Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter 8.

The Black Witch

Malchior surveyed the newcomers with interest.

After Gormancer had escaped the clones he'd created had disappeared.

And then… this lot had shown up.

There was the one with sword. Malchior remembered him. The one who dressed like a traffic light with the R on his shirt.

There was also the green male.

There was also the female with incredible strength, although she seemed to be restraining a bounty hunter.

Rorek stalked past Malchior and held out a hand, "greetings, my name is Rorek."

"Er…" Robin shook his hand, "Robin. This is Beastboy… and that's Starfire."

Rorek looked at Sashiill, "is this your captive?"

Robin shrugged, "sort of."

"He is calling me." Whispered Sashiill. "My master…"

"She is trying to reach someone." Said Starfire. "I had to hold her back."

"It's Gormancer." Said Malchior. "He is the Lord of the bounty hunters."

"Then we can use her to track him." Said Darkstorm, stepping forward. He clicked his beak, "as much as I hate it, we have to combine our efforts if we wish to prevail over Gormancer."

Robin nodded. "Sure, but we need to find Cyborg."

"I think Raven is in a lot more danger." Said Terra, she had her arms wrapped firmly around Beastboy and didn't seem likely to let go anytime soon.

"Then we must go to Raven now." Said Darkstorm. "There is no telling what Gormancer wants with her."

"Then come with me those of you who fly slowly or not at all." Growled Malchior.

Starfire held Sashiill and leapt into the air, "which way Sashiill?" She whispered.

Sashiill turned her head and stared intently in the direction Raven had fled. "My master calls me…"

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A large black bubble floated over the rolling plains of the Dark Dimension.

It hovered low and floated towards a certain spot.

Two dozen feet below it lay a girl in a blue cloak.

The bubble floated down and popped when it hit the ground.

When it burst it revealed Cyborg, Arella and Kaylin. "Nice one cat." Said Cyborg.

Arella pushed roughly past him and hurried over to her daughter. "Raven…" She whispered.

Cyborg appeared behind her and activated several internal scanners. They detected no life signs. "Oh man… Rae…"

Kaylin mewed sadly.

But Arella seemed calm. "Wake up Raven." She whispered.

"I don't think she can." Said Cyborg. "She's…"

"I know what she is." Said Arella. "And she isn't dead."

"How so?" Said Kaylin.

"Have you ever heard of the Black Witch?" Asked Arella.

Cyborg shook his head.

Arella nodded. "I thought not. I thought the Black Witch was Wraithe when I first heard about her. So I secluded myself in the forest so I could study the prophecy of the Black Witch in peace. And all signs point to Raven. And the Black Witch is destined to destroy Gormancer. So Raven cannot be dead if the prophecy is to come to light."

"You never told me that…" Whispered Raven.

Everyone, even Arella looked at her in shock.

"Rae!" Exclaimed Cyborg. "You're alive!"

Raven sighed. "So it would seem."

"But how?" Said Kaylin. "It's impossible."

"The prophecy states that Gormancer is unable to harm the Black Witch." Said Arella. "So I believe it was right."

A shadow passed over them and Cyborg looked up. "What the…?"

"Malchior." Whispered Raven.

Malchior touched down lightly, followed by Darkstorm and finally Starfire. Starfire seemed to be carrying a bounty hunter.

"Okay." Said Cyborg. "Weird."

Raven seemed to be restraining herself from attacking Malchior.

Malchior glanced at her, "time to put our feuds to one side for now."

Rorek leaped lightly off his back, "Ah." He said. "You must be the lady Raven." He said taking Ravens hand. Raven blushed.

"Yes." She whispered.

Darkstorm bounded over to Arella, "dearest sister." He said. "I was worried for you. Where were you."

Arella smiled. "I was keeping out of the way."

Robin sidled over to Cyborg. "Who's that?" He whispered, pointing to Arella.

"Oh, that's Arella." Said Cyborg. "Ravens mother."

"Dude, really?" Exclaimed Beastboy, having overheard with his above-average hearing.

"Seemed kinda' obvious." Said Terra. "I mean, they really do look alike…"

Malchior cast his gaze around those assembled. Right now he had his tail wrapped firmly around Sashiill. Starfire had dropped her as soon as she'd seen Kaylin…

"Oh you are so adorable." Starfire crooned as she cradled Kaylin in her arms. Kaylin purred happily. Score one for me, he thought.

Rorek and Raven stood apart from the rest.

"Lady Raven," said Rorek, "is it true? Are you really the Black Witch."

Raven looked away. "What gave you that idea?"

"I had my suspicions." Said Rorek.

"But what do I do?" Said Raven. "He's too powerful."

"Gormancer?" Said Rorek. "You won't be alone. If nothing else I will fight by your side."

"That's kind of you." Said Raven. She gazed at him.

"Do you know why Gormancer needed your blood?"

Raven shook her head.

Rorek looked over at the others. "Malchior stands out a lot doesn't he?" He said.

Raven snorted. "I owe him a bit of payback."

Rorek looked at her, "how so?"

"He tore out my heart and jumped on it." She said. "He once tricked me into letting him out of his book by pretending to be you. I trapped in back in using your own curse." She caught Roreks look of shock. "Anything wrong?"

"You used the binding curse?" Said Rorek. "A spell like that requires immense power, you are very impressive."

Raven blushed. "Uh… thanks…"

Rorek sighed. "I suppose it's time to go. Gormancer must be stopped."

