Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.
Beast Boy fell to his knees, his arms still wrapped around his parents. He felt a small hand on his shoulder. It was Raven's.
"It isn't fair." He sobbed quietly.
"So changeling, do you wish to keep your parents with you?" The red demon asked him.
Beast Boy glared at Trigon.
"What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I do!" He hissed before pausing. "What do you want from me Trigon?"
"What do I want? Isn't it obvious boy? I want you, your soul! Pledge yourself to me boy and your parents will stay."
Beast Boy felt two strong hands grab his arms and lift him to his feet.
"You will do no such thing Garfield!" He father thundered.
Beast Boy jerked away from his father's grasp.
"It's my decision Dad!" He countered.
The green hero felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around. He saw an angry Raven, who then slapped him across his face.
"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND GAR?" She shrieked, tears streaming down her face. "What about us?"
"I gotta do something Rae! I can't let mom and dad die again."
This time Beast Boy felt a gentler hand on his shoulder.
"It's OK Garfield. You see, as long as we are tied to that monster, we're already dead." Marie tried to reason with him. "And you belong with your wife, not with us."
"Your mother is correct son, this resurrection, it's a sham. We aren't really alive Garfield. It's fake."
Beast Boy turned to Raven. Her scowl was gone and she threw her arms around him.
"Your parent's are right Gar. Their life force, it's borrowed from Trigon."
"But he restored Slade." The boy blubbered.
The masked villain stepped forward.
"I wasn't dead when Trigon found me Beast Boy. It was my own life force he offered to give back to me. And may I remind you that he reneged on his promise and I had to take it back by force. This is different. Your parents have been dead for years."
Trigon spoke up.
"They are not false changeling. Touch them, smell them, and look at them. They are quite real. But they belong to me."
"That's a lie!" Raven shouted. "They do not belong to you! They don't need you!"
The demon chuckled with an arrogant confidence that irritated the team of heroes.
"Do you want to be with your parents boy? Do you want to make up for all the lost time since that tragic accident at the waterfall? I can undo all that; all I ask is for your allegiance to me."
Raven tightened her grip around her green husband.
"Be strong Gar, don't listen to him."
"You know they died because of you!" Trigon accused him. "You failed to save them last time, are you going to fail them again?"
"That's not true son, you didn't fail us. We failed you by being reckless that day. Had it not been for your new powers back then you would have died with us." His father reassured him.
"Listen to your father Gar. Trigon wants you because he can use you to control me. He knows that without you and me the rest of the Titans will be helpless against him."
The changeling kissed his wife on the cheek.
"It's so hard Raven. I know you're right, but it's so hard."
Marie caressed her son's face.
"Don't worry about us Garfield. It's made me so happy to see you again and to see that you have chosen a good woman to be your wife, but our presence here is wrong. Only sorrow can come of this. You have to let us go."
Mark Logan wrapped an arm around his wife.
"Your mother's right son. This isn't life. Being dependent on that monster is a never ending death. But don't mourn us son. We will be reunited someday, but not this way."
Trigon roared in anger.
"Ingrates! I restored your flesh and blood and this is how you repay me?"
Mark and Marie Logan turned to face the seething demon.
"We didn't ask for this, so we owe you nothing!" Marie shouted at him.
The red demon stared at the brave couple with his 4 glowing red eyes.
"But you won't send us back. Without us you have nothing to bargain with." Marie continued. "You've run out of options Trigon. You thought you could trap our son and our daughter-in-law, but the tables have been turned, demon!"
Trigon roared in anger and fired a red blast out of his eyes at the insolent mortal. Marie Logan became airborne upon receiving the impact of the blast. She hit the ground several feet away and Beast Boy ran to her side with animal like speed. Raven could see the terror and panic in his eyes as he cradled his mother's limp form. Raven ran to their side with Mark Logan and before she reached them she already knew the sad truth: Marie Logan was once again dead. Beast Boy held her tight against his chest, the tears streaming down his face.
"Titans Go!" Nightwing's voice echoed in the throne room as the rest of the super heroes sprung into action. Starfire began to pummel the demon with her starbolts as the Green Lantern joined her using his ring to conjure a large green club with which he began to pummel the demon. Trigon fended off their initial attacks and struck back by sending a red blast in Nightwing's direction. The dark clad hero barely dodged the lethal rays that emanated from the demon's eyes as the Kryptonians were the next to join in the attack. Kal-El delivered a powerful jab at Trigon's head and the demon fell to the ground, temporarily stunned. He quickly returned to his feet and fired a blast at the Kryptonian, who absorbed it with a loud grunt. Kara delivered the next blow in tandem with Diana, while Cyborg, Bumblebee, Speedy and the Bat clan used their weapons against the red giant.
