(Here CH7... this chapter is the most important one yet...it'll show what was Raven thinking about before the Eteranls, what is Shadow's true nature...and how will it affect the Titans when all seems lost...don't own TT, but this version of life...Enjoy)
CH7
Raven felt few of her ribs crack from the pressure of her oppressor's boot landing in her rib cage. She tasted her own blood. That is after being punched in the face, tossed into the wall and having her head smashed against the concrete floor that left a massive cut on her forehead that gashed down her face. While she was on the ground, gasping for air, her hand laid stretched on the floor when the heel of the Eternal's land on her hand. Raven bit her lip hard, that blood began to drip. She felt her fingers break from the pressure along with others. No matter how hard it hurt, Raven didn't scream.
If you did…another round of beating. That happened to her a few times, but she learned not to show pain. But after a while it became a habit (almost) not too.
"Next time you criticize our food, I'll cut your gut out." The Eternal said, throwing down a food tray, nothing much on it except a piece of bread (mind you rotten and disgusting), glass of milk that seemed more like cheese than milk (sick), with some soup full that counted more than hot water boiled with salt and pepper mixed and few vegetables' (if there is any). (Appetizing isn't it?)
Despite the grand food, and good luxury of the Eternal's cell…nothing could get worse for Raven, as she ignored the food to hold her broken hand…if you can't count the condition she is in, which didn't help anything but her doubt of survival.
If you met Raven before, you would have found her attractive, tall (for a girl), athletic body-type, and smooth pale as the night skin, violet hair with matching gorgeous eyes. Over all, Raven was a tough, spirited woman, with out a care. Now…her attractiveness has suffered. Her once attractive figure was nothing more than a phantom of its former glory.
Raven's body (thanks to the food, or lack of) her body has withered to nothing more than a skeleton where her cheek have sunk in, bruises cover parts of her cheeks, where her ribs are barley showing. Her skin turning almost dead-paler, with her hair starting to turn gray from the suffering and her eyes are showing her weakness and dying life. She is not the woman she once was…
As soon as the guard left, a small spider crawled out of the shadow and made its way to Raven… then it morphed back to Beast Boy. Nothing much to say about him, but he was suffering from having to eat part of Raven's food she couldn't eat (which was making just as frail as she is.) But he still had a strong will.
Beast Boy helped Raven up and sat her next to the wall, she was still in pain. Her body shook with throbbing, coldness and fear. He helped her multiple time of what he could help with, but nothing has prepared him (or Raven) for a broken hand. When Beast Boy looked at her hand, he nearly wanted to cry out in pain for Raven. Her hand was red and puffy and wouldn't stop shaking.
"I have to get you out of her." He said.
Even with the pain Raven spoke calmly as she ever did. "Why? No point. I'm just a burden. Please, just go." Raven spoke like that every time she was beaten, but this is different… she felt she was going to die and she wouldn't deny it…death is inevitable.
"We talked about this; I'm not leaving without you. If I have to, I'll die defending you." Beast Boy said, almost a knight in shinny armor sort of way. Slowly, he checked her hand. Beast Boy was no doctor, but he knows enough that if Raven doesn't get medical attention she'll… "No she won't!" Beast Boy told himself over and over. "Unless I have something to say about it."
There was a moment of silence between them. Neither of them knew was going to happen next… Raven would die… more beating…? The possibilities are endless. They don't if it was light or night outside, raining or snowing. Time seemed to pass, has been months, days or years? Simply they didn't know.
Beast Boy has traveled out of the cell once in a while (bug form of course), hoping to find an escape out. No such luck… after hours (or days) of looking, the Eternals left nothing to chance. No exit signs, but some sort of language (possibly Latin, Beast Boy thought) were written on the walls…The whole place seemed like a giant maze, no matter what, Beast Boy lost his way until he had to hitch a ride on an Eternal…after all of this, Beast Boy has concluded that where ever they are, they're under ground, heavily guarded, an no matter what it seemed hopeless, even to him.
