TheUbu (I'd be Ubu but someone took it!)

I'm a crazy Canadian and some of my writing may reflect that. Don't be alarmed and run for the hills, I'm sure it won't hurt too badly.

Oh man, if you'd told me when I was writing the first chapter of this story that it would not only make it past chapter ten, but actually survive for nineteen chapters and receive reviews in the hundreds, I would have told you that you were stark raving mad. The people who really made this story possible were the reviewers, who gave me wonderful feedback and encouragement, and those who went above and beyond and e-mailed me suggestions and help when I needed it. Thanks!

This is the second to last chapter I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: If you didn't get this from the first eighteen chapters, I don't own the Teen Titans! Any characters contained within this story are not mine and belong to their respective owners with whom I have no affiliation.

Chapter Nineteen

It's funny how the mind can wander when you're completely content. You begin to think of things that you barely notice exist on a regular day, like the smell of summer on the wind, the warm rays of the sun, or the feel of grass against the skin. If life can be like this at times, why do people fight? Why should there be a need for heroes? It's this state of contentment that makes you happy to be alive and there's almost nothing that can improve it. Almost nothing.

The gentle heat of the sun and the fresh air had put Beast Boy halfway between consciousness and unconsciousness and he became aware of that one and only thing that improved that feeling of contentment. Love. His love was lying right next to him in the grass, he had his arm around her as she did him and he felt her wonderful body mold up against his. It was as if they had been made to fit together and their body heat meshed to join them into something different than two people. Something closer.

The sky was a nearly cloudless azure backdrop to the bustling city and sparkling ocean beyond. They had gone out for a picnic and found a perfect grassy hillside that had a commanding view of Jump City and the surrounding area. The entire day had been perfect, just him and her together.

Vaguely aware that he would soon fall asleep, Beast Boy decided to tell Raven he loved her. It was not as though she needed him to tell her, but simply saying 'I love you' never came close to the true feelings he had for her. It was times like this that made him wish he were more poetic.

His first attempt was little more than a mumble and he took in a deep breath, taking her marvelously relaxing scent with it.

"I love you Raven." He managed.

His proclamation was met with laughter. Not that of Raven's, but someone, else's someone twisted and wrong.

It was coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time and it was steadily getting louder.

:-:-:-:-:

It had been all too easy. Trigon tore free of his many metal restraints like they were nothing more than thread and attacked the emotions quickly and relentlessly. He'd caught them by surprise at first, and that made it all the easier. He made quick work of beating the emotions that resided closest to his arid canyon into submission before assimilating them, adding them to his power. After that, the rest threw themselves at him, like lambs to the slaughter. Of course emotions akin to Bravery managed to put up a little fight, but it only took him a little longer to finish with them than it did the others.

His power grew greatly after he absorbed this boy's representation of his demon side and he only had one emotion left to deal with. It had fled though, the moment it had become aware that it was not Rage that had broke free, but the actual Trigon the Terrible. It was of little concern to him, this coward would do nothing and could do nothing to interfere even if it wanted to.

The plan was going without a hitch; the boy was lying in the flat of the giant red demon's hand in a dream-induced state. To make this plan work, Trigon had to erase the boy's memory of that night and caused him to believe this dream was really happening. Maybe dream was the wrong word, very soon his bliss would turn into his very worst nightmare. The best part? Trigon could see and control everything that was going on in this little 'dream' world.

"I love you Raven."

That was it, the signal he'd been waiting for to break the child. He started laughing at the thought of it, the thought that he'd be coming into the world and breaking this boy's fragile mind in one felled swoop.

He entered the dream and lifted the boy and the fabrication of his daughter up with his crimson powers. The pale boy struggled for a moment before he became truly aware of what was happening.

"Trigon!" He shouted. "You can't be here, Raven killed you!"

"Do you really think that a being as powerful as myself can die? I've returned to your world to conquer this universe! Not before I exact my revenge on those who stopped me the first time though."

A lance of dark energy thrust itself in Trigon's direction but merely splashed off his chest as if it were water when it struck him. He laughed maniacally at the meager attempt.

"My daughter's power comes from me, there is no way it can harm me." He brought the false Raven closer for examination. "Did I say my daughter? Look at this weak creature, there is no demon here at all. It is you who harbors the demon blood boy, or should I say, son."

Trigon took great pleasure in the way his face contorted at his last word, this would be far easier than he thought.

"There is no way in hell I could ever be considered your son! I have a father and he wasn't some fucked up demon bent on destroying the universe!"

