Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, all rights belong to WB and DC."

Kiome-Yasha: "And so I write again! It's been a while since I wrote anything that remotely resembled a story. I must say; I'm excited about this one. BBRae has been consuming me and I wanted to make a fic that I could be proud of for them. This is a slow burn fic to the extreme. It's going to be a long journey for sure. I'm taking inspiration mainly from the Teen Titans series, but I am using the comics, Titans, and Young justice as references as well, detailing Raven and Beast Boy's origins as they face it together. I think this would be an interesting plot. I hope readers look forward to it as well! Rating will change T to M once Garfield and Raven grow older."

Prologue: The Fall

Crimson clouds floated gracefully across the teal skies, flourishing a sense of serenity across the golden city of Azarath. The flock of nimbus shadowed over the main temple, gracing a young girl's purple hair to sway gently against the breeze. She blankly stared up at nothing in particular, almost as if an invisible force was calling to her. She remained like that for quite some time, sitting perfectly still inside a lotus position. Suddenly, a flock of doves flew overhead, snapping her out of her trance. She gasped, becoming startled as a burst of energy sparked out of the gem that was embedded in her forehead. It crackled and surged, nearly destroying the row of ancient artifacts around her, splitting cement from the columns that stood by the entryway where she sat.

"Raven!" A voice boomed sternly, causing the girl to stiffen with shame.

She turned with a frown, already anticipating the scolding she was about to receive. A woman who appeared to be in her fifties strode over to the girl with crimson knitted robes. She held grace, her emotions completely disciplined without any trace of faltering. Her hair was long and platinum, revealing many years of wisdom. Despite the wrinkles that adorned her face, she was actually quite beautiful, almost like a Goddess.

"Your mind was wandering again," she simply said with a hint of disappointment. "We've gone over this, you must free your mind of all emotions."

The six-year-old grimaced, quietly whimpering at the display of weakness.

"Forgive me, Lady Azar," she said weakly.

The woman sighed, signaling the girl over to the center of the room.

"Come, let us begin your lesson today together," she said, already taking a seat on one of the plush cushions that adorned the room.

Raven stood and followed her mentor's example, carefully crossing her legs in front of her. She mirrored her position, patiently waiting for her guidance. Azar rested her elbows upon her thighs, pressing her forefinger and thumbs together. It was as if she was one with the universe; her body still present, but her mind completely transparent. They were locked in silence for about a few minutes, Raven awkwardly raising her own fingers together. She closed her eyes, biting her lip anxiously for some kind of higher plain where she can free her soul-self to.

Suddenly, Azar spoke, disrupting the girl's silent struggle.

"Raven, what dimension did your mother come from again?" she asked casually.

"Earth," she answered hesitantly.

"Yes, and what is Earth's corruption?"

"Man."

"Correct. Could you tell me why that is?"

Raven paused, answering lowly, "Because of their earthly desires."

"Do you remember of such examples that we've discussed in the past?"

The questions poured in, testing the girl.

She nodded, giving out a list.

"Greed, lust, gluttony, pride, envy, joy…" she stopped, combing her mind for other possible terms before continuing off. "…Then there's grief, happiness, and anger…."

Azar nodded, knowing there was more.

Raven sensed her eyes on her, reeling her to announce the most critical emotion of all.

"And of course…love," she answered steadily.

She gave another curt nod. "Correct, love is probably the most lethal sought out human emotion of all. You must never let it control you. Your mother is a clear example of its strong allure."

Raven became taciturn, finding the subject about her mother to be taboo. She knew of the monks' whispers about her, forbidding Raven in ever seeing her. There were times when they would speak a few words to each other, but nothing more. They had to detach the girl from any human contact or connection. Due to her unusual power and lineage, they claimed her to be dangerous. In the ancient texts of their religion, there was a prophecy regarding her birth that promised the end of the world. She didn't understand why such a fate was given to her, only that she wished to master her abilities quickly so she can prevent it. Maybe, if she was good, she could see Arella again; the fleeting warmth of her mother's touch engraved inside her very soul.

