1Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, but hey, I think we all knew that already
Trying To Do the Right Thing
Chapter 24
By: Finalitylife
Slade slowly made his way back to the surface, a demonic weapon from his battle held within his hands...his hands that once again were made of flesh and blood, instead of only hard bone. He was alive once more and it was truly an invigorating feeling. He had won his battle against Trigon's true minion, taken back by sheer power of will what was owed to him from his deal with his former "master."
However, all was still not finished, that much he knew. He may have regained what he had lost from when Terra knocked him into burning lava, but still, nothing was over. Trigon still existed, slowly anchoring himself back into the realm of mortals, his purpose to consume everything in a wave of unending and relentless destruction and wrath. This simply was not a good thing in Slade's eye as it did not benefit him or his future plans now that he had his life back. Trigon had served his purpose to Slade and now he was no longer needed.
He had gambled with the devil himself, and Slade intended to come out on top though this was not entirely in his hands anymore. Robin needed to come through...needed to bring Raven back. Raven was the only one with the power to defeat the great demon lord. It was his final gamble. If it failed, then it was over. If it worked...Slade chuckled darkly to himself as he sliced a fire demon in half that just happened to get in his way. If it worked, Slade had one more bargain to collect on.
Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg fought valiantly against the unending sea of fire but they could feel their energy starting to dwindle once again. They knew their battle was in vain, knew that they were only hoping to buy time for Robin and Raven. Of course they did not know that Trigon was already well aware of the two birds and what had been attempted nor were they aware that He had amused himself with Robin just as he had done with them. None of them had any idea that Raven, their last hope, was nothing but a child without memory and that Robin was only moments away from death at the hands of himself.
Beneath their final stand, the bloody body of Robin remained on the ground. The combined attacks of both Red X and the apprentice, both born from the darkness within, had decimated Robin. The only movement from his body was a jerky seizure as a ragged cough of blood escaped his mouth. The two dark warriors circled the fallen hero, like vultures circling their dying prey. Robin's gaze was hazy and distorted but in front of him he could see a cage of fire with its precious prisoner inside...precious to him. Her amethyst eyes bore into him, no more tears pouring from her eyes, instead replaced with a quiet wisdom. She clutched a tiny, bloody hand to her chest, it continuing to stain her once pristine white uniform, though she did not care. Robin managed to say one word even as pain continued to ravage his body, as blood hampered his ability to speak.
"Raven..." The child gave him a reassuring smile. As those beautiful eyes continued to bore into him, a moment popped into Robin's head, from when he had confronted Raven after she had revealed what she was to everyone. She had screamed at him through the door to her room, told him that you can not fight who you are. Robin painfully chuckled to himself. He had agreed with her then, told her though that what she believed herself to be wasn't who she was. He was only remembering this all now, after everything.
It had been different for Raven because she herself was not evil, without her father she was innocent. She had not been fighting who she was, but rather what her father wanted her to be, but Robin...Robin finally understood, could no longer try and deny himself, pretend to be innocent. These creatures of darkness that had brutally and cruelly beaten, they were him, they were inside of him...what they had said was all true. They were him and you can not fight who you are. It is and always was a futile effort on his part...he now realized this.
Robin gave the child Raven...if she was that anymore at this moment, a soft smile. He could have sworn he saw the face of his Raven there instead of the one of an innocent child right before he started to move again. With the sound of crunching bone from his left hand, he pushed himself with both of his hands up, slowly, choking up more blood. He found himself on his knees, even more pain coursing through his body from his damaged knee, the terrible ache shooting straight up his spine until it seemed to hurt in every limb. He reached to his belt and pulled out another bo staff, extending it, using it as a crutch to help himself to his feet. His one leg was not useless, he suspected nothing was broken, but it was terribly weak and this was the only way he could stand at this moment.
