I do NOT own Teen Titans
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The translation for an oath in this chapter is given at the bottom. Don't want to place it here, but when you read it you might want to also read the translation.
I don't mean to imply all the other Titans are useless. Starfire can still deal out major damage, Cyborg still has his cannon and is their tech guy, Robin is still the best martial artist and the leader. However, the story is about Beast Boy and Raven, so it's shown from their perspectives. That might make it seem like the rest are out of sight somewhere, but they are still a team working together.
Time: The next morning.
Waking Up,... Beast Boy's Inner World,... An Oath,... The Summoning of Trigon,... A Puzzled Cyborg,...
A single violet eye stared sleepily out from beneath the sheets, glaring at the gaping hole in the wall. Shivering, Raven pulled the sheets tightly around her and incanted a small spell. Soon a warm glow filled her, cancelling out the cold from the wind. Poor Cyborg. She mused.That repair job is going to take him at least a week. A frigid blast overcame her spell, and the violet-haired girl decided enough was enough; reaching for her mirror, she disappeared into a small pocket dimension called Nevermore.
"About time." A dark voice greeted her.
"Morning." Knowledge said, smiling at her as she polished her spectacles.
"Glorious morning." Bubbled Happy with a big grin.
"Morning." A tough sounding voice spoke.
"Good morning." Love calmly greeted her.
"Mornin." A lazy voice drawled.
"Whatever." Burped a rude sounding voice
Timid was in the background; her mouth briefly opened, but no words came out.
"Morning." Raven replied, looking around. She'd hoped this would be a good place to meditate, but it seemed something was up. "Since when do you use Starfire's greeting?" She asked Happy.
The pink-clad emoticlone giggled. "It's way better than just plain good morning. It suits me."
The violet-haired girl gave it some thought. 'It does." She admitted. "So why the gathering?"
"Just grab BB and get him here." Rage ordered demonically.
"Why."
"We would like to speak to him." Knowledge said.
"What about?" Raven asked, wondering if bringing him here would be a good idea. After all, not only was Rude and Sloth present, but Love as well. It would be embarrassing.
Rage sighed. "If you want something done, do it yourself." She angrily muttered to herself, peering off into space for a bit.
Beast Boy sat silently meditating, hoping to fully cleanse his dragon form of any dark stains. In a few more minutes he would go down to the kitchen and start breakfast. Hope it goes better than it did yesterday. He mused.
"Hey BB." A dark tone interrupted his thoughts.
"Hi Rage." The shape shifter pleasantly replied.
"Remember the spell you used when you entered my domain?"
"Yeah. Sort of."
"Use it now." The demonic voice ordered.
"Why?"
There was long pause before Rage audibly sighed. "We're having a meeting and you're invited." She patiently explained.
"Shouldn't I ask Raven first? It's her mind."
"She's here, so it would be hard to ask her without coming here first." The dark voice replied.
"Oh. If she's there then I guess it's okay. The spell will work even if I'm not near her?"
"It will, no matter how far apart you are."
Standing, he tried to recall the spell. Immediately words rose to his mind. "Daemon Per Dominium Sanguis Da Vita Da Mihi Porta Vestram Dominium." He silently intoned, sending the words once again to the red-clad emoticlone. The world around him disappeared and he fell. Switching to the form of a dragon, he slowed his fall and landed beside the red-clad emoticlone.
"How did you get in here?" Raven demanded. "Did you sneak into my room and use my mirror?"
"He came by other methods." Rage replied irritatedly.
"Glorious Morning friend BB." Happy beamed a smile at the shape shifter.
"Morning," Timid dared to say with a slight smile of her own.
"Morning." The others greeted.
"Morning all." He greeted them back.
"I still want to know how he got here if it wasn't by the mirror." The violet-haired girl stated, frowning. That the shape shifter could get into Nevermore at will disturbed her. She glanced at Rude and Sloth and her frown deepened. Love she didn't dare to look at; it might draw Beast Boy's attention to her.
The shape shifter looked at the three emoticlones he'd never seen before. "What emotions do you represent?" He asked, curious.
"Bug off." Rude stated.
"Sloth." Muttered Sloth.
