Teen Titans: Season Six, Episode 6
"Origin Story Part 3: Raven"
Exterior: Jump City pizza place, night.
The Titans are eating at their favourite pizza place while Beast Boy is telling another one of his infamous jokes.
Beast Boy: And so the Doctor says "Forget about getting it out, I don't know how you got it in there?" Ha ha ha.
Robin: (Laughing) Ouch!
Cyborg: (Laughing) Oh man, now that's nasty!
Starfire: Please, I do not understand the humour in the so called "Dirty joke"?
Raven: Don't worry, neither do I Starfire, neither do…Lookout!
A dumpster flies at the Titans and Raven stops it in mid-air with her powers just in time. A mysterious but familiar voice calls out from down on the street.
?: I guess this won't be as easy as I thought?
Madam Rouge extends her long elastic legs and steps up on the ledge of the patio.
Robin: Madam Rouge!
Rouge: Surprised to see me Titans?
Beast Boy: Umm…kinda?!
Rouge: What, did you really think I could be stopped with a little bit of ice? Ha, I laugh at you're ignorance.
Raven: Enough!
With the dumpster still in the air Raven throws it at Rouge, Rouge catches the dumpster with both hands and whips it back at them. The Titans dodge the dumpster and it crushes the table covered with pizza.
Robin: Titans Go!
Starfire, Cyborg, Robin and Beast Boy all attack Rouge but she is able to fight off and constrict the four of them with each of her limbs.
Rouge: Pathetic, simply pathetic, like punishing a couple of misbehaving children.
Raven becomes angry after seeing her friends in danger, and when Rouge insulted them to their faces. Her eyes turn red and multiply; the power of Trigon begins flowing through her.
Raven: (Distorted) Let go of my friends!
Raven's dark magic grabs Rouge by the neck and strangles her viciously.
Raven: (Distorted) How dare you mock me, how dare you mock my friends?!
Rouge loosens her grip and drops the Titans. She claws at her neck desperately trying to break free.
Raven: (Distorted) Who looks pathetic now, Rouge, I don't hear you laughing anymore!
Robin: Raven stop, she's had enough!
Starfire: Please friend, cease this at once.
Rouge's eyes turn bloodshot, the camera focuses on Raven's sinister expression as a loud cracking sound echoes in the air. Raven drops Rouge's lifeless corpse as the other Titans look on in shock.
Beast Boy: Raven…you…you killed her?!
Theme song.
Beast Boy: I know she was evil, but...you...you killed her?!
Cyborg approaches Raven while she is still powered by Trigon.
Cyborg: Let's take you back to the tower before the cops find out what happened, we'll deal with this there.
Raven: (Distorted) I will go nowhere!
Raven attacks Cyborg, she uses her magic to rip apart at his cybernetics and tears him apart limb from limb.
Starfire screams in fear.
Robin: Raven, get a hold of yourself, I know you can control this!
Beast Boy places his hand on Raven's shoulder.
Beast Boy: Stop! Raven this isn't you!
Raven charges her fist with black energy and plunges her hand into Beast Boy's ribcage; pulling his heart straight from his chest. Beast Boy's eyes roll back in his head as he collapses. Starfire blasts Raven with a strong beam of energy, the beam only knocks her down for a brief second, she gets up even more angry then she was before. She heads toward Starfire with a murderous rage, just then Robin jumps between them.
Robin: Don't you dare hurt her!
Robin throws down a smoke pellet but Raven keeps moving in at the same speed as before. An explosive disc flies out of the smoke and hits Raven, only pissing her off more. Raven quickly sends out a long sharp arm into the smoke, as the smoke clears it is revealed Robin had been impaled through the abdomen. Blood gushes from his mouth as he says his last words.
Robin: Run!
Starfire with tears in her eyes, flies into the sky in pure horror. She looks back but sees that Raven is gone, as she turns back around she sees Raven has teleported right in front of her.
Raven: (Distorted) No where to hide!