"Damn Sparky, are you serious he was even tougher last time?" Bumblebee asked her bionic teammate.
Raven stared at Beast Boy who continued to cradle his mother's lifeless body. She then saw his father kneel next to him.
"Son, it's time for you and Raven to put an end to this." Mark spoke as he took Marie's limp form in his arms.
He nodded. "Yes Dad, you're right." And without saying another word he morphed into the Beast and turned to Raven. Then, for the first time in the real world, the Beast spoke.
"Are you ready Rae?" The green leviathan spoke in a deep, rich voice.
"Let's do it Gar." She replied.
The Beast leaped high into the air and came crashing down on Trigon who was too busy fighting the others to see him coming. The demon was sent tumbling.
"I thought you were supposed to be all knowing Trigon." The Beast spoke again.
Trigon rose to his feet.
"You will regret your insolence, mortal." He snarled at the Beast just before ducking. Raven had swung her sword at him, aiming for his neck but missing as he ducked. The strike was not a complete waste, as Raven did slice off half of one of his antlers, cutting it at an angle, leaving a sharp edge on the fallen horn. The demon screamed in pain and did not see the Beast's second attack. The Beast hit him from behind and knocked him down. The green giant landed on Trigon's back and sank his enormous sharp fangs into Trigon's shoulders.
Trigon screamed in agony as the Beast bit him repeatedly but he recovered and threw the green assailant off his back. The Beast rolled and recovered as well, ready to continue his attack but was beaten to the punch as the Kryptonians attacked again. Trigon was gaining strength and was able to fend off their attacks. He grinned as the mortal heroes regrouped.
"So the vermin think they can defeat me? I am beginning to become bored with you."
With no warning red lightning bolts shot from his eyes, engulfing the Kryptonians, Starfire, Diana and Hal Jordan, who screamed in agony. Their pain was short lived as Raven shot a blast of white energy at the red monster, who staggered back slightly before recovering, releasing them from his evil grasp.
"Your attacks won't work on me girl, not this time. Lamia gave me a gift before she departed." Trigon sneered as he flashed a small vial that contained a red liquid that hung around his neck. "Your own husband's blood. I'm afraid your powers won't work against me this time little girl, but mine will work against you!"
Trigon's four red eyes glowed with a near electric intensity. By this point Beast Boy had returned to his human form and was standing next to his mate. Slade stood near the back of the room and carefully reached into his pouch. He quickly removed his hand from the bag and threw 4 shuriken, all made from Trigon's own ivory, at the demon.
The red demon gestured with his hand and the spinning stars stopped in mid air and fell to the ground as if they had struck an invisible target.
"So Slade, I see you are disloyal as ever. I have no use for an unfaithful servant!"
With that red beams shot out of Trigon's eyes and struck the Titan's one eyed nemesis. Slade went flying through the air, just as Marie Logan had earlier. Thanks to his heavy armor and his superb physical condition Slade survived the attack, but was unable to get back on his feet. None of the Titans or Justice Leaguers came to his aid.
Trigon reverted his attention back to Raven.
"And now dear daughter, there is the issue of giving you your comeuppance. One of us is going to die Raven, and it won't be me."
Raven snarled as she raised her sword.
"I'm not afraid of you Trigon. I know you can't hurt me!"
The demon smiled. "True, I cannot hurt you, at least not directly. But there are many others ways to hurt you indirectly." He sneered as he focused on Beast Boy. "Am I right changeling?"
Before Beast Boy could move he felt dark tendrils grab him by the ankles and lift him into the air upside down. He began to morph into the Beast but his transformation was interrupted by a blast of red energy. To Raven's horror she saw his limp body dangling from the evil tendrils.
"Nooooo!" She screamed as she lunged at Trigon, swinging her mighty sword as she neared him.
Trigon responded with his own evil sword and once again Raven found herself in a fierce battle with a powerful demon, her sword against his. Fortunately for Raven she was gaining the upper hand and was slowly beginning to overpower the red demon.
Just as Raven was at the verge of slaying the monster she had once called 'father' Jacob appeared from behind Trigon's throne. No one noticed as he carefully scooped up Slade's fallen Shuriken and threw them at Raven. Two of them found their target and buried themselves into her back. Jacob shouted in delight, but his victory was short lived as an ivory dagger penetrated his chest, piercing his heart. The young demon collapsed onto the floor.
