Azarath
"Millenia ago, there was a great battle between darkness and light. The cosmos were being ravaged by Trigon the Terrible. He was on the verge of universal dominion were it not for three words…
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!"
"And with that incantation, the demon was sealed within the Great Door. Alas, the conqueror still had an ace up his sleeve. Before his defeat, he was able to corrupt a soul on this plane. That same soul escaped to a world beyond our reach and founded a cult to serve his dark lord. Wherever a strong enough contingent of these followers are gathered, Trigon's form can be summoned for a time. For centuries, he has attempted to sire a child who would have the power to free him from his imprisonment and allow him to have his vengeance. All of his attempts have failed. No female has been able to bear his seed and the few that are able to complete the childbirth either slay their spawn and themselves or let the child die on its own. Even so, his constant summons ensures that his essence is scattered throughout the cosmos."
"Trigon's legions have only grown over time on hundreds of worlds. Demonic hordes that bear the Mark of Skaath. Oftentimes, they are quiet, subtle, unseen. But ever vigilant. Quite like us, my children. The children of Azarath."
The goddess known as Azar finally turned to face her legions of followers. Thousands of men and women in cloaked robes stared up at her from her position atop her dais, none daring to interrupt their leader.
"Though we are a pacifistic society, I fear someday soon we may have to fight for our very existence. Trigon's influence is beginning to creep over the corners. I sense something amiss. A shift in the universal scales. A mortal woman has sired a child of Trigon. And it appears she intends to keep it."
Earth
"Shh, shh. It's okay. Don't cry. Please don't…"
The child's wails only increased, and Angela Roth sighed and shut her eyes tightly.
How the hell did I ever get here?
Gotham City, 5 years ago
"Ange? Angie? Angel? Earth to Angela?"
Angela Roth turned down her headphone volume just enough to hear her sister pounding at the door. Sighing, she rolled out of bed and opened her bedroom door.
"What is it, Alice?"
"We're running late. You were supposed to be ready for church an hour ago."
Rolling her eyes, the elder sister made to shut her door. "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
"What?! Angela…"
The slam of her sister's door cut her off.
"You know, Mom's not gonna like that…"
Ignoring her, Angela went back to her music and sat down at her desk, booting up her computer. Logging in as DarkAngel1980, she signed into her group chat of friends who told stories that hit her deeper than any sermon Pastor Jeff had ever spoken to her.
She was just reading some intriguing stuff about seances when an even louder knocking than before thundered at her door.
"ANGELA?! Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Talking to some friends."
"And would I know these friends?"
"Probably not, Mom. You'd have to venture outside church and PTA meetings."
Pushing her way inside, and storming in her direction, her mother towered over her. "Let's make one thing perfectly clear, young lady: You are 16. I am an adult. You cannot and will not speak to me that way ever again. Do you understand?"
"Yeah, sure."
"Good. Now get off that computer, march yourself to the shower and make yourself look presentable. You have 20 minutes."
Later
When she wouldn't answer her door, Alice Roth knew exactly where to find her older sister.
Climbing out of her own window, she joined her sister on the roof where she stewed, sullen.
"Angie, are you all right? You've barely said 2 words all day."
Angela sighed, never being able to stay mad at her sister for long.
"It's Mom. She always treats me like a f##cking kid. She never bothers to take the time to actually learn about what I'm into. She thinks she owns me, but she doesn't. First chance I get, I'm out of this place. There's a whole world outside Gotham."
1 year later
"Angela? Do you wanna tell me why I found a beer bottle in the trash?"
Huffing, Angela half-heartedly waved her hand. "Probably because I drank some."
Alice put her hands on her hips, not believing her sister's cavalier attitude. "Do you know what would have happened if Mom and Dad found that? You're lucky I hid it. You know they're still getting over the tattoo incident."
Shrugging, her sister only replied, "I like Poe. Sue me."
"I don't know what Randy and Maria have got you doing at Slaughter Swamp every weekend but try not to bring it back here, all right?"
Angela rolled her eyes and mockingly saluted her sister.
