Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.
Chapter 3.
The Dark DimensionMalchior flew low over a dark landscape. He remembered it well, it had been his home.
The great rolling plains of dark earth, the black trees with the twisting branches, and the small dirty townships, ahh, he was home again!
Malchior hovered downwards slightly, he bent his long neck towards the ground, still no sigh of any of his targets.
He caught sight of someone, herding a small group of coarse-haired sheep. Oh well… time for a lunch-break.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A circle of light appeared in the earth. A girl and a black cat appeared in the center of it. "Welcome to the Dark Dimension." Said Kaylin.
"Er… nice." Said Raven.
Kaylin sighed, "nice isn't the word to describe it."
"Yeah, okay," sighed Raven, "it's distorted, repulsive and creepy."
Kaylin smiled, "shall we proceed?"
"Yeah, sure, why not." Raven stepped out of the circle, "which way?"
Kaylin motioned one way, "Azarath is over there." He motioned in another direction, towards a dark forest, "but where you to go is over there."
Raven sighed again, "then let's go."
"The journey to Azarath would be a safer trip…" Began Kaylin.
"… But away from it is the right way." Finished Raven.
Kaylin shrugged, "if it's what you want, then follow me." He set off at a brisk trot with Raven following behind. They walked in silence for a while until they came to a rocky out crop. Kaylin bounded to the top and Raven flew up after him. Kaylin sniffed, "there's something not quite right, I can smell something…" Suddenly a shape burst from behind a boulder striking Kaylin aside and rounding on Raven. It was a tall man-shaped being wearing some kind of black armor. His face, or what Raven could see of it for it was covered by a long black scarf, was pale almost white with slitted reptilian eyes. He leveled a crossbow at Raven, "half-demon," he sneered, "you are my bounty."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Starfire prodded the center of the circle and felt something like an air current sucking at her finger. "Curiosity abounds," she murmured, "what is this circle?"
"Looks like some kind of portal." Said Cyborg.
"But where does it lead," said Starfire, standing up.
"Only one way to find out," Said Beastboy, "come on." With that he strode into the center of the circle. The other Titans looked shocked. But nothing happened.
"Dude," said Beastboy, "what gives?"
"Maybe there is some kind of mystic chant you must say?" Starfire hazarded.
"What." Said Beastboy. "So I just say Azarath Metrion Zinthos…" Beastboy suddenly looked down, "oh no." He disappeared through the floor.
The others were speechless for a moment, "Well," said Cyborg, "that answers that question."
Terra leapt into the circle, "we've got to go after him!"
Robin nodded, "alright, but some of us have to stay here."
"No," hissed a malicious voice, "time you children learned to butt out of matters that don't concern you."
The Titans turned, there was a massive raven in the hallway. "I am Darkstorm." It hissed. "Necronum Hezberek Mortix!"
A wave of magic swept over the Titans, filling every corner of the room and engulfing them in shadow.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raven dived behind a boulder, "Kaylin." She snapped, "what's going on?"
Kaylin appeared beside her, "he's a bounty hunter," Kaylin looked worried, "they rule this dimension with an iron fist. They're almost immune to magic."
"And you didn't tell me this beforehand why?"
Kaylin shrugged, "I forgot?"
Raven rolled her eyes, "that's it!" She snarled, "no-one hunts me!" She leapt up. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" The bounty hunter looked on in surprise as the crossbow was ripped out of his hands, Raven flung her hands apart and the crossbow was torn to shreds. The bounty hunter snarled and drew out a long jagged dagger, he leapt at Raven with a roar. Raven swung her arms and created a shield of magic, but the dagger burst through it causing the shield to shatter. The bounty hunter kicked Raven in the chest, sending her sprawling backwards. As Raven prepared for the end a large black shape bounded in front of her. It was massive and shaped like a panther, it snarled and lunged at the bounty hunter, long claws extended from its paws. With a howl it struck the dagger from the bounty hunters hands and the massive creature ripped a claw through the bounty hunters chest. The bounty hunter collapsed backwards with a shocked expression on its face.
The great black panther began to shrink until it became a small black cat. With large ears.
"Kaylin," breathed Raven, "you saved me."
"Don't bother with thanks," said the black cat, "I'm sure you'll have the chance to save me before we're through."
Raven nodded. "Then let's go."
Kaylin leapt onto her shoulder, "forwards then Raven."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Beastboy sighed. "Hello!" He called. "Is anyone there?" He'd been alone in this place for over an hour. He was beginning to regret coming here. Suddenly he felt a rush of wind and was enveloped in a grip that squeezed the breath out of him.
"Oh Beastboy!" Called a voice he knew so well.
"Star… fire…" he gasped.
Starfire let go of Beastboy, who winced. "Star, how'd you get here?"
Starfire looked nervous, "After you disappeared we were attacked by a big black bird…"
Beastboy raised his eyebrows, "you mean Darkstorm?"
"I do not know much about it but I believe that that was who it was."
Beastboy nodded, he'd had a run in with Darkstorm before.
