The Stone Chest

Chapter 12

"Zarth Vs Terra. The True Power of the Elements Emerges"

Two people left in a hurry one of the most important buildings in Jump city. Both men walked quickly and doubtful like they were trying to do something behind somebody's back... and indeed they were about to do something on their own; they were trying to do something very important and delicate that it was completely reckless to be done secretly giving the circumstances they were living in that moment. But Jack and Garlack were really hopeless, they knew Zarth had the worst opinion regarding them and the Order because their incapacity of dealing with Connor and the Titans.

First, they had allowed the group to burst in at their headquarters to take away Jessy and even worse the key was with them and they couldn't capture her. Afterwards, they hadn't been able to find their whereabouts... only failures had see Zarth from them and they were perfectly aware that if the legendary warrior took over the city destroying the titans, the key and the rebel wizards and witches the next target would be The Order of Darkness. That was the reason that led the two wizards to risk everything on a desperate maneuver. One more failure meant the extinction for them and the other members of the order, but if they had success then Zarth would have to accept them as allies in the very same conditions than the members of the Order of Chaos. Maybe Zarth could even make them rulers of the city instead of John and his group.

"Master, I understand the plan, but how are we going to find the key? We've tried several ways for a long time, but we have not been able to succeed on that. What's the difference now?" – inquired Garlack confused.

"There's a lot of differences now my dear friend; now that Zarth has begun the attack against the city, Connor and the Titans will have to come here in the open, they won't be able to hide anymore, they'll have to face us now... In fact, they must be here in the city now" – replied Jack impassive.

"They even left in the first place?" – asked the other.

"Of course! Otherwise we would have found them"

"But Connor is a very skilled wizard, maybe he could use a spell to hide the presence of the girl"

"That would have only worked against us, but not against Zarth. He's too powerful to be fooled by that kind of spells... no, only being away from here was the only way to remain unnoticed"

"I see... if now they're in the city it will be easy to find them"

"In fact, I think I know where they could be" – pointed Jack while opening a way for entering to the sewers. Then he indicated Garlack to follow him.

PPPPPPPPPPPP

Zarth remained motionless in the roof of the building where the Order of Chaos had its headquarters; he was impassive looking at the city, sometimes his gaze just went lost at the horizon. It seemed that contemplating the destruction of the city was a common thing for him. From his location it could be seen the hundreds of explosions making shake the metropolis at each second and the movements of his hordes of assassins that merciless wiped out everything with the larger number of casualties possible. By his actions it could be said that Zarth really wanted to make the city disappear for good; the almighty warrior kept looking at the gloomy landscape when the leader of the Order of Chaos stepped close to him while making a deep bow.

"Jack and Garlack have disappeared... just as you foresaw"

"Fools, they really think there's a way I could spare their pathetic lives..."

"Do you wish them to be captured? I can send a group after them right away"

"Don't bother; they could become useful after all... I assume you know what they're trying to do"

"They want to find the key thinking we don't know where it is"

"Or thinking they'll get her before us"

"Do you believe they are allies of the group that helped Connor's bunch and the titans to escape from the port? After all, they are in the same Order"

"Don't make me laugh... those insects lost control of their own Order a long ago; it's ridiculous, they couldn't even keep control of their followers... and yet they still think I could consider them worthy to be generals of mine... By the way, those rebels who helped the key to escape are exterminated, I presume?"

"There's no one left alive"

"Excellent. Now it's just a matter of time" – said Zarth while John looked at him incredulous – "I already told you that the attack to the city was only a decoy to force those kids to leave their hideout. Now they are in the open just as we wanted and very soon they'll be before me"

"Precisely that's why I want to send all we've got to destroy them"

"You're very impatient, but I guess it's normal. After all you're young and a inexperienced warrior; but, when you have many battles on your shoulders you learn to be patient... the cat is successful on the hunting process because of its astuteness and not because of its strength"

"So, will you allow Jack and Garlack being the ones capturing the key?" – asked Jack a little bit unhappy.

"So you think they actually could capture the key and its friends... don't worry about that, they'll never succeed on that task"

"Then, what is the point of letting them face the others?"