"The demon inside you feels very differently and I intend to nurture it. Unlike the weak fool this girl was, I can see a deep evil within you. The only thing keeping your power from the world is this whelp here." He shook Raven in front of him, eliciting a small whimper that was muffled by a band of his dark red power around her mouth.

"Fine, you want me to release my deep evil? I'll do that and all the dirty work you want so long as you let Raven go." He said with underlying desperation in his voice.

"And why would I let her go? She's the one polluting your mind with talk of such frivolous things as 'love'." He spat the word with distain. "No, I have a much better use for her. You will kill her my son and in doing so, release your true self."

"Do you seriously think I'm going to kill Raven? I hate to tell you this, but I'd die before ever even thinking that."

"How noble, fool. You will kill her because if you don't I will, and I promise you that it will be a torturously long and painful death. Do you think you can bear to hear her screams of anguish? Is it not better to give her a quick and painless death than to let her suffer?"

The expression of anger left the empath's face as he calculated what he could do. He looked to the Raven and looked into her eyes, Trigon had manipulated her to cry. The utter chaos the must have been eating away at the boy at that moment was priceless, Trigon was sure he'd remember it for centuries.

"Rae… I… I don't know what to do…" He said in distress.

The band of energy covering Raven's mouth disappeared and she began to speak. "It's ok Beast Boy, I don't blame you for this but it's better that you do it quickly."

:-:-:-:-:

Kill Raven? There was no way. But he was going to torture her… He couldn't let her suffer like that… He looked deeply into those two violet orbs he'd come to love so much, she was crying and it hurt him to see her like that.

"Rae… I… I don't know what to do…"

"It's ok Beast Boy, I don't blame you for this but it's better that you do it quickly."

She then closed her eyes as if she expected him to do it right then and there.

'She… What? Just like that? No goodbye? I don't think Raven would ever ask me to do something like this, even in this situation let alone ask me flat out without some kind of goodbye.'

"R-Rae?"

"Just do it!" She shouted through closed eyes.

"You see my son? She wishes for a quick end, be merciful and grant it."

Beast Boy looked from Raven to Trigon and back again. This couldn't be Raven, she'd never ask this of him.

"Whoever or whatever she is, she isn't Raven." He said glaring coldly at Trigon. "What's going on here?"

:-:-:-:-:

Raven was flung from the dark swirling vortex to the hard dusty ground. She was a little annoyed that she always landed so unceremoniously even when she knew what to expect, but there were more pressing matters right now. After finding her room untouched but for the hand mirror in the middle of the floor, it wasn't hard to guess Beast Boy's whereabouts.

She'd barely gotten up before she heard a voice.

"You have to get out of here, now!"

She thought that it belonged to Beast Boy for a moment but could plainly see by the clothing that it was an emotion.

"Fear?" She asked, a little uncertain.

So was only uncertain about this emotion's identity because of the way he spoke. If it had been Fear, she'd have expected him to be a great deal more hesitant and speak with a wavering voice.

"Yes I'm Fear but you have to get to the forbidden door now. Trigon is here and he's captured the others."

"Calm down, its just Rage but he does have to be stopped. Where's Beast Boy?"

"No! You don't understand! This is Trigon and he has Beast Boy as well as the others. There's no time to argue, you have to get out of here now while Trigon's attention is focused on Beast Boy." He said firmly.

Raven studied his intense expression. Could he be right? Was it possible that this was Trigon?

"Where's Beast Boy? If this is Trigon, we have to help him."

Fear growled in frustration. "Look! There's nothing you or anyone can do for him now! Just get out of here and tell the others, I'll do what I can but I really doubt I can stop him. Trigon will be very weak after he possesses Beast Boy, you have a chance to stop him as soon as he comes out of the mirror."

"There's no wa-" Fear cut her off.

"I would never ask you to do this, Beast Boy would never ask you to do this, you have to tell Robin to do it. Tell him it's to protect Starfire."

:-:-:-:-:

The fact that this boy had seen through not one, but two of his deceptions infuriated Trigon. How had he known his fake wasn't the real Raven? He'd captured the emotions now, but it would be difficult if not impossible to take control of a fully aware mortal. Were he actually in the same dimension, it would be a much different story, but that wasn't the case.

This was a major set back but it wasn't going to deter him, not when he was this close. So he'd have to fight this boy for dominance over his body, he had a shot at it, but it would be best to try it with all the power he could muster. If he acted quickly, he could find that last coward of an emotion and absorb him.

Being omnipotent had its perks, especially when looking for something. Trigon swept his consciousness throughout the boy's mind in search of the emotion.