Raven traps Starfire in an orb of black magic, she shrinks the orb in an effort to crush her while Starfire tries to fight off the orb with starbolts. The orb begins to constrict around her, she yells out one word before it's to late.
Starfire: Why?
The camera focuses on Raven's sinister expression as a loud cracking sound echoes in the air. Starfire's limb corpse falls through the air, Raven finally comes to and realizes what she's done.
Raven: Why...why did I do this...why did I do this to my friends.
Trigon: You were born to destroy this world, and you will fulfil your destiny, with or without me!
Raven: (Whisper) no.
Trigon: Earth will fall just as Azarath did. No one you love or care about will ever be safe near you ever again!
Raven: NOOOO!
Raven screams herself awake yelling "No", she is covered in sweat as she realizes she is still camping with her friends.
Interior: Tent, night.
Starfire: Friend, are you alright?
Raven: Yes (sigh) it was just a bad dream.
Starfire: What was your dream about?
Raven: I...(nervous) I don't remember. I think I'll go for a walk, get some air.
Starfire: Oh, okay, be safe.
Raven exits the tent and begins hiking down a trail.
Exterior: Camp grounds and wilderness, night.
While walking down the trail Raven stumbles across a lake. At further investigation she notices Beast Boy is sitting on a log by the lake, skipping stones and staring out into the calm water.
Exterior: Lake, night.
As Raven steps closer she realizes that Beast Boy is crying. Nervous, she tries to leave without being noticed. While walking backwards she steps and snaps a twig, Beast Boy turns around alerted.
Beast Boy: Raven! Don't sneak up on me like that.
Raven: Sorry, I didn't know you were out here.
Beast Boy: Well you scared the crap out of me.
Raven: Beast Boy?
Beast Boy: Yeah?
Raven: Were you crying?
Beast Boy: What, No?!
Raven: Then why are you out here in the middle of the night?
Beast Boy: I could ask you the same question. Now leave me alone.
Raven turns around and begins to walk away.
Beast Boy: Wait, Raven stop.
Raven turns around.
Beast Boy: I'm sorry, you don't have to go... If you want...you can come take a seat.
Curious, Raven takes a seat on the log next to Beast Boy.
Beast Boy: If you must know, yes, I was crying okay. After all these stories about our lives, it reminded me of my parents and...Raven... Do you want to hear a secret... A story I haven't told anyone on the team before.
Raven: Umm... Only if you really want to Beast Boy.
Beast Boy: I think it's time I get this story off my chest before it eats away at me again. When I was kid, just shortly after my eighth birthday...
Flashbacks show visions of Beast Boy's life while he narrates
Beast Boy: (Narrated) Our home was destroyed in this huge flood. Me and my parents kept safe on this tiny boat, but then the boat got caught in the river. As the ship headed for a waterfall with a seven story drop my parents tried to convince me to save myself. I was so young at the time, I was too stupid and not strong enough to save them. For years now I've had this guilt lingering over my head, that my parents died...because of me... because I couldn't save them. Do you understand what that can do to a person?
Raven: I've never seen this side of you, you're usually so laid back and carefree.
Beast Boy: It's all a sham, the real reason I spout out stupid jokes all the time is cause I'm just covering up the pain. But you know what? Those jokes only made it hurt more.
A short silence settles in between them, Raven truly notices the hurt in her team mates soul, she decides to act.
Raven: Beast Boy... Do you want to hear a secret?
Beast Boy: Ugh...Sure?
Raven: There's another power that I posses, but I've never used it with the team.
Beast Boy: Another power?
Raven: I've never found a reason to use it, but I think it can help you.
Beast Boy: Whoa really, wait... How?
Raven: Well, I'm an empath, and empath's have the ability to absorb and manipulate peoples pain, both physical and emotional.
Beast Boy: So, you're saying...
Raven: Yes Beast Boy, I can help heal the sorrow that plagues you, I can help heal your soul.