"That's why the Dragon always defeats the Tiger. That fight will show me the current level of Terra. I want to know how much she has increased her power since the fight in the Order of Darkness' headquarters"

"But you're way more powerful than her, you don't really need to know that"

"Details my friend, details. You can lose a war because of the tiniest detail. No matter how small the enemy is you can never afford to underestimate it, only fools are know-it-alls. I don't like to leave loose ends and less before an important battle"

"I understand, so you mean that..."

"I mean we'll do as planned. Right now our goal is to take over Jump City to use it as our headquarters for the next target: Gotham City"

"And the key? And the titans?"

"Why do we have to bother looking for them when right now they are on their way here?"

PPPPPPPPPPPP

Eight people walked purposefully through the complex sewer system of Jump City; it was very easy to get lost in that complicated path of tunnels and corridors. Luckily, the boy wonder knew all the ways down there thanks to his days as a partner of Batman. While the group kept walking, the flame of hope grew inside each one of them due to recent events; at the end, the lies were falling and everything was starting to make sense. Besides, the team trust had also grown thanks to Tara's arrival that was like fresh air for them. Terra's mother didn't doubt telling the guys what had happened since Andrew's murderer 'til the reencounter at the port. The titans got astonished by hearing the details of Tara refusing being part of any order, or sect as she called them; how she took the hardest decision of her life by giving Terra away in a orphanage in order to protect her daughter; how she spent the next years living in a constant fear of being chase by members of the Order; how she convinced herself that after the killing of Andrew's murderers there was no one else who knew she was Andrew's wife or that he had had a daughter. How that belief made her feel safe enough to became a member of the Order of Darkness, even against her desire, in order to find out why the power of the elements was so important for them. How she had spent endless years doubting either if look for her daughter or not and how she convinced herself that Terra would be better remaining far from her. How Jack decided to make her prisoner, after setting plans for Zarth awakening, thinking Andrew had transferred his powers to her. How she was tortured almost to death because of that belief; how her worst fears became reality when Terra's sacrifice to stop the volcano revealed her presence to the members of the Order. How Jack understood that Andrew's powers were not in Tara but Terra and how she spent the rest of the time locked in a cell running desperate for being unable to help her daughter and feeling guilty for having left her alone, among other things.

The determination in the eyes of the heroes acted like a blaze of fire that illuminated the dark road where they were walking, their goal was clear, going to the Order of Chaos headquarters to stop once and for all the atrocities they were doing in the city by destroying Zarth who was behind them. The titans had fought a lot of enemies, many of them being creatures with horrifying appearances and others with eccentric behaviors; however, in that moment they understood that a true demon didn't need to look horrendous to make evil; and that behind a human disguise could hide the very Devil. The group walked towards the headquarters through narrow corridors and nauseating waters until they arrived to a very wide room that the wonder boy pointed as the end of the journey since the Order's Base were just above them. Everybody felt relief and fear at the same time realizing the end was near; the final battle was about to begin and the result was still a mystery; nevertheless, they didn't even take a step when to wizards appeared right before them.

Jack and Garlack had accomplished the first part of their plan: to find the key first than anybody and now they were about to finish the task by killing Terra and the rest. However, seeing Tara among the group was a big surprise for them, especially for the Master who didn't believe what his eyes were watching. Jessy, on the other side, was starting to feel horror again seeing the wizards who had tortured her in the most cruel and despicable way. A shiver covered the body of the witched; but fortunately, silence was broke by one of the newcomers.

"What the heck are you doing here? How did you escape?" – asked Jack angry.

"Did you think nobody would figure it out your real plans? Or you thought everybody would follow you like sheep into this madness? Well, you were wrong, there's still sense in the Order… or in what is left of it at least… I hope you feel proud of destroying the organization" – replied Tara without turning a hair.

"Idiots, don't you know that against Zarth nothing works but submissiveness? The only thing the people has earned by deciding to fight him is a premature and painful death, but I don't feel bad for them; you have to purge mankind before creating a new era" – said Jack.

