Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but I do own Ellris, Saligia, the name Kenneth, Francesca and the plot.

A/N: YAY! Lots a love for me, so I'm given some love back at you guys with this chapter, and yes your reviews do cheer me up see me smiles (points to the smile on her face) anyway, to the chapter and sorry, but this one's still short, though still longer then chapter 28 – at least I think it is (shrugs) at least it's a chapter right?

Enjoy!

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Given the Play By Play

"Miss! Please! You must slow down! Kenneth can't keep up with us!" Rorek pleaded ignoring the pain in his shoulder as he followed the girl through the twists and turns of the hidden hallway parallel to the surface of the Mall.

At the end she brought him to two large double steel doors that she flung open, "Please, believe me when I say forgive me, but we must hurry."

"Wait!" Rorek growled and nearly tripped on his own two feet when she brought him into a stairwell that lead down to the basement of the mall. I never knew malls had basements. He thought unsure whether or not he should follow the girl even further … he felt … set up.

"Rorek! Hey! Slow down man! Jeez, where the hell's this girl taking us?" Rorek looked back to see Kenneth coming for him, stopping and catching his breath next to the wizard tiredly. Looking into the door he sucked in a deep breath and glare at the darkness, "Huh? Is that what I think it is?"

Rorek shrugged his left shoulder, "A basement? That's what I thought …"

Kenneth blinked and looked up to Rorek, "Malls have basements?"

"Why have you stopped?" Kenneth jumped when the girl came back up from the stairs and gazed at them worriedly, "I thought I had lost you. Come, hurry! It's safer in here!"

"Now just wait one damn minute!" Kenneth stood up and glared down at the girl threateningly, she just looked up at him and he saw a flash of something equally challenging in her sapphire eyes. Rorek felt her aura flare just for a split second, confirming the wizard's earlier theory. The girl had to be something more then just a pretty face. Kenneth had known from the start she was bad news as well, "We don't even know your name, who are you and why the hell are you helping us?"

"I'm helping you because I know it's right," she pleaded, "but … there is only so much I can do before …"

"Before …" Rorek urged gently, "there's no need to keep secrets from us … this has nothing to do with you, I appreciate your courtesy for trying to help us, but I don't want you to get involved in something you don't need to be involved with."

The girl frowned and looked to the ground, "You are just so kind Rorek … believe me when I say that I wish to accept your appreciation full heartedly … but … there's just nothing to be grateful for."

"How'd you know his name …" Kenneth asked suspiciously, and her sapphire eyes looked back up at him sadly.

"The question isn't how I knew his name … is how long you'll live after I am no longer by your side, Kenneth," she vanished form sight, Kenneth stayed on alert and expected her to appear behind him and back kicked her when she did just that, but she was quick. Dodging his kick she sank into a perfect fighting stance, and with one fluid thrust her palm jutted out. Hitting Kenneth in the back, pushing him down the stairs.

Rorek powered up and moved away from her second attack, "Partha'lamae!"

The girl halted all movements and brought her arms up to cross over her face, Rorek's spell was held back then canceled all together. Her cute face set in stone as her sapphire eyes gleamed with a devious plot. Rorek cursed softly, he knew there was something about the girl he should know! Like she's magically trained! "You'll have to do more then a paralyzing spell, because if you haven't noticed … I'm far from human. Tembel Murcrous!"

"Counthour Speltrex!" as fast as he could he shot her spell right back at her, yet she jumped away from the combined attacks and rushed the wizard. Showing him enough evidence of her false façade when her round eyes suddenly turned to piercing slits. Sliding up close to the wizard and breaking his guard she bared her fangs and shouldered him in the chest.

Into the basement she pushed him, Rorek was faster and grabbed a hold of her hair when it swayed towards him. She yelped as he took her down with him, the pair went twisting and tumbling down the stairs in a tangle of body parts. Feeling like forever the two didn't pull away until they hit the ground and were forcefully separated. Kenneth dragged Rorek away from the girl.

"Hey, Rorek, you alright?" hearing his name used, Rorek cringed shaking his head he looked up to see Kenneth frantically trying to keep his eye about the darkness with a glare.