"I'd say I was impressed with you actually getting up but then I'd be lying...and come now, do I look like a liar? Of course not. Should have only worried about yourself kid, only worried about number one but I guess that is a little listen you'll never learn." The skull mask of Red X flashed by Robin's eyes. Red X was his arrogance, his selfish desire to wield incredible power like so many other heroes, even if it was potentially destructive. Red X was the thrill of being a thief, of being simply free of the responsibilities Robin had placed on himself, of walking that line between light and shadow.
"That staff is just like everything in your life...nothing but a crutch, proof of your weakness. Your friends, your emotions, that worthless demon bitch over there, they are nothing!" The cold, stony face of the apprentice flashed past Robin. The apprentice was what in a way he had always strived to be...strong, powerful, and in complete control. The apprentice had no weaknesses within, was a being of perfection in purpose and action. No hesitation and no regret...and most importantly...no guilt. It was another type of freedom for Robin, to be free of the emotions that always seemed to ravage him on the inside, to be free of his self doubt and fears.
They were him, and he was not going to fight anymore.
"I'm not going to fight though I have not given up. I simply understand now what has been in front of me the entire time and I can not escape it. I accept it...accept all of it and now, neither of you can hurt me because I know who you are...you are me, and nothing more."
"Don't be so sure you fool!"
The two dark beings charged at exactly the same time, their swift movements passing through the dead air in the area the only sound. Robin made no move to defend or attack, simply stood there stoically, his eyes locked upon the worried face of a little girl who he had sworn he would protect from the monsters...his monsters. There was neither submission or defeat in his heart at this moment, but instead acceptance, and a will to endure even in his own darkest hour.
The two attackers converged on their target, the apprentice now wielding a spike at the end of his staff, Red X extending his spinning blades even longer. The two attacks should have met, killing Robin but instead they simply passed through him. Instead the staff continuing forward piercing Red X straight through the chest. Instead the spinning blade sliced the apprentice across the throat, nearly cutting off his head. There were no sprays of blood, but instead the dark figured suddenly formed into small balls of black energy before slamming back into Robin's form.
Robin stood for a few seconds, a satisfied smile on his face, before once again collapsing to the ground. The cage of fire surrounding little Raven took this moment to dissipate and she found herself free once more. She moved as quickly as her short legs would allow her to the side of her fallen protector. She dropped to the ground next to him, her small hands pushing against his side, trying to get some reaction from his motionless form. Her silent prayers were finally answered as Robin turned over so that he was looking up at the child's face.
"Hey there kid, sorry I didn't do a better job of protecting you. How is your hand doing?" The little girl slowly raised her hand so that he could see it, a small bit of blood still flowing.
"That needs to be wrapped up but I don't think I can do that right now. Sorry." The little girl only nodded a little bit, unsure of what to do.
"I almost forgot to say thank you for saving me. I would be dead right now if it wasn't for you...twice in fact, though I doubt you could understand the second time. You know, you really remind me of someone I know. She was ain incredible person, selfless, brave, gentle, and very beautiful. I cared very deeply for her and then she left, left because she had to, to protect us all. Its moments like now, even when everything feels like its all over, I can't help but think of her, and I know...I know all is not lost because I still believe in her with every fiber of my being." Robin gave the child a small smile which was returned and for a second he thought he almost saw an aura of white around the little girl.
The moment was ended as the very Earth began to shake, rocks starting to fall from the ceiling and Raven gripped on to Robin tightly in fear. The source of the disturbance was soon made clear as a massive hole in the ceiling formed above them.
The massive red claw of Trigon came through the newly opened hole to the surface, its target set on Robin. Once again acting on pure instinct, the emotions that simply dwelled deep within her, emotions she could not deny nor understand, the little girl found power flowing through her body. She allowed it to be unleashed and a black dome of energy took form over her and the one she was trying to protect. The great hand slammed into the dome, it shimmering out of existence almost completely but little Raven forced more power through her body and it reformed.
"Insolent child! Do not interfere! Fire unleashed from the palm of Trigon, burning into the protective bubble, easily overcoming it. Raven felt the power leave her and could only watch with terror in her eyes as the enormous hand backhanded her away from the one her heart was screaming for her to protect. The little girl flew through the air like a rag doll, slamming into the ground, finally coming to a stop only inches from the edge of the rocky ground...inches from falling into the abyss.
