Chap. 3
What Dreams May Come
That night, 11:00 pm.
"Oh man, what a day." Sara sighed, as she threw her goo splattered jacket onto the bed. "What can't we ever fight Plasmus without getting drenched?" Brett asked, his clothes equally ruined. "Um, because he's a giant walking pile of biological goo?" Sara answered. "See, that's what I love about our marriage. The wonderful obviousness." Brett said. Sara smiled and said, "Hey, I could not be here at all you know." "Must you always say that?" "Hey, when you come up with a good comeback, I'll stop, ok?" As the fox pulled off the rest of her ruined clothes and changed into some sweatpants and an old tee shirt, she asked, "It's late, you coming to bed?" "Actually yes, but not here." "What do you mean, not here? Is there something else you should tell me Brett, before I beat it out of you?" "No dear, of course not. Raven just asked me to sleep in her room tonight."
Sara paused at that, and said, "You know that doesn't really give me any confidence." "Look, she's just been having some bad dreams, is all." "Is that all it's been? Gee I would have thought you could have told me that." Brett sighed, and said, "Sara, can we please not do this tonight?" "Then tell me something!" Sara yelled, whirling around to face her husband. "Something hasn't been right with her since her birthday. I've tried to find out what it is, but she's too guarded to tell anyone. So I think, gee Brett's pretty close with her, maybe he can tell me. But no, he just says the same thing she does. Now you tell me she's just having bad dreams. Brett, I know who Raven is, just as well as you do. I've got a pretty good idea what 'bad dreams' means."
She looked at Brett hard then, as if daring him to tell her she was wrong. Finally, he dropped his head and replied, "You're right. She can't deal with it for much longer." "Then let's help her." Sara pleaded. But Brett shook his head. "Sara, she won't tell them, even now. She made me promise not to tell anyone. Raven is terrified that they'll think of her as a monster, and she doesn't want to be remembered like that if…." "But this is just making it harder." Sara swore. "If she would just tell the others…" "Yeah, but then how come neither one of us has told them anything?" Brett asked. "Let's be honest Sara, we've both been in this sort of thing before. We're both monsters, and we know how hard it is to admit that." "We accept that." she argued. "I accepted it, and so have you." "But we've never really been alone. We've had the Elementals, each other. Raven hasn't had anyone like her for her whole life. She doesn't know how to share it or accept it, because no one's been around to show her the way, and now it may be too late."
Sara sank back down onto the bed, her mind frantically searching for a rebuttal. But she couldn't find one, and finally she asked one final question, "Do you love her?" "What?" asked Brett, completely surprised by the question. "Calm down, I don't me like you and me. Even I have that much faith in you. But do you love her…. like we… could have loved him?" Brett stood silent for a moment, still caught off guard by the question. He began to think about everything that had happened with Raven since he had known her. He remembered how he had felt in the beginning when she had been no more then the daughter of the demon. Then, how she had begun to change that view as she had gotten to know her. He also remembered how she had put on that mask of the dark loner girl, and how he had known the weight of that kind of mask well. When Malichor had come, the dragon had cracked that mask, and Brett had seen the scared little girl behind it.
He also remembered the burning rage that flowed through him when Malichor had betrayed her. The brief moment of contentment he'd felt in the caves, knowing that he had saved her before Trigon had taken over his body. But most of all, he remembered the girl who had cried into his arms. "I think I do." he replied. "I really think I do." Sara reached over and took his face in her hands. "What would you do to save her?" "Whatever I had to." He answered. Sara smiled and said, "I hope you mean that. Now get out, before I decide to come with you."
Raven paced around in her room, unable to sleep. In truth, she was afraid to. Even with Brett's plan, she didn't know how much faith she had in it. Frankly, she felt bad enough getting him involved in something this dangerous. He might be powerful but her father had broken worlds with his bare hands. What chance could he possibly have? She would have thought of more depressing reasons, but then there was a knock at her door. Opening it, she saw Brett standing outside with a blanket and pillow. "So, do we do each other's hair, or do you want talk about the hot movie stars?" he asked. "Huh?" she replied, having been too worried to understand the joke. Shaking his head, Brett said, "I have got to do something about you after this is over."
