Raven squinted as the she opened her eyes to the blaze of the early morning sun. She had gone back to her house, but not Titans tower, no she had gone back to the house she had lived in with her mother. Her childhood home, where she learned how to walk, fly, use her powers, every thing, it brought back so many happy memories. She smiled as she remembered the first time she had ever used her powers, she had shattered her mom's favorite red vase with violets in it. Her mother had been so surprised about it she hadn't even gotten in trouble, but had been given a good talking too about having to meditate every day. She had been seven then, and at the time it had seemed like nothing, She would take thirty minutes a day to meditate, and her mother would join her sometimes. They would sit there in silence and just feel the warmth of each others presence. It was a comforting feeling, a safe feeling. But those days were over, there were no safe feelings anymore, only a lull of safety followed by a much bigger storm.
Raven walked onto her balcony and watched as the sun slowly rose into the sky, casting shades of purple, orange, red, and yellow across the roof tops and streets of Azarath. She remembered her mother used to get her up early sometimes to watch the sunrise and make sure she stayed up late enough to watch the sunset, just because she knew Raven loved to watch it. The sight was calming and peaceful. She still got up and watched the sunrise sometimes and always watched the sunset at night, but now that she had the kids she would get them up to watch the sunrise and keep them up to watch the sunset. It was something she enjoyed when she was a kid and she figured they would like it too. The kids, gosh, she hadn't seen them in days. Did they miss her? Were they worried about her? She had never gone more than one day away from them, but then neither had her mother from her. Did this make her a bad mother? Staying away from her kids for so long? They hadn't even met their grandma yet, now that of all things had to make her a terrible mother. She had promised her mom that she would introduce her to her grandkids if she ever had any, yet here she was with three kids and not one of them had met her mom.
"I've failed you mom," Raven whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "But I hope saving you will fix it." She pulled her hood up, wiped her tears away, and flew off the balcony.
Raven landed in front of the dark tower, and the guards weren't there. That worried her; they were always there, rain or shine, night or day. She had to wonder—if they weren't there, then where were they. The only other possible place they could be was inside the tower, and the elders preferred them to stay outside. They loved the protection they provided, but hated the sight of them because it reminded them of Trigon, and the fact they were using his creations to defend themselves. She used her powers to open the giant double doors and entered the tower, walked the now familiar corridors to the main room which still looked like a coliseum.
"So nice of you to show up," Echoed the bitter voice of the council leader from above her, the rest of the members mumbled their good mornings to her.
"Spare me; just tell me the trial so I can get it over and done with," She monotoned. She was really tired of this guy, and quite frankly, she just didn't want to deal with him today. She had dealt with his snide remarks, rude comments, and evil stares every time she had been here, so she was looking forward to finishing this and getting out of here.
"Well, looks like some one got up on the wrong side of the bed today," He said, giving her a mischievous look. "Don't worry, this last trial is already decided upon. You will have the distinct honor of killing Trigon." That caught Raven by surprise, and then she smiled.
"I already killed him, so there, I'm done." She walked towards her mother but the council man began to cackle with glee.
"Oh, that's what you think, little girl, but there is a bit of him still alive. You killed most of him, but a little bit of him still remains. But, we the council have located him, so your trial is finishing him off once and for all." He was grinning from ear to ear at the expression on her face. She was total shocked, confused, and bewildered. She swore she had finished off every bit of her father, not even the little bit of him that was in her was left.
"Where is he," She spat, she would finish this and save her mother. At this the council man fell down he was laughing so hard.
"Why, he is in this room." He gasped through breaths, clutching his sides.
"What, Where," Raven shouted, spinning around, looking for her father. The fact he was here frightened her, she had the power to kill him last time because her friends had kept him from reaching full power. If he was at full power now he wasn't sure she could stop him.
"He, my dear," the old man said, regaining his composure, "is in your mother." She stood there for what felt like an eternity, shocked by what had just been said. Her mother, her loving, caring, helpful mother had a piece of the giant, cruel, evil, demon Trigon in her. The woman, who had raised her in a happy house hold, was also the demon who had tried to kill her in order to get to earth. It was too much; this was too much to process. Because if what the council man said was true, she would have to kill her mother, and that was something she cold never do, not in a million years.
"I-I can't" She stammered. "I can't kill my mother." She realized the council man had tricked her; he had devised the ultimate plan. If she wanted to live, then she killed her mother, but if she didn't then they would both die. No wonder he had been acting so arrogant, he had nothing to lose, because either way her mother died.
