Chapter 4:

I Alone

We trained fast, and we trained hard. By two o'clock in the afternoon, we all had managed to sample a little bit of the materia Ariel had with her. Now we were testing our skills with these mystical orbs. Ariel said the best way was to actually use them in a real battle; the passion would be so great that we would learn real fast how to control the power these magical balls contained. Time was of the essence.

"All right Beast Boy, it's your turn," Ariel said. "I want you to make the earth come out of the ground big enough to put half the tower in. Try to make it fast: we have to go to Star Labs as soon as we can."

Beast Boy nodded, "Okay! Here goes!"

With that, the green changeling began to cast his Quake spell.

"Quake!" he said, casting the spell towards Ariel.

On either side of her, rocks the size of Cyborg lifted out of the ground and slammed together. Ariel dodged the attack by jumping out of the way at the last second.

"You need to drive more emotion into it!" Ariel called back.

"I don't know how!" he yelled back.

Ariel got cocky, "Terra was right in dumping you! A little green bastard like you couldn't make it anywhere with such a pretty girl like that! You know what Beast Boy, YOU'RE A FUCKING MISTAKE!"

Beast Boy's eyes watered profusely. The anger was rising in him. More and more energy circled him as he screamed at the top of his lungs, "QUAKE!" With that, Ariel withdrew her Masamune to prepare for the attack. This time, the rocks were three times as big and surrounded her on all four sides. Ariel spun in a circle and sliced all the stones in half. They fell back to the ground as Beast Boy wiped his face. Ariel walked up to him, "Sorry I had to do that, but if you don't know how to use these things properly, you'll be a sitting duck."

She turned to everyone else, "Everyone, I am thankful that you all can adapt so quickly to these new techniques. The journey we're about to embark on, the battle that we're about to take part in, is going to be a long and strenuous one. I don't know how long it'll take, much less win. It could be over in a matter of seconds, or it could take a few weeks. I can't guarantee that we'll all survive, but I pray to God that we will. I have faced many minions, villains, demons; some that would make Raven's father look like a cakewalk. This is different, nothing like I've ever seen. Slade has the ability to hop back and forth between dimensions it seems and transport people and things to and fro. You may be finding yourself fighting the same battle numerous times. You may find yourself near death. But, remember this: God is with you, whether you trust in Him or not. He will be your Guide. He sent me here because you all are the best. What few skills I taught you in the last eight hours will expand as we go out into the world around you. I must warn you: you're not going to like what you're about to see. Slade has unleashed some of the beasts into the city to shake things up a bit. If you thought the end of the world was bad, just wait…"

"Everyone, I must ask: are you happy with what you have accomplished so far in life? Are you ready to give up now?"

I looked around at the rest of the team. They shook their heads and uttered "No." Ariel looked at me last, "How about you, Raven?"

"I guess not," I said. "I've still got a lot to live for, I suppose."

"Raven," Starfire said as she put her hand on my shoulder. "There is much I would like to do with you that we never got to do before. If we can beat your father, I am sure we can defeat Slade."

With that she kissed me on the cheek and stepped aside.

"Yeah Raven," Cyborg said. "Beast Boy still hasn't taken you out on a date."

Beast Boy turned redder than a radish before fainting.

"Raven, we're counting on you," said Robin.

"Slade's campaign is not going to be pretty," Ariel said. "You saw yourself what he did just to get the head of that creature. But that doesn't mean we can't get the best of him."

I looked at Ariel, "What are you talking about?"

"Unlike Slade," she said. "Only God knows where to find the black magic that Slade's gung-ho about. If we can get to it first…"

"We can stop him dead in his tracks," Robin realized.

"Whoa, not so fast, Robin," Ariel said. "He's still got his new apprentice. We don't know if he really needs this… black materia to do much of anything. For all we know, he could pull the creatures out from another dimension. Don't underestimate his craftiness."

"From the way he spoke, it sounded like it could really come in handy," I said.

"Maybe so, but we can never be too sure," Ariel said. She looked around, "Is everyone ready? Once we begin, there's no turning back… not there was a chance of that happening, anyway."

I turned to everyone. Starfire lost her usual bounciness, Beast Boy and Cyborg stood upright and somber, and Robin, well, like always, stood ready for action. I wielded my Masamune, and yelled, "TITANS! GO!"

Cyborg drove his car, Robin rode his motorcycle, Starfire and I flew. The Masamune wouldn't fit in any loaded passenger vehicle, so I had to do the next best thing. Starfire stayed close beside me as we began to enter Jump City's city limits. All was quiet on our front. We had to make it to Star Labs in Metropolis, almost twelve miles away. We flew deeper into the city.

