Spider-man Dimensional Lost:
Chapter 15: Pandemonium
Rachel Roth, better known as Raven from the Teen Titans, had been experiencing a mostly peaceful and quiet week. Maybe too much for her liking. Don't get her wrong though, being able to meditate without a criminal trying to become the next GodFather was a blessing. Not to mention ignoring Beast Boy a whole week was a nice perk as well.
In her regular afternoon, she would be fighting alongside her team the next villain of the week. Control Freak, Mumbo, Red X, H.I.V.E, the Brotherhood of Evil, Slade, Blackfire, the list could go on and on, but in the end, the Teen Titans would always manage to save the city.
These last days though, she would just mostly read one of her books in the main hall of the tower. Her friends would come and go, doing different activities but she wouldn't mind. Contrary to what her friends would assume, Raven enjoyed their company, in her own way.
Every time the empath looked outside through the window; it was difficult not to remember how her father, Trigon, once invaded the city. Hell on earth would be an accurate description of what was going on. But now everything looked normal like nothing had ever happened. That was good for her mind. Raven would probably never stop having nightmares about those days and having little to do didn't help her but in those eventual nightmares, she could always find the light of her friends. She could overcome anything when she had them around. Even in her dreams, there was a special light, a strange green light that gave her comfort more than the other. Why that was? She didn't know. But it was nice to have it there.
Today was Friday morning and Raven had decided to go for an early breakfast just before her meditation. Maybe changing her routine a little would help with what would certainly be another monotone day. She exited her room and found the hall empty. Sometimes the empath forgot that she was living in an enormous tower. She continued walking and entered the common room just to find Cyborg sitting on the couch playing video games.
The common room was spacious, with three sofas, a kitchen, a Tv opposite to it, and an enormous window behind it that had a view of the city.
-Never too early for him I see- Raven thought
Cyborg had his headphones on, so he didn't notice when she entered. Raven looked at the kitchen and it was undisturbed.
-Strange, Cyborg usually cooks in the morning. Oh yes, it's Beast Boy's turn. Oh shit, it's Beast Boy's turn!.- Though Raven, trying not to remember the last time she ate his cuisine.
She kept looking around and found Starfire adjusting some kind of instrument on the other side of the sofa Cyborg was in. The odd thing was that the instrument seemed to be…. alive?
Yeah, Raven wasn't going to pop her head into that.
She remembered how Starfire talked her ear off on their last Girls' Night Out. The alien girl wanted to play a special tamaranean song for Robin, for their five-year anniversary of being a couple. Of all her teammates, Starfire was the one Raven hanged outside the most. That's why even though the empath dreaded going out, she knew it was important for her friend, so she did it with her best smile; figuratively speaking of course.
Starfire noticed Raven and waved her hand cheerfully as always. Raven answered her with a quick wave. She then proceeded with her walk.
Lastly, judging by the sounds of kick, explosions, and metal been destroyed that went through the air, Robin was in the training room on the lower floor.
Everyone was accounted for minus the chef.
-I'm going back to my room before he destroys the kitchen, again-
Raven quickly got to the refrigerator and got some slices of bread, some butter, and cheese. She should survive with that until lunch. The empath didn't feel like walking so she just hovered her way back to her room. She waved at Starfire again and exited.
As she traversed the hall, she could hear something grinding against the floor. The sound was not pleasant and it was coming towards her; from the right corner of the hall. There, coming from the other side, in a surprisingly clean uniform was Beast Boy, punishing what Raven could only describe as a miniature wooden catapult.
-I was starting to wonder- Raven commented to herself.
Beast Boy looked the same as he had always looked. Pointy ears, stupidly long grin in his face all the time, tiny fans coming out of his mouth, green fur that covered a well-defined and gorgeous upper body.
-Wait, where did THAT come from?- Raven shouted in her mind, maybe the lack of meditation was getting to her. But it was kind of true that Beast Boy had grown a lot since the first time they met. At that time, he was like an imp, but now, after some years, his physicality was showing more and more.
