(The battle between Shadow and the Beast, win or lose? also this chapter has something that'll make you horrified to even read...Enjoy it, if you can?)
CH16
Beast roared in anger as Shadow had managed to dodge his claws as he tried to take down his enemy. But the Beast didn't expect to fight a man that was so determine as he to do what ever it takes for Raven's sake. When Shadow's white magical bird-claw grabbed the Beast picked him up and tossed him into a semi-truck, the Beast was pissed off more than he knew… No one ever survived this long against the Beast, now this guy was defying him but standing there insulting it with magic and skill with a sword.
Despite Shadow's best effort with his magic and sword skills, the Beast proved to be an equal opponent. When the Beast grabbed Shadow and threw him onto the road. The creature leaped into the air, dropping his feet as to land on his foe. Shadow rolled out of the way before the Beast landed, but the Beast grabbed Shadow's leg, lifted him off the ground bashed him into a side of a car. (Noticed that there are a lot of cars? Hate to be the owner of the some) When Shadow whipped his sword and scratched the Beast's arm, the Beast roared when he back handed Shadow across the face. Sending him spinning from the impact.
Shadow got up to his feet when he felt the Beast's claw slash across his arm…sending pieces of his leather coat, and flesh with the hint of blood all over the bridge. Gripping his wounded arm, Shadow's good arm was forced away from his other hand, and the Beast grabbed Shadow's wounded arm that held his sword before grabbing Shadow again and tossed him down the bridge, sending his sword in the other direction.
When Shadow realized what his was into, he knew he couldn't beat the Beast with brawns like he did with Raven and the Titans, but with strategy and skill. Without his sword, and his limitations in magic, Shadow was overwhelmed by the Beast's speed and strength. Shadow gathered himself together, when he saw the Beast charging at him with speed and teeth gnawing in determination, Shadow knew he had only seconds to realize any counter attacks or to become the Beast's chew toy.
The Beast leaped in the air again, seeing Shadow standing there vulnerable and weak. Perfect prey!The Beast thought before realizing he was seeing a white bird-like claw grab at his torso and threw him back into the ground. He yelped in pain, when the Beast picked himself off from the ground…he fell back when Shadow's white whip collided with his face. Shadow then summoned the claw and grabbed the Beast again and slammed it into a near by semi-truck. The Beast seemed to be hurt, because he wasn't getting up fast enough… Shadow looked to where his sword would've landed when he saw his sword gleaming in the fresh powdered snow; Shadow began to run towards it.
When the Beast gained his balance, he turned to see Shadow running in the opposite direction. Gazing more closely he too saw the katana sword gleaming in the snow, and then he tied two and two together… Shadow and the sword…a weapon! Growling, in anger and frustration, the Beast took off after him.
Shadow knew the Beast was after him, because he felt dread overcoming his senses. Closer and closer he ran, closer he got to his sword. He knew he couldn't make it on his own power, Shadow then risked it all…he dived when he thought he was close enough. The Beast saw it, so he too leaped in the air. Shadow felt his dive too short but he skidded close enough to grip the handle, then he rolled as fast as he could when he saw a growing shadow over him. When the Beast landed, he slashed his claws but missed Shadow, and then Shadow brought his sword up and down in quick succession that cut into the Beast's arm…
The next thing Shadow knew he was flying in the air. Slowly he got up, he winced in pain as he felt his hand was in the most pain he knew of, he sprained it. (Not fun!) When he looked on, he saw the Beast glaring at him with those soulless eyes; he saw its mouth quiver knowing it was in pain. It let out a monstrous roar before it was charging Shadow head on. Both of them thought this was it, one will stand but the other will be dead. They knew it, but didn't care!
Shadow got into position, he didn't charge…nor he going to run away, but he was going to stop the Beast even if it means he has to kill it or the other way around. He held the sword in front of him horizontally where the sharpest end was held out away from him, and towards the charging creature…
Time seemed to slow down as to see if Beast or Shadow were to die…the Beast's breath clouded his sight in the bitter cold, each stride brought him closer to his brave prey. He wanted blood, he wanted it so badly, and he didn't care if he got hurt… Shadow breathing was steady, but his was heart was thumping hard from anxiety. Now it came down to this, beast against man, who will triumph and who will go the way of the dodo?