My communicator went off.

I reached down and brought it up from my belt; flipping it open, I was greeted with Cyborg's face.

He talked while driving, "Heads up! OH SHIT!"

The transmission was cut off as the T-car slid sideways, just shy of a small group of black uniformed soldiers, complete with the panther-like creatures for each member. Starfire and I flew to the ground behind them while everyone else stationed themselves on the other side.

One of the uniformed turned to us, "Teen Titans! Throw down your weapons or we'll blow your asses away."

Robin looked at us through the crowd, "What do you say, Raven?"

I smirked back, "Titans, GO!"

The crowd split into two as they formed their attack against us. Starfire went in punching, blasting. I heard her trying out some of her new materia, some "Fire" materia. Three of the soldiers burst into flames, screaming as they went down. Two of the panthers launched themselves upon me. I swung my Masamune in a half circle. The creatures collapsed into pieces as they landed on the ground with a loud splat. The battle was fierce, bloody, and sinful. I ran my blade far into the abdomen of one of my opponents. They wore some sort of gas masks so I couldn't see his expression. His head was level for a minute as blood began to poor out of the ventilation holes. I removed the blade as his body fell to its knees before toppling over. People were dying all around me, but I didn't have time to stop and analyze what we were doing. Another pack of panthers leaped off the building. Just as I was about to strike, a giant gush of wind knocked me out of the way and into a nearby department store window. Apparently, these guys were materia packing assholes. The panthers missed but got Robin – who threw them off and continued the fight – but my magic attacker was coming for me. I used my power to sink into the floor below me as he stepped into the window bay. He looked around for me inside the shop's window as I began to rise from the ground behind him. I brought the sword down through the middle of his back, severing his spine and cutting his heart in half. I drew back my sword as he fell forward, off the display and into the floor.

I leapt out of the window and back into the street. The opposition had been decimated. Bodies were strewn everywhere, non-caring. The roads ahead where barricaded heavily; sandbags shrouded turrets and small command posts. I could hear her voice deep inside, calling, asking, "Did you make it? Are they there yet?" I shook it off and turned to Ariel, "What's happened to the city?"

Ariel hushed everyone, "Listen…"

Somewhere, a demonstration was occurring. A speech was being read… by Slade himself…

"We've got to find out where that's coming from!" Robin exclaimed.

Beast Boy nodded before his eyes got really wide. He began to frantically point and jump up and down. I turned around to see six small hovering objects – in the shapes of a wind-up top, only the top of it was larger – each with an arm on each side complete with propeller to keep it airborne. They were about the size of a compact car, and complete with armor plating and a camera.

Cyborg gazed at them, "What in the…"

Immediately, machine guns exposed themselves from the units' compartments and began to fire. Using my power, I put up a giant force field to protect us from the firing range that popped up in the street.

"Get down!" Ariel screamed. "COMET!"

The skies overhead darkened as a small entourage of small meteors came crashing down onto the hovering gunners. The rocks managed to take out two of them and cause some pretty heavy damage to the street. I brought down the force field to take on the rest. Robin ran forward and used his freezing projectiles on the first one. They stuck to the propellers and brought them to a grinding halt. While on the move, he called out, "BOLT!" From the darkened skies above, a massive lightning strike slammed into the gunner, causing it to explode into numerous pieces. Ariel was next: she ran on the wall of the building before coming down with an executioner's strike on the next artillery gunner. The machine floated for a second before it split in half. She back flipped out of the way as the other two opened fire upon her. Cyborg fired back as Beast Boy changed into a bull and Starfire unleashed her star bolts upon them. Cyborg destroyed one while Beast Boy and Starfire knocked out the other.

"Come on, let's go!" I said. We ran further down the street as our vehicles would not be able to maneuver well around the obstacles. Down the streets we met fierce resistance from more guys in uniforms and gas masks and new creatures. A barricade of soldiers blocked our way to the source of the demonstration. Slade's voice could be heard loudly in the background. I was ahead of the group, leading them on, when we came upon the barricade of people. I skidded to a halt as they took notice of me and began to march forward. I turned around to see my friends being engaged by a few artillery gunners and some new machinery: walking mechanized warriors that looked like upright Cadillacs with limbs. I turned back to the approaching line of very angry soldiers. They withdrew their automatic weapons and trained them on me. I narrowed my eyebrows and let the strength of the Masamune flow through me. I ran forward and began to fight: hacking, slashing, punching, kicking, anything to get these guys down and out. But they would never stop coming. It seemed that for however many I killed, that many more reappeared. My anger was reaching its limits as I frantically fought harder and harder to make my way through. I was getting outnumbered. I took a blow to the jaw and one to the stomach. Then one jump kicked me and planted his foot right on my forehead. The pain was reminiscent of being hit in the head with a two-by-four with rusty nails protruding from it. I slammed into a local U.S. mailbox. They gathered around me; one reached down, grabbed my collar, and began to pull me up from the ground.

