Disclaimer: Don't own the show. I didn't last chapter either. Hmm… disclaimers are troublesome.

Chapter 2: Recognition

As the two Titans headed down the hallway a thought occurred to Best Boy (a rare occurrence indeed).

"So… Robin and Starfire huh?" he said nervously "What about you?"

"What about me?" she asked eyebrow cocked in interest before tripping on her gown and muttering curses under her breath.

"Any romances in your life?"

"No." Then came the silence. That horrible awkward silence that makes you want to curl up and die. Finally Raven could no longer take the oppressive silence.

"What about you?"

"Nothing to report… but I must admit I have become quite the heartthrob around here." He stated with a pride filled grin.

"Heartthrob? You? Only in your mind Beast Boy."

"No really!" he insisted as they turned the corner "For your infor…" They practically barreled into a group of giggling women. One of them jumped to the front of the group. She had paper white gown, hair and skin which seemed to glow faintly. Her gown had a slight periwinkle tint and her eyes glittered in hypnotic silver. All in all she was beautiful in a strange unearthly sort of way. That is she was mesmerizing until she spoke revealing her high whiney excuse for a voice.

"Hi Atherton, sweetie! Where've you been?" she said sweetly twirling a lock of pearly hair. Raven once again raised an eyebrow as Beast Boy gave you an 'I told you so' look.

"Atherton?" asked Raven a triumphant smile creeping onto her face; an embarrassed look finding it's way to Beast Boys.

"Um, it's sorta my name." he said scratching the back of his head. Raven simply stared at him.

"Well of course it's his name! What else would you call him?" inquired the girl giggling obnoxiously.

"Well for the first sixteen years of his life he was known as Beast Boy." Raven turned to him "And whatever happened to Garfield Logan?" A chorus of giggles escaped the gaggle of girls.

"Look I'll explain later," he muttered before raising his voice back to conversing level "Raven meet Luna; Luna, Raven." Immediately Luna stiffened and began to evaluate Raven from top to bottom as if she were the enemy.

"This is Raven? Hmm, Atherton the way you praised her I was expecting her to be more, well… just more really." She shrugged and began to examine her nails. Beast Boy feared where this was headed.

"Oh look at the time!" he laughed pretending to examine a watch "Let's go Rae!"

"So nice to meet you." lied Luna with an obviously false smile as Beast Boy scurried down the corridor dragging Raven behind him. Beast Boy waited till Luna was out of ear shot before letting out a sigh and a laugh simultaneously as he turned to Raven.

"Thank you!"

"For what." she asked, emotions now fully suppressed.

"For not blowing her head into itty bitty bits!" he laughed. Out of the corner of his eye he could have sworn he saw a hint of a smile. "Luna's a bitch I know. I give you my full and complete permission but only after we're on our way out of here. Oh, and I have to be there to see it."

"What did she mean by 'the way you praised me'?"

"I uh, talk about the Titans a lot." He knew that didn't exactly answer her question but the real answer was much too embarrassing.

Finally they reached the council chamber. The huge oak doors swung open yet Raven could not tell who or what had opened them. The room, unlike most of this place Raven had seen so far, had no windows lining the large circular room but instead the walls were carved to illustrate the histories and great battles of the Naturlings. The immense dome ceiling was made entirely out of glass; so that the late morning light streamed in through to warm the room. Raven noticed that the room was designed so that the first thing that the light illuminated was a raised golden throne causing it to shine. On the left was a table at which sat half a dozen men and women. To the right was a table with about three occupants.

Before they had entered Beast Boy had explained that the six people to the left were the council members. They held all the true power in the kingdom and that Beast Boy was more of a figure head. The other table had people who wished to have their opinions heard, bring a topic to the council, or just listen to government decisions and policies.

Raven focused her attention on making a good impression. After all these were the people who would ultimately decide if Beast boy would rejoin the Titans. She held her head high and walked carefully making sure not to trip on her dress. She sat down gracefully in the Naturling fashion, which Flora had taught her, at the guest table. Once she looked up she gasped. Somehow Beast Boy had changed in the moments between the hall and the room. He now wore an intricately pattered waistcoat of a deep purple. His unruly hair was still as unruly as before but now had a sleek look to it. He was sitting perfectly erect upon the throne a crown resting upon his head. Beast Boy wasn't just a leader he was a king.

In that moment she realized how much he had changed. It surprised and saddened her. He had grown up without her and she knew nothing about this new Beast Boy. No, not Beast Boy; he was Atherton now. But could she ever see him as Atherton? It was hard but it seemed to her the Beast Boy she once knew, though alive, was gone. She gazed sadly at the powerful leader on the throne and realized that the goofy kid she once knew had finally earned the title of Beast Man. He looked over and gave her his trademark grin; she returned this with a small smile of her own. So he still was the Titan that Raven had been friends with all those years ago. He was still the same silly changeling. He was still the guy who tried to make her laugh and open up. He was still Beast Boy and he always would be.

