Chapter 9-Not According to Plan

Nightwing was now deep below the earth's crust in the caverns of the wide massive space where Terra's stone body now stood as it had for some time. The shadow master that he was summoned dark flames to light the area around him so he could see all and everything in sight. Nightwing then raised a hand and waved it across the empty space to his right and five Shadowkahn appeared before him. "Let's begin," said Nightwing as his hands became claws at the end of the finger tips as each finger stretched out and pierced the chest of each Shadowkahn turning them into copies of himself.

Each copy took a different spot till all of them including the original were in six different spots and angles from each other in a circular formation around Terra's body. All six of them put their hands in a prayer form in front of the statue as they began to chant softly. 'Be careful Nightwing. Such a ritual is not a walk in the park as one would say. In fact this ritual may kill you if you put too much power into what your about to do,' said a cautious sound Shadogun speaking mentally to Nightwing who mentally nodded back.

'I'm well aware of that Shadogun, but I believe I can handle it. I just need you to recite to me what needs to be said so I don't screw it up,' said Nightwing mentally to Shadogun as shadow energy appeared around where they stood to create a circle with each one of the Nightwing's as part of the circle.

'I know my boy. Just so you know...you will be momentarily weakened from releasing so much shadow energy to restore her body back to flesh. Also in a fit of anger she may kill you if she thinks you're an enemy for an uncontrolled moment of time,' said Shadogun making Nightwing mentally frown at such a thought as lines of shadow energy went from each point of the Nightwing's till (if from a birds eye view) a satanic symbol appeared with Terra's body in the center of it.

'I'll deal with it when and if it happens for right now lets continue all right?' said a very impatiently Nightwing to his annoying house guest as the symbol he had created pulsed repeatedly around him and his five shadow copies.

'Very well repeat after me and don't stutter. It has to be flawless,' said Shadogun knowing whatever he said would go directly to Nightwing's mouth instantly.

"Powers of Darkness that are the shadows hear my call to you as the Son of Shadows speaks. We ask of you to take this girl of flesh who is the Daughter of Earth turned stone and use your power to restore to her a place among the living. Give back what was taken from her so she may live among them once more. Upon my voice shadows hear her name and fulfill my wishful claim. Awaken from the glow of the shadows from deep within so together we shall win. AWAKEN...TERRA!" yelled Nightwing at the end as he and the five other shadow copies of him thrust out an open right handed palm towards the statue consuming her in its dark glow.

(Titans Tower- Jump City)

"Nightwing is doing WHAT?" said all the titans as they were now talking on the giant computer/TV screen to the founding members of the Justice League and Fate.

"As we just told you Slade has just ordered Nightwing to revive and retrieve Terra from the underground cavern where she was turned to stone. The end result could save Terra, but at the same time could kill him or drain him to a point where he will be at her mercy. She will beconfused and disoriented and could possibly see Nightwing as Slade through her eyes that would be seeing things that are not truly their or not as they would appear," said Fate knowing that the Titans needed to know this.

"If you know thisthen why aren't you doing something about it?" said Beast Boy who was fuming over the fact that Nightwing was messing with Terra's stoned body.

"If we try Beast Boy and disrupted the necessary ritual it could make matters worse and obliterate them both in mind, body, and soul. There would be nothing left of them, not even ash to put in an urn to bury. Out of the lesser of two evils we decided that having Nightwing reviving Terra was the lesser and he should continue to proceed with the plan," said Diana with concern in her eyes knowing the risks as the Titans did.

"Understood Titans out," said Raven as she killed the transmission and sighed knowing this was going to be bad.

"So we just wait to see if he brings her back to life? What happens after that and she doesn't throw a Raven sized fit? He's going to take her to the Brotherhood HQ where Slade is and she had her fill of him last time," said Cyborg in a worried voice.

Raven could only nod as she floated away from them all though Starfire followed her as she was suspicious of Raven's behavior. "Friend Raven why are you leaving us now?" said Starfire in her curious yet innocent voice.

"I need some air Starfire and I can't do it in the tower. I need to head to the roof for a little while," lied a normal sounding Raven as she became the giant black bird she used for traveling and made her way to the roof to fool Starfire.