My anger was unleashed. The Masamune tightened in my hand as I could feel my emotions let go. My power began to flow in every direction. I broke free of the man's grasp and went nuts slashing. I couldn't see because of the gunfire and blood as I decapitated and incapacitated many. I moved so fast that I was merely a blur as I went on my rampage. When it was over, I fell to my side and sat down on the sidewalk. The street to the main park where the demonstration was coming from now looked like an unearthed graveyard. There were heavy moans and crying coming from the fallen that hadn't died yet. I looked down at the Masamune. Its blade was perfectly polished and clean. I looked down at my leotard and cape: they were soaked, caked, with the soldier's blood. I looked up again at the body-littered street. Slade was probably bringing in men by the truckload. If he ran out, he would probably just open up a portal and go get more. I was so lost in thought that I didn't notice Starfire approach. She took a seat next to me and gasped, "Raven! You are gunshot!"

I looked down at my shoulder and stomach. My blood was squirting out like a fountain.

I breathed heavily, "I am, aren't I…? So tired… I don't know if I can use my powers right now… so tired…"

Starfire grabbed me as I slumped over. She began to scream for help as my consciousness faded in and out. Ariel ran forward and called out the word "Cure!" as I slipped from Starfire's arms and back onto the concrete sidewalk. I rested there as a sparkling array of lights and small twinkling stars collapsed onto me. Miraculously, I could feel my wounds – internal and external – begin to patch themselves up, more than what my own powers could do. It ached, though, like I had been whopped numerous times with a pillowcase full of bars of soap. The pumice-powered Lava brand bars of soap. Starfire and Beast Boy helped me back up to my feet. Ariel looked me over, "Are you all right?"

"I will be," I said. "What was that that healed me?"

Ariel lifted up her Masamune and removed the materia from her slot. She placed it in my hand, "It's called 'Restore' materia. You can use it to heal wounds and injuries. Or, you can even use it to cast a spell that will keep your health up. Here, put it in your slot."

Robin picked up my Masamune and carried it over to us. I took the small green orb and placed it into one of the depressions found in the hilt. I looked up at the team around me. Some had bloody noses; others had minor cuts and bruises. Their attention turned to the stage in Jump City's central park. I grasped my sword, swung it around and then under my arm.

"Let's go," I commanded.

I took the lead as we walked over the small graveyard I had created. Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Robin began discussing their previous battle with the artillery gunners and gas-masked henchmen. Ariel stayed in the back, following up the rear. Starfire stayed by my side. I looked over at her, "Hey, Starfire?"

She looked back, "Yes Raven?"

"What's the story on Ariel, anyway? I mean, how did she know all of our names and what was going on? Did you tell her everything beforehand? Did you arrange for her to show up?"

"I'm afraid not," Star sighed. "Ariel is… I do not know how to explain. She has special powers that I have never seen before. She spent a large amount of time on my home planet of Tamaran; doing what, I was too young to remember. She labels herself as a messenger for 'God,' but she has not had the time to explain to me who God is. She was going to explain it to me long ago, but she disappeared before she ever did. I do not know the depth of her powers, nor do I know where they come from, other than these 'materia.' I have seen these orbs before on Tamaran, but no-one knew what or how to use them. There was one – the ultimate form of energy – that grew abundant there. But it was highly dangerous and could not be used by my people. At least, that is what Ariel told them."

I looked ahead as we walked down a small hill, drawing closer to the park, "What was it called?"

"I believe it was called, 'Ultima.'"

"Ultima? Sounds powerful. So, how old is she? Do you know where she comes from?"

"I do not know. I do not know if she even ages. She has looked the same then as she does now, and that has been many years. She does not look any different now than she did when she disappeared. She never spoke of where she comes from. She outright refuses to answer. Once, I tried looking through some of her belongings to figure it out, but I found nothing… nothing but an old leather bound book with a strange way of speaking in it. It was like Earth's language, but it was very strange."

