Darkness had fallen over the Tower. A clear sky of stars shined over the city and gentle waves crashed on the island soothing the air with a lullaby. It was late at night and everyone was asleep. Or so it seemed...
Raven tossed and turned in her deep sleep. All around her were ruins and despair. Where water once was filling the seas and oceans, molten lava now took it's place. Everyone who hadn't been shielded by a heavenly power was turned to stone and the Titans were facing defeat at the hands of evil incarnate.
"Fairwell, dear daughter."
Red beams discharged from Trigon's eyes. Such beams would eviscerate anything in its path but Raven remained untouched as her power shielded her in an orb of white light.
"You are still no threat to me, little girl. I am your creator. Your master. You exist only to serve me. You survive only because I allow it. What hope does a mere child have of defeating her all powerful father?!"
Raven's emotions overwhelmed her. Her eyes began to glow bright white and her dark energy held a new kind of strength that surged within her and her raw power came exploding out of her.
"You may have created me... But you were NEVER my father."
Raven's eyes shot open as she lay in bed. As she looked around her room she realized how late it was. She sat up and looked to her left down at her clock on her nightstand. Both hands pointed straight up telling her it was midnight. She had slept for nearly 12 hours.
Next to her clock lay something small but very important to her. It had powerful sentimental value behind it even though its actual value was only one cent. But in the past few weeks its meaning became more powerful than she ever thought possible. Its value to her was now priceless just like the friendship of someone she developed feelings for...
For luck.
Raven picked up the the small copper coin and placed her hands in her lap. She stared down at it wondering how he was doing. She closed her hand around the coin tightly. Luck was an understatement with his current situation. After what Cyborg had told her, Beastboy had used all the luck in the world just to survive.
Her face turned fierce with determination and she began to think about Slade. He was nothing. Just a mortal man. Someone who wasn't anywhere near as strong as her father. Why couldn't she take him down like she took down her father?
Raven sighed and threw the blankets off her lap and stood up out of bed. She threw her robe around her back connecting the button in front of her chest. She looked down at her hand once more where the small penny continued to rest. She closed her eyes as if reciting a spell of protection for Beastboy and put the coin in the pocket of her robe and walked into the hallway.
The living area was lit up by the giant tv. It played some kind of late night show that no one really understood but was numbing to the brain. The kind of show that served no purpose but to pass the time.
Terra sat alone on the couch watching the show. Her eyes may have been on the screen but she wasn't paying attention. Her mind was all over the place.
Raven walked into the living area to find Terra sitting on the couch with the tv on. She was shocked to see Terra awake but it quickly disappeared after she thought about everything Terra was going through.
"Can't sleep?" Raven asked as she crossed the living area to the couch.
Terra jumped from the unexpected voice and turned her head around quickly to see Raven walking towards her. She relaxed and went back to watching the weird late night show.
"I haven't really slept since Beastboy found me," she admit, "my nightmares won't let me."
Raven sat next to her and looked her in the eyes. She could tell this poor girl hadn't had a peaceful dream or refreshing night of rest for a while. She felt bad for Terra.
"What about you?" Terra asked, "did you get some rest?"
Raven nod her head. She didn't want to tell her that she slept for half a day. She felt it would just make Terra feel worse. At this point Raven didn't really know what to say.
"I... don't know what to expect tomorrow..." Raven began, "but you should at least try to get some sleep." She sounded like she was trying to help. Her voice had a tone of comfort behind it.
Terra looked down and her eyes told a terrifying story.
"Baby, RUN!"
"No. I can't." Terra softly respond.
"But-" Raven stopped in her tracks as Terra interrupted her.
"I just can't," Terra said aggressively.
Raven continued to stare at Terra. She could easily tell something serious was going on in her mind. The emotion she was emitting was exactly like the one she was giving off earlier. An emotion that was hard to figure out what it really was.
"Terra..." Raven said softly, "what... I mean... I don't understand."
Terra continued staring at the ground. Whatever was bouncing around in her head was extremely powerful. Like it was taking control of her completely.
"Neither do I..." Terra said as her voice began to tremble.
Raven felt for Terra. She was going through something similar to what Raven had dealt with her entire life. It was clear Terra was fighting for control. Not just over her powers. But over her life. She had her own kind of demons. Maybe not a literal one like Raven... But none-the-less it was a demon that could destroy you from the inside out.