Truth be told she had felt the ritual begin shortly after the Watchtower called them to inform them of what Nightwing was doing. It was bad enough that Nightwing had done so much in such a short time at the hands of Slade, but reviving Terra and then sending her to the Brotherhood with Slade waiting for them was unreal. Raven knew Nightwing was a master tactician in his own right from the years he spent with Batman and the smaller amount of time with Slade. However, his current tactic's made no sense to her and even the emotion of Knowledge couldn't help her at this moment in time. She could sense the power being used by Nightwing and knew that if she couldn't interfere she could at least observe silently to make sure Nightwing wasn't killed. 'Hopefully he'll be all right without my help. I hope,' thought Raven as she then teleported herself to the cavern underground in a small region near Terra's 'grave'.

(Watchtower)

"Do you really think its wise to have Nightwing do his little séance thing and bring this Terra girl back to life?" said Flash who was as were some of the others a little skeptical on the decision themselves.

"The 'séance' as you put it Flash that Nightwing is doing is a very dangerous art to even perform much less create and the slightest error could cause problems for them all," said Fate in a fatigued voice as he sensed the shadow power that Nightwing was going off was growing with every second.

Etrigan came in suddenly with a scared look on his face the demon rarely ever had before much less revealed to anyone. "I've been feeling something wicked in air for some time now from the depths of the earth and it keeps growing with every passing second. It is driving me insane," said the demon as he clutched his head in pain.

"Calm down Etrigan it will be over before the day is done. I'm feeling the effects as well, but I'm handling it as should you," said Fate who was now grabbing the table for support as the stress was starting to overpower him.

(Underneath Jump City)

Raven floated silently through the cavern with pure stealth being as quiet as human or as inhumanly possible. She finally stopped hidden from Nightwing's view or rather the six Nightwing's that were in a circle formation. She mentally gasped as she saw them all just pumping shadow energy into the statue that was once Terra while chanting in a language she couldn't understand. 'The power he's releasing is incredible. Its overwhelming my magical senses to such a degree I might black out from the strain of me concentrating,' thought Raven as the shadow circle all six Nightwing's were in was now glowing and pulsing rapidly.

"Its finally time! AWAKEN!" said one Nightwing that Raven assumed was the original as the circle just exploded in a shadowy light that blinded Raven from seeing what was happening.

When Raven opened her eyes she saw nothing, but a dark cavern without the unholy light to guide her eyes till they readjusted properly. After a moment she could see as if the room was lit and what she saw made her even paler then before. 'He...he...,'thought Raven as she was speechless physically and mentally.

Nightwing had done it though the amount of power he had produced in the blinding shadowlight was so powerful that his five shadowy carbon copies were gone. He was shirtless and on one knee breathing heavily with his long black hair covering his mask hidden face. Even then to a silent Raven it looked like he was ready to pass out from exhaustion. His body shook violently as his wounds that now covered him from top to bottom were now slowly healing. Raven then looked at was what in front of the person she cared for and saw that Terra was breathing almost as heavily as Nightwing was. The ritual had done more then just free her body as it was now altered to her proper age of Eighteen years of age like the rest of them had been. 'What do I do now?' thought Raven as she watched carefully as the earth shaking wonder that was Terra looked with glassy eyes at the one who had freed her from her prison.

"Who are...who are you?" said Terra with her voice a little older and more mature like then what it used to be that Raven remembered so much from before.

"Terra...I am not...," said Nightwing, but his voice was dark and muffled so it didn't sound like anyone that Terra recognized except...

"Slade! No it can't be! Get away from me!" said Terra who couldn't see clearly because of the darkness of the cave and her unstable eye sight as she summoned her powers over the earth and smashed boulder the size of tables into Nightwing.

"Terra! Stop it!" said Nightwing, but his voice was just as dark and muffled as before making him sound like Slade and that he was angry with her.

"No! You took them away from me and I hate you! I don't want to be your apprentice ANYMORE!" said Terra as she summoned all the power she could without going overboard and slammedher energy into Nightwing who was now pinned into the side of the cave.

Raven was too shocked to move as she saw Nightwing's face contort in pain as the blast released by Terra stopped and he fell onto the floor unconscious. By that time Terra could see straight and realized he was not attacking Slade, but someone else. Terrified at what she had done she summoned a boulder and took off souring for an exit 'There is only one person I trust to help me. He helped me before...hopefully he will again and take me in,' thought Terra as she took off for Titans Tower.