"I'm no one's servant." Slade hissed before he too collapsed.
Raven screamed in pain and fell to her knees as Trigon disarmed her, sending her sword flying away, out of her reach.
"As you see dear daughter, in the end you are insignificant. I have won. But before I destroy you, you will get to watch your idiot husband die!"
Raven tried to get back on her feet, but the pain shooting from her back was overwhelming and she kept falling back down.
"Squirm all you want Raven, this time you have lost, and there won't be a second chance for you!"
Trigon raised his dark sword and drew it back, poised to slice the green changeling in half.
"Good bye 'Beast Boy', you have long been a thorn in my side, but that ends right now!"
Trigon began to swing his sword, which was clearly aimed at the changeling's waist. Raven stared in horror, unable to do anything to protect her beloved. The super powered heroes were still lying on the floor unconscious while Bat clan members and remaining Titans hit Trigon with everything they had, but with no effect.
"Gar!" Raven croaked while tears ran down her face. As she watched the sword cruelly make its way to its target the unexpected happened.
Trigon let out an otherworldly scream of pain and dropped both his sword and Beast Boy. Making a supreme effort Raven caught her husband user her white energy and gently brought him to her. She gasped for air as the pain in her back was excruciating, but she did not drop him.
Trigon fell to his knees, still screaming and then fell forward. The demon was dead, and standing behind him was Mark Logan, his hands still wrapped around the antler he had driven into the demon's back. Mark also fell to his knees and it was apparent to all that he was beginning to die himself.
By this point Garfield had regained consciousness. He saw Raven lying on the ground, writhing in agony, with the two ivory shuriken still embedded in her back. Beast Boy quickly understood that they were made of Trigon's ivory and while not instantly lethal to Raven as they would be for a demon, they were poisonous nonetheless.
"Brace yourself Rae, I'm gonna pull them out."
Raven nodded and clenched her teeth. Beast Boy pulled both of the star shaped weapons out of her back at the same time. She screamed in pain as the blades cut her flesh one last time, but then sighed in relief once their evil and poisonous presence had been removed.
"Gar, go to your father before it's too late." She whispered to him. "Go, I'll be OK."
Beast Boy picked himself up and staggered to his father's side as Starfire and Cyborg arrived and began to tend to Raven's wounds.
"Dad!" He cried out.
Mark Logan was beginning to age, as was the corpse of his wife Marie. Beast Boy watched in horror as time was ravaging his father's body.
"It's OK son, the lie has ended. Don't mourn us Garfield, we'll be OK."
The green hero began to sob uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry I failed you again Dad."
Mark Logan's hair was now completely gray and he looked as if here were an 80 years old.
"No son, you did not fail us. We're very proud of you …"
And with that last breath Mark Logan passed away in his son's arms. Beast Boy gently laid him down on the ground and watched as both of his parent's bodies turned into dust and blew away. All that was left was two human ribs lying in the ground.
Raven saw the demonic corpses and remembered that she had once last task to perform. Raising her hand she summoned the black vortex, which first captured Jacob's screaming soul. She then focused on Trigon, directing the vortex to him. As did the others the red demon's soul put up a fight but in the end failed and was taken to the inescapable prison, Hell.
"Good bye 'father', say hi to Lamia." Raven muttered before she blacked out.
Raven slowly woke up. The first thing she noticed as she became lucid was that her back was very sore. She was lying on her back and without moving, so as to not disturb her sore back; she looked around, taking in surroundings. She recognized where she was, their bedroom back at the Aspen house. The curtains were open and she could see that it was morning.
She carefully turned to her right and was relieved to not feel any pain beyond the general soreness she had already felt. She was even more relieved to find herself staring into a pair of soft emerald eyes.
"Good morning." Her husband greeted her. "How are you feeling?"
She cupped his face with her hand and kissed him tenderly on the lips.
"Better. How did I get here? I don't remember anything."
"Well, Cy and Batman bandaged your wounds in the cave and after that I brought you back here. Cy gave you some anesthetic and stitched your wounds up after cleaning them. He wanted to be sure there was no Trigon ivory left inside before he sewed you up. After that you went into a healing trance for a few hours. After you were done with that I changed your clothes and tucked you into bed last night."
"Those things burned Gar, they were horrible. What happened to Slade?"
"What do you think? When no one was looking he ran away. I also saved those two shuriken. The other ones disappeared; Slade probably picked them up before he left."
Raven gingerly sat up in their bed as Beast Boy helped her. She noticed that was wearing an oversized T-shirt and she stared at her once again bare gray arms.
