Well this is it, guys. I've had a lot of fun with this fic, but now it's time to end it all. This is the final chapter, but before we begin, I just want to thank everyone who's reviewed my fic. It has been a great honor to hear from such wonderful people, and I hope you will all read more of my future work. Thank you very much.

Ebony days

8. Ebony Sunday

-If you desire to know the truth, you must also have the courage to accept it-

It was morning, and Raven was crying. Crying already even without being fully conscious. Maybe it was because she knew what the day would bring. Today was Sunday, and it was doomsday. Malchior was leaving today, and there was no stopping him. He was determined not to let Raven see his darker side ever again. It just hurt too much for him to even think about Raven seeing him like that. It would hurt too much.

She lay in her dark bed and thought about all her time with Malchior. At first she had distrusted him, but now she knew she had been wrong. No evil could ever love her like Malchior did…and no evil love could hurt so much when it ended. She looked over at her clock and saw it was dawn. She remembered the dawn on Wednesday, with the ebony wind around her and Malchior.

She got out of bed, and looked in the mirror. She saw something rare there, something that had only come to her twice before. Her hair was still the same, as was her eyes, body, and skin, but she was wearing white. It seemed a long struggle, and it had. She had had to fight her own mother, as well as her own doubts and fears. But she had won love, if only for two days. It was so wrong that he was leaving…

- - - - - - - -

Malchior lay awake in bed, trying to figure out what he was feeling. After being trapped in a book for thousands of years, it was not easy to come to grips with these 'new' emotions. Yes, he had loved and suffered and laughed with others, especially Rie, but it was all so wonderful with Raven. It was funny, he thought. At first, you wouldn't think that a gloomy girl like Raven could bring all the love and light and laughter she had brought him, but it was true.

She would be so upset, but he could not risk having her see the dark Malchior. The curse wouldn't have activated, no, not until dusk, which was when they had met once again. But he could not bear seeing her before then. He would just have to avoid her.

He got out of bed and pulled on his armor and Raven's ring-turned-necklace. He then looked in the mirror, which happened to be exactly positioned at the same point as Raven's in the room next to him. So as he looked at himself, and she looked at herself, they just might be able to see each other. Only things didn't work that way.

He opened the door and stepped out, walking down to the kitchen to catch an early breakfast before making himself invisible.

- - - - - - - -

In the morning, Raven left her room after reading and re-reading every book of spells that could possibly break the curse. Not surprisingly, she found nothing. She could hear the other Titans in their usual places of comfort, and that made her angry. That they could go on enjoying themselves while she was suffering made her mad. Why couldn't they be the one to pay the price of love, for once. Then she realized that most of them had. Beast Boy had lost Terra, Robin his parents, Starfire her's, and Cyborg had lost his humanity. They had all been hurt, and that was why they were together.

She opened the door to the living room and prepared to enter, ready to play her part once more.

- - - - - - - -

Malchior returned to his room in the morning, after eating a full meal. He looked around him at the many artifacts and objects that had been given to him by the Titans. It was so kind, he thought, that they wasted such luxury on me. But in his mind he was not worthy. He was betraying Raven, and leaving her.

But for now he needed to find a place to hide before Raven came looking. He thought hard, but Raven knew the tower better than him, and was sure to find him if he stayed here. He wasn't able to endure the bustle of Jump City, so where could he go?

Then it hit him. Terra. They were two of a kind, both had fought for love only to be torn apart by fate in the end. It was perfect: secluded, out of the way, and offered the right kind of companionship. Yes, he would go to Terra. He gathered up a few of the books Raven had let him borrow, as well as a light snack for lunch. He then opened his window and slipped out.

He skirted the city and after about half an hour, he found himself at Terra's rest. He had heard the stories from Raven about her, her past, her present, and her no future. It seemed sad to live like that, Malchior thought. She definitely was showing worse for the wear. The plaque that had been placed there so lovingly by Beast Boy had started to rust, and the words were slightly blurred. Terra herself had cracks running through her, as if at any moment the stone might crumble to dust.

"We're one of kind, you and me." Malchior sighed, sitting down with his back against the stone. "We both betrayed the one we loved, and then were forced apart by fate." He looked up at her blank eyes and thought about what Beast Boy would be doing if he were here. Probably, he would be kneeling down and weeping, or maybe telling a joke to try to cheer her up.

He walked around her, studying her from every angle. It was then he found the words, written to permanent marker on the back of the rocky pedestal. They were neatly written in a messy scribble, and he wondered who had put them there.

