Disclaimer: I have no ownership of Teen Titans
Chapter 11
Sunset was approaching and Beast Boy was growing a little nervous. One usually was when they were about to find out their destiny and what's inside their heart. He'd spent the last two days, apart from doing his usual chores and duties, resting and feeling rather proud of his accomplishments so far. Of course, Aiyana was with him nearly every second of the day. She'd apologized for being short with him the day before, but when he asked why she was she told him it wasn't important. He wasn't sure he'd ever understand her.
He sat outside of King Tawaba's hut, looking at the beautiful colors in the sky. There wasn't a day that went by that he didn't feel grateful and lucky to be alive and to be living where he was.
"Garfield?" came a deep, familiar voice. He looked up and there stood the king. "I'm ready for you now."
Beast Boy stood up and headed into the hut. The air inside of it was thick with scents he couldn't describe and it made his nose itch terribly. A small fire laid in the middle of the floor, over which rested a small pot with steam dancing up into the already hot air. To his surprise there was another inside of the hut already; an old woman he recognized from the tribe. He looked at her oddly, wondering why she was there, but King Tawaba quickly explained.
"Garfield, this is Karasi," he said. "She will be performing the ceremony."
"What? I thought you said you were?" said Beast Boy.
"I know, and I'm sorry for deceiving you," said King Tawaba, taking a seat. "But when I tell boys who are going through the trials that they're going to have a ceremony performed on them by Karasi, they often refuse."
"Why?" asked Beast Boy.
"Because most people in the village are scared of me," said Karasi, her voice low yet rich. "They don't like what they don't understand."
"I don't follow," said Beast Boy, scratching his head.
"Karasi performs this ceremony because she is in constant contact with the spirits and energies that surround us," said King Tawaba. "They speak to her and help her know things that no average person could ever know. She even told me of your pending arrival a year ago."
"Cool," said Beast Boy. "So, how do we start this ceremony thing?"
"You're not afraid of me?" asked Karasi, a bit surprised.
"Afraid of you? No way!" laughed Beast Boy. "I've got a friend who can contact spirits and stuff too, and she's way scarier than you."
Karasi smiled and said, "Then, please, sit."
Beast Boy took a seat on the ground and said to King Tawaba, "Are you staying?"
"Yes, I always stay," said King Tawaba, nodding.
"Let us begin," said Karasi. "Close your eyes. Now let all of your senses open. Don't let a smell, a feel, a taste, or a sound pass you by or be ignored. Embrace everything around you until you feel you're apart of them. Meld with them and become one."
While Beast Boy did all of this Karasi picked the steaming pot off of the fire and held it close to Beast Boy's face. She took a large leaf and began to fan the steam towards him.
"Now take in a big breath," she said. He did so and inhaled the steam and all of the thick scents around him. "Let it soak into your very soul and let it lift you from your bindings here in the mortal world. Rise and allow your body to stay behind."
Beast Boy felt tingly all over and his body seemed to grow numb. He felt like he were rising and yet not moving at all. His heart raced and his head spun when he realized he was leaving his body. But an odd calming feeling soon covered him like a blanket and he released himself from all of those feelings and from his own consciousness. He was floating in the dark, but he wasn't afraid. He could still hear Karasi's voice, but it was muffled and he couldn't make out her words much. And he heard other voices as well, but they were whispers so soft they passed by him like the wind.
And then there came a light shining from above in the distance, illuminating a single area. Beneath the light stood a figure, though he couldn't make out who it was exactly. He felt his feet touch down upon a hard surface and found that he was no longer floating but standing. He began to walk towards the light and the figure. They stood cloaked in blue, there head hanging low as to not reveal their face. He felt he'd seen that cloak somewhere before. He walked closer and closer, but oddly the figure began to grow less clear, blurry even. Finally he got close enough that he knew it'd be able to hear him.
"Hey, who are you?" he asked.
The figure lifted its head and there was a face, though he couldn't make it out. He rubbed his eyes but that didn't help the figure's face to become any clearer. He decided to walk a little closer, but as he did the figure began to move away, taking the light with them.
"Wait!" he said. "I just wanna know who you are."
The figure raised pale hands up to its head and took hold of their hood. Slowly, they lowered it so it rested on their shoulders, allowing their head to be free. Beast Boy still couldn't make out the face, but saw long lilac hair. The whispers returned and moved like a strong breeze, catching the figures hair and pulling it out from beneath the cloak, where it had all been hidden. Long lilac strands whipped into the whispering wind and danced in the air.
Beast Boy stared at the figure, mesmerized. Even though they were out of focus he knew it was a girl and he could tell she was beautiful. He wished he could see her clearly so he could see just how pretty she actually was. She stood as still as he, the only movement being the dancing of her lilac locks.