"You are insane Jack! You have lost your mind completely" – yelled Connor, rage in his eyes.

"The ones who have lost their minds are others and soon you'll realize when truth falls over you" – answered Garlack.

"We'll see that… I guess you are not going to let us pass in good terms so… Titans Go!" – sentenced Robin beginning the fight.

The newcomers quickly disappeared so Robin and the others put on guard waiting for their next move, which came almost immediately. A rain of energy attacks was thrown towards our heroes who used their combat skills to avoid it. Them Garlack appeared before them and using a giant sphere of light sent the whole group against one of the walls. Afterwards, Jack threw a powerful beam that wiped out the entire wall; however, Connor could save the group by teleporting them to other area of the room. Immediately Jessy threw a blaze of fire towards Garlack who quickly vanished, but when he appeared behind the librarian to punch her an electrical discharge hit him making him scream in pain. In no time Jack realized that Tara was responsible of that last attack and ran towards her, but his way was blocked by Raven and Starfire who threw several energy attacks towards the Master sending him some meters away. In that very moment, Garlack used all his strength to break Tara's spell to punch her after sending the witch against one of the walls remaining; the older of the Markov fell almost unconsciousness in the floor after the impact. Terra, after seeing the last move of Jack's apprentice, flew towards him, but Jack cut her way.

"Where do you think you're going?"

"To kick your apprentice's ass, nobody mess with my mother"

"I think you have more important things to be worried about"

"Really? Like what?"

"Like this"

Almost immediately Jack vanished to appear behind Terra who didn't follow the move and was hit hard by one of the most powerful attacks of the Master that sent her, hurt badly, to the ground. Without wasting time, the leader of the Order of Darkness was ready to finish her, but a laser beam hit and sent him away.

"Boo-Yaa!" – yelled Cyborg – "Don't even think I'll let you hurt my friend"

The Master stood up to face the half robot, but a green bull charged at him until sending him against a wall; nevertheless Garlack hit the bull with an electrical discharge sending it away. In the moment, the titans and their allies regrouped and the warlocks did the same. The newcomers had realized it was not going to be easy to defeat the heroes, but that only increased their fighting will in order to prove themselves as worthy warriors for the new era.

"I can see you've been training... that's good, since it'll make our victory even greater" – said Jack sharply.

"Do you really think so?" – asked Robin while appearing in front of him to hit him hard with his metal staff.

"Azarath Mythrion Zynthos!" – yelled Raven who had prepared the maneuver along with Robin.

Garlack didn't have time to react and the dark energy hit him fully knocking him out; however, Jack was recovered and ready to wipe out the two titans when a blaze of fire sent him to the ground where he fell motionless. When Robin and Raven turned around to see who had thrown the attack, they could see Terra on her feet panting due to the effort made and the hit received before. Afterwards, the titans and their allies gathered, everybody looked tired due to the battle, but they felt satisfied for the duty done. Two of the most powerful warriors of Zarth had been defeated and their final target lay just meters away; however, those seconds of distraction were used by Jack who threw a rain of arrows towards Terra who was completely unaware; but Connor cast a charm to destroy the projectiles before they could reach their target.

"I never thought you could be so despicable to attack someone from behind, you're going to regret that" – pointed Connor with rage.

"Come and make me" – said Jack while Garlack stood aside him.

Connor telepathically informed Raven about a strategy he wanted to use in that moment and then he threw a giant energy sphere towards the warlocks who prepared to block it to send it back. Nevertheless, the crow girl used her telekinetic powers to make the ground, beneath the warlocks, shake and the roof above them fall in order to make them lose the required concentration and stability to block the sphere. Seconds later the heroes could see how the energy attach hit the warlocks and a big explosion took place in the room... when the smoke created disappeared the group realized nothing had left from their enemies. Once Connor and Raven saw the result of their strategy sighed relieved and looked each other dedicating mutually a knowing smile.

"That was a great teamwork" – said Connor happily.

"It will be even better with time" – added Raven.

"Mom!" – yelled Terra while running towards her mother who was already standing.

