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Ch 16: How did it come to this?
How did it come to this one has to wonder. Beast Boy sat clutching Terra's hand in the infirmary while Cyborg ran some tests on her. Robin carried the limp body of Raven, sprinting toward the same exact place. Starfire had opened the door to the guest room to find SoulBurn in a pool of his own blood next to a book with blazing words. She too was rushing someone to get medical attention.
However, this was only a small piece of the tragedy that was unfolding across the world. What had started as a few mild earthquakes had quickly turned into a full blown global disaster. Volcanoes that had been dormant since the days of the dinosaurs began spewing burning lava from their mouths. Sulfur and dark vapor erupted with thundering explosions darkening the sky even more than the night was capable of. Massive Earthquakes tore the ground apart, collapsing even sturdiest building. Fissures formed in the ground and walls of fire emerged burning everything in their path. Small towns and cities alike were decimated instantly, people burned alive while still in their beds.
All over the world screams of terror echoed through out the nights as rivers of lava flowed down the mountain sides consuming all in its fiery path. It seemed as if the Earth was ripping itself apart and no one knew why. Yet it was simply a fact that this was only the beginning if the Gate was indeed opened. These times would seem like a blessing if the prophecy was to come true, a fact only a few knew to be to be true.
A dark cavern sat just outside Jump City in the middle of a forest seemingly undisturbed by the chaos of the world. Deep within it stood one person listening to instructions from a fiery symbol.
"It has finally begun. The sun of this planet shall rise and set two more times and then the blood moon shall shine upon this pathetic world. The time of my release has come. I shall have my revenge and all of existence shall be mine to destroy.
"Yes Master." The eery glow in the cavern only served to make Slade look less human.
"It is time that I bring my daughter to me. I am sure she felt my power increase in this realm with the release of the stone maiden and is now locked in her mind by my power. Everything is going as exactly as I knew it would. Emissary! I will make sure she is brought out into the open. Bring her to me safely along with the other one needed. Do not fail me!"
"I will not master. Everything will be ready for the final ceremony but what about SoulBurn master? Is he not needed as well?"
"If he gets in the way, hurt him but do not kill him. He will fulfill his destiny. I think it is about time you let him in on a little of where he truly stands in all of this. Now go! It is time I pay my daughter another little visit. I want to have a little more fun with her before she is captured."
Back at Titan's Tower:
Starfire flew through the hallways of the tower carrying the cold body of SoulBurn. She burst through the doors of the infirmary frantically yelling to her teammates.
"Friends! SoulBurn is in great peril. He needs medical assistance immediately. He has…" She stopped speaking when she saw both Terra and Raven laying in two beds next to each other with Beast Boy at Terra's side and Robin at Raven's. Cyborg was working feverishly around the room.
"Put him on that bed over there Star." Cyborg walked over as Starfire deposited SoulBurn on to the bed. "What's wrong with him?"
"I discovered him bleeding on the floor of his room. He was not moving. Please help him." Cyborg removed his shirt to find a deep gash across his chest. It was deep as the bone of his rips was almost visible.
"My god. What the hell happened to him? Star! Go grab me some blood from that fridge over there. I need type B+. Hurry. My scans show he needs blood right now if he's going to live." The sound of Starfire searching for the correct sample was interrupted by the sound of the alarm once again going off in the Tower. Robin reluctantly left the side of Raven and ran over to a computer nearby. He punched in a few numbers and could feel his face turn white at what he saw.
"This can not be happening. This has to be some type of mistake." The truth of it all became plainly obvious when a third violent Earthquake hit the tower.
"Something so terrible could only be the work of Trigon." Robin spoke the words to no one in particular as he saw the news coming in from all around the world. It suddenly occurred to Robin that Terra was alive in the flesh right here in the tower. There were so many questions he wanted to ask. Was there a connection between all of this to her Earth powers?
However there were more pressing matters right now. The world was going to hell, and it was the Titan's duty to go out and help the city and its people. He could feel the inner turmoil tearing him apart the same way the Earth was tearing itself apart. He did not want to leave Raven. Something had happened to her and he did not want to be absent when she awakened. He couldn't bare to leave her when she was so vulnerable. In the end his sense of duty won out as it almost always did.
"Beast Boy, Starfire. We need to go to the city. Volcanoes and Earthquakes are popping up all over the world and people are dying. We have to go try and help as many as we can in the city. Cyborg, you stay here and watch these three. I'll want an explanation from someone on exactly how Terra is here when we get back. Titan's Go!"
The three Titans immediately ran out of the room as Cyborg let out a deep sigh as he worked on patching up SoulBurn.
"I wish I had Raven's healing powers right now." It would be several hours before anyone would wake up.
Raven P.O.V:
The last thing I remembered was feeling this intense burning throughout my body. I haven't felt anything like that since Slade put those marks on me. Oh no! Has the time of the prophecy finally come? I frantically surveyed my surroundings. It looked like some type of desert. There was no feeling of life around me. No feeling of anything. How the hell did I get here?