Just when Shadow could smell the Beast's fowl breath, his mind concentrated hard on the only thing that brought Raven down…suddenly Shadow's katana glowed white with power… it was only seconds away before the Beast charged grew inches closer to Shadow. Shadow's concentration centered on his spell, he had only one chance…
Then the Beast was close, ready to kill!
"Bar-ruk!" Shadow bellowed…
When the Beast was hit with the spells shock wave, it roared in pain in the next minute the Beast fell in the snow and skidded near to Shadow. Next thing that looked up was Beast Boy! He was looking around fanatically, he didn't remember forcing the Beast back, but when he saw Shadow walking towards him he knew he was screwed. (Wouldn't you be?)
The next thing Beast Boy did he tried to fight Shadow in his human form, only Shadow took his breath away so to speak, Beast clutched his stomach as Shadow's fist collided with it. When Beast Boy doubled over Shadow upper-cut him in the jaw, Beast Boy fell to the ground in pain, he clinched his jaw while trying to crawl when Shadow kicked him in the ribs. He groaned in pain when Shadow kicked him again in the face.
Shadow grabbed the top of Beast Boy's hair and pulled him to his feet and hit him in the cheek, Beast Boy stumbled backwards when Shadow grabbed his shoulder, then cocked his fist back then punched Beast Boy again and again. Suddenly Beast Boy was kneed in the gut and hit one last time in the face before falling backwards; bloodied, beaten, defeated…and unconscious.
Far away, hiding behind a damaged car was Raven, who watched the battle. She had hoped the Beast was going to win. After all, it was Shadow who was on the ground the most and in the air the longest. But when she saw Shadow's neutralizing spell relieve Beast Boy of the Beast, she knew he was defeated. Seeing Beast Boy take a beating, after so long when Beast Boy watched her being beaten time again by the Eternals, now she was watching Beast Boy suffer under Shadow was unbearable…
After the Beast went after Shadow, the Titans tried to catch up. They watched the climatic battle between them. When they saw the Beast morph back to Beast Boy, they knew it was all over. Slowly they grew angry at Shadow; not only he defeated the Titans twice, but he had threaten them, and he hurt Raven and Beast Boy personally. They couldn't take this anymore standing, not anymore…
With the Titans, Terra was amazed Shadow could take the pain and yet still gives some. She feared for her ex-boyfriend, yes, but she knew neither the Beast nor Beast Boy could defeat Shadow, not when Shadow was willing to make the necessary sacrifice, for him or others…
Shadow pushed Beast Boy's unconscious body to where he could see him, the one that tried to defy him, to stop the message and pretty much interfering with his business with Raven. He knew Raven was hiding from him, he knew it would waste his time to search for her. He knew the Titans are recovering, he didn't have time to fight them and deliver his message. Shadow felt he was going to lose no matter what he did, but his message was going to be delivered at all cost…
Slowly Shadow lifted his sword in the air, clinching the handle of it with both of his hand tightly as the downward blade was high above Beast Boy's body…
"You were a fool to challenge me," Shadow said to Beast Boy. "And I am going to make sure it won't happen again." When Shadow was about to thrust the sword into Beast Boy's chest…his felt a club like thing hit him on the side of the helmet. Shadow stumbled over…
Raven dropped the piece of pipe she happened to found to the ground. She slowly looked at Beast Boy. She was crying, she knew it and didn't care. She just watched the love of her life get hit time and again like he was some kind of punching bag. Now here he was lying there, bloodied and hurt.
Raven felt some dark chill run down her spine, she knew Shadow was gazing over her. Powerless and weaponless, she launched herself at Shadow. Only Shadow's sword stopped her, if she wanted to get impaled at least.
"Big mistake, Rachel." Shadow said, his breath was heavy, but his voice showed no anger. Raven could see the dent in his helmet where she hit him. "You think you or that boy could stop it. Even if you defeated me, you couldn't stop it. You'll know the truth sooner or later, you can't stop it."
"But we can!" Robin's voice sounded in the distance. "Titans together!" The next thing you know it, all Titans present (in case you forgot all of them now, there isn't only Raven and Beast boy- but there is Robin, Starfire Blackfire, Cyborg Hotspot, Argent, Jericho, Terra and the Titans East (5)) Ran at him, weapons at the go and ready.
