The multiverse is more than just a prism…
It is ever expanding and ever growing…
A place where one choice, one fork on the road can lead to many opportunities…
But every spark of brilliance there is a spark of madness…
These are the stories of both…
Cain could not trust Nite Owl nor the small entourage that he'd been putting together. The addition of Punchline had been somewhat sound thanks to her inside look into Dr. Destiny's mind. But adding Blackfire to their ranks was a step too dangerous and somewhat mad in his opinion, and he usually loved those steps. The inquisitor princess clearly was out for power and respect, and yet Nite Owl had seemingly made her one of their little band without any alteration or magical influence that he could see. Whatever he'd done to change her mind had worked all too well and now there was a danger in his home and to their mission.
"So, Cain, why are we meeting in this dingy room?" Bronze Tiger asked, looking at what was simply a broom closet.
"All in due time, my friend," Cain replied softly.
Metamorpho and Sideways stepped into the closet through one of Sideways' rifts.
"Okay, we just checked, Nite Owl, Punchline and Blackfire are in his study looking up information about Dr. Destiny's next move." Metamorpho explained. "We have at least another twenty or so minutes before he's done monologuing."
Cain hardly liked acting in secret in his own home but he did need to keep a safe distance between those he trusted and the snakes under his roof. He knew he could count on Metamorpho and Sideways as they were not only far too good for their own good, but were against many of Nite Owl's actions and choices. As for Bronze Tiger, he was always by their side. He was a fighter and all of Nite Owl's smoke and mirrors clashed with his style. There was something to say about his warrior code of honor.
"Good, then let's make the most of it," Cain said. "The reason I gathered you here in this room is because Nite Owl's latest actions have been brought into question and have raised some concerns."
"Yeah, I've been saying that Punchline and Blackfire are kinda scary in the not-so-subtle way." Sideways shivered. "Those two give me the willies. Can't see how they are not trying to stab us in the back."
"Either he has them on a very short leash or something else is going on," Metamorpho added.
"Precisely, I feel that there is an agenda on his mind that he wants to follow aside from our own. He has those two as his own killer angels of death and he's certainly going to use them. And as much as I hate having to skulk in the shadows like a mouse in my own home, secrecy is paramount." Cain walked side to side like a drill sergeant preparing his platoon for the mission. "Our mission is now a two-fold one. Our primary objective is to stop Dr. Destiny from creating his own realm at the cost of all the rest. But our secondary objective is to stop and prevent whatever plan Nite Owl has in mind."
"We're gonna need some extra muscle to beat them," Sideways said. "I like our chances against Nite Owl and Punchline, but Blackfire is a different beast altogether."
"Which is why we'll need to add up to our ranks." Cain smiled.
Bronze Tiger narrowed his eyes at Cain's words. He was well aware that the things Nite Owl was planning were not good for anyone. That man had something twisted in mind but he couldn't tell what it was. And now with Blackfire seemingly on his side, taking him down would be difficult. He couldn't even make a move against him as long as he had his ace up his sleeve. Best he could do was play the proper soldier that worked to stop Nite Owl before anything could happen.
"We can't just add any random goon or hero to take them on," Bronze Tiger pointed out. "We need someone that can go face-to-face with Blackfire and win."
Blackfire was easily one of the most powerful members they had on the team, and that was clearly loyal to Nite Owl. Metamorpho could try to outsmart her with a special gas to knock her out. But with Nite Owl's mind being so sharp and crafty, they needed something he would not expect. But they couldn't just rely on one sole source, they needed something strong and diverse.
"Well, if comic books have taught me anything, magic should be our way to go." Sideways pointed out.
Cain scratched his beard, knowing firsthand how powerful magic was and how it could topple the strongest heroes and fiends of many stories. He didn't have to look far for an example. The story of the forgotten Mewni Princess Jinx and Green Arrow's enchanted arrows and how they bested many warriors and threats. But for this challenge, they would need something darker. A strong magic that could tap into the darkness but also serve the light. And he knew where to call it.
He summoned a particular cloak to his side. The cloak was white with a hood that would cover the wearer's head, making it look like the beak of a bird. It didn't look particularly impressive or regal, but at the neck area there was a broche. A golden brooch with a red dragon on it.
"What do you have there, boss man?" Metamorpho asked. "Looks like an old cloak. No judging your sense of style but your current look looks much better."
"This, Metamorpho, is the cloak of one of the monks of the lost city of Azarath. They were keepers of ancient knowledge and magic that coursed through all manner of realms," Cain explained. "I got this little souvenir along with a story to go with it a few years ago. And it might be the answer to our problems. A story I like to call…"
Earth -5002:
What if the American Dragon met a Raven?
"The Jewel of the Magic City"
Cain walked through the magical streets of the city of Azarath for a lovely stroll. The parallel dimension was always bustling and full of colorful magical creatures that went about their business. But the monks of Azarath were a little different than the rest of the spider-legged women, trolls, gnomes, gargoyles, elves and fairies that had their own jobs and goals in life. The Azarath Monks were some of the most high strung keepers of magic from all corners of the realms. Cain often wondered if they were more like secluded monks or more like a cult that liked to keep to the shadows.
Cain spotted the white robed monks walking through the streets while some of the magical creatures turned away to ignore them. His eyes landed on a particular small robed figure. It was a little girl. She had pale to gray skin, short blue hair that cupped the sides of her head like the feathers of a bird. She looked around the crowd, picking up on their emotions. He could see it in her eyes. The little girl was an empath.
"It's okay, Raven. Just breathe and walk with me." A woman that looked like the little girl's mother. "You can hold my hand if you want." She offered the young girl her hand, letting the little girl grab it.
"I can feel them. All their emotions. Many of them are scared or weirded out by us," Raven said. "Why is that?"
"Because some magical creatures, like normal humans, don't understand our role in the world and find it easier to fear or ignore things they don't understand." Raven's mother explained as they walked.
"Is that why we're going to talk to the dragons?" Raven asked.
The monks soon arrived at a tall building with dragons carved on the entrance. It had golden doors, a blue tiled roof and red banners floating with the wind. It was three stories tall and straight out of the medieval times of a high fantasy novel. There were windows on the upper two floors looking out onto the streets of the magical realm where dragons and other magical creatures could be seen moving about. The doors opened up, revealing a short man wearing a blue Chinese robe with a long white mustache, small white beard and long white hair.
"Welcome, monks of Azarath, I am Luong Lao Shi and I am here to meet you and take you to the Dragon Council." Lao Shi bowed to the monks.
Raven hid behind her mother's leg before she patted her head to calm her down.
"We're honored to be met by the wise dragon master Luong Lao Shi in this matter." Raven's mother bowed to the short old dragon, prompting her daughter to do the same.