Beast Boy: God Raven, I don't know what to say, it's so much to take in at once.
Raven uses her power to place a rock in the sand in front of Beast Boy, she takes a seat on the rock and faces face to face with him.
Raven: Here.
Raven places her hands on Beast Boy's temples.
Raven: Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and repeat after me.
He closes his eyes, takes in a strong gasp, let's out a long exhaled breath and the two begin to chant together.
Together: Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos, Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos, Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos.
As Raven's magic does it's work a dark aura passes through Beast Boy and into Raven. When Raven finishes she looks completely exhausted.
Raven: So...how do you feel?
Beast Boy is sluggish, as if he awoke from a trance.
Beast Boy: I feel...I feel...
Suddenly he's filled with a surge of pep and excitement.
Beast Boy: Amazing! I can't believe it actually worked.
Beast Boy grabs Raven in a hug.
Beast Boy: Jesus Rae, I don't think I can thank you enough. It feels like a huge weight has just lifted off my shoulders, thank you!
Raven looks ill as the dark aura begins to affect her. Her eyes turn red and out of fear she pushes him away. Beast Boy trips and falls back over the log, he looks up and sees Raven walking away.
Beast Boy: What the hell, what did I do?! Hey wait, where are you going?!
Raven stops but doesn't turn around.
Raven: It's late, I'm going back to bed.
Raven continues to walk away as Beast Boy struggles to get back up.
Beast Boy: What, you're just gonna leave after that, you're not even gonna say good night?
Raven: Good night.
Beast Boy: Wait, wait, was it because of the hug, I was just really excited. Damn, shes gone.
Exterior: Forrest trail, night.
Raven is running in the woods when she trips on a root. The pain from Beast Boy's soul was so great it begins to strengthen Raven's dark side. She stops and begins to concentrate on controlling her power.
Raven: Come on...Control yourself...You've done it a million times before.
Raven takes some deep breathes, she opens her eyes and they have returned to their normal shade of violet. She let's out a worried sigh and the camera pans up to the night sky. Time progresses to the morning and the camera pans down to the Titans eating breakfast.
Exterior: Camp grounds, morning
Raven exits her tent and goes to join the Titan's at the picnic table.
Beast Boy: And so the Doctor says "Forget about getting it out, I don't know how you got it in there?" Ha ha ha.
Robin: (Laughing) Ouch!
Cyborg: (Laughing) Oh man, now that's nasty!
Starfire: Good morning Raven, I was about to make breakfast, would you also like peanut butter and jelly beans on toast.
Raven:No thank you. Coffee, black as night.
Robin chuckles a bit.
Robin: Funny, that's how Batman likes his coffee.
Starfire hands Raven a mug of coffee.
Raven: Thank you.
Robin: Cyborg and I heard you screaming last night, Starfire told us you were only having a nightmare, But it must have been some nightmare.
Cyborg: (Eating) Yeah, what was your dream about, Rae?
Raven: (Nervous) Well... it's kind of hard to explain. But what I've learned from the dream is that even though Trigon is gone, his influence is still everywhere.
Starfire: But friend, what do you mean?
Beast Boy: Yeah, I thought your dad was dead and...
Cyborg kicks Beast Boy in the shin.
Raven: My Father isn't dead, but we did banish him from our dimension, and hopefully he'll never become powerful enough to return.
Cyborg: But how's his influence still effecting us.
Raven: Well, do any of you remember Psimon?
Beast Boy: Vaguely?
Cyborg: Yeah, wasn't he like an old guy, dome over his brain, something like that, right?
Raven: Psimon is a puppet of Trigon, his powers come straight from him.
Beast Boy: Whoa.
Starfire: But Trigon is only able to send minions, correct?
Robin:Yeah, I'm sure that what ever he has up his sleeve, we can take it down, together.
Raven: That's what you don't understand, my powers come from Trigon too. Every time I use my powers I'm one step closer to losing all control. I use to think I could live with you guys because I could trust all of you, but what if you can't trust me.
