A/N: Is HIVE the adults that work for Slade and HAYEP the children/teenagers? I just wanted to double check. Nikki Pound, you will get an explanation at the bottom of the page(s). Oh, I will answer your review if it has information on Teen Titans, ideas, or just something for me to work off of. I work off of praise too, it tells me what I am doing right and need to preserve.
Disclaimer: I own (and wrote) all of the poems except for the 'my friend the doctor' song. That is from Doctor Doolittle the musical, and that is a wonderful movie. I do not own the Teen Titans, but I do own Mage, Kristen, the store and bread lady, and any ideas you haven't seen before.
I could hear chants of protection whisper around me as I slowly awakened. The room was somewhat dark so I assumed that it was still night. I rubbed my cheek against the blankets, not thinking beyond the moment. With a relaxed yawn I opened my eye's, instantly remembering that this was Raven's room. I sat up surprisingly refreshed, and let out a slight yawn.
Raven's cape was still around my shoulders, its scent only a suggestion now. I heard Raven's chant whispering to the left of me.
I turned to her and smiled, "Thanks Raven, this means a lot to me."
She rode the air softly; her crossed legs and carefully positioned arms looking picturesque. She cracked open an eye and glanced at me, "Your welcome, get out." Her eye snapped shut and I got the unmistakable feeling of being dismissed. With Raven's cape still around me I headed to her door, "Mage," she said warningly, "Leave the cape."
I dropped it by her door and left. With a yawn I headed to my room, glad that I had remembered to wash some of my earlier clothing before watching the movies. I changed into my almost too big pants, old grungy "white" t-shit, and my hat.
Feeling refreshed I headed to the kitchen (I had done the morning rituals, brushing teeth etc. That's just boring to read about.) Everyone but, Raven, were sitting at the table and eating their various foods.
I don't eat breakfast, but for some reason I felt in the mood for some company. I looked around and listened to the chants of the contented teens. I grabbed a seat between Robin and Cyborg, tipping back against its back legs. The quiet grating of the metal of the chair vibrated through my frame. The teens were silently crunching their cereal; somehow the domestic sounds set me at ease.
Starfire was humming softly, her chant and voice creating harmonies with each other. Her tune whispered the sound that most people's chants make in the early morning. I felt myself smile, rocking a little in my chair. Beast Boy was eating cereal (thank god), and munching to the beat of Starfire's humming. The sound of his milk around his cheerios was slightly nauseous.
Cyborg was humming that one long sustained note that I always heard when I thought of him. Or rather, his chant was. That note that you can forget because you know it will always be there, that's what he hummed. I heard a faster beat from Robin, its melody constantly changing.
Raven walked in, her cape whispered around her like the rustling of paper birds. Her chant joined those of the other teens, creating an unlikely melody.
Then I heard my chant, its sound completely different than theirs. Its notes were the sound of surf, wind, people, animals, and anything else that ever caught my fancy. It was gentle and hesitant, sometimes playing a harmony to Starfire; then breaking off and accompanying Cyborg.
I got the distinct feeling of a tendril of myself touching each of the teens, then darting away. I concentrated in on myself, the notes of my chant churned around me. The teens continued singing, with a deep breath I plunged in. I began to sing a song of my own, yet it fit with the teens'. I could hear and feel myself twine around them, my chant creating a harmony to their melody.
Then their chant's changed, they began to harmonize with me also. Each note I did affected theirs, as each note they did affected mine.
"Mage," I distantly heard Beast Boy say, "Hey, earth to Maaaagggge."
I could feel the breeze of his hand brushing across my eyes. 'Over here,' Wind whispered, 'swirling, darting, annoying.'
With a slight smile, I reached my hand out. Wind whispered around my arm, its words guiding me. I felt my fingers close around Beast Boy's wrist, and I snapped open my eyes.
A large green elf was staring at me with wide eyes; I gave him a feral smile. He gulped and quickly (and easily) slipped his hand from my grasp and sat back in his seat.
"Hey Mage," Robin greeted me warmly, "It's good to have you back with us." He leaned back, chewing on a worn tooth pick with his cape casting interesting shadows.
