A/N: Hello there! I know…it's been an awful long time since the last update…*shifty eyes from Dixxy* Well, I was on vacation, then sick then had a bachelorette for one of my friends then, you know, life situations happen. Moving on, let's get going!
(Twelve) To the Underworld
The groups twirled in the inside of the gate all the way until they reached the very end, falling to the floor with thuds.
"That's it. No more interdimensional trips for me." Danny groaned. "My back can live without it."
"Speak for yourself." Chris muttered, slightly feeling dazed.
"Is everyone alright?" Robin asked as he got up.
There were several of groans and a "define alright…" but nonetheless, Robin took the answers.
"Alright, once everyone is back to normal, we will start exploring this place." he looked ahead. "Wherever this is."
"I'm going to stay behind."
Robin got a peculiar look as he faced Raven, the one who spoke.
"Why ?"
He then eyed Sam and Jinx… and remembered.
"Alright, but once they're fully healed, join us all."
Raven nodded. "You guys be careful out there. There are many different kinds of magic out there, that I could all sense."
The Titan leader nodded.
"We will…"
He then faced the remaining people.
"Alright, teams. Chris, you'll be the second in command leader as Sam is unavailable. (Chris nodded). Teams, move out."
As they all walked away, Raven couldn't help but to stare at them. The only one with "magic" was Starfire but the sorceress was still worried about the groups and the danger they would face later on.
She sighed.
"They will be alright. They're strong." Jinx muttered.
But that was the thing. That was the one sentence Raven was more worried about.
"But just how strong are they?" she asked. "Just how strong are they before they break apart ?"
:(/\):
The group reached the end of the path and all stared out at the opening ahead of them.
The sky itself was black, giving out a harsh, cold feeling as a few flashes of the unnatural lightning was seen here and there. The dark ominous clouds were gathering closer together as the wind howled through the barren area.
Across the land was vegetation that didn't belong to their world. The smell of dead plants and mud filled everyone's nostrils but the odor of the place, however, was the most sickening of them all and Danny tried not to throw up.
There were occasionally weird lifeless trees scattered throughout the land and the air around them was cold and unfeeling.
"Home sweet home," Beast Boy said, and laughed nervously.
"Everything is so…" Chris tried to grab all the details of the odd landscape they were in but the human eyes can only gather so much. "Dead." he concluded.
Small beeps were heard which indicated that Cyborg was either checking out this place or trying to get hold of a map… which proved unsuccessful.
"I can't get any map of this place," Cyborg announced, as though he read Robin's mind. "Looks like we're walking without one."
"Fantastic..." came the blunt voice of Danny.
Robin narrowed his eyes as he stared ahead. There were so much dead… even to him, it was a little unnerving.
"Starfire, can you give us a little light ?"
The alien raised her hand and a green starbolt appeared, giving out the necessary light. It relieved most people. Cyborg turned on his light as well.
"Where are we ?" Chris asked.
"His home. And we're not going to find any more answers if we linger here so we better get a move on if we want to find out more." Danny replied, already having a head start.
"Danny's right and it's best if we stay together. Who knows what creepy crawlers can be found here." Cathy responded.
Robin nodded. "Alright, teams, move out."
The two groups began to walk, huddling closer as Chris and Robin were the first. As they began to walk, they failed to notice that something with beady eyes was staring at them, waiting to attack.
It then slithered, leaving them unaware of the lurking danger.
They didn't know how much time had passed but it felt like it was more than half an hour that they had been walking across the lifeless land. Cyborg was still checking on his computer since it apparently was the only thing that worked. But again, the computer showed no signs of anything.
Danny bumped into Chris, who had unexpectedly stopped.
"Dude, why'd you stop ?" Danny muttered, rubbing his nose.
Chris shrugged. "Sorry. I felt the need to check something out but found nothing."
Danny nodded but then he raised one of his eyebrows in confusion as he stared at his buddy, who had resumed walking.
Was it just him or did Chris suddenly became…taller ? And it suddenly seemed really hard to walk… It felt like having strong current of water pushing him back.
"Uh, Chris?"
"What?"
"Since when did you become taller?"
This made Chris immediately pause in his tracks, wanting to know what Danny was talking about. As far as he knew, the two were the same height.
"Danny, what are you—"Chris gasped as he saw the situation in which the red fighter was. "I'm not getting taller — you're getting smaller ! Danny, you're sinking !"
"What ?!"
The red fighter looked down… only to let out a shout : "Quicksand !"
