Too Much Red

by Pakkrat

Raven finds herself torn between RedX and Robin. That is not the worst part, Slade wants her, villains need her, and one demon aside from dad wants her to suffer! The world is sometimes too much, but who knew it has Too Much Red? Sequel is up and ready!

8. Chapter 8: Heartless Tears

Too Much Red

By: Pakkrat

Chapter 8: Heartless Tears

Disclaimer: I said that stuff about DC, I don't own them. I also can't say I own the OCs but I made them up. This chapter is riddled with Red/Rae/Rob and still they are a triangle. Star/Rob is in it too. Please, read and review if you can.

Raven, she is waking slowly from the table in the med lab. She grabs her head and shakes it as a slight dizzy spell caught her off guard. Raven sees the fact Red X was not here so she figured he was with the others at breakfast. Raven opens the door drowsily and exits. The door closes behind her, she looks up sleepily before her eyes widen madly. She is a top of a tower with a round dome roof, the glass broken at its walls Raven recognizes it as the one where she was attacked by…

"Hello little Raven." Raven turns to see Slade standing with his arms behind his back. Several four eyed demon ravens fly past his back contrasting his frame in the red scorched sky. "It is so nice up here, isn't it?"

Raven turns to the ground, seeing flames and burned buildings she sneers at Slade, "Only a guy like you would think that."

Slade sighs, "Seeing only what is on the surface, look under that and see what I see."

Raven turns again, she narrows her eyes as something moves under the ground up heaving dirt. Raven turns back, "What is that?" Slade sighs, "I am not going to tell you. You have to find out!" he charges after her with his fists clenched, he makes punches but Raven ducks under them and lands a sweeping kick. Raven steps to the side of the building. Slade laid there and she watched, not noticing something large flying up above her from behind. Raven turns startled, the beast an immense wingspan across the view she had, and the long serpent body twists as it rises slowly above. Its head had ten red eyes varying from small to large from the center of the face and to the sides. Raven gasps as she steps away from the creature then it disappears in a burst of black mist. Raven bumps into Slade, he grabs her arms and wraps them and his around her waist, laying his chin on her head, "Wasn't it magnificent?"

"Who…" Raven tries to move but can't, "What was that?"

"I can't tell you yet my little Raven." Slade grips her wrists and holds with his left hand. Holding her hands to her waist he twirls her around to his face where he cups her chin with his right hand "You see I have more important plans for my little Raven."

Raven feels the burning pain, Raven struggles but suddenly like before her clothes burnt away except for the part on her waist and her chest. Slade chuckles as she weakly falls on her knees, "I was always wondering, where do these tattoos stop?" he grips the fabric on her chest, "Let's find out…" his eye flinches, then he screams back as his right hand burns up in blue flame, "Blasted wretch!" Slade's voice changes, and soon his form becomes Heretic.

Raven looks up angrily, "You! What was it you want?"

Heretic looks at Raven, his hand burnt away it now forges the black mists from his stump rebuilding his missing hand. "Where did you get that?" Raven looks to her necklace, she had it in her room why was it here? Raven gives Heretic a defiant stare, "I'm going to tell you… why?"

Heretic chuckles, "I see, you keep your secrets. I like that." Heretic turns around readying to leave, "I will give you a chance. Join me, join our cause and I will save you from the pain of being so… human." His interest grew from her demonic blood. Raven was powerful, a dangerous kind of powerful he did not want to leave unattended for long. Raven does not answer but looks at him viciously. Heretic nods, "Understood." Heretic turns, his mask breaks apart and the serpent beast lunges out of his body and at Raven winding its body in mid air. Raven raises her hands to block as she screams an immense evil emanates from the monster and so she wakes. Raven is startled by the sound of lightning. Raven looks to the window, a large storm is brewing outside. Raven sees Red X was sitting on the windowsill watching the rain.

Red X looks at Raven, "You're awake? Go back to sleep please."

Raven tries to sit up, her body too weak she falls back into the bed, "I want my necklace."

Red X blinks then sighs as he grabs a blanket and puts her under it, "Lay still and relax. I'll get it for you okay?"

Raven blushes at this attention, he has started to tuck her into the bed. Red looks towards the door as he finishes the blanket tucking, "Is it in your room?"

Raven nods, "I can go in right?" Raven nods again, hiding her lower face into the blanket as she blushes, he actually asked her. Raven speaks sheepishly, "It's in my treasure box."

Red X turns and gives her his salute, "Okay, be back before you can spell "Arnold Schwarzenegger 10 times!" he runs through the door. Raven thinks for a moment, 'A-r-n-o-l-d S-c-h… um, how does the rest go?'

Red X is at Raven's door; he opens it and enters the dark room. Red sees a box on the shelf, "Bingo!" he opens it, but the box tries to bite him! Red X sees the box grow a large tongue from the lid and snaps after Red X. Red leaps on Raven's bed, he grabs a pillow and slaps the box away from him. Red X watches the lid close, he sighs in relief as the box whimpers and goes back to its spot from before. "Wow, the stuff she collects is so…" he grins, "Interesting." He looks to the foot of the bed, another chest. Red X crosses his fingers and grabs at the lid, it was locked. Red X frowns, he grabs one of his X devices he wedges it into the keyhole and twists the X until the lock opens. Red X looks inside, all that was there was a book and paper rose. "What the?" he blinks, "Why would she lock up a book like this?"

Red X now jumps as the book opens up; landing on a page with strange eyes looking at him with catlike pupils, "Excuse me, kind sir. May I ask of your assistance?"

Red X raises a brow, "Uh… what do you want?"

The book says, "Well, I am recently trapped in these pages. If you could free me, I would share with you a great and amazing power!"

Red X narrows his eyes, "Really? Why does this seem like one of the old deals where I have to sell my soul and sign something in blood?"

"Come now, my name is Malchior and…" Red X gulps, "Raven got ticked and turned you into a book?"

Malchior's voice stops, it then comes back in slight agitation, "So, you are the new one in her life? I must say with a clingy girl as her I pity you." Red X gives a stare, "I got what I needed, and planned on leaving her to this silly life. However, she had other plans. Raven does not love you my boy, you see, she is incapable of real love."

Red X slams the trunk shut and locks it, "I see why the hell she locked you up!" Red X looks over to the small stand at her bed. Red opens the box and chuckles, he grabs the necklace and sees something else, "What?" he sees a picture of Raven with Robin, and in it she was smiling. Red X closes the box and goes to give Raven her present slightly wondering about the picture, if a treasure box why is that a treasure?

Robin sits in his room, he looks at the statue. 'Maybe… it's time to use it.' Robin shakes his head, putting his chin in his hands with his fingers locked together, 'Heretic, I thought I was done with him.'

……Flashback, Gotham City several years ago, Downtown Church Of Heaven……

Batman and Robin pull up to the church, now many flames are catching it. Batman looks over the flaming church, "Robin, there's people inside."

Robin gasps, "Holy Flaming Inferno Batman! What are we going to do?"