Sighing, Alice began picking up cigarette butts and putting them in the trash for her sister. "I'm just trying to look out for you."
"Of course you are." Angela muttered, finally sitting up from her position on the bed. "Saint Alice, always there to save the day."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Forget it. Just go. Please."
2 years later
5:00 PM
"Angela? Angie? Ange?"
The woman in question simply snuggled deeper into the comfort of her couch.
"Wake the f*ck up!"
The flick to her temple finally woke her up, causing her to sit up so fast she spilled her beer bottles and ashtrays all over the floor.
"What, Maria?" Angela asked heatedly.
"Your phone's been going off for like, 10 minutes. Answer it before I throw it out the window."
Snatching it from her proffered hand, Angela rasped, "Hello?"
"Finally. I thought you'd lost your phone. Again. Anyway, I was calling to ask if you were coming over later for dinner."
"Alice, I don't know. I've had a long week and I'm a little tired."
"You've been telling me that for 5 months. C'mon, wouldn't it be nice to have a homecooked meal for once instead of Chinese takeout?"
Glancing at her trash can full of cartons of said takeout, she shrugged. "Maybe."
"Mom and Dad would love to see you."
"I'm sure." Angela deadpanned, picking at her nails.
"Tell me you'll at least try to make it over here."
Sighing, her voice softened. "You have an annoying way of wearing my defenses down. Look, how about next week? There's something I gotta do tonight."
"Tell me you're not using a Ouija Board again."
"Not exactly. I'll talk to you later, sis."
Hanging up, she pocketed her phone and stood up to stretch. "So is this place Randy's taking us legit?"
"Should be."
"The last guy I did a tat for said this was legit. Some kinda church or something. But he said they summoned a real demon before. What was it, Try-On? Somethin' like that. Said it requires a sacrifice or whatever. But after tonight, we can check demon summoning off the bucket list."
"I don't know…" Angela hedged.
"Would you rather spend the night at your family's place, awkwardly explaining why you look and smell like hell?"
"Ha ha. Fine. Let's go."
Unknown Location, 7 PM
"So are you sure this guy was legit?" Angela questioned, tapping her foot impatiently.
"Look, just because we're standing in a clearing in the middle of nowhere doesn't mean I got played. Right?"
"Sure, Randy." Maria patted his shoulder sympathetically. "Because you're never been a total sucker in the past."
"Shut up."
A rustling in the bushes sent a shiver up Angela's spine. "Did you guys hear that?"
"Hear the sound of Randy's credibility dying a slow and painful death? It's deafening."
"I'm serious."
Sensing the worry in her tone, her friends got the message.
Randy stepped forward and silently crept towards the bushes. He pushed through a hedge and disappeared behind it.
It was dead silent for what felt like forever.
"Randy?" Maria called.
A head shot out through the bush screaming, "BOO!"
Randy couldn't contain his laughter at the girls' reaction if he tried.
"You jerk!" Angela laughed nervously.
"Sorry. But you were freaking out over nothing."
A slashing sound was heard and Randy's face went slack. He staggered out from the brush, red seeping through the bottom of his white shirt.
Before Angela or Maria could react, an army of red-hooded people were upon them, holding them down.
A sharp blow to her head had Angela seeing stars.
The last thing she saw before darkness swallowed her was Maria being dragged away shrieking for mercy.
…..
Groggily, Angela awoke, feeling stiff. She attempted to sit up but found she couldn't.
Her blurry vision finally came into focus and she craned her neck to find herself surrounded by the people who'd attacked her and her friends.
They were in the forest, the surrounding area illuminated only by torchlight. All of their faces were hidden by their hoods and the shadows.
Angela was strapped down to a makeshift altar, clad in a white robe, stripped of the clothes she had came with.
One of them stepped forward as she addressed him, trying to keep her voice from quavering. "What the hell is this?! W-where are my friends?"
A cruel smirk appeared under the hood. "See for yourself, my dear."
Turning his torch to a tree above her, she saw Randy and Maria lifeless and impaled on a trunk.
Tears formed in her eyes as she fought the urge to throw up.
