Chapter Seven: Azarath Metrion Zinthos
(One week later)
Rose watched in amazement as black power engulfed the tall pillars and thrust them at least one hundred feet into the air all in the space of ten seconds. They came back down and Raven looked at Jesse. The girl was sparring with Jinx. Raven had been working with her on shields. Silver power was lighting up her hands and she waved her hands leaving long trails in her wake.
Under her feet the ground trembled and tall pillars rose up. Rose spotted Robin flipping in and out of them
"You could be doing something if you'd like." Raven said. Rose turned to her and gave a smirk
"Like what? I wouldn't want to spar with someone who's only at half strength; that would be wasting my time."
"You don't want to see my powers at their fullest. No one does." Raven drew up her hood then stared out over the ocean "Not even me."
"Dudes!" Beast Boy yelled running away from a crude looking robot that was firing lasers in rapid fire. Static was flying behind it laughing his head off
"Leave him along Static." Terra said floating around on her granite shoes. Static waved a hand and the robot stopped its chasing of the changeling
"Alright team I think we've done enough for today." Robin announced shaking himself off. Starfire had swung him into the ocean on accident. Now she floated over and spun in a circle
"Yes let us go inside and gorge of the pizza." everyone laughed and followed her inside. Everyone except Raven.
The half demon stood on the edge of the rocky shore staring aimlessly into the sunset. No visions had come all week and Jinx seemed fully recovered from her ordeal
"Penny for your thoughts?" a soft voice whispered. Arella walked down to join her daughter
"Just thinking about the last time. We were so unprepared and we still won so why do I feel like now that we are prepared we won't win?"
"I'm not sure. But there is something I need to talk with you about." Raven glanced up at her mother
"I got a message." she paused "From Azarath. The monks would like you to come so they can help you."
"But the others-"
"I already told them. The JLA are going back to their normal routines until they are needed. Terra, Static and Gear have to go home." Raven looked off into the rapidly appearing darkness "Do you want to go or would you rather not?"
"I want to go and see the monks again but I'm not sure how they'd react to Beast Boy and I. Plus someone has to watch the city."
"Cyborg and Jinx volunteered to stay since Jinx needs to stay near the med center just in case; Rose will stay with them. And I think they would like some time to be alone." she winked and Raven smiled
"Alright then. I'd love to go."
Beast Boy leaned on the suitcase trying to get it to close. Raven walked over and pushed a few stray items of clothing then snapped it shut easily
"Sit." she ordered. Beast Boy sat down on the purple sheets dejectedly. Raven clapped her hands together softly and several spell books flew into another suitcase
"So remind me how we're getting there again."
"I'm opening a portal to the dimension Azarath resides in. We'll probably end up in the monk's area of the palace grounds." she discarded several books then snapped the clasps in place
"Okay. So anything I shouldn't do while we're there?" Raven paused and turned to him
"Well we shouldn't display affection."
"Meaning what?" Raven averted her eyes from his gaze and sighed
"I think I told you. In Azarath it's forbidden to do anything that might make me show the lightest emotion."
"But can't you just tell them that you don't blow things up anymore?" Raven shot him a fake glare then smiled gently
"It's difficult. The monks are very set in their ways. Just don't do anything to get yourself in trouble okay?" Beast Boy gave a sloppy salute and fell backwards on the bed. Raven piled the bags beside her door then slipped off her cloak and fell down next to him.
They were set to leave in the morning. Raven had already prepared the spell and everything else. For now they time to pack and sleep. Now that the first part was over the second part came
"Raven?"
"Yes?"
"Love you." he whispered pulling the blankets over their bodies. Raven turned over and kissed him
"I love you too Gar." she whispered through his mind. They broke apart and drifted off to sleep…
Raven clasped her hands together focusing her energies. She raised her hands then began moving them in a deliberate pattern. No one spoke the entire time. Soon she opened her eyes and a bright light rose from the powder that made up the symbol on the floor. Jinx and Cyborg waved while Rose merely looked on.
Robin felt as if he was flying straight up. It was a strange sensation having never flown on his own before. He grinned as several of their bags floated near him. Then Starfire drew alongside him. They shot forward having no problems.
