Five
Friend Against Friend
Raven was relieved to find that nobody was in the throne room, but she was confused as to where Shadow was. He was concealing his presence, so she began to look around. She checked the tapestries and walls for secret passages, and finally, she came to the throne itself. As she was scrutinizing it she noticed something: a loose brick behind the dais on which the throne sat. She grinned slightly and pulled the brick out some more. Immediately the dais slid to the side, leaving a gaping hole in its place.
Raven walked in and gasped in surprise. The room was exactly like the room in her dream, and tears of rage fell from her face as she saw her friends on boards on the wall with arms of writhing darkness attached to them. The arms led into the shadows at the other end of the room. Suddenly, Raven heard slow, sarcastic claps.
"Congratulations, sister, I have to admit I wasn't sure if you would make it," Shadow taunted as he walked out from the darkness. Raven observed with disgust that the arms of shadows were attached to his back.
"Shadow let my friends go!" Raven demanded.
"Hmm let me think about that for a second… how about NO!" Shadow answered. "In fact, I think we can have a little fun with this," he laughed.
"What do you mean?"
"Raven, Raven, Raven, don't you get it? All this time I've been drawing you here, I led you to choose your team of villains, and I hoped that they would destroy you for me. I am darkness, and you cannot stop me, for darkness is eternal, and the closer you get to the light, Raven, the greater your shadow becomes. When light grows, so do I, and guess what? When light fades, so do I. The day gives way to the night as light becomes dark and Shadow rises. Remember that Raven? The Azerathian prophecy of old, surely you do. Shadow rises. I rise. Now open your heart to darkness, or die!" Shadow exclaimed, and pushed his hands outward. The room around them seemed to explode and the bricks formed a moving circle with the heroes floating around them. They seemed to be fighting on nothing, in pitch black, but Raven could make out a shimmering platform; she would have to be very careful not to step off.
"I'm ready for you, Shadow," Raven clenched her fists.
"Oh, I'm not going to fight you, not just yet. Remember, I can have some fun with this… Metrion Cruscen Perevex!" Shadow cried, and black lightning crackled down the arms of darkness that led to Beast Boy, Robin, Starfire and Cyborg. The chains that held them down were released and they jumped onto the platform, but their eyes were not normal, they were glowing red and maliciously.
"No, Shadow, please no," Raven begged.
"Too late, sister… too late. Minions, attack!" Shadow roared, and flew up into the air, planting himself on a summoned throne.
The next thing Raven knew, her best friends were charging towards her. Beast Boy had become a huge rhinoceros, Robin had his staff out, Cyborg was charging his cannon and Starfire's hands were glowing in green light.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven cried just in time, as the four descended upon her, but all they met was a shield, and when it dissipated, Raven had disappeared. She reappeared just below Shadow and was flying up when she felt a tug on her leg. Starfire was pulling her down, and she succeeded. "Starfire…" Raven moaned. Her friend hurled down to the platform, and the whipping tail of Beast Boy in T-Rex form met her. She just barely landed on her feet, and found herself on the edge of the platform. Immediately she had to dodge as Cyborg's fist came down on her. "I'm so sorry Cyborg… Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven roared and she picked up Cyborg and threw him into the endless darkness… and she was soon following as Robin's staff crashed into her back. Pain surged through her body as she plummeted in darkness. I guess it's all over then… who ever thought my best friends would be the ones who kill me, Raven thought sadly.
"What are you talking about!" Angry roared. "Get back up there and kick butt!"
"I-I can't," Raven grimaced.
"You have to Raven, otherwise we're all goners," Smart answered.
"P—please Raven, go…" Shy said softly.
"Not that it really matters…" Sad moaned.
"Oh shut up," Angry shot.
"Quiet guys. Remember Raven, you're not alone, we're with you," Smart smiled.
"Till the end!" Happy laughed.
"AZERATH METRION ZINTHOS ENSTERA LESTRESA TRIONE!" Raven roared, invoking the powers of her different selves. A huge orb of black light surrounded her and danced around her, lifting her up. Her cloak flew around her, as white as the first snow, and her eyes glowed in silver light. The orb grew and grew and grew, knocking Beast Boy, Starfire and Robin away. As they came back, Raven's orb lessened, but she was ready. She dodged Starfire and Robin, and used her magic to send them catapulting into the oblivion. All that was left was Beast Boy. She was horribly nervous for this, and feared that her feelings for Beast Boy would get in the way of fighting him.
"You're not alone…"
Raven nodded and shouted, "Azerath Metrion Zinthos!" to the oncoming tiger. Beast Boy was sent flying into the darkness by a bolt of black magic, and his roar was the last she heard.
Her white cloak turned blue again, and Raven lowered herself back onto the platform, she was on her knees and looking down to the ground. Tears fell from her face. She looked up and was relieved to see that her friends had returned to their boards, unconscious.
Shadow descended to right in front of her.
"Well sister, I must say well done. But I believe we have some unfinished business."
Raven got to her feet. "Yes, I believe we do."
