§

A small fire flickering amongst the cold stone faces of men and women. The deep contrasts of shadow and bare light licking along their frozen forms, soon to be released. But the fire was dying now, down to embers for its sorrow.

Around in a circle, they sat. The first a black boy, with an athletic build and flat, strong features. Along the dark skin ran vivid blue wiring and casing, connected to single red eye. The microelectronics buzzed faintly, almost undetectable to the ear, as his normally jovial face was set in a thin line. The single human eye looked down at the flames. By his side, a small green metamorph looked across the sizzling orange tongues. His elven ears drooped down, and the wide emerald eyes were watery with unshed tears. His small mouth was pulled into a sad frown, and gloved hands mindlessly toying with the dirt, miserable. To his right, an alien girl sat. Her golden, orange-hued skin darkened to bronze under the natural light, while hair that resembled the flames hung limply around her shoulders. The usually naive features had been replaced with fear, as her slender arms hugged her purple-booted legs. She leaned against another figure, a darker boy whose face was hidden in shadows. Black hair raked upon his head, and the white mask was in his hands as he toyed with it, looking deeply at the cloth with hazel eyes. Questions formed deep lines on his face, even as his cloaked shoulder held the inhuman girl he had fallen for. Across from him, a tall, broad-chested creature of glazed skin, deep crimson hair matching his eyes as it fell just barely to his shoulders. The eyes were focused through the fire, seeing something with his wise, patient eyes. The black burns so reminiscent went in and out of shadow and light, while a powerful jawbone accented in the darkness. A woman was resting her head on his broad shoulder. He dark hair was the color the midnight sky would be if its colors had not already been stolen away. It cascaded in gentle locks, rolling across his skin as the pale, portrait face rested next to his next, dreamer eyes closed in beautiful serenity. He had found another cloak for her, to ward off the chill, and the pale fabric hugged against her body, showing off her curves. And right next to the slumbering woman, the center of attention sat in silence. A black cloak wrapped around her tight jumpsuit, angled violet hair falling across her face. Twilight eyes wrapped emotion in tightly as she gazed at those sitting around her, noting their anguish. A wide, grand sword was belted to her waist, the very weapon of her doom as the thin purple lips opened slightly, searching for words. They shut again when she saw her mother, sleeping the last night her daughter would have on earth.

Oh well, who cares? Let the damn woman sleep, let them all sleep so that morning will not come in slow agony, but rather swift surprise. Raven thought in the stillness of the night.

"Raven," Beast boy finally plucked up courage to speak, and his friends and fellow titans puckered up to look at him.

"Yes Beast Boy," The titan girl answered in soft, dead tones.

The heat from the fire was making his eyes water.

"Isn't there... can't there be another way—" The animal shifter was cut off by his friend.

"No," Raven took a sigh.

Her voice was so harsh just there. It was her last night alive, and she could afford to be nice.

"Don't you see, all of you? I have to use this sword to defeat Trigon, or else the world will stay frozen like this forever. Even if... when I die, one life is worth the entire world. We are heroes, and it is our duty to protect Earth and its people. Even I know that, so please, just go to sleep."

"Yeah, we know Raven." Cyborg was the first to make a reply. "But that still doesn't make it any easier."

"Just think, you wouldn't have to put up with me anymore, and could force-feed someone else tofu waffles and bacon or play..."

Her fake cheerful council had backfired, and the other four titans gazed back at her is horror and ache.

Starfire began to sob into her arms, the thought of loosing a friend to hopeless for her. Robin chucked his mask far into the gloom, an angry, desperate expression on his face as he wrapped an arm tighter around Starfire. Beast Boy turned his head, trying to hide a few escaping tears as Cyborg looked back down.

"That...'s not... fun..n...y." BB managed to choke out.

"I'm sorry." Raven admitted, softer.

"STOP SAYING THAT!" This time it was Robin who shouted. The strange, deep cocoa eyes glaring into hers. "You didn't DO anything wrong. You didn't DO anything to deserve this!"

