CHAPTER 8:
Strange Days.
Raven

"You were born for this, Raven. You cannot run from it!"

"No! I locked you away and I can do it again!" My skin was blood red, my nails now sharpened to a point and pitch black, my ears long and pointed, and I now had two pairs of glowing red eyes.

"Come now, my daughter. We can rule together."

"Liar!" I screamed, blasting him but he held out his palm and my powers simply went inside of him.

"Look at you! Pathetic! You thought you could save that Damian Wayne?! You ran!"

"Shut up!" I cried out, covering my ears.

"And now this one, you are starting to gain a human crush on him. But he will be just like the others. He will find out and he will hate you!"

"He's different! He's my friend!"

"Imagine the disappointment when he sees you like this, imagine the pure hatred and pure disgust-"

"STOP IT!" I screamed, tears streaming down my cheeks and unleashing my power and destroying everything around me.

All except for him.

"Raven!"

Danny. . .?

I glanced behind me and gasped to see Danny, in his hero suit, running at me and I quickly turned back around when he came close enough.

"Raven, take my hand! This is a nightmare, it's not real. We need to go-"

"No, don't!" I gasped when he grabbed my arm, but I pulled my hood so that he could not see my face.

"Don't look at me!"

"Raven. . ."

"You'll just think I'm a monster - that I'm like Trigon, and you'll finally know and you'll hate me and I can't lose anybody else, Danny. I just can't," I sobbed, dropping to my knees and staring at the floor.

"Raven, I've known about you being Trigons daughter since you first joined the team."

What. . .?

"Trigon is a demon, a conquerer of worlds, and you may have his powers, but you are not him. You are gifted, and you use your powers for good. You cannot and will not lose me or our teammates," He turned me around to face him and pulled down my hood, and I shut my eyes.

"No matter what you look like, you are Raven. You always will be," I slowly opened my eyes to see that I was. . . normal again.

"You will not escape me, boy! She has a destiny, and you will not take her away from that!" Trigon cried out.

"Ready?" He held out his hand and I nodded, taking it and everything went white.

"Huh!" As my violet eyes opened back up to the real world, a gasp escaped my throat.

"Raven, are you okay?" Danny was immediately by my side at my desk.

"Y-yes, thank you," I hugged him, my emotions so out of wack.

"It felt so real."

"It's over now, he can't hurt you."

"Where's my hug?" We pulled away to look at Peter with a monotone stare.

"Kidding, kidding!"

"What's going on? How is everyone asleep except for us?" I asked, looking around the room to see our knocked out classmates.

"I used all of my chi energy to get us out of there. We were dream walking," Normally when I dreamwalk, it's pleasant, but just from the look on Dannys' face I could tell that this was going to be a problem.

"You're going to say something foreboding now, aren't you?" Peter asked as he inspected an unconscious Sam before dropping his head back into the desk.

"Dreams are the window to the soul. I believe someone has slammed them all shut."

_____________

"The whole city is asleep, how is that possible? Knock out gas? Nighty night tea in the water supply? Sleepy time ray?" Peter went on guessing as Danny rode on the back of his motorcycle, and I was flying.

"My bike sensors are picking up nada."

"Expand your senses, Spiderman. This is not the work of science."

"So SHIELDs gone nighty-night too. Great," He sighed.

"It is the supernatural. I have some training in mystic combat, and this has all the signs," Danny tried explaining to him, but we have a nonbeliever here.

"Sorry, you were saying something ridiculous about magic?"

"Magic is woven through the fabric of the universe, Spiderman."

"That's just kid stuff! Anything that looks like magic is just science we don't understand yet!" I felt his thoughts. He was thinking back to a better time, with his uncle, who was a believer and it seems as if Peter has lost faith overtime.

"Tell that to the Sorcerer Supreme," Danny responded.

"Heh, I had a triple cheeseburger supreme once-" I grabbed his face and turned it towards me.

"You should stop talking."

___________

"The "greatest wizard of all time" lives here? Did he cast a "don't pay the rent" spell?" Peter looked at the run down building, expecting both Danny and I to be disappointed and wrong.

"He's the only one that can help us. And don't call him a wizard, he's a doctor," Danny has a lot of respect for Dr. Strange, and I too. He helped me control my powers, and even wants me to come back under his tutelage now that I've involved my emotions.

"Whatever. Paging Dr. Cookoo! Ha-whoa!" He hit a statue that appeared infront of him, revealing Dr. Strange true home.

"Who put that gargoyle there? Who put that spooky house there?" Danny let a sly smile upon his features.

"Hmm."

"Cloaking device, big whoop. I have a magic time piece with a one eyed troll," His SHIELD watch turned on to show us Fury fast asleep.

And the doors opened.

"Your path to enlightenment awaits."