There he was, in a large puddle of mud-like sand… and he was stuck in it !
Because of the rapid sinking, Danny started to panic, even though he knew he shouldn't since that made him sink faster… but adrenaline just kicked in !
"Don't panic ! You're not supposed to move !" Chris exclaimed, dropping his weapons to the ground and running to help him.
"You think I'm doing this on purpose ?! Something called instincts! HELP !"
The rest of the group, unaware of his situation, since they hadn't heard his call for help, was still walking onward … but soon Cathy heard the scream and this made her pause, the Rhapsodian swearing that the voice was familiar.
Her sharp look made her notice that two of her MBC fellows had gone missing.
"What the —"
She walked backwards for a bit and her eyes instantly widened as she finally noticed Chris was struggling to pull something out of the ground But the more the Rhapsodian analyzed the scene, the more it seemed to her that the second figure belonged to Danny.
With an exclamation, she dashed towards her friends, but as she ran, the Titans merely observed her actions with peculiar looks.
"Friend Danny is in danger !" Starfire announced after figuring out what the problem was, and since she had, she started to fly towards the three MBC members.
"Wait!"
"Hang on, Danny!" Cathy responded, struggling to pull him out, before she gave a perplexed "Huh ?"
All of a sudden, a strong pair of arms had wrapped around Cathy's waist and the stretchable girl got suddenly pulled backwards pretty quickly, as though she had weighed no more than a feather.
"Do not worry, my friend. I am here."
Cathy blinked.
"Starfire ?"
The Tamaran alien, Chris and Cathy all began to walk backwards, joining forces to pull Danny out of the quicksand. It seemed like a tug of war since the quicksand would often pull Danny back while the fighters heaved him back.
At last, after struggling for quite a while, the jock was pulled to safety and the others fell to the ground after losing their balance.
Meanwhile, the black quicksand sank back to normal as though it had never caught anything, and this gave the group a set of unnerving feeling.
"Is everyone alright ?" Robin asked, running to the fallen teammates.
"Define alright." Chris moaned.
Cyborg crouched down, staring at the odd substance before he took a sample of it for a computer analysis.
Seeing this, Chris gave an odd look.
"Why did you do that ?"
"To see what this thing is made of."
Danny scoffed.
"What? You expect that we will run into quicksand again ?"
"You never know."
Chris narrowed his eyes and gave a look at the jock.
"I think you should be up at the front WHERE WE CAN KEEP AN EYE ON YOU !"
"Okay, you don't have to yell." he muttered.
After the small setback they had, the two groups resumed their walk across the ruins of the landscape.
As they went further, they couldn't help but think that this land might've once been a majestic terrain, full of life, part of a great kingdom — as they kept seeing ruins of old structures scattered across the area.
"Jinkies, this place is getting creepier by the minute." Cathy replied, shivering as she unknowingly stepped onto an old bone.
"Well, we have to keep moving. There's a lot of land to explore." Robin replied.
And the smell kept getting stronger, much to their disturbance, but they kept moving nonetheless.
Robin couldn't help worrying about the three teammates who had been left behind. How were they ? Were they healed ? Did they run into any problems ?
Raven and Jinx were more aware, with the first one able to sense what normal humans couldn't. Sam was sharp but because she was a normal human, she was limited.
The Boy Wonder glanced at Cyborg, who was frowning and would occasionally lift one of his eyebrows, muttering as he clicked away onto his mini-computer, most likely analyzing the sample he took.
The rest of the group appeared quiet yet was quite nervous, to say the least, none of them expecting what was going to happen as they moved forward. But the more they continued, the more that mysterious shadow would follow them, waiting to strike at the right moment !
Beast Boy stopped, frowning.
His animal instincts warning him of some danger, he turned his head around to stare at the opposite direction, behind him. He couldn't help but feel that something was…off.
Something unwelcoming was lurking in the shadows.
He gave a stare before his name was called out.
"Beast Boy !"
And then, with narrowed eyes, the green one turned his attention back to the team but he still couldn't shake that feeling off.
A little while later, the group came to a fork in the road.
"So, uh…which way ?" Beast Boy asked.
Danny squinted his eyes and decided to rely on a children's stuff to make a choice.
"Eenie meenie miney moe ! Okay, we're going to the right." Danny declared.
"Wow, if I had only thought of that..." Chris replied sarcastically, which earned him a snicker from Cy, whom was reminded of Raven on that occasion.
