This story came to me one day and I just had to write it. :)
This is a triple crossover with Teen Titans, Balan Wonderworld, and Ben 10. Teen Titans belongs to DC Comics and Warner Bros. Ben 10 belongs to Cartoon Network and Man of Action. Balan Wonderworld belongs to its respective owners. Celesto belongs to guestsurprise. I only own Rachel, Apollo, Cetus, Taurus, Zeus, Chantrea, and Draco. Raven will be a bit OOC in this story, just a heads up.
Freed By A Genuine Family
Raven was in her room and she hugged her arms around herself, tears in her eyes. She looked at her arms, but could still see the markings on them, even though it had been a few months since Trigon had been stopped, thanks to her friends not giving up.
She now stood up and, making a split decision, she grabbed a few things and left a note for her friends. She didn't say it aloud, but she feared that Trigon would return and harm one of her friends, which she didn't want.
Or that he'd come back for her.
Opening her window, she flew out, closed the window, and then took off into the night, flying as fast as she could. It felt like minutes before it became sunrise and she paused in her flight, looking around her to see she was in an unfamiliar town. Landing on a nearby roof, she glanced at the store signs, finding one that read "Staybrook's Everything Store." Curious, she entered, finding a man at the counter and he looked up with a smile.
"Welcome," he said. "What can I do for you?"
"Could you tell me where I am?" She asked politely. "I've been traveling all night and...I'm afraid I am a bit lost."
The man smiled. "You're in Staybrook, California," he said before smiling. "And you certainly a bit far from Jump City."
She looked up at him in surprise. "How did you know I came from there?" She asked.
"My niece's brother told me about the five young heroes who helped him return home," he said. "An alien named Pesky Dust?"
Raven's eyes widened in surprise. "I remember him," she said, smiling a little.
The gentleman nodded. "Russell Jocklin," he said in introduction. "And Raven, correct?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Do you need some help or a play to stay?"
She nodded again. "Yes to both," she said.
He smiled. "My niece's home is just up on the tall hill," he said. "The Grant Mansion. She owns it with her husband-to-be and their door is always open to those in need. You'll be safe there."
Raven looked up at him. "You...can tell I'm being chased?" She asked.
Russell nodded. "I've seen that look on my niece's face too many times when she was growing up and bullies bothered her," he said. "Head to the edge of town and you'll see the mansion. Tell Rachel that 'Uncle Russell' sent you."
The heroine smiled. "Thank you," she said, waving goodbye before she followed his instructions. She heard giggling and floated around to the back of the house, smiling as she saw Pesky Dust in a backyard enclosure and he was petting a rabbit. Raven landed softly nearby. "Hi, Pesky," she said in greeting.
He turned and smiled. "Raven," he said in surprise before motioning her to come inside the enclosure. "When did you come by?"
"Just now," the purple-haired girl said, sitting beside him and looking at the rabbit in his arms. "Is she yours?" She asked curiously.
The small alien nodded. "This is Cleo," he said as the rabbit hopped closer to Raven. "Rachel and the others got her for me a while back and even built Cleo this enclosure and house for her."
Raven could see that the rabbit house was sturdy and the enclosure was big enough to allow Cleo to run around without worry of outside threats. Cleo sniffed Raven's hand before hopping up into her lap and settling down. Surprised, the heroine let the rabbit do so before gently petting her, to which the rabbit closed her eyes.
"She likes you," Pesky Dust said. "Want to give her some lettuce?"
He handed her a piece of lettuce and she held it up to Cleo, who began nibbling on it happily. Raven chuckled. "Starfire would absolutely adore her," she said, smiling softly.
Just then, a young woman came out. "Hi, Pesky," she said before seeing the heroine. "Oh, hi. I didn't know Pesky had company."
Raven gently gave Cleo back to the alien and stood up. "Sorry to arrive uninivited," the girl said apologetically. "My name is Raven. Uncle Russell sent me."
Pesky Dust flew up beside her, still holding Cleo. "Rachel, this is Raven, one of the Teen Titans that helped me return home when I got teleported to Jump City," he said before turning to his friend. "Raven, this is Rachel, one of my sisters and owner of the Grant Mansion."
"Welcome, Raven," Rachel said with a smile. "You're a ways from Jump City. Just popped in for a visit?"
