Two
The Hunt
"Titans, get down here!" Robin called through an intercom.
Raven was the last one to the TV room, and everyone was gathered around. The darkness still hadn't receded, and she was extremely distressed.
"Look at this," Robin said, and pointed to the TV.
The news was on. "In the last two days since the horrible Storm Tyrant subsided, several superheroes have vanished from the face of the earth. In a middle of the stopping of a bank robbery in Metropolis, the power went out and when it came back on, Superman was gone. Similar events have happened in Gotham with Batman, along with many members of the Justice League. There have been no signs of the following heroes for the past two days: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, the Green Lantern, Flash, The Fantastic Four, Spiderman…"
Realization hit Raven. That's what her brother had meant. "No…" she said softly, her fists clenched. "It can't be."
"What is it Raven?" Beast Boy asked.
"We're all in danger," Raven answered. "And we have to get away from the tower as soon as we can. Robin, you have to alert Titans East to get out!"
"But Raven, why?"
"Just listen to me, all of us are in grave danger—" Raven was cut off by Cyborg turning the volume on the TV up.
"It appears that Titans East and the Teen Titans are the only heroes left now, and with this is eclipse over us now, who knows what will happen. And still, the cause of these disappearances of the heroes is unknown. Titans, if you're watching the world wants one thing: HELP!" Starfire turned the TV off.
"I cannot watch anymore. Raven, tell us what is going on."
Raven sighed and sat down. "Remember my father?" she asked.
"How could we forget," Beast Boy replied.
"Well evil runs in the boys in our family," she said sternly. "My brother is here. He caused that storm and he intends to warp humanity and reality to his command. He's most likely taking the superheroes to drain them of their powers so he can be invincible. Shadow has taken control of countless planets and contorted all of their realities to suit him. Shadow won't rest until this world bows to his every whim, and if we refuse, he will destroy it."
"So that storm was his?" Robin inquired.
"Yes. Shadow can only enter worlds besides Azerath when there is a certain amount of death and destruction. That storm most likely was worldwide, and killed enough people and destroyed enough families, homes, and cities for him to enter."
"That is an atrocity," Starfire observed.
"There's very little that can stop Shadow," Raven continued. "And us being captured will make it impossible. Robin, contact Titans East and tell them to get out as soon as possible."
Robin nodded.
"I'll go get the ship ready," Cyborg said.
Raven nodded and told Robin: "Tell them to meet us on the moon. We can make a plan there."
"OK."
In about half an hour the Titans were in the ship and preparing to take off.
"So Raven, do you have a plan?" Beast Boy asked.
"Stay alive," Raven said. "Stay alive."
The rest of the trip was made in silence, and they reached the moon just as the Titans East were getting out of their ship.
"It's good to see you guys again," Speedy said.
"Sí," Mas and Menos said simultaneously.
"It's good to see you too," Robin answered.
"But why did you call a meeting on the moon?" Aqualad asked.
"I can explain," Raven was about to begin when a voice as deep as thunder boomed through the air.
"No, you don't have to!"
"NO!" Raven screamed as writhing shadows began to form a figure in front of the Titans, and in an instant a boy as old as Raven stood. He had pale skin and golden, evil eyes. His hair was as black as space, just like his robes.
"Hello, sister," Shadow walked closer towards them.
"Get away, Shadow," Raven hissed as she stepped back.
Shadow took a deep breath in. "Aah… the sweet scent of fear," he smiled.
"Uh Raven, who the hell is this guy?" Bumblebee asked.
"This is Shadow, my twin brother. He's behind everything," Raven growled.
"Oh, so you did figure it out then? Good girl, I always new you were smart. But not smart enough, you didn't run," Shadow seemed very bored and was looking at his nails. "Oh dear, I seemed to have broken a nail," he smiled. "I wonder when that happened," he continued absentmindedly.
"What is it you want, Shadow?" Starfire demanded.
"Oh, demanding aren't we, little alien girl," Shadow answered. "Well, since some people here have no manners, we can get right down to business. In case you haven't looked at earth since we've been here, you might want to look now." What the Titans saw shocked them. "Yes, it's not really an eclipse of the sun as much as it is an eclipse of the earth. Such a shame humans have such little intelligence; I have no need for incompetent slaves. I guess I'll just have to take the power from the heroes there and destroy it."
"No!" the Titans cried simultaneously.
"Oh… So you don't want me to destroy it? Well then why are you all up here, sitting like cowards?" he sneered.
Raven gritted her teeth.
"Oh, getting angry are we, sister?" Shadow laughed. "You always were short tempered. OK, I'll tell you what, I'll make a deal with you all, since you're so loathe to surrender earth, I'll fight you all, ten on one. If I lose, I'll leave earth alone, but if I win, you all surrender yourselves to me," at that moment Shadow seemed a lot more threatening and Raven gulped.
"We accept!" Robin answered, grinning.
"Robin, no!" Raven cried.
"Too late, let the battle—oops I mean hunt, begin!" Shadow cackled and reached his hands out, speaking an incantation. There was a flash of light, and Raven found herself in a thick jungle with mist and leaves and strange sounds surrounding her.
Shadow looked down from his tree and waved his hand, erecting an invisible shield. At that moment, Mas and Menos came zipping through the forest… and ran right into the shield!
"¡Ouch, mi hermano!" Mas exclaimed.