Batman narrows his eyes to Robin, "First, never talk like that again." Robin shrugs; it was meant as a joke "Second, you take the back I'll take the front. Find survivors and get out as quickly as possible."

Batman charges the main door while Robin uses his grappling hook to get to the roof. Robin stops, there is a man standing on the roof "Who are you?" Robin asks as the flames are spreading in patches over the roof. The man turns and then runs off jumping off of the church roof. Robin chases having several fires burst up at him. Robin leaps off the church and sprawls out onto the ground. Robin has his birdarangs ready, he skims over the dark garden in the back of the church, "Whoever you are, get out here now!"

The church doors are opened slowly, Robin turns seeing a small boy walk out in a blue suit and shorts, his hair ragged he walks with his face down at his feet. "Are you okay?" Robin runs towards the kid before he raises a gun, Robin stomps to a halt and dodges as the boy begins firing at Robin. Robin hides behind a tree as the kid fires all his rounds. Robin narrows his eyes at the kid, he keeps pulling the trigger. Robin moves out and the child looks up in tears, "It's…" the boy is stifling his tears, "It's what's underneath… It told me to kill them. They were sheep, they were for sacrifice."

"What did?" Robin asks holding onto his birdarangs, "What do you mean sheep?"

"It…" the boy shakes his head, "It did the other half is much worse. He needs drops of blood from the sacrificed sheep. I am the 100th, and then they become one until the cycle of the challenge. Then fate decides which is superior. The eagle or the serpent it never matters. All of it is useless… a waste."

"…No…" a voice speaks as it lays hands on the boy's shoulders, "A glorious challenge. It is a duel of power, and of destiny." The boy looks at Robin fearfully until two serpents twirl over the child's face and he is dragged into the burning church. Robin runs to the door, there is a large explosion. Robin stops shielding his eyes as now a man exits the church having two serpents twirl around his body with his strides. The serpents are floating, making a small tornado that creates a black mist that then enters the eyes of the man. Robin looks on, the man pants out in pleasure, "100" he shows the mask he wears covered in blood it now makes the blood form red serpents at the sides of the head… the ritual is complete. From this day until the nemesis, I am…" Heretic steps down with his brown eyes slowly burning to red ones, "Heretic."

Robin looks on to the church, it is now burning like a true inferno with flames spreading and growing beyond expectation. Robin growls, "You killed those people? Why would you do that?"

Heretic looks at Robin, "Power, baby-bird. Power is all that matters."

"What about compassion, honor, lives?"

"Insignificant are those things to those of true power like myself." Heretic swipes his hand over such trivial matters, "The ones of power know only of the power. All else is merely distraction from it. Are you distracted, could you seek for greater power baby-bird?"

"Absolute power corrupts absolutely." Robin snarls out, Heretic chuckles, "Ah, such words from a weak baby-bird." His right hand starts to create a black mist, "See the difference of men without power, and those with power!" Heretic flings out his right hand, the mist strikes Robin into the steel grating fence. Robin bends the bars and falls off on his knees, his chest feels cold… so cold. Robin looks and sees the icy flakes on his vest, "What are… you?" he has trouble breathing at first as a cold breath leaves his lips. Heretic narrows his eyes, "I am the Heretic, true finder of power and the forbidden laws of evil. I am the lord of the forgotten serpent of power!"

Robin smirks, "Can't just be something like Charlie, you guys have to have twenty different titles." Heretic frowns, than charges his two hands, "I'll send you to your parents boy!"

Robin looks up, "What did you say!" Heretic laughs, "I know of their deaths! I know of your secrets! Allow me to free you unto your next realm!"

Robin snarls, "You…" Robin runs up after Heretic who shoots his black mist into Robin who is hit and falls on his kneels. Robin looks up, his lips curling as he makes another march. Heretic narrows his eyes, "The potential… is it my nemesis?" Robin lunges on Heretic; he begins pounding the life from Heretic hitting his face with large swings. Heretic looks up at Robin each time, his eyes showing the eyes of the people from the church he killed! Robin roars out in Hatred, and more importantly Rage. Robin strikes again and again, he had to stop the eyes from looking at him! Robin heard his parents, their screams, and the screams of those people Heretic killed also now joined in a choir of pain. Robin then feels silence, Batman has sedated Robin. Robin flaws slowly to Heretic, Heretic whispers, "I see the potential, and all you must do is conquer your pain."

……Robin's Room……

Robin lowers his head, "Why… why does this have to happen?" Robin now stands and scolds, "I will stop him and all those others… somehow."

Beast Boy lies on his bed, in his hand was the picture of him and Terra, and to the side his joke book. Beast Boy closes his eyes, he hears he laugh, he words of encouragement. Beast Boy clenches his eyes; he hears his laughter, and Terra screaming. Beast Boy clenches his hands into fists, seeing her last moments, "I'm sorry Beast Boy, for all the terrible things I've done." Then he hears Slade, "You ungrateful little…" Beast Boy jumps up turning to a lion he roars to the sky. Beast Boy turns back quickly to a human and cries into his pillow, why is it Terra was trapped and dead to their world but Slade is back for the third time!

Cyborg is knocking on the door to Beast Boy's room. "Yo, little buddy? You okay in there?"

"Go away!" Beast Boy yells out, Cyborg lowers his hand from the door. He sighs then smiles, "You know when you are ready we will be out here waiting." He furls his brows, "With waffles!"

The door opens; Beast Boy is whipping a tear, "Waffles… what kinds?"

"All the waffles and syrups of the breakfast fiend rainbow!" an imitation rainbow of waffles and syrups comes to life behind Cyborg. Beast Boy drools and cries with pleasure tears, "Oh… my…" the two hurriedly run to the kitchen.

Starfire is in the kitchen, she has a small platter of yellow tentacles smothered in green sauce. The two boys look at the dish and grimace, Cyborg grabs his mouth, "Dude, I can't eat seeing that." Beast Boy shields his eyes as he tries to grab the frozen waffles from the fridge.

Starfire smiles to her two friends, "Hello, I am merely enjoying a meal from my home world for the beginning nutritional requirement."

Beast Boy and Cyborg are readying the waffles. Cyborg turns back to Starfire who is slurping a tentacle. Starfire sighs Cyborg looks worried so he walks over to her as Beast Boy works on making waffles. Cyborg sits down, "Starfire what is wrong with you?"

Starfire smiles up to Cyborg a weak kind of smile, he gets worried as she hardly has a weak looking smile. "I am simply enjoying my meal friend Cyborg, nothing else."

Cyborg gives a smile, "Yeah, and I'm the king of Ireland. Come on what's wrong?"

Starfire looks to Beast Boy who continues his waffle making, Starfire sighs then says "I have worries of friends Robin and Raven. It may not be a kind of friendship, perhaps more a form of courtship."

Cyborg blinks, "Say what?" He hears her explain the things she noticed over the two. Robin's care for Raven, several moments he and she spend together, the fact Robin and Raven are so similar. Cyborg nods as he admits the idea is not lost, "Starfire, he could like Raven I mean she and him have that kind of dark lifestyle going for them." Cyborg taps Starfire in the chin, like a big brother to his littler sister, "Still, the darkness is one thing but he needs more. He needs a beam of light to show him the way." Starfire blushes as he gives her a wink "Star, you are that beam of light in the end of the pain. You are the good thing he needs to really be happy."

