Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans … you know the drill …

A/N: Weeehhh the next chappie! Another ling one to! Not as long as the one before, but yeah, long enough! Thankie for your reviewies, so enjoy the chappie!

Enjoy …

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Temporary Loss of Sanity

The city, the sunset, the island, and the people … it was all so mystical. Young and yet taught/seen so much that her young eyes shouldn't have seen, wise beyond her years. What everyone sadly mistake's is … she's still such a child. Raven sighed and swung her legs over the edge of the large building she had flew herself up to in order to get away from her meditation session. Of course she was just too young to understand that what she was doing was wrong … but … she just loved to watch the sunsets.

It was always so beautiful … even more so then the palace that she was a guest to.

"Raven?" Raven stilled when she heard her mother's voice, shooting up in the air and hovering over the edge away from the older version of her beloved mother. Raven bowed her head in shame when she saw Arella with a look of disappointment on her face, "Raven … you are not to be up here, it is forbidden of you to roam the palace without an escort. Why are you not with the monks?"

5 years old and still stumbling in her speak; Raven tried her best to speak as she floated herself into her mother's arms, "Because … I don't want to be with them … too many meditation, I just –"

"Enough,"Arella held up her hand to silence her daughter as she slid her down to walk on her own. Raven frowned and kept her head trained to the ground, glancing longingly at the sunset she wished to watch. Her mother grabbed a hold of her wrist and practically dragged her back into the palace,"return to your studies, you have no reason to be sneaking about as you so please child. Meditation is important for you in the long run; you shall thank me when you get older once you've mastered the ability to separate bad thoughts from logic thinking. Why can you not understand this dear Raven? Can you not see we are only here to help get you through your fate."

Raven nodded, her frown turning sadder and sadder as her mother pressed on with her scolding. Though she wasn't shouting – her mother never shouted at her – the emotion of frustration and disappointment ran deep in her heart that many times Raven tried to read her. Just knowing that she – Raven herself – was a "disappointment to anyone was depressing,"But … but mother … I had read in a one book that fate can not be determined by any know force on Azarath or the universe. Not even the Gods can tell what is to be had in the future of any one being. Is it … is it not possible that I can change my … my fate? Destiny?"

Her mother stopped, just in front of the guest room of the palace, Raven feared to look upon her face for if she did the look of utter disbelief and fear would be laced and Raven did not want to see and know that she was the cause of this emotion. Training her eyes to the ground, Raven waited for the onslaught of verbal scolding to continue, but some form of misfortune had derailed her mother's discipline.

The palace warning owls had been released. A white owl flew just over head, Raven looked up to watch as the larger owl, two times bigger then an American bald eagle swooped in between Arella and herself. Clutched in its giant beak a letter of warning, Arella had snatched it up and read the contents. Raven saw through the parchment due to the lighting and read something about the palace having been breached.

Whatever that meant her mother stilled and looked down at Raven, rolling the parchment back up and stuffing it in the belt she opened up her daughter'sroom and pushed in,"Remember, we have not been through with this discussion, now stay in here and let not a single being into this room, understand me Raven?"

A bit frightened and unsure what to think Raven nodded,"Yes mother."

"Good girl. Lock the –"

"Arella! Your assistance is needed my lady!" Raven peeked her head out the door and down the hall to see one of the many monks that watched over her call forth from the corridor that lead to the Royal Chambers. Curiosity spiked, the Royal Chambers, no body was allowed in there accept for the Royal Family … what could be of assistance in there?

Raven glanced up at her mother for further instructions, but Arella just pushed her into the room and closed the door warning her to stay inside. The little sorceress did just that and sat upon her bed, waiting for whatever was happening to end and for her mother to return. Raven sighed and swung her legs back and forth upon the bed that was much higher then herself, thinking about the next book she would read from the library.

There were many and she was planning on reading them all –

Her door was sudden jarred open and a young boy poked his head inside, frightened for the moment Raven ducked to the side and heard a strange langue of aconversation taking place, "Fernaco! In here!"

Shuffling, Raven gulped from under her table and watched as an older male came bursting in and groaning. Being that she was a half demon Raven smelt something odd … something that she only once smelt when she cut herself falling down the stairs. Blood. The man was bleeding.