"Don't worry, I'm ok. It's required more than that to beat me" – said Tara smiling.

The group prepared quickly to continue their journey and Robin guided them towards and exit to the street. When everybody were outside they could see the building that served as Base for the Order of Chaos before them; they were just at the end of the road and the battle they had before was just a prelude for the next one, the big one. The would have to use all their strength in order to destroy Zarth for good and they knew they were about to start the most difficult battle of all… The group was still standing in front of the headquarters when a hologram of the almighty Zarth appeared before them.

"I congratulate you for coming this far; but all your efforts have been in vain. The city is already ours and you'll never defeat me, but if you still want to try then be my guests. I'll wait for you in the roof and I hope you have the guts and the strength to come for me"

"Fool, we are going to kick your butt, dude" – said Beast Boy after the hologram disappeared.

"Well. The time has come; the future of Jump City and the World is at risk and we are going to meet our fate up there. It's our duty to stop Zarth once and for all if we want to bring back peace in here" – sentenced Robin resolved while gazing at the roof of the building.

Everybody nodded firmly and soon they were running towards that place to fight Zarth, curiously there were no warlocks or assassins in their way up. It seemed Zarth had cleaned the way for them in order to avoid pointless delays. In no time the group was on the roof and they quickly noticed only two people were standing in it. One of them was Zarth himself and the other was well known for the wizards; it was John, the leader of the Order of Chaos. Now it made sense nobody tried to block their way after the fight against Jack and Garlack. Apparently, the leaders wanted to defeat the heroes by themselves avoiding to involve lower class warlocks. In that moment everybody got on guard and tense silence cover the place; looks went and came and several thoughts crosses the warriors' minds. After a lot of planning and fighting, everything was reduced to one single battle; the fate of many people would be decided in that place in that time. Again the prophecies were about to be fulfilled and the elements, represented by Terra, faced Zarth who didn't have the intentions of being defeated like the last time.

"So, you really had the courage for coming here to fight me" – mocked Zarth.

"You won't get away with this" – said Robin firmly.

"Don't make me laugh you little worm, you tested my powers once, but I think I wasn't rude enough that day; but don't worry, this time I'll make sure this place became your grave" – replied Zarth.

"You'll try" – said Tara coldly.

"It seems Jack's incompetence has reached ridiculous levels; first he allows you to burst in the Order of 'Madness' headquarters, then he allows you to take his prisoner away; afterwards I think he thought that wasn't foolish enough so he let another prisoner to escape; and, finally he lost his battle against you... definitely our alliance with that group has proven to be a mistake from the beginning, but I'm glad that mistake will soon be corrected by killing all the members of that Order. In fact, I think I'll begin killing you three" – said John while pointing Tara, Connor and Jessy at the end of his speech.

"You have a big mouth, but you have only talked so far while hiding behind the big one" – replied Connor pointing Zarth – "I don't see any bravery in that... maybe it's time for you to learn a couple of things"

"Shut up you filthy fly! I..." started John, but Zarth made him to get quiet with a gesture.

"So you are the chosen one to fight me this time" – said Zarth pointing Terra – "To be honest I was expecting someone more powerful or at least someone who inspired respect... I'd have liked to fight your father, he was a true and worthy warrior... or so I've been told at least. That way his destruction would have served a greater good... or evil" – pointed half smiling.

"I won't let you talking about my father!" – yelled Terra angry stepping forward while trying to hide the fear she was feeling.

"Rage is a good way to hide fear, but it's useless when your opponent can see through you" – pointed Zarth making Terra shiver – "But, don't worry, you'll soon be with your father and your mother will go with you as well" – sentenced.

"This little chat is getting boring" – said Raven removing her hood trying to avoid Zarth winning the psychological battle against Terra – "We have a city to save and you definitely are in our way" – ended pointing Zarth.

"You really want to die I see... so be it" – said Zarth casting a powerful spell against Raven.

