serenity77: Thanks for your review. No, the only pairing I was considering was Rob/Rae, but since my reviewers voted against it there will only be a slight Rob/Star pairing, nothing big since this fic os about Raven...
Dark Shadows: lol, thanks your your reviews!
RavenOfNight: (blushes) ah, thanks... I do try.
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The day came too fast. Adena had been even more vigilant in her studies since the last monk had been killed. Yet, when Desparos hurtled into their room, panting and bleeding slightingly as he said,
"Today... girl... coming... Master... on her way now."
Celeste tensed and Adena looked up. "What is wrong?"
"He has the gem?" Celeste spoke with an incredible calm, for once ignoring the child.
The demon man nodded, and she closed her eyes; murmuring something under her breath. The next moment, the dark purple orbs opened again and cool determination filled them.
"It is time Adena." She said softly.
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As Desparos had lept up the steps to Celeste's golden tower; Raven had padded softly on with Slade. The memories of her friends spun around in her head.
I never gave Robin anything. Somehow her thoughts were not as sharp as usual. It was like her mind was shrouded in a light mist, and her normally sharp eyes were hardly taking in the dark city.
This is the end. A small voice whispered. She walked on automatically, and through the mist she recalled the face of each of her fallen friends. At least they will be safe. They will save everyone; somehow, if there is a way they will figure it out.
Next came memories of Azerath, and her mother Ariella. Azerath was a nice place, but it had never felt like home. Earth, Jump City... this was home. Ariella had always fed her, clothed her, and been nice for most of the time. Yet, she had never really been a mother to her. Ariella had seemed immature, and weak. When she looked at Raven, she seemed to be looking at someone else. The blue-haired woman had never shown to much care for her; other then that she lived. She had been more like a stranger, never setting boundaries or rules to protect the teen. Raven had never had a real, heart-felt conversation with her mother; never felt a connection. She didn't hate her, didn't even dislike her really. Ariella just... disappointed her. Not even her friends had been able to offer her the care of a mother... or a father for that mother. She had often wondered what drove Ariella to Trigon. Had he forced her? She could find nothing appealing to the cruel demon; but she was not her mother...
"We are here." Slade's cold voice broke through her thoughts.
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"Are you ready Adena?" Celeste had that cool composure, and a firm authority.
The girl nodded, no fear passing through her eyes as she locked onto her mistress's soothing form.
Opening the book, Celeste began to ancient words.
"Of worlds fallen, and lives early ended,"
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Thousands of miles away; Raven began to chant her own words, and then the tone of fate was set.
"The gem was born of evils fire,"
" Lords arisen, King's dethrone, by his unearthly rule,"
"The gem shall be his portal,"
"Open Gates, waker's watching,"
"And the end of all things mortal."
"Seeing Portal to his throne!"
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As Robin watched Raven's form blur into the swirling lights of the portal with Starfire leaning on his shoulder; a twin portal had opened up in Azerath.
"I can't hold it for long!" Adena cried as her magic held open a gap into the portal.
Just then, white mists began to appear, as a flash of red and a cackling laugh went through the light.
"Trigon has gone through! Adena cannot hold it for long without the gem holding the other end!" Desparos screamed over the roaring noise of the portal, a rip in time and space.
But Celeste's world has stilled, the ancient book fell softly from her delicate hands, taking an eternity to fall as she glided over to the mist. Entranced, she reached out her hand, and whispered gentle spells, her eyes filling with white until the mist took a form in her waiting arms.
Raven, battered and beaten, in a long white cloak lay in her hands.
"The gem," Desparos whispered hoarsely. He looked up into his mistress's eyes a moment to late; realizing her plan.
"Celeste don't!" All titles were forgotten.
But something had filled her soul, a forgotten fire lit her dark eyes. Memories ripped through her mind; filling her blood with the boiling passion and determination from younger years. When she had lived in earth, when she had been mortal.
With a silent lunge into the fading circle of shadows and light; Celeste and Raven vanished into the portal.
"Celeste!"
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"Raven!"
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An explosion of light, the closing of both portals, the flash of color, both dark and light; and then.. darkness.
The end was here. Trigon had come.
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A/N-This one was shorter as well, but it was full of plot! Hope everyone enjoyed it!