Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans.

Hi again, everyone, this is my first fic, so no flames, please. Constructive criticism is welcome. Please RxR.

I'll be posting some of my newer ideas for fanfics on my profile page. Please look at them if you have time and tell me what you think. Animal Attraction will probably be a oneshot, and, if I can put together a decent plot line, The Playground will definitely be longer. I've come up with a plot line for another theme, Ancestor, but I still need to do research on ancient Mesopotamia…

If you have any suggestions of your own that'd be great. Thanks for the reviews and support by the way.

Chapter 3: The Gate of Water

Raven woke, smiling. At first she couldn't remember why, but then the events of her dream came rushing back to her. She tentatively pressed a hand to her abdomen, and delighted in the loving murmurs she felt through her mind and body.

The light streaming in through her window reminded her it was morning. She got up and changed into her usual cloak and leotard, then brushed her teeth and splashed her face to get any remaining sleep out of her eyes, then headed for breakfast.

As she entered the common room, the overpowering aromas of Cyborg's meat-packed breakfast assailed her. Already queasy, the scents triggered full-blown nausea. Hand clamped over her mouth, she made a mad dash for the bathroom.

Luckily, it was unoccupied. After being quietly and efficiently sick, she removed all evidence of her being there, and cleaned herself up. Even so, the nausea had taken its toll; she looked even paler than usual, and also felt slightly faint.

She left the bathroom, walking slowly and carefully back down the hall to avoid dizziness. By the time she got back, Cyborg had already devoured the rest of his meanl, of which she was thankful.

Apparently, so had everyone else; Robin was nowhere to be seen(probably off training again), and Starfire was already singing good morning to her pet worm, Silkie. This left Beastboy, who was stuck washing the dishes.

Hearing her enter, Beastboy turned and gave her a toothy grin while waving a foam-covered hand in greeting.

"Good morning, Rae. Sorry you missed breakfast. I can make something for you, if you don't mind tofu."

Though she felt ravenous, Raven decided on herbal tea, not quite ready to trust her stomach yet.

It's ok. I am a little hungry," she admitted, "but I'm not sure that I should eat anything right now."

He insisted on it though, noting her pale complexion and famished appearance. After about 15 minutes, her set a steaming plate of tofu eggs in front of her, along with some toast and the usual cup of herbal tea. She made sure to eat carefully, a little bit at a time.

Raven sipped at her tea, lost in thought. She wondered how Beastboy would react when he found out he was going to be a father. She glanced quickly over at him playing one of his videogames and snarling at the zombies on the screen.

He would probably be ecstatic and totally freaked, she decided.

Time to go see mother…

One option was to use her old spell that would take her to Azarath in physical form…but…

No. That way was too dangerous, especially because Trigon's power had broken through and tainted the magical protection barriers when Slade had been sent after her.

The other way was to use one of the spirit gates of Azarath. It was easier, and using it wouldn't require as much of her power because the gates drew fron the power of the natural world.

The Gate of Water was in a secluded grove just outside Jump City.

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A spirit raven rose out of the ground. The aura dissipated to reveal Raven herself. She was in a forest glade beyond the limits of the city.

Raven's eyes shone with ghostly light. Nearby, a previously unremarkable cluster of boulders glowed with mystical runes. A closer look at the area revealed a still pool ringed with other such boulders radiating magical glyphs. In the center rose a solitary disk of stone.

Raven shed her cloak and boots, and chanted her mantra as she strode lightly on the surface to the island in the center. (A/N: yes, she's walking on water…)

"Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos…"

Once she set foot on the stone platform, the glowing runes in the stones around the pool flew to circle her. She sat on the cool marble and closed her eyes to meditate. The floating symbols began to revolve around her, faster and faster. She sang her mantra once more.

"Azarath…Metrion…Zinthos…"

Her eyes opened again, glowing with ghostly energy. The floating glyphs suddenly halted in midair. The light rippled outwards from the stone isle, bathing her and the pool in white. Raven's spirit aura rose out of it's earthly vessel and dove into the shining water.

Raven surface in the eternal city of Azarath. Her mother, Arella, was waiting for her next to a mysterious figure cloaked in silver. The figure stepped forward and pushed back its hood to reveal a gracefully aged (old) woman.

"Welcome, Granddaughter."

8

yes, I had this one finished too…backs away don't kill me… ; and please no flames just because I took so long begs w/ big puppydog eyes