Teen Titans New Generations - The Chaos Round Part Two – Against All Odds; Chapter 12: Sand Inside Your Hourglass; Wishing on a Red Star to Come Along Home and Fall, Ways Away; As The Void Shatters Quietly to Dusk…

/

Stepping out of his closet space, Manifesto looked over the not – nearly mangled forms of his tied down prisoners; how to have these half wits fooled…Maybe…

Manifesto could change his appearance at will. By Ishtar's new decree, she'd have Raku's body and mind back at her disposal. He was not supposed to face anyone head – on without her say so first.

He had no power left to grant anyone else but for his own wish -she'd promised him that it would be so.

Raku would lay aside his desire to save humanity.

As the gods had believed, Raku had not wanted to feel inferior once he'd learned of his powers. He'd seen how his half kin of the earthen were held at a distance. Even Abi had refused to consider the boy as truly a prince to be…

Even his father had loved a mortal with witch's blood in her veins, deep and someplace sacred.

Manifesto awaited the hourglass as it tipped slightly left. There!

He snapped his fingers and let the world wash away the grey of that void – free time.

Time, was up. They had to rise and face reality. Concordia would never blossom.

She was a dirtied flower without a real path. Ishtar would pluck it free of this earth and plant it on some desolate plane; no soldiers to guard it, no followers to help it become a true –

~Pity, you. ~ Manifesto spoke and Slade blinked back up. His hands shook, his body along with it was back…As if time had…

~That is, it…! ~ As Cici let her hollow hearted magic pierce the veil, Manifesto had time's figure of being on his end to protect the creep – feature. The spiders slipped out from the shadows, only to be crushed by another larger shadow. A set of talons. Manifesto gulped. He'd not done enough…Why was she not still expecting a life taken?

Did she grow of thirst, already!

Slade dug through the floor as it turned out to be a giant…. He tapped then banged at the glass.

Trapped, and he had been so very positive it was for them.

~I suppose it was past her supper – hour. Time to fly –

~Aren't you just a gentleman! ~

That voice – it erupted from the walls and manifested in mystic waves of overwhelming power. Whipping against their bodies, it was enormous!

She stood as if a giant in the garb of an ancient figure, a bird's set of uncanny wings atop her back and her feet in shadow. As if not yet freed from her prison on the other side…

Concordia gasped and ducked her head to fold beneath her hands. Cici gritted her sweating palms shut and breathed loudly back…

~Have you not had your fill? This misery doth not welcome the likes of ye! Soeth ever she even remains, a goddess to thee! To any form she doth taketh on! ~

~Why the formalities? ~ The strix aspect grinned down on her foes and readied a retort. What was she? A coyote pup playing with its meal?

~I cannot understand….! ~ Concordia looked away and shuddered at the miasma surrounding the bird – witch.

Slade grunted and tried to pull himself up to sit –

Manifesto blasted with his powers, the hourglass shifted and they toppled once more.

~Damned! Why are you doing this? You reach for what you know nothing –

~I am the aspect of misery and sin, of a boy come to terms with his allegiance to the god - less…~ Manifesto drawled on, not caring if they knew his backstory. It was Raku's anyway.

Cici cussed under her cowl and looked to Slade for his guidance.

"We've come here. I assume you want to torture us until we break. Is that it? No motives behind your sneaking around in the dark?" Slade hissed at the witch, mostly at the succubus (who'd ruined his trust in anyone but himself) As…women, were not all this way. She'd just tainted it. That aspect of his desires before. And before this, there had been no one.

Lilith was a wanting figure. She desired things that any villain also might; however, Slade had his own code of ethics. The witch, had l lost hers long ago…

~No. And, truly, in what way would I want mere puppets to be at my beck and call? You brought MUCH more to my domain…I cannot thank thee enough –

~Concordia! ~ The goddess heard Alicia's voice and watched her bodies separate.

Lilith growled as the girls' convergence was broken by the blonde Ethereal's plans to usurp her captors' wishes.

~You've made her mad now, silly child! –

Manifesto knew that without the good goddess of harmony, the pack could not take Eris's role as they'd decided. Something had to –

I thought, that there was something lacking…~ The strix's claws and talons retracted and then extended to hit the ground, right before Alicia's glowering eyes.

~You want to bring this world to an end, is that it? What gall! So, you are no ally to the mortal – ones. ~

~I am to protect what I must, in order to see to this plane's survival…~

Manifesto did it again; he tossed the hourglass up and then around. The three shouted out as ants in an ant farm, being shaken to their unholiest of –

~If you cannot do so, then please produce your answer quickly…My time grows thicker, I am here to remain, for Chaos is not my child to bare…-

~What are you blathering on? ~ Alicia spat. ~You are a monster! Chaos is in your history –

~Not of hers. ~Ishtar proclaimed.

~In her story, she lived only as a spoilt princess, just…like…. YOU. ~

/

Dust rose and skies trembled on into their oblivion of a hell – scape.

The Titans had barely evaded the deadly blast, by Hakuro's possession, or of something more sinister to arrive on the Earthen plane.

Nightwing looked up with a sharp gasp. His head was not above water, it seemed to be sinking in the bay. He found the strength to rise up to the top. At his side, was Verra in his form of a hybrid fox. He'd done enough to keep his ally Dick from drowning first.

Verra was unconsciously groaning in the hero's other arm. He was hoisted out of the dark waters as the two slapped onto the pier -top. Their bodies caked in more than raw sewage.

"Uh!" Dick gasped and set Verra up on the pier, before he'd finally hoisted himself out of that watery grave.

Verra was still breathing, though his body had taken damage due to the sickly thick miasma that had tainted Jump City's shore.

Not only did Dick feel sick to his stomach as the muck poured from his throat onto the boardwalk wood, he felt as if this illusion could only be seen by an insane person.

Carnival rides were lit up with the heads of humans flying off by how fast the tilt -a whirl had gone.

A speed racing event had demons molesting women instead of going for the gold, a very sickly spelled factor…

Small children in ghoulish gowns were committing suicide and jumping into the bay, then…nothing…As if, already gone (madoka magica! Happy Halloween!)

The sky was pelleting down what looked to be hard –

Candy?

Wait…Was this another world?

Verra grunted and snorted until his eyes fluttered open – then full as his wolf self emerged by the influence this place gave off.

~Holy hell storm, batman! This is it! WE ARE SO –

~Die! Die! Bird booooy!~

Johnny Rancid came rushing past; nearly kicking Dick Grayson back into the dark and murky waters below their feet.

~Don't get too cocky! It's the end of the world, bird brat! ~ Johnny parked his ride with a screech. Richard recalled how young he'd been. Now? He looked like a Kid Lobo. The JLA's most annoying kick ass –

Dick pried himself from the wharf's waves as Vee dove in to pluck the hero from those stormy divides below.

~You! Dog! ~ Johnny pointed to Vee, as the wolf readied to run right after the clown. Dick stopped his companion. "No. Not here –

~You going all 'Oh, but we have to have hope,' on me?!' Huh?! ~ Johnny mockingly spat* at the hero. His late enemy was now a big wuss. Robin would have socked him one, gladly!

"We aren't here for you, Johnny." Dick said this as calmly and yet as sternly as he could muster. Verra was impressed that Dick could still function at a Guardian's level. He'd been thrown in a vat of miasma, and had lived!

~You think I give a hoot? I'm just pushing you back in there, anyway. You were supposed to have stayed dead. Too bad, dummy. You'll get fried if you stay here –

~W…Wait…Are you not, going to kill him? What is going on with Earth? It looks –

~Demented? Twisted. Shit, you woke up worse than me. I get it. ~ Snorted the grey faced punk. ~Yeah, it IS after all supposed to be the end. Did you just ignore all of it? I'm freaking old! I hate it, but I got back my mojo from the Queen of crazy herself –

~Eris –

~Um, ah, no. I think she was taller. Buxom and like a giant – hell yaa!... But heck! Do you think I have a damn clue, no? Cause' even Metropolis was twisted inta' this wonderland full of flying elephants…Ugh. ~

~You don't? ~

~W- sh- shut up your cat, Birdie! No! I don't. And for the record, why is he so, uh…creepy? He's stinking, freaking annoying as hell! ~

"Verra is right, though." Dick said to the flustered mega villain in his path.

~Hell, he is! I don't fricken need to go all night. I just wanna see you drown! NOW! ~

His blades were out; the rioting rider shot forth to send the hero and guardian into a panic.

