((Disclaimer: I don't own the Titans. Never did. Probably never will. This is the last full chapter in 'Once Broken, Twice Shattered.' I hope you all enjoy it.))

The pounding in his head wasn't going to go away anytime soon.

The pain in his arm, which wouldn't move, was also annoying.

However, neither of these things was all that important to him at the moment.

Not even the fact that his brother was out there on a rampage seemed significant.

The snarling, screaming green beast that held him up by the neck was another story.

"MURDERER!" It roared.

"Please-" Rorek tried to gasp, but the creature constricted his windpipe even more.

"YOU KILLED HER!" It shrieked.

Rorek moved his one functioning arm to pull the creature's hand away from his throat but he didn't have the strength. "I- I didn't- please listen-"

"YOU DON'T DESERVE TO LIVE!"

If he wasn't in such dire straits, Rorek would have laughed when the book once belonging to his great-several-times-over grandfather beaned the creature in the head, but as it were he just stared at the book where it fell.

The creature's green face snapped around to look at it. It snarled. "WHAT IS THIS- SOME SORT OF STUPID PARLOR TRICK?"

"I can only do magic when I have- when I have two functioning arms- and no concussion," Rorek gasped. "I assure you the fact that I can't see straight- and that I think my right arm is entirely shattered- means I couldn't even pick up a pencil with my powers let alone-" the book flew up and smacked Beastboy in the head again, "- a book." Rorek finished.

Beastboy dropped him and he crashed to the floor, groaning. The changeling assumed his normal form. "What's going on?" He shouted. "Why's that thing acting like it's got a mind of it's own?"

"I- I don't know."

Beastboy roared as he turned into the monstrous creature again and picked Rorek up by both shoulders. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN 'YOU DON'T KNOW'?"

"I was knocked senseless by my brother, I don't even know what happened to Raven-"

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY HER NAME YOU FILTHY MURDERER!" Beastboy roared, slamming him up against the wall. Rorek cried out in pain.

"My brother is possessed by our father, the demon Cicor! He's trying to kill your friends!" Rorek shouted. "Just like he killed Raven and he tried to kill me!"

Beastboy stopped. "Malchior? Malchior killed her!" He said in shock, turning abruptly back into his normal form. "You're lying!" He shouted.

"I never lie," Rorek said. "I just omit things. Everything Malchior said about me is true. I've killed people. I murdered our father. But those people and my father- they were demons in disguise."

"I don't believe- OW! STOP IT!" Beastboy shouted at the book. He grabbed the ancient tome, and suddenly his mind was flooded with images.

"So you know if there's a spell to fix Raven's mind?" Beastboy said eagerly.

Rorek paused. "There is no such spell. Raven's mind cannot be restored to the way it was before Rorek the Black inflicted that damage upon her."

"What?" Beastboy exploded. "You've got to be kidding me! How can there no be some sort of- some sort of antidote? Some sort of counter spell!" He waved his arms. "You have a magic that can destroy a person's mind and nothing to save them?"

"I'm afraid not," Rorek said. "It's very complicated. No one in our line has ever used the spell with evil intent."

Beastboy rolled his eyes. "Except for that psycho. . ."

Rorek of Noll remained silent.

"So there's nothing we can do?" Beastboy said. "I mean you're like a great wizard, right? Aren't you related to Dumbledore?"

"Who?" Rorek said, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, no wait, he's brothers with Nostradamus."

"I think you have your magical lines mixed up my green friend."

Beastboy shrugged. "Whatever."

Rorek paused. "There is something that may help you," he said. Raising an arm, he barked a single word of power that made the room ripple. A small white light shot out from the deepest parts of the library. Rorek caught it in his hands and held it out to Beastboy. "Take this. It is a one use only spell. It may help you."

"What does it do?" Beastboy said, taking the light from him and holding it in his hands. The light leapt and nestled into his chest. Beastboy gasped. His chest glowed for a moment, then it faded away. "What-!"

"I'm sorry my friend," Rorek said, "but it is a spell that you cannot learn in the usual manner. To know what it does is too great a burden. Therefore I'm going to have to blank out your mind after this."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Beastboy said in a panic. "You're going to fry my brain?"

"I'll have to remove some memories."

"Whoa, whoa!" Beastboy threw up his hands. "Remove memories?"

"Just a few of this conversation."

"Why? What can't I remember?"

"If I tell you that, I'll have to erase them for sure."

Beastboy paused. "Dude, I like my brain they way it is."

"Then Raven will never be whole again," Rorek of Noll said simply.

"Wait- I thought this spell was supposed to HELP Raven?"

"It will, but-" Rorek of Noll paused.

"But what?" The Changeling demanded.

"It's not the kind of spell you think it is. It can't mend her mind."

"Then why are you giving it to me? What the heck does it do?" Beastboy shouted.

"It's a resurrection spell."

The silence that greeted these words stretched out indefinitely. Finally Beastboy touched his chest where the spell had settled. "A- a what!"

"Resurrection spell," Rorek repeated.

"I heard you the first time but- but- doesn't that mean Raven has to-" His eyes went wide. "No. No, no, no, no, no! I won't kill her."

"You won't."

"Good-"

"Malchior will."

"WHAT!" Beastboy exploded. "Mal would never hurt a fly! I should know, I've been a fly around him!"

"Mal is like Raven in more ways than you may think. They both have similar a lineage," Rorek said slowly. "Malchior's mother was from the line of Noll. Malchior's father- the one Rorek killed- was a demon called Cicor."

Beastboy's eyes looked ready to fall out of his head and his ears twitched with shock. "Demon? You mean- Rorek killed his father not because Rorek is evil-"

"But because his father was," Rorek of Noll said quietly. "The name Rorek the Black originally came from the fact that Rorek's hair was black, even when both his parents had white hair."