The mere intensity of her desires caused Raven's magic to manifest again, striking one of the pillows. A sea of feathers ruptured into the air, dancing like confetti. Raven winced, mentally berating her lack of control.

Azar sat undisturbed, sighing deeply.

"Today will be a long training session," she said, overlooking the mess as nothing more than a nuisance.

It was well into the evening when lessons were over. The saturated sky had become a darker hue of its original color, dispersing into a cool blanket of night. Raven hadn't improved much in her mental state, causing Azar to forfeit the day in hopes of the girl to reflect on why that was. The pair walked across the open pathway that connected the temple to the rest of the city. The horizontal roof disconnected them from the sky, pressuring right over them. Raven felt like every time she walked down the corridor something was following her. Maybe it was the shame of failure from her meditations or the sobering tone of the monks' that roam the halls. However, she felt this foreboding tension to be something much more foreign than mere common discomfort.

Azar took notice of Raven's hesitation, hoping to ease the girl's woes.

"You showed promise today, Raven. Despite the property damage, you did manage not to blow up the roof of the monastery this time," she said, earning a smile from the young magician; it was rare for her to receive such praise.

They reached the end of the path, a man patiently waiting for their arrival. He stood with his hands behind his back, centering himself inside a gazebo-like area. It had an octagonal like shape with several other walkways bordered around it. Raven reached for Azar's hand, but she humbly phased through the gesture like a ghost.

"Lady Azar." The man bowed, sending his respects.

"Coman," Azar greeted with equal resolve. She gently pushed Raven towards him, passing her over. "Please escort Raven to her room, have her nursemaid prepare a meal for her."

"Certainly, your excellency," he said, earning her another bow.

Raven seemed apprehensive, catching her teacher's detached gaze. The small girl gripped her hand, daring for contact.

"Azar, when can I see mommy?" she asked, desperately seeking an answer.

"Raven, you know that's impossible, especially at your age," she responded sternly, hoping her tone was firm enough to silence the girl. "Your emotions are sensitive and must be contained if not, you'll risk losing yourself and ultimately many others. Do you understand how essential your training is?"

The half-demon pouted, frowning with defeat. "Yes," she said obediently with reluctance.

Raven strolled over to Coman, accepting his hand as it casually gripped hers, providing little warmth. Azar gave a gentle nod, watching as they both made their way to the residential area that seemed only vacant to Raven. The aloof divinity stood poised, her two followers long disappearing from her view. She made sure Raven was out of range, not wanting her empathetic abilities to react from the conversation she was about to initiate. Her gaze shifted to the side, focusing her attention behind one of the ivory pillars.

"You should know better to be sneaking around here like this," she chastised somberly, turning her head. "Arella, it's foolish of you to even dare come this close to the girl."

A slender woman walked out beneath the shadows of the cylinder structure, gently stroking a dove in her hand. She had a gloomily look on her face, her skin far from being pale as her daughter's, but hair and beauty promising to reflect on Raven's someday.

"Forgive me, Lady Azar. I couldn't stay away," she said, giving the dove a gentle squeeze. "I sense him, he haunts me, mocking me with nightmares of his close descent on her."

"You'll always sense him. You're his wife, after all," Azar said flatly.

Arella shivered from the statement, her body reacting instinctively with memories of their passionate night together that let to Raven's conceiving. She joined the occult with false promises of love and happiness, only to find more despair. He was so handsome, almost like a dream. Arella was ashamed of her poor judgment, hoping Raven wouldn't make the same mistakes as she had. Granted, that required the girl to fall in love, something Azar and the people of Azarath have deemed forbidden to ever allow happen.

"You fear for Raven?" Azar asked, sensing something amidst inside the woman's aura.

Arella nodded, allowing the dove to fly from her hands as it began to twitch. "Yes, I can't explain it, but I sense something. It hangs over Raven even now, maybe these meditation sessions are causing more harm than good?"

Azar dismissed her assumptions, having faith in their religion.

"Have hope, Angela. Raven is stronger than you think," she said.

