Chapter 10: Proverbial Tunes

Beast Boy followed Raven's seemingly random directions through the field, unsure of where they were headed. He wondered exactly why she was making him meander all over the lavender field but listened obediently.

"Are you tired of carrying me?" she asked suddenly. He stopped and frowned down at her. Raven was almost frighteningly light and he was more tired of carrying the charts and bags then of carrying the girl herself.

"Naw, Come on Rae, even if I was tired you're to weak to walk right now." He sighed and started forward again. Raven closed her eyes and grimaced. She hated this feeling of helplessness. Raven continued to direct him until they had reached the outskirts of a small town. "You mind me asking why we couldn't have just walked straight here?" he asked. She rolled her eyes.

"Invisible walls. We were going through the Seraphim's Labyrinth. I didn't want to tell you before we got out because you wouldn't have paid attention and you would've gotten nervous and started running into things. I can see them because of my powers," she explained wearily. Beast Boy listened with wide eyes. "Ok, now this will sound weird… but shift into a horse and let me ride you while we're here. Azerath isn't very comfortable with outsiders. I may have been gone a long time, but this is still my home. Beast Boy did as directed and she weakly pulled herself onto his back and rode side-saddle… with no saddle of course. She clung feebly to his mane and Beast Boy wondered if this was such a good idea. She seemed so frail without support. Raven was wondering similarly but was more concerned as to weather or not the Azarians would recognize her… now that Trigon had manifested himself physically through her. She figured she must look strange… half Raven, half Trigon.

"Halt! Who are you that you seek refuge in Azerath?" came a demanding voice to their left. Beast Boy stopped and Raven shifted to see the guard. He was tall and handsome, dressed in all black robes with deep cerulean hair and eyes. At his side he held a rather odd looking staff with a glowing blue sphere hovering at its tip. Raven managed a fairly good smirk in the way of the young man.

"So, Alipes, you've gone towards sorcery? I had always assumed you more of the darkling type," she mused.

"C-Capria Liy Metrion?" he stuttered. Raven stared on thoughtfully.

"I suppose. Yes and no, really," she sighed. "Shameful as it is, I killed my would-be husband, remember? I cannot be called a dove by anyone. It was right of them to rename me." She said softly. Her born name had been Dove, or Capria, but her betrothed had spat upon her deeming her unworthy to be called by such a fair name. Thus to be considered presentable to the demon she had been re-dubbed Metrion, or Raven. Alipes frowned.

"So, 'tis truly you… Metrion then?" he asked. She nodded, and then shook her head again. "By the soul of Arella, do give me a name by which to call you, Capria," Raven looked away.

"I said I am no Capria. I am Raven now. I live on earth," she stated firmly. Beast Boy was reeling with all the confusing conversation. Alipes seemed saddened by the news.

"So… you returned to the place we fled from…" he trailed off and looked away. When he turned back to face her, the anger in his eyes was so strong that it made Beast Boy quiver beneath his delicate passenger. "This is why we could have never been with one another. This is why; Raven you were never fit to become my bride. You press against the mold of Azerath and that is simply… unfathomable to me!" he raged. Raven's eyes glowed a pulsating white and her hands were licked with black flames of her magic. Finding within her an abnormal new strength she vaulted off Beast Boy and hovered in front of him, her hair flying wildly.

"I cannot BELIEVE you! Alipes, I killed for you. Yes, I saved Azerath when I killed Intherol but I did it so I could be with YOU!" she spat angrily. Beast Boy watched in horror as the young sorcerer's staff glowed brighter and his robes began to flutter angrily about him.

"It was not an acceptable thing to do! You tested our peaceful ways! Simply being born stretched Azerath's limits!" he shouted. Raven cried out suddenly as the impending rush of Trigon overtaking her flooded her senses. Clutching her head she fell to the ground and began to shout at the top of her lungs.

"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos! Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos! Azerath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" she screeched and then it stopped. Trigon's essence shrunk away. Raven opened stared at the ground, disbelieving she had kept control. Slowly, she struggled to her feet, grabbing at Beast Boy's fur and leaning against him with a fistful of mane in her hands. She stared darkly at Alipes.

