Hey yo, author here! Not much to say, just that the continued interest in this, and the interest this tory has been getting since the beginning has been incredible. Honestly the reason, I've kept going with it. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!
As always, much love - Seadavid41
Ch. 36 Libra
Beast Boy soared through the air, paying no attention to the darkness around him, his hawk eyes having locked onto the very real light at the end of the tunnel. Nightwing and Cyborg did their best to keep pace, but had fallen a little behind the speeding changeling. Only Starfire could stay by his side and even she was having to strain herself to keep up.
"Beast Boy! Should we not all enter at the same time? We do not know what we are going to be confronted with!"
Beast Boy gave a sharp cry as a hawk, but didn't avert his eyes from the tunnel ahead of him or show any sign of slowing down. Starfire didn't have to understand him to get the message. There was nothing that could be waiting for them in the next room that would cause Beast Boy to falter. Starfire eyed her friend, worry in her eyes at what he might do, before she too looked forward, willing herself to go faster. If Beast Boy was adamant on flying straight into the fire, by X'Hal, she was going with him.
The two Titans flew side by side down the tunnel, eyes locked straight ahead as the exit loomed closer and closer. Starfire eyes widened as a maelstrom of Deathstroke's bots became visible, milling around the entrance like ants protecting a colony. Starfire didn't even have time to call Beast Boy's name. Without warning, Beast Boy surged ahead, increasing his speed to a pace that even Starfire couldn't match. When he was a few feet away from the entrance, Starfire watched as he shifted into the Beast and propelled himself towards the bots, promptly tearing a hole straight through their ranks. Starfire followed after him through the gap he created and soared into the air, rising towards the roof of the cavern they had entered to gain a vantage point and see what was going on. Nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to see.
They had found the portal room alright. On the ground, Deathstroke's bots milled about in their hundreds, with all of their efforts currently being focused on a rampaging Beast who was slicing through their metal frames like a hot knife through butter. However, they weren't the only enemy on the lowest level. On the far side of the room, where another tunnel entrance was positioned, Mammoth was engaging what looked like The Herald and Kid Flash, his fists aflame, his eyes glowing red. Starfire felt a surge of a hope at that. If other Titans were down here, then that meant they would soon have more numbers. But as her eyes travelled towards the platform in the middle of the room, she felt her hope shatter.
From the height she was at, she could clearly see Psimon engaging Bobby, a truly bizarre sight in what was otherwise a vicious battle. However, it wasn't them that had caused her heart to plummet. It wasn't even the figures of Deathstroke and Abaddon who were standing unimpeded atop the platform. It was the dome-shaped shield of Raven's magic that terrified her. She'd seen it once before…on the day Raven became the portal for Trigon. Through the black tinge, she could see Raven in the lotus position with Ravager stood behind her, katana in hand, with a confused and crying Melvin in front of them both. Starfire understood immediately. Raven had what she came for…and now she was going to take herself out of the equation.
It was at this point that Cyborg and Nightwing finally made it to the entrance of the cavern, both their eyes widening at the carnage that was unfolding before them. Starfire immediately called for them. They didn't have time to take it all in.
"NIGHTWING! CYBORG! GET UP HERE!"
The two titans immediately cast their eyes upwards towards Starfire before they flicked over towards the platform, realization sinking in just as it had for Starfire mere moments beforehand. Cyborg cocked his sonic cannon.
"OH HELL NO! I SAID IT ALREADY! NOT AN OPTION!"
Nightwing could only grimace as he withdrew his escrima sticks. He wanted to stop Raven just as much as Cyborg, but he was also a realist. If they hadn't been able to break her barrier last time…what chance did they have now? However, pushing that thought into the back of his mind and alongside Cyborg, he charged into the mountain of bots that stood between them and the stairs that would lead them Raven and Deathstroke. He may not have liked their odds…but that wouldn't stop him from raging against them until the end.
Starfire, seeing that Nightwing and Cyborg had got the message, turned her attention to Beast Boy, her eyes widening a tad as she did so. She knew the Beast was more powerful than ever but even still, she couldn't help but feel her breath fall away at the sight of it. It was like a green tornado of claws and fangs, unrelenting, unforgiving, shredding anything that came in it's path. Starfire had to shake her head to get out of her stupor.
"BEAST BOY!"
The Beast was savage but more importantly than ever, Garfield Logan was still present. The Beast tilted his head upwards at the sound of his name. Starfire, knowing was not the time to mince words, kept it succinct as she pointed towards the platform.
"RAVEN!"
The head of the Beast swiveled towards the platform, it's gargantuan jaw dropping at the sight of Raven's barrier already in place atop the structure. Immediately, the Beast crouched down and launched itself upwards off the bots it had been surrounded by, high enough that it was able to latch onto one of the curved walls of the cavern, it's claw sinking straight into the rock. The Beast surveyed the room, it's widening at the sight of the Herald fighting Mammoth. The one Titan he needed.
The Beast kicked off the wall like an Olympic swimmer, propelling himself across the room towards The Herald, Kid Flash and Mammoth. Kid Flash, who had just finished circling Mammoth and had come to a halt behind his back, was the first person to see the Beast coming towards them like a ballistic missile. With the Herald out of the way and Mammoth none the wiser, Kid Flash couldn't resist and sprinted right up to the flaming villain, pulling himself up his arm so that he could lean into his ear.
"Man I would hate to be you right now."
Mammoth swiped wildly over his head but Kid Flash was already gone. Mammoth swiveled around in a rage, but his pupils shrank to mere points once he finally spotted the green projectile of muscle and claws that was now far to close to him to avoid. The Beast slammed into him, sending them both careening to the floor. Using both of their momentums, the Beast rolled through, gripping Mammoth by the back of his neck as he did so and hurled him over his head, sending the former powerhouse of the Hive Five careening straight into the stone wall, where he imprinted into it like a bug on a windshield.
The Beast didn't take any time to enjoy his victory as it immediately shrank down, the figure of Garfield Logan eventually standing where it once stood. The Herald emerged out of a portal in front of him as Kid Flash sprinted up to him, a smile on his face until he got a bit closer to the changeling.
"Jesus BB…you look like…well you don't look great."
Beast Boy waved away Kid Flash's concerns and immediately turned his attention to the Herald, raising his hand to point at Raven's barrier before he even began speaking.
"Mal, what we talked about in Main Ops before all of this. I need you. NOW!"
The Herald's eyes widened in realization at what Beast Boy was talking about. "Gar, I'll try but...Raven's magic is some of the most powerful I've ever seen. There's no guarant-"
Beast Boy cut him off. "I know, it's not a guarantee. Doesn't mean we're just gonna leave her to die."
The Herald nodded somewhat somberly as Kid Flash turned his attention to Mammoth, who had just finished peeling himself off the wall.
"Well I have no idea what you guys are talking about, but if you're about to dip, you may as well get going. I'll distract the meathead."
Beast Boy nodded in appreciation before shifting into a pterodactyl. The Herald held out his arms and allowed Beast Boy to pick him up from beneath his armpits before he burst into the air. As Beast Boy began to make his way with the Herald towards the platform, Nightwing could only watch as Starfire made a beeline for Raven's barrier, where Deathstroke had begun to hack at the protective magic with his axe. Cyborg and Nightwing were making lightwork of the bots blocking their way but sheer numbers left their progress slow. Nightwing had just finished decapitating yet another bot when he heard Cyborg's call.
"NIGHTWING! DUCK!"