"Now, hold on a minute," came a small, scratchy voice. Raven looked up and saw another one of the council members standing up. "If my old memory serves me right, and it usually does, there is a way to split the two parts of Arella." The old woman smiled at her.
"Alatza, this was not part of the plan," hissed the council leader.
"Forget your plan you old snake," She shouted at him. "I'm tired of you bullying us around. And Herald," she added.
"Yes Alatza," he asked.
"You need to refer to me as mother, because last time I checked, I was your mom." She was giving him a stare Raven recognized as the infamous parent stare. The stare that intimidates your kids no matter how old they were, she had it down pat for her kids.
"Ye-yes mother," he mumbled, slumping his head in shame and embarrassment. The rest of the council members were snickering and laughing behind him.
"Now, where was I? Oh yes, splitting the two parts. There is a spell that can bring the two parts of Arella apart, but it is complicated and requires the combination of two casters. Herald, you get to help."
"But mom, I don't want to," he whined as he pouted.
"It doesn't matter what you want Herald," The old woman said sweetly. "I told you to do something, and I'm your mother so have to do it. That's how this works." The council leader mumbled something inaudible to Raven but it earned him a slap from his mother, and that caused every one, including herself, to start laughing. The sight of a ninety some year old woman slapping her grown up son was priceless. After the council leader got over the shock of his mother slapping him, they started the spell. From what Raven could hear, it was a complicated spell. In fact, it was the most complicated spell he had ever heard. When they finished they pointed at her mother. Instantly she began to writhe around her chair and glow red. When she stopped there was a glowing red version of her mother standing next her actual mother. It shook its head then cried out "Freedom, freedom at last!" Then it locked eyes with Raven. It pitch black eyes that seemed like soul sucking, icy pits. But then they began to glow yellow as it roared "You!" It slammed into her with incredible speed, sending her flying back into the wall, causing her vision to swim with patches of black. She shakily stood up and barely had time before the next wild blow hit her across her back. Raven was sprawled across the floor, almost blacked out. She had no strength to stand up and none for her avatar either. This was the hardest fight she had ever been in before, and she wasn't sure she would survive it.
"You weak mortal, you pathetic girl," came the demonic voice of the Trigon mom above her. "Did you honestly think you could stop me? Defeat me again? I was weak last time, but this time I am at full strength and nothing will stop me." It raised its fist for the final blow, but before it could land Raven kicked it in the stomach, causing it to stumble back a little.
"Looks like there's a little fight left in you after all, I will enjoy crushing it along with you." It smiled as it raised its hand. A ball of fire started to form, and it grew. Raven recognized this; it was her father's greatest attack. He would send a single fire ball after a person, and it would chase them for the rest of their life, threatening to kill them. They would never be able to live in peace once it began to chase them.
"No," she said, and then she attacked. Standing up and sending a barrage of blasts at it. The fire ball disappeared as it tried to dodge the attacks. Blow after blow landed causing the demon mom to back up with each hit.
"I will not let you hurt me," Raven said with a blast. "I will not let you hurt my mother," she said with another blast. "I will not let you hurt anyone," She said with one final blast, finishing it off, finishing off Trigon once and for all. She stood there painting heavily, staring at the spot where it had just stood. She had done it, she had saved her mother.
"I must congratulate you my dear," Came the sweet voice of Alatza. "You have not once, but twice defeated your father. You have also beaten all of the trials, so you and your mother may go free." She smiled, and waved her hand in Arella's direction. The clamps on her chair opened and she stood up, smiling at Raven. Raven ran and hugged her. It had been years since she had hugged her mom, and she missed it. This is what a feeling of security was like, a feeling of safety.
"Oh Raven, I knew you could do it," Her mom whispered in her ear.
"Thanks mom," She whispered back.
"You're welcome."
"Oh and mom," Raven added.
"Yes sweetheart," asked Arella.
"I love you."
"I love you too." And at that moment Raven knew she had been right all along. Her mom did love her, and she loved her mom.
That's it for Three Trials of Love. Hoped you enjoyed it, and leave a review if you want. Whether it's adoring praise or a flame from hell, I don't care. It all helps me improve my writing. Also, there is a sequel to this called Meeting the Grandkids. Check it out if you want to. That's all I got, so
Reaper of Heroes out.