During the times when Beast Boy explored, Raven had time to herself, to think…after a while, the Eternal's had quit gagging her, knowing the cuffs would hurt her if she tried, but as time gone by, as the beatings continued, and her weakness…she nor power or strength even to fight if she wanted, so the cuffs disappeared. But as she weakened, Raven thought all of the things that have happened to her since coming to earth from Azarath… not all of these thought was about the bad, but good (or how she failed to take the opportunity and hang out with her friends) now she knew her faults and failure…both now and then.
"Maybe I should have been nicer friend to Starfire, played more sports with them, and hung out, party, date…but no! I had to push them back. Shut them from my life, isolate myself for their safety (or mine?) And look were it had got me? Stuck in a hell hole who knows where under my heartfelt hosts (HA!) and placed in a room with the only person who I had ridiculed, scorn, embarrassed, harassed… now we are stuck in the same hell…where I'll end up any way." Raven had thought.
But not only was the passing present going through her mind… her past. The one, the mysteries of mysteries, where she had kept it all to herself (Starfire only got a glimpse; remember the Puppet King and the switch of Star and Rea's bodies). Truly she never told of her true first crush (not Malichor), her dreams, her life's tragedies, past friends, and her family. As she thought of the regrets, Raven had decided before she dies…the question is when? Her story, at least what she needed to say was to be told.
"Beast Boy," she finally said at last. Her tears stinging as she met his eyes. Beast Boy looked up, with the same worried look that had brought him to discover what he felt was worse. "I need to tell you something."
"What Raven?" Beast Boy asked.
"I don't know how long I'll last, but it won't be for long though…" Raven rambled.
"You will!"
Raven continued as even if Beast Boy didn't speak. "I need to tell you about my life… who I was, and why I am. Please listen… and hear my story." Tears flowed from her eyes, not from the pain of the flesh, but of the memories…death and misery. "That is all I ask, please."
"Please." Beast Boy said, thinking it is the worst word her said in a long time.
(To Note: This is my version of Raven's life…be critical if you want, but this story fits in to the basis of Shadow of the Past so bear with me, some facts will be wrong, stretched or different from the show but this is how it goes.)
"Thank you…My story I mean our story begins with my mother, Arella. She was born and lived on earth…for a while. She was good women, did the entire right thing, but she fell into the wrong crowd. Demon worshipers, Trigon if you would know. She fell in love with a man, who was a weak Trigon in an earth form." Raven sniffled as bit, recalling her mother's pain. "He raped her and that brought us forth."
Beast Boy was simply amazed. He wouldn't have known…or guessed that Raven was born as (pardon for this word, it actually has historical significance)…a bastard child.
Raven continued, "She tried to kill herself, but a monk named Azar saved her and brought to Azarath, to the city of Fredericksburg, where she was helped and cared for. Eventually, months based and we came into the world… first he came screaming from her womb." (I know it is not a magic city Fredericksburg but I like the city name.)
"Whose he?" Beast Boy asked.
"My twin brother, Edgar." Raven replied. "Older, actually by three minutes." Beast Boy mouthed dropped open; he thought he was amazed before. Now he was absolutely shocked, he never knew… "I came next as Rachel Roth, my true name," Beast Boy thought that was beautiful. "A name I forgotten till Trigon returned. From that day, we were the children of Him."
"Twins?" Beast Boy said with surprise. "Why didn't you ever mention…Edgar before?"
"Why?" Raven gripped her hurt hand, not knowing she was squeezing it. "You never would've trusted him, if you guys met him. Like what happened to Star and Blackfire. Another reason, he hated the Titans ever since I joined, possibly the best reason why…Edgar was killed less than two year ago."
"I'm sorry." Beast Boy said, meaning every word.
"He was the only man, ever to have ever thought of me. He loved me dearly and I loved him." Tears were now replacing those tears of pain, with sorrow. "I loved my brother, I still do…but the pain has never gone way." Raven finally released her hand, "I'll never forget him, who could? Ever since our birth, Edgar has always been by my side. As a guardian, a friend, only one I ever had."
