Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, but I do own the name Kenneth, the characters Ricky, Miles, Reign, their sister, the Guards, the little boy and the names Dante and Syndella … whoa … that's a lot of characters … this is getting interesting
A/N: Hmm … Robin having a thing for Raven … o.O … maybe, you never know, but that's for another story, another time, another place. Because from this point on the Teen Titans on Earth will be left in the dust. Time for some fun on Azarath! Though be careful, there are going to be scenes that you're to be like "WTF where did that come from!" just bare with it, it all ties in later. Promise!
Raven: Finally! I'm back home!
Malchior: Yes, home … hold up … that means I have to meet your mother!
Raven: (sneaky grin) Scared.
Malchior: O.o … -o-U … no.
X: Admit it scale-face, you're scared!
Rorek: Meet the parent … hmm … I'd pay just about anything to see your reaction.
Malchior: All of you can shut up right now!
Me: HAH! The fun I'm going to have in that scene! Enjoy this chapter everyone as I concoct the perfect torture for our dragon friend. (Manically rubbing her hands together with an evil grin) … … O oh yes … the fun I'll have. (evil laugh)
Rorek: O.O … okay, now she's just beginning to scare me.
--
Welcome Home
"Alright … yeah … good, good … go to hell Ricky and get a goddamned life! I told you once if I hadn't already told you countless times we're not destined to be you ya little … ugh … forget it already. Just take care of the club until I get back." flipping the T-communicator off he was tempted to throw it into the wall because of the idiotic conversation he had just had. Turning to the other three (Malchior and Rorek had come back after where they came from and Raven had changed her uniform to a more suitable attire), all of them giving him odd looks. He snorted and threw the communicator back at Raven, "He's a drama queen. We set?"
"All we need to do is get in position and we're on Azarath," Raven informed as she took the letter her mother sent her, folded it, and stuffed it in the back pocket of her black dress pants. Her long bell sleeved middle-earth styled top with intricate designs and laces going all up the back with a low V-cut in the front and her signature hanging jewel belt at her hips she gave Kenneth a thoughtful look then went from Rorek to Malchior, "I don't think Kenneth knows how to execute an exact location teleportation. So … don't be surprised we arrive slightly exhausted."
"I don't see the problem." Rorek shrugged.
Malchior huffed, "Humans."
Kenneth snorted, "I love you to, ow! Hey! Watch the claws woman!" Raven ushered Kenneth to the middle of her room and positioned him in the center of a triangle that Malchior, Rorek, and herself created around him, the thief looked at either and snickered, "Gee, I feel so special."
"Don't be," Rorek smirked teasingly, "since you don't know how to execute an ELT we're not the only one's that'll be exhausted, but you're going to be feeling crappy."
"Joy," Kenneth rolled his eyes.
Raven cleared her throat, "If you're done chatting then I think it's time for us to go, I left a note in front of my door for Robin to find … so … nothing to worry about there. Kenneth all you have to do is stand still and shut up."
Malchior snorted at the mention of Robin's name and bared his fangs, yet concentrated when Rorek shot him a warning glare and took a deep breath when Raven created the safety circle around the four of the travels and lit the four candles of Azarath to ensure their final destination. Feeling the familiar warmth of a once long time home Malchior closed his eyes along with Raven and Rorek. Tilting their heads back and spreading their arms out slightly to gather even more of the familiar warmth in order to enter the ancient lands.
Raven found herself struggling in order to hold her own energy level to match Malchior's and Rorek's, they were just naturally stronger than her in creating traveling portals. Kenneth in the center suddenly felt weightless, his jacket and heavy clothing along with his hair started to gently come up. Staring down at the ground as if fearing it'll just vanish right under him and he'd be falling forever like before on the trip to Azalon. The thief held his breath when a white wall suddenly shoot up around them and looked to the three enchanters that began to chant Azarath's stopping only on the fourth time around. Yet on that fourth time the weightless feeling the thief was getting suddenly changed to that of a light-headed nausea.
