Shangri-la
Gothic: I have updated my lookup! There are now basic bios on the 5 Children of Trigon, as well as other things… If you would like me to describe anybody in further detail, leave a review stating which character, and I'll get back to you in another review or an email.
Raven: Now that that's out of the way, Gothic owns nothing, never has done never will do.
Draygion & Kitty: Hey! That's not how you do it!
Raven: I'll let you know when I start to care.
Beast Boy: Quick! Everyone run! Oh what the heck, on with the ficcie!
Please note: By the end of this chapter, you may be feeling very depressed, sad, and even in tears. I recommend you go read a fic full of fluff to cheer yourself up. You have been warned!
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Amongst the shadows, a killer stalked around Arella and Draygion, a lethal ritual knife sharpened to the point gripped in one hand. This killer was Slade, a dangerously mad gleam now in his eye. Driven by his anger, fury and above all, his loss to the Titans, he had finally lost his grip, and thought of nothing else than killing and murder.
"Well my dear…..I believe it is time for you to die…." Slade slithered around Arella, holding the knife to her throat one minute, caressing it against her cheeks the next. She shuddered as best as she could, her pale form barely moving against his firm grip. She was very ill now, hunger and dehydration the only things stopping her from losing touch with reality, and hallucinating into madness.
"Get away from her you freak! You're plain crazy!" Draygion cried out, fear flowing through him.
"Do you want to die first child? Or shall I merely drive you into the ground, and then throw your dead body into a grave alongside her?" Slade hissed, moving away from Arella, and back towards Draygion.
"Freak…." The demon muttered.
"I'll show you who's the freak…." Slade rasped, holding the knife to Draygion's throat. "No, I won't kill you. I'll torture you into the death of hell instead." With these words, Slade held the knife to Draygion's arm, after pulling it away from the terrified demon's throat, and slid it down his manacled arm, blood staining the knife, floor, Slade's arm, and the tortured arm of Draygion. Agonising pain ran through it, the reality of Slade's hideout slowly slipping away from Draygion's mind. He could only whisper one word.
"Raven…."
~+~+~+~+~
Miles away, in Titans Tower, the 6 teens were preparing to crash Slade's party. Raven had insisted that she was well enough, which was true enough; she had healed her wound herself, and had regained the blood lost through Slade's death attempt. The only physical memory of her first death was the second black scar marked across her chest. It filled her with rage, of both revenge and fear for her family kept prisoner by Slade.
"Right Titans. Here's the plan. Cyborg, Starfire, you go in the side door that Cy will make for you. Raven, you Beast Boy and me will take the front door. Zuthion, you go either way, or create your own way in. Everyone okay?" Several nods of agreement came from all sides, everyone discussing what they were gonna do once they got in.
"When we're in there, Zuthion and Raven, you get to Arella and Draygion as fast as you can. The rest of us, we'll handle Slade and his little drones. Everyone ready ? Then, Titans, GO !"
Everyone spread out, and either took to the skies, or after getting a lift over the water, went on foot. Darting over rooftops, Robin wondered, pondering in his mind, all the things that had happened in the last few days.
I just hope things turn out alright. Raven will go crazy if Slade does anything potentially harmful to either Draygion or Arella. He mused on these thoughts, keeping up pace with Raven and Beast Boy, who flew overhead. He concentrated on the beating of Beast Boy's wings for a minute, the swoop of feathers through air the only sound his mind seemed to hear. Beast Boy himself was confused and puzzled, trying to get over the disgust of his new found feelings over Raven. Being alone in the air with her didn't help, he was just thankful Robin was below.
Why can't I get this feeling out of my head ? It's as if I'm obsessed with Raven or something. But she would never feel such a thing back, so I'm gonna end up as just another forgotten emotion or something like that. Why can't I get over this ? His heart feeling generally in the bruised and broken department, he sadly tried to force his mind off Raven and onto the mission. But no matter what he though about, his thoughts always seemed to come back to Raven.
Raven meanwhile, was battling her own private battle, trying to force her dark side down again. For some unknown reason, he dark side was battling for control, and Raven had no idea if she could control it for much longer. It's like there's something letting it out of it's cage, something that's tied me up to keep me out of the way first. Dad said he would be back, but if it is him holding me back, letting things out, then I need help. Help, her expression changed slightly, help from my friends.
