Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, the name Kenneth Aftaka, the characters Ellris'malchron, Saligia, and Bryson are mine.

A/N: Finished? This story? Girl not by a long shot!

I got a few chapters finished and are just waiting to get up, but one-by-one I post up and while I wait for you guys to review it I continue on typing … I have no life … yep, yep … right now I have up to chapter oh … I don't know … I think 36, I forget. But as I wait for your lovely reviews (when I ask for reviews and I say that I'll reward you with another chapter I mean it, because you guys are just so nice! Love you all!) I read over the already done chapters to catch errors as best I can.

That's why I update so fast, sometimes I had already checked up the chapter and slapped it into the story for your viewing pleasure, but this story finished? Nope, not yet I'm afraid.

Enough chitchat already, let's get to the story.

Enjoy!

--

Getting There

" … "… I look forward to your arrival and pray your visit will be more than just a mission. Love, Your Mother, Arella Roth." …" Raven read the note aloud to everyone in the tower, which was silent and still … no one said a word as the reality and weight started to set in. Raven … a friend to four of the members of the Teen Titans would really be leaving them to her home with no clue of when she would return. Rorek and Malchior realizing that they were returning back home … Azarath … the place they were originally born and raised, but left behind for different reasons and Kenneth.

The thief just didn't know what to think.

What was in store for him back on Azarath … the place where he went with his brother on his first real heist and their last time together. Everyone was mixed and Raven felt the weight of all the different emotions in the room. Starfire fiddled with her fingers and sighed sadly, Cyborg huffed and looked away to the ground, Robin had already trained his eyes on the bay window. Staring out into the bright sunny day until his eyes cried for him to blink, but when he did his vision returned with blotches of different colors that forced him to focus on something else.

Beast Boy sat back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling, being the first to say something after an agonizing five minute of silence, "Somebody break out the tissue box, cause man am I gonna miss you Rae." Jumping off the couch and onto Raven, the sorceress gasped in shock when the changeling latched onto her.

The alien princess's bottom lip quivered and she couldn't take it as she flew to her friend and grappled the two in a tight group hug, "Oh friend Raven you know not the pain that beats within the heart of your friends for your departure. You have yet to leave our dimension, but the pain of knowing you will bares hard!"

Beast Boy sniffled, "Yeah … what she said!"

Kenneth sneered at the sight, "Oh come off it, she's not going anywhere just yet! God."

Rorek shot Kenneth a scolding glare, "Leave them be."

Cyborg stood up and walked to Raven's side after Beast Boy and Starfire pulled away drenching the poor sorceress in their tears the hybrid looked down at her and put a hand on her shoulder, "Need help packing anything?"

Raven sighed and looked up to her tall friend; "The letter read that my mother had things ready in my old room, so … not really, thank you for caring Cyborg."

"Hey," Cyborg smiled distantly, "You're my little sis, I have to take care of you."

Robin gritted his teeth and shook his head, looking off to another part of the Tower he stood up and walked away to the kitchen. Raven noticed the odd behavior and excused herself from the group. With Malchior watching her intently and observing Robin's aura fluctuation his black eyes narrowed curiously as Raven levitated to his side. With his sensitive hearing he couldn't help to over hear the conversation, but jerked his head back in shock when Raven shot up an invisible hearing barrier. Raven?

"Robin … what's wrong?" Raven asked, having already blocked Malchior and maybe even Rorek if he dared to use a hearing spell. A hand on her leader's shoulder, Robin looked over to her with a sad frown and sighed, reaching a hand up to rest on the one on his shoulder.

He grasped it and held it as he turned to face her … remembering when they had gone through a Trigon Phase in their life he shook his head and behind the mask looked over to everyone else, but back to Raven. Trusting that she had given them a bit of privacy he shrugged and let her hand go, "Raven … I … I trust you, completely, with my life … but how can you be comfortable leaving off with them?"

