A/N: Sorry for the short chapter but I had a scene I wanted to put together, and it was simple in itself. I plan to continue updating this one, so I appreciate the patience of everybody waiting for the next chapter.

Robin awoke to the sound of the first bird seeing in the distance. His eyes had opened fully to stare at the fading stars. The sun had begun to paint the horizon orange and their campfire still smoldered with matching light. He listened to the sound of the bird not hearing anything else but rustling clothes and the gently flapping of a sleeping bag as someone rolled over. He glanced at his watch, the movement lighting up the dial in the hazy twilight.

"Still the first one up I see."

The voice was soft, low, and filled with a deep power. The hairs on the back of Robin's neck straightened as he sat up to see the figure seated on the bricks that made the fence for the nine-story building's roof. Even though she was a dress of solid black that clung to her waist and chest but flowed freely around her legs and the dark purple hair the streamed down her shoulder, Robin recognized the woman that he once called a friend. Her azure eyes lost and invisible in the sea of gold that consumed them. Raven had her arm propped on her knee while she rested her chin in her hand.

"You."

The word barely made a sound to be drowned out by the breeze picking up. Gently extricating himself from his warm nest where Starfire still slept peaceably, Robin tried to keep his stance as non-threatening but ready as possible.

"I'm not here to fight, Robin," Raven said, her eyes seemingly boring through him.

"Beast Boy's not dead. You didn't kill him." Robin blurted out. It was not what he had rehearsed, but it got the point out. He saw a flicker in her eyes, a hesitation but resolve and anger filled them.

"You'd say anything now to try and stop what is happening," she responded with a slight wave of her other hand. "You know you can't stop it, right?"

"Why are you hear, Midnight Empress?"

The Boy Wonder had been friends with this woman in front of him for so many years, and he felt he still knew the basics of how she thought. There was no way to know how much of the alien influence had gotten into her mind, but she was half demon and names had power to them. To refuse to call her by the personal name he knew her as would have stung and he saw the twitch of pain and agony flit across her face.

"To offer you a way out," she said standing. The girl he had seen peeking through the facade vanishing into the imperious figure that now was before him. Her purple hair being caught by the breeze.

"From what?"

"I know the JLA are planning another assault. I'm not a fool. I know they are aware of the best time to open the pathway to my sovereign. They're going to try to strike before I have the chance."

"As we should."

"No. You shouldn't. The world is dying, Robin. You've seen it yourself. Sovereign will bring peace to this reality and stop the wars, the death, the slaughter."

She said the words so sincerely that Robin's heart ached and was distraught. The woman that he felt so much kindship for had become lost in the monster that had gotten her.

"No, that's not going to be what happens," Robin said taking a step forward. He saw her flinch but remain where she was. He dared a few more steps to her until he was directly in front of her. He could easily reach out and touch her. Robin reminded himself that a blow this close from her would probably kill him.

"Sovereign is going to destroy this reality as he has tried with others," he continued softly, imploringly. "Raven, please don't let him in."

He felt the impact of her name. The bond that he could sometimes still feel shuddered at the sound. He poured every ounce of love, a kindred spirit, and sincerity in their empathic connection but felt his heart drop as she closed the connection.

"The world needs to change, Robin," her voice barely a whisper. "Every superhero, every meta, everyone had their chance. It's my turn, and I'm going to end the suffering for good. I...Please come with me. I don't want to fight you or Starfire or Cyborg. If you don't join Midnight, I can place you somewhere where you can be safe and happy for the rest of your days untouched by the pain of this world."

He felt her connection, and the same level of sincerity hit him like a ton of bricks.

'She truly believes what she says,' his heart thought.

"No, Raven. I can't. You're about to jeopardize the lives of an entire reality and also possibly kill millions of people. I can't just standby and let that happen."

The two were silent both staring at each other before she broke eye contact and lowered her eyes slightly.

"I hoped I could convince you," Raven said voice low and sad. "I don't want to fight you."

"I don't want to fight you either, Rae."

Before he even thought it through, he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her holding her tight. Robin felt her entire body tighten to fight but collapse and shudder. He did not know how long he held the woman in his arms, her head on his shoulder but the rustling of his team wakening forced him to release her.

When their eyes met, for a second, he thought he could see her face's azure beauty through the all-consuming gold. Raven mustered a small smile before taking a step back.

"I wish this went differently," she finally said. "and I appreciate the restraint of your team."

Robin turned to look and found them all awake staring carefully at the two waiting for the command.

"Please," she said, the deep power returning to her voice. "Leave and go home. If we meet on the battlefield, there will be no friends."

Though she meant it for everyone, it felt as if she was saying it directly to him. "If you resist, I will kill you."

Robin believed every word.