Raven's Return

Chapter two: Meet Again.

...

Despite reluctantly moving on, the Teen Titans struggled with the loss of their friend. Two years is a long time, Yet also not long at all. A lot of things had changed. The tower was completely remodeled after Trigon's reign demolished it.

The Teen Titans were forced to grow up and move on with their lives. They changed their title after half of their members became adults. But even though a lot of things have changed, the love they had for their lost friend hadn't.

The pain from her death still lingered over them. Sorrow was felt every time they passed her door in the halls, or came across the tea mug she used in the cupboard.

But the pain they felt was all the more present when something regarding Trigon arose.

Brother Blood, also known as Sebastian Blood, is the ninth individual to assume the name of Brother Blood. As demanded by the eight generations of tradition.

Whoever holds such a title is recognized as the High Priest of the Church of Blood, and commands loyalty from legions of loyal followers, who worship the demonic entity known as Trigon.

Titans were well aware that Brother Blood had been actively planning something. But no matter how powerful he is, they knew he couldn't succeed in anything world dominating without Raven as a beacon.

But that didn't mean he was to be taken lightly. They didn't know the extent of his plans, and Brother Blood was still a very dangerous villain that needed to be taken down.

...

Richard stood in the common room, staring intensely at the computer monitor.

"The dates are lining up. Whatever he has planned, it's going to happen tonight." He spoke to the person next to him.

Kori sighed sorrowfully as she grabbed her arm and glanced downward. "I hope that once we defeat Brother Blood we will finally be done with Trigon."

It was a painful reminder for the Titans, discovering that Brother Blood had been plotting something. The High Priest had been hiding under the radar for years, but learning that his church was up and running again was a very unsettling discovery.

Richard turned to her, his stern features softening as he looked at her sympathetically. "I know, Kori."

Kori's face contorted in mourning. "I'm so tired of the reminder." She said sadly.

Richard slowly approached her, wrapping his arms around her as she rested her head against his chest.

"I miss her too, we all do." He told her before slowly pulling away, keeping her at arm's length as he looked at her directly. "But we have to keep it together." He told her in a caring but stern tone. "We will take down whatever Blood is planning, and finally be done with all of this."

Kori took a deep breath, nodding in agreement as Richard smiled at her.

"Now go get the others." He instructed. "This ends tonight."

...

Brother Blood admired his reflection in the mirror as he prepared himself for the ceremony. He clasped a fresh white cloak around his shoulders, before setting a cowl around his head.

He smiled at himself as he grabbed a necklace, a token he had made from his betrothed's chakra, clasping it behind his neck.

"We await you, Brother Blood." His mother informed him from the doorway.

Brother Blood grinned wickedly. "Let the ceremony begin."

...

The red cloaked followers bowed their heads as Brother Blood slowly walked down the candle lit isle of the ancient chapel. He smiled proudly as he approached the girl adoring a pure white dress and matching cloak.

He couldn't stop smiling as he stood across from his bride, admiring her beauty. He lifted his hands up, lowering her hood, revealing her soft features. He gently brushed her long hair out of her face, before caressing her cheek.

"My sweet Queen, my love, we will be one soon." He told her softly as the ceremony began.

Unable to protest, the girl continued to stare blankly, her face still lacking any emotion. She was a detached drone, forced to submit to him or risk being completely overtaken by her uncontainable dark powers.

Suddenly, the large wooden doors to the chapel began to illuminate in a bright green glow before bursting open!

Brother Blood turned and angrily scowled at the intruders as they stood in front of the fragmented doors. "This is a private ceremony!" He hissed, his eyes glowing red with rage fueled power

"Weddings over, Blood." Nightwing spoke standing alongside his team.

Brother Blood continued to scowl as he pointed a finger at the heroes. "Brothers and Sisters, bring them to their knees, so commands Brother Blood!" He ordered.

Obeying their leader, the crowd of cloaked followers stormed the Titans. But the majority of the people were average humans that didn't stand a chance against the superhero team.

The Titans attacked. They punched and kicked, doing whatever they could to knock out the legion of followers with as little fatalities as possible. But it was difficult not using the full extent of their powers.

"What's the plan Nightwing?" Cyborg asked, punching a couple disciples away, before yanking a few off his back.