"You know this is the very spot we all first me Raven. I bet you didn't know that." Startled by the voice I turned around to find Terra staring at me with a small smile on her face. Her blue eyes seemed darker than I remembered them.
"Terra!" The name came out more as a growl though I did not intend it too. I had mostly forgiven her for what she had done but there was still some anger there I had yet to resolve. Terra shifted and half of her face became covered by her hair. Her voice suddenly became darker.
"Been a long time witch. I'd ask you how you've been but I really don't care." I readied myself in a fighting stance just in case. I was becoming very nervous.
"You're dead Terra or at the very least you're still locked in stone. How is it that you're here right now." Terra laughed slightly.
"Oh you know. Same way Slade is. I made a deal with your Father to free myself, and all I have to do is kill the Titans and deliver you to him." I could feel my eyes turn red for a second but I quickly calmed myself.
"You will not lay a finger on any of them Terra. You will not hurt my friends again." I went to use my powers only to find that I couldn't. Again Terra only laughed at me.
"Foolish little Raven. Too stupid to realize this right here is only in your mind. In fact both you and me are side by side in beds in the infirmary right now. Every single one of your so-called friends are hovering over me being ever so thankful that I'm back. There all trying to figure out what's wrong with me so they can have their teammate back. Just like before they've pushed you aside for me. Not a single one of them cares right now about your condition…not even Robin. They always did like me more than you."
"Shut up! You're lying. None of the Titan's would ever do that to me. They all care about me. That's why they've stood by me even with the prophecy coming." Again Terra only laughed.
"They don't care about you. They've only been waiting for the opportune time to kill you in your sleep to save themselves. Even now I can hear Robin asking them all if they should do it right now." I tried to speak but I couldn't. It felt like all my energy was drifting away from me. My mind felt cloudy and my vision was becoming blurry.
"Liar." It was the only word I could get out. I knew in my heart that these were all lies though it was getting harder and harder to focus on those feelings. Hate and darkness were overcoming my senses.
"You see Raven, I was brought back to make sure you suffer. In only a few moments I'm going to wake up and tell all the Titans how sorry I am and that I'm ready to help them anyway I can. Of course you will be stuck in a state of unconsciousness by your father's power. The second they all turn their back on me, I am going to kill them all. Slaughter each and everyone of those pathetic losers. Hmm, maybe I'll keep Robin alive. I think he does deserve to see the end of the world. I mean why shouldn't he get to see you become what you really are. Think he'll still love you then. Oh don't look at me like that Raven. It was so obvious that he cared about you. You'd have to be blind not to see it" It felt like unseen forces were wrapping themselves around me. I wanted to scream and fight but I couldn't do anything. I felt so very weak.
"Robin…I'm so sorry."
"Boo-hoo. Is the poor little baby going to cry now. You should be sorry Raven. You always were weak Raven. I mean how easy would it be for you to simply wake up and stop me. You could kill me before I kill your friends. You have the power to easily break through the power that is holding you here, but your just too afraid to use it. When we last fought you only used a fraction of it and nearly defeated me. Instead I beat you and went on to almost annihilate all your friends. Are you going to let that happen again? Are you going to continue and be this damn weak!"
Once again I could feel the anger building inside of me only this time I welcomed it. I could feel the power that was binding me dissipate as I could feel my strength returning.
"I will not let you hurt them! It is time you paid for everything you've done Terra." I could feel myself fading from the scenery returning to the real world. The only thought on my mind were of revenge, destruction, and death.
The figure of Terra stood alone in the desert. Her form began growing and distorting as a dark laugh came from the previously tiny form. Once again, there stood the massive form of Trigon within Raven's mind.
"Very good my Daughter. Become what you hate once more...just like on Azarath."
After finally finishing bandaging up SoulBurn, Cyborg found himself quietly waiting for something to happen. Despite the severity of the damage, it seemed as if SoulBurn had a remarkably high recovery rate not that dissimilar to that of Raven's. The infirmary was eerily quiet despite what he knew to be going outside of these walls. People were dying and this city only had only three of its superheroes to help. He punched the wall in frustration.
"I should be out there helping. We all should be. What the hell happened to everyone?" So many questions yet no answers. Beast Boy had quickly filled him in on Terra's appearance and how SoulBurn was responsible. "This is all getting way to intense. What the hell is next?"
The question was only responded to by the increasing sound of a quiet beep of one of the machines attached to Raven.
"Finally. It looks like someone is waking up." Cyborg watched as the body of Raven levitated itself into a standing position. He took a step back when he noticed black tendrils of energy begin to come from her body.
"What the hell…" He was cut off as machines all around the room began exploding. Suddenly, Raven's eyes were open though they weren't there usually color. They were burning red. She seemed to be growing taller as the black energy around her increased. Her focus seemed to be entirely on the blonde girl in the next bed over. Her voice was distorted and dark, giving off a feeling of pure hatred.
"Time to die bitch. I won't let you hurt the Titan's again! I won't let my father win. Time to go back to hell where you belong." A blast from Cyborg's sonic cannon into the wall a few feet from her grabbed her attention.
"Raven! What are you doing? You need to calm yourself down. Terra isn't trying to hurt anyone right now. She's hasn't even been awake since she got here." A scream of fury rang out from Raven.