"Sí hermano, ¡ouch!" Menos agreed.
"Oh, there's much more to say ouch about!" Shadow descended upon them and spoke, his eyes glowing and hair flying: "Azerath Metrion Zinthos Necrosten Santherthos!" He reached out his hands and all the shadows from the trees around them sprung to life and wrapped themselves around Mas and Menos, who found themselves trapped in a transparent box.
"¡No!" they cried at the same time.
"Oh yes… Enthereles Acrestex Cruxis!" Shadow called, and the shadows twisted and covered Mas and Menos, and when the shadows receded, they were gone. "Two down, eight to go," he smiled. "I love the hunt."
Beast Boy, Cyborg and Starfire had found each other, and were walking back-to-back-to-back. "Be ready guys," Cyborg warned.
"You can never be ready!" Shadow jumped down and a wave of black magic pulsed around him, separating the three heroes. "Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" he roared, and one of the trees uprooted and was flung at the three heroes. It was met by a blast of green energy from Starfire.
"You will not make prey of us, Shadow!" the princess cried.
Just then, where Beast Boy had been was a crouching green tiger. It pounced at Shadow, who erected a shield and as the tiger was flung to the ground, Shadow cried, "Enthereless Acrestex Cruxis!" The shield became a tidal wave of darkness that washed over Beast Boy, making him vanish.
"No, BB!" Cyborg cried, "You'll pay for this Shadow!" he pointed his cannon at the Azerathian and fired, but Shadow had vanished. The next thing Starfire and Cyborg knew, they were being picked up by two strong hands.
"You think you can win against me? I am Shadow, Master of Darkness!" Shadow flicked his wrists and the two heroes flew into a boulder, and Shadow incanted the curse, making them both vanish. "All too easy," he smiled, and moved on.
Bumblebee was constantly wary, looking around at all times.
"Bzzzz Bumblebee, I hope you can handle a few stings," Shadow leapt from behind, but Bumblebee dodged.
"Boy, you need to work on your catch phrases cause they're about as cliché as they come," the hero put her hands on her hips.
"Really? Well how cliché is this? Cruxis Kadeveres Malfesa!" Shadow clenched his hand into a fist, and Bumblebee screamed as black lightning coursed through her body, making her collapse. Shadow muttered the capture curse, and Bumblebee had disappeared.
He shrugged. "I probably should work on those catchphrases."
Aqualad and Speedy were looking around at all times. There was a rustle behind Speedy. "Aqualad?" he turned around, and facing him was Shadow's upside down face.
"Boo!" he smiled and his eyes turned as black and dark as the night sky. Bolts of energy flew from his eyes and struck Speedy in the chest, sending him flying back. Shadow flipped onto the ground and was met by a rain of fiery arrows.
"Protaj Zinthos!" he cried, spinning around, and a whirling black spiral formed in the air, absorbing the arrows. He thrust his hand forward and the spiral flew forward like a disk, setting aflame. Speedy barely dodge it, but as he jumped he heard the words: "Enthereless Acrestex Cruxis!" and he was gone.
"Only two more. I'm coming for you sister."
Raven's eyes were darting all around her, constantly looking for Shadow. She knew that she was no where near strong enough to defeat him or even put up a fight by herself. If only she could find some of the others. Just then there was a movement beside her, and she whirled around: "Azerath Me—"
"Raven it's me: Robin!" Raven was relieved to see Robin. "Sssshhhh, Shadow's gotta be around here somewhere."
"Robin we can't fight him," Raven said.
"We don't have to, I figured it out this is all—"
"Azerath Metrion Cruxis!" Shadow's voice called, and a blade of black energy flew at Robin, sending him flying through the air.
"Robin, no!" Raven teleported herself to Robin's side, but Robin was already up with his staff out. Shadow appeared before them and Robin was immediately on the attack, but Shadow dodged and blocked with shields of black magic.
"You're strong, Robin, stronger than your friends!" Shadow smiled and caught Robin's staff.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven cried and sent Shadow flying through the air, giving Robin enough time to jump, bring his staff up in a jumping attack.
Shadow rolled out of the way and got to his feet, again stopping Robin's attack as he came with a rebound from the land. Meanwhile Shadow had to simultaneously dodge the objects Raven was throwing at him. Robin whirled around and swung his staff like a bat, but Shadow was there to meet him, and he caught the staff and swung it with Robin still attached. The Titan was smashed into a tree and Shadow whirled around roaring at Raven: "Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" A bolt of black energy in the form of a dragon flew at Raven and sent her catapulting through the air and onto the soft, marshy ground. Raven opened her eyes just in time to see shadows encompassing Robin.
"Robin… NOOOOO!" Raven cried, tears rolling down her cheeks as she clenched the dirt in her hands.
Shadow walked over to her and squatted so his eyes were looking directly at her. "It's over Raven, I win. And now there's one last hero on earth, and it's you, and we both know that you can't win."
"I don't have to win, Shadow, I just have to make sure you don't… Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" she cried, and a black raven swallowed her up… and she found herself in Titan Tower, alone in the dark.
Shadow's illusion faded and he was back on the moon, equally as alone as Raven. "You can run, sister, you can run to the ends of the earth, but it doesn't matter. You will never be strong enough to defeat me, and I have a world to destroy." And with that, Shadow had disappeared and the barren moon was left hanging in the cold space. But compared to Earth, the moon seemed very welcoming indeed.