Raven waited patiently as the council discussed a variety of topics. Finally, when all other matters had been resolved it was her turn. She was about to rise but Best Boy beat her to it.

"Greetings council, greetings friends." He said eyes roving the room resting on Raven just a moment longer than the others. "I come before you today to ask something that I never thought I would," he paused for dramatic effect, the council looked on with interest "I wish to leave the Naturlings." Gasps of shock filled the room at these words. "I know it is against the rules. I am well aware that it is forbidden to leave with memory of this place, but you know me. You trust me enough to give me the honor of leading our fine nation. You see though I truly do love it here my heart lies elsewhere." he said gazing at Raven eyes full of compassion. "You are my family and this is my home yet I feel the same way about the Titans and Jump City. If you bid me farewell I swear to you that I will return, not as your leader but as your guest. I shall not abandon you completely."

"Are you mad?" shouted an elderly manta the councils table "You are a king! This is your life and you'd toss it aside as if it were rubbish!" Beast Boys face held no expression what so ever. In its stead was a cold indifference that chilled the man to the bone. He quickly dropped into his chair shrinking under Beast Boys fierce glare.

'Well that's new.' thought an impressed Raven. His demeanor softened considerably.

"Are there any questions?" he asked calmly.

"Why now?" inquired a woman with turquoise hair. Beast Boy signaled to Raven; she crossed the room to his side.

"Members of the council, I am honored to present a friend and a Titan, Raven." From the council a middle aged man stood face pale and contorted with fear. Slowly he raised a trembling finger pointing it at Raven.

"She is a creature of darkness from the land of Azerath… the prophesized one!" Some of the council members gasped at this accusation; others looked around as if searching for the answer that would resolve their confusion. The woman with the turquoise hair was once again the only one able to form a coherent sentence.

"Is…is this true?"

"No." he replied "She is a woman of light and beauty. True she is of Azerath and her father is Trigon." More gasps at this. "But they have battled many times. We battled him yet it was always Raven who used her spirit of light to vanquish that of darkness."

"She looks pretty dark to me." Grumbled the same elderly man that had spoken before; apparently unable to learn from his mistakes. At this point beast boy was starting to lose his cool.

"With her power combined with her past it is impossible to stay light constantly. She was born into darkness but hates it, fights it! I swear to you she is good!" he growled letting a bit of his animalistic nature show through.

"Give us proof!" shouted a young man with impossibly orange hair "Show us these so called powers of the light!"

"They are only triggered when needed most!"

"We will not allow you to be swept away by a creature of the night!" Shouts of approval rang through the council. Suddenly Beast Boy heard something next to him. It was faint almost inaudible. He looked next to him to see Raven, head bent looking at her feet. He had never seen her this… vulnerable.

"Hmm?" he asked to busy staring at the girl beside him to use actual words. Underneath the veil of hair her mouth began to form quiet words.

"No. No. They can't keep you any longer. I won't lose you again. I won't go back to wondering whether or not your alive or…" She looked up. Her eyes seemed to tell Beast boy everything and nothing at the same time. They overflowed with despair. A small amount of misery trickled down her cheek. "My powers are needed now. I won't leave without you."

Slowly she rose in the air until she was a good foot off the ground. Without warning she threw her head back as if she were singing to the heavens yet no sound escaped her lips. Instead she began to glow. Dimly at first but soon the celestial glow became too intense for all in the room and they were forced to avert their eyes. Then it was gone.

Raven floated there as she had before however she was no longer Raven, her short pin straight hair descended in loose ringlets to her waist, swirling around in a nonexistent wind. A beautiful gown of pearly white clung to her figure but gave way at the elbows and knees. Unfurling like huge calla lilies. The dress danced in the same wind that was not there; fabric playing around her legs reveling a pair of dainty bare feet. She wore no jewelry to accent the simple dress nevertheless she had an inhuman elegance. A kind of angelic grace.

She slowly met the eyes of everyone in the room, evaluating their reactions. When she looked at Beast Boy she could see shock evident on his face; feel it in her mind. It was his turn to be surprised by the change. She smiled. Beast Boy was stunned for as he starred into her eyes he saw the wisdom and knowledge of the centuries. As if she was all knowing. Beast Boy may have become a king but Raven… she was a goddess. Raven noticed the look on the man who had criticized her so and laughed; her voice flitting over notes like a butterfly in the wind.

"I believe that you recognize me now?"

"Inarel Arneosla!" he gasped 'I... I am so sorry! I did not realize. My humblest apologies. You may leave the city whenever you please!" with shock he realized how rude that sounded "Or you can stay, whatever you wish!"

"And what of my friend the one you call king?"

"Oh he may go! No memory wipe! Whatever you wish!"

Once again Raven began to glow. Brighter and brighter until at last the intensity was unbearable and Beast Boy was forced to look away, a hand over his eyes. When he opened them he was back in his room. He looked around; there was Raven once again in black.

A/N: more to come soon and you're questions will be answered. I just have to find the rough draft first… not sure where I put it. He he…