"My apologies for the deception, girl, but we needed blood." The man continued, gesturing to a vat of red liquid. "Theirs did nicely. And we also needed a vessel. You fit the bill."
"Vessel for what?" She bit out.
"For the Master's ascension. You wanted to see a demon summoning? Prepare yourself."
Turning to his disciples, he began a chant in an ancient language and soon they all joined in.
As they continued, the landscape began to shift and the skies turned red. The world around her disappeared, swallowed by blackness. Images flashed through her mind. Wars, battles, torture. Screaming, wailing, and moans of pain echoed to the very depths of her soul. Finally, she screamed as it all overwhelmed her.
She didn't know how long she'd been alone, whimpering in the darkness. Suddenly, golden smoke poured in and light streamed through as if a door had been opened.
Emerging from the light was a gorgeous red-haired man who came towards her. She couldn't even find it in herself to be disturbed by the fact that he had no clothes on.
Everything from there was a blur. She didn't know the man's name. She didn't know where they were. But he had a voice like honey. He was sweet to her and he had rescued her from oblivion. Nothing else mattered.
So naturally, when he asked her to be his bride, she said yes. They didn't need a ceremony. All they needed was each other. Their wedding night was everything she imagined it would be. She snuggled into his embrace and drifted off, feeling safe for the first time in a long time.
The morning after, she awoke. Or at least she thought she was awake. The world was formless and pitch-black just as it had been when she had first arrived. But this time, she sensed she wasn't alone. There was something in the dark with her.
"Hello?" She called out.
Four eyes blazing with hellfire illuminated the darkness. Without warning, an inferno burst to life around her and out of the shadows a hideous monster emerged. It was gargantuan, clad in a loincloth bearing the visage of a dragon-like creature. A cape billowed behind it, white, the same color as its gleaming gauntlets.
Angela was frozen in horror. Taking notice of her, the monster grinned down at her with a revolting smile. It began to laugh, a booming sound that made the ground quake and tremor.
Shrieking in terror, Angela felt her world go sideways.
When everything came back into focus, she was back on the altar, unbound. She still had on her robe. The only thing different was that she was alone. If not for the robe and altar, she could write off the whole experience as a dream. Looking above her, even Randy and Maria's bodies were gone.
She didn't remember when she started running. Before she knew it, she made it to Randy's car which was still intact. Her clothes and the keys were on the hood. She didn't bother to question how.
In a haze, she made it back to the apartment. After a valiant effort, she couldn't hold it together any longer. She collapsed, back to the door as she cried, for too many reasons. For Randy and Maria. For the fear of losing her mind. To mourn a relationship that never truly happened. For being violated in every manner possible.
Try as she might, she couldn't get to sleep. After screaming into her pillow and throwing it across the room, Angela went hunting for some relief. No pills in the cupboard. She was out of smokes. And no alcohol in the fridge.
"Damn it!" She cursed, furiously scrubbing at her eyes.
Agonizing, she finally came to a decision.
…
Roth Household
"…And deliver us from evil. Amen."
KNOCK! KNOCK!
"I'll get it!"
Angela couldn't help but smile to herself, hearing the voice from inside.
At last, the door opened and Alice Roth could do nothing but gape in shocked delight. "Angie! You made it! I thought you wanted to postpone dinner until next week."
Sniffling and taking a breath, Angela spoke quietly, "Yeah, well…I missed my family." Looking over her sister's shoulder, she continued, "All of you."
Her mother gave her a rueful smile. "There's always room for one more."
"You know you're always welcome here, honey. We're sorry we made you feel you weren't." Her father assured, wrapping an arm around her and bringing her inside.
Although still shaken, Angela dared to hope that maybe she could get past all this and forget the whole thing ever happened.
1 year later
10 minutes ago
"Great. Really f*cking great."
Angela Roth was currently making her way through the crowded Gotham streets in a torrential downpour with her shrieking 'bundle of joy' in tow.
