Chapter 22
(I don't own teen titans. Simple as that.)
"Alright now quit your squirming." Terra said as she guided the lock Wize was trapped in, to a room." Masterfully done my son trained you well." Edgar said as he looked up at Darren and smiled." I knew you had it in you." With that Darren frowned." Still skeptical are we? Alright fine." Edgar waved his hand over the block and it disappeared. Darren fell to the ground his legs numb for not moving for around two hours." Terra, Raven. You're welcomed to stay the night here. If you need anything just let these fine gentlemen know." Edgar turned and looked at the guard escort and nodded." Aye Grandmaster." They said as they took the girls down the hall and left Darren and Edgar alone.
"…is it too hard to believe that we returned?" Edgar frowned as he helped Darren back to his feet." I saw it all happen. There was no room for doubt I saw it all. I felt the blood one my hands, I prayed over the bodies, the corrupted bodies I ripped to sunder as my heart broke. I thought it a nightmare…but as I looked on the blood and fire, and I saw him. I knew what I saw was reality in all its brutality." Darren said solemnly as they began to walk down the halls. Edgar remained silent, it was many years of church service as a pastor that taught him sometimes it's best to listen." It was my fault, I wasn't wise enough to stop him. It wasn't anger that got the better of me, not my hatred. It was my doubt. When Lilith died, when you died when everyone died…I lost hope. No…I gave it up. How could I keep it?" tears streamed down his face as they passed by the different family rooms, all with people laughing, training, crafting, fellowshipping. The family he lost." I wanted to die when I saw nothing left…when I began to remember again, I craved death over and over again."
"Then why do you still live?" this question shocked Wize as he remembered the image he saw when he was killed.
(Flashback)
On the ground he laid motionless in pain, but the pain faded to numbness and the cold of death gripped him. He felt to his chest. The warm of the blood could not quale the chill that was overtaking him. He looked on and saw his pale face." Vincent…it should have been me…im sorry…" he looked at the distance and saw Lilith, Victor, Mona, Godsey, Ward…their blood, bodies." Im so, so sorry, but I can't…" suddenly his vision faded in bright white." You can." He heard a voice. It sounded so loud yet distant. Many voice speaking at once like a rushing water. It seem to come from the sky, from the ground below him, from the dead bodies. From the fire around him, as if everything around him spoke." Through me, you can do all things." He felt power surge through him, as he saw" Through me nothing will be impossible for you." Wize felt the power begin to lift him to his feet as the bright light took the shape of a man but he could make out his face." What? Who are you?" WIze muttered to himself." Don't you see I AM your pride, bearer of needs." The power fluctuated as Zell backed away from WIze as the bright fire light radiated from him." I AM your war, I AM the strong aiding the weak. You shall know me by name!" SAY IT."
"ELSHADDAI, the Ancient of days." WIze said, suddenly he felt the fury build up and heal his stab wound. Zell gritted his teeth and struck out and slashed down on WIze's skull. The light faded for a moment as he fell to his knees." So ends the bloodline of Seth, and soon the seed of Adam, will fade. Suddenly the ground began to shake. Zell took another look at Wize and all he saw was fire. Fire went forth from WIze with a shout destroying the whole town along with Zell's undead army. All that was left was WIze as he laid motionless in the ashes of his home.
(End of flashback)
"The Voice." Darren said as they began to make their way to the back entrance of his old home." God…"Edgar said." But that's not the only reason is it?" with that said Wize began to remember his friends. All the Titans; Robin, Beast, Cyborg, Star Fire, Terra…Raven." He imagined them all I is mind as he walked outside with his father. They walked along a stone path to marked grave in a flower patch." How long has it been since we stood together here?" Edgar said as he took his glasses off to rub the bridge of his nose. Darren just stared down the grave." Not since she died right?" you were two if I recall." She…" He began." Deserved better." Wize said bitterly." That she did…she made a choice."
"It was the wrong choice." He said again with some venom." Yes. We all make them." Edgar retorted." You've always defended her despite the fact she left us for this madness."
"That madness saved your life." Edgar said calmly as tears began to build up in Darren's eyes." Why?" this question left Edgar at a pause." Why did all of you have to die for I can live?" Darren now began to weep bitterly." Because we choose to." Edgar said putting his glasses back on." Everything that has a beginning has an end. Everyone has their appointed time. From ashes we were to ashes we shall return." This was a terrible truth to share as silence filled the air for what seem to be hours." But through him who saved you, death is swallowed up in victory. We live on because death has no chain on us no longer." He began to walk, WIze turned his sight to Edgars back and began to fallow him deeper into the woods.
