good evening my dear readers.
before you start to hunt my sorry ass for taking this long i have to say be happy i came up with this and i am satisfied to post it!
it is not long, it is not spectacular but it shows Raven a new door in life. will she take it? maybe. you will find out at the end of this chapter.
the next update might take some time as my life is busy and i have places to go to, people to see, shit to learn and work to do. i WILL finish this story, as well as all others i have going/will start, but it will take some time. i have enough plot ideas for TONS of stories so bear with me when i am distracted again. i WON'T start a new story until this one or my Naruto story is finished, fear not.
but enough of me and now on to the story.
-Ω-
As the colors stopped spinning Raven saw a red sky above her while she felt how her power started to force it's way through. She was about to panic when Raziel appeared in her line of sight. "Hold on a little longer Raven; please." She took notice of the serious look on his face and slowly nodded, closing her eyes to concentrate better. A few seconds passed before she found herself suddenly being lifted out of her sitting position before a pair of arms encircled her chest, resting just below her breasts. She opened her eyes and took notice of her position in Raziel's lap while she felt his chin rest on her right shoulder.
"Relax; don't fear the power. Let it flow slowly in a steady stream. Don't push it or hold it back; let it flow in its own pace." His voice was a slight whisper in her ear that sent shivers down her spin as she started to relax a bit, lowering her defence. Her magic began to surround her in think waves and she felt panic rise in her chest until another source of power distracted her. She slightly moved her head to look at Raziel and saw him with closed eyes and his red power flowing around the two of them. The two demonic magics started to twist and turn around each other, the black violently and the red calm.
The dance of magic seemed to mesmerise Raven as her panic fell while a soothing feeling settled into her system. The two forces seemed to adept to each other as two huge towers rose towards the sky, twisted and distorted in each other. Suddenly the black got a huge burst in power and it flared to an extend that would have destroyed most lesser beings in a few seconds. Raven being the source was unharmed and Raziel likewise, probably due to his own demonic potential.
Again Raven was close to panic when suddenly Raziel gave her a small squeeze, "Relax; it needs more than some infernal power to take me down. There is no one you could hurt with your powers. Now close your eyes and concentrate on your magic. Feel it flowing through you, caressing your soul and body." Raven was starting to doubt Raziel's method yet she still closed her eyes reluctantly. Raven felt a know presence clawing at her mind but something was holding it back; something she knew yet was foreign to her. "Are you ready for the next step," whispered Raziel in her ear and Raven quickly nodded.
"Then open your mind; tear down the barriers and drown into the seas." Raven hesitated. 'What is he trying to do? Why this? Why now?' Thoughts of doubt raced through her mind but Raven knew she had only one choice: follow his words. She broke down the barriers around her mind one by one, new sensations washing over her and throwing her into a whirlwind of foreign feelings. Then she felt it. The known darkness of her own mind enveloped the two, a giant black raven burst from Raven and shot into the sky before it dove down on the two, swallowing them into pure darkness.
-Ω-
Raven felt calm. Like all of the last things never happened. She kept her eyes closed, somewhat enjoying the moment of serenity. For what seemed like ages she didn't think nor move. But then the weight of the last minutes happenings crashed into her like a train and her eyes flew open. She only needed a second to realize where she was: Nevermore, her own mind. "Not that I am one to talk but this place is a mess." Raven spun around and saw Raziel standing at the edge of the small island they had appeared on. His gaze travelled through the seemingly endless space, unwavering and... un-frightened. "How come we are here," muttered Raven as she slowly got on her feet, swaying slightly for whatever reason.
Raziel turned towards her, his face blank, "You remember THE spell I used?" Raven thought it over quickly. There was only one spell of high importance she had seen him use and it was... Some things fell into place and she paled, "No." "Yes." She looked up at him and her face held fear, "WHY?!" "Because you are ready. You have been ready for years." "But... but... the Prophecy..." "Isn't worth shit." She looked up at him, all four eyes filled with a mixture of shock and surprise, "You... knew... about the Prophecy?" He snorted short, "Of course. Everyone in the know can link you, the fall of Azarath and a few other events to one source. From there it's only a very short line to the Prophecy. While Earth has yet to be made aware of it most worlds in the demonic realm know the core of it."
"If you know all this then why do you say..." "That the Prophecy is a giant joke? Because ALL prophecies are. They are NOT set into stone, they aren't BOUND to happen; they are only the worst case scenario." Raven took several steps back from him. He couldn't mean what he said. He couldn't tell her that all her life had been a lie; a joke. "No... no... NO!" Raven grabbed her head, trying to suppress the anger that welled within her until she felt a hand cupping her left cheek. She looked up into the suddenly warm face of Raziel. "Don't hate the monks; they did what they thought would be the best course of action. They had no knowledge how a demon's mind and powers work. All they knew was that demonic magic was 'evil' and so they taught that to you. You have always longed for control in your life and for the control to be in your hands for once. This is your chance: take control."