"No way. No way!"

"Rorek doesn't realize it- but Cicor still has a hold on his brother. Much like Trigon had- maybe still has, over Raven."

"Ignoring the Trigon comment," Beastboy said quickly, not wanting to think about his possible return. "What kind of influence are we talking about?"

"He could use Malchior as his Avatar." Beastboy looked at Rorek of Noll blankly. "Like a mouthpiece, or a puppet. He could take over Malchior's body and wreak havoc."

"So what can I do to stop him!"

"Nothing."

"Nothing!" Beastboy exploded. "Why'd you tell me all this then!"

"So you would understand when the time came." Rorek of Noll held up his hands. "Now, forget this, until that time."
"No- wait- this isn't fair!" Beastboy exploded.

He opened his eyes to see the shattered crystal chamber, Raven's broken body, and Rorek trying to pull himself away with one arm. "Stay there!" He barked at Rorek. "I might need you, and if you go wandering off your brother is sure to see you and kill you this time."

"I was rather under the impression that you were going to kill me," Rorek informed him.

Beastboy shook his head. "I understand everything now," he said. "I understand." He rushed over to Raven's body. "Raven! Raven! It's time to wake up. It's time to come back to us-!" She moved like a rag doll as he lifted her and pushed her hair out of her face. Beastboy thrust his chest out experimentally. "Come on! Out with you!"

Rorek watched in fascination, somewhere between being awed by the spectacle and just plain confused. "Are you really sure you don't want to kill me?" He asked.

Beastboy glared at him.

"I think I'll sit here then," Rorek said. "Not like I'd get very far anyway."

"Raven? Raven! Rae?" Beastboy began again. "Please Rae, wake up. I'll sing if you don't wake up. You know how much you hate that," he added quietly, looking at her face, "Don't make me sing."

Rorek said sadly, quietly, "I hate to break this to you my chartreuse companion, but your friend is-"

"Don't say it!" Beastboy shrieked. Then he added wildly "When's this spell supposed to kick in!"

Rorek eyed him strangely. "And people think I'm mad," he said to himself.

After a few more desperate moment of waving his hands in the air, saying things like "Abracadabra!", "Alakazam!" and even a "Mumbo-jumbo!" or two, and threatening Raven with all sorts of annoyances, Beastboy slowly became resigned to the fact that the spell wasn't working. If anything Raven was just getting colder. Beastboy scrambled and got her cloak, wrapping it around her body and cradled Raven close. "Why? Why her?" He sobbed. "Wasn't Trigon enough? Why did she have to suffer like this!"

There was no answers.

-----------------------

It was very, very dark. In fact, when Raven opened her eyes, she wasn't sure she had opened them at all. The only thing that distinguished itself from anything else was the bright circle of light that she seemed to be laying on. When she stood up the circle shrunk a little and when Raven moved, it moved with her.

"Beastboy?" Raven said into the darkness. She could have sworn he had been there only a few moments ago. The last thing she remembered him saying was 'Sorry for what?' and then all of a sudden- this.

Maybe this was some sort of pocket dimension. She could be trapped by a spell Malchior- or his demon father- had inflicted upon her. Rather than just sit there Raven decided to walk in one direction, looking for anything.

She walked for hours without getting hungry or tired but she didn't get anywhere at all. Her powers weren't working, and neither was her communicator. That single circle of light she walked on could be the only solid thing in the entire place, every time she tried to touch the ground to see if she could feel anything the circle expanded to encompass her hand.

Finally the nothingness got to her. Raven ran.

She ran as fast and as hard as she could for as long as she could stand. Then she turned around, a full three-sixty, and, upon seeing nothing, gave up and sat on the ground.

"Where am I!" she shouted into the darkness. It felt like her words were simply swallowed by the great black expanse. She got up and started bellowing. "Beastboy? Robin? Starfire? Cyborg?" She turned around again. "Terra? Malchior?" Finally she threw her arms up in the air. "Rorek! Anybody!"

"I'm here."

Raven turned around in a panic, throwing herself into a battle stance. She was ready to take on whatever this void threw at her, but she was not prepared for what she saw. There was an older man standing in front of her. He looked to be in about his fifties, but he could have been much older or much younger, his face was hard to describe in that sense. He smiled at Raven in a fatherly sort of way. He was wearing a white cloak almost exactly like Raven's, though under it he wore a monk's attire. Raven gaped.

"Azar-" she managed to breathe, then began to bow immediately. Azar caught her arm and pulled her back up.

"Now Raven, everyone's on equal footing here. There's no need for anything like that. Besides, I was never anything more than a simple monk."

"You were the greatest leader Azarath has ever known!" Raven protested.

Azar smiled sadly. "Azarath is gone Raven. I am, once again, just a monk." He held out a hand to her. "Come. We've got a long way to go."

"Where are we going?" She asked, coming up besides him. "There's nowhere to go."

"Yes there is-" Azar said, sweeping his arm out. Raven followed the gesture and saw a bright path of light, encased in a rainbow hall.

"That wasn't here just before!" Raven said. "I looked everywhere for any. . . thing. . ." She trailed off as she looked behind her and saw that she was now inside what appeared to be a great cathedral, resembling a building she had seen when she was a very young girl. "What's going on?"

Azar smiled. "You're taking a very special trip. Don't worry. I'm here to guide you."

"What about Beastboy and the others?"

"Don't worry so much," Azar said with a kind smile. "You'll see them again. I promise."

Relieved, Raven followed Azar as he slowly walked down the winding golden path, encouraged by the fact that the darkness was behind her.

-----------------------

Terra didn't look good. She was bleeding from the side of her head, and she was sprawled against a wall of the crystal cave. Even if she had been conscious enough to complain about her condition, she would have to note that in comparison to some of the other Titans, she was doing very well.