The wizard cringed and got to his feet, gulping he held his head trying to shake the dizziness from his vision he looked out for the girl, but held his breath when he saw he was surrounded by Slade Bots. The girl was hardly the case as she got to her feet and flicked her midnight blue hair back over her shoulder. Her tendrils falling back in place on her shoulders as she sighed and walked back to line up with the Slade Bots. Rorek growled, there was just something he should know about her, something important … something … something vital to his and Kenneth's survival, "Who. Are. You."

Sapphire eyes still gleamed deviously, but she couldn't hold his gaze and ended up bowing her head to keep from eye contact. Her talon nails clenching and unclenching as she twisted and nearly ripped her shirt with the way she nervously tried to keep from answering him. Yet … she couldn't hold back … looking up she shuttered when she was forced to stare into Rorek's suddenly cold – below 0 degrees cold ice blue eyes. "I … I'm … I'm the sister to the Champion of Grandmaster Ellris'malchron … and the reason I brought you here … was to ensure Father has a word with you."

Kenneth raised a brow, "Hold on … are you talking about –"

Before the thief could even utter Malchior's name another voice came through, this one even more sinister then Islasmursa's … and the thing was … it wasn't even Slade's, "Saligia (A/N: Sal-ee-gee-ah, if you were struggling, there's a meaning behind this name and it'll be known later in the story, sorry for the interruption just let her name roll off your tongue, it's Latin), making friends already my dear? Can't say I approve."

The girl now known as Saligia shivered and hissed in some sort of discomfort, suddenly dropping to her hands and knees as if forced to bow, her frail body shook. Threatening to crumble at the slightest touch as she gasped and withered, but never once did either Kenneth or Rorek realize she cried out. Shakily she pleaded, "I – I'm sorry Grandmaster … bu-but I-I think they have a right to know why I've done your bidding …"

"No body has a right to know, unless I say so little one," Rorek glared and looked around with Kenneth.

The later asked quietly, "Who's talking?"

"I believe …" Rorek responded equally in a whispered voice, "… I hate to think it … but I think we've just entered dangerous territory … family matters are never good to interfere with."

Kenneth raised a brow, "Family? You're saying we're going up against Malchior's DAD? The badass back at Azalon, the one that had you, Raven, even Malchior on edge? Fuck! Quick description, what's his style?"

"Tear you done till there's nothing left then finish you off at your weakest emotional state. Use you for what your worth then throw you to the side … but he does it in a manner that seems almost humane in the sickest, cruelest way possible." Rorek gritted his teeth when to his right the Slade Robots parted and out stepped the dragon that Kenneth could have SWORE all up and down Heaven, Hell and Earth was Malchior. In fact … he went so far as to suggest the"Father" bit wasn't real and that they were just twin brothers! The difference? Hardly any at all, but this dragon seemed taller then Malchior by an inch or two. Yet that can't be confirmed unless there was a ruler next to the two.

The Malchior-look-a-like bowed humbly and chuckled sinisterly at the two, "My, I'd never would have thought I'd actually get to meet the Prince of Elves face … to face."

Kenneth sneered, already knowing the bastard was addressing him, "Get the memo yet? I renounced my "princely title" there's a new government on Azalon, and it's called democracy."

"And all governments are never stabled … Azalon will sill fall … trust me," Ellris winked with his fanged grin, "I made sure of it."

"How can you be so arrogant of such a thing?" Rorek challenged, "All Azalon needs is a push in the right direction, another Power Jewel and it's safe for life. I'LL make sure of it."

Ellris sneered and casually strolled up to Rorek's side, "As I've learned through out my years walking between Hell, Purgatory, and Earth in my eternal damnation … Talk is cheap. If you really think you can save Azalon, then you better hurry on up to Azarath before I get there because … Power Jewels come in short supply and I intend to keep it all."

Kenneth narrowed his eyes and remembered a conversation he had once had with Malchior back at Rorek's place:

"… power is a beautiful thing … it's like chocolate … you just can't get enough of it … "

"Not to the point of wanting to kill the whole world off for it."

"But you're still addicted to it."

It ended with the conclusion to the human that maybe … Malchior's power craving came from his father's side of the family.

Kenneth stayed quiet, weighing the extent of the situation and cursed inwardly. Why the hell do bad-guys have to always be damn psychopath? He growled to himself and shook his head, "Okay … so now you're going to give us a hard time because you want power? Can you be even more original? Because I think I've heard that line before in countless other movies and story book endings and let me tell ya, they all end the same way. The good-guys are gonna kick your ass, guarantee."