"Your friend really went "sorcerer chic" when he was decorating the place," Peter looked around, seeing the various items on pedestals.

"But, I'm sorry Danny. Putting a junky old box on a pedestal doesn't make it magic-ahh!" He screamed out as tentacles released out of the box he was leaning on.

Dumbass.

"Do not touch anything else. One crisis is enough."

"Doctor," I greeted him.

"Raven, it's great to see you dear. Do you have an answer for my offer?" I hoped he wouldn't bring it up here, but. . .

"I'm still thinking about it," I dismissed.

"Dr. Strange, I presume?" Peter crossed his arms.

"You may address me as Sorcerer Supreme. Yes, Spiderman, Iron Fist. I'm impressed you're both conscious."

"What about her? Danny here had to pull her out of-"

"She's an exception," He cut him off.

"Namaste, Doctor," Danny bowed, "it was your training that saved me. I found Spiderman just before he fell too deeply under the spell."

"That's different," Strange quirked his brow,"He's uniquely connected to this reality by energies that would act as a beacon for someone with your sensitivity, Danny."

"You're lucky to have this "Spider-sense", I believe you call it?" He turned to Peter.

"Was that like, mind reading? Guess what number I'm thinking of. . ."

"You aren't thinking of a number. You're thinking of flapjacks," Strange rolled his eyes before walking away.

Ew.

Who calls them that?

"This way, gentlemen and lady, we have little time," He ushered us over.

"Wha. . .huh?"

"There are greater things in Heaven and Earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Burn.

We all surrounded the cauldron in the center of the room, a light blue emitting from it.

It sprayed out and as Peter tried to touch it, a face appeared.

"Whoa!"

"This is the demon called Nightmare, the self-proclaimed "King of Dreams". He's tried to escape the dream dimension for eons, and finally found a way through," Strange explained before giving me a sympathetic look.

"Sorry Raven, you'll have to deal with another one that you've rejected."

"It's fine, I can manage him," I dismissed it.

"How many have asked for your hand?" Danny tilted his head and I pinched the bridge of my nose, my head hurting just thinking about it.

"Too many."

"Ravens many proposals aside, dreams aren't another dimension. They're just in your head," Peter still wasn't believing it.

"To our limited human perception, it seems so. But I assure you, the dimension of dreams is real. Nightmare found a way here to Earth and unleashed a powerful incantation that put everyone into an endless sleep. Those poor souls will suffer their worst nightmares, feeding him for eternity."

"For real? 'Cause I have to tell you, Doc, my "non-sense" is tingling. I don't do "magic"."

"Honestly, Danny? This was the best you could do?" Strange turned to us.

"A dull blade can make an excellent hammer."

"I heard "excellent" and "dull". Am I offended or not?"

"Offended is the right word," I smirked.

"Destiny has chosen you for a reason, Spiderman. If you hope to fulfill your purpose and save mankind, you will have to do the impossible. Close your mouth and open your mind," Strange tapped on his head.

"Eye of Agomotto, pierce the veil with your eternal sight!" Strange threw the eye and it reflected off of every piece of surface before returning back to him, and granting his powers.

Flashy.

"Prepare yourselves. We're going to enter the realm of dreams and stop Nightmare, or else humanity falls. . ." The purple incantation above us then hit the ground, and we were in the realm of dreams.

"Whoa! Huh? How did he. . .huh?"

"Be careful, we're in his world now. And Spiderman, stay on the path," Strange told Peter, who was already peering into a door.

And as Strange went to him, I looked to Danny and sighed.

Here it goes.

"You never agreed with anything they've said. . .right?" I asked, referring to the many rumors about me.

"Rumors are rumors. I do not believe a false truth."

"And you never saw me as. . .that?" My eyes casted downwards, afraid of the answer.

"Not even once."

And my head popped back up.

"You built a reputation for yourself, Raven. You are good, you fight against evil, and you're an amazing person. I wouldn't trade anything or anyone for you."

Even though he was just being a friend, my cheeks heated up and my heart started beating wildly.

"Thanks."

"Well, what is your perception of me?" He leaned in a bit, and obviously he leaned in out of curiosity, but him being so close made my breathe hitch in my throat.

"You-You're a great fighter too, Danny. Your skills are unmatched, and from the time I've gotten to know you, it's been nice to have someone to meditate with. Your personality is bright and warm, one of the many enjoyable and likeable aspects about you," I softly smiled.

"T-"

"Flirting right infront of me? My my, how foolish of you."

Nightmare!

"This farce is over, Nightmare! Feel the sting of the Crimson Chains of Cyttorrak!" The chains launched at him, pulling him from his horse but then they snapped.

"Oh, you're playing the same old game, Doctor! As you can see, I've changed the rules. Dreamons!" He pointed his sword at us and his little minions started towards us.