With Terra gone Raven floated over to an unconscious Nightwing, but stopped when he slowly stirred and reached for a communication device on his belt. "Slade...Terra...got away. She summoned...her powers...and attacked me at...at my weakest," said Nightwing as he waited for a response.

"I'm sending some robots to pick you up to take you back to HQ to fix you up. I'm very disappointed you only completed half the mission Nightwing. However, there was a small yet noticeable possibility that this would happen. In any case when you are healed you will redeem yourself by finding and killing Terra. She must not be in the hands of our enemies Nightwing. Understand?" said Slade through the device sounding serious as well as angry.

"Yeah about...that I'm...not feeling...too good. Any and all possible...movements right now...would be...be severely...dangerous. Even if...if you're...robot toys took...took extra precautions...in handling...me back to you...and the...Brotherhood of...of Evil's HQ. I really...need to...be here...in the dark...for a few days to...to...let my...wounds to try...and heal...naturally," said a breathing heavily Nightwing.

There was a pause for a moment before Slade came back with a response. "All right you rest their for a few days and then when you're stronger contact me to arrange transport after you killed Terra. Slade out," said Slade as he killed the transmission on the communication device creating static for a brief moment.

It was then that Nightwing fell out of consciousness as his body went to work in slowly gathering strength to heal itself. Raven found herself in a predicament like never before as she found herself making a choice. The two choices were between leaving Nightwing in the dark alone to try and heal his body or to try to save him from possibly dying alone in the very darkness that gave him strength. She made a choice. 'I have to save him. He's done it for me on more then one occasion,' thought Raven as she swooped in and healed Nightwing carefully with her magic.

However, as she did a burst of energy from a combination of her magic and his shadow powers clashed sending her back several feet. 'Raven? Is that you?' thought Nightwing mentally to her through there bond.

"Yes Nightwing it me. I need to get you to Titans Tower to heal you since my powers are at odds with yours apparently," said Raven out loud in her monotone voice with concern thrown into the mix.

'Yeah it's a defense mechanism my body possesses when it has to heal on its own as a fail safe should anyone use their powers on me whether they do harm or good. I know it's strange, but from what Shadogun has told me you can't heal me even I wanted you too,' said Nightwing with a sound of disappointment in his mental voice.

"Wait a minute! Shadogun? As in the King of Darkness Shadogun? He's inside you?" said Raven whose eyes went wide with shock.

'Who do you think taught me how to control my powers while I was away? He has been teaching me how to focus, channel, and control my power. He lives in my subconscious mind giving me advice and adding his two scents when he feels like it though he doesn't have to,' said Nightwing mentally with the hint of annoyance to his house guest.

'Hey I resent that! It's even because of me your even at this level of skill and power over your shadow powers,' said Shadogun defensibly towards Nightwing, which Raven heard.

"I need to get you back to the tower. Do you think I can use my powers for that without causing that feedback we just had?" said Raven.

'As long as it doesn't hurt me or heal me you're in the clear,' said Nightwing casually as though everything was fine.

Raven grimaced at Nightwing's optimism as part of her wished that half of her was that optimistic about her abilities. The other half wanted to insult him for being so positive and destroy his optimism with her own pessimistic persona. She decided to wait till later to choose, which half to follow through with until he was more conscious for her to speak her mind. "Cyborg I need you to privately prep that new regeneration tank you've been working on I've got someone with me who needs it. Bad!" said Raven as she flipped open her Titan communicator.

"Why? Who do you have with you that requires me to work in secret?" said Cyborg who was in the garage at the moment away from the others.

"I tell you in the med lab, but I would also advise you tell Beast Boy to prepare for an old dear friend that he care's about to pay him a visit. Tell him it's a girl. Hopefully he'll put two and two together...if that's possible," said Raven as she closed her communicator and teleported both her and Nightwing back to the tower.

(Brotherhood of Evil HQ)

"We are...disappointed...Slade. You promised...us Terra and...you failed," said Brain who Slade could tell was clearly displeased with him despite the electronic voice designed to sound neutral when used.