Cyborg looked not unlike the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz after his encounter with the flying monkeys. His arms were trying their hardest to get back to him, despite one being pinned under one of his legs and the other being wielded like a cudgel by a very angry Starfire.

"You will let Robin go this instant!" She yelled at Malchior, bringing the arm down on his head several times rapidly.

"Insect!" Malchior spat, throwing Robin into her. The two Titans joined Terra in a growing pile. Cyborg's right arm finally reached him and connected, his left arm walked around in dizzying circles, seemingly confused after the abuse it was put through.

"I tire of this," Malchior snarled. "It is time to be done with you!"

"I know you're in there Malchior!" Robin yelled, pulling himself off of Starfire. "You've got to fight this! You're our friend, you're not evil!"

Starfire helped a groggy Terra to her feet. "Anybody get the license of that demon?" she said, a little dizzy.

Starfire, puzzled, said "I do not believe he has a license to get friend Terra. Are you all right?"

"Hey guys!" Cyborg interrupted. "I could use my other hand over here! And my legs too!" he added.

Starfire fetched Cyborg's rogue body parts, while Terra went over to back up Robin. The leader of the Titans was still trying to reason with Malchior, who looked more and more irate with every shout.

"This useless prattle will not earn you a stay of execution Titan!" Malchior spat at Robin.

"Then why haven't you killed me?" Robin retorted.

"I've all ready killed Raven! What makes you think I won't kill you?"

The Titans in front of him all stopped dead. "You're bluffing," Robin said, but his voice was less confidant than usual.

"It was easy. I just broke her mind further- destroyed it completely." Malchior laughed at their terrified expressions. "It was just as easy, and as effective, as snapping her neck."

"You monster!" Terra shouted suddenly. Robing tried to grab her arm and pull her back, but she charged forward, throwing all her power and her rage into one huge wall of rock tearing right through the ground of the crystal cave. It pounded against Malchior's body, smashing him directly into a wall. After a long period of silence, Terra slumped to the ground in exhaustion and tears.

"He killed Raven! I never go to- I never go to prove that I was- that I was sorry," she moaned. "She- she didn't kill me for it- for what I did to her- she just- she just accepted my apology. . ."

"Starfire floated over and put her arms around Terra. "It is okay, Friend Terra. I am sure that Malchior was mistaken. Raven is not so easy to kill."

"I don't think he could have killed anyone if her tried," Robin said, sadly gazing upon the pile of rocks where Malchior had been standing moments before. "I think that Malchior as fighting the influence of Cicor. If I could have gotten through to him we might have been able to-"

The rocks in front of them exploded with such force that they were all knocked askew, and shards cut their skin. Malchior stepped out into the chamber again, his four red eyes blazing.

"You cannot kill me!" he bellowed. "Even if you destroy this body I can animate my son's corpse! Now, pay for your defiance with your miserable lives!" He moved his arms in a grand gesture and fire erupted in front of the Titans, chasing them down.

"Run!" Robin shouted. Terra grabbed his arm and they went rock surfing ahead. Cyborg grabbed the one leg he hadn't reconnected yet and Starfire grabbed him. They took to the air moments before they would have been consumed by flames. Malchior walked after them, the flames extending around and in front of him, like an unholy halo of death.

"This world will be mine, and all its people my prey!" He laughed.

----------------------

They had been walking along the golden path for what seemed like forever when Raven felt a sudden chill trickle down her spine. She was vaguely remembering what had happened right before she found herself in the darkness.

"Azar, how long until we reach the end of this road? I have to warn my friends about Malchior!"

Azar kept looking straight ahead. "They all ready know. Don't concern yourself with these things."

"I have to help hem fight!"

"They can fight the battle without you," Azar replied.

Raven, slightly irate now, returned "They can fight him, sure, but they can't win!"

"Do you really have such little faith in your friends?" Azar asked.

"It's not that I don't have faith in them. I've seen what Malchior can do!" Raven shouted.

"You're making this much harder then it has to be. Restless souls have a way of lengthening their paths. You have to let go of your life, Raven. there's nothing you can do now."

For a moment Raven didn't quite understand and she walked besides him, half fuming, half confused. Then she stopped dead in the middle of the road. All the blackness came back in a sudden rush, though the golden path still stayed. Azar stood upon it, and turned around to look at Raven.

"No," she said quietly, her face even paler than it normally was. "No. . . it can't be."

Azar reached out to her. "Raven, we have a long way to go yet."

"No!" Raven shouted. She tried to run the opposite way from him, back towards wherever she started, but when she looked behind her it seemed that she was going nowhere at all. "You're dead!" she shouted at Azar.

"Yes," Azar said. "I have already taken this journey. That's why I was sent to guide you. I know the path, and I can show you the way."

"I have to help the Titans!" Raven shrieked. "I have to help my friends!" She nearly started weeping, but held back her tears. "I can't be dead!" She fell to her knees, trying to grasp the enormity of the feelings that were overwhelming her. She didn't have her powers, so she didn't need to suppress them, but it was a habit she had kept for so long that she didn't know how to cope otherwise.

Azar kneeled besides her, a comforting figure. "Malchior finished what his brother started Raven. Neither of them meant for this to happen, but it did. What happens to them, and the Titans, is no longer your concern. It's time for you to rest."

"But- what about Beastboy!" Raven suddenly blurted out. "He- we never got to talk about-"

"Raven, you will never rest peacefully if you cling to regrets," Azar said quietly. "I am sorry you had to give up your life so young, but you cannot change this, merely accept it and move on."

Finally Raven let a tear roll down her cheek. "But. . . Beastboy. . ." she said again. "He. . . watched me die. He was there. How can I ever forgive myself for. . . doing that to him?"