Raven created a dark energy shield to block the spell, but the attack was more powerful and sent the titan badly to the ground. Immediately a rain of energy balls was thrown towards the heroes who were protected by a powerful barrier created by Connor and Tara. Then Robin, Starfire and Cyborg decided to counterattack; The boy wonder flung some light grenades that blinded the warlocks then Starfire took advantage of the boy's move to throw several star bolts against Zarth and John causing a big explosion. At the beginning, the titans thought they had caused great damage to the warlocks, but when the smoke disappeared they could see that the Tameranian attack had been block by a shield created by Zarth.

"Nice try, but I'm afraid it wasn't good enough"

A powerful laser beam emerged from Cyborg's arm cannon towards John who disappeared to evade the attack and immediately a rain of arrows was sent against the titans. Fortunately, Terra could protect them by using a fire shield; then the blond girl started walking towards Zarth until she was right in front of him.

"Well, it is time to end with this" – said the titan resolved – "You have caused a lot of damage to innocent people and it's time for you to receive the punishment you deserve"

"You're right... it's time to end with this, but I can assure you that the ending in my mind is a little different to the one you are expecting" – replied Zarth putting on guard.

Robin took advantage of the pause to change the strategy, now they will split in two groups to avoid John and Zarth helping each other. In no time, Connor, Raven, Beast Boy and the Boy Wonder himself joined Terra to fight Zarth while Tara, Jessy, Cyborg and Starfire decided to face John.

"It ends here and now... Titans Go!" – yelled Robin to restart the battle.

Starfire rose and flew at full speed to face the leader of the Order of Chaos who flung an energy attack towards her to disappear afterwards... The Tameranian evaded it, but lost sight of her target; then John appeared behind the group that was fighting him and used one of his most powerful spells against them; a big explosion shook the place sending Jessy and the other to one of the roof edges. Tara was the first to stand up and Jessy did the same afterwards and the two witches along with Starfire began the counterattack. The librarian created a tornado around John and a blaze for fire was thrown by the older of the Markov to finish the warlock; the leader of the Order tried to disappear but something prevented it. It appeared that the tornado was somehow blocking John's magic so he raised the level of his aura to break the spell. Nevertheless, it was too late since he received the fire attack fully falling to the ground afterwards.

"This can't be possible; that lower class witch has no level enough to prevent me using my magic..." – thought John upset while standing up.

Very close to them, a vicious battle took place; Terra rose and threw a fireball to Zarth who quickly evaded it to counterattack with an electrical discharge that sent the blond girl to the ground. Then, the warlock tried to finish the girl, but he had to rise quickly to evade two powerful attacks sent by Raven and Connor. The crow girl and Blackwood rose too and the three floated face to face, then they disappeared and the next heard was an energy crash when Zarth blocked an attack from Raven. Connor wanted to take advantage of that chance and flung a fire spell against the legendary warrior who sensed the move and created a shield to stop it; however, due to the fact the attack used one of the ancient elements, Zarth weakened a little. Besides, the legendary warrior didn't notice Terra was fully recovered and a second fire attack hit him fully in the chest sending him to the ground. Afterwards, Beast Boy who had transformed into a Dragon flung a blaze of fire towards Zarth who had strength enough to teleport himself away, although the four titans and Connor immediately appeared in front of him.

"I hope you are not thinking I'm defeated, this battle is just beginning" – pointed Zarth seeing his opponents surrounding him.

Not very far from there, the battle between Connor and the others continued; Tara flung a powerful electrical discharge towards the leader of the Order of Chaos, but he could evade it to throw a rain of arrows towards Jessy afterwards. Nevertheless, the librarian easily turned the arrows into dust by moving her right arm and sent a light attack that was blocked by John who immediately rose to evade the laser beam threw by Cyborg... Then, the warlock realized he had fallen into a trap since right after rising several green star bolts were surrounding him; the librarian didn't waste time and using all her strength created another tornado around John to block his magic. The leader of the Order of Chaos then used all his strength to break the spell but it didn't work so the warlock tried even harder but all his efforts were in vain; in that moment, John knew it was the end... the next thing happening was Starfire making all the bolts to hit the warlock and a huge explosion shaking the place; when the smoke disappeared, all the people present could see John's body falling heavy to the ground to lie motionless afterwards...