Raven stared at him, her mind blank. All he said made sense; all he said seemed to easy to accept. The teachings of the monks did never come that easy. But... was he right? Was she a 'normal' demon? Did normal rules apply to her? "How...?" Her voice was barely above a whisper. "How do I... take control?" She had lowered her face, her eyes shadowed by her hair falling over them. Raziel smiled, a true smile that radiated warmth, "Don't fear." With those words he stepped back, taking with him the warmth and Raven's head shot up only to see his form fade from her mind.
'Don't fear.' His words were echoing in her thoughts as she looked around her mind. 'He is right. There is no such thing as Fate.' Her posture strengthened with her resolve to not let the Prophecy control her any longer. A rumble moved through the world of Nevermore but she didn't feel the fright overwhelm her. This was HER world, HER mind. SHE held all the strings in here. The rumble intensified and she closed her eyes, blocking the Fright within her and and drawing forth her Courage. Soon the rumbling stopped and she opened her eyes only to see the change that her mind had undergone.
No longer was Nevermore an endless space with a few floating islands. Gone were the long stone walkways that connected some of the islands. In their places were bigger islands, each at least 10 times in size than before. In the place of the long walkways were shorted, more stable bridges that connected the islands in many ways. She saw several places she recognized: Happy's colorful realm, the labyrinth that was Timid's home, the huge library that was Knowledge's holy sanctum and several more places that resembled her emotions.
Her eyes fell on an isolated island, far away from the main cluster. She strained her eyes and saw a barren plain with one single tree on a small hill. Raven frowned at the side. This place was not supposed to be so far away, not anymore. She raised her right hand and pointed it at the island. The floating rock was engulfed in a orb of darkness and slowly started to move towards the main cluster. Raven Raised her left hand and several bridges formed form the main cluster towards the sole island, soon connecting it to several other islands. She lowered her hands, satisfied with her work for now.
She knew she still had a long way to go but now she had a new perspective. She now had a new road to walk; a road that she herself had chosen for once. She turned around and found a black portal before her. One last look at the new arrangement and she stepped into the portal, satisfied with today's happenings.
-Ω-
When Raven opened her eyes she was back in her room. She looked around and quickly spotted Spes sitting on the watch, eyeing her carefully. She was surprised she was in her room or even on Earth. She had expected to wake up back on the world Raziel had ported them earlier. "How are you doing?" "Pretty well... things are better now; much better." "The others were pretty worried about you when Raziel returned with your lifeless body. Took him quite some time to convince them that you were out of danger." Raven's lips were grazed with a small smile, enjoying the fact that her team mates and friends cared that much about her. "Even Infelicitas was pretty worried about you." "Infelictas? Bad Luck? ... You mean Jinx, right?" "Yes. Though she was also the first to accept Raziel's explanation. She seems to have great faith in both of you since you took her under your wings." 'That reminds me... we either find Jinx a new room or she takes Raziel's. Not like he has much personal stuff in there anyway.'
Raven lay down on her bed, staring up at the ceiling with her arms crossed behind her head. 'Anyway... there is still the problem with Blackfire...' "Oh she won't be a problem. Robin explained the works to Starfire and she is delighted to have 'control' over her sister." Raven grinned lightly in a dark fashion, imagining a dominating Starfire in a leather outfit and Blackfire on all fours with a leather collar and a leash. Realizing what she thought Raven blushed, not knowing where those images came from. She sat up and looked around. Her room had always been her sanctuary... now it was more... Now, it was home; a home for the new Raven. 'Guess I should should make myself known but... I am so sleepy...' Not caring for the earful she would get from Robin after she woke up Raven stripped out of her clothes and crawled into her bed and as soon as her head hit the pillow she was out like a light, not even able to cover her naked form with the covers.
-Ω-
short, i know and i hate myself for it on some level. but i wanted to give you guys and girls something to read while i gather and recollect my thoughts for the next chap as i have a lot to take into consideration: what happens to Blackfire; what new powers/spells will the three mages discover; will i do anything about Terra like hinted at a long time ago; whose ass will be kicked next and whose nuts will be crushed?
those are all things i need to figure out and i would like to hear your thoughts on it, be it through Review, PM or even a direct mail. as long as the header tells me it's about this side and my stories i WILL read an email and response MOST of the times.
- T out