'I walk this empty street

On the boulevard of broken dreams

Where the city sleeps

And I'm the only one and I walk alone

My shadow's the only one that walks beside me

My shallow heart's the only thing that's beating

Sometimes I wish someone out there will find me

Til then I walk alone.'1

Malchior sat back and looked up at her, and thought about Raven. It was she who would be hurting this time, left alone once more. If only there were a way to reverse the curse…But it was impossible. No human –or half-human- could break a piece of magic that strong.

His thoughts then shifted, and he suddenly knew that Raven and Terra were similar. Both were alone on their road, waiting for someone to love. Beast Boy had not abandoned Terra, so why should he abandon Raven…

It was a quick and fleeting thought, but he knew the truth before it had completed. They were the ying-yang: polar opposites, yet connected. He made to stand, then sat down. He needed to think hard on this before acting…

- - - - - - - -

Before noon, Raven was back in her room, reading over more spell books. She was searching for something, no matter how small, to help her fight the curse. Anything at all to keep Malchior with her. But there wasn't anything in Oblique Auguries, or Mostly Human Hauntings, and Dragonic Dreams was no help at all. All Raven's loyal books had failed her in her hour of greatest need, and for a moment the bleak darkness that she had come to advertently call her friend engulfed her, and threatened once again to break her.

"I'll get over it." She commanded in her old voice; the one with no emotion. "Malchior is leaving, and nothing I say or do can stop it." But all the words did was hurt her. She was once more alone, despite the fact that she had friends with her. There is more than one kind of loneliness, and Raven had the kind that was blind to numbers.

To keep her mind off the pain, she sat down and tried to write, but poetry would not come to her so easily. She had always been an artist, but today she could not even pretend to be one. She looked over at the painting Malchior had given to her that ebony Tuesday. Thinking of the awkward date that day, she turned to look at the dress hanging quietly in her closet. It was a pretty dress, and just her style, but she had no reason for wearing it. She turned her head away.

- - - - - - - -

Malchior ate his pear and salted crackers alone in the deserted park. The sky had gone back to the dark and brooding black it had been one week ago. It was on an ebony Sunday one week ago that destiny had been set. Malchior picked up the notebook he had brought with him, and took out his pen, and began to write. It was a letter to Raven, in the only form he could bear to face her in at the moment.

After a few moments of contemplative scribbling, he folded the letter and whispered an incantation that would carry it on wings of magic to Raven's room. He then stood up and thought of where to head next. The city was out, as was the scattering of buildings at the outskirts. He then thought of another place from Terra's memory to go to. He picked up his bag and sidled off in the direction of the rocks at the edge of town.

- - - - - - - -

Raven woke up to see a sun just past noon through her window, and next to it a letter was swaying in the breeze with an erratic but steady movement. She knew instantly who it was from, and that made it all the more dangerous to open. Not that she expected treachery from Malchior, but she didn't think she had the strength to keep the tears away at even the slightest reminder of her ill-fated love.

Sighing as curiosity won out, she opened her window and coaxed the letter into her hands. She could smell the distinctive branch of Malchior's magic on its surface, and she clutched it to her chest. Then she opened it.

This loneliness gets me every time

No matter how strong I am in my mind

I guess I need you baby.

And when I look into your mirror

I'm on the line; I cannot hear

I want to hold you baby.

I told you by the moon today

That in your honest arms I'd stay

But now I cannot keep you baby.

I led you on; I did you wrong

I broke your heart and made you strong

And this song's my sorry.

I guess I need you baby.

I kissed you honest in true love

And black to white, and Raven to dove

I wish I could stay baby.

But I am lost without a cause

Caught between love and curséd jaws

I have to leave you baby.

I thought I needed you baby.

But now I have to leave without a thought

And all our strife has come to naught.

I want to need you baby…

And this song's my sorry.

Raven's eyes widened, but only slightly. This was Malchior…the artist and poet. He was trying to make her feel better, even if in a weird way. Malchior was like that, she mused. He found it easier to talk through paper when faced with a tough decision. But he had braved her skepticism, distrust, and loathing all through the ebony Monday that seemed to be years ago. He loved her; she had kept repeating this to herself all day. 'He loves me and won't leave me', over and over. Maybe it would be true…and maybe it wouldn't. Usually Raven would march right out to look for Malchior, but not today.

On any other Sunday she would fight for him, but not today. There was no use crying, or fighting, or praying; or anything at all, because Malchior loved her. And because he loved her, he had to leave.

