"I don't trust her," Zatanna said to Batman and Red Robin. Red Robin rolled his eyes before glaring at the 23-year-old. I can't believe I wanted her on my team, he thought with a frown. She was so…cocky.

"She saved your cousin," Red Robin reminded her. Dick watched the adults in amusement.

"It was a fluke," Zatanna huffed.

Red Robin rolled his eyes behind his mask. "You didn't have a single lead on him for two months. You didn't even notice that other magic users had been kidnapped. Aren't you, your father, Doctor Fate, and Phantom Stranger supposed to be monitoring the magical goings on in the universe?"

"It's not as simple as you make it to be."

"Could have fooled me," Red Robin scoffed, "the way you throw your weight around – "

"Enough," Batman interrupted the two.

"I thought you didn't like Raven," Dick smiled up at Red Robin. Red Robin merely shrugged.

"We're not here to talk about Raven," Batman said. "We're here because Kent Nelson sent an SOS two days ago, and you haven't been able to reach him."

"Still don't see why we need Raven," Zatanna muttered.

"Constantine suggested Raven," Red Robin rubbed his forehead. They'd been arguing like this for the last 30 minutes. He felt the beginnings of a migraine.

"Constantine," Zatanna sneered at the sound of her ex's name.

"No one told you to sleep with him," Dick muttered with a smirk.

"How do you – you know what? Never mind," Zatanna squeezed the bridge of her nose. "Fine. We can bring Raven."

"I wasn't giving you a choice," Batman gave Zatanna a narrowed look.

"I'll go get her," Dick offered happily. "We go to the same school. I see her all the time. She's super sway." Zatanna rolled her eyes.

"Go get Raven," Batman ordered Dick.

Raven sat in the middle of her bedroom, chewing on her thumbnail, staring at her open tomes. It had been 5 weeks since her first mission and 3 weeks since she started school. I should be doing my homework, she thought for the umpteenth time. However, she wanted to find Azarath; she wanted to see her mom.

Raven's senses alerted her to someone at her door. Using her powers, she opened her door. "Hello, Garfield."

"Hey, mama," Garfield smiled as he strolled into Raven's room. "Look who I ran into."

"Richard," Raven greeted without looking up.

"Long time, no see," Richard replied with a smile. Raven shook her head. They had just seen each other a little over 12 hours ago. "And you really can call me 'Dick,'" Richard said, adjusting his sunglasses. Raven didn't respond. She kept her attention on the giant volumes in front of her.

"Whatcha' doin'?" Garfield asked.

"Looking for Azarath," Raven answered, switching her tomes with a flick of her wrist.

"Sweet," Garfield smiled. "You don't know where your home planet is?"

"Azarath isn't a planet, Gar," Richard corrected. "It's a city in a different dimension."

"Something like that," Raven murmured.

"Though I am as confused as Garfield as to what is happening here," Richard motioned to all the books on Raven's bedroom floor.

"I can only travel to dimensions if I know where they are. I don't know where Azarath is."

"Yeah," Richard nodded, "that's the part we don't get."

"Yeah, can't you, like, clap your heels three times or something?" Garfield asked.

"No," Raven huffed. "There are major dimensions and minor dimensions," Raven explained as she used her powers to illustrate in thin air. "Major dimensions exist between universes while minor dimensions exist within universes."

"Minor dimensions being…?" Richard asked.

"Like, alternate realities created based on the decisions we make."

"Okay."

"My head hurts," Garfield said.

"Anyway, Azarath is a major dimension. It exists between universes."

"I think I understand," Richard said thoughtfully. "If Azarath exists between universes, does that mean there's only one Azarath?"

"Yes," Raven nodded.

"I don't get it," Garfield said.

"If we traveled to Universe 45, we would find an Earth 45, but not an Azarath 45," Richard explained.

"Precisely," Raven nodded.

"Okay," Garfield said, "but that doesn't explain why you're struggling to find Azarath."

"I don't know what universe I'm in," Raven said mournfully. "Mainly because I don't know which two universes Azarath is between."

"Well, this is Earth-31, if that helps," Richard said.