Zarth witnessed John's death and the legendary warrior could felt rage filling his body; those little kids had gone just too far and it was time to squash them like the cockroaches they were. The warrior shouted out loud and a strong blast generated by his aura sent the titans and their allies to the ground; afterwards, Zarth rose and created a huge energy sphere that sent towards his enemies; the attack wiped out the entire building; but fortunately, our heroes were saved by Raven who used her soul self to teleport them away. The group then flew towards the legendary warrior to face him

"No more considerations, no more chatting, time to die" – sentenced Zarth before disappearing.

The next movements took just a few seconds due to the great speed of the legendary warrior; he first appeared in front of Connor and knocking him out with a hook in the stomach; then he flew towards Jessy who tried to cast a tornado like she had done against John, but the spell was easily broke by Zarth who sent her unconscious with an energy attack. Afterwards was Cyborg's turn who received an electrical discharge that made him fall to the ground and remain motionless; then Tara felt the rage of the warrior and was knocked out by a light attack. In no time, all his opponents were beat until only one was left standing. In that moment, Zarth made a pause in his attack and walked towards the younger of the Markov to face her.

"Well, I just god rid of the trash, now it's just you and me" – said Zarth.

"I'm not afraid of you" – said Terra putting on guard.

"I'd say you're terrified instead, but don't worry you won't feel anything" – replied the other before charging her at full speed.

Terra sent a blaze of fire towards her opponent who evaded the attack to hit her hard in the stomach, making the younger of the Markov to cough blood while kneeling down.

"Defeated so soon?" – inquired Zarth.

"This is not over yet" – said Terra rising from the ground.

Zarth did the same and immediately disappeared to appeared behind Terra, but this time the girl was prepared and a powerful fire attack hit the legendary warrior; then, Terra made several stone columns to rise from the ground to hit Zarth again, but the warlock destroyed them with his aura to start the counterattack; the man flung a big energy sphere towards the blond girl who deflected it by controlling the air; although she didn't notice Zarth had appeared behind her and the warrior hit her hard in the head sending the titan to the ground along with his partners. Zarth observed the girl falling and decided to finish her once and for all; he had wasted enough time already in that combat and there were more important things to do. This time, the result of the battle would be different and the prophecies would be rewritten according to his will... after all, history is written by the winners.

Just beneath Zarth, the titans lay seriously wounded; blood flowed from their bodies and they could barely move; even the members of the Order of Darkness couldn't stand on their feet. Only one person had been able to stand up, a blond girl with blue eyes was the only Zarth's opponent with enough strength to keep fighting. But not even her had the power to match the legendary warrior.

"You don't even control your powers in a decent way, How could you even think that having that poor level you could defeat me?" – asked Zarth appearing behind the girl to kick her hard on her back making Terra fall heavily to the ground – "It's shameful that the chosen one to fight me this time is a second class warrior; you're just too weak to handle your own energy; I expected a real combat, but you're too pathetic to give me that" – sentenced Zarth before flinging a strong energy attack towards the blond girl who couldn't block it. After receiving the impact, the girl was thrown several meters away.

The blood flowed from Terra's mouth and the girl felt her strength fading away; but she couldn't give up, it was not the time to do that. What her father would say if he could see her in that situation? He and her mother had sacrificed a lot to give her the chance to live and now she was about to die because of her incompetence.

"You are an idiot and a immature girl, you should have stayed inside that statue to be destroyed by the Order, but I'm going to solve it"

Zarth flung a powerful attack against the blond girl who tried to stop it in vain; it was just to strong for her and Terra ended lying in the ground moribund. Afterwards, the legendary warrior rose above her and using all his power threw a huge energy sphere that caused a giant explosion when hit the younger of the Markov making a crater in the ground. In the bottom of it, Terra could be seen lying motionless without breathing. Zarth smiled pleased and landed near the other warriors who started to sand up without understanding what had happened.

"The prophecy has been fulfilled and the final battle has ended; you have witnessed the destruction of the key and now your turn has come" – sentenced Zarth thinking nobody could step on his way, or at least nobody capable of destroying him.

