Starfire slowly felt herself fall to a halt in front of the Pegasus building.

Robin, should I let you search for not stained steel now? Starfire asked him.

Yeah, I saw an junkyard full of metal over there. Maybe they'll have some screws or hubcaps or something. I'll let you know when I'm finished. You're taking Raven up there?

Yes. Rex told me to do that.

Good. he's right about it being clean. Just make sure that if the dark moon is almost set, you get down from there quickly.

Okay, I'll remember.

See you two in a little bit, Robin said, running off towards the scrap yard.

Starfire and Raven jumped, and landed gracefully on the roof. As soon as Raven let go of Starfire's hand, she felt gravity come back on, and she fell to her knees.

Are you alright? Starfire asked.

Yeah. I just wasn't expecting that, is all.

Raven slowly sat down comfortably, and closed her eyes, trying to meditate. It felt so weird ever since Midnight came to mediate, because when she cleared her mind, she could feel Melissa enter it. It was such a strange feeling. Maybe she shouldn't mediate in the blue time anymore. She opened her eyes and looked up at Starfire. She was staring out at the horizon.

Hey Starfire?

she said, turning.

Um....... What do you think is going to happen with this.

What do you mean?

I mean, what's going to happen to Rex and Melissa, Dess, Jonathan, Jessica...... all of them. They have to live at Midnight for the rest of their lives, and what if I ruined it for them. The darklings are angry their leader' has been taken away. They're going to have to live with their anger. It's all my fault. Maybe I shouldn't even be a Titan. We're supposed to fight evil. But how can I fight evil, if that's what I am.

Raven, you choose to fight for our side. You still have a choice. Just because you can be corrupted easier than the rest of us, and that you're practically a darkling, and that you come from a planet where everything looks creepy, and that your half-demon, it doesn't mean you're evil.

Raven groaned.

Did I just make it worse? Starfire asked.



I'm sorry! But anyway, you are not evil.

Raven thought for a moment. Maybe Starfire was right about one thing. She did have a choice. Maybe I am evil, she said. Starfire's eyes widened. But that doesn't mean that is what I have to fight for. I'll always fight for my friends.

Fighting for your friends doesn't seem like such an evil thing to do.

she said, looking out towards the dark moon. It doesn't.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Melissa could taste fear all around her. It was almost painfully loud how much each of them was thinking about being crushed by the spider.

Dess, please think of a tridecalogism! Rex cried.

I'm trying! Besides, even if I thought of one, I would need a thirty-nine letter name for this hunk of steel to kill this huge darkling!

Hey, biodegradable has thirteen letters! Cyborg said quickly.

Dess smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. That's a nice one. We need two more though!

They all thought. At least, Rex, Dess and Cyborg did. Melissa tried, but she couldn't get around the sound of all the panicked thoughts.

Suddenly, Dess cried,

They all laughed a little, but suddenly the spider lunged at them, knocking Melissa and Cyborg on the ground. Cyborg was coated with dirt, and Melissa had a huge swollen bruise on her cheek.

Rex cried out loud. They all stared.

Is that even a...... Dess began, but Cyborg stopped her by throwing the last piece of steel into her hands.

Quick, name it! Melissa said.

Biodegradable Incorruptible Rubbernecking! she whispered quickly, and threw the piece of steel as hard as she could at the spider darkling.

It burst into blue flames, and the darkling fell hard onto the hot sand. Everyone looked relieved, but of course just as things seemed to get better, they got a whole lot worse. Last time Dess tried to kill the spider darkling, little spiders came pouring from the wound. But this time, the spider just got back up, still incased in blue flames, it charged. They all ran out of the way as the spider came running. It seemed to be blind, but it could still sense where they were. It seemed to be a lot weaker too. If only they had one more piece of steel. Even a single tridecalogism would have got him out of their hair, or at least held him back until midnight was over. There were still slithers too, an slowly but surely, they were surrounding them.

Please, anyone, doesn't anyone have another piece of steel? Cyborg said, shaking.

They all shook their heads.

Well, it looks like the end, Dess said, slowly. Melissa put her arm around Rex. Dess closed her eyes, just waiting to be finished.

Wait, Dess, Cyborg said suddenly. I'm made out of titanium steel alloy. At least, half of me is. Send me to the darklings. I'd rather die to save you, that see both of us die.

Dess looked up. she said firmly. No suicides. No sacrifices. I can't...... We can't let you do that.

Dess, we have to. I'm going to die anyway. As long as I can save at least one more live, it'll be worth it.



Dess, just hurry up and name me. Please, if you won't name me, I'll name myself.

I...... I just can't...... I, oh fine. But I just don't want to lose you, Cyborg! I...... love you.

I love you too, Dess! But that's why you have to let me save you.



Because I can. I can give you a chance to live. Please, just name me, and let me go.

One problem, Melissa said. None of us can think of a tridecalogism.

Rex nodded. I wish I could. It was a miracle I could think of one today at all. With this giant tarantula here, I can't concentrate.

He has arachnaphobia, Melissa said. Then her eyes widened. So did Dess'.

they said together.