Raven looked away for a moment and thought maybe she could help. Maybe she could kill two birds with one stone. The only thing she was worried about was if Terra would be willing to accept her help.
"I want to understand," Raven said looking back up to Terra.
Terra looked back at Raven confused, "what do you mean?"
"I mean... I want to see what your going through. I want to help you," Raven felt like she already did understand Terra. But the only way to know for sure was to know the whole story, "I want to understand the pain you're feeling."
Terra's face went blank. She had no idea how to respond to that. She was humbled by Raven's compassion but didn't wish this pain she felt on anyone. Not even her worst enemies.
"I..." Terra stuttered unsure of what to say, "How would you even-"
"I can go into your mind," Raven interrupted knowing that question would be asked, "I will be able to see what you see." Raven went silent for a second wondering if it would be possible to help get her memories back this way. She didn't know for sure but it was worth a try, "and maybe I can help you see too."
"Help me see?" Terra asked more confused than ever.
"I'm not sure it would work... But I might be able to help you get you memories back." Raven explained.
Terra's face lit up with excitement. She wanted more than anything to remember past. But fear coursed through her entire body quickly after. All these dreams. All these nightmares. What if her past was just that? A nightmare.
Raven saw the look of horror on her face. She knew this meant Terra had an idea of what her past may be like.
"Terra... What is it you're so afraid of?" Raven asked bluntly. She genuinely wanted to know. Depending on her answer Raven would know if this was a good idea or not.
Terra's horror began to fade and she thought about that question for a second.
"I guess... I'm afraid I'll finally know," she respond, "I'll know exactly why I was such a bad person. I'll know why I did such terrible things."
Raven's face grew concerned. She didn't think about that. If Terra did regain her memories... would she go back to being the person who betrayed them? The person that chose to work with Slade? Would she become their enemy again? Raven began to think this may actually be a bad idea.
"But... I won't get anywhere if I let my past continue to torture me like this," Terra looked up at the tv once more, "it's time I face it. It's time I become who I want to be. Not just some frail little girl. Not a helpless child who can be so easily manipulated. It's time I gained control. For me."
Raven's concern vanished. What she just heard was inspiring. She sounded like the person Raven was not too long ago when she faced her father. Being told what to do and when. Being manipulated to do horrendous things. Only when you truly take control of your life do you really get to decide your own fate.
Raven smiled at Terra's admiration. She knew right then that she would help Terra.
"Alright then," Raven respond, "I guess I'll see you in the morning." Raven stood up but before she could start heading for her room Terra grabbed her wrist and stopped her.
"Actually..." She started, "I was hoping... we could do this... now."
Raven was taken by surprise. But she knew there might not have been a better time than now. She looked away and thought hard about it. After a moment she agreed and decided to help Terra. Now. But she had to tell someone on the team where they were going just in case.
"Alright... We'll do it now," Raven began, "but first I need to tell Robin."
Terra let out a huge sigh of relief. She was just about to fall on her knees to beg Raven to get it over with as soon as possible but she was glad it didn't come to that.
Terra smiled and nod to Raven and let go of her wrist. Raven flashed a smile back and levitate to the hallway door and began making her way to Robin's room.
As she approached his room, a faint voice could be heard through the door. Raven was shocked he was still awake. The last time she saw him, he walked right past her with his head down like a man on mission.
Has he been talking to someone this whole time? She thought to herself.
Just when she got to the door she was about to knock but stopped short to hear the last part of Robin's conversation.
"Thanks. For everything." Robin said. He sounded almost sad. Like someone had gone to extreme lengths for him and his debt of gratitude was never going to be enough.
"I'll be keeping an eye on you. Take care of yourself, Richard." A second voice respond. Raven didn't know who it was but she heard something that she never thought she would hear... Robin's real name.
Raven pulled herself out of her stupor and began lightly knocking on the door. Before she finished knocking the door slid open and Robin was standing in front of her.
"Uh..." Raven said taken by surprise. She looked down trying to get back on track, "I was just..." She thought for a second and her curiosity got the best of her before she looked back up at Robin, "who were you talking to?"
Robin squint his eyes at her wondering just how long she had been listening.