Beast Boy rolls his eyes, "Geez Cy, you sound like a school counselor giving his tid-bit of love for truth spiel."

Cyborg glares at Beast Boy, "I'm just saying," he smiles at Starfire, "If you really love him Starfire then tell him."

Starfire blushes, "It is not our way the male is the one who initiates courtship rituals."

Cyborg blinks, "You know, on Earth it kind of doesn't matter which one initiates the whole thing as long as somebody does something before they die of old age."

Beast Boy turns smirking, "Yeah, you like Robin then tell him. He may share the same feelings!"

Starfire eats her meal, "I… I will take these things into consideration."

…….Heretic's Hangar……

Heretic sits in his room; Bata-Boom is wandering in as there is noise outside. "What is that racket Bata-Boom?"

Bata-Boom sighs, "The goons we hired they are drinking and playing cards. They figure their job was done for a while."

Heretic narrows his eyes, "It only has begun. We are getting ready for another strike. Did you hack into those seismology reports?"

Bata-Boom nods, "Yeah, though Slade told us where it is. I figured that was enough."

"He will not be able to lead the attack." Heretic stands up, "Three teams will be made Slade will leave and strike Point A." Heretic looks at Bata-Boom as he walks over to large curtain covered square at the wall. "You, Chang, Joker, and Speak will go to Point B, and await the signal." Heretic grips the brown fabric, "I will lead the attack to Point C."

"You know, that is where the kids will strike hardest." Bata-Boom looks over the strange package, "What is that anyway?" Heretic pulls off the fabric, Bata-Boom jumps back, his brow begins sweating, "That… that zombie… here!"

Heretic turns, and gleams his eyes to the large beastly shadow in the cage sleeping, "It's time baby-bird sees how Rage is nothing compared to Hate."

Slade has left the group and made his way into the area. He finds a dirt patch behind a hangar. Slade kneels on his one leg, and lowers his head. He hears someone step behind him; Slade turns and narrows his eyes to Heretic. "You need something?"

Heretic chuckles, "I don't need anything, though I feel you do." Heretic strolls over, "You once worked for a powerful demon." Slade nods, "Trigon?" Slade nods again, "Well, he took from you an amazing gift of fire for your failure to his agreement or something like that. Either way I sense you want that power again. You want to have power, and you are willing to sell yourself for it." Slade glares angrily to the ground, "Yes, sell yourself to a worthless lord, where as it is in hopes of taking Raven and having her for yours and along with that the power she wields."

Slade turns onto Heretic, "You think you know me!" Slade readies into a stance, "I want power I seek ultimate power! I will not be happy until I have great power and can rule all that exists… or if I like destroy it!"

Heretic does not seem angry; he grabs his chin, and thinks with a sign of pleasure. "You and I are quite similar." Heretic raises his right hand and grips Slade's forehead. Heretic removes his hand and the symbol of Trigon is reborn, but now it changes to a fanged head of a serpent, "Be my fighter! Not a servant, but a bringer of pain and misery to the Titans. You will be free and in time you will be able to move out from being a fighter for me to a criminal like before. Will that not seem more beneficial than a servant of Trigon?"

Slade feels a power like before, but stronger. He chuckles, "Yes, it seems it would be." Slade narrows his eye on Heretic, "Who exactly are you?"

"Who? Does it matter? Let us go to the hangar, I have someone I want our friends to meet."

……Titans Tower, Breakfast……

Robin walks into the room and smiles, he smells a nice breakfast, "Who cooked today?" he sees Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire cooking today. Cyborg and Beast Boy give glances as Starfire floats over to Robin, "Um, allow me to bid you morning to the day. May I acquire you a seat for your eating pleasure?"

Robin blinks, "Uh, sure I guess."

Starfire seats Robin at the table; she blushes as Cyborg and Beast Boy start whispering. Starfire grabs a plate she prepared just for Robin; it has strips of bacon and sausage. The Bacon reads "I" and the sausage patty is cut to a heart, the other bacon is shaped in a "U" so it read "I (Heart) U" Starfire smiles as she has the plate. Then, something lands on the plate and devours her dish, Starfire gasps as Silkie has appeared, the yellow and pink grub never seems to just come. Silkie eats the food and licks its lips before eating the plate as final. Robin blinks, "You know what, I'll just fix myself a plate." He gets up and does that as Starfire was reaching into Silkie's throat trying to retrieve the food.

Robin takes his plate into the T.V. room and turns on the news. There was footage and reports about the attack last night. Starfire sighs and falters to her knees, "Oh… how terrible."

Cyborg taps her on the shoulder, "Hey, we'll try something later," he looks to Silkie who burps, "Not dealing with food preferably."

Beast Boy is readying a meal for himself; "Tofu cereal" was on his list for today. Red X now exits with two plates, he must have gotten Raven a plate earlier. Robin looks over and asks "So, how is she doing?"

Red X turns and nods, "She's fine. The worst is over I think." Cyborg seems less sure, "I think she has more emotional pain now that Slade popped up." Red X and Cyborg share glances; they were the only ones that knew about what was happening.

Robin looks to the screen, it is fizzling out. Beast Boy blinks, "Think the weather is messing with out cable?"

The T.V. shows Professor Chang, he's wearing a fine suit and has a cane, and he starts singing as his goons are dancing "I'm bringing the news… I'm coming today! I want to be somebody… New York, New York!"

He disappears, the screen fizzles and the Joker comes on, he starts singing to the theme of a famous Opera, dealing with a tragic clown. Robin narrows his eyes, "Tablet! Give me a tablet!" Starfire floats over and he yanks it from her with a pen from his belt. Starfire looks sheepishly as Robin scribbles on the tablet. The scene change to Heretic in a long black cape playing on the organs, Speak, grudgingly is pushed into view wearing a white dress. Bata-Boom says under his voice, "He looks so cute."

Speak turns around and swings his fist under his arm, Bata-Boom snaps out, "Do the scene and then you can take off the dress!"

Speak snorts through his nostrils before grabbing the mask from Heretic, Heretic turns around and shows his face. Speak rolls his eyes and tosses the mask at the camera making it fall over. The screen fizzles again and Robin writes down the scene, "They were all popular musical numbers." The others look at him, "A Broadway Musical, The Tragic Clown Opera, and The Phantom Of The Opera. I think their planning to strike a musical site, or even theater."

The T.V. fizzles back to now Bata-Boom, "Bingo kid!" The titans look back to Bata-Boom, "The fact is we're heading to a certain music theater that housed many famous musicals in its day." Bata-Boom slams his right fist into his left; something crumbles in his hands, "However, that is only one target as we also are headed to something that symbolizes the false heart of this city! After we're done with it, nothing will hold back the tears from you brats!" Bata-Boom turns off the camera.