Across the city, moving in from the other side, Starfire, Zuthion, and Cyborg were charging towards their destination. Whilst Cy charged on foot, crashing down on rooftop after rooftop, charging ever forward, Zuthion and Star took to the air, sweeping through like angels from the Heavens. Zuthion herself was very worried, as she had never seen Arella since she had come here.
This planet is full of hidden dangers. I wish we were back on Azarath, with no one to interfere, and things back to the way they were. Oh, Arella, Draygion, I wish you were both here, now. Zuthion wiped half a tear out of her eye, suppressing her emotions again, forcing them back down. I must not end up like Metrion, desperate to control myself. Oh what am I thinking, or course I'm gonna end up like my sister. I wish this was all a dream, with nothing left to hurt us.
Whilst the depressed demon thought these thoughts, Starfire was trying not to think such terrible thoughts, and be positive. This outlook was not working, however much she tried.
Oh, if there was not so many lives at stake then we might not have to risk such an event happening where the ones we love end up dead. And yet, if we do not act soon, that is where we may well end up. Star's negative thoughts were reflected in her expression, her green eyes full of depressing emotion and forgotten sadness. Cyborg noticed this, he could see the sadness, and the unhappy expression on her face.
Wonder what's upsetting her so. We've been through a lot, but I've never seen Star so down. I know Robin can get angry enough, but it's just pure malice at the moment. Everyone is so sad and depressed, with no positive or optimistic thinking anywhere. I hope we can get though this without harming each other, physically, and mentally.
With these also depressing thoughts running through Cyborg's head, it was a gloomy, sad, troubling time for everyone, an equally depressing atmosphere all around the 6 teens. As everyone reached their separate destinations, the gloominess of it all remained with them, the darkness in their hearts ever growing with the dreariness of the atmosphere around the city.
As they all reached their separate destinations, Robin's voice came over their communicators, each teen stopping to listen.
"Get ready Titans..." His voice was strong and firm, sure of what he was saying.
In the darkness, everyone were statues, the only signs of life being the steady breathing from each individual, the night air cold enough for one to see one's breath. In the gently, yet bitter wind that spread across the city, each teen felt the cold in more than one way.
"On my word…" But Robin never got to finish his sentence, for two loud explosions rang overhead, causing everyone to focus their attention on what was happening, rather than what they were supposed to be doing. This also alerted Slade, who quickly dispatched his minions to take out the intruders. With the Titans unwary, they were taken by surprise up on the roof, giving the minions an advantage.
"Titans! GO!" Robin shouted out his orders, whilst kicking his way out of the iron grip that the enemy had inflicted upon him, during those fateful minutes the Titans had not been paying attention. For several minutes, there was nothing but fighting as minions even got down the waiting Titans below. The fighting continued, as more and more of the opponent came out. Bit by bit, the enemy began to gain more of an edge, making Robin more desperate to defeat them. It wasn't until a voice came over his communicator that he stopped for a minute.
"Robin, we cannot take much more. We are, losing." Starfire's anxious voice came through, causing Robin to stop in his tracks.
"She's right Robin."
Raven, who had made her way down to the others also made contact. "We can't
take much more of this. If we don't back off, we're going to end up as Slade's
prisoners all over again."
"Now, now Titans. We weren't thinking of leaving so soon were we?" Slade mad and yet still serious drawl came from the black doorway that was the entrance to his hideout. Beside him, he dragged Arella, holding the ever sharp blade to her throat.
"Let her go. NOW." Came Raven's voice from the side of the building, where she floated. "It's either that or I will personally murder you myself." Raven's words would of normally made Slade a bit worried. But now, he feared nothing in his madness, a good and foolish thing in itself.
"Yes, you will let her go. You will not just face Metrion. You will face the Trigon 5. Nobody, and I mean NOBODY messes with any member of our family." The grim, solemn voice of Firgu came from above Slade, Sifria beside him. They had arrived during the bangs in the sky that had redirected everybody's attention.
Whilst this was all going on, Zuthion had managed to get away from the fighting, and taken her chances sneaking into Slade's lair. She had made her way down, and found Draygion chained to a pole. Having freed him, the two had been making their way back up, when Firgu and Sifria had announced their arrival. Despite protests that he was injured, as Draygion had had several cuts from Slade's weapon, he had been determined to extract his revenge. He now climbed the staircase with Zuthion, the black skies and cool night air reaching them.
"You really think I'm scared of you?" Slade was surrounded, Raven at the front, flanked by Robin, Firgu at the right and Sifria at the left. Slade, and Arella, were poised in the middle, Slade showing nether remorse or concern.