PPPPPPPPPPPP

Terra suddenly woke up and everything around her was nothing but complete darkness; the blond girl couldn't see anything farther than one inch from her nose and that situation started to make her feel uncomfortable. The worst part came when she realized she couldn't move, it was like something or someone was restraining her; the younger of the Markov then began to shake her body trying to free from that grip but all her efforts were in vain. The girl didn't know what to do to free her; nevertheless, the true horror arrived when she noticed why she couldn't move. Terra was inside the stone statue. The blond girl then started to cry out loud trying to be heard by somebody, but it was useless; it was like she was isolated from anything and anybody… A few seconds later, the titan stop struggling and keep doing the only thing she could do… to cry. But then she heard a familiar voice…

"I see you still are in your resting place, as usual" – said Slade entering in the room where was located Terra's statue inside the cave.

"Eh? This can't be, my friends need my help; Zarth is going to kill them" – replied Terra in a hurry.

"Zarth? Friends? What are you talking about? You have never had friends; the titans just used you, nothing more. They always did; even at the end they made you think they really liked you to turn you against me… unfortunately, they succeeded on it and you can see what happened. They got the victory and you ended up locked inside that statue" – continued Slade.

"Liar! You were the one who used me, you turned me against my real friends; besides, they set me out of here and took me back on the team… what I still don't know is how I got here again" – said Terra, the final part in a whisper.

"Set you out? Do you think you're free to move right now? I don't think so. You have never been set out from that prison and none of your 'friends' has ever come here since that battle… do you call that a real friendship?" – concluded Slade with irony.

"You won't trick me again… I've got to get out of here… Zarth is going to kill them all if I don't stop him" – said Terra struggling again to escape.

"And again you said that name… I think your mind has been busy all this years… let's see, come on, tell me What have you been dreaming to keep you busy inside there?" – asked Slade.

"I haven't dreamed anything!!" – yelled Terra beginning to lose her temper.

"Where is that Zarth then? And where are your so called friends?"

"In the city, in the Order of Chaos' headquarters… or what is left of it anyway"

"Wow, such an imagination you have! Order of Chaos? What else have you invented?"

"Shut up!!"

"Make me… oh, I' sorry, I forgot you can't get out of there… I don't know what else have you been thinking, but you are deluding. The city is completely in peace waiting for me to take over it"

"You have been sent by Zarth, haven't you? Well, go tell him he won't get away with it"

"That name again?" – asked Slade before hiding behind a big rock.

Seconds later, a little shine allowed Terra to see some things in the room, then a beautiful kid entered in the room; the boy was green and his clothes remind the ones worn by the monks in ancient centuries, although he had taken off his hood… soon he noticed the statue and walked towards it, but then two more people entered in the room… Raven and Beast Boy were together and by their gestures it was obvious they were in love with each other, although they soon started feeling a little uncomfortable after seeing the statue.

"Hey Jean come back here immediately" – said Beast Boy.

"Hi dad, hi mom" – answered the little boy joining his parents.

"Let's get out of here, this place only has bad memories in it" – said Raven flinging her arms around the green titan without stop looking at the statue.

"You're right, we better talk to the others to get rid of it… it has too many years bothering here" – concluded Beast Boy while the three left the room, that got dark again.

"This is not happening, this can't be happening. Why Beast Boy didn't hear my screams? Why they are together? A child? What happened with Connor?" – asked Terra herself starting to doubt.

"Do you understand now what I'm telling? Forget those silly dreams about Zarth, Connor, Order of Chaos and other stuff. You have never been out from that statue since that battle" – sentenced Slade coming out from behind the rock.

"But, but I, what happened was real… it was real… IT WAS REAL!" – said Terra yelling at the end – "But it really was? It was just a dream? Did I really imagine all that?" – inquired the blond girl.

"Well, well, well, finally you're starting to comprehend your real situation" – said Slade pleased.

"What are you doing here? Why did you come?" – asked Terra with pain in her voice.

