'Rorschach's Journal February 7th 1996

'It's been a few days since I lost my magic, I've been so focused on staying with my family that I've yet to start on recovering it.

'After talking about the possible threat, my parents and Sasu have been on their own guard, but so far no immediate threat has…'

The sound of Joshua's communicator stopped him. He put on his mask and took the little yellow device "Rorschach here, anything the matter?"

Robin voice spoke out "Commissioner Thatcher said Johnny Rancid was seen entering the city."

"The punk motorcycling vandal, I take it you want me as backup."

"Yeah, get the Vincent running and get here fast."

"On it." The communicator cut off and Joshua proceeded to suit up before running out house shouting his explanation for his spiriting. Luckily it rained so few people walked the street so, no one saw Rorschach leaving the house and run down the street to where he parked and hide the Vincent.

Johnny Rancid, pale skin, tattooed with tiger strips, and shooting his laser piston at nearly everything standing still speed through the main street on his black and red motorcycle as civilian ran out the way "Yeah that's right. Run and hide. The streets belong to Johnny Rancid."

A motor roar from up and in front caused him to look. Robin on his R-Cycle landed just behind Rancid "End of the road Johnny."

"Robin." The punk biker said "A little birdie name for a little birdie. You can't stop me." He reeved his throttle and did a wheelie before riding passed calling back "You can't even catch me.", Robin pursued.

Rancid fired shots. Robin swerved before throwing discs. The punk blasted them in mid-air "Aw, did big bad Johnny break the little birdie's favourite toy."

The two continued the chase as the punk shot out more insults. One-point Robin knocked the gun out of Rancid's hands, but the punk knocked Robin off the R-Cycle, but the Boy Wonder got back on.

As he turned a corner towards the suspension bridge over the river Rancid heard another motor noise. Rorschach came racing towards them from behind 'Good another stupid kid to play around with.', the two Titans levelled with the vandal who shouted to them, the Boy Wonder specifically "You can't fight, you can't ride, and you can't win." He said before jumping his bike on to a suspension cable. Robin proceeded to follow, however Rorschach decide to stay on the road 'What on Earth is Grayson thinking?'

Rancid looked back at Robin "You got guts getting up here, but let's face it Bird-Boy. You're just a stupid little kid."

Joshua rolled his eye 'Oh brilliant a school bully.', he saw to two jump and realised "Robin you're going to crash!", but too late, the R-Cycle hit the pillar of the bridge.

Rorschach braked as the wreckage landed and Robin flipped down land on his feet but clutching his arm. Rancid stop and looked back "What's the matter gangster wizard, don't want have the round we missed months back, scared are you?", Joshua blinked as he recalled 'He was the one pointing the gun at Sasu.', before speaking "I'm not scared of bullies, I'm more concerned for my teammate."

"Looking out for a stupid little kid like birdie, how pathetic."

"Says the man how was beating up by a girl last year.", Rancid growled and rode off. Rorschach put the stand on the Vincent and walked over to Robin "You okay old sport?"

"My arm," Robin said, the magicless Techno-mage nodded and helped the Boy Wonder to the Vincent, sitting on the dual seat and rode slowly back to the Tower.

Raven used her healing magic on Robin's casted arm "I've reduced the injury to a minor fraction, but you're still going to need that cast for a few weeks."

The Boy Wonder growled "I don't believe this! How could I make such a stupid mistake?"

"Please," Starfire said walked up "no more Robin yelling at Robin."

"You let Rancid and his bullying antics get on your nerves," Rorschach said standing next to Starfire "often people don't think straight when angry."

"Yeah man," Cyborg said walking up to the group "stop kicking yourself. Accidents happen."

"No to me they don't…"

"Dude," Beast Boy said appearing "I have just the way to cheer you up." He pulled out a marker pen, "All we have to do is sign you're…", the Boy Wonder glared at the changeling "Or not."

Robin got up "Look guys, thanks for the concern but…"

"No!" the five other all said pulling back onto the sofa, Starfire pleaded "You are in no condition to continue pursuing the Johnny Rancid."

"I know." the Boy Wonder said "I was just reaching for the remote."

