Chap. 25
Epilogue
One week later...
"You ready in there Raven?" Brett asked from outside the door. "Almost." Came the reply from inside. "Well don't take too long, they're all waiting for you." The bat replied, as he adjusted his outfit. Brett was dressed in long black robes, a symbol of his status as the Knight of Shadow. Tonight it was something he needed to show, for tonight was the night of Raven's incitation into the Knighthood. All of his brother Knights had already arrived and had set up the ritual in the Tower's basement. Why it was going to be there, he didn't know, but the Knights had insisted on it. Probably like how it adds to the mystique. Well, as long it goes smoothly. God knows there's been enough crazy shit around here. Brett thought, as he heard the door open behind him. Turning around, Brett fought the urge to smirk. Raven stood before him dressed in robes similar to his own, with two exceptions; hers did not have did long sleeves, leaving her arms bare, and the robe was bright yellow.
"Do I really have to wear this thing?" Raven asked for the hundredth time. "I told you, we need to be able to touch your arms for the blessing." Brett said. "I know, but this color?" Raven said, as she looked at herself in disgust. "I know, but it had to be a color that none of us had, and well, yellow was the only one that looked relatively innocent." Brett answered. "Dad, I've been abducted, almost murdered by a crazy wizard, and found a boyfriend all in the last few days. Can't one thing happen that can be somewhat sane?" Raven asked. "You're being inducted into a Knighthood consisting of animal-men. How sane can it be?" Brett asked. "Oh that part's fine, but those same people designing a yellow robe for the ceremony is definitely the work of madmen." Raven said. "Actually it was my idea." Sara said, as she came up the hallway. Her golden robe glistened in the lights. "Are you guys ready? They're getting impatient down there?" "Then we'd better go. The last time Eddie got impatient, Australia became a continent." "What do you mean by that?" Raven asked. "Long story." Brett replied, as he pulled up his hood over his face. Sara and Raven did the same and the three of them headed for the basement.
The room was dimly lit, shadow lining every wall. As Raven entered, her eyes squinted as they adjusted to the change of light. In the center, eight robed figures stood in a semicircle. Their hands were folded into their long sleeves, and hoods covered their faces. Their robes each had their own respective color; as Raven looked at them, she saw blue, brown, red, white, green, silver, gray, and orange. Despite the dim light, those colors were exceptionally clear, as if they burned with their own inner fire. One figure, dressed in blue, stood on a dais in the center of the semicircle. At each figure's feet was a golden bowl, raised on a small table. But two bowls remained unguarded.
"Keep going." Brett whispered, from the folds of his black robe. "In front of them." Raven gave a nod and continued onwards. As she reached the semi-circle, the figures raised their heads. "Who comes before us?" asked the blue-robed one, his green eyes gleaming from the folds of his hood. "Raven of Azarath." The empath said, speaking her lines clearly and crisply. "Do you wish to join the ranks of the Knighthood?" Blue-Robe asked. "I do." Raven answered. "Who among us sponsors such a request?" Blue-Robe asked. At that, Brett and Sara came forward. "I Nightstalker, Knight of the Shadow sponsor her." Brett said. "I Lightweaver, Knight of the Light, sponsor her." Sara added. Blue-Robe nodded. "Shadow and Light sponsor this girl. A match such as this speaks of true potential. But it also speaks of true chaos. Raven of Azarath, come forward and kneel."
Raven did as she was asked, coming to the head of the dais. Kneeling her head down, she listened for the words from Blue-Robe. "Raven of Azarath, once daughter of Trigon, now daughter of Nightstalker and Lightweaver, do you swear that you shall hereby be under the jurisdiction of the Architects, creators of all the Universe and swear to them loyalty?"
"I do."
"Do you swear that you shall use your power to uphold the balance between good and evil, the most sacred calling of the Architects?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to hold to the laws of this Knighthood?"
"I do."
"Do you swear that you will keep the teachings of all the elements in your heart and let them guide you for all of your days?"
"I do."
"Do you swear to remember especially the teachings of your sponsors, who have combined their collective powers to prove your worthiness?"
"I do."
"Then rise child, and prepare to receive the blessing." With that, Raven slowly came to her feet. Blue-Robe began to chant, a quick and simple phrase over and over; "Gabba Gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us. Gabba Gabba, we accept you, we accept you, one of us." Suddenly, he pulled his hand from his robe and hurled something into the golden bowl. There was a flash, and then blue flame burned inside the bowl. "The Oceans accept you." Blue-Robe said. One by one, the other Knights repeated the chant. One by one, they acknowledged her by the flame of their element.
"The Earth accepts you." Said Brown-Robe.
"The Fire accepts you." Said Red-Robe.
"The Wind accepts you." Said White-Robe.
"The Forest accepts you." Said Green-Robe.
"The Thunder accepts you." Said Silver-Robe.
"The Metals accept you." Said Gray-Robe.
"The Desert accepts you." Said Orange-Robe.
