Rochwen90: Yeah, there is definitely a lot of focus on Raven's prophecy here. Hope you keep reading to the end...cause it's not long now.
JustIce37: Heh, glad you liked it...and as for the fire messenger...wel I guess you'll just need to read and find out.
NOTES: Well, not many revies that chapter, but I don't care. I'm so close to finally finishing this story after more than 2 months of writing. I won't say how many chapters are left cause as soon as I do, the number will only get bigger next post, just please stay to the end, it rocks!
Chapter Sixteen: Fire and Ice
The Titans woke the next morning to discover, yet again, that the messengers were not joking. The city was buried under, what appeared to be, over a foot of snow, and more was still falling from the sky. Beast Boy looked out the window and sighed heavily before joining the others at the table. The skies were still dark, and the city was at a stand still waiting for the snow to be cleared away. Just like the day before, every thermometer for miles read seventy-six degrees. Nearly perfect weather, and yet, it appeared that the entire ocean had been frozen through. Terra shook her head, "This doesn't look good." As if in response to her comment, the alarm sounded throughout the Tower. Nano dashed over to the computer and checked the display. "I think it's the new guy." Terra sighed, "Right…let's move."
It took a lot of energy just to reach the source of the alarm because the snow had risen so high, that normal modes of transportation were useless. Fireball did her best to melt a path through the snow, but it was taking a great deal of energy, and it appeared that she would burn out before they actually reached their destination. The situation downtown was no better. The snow stood almost three feet deep on every open inch of the ground. There, standing in the middle of it all, was Avalanche. While the Titans trudged through the deep snow, their target stood on top of the drifts with a smug grin on his face, "These conditions don't seem to suit you very well do they?"
Frostbyte appeared in the back of the group; he, like Avalanche, was walking on the surface of the snow with relative ease. He glared at the icy messenger of death, "There's not enough room here for both of us you twisted maniac. I say you leave before things get too hot." He glanced down at Fireball who was smiling mischievously. Avalanche shook his head, "Sorry, I have my orders, and there's nothing you can do to stop me." Terra glanced over at Fireball, "Do it." Fireball nodded. She closed her eyes and clenched her fists at her sides. Her body started to glow with a faint red light. Avalanche watched her carefully, but remained anchored to his spot. Then, without warning, a massive column of fire erupted from Fireball's body and shot forward at Avalanche. The flames engulfed his body and in the blink of an eye, he was gone, and all the snow in the area had melted away as well. Fireball collapsed to the ground and gasped for air as smoke rose from her body.
Terra sighed, "Well, that was easy enough." A dark laugh echoed around them, "I thought perhaps Blackout had underestimated you. I was mistaken. Did you really think I could be destroyed that easily?" A lump of snow rose from the vast expanse of white around them and formed itself into a human body. Avalanche smirked, "As you can see, there are plenty of resources around to repair myself should anything happen to me." He stepped forward onto the clear patch of pavement where he once stood, and the spot was instantly covered in snow once again, "I have a message to deliver, and there is nothing anyone can do to prevent that from happening."
A stream of ice shot from his hand and completely encased Beast Boy. Before the others could react, Avalanche had jumped forward and grabbed Beast Boy. He sank into the snow as quickly as he had risen; once again, Beast Boy was gone. Terra shook her head and groaned, "When is this going to stop?" She turned back toward the Tower and started to head home, "C'mon. We gotta try to find Beast Boy before things get out of hand."
Back at the Tower, Nano once again tapped away at the keyboard in search of their green friend, but it was no use. Beast Boy would not be found until Avalanche had finished with him, and they all knew what would happen next. Terra looked up at the ceiling after noticing a small white flake fall on Nano's shoulder. Before long, a steady stream of snow was falling from the roof. Terra shook her head, "They're here." Nano nodded, "Yep. Scanner's just picked up Beast Boy's signal." A low growl echoed behind them, and the Titans turned around to find Beast Boy standing in front of Avalanche with an evil grin on his face, and an eerie, red glow in his eyes. Avalanche smiled, "He really is a nice kid; it's almost too bad it has to be like this." Avalanche disappeared, and with him, went the snow.