I gave him a slight smile and settled back into my chair. I closed my eyes and leaned back further in it, rocking comfortably. Forward and back, the air rushed around me. With a hard push I felt myself lean back, settle in at the perfect moment of balance. None of my feet were touching the ground, suddenly I couldn't breath.
With a snap I opened my eyes to see the teens staring at me. With a gulp I regained my breath and realized I was lying on my back on the floor. "Friend Mage, are you okay?" Starfire asked me nervously.
I watched her expression change and nodded, "Yeah, fine." I wheezed out, "Owe," I complained, feeling the back of my head.
A large hand drifted down towards me, I took it. Cyborg pulled me up, a little brusquely, and I managed to keep from complaining. "You okay?" Cy asked shortly, yet still concerned.
I rubbed the back of my head and grimaced, "Owe," was my only response. He chuckled and they seemed to relax.
Suddenly the communicators went off, everyone but me reached for one. 'Stupid teens.'
'Hurry it up!' And other such sounds filled the air. I grinned slightly, glad that I didn't own one.
"Titans Trouble!" Robin yelled, instantly the kitchen was empty. I jogged easily beside the other Titans, the walls whispering past as we halted before the T-car. Wind stirred around me as the teens climbed into the car.
'Oh Lord, it's too fast!' a building screamed somewhere in the city.
'How am I, no! I'll die too soon, NO!' echoed the haunting tones of a tree.
Various other screams floated to me on the Wind, my acute hearing managing to pick it up. I stood straighter, lifting my chin to the sky and closing my eyes. Every part of me was listening to those faint sounds of hopelessness.
"Mage!" Robin yelled, "Get in the CAR!" In a daze I turned and stepped in, ducking automatically. As soon as I shut the door I began to roll down the window.
"Take the money!" I heard a woman yell.
'I'm sorry, I'm SO SORRY!' A plant screamed in a rapidly changing voice. Then it let out a dieing scream, a sound of such pure hope and sheer terror that it brought tears to my eyes.
A building let out a wordless scream, quickly breaking into thousands of separate voices. Then it fell silent, no scream of death or life, just complete and total silence.
"A man is attacking and robbing a bank," Robin said swiftly.
'NO!'
"My child, oh GOD not my child!"
'I'm too young, I need to live before I die!'
'Goodbye my friends, don't miss me.'
"Mage are you listening to me?" yelled Robin.
'May my life be good,
My death needed,
May I have done what I could,
My dreams succeeded.'
"Leave her be Robin, she can hear you," Raven whispered.
"You maniac, stop!"
The car rolled to a stop, and I stepped out. By now all movements were automatic, I was seeing one world. My eyes had closed, true pain could not be seen with sight. Wind swirled around a man.
"Ah, the Teen Titans and their new member, how nice of you to join us," he said coldly. The pavement cried out as he stepped, then he bent down and touched a small flower. His sweat dropped on it, letting out the one rushed note of growth.
"NO!" the flower screamed, it began to grow and send out seeds. The plants ripped apart the side walk. Sounds of agony lashed at me, vaguely I heard the other teens leaping and plunging.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthose!" Raven cried out. Her chant encased walls, their screams attacking my ears. You can throw whole objects without them feeling pain, but once you start ripping them apart their agony is unknowable. The aura encased walls flew at the man.
The screams of pavement and trees hit me as the walls collided with a freshly grown forest. 'No,' I whispered in horror. For one soft second I heard all plant growth stop; then it continued with a vengeance.
'MAGE!' a wall screamed to me in a familiar voice. This was by the park that I had often traveled; a place of peace and friendship.
'NO!' Yelled a sapling I had often had conversations with.
'Goodbye,' whispered a flower, it complete loss the most beautiful and painful thing I had ever heard.
Silent tears streamed down my face as I opened my eyes. The man was short, about the age of Beast Boy, yet in his thirties. He looked normal, if a little elflike. He had blond hair with green eyes and dark tan skin. He was standing before a line of dead trees, their color already changing a dark brown.