Unlike she had naively thought, her dinner with her family after the Incident was not a turning point. As soon as they had found out she was pregnant, she was the black sheep all over again. Having sex out of wedlock was bad enough, but once they heard it was a one-night stand it was like she was 16 all over again. When asked about the father's identity, all she could really say was that he was out of the picture and she had no way of finding him. She didn't even know his…its name.
None of these were really lies but her family still got the sense she was hiding something from them. But it wasn't like she could tell her Bible-thumping parents that she was impregnated at a demon summoning. Much less by the actual demon.
Everything had happened so fast and so strangely that she couldn't even explain it to herself. Despite feeling as if she'd had a lifetime with that monster, almost no time had passed in the real world.
She had been all but ready to call it a wild fever dream when she discovered she was pregnant. Her parents would kill her if she got an abortion. She tried drinking and smoking more heavily than before. She'd even thrown herself off a pair of steps. No matter what she did, she couldn't get rid of this baby. Some nights, she could've sworn she saw the demon's four eyes flickering on her stomach.
Without Randy and Maria helping her pay for rent, Angela had needed to leave school and get a full-time job. She barely scraped by just to afford a ratty apartment. Adding a baby to that only made the struggle harder. So she couldn't say it was too big of a surprise when she found an eviction notice on her door. During her maternity leave that she couldn't really afford to take, she'd been told that she was fired due to never reporting the police investigation that had ensued when Randy and Maria had mysteriously went missing.
For months, she had been too proud too and hurt by her family to get their help. She hadn't seen them since the birth of her child. Alice, who normally would check on her, had grown busy with a promising life of her own. Naturally, when Angela finally grew the nerve to call her, her phone service was cut off. So, she had to take herself and her screeching child someplace warm for the night. Humiliating as it was, The Park Row homeless shelter would have to do. She knew she had hit a new low when she looked up its location months ago, suspecting she'd end up here one day.
Finally getting to her intended location, she pounded on the door, shivering and certain she looked like a wet rat.
An older woman answered the door, looking morose. "I'm sorry, honey. We're filled past capacity tonight."
"Please, if I could just sit for a minute…I…I'm so tired." She confessed.
Reaching behind her, the woman pulled out an umbrella. "For now, this is all I can give you. I'm truly sorry. Maybe if you come back in the morning…"
"Forget it!" Angela shrieked, running down the stoop.
Ducking into an alleyway, Angela finally sat down, soaked and chilled to the bone, glaring at her child who still wouldn't shut up.
Much as it would have hurt her pride, Angela wished she was home right now with her parents. She was beginning to regret leaving in the first place. Reaching down her shirt, she pulled out her last memento from home. Her mind drifted back to that night, the last time she saw Alice…
"I have a present for you."
"Oh yeah?" Opening the box, she smiled. "You know me so well."
"Well, I know how much you love Poe. Figured it was apropos."
Her reverie was cut off by another wail from her baby.
Gritting her teeth, Angela held her grey-skinned, purple-haired demon spawn away from her as if she were a disease.
She couldn't help but see this…thing as a reminder of all her problems. She wished she hadn't been so stupid. She was 21, nowhere near ready to have a child. She couldn't help but think her life would be so much easier without the little complication in her hands.
Eyeing a dumpster to her right, she opened the hatch and held her daughter over it for a few tantalizing seconds, trembling.
Her mistake was looking the infant in the face. Her innocent, confused expression melted her. She pulled her to her chest and sat down again, whispering, "I'm sorry."
Oh, God, somebody help me.
Suddenly, as if an answer to her silent prayer, a flash of white light illuminated the darkness.
"Angela Roth."
Squinting, she saw three human forms step out. Any features she could've made out were obscured by the all-encompassing cloaks they wore.
"W-who are you?"
As the light died down, the figures pulled back their hoods, revealing that they were indeed human. A woman with auburn hair and round green eyes stepped forward first. The man to her left had a gray beard and mustache to go with a receding hairline. The man on the right was blonde and a lot younger.
"I am Galya." The woman introduced herself, approaching as if she were trying not to scare off a wild animal. "This is Juris and Tynan. We are children of Azarath."