"Raven!" Robin screamed out for her the second Trigon attacked her and as Trigon's dark laughter shook the entire world, Robin did his best to crawl his body toward the hurt little girl. He did not make it very far as Trigon wrapped his gigantic hand around Robin's body, squeezing tightly, eliciting a scream of pain from the already badly hurt young man.
"Dear daughter. I am so glad to get the chance to see you again because now you will have the opportunity to watch all these so called heros die by my hands. They will be the first mortals in ages to personally fall to my greatness. It will be their reward for being of such amusement to me, almost as amusing as your pathetic resistance of your destiny all your life." Trigon pulled Robin toward the surface as Raven's tiny body began to stir. One blow...one hit from the beast and her whole body ached all over, yet she would not stay down, would not give up.
Within her mind, she was beginning to see faces, familiar faces that gave her feelings of safety and warmth deep inside and most prominent of them all was the one who she had wielded such power to protect from the evil. Robin...that was his name, but to her it felt like more than a name, it felt like a reason to never give up. Other names slowly surfaced...Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg, each one reminding her of something different though the beautiful emotions accompanying each was always the same. It was love...unconditional and unending.
The little purple haired girl found her body once again brimming with a familiar energy only this time, there was something different about it. This energy eased her aching body, soothed her fears and her worries, and empowered her very soul. Little Raven's entire body began to glow with a perfect, brilliant light that pushed back every shadow with its shine. Hope would battle back against the darkness...it had no other choice.
Robin found himself being pulled toward the burning sky of the surface world, his screams of Raven's name being cut off by the fact he could barely breath as Trigon's grip felt like it was going to crush his chest at any given moment. Robin could not get the image of the child Raven lying unmoving on the ground all because she was trying to protect him. He was supposed to protect her...he had promised. It was just another promise he couldn't keep and now...now he fought the urge to believe it was all over. His journey into Hell itself seemed to have come up short, his attempt to try and save Raven...save this world, gone. A small bit of him still believed there was a chance because he still foolishly allowed himself to believe that his Raven was not gone, and would come back to protect them all in this final hour.
Robin soon found himself face to face with the dark lord and even he couldn't help but feel fear when faced with the gigantic, sharp toothed grin of Trigon.
"You have shown much perseverance to make it here mortal. If you really wanted to die by my hand...Haha...you should have just come to me first instead of sneaking around the bowels of this planet." Trigon's voice this near was close to deafening, and Robin felt like his head was going to explode.
"Your other pathetic friends continue to fight though I think it is time to put a stop to this." Robin turned his head, following Trigon's vast gave, his sight landing upon Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy fighting relentlessly again the army of fire. They looked tired, worn out, though they continued to fight. Robin felt a swell of pride as a leader and as a friend as he watched the scene.
However, it was soon to all end. Trigon raised his other great hand and with a deep chuckle, a great beam of red energy erupted from his palm directly at the Titans.
"Nooooo!" Robin's cry made no difference. The beam impacted upon the spot where the Titans fought with a great explosion and when everything finally cleared, the three warriors were on the ground, unmoving. Robin felt like screaming again though he knew it would do no good.
"They are not dead yet mortal but only because I want my daughter to watch me finally finish them. My treacherous daughter must pay for resisting me for so long for no one opposes the will of Trigon!"
"Well I'm going to have to disagree."
Slade came out of nowhere, wielding a burning axe, slashing at the wrist of Trigon. The great beast let out a bellow of pain as the weapon seared into his flesh, dropping Robin. The boy wonder found himself suddenly falling threw the air and acting purely on instinct, reached for a grappling hook and fired at the nearby ruins of a crumbled building. Thankfully, the hook stuck and Robin barely managed to hold on, finally coming to a halt only a few feet from the ground.