The sidewalk and road were torn apart, yet most of the building only had holes in them. From the owner's point of view, the damage could have been much worse. The teens were throwing all they had at him, and eventually they would win.
People were trying to escape from the sidelines, yet there would be many casualties. For the first time ever I could see and hear perfectly. The tree's screams could be understood as well as seen.
I ran forward, dodging missiles until I reached the people. A plant screamed in death, a tear slid down my cheek. I scooped up a child in my dash, her screams reverberating in my soul.
Finally I reached a large group of people, "I need to get you out of here," I said calmly. The screams of pain continued behind me, and I still wept for them. Yet I could continue, I can feel my pain without being ruled by it. It takes too much effort to scream. "Follow me," I said shortly, leading them down the safest path.
Trees erupted around us, and pebbles showered us. People were screaming, but the group I was saving was quickly growing in size. All this happened in a second, but I knew the entire block was unsafe.
'He's coming,' the walls yelled as I heard the Wind and plants whisper a warning. Through my dried tears I saw a shadow leap in front of me. It's long yellow hair streamed behind it as its savage smile filled my vision.
"Oh no you don't," the man growled, "I need them for hostages." He stood as his simple shirt whispered of his movements.
I didn't speak, I just kept walking. Nervously the people followed me; then he placed a hand against a wall. I heard his sweat sing growth as moss and vines erupted through and along the wall. A crack echoed through my mind as I began to chant.
Both my body's voice and my mouth's spoke, adding power and binding to this ritual.
'Wind and air wrap around us,
'Pain and fear give you need
'I know in you we can trust
'To make it so death can't feed.
'Future hopes and dreams will bind you,
'Each molecule of air woven together,
'With their hopes I hold you true,
'Though you won't make us live forever.
'Save us,
'Save them,
'Help us,
'Help them.
'NOW!'
My mouth whispered sounds only I understood.
"Swirl shurantsay sulanda
"Sunata dursanto salintady
"Kursaynien shunane cloon
"Missnayne seen shoowl
"Myneise soon loosenly shirkory
"Rquarnien Snoofoodl prrcclsss
"Shhaaaa santien cloontainly
"Soonly quearlien saints
"San soon
"San cleen
"Quar soon
"Quar cleen
"WIND!"
The air 'I' had bound solidified into a barrier of true strength. I listened dry eyed as the wall screamed its pain as half of it fell on the screaming people. The stones scattered and broke on the invisible dome. People slowly stopped their cries and began to whisper in fear.
The man stared at me in surprise, the only one close enough to hear me speak.
'Let me pass through my protection,
'Yet hold the others in for safety
'I have work that needs to be done.
'Protect them, not me.'
With that I stepped through my barrier and faced the man. He glared at me, I was again playing decoy. He reached down his hand to touch the side walk, 'bind his hand?' I whispered in Wind.
A tendril of air whispered past me, 'you need to direct me Mage,' it whispered. I began to whisper words that even now I don't remember. The tendril of air passed through my hands and around my arms. It shot from my fingertips to slam against his hand.
'More,' I said clearly, my eyes narrowed and my stance firm. I continued to attack him with Wind, just trying to keep the man from touching anything. His arms reached over his head as his shirt billowed around him. His hand reached towards the ground; I needed to do this differently. 'Wind, wrap yourself around me, please,' I cried, 'Then follow the directions that my body makes.'
A tendril tickled my back, rising through my braided hair and twining around my neck. More currents came to me, swirling and changing constantly. Soon I was enchased with air, then I stepped towards the man. This trick was flashy, and very weak. It was meant to psych him out till the other teens got away from their constantly growing cage of plants.
In what seemed slow motion I shot a stream of air at his chest. Instantly his hand shot up to protect himself. With complicated gestures I sent more air to wrap around and bind his hands. Then I tried to enchase him with a dome of air, and briefly succeeded. The problem was that Wind only had relative control over itself. Soon it would weaken, causing this barrier to die.
I glanced at the people, their barrier wouldn't last forever either. Any manipulation I can do never lasted forever. I stared at the people, listening to the Titans. If helped either one, the other was sure to be dead meat. With a snap I turned to the Titans, if I help them they can help the people.
