Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

Author's Note: I'm running out of fear quotes!

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

-Marianne Williamson

A Mazing Grace

Pain and fear. Agony and terror. These were the two ideas that made up Raven's world as she entered her alter ego's robes. Images flashed through her head- her deepest fears replayed before her very eyes. Raven watched, helpless, as she destroyed the Tower, the Justice League, and then the world- accomplishing what her father had failed to do. She cringed as she saw herself ripped apart through slow, agonizing tortures that only demons could devise. She watched as Beast Boy never forgave her for what she did to him.

And she despaired.

"Ok Beast Boy, here's the plan…"

"Run like hell?" The changeling wasn't a coward, but he knew that if one Raven could kick his butt, six would probably spell disaster.

"Sort of- you run like hell, I'll hold them off."

Beast Boy looked at Hope as if she'd just announced her undying love for Starfire's cooking. "You're crazy if you think I'm going to do that."

"I told you- my top priority is getting you safe- if it requires me to-"

"Take on six pissed off Ravens? Right. Not going to happen."

Hope glared at her green companion. "I don't recall asking you if you approved."

"Well since you put it that way…"

Hope gave a surprised squeak as her torso was enveloped in a giant green hand. Before she could register what was happening, a green gorilla was charging across the mindscape with her in its hand.

"What do you think you're doing?! They'll kill you if they catch you!"

Beast Boy's only response was to throw Hope onto his back and transform into a horse. Hope clutched tightly to his mane, shouting as loudly as she could to be heard over his galloping hooves.

"If I stay with you, they'll follow me and get you! You've got to let me go!"

A black-cloaked emotion materialized in front of Beast Boy before leaping out of his path to avoid being trampled.

"See? The longer I stay with you, the more danger you're in! I'm getting off!"

Hope moved to dismount, but Beast Boy's quick reactions prevented her from escaping. Soon, the diminutive emotion found herself being carried by the back of her cloak in the mouth of a sprinting tiger.

"Beast Boy…"

Whatever protest Hope was planning on giving in regards to her less than dignified position was cut off as a wall appeared in front of Beast Boy. He gracelessly slid into it and bounced off, dropping Hope and returning to his human form.

"Good God, Beast Boy- I told you to let me go!"

"Oh yeah," snapped Beast Boy, "because Raven's mind is going to be hunky-dory once she loses Hope, right?"

The emotion pouted. He did have a point, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

"And besides, we're safer in Timid's maze than anywhere else, I'd imagine. If I remember right, it's kind of hard to find your way through here." Beast Boy stood up and began to walk deeper into the maze. "You wouldn't happen to have any string on you, by any chance?"

Hope got up and followed the changeling, ignoring his last comment. "We should probably get ready- we'll probably run into Guilt some time soon."

Beast Boy looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "Why Guilt?"

"Because she's Timid and this is her maze, perhaps?"

Beast Boy grinned sheepishly, giving a nervous chuckle. "Heh, yeah- I should've remembered that…"

The pair continued to walk for a few minutes before the silence was broken once more.

"Hey Hope- why were you so certain that the other emotions were after you and not me?"

She raised her hood to hide her face. Explaining why the other emotions wouldn't harm him would be… problematic, to say the least. She did some quick thinking and came up with a semi-plausible excuse.

"I'm the only emotion not caught in the nightmare- if I'm gone, then Raven will be consumed."

"Which sounds like a great reason to not let you out of my sight."

Hope gave a surprised blink. What was the boy talking about?

"Without your presence, I'm trapped here, and Raven's insane."

"And that's precisely why she must die!" a voice hissed behind them. The pair spun around to find themselves face to tentacle with Guilt.

"Raven doesn't deserve to hope- not after what she's done!"

04:35

In one of the many rooms of the Tower, something stirred. Or, more precisely, someone stirred.

Cyborg's red eye illuminated as his systems booted up. His momentary puzzlement at his early start-up was quickly answered by a rumbling that came from his lower abdomen.

"Heh," he laughed. "Guess it's time for Cy to raid the fridge!"

Smiling to himself, the cybernetic teenager made his way to the kitchen, mentally making a list of the multitude of ingredients that would go into his sandwich. As he passed Starfire's room, a terrible thought struck him- he hadn't told his leader that the Tower was off of lockdown! Immediately, he dialed Robin on his arm.

Robin was a very light sleeper, and his current position under Starfire- while comfortable- did little to lull him to sleep. As a result, he was able to answer his communicator almost before the first ring had completed. Checking quickly to make sure the alien princess as still asleep, he turned to the device in his hand. He kept it closed, restricting the output to audio feed alone.

"Robin here- what is it?"

"Robin! Man, I'm so sorry I forgot to call earlier! The Tower's off of lockdown- you two can come back anytime you want to."

"Is that it?"

"Yeah- for now, at least."

"Robin, out."

Moving as little as possible, the Boy Wonder slipped the communicator back onto his belt. He probably should go back to the Tower, but something kept him from moving the red-headed beauty lying on top of him. Sighing happily, he went back to sleep.

Starfire listened to his quiet snoring for a few minutes before daring to open her eyes. Contrary to what Robin thought, she hadn't slept a wink all night- she was far too excited to get any rest.

Smiling to herself and giggling silently, Starfire squeezed Robin a little tighter and resumed her act once more.

She was sweet, kind, innocent, and naïve, but the alien princess knew what she wanted, and was more than devious enough to get it.

Beast Boy was getting tired- Guilt was very fast, and it was taking all of his animal agility to keep himself between her and Hope. He found it very strange that the dark emotion was unwilling to touch him, but he didn't hesitate to use the fact to its full advantage. Every tentacle that Guilt sent out to attack Hope with, he leapt in front of and forced its retreat. After some time, their attacker grew frustrated and confused.

"WHY?" she shrieked. "Why do you defend her? How can you, after all that she's done to you!?"

"Because," Beast Boy shouted back, "she's my friend, and I don't want her to get hurt!"

Guilt froze as Beast Boy said this, and the tentacles disappeared under her cloak. Briskly, she walked up to the changeling and stared intently into his face- four red eyes boring into two green.

"She deserves to get hurt. She's cruel, thoughtless, and uncaring. She's earned everything we've done to her, and everything we're going to do."

"Raven made a mistake," Beast Boy conceded, "but so have I. She's forgiven me every time I've done something terrible to her, and I've forgiven her for her mistake."

Four red eyes went wide, and merged into two violet orbs.

"You… forgive Raven? You've forgiven… us?" Her fingers nervously played with the edge of her black cloak as she quietly asked the question. Beast Boy reached out and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Yes, I have. I've forgiven you for everything you've ever done, and for everything you ever will do. Please- don't take away my best friend."

Hope's eyes got wide, but she was behind Beast Boy, and her reaction went unnoticed by the changeling. Her eyes went even wider as he pulled Guilt into a hug- the dark emotion's mouth hung open in shocked surprise before she instinctively hugged him back. When they separated, her cloak was once again its normal grey.

"Th-th-thank y-y-ou," she stammered. "I-I-I was a-a-afraid that-"

"Don't be," interrupted Beast Boy. He flashed a smile at the nervous emotion, who returned the expression, albeit in a much slighter fashion.

"We should probably go find the others," said Timid. "They'll need to know too."

Beast Boy and Hope nodded in agreement, and the three began to wind their way through the maze.

Pain and fear. Agony and terror. These were the two ideas that made up Raven's world. But suddenly, it didn't feel quite as bad as it once did.

She no longer despaired.