32 Productions Presents…

A HIVE Team Story

The HIVE Team In…

"Is it Right?"

Chapter Two

Guest Room

Raven giggled and jumped onto the bed, bouncing on it. She never felt so alive. It was a wonderful thing, to not need to be locking up all her emotions. Mammoth cleared his throat. This was extremely awkward, watching her behave like a small child. …yet it didn't bother him when Krystal acted the same way. That was…curious. Raven looked up at him, confused.

Raven: What? Is something wrong?

Well, actually her dress went up whenever she hopped on the bed, but why should he embarrass the girl by telling her? Think of an excuse, man…think…

Mammoth: You shouldn't jump on the bed.

Raven: Oh pooh. You're no fun. Try it!

Mammoth: Uh…I'm a little too…heavy for that.

Raven: Oh…yeah, I guess so. So this is my room?

It was a bit bare…and for some reason Raven thought it didn't smell quite right. There was something missing…but she wasn't sure what it was. Oh well. It was probably just the new environment. She yawned.

Raven: What time is it?

Mammoth: About ten.

Raven: Wow…it's way past my bed time…well…my old bed time. Do I still have one?

Mammoth: Uh…no. Don't think so.

Raven: …oh.

Raven let herself drop onto her butt, bouncing off the bed and back onto her feet.

Raven: I just realized I need PJs. Who should I ask?

Come to think of it, Raven needed a lot of clothes. Eh, Krystal would take her shopping. The girl loved it. Currently Mammoth wasn't aware of Krystal's problem or Jinx's plan.

Mammoth: Uh…well…I dunno.

Raven: Oh. Guess I'll ask around. Bye bye!

Raven skipped out of the room happily. It was so bizarre to witness.

Sonic's Room

Sonic sighed as Krystal tugged at his shirt on her knees. He had refused to help. Sonic had faith in Jinx. One of the things he liked best about her was her intelligence and strength…and her legs, but that wasn't important right now. As such, he felt that she knew what she was doing. Then again…

Krystal: But it's just all wrongifiying! Think about it! This is exactly what they'd do to us! Can you really condone the HIVE acting like Titans?!

Sonic opened his mouth to respond, but paused.

Sonic: …"wrongifying"?

Krystal: You know what I'm trying to say! Please, Sonic, I need you with me on this.

Sonic: I'm sorry, Krystal. Raven is too dangerous to risk something like that. On the other hand, she'd make a powerful ally.

Krystal sprang to her feet and pointed a finger in his face.

Krystal: Fine! FINE I SAY! We'll see who was right and who was wrong later! I know I'm right…I KNOW!

Krystal stomped out of the room…and was promptly hit by the skipping Raven. They bowled over onto the floor. Raven sprang to her feet first, Krystal right behind in similar perky fashion. Krystal's eye twitched. This girl was trying to steal her bit! The nerve of some people. Raven smiled pleasantly. Well, at least she wasn't trying to steal Krystal's trademark wide grin…okay, it wasn't trademarked. She liked to exaggerate a little.

Raven: Hello…um…what was your name again?

Krystal: Puddintame. Ask me again, I'll tell you the same.

Raven: …hmm…oh! Krystal, that was it.

Krystal put her hands on her face.

Krystal: Curses! My identity is out!

Raven giggled, making Krystal pause. Few people ever laughed at her antics. Most just rolled their eyes. …no. She couldn't let that change her mind. It was still morally wrong to take away her memories.

Raven: You're funny. Uh…can I borrow some pajamas? I don't wanna sleep in this pretty costume and get it all wrinkled and stuff.

Krystal: Hmm…well…I don't think my shirts will fit. Let's see…who could…ah ha! I know. Let's ask Red X.

Raven: Okay.

As they walked toward Red X's room, Raven began thinking about the mysterious masked girl. It was odd…

Raven: Hey, Krystal…why does she wear a mask?

Krystal: Well…I theorize that she's horribly scarred underneath it…but I'm probably wrong. I guess some people just like their secret identities. You know, we used to think she was a guy because she wore a special costume to look like one.

Raven: …that's weird.

Guest Room: Following Morning

Raven groaned as she was shaken from a peaceful slumber. She was having a wonderful dream…something about a land made of chocolate. She rolled over and saw Jinx looking at her.

Jinx: Up and at'em, Raven. Training for you starts now.

Raven: …but the sun isn't up yet…

Jinx: And yet you are.

Raven: You're mean…

This coming from the girl who tried to ruin her life before letting her 'pet' tear her skin off. Jinx shook it off. Now wasn't the time to think about that. She had Sonic looking for the spell now. It WOULD be found. Patience was the key, that was all. Raven grumbled and climbed out of bed, rubbing her eyes.

Raven: Lemme get dressed first…unless you want me fighting in my PJs.

Jinx: Hurry up.

Raven: Tsk.

Jinx waited outside. Raven stepped out; still looking bleary eyed but dressed in her new costume now. She yawned, stretching.

Raven: What time is it, anyway?