Starfire: But Raven, why would we ever not trust you?
Raven: Why should you trust me? I've told you almost nothing about my life.
Robin: But Raven...
Raven: No, if everyone is giving their life story then I should too. Maybe then I'll feel more at ease.
Robin: It sounds like a good idea.
Starfire: Indeed.
Cyborg: Go for it.
Raven: Well, there is little I remember from my childhood, but my Mother did tell me the story of my birth before I left Azarath.
Flashbacks show visions of Arella's life while Raven narrates.
Exterior: Gotham City, flashback, night.
Raven: (Narrating) Before coming to Azarath my Mother was an orphan in Gotham City, she spent most of her life bouncing from foster home to foster home before eventually living on the street. As she got older she fell in with a bad crowd, after awhile they introduced her to the church of blood...
Interior: Occult shop, flashback, night.
Raven: (Narrating) A cult known for demon worshipping and savage rituals. The church of blood was the closest thing my Mother had too a family; she would have done anything they asked her to.
Exterior: Creepy forest, flashback, night.
Raven: (Narrating) One night they held a ritual where she was offered as a bride to Satan. During the ritual she suddenly vanished, teleported to another dimension.
Exterior: Heavenly oasis, flashback, day.
Raven: (Narrating) When she was there, she did not see Satan or any demons. No, she only saw one man, and he wasn't a demon at all, he was a shining embodiment of all things man. She thought it was a mistake but then he asked her if she was sent to be his wife. At first she was uneasy, but then he began to enthral her and she quickly fell in love. Just like with the church of blood she felt at home, and the two of them became man and wife. Life was paradise for her in that dimension, no worries or cares. But then one night after laying together as man and wife she looked in the mirror and saw his true face, and Trigon revealed his true form. The paradise, the marriage and the love were all just a game, a trick in order to impregnate her. Once the deed was done he had no other use for her, so he exiled her back to earth.
Exterior: Camp ground, present day, day.
Starfire: (Gasp) That is the most horrible thing I've ever heard.
Raven: That isn't even the worst part.
Flashbacks show visions of Arella's and Raven's life while Raven narrates.
Exterior: Creepy forest, flashback, day.
Raven: (Narrating) As soon as she returned to earth she discovered all the members of the church of blood that attended the ritual had been killed.
Exterior: Gotham City, flashback, night.
Raven: (Narrating) She was pregnant and left with nothing and no where to go, even the church of blood wouldn't take her back. She didn't want me to live on the streets like she did, so she began to contemplate her own suicide. After purchasing a bottle of wine and some sleeping pills she looked for a quiet alleyway to find the darkness, but instead of finding darkness, she was found by the light. Her cries for help were heard and she was teleported through dimensions again to the temple of Azarath.
Exterior: The temples of Azarath, flashback, night.