Trigon stumbled for just a second before regaining himself, the attack had taken even his all-seeing eyes by surprise. His attention had been far too focused on what was in front of him. He growled as he watched his former minion land to the ground, ready to unleash all-consuming pain upon the one who dared strike him. However, Trigon suddenly felt something...the sudden emergence of great power, and his burning gaze quickly forgot about Slade, and turned toward the source of this impossible occurrence.
Robin dropped the last few feet to the ground, landing awkwardly on the ground, pain shooting instantly through his one leg, almost not being able to stand up. Robin gritted his teeth as he stood on the ground, leaning heavily against the wall for balance, a burning, tingling sensation coursing through his right hand. A few moments later, Slade landed next to him.
"Nice to see you again Robin. I hope I wasn't late." Robin truly didn't have the energy to argue at this moment.
"What are you doing here Slade?" A quiet chuckle.
"Well other than enjoying the fact that I am alive once more, I'm actually here to protect my investment."
"And how do you intend to do that? I highly doubt you can turn the tide of battle against Trigon."
"Oh I don't plan on fighting Trigon. I was simply buying a few moments for that."
Slade pointed out and Robin's eyes flashed over to that direction. His eyes widened immediately at what he saw. From the hole where Trigon had snatched him up from the underground, there was a nearly blinding column of white light erupting straight up into the sky. Robin knew who it was.
"Raven..." Slade agreed.
"Indeed. Now let's just see if she truly has the power needed to save you all, and if she does, well I'm sure you know what will happen." Robin clenched his right hand as hard as he could.
"I truly hate you Slade but I know...I know." Robin again focused on the scene in front of him and watched in awe as a figure floated up the column of light, high up into the air. Robin still could not register exactly what he was seeing because he was not seeing the young child he had found within a burnt out church deep within the Earth, but rather an older version of that little girl...the Raven who he had grown to care so deeply for. She had returned...she had somehow come back and Robin slowly found a small smile forming on his face. She was alive...she was alive.
The column of light slowly faded away though the presence of the light did not as it seemed to radiate from the white-clad Raven herself. Trigon stared coldly through slitted eyes at his daughter who hovered defiantly in front of him, her aura causing him discomfort simply by its presence. Even the great Trigon was not sure of what he was truly up against. Two glowing white eyes met four burning red eyes, and the world trembled as a final hope met the ultimate darkness.
"Dear daughter, I don't know how it is that you are here as you are but I do know it does not matter. You could not stand against me before, you can not stand against me now. You are nothing my daughter, nothing."
"No Trigon, you are wrong. I am not nothing for I am many things. I am a loyal and loving friend, and I am the proud member of a family that refused to bow to your evil. I am a hero and on this day, you shall finally fall to those who only wish for peace." Trigon laughed at the small form of his daughter, as she proclaimed an impossible task. He would not fall for he was forever, his power unmatched within all existence.
"I think not daughter. I can not be defeated, especially not by one who I created." Raven seemed to glow brighter as she spoke again.
"I am many things Trigon but one of those things is not your daughter. You may have sired me but you have and never will be my father. I am here, finally free of your malevolent taint on my soul, and I tell you without any doubt, your time has finally come to an end." Raven continued to glow brighter and Trigon let out a scream.
"Enough! I am the darkness and I can not lose!" Trigon raised his massive hands and unleashed an enormous stream of Hellfire upon Raven's shining form. As the burning attack sped toward Raven, she raised her hands and the fire was met with pure, white energy from her own outstretched hands. The world shook as the two great powers met, only two beings alive and awake to witness such an unbelievable spectacle.
Trigon growled and increased his attack, digging for more energy from his depleted reserve. He knew he had not even come close to regaining his true power, but the dark lord never thought it would matter, never thought an opponent on this pathetic planet would rise up to meet him with such incredible power. He never thought his daughter would evolve into such a being that resisted his attack with her own equal power. The great beast forced more energy into his attack, still refusing to believe for a second he would ever be defeated by the halfling child he only created to be his portal.
