CHAPTER 19: GETTING READY

Today was the day. Robin woke up with a start. They were going to put their plan into action today. He hoped everyone had remembered what they were supposed to do. Especially Beast boy, who had fallen asleep at last night's briefing.

But it was simple really, Robin and Starfire were in charge of looking out for the King and Queen while Raven, who volunteered, to look out for the Prince. Beast boy and Cyborg will watch over the Titans in overall and note if anyone seems suspicious at the ball while they mingle with the guests.

Robin hoped, that if there really was going to be an assassination, they can stop it quickly. Then maybe, after all that, they can mysteriously disappear from the ball.

And figure out a way to get home.

"Raven, why do you hate me?" Beast boy asked shakily, his voice trembling as he approached Raven who had come back from the village with a bag of tea to well, make tea.

She said that when she went to work, the old woman told her to come home and … pamper herself up for the ball, saying that Raven will have to come back in the evening about six, to pick up her dress, which the old woman had specially tailored for her.

Right now, Raven was busying herself with heating up an old teapot that some woman from the village didn't really want and sold it to her for just a few fourthings. Beast boy had been watching her from afar, too afraid to approach her, lest she snapped at him. But he gathered up his courage and went to confront her, curiosity getting the better of him, maybe he'd finally get some answers.

"Have I … done something wrong?" He asked tentatively when Raven did not respond.

Then, Raven managed to balance the teapot on a few long, straight branches of wood which was bound together at the tip, making it look like a tripod stand, except that it was triangular.

Sighing, she squeezed her eyes shut, as if counting to ten.

"I don't know." she said, her voice irate, then, she looked surprised at herself, "I don't know …" she repeated.

"You don't?" Beast boy questioned.

"I …" Raven frowned, then, she turned to face him.

Beast boy looked at her quizzically. Why was she acting so strange lately? Is it because she was homesick? He's heard some people go mad because they miss home too much, but she didn't look mad. And she meditates every night before going to bed now so she should be fine.

Right?

Then, something clouded her clear eyes and she flashed a glare, "Why do you keep talking to me? We're not exactly friends."

Beast boy was hurt, "We used to be."

"But now we're not. The past is the past, you might as well forget everything." Raven said, not too kindly.

"I … I can't!" Beast boy looked shocked, he would never! All those adventures they've had. Images whiz around his head in a blur, all those times they've been together, worked together, stuck together. He blinked, how can he just forget all those memories? He'd never, ever forget Raven, the true Raven, a true friend to the end.

"That's not my concern." Raven's cold voice snapped him back into reality.

"Don't you remember? The time we went back to the age of the dinosaurs? I even remember the name - the Cretaceous period!" Beast boy cried as she started to walk away.

"No, and I never want to." she said.

"What about the time we were on the Red Daggers' ship? Remember how George betrayed us? Remember Captain Hugh's ring? Remember all their memories, stored in a secret trapdoor -"

"Go away!" Raven lashed out furiously, sending a blast of power at Beast boy. He flew back wards.

When Beast boy sat up, she was gone. He rubbed his injured shoulder, the shoulder she had so kindly nursed, the one that made her so angry because she was worried he might have gotten blood poisoning.

Where was the true Raven now?

It was evening, and the sun had just begun to set. She watched as Starfire twirled gracefully around, her dress billowing about her in a perfect arc, then, she stopped, feeling dizzy. She giggled. Raven smiled and helped steady her.

Starfire looked … wonderful. There was really no other word to describe her. She was dressed in a white gown, with flowing pink cloth covering the back to the sides, leaving the front of the skirt white. Two pink ribbons came down at the middle. The front of the gown was V-shaped, the pink cloth overlapping the white. At the elbows, was a ribbon. Her front had a flower pattern on it, each flower centre, had a small, shiny pink crystal that sparkled whenever Starfire moved.

Raven had helped Starfire tie her hair in a simple, low ponytail with a pink ribbon. Now, she looked pretty and demure. Passing her a pink, silvery mask, she couldn't wait to see how Robin would react. Smiling, she said, "You're ready" and led Starfire out from behind the thick vegetation.

They walked for a while before reaching the camp. The boys were all ready, adjusting their suits and looking nervous. Though they all had masks on, Raven could regconised all of them. Robin was the one in the navy blue suit, Cyborg was the one in the light blue one, again, he wore that large black hat to hide his face. But … Beast boy was just nowhere to be found.

Well, just as well, thought Raven. Then, she stopped, feeling an odd feeling pass over her. She shook it off, it was time to present Starfire.

She led the way, Starfire trailing behind her shyly. The boys looked up, Raven gave a small smile and stepped aside.

Just as she thought, Robin gasped and turned really white. Then, red spread over his cheeks. Cyborg whistled and laughed as he looked at his friends reaction.

