As it turned out, Aqualad's heroism, while giving him a welcome edge against the Kraken, was a little misplaced.
For you see, Beastboy wasn't dead yet.
To understand how he survived one must understand the nature of Beastboy's powers, far simpler than the one-sentence explanation he used when explaining it to others. He did not simply turn into animals and back. Ever since his parents the Logans had saved Beastboy's life with their splicing experiment, his body had undergone a vast change. Every single molecule in his body had become hardwired into his brain, allowing only a single thought to allow for a metamorphosis from one body shape into another. His clothes, specially designed, were made to be absorbed into his body during his transformations, which accounted for how they appeared and disappeared when he changed shape. Only a few limitations kept him from assuming a multitude of near impossible shapes. One, that his organs had to remain more or less as they were, though he was able to shift them around, rearrange them, and even shrink them down to smaller sizes during his changes. Two, shape-shifting into a form other than his original took energy. The longer he stayed in a former, the larger the form was, or the more forms he took the more quickly he would become exhausted and lose consciousness. Nor was he able to assume the form of a humanoid creature beyond his own or that of an ape. He simply wasn't powerful enough. Certainly no where near as powerful as a certain Martian was. Not yet, at least.
However, within these limitations allowed Beastboy a great deal of flexibility and growth for his powers as he grew older and continued to test his limits. His simplest transformation, the first, had been into a mongoose to scare away a snake. But after a trip to the museum he'd learned he could mimic more than just living animals, but dead ones as well, provided he'd seen a realistic image of what the animal looked like. Now the kingdom of the dinosaurs was open to him as well. And more, almost any sort of animal on other planets as well. Like the time he'd visited Tamaran. Or the time he'd shrunk down to the size of an amoeba, which truthfully, even he hadn't been sure he could do until he'd done it himself. And even before then he'd done some experimenting and found out he could, if concentrating hard, merge the characteristics of two or more animals into one. And his powers were growing stronger all the time. Sometimes too strong for him to control, like the time he'd been attacked by Adonis.
Beastboy had indeed slammed into the rock, hard enough to nearly splatter against it as a green indistinct blob, and hard enough to knock him unconscious and revert to his humanoid form. But it wasn't enough to completely shake the fish-like characteristics that had allowed him to survive underwater. Even when he'd assumed the form of a sea mammal, like a dolphin or whale, he kept those gills so he needn't return to the surface every so often for oxygen. Two slits adorned either side of his neck, a pair of gills that allowed him to breath underwater without drowning. His chest was still but his lungs were not being used. A year ago, he wouldn't have been able to perform such a trick as retaining his humanoid form -and- lungs. A year ago, he'd've been dead by now.
Groaning, the green-skinned metamorph lifted his head, clutching his throbbing skull. The attack still had hurt like hell, and he was sore all over. No sign of the Kraken or Aqualad though. Grunting, he pushed himself up and peered around, trying to spot them. But the water was still dark and he had little ability to see in it the way Aqualad did. He was about to shift back into a lantern fish when something caught his eye. Frowning, he kicked his feet awkwardly and swam down to the ocean floor where it was.
He nearly cried out in shock and joy at his discovery.
It was a piece of Raven's swimsuit. She was nearby! She had to have been! Beastboy glanced around, and was rewarded with his search by locating a dark tunnel in the side of the underwater rock formation. There were runes all over the place, none of which looked very friendly. This had to have been it. This had to have been where she was. He kicked his feet, slipping into the form of a dolphin and swam rapidly down the tunnel and into the underground cavern... he could see it now, see where the water turned into underground air. And... there...!
Raven.
He could see her through the distorted surface of the water. She was hanging upside down by some sort of weird kelp-y like stuff. All her dark lavender hair was falling down around her head, and her bathing suit was indeed ripped, though thankfully she was still decent.
He started to surge forward, to get up and save her... but abruptly he stopped, inches away from the surface.
