"No, you can't." Wisdom replied. "But we have another way to help you."
Wisdom crossed her arms and a somber expression covered her face.
"You understand that Raven's powers are tied to her emotions?"
"Yeah, we all know that."
Another eyeglass wearing Terra, this one carrying a book, approached. Beast Boy recognized her as knowledge.
"We have most of Terra's emotions on board for this. They will refuse to cooperate and Terra won't be able to access her powers through them."
"Wait, you said 'most', so who isn't going to help us?"
The green caped Brave stepped forward.
"Rage for one. But also Fear. Fear is Terra's strongest emotion; it's what pushed her to run away from the Titans in the first place. Terra lives in the grip of fear; it's the primary cause of all her irrational actions. Fortunately we can take advantage of that to manipulate her."
The changeling raised an eyebrow.
"Are you guys sure that you're Terra's emotions, you see to be acting more like …"
"Like Raven." Knowledge completed the sentence for him. "As wisdom already told you, Terra's mind is beginning to merge with Raven's own psyche, at least the echo of it that is imprinted in her brain."
"Our plan is quite simple and it's already been started." Wisdom interjected. "Since fear is so strong in Terra it hasn't begun to merge with Raven's mind, and that is something we can take advantage of."
"What do you mean?"
"We have primed Fear to believe that the Titans know where we are and that an attack is imminent."
"And where are we?"
"We were in one of Slade's abandoned lairs."
"We were?"
"Yes, as in past tense. Fear has gripped Terra. Her first instinct was to flee, but as we expected Rage has stepped in and Terra is beginning to attack the Tower as we speak."
"The ride is gonna get bumpy. Rage will no doubt pull out all the stops. Fortunately Raven's extra powers remain sealed, so the Titans stand a chance. We expect this to boil down to a showdown between Terra and Raptor. Raptor will be handicapped in that she can't go all out on Terra as she doesn't wish to permanently damage Raven's body." Brave remarked.
The changeling rubbed his temples and groaned.
"Then Raptor's gonna lose. Even if she didn't hold back, Raven is still stronger than her. And now you tell me that Rage is in the driver's seat? She's gonna kill Raptor!"
Wisdom nodded her understanding.
"We understand your concern Garfield, but this is where you come in. Rage will be under duress during the fight. She alone with Fear, who will be useless in the battle, will have to wield Raven's powers. It will be a drain on her and that will be your window of opportunity to restrain her."
Beast Boy closed his eyes and sighed. What he was about to do terrified him but he also knew that it would be the only way to get Raven back into her own body … and he had to do it, not just for her but for the entire universe. He opened his eyes and looked into Wisdom's blue eyes.
"I'm ready."
"We'll take you to her. But remember, we can't help you fight her directly, you'll be on your own." Brave replied.
-( scene break )-
The Tower shook as it absorbed another dark energy blast. Acoustic tiles fell from the ceiling and the sound of glass breaking echoed throughout the common room. A familiar gray female figure, clad in a white cape and leotard zoomed past the common room windows. The reinforced glass initially absorbed the dark spears that Rage shot at them but began to crack under the duress. Rage did a barrel roll and turning she charged at the Tower. She placed her hands together in front of her, as if in prayer, and aimed them at the common room, extending her arms while keeping her palms together. A sphere formed around her hands and shot out towards the common room. The windows were shattered upon the impact, sending shards of glass flaying. Raptor raised a black hemisphere to shield herself and her teammates from the sharp and deadly debris, which pelted the dark shield with a random staccato pattern.
Rage banked away from the Tower and Raptor dropped her shields. She and Starfire flew out the window, pursuing Raven's possessed body. Starfire shot a volley of star bolts, which Rage deftly dodged as she launched her own counter attack. One of her dark bolts hit the princess square in the chest, sending her tumbling into the cold bay below.
"Starfire!" Robin shouted in panic from the common room.
The Tamaranian recovered before crashing into the blue water and resumed her pursuit, once again firing more star bolts. Seeing that she was OK Robin refocused his attention on Rage, who was now engaging Raptor, exchanging dark energy blasts with Raven's interdimensional twin. Robin frowned as he could tell that Rage was a better fighter than Raptor and was having no issues with keeping the two female Titans at bay. He reached for his utility belt and withdrew three of his discs. Cyborg joined him at the window and began firing his sonic cannon at Rage, who was now sporting her 4 crimson red eyes. One of the sonic blasts grazed her left thigh and she howled in pain. Robin saw blood dripping from her leg and prepared himself, holding three disks between his fingers. As he hoped Raptor turned her direction back to the Tower as Cyborg continued to fire at her. Her fists clenched she dodge his sonic blasts as she swooped towards the tower, leaving Raptor and Starfire behind. As she approached Robin took advantage of the opportunity and threw his disks.
"Pleasant dreams!"
The three disks flew from Robin's hands and with surgical precision they found their target. As they exploded Rage was encased in ice and began to fall. Starfire swooped in and caught her, saving the frozen demoness from a deadly crash on the rocks below.