Raven on the other hand was lagging behind trying to evade the blue flames that leapt at her feet
"No, let me in." she whispered frantically. Suddenly someone grabbed her hand and the flames seemed to hiss and quickly disappeared. Beast Boy was pulling her by the hand helping her through the portal.
After a few minutes of this flying they were dumped into a large library in this order. Robin on the bottom, Starfire on top of him then a few feet to the side; Beast Boy and Raven. Their bags fell after them. Only Arella came out in a dignified manner
"You coulda warned us about the landing Rae." Beast Boy joked as they lay on the stone floor
"Where's the fun in that?" she asked getting up levitating their bags into a group then sitting in the air
"Now what Raven?" Starfire asked looking around. The library was enormous. It was only one room and it stretched what seemed like a hundred feet in the air. Books of all colors, shapes, and sizes were lined up on the shelves
"We wait for someone to come and get us." Raven replied. Robin was looking at several of the books with interest. His finger traced the binding of one
"The adventures of the great and powerful Zanzizibar." (like the name? I made it up) "Quite an interesting tale." a male voice said. A tall man in a long cloak like Raven's only dark green. He had deep green eyes and a kind old face. He peered at Robin closely and smiled
"And you do seem like the type to take wisdom from the tale." Robin's mouth hung open for a moment. He soon regained his composure and nodded
"I'm Robin." the man smiled again
"I am Hawk." he peered past the teenager's shoulder looking at the rest of their group "And I see you have a Tameranian and a changeling with you."
"Ya, Starfire and Beast Boy." the two waved. Raven got to her feet and nodded to the man
"Hello Hawk."
"Raven. It is pleasurable to see you." when the man spoke to Raven his voice had no emotion and his smile was gone. He greeted Jesse and Arella then two other men dressed in different colored cloaks came and took the bags away
"I will show you to your rooms later. Shall we?" he led them down a long corridor and opened a door. Several men in cloaks looked up from their duties
"Raven has returned." the man said simply. Instantly the men all hurried over and greeted the girl and her companions. They smiled at the Titans and Arella but their faces took on a grave look as they greeted Raven and Jesse
"We have awaited your arrival all morning Raven. Why has it taken you so long?" the question came from a tall man with long silver hair that stood in the far doorway. He was dressed in a dazzling white cloak with a gold brooch. His beard reached mid chest. He seemed like a grandfather or a teacher.
Raven immediately dropped to her knees and bowed her head. Her friends started to do the same but she shook her head
"My friends are not used to travel through portals." she whispered. The man walked over and motioned for her to rise
"Well that is understandable. Now why don't you introduce us?" Raven went through introductions then the man introduced himself as Raoul
"I am head over the monks here in Azarath. Now tell me why you have accompanied Raven?"
"We thought she might need… moral support!" Beast Boy said grinning from ear to ear. Raven rolled her eyes but the Titans knew she was happy they had come
"Yes, our friend Raven may need our assistance and we thought it best to help her through her troubles." Starfire said gleefully. Her feet hovered over the floor as she talked. There was a trace of a frown on Raoul's face but it disappeared quickly
"I see. Well why don't I show you to your rooms and you may settle in."
Beast Boy looked around the room Raoul had left him in. He immediately hurried over to the windows and threw them open. About ten feet below him there was a large garden with small streams running through it. He grinned and breathed in the air deeply
"Excuse me?" a voice asked. Beast Boy turned around and saw a girl standing in the doorway. She was dressed in a long light purple dress with sleeves that covered her hands
"Are you Beast Boy?"
"Yep, who might you be?" the girl smiled slightly and handed him a piece of parchment
"I am Ari. I'm a messenger. Raoul asked me to give you this and these." she produced a dark green cloak, a pair of black pants and a deep purple tunic from behind her
"Thanks." Ari nodded and left the room humming happily. Beast Boy struggled into the clothes but couldn't figure the cloak out
"Now you know why I only wear a leotard under it." Raven said phasing through the wall. Beast Boy said nothing just continued to struggle
"Here." Raven pulled the cloak into its proper position and fastened the brooch with ease. The whole while Beast Boy resisted the urge to breathe down her neck. The temptation won out
"Eek! You beast!" Raven shrieked playfully. Beast Boy laughed and put an arm around her shoulders
"Sorry Rae, I couldn't resist." she punched him in the arm lightly before walking over the balcony and leaning on the railing
"Beast Boy?"