No, he thought. As much as I want this it's not the right thing to do.
With that thought, he transformed into a swordfish for speed and shot through the water, back out the tunnel and towards the Kraken and Aqualad. He had a plan. With a little luck, it might even work.
If not... well...
... he'd worry about that when the time came.
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Aqualad bit back a cry of pain as he slammed into a nearby wall. The Kraken was proving to be just as fast as he was underwater, its tentacles moving easily through the water as through air, and all four of them were too much for Aqualad to dodge or fight against. He was starting to get tired already, and he sensed the Kraken had barely broken a sweat.
"Keh keh keh," hissed the Kraken, grabbing a hold of Aqualad's legs with his tentacle and slamming him down against a rocky outcropping. The fragments of rock drifted down as Aqualad was knocked unconscious. He was tough but he sure as hell wasn't invulnerable. The Kraken lifted him up before it's four-eyed gaze.
"I wonder what you'll taste like, Atlantean...?" hissed out the great beast, bearing it's shark-like mouth and slowly moving Aqualad closer towards it.
HEY!
The Kraken's head snapped up, and it glanced over it's shoulder just in time to see a green orca (or killer whale) come barreling down towards it and bite down into it's closest tentacle.. HARD. The Kraken gave a roar of agony and dropped Aqualad, lashing out at the orca with it's remaining tentacles. But curiously none of them hit, and when they lifted up a tiny green minnow shot out between them and to safety. It shifted into still a third form, a great green octopus, and though it had no face like the Kraken did, he could have sworn he saw a grin on the creature's face as it beckoned on the great demonic squid with it's tentacle. The Kraken, roaring in rage, lunged forward, but the octopus grabbed a hold of it's tentacles in it's own and spun like a top, hurling the Kraken off into the distance, cursing and screaming in a variety of demonic tongues that, thankfully, Beastboy couldn't understand.
Which was a good thing, because not a single word sounded pleasant.
Beastboy quickly dropped down beside Aqualad, picking him up in his tentacles and gently slapping his cheeks to waken him.
Aqualad! Aqualad wake up! C'mon I got a plan!
What? grunted Aqualad as he lifted his head and opened his eyes. Beastboy's attack had given them a few moments but the Kraken would be on its way back in a short while.
I found Raven. Seriously she's in an underwater cave just a few yards that way, he said, pointing his tentacle like a finger. Listen I got an idea! I'll hold off the Kraken, you get her to the surface. Get out of here. I'll meet up with you guys in a while.
What? Are you serious! You can't beat that thing!
Beastboy didn't reply to that at first. He turned away from Aqualad, staring into the inky depths where the Kraken had gone... and was on it's way back. I know, he said at last. But at least this'll give you and Rae a chance to get out of here. Get the Titans, both teams. Get the T-Subs. Come back and give this thing what for... I'll keep it busy and give you both a chance to escape...
So saying, Beastboy floated towards the Kraken, ready to do battle. A telepathic voice, however, stopped him.
Beastboy.
The green-skinned metamorph glanced over his shoulder at the dark-haired Atlantean.
I'm sorry. I never wanted to look like a rival to you. And I don't want bad blood between us, he said, offering his hand. Beastboy, as best he was able in his current form, smiled and offer Aqualad a tentacle, who shook it.
Go save Raven.
You got it, said Aqualad, kicking off and heading to find the cave and tunnel Beastboy had mentioned as he turned to fight the Kraken. Just don't lose, got it!
Don't worry. I'm not the one whose gonna lose, he said with his typical Beastboy-level confidence.
However, as the Kraken returned into his line of vision and the watery seemed to become deathly cold and dark, Beastboy's confidence began to flag. Still, he pressed on, grimly determined to buy Raven and Aqualad the time they needed.
Shifting into the form of a shark, he shot forward, mouth opened wide as he charged the Kraken.