Azar was quiet, and wrapped his arms around the troubled soul in front of him, watching as for the first time she cried out her anger, her frustrations, her joys and her pains in one, great rush.

-------------------

Rorek had slowly made his way over to where Beastboy sat with Raven. "You said something about a spell," he said quietly. "What sort of spell?"

"A resurrection spell. I was supposed to be a one use thing, and I' sure I didn't use it, but don't know why it wouldn't work if I hadn't all ready-" Beastboy said, rambling on.

"Easy boy," Rorek said. "The spell probably hasn't activated because you haven't triggered it. All spells need some sort of trigger- a magic word, a gesture, that sort of thing."

"But I don't know any spell trigger!" Beastboy said desperately.

"Easy! Easy!" Rorek repeated, hoping he wouldn't see the big green beast again. "We can deduce the trigger. They're usually related to the spell. If it was a magic word, you'd probably all ready know it, so it must be a gesture."

"How can you be sure?" Beastboy asked.

"Do you know how many trigger words there could be for a spell?" Rorek questioned Beastboy.

"No," Beastboy said, feeling silly.

"Thousands, and that's just in your language," Rorek advised him. "There are hundreds of billions of languages out in the universe, so, for argument's sake, let's pretend that we know that its trigger isn't verbal, it's a gesture. Is that all right with you?"

Beastboy nodded.

"Okay, good," Rorek said. "So, we know the spell is a resurrection spell, that cuts down on the number of gestures we need to go through."

"Why?"

Rorek raised an eyebrow at Beastboy. "Well, you aren't exactly a quick study, but we'll work on it. He raised his good arm. "Tell me, does this-" he drew his finger across his neck in the 'kill' gesture, "-look like a good gesture for a resurrection spell?"

Beastboy waited for a moment, then shook his head slowly.

"That was the right answer," Rorek said. "Now, resurrection typically means bringing someone back form the dead, yada, yada, yada," Rorek waved his hands in the air. "However, different cultures have different translations. For example, a resurrection spell in the Hallaroj culture is generally seen as "putting the thunder back into the soul', so their gesture it sort of like pounding a hammer into the body of the person you're going to bring back to life. So tell me- where did you get this spell from?"

"The book," Beastboy said. "Rorek of Noll's book," he reiterated.
Rorek looked at the book laying on the ground. "The library. . . I see. Well," he said slowly, "my mother always said bringing something back to life was like giving a body back it's breath. He looked at Beastboy. "You need to kiss her."

"What!" the Titan exclaimed. "Kiss her? She'd kill me! Isn't there something else?"

"Look," Rorek gestured at Raven. "She clearly can't kill you in this state, she' slipping towards the point of no return, where no spell will bring her back, and you're the only one who can save her. Are you going to just let her die?"

"No," Beastboy said.

"Then kiss her. Think of it as your typical Earth fairy tale. Here's Sleeping Beauty," he gestured at Raven, "and you're the Beast, going to kiss her and wake her up so you can live happily ever after."

"I think you've got that mixed up-" Beastboy said.

Rorek threw his arms up into the air.

"All right, all right!" Beastboy said nervously. He remembered the way Raven reacted the last time he had kissed her. He wasn't really looking for a repeat of that- but if it was the only way, well, he'd take that chance. He leaned over her, brushed some hair away from her face, and kissed her.

It was only seconds before the blackness engulfed him.

-------------------

Raven had finally stopped weeping. Azar held her like a father would throughout, and smiled at her when she finally said, "I'm ready," with a trembling voice.

A pinprick of light appeared at the end of the path. It grew to about a gold ball's size, then remained that way. Azar stood. "Then it's time to complete your journey."

Raven still sat on the ground. "I can't move," she said worriedly.

Azar smiled again. "I'll carry you," he said. He picked her up. "Are you ready?"

Raven nodded slowly. "I think so."

Azar began to walk along the golden path once more, approaching the bright light. The darkness still lingered around them, a reminder of how Raven still felt in her heart.

Beastboy landed a few hundred yards away from them, but could make out Azar and Raven. He called out her name, but the blackness seemed to swallow his words. Changing into a falcon, Beastboy screeched and flew towards the duo.

Raven was beginning to doze in Azar's arms, accepting the quiet comfort of death. She only vaguely heard the falcon's screeches and could not fathom what they were. When he was only a little ways behind them Beastboy returned to his normal form. "RAVEN!" He shouted.

He caught Azar's attention. Azar frowned severally. "You have no business being here. Begone!" he said sharply.

Raven's eyes fluttered open slightly at the sound of Beastboy's voice, but she didn't open her eyes.

"Not without Raven!" Beastboy said, charging up to him. Azar continued to walk calmly towards the light, which was growing rapidly. The were easily three quarters of the way there all ready and closing in on their destination. Beastboy swiped at Azar, but his hand passed right through him. Unfazed, Beastboy tried again, with the same results.

"Stop this foolishness!" Azar barked.

"Let her go!" Beastboy replied. He reached out for Raven, very nearly touched her hand-

Azar's eyes flashed in a white light. Suddenly tendrils shot out of the blackness, pulling Beastboy down into it's unfathomable depths. "Raven! RAVEN!" He shouted again. "Wake up! Wake up, please! We need you! I need you!"

Raven's eyes opened slightly. "Beast. . . Boy?" she muttered in a sluggish tone.

Beastboy was going to should out again, but the black tendrils wrapped around his mouth and arms, pulling him further down. He made a muffled shriek of protest. The light was now man-sized, and Azar and Raven were about to enter it. Beastboy felt himself pulled further and further down, screamed mentally, and in a few seconds there would be nothing but black. . .

