Chapter 2-The Shadowed Truth
(A/N: What do you think so far? I got the idea for Metallica's 'Shoot Me'.Don't ask me how I just did.)
"You liked it?" said Raven surprised and shock when she heard Robin's words as he just looked at her with that fanged smile.
"Why shouldn't I like it? Its apart of me Raven. It always was, always has, and always will be a part of me. And since its not going to go away I might as well make up for lost time," said Robin seriously as a pulse could be felt a from the now awakened birthmark on his back as more of his dormant power filled his body.
"Robin you have to understand that this power may be inside you since you were a child, but you may not fully understand or comprehend the power you are trying to master. Let me go to my room and look in my books to see if I can't find what kind of power you possess. I would like to understand this power along with you so it would both give us a better understanding of things," said Raven as calmly as she could.
"You do that Rae, but as for me? I got a little reference book of my own in here," said Robin pointing and tapping the side of his head lightly.
Raven raised an eyebrow, but then she understood that he was going to go back to his memories on how he controlled his power originally and improvise from their. "Is that wise considering it was over a decade ago and you don't understand the whole force of your powers?" said Raven as Robin seemed to be walking through the shadows and in an instant was right in front of her.
"What's wrong Rae? Afraid of the shadows that go bump in the night?" said Robin who was now inches from her face making her extremely nervous as all she could do was stair into the white oval mask that held his true eyes.
"No of...of course not I...I just don't like...like being this close to...well you," said Raven who didn't know why she was having a difficult time in front of Robin like this.
"Just me or are you afraid of something else?" said Robin emphasizing on 'else' with a mischievous smile Raven had never seen before in him.
"Robin I...," was all Raven could say as Robin quickly cut her off with a well placed kiss to her lips shocking her to no end.
The kiss lasted long after Ravens powers destroyed several things around the room, including the workbench light that was only source of light in the room. They now let stood in the darkness of the room staring into each others as the kiss disconnected them both. "Thanks for the total darkness Raven. You're a girl after my own heart," said Robin as he invoked his power once more in the darkness.
Before Raven could comprehend what had happened she found that both of them were now in HER room not Robins. "Robin how...did...you?" said Raven as her mind was now riddled confusion.
"I brought us here through the shadows and since your room is across from mine you barely felt your body moving through it," said Robin as he stepped back slightly so she could breathe easier.
"Thank...thank you. I think?" said Raven who saw Robin leave through her darkened wall like a shadow leaving in the presence of light was now in shock over what he had done in kissing her and transporting her to her room.
Raven snapped out of it and decided to go to her ancient text books from her previous home that was Azarath she gazed through a series of books with ancient texts. She was sure the monks that had raised her as a child had told her about the powers Robin had just shown, but she couldn't remember where. Her thoughts drifted from the text in her book to the thought of when Robin had just kissed her. Her mind also thought how it was in part of her case...nice. 'Nice! It wasn't that great a kiss what am I thinking? Robin the Boy Wonderand Raven the princess of darkness that nearly destroyed the world...together? Ha! What a joke that is...isn't it? Listen to me I'm talking to myself,' thought Raven as she snapped out of her thoughts and went back to reading her once dust filled book to solve the possible problem with Robin's fast growing power.
(In Robin's Room)
Robin sat in a meditative state like Raven did when she thought to control her powers in hopes it would bethe same for him after that kiss he placed on her. Truth be told Robin had enjoyed kissing Raven and felt that it was an itch that needed a much needed scratch. As he sat their meditating his mind went into conversation with what he liked to call his "devils advocate", which as strange as it was actually agreed with the name it was given. 'So what do you think of the kiss I gave Raven?' thought Robin to his advocate.
'My opinion is not without bias, but I could safely say it was delivered with nice and careful precision that threw her mind for a loop. As for exactly in your choice of having a possible relationship I would say you chose right,' said the devil advocate in his head.
'What do you mean? Are you saying that it wouldn't matter who I chose?' thought Robin curiously wanting to hear the darker half opinion.
