Chapter 6: Quest/s for Completion
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos…" Raven chanted in her meditative state. One by one the copies of herself that dotted the asteroids on the horizon of her mind disappeared and rematerialized close by her. What first appeared was a copy of herself in a pink robe, symbolizing happiness. She began to run around the motionless 'body' of Raven, imitating an airplane.
Next came a Yellow Raven, carrying with her several books and a pair of reading glasses. Obviously this was knowledge. Following her was a Purple Raven, arms folded and with a disappointed frown on her face, evidently at the hyperactive Pink Raven. Sternness had arrived.
"Karazon, Rakashan, Endere…"
Gray Raven arrived next, as meek as always. Timid Raven took her place alongside the rest of the emotions. There was a pause waiting for the final three emotions of Anger, Bravery and, aptly named, Laziness.
"Vasarix, Endrion, Azarath…"
Finally, the last pieces to the puzzle arrive in one fell swoop. The Green Raven, Bravery, was carrying the other two emotions over her shoulders. Once she was in place she let them drop, neither of them awakening. The Orange Raven was snoring away, a simple display of laziness, but the Red Raven of Anger seemed to be only a shell of its former self, lifeless. This was not news to the rest of the emotions, as it was tamed long ago when Trigon once inhibited that emotion in an attempt to control her body.
The last emotions in place, Raven floated to the ground and walked toward the center of the circle that her emotions had formed. However, she didn't stop there, and instead walked toward the two slumbering emotions on the ground. She then put her hands into each of the others, awaiting them to enter her body. Their bodies glowed their respective color for several seconds before they disappeared completely. Raven could feel their essences in her body and mind, their power adding to her own. Raven then moved back into the center of the circle, preparing to make a speech to them.
"Listen up! You guys have to do something for me. This isn't easy for me to say, but I'd really like it if you could pay attention." She proclaimed. Each of the emotions stood tall, as if in an army lineup. "You've all been put under a spell. When you join with me, you'll be joined… forever." Happy Raven gasped at that news. "Why are you doing that, Rae? Did something happen?" she asked innocently. Raven sighed heavily, she always had to spell things out to her other halves. "I… made a promise to Starfire… that I'd control my emotions someday… and I… want to make her happy. We can do this now, so let's just get it over with." She stuck out her hand, impatient.
Happy Raven's smile gradually grew more mischievous, adding up the possibilities in her head. "I think you looove her." She said in a teasing 'Miss Congeniality' voice. Raven was definitely not amused, crossing her arms and scowling at the frolicking emotion. 'OK, now I know we've seen that movie one too many times…' she thought to herself. "You want to daaaate her!" The Pink Raven continued.
"What!" Raven screamed, flabbergasted at that last suggestion, ignoring the fact that she was beginning to blush. "What are you talking about!"
"Aw… c'mon, it's obvious! You've been thinking about her all the time, haven't you?" Happiness held her hand in an attempt to persuade her to realize her feelings. "Well, yes, but…" Raven started to say. "And you say you want to make her happy? Even if she's with… Robin?"
The mentioning of Robin froze the sorceress on the spot. It was true, she realized. 'I have been a little… happy… yet jealous whenever I saw Star and Robin together… but it couldn't have been… I'm not like that… am I?'
"It's a distinct possibility." Yellow Raven chimed in. Raven twirled around; shocked for the moment that Knowledge just read her thoughts. 'What the… oh yeah, this is my mind, thinking here, they all can hear it…' A sweatdrop appeared on Raven's neck, showing her embarrassment. "We'll help you put it out in the open. Don't worry, we're ready." Knowledge said, moving toward Raven, the other emotions following suit.