"You, Slade, are going down. You've caused enough trouble, and it's time we taught you a lesson." Draygion's determined voice came from behind, Zuthion's angered expression clear from beside him. Slade was now surrounded on either side, the other Titans standing ready on the sidelines.
It was at that point that the first of the snow began to fall. The white flakes of ice fell towards the Earth, landing gently, and spreading their beautiful patterns across the ground.
"You think I'm scared? You think I'm going to run like a scared rat? Think again Titans." Slade had made a wise, and foolish decision. As the Titans prepared to attack, Slade removed his blade, replaced it in it's holder, and drew out several smoke bombs. Then, with a menacing laugh, he flung them around him, covering the surrounding area with smoke. As the smoke cleared, and the Titans opened their stinging eyes, the fact was obvious.
Slade had vanished.
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The Titans were gathered around in a bunch, discussing what they were going to do. There had been introductions, hugs and reunions, and a lot of tears shed. Now they were trying to locate Slade and Arella, and not having much luck.
"Come on! He's gotta be here somewhere" Cyborg was scanning the area, Robin intently watching.
"Got anything yet?" Beast Boy wandered over, looking thoroughly bored. "It's getting cold out here." The snow was 1 ½ feet deep now, and still falling. The fall of snow had delighted Starfire though, she was enchanted by the cold, white melting stuff.
"It is most delightful! Tell me, what is it called again?" Starfire's eyes were alight with curiosity and passion.
"It's called snow Star. It normally falls at this time of year." Raven answered in her monotone voice.
"In the winter? This is the month of November, is it not?" Star asked again.
"Yep. It's Christmas soon." Beast Boy, having got bored with hanging out over by Cyborg and Robin, answered Star.
"What is Christmas?" Star asked once more.
"A religious celebration Earthlings celebrate. Robin will probably explain it to you in better detail later." Raven responded.
"Yo Guys! I got something! Slade's over by the Business Enterprise buildings on the storage parks!" Cyborg shouted. This earned him a generous response from most people, who crowded in for more info.
"Titans, lets go. It's time Slade got his punishment." Robin stated gravely.
"Um, I hate to interrupt, but I kinda think Slade's lost it. He was acting crazy in there." Draygion cautiously said whilst motioning towards the open doorway to Slade's hideout.
"Then we'll just shove him in a nicely white padded room, courtesy of the nice men in white coats." Beast Boy joked.
"You won't get a chance for that. Us 5 are planning to rip that bastard to shreds." Raven dangerously made her point with her brothers and sisters standing around her.
"Heh. My bad." Beast Boy added.
_+_+_+_+_
Atop the Business Enterprise buildings, 9 shadows made their way to the back of the main building. There, they could see the mad Slade at the back, Cinderblock hunched over and ready for battle at the side, and the HIVE rejects, Gizmo, Mammoth and Jinx, chattering in the cold at the opposite side. More to the front, almost below the waiting Titans was something lying on the ground. The falling snow had covered whatever it was, preventing them from see what it was. Arella was nowhere to be seen.
"We'll go in on foot. Raven, you and you siblings come from up here, along with Starfire." But Robin's commands were picked up by one of Gizmo's devices, who quickly alerted Slade.
"Sir! The Titans! They're up there!" Gizmo shouted whilst pointing.
"Uh oh…." Came Beast Boy's all too familiar quirks
"Jinx…" Slade hissed.
"My pleasure Master." Jinx grinned, whilst aiming for the Titans.
"Titans, MOVE!" Robin shouted. But they were not quick enough. Jinx blasted right below them, causing the building to collapse, and the teens to fall in a downwards direction. They landed in a heap on the snow, with Robin and the Titans at the top of the pile to spring up and charge into battle. Raven meanwhile had been one of the first to land, and had had everyone on top of her and Star. As everyone got off, she raised her head.
And gasped as she realised the thing lying on the snow in front of her and the building was a human body. She staggered forward, still recovering from the fall. Reaching the body, numb fingers brushed the snow off. Through the fights that were going on, several humans and demons looked back and saw Raven. No one else had noticed the body, they had thought it rubbish, too busy concentrating on the battle. Now, looking more clearly, everyone gradually realised what the 'rubbish' actually was.
It was in fact, a human female body. And as Raven brushed the snow off, she gasped as she recognised the woman.
