CelticHeriessFiona: Glad you like it
Angel-Star727: I know it is interesting isn't it?
Starfire-is-not-a-whimp: You bet he's gonna die, just not now.
gladdecease: You may be on to somthing there, Neville jsut might fight it off. And thanks for the review i like getting them.
Neko Star-Elite: Thanks! I'm a Star fan too believe it or not. She's so funny (in a cute way)
nonofyorbiz: Maybe i will, Thanks
starfan 1: Thanks, delighted to know you like my story so far.
Luvya: That's good to hear, I hope you like this one.
Lost Inside: I'm sorry I've always been a RobStar shipper. I hope you'll still read my story.
Angyl: Don't worry about Scott, I'm sure he'll show up again sooner or later
Story Weaver1: Whew! That was close. That's like my favorite episode, i just couldn't resist. I'm glad you like it so far.
Thanks for all of the great reviews, now I wont keep you from the update another second longer.
Chapter Nine
Beast Boy's Decision
Robin sat by himself in the corner. Robin was sure for a moment they had the old Starfire back, then she was suddenly taken away. While Raven and Ron did their best to smooth things over between Harry and Beast Boy Hermione came and sat next to Robin.
"Are you okay?" Robin snickered somewhat.
"What do you think?" Hermione cast a downward look. "Sorry, I don't usually 'talk' about anything. And Starfire is one of those things."
"I understand Robin, but you shouldn't sit all by yourself like its hopeless."
"Yeah, and why not?"
"Well, what would Starfire say?" Robin picked his head up and gave her a short nod. He promised she would be free, and that was a promise he intended to keep. Raven finally calmed Harry and Beast Boy down. She moved away and they motioned toward each other only to stop when Raven spun back around with her eye blazing.
"I told you that's enough, enough." They both nodded.
"Sorry," said Harry to Beast Boy.
"Naaa don't sweat it, I would have done the same in your place."
"Thanks, I guess."
"Now that we're done with those matters," said Raven. "We need to work on getting out of here."
"Bout time some one said something," remarked Cyborg. Raven looked over at Robin.
"Robin what did Slade say to you, can you remember?" He thought back to a few moments ago when he met up with his nemesis among the trees.
"He said something about getting our dragon friend to help with something and raise the dead people"-
"Wait what did you say," asked Hermione getting up.
"The dead people?" Robin shrugged his shoulders. Hermione thought for a moment.
"Are you sure it wasn't 'Dead Ones'?" Robin then snapped his fingers a couple of times.
"Yeah, yeah it was." Hermione nodded, smiled and turned to Harry and Ron.
"It's the Dead Ones," she said. Both Harry and Ron looked just as excited about their discovery as she did only to have Cyborg step in between them.
"Uhh excuse me, but confused here." Hermione nodded and put on the look of a teacher.
"We have this project in Defense against the Dark Arts and this is our topic. Don't you see this is amazing! Your Slade, and V-Voldemort want to use Malchior to raise the Dead Ones."
"More specifics please," said Raven.
"Oookay, you all know the story of Jason and the Argonauts right?" They nodded their heads in a general concensus. "You all know that Jason built a ship christened 'The Argo' and aimed to sail to the other side of the world to a place called Calchus (Kal-Cus) in search of the Golden Fleece. Now the Golden Fleece was heavily sought after because of its rumored healing powers. However any and all who tried for it ended up very dead, this is because the fleece was protected by a dragon." She allowed this new bit to sink in before continuing. "This particular type of dragon was called the hydra and was of a very rare and sparsely numbered species. Anyway, Jason and his sailors came, killed the hydra and took the Golden Fleece. In response to this the king of Calchus took the teeth from the hydra's corpse and used them to rise up the dead victims of the dragon, an army of the dead. Whether or not Jason and the Argonauts were able to defeat the Dead Ones is still a mystery and the hydras have been extinct for nearly two thousand years."
"Then what good is Malchior to them," asked Robin. Hermione put up her finger.
"Like other species, dragons on occasion bred with other types of dragon. Over time the hydra died out but their descendants carried on."
"Which means," said Harry. "That Malchior must be a descendant of the hydra." Everyone sat in silence for the longest of time. Cyborg let out a long breath while Robin entered deep thought. "Which is probably why the dementors were sent after you, to get the book and maybe bring you along as well."
"Lavender was telling me how you guys love solving mysteries around here," said Raven. "She wasn't kidding."
"Well I'm glad we figured all that out, now what are we supposed to do about queen Frag," asked Ron. Robin sent him a death glare. This latest remark sent everyone in strained thought. That was a good question. Beast Boy scratched his head then suddenly got a wild idea.
"Hey Raven what about that other guy?" Raven tuned and blinked.
"Excuse me?"
"You know the other dude that was supposed to be fighting Malchior a hundred billion years ago or something…."
"Rorek?"
"Yeah that's him!" Raven looked at Beast Boy as though he had just lost his mind.
"Beast Boy that was over a thousand years ago."