"You can not win daughter! No being in existence can match my strength and I can already see you are already weakening. This will all be over soon." Trigon was right, and it did appear as if Raven was losing. The blast of fire was moving closer despite her best efforts though she had no intention of giving up. She continued to think of Azar, her friends...her family, and every single innocent being in this universe and she could feel the power deep inside her growing. She thought of the wonderful love she knew the Titans felt for her, their smiles, and their laughter and she thought of Robin...his intense blue eyes and the feel of his touch, how it always made her feel at peace.
Raven glanced over for only a brief moment at Robin as he looked upon the scene in front of him, him leaning on another bo staff for support. However, despite his weakened state, Raven could still feel him. He was still strong and solid on the inside and she could feel unending confidence and faith from him for her and her fight. He knew she would win and Raven knew...she knew she would not let him down.
Even Trigon was surprised as a massive white bird exploded out from Raven's form, its great wings stretching out wide across the sky. The extension of Raven's soul was even larger than Trigon himself, lighting up a dead world, brightening with white a blood red sky.
The stream of white energy started to overwhelm the power of Trigon and the demon lord found he had almost no more energy to stem the tide of avenging light. Raven pushed harder and her energy impacted into Trigon's outstretched hand's, the great being bellowing in pain as his claws simply disintegrate into nothingness. Trigon stumbled back, knowing fear for the first time in his innumerable centuries of existence as he looked at stumps where his hands once were.
However, his fear was short lived as was the rest of his life for the white energy of Raven quickly continued its purifying assault of the darkness, consuming that which sought to consume, destroying that which was the destroyer.
In his final moments, Trigon realized his great mistake. This power he fought against, this overwhelming light was in fact useless, completely harmless...except against him. He had made a mistake in creating a being that had his power and his blood flowing through her veins and when she became free of his taint on her soul after becoming the portal, a new power was born. His daughter wielded a power that was completely opposite of his own, cancelling out his own, that ultimately repelled his darkness with her light.
With one last futile scream of rage, Trigon, the ultimate evil, was finally overcome by the power of light, his existence simply ceasing for all time. Raven's destiny had finally come to a close.
The immense white power slowly faded away as Raven floated back to the ground. She could feel the power leaving her, knew that what she had done was a one time thing, would never occur again, but she couldn't help but smile. It would never happen again but it would never be needed again. Trigon was destroyed, the physical representation of evil gone, and she was finally truly free.
The great white bird separated from Raven's body spreading out further in the sky and reality itself started to flash back to what it had once been before Trigon's coming, a new day born just as quickly as the world had been ripped apart. A beautiful, sunny blue sky replaced the crimson color of blood, the rivers of lava and fire replaced by streets and grass, the ruins of a once glorious city restored.
Raven's feet finally touched the ground, and it truly felt like years since she had felt something as simple as the ground. She noticed that the people had not returned yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time. The world was healed, and life would return. Raven found that she barely had the strength to stand up, her body simply wanting to collapse and go to sleep for a week but still she could not help but smile. Her eyes had settled on the solitary figure of Robin, still using a bo staff to stay on his feet, his eyes clearly locked on her own.
Raven, despite her heavily depleted body, found herself running as fast as she could toward him. As she got closer, a small smile formed on Robin's bloody face and Raven felt her heart burn brighter. She stopped running a few feet from him, fighting the urge to throw her arms around him because she knew he was hurt and did not want to cause any further pain for him. However, her reluctance lasted only a moment as she finally flung her arms around his neck as tears of joy started spilling from her eyes.
"Its over Robin. Its finally over. He's gone...he's completely gone. I'm free...I'm free." Robin wrapped his one arm around Raven, unable to properly hold her with his broken left hand, unable to use his right arm because it was probably the only thing keeping him, and more than likely both of them from falling to the ground.
"I know Raven. You did it...you saved us all."