"Hm?"
"Promise me that no matter what happens here you'll still love me." Beast Boy cocked his head and turned the girl around. Tears made tracks down her pale features. He frowned and brushed them away
"Of course I will Rae. Why wouldn't I?" Raven looked up at him her eyes searching his for something
"You just might now like what you see and hear about me." she whispered. Beast Boy pulled her into a hug and kissed her cheek
"You've got my word Rae." she smiled and looked him up and down. His pants and shirt were black while the cloak was deep forest green the matched his hair
"You look nice." he said. Raven blushed. She was wearing a light purple dress much like Ari's with a black chocker around her throat
"Thank you." the door swung open again and Hawk stood there his mouth hanging open. After a moment he shook it violently
"Raven, you- he- you were crying!" he said in alarm as he looked around the room. Raven frowned and dried her face off
"Yes I was. My emotions are under control Hawk. There's no need for panic." the man stopped and looked at Beast Boy
"Why are you in his room?"
"He's my friend. We were talking." Raven replied. Hawk frowned then crossed his arms
"Raven, you know the law." Beast Boy glanced down at his girlfriend. Her face was stony and silent
"Fine. I will see you later Beast Boy." he nodded and watched her leave. Hawk turned to glare at him
"I don't know what you're doing with Raven but I would leave her alone. You do not know how dangerous she can be." Beast Boy glared at the man who was a good head taller then him
"I know how dangerous she can be. We all do. We helped defeat Trigon two years ago. That's why she can control her emotions." Hawk pointed at him and yelled in a strange language. Green lightning flew at the changeling. He turned into a wolf and leapt at the man who fired another blast to keep him away
"You will not say his name in Azarath." Hawk growled. Beast Boy quickly changed back into a human and glared at the man
"If you ask me you're the one who needs to control your emotions not Raven." with that he left the room jerking the hood of his cloak over his head. Now he understood why Raven wore it whenever she was angry or embarrassed. It hid his face from view but he could see everyone else perfectly
"Stupid jerk." he grumbled under his breath. He backtracked to his room. Hawk was gone which was fine with Beast Boy. He walked over to the balcony and jumped off the railing. He turned into a leopard and landed softly before turning back into a human
"Wonder what kind of spells they're gonna teach Rae." he wondered out loud before walking down the path. His hood was still up but he didn't notice
"Ah hello Beast Boy." Beast Boy jumped and turned into a turtle drawing all his limbs into his shell
"Dude, don't do that!" he said turning back to normal. Raoul smiled down at him and chuckled
"As you wish." Beast Boy jerked his head back and let the hood fall. Raoul studied him silently for a long time
"What?"
"I have never seen a green human before. It is a bit odd." Beast Boy frowned and crossed his arms
"Great for you then." he continued walking down the path. Raoul followed at a distance
"Actually I was hoping to talk to you about Raven." he said after a moment. Beast Boy turned around and looked at the old man
"What about her?"
"Have you ever noticed any random explosions when she is upset?" Beast Boy laughed at that one. Raoul arched an eyebrow and he stopped
"Oh ya. Raven's blown up more light bulbs than we can count. She blew up a pan of eggs in my face once. That was pretty funny now that I think about it." Raoul however did not look amused
"So you have noticed it?"
"Sure, she told me her emotions were dangerous and she had a hard time controlling them. We're just kinda used to it by now."
"But other than minor things she has been well controlled?"
"Well… there was one guy who got her really mad. She dragged him under her cloak. That was when Cy and me went into her mind on accident."
"You went into Raven's mind? And you came out alive and intact?"
"Ya, we helped Rae fight Rage. But other than that nothing really huge. She got mad at Slade and bout tore him to pieces but that was on purpose."
"I see." the long silence was broken by the loud ringing of bells. Raoul looked up and smiled
"Dinner. I shall see you Beast Boy." with that he left. Beast Boy stood there for a moment then morphed into an eagle and flew up to his room. He wouldn't sleep well tonight.