Then suddenly a hand touched one of the tendrils. They melted away peacefully, as if they had never been there. Beastboy felt himself get up, felt himself sprint towards Azar and Raven, knowing it was far too late-

"Azar, stop."

There was a woman dressed in a blue cloak standing between Raven, Azar and the white light. If Beastboy didn't know any better he would have said it was Raven, just much older, but this woman's features were just slightly different.

"Put my daughter down," the woman said as Azar paused.

Beastboy now understood why the woman reminded him so much of Raven. If this was her mother. . .

"Arella," Azar said, "you should know better than to interfere with a person's journey to the afterlife."

"That is no mere person to me. That is my daughter and you will put her down. Now," Arella said forcefully. "This boy," she pointed at Beastboy, "has summoned me from my final rest so that I might save Raven's life and I intend to do so."

Azar put Raven down on the ground. Beastboy bolted over to her. Raven was still sleeping. "Rae? Wake up!" he said, oblivious to the conversation being held above his head.

"This is a serious breach of the usual procedure Arella. You know that."

"It's not the only time it has happened, and not the only time it will. You know that."

"I'm going to only ask you once to reconsider."

"She's my daughter."

"Arella-"

"Let her go."

Azar sighed. "Fine. Raven can return to the world of the living, but this is the only time you can intervene for someone Arella! Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Who else would I want to restore to life?"

Azar paused. "Your point is. . .well taken." He wrapped his cloak around him tighter. "Well, I'm going back to sleep. The next time your daughter passes away, it'll be your responsibility to fetch her. Remember, you can't send her back next time."

Arella just smiled.

Azar stepped through the portal of white light, which became blindingly bright for one moment, then faded to a bearable intensity. Arella stepped towards Beastboy and Raven, and bent over her only child. "You've taken good care of her," Arella said.

"Me? Beastboy stammered. "I got her killed! I was the one who told her to run. That's when Rorek captured her and brought her to the cave where-"

"Hush," Raven's mother said. "Those are merely events. I'm talking about her soul. You and the other Titans have taken good care of it. I was so worried," she stroked Raven's hair, "that she would simply shut herself away when she left Azarath. . . but you and your friends have made her stronger in spirit instead. Thank you for doing that."

Beastboy nodded, dumbfounded.

"Now, you have to leave here," Arella said. "You don't belong. Raven will be too heavy for you to carry in this state- her soul wishes only to rest and will feel like it weighs many times what she should." Arella kissed her daughter's forehead. "Wake up Raven."

Raven's eyes opened. She saw the faces looking over her. "Beastboy? M- mother?"

"It's time for me to go now," Arella said sadly. "Take care of her." She approached the white light, then turned around pointed. "That blue light over there will take you back to life, but beware- if you fall off the path into the darkness, it will swallow you whole Garfield. Watch carefully where you tread."

She disappeared into the white light. Raven reached out as if to grab on and follow her, but she only caught the edge of her mother's cloak, and it slipped out of her grip like water.

"Mother-" Raven said. She bowed her head.

"Come on. We've got to get to that blue light," Beastboy said, offering Raven a hand.

"I'm too tired," Raven said. "I can't move."

"I'll support you," Beastboy said, looping his arm around her and hoisting her up. They walked slowly towards the blue light. The golden path seemed to twist and jump under their feet and while Beastboy discovered that Raven could walk on the blackness, he wasn't exactly willing to try his luck. However, the path ended about ten feet away from the light.

"Do you think you can get there Rae?" He asked, knowing there was no way he could jump for the two of them.

""I could if I could hold onto something," Raven said.

Beastboy frowned. "Okay, how about this?"

He turned into a giraffe, and leaned his long neck out over the black abyss so that it stretched out to the blue light.

Raven put one arm on his neck and used it to pull herself along. While she was walking, Beastboy didn't notice the path shifting under his feet. The closer Raven got to the light, the more unstable his footing became. Finally, when she was just about to enter the light, Beastboy's footing completely disappeared.

"Beastboy!" Raven shouted.

"Raven!" He shouted in return as he plunged down into nothing. Raven tried to reach out for him, but was swallowed by the blue light before she could reach him, and he plunged down deeper into the darkness.

--------------------

"Beastboy!" Raven woke up with a start. Beastboy's body fell into her lap and she picked him up. "Beastboy? Beastboy! What's wrong? Wake up!" Raven demanded.

"He's not there," Rorek said, startling Raven.

"What do you mean he's not there?" She snapped. Suddenly she paused. Her cloak was blue, not red, and she was thinking clearly. She was exactly the way she had been before Rorek had shattered her mind.

"He went into Death to save you. Doing that comes with the risk of losing one's own soul, as well as the soul you seek to save," Rorek said weakly. He slumped down against a wall. "I feel so tired. . ."

"Don't go to sleep on me! How do I bring him back?" Raven insisted.

"I-" Rorek looked down. "Oh," he said. "That's why I'm so tired."

Raven followed his gaze and noticed that the bone in his broken arm was protruding out of his skin, and he'd been bleeding for quite a while now. Rorek's head lolled in a very uncertain way. Raven leaped forward, though she took care to lay Beastboy down. "You're not leaving me here! You've got to tell me how to get Beastboy and Malchior back to normal!" White light coalesced around her hands and she spread it over his wounds. After a few moments Rorek blinked and got back into an upright position.

Rorek looked at Raven thoughtfully. "I never thought you'd save my life. . ." He hoisted Beastboy up onto his shoulders. "Come on. We've gotta go."

"Go where? And what are we going to do about Beastboy?" Raven said.

"Your green friend is going to have to find his own way out of Death. If he doesn't in the next few minutes. . ." Rorek shook his head.

Raven went whiter than normal. "No. . ." she said hoarsely. "He can't die because he tried to save me!"