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Raven had just about given up hope. She was all alone, shivering cold and wet in a stinking fish-infested cavern with no magic about to be sent to her dad's home dimension for a very ugly reunion with him, and all because she'd taken a bet with Beastboy. And while most people would say it could not get worse, Raven was the ultimate example of a pessimist. Things could always get worse.
But she was pleasantly delighted to see they could also get better.
And they did get better as Aqualad's head broke the surface of the water.
"Raven!"
"Mawkalakk!" she cried out, her voice muffled by the gag.
He leapt gracefully out of the water, landing on the rune-covered ground and peering up at her, taking in her wounds, her injuries, the tear in her suit (which, to his mind, looked better on her) and in an instant was ready to act.
"Hang on I'll get you down."
Aqualad stretched out his hand, employing a power that he rarely used these days. The manipulation of water. A great geyser of water lifted up from the opening, pouring up like a platform that Aqualad leapt up upon so he was level with raven, grabbing the iron-hard kelp and, with a great heave, tore it in two. He held Raven in his arms as he dropped the two of them down onto the floor of the cavern.
"Mrkfk!" Raven grunted, as he tore away the gag covering her mouth. "What happened? Where's Beastboy?"
"Delaying the Kraken," Aqualad replied, leaping back into the water. He offered hand up to Raven. "Come on we have to get back to the surface."
"But what about Beastboy?" she asked.
"He's holding off the Kraken, he wants us to bring in back-up. Besides you won't be able to help underwater. You'll drown. Now come on let's go."
Raven bit her lip but reluctantly grabbed Aqualad's hand and allowed herself to drop down into the water. Only then did she realize what she was doing and blinked in confusion. "How am I going to get to the surface without a T-Sub?" she asked. "I don't know any magic to allow me to breathe underwater. I was lucky the Kraken wanted me alive down here. Must've..."
"Raven," interrupted Aqualad quietly, his eyes downcast. She abruptly stopped talking.
"I'm sorry but this is all I can think of," he said slowly, his voice soft. "You can slap me later," he added, totally throwing her off. Before Raven could put a protest Aqualad grabbed her in his arms and sealed his lips against hers. Raven, shocked by the sudden move, gave no protest as Aqualad then dropped down into the water, taking her with him.
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An underwater reef, darkened by magic.
One demonic squid from a nether dimension with great strength and powerful magic.
One green-skinned metamorph.
Battle was joined.
Beastboy shot forward, clamping down his sharp teeth into the Kraken's tentacle and holding on for all he was worth as the great beast lifted him up and tried to shake him loose. He hung on for dear life, however, knowing the instant he came loose he would be prey for a counterattack.
The Kraken too seemed to realize that Beastboy was not going to let go easily, and slammed him down hard against the ocean floor, forcing him to cry out in pain. The tentacle formerly in his jaws was wrenched free, though the Kraken's thin violet blood spilled into the water. Beastboy had hurt it. It's demonic face on the squid's body did not look the least bit amused. It did not look arrogant, mocking, none of it. There was only rage. It's eyes fairly glowed crimson.
And then Beastboy realized something. They -were- glowing.
The shark shifted into a swordfish and shot through the water, dodging aside the first blast of crimson energy that poured from the Kraken's eyes. The Ravager had made attacks like this, back when the Titans had first been drawn together. Beastboy was not terribly surprised to discover that the Kraken had similar abilities. And that was his advantage, he realized. Maybe he stood half a chance of beating this thing.
However, as another blast slammed into his side and knocked him against a coral reef, Beastboy's confidence dropped again. Still, he grimly clung ton consciousness, even as his skull throbbed painfully from the attack. He'd struck his head, it seemed. Shifting form into that of a cuttlefish, a miniature squid, he shot through a crack and away from the Kraken, forcing it to follow him. The change proved to have a side-benefit, for the pain of having a crushed skull eased when assuming a form with no skeletal structure. Still, it wouldn't last.