Instinctively trusting his teammate, Nightwing plummeted to the floor, just as a grey, red-eyed version of the Beast sailed over where he had been standing, his claws swiping through the air where Nightwing's neck had been moments before. Nightwing rolled back to his feet, coming to stand beside Cyborg as he did so, Beast Boy's demon taking his regular form across from them, a malicious smile on his face.
"Well it looks like you're just a tad too late…in all honesty, Deathstroke getting powers or not…doesn't really matter to me…"
He winked at the pair of them. "I just want to see the witch die and know that you Titans failed to save her."
Nightwing felt his teeth grinding as he withdrew two birdarangs from his belt. Cyborg, stone-faced raised his sonic cannon. "You're from a time gone by…time to put you out of your misery."
The demon cackled. "Misery? I'm having the time of my life. But go on…on my own home turf. Try me. I dare you. You and Nightwing are pretty good at killing beasts after all."
Nightwing crouched down low. "Like Beast Boy said…you're out of date…and I've got no problems with taking you down permanently."
Beast Boy's demon snorted before shifting into the demonic Beast, flanked by Deathstroke's bots. Nightwing and Cyborg briefly looked at each other before turning back towards the challenge that lay in front of them.
Cyborg's eyes narrowed. "No more mercy."
Nightwing nodded a single time. "For better or worse, this ends today."
The two Titans launched themselves forward, side by side, into the cascading tidal wave of bots that were descending onto them, while the demonic Beast itself charged through the metallic maelstrom, it claws and canines primed to kill.
Starfire knew she couldn't break through the protective magic Raven had cast. However, she knew Beast Boy had something planned so if she could buy him time, then that's what she would do. Flying through the air towards the platform, she ignored Psimon and Abaddon and the dozens of bots milling around the surface. Her eyes had locked onto one singular entity. The man who had caused so much suffering and pain…the would-be God.
With a scream, Starfire spiraled straight towards Deathstroke, who looked up from Raven's magic barrier in surprise before he reacted. Deathstroke immediately jumped backwards, sending a ball of fire from his fist as he did so. Starfire blocked the blast with her forearms, but the temporary distraction was all Deathstroke needed to avoid Starfire's assault. The Tamaranean crashed into the ground where Deathstroke had once stood, just in front of Raven's magic protection, the blast sending dozens of bots over the edge of the platform, spiraling towards the ground. Starfire looked up, her fist still embedded in the rock that the platform, her eyes glowing green with rage. In front of her, Deathstroke looked at her with disdain.
"So Adonis failed again…pathetic. I have no time for any of you fools anymore. Especially not the princess oh so very far from home."
Starfire eyes burned even brighter, her fists practically dripping with her star bolt energy. "I am the one far from home!? I believe it is you who is not where they belong! You were already sent to hell before you crawled back out! You think you are so powerful and yet you are the only who has been killed before!"
Starfire shot Deathstroke a borderline evil grin. "By Terra no less…killed by a Titan…I am not the one who is truly out of place here."
Deathstroke's fists lit up in flames as he swung his axe up into both hands, his visible eye burning with rage. "Oh I am going to make your death so very painful…you think you experienced pain on the citadel? Oh you don't know the meaning of the word."
Starfire cracked her knuckles, green sparks popping off of them like her hands were actually aflame.
"BRING IT ON CLORBAG!"
Deathstroke and Starfire rushed towards each other as Beast Boy flew upwards as fast as he could, pushing his already exhausted muscles to their absolute limit. When he arrived at the platform, he released the Herald, who landed on the platform on one knee, before flying higher to survey the battle below him. Bobby was still engaging Psimon and Starfire had Deathstroke temporarily pre-occupied. Despite how much he wanted to help out the Tamaranean and how much he really wanted to end Deathstroke then and there, he knew where his priorities lay. Beast Boy turned in midair and spiraled towards the platform, morphing into the Beast at the last second, sending most of the remaining bots flying over the edge. Quickly morphing back to his human form and scanning his surroundings to ensure that Deathstroke and Psimon were still pre-occupied, Beast Boy turned his attention to the Herald, who was already sprinting up to him. Beast Boy nodded at him before turning and sprinting towards Raven's magical barrier. When he arrived, he placed his hands on the all too familiar surface, that none of the Titans had been able to break through before…but that's why he was so desperate for the Herald. He didn't need to break it down…he just had to get inside. Beast Boy turned to the Herald as he arrived.
"Okay Mal…make a portal for me."
The Herald withdrew his trumpet from his belt as he stared up at the forcefield before him with apprehension. "Beast Boy…I know you asked me to do this in Ops but…this is serious magic. I don't know if-"
"Mal. I know. It might not work. But it's all we've got and we're running out of time."
The Herald hesitated for only a split second longer before he brought his trumpet to his lips, creating a portal out of thin air. Beast Boy recognized the strange, alien environment inside. Before he jumped in though, he turned to the Herald again. "Okay…one more portal. On the other side of the forcefield."
The Herald nodded and approached the portal he had created, aiming his trumpet into the vast expanse within it. His forehead creased in concentration as he brought the instrument up to his mouth for a second time. He took a deep breath and with an almighty exhale from his lungs, a clean musical note filled the air, an oddly harmonious noise amongst the chaos that was unravelling beside the trumpeter and the changeling. Beast Boy peered into the void, waiting for the other portal to form, anticipating his route to Raven opening, pleading for an unobstructed view of the empath that wasn't through a filter of black and white…
It never came.
Beast Boy's head swiveled towards the Herald, terror in his eyes as the last traces of he musical note dissipated into the air, the Herald lowering the instrument breathless. In a split second, the one portal that the Herald had opened snapped shut. Beast Boy stared at the Herald, panic seeping into his expression.
"MAL! WE DON'T HAVE TIME! I HAVE TO…"
The Herald held up his hand, still out of breath from trying to open the portal for so long. "Gar…her magic…it's too strong…even for the Horn of Gabriel…Gar... I'm sorry."
Beast Boy's world shattered. This couldn't be how it ended. He'd planned for Raven's plan. He was going to stop her. Every Titan was supposed to come home…he'd promised her. Beast Boy slammed his fist against the barrier, an enraged cry escaping his lips, before he battered it again…and again…and again.
The Herald was about to try and reach out to Beast Boy when a shadow crossing his vision alerted him to an incoming threat. Jumping backwards, he just barely evaded the wild swing of Deathstroke's flaming blade, the two locking eyes as the Herald tried to regain his footing. Deathstroke wagged a finger at the Herald. "Now now…no interfering with the Gem…she's mine."
The Herald withdrew his horn from his belt, opting to stay low to the ground as he evaluated the opponent opposite him. However, Deathstroke had opted for peeling the Herald away from Raven's barrier despite not dealing with the Titan he had been engaging with at the time…and Starfire was still very much on the attack. The Herald barely even had time to duck before Starfire soared over his head, straight at Deathstroke, who brought his axe up to block, his heels digging into the rock below him as braced against the might of the Tamaranean princess. With an almighty shove, he pushed Starfire backwards, creating a few feet of separation between them, sending her in line with the Herald. Starfire briefly cast her eyes towards him. "Friend, what are you doing here?"
The Herald, despite his eyes still being locked onto Deathstroke, still wore a forlorn expression. "Beast Boy thought I would be able to portal inside Raven's protection…but…her magic is too strong…even for me…"
The light in Starfire's eyes dimmed almost immediately as she cast her vision backwards, a breath escaping her lips as she saw the back of Beast Boy, his head cast downwards, a solitary fist still resting on the barrier.
