Chapter 37

You don't know how hard I fought to survive,
Waking up alone when I was left to die
You don't know about this life I've lived,
All these roads I've walked
All these tears I've BLED!

More lyrics from the song Whore by In This Moment. I'll have one more part of this song posted with the chapter, then I'm moving on. These lyrics I think are perfect to describe Raven Blu at this stage of the story. Yaknow? Actually pretty much any song by In This Moment can sum up Raven's life, hell when I first heard this song I thought of my OC and Klarion going through their 'rough' patch. Also I think if Raven were to be animated she'd have a voice like the singer of the song. Especially when she's angry. Anyhow, is Raven back to her normal self? Well we're about to find out! Oh and Klarion will be making a small appearance, because I know everyone's wondering what he's up to since his little, temper tantrum. Haha! ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

"Alright! Girls Night Out, take two!" Harley shouted as she, Ivy and Raven, rode in Ivy's pink convertible back into Gotham. It had been several days since Raven's meltdown and recovery. Ivy had pressed that they wait a while longer, despite that Raven had gone from red to blue. Now they were speeding down the road, in the middle of the night. They stopped at a stop light—because a trio of villains will obey traffic laws to rob a bank—and another car stopped next to them, this one filled with a couple of college boys. The trio of boys looked at the three villainesses and began howling and whooping. Ivy, Harley, and Raven looked to the boys with annoyed and disgusted look. Ivy smiled but kept a glare on her face.

"Excuse me boys, but didn't your mommies ever tell you that isn't the nice way to get a girl's attention?" She asked, The college boys laughed.

"Aww what're you gonna do?" The driver began, to which the boy in the back finished, "Spank us?"

Annoyed, Ivy, Harley, and Raven gave a death glare. Cherie Curie hissed at the trio in the opposite car. Raven looked to Ivy.

"Can I kill them now?" She grumbled. Ivy shrugged.

"Have at it kid." She sighed. Raven grinned and leaned forward over the car's back seat. Her eyes turned red and the black streaks returned.

"Take a hint!" She shouted, thrusting her hand out toward them. At first nothing happened and the boys just laughed. Raven's crazed grin, however, stayed ever present on her face, when suddenly the blacktop of the road transformed into a set of teeth, and it swallowed the boys' car. The trio of boys barley escaped as Harley stomped on the gas and sped away, nearly running over one of the boys. The three women sped off laughing.

"Remind me to stay on your good side Ravey." Harley said with a grin. Ivy smiled as well.

"Couldn't have done better myself." She said. Raven laughed like a madman in the backseat, Cherie sat on her shoulders, somewhat laughing himself. That felt tremendously great.

"Serves those pigs right for actin' like morons." She hissed happily as she smiled looking out the back of the car. "I only regret not actually hurting at least one of them."

"Don't fret kid, you'll get a chance to hurt someone, I'm sure." Ivy said, patting Raven on the head. Raven pursed her lips and sat back down in her seat as Harley rounded a corner that lead to large jewelry store.

"You're up kid, make it loud." She then said, Raven gave a proud look as she rose her hands in the air, before she was able to cast a spell Ivy then said, "Just don't destroy anything inside."

Raven rolled her eyes as her palms began to glow black, with a swift motion of her hands the door to building was ripped off. Raven then narrowed her eyes as she crumpled the door like it was a piece of paper and tossed it aside. She then bowed and motioned for Ivy and Harley to go ahead inside.

"Who needs a lock pick when ya got witchgirl on your side?" Harley shouted happily. Ivy smiled proudly as she and the other two waltzed inside and began searching through the glass cases that held a various types of jewels and jewelry and many other shiny objects. Raven sort of stood oddly.

"What's up Ravey? Look at all the pretties." Harley said, holding up several necklaces, and wearing a diamond tiara. Raven shrugged.

"Yeah real pretty, nothing worthwhile though." She mumbled, crossing her arms as Cherie slid into them. Ivy came back with from the backroom with a metal box.

"Don't worry kid, there's over a dozen places on our hit list." She said, "I'm sure there will be something that catches your eye."

"Yeah, tonight we paint the town red!" Harley shouted. Raven nodded, helped the duo put the stolen goods in the car and used magic to disguise them so they could go unnoticed by nearby police.