"Darren… what your mother did, everything that we all did was out of love. God have mercy on us, we made mistakes, but the one thing that we will never regret was keeping you safe. We believe in you, we knew since the day you were born, that Heaven has a plan for you." As they made their way into and opening in the woods where the moonlight illuminated the area with its light." I know we have never said it much or maybe even perhaps too much." Wize looks his father in the eyes as he smiled at him." I am so proud of you son. I love you." The wind began to pick up through the silence of the night. Raven was in the center of the room meditating trying to get back in touch with her powers. Terra watched TV with a bored expression on her face until Mona and Victor walked into the room armed to the teeth." Whoa whats going on!?" Terra hopped up on the bed with her hands glowing menacingly." NO TIME!" Victor said as he ran and tackled Terra to the Ground as Mona did the same to Raven. Suddenly purples flairs of light flashed into the room, burning holes into the furniture and walls. Meanwhile as the wind died down WIze finished drying his tears." How much pain are you in?" He asked, and his father did grin." I can't even put it into words."
"How do I break the curse?" Wize said looking down." You know what you must do." Was the response his father gave him? With that Edgar summoned his sword and WIze got into his fighting stance as his gear suddenly flashed on." I won't be able to hold back once I let it loose." Edgar said sorrowfully." I don't want to think about it…" with that Edgar closed his eyes when he opened them again Wize saw nothing but darkness. Suddenly with a blink of an eye Edger was in front of WIze." Oh shi-"Edgar slashed forward with the sword and several trees a few feet away was cut down in that second. WIze however fell to the floor just in time with wide eyes." –it." With that said he glided up spinning his legs into kicks knocking the sword out of his father's hand. Then came the rapid punches WIze hit every vital spot and ended the combo with a swift kick to Edgars gut but then, Edgar barely moved, he stood still cracking his neck." Not enough." He then gave WIze one good punch to the sternum sending him flying back sliding into the ground. WIze began to spit blood. The bones of his chest snapped puncturing his lungs." Oh God!" he spat as the healing began. He then suddenly saw Edgar above him. A loud boom could be heard as Edgar began stomping WIze into the ground.
"Hold your ground Mona!" Victor said as he punch down a few corrupted guards with his hands glowing red." Shut up!" Mona yelled as she fired a fury of bullets from two pistols which found their mark in a few heads." Theres too many of them." Terra said as tossed a boulder down the hall to block the corrupted from getting through the stronghold that was now their room. Raven along with Victor was bringing the beat down on a few that got through, a flurry of kicks. Sure she didn't have her powers, but she learned from the monks of Azerath that, when in doubt, punch! Which she did, knocking one corrupted to the ground below her as she charged the other six in front of her.
The stomping continued until a blast of light found its mark on Edgars face then another to his chest sending him up in the air. Wize then bust through the ground and with one spinning kick Edgar went flying back into a large rock." This ends now!" Wize then went for his father's sword. Before Edgar could do anything the blade found its place imbedded into his stomach pinning him to the rock. With his hands shaking WIze turned away as his father went limp." Too soon son..." he heard Edgar said as he felt a kick knocking him down. He turned and saw Edgar pull the blade from his body." The blade is made from my own power. It cannot be used against me." He then jabbed the blade into the ground." Ill show you the true power of Seth." Suddenly Edgar grew bigger more muscular and energy radiated off of him. Wize Gritted his teeth then charged at his father throwing a few punches which met their mark but did nothing. Edgar threw a few punches which WIze blocked but suddenly another fist smack Wize across the face making him stumble back. Wize looked on as Edgar raised his hands In the air then slowly brought then to his side and as he did light in the shape of arms form around him then suddenly they became real." Give me a break already…" WIze cursed as Edgar charged. Unfortunately for WIze there was no way to knock all those punches away. Some landed to his chest which already was having a hard time healing, another few to his gut, and two to his face. Wize was a bloody mess. Edgar's extra arms disappeared, as he now reached for his sword. WIze got up slowly producing a shield in his left hand and a short sword in his right." The Demuirgos…but weak constructs. That won't do."