Clank!

Raven gasped in fear and put her hands to her mouth when she dropped a weapon, sharp and covered in blood. The other two males reacted the same when they saw they weren't alone. The little boy more forced behind the older man with a strange mask of clothe wrapped and tied around his head. His eyes a hypnotic light green tricked the young Raven into trust, even if a sense of pain was felt wracking his body. Raven gulped and looked to the spot on his left side, a deep shallow cut was seen, but it was clean and seared.

Magic had been used there.

"Hey there little girl," the older of the two whispered and cringed at the pain, reaching out his with none bloodied hand to coax Raven out of hiding, Raven came out more out of pity for the man that was injured, "listen … I'm not here to hurt you … I promise."

Not understanding a single word that was coming out of his mouth, Raven nervously glanced at the little boy who watched everything from the corner. He to wearing the same mask as his "partner", back to the older man, Raven pointed to his wound,"You're hurt … do you need tending to?"

"Oh … right … you're an Azarian, forgot," the man mumbled to himself, then cleared his throat, "I am fine, but I am not here to hurt you."

Raven tilted her head in wonder at his sudden change in langue to one that she understood,"Are you a foreigner?"

"Yes! Yes … and we need your help," he cringed again at the pain,"you see … we're playing a little game … it's called hide and seek, a game where a group of people hide while another goes around to try and find them. Do you wish to help us?"

A game? Raven didn't know, games were forbidden of her to be playing … but so was roaming about the palace and she did it any way. What's the harm in breaking one more rule, Arella need not know about it. So nodding enthusiastically Raven gasped and covered her ears when something exploded in her room, shattering the glass shards. The boy and the man both did the same. Embarrassed, Raven sighed and looked away blushing with a sad frown,"Forgive me."

"Oh … so you're the one that everyone is talking about," the man chuckled and looked to the boy, speaking once more in that strange language, "You better remember this kid, cause this'll be the last time you ever get the chance of meeting an actual child of evil incarnated."

"Whatever," the little boy huffed, "I still say this is a bad idea what if –"

"This way! Their aura level is strong down here!"

"Fernaco! They're coming!"

"Don't panic! Remember what I taught you!" the older man named Fernaco growled, "Stay calm and alert, what's the point in having skill when you're too hyperactive to do anything."

"Yeah, but what are we supposed to do? They we're right down the hall!" the boy was panicking, and Raven remembered what his partner had said. They were playing a "hide and seek" game. Running to her nightstand she moved a few choice books off another on the bottom and opened its cover. Seeing the red button she slammed on it and her bed slid into the wall. Fernaco and the boy watched in curiosity as a latch was reviled on the floor.

Raven never knew what the thing was, but she watched a few of the monks use it to place evil magic inside and every now and again she'd open it to see what was in there and read some of it's contents. Learn and evolve she found it was like a mini library; a Library of Horrors is what she called it personally. Looking back at the other two she gestured for them to come and stay, "It is safe in here, they will never find you."

Fernaco smiled and bowed,"Thank you milady."

Without further ado they slid in and Raven closed the latch, and slid the bed back in its place, putting her pillow back where it belongs she sat on the bed and smiled. This was just so much fun! Then, not too long after she had done such a thing, her door slammed open the dagger that was dropped earlier slid behind the door unknown as Arella came in kneeling in front of her looking around nervously breathing hard, "Raven, my child, has any one come in here for you? Are you hurt?"

Raven stifled a giggle; this game was just so much fun, shaking her head she answered,"No mother."

"Arella, let's continue, your child is safe. The thief passed here not to long, if we hurry we can catch him!" a palace guard behind her hissed his warning, Arella looked back then turned to Raven, kissing her on her forehead she went hurried out the door.

Once it slammed shut, Raven jumped off the bed and opened the latch back up to let Fernaco and the boy come up, "I assured you they shall not find you have I not?"

The older man chuckled and messed up her hair,"Good girl … good girl … now, we have to go. Take care little one."

"Bye … good luck."Raven waved as Fernaco and the boy rushed out the door and down the opposite way the guards, her mother, and the monks went. The little boy taking one last glance back her, Raven tilted her head when he spoke to her in his language.

"We owe you one kid."