"I couldn't have done it without all of you Robin. The Titans never stopped believing in me...you never lost faith in me even after everything. You gave me the reason to fight back...your love gave me the strength to overcome. Thank you Robin...thank you for never giving up on me." Robin did his best to squeeze her a little harder, fighting back the smallest bit of moisture forming under his mask. How he wished it was truly over.
Raven pulled away and looked up at Robin's face with brilliantly happy eyes but found only a grim look.
"Robin...what's wrong?" Her question was answered by a heavy applause from behind her and the voice of an almost happy sounding Slade. She also noticed suddenly, the strangest feeling radiating from Robin, a feeling of wrongness.
"Well done my dear. You've saved the world and destroyed Trigon for all eternity...good for you." Raven spun around, keeping herself in between Robin and Slade, knowing he was in no shape to battle, her voice taking on a note of hysteria.
"No no no...its supposed to be over...we're supposed to be safe...why won't you just go away...why won't you just leave us alone!" Slade chuckled.
"Oh don't worry little hero. Now that this little episode is over, you are no longer of my concern. However, it is time for my apprentice to return to me after being away for so long." Raven felt her body freeze up as she turned to look at Robin. His head hung down, and she knew he was refusing to look at her. The strange feeling from him had increased and Raven was slowly realizing what it was. Her acute magical awareness told her it was magic...dark magic flowing within him.
"Robin...what did you do?" Robin did not respond as his head slowly rose in a type of grim acceptance. He stared at the beautiful face of Raven for a few seconds before finally responding.
"Take a look for yourself." Raven knew what he was saying. He was inviting her into his mind once again, to see what had occurred through his eyes. She quietly nodded as her shaking arms rose from her side and her tentative hands were placed on the side of Robin's head. She concentrated as she had done once before and easily found what she was looking for as it seemed to be the only thing on his mind at this moment.
Flash back (Through Robin's eyes)
"I know you Slade, I know you far too well, and I know there's something else here. You claim this is about survival, but its always something more with you, always something lying beneath the surface...behind the mask if you will. What is it Slade? What is it that you are after?" Slade slowly turned around, his arms locked behind his back just like always, his one eye locking on to me.
"You are correct Robin though I have come to expect such from you. There is always something more." Slade and I stared each other down for a second, a gust of burning wind filled with sulphur and ash blowing by.
"There is indeed something I am after...something I am going to collect if you will for payment for my services to Trigon. However, there is something else I am after and that would be an apprentice. I want you Robin, I want you back where you belong."
"I find that hard to believe Slade. Why would you want me when not that long ago you had Terra try to kill me." Slade chuckled in amusement.
"My dear boy. If I wanted Terra to kill you, you would be dead. She had orders to kill the rest of the Titans which I might point out she failed at miserably, but you Robin...you were not to be killed. Terra was strong, she had great power, but that is all. She could never follow in my footsteps. She was not smart enough, cunning enough, lacking true strength of will, not one I would want as an apprentice. She was a means to an end.
I thought that maybe with all your precious friends dead, you would finally embrace that which is in you and defeat Terra, make her pay for the terrible things she did to you, and when you were all alone, I would have the opportunity to gain my apprentice once more.
As you know though, things did not work out as I had planned but once again an opportunity has presented itself and I plan not to miss it. I will lead you to where your little Raven is but for a price...you will swear to serve me, will promise once more to become my apprentice."
"You can't be serious Slade. There is no way I would ever become your apprentice again." Again Slade laughed.
"You seem to be missing one very important fact at this moment Robin, one crucial, glaring fact. Me...I can stand here all day if I want, and if the universe ends, it ends. You on the other hand...you need me to lead you to what you seek because...you need to save her. You have to agree to my terms because if you don't, you will lose the last opportunity to save this world and your precious Raven." I clenched my hands tightly as I felt my anger almost boiling but I held it in.
"Your bluffing Slade. I think you need me to help you just as much as I need you to help me. This is all one giant bluff."
"You could be correct Robin, but of course you could be easily as wrong as well. Are you truly willing to take that chance?" I felt my anger spike at his smugness but Raven's face flashed through my mind and just as quickly as my anger was there, it had faded away, the tenseness in my body left, my defiance weakened.
