It's the anticipated chapter three! Well I think it is anyway. So, I finally got into a double digit number for reviews, YAY! A small accomplishment, but it's definitely something to me as a first time author. Seriously, knowing that people have read and reviewed your story is an awesome feeling. It totally makes up for a crappy day. So read, and don't forget to review! Speaking of reviews…

Reviewer Responses:

Angel Caida: Well, here you go!

haruechan: Thank you! I'm sorry this took a while…

CalliopeMused: Ah! I'm relieved. Thanks for reviewing the last two chapters, I felt so surprised and honored (not kidding, you were an inspiration) that you read my story, I really didn't know what to say. This installment is a little longer, but it should be just as good (I hope…).

Jordanals: Thank you! Although, the world won't be destroyed in this particular story. Maybe in a sequel…

foxlady: Yup, very stupid. But you got the second chappy now, so let celebrate with pudding! Hey wait…is it vanilla? You know what that means…(Mwuhahaha)

AnimationWickedRaven: Thank you! The dorks shall rule the world! Ha…no. Seriously though, if you're willing to read and review my story, you are a very cool person in my book. I saw your profile, and I was wondering if you could give me some suggestions on a new story when this one is over (in about two more chapters—oh no!).

ILUVBBRAE: Thanks, I'm flattered. Yes, Raven was captured…that was evil of me—(points to Slade) HE DID IT! (runs away). I hope you like this chapter!

So this one is longer, but it was worth the wait! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I forgot to put up one of these last chapter. Oops. I don't own Teen Titans…but I've got snicker doodles!

My hyper friends: Hand them over!

Ahh! Run away!

Chapter 3

6:32 A.M.

Beast Boy woke up unusually early morning, but it was far from any ordinary day. Yet another teammate was in the clutches of Slade. Except Raven wasn't given a choice like Robin (or blackmail, in his case) and Terra, she was kidnapped.

Beast Boy couldn't sleep at all from the weight of guilt. 'How could I just let him escape? Why couldn't I just leave when I had the chance? None of this should've happened. I was supposed to get her to safety…and I failed. I'm so stupid.' His hope was slowly fading as time inched forward. He didn't even notice how long he was staring at the ceiling of the room until he noticed that it got brighter.

Beast Boy turned his head towards the window. The shades were down, but the rays of sunlight that hit the window made it glow white. There was no way he could sleep now. But wait, it's been hours. Hadn't the others found something? No, the alarms would have gone off. But…Slade ripped the wire for the siren in Raven's room. Maybe they found something, maybe they know where she is. What if she's back already?

Beast Boy jumped off the top bunk and ran out of his room. The doors of the living room swooshed open to reveal…not Raven. His hopes once again plummeted as he walked into the room. He sat down at the counter with his head in his hands. It was a lot brighter in this room than his bedroom. The perfectly sunny day seemed to be mocking them all. Bad events are often personified by bad weather on those TV shows, but it seems bad things can happen on sunny days too.

He glanced around after his eyes adjusted to the light. Starfire had her back turned to him to make a meal. She was silent the whole time, save the tiniest "hello" she uttered just above a whisper when Beast Boy sat down. He didn't hear it. Robin looked like a mad man, hunched over in contemplation. His mask only emphasized the dark rings they couldn't hide under his eyes. Beast Boy shouldn't be the one to talk though, because his eyes looked just as bad. Cyborg had a box of tools he was cleaning up near the wall. Beast Boy smiled weakly on the inside; it was funny that there would be anything Cyborg doesn't have in his arm. Beast Boy turned back, focusing on himself and how he wasn't doing anything until Starfire held a plate up to his nose.

"Eat. I have prepared you the tofu eggs…do you desire the milk of soy as well? I can fetch—"

"No Starfire, you don't need to. This is fine…thanks."

Awkward silence reigned once again in the ironically lit room. Finally, just as everyone almost forgot he could talk, Robin spoke.

"This doesn't make sense!"

Everyone had jumped up at the sound of his voice. He spoke the words everyone was thinking, but his tone was unnerving.

"Robin please, the answers will soon be found. Raven will be okay."

Starfire put a hand on Robin's shoulder in her best effort to soothe him. Robin was hushed, but he wore the same hardened face he had plastered on since he started researching.