'Not at all my boy, but I find that compatibility is the best thing in a relationship and the two of you are most compatible through the darkness that you both wield. Speaking of me why don't we continue in mastering your shadow powers and summoning some of your old shadow friends from the past,' spoke the devil advocate in Robin's head.
'Let's give it a go' thought Robin as he drew on his shadow powers he had left behind so long ago.
Robin opened his eyes and mentally commanded the shadows to manifest themselves before him. Sure enough they did as two shadows came out of the corner and approached in front of him and kneeled before him awaiting instructions. 'Good Robin. You're doing much better then when you were a kid. Last time you did this when you were a child all you got were two shadows half way out and even then it was difficult for you to maintain them. But from the looks of things it seems like you're in better control now then you were then. Its almost as if being away from it from this long help develop your concentration better,' the devil's advocate said in the boy's mind clearly pleased with Robin's progress.
"What now? What do I call them?" said Robin out loud as he stared at his two kneeling shadows before him.
'Call them Shadowkahn's and they will take you where ever you want that is far away from one side of the world to the next. They can cross dimensions and realm's of any place you know of or speak, it doesn't matter. The only thing the Shadowkahn can't cross between is time itself," said the devil's advocate in Robin mind.
"But I didn't use them when I took Raven to her room so why would I need them now?" said Robin curiously.
'That was over a short distance my boy. Shadowkahn's are used for long range distances like going to Egypt or China. Even the Watchtower can be accessed by the Shadowkahn as long there are shadows for them to appear,' said the voice and it was then that Robin understood.
"Anywhere you say huh? I have an idea of where to find out more about my powers and these two will help me do it. There is only one top sorcerer on earth I know of that can help me understand my shadow powers and may actually be able to teach me further. You two (points to his two Shadowkahn) take me the home of the one known as…Fate," said Robin as he got up from the ground as did his loyal shadows and walked over to their master.
At that moment Raven had just found she was looking for in her text and was shocked what she read. "Oh no not...HIM! Robin's way over his head if he thinks he can wield HIS dark powers," said Raven asshedropped her book and ran to Robin room and phased through just to see two shadowy figures put a gentle hand on each of Robin's shoulder's then to turn their heads to stare at her as did Robin who smile slightly.
"See ya later Rae I'll be back shortly," said Robin and he turned to the Shadowkahn on his right and nodded and all three of them went through the floor as one shadow and were gone instantly.
"NO ROBIN!" Raven yelled, but it was too late as she found herself on the ground where Robin was only to be grasping carpet.
The rest of the titans ran in after hearing her yell and wondered what was going on with Raven in Robin's dark and empty room. Especially Starfire, who was jealous and didn't like the fact that Raven was in Robin's room. Even if they were both talking to each other as friends about something important Starfire could still feel a bit of jealousy towards her friend. "Friend Raven why are you yelling out Friend Robin's name so loudly?" said Starfire innocently enough as to not draw out suspicion.
Raven slowly rose from the ground and turned to face them before speaking. "We have a serious problem involving Robin. I discovered in one of my books his powers aren't just any dark powers that one with knowledge of sorcery can just wield with a wave of their hand. Robin's powers comes from a being so powerful that even my father was afraid of him and any potential offspring HE might have produced, which Robin is," said Raven whose fear was evident in her voice.
"Who Friend Raven? Who is Friend Robin a long lined descendent of?" said Starfire who to felt worry in her heart now.
"Robin...is a long lined descendant of the Shadow King. The original King of Darkness and former ruler of the realm of shadows that rules over all ninelevels of hell," said Raven seeing every ones shocked and horrified reactions at the news.
(Somewhere undisclosed)
Fate's home was a tall structure similar to the Washington Monument, but without the point at the top, which was really the only difference between the two. The Shadowkahn warriors to the left and right of Robin rose up from the grass with him to show him Fate's home. The tower in itself had no doors or any windows and could only be entered if those inside wished it. Robin however, refused to wait for answers to his questions about what his powers were and he doubted that his advocate would be so forth coming as to tell him truthfully where they came from. "Open a doorway so I can enter," said Robin pointing to his two Shadowkahn and then to the thick granite wall.
