Teen TitansThe Chaos Round-Part Two Between Worlds, Against all Odds

by Inkblot24

Our heroes' plight continues as the Chosen's promised vow to a daemon of manifestation is tested -he's forced to fight his own sister to the death, an old enemy resurfaces, and a bond that could unexpectedly save his planet, is brought into question -find out the rest in part two! The chaos round continues, here!

8. Chapter 8

Teen Titans; The Chaos Round; Part Two – Against All Odds; Chapter 7: Through the Roundabout – The First Time you Looked at Me – A Price to Pay.

/

/

Ares was quiet. His eyes had not witnessed enough torment on his able soul.

Oh! His sister trusted, a demoness?

The Lady Roko was a threat, yet here he was.

Burying a dead deity.

A convicted one.

The Gemini brother had never yet gotten what was coming, not in his thoughts.

And…Not outside his cage.

The Dark - Chosen was a threat, mostly because of how he leapt at the chance to carry the daemoness – soul stealer's 'books' to class.

What a pup. Ares had only seen kings cower over a succubus that way, only in his time.

What a pet. What was to become of his freedom once Eris had decided her plans?

If she ever did wring the ink from that worn page.

Her mind was abuzz; as fragile and out of touch with her wishes as a maiden who had no pride in her future. Who could not decide on a decent enough end to one's reign?

She.

It bothered him. Deeply, he had wished to try over again, and yet….

Idiot! Agh, he should be ruling! Not she.

Chaos she was, once.

In the past, she had risen with her hands to command corpses. And whilst she still made men dance at her feet over such of these trials…

To his left, at the man's feet was his worst mistake of all. Her newest trial.

Slade saw as he was tied down, how Ares's fists scrunched into balls at the big lord's side. The male was in a pensive, never-ending disagreement with himself – one that Slade would be mad to exploit. He'd already teased an exiled princess of the moon into submission (mostly.) What could hurt a cowardly war god, now?

"Trouble with your, woman?" Slade itched to find a weakness; anything to have him freed, to keep Ares from getting anymore bright ideas. He was in a sense, able to rise from the dead, but not by a god cutting him down on the spot could he lie to the dirt and pray for a dent time to go.

There was no single force. The many existed because humans deemed it so.

~Humans may understand my plight, yet you are not like those other humans. ~ Scoffed the god as he was nearly ready to walk away from continuing this conversation in his own mind. He decided to kill time with the one he'd kill likely later on. He did not wish to start one here, not with the enemy traitor. Well, I was a pity. The war was already to its end.

Slade sighed; acting a if he had news to tell by how his eyes reached up to seek out a distant star. He tried to seem smug about his shortcomings. "I could consider this in your case, to be for the best, actually."

Ares paused; his pivot not as well pronounced by how it irritated the male. That, snickering dog.

~What are you plotting, demi - mortal? ~

Slade smirked back to the god, chucking softly. His white locks were in the way of his one last eye. The fake one more so clouded due to the blood still splattered onto its lens. It was a bit of dirt. Nothing major as he spoke up to the war lord.

"I mean, you are destined to create and destroy." He made it seem sellable. A sensible role to take on for a war god such as the alter- version of the true Ares.

The patch was proof that Eris could mock him, yet who would want to? He had teamed up with demons. Roku, Trigon. Who knew what others? This man was worse than a deadly, power source!

"Too bad. If you'd actually loved her, you would have caused her less strife to begin with. And, anyway. What is love to you, gods? Hmm? A touch? A mild caress? Being infatuated by those born from your own bloodline? I can tell you; she plans to reap you where you stand and trust me." Slade shook his mane and frowned at the floor, lowering his voice to seek out the darkest known parts of the god's subconscious.

"She'll put you in your place. So, join the club –

~She's only ever HAD my help! ~ Ares snorted out his bull – born nostrils. ~I have no need for being belittled by a careless chimp –

"Gorilla, maybe? At least they are documented to be better parents to their young. What do you think will happen to the children you have with her? Will she love them? Will it even work? As far as I see, she's not getting her adult body back so easily. Or, her adult mind..."

~She has yet to absorb the sources that have kept us from creating life, anew –

"And yet, Raku also destroys everything he's ever tried to raise from the dead." Slade added hurtfully towards the brandished god of war.

Ares could not hide his shame. Completely defenseless. Unlike Athena, he had nothing. No spears or weapons. In this body, he looked like a brat too…With only a heavy helmet to protect his self -image.

While that man had a patch. Someone important had taken his eye, he was harder to read than any immortal Ares had fought since...

His own two eyes widened behind the male's black helmet.

~She won't be loyal, this I know. ~ Ares said back to the male on the floor, currently tied down for the moment.

Slade nodded. "Those perfect matches never seem to hold a grudge, but she does. Admit it. She'd rather go solo than keep you in her thoughts ever waking hour."

Slade continued to push and push. Letting this alternate Ares in on 'tough love.' He'd done it with Robin, with Changeling, and Terra, and Raven too. Why not a deity of mass destruction? The saddest of all lessons a man could be dealt, in the form of crushing words to wound this god's pride.

Eris would take back her vows at the alter. Addie though, had done the worst BECAUSE of Slade's work. Not the other way around. She'd killed but not like him. She'd not refused to trade a life just because of some silly code.

~We cannot hold our union together. For she is disaster. Not all wars will end in tragedy. ~

"While chaos is not without rebirth." Slade put in plainly. "If it is her intent to do this plan harm, you should be the one to stop her. Not us."

Ares looked down at the odd duck of an ex -killer. Why was he giving a god advice? What was his plan?

Ares tried not to give in, but it was all so simple that it stung his ego badly. This man, was correct. As if he had lived the life of a god once before.

~I am off to our war; you must try to be still for the end. Otherwise –

Ares had power. He could MAKE the male obey. At least, the god could act this way until his mask was removed for all to gaze upon his young features.

Slade though, thought the intimidating part from the teen delinquent was…

Overkill.

"Fine. Ah, but one last request?" As he looked to the god who was walking away, Slade turned his eyes to meet the ageless deity's words. Even the threatening kind would do.

Tied in knots already, Ares frowned and twisted back around to reply, impatiently hoping to step away from this con - artist. The man had gotten under his skin. No more of this mockery!

~What is it that you request before your final hour of decay? ~

"I want to have one last, mortal pleasure before I am to die. A cigarette? If you are a bad boy, then you'll know what I mean."

Slade had quit smoking unless it were for his incognito days on missions. To him, it was an addiction with very little benefits. Unless you were in the army, then what would one puff do you in a minefield below your feet? Compared to a goddess of chaos's home base of operations on earth, he'd rather be in that god -forsaken trench someplace far off. Miles away from civilization.

Ares was relieved yet still wary of the man as he materialized a way to slowly kill a person. A vulgar act to he, the god complied with a small bow.

Through a hole in his throat, it would be the last breath he'd be willing to speak by. This man was so very powerful and cunning, that only a god could decimate THIS semi – mortal's thread of life.

"Don't you just hate it?" Slade brought the match to his gifted item and let the rest work. Not his first time waiting to die or be saved.

Slade took his puff and waited for Ares to fume off, to leave. He took his time.

A smirk, Slade at least, had done it.

He'd brought a war god to the brink of his days with only one word. Ares gulped as the man in front of him puffed out one last word before the wars above could tear this place back towards the under ground.

"Love. It never lasts."

/

A good reason to scream, but not good enough. …

/

Raku was torn apart by Eris's gritty disposition as well. She really did want her way or the high way to survive on this plane. She made it clear by how she never took her eyes off of from HIS suffering body.