"Look, it's not up to you. What is it whether your other friends survive the day. My father went after them using Malchior. We've got to stop him. Can you trust me?" Rorek looked at her.

Raven was slightly taken aback by the question. It took her a moment but she said, "Yes. I can."

"Then this is what we're going to have to do."

Rorek explained his plan as he navigated the crystal cave, carrying Beastboy on his shoulders and leading Raven towards his brother.

------------------

Down, down, down. Beastboy fell, his scream stuck in his throat. He felt like he was suffocating. Then abruptly he stopped falling.

"Got you!" a familiar voice cried. Beastboy felt himself being hauled up onto a small path of light that suddenly changed into a great green forest. Standing in front of him and smiling with his eyes was Rorek of Noll- the first. "Nice to see you again."

Beastboy seemed dumbfounded. "This isn't the library. How can you be here?"

Rorek of Noll laughed. "You do realize that there's only a tiny part of my soul attached to the book, don't you? Most of me is here- in my own little corner of the afterlife."

He gestured and the whole scene changed. It was now a moonlit seascape and they were standing on an outcropping of rock. The waters glowed in multiple colors and they cascaded down into the ocean from a massive river that was emptying its load.

"This was my favorite place while I was alive. Terrock falls, on Teslar. You've never been to Teslar before, have you?"

Beastboy shook his head. "No, I can't say that I have."

"Beautiful planet. You should try and visit it if you get a chance," Rorek of Noll said. "Anyway, I'm glad I caught you before you fell too far, otherwise you would have been lost forever."

"You mean- I would have died?" Beastboy said, terrified.

"Not died, per se," Rorek of Noll reiterated. "Your soul would have been irreversibly separated from your body. You would have breathing and all that jazz, and with an IV drip you would have lived many years, but people without souls aren't know for being great conversationalists."

"So, how do I get back to my body?" Beastboy asked.

"Well, I'd take you but I'm not allowed to," Rorek of Noll said.

"So. . . that's it?" Beastboy said. "I'm finished?"

"No," Rorek of Noll said. "They're going to take you."

He pointed at two approaching figures. Beastboy couldn't make them out at first. They were too far away and it was too dark. When they were about five feet away from him Beastboy realized who they were.

"M- m- mom? D- dad?" He said tears welling up in his eyes.

"Garfield!" Marie Logan said, throwing her arms open. Beastboy ran to her like he was a small child once again.

"Hello Gar," His father said, ruffling his son's hair. "We don't have much time to talk I'm afraid. We've got to get you back to the other side."

Beastboy, still teary eyes, nodded. "I- I miss you guys. . . so much."

"We miss you too darling," his mother said. "Still it was our time. It wasn't yours. And it isn't yours today," she added, smiling. She took Beastboy's hand. "Thank you for guiding him Rorek."

Rorek of Noll bowed elegantly. "It was my pleasure. You're son's a very special boy. I feel privileged to have met him." He nodded at the changeling. "You take care of yourself, all right?"

Beastboy made a sort of assenting noise, but he was too focused on his parents to really notice the fact that the waterfall faded away into nothing. Rorek disappeared in a way that was akin to the Cheshire Cat, his eyes lingering for a few moments longer than the rest of him.

"Garfield, your mother and I want you to know a few things before we have to part," Dr. Logan said. "First of all, you should never blame yourself for what happened to us. You know that right son?"

"Yeah," Beastboy said. "But-"

"Ah, ah!" His father wagged a finger. "You've heard my opinion young man. Now, secondly, while we understand that you can't do anything about your coloring, we'd both like you to know that neither of us wants you to dye your hair some other funky color. We're both particularly opposed to purple, orange-"

"-And red," his mother added.

"-because they will clash horribly with your skin," his father finished. "However, if you do decided to do something. . . rash. . . such as that, we're still going to love you no matter what." They had now arrived at the blue light one again. His mother and father hugged him tightly. His mother got very teary and began sniffling, and his father ruffled his hair again. "This is where you get off."

Beastboy stood in front of the light and gazed back at them. "I love you guys," he choked.

"We love you too," his mother said in a trembling voice.

Beastboy turned around and took a step into the light.

"Garfield!" His father shouted as the light consumed his vision and blotted his parent's from view. "We're proud of you!"

Beastboy reached out, and thought he felt his parent's hands brush against his. Then he opened his eyes. "Mom. . . Dad. . ." he murmured.

The first thing that came into view was a black goatee.

"Where the heck am I?" he said.

"Beastboy!"

Beastboy twisted, and Raven's face came into view. "Raven! You're all right."

"Let me put him down before the hugging commences, all right?" Rorek asked. once Beastboy was on his two feet again, Raven walked up to him-

- and slapped him as hard as she could.

"Never do that again!" She yelled. "Do you know how much you scared me?"

Beastboy rubbed his cheek. "That hurt. . ." he said.

"Are you. . . crying?" Raven said, startled. There was traces of wetness in his eyes.

Beastboy rubbed his eyes. "I guess I am," he laughed in a sort of strained, awkward way. Raven looked totally confused. "My parents. . . they're proud of me. They're proud of me Rae."

Raven was still slightly confused, but on instinct she moved towards Beastboy. He wrapped his arms around her, half laughing, half crying. They hugged each other for a long, long moment.

"I really, really hate to interrupt this," Rorek interjected, "but I think we have some more pressing matters to deal with."

Flames erupted in the corridor in front of them, and they saw the other Titans rushing towards them.

"That it not good!" Beastboy said.

"Get behind us," Raven ordered him. "Rorek and I have a plan."

"What kind of plan?" Beastboy asked.

Rorek answered, "The kind that if it doesn't work they'll be scraping up our remains off the ground and using them as potting soil."