Raven: (Narrating) When she arrived she was greeted by the priests, She asked them why she was sent there, they told her that a prophecy foretold that lord Trigon would spawn a child that could open a portal into any dimension. They believed she was carrying that child, so they had to prevent the child from entering any populated dimension. They told her that raising me in Azarath would be the safest thing for me, that they could teach me how to control my powers and keep my dark side in check. My Mother was grateful to the priests; she was just happy that someone actually cared enough to help her. My Mother grew accustomed to the ways of Azarath quickly; the people of Azarath were a pacifist society that left earth hundreds of years ago to find a new home, just like the Azaratheons my Mother was happy with her new home, and nine months later, I was born. The people of Azarath argued over me constantly, half of them feared my presents while the other half felt I could be purged of my evil, the debate raged on for months and months but no end was in sight. Then on one dark night one of the priests broke into the nursery and kidnapped me. His plan was to open the forbidden Great Door that separated Azarath from all the other dimensions and throw me out into the abyss. But the next morning the Great Door was closed and I was found safe, lying in a pile of ash, some of the priests think that Trigon was the one who saved me from being killed that night. As I grew older the spiritual leader of Azarath took me under her wing, Azar educated me and taught me the ways of Azarath while my Mother taught me about the Earth in some old books she found around the temple libraries. As I continued to grow the Priests started to notice that I was developing my powers at an alarming rate, then on one day, I saw two priests standing over an injured bird, they said that the bird was so badly hurt it probably wouldn't live. As they discussed whether or not to put him out of his misery I picked it up and held the bird in my hand, I could feel his pain as he laid there in my palm. I began to concentrate on the birds pain and after awhile I could feel it coursing through out my body, just then the bird stretched his wings and flew off, I could see from their expressions that what I did was not normal. Through out my childhood I was told to never open the forbidden Great Door, but every time I asked why the priests would scold me for talking back. As the years went by my curiosity grew as well as my rebelliousness, I had to know what was behind that door. I sneaked into the temple that night determined to answer my questions, I found the door staring back at me, almost calling out to me. I felt drawn to it as I opened the door, as if I was watching someone else do it. The Great Door swings open and I finally see why it was forbidden, as I stand face to face with Trigon the Terrible. The priests of Azarath told me of his evil but I thought he was just folk legand, He looked at me with those soulless eyes and as he spoke to me for the first time.
Trigon: I have been waiting for you, Daughter.
Young Raven: No...NO...you can't be my Father.
Trigon: It is your destiny Raven, you must join me and together we shall rule over all existance.
Young Raven: No, I Don't believe you!
Trigon: You can not deny your heritage Raven.
Trigon casts his dark magic upon Raven.
Trigon: For I will always be apart of you.
Trigon disappears into the abyss while Young Raven looks at her hands and sees the dark power of her soul self for the first time. She screams out in despair as her soul self manifests a giant raven that erupts out into the sky; large enough to be seen across Azarath.
Raven: (Narrating) In order to protect me from Trigon's influence the priests neglected to tell me about the prophecy until I was older, but after I obtained my dark magic from him the attempts to keep us separated were only in vein. After that night I spent every waking hour of my life learning to control my new powers.
Azar is teaching Raven why she needs to control her emotions.
Azar: What you posses Raven is an ancient form of dark magic, this dark aura you produce is called your soul self. This is a very powerful yet very dangerous kind of magic, it is controlled by your emotions, if you can't control yourself then you could lose complete control over your powers.
Young Raven: But how?
Azar: Well, I find the best way is to meditate. Here sit with me like this.
Raven and Azar sit cross legged.
Azar: Now Just close your eyes, take a deep breath and repeat after me.
Together: Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos, Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos, Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos.
Raven: (Narrating) Years pasted as I honed my skills, but the prophecy continued to plague my mind; I couldn't rest knowing that every day was another second closer to the end. I fought tooth and nail against Azar about trying to fight against Trigon, Azar refused to use violence, as it was always the way of Azarath. My mother was the only person I could turn to for help.
Arella is teaching Raven about earth at a desk covered with books.
Young Raven: Mother, if no one in Azarath can fight Trigon, can someone outside of Azarath fight him.
Arella: They would have to be very strong, child.
Young Raven: Is there anyone who is that strong?
Arella: Well... before I left earth I remember hearing legends of a man that powerful.
Young Raven: Really, who?!
Arella pulls out a piece of paper and begins drawing.
Arella: They said he was from another planet, but he looked just like us. People said he travelled trillions of miles only to help us, but most of all, they said he was invincible.
Arella finishes drawing and shows Raven a picture of Superman's emblem.
Arella: They called him Superman.
Raven: (Narrating) After that day, I knew what I had to do. I searched the great library for a book of spells and I found a way to travel to earth. I decided to go behind the temples back in order to warn Superman, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye to my Mother one last time.
Young Raven: I'm sorry Mother, but I'm afraid I can't stand idly by anymore, I'm leaving for earth.
Arella: I know... I've known for a long time now, Raven. Just remember that whatever happens, there will always be a home for you in Azarath.