"Starfire is right; we should have a little more faith in Raven. She can handle herself."

Starfire looked up and smiled at Cyborg. Even though she was the first to speak up optimistically, she wasn't sure if she believed her own words. Starfire felt hope flood back to her. Beast Boy felt a little better as well. Robin leaned back in his chair and let out a heavy sigh and he stroked his chin.

"But that still doesn't mean we should leave her there. We have to save her…wherever she is…"

The boy wonder trailed off leaving the other three Titans to stand in silence. Cyborg and Starfire began to list suggestions, only to have their ideas rejected by Robin.

"Maybe he just wants revenge?"

"Don't think so. Ever since he has returned he's only been after Raven. There must be a reason she's the target and not us."

"Perhaps he is attempting to gain a new apprentice?" The words felt a little harsh as everyone thought back to Terra.

"I already thought about that. But why would Slade need an apprentice after getting these new powers? None of it connects."

After a moments thought, the old Beast Boy returned and spoke up.

"Maybe it's a cry for kids. You think he would settle for a simple adoption; then again, that's gotta be one sorry ki—oww!"

Cyborg had elbowed Beast Boy in the arm. Luckily for him, Robin wasn't paying attention at the moment.

Starfire interjected before the boy wonder realized what Beast Boy had said.

"Is it possible Raven possesses knowledge that Slade requires?"

"Could be…but I've found no leads on that yet."

Beast Boy jumped onto the couch and propped up his feet on the table with both of his hands behind his head.

"No way," he said casually, "if Slade wanted knowledge he doesn't possess, why has he captured me yet?"

Robin turned around so everyone was now staring at the changeling.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"What?" Beast Boy raised an eyebrow as the others sweat dropped. Before anyone could say something, the screen that had been filled on information on Slade turned to static, causing a very disruptive noise. Robin quickly turned around to remedy this problem but nothing he did could stop it.

"The signal has been jammed." He continued to tap the keys in several different combinations until the screen cleared. The only problem was that Robin didn't actually solve the problem. Instead, the four Titans were staring back to an all too familiar orange and black mask.

"Waiting for an invitation?"

"Slade! What have you done with Raven?"

"Haven't figured it out yet Robin? Tsk, tsk…you must be slipping."

"Answer my question!" Anger was slowly building inside of Robin.

"There's no need to be impatient…see for yourself." Slade stepped aside and revealed Raven. She hung limply from three long, golden chains that shackled her by the wrists and neck (For those of you know of Wolf's Rain, imagine Cheza in the containment chamber). She seemed conscious because her eyes were open, but they were glazed and searching…as if she were blind. Slade stepped back in place invoking more hatred from the Titans who wanted to know more. "Better find us quick before the surprise is ruined. Oh, but don't worry…Raven will be safe with me until then."

And with that the screen blinked to black, leaving four perplexed teens standing still. Robin was the first to move, turning his head down with fists clenched and face wrenched into a snarl.

"Cyborg, can you trace the signal?" His question seemed more like a demand. Cyborg typed something into his arm.

"Got it."

"Alright, let's move."

Slade watched the screen turn off before he turned around to face Raven. Raven seemed to have more strength now, but she was still under a spell that restrained her from seeing.

"What's the matter? Aren't you happy your father will be visiting soon? He told me everything you've been trying to hide all these years…who you are…"

Raven narrowed her eyes to the ground. Weakly but defiantly, she responded to Slade.

"You…can tell my father…to blow it out his—"

—SMACK—

Raven's head was turned as far left as it could go. She didn't move it after the slap had landed but remained silent as Slade circled around her.

"Don't be so difficult with me. I know everything about you. But you can't even tell your friends the truth. That's who you think they are, aren't they?"

Raven's eyes opened slowly. Her hands balled into fists as Slade continued to sting her with his words. "Well, we can't have that. You shouldn't be so selfish, Raven, keeping this glorious destiny to yourself…but that will all end. You know the other Titans will be looking for you, and when they find you, they will learn the truth about you."

"Leave my friends out of this!" Tears started to stream down her battered but still petal soft cheek.

"Silly child, it's your fault they are involved, and there's nothing in the world that can stop what began on the day of your birth."