Shadow sighed; he lowered his sword, ready for his fate. Robin's staff smacked Shadow across the face when Speedy shot an arrow that collided with Shadow's chest making him jolt to the side when Starfire and Blackfire sent volley after volley that meet forced there attacker backwards. Cyborg's and Bumblebee's beams sent Shadow into the ground, but when Shadow tried to recover when Más y Menos force him down when Hotspot flames engulfed him, but Shadow managed to move away when Jericho hit him across the face. Shadow stumbled when Aqualad tossed him back…Slowly and painfully Shadow got up. The Titans reaction was pure amazement. No one person could stand up to that attack, but Shadow was proving them all wrong.
Terra didn't participate. She looked on with pure horror as the Titans all gained up on Shadow. He didn't fight back, he let them do this. Why? All of this for a message? How important was this message to him? Was he willing to die for it? Terra asked herself those questions and more. But she felt her heart sink into her chest, when she felt those warm tears fighting against the cold. She couldn't stand the fact her friend, possible her love was a subject to abuse.
Raven too thought of those questions Terra thought. When Raven held Best Boy's unconscious body near her, she actually felt sorry for Shadow, even though he tried to kill her and Beast Boy, no body deserves that kind of punishment, no matter how much he deserves it.
Robin couldn't take it anymore, he walked over to Shadow, who still managed to hold on to his sword, but he no longer cared to fight. But when Robin held his staff next to his, Shadow knew this was the end for him, but not his message. Either way, he wins!
Robin hit Shadow across the head and Shadow's body fell unconscious into the snow…it was over! Robin sighed with relief, it took all of these months to do it, but hey, they did it. They all defeated Shadow; the mysterious threat to Jump City, and it all took the combined efforts of all, included Beast Boy and Raven, and Blackfire if you wanted…he walked over to the gang who was circled around Raven and Beast Boy.
"We did it. Shadow is defeated. It took all of our combined strength and talent to bring him down. It was hard but it is over." Robin said to the Titans who all nodded in agreement, except Terra.
"It ain't over till we say it is over," a voice said, when Robin turned a Eternal's fist collided with Robin's face.
When the Titans realized the situation, the saw over a dozen Eternals storm the bridge in mass numbers, close to thirty five. The Titans tried to resist, but the surprise the Eternals had, and the vast number the Titans were beaten down. The Eternals pulled out a new type of neutralizer, similar to the cuffs that made Raven powerless months ago, but these were like bracelets that could be snapped on like cuffs. Each made the Titans powerless, except Robin and Cyborg of course. The Eternals took away the Titans weapons also and gathered them all in a group.
Raven struggled, but the Eternals took no chances, they cuffed her with the new anti-hero bracelets (I'll call them that from now on), they forced her to her knees as they dragged Beast Boy's body next to her. The Eternals then formed up a long linear line across the bridge.
"It is nice to see you Titans," one of the Eternals said. "It is been a while. Especially for you, Raven, and that charmer snake in the grass Beast Boy. Not matter, we come to finish the job that was so rudely interrupted. Not only are we going to relieve the world of you, witch, we are her also for that shape shifting devil. Your friend will not die today, no, but they will witness it."
"Why are you doing this?!" Starfire asked.
One of the Eternals looked at her, "Because we can!" Then the main Eternal waved his hand and one of them walked over to Raven drawing his sword out.
"Leader! What about this fellow?" another Eternal called out. When all of them looked over to see that one of their comrades was standing over Shadow's body.
"Leave him, he his helpless." The main Eternal said. "Commence salvation." He said to the Eternal with his sword drawn to Raven.
The Eternal lifted his sword high above his head. "For we will smite the demons and throw them into the darkened abyss!" He yelled in triumph.
The Titans couldn't look on. They couldn't stop the Eternals, so no point. They were there to watch Raven and Beast Boy about to die in front of them, helpless as babies…
I am going to die!Raven realized. She knew what death felt like when Trigon used her as his portal here on Earth. But this was different, she wasn't going to be used as a doorway and die from it, she was going to die by a sword by people who claim to be doing it for the good of the world. As she watched the Eternal about to drop the sword upon them, she looked over to her friend who sat there in the snow horrified, she smiled at them. Raven looked at Beast Boy, tears seeping down her cheeks, I love you so much. Finally she looked down at the snow… I'll see you soon, brother.
The next thing that was heard was blade meeting flesh and a scream that followed…!
(Oh, man! You really have to hate them Eternals! What now? read Ch 17 if you can... Review and lend me your suggestions if you care!)