This was probably how Beast Boy had felt, just before he had lost Terra. To him, the world was caving in, and he could only accept it. For Beast Boy, 'I have to stay' were the four epochal words in his whole life. For Raven, it was the unspoken, 'I have to leave' that would kill her.

Even now, as she checked her clock, it was one p.m., and her hour of doom loomed on the horizon, bright and deadly, like the executioner's axe. She wanted to turn, to run after him like the heroine in a romantic comedy. Only this movie had a sadistic director, and the guy was no more willing to see her than any villain. Malchior had to leave, and Raven had to accept it, even though her heart was screaming 'there had to be another way!' And it was the 'had' that brought it home. Their time was over…

- - - - - - - -

Malchior wished he had brought a coat, even if he would look ridiculous, as the chilling wind swept around him as he made his way to the cover of one of the ornamental caves at the back of the park. But even through the cold, the feeling of air rushing around him reminded him painfully of Raven's ebony Wednesday not too long ago.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't get Raven out of his head. This was more than a passing fancy, or a childish crush. He loved Raven more than anything in this plane of existence, and nothing could console him to the task he would have to perform. The sun was just past noon, so it would only be four more hours before their doom was swept over them. But by then, Malchior would be far away.

He edged himself into a shallow curve of the fake cave, which provided little protection from the rain that had begun to fall. He wished he was back in Titans Tower, but he could never go there again. What had his last words to Raven been…? He hoped to all the benign powers that were left that it had been kind, or loving, or grateful. He already missed her. Her smile, so bright and open, her laugh, clear and high, her face, so beautiful…her beautiful soul…

But this was his road now. At the end of the day, in the dark of the night, he had chosen to leave, to run away. He was supposed to protect her from evil, and that meant himself. But did he truly want this life? It seemed so heart-wrenchingly sad that after all they had fought for, that a simple spell of which both were masters, could break them apart.

- - - - - - - -

At three, Raven went down for some tea and a consoling word, though none would help. If he had asked her to help, she would have gladly; but did he have so little faith in their love to just abandon her at the first sign of trouble. And if it was so unfair, why didn't she do anything about it. Maybe that was just the way the world went: downhill. Raven was strong, she had to be. And if so, why didn't she just run out the door and after Malchior…? She didn't know. The one with all the answers to her life didn't know.

What was left to be said? What word could save her, but the word of action? Yet she could not take action. It was as if the gods had placed a shield in front of Malchior to keep him away from her…How could words express what she felt. There was no name for what she felt…one could call it agony, or pain, or sorrow, which were all good words, but in truth there was no word but 'move on' that could work for her. It was over, for better or worse, and she accepted her fate just like on her own ebony Thursday.

She hummed a tune, or actually forced it out through shaking lips. It was unsteady and horrid-sounding, but it was audible, and she let it grow strong…

Long ago I passed this way

On a lonely November day

The wind was strong and

I had nowhere to be going to.

I came upon a frozen stone

On a hill--all alone

It said 'Martha and Jamie

died here, 2002.

It had lost all importance, erecting a monument

For a dead girl and her brother.

I stood and waited for the carriage.

There was no sound

As the wind died down

I stood and waited

I had nowhere to be going to.

The wind was in the trees

That made a macabre dance in the breeze.

Katie and Brian died here

One frozen summer, 2002.

They were lovers in the woods

When the frozen cloud came and killed them

I walked a little farther.

I came upon a standing stone

In the clearing all alone

I knew him who lay here.

It was a man I loved long ago

Who left me soon after

But even though he is gone

I still make an angel for him in the snow

I loved him so much.

There were no lyrics, just a clear, inhuman note that was high and clear and bittersweet. No human could sing like that. Raven sung and the black wind spiraled around her for what seemed like an eternity.

Then she felt lips on hers, and knew he who kissed her. It was just like ebony Friday long ago. "Malchior…" She sighed as he let her go. She was so happy, and indeed she had been on the brink of death and darkness, and would have fallen but for his love.

"Fair maiden, I have come to rescue thee." Malchior pronounced, falling to one knee. "Raven, I know a cure!" He cried, leaping up and embracing her. "But we don't have much time. I need you to summon Arella for me."

Raven could only nod, shocked and shaken. But she was happy, oh so happy to have him back. Yes she would summon Arella; yes she would jump off a cliff. "Yeah." was all she could say before she was swept away to her room.

No one bothered to look at the clock, which read four p.m.