The Titans found themselves walking down a tunnel that seemed to stretch on for miles. They had found a secret entrance close to the location of Terra's monument near the fault line of the city. Though, it was quite noticeable where they were heading as steam shot up from the smallest cracks in the rock tunnel.

"We have journeyed a long distance, have we yet to reach our target?" Starfire's voice echoed through the dark abyss.

"Yeah, we're miles underground; if we go any farther we might reach hell."

"No kidding. But I guess it's not that surprising since we're looking for Slade."

"C'mon guys, focus. Raven is still in danger and we have no idea what Slade has planned for us."

They continued down the path, carefully eyeing their surroundings. The claustrophobically close tunnel eventually opened up to a more spacious area that was illuminated by several large torches. The room seemed hotter with the walls the color of wet terra cotta. On the other side of the elliptical room was a colossal metal door. It was etched with many intricate designs that gave it an ancient air, but the sheen seemed to indicate otherwise. Robin reached for the handle, hoping to see Raven behind the door but instead received a searing burn on his palm.

"Aaaghh!" Robin yelled out in pain as the handle hissed from contact.

"Robin!" Starfire rushed to his aid.

"I'm fine."

"Yeah, but how are we supposed get past that door? It'll fry us like tofu bacon!"

Robin looked down at his gloved hand. The green rubber had melted and looked a little warped. Pushing the pain to the back of his mind, he reached for his utility belt.

"There's more than one way to open a door." Robin said in a determined tone with four disks tucked between his fingers.

"Starfire, Cyborg; give it all you've got."

The next thing that came was a deafening explosion that made the floor they were standing on quake. Robin wasn't afraid of anything collapsing because the rock was pretty stable, hence the hasty action. There was a soft patter of pebbles hitting the ground as the thick cloud of dust made the air semi-opaque. The Titans rushed through the newly made entrance and entered the strangest room they have ever encountered.

They had walked into a craggy cavern about the size of two football fields. The stalactite covered room was the color of burnt sienna, and the smell of sulfur lingered in the atmosphere. There was a large crevice in the room that was the source of the blazing heat in the cave. That was because a stream of magma was steadily flowing at the bottom, giving the surrounding area an ominous glow. The strange thing about the room was that there were highly advanced machines and instruments in the room, equipment one might find in a genetics lab. Even more outlandish than the metallic substance that splotched the floor occasionally, was a single antique table in the center of the room. On it, were some rather archaic looking relics arranged with several vials filled with strange powders and shriveled roots. The room was too dim to see precisely what the substances were. While the room had perked curiosities, Robin did not forget their mission.

"Okay guys, Slade should be in this room. Fan out and search for him."

"That won't be necessary."

The teamed turned their heads trying to find the direction Slade's voice came from. Starfire's eyes caught something near the high ceiling and pointed her arm in the direction.

"There!"

The Titans looked up, but it was not Slade who met their eyes. Dangling at a dangerous height by three lone chains was a violet haired girl. Raven lifted her head slightly, staring blindly at the space in front of her.

"Star…Starfire?"

"Don't worry Raven! We'll get you out of here!" Cyborg shouted. A look of anguish and desperation appeared on Raven's face.

"You shouldn't have come! I'm not worth it. I'm not worth any of it…"

"What are you—"

Beast Boy was cut off by a blast of fire that shot up in front of the group. Everyone shielded their eyes from the flash of the flames. They were too distracted by the feeling of being swallowed in the heat to notice Slade walk out from the shadows behind Raven.

"What a surprise…you finally made it."

"You won't get away with this!"

"You're so quick to accuse me, Robin. You really should look before you leap."

"I didn't come here to be lectured! Hand over Raven!"

"Wouldn't you rather talk first?"

