You like me! You two readers really like me!!!! Thank you, ACLDSMAB!!! No one's given me a compliment like that before!!! (sniff) Have some Angela Lansbury roses!!!! And thank you, DelofDani!!! You've been my most faithful reader of this story so far!!! Please encourage other readers to read and review, and keep reading and reviewing!!! (wink, throws you flowers). Oh, and Caty, (big sister, you know who you are) please call me, 'cause I miss you and want to talk to you!!!!! And kiss Emily for me!!! And enjoy. (A/N: This will be the last chapter of part one, BUT keep tuning into the link with the title, 'cause I'm keeping all 3 parts on the same link.)

Chapter 4: Tears of Regret
What happened the next day is of no importance to the reader, except that Merlina spent every 2 hours lying in her garden, holding any buds she'd pruned to her chest, breathing the ocean and the air her flowers made. All she could think of was her friend, and what she could possibly have to do with Lina's precious roses.

Her friends started to get worried, but Lina reassured them it was just part of her girlishness, which Robin, Cyborg, and Beast Boy took to mean physical girlishness, and left her alone immediately after that. Star was worried anyway, but Robin kept her from privacy-invading (again) and Daniel just wasn't convinced. Who knew her better than her own big brother?

But Lina was Occlumentic, and would let neither Raven nor Daniel in her mind to find out. It was the first time Lina hadn't let her brother in. But she reassuringly told him telepathically, 'When the time is right, Danny, I promise I'll let you know.'

Daniel took comfort in this; he loved his sister, and Lina was a sister who kept her promises. Knowing this, Daniel didn't press her, for which she was truly thankful.

"All right, girlfriend," Lina said in her Meditative Realm to the blonde that night, "You said you'd tell me everything. Spill."

They were now sitting on the roots of the willow tree, sticking their feet in the water that ran up to it in the pond part of the stream. They each had a pink rose.

"Okay," said the blonde after a small pause, "The reason I've been coming to you in your mind is because I'm a spirit, sort of. I have your flowers because Beast Boy's been bringing them to me for the past four nights." Lina said, "What? BEAST BOY? I'M GONNA KILL HIM!"

"Don't be mad at him, Merlina," said the girl, "he meant well. And anyway, it's not about your flowers. It's...more serious than that."

Lina looked at the girl expectantly. The girl looked back at her with a sort of sad confession-session face and said, "Lina, I'm here because I need your help. I've done terrible things, and I never regretted them until now. I had the best life possible, and I threw it away, because I wanted acceptance anywhere I could get it, and I got it from the wrong side. The Titans accepted me, and I ratted them all out, putting their lives in danger. I don't know if I can ever be forgiven for what I've done, and I'll deserve whatever I get. I'm the one who betrayed the Titans, who now stands as a statue underground........I'm Terra."

Lina didn't make a sound; she had the shocked face, sure, but didn't say anything for a minute. Finally, she softly asked, "Terra?" and touched her friend's face. Terra nodded, "It's me." Lina asked her, "What do you want me to do? I can't free you from your state; I'm not that magically advanced yet; I'm only 16!"

When Terra's face fell, Lina added, "But my brother can! He's 17, and he has powers that I don't. I can't free you, but he can. It's his own special power. I'll talk to him, Terra. I know he'll help you." Terra grinned.

"Thanks, Lina," she said, "But first, look for me downtown. This is the last time you'll see me like this." The two girls took hands in sisterhood, their eyes getting glittery with tears. The dream started to fade.

"I'll see you when I see you," said Terra. Then the dream ended with a sleeping witch happily streaming tears in her sleep.

End of Part 1

Keep reading, y'all! References: Lina's Occlumentic, a reference to Harry Potter 5. Terra's last line is a reference to "Delta Force," which was the dying sentence of one of the soldiers on a stretcher on the plane. L8R!!!!

Yours truly,
-samuraistar