"Thanks," Raven smiled at him gratefully, "but it doesn't. To you, this is Earth-31; but to another Earth, this is Earth-16."

"Oh," Richard said.

"Yeah, I still don't get it," Garfield said. "Anyway," Garfield waved his hand, "we're not here to talk about Earths, dimensions, and time travel. We're here because you're needed for a mission."

"A mission?" Raven frowned.

"Yep," Richard grinned. "We're going on a trip to the Tower of Fate."

"Oh, joy," Raven said unenthusiastically.

"And Zatanna is accompanying you," Garfield flinched as he spoke.

Raven's face fell. You've got to be kidding.

"Suit up," Richard smiled. "This is going to be fun."

Raven nearly stumbled as she was hit with a wall of hostility. Zatanna. "Are you okay?" Robin asked worriedly.

"I'm fine," Raven shook off his concern as they entered the main room. Meeting Zatanna's glare head-on, Raven stood steadfastly between Robin and Garfield. "Wow," Garfield spoke, "you can literally cut this tension with a knife."

"You're dismissed, Garfield," Batman said.

"I know when I'm not wanted," Garfield smiled, holding his hands up. "Good luck, everyone."

"Artemis will be here shortly," Red Robin told Batman.

"Good," Batman replied. "Zatanna, you have the floor."

"Okay," Zatanna stepped forward. "Two days ago, my father and I received an SOS from Kent Nelson." Raven recognized the name. Doctor Fate. "It was immediately followed by a message saying the SOS was a faux pas. Just to be safe, my father reached out to him. That was two days ago. "

"So…why us?" Robin asked. "I get why Raven and Zatanna are here, but why not Mr. Zatarra or Constantine?"

"My father doesn't feel comfortable leaving Zachary's side," Zatanna explained, "and I couldn't reach Constantine."

"Did you try?" Robin asked.

"We don't need him," Zatanna stated sharply.

"Kid Flash is on a mission with Flash; Miss Martian is helping Team Alpha. Connor, who shares Superman's aversion to magic, is with Team Epsilon at Luthor's rally," Batman explained. "Teams Gamma and Delta are currently dealing with a disturbance in Zandia. Other members have prior engagements."

"Also, we need the team to be small," Red Robin asked. "Again, we don't know what the situation is at the Tower of Fate."

"Hopefully, the reason for his silence is that Kent and Nabu are once again arguing about their little contract," Zatanna said.

"You leave as soon as Artemis arrives," Batman said. "Dismissed."

Raven stared at the tall, bland, brick tower in front of her. "Huh," Robin said, "this is a bit underwhelming."

"What were you expecting?" Artemis asked.

"A moat," Robin replied. "Shiny walls."

"It is a bit lackluster," Raven smiled fondly at the young Boy Wonder. (Not that anyone could see; her hood covered her face.)

"Be careful," Zatanna said. "We don't know what we're walking into."

Robin stared at the holo-computer on his wrist while he walked. "Nothing is showing up on my scanner. I think the area is cle-Ahhhh!" Robin screamed.

"Robin!" Red Robin screamed as his younger foster brother fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Raven ran to the young hero and kneeled next to him.

Zatanna's eyes flashed. "There's a force field around the building," she said. She turned to see Raven's glowing hand on Robin's chest. "What are you doing?" Zatanna demanded, preparing to attack.

"Zatanna," Red Robin chastised her.

"I'm healing him," Raven replied. "Instead of worrying about me, maybe you should figure out a way through that magic shield."

Zatanna pursed her lips but did as Raven suggested.

Raven continued to heal Robin. He slowly sat up. "Ow," he rubbed his chest.

"You okay?" Raven asked him softly.

"More embarrassed than anything." Robin rubbed the back of his neck.

"How many times has Batman told you to be aware of your surroundings and not walk with your head down?" Red Robin patted the younger sidekick's back encouragingly.

"Yeah," Robin said. Raven helped the young hero to his feet. "That was embarrassing. Please don't tell Batman," he frowned.

"Sorry, kid," Red Robin pointed to his covered eyes. "HUD."

"HUD," Robin sighed.

"HUD?" Artemis asked. "What is HUD?"