Beast Boy's smiled grew wider and a deep growl escaped his throat as he morphed into the man-beast that had cursed his father as a teenager. Terra shook her head, "No, Beast Boy; fight it!" Beast Boy lifted his head toward the ceiling and roared. He lunged forward with lightning fast reflexes and sunk his claws into the nearest target; Falcon. She screamed in pain as the force of Beast Boy's attack knocked her to the floor. He clawed at her repeatedly, and before long, the fur on Beast Boy's arms was matted thick with blood. Suddenly, there was a loud crack, and Beast Boy was flung backward off of Falcon. He shook his head in surprise and jumped forward once again, only to be knocked back by a dome of dark energy that had risen from the floor and surrounded him. He slammed his body against the barrier repeatedly, but could not manage to break free. Terra looked down at Falcon, blood spilling freely from the cuts on her body, "Nano, get her to the infirmary, NOW! Warlock, go with her." Warlock and Nano pulled Falcon to her feet and hurried out of the room trying to cause her as little pain as possible.
Terra looked back at Beast Boy who was pacing slowly around his cage. Occasionally, he morphed into various animals and threw himself at the barrier, but he eventually gave up, knowing that they couldn't keep him locked up forever. Once again, Raven's voice echoed around the room, "Beast Boy. Control yourself. Control the anger. You are stronger than this. Don't let them win. You don't have to live this life. Fight it!" Beast Boy stopped pacing and returned to his normal form with an obvious red glow still lingering in his eyes. A voice left his throat that clearly was not his, "Your powers grow weaker with every passing moment my dear daughter. Soon, not even you will be able to help your son. I am taking control Raven. There is nothing you can do to prevent that."
Raven spoke once again and a familiar chant echoed off the walls, "Azarath, Metrion, Zynthos. Azarath, Metrion, Zynthos…" Before long, Terra noticed that Beast Boy' eyes had closed, and he had started to mouth the same three words in time with his mother's voice. His body was floating above the ground, still surrounded by the protective shields. Then, Raven's voice slowly began to fade away, and Beast Boy continued the chant. Soon, the barrier vanished, and Beast Boy opened his eyes. They were blue; a deep blue like his mothers. He sighed heavily and collapsed on the ground, unconscious.
Beast Boy opened his eyes the next morning to find himself inside the white washed infirmary. He looked over at the bed next to him to find Falcon's body wrapped heavily in blood soaked bandages. Her chest rose and fell steadily with every breath, and Beast Boy quickly looked away. He caught sight of Terra sitting in a chair just inside the door. He looked over at her with a horrified expression on his face. He forced himself into a sitting position and gestured toward Falcon. "I…I didn't…" He asked with a stutter. He didn't have a chance to finish his question before Terra butted in with a quick nod. She looked down at the floor, "Yeah…" Beast Boy gasped and tears began to well up in his eyes, "No…" he whispered quietly. "No! I wouldn't. I'd never…" Terra cut him off yet again, "You did!" She sighed, "I don't know what you want me to say Beast Boy, but you definitely did that. We watched it happen; all of us."
Beast Boy shook his head, "You let me attack her?" Terra stood up from her chair and started pacing slowly around the room, "We didn't have much choice. You were on her before any of us had a chance to react, and it was over as quickly as it started." Best Boy looked over at Falcon, "Will she be ok?" Terra nodded, "Yeah. Eventually. She hasn't opened her eyes once since it happened, but if she does, she's gonna be in a lot of pain." Beast Boy rested his head in his ands, "I don't get it. I wouldn't…no, I could never…" He trailed off and looked out the window. "But you did Beast Boy," Terra roared, "Now drop it. It's over, and there's nothing we can do now." Beast Boy's head jerked back and he glared at Terra, "Over? You think this it's over? I don't know where you've been the past two days, Terra, but this doesn't look over." Terra shrugged, "All I know, Beast Boy, is that Falcon is hurt…bad, and, as much as I hate to admit it, it's your fault."
