"There's a lot." Raven says quietly as she Nightwing and Batman appears on the teleporter pad of the station, eyeing the large group of people assembled in the hall. She can confirm that every Titan they had on the list has shown up, minus Joseph Wilson who had declined the offer. And a few others, including Kyle, Donna, Conner and Cassandra.
"And Rose Wilson?" Nightwing notes at the girl leaning against the back wall, having a clear area around her.
"She has the skills, if she has the morals is another matter." Batman replies as he leads them down the stairs.
"And what are our roles in this?" Raven asks.
"Mine is the same as everyone else showing up." Nightwing replies. "I am not a member and I have to go through the tests."
"Ours will be elaborated shortly." Batman says. "Can you get us to the cantina?" He asks.
"Of course, good luck Nightwing." She says before her soul-self swallows her and Batman before flying through the station, and arrives in the cantina, finding the Founders and several other heroes here, including Captain Atom, Barda, Dr. Fate, Vixen and a few others Raven doesn't know yet.
"Right on time." Superman notes before addressing the entire room. "Ok everyone, we have a lot of people to try out. Wally will pass around your assignments." He says as the Scarlet Speedster blurs and everyone suddenly have a brown paper envelope in their hands. "Inside is confidential information, you are not to share this with each other. We will be monitoring the progress. Ok you have twelve minutes to get to your assignments." As he finishes the group of heroes open their envelopes, Raven finds her assignment to lay an ambush as Batgirl in one of the training hall's and a direct magical confrontation, but also to add a fear factor in one other arena, last on the list she notes with a raised eyebrow that there is a time, but not an assignment marked as special.
After changing clothes, she arrives in her designated hall, finding it changed into the Shinobi Stand simulation. "Hey there." Mr. Terrific's voice says from above. "The rafters are solid, your goal is to act as a hostile force, defeat everyone if possible, retreat if the opposition is too steep." Raven gives him the thumbs up before getting ready, hiding in the darkness above.
She settles herself behind a post, leaving her a clear view of the entrance, while keeping herself almost invisible. From her position, she shoots her grapple hook across the room to the rafter opposite hers.
She waits 10 minutes before the door is opened and a group of three enters, Ravager and Bushido led in by Katana.
"Hmm, cozy." Ravager notes at the surroundings. Raven picks her target, Katana, based on the fact the woman is the oldest of the sword wielders and the most experienced and thus the most dangerous.
The group draws their swords, apparently knowing something is happening here. And walks into the room carefully, only quickly scanning the rafters above, Raven guesses her costume is making her practically invisible, since none of them notices her. She waits until Katana is right in her path before rising slowly to her feet before letting herself get pulled feet first across the room. In hindsight Raven should have chosen one of the other two, because Katana nimbly ducks out of her path, letting her sail harmlessly over her. To swing around the rafter to crouch there eyeing the group.
"Cool." Ravager says with a smirk as Raven stands up. "Oh crap." She says before rolling aside as Batgirl spreads her cape, and glides feet first towards her. Batgirl rolls with her landing as well as Bushido attacks, swinging his sword horizontally, hoping to catch her across her lower back.
Rolling to her feet facing him, she is quickly forced to use an open palm with her left to deflect the diagonal slash aimed at her, followed up with a kick aimed at his shoulder that has him grunt in pain. She isn't afforded much down time, just enough for her to jump up and swing herself up onto the rafter over her as Ravager and Katana rushes her. The two quickly move away before Batgirl can come up with retaliation, ending up far from each other.
Again she targets Katana, jumping down from the rafter and rushes the woman, getting so close to her that her sword becomes a liability, landing two quick punches to the woman's midsection and a slap to the left side of her head before hand-standing onto Katana's shoulders and tosses her into a corner when she comes down on the other side.
Turning around quickly, she is forced into a dance of avoidance and open palm strikes against Ravager who lands her attacks like a dervish, oddly Raven is reminded of her fight against Artemis, but before she can land an attack she is forced to leap to one side as Bushido adds his attacks to the fray, following her past Ravager. This proves to be his undoing as Batgirl rolls as she lands, catching him with both feet and launches him over herself and onto his back before she continues rolling over him, grabbing his sword on the way before standing up facing Ravager.
"So a sword fighter too?" She says as she regards Batgirl who stands motionless with the katana pointing at the ground. "Silent too." She notes as Batgirl slowly raises the weapon over her head, she can almost tell Ravagers eyes widen before leaping aside as the sword flies through the air and impales the post behind her. Before Ravager can react properly Batgirl is on her, grabbing hold of her wrists before putting a thumb onto the point, getting a pained growl out of her as her hands involuntarily drop her weapons.