Them: Kenneth, Rorek, and Malchior … he was still not over "them". Raven sighed exasperatedly; bring a hand up to rub the bridge of her nose she shrugged, "Robin … I don't know what exactly you mean by that … they've done nothing to even harbor hostile threats towards us, in fact, I think it'll be you that's been threatening them, holding over their heads their well earned freedom."

"Well earned?" Robin challenged with a scoff, his mask narrowing to a near glare, "Are you even listening to yourself? One of them is a two-faced liar that's the cause of many world known unending wars and constant bloodshed, because he's a gunrunner and worse he feeds our villains with the supplies that can kill of millions even billions of innocent lives in the world!"

"Rorek is still as human as you are Robin," Raven growled defensively, "his supposed occupation shouldn't be the main core that judges his every action! I thought you knew that when you became Red X!"

"That's different!" Robin snapped right back, "At least I stopped! For all we know Rorek could be just as indifferent as Kenneth when it comes to stealing, and speaking of Red X, aren't you the least bit bothered that he doesn't respect you and neither does he care about other people's needs and the welfare of those around him? Can you rely on someone like that?"

Raven shook her head, not believing where Robin was coming from and what he was saying, "Robin, you don't know what I've been through with Kenneth, he may be a thief, bit whether you believe it or not he actually has a heart! You're just too blind to even bother to see it! Give me one good reason why, Robin, why you really don't want me to go!"

"Because I don't want to see you get hurt again, just because you think you're in love with Malchior!" Robin shot back heatedly even taking steps closer to Raven, the sudden abrupt action startled her and she backed up into the counter of the kitchen, Malchior snarled and stood up, but Rorek grabbed his arm. Pulling the protective dragon back to his seat, Malchior yanked his arm back and growled down at Rorek. The wizard shook his head, neither knew what was being said, but Rorek had a feeling it's what needs to come out.

"Don't … I think they need a moment …" he warned, everyone hearing it, yet everyone on edge as Raven and Robin's argument continued. Beast Boy, and Starfire the most startled considering Raven and Robin never really ever got into fights. It was always either with some other Titan … but never with one another. It was new, and no one knew what to expect.

Raven, stunned and slightly confused at Robin's statement, the sorceress bounced back and pushed her leader to the sink in order for her to stand up properly and pointed, "Is that the only reason why you don't want me to go? Because you think I'm with Malchior?"

Robin snorted, "I don't think, I know, I'm not as stupid as I look, and trust me I've heard the comments about my costume. Raven, you only think you like this guy, but you don't he's tricking you again!"

"You don't know what I think!" Raven fought back surprisingly nothing in the room exploded due to her risen anger, "My problem is my own, Malchior or not, you shouldn't even be bothered with –"

She silenced herself when Robin reached into a cabinet under the sink and threw Raven an empty bottle that she knew all too well to be a bottle of Sleeping Pills. Empty … reason? It came to her when Robin crossed his arms over his chest and scowled, "You think I'm overreacting now? I have a right to be worried, and I have a right to have at least a bit of a say when it comes to that dragon."

Clutching the bottle Raven gritted her teeth and gulped down a growl as she glared at her masked commander, "That was two years ago from now Robin … and I told you, it was an accident. I never meant for it to go that far."

"But you still compromised your own life over broken hearted trust," Robin sighed and shook his head, running his gloved hand through his spiky gelled hair exasperatedly, he shrugged and snatched the bottle from Raven's hand and tossed it in the trash. Where he knew he should have thrown it two years ago … but didn't for the welfare of his teammate who stood before him in thoughtful silence, "I never wanted to bring it back up Raven … and I don't want history to repeat itself. You're just lucky you have a demonic side to you that allowed for you to still be standing and talking to me now. That's why I don't want you to go, because here you're surrounded with friends that care about you and can back you up when something doesn't go as planned … over there … you're stuck with them and worst yet … you're on a mission to save your home from evil. It's a trap, I just know it."

"But I have no choice." Raven gulped, her voice suddenly growing soft and distant, "I have to go with them and only them … who knows what Ellris would do if even one of you came with me."

"I know," Robin huffed, "gods I don't like this, I don't like this one bit! When are you planning to leave?"