It was Arella. Very still, very lifeless, and very dead. Blood stained snow lay around her throat, as Raven discovered that her mother's throat had been slit. And, as she looked at the cold body of her mother, several bits of rubble from behind her began to fly through the air from her powers. The rubble circled mother and daughter, and as it did, the first of Raven's tears began to fall. Shimmering like diamonds for the few seconds they were in the air, the tears splashed onto Arella's body, running down Raven's cheeks in rivers.
"Oh dear. Did wittle Raven lose her mummy?" Slade sarcastically remarked from where he stood, holding Robin at arms length at the throat.
The remark was Slade's fatal mistake. Raven, who had had her eyes shut, her brain in denial, heard the remark. It sunk in.
Her eyes shot open, and in a flash of rage stood up from the body. Her eyes glowed an angry red, and she flung Slade up in the air with her powers. She held him there, before raising her head to him to speak.
"You Slade, can SHUT UP! You have kidnapped my brother, held me and him prisoner, tried to kill me, tried to destroy my friends, and…." Her eyes burned in rage. By now, every fight had stopped, as good and evil stopped to turn and watch.
"And you have killed my mother." She was livid, even buildings being levitated now. "I swear Slade, no matter what it takes, that I will have my revenge! NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!!!" She screamed. She levitated up to where she held him in an orb of her powers, a whirlwind of building materials torn apart surrounding them.
"DIE YOU BASTARD!!!!!" She flung everything she had at him, unleashing every ounce of power and energy she had in her. Slade screamed in agony, withering and twisting in pain. His mask was cracked, and, although what she was doing to him was unclear, one thing was obvious.
It hurt a lot.
_+_+_+_+_
Back in Azarath. Trigon was chuckling. Slade had helped him a lot. By extracting her revenge, Raven had mistakenly released her demon side in her anger. This allowed him to influence her to continue, feeding his darkness into her. Bit by bit, Raven was falling under her father's control, darkness taking her over.
"Soon my dear, soon. Soon you will truly be my daughter.
_+_+_+_+_
On Earth, Trigon's influence was working. Raven had unleashed everything she had upon Slade, and he was in pure agony.
"Stop! Please stop!" Slade managed to choke out.
"And spoil my revenge for all that you have done? Not going to happen." Raven practically growled back at him.
"Please don't kill me! You'd be as low as I am then." Slade retorted.
"Kill you?" Raven looked shocked. She stopped for a minute, allowing him to get his breath back, still holding him in mid air. "Why would I want to kill you? I believe Robin still wants to play with you. I'm only first in line on the 'Slade torture list.'" She chuckled, accompanied by a rather evil looking grin.
"Then stop….this…torture.." Slade managed to scream. Raven looked thoughtful for a minute. Then she replied.
"Ok." Then she hurtled him out of her orb of aura, and screaming into a nearby building behind Slade.. He smacked, head first into the building, and slid downwards to rest on the ground.
At that moment, the skies turned red. A portal opened, and demon cries could be heard from inside. The portal, swirling like a wormhole was identical to the one Cyborg and Beast Boy had been thrown through into Raven's mind. Then, the head and shoulders of Trigon appeared.
"Feel my rage!" He cried to the skies. Raven gasped, and screamed as Trigon's power unleashed her dark side. Her father stepped out of the portal, in all his glory.
"Come my daughter! Embrace in the darkness!" Raven, who had been invisible in the orb of power surrounding her suddenly became visible again as her powers faded from around her body. She looked,….pure evil. Her skin was red, with Trigon's 4 eyes. Her hair had grown, a lot, and was now a black colour. Her clothing was equally red, and sharp fangs protruded from her mouth. In short, she was truly Trigon's daughter.
Raven soared up to her father, standing alongside him. Then she hissed her final words to the Titans.
"Let evil reign!"
The War for Earth had begun.
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Gothic: I've upgraded from 2,800 words. We're now on 3,486. Good huh? I would of updated sooner, but I was in the middle of this chappie, and like the dumb ass I am, accidentally clicked 'No' on the 'Do you want to save changes?' box. Consequently, I lost half my work.
Kitty: Oh and: pleasedon'tkillispleasedon'tkilluspleasedon'tkilluspleasedon'tkilluspleasedon'tkilluspleasedon'tkillusand….uh….pleasedon'tkillus!
In short: PLEASE DON'T KILL US!
Draygion: Arella got killed. And for anyone's who's interested, this chapter was originally going to be called 'Going Through The Motions,' but was later changed to what it is now.
Gothic: Please don't kill us, and uh, reviews please!
