Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter 3.

Storm of Darkness

"Do you think it's time you went to bed Rae?" Asked Beastboy.

"Why don't you?" Said Raven, without looking round.

"It's almost midnight," Said Beastboy.

5 Minutes.

"So?" Said Raven.

"Well…Everyone else has gone."

"Then you go."

4 Minutes.

"You're so moody Raven."

"I have my reasons."

"And they are?"

"None of your business."

3 Minutes.

"Stop hiding from us Raven."

"Hiding? I'm protecting you!"

"From what?"

"Something…"

2 Minutes.

"You know Raven. You are the least friendly of any of us."

"Well you're the least intelligent, so that evens that out!"

"You think you're so mature, but you're not!"

1 Minute.

"Oh, this is mister "inappropriate jokes" telling me I'm immature?"

"Yes."

"Just go away Beastboy."

Midnight!

"NO!"

"I really think you should." Rasped a voice next to Beastboys ear. It sounded like a graveyard would if it could talk. It was full of malice and evil.

Beastboy turned.

Sitting on top of couch was a raven of gigantic size. Roughly the size of a pterodactyl, it had a long barbed tail, claws at least half a foot long, and piercing red eyes.

"Goodnight Beastboy." It croaked.

Beastboy fell of the couch and backed away slightly, "No." he said, as defiantly as he could.

"Do what he says Beastboy," said Raven, "I don't want you to get hurt."

"Oh," Said Beastboy, "Oh we'll see who gets hurt!"

"Very noble," Laughed the creature. "But you are a fool to stand up to me."

"You don't scare me!" Said Beastboy.

"Fool." Snarled the creature, "I am Darkstorm!" Darkstorm struck Beastboy with his wing, sending Beastboy flying into the wall.

He turned to Raven. "Now." He croaked, "Where were we?"

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Shouted Raven, the Darkstorm tumbled backwards.

"Well Raven," Said Darkstorm, his eyes flashing. "You actually think you can defeat me? I have more power than you could possibly dream of. You're just a pathetic little girl of no consequence. I only need you to do one thing, is that too much to ask?"

"Yes," Snarled Raven, she swung her arm, unleashing a flash of dark magic at Darkstorm, Darkstorm swept his wing and batted it aside, lunging forwards and pinning Raven down with his talons.

"Is this what you want?" He sneered. "To fight and lose. To ultimately fail. To destroy the world."

The last part hit Raven as if a physical blow had hit her. "You can't stop that," she choked out."

Darkstorm smiled, quite a feat with a beak. "Oh but I can. There are spells more ancient and deadly then Trigon himself," Raven shuddered at the mention of Trigons name, Darkstorm continued, "I know these spells, but I lack the… special abilities to use them. With these spells you could destroy Trigon."

Raven squirmed in Darkstorms grip, "Why do you care?"

Darkstorm sighed, "If the prophecy is fulfilled, and Trigon is unleashed, he will destroy Azarath first. And then, where will I live?"

"So that's it?" Raven sneered incredulous, "You're just doing this out of the goodness of your heart to protect Azarath?"

"I have no other intentions."

"Liar." Raven had known Darkstorm back on Azarath, and he'd taken an active part in her training to use her powers… that is until Azar had banned Darkstorm from being anywhere near Raven.

Darkstorm chuckled darkly, "You don't know what you're saying."

Raven smirked, "Oh yes I do… Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

Dark magic streamed around Raven, Darkstorm let go and leapt back, "Fool," He snarled. "Malfalsoor Nargusha Balnorak!"

Raven fell to her knees, clutching her head.

Darkstorm smirked, until a green tyrannosaurus bowled him over, breaking the spell, Darkstorm leapt up gracefully and launched himself at Beastboy, claws raking the dinosaurs flanks. Beastboy snarled and snapped at his assailant, to no avail, despite his size, Darkstorm was agile and graceful, and could avoid Beastboys every attempt to catch him. Frustrated, Beastboy morphed into velociraptor, using its strength and speed to assail Darkstorm, but Darkstorm had the advantage of size and strength now, and pinned Beastboy to the ground with one talon, raising the other for the deathblow, until Raven leapt at him and landed a flurry of kicks on Darkstorms head.

Darkstorm staggered back and snarled preparing himself for another spell. Suddenly something made him look down. Sitting by his feet was something round, and ticking.

"OH…" Began Darkstorm. The bomb exploded. "Ha!" Gloated Robin from the doorway.

"…NO!" Finished Darkstorm as the smoke cleared.

Cyborg thundered in and charged at Darkstorm. Darkstorm chanted something and Cyborg was pinned against the wall. Starfire flew in and unleashed a volley of starbolts at the monstrous bird. Darkstorm swept his wings and deflected the volley. "YOU WILL NEVER DEFEAT ME!" He roared. "ELSSERON ANDRIAL ALBRENACT DALMANTE!" Black fire's leapt from Darkstorms wings and beak, and engulfed the Titans. "NO!" Screamed Raven, hurling a blast of magic that sent Darkstorm hurtling through the floor. With his concentration gone the fire disappeared, Raven dropped out of sight after Darkstorm.