Robin sighs, "So they are headed to a theater." Robin rubs his temples thinking on what to do, "Then a heart of the city… maybe downtown? The center of the city?"

Red X looks towards the med lab, "What about Raven? We can't take her anywhere with her injuries."

Robin turns with a frown, "I almost forgot." Robin sighs deeper and lies on the couch freely, "We just have to leave her here. She understands the city is in danger."

Starfire floats next to Robin, "We will do our best to stop these felons friend Robin."

Robin has his one arm over his eyes, "Sure Starfire…" he seems agitated, Starfire sighs as she floats back to the table. Cyborg walks down to the med lab with Red X, "I want to see how Rae is doing."

Red X nods, he then looks inquisitively to Cyborg, "Hey, what exactly is the deal between Raven and Robin?" Cyborg looks stunned; did Red have the same suspicions as Star? "I saw a picture of them together."

Cyborg smiles, "Oh! The truth is Robin and Raven started the titans. They might just have a couple pictures of each other from then."

Red X nods, "I see, that's uh… good." He seems worried still, the picture seemed Raven was really happy back then. Red opens the door with Cyborg waving behind Red X, "Morning, look who I have with me!"

Raven sits up, until she falls on her back again, "Ah, why can't I sit up?"

Cyborg frowns, "Yeah those shocks to your system caused you a little trouble in that department. Still, you'll be okay for the most part."

Raven nods, she looks at Red X, "Could you leave us alone for a moment?" Red X blinks, "I want to talk to him about something."

Red X nods, "Okay, I'll be right outside!" he winks and walks out. Cyborg grabs a chair and sits on it backwards. "Sup Rae are you feeling okay?" Raven looks to the door seeing Red X's shadow outside the door somewhere to the side. "Well, you remember yesterday. When Slade had attacked me underground." Cyborg nods, "He…" Raven looks ashamed "He touched me." Cyborg raises a brow, "What I mean is he… he groped me Cyborg."

Cyborg has a cold face, "I see." his human eye twitches, "I'm going to rip into that son of a…" Raven looks outside the door, "Don't tell him Cyborg I don't want him or the others to know about this, please."

Cyborg smiles, "Sure thing Rae. We will get Slade for this I promise you."

Raven gives a half-hearted nod, they said that once before mind you "Sure thing Cyborg," she yawns, "I need to get some sleep I'm tired."

Raven rolls over on her side as Cyborg tucks the blanket a little, "So where did you get the blanket?" he then rolls his eyes, "Actually, I think I know who got that for you."

Cyborg exits the room, "Oh," he turns back around, "We have to go, Bata-Boom made another announcement. You might get stuck alone for the evening."

Raven does not answer she kind of shrugs under the blanket so Cyborg sighs and smiles, "Okay, see you later Rae."

Red X stands at the door, "Cyborg!" Cyborg looks over to Red, "So what did you two talk about?"

Cyborg shakes his head no, "I can't tell you."

Red X nods sourly, "Alright I understand." Beast Boy walks down the hall somewhat upset. Red X leaves Cyborg and walks with Beast Boy, "So what's up green man?"

Beast Boy looks at Red X surprised, "Er, I was upset because of Slade." Red X blinks, "You see, Slade was the one that caused Terra to be turned to stone. I still feel angry so seeing him alive," Beast Boy looks away in anger, "While she is trapped makes me angry."

Red X looks to the halls, "Bata-Boom said something about a false heart…" he looks over to the green boy looking at him suspiciously, "He also crumbled something I think a stone."

Beast Boy looks confused, "How could he crumble a stone, he's not that strong."

Red X nods, "Yeah," he thinks for a moment, then he feels worried, "Hold it… come with me."

Beast Boy blinks, but is dragged to Cyborg's lab. Robin looks at the ceiling as Starfire sits next to him. She is worried, she loves him very deeply and though she seems so childish in her behavior the pain she found in his pain was terrible. "Friend Robin, may I please assist you?"

Robin sighs, then he smiles at her sort of faking it, "I'm fine, I just need some relaxation." He lays his head in her lap; she is startled but nods as she starts to pets his head. Robin relaxes for the most part, still his mind scans for any clue on what to do.

……Jump City, mid-day……

The rain lets up; all seems quiet however Robin knows better. Robin has forced the team to split up. He was alone, taking "Grand Opera House" on the one corner of the central district of the city. At another corner was Cyborg and Starfire together checking a music record house? Red X and Beast Boy took to the streets skimming on certain areas. Robin patrolled on his R-Cycle, until it died on him. Robin looks at the gauge, he was out of gas? "What the?" he stops and snarls, "Who used my R-Cycle?" he kicks over the R-Cycle in rage and he then hears slight laughter. Robin looks up, and turns angrily to the laughing frame of Heretic. "You should not be so hasty to anger. You never know," he glares his eyes on Robin, "Where it may lead you."

Robin grips his staff weapon, "I'll show you where it leads you!" Heretic shakes his head, "I don't think my friend here will like that."

Robin sees Heretic pull a chain, a large stomp is heard. Robin follows the chain to a pale brown skinned man like thing. Its size was similar to Cinderblock, and the size of its muscle was just as huge. This creature, it was bald with no hair on its head. The head was round, and human like with no nose but white eyes and fanged teeth. The chest was sunken in, like a corpse the ribs were exposed through the skin but not outside of the body. It still had huge arms like a gorilla they scraped the knuckles on the ground. The legs were squatted legs, having a sash at its waist the monster drools slightly. It has a collar around its neck with a long chain that it was tugged by, and other chains on bracelets at its wrists. Robin feels disgusted with the monster. "Why did you bring that?"

Heretic chuckles "I figured since you children call yourselves titans I should use our titanic beasts on you."

Robin looks worriedly then he realizes, "The others!" he begins to run for them when Heretic snaps his fingers, the monster groans lowly and swings its right arm to catch Robin with its chain. Robin is caught and dragged back on his back, "No you and I baby-bird have matters to attend to."

Beast Boy and Red X are walking as they hear the scream of Robin. "Robin?" Beast Boy narrows his eyes to the horizon, there he sees Cinderblock stomping out after them, "Dude!"

Red X nods, "I figured, this is a decoy we have to go."

Beast Boy narrows his eyes to Red X, "Tell him that!"

Starfire and Cyborg are moving along until a truck opens up. They recognize it as Bata-Boom's truck. This was Quadro coming out with his arms re-attached. Cyborg feels worried, "Oh man, I don't like where this is heading."

Starfire nods, "A diversion, the enemy is elsewhere friend Cyborg."

Cyborg opens up his arm, "Alright, time to get to work!"

Robin uses a birdarang to break a link in the chain; he rolls and tosses his exploding birdarangs on the beast. Heretic laughs as it simply groans from the attack. "Monster! Strike for me!"