~You held the power…. To make many anti – gods….so…Make me back into my beautiful self! NOW! ~

She knew that Raku had been the second or third Chosen in history; besides Horus and even Azag, only as the stories had claimed.

Yet Raku, could manifest far greater than his father's servants and retainers had known of their under -privileged prince's powers. It was Lilith who had discovered the gift he held, and Abi or Lord Destiny who had called it a crime to bear.

Destiny was dead thanks to this runt. Raku was going to give her the world on a silver platter, or else…

~GAAAAHHH!~~~

His body crumpled as she zapped, whipped, and screamed at, all wounds inflicted upon her once – oppressor. He was a whelp as he'd always been.

To her, a warning. NEVER to trust the underdog. He would bite your hand, always clean off.

She retracted her fingertips, and silenced her chaos – filled mind a moment to speak again.

~You made it so that I could not have this plane. You protect it, with them! The gods are indecisive! You know this as well as I, brother of sin!~

She again spat his way, then brought a weary hand to her forehead as if faint. ~You take my life, just to satisfy your ends. Well, I have an end you'll not yet have the pleasure of meeting. How do you like that?~

Raku croaked out his reply as he spat out a half - immortal's own blood from his sore lips.

~The only way, would be to have me…If you truly want…Revenge…-

~Sickly pup!~

She was thrown aback by the idea and snarled, whipping him twice, then once more before her breath of a dragon's anger filled the floor. As fog, as miasma painted white.

~I…Would…. NEVER! By Zeus's sole reminder, I will only lay with Ares and birth children of conquest by HIS loins! ~ She said this and crossed her arms, angrier than her time with the nit- wit Slade and his posse.

~But, does Ares respect you? Your goddess's rites…. Are difficult-

~Why? How would you know anything about me!? Because of your old face? HA!~

She threw the brat with more force into a stone wall as he yelled out in shock.

~ I am a goddess by birth. YOU are a bastard. THAT was why the gods hate you now, to this day. Your blood was no sacrifice, brat…It was a bane on OUR existence ! ~

Raku coughed up more blood. The debris this time was thicker as he wanted his lungs to just pop. To seize and give her nothing to shake around like a useless ragdoll.

~You…Should be respected…. I did that…You don't remember…. Not all of it…-

~WHY would I wish to remember what you did to me! –

~BECAUSE!~

Raku frustratingly interrupted. ~That wasn't me, that was…. My father. LORD Azag…~

As Raku dropped the bomb, time froze.

Eris looked ready to laugh, or scream.

~R…Roku never did this act; it was before his time –

~You went back! ~Eris shook, her head doing the same with her eyes full of fear.

~You could transcend –

~So too could Azag…. He was, corrupted on his journeys. He had his way with women like a god, and stole the life from those ready to pass…To keep them sa-

~Wrong! ~ As Eris shouted, Raku soon felt her power weakening.

He sat up.

~Azag was a cursed relic who took on the evil he was born to contain. The moon's darkest side, and I…Was a part of that ray of hope before Lilith turned me. Azag was there, for I cannot raise desert serpents to harm, even in my youth I was still, inexperienced. He stayed with you, after you had been taken. But…~ Raku looked at his palms. His magic was weaker now, thanks to Aiden's vows.

~My fate, was to one day rejoin humanity. Escape the flow of time, the self I came to grieve, was what held me back from such a feat. ~ He reminded the goddess, and stood up to walk away from her whips.

~No…. Demons all lie…. They hurt me, my body…My…Mine! It was not for your father…. Not for you! –

~Not for, Ares? ~ He asked, his own heart racing and quick in his ears. His heart, had never remained a weak pulse, for he was not yet here. Only as long as he was wanted, Aiden's light allowed him to thrive as never before.

~Then, prove it! ~ Eris commanded. ~Change me back, make me what I was! Before…You demons do away with her! My face! ~

Raku looked into the cherub's eyes of both blue and red. Water and fire. Winter and Summer. Still and active….

~I cannot. ~ Raku said this with conviction, yet he'd failed. She was a deadly goddess when provoked.

~You…Then you are a liar! If you have all the answers, why can you not save me?You are walking out the door, a crooked beast, always! ~ She snarled and readied her attacks.

~Slade! ~

"Had enough of being the princess's chew toy?" Slade slunk by the walls; cast in shadow, as his eyes only looked interested in fulfilling his purpose. To get back to the surface, unharmed, was his true want.

~How? You have not your magic? How can you still call to others! Tell me your secrets! ~She then summoned another to take out the trash -

Until Raku bolted right awake.

/

Slade held his temples, but not because of Ares's signature moves. Yet due to the shock of being mind -swiped to fight inside a hidden dreamscape.

~He's still able to do that with other's minds? ~ Slade wondered as Cici remained chained up in a new ensemble.

With a frilly, shorter skirt to boot, she flushed like mad as Slade had quickly dodged that bullet. She was dangling in magic binds right about his head. Not a dungeon. Ares's hall of torment, maybe?

~We…Are, at a waking hour, here…~ Sighed the blonde through her mind - spoken voice. Slade heard it, and wondered if she'd let him do the same – since they were still partners in crime at the moment.

~What happens next, princess? ~ Slade asked, his feet as useless right now as his arms; pinned onto the floor as well.

~Please, I'll be branded a traitor before ever being called a royal again. ~ She shook her head. The gothic look - book did not match her figure, for it had changed. She looked to be about twenty-three since her powers were severely weakened at this point.

She was still a beauty, but looked more so like Catalina by her frown. The hair in her face was a bother, she was not dim enough to handle a wig. Thankfully, Slade somehow enjoyed the view when he had the sense to…SHIT! The curse was still active?

Slade asked the poor blonde as she gasped back at the question.

~Are you still cursed by Eris?

~The art of seduction failed, when I was a prentice to Lady Lilu…~ The woman instead replied, hastily dismissing his concerns.

~A bird inside a cage. Is that right? Hoping to roam free and warn your sister that you were still yourself, all this time away from home? ~

~Yes. ~ Cici swung her bonds a bit, yet they remained slack by her lack of upper arm strength.

She huffed a reply coldly;

~You seem to read others better than I had once considered of your abilities; in order to manipulate the minds of my kind –

~And you love to be left alone, when all you crave, is the limelight. ~ Slade answered back. A vivid picture of the fight in his mind he'd have with the witch if she got the nerve to escape.

He was right. She'd left her career to make her mother's faction proud. Maybe, she wasn't the brightest star out there. When all she needed to do…

A canary must sing to keep its spirits high…I will sing until my lungs give out all that I may supply –

~Are you attempting to sing and subdue your oppressor to death? ~ Slade raised a brow and found Cici's sing – song tone to be a bit off key. He cringed. She was somewhat out of practice with her magic not being at full strength. Normally, too billowy for his tastes. Huh. Somehow, it sounded like Terra was trying out for any band that would have her.

~ For to be a stranger in the crowd, I would cry – and sing to the gods even, from worlds on high! ~

A spell, as it broke her free of her bonds. Slade carelessly rushed out to catch the witch as her feet delicately touched the soles of his gloved hands. He could move! Was this….

She was getting back her power. Then, she was not just a sorceress from long, long ago.

The walls groaned as the songstress again opened her lips to voice without reason, her caster's will onto the humble, the meek. She thrived in the dark, where she could become hope's only beacon to turn to.

Not Slade, he'd not survive...Then...Was she?

She stepped down and snapped her slender fingers, saving him from having to claw his way to the exit at all. Power, now he'd seen her in another light. A real gem, that was why her council had such hogs trying to steal her light from the spirit world.