Beastboy looked pale. "Oh. That kind of plan."

"Raven! Beastboy! Look out!" Robin shouted as they ran towards the trio. "Malchior's right behind us!"

Rorek glanced at Raven. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Is there any other way?" Raven questioned him.

"Any other way that would work? No."

"Then I'm sure."

"What's going on?" Beastboy asked.

Rorek looked at him. "Hold Raven's hand."

"Why?"

"It'll keep her anchored."

"Anchored?" Beastboy asked.

Raven reached out and wrapped her fingers around his. "I'm going to be channeling my father's power."

"Okay. . ." Beastboy said. "Wait-! You're going to what?"

"We don't have time for this-!" Rorek said. With a grand, dance-like gesture he created a wall of glass between the approaching Titans and the flames that pursued them. Cyborg tumbled to the ground as Starfire let him go. Terra and Robin crashed into the ground, the rock skidding into a wall as they leapt away from it.

"Out of the fire and into the frying pan," Cyborg said. "Heads up people- the older brother's here!"

"It's okay Cy, he's on our side," Beastboy said.

"I am very confused," Starfire said. "Is Malchior good or not? And is Rorek evil or not?"

"The only thing evil here is the demon inhabiting Malchior," Raven said firmly. "Rorek and I are going to stop him."

Robin dusted himself off and looked at the flames that were pounding against the glass. "How, exactly?"

"We're going to overpower him," Rorek said grimly.

"Overpower? That guy tossed us around with less effort than you exerted!" Terra exclaimed. "How are you going to overpower him?"

"Watch and learn," Rorek said. "And staying back is also advisable. The ride's going to be a little bumpy."

Raven held Beastboy's hand tighter. Beastboy could have sworn she was trembling slightly. The flames began to die down on the other side of the glass. The remaining Titans slipped behind Rorek, Raven and Beastboy and watched as Malchior, four red eyes blazing, approached the glass.

"Get ready," Rorek advised. The demon marks blazed across his skin. "Take her chakra off," he advised Beastboy, pointing at the red stone on Raven's forehead

Still holding Raven's hand, Beastboy reached up with his other hand to touch Raven's chakra. He'd never seen Raven without the stone on her forehead and for what seemed like forever he hesitated taking it off.

In that moment, Malchior touched the glass with his right pointer finger. A crack formed, slowly at first, then spiraled out into a spider web design, picking up speed. Raven formed a shield around the Titans and Rorek right before the glass exploded towards them. Beastboy pulled the chakra off of Raven's forehead. Demonic symbols blazed to life across her skin, and her eyes turned red.

"FATHER!" Rorek roared.

"I seem to have underestimated you Rorek," Cicor said through Malchior's mouth. "I won't make that mistake-" The demon stopped. "Impossible. . ."

"I suppose you thought you killed me," Raven said, her voice fierce and biting.

"I KNOW I KILLED YOU!" Malchior shrieked.

"What do you think father? Can you stand against two people you thought dead? One who shares your power, and one who has the power of another?" Rorek smirked. "You always knew Trigon was stronger than you- and so was I."

Malchior's mouth opened, but he paused. He blinked all four eyes. "What are these lights?" Cicor growled.

"Mal- I know you're in there!" Rorek shouted. "Come back to me!"

"SHUT UP!" Malchior shouted. He lashed out with power, throwing Rorek backwards.

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!" Raven bellowed. Black energy shot out at Malchior, knocking him off his feet. Raven ad Rorek were both fully aware that they had one distinct disadvantage against Malchior/Cicor. He wouldn't be afraid to kill them. While they really didn't want to hurt him. Raven felt part of her wanting to simply snap Malchior's neck and be done with it, but she knew she couldn't give in to that side. She could feel the energies her chakra was emitting. It was being transmitted by Beastboy's hand holding onto hers, a foresight she was glad Rorek had.

Malchior recovered much more quickly than Raven had expected. He was back on his feet and gesturing in a violent way that Raven did not recognize. Rorek shouted a warning and Beastboy took it seriously, pulling Raven to one side, into his arms, and away from the terrible invisible energy that the demon Cicor had channeled through his son. The other Titans dodged the blow as well, watching in horror as the energies sliced through the crystal and rock behind them as if it was nothing.

Malchior's attention was, unfortunately, drawn to Beastboy. "You! You're part of the problem!" He snarled. "Hollukx, tilitmar, nox!" He shrieked, gesturing wildly.

A blood red wave of light rushed at Raven and Beastboy. It was too broad and too fast for them to dodge. They braced for impact- but it never came.

Rorek the Black leapt in front of the duo, spreading his arms and roared, "MALCHIOR!"

The red wave hit him straight on. Rorek spun a full one hundred and eighty degrees before he began to fall. He seemed to fall for an age, his eyes wide in shock and his mouth still frozen in a cry for his brother. He landed heavily on his side, and did not move.

"Rorek!" Beastboy and Raven echoed.

Robin pushed his way in front. He turned Rorek onto his back and looked at his face. Picking up his wrist, he felt for a pulse. "Nothing," he said. "Cy! Get over here, quickly!"

Cyborg hustled over as best he could while attaching his other leg, finally. "This doesn't look goo Rob," he said.

"We've gotta try to save him. Do you have enough juice to hive him a jump-start?"

"Yeah, but only one or two shocks. After that I won't have enough."

"You've gotta try man!" Beastboy said frantically, leaning over. "He saved us!"

Malchior appeared frozen, staring at the cluster of Titans gathering around his brother's body. "No-" he choked, in his normal voice. "No! Rorek! Rrraaagggghhh!" Malchior grabbed his head. "I won't give into you!" He screamed.