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The army of bounty hunters stood to attention, waiting for their master.

Standing about a hundred meters away was the ragged group of defenders.

"Wow." Said Robin. "That is a lot of bounty hunters."

"It isn't the army that we need to worry about." Said Malchior.

"I think it's a pretty worrying sight." Said Terra.

"We've dealt with armies before." Said Beastboy.

"How about an army of malicious, intelligent and well-armed warriors designed only to kill?" Said Darkstorm.

"We are doomed." Said Terra.

"He's coming." Whispered Sashiill. Starfire was restraining her again. "My master… he's here."

A black tornado formed in front of the bounty hunter army.

The tornado faded away to reveal…

"Gormancer?" Said Arella.

"Ah." Said Malchior. "That isn't good."

Aggrail was sitting hunched on the ground. But it was dwarfed by its master.

Gormancer was gigantic. He could stare Malchior in the eye without looking up.

Large wings had sprouted from his back and his face closely resembled Malchiors, except with more horns and spines. He also had four eyes, probably an offshoot from drinking the blood of Trigons daughter.

"So that explains why he needed your blood." Rorek whispered in Ravens ear.

She nodded. "He's going to pay for that."

Gormancer stepped forward. "If the self proclaimed 'Black Witch' is brave enough to face me," he rumbled, "she should step forward now."

Despite several protests from the Titans, Raven stepped forward and flew over to Gormancer until she was about twelve feet away. "Is this going to be a one-on-one duel or an all-out brawl." Said Raven, staring up at Gormancers eyes.

"How about neither." Said a voice.

Fire leapt up around Ravens feet and spread until both her and Gormancer were surrounded.

A circle of blue fire formed around Raven and red fire around Gormancer. The circles crossed over one another like a Venn diagram.

In the smaller area where the two circles converged the familiar shape of Wraithe appeared.

"Hello." She said. "Miss me?"

Gormancer tried to break out of the circle but was unable to. "What's going on?" He demanded.

"Oh don't worry your pretty head." Said Wraithe. "Well… actually you should. Because I'm going to drain all of your power and transfer it to myself?"

"What!" Shouted Darkstorm. "Are you on my side or not!"

"Uh," said Wraithe mockingly, "not."

"You traitor!" Roared Darkstorm.

Wraithe shrugged, "sticks and stones darling."

"I thought we had a deal." Darkstorm snarled.

Wraithe laughed. "Why would I bother helping you for the sake of one spell that you may or may not teach me… when I can work for myself and take Raven and Gormancers powers?"

Blackfire suddenly swooped down from the sky and landed near Wraithe, just outside the circle. "I thought we were lost." She said.

Wraithe shrugged, "okay so I lied. But we got to take the scenic route."

"How long have you been planning this?" Snarled Malchior.

"A while." Wraithe laughed. "It took a bit of preparing."

"Like what?" Growled Darkstorm.

"Well," smiled Wraithe, "I had to get Raven and Gormancer together for the spell to work. So I planted the scrolls about the Black Witch…"

"WHAT!" Shouted Rorek, Raven and Arella simultaneously.

Wraithe grinned, "oh yes, the 'Prophecy of the Black Witch.' I heard about this little legend about some heroine called the Black Witch, so I created the scrolls with the prophecy for Arella to find. I hadn't believed that Rorek would happen upon my second copy but…" She shrugged. "You see, you're all just my puppets. I've been manipulating you all. The Prophecy, the magic lacing the area that kept you all from finding each other, I sent the prophet to Gormancer so he'd find darling Raven, and I brought Raven back to life so she'd fulfill the prophecy and face Gormancer head on." She laughed, "I am a genius!"

The Bounty Hunters seemed to be trying to free Gormancer, "don't bother." Said Wraithe. "The magic can't be broken, even by you. So, if no-one minds I'll be taking my powers."

"NO!"

The voice echoed around area.

Wraithe looked around, "Arella? What…?"

"I said no." Said Arella.

"I know." Said Wraithe. "But I don't understand."

"I mean no." Said Wraithe sternly. "You cannot take Raven or Gormancers powers."

"I fail to see what you can do about it." Snapped Wraithe.

"Don't you dare answer back!" Barked Arella. "You are in so much trouble young lady!"

"But…"

"No buts Wraithe. This behavior is appalling. I raised you better then this!"

Arellas voice was so full of motherly authority that even the Titans found themselves looking at their feet on the verge of mumbling apologies to Arella.

"You are grounded!" Snapped Arella.

Wraithes eyes widened, "you can't ground me…"

"Oh we'll see about that!" Snapped Arella, "this behavior is below you. Darkstorm agrees with me don't you?"

"Er…" Said Darkstorm.

"See?" Said Arella. "You are not going to get away with this kind of behavior!"

Wraithe seemed to be shuddering. Part of her knew she was all powerful and didn't have to take this. But another part, the larger part, was cowering before the might of her mother. "Y… you… you have not won." Snapped the part of Wraithe that remembered her power. She opened a portal in the ground. "I… I will be back." Wraithe leapt into the portal and the fires surrounding her sister and Gormancer disappeared.

Black fire flew after her friend and hovered over the portal for a moment. She was laughing, probably at Wraithe, but she managed to gasp out, "ta ta, have a nice day," before following after Wraithe.

When they left the fires faded.

"Wow." Said Kaylin. "Very… amazing Arella."

Arella sighed, "I believe that was a one time only deal. And now we have to face Gormancer."

Gormancer leered, "I agree."