Teen Titans – Sun and Moon Rhapsody – Illuminate My Earth –

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Chapter 16: Destination; Unknown – Chompers; Hunger Strike of the Lonely Devil

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Aiden and the others vanished into the dark. Slade swam through until Anna was sure she didn't have to flap her wings forever. "Good thing Agatha was strong enough to speak for us, huh?"

Dick's cold shoulder to Verra was….expected. "I…look, I knew less than you did about Hades and the big boss."

"You still recognized the danger and let it play out. You took our trust and….Verra…..you care, but you have your role. You are for them, not for my family. Slade." Dick turned to the man. "Anna will choose whoever she wants to trust, but your not free of my anger. I'm her father always, Aiden and the kids know that. You are here now, but only because Anna believes in your help. Well, make it last."

"I've done more than you give me credit, Grayson."

"My sister, is not a toy. She's not a weapon." Aiden huffed. "Even if we find my family, save Ami, Ava…. there is still a chance we'll lose someone. We always do."

"W – What does that ha –

"Stop."

Anna saw why Slade had tensed at Verra's warning. "You say I don't care? That miasma is not a demon's kind. It's literally this whole void. Get your barriers ready."

The gang including Slade rolled their eyes. "Dually noted, fox – face."

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Raku's destructive path through to where Ami was being held felt like one of her silly video games. If this world was meant to steal hope, then why was he excited to face the big boss at the end?

~ Ami, I'm here. I'm here! Where is she, demon?? ~

~ I am not the only source, sorrowful king. ~

The boy in him froze, the man in face though was not tempted. ~ Not a king, a relic. Far greater in power. Kings belong to the mortal belief. I…. Am Eternal. Forever. ~

The tendrils were shocked back. The power…why was it so exhilarating? Groaning, the next way opened as Raku saw in his new form the face of a crystal mirror. Of ice.

He stopped, examining it from afar before a reflection of light started to take shape. The face, was of Roko. The banished female aspect that Rokuro had harbored to drive him insane, the evil side that was indeed as her name depicted.

Loco.

Long raven hair, dark red eyes and a grin that had Lil's name written all over it. Was she here? Was this a trick –

~Don't fall for it. It's an illusion. ~ Raku told himself. Roko giggled at his face, his mannerisms nothing as her dragon lord's ~ Oh….so lost, little one? You already banished me to my cell. Should I help you do the same? What? Have the humans in your life been better than your time as a dictator? ~

~ Yes, I am happy to say…that my life is almost better. ~

The girl smirked, moving coyly around the king. The mirror at that time, letting a shadow poke through. ~ Well, what would make it perfect? Maybe…having your desires met? That brat, Aiden. You still love him. ~

~ I always shall. ~ He tried to hide it. No, he was…upset but…that was …. wrong….

~ Do you think that a thing like us can ever find love? That is what Lilu taught us. That love of single mind is meant to be crushed. You, are not learning…. I, loved you very…very…..much –

~You were a false memory. The face in my past. The curse I carried and let my son harbor. ~ Raku stepped back as she tried to come too close. Icy white fingers then latched round his neck from behind. This…. was a weakness.

He struggled, the magic he had hit the mirror as the demonic Roko cackled and let her hands dance across his cheek. ~ The creator here is a destroyer as well. If the world is refashioned to the liking of it, maybe…maybe you could then love me for real? ~She went close to him. The face far too –

~ HEY ! ~

Raku didn't see it as Jackie used her mecha – type canons to deter the demon hand from Raku's throat. "Let go of our boy."

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Ami moaned as she heard what sounded like the wind. Someone….

A face came into view of crying, icy flesh. Skin so….

"Ang! Cold…..who……" She gasped. "Sis! Thank goodness, everyone is rea –

~ You. ~ Anya stood and frowned. ~Are too warm. ~ She left while Ami saw her come under the arm of her new "master." A formless entity that controlled a dozen horrifying arms of blackened mist. "Ave!! Run! He's…no…no! Let me sister go!!"

