Chapter 8: Ominous Rose

Raven's piercing scream drew Beast Boy immediately from his sleep. Rushing down the hall he saw the other titans darting into the halls. He vaguely registered Starfire and Robin exit from the same room. As the group ran down the hall Raven burst from her own room, sweat matting her hair to her face. The girl's eyes darted wildly and the other teens stopped short. This person before them… could not be Raven. She stared wildly in their direction and impulsively threw herself into Beast Boy's arms. Beast Boy brought her head up to look at him.

"Raven!" he asked anxiously. Raven looked at him, her eyes clouded.

"This… shouldn't be happening so fast…" she gulped. Tearing herself from the boy's grip she ran the other way, turning the corner and darting off.

"Raven!" the team yelled. Beast Boy took off after her, simultaneously shifting into a cheetah. Starfire grabbed Robin around the chest and lifted into the air, flying rapidly after the two dashing titans. Cyborg pounded after them, checking his scanner to see where Raven was headed. Raven burst through the doors into the large launch pad for the T-ship, complete with astrological equipment in the unoccupied half. She flew towards the stainless steel shelves housing all of the astronomical charts. Fumbling through them she grabbed one and unrolled it hastily. Beast Boy slammed through the doors to see Raven at the astrological charts. She looked so different… it was scary. Her hair was a deep maroon and hung just a little above her waist, close to the same length as Star's. Her cloak was black and the gem fastening it was pulsating with red light. Her eyes were as red as Trigon's but they were still hers, luckily. Beneath her black cloak her uniform was blood red. Raven's ashma chakra gem glowed perilously and he saw, emblazed on the black of her cloak was a deep red rose. He ran towards her, calling her name.

"Rae! What's going on!" he yelped. She paid no attention but simply swept over to the computer console with the chart clutched in one hand. She punched in numbers frantically and several telescopes and sextons exploded near by. Beast Boy ran to her and grabbed her shoulders. She whirled around and stared fiercely at him.

"Let Go!" she hissed, jerking her shoulders from him she turned back to the screen. "No, no, this can't be happening… it shouldn't be changing this fast… what does Trigon think he's doing? No it can't happen this fast!" she fell to a heap on the floor and the computer screen exploded. She clutched her head and cried out.

"Raven!" Cyborg and the others burst into the room where Beast Boy was staring in horror as the entire room began to be encased in her ebony aura.

"I-I'm loosing control… BEAST BOY GET THEM OUT OF HERE!" she screeched. Beast Boy ran towards the others and shifted into a pterodactyl. Grasping Cyborg's shoulders and motioning for Star to get Robin they flew out of the room. As soon as they were safely away Beast Boy looked back.

"I'm going back for her." He growled and he ran back towards the room. He dashed through the doorway which had been ripped from its hinges and saw Raven still huddled in the corner screaming as loud as she could.

"AZERATH, METRION, ZINTHOS! AZERATH, METRION, ZINTHOS!" she gave another scream as things around her began to explode. Beast Boy ran towards her, sending a fearful glance at the now black encased T-ship which was groaning on the verge of exploding as well. "AZERATH, METRION!" Raven opened her eyes to see Beast Boy running towards her. She watched in horror as he suddenly found himself glued to the floor and her black magic entwining itself around his body. "FOREZVEN LITH, MALINOL CORVEXLINE, LAOSHA, MIRONEE, ZYNTHOS!" Raven yelled her mother's incantation at the top of her lungs in a desperate attempt to save Beast Boy. The room suddenly went quiet and the black encasing the room sucked to the center and formed into the shape of a raven that flew and entered back into Raven. She cried out in pain before slumping to the floor, shaking uncontrollably.

"Raven, what's going on? What happened?" he rushed to her side and pulled her to him. She coughed and her body jerked with effort. She stared fearfully at him before coughing again, this time coughing up blood. It trickled down her cheek and spattered her cloak. "Rae!" he scooped her up bridal style, her head lolling forward as she coughed up more blood. "Cyborg!" he hollered. "Cyborg, we gotta get Raven to the infirmary NOW!" Cyborg gave a star as the changeling rushed by and quickly followed.

They lay her on one of the beds and Cyborg got quickly to work. He ushered the clamoring titans out of the room and returned to Raven's side. Fifteen minutes later he came out and called Beast Boy in. "She needs to talk to ya. Don't get her upset though, she's getting really weak from all this stress… whatever's going on." Beast Boy remembered he was the only one Raven had talked to. Quickly rushing in, he ran to her side.

"Beast Boy, the planets… are coming to alignment too fast… I have a week at tops… I need to leave, now. And… I need to take you with me… You're the only one who knows… Tell the others we'll be alright. Then shut off our communicators and bring all of the astrological charts with us. I need you to carry me to my room so I can get a few things… you need to do that too… understand?" she rasped. Beast Boy nodded solemnly. He didn't ask any questions but instead he ran out of the room to do her bidding.

You're using him… a voice in her head whispered.

No… I'm not using him, I'm not! She thought back angrily.

Yes you are. You know it too… You know it because I told you to use him… But time is ticking, daughter, and I shall win and your friend… he will die too. Raven shuddered. She would never let Beast Boy die… but… perhaps she was using him…

A bold and daring gold,

With fiercely red orbs,

Stares into the black.

A flying banner,

Stained navy.

A flowing tassel,

Dyed bronze.

Iron hooves of no fear,

Taunt the unknown,

And race through the mind,

A feeble courage.


Author's Note: Just for you Blaze-firestorm... so you won't die on me again... lol. Well I hope you enjoy this one... They're heading to the the third quadrant... YAY!

hugs to all my reviewers... please review this chappie too! PLEASE!