As he entered the room, Raven shut the door and murmured, "I just hope we get to over." She thought she had been too quiet for him to hear, but she forgot about Brett's powerful ears. "You know, I'm trying to be confident here." he said, as he threw the pillow and blanket down on her desk chair. "Sorry, I'm just …. worried." Raven replied. "I know." Brett answered. "But if I'm crazy enough to think this could work, maybe you should too." Raven nodded, as she hung up her cloak, removed her boots, and climbed into her bed. As she pulled the covers up, she laid back down and sighed, "I don't know how I'm gonna sleep, though. Every time I close my eyes, I can see him…" "Well, if you want, I could use an ancient nerve hold and knock you out." Brett offered. "I'll pass." "Well," he began, twiddling his fingers a bit shyly, "if you don't want that, I could, well, sing something, I guess."
Even as worried as she was, Raven raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm pretty sure I'm past that point." "Oh? I don't recall that being a common practice in Azarath." said Brett as he walked over to the bed and sat down. "Look, you're scared, and if we're going to get through this, you have to sleep. It can't hurt to try, and besides, if no one ever did this for you, it might work." Raven seemed to consider this, and said, "Fine, I guess it couldn't hurt to try. Just no Brittany ok?" "Wouldn't dream of it. Actually, I used to do this with Jeremy when he wouldn't fall asleep." Brett cleared his throat and began to sing in a surprisingly sweet tenor voice.
Moonlight streams through windowpanes
The daylight's done and gone away
Shadows grow on your room
Scary things begin to bloom
No need to hide and want the light
Someone's here to protect this night
I'll be near, to chase away fear
So sleep now and dream, till tomorrow
Sleep now and dream, till tomorrow
"That's.. really…pretty." Raven yawned, as she hit the pillow moments later.Smiling, Brett said, "Works every time." Gently, he pulled the covers up over her sleeping form and then sat back down in the chair to wait. He doubted he had long.
Sadly, Brett's thoughts proved right. In less then an hour the dream had Raven in its grasp. She began to writhe under the covers, and let out cries of fear. Brett watched all of it silently, the anguish he felt at seeing it unapparent on his placid face. He knew that he had to wait. He needed to enter at just the right moment, when Raven was corrupted. If he could halt that in the dream, Trigon's hold on her would weaken slightly, according to the tomes he had studied. That would allow him an opening to attack. As he mulled over his plan, Raven let out another cry. Slowly, Brett reached out his and placed on her forehead, searching for the pulse of the dream. It was a technique that had to be done; if he did not find that dream-pulse, then he risked damaging her subconscious and possibly opening her to her father. Diligently, he searched for it. Finally he felt it.
Bam-Bah
Bam-Bah
It felt just like a human pulse. And now that he had found it, Brett knew it was time. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate on that rhythm. Ignoring everything else around him, the room and its surroundings began to fade away, until he could only hear that pulse. Using it as an anchor, Brett let go of his mind, feeling himself leave his body. For an instant, he could see himself, his hand on Raven's head. Then, he was sucked down a dark tunnel, as the cries of birds filled his ears….
"I never wanted you!" Raven cried out to her father, as she had done countless times before. And as before, her father said it was too late. As before, his power shot down towards her, ready to corrupt. But this time, it did not reach her. The blade of a sword appeared in front of her, deflecting the power. Slowly, the blue-armored figure holding that sword appeared. "Brett, it worked!" Raven cried out. "Of course." The Nightstalker replied matter-of-factly. Trigon roared, "Who dares undermine the will of Trigon the Terrible!" "The Nightstalker, Knight of Shadows!" was his reply. The demon sneered and said, "You again? You may have kept me from your body but do you truly think you can keep my daughter from her destiny?" "With my life!" The bat cried, as he let loose a barrage of the shadowfire. The dark flame slammed into Trigon, knocking his giant form down. As the demon cradled his burned form, the Elemental grabbed Raven's hand and said, "Come on." The two began to run, knowing that Trigon would recover soon. However, they did not predict how soon. Beams of power shot into the ground in front of them, halting their flight. They whipped around to see the form of Trigon rising up. "Did you think that would stop me!" he laughed. "Raven, get out of here! I'll deal with him." said Brett, brandishing his sword. "No, he's my father, I should help…" "The best way you can help is to stay out of his hands. Now run!" Raven paused a moment longer, then finally ran off. Nightstalker watched her run for a moment, then turned back to Trigon.