Again, distantly and softly she answered still staring at the ground, "I don't know … I was going to discuss it with Rorek, Kenneth and … Malchior …"

He hit a nerve, Robin noted, he had got to Raven where the dragon was concerned and he didn't know whether he should be smug about it or feel lousy. What he meant was for Raven to think over what he said not to full-blown shock her out of the realm of reality … maybe he should feel lousier then anything. After all … Robin was supposed to be her friend and support her where she needed supporting, help her make right choices … not choose for her. Robin frowned, Crap … what have I done?

Regret instantly took over and he wanted nothing more then to take back choice words of what he said and was just about to apologize, however Raven had already moved from him towards the couch. Meaning their moment of privacy had ended and he'd have to wait for another time – hopefully before she left. He wanted to make her life as easy as possible, but he couldn't do it without apologizing first, which, he also noted was something he was never good at.

((--Later that day--))

The chosen four that Ellris only wanted to see on Azarath sat around Raven's Room.

Silent … and thoughtful, with Raven sitting cross legged on her bed with a pillow resting on her lap, Malchior sitting in her bed chamber, but at the foot of her bed on top of the chest Rorek's book used to rest in for a full year or two. Rorek was leaning against the divider of Raven's bedchamber and the rest of her room. Kenneth … quenching the silence he shuffled about looking around and eyeing a few of her little trinkets even pocketing a few things he didn't know did what, but wanting it any way. (He was an in denial kleptomaniac, a disorder which he just steals things for no apparent reason, sometimes it kicked in, others it doesn't).

Rorek noticed and rolled his eyes, "Kenneth, unless you plan to use those items which you took, I suggest you put them back."

"What?" Innocently the thief slowly pulled his hand back out of his pocket and shrugged with a tag sticking out of his jacket pocket.

Raven sighed and closed her eyes, using her telekinesis alone she pulled out all of the things that were in Kenneth's pocket and put them back where they belong, "They aren't dangerous, but just be lucky I'm not in a murderous mood … okay … now let's get down to business. Rorek, Kenneth do any of you have anything to tend to before we leave?"

"I gotta check up on Pleasure Lamp, but I can always call up Ricky and ask if everything's cool," Kenneth shrugged and reached for something else in Raven's Room, Rorek narrowed his eyes on the thief and he backed off forcefully, his hand shaking in protest, he stuffed it in his pocket and fiddled with the lint in side.

The wizard sighed and snorted, "Well … Bryson can handle things and I had already contacted him last night so … I think we can leave by maybe tonight."

"Good," Raven nodded and looked down to the silent Malchior, trying hard to focus she gulped and sucked in a deep breath and while exhaling asked, "What about you? You got anything to tend to here on Earth before we leave?"

Malchior thought for a moment, but didn't think if he had last minute things on Earth, he knew he didn't. Earth wasn't where he belonged, it was with Raven, so where she went he went, shaking his head he stood up and walked around the bed to where he could stand closer to her. Holding his hand out for her to take, she gave it a scrutinizing look, but took it anyway and stood up with him when he helped her to her feet, "Something's troubling you love, and I want to know what it is before we leave so we can be clear headed while on our little mission. What did Robin say to you?"

It's not what he said Malchior … Raven thought to herself, though she wanted so much to tell it to his face, however she couldn't find the voice as she sighed and looked to the ground when a painful memory struck, … it's what he reminded me of … the reason why it was so hard for me to open up to you in the first place … the accident after I sealed you back within Rorek's book … but it's in the past … so … I don't think it's important for you to know about anymore. I shouldn't be bothered by it either … another sigh and Raven moved away from Malchior, pulling her hands into her cloak she pulled out a communicator and tossed it to Kenneth. Deciding it was best to leave a dead past behind her, she called back to Malchior, "It's nothing that you should concern yourself with. Kenneth, make your call and be quick about it, I plan to leave ASAP."