~You still trust for me to follow your lead? ~ She turned to him, her eyes a dazzling storm of lightening and golden delight.

~What is that power you possess? ~ He asked in lowered tone, a cautious one.

~ I was already cursed by another, she's saved me. Yet now…I will forever be…her little….! ~ Cici felt her back pinch, then a scream echoed as a tearing bit of flesh and red splattered across the floor. Her wig and dress were in ruins. The wig, was turned into her own, melded into a blonde fire atop her skull.

Slade heard a moan, and realized that the process had been quicker even that an egg hatching. For it had. Something else had taken place, with a transformation.

No shells, so it was nothing but a bubble bursting…

She rose slowly and did not seem to mind that pain, as if she'd lived through it before. The Titans and Alice had seen her in this form; at her concert in London. He could not even muster his concerns enough. It was a good thing her seduction spell did not cause….

Wings, dark ones that remained a hawk or eagle's color up close. She was not a demoness. He saw it now. He knew what this was, how this was nothing but a miracle for their escape.

~Lady Harpy. ~

/

The dust had cleared, the Titans had picked up their own and inside the tower, now waited over three fallen forms.

"Kay…No way…" Gar gasped and looked down at the body of one of the unconscious daemon beings.

"Verra too, he's out cold." Cy shook his head and knew that the fact the dragons had shrunken in size, still did not seem to take up less space in the tower.

"And…. Him?" Ami was there, pointing at Hakuro who had also been hit by the after – effects of his own magic.

"I do not know, my bumgorf." Kori frowned and kept Amelia as close to her as she could. "He may recover, yet we must use caution…for I fear…. -

"Kori?" Dick turned right around to look into his wife's eyes. As he stood hopelessly lost before the biggest view of the city, right into the maelstrom of one chaotic eye of the storm after the next, he smiled back to her.

She didn't know how to act, but Ava saw her mother's emotional side as if it were her aura surrounding the grown adult.

She was about to wage a war against their father for having been so reckless, as per her nature to forcibly worry herself to heck over her loved ones.

Ava walked up quietly over to Ami and pulled her to the side where Zan, Beetle and Gar had their backs.

"You went after our child, and you were almost… -

"I was not trying to scare you, not that way. Please just –

The two ended up down the hall, competing as to which parent had struggled and pushed through in the most reckless of manners. They were afraid not for the world, or their kids, but the trust that they had in each other which was thinner now thanks to Eris's magic bubble.

They had to save this world, before the love of all living things remained dead forever. No longer magical or as mysterious as the birth or death of something as wondrous as the life, which lived through a human's eyes.

As for the one who had fallen close to home as well?

Anna was upset that she had not seen Aiden among her family. This had been a mistake she could not take back like before.

"Ann…" Ami sniffled and walked up to her middle sis with a frown. "Aiden…Where is he?"

Ava clutched her own chest and shook her head, as Anna did the same.

"He's not home. Not yet, Amy." She replied softly to the young miko in training.

Ava took to trying her luck at the question a little bit differently than Ami's basic where, what, and why.

"Did you get your powers back from…The phoenix?" She asked the red head while her own heart went out to her youngest sister. Who; as she stood, looked concerned as well as disappointed in herself? Ava was confused already.

"It, the power…. It helped me to escape Lothos's clutches." She answered back to the ice princess. "I was able to…I saw where Aiden might have been, before I came to the same hole –

"Where? Did you have any trouble finding a –

"It wasn't a place…" Ava was cut off. "It was, a realm or…. Space inside someone's thoughts I think?" She tried to decide on how the lair of Ignito should be revered as well as exposed for the future of their world to be salvaged.

"So, you went into the mind of someone, and saw Aiden? Or, sensed that he'd been there as well?" Zan poked her head over as Beetle did the same. Cy came up to Ami and asked if she'd come over to one of the many computers. It seemed, someone else was safe enough to make contact with the Titan's link outside of the tower. But, who?

/

Ami cupped her open mouth over with her hands and gasped by who was staring back. With her smile, afro hair and tech style room's set -up, Jacklyn Stone was there. She'd been worried for Ami all this time?

~ Yo! You doin' alright with my daddy, Amy? ~ She smiled back with a grin as fast to come at Ami as the speed of light itself. Ami wiped back a tear and smiled out loud, as she relayed her adventure to her dear pen pal through that afternoon.

"I've had it rough, but California has been hit by a monster – invasion! Are you still getting ready to work with NASA?"

~Uhh, I'm at the top of my class. You knew that already. Oh! I see your sisters back there! Julian says heeey, Annie! He misses you like crazy, girl! ~ She was definitely full of pep.

Even at the end of the world, Jackie was still a spitfire. Always full of spunk to have your spirits light as a torch -a call to victory for many.

A real hero in the making.

"Tell your mama I'm gonna give her a call later, Jacklyn." Vic smiled and watched as his kid's mood soon swapped. She was in sassy territory now. Just like his wife. Her mama had nothing on this behavior..

~You are kidding me? Really? You brought me on to talk to Amy, but you keep cuttin' off all our texts. I'm surprised there's cell reception at ground zero. Uh, interdimensional style, much?! I mean, what is this? Some kinda…. I don't know…Magic? –

"It…. It, kind of is." Ami said this as quickly as she could catch her childhood friend off guard.

~And…Your outfit…. You WERE in Japan! Holy crap! Dad! You knew? WE were thinking Ami just needed to train with Shoji to protect her, but…. Why didn't you tell me? ~

"I did that to keep you safe!" Ami explained to her bestie. The line was getting a bit, of static. She had to leave things better than this. To much noise. Too much static…

"Right now, I have the house under wraps so if you need to put through a signal, just –

~I'm not a hero, but Ami was forced to fight, an' when we could lose her again!? I think she should watch her own back from you guys! You are so selfish sometimes, pops! She's fighting in a damn war that she doesn't even get! ~

Cy lowered his head and sighed. She wasn't ready to stop. He had to let her burn out a bit.

Jackie thought Ami felt a need to help because it had been pushed onto her at a young age. She looked reserved, less like the preppy miss who'd gone in to her class with a weird first impression - a shoebox of different invertebrates and their creepy crawly selves!

"Uncle Vic?" Ami cleared her throat and realized what was going to happen. She had to be alone with Jackie, to tell her the truth she dared not tell another soul.

"I need to be alone with Jacklyn."

/

Jackie at first, felt as if being on a laptop in the tower, on its screen, was just silly - seeing as Ami had been stuck up in in Gar's old pitfall of a pad.

~So? ~

"So…You need to see this! ~ Ami gasped and held her breath. She was submerged as before; with a magical transformation into…

Her miko style was royal by that expression. Not as Ami Grayson, but as a new vessel eventually to some Eastern Sun Goddess.

~Ahhhh! You! You, took over … ~ Jackie gawked and got her hands away from her eyes once the light no longer blinded her.

~ Agh…. Ah, so…So you went to Japan to…. did my dad know about this? –

~Not your dad, not my twin, but Ava and I have a bond. Dad's seen me in this form, once. Ava…She's the only one besides…. And…My fox guardian Kaede…. She…And Haru…. who knew…~

She looked up to Jackie from her side of the globe with a small smile and then a tired sigh, then chuckled.

~ I'm unofficially, a semi – human being. Surprised? ~

Her long kimono was of red, white and of some autumnal hues and designs. She had her hair up, but it fell right down her back, the kimono being way too big to cover her up so easily.

~Where is my friend?... ~ Jackie shook her head and was glued to the screen, gasping in shock. Shaking the metal view with both hands against it, trying to break Ami out of her metaphoric bubble.