Whatever his fashion sense was, her teammate finished pushing the little catapult to the center of the hall while wiping his sweat. His ear suddenly perked up, sensing the breathing of another person around him. His usual smile then appeared.
''Oh, hi Raven! Good morning'' Beast Boy said from the other side of the hall.
''Hi…..'' answered the empath. It was rather curious seeing Beast Boys using clean clothing. Once in a full moon, she supposed. What was even weirder was seeing him with a little catapult. On it, there seemed to be a mesh of rags and brown clothing crawled in a ball. Now that Raven was looking closely, she also noticed that the green boy had something on his nose. A clothespin.
Immediately, a strong, wet odor came to Raven's nose. She tried to cover her nose but it was too late.
''WHAT IN THE NINE LEVELS OF HELL IS THAT SMELL?!''
''Oh, that'' Said Beast Boy noticing Raven's reaction ''Do you remember when we played Stank Ball? Well, I was planning on sneaking on cyborg with this little catapult I bought online but then I kinda forgot where I left the ball like 2 years ago and when I was cleaning my room this-''
''I DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT, JUST TAKE IT OUT!''
''O-On it Ma'am!''
Beast Boy started to push the catapult but before he could, something in the environment changed. The air felt lacking and Raven seemed to have noticed this as well.
Suddenly, a blue portal opened up between him and Raven. From it, the outline of a young man came, looking rather calm. He wore normal-looking clothing and a backpack. Beast Boy, however, was far from calmed and jumped back at the sudden opening of the portal. So much so, that he didn't notice he had turned a lever to activate the catapult.
From Peter's perspective; who let's be honest, was the only guy traveling through dimensions at the moment, the change of scenery from his last place was a bit rough but the arachnid was getting used to it. Upon entering the new place, the portal closed behind him. He immediately noticed certain things about his surroundings.
For one, he wasn't alone in what appeared to be a hall. There was someone a few feet from him on the ground next to what appeared to be….. some kind of catapult? That was unusual. Second, and the thing that caught his attention the most, was a ball of stinking cloth and rags coming his way. As in the Matrix, the ball moved in slow motion as Peter dodged it. Letting it passed by him.
''Oh, come on! I just got here! Can't I have two seconds of peace?'' said Peter straightening himself.
He looked back at the guy on the floor a few feet from him. Peter now saw the young man on the floor had green fur and was rubbing his black as he stood up.
''Dude, what the-'' Beast Boy said but then immediately went pale, and started to sweat madly. At the same time, Peter's spider-sense kicked into gear, warning Peter of immediate danger right behind him. Nah screw immediate danger, it was more like murderous intent ramped up to the max. The hero slowly turned and saw a cloaked female figure covered in the stinking rags he just dodged. From her cloak, Peter saw 4 red eyes giving a malevolent shine, as darkness right out of the most disturbing Lovecraftian novel, starting to cover the hall.
''run…'' Whisper Beast Boy who was visibly shaking. ''RUN!''.
In the common room, Starfire had just finished adjusting her instrument and Cyborg had just finished his game.
''New highest record baby! Let's see that green bean beat my score now!'' said Cyborg with sparks in his eyes.
''I'm eager to witness another competition for the dominance of the virtual table between friend Beast Boy and friend Cyborg'' Said Starfire ''Would you like to celebrate your victory with a typical tamaranean song?''
Cyborg knew that Starfire's definition of music could be a little….. loud, but he didn't want to be insensitive so he just nodded and prepared for the worst.
The alien girl's smile grew tenfold as she prepared to play. Just before she could start her song, a growl from a beast, or more like a demon, resonated throughout the entire tower, making Cyborg and Starfire cover their ears in response.
''BBBBBBBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTT BBBBBBBBBBBBBBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY''
Moments later, Robin entered the common room seemingly agitated. He laid eyes on his friends. They all looked at each other for a moment thinking the same thing
-Raven-
To say that the situation was dire for Beast Boy and Peter, who by this point already had his suit on, was keeping things simple. Hell was literally and figuratively coming for their collective asses in the form of a half-demon, red-eye sorcerer.
