Raven thank goodness you are both back!" said Starfire as she floated over to her friends, giving them a gentle hug. "I would have used more strength, but my ribs are bruised."

"Glad you're both safe and sound," said Robin as he stood up from his chair, a cast on his left arm.

"Right back at you Rob," smiled Cyborg as he looked to Raven, who was looking at Beast boy, unconscious on a hospital bed.

"What happened?" asked Raven, never taking her eyes off of Beast boy.

"After you, Cyborg, and Bumblebee went into the portal, we resumed our battle with Slade and his monsters. We defeated the monsters and then it was just me, Star, and Beast boy against Slade. Eventually it was just Slade and Beast boy."

"So, what happened to Slade?" asked Cyborg as he looked at Robin and Starfire, who were looking at each other with disbelief on their faces.

"Beast boy killed Slade," said Robin. "He became the beast. He seemed so shocked after he did it. His blood was all over his hands, and I had to make sure it was really Slade. I had to know, so I removed his mask. It was Slade."

"Why, what would possess him to go that far?" asked Cyborg.

"He said after he killed us that he would find you, Bumblebee, and friend Raven. He said he knew how to find Raven and that he would kill her slowly while telling her how he killed the Titans in detail," said Starfire as she held herself as Robin brought her into a hug.

"We're all here. That's all that matters," said Raven as she squeezed Beast boy's hand.

"The doctor's say—Robin was interrupted as Raven started to heal him. "Raven, are you—?"

"Yes, my memory is back," said Raven as she concentrated on healing her boyfriend.

"Are you sure healing Beast boy was such a good idea?" asked Cyborg. "I mean you could have waited until you got your strength back."

Raven was slummed against her chair next to Beast boy. "No, but we'll need a few Titans to fight if another villain should arise."

"Raven's right. Three Titans are better than none," said Robin.

"So, Beast boy's still a Titan?" asked Cyborg.

"I know they'll be consequences for Beast boy but as of right know he's still a Titan. He'll always be a Titan no matter what happens."

"I agree with Robin. Friend Beast boy saved us," said Starfire. "For that there are no words."

"So Raven, any idea when he'll wake up?" asked Cyborg.

"I've healed him, but he's exhausted. He'll wake up but your guess is as good as mine when that will be," said Raven.

"So, where did your portal take you, Cyborg, and Bumblebee?" asked Starfire.

"A placed called New Azarath," said Cyborg. "Raven was in a coma the whole time we were there because of her injuries. It was actually a nice place."

"You and friend Bumblebee must have a good time," smiled Starfire.

"Yeah we did," he smiled, "but we missed you all. I mean a year is a long time," said Cyborg.

"Speaking of a year how did you function without your energy source?" asked Robin.

"I built a new one with some help from the people of Azarath. They're surprisingly innovative in their technology. What about you, Starfire, and Titans East?"

"It took the whole year to defeat Slade and his monsters. We took refuge in the tower when we needed rest but otherwise we were out on the battlefield."

"Yeah, we saw the tower on our way to you," said Cyborg.

"The battle moved into the tower," said Robin. "We were able to move it outside eventually."

"Well don't worry we'll have the tower up and running in no time," said Cyborg. "I can't wait to get back to my home sweet home."

"We have missed you, Bumblebee, and friend Raven terribly," said Starfire, "but we are all together again. I could not be happier!"

"I hear that!" exclaimed Cyborg as he looked at his best buddy resting peacefully in his hospital bed.