Jinx: About six.

Raven: SIX?! Why are you waking me up at six?

Jinx: Because you need serious training if you want to work with us.

Raven: I'm just a…oh…

Raven trailed off. No, she wasn't just a kid, was she? It was so hard to believe…nine years of her life had passed her by. What kind of person was she?

Jinx: Follow me. We'll start with basics. I want you in the air and moving freely before noon.

Raven: So mean…

Training Room: Two Hours Later

Raven was exhausted. Learning to fly was surprisingly easy. It wasn't very long until she was moving through hoops and other such tricks. What had tired her was the weight lifting. Somehow Jinx knew that she had the power to lift things with her mind. …but how was that possible? Not even Raven knew that. And if they didn't know who she was before she lost her memory. Something stank…but what? It was killing her…a thing just out of reach in her mind. She stretched and she grasped, but nothing did the fingers of her mind touch.

Jinx: Focus, you almost dropped it.

Raven: Poop…

As an eight year old, Raven knew few swear words. What she did know, she knew better then to say. Currently she was lifting a large steel crate and moving it through holographic obstacles. If the crate touched an obstacle, the room's lighting would turn red and she'd have to start over. She made it several times and each time she did, Jinx reset the program with less space between the obstacles.

Raven: How about a break for breakfast? I'm starving and it's ruining my concentration.

Jinx: …get it through one more time and you can eat.

Raven sighed in annoyance but did as she was instructed. Jinx watched with half hearted interest. There was little doubt that Raven would quickly master her powers. After all, she had mastered them before. In the mean time she had other worries. Knowing Krystal as well as she did, Jinx was sure she was trying to convince others to talk her out of her plan to permanently wipe Raven's mind. In truth, however, she had given up. It had suddenly occurred to Krystal. Maybe…maybe she meant so much to Shade that he would be willing to get help in order to be with her again. It was a long shot, but totally worth it in the end. Sure, she'd feel a little guilty…for a little while anyway. Oh well. Krystal would live. Raven made it to the end and sank to her knees, panting.

Raven: M…made it.

Jinx: Fine. Go eat. We start again in an hour.

Raven: Uh huh.

Main Room

Raven startled Mammoth by jumping onto his back, giggling. Raven had taken to Mammoth for some reason. More then likely it was because that, due to his size, he was the only one who made her feel like her mind told her she was; a little kid. Things weren't so confusing then.

Raven: 'morning Mammoth! What'cha doing up so early?

Mammoth: Woke up hungry. I do that a lot.

Raven giggled again. That explained why he was still in pajamas. He sounded half asleep too.

Raven: I'm hungry too. Jinx really making me work hard.

Mammoth: Nngh. She does that to all of us. You better get used to it.

Raven: Piggy back ride to the kitchen!

Mammoth carried her to the kitchen. Raven opened the door with a wave of her hand.

Raven: I'm really getting the hang of this.

They ate breakfast together. Bagels and stuff with orange juice…you know…breakfast. …well, this scene stopped going anywhere fast.

Outside Bathroom: Too many hours later

Raven groaned as she weakly continued to dry her hair. After running the crate through a few more times, Jinx had her train in combat with her. What the heck was that girl's PROBLEM?! She beat on Raven like she owed her money or something. Raven had cuts and bruises all over. She soaked in a hot bath and she was still sore. The pain Jinx didn't cause was from over exerted muscles. Whatever Raven was before, she never worked that hard for that long before. Of course, it could be because she wasn't allowed to use her powers during combat practice. …it was odd. Her body moved on its own at times. When Jinx swung, Raven's body would move on reflex alone. It didn't always help, but it was interesting. Unfortunately, an eight year old isn't intelligent enough to understand how a reflex like that forms. She'd have to ask somebody. Maybe at dinner…which should be right about now… Raven rubbed her chin. Jinx mentioned something about her being able to teleport. Raven closed her eyes and concentrated, picturing the main room in her mind's eye.

Main Room

Ah, the glorious invention of take-out food. With this wonderful thing you can get any sort of food you desire from a location and either have it delivered or pick it up yourself. And the HIVE had done just that. Oh sure, Blackfire thought it was a pain to have to go to several different locations and pick the food up. Gizmo didn't like Chinese food, Mexican food gave Krystal heartburn, and so on…but still, it was better then any of them could cook. After handing everybody their food and tossing the huge basket she had used to carry it all into a cabinet, Blackfire sat down to eat her lo mien. Mammoth was enjoying a couple dozen tacos (okay, a bakers dozen, which given that tacos aren't baked, is odd) while Jinx and Red X just had a salad. Sonic had three burgers (extra pickles!), Krystal had two boxes of breaded fish nugget…things…(I dunno, I don't eat sea food…well, I eat shrimp, but that's it…) and Gizmo had a large burrito.

Mammoth: Uh…anybody get Raven anything?

Blackfire: Nope.

Jinx: She can have something from the fridge.