"Raven…no…"
The Herald shook his head and brought his horn to his face. "Go talk to him. I'll buy you some time."
Starfire didn't even hesitate and flew backwards towards Beast Boy. Deathstroke, upon seeing Starfire fly towards the changeling, let out a low growl before advancing, only to be stopped by the Herald stepping forward, horn in hand. He wagged a finger at Deathstroke. "Now now…why don't we give the two of them some privacy for a minute."
With that, the Herald brought his horn to his lips and sent a portal flying towards Deathstroke. The chosen one of Trigon's eye widened before he allowed his lower half to be engulfed in flames as he took to the air, flying out of the away of the inbound portal. However, Deathstroke didn't even have a second to collect himself before another portal was sent his way. The Herald felt a drop of sweat drop down his brow as created portal after portal. He knew that he couldn't do this forever…but he could buy Starfire some time.
Starfire was at Beast Boy's side in an instant, placing a gentle hand on his back. "Garfield…Raven wouldn't want us t-"
Beast Boy didn't even look up. "She's alive in there Star…I can still see her…and I can't do anything to stop it."
Starfire looked through the forcefield and couldn't help but feel her heart plummet. The changeling was right. Raven was simply hovering in midair, peaceful as anything. If it weren't for Ravager behind her, she may as well have been meditating in front of the window on Main Ops in Titans Tower. Starfire took a breath as she willed the tears away from her eyes.
"Beast Boy…I know it is hard…we have been through this before…we know what it's like to lose a friend…we can't forget what we're fighting for…the connections we've forged…"
Starfire's voice seemed to fade away as Beast Boy stared into the black and white filtered barrier before him, his focus on the crushing reality of the situation suddenly faltering as his mind drifted back to when he'd first come back to the tower and Raven had been engulfed in the tornado of fire. He'd gazed up into the fire…almost like he could see her through the inferno…he knew where to look…he knew he could pass through fire for her…the connection they forged…
Beast Boy eyes widened as he turned towards Starfire. "CONNECTIONS! STARFIRE YOU GENIUS!"
Starfire took a step back due to Beast Boy's outburst, but the changeling paid no notice as he turned back to the barrier, placing both his hands on the solid surface of the magical forcefield. Raven had forged a bond between them that ran far deeper than either of them understood. They could detect each other's thoughts, each other's emotions…Raven had used it to save his life. Beast Boy took a deep breath as he closed his eyes, leaning into the connection the empath had formed between the two of them. He felt the familiar sensation in his mind as the edge of his consciousness graced the precipice of her mind and he became acutely aware of the Raven's magic beneath his finger's, almost like the entire forcefield was made up of individual strands of magic that Beast Boy could feel running across his skin. Every time Raven had healed him…used her magic on him…it had felt like he was coming home. His forehead scrunched up in concentration as he delved deeper into their connection, the same way he had on the night when he had shown up as cat in Raven's room. It was a silent request for permission…an ever so gentle touch…
Beast Boy jolted forward.
His eyes snapped open as he glanced downwards, only to see both his hands had fallen through the magical forcefield. A quiet look of disbelief crossed his face before he snapped back to reality, turning to Starfire in an instant, who had also taken to staring at Beast Boy's hands in complete shock.
"Starfire...I just need time…as much as of it as you can get me…I have a plan. It's completely cra-"
Starfire cut him off. "I will get you all the time you could possibly need. Now go! Go through with the batshit plan that Cyborg said you had concocted!"
Beast Boy couldn't help it, shooting a Starfire a cheeky grin, before stepping straight through the barrier like it wasn't there. Starfire immediately turned around, her eyes being drawn to the Herald, who had moved from being on the offensive to desperately evading Deathstroke's flaming strikes. Starfire rotated her neck, a few audible cracks sounding out. With that she flew forwards, a barrage of star bolts leaving her fists as soon as she took to the air, her intentions set on buying Beast Boy and Raven all the time she possibly could.
When Beast Boy stepped through the barrier, he hadn't been expecting the radio silence that was present within it. He couldn't help but glance back out through the magical protection, almost as if he was expecting the battle to have stopped in his tracks. Yet, he could see still see the Herald and Starfire fighting Deathstroke. He could still see Bobby fighting Psimon. He could still see Deathstroke's bots milling about on the floor. It only distracted him for a moment though as a small voice suddenly piped up from behind him.
"Beast Boy?"
Beast looked forward and was immediately tackled around the waist by the small figure of Melvin, tears running down her cheeks. Beast Boy was surprised for a moment before he knelt down and embraced her, the child then opting to sniffle into his neck.
"Ra-Raven…she's gonna ki-…you have to stop her…"
Beast Boy pulled her away from him and held her at an arm's length. "I'm going to…nothing's going to happen to Raven…not while I'm around."
Beast Boy stood up and walked past Melvin towards Raven, who was still floating in the lotus position. Behind her, Ravager stood, katana in hand, her eyes following Beast Boy warily. When Beast Boy got within a few feet, Ravager raised her katana, prompting Beast Boy to stop in his tracks. When Ravager spoke, Beast Boy detected the slightest quiver in her voice.
"Beast Boy… I don't know how you managed to get in here…but I made a promise to Raven…one I intend to keep…she's already started the process…don't come any closer."
Beast Boy held up his hands in appeasement. "It's okay Ravager…truly it is…I'm not going to try and stop you…but in return…you can't try and stop me…"
Ravager eyed him in confusion as Beast Boy began rustling through his uniform pockets. "Stop you? From doing wha-"
Ravager's voice fell away in an instant once Beast Boy withdrew Raven's mirror from his uniform, it's reflective surface glinting from the glow provided by the platform. Beast Boy held the mirror aloft for Ravager to see, clear as day. Ravager let out a huff of complete disbelief.
"You've completely lost it."
Beast Boy didn't flinch. "I'm assuming Raven gave you some kind of signal for when you could commit the act? Nothing changes. If Raven sprouts horns, or grows extra eyes or whatever it may be…you do what you think is right."
Ravager looked at the mirror and back to Beast Boy. "Okay and what…two dead Titans? Would you even be dead? Would you just be lost in a void? Beast Boy…this is practically suicide."
Beast Boy shook his head. "Maybe it is…but I don't care. I made a promise too…and I intend to keep it."
Ravager knew that Beast Boy had her in a bind. Even if she wanted to stop him from potentially throwing his life away, she'd made a promise to Raven and if she ended up fighting Beast Boy to try and stop him and the demon came out…well then everyone lost. Ravager sighed in defeat.
"Leave the mirror in the middle of the floor where I can see it...Beast Boy…whether you're in there or not…if Raven shows signs of having lost herself…I'm going to kill her…you know that though…"
Beast Boy placed the mirror on the ground. "I know…"
Ravager tilted her head. "You're still going ahead with it?"
"I am."
Ravager shot him a strange look before her expression eventually settled on one of respect. "Well…I wish you all the luck that this godforsaken world allows…"
Beast Boy shot Ravager a grin, his fang poking out of the corner of his mouth. "I don't need luck…they love me in there."
With Melvin and Ravager looking on in silent shock and awe, Beast Boy stood on the handle of the mirror, causing a large black hand to immediately lash outwards from the surface of the glass and wrap it's fingers around the changeling, pulling him deep into Nevermore in the blink of an eye.
Ravager stared at the mirror in the middle of the floor with a grimace. "Even if they do…I think there's something else in there besides emotions now…"
Unbeknownst to Ravager and Melvin, Raven's serene expression had shifted just the slightest bit, a forehead crease becoming just barely visible as a result of the new occupant of her mindscape.