- - - - - - - -

Arella stepped out of the portal in a flowing robe of white, and Malchior explained the situation. "Yes, for my daughter's sake I'll do it." She grudgingly agreed. What they were trying to do was an ancient spell invented by Rorek himself, and was quite risky. Malchior had to ceremonially lose all control of his body through small incisions made by Raven to the spinal cord and back. If all went well, he would be cured and fully healed once it was done. Raven had to make the cuts.

"Uhreb ir rybynid ex Malchion at Raevyn tis reilkt at Areyllia sunck pystile Arenit Set at Chikira." Arella chanted, lighting the small, blue-flame candles that stood in a circle around Malchior and Raven, who now wore the same white robe as Arella.

"N' Raevyn at N' shkill Malchion wyre Set jult khycht N' at Areyllia cht'ny Set!" Raven cried as she cut the spinal cord at the base of Malchior neck, followed quickly and with a steady hand by the small cut to his back.

Malchior fell to the floor, and Arella and Raven stepped out of the circle to perform the cleansing. "At yet'chk!" They cried, crossing their arms in front of their chests. "N' Areyllia at N' Raevyn!" They cried, shooting twin beams of jet black power at Malchior. "Set at Malchion! N' Raevyn!" Raven cried, stepping into the circle and killing the flames.

The normal light came back on and Malchior stood up, unhurt and smiling, followed closely by Raven, laughing and crying at once. "We did it!" She cried. "Malchior can stay!" And she leapt into his arms.

The clock struck five p.m.

- - - - - - - -

Malchior flung Raven from him, eyes maddened, jaw clenched. "Go away." He said in a low voice. "If you ever come near me again, you will regret the day you saw me!"

Raven was astonished. The spell had worked! They had done everything like Arella had said. Arella…! She turned around to glare at her mother. "You did this! After we depended on you! How could you!"

"Dear, I told you: Malchior will betray you, as the current example shows. I tried, truly I did, but the curse was too strong. And not only that…since he came here, you have let your emotions run rampant inside you, and you could not hold up your end of the spell because of it. You let this happen Raven, and now you must make it right." She raised her arms above her, letting a lilac-scented smoke drift down, and then she vanished back to Azarath.

"No!" Raven cried. Arella had been her last hope. How could she, a teenager with only a barest sense of magic, hope to break the spell and save her one true love? Malchior had turned back to her, and while his stance spoke menace, his eyes cried despair. It was clear who had turned on Raven.

"Ra…ven…" Malchior pleaded in what was probably his final loving breath. He had lost a battle he could never win, all because of her. If only she had been stronger, then she would have been able to fight her sorrow and keep Malchior at a distance. This love could never be.

Raven cried even as she turned to flee. Malchior in this state could kill her for all she knew. She ran, tripping and sobbing down the hall, Malchior walking in a slow, deliberate step behind her. Doomed, they were doomed.

Raven reached the end of the hall and fled down the stairs, only to trip and fall head-first the rest of the way, to lie shaking on the landing. Malchior for a second looked like he wanted to help her, as her ankle was clearly broken, but that too faded, to be replaced by madness once more.

"Malchior, please!" Raven cried in a piteous voice. "Don't do this; I love you! Please Malchior, don't give in! You're stronger than that!" But Malchior kept coming, until he had reached the shaking Raven. He picked her up by the clasp of her cloak and hit her hard in the side of the face. She screamed in agony. Why didn't the others come!

"Stop right there Malchior!" Robin called from around the corner, weapons in hand. He looked shocked, and Raven realized that she had never told the others about the rest of the curse. He thought Malchior had willingly betrayed Raven!

"No…!" Raven cried, hoping she was loud enough to be heard. "It's not…his fault…!" Robin could not hear her, though, and kept advancing, ready to attack. Ready and willing.

"You can't stop me, foolish mortal." Malchior said in a voice that was horridly akin to the dragon's. This was evil in it's purest form, without mercy or love. All because Malchior had been a messed-up kid when he was little. All because his family had never been there when he needed them.

He flung Raven against the wall and let her lie there, advancing on Robin. It was clear who would win this fight, painfully clear. Robin attacked first, yelling something unclear. Malchior summoned up his magic, and effectively stopped Robin's boomerangs, even as another blast sent him flying. Raven had not realized how strong a mage Malchior truly was. Not until now.

Robin struggled to his feet, wiping blood from his temple. "Not while I'm alive." He said in a low voice. "I won't let you hurt Raven!" He rushed at Malchior, bare-handed, and the wizard replied in kind. They exchanged many blows, but Malchior was also a stronger fighter, and once more threw Robin to the ground. Over in the corner, Raven unsteadily got to her feet.

