This Year's Love
Chapter 7: Black
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Special thanks to…..
dreams-walker: thanks its good to b back. R u a fan of the other fic?
CalliopeMused: sorry for the evil cliffy, and I guess ur right…no more review limit thingies….lol thanks!
the Desert Fox: thanks for the review!
dragoon-bane: Yes, the library is, because raven is different from other demons, not only by her human soul, but also how she was brought up. The library has all her memories which makes her who she is…it gets kind of complicated but explained better in the fic. So to answer your question simply: yes. Lol
The Last: ARGH! Yes they are so annoying. Sorry about the mistakes, I have trouble with the word muscle…I don't really know why. Thanks for the much appreciated review!
StormofTears: not as much fluff and luff lol, but I hope u like this chapter anyways.
TDG3RD: I am glad you along with many of the other reviewers liked the Christmas scene. HINT: remember it, it's an important memory; one that will come up again…I guarantee it.
ravenwithemotion: here you go…as fast as I could! Enjoy and thanks!
vinnie the geek: thank you so much for ur kind review. I am so glad u liked it. I hope I do not disspoint.
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Disclaimer: Never have I thought or led/will lead anyone to believe that I own any characters of DC comics and Teen Titans…
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Fernnu
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Black
Frantically running, Timid tripped again as she made her way to the still far off library. Away from the dangers of demons and gore; and away from Beastboy. This made her pause, stopping. She couldn't leave him, not after everything, all he'd done.
He would die without help
But she could barely use her powers. Her control had been severely loosened through her injuries. What could she do? Turning back, facing the onslaught that charged Beastboy, she gasped.
Horrified.
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Tear, rip, dodge, transform, scurry away, run, flap, transform, flip, land, dodge, bite, rip, transform, canter, charge, retreat, jump, repeat, transform, grab, bite, transform, jump, dodge, dodge, dodge……
Beastboy glided through the hordes of hounds with dangerous finality. Changing forms whenever the fighting became too thick, he had gone through many hounds already, guessing perhaps more than fifteen. All were a blur. Through the mess of attacks though, he had yet to come face to face with one of the demonic warriors. He knew that when he did, the situation would really be trouble. The puffs of red smoke erupting around him, he dared not hesitate as the somber thoughts filled his mind. When he did meet the mysterious and dangerous looking warriors….
Then this really would be hell.
Barely missing and performing a leap as a frog, over one hound, he narrowly dodged two separate yellow beams of energy. Flinging himself, never looking back, he transformed into a Tyrannosaurus Rex, once more, and bit down. Hard jaws of steel gripping down; one demonic hound puffed into smoke in his jaws. Puffs of Smokey haze filled the air all around him.
He learned to ignore the foul taste.
Making his way through was fast paced, but lacking in success. True, he was able to dispatch and land blows to some hounds, but he had many more to get through; each one more cunning and devious than the last. Many times, the same attacks failed to work twice, and did not completely get rid of them. And, to further the luck against him: his attacks were limited with the number and nature of such creatures….
Jump, jump, dodge, transform, flap, flap, transform, land, dodge, run, left, right, back…
Suddenly a break formed in the lines of hounds, and Beastboy took his chance. Transforming once again, he morphed tiredly into a sparrow and flew through. Landing in the center, he transformed back, panting.
"Not good…" he muttered to himself as his situation became clear.
It was a trap.
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Standing in the center of a circle of hounds, Beastboy let out breaths in ragged sighs as the enemy force stood waiting. Panting heavily he eyed the still smug and blood lusting warriors floating above, as the rest of the hounds stepped through the smoked remains of their kin.
His heart sank.
He quickly counted fifteen hounds, circling him, growling. He had thought he had been able to do more damage against them. Perhaps, had he slept longer and been able to actually rest. Had he not been hiking through Raven's mind for the better part of an hour and a half on hard terrain. Had he not lost so much energy from the transformations…he would have been able to do more. As it were…well such thoughts were useless at the moment. He tried to focus; his determination wavered.
There was no way he could defeat all fifteen hounds at his current strength and transformation level. Nor with the pounding ache that coursed through him and the state of his fatigued body. And even if he could commit such a feat, there were thirteen still very mysterious, undoubtedly much stronger and dangerous warriors waiting.
'My odds basically suck…" he thought to himself darkly.