Raven smiled wider and gestured for Starfire to go over to Robin. When they were side by side, she caught Robin whisper something to Starfire that made her giggle and blush. Lovebirds. She thought and grinned. Starfire then took the arm held out by Robin and Cyborg waved goodbye to Raven as they started to leave for the ball. They already knew that Raven had to go to pick up her dress at the shop first so they agreed to meet at the Castle ballroom.

Raven started to make her way to the shop. Entering it, she noticed that it was lit with candles at each corner. Well, this was certainly a change. Normally, at this time, the place would all look dark and gloomy.

Now with light, Raven could see properly. It was a square room, made entirely out of wood and very old. In the middle, were rows of gowns and suits. At one corner in the front, was a wooden table with items scattered messily about. At the back, was another wooden table but it was empty. The old woman was nowhere to be found.

"Hello, dear."

Raven jumped and whipped her head around to see the old woman behind her! How does she keep doing that? She shook her head, wondering. It really was quite amazing how she can be so quiet at times. It was almost eerie.

The old woman looked her up and down and shook her head, "Not quite presentable … yet."

Smiling, she made Raven sit on a stool. The old woman brushed her hair until it shined, polished her nails and massaged her feet. She also washed Raven's face in clean water and wiped all the grime accumulated on it away. When Raven asked whether she was going to have any make-up, the old woman shook her head, saying that it was better to be natural. Raven agreed happily.

Then, they old woman made her way to the table in the corner and pulled out that glass vial again. Raven drank it. This one, said the old woman, would make her have smoother skin … though she didn't feel any difference. But she didn't say anyway, only watched as the old woman went to the back of the room …

… and pulled out her gown.

And, oh! What a gown it was! It was colour of Royal purple, with intricate gold patterns along the hem of the gown, fading as it goes higher up. Her gown also had a V-shaped front with simple ruffles. The inside of her gown was milk-white and a contrast to the dark royal purple. Their were sapphires along her elbows with white ruffles too. The dark purple cloth was velvet while the white was silk.

Raven donned it on, and immediately wanted to find a mirror. But the old woman stopped her and put a necklace on her. It rested on her collar bones. The necklace chain itself was gold, and had a violet sapphire cut in the shape of a diamond at the end, framed in gold. The sapphire set off Raven's violet eyes perfectly.

The old woman wheeled out a full-length mirror from the corner and Raven peered at it.

She almost couldn't regconise herself! She turned slowly and noticed the gown even sparkled like the stars in the sky! Gasping, she was at a loss of words. The old woman came over with a purple mask with a gold trim and that same pattern of her dress. It was too, sparkly and Raven put it on immediately.

The woman looked at her proudly, "All there's needed now, is a beautiful smile."

Raven immediately did as she was told. The old woman was wonderful! Simply wonderful! Raven bent down and hugged her.

"Can I ever repay you?" she asked, breathless.

The old woman laughed, "It is my pleasure, child. You deserve it. Though … there is one thing …"

Raven looked at her expectantly.

"Give this to the young prince." the old woman handed over four glass vials filled with the same pinkish liquid. The old woman put them in a violet, silk pouch and Raven took it, nodding.

"Make sure he drinks them all. It is for his health." The old woman explained. And she handed over Raven her own glass vial, promising that to be the last one.

After drinking it all down, and experiencing that dizzy sensation, the old woman proclaimed it was time to go. The ball starts at eight and it was seven-thirty. The trip would take about forty-five minutes but the old woman said, with a wink, that it was always good to be fashionably late.

As Raven stepped outside, she noticed that there was a carriage waiting! Surprised, she asked if it was for her. The old woman nodded. Raven couldn't believe her own eyes! How did she manage to hire one so elaborately made? The carriage was gold and the horses in contrast, were black. The footman were wearing purple uniforms and the driver, also dressed smartly in his purple suit.

The seats inside were too, a deep shade of violet. The footmen were holding out the door and Raven was about to step in when the old woman stopped her.

The old woman then told Raven to remove her boots, and so she did, wondering why and how was she going to dance barefooted. But when the old woman pulled out two glass slippers from behind her back, Raven gasped again.

The old woman helped slipped them on and Raven found it to be fitted perfectly to her own feet. The glass slippers were very white, smooth and cold. She smiled a thank you to the old woman.

When she was seated comfortably against the velvet seats, the carriage was about to leave but the woman still had something to say.

"Enjoy your night, dear. But Raven, I must warn you, to be back at midnight."

"Why?" Raven queried.

The old woman shook her head, "Just be back here, child. Please, it is not wise to stay too late."

Raven was puzzled, but she nodded. Perhaps she'll find out why when she comes back. So she waved goodbye as the horses started to trot off.

She was still waving when the old woman was out of sight.

A/N: Next chapter will be the ball! I have already started writing! Will publish soon! :)