"Ma'am, yes, ma'am," Kenneth walked towards the exit of Raven's room, but never went out, just placed himself at a corner so he could do his business. Leaving Rorek to be the one to shuffle about the room and get a real chance to actually look about and observe what he could from the dark demoness. Raven her self walked back to her closet around Malchior who stood with his arms crossed stubbornly.

"Raven, I don't appreciate being ignored very much, I just asked a simple question. What did Robin say to you, because by the looks of it, he seemed to have upset you gre –"

"I told you it's nothing that concerns you!" Malchior jerked back when she suddenly snapped around and snarled at him, her fangs suddenly lengthening to dangerous sharp tips, even her narrowed eyes blinked red for a split second. Yet the moment she realized she was snarling and growling, she gasped and pulled back, calming her self down with deep breaths she leaned a hand on the frame of her closet and looked over shoulder, "I'm sorry … that was uncalled for."

Rorek glanced at the corner of his eye when he caught Raven's sudden snap, but waited for Malchior to say something. The dragon just nodded and snorted then stormed out of the room. Concerned, Rorek raised a brow and linked his mind to Malchior's, but the dragon stubbornly blocked him out. Yet it didn't stop Rorek from connecting through the heart, "Malchior, what are you up to?"

"That damned human put thoughts into her head, I just know it."

Suddenly things started to look bleak and Rorek raced to the door after the dragon, "Let's not be hasty now Malchior, don't do anything foolish. You're arguments are with Miss Raven, not Robin, do not make things even more so complicated then it already is."

"Me complicate things? It was Robin's words that –"

"Words are words Malchior! Let it be! Work it out with Miss Raven, Robin has nothing to do with it!"

A head in the hall Malchior stopped and spun around just in time for Rorek to round the corner and nearly run into him. Alone with no one in hearing range Malchior growled, "If Robin has nothing to do with Raven's sudden mood, then explain to me what it is, because it wasn't till after she was done talking with that damned spiky rat does she avoid me."

Rorek gritted his teeth, "Malchior can you please just use your head for once and stop acting on a whim of chance! Look before you leap dragon, sound familiar? You don't know what she and Robin spoke about and quite frankly I think it's just between them and nothing with you."

"What would you know?" Malchior scoffed and bared his fangs, trying hard to control his temper, Rorek sighed and shrugged.

"It's just common sense. Deal with Raven first before you even go looking at other sources."

"Right, and who are you to tell me what to do?"

"You're consciences that's trying to knock some sense into your head," Rorek snorted and turned back to Raven's room, "now come and leave Robin alone."

"If my relationship with Raven is anyway in jeopardy because I decided to listen to you this one time. You're the first one I'm coming after."

"So says the dragon that hisses and the snarls at the most silliest things."

"You know, you're even more smug and witty then you look," Malchior sneered.

Rorek looked over his shoulder to the dragon his ice-blue eyes sparkling with mischief and rare arrogant smirk; "I'll take it as a compliment."

Malchior scoffed, "Feh, first and last Rorek, first and last."

--

"Do not disappoint me Saligia," Sapphire blue eyes stared at the large doors that lead into the infamous house that sheltered the powerful Sorcerer and loyal Gargoyle. Sighing tiredly she gulped and jerked her head around to get the hair that covered over her left eye out of her line of view, but it fell back stubbornly. Leaving it she walked up to the door and lifted a clawed hand to knock upon it …

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

The unsuspecting gargoyle on the other side sighed and opened the door as he tried to hold his concealment spell. Unlocking the door he cracked it open and looked out to his visitor, "How my I help you?"

"Bryson …" Saligia smiled with false warmth at the shocked gargoyle when she spoke in the ancient language, "… do you remember me? It's Saligia …"

"Sal … Saligia …" Bryson gasped and opened the door all the way to get a good look at the young dragoness in her human disguise, remembering when she was in her full form she was beautiful. Her glistening long braided hair paled in comparison to her dark sapphire blue scales that seemed to shimmer as the water does at the angles of the light. That was when she was a child and he remembered her well when he use to be good friends with her mother … her mother … she looked almost exactly like her, but her mother was a Ruby Dragon, red scales. Even still … it shocked Bryson that Saligia was standing before him, "… wha – where – how? My child, it's been so long! I thought you died …"

Her smile turned to a chuckling amusement, "Well … that seems to be everyone's thoughts … but I assure you I'm very much alive."