"Thanks, I guess…" Raven managed to say. 'This is going to be a little strange…'
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Titan Tower
'It is hard to believe that Robin likes me… I had never dreamed that I would find someone who would say those words to me on this planet…' Starfire thought to herself, daydreaming about how Robin had confessed his feelings for her nearly an hour before. Since Terra's return, she left the infirmary only briefly to escort the sixth Titan back to her quarters to rest more fitfully. She then focused again on the sleeping Raven, almost involuntarily allowing her hands to flow through the sorceress's hair. 'Oh, Raven… I do hope you will awaken soon… I do not like watching you in this condition… there are so many things I want to tell you, so many questions left to be answered…'
Almost as if on cue, the robes of the sorceress flashed a brighter blue. Starfire immediately let go of Raven, gasping at the scene in front of her. The body of Raven began to levitate ever so slightly off the bed, semitransparent energy enveloping it. Her robes changed color, first to red, then yellow, then pink, and back to blue, then grey as the tempo of the change rapidly increased, so much so that her robes began to look white. During this, the energy around her body began to darken, forming a sort of makeshift chrysalis around her. Soon it was pitch black, and a small explosion of energy shot forth, dispersing the cocoon.
The body of Raven now had a bright white cloak, a color that Starfire instantly recognized. Her surprise was multiplied exponentially when she saw the sorceress slowly open her eyes. As Raven floated back down to the sheets, Starfire embraced her fallen friend. "Raven! You have awakened! Oh, I am so glad that you are well!" Starfire cried out, bringing a smile to Raven's face as she hugged the Tameranian back.
"Me too, Star…" she said, gaining back her strength a little quicker than one normally would out of a coma. Starfire moved out of the embrace, but didn't stop holding her friend entirely, instead she was holding her hand. "Why have your robes changed color? Why couldn't you wake up?"
"It's a long story, Starfire…" Raven said calmly. Starfire's eyes did not change their enthusiasm. "I have the time, please tell me."
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During the time Raven told her tale, Starfire's eyes gazed upon her friend. Her robes resembled the time the she displayed emotion during the incident before Rorek's betrayal, a sign that the promise she made to her may have been fulfilled. Raven left out the detail that she was falling in love with her just for the time being, now was not the time. When Raven brought her to square one, she hugged the sorceress again.
"Oh, Raven… thank you. Thank you so much. I am… flattered that you thought of me to the end." She said, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "It's the least I could do, Star… after all, I did promise you I'd do that, didn't I?" Raven inquired of their conversation.
"Yes, you did… but please, let us visit our friend Terra, she has awakened!" she exclaimed, standing up. Raven smiled, remembering the sacrifice she made to stop Slade, possibly the Titans' greatest rival. "She woke up?" She asked her. Starfire seemed to daydream once again, sitting back down. "Yes… she woke while I was watching you… I was so worried for you, everyone noticed how saddened I had become. That was when… Robin said that he had… feelings for me."
Raven twitched at that final statement. 'Geez… I mean I'm happy for her, but why now… this won't make things easy…' she thought to herself.
"That's… that's great, Star…" she said, hiding the fact that she was disappointed.
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Terra's Room
(Author's note: Hey! BBxTerra scene here! I know that this is supposed to be RavenxStar, but I like this couple too. It's pretty much why I brought her back in the first place. ;p Anyway, just a head's up!)
"Hey, Terra, you feeling better?" Beast Boy asked the gifted blonde as she was laying in bed. "Yeah, much, thanks BB." She was able to say, still tired. Beast Boy couldn't help staring at her and holding her hand. "I just can't believe you're back. I… thought I lost you." He whispered in the silence of her room. Terra tightened her grip.
"Hey, you knew you couldn't get rid of me that easy." She said, chuckling. Beast Boy blushed a deeper shade of red. "Terra… I think you may have gotten the gist of it by now, but… I really like you. I've barely ever stopped thinking about you since…" Beast Boy trailed off, not daring to think of when he left the plaque in front of the stone form of Terra. Terra leaned up slowly toward the green lad and kissed him on the cheek.
"It's OK… same here." She whispered into his ear. Beast Boy smiled as touched the place where her lips grazed his skin, never wanting to forget the feeling he just experienced.
