Hi again! Sorry I'm so late, but I didn't have any inspiration up until yesterday. So without further adieu….
Ebony days
6. Ebony Friday
-If you desire to know the truth, you must also have the courage to accept it-
Raven attacked without mercy. The young superhero had no forgiveness for anyone at the moment, but her anger and sorrow was now concentrated on Dr. Light, against whom the Titans fought. Her arcs of darkness were as cold as a desert of ice. She had lost Malchior, and there would be hell to pay.
As a Friday sun broke, all five of the teenage superheroes faced off against another villain, in another Jump City street. Robin with his martial arts and weapons, Cyborg with his technology, Starfire with her star-bolts, Beast Boy with his changeling powers, and Raven with no mercy.
She threw object after object of an ever-increasingly-large size at the already defeated foe. He lay sprawled on the cold asphalt, breath coming in pants between his cries for mercy. But Raven was in the grip of anger now, and no plea, no cry; no tears could save her now.
Her eyes were nothing but gaping holes of black, and her emotions were worn on the bloody cuff of her sleeve. There was anger in her heart, pain in her grasp, and sorrow between every breath. The other Titans were shouting at her to stop, and it took the combined efforts of Robin's grappling hook and Cyborg's physical strength to keep her away from the shivering villain-turned-victim.
"Stop it!" Robin shouted through gritted teeth. "Raven, snap out of it!" His eyes were narrowed and his brow furrowed as he fought for control. "You have control; now use it!"
"C'mon Rae, don't give up on us now!" Cyborg shouted, trying to force her away and lull her at the same time. It was a futile exercise, and Raven still was held in the grip of hatred.
But then a memory came breaking through the darkness. A dark room, holding gothic-style furniture and books, and two people, sitting comfortably within its shade. A boy of around eighteen, and a girl about four years younger. Then another, of the same two sitting on the roof of a tower, surrounded by an ebony wind, close together. Then they were telling each other their deepest secrets. Just by looking from a distance she could tell they were in love.
Raven's eyes opened wide and bright, her tears sliding slowly and gracefully down her face. She gasped, and then fell down under the weight of Cyborg's full strength and the grappling hook. She had a look of shock on her face, and a wide-eyed, childlike look about her.
"Let's go home." Cyborg said.
- - - - - - - -
When Raven arrived home, she went straight up to her room, needing to think alone for a while. When she opened the door, she found it just as she had left it. With one addition.
Sitting on her bed, she caught a flash of white in the midst of her own blackness. A letter, sitting on top a package, lay on her bedspread, as if placed there by the hands of an angel. She picked it up, and began to read.
My Dearest Raven,
I know you must hate me right now, and I understand. I should not have gotten so angry at you, and I truly regret it, but we all fall down; make mistakes, somewhere, somehow, it time. But I know you must be hurting worse about this situation than all the wounds I ever accumulated from battle would feel as one. You have a beautiful heart Raven, and that is rare.
It seems that from the time I met you--and from the times I heard about your friends--my aspect of the human soul has changed. I was born to neglect, raised part in exile, part in darkness, and have known nothing but deep evils and sullied hearts from the time I was a boy. But then I met you, sweet Raven, and everything changed.
You were a window to my darkened cell; you shone every day, even when I could not see you. Your friends may call you creepy, but I know the truth. I would call you crystal, but crystal is too fragile. You are strong and noble. I would call you a rose, but your thorns cause no pain. You bring joy to my heart like none other. I would have you compared with a nightingale, but you do not sing for just anyone. You only sing your song for the worthy few, and I fear I have lost that grace.
I know you would not have me forget your friends, to whom I bear no ill will. And I shall. They are just as good as you.
Robin was always the one to make things right. He might as well have been royalty in my time, for he is the epitome of noble. I know you admire him, and I think you should. He is a worthy individual, and I hope he will be your strength after I am gone.
Cyborg is the valiant one. His truth to the team is a symbol of a winter flower, the one who keeps fighting a losing battle. He lightens the mood for your sake above all others. He looks at you as a child of light. The small one worth protecting. I know he will fight for your sake in my absence.
Starfire is an odd one. I would call her the innocent one, and I am glad she is here to counterbalance the dark brooding you live in. She can be naïve at points, but she is a child who will never be touched by darkness. I hope you think of her light in the void of my going.