"What was Edgar like?"
"Before the incident, he was kind and loving. He always had philosophical way of looking at life. But he had a good humor, had a talent to make me laugh." She giggled, only for a bit. "Tall, slime, had face that was so handsome, to me, he would have made Robin jealous. Unlike me, he had snow white hair, so grand, I called snowball. And a smile, that melted hearts…quite my opposite. A selfless man.
"Anyway, our childhood was rough; with my emotion and Edgar's selflessness we were dangerous. We were picked on, cursed at, even stoned at for what our fate was forced upon us before our birth. Edgar seemed to know how to get out of any situation, regardless his use of dark magic."
"Must've been rough?"
"It was, but I never thought of it that way. Azar eventually adopted me and Edgar and placed our mother in a secure way of life. He was the one who taught me how to control my emotions. But we were never bored, when we were little, all of us traveled to Europe, Japan. Where I learned all the languages I know now. I remember taking a trip to New York City, I immediately loved it. I always wanted to live there, but no point when I was going to end the world."
"Then on the night on April fifteenth, my world was shattered forever…we were only nine." Raven closed her eyes, knowing she was going to cry, but she couldn't help it. "At Azarath…few of Trigon's fanatic followers, broke into our home, I was meditating in my room so I didn't hear the commotion until Egdar came bursting into my room…
(Now, I am telling the story as if this is the plot, to tell you what is happening so you'll better understand it…)
"Rachel!" Edgar yelled, apparently out of breath. "Come quickly."
"Why?" young Raven said, breaking from her meditation. "What is happening?"
Edgar looked away from his twin sister. "They killed them! Mother and Azar are dead! His followers threatened them if they didn't give us away, when they didn't they executed them." Raven was shocked; she felt her heart sink to the bottom of her stomach.
"Are you sure, Edgar?"
"I watched it with my own eyes."
Then they was a sudden crash, footsteps echoing down the hall, voices screaming at other voices as the hell seem to draw closer and closer.
(Now were back to Raven and Beast Boy)
"Edgar led me out of my room and into his…There he opened a hidden door in wall, a closet actually, big enough to hide a person, not two…" Raven said as if the fear she felt then was here and now. "I complained, but Edgar wouldn't hear it…the strangers came forth, all Edgar said was…
(Young Raven and Edgar's POV)
"There is no time, Rachel. If they find you, we are gone." Edgar said, shoving Raven into his hiding spot. "What ever happens to me, sis, don't move from this spot and don't make a sound."
"But…"
"No buts…trust me Rachel…not a word." Edgar then closed the hidden door. Suddenly, a dozen men ran into the room, they all dressed in red cloaks and tunics but had black bandanas covering their faces. One of them held out a sword at Edgar, staring at him with evil in those eyes…
"Where is she, boy?" the main man asked.
"To hell with you and your master!"Edgar yelled. He then summoned a white power of his own in each of his hands ready to fight.
"Wrong choice!" the man said, using his own magic before Edgar could react, he shot a bolt at Edgar which sent him into the hidden door. Slowly Edgar got up, determination in his eyes. No matter what he did, the intruders used there magic to fling him across the room. Either it was smashing into wall, or getting hit by Trigon's worshipers magic or fists, by the time the intruders were finished with Edgar, his body was broken, his face smashed, his white hair was stained by the blood of his own.
"Where is she?" The man asked.
"In…" Edgar managed to say. "Salvation…" With that, Edgar was hit in the head, clearly knocking him out.
Raven had heard all of this, which scared her. But when she heard her twin brother being flung into the wall, and magic smashed him up, Raven never knew how strong willed he was it he said, despite the threats and pain, "In…salvation…" After what seemed to be hours…after hearing the yells and foot steps of her enemies tearing and destroying her home, she finally heard silence…And slowly she opened the door, only to see Edgar in a bloody mess. For the first time…she thought she was alone.