~Where is Ami…. You…. You can't be one of them! We were…did Shoji mess with you! –

~ I did this to, repay a friend –

~You did this to save yourself! I know you; you are a big scaredy – cat who cannot STAND fighting! What happened to love, peace, an' Kawaii for life! Huh? Who put you up to throwing your life out the window! I- I can't accept…. That my friend is just. Just letting the life get sucked right outta' her! ~

~The person who made me super smart is who I wanted to help!...She's…. Who had me believe that –

~To your disappointment, I'd hate to burst your 'magical girl' bubble, but you were always smart. Is that what you are goin' off on? A wish you made with your imaginary buddy? I know, you told me already. Did you already forget how close we were back in first grade, too? ~ Jackie was getting sassy. She would chew up Ami and spit her out, it was only a matter of time.

No…Ami had to get through. She could not lose Jackie.

~No, Ama…. My friend, was with me in pre – k. She wanted to make me see what she could so I wouldn't be left behind when THIS happened! I can stop the enemy! She's a goddess, of… ~ Ami's voice fell, leaving her in a state of desperation.

~Miss logic an' science is going all occult on us, now? I thought you wanted to be an environmental biologist! What are you gonna do after you help my daddy save the dang west coast? When there are no more monsters to fight, are you gonna still just give up on YOUR dream? ~

Jackie was tough on Ami. She was a few grades up, after all. Yet Ami, wasn't normal… Jackie had a dream she still wanted, while Ami had given up on hers... She'd taken to an arts degree instead. She was great with a few oil paints in her spare time, fighting youkai on the side. She even got paid for one, and set up for life by Shoji to…Paint another masterpiece…In college, someday after she graduated….

~I can save the world this way. ~ Ami proclaimed to her BFF for ever. ~I am going to save Amaterasu and bring hope to people like you and Mom, who need to keep dreaming of a brighter –

~That ain't you talkin! Stop actin' like you ARE a…. Ami…~ The softer tone was filled with a gulp, a croaking voice that wanted to stop the madness, but didn't know how. Jackie was trying not to cry.

~That goddess, you are…Gonna replace her…That's why. They chose you to do it…man, I…Why didn't you just come clean? ~

Jackie, was too far in and started crying for real. She wiped up her nose and grabbed a tissue by her monitor, blowing into the icky thing.

~ You were gonna tell em, when you had to go back…Or when you stopped the creepy, whatever? You just, wanted to be like a hero. That was your dream…~

Ami didn't exactly nod, but she felt the sorrow in her friend's thoughts as strongly as the aroma of a fresh pot of coffee. A bittersweet wish, she'd gotten her smarts to stay, but it had cost her the rest of her teen – hood and adult hood in the process. And some of her empathy... A promise with a goddess that she could not un-do. (Evangelion right there!)

Ami wondered if she'd really tossed away her humanity, even if it had been to protect the human race altogether.

~I'm going to tell them when I have to use my true powers. I know how to stop the enemy and save the world. ~

With that, Jackie wept and tried to smile for her friend's sake. Her best bud since and always, Ami wasn't always going to be so hot – headed. At least, she hoped that the prediction in her head could be true.

One day, Ami would see that being vulnerable, meant you didn't always have to hide secrets from those whom you trusted.

/

Jackie ended the discussion and turned back around. "You gonna ask me to play damsel in distress too?" She jumped from her chair and had her keyboard tossed into the intruder – rather, the one that she could not disclose to her dear friend's, face.

~I'm not going to push you over the edge. ~ Abeni sighed and let Hypnos speak of their real reason for wanting the girl to keep in touch with her long-time ties.

"So, you said that you can help Ami, so that she won't have to fight. She's gonna do it anyway." Jacklyn frowned and crossed her arms at the deity and dog in their almost human guises.

Abeni had swapped the fashion of her plainer style with something one could take to war. A shield and bow with her magic to supply the arrows, she'd discovered Erebus's plan to have Hypnos take down the bubble that was keeping everyone hostage on the Earthen plane. The humans going to sleep and being inside the time bubble had been his doing, Eris had made the shadows, which…

Had cost the world many lives.

Hypnos had been directed by Erebus to infiltrate the Titans' Tower and to have Ava come to realize that a parasite was what she had been rearing all that while. While Aiden came to terms with his shadow and duked it out, ready to seek the light.

Abeni had been ordered by Astarte to find the Chosen and to seek them out carefully in order to pass on the Fire - bird's last request.

Anna had been first, then Ava, while Ami and Aiden were last to meet their fullest potential.

Even so for their victory, Ava still had doubts about ruling a cold kingdom without her friends by her side.

Aiden had trouble knowing the difference between letting go and being taken advantage of by unforeseen forces.

As Kori had said; she was not ready to rule a kingdom. Nor were her children ready to save a void from utter destruction.

With herself as the judge of her child's future, it was only a matter of time before Ava's history as an extension of Reia came to be heard and seen by her family. Ava also had secrets buried deep below the surface.

Aiden had, made a promise to Raku, though now knew what Raku had been trying to hide all along. To absorb meant to swallow and contain the pain of another. Rokuro had failed at this, as had Richard Grayson when he'd been chosen. When they'd tried, they'd lost themselves to that dark power all too quickly.

It was sort of like, the sword in the stone. Only those of an endearing, great strength and wisdom could pull out the sword. So, Roku at that time, was like the stone, the sword was his magic power. If the knight (Aiden and the many other chosen throughout time,) failed to pull out the sword, they had a curse placed onto them as a dark reminder of what wishing stones actually were.

Two – sided, never as the barer should expect.

And, Aiden now?

Getting back to the point;

"If I give Ami a push, you had better find out how to save her imaginary puppeteer." Jackie sniffed and looked directly up at the god of sleep's slender form, cast into half - shadows.

~ The sun maiden will not return, for she has entrusted her power of the solar sect to your, friend. ~ Abeni said friend as if it were a tough few words to spit out.

As Jackie looked at the clock on her wall, she soon realized that getting to the Titans was not impossible.

"I want to try one last trick. Will you hand me my keyboard…Please?" Jackie got to work and decided to create a way across time and space. With a little help from her enforcers from the afterlife.

/

Walking through the tunnel, he started into a sprint. The one chasing him however, had gotten there first.

Aiden panted, feeling mortal in his imaginary wonderland – scape.

The shadow had gone outside the cave. He'd gotten his wish. Now, Aiden had to know what to do to gather the same end result.

He wanted to go home and stop the figure before it enacted its plan to take his face from him.

Ava, Ami, Anna, Dad, his mom! The Titans and Lisa…

~She's in danger…Raku…~ He gasped for breath as the walls closed in. Rocks splintered below his feet as he fell through the floor, into the darkness.

Looking up, the light to the exit was so far away now. Aiden closed his eyes and fell gracefully into a new domain. One that was no hell on earth.

~Chosen!~

Eris screamed and pointed to her allies to pursue the intruder from above ground.

Raku shut his eyes and brought his arms forth.

~Trust me! ~ The boy said through mind speak from beside the crazed goddess.

Aiden nodded as his dazed body was nearly recovered –

In an instant, his back went against the wall. A cackle that sounded unreal; Raku's body changing and revealing his true copy – cat. A dopple, Charl.

Guessing it was a trap, Aiden brought a hand to his chest. He saw the red coat his fingers and gasped at his attacker.

"You!" He no longer could use Raku's magic voice. He gurgled and coughed up a clot of blood before collapsing to the ground. Unconscious, his body could seek out their stares. He knew of his vulnerability.