"You forget," Arella began, disregarding the use of her real name. "She is my daughter. Who's to say she doesn't share my poor lack of decisions?"

Azar became uncomfortably quiet, a deep dread settling inside her; which was a rare feat to achieve, to say the least. Trigon was indeed a force to be reckoned with; one could say it was the pacifist's ancestors' fault for creating such a being in the first place. The Azar before her deemed it necessary to release all human corruption and desires into the void, hoping to banish its existence. Needless to say, it backfired, only festering it further. Trigon was born from such delusions of abandonment, transforming into pure fear and destruction. He was a tyrant, seeking to conquer all with complete disregard of life. Azar knew it was essential to keep Raven away from his evil influence, sensing great power within the girl that may even surpass his own.

Unfortunately, the prophecy is law, and there was no escaping it no matter which path Raven would take.

Azar closed her eyes in prayer, her eyes shimmering softly with unwanted trepidation. "Let's hope that is not the case," she finally said, her robes swishing behind her as she departed.

Raven sat on her knees, staring blankly at her food. Her table was low enough for her to eat, resembling that of a chabudai table. It consisted of nothing more than fruit and vegetables, presenting itself as a mere salad than anything else. Coman stood by her, anticipating her to eat. Raven stared over her shoulder at him, feeling uncomfortable by his constant staring. It wasn't an unkind gaze, but it definitely held a hint of hesitation. He was no different compared to everyone else; they all watched her with that look like she was some sort of bomb ready to explode.

"You should really eat, Raven," he said, hoping to encourage her.

"I'm not really hungry," she answered plainly, mindlessly flicking the food around with her fork.

"That is most unfortunate," he said, sighing heavily.

Raven bit her lip, a question pestering inside her head. She looked up at Coman, gaining his full attention from the sudden change in her position.

"Coman, can you tell me about my father?" she asked innocently.

The holy man grew shocked, his eyes becoming like saucers. It disturbed Raven to receive such a reaction from him, already wishing she could take her curiosity back. He quickly tried to recover his nerves, coughing hoarsely.

"What's provoked you to ask this?" he asked, though it sounded more like a demand.

She shrugged, not really knowing herself. It was as if something in the back of her mind was urging her. Then again, that voice has always been there. It was warm, and for someone like her, it was comforting.

"I don't know, no one really wants to tell me," she said, feeling something pounding in the back of her head. "It's like everyone is afraid to tell me about him…and without Arella around to tell me, I don't know what to believe in. Am I truly a cursed child?"

Coman ignored her plight of distress, ushering her to focus on her meal instead. "Eat, Raven, such questions are to be left imprisoned from your mind," he answered firmly, putting the subject to rest.

He briskly made his way out the door, giving one last look of distrust before exiting her room with a soft click. Raven suddenly released a stream of sparks from her chakra, completely tossing the scrolls on her desk to scatter across the floor. The sudden surge of emotions came like a hurricane, her frustration evident by the crease in her brow. She disregarded her plate, seeking refuge in the sheets of her bed instead. She huddled herself under the covers, taking a moment to settle her unbridled emotions. Once she felt like she had control, she sat back up and contemplated in giving mediation a try. Even though her lessons were over, Azar made it very apparent for her to keep practicing.

She positioned herself in her usual lotus position, examining her room closely in needs of escape. There was nothing special about it, finding no real attachment to any of the items that accompanied the small space. It had the basic vitals of a bedroom, a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk, her only real valuables being her robes and texts. Raven rested her palms beneath the mattress, pressing into it as leverage to help her levitate. She hadn't quite mastered flight yet; beads of sweat pouring off her forehead when focusing on the task. Soon she found herself afloat, staggering only a bit before gaining her balance.

Her scarlet linen cape, which was more like a poncho, bellowed mystically behind her. Her heart raced, her deep burgundy leotard suddenly feeling tighter than usual.

"Focus, Raven," she instructed softly to herself, her voice quivering slightly.

She closed her eyes, seeking out the static of her psyche.

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos," she started chanting, entering the core of her mind.

