DISCLAIMER: I don't own the Teen Titans!

A/N: Hi, kids it's been awhile again huh? Some how this story keeps getting put on the back burner with other stuff going on. (Btw, please check out my new story!) But even if we don't update for awhile, don't worry we will finish!

Well, PLEASE ENJOY AND PLEASE REVIEW!

Chapter 14:

The sun shone weakly early the next morning after the party. It was very gray and chilly out. But inside, the mood was brighter. Only Kori, Bumblebee, Aqualad, and Speedy were awake and were busy cleaning the kitchen. For awhile all were silent. Kori was scrubbing down the various counters and surfaces caked with batter and other foods. Bumblebee was sweeping the floors. Aqualad was washing all the dishes and Speedy was putting everything away. Bumblebee began to hum to herself quietly. Speedy set a plate on a shelf before turning to listen. The humming grew slightly louder and soon Kori and Aqualad stopped their chores to listen. Bumblebee finally noticed her audience and stopped, blushing slightly. Speedy grinned.

"Is that a new song?"

"Yeah…it's just something I've been working on."

"It's really good!"

"Yes!" Kori chimed in. "It is marvelous. Especially since we haven't heard a new song of yours since…well…you know. I am most overjoyed that you have found inspiration again!"

Bumblebee became thoughtful at the other girl's exclamation.

"You're right. I haven't really written anything since the curse. I never really knew why I was so frustrated and blocked all the time. But now…it's coming back to me. I guess that means that-"

"The curse is weakening!" yelled Speedy triumphantly. He grabbed Kori's hands and began waltzing around the kitchen with her. The redhead laughed with delight as he dipped her. Aqualad looked slightly more skeptic.

"Do you really think so? Do you really think things are beginning to change?"

"Of course!" exclaimed Speedy. "Can't you feel it? I mean, I know you're a buzz-kill Aqualad but even you must feel that…that…feeling. It's hope. I haven't felt that in such a long time. Just think! Before long, the curse will be lifted and we will all be normal again!"

Kori gasped with delight. Even Aqualad grinned, after hitting Speedy on the arm for calling him a buzz-kill. Bumblebee then spoke up.

"I never thought the day would come. I never thought that the master would learn to open his heart again. But he is and I feel that sense of hope too. But do you think we're putting too much pressure on Raven? We all depend on her and I think it makes her very uncomfortable…"

"Nonsense!" exclaimed Speedy. "Raven doesn't have to do anything. Her presence alone is bringing the old Gar back. All of this is happening on its own. In fact, I think its time we all realized our part in this. I know we all thought that we never had a choice in any of it. But we do. We can choose to hope. Nothing is lost if we hope. Just think of it! The curse lifted…to be able to leave the castle! I could go and see the cities and the people! I could go running forever and never stop to worry about falling ill. I could travel to the ends of the world and see all there is to see!"

He broke off dreamily. Bumblebee grinned at him before turning to Aqualad who had been staring incredulously at Speedy.

"What about you Aqualad? What will you do if the curse is lifted?"

"Oh…I don't know. I guess if I had to choose one thing…I would love to see the ocean."

"Haven't you seen the ocean before?"

"It was a long time ago." He stated bluntly. "I was so young when father took me. I've forgotten what it looks like." He looked down, slightly saddened.

Bumblebee nodded sympathetically. Speedy turned to Kori.

"What about you Kori?"

Kori chewed on her lower lip for a few seconds before answering.

"I would go to my home and see my old Knorfka, Galfore, who raised me. I miss him very much. But…why would you all wish to leave the castle? Do you not consider it you're home? I care very deeply for the master and all of you and it would sadden me if we all left and never came back."

"Of course we would come back, Kor! We love it here." said Aqualad. "But we all would want to see the world a little after so many years of being isolated from it."

Bumblebee and Speedy nodded their agreement. Kori looked happy. She looked over at Bumblebee.

"Where would you go Bumblebee?"

Bee smirked wickedly.

"I would go find Terra…and let her have it!"

Everyone laughed happily before retuning to their cleaning.

Meanwhile, in a small, well-furnished study, the Beast and Raven were immersed in a fierce game of chess that Raven was currently winning. It was clear that the Beast had never played before but since he had suggested the game in the first place, Raven said nothing. But after capturing the Beast's queen she could no longer keep silent.

"You are really bad at chess."