Raven bowed to the dragon master, but was still a little uneasy around him. This was the first time before a dragon and his strict demeanor made her a little nervous. The stories of dragons breathing fire upon their enemies did not help one bit.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry! Just had to stop by and pick up my winnings." Fu Dog popped out counting his money. "Ha ha, never bet against me in baseball."
Fu Dog was a magical guardian companion animal. A talking, walking Chinese Shar Pei with a red collar around his neck. He quickly looked at Lao Shi who gave him the stink eye.
"What?"
Lao Shi muttered something in Chinese as he rubbed his face.
Raven didn't understand the words the old dragon master had muttered but his emotions were all too easy to read. Irritation. Annoyance. Slight anger at the guardian dog's lack of decorum and punctuality. It was all in the old man's emotions. Oddly enough, this made the little girl feel more at ease with the meeting that was about to take place.
"Well, let us go inside and meet with the Dragon Council members." Lao Shi gestured to the rest of the monks inside. "If you want anything to drink or are hungry all you need to do is ask."
"Sadly, that doesn't mean that there is an open buffet." Fu Dog followed behind the old dragon.
Raven and the rest of the monks continued walking until they came across a large door with two red dragons facing each other. On the side of one of the doors stood a tall young man with rockstar green hair, a long sleeved red jacket and a pair of jeans. He leaned against the side of the door waiting for his grandfather and the monks to arrive. His eyes landed on Raven and she could feel his emotions.
She sensed his aloofness turn to slight surprise as he looked at her. It was the same kind of feeling that would be manifested when one finds out that their gift is actually a pair of socks. She kept looking at the young man as though he was trying to figure her out before Lao Shi stepped up to him.
"Jake, quit leaning on the doors. And greet our honorable guests." Lao Shi scolded his grandson.
"Sorry, gramps," Jake said. "Jake Long, American Dragon and all over awesome dude from the Big Apple at your service." Jake bowed his head in a dramatic fashion, giving Raven a smile.
Raven gave a little laugh.
However, the laughter didn't last long. The doors opened up and an elderly woman with a sour face and purple robes walked out. She looked at the monks before narrowing her gaze at Raven.
"Good, you're here. Come inside, now." Councilwoman Chang gestured.
"Hey, don't worry. You'll only turn to stone if you her in the eyes." Jake knelt next to Raven, whispering.
Raven smiled before she followed her mother and the monks inside.
Jake's smile dropped when the door closed up.
"Man, of all the people to be stuck with, Councilwoman Chang has got to stink," Jake said.
"I'll bet. I've met vipers that were more cuddly," Fu Dog said. "No offense, gramps."
"You two may have your own opinions on Councilwoman Chang but the truth of the matter is that she knows this meeting is very important," Lao Shi said. "If the claims of that child are true then she must be carefully watched."
Jake didn't know if he should agree with his grandpa. All he saw was a little girl that was scared. Hopefully everything would turn out alright for her and the other monks.
"Despite the seclusion of the monks of Azarath and their appreciation for cloaks with hoods, they were often looking for knowledge of magic many believed lost. And sadly, some of those things should remain lost. Such as what led to the birth of the little birdie that was now being judged."
Raven stood before the Dragon Council members, noting all their emotions and how they were looking over her. She sensed conflict, concern, curiosity and contempt from each of the members. They were observing her as her mother and the other monks spoke to them. It was like they were focused on figuring out who or what she was, like a puzzle being held inside a black box. The one known as Chang was particularly giving her a look of disdain that made her wonder if the old woman had a toothache. She hated it. She whispered the enchantment her mother had taught her, trying to calm down.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos." Raven whispered, taking in deep breaths.
"The child is indeed a powerful empath for her age. You said she was born with this gift?" One of the Councilmemebers asked.
"Yes, Raven was always gifted in magic. But it is her ability to connect and understand the emotions of others, both magical and normal beings, that makes her so much more than a simple empath." Raven's mother explained. "Through the training with the monks and myself, Raven will become a powerful sorceress and a strong ally of the Dragons and the Council."
Most of the council members shared looks of curiosity and wonder. Though Chang wasn't exactly looking at the good the child could do. Dragons had been the guardians of the magical world for many generations and they had long held back from their greatness and true destiny. But now a child that could tap into magic without a staff or any object to focus it was a threat to her and the plans of her master. Normally, the best course of action would be to get rid of the sorceress before she unlocked the full extent of her powers. But the thought of having her become loyal to her and the council was much more enticing.
"And you believe you're the best to teach this child, Arella?" Chang asked, giving Raven's mother a quizzical look. "From what I remember, few of you could properly use magic.
"There isn't a large number of magic users at Raven's level, that's true. But the vast amounts of knowledge we've collected over the centuries will more than make up for that." Arella stood her ground.
"And yet there are far too many probabilities that need to be considered." Chang looked at her fellow council members.
"What do you suggest, councilwoman?" her fellow councilman asked.
"I suggest the child be taken to a secure location under the control and observation of the council." Raven's eyes widened as she heard this. "I volunteer to ensure the child will receive proper education."
"What?!" Arella snapped. "You can't do that. She's only a child. My child!"
"And that burst of emotion is exactly why she must be looked after with discipline and self control." Chang looked at Raven, making her imagine the worst.
"There is an argument to be said about taking her to a safer location to learn about her powers." A councilman explained.
"If her magic is influenced by emotions then there are some locations around the world that are cut off from the rest of the world. It would be the best place for the child to grow and become stronger and disciplined in her magic." The councilman pointed out.
Raven couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stood confounded, her young mind not understanding what was going on, but her empathic powers told her what was going on. They were going to take her away, away from her mother, her home, and everything she knew. A storm of emotions stirred and spiraled inside of her. Anger, sadness and fear brewed like a tempestuous storm as she looked at the council.
"No! I don't want to go with you!" Raven snapped. "I don't want to!"
"Hold your tongue child. This is for the better future of the magical world." Chang glared at Raven. "You do not understand the honor that's being offered to you."
They didn't care about her, only about how her power could work for them. She gritted her teeth at them as black energy coursed through her body and into her hands. Her mantra barely held her back. Objects around her were encased in a black aura and began levitating around her. Everyone looked at what she was doing, but Raven's glare didn't lessen.
"Raven, stop!" Arella reached out but the wind pushed her back.
"I'm not going anywhere!" Raven thrusted her hands forward, sending a powerful shockwave of black magic at the entire council room.
Everyone was pushed back from the blast, knocking the doors off their hinges. The ground cracked and the shelves full of books fell to the ground. The windows cracked as everyone fell down to the ground.
Raven's eyes glowed brightly before she snapped out of it. She looked at what she had done before running away. She ran past Jake, Lao Shi and Fu Dog.
