"Ouch!" I yelped, stumbling off of the rock and falling flat on my face.
"Smooth. Real smooth."
"I've been stuck in a hunk of rock," I grumbled, "what do you expect?" I stood up and brushed the dirt off myself. Then, for the first time, I actually noticed that I was completely unsure of where I was. Looking around, I saw a lake, some trees, and the base where I'd served as a landmark. Your typical city park in an anything but typical city.
"Welcome back. So, how's our favorite little statue," droned a monotone voice. It belonged to the cloaked girl standing in front of me. I would have recognized the sarcasm anywhere.
"Nice to see you too, Raven. Where exactly are we?"
"City park. Built last year. You've sort of been a park monument," she replied with absolutely no clues as to how she was feeling. "And a bird bathroom," she added, with a gesture toward my hair. Eew.
"I've been worse." I managed to muster a hollow laugh. This place had changed so much in a year, two years? Time had passed, but I never felt it passing. If anything had happened between then and now, I did not know of it. It was like being put to sleep for an operation. Volcano lava, the city, and now this. My life, all in order with no gap for the past that I had not been a part of.
I walked over to the lake. Raven followed, floating silently behind me. Looking into the clear surface, I saw a girl. A girl with long, stringy blonde hair that got in her eyes, which were an icy blue. She shared my name, but I wish she did not share my deeds, so that perhaps one of us could have a clear conscience. I feel like I shut it off for a few years and turned it back on when I opened my eyes.
A girl who was still wearing that infernal neuro interface! With a sudden fit of rage, I began tugging violently at the suit. Despite all my efforts, the suit remained a part of me, just like my past. Try as I might, I could not change what had already happened. Or change out of this stupid thing! It was all but flattering.
"Just to let you know, copper and black are so out. Purple is the latest in psychopathic criminal apprentice chic," Raven said, in a last ditch attempt to make me smile. I managed to crack a grin.
"Say, what year is it, exactly?" Raven looked at me, her eyes sadder than ever.
"Terra, you were in that rock a long time. But looking at you, you haven't aged a day. It must have preserved you perfectly. Looks like the fountain of youth flows with lava." She paused. "But I am older now, as you have probably noticed." I hadn't. She continued, " It's been a long time."
"In fact, Terra, it's been six years."
Had I been drinking coffee, I would have spit it out now.
"SIX YEARS!"
"Yes, and I'm sure the penguins in Antarctica have heard you by now."
"But six years?"
"Sad, isn't it?" She stared at me, genuinely sympathetic.
"Tell me how the others are," I pleaded.
"Cyborg's fine. Starfire has missed you lately. Robin's disappointed, in a weird way. He sort of needed Slade to fight. It kept him busy. I myself have been writing lately. A biography, actually, of you. Hope you don't mind."
"And Beast Boy?" Raven sensed the eagerness in my eyes.
"I wish I could tell you he misses you, and thinks about you every day." My heart was already sinking. "But he hasn't talked about you. I don't think things will ever be the same between you too." She muttered something under her breath. I thought she said, "I sure hope not," but I HAD to have been wrong.
I sighed, gathered up my courage, and started toward the gate. As I placed my hand on the lock, I was hit by a wave of realization.
I am standing here in the uniform of a criminal, covered in bird mess, and not exactly having a good hair day. Yeah, that's a great first impression.