"Ah, there you are… What this? She is here? Perhaps my original plan can still be executed."

With his unconscious portal in hand, Trigon thundered off in the direction of his daughter and the final emotion. His recent good fortune was almost too good to believe; first, a switch occurred giving him access to an unguarded mind to act as his portal, and now when it seemed his carefully thought out plan was lost, this boy's very worst weakness walked right into his hands. The fact that everything seemed to be falling into place almost made up for his defeat a year ago, almost.

The things he was going to do to those mortals was going to be the sweetest revenge he'd tasted in a long time. Perhaps he'd hunt down his former servant first- he was getting ahead of himself. Deal with this now, and then punish those who deserve it.

He'd spotted them, and it appeared they were aware of him. The emotion grabbed the girl's shoulder and tried to phase them away but it was of no use. He was the last free emotion and being separated from his counterparts made him even weaker than before. They were enveloped in dark crimson auras and brought to a halt.

"Did you really think you could hide forever Fear? I really must thank you for bringing my daughter to me, I wasn't sure that I could take this boy without her." He flicked his wrist sharply causing Beast Boy's head to jerk to the side, waking him. "So what do you think boy? I now have your 'precious' Raven, a part of you actually brought her to me."

:-:-:-:-:

Beast Boy looked around franticly, he was in Trigon's firm grip and it looked like there was very little that could change that. He was hoping that this was all just some bad dream, but after awaking, he remembered all that had happened since the argument with 'Rage'.

"So what do you think boy? I now have your 'precious' Raven, a part of you actually brought her to me." He said, tilting his hand slightly to allow the Titan to see past his massive knuckle.

Was this just another scheme of Trigon's? Or could this actually be Raven? He didn't recognize the emotion next to her, but the look on his face seemed to say he'd have been curled up in the fetal position were he not held in place.

"I give you the choice you had before, you kill her, or I do in the most painful way imaginable."

Something about his was definitely not right, Trigon had a sort of cocky air about him, almost as if he'd already won.

"Raven?"

"Let him go Trigon! You have no right to use him like this!"

That was Raven it had to be.

"I have all the right in the universe to do this. My blood courses through his veins, my power is what gives him strength, I may use my son in any way I see fit." He taunted.

"HE IS NOT YOUR SON! AN ABOMINATION LIKE YOU COULD NEV-" A wave of Trigon's free hand muffled out the rest of her words.

"Choose now or I will start to torture her."

"You can't! Take me instead, I'll do whatever you want." Beast Boy begged. "You have no need for her."

"I will not lower myself to bargain with you child. If you cannot decide, then you forfeit your right to end her suffering."

The dark empath thought of any possible way out of this predicament. Could his powers hurt Trigon? His only weak point on the outside of his body looked to be his eyes. Maybe that would give him enough time to get Raven to safety. He looked into Raven's eyes, there was something there that had never been in the copy's, and it was something powerful and real.

"Your indecisiveness has forced my hand boy. Say goodbye to her now because she won't be able to hear you over her own agony soon enough."

Trigon raised his free arm and leveled it at Raven.

"No you can't! Leave her out of this! RAVEN!" Beast Boy thrashed and fought as hard as he could but it was futile.

"Time to die dau-" A blinding flash and deafeningly loud explosion knocked both Trigon and Beast Boy back about a dozen feet.

:-:-:-:-:

Raven shook off the shock of the loud noise and bright light quickly. Trigon had been knocked to the ground, but Beast Boy was still in his grasp. What had caused the explosion? Had the others come in after her? She saw no sign to indicate that the distraction was caused by one of Robin's explosive disks…

As the last of the faint ringing left her ears, her attention was brought to a heavy breathing above her. Fear was hovering about ten feet above her with his arms outstretched toward Trigon. That was probably one of the last things she'd have expected to see because once they had been captured, it appeared that Fear had reverted to his usual terrified self.

Trigon too rose quickly from the unexpected attack. He looked enraged that anyone could catch him by surprise, but his look of anger soon gave way to one of amusement.

"The coward? Well it looks like you've grown a spine after all, it won't help you now though."

"Raven, go now." Fear whispered urgently over his shoulder.

Trigon snapped his arm forward and a flash of crimson shot toward Fear at an alarming speed. A dark half bubble appeared in front of him but it was not enough to stop the assault, the shield flickered and shattered into innumerable pieces before evaporating into thin air and Fear was thrown down to the ground. The red demon's arm leveled itself at Raven again.