I raced across the street, dodging pebbles and plants that sent out warning screams. By now I couldn't cry, I knew that eventually I would yet used to the entities pain that I would always encounter on this job. I stopped and stared in awe. Dead trees and vines wrapped around each other like the weavings of a blanket. Fresh plants constantly burst from the ground to give color and dimension to this amazing sight.
Their screams were torture; I needed to stop this growth. I paused and thought, walking around the circular barricade. I needed to counter the growth hormone (that was in the man's sweat) so I could get the plants to stop growing. Listening carefully I heard the telltale signs of weed be gone, and other such things.
I didn't let myself think; I ran into the garden store (now empty) and stole the largest and strongest amount of plant killer I could find in ten seconds. I unscrewed the top and stood in front of the plants, 'I'm sorry.'
With that I poured, the plants' screams were horrible. The speed of their growth made the poison have more effect. Sounds of horror formed an orchestra as I continued to pour. The shoots dwindled; then all forms of growth stopped. Inside the prison I could hear the other teens battling, the plants were steadily growing inward. In another hour or so the teens would be squished. As it was the plants couldn't grow quickly because it was pitch black.
Only licken and other such resilient plants were living. As it was, if it hadn't been for the living plants, the teens would have run out of oxygen by now. I took a deep breath and whispered, 'Heat, please burn a door through this wood.'
I distinctly hear particles of heat start chattering happily, 'No problem!'
I took a deep breath, 'Burn only the door way, I am trying to save some people inside.' I finally broke down, 'Oh please don't cause any more deaths today!' I pleaded desperately.
I felt some heat caress my cheek reassuringly before getting to work. I know it seems (and is) melodramatic, but that's because people tend to react that way. It still doesn't seem real to me.
I watched the fire burn inward, as I wiped my cheeks. The tears weren't apart of me, even though those I cared about were dieing, I didn't know them that well. The sheer shock of it all had to be expressed somehow, so I had cried. Yet it wasn't real, none of this felt real to me. Maybe that was a good thing, possibly not; all I know is that this memory holds no pain for me. Just shock, no emotion is attached to it. All you remember is the joy, so I'd manage.
With a strong face I saw the fire burn through and then stop, the teens were staring at me in shock. Smoke rushed out the opening, their faces were coated black. Then my bindings on the man died. The timing wasn't accidental, Wind had been holding out until someone else could take care of it.
"Mage, you get the people out of here, we'll take care of who-ever-he-is," Robin yelled. I nodded and gave him a smile, "Titans GO!" he yelled. It was oddly soothing to have them helping. It was almost like; the fact that this was normal to them made it easier to handle.
Whatever it was, I watched them race over to him, dodging plants and shooting cement. Robin leapt at him, managing to knock the man aside before being thrown backwards by a tree. As soon as I knew the man was distracted, I ran over to the people.
As soon as I reached them the shield broke, "Come on," I told them. Already I was listening for a safe way out of there. Muttering they looked at me, "Please, I'm trying to get you out of here," I said reassuringly.
An old man stepped forward, followed by what I instinctively knew was his grandchild. I shared a smile with him; then I began to lead the heartened group towards a store. It had a back door, and was the most stable building so far. I ran forwards, leading them to it.
A piece of a wall creaked, "Watch out," I yelled back, "That wall over there is about to collapse. No sooner did the crowd move away from it then with a groan the cement crumbled and fell in on itself. The crash was terrific, children screamed and parents whispered reassuring words.
Finally we reached the front door, "Keep going till you reach the back door," I told the old man. He gave a short nod and jogged in, whispering to his grandchild softly. I watched the terrified people continue. "It's all right," I told them urgently, "Just keep moving." I snatched up a little kid and handed him to the nearest adult, "You can make it sweaty, don't cry." With a light push I got them to keep moving. A boy around my age was the last to go. I gave him a smile, feeling so much older than him. "You're almost out," I said wearily.
I followed him through, listening to the beams to understand their strength. Finally they were all out the door; every one I could save was gone. I took a deep breath and ran out to see if I could help the other Titans.
