Chapter 2 A Different End, part 1 -I dreamed I was missing-
-You were so scared-
-But no one would listen-
-'cause no one else cared-
Raven woke with a start. The dreams had been getting so much worse recently. She saw the approach of the end of the world. She saw her friends die. She saw her father's gleeful triumph. But part of it confused her.
*Why does it hurt so much...when I see Beast Boy die?* She shakes her head, as much to clear it of these thoughts as the pain they bring.
-After my dreaming-
-I woke with this fear-
-What am I leaving-
-When I'm done here-
She knew this would be the last time she dreamed, though. Today was the last day. Today was the end of the world.
-So if you're asking me-
-I want you to know-
Beast Boy was up early, for a change. He didn't know why, but he felt like taking an early flight this morning to see what the world looked like. Getting back some time after sunrise, he discovered he wasn't the only one trying an unusual early morning activity. Raven was mixing pancake batter. Flying in through the open window, he changed back.
"Making breakfast?" he asked.
Raven nearly dropped the bowl.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
Raven gives him a look. "This was supposed to be a surprise for everyone."
Beast Boy grins at her. "I'm plenty surprised. I didn't know ou even knew how to cook."
Raven doesn't meet his eyes as she mumbles, "There's a first time for everything."
There's silence for a while, until she looks up at him. He's giving her a quiet smile, no teeth showing. "Would you like some help?"
Raven meets his eyes. "I wanted to do this for everyone."
"But I LIKE helping, Rae-Rae!"
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-help me leave behind some-
-reasons to be missed-
Raven rolled her eyes slightly. Despite the nickname, which she had to mightily fight the urge to correct him on, she knew how true that was. "Okay. I guess I could use the help. I don't really know what I'm doing."
As she turned back to the stove, she stopped. He hadn't moved, and his aura was confused. Suddenly, she knew what he was waiting for. Looking back over her shoulder, she said, "And don't call me Rae-Rae."
With a huge grin, he came forward to help.
Breakfast was a huge success.
-And don't resent me-
-and leave me feeling empty-
-keep me in your memory-
-leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest-
The day was going quite well. They'd been to the mall. They went for pizza. Then Plasmus showed up.
-Don't be afraid-
-I've taking my beating-
-I've shed, but I'm me-
Raven dealt with him swiftly, not wanting to waste any tim with her friends, since there was so little left.
At the park, when she heard Beast Boy cry out, she nearly ripped something in half, only to see he was making a fuss over a penny.
-I'm strong on the surface-
-not all the way through-
Then she made her mistake. She acted too out of character with her willingness to enjoy anything her friends wanted to do. They knew something was wrong. Then it happened.
-I've never been perfect-
When the light was gone and the symbols appeared, she found Robin on one side and Beast Boy on the other. She knew it was time. She told them what was happening.
-But neither have you-
Cyborg carried her back to the tower.
-So if you're asking-
-I want you to know-
They took her down to the room they had prepared for this day. As long as she stayed here, they said, she'd be safe from Slade and her father. They didn't understand what they were up against. They also didn't care.
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-help me leave behind some-
-reasons to be missed-
They were going to fight Slade and her father to protect her. They had no idea what they were getting into. They also didn't care.
Beast Boy was the last to leave. He ran back and took her hand.
"It's okay, Raven." His eyes were full of emotion. There was something different about him. He seemed suddenly more sure of himself. "We'll make it. All we need is a little luck..." he took his hand away, and she saw he'd given her the penny he found earlier, the one he claimed was lucky, "...and a whole lotta love.
-Don't resent me-
-And when you're feeling empty-
-keep me in our memory-
-leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest-
She stared at him, not comprehending what he was saying. He stared into her eyes then, and explained.
"In case I don't make it, never forget..." He suddenly surged forward and gave her a passionate kiss right on the mouth. He pulled away before she had time to even realize what he had done. "...I love you." And he turned and ran to the battle, but not before she saw the tears start to fall.