Batgirl is caught off guard by the knee that is hammered into her chest and the two are carried to the ground with her underneath Ravager who crawl to straddle her across the chest. "Damn, let go!" Ravager growls as she tries to get her hands free while her legs begin to squeeze Batgirl's chest.
Batgirls knows she is going to black out eventually if Ravagers above human strength keeps squeezing her ribcage, so she shakes her viciously once, letting her left hand go before planting a solid right hook on the side of Ravagers head. The girl collapses to the side with the punch before Batgirl gets to her feet, spotting Katana charging her; she pulls out her grappling hook and fires it into the ceiling before letting it pull her away, ending the test.
"Ok folks, test is over. Go get any injuries tended to and report to the next." Michael says from above.
"Come Ravager-san, we shall have that jaw tended to." Katana says after sheathing her sword.
"I'll be just dandy when I get my hands on that bat." Ravager growls as she tests her sore jaw before collecting her swords and following Katana out. Bushido remains a few seconds in the center of the room before bowing to the shadows as a sign of respect. Collecting his sword he leaves as well, letting Batgirl slip her way down to the ground.
"Nice moves kid, wonder why Batman didn't want you to try out as well?" Michael asks from above, Raven just makes a slicing gesture along her throat. "Ah mute, pity. Oh well, better clear out, the next batch will arrive in a few moments." She nods before exiting as well, making sure she is not seen by any camera's and other's she teleports to her room before changing and teleports back to the same training hall, finding it appearing like a deserted mountain valley, with boulders scattered about the place, with a blue sky overhead and green grass under her feet. "Hey Raven."
"Hello Michael." She replies. "How's the league handling?"
"Just fine now that the big guys are back thanks to you. How about you? Enjoying the sun somewhere?"
"Yeah, doing wonders for my complexion. So any chance of knowing who I am supposed to be meeting here?" She had an idea who since she was specifically requested to use magic here.
"Zatanna's cousin, Jinx and a guy Blue Devil brought along, some kid calling himself Kid Devil." He says.
"Fate's leading them?" She asks not really looking forwards to having to fight him.
"He won't be entering the arena, but yes it is his team, a note from the big guys, you are allowed to wheel out your other shape's if you want to, but the emphasis is on magic. They will be here in a matter of moments if you want to get ready."
"Got it, thanks." She says before flying up onto the largest boulder in the center of the arena and sits herself down in her meditative stance and waits getting a few moments of peace and quiet before the door is opened and a boy with short curled horns, red skin, pointed tail and yellow glowing eyes enters, wearing nothing but a pair of black shorts, followed by a boy of equal age in a dress suit, white gloves and a top hat and Jinx forming the rearguard.
"Hot damn! It's a girl our age." The boy who Raven guesses is Kid Devil says.
"She's clearly older than us you buffoon." The other one says with a snobbish aristocratic tone in his voice. "Forgive my rude associate, but you would know where this challenge is to be found?" He asks, before noticing Jinx has stopped. "I say, what is the matter Jinx, one would think you saw a ghost?"
"Er, guys… she is our challenge." Jinx says while her pupils have grown wide.
"She is?" Kid Devil asks before turning back. "WOW!" He manages before jumping over a huge boulder that smashes into the ground where he stood.
"A telekinetic, how novel. redluoB up!" He commands and Raven teleports to the side before the rock she was floating over blasts into the sky. "Hmm, teleporter too."
"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos." Raven chants before letting two blast of black magic race towards the aristocrat and Jinx.
"dleihS!" The boy commands as Jinx leaps aside, sending her own pink bolts towards Raven who floats to the side and avoids it while Kid Devil runs below her.
Seeing this, Raven animate several of the rocks below to keep him more occupied with them than her. "niartseR reh!" The aristocratic boy commands and three heavy metal bands appear around Raven, pinning her feet together and her arms to her sides before sending her crashing to the ground. "And there you have it folks, how magic should be." He says proudly. "Let us see her get out of that one." He says as the rocks stop chasing Red Devil.
"There's no way she is down that easy." Jinx says as she gets up.
"Of course she is." The boy says confidently as he and Devil walk over where Raven landed "I say, where is she?" He asks finding the three bands empty.
"I think she just teleported Zach." Devil says.
"Behind you!" Jinx warns having seen Raven appear on a boulder behind the two, sending two bolts at Raven who leap's to another stone before getting tackled to the ground by Devil.
"Give it up babe." Devil smirks as they roll around. "I'm stronger than most."
"No Devil don't, she's an…" Devil is suddenly flying through the air with a wild screech. "… Amazon."
"Really? I thought they were taller?" Zach says as the two watch Raven get up, Jinx notes with some concern that she is bare footed and that Devil is quickly back up behind her. "I say, give up and we need not harm you, we have you covered."