Raven's power sang a chord as it enchased the man. I could hear her effort and exhaustion. Robin leapt up; each muscle muttered its strength. His staff was lifted far over his head and brought down with a whistling thump! At the same time Beast Boy plagued the man in various bird forms. Starfire expertly sent her thrumming bolts without hurting any of her team members. Then Cyborg leapt, I rounded a corner in the street and watched him punch the man under his chin.
Instantly all sounds of consciousness were silenced. With a snap I realized how the man's power's worked, his sweat contained a growth hormone. If his sweat infused clothing touched the ground, I had far too strong an idea of what would happen.
'Weaving darting parts of air,' I whispered as I ran.
'Whisper round this man,
'Make a net with your great care,
'And halt his fall as I know you can.'
I grimaced, not one of my best works. But I was making it up on the spot, and it got the job done. Immediately the man froze, a net of air wrapping around him and holding him in place. I skidded on the pavement, panting as I halted before the teens,
"His sweat," I began to gasp, "Is what," my side felt like a razor was imbedded in it, "Makes plants grow." With that said I sat down with a flop, shutting down my hearing of entities.
What seemed like silence hit me, I felt myself relax in body and mind. Distant sirens screamed as police men climbed through the debris. They were the ones that had gotten the people I couldn't help out of the street. "Careful," Robin yelled out in warning, "Apparently the hormones in his sweat speeds up a plant's growth."
With mutters of gratitude some police men grabbed the man and put him in the car. As soon as he was lifted from the air, 'my' net fell apart. One policeman, most likely the chief, walked over to us. "Good job kids," He said with gratitude, "We couldn't have done it without you." His voice seemed to warm me, "Without your help who knows how many would have been killed." He turned and held each of us with his gaze, "As it was, so far we don't think anyone was killed or maimed." At that he looked me straight in the eye; I felt my icy pain melt away. "We owe you more than you know."
With that he turned away to face a mob of press coming at us. Briefly photos were flashed and cameras rolled, but after that one minute NO ONE paid any attention to us. As in people pointedly ignored us, though not happily I might add.
I was still being comforted by that man's words, they...we had helped save lives. A great many lives were lost, a loss they would never fully understand, but I had helped. Also, Wind had made a point long ago that I was not supposed to try and save the life of entities. I have any way, more than once. But it said that I would never understand them well enough to know what was real-pain and what wasn't.
So maybe the losses today weren't really as terrible as I had thought. I lifted my face to the sky, and heard the tell tale sounds of a storm. With an anticipatory smile I followed the teens to the t-car.
"Mage," Beast Boy said, jumping in front of me violently. I gave the little green elf a half hearted glare, "Dude, I thought you were like a zombie or something," he informed me seriously. "Are you okay?" he asked somewhat more sincerely.
"Yes friend Mage," Starfire stepped forward to put an arm around my shoulder, "You seem to be in a, 'pit of despair,' as I believe your Anne of Green Gables would put it."
Cyborg ruffled my hair, "Fighting takes a little to get used to, eventually it'll get better," he gave me a gentle smile.
"Yeah Mage, you did well today," Robin told me proudly. His spiky hair and soot smeared face beamed a boyish smile. Why is it that they ALL seem to know when something is wrong, then they ALL know how to comfort me?
Raven floated beside me, "I'm sure your 'talents' have made this difficult," she cracked the slightest smile, "but I am sure you can handle them."
Beast Boy began to jog backwards to keep up with us, "Yeah, like hearing those plants must have been scary," he put in intelligently. "There should be a movie about that! Attack of the Killer Plants!"
Everyone just stared at him, I was glad that I didn't understand why that would be a good movie. If I did, then I would be somewhat like...BEAST BOY! With a blink Starfire continue, "As friend Beast Boy said, it must have been a time of great difficulty," she said with a reassuring.
"So," Robin put in quietly, "Are you going to be okay?" All of the Titans looked at me in concern;I just about broke down into tears. This should be put in a comic strip of For Better or Worse!
"I am now, thanks you guys," I told them, fighting back the urge to laugh and cry at the same time.