"What just happened?" Jake asked.
"Looks like the meeting didn't go as planned," Fu Dog groaned.
"You okay, gramps?" Jake helped his grandpa to his feet.
"I'm alright, Jake." Lao Shi dusted himself. "Go after her, Jake. In her condition she could hurt someone!"
"You got it, gramps." Jake's fists lit up with bright flames. "Dragon UP!" Jake transformed into a large red dragon with wings, quickly flying after Raven.
As Jake flew up into the air looking for any signs of Raven, Cain watched everything from the top of the buildings. The surge of power and energy that he'd felt was unlike anything he could've expected. He smiled as he turned to see Raven running through the backstreets of the magical city.
"Empaths and magic are a very dangerous combination. Not only can they sense and understand the emotions of others but their magic is affected by their emotions and those of others. And nothing is more powerful than the strong emotions of a little girl being told that she would be taken away from all she'd ever known."
Raven ran through the streets, sensing every emotion that was around her. She looked back, hearing a flapping of large wings above her. Jake spotted her, flying towards her. Raven turned around just in time to crash into a couple of goblins playing poker at a table. She knocked the table over, spilling all their cards and winnings. They turned to face her with growls and draggers in hand.
"Yo, get away from her!" Jake called out.
But the damage had been done. Raven blasted them with a black energy beam, sending the pack of goblins into Jake. She didn't stop. Her attack struck a couple more buildings, scattering the people around.
Jake knocked the goblins away before flying down to the group goblins. He watched the chaos and flew to save the creatures around. As a large chunk of a building fell over a woman with spider legs, he swept in, picking her up before the debris could crush her. He snatched a small family of gnomes from a collapsing building using his tongue as he held up the debris with his arms. He flew to a pair of shopping elves, smacking the debris away with his tail. He flew and zipped as fast as he could from one corner of the street to the other, saving and stopping everything that was happening around him. Part of him made a mental note to apologize to his parents for all the trouble and messes that he made while growing up, and was still making.
"Okay, where are you?" Jake muttered, using his dragon eyes to look for the little girl.
His eyes helped him scan the crowd of people screaming and fleeing the area for the little girl. The panic on the street wasn't helping him, but it also reminded him that it was that very reason that he had to hurry. His eyes landed on the cloak of the little girl. With a quick flap of his wings, he flew down to meet it. But the cloak had been dropped by the entrance of an alley. His ears picked up the sound of sobbing coming from behind a couple of crates. He slowly walked towards the crates as the sobbing grew louder.
"Hello?" He poked his head to see the little girl with only a white dress on.
She was crying her eyes out, surrounded by an orb of black energy. At the sound of his voice, the orb pushed him back.
Jake transformed back as he hit the wall.
"Go away. I don't wanna go!" Raven sobbed.
"Ouch, that hurt." Jake rubbed his head. "Could you chill for a sec?" He tried walking up to her but got shocked by the black energy.
Jake shook his hand, feeling the sting of her power. He looked at her and how she was scared and crying. He couldn't blame her for being like that. At best, he would have to treat her like a scared kid.
"Hey there, what's wrong?" Jake knelt before Raven, keeping his distance. "My name is Jake, remember me?" Jake smiled, getting her attention.
Raven looked at him, noticing that he was afraid but also… worried. He was worried about her?
"I didn't get your name. Could you tell me your name?" Jake asked.
"R… Raven. But my mom… she calls me Rachel." Raven sobbed.
"That's a pretty name. And a cool one to boot," Jake said. "Can I ask you why you're here crying your eyes out? Doesn't look very friendly."
"They… they… they wanted to take me away." Raven wiped the tears from her eyes. "Away from my mom."
Jake narrowed his eyes at her words. Now some things made sense for him. And only one person came to mind about that kind of action.
"Let me guess, a mean old lady said that it was a good idea?" Jake asked with Raven nodding. "Figures. That old lady was born cranky." Jake jumped back as the energy of her shield kept him back. "Hey, I know that you're scared and angry. But you need to calm down. Let's be ch-ch-ch-ch-chill." Jake boomboxed.
Raven looked at him with confusion.
"Not a rap or beat fan huh? Okay, I get it," Jake said. "Say, you have something you like to do to relax?"
"I… I like to meditate…" Raven sniffed.
"Really? I can't pull that off myself," Jake said. "Could you show me how to do it? I could use some help." Jake held up his hands.
"...Okay." Raven turned to him. "Repeat after me. Azarath Metrion Zinthos."
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos?" Jake repeated.
The two of them repeated the mantra as they meditated. And little by little, Raven started to calm down and get used to Jake's presence. The orb of energy that surrounded her dissipated as she calmed down. She felt at ease as Jake slowly approached her. She looked up as he held up his hand to her.
"Let's get you to your mom." Jake smiled.
Raven grabbed his hand and followed Jake out of the alley.
As they walked out, Cain picked up the cloak that Raven had worn. He dusted it off before noting the broch that tied the cloak together.
"So, the American Dragon and the daughter of Trigon have found each other?" Cain asked himself.
Jake and Raven walked down the street until they came upon the consulate with Arella, Lao Shi, Fu Dog and the Dragon Council waiting for them.
"Rachel!" Arella ran to hug her daughter. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, mom." Raven looked at Jake smiling kindly. "Jake calmed me down and meditated with me."
"Thank you." Arella picked up Raven into her arms as she thanked the young dragon.
"Just doing my job, ma'am," Jake replied. "Can't have little girls sad when I'm around."
Raven smiled at the young dragon as he calmed her down. However, she quickly picked up the emotions of someone she didn't like. The sight of Councilwoman Chang always made her stomach turn and wanted to send her away like she'd done before.
"You see? This is the kind of power that needs to be controlled," Chang argued, making Jake glare at her. "She could've hurt someone with that childish tantrum of hers. With these uncontrolled emotions she could be a danger to both realms." Chang pointed to Raven like she was some kind of monster.
Raven buried her face in her mother's arms as Jake got between them and Councilwoman Chang.
"Yeah, it's easy to point and blame others after you made Raven upset." Jake pointed back at Chang. "She told me that you wanted to take her away from her mom and everything she knew and leave her locked away in some remote outpost in the middle of nowhere. Of course she got upset and threw a tantrum."
"Wait, what?" Fu Dog asked. "That's messed up. Gramps, you really dodged a bullet with this one." He whispered the last bit to Lao Shi.
"This is none of your concern, young dragon," Chang said.
"When there's a scared kid on my turf, it is my concern. You have no idea how to deal with kids and you assume that they'll just obey blindly, of course something bad was going to happen." Jake didn't budge. "Raven is not a bad kid, she's scared and doesn't want to leave her mom's side. It's plain to see."