Beast Boy opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the obnoxious buzzing of the alarm. Terra jumped to her feet and dashed out of the room. A few minutes later, the door opened again, and Nano walked in. She glanced over at Beast Boy and quickly looked away. Beast Boy sighed, "Nano? What…" She cut him off, "I'm here to keep an eye on Falcon. In case you haven't noticed, she's in critical condition." Beast Boy stared blankly at his feet, "Thanks for reminding me…"
Terra and the rest of the Titans stood in the middle of Main Street staring in awe at the sky. The sky was covered in thousands of tiny comets flashing across the heavens. It appeared as though the skies were on fire. Then, Terra gasped as one of the glowing rocks fell from the sky and sped toward the earth below. It landed with a sickening crunch that sent a violent shockwave down the street. Then, the chunk of rock slowly reshaped itself into a human form. He eyed the Titans threateningly before he spoke. His voice was deep and harsh, "I am a messenger of fate; the beginning of the end. But to you mortals, I am called Apocalypse." He raised his hands to the heavens, and suddenly, an endless barrage of flaming rocks fell from the sky and buried themselves into anything they touched.
Terra looked up at the sky and found herself at a loss for words. Fireball glared at the newest messenger standing before them, "I assume this is what they meant by "the skies will burn?" Apocalypse merely nodded. He looked back and forth between the gathered Titans with a determined look on his face, "Where is the one called Beast Boy?" Terra folded her arms across her chest, "Not here." Apocalypse returned her cold stare, "Then you will deliver my message to him." Vortex shrugged, "We already know what you 'ave to say. Why don't you go back to your master an' leave us alone?"
Apocalypse smirked, "I have my orders. One way or another, I will deliver my message." He stepped forward slowly watching the Titans' every move. He glanced up at the heavens and a smug look stretched across his face, "The skies will burn. Flesh will become stone. The sun will set on your world…never to rise again." Terra shook her head, "You don't actually think that will happen…" Apocalypse looked up as the earth was continually pelted by destructive meteors, "Take a look around you. It has already begun. The end is coming." He snapped his fingers and Beast Boy appeared before them with a dazed look on his face, "What…" Apocalypse grabbed Beast Boy and yanked him off the ground. Then, he snapped his fingers again, and the two of them vanished.
"This is getting way outta hand," Warlock said looking up at the sky. No one wanted to admit it, but it seemed like the prophecy was actually beginning to come true. Terra shook her head, "Let's go. We don't want Nano and Falcon alone in the Tower when Beat Boy comes back." Warlock hesitated, "You don't think…" Terra kept walking, "You saw what happened yesterday. I don't want to deal with that again."
The Titans arrived at the Tower to find the front doors torn brutally from the wall where they once stood. Terra raced forward in a panic and entered the Tower, only to find that the scene inside was no better. Their home was in ruin. Against her better judgment, Terra knew she would have to hold Beast Boy responsible for everything. Warlock walked slowly through the hallways toward the main room staring sadly at every smashed piece of electronics scattered along the floor. He shook his head and sighed, "It's going to take a life time to fix this…" Vortex shrugged, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure Cyborg will 'elp out."
Terra's eyes shot open in a moment of panic. She wheeled around and met Warlock's gaze. They both had the same realization. "Falcon," they gasped in unison as they dashed off to the infirmary. Terra and Warlock stared in horror at what they found waiting for them beyond the door. Falcon's bed was covered in blood, and her pale body was cast aside like an old rag doll. Her bandages had been ripped away, and she was lying motionless in a thick puddle of her own blood. The same crimson liquid was smeared across the walls in a cryptic message that Terra knew could only have been left by Beast Boy. "I came to finish what I started." Warlock shook his head and backed out of the room. His mouth hung open, and he tried to speak but nothing would come out.
Terra directed her gaze to the corner just inside the door. Nano was propped up against the wall in total shock. She looked up slowly, noticing Terra and Warlock for the first time. "Beast Boy," she said in a pained whisper, "I tried to stop him…but…" She trailed off and started to sob uncontrollably into her bloodstained hands. Terra rushed to her side and made every attempt to comfort her though she knew there was no point. It was going to take more than a few kind words for the team to recover from this incident.