Then, as Malchior towered over Robin, ready for the kill, Beast Boy came charging in as a lion, claws extended. He managed to slash Malchior on the chest, but his armor was too strong, and only got scratched up a little. "So you wish to die, too?" He asked in the same malevolent voice. How could her beloved Malchior have such an evil, horrible voice? Raven thought. This wasn't Malchior, no it just couldn't be! This must be an illusion!

"You won't get Raven!" Beast Boy cried, charging again. Malchior conjured up a ball of darkness, and flung it at Beast Boy, who caught it full in the chest and was sent flying into the wall.

But by that time, Robin was back on his feet, and had his pole in hand. "Try this." He said, and lunged at Malchior. Malchior's metal arm-plates caught the blows, and he grabbed the end, flinging Robin up beside Beast Boy. He then turned to Raven. "Worthless." He commented.

"Hang on, Rae!" Cyborg yelled, shooting his sonic cannon straight in the back of Malchior as he advanced on Raven. He fell to the ground on his hands and knees, panting.

"Not bad, tin man." He said, before shooting a jet of darkness at Cyborg, who fell against the adjacent wall. "But none of you can match me as I am now. I am invincible!" He shouted.

It's true. Raven thought. When he's in this form, none of them can stop him. I'm no match for his powers, and I'm the strongest! Was there no way to save her friends and still have Malchior? Was this the end…?

Then she remembered something, and looked down. And when the blue turns to white, and when the emotions unite. She was white now, and if she could have enough time, she could have a chance to save everyone.

Guys. She said, speaking into their minds. I know how to win, but I'll need some time. Can you help me? They nodded, trying not to give their silent communication away. As one, the three boys rose, and were about to attack, when a new voice echoed through.

"You shall not fight without me!" Starfire cried, flying in. So as one, they fought, and though Malchior was strong, so were they. Robin and Beast Boy fought close, then backed off as Starfire and Cyborg launched their missile attacks. It seemed they had already won, save one fact. Malchior had lived and studied magic for hundreds of years, and he was about to try every trick in the book.

"As shaktrack, nas etcthlid was bas ill't ein shai!" Malchior cried in foreign tongue, shooting black discs of energy to all four combatants. They all fell as one, while the dark magic drained their power. Raven still needed time, so they rose again.

"You can't win that easily!" Beast Boy said, in a low growl. He turned into a tiger, and lunged, scratching Malchior on the upper arms. Raven held back a gasp. They were light wounds, and Beast Boy was just doing his job. Playing the hero.

"No, it seems not." Malchior said. "And if that's so, then I have a wonderful trick to show you." He began chanting rhythmically, but the words were inaudible. However, the effect was obvious. Black lightning began to play over the bodies of Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Robin, as they shouted in pain, doubling over in shock.

"Like it?" Malchior asked. "There's more…" The lightning increased, and the heroes fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Malchior turned and walked toward Raven. "Now, sweet Raven…it's your turn." He crooned.

Raven stepped back in fear. She was not finished! Her spell, the only one that could save them, had been broken with her concentration as Malchior once more lifted her into the air. Her eyes were pleading 'please, don't Malchior!' How could the one who loved her do such horrible things; utilize such dark power; hurt her and her friends…?

"I…love…you…" Raven said, pleadingly. If that didn't work, then this was the end. If her one true love really didn't care anymore, then she was finished. But there was a flicker of doubt in his black eyes, and Raven saw a little bit of the old Malchior still in there.

"Please Malchior, don't give up on me now. I never gave up on you! Even when I hurt you, even when I betrayed you, I still loved you. I still love you!" She cried. She was crying, just when she thought tears were beyond her.

Malchior turned, and set her gently down. His head was bowed, but Raven saw that his eyes were clouded. He was Malchior now, and not evil. For now… "Raven…I-I'm so sorry." He said gently, cupping her face in his hands. "I tried to be strong and do the right thing, but in the end I couldn't leave, knowing that leaving would make you miserable…So I'm asking you now. What do you want?"

"If you mean about you leaving, I don't know. But what I want to do right now is this…" And she kissed him, for the third time. "I love you so much, Malchior." She sighed. "But I know what we need to do. We can't stay, not with the curse still here. But one day, I'll see you again, and we can be together. You understand, right?"