"Yeah, that's a good recipe to get bitten in the back." Fu Dog added.
Chang narrowed her eyes at Lao Shi's grandson's defiance. His rebellious streak was prone to cause trouble for her and her master. Her best hope to gather support would be her old flame.
"Lao Shi, are you going to allow your grandson to speak to a council member like that?" Chang asked, looking at her old flame.
"Under normal circumstances, I would tell him. But I must agree with him in this decision," Lao Shi said. "Children need to grow with their family and develop skills for the future. Uprooting them from everything they know, they are bound to lash out. I suggest keeping track of the young one while allowing her to stay with her mother."
"Perhaps this is for the best," The other council members agreed with Lao Shi's suggestion. "She seems to have developed a bond with Jake Long, perhaps they should be our representatives in this matter."
Chang grumbled as she sent one more glance at Jake and Raven. She didn't like to be foiled, much less give the rebellious boy a win. But she didn't have a leg to stand on. She walked away as Raven blew a raspberry at her.
"So, guess we'll be seeing more of each other huh?" Jake smiled. "Don't worry, girl. With the American Dragon by your side, your life will never be boring." Jake puffed his chest, making Raven giggle.
Cain watched from the rooftop as the two heroes met up and struck a friendship. Usually, sappy happy endings weren't his cup of tea, but he could appreciate the happy friendship that was brewing between the dragon and the daughter of Trigon. A sneaky smile crossed his face as he imagined the outcomes of this friendship.
"And that was how the young sorceress of Azarath gained a young dragon as her protector. The fears of the Councilwoman were well founded to some extent but the emotional understanding of a child required someone that matched her mind as well as her needs. The powers of a powerful sorceress and empath were now under the care of the only other guardian that she ever met…"
"...a young man that protected two realms and lived to a legacy of his own. But would his teachings and guidance be enough to give the little raven the fate she needed? Only time will tell."
Back in the room, the members of the Outsiders finished listening to the story with intrigue. To think that a little girl had that kind of power and that she was under the protection of a dragon of all things. She had caused a lot of destruction and chaos at such a young age but she still had a long road ahead of her. The way that Cain explained the story, it seemed like the little girl was more powerful than anyone could have assumed. And knowing magic was something they could use.
"Now that's an origin story!" Sideways said. "You should tell more stories like that, Cain."
"Okay, so magic should be in our best interest, but there's no way that little girl will do the trick." Metamorpho raised a good point. "We need someone much older and more experienced than her in order to beat both Dr. Destiny and you-know-who if Nite Owl sicks her on us."
"Well, there's an easy fix to that. This cloak was acquired around ten years ago," Cain said. "Which means that little Raven should be around her mid teens like young Sideways here. And something tells me that she didn't just sit there being babied."
"So we got ourselves a magic user," Bronze Tiger said. "But how will you get it through Nite Owl and his killer women? They'll wonder why we are taking a detour when Dr. Destiny is still out there and causing a mess."
Cain scratched his beard. It was true that they needed to catch up to Dr. Destiny but they also needed to get more allies to face whatever Nite Owl was plotting. A random jump to a different world would be seen as something fishy. Someone as analytical as Nite Owl was already thinking that there was something odd going on. His suspicions could easily make him move against them before they were ready. Cain just needed something to make it look legitimate.
"Hey, boss man. Does that cloak usually glow like that?" Sideways asked.
"Glow?" Cain looked at the cloak, noticing it glow with a familiar red hue. "I don't believe it. He's grown powerful enough to do this? Or at the very least, his control over the Dream Stone is allowing him to do this."
The cloak was glowing with a bright redness, like a piece of metal coming straight out of a furnace. But it also resembled the brightness and energy of Dr. Destiny's Dream Stone.
"What is that?" Metamorpho asked.
"Dr. Destiny's control over the Dream Stone has gotten to the degree that even objects of the world are affected by him. And it would seem that he's after the same person we are." Cain narrowed his eyes, but couldn't help but smirk if only a little bit. "It would seem fate is on our side, gentlemen. Prepare to go immediately."
"What about Nite Owl, Punchline and Blackfire? We're not just leaving them, are we?" Bronze Tiger asked.
"Sadly, no. They must think this is all still part of the plan. Just act normal." Cain summoned Nite Owl, Punchline and Blackfire to the main room.
The Outsiders met up in the main room and some were more happy about it than others.
"So, you are the rest of this so-called new team I've been drafted to, huh?" Blackfire pulled on an enchanted choker wrapped around her neck. "You look like the biggest gathering of freaks I've ever seen. And trust me, I've seen some freaks out there." She looked at them like she was looking at animals in a zoo exhibit.
"Well screw you too." Sideways muttered.
"What's that thing around your neck, my dear?" Cain asked, pointing to the choker. "It looks awfully a lot like the containment collar that I keep in my collection." He was twitching in slight anger.
"Is that what it's called? Nite Owl just said that it would blow off my head if I made any moves he didn't like." Blackfire pointed to Nite Owl with a lazy thumb. "Basically, it's no different than a shock collar for a slave."
"As I already explained to you, Blackfire. This is just to make sure you won't try to murder us when we're not looking," Nite Owl replied with his same cold calculating voice.
Blackfire scoffed at him. She hated playing the loyal dog. She had had enough of that after the last three years and now wanted to call her own shots. But there was no other way around this mess. They didn't trust her and after the messy introduction that was her fight with her former master, it would be a long time before any of them gave her a fraction of that trust. But she could tell that every single one of them were stronger than they looked. She would go a couple of rounds against a few of them before taking them out. Maybe one of them could be a proper playmate if she felt like it.
"We've found where Dr. Destiny is. He's after someone in that world," Cain explained. "Our objective is to find them before Dr. Destiny or anyone that's under his control and apprehend him."
"Can't we just kill him and anyone that gets in our way?" Punchline asked.
"Dr. Destiny, yes. But only as a last resort," Cain said. "Anyone that's being manipulated by him or influenced, no."
Punchline pouted before hugging Blackfire in a surprise hug. She wanted to use her knives on someone. Not being able to use them like they were meant to be used, made her feel anxious. There was no way that she wouldn't have stabbed someone if she had the chance. But all she could do was let out her frustrations on Blackfire's shoulder.
"Get her off of me." Blackfire's eyes glowed purple.
"Let's go before they try to kill each other." Bronze Tiger turned to Cain, who was just as eager to leave as he was.
"Very well." Cain called forth the door to the world they were heading into.
The door appeared before the team right in the middle of the room. The door was colored bright red like the scales of a dragon, a large silhouette of a dragon wrapped around a large black raven bird in the middle. It looked like the dragon was spiraling around the bird to protect it while the black bird emanated a powerful magic. But there was a glaring flaw, there was a bright red handprint on the side of the door. The door oozed magic and power, just like one of those fairy tale stories. But it wasn't like the bright kind of magic one would expect. It had as much light as it had darkness. There was no doubt that Dr. Destiny was after something inside that world.
