Goodbye World

Cyborg was lost. He did know where he was: that place where he didn't know where he was before. That was because no matter where he walked, everywhere looked the same: a black, black sky. Beneath looked as boundless as the sky above. He simply continued following the one path, with no other idea.

Eventually the path led to a door, and as soon as he entered he noticed it somehow resembled his own room, as it was filled with technology. After he stepped inside, the door electronically closed behind him, covering the room in darkness. The darkness did not last long as automatically a set of lights illuminated the area, revealing Raven, wearing glasses and a yellow cloak.

"Raven, is that you?" he asked.

"No, it's not me," she answered steadily. There was something more methodical about her voice. "I don't have much time. Let me explain: Raven's mind is not like other peoples' minds. She thought she had completely sealed her emotions, but of course that's impossible. The only option was for her emotions to assume a physical form, and thus a physical plane formed, directly connected to Raven's mind. As her mood changes, so does the world. To correct that instability, the world of Raven's mind has become the real world, meaning that the emotions, in physical form, can be physically eliminated. This world threatens to eliminate not only her emotions, but everyone else's as well; hence, the Darkening."

"You speak as if you wereenjoying this."

"You're right. I'm fascinated. I am witnessing unproven theories for the first time. Isn't it marvellous? I am fascinated by your both robotic and human existence. It's a shame that there isn't any more time to properly study you."

"What does that mean? And who said I wanted to be studied?"

"In this world, only emotionless beings can exist. Emotions are the cause of pain. Even the strongest hearts are weakened by sadness. To exist, you must be merciless, remorseless. Both you and I are unnecessary. That's why I came here to give you one last chance. Look around you. This is the finest technology ever to exist. Let me operate on you. I will make you a true robot and rid you of your emotions and allow you to continue your existence. It's your only option?"

"Don't you get it? I can't give up my human qualities; I am human! I was born a human and I will always be a human!"

"Are you sure? Maybe your human existence has already ended. Don't you remember? The accident? The car crash? You died, but somehow you came back to life, though half of your body had to be replaced. It's a scientist's greatest wonder how your emotions remained in tact and you didn't become a complete robot."

"You call that science? There's nothing scientific about emotions! Feelings don't come from numbers; they come from the heart."

"I had hoped to do this peacefully, but I suppose I have no other choice. I'll complete your body, and then possess you from within. I will live on in this world, and continue my studies for eternity. I will prove that everything, including emotions, can be governed by science!"

Her glasses broke revealing four red eyes. Her telekinesis instantly paralyzed Cyborg and began shutting down his systems.

"Wait! You have to wait! You're wrong! I remember now, that day. I thought I had survived only because of technology, but it was because of Raven's magic. She used her healing powers, and she told me it was powered by our emotions. I survived because I wanted to survive. I survived because she wanted me to survive!"

Yellow Raven wasn't sure what to do. She hesitated, for too long, as her body completely disappeared, freeing Cyborg. "Don't you get it," he said as he scanned the room. "Technology this advanced isn't logical; it's impossible.It came into being, because of your emotion."

Beast Boy was lost. He was lost, not only in the way where you don't know where you are or where to go, but also in the way he didn't know who he was. He didn't remember if he was born a man or an animal; he didn't know if he was a man or an animal. He didn't know who or what he was. Eventually his unpremeditated wandering brought him to Raven, wearing a brown cloak.

"Raven, is that you?" he asked.

"No, it's not me," she answered distantly. "I don't have much time. I came to grant your wish. Do you want to know who you really are? I can show you your true form. Will you gaze into this mirror?"

He couldn't stop himself from looking. He didn't like what he saw.

"That's, the Beast! It can't be! It was because of the chemicals!"

"The Beast has always been your true form. You wanted to seal it, so you transformed into different animals. You even became human. But even though you could assume the forms perfectly, you never truly could become something else. There was always something lacking. I can return you to your true form. There will be no more doubts."

"But what if I become evil? What if the Beast hurts people?"

"Then that's what you were meant to do. You cannot deny what is inside of you."

"If you become the Beast, Trigon will permit you to stay in the new world! As a human, your emotions will be your downfall. Become the Beast! I must take your body to continue existing!"

"You may be right. You're probably right. I knew there was something dark in me, stirring, always trying to get out. Every animal I became, I always lacked something, so I couldn't fit in. But when I became a human, there was a girl that befriended me. Well it's more like she insulted me, but the point is was that she was the first one to talk to me. Thanks to her, I felt like I made an impact, as a human. Now I have great friends. This is my true form, as a human. The only thing I lacked was friends."

"I... don't want to disappear. I don't know even know who I am."

"Raven, you are a very important person. You are our friend. You are my friend, a very special friend."

He reached out his hand, and she tried to take it, but she could not touch it, as her body turned to nothingness.

Robin knew where he was. It was the place in Raven's mind where visions tended to infiltrate one's mind. This time, he wouldn't let it happen. Concentrating with all of his might, he was able to pass through.

The real Raven, in her black cloak was there. The other colours had entered her body, but they only disappeared as the darkness overpowered them. The inscriptions seemed more crimson than before, her hair was longer, and she didn't seem to mind the intense flames that enveloped her.

"Raven, is that really you?" he began.

"Yes, it's me," she answered darkly.

"No, it's not. I know Raven. She isn't like this. She would still be fighting against the evil inside her, even at a time like this. She doesn't give up, as long as she has friends, and you still do have friends! I'm right here!"

Raven clenched her fist. Dark energy began to squeeze all the air out of his body. Flames swarmed him. It was an odd combination of burns and breathlessness, more painful than anything he had ever felt before. He could feel darkness creeping all over his body like hands probing at him, disturbing his thoughts, crushing the good and caressing the evil.

"Before I met you," he forced from his mouth, "I was about to give up on becoming a hero. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't seem to be able to beat any of the bad guys. I thought I wasn't meant to be a hero. But then you suddenly appeared, out of nowhere, and using your magic you won so easily. You inspired me. I trained harder. I learned that day why I had failed at being a hero. It was because until then I had been fighting alone."

Raven let him go. He fell, still gasping, and suffering from severe burns. The pain seemed to grow worse every second. And then it stopped. Raven, this time it was really the real Raven - she kissed Robin sweetly on his lips. She was crying. It was an unexpected kiss. It was a good kiss. It was a complicated kiss.

"That was a farewell kiss," she said. Her next words were: "Goodbye World."