~0~

"I can't believe she actually tried to kill you…" Zatanna said, she was riding on a motorcycle alongside Nightwing. They had gotten word from batman that a string of jewelry stores had been hit, what they had in common was that none of the hits had been done in secret. Whoever was doing the robberies was trying to be heard.

"Are you really that surprised? It's not the first time she's tried to kill someone." Nightwing said. Zatanna sighed.

"Yeah I suppose you're right…" She trailed off. She was still in denial that her best friend was over the deep end. It seemed like just yesterday she and Raven were sitting in the back of class talking about magazines, and what it would be like if Nancy Kesha got a sudden case of morning sickness. (Morbid but whatever.) now. Now Raven was on the wrong side of the law—not that she was ever exactly on the right side to begin with, skipping school and all—and with crazy powers. Zatanna was so lost in her own miserable thoughts she almost didn't see the rose pink car as it sped out from an alley way. She let out a gasp and slammed on the breaks of her motorcycle, followed by Nightwing.

"Well that's not suspicious at all." Nightwing said sarcastically. Suddenly Zatanna saw a familiar sight.

"Raven?!"

"Well now we know who's behind the robberies." Nightwing said, "Though, I'll be honest I'm not all that surprised."

"Yeah. I guess." Zatanna said.

"Sorry."

"Let's just go after them." She growled, then revved up her cycle and sped off after them, Nightwing not far behind. Zatanna scowled, this time she was going to catch Raven, and give her the help she needed. Maybe then things would finally go back to normal. She stopped letting out a curse, the trio was too far ahead of them for her to catch up.

"Nightwing I'm gonna take Main Street and cut them off." She said, then turned and went down the opposite street.

Meanwhile Cherie meowed to Raven. He had seen Nightwing and Zatanna behind them, and was informing Raven. Raven cocked an eyebrow, it had been a long time since she'd seen her old friend. She wondered how she'd react to this—not well of course—and what she'd do to stop them. Cherie growled.

"What's his problem?" Ivy asked looking back at the two. Raven looked up.

"We're about to have company." She grumbled, suddenly there was the sound of a motorcycle engine, followed by Zatanna who was now ridding by them.

"This has gone on long enough Raven." She said, Raven's brows rose in interest, "Turn yourself in so I can help you."

"Raven doesn't need help darling." Ivy said holding up her closed hand, she opened it revealing a pile of seeds. Ivy then threw her hand out, the seeds went flying and landed on Zatanna, almost instantly the seeds began to sprout vines. Zatanna screeched to a stop and the vines grew around her. squeezing her body tightly in a vice-like grip. She let out a gasp as the air began to leave her lungs.

"Ecils eth…seniv…und tel em….ethaerb!" She gasped as a vine wrapped around her mouth. Luckily she was able to finish the incantation and the vines were cut by an invisible force. Once freed she gulped for air, glaring after the trio as they sped off. "Etacol Nevar!"

There was a breeze in the air as dust began to gather around her it created an map of the area, with a moving red dot. Zatanna scowled, since they were moving she couldn't teleport to Raven's location. She'd have to go after them on foot….or air.

"Etatival!" Zatanna was then lifted into the air, above the buildings. She could see Raven and the others driving off. They were heading back to Toxic Acres. Poison Ivy's hideaway. "Nightwing, I know where they're heading. Toxic Acres."

"I hear you, we'll need to get the right equipment, the area's a toxic waste dump." Nightwing's voice said via com-link. Zatanna let out a grumble, but eventually agreed.

"So, that was the Z girl huh?" Harley asked when the trio made it back to their hide away. She looked to Raven, out of all of them Harley was the only one who hadn't faced off with Zatanna—she was strictly a Bat-family villain—and never really faced off with her(joker had, but not Harley). Raven nodded.

"Yaknow it won't be long before she finds us here." she said, "Zatanna's got an annoying habit of finding me."

"Well, we'll just have to be ready for her." Ivy said with an evil grin. Cherie mewed from Raven's arms.

"I can't kill her." Raven mumbled. Ivy cocked an eyebrow, "My issue is with men, women I don't have any problem with. I can't kill her."

"That's alright, we don't have to." Ivy said placing a hand on Raven's head. She then turned and walked to Harley, telling her to get all her bag of tricks.