The two shadows obeyed and each put a hand to the wall creating a swirling shadow portal for their master to enter. Robin entered followed by his loyal shadows as all three found themselves in the house of ahero known as Fate. Robin waved away his two loyal Shadowkahn's as an order to leave and they obeyed as they bowed and left by using quick smoke grenades that made them vanish instantly. Just as all the smoke from the grenades cleared Fate appeared floating down towards him. "Hello Robin I wasn't expecting you and I'm curious as to how you got into my home and sanctuary," said Fate as he landed in front of Robin with curiosity written all over his golden colored helmet.
"Actually the reason I'm here is because of my newly acquired powers that allowed me to got in here that I wanted to talk about with you," sad Robin making the eyelids within Fate's mask widen slightly with further surprise.
"Does Batman know about this new power?" said Fate feeling it should have been at least at the moment Batman trying to talk to the boy since he was his son if only by law.
"He doesn't need to know...yet anyway. After were done talking you can tell him if you want because I really don't care at this moment in time," said Robin coldly as he clearly remembered the argument between him and Batman and how it led to his...exile as the Dark Knight called it.
"No Robin I won't tell him you stopped by to see me since I expect him to find out about your powers eventually. Either from you or one of your friends in the Titans who reports to the League every once in a while, but I'll digress from that for the moment. What is this new power of yours and why do you think I would be of any help? Don't you have your own sorceress at your tower?" said Fate who became more curious as he was beginning to sense a dark presence within Robin.
"Raven knows about my power and she was doing research on it, but her sources are rather...old and rather outdated. I wanted something more along lines of living, breathing, and reliable knowledge that knew more then one of her books. No offense to her of course its just that some of her books tend to be...bias on the subject of dark powers," said Robin as he let the birthmark on his back feed him more of his shadow power within his body.
'Be careful what you ask my boy he may not answer what you want him to. Ask him about the history of those who can use shadow powers," said the devil's advocate in Robin's head immediately after Robin's response.
"I see so what dark powers are you referring to Robin that I may know knowledge of?" said Fate as they walked through the seemingly endless corridors of the tower.
"I'm interested in the history of shadow powers and those who wielded them," said Robin making Fate stop instantly as Robin knew it would.
Fate then turned around to face the Boy Wonder and stared at him with a mixture of fear, wonder, and curiosity. "You can...wield the powers of the shadows Robin?" said Fate as he continued to stare.
"How do you think I got in here without having you to let me in? I have only been recently aware of my powers and they came to me in my moment of need in a fight with a metahuman. I need to know the history of shadow powers so I can master my own," said Robin calmly.
Fate was a little hesitant at this point to tell Robin what he wanted to know about shadow powers since they were the highest form of sorcery other then his own. Because of what Robin released to him about that he could wield shadows had to a degree terrified the immortal sorcerer deep inside. 'Could he be the one that I have feared for so long?' thought Fate as he stared at the now impatient Robin.
'He's reluctant tell you anything because he fears your power and what you can do with it because it far surpasses his own. Show him what you can do and will see what happens,' said the voice of Robin's advocate.
"Perhaps I should show a small sample of my power that I have been working with since, but a short while ago," said Robin making Fate's eyes really widen with horror.
Robin snapped his fingers and immediately two Shadowkahn behind each side of him while kneeling as they waited for orders. Fate could only watch as he realized this boy was the one thing he feared. 'His successor has come after all these millennia's and in this boy,' thought Fate as he stayed frozen where he was.
"Well Fate are you going to help me or not?" said Robin who was now scowling at the sorcerer's clear shock with impatience.
It was then Fate got an idea and decided that if Robin understood just how truly evil his powers would be in the hands of a villain, and then perhaps Robin would use them for good just as the boy had done without them. "Robin I can't teach you how to use your powers, but I can tell you the dark history behind them though I should warn the history behind it is full darkness and evil beyond anything you've ever faced...including Trigon," said Fate as he walked once more to another room in the tower with Robin and his two Shadowkahn behind him.
