Two Halves
I don't own Teen Titans.
Chapter 3: Nothing but Feelings.
The abandoned church in the center of the city was quite possibly the strangest landmark in the whole city. It had no name, no religion, and no possible way of knowing what it worshiped. There were no religious symbols of any kind. The only things in there were a podium, rows of pews, and stained glass windows in a rainbow of colors. The main problem with the building was that no one wanted it. Whoever owned it left abandoned it a long time ago. Priests, rabbis, and other forms of religious leaders had come to the building to look at it for possibilities as a new worship center. And yet, they would always decline. There was just something about the building that made it seem foreign, dark, and at times…a feeling of hell's presence. And so, it just remained there, a condemned building that was hidden amidst the towering skyscrapers.
On this night, the moon was in its fullest shape. Its rays, while blocked out by most of the city lights, covered the city in a kind of in a thin blanket. The greatest amount of light managed to pierce itself through the windows of the church. Reflected through the stain glass windows, they somehow managed to illuminate the entire room. The hall of the church was oddly enough not containing the slightest amount of dust or cobwebs. It was as though it was just recently built. And it was only going to get even weirder from there.
As soon as the moonlight had illuminated the entire church interior it its full glory, then five black circles appeared in the center isle. One on top of the other, they were each about the size of a manhole cover. After about a minute of being dormant, they then began to spin, slowly at first and then picking up speed. By the time they were seemingly a blur, out of them emerged a person. The holes then closed with their appearance. The humans that appeared looked like any other, except they were dressed in a matching hooded cloak and leotard. Another point to make is that each had them in different colors. And yet they seemed the same height, slim built and same style of clothing.
The one at the head of the, wearing a pink cloak and leotard, was the first to move. She let out a yawn, stretched out her arms, and removed her hood. If anyone saw this face, they would be pretty much surprised. The girl's face was Raven. She had the same hair, skin, and purple eyes. There was no mistaking her. Now here are the strangest parts. There was another four of her in the same kind of clothing (minus the color scheme), she was in pink, and she had a huge grin on her face.
Spinning around to face the others, this Raven yelled out in the happiest tone of voice ever," Yeaaaaah! We are here! I don't know where we are, but we're here! Let's play!" she then finished with a laugh.
"The logical thing to do here would be to determine how we became present here," a Raven in yellow attire stated. This one also had Raven's face, but wore huge glasses over her eyes. "Honestly Happy. You can have your head so up in the clouds."
"Then we can go flying! That's a great idea!" The one identified as Happy yelled, spreading her arms out and running up the isle making airplane noises.
Another Raven then poked her head out from behind a pew from where she was hiding. Her attire was grey and her face looked both sad and frightened. "Happy. Smart. Aren't you worried? I mean what if we get hurt?"
A green suited Raven then jumped over and put her hand firmly down on the sad Raven's shoulder, making her jump a little. "Don't you worry Timid!" this Raven yelled, a sort of cockiness in the voice,
"Whatever tires to hurt us, I'll move in a give a good old-fashioned ass kicking!" She then took her hand off of Timid and gave the air a crescent kick.
The last Raven, decked out in crimson red attire, leaned against open nearest her and stated," Come on Bravery. We should go out for a night on the town. Who knows what cute boys we could find? Maybe even one of the Titan guys will show up." She then let out a deep sigh.
"Affection! Everyone! We need to contemplate what is going on," Intellect stated.
Happy stopped her airplane impersonation and said, "Don't be so boring Intellect! We should be having fun!"
"It's not my fault I can contemplate ideas on what to do next."
"Here's my idea. Beat up whatever comes our way," Bravery replied.
"Fighting will make us look bad. We have to get some guys or way," Love said.
"I don't really care!" Intellect yelled, causing Timid to whimper and duck behind the pew. "The only thing we need to think about is why we are here!"
"Maybe I can be of service," A strange voice answered. All five of the Raven look-alikes turned towards the podium. Rising out of the darkness was a figure draped in a black hooded cloak. He stood roughly six-five, dwarfing the others. The hood was on, but they could see his, or better yet, its face. The skin was grey like stone, four pupil-deprived eyes were cast in a blood red color that glowed with a form of darkness, and its mouth was frozen in a sad frown.
"And may I ask who you may be?" Intellect questioned.
"You can say-" the clocked figure began, but then turned around. It was then that the girls were confronted by another hood. In it was a face identical to the previous one, except that the mouth was now curved in a hideous grin. His arms, they could see, were folded yet hidden by the sleeves. The strange thing was that there was another set of arms below the first set. "I'm a familiar face."
Just then, the one called Bravery's eyes shot wide opened and she yelled, "I remember you! I took you down so many times!"
"Oh yeah. You're that ugly guy who keeps wandering around Raven's mind!" Happy yelled, then finishing with a laugh.
"Glad to see you remember. Now the reason I have called you here is-"
Intellect then interrupted him by asking, "Before you start…I may know things, but you are still a mystery even if we have seen you in Raven's mind. How can we trust you? What is your name? And speaking of Raven's mind, why are we in the real world?"
"Many questions for someone known as Intellect," the hooded figure remarked. Happy once again laughed out loud at that comment he made.
"Can you speed this up before I come in and use you as a punching bag?" Bravery stated as she brought her fists up.
"Okay, you want answers, and I will supply. As you all know, Trigon is dead," the hooded man said.
"This means we can have fun without that party-pooper ruining it! Happy yelled out.
"Yet why aren't you in Raven's mind?"
"Because we are special?" Happy asked.
"On the ball that one. Now, the original Raven has killed Trigon and, through some strange twist of fate, has become pure. Question: What happens when Raven is pure?"
"She is one with her emotions. There is no danger of her going on a rampage if she uses one more then the other, as what happens with her demon form being done away with," Intellect answered.
