I don't own teen titans

The next few chapters are Raven's memories. Could people review? I need feedback so I can make my story better.

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Memories of Astralis: Part 1

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Raven walked the city streets, taking in the new sights. She had never been in a city before, much less one this big. The capital of an entire planet, the stronghold of the Star Kingdom.

Her mind wandered back to her, well you couldn't really call it a home. While Azarath was helpful, the monks couldn't help her completely. When her new powers had surfaced, they had been unable to help her. Besides, they had treated her so strangely. It could only be expected being the daughter of a powerful demon.

Until now, she had not been able to escape. They had kept her under watch when not inside the temple. Until this morning. This morning she had found a swirling portal in the temple woods. Wanting to escape she had stepped through. On the other side, she had stepped into a wood. Nearby was a well-traveled road leading to a city. She had known what she needed to do. She had rushed back through the portal, hoping it would be there when she returned.

She had rushed back to her room in the temple. She had packed her most precious items, a few books, some clothes, and some money she had collected by doing odd jobs here and there. Rushing back to the woods, she had then seen that the portal was still there. She had gone through. Once on the other side, she had joined the small amount of travelers heading into the city. That was where she was now.

Being the logical person that she was, Raven was not sight seeing long. She new that the small amount of money that she carried in her pack would not support her for food and shelter very long. The first thing she began looking for was a place to stay. She knew she couldn't afford much but she didn't want to be in a dangerous part of town. Seeing that the city was build in concentric rings, the outermost being the poorest part, she headed inward. She traveled on, looking at everything while looking for a place to stay. She soon reached a relatively nice part of town. This was where middle class people lived and worked. That was when she saw it. A bookstore with a hiring sign in the front window. She couldn't resist. She walked in. the room was softly lit from a light source she couldn't identify. The shelves were lined with well cared for volumes. There were no costumers in the store but a woman sat behind a counter reading. Walking carefully through the center aisle, Raven made her way to the counter.

"Excuse me" said Raven. The woman started. The book was brought down to show a middle-aged face with gray eyes framed by dirty blonde hair.

"sorry about that miss. Can I help you?" the woman's voice was a friendly alto.

Raven was quiet for a minute, the spoke up. " I saw the help wanted sign in the window. I was looking for a job."

" Oh yes dear come with me"

The woman led Raven through a back door in the store simultaneously yelling up a flight of stairs "Sally, come here I've got a new employee." A girl about 15 ran down the stairs, dressed in black pants and a black top.

"This is my daughter Sally. She helps out when she isn't at work. Sally this is …"

Raven supplied her with her name.

"Well Raven I could definitely use the help. Sally here has her own job and isn't home enough to help. Sally, go mind the shop while I talk to Raven.

The woman led Raven to what appeared to be a kitchen and motioned for her to take a seat at the table. She set a cup of tea in front of Raven before she spoke. "My name is Julie. This is my home. I was looking for someone who would work for just room and board. How would that work for you?"

Raven looked startled. "You would just accept me even though you don't know me?"

Julie smiled. "Dear, my daughter is an empath. Had she sensed ill intentions in you she would have kick you all the way to kingdom come. She's very protective of me."

Raven returned the smile with a small one of her own. "Room and board would be fine. I don't have much more than the clothes on my back."

"Why not?"

"I ran away from a bad situation." Raven left it at that. She wasn't sure how Julie would react to a half-demon working for her.

Julie stood up and motioned for Raven to follow her back into the main shop. As they walked in Raven spotted the girl Sally shelving books. When Julie called out her name, she came over. Julie spoke first. "Well it's all settled. Raven is going to take the job. Guess what Sally. She gets your room."

Sally laughed. "Well I don't sleep here often anyway." Then to Raven, "Welcome Raven. You'll like my mom, she's got a heart of gold."

Julie shook her head. She proceeded to show Raven where everything was situated in the shop .as they made their way back to the main counter, Sally spoke to her mother. "I almost forgot to ask you, mom. Would you mind if I had a few friends over for dinner?"

"Why not," answered Julie, "Raven I hope you don't mind spending your first night here in the company of Sally's friends. They're a nice bunch."