Desparos turned as he felt Celeste's gentle form move away from him. Her arching head sat up, eyes flickering open.

"Children, are you truly in so much pain?"

Robin's fists clenched as words reared in his mouth something along the lines of, Yes, we are bitch! But a softer, feminine voice beat him to it.

"How could we not be, Celeste?" Starfire asked, her voice muffled with sadness as her green on green eyes pierced her own dark ones with emotion. "You are mother- Raven, but yet you would let her die! How could we not be sad to loose a friend?"

"Silence!" Desparos growled, but his mistress waved her pale fingers in front of him, signaling him down.

"What would you have me do Starfire?" The woman asked, her own eyes flickering with emotions to deep within to catch.

"Don't make Raven die!" The flame-haired teen said instantly between her tears. "Let go of your hate and love your daughter instead! Don't make killing Trigon more important than saving Raven!" Her words rang clear.

"Don't kill her for your vengeance."

The dreamer eyes looked at Starfire, wider and almost tensed. Robin laid a protective hand across her, eyes narrowed at the form of Celeste. There was a great pause, and slowly, she stood up.

"Lady Celeste..." Desparos began.

But she ignored him, and walked gracefully off into the night.

§

Though heartache and the fear that this would be their last night kept the group up late into the night, lack of sleep and nourishment down in the dead halls took their toll, and one by one all fell asleep by the fire, and it in return wavered until it was nothing more then a smoke. The small party, a demon and a half, a shifter and a robot, an angel and a mortal, all sleeping side by side with unshed tears on their hearts and heavy clouds on their mind. Yet the princess of Azerath was as stubborn as her mother in this way. And when she had resolved to die, and found death not to be so bad, and seen the destruction Trigon caused, her mind was made. Even if that determination would take her life as pay.

§

The night scaled on, dear Artemis's time as she roved on her hunt. Across the dead earth were millions of lives, intertwined together in invisible thread. Now halted still, the bindings strengthened, looping and crossing over to the center-point, a small figure under the world, yet a large chance for life itself.

§

Don't kill her for your vengeance.

Celeste was walking slowly, her feet suddenly heavy as her soul wearied from struggle. She had been going, kept farther away from them as hours went by. The words, the words of the girl she hardly knew kept racing through her mind, burning in her blood, and tearing up her heart.

"It is more that that, isn't it?" The dark-eyed mortal halted her step, the cloak catching on her ankles from the abruptness.

"This...this quest, it is more than retribution. It is for the good of mankind, the good of all life—" Twilight eyes turned to the sky, looking for some sign as words fell trickling out of her mouth. "Isn't it?"

She was so sure, knew it all before. The plot was laid, carefully nearly two decades ago. She would hide her child, and then sleep for nearly twelve years. Corresponding to her rivals plan, when he rose up the gem, her loyal guardian would awaken her. Then she would lead this girl, his own blood, to the sword so Trigon's reign would finally end. It would be precarious, but it had worked. Everything had lined up to perfection. But people aren't perfect. And now the problem was her. Celeste's fault, the one key to the downfall of her plans, was her love.

I have tried so hard to still this heart,

But I cannot stop my eyes,

From seeing you in agony as my mind darts,

In doubt murderous my spirit cries,

To save you.

"Raven, my dear Raven how I love you." She spoke now, on her knees bending toward the solid dirt. Small drops of diamond began to fall from her eyes, clouding up the sunset sky.

"How easily you have destroyed my will. Shall I kill the world to save you? Will the world be able to continue without you?" The mother's voice began to wrack, her small frame shook.

"Why must it be you to die?"

"Because she is the only one who can wield the blade." A small, childish voice responded from the empty air.

Celeste looked up, to the familiar raven hair tied back in a red bow, the crimson eyes level with her own.

"Why do you taunt me? Or do you come to save me?" She replied, still kneeling before Adena's feet.

"Whatever do you mean Lady Celeste?" Adena replied, cocking her head.