"I guess I was used to being 'normal'." She sighed.
He smiled. "You are normal Rae."
She smiled back. "At least I still am on the inside."
"I never told you Rae, but I did miss you looking this way."
She chuckled. "You mean you really missed the old gray mare?"
"Rae, I always thought you were hot." He grinned at her. "You've always been beautiful."
She squeezed his hand.
"Thanks, it's always nice to hear you say that."
She paused and looked into his eyes.
"Are you OK Gar?"
Beast Boy sighed.
"I don't know. It was awesome to see them again, even if it was just for a moment. I just wished they could have stayed Rae. I've always missed them, but I guess I never really understood how much I did …"
Raven wrapped her arms around him.
"Your parents are wonderful people Gar. Now I know why you're the way you are. I just wish I could help you bear your burden. It's not fair. Mine was taken away, but yours not only remains, it's worse than ever."
He hugged her back.
"Mom's right, I did marry a good woman."
The Logans remained in silent embrace until a knock was heard.
"Come in, it's open." Raven called out.
The door opened as Starfire and Terra entered the room, both carrying trays.
"Breakfast in bed for our heroes!" Terra announced.
Starfire placed a tray in Raven's lap. "Enjoy friends!"
Raven looked at the food on her tray, and then she looked up at Starfire, who gave her a mildly annoyed look.
"Cyborg prepared your meal friend Raven, so do not worry. I never touched it."
Raven gave the Tamaranian a sheepish grin and began to eat.
"Did he make mine too Star? Cuz if he did I know he slipped some meat into it."
Terra burst out laughing. "Don't worry BB, I made your breakfast. It's 100% vegan, I guarantee it."
Beast Boy tasted the pancakes on his plate. He nodded in the affirmative.
"Friends, might we stay with you while you eat? There is much to talk about."
"Wassup Star?" Beast Boy said between mouthfuls of food.
"Terra has good news!"
The Logans both turned to the Geomancer.
"I'm going back to Atlantis with Garth."
Beast Boy looked surprised.
"You guys are quitting the Titans?"
Terra shook her head.
"Just an extended leave of absence. The wedding is on again and were gonna stay there until the baby is born. After that, we'll see."
Beast Boy grinned at his former lover.
"That's great Terra! You guys are gonna be happy together, I know it."
Terra grinned sheepishly as the Logans continued to devour their breakfast. Soon they were finished.
"Thank you. It was delicious." Raven acknowledged as she handed her now empty tray back to Starfire. Terra collected Beast Boy's tray as well.
"You two just take your time. There's no rush to get up. Almost everybody else is still asleep." Terra informed them as she and Starfire exited the room, closing the door behind them.
Raven reclined against her husband, her head on his shoulder as they still sat in their bed.
"I think I'm ready for another nap." She yawned. "That was a big breakfast."
Beast Boy snickered. "I thought that oversleeping was my job."
"I guess your bad habits are rubbing off on me."
"Since when is getting a well deserved nap a bad habit?" He protested in jest.
"Whatever." She replied as she closed her eyes.
"Hey Raven, before you fall asleep, I have a question for you."
She slowly opened her eyes.
"A question?"
"Yeah, I do."
"What is it?"
"Well, Trigon was passing himself off as my Wild Man. So what happened to my real Wild Man?"
Raven sat up, now fully awake.
"That's a good question Gar, I don't know."
"You think he's still somewhere in here?" He asked as he tapped the side of his head.
Raven had a look of curiosity on her face.
"I suppose he is. There's only one way to find out."
"Field trip?" He asked eagerly.
She nodded.
"OK, first we have to get you asleep."
Beast Boy was clearly eager and made himself comfortable in the bed.
"I'm ready Rae."
Beast Boy saw his beloved's gray face smile as she placed her right hand on his forehead. The purple glow once again appeared and Beast Boy quickly slipped into unconsciousness, still smiling himself. Raven kissed him on his cheek before adopting the lotus position. She no longer used her signature mantra and simply began to breathe rhythmically until her soul self, now white instead of black, emerged and entered her spouse's body.
Raven materialized next to her husband on a tropical island. They were both standing on the beach and could feel the ocean breeze caress their faces.
"This is new." Beast Boy remarked.
"It's nice." She replied.
Beast Boy walked up to the water's edge.
"Wanna go for a swim?" He asked.
"I don't want to get my leotard wet."
He grinned mischievously. "We could skinny dip."
"I thought we came to find your real Wild Man."