Beast Boy felt the familiar sensation of falling as he briefly descended through complete darkness. Despite the usual feeling of motion sickness that accompanied him on a trip to Nevermore, he kept his mind focused on the task at hand. Eventually, the darkness gave way to a black and red sky, the familiar rocky and cragged landscape of Raven's mind becoming visible from Beast Boy's position in the air. As soon as the feeling of falling changed to one of plummeting, Beast Boy shifted into a hawk and dived towards the desolate landscape below. As he dropped, he couldn't help but notice that the whole place seemed…empty. There was no sign of the usual red-eyed birds that made their perch in the barren trees, Timid's maze was nowhere to be seen…even the pathways between the areas of Ravens mind that were once so pronounced seemed to have faded. As Beast Boy shifted back to his human form, his feet making contact with the ground, part of him couldn't help but think he was already too late…like what made Raven…well Raven…was already gone. Beast Boy scanned the environment, looking for any signs of life at all.
"HELLO!? IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE!? BRAVERY!? AFFECTION!? WIS-"
"You shouldn't be here."
Beast Boy turned on his heels and even with the current circumstances that he was in, he couldn't help but swallow as he came face to face with Rage, a portal closing beneath her feet from where she had just emerged from. However, after only a few seconds of looking at her, it very quickly became apparent that something was very wrong with the red emoticlone. She seemed to be hunched over as if she was having trouble standing up straight. Her arms were wrapped around herself, gripping the edges of her cloak tightly to her frame, which seemed to be somewhat frailer than Beast Boy remembered. Lastly, Beast Boy didn't miss the slight grimace on her face…she was in pain. Before Beast Boy could speak, Rage spoke again.
"You stole…my mirror….from my room."
Beast Boy's face shifted in an instant, turning stony. "You had a secret plan to kill yourself. I had a secret plan to stop you. We'll call it even."
Rage's nostrils flared as she took a step forward in anger but as soon as she planted one foot in front of the other, she gave a yelp of pain and fell forwards. Beast Boy, forgetting that they were arguing in a millisecond, rushed forward and caught her before she could hit the ground. Rage had been in his arms for only a few seconds before she reached up and smacked Beast Boy on the side of the head.
"Get off of me! Don't you get it!? You're too late! Raven's already made her decision! She's giving herself up! Me…and the rest of her emotions…we're fading…once we're gone, she'll simply be a husk of herself…a husk that Ravager has promised to kill! Now that you're here because you had the genius idea to steal my mirror and come to Nevermore, when Ravager slits her throat and this place ceases to exist, you're going to be trapped here in purgatory forever!"
Rage pushed herself away from Beast Boy who didn't fight her efforts. Standing back up, she coughed a few times before pointing a finger away from where the two were standing. "The forbidden door…I can still send you home but we have to move quickly. You don't have a lot of ti-"
"I'm not going anywhere."
Rage swiveled back around towards Beast Boy, taking in the figure of the changeling. Bloody, bruised, an eye staring to swell closed and yet…there was something about him that was so…steadfast.
That didn't change the fact that she thought he was an idiot.
"WOULD YOU STOP BEING A MORON FOR FIVE MINUTES!? IT'S TOO LATE! RAVEN'S AS GOOD AS DEAD! YOU WILL BE TOO IF YOU DON'T LEA-"
Beast Boy turned away from Rage and began scanning the surrounding area. For a moment, Rage was in sheer disbelief. There was absolutely no way Beast Boy had just disregarded her like that. After waiting a few seconds and confirming that he had, in fact, decided to ignore her, she felt her teeth clench together. If it weren't for her current weakened condition, she would have beaten Beast Boy from pillar to post.
"GARFIELD MARK LOGAN, DON'T YOU DA-"
"Raven said that if she gave herself up, she would lose herself and the demon side of her would be all that was left. What does that look like here?"
Rage felt her voice leave her for a moment as she looked at Beast Boy, his eyes still scanning Nevermore. Rage thought for only a moment.
"Her demon aspect is it's own entity entity, much like how you saw Trigon on your first visit here. Her demon side is currently manifesting itself as we speak. It is already the dominant part of Raven in Nevermore. The other emoticlones are all in a weakened state already as well."
Beast Boy turned back to Rage. "So…it's not just a matter of flicking a switch to become a demon. Her demon side has a form in Nevermore?"
Rage nodded. "Yes and it grows stronger by the second. The only reason Raven hasn't succumbed already is because some of Raven's other emotions are attempting to hold it at bay, but with Raven giving herself up, it is only a matter of ti-"
"Where is it?"
Rage looked at Beast Boy, asking a silent question. Beast Boy didn't hesitate to repeat himself.
"Her demon side…and the other emotions…where are they?"
Rage thought on the question for a second as she stared at Beast Boy before her eyes widened in realization as the true nature of Beast Boy's plan suddenly became crystal clear.
"No! Absolutely not! Beast Boy! This entity is not like an emotion! It's not an even like me when I was controlled by Trigon! There is no essence of Raven in it! It will rip you limb from limb and it will take pleasure in doing so, such is the way of a demon of Trigon! I am not going to lead you to a fight wi-"
Beast Boy stepped forward, his face hardening. "No! You listen to me! You may have given up, even as some of your sisters fight against this thing as we speak, but I haven't! The last time I was here, I told you all that I messed up! I got it wrong! But what was the final thing I said when Lazy asked me what made different then?"
Rage stared at him, her jaw ever so slightly dropped as Beast Boy stopped looking at her and stared at the floor. "…I said that life wouldn't be worth living if I left Raven again…if I took her for granted a second time…"
Beast Boy looked up and made eye contact with Rage again and this time, even the red emoticlones couldn't help but shiver under the intensity of his stare.
"I made a promise to Raven that she would come home…and I intend to keep it. So either you help me out and show me where I can find the other emotions and this damn demon or I wander off and try and find them myself with whatever time I have left."
Rage was so shocked by Beast Boy's proclamation that she couldn't help but be surprised when she reached up to her cheek and felt a wetness on the tips of her fingers. She closed her fingers together feeling the moisture spread across her skin. She shook her head as she looked back at the changeling, for once a softer expression on her face.
"Garfield…this demon…it's a fight you can't win…Beast or not."
Beast Boy merely nodded. "Whether it is or not, I don't care…I have to try."
Rage looked at him with borderline despair. She had been okay with embracing her final moments However, she had no interest in watching one of the few people in Raven's life that she found…tolerable get massacred. However, just as she was about to stand firm, a tiny thought tickled the back of her mind. That last fight before Raven formed the barrier…she had embraced herself in a way that she never had before. Rage had felt it. All the emoticlones had felt it. It was a synergy they had so rarely felt…something tangible…it had felt like they were on the verge of something more.
Raven may have thought she didn't have time to draw on the power she needed…but here in Nevermore, as long as all of her emotions were still standing…who knows…maybe there was the slimmest of chances of pulling out a miracle. If Beast Boy wasn't going to leave no matter what, well…what did they have to lose? Rage's expression shifted to one of determination…hope.
"Fine. If you won't leave, there's no point us standing around here. My powers are shot…I nearly had to use all my energy to portal here to find you in the first place. I can give you directions to where you need to go, but damn, we need to move NOW!"
Beast Boy grinned, his fang poking out of the corner of his mouth. "Don't worry, I'll give you a ride. You just tell me where we're going and I'll get us there."