"I know who you are, goddess from Quies, Annikki of love and peace." The Queen of Azerath spoke softly, holding onto her last chance with steeled eyes.

The child's face registered shock, but then a small smile and warmth filled with eyes again.

"I wondered if you knew, you are very perceptive mortal."

In response, the mistress looked deep into the goddess's form of the girl, pleading eyes.

"I beg of you Annikki, save my daughter."

"Why should I?" There was a faint bitterness in her young voice. "My brother Zinn was remembered, as was the fallen king Morion and even his foolish bride Azerr. But I, I was forgotten in the ashes of time. Why should I help the people who no longer even know my name?"

"Help me... because I love her." Celeste replied after a moment of thoughtful intaking of Adena's words. "You are love Annikki, and so I remember you in my love to Raven. Would you not answer to that?"

The goddess stared at her in the childish body, so old for one so young. And finally Annikki gave her reply, in a soft voice.

"You love her enough to put your revenge aside?"

"I love her enough to put life itself aside."

Adena cocked her head again, the black ponytail swaying a bit. Ancient thoughts tinkered in her red orbs, as a mortal woman stared at her, chin up in defiance.

"I will give you the power to wield the sword again, but it will be in my power, not the brother Zinn that banned you from it. And the price will be the same. Do you understand that? I cannot save you if you use the blade."

Celeste simply looked up, a bare smile on her face as blue-hued hair fell flowing down her shoulders, a few strands obscuring her eyes.

"Then I will pay the price.

§

Raven sat up, gray daylight piercing through her groggy head. What... Her confused mind tried to account for the after-effects of strong magic on her. Celeste! The damn woman—she's jinxed me again! The bone-aching heaviness, the drooping eyes and fogged senses, all memoirs to a sleeping spell. She glanced quickly around at her friends, who were all arousing from the same spell. Desparos, however, was tied in a dark cord of Azeranian magic.

Demon bindings, Raven knew. Her mother had invoked the powerful spell that was written in the black scars along the demon's back. As his mistress, the queen had an innate control over her guardian. Although she had never invoked it, Celeste could force Desparos to obey her word—through the demon bindings which she called forth through the spell burnt in his skin. Even though they both knew he could never break loose until she herself allowed it, the loyal protector kept wrestling with the black binding, his writhing form in the gray dirt.

Raven strode over to him, and bent down so he could see her from his odd angle. "What happened?"

To a joint surprise, the black chains shone and then vanished in fine line onto the air as she spoke.

"Lady Celeste, your mother, she took the sword and held us all off!" The now freed demon began harshly, fear raising his voice.

"Why? Is she planning to betray us?" The girl pried, her eyes cold.

"Betray!" Desparos exclaimed. " No, you foolish girl,she loves you more than you know." The red eyes turned away from the princess. "She is going to take your place."

§

The earth rumbled with anticipation, and the wind stirred with excitement. Rocks clattered amongst each other for a better seat, as the sun hung a high spectator on a gray, cloudless sky. The new proclaimed ruler of Earth was sitting on his raised stone throne. His minions, the demons who lived to serve him in their fiery wrath, had failed. Days had passed, and still no sign of her, the gem, or those pathetic mortals who tagged along.

"Miserable wrench!" Trigon seethed, pounding his fist to shake the earth. "Where are you hiding?"

It was heavily ironic then, that he spotted a lone figure on the frozen road coming toward him. The person was cloaked in black, a high hood drawn over their face. With unhurried yet determined steps they strode toward him, looking straight with sightless eyes. A sword, the sword, was slung over the figure's back. The blue-to-orange blade glittered heavily amongst the dull world. And in a strange show of defiance, the trail behind the person, was splotched with life. An expanding line of color, leaking out onto the gray and freeing the stone wherever the traveler touched. In horror, Trigon remembered this before, remembered a being coming at him, brining all life anew.

No! His mind shook the ground, stilling the magic so that it spread no wider, only farther ahead as the steps came closer to him. But as Lord of the Underworld, he would not allow his fear to show. Instead, Trigon stood from his throne, a sinister smile fitting his lip less mouth.