She tried to concentrate, relying solely on the sound of her voice as she repeated the words over and over. Like a constant loop, until finally, her soul-self separated from within her body. She was nothing more than a shell now, her temporal form entering within a realm unfamiliar to her. Her first reaction was pride in discovering such a place, finding her meditation to be a success. Her expression became fierce though with determination, balling her hands into tiny fists as if ready to fight.

'Where are you?' she asked to no one particular. 'I know you're there…' she clarified softly within the recesses of her mind, gliding through the corners of the dark.

She continued to search, desperately digging to find that itch that seemed to be clawing in the back of her mind. After a while, it seemed like she was ready to give up. That was until a deep groveling voice spoke, catching her attention immediately.

She whipped her head at the source, sensing someone as they kept themselves hidden from her view. Even though she couldn't see them, she knew they were there, carefully watching her. It felt like a red-hot inferno was trickling over her, the scent of brimstone and smoke reaching into her nose to the point she felt like she was on fire.

'Hello…?' she asked, 'Are you still there?'

'Raven, finally, I found you.'

'Who are you?'

'I've been waiting for this moment to talk to you, surely, you know who I am.'

She stood anxiously, his voice so deep that it literally caused her body to tremble outside the bubble of her mind. It almost made her lose connection, coaxing her to hold fast to the mental link.

'You have so much to learn. Do you feel my love, Raven? It calls out to you.'

'Love?' she asked hesitantly, remembering Azar's words.

'Yes, I am your father after all. I give you nothing, but love.'

'Fa…father?' she asked in disbelief. 'Are you really, my father?'

'They've tried to close your mind from me, Raven. Those fools who dare to think they control you.'

'But Azar said my powers are dangerous!'

'No, my dear, they are a gift. I can help you control it, together we'll show them.'

'How? I can barely hold on even now,' she said, her soul already preparing to draw back.

'Look into the Great Door where mortals of Azarath go to bury their misfortunes away. You'll find me there.'

'But, Azar said such a place is forbidden to me.'

'Only because she thinks you're weak. Raven, You're stronger than you know, trust me.'

So much affection and praise, she ate it up like it was an elixir to her poor starvation. Human emotions were taboo, they were bad, but most of all, they were treacherous. Just like the great door, just like her interactions with her mother, or questions about her father. All censored away from her only because of a prophecy she wasn't even sure was real anymore. The six-year-old just wanted to be accepted, to have what any other child her age had. Why was that so wrong?

'You, your mother, and I, we could be a family again, just like it was meant to be. Just like you always wanted.'

That's what sold her, instantly returning to her body with haste. Raven collapsed onto the bed, panting heavily from the trance she was under. Her small frail body twitched, never succeeding that long when using her soul self. It felt like whiplash, sucker punching her into a paralyzed state of distress. She sat there for a moment, gaining back her bearings—or at least trying to. She gripped the sheets beneath her, settling her heart with easy breaths.

Azarath. Metrion. Zinthos.

With those simple words, she was ready to stand up.

Raven used her balcony to sneak off from her room, not wanting to be caught. She levitated clumsily into the air, striking into the cement with a hazardous somersault. Her cape fell over her, pushing it back roughly as she began her move. She couldn't stop the blissful feeling inside her chest, causing a smile to spread across her face. The muscle twitch alone became influential to her powers, sending harsh waves upon the riverbed.

"All this time, he was right here!" she whispered excitedly, pumping her small arms into a dash.

To think the knocking in the back of her head was her own father this whole time. The overwhelming sensation inside her was close to bursting, forcing her to tie it down before it caused any attention.

Raven halted, taking a moment to recollect her direction. She especially had to watch for any monks patrolling the night. She ducked between the bushes that were aligned with the temple walls, slowly making her way to the sacred sanctuary. It was well after dark, and if anyone saw her, there was sure to be consequences. Raven rounded over one of the lower walls, entering a porcelain corridor painted with the history of the Azarath across the ceiling and walls.

"This must be it," Raven whispered, gulping nervously.