In the blink of an eye, Beast Boy was gone, replaced by an enormous eagle, with a wing span that could easily accommodate the frail form of Rage in her current state. Rage eyed the bird warily before she clambered on its back, gripping her hands into the feathers on either side of its neck. Rage pointed a finger towards the horizon.
"Fly west and as fast as possible."
Beast Boy didn't hesitate and with a burst of his wings, he took to the sky with Rage clinging to his back. Rage pulled her head upwards and scanned the horizon.
"This whole process of giving herself up means Raven is losing everything that makes her who she is. As such, when she started to lose herself, the demon began to manifest where Raven stores everything she holds dear. You've never been there, but trust me, you'll know the Library of Knowledge when you see it."
Starfire's plan was simple in theory. She didn't know what powers Deathstroke had and whether he would be able to break through Raven's shield. As such, the easiest way to ensure that they didn't interfere with Beast Boy's attempt to save Raven from herself was to draw his attention away from Raven's shield. Psimon was fighting Bobby while the Herald had Deathstroke's immediate attention, while Abaddon watched with a certain amount of sick glee from the sidelines. Starfire had no concern about the leader of the Cult of Trigon. In her mind, he was the worst kind of enemy. On Tamaran, someone who took pleasure from others suffering in battle, without participating themselves…there was no way to bring greater shame to your name. She wouldn't offer him the time of day. It simplified her plan even further.
With a furious war cry, Starfire launched herself as fast as she could, willing herself forward with all the emotion she could muster. Deathstroke may have been powered by Trigon, but Starfire had boundless confidence. Deathstroke had been enjoying slowly gaining the upper hand on the honorary Titan before him. Every time he attacked, his axe came closer and closer to cleaving the head of the trumpet player clean from his neck. He had every intention of enjoying the moment his body hit the floor. Unfortunately for him, that moment never came. With his axe held firmly above his head for what could have been a lethal blow, the Herald beneath the axe's arc, he was completely unprepared for the inbound Starfire, who crashed into his side, grappling him around the waist, sending them both into air, as Starfire flew away from the platform, Deathstroke in her grasp.
Deathstroke couldn't help but let out a grunt as Starfire sent them both flying into the air but it still didn't take him long to recollect himself. In an instant, the lower half of his body became encased in flames and he began to grapple with Starfire, both fighting for control of their flight trajectory. Deathstroke lashed backwards with an elbow, catching Starfire across the jaw, causing the Tamaranean to yelp and loosen her grip ever so slightly. That was all the opportunity that Deathstroke needed. Swiveling around in Starfire's arms, he managed to get his arms free, his axe still in his hands, and while he didn't have the freedom to swing his weapon, he did have enough movement to bring the hilt crashing downwards, his sights set on caving in Starfire's skull.
While Starfire had seen the attack coming, all she had time to do was raise her hands to block the incoming strike. The hilt of Deathstroke's axe connected with her attempts to block the blow with enough force that Starfire was sent plummeting towards the ground like a cannon, her body slamming into he floor with a sickening thud. The force of the impact was enough to pull Nightwing's attention away from the demon Beast, who cast his eyes over towards the sound, only to see Starfire in a heap. His eyes widened as he felt the breath leave his body.
"STARF-"
That was as far as he got before an enormous green backhand sent the leader of the Titans flying. Nightwing's back slammed into the base of the pillar, causing his breath to vacate his lungs as he did so. However, he didn't have any time to dwell on the pain as he immediately had to roll out of the way as a green fist slammed into the wall he had been leaning against where his head had been. Cyborg, who had been caught up with a new barrage od Deathstroke's bots, was about to sprint and help Nightwing but when Nightwing saw him coming, he pointed in Starfire's direction, as he ducked out of the way of another strike, withdrawing two birdarangs from his belt as he did so.
"Don't worry about me! Go help Starfire!"
Cyborg's eyes followed Nightwing's gesture until they locked onto Starfire, who was slowly rising from the ground. Deathstroke had just landed a few feet behind her and was approaching the prone Tamaranean, his axe trailing along the ground, tongues of flame dripping off the blade. Cyborg's eyes narrowed. He knew Nightwing could handle himself and a little selfishly…he'd never had the opportunity to take his pound of flesh from Trigon's favourite little blessed boy. Cyborg turned on his heel and made a beeline towards Starfire, firing up his sonic cannon as he did so, batting bots aside that got in his way with ease. Deathstroke, who had been entirely focused on Starfire, raised an eyebrow when Cyborg came to stand in front of her protectively, his eyes murderous. Deathstroke tilted his head, almost in curiosity.
"Victor Stone…correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we've ever had the pleasure of an individual encounter before…I've become so well acquainted with the rest of your friends."
Cyborg's eyes stayed murderous as he primed his sonic cannon to take Deathstroke's head clean off. "No, we haven't, but I'd say it's long overdue."
Deathstroke swung his axe of the floor so that he was holding it in two hands, glancing down at the blade as he did so, catching his own reflection on its polished surface. " I suppose it is…I don't know what your little Raven is doing up there…but she can't hold that shield forever…which means I currently have time to spare."
Cyborg was about to step forward when he heard a cough from behind him.
"Cyborg?"
Cyborg glanced backwards at Starfire, who had managed to rise to one knee. Cyborg, not taking his eyes off Deathstroke, answer her."
"Stay down for a sec Star. I can ho-"
"Cyborg…listen."
Cyborg stopped talking, which Starfire took as a sign to continue. "Raven is in the process of giving into her demon, but Beast Boy ha-has some kind of plan. He managed to break through her barrier…he needs us to purchase him time...as much as we can afford."
Cyborg registered what Starfire said, casting his eyes up at the top of the platform, the top of Raven's shield still visible for the world to see. If anybody could pull Raven out of what she was about to do…Beast Boy was the man for the job. He turned back towards Deathstroke, his cybernetic eye locking onto Trigon's blessed one, analyzing every facet of the foe in front of him. When he spoke to Star again, he didn't turn around.
"Beast Boy needs time…I'll give him all the time he could ever want."
While Starfire and Cyborg had intentionally spoken quietly about what Raven was trying to do in an effort to keep Deathstroke in the dark, Cyborg intentionally let his voice rise in volume for his last comment. He wanted Deathstroke to hear him. Deathstroke let out a low laugh.
"Is this what you have come too? Stalling?"
Cyborg stood up tall, shoulders back, cannon aimed forward, cybernetic eye locked on. "No…I just want to take my time with this. I don't want this to be quick."
Deathstroke clenched his fists and the axe in his hand burst into flames. "Unfortunately for you, my priorities lie elsewhere. As such, I'm going to ha-"
Deathstroke brought his axe up to block the sonic blast that Cyborg had just fired, causing him to stumble back a few steps. He stared at Cyborg in fury. Cyborg, for his part, had simply re-aimed his cannon.
"Why couldn't the monologuing have stayed dead like Slade? It would have been far easier for everyone."
Deathstroke gave a low growl of rage, a rare sign of a loss of composure from the villain who was normally so cool, calm and collected. Cyborg smiled. This is what he wanted. No words. No taunts. Just a brawl. He couldn't resist as he brought his hand up and moved motioned Deathstroke to come at him with his fingers.
"Come on Slade…just like old times…or is the little devil afraid of the machine?"
Deathstroke didn't hesitate. In an instant, his lower half was encased in flames and he propelled himself towards Cyborg. Cyborg sent a few blasts of his sonic cannon at the incoming Deathstroke, which the villain simply batted aside. When Cyborg saw that wasn't working, he bent his knees and coiled himself up like a spring.
"Already you son of a bitch. Let's have ya."