Then the sky opened up, I stopped walking and turned my face to the sky. Air rushed down towards me, whispering excitement for what was coming. Then it hit me, a sheet of rain fell on my cheeks and hair. Instantly I was soaked through, laughing I turned and looked at the teens.
Raven had a shield over her like an umbrella, looking less than impressed. Starfire was floating around, looking somewhat bewildered. She turned and looked at us, her large green eyes blinking back the rain.
Beast boy had turned into a little green duck, and he was splashing around in the quickly forming mud-puddles.
"Awe man," Cyborg groaned, "Now I'll have to do extra maintenance when we get home," he whined darkly.
Robin just sighed, obviously not into getting wet. Then right there, in the middle of the street I grabbed Starfire's hands. "Spin with me," I yelled over the rain, spinning around her to get some momentum. We started to run faster and faster, our linked hands the only thing keeping us together. My bare feet found easy purchase on the gravely road, letting me always have a firm balance. Laughing we slowed down, and turned to face the soaked teens.
Beast Boy grinned, as did the rest of them. I just raised an eyebrow and began to sing happily:
"My friend the doctor says the world is full of fantasy,
And who are you and I to disagree?
And if you stay out in the rain,
You'll think your drinking pink champagne,
And spend every night dreaming of thunderstorms!"
I began to dance around in the rain, spinning and jumping in every puddle I could find.
"Maybe what the doctor tells me,
Isn't all together true
But I love everything he tells me.
I can't think of a better one, can you?"
At that I stopped spinning and paused in front of the teens, grinning and panting. That was the first time in a long time that I had let loose like that. Every single one of them was giving me a weird look, "What?" I asked suddenly. "You have a boy that can change into animals. There's an alien girl, a Cyborg, a 'magnificent fighting boy', and then...well, there's Raven." I added with a shrug, trying to ignore the glare she gave me. "And you think dancing in the rain is odd? I really don't know how you manage that!"
None of them could keep a straight face after that, and I was put off the spot light. I listened to the song that the rain sang. It's softly pounding notes rang into my skull. Softly I began to sing, translating as I went.
"The tension builds
As moisture fills the air,
All movement has stilled
A storm will soon be there.
Human kind's pent up fury
Hidden sadness and fear
Everyone's untold story
Through the air it tears.
Clouds hedge the sky
Hidden feelings lend them their hue
The dark clouds fly
Telling all that their wrath is true
Lighting flashes between fronts
Threads of light pull the clouds together
Slowly the thread pulls taut;
Seamlessly binding the clouds forever.
Great crashes rend the air,
Thunder is just suppressed screams.
People's hearts are crying, 'it's not fair!'
As the lighting shatters their dreams.
Then silence, no one dares breath,
With this flashing peace hopes are aired,
By memories of calm they are seized,
For this anger they no longer care.
Like whispered memories the air swirls
Moving with the fallen rain
As a sheet, the rain swiftly drops
Falling down to show our pain.
The rain falls on our cheeks
Our suppressed tears,
A release our sadness seeks
It's the base of our fears.
Too many souls have wept in silent pain
A pressure building in the sky,
It got too strong, and was set free as rain
All because we wouldn't let ourselves cry.
The rain whirls around us
It's scent fresh, clean, and new
With this release comes trust
Out troubles now seem few.
The last raindrops seem to tremble in midair
Like a long clean note at the end of a song
No longer do people cry, 'no fair'
Their road seems joyous, even if it's long."
I finished solemnly, the rain continued to give me my beat. None of the teens had heard me, but I felt oddly satisfied. With a smile I followed them to the car, planning on asking Light and Heat to dry us off when we got there.
A/N:
Spike TV: I couldn't describe the other movies, because all but the ones Mage and Starfire wanted were made up... I'm glad it wasn't needed, I thought that it would get tedious. You gave me complements, YEAH! I feel special now, I hope this chapter is up to your standards.
Niki Pound: I thought HIVE was the adults and HAYEP was the children. They were two branches of Slade... I'll ask everyone to double check. I don't like to change important stuff like that on one persons say so. No offense, if you were the writer of Teen Titans I would still double check.