-( scene break )-
"We'll take you to her. But remember, we can't help you fight her directly, you'll be on your own." Brave replied.
The rocky landscape suddenly vanished and Beast Boy found himself in what looked like Raven's room in the Tower. At first he thought that he had miraculously escaped from Nevermore but that hope was quickly dashed when he saw the blood red stars outside through the window. He stood in a confused daze, not knowing what to do next. Shaking the mental cobwebs away he began to scan the room, looking for a clue as to what to do next.
He found it, or to be more accurate he found her, crumpled up on the bed. He ran to the large 4 poster bed he shared with his fiancé in the real world and gasped at the sight that greeted him. It was Rage, the crimson red cape and hood gave her away immediately. She had a nasty wound on her right thigh which was bleeding and she was shivering while unconscious. He approached her carefully and examined her. He knew that her injuries in Nevermore were reflections of her injuries in the real world and that for the moment she wasn't a threat. He knew that his opportunity had come and if the he didn't jump on it he might not get another one.
"Terra! Terra! Can you hear me!"
Terra, dressed in Raven's white cape and leotard materialized before him.
"I'm here BB."
He grabbed the blond by her shoulders.
"You have to stop this now! Raven's body is hurt!"
Terra nodded her agreement.
"I don't know if I can, she's so strong. I know she needs me, but somehow … I can't resist her. I could only come to see you because we got knocked out. Robin froze us with his disks."
Beast Boy shook the girl as if trying to awaken her from a trance.
"Terra, this is Slade all over again. You were able to resist him and you can resist her!"
-( scene break )-
Raven stood powerless in the common room while Starfire brought her now frozen body back into the Tower. Cyborg produced a huge hypospray from his forearm.
"This inhibtol and sedative cocktail should do the trick. We just need to expose her skin from the ice so I can give it to her and …"
Before Cyborg could finish the ice encasing Rage began to crack and dark energy began to swell under its surface. Then, with a loud bang the ice exploded and Rage emitted a terrifying roar. A blast of dark energy sent Cyborg flying into a wall. Rage turned to the blond girl in the white cape and leotard.
"He's mine, Raven! You can't have him!"
-( scene break )-
Rage jumped out of the bed, growling like an angry dog. She locked her four eyes with Beast Boy, who felt a shiver go down his spine. Time seemed to come to a standstill and he debated what to do next. While he was terrified he also knew that he wouldn't get another chance. Summoning all his courage he morphed into the Beast and charged at Rage.
The demonic emotion was not caught off guard and also began to morph into an indescribable monster. The two leviathans crashed into each other while Terra watched their struggle in abject horror.
She had never seen the Beast before and while he was a formidable opponent Rage's new form, which resembled a giant serpent with razor sharp teeth and dark tendrils growing all over her body was even more frightful.
The struggle was intense, as the two opponents exchanged blows. The tendrils had their effect on the changeling, inflicting scores of small wounds on him. The expression 'death by a thousand cuts' came to Terra's mind.
"Rage, stop, don't hurt him!"
The Beast was not ready to give up and connected several powerful blows to the serpent's head while avoiding is razor sharp teeth. The battle continued for what to Terra felt like an eternity. To her horror she could see that Rage was slowly wearing down the Beast, who was showing signs of fatigue.
And then it happened. Rage was finally able to connect her teeth with the changeling's flesh. Terra gasped as she saw the venom drip from Rage's teeth into the fresh wound. The Beast roared in pain and the poison quickly took its effect as the green giant collapsed onto the floor in the bedroom with a dull thud. Terra watched, paralyzed with fear, as he morphed back into his human form, convulsing violently as the poison quickly spread through his body.
"BB!" Terra finally wailed.
She turned to Rage, who was back in her human form. Terra saw that Rage was shedding tears of blood from her crimson eyes. Rage ran to Beast Boy's side and picked him up, cradling him in her arms.
"What have I done!" She wailed uncontrollably.
Beast Boy opened his eyes and with great effort he spoke.
"Raven, why did you … kill me? I thought you loved me."
He then slumped into Rage's arms.
-( scene break )-
Starfire, Cyborg and Robin aimed their powers and weapons at Rage.
"You can't win Terra, give it up." Robin challenged her.
Then to everyone's surprise, Terra dropped her hands and surrendered. She turned immediately towards Raven.
"Rage hurt BB! She hurt him bad, he's dying!"
Raven approached her own body, placing Terra's lily white index finger on the Chakra stone.
"We're gonna do a swap Terra, but I need your cooperation. Think of the Chakra stone as a door and open it with your mind."
Terra nodded and closed her eyes.
"Raptor, I need your help, I can't push my way in."
"I'm on it." She replied as she stood behind Terra's body, placing her hands on blonde's temples.
The three women's bodies jerked and their eyes rolled back as they entered into a collective trance.