-Forgetting all the hurt inside-
-you've learned to hids so well-
She fell to her knees, then onto her butt. Realization suddenly washed over her. Now she knew why the dreams hurt so. Everything made sense now. She began to collapse inside. Her world was ending, and it had nothing to do with her father.
-Pretending someone else can come-
-And save me from myself-
He told her because he didn't expect to survive. He didn't intend to. He meant to die for her. The sounds of battle, her father's taunts, none of it even regisered as this realization washed over her. Then she stood up.
She couldn't let it happen.
-I can't be who you are-
The battle had gone on for some time when she made it outside. The battle ended when she did though. Her magic protected her friends as she made her way to the place of the ritual, despite her friends attempts to stop her.
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-Help me leave behind some-
-Reasons to be missed-
She climbed to the top of the platform. She could hear her friends...and him...calling out to her, begging her to stop. She could feel them banging on the shield she had erected to keep them at bay. But she couldn't stop now. There wasn't any other way...right? Wasn't this destiny? Fate?
She performed the ritual.
-Don't resent me-
-And leave me feeling empty-
-Keep me in your memory-
-Leave out all the rest, Leave out all the rest-
The magic began to work. Nothing could stop it now. As the power began to flow, her mind looked back on all she would lose.
-Forgetting all the hurt inside-
-You've learned to hide so well-
Suddenly her mind was overcome by images not from her memory, but her imagination. Visions of what might have been. Dreams of what she could have had. The pain of the magic was suddenly nothing compared to the pain of what she had thrown away.
-Pretending someone else can come-
-And save me from myself-
She didn't want to die. She didn't want it to end. She wanted another chance. The penny was still in her hand, the taste of him was still on her lips. Deep inside, she clung to those sensations, their tantalizing promise. She clung to life. She clung to hope.
She clung to love.
-I can't be who you are-
As the magic consumed her, the pain became unbearable. As she felt her mind fade, she tilted her head back.
And screamed.
-I can't be who you are-
-You were so scared-
-But no one would listen-
-'cause no one else cared-
Raven woke with a start. The dreams had been getting so much worse recently. She saw the approach of the end of the world. She saw her friends die. She saw her father's gleeful triumph. But part of it confused her.
*Why does it hurt so much...when I see Beast Boy die?* She shakes her head, as much to clear it of these thoughts as the pain they bring.
-After my dreaming-
-I woke with this fear-
-What am I leaving-
-When I'm done here-
She knew this would be the last time she dreamed, though. Today was the last day. Today was the end of the world.
-So if you're asking me-
-I want you to know-
Beast Boy was up early, for a change. He didn't know why, but he felt like taking an early flight this morning to see what the world looked like. Getting back some time after sunrise, he discovered he wasn't the only one trying an unusual early morning activity. Raven was mixing pancake batter. Flying in through the open window, he changed back.
"Making breakfast?" he asked.
Raven nearly dropped the bowl.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
Raven gives him a look. "This was supposed to be a surprise for everyone."
Beast Boy grins at her. "I'm plenty surprised. I didn't know ou even knew how to cook."
Raven doesn't meet his eyes as she mumbles, "There's a first time for everything."
There's silence for a while, until she looks up at him. He's giving her a quiet smile, no teeth showing. "Would you like some help?"
Raven meets his eyes. "I wanted to do this for everyone."
"But I LIKE helping, Rae-Rae!"
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-help me leave behind some-
-reasons to be missed-
Raven rolled her eyes slightly. Despite the nickname, which she had to mightily fight the urge to correct him on, she knew how true that was. "Okay. I guess I could use the help. I don't really know what I'm doing."
As she turned back to the stove, she stopped. He hadn't moved, and his aura was confused. Suddenly, she knew what he was waiting for. Looking back over her shoulder, she said, "And don't call me Rae-Rae."
With a huge grin, he came forward to help.
Breakfast was a huge success.