He shot his red - laser lightening strikes from those blades; curved as sabers in each hand as he tirelessly spun round Grayson, and his little dog too.

"You don't know what you are getting yourself into! This isn't –

~Fuck you! I can have whatever I want. Villains get the best an' only in this gangsta's paradise. You can keep your medals! ~ Johnny looked to have blown a fuse. Verra's wolf form got large enough to carry Richard on his back.

~Feel like a midnight ride, Nigthwing? ~!

"Go! He's out of his mind!" Then, it clicked. Both had an idea as to WHAT this place was.

This was villain territory inside a void to keep them away from their real destination.

~Who? Who could have pulled off a transport of all –

~Whoa! ~

Dick slammed to the ground as Verra's lift had ended. They'd been hit, though by who?

/

Grinning and laughing, Johnnie stayed a few steps back as this new player wanted to anti – up on the game.

~Heeeyooo, daddy - o!~ The kid; albeit, kid, chuckled down at the toppled duo. Vee had returned to his fox hybrid form by the *bonk, while Dick stared up with Nigthwing's mask still clearly hiding his own display of shock.

Aiden, or…was it a false picture of his son's body?

~I hate it when I have to wait; you said you'd come get me, right? You effed the hell up. I'm probably already dead by now."

He hopped over to the older men and kneeled over Dick's worried, frowning gaze.

Verra sneezed as a cuter aspect by the miasma as it rushed by his inflamed nostrils.

"You failed me, mom, and the world. Who's the chosen sacrifice, now?" Whispered the teen's dopple with a spiteful and underlying hatred, deep down.

"Not mee! You already had us lose our shit, so I'd like to return the favor. Sorry, Kid Loco –

"It's no – Dumb, this is bull!" Johnny groaned and slapped his own face. Great, he was pushed out of his happy place. He snorted and remounted his hell- bike. "I'm outta here, punks. Later!" He gladly rode off; out of range, as the poor bird and his mutt were nothing but passerby to the villainous rebel.

Aiden's double shrugged once Johnny was miles away. "I guess he didn't want to mess up. Figures. So? Are you ready to –

"Agh!" Dick rushed at Aiden as Vee pushed the kid onto his back with one shove. "You aren't making sense." Dick pinned down his son, who was putting up crocodile tears. Aha!

~ You've used his body, before! Should probably go tell your leader to get it together, her –

~RAH!" Hair as red as the scorching sun, Aiden's dopple fought. He pressed until Dick had to let go. He'd almost lost his arms to hot magma!

"You need to give back Aiden's body!" Dick shouted. His arms were still with degree burns, as Verra tried his best to bond and hold the fire in check. He was no true healer, but his power could be shared and manifest itself to protect his charge. Right as the teen shook his head and ran in the other direction, the two took off right behind. Aiden…He was going to be obliterated if this went on…

"Wait! –

~Why are you not using force! ~ Vee snapped out. ~That's a fake! He's trying to play innocent! You'll just –

"Then Aiden's real consciousness is in there." Dick knew the feeling of losing yourself. He'd been that way with Roku and Rokou. "I have to try to break its hold on him, before he gets erased –

~That's unlikely. ~ Vee looked up; a figure loomed above with its eyes peering back maliciously at the ex – Titan's leader.

~Not you! Goddamnit! Was I away that long? She brought YOU back!? ~

~You test my will over your own, kitty - cat. ~ The figure; Lothos, looked back as if he would best them all with his stare alone. ~I am a phantom; I only live to torment you! For putting me under rock in the under - ground! ~

~You deserved anything BUT a Viking burial, you serial stalking –

"Stop! Lothos, you are in our way. We won't stand back from this mess your allies have caused." Dick stood taller than he had in a while. The fire in his eyes well -lit.

~Where is the fire I no longer recognize, little hero? –

~Don't talk back to this creep! ~ Verra growled and reverted to his wolf form. ~He's gotten us before; you got bitten, remember? ~

"That was a mistake, one I won't let happen again." Dick frowned and went into offensive.

~Aha! I don't recall…Well, was it something like…. –

~Eat dirt, you clot – bleeding asp! ~

Verra kicked his enemy right in the chin with his font legs before Grayson could relive that horrible night. (These new years, part one. Lothos bites Robin and Robin releases Roku from his cage, with Lothos simply being a retainer and it strikes the whole team, including Aluehainyu – putting Gotham in a very bad spot. The end.)

~Agh! I don't like to be interrupted! Bad…Dog! –

"Jyaa!" Dick let his Nightwing bo - staff push the vamp away. Verra was the next to get his fire lit. This vamp? Was going down!

/

Cy, Gar, Conner, M'Gann, and Zatannna were scattered to the west side of Jump City limits. They had been sent hurtling after Hakuro had exploded for no reason whatsoever - Except because he had been unconsciously taking orders from the three Greek Elemental Fates, in order to carry out their will on humanity and to start a big heaping bowl of utter -

"What…the…." Gar looked up at the rain as it fell down; small, tiny drops of sugar rock candy as they turned into diamond dust needles hurtling right into them!

"Move!"

"Gaah!"

Anna jumped in the way to pull Gar to safety. Guessing thriller scenes weren't his best genre pieces, she had a feeling he'd freeze up at the last possible moment.

"Annie! You, ok? Gar?" Zatanna rushed over with the rest to see if things had –

Yet the rock candy fired on! Cy had to deflect it the best he could. Superboy HATED anything that was too sweet. He instantly wanted to hurl it back into deep space!

"Isn't that supposed to be edible in Asian grocery stores?" M'gann wondered too close for comfort, as Superboy tugged her out of the way. "Why? Do you think its not hostile, already? Its trying to destroy us all!"

"Alien candy? Are you kidding, right now?" Zatanna shook he head before her magic had started to activate itself. She was miffed, yet this was only a start –

~Luminatus Alpendum! (Fake, got lazy this morning. Had an awful good night for two days! Must be my gut, who knows!)

The rain of candy rocks stopped falling within milliseconds of having almost touched the ground. They still stood there, transfixed and ready to move away from the storm as Zan kept it steady –

~Ruining our fun?~

~How rude! WE just wanted to treat our guests of the new world order with such nice, hospitality! Wahaaaaa!~

Two bird - winged women dove from the cloud covering and flew down, down, past the frozen storm of crystal candy shards.

~Sister? Do you know this one? ~ The one harpy was light red - haired and wore such little clothing, that her feathers acted as a top and shorts at her waist. She had a beak that was somewhat prominent. An ancient mutant; a very first to man, had she been once human at all.

The first looked over Zan as she stood stalk still; sweat dripping down her neck, an utter distraction if she were to –

~I know not of a magical witch who halts our riot! Would you like to do the honors? ~ The second had yellow hair that was tipped with some auburn strands in a tail atop her skull. The other had her hair down her back and very spiky, like this crystal mess the Titans had to clean up…

She though, had darker feathers than her sibling and looked to be the younger, or were they twins?

~I'd be happy to, sister! Cut the thread! NOW! ~

The cackling bird - women hacked at Zan's arms, as she withdrew them both with a shout.

~She is not all mortal, is she? Waa! You, fared well sorceress. Though, we control the destructive path of this hale. It is our creation! ~

Ann, Gar, and Superboy all rushed in while Cy tried to go for the storm to find a way before it was up and ready to fire down onto Earth again. Like playing All- star quarterback at the end of the world…

~Ready…Aim, FIRE!!~ The harpies said this in unison as Zan screamed out, her force field only able to reflect as much damage as it could with her hands this…. time.

The bullet shots of crystal rained down; shattering cars, windows, and skyscrapers to bits in their wake. The harpies were immense in their power. A storm unrivaled by heroes today, as well as by those of that same, yesteryear.

~WE HAVE WON! WE MADE THEM ALL PAY! FREEDOM IS OURS! WAAAAAHHH! ~

The two woman leaped in the air, congratulating each other with much praise.

"Hold it, right there!" Conner was swung up by M'gann's levitation power. Gar joined, while Ann and Cy went after the unconscious Zatanna.

Cy grunted and leaped behind a slab of concrete for cover. Anna was on the opposite end, all ready to bolt forth into the blaze.

"This is messed up, an' I mean far from just plain insane! …What is goin' on? That, I don't know but…Ah, what's next? Pigs that don't fl-

"You just had to ask…" Ann gawked at a cluster of - biker pigs on their chibi cycles. The clouds parted, as a swarm of them appeared unharmed by the lazer – beaming of sugar - smack fire.