Becoming real weak in a flat second, Kenneth would have dropped to the ground on his knees if the ground had been there at all. The white wall he saw surround them suddenly engulfed them and instead of a falling sensation … he felt like flying … but he was getting sick because of it. Closing his eyes, he wanted to go back the moment he saw Raven and Rorek come into view but they were going up … flying! Oh … shit … he thought still loosing his head – not to mention his stomach. Malchior from behind hooked his talons into the back of his jacket and yanked him up in order to catch up.
Kenneth began to breath unevenly, feeling so sick, and so weak all of a sudden Malchior gritted his teeth when he felt the thief pulling himself back to Earth when hey were in the middle of the portal tunnel, "Kenneth! You have to stay up or we're going to loose you! I can't hold onto you unless you try to break through Earth's border."
Loose … me …? He thought tiredly, with a snicker, he makes it sound like I'm going to die …
"Worse!" Malchior apparently heard him and the dragon's voice echoed in his head, "You're fate could end up being a great many things and none of them good! Snap out of it human!"
Damn dragon … with your fucking yapping it's hard to even fall asleep! Again Kenneth through to himself, but Malchior heard him and he wanted nothing more then to just let the human go and loose him to one of the "many fates" he had mentioned. It wasn't an over exaggeration either, anything could happen if Kenneth couldn't fight Earth's grip. It baffled to Malchior how Fernaco even got to Azarath to begin with let alone Kenneth! He was responding as if it were his first time even crossing dimensional borders.
"Master! Master! You must stay awake! You must make it to the other side!"
Fran … Francesca …? The poor thief was just too exhausted to think.
Up ahead, the final line between worlds was clearly drawn with the pink rotating pentagram seal and Azarian symbols in a perfect circle around the star. Malchior cringed when Raven and Rorek combined authority and broke passed the seal. In a flash, Malchior felt his sense of flight paused and a weight bring him down to the ground. It was Kenneth's weakened body that he still held onto by the crook of his jacket. Letting the thief drop in a heap on the ground while he floated down to his feet.
Kenneth coughed and shivered trying so hard to pull himself back up to his feet he ran a hand through his hair to smooth it out still shaking from the lack of strength. He took a deep breath through his nose and the smell of a new world was sucked in … and it shocked him. Or his stomach at least, throwing out everything he ate earlier upon the ground just the effort it took to throw it out zapped what little left of his strength he had left. "Oh … fuck, I'm never doing that again … shit I don't feel so good."
Rorek chuckled sleepily, "Told you you'd feel crappy."
Some how, through the weakness, Kenneth found the power to flip the wizard off, "Fuck you and burn in hell … ah … seriously, why aren't you guys feeling the same."
"Oh we are," Raven gulped and held her head swaying slightly, Malchior held out a hand to hold her, but she shook her head and moved away from him. Determined to fight it off herself, though Malchior took a bit more personally however kept it to himself as Raven sighed and held out a hand to help Kenneth up to his feet, "but we're able to control the amount of energy the dimension tax takes."
"Mew …" Francesca mewed and popped her head up from her Master's hood and licked his cheek trying hard to sooth her master as best she could. Kenneth felt her rough tongue and couldn't have been more grateful that she was there, yet looked to Raven with a raised brow slowly regaining his strength.
"Dimension Tax?" Kenneth snorted as he grunted and got to his feet, swaying slightly, but staying on his feet he sighed and closed his eyes, bowing his head. His hand reached up behind his jacket and grabbed Francesca. Taking her into his arms he bagan to pet her as he asked, "Who's taking your energy away?"
"The laws of paradox," Rorek answered off handedly, "but you have to first understand the laws of physics, calculus, and in general the laws of reality to even begin to comprehend the reason behind the amount of energy … what?"
The thief, with a lost look upon his face snorted as he let Francesca jump to the ground and rubbed herself along his leg. Flicking his wrist snobbishly at the wizard, Kenneth sneered, "Whatever Point Dexter, I'll be sure to look up Webster after words to confirm your "claims" … whoa …"
Silence … even Rorek's annoyed persona changed to that of amazement and wonder … the Floating Island … or a more common name was the Central Skyline. Reason? Because it was where all the serious business in Azarath happened … and since the Palace Azar was smack in the center of the Skyline … it was very important. Malchior stepped forward … as if reaching out for a memory that he was reliving.