Each of the Titan, baring Rorschach, took a piece of the response, first Beast Boy "You mean?", then Cyborg "You're not going to be all crazy determined?", then Starfire "And insist you are fine when you clearly are not?", and finally Raven "And not yell at us for trying to make you stay at home?", they all let go of Robin and the Boy Wonder got up to respond and get the TV remote "You guys can handle Rancid without me." He waved his cast "With this on my arm I'd probably just mess up again. Go. Take him down. I'll be just fine on my…" in a moment he convulsed and gripped his head, screaming in pain.

The other flinched. Robin swayed before a bold something came out of his head.

The something bounced on the floor and transformed into a small, potbellied big headed man dressed like Robin, only with lowercase r on a square patch instead of a capital R in circle. "Yay, I made it." He said "Robin hi!"

The Titans stared. Beast Boy and Cyborg mouths open, Starfire covering her eyes, Joshua eyebrow's wide and blinking, his mask conveying his surprise 'Has a Diddy Man gone on holiday?', Raven seemed to stay herself "Didn't see that coming.", Robin spoke next "Who are you?"

"I uh, I'm you."

Cyborg took DNA samples of both Robin and the newcomer and compared them "Identical, the little dude really is you."

"We're DNA buddies." The newcomer said bouncing around, and messing with items all around the room, including Raven's book.

Starfire chuckled before Robin spoke "Well if someone was trying to clone me they didn't do a very good job."

"No, not a clone," the newcomer said "I'm you, another you, from another universe." Before he explained "All the way from dimension four and nine-eights, Robin's DNA buddy and number one fan… Nosyarg Kcid.", Starfire hugged him "Welcome to our universe small amusing doppelganger.", the imp melted into puddle, literally.

Beast Boy struggled with the pronunciation of the name, Dick Grayson backwords, before saying "Maybe we should just call you Larry.", the imp took it extremely well "My name is Larry now!" he changed the r into an L and start messing about transforming and jumping about.

Joshua did not know whether to be amused, bemused or just annoyed 'This is Kenny Everett and Rik Mayall levels of absurd.', Cyborg next to him asked the question everyone's mind "Uh yeah, how did you do that stuff you did?"

"Magic Finger," his right index finger glowed "bends the rules of reality, I bend the rules so I can watch my hero Robin beat the bad guys all the time, but when he got hurt I knew Larry could help. So I decided to pop over, but I goofed and popped over into your noggin, ops."

"Yeah," Robin said "ops."

Rorschach gripped the bridge of his noise 'He must be like Mr Mxyzptlk an Imp from the Fifth Dimension.'

Beast Boy groaned taking the information in "Alternate dimension? Bending reality? All this science is hurting my brain.", Larry hoovered over, opened Beast Boy's head and put an Elastoplast on the changeling's brain. Beast Boy let out a sigh of relief.

"See," the imp said "Larry's here to help, now watch me fix up that arm." He waved his finger at the cast and Robin's hand became a hockey stick, "Ops."

The alarm went off, Cyborg looked at the computer "Johnny Rancid downtown."

Robin looked at his arm "Just go."

Evening came.

As Robin sat channel hoping Larry continued to change Robin's arm, finally getting his back to the cast "Yay! Kay, this time I'll fix it just right.", Robin looked to his Fifth Dimension counterpart "Let's just let it heal on its own." Larry frowned "Hey want to check in on the team with your communicator?"

"Their fine."

"I bet you want to monitor the mission by computer."

"Not really."

"Don't you want to patch up your R-Cycle?"

"No thanks."

"Work out?"

"No."

"Clean your utility belt?"

"No!"

"Alphabetise your crime file? Polish your boomerangs? Iron your cape?"

"No, no, no!"

"Just let me fix your arm. Please? You'll feel all…"

"No!", the two wrestled with each other, until Larry got sent flying and landed breaking his finger and putting expanding cracks into the floor, a massive beam of energy spilled out.

The cloaked figure of Destiny turned another page the book bond to him, or he bond to it. The book contains everything to have happened, everything that is happening, and everything going happen. The book bond to Destiny is the universe.

Small clouds formed above the forking paths of his realm, his blind eyes looked up "A small reality storm.", he returned to the page 'Johnny Rancid speed down the main street…'

Johnny Rancid speed down the main street.

Starfire fired shots at him missing Rorschach as he rode behind Rancid on the Vincent. Raven flew next to the Tamaranean while Cyborg held onto Beast Boy as a Pterodactyl.