"Let us go and find Dr. Destiny before he gets his hands in whatever he's after." Cain opened the door. "Ladies first."
"Chivalry is dead, you know?" Blackfire raised an eyebrow at Cain.
"I know, I've seen many try to kill it," Cain replied. "But there are some of us that keep the bastard alive and kicking."
The Outsiders arrived in New York City not far from Chinatown. They were on top of a building where they could see everything going on.
"What a plain looking planet." Blackfire looked around the city.
"Well, you do come from a world with advanced alien technology," Sideways said. "But it is one of the coolest cities on any earth. I am so taking Erine here one day."
"Okay boss, where do we go from here?" Metamorpho asked.
"Well, since it seems Dr. Destiny is after someone, we need to find them," he said. "Thankfully, we got this." Cain pulled out the cloak as it glowed.
"It looks like a raggedy old thing," Punchline said. "Are we gonna burn it?" She pulled out a lighter.
"No." Cain would snap Punchline's neck if she even dared. "We'll use it to make a magical trail for us to follow." Cain dusted off the cloak, creating a trail for them to follow.
"Good, but we must still find out what's after the target. Dr. Destiny is known for using others to get what he wants," Nite Owl pointed out. "Do we know of any enemies in this realm?"
Cain handed Nite Owl a list. With the knowledge of where to go, the team split up once more to accomplish their respective goals. However, what Nite Owl and his team didn't know was that Cain had given them a particularly long list.
"You sure that'll be enough to keep them occupied?" Bronze Tiger asked.
"I purposefully handed him a long list to ensure he would be busy. Now, we will have to face whatever Dr. Destiny has under his control while recruiting our next member." Cain, Metamorpho, Sideways and Bronze Tiger followed the trail.
"Won't be easy." Sideways jumped from one rift into another.
"It'll have to be a calculated risk. Nite Owl must not know that we're plotting against him, and young Raven would be the perfect way to counteract his latest heavy." Cain followed the trail until they came face to face with a high school building. "We'll need to be as delicate as the kiss of a blooming flower. And remember, no ill willed thoughts or emotions, she'll never trust us with those."
"So, we're going to get a teenage sorceress that can grow stronger and more powerful the more in touch she is with her emotions?" Metamorpho asked. "You know how teenage girls are like, right?"
"Why do you think I brought the teenager, the man that can turn into any form of sedative known to anyone, and a man that has more experience with younger kids than all of us?" Cain smirked devilishly.
The three members of the Outsiders couldn't help but look at each other in worry. This would be a tricky situation at the very least.
Raven sighed, looking out the window as the English lesson droned on in the back of her head. She'd grown up quite a lot since she had met the American Dragon. Now a teenager with a jewel on her forehead and short black hair that barely reached down to her shoulders. With every breath she could feel the emotions of everyone around her, ranging from boredom to anxiety from the upcoming essay analysis of the book they had just read, from the lustful impulses aimed at the pretty girls to the frustration at not being able to understand the poem that was being read in class.
She let out a tired sigh, feeling like she was wasting her time. The normal girl routine was not the most exciting for her, but when all the teenagers practically spelled out their emotions to her… Well, the dedication to go to school got tiresome after the last year of Middle School.
"Miss Roth," The teacher called to her. "Would you be so kind as to explain the meaning behind the passage I just read?"
Raven sighed, sparing a glance to the rest of the class before looking at her teacher.
"Dylan Thomas wrote his poem when his father was on death's door. The passage you just read depicts wild ancient humans praising the light of the sun, an allegory to how older human societies praised the sun as a god, bringer of light, prosperity and life," Raven quickly explained. "However, they also learn that the light goes and then comes the darkness. A natural process. Just how we value and praise life,we also mourn it when it goes. The author depicts the wisdom of the 'wild men' as a form of coping and explaining that even at its most primitive and unsophisticated, man still has to face the darkness. Even though some cling to it with teeth and nails."
"That's correct, Miss Roth," the teacher replied as the bell rang. "Now remember, you need to pick a topic for your essays for next week. All topics need to be checked with me before you start writing. And no, it cannot be is the author's hotness affect the popularity of their work, Mr. Cooper."
Raven started packing her notebook and reading book when someone approached her.
"You know you could've worded it a little nicer, Rachel." Hailey told her friend as she got up from her seat.
Hailey Long, Jake's younger sister and the closest she had to a friend in high school. She wore a pink sweater over a white short sleeved shirt with a dark blue skirt. Her hair was tied in a ponytail and she reeked of popularity and straight A+'s. In many ways, the opposite of Jake yet still as friendly.
"He wanted an answer and I gave him one," Raven replied. "So, any word from Jake?"
"He said that he'll be at grandpa's after his shift at the dojo." Hailey replied. "You know he's worried about you, right? You say you keep having nightmares about the Huntsclan, but they're gone. I was there." Hailey placed her hand on Raven's shoulder.
Raven knew what Hailey was saying was true. But she had had nightmares about the dragon skull-wearing maniacs hunting her like an animal. The dreams were so vivid that she could still feel their red-eyed gaze on her even when she was awake. She didn't like being afraid or hunted in her dreams. Dreaming about an enemy long gone wasn't something someone just did. Especially since she wasn't involved with it.
"I know, you two have told me the story before. But it's not just the Huntsclan," Raven said, looking out the window. "There's something going on. I can feel it." Raven's hands glowed briefly with glowing black energy.
Hailey didn't like being the one to keep her friend from expressing herself. But if she was right, then something else was going on. And the last thing she wanted was her friend to jump headfirst into a situation without a plan. Raven had picked up that bad habit from her brother of all things.
They walked out of the classroom and headed to the exit. There wasn't much they could do other than go to Jake and see if he'd learned anything along with Lao Shi and Fu Dog. However, something caught Raven's attention.
She stopped as she sensed strange feelings behind them. She looked over her shoulder, trying to catch a glimpse at whoever was tailing them was clearly a good one. She didn't notice anyone out of the regular, but she knew they were there. But if she wanted to make them show themselves, then she would have to be alone.
"Hey, I'll catch up with you at Lao Shi's," Raven said. "I gotta grab something from my locker."
"You sure? I can wait for you," Hailey replied.
"Don't you have to help plan the Fall Formal?" Raven asked.
"Oh no, I totally forgot. I gotta go and plan the theme and the decorations with the rest of the committee." Hailey ran, leaving Raven to deal with the stalkers on her own.