When Deathstroke was a few feet away, Cyborg channelled his college football days, and launched himself forward, meeting the rushing Deathstroke head on. The two collided in the air, resulting in them both grappling each other as Deathstroke carried them both, the duo crashing through bots without even a glance. Cyborg adjusted himself and without hesitation, began exchanging bows with Deathstroke. For every punch Cyborg landed across Deathstroke's jaw, Deathstroke returned it with an elbow or a stiff axe shot, which Cyborg had to be careful to block. Eventually, Cyborg landed a shot which cause Deathstroke to lose control in the air and the two dropped down and hit the ground, skidding across the floor and separating as they did so. Neither of the pair were slow to their feet. Cyborg's cannon was primed by the time he was on one knee. Deathstroke's axe had never left his grasp.
Deathstroke was about to send a ball of fire in Cyborg's direction when a green glint in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Deathstroke raised his axe, blocking the barrage of star bolts that had been sent in his direction. Starfire came to land by Cyborg, offering her teammate a hand, which he gratefully took as he got back to his feet. The two Titans turned to face Deathstroke, who had foregone all attempts to goad his opponents. This was supposed to be his day of glory. Normally, he was more than happy to indulge in these games with the Titans. However, now they had moved from being entertainment to a nuisance. No one would stand in his way again…and the Titans had resisted him for the last time.
Cyborg spoke to Starfire without looking at her, quietly so as to avoid Deathstroke hearing them. "We keep the fighting on the ground. We don't what Deathstroke can do, but we don't let him get near Raven's barrier."
Starfire nodded, her eyes still glowing a blazing green. "Cyborg, it will be my genuine pleasure."
Deathstroke, having had enough of being delayed, didn't wait for another exchange. Deathstroke took a few steps forward to build up momentum before swinging his axe through the air, sending a wave of fire out from the blade, which expanded as it radiated outwards. Starfire acted first, moving behind Cyborg and pulling him from underneath his arms and flying the pair of them into the air. She then flew directly towards Deathstroke, releasing Cyborg during their descent. Cyborg fired his sonic cannon while Starfire sent out a concentrated star bolt as Deathstroke sent another wave of fire. The moments before the attacks collided almost seemed to slow down, a moment frozen in time…the calm before the storm.
Nightwing didn't have a second to breath as he rolled out of the way of another wild strike by the demon Beast. Between the demonic version of his teammate in front of him and the bots that threatened to swarm him during any moment of respite he could get from the demon's attacks, he couldn't stop moving. He had seen Starfire hit the ground and knew that Cyborg would be able to help, but in the back of his mind, he knew they were running out of time. He knew how long Raven had been trying to give in for? He hadn't even seen Beast Boy since he'd flown up to the platform. He could only hope that he had found some way to help Raven, but they couldn't count on that. They needed to take Deathstroke down.
Nightwing lashed out with two birdarangs, slicing the two nearest bots at the neck joint before using one of their falling bodies as a launching board to catapult himself into the air and behind another bot, where with a quick flick of his wrists, he twisted it's head clean off. Nightwing, sensing the at this point, all too familiar feeling of Beast Boy's demon approaching, instinctively dropped to his knees, a green arm, flying over his head, coming so close to his face that he swore he could feel the sensation of hairs tickling his nose. Nightwing sprung up in an instant, combining two more birdarangs to form his sword. He swung low, aiming for the demon Beast's knees but the creature was quick, jumping backwards to avoid the strike. As he landed, he coiled up against the ground like a spring, immediately propelling himself forward using his bulging leg muscles.
Nightwing leapt sideways, just avoiding the demon's attempt to bite him. As he did so, he latched onto the underside of the demon's arm and used it's own momentum to pull himself onto it's back. Bringing his hands together around the creatures neck, Nightwing grabbed the other end of his sword, ignoring the pain in his hand as the blade cut through the skin of his palm with how tightly he grabbed it in his attempt to put the demon beast in a modified sleeper hold. The demon, caught off by guard by Nightwing's acrobatics to get on his back, began to thrash wildly, swinging it's arms wildly over it's head in attempt to snag the Titan leader. Nightwing pulled the sword tighter and while his intent was to put the demon in a sleeper hold, the blade had begun to creep closer and closer to it's neck. This wasn't a living creature…it was the personification of the darkest thoughts of one of his teammates. Nightwing tightened his hold.
The demon, realizing its attempts to shake Nightwing loose were in vain, launched itself into the air with the titan as an inadvertent passenger. The jump propelled him over twenty feet upwards and when the demon began to descend, it angled it's back towards the ground. Nightwing realised the demon's intent to crush him between itself and the rocky floor and released the grip of his sword, allowing his body to fall away from the demon. However, as Nightwing pushed himself off of the creature's back, the demon rotated in mid-air and closed a fist around Nightwing's ankle. Nightwing didn't even have a moment to think before the demon heaved him over his head and sent him spiraling towards the ground. All Nightwing could do was brace for impact. He hit the floor with a sickening thud, rolling a few times before coming to a halt, his sword clattering out of his hands. Within a few seconds, nearby bots had begun to surround him. Nightwing began to push himself to his feet when the eerily similar voice of his teammate cut through the ringing in his ears.
"You know Nightwing…it's ironic. So much of Beast Boy's darkest thoughts are because of you and how you always took him for granted…didn't take him seriously…"
Nightwing glanced upwards as he got to one knee and as the bots around him began to part, sensing there was a more authoritative presence approaching. The demon Beast Boy had returned to it's human form and was walking towards him slowly and purposefully. It came to halt with one foot on top of his birdarang sword.
"…and that's one of the reasons that I'm as strong as I am…you crafted your own demise all those years ago and didn't even know it.
Nightwing glared at the Beast as he struggled to his feet, spitting out blood as he did so. The demon Beast Boy stared waited for Nightwing to respond, a smile on his face…a smile he wore as if he knew the fight was over. That smile quickly became a frown when Nightwing's glare broke as he looked at the floor and the demon began to hear the Nightwing's quiet laughter. The demon Beast Boy's brow furrowed in confusion.
"What's so funny? Even I didn't think you'd laugh at my little observation."
Nightwing glanced upwards at the demon again, this time, a smile spread across his features. "Well…it's just like what Beast Boy said before we came here before he nearly caved your skull in. You're his darkest thoughts from back then…not now. You're a snapshot of him then and I can tell…because man, you are stupid."
The demon Beast Boy's nostril's flared. "Just because I'm associated with that freak doesn't me I have his mind. Trigon crafted me straight fr-"
Nightwing laughed again as he cut the demon Beast Boy off, his hand ever so subtly moving within his utility belt for a very specific item. "Yes. Trigon crafted you straight from Beast Boy and I've seen the person who you think you're an improvement on slap you silly. Hard to defend that you're the better version…definitely not the smarter version."
Nightwing's fingers clenched around the item he was looking for and he gave one more small smile. "See, I've got you're type figured out…you…the demons of Cyborg and Starfire. We've all got dark thoughts, no doubt about. But seeing this version of Beast Boy…you…standing here…having finally cleared my own mind enough to have seen the man Beast Boy has always been...who he is now…you're just a knock-off…and a bad one at that. You may think you're better than Beast Boy, but you've got one flaw that the he never had."
The demon Beast Boy growled. "And pray tell…before I kill you…what might that be?"
