FYI: The room Dove is supposed to be in is the one that Terra used to be in.

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Raven's secret-keeper

Unforeseen Surprises

Chapter 4: First Training and More Realization

Dove woke up the next morning. She let her eyes wander around the room, expecting pain, or a headache, or fear and anxiety to fall into her like it always did, but nothing happened today. Nothing happened.

Maybe today's lucky, Dove thought. Then she remembered what had happened yesterday. She sat up and put a hand on her head, wondering if it was too good to be true.

After a quick stretch, she got up stealthily without a sound. She looked around the empty room for a window so she could guess what time it was, but she couldn't find one.

It's too dark to have one in here, Dove thought, then she walked around the room, observing how big it seemed and wondering why there was nothing in it. She was jolted out of her thoughts by a sudden swish-click noise.

Dove jumped and gasped sharply as she turned. She put her hand over her mouth and panicked until she recognized Raven, then put her hand over her heart, hoping the beats weren't as loud as they felt.

"Hi," Dove gasped breathlessly.

"I didn't mean to scare you," Raven said softly. "I guess I'm good at it."

"It's fine," Dove replied. "What time is it?"

"About 7:30," Raven replied.

"Oh, really?" Dove looked around. "I haven't slept that long in a long time…"

"I wonder why," Raven said sarcastically.

"I know," Dove said with a sigh. "But I wasn't always like this…" She stared off into space.

"Few people are," Raven replied.

"Some people are," Dove said with a shrug.

"If you lived in Azarath-"

"Even an Azarathian can have trouble sleeping…" Dove shuddered.

"What-?"

Dove expression made Raven cut herself off. "I really don't want to talk about it… Even before I came to this dim- uh- place, I wasn't exactly average…"

"I'm guessing you don't want to talk about that either."

"It's that obvious, isn't it? Well, yeah. I'd rather not."

"Interesting… Why did you stop yourself from saying dimension?"

Dove looked startled. "You know about that?"

"Why wouldn't I? I'm from Azarath, too."

"Oh… Right. I think I'm forgetting everything my mother told me…" Dove turned away from Raven.

"Dove?"

"I'm fine… I… Just memories…" Dove closed her eyes. "I was so close to my mother, even though I wasn't supposed to be affectionate in any way with anything…" Dove shook her head swiftly but gently. "I-I'm sorry… I know I shouldn't get emotional, but I just can't help it sometimes."

Dove looked over her shoulders at Raven. "My mother told me that you weren't exactly Azarathian by blood, but you've lived there since birth, so you weren't considered from Earth, either…" Dove sighed and bowed her head. "But she told me your mother was from Earth, and your father…"

"It's… It's probably true," Raven said.

Dove turned back around. "I… I'd rather not talk about this either… It… makes me remember my mother and so many things… I don't want to lose control of myself…"

"Maybe we should start your training," Raven said. "Then you won't have to avoid talking because it upsets you."

"That's not the only-" Dove stopped herself, realizing what she was about to say. "Never mind… What do we do first?"

Raven started off by asking Dove if she knew how her powers worked and what they were.

Dove answered, "Yes… I can levitate, shoot dark energy, um, read minds and open mental conversations, talk to and read animals' minds, and telekinesis…"

"Is that all?" Raven asked. Dove thought for a moment and decided holding back from Raven would be holding back from her only and likely most able and last mentor.

"No. I can become… I guess the word would be intangible, I have this sixth sense of empathy and a precognitive sense I can't control at all; that's how I had the vision-"

"I thought so…"

"-and I can pretty much heal someone, but I can't get it right… All the way, at least…"

Dove looked at Raven, then said, "I can… I can sense that you're confused… What's wrong?"

"It's just… I have all of those abilities, and a few more… Staying focused is important. Do you know how your powers work?"

"Not the intangibility, precognition, or levitation, which is why I've only been able to do it when I'm desperate, but telekinesis, all of the animal communication, and any of my telepathetic abilities, yes. It's all pretty much centered around my soul…"

Raven nodded. "Do you know what tends to trigger your abilities?"

"Emotions and desperation."

"Sometimes you have to release a bit of emotional energy for your powers to work. I think…"

"You think?"

"I'm only saying this because you're so much like me."

"I know… It's… weird… heh heh…" Dove began to look flustered, but then she shook her head and licked her lips.

"Are you OK?"

"I'm fine. Let's get back to the lesson…."

"Alright…" Raven could sense that Dove was anxious and afraid of something, but she still continued on.

She began teaching Dove how to clear her mind completely of all emotion. She said it was probably the most important skill she could learn, as it was the basis of meditation, part of the process in telekinesis, and would help Dove remain in control of herself at all times. Dove had trouble at first, and Raven assured her it would take a lot of time and 24-7 control and practice.

"I lived with my mentor until I was 10, and only because-"

"I know; it was Azar and she died. My mother told me…"

"Uhhh… Right." Raven hadn't exactly expected Dove to know that she had lived with Azar in the temple.

"Um… About the emotional control… I can't manage at all when I'm under stress…Or afraid of anything, or especially when… During a thunderstorm or around a big dog…"

"Phobias?"

"Uh-huh. The thunderstorm fear has been around since I first came here, and the dog fear… It was actually caused because before I got to Jump City, I… almost was killed by one…"

"What happened?"

"I walked into an alley, and I sat down by one of the walls because it was so hot. There was nothing there but a bunch of boxes… And then I heard a dog bark; that deep, threatening bark that tells you, 'Get out of here, NOW!' I would've, but he was in the way. The alley was so small and he was so big… I tried communicating with him, but he was too mad or territorial or whatever he was to listen. And I could vividly sense my life on the line of me escaping, but… I was so scared that when I tilted my head to the sky and screamed Azarath Metrion Zinthos, nothing happened. I said it in a calmer tone, but fear of the… possible death…kept my emotions so intense and I couldn't control myself… The dog began stepping closer and I began saying it over and over and my voice got quieter and then faded. I looked back at the dog and huddled to the wall and I whispered it two more times. I remember feeling tears coming on that stopped my voice from working right…And I remember barely being able to whisper 'Azar help me, oh please, Azar help me,' and then the dog jumped on me and knocked me over. It slashed the side of my face. I screamed and it bit my arm. The pain was so intense… I couldn't stand it. The dog had scratched me so many times with its sharp nails… Tears were flowing from my – now closed – eyes… l-like a river… So many places I had never felt pain before…A-Azar…I was barely conscious when I heard someone running and the dog whimpered… and then I fainted…I-I was… Oh, A-a-a-Azar..."

"Dove! Are you OK?"

"Yeah… Just… Incredibly emotional… The pain I felt... The fear… Oh sweet Azar…" She slowly collapsed to the floor and put her head in her hands.

Raven leveled with her on one knee and told her, "It's fine. You're safe now…" Raven's expression was one of genuine concern.

"Oh Azar…" She began rocking back and forth, shaking with fear and remembered pain.

"Is that all?" Raven asked quickly, trying to bring her back to the real world.

"I-I think…" Dove gave a weak moan and took in a deep, shaky breath.

"What else is there?" Raven asked.

"I-I can't… H-h-hold on… My mind… Pure torture…"

After awhile, Dove began to slowly cease rocking.

Finally, still shaking faintly but breathing normally, she said, "OK… I'm sorry… I should control myself better than that…"

"It was incredibly traumatic, wasn't it?"

"It's still no reason to act that way…" Dove stood up and Raven followed suite.

"Dove, it's fine. Just watch yourself next time. You should try meditating or something to calm yourself down."

"I'll try, but I can't guarantee anything."

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-Raven's secret-keeper