"Cyborg, Starfire, continue to hold back the crowd. While I go after Blood. And Beast Boy, as soon as I have Blood distracted, I need you to discreetly get to the girl." Nightwing explained, and his teammates nodded in understanding.

"Titans Go!"

Upon his command, Cyborg and Starfire used their combined strength to bulldoze the crowd of people away, making room for Nightwing to run forward.

Nightwing charged towards the front of the chapel, punching away anyone that blocked his path.

Brother Blood scowled as Nightwing swung his grappling hook, snagging it on a support beam and thrusting himself into the air.

He swung forward, kicking Brother Blood in the face as he pounced on him, knocking him to the ground.

From the ground, Beast Boy scurried discreetly as a fox. He maneuvered around the crowd of stomping feet as he made it to the front of the chapel. As soon as he reached the girl, he morphed back into his human form before glancing around, making sure he had still gone undetected.

"Okay, time to get you out of here." He said quietly, turning to face her. But as soon as he saw her familiar face his eyes widened. "Raven!?"

Upon saying her name, all the Titans abruptly turned to the girl in astonished disbelief.

Even Nightwing was briefly sidetracked, and Brother Blood was able to kick him off.

"Get away from my bride!" Brother Blood yelled, getting up off the ground and running towards them.

Nightwing quickly regained his composure and pounced onto Brother Blood, wrapping his arms around him as he struggled to hold him back. "Beast Boy, get her out of here!" He ordered, struggling to restrain the strong High Priest.

Beast Boy quickly shook his head, focusing back on what was happening. "Right." He acknowledged, before grabbing her hand and hastily pulling her away.

Brother Blood rammed his head back, colliding it with Nightwing's, forcing him to release his grip on him. Brother Blood quickly turned back to his bride and his eyes widened angrily as he watched her be taken away.

"No!" He yelled. "Stop them!" He commanded, turning to his disciples, just for Nightwing to punch him in the face.

Beast Boy hurriedly rushed Raven out of the chapel, up the narrow staircase, and into the heavy terrain of the forest surrounding the church.

He let go of her hand as he tried to catch his winded breath. "I think we should be okay here." He told her in between breaths as he looked around the area to make sure the coast was clear

As soon as his breath was caught, he stood up straight to look at her. He couldn't help but furrow his face at her emotionless expression as she stared at him.

"Is it really you?" He asked, still in disbelief.

Her features were unmistakable, but there was something off about her that made him question if she was truly their lost friend.

She continued to stare at him, when her face contorted curiously. Memories of her past life flooded through her mind at an overwhelming amount.

Glimpses of faces of people she knew appeared, when Beast Boy's face surfaced, among many others. But as she looked at the boy in front of her and the memories she had, she questioned whether it was him.

But despite the slight changes in facial features, height, and uniform, the similarities were too apparent for it to be anyone else.

"Beast Boy?" She managed to ask.

His face immediately lit up as he uncontrollably bolted forward and hugged her tightly.

The spike in affection caused a trigger in her powers and a nearby tree was engulfed in black energy with an eruption as all the leaves fell from the branches.

Beast Boy quickly let go, taking a step back in shock of the eruption that happened. He quickly looked at the baren tree and then back at Raven before smiling uncontrollably.

"It is you." He grinned.

He wanted to hug her again, but considering who he was dealing with, he decided to keep it to himself.

"Raven how are you alive?" He asked in astonished disbelief before looking down at her white dress. His expression then changed to confusion. "-And you're getting married?"

The word caused another tree to erupt in black energy as Raven's body tensed. She took a deep breath, resorting back to her detached persona.

"It's not my choice." She spoke impassively. "Brother Blood has my chakra."

"Your forehead jewel?" He asked, and she nodded.

"Without it, my powers are dangerous and uncontrollable. Any emotions I feel will cause my abilities to spike drastically. I have to focus all my energy on containing my powers, and it's causing me to be very susceptible to commands."

"That's right my Dear." Brother Blood spoke as he walked out of the church and approached the pair. "Now come with me." He ordered, holding out his hand.

"Raven, stay back!" Beast Boy yelled as he put himself in front of her. He quickly morphed into a large wolf and growled before storming Brother Blood.

Brother Blood scrawled angrily as he pulled a knife from beneath his belt. "Nothing will prevent me from getting what I want." He spoke, thrusting his blade at the animal. "And I want her!"

