Ok, here are standard disclaimers. I do not own, nor claim to own any rights to the Teen Titans, or any other borrowed characters. I also make no claims towards any original characters I invent for this story.
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"You and BB … are married?" Cyborg asked. "No freaking way…"
"I can explain." Raven stammered in reply as she raised her hood. She stared at the floor for a moment before looking back up at her friends, who still looked surprised.
"Well?" Robin asked.
"It's a long story." She replied apologetically.
"We have the time." Starfire replied.
"Oh well, I suppose we were going to have to tell you sooner or later … where do I even begin?"
"How about at the beginning … that usually works best." Cyborg replied.
Raven glared at him and then checked on Beast Boy, who continued in his sedated slumber.
"My mother is a member of an elite group in Azarath called the 'Council of Matriarchs' which is one of the three branches of government here. Positions on the council are inherited. Since I am now legally an adult I have become my mother's legal heiress, but there was a catch."
"You have to be married to be an heiress." Robin interrupted.
"That's correct, and my mother has the legal right to force me to marry someone of her choice if I could not produce a groom of my own."
"Could she really force you to marry, Raven?" Cyborg asked.
"Yes, she could. There is powerful magic behind the heiress clause. I wouldn't have been able to resist it."
"So you chose to marry Beast Boy to get around that. Well, I can see the logic in that. Once we get home we can have a court annul your marriage and everything will be back to normal." Robin added.
Cyborg guffawed.
"Makes sense to me, after all this was just a fake marriage to get around your mom." The tin man commented.
Raven blushed slightly.
"Actually, it's not a sham marriage."
Cyborg did a double take on his gray friend, Robin's jaw dropped while Starfire began to do aerial pirouettes while squealing with glee. Cyborg spoke first
"No way … does that mean that … did you guys really … you did the nasty?"
Starfire looked perplexed.
"I do not understand Cyborg's remark, Raven. You are newlyweds and you have been unpleasant with each other?"
"Trust me Star; there was nothing 'unpleasant' involved." Cyborg muttered under his breath.
Robin cleared his throat with sharp cough.
"What Cyborg is asking is if they actually consummated their marriage." Robin clarified.
"Ooooh! The understanding is now clear!" She added before turning to Raven.
"So is it true Raven that you and Beast Boy have engaged in carnal relations?"
Even with her hood up it was easy to see Raven's crimson red blush.
"It's none of your business!" She snapped at the Tamaranian before turning away.
"Oh you so did!" Cyborg teased the sorceress. "So how many times did the grass stain say 'thank you'?"
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" Raven screamed as something could be heard exploding in the next room.
"Whoa Raven, relax, I was just teasin' ya."
"Don't! Please don't. Today's been hard enough. We've been married just two days and Gar almost died today."
Starfire walked up to Raven and gave her a gentle hug. She stiffened at first as she was still mildly uncomfortable with physical contact with anyone except for her husband.
"I bring you the apologies for the unkind and taunting remarks made by Cyborg."
Raven glanced at the now contrite Cyborg.
"I forgive you Victor, just please don't do it again. Just because I'm married doesn't mean I've learned to deal with all my emotions, I'm still struggling with being married."
She then addressed all who were present.
"I take the relationship I've entered into very seriously. Azarathian marriages are unbreakable and are only dissolved by death. We entered into this marriage of our own free will, so there can be no annulment. We're married and all I ask for is that you respect the decision we made."
Robin stepped forward and took Raven's hands in his own gloved ones. He then kissed her on the cheek.
"I do respect the decision you made. Congratulations."
"Stop kissing my wife." Beast Boy, now wide awake, said with a grin.
Raven released Robin's hands and stepped next to her husband's hospital bed.
"How do you feel?"
"Like a bus hit me. I guess you saved my butt, the last thing I remember was morphing into an ankyolsaurus and burrowing into the ground. I felt like I was in an oven."
"You literally were." She replied. "It's a miracle you survived.
Beast Boy looked back towards the other three Titans.
"So what are you dudes doing here? Did you miss us that much?"
The room fell quiet and the changeling could feel the tension grow in the air. Robin finally broke the silence.
"We think Terra might be in Azarath."
"Might be? I saw her today. She caused the explosions that almost killed Gar." Raven corrected him.