"So." Continued Starfire. "When the Darkstorm attacked us Cyborg drew us into the magic circle and shouted Ravens mantra. But I believe that we have ended up if different places for you are the only person I have seen so far."
"Riiight." Beastboy looked around at the bleak landscape. "So… any idea where we go now?"
Starfire pulled out her communicator and held it out to Beastboy, "since we cannot find them with our communicators we must find them manually."
Beastboy looked at her, "we can't call them?"
Starfire shook her head, "there are waves of magic in this place that interrupt the communication signals."
Beastboy sighed, "we'd better start looking."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robin stood at the edge of a cliff.
He wasn't too sure what he was looking at, below the cliff face was a large city. Perfectly carved building that practically glowed in the half-light.
It seemed a good enough place to start looking for the others.
It was fortunate for him that he heard the clicking sound that signaled a crossbow being cocked.
Robin dived to one side as the crossbow bolt thudded into the ground where he had been standing. Robin spun around a birdarang in each hand.
Robins assailant stood on a boulder, watching him with interest.
She was tall and wearing detailed black armor. Her crossbow was in one hand and she held a long knife in the other. Her pale face with its reptilian eyes was framed by long black hair.
She flung her crossbow to one side and drew out another knife.
With a snarl the woman leapt at Robin, blades flashing. Robin parried her attack with his birdarangs, then he fitted them together to form a large sword. He swung the blade at the woman, who blocked his attack with skill and leapt at the boy wonder with a roar of fury.
Robin rammed the blade into the ground and used the sword to propel himself forwards, slamming both of his feet into the womans chest, bowling her over.
Robin pressed his foot into the womans throat and smiled, "I win."
"Finish it then," hissed the woman, "strike me down now and content yourself that there's one less bounty hunter in the world!"
"I don't do that sort of thing." Said Robin, pulling his foot away from the womans neck.
"Your funeral!" She snarled, lunging at Robin, but Robin quickly ducked and lassoed a rope around her hands, dragging her to the floor. The bounty huntress tried to rise but Robin merely whipped the rope around her feet, causing her to trip and fall.
"Alright," said robin, "new rules. You're going to tell me who you are, where I am and why you wanted to kill me."
"I am a bounty hunter." Hissed the woman.
"Yes," said Robin, "I know."
The bounty huntress leered at him, "you are my prey in my realm."
"And what is that?"
"The Dark Dimension."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Aw man!" Cyborg walked past a tree that he'd walked past several times already. "I'm going round in circles." He checked his arm scanner for the tenth time. Again, nothing, something in this place was jamming the signal.
Cyborg sighed and sat down on a mossy boulder. Cyborg cast his gaze around at the trees. They were tall, imposing and had black bark. Cyborg almost felt like the trees were watching him.
He growled and thumped the boulder in annoyance. Then the boulder growled.
The boulder began to shake and Cyborg was flung to the ground. He looked around and saw the 'boulder' rearing up on four legs.
It uncurled and roared.
The 'boulder' now resembled a large black furred bear, with eight limbs.
It bellowed and lumbered towards Cyborg, lashing out with a claw.
Cyborg leapt to feet, put the bears claw caught him and sent the half robot teen flying.
Cyborg landed with a thump. He struggled to his feet and raised his sonic cannon, unleashing a pulse of sonic at the bear, scoring a point blank shot in the center of its chest.
The bear grunted in pain, but charged forward, snarling in anger. The claws extended on one paw. With lightning fast speed the bear carved three deep rents in Cyborgs chest.
Cyborg stepped back, "all right! You're going down now!" Aimed a punch and at the beast but it just gripped his fist and flung him to one side.
The bear grunted and prepared to rip the bionic titan in two.
Suddenly an arrow struck into its shoulder, causing the bear to roar in pain. The bear grunted and swung its head from side to side, searching for its assailant.
Another arrow struck into its chest. The bear roared in agony as a third arrow struck it in the back.
The bear snarled and lumbered off into the forest.
Cyborg got shakily to his feet and looked around for his savior.
"We should leave now, it may be back." Said a voice behind him. Cyborg spun around.
Standing behind him with a crossbow in her hand was a woman. She was wearing a robe of a coarse brown material.
She looked a lot like Raven, even down to the shoulder length purple hair and the gem on her forehead.
"Who are you?" Asked Cyborg.
"My name is Arella." Said the woman. "And you should not be here."
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terra's eyes fluttered open. "Are you gonna' move miss." Said an angry voice. "Cause' I've got material to deliver."
Terra looked around. There was an annoyed man looking at her. She realized that she was lying on a pile of large pieces of material. "Er, sorry." She said. Terra leapt off the pile. The man grunted and wheeled his small cart of fabric away.
Terra realized that she was in a city street.
Okay, she thought, this wasn't what I was expecting. What happened?
She remembered the massive raven, a blast of shadows, Cyborg grabbing her arm… then this.
Terra looked around again, this seemed a good place to search for the others.
Suddenly a bell started ringing and a man on horseback thundered through the streets. "THE BOUNTY HUNTERS!" He screamed. "THEY'RE HERE!"