Only, they looked angry. In black leather matching outfits with sunglasses, helmets… and pissed as wild –

"HOGS!"

/

Ava skittered across this desolate plateau of n'er do wells and miscreant followers to a higher order. An order than whispered on the wind, as Ava's late home was left a ruin. Painted as a figured to be blessed, Ava did not know how to go about confronting her parents or family members. She was no longer human; she had never been one. She'd stayed with the Grayson family until the Chosen had re- awakened. She'd been a piece of a prophecy ever – growing…

Now, she was trapped on a plane with these humans, all of them looked disgusted by her eyes and hair. She looked back and could say nothing to their faces. She just flew through the air, not looking behind her as she wafted about; a crystal flake on the wind. There was only chaos and the eyes of human children. Big, wide, and helpless. The hydra in the background was a perfect Godzilla doppelganger.

Speaking of dopples…

Aiden had not recovered from his late –

~Hellow!~ Koko came bounding up with Aunt Rachel and Damian right behind. The wolf goddess howled, not realizing the zombie arms once they'd come up to snag at Ava's ankles. She slashed them away with her ice magic and sword work.

Her heart raced as Raven looked in the light-haired princess's direction. Ava had crushed the bone – crunching fiends, not that it had been a first she'd seen hell – beasts. There were by far more in her world of the mysterious Barrens. The land was a replica of the Norse world, outside of historical depictions. She was not a fae, but Ava had the blood of one just as intriguing as a 'Newton' award.

She was of the nearly extinct race of the Raven – Winged. The silver and somber beings who could seek the dead and protect the Barrens from being over run by evil forces.

Reia had been a priestess and high ally in the past, as Ava had believed herself to have been the Reincarnation of the sorceress by her present predictions.

Reia's memories were inside her all that time while she'd been cooped up in her cold tower room.

She'd seen how the babe in the seer's stomach had perished, yet she'd lived on as Ava, so no more than a replica of the original to protect the plane from vanishing forever.

Ava felt as if her own petty desires had to come last, that she was willing to forget in order to protect her last family on the Earthen divide. The Titans, the Chosen, her family and friends…

Even Christopher Jean; her childhood crush, had fallen to the princess's beck and call of being Ava's forever knight in shining armor. He'd been decimated by dark energies and had done so to be with Ava - by dying and taking on other forms to do so. He ended up being destroyed; by his desire to be with Ava, and his immense desire to see that no one else was to have her.

She'd put him to sleep, permanently. He'd been tainted for so long, her friend…

Now, he wasn't here to keep her safe. She had been told that she needed a body guard, when the opposite had been true. She needed to grow stronger WITHOUT a teacher. And now, she could finish what had never been started since the beginning.

"I want to find our family –

"Did you say something?!"

Ami and Kaede bounded over from behind Koko's energies.

She was being carried by the kitsune in her traditional kimono. A cloth made…White as death.

A lump formed in Ava's throat. Her fear was back. Ami, looked to be –

"Did I scare you, Nee – san?" Ami narrowed her eyes, playfully. As if this were funny to see her sibling so shocked.

Raven observed the area with her powers. Her light self was cloaked to have the monsters kept at bay, for now.

"Don't use the language out of context…" Ava sighed and dismissed the silly question. She was always so different around each of her siblings. With Aiden, she was worried more than naturally expected of her position. With Anna, she was defensive, yet also in an agreeable mood - when it came to putting her qualms aside (for mostly Ami's sake.) For the times left with Ami, she was left unable to react as she had in her human bonds.

Ami was the sun; she, the moon. It made sense. She'd saved Ami, now…Was Ami here to save Ava Marie? (These new years, Ava helped Ami it come back to herself to gain some control over her magic. Ava was a catalyst who allowed Ami and her two elder twin siblings to activate their abilities. Without the moon, the sun would not have any other sphere to lean on for support.)

"Oops…. But you look a little less stuffy! That's Ami -Chan's budding magic power for ya!" Ami grinned and nudged her companion fox to let her down once they were closer to their allies.

~Ami – Chan is not supposed to sound so undignified! ~ Koko cupped her mouth and gawked. ~It would make the Sun- maiden goddess weep! ~

~ We must not interfere. ~ Kaede came to place a gentle hand on Koko's shoulder. How she wanted to see Haru in this wolf's place. Koko sniffed and watched as the vassal of Amaterasu and Reincarnate of Lady Reia speak.

"Are you ok?" Ava tried to open up, like a big sister would. She looked into her sibling's path; Ami was fourteen. She was no taller in Ava's book, but her face had awoken with a post – to -pre - teen sort – of - enthusiasm she'd not seen in the child at ten or twelve years of age before.

Damian opened his mouth to speak, but Raven stopped him. She shook her head and slowly looked on.

This, was a necessary point. Ami knew what was going to happen.

"Oh, so…. now you wanna know? "Ami frowned and raised a brow. Her hands planted on her hips. "You were in so many war meetings, that you forgot how to talk to your little sister? Are you like, a – hundred? –

"N- no! I…I just got worried, but I felt…"

"Come ooon!" Ami groaned. This new Ava was a bit unbecoming. Where did the stuffy, wannabe – idol - or - something – sis, go? You got so, old - school on us! What did you want to tell me? Huh? –

~Ami -Chan, she is adjusting. ~ Kaede interjected swiftly, though was dismissed just as soon as she'd put in her two cents.

"As if I care…You wanted to protect us. Now Aiden; according to Amaterasu – Hime's master plan, has to recapture his shadow, to save the one who is…unsolvable, I think she said that? –

"You can hear that goddess?"

"Yup, and Uncle Cy, Dad, and Aiden knew it too. Anna might. I mean, she'd be pretty skeptical after all for an old lady –

"Why did you hold that from us for this long?" Ava burst out saying. She'd wanted to be calm, but Ami lit her fire too easily.

~Ami -Chan! We cannot provoke the evils that dwell here! You must –

"No Kaede, Ava has to wake up and smell the java. THIS is what she's got now. No running away, no going on a magic bus back to her pretty palace. You ran away." She pointed at Ava as if to curse her.

"And all because something else made you feel like if you didn't or couldn't stay. That you'd be a bad –

"Stop it!"

"A bad sister –

~Frost of the north! Pelt the skies, wide above!~ Ami gasped as Ava's magic went not after her, yet after an onlooker from the skies.

~Shoot! AAH! Not fair! ~

"What!? You saw it? No fair! –

"Ami!" Ava stopped the ranting ebony child from pulling her strings anymore.

"I'm your big sister, and always will be. Right now, we have a crisis. So, if you know what needs to be done, then lead us or so help me –

"That's the Ava I remember! See? You just needed a good ole –

~Down! ~ Kaede turned to her kitsune eight tailed (not nine yet) form, and went to shield Ami and her sibling from the blow.

Ava's magic had knocked down a sky pest, yet a hundred more had come to its aid.

~Imps! ~

Koko squealed out loud.

The one they'd knocked down hopped wildly in a frenzy; shaking its fists with its beak as long as a child's arm, with its ears pointed and its resemblance that of a Donny Elman and Tom Button character (from one of their collaboration films.) The figure was not made of clay, so poor Ami shrieked by the life - like attributes. Teeth, claws, and talons on both feet.

~We'll devour your souls, here! Now…We feast! ~

The demons dove in for the kill.

The kitsune, ookami, miko, and ice princess fled. The city lights as torches bent on awakening a greater devil – far, and deep in the underground below….

Damian and Raven let anger reside to push their limitations. This world, fed on fear. They could not escape it!

/

Kori had been swept off to a separate place.

Right as her eyes had forced themselves to burst awake – her star beam eyes could have alerted an enemy of her presence. She blinked to still her shame, her fears…

The light died back as she rolled over onto her side. Her costume as a Titan ally was still on, yet she'd not remembered changing into it. However, she did not remember the rest of those events before the blast, anyway.

Hakuro had been to the side; his body sleeping as if someone had put a spell onto the boy. Kori gasped; and despite her dazed face that was full of questions, she did what she could to help the child – spirit.

"Friend, Hakuro! Are…Are you, uninjured? –

~Stay back. ~

A voice made the princess's hairs stand on end. A slither was from behind, as she could feel the hot breath of some vile –

~Stay away from our prize!~

Kori turned and blasted with a shout. The being had vanished. Was she, injured too? Did she get a konk on the 'morbliglin?' On Tamaran, she'd see a healer for that or take some special herbs to cool her down, yet…

She sensed it there, behind her.