"And Azarath is?" Angela quirked an eyebrow.
"A magical place."
"Sure it is."
"I say it quite literally. It is a peaceful realm sustained by the power of our mistress Azar."
"O-kay. I'll take your word for it."
"You do not have to take our word for it. We can show you." The one known as Juris spoke up.
"The world? Shining, shimmering, splendid?"
He frowned. "I…suppose so, yes."
"Never mind. I appreciate the offer, but I think we're fine." She said, scooping up her finally calm daughter.
She turned to walk away and forget this conversation ever happened when the other male spoke: "You want to know your child's true nature, don't you?"
She paused and turned back. "I'm guessing you have all the answers, right?" She asked skeptically.
"I don't. But Azar does. Only she holds the answers you seek."
"Tynan speaks the truth. We are here because she has requested an audience with you." Galya informed her.
"And what does Azar the Great and Powerful want from me?"
"To aid and educate you in the raising of your child."
"And what does she know about my daughter that I don't?!" Angela asked, indignantly.
"More than you know." Juris answered cryptically.
"Y'know, as fun as all this sounds, I have a life to get back to."
"And what life is that? Homeless, friendless, purposeless? What other options do you have, Angela?"
As much as she hated to admit it, he had a point.
"This 'Azar' chick better live up to the hype."
"Is that a yes?"
"Take it or leave it." Stepping closer, she ventured, "So how does this work? Do you click your heels three times or do you have a magic wand…?"
"Not exactly. Brace yourself." The three joined hands, murmuring a chant under their breath. Abruptly, in unison, they exclaimed, "AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"
Angela hardly had time to blink before she was whisked away into…(Even the Disney lover in her hated to say it)…a whole new world.
They were at the gate of a great city littered with aqueducts and walkways. There were tall spires and a cathedral in the center. People in robes were milling about all over. Turning behind her, Angela gasped. There was nothing there but an endless void to nowhere. The city was anchored on a floating rock in the middle of literally nothing. There were people praying and meditating on every street corner.
"Welcome to Azarath." Tynan announced.
As they entered, a crowd began to form, spouting rapid-fire questions and furtive glances their direction.
Angela couldn't figure out what the big deal was about her arrival although it looked like the throng weren't as concerned with her as they were with her baby.
Before she could ask why, a new voice boomed in, overpowering all others.
"Ms. Roth. I'm glad you could join us."
Angela wheeled behind her to face a 9-foot-tall female pulsating with energy. Her hair was dark and her features sharp. It looked as if nothing escaped this woman's notice. She was dressed similarly to the others but her face was emanating with golden light underneath as if she were holding back from showing her true form.
Sensing that their guest was speechless, the goddess took the plunge. "I am Azar, leader of the monks of Azarath."
"I…" Noting how her voice squeaked, Angela cleared her throat and started again, "…I heard you wanted to talk to me."
"Indeed. We have much to discuss. Come. Sit." She commanded, gesturing to the edge of a nearby fountain.
Although following orders had never been her strong suit, Angela knew it was best to do whatever this…woman…told her.
"Galya, Tynan, prepare and some dinner for our guest and. I'm sure Angela is famished. The rest of you, leave us."
Once they were alone, Angela finally asked the big question: "So, not to be rude, but why the hell did you bring me here?"
"Because of what you hold in your arms."
"What are you talking about? What's wrong with my daughter?"
"I think you know as well as I do."
A look into the being's face told Angela that she knew. "So you…? You know what that…" She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "…that thing was?"
"Who and what it was. He was the demon Lord Trigon the Terrible."
Angela wanted to laugh but was afraid it would turn into a scream. "You're saying a…a demon lord raped and impregnated me? I literally birthed a demon spawn?"
"I'm afraid so." Azar answered, eyeing her baby with a mixture of pity and mistrust.
"So what does this mean? Is she going to grow horns and fangs? Or have four eyes?"
"Hardly. The child has inherent mystical ability, though. The ritual you underwent to become Trigon's bride imbued you with some of your own. But due to her parentage, your daughter's is much more powerful than your own."