Suddenly something dark came up behind her and grabbed her. Dark tendrils wrapped around her arms, legs, waist, and neck. A scream echoed into the darkness and the she was dragged away. Unsure of what to do, Beast Boy began to run after her.
"Wait! Stop! Bring her back!" he yelled as he ran.
His eyes flew open and he found himself looking up at the ceiling of the hut. Karasi and King Tawaba stood over him. He felt cold all over and his heart was racing.
"W-What happened?" he asked, feeling like he'd been hit by a truck.
"Congratulations," said King Tawaba with a large smile. "You've passed the trial."
"I did?" Beast Boy asked, confused.
"You did very well," said Karasi.
Slowly he raised himself and got back into a sitting position. His mind was spinning and he felt very dizzy. "So, what's my destiny?" he asked.
"I'm afraid that's for us to know and you to find out," said King Tawaba.
"What? I thought you were gonna tell me," said Garfield.
"I never said that," said King Tawaba with a smile. "I said I was going to find out what it was; I never said I'd tell you it."
"Oh," said Beast Boy, a bit disappointed. "Well, was it good?"
"I'm sorry, I can't tell you," said King Tawaba.
"Not even a little hint?" he pleaded.
King Tawaba laughed and said, "No, not even a hint. Now, why don't you go to bed? I'm sure you're tired."
Beast Boy did have to agree with that. He got to his feet and, though his knees were a bit wobbly and unstable, headed out of the hut.
"Hey, what's my next trial?" he asked.
"I'll tell you tomorrow," said King Tawaba.
"It's gonna be something big, isn't he?" he asked.
"To bed with you!" laughed King Tawaba.
Beast Boy turned to leave again, but halted one more time.
"So, you guys looked into my heart, right?" he said.
"Yes," said Karasi.
"Can you tell me anything about that?" he asked.
Karasi smiled and said, "You have a big heart, Garfield Logan. You feel many things and love many people. And there is another out there whose own heart rivals your own. You both have many similarities but they lay hidden beneath different shells. Together you will share a bond that will never be broken. But, creating this bond won't be easy. You both must trust your heart and fight for each other, no matter what the cost may be. If you do, the happiness you will share will last until the end of your days."
Beast Boy was quite surprised by all this, but that's not to say he wasn't happy to hear it. "Well, that's good," he said. "So, how long until I meet this person?"
"Go to bed, Garfield," said Karasi. "It will happen in time."
"Was it the person I saw while I was in that trance?" he asked.
"I can not say," said Karasi.
"Who was that?" he asked. "I don't know anyone with long purple hair like that."
"You will in time, I'm sure," said Karasi. "Now go to bed and reclaim your energy."
Beast Boy sighed and finally left the hut. He headed back to his own and within a minute of hitting his matt was deep asleep. And that night he kept dreaming he was chasing that girl with long, lilac hair.
The next day he still felt tired, but knew he couldn't spend the day sleeping. He had to find out what his next trial was going to be. He hoped his life wasn't going to be in danger. And he hoped he was close to completing all of the trials so he could finally be recognized as a man.
He found King Tawaba conversing with some elders of the tribe. Once they were finished he made himself known.
"Good morning, sir," said Beast Boy, approaching the king.
"Ah, good morning, Garfield," said King Tawaba. "How do you feel this morning?"
"To be honest, still pretty tired," Beast Boy chuckled. "I was wondering if you could tell me what my next trial was going to be."
"Are you sure you're ready for the next one?" the king asked. "I would allow you to take a few more days off to rest before giving you your next trial."
"I wouldn't get any rest cuz I'd be wondering what the next trial is the whole time," Beast Boy laughed. "So, you might as well tell me."
"Alright," said King Tawaba. "You must build yourself a home."
Beast Boy looked at King Tawaba oddly and said, "I have to build a house?"
"No, not a house," said King Tawaba. "A home. Like the homes we have."
"So, like, a hut?" he said. "Well, that shouldn't be that hard."
King Tawaba had to laugh at that. "You'd be surprised, my young friend," he said. "You'll have to build it on your own and when you're done you'll live in it for the rest of the time you're here. So you'd better make it strong and to your exact liking."
"Okay, I can do this," said Beast Boy with a sigh. "At least it won't be like making the irrigation system."
"I'm sure you'll do fine," said King Tawaba. "And you can look at all of the homes to see how they're constructed."
"I'll probably ask Raven to send me some blueprints to help me," said Beast Boy. "That's not against the rules, is it?"
"Since such a situation has never come up, I'll allow it," said King Tawaba with a smile. "And, of course, you'll have as much time as you need to complete it."
"Come on, how long can it take?" Beast Boy laughed.