"Get out here you insufferable mortal!" roared the Kraken, sliding over the reef, slashing at the rocks with the jagged barbs on it's tentacles, tearing through rock as easily as Beastboy might run his fingers through sand. Beastboy dodged behind another coral formation, vanishing more or less from view in his smaller form. "Get out here so I might devour you and be done with you both!"
Got to be a weakness to this thing, he thought to himself. But what?
The Ravager had been defeated, yes, but it had taken all the Titans to save the day then. And in the end, it hadn't been brute strength that had defeated the Ravager, but cunning. A rather healthy dose of bug spray directly into it's four-eyed gaze hadn't hurt either. But Beastboy doubted such would work against the Kraken.
Where a fifty foot fishing pole when you need one? he muttered inside of his mind.
Then, as if a lightswitch had been turned, a bright bulb lit up above his head. An idea.
Beastboy shot forward, immediately catching the Kraken's attention. Perfect. That was what he wanted. Just to be safe he suddenly came to an abrupt halt and shifted form into that of a puffer fish, immediately filling up his near-hollow body and 'causing himself to expand like a balloon. The Kraken, unprepared for his halt, slammed fully into him and gave a most satisfying roar as Beastboy's puffer fish needles pierced its black skin, drawing forth yet more of it's sickly violet blood, which oozed through the water like oil.
"You insufferable human!" roared the Kraken, swatting at Beastboy's balloon-like form with it's tentacle. The action rewarded the Kraken with yet another handful of spines piercing its skin but it sent Beastboy flying through the water until he shifted form again, assuming the shape of a great green ray, spreading out his "cloak" to let water resistance slow him down.
He did not need to turn his head in order to know the Kraken was behind him giving hot pursuit, so Beastboy dove, letting the black behemoth fly over his head. It'd be back soon but it bought him a few critical seconds. He dove deeper, zigging and zagging back and forth to throw off his pursuer as he searched the bottom. A blast of crimson energy narrowly missed slicing him in half and instead singed his long green tail as he stifled a groan of pain and kept moving.
C'mon, c'mon, where is it... where's... there!
A crevice opened up into the earth, leading still deeper into the ocean and Beastboy dipped down as quickly as he could, coming close to shearing himself against the cliff-like edge of the crevice as he dropped down into the inky blackness. He couldn't see a damn thing, and quickly shifted form again, this time taking on that of a dolphin. Normally he would've preferred a lantern fish but any light would draw the Kraken. He needed to hide for a moment for his plan to work. He needed to catch the thing off guard. And even then, his plan was half-baked at best. No chance it would work.
But at least by now Aqualad and Raven were safe. He hoped.
To his relief, as he ducked down against the rocky wall of the crevice, using his sonar to navigate, the Kraken seemed to be unable to see in the pitch dark waters any better than he could. The opposite could not be said of the green metamorph. The Kraken's crimson eyes were glowing as brightly as car headlights, providing Beastboy an easy target. Far better, his sonar allowed him to conjure a more or less perfect mental image of where the Kraken was and what it was doing. So far, it was waiting. It wanted him to make the first move.
Beastboy waited. The more time he could buy for his friends, the better.
"Keh keh keh... think yourself clever, little green one?" the Kraken hissed in a dark voice. "You are a fool. You are going to die. And so are your companions, the fish-boy and the spawn."
Beastboy stifled a growl. Any sound now might give away his presence. But he hated it when creatures like the Ravager and the Kraken referred to Raven as a spawn. Like she wasn't a person. It ticked him off to high heaven and back.
"You are mistaken. Would you like to know why before you die?"
Just ignore it, an inner voice told him. It sounded curiously like Robin and Cyborg. It's trying to tick you off. Don't let it get to you. Stay focused.
"Let me take a guess. You told the fish-boy to rescue the spawn while you, the fool, sacrificed yourself nobly to defeat me. No doubt hoping for an easy ticket into the afterlife," hissed the Kraken. It chuckled darkly, bubbles flowing through the water as it shifted, continuing it's search for Beastboy.