Raven: (Narrating) My Mother then hugged me for the first and last time. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying as I travelled to earth. When I arrived I saw that earth wasn't what it was cracked up to be.
Exterior: Jump City, flashback, night.
After teleporting into an alley way Raven walks up to a guy on the street.
Young Raven: Pardon me sir, do you know where I can find Superman?
Stranger:(Sarcastic) Look up in the sky.
Raven looks up in confusion. The stranger snickers as he walks away.
Stranger: Dumb ass.
Raven: (Narrating) Just then I could sense danger for the first time in years, so I followed my gut.
Raven runs off down the street.
Cut to: An apartment fire, fire trucks are drastically trying to put out the blaze. The last of the firefighters exit the building and approach the fire chief.
Fire Chief: Is everyone out?!
Firefighter: We couldn't get to the top floor, the fire's out of control, the whole building is coming down!
A woman and her daughter are trapped in the top floor apartment; they scream from a window at the firefighters below.
Woman: Please! Help!
Fire Chief: Dear god, move one of the trucks, get a ladder at that window now damn it!
Just then Raven flies up to the window and helps the two on to a platform made from her soul self.
Young Raven: Don't be afraid, get on.
Girl: Wait, we need to help mittens.
Raven sees the cat trapped behind a wall of flames, she casts an orb of magic around it and safely pulls it out of the fire and into the arms of the little girl. Just as they all float back to the ground the building collapses, the firefighters cheer after another successful rescue. Beyond grateful, the woman shakes Raven's hand.
Woman: I can't thank you enough.
The little girl suddenly hugs Raven.
Girl: Thanks for saving my kitty.
Young Raven: I...ugh...
The firefighters radio goes off.
Radio: Units be advised, we have superhuman activity in the downtown area.
Young Raven: Superhuman?
Firefighter: Sounds like another mess for us to clean up.
Fire Chief: God, more super heroes, they're sprouting up like wildfire. Speaking of superheroes, where did that freaky girl go?
He looks around but Raven is long gone.
Raven: (Narrating) The first thing that went through my mind was; if I was looking for a "superman" than a group of superhumans should be twice as strong. That was when I found you guys fighting Starfire...
Exterior: Camp grounds, present day, day.
Raven: I have to admit, I was reluctant to join up with you guys, we didn't really see eye to eye yet, but over time I abandoned my pursuit for Superman; I felt with our combined strength we could take anyone on.
Cyborg: Damn right girl.
Cyborg and Raven fist bump.
Robin: I still don't understand, Raven, we defeated your father, why are you still so uneasy?
Raven: Because Robin, if I lose all control... will you be able to stop "me"?
Robin: But, Raven...
Raven: I can't talk about it anymore, I need to meditate.
Raven gets up and leaves the picnic table.
Beast Boy: I guess some things just never change.
Exterior: Wilderness, day
Raven is meditating alone on a cliff over looking a river and vast wilderness. The camera pans up into the sky as she chants.
Raven: Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos.
Interior: Titans tower, day.
Kid Flash is reading from a list of chores.
Kid Flash: Do the laundry? No, don't want to do that. Clean the bathroom? Nope, not that one. Fix the TV? Just did that one. Ah-ha perfect.
Exterior: Titans island, outside the tower, day.
Kid Flash exits the front door of the tower carrying a watering can.
Kid Flash: Water Starfire's flowers, sounds easy enough.
As he walks toward the garden he whistles a little tune, then he sees something so amazing it leaves his mouth wide open for a second.
Kid Flash: Well I'll be.
He looks upon Silkie's grave and sees a single flower rise above the soil; it's pedals were made of the finest silk and it had the most unique shape.
Kid Flash: That's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.
To be continued...
The Titans return in... "Origin Story Part 4: Cyborg"
Author's note to the readers:
I Demand more reveiws! What do you like about my writing, what do you want to see in my next chapters? I want to know.