Then there was Beast Boy, whom you detest. I know, sweet Raven, that he is not the intelligent type, but he is loyal. His willingness to fight for his teammates' sake as much as his own is a redeeming quality that you will come to find endearing in time. He has saved you on a number of occasions as well.
And finally Terra, the one who is never forgotten. Her quality is choice. She had a will strong enough to blaze her own path, as well as deviate from the one she had been forced to follow. She was your friend; I saw it in your manner of speech. Give to her your faith and she will give you her choice to be strong.
You see, you are never alone. All your friends shine for you; you are a part of their lives and of their joy. We all love you, Raven. So be strong for as long as you can, and we will forgive you if you fall.
And now I give you my last words. I say them last because they mean the most, and I want you to remember them, if nothing else. Wear white at my funeral Raven, for you look exquisite in it. Divine, sweet, wonderful Raven, from the bottom of my broken heart, I say with all the good left in me: I am sorry!
In Loving Memory of Happier Days,
Malchior of Nol.
Raven sat there, on her bed, in her room. And before she knew what she was doing, she was sobbing. Breaking down beyond a point of consciousness, she was lost in the bittersweet memory of her few days with Malchior. Malchior, she thought to herself, I swear I will get you out of there. Even if it takes months, I will reunite us! It was only after she realized that she was not alone that she was able to control herself enough to look up and face the intruder.
Standing in the middle of her room, like a queen of the twilight, was her mother. Arella was more beautiful than Raven remembered. Her purple hair was longer than shoulder length, shining and flowing. Her eyes, while the same dark color as Raven's, were curved and mature. Her lips were full with a slight curve, making her have an endearing perpetual pout. She wore a silken white dress, with a hood much akin to the one on Raven's cloak, flowing sleeves and a billowing skirt. Next to her, Raven was an immature child.
"Why are you here?" Raven asked; trying to regain what was left of her shredded dignity. She had no idea why her mother was here, even though her stomach dropped at the sight.
"You know I would only come at gravest need, my child, and so I have. The dragon you have so naively taken up with is a danger to us all. I have come for the same reason I sent Evania before me. Malchior must be exterminated, and I am called upon to do the deed."
"No." Raven said in a voice that offered no other choice. "Malchior is my responsibility, and I will deal with him on my own." She stood up to her full height, only a few inches under her mother's, but she still stood in her mother's shadow, and probably always would.
"Raven," Arella said; sighing. "It's not that simple, Raven. There are things…things Rorek told me of his younger brother, horrible things…about his past: he sold an innocent being into a life of eternal suffering, took up the darkest, most dangerous, and let's not forget forbidden, magics, and almost destroyed this world in his dragon form. But that is not all, my child. What Evania told you was the truth. Your emotions have become out of control, and if we do not find a way to keep them in check, more people will suffer…no, the entire world will suffer. Do you want to bring about the end any sooner, child? This isn't just about you and Malchior anymore, Raven. No, don't give me that look." she said as Raven glared hard at her.
"It's not you against the world. Raven, you have allies who will help you, friends to give you strength and help you regain control." Her mother's voice was soothing, calming…and then Raven realized the spell she was falling into. While she was subdued by her mother's words, Arella would destroy Malchior. But not worry, she told herself, she would not lose against this woman.
"I won't let you take him!" She cried in defiance. "Now leave. This is my room, and I don't want you here." Her aura seemed to grow, turned menacing, and then was directed at the woman who she would no longer bear to call mother.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She cried, and Arella was pushed backward; through the door, and out into the hall. Raven followed, her eyes whitened as she used the gift that had been her curse from birth.
Down the flights of steps they went, Raven always pushing her mother backward; facing the past. Raven was not even thankful that the other Titans were elsewhere; a saving grace that was a necessity to the inner as well as the outer battle.
Finally she fought her way into the main room, Arella still on the defensive. It was not anger that consumed her; she was as placid as a blue lake. It was a driving force indiscernible from the meld of emotions that was even now turning the blue and black she was accustomed to wearing to white.