"She tried to kill BB?" Cyborg asked incredulously. "No way, she wants him for herself."
"It was meant for me. After I healed Gar enough to keep him alive she confronted and challenged me to a fight for him. I refused her challenge and brought Gar here instead."
"So Terra's still here in Azarath?" Robin asked.
"That would be my guess, and in her deranged state she actually thinks that if she kills me that Gar will pair up with her instead."
Robin slammed his right fist into his palm.
"We'll be ready for her."
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Terra returned promptly to the apartment she was squatting in. Its bareness mirrored the way she was feeling: hollow and empty. She plopped down into a bean bag chair she had scrounged up and rubbed her temples. The day had been an utter disaster. Not only had she failed again to eliminate Raven she had almost killed Beast Boy accidentally in the process. The brief moment when she thought she had killed him was the worst moment of her life, and she had plenty of those in her "bad moments" hall of fame. She leaned back and massaged her temples. And to top it all off she had blown her cover. Maybe Slade was right, romantic entanglements just made the job complicated.
Terra sighed as the implications of her situation slowly sank in. She was in big trouble, but wasn't certain of just how much trouble she was in.
The next thing she did was to get up and turn on the built in computer console in the kitchen. Much to her chagrin every single news stream had a picture of her with the words "Wanted – Dead or Alive" underneath her mug shot, which was a photo from Earth where Terra was dressed in a business suit. There was no doubt in her mind, she was in deep. She quit surfing through the streams and stopped at one that had a news reporter going over a prepackaged press release.
The Matriarchal Security Force is still searching for Terra Markov. Earlier today the criminal Earthling detonated several bombs at the Raven Roth Celebration, killing hundreds of people, including dozens of Matriarchs including the Crone Mother Xanathia. We have been informed that the criminal is a mortal enemy of the House of Roth Matriarch, Mistress Raven and that Mistress Raven was the primary target of the attack. Mistress Raven was unharmed by the attack but we have received word that while the Matriarch's First, the green Earthling she recently took on as her husband, suffered debilitating injuries from the attack he has nearly made a full recovery.
Mistress Raven has informed the Security Force that Terra Markov is a geomancer and should be considered extremely dangerous. Under no circumstances should civilians attempt to engage or subdue her. If you have information regarding her whereabouts please contact the Security Force. We repeat, do not attempt to apprehend this criminal as she is a psychopath and a …
The narrowcast was silenced as Terra's fist slammed through the console's control panel. Sparks flew as the screen went dark and the speakers began to emit white noise.
"Who's a psychopath? Who? You Raven, that's who!" Terra screamed at the now defunct console.
She began to pace around the apartment, periodically looking out the window at the street below. The city was swarming with police and all sorts of paramilitary forces. She even recognized a squad of female Tamaranian warriors. The Azarathian government had called in every favor owed to them and the help had arrived. It would be impossible to set foot outside without being seen.
Terra began to do what Slade had taught her: to identify and weigh her options. It didn't take long for her to see that there was no way she would be able to get at Raven. There would not be a second chance to attack her. After some strategizing Terra decided that it was now pointless to engage Raven on her home turf. She had no other option other than to return to Earth and hopefully Raven would be foolish enough to come back to Jump City to find her.
There was a problem that needed to be resolved: how to get out of Azarath? The city was still in lockdown, the bridge remained closed and the force field dome remained in place over the city, effectively sealing it off. Terra then recalled that while the building and roads had solid steel foundations under them that the city parks did not. If she could get to a park she would be able to burrow her way under Azarath, emerging from the bottom. The trick was in getting to the park unseen as the burrowing through the solid rock that the city was built in would take some time. She definitely couldn't come out of the building with guns blazing, as she would be caught.
Terra peered out of her window and saw the security forces stopping pedestrians and motorists, checking their identification before allowing them to proceed. She frowned as she pondered how to get past them when she noticed something: they were only stopping and checking women. Men were being waved past checkpoints.
"Fools." She said out loud before she smiled. She went to the wardrobe that she has stocked with stolen clothing and found what she was looking for: a gray cassock that would identify her as a middle class house husband. There was also a collapsible shopping basket which would signal to everyone that she, or should she say 'he', was on a shopping errand. She pulled her long hair into a pony tail and slipped on the cassock. After raising the hood she examined her handiwork in a mirror. Her lack of curves (at least when compared to Raven) came in handy as she was pleased with what she saw in the mirror: an Azarathian male. She even stuffed some fresh produce she had into the basket to complete the disguise.