"I'm Love." Love smiled at the boy. "Also called Affection. I'm very happy to finally meet you."
"Please to meet you too." He replied, answering her smile with one of her own.
Raven groaned, blushing a deep red.
Suddenly Beast Boy turned to Knowledge. "This isn't about a rematch is it? Because if it is I'm in."
"Rematch?" The yellow-clad emoticlone asked, turning slightly pale.
"Yeah. Last time it was a draw, but I've had some practice being a dragon now. I want a rematch."
"Some practice." Brave grinned. "Taking down starships. I would like to see that rematch too."
Knowledge glared at Brave. "No, this isn't about a rematch."
"I wouldn't mind seeing a rematch." Rage grinned a demonic smile.
"We don't have time." Knowledge insisted.
"Bleh." The red-clad emoticlone said darkly. "Unfortunate, but true."
"Why are we here?" Raven asked, insisting on an answer.
Knowledge started to explain. "First we would like to see the inside of BB's mind?" She stated, looking at the boy.
Raven looked puzzled. "The inside of his mind? He's not half demon so how could he have a place like Nevermore?"
"He does though." Rage replied. "I sensed it when I possessed him."
"Oh." The violet-haired girl turned to look at the shape shifter.
"Umm." Beast Boy stated nervously, wondering what the inside of his mind was like. "I guess." He finally replied with a sigh, realizing it was only fair; after all, he'd seen Raven's mind. "How?" He asked.
"We create a portal." Rage replied, but we need your permission.
"Okay. He simply said, and soon Knowledge and Rage had create a portal into his mind. The shape shifter stared at it fearfully.
Soon they were levitating on a black disc created by Raven, looking out over a vast stretch of jungle.
"Wow." Happy said, peering around. "You've got a big head BB." She giggled.
"Very." Rage stated darkly, staring.
Timid just stared, eyes wide. Beast Boy had seen her looking at the portal, obviously wanting to go, and had dragged her with him.
"Interesting." Knowledge said, fixing her spectacles. "But how can it be so large?"
Raven sent the black disc down, flying over the jungle. In it she spotted more than half a dozen sleeping animals, each waiting to be called upon by the shape shifter. "Each time he learns a new shape it gets added to this space." The violet-haired girl suggested. "And it grows to accommodate them. Their strength is added to his, and that means to his inner mind as well."
"As good a theory as any." Knowledge mused, watching the landscape below. "Take us up higher." She ordered.
The violet-haired girl sent the disc rising into the sky. Eventually, looking out across the far-reaching expanse she could see other types of habitats. Deserts to the south, arctic like conditions to the north. To the west there were a number of lakes that led to an ocean. To the east there were mountains. In places a few small plains existed.
"It explains one thing." Rage darkly intoned, her four eyes studying the view.
"What's that?" Raven asked, also still peering around. The mind of the shape shifter was immensely vaster than Nevermore. But then he had hundred of animal forms to populate it with rather than just eight emoticlones.
"He takes on the ability to change into animals." Knowledge explained. "But doing so adds to this, his inner world. It undoubtedly affects other things too. Like maybe adding to his life force, making him immortal."
"Immortal?" Beast Boy asked, puzzled.
Rage nodded. "And it would help that some of his animal shapes are themselves immortal. This place gives him an immense amount of life force to draw on. Some forms, like the dragon, would also see old age as an illness, and cure some of it each time he used it."
"Immortal?" The shape shifter asked again.
"Immortal." Rage told him. "Raven should teach you some spells. With all this life force you might even be nearly as powerful as she is in that aspect. Not quite though, with us being a half demon." She turned to look at the violet-haired girl. "Take us back to Nevermore." She ordered.
Back in Happy's forest, they all sat down.
"That was one thing we wanted to learn about." Knowledge explained, peering at the shape shifter. "It more than met our expectations."
"The other?" Raven asked, still stunned.
"Hrm." Rage frowned, and started to look a little nervous. "Recall how BB managed to get in here without your permission?" She asked, glancing fearfully at the girl.
"I do." Raven stated, eyes on the red-clad emoticlone.
"Well. I sort of shared blood with him."
"You what!" Raven cried, jumping to her feet, ready to explode.