~I show a face to thee, Princess…. Stella Novae –

"Then you must come and face me, creature!" Kori shouted back in to the dusty world. A very, red and dusty…oh…

The reeds of a summer day hung on one end of the place, while winter winds drove back the green that had been sunny California. Kori's face drew a blank while her phantom friend only laughed a dry, cruel laugh down on its foes.

"This world…. What have you done to our home!?"

~Sunny days exist, as do hailing sheets of ice. Do you not prefer this to what you once knew, Princess? ~

"No, I do not! My home was, where my bumgorfs came to be and grow strong…. They will not be the only ones who will wish to undo this treachery! Face me, or do not bother! I will not comply –

~Then go mad, little Star -witch. ~

Fiercely the voice howled out as the north wind, Kori screamed at the monstrous gale shifting, her feet off the ground and into the clouds of red and cosmic, ashen dust.

The core of the earth had shaken before. Going in for the fight of her worthwhile life, Starfire would not forget them – her family was still alive and strong enough to come together. To –

~Stop! It is a trick! ~

The gasping red - head looked down to see a figure on the ground, where she had leaped from rock to sky.

"You are –

"Anng!" The evil in the air drove its power forth as a brilliant light above the tainted earthen rock.

Starfire could have sworn, yet she'd seen a figure…a child…

Calling out, to stop the flow of energy…. No…Arianna would not be silenced! She would face it blindly!

~Healing light! Strike the demon from whence it cowers! –

~No! If you do that…You'll be doing the wrong thing! ~

The voice cried back, as Kori heard its plea.

Could she trust it? Arianna had leant the Tamaran royal her magic, if she didn't…Then…

~Why? Why do you not show me your strength, little mediocre goddess?!Strike! Rip the veil… Awaaayy!~

The being's voice sounded broken, in pieces as a recording. It was not real… That voice, it was!

~Fight not the unknown, I am here. I shall clear your path…~

Kori watched as the light was enhanced by the ghost -child's abilities. Who was it? The being was cast into light! She could barely catch a –

~NNOOOOOOOOO! I SHALL NOT LEAVE! MINE! ALL MIIINEMNNNOOOOOOOO!~

Static. A dead sound, then silence as the light flickered. There, in the sky and to the earth; reflected in the darkness, was Lady Tsani.

/

Kori was dead in her tracks, trapped between that which could be, and could not simply exist.

"Y…. Your lantern…." Kori gulped as she struggled to land on the ground again. "I…. It was so bright…"

~My power of hope is not complete, Concordia must meet us. Come, ally. ~ Tsani brought out her hand. The other held her magic lantern as it swung to ….and….

"I…Can…. not….Ung…" Kori fell, her eyes not seeing that light any longer.

Tsani blew out her lantern as the demon's noses had picked up her aura's strength. Moths to a flame. She was the embodiment of a Luna moth in its perfect presence. Her alternate self was to the butterfly.

A symbol for hope. Her clothing was light against her frame as if wings to her back to lift the Ethereal – half child up. She had the blood of a seer, yet unlike Hakuro, she'd kept with the council to see to her needs. Her hair was still a bit after her ears, hiding her face a bit as the wind swayed past. She'd told Hakuro this countless times over - They were there to serve the people, not to build up walls as before.

Her clear eyes watched over the dead world as her heart yearned for order –

She'd quieted that. Just as Lady Alue had lost her mind trying to quell the same emotions, she did not want to remain if it meant being impure and to be consumed by fear like that former – Raven winged Eternal girl had. She was no longer a child, they were not. She would be 10,000 if the stars said it was to be. Deity aged quickly, yet differently that other beings. They could be as rocks or trees. Something that never vanished.

Not without the help of humans. From, humans.

Hakuro had been stolen from her by the Universal's three sisters. The fates; the trinity – siblings. His fated decision that the half -human he'd reluctantly aided was not worth saving a second time over, was inconclusive. She knew his heart; it was fractured beyond repair. It had become as rock solid as his resolve. An unmoving, rectifiable instantaneous sort of good that could take hold of what Order, truly stood for and twist it backwards.

Upside down. Like this plane had seemed, even if he was blinded by that one sense – his sight had begun to deteriorate as a result of his diminished faith in the ones he'd sworn to protect. Humans were messy, unorganized and could hurt one another as the gods did.

She looked over her patron allies and could not help but feel responsible for what her kin had done to this domain.

~We must flee, before the rest is taken. ~ Tsani responded; with her voice a tinkling of bells on the wind.

"Will, he be alright?" Kori tried to stand, but the light from that lantern reminded the princess of her guilt. That her children were still not out of harm's way.

Tsani did not know. His body lay cold and aching from where she floated above; keeping the demons at bay was no easy task, her mother had proclaimed the child to be bold and stupid all the same. A's light would fall unto Tsani's shoulders. One day, she'd have to remain away from her allies, a star in the cosmic alignment. She had only to decide if these two were worth having her protection.

For now, her lantern grew in size and strength. She had to go with her original plan, no second guessing.

~We cannot know until the rest is sought. We will go to the Eternal Plane. There, Dreamwake will know what to do. ~

Kori looked at Hakuro; lying limp in her sagging arms. He was older, but still just as weak as before. Still, rutha. Not strong enough to face this plight alone.

"He, is your brother, is he not? –

~He's a counterpart of us all. ~ Tsani corrected, shaking her head softly as the night air – amid that, thousands of fire flies would have lit their path. This world held no such wonders.

"Then, I shall help, for his sake and my family's futures…To succeed and to stop this evil from overtaking our world." Kori shuffled from the red earth's surface and allowed the light from Tsani's lantern relic to encapsulate she and Hakuro.

"Please, let Dreamwake save our family…" She remembered Hakuro. He'd overshadowed Robin when her husband had been the previous chosen power -source. The spirits; Rokou and Rokuro had fought to keep Hakuro from learning the truth, that he could save them all…

He was the catalyst bound to end Roku's reign over his son. His cursed allies were also not in favor of any Ethereals - come to ruin their good times.

Tsani was a part of Lady A's magic. He was also, though cursed his fate and had become a recluse with a cold hear to match his blinded sights.

Now, he was victim again to those who waved food and hopeful blessings in front of the faces of those who'd wished to change their own fates. But these, fates…They were odd to appear out of no where. Where did that leave Earth? Was it going to ever escape the tides of screaming agony? The chaos below its core? Where fire and brimstone never ceased to delight the demons who bathed in its energies…Where Eris' rule would lead to the demise of peace and much, much more…

Was Fate all it took to turn the tables?

Kori did not know; she could not let her thoughts wind her back down again. She took to one mission at a time. Starting with Hakuro's full recovery. Then, it was back to Earth to watch the red dust finally settle.

/

Aiden could not shut his eyes this time. Memories of his time as Roku's puppet flooded back in monstrous waves to the blonde's subconscious. Roku was no more, he'd hoped. The enemy was unclear in their real plans. Were they trying to help or harm Raku? Did they think of him as no more than a washed – up villain? A con – man in his new body? Was Raku even with his powers like before, or was this a new side to his magic?

He was still out there, Aiden was certain. That signature magical aura was kind of hard to push past, since Aiden was bonded to the spirit until the pact was –

~You don't get to decide that. But I do. ~

Aiden saw as the manifestation of the 'dark' Aiden entered his mind. His thoughts were still, afraid to shut that image out.

~I leave you alone, and you are already planning to go riot against the real deal!? Ungrateful! I'm saving us! If you stay on this dump of a plane, you are gonna suffer. Ares promised us redemption and a new home. You can live in it to, if you promise –

~That's not the life that I want –

Bull! ~ The antsy, other blonde manifestation groaned. ~You don't know what you want! You never did! You were a poster child, just like daddy who can't even protect himself! Hah! You forget that dad was the Boy Wonder. He wanted to be just like that damn Bat - for -brains, Grampa Bruce. If you think that I don't know, then you are as dim as they are! ~

~I'm human! I'm supposed to be inferior! ~ Aiden barked back, telling it as it was to this two – bit imposter.

~Yeah, that's why I'll gladly take the wheel and set us both free. Here, on earth we are just tools to the same moronic beings who left my new leader for dead. I say we team up and start a real –

~You don't know? Ares is a god of war. If you let him in, you'll lose everything! He's on a war -path and there is nothing we can do to change it! You can't follow a monster, so don't forget to use YOUR perfect brain, blondie! –

I should be calling you, that! Argh! This is why all you did was get in the way! ~ The other Aiden gritted his teeth. ~I can do a better job at fixing what they broke! I can put an end to the 'Myth – brat' and make it so no one knows his name! I can! –

Aiden chuckled. He felt light as are as he started to laugh.