As she rode the elevator down she planned her strategy should her subterfuge be uncovered. She concluded that if discovered the only viable strategy was to strike preemptively, which she would do with the Slade laser pistols she had hidden under cassock. Be swift, cause a pandemonium and vanish. Slade had always advised her to create a distraction in such a situation and she would use her pistols to set off an explosion if needed. Hopefully it would not come to that.
The service elevator doors parted open and she emerged into building's lobby. Other than another gray clad husband who was returning from a grocery errand of his own there was no one else present. The man didn't even glance at her as he stared at the floor in front of him, not even daring to exchange a glance with.
I guess the house husbands don't even get together for coffee. Works for me.
Terra emerged from the building and made her way to the park. The sidewalks were crowded and the line at the first checkpoint was long. She queued up in the men's line and immediately noticed that it was moving faster. As she reached the checkpoint she could see the policewoman waving the men through after giving each one a cursory glance.
What a bunch of chumps. She thought to herself. They've become so accustomed to men being their docile slaves that it doesn't even occur to them that I might disguise myself as a man.
After she had cleared the check point she heard some of the crowd murmur as they pointed to the sky. Terra saw that it was Raven and Beast Boy flying overhead. Raven was in her black leotard and blue cape while Beast Boy was in the form of an eagle. Terra initially heaved a sigh of relief seeing that her beloved was unharmed and healthy enough to morph and fly under his own power. At the same time she couldn't take her eyes off of Raven's flying figure.
Terra felt a wave of rage surge through her and had to suppress the urge to attack Raven right there and then. It wasn't easy, but she had made her plan and was going to stick to it, plus she knew that Beast Boy would fight at Raven's side and he might be injured or even killed in the fight. She had made a plan, and she remembered what Slade had once told her: never deviate from a plan unless it is failing, that abandoning a well made plan to improvise more often than not led to disaster.
Terra watched the Logans (or the Roths, as they were known on Azarath) disappear as they flew down the street. What happened next caught her completely off guard: Robin and Cyborg were following Raven in a roofless air taxi, along with Starfire who was flying alongside them.
Terra resumed walking to the park, convinced that she had made the right decision. Taking on the five Titans was a recipe for disaster. Patience, Slade had told her, is the foundation that victories are built upon.
Terra passed through the second check point with ease and soon was at the park. It was a beautiful place, with grassy knolls and huge trees. There was a large playground full of fathers and small children, which Terra voided like the plague as she searched for a spot to begin burrowing. After a few minutes she found it, a small clearing hidden by a grove of trees. Satisfied that no one would see her she began to dig using her yellow energy.
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Azarath was a magnificent looking city from above as the air taxi sped from the hospital back to Roth Tower. Robin and Cyborg took in the sights of the compact and dense city as the air taxi whizzed them to their destination. Starfire picked up the pace and caught up with Raven and Beast Boy as they reached the rooftop of Roth Tower.
The tower was a magnificent structure, its glass and alabaster gleamed in the sunlight like a jewel. The three flying Titans headed straight towards a violet haired woman and landed in front of her while the air taxi had to following a strict flight path that led to a landing zone on the rooftop where they were met a woman wearing what looked like either a police or military uniform.
"Follow me." She barked at them. "And do not speak unless you are addressed first by the Matriarch!"
Robin raised an eyebrow at the brusque command but said nothing. He nodded at Cyborg and they followed the serious looking woman who sported a crew cut. She led them to the place where Arella was standing with Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy. As they arrived a platoon of Tamaranian warriors swooped down from sky. The leader, who had insignia on her that was the Tamaranian equivalent of a Lieutenant, delivered a report to Arella.
"There has been no sighting of the geomancer, Mistress."
As Arella acknowledged the report the warrior noticed out of the corner of her eye that another Tamaranian stood beside Mistress Raven. She turned to get a better look and immediately dropped onto her right knee. The rest of the platoon followed suit.
"Your highness, your humble servant welcomes you to Azarath." The warrior announced as she averred her gaze to the ground.
Arella betrayed a look of amusement.