"Have you come to join me again, my daughter? Put down that sword and spare your own life, these pathetic mortals are not worth it." Temptation, he was its embodiment. He was tempted by the wolves to kill, he was tempted by love to save Azerr, he was tempted by power to forget her, and tempted by death to destroy. Morion fell to temptation, to love.

A taut, almost audible note hit the air as the dark cloak swept back, reveling its hidden package. With a sharp snap, life was biting back.

Taken back, Trigon's crimson eyes widened for a scant breath at the dark locks of hair, beautiful, pale blend of mortal features and demonic blood. Time had passed her by.

"Foolish creature, did you think I would let my daughter die?" She asked, a bright flame burning in her dark eyes, as her delicate hands unsheathed the sword from her back, holding it as the cloak billowed around her frame in awe of dark power and glory.

"Celeste!" The demon hissed between his teeth, his past life eroding the image to another woman left dying in his arms. He had frozen his bride after her stupidity has lost the gem. Kept her perfectly encased the way he had last seen Azerr, and now she was again, unchanged.

"You should have killed me when you had the chance, demon." Her calm voice rung with authority, as her hands tightened around the blade and the light of her demon blood, his blood, mingled with the passion of her heart.

Celeste gave an almighty cry to call down the heavens, and charged.

And Trigon, grand lord and master of demons, could not move. For history repeats itself in ways so life can continue, for life must exist for time to continue, and as time wishes to save itself it calls back the past to save the new, so it can continue on. And just as Eve so looked like Azerr that he could no move, Celeste looked twice as much as Azerr as she had. For Eve's eyes were searching for death, and the woman now coming had eyes filled with love. Deep, dark, dreamer eyes that forever haunted the soul of whatever was left of the man called Morion.

Trigon stood in stilled might, a frozen evil, as the dark woman lunged her body forward. The great blade, pierced through his flesh, blue tip in and out as the orange hilt stuck within. Black blood poured, colors splattered, stone split.

Raven's father gave a terrible cry of rage and pain, and his clawed hand began to descend.

"People of earth, here my cry!" Celeste began strongly, her low voice echoing.

"All that have fallen,

All that have loved:

Rise again for one last battle.

The last of the Azerr calls to you,

To fight again for what is lost,

To reclaim this world your love has lost,

Come to stand for those you love,

In death be robbed, nevermore."

And as each power is their own, the Queen of Azerath opened the portal between death and life. A vortex appeared in the gray, a giant, circular mirror rimmed in stone. At her voice it shattered into seven pieces, for the seven people left standing. It screeched and crackled as it broke, and light wove through the cracks quickly absorbing the ancient binds. And then, death was set free.

As the mirror became a wide gap, figures emerged. Men and woman in translucent form. Skin white with death, nails and lips black and blue. Yet the eyes, burning human eyes were there, souls. Children, with innocent faces marching in between, young and old, death does not discriminate as each soul took a form that so suited them. O n and on, the horrific waves of pale, almost periwinkle figures came. And as the titans approached with Desparos, the army of dead began to run.

Straight toward Trigon, the spirits ran. The demon lord, core of spite and bitterness roared in furry as his large, clawed hands swatted the attacking dead. Yet they were as enumerable as the stars. And as Trigon fought with tooth and claw, pulling them off, Celeste called forth her black magic to hold him still. He screamed and tore, his flesh being eaten alive by those vengeful dead, the sword in his torso spreading its magic through his demonic blood, destroying its power. The master of demons was being killed inside and out. Time went by in a slow blur, until the red flesh was covered by the ethereal blue-hued glow and screams died away with struggle.

"DIE TRIGON!" Celeste's voice rang strongly, as she funneled her energy, her love and her soul into magic. The black binds rose and took a form. A great black wolf formed above Trigon.