"So you're saying I'm a wizard?"
"Sorcerer is a better term. I am saying you have the potential as do all of my children who study under my tutelage."
"So this whole 'bride' thing? Is there a way to annul that?"
"I'm afraid not. Trigon has attempted to have a female bear his child for centuries. Some miscarry, by happenstance or on purpose. For others, the physical and mental strain is too much. Still more end their lives rather than endure such horror. Still others let the child die or do the deed themselves. You are the first in many centuries to birth a child of Trigon, let alone decide to keep it."
"What's the worst that could happen? You said she won't turn into a monster, right?"
"That remains to be seen." She uttered cryptically. "There is a prophecy, Angela. Trigon will do all he can to ensure it comes true."
"Is he coming here?"
"He couldn't even if he wanted to. He is sealed away in an alternate plane of existence. A hellish domain that he has made his kingdom. Millenia ago, my children and I sealed him within the Great Door. We lost many of our number that day but the cost was worth it. Trigon's power rivals my own. I fear should he gain more followers, he would surpass me."
"And this Great Door is super far away, right?"
"Not at all." Gesturing to the void in the distance, she informed her, "It's right there."
"WHAT?!"
"I believe the Earth expression is 'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer'."
"Does he know we're here?"
"If he doesn't, he shall soon."
"And then what?"
"The prophecy begins."
"And what is this prophecy?"
"In short: Trigon's child will free him from his prison and enable him to enslave and decimate the cosmos."
"But why?"
"Trigon has a talent for corrupting souls. Such as your friends, The Church of Blood."
Realization dawned on her. "I never thought it was actually real." She said quietly.
"Until it was too late. Trigon's Church on Earth is his greatest stronghold. For countless eons, Brother Blood and his family have served him. It is where they draw their power from."
Digesting that information, Angela questioned, "So what do you want me to do?"
"It's too late to slay the child. Now that she is a few months old, Trigon has become aware of her. Even from his imprisonment, his influence has sway. He will do all he can to preserve her until she is of age to free him and rule by his side."
"Let me guess: 16?"
"18."
"At 18, I was playing beer pong and making fake IDs. That's too young to be destroying the world." Shaking her head, she marveled, "God, I sound like my mother."
"I requested your presence here to inform you of the situation. Once it became apparent you were keeping the girl, I saw fit to intervene. I am asking you to place her under our care."
"You want me to abandon her?"
"I want to teach her our ways. To guide her in meditation, peace, and tranquility. Trigon thrives on the raw emotions of the weak-willed. We need to safeguard this child as early as possible. She will become one of us. We can train her to use her abilities in order to repel Trigon when the time comes. She has the potential to be our greatest threat or our greatest asset. I'd prefer it to be the latter."
Clutching her baby closer, Angela swore, "I'm not giving her up."
"Angela, you were on the verge of killing her and yourself less than 10 minutes ago. You are broken down and helpless. You are not in the right frame of mind to raise and protect this child."
"Then teach me!" She blurted out. "Look, I've got nothing to return to on Earth. This kid right here is all I've got. I don't care if she's half-demon or a destroyer of worlds, or whatever. She's my girl and I won't leave her." Kneeling down on a knee, she petitioned, "I would be honored if you would make me one of your acolytes, Azar. Please allow me to stay here and raise my child."
"Very well. From this day forth, you are no longer Angela Roth. I shall call you Arella. Tell me: what is your child's name?"
The newly christened Arella smiled and fingered the pendant around her throat.
"Raven."
13 years later
"Ah, Raven. What kept you?"
The young woman Azar addressed entered in her typical attire. A blue cloak with a black leotard with a clasp and belt of red gems.
"I apologize, Mistress. I was caught up in a good book." With a cold, formal nod, she acknowledged the other presence in the room. "Mother."
"Raven." Arella awkwardly returned. She hated the distance that had been put between them but knew it was for the best.
Ever since she had become a monk of Azarath, she'd been keeping an eye on Raven but never really gotten the chance to know her. Azar and others did the job of teaching Raven right and wrong, good and evil.