His eyes could not shut, yet his ears heard so many bouts of laughter from his enemies. Raku, was not there.

~ Fantastic! You all deserve to take a bow. The Chosen, will be an object of warning to all of those pesky guardians! ~ Charl was even worse off as Eris pushed him aside and his pompous ego.

~Let me judge if he's to be disregarded. The Chosen is the Phoenix's soldier, you forget…~ She smirked and let a bit of her golden apple's aroma drip past Aiden's defenses. He bolted awake as if brought away from the light by its tempting scent. The presence of the apple was a danger. If Aiden ate such an object without knowing its background well enough, he'd ended up tainting Raku's powers. Ignito would, well…Ignite!

~ Are you willing to discuss punishment for salvaging that demon? Well? Will you repent!? ~

She watched as the apple in her hands fell to the floor; to became a whole tree as its growth quickened.

As its roots stretched across to drag at Aiden's helpless boot heels, Aiden let out a cry at his attacker. His eyes wide awake.

He was swept up in the vining branches. A relic's creation of wood without a true form. An illusion as the cherub goddess sighed by the power in him, she sought after it as promised, with a taste for vengeance on the tip of her tongue.

~Mmmm…...! You have such a golden aura about your shoulders…. It, is a mockery. What a pity…Now, I MUST take it from your unlucky mortal bones. Do not resist me!~

Eris nodded to Charl as he came about as a snake, slipping over towards this false tree of Eden to better ensnare their unfortunate guest.

~You carry too many energies, give up one of those snack -sized droplets of wonder, for a worthy cause? I don't mind, of course…Ah, but you won't certainly feel less than a pinch! ~

The snake nipped at Aiden's underarm as he tried to shield himself from Charl's newly formed fangs.

The woozy toxin spread slowly across Aiden Grayson's consciousness. Did Chaos feel like a lack of control? An inevitable death? Was he going to die?

He was unable to speak as the slack jawed 'no' came up a dreadful drawl. His body, his mind…All liquid…. -

~Now, bite down and make a wish! ~ Eris clapped her hands giddily as Charl did her dirtiest work from the treetops.

The apple above was from the monster tree's falling branches. He plucked up a ripe one and touched the golden jewel to Aiden's already drunken lips. Aiden at first, knew the bitter taste and spat out the bite in his weakened state, a fit. It did not last as Charl used his magic to hold his jaw open.

~I say now, eat my creation! Become my tool!~ Eris helped and applied pressure as her guest's mouth remained open wide and doubly abused.

As if a hospital patient in the nineteenth century, being force - fed while resisting unfair living conditions in their asylum hell.

~R…Raku!~ Aiden's last hope was his bond with the one he'd meant to free from his stagnant shell. His past could very well be the –

~Ulp! ~ Aiden gulped down a drop of the juices that flowed from the core of that poison apple. His mind turned all to nothingness and cloth white was his reality that was spread in front, right before his hazel eyes.

~Raku…. ~ He had a tear in his eye as Charl kept the Chosen's body in midair.

~Call him. ~ Eris commanded through the speak.

Aiden timidly nodded and let the speak reach through brick and stone.

~HELP! I need you! Contract with me! I don't care! It's the only way out, then so be it! Help me…. PLEASE, HURRY!~

/

Raku's head was on fire, that and Cici could sense the sullied connection. Ares lifted his head to the scream from the next hall over. Slade tried to lighten his senses to gain more insight. He was no wizard, and speaking of those? –

/

Malchior cradled his skull as Raven had to do the same.

~You…. Never went away?~ Raven gasped as the white haired wizard grunted a no, and staggered in his intangible form to fall into her frame.

~Agh! ~

He was atop her; a prisoner as her magic was weakened by this cowardly aura…. It was…a spark! Aiden!

~Get…off of me! ~ Raven shoved off the dragon boy by force. Something in him suddenly had her pinned.

~Gain my trust, all of it. Do so, and I will bring them back to us –

~Don't make promises that way! ~ Raven growled and let her magic do the talking.

He could not be brushed off. What was this?

~I'm serious. Time won't move here unless you make a vow with my undying being to save them, through your magic. ~

~Liar! ~ Raven had no idea, but gravity pushed him closer, closer than…

~I'm not a Teen Titan anymore…~

She gulped and knew that as a teen, it would not have been this aggressive a push.

Shit, you always knew that a storm wave of abuse meant a contract to…

~I'm not…. Not ready! ~ She admitted this with her eyes brimming up. Prickling with hot tears.

~Raven…. I would never hurt you –

~Rorek would. ~ Raven sniffed and attempted another spell. He would not budge. Her heart beat louder in her ears.

~Ravenna…. Why? ~

~Then, use him. Take my magic into a new form. I won't frighten you then. ~ He backed away from her face a little. His eyes as draconic and coy as she'd first known him to be. Her puppy dog…

~I…That is a spell I'd never-

~Then, let me be a guide…. ~

Malchior brought his hands to his chest as his eyes lit up, the spell warming up quickly.

~By my original pact with the gods of the nether – realm and Knoll's blood through his veins; I renounce this shape of thy soul…I take to a new guise, for the purpose of sealing a contract…. I shall forever remain beside my contracted, with a wealth of knowledge granted to thee – that the darkness o' thy shame shall be forever lost unto the present! Return thy spirit to wood and oak! To water and silver! To the ever- green and towards death, now, unto rebirth! I return…. To the tales of my origin world! Take me there, so mote it becomes!~

His body warped about, flailing as a fish in the open. As Raven was allowed to move freely to catch his form as he fell, she realized what this meant.

He was sealing himself back within the book where they'd first met….

He was returning to THOSE pages!

~Ro…. Malchior!~ Raven caught his arm as it turned to leaflets and scrap. She cried her eyes out as his body, the bandaged being reverted but…. -

It did not split upon contact; the book was there. In silver, pure white as snow, and black as the darkest night.

~No…Why? Why did you –

The pages flipped open as his face winked back. ~These times suit me best; you may use my tome as a spell book. It is my tale, so I may have more control. You may as well need it in this fight. ~ He shrugged and sat on another page in his knight's armor, overlooking the sky in a Scandinavian home world.

~You…. You are going to face-

~Raku's spell casting is birth – given. Even if he has little to own up to, he still is a magical being like you or I. ~ The white-haired wizard replied.

~A defense against Manifestation magic…~ As Raven realized what a gem she had in her possession, she realized how fragile his life was now.

~I can protect you. ~ Raven cast a spell over the wondrous tome. It would keep the cover from ending up as the other pages in her archive. Turned to ash.

~You can make me pocket – sized if you wish. ~ He raised his gaze to her, knowing that his wit was enough to gain a harem to his arms.

~I'll consider it useful for a battle tactic. ~ She blushed and stayed staring into his eyes; without color, without shame.

~It, didn't hurt? ~

He suddenly laughed. Sending off a small chuckle to answer her question. Raven blushed harder as the wizard returned her concerns with an easier question;

~You never asked me this when I'd been Rorek. Why the sudden change of heart, Malady Raven? ~

Maybe harder, as her half – mortal's blood seemed to steam up with –

~I'm going to do that, but you have to stay out of sight. I won't compromise my relationship with my team. ~

Malchior's eyes returned to gazing out at the aurora inside his book's pages. ~I do understand that. Ava and the guardians would question your loyalty. Very well. ~ He sighed and shooed her off with a wave. His hat; a fairy tale relic from the dark ages, reappeared to cover his face as it slipped over his vision. His eyes shut as he slouched up against a rock, overlooking that starry story – book sky.