"Malchior …" Bryson, still breathless and shocked from her sudden arrival realized something, "does Malchior know of your existence?"

Saligia shook her head, "I'm afraid not yet … I've just discovered his presence and traced it here … is he …"

She seemed hopeful, and Bryson frowned, "No, I'm sorry my dear, but I think it was the book you were sensing, you see he was trapped within it by a sorcerer and was released a while back."

"Oh …" she frowned and looked away to the trees and earth, they were still and anxious. The spirits that dwelled within the forest knew of her deceit and were waiting to take witness to her every action. Back up to Bryson she gulped and asked, "… well … would you know where I can find him?"

"Of course," Bryson smiled brightly and pointed a black-clawed finger to the west, "Titan Tower, if you hurry you can catch him now, I believe he has somewhere important to be."

The dragoness smiled and bowed respectfully to the elder, "Thank you very much for your help Bryson and sorry if I may be a disturbance to you … but I hope it's not to much to ask … may I have the book that held my brother? I am most curious about it."

This was where the trust suddenly faltered and Bryson didn't know what exactly to do … Lord Rorek had told him to keep the book safe and not to let it fall into the wrong hands. Saligia was Malchior's sister and was just looking for her brother … didn't she have a right to know what had happened? Of course she did! She was family … and even though it was to the smug dragon, Bryson was a big believer of family sticking together through thick and thin so he nodded and told her to come in.

It would be a big mistake on his part.

The dragoness stepped in and was ushered to wait at the parlor. Looking out the window she noticed that trees suddenly kicked up with the wind and the earth whispered of what was to come next as Bryson walked up towards Rorek's room to retrieve the book. Saligia sighed and sat patiently looking at her sharp talons sadly, when she felt Bryson return she stood up and gave a weak smile when the gargoyle flashed her the white book, "Here it is. I hope you are once again reunited with your brother, I think the both of you can use each other in this crazy world."

"Yes … crazy …" Saligia trailed and reached out to take the book, but when she took a hold of it, she raised a brow when Bryson suddenly gasped and put a hand to the side of his head. Still not letting go of the book he hissed when a sharp pain stabbed through his mind. Saligia raised a brow, "Are you okay?"

What was that! Bryson blinked and gaped, looking up to Saligia he bared his fangs and pulled the book from her hands, jumping back and far from her reach he snarled, "You are not Malchior's sister! You're with Ellris'malchron!"

I knew I wouldn't be getting out of here without a fight, Saligia thought dryly and sighed once more, looking off into the distance she shrugged, "I am Malchior's youngest sibling … and I am with Ellris'malchron … but what are you planning to do about it? If you know who I am then you'll know that you really have no chance. Hand over the book."

"And risk both Malchior and Rorek's lives? Death would befall me before I let you come near it!" with a snap of his finger the book vanished, it's location known only to him as he braced for when Saligia stalked up to him.

"You shouldn't say such things Bryson …" her face devoid of all emotion, but pity as she cracked her fingers, her talons sharpened as she took a deep breath and shook her head sadly. Rushing him, Bryson got ready for an attack and jumped clean over her head when she sliced at his person. Yet letting her hand connect with the ground she flipped away from Bryson when he took a swipe at her and stayed crouched on the ground. Balling her hand into a fist she upper cut the gargoyle that dodged and leaned back delivering a harsh kick to her ribcage.