From the day she could talk, her destiny had been a Sword of Damocles hanging over her head. By now, she was well aware of the prophecy and her role in it.
While she was eternally grateful to Azar and her people for saving her and Raven, she was worried that Raven had and knew nothing else. She was the only child in Azarath and all her days were consumed by meditation and mitigating her emotions. She spent more time with Azar and their spiritual leaders than she did her own mother. It had been years since Raven had needed to be bathed, fed, and clothed. Of course, wearing the same robes every day helped in that last regard.
Due to a mixture of her own guilt and journey for inner peace, she and Raven had never been particularly close. They certainly weren't enemies. Far from it. Her daughter was the most respectful and well-behaved child she could have asked her. Quite unlike her in her own youth. But there wasn't any real warmth in their relationship. They simply did their daily routines and skirted around each other as much as possible. Neither knew how to break the ice and neither particularly cared to. They had their own paths to follow.
Still, she couldn't say it didn't hurt a little that the 9-foot-tall deity to her right was more of a mother to her own child than she had ever been.
"You have been summoned today, child, because your mother and I have begun to notice some disconcerting tendencies you've begun to pick up. You've exhibited resentment, envy, unrest. You're becoming imbalanced, Raven."
"I don't understand."
"Stealing extra dinner portions, missing morning meditation, asking questions about romance and other such things that don't concern you. Arella tells me she knows the reason."
"Raven…you're going through puberty." Arella told her gently.
"What?"
"You're 13, it's perfectly normal. Being a teenager means you're supposed to be moody, self-centered, have boy troubles, eat like a pig, and lock yourself in a room. It's perfectly normal." Her mother assured her.
"The problem is that you are not normal." Azar cut in. "And you cannot afford to be. You're well aware of what you are and the role you must play."
"Yes, Mistress."
"I will admit it to be a failing on my part that while we have taught you the difference between good and evil and how to control your emotions, it has never truly been your choice. You have not had your virtues and morals put into practice much less tested in the world outside Azarath. Trigon would love nothing more than to use this vulnerable period of your life as the perfect time to influence you. Only light can combat the darkness which fights for your soul. Thus, your mother has devised a solution."
Raven looked expectantly, curious as to what her mother had in mind.
Clearing her throat, Arella took the plunge. "Raven, I think that you should go home."
"I am home. Aren't I?" She questioned, quirking an eyebrow.
"I mean…back to our home world. Back to Earth. I want you to live with your Aunt Alice. She's the best person I've ever known. If you're looking for a source of light to help you with right and wrong, she's the right woman for the job."
"And where do I find her?" Raven hesitantly asked.
"We had an idea about that." Fishing something out of her cloak, Arella pressed it into her daughter's hand. "This pendant is what you were named for. Alice gave it to me the last time I ever saw her."
Raven opened her hand and gave it a scrutinizing glance. It wasn't anything particularly special, just a silver raven encased in a circle hanging off a chain.
"Using your abilities, you should be able to sense and track down her location." Azar explained. "The original owner's essence should still be tied to it. Although limited, my vision has shown me that she resides in a place known as Jump City, California. Your mother confirmed as much. I can transport you into the vicinity but I cannot divine Alice's precise location. Using the pendant, you will have to find her yourself."
Processing the information, Raven inquired, "Is Mother coming with me?"
"No." Azar quickly responded. "Due to the nature of her absence, Arella's sudden return would only cause unnecessary strife for you and your family. It would not be conducive to the peace you seek. You are being sent to Earth which will serve as a proving ground for what we've taught you. We must see how you fare without our guidance. Your mother's presence would hinder more than help."
"To be honest, I'm not sure I even want to go back. There's a lot of baggage there. At the best of times, my relationship with my family was strained. But I don't want that for you." Thinking for a moment, she mused, "It's funny. I feel like I'm sending you away to school or summer camp."
"Which is?"
"Never mind. The point is, you can do this, Raven. And you can trust Alice. I'm sure she'll take care of you. Just tell her that you're Angela's daughter. When she sees the pendant, she'll know I sent you. Do you have any questions?"