"You… do not know how much it hurts to live a cursed life… you are the pride of your family… but yet you chose to take the course of sorcery… when you could have made such a perfect darkling… with your gifts… you could have understood me," she muttered. Her words were hardly sensible, a mismatch of thoughts in her current state, yet they made perfect sense. Alipes turned roughly away from her and stalked off.

Beast Boy quickly shifted to human form and took Raven into his arms. He didn't care if Azerath accepted him or not. In fact, after meeting Alipes he wasn't sure he wanted to be accepted. Raven felt a strange twinge in her mind and opened her eyes curiously. She saw a small flash in the distance and perceived another behind her. She tuned just in time to see…

"Capria?" Beast Boy felt his throat catch at the voice.

"Terra!" he yelped. The owner of the voice wrinkled her nose. She was slim and a bit taller than the earth-moving vixen that was Terra. This girl… was so eerily similar to Terra it could have been her, a little taller having been a year since they'd seen her alive, but still the same beautiful blonde. The long sun kissed locks fell like brilliant gold on either side of her face and long fair bangs lightly lay over her corn-flower blue eyes. The rest of her hair was pulled back into a high pony-tail. She was still dressed in the same cruel uniform given by Slade. Only rather than being adorned with Slade's insignia she had a five pointed star on her breast plate and beneath the star was a v-shaped stripe. All of the design on the uniform was done in black. Strapped to her back was a huge sword that hung unsheathed behind her. The strap attached appeared to be easily removable for quick access in a fight. Her voice was identical to that of Terra's.

"Terra?" he repeated himself. The girl shook her head and quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Lyora. But call me Lark." She turned back to Raven who was staring with immense anger in her eyes.

"Metrion?" she asked again, this time referring to her… more recent name. Raven shook her head stiffly.

"Raven," Raven replied icily. "Lark… what are you doing here… looking like that," she referred to Lark's odd look. She narrowed her gaze and willed Lark to speak.

"Raven, then, I am here… on business… I guess you could say and what do I look like that so appalls you?" she asked innocently. Raven shuddered with rage. Lark was up to no good… she couldn't be. Lark tuned her baby blue eyes on Beast Boy sweetly.

"You look like you've seen a ghost… who are you, anyways?" Raven felt another twinge in her mind and sneered angrily at Lark who sent an inconspicuous leer back. Beast Boy stared at Lark in utter disbelief. She looked like Terra, talked like Terra, dressed… sort of like Terra, and even moved like Terra.

"Maybe I have… My name's Beast Boy…" he scratched the back of his head. Raven looked worriedly up at BB. She felt a strange pang of… hurt?... as she recognized that head-over-heals look in his eyes again. She couldn't let Beast Boy fall in love with Lark. She couldn't let him hurt himself like that… she couldn't let him hurt her like that.

"Beast Boy, we're going to the inn. Leave her alone." Raven snapped. Lark tilted her head as Raven stumbled away, towards the Griffin's Claw Inn. Beast Boy was hesitant to follow but when he saw her stagger and collapse in the middle of the small dirt road he hastened after her, sending a last fleeting glance at Lark who was looking on with curious eyes and he noticed briefly that the strange star on her breastplate glowed black with a red tinge around the points. He disregarded the girl for the moment and caught up to Raven who was attempting to rise. He helped her gently to the inn but promised himself he would talk with the beautiful Lark again.

Sleep Now

Flying away,

Into the calling Dark.

Open eyes to a scarlet new world.

Icy fingers cradle a flame,

Soothingly bringing her,

To the place of dark.

A paradise of Naivety,

Gently lulls her to sleep.


Author's Notes: I am terribly sorry this took me so long. I actually had it written by teusday but I've been so busy... Blaze-firestorm, just a thought, isn't it bad for your health to continue dying like that? Alas de un Quevo (?) I so can't get your spanish name right... so, er, Metrion then, you must be patient and allow the plot do weave as it wills. I shall refrain from disclosing any spoilers with you that may never come to be... my plot tends to deepen as I go, so I'm never sure exactly how things will turn out... so I'm sorry if I have disturbed and/or mentally scared you. And Schmoo says hullo. To all teh rest of you, 'tis a pleasure to recieve your various reviews, from simple kudos to written spz attacks I love them all. I really shall try and update a bit faster for you, that's a promise.

Princess Starfire of Tamaran