As the pair ran for dear life, the walls behind them were being devoured by darkness as tentacles that appeared from a bottomless pit tried to catch them.
Peter had never been so grateful he was such a good runner, and Beast Boy was too busy trying to stay alive to try and talk to Raven.
''Dude, what the hell is going on?!'' asked Peter as he avoided one of the tentacles.
''A very angry Wiatt Earp wants to kill me!'' said Beast Boy as they turned around a corner
''We are talking Kevin Costner or Karl Russell?!''
Beast Boy actually got a bit of a laugh at the question just before Raven sent a horizontal strike to try and catch him. The green hero noticed this and turned himself into a bird at the last second to dodge the attack.
He then went back to normal and continued running alongside the arachnid. ''I'd say Karl Russel!''.
''Crap, this is bad then! Where to?!'' said Peter. Just then, a section of the floor and the ceiling above them got covered by darkness. His spider-sense went on high alert.
''Quick! Get out of the shadows!'' Beast Boy shouted as he turned himself into a leopard, running head-on. Peter shot two webs to the wall at the end of the hall and zipped himself out of the zone just as the floor and ceiling collapsed behind him, shutting tight.
The pair had managed to get out in time but there was no stopping for them
''Now, where to?'' Continue Peter asking after the green hero came back to normal.
''Uhhhh to the left!''
Just as Peter and Beast Boy turned around the corner, the previously shut ceiling and floor opened up again, revealing a pissed off Raven. The pair's legs started to move on their own but before Raven could come any closer and get to them, a steel door shut down from the ceiling separating them momentarily.
''What the….. Did you do that?'' Asked Peter
''Well, not really'' Responded Beast Boy
''Will that hold her, green guy?''
''I don't think so, we better run to the common room, the rest of my team is there!''
Peter nodded and followed suit. In that instant Beast Boy noticed how more steel doors were coming down through the hall.
''Run again!'' said the green hero as he turned into a leopard again.
Peter just sighted as they went full speed ahead getting past the doors in front of them just mere seconds before each of them closed. At the 8th door, they both jumped out, barely managing to get through. Peter slipped for a few feet while Beast Boy rolled on the floor and turned back to normal.
They looked at each other, allowing themselves to breathe.
''No more surprises, right?'' said Peter panting a bit
''Yeah, now it's just straight ahead to the common room. I don't think Cyborg installed more-''
In that moment from the ceiling and the walls, came out three turrets from each place respectively. All aiming towards the arachnid.
''Oh, come on Cy!''
''I hate you so much!''
The red and blue hero instinctively jumped out of the line of fire, as volts of electricity came his way. He jumped from wall to wall, avoiding the fire. Still, the shoots were getting closer and closer. He wouldn't last long without action.
''A little help?!''.
''Y-Yes. Uh-hu, That's right! My security clearance!'' Beast Boy said ''...What was it again?''
''Come on green bean, think!'' Peter flipped back and forth avoiding the fire as best he could. He tried to zip his way between the turrets, trying to destroy them with their own fire, but to his surprise, they were intact and kept shooting in his direction. ''But that always works!''
Beast Boy on the other side, was trying every code he could imagine.
''Uhhh uhhh Stop it Sesami?''
The turrets kept shooting
''Nope, uhhhh Mellron?''
Spider-man kept jumping around and dodging fire.
''Titans Go? Nope''
''Any time now!'' shouted Peter
''Oh, I got it! Garfield Logan, designation number T-05. Disengage Defences!''
Suddenly all the turrets went down and the steel doors slowly started to come up.
Peter descended from the ceiling and walked toward Beast Boy. ''Really?!'' Peter panted ''A Lord of the Rings code? Moreover, the password to enter The Mines of Moria?''
''Dude, you like the Lord of the Ring?!'' said the green hero.
''Well of course I do! What kind of nerd do you take me for?''
Garfield was about to geek the hell out with the spider-themed hero when they both remembered something. In the corner of their eyes, they saw 4 red eyes burning with hatred and ire coming their way.