Ellris's grin came back, fangs and all, "Kenneth … until you know how to look at the big picture … I suggest you keep your mouth closed about things you just don't understand. Just be glad that I dispatched your minor Slade problem, a bothersome that one. I called you here to give you a heads up and a chance to keep up … because I'm off to Azarath and who KNOWS what I'll be up to there. Just be sure it's only you, Rorek, Malchior and that pretty little demoness, Raven … the other Titans don't need to be in on our fun. Saligia!"

"I follow father," Saligia, up on her two feet looked at the two and frowned, "Good-bye."

"Saligia," Rorek sighed and reached out for her, not exactly know what he was doing grabbed a hold of her upper arm he pulled her back to face him, "what do you think you're doing? Ellris is hurting you, why are you following him!"

"No shit, I mean, I thought you were stupid before, but now I know there's a screw loose up there. This is bullshit." Kenneth bluntly and heartlessly the sneered with a wave of his arm, Saligia turned to him and gritted her teeth. Her eyes glowing a faint red as she sucked in a shaky breath, closing them suddenly when they began to water over with every word that came out of his mouths. Kenneth's harsh amber eyes suddenly let up ever so slightly … but still held a look similar to that of a disappointed friend, "Save the water works for the Teen Titans doll-face, because by the way I see it, you brought this upon yourself."

Saligia blinked and a small tear rolled down her cheek, though that didn't stop her from glaring defiantly at Kenneth, "The Grandmaster is my father, but you're just a simple minded human and wouldn't know what that means!"

"Saligia!" Saligia gasped and held her side painfully, her knees growing weak, she took a deep breath and refused to fall.

On her feet she stumbled back and straightened up though still shaking from exhaustion, another tear escaped her eyes, but she still stubbornly held Kenneth's glare after she looked back to see where her father was, "It's almost impossible for a dragoness to defy her Grandmaster … just … jus-please, live long enough to meet again and I'll prove to you I'm not who you think I am."

With a jerk she ran off to catch up to her father.

Rorek shook his head and Kenneth cursed when he saw the Slade Bots closing in, "Damn … your right arm okay?"

"I'll live," Rorek growled, and looked up the stairs to see the Titans burst open and Malchior diving down with Raven following close by. Robin, Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy bring up the rear, the wizard frown, "should you tell them or should I?"

"What? That Slade's a frickin' puppy compared to Ellris?" Kenneth sneered with a shrug, "I could careless who tells … but let's just do as the girl says. Live long enough to meet her … because I think she's on the wrong side of the tracks."

"Why must we always come in and save you two?" Malchior growled playfully and dropped onto a launched Slade bot, using his claws alone he sloppily tore the circuits apart.

Kenneth saw Robin running up to him and jump high, Kenneth ducked down so the hero could nail a robot in the face with his famous drop kick. The thief pulled out his dagger from his belt hidden under his jacket and jumped into the fray. With the Titans combined with the odd trio that consisted of a Dragon, a Wizard, and a Thief the robots were not such a big problem to deal with. With Beast Boy finishing the last robot by biting it's head off in his tiger form. The green creature spat the scrap metal out and morphed back into his human form, "Okay … did that seem easier then usual?"

"I don't tip-toe around battles unless I feel like it," Kenneth sneered and dusted his shoulders off, Robin eyeing him wearily when he saw the sharp dagger within his hands. The thief snorted, "Chilax featherhead, I'm as harmless as a … well … I haven't slit your throat yet have I?"

Robin scoffed, "And I feel so much more safer … where's Slade?"

Kenneth chuckled, "Hate to be the barer of bad-news kid … but Slade's out of the picture. Don't know if it's permanent or not … but it looks like we got bigger fish to fry."

Beast Boy stilled, "Dude … what's bigger then Slade? He's like, the badest of the bad!"

Rorek sneered, "Let us discusses this at the Tower. Here is where I fear even the walls have ears."

Robin nodded, "Rorek's right, Raven … please, do the honors."