The monster roars out loudly, it storms after Robin like a gorilla slapping its knuckles on the ground in charge. Robin uses his pole to leap onto the monsters back, "I don't have time for this!" Robin wedges his next birdarang into the neck brace and leaps off. The monster turns back dully and then the birdarang explodes. The monster growls before smashing on the ground, Robin watches as the black mist dissipates, and a man now shows up in its place. Robin blinks and walks over to the man slowly. He looks big eyed, the rain comes slowly again making it impossible to see the fact Robin was now crying, "You heartless bastard." Robin clangs his two birdarangs together, creating his sword weapon. Heretic glowers at the tears in Robin's eyes, "That was… that was Anthony!"

"Ah yes," Heretic raises his arms from his sides as if praising himself, "Dr. Anthony the man who tried to help you with your monsters." Heretic levitates into the air slightly, "I found it ironic he saves you from your monsters and I thereby make him one."

Robin snarls, "Why? Why would you do that to a good man like him?" he swings the sword out on Heretic with one hand, "He had nothing to do with you, he was not even an enemy to you!"

"No!" Heretic looks on Robin aggressively, "He was an enemy! He wished to cure you I want you to accept your evil as a part to you! I will see your full potential!" Heretic sends his two serpents from his hands, "I will see the monster in your heart!"

The serpents try to strike Robin but he dodges, and strikes. The serpents turn to black mist and reform to their true selves after the blade passes through them. "How did you," Robin screams as he leaps by the serpent again, "Turn him?"

Heretic nods, "A good question, a curious boy you are!" Heretic raises his hands, "Anthony hated himself I saw it in his heart. He hated having so many people incapable of fighting their own demons and at times loosing them to madness. He hated being so weak, and so he inevitably was corruptible by my serpents." Heretic points at Robin in explanation, "Those not affected are simply made ill but those lucky enough are turned into their beasts! Anthony at first struggled the power of the serpent venom, however in time his being returned as that zombie of Hatred, was it not beautiful?"

Robin turns in anger, "Beautiful! How can you say that?" Robin raises his leg over a serpents bite, "That thing was a monster!"

"He was a monster!" Heretic glares happily as a serpent bites Robin's leg when he puts it down, "As so you are!" the second serpent strikes, Robin falls to his knees as the serpents dislodge and come to Heretic. "Soon, I will find out are you my nemesis? Or, simple monsters like the others."

Raven wakes up groggily; she looks around and realizes the others left. She slowly lifts up her back finally working she gets up. She felt bruised, but her healing powers did their trick. Raven stands and walks out to the kitchen. She does not float as she used so much energy on healing. Raven makes to the kitchen, she feels a draft and turns nothing was open. "Hm…" she shrugs and opens the fridge "Let's see." She bends down and a shadow leans on the wall, arms crossed and one foot on the wall. Raven stands up and smiles, "Some herbal tea still in the pot." She turns to the stove, the shadow was gone and she never noticed. Raven heats up the pot, and sits waiting for the whistle. The pot whistles so she grabs her cup and fills it with water. After that she mixes her leaves with the hot water and sighs, "It's lonely without someone here." She turns about to drink her tea, she gags and drops the cup on the floor letting it shatter.

"My dear, birthday girl!" Slade cups her chin playfully, "I'd never leave you all alone!"

Raven calls out "Azerath Metrion Zin-." She feels a strong hand on her lips, "None of that!" Slade forces her head onto the wall, "I'd rather you not interrupt our meeting with idle chit-chat!" Slade motions his hand to the chair making the metal melt, then cool again as a band of metal. Slade grabs it at her face and bends it around her mouth. "Besides, your mouth isn't what I like most about you."

Raven glares at him with daggers, 'Get out of here!'

Slade slaps himself on the head in jest, "Oh, I forgot you are a telepath. Hey, what am I thinking right…?" Raven gets a flash of him kissing her and groping her she turns in disgust, "Hey not bad Raven! Surprised you saw me so clearly."

Raven pulls away from him, he lets her for fun. 'I'd never let you touch me like that!'

"You must have read wrong." Slade glares his eye on her, "I didn't exactly think you would let me."

Raven looks worriedly, she could not use her powers. She was weakened by Bata-Boom and now her mouth was stuck. She looks around and without any resort she grabs a chair and tosses it. Slade raises a brow as he raises his left hand grabbing the chair then melting it. "You were desperate weren't you?"

'I'll fight you with everything I have Slade!'

Slade nods, "I like that in a woman." He charges her and grabs her hands, she tries to pull away but he chuckles, "I see it in your eyes, on some level you secretly want me to take you!"

'Never!' Raven kicks off his advance with a strong knee in the stomach. Slade chuckles, "You can't hide it. I see the secret interest in your eyes. The yearning to know," Slade leaps over in front of Raven "What will it be like? What could he do? Where will he stop, from kissing to groping or even more?"

Raven rolls her eyes, 'Somebody has an inflated ego!' Raven runs down the hallway. Slade trails slowly with his hands behind his back, "You think you can hide?" Slade charges his hands and fires into a device on the wall. The doors, windows, and passages begin to close up. Raven screams 'NO!' as she is trapped between two metal slabs. Slade melts through one slab and grins, "Oh… yes."

He grabs her by the collar and drags her to the T.V. then plops her down. Slade channels his flames and has her arms and legs bound together by melted metal. Raven cringes at the slight burning, "Don't worry. I'm not here for that today!" Slade shakes his head, "No, not yet…" He walks down the halls melting the slabs, "I just need to do some things while you sit and watch T.V."

Raven struggles as the television shows a show, it was Robin? She looks in horror as his body is bulging. Robin falls on his knees, grabbing his chest. Robin snarls and growls. His vest rips, "Make… it… stop!" he speaks in growls and moans. Heretic narrows his eyes, "I would if I could, it would seem Rage is still too strong for your true self." Heretic dissipates in his black mists. The serpents look back and grin before leaving, they liked this form. Robin rolls on his back, his chest bulges and reforms, his ribs are larger, and his abdominal section tightens with the greater muscle. His teeth become rigid fangs and slowly his gloves rip to three fingers.

Starfire and Cyborg come to where Robin was supposed to be; they look and see Something holding up Robin's R-Cycle. It tosses it at them so they dodge. Starfire gasps at Rage now stomping over to her with its claws parted and ready. Cyborg fires his cannon on the monster, "Starfire! Get up!"

Rage turns on Cyborg; it roars and pushes against the attack. Cyborg strains to fight the monster. "What a pain, where the heck is Robin?"

Starfire flies in smashing the monster from the side. It stands up and snarls at her, Starfire narrows her eyes, "Is it…" she gasps, "Robin!"

"Where?" Cyborg is looking around, "Where is that spiky haired idiot?"

Starfire looks at Rage, it sees her eyes on the brim of tears, "S-t-a-r…" it was forced and gagged out, Cyborg looks over and his jaw drops, "Robin?"

Rage grabs his head; he stumbles back away from them into a wall. Rage roars and crashes through the wall running away from them. The two were about to follow as a screen in the store turns on. The two look up in horror; there is Bata-Boom, Chang, and Joker standing with… Terra!

Joker chuckles, "So this is who you wanted to blow up?"

Bata-Boom nods with his bombs blinking on Terra, "Yep, blow her away and those kids will cry for her! It's more a chance to bring the kids some overdue pain."