It was Azarath … a place he'd haven't seen in ages … different … but nevertheless, his original home.
Raven sighed and wrapped her arms around herself, with the wind blowing passed and whipping up her tied up violet hair she stepped up next to Malchior with Rorek lining up on her other side. Kenneth next to Malchior and Francesca sitting in front of the group with seemingly a happy smile a upon her face as she looked back at the stunned tranquil four. Raven glanced up to both Malchior and Rorek's speechless gaping mouths. With an unseen smile in her violet eyes she whispered, "I'd say welcome home … but somehow that doesn't quite much cut it for you two."
Kenneth shook his head and stuffed his hands within his pockets and snickered, "Damn … even after ten years this place still looks the same."
Malchior and Rorek, much to Raven and Kenneth's surprise answered at once, "Speak for yourself."
At this, Raven couldn't hide a small smile as she weaved her nimble fingers around Malchior's larger hand and levitated in the air pulling him towards the city, "Come on, let's get this over with."
"Stay where you are!" Raven dropped back down to the ground, Kenneth already reaching for the dagger under his jacket as all heads turned up to the right where the Azarian order was given. Levitating off the ground and slowly coming to stand upon it by shutting off the anti-gravity jets under their boots were five guards … yet they weren't just any guards as Raven took a closer look at their attire and felt their aura.
Clean cut, looking more ready to escort a girl to a ball or something along those lines with their dark blue suites, silver buttons going all the way up to the neck in a turtle-neck collar. A white button up she was willing to bet was underneath as they stood at the ready, their leader stepping up to them and lifting up the cuff of his left sleeve to show a tattoo of the royal symbol, Raven nodded in understanding.
They were the Royal Guards, since the Central Skyline was the home of the royal family the Royal Guards were the main law enforcement on the Floating Island. Fixing his sleeve back up the leader of the squad cleared his throat. Kenneth, not really knowing what was going on, knew that the guys in front of him were of some kind of the authority the way they flashed their wrists and the tone they used.
Though he may have been in another world the tone and stance of authority always stayed the same, "Raenell Roth correct?"
Raven bowed her head respectfully, "That is I, how may I be of service?"
Malchior raised a brow at the strange string of words that Raven strung about to the guard. Who smiled kindly, "Very good then, we were told of your arrival by Lady Roth, if you and your company my follow us we shall escort you to the Palace Azar."
"Thank you," again she bowed then turned to the other three and gestured for them to follow. Kenneth sighed and pulled his hand from under his jacket to his pocket glancing to the pensive Rorek he shrugged and followed after Malchior. Leaving the wizard to stand for a momentary curious pause. Looking around as if to be bothered by a presences and disturbed about an unknown problem. Rorek sucked in a deep breath and took a step after the crew, though as he did the world stopped … not literally … but as if someone had pressed the slow motion button life was coming to a slow halt.
It wasn't he who was experiencing it, he just felt strange … but it was Raven … a cold chill shot up her spine and her knees suddenly became weak. A sharp pain pierced through her body starting from her pelvis and spreading like wildfire. Like nothing she had ever felt before she cried and doubled over calling Malchior's name even reaching for him she found that when she looked up she was alone … on Azarath … no life … no element … no one … but herself. Then, the pain shot back, and she screamed again, "MALCHIOR!"
Desperate for it to subside, Raven fell onto her side, withering, shaking, and just praying for this pain to end. Clenching her fists piercing flesh with her sharp claws and closing her watery eyes as tight as she could chanting her mantra trying so hard to control her power afraid that she'll bring the whole magical island crashing to the world below it. The mantra was useless … the pain … whatever it was hurt to much and broke her concentration when she cried out for Malchior one last time in a desperate scream.
She didn't know why, but she was afraid.