"You don't understand Cyborg! She's working for my father. She told me herself. She has to die before it's too late."
"Working for your father? You're not making any sense Raven. I told you she hasn't even been awake yet. And your father didn't release her SoulBurn did. Now calm down Raven."
"Shut up!" More explosions echoed through out the room. "She needs to die. Trust me Cyborg. I am your friend. She's the traitor!"
"I know you're my friend Raven and I'd do anything for you but I'm not going to sit back while you rip Terra apart. Now back away from her. Please, I don't want to have to make you." The fire in Raven's eyes seemed to dim for a second but came back only stronger.
"So you would choose her over me! I see it now. You are all against me!" Raven lashed out with her energy destroying more of the room.
"This is the last time Raven. Back down now!" Cyborg raised his sonic cannon once again but this time it was aimed directly at Raven. A look of shock and betrayal formed on Raven's angry face. Her voice quieted.
"So you would even hurt me to protect this traitor." Cyborg watched as two new burning eyes formed on Raven's face. "So be it. I will stop the prophecy myself if I have to. Even if I have to go through you."
Raven lashed out suddenly with her black energy. Cyborg tried to dodge but found tendrils wrapping around each of limps and around his body. He found himself being lifted off the ground and hurled back toward the other end of the infirmary. He crashed through some equipment before impacting hard against the wall. He rose slowly trying to shake the stars from his eye. He looked back toward Raven and saw that she had lifted Terra in front of her by the neck with one of her tendrils. A malicious grin was on Raven's face.
Apparently all the commotion had awakened Terra as her eyes were open. They were filled with terror and confusion as she stared upon the face of the demonic Raven. Wasting no time Cyborg charged forward and threw all of his considerable bulk into Raven's form. The impact sent both of them crashing into the wall as Terra was dropped hard to the ground. Before Cyborg even had time to recover from the impact Raven had slashed him across the chest drawing sparks and once again hurled him across the room landing on to the bed SoulBurn had been upon.
Fortunately, SoulBurn had not been there. He too had apparently been awoken by all the noise and upon seeing Cyborg's body coming at him had rolled onto the floor. SoulBurn managed to get onto one knee as he watched Raven ominously approach the cowering Terra.
"Raven…please stop. I'm sorry about what I did before. I'm not here to hurt anyone. Please you have to believe me." Terra could barely get the words out she was shaking so badly.
"You think I fill forget that you are here to take everything I have left from me. Do you think I don't know that you're here to hurt my friends. No Terra. There can be no forgiveness for what you were going to do. This ends here." Terra's eyes widened as a spear-like tendril shot toward her heart. Suddenly, it stopped mere inches form its intended destination. A glowing blue hand gripped the tendril from going any farther. Raven bellowed with rage.
"You! Do not interfere in this. You don't understand what a threat she is."
"Regardless if you believe she is a threat Raven, I can't allow this to continue. If you kill her now, then you will be nothing more than a cold-blooded killer. No one wants that including yourself. You are allowing your father to control you. He's trying to hurt you and your friends. Don't let him win. What would Robin say if you take Terra's life right now." The mention of Robin caused Raven to falter.
"Robin..."
"You know deep within you what you are doing is wrong. Stop now before its too late Raven. Do not give in to the darkness!" SoulBurn collapsed to his knees in exhausting at holding back Raven's attack. Fortunately Raven no longer was focused on Terra. Her four burning eyes once again became two amethyst eyes. Her form shrank back to regular size and black energy stopped emitting from her. Her eyes were filled with fear and sadness as she looked around the room. SoulBurn was breathing heavily on the ground. Terra was curled up in a ball crying quietly muttering "I'm sorry" over and over again. Cyborg was laying in a heap across the room unmoving.
"No…I'm sorry. I have to leave…I have to get out of here." Raven assumed her soul-form of a Raven and disappeared from the room. A few seconds later Cyborg finally managed to pull himself up into a standing position. He saw both SoulBurn and Terra across the room and hurried over to them.
"Is everyone okay? Where the hell did Raven go?" SoulBurn was the only one to respond.
"I think we both will be fine. I do not know where Raven went to but we must find her immediately. She's frightened and confused right now and should not be alone out there, especially with what's going on in this world."
"Yeah…wait how do you know what's happening out there?"
"Don't worry about that right now. That can be discussed later. Right now we need to find Raven. There's not a lot off…" SoulBurn fell forward with a grunt in obvious pain.
"Your not going anywhere right now man. You stay and watch Terra. I'll contact the others and start tracking Raven." SoulBurn gave a slight nod of approval and with that Cyborg left SoulBurn and Terra alone.
Slade stood in the center of an abandoned section of Jump City. A massive Earthquake had destabilized the foundations of many of the buildings so the Titans had already evacuating the area. He was flanked on both sides by Slade-bots. He simply stood there as if standing on a devastated, darkened street with hordes of murderous robots was the most natural thing in the world.
"Looks like you're a little late Raven. Please do hurry up." His cold laugh was the only sound in this damaged part of the city.