Nightwing fell silent for a few seconds, so much so that the demon Beast Boy felt himself leaning in. In a flash, Nightwing withdrew his hand from his utility belt and launched the EMP grenade he had been searching for at the ground, shielding his eyes immediately after. The grenade detonated on impact, sending out an electromagnetic pulse that deactivated all of the immediate bots around him, as well as a flash of white light. The demon Beast Boy, who had leaned in, couldn't avoid the flash and was briefly blinded. Instinctively, the demon shifted back into the Beast and swung wildly in front of him where Nightwing had last been, his rage only increasing when he only felt air.
Nightwing, who had moved the second the grenade went off, had anticipated the demon's actions and as it blindly rampaged forward, he timed his slide to perfection, skidding between the demon Beast leg's, scooping up his sword as he moved. Quickly doubling back around, knowing the effects of the EMP wouldn't last long, Nightwing sprinted forward, sword stretched outwards just as the demon Beast spun around having not found it's target. Nightwing saw his opportunity.
Nightwing plunged the sword directly into the demon Beast's neck with such force that it went straight out the other side, Nightwing pushing the weapon through until the hilt of the blade made the skin of the demon's throat. The demon Beast's eyes widened as it's form shrunk back to down to that of a grey Beast Boy. Nightwing placed a firm hand on the demon's shoulder.
"Arrogance…send Trigon my regards."
With one hand gripping the hilt of the blade and the other holding the demon's shoulder in place, Nightwing pulled the blade out in one slick movement. The demon Beast Boy stood motionless for a few seconds before he began to fall backwards but his body never hit the ground. Halfway through it's descent, the body turned into red light, which then separated into two separate beams of energy. One beam made a beeline straight for Deathstroke on the other side of the room while Nightwing followed the other one with his eyes as it travelled upwards until it disappeared over the edge of the platform and out of sight. Nightwing breathed a sigh of relief. Beast Boy was alive up there. He turned his attention towards the other side of the room, where Starfire and Cyborg had seemingly just begun to fight Deathstroke together. Nightwing gripped his sword in the hand that had been loosely holding it as his side as the bots around him started to stir as they rebooted. Wiping some blood from his face and bringing his sword into an offensive position in front of him, Nightwing launched himself into the wave of newly awakened robots, his mind oddly calm as he set his sights on tearing Deathstroke apart.
Beast Boy flew through the dark skies of Nevermore, willing himself to push forward as fast as his wings would allow. Rage had fallen into silence on his back, her eyes closed, her brow furrowed as she tried to connect with her sisters…to see whether they continued to fight or whether they had been subdued. The fact that Nevermore was still standing at all was proof that at least some continued to resist…but time had to be running thin. Feeling a shift in the temperature of the air, Rage allowed her eyes to open, scanning the horizon before pulling herself towards the head of the eagle she was riding and pointing a finger to a spot in the distance where mountains had begun to appear, looming over the environment with what seemed like ominous intent.
"Aim for the mountains Beast Boy. I'll point out the entrance when we get closer."
Beast Boy gave a cry of approval and with a flap of his wings and ignoring the cold, Beast Boy pushed onwards. After a few more seconds, Beast Boy's keen eagle eyes were able to pick out what Rage had been talking about. Beast Boy had never exactly been one for architecture, but even he had to admit that the library of Knowledge was enough to take his breath away for a moment. The entire building was carved out straight out of the rock face. Stone towers rose high, almost protruding slightly outwards from the main body of the building. The winding path that led u to it became more and more pronounced and isolated, until the final few feet of pathway were accompanied on both sides by a sheer drop into the abyss. Beast Boy's eyes drifted upwards and he swallowed. Above the library, black and red clouds had begun to swirl in a spiral, their focal point being directly above what seemed to be the centre of the library, almost like they were being drawn there with a purpose.
Rage pointed to a spot where the path that led to library expanded into a large entrance platform.
"You're safe to land there. We'll have to approach on foot."
Beast Boy nodded before flying downwards and coming to land just outside a large, ornate set of doors. As Beast Boy shifted back to his human form, he couldn't help but notice the debris that cluttered the area outside. It wasn't rock from the mountainside though, it was a shiny material with a dark hue.
"Bronze."
Beast Boy turned to Rage, who had come to stand beside him after she dismounted from the changeling while he was still shifted into an eagle. He looked back at the debris in confusion.
"So why's this here, but everything else seems fine?"
"…It's symbolic of the library. The fact that it's fallen is…not good."
Beast Boy's face steeled immediately. "Well then we better get moving. Can you keep up?"
Rage shot him an incredulous look. "I can handle myself Beast Boy. For the love of Azar, I am the emotional embodiment of Raven's rage! I am more th-"
Rage's voice fell away as she took a step forward and gave a gasp of pain before falling to the floor. Beast Boy caught her in an instant. Before she looked up at him, she gave a heavy sigh of defeat. "I am more than capable normally….however, these are not normal times."
Beast Boy smirked before his face turned serious. "It's okay, but we need to go. If I shift into the Beast, I can ca-"
"No."
Beast Boy looked at Rage in surprise before his expression steeled.
"Why not? I just flew with you on my back. It's the same thing!"
"No it's not."
"Yes it is!"
Rage took a few deep breaths before looking up at Beast Boy, her eyes murderous.
"If we survive this nightmare…Raven. Can. Never. Know."
Beast Boy grinned. "Wouldn't dream of telling her."
Without giving Rage a minute to question her decision, Beast Boy shifted into the Beast and promptly scooped Rage up in his arms, eliciting a shriek of surprise from the emoticlones, before he gently raised his arms and allowed her to clamber onto his back. When he felt that she had a firm grip, the Beast bolted forward on all fours, vaulting over the cascaded bronze and plunging directly into the dark entrance way of the library that stood before him.
The Beast had almost perfect vision in the dark but what it couldn't account for was the maze of tunnels that it was about to encounter. Luckily for him, he had the perfect tour guide on his back. The Beast sprinted down the darkened hallways, ignoring the torches that had been blasted off the walls or the books that now littered the floor. Rage was peering over his shoulder, shouting commands at him as he ran like she was conducting a sleigh of sled dogs.
"LEFT!...RIGHT!...LEFT!...LEFT!...STRAIGHT ON!...RIGHT!...STRAIGHT ON!"
That's when the Beast saw it…the very real light at the end of the tunnel. Pushing his muscles to run as he fast as he possibly could, so much so that he felt Rage bury her face into his neck to get out of the way of the winds whipping over his shoulders, the Beast blazed through the last corridor, emerging into the centre of the library. The Beast took a few steps out into the open before coming to halt. It felt Rage slide of it's back and once it knew she was gone, the Beast shrank away until Beast Boy stood in it's place. The changeling could only stare in horror at the sight before him, his voice falling away entirely, his heart plummeting through the floor.
A massive tree stood at the centre of the room with it's branches reaching towards the sky…but it was very clear something was wrong with it. The entire tree gave off a dark, blood red glow. Any sign of leaves or greenery had vacated it, leaving the branches completely barren. Even from this distance, Beast Boy could see a dark, sap-like substance oozing from the bark…almost as if the tree was sick…or poisoned. However, Beast Boy could only pay it so much attention, as dotted about the room, emoticlones were sprawled across the floor, some moving and groaning slightly, while others lay still…either unconscious or worse.
"Beast Boy…"
Rage's voice shook Beast Boy out of his stupor and he turned to the emoticlone, who was staring upwards towards the top of the tree. Beast Boy scrutinized her face for just a second before realizing that it was the first time he had seen fear in Rage's eyes. He followed her gaze upwards until he finally saw what had Rage so scared.