He stuck his tongue out at her.
"You're no fun." He turned to face the tropical jungle that surrounded the beach. "So where is he?"
"You tell me, he's your Wild Man. Where would you go?"
Beast Boy stroked his chin deep in thought.
"I'm not sure, why don't we fly around and check out the island. Maybe we'll find him that way."
"We might as well." She replied as she became airborne. Beast Boy morphed into a hawk and followed her into the sky. The island was fairly small, only about a mile across. The vegetation was dense however and there were no clearings in the interior.
"I'm sensing something down there. Two things actually."
The hawk turned to her and screeched. She opened a telepathic link to him.
What did you say Gar?
Can you tell who or what they are?
I know this is going to sound strange, but they're both you.
That's interesting, I wonder … wait, I saw something move.
Where?
Follow me
Beast Boy went into a steep dive and began a rapid descent towards the jungle below.
Slow down Gar, I can't dive as fast as you!
Sorry Rae. I'll slow down. I just don't want to lose him.
You mean the Wild Man?
No, not him. I saw The Beast.
The Beast? Well, I guess that explains things.
Beast Boy slowed his dive and screeched at the Beast, who was now even visible to Raven as he ran along the jungle floor. The Beast turned and saw the two approached and stopped. Beast Boy morphed into a spider monkey and quickly worked his way down through the foliage while Raven used her white energy to open a path to the Beast. The two landed at the same time in front of the green behemoth and Beast Boy resumed his human form.
The Beast bowed to them.
"My Lady, Master, welcome."
Raven approached the Beast and as she had done once before she caressed his face and kissed him in his furry cheek.
"The Wild Man." Beast Boy asked. "Where is he?"
"I have found him Master. The imposter had imprisoned him but your valor in battle has liberated him. Come, I will take you to the Wild Man."
The Beast led the Logans down a narrow path that he had cleared earlier, which led them straight to the center of the island, where they found a small hut made entirely out of natural vegetation, which camouflaged it perfectly and had made it perfectly invisible from above. That hut was rather large and its entrance had no door. They approached the hut stealthily and peered cautiously through the entrance.
Inside they saw a young man dressed in a loin cloth. He was fair skinned and had blond hair. He was muscular but not bulky. He sat on the floor, facing away from the door. A large canine, it looked like a wolf, lay next to him and he was caressing it.
He turned to face them. His hair was long but was not scraggly or unkempt and he had no beard. He stood up and they could see that he was no taller than Beast Boy. He had the same emerald eyes and infectious smile as Beast Boy.
"Greetings Mistress, Master. I am so glad that we are finally able to meet."
"Dude, so you really are my Wild Man? Where's your spear?"
The blond man laughed.
"Master, I am your Wild Man. I do not carry a weapon because you have no use for weapons."
Raven approached the young man and cupped his face with her hand.
"Why aren't you green?" She asked.
"Master is green because of his animal side My Lady. I am his human side."
"I see." She replied. She was clearly mesmerized at seeing a fully human version of her husband.
"So dude, what are you gonna do now that you're free."
The Wild Man looked apologetic.
"First of all Master, I must apologize that I was unable to defend us from the imposter. He took me by surprise and bound me. It was your courage and valor in battle that set me free and after that the Beast found me and helped me recover."
"Well, I'm glad to see you two get along now." Beast Boy replied. "The Beast didn't get along with the impostor."
"Yes master, as to what I will do, I will do as all Wild Men do. I will retreat into the deepest recesses of your mind, as there is no place for me in your modern world."
"Are you sure about that? " Raven asked. "Your master is not an ordinary man."
"Master already has all that he needs. I have nothing to offer him. But I thank you for your consideration my mistress."
Suddenly the Beast spoke up.
"That is not true Wild Man. You and I, we are the core, the heart of our master. We make him unique. But he needs you to complement me. If you diminish, then so do I and master will suffer because of that. He needs both of us to be strong. And he needs to be strong for our mistress."
The Wild Man turned to Raven.
"Do you agree my Lady?" He asked.
Raven nodded and she stepped forward and kissed the Wild Man.
"Yes, Gar, I agree."
Beast Boy then took his wife's hand.
"It's time for us to go. But we'll be back soon." He promised.
He then wrapped his arm around her shoulder and she wrapped hers around his waist and together they walked away into the jungle, until they disappeared into the foliage.
THE END
OK, now it's really done.
Thanks for hanging in there with me for this long and wild ride!
Ganguro should start posting in a few weeks, in the meantime you can read my first RobStar story: The Joker's Shadow