"We don't have squat." Jinx says as she notices Raven's pigmentation change.
"You don't." Raven agrees as the full transformation takes effect and her horns, tail and wings appear, pushing her hood and cloak back.
"Hot damn!" Devil says before leaping at her, the two other doesn't see the movement Raven makes, but Devil is caught by the throat getting a strangled noise out of him.
"No one said we were dealing with a demon!" Zach complains.
"I'm offended." Devil says with a strangled voice.
"Half-demon." Jinx says before sending two arching bolts at Raven who let them impact against her shield.
"Hey, are you fireproof?" Devil asks before blowing a stream of fire into Raven's face.
"Are you?" Raven asks from the firestorm before a gout of flame rushes into Devil, blurring out the two in fire.
"eriF pots!" Zach commands and the two flames are extinguished. Revealing the two demons still staring at each other. "Time to end this, nemod enogeb!" Jinx's eyes go wide when the two vanish.
"Hey, where did you send them?" Jinx asks, Zach just shrugs.
"Home I suspect, but the day is won, magic has prevailed." He says with indifference.
"Yeah and you sent Eddie with her! Bring them back!" Jinx demands.
"Alas I cannot bring the buffoon back, even if I wished to." He shrugs, sounding more offended than concerned as he notices the looming shadow behind him just before a hand closes around his throat and lifts him into the air. "Hrk!" He manages as he struggles against the vice like grip.
"Your cousin did that as well, now look what you did to your friend." Raven says with an annoyed tone holding an out cold Devil up by his ankle in her right hand and Zach by her left, with her reeking of sulfur. "Now you sleep." She says as her eyes glow a little brighter and the young mage falls asleep, before being put down along with Devil, Raven on purpose placing Zach's face in Devil's butt. "And you Jinx?" Raven says facing the pink headed sorcerer.
"Like old times?" Jinx smirks as she summons her energies. Raven smiles slightly as she turns back to her human self.
"Like old times." She agrees before she attacks.
"Well that was amusing." Michael says from above while Raven collects her boots. "What happened to the red kid?"
"Zatanna's cousin sent the both of us to Hell, but we were separated when we landed. I landed in a sulfur lake and he landed on the head of what I call a fiend."
"I take it that was a bad thing?"
"They have the same temper as Etrigan, but not quite as strong as him. Fortunately, they decided just to beat him up for starters." Raven replies. "I sensed something peculiar about him?"
"I guess you would, Blue Devil said, that he got his powers by making a deal of some kind. Blue Devil was a movie stunt man once, got lured into a deal that sealed him inside a Blue Devil suit, a part he was playing. The kid is supposedly a fan of the movie series and by that extension of Blue Devil after he got turned." Raven groans from below.
"Let me guess, someone offered him a chance to be closer to his idol?"
"That is what he said happened, some guy called Neron did it, Kid seems happy enough though." Terrific replies.
"Neron made the deal?" Raven asks in alarm. "Wonder if he even knows what he has done to himself?" She sighs.
"Anything wrong?" Michael asks.
"Neron is the ruler of the Greater Hell, the current day Satan, he is called the Prince of Lies and he is a deal maker, there is bound to be a downside to that deal he made." She says. "We need to speak to him about this."
"I will note it down, along with Zatanna's cousin being arrogant and uncaring of his team members by looks of things."
"I actually liked Zatanna better, she at least had something reason for being unlikable in the beginning, Zach just seems to be arrogant because he thinks he's better." Raven replies.
"Kid seems to have some tricks though." Michael mentions.
"That he does, but he shouldn't have them if he decides to win a fight by casually blowing parts of his team to kingdom come. Jinx did ok though."
"She did, looked like, dare I say it, you two had fun squaring off against each other." Michael says form above with a hint of amusement in his voice.
"First fight we have been since she turned over a new leaf four years ago, felt like old times, except she would have to go to jail afterwards back then."
"She knew she was going to lose?" Michael asks.
"Back then I mostly just stalled her before one of the others knocked her on the head, but I did win a few, but so did she. But she did come with me when I had to get the dragon's claw, so yes, I'd say she knew she would lose. Anyways, I got to go according to my list; I have to go help one of the others."
"Enjoy." Michael says from above as she leaves the room as well.
The next scenario for Raven is assisting Vixen in adding effect in the 'Greenery', a large greenhouse that resembles a jungle more than a garden, to Raven's amusement, the team she was ambushing was Cyborg, Beastboy and Starfire led by Green Arrow.
Vixen started the ball by charging through them as they formed a narrow row to traverse the jungle, while she channels the powers of an elephant, scattering them and carries Cyborg off. Beastboy and Starfire are quickly in pursuit, the old team instincts kicking in, leaving Green Arrow to hurry after them.