Not understanding a single thing he said, Raven blinked and gasped when he took out a large red jewel, chipping off a piece he tossed it to her and ran off without a second glance. Catching the red shard, Raven eyed it strangely and gasped once more when the red gem on her forehead suddenly flew off and dropped to the floor.

Then to replace it was the red shard the boy had flicked her way, the same size and shape as her old one, Raven closed her eyes when it hovered over her forehead and stuck itself in place of the old. Eyes shooting open the young girl stared with a void expression and slowly she walked back into her room, closed her door, and did something she was taught to never do.

She giggled in delight and excitement, she had just played a really neat game! Happenstance glance down at the floor, Raven's smile grew as she noticed the dropped dagger on the ground. A souvenir perhaps?

--

"Raven …" Raven opened her eyes, having been lost in sudden memory through the time she had been feeling for the door. Childhood memories … Kenneth … she felt him, a piece of the kid he once was smeared on the door like lambs blood ruthlessly slaughtered and taken. It was only a flash … a single second that may have lasted for a little over three seconds, but she felt it and it triggered her own memories of her first time meeting with the child that was once the thief standing behind her.

Impatiently scratching his head and cleaning his nails of the dust that had appeared from the top of the ceiling, Raven sucked in a deep breath and pushed open the door, memory-lane was done and over with. Time to get down to business, "Let's go."

She informed and with that gently pushed the door open, X braced for anything that was going to come flying out, but when a bright light flashed before the four, screams erupted from either's mouth when they felt the ground beneath them vanish! Literally! Falling fast with nothing to hold on to, bodies flipped through what they all thought was mid-air hands flail trying to grab onto something – anything – to help stop them from falling into oblivion.

Darkness, rushing wind, no sound – but their screams – faster with the feeling of forever, it came suddenly when they hit the ground. All of them falling flat on their faces, or bottoms and groaning in pain because they forgot to brace for impact. Malchior immediately shot a hand to his side that had been hit, pressing hard to stop it from throbbing. He snarled and clenched his fangs trying to bear with the pain.

Raven shook her head and shakily got up to her hands and knees, hood off and violet hair falling to cover her face she sighed and blew the strands out of her dazed eyes, "Is everyone alright? Head count, sound off."

"Well … I think I'm fine," Rorek sat up rubbing the back of his head from the rock he felt like he fell on … Rock? Looking down and picking up the rock that looked like it should have come from the edge of a cliff. Rorek looked up and did see a cliff … and something else … a night sky? Littered with stars and the moon shinning down beautifully upon the meadow/hill that the cliff looked over. A sense of normality was suddenly questioned and Rorek found himself trying to pinch his arm to make sure he wasn't dreaming.

"Whoa …" to his left Kenneth has stood up, his Red X costume still on and his cape flailing as the spring breeze blew passed … his floppy brown hair whished around his head like a puffy cloud as his amber hazel eyes blinked and blinked again, "… I though we were supposed to enter a freakin' city, not a damn other dimension! Where the fuck are we?"

Raven glanced to Malchior, noticing his struggle to try and sit up, she crawled over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "You okay? Let me look at it."

"No," he shot out quickly, sitting up on his knees and looking around to other then her. Embarrassed that he was suddenly so weak, "I'm fine."

The sorceress rolled her eyes, "And I'm so madly in love with you –" Malchior nearly chocked on air when she sarcastically snorted the thought in his head, " – get real Malchior and let me see your side."

The stubborn dragon that was too distracted from her last sarcastic thought to do anything about the hands that moved his own from his side. Malchior, held his breath when her light feathered fingers fluttered over his wound after lifting his shirt a good few inches. Irritated by the constrictive thing he just took it off and relaxed a little bit more, even though his head was trying to filter out all the weird thoughts about the strange things that happened for the passed few hours.

He just had to ask one thing, "Hey …" a quiet call to her attention, Raven looked up from her concentration.

"What?"

Malchior looked down at her and noticed a strand of unruly hair just in the way of her face that wouldn't seem to cooperate. Helping her out he reached out and just like back at the Tower pushed it back over her ear. A thoughtful look on his face as he tilted his head, "How come you never asked me to set you free from the spell I put on you?"