The rest of the way we walked in silence. The park came into full view; we were only a few yards away. A giant projection screen was set up about the size that you see at the baseball field. A large crowd was packed into the population, deathly silent and staring with fear at the large image of Slade on the screen. Below the screen, on a giant wooden stage covered by steel framework to hold up spotlights and PA equipment. Slade was standing behind a wooden podium on the center of the stage. I looked around the streets, beyond the crowd. The security tightened; more guards began to surround the demonstration from all sides.

"You are now going to be ruled under me," Slade said into the microphone. "No army can stop me, no super weapons, and certainly not the Teen Titans. You will bow down before me, pledge allegiance only to me. Every command, every whim, you will perform without question. You will worship me… like a GOD!"

Ariel leapt off Starfire's and my shoulders and soared high into the air. She ran across people to get to the stage. Robin tried running after her until I stuck my arm out and stopped him.

"But, Slade!" he pleaded.

I swung around, "NO! Stay here. I have a bad feeling about this."

Robin tried to persist but gave up on the struggle. He stood back as we turned to watch as Ariel approached Slade. He turned to her, his eye narrowing.

Slade took a stance, "Ariel, we can never stop running into each other, can we?"

Ariel brought her sword up, "Too bad it's never the real person, now is it Slade? You're too afraid to face me in person?"

Slade laughed, "Why Ariel that hurts. I'll be more than happy to meet you at the labs… if you can get there, that is."

Ariel brought her sword down onto Slade. His right arm went up and blocked the blade. Ariel's eyes widened, "No…"

"You seem to have forgotten of what my powers are capable of now. I have developed a new metal alloy that can resist the blade of a Masamune. I have equipped all my mechanical clones with this, as you can see."

Slade ran forward and punched Ariel as hard as he could. She flew back and slammed into one of the support beams of the catwalk above.

"Titans, GO!" I yelled.

We began to push through the crowd as fast as we could, but it was so thick… navigating it was a bitch. Ariel dropped her sword to the side, "I long for the day that we can fight face-to-face."

He laughed, "So do I, but for now, you'll have to deal with this little sample. I'll be waiting for you. Slade, out."

Ariel ran forward and began to fight the robotized clone of Slade. I turned to Robin as we pushed through everyone, "Now do you see why I wanted you to wait!" Ariel knocked the clone back into the podium. The solid oak wood cracked and split as the metallic body hit it. While he was down, Ariel called upon the power of ice. A giant layer of ice about a foot thick appeared on the Slade clone. He looked at her before breaking free of his icy jacket. Slade ran forward and jump kicked Ariel; she flew off the stage and onto the grass below. When we finally reached the platform, I jumped off of a barricade fence that allowed some clearance between the crowd and the stage and drop kicked Slade. The clone fell backwards into one of the supports of the projector screen above. He hit it so hard that it knocked it out; the sound of metal bending echoed throughout the whole park. The people began to back up before making mad dashes through the human barricades, which couldn't stop them due to the sheer amount. I focused my energy on the support, "Azarath Metrion ZINTHOS!"

My energy began to push the projector back towards the empty street. The Slade clone hopped up and began to run towards me. Before I could react he punched me twice and threw me to the other side of the stage. I crashed into the platform floor and fell through. I heard Robin engage him next. Robin's angry screams and curses filled the afternoon as he fought fiercely against his arch nemesis. I pulled myself up and picked up my sword. Climbing out of the hole, I ducked as Robin was sent soaring towards another support beam of the overhead catwalk. The rest of the team engaged Slade: Starfire unleashed a barrage of star bolts, Beast Boy turned into a gorilla and tried manhandling the robot, and Cyborg began to take pot shots. Ariel climbed up back onto the stage. She ran forward and grabbed Slade from behind, putting his head into a sleeper hold. Ariel began to scream as she squeezed harder and harder, trying to rip the robot's head off of its body. The robot, in turn, took his one free arm and punched Ariel again in the face. As she went down, she ripped off his mask, revealing a camera and small viewing screen. Now was my chance: I took my sword, ran forward, and side slashed the neck of the Slade robot. Its head rolled off as the rest of the body fell over. Sparks flew out as the system shut down.

"Is everyone okay?" Cyborg asked.

Robin walked up, rubbing the back of his head, "God… I need Tylenol in large quantities…"

"We've got to make it to the labs," I said. "There's not much time left."

Ariel approached and wiped the blood away from her nose and mouth, "Then what're we waiting for."

I walked over to the now defunct robot.

"What is it, Raven?" Robin asked.

I didn't respond. Instead I turned the robot over onto its back and examined a small logo on the side of the neck that was still intact.

I looked up at everyone, "Shin-ra Power Company?"