~You…Are just a kid, like I was…. Hey! ~

Aiden smirked and raised his eyes to meet this figure. His fourteen-year-old self. His seventeen-year-old self…

That was why…Just like the selves of Roku, the past had not been set free for this Chosen.

Take it back…I can do anythingBETTER than all of them! ~ The dark, now younger Aiden, shouted in his intangible form. He was probably trying to psychically break Aiden, though the real – deal Chosen had figured it out.

~Make peace, with you…~

Aiden let out a slow exhale as the dopple's hairs stood up on end.

~Gold…. You…. You can't be! I'm the only one! They gave me the dragon! Noooo! ~ Thee dopple had sweat dripping by his ear and chin. He saw as the magic of the real relic was eying only, he -as some delicious, sacrifice….

Standing right behind Aiden in the red light, was the Dragon of the Golden Dawn, and the hero's guiding totemic rite to leave the confines of his own mind. Having it again, blank as a sheet of paper.

Light the path, eradicate all traces…Fend the weak we shall, deny those who use its name in vain the lessons of his fathers before…. ~

Aiden felt like he was reading a spell on auto – pilot. This could count as a way, a way to get out and find Raku. To apologize before –

~Damn…. You…. Are….So…messed uuup!~~

The dopple came at him with its eyes blazing red. An odd trait, but Aiden had the dragon's teeth ready to –

The dragon did something that made Aiden freeze. He just spoke the words as the dragon devoured the big - bad shadow whole. No better than Apep, yet he was just taking back a part of his lost ego….Aiden's eyes saw as the self screamed out, pleading to be let go. It writhed in pain as the golden beast took its time, awaiting the right….

The dragon let the shelled self drop from an awful height, as if playing with its food one last time, before the space went silent.

Aiden blinked at the space. He was in the body of the…. His body, in the dopple's uniform. Completely able to blend into the crew of gorgons.

It ate him, it is mine again…My shadow.

He tried to remember the mannerisms of his fake self, in order to copy the dopple's quirks while he got closer to the one that he really needed to face.

/

Verra's fur bristled badly. As if a thunderbolt had touched him from the other side, his eyes stood awake and aware that a life had been –

"Vee? Are you ok?" Dick tried to see if this wasn't the worst time to check on his partner.

~Lothos is quick…. Dead or alive, I still blame him for making monkeys out of –

~I see, so I am a hairy ape, then? How rude of even your words to offend…They sting a little each…time! –

The angry vamp cloaked himself and dove in for the kill. Dick swung his bo -staff to hit only air. He was manipulating the space, having his foes to only face off against mere illusions of the real soul -stealing …

~I can take you to them, the ones who hold the power to drive this madness away….In return, offer me blood! ~

Verra yipped; his tail that close to getting chomped on -his eyes wider than they had been in a long, long, time. Dick breathed and tried to remember his training. Vampires, monsters. It was the same, but…He could not focus on a target! It had to en –

~What do you say, hmm? For old times' sake, Grayson? –

"How do you know that name?" Dick had forgotten about the mind reading! That was what had bugged Verra out even ore as his body started to change.

~NO…MORE!~ The beast in Verra was of the were – category monstrosity. He had stood on his hind legs before, but as Roku's science experiment, not as a real beast. (Older arc, countless times ago.)

Dick dodged the wrists of this giant as it fell to all fours and howled loudly in his ears. It, was happening. Fear and chaos had corrupted Verra?

~The dog knew better than to test his limits, in the dark…You too can avoid falling, if you listen to my request…How about it? Find the boy with all the power to stop this, the goddess who shall assist and close the gates! You, have only to serve that purpose, to do as I wish before the night becomes your cage here…. ~

Dick was on his hands and knees, shaking as he had when Roku had still been at his throat. He and Lothos, the red king (now Raku) had once been pupil and teacher, by Lilith's intervening. He'd stayed in the castle to learn of ways to corrupt the spirit, one of those ways was to lose ones' innocence in the process.

That was why he was so dangerous. He could corrupt and rape the souls he touched without thought, without a conscious glance. He had no heart, a true soul - stealer.

Raku had lost his mind being a slave to the man under Lil's decision. She'd allowed it in order to further corrupt the boy demi – God.

What better way to prove ones' strength than to corrupt the child of a god? Only Lil didn't necessarily have to get her hands dirty…

Dick looked up at Lothos, then at the snorting, shuffling, rioting Verra. His eyes would not look away at that red sky. He gulped, hoping for an answer to arise –

For it did. He was not alone. "No, Verra would never forgive me for selling my soul to his enemy." Dick shook his head, his decision clear. The hard road it was, then.

Lothos let his grinning deplete. All that sunken fun from his face had drowned out and left a cold glare in its place. A hungrier response to rejection. He was never denied by any fodder! This man was mad! HE was the only way!

~You think you can defy, ME!? The brats in the past could do no such – your allies are as annoying as fruit flies to a bat's breakfast in the early eve! How DARE! How DARE you defy…. I simply, won't have it. ~ Lothos was fed up with being second best. He decided to try harder…With the heart of this victim, standing in HIS wake.

He came at Grayson; willing to prove his point, that humans wanted to fall and sin, and cry, and die twice in a life -time! Only this stupid sack of rocks wanted morale and honor…Disgusting! Hiss blod had to be so tainted with light, that it made Lothos mad with thirst.

~H…Hand it…. slurp! *…. Over….!. Hand over, your blood to MEE!~

Eat as a king in the morn

A prince in the afternoon

And a pauper by the evening come; For each of these signs signal a desire so strong, that ones' thirst is

soon to belong to the midnight hour. Before long….

/

Eris had nibbled her nails right down. Charl had not returned and it worried her to no end. Was he safe?

Raku was in those cells below that they had crafted to house his powers of manifestation and alteration to her reality. He could not face her while his curse was too much to bear.

Charl, did she really trust the blow – hard? Did she have it in her to love again, without Ares to act as her domineering king to his consort?

She was not a bride. Eris snorted and got up to stretch a bit. The cool underground grew chilly at this time. She did not want to be a part of the pain it brought. Before long, she'd lose her right to own up to her sins –

~Have you not forgotten what they did? ~ A voice in her head made the goddess cringe. ~ We are the reason our kind is be painted as untrustworthy…~

Trickster deity had gotten a significantly a bad rap in the past, Artemis had recalled. Why could it be as any other time? Why was this world any less dangerous to her unchanged ego as it was then? Was more chaos present here, after all?

~Yet, it has changed…. We can face the light again. He, cannot step foot onto the path we walk. ~

That was true. She had a chance. The three Fates had told her while in her cell; that her doom was not yet to come, but a new arrival from the beyond would have it so she would not recall the past any longer.

Eris brushed away the clouds of her contempt to find peace in this new vision she'd set before herself. Now, how to have Charl out of her hair…

She pulled back her lips into a wide grin and thought of his cowering as it fed her plenty whilst she –

She gasped and fought the smile to fall; her eyes white as paper by the expression she'd involuntarily made.

~No…I…. I have to control it! ~ She grasped her bleached knuckles and shook terribly, not from the cold happening outside. Charl would not come to her rescue. This world HAD bested her! However, he did not need to know that. She was in control…Chaos, would not control –

~Annn! ~ She held her eyes shut and groaned. ~N…. YOU!~ Her eyes of blue on one, and red to the other, shone with the ferocity of a localized queen.

The light inside her chest, was that girl she'd swallowed up…that changed child who'd allowed the golden apple to seal her into its –

Rotten….

Core...

She shouted and fell over. The brilliant power was too strong -the girl was trying to break free!

~No! WE made a deal! You hand over your essence to me…. I change the world! ~

~That day once dawned and fell; you lost! ~ The child's telepathic speak mocked Eris as her growl flew out with her eyes on fire and boiling hot. Coals of clear liquid metal fell from her tears as the power of Chaos, was let loose as plagues to the world order.

~I'll win! I'll bite back at their heels! The gods will RUE the day! –

~You'll fall, as all the others do…~ The girl's voice was annoyingly vivid. It hurt to speak out. She came out shuddering in croaks, Eris had never felt so weak since….

~He stole me away, body…blood! Man will PAY! WE told them all! You'd too, become a god! ~ She coaxed the other blonde sprite inside her to leave the matter be. Finally, the Goddess of Chaos breathed.