The last to travel to the faded home of King Morion and Queen Azerr were the wolves. The wizened leader of the back trod up the broken steps and passed debris of columns and statues. He pad right up to the the bedroom they had shared, where Morion still weeped over his dead wife's rotting body and still son. The hunter turned, and held the king's eye for hardly a second. Garnet upon bronze, a sun rising as one set. The wolf reared its head and gave one mourning cry.

The waiting creatures at the bottom caught the call, and began devouring the dead bodies of crucified bird and torn cat.

And there will be death, and one great destroyer.

And there was one, great destroyer—life.

The black wolf gave a wild howl, and the gray world freed of its spell, color spilling over onto the canvas as startled people woke up, their lives free again, minds filled with wonderment.

Celeste's magical being descended then, onto the failing body of her husband. With one last cry, there was a great bang that sent white, bright shock waves of light throughout the onlookers, who all shut their eyes.

"Celeste!" Desparos hissed, shielding his eyes and bracing his body as the expanse of power and magic flew in excess, over the revived land and rippling the waves of Jump City's lake.

Then, came the darkness that only follows after a bright light.

§

"Mother!" The words were out of Raven's mouth before she could think to re-call them. But for what she had done, the woman earned the title.

"Raven, wait up!" Beast Boy called after her as his friend sprinted down the newly-grassy hill they had been watching from.

The rest of the Titans followed, Desparos charging quickly to catch up with Raven.

Mother, please... be alright.

Celeste, don't be hurt...

Raven arrived at the flat end first, and her dark eyes went wide at the scene before her.

Trigon's body was still, a rotting, bleeding corpse of a man. Morion was dead, all power drained from him. The dark red of his hair limp and eyes forever closed. Maybe he would traverse death to find his beloved Azerr again.

To his left, the woman whose love had killed him was standing. The black cloak fallen from her shoulders, and a pale silver dress glittered under the night sky that had so thoughtfully opened up to stars. She turned to them, her gentle, artistic features creased into a soft smile that filled those once dead eyes.

"Mother... but I thought I had to use the sword." Raven spoke still with her usual bluntness as he friends ran in, panting behind her.

"I could never let you die, my beloved child." She replied softly, and unspoken words rang in her mind, a form of telepathic.

I always regretted the death of one child. How could I do that again?

"Veli," Her daughter knew, looking up.

Behind Celeste, the dead spirits seemed pacified again, just as Raven saw them on the accursed field. They seemed almost to be waiting for something...

"Celeste," Desparos's voice broke the reverie.

The woman turned to him, lovingly. "My faithful guardian, dear one I have something to ask of you."

And her voice stopped speaking and it was her mind that now reached him through the wind, but Raven heard.

"Love, watch my daughter. Be the father she never had. Love her for me, and carry my heart with you, however secret."

"Celeste, no!" And even as his baritone voice replied, it was filled with sorrow no one had ever heard come from him before.

"Dear friends of my daughter," She now addressed the rest of the Titans. "Thank you for loving her, even through it all."

"What are you saying, Celeste?" Robin stepped forward, sensing something amiss.

"And now my beloved daughter." The woman ignore him, turning once again to Raven and speaking in her mind.

Be free, little one. Fly away from this, little Raven. Your life is now your own, and in whatever you do I will always love you.

"Mother..." The colder teenager was suddenly taken back by the abrupt emotion in the woman who was better in mask then she.

"Celeste," another, haunting voice spoke. It was one of the dead, a woman who looked almost exactly like Celeste. Except for an almost Roman bone-structure... Eve.

"It is time." Her cool voice came from far away, but her living counterpart nodded.

"NO!" The six remaining watchers shouted in unison, Raven feeling the soft whisper of the word.

And then Celeste uttered her last words, as she took the dead hand Eve offered.

"Goodbye."

§

Author's Note: Well, who expected that ending? Anyone like it, didn't like it? I will post a final chapter, an epilogue to kinda wrap the entire story up. Then it will be done, so please—for all those readers who haven't reviewed, it would be nice to hear from you because our time together it almost complete... At least, Celeste's story is almost over.