Rancid turned a corner, Rorschach braked and stared as Beast Boy and Cyborg stopped beside him.

A storm cloud with white light emitting from it rapidly approached them.

The girls joined the boys, Raven spoke her mind "That can't be good." As the light hit them.

Joshua slowly woke and he rubbed his face, feeling his mask he remembered what happened and opened his eye, which widened 'I hope this is not heaven.'

Everything look like a child's drawing, like crayon and coloured pencils were instrumental in the creation of the world. He looked around and found the Vincent unchanged so checked for any damage.

Cyborg got up and looked around himself "Why does the entire world look like it belongs on my grandma's fridge?"

Raven watched a group of walking, smiling sunflowers walk passed her "This is bad."

A muffled shriek sounded as Beast Boy came running and point at where his mouth should be, no mouth rest on his face.

"Okay," Raven said "so it's not all bad", Beast Boy turned angry and somehow took Raven's mouth off her and put it on and screamed with Raven's voice "Can someone please tell me what's going on!", Raven tapped Beast Boy on the shoulder and pointed upward before stepped back a far.

Robin and Larry crash landed on top of Beast Boy.

"Robin!" Starfire said, Cyborg spoke next "What happened?"

"Yeah," Robin said turning to Larry "what happen?"

"Remember how I can bend reality? Well when you pushed me, we kind of broke it."

"You broke reality?"

"We did together.", Robin grabbed the imp and brought him to his face "Fix it now."

"Can't," Larry said holding out his buckled digit "Magic Finger's broke too.", Robin walked to the others "Raven fix his finger.", without her mouth the blue witch took Cyborg's and spoke, now with the mechanical jock's voice "Not a good idea. Mixing my powers with his could destroy the dimensional boundaries and nullify all existence."

"Who cares?" Beast Boy said, again with Raven's voice "I just want my mouth back."

"No problem," Larry said, "no problem! If anyone can fix reality, it's my hero Robin."

"What makes you think I can fix it?" the Boy Wonder said "I don't even understand how we broke it!"

Cyborg wishing to speak took Starfire's mouth "Well somebody's got to clean this mess. Come on ya'll.", all the Titan replace their mouth into their original places as Cyborg finished "We're heading for Titan's Tower." Cyborg ran off, Raven flew after him and Beast Boy giving a muffled groan followed.

"Robin?" Starfire said putting her shoulder on the Boy Wonder's should "You are feeling okay?"

"The universe is falling apart because I made another stupid mistake. How would you feel?"

Larry appeared next to the Boy Wonder with his finger in bandages "Hey, DNA buddy, look! Now we're cast buddies too!"

"Yay." Robin said sarcastically.

The streets on Jump City continued to be consumed by the storm and become the garish explosion in a rainbow factory of a world.

The Titans regrouped as civilian ran from the insanity. Beast Boy shrieked and pointed, the tower happened to be the epicentre of the storm.

Rorschach put his elbows on the Vincent's handle bar and rested his face against his hand "Let get to the tower before we all turn doolally."

"Ditto." Raven said her hair now resembled the Bride of Frankenstein's.

"Do not despair." Starfire said, as wings appeared from her temples and lifted her head from her body as she continued to speak "Our goal is in sight. The journey cannot last much longer." The Tamaranean body jumped up and tried to catch the escaped noggin. Beast Boy wailed as a massive cartoon Godzilla creature walked down the street.

"Actually," Cyborg said "this could take a while."

After several minutes of misadventures, the team reached the tower. Rorschach grumbled as he pushed the Vincent up 'Great three days after I finish the bike and now it's salt-waterlogged.'

"Yay," Larry said "we made it! Now Robin can save the universe.", the group continued up the island.

Beast Boy looked down and found his mouth sitting on a rock. He picked it up and put it on. Starfire reattached her head "Beast Boy, wonderful! You have recaptured your mouth!"

"Yeah," Raven said looking back, a fish in her hair "but I think he put it on backwards."

As proof Beast Boy start speaking backward, he tried to say "Help! I can't understand what I'm saying."

Rorschach looked back "Just read your subtitles." Before continuing to push the Vincent up 'Maybe I should've gone to Zatanna, her magic work by speaking backwards.'

Cyborg reached the top first and tried to key in the code. Instead of opening the tower stuck out a massive tongue at them and blew a raspberry. Cyborg spoke "I knew something like that was going to happen."