Raven slowly shut the book, then shrunk it down to the pocket size he'd insisted on. The tactic Malchior had instructed on doing so. As, to help…Raven out…

Why did he care? Even in death, he'd never left her alone. But now, he knew how to help defeat Eris?

She couldn't leave it be. But…

Raven secluded herself inside her room for a reason. In the tower, it was one of the few remaining places; even with Zatanna's oddly colored décor strewn about the ceilings, and no longer those morbid shelves where Raven had kept her precious belongings.

No, this was the new Titans' home.

She had one, with the help of Gar and M' Gann, and Kori. She had found her home, made a solid effort for the sake of humanity to do what she could to protect it.

Malchior was a tool to her now. He'd traded his old values JUST to not be swept aside. He could not be respected for seeming so quiet. So needy.

He was in love.

And… Alas, she'd not broken from her musings over his remaining existence inside her memories.

He knew that Raven had her flaws. Her humanity was still weak. She could, feel…

As she swung by towards the hall where Kori and poor Dick were at each other's –

~Raven!~ Malchior telepathically shouted a warning out to his malady.

~Not now…! ~ She gasped and threw up a barrier to knock out her teammates.

~They are being taken! We must intervene! Warn your team –

~That is what I have to –

~Ugh! Azarath METRION! ~~ She did not force out much extra breath.

With a cough, she turned her head to see a fist coming swinging in from behind. Malchior turned hot as coals as had Raven involuntarily ducked by. With her kneel onto the ground, she'd been spared.

~Ow! Why did you burn me!? ~

~It stopped his attack, didn't it?~ The book telepathically sniffed and got ready to use a blinding light to deflect the attacker's new assault on his lost love.

"Uh, I'm sorry." The figure shook his head as its red eyes followed the two curiously. ~I wasn't looking for an empath! My bad! ~

"Excuse –

"Kori! Damn it! What's going on, Raven? Why were…We…"

"You were possessed by Eris's influence. Something let the energy inside the –

"Spoiled the moment, Auntie Rae!" The figure revealed itself and chuckled. The light swapped directions long enough to unveil their sorry, antagonistic hijacker.

~What…. Who…? ~ Malchior had not been able to meet Aiden and the kids. That's why he asked who the figure was. Kori's eyes lit up as Richard stood stiffly beside her.

"Aiden…. Where, why –

They believed it to be him. The warrior costume was of a darker supply. As if the demons had gotten to him first. The shadows left, leaping back as Aiden's golden dawn outfit returned. Raven squinted by the strange swap. As if too many influences…

"Am I gonna get to see my big sis? Why didn't you invite me? C'mon!... –

He soon sighed, rolled his tense shoulders, relaxed and saw as Malchior's light was shushed by Raven's coaxing. Not knowing Malchior, yet seeing his aura.

"What are you doing, wearing all of…. That armor? Did you get captured?" She asked the eighteen-year-old hoarsely.

"Almost, that's why you caught me off guard when I fell through that portal…Oh, guess it was…Closed up…" He scratched his head and frowned at the supposed exit he'd gone through. It wasn't there anymore. If that were the case…, Did he have light amnesia?...

"Ava is, in mourning…A'aandar." Kori said this with caution. Aiden was acting, as calm as a Norfleblimpth. She might have believed him reborn as someone else…

"Oh, was…I'm sorry…. Raku, he…He's in trouble!" Aiden's eyes scanned for a way back, Raven saw this and motioned for Richard to talk to the kid.

"Aiden! We have to wait for Haku and the others to wake up. You can't go back alone. It would kill you this time. Think." He told his blonde and restless son.

"Raku and I…Don't have a way to be away too long, we…" He rubbed the back of his neck, breaking their eye contact. Dick was livid.

Even Malchior saw a heavy dose of cursed magic resonating from the teen's body.

~He made a pact. ~

Aiden saw as his perfect example of freedom soon was crushed. His mother leapt over and before he could open his mouth to protest –

~This is for your own good, son…"

Richard Grayson had used a move to knock his own son unconscious. Quick and painless. Raku's power was dangerous. He'd seen it in action too many times to know.

Aiden wasn't done playing with fire.

And neither was their brand-new enemy.

/

Before Aiden's return, it had been deathly silent. His tomb, his keep. He'd been punctured as the evil monsters had wanted. Their plan was to let the dark chaos magic into the Titan of Earth's safe house. They wanted no one left to oppose the gorgon gods of old.

They had once been gods, anyway. But now, they were wanted criminals.

~Let's see how your Chosen pits himself against the loved ones of another…~ Charl snickered to his queen as he sat in her lap in his winged doggie form.

~I want that double - brat to cause as much potential Chaos as he possibly can, just so I can coax out the real bringer of man's fall…~ As she said this, her strokes upon the demon doggie's head grew rougher.

~Ah, hem…Mon Cherie? would Miss… Roko be willing to push him along, my queen? ~ Charl asked, as he could not bother to pry himself away from his queen's tender caresses. Eris looked over from atop her throne, while her dais sat as her front row seat and now, had the perfect view of another's face.

~Goodie! We, have company. ~ She smiled as her touches became softer again. Charl's body melted back into Eris's petite lap. His eyes not truly caring anymore - unless he'd have to again defend him queen from those ruffians.

The door was blasted down. Raku wasn't here; they'd find out soon enough, were Slade and that traitorous, bitch sorceress -

~I'm still here, let my allies go! ~

Raku came as a shock; the door swung back with Slade NOT having been the perceived 'traitor' Eris might have predicted, for the two traitors were not there. Just the one God -slayer.

It was Raku, freed from his cage. A bad little god – killer, indeed.

Eris dropped the doggie Charl off her lap and snarled back at the red eyed kid. Her eyes wide, teeth bared, fists curled into stumps.

~Y- you!? NONONOOO! ~ As Eris stomped her feet, the daemon boy and Djinn relic walked closer. She pointed at the terror of a bad dream; his serious gaze an annoyance. Her shaking hand was a warning to not get any closer. His angry soul calling to her, to make peace? She imagined the possible scenarios and was welcome to a 'push here' button for the end of the world to come sooner.

She spat his way and climbed higher up onto her pedestal. Away from any potential conflict. He wouldn't take her, not here!

~You left your comrades? ~Eris sneered the boy's way. Her eyes something of a mocking – bird's.

Curious, finicky, with such unrest in those of a manic maiden.

This soul had to sleep eons, and now? He came to be worthy of some, redemption? He was a god killer. Hah!

Two could play that game.

~They are not your enemies; I am your lone memory of such torment. Before, I dreamt…~ Raku stopped before the dais and tried to find the words.

~I dreamt you came at me, claws bared out at my flesh and ailing spirit. I was, able to know. ~ His eyes cleared, his vision as a child's. Not at all a malignant want of this one. Eris cocked her head while Charl reverted to his male self.

~He's trying to play your game, my queen! ~ Warned the daemon shifter being. ~Don't get too close to his insults – they will slash your pride to bits! Mon –

~I…I want you to tell me, what power did Azag leave to a whelp such as you? His last sired? ~ As Eris asked the question, it felt too soon to want to know the Prince's back -story. Raku's glance was static, the contact was made.

~Azag, was dying. He was the one you saw, for the desert was not my home. ~ Eris's eyes looked closer towards his half -hearted words. Raku, was innocent?

~The rapist (he said it) was my father. You were older than I, I was not at all two when he'd taken your body to himself…And, for that…~ Raku fell to the floor onto his knees in a kowtow. ~Please, know I will make good of his wrongdoings to help your vengeance to seize! ~

~No, no no…You killed, you reaped…You Raped!~

Right there, Eris had heard it all. A wronged god was a louse. She was no such character. He would not live again. Never to redeem a strand upon his pretty scalp. She'd bury him now and forever.