"It's just you and me now, ugly." He spoke, his words echoing across the empty sky. "You're going back to the Hell you were damned to." Trigon said nothing, as he fired off a burst of his power at the Knight. But while Trigon had power, his foe had centuries of experience and much greater speed and agility. Nightstalker dodged the blast effortlessly, and began to hop from broken building to broken building, gaining height with each leap. Finally, he was able to grab hold of Trigon's belt. The demon attempted to swat him, but the bat dodged the giant hands and actually managed to swing onto one of Trigon's arms. Nightstalker ran up the length of the arm, then leapt off at the shoulder. His cape fluttered for a moment, then hardened into a pair of wings. Gliding in front of the demon's face, he blasted the shadowfire directly into Trigon's eyes. He roared and pain, and grasped his face, as the bat flew to the ground. Sheathing his wings and sword, the Knight cried out, "I expected more then this!"
But then, Trigon pulled an unexpected move. He began to shrink rapidly, until he was the size of a man. Standing up, he opened his eyes and motioned for the bat to attack. 'Stalker responded instantly, charging the demon with a wild battle cry. He let loose with a flurry of blows, but now his speed was equaled. For every blow that Nightstalker through, Trigon deflected it. Finally, Trigon landed a single blow, that blew the Knight back ten feet. He finally stopped after hitting a slab of stone. As the Elemental slowly rose to his feet, Trigon let loose with another blast of his power. It struck the bat head-on driving him further into the rock. As Trigon intensified the blast, his foe's armor began to burn away.
In the real world, Brett's face began to blister. Burn marks appeared on his hands.
Finally, Trigon stopped. He walked over to the rock, with the confidence of one who has already won the battle. When he reached it, he saw that his blast had driven his foe in about three feet. Grinning maliciously, he pulled Nightstalker's limp form out of it. The demon laughed at what his power had accomplished. The bat's armor had been almost completely destroyed. From head to waist, there was nothing. The arms and legs had survived, but the hands were now bare of weapons. "Did you honestly believe you had a chance!" Trigon sneered, staring right into Brett's burned face. The bat was near unconscious from the heat; he could barely speak. Trigon then called out, "Raven! I have your guardian! But I don't think he can help you anymore. Maybe I should just make sure." His hand began to glow with his power, as he brought it closer to the bat's face. "Perhaps, we are more alike then you think daughter." He said. "After all, I would let others die to save myself." At that, Brett brought his head up a bit and tried to speak. "D-Don't.." he began, but then Trigon shoved his hand right into the bat's face. He screamed out in pain as his flesh burned, with Trigon's laugh surrounding him.
Huge burn marks appeared on Brett's face. Clumps of fur fell to the bed. Yet he would not relinquish his hold.
After a seeming eternity, Trigon removed his hand. "Will you save this creature, daughter?" he called out. Seeing nothing, he began to place his hand back onto Brett's face. But suddenly, his hand was covered in black energy that pulled it away. Smiling, he turned to see his daughter standing behind. "I won't let you hurt him." She cried. Dropping Brett's lifeless form, Trigon turned to his daughter. "This will be your last act of good." He sneered. He flexed the hand covered in energy, and suddenly Raven was enveloped in her own power. It rose her up and took her over to her father. "Did you forget who gave you your power?" Trigon asked. As the struggling Raven was brought before him, he said, "It is time for my investment to be returned to me." The black energy moved away from her face, and Trigon slammed his hand down onto her forehead, smashing her chakra. The power flowed from him into her as Raven soundlessly screamed.
Slowly, Brett shook his head. He had to get up, had to protect her. He dragged his wounded body up, clutching his burned chest. But then he saw something that made him forget about the pain. "NOOOOOOO!" he howled, as he ran forth, mindless of the pain, running with it now. He slammed his body into Trigon, breaking the hold. Raven fell to the side limp as a rag. Brett forced the demon up and pinning him to the ground began to pound the monster. As his fists rose and fell, he could be heard screaming, "Never take her, never take her!" So intent was he, that he did not hear the movement behind him, did not hear the sound of energy being gathered until it was too late. He was hit from behind, his wounded body able to take no more. He collapsed next to Trigon, no longer able to move. For a moment, he let the pain overwhelm him. Then he heard laughter, a dark demonic sound that chilled him to the bone. Then Trigon laughed with her.
With a burst of blackness, Brett was hurled away from Raven. He collapsed to the floor unconscious, his wounds overpowering him. His body began to heal itself, but as the wounds closed, a dark cloud rose from Raven's bed. Suddenly, all the windows in the room shattered, and the cloud drifted out.
The moon shone down over Titans Tower, as did the stars. But then, they vanished as if hidden by a dark veil. Only a few people saw this, but they were filled with dread at the sight of it. They were right to be. Soon, their world would be the same black wasteland.