Raven walked to one of the isolated corridors of the school. With a slick flick of her finger, all the lights went out, leaving only the sunlight from the window to illuminate where she stood. She waited patiently as the emotions slowly encroached around her. It was like a pack of scavengers surrounded a lonesome little bird just to pounce on it. But she was no easy prey to be snatched up for a quick meal.
"Show yourselves. I know you're there." Raven turned around, facing the darkness.
Everything went quiet. Just then one of the lockers opened up before her. Narrowing her eyes she slowly approached it. She looked inside, only to find it empty. Another locker opened up behind her. The air grew cold as more and more lockers opened up, slamming open and shut like a marching band of metal slamming against metal. But Raven didn't so much as blink at the noise.
"You'll have to do better than that to scare me." Raven caught one of the locker doors, stopping it.
The lockers closed up.
Raven could still sense the negative emotions around her. She just needed to see who would blink first. Her free hand tightened into a fist as clear glowing fog poured out of the lockers and into the floor. Her eyes were set on the floor, ready for something to pop out from the mist. But her nerves weren't shaking. Whatever ghost was haunting her would regret it.
A black arm shot out of the open locker, grabbing her arm. She pulled back only to see a member of the Hunstsclan glaring at her.
"Burn the witch!" The Huntsclans member cried out with his glowing red eyes.
Raven felt the strong hand on her wrist pulling her into the locker. She pulled back over and over, trying to break his hold on her. But as she did this, from the mist emerged more members of the Huntsclan. They all had glowing red eyes and moved like puppets on strings. Their hands held deadly weapons meant to strike down any and all magical creatures. Something that Raven knew all too well and hated all the same.
Her eyes were clouded by the sight of a memory. The monastery where she'd grown up was covered in fire. The monks were fleeing for their lives as the Hunstclan attacked them. They turned to her and aimed weapons at them with one goal in mind: To kill.
"NO!" Raven snapped free from the path down memory lane, her power crackling around her. "You wanna play like that, two can play that game!" She broke free from the hold on her arm.
Raven's clothes transformed as her magic overtook her body. Her black hoodie transformed into a dark blue cloak that covered the upper part of her face in shadows. Her shirt and pants became a black leotard with long black sleeves and pants with a golden bead belt with red jewels on it. Her sneakers turned into black heeled boots. She turned to the members of the Huntsclan with cold angry eyes.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" She swung her hand at them, sending a powerful blast of black energy at them.
The members of the huntsclan were sent flying back into the shadows or crashing into the lockers. They pulled themselves up like lifeless puppets, looking at Raven with anger while growling like beasts. They fired at her with their weapons, but the young empath knew how to defend herself. Raising her hand, she brought up a black forcefield, blocking the green blasts. She stretched out her hand, focusing her power. Raven's magic overtook the lockers, ripping them off the walls before slamming them against the Huntsclan members with enough strength to shatter bones and crush bodies.
She would've normally had held back her attack, but she knew this wasn't the time. She flew up, hovering over the mists as more and more members of the Huntsclan popped up from below. She could sense emotions with ease, but it wasn't anger or hatred that she felt, it was hunger. Hunger coming from one individual.
"I said, come out of the shadows. Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven spread her arms before clapping them together like the wings of a mighty raven.
The dark magic wave blew away all the Huntsclan members and the mists that covered the floor. But it also revealed a dark and notorious figure, Dr. Destiny.
"Good, very good, child," Dr. Destiny laughed.
"Who are you?" Raven demanded with magic coating her hands.
"I am Dr. Destiny, and you have something I want." Dr. Destiny held up the Dream Stone high.
Raven's eyes widened at the sight of the Dream Stone. Screams and cries filled her ears, making her grab her head in pain. Her sight became clouded by figures of pain and suffering, of the Huntsclan terrorizing those she loved, of her being overtaken by the darkness inside of her. She fell to the ground in pain, trying to calm herself.
"So many nightmares to fuel my quest. I should've come here sooner." Dr. Destiny laughed. "Your story and your empathic powers are just what I need." He approached Raven with the stone.
"Hey, jerk!" Dr. Destiny turned around only to get a blast of fire to the face.
Hailey landed next to Raven in her dragon form. Covered head to toe in pink scales, with large bat-like wings, sharp claws and nails and a long tail, she had grown into a proper dragon. She blasted fire at Dr. Destiny once more before he got up with a few burn marks.
"Stay down, bozo." Hailey helped Raven to her feet. "You okay, Raven?"
"Th-The stone… We have to get rid of the stone." Raven calmed herself as Dr. Destiny used the Dream Stone to heal himself. "That's the source of his power."
"Easier said than done, my dear-" Dr. Destiny was punched on the side of the head by Metamorpho's large stone fist.
Raven and Hailey watched as Cain, Metamorpho, Sideways and Bronze Tiger stepped out of a rift.
"Caught red-handed picking on two little girls, Dr. Destiny." Cain pulled out his shovel. "Have you no shame?"
Dr. Destiny jumped back to his feet and attacked the Outsiders, using the Dream Stone to bring back the Huntsclan members to attack. His hunger for Raven's power would not be denied so easily and he would see his enemies die by his hand. He commanded his puppets to attack the heroes but they were ready to fight.
Sideways began by forming a rift for the team to jump through. They jumped down, taking the puppets by surprise.
Cain swiftly disarmed the puppets with his shovel. With the deadly precision that only the first nightmare could have, he shattered the weapons by striking their weak points before decapitating three of them.
"They aren't real, hit them hard and fast!" Cain instructed.
Metamorpho transformed his arms into sharp blades that sliced through the puppets with ease. He transformed into a cloud of smoke, surrounding the puppets before wrapping them in tight steel binds, crushing them.
"Gotta thank Sabine for telling me about this metal," Metamorpho said. "It's really awesome!" He formed a shield, blocking an attack from another puppet.
Sideways jumped from rift to rift, moving his allies from one location to the other. He found it fun to move and outsmart all the puppets. He jumped over the green blasts of the puppets before punching through them with his brute strength.
"We're just punching through them." Sideways kicked through another puppet. "But it is still graphic."
"Just keep it cool, Sideways!" Bronze Tiger unleashed a barrage of punches on the puppets.
Bronze Tiger didn't even pretend to hold back. His punches and kicks were aimed at the most sensitive spots of the human body, shattering and breaking the puppets into splinters. It was like watching a tiger ripping through the toys of a five-year-old.
As the brutal battle continued, Raven and Hailey made their way out of the school, leaving the Outsiders to clean up the mess. However, their absence was noticed by Dr. Destiny. He growled as they escaped before getting a kick to the back.
"It's over, Dr. Destiny." Cain threatened, holding his shovel at his throat.
"Nightmares are only just beginning, Cain." Dr. Destiny sunk into the shadows, blinding everyone with the power of the Dream Stone.