Beast Boy let out a small startled squeak when a hand touched his shoulder.
He turned around to see Robin staring at him.
"Beast Boy…what happened back there ? You seemed to have frozen up..." he observed, taking his hand off his teammate's shoulder.
The green one shrugged.
"Ahem, it's nothing. I just thought I had felt something was following us—can't be too sure though..." he answered.
The Boy Wonder was silent for a moment.
"Alright…keep me updated, will you ?" he eventually told the green boy, who nodded in return.
As the group headed to the right, with Beast Boy bringing up the rear, something appeared in the shadows, something with two glowing eyes, and it started to slither towards the group.
Sensing danger again, Beast Boy swiftly turned around… and gasped when he saw the full appearance !
The gigantic monster wasted no time and wrapped its tail around the green one in a flash, dragging him off in the shadows.
"HEEEELLLPPPPP!"
Cyborg stopped what he was doing and turned around, his eyes widening.
"I'M COMING FOR YOU, LITTLE BUDDY!"
Cyborg let out a yell of rage, ready to tackle the foul beast that had dared to kidnap his friend. He jumped into the air with both of his fists raised upwards.
Unfortunately, the monster saw this and waited for the right moment to slither away. When that time came, the fiend quickly went out of the way so fast that Cyborg struck the ground instead.
"Woah, have you ever seen anything move so fast?" Cy asked with an incredulous look.
The brute then raised his head, slithering its tongue out before it started to strike. Cy had barely enough time to avoid the blow, but at the second one, he wasn't so lucky and the snake's body ended up slamming into him, all the way to where the two groups were.
"Cyborg ! What happened ?" Robin asked his fallen teammate.
"I don't know but there's a huge snake ahead that took Beast Boy !" he answered.
"Starfire, light !"
And just like that, the green bolt illuminated the place and the groups gave out shocked gasps. The monster had the body of a snake, all slimy and scaly, but the head was different, with two large horns making it resemble to a ram's. Its menacing eyes glowered at the teams who drew out their weapons.
"Um anyone's got a plan ?" Danny asked, gulping.
"Uh…hit for its eyes ?"
"Well, it's better than nothing." Cy and Robin went to each other. "Teen Titans…Go!"
"MBC, let's go!"
Starfire flew forward, her eyes glowing green, but instead of firing them, the alien fighter threw a powerful punch at the snake, which as a result flew backwards yet still didn't let go of Beast Boy.
The snake let out a sharp hiss when it roughly stumbled backwards but nevertheless immediately got back up.
"We must free Beast Boy. He is in danger in more ways than one !" Star said, joining the team.
"Yeah : if we strike, we might hit Beast Boy… or the snake might use him as a shield !" Chris replied.
Robin studied the snake's pattern.
"Why not let it go in that cave ?" Danny asked, pointing to a cave that wasn't on their path.
"No. Snakes can be nocturnal animals. Darkness is their friend." Robin answered. "Chris, Danny, on Chris's command, you guys will fire your weapons. Cathy, you and Star will use your alien strengths and powers. Cy, you'll join Chris right after you shoot me up in the air."
"Everyone, move out." Chris commanded.
Just like that, the group leaped into action in order to save their dazed friend. The large serpent hissed before it too started to slither quickly towards the running groups that went their separate ways. Danny and Chris went to the side to prepare their action while Star and Cathy used their alien strength : Cathy stretched out her arms, trapping the serpent in her embrace , and Star took this opportunity to make another punch.
The cold-blooded animal rolled to the ground but still held tight onto Beast Boy.
At the right time, Robin leaped into the hands of Cy and, in a movement that recalled the spring of a trampoline, the half-robot threw the Boy Wonder high into the air.
Unluckily, the monster saw this and smacked Robin right at the side, throwing him off course. It wasn't too soon that the snake swung its tail at the group.
Cathy unleashed her stretchable arms but the snake — as though it had no spine — dodged all of the attacks. It wasn't until then that the two girls also met its tail and fell down.
Star let out her lasers, aiming for its head, but unfortunately, the foe also dodged it.
Danny groaned but then suddenly goggled as he let out a scream, using his arms like a shield to protect himself from the oncoming attack. But before the latter could even strike him, he suddenly felt himself being wrapped in dark magic and then moved away just as the tail struck the ground, exactly where he was a few seconds ago.
The brute let out an angry hiss, angered that its prey had escaped. Just then, the ground underneath the cold-blooded animal started to shake, then crumbled, making the serpent fall underneath.