"Calm down." Knowledge stood between the two, afraid a fight might start. "If she hadn't you would be dead by now."
Growling under her breath, the violet-haired girl backed off. "You know what that means?" She demanded.
"I do. And while I'm glad she did it, at the time it's not something I would've done myself." The yellow-clad emoticlone replied.
Raven sat back down, fuming.
"What does it mean, other than talking and portals?" Beast Boy dared to ask, gulping as he glanced at the annoyed girl.
"I'm a part of Raven." Rage stated. "A half demon. When you defeated me in combat and I shared my blood with you, I gave you dominion over me, over us."
"What do you mean by dominion?" The shape shifter asked, not sure if he like where this was going.
"By the law of blood, you can command us to allow you access to our domains; no matter where we are, or where you are, we're connected for eternity. In some small ways you can even command access to our powers."
He gulped. That sounded pretty serious. "Why?" He asked.
"I knew it was the only way to survive. That Trigon would soon stir again. I had to choose someone to trust absolutely. That was you."
"Hrmph." Raven growled. "I know it saved my life." She fumed violently. "But I ..." She trailed off.
"Can the tie be revoked." Beast Boy asked.
"It can." Knowledge said. "But that is not our desire at the moment. Rather we wish to reaffirm it."
"What!" Raven exclaimed. "Revoke it you idiots. Revoke it." She yelled, eyes glaring.
"The tie signifies absolute trust." Knowledge said. "We want you to share your blood with Raven."
"What?" The violet-haired girl cried again. "No! Not in a million years."
"Two people with domains, such as Nevermore and your inner world, when joined by such a means can share power. Also they can cross into each others domains at will. Nothing can break the bond unless the two do so willingly. No prison can keep them apart." Knowledge added. "Imagine what that means. Should you be in danger you can escape it by entering Nevermore, even across dimensions. And she will be able to do the same."
"Useful." Beast Boy admitted, looking at Raven. She was shivering in fury. He also thought she was embarrassed for some reason.
Rage spoke in her dark tone again. "Immortal or not, as you both know, you can each die. To fight Trigon every weapon at our disposal must be used. The link will allow you to defy any prison and escape any trap. And should Beast Boy learn to use magic it will enhance it greatly." She shrugged. "Choose Raven. Share blood, or risk the death of all you love."
"I will share." Came the calm reply.
The sudden calmness made everyone look at her.
"I trust him absolutely." She replied. "And if you're right, it's something we would've done eventually anyway."
She reached down and pulled a small jagged stone from the ground. Soon the palm of her hand was bleeding. Beast Boy followed suit. When their blood mingled, they both swore an oath. "In Aeternitate Cum Sanguis Summus Juctim Tamquam Unum; Mea Vires Est Suus Vires, Suus Vires Est Mea Vires; Absolute Confido, Absolute Amare. Summus Unum." They chanted together. As their blood mingled, they each felt a slight moment of dizziness, and a sensation of power coursing its way through their veins.
Happy suddenly leapt up and starting jumping around even more excited that usual. She grabbed Brave's hand and pulled into a dance. "Ya, ya, ya." She chanted. "Raven and BB married."
"What!" Exclaimed Beast Boy, eyes going wide in shock. He turned to look at Raven.
"If we were demons we would be." She replied, blushing deeply, not looking at him. "Don't go thinking it means anything." The violet-haired girl growled. "It's just to help us fight Trigon." She gulped, still bright red. Though if Rage and Knowledge are right, one day we will for real,... The girl mused to herself, and her heart suddenly started racing.
"Right." The shape shifter gulped, also a bright red.
Happy suddenly froze and concentrated. One of the floating strawberries that roamed her forest exploded into a shower of rose petals, covering the two. "Ya, ya, ya." She chanted again. "Raven and BB married."
"There's a third thing we wanted to do also." Rage darkly intoned.
"What now?" Raven demanded tiredly, obviously not able to handle any more surprises.
"This is for Beast Boy alone. Another riddle, but one you won't be able to answer until he does." Came the dark reply.
"A riddle?" The violet-haired girl asked.
The red-clad emoticlone nodded. "What's the different between an angel and a demon?" She asked in her demonic voice.
