Ash and soot began to taint the ground. Gold turned to orange then grey as it burned. Each moment that passed marked a thousand more graves that would never be dug. Each passing second left the floating rock known as Gül a smoldering memory of its former glory. Where golden leaves and silver bark once shone under the light of the double sun, now columns of smoke rose up from the burning corpses of the felled trees. Mixed with the taste of burning wood was the horrifying scent of flesh being boiled in the hellish cataclysm.

A deep breath drawn and exhaled slowly as if taking in the scene as something of beauty. The man stood at the peak of the golden tower, its ornate features slowly dimming with the ash that graced its surface. Screams of horror and agony echoed across the plain, the mans red eyes following each ember as it passed.

The door behind him opened and a large man stepped forward. The silver trim of his black armor shone brightly. He wore the same garb as the man before him.

"What news, brother."

The once-lone man spoke without turning to the other.

"The door is open."

4 blood red eyes narrowed with a grin appearing beneath the shadow of the black hood he wore.

"Then it has begun."

With that he turned and pushed past the other man, making his way down steps of the tower.

—

The only thing that could conceal the darkened circles beneath her eyes was the shadow of her own cloak. Hidden too were her concentrated features, her brow furrowed heavily and her eyes narrow. Metal melted into the dark barrier before her producing a quiet thud with each pellet. Each hit seemed to echo in her mind adding to the pounding headache that threatened to loose her control.

"Stay focused"

she said to herself beneath her breath as she doubled her efforts. The black barrier protruding from her palms began to grow in thickness further preventing the volley of gunfire from piercing her shield.

"How are things in the lobby?"

The man behind her spoke into the small disk in his hand.

"We got it covered but we can't get to the vault, you guys are on your own for now."

He nodded at the metal mans response before placing the communicator on his belt and turning towards the situation at hand. The two were cornered up against the back of the bank vault. They had closed the vault door to prevent the robber from escaping but when the tables turned they ended up all being locked in the small room and backed up against the wall. The scent of gunpowder stung the air while Ravens work continued to stay the onslaught.

"I can't hold this much longer Robin."

She said through gritted teeth. Her sleep-deprived state bundled with her soul projected shield taking such a beating was quickly draining what little energy she had. Still she fought to protect both herself and her leader.

"Okay, on my mark you drop the barrier, I'll make a run for. . ."

"No!"

She interrupted his thought forcefully.

"He has a gun Robin. You run at him and you'll get shot."

Robin sighed.

"Well we have to do something!"

Raven sighed with him this time. She knew they had to make a move before she was spent. If she passed out they'd both be dead.

"Alright, we'll do it your way. On my mark."

Robin mentally prepared himself not wanting to give their foe the visual cue that something was about to happen.

"3. . . . 2. . . . 1. . . . Now!"

She shouted, the barrier dropped and the bullets rained freely. The bulk of the volley was targeted at Raven, being the source of their previous protection. A few of the bullets stopped in the remaining energy that was still dissipating from the air before her but 3 others managed to make their way in, tearing through her flesh and forcing her to the floor in pain. Robin pressed forward knowing he needed to incapacitate the shooter if they were going to make it out. He charged the man with great vigor, driven forward by the fire of pain he felt emanating from his dark friend.

Raven, now on her hands and knees, kept her eyes on their attacker noticing him start to take aim on the quickly approaching boy wonder. With one hand raised she burst the lightbulb above him causing enough of a distraction for Robin to bridge the remaining distance and make contact with the robber. A blur of green, yellow, and red could be seen across the hall before the thief was on the ground unconscious and cuffed.

Raven pushed off the ground attempting to stand but once she was fully upright she stumbled backwards till her back hit the wall and she slid down it, leaving a light trail of blood against the metal surface. Robin, now unoccupied, ran to her side. Upon inspection she wasn't too gravely injured. A bullet grazed her left shoulder while another one had pierced her leg. The third bullet had managed to hit her gut, though based on the location of the bloodstain and the slowness of her bleeding, it wouldn't be fatal.

"Fuck."

She said between exasperated breaths.

"Who knew getting shot hurt so bad."

The sarcasm dripped from her tongue as she looked at Robin who returned her pained, yet sly look with a glare. He quickly produced a small bundle of bandages from his belt as he silently went to work tending to her. He cleaned the most accessible wound first and then, as he had gone to place a pad of gauze on it, he became entranced and began watching as the fibers of her muscle bridged from side to side beneath the surface of her wound. It weaved itself together as it mended the open hole and he quickly realized the bandages would be unnecessary.

"Done staring yet?"

The words shook him from his dazed state. Clearly the spectacle of her healing flesh had rendered him intensely focused oh the skin of her leg. He looked away, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry, I've just never actually seen you heal like that."

Indeed he hadn't, none of the titans had. When she healed others her hand was always firmly placed over the wound and anytime she was hurt she refused to allow anyone touch her for the most part. As Robin though about it, it was surprising she had not run away from his own attempts to heal her. Something was definitely off. As he looked over her features he seemed to notice that she was paler than usual and her eyes sagged a bit as if deprived of good rest.

A smirk played against her features as his gaze was interrupted by her standing. Her wounds had healed but she still felt shaky at first, the pain from the compounded healing still present in her leg and stomach. After a moment she steadied and looked on as the locks of the large vault door began to retract before swinging open. She pulled her hood up, which had fallen when she had, as she began to walk toward the large metal man and starry-eyed girl who stood in the doorway. Robin quickly followed suite but not before stopping to stare at the bloody mark on the wall. He was astounded by her power each time it manifested and he couldn't seem to grasp at its variety of abilities. Still he managed to shake off the train of thought as he came up to his other friends.

"Did you get the other three?"

He said looking down at the unconscious man on the ground beside him.

"Yeah, we got it taken care of. Hope trigger finger here wasn't too much of a pain."

Robin looked at Raven but couldn't see her face hidden behind her hood as she responded.

"You have no idea."

With that she walked past Cyborg and on into the lobby of the bank. Robin's eyes burned holes into the her cloak as she walked away, taking note of the slightly red color that bled through part of the blue cloak. Cyborg's eye fell on Robin with an eyebrow raised.

"You okay?"

Robin frowned. He didn't understand why he was so focused on her but it seemed like she was so much more distant and pained than usual. It was off-putting. He even failed to recognize the bright green eyes that attempted to pierce his soul and gain his attention.

"I'm fine."

Robin walked past Cyborg and his bubbly girlfriend leaving them to grab the robber as he attempted to catch up the dark girl. Starfire stood with with a look of disappointment on her face as she watched him leave.

—

The only building still to stand amongst the wreckage was an old stone chapel. The silver vines that had covered its exterior now nothing more than a soot mark on its walls. Legions of dark armored soldiers stood in their formations lining the rubbled street leading to the last remnant of the once beautiful golden city. The song they sang echoed through the new world grave.

"The first of father, the sin of pride. . ."

Three hooded figures walked down the street, their heavy cloaks billowing behind them as they made their way to the last sanctuary. Each step rang out as chain mail and plate moved in unison.

"Fulfilled her calling to scorch the skies. . ."

The chant sung by thousands shook the ground beneath them. Each step bringing the trio closer to the tall double doors and each line of the chant made the blood of their insignia glow brighter.

"The witch betrayed the fathers will. . ."

The first of the three took hold of the doors swinging them open. The light from within bled into the now dark dead world brandishing the street in bright white to contrast the dark clad men.

"Now burn she must, her blood to spill!"

The three figures evaporated into the light as they stepped forward. Only a moment passed before the doors slammed shut behind them.