-And don't resent me-
-and leave me feeling empty-
-keep me in your memory-
-leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest-
The day was going quite well. They'd been to the mall. They went for pizza. Then Plasmus showed up.
-Don't be afraid-
-I've taking my beating-
-I've shed, but I'm me-
Raven dealt with him swiftly, not wanting to waste any tim with her friends, since there was so little left.
At the park, when she heard Beast Boy cry out, she nearly ripped something in half, only to see he was making a fuss over a penny.
-I'm strong on the surface-
-not all the way through-
Then she made her mistake. She acted too out of character with her willingness to enjoy anything her friends wanted to do. They knew something was wrong. Then it happened.
-I've never been perfect-
When the light was gone and the symbols appeared, she found Robin on one side and Beast Boy on the other. She knew it was time. She told them what was happening.
-But neither have you-
Cyborg carried her back to the tower.
-So if you're asking-
-I want you to know-
They took her down to the room they had prepared for this day. As long as she stayed here, they said, she'd be safe from Slade and her father. They didn't understand what they were up against. They also didn't care.
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-help me leave behind some-
-reasons to be missed-
They were going to fight Slade and her father to protect her. They had no idea what they were getting into. They also didn't care.
Beast Boy was the last to leave. He ran back and took her hand.
"It's okay, Raven." His eyes were full of emotion. There was something different about him. He seemed suddenly more sure of himself. "We'll make it. All we need is a little luck..." he took his hand away, and she saw he'd given her the penny he found earlier, the one he claimed was lucky, "...and a whole lotta love.
-Don't resent me-
-And when you're feeling empty-
-keep me in our memory-
-leave out all the rest, leave out all the rest-
She stared at him, not comprehending what he was saying. He stared into her eyes then, and explained.
"In case I don't make it, never forget..." He suddenly surged forward and gave her a passionate kiss right on the mouth. He pulled away before she had time to even realize what he had done. "...I love you." And he turned and ran to the battle, but not before she saw the tears start to fall.
-Forgetting all the hurt inside-
-you've learned to hids so well-
She fell to her knees, then onto her butt. Realization suddenly washed over her. Now she knew why the dreams hurt so. Everything made sense now. She began to collapse inside. Her world was ending, and it had nothing to do with her father.
-Pretending someone else can come-
-And save me from myself-
He told her because he didn't expect to survive. He didn't intend to. He meant to die for her. The sounds of battle, her father's taunts, none of it even regisered as this realization washed over her. Then she stood up.
She couldn't let it happen.
-I can't be who you are-
The battle had gone on for some time when she made it outside. The battle ended when she did though. Her magic protected her friends as she made her way to the place of the ritual, despite her friends attempts to stop her.
-When my time comes-
-Forget the wrong that I've done-
-Help me leave behind some-
-Reasons to be missed-
She climbed to the top of the platform. She could hear her friends...and him...calling out to her, begging her to stop. She could feel them banging on the shield she had erected to keep them at bay. But she couldn't stop now. There wasn't any other way...right? Wasn't this destiny? Fate?
She performed the ritual.
-Don't resent me-
-And leave me feeling empty-
-Keep me in your memory-
-Leave out all the rest, Leave out all the rest-
The magic began to work. Nothing could stop it now. As the power began to flow, her mind looked back on all she would lose.
-Forgetting all the hurt inside-
-You've learned to hide so well-
Suddenly her mind was overcome by images not from her memory, but her imagination. Visions of what might have been. Dreams of what she could have had. The pain of the magic was suddenly nothing compared to the pain of what she had thrown away.
-Pretending someone else can come-
-And save me from myself-
She didn't want to die. She didn't want it to end. She wanted another chance. The penny was still in her hand, the taste of him was still on her lips. Deep inside, she clung to those sensations, their tantalizing promise. She clung to life. She clung to hope.
She clung to love.
-I can't be who you are-
As the magic consumed her, the pain became unbearable. As she felt her mind fade, she tilted her head back.
And screamed.
-I can't be who you are-