~0~

Hours later, Zatanna and Nightwing arrived to Toxic acres, ready for anything the trio of villainesses had waiting for them. The two found Ivy's rose colored convertible, and proceeded inside the house it was parked outside of. The inside was empty and deathly quiet. It gave Zatanna a slight chill as she looked around. It was dark, no lights were on except for the lights Nightwing provided, suddenly they heard something break. The jumped and turned to see that a pot had been pushed from the counter and was now on the floor broken. Zatanna looked up to see a white and black cat standing in place of the vase. It took one look at Zatanna and hissed.

"Zatanna look out!" Nightwing shouted as a large saber tiger pounced at her. Zatanna jumped and dodged, just missing the magician woman. She looked up and saw that Cherie was no longer there on the counter. As well as the saber tiger. Zatanna looked about the room as she heard laughter.

"I wondered how long it would be before I saw you again, Zatanna." Raven's voice said. It was so close to Zatanna's ear she could have sworn she was right behind her. She turned but saw nothing.

"They're really messing with us aren't they?" Nightwing asked, helping Zatanna stand. She nodded, suddenly the duo were attacked by large vines that tangled the duo within them. their capture was followed by laughter.

"Well that was easy." Ivy said as she, Raven, and Harley stepped out from the shadows.

"Guess I didn't have to trick you again." Raven mumbled, tilting her head to one side as Cherie sat in her arms. Zatanna smirked.

"You think so?" She asked, "Pans ot seceip!"

On command the vines snapped and the two heroes were released. The trio of villainesses stared in surprise as Nightwing and Zatanna stood before them in a fighting stances.

"We knew you had something like this planned." Nightwing said with a bit of smugness.

"We just had to get you," Zatanna said pointing to Raven, "Out of hiding."

Raven narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips, that was clever, but it wasn't going to be enough to bring herself and her new friends down. It was going to take a lot more than simple tricks for the two heroes to catch them.

"I hope you guys have a better plan than just that." Ivy said, "Raven, if you please."

"With pleasure." Raven mumbled, raising her hand to eye level and levitating Nightwing off the ground. Then with a flick of her wrist sent him flying away from them. he hit the wall hard but he soon stood, much to Raven's surprise.

"That all ya got Witchy?" he asked. Raven's eyes turned red with anger, how could he still be standing? He should have been out cold! Or at least disoriented. Angered and confused Raven lunged for Nightwing. There was no way she was going to let a man make a fool out of her. not again.

While Raven busied herself with Nightwing, Harley and Ivy went after Zatanna. Harley swung her hammer at Zatanna, who ducked and kicked the jester woman's feet out from under her. Ivy took another swing at her, this time hitting her in the gut. Zatanna let out a pained ouf, but recovered quickly and delivered a punch herself.

Meanwhile Raven was still trying to beat the tar out of Nightwing. However no matter what spell she threw at him he didn't seem to stay down. It angered her, how was he still standing?! She threw every spell she knew at him—at least the none fatal spells—and yet he kept getting up. She let out a growl as Nightwing stood again after being knocked back and having Ivy's table dropped on him. He still stood, with a smug look on his face. It pissed her off to no end.

"How are you still standing?!" She growled.

"A good hero doesn't reveal his tricks." Nightwing said simply, then waved for her to attack again. Raven growled.

"Cherie! Rip him to pieces!" She ordered. On command Cherie transformed and attacked Nightwing, who smirked and threw a capsule at him. It exploded into a pepper powder in the ferocious feline's face, causing him and Raven herself to go into a coughing fit, causing the duo to be put off guard long enough for Nightwing to attack. He tackled Raven to the ground.

"Get off me! You over grown batbrat!" Raven shouted as she struggled under Nightwing's weight. Her struggles were in vain, however, as Nightwing managed to slip an inhibitor collar around the angry witch-girl.

"Zatanna it's on!" He shouted announcing his victory. Zatanna smiled as she dodged Ivy's kick.

"Etativel eth snialliv!" She shouted as Ivy, Harley, and Raven were hoisted into the air. Raven glared and let out an angry scream.

"NOOOOO! This is NOT over yet! I will rip you people to shreds I SWEAR it!" she shouted trying to use magic but failing miserably because of the collar.

