Chapter 1 - Slade's Return

A breezy autumn morning. Four mysterious figures stood at the pier, facing the sea. By looking at them from far away, you could easily sense that they were in a daze. There was silence.

"Why," one began, "are we here?"

"Ask Star..." another replied, yawning. "She woke me up for no reason at all..."

They turned their gaze to a figure who was obviously 'Starfire'. By now you probably know that the four figures are Raven, Cyborg, Starfire and Beast Boy. However, she gave no response, and stared at Raven's shoes instead.

"Quit staring." Raven snapped. "Answer our question."

"Friend Robin told us to wait for him outside the warehouse. Then I guess he said something like 'shave' or 'slave'... I have no idea."

Raven sighed. "Was he shaving?" she asked.

Before anyone could answer, they heard light footsteps coming from the distance. They turned and saw Robin panting heavily to catch up.

"Man, where were you?" Beast Boy demanded. "Starfire just babbled something but I have not no idea what she was talking about!"

"Er, sorry." Robin apologized hastily. "I was searching for this - " he pointed to his utility belt. " - forgot where I put it last week."

"Why are we here?" Cyborg repeated the question. "And why do we have to put on our suits?"

"Didn't Star tell you?" Robin frowned at Starfire. "The word says it all - Slade."

"Where?" Beast Boy asked 'frantically'.

Robin sighed. "I told all of you to wait for me at the pier and not to enter the warehouse by yourselves. Slade is inside, if I'm not mistaken." he shuddered at the thought of Slade. "Anyhow, let's go in, Titans. Stay close."

Robin led the rest of the Titans to a shabby old house nearby.

"Are we going to hell on purpose?" Beast Boy asked loudly.

"Shush!" Cyborg shushed him. "You want Slade to hear us?"

Robin approached the door cautiously. He turned the handle and kicked the door open.

Starfire gasped.

"Don't worry, you see, there's nothing." Raven comforted her.

Robin commanded, "Titans, let's go in. Together. STAY CLOSE."

The Titans slowly stepped in. They could see that the house was empty and only several empty boxes laid on the floor, but Slade was nowhere to be seen.

"Is this a joke?" Beast Boy asked loudly again.

"Shush!" Cyborg shushed him again.

"It can't be..." Robin mumbled. He walked cautiously, expecting something every moment.

The Titans scattered and walked around the room. No one seemed to be nervous anymore.

"I thought I've seen this before..." Raven murmured. The Titans turned immediately.

In Raven's hands was a dark-colored gem. A pattern of a skull was engraved on it. She touched the skull. Raven seemed impressed.

"Oh no. Raven, you shouldn't have touched the - " Robin couldn't finished his sentence. A cloud of smoke was rising up to the ceiling from the gem, which Raven dropped onto the floor at once.

All of them backed away, watching the black smoke spread.

"Get out!" Robin cried.

Just when they've stepped out, the warehouse exploded. The Titans were bounced onto the ground, unconscious, but quickly recovered and all of them stood up bravely.

"Well, well, well." A mysterious voice said. It was Slade. "Thank you, Raven. You've helped a great deal. I was trapped in the Prison of Darkness, and you saved my life by caressing that pattern. It was so clever of you."

"Titans, go!" Robin commanded. The Titans rushed forward to fight, but Slade disappeared. "What the - "

"I will find you, Teen Titans! One of you are going to be in grave danger!"

The smoke was swept away by a small tornado, and Slade was gone.