Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans. However, Kale Syger, Darkform, Cyborg's flying mailbox, and The Raven Goddess Fan Shrine all belong to me. You may not use them without my permission. Ask First.
A/N: So many good reviews. *Sniff* I'm so happy.
Vincent – Right then! Some of them have questions. Are you going to answer them today?
Kev – Yeah, yeah, I will.
Vincent – What happened yesterday? We had to submerge 'The Box' twice.
Kev – My siblings were getting on my nerves.
Vincent – They still don't listen to you do they?
Kev – No they don't. I can't wait to go to college. Now to the review replies.
purtymanagirl58 – As for the shimmering; I find that everyone knows what shimmering is. If I can put something in the text that everyone can imagine clearly it enhances the story. Also they symbolize purity; something untouched by evil intent.
Dragons star – For you and anyone else that keeps wondering how I get my stories out so fast, read my bio. It tells you how I come up with my stories and how I write.
gotterdammerung – What was your question? You forgot to write it in! Just send it to me in an email and I will answer you that way.
Lady Karmina – Sorry about that! I keep a running map of the storyline in my head and I just knew that I had to stop that chapter where I did. Don't ask me how I knew, I just did.
Chapter Eleven: Dark of Night
Raven floated closer and closer to Kale. She was now inside the Core. This was the place where all people recede to in an unconscious state. Kale was curled up into a ball, his back turned to her. He was dressed in plain white clothes. Simple clothe shirt and pants. He was shivering in fear.
As she approached him he turned his head to look at her. He watched her approach out of the corner of his eye. He stayed in his fetal position for some time. When Raven was only two feet from him he straightened.
"You are hurt?"
"It's nothing. I need to know about Darkform."
"She will come straight to the Tower. She will attack tonight."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded his head. "You must not let her take me back."
"I won't."
"You must return to the Tower and protect me until I can awaken and defend myself."
"All right, I will." As she turned to leave she heard him call out to her.
"You are hurt. If you return the way you are you will be in the same state as I am. Come," he said, " let me heal you." He spread his arms. Raven floated to him and he wrapped his softly glowing arms around her.
"I won't let anyone take you away from me. I won't!" Raven was now crying. "I'll keep you and we will be happy!"
Kale gently stroked her hair. "Shhh, I know. I wish to be happy with you as well."
The dark space began to disappear and Raven could feel herself being pulled back into reality. When she opened her eyes she found herself lying atop Kale's unconscious body. She gently placed a kiss on his forehead and slipped off of the bed to wait for Darkform to arrive.
The room seemed dark and forbidding even in the dim light of the lamp. With every minute that passed Raven became more and more nervous. She stayed close to Kale and watched every opening in the room. The silence was palpable and only the steady sound of Kale's breathing kept her from jumping out of her skin entirely.
Raven made a brief mental scan of the area. Finding nothing dangerous in the area she decided to reheat the tea that they had been drinking earlier. She was just walking back to the room when she heard the metallic ring of steel on steel. Someone was fighting. She dropped her tea and ran as fast as possible back to the room.
When she opened the door she found the armored Darkform in a pitched battle with someone else. The lamp had been knocked over and the room was dark. Raven rushed passed the combatants to the bedside. She placed herself between the fight and her love.
The two figures continued to clash. The small room was in shambles. Glass from the window and the broken lamp littered the ground. Several small trinkets and figurines were scattered in the corners. The stalemate was unending. Neither of the women could gain an advantage. The cycle would go unbroken. Strike. Parry. Thrust. Dodge. Sweep. Jump. And then it would begin again. As the sun began to poke over the horizon Raven could clearly see the mask and armor of Darkform.
The light also made clear the other form. The woman had long golden blond hair. Her green eyes were alight with determination. She was dressed in rather plain clothes. A simple blue shirt covered her sweat soaked torso. She wore red denim jeans and a pair of tennis shoes. Both figures held long double bladed swords. Each fought as though they knew each other's next move.
Still the battle continued. Strike. Parry. Thrust. Dodge. Sweep. Jump. It went like this until one of Kale's most prized possessions was sent to the ground. It was the picture of Raven he had taken at the café. It landed in the direct path of Darkform's next step. Before she could take that step an image appeared. It was an image of Kale. Raven looked back momentarily to confirm that Kale was still unconscious and then turned back. The image Kale didn't look all that substantial but Darkform found the image as solid as she was. The image reared a fist back and threw with all of its might a punch of titanic proportions.
The black armored figure was sent hurtling across the room to smash into the wall. The cursed mask had a crack running down the center of it, and as image Kale placed the picture safely in Raven's hand it split and fell with twin clanks to the floor. The chain mail hood slipped to reveal light brown hair. Image Kale glided over to the real Kale and lowered himself into his body. Kale himself sat up and looked across the room. His eyes widened.
"Mother? Sister?"
A/N: Sorry this is so short. I'm feeling kind of drained. Don't expect another update for a few days. I need to let my creative juices replenish themselves. The next two chapters will end the story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, short as it was, and come back to read the finale. Good reviews will ensure a speedy recovery.
Vincent – Whew! I am so tired.
Kev – We'll get a few days rest before we finish up okay?
Vincent – Sounds good to me. I think I'll take a nice long shower. And then I will take the longest nap. *Yawns* Need sleep.
Kev – Sorry again. Hope you enjoyed this chapter and we'll se you in a few days. A week tops.
Vincent – Nightey night.
Kev – Ciao!