"Well, you can't have her." Nightwing spoke, as he and Starfire ran out of the church.

Nightwing's announcement distracted both Brother Blood and Beast Boy, but the high priest was able to gain back his train of thought quicker than the changeling. Before Beast Boy could react, Brother Blood slashed his knife at him, cutting his arm.

"Beast Boy!" Starfire yelled as she flew forward, while Nightwing tackled Brother Blood to the ground.

"I'm fine." Beast Boy spoke, after he changed back into his human form.

"You're bleeding." Starfire said in concern, causing Beast Boy to glance at the bloody gash on his arm.

Suddenly, a delicate hand reached forward, and a white glow healed the cut before their eyes. The two of them stared at Raven in surprise as she impassively took her hand back.

"I sure missed your healing touch, Rae." Beast Boy said with a small smile, cupping his healed arm.

Unable to contain herself, Starfire bolted forward and hugged Raven tightly. "Oh Raven, I missed you so much!" She said as another nearby tree engulfed in black energy.

"Easy on the hugging, Star." Beast Boy warned as Starfire quickly pulled away from her.

"I am sorry. I'm just so happy you are alive!" The alien spoke gleefully.

"Star." Beast Boy addressed. "Blood has Raven's forehead jewel."

"Her chakra?"

He nodded. "We need to get it back to her."

Starfire nodded before standing up straight, glaring at Brother Blood as he continued to wrestle Nightwing. "Keep her safe, Beast Boy." She told him before flying forward into the battle.

Brother Blood skillfully bent backwards, dodging Nightwing's high kick. He gave a confident smirk as he straightened himself and took a defensive stance.

"I'm sorry Nightwing, but I am of a higher power. And you are but a man."

Nightwing made sure to keep Brother Blood's attention as Starfire flew up behind him. And before the high priest could react, she grabbed him, pinning his arms behind his back.

"And I am but a Tamarain."

Brother Blood angrily struggled beneath her inhuman grip. While he was gifted with magical abilities, making him stronger than the average man, he did not compete with a Tamarain.

"Quick, the necklace!" Starfire shouted.

Nightwing immediately looked at the red jewel dangling from Brother Blood's neck and yanked it, breaking the chain.

"NO!" He yelled, angrily slipping free from Starfire's hold.

Nightwing rapidly ran towards Raven as Brother blood hurried after him. "Beast Boy!" He yelled, tossing the necklace towards him before Brother Blood tackled him to the ground.

"Got it!" He said, catching the jewel in his hands before turning back to Raven.

"Here you go, Rae." He said separating the gem from the chain and placing it on the open cut on her forehead.

The missing piece to her control.

As soon as the chakra was placed a shock wave of power erupted from Raven, knocking everyone down. Everyone turned to her as she levitated off the ground, her eyes glowing a bright white as she gained control of herself.

"Wow." Beast Boy said in amazement.

"She's extraordinary." Brother Blood responded from beside him before getting up.

"My Queen..." He called, gently approaching Raven. "My love. This is our destiny. The prophecy states that we come together. Our child will cleanse the earth and achieve global control."

Raven slowly lowered herself to his level as she stared directly at him.

Brother Blood held out his hands for her to take. "Come my love. It is what Trigon wishes."

Within a second, Raven grabbed him by the throat and harshly slammed her other hand on his forehead as a blinding light erupted from her palm.

Brother Blood screamed in agony, causing the Titans to quickly react!

"Raven, no!" Nightwing yelled. "We don't kill!"

Raven closed her eyes as she pulled her hand away, releasing Brother Blood.

The once thriving, young high priest, was now a skinny, shivering, weak man. Unable to stand, Brother Blood crumbled to his knees before falling to the ground.

Raven opened her eyes, revealing her natural violet orbs.

"I didn't kill him." She told them calmly. "I just took away his powers."

From the ground, Brother Blood groaned as he lay crumpled and weak. The power he thrived on completely drained from him along with his Immortality.

"No." He whimpered. "The prophecy."

"Will not be fulfilled." Raven said sternly.

From the chapel entrance, Cyborg finished running up the long stairs. Catching his breath, he rested his hand on the stone wall as he stared at his teammates.

"What I miss?" He asked.

...

Richard and Kori took Brother Blood away to a secure facility, where he would remain the rest of his days.

