They all took a step back as the darklings began to surround them. It was more darklings than even Rex had ever seen. Way more than when Jessica had discovered her talent.

Rex, there are thousands of them! Jessica said softly. She quivered as she noticed her nightmare staring right at her. Psychokitty was back.

Uh...... Cyborg, Jess, how long do we have? Dess said, hoping that maybe Midnight was almost over.

They both checked their watched. Like more than a half an hour, Cyborg said, glumly.

They all groaned. Suddenly, Melissa keeled over in agony.
Rex was quickly by her side. What is it? he asked in a whisper.

They want her, she said, pointing at Raven. They won't leave, and they're going to fight till their death. She's like their queen, Rex. If we let them have her, they'll be totally unstoppable, and they know it.

Rex grabbed her forearm, and helped her up. Even underneath the thick sweatshirt, her body felt numb. Something nasty was going to happen tonight, and poor Melissa was getting the first blast of it.

Everyone looked at Raven. She looked just as emotionless and solemn as usual. Then, Starfire spoke.

Raven, you must not let them have you. We can't leave our new friends to die.

And we'll be twice as strong with this many people! Jonathan said cheerfully.

Speak for yourself, Melissa said. More people, more minds.

Also, we have two flame-bringers this time, Rex said. Not only do we have that, but we have two acrobats, and two seers. We'll be like a triple threat to them!

Nothing's going to stop them, Raven said, suddenly. I can feel it too. Their desire is too strong. They may not be scared of the mere sight of fire anymore.

Well, I guess we're going to find out! cried Robin, as one slither hurled himself at Robin, wrapping itself around his leg.

Starfire cried, as she bounced up, and tried to pull him away from the slither.

Dess whispered to a thin piece of steel pipe, and charged at the slither, throwing the pipe, and watching at it burst into flame, scorching it's hairy body.

The titans gasped. The midnighters had described what would happen to steel if they gave it a thirteen letter name, but that had never seen it actually happen. Robin looked down at his leg. There was a fine red line where the slither had attached himself to his leg, and white burn marks where the blue flame had touched him.

Hey, Cyborg ready to really test your talents? Jessica asked.

Bring it on! he cried, gearing up all his gadgets.

But you have to give em a thirteen letter word.

But I don't know any!

Ask Dess! And quick, because we've got company!

Jessica turned around as fast as she could, just in time to remember her tridecalogism.

Beast Boy, I need matches! she cried, holding out her hand. Beast Boy rushed over, handing her a perfectly lit match.

Wow, this is talent, she laughed. she cried, and the little flame instantly turned into a giant bonfire on a stick.

At first, the darklings shrunk back in the presence of it's original fear. But a moment later, it realized it wasn't terrible. It only burned their eyes for a moment. Some of them even closed their eyes. But after a moment of shock, they all began to attack again. Some even thrashed blindly at Jessica. She gasped, but still fought back, slashing at any darkling that came near her with fire. But after a couple swings, the light started to fade, and she was swimming in an ocean of angry darklings.

Suddenly, Jonathan grabbed Jessica's shoulder and jumped, flying way above the darklings.

Thanks, that was waaaaaay to close for comfort, she said, grabbing his hand. He could feel she was shaking.
Meanwhile, Cyborg was running through the mass towards Dess.

he called.

Hey yourself! she said, struggling to name some steel as well as step on the slithers beneath her feet. What's up?

Oh, the usual, he said, dodging a flying slither. Happen to have a spare tridecalogism?

she said breathlessly. Try decaffeinated.

Ooo, good one! Thanks!

No problem.

Cyborg held the tip of his sonic cannon to his lips. he whispered. Then he whirled around, and blasted the darklings to smithereens.

Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about!

Dess looked at him and laughed.

Over on the other side of the snake pit, Starfire was dragging Robin up into the air while he quickly named all of his weapons, which just happened to be made out of stainless steel, and one by one let go of them as they burst into blue flames.

Understanding, backscratcher, unintelligent, Starfire could hear him murmur.

How can you think of all of those so fast? Starfire asked, as she leaped one more, just barley escaping a pile of slithers.

I'm just thinking of the obvious ones. They're not having much effect. I bet other midnighters have used them before. He paused and thought for a moment. See, I already ran out of ideas.

Give me a lift, and I'll give you some weapons! Dess cried, who appeared to have a lot more darklings than she could handle.

I'm coming! Starfire called, as she landed beside Dess. Jump on the count of three, please!

They jumped, and soared as far away as possible.

Here, I'm giving you some weapons, Dess said. They're already named. I'm giving you some too, Starfire. Bring them to anyone who needs them. Oh, and in case you run out, blamelessness and anticlimactic are tridecalogisms.

Cool, thanks Dess, said Robin. Let's go! He and Dess ran back down into the snake pit, as Starfire took off to help anyone who needed weapons.

Meanwhile, Jonathan was carrying Jessica and Beast Boy, who was supplying her with matches every couple minutes.

Wow, it's so easy to hit the darklings even from up here! Jessica exclaimed.

That's just cause there's so many of them, Beast Boy replied, handing her another match.

Below them, they saw Melissa, Rex and Raven.

We have to keep Raven away from them at all costs, Rex said, as he named another steel necklace understanding' and hurled it at a huge crow-shaped darkling.

Melissa nodded, handing him one of Dess' already named weapons she had snatched before midnight started. hey, do you know if she has any sort of power besides darkling queen?

Raven glared.

Rex sighed, and shook his head. I dunno. Maybe. For now, give her some steel that's already named.

All three of them fighting together made warding off darklings easier, even when they had the most to deal with. Soon, everyone realized that the three of them had the most darklings, because Raven was over there, so gradually everyone began to fight there way over to help them. But after while, they began to run out of steel and matches, and even Dess was having a difficult time thinking of tridecalogisms. Now, only Cyborg had the only continuous weapon, but without tridecalogisms, it was harmless. There was only one more piece of particularly large steel, and a few lone slithers and stray darklings. Most of them had been hurt, or had died. Midnight was almost over, but they knew there was still enough time for the last few darklings to finish them off.

Okay, what now? Robin said, wiping the sweat off his face.

Everyone shook their heads. If all fails, we can take Raven out of the badlands, Jonathan said, nodding to Starfire.

We might have to do that, Rex said. Starfire, get Raven onto the pegasus building. Jonathan and Jess are always up there and safe. It's completely clean. Jonathan, take Beast Boy and Jessica into town to get more matches, and be back as fast as possible.

What about you guys?

We'll be okay. We can run if need be, and I'm sure Dess can think of some tridecalogisms for Cyborg to use. And we have some pieces of steel. Actually, take Robin too, if you can. He can go with Starfire and Raven. He can find some clean steel. Anything to hold them out for the last ten to fifteen minutes.

We're on it, Jonathan said, grabbing Jessica and Beast Boy's hand.
Starfire did the same to Robin and Raven. Then, they all took off, leaving Cyborg, Dess, Rex and Melissa. Suddenly, Cyborg turned and cried out.

A huge spider started to walk over towards them, and Melissa could feel Rex's thoughts tense. She put a hand on his shoulder, knowing that this time they may not escape.

Do you guys like it so far? Please PLEASE review! Especially if you've read Midnighters and really loved it, because even though it's for like, reviews, please tell me who's your favorite Midnighter!!!