The Outsiders covered their eyes before they realized their enemy had given them the slip once more.
"I'm starting to hate his disappearing acts." Bronze Tiger smashed the head of the remaining puppets.
"Don't worry, he still hasn't gotten what he wants from this world. Which means he'll still be here." Cain dusted himself. "And we know where he's going."
"And hopefully we'll be able to put an end to this once and for all." Metamorpho cracked his knuckles.
"And just like that we're jinxed," Sideways groaned. "At least we can save that cute girl from being stuck with that skull-faced creep." Sideways opened a rift for everyone to step through.
Raven took a sip of the tea Lao Shi served her as Hailey explained what had happened to Jake. Her mind needed to clear for her to understand what her enemy had done. She looked at the tea, trying to calm herself by looking at her reflection.
"Thank you, Master Lao Shi, your tea is always calming," Raven said.
"I'm glad you like it, young one. Tell me, is there any wound you need treated?" Lao Shi asked. "That sorcerer did not hurt you, did he?" Lao Shi looked over Raven for any signs of wounds.
"His puppets didn't lay a finger on me, but that thing, he managed to overwhelm me with fear and paranoia." Raven frowned, remembering her battle with the strange being. "It wasn't so much a sorcerer as some kind of living nightmare creature. Called himself Dr. Destiny and had a strange red stone that made me see visions. It was like that night all over again." Raven shook slightly before Lao Shi held her hands.
"You're safe here. Take a moment to rest and then we'll go looking for this Dr. Destiny." Lao Shi left the room as Raven nodded in understanding.
Raven took another sip of her tea as she sensed the emotions of the three dragons and their guardian magical dog. Though, she didn't need to be an empath to know that they were worried about her. Closing her eyes, she tried to listen to their conversation.
"So she tricked you because she sensed something coming after her and decided to fight it on her own?" Jake asked his sister. "Hailey, we're closer to Spring Break than Fall." Jake groaned.
"What do you think got me to come back so fast? Honestly, being class president is way too much work." Hailey rubbed her temples.
"Raven claims the one that attacked her was a being by the name of Dr. Destiny," Lao Shi said. "Do you recognize the name, Fu Dog?"
"No idea, gramps. Trust me, from their description, he sounds more like a Halloween decoration than a wicked sorcerer." Fu Dog looked over the rough sketch. "But his freaky rock does look familiar. It may be a Dream Stone."
"What's a Dream Stone?" Jake asked. "Is it like the Dream Bracelets?"
"Not exactly. According to legend, a being older than the universe and magic itself ruled over the dream realm." Lao Shi opened a book that depicted a rough sketch of the Sandman. "He used to have an item called the Dream Stone that allowed him to traverse all the dreams of everyone in any realm. If this Dr. Destiny has gotten his hands on something similar then he is very dangerous." Lao Shi flipped the pages, showing a sketch of the Dream Stone.
Jake turned to see Raven, still hunched over looking at her tea. He walked over to her and knelt before her.
"Hey, Rae, how you doing, girl?" Jake asked.
"Been better, Jake." Raven replied. "I want to find that jerk and make him swallow that little rock of his."
"And we will, but first we need to find out who we're fighting." Jake ruffled her head with a playful smile. "Besides, I've got first dibs on roasting his ugly butt."
"True, but maybe we can ask someone directly." Raven lifted her hand as it was coated in black magic.
In one swift move, she pulled Cain, Metamorpho, Sideways and Bronze Tiger into the shop. She slammed them to the ground, pinning them with her magic.
"If you were hoping to sneak up on us, you should've tried better to cover your emotions." Raven's eyes glowed as Jake, Hailey and Lao Shi transformed into their dragon forms. "Who are you and why were you attacking the one that was after me?"
"Better make it quick, we're feeling like setting someone on fire," Jake added.
"Well, if you'd be so kind as to let us breathe," Cain said. "Not that I need it but my companions might need to."
Raven's hand stopped glowing, letting them get up and take a good breath of air.
"Okay, that was worse than when I accidentally broke Ernie's model of Monsterverse King Kong." Sideways cracked his back.
"Okay, um, some introductions first, I'm Metamorpho, this is Sideways, Cain is the creepy looking guy and Bronze Tiger is the guy that looks like he needs a drink." Metamorpho pointed to.
"Nice to meet you. Now, answers, please," Jake said.
"Alright, it started a little like this," Cain said.
Cain explained the whole thing to Raven and the dragons. Normally it would've taken a little bit of help to show that they were being sincere, but Raven was able to verify everything they had said. It was a good change of pace to have someone hear them out and trust them so easily.
"So, Dr. Destiny is the enemy that you're hunting," Jake said. "But why is he after Raven?"
"We believe that he's after her because her empathic powers can grant him better control over the Dream Stone." Cain explained. "Empaths can sometimes tap into the fears and hopes of those around them as well as use those emotions to empower their magic."
"Basically, he wants that kind of power to become even more powerful." Jake crossed his arms. "So, how do we beat him? A spell? Or we just stick to kicking his butt like a soccer ball?"
"He is a threat as long as he has the Dream Stone in hand," Cain said. "Separate them and he'll be easy pickings."
"Good to know." Raven stepped forth. "How do we find him?"
"Raven, you sure?" Jake asked.
"I'm not going to hide like a little kid. This nightmare wants me, then he'll learn what's it like to face your fears." Raven turned to Cain. "How do we find him?"
Before Cain could answer her question, the floorboards underneath their feet. A bright light seeped through the boards as they began to clack and creak under their weight. Pieces started falling into a bright colored pit. The electronic store began to shake as though the subway was passing right over their heads.
"In our experience, he'll find us." Sideways said as the floor collapsed underneath them.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Everyone screamed as they fell into the swirling red abyss unable to fly or stop themselves from falling.
It was like being sucked in by a whirlpool while it was on fire. Everything felt like it was burning as they made their way deeper and deeper into the strange portal. Their screams echoed in the strange abyss before they landed on the hard stone carved floor surrounded by nothing but darkness.
"Everyone okay?" Metamorpho asked.
"Well, I landed on you, big guy, so yeah." Fu Dog hopped down as everyone got up to their feet.
"Where are we?" Cain asked. "It looks like a monastery of some kind." Cain pointed out as Jake helped Raven to her feet.
She recognized the monastery easily.
"Azarath," she whispered. "My home."
"Oh no," Lao Shi said.
"What's wrong?" Sideways asked.
Flames sprung from the walls, spreading through the cracks and the corridor where the Outsiders stood. Screams of terror and horror echoed as shadows crawled toward them. From the darkness came the Huntsclan members, looking like zombies that had crawled out of a furnace. Parts of their flesh were melted, their armor cracked, and bones snarled and pointed to them like vengeful ghosts of past sins. They carried their weapons as they moved closer and closer to the heroes.