Unfortunately, many of the followers escaped. Though the Titan's weren't concerned over the matter. The loyal followers were brainwashed drones, and without a leader to guide them, they are harmless people without a cause.

While Richard and Kori dealt with the responsibility of making sure Brother Blood was securely put away, Victor and Garfield helped clean up what they could.

They talked to the local law enforcement and made sure everything was put in the right hands before they were able to finally take Raven home.

But while the law enforcement took in every brainwashed devotee they found on sight, there was one disciple that managed to evade capturing.

...

Victor slowly opened the doors to the familiar T shaped tower as he and Garfield walked Raven inside. The pair made sure to gradually introduce her, knowing that the drastic changes might be a lot for her to handle.

Raven slowly glanced around the halls, looking at everything intently. Things were definitely different, and she wasn't surprised. They had informed her that they had to rebuild a lot since her father's reign.

The place she remembered feeling at home in, now felt strange and foreign as her past life memories continued to resurface in her mind, reminding her where things used to be.

She slowly turned to a door that wasn't there before. She stared at it curiously, remembering the wall used to have pictures, framed and hung in an orderly fashion.

"During the rebuild, we decided to put in an extra bathroom there." Victor informed her as he opened the door, revealing the lavatory.

"Where are the pictures?" She asked.

"Well..." Garfield began as he scratched the back of his neck; A nervous habit he still retained. "They were kind of destroyed during the battle."

A sadness was felt inside her at the loss of memories. Those pictures were framed collages of their friends, and memorable times they spent together at the beach or visiting the boardwalk. It saddened her knowing that those one of a kind photos were now lost; gone along with the memories of the old Raven.

Victor could clearly see Raven was disheartened as she continued to stare at the bathroom door.

"Come on." He said, getting her attention. "You have to see the new kitchen." He told her, urging her to the elevator.

Raven followed Victor to the elevator, taking note of the newer model, and how it was much more efficient than the one she remembered.

The doors opened and Raven walked out of the elevator into the kitchen and living room. This floor was far more different than the ones she remembered.

The kitchen was much larger, with all new appliances and cupboards. And the living room was in a completely different room, only connected by a large archway.

A part of her missed the old layout, the familiar design she remembered living in. But as she looked around the newly modelled room, she had to admit she liked it better.

She walked through the archway and into the living room. There was a new couch, larger than the old crescent shaped one.

There were a lot more homely decorations, such as potted plants and decorative lamps. But one thing she paid most attention to, was the large fireplace against the wall.

"It's very nice." She commented.

"Glad you like it. Victor smiled before turning towards the large computer monitor.

"I have to fill out some paperwork on Brother Blood's case file." He began. "Gar, maybe you could show Raven her room?"

Garfield grinned in excitement. "Come on, Rae. You're gonna love it." He said urging her to follow him.

Raven followed Garfield back into the elevator as they travelled one floor up to the corridor level.

As soon as the doors opened, he excitedly showed her the layout of the floor.

"All our rooms are still on the same floor, and we added a bathroom in each room." He explained as he walked up to the door at the end of the hall.

Raven stared at her name printed on the door. She was surprised they had kept her room after the remodel, considering she was no longer with them.

She turned to Garfield, and he gave her a big smile before opening the door for her. "We tried to salvage everything we could of yours." Ahe said, revealing the space inside. "I know it's not as dark and mysterious as your old room, but hopefully you will still like it."

Raven slowly walked into the room. She instantly could smell her incense and candles, and it brought a sense of familiarity to her that she enjoyed.

There were a lot of things she recognized. Like her ancient books displayed erratically on a new bookshelf. And her dark purple comforter on a newer bed.

But as she continued to look around, she could see It was so much more different than the room she remembered. It had a lot more lighter tones, brightening the space. A lot of her antique furniture was missing, replaced with newer models.

But while there was loss in the irreplaceable antiques, there was also an odd comfort with the change. The old space was the past Raven's room. And despite having the same name, and memories, she wasn't that Raven.

"So... Um... What do you think?" Garfield asked.

Raven slowly turned back to him as he stood in front of the doorway, nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

A small smile graced her lips. It's perfect." She said before walking up to him and hugging him tightly.

Garfield was completely taken aback by the embrace. Raven never initiated a hug. And for her to do so with him, of all people, was beyond strange.

But that didn't mean he didn't like it. In fact, he liked it a lot.

...