What was worse was they knew it. They were toying with him, giving him a moment's rest, just before finishing him off. He knew this, but decided to take advantage of the moment of slow panting. Assessing his self, his hopes sunk further as the full finality of his fatigue and situation took him. He had only energy, only enough power, for one transformation. Then, he would be left in one form.
For the rest of the fight…or what would be left of it anyway.
As one of the hounds moved impatiently, Beastboy could tell that the warriors above clearly commanded them to stay put. For the moment. Eyeing them, their faces contorted in taunting smiles and glares, the green titan's gaze shifted around, catching sight of the library and Timid.
His eyes wide, he met her eyes in a brief, shared moment. Her violet eyes reflected timidity, fear, panic and…sorrow. She was still far off from the library. About twenty meters from the foot of the door, frozen in place, horrified. Glancing up at a sudden change in the air above him, sensing the movement, he noticed one of the thirteen demons meet his gaze and follow his line of sight.
Barring a hideous sneer, the disgusting demon smiled as he madly flapped his wings suddenly and lunged through the air for Timid. At the same time, each warrior let loose a horrible cry of attack. As if in slow motion and as if he was seeing what was happening from out of his body, he watched all. As the hounds pounced wildly from all sides, the warriors swooped in low as the rogue demon flew ever closer towards Timid. Only one word escaped his lips hoarsely as he was surrounded.
"RUN!"
A horde of demon hounds were upon him before he could even move. His breath caught as they began to tear into him. The pain was excruciating, his body taking a beating. Being flung between teeth and claws, to and fro, his movements were jerked and he couldn't help the random thought that this must have been how a rag doll felt, flitter through the haze of his mind.
Each attack, blades, beams of energy and claws slicing through him, brought fierce agony but….strangely, as it continued, he felt less and less pain. The hurt was only dimly noted. Instead the only thing he could focus on was the way the Demon had sneered. The way he was going to hurt Timid. His face, his movements, the way he had looked at Beastboy and then Timid…..the remembrance replayed through his mind as if a silent movie being repeated over and over again.
As the revelation fully hit Beastboy, the pain extinguished completely and he felt a mighty roar of power surge within him. Just as before, the rush felt similar to the white glow, but at the same time, completely different.
Black.
His animal instincts blaring and his mind racing; the primal force within him exploded in righteous rage and fury. Rage. His vision became black, his mind went black. All went black within him as his last transformation took place.
Bones crunching and hair spreading, the last thing Garfield Logan recalled before transforming was being bathed in blackness. Rage pounded through him, commanding him, dictating his singular thoughts.
Intent. Kill. Stop. Save. Timid…
The strange but familiar feeling of the locked away presence within him combined with the new, surging sensation of black; intertwined into a singular physical form. A being with a singular intent and fierce determination to do one thing: save Timid.
The Beast had arrived.
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"RUN!"
She gasped in terror as Beastboy called out to her, the hounds and demons charging in on him, tearing him apart. The finality, desperation in his voice drove thoughts of disobeying the direct command from her head. Turning quickly she began, her back towards her last hope.
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As her steps fell, a roar of primal and enraged anguish echoed throughout the erupted battle behind her. Chancing a look behind her, she glanced in time to see a mass explosion of hell hounds in the air as a dark, almost black, green figure punched through the throngs of hounds. The remaining demonic warriors closed in on the Beast as he smashed hellish canines into non-existence.
Looking up she saw that the warrior who had lunged for her, was right above, laughing huskily and swooping in low, she just narrowly dodged a scissor cut in time. Re-appearing in front of her, she stopped. Standing just mere feet from the safety of the library, her father's demon landed; ready to take her.
Gulping she took an unsure battle stance. She was Timid. How would she win this fight? How would she survive? How could she?
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The Beast flung himself towards another two hounds after dodging a third. Gripping one by its short, stubby tail, he flung it, back first, into the other two. As three puffs of smoke clouded his vision, six separate beams of hot, yellow energy tore through the haze and singed his fur as it struck the Beast squarely in the chest. Growling in rage and pain, he tore through the clouds and slashed blindly in the direction of three of the beams. Hitting on target, he barely registered the smoke of demise from his victims, already searching for more with fierce, determined intent. Howling in Rage, a large slash of silver streaked by and gashed his right shoulder. Jumping back, the Beast grunted. Standing before him, only six more demon hounds stood. Behind them, all around him were twelve….demon warriors?
