Heart of Stone: Chapter VIII

AN: Wheeeee! An other chapter! Is it too angsty and are the characters too… not-themselves? Meh, well, on with the story for now.

Terra got up but was kicked in the side by Raven.

"You never changed, you were always a lying, deceptive bitch!" Raven yelled at her.

"There's no time for this!" said Terra, exasperated. "Beast Boy is in trouble. If you don't believe me, fine, just don't interfere!"

"You really think I'm gonna believe that shit? After all the times you have lied to us!" Blackness devoured a tree which she uprooted and sent in Terra's direction, but Terra blocked it with a boulder.

"That was over two years ago!"

"You still haven't changed one bit."

"I have no idea what the hell went on, but I didn't do it! Beast Boy believes me and I'm not about to turn my back on him. If you want to be that way, fine! I give up on trying to convince you!" She made the ground below Raven explode and she was among a pile of ruble and dust. As it subsided, Terra was gone.

"The funny thing about illusions-" a female voice behind her said. A girl who appeared to be about ten-years-old and was covered in blood with a stone spike through her heart was standing behind her. She continued in a voice that sounded too mature to be that of a child, "is they can sometimes be more deceptive than humans." She grew until she was about 5 and a half feet tall, was suddenly well endowed, wearing a black body suit and had long, black hair and black wings protruded from her shoulder blades. "Never trust your senses. Too bad you'll never be able to use this lesson." A katana appeared in her right hand and she swung it downwards at Raven's shoulder.

"Who the fuck are you?" Raven asked, evading the blow.

"The name's Illusion.. As you've noticed, named for my ability."

Raven smirked. "Very nice, I'm being challenged by a whore who can conjure hallucinations." She stood her ground as Illusion lunged at her with the sword, which hit her in the chest, just below her heart. Raven stumbled backwards, grabbing the wound, looking at her opponent in shock.

"Illusions aren't all visual, dear."

"It was you then who killed all those people! You framed Terra, didn't you!" Illusion nodded.

"You're really too quick to judge. But nevertheless, bye." she thrust the hilt of katana into Raven's head, knocking her out cold.

"I can't find pick up any trace of Beast Boy or Raven," said Cyborg hopelessly to Robin and Starfire.

"What about Terra? Yu find her, you find them," Robin added.

"I'm looking man!" Cyborg yelled, looking at the monitor, trying to track her down too. "Can't track her either."

"We should just get some rest until we try searching again," Robin said to Starfire. He followed her as she went to her room.

"I do not get it. Why would Terra wish to hurt others? I though she has changed for good," said Star, quietly.

"I don't know," he admitted. "I thought she changed too. But there may be an other side to this, but it's very unlikely. But we need to get to the bottom of this."

"I believe I understand somewhat," Starfire responded.

It was cold out, although Terra didn't really mind. She was used to sleeping outdoors and besides, earth was a northern element and so she was automatically adapted to it. Besides, she couldn't stop thinking about Beast Boy. She had no idea if he was ok. She also realized that she had nowhere to turn to, except for Slade, but she refused to crawl back to him. Without warning, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up along the green eye and smiled with relief to see Beast Boy.

"Beast Boy!" she shouted and got up, hugging him, but was pushed away as he transformed into a bear and swiped at her, leaving long gashes on her torso.

"So, what do you think?" said Slade out of nowhere.

"What do you mean?" She glared at her former master.

"I guess there's no harm in telling you, seeing that none of your 'friends' believe you."

"Just get to the goddamn point!" shouted Terra, mostly angry that he was right.

Beast Boy had transformed back to his semi-human state and Slade put a hand on his shoulder. "As you may have noticed, I have strong methods of persuasion," he said in his cold, emotionless voice.

"Beast Boy, listen to me! Don't let him control you like this! Remember what you said?" Terra said to Beast Boy desperately, but received no response from him.

"It's no use, Terra. The mind control device puts even his emotions in my control," said Slade. "Now this one on the other hand," he said, gesturing to Raven who walked over to his side. "She wasn't as easy to gain control of, but I eventually found a way."

"It doesn't matter, it won't work for long. They'll come to their senses sooner or later!"

"Not likely, but always a possibility, but still leaves you with the dilemma of having nowhere to turn to."

"I'm not going to let you use me like that again, find your bitches somewhere else."

"I already have," he said, amused. "Illusion," Illusion appeared as if out of nowhere. "I also hope this answers your other question."

"What do you mean?"

"Illusions aren't all visual. You see, she's able to conjure some that affect all physical senses. They are real enough to even hurt people physically-"

"So you're saying? You bastard!"

"Very good. I wouldn't have expected you to figure it out. But back to business-"

"The answer's still no," said Terra, already knowing what he was going to say.

"Ok then, but don't believe that this will be the last," he said, and with the clones, he disappeared, leaving Terra once again alone.

AN: well there goes chapter 8, please review.