"TITANS, GO!" Robin was sick of listening to Slade, and it was obvious that Raven was in critical condition. The four teens rushed forward to attack Slade, but he did not move. He stood still on the metal pathway suspended in the air that was behind Raven. Slade waited until the others were about to jump over the large crevice before he raised an arm and snapped his fingers. There was a burst of flames shooting from the ground once again, similar to the first. The difference was that the flames were higher, and separated Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy. The fire consumed the oxygen within each individual circle, slowly disorientating the Titans one by one. Before they knew it, everyone passed out while Slade prepared…

Robin came to, noticing that he was laying on a smooth metal surface and that there must have been something very bright in front of his eyes. He finally opened them and stared at something that he had never seen before. Robin rose looked at this strange thing that looked like a red stream of flowing liquid lightning. Actually, he was surrounded by them. It was then that he realized that they were bars to a cage. He looked past the bars and saw the others in cages identical to his; they were all lined up in a row. Robin was next to Cyborg, who was next to Starfire who was next to Beast Boy on the other end. The others started to wake up as Robin go at good look at their surroundings. They were still in the same room, but now they were suspended right above the crevice with the river of magma oozing below. Robin got out his bow staff but paused when Slade spoke out of nowhere again.

"I wouldn't try that if I were you. The bars of your cages are made of a highly concentrated matter in the form of plasma (Quick lesson in matter: the four phases are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Plasma is all over the universe, usually making up stars, but the only form of plasma on Earth is lightning. Carry on)that can melt the flesh off your bones."

Slade was standing at the ancient table now, looking up to the suspended teens.

"I'm not going to fall for any of your tricks, Slade." Robin proceeded to extend his bo staff. He only swung once before the red glowing "bars" cut through the metal staff with as much ease as a hot knife through butter. One half fell and clanged against the edge of the large fissure before falling into the magma, while Robin held the other half that glowed red at the site of contact.

"Tricks are for kids," Slade said menacingly. The others were completely awake now, thinking of a way to get out of their traps. As if reading their minds, Slade continued, "And if you try to escape, I can simply activate the detonators at the top of your cages which will drop you to your demise. If that's not enough reason to listen to me, I still have Raven in my possession."

Robin was glaring at Slade, but then his eyes shifted to Raven, who looked like her spirit had been broken. Robin hated the idea of submitting to Slade once again because his friends were at stake.

"What do you want, Slade?" Robin was sure Slade had a smile on beneath his mask.

"Good, Robin. Let this be a lesson to listen to your superiors," Slade made sure his tone was the most condescending he had ever used. "You've been chasing me around for quite a while now, haven't you, Titans? And yet you know nothing. Maybe it's time you should get to know each other better before you start to understand someone like me."

"What are you getting at?"

"Raven has some things she's been itching to tell you."

"Don't…" Raven said in a pleading tone. It was the first in what seemed like a long time that Raven spoke again.

"Having trouble finding the right words? Don't worry, I can assist you."

"No…!"

Slade wasn't listening. He began to chant an incantation, or at least, that's what it sounded like. Suddenly, Raven's back arched and squeezed her eyes shut. The others stood horror struck, trying to figure out what Slade was doing.

"What is…happening?" Starfire watched anxiously.

Raven suddenly threw head back and let out an earsplitting scream as two crimson beams shot from her eyes. The next thing that everyone was aware of was unimaginable gusts of winds surrounding them. It was impossible for any of them to hear or shout anything. Their ears were popping from the pressure and it felt like they were being pulled into a black hole. The wind ceased abruptly and soon the only sensation that was felt was a spinning dizziness. Beast Boy was still trying to stabilize himself when it had ended and noticed something funny. Since his eyes were still closed (like the others), he had expected to hear the clang of metal as his foot landed in place. Instead, he heard a soft clop as if he were walking on cobblestone. He opened his eyes and found an entirely new scenery.

The Titans were all standing in the middle of a small courtyard surrounded by a lush garden filled with over a dozen different varieties of flowers. The sun shone strongly giving the square a live atmosphere. The four Titans all stared in awe in this little "Hanging Garden" until Beast Boy took the words out of everyone's mouth.

"Uh…where are we?"

Ahh! Those evil cliffhangers! You know, I hate those, but I seem to be writing a lot of them anyway. So…I hope this was long enough! I sure thought it was a lot to take in. Are any of you really annoyed by that "phases of matter" interruption I added in there? I just needed to clarify that the bars weren't made of goo. Other than that, I laughed at myself for having Slade make even the most innocent of cereal slogans sound evil. Haha. I really enjoy doing this now…unfortunately for this story, it will end pretty soon—just because I wanted it to end where it was supposed to; this was my favorite theory for a possible Teen Titans episode. Anyway, chapter four will come out soon (two more Exam days, YES!) so keep an eye out for it!