~No! I make it so, if you want my wasted corpse, then earn it here! I rejected Azag's fire. It torches the moon! ~

Azag's fire was a habit of male energy. His female lunar acts were what had never worked. His eclipsed son was now coming clean. His mother, had killed and weakened Azag by loving him and keeping the boy Raku alive. Even if he'd not seen it, Azag was lower in his position because of his masculine lust. His Zeus – bred admiration for curious creatures had tainted a great deal of the god's foresight. Making him blind…

Raku was different. He was not interested in love for love's sake or for lust for lust's sake. Roku, was he himself – that was, had Raku decided to become his father's lunar being.

While, Ignito was order, Manifesto was Chaos.

That forbidden love had left a scar, a curse unto Azag's imperfect body. Unto his newly - born children.

Eris was unable to regress as far as she'd already done. Getting her body to quit returning to the blonde child's own, to reverse her own femininity which was being ….

Mocked, tossed about as easily as good laugh!

Such an ugly relic, so she decided to fuck her plan. Raku was not worth the pain. She'd make his life hell before disposing of her prisoner and his crew.

~Come closer. That way, I can know you to be, truthful…Will you? ~ She attempted a small pout. He was obligated, it was what gods did. Lose their lives to pacts, even those that were foolishly kept.

His body moved, its lightness a confusing warning as the teen boy tried to be brave.

~You want…To make amends? ~ Eris asked this softly. Raku nodded –

~Charl, cut his liver out and feed it to my harpies. ~

Raku broke from the maniac goddess's hold and dropped to the floor. Eris was done lifting him from it, however –

~Hey! ~

Eris gasped as a familiar face had already come to.

The winding hall revealed a blonde with clouded eyes.

~Chosen? ~

~ Aiden! –

Raku stopped as his eyes caught hold of the bound trinkets left round Aiden's throat and wrists.

Snakes, the kind that sucked out your energies.

~I made him a part of this, rather…He dropped by to see you. Care to dance? ~

Eris pushed Raku by magic to hit Aiden, as the blonde's motion - controlled arms gripped the djinn boy into a tango stance.

~ It, will begin! Dance him to his knees! Do it for your family, boy!~

Raku gasped as his body was shuffled across the stony floors.

~Aiden! No…What –

~Agh! ~ The teen's dizzying spinning had his eyes seeing double. A carousel of worry swept over the djinn son as his words hoped to snatch back Aiden's –

~Cannot! ~

Aiden dipped the poor younger boy as Eris hollered for the two to intensify their positions.

He had eyes so stuck on autopilot that Raku had to watch the twitching of the blonde's mouth to tell that the Chosen, was no liar.

~He's going to make you wish for ME to do away with you - lights! ~ Eris turned to her good girl Medusa, who took to adding a brilliant sparkle to the dance floor. ~Set it up higher! Yes! YES!~ Eris cackled as her witch nature was hard to lose sight of. Tossed into the air as her cherub eyes were bright and terrifying to gaze upon.

Aiden was breathing rapidly. The toxic effects of the apple only made him sweat. Raku clutched harder. He had to stop this. The world was disappearing around them!

~I don't…. Want…To! ~

~And then the apple will kill you, and your charge will remain my toy forever - you want that? You want a life with him to bog it down? To make you his? He's a moron! A god without a past, you are not his trinket any longer! I'd gladly keep you, mortal. And kill him right here! Now dance! Dance until your heels are weak! Until you both bleed! ~

Her command made the music move faster. A record in some place in space – time. Raku gritted his fists and clutched Aiden tighter, like a boa to its food supply.

~Save…. Yourself –

~No! ~

Aiden quickly tried to push Raku off, but his body ached, as if they could not be apart.

~ You didn't know?~ As Eris looked on amused, Raku growled back with face beat red. Tears in his fragile eyes.

~Your little fire - fly child cannot do with you sucking him dry. He's a flame god's incarnate. You? You'd snuff him out on the spot. ~

As Raku looked back to Aiden, his face too looked paler as she'd spoken of the affliction.

~I'm…. I'm sorry! ~ Raku shook his head and tried to push himself away. Sadly, the symptoms of his power's withdrawal on Aiden only furthered and rapidly fluctuated.

~Not my issue. ~ Eris sniffed and pushed a few strands of blonde hair from her face, still while in mid -air. ~I can fix that, the apple's poison. Or…if you want to remove it, yourself? –

~You would taint us both! ~ Raku hissed her way, then bit his lip. His powers, Aiden was helping him to keep them from going out of control again…

~I'd save him, for now. One bite? You can take back your magic?... ~ She teased out a few juicy details as Raku looked back to his numbed ally.

~Chosen…You…. did…. My power? Why!? ~

~Was…Ungh…Not...…. Done…. ~ Aiden groaned, pain stretching through his every aching sides and in his temples now.

~Done? Done with what!? ~ Aiden swerved back with Raku's side to his. Arms still linked, as Eris ogled the two brothers in arms swaying together in perfect harmony.

To her eyes alone, it was a lovely sight to behold.

~Hmm…You look sixteen, God – slayer! You must love that sunny aura he clings to! Suck it all dry, soul – reaper! –

~Never! ~ Raku could not pull back, Aiden already looked twenty-six. He was killing, no…. Time gods only had that power…He…It wasn't real!...

~No! Aiden! Fight it! She…. She's –

~I said, a way out is possible. Just give me the power, and this will all go away –

~N…No... ~ Aiden gasped and tried to forget the pain of being a human battery.

~Aiden…Don't do this! Give me my magic! I can stop her –

~you…Can't…~ Aiden breathed out in short huffs. The speed of the spell lightly increased. Dancing, a time machine's effects on the weakest link.

Aiden was going to become a rattling corpse if no one fixed this…

Raku was now twenty. His facial hair was not there, which meant his power still held as an aspect of Ignito's for now. Later, it would call to …. No! This had to end!

~If I can steal your mortality. ~ Raku said this without shaking. He was not a child. He could speak. Aiden could only act as a fish out of water. Wasting away on the shore.

~Then I will take the immortality HE gave to you, back! –

~NO! ~ Eris sent herself forth and shot a dark whip Raku's way to deter his plans. The whip hit, and Raku's energies pressed at Aiden. His chest puffing out.

~ STOP! WITCH!~ Aiden spun again, barely able to stand.

~He…. NOT, THEM! MY…FAMILY!~ Raku pushed back, this time sharing his magic and giving what he'd taken to Aiden. Aiden shuddered as the demi – immortal's blood made him crave a way back. When he'd never seen the god…. Only this time….this, was like dying twice and being brought back with a jolt!

~Stay away! I have to finish her! I need that power; it will kill you, you'll….! ~

~Aiden…Please…You cannot stomach all of it –

~Wrong…. Eris! Stop the music! I'll give you the power! I need to live! ~

~Hummm, it is fun seeing a zombie dance. But! I did say I would free whomever gave me what I wanted. You are freed! Now, get back to your siblings and prepare for war!~

She opened up a portal as Raku's body soon aged backwards in time.

~The power…~

The energy he'd lost, went to Eris. Raku looked to Aiden as the blonde tried to look away.

~Take it back, we'll find a way to stop you. And then, you won't be laughing so hard. ~ Aiden's dark gaze meant that something was wrong as he looked to Eris's grinning disposition. But, was it really only at her?...