The sorceress stood in the middle of the group, Kenneth getting a little closer as Raven took a deep breath then lifted her arms over her head allowing for her black magic to engulf everyone in darkness to phase them all to the Tower. Francesca the little nightstalker jumping into the darkness just before Raven vanished completely. Letting go her held in breath as she arrived at the Tower the others all shook off the chills they got from teleportation and made their way towards the couch. Raven walked up to Rorek and pulled him to the kitchen in order to get a good look at his wound.

He followed her silent orders without protest and sat on the counter next to the sink as she began to clean him off. Robin leaned on the back of the couch arms crossed watching Raven and Rorek, Malchior stood not to far away leaning on the counter table in between the stools. Kenneth plopped himself on the same counter as Malchior, propping a foot on top of the stool while petting Francesca.

For a moment there was a still uncomfortable silence.

Rorek and Kenneth knew something and were just too reluctant to give up their knowledge. Raven was too busy and had enough patience to wait for something to start the conversation.

It would be Beast Boy to interrupt the silence as he asked once more from the couch this time around, "So … who's badder then Slade?"

Raven carefully lifted up a sleeve to see Rorek's wound, taking a deep breath when the pain pinched at his body he sighed, looking up to Malchior unsurely he turned his ice-blue eyes at the Titans and snorted, "Well, first you must define bad … because Ellris'malchron isn't a dragon to underestimate."

Cyborg raised a brow, "Who?"

"The Grandmaster of the most largest and most powerful Dragon Clan on Azarath," Malchior growled, his eyes suddenly tinting pink, Raven shuttered and nearly clutched Rorek's wound in order to help keep her head when she felt Malchior's rage effect her. Rorek took a deep breathe in order to sooth out Malchio's aura as the dragon stifled a growl fruitlessly, "Otherwise known as the drake that sired me."

Starfire gasped and put a hand to her mouth muttering a shocked, "Oh … my … if he is as bad as you say … that is not very good to you is it?"

Robin and Cyborg gave each other unsure looks, but Beast Boy to the side just raised a brow. "English?"

Cyborg shrugged, "That Ellris guy, the one they say is tougher then Slade, is Malchior's dad and the head honcho of some kind of clan on Azarath."

Beast Boy gaped then looked back at the growling dragon, "Whoa! Then wouldn't that make you like … a Prince or something like that?"

Malchior eyed the changeling and snorted with a shake of his head, "It's – uh – complicated … no time to explain … but I will say I'm not as high as you think I am."

"Oh yeah?" Kenneth sneered, "If you think that's confusing, get this, he wasn't alone … it seems like your sister was with him."

"Which one," Malchior asked with a raised brow, "I had three."

Robin tilted his head, ""Had"?"

Malchior sighed, "Again … that's complicated, but in general my mother defied Ellris and got herself killed, my sisters were caught in the crossfire of their sudden battle when I was lucky enough to be off somewhere else when it happened … I was never told there was any survivors. So I assumed they all died and went on with my life."

Raven blinked, "What? No mourning of their death?"

"Of course I was saddened …" Malchior shrugged, "but death is natural in life. In short, dear, I believe in karma. So what was her name? Did you catch?"

"Saligia …" Rorek said carefully as he rotated his arm to work out the kinks after Raven fixed him up, "… yes … that was her name."

"Oh? Little Sally …" Malchior whispered in the distance and snorted with a strange twisted amusement in his head, "… ironic considering she was the runt of the clutch, the other two Aurora and Wykellie always pushed her way in their little games and songs. It was irritating how she always came to me for "fun" …"

Beast Boy whistled, "Four kids and you're the only boy? Dude, you did have other guys to play with back then … right?"

Malchior blinked and shook his head again, not really understanding why Beast Boy was asking such a stupid question, "I don't see why that's so important, but yes I did … however it was never fun for them when I always won in our made up games. But besides all that, what does Ellris want?"

"He wants all the Power Jewels …" Kenneth snorted, "typical bad guy goal, nothing but a power trip and he's going to Azarath … by the way, why Azarath?"

Now it was Raven's turn to growl in annoyance and anger, Ellris was playing around in her home … NOT acceptable in her book. "Azarath is the only dimension of magic that has the capabilities of producing eternal Power Jewels … it may be smaller then Azalon, but Azarath holds a special element that Azalon lacks to make everlasting Power Jewels. I was going to send a letter to Arella requesting her to transfer a Sapphire similar to the Red Sea Sapphire here and we'll return to Azalon to give it Gale-gard … but now … I can't just turn my back on Ellirs and expect the authority over there to handle him now can I?"