"You're asking the right questions at last; I've come to give you the chance your friends didn't give you… I've come to set you out from that statue… I, unlike them, have been busy trying to find a way to set you free and finally I know the way" – said Slade joyful.

"Can you do that?" – asked Terra beginning to forget that tale about Orders, prophecies, wizards and witches.

"Yes, but on one condition"

"Which?"

"I want you to be my apprentice again… together we will destroy the titans once and for all"

The younger of the Markov was about to give up and quit everything to accept Slade's proposal, but something inside her pointed that something was wrong with all of it. She started to feel that the only way to escape from that prison was in her heart and not outside. Then a strong light wiped out the darkness of the room and Terra could see the surroundings again, but this time fully; however what astonished the girl was not the fact she could see again, but the person standing in front of here… just before Terra was the man who sacrificed his own life to protect terra, before her was Andrew, her father…

"Dad? Is that really you?" – asked Terra full of doubts.

"Yes my child, I'm here at your side" – replied Andrew.

"Then, everything was real?"

"Of course it was! And now your friends need you more than ever, don't abandon them in this moments of need"

"But I cannot get out of here; besides, and even if I manage to get out… that warrior is just too powerful for me… I don't think I can defeat him… I'm sorry for not being as strong as you" – said Terra sad.

"But you're more powerful than me. At your age I couldn't even control one element in a decent way; it took me several years of practice to reach the level I had; you're just a prodigy handling the elements"

"Do you really mean that?"

"Of course I do, do you think I'd lie to you?"

"But yet it hasn't been enough to beat Zarth"

"You only need to trust yourself. Terra, you are capable to defeat that guy but you need to think it is possible only then you'll find the strength to destroy him" – ended Andrew while his body started disappearing.

"Dad, please don't go, don't leave alone in this dark place"

"I've never left you alone my child, search deep inside your heart and you'll find my energy, which will always be yours"

Soon Andrew disappeared and the room got dark again leaving Terra full of doubts and uncertainties. She didn't know what was real and what was not, but she didn't have time to think about it since Slade reappeared again.

"You have not answered yet. Are you going to be my apprentice again?"

"My final answer is no… I will never be your apprentice again; now I'm someone different and I have to help my friends" – said Terra remembering her father's words.

The blond girl closed her eyes and a yellow light started to shine around her; then, she yelled out loud and the statue was destroyed…

PPPPPPPPPPPP

Terra suddenly woke up and by looking around she realized she was at the bottom of a big crater and almost immediately reminded everything that happened in the battle and in her mind; nevertheless, she didn't have time to look for answers, the titan stood up with one goal in her mind and thinking of it she rose until she emerge from the hole in the ground. Then she could see Zarth being ready to kill her friends who were in the ground helpless.

"Your battle with me is not over yet" – said Terra very resolved while a strong yellow aura surrounded her. Definitely, she was not the girl Zarth had fought before, now there was not fear in her.

"That strength, that aura" – said Zarth realizing the huge power emerging from the girl.

"Who is afraid now?" – asked the younger of the Markov.

"I see you found the way to unleash your true power, but don't feel to confident yet. You're still a kiddo and you have a lot to learn" – said Zarth putting on guard.

"And I'm planning to learn all of that once I wipe you out" – replied Terra without turning a hair.

What is going to happen now? Could Zarth defeat Terra again? The elements will emerge victorious this time? Will this be the final battle? Don't miss next chapter.

Author's Notes: Wow, finally I'm done with this chapter… It took me some time but I could do it. Sorry for the delay, I had some problems at home and at work and I didn't have much time to write.

Well, speaking of the chapter itself I must say I really enjoyed writing it, this is one of the chapters I've liked most writing and I think the final product is good. The final battle has begun and the full power of Zarth could be seen… Terra had to fight all her demons but I think this time she beat them for good, now she is ready for the final round. Her true power has been unleashed and now it's her turn to teach some lessons. Well, this fic is close to its end now, I'm afraid next chapter is going to be the last one and I really hope you still enjoy this story. Next chapter will show the result of the battle, but is that really the final battle? Before leaving let me tell you that your reviews are welcomed so I'm waiting for your comments. Don't miss next part.