~Charl? Where did Roko go with the copy- cat? Do you know? ~

Raku squinted as Aiden was let to fall back to his world through the spiraling vortex she'd left opened.

He did not reach out to stop the blonde. Raku, really was a prisoner to his woes. All he'd done, was scare away his last remaining friend in the world.

/

Aiden's condition was a strange feeling of remorse and confusion.

They'd let Aiden off his leash. Powers and all. It was him, but he looked like he'd seen a ghost.

Anna had to worry. Ami wasn't too accustomed to the fact that her entrance was never going to be a solo act for her short -lived (she hoped) career as a Chosen's side -kick.

Ava looked off into the distance as the tower's walls just closed off everything else. The city, the people. All turned into these shadow – dancing demons.

Her parents didn't just go and save those souls. Aiden, Ami, Lisa? They were supposed to do something incredible and beckon on change. But how?

Aneiu had warned Ava as her wolf self came to the princess one night. She spoke through the ancient word of her kin of a great trial that would push Ava to the brink of destruction.

A falling star, a shooting comet, an open book from centuries past, and a prince without a throne to call his very own.

As Aneiu painfully described the hellish ordeal to arise, Ava put her best foot forward and opened the door to stare back at her younger brother and his still, boyish features.

~As is I could have gotten away from Chris any sooner…~ She thought to herself and let the door slide closed behind herself and Anna Grayson – who'd tagged along to spread the word of her encounters in the nether - world keep of Ignito.

"Hi."

Ava crossed her arms this time, as Anna was taken aback by her sibling's switch in emotions.

"What? No hug from the fire – breathing sister over there? "

"What is so funny?" Ava was serious. Anna didn't try to butt into the conversation. Not when Ava had that look on her face.

It spelled disaster.

Aiden stopped and tried to collect his emotions. With a sigh, and then a roll of his taught shoulder blades, he did try to lessen the joking manner he'd reconsidered using to lighten the mood.

"It's the end of this world." Ava spoke, anxiously trying to regain her human empathy in this case.

She could not. Her cold heart was immortal now. She knew that going back meant being without her friend and lover. She belonged to those cold mountains. It was where she could fix her spirit. Save the planes.

"Anna, don't you…Hate my too? For, running a-

"Why do I need to waste my energy on making you feel better?" Anna raised a brow and frowned at her brother's lacking confidence.

"It's not my job, you can do just fine –

"I lost him…" Aiden dipped his head and shook. His arms slung round his frame, as he blocked out the hatred in their eyes.

"You…He?" Anna didn't guess it until Aiden looked towards Ava for some pity next.

"If he is your friend, you'd let him leave –

"He was stolen, you saw it!"

"He chose to be hurt, and to stay in the past –

"You sound like them, the ones who hurt him first! –

"SHUT IIIT!~ Anna sent a bolt of her mother's power to light the room in her fist as it popped and sizzled. A crackling echo resounded amid the beeping and whirring of machines in the medical bay. Anna huffed and turned her amber – lit eyes toward her big sister, the fire was contained as Ava gasped by this…Control, Ann had learned in only a day.

Dick and Kori, with Beetle, Gar, and Conner burst through the doors to the area. Dick with his wide eyes, and Kori, would have taken Anna down in one blow.

"We aren't fighting." Ava said to her parents. Her adoptive family, soundly.

"Your Hronnor, and I are very upset, either way!" Kori said this with her green eyes partly lit.

"You ok, uh…. Kori?"

"No, Garfield. I am not." She turned to Anna and gave the eighteen-year-old a death glare. "Reduce your starbolts' power, NOW."

Anna did this while her magic too soon downed. A mother's tough love.

"Aiden, Ava, do not stay in here together. We must find a way to stop the monsters who have taken this world from us, day by day. Yet here, we fight only among ourselves. We cannot blame magic for the 'drifting apart.' of our kind" She shook her head at the idea that magic had any hold over their current emotional states.

"Mom, It's my fault." Aiden stood up and was in tears, barely. He had such great sorrow in his voice that it sucked the rest of the team in. Afraid to let those sad goodbyes go.

"I let Raku go, he wasn't ok…I…I tried to fix him! I almost did but…My powers…They…"

"They are not ours to do with as we want." Ava clarified to her brother. "They are a way to aide in protecting the many worlds outside of those of the spirit and Immortal realms of creation."

"That, and Raku is fine, don't you remember that tall guy?" Anna asked her dazed and confused twin.

Dick looked at Anna a if she'd been the one to start the first war on Earth against those shadow beings.

"Tall? What are you saying, A'innandar?"

Looking right into her mother's eyes, Ann decided to uncork the bottle as she took a deep breath in, then out.

"His name wa –

"AGH! ~ Her body quaked as she fell to the floor. Shrieking in pain for only a few minutes. Conner rushed to find Zan and Raven.

Aiden looked at Anna as she sniffled in a heap. He shook his head, still as coy as he'd seemed in the…

"Y- you can't remember his name…" Aiden swallowed and continued;

"He, doesn't want us to come back. Or for us to remember his face…"

/

Roko gritted her teeth and saw through the cyclops's eye all that her puppet had to present at her end -of – the – world - banquet.

~He's perfect, they'll just have to find out…soon enough! ~ She skipped away and made another appearance by her returning magic, in form as Lisa Viscado. Her next role, would be to swap places with a super – star.

~Can't let Eris and Ares have all the fun. ~ Chuckled the daemon – half as she slunk off through a newly made portal to the other side.

/

Raku's grievous error. He'd been betrayed. But? Is it really that simple?

Ami and Jackie both have secrets to hide. In a way, Ami used to look up to her friend, but now she is afraid to convey how she really feels. It's her role as a vassal of the Goddess Amaterasu.

Ava is not sure if Aiden is acting how he should in a situation where the world is in a deadly tilt towards destruction. Noted; I watched the End parts 1 -3 and was no a impressed by how they downplayed it, season two with Terra had a better representation, being it was not caused by an Interdimensional demon overlord.

However, I liked seeing the complex relationship between Slade and Robin, seeing a I was a closet Sladin fan in my hey day. Some dogs you gotta put in the crate; helps them to grow into adults eventually. Heck! Ron Perlman's voice is toxic in a good way for this long-time fan – gal! Ah, so then?

Apologies! As far as Cici having the hard end of the deal, she was not only the baddie here. Slade is known for the Judas Contract, Rose's madness, and death as his middle name. Literally so Cici was just a tool, he had to shake her because her turbulent love affair with Eris was the key to setting them both loose. So, for the sexual harassment? That, was a bad plot to keep this in M, so it would not go stale AND to have Cici admit her longing for her sister, to say goodbye.

Slade's methods are sick; now he's going after Ares's emotions to turn inside out. When the pen in this case is mightier than the sword.

Raku is not going to trust Aiden if he sees him again, because being in his contract with the Chosen has slowly ruined the blonde. Eris has warped this perception and made Raku seem more demonic than godly in his tainted attributes. Note! Rokuro was never drained, but controlled by his father's influence. Thus, his soul – stealing ruse was more so a way to have a foothold as Lilith's perfect student.

He's actually on Eris's level. Wow.

As for our heroes and guardians?

Haku is angry as hell.

Kay and Vee are unconscious.

Malchior is back as a trinket that Raven can only see and use in the form of a pocket-sized spell book.

Anna has a different attitude and saw Ignito inside the 'pages of the Forbidde myth. It's manifestation of life without Azag, as a student of Azag, then a hermit. Poor Raku. Not a fun future)

So? When will the end of the world start? Find out in the next chapter. Stay curious and read on!