"Itll do just fine." WIze retorted as he charged in shield first. Blade and shield clash as the two spared to the death, Edgar making quick short swings, Wize blocking with his shield and making quick jabs and slashes. This went on for what seem to be hours, the two having cracks of yellow light on theirs skin." Damn it!" Wize cursed as Edgars sword dug into his shoulder. Yanking the sword out Edgar then grabbed the shield from Wize's arm and tore it from his arm. WIze fell to the ground as he tried to slide himself away, but Edgar then grabbed him by his throat and lifted him to the air." You could never have defeated me." Edgar said with a frown as he began to crush his throat.
" Ugh…all, I wanted….was to…spar with you.. One ugh last time!" WIze said his eyes flashed like fire as he took hold of Edgar's arm which then suddenly blew apart. Edgar then slashed down at WIze but all Wize did was lift his arm to block and the mighty blade shattered on impact." What is this?" Edgar said as he spawn several fists again, that all got caught in bright light barrier around Wize." The end…" Wize then punched Edgar in the center with his fist glowing bright red blue light went forth through his gut leaving only a gaping hole in Edgar's stomach.
Edgar backed away gasping he fell to his knees. WIze stared at him with a grim look, as the energy cracks spread through his body at to the hole in his stomach and to the location of his missing arm." It would take too much Divine energy to heal your body." Wize said and true to his word the cracks began to spread through his body that the ground seem to smoke with the heat radiating off of him. The darkness in his eyes faded as he fell to the ground." You got better…" Edgar said in between gasps." Im sorry Dad…if only I was strong enough to save you."
"Nonsense….you did save me. You saved all of us." With that Edgar's body exploded to ash with a bright light suddenly the ground quaked and the wind began to churn as the cloud and formed an eye of a storm.
Edgar's energy flew up into the eye and out of nowhere the energy began to build up in the eye. Energy struck down with its might into WIze, and with a sound of thunder WIze began to float as he felt power surge into him. In the distance at the mansion. Victor and Mona where beginning to glow bright as did the corrupted as they began to shriek in pain." Raven, Terra you need to escape now! Out the window!" Victor yelled and he punched one corrupted into the wall." But-"Terra began." NO BUTS!" Mona grinned as she tackled both Raven and Terra and flew out the window. As they went down Mona turned her back to the ground before they hit it and squeeze both Raven and Terra to herself. They fell a good four stories." MONA!" Terra yelled as both Raven and herself stood from Mona in hopes that Mona was alright. Mona just laid there motionless her eyes closed with a grin as the light began to consume her." Make sure Little Darren stays out of trouble." She said before her body turned to ash and the light flew from her body.
They turned to see the mansion crumbling, and then exploded with a burst of light that flew into the woods behind them. Terra long with Raven then lifted the ground below them and gave chase to the light and saw Wize floating and absorbing the light." AHHHHHHH!" he screamed as if in pain." Darren!" Raven yelled as she ran up to the light and was then knocked away by an invisible force. Shaking it off; she got into a casting stance." Azerath Metrion ZInthos!" she chanted and with success a claw shaped hand flew into the light to grab WIze, however it was short lived as the Dark aura was dispelled as the light began to get intense. BOOM! An explosion so intense they now see nothing but black.
It seemed like an eternity but soon enough broke through as Raven opened her eyes. What she saw was something more than heartbreaking. Terra was staring at Wize lying motionless on the ground outfit torn on the top making his chest bare the inside of his chest seemed to glow red under as if a fire burned bright inside him. Raven reach down slowly touching down on his chest only to receive a sudden shock making her hand burn with numbness as if the energy rebuked her presence." Is he?" Terra Began approaching slowly as her eyes were glossy as she fought back the stinging tears in her eye. The light in his chest began to flicker as if it was a heartbeat, the glowing cracks of his skin began to close up and vanish. He began to moan and groan as life resurfaced to his body." Whoa don't move." Raven stopped him as he tried to sit up." Where is everyone?" he asked weakly. Raven could only stare blankly at him. She knew. She didn't need her Empathy powers to tell how he felt. It was all in his eyes. The soul crushing sorrow." They are all gone now. They are free now…it's just me now." He looked at Terra who now had streams of tears coming down her face." And you Terra…" how looked just pass her feet and saw his Fathers sword. Broken, all the power within is now gone." Terra. Could you pass me that?" he pointed to the blade. She nodded wiping tears from her eyes she gingerly picked up the now dull blade. She kneeled down holding the blade out to Wize. With a shaky hand. Wize reached for the grip of the blade. He held it close to himself as he shut his eyes." Let's go home."