Mammoth sighed. That was kind of cruel. They had to stop thinking of Raven as the psychopath and instead think of her as the new member of the team. Speaking of which, Raven fell out of a vortex in the ceiling and landed on the floor with a painful thud.

Raven: Ow!

Gizmo: You okay, Raven?

Raven stood up, rubbing her leg where she had landed awkwardly.

Raven: I think so. Oh boy! I'm starving? What'cha get me?

Blackfire: Uh…I kind of forgot about you, Raven. I'm sorry.

Smile fading, Raven sniffled. That hurt her feelings. Mammoth sighed.

Mammoth: Here, Raven. You can have some of my tacos.

Raven: Really?! Thanks, Mammoth!

Raven hugged Mammoth tightly before grabbing a taco and nibbling it happily. A pang of guilt shot through Jinx, but it passed. After all, her plan insured that the Raven before her remained and the old one went away forever. Raven floated up and sat in the air, legs swinging. Air-sitting was something Jinx made her learn. It taught her how to maintain a single position while levitating. Raven nibbled on the taco, having never tried one before…at least not that she could remember. She smiled.

Raven: What's this thing called? It's yummy.

Krystal: …a…uh…corniblitz.

Raven: …then why does it say "taco" on the wrapper?

Krystal leaned on the table, grumbling. Her joke had been fouled up by Raven's accursed ability to read. Blackfire sighed and held out a helping of her lo mien.

Blackfire: Cheer up, baby. You can't trick them all.

Krystal accepted the offered food from the chopsticks…in a manner that…well…come on folks, use your imagination. I'm trying to keep a T rating here. Raven stared, utterly confused.

Raven: Um…what are you doing?

Blushing, Krystal simply swallowed the food. She had forgotten that they were pretty much in the presence of a child. Blackfire blushed as well, but refused to hide anything. She's bold like that.

Blackfire: You know how a boy and a girl can fall in love?

Raven: Yeah…?

Blackfire: Sometimes girls fall in love with each other…or boys fall in love with each other.

Raven's eye twitched as her eight year old brain tried to wrap around the concept.

Raven: …why?

Blackfire: Dunno. Just happens.

Raven: …okay…if you say so.

Deciding that it didn't really matter, Raven went back to eating. Krystal leaned over and whispered into Blackfire's ear.

Krystal: (whisper) You did that just to make her uncomfortable, didn't you?
Blackfire: (whisper) Yep.

Training Room, Following Day

Krystal panted. Raven was doing well…very well. That slamming against the wall hurt her arm. Maybe she shouldn't have let Raven use her powers this time.

Krystal: Wh…when did you get so good?

Raven shrugged.

Raven: I dunno. I just am. Are you hurt? I can heal you. Jinx says I can.

Krystal sweatdropped. That probably meant Raven hadn't tried to heal someone yet…and that could be very painful if she did it wrong. Krystal shook her head.

Krystal: No thanks. Without practice, you'd probably set me on fire.

Raven: No, really. I can! Let me do it.

Krystal: No, I'm good. I just…

Raven's lip trembled.

Raven: You…you don't think I can do it.

Krystal: No, I just…

Raven: (sniffling) You don't!

Krystal bit her lip. The girl looked ready to cry. Raven had been trying so hard lately, she probably was eager to prove herself. …and who was Krystal to deny the trainee a chance? Krystal sighed and held out her injured arm, rolling up the sleeve.

Krystal: (defeated) Go ahead.
Raven: Yay!

Raven put her hands over Krystal's arm. They glowed and a tingling sensation went through Krystal's limb. Slowly the pain faded.

Krystal: (amazed) You did it…

Raven stuck her tongue out at her.

Raven: Told ya I could!

Suddenly a layer of hair sprouted on Krystal's arm in the shape of Raven's hands. Krystal's eyes bulged.

Raven: …maybe I tried too hard…

Krystal: Holy moley! I gots to get to a razor before somebody sees this!

Raven: …or you could roll your sleeve back down.

Krystal: You do things your way, I'll do them mine. …bye.

Krystal disappeared in that annoying flash of light. Raven winced and rubbed her eyes. The door opened and Jinx came in.

Jinx: Hi, Raven. …where's Krystal?

Raven: …I kind of healed her too good and hair sprouted out of her arm. She went to shave it off.

Jinx raised an eyebrow but dismissed it. She'd ask Krystal later.

Jinx: I've found a spell that might reawaken your memories…but I can't promise anything. Please…sit.

Raven did as she was told and Jinx placed her hands on Raven's head. This was it. The spell that would rid the world of the evil Raven forever. With a few words, Jinx's hands glowed. Raven's head snapped back like she had been struck. Continuing her deception, Jinx knelt down next to her.

Jinx: Anything?

Raven: …no. I don't remember anything.

Jinx: Oh…damn it…I'm sorry, Raven. I tried.

Raven: It's okay. Maybe I just need to wait.

Not anymore. Jinx said good bye to Raven.

Jinx: And good bye psycho-bitch forever.

END PART TWO