(The rest of the story will be told by Raven's POV and BB's, with a few exceptions.)
"But I wasn't. Edgar lived; he was healed to full strength and was back to normal. Edgar's body was healed, but not his soul. That love of his disappeared, only to be filled with anger for Trigon. With Azar and mother gone, Edgar ventured out of Fredericksburg, learning the ways of an ancient Azarathian soldier, using swords and magic against the enemy. I was depressed, prosecution by my neighbors grew worse that Edgar had to advise me to leave for Earth. By this time, we were thirteen."
(This is the last POV of Edgar and Raven)
After summoning a portal to Earth, Raven stood there, waiting along with only few minor possessions of cloths food, money and some remains of her past all stuffed in a duffel bag… She was scared of course, but she hid it well, but not well enough.
"It is not easy. I know." Edgar said, standing there behind her.
"It is not just that, but I am afraid for you more than me!" Raven said. "What will happen to us if we are separated? How can we deal with this, how will we?"
"I'm not sure, Rachel. But we don't know if you don't try." Edgar said.
"What happens if you're killed? How I can I take it after what happened to mother and Azar?" She asked, with fear in her voice.
"That is up to you sis." Edgar said. "Just remember that saying I told you, 'another day ends, another begins…a chance to tell him I love him, to make him worth my life, if to be meaningful…if not to make him laugh and cry…knowing I am to die. Life is precious, life is short…Death is eternal, death is all …death is inevitable…only fools seek to cheat it…to others it is mercy…and beautiful it will be.' I promise you you'll be fine."
Raven turned to Edgar and hugged him, tears of lost struck both, as Edgar hugged her back. He then broke away, stroking Raven's hair then giving her a kiss on the cheek as it was the end. Raven grabbed her duffle bag and was about to enter the portal that led to Earth.
"I hope we will see each other again." Raven said to Edgar.
"I hope so too, sister." Edgar responded, as Raven tutned to leave. Edgar yelled out to her… "Rachel, may you live forever." Before Raven could respond…she was bolted to Earth, without saying what she wanted to say… "As of you brother."
(Regular POV)
"I then traveled the world, seeking peace before the end until I came to Jump City, joined the Teen Titans and everything. By this time Azarath was plunged into a world wide civil war, which Edgar joined those of hope against Trigon" Raven finished at last.
"Did you keep in touch with Edgar?" Beast Boy asked.
"Yes. Until before the end. Where I had learned he was killed during the defense of Fredericksburg." Raven shivered at the thought of how he died. "At least he didn't live to see Trigon's return and my fall. Only I wish I had gotten something to help feel at peace with Edgar's death, a message. As I see it now, it doesn't matter."
"Raven…you live." Beast Boy reassured.
"Beast Boy can you promise something for me anyway?"
"Sure."
"Tell the Titan's my story. Once I am dead."
"No point in doing so, Rae. You can tell them."
Raven touched Beast Boy with her good hand, wiping away the tears from the boy's face. With the last of her strength her lips met Beast Boy's. "I love you…" she managed to saw, Beast Boy was now speechless. The words didn't come out of his mouth easily…
"Raven…I too love…you." He managed. Then the suddenly, the lock to the cell made noises, with regret to leave Raven at the hands of the Eternals, he morphed back into a spider, but instead of heading into the shadows, she crawled back into Raven's shoe.
When the door opened, two Eternal came in, swords drawn out. Raven gave them a sad look, but she showed no weakness or pain…only regret.
"The time has come demon." One the Eternal's said.
"For what?" Raven managed to say.
"To face you inevitable fate!" the same eternal answered.
"Then…I'll live forever." Raven said as she was dragged to her feet and carried off unto her unknown doom, and Beast Boy will learn what it'll mean for true pain and lose…
(Sad tail?... Tell me what you think...still opened for critizism...again thank you for reading... What will Raven's fate be? Death? Read Ch8 and see...)