A frightened shriek echoed in the hallway, and Terra turned around the find the rest of the team gathered in the doorway. Fireball looked sick with her eyes focused on the floor. "Who could 'ave done this," she asked in a daze. Vortex shook his head, "I don't think I wanna know." Nano struggled to climb to her feet and moved toward the door. "Beast Boy," She said softly. "He's still in the Tower." Terra's eyes shot open, "Where?" Nano started to respond, but she was interrupted by a loud roar that came from the main room. Terra wheeled around, "Beast Boy!" She ran out of the room and raced to find the source of the sound.
Terra arrived outside to find the doors sealed tightly. Before long, the others came running up behind her. Nano was breathing heavily as she spoke, "It's under lockdown." Terra shook her head, "Open it up." Vortex put a hand on Terra's shoulder, "Are you mad? You saw what happened to Falcon…why…" Terra sighed, "I know, but we have to help Beast Boy." She hesitated and saw the worried look on everyone's face. "Or at least lock him up," she said finally. Nano nodded, "Fine. She reached out and placed her hand on the security panel and in a few seconds the doors slid open.
Beast Boy was standing in the middle of the room breathing heavily. He looked up suddenly, noticing that he had company. His glowing red eyes narrowed and a threatening grin stretched across his face. A dark voice echoed around the room. "Kill them." Beast Boy morphed and lunged forward at his former team. Terra ducked at the last second, and green wolf sailed over her head and latched on to Vortex who had been standing behind her. Vortex fell backward and slammed onto the ground. A powerful gust of wind erupted from Vortex's hand and launched Beast Boy across the room. He morphed into a small kitten and landed gracefully on his feet before changing again into a cobra and throwing himself at the nearest target.
Just as he was about to sink his deadly fangs into Warlock's arm, a small rock pelted the side of his skull, and Beast Boy returned to his normal form as he slammed into the floor. He growled and slowly climbed to his feet. He changed into the man-beast and launched himself at Terra. A wall of dark energy rose from the floor and Beast Boy slammed head first into the barrier. He returned to normal and rubbed his head. Raven's voice could be heard throughout the Tower. "That's enough. Beast Boy, fight the darkness within you." Best Boy shook his head, "It's too late for that." He morphed again and advanced on Terra.
Suddenly Beast Boy's body lifted into the air and he began to glow with an odd light. A dark shadow started growing out of his chest and slowly shaped itself into a large, black raven. The shadow soon changed again and Raven remained floating in front of her son. Beast Boy glared at her, "You can't be…I watched you die." Raven shrugged, "Slade died. He still managed to hold some influence over the world." She moved closer to Beast Boy and looked him in the eye, "I can still help you." Beast Boy smirked, "It's a little late for that." He morphed into the man-beast and swung a massive paw in his mother's direction. The razor sharp claws tore through her skin, and Raven looked up in shock as Beast Boy prepared to strike again.
Raven lowered her eyes to the floor, "I'm sorry Beast Boy. I tried to help. I only wish I could have saved you…" Beast Boy's claws ripped into her flesh once again, and Raven vanished in a blinding flash of light. Terra watched in horror as Beast Boy looked back and forth between the rest of the Titans with a hungry look on his face. She saw Beast Boy lunge at her thirsting for blood. A terrified scream left her lips, and then she lost consciousness.
The next time she opened her eyes, Terra had no idea what how long she had been out. She looked around the room in shock to find blood and fur scattered everywhere. She tried to stand up, but couldn't feel her legs. She looked down to find a deep gash running along each of her thighs. Something moved next to her, and Terra looked over to see Nano limping in her direction. Nano looked at the cuts and sighed. "Nothing I can't fix," she said with a nervous smile. "Not everyone was as lucky as you though." Terra looked up, and, for the first time, she noticed the bodies of her friends. Terra gasped, "Are they…" Nano looked away, "I don't know yet. Fireball is gone. And Vortex will be lucky to survive." She shook her head slowly, "Warlock and Frostbyte seem ok, but neither of them has moved for hours. We'll need to wait for them to wake up before we can be sure."
Terra looked back at Nano and noticed that she was relatively unharmed. "What about you?" Nano shrugged, "Robotics. I used the smashed electronics to repair myself. Heh, Nanotech is god like that. Of course, it's going to take months before the Tower is back up to speed." Terra forced herself into a sitting position and gazed out the window; the sky had returned to normal, and it was almost as if the Messengers never set foot in the city. "And Beast Boy," she asked softly. Nano sighed heavily, "Gone. Sometime near the end of the fight, he went back to normal and saw what had happened. He ran from the Tower in shock battling Trigon for control. I don't think we'll see him ay time soon.