The pillars inside the large space were paved from the floor all the way to the ceiling. She walked by them, spotting effigies of angelic and demonic idols upon the cylinders' surface. She shivered from the details, finding them to be almost life. As she got closer to the sealed door, she was bombarded with a wave of negative emotions. It knocked the wind out of her, deeply making her contemplate why her father would be here of all places.

"No, there's…there's no turning back now…!" she gritted, pressing forward with small steps.

She made it through the threshold, entering the sacred place carefully. The massive door was like a fortress, pulsing abnormally as if it was stuck in some sort of limbo. Raven stepped up over the small set of stairs, gazing wistfully at the etched symbols and seals that patterned over the titanium-like structure. Two big black cauldrons lit up with a torrent of flames on either of the doors, reacting almost instantly when her hands grabbed the handles. Her hands looped over the doorknockers, finding them to be the only thing available that resembled a latch. She gently began to pull, the crack between the doors moaning with a sinister howl. It felt as though the entrance itself had transformed into hell's gateway.

Still, Raven kept pulling.

"Almost there," she said, sticking her tongue out, ushering strength within her small form.

Just before she could even make a gap, a voice called out in alarm.

"Raven, what are you doing!?"

The girl rapidly closed the doors, jolting her body around, eyes widening from whom she saw.

"Mother!" she shouted in alarm, her back facing the door.

Arella stomped over to the girl, cutting her steps short a mere five feet from her. "What do you think you're doing?" she nearly screeched, fear evident in her eyes.

"I…. I…" Raven couldn't formulate a thought, too startled by her mother's sudden appearance to make sense of it.

"I was…trying to see father," she answered honestly. "That way, we can be a family again!"

Arella's eyes shook with pure panic. "Your father…? Trigon? You…you spoke to him?"

"Yes…!" she yelled defiantly, standing firm in her stance.

"No…." Arella's worse fears had come to light.

Raven couldn't understand what the problem was, her hands trembling with an unseen force of rage.

"I don't understand, shouldn't you be happy?" she asked with confusion.

"Happy?" Arella shrilled in shock. "Raven, your father is not who you think he is!"

"Then tell me!" she shouted. "Azar and the monks, everyone looks at me like I'm evil! I don't even get to see you! I don't want to live like this!"

Arella pleaded, stretching her hand out to her daughter—the daughter she never got to hold or touch. "Raven, we'll figure all this out…. please…"

'Let's go to earth together, Raven,' Trigon's voice rang through the door, only allowing Raven the privilege in heeding his call. 'There we can be happy, only you can take us there.'

Raven clutched a hand to her chest while the other carefully grabbed the cold steel of the handle. "Mommy, I want to go to Earth with you and daddy."

Arella shook her head, dropping her hood. "Earth is a cruel place, Raven. Trust me when I tell you, you'll only find misery there, and more importantly, carry it."

The gem on top of Raven's forehead glowed ominously, demonstrating her inner turmoil. Her lips quivered, not quite knowing what to do. Her chakra released crackled offshoots of electricity, assaulting the air around them. It splintered across the architecture, knocking over pillars until they were nothing but rubble. She heard voices in the distance; someone must of overhead the commotion.

'Raven, you must hurry before it's too late! Don't let them take you away from me!' Trigon ushered sinfully, disguising it with affection.

"Raven, I know it's tempting, but you mustn't listen to him!" Arella bellowed desperately.

'Not just from me, but from your mother too!'

"We're only doing what's best for you!"

'No! They're only doing what's best for them!'

"Raven!"

"Raven!"

The lavender eye girl clutched her head as if she was in pain, gritting her teeth to block out the overwhelming sensation. She soon screamed into the air, her gem igniting hotly with discourse. Two extra pair of eyes appeared on her forehead, triggering her to yank the doors wide open without warning. Arella stared in horror, a tsunami of red and black miasma erupting right towards them. The sanctum vanished, Trigon's laughter ringing out as he consumed all into his void. Raven stared at the burning eyes of her father with pure horror, becoming immobile by the shock of his appearance.

What had she done?