In the common room, Robin, Cyborg, and Starfire were monitoring the situation. Currently, Beast Boy and that other guy in the spider suit were going full force towards them. It had been a while since Raven had been this angry. Last time, Beast Boy was launched out of the window, which by the way was supposed to be bulletproof so, so far, he was doing well.
''Are you sure that will work?'' asked Robin looking at Starfire
''I'm positive boyfriend Robin. Just leave it to me. Raven and I have practiced it many times before'' replied Starfire.
Robin nodded. ''Ok. Cyborg open it!''
At his command, The metal man pushed a button on his arm and the door that connected the common room with the hall opened up. Peter and Beast Boy came running.
Not far behind them was a fuming Raven. Once she came inside the common room, darkness came with her, dwindling the lights on the area.
''Quick! She is going to kill us! Do something!'' shouted Beast Boy, shaking behind Cyborg
''Now Star!'' Robin commanded.
Just then Starfire flew in front of a demonic Raven.
''Come forward from your deep slumber, friend Raven''. Following her statement, the alien girl made her hands glow bright green as she started to draw a symbol in the air. She gracefully moved her hands again and again repeating the same pattern until the following symbol stood in front of Raven:
ॐ
Raven, though angry at the beginning, stood mesmerized in front of the symbol. Little by little, the shadows that had covered the room, started to go back to Raven and the lights began to shine brightly again.
From Peter's perspective, the intimidating-looking demon girl started to change. For one, her eyes became two instead of four, which was way less intimidating, and her face changed from one covered in rage to one covered in seriousness and indifference. Yep, he definitely preferred that one.
Then, both she and the orange-skinned girl slowly floated back to the floor.
"Come forward from your deep slumber" said Starfire.
"And awaken your inner self" responded Raven.
The two friends bowed to each other saying "Azarath Metrion Zinthos''. They both shared a little smile, imperceptible to the others in the room.
With the immediate danger gone, both Peter and Beast Boy sighed.
"Well, that was scary" Peter said looking at Raven "You should host Halloween parties, believe me, you will give parents nightmares for sure".
Raven's eyes twitched remembering an incident like that a couple of years ago.
"Dude, you don't know half of it! But before that" said Beast Boy turning towards Starfire and kneeling in front of her "Thank you for saving my butt! How did you calm Raven down?"
''The symbol'' signaled the alien girl with her finger. ''It's quite common in yoga and we use it in our weekly meditations''.
''I see. Raven…. A-Are we cool?'' Said Beast Boy behind Starfire this time, who just laughed at her friend's antics.
The cloaked girl just glared at him as she walked towards him, though significantly more calmed than before. Still, Beast Boy was sweating profoundly.
Peter, who was a few feet behind him, watched as a shadow slowly started to creep from Raven's own and behind the green hero.
''Uh... Green Bean?''
Before he could finish his sentence, the shadow wrapped around Beast Boy's legs throwing him through the room and into the window that led to the outside. The force behind the throw was such, that Beast Boy broke through the glass and kept flying outside of the tower until it reached the ocean.
''Now we are even'' commented Raven.
''Hey! That's the second time you break that window!'' cried Cyborg.
''Oh, sorry'' Responded Raven. She lifted her hand and the shattered pieces of glass got covered by black energy, rearranging them into their original form. 10 seconds later, the window was intact, without any seams or cracks.
''Better?''
''Yes'' answered the half-man, half-machine guy. ''So…. should we talk about the elephant in the room?''
''I'm sorry friend Cyborg but I do not believe there aren't any elephants in here'' commented Starfire
''No no no Star, I meant'' he nodded towards Peter.
''Oh'' responded the alien girl just to look at Peter as well, rather curious.
Peter felt her stares as well as the ones from Raven and Cyborg, a little to the sides. Moreover, there was someone behind him as well. Probably the guy wearing a little cape he saw earlier when he entered. Peter could imagine him sneaking behind him while everything was going on. He now felt his stare as well.