~ Too much light, it must remain tame. I shall have that. For now, await the time that my queen has recovered. ~

"Stop!!!" Ami looked on as Ava was drained away, her energy changing as it kept her under its spell. ~ She is best in this form. It will create our perfect plane of never – ending frost. All things are safe, best this way. That way, a new birth may begin…below –

~ Ava!! ~ Ami's light was not done yet. As she called upon her magic to transform, a force field prevented the dark tendrils that had taken Ava from coming after Amelia. "Stay away from her!! She's not consenting to this!"

The girl brought up an incantation as the light in her palms only grew. "I can burn you alive or purify. Which'll it be?"

The tendrils grew in number like limber vines as she attacked, not until she was encased in their briars to see…Ava….using her magic to control them.

"Ave –

"Ah!!"

Ami was dragged out of her safe space as she was taken before the godless monstrosity to see that it was now with on giant eye. "Gross!! Ava! He's a literal blob!"

~ Silence! You will give up your power to help salong our master's plan –

"Ave…. no." Ami shook her head roughly. "No, you are not a villain or a victim….fight… back !" The boa vines constricted Ami until she let out a choked sound. "Ow….no, Ave…...please…. fight …. you…...you are my moon! I can't do this without you." Ami began to cry as the girl in her eyes, her sister lost what promise she had kept. ~ You left me behind...~ Ava's voice returned as Ami stopped her tears. ~ There was nothing but ice and wilderness…you left me far away to be a hero! You forgot I ever existed! All I wanted, was my family but you…. you always got them. I never had a chance to change…I was forced to!! ~ Ice and frost froze Ami's brows as the blizzard raged. "S- - sis…. –

~ I was your guardian! I was never one of you!! Never! When Aiden became a chosen, I was cast out. They all wanted me to grow up…I…I wasn't ready! I. Want. You…. –

"One more word, and you got your wish."

Aiden popped through a portal as a now younger Raku at seventeen, Jackie Ann, Verra, Dick Grayson and Slade with Anna all looked to do the same thing. "If you go down that path, there is no changing things. Ava Marie…I'm sorry. For letting go when you never wanted to have to go anywhere. I could have fought more. We can visit whenever you want. You'll be a big shot and no one will question it."

Dick smiled at Ava as her eyes started to soften, her tears going as Anna pointed with a yell at the tendrils. "Look out!!!"

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Verra was currently knee deep in vines, his teeth gnawing on for dear life with Slade barely letting the dog's attitude drag him down. "Really?? Why do these emotional metaphors always include vines and tendrils?? Is that what the author –

"Dog!" Slade slashed at the vine on a warpath. Verra sighed, getting a glare from the merc. "If you can bark, you can bite back. There is no time for fourth wall breaks –

" That deserves a laugh track!" Dick flung through the air as he used a vine as a swing. "Anyone else notice how weird this is getting?"

"I would rather be home, reading a book!!" Raku bawled as the vines chased at his ankles.

"Step off! Argh…. bad doggies!" Jackie knocked at the things with her laser blade. "Dad's tech with my own is insane! Why is it working against magic??"

"Because." Aiden moved to where Anna was helping Ava and Ami tug her loose from a ball of vines. "Don't let it eat me! I'm not a worm!"

"I…I'm sorry…. why? What about its plan –

"Wait!" Aiden shouted as the giant eye opened again. ~ As you request, my queen. ~

"Um, no consent! When will you get it through your…… cornea!" Ami shouted, annoyed at the trope. "She's not into you like that, big guy!" Jackie shouted back. "Give it up, you got nothin' now."

"Actually…. A new world, with all of us. Raku. No powers…we could be, so happy?"

"Ave! Don't encourage it –

"Wait…" Aiden looked at Raku as he levitated over, Hakuro appearing from inside the eye. "I knew it."

~ Get…me…out!!!!~ The light haired Ethereal shouted at the others as the eye started to close. The world's time changing along with the vines. ~ Ami….~ Ava fell away into the dark mist as the room reverted to be as fine crystal. Raku stepped back, seeing the reflection of a laughing Roko in each of the faces he passed.

"Illusion, and reality. This is all…fake?!"

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