"Wait I think Beast Boy may have a point," said Hermione. Raven cast her a look saying 'Oh no not you too!'. "What if during his final battle with Malchior, Rorek got trapped inside the book to only he hasn't been as hell bent on getting out as Malchior." Raven shook her head.
"Raven," said Robin. "It doesn't hurt to look." He gave her his 'leader look' and she sighed.
"Alright I'll 'look', but I still think this is a waste of time." She paused. "Hold on, we don't have the book." For a moment it seemed they're only lead was just snuffed out. Then Cyborg held it out to Raven. She looked back and forth from it to Cyborg. "Where'd you get this?"
"I thought it'd be a good idea to hold onto, just in case," he said with a smile. She took it and laid it on one of the desk. She held her hands over it and the cover flipped open and the pages began turning. Finally she stopped and let out a soft gasp. "What, what is it?"
"I found him, he's in there." She looked up at everyone in total surprise.
"Great…so now what," asked Beast Boy.
"I leave my body in astral form and make contact with him on an alternate plain of existence." Beast Boy nodded with raised eyebrows. "Be ready."
"For what," asked Harry.
"To catch me, I don't particularly want to my head to hit the stone floor. Raven closed her eyes and let her body's tensions ease themselves away. "Azerath-Metrion-Zinnnnthos." Her body arched for a moment then she limply fell backwards into Cyborg and Beast Boy's awaiting arms. Beast Boy looked down at Raven in her out of body state. 'I sure hope she knows what she's doing.' Raven felt herself zooming through a faceless vortex. She could tell she was moving through the different plains and that her mind was guiding itself to the necessary destination, but it still felt weird. She finally lost the sensation of flying and felt solid ground under her feet. The veil of darkness parted and she found herself in a circular room. Taking a look around she saw various tools for studying the stars and mapping them accordingly, books stacked to the ceiling, and a wide array of vials and beakers. She laid eyes on a scroll perched on a marble pedestal and curiosity took over. She unrolled it only to the first line and gasped; it was one of the Gallian scrolls that Malchior had told her about during their first ever meeting. She felt compelled to read more when,
"Answer me this." Jumping out of her skin Raven spun around to see someone with his back to her. He wore a set of silver robes that dragged on the ground and seemed to shine in the light. "Why do we live our lives?" Completely taken off guard Raven racked her brains for an answer.
"Uhhh, because we have to?" He picked up his head from his parchment and nodded.
"An interesting response. I don't agree with it in the slightest, but I do commend you for being the first to give me one nonetheless." He turned around and faced Raven. "It is amazing how many people simply live their lives not knowing why."
"Do you know?" He paused.
"I have only theories, but such questions can only be answered by the highest of beings." He pointed upward and Raven got the idea of whom he was speaking. "You see that?" He gestured to a large celestial chart painted on the ceiling. "That is the universe which I have spent a number of life times mapping. And to what end? Do you intend to take some of this knowledge with you?" Raven remained silent. "One can only learn by asking questions." He nodded and narrowed his eyes. "I do not recognize your face." He prompted her with his gaze.
"Oh sorry, I'm Raven."
"But of course you are. Why are you here Raven, I have not had a visitor in…..oh one thousand years."
"I came to ask for your help."
"My help?" He walked back over to his desk and sat down. "I am not sure what help I can give you."
"Its Malchior." He looked up. "He's escaped from the book and taken possession of one of my friends. And to top it all off another group of bad people intend to use him to raise an army of the dead." Rorek thought about this for a moment then silently laughed.
"They intend to sacrifice him in order to gain an enormous amount of power yes?" Raven nodded. "It seems to resemble poetic justice to me."
"But we can't let them do that," said Raven walking over to him. "We don't know if the Dead One's can be stopped."
"I understand and I sympathize with your situation, but………"
"You won't help us," finished Raven glumly. "So why lock Malchior up in the first place? If when he somehow gets out again you're simply going to look through your astrology charts."
"I am an Astronomer thank you, and you would do well not to confuse the two in the future. As it is the price for performing such a curse in the past was for me to be locked away as well. I am truly sorry, but I can't help you. I am only spirit, I have no body in which to live in." Raven then got an idea. It was the craziest idea ever to enter her mind but it just might work.
"Maybe you do," she said biting her lip. Rorek was confused for a moment then arched a brow.
"You are not suggesting…."
"Rorek we need you, Malchior has taken hold of someone so powerful on her own that we simply can't stop him without someone who has already done it before."
"The curse, what about the curse?"
"It didn't work. It only removed him from the host, he was never sent back to the book," reported Raven. Rorek rubbed his forehead.
"And you know of someone eager to volunteer for such a thing?" Raven sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Well, not really no. But if none of them will go for it then I will," she said. Rorek nodded and rose from his chair.
"Then you must be off."
"Wait, what all of this?" Raven gestured to all of his books and scrolls and charts.
"Not to worry my dear, I have all the knowledge I need up here." He pointed to his forehead and nodded in the opposite direction. "Now you must go, your friends are beginning to worry." Raven nodded and turned to leave but stopped and looked back.
"Thank you." He smiled with a nod. She performed her exodus incantation and promptly found her way back to her body.