Joker claps his hands, "Oh I love pain, it's the sugar that helps the agony go down!" he snickers to himself as the other villains playfully look about. Joker sighs, "Too bad that green brat from before couldn't be here to see this! You did say him and her were a couple?"

Bata-Boom nods, Joker grabs the detonator and laughs, "Good! Then I'll be the one to chisel this Hush-Moore to bits!" Joker laughs as he primes his thumb to push the button. "As you say it Bata-baby!" Bata-Boom and Joker gleam, Bata-Boom in the goggles, Joker from his teeth, "Bata-Boom!"

A disk flies by snipping the trigger from the devices. Bata-Boom looks at the disk, a red X, Bata-Boom shakes Joker, "Please tell me that I'm seeing things!"

Red X is standing at the entrance way with Beast Boy who has a very angry look, "Simply put, you gave me too many clues!" Bata-Boom tosses Joker to the side his fist shaking. "How did you put it together?"

Red X chuckles, "Simply put it was so simple a child could figure it out." Bata-Boom blinks, "First, the musicals! The Broadway musical, becoming somebody important; the tragic clown, a similarity to the tragic tale of these two lovers; then the phantom, a simple analogy of redemption after pain of lost love! They all were symbolic to the idea of the relationship to Terra and Beast Boy!"

Red X laughs, "The false heart was Terra's betrayal to her heart in a false allegiance to a fake man called Slade. Then the stone you crushed on T.V. was a volcanic rock which is very brittle. Terra was turned in that volcanic eruption and so that was another clue. The last one," Red X holds up a map of seismic activity, "Was the hacking of several seismology departments in the area to find the tunnels and epicenter of a large quake much like the one Terra made."

Bata-Boom has his shoulders slumped, and they start bobbing, he's laughing? "I knew it! I finally have someone…" he turns up his head and pulls out two black orbs, "Worth the time killing!"

Red X jumps out of the way from the explosions. Beast Boy runs out to see if Red was okay, "You got hit!"

Red Narrows his eyes to his shoulder, he never let the wound heal with all the fights. "I'm fine! Save Terra!"

"Too late!" Joker holds up a large play mallet, "Time to get back to my roots, like the criminal I am!" Joker cackles as he flings the mallet down, Beast Boy looks in horror as the mallet inches to Terra. The mallet smashes through the rock… platform? Joker blinks, "Hey, where did she go?"

"Hola senior X!" Mas y Menos smile with the Terra statue held by their one hand as they hold on with their opposite hand. Joker snarls, "Who invited twiddle dumb and twiddle dumber?"

Joker feels a stinging sensation; he turns to see little blasts from a bee? Bumblebee flies around blasting Joker. She zaps his nose and Joker growls back grabbing his large nose, "Oh! You little pest!" the Joker grabs for his flower, "Why don't you try and pollinate this flower!"

Red X nods, "Mas, Menos get her out of here!"

The two Spanish titans nod and take off with Terra. Bata-Boom launches a second wave of his bombs, "I knew from the first second you ruined my plans you were my boy!" Red X jumps past these explosives, "Gee, I never knew you cared!"

"Oh I do." Bata-Boom grabs from inside his trench the Boom-Box, "I have this inkling for a good fight! The grand of all grand finales!" Bata-Boom chuckles, "Every madman must have his great challenge. The element that takes them into the history books! Lex Luther has Superman, The Joker has Batman, and now, I have you!" Bata-Boom begins firing his Boom-Box, "Bata-Boom!"

Red X dodges the first few shots but one strikes him into the cave walls. The walls crack, Red gasps, "You crazed lunatic! Keep this up and the place will cave in!"

Bata-Boom ignores this, "Come on Red X! You can do better than that!" Bata-Boom clicks his heels and cackles as he fires again but Red dodges and flings his X disks to have them strike the gun. Bata-Boom tosses it and it explodes making more of the caver tremor. Beast Boy does not help as he slams his head into a wall, making more of the cracks. Beast Boy slowly rolls off the wall stumbling back to human. He turns to Speak who is twirling a knife in the air as he playfully kicks up the rocks from Terra's stand. Beast Boy narrows his eyes and storms after Speak as a bear but Speak jumps over his back and tosses the dagger into Beast Boy's shoulder. Beast Boy stumbles and roars as he turns to human pulling out the dagger, Speak pulls a second dagger and waves it slowly at his side. Beast Boy looks up angrily, "You think this is a game?"

Speak narrows his eyes challengingly, as if asking it wasn't? Beast Boy snarls up as a lion he runs in swiping with his claws missing the dagger as it tries to strike his hand. The fighting continues for a while until Speedy comes in screaming, "Look out! Big boys coming thr-." He is bumbled by Aqualad who didn't like being underground. Speedy trips over firing an arrow he had ready. The arrow explodes causing the cavern to begin caving. Speedy narrows his eyes to Aqualad, "This was your fault!"

Aqualad screams "You're the one carrying around an exploding arrow like that!"

Beast Boy screams, "Forget it! We have to get out of here!"

Bata-Boom turns to Red X, "I will see you again Red X! If Slade hasn't already beat the life from Raven I'll see her too!" he screams as he pushes a button, "Bata-Boom!" a large drill breaks through a wall making a rock slam into Bata-boom's head, he sourly escapes with the villains in the drill machine. The heroes make a run for it out of the crater. The crater collapses and Beast Boy smiles seeing Terra is safe and sound. "Oh Terra," he lets his tears fall free, "Thank you…"

The Titans East all wink and smile. This turned out well; Red X however steals Speedy's cycle, "Hey!"

Red X waves, "I'll return it! Promise!" he remembers what Bata-Boom said, he has to see Raven!

Slade enters the T.V. room seeing the metal bands on the ground, Raven was gone. "Oh, she left?" Slade hears a noise outside. He looks out and glares to the black fitted figure, "Goody, goody, looks like I get to have some fun anyway."

……Jump City Skies……

Raven is in her soul-form, a giant raven that can travel across the city much quicker than her normal self. The rain has picked up; she bears with the storm as she wonders where to find Robin. 'Okay, Robin is somewhere he will feel safe. Somewhere he can find some answers.' Raven's soul-self looks shocked, 'Would he go there?'

…… Burnt Down Church, The Church from "Birthmark"……

Rage sits on the ground, its legs crossed it tries to use Raven's methods of relaxation for the rage. Raven slowly materializes in front of Rage and it snarls Raven speaks mentally 'Robin, it's me Raven. Are you in there?'

'No…' Robin's voice was sarcastic, Raven smirks, 'Gee you sound like me.'

Robin shifts to his feet, his hands flex but he holds off a strange urge to harm her. 'Raven, I can't get rid of it! It's so strong now.' Raven nods, 'I know. We need to deal with this more aggressively.' Raven walks slowly to Robin, 'I'm going to grab your hand and we'll work on calming your rage slowly. The same time, I'll fight whatever toxins are in your system.' Raven knew a transformation like this had to be an effect of some sort. Robin takes a step away; the claws spread open, 'Raven! Get back! It wants you to stay away!'

