Chapter 4 : Nightmares Rekindled

Starfire and Beast Boy awakened to find themselves on a floating rock in the middle of space. Beast Boy cried out in alarm, because the surroundings were so familar..... Starfire gasped when 5 happy looking ravens flew down to them.

"Turn Back.... Turn Back...." They repeated over and over. Starfire nodded, and looked around for the Shadow Raven. She had disappeared a while ago, after the vortex accident that is.

"Oh no.... Oh no...." Beast Boy muttered. He remembered his last experience in Raven's mind, but this time he was in a far worse place. A pathway of rocks appeared before them, making Beast Boy even more worried. He remembered the maze he and Cyborg had come across and severely hoped they wouldn't come across it again. He started walking and Star flew beside him. The journey had begun.

Meanwhile.......

"Raven, are you okay?" Robin asked as Raven came to. She nodded, accepting the hand stretched out to her. Robin pulled her up, and looked into her room. Everything was in shambles, the banner was torn to pieces, and the bunnies, well...... We won't mention that. Cyborg walked toward them, questions trying to get the better of him. Instead he kept cool and stopped at his two friends. They both stared at Raven, wanting an explanation. Raven sighed.

"All this started after an arguement with another self," She begun, "From another world." Robin and Cyborg stared in shock, she had more than one of her?

"And what was the arguement about?" Robin asked, wanting to know what possibly could upset a Raven at all. Raven sighed again.

"Jessica Simpson singing Angel....... My other said it was awesome, but I just replied that it was a copy of Robbie Williams, and besides, she screams like a banshee." She replied, actually looking embarrassed.

"All over Jessica Simpson?" Cyborg asked. Raven nodded. "But how did you meet your other self? If she is from another world, that is."

"That is for a telepath to know and a telepath only," Raven answered in annoyed tone. "But we should be thinking for our friends. My other sent them into the darkest part of my mind......" She touched the ruby, "and I don't think they can survive. I store all my nightmares in this gemstone, and that's where they were sent." Robin gave a worried expression, obviously thinking of Starfire. 'And I never told her how much I loved her....' he thought sadly.

"But isn't there any way we can get them out? Anything we can do?" Robin asked, still thinking about Star. Raven turned away, she appeared not to want to answer, or she didn't know.

"What about your mirror? Surely you can control where it goes and such, correct?" Cyborg asked. Raven looked at him, and nodded. "We could go and help......"

"One of you must go. The other must stay, for though my powers go far beyond anyone's wildest dreams, it's whether I can hold it or not." Raven said. Robin and Cyborg looked at each other, a conversation going through their eyes. In the end Cyborg was to go, for Raven's "Nightmares" wouldn't be harmed by martial arts. Cyborg sighed, remembering the last time he went through her mirror, and prepared himself. Robin just gave him a questioning look, but didn't say anything. Raven walked into the blown up room, looking for her mirror. It had not been long ago since the day Cyborg and Beast Boy traveled through her mind, in fact only a few weeks ago. She found it underneath a torn up book, which she was resented to find was one of her favorites. She grabbed the handle and ushered Cyborg in her room.

"We must do it in here, because not all times can I control the boundries of what it takes," She explained, "Except in here. I've created a barrier in this room and it's been there since the first day I arrived. Do you not ever wonder why I don't let you in my room? It weakens the barrier and I have to strenghen it again after you leave. (Of course this is all made up)" Cyborg and Robin stood speechless.

"Then why let me in if it weakens that barrier?" Cyborg asked Raven, not thinking about what she just said.

"Because it'll remain strong enough to send you through before it's too weak again. Would you like our tower to be stuck in my mind? Do you?" She replied angerly, though calming herself at the same time. They both shook their heads no and Cyborg walked into the room. This time he actually felt the tug of the barrier that he was unaware of before. He stood beside his friend and stared down at her.

In the Darkness of Her Mind......

"This is not her mind's imagination, is it Beast Boy?" Starfire asked, smothering a reptilic demon with starbolts. Not a moment before it had attacked her, cutting her off from Beast Boy. The Reptile was huge, the tail was spiked and it had thrashed it around as a weapon. Starfire gave a sigh of relief, seeing the shadow evaporate, and rejoined her green companion.

"I'm afraid so Star," Beast Boy started," And I figure more demons will arrive. Do you remember Star? That day?" Starfire nodded, remembering when they had beaten Control Freak and Beast Boy rented a movie. Raven was Afraid, but she didn't accept it and all were attacked by her monstrous powers taking the forms of demons. She shuddered at the thought of the rats in the basement. They continued walking, unaware that in the shadows a figure followed them, watching.

TO BE CONTINUED........

Okay I just come up with weird things while writing. But it's still enjoyable, yes?