"It's fine."

§

Later that day…

Raven had checked out her room and had laid out her few things on the room's table. Julie had insisted on giving Raven a few of Sally's nicer castoffs. She was wearing one of her nicer outfits, a nice pair of black pants and a butterfly-sleeved blue shirt.

Sally's voice called from down the stairs, "Raven come meet my friends."

Raven slipped quickly down the steps. She walked into the main room to see several people standing around Julie and Sally. Sally spoke first. "Guys this is Raven. Raven, these are some of my friends. The only guy is Damean. Over there with the mass of curly hair is Ashley. Jen is the one in green. Judeth is over there in purple. Jenna is the blond." Each nodded as they were introduced.

( a/n Okay to describe Sally's friends: Ashley is about 5'5" brown curls hazel eyes, Damean you already know, Jen is about 5'4" straight light brown hair blue eyes, Judeth is about 5'7" straight dark brown hair gray eyes, Jenna is about 5'10" long blond hair blue eyes. Personalities will be shown throughout.)

They all sat down to the wonderful dinner Julie had cooked. As they ate Sally and her friends talked about subjects and people who Raven did not recognize. Throughout the meal the young man Sally had called Damean kept looking at her. After everyone had finished eating she spoke quietly to Julie. " I don't mean to be rude but I've had a long day. Would you mind if I go to bed?"

"No of course not Raven. Go ahead."

Raven nodded to the table's inhabitants and returned to her borrowed room. She stood at the window looking out. She had a beautiful view of the palace in the center of the city. Suddenly she heard a knock at the door. In suprise, her untamed powers blew the door open. She swung around to see Damean standing in the doorway. He half-smiled before saying, "Sorry if I startled you. I wanted to apologize."

"For what?"

"For making you nervous earlier. Its rare to anyone else with demon blood around here."

Raven stared at him in shock. "What was that supposed to mean? And how can you tell?"

"Well I guess blood calls to blood. Demon blood at least."

"You're a demon? Wait, I thought all full demons were evil, lustful, and crazy."

"I'm not. Crazy, maybe but I'm not evil. Besides, demons or half- bloods who overcome their evil nature become apparitions. Neither good nor evil by nature. There are only two of us in the universe."

"That's an interesting fact."

"…"

A voice spoke from the door, "wow, awkward silence." Raven and Damean both turned to see Ashley and Sally standing in the doorway. "Sorry to interrupt," said Ashley, " but that burst of power said someone needs training."

Raven paled. Training with the monks had been informative but not at all pleasant.

Sally smiled. "Don't look so stricken. We're good teachers and between the three of us (meaning Damean Ashley and herself), we know most forms of magic out there."

After a moment of consideration, Raven nodded. "I admit that I need the training." She sighed and looked away. "Why would you do all this for me? I'm nobody." She felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back to see Sally standing behind her.

" Nobody is a nobody. All of us, not including Ashley, started out as normal people who needed training. By all of us I mean the Guardians, the group I work in. Look where we are now."

Damean spoke up. "We can help you Raven. The fact that Ashley, Miss Doesn't Trust Anyone, likes you is amazing. There has to be potential somewhere in that petite frame."

The silence was filled only by the glares of all three girls. "What did I offend someone?"

He was answered by being magically pushed down the stairs by three auras, one black, one gold, and one black and ice blue.

§

Three Months Later

Raven had been working with Julie for a while now. By day she helped in the bookshop. By night she had lessons with Sally. After a few days Sally and Damean had determined that the powers granted to her my her demon half were as in control as they could be without the stabilizing and controlling force of her untrained abilities. Sally was training her in what Sally called her mage-talent and healing-talent. According to Sally, she had the potential to be and high level Master, the middle level of mage. So her training continued.

One day every thing changed. Sally came charging in one day babbling something in a language Raven did not know. Julie apparently understood for she quickly wrapped up the sale she was making and ushered both Sally and Raven into the back room. Julie spoke "Sally slow down I barely caught that. And try common tongue so Raven understands."