The group flew up to the roof, Beast Boy as a Pterodactyl carried Rorschach, Raven carried Robin and Starfire took hold of Cyborg. Larry of course flew by himself.

They reached the roof and looked at the spilling mass of energy before Cyborg spoke "So how do we close it?"

"You don't." Said a familiar voice, Rancid appeared "Whatever thing is it controls the city," he shouted "and now the city belongs to Johnny Rancid." He jumped in Rorschach and Robin ran up trying to stop him, but too little too late.

The energy turned blood red, the energy hit Rorschach and sent him back knocking him out. Rancid stepped out physically a lot stronger than before, his sclera black and his irises and tattoos glowing red "Bird Boy ready for me to clip your other wing?"

The cartoon world that the city became transformed into dim, twisted nightmarish metropolis Rancid spoke "Your city is mine! Your reality is mine!" he held out a knife like weapon and fired red lightning at Robin but Cyborg took to blow.

Rancid materialised his motorbike and climbed onto it "Come on Bird Boy," he called taking off and actually flying "let see if you can fly.", Cyborg fired off his hand on a cable and grabbed the rear mudguard, however the force of the bike's momentum caused the technical joke to be dragged up. Rancid fired a bolt at the cable severing it and Cyborg fell into the sea.

Starfire fired of her shots but punk cyclist dodged. She came flying towards him Rancid fired at a storm cloud and parted it, the red lightning came down and wrapped around the Tamaranean taking her up into said cloud.

Raven floated in front "You want dark? I'll give you dark! Azarth Mertion Zinthos." And fired at him, Rancid countered with his energy attack, the two powers collided but Rancid kept approaching and overpowered the witch. She tried to get out of the water but it went viscous and sticky.

Robin looked out at the destruction. Larry tried encouraged the Boy Wonder "Titans go! Titans go! Robin has to beat the bad guy!"

After a long silence Robin said "I can't."

"Why can't you? You're Robin."

"Don't you get it? Look at me!" he said showing the cast "I'll just mess up again."

"So," the imp said "I mess up all the time, but I still try. That's how come you're my hero Robin. Because no matter what you always try."

"Just remember," Rorschach said clutching his sides in pain "do not let Rancid's bullying get to you."

Larry unwrapped his finger and smiled widely "Magic Finger's healed."

Rancid rode over the city continuing his destruction. A yellow streak past him and he stopped turning around.

Robin rode on the R-Cycle fixed and flying while Larry sat in a new side car. The punk chased the pair. The Boy Wonder threw out a Bird-a-rang and knocked the punk's weapon away.

The fight between the three continued. Bashes and uses of reality changing powers ensued.

Rancid flew up and charged down at the two "You can't beat me! You're just a stupid like kid!"

Robin fired his grapple and it wound around a bridge, he jumped off the R-Cycle and flew swung up and over. Rancid who had just ridden under said bridge looked back as the Boy Wonder kicked him off his bike. Larry came flying with his charged finger and pushed it straight into Rancid's abdomen sending the vandal down to the ground.

The red pair flew down and looked at Rancid, his power-up gone "So Johnny," the Boy Wonder said "what's it like having your butt kicked by a stupid little kid?", Rancid did not respond and simply fainted.

Larry charged his finger and in moments the city changed back to normal. The Titans stood on the tower roof.

"It's lovely to have the city back to the way it should be." Rorschach said taking a deep breath. Starfire clapped her hands "Everything looks so joyous and wonderful!"

"Yeah," Raven said "Any chance we could change it back?"

"See Robin," Larry said "We fixed everything!"

Beast Boy spoke still taking backwards trying to say "Hello? Do I look fixed to you?"

"Um," the imp said examining the changeling "that'll just wear off, sooner or later."

"Thanks Larry," Robin said kneeling down "but before you go home, how about fixing my arm?"

"Another chance? Really? Even though I might mess up?"

"Just give it your best shot", the imp charged his finger. The cast went and Robin flexed his arm "It's prefect, Larry you did it" Robin looked up and found himself in a white void "Larry?"

A white gloved hand took the Boy Wonder's shoulder "Come with me." A voice said.

Starfire held Larry up and her eye glowed "You bring Robin back here or I will send you to Xhal, in a not pleasant way."

