A reader approached me (well an e-mail but still) asking if I could write in a new character/villain. Well, as I may not do this all the time, I'll be happy to oblige! The character ties in with the story very well. His name is Shadow, he can control darkness, and chooses the "Grim Reaperish" attire. He is owned by YojimbosBlade. Oh, and I will NOT do this all the time! Only if the character has a place in the story. I'm not trying to be a bitch, but I can't just have random characters that have no significance in the plot. AND there is no Cy/Rav. Thing going on.

Terra and Starfire almost broke the door down when they got home.

"Were Home"! Terra yelled to no one in particular.

Best Boy was, of course, the first to greet her. Terra and Beast Boy hugged tightly. Then, Terra and Starfire scurried up to Terra's room.

"Sorry Beast Boy", Terra called behind her, "we only have two hours to get ready".

Sweatdrop

Terra and Starfire headed up the stairs, when they were at Terra's door she remembered that she was holding a Hot Topic bag.

"Wait", Terra said to Starfire, "we forgot to give Raven her outfit".

Raven was pretty upset when they had left and Terra hoped that she had calmed down. Terra bravely knocked on the door.

"Raven"? She asked timidly. "Look, I know we...I was a little hard on you about Cy, but I got you a dress and I hope you still want to go to the dance...",

Terra paused and waited for a response. Nothing.

"Umm, alright then I'll leave it at the door".

Terra sighed and walked away, feeling like Raven was angry at her. That couldn't have been farther from the truth. Raven wasn't angry, she just felt estranged from everyone else lately. It's pretty obvious, considering a 'normal' teenage girl's favorite movie is usually Bring it On, not Interview with the Vampire. (A/N I guess I'm not normal then, heh heh) But what was normal? And why wouldn't living in a house with truly atypical people make her feel right at home? Raven wondered why this hadn't bothered her before. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach. She really didn't want to go to the dance, but she decided she had to grin and bear it, just to make her friends happy. She suddenly realized why she had stayed all these years though she felt like an outsider. Her friends. They were the ying to her yang, so to speak Their lively nature completely balanced her moody temperament.

She sprung out of her bed to claim the dress Terra bought her. She threw opened her door half expecting to see a Limited Too bag. She was pleasantly surprised to see a black bag labeled Hot Topic in large sinister letters waiting for her. She looked down the hall both ways to make sure no one was watching, and confiscated it. She carefully lifted the dress out of the bag, closing her eyes as if not to ruin the suspense. She opened her eyes, and was relieved to find a beautiful gothic gown, perfectly suiting her morbid sense of style. Now, Raven wasn't much for dresses, but Terra had made sure to place the price tag in plain view to ensure Raven wore it. Also, at the bottom of the bag, was a hefty shoe box. Raven flung it open finding the boots of her dreams. Maybe her friends knew her better then she thought. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of happiness come over her. She stared at the clock on her night stand. "Oh, shit! Raven exclaimed. It was already seven and she would only have an hour to get ready. Raven really didn't wear make-up, but being as this was a special occasion she decided she would go to Terra and Starfire for help.

"Well", Raven began, "here goes nothing".

Raven walked out her room, dress in hand, ready to loose the last shred of self-dignity she had. It was all worth it for her friends.

Robin had just finished putting on his tuxedo and was slicking his hair back with gel.

"Robin", he said to himself as he looked into his mirror, "your sure are a lady killer".

Robin had, of course, assumed he was alone, but learned otherwise when Beast Boy hopped behind him.

"Hey, Mister Smooth, think your letting that hairgel get to your brain"?

Robin was slightly embarrassed, but rather than clobber him like Cyborg, he merely let out an agitated "Shut-up".

"Dude, let me show you how it's really done". Beast Boy boasted.

He dipped a comb into some of Robin's hairgel, and proceeded to comb through his hair, enjoying the end result.

"See, what did I tell you...",

but his sentence was cut short when his hair sprang into it's normal, unruly form.

"Heh heh, looks like were having some technical difficulties", Beast Boy said reassuringly.

He did as before with even more gel, and got the same result. Robin raised an eyebrow

"Don't say a word", huffed Beast Boy as he walked out.

Robin couldn't wait to see Starfire, he wondered what was taking the girls so long.

"Robin"? Starfire had called.

He knew she was going to look pretty, but he couldn't brace himself for what he saw next.

"Starfire", he squeaked.

He couldn't find words. If he thought she had looked good the last time he saw her in a dress, then nothing compared to this.

"You look beautiful".

"Do you really think so"? Starfire asked, slightly blushing.

"Of course", Robin replied.

"Robin, you look especially handsome this evening", Starfire giggled.

"Why, thank you", Robin said imitating a James Bond-like accent.

Everything was starting out perfectly for him, he hoped he would be able to say the same about everyone else's night.

Terra was putting the finishing touches on her look. She had crimped her hair, was wearing a pink bow as a choker, and had medium-sized pink hoop earrings on. Terra heard a knock on her door. She answered it, only to find Beast Boy in a tux holding out a rose for her.

"Aww, Beast Boy, thats so sweet". She cooed.

Beast Boy checked her out.

"Wow, Terra, your hot"! He blurted.

Terra stared at him for am minute, making him wonder if he said the wrong thing.

"Thanks"! Terra said happily, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Beast Boy let out a sigh of relief, he didn't need to start his night out with Terra pissed at him.