Then Brett and Sara came to the two empty bowls. They too repeated the chant and started their fires. "And now Raven, your trial is almost over. Prepare to receive our blessings." Said Blue-Robe. With that, each Knight held their right hand over their respective flames. The fires did not burn them, but as the fire smoldered, their hands began to glow. "It is time." Blue-Robe said. Raven held out her arms, palms up, to receive the blessings. The Knights walked over to her, five on one side, five on the other. Reaching out, they grasped her arms with their glowing hands. They gripped her tightly, but Raven felt no pain, only a strange warming sensation. After a minute, they let go. Raven's arms were now decorated with ten circular symbols, each one burning the color of the Knight who had put it there. In her palms rested the symbols for Light and Shadow. "Our power shall be with you always Raven." Blue-Robe said, as the symbols stopped glowing and suddenly vanished into Raven's skin. "Whenever you need it, it will come to you. Now let the ceremony be ended." Brett handed Blue-Robe a chalice of liquid, as Raven bowed her head. "Let this new Knight be blessed in the names of all the Architects. In their names we pray, Amen." "Amen." The Knights repeated, as Blue-Robe poured the liquid from the chalice onto Raven's head.
For a second, there was silence in the room. Then some of the liquid trickled into Raven's mouth, and she began to spit at the nasty taste. Then she realized what it was. "Did you just baptize me with beer?" she asked in surprise. Blue-Robe simply shrugged. "We decided wine was over done anyway." "Are you sure there isn't any left?" White-Robe asked, as he reached for the chalice. But before he could reach it, Green-Robe slapped his hand away. "Alex, if we've told you once, we've told you a hundred times, this beer is not for drinking!" the green one said, his voice deep with a Southern accent. "You never let me have any fun." Alex murmured as he pulled back his hood. A falcon's face was revealed, complete with a long beak and feathery eyebrows… and everything else.. "Come on Dave, like you never did stuff like that." said Gray-Robe, who pulled back his hood to reveal the multi-eyed face of a spider. "Maybe he did, but we have separate beer for tonight Chad." Answered Blue-Robe, who revealed the face of a cat behind his hood. "Good work gentlemen, I think you've effectively killed Raven's sense of awe and wonder." said Sara, crossing her arms as she looked at her smirking daughter. "I thought that part of the night was over." Alex said with a shrug. "Come on, let's get out there before your friends start the party without us." He said, as he opened the door and headed down the hallway. "Sounds like a good idea." Brett agreed, as he followed his feathered counterpart. As the others followed, Raven walked by Dave, turned to him and asked, "How old is he anyway?" "Alex?" the green-robed Knight replied, pulling back his hood. "500 going on 17. Or so we think."
The group made it's way to the main room of the Tower, where the Titans and B.R.A.T.S were waiting. "Finally, I was starting to think that you were killing a goat in there or something." Bart said, as he started pouring drinks. "I told you we should have added that." Eddie, the dog-Knight of Earth said, as he grabbed a cup from the young boy. "You wanted us to have a blood drinking contest." Brett replied, as he too grabbed a cup. "Actually that was my idea." Said the tall wolf-man from the back, as he pulled off his orange robe. "Thank you Lou." Chad replied, as he stretched out his four extra arms. "Um, how many drinks do you want?" Martin asked, as the spider-man came forward. "Just one. I'll get more fluids from your necks later." Martin paused for a second, then shrugged. "You know, I think I like these guys." Jinx said from the side, as Cyborg shook his head in bewilderment.
The group spent most of the night enjoying themselves, talking about how things were going with the visiting Knights, and letting the couples snuggle up, under supposed secrecy. "So how's it going in Oregon?" Chad asked Greg, the Water-Knight, as the tow stood together. "Pretty good actually." Greg replied. "Alex and Mike have been a big help in Amity." "We're not the only ones." Mike, the ram of Thunder said, as he entered into the conversation. "Danny's really been getting good control of his powers lately." "The ghost-boy right?" Chad asked. "Yeah. We're quite proud of him." Meanwhile, as Raven and Beast Boy sat together on the couch, Alex leapt over the side, and landed right next to them. "So, you're the one Brett's been telling us about." He said looking over at Raven. "Last time I checked." Raven said. "You know, he's really proud of you. You're lucky to have found a woman like this, Greenie."
"I know." Beast Boy said, as he nestled against Raven's arm. "Hey guys, we might want to stick around." Alex said gleefully. "We may have to add another member to the family soon." "Huh?" BB asked, as the others laughed. "Marriage counts, dude." Alex explained with a laugh. Both Raven and Beast Boy stared at each other then, somewhat flustered by the comments. "I think we'll worry about that later." Raven said as a smile grew on her face. "I need to make sure that he can be paper-trained first." At that, even Beast Boy began to laugh. As the happy sounds filled the room, Raven's laughter joined them, finally content with the world, knowing that there was nothing left to want.
The End