''I mean, I love to be at center stage guys, but common on, I just got here'' Peter responded
''And how exactly did you get here?'' Robin's dry voice came from behind.
Peter just sighed. -Well, let's do this one last time-
The previous day, an unrelated yet important event to the arrival of our spider hero was taking place in a shady corner of the city under the cover of night. Inside a shadow, a meeting was taking place, in what seemed to be a little gypsy shop. Featureless dolls hanged from strings in the ceiling, trinkets, and stranger objects inside jars were on display to the amazement of some and the worry of others.
A group of five was at what would be a front desk and a little youngster was talking to the owner of the shop who was young, though you'd definitely not call him a child. He had short black hair with two pointy spikes that looked like horns. He also wore a formal black and white suit that matched his pale skin. He currently had a cat with orange fur and black stripes sitting on his lap.
''Are you sure these are legit?'' asked a little boy in front of the group. He had a green jumpsuit and, on his back, he had a backpack from which 4 metallic legs extended, rising him from the ground.
The young man behind the desk just grinned intensively at the boy. ''Cross my heart and hope to die. That's what you humans say, right?''
From the ceiling, two faceless dolls dropped down from their strings and into the desk. Everyone stood silent as the ire dolls just stood there, waiting. The boy at the front used his metallic leg and scoped the dolls into his backpack. He signaled his group to retreated and everyone did, maybe a bit too quickly but the place was empty in the end.
The boy just smiled once everyone was gone. He loved creeping people out.
''Another fool comes and goes''. The pale teen couldn't help but grin. ''What you say Teekl? 50% chance the dolls will work?'' The cat just stared at him, leaping into the desk.
''Something in mind?'' The cat just stood there staring. The young man sighed deeply ''You want to check out the damn cards again?''
The cat meowed back and jumped to the shoulder of his owner.
The guy in the black suit frowned ''You are one for circus tricks, aren't you?''
Teekl just stared at him with big eyes.
''Ok, ok''
The young man exhaled his hands. ''Let's find out about our future''. He snapped his fingers and a little pouch appeared in front of him. It stood levitating on midair. The pale owner stood up, the boy closed his eyes and extended his arms and from the pouch, many tarot cards came, circling around him, up and down. He opened up his eyes again and they were completely black. The shop around him went black, just leaving a little bit of light that shined down the boy and the cards. The boy closed his eyes again and the cards entered one by one into the pouch, landing on the table. The light returned to the shop and the boy opened up his eyes again. They were normal.
The young man returned to his chair rather relaxED. Teekl jumped back to the table and meowed at him.
''What?''
The cat just stared
The young man groan ''Alright, alright, I'll draw the cards''
Divination magic was something quite puzzling for every magician, not that he had a particular problem with him, but the variables and constants of the future were way too annoying for him to pay any attention to. Yet his familiar, Teekl, thought this as interesting so he would humor this idea, just for a while. He lifted one of his fingers and a card came out. It landed in front of him. It was one of a raven on top of a branch and a green cat trying to climb the tree.
The boy just stared at the cat ''This doesn't tell me anything''.
Teekl just stared at the pouch. The kid just rolled his eyes and draw one more card.
This one looked like a spider walking on a web. Again, the young magician wasn't getting anything from this. He was about to lash out when suddenly the pouch exploded with black energy, burning every card inside it, except for one.
The young man just stood there, looking, as black flames surrounded one card. This one slowly came down to the table, positioning itself between the two others. The card depicted a book, hold tight by chains and covered in black leather. Then, something clicked in the boy's head. An image suddenly appeared and everything became clear.
''Now this, this tells me something Teekl''.
Hey guys! TheRedSpider here! How knew that planning your arcs ahead of time for your stories could be so useful?! Not to mention time consuming. I know this chapter is shorter than the ones I usually publish, but I think it's a good start.
Regardless, here we have a new chapter for my story. The titan saga officially starts here and new and exciting things are coming!
I hope you had a good Christmas and I hope this little chapter could be a nice surprise for all of you!
Thank you all who had commented and those new who have joined.
Happy new year and see you all soon!