Arella collapsed onto the floor, her body quivering. She gripped her shawl, the pressure of Trigon's force knocking it wildly around her. A lone tear fell down her cheek, accepting their fate.

Truly, Raven was her mother's daughter.

Azar woke up abruptly from the sudden tremor, her hair in complete disarray. She sought out the source, knowing full well that an earthquake was impossible in their realm. There was chaos, and it caused her to break into a cold sweat. She rushed over to the balcony inside her room, startled by what she saw.

"Azar…" she whispered, her face shifting into terror.

Smoke could be seen in the distance, ash swaying amongst the flames. She could hear the cries of her people as they tried to escape out of the city, setting off multiple explosions all at once. Trigon's shadow loomed over them, dissipating their bodies with one sheer blast of his hands. The smell of sulfur and burnt flesh filled the air, spreading across the land. Soon, his eyes set on hers, a crude grin spreading across his lips, ensuring his victory.

How can this be possible?

Then it hit her. Raven.

She bowed her head, becoming aware of her negligence of the poor girl's human weakness.

"I have failed her…and everyone else…" she confided mournfully.

Just then, one of the monks charged into her room.

"Your Excellency! Trigon has emerged! What are we to do?" he shouted in dismay, clearly hoping some sort of sign of salvation.

She knelt her hands down onto the rail. "There's nothing we can do. Our fate has been sealed."

"Blasphemy!" shouted the monk in disbelief. "There must be a way! Surely you can stop this!"

"Fool, it has already been written in stone," she said, slightly annoyed by his arrogance. "It's just as the prophecy has foretold."

The monk gritted his teeth, dashing down the hall. "All is lost!" he screamed wildly, conveying the news for all to hear.

Azar sighed hopelessly, only containing one thought in mind.

'Raven….'

Raven managed to form a large dome-like shield over her and her mother. It was an accidental reflex on her part, tapping into her desires of protection to even create such a thing. She crawled over to her mother, completely lost on what to do. She could hear the mayhem from outside, the barrier doing so little in blocking it out. She reached over to Arella, kneeling in front of her with tentative eyes.

"Mother…? What's happening?" she asked.

Arella was quiet for a moment, lifting her head somberly with utter hopelessness.

"Oh, Raven…we tried so hard to protect you, to think with even Azar's efforts, it had still come to this," she said, shaking her head. "Azarath is doomed."

"No…" Raven whispered in denial. "I…I didn't want this."

"No one did, Raven. And now, there is no stopping it. Your fate has already begun to churn. Forgive me, if only I was stronger," Arella sobbed softly, dropping her face into her hands.

Raven reached her hand out but stopped when she sensed a familiar consciousness outside of her bubble. She immediately dropped her magic, peering up at her master. The awakened hell upon their world had shrouded the room, creating vapors of ghostly faces around them. Her expression was unreadable, her focus merely on the idea of creating distance from Trigon.

"We must get out of here, Trigon's agents will be upon us shortly. And if they get their hands on Raven than it will be more than Azarath that is lost," she said with clarification, forcing Raven to understand the dire situation they were in.

It was at that moment that demons began to surface from the floor around them. Their faces were distorted like the hideous beasts they were, snarling viciously at them. They groaned out Raven's name, shepherding her to join them under their lord's demands. Azar reacted right away, purifying them quickly with a blast of light from her hand.

"Come! Quickly!" she shouted anxiously, directing an open path for them.

Raven was stunned by the intensity of her voice, becoming so accustomed to her calm demeanor. Arella forced herself up, grabbing her daughter's hand as they followed the high priestess. They made their way into a shallow corridor, sneaking through a secret door that seemed invisible to the naked eye. Raven could feel her father's eyes on her, sending a cold shiver down her spine. He knew what Azar was planning to do, and he made his temper known with a mighty roar.

Azar ignored the tremor, enforcing them to keep following her. "Just keep going," she said.

They entered the gardens, rushing down the stairs towards the fortress looking labyrinth ahead. Raven looked back, watching the embers float across the darkening skies. Arella nudged her hand, soundlessly signaling her to look away. They made it through the threshold, surrounded by acres of vines and leaves. The plantation of the maze stood ten meters high, camouflaging them from view.