The light had died, she too knew her own contractor's weakness. For Raku was not the only one with a power sourced child!

~That's riiight…..~ Eris wheezed out and sat back into her cozy throne away from home. ~WE want to be freed from our roles as simply items to the fates; we want our own start in this…revolution of the known present…. I must not perish, or you too will be lost to both time and space….

/

Aiden's heart beat slower than before. Something, had pulled him back up. ~Hey…. HEY! ~

Aiden awoke to the sounds of shouting adults and a laughing man –

Him.

No, the shadow of his…former self…He was, not in c-

~That's all, young Anti -Chosen. ~ Medusa walked up from behind the dark self and made it (Aiden,) jump.

~Ah, right…Putting him down now! ~ The trick was to be a clown; the same as he'd been back at fourteen. As if stuck in a time bubble, that shadow as close to his tenth-grade year old self as ever.

Aiden let the crying men fall onto their faces. Scratched, but not broken. Hopefully, they'd not find him holding back -he had, but in case there was more to do…He'd told the gorgons this…didn't he?

~Nice work…~ The Gemini Brother snorted and pushed by Aiden with his medals shining on his coat- the one Ares had entrusted to his new general.

~We have yet to seek and destroy the last in our way -in Lord Ares's way to a new future! We don't have time to exterminate every bit of fodder on this dusty plane. ~ The twin scolded Aiden. Who'd gotten the 'pout' idea from Ami. She was a mistress of deception. He could do the same. Until…

~Yet, to let Lord Ares's name mean no more to these, meat puppets! ~ Aiden blurted out. Had he done that?

~They are rotten! WE have a duty to put them all in their place –

~We will. Anti -self. ~ Sneered the twin. ~WE are the executioners of this time; so, it has been spoken by our god Ares -lord of war and re -creation! ~

~Sorry, are you sure you are not…. Stalling? ~

Aiden thankfully had not said that. It was, an underling who had joined them. A small fiend with no goal but to find a new home. At any cost.

The Gemini twin glared past his faction; the little beast was getting whipped in the end. Not by he, yet by fate's calling.

~If we are to lead an army, he must have power. This wave as such, has grown! ~ The twin threw up his arms and exclaimed proudly. The crowd of monsters and ghouls though, didn't seem to rejoice. They treated him like a liar on a pedestal. Only put there because Ares still had ulterior motives to move against both the gods' and mortals' ruling over this dominion.

~You are acting like a messenger, so…Why do you seem threatened by me –

~What do you say to this ungrateful pup! ~ The Gemini twin hated to be teased; his brother had always protected them. Prevented the gods from getting a good look at their faces, less they turn back to the stars.

Never…The coldness of that empty existence was false! It was to be DEAD! Forever! He would rule here, beside Ares! Lick his boots, call him sire, it mattered not.

~In order to live here any longer, you shall do as you are instructed…~ Smirked the nearly damaged twin as he stared Aiden down – passing the guise as if he could look right ….

Oh no…

~Ahh…. Well! Ares will have us all capped shut as bottles to his war – lordiness! ~ Snickered the twin, suddenly changing his gaze and further acting…off…

~Are…. Are you gonna let him run this city! Really?~ Aiden suddenly blurted out, realizing that his damn alter had woken up. He was stunned by the wave so badly that his body felt non – existent from his core.

~AHA! ~ The twin spun around with his white hair a whip to the pale fiend's face. His grin as light as a jester on crack.

~He fooled you all…. But I saw! Not a god, not a son! You are a fraud! Stop this mongrel from waking! NOW! ~

The blonde pushed by the harpies and let his fire spit them into a frenzy. His hands were like stones. They soon toppled as Medusa's magic had the Chosen breathing harder than his first trial.

~You, are a clever boy. No wonder Eris would have kept you as a pet. ~ Medusa's smile slithered by, deeply enticing as Aiden soon heard a voice in his head call out.

~Don't look into her eyes! Look away! ~

Aiden shut his eyes and bit his lip hard. He had to wait it out? She was a witch!

~Who's out there!? Our invasion isn't to be –

~Agh! ~ An orc figure was drop kicked a few feet back with the fog covering the enemy's movements.

~Nooo! Get away! RAaaah! ~

A harpy fell next, as t swam by the crowd. As a shark, it took them down.

One, two….

~Three! ~ Aiden lit his embers up as the other alter complied. Whoever had his back, this was more than –

He stopped. Running wasn't possible. He had the face them sooner or later.

Guardians. Shit!

~Cover blown? Too bad…I was just getting used to waking from my cat nap! ~

The swipe of claws hit the few stone guards. The Gemini Twin was with only a few knights to keep him safe. He shook, fearing death and waiting on no one as he ran off. Medusa scowled and did the same, leaving the rest to pick up the hint before –

~ I guess he recognized my posse by reason. Good kid, bad attitude…. An' that one –

A kill was imminent as Medusa swerve out of the fire – dog's path.

A yowl from a cat – maiden had the figures beside the Greek Gorgon, scatter. She snarled and hissed at how she was surrounded by …

~The last piece. We are never late enough, it seems…. ~ A sigh and a breath of windy gusts triggered a memory in the snake haired witch that kept her alive, for now.

~Bao Shi…You, are not a shock. ~ The witch knew she'd be cast out soon. It was only knowing how to stall as the boy had reminded her – she could have at least one request upon her pyre.

~I was not hoping to meet the Goddess's last priestess. Your home land calls, you are to return –

~I lived out NO sin! I was assaulted! You must realize this –

~The past is through, return. ~

~I'm not your servant. ~ Medusa spat. Aiden was there too, listening.

~You have caused the time – line damage. We are to fix what cannot be. ~

The cat person was; Autur's alter or rather, Lady Min (past arcs, incarnation of Goddess of Mysteries untold with Lynx Totem, who later reverted to true form as Lion Goddess originally the Sphinx Totemic spirit. She resides in the temple of the Phoenix in the past world and will remain until the bird is to be reborn again. She is close in relation to Lady Isis and Astarte – whom she dislikes due to their disagreements of the Chosen in the past. Lady Min is the reincarnated self that was kept within JinMae of Ancient Spirit world China. Past arcs made her the enemy, but she now is returned and Min is of a separate body at times to allow JinMae to heal up from her overshadowed 'self.')

Aiden had been fortunate to know these figures, but briefly. As a Chosen, it was his duty to finish Raku's story and to reclaim the kid's innocence.

He'd done this, but the figures here were of one more.

Kaien and…

The steps of the elegant Sayumon had Aiden gulp*. This, was going to be a problem.

Sayu had a place still on the spirit council and was known for being a bit…Vain. She'd overpowered her adult sons to do her bidding, made the Titans her targets (how did he know that? Was it the trip he'd had to free Raku in?)

Anyway, that you'd like to slice that through, it all spelled trouble…Upon each and every, little nick.

Her tails had seemed plush as one of Ami's "Tokemon' dolls. She claimed they were worth more than her unused college fund. Huh.

Was she…? Angry? He guessed that everyone was, but it was hard to read through all the….

Smoke…

Aiden collapsed by the mental back flips of his double. It wanted to keep him quiet longer…Great…

~Cantcha' wake him? Sayu? Use yer –

~Sir Solario, we can only do so little whilst in form. My tails' magic is sacred. I won't try to pry. He's going to heal anyway –

~He is being turned into a vessel for that punk shadow! It won't let go! You saw it! The boy elemental's eyes lit up like Vesuvius on a good day! ~

~If we pry, we then await far worse. ~ Autur muttered. She was not a fan of Kaien, or his children. They sided with mortals and that made them too rebellious!

~And if what Kaien speaks is his truth to bear, then the boy's life will be swallowed up again. ~ Bao Shi said this and knew her time was too late to push her on towards the path to enlightenment. It would not come. That jurisdiction was up not to they; the gods, but the Alien – boy mortal Chosen to decide what would befall his home world.

And here he was; wide awake to their reality, his face uncomfortably contorted over some private matter in which his saints of this realm vehemently opposed on all cases – the saving of a devil in disguise.

In this lifetime, the Chosen had to keep a clear head -he'd not done this as Raku, or as Richard Ainsley, nor as Horus. They all fell, and took their pitiful hope with them.

Bao Shi had seen the fall of a man clad in armor any eras onward, now into the present as her eyes stayed firmly on their mission by the gods' unscrupulous pandering. They chose to defy the ones who had made them BE. The humans were tools, erasers and pencils to their pleas.