"I thought so Robin."
"Alright, I'll become your apprentice again as long as you lead me to where Raven is. You have yourself a deal."
"Now I'm sure your word is as trustworthy as mine but please do forgive me if I ask for something more. Shake my hand Robin, a gentleman's agreement on your honor that you will serve me once again."
I eyed Slade suspiciously as he extended his right hand to accept mine. I knew he was up to something, I knew it without any doubt but I also knew I needed to find Raven, that she was far more important right now...always more important.. I reluctantly gripped Slade's hand in my own, and instantly my suspicious were verified as an incredible burning pain suddenly was felt through my hand. I felt Slade's grip tighten on my own as I tried to pull away, the pain soon flowing up my arm and soon throughout my entire body. After what felt like an eternity, Slade let my hand go and I fell back landing on my backside. I was gripping my right wrist with my left hand as the burning pain seemed to be strong in my right hand...where it had started.
Slade dropped from his right hand a small object he had been palming. As it hit the ground in front of me I realized it was a small black stone with strange marking on it that seemed to glow. I had no idea what it was but I knew it was the source of my pain. I pushed myself to my feet, ready to attack Slade but instead found my body burning from the inside as I took a threatening step toward him.
"Damn you...what did you to me Slade?"
"You don't spend all that time in the service of a dark magical being without picking up a little bit of useful information. That stone helped completely a binding spell...one between you and me that finalized our agreement. It is a rather helpful spell in our particular case."
"You bastard...I'll make you pay for this." My threat was met with more pain.
"You see Robin, you will experience absolutely no discomfort or pain if you simply stop threatening me and serve me but on the other hand, if you resist me, the dark magic flowing inside of you will slowly eat away at the very core of your being, your very soul and in the end, will only make you into what I desire. Now I would prefer you help me willingly, but one way or another, I will have my apprentice."
Raven broke contact and stumbled back from the separating, her heart was beating a mile a minute having just experienced everything Robin had. Tears again were falling full force from her eyes as she stared at the blank face of Robin.
"No...please no...why Robin...why did you do it!" Raven again threw herself at Robin wrapping her arms around his body as tightly as she could.
"I wasn't worth it Robin, my life wasn't worth this...never this. Why...why..." The bo staff dropped from Robin's hand as he steadied himself painfully on two legs. Raven continued to sob relentlessly into his chest, her grip never once lightening.
"Don't go Robin...please don't go." Her grip somehow found a way to get tighter. "I won't let you go...I will never let you go." Raven never saw as Robin slipped his right hand into his belt.
"I know Raven..." A small device was placed against Raven's neck and with a quiet hiss, a small bit of tranquilizer was injected into her. Raven's grip instantly weakened as Robin dropped the device and grabbed hold of her with his arm, fighting against the immense pain in his leg as he lowered her quickly growing limp body carefully to the ground. He looked down at her face as her eyes fought themselves from closing and his name barely made it off her lips.
"I know Raven...I know you wouldn't let me go. I'm sorry..." and with those final words, Raven finally fell unconscious. Robin pulled out his communicator and pressed the homing signal on it so the others could find Raven, and dropped it next to her. He stood back up, not feeling the pain anymore, not really feeling anything at this moment as he turned back to Slade who gave him a slight nod before walking into a nearby, dark alleyway. Robin took one last look at Raven's form, her looking so peaceful, and said three words.
"I love you," before hobbling after Slade. He looked into the darkness of the alley and then took a look back out at the beautiful day that was, steeling his resolve, before stepping into the darkness. Robin took a few steps before he heard the familiar yell of Cyborg.
"They should be over here, lets get moving."
Robin watched as he could see Beast Boy, Starfire, and Cyborg approaching the prone form of his angel...and he couldn't help but smile once last smile before disappearing into the only shadow that seemed to exist on such a bright, sunny day.
A/N: Come now...did you really think it was over...