-( scene break )-
Raven and Raptor materialized inside Raven's room in Nevermore. Rage was cradling the changeling's limp form while tears of blood still flowed from her eyes. She saw Raven and Raptor approach.
"Mistress! I am so sorry! I didn't mean to hurt our beloved … I lost control."
"Now you know why I keep you locked up! This is unforgivable!"
Raven then extended her palm to Terra.
"Return my body to me Terra; it's the only way to save him."
Terra nodded and touched Raven's palm with her own. Both women jerked upon touching each other, after which Terra vanished, returning to her own body. Without skipping a beat Raven turned to Beast Boy's supine form and placed her hands on head.
"No, oh Azar, please no!"
"Raven, what is it? What's wrong?"
Raven's face was screwed with pain and she began to sob.
"We're too late … he's already dead."
Raptor's jaw dropped.
"No, no! It can't be! There has to be something we can do!"
Raven fought back her tears.
"There is. I will exchange my life force for his."
"But Raven, you'll die if you do that."
"I'm already dead Raptor, without him … it's over … this is my fault, my Rage did this … it's only right that I should give him my life …"
"But Raven …"
"He'll be yours Raptor, promise me you'll love him and make him happy for me."
Raptor shook her head.
"No! He never be happy knowing you committed suicide to save him."
Raven gave her a pleading look.
"Time's running out Raptor, his soul hasn't left yet, but once it does we can't bring him back. Will you please help me?"
Raptor wiped away her tears.
"I will, so how do we do this?"
"It's actually pretty easy. I'll reach into him and find the void his life force left behind and push my own into him. Once that happens you need to get him and yourself out of Nevermore as it will collapse and cease to exist once I'm dead."
"That's it? So it's just like a soul swapping spell, except that you swap your life force instead of the soul?"
"That's correct."
Raptor raised her hand and blasted Raven with a burst of dark energy, Raven crashed into a wall and fell to the ground, stunned. Raptor placed her hands on Beast Boy's head.
"Gar, my beloved, I'm coming, please wait for me."
"Raptor! Stop, that's for me to do!" Raven groaned as struggled t her feet
"Raven, love him and make him happy for me … Azarath, Metrion, Zinthoooosss."
Raptor slumped over as she finished her mantra. In the real world, where Terra had already woken up, Raptor collapsed onto the floor. Cyborg checked her and found that she had no pulse.
Back in Nevermore Beast Boy drew a breath and began to cough as life flowed back into him. Raven drew him into a hug while she grabbed Raptor's now lifeless hand and she began to wail.
-( scene break )-
Another short update, but it was quick!
Things are drawing to a close, but there are still some unresolved issues. Stay tuned, we have a few chapters left.
Before I get to the mail bag I want to poll you, dear readers, on what project I should work on next. Should I
Finish "8 Years Later"
Finish the alternate ending for "The Gift"
Or should I write a part 2 for "Birds of a Feather Flock Together?"
Let it not be said that you don't have a voice. Only you can silence yourself.
And now, mail bag time. Reviews are few, but very high quality. Thanks to all who take a moment to review.
YAXON - "Another interesting turn of events. The cliffhanger, a most effective tool to keep readers interested and hooked. ^_^ You update fast, too... So... Good job. :D"
Thanks
The Cretin - "Man I hope things turn out for the better for the Triple G couple...(that's my name for them...ya know...Grey+Green=Greatness...)anyway, this is some of the best mindbending warfare I've read. I wouldn't be surprised if Rae don't have some longterm side effects from this one. Awesome interaction between BB and Terra. Can't wait for the next chap. Keep rockin"
LOL! Another name for the Chromatically Challenged Couple!
titanfan45 - "Yes you are! I have never read anything quite like this story since you've added the newest chapters, You've outdone yourself once again Force."
It must be the high altitude that gives me the crazy plot twists.
LordGodsServant - "Like I said, deals with the Devil never work. Terra is being misguided severely.
One correction I have to make, you spelled "meditation mirror" as "medication mirror."
I wonder how this will turn out.
One question though, are we getting near the end because it seems like it. Not that this is a bad thing, I'm just wondering if it is near the end of the story.
Good Day and God Bless :)"
That typo has been corrected. Terra seems to be one to make "deals with the Devil"
Wrath lover - "NUUUUU! Such a good chapter had to end! And I was so excited to read it, I was bouncing all over my room! xD Amazing chapter! Can't wait for the next chapter!
Please post soon!"
Thanks!
Hairul The Nightrage Beast - "Ah crapper if Raven dies, this sucks, especially Raptor would be taking over Raven's place and both of em will have to suffer the guilt."
Now what will happen with Raptor? It sure seems like she is ready to join her Gar in the afterlife.
WarriorsFan26 - "I was in a conversation and totally forgot i was talking to him because i was reading this. This is good. Keep it up. DON'T KILL RAVEN!"
Raven is alive, if wounded. I hope it wasn't a significant other you were talking with!