"Easy. One is good, one is evil." Raven stated.
A slight smile crossed Rage's lips. "You won't know the answer until he does." She turned to look at the shape shifter. "For a clue, look to your dragon form."
"What does that mean?" Raven asked, getting frustrated.
"You've spent enough time here." Knowledge interrupted. "I'm sure the others are up and about in the real world. And I sense things will be hectic today. Trigon will make a move. Be prepared."
"Morning." Beast Boy and Raven greeted Cyborg as they entered the kitchen.
"Morning." Came the tired reply. Despite being half mechanical, the cyborg was still half human, and his human half was obviously nearing its limits.
"Up all night fixing the tower?" The shape shifter asked, setting to work preparing his and Raven's breakfast.
"Didn't get it started." Cyborg replied, watching closely as the green-skinned Titan pulled out a pack of herbal teabags and placed one in front of Raven.
"Why not?" The girl intoned.
"Other things came up. Like a lunatic cult that worships Trigon setting up shop in the city."
"Oh." She frowned slightly. "What're they up to?"
"Don't know. They haven't broken any laws yet, but I've been up all night keeping an eye on the situation."
Frowning, Beast Boy prepared waffles which he evenly divided between him and Raven. He filled her cup with hot water.
"Thanks." She intoned, a small smile tugging at the edges of her lips as she dipped her teabag into the cup.
The shape shifter smiled back at her and sat down to eat. "They go anywhere near the old temple?" He asked Cyborg.
"Not that I've detected. In fact they seem to be avoiding the area."
Alarms sounded throughout the tower, as well as on their communicators. Turning as one, all three looked up the main display in the room. There were more than a hundred blinking lights on the map of the city.
"It seems they've finally done something illegal." Cyborg said, staring. "With just the five of them there was no way to respond to all the emergencies."
"Distractions." Beast Boy said, hurrying to finish his breakfast. He noticed Raven cramming waffles in her mouth too in a manner very unlike her.
"Definitely." She replied, mouth full. "They can't do anything unless it's at the temple. Whatever is going on in the city, the main event will take place there."
"I agree." Cyborg said. "But can we ignore all of that?" He pointed at the screen where more lights had started flashing.
"We don't." Robin said, entering the room at a run. "It's just ordinary people committing those crimes. Starefire will handle it. She can fly to each spot and hit the perpetrators with a low intensity starbolt, stunning them. She won't get them all, but she will cut down on their numbers for the next time. And if any of them confess we might be able to round them all up.." He turned towards the door, racing for his motorcycle.
The four Titans entered the temple with dread. Facing the very manifestation of evil, it was the right thing to feel. From Robin's frequent calls to the orange-skinned alien they knew Starfire was really racking up the count on captured criminals. Flying at high-speed, she was stunning two, or even three, per minute. Now it was their turn to fulfill their part of the plan.
"There's around thirty people ahead." Beast Boy said, turning back from the form of a bloodhound.
"If they're just ordinary people, it'll be no problem to stop them." Cyborg added.
"Maybe." Raven intoned. "But remember, Trigon is on their side, and he wouldn't act unless he thought he could win."
"Oh. Right." Cyborg gulped.
Beast Boy heard the chanting first, followed by the cybernetic teen. Soon all four of them heard it.
"The Gem was born of evil's fire,
The Gem shall be his portal,
He comes to claim, he comes to sire,
The end of all things mortal!"
"I hate that prophecy." Raven intoned apathetically.
"I can understand why." Beast Boy replied, frowning as he took a quick glance at the girl.
They left the tunnel, and emerged in a chamber. Around it twenty-six people where chanting; thirteen the prophecy, and thirteen some incantation that caused the Titans a sense of foreboding. To them it sounded like random words in some strange language, yet it spoke of pure evil. Hearing it, all four of them had difficulty breathing, and a shudder of fear ran through them. On the inner edge of a circle, drawn on the floor of the immense cavern, there were four teenage girls; all looked petrified.
"Damn." Raven said, turning white. "They're summoning him again, and those girls are sacrifices. Stop them!" She reached out with her power, feeling it obey her command with ease. It hit a barrier formed around the circle and stopped. The violet-haired girl upped the power, and struggled desperately to penetrate it; if she failed, then those four girls would die a horrifying death.