"Witch!"
"Burn the demon spawn!"
"Vengeance!"
"Destroy this heathen temple!"
The zombie Huntsclan members stepped to the sides, allowing Dr. Destiny to step forth with the Dream Stone in his hands
"Get the spawn of Trigon!" Dr. Destiny commanded as the Huntsclansmen charged at the Outsiders and the Long Clan. "Bring her to me!"
"Well, there's that, I suppose." Cain summoned his shovel. "Keep them away from the girl and aim for the stone!"
"You got it! Dragon UP!" Jake transformed into his dragon form along with Hailey and Lao Shi.
The battle began between the Outsiders and the Dragons against the horde of undead Hunstclan members. The Outsiders quickly dispatched the puppets and illusions with their wrath. Jumping in and out through Sideways' rifts to land decisive blows against them. They cut through the warrior zombies with precision and fury. Metamorpho transformed into a living wave of water, drowning the zombies as Cain surfed over him with his shovel, striking any zombie that crossed his path. Bronze Tiger covered Sideways as they took away the zombies' weapons through his rifts and the quick strikes of Bronze Tiger. Raven flew forward, casting her magic upon the stones around the monastery, taking them out to slam them against the zombies. The dragons flew over the battle striking down the zombies that climbed up the walls of the monastery like possessed cockroaches. With swift claw strikes and tail swipes they tore through them with ease, and a little bit of a cathartic feeling after dealing with the Huntsclan for so long. Their methods and actions made their way through the horde but it wasn't enough.
For every ten zombies they defeated, ten more rose to battle them. Dr. Destiny's Dream Stone was focused on Raven's fear and she could sense it. She looked at the skull-faced man, smirking at her fear and the nightmares she had had. Something had to change or they would be overwhelmed.
"This isn't working!" Raven blasted another zombie with her magic. "As long as he feeds on my fears, he will keep sending this horde after us!" Raven dodged an attack only for Jake to swat the zombie away.
"Then we go and hit him hard enough to make his skull face roll." Jake glared at Dr. Destiny. "Sideways, make it a far one!" Jake and raven flew down.
"One longshot coming up!" Sideways created a rift for the two to fly through.
Jake and Raven flew through the rift, crossing the battlefield until they reached where Dr. Destiny was. As soon as the nightmare saw them coming, it was too late. Jake swung his tail at Dr. Destiny, smacking him across the chest. The nightmare got up to his feet, summoning a living statue of the monks to protect him.
Jake and Raven flew around the large statue, dodging the swings of its stone limbs like a pair of flies avoiding the flyswatter. Jake breathed fire on the statue, blinding it as Raven flew up into the air with her hands up.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven brought down her hands, blasting the statue's head clean off.
"Nice shot, Raven!" Jake congratulated, only for the statue to grab hold of him.
"Jake!" Raven went after Jake, but she was then caught by the other hand of the statue.
Dr. Destiny appeared on the hand of the statue as it held Raven.
"Good, my creation. Now, it is time to get my prize." Dr. Destiny brought the Dream Stone close to Raven.
Raven growled, zapping Dr. Destiny's hand with a blast of her magic. He recoiled in pain before commanding the statue to slam Raven against the wall.
"Raven!" Jake struggled to break free from the statue's hold.
"For that, I shall give you waking nightmares for the rest of your life, little bird!" Dr. Destiny fired the Dream Stone at Raven's head.
She screamed as her mind was flooded with images of her past. The Huntsclan attacking her home and her mother's sacrifice made her cry out in sadness and fear. She felt like nails were digging into her brain as more and more of her past was flashed before her eyes. It was a nightmare that she couldn't wake up from.
Dr. Destiny laughed as he felt her pain and nightmares spreading.
Jake gritted his teeth in rage as his mouth and throat filled with fire. He aimed and fired a large torrent of flames at Dr. Destiny's back. The mad nightmare screamed in pain but he continued firing, making him lose his focus.
"Raven, it's a nightmare. You need to face it!" Jake called out. "You got this, girl!"
Raven opened her eyes, black as night. She used the fear and the pain the nightmare was causing her to fight back. It was fuel for what she needed to do. And what she wanted to do was make him pay.
"You dare feed on the fear of others?! To use what scares them just to make yourself a bigger thing other than a mere thought?!" Raven's magic spread through the statue and the rest of the monastery, cracking everything. "Then allow me to show you what being scared is all about! Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" A massive black raven broke through the statue's hold.
Raven commanded her magic to strike Dr. Destiny, who barely got time to hold up the Dream Stone to defend himself. With an astral cry of power, the attack sent the nightmare back into the real world.
Dr. Destiny fell to the ground, battered and beaten, barely clinging onto the Dream Stone. All he could do was look at Raven in fear.
Raven floated down to the ground before panting from exhaustion. Jake caught her before she fell.
"You did good, kid." Jake helped her.
"She did more than good, she bested Dr. Destiny." Cain congratulated. "Now, to strike down this nightmare."
However, just as Cain and the others approached Dr. Destiny, a busted car nearly ran them over.
"Hey guys, what did we miss?!" Punchline jumped out, freaking everyone out.
"Damn it, Punchline!" Cain cursed, giving Dr. Destiny the chance to slip away from them. "NO! Not again!"
"Oops," Punchline said with a mischievous smirk.
"That's the last time we let you drive." Blackfire voiced from the air, followed by Nite Owl.
"Another near miss it would seem," Nite Owl said.
Cain gritted his teeth at the audacity of it all. There was no doubt in his mind. Nite Owl was allowing Dr. Destiny to escape at the last second. Whatever happened next, they needed to stop whatever his agenda was.
Raven finished packing her bag when she heard the door opening.
"All ready, girl?" Jake asked.
"I know what you're gonna say, Jake." Raven slugged her bag over her shoulder. "But that demon isn't done. I need to go and face him."
"Yeah, and we wish we could go with you. But someone needs to keep New York safe." Jake pointed to the rest of the gang.
"Thank you, Jake. For everything." Raven hugged Jake, before being joined by the rest of the Long Clan. "I promise to come back as soon as I can."
"Just don't forget to do your homework," Hailey said.
"And stay away from interdimensional dating ads. Believe me, that was one weekend in Mexico City I do not wanna repeat." Fu Dog shivered.
Raven smiled, knowing that this was her family as much as the one she lost. And she would see them soon. She walked out of the store and through the door into the House of Mystery where Cain waited for her.
"Are you ready to save the multiverse, my dear?" Cain asked.
"I am," Raven replied. "But I also want to know what's really going on." She looked at him, reading his emotions.
"My dear Miss Roth, that certainly makes two of us." Cain gestured her to the other Outsiders.