"I had already told you that Terra was dangerous and that Nightwing may overextend himself with his shadow powers and he did. I already ordered him to find and eliminate the girl after he heals himself in his current location," said Slade calmly, but there was the sound of annoyance in his voice.

"It makes no difference what you think Slade since you and your little apprentice screwed up and since he's not here to be yelled at you are," said Madame Rouge seeing Slade's one eye become a slit.

"You can't just expect him to revive a person that was turned to stone and not expect him to be fatigued. The girl's strength with her powers was fresh and as we all know the fresh can defeat the fatigued without becoming them. If anyone screwed up it was all of you for your ignorance of what you were told," said Slade in an annoyed voice closing in on anger.

Madame Rogue was about to skewer Slade with her elastic fingers, but General Immortus stopped her from doing such a thing with a motion of the hand. "It doesn't matter whose fault it is right now as long as Nightwing either captures or kills her depending what happens when the two meet again," said General Immortus calmly.

(Titans Tower)

The regeneration tank was designed by Cyborg shortly after Nightwing when he was still Robin had the hallucinogenic episode where hethought he saw Slade when he wasn't their. After figuring out that his mind was destroying his body because of the deadly nerve agent Cyborg told the others that he would try to design a regeneration healing tank for such a thing. That and incase one of the other titans needed to be healed in a slowly yet steady process if they were severely injured. "How is he?" said Raven to Cyborg as she placed a hand on the glass seeing an oxygen nozzle covering his mouth so he could breathe in the tank.

"Fortunately for you Terra arrived here shortly before you did so Beast Boy and Starfire are so involved with her they failed to consider we are and who were taking care of. After running a basic diagnostic on his body all I can tell you is that it's recovering faster then a normal human would with the combined help of his powers and the tank. He should be out of the tank in a few days maybe sooner it all depends on how fast he heals. Why do you want to keep it a secret from the others anyway they deserve to know?" said Cyborg as he looked up from the readout from the tank.

"Starfire will make too much of a fuss about it and might accidentally damage the machine in order to try and help speed up his recovery. Beast Boy now has Terra to deal with as it is and if he sees Nightwing it may give him a heart attack. Plus if Terra sees him she may freak out knowing she's the one who helped put him in this condition," said Raven in a voice that was softer then usual though Cyborg suspected why.

"You love Nightwing don't you Raven?" said Cyborg making Raven turn to face him with shock on her face, in her eyes, and a blush to match it all.

"What? No...no I...I...," said Raven, but Cyborg raised a metal hand stopping her before she said something she didn't mean.

"It's all right Raven its nothing to be ashamed of. Quite the opposite really since you two are a much better pair then him and Starfire," said Cyborg with a kind smile.

"Why do you say that?" said Raven with curiosity in her voice.

"Come on Raven you never seen the way he would look at you and how he went in to find you when he discovered you were alive. Even Starfire started to suspect something the moment he volunteered to find you. She suspected something more when you hugged him with serious affection that you don't see friends do everyday," said Cyborg raising an eyebrow in a mischievous way that made Raven scowl slightly.

Before Raven could say anything a Shadowkahn appeared several feet away from her drawing both their attention. They both noticed that the Shadowkahn was kneeling in front of her and holding a small black rectangle box wrapped in dark purple bow in both of his hands. "What's this?" said Raven taking the gift from the kneeling Shadowkahn and unwrapping it only to gasped to find a black necklace leading down an extremely dark red heart that looked like a shadowy liquid.

"A small gift from our master's heart to you as proof that he is thankful for what you've done for him. He tells me now that when the time is right, he will thank you in a much more...affectionate way," said the Shadowkahn making Raven blush slightly as she then turned from the Shadowkahn to Nightwing unconscious looking body as she held the necklace in her hand as she put in on in front of him.

"Its incredible. Thank you," said Raven to Nightwing's unconscious floating body with a smile on her face as she could see herself in the tanks reflection.

"He wishes for me to say, 'Thank you,' now if you'll excuse me I must take my leave," said the Shadowkahn as he backed away several feet and vanished in a shadow portal.

"Don't let Starfire see that or she'll make sure you never see it again," said Cyborg smiling at Raven who couldn't help, but have color in her cheeks for the first time in a long time.