Outwardly he was calm, but the Kraken's words shook him to the core. It knew... yet it did not seem worried. Why?
"I needed the spawn for the initial part of the spell, it is true, that is why I captured her… I needed her present as a living component... but now that the fourth stage is completed, I have no need of her," hissed the Kraken, red glowing eyes searching back and forth for signs of Beastboy. "Once I complete the final runes and finish the fifth stage, the nexus will open, and the spawn will be drawn to it no matter where she is. She will return to he who spawned her!"
Beastboy's eyes opened wide, and he stifled a gasp. That was the creatures plan? They were sending Raven to... to... oh no.
"All that remains is to take care of you, little nuisance," it hissed. "And once you're gone... I win."
NO!
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Author's Notes:
The explanation for Beastboy's powers, like Aqualad's and Raven's are, as usual, based on best guesses drawn from how they appear in the animated series and what little I know about his comic origins. The episodes referred to are of course 'Transformation', 'Betrothed', 'Crash' and 'Beast Within.' The reference to the shapeshifting Martian was, of course, referring to J'onn J'onez from Justice League, his fellow green-skinned metamorph. And I assure all readers there is a reason Aqualad kissed Raven, which will be explained later. I doubt I would get away with such in the animated series but here, it still fits the rating and the setting. Next time: Beastboy challenges the Kraken to a final showdown of watery warriors. Who will emerge victorious?
Yomiori-Wolfdemon: Aw, but I do so enjoy ending chapters on cliffhangers. Draws in the audience. But I will update soon, and Beastboy's fate will become known. Fret ye not.
Benny2000: Wow, okay… note to self, no more injuries to the green dude. Too big of a following. And following contains some real psychos. Wow. Uh, look! There he is! He's alright now, 'kay?
Elrohir: I am glad you're enjoying the natural conflict between the two boys over Raven, even if perhaps they don't realize it.
Seth Turtle: I do use the website you recommended, thank you very much. And I'm glad someone besides me enjoys Raven's suit getting ripped. Actually I think it's closer to fifty percent, a lot of the animated stuff is new and original, especially some of the villains, and it's more interesting that way.
Dust-In: And I can't stand a story where all the couple does is hug, kiss and say 'I love you' the whole time. Wait until the end, my good friend. Patience will be rewarded. As for that, I'd say… Vash? WTF has Vash got to do with it?
Ultimate R-Man: Of course not. I fear continuity like nobody's business, so it is impossible for me to kill a Titan character. However, I think Jafar said it best when he said "you'd be surprised what you can live through."
Dancingirl3: Soon as possible, dancing girl.
Todd fan: Well you know they would. They fought each other as much as Trident that one episode.
Grey Rain: Wow, such hatred. And here I was hoping to portray him as mildly sympathetic. Okay, lesson for me.
Staticsponge123: Okay that was random. As for Beastboy, he's alive, don't worry. See?
Crazy-partygurl: I always finish what I start. Do enjoy the rest of the story.
Dragonblond: Thank you kindly, that is most informative. Though I too must laugh… Aqualad afraid of fish? Suffering from psychological trouble from being useless and water-bound I can understand. Much obliged, oh wise Dragonblond-sama. Looking forward to your take on BB and Rae in your own story.
ViciousAssassin: I was hoping to lead this into season four, actually, but I'm leaving it ambiguous for now, and perhaps I'll make another story tie in elements of this. Obviously, with Trigon becoming a major Titan baddie in season four, I'll need to tweak my stories so they fit into continuity.
Ray1: 'fraid not. Like it or not, Raven is fitting into the Damsel-in-Distress role in this story. Though she'll be dragged into the role kicking and screaming.
Tickled Pink with Joy: Oh gladly. Nice name… are you related to Happy-Raven, by any chance?