Cyborg smiled, "Sweet, looks like we'll be able to see Raven's home this time around."

Starfire clasped her hands and giggled, "Wonderful! I am most curious!"

"Oh yeah …" Kenneth scratched the back of his head, "about that. Hmm … yeah … Ellris said you four –" he pointed at Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg, " – are not invited. Only Malchior, Rorek, Raven, and myself can go. So tough luck."

"WHAT!" Cyborg, Beast Boy, and Starfire screamed in disbelief.

Malchior hissed and shot a hand to his ear at the sharp increase of the volume. Robin glared, "Well I don't care if Ellris told me that in my face, I'm not leaving Raven with you three, not again!"

Raven stepped up to back Robin away from Kenneth, "Robin, this is my home … I really don't want anything to happen to it because you're just worried about Kenneth, Rorek, even Malchior to be getting away. If they're smart they won't try anything."

Her leader moved his glare from the thief down to her, but softened up a bit and sighed, "Raven … it's not so much I'm worried about them violating their warnings from the mayor … it's you. I'm more concerned with your safety then anything else."

The sorceress raised a brow and blinked, "Robin, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. It's you that needs to learn to trust … especially in me."

Robin growled and shook his head, "No, no, I don't like this! I don't want us to separate again."

"But this time it's my home," Raven reassured, "I know my home like the back of my hand Robin. I'll be fine."

Reluctantly Robin asked painfully, "So when are you planning to leave?"

Raven shrugged and looked to the crimson carpet of the Ops Room, "I don't know … as soon as possible I guess … but first I have to send Arella a note of my arrival and if she writes back giving me an update on Azarath I'll know what to expect."

"Okay then …" Robin huffed and harshly scratched his spiky hair, messing it up, but since he used a strong gel it fell back into place nicely. Scowling he looked ready to pout, scream, and throw a temper tantrum, but held back by some unknown force, " … I guess Rorek, Kenneth, and Malchior will be allowed an extend stay here then, their rooms are permanent … meaning they can sleep there at any time … just give us a heads up when you're leaving alright."

"I will," Raven nodded.

Robin scoffed, "Well then … it's settled, Raven will be leaving to Azarath along with them."

Beast Boy whined, "Damn, too bad, I was kind a looking forward to seeing Raven's home."

Starfire nodded, "Yes … I am rather saddened myself … but the innocents must come first so I suppose … until another time."

The changeling sank in the couch and reached for the Video Game remote, "Yeah … another time … feh, like that'll ever happen."

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BB: Geez, I really did want to see Raven's home town, after that Mind trip into that frickin' mirror I was hopein' for some revenge!

X: What the fuck are you doing in my space? Get off!

BB: Make me, it's not fair that you guys get used more then me, I mean, I'm like the coolest of the Teen Titan society.

Malchior: Get out of here, you're green and short.

BB: Yeah, but with pointed ears. (wiggles brows) Raven thinks it's sexy don'tcha Rae.

Raven: Touch me and die.

Me: Aw, why you gotta be so mean to the little guy, come here BB, let me give you a hug (glomps BB, starts to gag)

BB: Um … can't … breath …

Rorek: Funny, I always thought Starfire would be the one to do that kind of thing.

Me: Oh, sorry BB, well everyone hope you enjoyed this chapter and as a little footnote: Hope you paid close attention to Saligia and her name, it really comes from the Latin term Saligiari (at least I THINK that's how you spell it, like I said let it roll off your tongue) but it means: "to commit a deadly sin" if you can figure out how the name was spelled in the first place, then you'll see that Saligia actually plays a bigger roll in this story then you think. You just won't be seeing her as often yet. (gets hit in the head with a broom by Rorek) OW! What the hell! I just got over my damn headache! Give a girl a damn break!

Rorek: You're giving too much away, let the readers figure it out.

Me: What? I can't help it if I'm such a nice person, aren't I nice person guys? Come on help be out here, hit me up with a review then I'll get the next chapter up. This one was supposed to come sooner, but like I said finals and headaches … ugh, they really do NOT go together.

L8er daez!