Cyborg waited impatiently for Raven at the bottom of the stairs, What was taking her so long? He expected she would just wear her regular clothes, but never thought in a million years that she would wear a dress. Raven looked kind of Burtonesqe as she floated down the stairs. Her dress was very form fitting, and pooled around her feet at the bottom. She had her hair in an elegant updo that was decorated with tiny silver skull clips. And what tied the look together was, surprisingly, her own cloak. Raven was pulled way out of her comfort zone, but she had to admit that she looked awesome.

"You look nice", Cyborg said, trying to sound as non-romantic as possible.

He didn't want anything to change between them. Besides, he didn't want Tara to get bad reviews.

"Thanks", Raven said.

Cyborg couldn't wear a tuxedo like the other guys, so he decided to wear a little bow-tie instead. (A/N aww)

"Shall we go"? Offered Cyborg.

"Yeah, but what about the others"? Raven questioned.

"Their all in the T-car", Cyborg answered.

Raven's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Were using the T-car for a dance"?

"Yup, the one and only".

"Sweet", Raven exclaimed.

As they piled in the car Raven couldn't help but feel a little excited. This was going to be a new experience for her. It didn't take long for them to arrive to H.I.V.E, the T-car being so fast. The second they entered the gymnasium they knew all eyes were on them, especially Cyborg. He had quite a "history" with H.I.V.E .

"Came back for some ass-whopping", Gizmo said and smiled deviously.

Cyborg brushed him off.

"Hey I'm going to get some punch", Raven said to Cyborg.

"Sure", he said continuing to shoot dirty looks at Gizmo.

As she was pouring herself the drink, she noticed a strange cloaked person she didn't recognize standing in the corner. Jinx was grabbing some chips, when she saw Raven staring at the strange newcomer.

"His name is Shadow", Jinx offered without being asked, "he controls darkness and is pretty much a loner, you two would probably hit it off".

"No one asked you", Raven sneered.

Jinx backed off, and rejoined her group of miscreants. Raven then observed that this Shadow was carrying a scythe. She wished she could see his face, but it was hidden beneath a dark mask. Maybe it was better that way, it gave him an air of mystery. She hadn't realized Terra was coming over.

"I saw him too". Terra said making Raven jump. "Do you know anything about him"?

"Not much", Raven replied, "only that his name is Shadow and he controls darkness, anything else is a question mark wrapped in enigma".

"I don't know about you but he give me the chills". Terra said shuttering.

"Thats what I like about him", Raven stated very matter-of-factly.

"Raven, sometimes I just don't get you".Terra said playfully.

"But when you do your right on target", Raven replied.

"I guess your right". Terra said. She then gave Raven a Cheshire Cat grin.

"What"? Questioned Raven.

"That Shadow guy is totally checking you out", Terra whispered.

"Really"? Raven asked earnestly.

"Der, can't you tell". Terra asked.

Raven gave her a blank stare.

"Terra, do I look like a person who could tell"?

"Should I answer that"? Terra asked.

"No". Raven answered.

"Okay, enough with this"! Terra exclaimed. "Go talk to him"!

Terra had to literally push Raven over to him.

"Hi, Shadow is it"? He nodded. "This is my friend Raven..."

When Raven didn't say anything Terra had to elbow her in the ribs.

"Hi", Raven uttered.

"Look I'll leave you two kiddies alone, Beast Boy's calling me". Terra said.

"Wait a second I don't hear..." Raven couldn't finish because Terra had already scurried away.

It looked as if Raven was left to her own devices for this situation.

"What you up to Terra"? Asked Beast Boy.

"Just playing matchmaker". Terra answered.

"Umm, Terra, you do know that everyone here is a villain and potential enemy right"?

"Oops", said Terra, hitting herself upside the head. "We better break it up before anything happens".

"Why don't you have Cyborg do it", Beast Boy suggested, "romantic or not, he really cares about Raven, and wouldn't want her getting cozy with a bad guy".

"You right", agreed Terra, "I'll go get him".

Terra knew he'd be concerned, he was like an older brother to Raven, always encouraging her. She finally spotted him flirting with Bumblebee. (A/N she was in "Deception" last Saturday) "Maybe he's the one who needs the 'saving'", Terra thought to herself.

"Cy, can I have a word with you?" Terra asked.

Before he could answer he was snatched away.

"Okay, Raven is digging this creepy villain and I need you to stop it".

"Umm, Terra, she'll think I like her like that if I intervene". Cyborg Said.

"Yeah, and so will that Shadow dude and he'll lay off". Terra replied.

"Okay", Cyborg agreed.

He did feel a little protective of Raven, but he didn't feel right intruding like that. He found Raven dancing with some cloaked guy and automatically had the same impression of him that Terra did. Creepy. When the song ended Cyborg marched up to him and said very tough,

"Excuse me buddy, but thats my date".

"Very well", said Shadow. "Raven, we will meet again".

With that he slinked into the shadows and disappeared.

"Cyborg, that guy was freaking me out a little, but you didn't have to do that". Raven said a little annoyed.

"I know", Cyborg replied, "but that dude wasn't good news".

"Your right, I guess, but he had some sort of pull on me, I can't quite figure it out". Raven said.

"Villains tend to do that". Cyborg replied. "But, come on, some students here made a mosh pit"!

Raven and Cyborg joined the rest of the Titans in the mosh pit, and they moshed until closing time. They didn't care if their clothed got messed up because Cyborg had built a 'T-washer'. Good times.

A/N I'm so sorry. I didn't know how to end this damned chapter. Oh and Shadow was a bit of a cameo, he doesn't talk much in this...