I am really not consistent with the times I update…

Okay, first chapter of the second part. Thanks for the reviews! Alright, this chapter takes place a year and a half after what happened in the last chapter. I know that the time gaps in this fic are crazy, but you'll find out what happened, don't worry.

Chapter 13: Running

"…And now over to Susan Parker for more information."

The screen switched to a young woman with short brown hair who was holding a microphone. She seemed to be standing in front of a construction site where broken planks of wood and stone littered the ground. A colored bar at the bottom of the screen read, Live: Jump City.

"Thanks Ben," the woman said. "Just eighteen months ago, hundreds of people lost their lives in what many now believe to have been a terrorist attack."

Damn, it's been eighteen months already? Over a year gone by and I still can't escape it…

"Teams are still looking for the bodies of people buried under several feet of rubble. Only a few buildings are still standing since the attack while the rest of the city is completely destroyed."

The camera panned out to reveal that the woman was telling the truth. Miles of ash, dirt, and rubble covered the ground. Some buildings still stood, but only a couple of those few were almost unharmed. One of those was a strange building in the center of a small island which was the shape of a 'T'.

"But, they still haven't found the bodies of five young heroes, the Teen Titans. By now, they are presumed to be dead, but what about the Titans East of Steel City?"

Well, terrorists didn't kill us or kidnap us, I can tell you that.

"An interview with the mayor of Steel City told us that the Titans East had gone to Jump City to help the Titans with some kind of mission. Whether both teams are dead or just missing is still unknown."

"Hello? Rae? Earth to Rae! Rachel, are you in there?"

A tall, dark haired teen waved his hand in front of the girl's face, who was still looking up at the TV screen mounted on the wall.

The girl looked at him irritably. "What?

The teen jerked his head toward the counter behind him. "We've already closed," he said.

Pushing a strand of purple hair behind her ear, the young woman brushed past him and walked through the shelves of books until she reached the store's front entrance. Outside, she set off at a brisk walk down the street.

Maybe if I walk fast enough he won't bother trying to talk to me…

"Hey Rachel, wait up!"

Too late…

"Where's the fire?" the boy joked as he pulled up alongside her.

"Go away."

He ignored her. "So, you were watching what happened at Jump City, huh?"

"Yeah…"

"It's really sad isn't it? I can't believe someone could to that to all those people-"

"Don't you have something else to do besides annoy me, Jesse?"

Jesse shoved his hands into the pockets of his oversized black jeans. "That's my job, to annoy you."

"Well, you're doing a hell of a job," Rachel muttered as she walked faster.

Jesse caught up with her again. "Look, you don't need to get all ticked off just because I'm trying to make a conversation."

Rachel glared at him, irritation burning in her eyes. "What must I do to make you stop bugging me?"

"Well, you could…hey!"

Rachel had run past him and around a street corner. When Jesse rounded it, the young woman was nowhere to be seen.

"Where the heck did she go?"


The black, shadowy raven phased through the window and into the small apartment, where it materialized into the young woman. Crossing the room, she rubbed her temples in frustration and sat down on the floor, where she began to chant.

"Azerath Mentrion Zinthos…Azerath Mentrion Zinthos…"


"I think I'm going to kill someone if that guy keeps calling us 'Rachel'."

"If you're going to kill anyone, kill Rage. We have no use for her."

"I heard that!"

"What're you going to do? Possess my body or eat my soul?"

SLAP!

"OW! Jeeze, mother--!"

"Guys…Guys?...GUYS!"

A small group of cloaked figures stood on a large floating rock. They were all identical, except for the fact that all of their cloaks were different colors. Three of them stood alone from the others. The one clad in yellow and wearing glasses was trying to prevent the ones in green and red from tearing each other's throats out.

After a few exhausting moments, she finally succeeded in pushing the two away from each other. "You guys aren't solving anything by trying to kill each other! What is with you two anyway?"

Rage's four red eyes glinted dangerously before she stalked silently away from them.

Courage rolled her eyes. "She's just ticked 'cause she can't take over Raven's mind anymore!"

A pink-cloaked emotion walked up to them, grinning from ear to ear. "At least that's one good thing that this guilt-trip is doing, right?"

"It might not be permanent though," said Wisdom, adjusting her glasses. "When she tells someone about it her guilt might vanish and her powers will be back."

Courage snorted. "Who's she got to tell? The Titans are gone, and unless they miraculously appear, the guilt will stay."


Umm….yeah….I'll answer your questions one at a time…

Jump City? – Jump City is dead…gone…literally blown off the face of the planet. Pretty much all that's left standing is Titans Tower. (Yes, I have the mind of a freakin' terrorist…)

Teen Titans? – The Titans are no longer together. After the destruction of Jump City they broke off and went their separate ways under new identities. Why? I guess because they're simply too guilty to face what happened.

Titans East? – Who knows? They aren't important, but if Slade can destroy an entire city, what do you think he'll do with a bunch of Teen Titan wannabe's?

Rachel? – Rachel is Raven (wow, that was hard to figure out). After the Titans broke up, she left to a new city under a new name (I'm getting "Things Change" déjà vu here…). She's trying to forget what happened and move on (even more déjà vu!). Oh yeah, and she works in a bookstore, but is thinking of trying to get an actual career. Funny eh?

Jesse? – Jesse is this guy who works in the bookstore with Raven and annoys the heck out of her. Why? I guess so she won't miss the Titans as much. Don't worry, he has an actual purpose, but I can't give everything away. ; )

Emotions? – Remember how Raven's powers went berserk in "Fear Itself" because she was holding her fear inside? It's happening again, except now with guilt of what happened with Terra (and the Jump City thing doesn't help either.). Because she hasn't told anyone, her powers are slowly depleting. She can't heal anymore, and her emotions are no longer a danger to her. She can feel without hurting anyone (but that doesn't mean she'll display her emotions freely. She doesn't seem like the person to do that.). She can still use most of her powers, like her psychic and flying abilities, but those might wear off too….

Wow, that was probably the longest explanation I've ever typed. I'm sorry if you don't like where this is going, but it was all planned from the beginning, and it's not changing. Please don't flame me or kill me, things will get better! (Don't take my word on that.)

I own Jesse and those news reporter people. So don't take them. Yeah…

(Sorry if your or someone you know's name is Susan Parker or Ben. I just chose random names.)