"Star," a voice called, everyone turned Robin stood on the roof, perfectly fine behind him stood a figure dressed in deep blue, a long cape with high collar, held with a gold medallion, his eyes hidden by the shadow cast by the brim of his hat.

Joshua's eyes widen.

Starfire flew into Robin and hugged him tight.

Beast Boy looked at the figure and said, still backwards "Who's this guy?" the figure walked up to the changeling and waved his hand in front of the boy's face, "Dude? What did you do that for?" then he blinked "Hey I'm talking right again."

"What," Rorschach said "are you doing here?"

"Rorschach?" Robin said still in Starfire's embrace "You know this man? He brought me back from wherever Larry sent me."

"Yes, everyone, this man, is the Phantom Stranger." Everyone's eyes widened before the Stranger spoke "I initially came to collect Rorschach, I am to take him where he needs to be, however when Robin was sent to the void by accident I decided to bring him back."

"Why do you need to take Rorschach?" Cyborg asked.

"He has a meeting with Doctor Fate, and then must retrieve his magic."

"Wait," Starfire said letting go of Robin "why in the alternate future did you not help Friend Rorschach?"

"Because Princess Koriand'r of Tamarus, in that alternate timeline Rorschach had lost the will to go on, without his drive to continue he did not become worthy of his powers again.", Starfire lowered her head and nodded, Robin turned to her "You're the Princess on your planet?"

"I will explain later."

The Phantom Stranger turned to Rorschach "I will take you your family first and say your goodbyes, I foresee you spending a large amount of time on regaining your magic."

"Why now?"

"I needed to see if you were still willing to be a hero and protect this city."

"I see, alright." He turned to the others "Don't worry I'll be back, magic or not I'm a Titan, by the way Cyborg can you make sure the Vincent is in working order, after that dip in the bay."

"I'll take a look at it."

"Thanks, cheerio for now." The Phantom Stranger took Rorschach's shoulder.

"Wait," Larry said floating next to the magicless Techno-mage "can I have try to restore you magic?"

"His magic is not lost imp," the Stanger said "it has been restrained." He pointed to the black dragon badge. Larry blinked and backed away "I'd better be heading back home." He turned to the other Titans "If you need my help just say so." And the imp charged his finger and vanished. The others looked back to Rorschach and the Stranger, but they vanished.

Starfire lowered her head "I believe I am going to miss him."

"Me to Star." Robin said putting his hand on her shoulder.

"I think," Cyborg said "we all will. But he didn't say goodbye, he'll be back, even if he doesn't get his magic restored, he'll be back."

"Cyborg's right," Robin said "we just continue without him.", the other nodded and headed to the stairs as Robin thought 'What was so special about his badge that made Larry want to leave so fast?'

The two men appeared before the house, Joshua took his key out and unlocked it, "I'm home." He called. Sasu came out of the living room and smiled "Glad to see you're okay."

"Thanks but I need to talk with all of you."

Suzanna wheeled herself out of her study, saw the Phantom Stranger and nodded.

Nicholas exited from the basement and saw the concerned look of his wife as she, Sasu and his son, in the middle of removing his mask entered the living room.

Joshua sighed and began the explanation "…I do not know how long I'll be gone."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Suzanna asked tears in her eyes "I don't want you getting hurt needlessly."

"Mum, you know how I feel about my magic.", his mother nodded, he turned to his father "Dad I…"

"I know old chap, you need to do this, not just for yourself, for the Titans and for the city."

"Thanks Dad." Josh finally turned to Sasu, tears falling from her eyes, tear came to him as well "Sasu, I," he got up and hugged her, she gladly accepted and whispered "I'll pray to Cynhund to keep you safe."

"Thank you," he looked into her eyes before kissing her on the forehead. He stood up and put his mask back on, turned on his heels and walked back to the Phantom Stranger "I'm ready, let's get this over with."

"As you choose Joshua Spearing." The Stranger took Joshua's shoulder and two walked off and far away.

Author's Notes

Last chapter was one of my favourite episodes, this chapter is one of my least favourites, I find Larry annoying and I hate bullies so I avoid episodes with Johnny Rancid, or at least ignore him when he appears.

I will note next chapter will have massive spoilers for Watchmen, so if you want to know more about it before reading the next chapter have a look at Watchmen (preferable read the comic, but I won't condone any of you for watching the film instead).