Silently, the guardians had struck a chord in the hall of those, Universally wound. Now, even A' was to become a council head there, to keep the peace and to rebuild her realm into her old years.

~You know of the answers. ~ Bao Shi looked into Aiden's features of scared little boy he'd always remained.

~Growing out of your shell means making a sacrifice. Not just a promise to another to save them –

~What more can I do? ~ Aiden stood up and wobbled to stand. The countless evil drones dispersed into sudden dusk as the light of Aiden's Day – broken power breached them.

~You can face his truth, try not to deny. Raku, was a king who had powers like any other. We treated him openly with spite, when we should have looked towards a humane…approach. ~

"You, you let him fall into …. He's not going to hurt me." Aiden smiled and left a small chuckle to drip past his dusted cheek bones. The dark self gawked by how Aiden was playing a saint. He HATED keeping up with his predecessor! It sucked!

~How do you know him to be that same little boy, now? ~ Sayu made a good point. ~We can tell you this; there is intel that another escaped with the intent on using Eris to grow in power- she is gathering magic and manna as we stand here in debate over one boy's terminated future –

"Raku is here! He's not, he's not going to give up on me….We are….We are still in a pact! –

/

Raku's eyes bolted open with the words of hope resounding throughout his dark, little world. Manifesto was after his soul, and Ignito had given him back magic to age just a slight. To face Eris…But, was she the one he had to fight?

His long hair swayed about and the tween felt his feet hit earth finally. Eris, her magic was here. Her wafting miasma was something toxic….

He heard a giggle from the shadows as the form of clad entities took their turns wiping the platter of this human divide, clean.

All those emotions of lust, anger, desperation…They fed…The thrived, because of –

Then , it shocked Raku most of all. Roko, she'd been that entity to tame him!

And only one soul had this power…

One soul -mated….

Raku couldn't breathe, his body hung in the balance. It was lost. This quest, was just to become a god among the humans! There, was not a power like this!

Raku couldn't breathe. He treaded water; recalling his death, his descent into Azag's plane. He'd wished to lose his humanity too soon…

A family, a light at the very end…

She'd…

Gasping and tied to the void's pull, Raku scrambled for a way towards the surface. His body ached, his chest heaved up and down inside his red prison.

~Hang them all…Break the walls that hold….Do. IT!~

Raku didn't know that his tears were falling; his child innocence was there, but there was another voice. A power that could stop her…At a cost….

~Ignito…. Don't…..Take…. –

~Freedom is sacrifice. ~ The cold-eyed Eternal shook his head. ~I must take you back to there –

~NO! ~ Raku breathed as if his lungs had filled to the brim with rainwater. So god -awful cold and dreary…His body shivered as the fever of that uninvited specter wanted to undo his good fortune. His friend, he couldn't go back!

~I won't change! –

~You'll perish. They know that we are the cause. She came to seek and devour. She lives if we thrive. ~

Was he talking about Eris, or…Her?

~Our time is waning. Make a choice, now. ~

Manifesto was out there, plotting to steal his time. Ignito was waiting to make a pact, to break the walls that kept Raku's adult self dormant. He did not want it. It was not for THIS time!

Roku, he'd been a villain. A sad clown with a killing art all his own. And a desire for …. Punishment…

Raku wanted his partly born humanity. To live alongside his allies in peace…Was that not his? His wish could be granted! A' had allowed Aiden to try! She could not change that!

~A teen…A boy like them. I won't b an adult. I'm…Not ready to grow up…~

~Sad. As it states. You'll find the time, soon. ~ Ignito waved his arm as Raku's lips curled back in a wince. The pressure was as if he were being squeezed by unknown fingers roughly.

~Your body is partly restored. There. ~ The figure let down his gloved fingers as his body slunk back within the mind of the now eighteen year old Raku. His hair was tied back, his eyes still as in shock and pain as before. He fell from his height in the cell where the casting had taken place in mid- air. An average spell – use.

~Find your opening, destroy her purpose. Recover our own –

"I'll do what I must." Raku blended in with a more human tongue. It had kept the voice out before. Now, he was sure Ignito would be farther away. His fingers were stained with soot. A reason alone; why fire -bird's lives were so well prized. The hunt was a vomitus reason to exist for any hunter.

"I'm coming Aiden!"

The gates fell away by the fire in his wrists. The cell was a mere shell. Eris was getting drained by another's intervention this sudden take over of Earth. And not, by the woman in his living nightmares.

/

Eris felt her body as faint as a child on any hospital ward's register. She could tell. The curse on that girl she'd taken long ago was fading. This world had to hold for her to be free…

~Charl!..~ She leaned onto his arm, yet he pulled back. She saw him looking at the dark corners of her master chamber. The two had swallowed their pains of the other; a customary tale, yet he was being distant. Untrue, as her former lover…

~You've gotten less resolve in you. How I don't think…It wise to continue. ~ He sat up and went to don his tunic and pants. She stared up at him. Defeat etched into in her defined 'look ' and stuttering like a twit.

~You….Loved us…Why? –

~Mon Cherie…~ Chuckled, the imp brunette. He flipped his head back round. His smugness apparent on those fair cheeks of his Parisian mug. ~Power, is what you soon will not provide. What queen loses her magic so very early?!An… Hah…And, you touched me as none might…Silly mere…."

~How dare you! ~ She sniffed and got up, angrily ruffled in the sheets like…. Some ageless concubine…she'd been a fool! He'd been no saint. They'd all used her! What was this travesty! Lo!

~I am CHAOS! I am no messy bride to buck! I'll have your innards fed to you! IMP! –

~I was of an incubus, once. ~ Charl clarified. Of course, he'd been a charmer on this bed spread.

~I care nothing of the past! The future…I could give you it too! All of them…. Demons…HE took my parts first. Then Ares…. Then...Then, you…. –

~I came to support her leading lady. Not our fault she's failed at dominating this domain. ~ Shrugged the imp as he slipped one lanky arm through one single coat sleeve, just to spite his one -night - stand mistress.

~No, love…Only misery…GET OUT! FINE! ~ She was livid with emotion and projected smog to trip Charl up.

~ I was going to take you to the stars, to meet my fam –

~Thy don't know who you are anymore, didn't it dawn on her majesty? ~ Scoffed the imp as he wistfully played with his own ringlets.

~Are you not ashamed? You slept with a monster! A kingdom of those whom you loath! In your myth, you constantly skew the balance. That is a devil - fallen's job! There is no one to have a weakling, duckling…. ~ Sudden to his temper, Eris was afraid of her unmasked lover. She'd definitely never known him to be so cruel. How could this be?

~ I was just here to enjoy the show while it lasted. I was not confined to my post, was I? WAS I!? –

He shot a glare and threats spewed by her; all of her conception of such a sure-fire plan against her kin…It was a baseless mess at her feet. Her idea had been to share power with…. men…that was not it! What was her plan –

~Ares told you sweet nothings. Just as I have decided to leave you far behind –

~You'll not be away…I'll have you razed before long! -

~Liar! ~ Barked Charl with a snort and a bob of his head.

~I do not! ~

~Ares stole that dream! I've gone to help out a war god! You are nothing but a –

~Stop it! ~ Eris was no match for a demon's words. Shoot….! As if she'd had any help. Even Hypnos had abandoned her, and Momus. And not to add the cunning of her Star -child Gemini. And…Medusa…. Medusa was in fact a traitor.

~You lost the right to rule here. Head home. Repent before I bring you to Ares's throne to be defiled all over –

That was a crime against all causes. As Eris's instability rose, her heart felt hotter and hotter. Her head was tight as a corset -squeezed into submission as her eyes looked into the Incubi – imp's own two.

~I…. Have to kill you then. ~ She looked ahead; her eyes as bloodshot as they'd been in Roku's jaws.

~All the male world, will be torn from existence…~ She said this, droned it out as her body swayed full of corrupted miasma born energies. Charl could not swat the tendrils away this time.

The face of a blonde girl was there again, her adult form never to emerge in her shame. Her past, was a broken set of jigsaw ornaments meant to be hung on the tree of life. To be judged by way of her fate.

The fate always led to these moments. Fighting the beast outside her pen. Outside her tower. Her cavern, her shell.

Her reality.

He was going to burn in his lies. Underground.

The walls started to crumble as she smiled; he'd not let her go. They'd be together in this sweat den, for eternities to more. Until the stars bled black as her resolve.