Far above the ground, Bravery was restrained in the air, a black tentacle wrapped around her neck, which she was attempting in vain to break free of. The tentacle meandered through the air, its origin coming from underneath the cloak of a figure who had their back t9 Beast Boy and Rage. With the raising of their hand and the flick of their wrist, Bravery was sent flying across the room like a bullet, barreling into the book shelves with a sickening thud, before she slid down the wall and hit the ground in a crumpled heap and stayed there, completely unmoving.
"You know Garfield…it has been said that trees are sanctuaries…and that whoever knows how to speak to them…whoever knows how to listen to them…can learn any truth…you've lived amongst them…what do you think of that?"
Beast Boy couldn't hide the shiver that reverberated through his body as his attention was drawn from Bravery to the entity that had spoken, still floating high up in the air. Her voice had the effect of sounding like multiple people speaking at once. There was a deep undertone, accompanied by a pitch a few notes higher…and nestled within both of those…was Raven's voice without question. Beast Boy would recognize it's pitch anywhere. Still with their back to Beast Boy, the figure floated towards the tree and almost tentatively traced a red finger down the bark. Where her finger touched the bark, the wood blackened as the poisoned sap Beast Boy had already noted began to pour out. Beast Boy felt himself tense before he forced himself to relax.
"…I think it's a good sentiment…I swear Raven once told me about an author who once said that he went for a walk amongst the trees and he came out taller…and Bob Ross said there's nothing wrong with having a tree as a friend."
The figure chuckled and with slow and methodical movements, raised their hands and pulled their hood down, revealing purple hair and blood red skin.
"Ah yes…just as I have been brought to expect…a soulful insight hidden behind false confidence…I'm glad you have come here Garfield…that we have had the chance to meet…"
The figure rotated around in midair and Beast Boy felt the breath leave his body. The figure's face had four yellow eyes, the blood red-skin pulled tight across the cheekbones. Purple hair was parted at point by four horns, all of which were in perfect symmetry with each other. Long, black claws extended from her hands with sharpened edges, enough so that they could most likely slice through skin like a knife going through butter. It was a demon like Beast Boy had never seen before…and yet he could see his Raven in there. He believed Rage when she said that this thing wasn't under Raven's control…but it was still so clearly a part of her. The demon began to gently float downwards, leaving a wispy trail of dark magic in her wake. She touched down with grace, a single foot planting itself, before her cloak and magic covered the ground all around her. She looked up at Beast Boy and smiled, showing off sharp, pristine teeth causing the changeling to shiver internally. He recognised the feeling…a feeling he had never been on the receiving end of…the feeling of being prey. Still, for every second the entity in front of him had her attention on him…it was another second where Raven still couldn't give herself up…so he rolled with it.
"You seem to know so much about me…but I know nothing about you outside of what I've been told…so how about you enlighten me…"
The demon's grin widened. "Is it not obvious?...I am Raven…or more accurately…I am the Raven that could have been…"
For the first time, the demon's face darkened, her smile shrinking considerably.
"…the Raven that SHOULD have been…I was destined to take this world…I could have stood by my Father's side…and yet…it never came to be…the Monks of Azarath reduced me to a ghost story…a dark tale to keep Raven in line…but that wouldn't have been enough to prevent my rise to power…that came from the Titans…that came from YOU…"
Beast Boy tilted his head at the demon. "What did we do?...What did I do? We just wa-"
"YOU MADE HER FEEL!"
Beast Boy took a step back instinctively as the whole room shook under the force of the demon's roar, tendrils of dark magic lashing out across the room, striking bookshelves and cracking the ornate librarian's desk in front of the tree in half. When the demon looked back at Beast Boy, he noticed distinct appearance of tears running down it's eyes, but she wasn't crying. For all of Nevermore to see, it looked she had lost her mind.
"SHE WAS A VESSEL! A MEANS TO AN END! THAT IS WHY TRIGON CREATED HER! CREATED US! SHE WAS TO FALL! I WAS TO RISE! BUT YOU MADE HER THINK OTHERWISE…YOU MADE HER THINK SHE COULD DO MORE! BE MORE! YOU FILLED HER HEAD WITH FALSE HOPE AND LIES! GIVING HER A CONTROL THAT KEPT ME DORMANT! IMPRISONED!"
The demon stopped shouting as the tendrils of magic began to snake their way back under cloak. She took a shuddering breath and for a second, Beast Boy thought she was whispering to herself. Rage, who was still behind Beast Boy from when he carried her into the library, didn't like the way this seemed to be going. Ever so subtly, she had began chanting, in an attempt to perform a spell…she just needed a few seconds longer…
"But no more…"
The demon looked up at Beast Boy and the changeling immediately felt the change in the atmosphere of the room and as a reflex, he dropped his body just a little closer to the floor. Four yellow eyes met two defiant green ones, all basked in the blood red glow of the tree. When the demon spoke again, it spoke with finality…acceptance…
"I am aware of why Raven is giving me this freedom…even if I claim control…my throat will be slit before I can open my eyes…these are my final moments…and I have accepted this…I have come to understand this truth…this is why I am glad you here Garfield…"
The black magic that was emanating from underneath the demon's cloak began to snake their way up her body, engulfing her almost entirely before rising up even higher until the shadows were at least twenty feet in the air. Slowly but surely, arms and began to become visible within the shadows and two blood red eyes appeared in the centre of the vague outline of a face, before a mouth cracked open, a sickening grin expanding quickly.
Beast Boy stared up at the demon in awe before smirking. "Wow…after all this…you're just the classic demon?"
Beast Boy cracked his knuckles. "I expected better."
The entity's smile didn't fade. "Within the sanctuary of Raven's own mind…in the shadow of the tree that symbolises who she is…I will shred your existence down to the last atom…and scatter your essence across Nevermore…only then…will I assume control of your precious empath…knowing that while my time will end as well…her blood will be spilt upon on an alter to her father…"
Beast Boy grit his teeth as he sized up his opponent. "I made a promise…and I'm gonna keep it."
Beast Boy shifted into the Beast in an instant and let out a ear-splitting roar, shaking the foundations of the library just the slightest bit. It was enough that the nearest unconscious emoticlone was stirred from their incapacitation. Lazy raised her head sluggishly and glanced around the room, her eyes widening to the size of dinner plates at the sight of the Beast standing before Raven's demon, his answer to her question floating into her mind.
"Life wouldn't be worth living if I took this for granted a second time."
On the other side of the room, slumped against a wall and unknowingly to Lazy, the force of the emotion she had just felt inadvertently caused Affection to stir…just the slightest amount…
The Beast was about lunge forward when it felt a weak hand on it's forearm. Staring downwards, it's eyes widened at the sight of Rage, her hands a alight with purple magic, the weariness evident in her eyes and for the first time he could remember…the emoticlone smiled at him…albeit briefly.
"I can't fight…doesn't mean I can't help…AZARATH METRION ZINTHOS!"
The purple magic at Rage's fingertips began to dance across her palms before it jumped from her hands to those of the Beast. The Beast watched in awe as the magic began to coat his hands like gloves and watched as it travelled up to his claws…and kept going…and going.
The Beast grinned as it stared at the set of four foot magic claws that now extended from hands. It turned to Rage who looked at him for a moment before motioning towards the demon. "Now take this witch down!"
The Beast nodded and turned back to the demon, it's arms outstretched, four foot claws of dark magic scraping along the ground. The demon laughed at it's display, before it too extended her arms, black claws of dark magic extending outwards.
"Your Beast…it has always been formidable…but Nevermore isn't the place for animals…this is a place for monsters… "
See you in Ch. 37 Psychomachia.