Raven looked worried and took a deep breath. "It's...a little more complicated than that," she admitted, hugging herself.
The blonde-haired woman at once recognized the teen's posture and face. "Someone's after you," she said in realization, making Raven look up at her in surprise. "Someone you know personally and want to stay away from."
"How do you know that?" The heroine asked.
"My sister and I used to hug ourselves when we were afraid our horrible birth father would find us," Rachel said. "Do you need refuge, hon? You're more than welcome to stay here until you feel safe again."
Raven felt tears sting her eyes a little and she wiped them away. Pesky Dust placed a hand on her shoulder. "Raven, it's okay," he said. "We'll protect you. I promise."
She looked at him. "I'm not sure you guys can," she said. "He is really powerful. Like...extremely powerful."
Rachel smiled gently. "Don't let this old house's exterior fool you," she said. "This family has been through a lot of trails and battles and we never back down. Whatever is chasing you doesn't stand a chance against us."
The heroine took a deep breath. "You sound like you've dealt with powerful beings before," she said.
"We have," Pesky Dust said with a nod. "And we've always prevailed because of our family."
"He's right," Rachel said. "A family that includes you, hon."
Raven blinked in shock. "You...accept me just like that?" She asked, stunned.
"You kept Pesky safe and helped him return home," the young woman said, smiling. "Around here, those actions pretty much make someone a family member."
Cleo reached her head out to the teen, who gently petted her. "See? Even Cleo thinks you should stay for a while," Pesky said.
Raven looked at Rachel. "If you are willing to host me, I'd be very grateful," she said.
"Of course, hon," the young woman said. "Come inside."
The teen marveled at how large the inside of the house looked and she was shown to a room that was comfortable and looked homey. "Thank you," she said softly.
Rachel hugged the girl, who froze, but then relaxed into the hug. "We'll protect you, hon," she promised the teen. "Whoever is after you will learn just how protective this family is."
That filled Raven with some hope.
A few days later...
Raven was looking out the window, hugging herself. She hadn't slept well the past few days and constantly was watching out the window, keeping alert. Pesky Dust, who had noticed his friend looked tired, went up to her now. "Raven, what's wrong?" He asked.
The girl looked at him and he was shocked to see she looked ready to fall asleep. "Are you not sleeping well?" He asked.
"No," she said, her voice filled with fear.
He took her hand. "Raven, talk to me," he said. "Who is after you that you are too worried to sleep?"
Tears filled her eyes. "My father," she said.
Pesky Dust looked worried. "He does bad things?" He asked gently.
"Yes," she said, appreciating that he had put it delicately. "He's not a good person. He thrives on destruction. He almost destroyed the world last time my team and I faced him. I almost didn't make it, but Robin found me and helped me. They all did."
She sighed. "But he could come back," she said, tears falling down her face. "I'm...I'm scared that he'll come back and...I won't be able to escape once he does."
Pesky hugged her and sighed. "I wish my powers could help you," he said. "But I can only manipulate dreams. Even if I help you have a dream where he is defeated...,"
"It won't put me fully at ease," she finished his sentence. "I appreciate you wanting to help though, Pesky."
"It's too bad some of our most powerful family members are off on missions now," he said. "I bet if you talked to them, they could do something."
Both didn't see Rachel had overheard the conversation and she made up her mind to call two people she knew could help Raven both emotionally and mentally.
She then gasped as she felt someone's presence behind her and spotted a Celestialsapien with four gold bands on his left arm and four red bands on his right arm. He looked at her with eyes that were green and silver. "Hello, Rachel," he said. "You are right that the child needs help, but so do you all if you are to defeat the one after her."
"She said it's her father and from what I gathered from her conversation with my brother, her father is very powerful."
"Indeed," the Celestialsapien said with a nod. "You need to put the Mansion on Level 7 Lockdown and call the ones you were looking to call earlier. Call every Celestialsapien family member you have as well."
Rachel knew then that this person had to be the last member of the Celestialsapien higher ups that the other Celestialsapiens answered to in the courts. "Okay," she said before looking at him. "Can we count on you to help us too?"
He nodded. "Yes," he said.
She nodded. "Then let's help Raven," she said.
Looks like the family is rallying behind Raven to help her. What will happen next? Tune in next time to see. :)
And please leave a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418