"Now that that little annoyance has been taken ca-" Trigon stopped mid-sentence and looked past Raven. "Why do you persist? You must know that you are no match for my power, yet you betray your fearful nature. Tell me, are you not afraid?"

"Terrified, but having courage is not being fearless, it's being afraid but acting in spite of it." Said Fear as he shakily placed himself in front of Raven. "So long as any part of Beast Boy draws breath, he won't let you hurt Raven."

Raven looked to Beast Boy, he was still struggling against Trigon's grip but his mouth had been covered. Trigon was going to get bored of toying with Fear very soon, she just needed to find a way to get Beast Boy out of here. Maybe if she were able to surprise him, he would release him long enough to escape.

She stood and began to transform into a tyrannosaurus rex as fast as she could. Her actions were brought to a screeching halt as more of that accursed red energy surrounded her.

"Stay where you are. I grow weary of this, your power will be added to my own Fear."

With that, Fear let out a cry of pain and his physical representation melted away. What was left in his place was a dark mass that flowed towards Trigon's open hand. It seeped through his red skin and a chilling smile graced his lips.

"Now look on as the one you love dies."

'You as well Rage, I told you that you would be here to witness this.'

:-:-:-:-:

Raven let out a tormented cry as the dark energy that surrounded her crackled and pulsated. Trigon had waited over a year for this moment, not long in the grand scheme of things, but it had seemed like it took centuries because of his unjust defeat. His musings were interrupted as the boy in his hand shouted out, he was enjoying the sound of his daughters suffering so much that he must have released his hold over his mouth.

"AZERATH METRION ZINTHOS!"

"I have all of your emotions, you are powerless."

"Stop this! Stop hurting her!" Raven cried out louder. "STOP IT NOW! AHHHH!"

His head fell forward and rested limply against his fist.

'Now what was all that about?' Trigon thought.

'You're about to find out!' Came the voice of Rage.

Something was happening inside, he could feel it. It started as a sore feeling in his bones but steadily spread all over. The boy he held was thrashing about and seemed to be changing, growing fur, green fur.

'You hurt Raven! You're not welcome here!'

The voice hadn't been that of Rage, it was something deeper almost as if it were a growl. It suddenly hit Trigon, it was the Beast.

"But you're nothing but an animal!" He cried aloud. "No mere beast can defeat me!"

Trigon could hear the desperation in his own voice, the Beast was gaining control and forcing him out. Of all Rage's attempts to regain control of his body, none had been this strong.

Beast Boy fell to the ground unconscious. His body was somewhere in between human and Beast but it looked as if he was steadily progressing toward the latter of the two. Trigon's transformation was the same, he fought but there was no way he'd be able to keep his hold on the body.

How could this happen? How could he fail again? He felt his consciousness slipping from the dimension as the Beast forced the last of his power out of the body. This wasn't supposed to be possible, he had all of the emotions, all of the power. Just as he was forced out, he realized how he engineered his own downfall.

:-:-:-:-:

"It was coming from this way, hurry!" Shouted Robin.

Raven had been gone for over an hour since she left to check on Beast Boy and Starfire was getting very anxious. Cyborg had figured they both talked for a while and fell asleep together since his scanners said they hadn't moved, but that hadn't been enough to calm the auburn haired Titan's worries. She immediately got the others when she found that they were in fact not in Raven's room at all.

Robin had been wary to lead the team into an environment he knew so little about, but two of his teammates, two of his friends could be in danger.

"But you're nothing but an animal! No mere beast can defeat me!"

They were definitely headed in the right direction, the sound was coming for just beyond the next hill. They came to a clearing just in time to see a blinding multicolored flash accompanied by something similar to a thunderclap. When his vision cleared, Robin saw both Raven and Beast Boy lying unmoving on the ground.

He was a little confused about what had just happened, but his instincts as leader kicked in.

"Quickly, get them to the medical bay!"

---

So how did you guys like that? There was a little more dialogue than I wanted but I think it turned out pretty well.

The last chapter will try up all the loose ends and explain a few things I thought up as I was writing (I think they make sense). There was a tiny hint in there as to how Trigon was defeated and I'll give a hero cookie to whoever guesses correctly.

I'll try to get the last chapter out next week but I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you. The holidays are hectic here at best and I'm going to be unable to access the internet after December 22nd until about the 4th of January. With any luck it will be an early Christmas gift.

I forgot to mention that it took two cans of Coca Cola to bring you chapter eighteen and this chapter took three. I'll tally it all up in the end and give you a total in litres.

Thanks for taking the time to read my story!