"An old friend," he said with a disturbing tone as he looked over his shoulder back at the phone.
Raven knew that tone. She knew not to press it any further.
"What is it? Do you need something?" Robin asked trying to speed up the conversation.
"Oh! Um... No," Raven said remembering why she was at Robin's door, "I just came to tell you that I'm taking Terra to a remote location miles away from the city. We're going to try to get her memories back and get her powers under control."
"Her memories?" Robin said raising an eyebrow, "you think that's a good idea?" Robin knew Raven could go into Terra's mind to help but this seemed extremely risky. Not only could it back-fire... but if Terra lost control of her powers who knows what could happen.
Raven looked down at her feet, "I honestly don't know," she admit, "but I have a good feeling about this. I think I can help her." She looked up at Robin with a determined and confident expression.
Robin stared at Raven intently. He was searching for any signs of doubt on her face. When he couldn't find any he looked away and let out a small sigh.
"Fine. But keep your communicator on you and be ready for anything," he said with a sense of urgency in his voice, "Slade is still out there. We don't know when he will strike next." With that, Robin turned around and walked back into his room and the door slid shut behind him.
Raven stood in the dim hallway for a second. That went much better than she thought it would. Not to mention she still wondered who he was talking to and how they knew his real name.
She shook the thoughts out of her head and turned to head back to Terra. When she got back to the living area, Terra sat in the same place she did when Raven left.
Terra turned her head to see Raven and stood up. She raced around the couch to meet Raven half way at the center of the room. Terra was eager to get started.
"Alright. Let's go." Raven raised her hands and dark energy surround the two of them. In an instant, they vanished from the Tower.
A vast and flat landscape was filled with the sounds of crickets and nocturnal sounds. The stars and galaxies were crystal clear with no light pollution for miles in every direction. Nothing could be seen in any direction of this barren dessert. There were no signs of a human population or interaction anywhere.
Out of the cold and calm air, a dark power took shape and Raven unfurled the dark energy like a cloak, revealing herself and Terra.
Terra looked around seeing nothing in sight and felt a little better knowing she wouldn't be able to hurt anyone.
"Thanks," she said to Raven, "for helping me I mean." She wanted to make sure that her gratitude didn't send the wrong message.
"Don't thank me yet," Raven said sharply, "this is going to be... well... you're not gonna like it."
Terra's face didn't change. It was as if she was already suffering enough. How much worse could it be for her?
"So... how does this work?" Terra asked still anxious to get started.
"I can enter you mind in a conscious state... however, that's not going to help. I can't force your memories. I can't force you to think. I can only help if you are connected to your subconscious." Raven said trying her best to explain.
"What do you mean?" Terra asked a little confused.
"Your memories are buried deep within yourself. Within your subconscious. I can't help you find them unless you open the door to them. The only way you can do that is when you're asleep," Raven continued to explain.
A look of dread washed over Terra's face. She didn't want to sleep. She didn't want to see the images that haunt her with no explanation. With no way of tuning them out. It was a feeling Raven knew all to well.
Raven put a hand on her shoulder as Terra stared at the dirt she stood on and tried to encourage her, "the only way this will work... is if I go into your dreams with you Terra." Raven didn't know what else to say. But then something Beastboy had said to her long ago when Malchior had Manipulated her...
You think you're alone Raven, but you're not.
"You're not alone," Raven whispered brealy loud enough for Terra to hear.
Terra looked up at Raven and saw a similar pain she was experiencing in her eyes. She closed her eyes and lowered her head accepting what Raven told her.
Raven helped Terra to the ground and knelt next to her as Terra lay flat on her back in the softest patch of dirt they could find. A single tear rolled down Terra's cheek and she took a deep breath.
"Terra," Raven said seeing the struggle coming from her, "are you sure you want to do this? If we do manage to get your memories back... there's no going back."
Terra opened her eyes and stared at the star above her. They were flickering like beacons of hope from a distant world. They gave her some much needed encouragement.
"Good." She said softly as she looked towards Raven. Terra was ready to tackle her past and find a way to press forward.
Raven smiled at her again admiring her bravery. She gave Terra a small nod and Terra closed her eyes. She was exhausted. Not long after her eyes shut, she slipped into a deep sleep.
Raven took a deep breath and began levitating in her meditation pose next to Terra.
"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos."