New Chapter! Yay!
Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans so if you would stop hunting me down I would really appreciate it!
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Chapter 26: Good and Holy Again
Cyborg wanted to tell Shadow, but the words wouldn't come. He decided he wouldn't tell her. He felt it just wasn't his place.
After a few more moments of searching, they left Slade's office and went down the hall. They searched room after room and came up with nothing. After turning another corner, they saw the other Teen Titans coming from separate halls. In front of them was one last door.
"This must be it," Said Robin.
"Are you sure?" asked Beastboy.
Just then the door creaked open, revealing darkness.
"Now I'm sure," Said Robin walking through the door.
It was really dark inside, and as soon as the Titans stepped in, the door slammed behind them. A spotlight turned on over a chair, which happened to be seating Slade.
Slade smiled. "I was wondering when you would bring them to me Shadow," he said slyly.
"Don't waste us with your tricks Slade," growled Robin, who was glaring daggers at him. "We know that Shadow doesn't work for you."
Shadow couldn't believe her ears. The Titans still liked her?
"Robin," chuckled Slade. "You're so trusting." He paused. "Too trusting. Has there ever been a time when dear Shadow here acted nervous about her family? Does she act suspiciously whenever you mention family?" He knew he was stating the strait-out obvious.
Robin smirked. "With a dad like you I don't blame her," he retorted.
Beastboy laughed. "Crash and burn!" But he stopped when he saw Slade glaring at him. "Okay, I'm gonna shut up now," he said inching behind Cyborg.
"Where's my uncle?" asked Shadow glaring at him.
Slade smiled again as he pressed a button, and another spotlight shone on Uncle Pat tied up in a chair next to him.
"Let's continue." He pressed another button the arm of the chair and yet another spotlight turned on behind him revealing a rather large machine behind him. "I suppose you know what this does," he said gesturing behind him. "No doubt my dear daughter her has told you about it."
"No doubt I'm disgraced to even be related to you," Grumbled Shadow.
Slade continued, ignoring her. "But one thing you didn't know about this machine, is that it makes the power disabling process very, painful. And I can direct it at anyone I want." He paused again. "But first I think I'll start of by letting you fend for your life." He pressed another button, and robots surrounded the Titans. "I just find it so much more amusing that way."
So the Titans started fighting the robots. Robin was using his freeze disks and bo-staff to defend himself along with Starfire with her star blasts. Beastboy and Raven were using their powers as well. Shadow and Cyborg were in another corner, fighting harshly.
When the rain of robots pounding on Cyborg and Shadow seized for an everlasting second, Shadow had time to tell Cyborg her plan.
"I want you somehow eject the pearl from the machine and throw it to me." She ordered. Another wave of robots hit them again.
"Why you?" asked Cyborg, blasting off a robots head. "I could just destroy it."
Shadow kicked at another robot. "The chemicals in that pearl are way to unstable, so unless you wanna get blown up, throw it to me."
Cyborg was confused, but did as he was told. He snuck up behind Slade, and started to tap away at the computer. He finally got the crystal out and turned around to toss it to Shadow. But when he turned around, he bumped into Slade.
"I'll take that." Said Slade, holding out his hand. Cyborg looked around franticly. He saw Shadow standing there. She was mouthing something over and over and over again. Throw it. Cyborg shouldered past Slade like he did with Beastboy when he was playing Foot Ball. He threw the Pearl to Shadow who caught it.
Time seemed to stand still. What do I do? She thought. Then she remembered what her uncle had said. If it passed through someone who is pure of heart the pearl will become good and holy again. Shadow felt it turn warm in her hands. She held it at arms length and closed her eyes. The pearl began to glow. She pressed it against her heart and used her powers. Very slowly the pearl began to enter her body.
Everyone stopped to look. Even the Robots. "Shadow, don't!" shouted Cyborg, but it was too late. The pearl was passing through her and a bright blinding light surrounded them all.
When Shadow opened her eyes, she was in a white room with two doors. Both off them were open. One she couldn't see through because there was a bright light shining from it, and the other door led to where the Titans were all leaning over Shadow's limp body.
"I see you have arrived Katie," said a voice. Shadow whirled around to see her mother wearing a white gown.
"Mom?" asked Shadow. "I'm gonna skip the part where I get all astonished about you being here when you're supposed to be dead and go strait to asking where we are."
Her mother smiled. "We are on the borderline honey." She said softly.
Shadow was confused. "Borderline of what?" She asked.
Her mother kept on smiling. "On the borderline of heaven and earth," she said simply. "You have a choice dear. You can either come with me," she pointed to the light door. "Or you can go back and finish living your life with your friends." She pointed to the earth door.
Shadow took a deep breath. "Mom, as much as I would love to be with you . . . ." she trailed off.
"I understand. You need to live your life. You need to be with your friends." She said. She walked forward and she and Shadow embraced each other. "I love you honey." Shadow's mother whispered in her ear.
"I love you too mom." She whispered back. When they finally stopped hugging, Shadow walked slowly toward the door. But when she was in front of it, she stopped and turned around. "Mom, I have a question."
"Yes honey?"
"In heaven, are the clouds really made of cotton candy?" she asked, recalling something Beastboy had once told her.
Her mother laughed softly. "Not quite." Shadow nodded smiling and stepped backwards through the door.
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When the blinding light dimmed out, Slade was gone and Shadow was lying on the floor motionless. He ran over to Shadow while the others untied Uncle Pat.
"What happened?" asked Uncle Pat when he and the Titans joined him in crouching over Shadow.
"I dunno," said Cyborg. "For some reason she was pushing the pearl through her or something."
Uncle Pat sighed in relief. "Tis' that all? She's going to be just fine." And sure enough, Shadow opened her eyes.
She sat up. "Where's the pearl?" she asked rubbing her head. She had a huge migraine. Must be the trip to heaven and back, she thought.
Her uncle leaned forward and lifted the locket around her neck. Instead of gold, it was now made of Creamy-White pearl. "Thanks to you lassie, the pearl is good and holy again." He said softly. He opened it, revealing the picture of her and the Teen Titans. "Thanks to you and all yer friends."
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I'm sorry if the heaven business offended all of you people who aren't Christians. I didn't mean to offend you! I was just going along with Shadow's religion. Come to think of it, I'm not religious at all. I believe in the Christian God and all, but I don't make a big deal of going to church. Well anyway, I'm gonna stop my incoherent babbling and let you go on with your lives.