Beast Boy changed into his dragon form and unleashed fire at the worshippers. The shape shifter noted the form had changed, but had no time to give it consideration. His dragon breath tore through the floor in front of the chanting zealots, causing it to erupt in bits of shattered rock. The chanters were all knocked backwards, half unconscious.
"Too late." Raven muttered, throwing all she had into her attempt to penetrate the barrier.
The fury of a dragon joined her in the struggle, as Beast Boy hurled white hot flame at the glowing shield. Inside, a mist arose, and the form of Trigon took shape.
"Precious daughter." The demon smiled. "How nice to meet you again."
"It's never nice to meet you." Raven cried. "And I am not your daughter." She struggled in vain to pierce the shield.
"My darling portal, is that any way to greet your father?" The gigantic being grinned. "Yield, and perhaps I shall spare the lives of your friends."
"You're not free." The violet-haired girl cried. "Soon the power they used to summon you will fade, and you'll be back rotting in your prison."
"Maybe." The fierce being shrugged. "But I won't be alone. They should make a nice snack." He peered down at the four teenage girls. Two of who had fainted; the other two had their backs against the barrier, screaming. A thunderous laugh shook the cavern. "This shall be such fun, dear daughter. They shall die, and you will know it was your fault. The guilt you will feel will be immense. Crippling even." A smile crossed its lips. "Such a delicious meal, and such delicious fun."
Beast Boy upped the level of flame he was throwing against the shield, focusing on the need to protect Raven from the guilt her father would place on her. For all her aloofness, he knew the girl would indeed be crippled by the guilt. It was futile; the flame of a mere dragon against the power of being who, evil as he may be, was a god.
Raven sought to penetrate the shield, knowing it was useless, yet unwilling to face defeat without a battle. She'd decided she would fight her fate, and so she would. Her black magic poured forth against the barrier with a force she'd never felt before. Still it wasn't enough.
The being inside laughed. "Tell me my precious Gem, would you care to make a deal?"
"I'll never bargain with a monster like you." Her power poured forth in vain, and her frustration grew. Those four girls were younger than even she was, and the absolute terror on their faces was heart wrenching.
"Surely my precious portal, you would like to save the lives of those four pests." His smiled ghoulishly, knowing there could be only one response.
"What's the deal?" She asked, heart trembling.
"I will allow you inside my barrier. Fight me and win, and all shall go free. Lose and you're mine. I gain my freedom at the next proper alignment of the stars, and bring an end to all things mortal."
Raven gasped, and ceased her futile attack on the shield. If she accepted she risked the whole world, yet those four faces filled with terror left only one response. "Okay." Thew violet-haired girl calmly intoned.
"No. Beast Boy yelled, reaching for her. His arms closed around thin air as she vanished, only to reappear inside the shield. He turned in wrath, and struck at it with the full fury of his dragon's breath again and again. As before, nothing happened. Vaguely he was aware of the repeated firing of the cybernetic teen's sonic cannon; explosions rang out from the barrier as their leader tossed explosive disc after explosive disc. Against the power of god, it was futile.
"Now, precious daughter. Show me your power, and face defeat."
She struck with all that she had, and her fury surprised even her. From the look on his face it also surprised Trigon.
"Impressive, my darling portal." He commented, blocking her attack with his arm. "Such power. In my view of the mortal world you did not possess this much strength."
The violet-haired girl frowned, thinking as she raged against the demon before her. The link. She realized. Her oath with Beast Boy oath had increased each of their power dramatically. His dragon form was now sixteen feet in height, while her own dark magic was considerably stronger. She flung it forth with every ounce of strength she had, and still it wasn't enough; not even close.
"However you've learned such power, it's time I had some fun too, my darling Gem." The manifestation turned his eyes on her, and fire lanced down.
She rolled away from it, knowing her own barrier would be useless against such an onslaught. Strangely she could detect his actions almost before they happened. His every movement gave them away. A twitch of an eye, the flexing of a muscle in his legs as he turned, ... She could read his body posture with a clarity that was frightening. The link. She realized once again; Beast Boy's natural ability to fight. The fire came at her again and again; each time she easily rolled out of the way, knowing where to dodge instinctively. The outpouring of fire stopped.