"Heads-up display," Robin answered brightly. "They're contacts that record what we see. They let us analyze data in real-time, and they – "

"Ahem!" Red Robin cleared his throat before fixing Robin with a stare.

"Oh, right," Robin blushed. "Not supposed to talk about the bat-tech."

"I know someone who would have loved to talk bat-tech with you," Raven said. Red Robin immediately noted the sadness in her voice. I'll worry about that later.

"If you're finished," Zatanna turned to the group, "I've created an opening we can slip through."

"Sorry," Red Robin apologized. "Let's go."

The Team was greeted by frigid air as soon as they stepped through the barrier. "Holy crap," Artemis immediately shivered. "What the fuck?" Artemis then looked at her hands. "Guys," her voice shook, "my hands – they're freezing." The Team turned and saw before their very eyes, Artemis's hands turning a distressing blue. "I can't move my fingers," she said.

Zatanna threw her hands up and said, "Peek enoyreve mraw!" Raven, who had been shivering uncontrollably, immediately felt a warm sensation down her spine. She turned to see Artemis' hands thawing out.

"Thank you," Artemis shot Zatanna a grateful look. Zatanna nodded.

"I hate the plan I'm about to propose," Red Robin said, "but Zatanna, I need you to go first. Raven, you have to have our backs."

"I can get everyone's backs," Raven offered.

"I'll do it," Zatanna gave her a side-eye, "I'd be more comfortable doing it. Raven can take point."

"O-okay," Robin muttered.

"Zatanna, you've been here before," Red Robin narrowed his eyes at Zatanna, "you know how to circumnavigate the area. You're going first. I know you're older than me, but Batman placed me in charge."

"Fine," Zatanna said before turning on her heel. "Let's go."

The Team opened the door to the Tower of Fate and stepped into a narrow hallway. "Well, this is foreboding," Robin said.

"Stay on your guard," Red Robin reminded him.

"Right." The Team made their way carefully down the hall. Walking through the door at the end, they entered a warm and cozy foyer. "Okay," Robin said, "I was not expecting this. This is a bit whelming," he continued as he and Red Robin scanned the area.

"No technology in the area," Red Robin said.

"I sense something," Raven said.

"I sense nothing," Zatanna said. She lifted her hand. "Nacs!" she commanded. Nothing happened. "Nacs!" she repeated herself. "I don't understand." She looked at her hands.

"What's wrong?" Red Robin asked.

"My magic – it's not responding."

"Look out!" Raven yelled just as fire rained down from the ceiling. She created a shield, protecting all of them from the pouring fire.

"Okay, this is what I expected," Robin said.

"Heads up," Artemis said, preparing an arrow. Beings made of rock and metal phased through the wall and began releasing firebombs from their hands.

"Zatanna!" Red Robin shouted her name.

"I'm trying!" she cried out. "Nothing is happening."

"Just remain calm," Red Robin said. "Raven, how long can you keep this up?"

"I don't know," Raven frowned. "My powers also seem to be acting up. I'm struggling to keep this shield."

"Can't you teleport us out of here?" Artemis asked.

"Too dangerous."

"No!" Red Robin exclaimed simultaneously.

A crack appeared on Raven's shield. "My shield won't hold for very long," Red said.

"Red!" Robin called, pointing to the floor.

"Right," Red Robin scanned the floor. "Raven, there's a room beneath us. Can you get us there?"

"Are you sure?" Raven asked worriedly.

"No, but how long do you think you can protect us the from the raining brimstone?"

"Fine," Raven closed her eyes in concentration. "Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos!"

A little blonde-haired girl stared at the magic screen in front of her. "Well, well," she said in her pretty and calm voice, "isn't that a surprise? That shield shouldn't have been possible." She watched as the heroes then disappeared from the room, causing her creations to destroy each other with their fire. She frowned. "Now that simply shouldn't be possible. Hmm," she picked up the golden helmet. "I see they've gathered in the basement. We can't allow that, now, can we?" she asked her golem friend and snapped her fingers. "Flaw," she smiled sweetly, "Eliminate the Zatara brat. The rest are mine to play with."