As this is Vixens test, Raven is resigned to watch her battle the four, while she rustles leaves and makes a half-hearted grab for Green Arrow and the others when he comes too close to the green. While impressive, the lone woman fights the four by channeling different animals, she can't fight the three Titans that prevent her from taking any of them out. She ends up getting caught by a starbolt's and a sonic blast while she and Beastboy butt heads as bulls.
Later, after the other trials were completed:
"So what is this last thing on my list?" Raven asks as she follows Batman through the station, she had given up trying to figure out where he was going.
"You are going to part of a special event. Search and rescue mission." Batman replies as they walk.
"As?" Raven continues.
"The candidates are assembled in sparring hall one, waiting for the results. In a few moments when you are ready, the alarm will sound. Your job will be to pick one or two of the candidates and abduct them, take them to the Pit and wait for the others to arrive, possibly 'entertain' them. You don't have to look like yourself, but that is up to you."
"That is a very dangerous test." Raven mentions.
"We are confident in your abilities to reign in the troops, but be assured you might lose a few." Batman replies without a break in his voice.
"And you will track this how?"
"Dr. Fate is looking into the Pit as we speak."
"Ok, and when do I have to bring them back?"
"Their score is only partially determined on whenever they make it or not, we will be watching them and evaluating their performance and attitude. Do you know who to take?" He asks.
"Hmm, Jinx is the obvious candidate, since she has been there before. While I wouldn't mind entertaining Zatanna's cousin or Ravager, I was thinking of Nightwing." This has Batman stop to look at her, obviously her suggestion surprised him.
"Why him?"
"Jinx I will take because she knows the place and not fall for the attack ruse, Nightwing because I know he is a born leader, if he is not taken, then he will lead everyone else. Also, everyone on this station likes him, making it easier for them to figure out if they want to rush through a portal to get him and Jinx back. I take it; you aren't going to be evaluating prisoner behavior?"
"No. It is a good choice, we did think of the same eventuality, take him. Will let us see if there are other potential field leaders." He says as they enter a hallway with viewports into the hall beneath, spotting the large group of people walking around down there.
"Ok, I will be ready in two minutes, opening a lasting portal takes a little more focus." The man nods before walking off. "Hey Richard."
"Hey Rae, had fun jumping on people?" He sends back.
"Sure I did. Say would you mind terribly standing near Jinx?"
"Uh no, but why?" He sends back, but she can see him move towards the pink head.
"Oh no reason." She sends back, feeling ready to do what she was being asked.
"Eh? What's going on Rae?" He asks as the alarms begin blaring and the light switches to red.
"Hold on, we are going for a little ride." She says after phasing through the glass, changing form while doing so.
"Whoa, what's the emergency?!" Cyborg yells over the racket.
"Beats me!" Beastboy shouts back, before someone yells a warning as an ear piercing roar tears through the noise. "What the hell?!" Beastboy says as a huge circular portal opens in the middle of the room as a huge muscular winged demon disappears into it, carrying two figures in his huge hands, two very familiar to the pair.
"That thing got Rob!" Cyborg shouts.
"Come foolish mortals; come to hell for your friends!" A deep booming voice roars its challenge from the portal, blowing out the alarms in the hall.
"Guy's it took Jinx!" Kid Flash cries as he finds them.
"Got Rob too, come on!" Cyborg says as she begins shoving his way through the people not moving.
"Yes we must assist them!" Starfire says as she zooms overhead, becoming the second to disappear into the portal after Kid Flash.
"Come on y'all, people in need of saving!" Cyborg yells before he and Beastboy disappears as well.
"You heard the man!" Bumblebee shouts as well before she, Tempest and Herald rush into the portal as well.
There is a ripple effect throughout the room and more and more young heroes pile into the portal that begins to close slowly, leaving only one finely dressed magician behind as it closes with a plop.
Elsewhere on the Watchtower:
"Admirable. They all rush to their aid." J'onn says as he and other Founders look into the portal.
"Indeed, even those who only met them a few hours ago." Diana agrees.
"I am embarrassed I'm related to him." Zatanna sighs, looking her cousin shoving his hands into his pockets.
"How long did you say he had his powers?" Superman asks as the image grows dark.
"Half a year, give or take a month. I just don't get it, he was this great kid before and now, well, I don't know if any of the others want to play with him anymore." She replies.
"There will be bad eggs Zee, your cousin is just one of them." Wally adds.
"Sadly, I thought that by bringing him here would mellow him to fit the mold. So where are they now?" Zatanna asks.
"Here." Fate says as the image clears to see the big group of people look around themselves in a vast hellish landscape.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Shayera asks.
"Positive, Raven will provide them with a believable threat, how they handle it is up to them." Batman replies.
Next Chapter: A change in the wind.