Azar took the lead. "This way, we have no time to waste!" she said sternly. "Coman should be waiting for us at the center."

Raven walked carefully beside her mother, sensing her father's presence coming closer.

"Mommy, what's going to happen to us?" she said.

Arella gave no answer, briskly keeping her pace.

Eventually, they made it to the center of the hedge, discovering a lone and small pergola at the heart of it. It was made out of pure ivory with no barrier around it besides the four columns that kept it together. Coman stood by it, waving for them to come closer.

"Come, the portal is ready," he said, "We must be quick about it."

"Good," Azar said, focusing her attention onto Raven. "I never thought we would resort to this, but obviously fate has other plans."

Arella read the woman's mind, reluctantly letting go of her daughter's hand. Raven stood dumbfounded, shifting her gaze between the three. Arella knelt down and hugged Raven closely to her with soft sobs of regret. Raven was startled by the display of affection, her small arms hanging loosely in the air.

"Arella…I mean, mother…" she started, her emotions going haywire.

"Raven, I'm so sorry," she said, pushing her gently back so that she could look into her watering eyes. "This is all we can hope to give you now. I wish we had time together, maybe if circumstances were different, we could have truly been a family."

"I don't…understand," she barely whispered.

"This is goodbye, Raven," Azar clarified somberly. "You can't stay here any longer."

Right on cue, a portal appeared within the empty space of the gazebo, swirling rapidly between dimensions. It drew in their robes like a vacuum, blending colors of purple and white together as if it was a storm. Raven hesitantly took a step back, not liking where this was going.

"You mean…I have to go alone?" she asked. "No! I don't want to!" she snapped, planting her small fists down in defiance.

Trigon's roar echoed behind them, signaling his pursuit. He was angry, beyond angry. There was no way he was going to let Raven go. He would hunt her down, even if it meant destroying everything in his path.

"You must go!" Azar shouted. "We can't allow him to have you here, not now!"

Arella grabbed Raven's shoulder, hoping to comfort her. "We can't go with you, Raven. If we do, it'll be an open wound and link that will forever have him bound to you. Your emotions and attachment to us will eventually become a hindrance! You must never allow it! This is the only way we can keep you safe from him."

"Trigon has many forces and followers, even sons that will try to harness your powers," Coman stated firmly. "This plan was always the last resort for us in case Trigon ever managed to break through to our realm."

Heavy stomps could be felt, creating a mass tremor across the land. He was getting closer.

Azar stooped to the girl's level, reassuring her with a hand to her shoulder. "Raven, this might be hard to accept, and I know that, but this is something that must be done. There's so much more I wish I had time to help you master. Unfortunately, you must become your own teacher. I don't know what will await you, but do take great care of your emotions and decisions."

Raven gritted her teeth, her father's voice practically whispering in her ears to join him.

"No! No! I don't want to be alone!" she screamed, drawing in her inner demon. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'll fix it! I promise to meditate more! I promise not to lose control! I promise! I promise! Please don't send me away!"

Her gem flared up, penetrating the earth around her. She became unstable, tears flooding over her cheeks. Her magic lit up the sky, almost like a beacon. Arella choked a sob, desperately wanting to ease the reality of her daughter's pain. Trigon was mere steps away, and the area around began to burn.

Azar struck the small jewel on Raven's forehead, immediately beginning to chant a spell. The language held complete resolve, silencing the girl into a deep slumber. Raven fell back into her mother's arm, her eyes rolling in the back of her head. The storm around them settled, but a more dangerous one began to pick up.

It was red, hot, and bolstering.

"The spell I put on her is a forbidden one, but hopefully it will conceal her from Trigon's eyes until her sixteenth birthday. The side effect might be some memory loss though…as per usual when using magic…there's always a cost," she said with a sigh.

"So, she won't remember any of us?" Arella said sadly.

"It's for the best," Coman stated. "We're sending her to Earth, after all. Hopefully, she can pinpoint the portal to it through the dimensional rift."