"No use in struggling Raven, that collar prevents you from using your powers." Nightwing explained to her. Raven bit her lip hard in anger to the point she soon began to taste blood.

Moments later the three villainesses—now brought down—were being hauled away into police cars. Only one of them wearing a straight jacket. Raven. Ivy and Harley seemed to have taken defeat fairly well compared to their magically inclined friend. Raven was a fit of screaming rage, at one point she had actually injured one of the policemen who was escorting her to the police van. It was then the two heroes suggested a straightjacket.

"This is not over Zatanna! I will get out of here, and when I do, I am going to rip that little boyfriend of your to tiny pieces!" She screamed. Zatanna gave her friend a sorrowful look, her friend needed help, and she was going to get it for her.

"We're going to get you the help you need Raven." she said, Raven glared.

"I don't need help," She said in a low growl, "Especially from trash like you."

With that the door to the police van was shut. Zatanna stared as it drove off. she felt hurt. Sure, she knew Raven's mind wasn't in its right place, and she knew that had Raven been herself she wouldn't have said something like that to her. however, her words still hurt. Zatanna bit her lip.

"Don't worry Z," Nightwing said reassuringly as he placed his hand on her shoulder, "Raven's going to get the best care Gotham can provide. Batman's going to make sure of that."

"I-I know…but still, had I done the right thing and told Raven about all this from the beginning…" Zatanna mumbled, her voice cracking, "None of this would have happened."

"Zatanna, there was no way you could have known that she would bump into Klarion that day." Nightwing assured her, "There was no way you could have known any of this would happen."

"I had my chances Dick, I know I could have prevented all this if I had just been honest to her to begin with." She mumbled, "Now all I can do is hope she gets better."

~0~

After a few hours of riding in the back of a police van—which she was strapped down to the seat—Raven finally calmed enough to stop screaming and thrashing about. She could hear Cherie mewling at her from a pet carrier. She couldn't understand him because of the collar around her neck, but if she had to guess, the small feline was lecturing her. or trying to calm her. take your pick. Either way, it didn't really make much difference.

Once Raven felt the car slow to a stop, she heard voices, a woman with a Hispanic accent, and a voice that was irritatingly familiar. They were arguing about which one of them got to deal with her familiar, and which one had to deal with her. By the sounds of it the woman got the cat. Once the door was open Raven looked up to see Detective Bullock—whom she dealt with once before—and a woman he referred to as Montoya.

Raven was silent and glared through her bangs as Bullock lifted her out of her seat by her arm and dragged her out of the car. She looked up at the iron wrought fence that read Arkham Asylum. Her glare intensified, she remembered a classmate once commenting that Raven would end up there (or jail) at some point. She bet they were laughing their asses off now. For a brief moment she wondered where ivy and Harley were, but then figured they had arrived before her, given that Raven was given time to converse with Zatanna before they departed. She was shoved inside, put through the Arkham inmate registry, issued a uniform (without a straightjacket) and was then hauled away to her own glass cell (ironically between Harley and Ivy).

"Welcome to Arkham freak." Bullock said as he shoved Raven into her cell. Raven nearly stumbled at the amount of force he used. Bullock then threw Cherie's pet carrier in with her. Raven let out an angered growl as she caught her familiar before he hit the ground.

"Hey fatass ever heard of animal rights?" She growled as Bullock locked the cell door. He glared back at her.

"Neither of ya got any rights anymore, loony tunes." He retorted he went to turn his back to Raven, when he suddenly heard her let out a low eerie laugh. Raven set the pet carrier down—releasing poor Cherie—and leaned on the glass wall of her cell.

"When I get out of here—and I will," She said in a low catlike hiss of a voice, "I'll be sure to kill you first."

"Good luck with that witchy." Bullock replied over his shoulder as he walked away. Raven glared, not getting the reaction she had wanted, and soon went into another angry fit. It took three large men and a sedative to calm her to the point of sleep.

And that's chapter 37 folks. I hope you enjoyed it, the next chapter(s) will be focused on Raven's time in Arkham as well as how Klarion's taking the situation—because I've not even delved into that issue here—haha! So yeah see ya later armadiloes—unless is see you first. HAHAHA! REVIEW! Review and get a virtual kiss from your favorite male(or female) character!