The move alone threw her across the main entrance of the mansion and skidding across the marbled floor, yet not one to give up she jumped to her feet and disappeared from Bryson's charge. Appearing on his side she snatched out and grabbed one of his horns and yanked him hard to the ground. Off balance and roaring in outrage as Saligia slammed him down, her feet on either side of his head. It all ended with a sickening CRACK as the gargoyle's neck snapped like a twig. Lips turned up in a snarl, Saligia moved away from him and turned her snarl into a frown as she calmed her adrenaline down. Kneeling to Bryson's unmoving body she shook her head, "… you were a good friend and family to everyone that knew you well Bryson …"

Up on her feet, Saligia snapped her fingers and the white book was within her talons. At that very moment was when in a collection of black mist and purple sparks did her father appear a top the indoor balcony of the mansion. A grin on his face he chuckled and leaned on the rail, "You're getting much better at this … though … I my self would rather taken a more … ruthless approach, blood always looks good on the floor."

Saligia sneered and growled up at her Grandmaster, "Your book as you wished for is here … though I still don't see why the killing of a long time loyal friend was necessary. He was so good to us …"

"He was loyal only to Naomi," Ellris snorted and walked down the steps towards his daughter while sneering down at Byrson's body, "he would have died any way."

"How can you be so cruel!" Saligia snarled and threw the book at her father who caught it without a hitch and opened it with a dry look, paying no attention to her fit, "Bryson had nothing to do with your little game!"

Ellris flipped through the pages as if looking for a specific page, "On the contrary my dear, Bryson plays a large roll in my "game" as you so call it … he may not have died in vain if that's what's eating at your soul hatchling. Or are you just pouting because his blood is on your hands?"

"I wash my hands of him," Saligia gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, "his death is yours to bare."

The book snapped shut, and Ellris grinned at his little girl, patting her on the head only to have her swat it away defiantly as she held back her frustration. Snickering, Ellris headed for the door, "It wouldn't matter either way little one, he's dead, he's dead, I see no problem."

"You bastard!" Saligia snarled freely and swiped a power charged clawed hand at him, but even before she could bring it down on him she gasped and suddenly fell to her knees. Feeling so weak, powerless and tired she fought against it and tried to get back on her feet, but Ellris grinned and turned around to watch her struggle.

Uttering but a single word: "Submit."

Saligia growled when she had finally gotten to a hunched position, but fell back on the ground. Her muscles and bones locked and disobeying her minds commands to move, they were now under the control of Ellris's submission spell.

Well … actually … it was a birth defect of every dragoness born with the blood of the Grandmaster running through her veins. Because the dragonesses were the only one's allowed to have magic powers, that left the drakes at a serious disadvantage. So to assure that there was a balance no dragoness that was the Grandmaster's daughter could lay a finger on her father. Unfair? Maybe, but it was their way. The submission only lasted for 5 minutes and when it wore off it left the dragoness exhausted and weak … which Saligia was now … but strong enough to get back to her feet and snarl at her grinning father.

"Aw, my dear, don't give me that look," he falsely pleaded, "You know the rules. Now enough playing around, let us get back to the business at hand."

Without an option, Saligia sighed and tiredly trudged after her father, feeling like she was about to collapse at any given moment. She prayed that her chance to be free of him would come soon, because she was slowly dieing inside with the jobs he was giving her. They were nothing but killing sprees … and she knew why he assigned her such things … she knew … and because of it was why she was shunned away by not only her own sisters … but everyone that knew who she was assosiated with ... and it wasn't Ellris.

--

AH! NO! I killed Bryson! Crud, don't know if I'll regret that (thinks for a moment) nah, Ellris's is right, his death really is important ... though I can't say I'm not going to miss the guy, he was the first gargoyle I ever tried to make up ... we'll miss ya big guy!

Malchior: Hold up! Stop everything! Forget the dead gargoyle, what the hell is that godforsaken Robin think he's doing and what's that he just threw away! What the hell?

X: Obssessive birds 101, Sleeping Pills are their frieeeeeeeeendsssss. End lesson.

Malchior: ...(dry look)... that ... didn't explain anything.

Rorek: Better saved for later I suppose

Malchior: You, stay out of it! How dare you mettle in my business, I could have gotten that final chance to strangle that fashionless masked hero if it wasn't you mettling wizard and that irritating thief!

X: Where's Scooby-Doo when you need him ...

Me: Enough of the charades gentlemen and relax! It's not the end of the world ... yet ... l8er daez people!