/

Raku felt a bit of muck drip past his lips. Blood? Not his, it was…black! He smeared it onto his cloak arm and panting, tried to get a grip as quickly as he could. The underground was trembling! Not he?

/

Slade, Cici, and Concordia had just weakened Manifesto and his awakening Mistress Ishtar. Had they succeeded in having her banished -it came suddenly instead. A quake as the floors buckled as plates to the earth's very core. Slade reacted inside the glass hourglass prison and kicked it wide in. The splintering relic gave Cici hope as she joined in. Her magic to deconstruct; as the moon's very cycles, was easily the best tool they had. Thee only hope as Slade's lack of magical prowess still made Cici feel glad he was able to beat down a manifestation on their right!

"Hah! Is she done chanting yet?" Slade pushed at a sand snake that had other plans within the thick glass cell they'd been dealt.

Cici shot a glare the man's way. Without Concordia, they were not only glued to their destined end - it would be the rise of an old foe! She had to close the gates. Lilu had gotten enough damaged hearts to allow herself a pair of legs, and wings. She was using her old title as Ishtar. That was the more demanding version of Aphrodite or Isis in lore.

Concordia was still building her magic up. She had to face the music. Yet, Manifesto looked off. He'd done something. He'd –

She gulped. He acted like a disheveled version of the former red lord…

As him, in face, but not name…

Were they to face the two? Was the king still a dead name to his folk?

~Alicia, come through for us all. ~ Cici muttered those words before her own magic of the Crescendo line decided to cut in for a dance number. She missed pulling apart those who made the world seem bleak, dim…She wanted to make it all die.

To disappear. So that Alicia could come home…But, she was done. She had a new task.

Slade had shown Cici nothing, nothing she couldn't have kicked herself to accomplish if she'd only been less laser – focused on that Ethereal Goddess in her way.

~High moon…. find your center…. Pierce the veil! Do it! ~

The crumbling area sped up in time. A cry rang out, and Cici soon saw what this was.

The moon was to a future and past she'd never witnessed before.

The dusk of the hellish underground cleared. The cry had been from Lilu. That, and her poor body was swapped to allow the strix a getaway.

Roko.

/

Roko couldn't have been in two places at once, yet she was connected to Raku's selves as well as Richard Ainsley's own self - driven aspects.

Aiden blankly looked out into the wastelands of his path. Was this it?

/

Zan and Dami had time to find shelter, the world was a quaking storm made of chaos and they, were in the center of this stormy view.

/

Dick Grayson and Vee tried to keep Lothos busy. He returned and did his worst. The shaking might of Earth's crushing loss was so very difficult to bear.

Vee rushed in his were- form, protecting the leader of the former Titans with all the might of his immortal blows combined.

/

Raven backed up her nieces and allies. This storm was killing the planet. She heard the Earth groan and try to shrug the influence off like a bad cold.

~What is happening! Raven!? ~

Malchior's words did not phase through her being. She was trapped in slow motion; dodging rock and metal as the demons fought to push them all into a corner.

Cy ripped a breaking, steel beam to throw it miles off. With a few ounces of magic from Ami, he was sure that they had a chance…somehow, they had to have!

/

Jackie was getting her laptop and any info she could, to pack up with her brother – their home was about to go underground.

She had Hypnos still staying put. Her brother Julien was still a bit skeptical. He wasn't a magical girl, after all.

Autur sneered at the outlook of Earth and the Heavens. She saw as Hakuro's body had started to recover from his folly. He could have lost his madness, yet he'd let it go. All of it. She saw no remaining influence.

The swirling chaos was coming from underground. From a place not of heaven nor hell in another form -over the course it had taken to decimate wide spread batches of human minds or souls, Ares had not felt it enough. Something was amiss, as he hulled out what remained of the ransacked Earthen core of this plane. Built of possibilities, she had been right. He'd not have one to succeed his reign. Unless…

/

Vespa was forced past the walls of space -time. Her locks of violet and dark brown brushed by, as the hit and run victim had only to seek out her teacher inside this ceaseless void.

~Lord Chronos! Death, itself! I've returned! The walls of the Earthen Sphere are coming apart! How do we –

~The Fates arrived later. I was not to know of it. ~ There, still as a shadow in the darkness, he appeared too large to fit inside a given line. His poor form was inflated and swelling with the tainted voices of those the god had sworn to over see.

Vespa gasped and rushed over, throwing down her staff as she let the spearhead hit solid stone ground.

~They'll pay for it all! I was supposed to…I'm sorry! Please, is the curse on your life –

~Not by my time. I will shed this. There is no need to pity what you see –

~That cannot be! You…Are infected! As a treatment, I will go to Earth. I will return and demand that –

~Do you not hear your words to me? ~ Death put up his bony hand to halt his student's rioting.

~I…Won't lose you…. Sire…~ Vespa reverted to her fox – hybrid self and let her eyes become softer. She had powers like Veravakumu, only more pronounced. Less gruff.

~Verra left you hollow. I see how they flicker. Your pain was also present. Did the Chosen –

~The Chosen let it happen! He had every opportunity to stop her! To stop the Red King's rev –

~He won't do that. ~ Death smiled softly and weakly back to the woman as his body twitched in brief flickers of pain.

~Not to a friend. You too, you are a Guardian. Not a Death Messenger of a saint –

~I make no mistakes. HE allowed the boy to –

~A, boy. ~ The Death, psych pomp chuckled, even in all of that agony.

~ Heard from a bird by my pane, that a holiday came. Is the snow to fall on their world, do you know? Vesperion's late ruling –

~I no longer know of my home world. ~ Vespa sniffed and raised her cat like tail up in annoyance. She sat as a pup might, to listen for what was to be spoken. Her teacher had only to say it was time. His time. Her time to dismiss his teachings. For he was a terrible liar.

~I won't die, the heroes are not of many, nor less. ~

~You deny it!? That form! It's a pus –

~It is illness, as no god should have this. Extract it. The medicine from my core being, child. ~

His purpose was to present a future with consequence to those note s being incomplete. Human had made and broken Death by construct over the millennia. Calling him 'cool' or even 'sexy.' Teenaged minds were accountable too. These stupid Chosen boys and girls… They didn't understand!

He was saying. Rebirth. He was carrying the way to save them. To defy fate would be…

~I AM FATE. ~Death concluded as a trickle of black spilled forth from his frozen lips.

~As my successor, you must not defy my orders. It will save them and your futures as well. Take the core, Vespa. You'll know…how to save…. –

~FINE! ~ Vespa started to change her shape to that of a great western dragon.

~I'll cull your ailing body, taking the heart of the void inside…But please….Just, let my self remain unspoken….~ She shook and then, pushed by to grip the god's form as if a kaijuu taking a stand. With one, monstrously clawed arm, she did the duty of those reapers before her. She snapped his neck, then took to his chest and dug inside, taking out that heart that was no more a time piece.

It beat in seconds, never quitting as a fire raged round it. It was what Prometheus had tried to give to man. It was what death stole away as such to preserve the balance of all.

It was, a clockwork heart of astronomical whimsy, now in Vespa's grip.

She gulped, then knew what had to be.

~I allow Time to take its toll. Now, my sacred duty shall be dealt. I will become the void's projected essence…. I, am now sworn to The Cycle…. Of this heart I absorb, to this life as it will but be…. I now commence with my transformation …. ~

She dragged the clockwork organ to dangle by her lips, still in slight hesitation. She reverted as it was bitten each time. Gnawed as flesh in her jaws as they grew smaller and weaker. Her nearly guardian form riled at the taste, yet she ripped into it as a piece of kabob from her family's Israeli nation in the past.

This was her destiny. The bitter stench of a life yet taken. This was LIFE granted, as her blood became icy. Her fingers froze, while Vespa had in her hands the last bite remaining.

~So mote it becomes…I…Am Lady of Time and The Dead unto a Eternal Slumber! ~

She felt her hair turn to a shade he could not describe. Nightshade colors and eyes as sharp as a god's could become.

She gave a heavy sigh as her blood reverted. Drained, and her life changed forever.

The cloak of her teacher lay resting where he had once stood, it now lain useless to those who could not control the magic inside her stomach. Slipped slowly down her throat, it had a purpose to serve for later.

Her risk taken, the fact it was a trial for now. As long as the power did not reject her, she'd be willing to set the Earth free. Even if it meant continuing the gods' work. By killing the untouchable souls up above her chamber. Death's hall of souls to the soul less. This, was only the first step towards redemption as a portal opened up. The rest to unfold in give time.

/