"Raven, you never told me that your teammate was Tamaranian royalty."
"You never asked, but I suppose that introductions are in order. This is Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran, Victor Stone from Earth, who prefers to be called Cyborg and finally our leader Robin, also from Earth."
The uniformed woman gasped.
"Mistress, do you mean to tell us that back on Earth this … male … was your Master?"
"Absolutely not!" Robin interjected. "We are a team of equals, my … leadership … is of one among equals."
The uniformed woman was about to protest Robin's claim to be equal to Raven or Starfire when Arella, anticipating her move, raised a hand and silenced her.
"I welcome the Teen Titans to the House of Roth. I am Raven's mother, Arella Roth and I am the head of the House of Roth. Would you please come and join me for lunch, as there is much to discuss."
"Might I inquire what we will be discussing?" Robin asked politely, his upbringing by Alfred Pennyworth had not been a total waste of effort.
Arella led them into an elevator. As the doors closed she answered him.
"As you may already know, Xanathia the Head Matriarch, the Crone Mother, was killed in the attack, along with several other prominent Matriarchs. We have now, for the lack of a better term, a power vacuum in the council ..."
"And you want to assume that role." Raven retorted cynically.
"Actually … no. For one thing one has to be nominated to the position of Head Matriarch. No one has nominated me, and I don't expect that anyone will."
Raven sighed.
"So we're going to have to play even more marriage politics, right Mother? Who do you want me to marry now? Not that it matters, you already know that I have forsaken any rights to a polygamous marriage and you can't make me do it."
Arella smiled.
"Raven, if we play our cards right not only will we save the House of Roth from financial ruin but you will be able to remain happily monogamous."
Raven crossed her arms and frowned at her mother as the elevator doors opened.
"And how are you going to pull this off, Mother?"
"Oh, it won't be my doing."
"Then would you mind sharing your little secret?"
Arella grinned.
"Raven, you have been nominated to be the next Head Matriarch, and from what I'm hearing you already have enough votes from the surviving Matriarchs to be elected."
Raven stared at her mother, completely dumbfounded.
"You can't be serious." She replied. "I can't be the Head Matriarch, we're returning to Earth."
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Well, interest has been light in this story so far. Fortunately I am doing this one because it's fun. Still I am puzzled as to why my other story in progress, 'The Gift', is so popular while 'Reimagined' is not. I guess it's one of those inexplicable mysteries.
And now, it's time for a very lightweight mailbag!
bordom kills -"hahaha omg you started this story again dude awesome sorry for the late review but anyways this story is already starting to sound just as epic as all your others good luck xD"
Thanks! A late review is always better than no review.
Jack b - "Thank god for dinosaurs, where would BB be without them :). Terra is really really messed up, angry Raven and the team will have to show her the error of her ways, let's hope for her sake it's not raven who gets her."
Terra is REALLY messed up in this story!
Felynxtiger - "owww Terra was almost kill if it wasnt for BB :p
finally the titans get together, and their marriage has been reveal to the other i like how they react,
w00t for Azarath healing magic!
cant wait for the fight between Terra and Raven
untilnextchapty"
The fight will have to wait ... for now.
GreenRock - "If I was Terra, I would get back to Earth post-haste and keeping running and not stop. No doubt that with impending death lingering above her head, Terra is going to go to even more extremes to destroy Raven; if explosives won't do the job, a more 'hands-on' method will be on the cards.
And now the the rest of the Titans have returned, Terra may not only have to contemplate eradicating Raven . . . but who knows what's going to arise in her twisted mind."
You guessed right, Terra is retreating (and her mind is twisted) for now. I wonder what Slade will have to say to her?
Hairul The Nightrage Beast - "LOL what Terra needs from raven is a really nice Kamen Rider Drop Kick to Terra's Face, that or Rae goes Full power and both of em end in via brutal beat down when they are exhausted."
Terra might be crazy, but she's not stupid. She'll stay out of Raven's way until she has upper hand.
titanfan45 - "I should be working right now but I had to check this out and I was not disappointed. That was a great confrontation between Raven and terra. Raven is going to have to play it cool when dealing with Terra, as she has proven herself to be a formidable opponent in the past. Back to the old think tank..."
Above all else Terra is cunning. Hopefully Raven will remember that.