"Correct. And what is your purpose?"
"The other forms of Raven are to manage their own areas of her mind. I managed Intellect, hence my name."
"And here's the million-dollar question: What happens to you when you are not needed?"
Intellect didn't answer, but just stood there and locked her gaze on the creature.
"Come now. You are of knowledge. So you are aware to what happens. Yet no one else knows it, do they? Not even the original Raven?"
"You better spill the beans before I tear you in half," Bravery ordered.
"When Raven is pure, we are replaced with emotions that her human spirit conjures up. And as we are in direct connection with the demon side, we are also destroyed."
Upon hearing this, Happy then frowned (which is the first time this has happened), crossed her arms in front of her chest and stated," Well, that isn't very nice."
"Clearly describes your dilemma. The demon side goes you all go. Now she's human, with emotions that wouldn't go out of control. She can feel anything as much as she wants and it wouldn't make her kill everything in site."
Timid popped up from her hiding place and asked," But, Raven…She liked us…right? We're we like…sisters?"
"Sisters? You're just spirits. Why should she care about any of you?" the hooded figure asked.
The question struck home. Timid slunk out of the pew to the isle. She then dropped to her knees, dropped her head, and started to cry.
Happy walked over to her and put her arm on Timid's shoulder. "Don't cry. We can have fun even without that sour-face Raven.
Timid, her face stained with tears, looked up at Happy and choked out, "It's just…Raven should care…about us. Aren't we important? What about…us then?"
"That's were I came in," the hooded man said. Timid looked up at him, her tears now starting to halt their flow. "I didn't want such fine people like you gone. I had been in Raven's mind for a long time to see you all as individuals. And, in sort, I separated you from the demon half and, after some time, you regenerated into your own selves."
"And what of the other sides?" Intellect asked.
"It's my regret that I had enough power to restore you, seeing as I myself am part of the demon side if you haven't guessed. I'm more remorseful then Trigon."
"And what do you intend to do with us now?" Intellect asked.
"Something that should have been done a long time ago," the hooded demon said. Upon this, his eyes then began to glow even redder. Timid let out a whimper and Bravery got into a fighting stance upon seeing this happen. Just then, they heard the doors behind them swing open. They turned around to see the glimmering buildings, night sky, and fell a cool breeze on their faces.
"That's it?" Intellect asked. "You're just letting us go?"
"That's why the doors are opened," the demon replied, his eyes now back to their normal shade of red.
"And why?"
"I just believe that you deserve a chance at living as humans. Go out, enjoy yourselves, and be joyful knowing that you are you own selves."
"But-"
Come on!" Happy yelled out as she stood near the doorway, interrupting Intellect's sentence. "Are we going to be in this dirty place all day? You heard the man: Go out and party!"
Love (who had been thinking about boys this whole time and ignoring the whole conversation) snapped out of her daze and replied," A party? There will be lots of guys at a party! And I hope there are!"
"Love knows what I'm talking about! Let's go out and have some fun!' Happy yelled. The two of them ran off through the doors and into the night.
"What's going to a party without a little protection? I could use some action!" Bravery yelled as she followed close behind them.
Intellect started on at the demon and replied, "If there's one thing I know, it's that you shouldn't trust a demon. I want to know the true reason for your actions."
"You can trust my words. On the other hand, do you trust how the others are going to act? I mean, without some proper guidance." The hooded man replied, the grin on his face growing even wider.
Intellect stared at him for a littler bit longer. She then turned around and ran out the door, chasing after the others and yelling, "Stop! We need to think this through."
The last person ion the room was timid, was standing up with her head down and looking ready to cry, as always.
"Well?" the hooded demon asked.
She still stood there, no response to his question.
"I see that you are more fragile then the others. I'm sorry I upset you with that horrible truth. But, it has to be revealed for your own good. Go out and follow your "sisters". I mean, if that's how you see them."
Timid turned around and dragged her self out of the church. And all the while, the demon hard her mutter under her breath," Raven…sisters…gone…care…why?" As she exited the church, the doors closed behind her in a defining crash.
"Short, sweet, and to the point. No problems to speak of. I amaze myself," the demon said to himself with admiration.
Just then, behind him, a swirling vortex appeared the floor. And from it, another Raven look alike appeared. But this one was more sinister. Her leotard and cloak were a dark red resembling that of blood. When she brought her head up, the eyes under her hood were exactly the same as the demons: two sets, one on the top of the other, in a bright red color.
"Do you think it wise to let them go?" the new Raven asked the demon, his other face now looking at her.
"Do you want power or not?" he asked.
"I could have gotten it when they were nothing but essences," she growled angrily.
"We need to think about this carefully. There can be no flaws."
The red Raven then grabbed the back of his cloak and pulled the face down, both of their eyes locked.
"I'm starving. Unless you get them back here right now, I might just have to make a meal out of you."
"You're upsetting me, Rage," he replied, a laugh erupting from his frozen frown.
Rage let go of his cloak and said," In time, I will no longer be just one of Raven's copies. You better make sure our deal goes as plan."
"You will become the thing you desire. But until that time, try to keep your appetite down. The essences of the others may have gotten your power up considerably, but I had to revert some to human form. The longer they remain in that form, the more power they will unknowingly build up. Soon enough, they will give you the necessary amount needed to complete yourself. You need a bigger power supply. They may be few, but in the end, when you devour them, it will be grand.
"You better be right on this," Rage stated. She then once again opened a black vortex below her feet and sunk into it.
"Sweet Rage. Your angry will destroy you. Just as it did your father."
Who is this mysterious demon? Why is he with Rage? And how strong can he be if he brought over some of Raven's sides into the real world, freeing them from being destroyed? Chapter 4 is coming soon.