Raven stops, 'Why?' Raven narrows her eyes, 'Why does it want me to keep away?'

Robin narrows his white, soulless eyes as the beast. 'Because, when you're around.' His eyes become sorrowful, 'Its weakest then. I'm not as angry then when I have you near by.'

Raven blinks, 'I feel it disappear, because I know you have to fight the same kind of pain in your life. You hurt; you feel so much pain by being misunderstood from the people you want acceptance by.' Raven feels a strange pain in her heart; Robin closes his eyes knowing his words kind of strike a chord. 'I want you to know this Raven. When you are with me I feel accepted too. I know that sounds weird, but I want to be accepted by you for who I am. I guess I want to tell you.' Robin opens his eyes, they are blue and human 'I care about you Raven.'

Raven is caught off guard. She seems to become flustered, he cares? What do you mean you care? "Robin?" she steps forward, Rage snarls into action running at her with its arm paused for a strike. Raven raises her shield but the claw stops. Raven looks on as Robin is stopping Rage. Robin screams out, and the large frame deflates and the fangs are human teeth. Robin falls over on his knees; Raven undoes her hood and wraps Robin in it. Raven hugs Robin, he smiles, "Thank you…" he says tiredly, "For caring… too."

Raven blinks, and nods. "Sure, what are friends for?"

"Only friends?" says a voice. Raven turns her neck to her back, Robin gives a hate filled glare to Heretic standing with his arms crossed and his legs spread. "The things I saw, you would be more than friends if not for this Red X fellow. Maybe, he is the reason Robin you did not become my nemesis like I wanted. The stress was shared amongst you both."

Slade now walks in from a puff of flames. "Don't worry about him." Slade glares to Raven, "I took care of him… personally."

Raven looks scared, "What do you mean?"

Heretic seems slightly delighted, "Raven has a softer spot? Red X is your love, I never knew." He glares his eyes on Raven, "My offer still stands. I could purge you of your humanity and free you from that only weakness."

Raven makes a tch sound, "You know I feel my demon side is my weakness."

Heretic shrugs his shoulders, "I will keep the offer open a little longer. Please consider it my dear. As for you Robin," Heretic looks into Robin's eyes, "To have fought my venom in the state you were in, I reconsider you as my nemesis. If you are willing, I had Slade prepare something of yours for you back at the tower. Put it on, and you will be ready to ascend to the state of bird, not baby-bird."

"Why is it so important?" Robin snaps as he forces himself wobbly to his legs. "Why am I so important to you?"

Heretic narrows his eyes, "You wish to know?" he hisses, not something he does normally; "Look up the story of Apep, an Egyptian term." Heretic raises his arms, "You will understand then."

Slade winks at Raven as the mist comes, "Bye, love-birds."

The two have disappeared. Raven holds her chest; the necklace she wears feels not so good. "Robin… I have to see Red X."

Robin looks at Raven; he sees the pain on her face. Robin nods and smiles, "I know let's go Raven."

……Titans Tower……

Cyborg is in the lab, Raven came in to find out that as she was gone to find Robin, Red X came to save her. Well, Slade took advantage and slapped him around for a nice while. Cyborg comes out, and instantly they see his face, it was sad. "I'm sorry Raven… he's dying."

Raven falls back, "What?" walls start to twain, "How can this…"

Cyborg then grabs his mouth, his cheeks become flustered, Raven narrows her eyes, "You…" she channels a chair upside his head, "Idiot! You know how bad I felt! I should send you to a shadow dimension where Smurfs sing and dance all day!"

Cyborg rubs his head laughing, "Hey, I couldn't help it! Red X came up with the idea!"

Raven snarls lowly, her powers causing the walls to kind of buckle then straighten, "Oh he did, did he?" Raven stomps into the med lab. Red X is heard pleading as a loud roar is heard inside. Cyborg slaps his knees as this occurs. Robin sits in a chair, "You know." Robin grins more than usual, "I think they make a nice couple."

Beast Boy sits and blinks, "I thought you like Raven."

Robin nods, "I do," he blushes, "I don't think I love her though." Beast Boy blinks twice more confused now, "We have friends, friends we need because they mean a lot to us. My friendship with Raven is important, and I care about her greatly." He nods his head, and then lies himself back, "I may come to love her though it is possible. I still need to find that out. Between now, and then, who knows? I guess I'll just wait and see what options I have."

Beast Boy is drooling, swirls in his eyes he slimes down the chair and on the floor in mush mode. Starfire floats up to Robin, "Robin, I wish for you to take this present. It is important to me that you do."

Robin blinks, "Starfire?" Starfire is blushing, and biting her lower lip. He nods and grabs the present. He opens it; a small bear is inside with a heart on its chest. "Uh… okay?" he pushes a button, the bear says, "You're going down Megatron!"

Robin and Starfire blink, at one boy's house he sighs as he pushes the action button of his Optimus Prime figure, "I Wuv Vu Berry Much!" The boy narrows his eyes then turns to a hammer and smiles.

Robin looks at Starfire, "You know, I kind of liked that!" he hugs her for the gift; "With the day I just had, I need all the laughs I can get!" he walks to his room. Starfire stands blushing, Beast Boy has returned to normal and smiles, "Hey, looks like you went with my idea of a gift."

Starfire nods, "Though it was not as expected," she blushes as she holds her shoulders, "The outcome was Berry good!"

Raven sits on the med table, her eyes of death looming over Red X who rubs the back of his head, "Gee, I didn't know it would get you so hard!"

"Oh?" Raven seems more put off, she turns away from him and he sighs deeply. "I don't know what to expect from Slade. He's evil, and he knows I care about you."

Red X blushes, "So, you do care about me?"

Raven turns slightly hurt, "I don't do these things for just anyone. I really feel I can trust you. It's not the gifts, or the kiss." Raven shakes her head, "I don't know what it is… but, I can trust you for some reason."

Red X is looking at her happily, though his ribs hurt from the beating he was okay. Red X nods, "Raven." She looks at him fairly plainly, "You know in your room before. I was going to tell you something." Raven nods, he gets up and sits with her on the table. "I wanted to tell you…" he chokes… "I… really like your eyes."

Raven blinks, "You do?" he nods like an idiot, "Thank you." She stands up and readies to leave. 'Idiot!' he starts scolding, 'How stupid can you get?'

Red X jumps up, "Wait a second!" she turns. He grabs her hands and takes a breath, she listens intently. "I… love you." He gulps, his throat got dry from that. Raven looks at him blankly, no reaction? Then the glass breaks in the med lab AND the tower. Everyone jumps from this except Raven and Red X who are looking into each others eyes. Raven smiles at him, "You do?"

Red X looks shifty eyed, "If I didn't, after that I won't say no." he laughs and she kind of giggled. He was a little caught by that, "You know when you laugh it's really cute."

Raven blushes, he hugs her into his shoulder, "I know you may not know me that well but I really do care about you. I want you to be happy, no matter what."

Raven closes her eyes, a vision bursts in.