"Once again, my darling daughter, you impress me." The gigantic figure stared down at her. "However, in the end I will alway win." He smiled a gruesome smile. "For now my time in this dimension is over, and all within this circle shall be imprisoned with me."
Raven gasped, looking around. The cavern was vanishing only to be replaced with a world of fire.
"Welcome, precious gem, to the hell Azar sentenced me too. Until the next alignment of the stars, this too is your home." He laughed. "Now to enjoy my snack." A large red hand reached down for one of the girls who were immobilized with terror.
The violet-haired half demon sent her magic against the manifestation of evil once again. It was futile, but it would keep him busy; at least until she ran out of energy and collapsed. "The fight isn't over yet." She declared. "I might not be able to beat you, but I will struggle to my last breath. You will have nothing but my corpse. No Gem, and no portal." Her eyes blazed and dark magic roiled out of her mouth. All her will and strength was poured forth against the hated demon before her. He staggered back, showing surprise at her strength once again. Yet the onslaught did no harm.
"Impressive." He muttered again. "How do you have such power?"
Raven blinked, coming to her senses. "That is nothing." She smiled up at her father. "Watch me do what you've failed to do for ten thousand years." Her power reached out and pulled the four girls to her. They vanished from the fiery prison.
"We lost." Robin exclaimed, watching as the demonic figure faded away along with Raven and the four girls. Purpose suddenly filled him and he turned to the others. "Okay, we need to find out when the next star alignment that Trigon can use is. And we need to find a way to beat him. Cyborg, interrogate the prisoners and find out what they know. Beast Boy you're a natural at finding people's weaknesses, try to find his. I will group with Starfire and we'll do another search of any records on file at the Jumpy City Library."
"Wait." Beast Boy said, smiling. He recalled what Rage had told him earlier. 'The link will allow you to defy any prison and escape any trap.' He felt something change, and knew he now carried Raven within him. A second later a portal opened and the violet-haired girl stepped forth, carrying four unconscious teenage girls with the aid of her dark magic.
"I'll best he's pretty mad right now." The shape shifter said.
Raven's lips turned up in a tiny smile. "Undoubtedly." She intoned.
They sat together meditating. After a while Raven decided it was time to leave and get some sleep. It'd been a long day.
"Wait." Beast Boy stood and approached, staring into her eyes. "I know the bond is supposed to cross all barriers, but that prison was built to hold Trigon. Did you know it would work."
"I didn't think about it when I accepted the deal." She honestly replied. "And when I did recall it I wasn't sure. As you said, it isn't an ordinary dimension."
The shape shifter smiled. "So you chose what you believed was a fate worse than death for almost no chance to save four girls." He shook head. "You know Raven, you're one amazing woman." He leaned close and kissed her. "Very amazing." He repeated, pulling away. "Night wife." He joked.
"Night husband." She joked back, heart racing as she smiled into his eyes. She turned and walked towards her room. On the way she passed Cyborg who turned to stare at the girl who was still smiling.
Raven uncharacteristically tossed herself on her bed, wondering how to describe her day. The oath she'd sworn with Beast Boy. The fight with her father; the thought of his fury as she'd vanished from his prison with his sacrifices. That nearly made her giggle. Her hand reached up to touch her lips. And then there was the fact that Beast Boy had called her amazing, that he'd kissed her. None of her usually ways of describing a day fitted this one, so she picked one that the shape shifter might use; this day, she decided, had been incredible. She drifted off to sleep smiling.
End of Chapter.
The oath they swore: In Eternity By Blood,Are We Joined Together As One; My Power Is Their Power, Their Power Is My Power; Absolute Trust, Absolute Love. We are One.' Oh, and I'm totally clueless about latin. I only write what I want in English, and then replace the words or phrases as best I can using google. So if anyone actually knows latin and it reads as garbage, that's why.
Marriage? I bet that came as a surprise. At least it did to Beast Boy.
And another riddle: What's the different between an angel and a demon?
Many thanks to those who read and review.