A strong sense of fear … fear of loneliness … of a heartfelt pain that Malchior had … had done the unthinkable …
Left her …
Alone …
Alone … her body shuttered when another wave of the burning pain ruthlessly ripped through her body … it felt like she was being ripped apart … her mind, body and soul. Everything hurt … but what hurt the worst was the loneliness. He was gone … he left her … alone … so alone …
Violet eyes blinked open and across the way from her standing at the edge of the island she saw someone … dazed, confused and still pulsing with the unknown pain she thought it may have been him, that the pain she felt was nothing but an illusion and fruitlessly called for him …"Mal-Malchior …?"
It was not.
Though male in appearance … it was not Malchior … though the distance may have made him look like her Malchior … this … this boy was not him … his head turned ever so slightly … just enough for her to see him opening his mouth. Raven blinked her eyes closed, but only for a split second and in that split second. She heard him whisper unearthly, "… Dante … Syndella …"
With a gasp, Raven felt her body jerked back when a rush of air flooded her lungs and as if kicked felt herself fall backwards where strong arms caught her before she hit the ground, "Raven!"
His voice … "Malchior …"
"Raven! Raven what's wrong?"
Kenneth jumped in surprise when the Royal Guards suddenly took position around the four as if they were under attack and prepared for any kind of threat or for the supposed attacker that may have hurt 'the package' so to say to come forth. Rorek assumed the same position, but kept glancing back down at the dazed and panting sorceress/demoness that gripped Malchior's shirt so tight her knuckles were turning white and shaking. Her eyes so wide and dilated the sign of a rush of adrenaline flowing through her veins. Somehow she found the power to throw herself onto Malchior, wrapping her arms around his neck Malchior held her just as tight wanting so bad to know what had troubled her. "Raven … Raven, love, what's wrong. Tell me."
She trembled terribly, her breathing hitched and panting as if she had run non-stop from whatever it was that had been chasing her. Bothered that she can be so frightened and fearful of something he couldn't have been there to protect her from. Malchior more growled at himself then her in frustration, feeling so helpless all he knew he could do was whisper sweet comforting words and sooth her into an exhausted serenity. Though she had fallen so deep into his arms she had closed her eyes and fell asleep in pure exhaustion.
Breathing her dragon's name over and over again, Raven gulped, never had she felt so lonely … so lost … so emotionally distraught … "… Malchior …"
"Shh … I'm here love, say no more … I'm here …"
"… Malchior …"
--
"My lady! My lady! Please! Spare a second for a servant's warning! My lady wait!"
"Speak fast because I am running late for a meeting with my family."
The servant, a young boy by the age of 9 dressed formally in a white dress robe, the sleeves longer then his own arms, a black rope tied to his left side being the only color other then the black boots that were his shoes. The woman that spun around and bore her dark blood red eyes on him freezing him the instant she ordered the boy to speak. Gulping when the woman flicked her mid-length dark blood red hair back and sneered down at the child who bowed humbly before speaking up.
"My-my-my lady, I've been given a message to send you in order to pass on to your family, Miss Raenell Roth has returned with three companions by her side."
The woman's blood-red eyes widened a fraction of an inch before closing and shaking her head, her blood-red dark hair shaking with it as she scoffed and looked out to one of the large arch windows. Biting down on her lower lip she scowled and glared down at the little boy, "Leave me, and reply to you sender to keep at front gates."
"Bu-but, um, my lady … she's … she's in the Palace at this very moment sleeping soundly in the parlor."
Well … she thought sarcastically as she gritted her teeth and flicked her hand to the boy shooing him away walking up to the window and sneered at her reflection, "I come to conclude that Lady Arella has something to do with this … leave me."
"My lady." With a bow the little boy vanished leaving the obviously high ranking woman to seethe and pout over this new turn of events … this just keeps getting better and better … first the mysterious portal fluctuation, the sudden disappearance of the High Priestess, and now this … SHE comes back … great, just … PERFECT! Why now of all times! In a rather crappy mood and getting even crappier as she stormed away from the window, her cape and dress fluttering in the wind as she briskly made her way to the Conference Room.