Raven blinked, her violet eyes betraying no emotions, however inside her head raging thoughts fought over one another to win out how she should be feeling at the moment. Offended that he dared to touch her after all his lies, embarrassed that his shirt was off, scared at the look he was giving her and their close proximity, or angry at the audacity that he's ask her such a stupid question.

She decided to go with a passive expression and seal herself away like always, returning back to her work to distract herself she sighed, "Don't think me a fool Malchior, why bother ask a question that I already know the answer to?"

A sharp shiver went up and down his spine and through his entire body when she released a good amount of energy to heal his wound. Malchior took a moment to try and recover from the sudden power surge; it was the same exact feeling like when he sent his spell to Gale-gard. Shaking his head, Malchior gulped and leaned away from Raven, not wanting to weaken her like before. He sucked in a breath and held it for a second then let go, "Oh … so you do? How would you know my answer if you never bothered to try?"

Raven leaned to him, making sure he was looking her directly in the eye, she could feel her anger over him getting stronger, and Malchior could see it burning, "Because I know you."

"What do you know about me?" it was supposed to be a sensual question that would get her to blush, but tables were turned when she stood up and dusted her shoulder of him. Abruptly turning away from Malchior's guilt would grow ever bigger after her spiteful words.

"You're a liar." Simple as that, and that was all she was going to say, putting her hood up so Rorek or Kenneth didn't see the water that was farming at the corner of her eyes. Raven angrily clenched her fists tight. Why did she feel this way? Sad, hateful, but mostly hurt … why hurt? Didn't she get over him? Didn't she swear on her life and his lies that she'd never forgive him? Then why consider it? What did he do to even make up for everything he's done? Since he came back things have been going from bad to worse … I should be hating him … and I do … or I should … I do … I should … which is it damn it! Should is cause for reasonable doubt, there's no reason in what he does or what's going on here!

"So …" Kenneth sighed and plopped on the grassy field looking over the hill to the lights just beyond what was called the meadow by Rorek who was too busy gazing at the stars with stars in his eyes. He looked like a city kid that's never seen the sky as beautiful as it was now … and he possibly had reason to be acting the way he was. Raven decided to sit in between the two as Kenneth glanced back to Malchior with a sneer, "You two done with your little moment or what, because we still have to figure out where we are exactlt."

"The Underground City," Ravens shrugged completely ignoring Kenneth's earlier comment and pointed to the lights beyond the meadow, "That's where the City is. This … I don't know what this is all about … but I'm sure we'll find out once we get to the City … though … I hardly think that's even a good idea. Only drows dwell there and our magic's combined aren't strong enough to fool the lot of them."

"Okay … so how do we get back?"

Again Raven shrugged, "We'll find away."

"Uh … people …" everyone turned to Rorek who suddenly shot up looking up and pointing to the sky, "… I think we got company."

X looked up with him, both he and Raven getting up and watching as 6 pairs of lights floated in the air, then suddenly dove down towards them, X raised a brow, "Is this just my imagination, or are those air-boards?"

"They're air-boards alright," Malchior growled, "the same ones that came to destroy Titan Tower … we have to hide."

Rorek looked around, "Where? We're in the middle of nowhere!"

Malchior rolled his eyes and ran to the meadow where the tall grass was, "Must I explain everything? Just hide in the tall grass and stay down! They can't smell, only see and hear, so shut up."

Raven levitated in the air and shot down to the grass, "You shut-up, you're the one that's running your mouth."

"Don't start with me Raven," Malchior growled and ducked down once be got in deep enough, Kenneth and Rorek not to far from one another as they watched the air-boards carefully. Their sharp jerks and twists and turns and then sudden sonic-break once they sped back to the city when nothing was to be had. The four closed their ears – especially Rorek and Malchior – when a loud sharp whistling sound shot over the meadow. Too close for comfort, and too loud to bare, the four of them stayed in the grass for a bit longer still stunned for a moment.

Raven gulped and sighed; Boy do I wish I was with the others right now … cause this is hell!

--

Beast Boy transformed back in to human form after circling the perimeter in his eagle state he dropped down on all fours and shook himself dry, "Dudes, the area for the whole perimeter is totally secure. Didn't see a single thing. You sure Raven's in there?"