"What?" Arella asked in alarm.

Azar frowned. "I thought it was only fitting to send her to mother's birthplace. Don't you think?" she said informally.

"But where? How will she know where to go?" Arella bellowed, her back heating up.

"Hopefully somewhere she can be safe," Azar said, easily picking Raven up in her arms. "We could only pray she'll survive the ordeals ahead."

She walked over to the swirling vortex, gently offering Raven to it. The girl seeped through, her father appearing right over the hedge. Everyone turned, causing Azar to quicken the process. She shoved her hands in, dispersing the portal instantly as Raven vanished.

Trigon snarled angrily with contempt, raising his fists into the air with a sudden burst of radiation from his body. The wave of negative energy perished the green life around them, swiftly making its way to the group below. Coman braced himself for the assault, fulfilling his role admirably to the very end. Arella watched with acceptance, whispering her daughter's name in a prayer. Azar was unfazed by the upcoming blow of death, earning satisfaction from Trigon's defeat—though fleeting as it was.

It at least saved them time.

"Raven, never falter who you are. Despite the destiny that awaits you, make every moment count, " she telepathically relayed, trusting to reach the girl.

"Have hope, though futile it might be."

All that was met was a flash of unadulterated crimson, and with that, Azarath was gone.

"Have hope, though futile it might be."

Raven moaned and slowly opened her eyes. She hung afloat, becoming startled by the vast emptiness of space. It felt like she was in the Milky Way itself, mesmerizing her with its vivid colors of blue. The stream of glittering stars blinked in and out, offering some sort of solace. She couldn't quite remember how she got there; only that she was safe—at least for now.

"I…I have to move," she said, pushing herself forward for any signs of escape.

She glided across the void, channeling her soul self for any source of life to lock onto. The particles of atom circulated, shifting through the quantum realm. It made it difficult for her to find anything within it, fearing for the worse that she was going to be stuck there forever. She rapidly searched every direction, her chest suddenly becoming tight with a sealed whimper.

"Have hope…. have hope…. have hope…." She repeated over and over.

It felt like she was there for eternity, steadily giving up. No matter where she went, there was no one for her to latch onto. She halted in her flight and hugged herself. Raven let out a choked sob, wishing for anyone to call out to her.

Anything to know she wasn't alone.

It was then that she heard it. It broke through the layers of space, shedding the walls as if it was the most powerful force in the world.

It was a boy's cry.

Raven deciphered the location of the sobs, sensing whoever it was to be in great physical pain. She looked up and saw a light begin to formulate. It took shape, showing an outline of a small child with pointed ears. Raven immediately launched herself towards him, stretching her hand out widely without any care in straining it. It felt so warm, inviting her to embrace the figure as it spouted from her contact. The light blinded her, illuminating the interstellar space until there was nothing but a bright sun above her.

Raven laid motionless on the ground, blinking carefully from the sun's glare. She squinted, hearing the sounds of nature around her. They weren't familiar to her, finding animals on Azarath to be limited. And boy, was it hot. That's when Raven realized she was in a jungle, or at least, she assumed she was. She sat up, gazing over at the vast wilderness. It was thick and humid, suffocating the air around her. Sweat instantly broke off her skin, provoking her to take off her miniature poncho.

She instantly put it back on though when she heard something rustling in the bushes beside her. Raven braced herself, her face creasing in fear. She managed to stifle her whimper, gasping in shock as the predator revealed himself.

It was a young boy with green skin, ears pointed high like an elf. A lone baby fang protruded visibly over his upper lip, indicating him to be some form of creature. Even so, Raven sensed him to be human, along with a disturbing amount of animals echoing in his veins.

The small boy stared mystified at her, their eyes completely locked in place.

And so, their story began.

End Chapter

Kiome-Yasha: Reviews, favorites, and follows are always appreciated! I hope many will enjoy what I have in store for these two! :D I will try to update as much as I can! Also, the title to this is inspired by Utada Hikaru's song "Kremlin Dusk", definitely one of my favorites from her and inspiration for this story :).