Raven stepped away from Beastboy and grabbed Malchior's hands, pulling them away from his head. She replaced them with hers. "Begone Demon, back to the hell-fires from which you came! Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Cicor shrieked, trying to keep his hold on his son. Raven's powers, greatly enhanced by the small demonic part of her she was able to embrace without her chakra, drove him out in a series of blows, each more powerful then the last. After several long moments, he was gone entirely. Malchior's sightless eyes started back at her.

"Help me with your brother," Raven said to Malchior. "He'll die without you."

"I killed him!" Malchior said, looking stricken with guilt.

"We can save him," Raven said, not sure where her confidence was coming from. She took his hand and led him over.

"Rorek," Malchior said quietly. "I can hardly see his aura," he whispered. He placed his hand on his brother's forehead.

Raven extended her healing powers over Rorek. "Malchior, help me."

Malchior nodded, his powers extending as well. The other Titans, besides Beastboy, moved back slightly. After several minutes, Rorek's eyes focused, and he took a deep breath.

"Mal. . ." Rorek smiled. He reached up, and the two brothers hugged for a long time. The crystal cave seemed to melt around them, until they were sitting in the dark cave that Terra had been housed in for so long.

Raven wavered, the drain on her powers and the demonic side of her pushing forward causing her to weaken. Beastboy caught her, and gently pushed the chakra back on her forehead. Raven smiled at him weakly and mumbled thanks.

"I dunno about you guys," Cyborg said, "but I'm ready to go home."

Everyone agreed with him.

----------------------

It took a few hours for Rorek to apologize and fully explain what he had been trying to do. "I've hunted so many demons and demon-spawn across so many galaxies. . . It never crossed my mind that someone else might be able to conquer the evil inside them like I had. So I tried to lure you Titans away from Raven in order to, well, destroy her. At one point I realized she was good, then I became convinced that she had to embrace her demonic nature, and to make her do so I shattered her mind." Rorek sighed, "I had all good intentions, but went about it all wrong."

"We understand," Raven said, sounding tired.

"I'm going to take some time off from Demon hunting for a while," Rorek added. "To correct my other great mistake." He looked over at Malchior. "When he came to blind me I was so heartbroken, and then so full of rage, I threw his spell back at him without thinking. It cost him his sight and I intend to bring that back."

"And after that we're both going to be doing a little demon hunting I suppose," Malchior added with a smile. "It's much more entertaining than running away from him, and considering I have nothing to run from. . ."

Beastboy held out the white book to them. "I suppose you'll be taking this too?"

The Brothers of Noll looked at each other for a moment, then Rorek pressed it back into Beastboy's hands. "Keep it. As a momento of our meeting. Mal and I don't really need it."

Robin shook his head. "And all the while we thought you wanted the book."

Rorek laughed. "Life always has ways of surprising you, doesn't it?" His eyes were on Beastboy as he said it, but on 'doesn't it?' They flicked over to Raven and back.

"We'd love to stay longer," Malchior said, "but I do believe we've inconvenienced you quite enough. I hope to see you sometime. Literally," he added with a laugh.

"We hope so too," Terra said wit ha grin. "Thanks for chipping me out."

"It was my pleasure," Malchior nodded.

Starfire wrapped her arms around the two alien brothers, who now found themselves gasping for air. "Oh we will miss you most terribly friends! You must return to see us again!"

"Windpipe. . . Being. . . Crushed!" Rorek gasped.

Starfire let go. "What?"

"We promise we'll be back," Rorek said, rubbing his throat. He winked at Robin, "We'll be less of a handful next time."

"I sure hope so," Robin said in a good-natured way. "Take it easy."

Rorek and Malchior shook hands and hugged the Titans as if they had known each other all their lives. Both brothers addressed Raven last.

"I came here to take you life, and instead you gave me back mine," Rorek said, grasping her hand. "I can never repay that, but I will try." He kissed it in a gentlemanly way. His eyes met hers for a moment and Raven heard his voice in her mind. Showing a little emotion now and then won't kill you. You don't have to wear it on your sleeve, but letting people know you care is the best thing. And keeping the truth from others isn't a wise move, he added. That includes keeping it from yourself.

Before Raven could think or say anything Rorek had moved away and Malchior had stepped up to her. He touched her face gently, and tears pooled up in his eyes. "Your aura is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I will never forget you, or any of the other Titans. You've given me so much." Malchior's voice now slipped into her mind. He loves you, you know.

Raven looked confused. Who?

Malchior smiled broadly. Not many people risk their lives to save others from Death.

For a moment Raven thought he meant Rorek, but She had a feeling Malchior was looking with his mind's eye towards someone behind her. She glanced back for a moment and saw Beastboy, who was watching her and Malchior intently, but when he realized she was looking at him, Beastboy quickly turned away. Malchior kissed Raven's hand, as his brother had, and walked to stand besides Rorek.

"We'll walk you to the door," Robin offered.

"Who said anything about the door?" Rorek asked. He walked to the window and touched it. The glass seemed to shimmer, and turn into a substance that looked like the surface of a soap bubble. "Come on Mal! There are places to see, things to do, and people to meet."

With a final last wave, the Titans watched as Malchior and Rorek passed through the window and flew off into the sky. After a few seconds the window shimmered again and appeared to once more be made of glass. Cyborg tapped on it.

"Those guys are amazing. We should recruit them if they ever come back," he said.

"What's that?" Terra asked, pointing to a series of tiny scratches on the glass.

Cyborg bent down. "It's some sort of writing. . ." He Squinted with his human eye and zoomed in with his mechanical one. "I don't believe it," he laughed.

"What? What is it?" Robin asked.

"It says 'Rorek was here.'"

"Somehow I'm not really all that surprised," Robin said.

As Cyborg turned away new words appeared, tinier and in script:

And Malchior too.