"Dreamons? I'm getting you a Thesaurus for dream Christmas. And tanning spray."

Please stop talking.

Pulling my hood up, and keeping my cape sealed, my eyes glowed white as the Dreamons came at me.

Then, a black mass of tentacles came screeching from my cape and dragged them all in as they cried out in fear.

"What's the matter? Afraid of the dark?" I taunted.

"Your strength is obvious, my dear. Come, take my hand and we will rule this Earth-!"

"Nope, stopping you right there," I waved my hand infront of me and then jolted it up, knocking him off of his horse.

"You-!"

"Shroud-Blade of Sha'roth!" Strange wrapped his cape around him, the blade appearing on it and launching at Nightmare.

"Oh, Doctor, I'm practically drowning in power! Drinking in the suffering of millions, and you're trying the same tired tricks?" Nightmare hit him through one of the doors, then kept repeating it like tossing him back and forth.

"I can find you with the Mists of Munnopor!" He dragged Nightmare to the surface, but he still had other tricks

"Didn't anyone tell you smoking is bad for you?" Nightmare breathed in the mist before blowing it right back at us

"Dude, you're creepy as all heck. But funny? Not your gig. Seriously," Peter shot webbing but it only took down his horse.

"How desperate you must be, allowing yourself with children, Sorcerer Supreme," With just one touch, his horse started morphing into a giant spider.

Ew.

"See your defeat! This is the eternal night! My world, my rules!" He cackled as it came at us.

"Shield of the Seraphim!" I put my hands up as well, fueling the shield with my power.

"How about you whip up the "Laser Cannon of Luxembourg" or whatever and blast that pasty-faced goon?"

"With so many minds to feed upon, he's too powerful. Brute force alone will not win the day!" Strange grunted, trying to keep the shield up.

"What other kind of force is there?"

"We must find a way to weaken him. Nightmare will do his best to separate us and attack through our fears. You must keep your wits about you or we are done," Strange explained.

"What about your fears?" Peter asked.

"I am Sorcerer Supreme. Every soul on this planet - in this dimension, is under my protection. I cannot allow myself the luxury of fear."

And that's why you're my favorite teacher.

But then, I heard a door open.

"Danny? Danny, where'd you go?" Peter went off to find him.

"Go!" He shouted at me.

"But you-!"

"I'll be fine, you need to help Danny. Stop him from succumbing to his fears!" I nodded and ran towards the door, the cold hitting me as soon as I walked in.

"Danny! Danny!" I called out, running down the path of footprints.

"This is not your home," I heard a dark voice proclaim, and just as I turned the corner, I saw him.

Shou Lao.

"Shou no! It's just Nightmare!" Peter tried reasoning.

"I have nothing to fear here. I faced the great Shou Lao before and beat him to gain this," Dannys fist glowed, but then Shou Lao leaned forward and the color from his hand faded away into his mouth.

Taking his power.

"You have squandered your gifts by running with nonbelievers and fools!"

"Fools? Well, Nova maybe. Iron Fist, snap out of it-!" Peter was knocked back by its tail.

"You are weak, undeserving. You are not worthy!" Shou Lao taunted.

"You're not buying this, are you?" I ran to his side, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"He's not real, Danny-"

"And another fear. You look at her with admiration and know she holds great power, but you fear that you are wrong about her," I looked at Danny.

"That she will succumb to the evil of her father and become like her siblings."

"N-no, that's not true!" Danny cried out.

"You are a terrible liar!"

"I'm sorry," Danny whimpered.

"Danny, that's-ah!" It knocked me back and I hit the snow.

"You are unworthy!"

"I. . .I earned the Iron Fist, but there's a part of me that's always been afraid it was a mistake. That the power wasn't meant for me," He doubted.

"No way, Danny! You are Iron Fist!" Peter told him.

"Not today!" Shou Lao screamed as Peter ran towarss him, kicking him out of the realm of Dannys fears.

"Danny, enough!" I shouted, teleporting infront of him but he looked down.

"Look at me," I said softly, my hand cupping his face and lifting it.

"You were born to be this. You trained, you proved yourself worthy and earned this power. You made it your own and you use it to protect others and honor your home. No one else in this whole enter world deserves it more than you," I told him, but he still looked disappointed in himself.

"But I doubted you. . ."

"So what? Of course others doubt me Danny, but you know who I am. You've known since the beginning and you put your trust in me. You're a true friend, and I respect you for having faith in me," I put his forehead to mine, and the second his forehead touched my gem, everything around us disappeared.

"You're an amazing man, and you deserve everything."

"Thank you, Raven. You truly are the greatest gift to us all," He smiled softly, his hand ontop of mine as I still held him close.

And my heart skipped a beat.