Dimly through the blackness he recalled there being thirteen.
Cleared slightly, the answer set in as he glanced across the land. Timid! Even as the Beast, his heart seemed to skip a beat at the sight of Raven.
She was doing the best she could, it was true, but such an exert was poor in comparison in face of the brutal onslaught the Demon inflicted against her. In a mass fury of blazing silver steel, Timid could barely dodge his attacks; using her limited powers to move boulders to her defense. Such a ploy could only last so long. Unequal defense could not last long.
She would die.
The frightening thought brought on a new wave of death, jet black rage. It flared and tumbled over his senses. Quickly, the Beast leapt towards the unsuspecting warriors, straight above the hounds.
Round two had just begun, signaled not by the ring of a bell, but by the inhuman roar of rage.
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The act of pouncing completely over the hounds, took all eighteen demons left, by
surprise. Pummeling straight over towards the ring of warriors, he slashed with heavy, clawed paws at a female Demon's face. Earning a pained scream, the Demon dropped her swords as she clutched her face desperately. It seemed that such demons could be hurt, at least, in the confines of Raven's mind. Taking the opportunity, the Beast punched her in the stomach, piercing armor and receiving a pained gasp from her lips. Pulling his fist out, she clutched her wounds as he landed behind her. As if delayed, she fell before him and puffed in black smoke seconds later. Wasting no time the green monster picked up the two wicked blades and eyed the surprised demons menacingly.
Needing no words to translate what was to come, the hounds and warriors struck. Swords flailing and swords flinging out, blurs of red and green flew by as the Beast fought each Demon.
Charging forward, the Beast dispatched three hounds with ease, his newfound swords cutting through their flesh smoothly; leaving puffs of red smoke behind him. Spinning around, facing three warriors, each attacked at the same time, charging. Crouching down to miss a deadly strike, he kicked one demon in the side, sending him into a hound that had just pounced. Earning two satisfying puffs of different colored smoke, he struck the other two simultaneously as black rage filled his aching muscles. Finishing off the two warriors with a stab to their chests, the Beast ran forward to the library, leaving the rest of the warriors behind in the hope to aide Timid who was steadily loosing her defending position.
Not a few feet later, the remaining two hounds and eight fighters appeared; blocking his path. Firing energy beams, the hounds pounced as the warriors flung themselves towards him. Agile and cunningly smooth, the Beast luckily blocked and dodged the blasts of yellow energy and sliced the heads of the final two hounds quickly.
His luck did not last to save him though, from the oncoming warriors. Occupied by the hounds, the Beast was unable to stop the constant slices from washing over him. Gash after gash, slice after slice, cold steel met warm muscle and flesh as silver blades gleamed red. The pain broke through the heavy blanket of black rage. Gripping the blade of one oncoming sword painfully, dropping his own, the Beast did his best to ignore the slicing, white hot pain that shot through his hand as he grabbed the sharp bladed side and pulled roughly. Yanking the sword away from the demon, flinging him into his brethren, the Beast flipped the sword to grip it by the handle and threw it towards a female demon. The blade meeting the chest of a hell spawn, she puffed into smoke before colliding into the changeling's torso. Smoldering ashes washed over him, masking the green tint of his fur in blackness.
Clutching the remaining sword left in his right hand, he charged the flung demon from before, slicing his head clear off his shoulders with an enraged howl. Spinning, his acute hearing warning him; he ducked barely in time to miss two deadly blades aimed for his own vulnerable neck. Turning, he crouched down, lower than the two warriors who had come up behind him.
Their arms and swords outstretched, the Beast punched the left upcoming demon in the stomach, as he simultaneously struck the one on his right with his sword. Ripping another blade from the punched demon, he dispatched the hellish minion with a quick slice. Rolling back, leaving two more puffs of smoke in his wake, only four demons remained in his way. Pausing in their charge, they eyed him with distaste as if overcome with a change of heart. Surprising the Beast, they turned toward the skies and sped off towards…Timid
TIMID!
In the heat of the battle, he had lost sight of her, now, launching himself in a frantic run to meet her, the direness of her situation became clear. As he reached closer, he just witnessed the rogue demon strike her down; cutting her legs with a large swing. The sight of her blood spilt twisted the black power within him.