Swallowing down her trepidation, she asked, "When do I leave?"
"After morning meditation tomorrow." Azar stated. "I trust you will not be late?"
"No, Mistress."
"Good. Sleep well, child." Standing, she nodded to her other acolyte. "Arella."
"Mistress." She nodded in return.
With Azar's exit, Arella and Raven were awkwardly left alone.
"Raven, I…no matter what happens, I just want you to be happy."
Hesitating for a moment, Raven answered. "I've always been content here, Mother."
"That's not the same as being happy."
"Happy's apparently dangerous for me." Raven answered, trying to keep the bitterness and frustration out of her voice.
"You have at least 5 more years to find that out for a teenager isn't easy. I remember what it was like for me. Obviously, I didn't turn out the best but my parents did what they could. They weren't perfect people. But I was hardheaded and stubborn. If I'd listened to them more then…"
"Then maybe I wouldn't have been born and you wouldn't have been stuck here."
"That's not what I'm trying to say, Raven."
"I'm tired, Arella. I'll see you in the morning."
With that, Raven stood and walked out of the room.
"I guess the apple doesn't fall from the tree." Arella sighed.
The next morning
Raven stood on the edge of Azarath, staring into the abyss, steeling herself for the task she had been given.
"Are you ready, child?" Azar cut through her thoughts.
"As I'll ever be."
"Unless it is an emergency, you are not to return here. Should such an emergency arise, reach out to me and I will retrieve you. On each birthday, I will reach out to you and you will inform me of your progress. When your 18th birthday draws near, I want you here to prepare for the upcoming battle. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"The future of the cosmos rests in your hands, Raven. Do not fail us."
Azar then stretched out her arm, creating a portal to Earth.
Raven took a breath and turned to step through before a voice stopped her.
"Wait." Arella stepped forward, fighting to keep her emotions back. "I know we won't see each other for a while. You're going to have an amazing life with Alice. Trust me. I just want you to know I'm proud of you and…I love you."
Before she could change her mind, she lunged forward and wrapped her arms around her daughter.
Momentarily in shock, Raven couldn't remember the last time her mother hugged her. Awkwardly, she raised her arms and stiffly returned the embrace.
"Goodbye."
With that farewell, the woman released her daughter and stepped away.
Giving her mother a grateful look that said more than she could convey with words, Raven took a deep breath, turned and walked through the portal.
Author's Note
Happy Halloween, everybody! I hope this was suitably dark and creepy for the occasion. This is Part 1 of a 5-part Prologue.
To kick this off, I have to give big credit to Hanna Sedai for her stories Dust and Northern Star, especially the latter which sparked my idea about writing a Teen Titans FanFiction in the first place.
Another major shoutout has to go to Nomad88 whose Spider-Man and Batman Beyond stories i highly recommend. His stories were my first exposure to well-written action and long-form plot on this site.
Also, mad kudos to the original cast and crew of the 2003 Teen Titans for giving us one of the best cartoons ever.
I have to give major props to Marv Wolfman and George Perez for their incredible work on the 1980s Teen Titans comics that inspired the show and made the Titans awesome. Their story about how they got the job is amazing and they clearly made the most of it.
Finally, shoutout to Geoff Johns for making the Titans cool again with his 2003 revival of the comic book. I love almost anything Geoff writes but his Teen Titans run was especially awesome and captured me from the second I started reading it.
And a THOUSAND thank yous to my first reviewer for letting me know that this came out as 'code soup' so I could revise it and make it readable.
I've been working on this story for over 2 years now and along with rewatching the show we all love so much, I've been able to read the original New Teen Titans series on Hoopla, a website with hundreds of free comics that I recommend.
Last but certainly not least, I have to give the credit and glory to my Lord Jesus Christ for inspiring me and giving me the courage to write and publish this story. Every good gift comes from him.
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."-Colossians 3:17
Anywho, this is the story I made a Fanfiction account to write so I hope you all like it and bear with me. It's my first big story, so be gentle. Hope you guys like it.