There is a roof, Raven holds someone in her arms she was white now. Raven looks at him sadly, he looks at her with a small sign of joy, "I got him?"

She nods, "Yes, you did." Then there is a rumble, Raven looks over and sees the winged serpent rising from the flames. In it is a man, and he seems very displeased.

The flash ends. Raven feels shaky; did she see something… to come? Red X pulls her back, "You okay?"

Raven looks at his eyes with a slight worry, "No… its okay."

Robin has gone to the main computer room; he sits at a computer and searches "Apep." But the search gave many results. Robin read the stories; he never liked what he read. "Apep, the sallower of light, supposed nemesis of Ra the god of Sun and greatest evil. Lord of ancient evil, and mankind's darkest evil." Robin is getting worried, how is Heretic linked to this thing? "Come on… where is he really from?"

Robin sees something else, "Isis?" Robin remembers something Raven mentioned; Isis was the goddess wife of Osiris! Robin reads, and his mind becomes a buzz.

There was a female figure running to the side of a large sleeping man. 'Isis' Robin knew the woman as, 'Ra' she knew the man as. Isis was a wife goddess; she had no great powers then. Ra was the god of gods, ushered of the sun. Isis takes the dribbles of Ra in his sleep, and returns to her home. She uses her powers to create a serpent from Ra, a serpent of evil. The serpent waits and strikes Ra; Ra is not able to heal his wound not knowing the evil serpent was from himself. Isis offers to assist Ra for a price, more power. The serpent watches as Ra gives her power. The serpent realizes his purpose it was to give greater power. He becomes Apep; he begins his reign for power. He aims to face the sun god till greater power. He could not win; he was only an extension from a real god not a god himself. Every time he was defeated, Apep would return for power again the next day. Apep was the idea of power, the creation of power. So it only made sense a man with a philosophy like Heretic could find him. Even if the other gods were lost Apep was not a god. Where as the Egyptian gods were forgotten Apep could not be forgotten as he was never worshiped. Heretic used his teachings to find Apep, but before Apep and Heretic could be one measure still must be met.

Robin returns to the real world, he sees the actions of Heretic from before! The dripping of 100 blood drops, from sacrificial lambs. It took 100 dribbles of saliva to create Apep from Ra! The Mask, it allows the wearer to merge with the serpent demon, and hold their sanity and perhaps a power to warp minds. That explained the power Heretic had in controlling some people, and then his power to see the inner monsters of the mind. The two serpents with Heretic, they were extensions of Apep watching over Heretic and their master. Apep is a part of Heretic, as part to the ritual. The nemesis, like the story of Apep it could not be a real being, or free as it had a nemesis. Was it Ra that was the nemesis? No, Bastet the cat was his nemesis as it protected Ra from Apep. Apep and Bastet were the same god creations, they were equal in being. Apep and Bastet were predators, hunters, and so it made sense finally. The serpent and its nemesis will be a beast of prey. A bird of prey… Robin glares wide eyed at the screen before jumping up and heading for his room.

Robin is at the door to his room. He feels worried, what was in there waiting for him? Robin opens his door and sees the fog exit his door. Robin realizes what they did, "I knew it!" Robin opens the door wide and enters hurriedly. The Eagle head was pulled down. A tube was opened the insides removed.

"And so, as I was in the future. You, Robin, told me a story of how you created the "New" you from that time. You needed the same capabilities of the Teen Titans, but for yourself. You created an outfit which was durable under extreme situations of pressure, or bullet fire. Then you added athletic enhancements from Nano-technology to give you strength and agility. Soon, the other you said he no longer needed the others… and so... he left.

Robin looks at the outfit lying on his bed, a note with a wax serpent seal sat ready to be read. Robin narrows his eyes, he now realized the nemesis Heretic wants was not Robin all along… it was… Nightwing.

Note: Tah-Dah! Took longer than usual… sorry! Still, it was worth it no? The secret is out! Heretic wants Nightwing? Oh, so he knew? How? Duh! I can't tell you, we have uh… some chapters to go! Things will get better, trust me! Rob/Rae/Red is still a triangle!

To all who reviewed, kick-arse! I didn't believe the reviews last Chapter, 15/17 reviews were for the last story! I was so happy! Also, I'm making a tally of votes for Red/Rae and Rob/Rae please send me what you vote, and any criticism you have with the writing (too long winded, anything seems to miss step?)

Evilsangle: What did you think of the story from before/today? Either way, I hope you enjoyed and sorry for the mix-up in chapters.

Jason: Question, are you a kid I knew from High School? I called him "Cornelli"… though I knew better. If you are, great to hear from you where have you been? If not, sorry!

Kronikkal: I see, so now the Rob/Rae mess… I see, also a tempting thing to do. I will keep a tally of votes.

Lordofthevault: Another Rob/Rae? I think I am going to do a fic on just them even if Red/Rae make a couple. I liked the similarities in pasts.

Thiswolflovesnoone: Cool, you like the long chapters! Also, read you watched (Profile) Wolf's Rain, What the hell happened in the final episode? I saw the episode where something called to "Feudal Beast/ I think it was the Count with the human/wolf eyes changed" I missed it, what happened! Did they ever find paradise?

Tigerlilly1234: What will happen next! Melrose Place 90210 comes in and replaces the cast of Teen Titans! Well, no… but sounded strange enough! Glad to see you liked this one too.

Rayven: I like your name, no jokes on it, it's cool. Anyway, thank you for your idea. I enjoy being 100 percent original. I want to know, what is odd about the couple? Age? Or the fact he kind of has forced his way into her life?

Connie: First, thanks for the encouragement. I have that set in place… but as you will see things may get odd! I read Teen Titans: Blood Oath chapter 1, it has some errors but I never worry on those except my story. I did not review, I mainly forgot. I'll be sure to put some time to reading it, thank you for the story.

AnnaHalley: (blush) hugs and kisses? Thanks! Either way glad you like it. I put some hours into planning it out… sometimes I seem to lose touch and have to rethink twists.

Desrt-Tiger: Gee, you didn't review? No big deal, it is quite okay. As long as you enjoyed what you read I am happy. Glad you like this story, and yes the way the characters are portrayed.

Jack: Glad I can get the support here, much appreciated. Red/Rae goodness? What kind of goodness…

Shekron Kaizar: The idea to have a scene with Slade trying to summon Trigon but instead caught by Heretic came from you. I added it last second, but I think it was better. I don't want to bring in Trigon with Apep (Apophis) because two demonic lords would be just a huge hassle!

Annfaithdarknessgoddess: Well, yeah Slade is meant to be toying with Raven in an evil way. I am holding ideas on killing Slade… not sure yet. We'll see.

Jessica: Rae/Rob? I see the potential so I will hold your vote.

Sprox: Cool, thanks for loving my story! Makes me all tingly-tingle inside… oops, that's that sandwich from earlier… ooh…

RavenXB.B.: Glad you liked it, I am a romantic at heart so I try to put myself into the characters. I modeled Red X after myself a little bit… I think that is why I like him so much.