A turn down the hall away from the windows, a few more steps and a turn to the left, putting her hands upon the large white heavy duel doors it slid open and she entered the room with a long center glass table in the center of circular round chairs. She rolled her eyes when she spotted her brothers glaring at one another across from each other on the table. Looking up to her when she entered and when the door shut she put her hands upon her hips and glared back at their impatient looks, "Been arguing again? Typical."
"Typical? Only for him," responded the youngest of the brothers, a small golden earring hanging on his left ear. His blood red eyes and neatly combed back hair and small rat-tail tied at the back with a cow lick of hair falling just above his eyes that burned with great agitation as he jerked his head to the eldest brother of the three siblings. "he just can't seem to take a hint."
The eldest of the three siblings sneered, his genetic blood-red eyes flaring with an even hotter flame of agitation towards his young brother, "What hint is that little brother? I fail to see anything I can't take."
"Smug bastard."
"MILES!" the youngest of the three, the girl from before shouted with a scolding growl at her older brother, "What is it with you?"
The elder brother snorted and crossed his arms over his chest, uttering something along the lines of: 'here we go again' hardly bothered by his brother's antics when Miles growled and pointed at him, "Shut it Reign, you both know perfectly well why I am in such a foul mood. Mother and Father are stuck on Manona with no way to get them back because of the Dimensional Tax shut down for some odd reason that no one can explain! We cannot even be sure if they're still alive! Much less be sure the Metronic people have anything to do with this! We've never seen eye-to-eye."
"Don't be quick to assume we've forgotten such a harsh reality," Reign the eldest brother glared and stood up, "but that's just it little brother, it's reality. Live with it. We can't get in touch with them then we're just going to have to assume the roll of leadership. You cannot go around pointing fingers without proof otherwise you'll just jeopardize the Lord and Lady's position as it is!"
Miles scoffed and looked away, "Lord and Lady, listen to yourself, you sound like they're not even your parents, which, might I remind you they are flesh and blood! Not only important leaders."
Reign shook his head and scowled at Miles, "Stubborn child, never seeing the full picture, only parts of it."
"Well at least we know now who the council will choose as the new Lord if Father or Mother never come back," Miles replied bitterly and angrily, "a snobby stuck up spoiled prince that always supposedly "sees the big picture" spare me the political blather and be more original at your speeches for my sake dear brother if not for me then for the people, talking just isn't going to cut it with them."
"Do not make me put sense in that head of yours Miles," Reign warned pointedly, "because if I remember correctly, you are my brother therefore share the title of Prince equally side-by-side. Remember that."
"Enough!" the sister pleaded with both her elder brothers, "Stop this uselessness at once. Arguments never get us anywhere, what happens, happens for a reason. Even the Gods themselves cannot control the fate of an Azarian man, woman, or child alike. Miles … don't blindly walk into life believing a false truth. Benefit of doubt is only good in small douses … but don't be foolish."
"Right," Miles faintly agreed, sucking in a deep breath and heading for the door half-heartedly taking what his sister had said into consideration. Exiting he unclasped his coat and just let it hang on his shoulders freely as he briskly made his way through the maze that was the Palace Azar. Entering the hall that his sister had once walked down in order to get to the Conference Room he stopped at the archways that looked out to the city with nighttime approaching quickly.
Azarath was a world that revolved around darkness … daylight was short and practically cut in half where the nighttime was when everything came alive. New York City … eat your heart out, because as far as Miles knew, Azarath had the most active night life he'd ever seen. With his sister's and his brother's words echoing in his head, the stubborn prince gritted his teeth and with a wave of his cape he was off and heading to the exit of the Palace.
He had to get out.
There was just no talking to his siblings.
He couldn't help it, but he was just too much too different from them.
--
Me: Governmental corruption, strange visions, and hostile Princess … yes … yes … this is gonna be SO good!
Rorek: Yes … creepy … (scoots away)
X: Why do I get a bad feeling about this?
Malchior: Because she's writing the entire skit.
Me: Well just be happy Arella isn't in the picture yet.
Malchior: Raven just fainted in the middle of nowhere and you expect me to even be happy about anything at all!
Me: (scoots away) Okay dude, I get it, chill. Well, hit me up with a review and I'll get the next chapter up. l8er daez!