"So Trigon feared my ancestor's power is that what you're saying?" said Robin as Fate entered what could only be considered in Robin's mind as a "Cosmos Room".
'Raven would love this room. Make's an excellent spot for meditation,' thought the devil's advocate.
'Not now,' thought Robin as he wanted to learn what Fate had to offer.
"Not only did Trigon fear your ancestor Robin, but everyone else who knew about him whether they were friend or foe. To start you off in the history of your ancestor and just how dangerous he was I want you to consider this question. How is it that Lucifer was considered the Prince of Darkness and the ruler of hell when there is clearly no mention of him having a father?" said Fate as he summoned a book and opened it to the page he wanted to show Robin the bloody history behind his power.
"Now that you mention it I was always curious about that and couldn't understand how Lucifer was the Prince of Darkness when there was no King of Darkness. But I take it you would say differently from the book you just plucked from out of nowhere," said Robin casually answering the sorcerers question.
"Yes as do many others who do not already know answer like you will be finding out right now. You see Robin, Lucifer nor Trigon are not the most evil beings in the universe despite what they might want others they think they are. As it turns out your ancestor is the King of Darkness and the source of all evil Robin and his name was Shadogun: The Shadow King. He was the ruler of all that was hell before Lucifer came and killed him in a moment your ancestor was in weakened state and took the title of Prince of Darkness that ironically you are the only one who can hold that title," said Fate as Robin read the text in the book himself.
"But how could I be his successor if both my parents were human as were both there before them and so on?" said Robin.
"Shadogun was very wise and powerful being Robin. His knowledge and wisdom of all things in the universe was equal to that ofthe Almighty," said Fate this time making Robin's eyes going wide with shock.
"My ancestor was as knowledgeable as...HIM?" said Robin who couldn't believe what he just heard.
'You didn't think yourpower came from atwo-bit demon soldier who made his presence by merging with a part of your family tree did you?' said devil's advocate and Robin could have sworn the voice gave a small laugh afterwards.
"Not only that, but the two were once one until out of some unknown reason that even I don't know they split and each sat upon a different thrones of power. When Lucifer killed Shadogun it appears only his body died while his spirit was in Purgatory till his moment of...opportunity would arrive. Namely you Robin, when his spirit went inside you while you were still in your mother's womb he knew you would be the one to grant him a new life. Even as we speak he is currently inhabiting your body in the recessive corners of your mind in the depths of your subconscious region," said Fate as he closed the book and sent it away.
"Why are you telling me this rather then killing me right here or sending me over to the Watchtower of the Justice League for them to decide my fate? No pun intended," said Robin while the Shadowkahn remained as statues behind their master waiting for orders.
"Because I trust you Robin to decide what to do with this power and hopefully you will use it for good and not for the evil that others would want it for. To be honest this power if revealed to others would possibly make you a very big target to both sides with heroes and villains. Some heroes would want to kill you to prevent you from possibly spawning a possible apocalypse that would fill the world with a shadows and darkness. Something this world or the universe has never seen before nor should they. Villains would want to capture you and manipulate you and your power to achieve their own endsunaware of the evil unleash for their own personal greed and power," said Fate whose voice was filled with worry.
"Should I leave Titans? What do you want me to do?" said Robin wanting answers to this new development.
"Go home Robin. Go back to the Bat Cave and tell Batman everything because I think that it's best that you go into temporary exile until I talk with the other members of the League. When we have come to a decision we will contact you and bring you on board the Watchtower to decide what to do with you," said Fate.
Robin could only nod in agreement "I guess I'm in exile," said Robin shaking Fate's hand for the help.
'For the moment anyway boy we will have to train you in case this plan goes south,' said devil's advocate and Robin mentally nodded.
(AN: The idea for the Shadow King being the King of Darkness came to me when I thought to myself "If Lucifer is the Prince of Darkness then who was the King?".Hope you liked it. Review please. Thanks!)