Then, Dess walked up to Cyborg slowly. She bend close to him, and whispered arachnaphobia' against his metal cheek. He smiled, but soon his smile fadded as the spider darkling attacked again. But this time, they were ready. Cyborg ran at the spider with full force, and collided with it, sending a huge mass of blue flames everywhere.

Everyone watched in horror, as the flames grew, then slowly died, leaving ashes of darkling in a pile.

Dess whispered. She closed her eyes, refusing to cry. Then, the ashes began to shift, and a single robotic finger poked out.

Dess opened her eyes, and ran towards the ashes, and began to dig through them. Melissa smiled suddenly as she felt Cyborg's thoughts come back into focus, but winced from the pain of her bruise. Rex ran over to Dess, helping her dig.

Suddenly, Cyborg's frame was uncovered from beneath the dust. His eyes opened wearily. Hey Dess.

She let out a giant sigh of relief. A moment later, Jonathan came back with Jessica and Beast Boy.

Someone order fire? Beast Boy said, holding out a lit match.

Didn't your parents ever teach you not to play with fire? Melissa asked in a monotone that sounded freakishly like Raven.

Jessica laughed.

Where are the darklings? Jonathan asked.

They're gone, Rex said. Cyborg lit himself on fire and saved the world.

Melissa stared.

Well..... our world.

Does that mean all the darklings are dead? Jessica asked.

Rex shook his head. No. When things got bad, most of them fled. Only a few of the really persistent ones died. There are still hundreds of the out there.

Jessica shuddered. Even pschokitty?

Rex nodded.

Dess and Cyborg were still just talking.

Whoa, what happened to Cyborg? said a voice. Starfire along with Robin, who had a handful of steel, and Raven landed right beside Dess and Cyborg. It was Robin who spoke.

To make a long story short, said Dess. We used Cyborg as a piece of steel and threw him at the darklings. That's why he's so burnt up.

Dess was right about Cyborg being burnt up. His steel side was blackened in places and scratched, and his face was so burnt it was almost peeling.

Melissa said. Are you guys staying another night, or have you had enough. I know you guys were going to go to New Orleans.

Wait, how'd you..... started Beast Boy. Oh, right! You're psychic!

Melissa rolled her eyes.

Um...... I guess it all depends on if all of us are up to it. I suppose it's mostly up to Raven, because she's the one that's being hunted.

I don't care, she said. But I don't want to cause anymore trouble. If you guys wanted to stay I could meet you back at Titans Tower or something, but I think I've caused enough damage.

Melissa sighed and smiled. She alone knew what was going through Raven's head, and she knew that she genuinely didn't want to harm anyone anymore. You can go, she said. Everyone looked at her, suprised. But you don't have to. And if you do, you need to promise to come back and visit. It's not your fault who you are. Just because your powers and your talent are normally meant to destroy, doesn't mean you have to use them like that.

Raven smiled. She knew that Melissa had known that, that was what she was thinking this whole time, but it was good to hear someone confirm it.

Rex nodded in agreement. Yes, please, if you're going to go now, come back and visit. All of you. It's great to have you as midnighters here.

said Jonathan. Are you guys staying?

The Titans all looked at each other. Then Beast Boy finally said, We're coming home from New Orleans in five days.

They all smiled.

Dess bent down the help Cyborg off the ground. Until then, he said, kissing her on the cheek. Then, she leaned in and kissed his lips softly.

Yeah. Until then.

Even behind the dirt and peeling skin, everyone could see Cyborg blushing.

Melissa walked up to Raven. So, Miss queen of evil.

Raven looked up.

How do you meditate like that?

She smiled, and laughed a little bit. Just clear your mind of your own thoughts, and everything else will fall into place.

All of a sudden, normal darkness spread across Bixby Oklahoma. Midnight was officially over. All the Slithers, darklings and even the ashes from the spider, disappeared.

Rex said. Five days and we'll see you?

Robin nodded. Meet here?

Uh..... maybe a little closer into town.

Robin nodded. We'll find you.

Well, I guess this is good-bye, Beast Boy said.

For now, added Jessica. Everyone smiled.

Then Melissa looked up. St. Claire's on the prowl, she said. Rex groaned.

You guys had better get a move on.

They all agreed, and got situated as far as who's taking who. It was the same as before: Starfire with Robin, Raven with Cyborg, and Beast Boy flying solo.

We have to go, said Jonathan.

The Titans nodded, and flew up towards the sky.

they called down softly, before the disappeared.

Melissa scanned around the skies, tasting their separate auras, before they were too far to sense. Then, she looked at Rex.

Let's go, Rex. They'll be back soon.

Rex smiled at his friend, as he pulled his glasses from his pocket and put them on. Her face disappeared into a blurry mess, and once again, he could only picture her face and her expression. He thought of her smiling softly at him, her icy gray eyes peering into him, and her mind searching through him.

They all walked over to Melissa's crappy ford. Melissa took the wheel as Rex climbed in beside her, and Dess, Jessica and Jonathan crammed together in the back seat.

Jessica said finally. This is almost like a whole new beginning.

Dess agreed. Nothing's ever going to be normal again.

Melissa whispered. Just the way I like it.

The End