Her eyes snapped open and she gasped out loud.
"Raven!" Beast Boy rushed over to her and helped her to a sitting position. "Your okay!"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Beast Boy swallowed.
"Well I was just…. you were…I thought…. sorry." He shrugged and stood back up. Raven got to her feet and Robin walked up to her.
"So, how'd it go?"
"He said he'll help." There was a short cheer among them. "But he needs a host." CRICKET…CRICKET. The room went dead silent. She looked around at them nervously. "It's true."
"Raven, why?" Cyborg was absolutely lost for words.
"He's nothing but a spirit like Malchior, he needs a host body or he can't come out and he won't be able to do anything." She paused. "Now, who will volunteer?" They each looked at each other. Harry fixed his glasses, Ron looked around at the ceiling, and even Robin was trying not to make eye contact. "I see."
"Sorry Raven but I've been down that lane before and I'm just not comfortable with it," said Hermione.
"I'm with Hermione on this one," said Harry.
"Yeah, yeah me to." Ron nodded his head continuously. Raven sighed and rubbed her eyes.
"Alright fine, I'll let him occupy me and no one else will have to."
"I'll do it." They all turned and saw Beast Boy looking down at his feet.
"Beast Boy?"
"You heard me. For those of you who don't 'hablo' English, I said I'll do it." Raven for some reason wasn't sure if she wanted him to do it.
"Beast Boy are you sure, I mean, I bet Cyborg wouldn't mind taking one for the team."
"Right sure," said Cyborg. Beast Boy sat down next to the book.
"I really don't care." Raven leaned in a little closer so only he could hear her.
"But I do." He grinned.
"Hey, if anything goes wrong we can always blame it on him." Raven looked around uncertainly then finally surrendered. "This is safe right?"
"If his spiritual consciousness should remain partially attached to your mind." Beast Boy blinked a couple of times.
"But it's safe right?" Raven lowered her head so as not to expose her smile.
"Yes its safe." The others were sure they felt the room shake slightly. She laid Beast Boy down on the table and the book next to him. "We'll do this the 'safe way'." She bent down and whispered in his ear. "Just relax." Beast Boy nodded and closed his eyes. Raven then held out her hands palm down, one over Beast Boy and the other over the book. "Azerath Metrion Zinthos." They all felt a rush of air flowing through the room and shielded themselves from small flying objects. The pages in the book flipped and turned madly as though a hand rummaged through them in a frenzy. Beast Boy's gritted his teeth slightly and he let out short gasps.
From another part of the school Starfire/Malchior suddenly looked up and put on a freighted face. "You Again!"
The fast air died down and the dungeons returned to their normal atmosphere. The book stopped going crazy and Raven lowered her hands. "Did it work?" Hermione gazed curiously at Beast Boy. Raven quickly thumbed through the pages until she came o the picture and saw the Rorek was also no longer there. She closed it and laid a hand on Beast Boy's fore head.
"Beast Boy? Beast Boy say something please." He was completely silent for a moment and Raven regretted ever letting him go through with it. Then his eyes slowly opened and they glowed, only they were not a deep red but a soft white. "Rorek?" Beast Boy's head tilted to look at her.
"Yes," came Beast Boy's voice though it was not he speaking.
"Is Beast Boy alright?"
"He is fine, he is saying something about that feeling weirder than putting his finger to a light socket, but he seems fine." She helped him sit up and moved away so the others could see.
"Everyone, meet Rorek." The change in Beast Boy's appearance was startling. His facial expressions now resembled that of a Vulcan.
"Uhhh, hi Rorek." Said Robin nervously. Beast Boy/Rorek gave him a bow of the head. He paused and looked as though he were listening to something.
"Beast Boy wishes to speak." So saying he lowered his head and remained silent for a few moments. Then he raised it back up and Beast Boy was now on the surface.
"DUDE! THAT WAS SO ASWOME!"
"So it would seem," said Harry. Raven on the other hand was still a little uncertain.
"I'm glad you feel that way Beast Boy, but you still have to be serious"- She stopped when she heard the door being opened. Starfire/Malchior stood with two of his followers behind him. He looked around at each of them with narrowed eyes. He finally stopped at Robin and pointed.
"Him." With that he turned and left. They pulled Robin out of the dungeons and hauled him off to who's knows what. Beast Boy watched them lock them in again and his head fell forward. Within moments it was back up and Rorek cast Raven a nervous glance.
"I feared this. Malchior sensed me during the implantation, he will examine each of us until he has found my host."
"No prob," said Cyborg. "Can't you just body jump to someone who has already been checked?"
"I do not have that ability."
"Oh, great," said Robin. Rorek faced Raven and shook his head.
"I am terribly sorry Raven, I have put Beast Boy in great danger. If Malchior discovers me, he will terminate both of us." Inside his mind Beast Boy let out a sigh of dread. 'Well this was a great idea.'
WHAT"D YA THINK? I really hope you liked this chapter. I didn't know it was going to turn out like this until I actually started writing it. Thanks for reading so far. Laters!