Growling, the Beast knocked all of the pieces off the board with a swipe of his paw. Raven looked at him annoyed and using an amazing amount of control, put the pieces back on the board using her powers. The Beast sat there, struggling to control his temper which had been a result of no more than petty frustration. He knew this and he was angry at himself for it. Would he have been this way before the curse? Had he always been so angry before the curse? The Beast didn't think so. The old him, the one before the monster he was now, would have laughed at himself for losing at chess. He never laughed at anything anymore it seemed. Knowing that he should apologize, the Beast grudgingly looked up at Raven.

"I'm…sorry. I was frustrated. I never used to play chess. I just thought it was something you'd like to do."

"What did you do then? If not chess? What else is there to do here?"

"We have a training room. We would always be in there, competing to see who the better fighter was. But that night, I was in there with her and no one has been in there since. Its probably still in ruins. She had the power to move and manipulate earth and in result, the floor is full of holes and there are broken pieces of rock everywhere. I sealed off that room."

"May I see it?"

"What!"

"May I see the training room?"

"Why would you want to go in there? You and your curiosity! Its just like when you went into the West Wing. I just told you how no one goes into the training room anymore…!"

"But you never said it was forbidden! You said that this place was my home and that I could go anywhere except the West Wing."

"You still went into the West Wing!"

"That's not the point!"

The two of them glared at each other. In her anger, Raven upended the chess board and broke one window with her powers. She gasped nervously, ashamed of what she had done. She pressed her hands to her temples and shut her eyes trying to control herself.

"Its okay Raven…" the Beast said softly.

She glanced up at him as he looked down at her, an expression of understanding on his face.

"We all have problems with control sometimes. I know I do."

"Yes." Raven murmured.

"Well, there is really only one place here where you can learn some control."

"Where?"

The Beast stood and moved towards the door.

"The training room."

…………………..

The two doors in front of Raven were large and foreboding. The Beast opened one effortlessly and stepped back to let Raven inside. The room seemed bigger than her entire cottage that she had lived in with her brothers. But it was completely destroyed. The hard ground was uneven and cracked in several places. Huge boulders lay scattered and there were many holes she could fall into if she wasn't careful. Big barrels of powder were overturned, spilling their contents everywhere. Cabinets along the walls filled with equipment and weapons were either knocked over or open. Everything was damaged. Raven took it all in silently, her face expressionless. Just another example of what Terra had caused. The Beast couldn't even bring himself to say her name.

He must have liked her, before she turned on him.

Without a word, Raven focused her powers to right the cabinets and the barrels around the room. She placed all there belongings inside them, using her hands as a guide.

"What are you doing?" the Beast asked.

"Practicing. It's why you brought me here right?"

The Beast stared at her for a second before giving a great laugh. He grabbed the many rocks, fitting them into holes like a puzzle piece and stomping on them to make it flat. Together, the two of them put the training room back together. As they worked, the Beast showed her what weapon was used for what and told her about everyone's specialties.

"…and Speedy is an archer. He is fantastic with his bow and arrows."

"And what about you?"

"I…actually never used a specific weapon. Like you I have powers." The Beast paused. "I used to have powers. I haven't been able to use them since the curse."

"What could you do?"

"I could transform into animals. All kinds. But now, I just remain a Beast. I think that is what I miss most of all. Changing into a bird, and just flying away, or changing into a Cheetah and running with all my might. That freedom…that's what I miss most of all."

Raven reached out her hand to touch the Beast's paw. She had never heard him speak so sadly before. With such an air of nostalgia. However, the moment was ruined once again by the Beast awful sense of humor.

"Actually, I miss being shorter and less hairy."

Raven rolled her eyes and withdrew her hand. But she was still curious.

"What were you like before this transformation?"

"What do you mean? What did I look like or how did I act?"

"Both."

"It's…complicated. I was happier, more willing to help. I think everyone was happier back then…We were free. Now…I hate to even think of it."

He seemed too upset to go on so Raven changed the subject.

"What did you look like?"

The Beast narrowed his eyes slightly and looked away. Why would she want to know something like that? What could it matter? It was all in the past and certainly not in his future. Why would she care? The Beast sighed.

"Trust me Raven. If you had met me before this curse, you would have still thought I looked strange. It doesn't matter now anyways."

"You don't know that. Tell me. What did you look like?"

"Well, let's just say that most strangers I met thought I was…odd."

Raven nodded in understanding. He didn't need to go on.

"In my village, people thought I was odd because of my powers and how I look. I understand how you feel."

"You are beautiful, Raven."

Raven eye's widened in shock and she blushed deeply.

"I…I'm not…I'm not beautiful."

She brought fearful eyes to the Beast. He looked at her, not unkindly but completely serious.

"But you are."

END OF CHAPTER

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