And as it did, the fiend let loose of its tail grip and something was able to grab Beast Boy, pull him out and make him land safely on the ground.
Curious, the group turned to the spot where Beast Boy was… and goggled all simultaneously.
"Hi guys, guess we came in just in time for the party !"
"SAM !" Cathy screamed, which made the MBC leader laugh.
"Hey !"
The three busters ran towards her and tackled her with hugs.
"Woah, woah ! I'm fine, really !" replied the African-American, laughing from the warm embrace.
"I missed you !" Cathy wailed, blubbering. "I missed you !"
Sam sweat-dropped.
"Good to have you back." Chris nodded.
But the small reunion ended short since the ground above the enemy rose up once again !
Before the MBC could even strike, a flying boulder was hurdled towards the foe, smashing against it.
The monster let out one last furious hiss before slithering away into the distance.
Blinking, the four alien fighters turned their attention to the familiar figure who had emerged from the ground and who, after glancing at the ones who were staring at her, gave them a nod of acknowledgement.
"Your telekinetic powers always amaze me..." Chris commented.
Starfire gasped. "Friend Raven ! Oh, I have missed you so !" The alien grabbed Raven for a great hug, and the empath suddenly seemed to have trouble breathing.
"Glad you guys could make it." Robin said, seeing Jinx.
"Likewise." she replied.
"Uh…I think we've got a problem here : we can't snap Beast Boy out of some kind of trance. It's like that snake has hypnotized him or something..." Chris pointed out.
Cy smirked.
"Oh, that's easy. Watch and learn."
The half-robot marched towards the dazed, drooling Beast Boy then leaned closer to his ear. A loud satisfying burp was heard, which was enough to actually shake Beast Boy awake and make him laugh !
The MBC stared at him with a stunned look, but the BB's laugh soon vanished when he frowned at the mess he made.
"Aw, man. Not again !"
"Right…"
"Exactly what was the animal ?" Cathy asked.
"It's a Cerastes—a large serpent from Greek Mythology. It's said to have a head like a ram (hence with two large horns) and it's extremely flexible —which led many people to believe that it had no spine." Raven answered, and noticing all the perplexed gazes on her, she shrugged and concluded : "I read many books."
Nodding, the group decided that they should get going, hoping that they wouldn't get into more trouble.
Yet unfortunately… they were wrong !
As they continued to walk, the place became foggier. Thick, grey and gloomy fog, which obscured their view and finally prevented them from seeing anything.
The air also turned colder, too cold for them.
As they went further into the fog, Chris heard a voice — an ominous voice, yet at the same time beautiful and utterly intoxicating.
The voice…
The genius shook his head, trying to get a grip on himself but realizing with increasing worry that he was unable to do so : the voice was just so… alluring… so hauntingly beautiful….
"Chris ?"
Chris blinked upon hearing his name and his blue eyes met with golden ones.
"…Sam ?" It took him a moment to determine who had called him.
"What's wrong ?" came the worried voice of Sam.
"I don't know… I keep hearing this voice. Like… someone singing… I don't know."
Raven narrowed her eyes, studying the genius's movements and his body. She had a hunch as to who he was referring to but… she wasn't completely sure.
"Keep us updated, alright ?" Raven asked Chris, and he nodded in return.
The group paused as they stared ahead.
The scene started to clear up from the fog but some of it was still floating over the dark, murky lake that lay before them.
The route they needed to follow continued up ahead… but that mysterious lake was right in between, blocking their path.
"Well… three of us can fly…" Beast Boy pointed out. "But how are the —"
"There's a boat." Chris answered, motioning his head towards an old boat that looked like it had taken a rather harsh beating.
"Oh…"
Sam shrugged. "Well…I guess we have to take it then."
The group of non-flying heroes walked towards the boat, just managing to have everyone fitting in.
Robin took the paddles and began paddling forward across the foggy lake…
Author's Note: Alright whooo ! The group is rowing across the lake… but what will they find ? No one knows except for us ! Aha. Anyways, Cerastes is actually a part of Greek Mythology : it's a snake that hides in sand with its horns sticking up so that their preys will think its food. And when the time is right… it will devour them. I find Greek Mythology fascinating ^^ Also, what was Chris hearing ? I think it's pretty obvious — the haunting voice… the lake… anyone connecting the dots ? Well, I think this is where I will leave off and hand it back to Dixxy ! Take it away, my good man !
(Skychild101)