There was love, which was strongest. The love for Malchior and for the joy she had come to cherish. There was also bravery, for without it she would never have the courage to face her mother. Hope for a new future and a better world with him and her friends, untied; on the same side, honor to keep the promise she had made to Malchior within herself; faith that her friends would have a chance to see Malchior's true self. It all rode on defeating Arella; getting her through that doorway so Raven could regain control of her life and turn it –finally- to her favor.
And then it happened. Arella was out the door, and Raven stood panting in the inside of the doorway. "Now leave, and don't come back." She said in a merciless tone. There was no stopping her now, as her mother fled back to Azarath, and she herself turned to head in the direction of the Jump City jail.
- - - - - - - -
Malchior lay dirty, cramped, and bleeding in one of the small filthy jail cells. He looked incredibly out of place. His glistening silver armor and his noble face were heartbreakingly soiled and tainted by blood and grime. But the one thing that could make even the most valiant woman kneel down and weep were the tears that drew streaks down the grime on his face. He was a broken man.
"I guess this is it…" He told himself bitterly. "I only wish I had time to apologize for my anger; to tell her I'm sorry in person. She must hate me for what I did. Oh, dear Raven I am sorry…"
"Don't worry," A voice said in a cynically humorous tone. "I forgive you."
Then he turned around and saw her, standing all dressed in white, with a smile on her face brighter than the sun. It was as if an angel of mercy had come down from the heaven above to bless him with her holy light.
"Oh Raven, I am so sorry! I was such a fool hurting you like that. I just…"
"I understand, Malchior." Raven said gently, taking his hand in hers. "You wanted me to be strong, unconditionally. You wanted a fairy-tale love, and, truth-be-told, so did I. But we're human, Malchior, and it is impossible for a human, no matter how gifted, to be strong forever. I guess we both needed to realize that."
"But you're here now!" Malchior cried, joy in his eyes, hope returning. "We can escape--together. Live the live we've always wanted!"
"No, Malchior. I don't want to live like a refugee. Besides, unless I try to set the record straight with the others, you'll always be a hunted criminal, and I couldn't live with that. I'll be back. I promise."
"Raven--!" Malchior cried. "Don't leave me alone again!"
"Malchior, you're not alone. Never alone! Remember: 'You were a window to my darkened cell; you shone every day, even when I could not see you'? Well I'm still shining, and I'm even brighter than before. No matter how dark the days get, I'll always love you, Malchior. You saved me from my loneliness, and even though I didn't show it this past week, I loved you even then, so now I'm saving you. You have powers, and once I convince the others you can join the team! We can fight together, and be happy--together! Don't give in, Malchior. Don't let an interlude this short break you. And to seal that promise, I'll give you this."
She held out a ring, a silver slender band that held a rose made out of a sapphire so dark it looked black. It shone in the dim light of the cell like a lighthouse beacon. "This is one of my most prized possessions, and it will give you the light you need in my absence. Be strong, Malchior, and we'll pull through this together!"
Malchior nodded, and then used his powers to teleport out of the cell and into Raven's arms. He kissed her hard and strong, pouring all of his passion into a single kiss. He held her tight and they clung together for what seemed like hours. Tears were in Raven's eyes and her heart was full to bursting. Once Malchior drew back, Raven was crying tears of joy, laughing with him and then they embraced again.
But before too long, Raven realized the obvious. Malchior had just walked out of the cell he was imprisoned in. "But…why didn't you do it before…?" she asked in wonderment. "If you had the power…why wait?"
"Because you didn't want me to. I held myself in this cell…all for you, Raven. I've told you this for a long time now, and I still don't think you understand. We may be living in the real world but I will give you all of myself. My heart, my body, my soul. I would die for you, cry for you, bleed for you, scream, plead, and hurt for you. I would wait for you even if it meant waiting a thousand years. If you were parched I would cry a thousand tears for you to drink. If you were dying and needed blood I'd give up every last drop…all for you. I waited here…for you."
"And for that we forgive you." Robin said, as he and the other Titans stepped out of their hiding places. "I think we misunderstood you, Malchior, and we are sorry. Would you like a second chance…as a member of our family?"
To be continued…
Very emotional episode. Hope I made a few of you cry. - I love hopeless romantic stuff, so I pictured Malchior as the epitome of the hopeless romantic type. I'm sorry I was late, so please don't be mad at me! Next episode coming soon!