On the far side of the room, Frostbyte groaned and slowly sat up. He rubbed his hand gently, and looked over at Nano and Terra, "Good morning." Terra shook her head and looked away. Nano stood up and walked over to him, "How do you feel?" Frostbyte shrugged, "My head is throbbing, and I'm bleeding…a lot. Other than that…" He didn't bother to finish the sentence as he stood up and saw Vortex and Fireball lying face down on the floor. Fireball's body was covered in claw marks that had stopped bleeding hours ago. It seemed obvious enough. She was dead. Vortex coughed and groaned in pain. Nano rushed to his side and gently rolled him onto his back. He looked up at her and smiled, "Beautiful day isn't it?" Nano smiled softly and nodded as tears slid down her cheek.
She looked over at Terra and breathed a sigh of relief before turning back to Vortex, "You got lucky. After what Beast Boy did…you should be dead." Nano stood up slowly, "Well, I'd better get to work." Frostbyte stared blankly at her, "Work?" Nano nodded, "You guys need medical attention, and, as you may have noticed, I'm the only one fit to help right now." She sighed heavily, "But you can probably handle calling 911." Nano groaned when she saw the confused expression on his face. "Does it look like I'm prepared to handle all of this on my own," she snapped. "Get on the phone now!"
A week had passed since the injured Titans had been admitted into the Jump City hospital. Everyone feared that this would bring a new crime wave into the city, but, luckily, the Justice League stepped in and sent a handful of its members to guard the city while the Titans recovered. The remaining members of the original Teen Titans arrived in the city the day after Beast Boy attacked his team, and they agreed to stay until the Titans were back on their feet.
Changeling was sitting in an uncomfortable chair against the wall in Terra's room. He watched the young hero closely as she stared out the window at the city she had sworn to protect. "She sighed heavily and looked over at Changeling, "I'm ready to fight again." Changeling smiled, "That doesn't surprise me." Terra shook her head, "No. I'm serious. I'm more determined than ever to do defend this city." She glanced up at the sky as if searching for the Watchtower, "And hopefully the world someday too."
Changeling joined her in staring into the heavens, "You'll be up there some day." Terra looked back at him and smiled, "I know." Changeling stood up and walked over to Terra's side. He placed a hand on her shoulder and smiled, "Don't waste your life looking for him. Go on living. It's what he wanted." He stared out the window at the giant "T" sitting off the coastline, "Cyborg said he'd stay here and help Nano fix the Tower. Then, once the rest of you are back to normal, we'll be going back to the Watchtower. Jump City isn't the only one with super villains."
Terra nodded, "I know." Changeling squeezed her shoulder gently, "If you ever need any help, you know where to find me. I swear, on the memory of my wife and my son, that unless I am fighting for my life or that of my team, I will be there to help as fast as I can. I promised that I would never leave you Terra, and that's a promise I intend to keep." Terra opened her mouth to speak but Changeling was gone. She looked out the window and saw a green raven flying toward the Tower. She always felt safer knowing that Changeling was watching out for her.
That night, the communicator on her bedside table started beeping. Terra reached for it frantically and flipped it open. She gasped when she saw Beast Boy staring at her with a worried look on his face. "Beast Boy?" He was breathing heavily as he spoke, "Terra, I'm sorry. I wish there was some way for e to fix what I did. I hope you understand that I would have never done any of those horrible things if I had any control over…" Terra tried to jump in, "Beast Boy please…" He ignored her and continued, "Terra, listen to me, I can't fight off the demons anymore. They are too strong. After tonight, you will never see or hear from me again. It is the only way to protect you. Don't bother looking. You won't find me." He smiled one last time through his tears, "Goodbye Terra, please forgive me." Then, there was static. Beast Boy's signal was gone.
End Chapter Sixteen.
Seriously, this isn't the end of my story...the real ending is way better...trust me. Sorry for typos...I posted this in a hurry.