"Yes, fair maiden. I understand. I'll see you again…soon. I promise." And with that, Malchior turned, and walked away. Out of the tower, past the city, and into the distance. Raven didn't cry, because she knew in her heart that he did it for her. And that was what love was about. She had no doubt that there would be a time for them to meet again, and because of that, she was happy.

The other Titans got up, and looked at Raven. She was smiling, thinking about when they would see each other again. She still had all the memories of him, and they were enough, until he came again. He knew where to find her…

"You okay Raven?" Robin asked. She must be in shock, and thinking about the past week. She could never be happy about his leaving. But there she stood, eyes glowing, smiling the smile that she had only recently shown. Malchior had done so much for her; made her smile, and opened her mind to joy and sunshine. It was truly amazing.

"Yeah, you're all smiley!" Beast Boy commented, just asking for an insult. But Raven just turned and looked at him.

"I'm just…happy." Raven said. "I'm so happy…and it's all thanks to Malchior. He came back to me, and in the end he let me choose. I know I'll see him again…and so I'm happy. Happy that I met him, and that he loved me, and that he'll come back…"

"But he left…" Cyborg said, puzzled. "And you'll never know if he's even coming back!" Raven was clearly not getting it. Malchior had just ditched her in shame after what he had done. He couldn't come back.

"He will." Raven said, joy still lighting up her face. "I know he will. And in the meantime, I have my friends. You've all helped me through this, and I owe you all so much. I'm glad I've met every one of you."

- - - - - - - -

Once upon a time there was a boy, who loved his family very much. Sadly, when a sorceress came to their house, the boy was left to himself, as they all loved her more than him. His brother, whom he admired very much, forgot about him, and the boy was left to himself.

He delved deep into dark magics, as he had no other way to entertain him. He became very powerful, but he ran out of books, so he ran away from his home. He went to the ruins of the sorceress' house, but there were no books there.

He camped there that night, but was awoken by the band of powerful sprites. He captured one and took it with him to the capital of his country. He bought passage with the young creature to the dark islands where the evil wizards lived. He studied there for years, and fell in love with a beautiful maiden.

But there was a curse. It caused him, after one week, to turn on the one he loved. So he ran in shame, wandering the country until he once more met his brother, who had by then become the most powerful wizard in the country. For when Malchior had left the family, Rorek, the brother, had gone to Azarath, and told his tale to Evania, the leader of the monks that lived there. She and the others taught him all the spells they had gathered in the years that had passed since Azarath had been formed. Then, when the time came, Rorek returned, ready to face his brother.

They fought, and our hero lost, and became imprisoned in a book for thousands of years, for Evania had taught Rorek well. Malchior lost all hope, and sank into despair. But once Malchior had been sealed, Rorek returned to Azarath, and sent his soul into a crystal sphere, so that when Malchior returned, they would know how to handle him.

Alone and defeated, Malchior sank deeper and deeper into himself, thinking over and over about how he could never live up to his stupid elder brother.

Until he met a beautiful girl named Raven.

They fell in love, and he taught her all his spells. But he had forgotten about the curse, and when his beloved released him, he became a dragon. Raven managed to seal him again, but she was heartbroken.

After two days, she opened the book again, and once more they fell in love. This time, he was a man, and they became lovers. He kissed her, and was accepted into Raven's family. Then, the curse activated, and Malchior, the man, turned on Raven and her friends. But Raven was able to return him to his real self, and after a final kiss, she let him go

Raven read the final page in Malchior's book, and she held the necklace with the ring that had been Malchior's. She still wore white, and she was still a gray child, no longer dark and brooding, but still herself. Malchior had been the best thing to ever happen to her, and she knew he would be back.

Just then, the Titan signal sounded, and without a second glance, she turned and walked out to fight evil for another day.

- - - - - - - -

Sunday under an ebony sky
I met you. I don't know why
Monday was ebony jewel
Timid was I. You were fiery cool
Tuesday I wore an ebony dress
You drawled, "Darling, I must confess…"
Wednesday in the wind's ebony embrace
Your eyes glowed darker than your face
Thursday you called me an ebony doll
Too short in sight, too far to fall
Friday you gave me an ebony kiss
I tingled and shuddered--you would be missed
Saturday standing by that ebony door
You smiled. I stared at the floor.
Sunday under an ebony sky
I saw you leave. I don't know why2

The end…

1 Lyrics taken from Green Day's Boulevard of Broken Dreams, on the American Idiot soundtrack

2 Poem written by Julie Zhou and published along with a fanart at Gaia Online. Her username is joulee.