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Raven searched through the cellar "Come out Darkstor…" Raven choked as Darkstorms talon closed around her throat.

"Oh Raven." Chided Darkstorm, "You can't possibly win. If you surrender now I may be merciful to your friends."

Darkstorm squawked as Beastboy thundered into him. "Are you alright Rae…" Darkstorms beak shot out, hitting Beastboy in the chest, sending him flying.

He spun around wings lashing out, Raven ducked and shouted, "Hezberek Necronum Mortix!" Black magic poured from her eyes and mouth, washing of Darkstorm in a black stream. The magic covered the floor of the basement, engulfing everything in sight… including Beastboy.

Beastboy got to his feet as tendrils of shadow began to engulf him, "Raven…!" He choked.

Raven heard his cry and forced herself to stop the spell, with a great mental and physical effort.

Raven sank to her knees as the shadows disappeared. Out of the dissipating magic Darkstorm rose to his feet, panting slightly. "Where did you… learn… such dark… magic?" He asked, sounding almost impressed.

"From… a book." Gasped Raven.

Darkstorm stood up, a little shakily, "Still… a bad idea…" He took a few deep breaths. "You've used up all of your energy… and I still have plenty. You will either learn what I have to teach you… or you shall die."

Without warning Beastboy launched himself at Darkstorm, Darkstorm flicked his head around and caught Beastboys arm in his colossal beak. Darkstorm swung his head, to cause Beastboy to land in a crumpled heap by Ravens side. Raven rose unsteadily to her feet, shaking with anger, she stared at Darkstorm in a rage, "You torture me with your malicious voice for a week. You break into my home! You attack me and hurt my friends!" Raven advanced on Darkstorm, her eyes glowing a fierce red.

"Losing control I see." Darkstorm sneered, "How weak."

Raven hovered into the air, "I may be losing control… but I'm anything but weak!

AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!" Darkstorm was engulfed in the stream of black magic, Darkstorm was crushed beneath the weight of Ravens fury. There was a ripping sound as the fabric of reality tore open, sending Darkstorm plummeting into the next dimension. Raven's eyes stopped glowing and she staggered backwards, noticing Beastboy sitting up and staring at her, wide-eyed.

Suddenly the cellar door was kicked in "OK!" Said Robin appearing in the doorway, "Where is he?"

"Are we late?" Said Starfire.

"Yes." Said Beastboy, shakily standing up.

"Well we can't all phase through the floor, or disappear down rat holes!" Said Cyborg.

"Are you OK Raven." Said Beastboy.

"Actually," Said Raven, smiling. "I've never felt better." With that she keeled over and fell into Beastboys arms, unconscious.

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Raven was sitting on the shore. Watching the waves. "Hey. Raven?" It was Beastboy. "Mind if I sit next to you?"

"Go ahead."

"How are you doing?"

"Why are you concerned?"

"You're my friend. What other reason?"

"Oh. Thanks for…helping me…"

"No problem. If a jerk like that gives you grief again you just tell us alright?"

"Alright."

"Er…Rae."

"Yes."

"What was that thing, and what did it want?"

Raven turned to face him, "Darkstorm is… my uncle…"

"What!" Spluttered Beastboy, "But he's a…a…"

"A Demonilith."

"A Demoniwhat?"

Raven sighed, "A Demonilith." She sighed again and proceeded to explain to the dumbfounded changeling. "You know how I can change into my "soul self" a form composed of shadows. Well a Demonilith is someone like me who can become their soul self permanently. It vastly increases their powers and sometimes, like in Darkstorms case, their physical strength."

"Oh." Beastboy looked seriously at Raven, "So… what did he want?"

"Darkstorm wanted to teach me some spells that would… eliminate a serious problem from my life."

"So… why didn't you…?"

"Because the spells are ancient and powerful, and have and awareness of their own…" Beastboy gave her a blank look, Raven sighed, "the spells can think. Now, if I learned those spells they could possess me and make me into a being more…" Raven trailed off, she was going to say 'more evil and powerful than Trigon himself' but she didn't want to tell any of her friends about her father yet. So she settled on, "… more evil and powerful then Slade."

Beastboy nodded, "ah." He looked at Raven and smiled, "Still, how about we forget our troubles with some herbal tea?"

Surprisingly, Raven smiled back. "That would help."

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An expanse of blackness in time and space.

A darker shadow floats passed, through the dimension of emptiness and sighs.

It spreads its great wing and flies to a space that looks like any other and raises a clawed foot, slashing at the emptiness tearing a hole in time and space and diving through. Darstorm lands in the dirt and gets to his feet. "Ah Raven." He sighs. "You will pay for that."