Sally spoke directly to Raven, "Okay, remember how I said I was one of the Guardians. Well our main job is to protect the queen and her children. Queen Carinity was asking me if I knew anyone trusted enough and powerful enough to be part of Princess Carina's night guard. And I thought of you because your powers focus on darkness and…"

Raven halted her mid-speech. "You recommended me to be part of the Princess' night guard! But I'm nobody. And what about my job here?"

"But I trust you and Damean and Ashley vouch for you and your power. And Mom can find someone else. That is if that is what you want."

Raven looked thoughtful. She could be with her new friend and do some good protecting someone who was doing so much good. She had heard the stories of the Star Blood, the ruling family of the Star Kingdom. They were all good. She looked at Sally's hopeful face. "What do I have to lose?"

Sally jumped in the air before grabbing Raven's hand and dragging her towards the door. "Where are we going?" Raven asked.

"I want you to meet a few people."

"Who?"

"The Queen and some of my coworkers."

By then they were already out the door and heading toward the heart of the city. Raven stopped Sally so that they could talk. " Me, see the Queen. Your kidding right."

"No I'm not. This is not on of the high and mighty royals that do not see the general populace. Queen Carinity told me that if I knew someone that would be good for the job that I should bring her in so that she could meet her. She's really nice Raven. You'll like her. Trust me."

"But-" Raven did not have the time to argue. Sally had already whisked her down the street leading to the palace. As they reached the beautifully carved main gate, she held up a badge to the guard at the main gate. He immediately let them through. Ignoring Raven's confused glance, Sally led them into a building off the main one. They passed two people, servants by their uniforms'. They did not seem to find it strange to see one girl pulling another down the corridor. They stopped in front of a door that was guarded by two guards armed to the teeth. Sally smiled at them and they addressed her by name. "Well Sally is this the girl you spoke so highly of?"

"Yeah this is Raven. Is her Majesty here or do I have to try the throne room?"

No she's here and no one else is. Go ahead in." the man opened the door for her and Sally dragged a reluctant Raven into the room. The room was sparcely furnished, just a desk and a few chair around it. A fireplace was in the corner and a few hangings hung on the wall. Sitting at the desk was a woman who looked to be about 45. With Raven's knowledge of the Star Blood's lifespan, she knew that the woman could be anywhere between 40 and 50 thousand years old. As a demon her own lifespan was almost as long as the Star Blood's. Her 14-year-old appearance was really a 14 thousand year life. The woman looked up at the pair of girls. Golden brown curls framed a strong face and hazel eyes that knew the realities of the world. This was Queen Carinity.

Before Raven could faint, attempt to curtsy, fall over or do anything else equally embarrassing, Sally dragged her forward. "Carinity, this is Raven, the girl I told you about."

The queen smiled and reached across the table to shake Raven's hand. "Its great to meet you, Raven. Since you seem to be becoming part of the team, you can call me Carinity. Don't look so shocked. Did you expect me to be all high and mighty." At that last part she looked at Sally as if she knew of the previous conversation. "Now to get down to business. Sally said that you were half demon and had telepathy, telekenisis, mage-talent, and healing-talent. She also informs me that, besides the mage-talent, you are well trained in your powers. So, if you decide that you want to take the job, every other night you will stand guard over my daughter. It is mostly a precautionary job but you never know. Do you really want it. My daughter can be stubborn at the best of times."

Raven just stood there, shocked. This was not what she had suspected. Sally waved a hand in front of her face to get her attention. Raven snapped out of her daze and answered, "Y-yes I would still like the job." Please say I haven't gotten in over my head.

"Great. First things first. Sally can you introduce her to the other Guardians and to my children. You might want to introduce her to some others but I have a High Council meeting in 15 minutes and I need to get over there. You'd think I'd figure out a way to get around besides walking." Her voice trailed off as she exited the room flanked by her two guards. Raven stood there shocked.

"Come on Raven, let's go meet the rest of the team." Again Sally was pulling Raven down a hallway.

Wow, déjà vu. Who will be at the end of this hall and what awaits Raven now that she is working at a new job? See on the next chapter Memories of Astralis 2.

What did you think? I've been commanded to get off the computer so that's as far as I'm going. Please Review.

-Stars-Eclipsed