Roaring in an anger surpassing rage, the Beast lunged forward…only to meet four sneering demons swooping in from above, to meet him. Instead of faltering or changing direction, intent on getting to Timid at all costs, he stretched his arms forward and clutched an outstretched arm of two demons side-by-side. Suspending himself in the air; using them as his anchors, the Beast kicked a third demon lunging to the right of him. Sending him flying into the ground, puffing into smoke; the Beast let go of the two demons he had held on to and landed on the ground. Running forward, the Beast shot forth and took the rogue demon by surprise, punching him squarely in the face and sending him back a few feet.
Stunning him, the warrior dropped a sword which the green being hastily picked up. Standing between Timid and the three, now grounded Demons, he panted heavily. He was hurt. The rage and adrenaline could only do so much to mask the pain. Only fear for Timid's life and the black, slowly dying power kept him standing. He could feel his body ache, his muscles burn. Ignoring the pain, pushing it aside, he charged. Managing to feign to the right he struck to the farthest left Demon; slicing him though the neck. Landing and turning away from the smoke, the Beast flung his sword in hand toward another Demon, hoping to have it slice him like a discus….
…and missed.
His hopes dropping a moment, they perked up as the sword arced back around in a wide U and struck the other remaining demon in the back. Grimacing as he stood, his body reaching its final limits, he eyed the final demon with varying focused vision as a puff of smoke announced the departure of the second to last Demon. It was, now, only one more demon standing in the way of his and, more importantly, Timid's safety. His heart sank when he recognized the red mark on its already crimson face: this was the same demon that had started the assault on Timid. The rogue demon that had fought the least, was more refreshed, and better equipped to win a fight. One ready for the battle ahead and ready to win, whereas he, the Beast, was dangerously close to loosing consciousness.
Grunting, the demon surprised Beastboy as he struck him in the face with a carefully aimed punch; as payback. Stumbling backwards, the Beast was forced to block an incoming blade with his forearms; earning a fresh slice through tender flesh. Howling in pain as the blade tore through his forearm, it was the last thing he could take.
Falling to his knees, the Beast slowly shrunk away, leaving a light green, paled and severely wounded Beastboy wavering and in loss of lots of blood. His body may have lost its enraged form, but his eyes still held the cold, dark fury from the fight, and he slowly lifted himself shakily to his feet. Garfield Logan, it seemed, would not quit until his last breath was beaten from him. As the demon stood emotionless, a yellow glow illuminating his eyes, Beastboy glanced back and eyed Timid. His glare softening as she whimpered in pain at her new cuts and wounds melding with the ones yet to be healed, he summoned a small smile to help calm her.
'Calm her…for death' his thoughts reflected his bleak outlook. Shaking his head, he reprimanded himself for losing faith.
Turning back to the peculiarly acting demon before him, the creature unsheathed a hidden blade from his armor; one smaller than the swords and rearmed himself with a blade in each hand. His black, red eyes still glowing an intense yellow, he sneered openly at the pathetic attempt of the lanky changeling wavering before him; the Timid emotion behind.
Then, the demon spoke.
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"LOGAN…!"
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She whimpered at the sound of the harsh voice coming from the demon before them. That voice! She knew that voice. Her whole body stiffened as cold fear washed over her. She was paralyzed in pain and horror.
That voice…she saw too that Beastboy went rigid in shock. From hearing a demon speak and know his last name, or recognizing the voice, Timid could not fathom; nor could she think past the stupefied and dreaded thought running through her mind.
Trigon the Terrible…
Trigon…
…Her…Father.
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End Chapter 7
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A/N
OOOOOKKK I am sorry it was shorter than the last. And I am sorry for the cliffy but hopefully u guys liked the chapter. I hope so, it was very hard to write it; battle scenes are still new to me and it was hard to explain some aspects. Hopefully I did not confuse u….I must admit that I wish it was better, but I revised it so many times that this is the final version. Anyways, that was the end of chapter 7 and soon shall come chapter 8. the meeting with Trigon the terrible…anyways that's it for now, I am going to stop rambling…….I will update ASAP, but I must warn you guys that school starts Wednesday…..updates will be a little (or lot) more spaced. Thanks for reading….please review!
As always
Fernnu