Robin nodded, he hadn't have said a single word since their mission began, and Cyborg was starting to get worried, the Boy-Wonder had an bad temper and always held it in. Cyborg only wished Starfire would came fast enough from her checking to help cool off the hotheaded titan. Though it must have been his lucky day, because his prayers were answered when the Princess came floating down to join the group, "Hello everyone," twisting her hair to dry it the best she could from the rain she shivered from her lack of clothing to cover her skin from the pouring rain.

"What did you find?" Robin immediately asked when she never continued her report from earlier.

The Tameranian shook her head, "I am sad to say that I have not found our friend Raven … however … I must report that I did find this."

From her pocket she took out a red chipped and dirty looking blue sapphire … but not just any sapphire. Upon closer inspection when Robin took it from her grasp he gasped when he saw the red speck in the middle, "What the … Star … this is, the Red Sea Sapphire! Where did you find it?"

Starfire smiled, "So I have done well? I have found what we have also been searching for? Oh joyous be! Come and I'll show, follow quickly!"

SSSEEEWWW!

"Get Down!" Robin grabbed Starfire and pulled her to the ground as Cyborg and Beast Boy dodged to either side in order to avoid the laser blast that came for them and exploded the building wall behind them. Robin just prayed that the people inside were okay as he shot up and took out his bo-staff, "Titans Assemble! Who are you!"

A girl …

A normal everyday average high school privet school uniform wearing girl stood before them, her blaster held with both hands, in the middle of the rain with a dead expression. Robin sensed something was amiss even Cyborg was hesitant to touch the girl she seemed so frail. However a threat was a threat, Robin reminded them of that, "No matter what happens, do not harm the girl, not unless she shows sign of deadly assault. Something's not right here."

"And you'd be right to thinking that my friend," from above a strange voice pierced the streets, and he wasn't even that far up. Nope, in fact he was just right across the street leaning sitting on the lamppost. Quite comfortable he smirked at the four and Beast Boy couldn't help but to be disturbed by the guy's pointed ears and lack of white eyes, "You see … I'm missing something and I need it back, you have it in your pocket and I want it brought to me now. You can either do so cooperatively, or forcefully, but either way I'm getting that Sapphire."

Robin glanced down at his utility belt to see the pouch that he had put it in and scowled, "You want it so bad, you can come get it yourself instead of letting defenseless girls do it for you! Titans take him down!"

"Melissa, be a dear and fetch me that Sapphire!" the man growled and jumped off the street post to disappear in the middle of the rainy day. Robin and the other braced as the girl now named Melissa jumped to them and the fight began; too bad Robin failed to notice his shadow betraying him. Coming up from the ground to grab him down with his mouth covered. Starfire turned back and went to save her friend, but Melissa came from behind and fired a shot at her head.

Knocked to the ground, Starfire found no choice but to fight off Melissa and ignore Robin. His shadow reached into his pocket and stole away the Sapphire, then released him. Robin turned to face the ground and pounded his shadow with his staff, "Give it back!"

The black apparition stretched and the glowing blue that was the sapphire went with it. Robin watched as his own Shadow betrayed him and gave the jewel to the grinning man from the street post who was now leaning up against the building Melissa hit. In his hands and chuckling, Robin shot up and roared as he ran for revenge, "It isn't yours! It was never yours to begin with!"

The pointed ears man growled and brought up a hand to the charging Robin, his control slipped on Melissa that the poor girl dropped to the ground, passed out and exhausted. All heads turned to Robin as the elf sneered, "You humans are all the same. Clueless!"

"Don't dare ever harm him!" Starfire charged one powerful starbolt and in a flash the green charge of energy shot through the air and fired at the elf's chest. Exploding and throwing him into a cloud of smoke, it also threw Robin back and the sapphire clattered to the ground falling into a crack in the ground and disappearing into oblivion.

The elf, Gale-gard dropped to the ground, one power hit by Malchior, and then another by Starfire … the drow could only take so much and he ended up passing out right there on the street. Baffled by the sudden change in tables, yet hesitant to move to afraid of what might happen next. Robin looked amongst his team and sighed, "I think we missed something here."

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Movin' right along folks, see ya in the next chapter, alright? Alright, bye!

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