Return of the Raven

Chapter 1: Missed Messages

There it was. Staring me in the face with its stupid red light. That stupid T on the front.

Truthfully, I wanted nothing more than to just forget my Titan days. They were done, over, finished. Yet still I hold on to this dumb black and yellow communicator waiting for the day that it would finally go off with a message from the tower. And now that it finally has, I suddenly regretted ever keeping it.

With nervous fingers, I gingerly picked it up from its charger and stared at it, entranced by the blinking red light. I could ignore it and bury the device in the backyard. Pretend I never even received it. But I knew that solution would only leave an ache of guilt in the pit of my stomach, especially if my friends on the other end were hurt because of my fear to answer their call. Carefully I flipped open the communicator and read the announcement scrawled across the screen. 1 New Message.

I pressed a button and the message began to play. There was not a video with it, but I did not need one to recognize Beast Boy's voice. Though it was slightly deeper and tons sadder than I remember, it was still Beast Boy.

"Hey, Rae, you'll probably ignore this message, like all of my other messages," I bit my lip in guilt at this but listened as he continued. "But just in case you decide to open this one...I just wanted to say that....that we all kinda miss you back here at the tower and that....we could..... really use your help right now. Robin won't admit it...but we do. Or even just a message to let us know that you're okay....and not being tortured in some alternate-dimension prison like Star had suggested the other night. Well, hope to hear from you soon. Bye."

Tears were starting to stream down my face as his words sunk in, as it hit me once again how much pain my leaving had caused them all. I knew it had been wrong to slip away in the middle of the night, giving each of them nothing but a measly note to remember me by, but I could not stand putting them all in so much danger. Even being just loosely associated with me, Trigon would connect the dots and go after them. He may be over the whole wanting to take over Earth thing (convinced that it is only a wasteland anyway), but that does not mean that he would not burn it to ashes if only for his own amusement. I had left to protect them. If only they could know that...

But things with Trigon have settled down slightly now that I had him banished to an alternate-dimension prison, like the one Starfire had been alluding to. Maybe I could sneak away, at least for a little while. I could go there for just a couple months, catch up with my friends and help them solve whatever issue Beast Boy had been talking about in his message. There is just one small problem--Azarath.

When I had reversed my father's destruction of earth and sent him to another dimension, I had also freed Azarath. My spell had not revived those who had died, but the ones who had been trapped in the in-between due to his spell, were released from the clutches of that dark world and brought back to the newly restored city of Azarath. The council resumed its duties and my mother took her place as Queen. They had been able to survive for a while without me, almost a year in fact, and I was able to stay with my friends in the Titan Tower. But of course, things couldn't stay perfect forever.

It had started with the weird dreams and visions. It racked my nerves, but was manageable, at least during the day anyway. Then, I received a message from Azarath: Trigon was back. So, I left the Tower. I couldn't tell my friends why, they never would have let me leave. Or worse, they would have insisted that they come with to help. I had put them at odds with him once, I could not do it again. Even though it lead to the most painful 18 months of my life, I wouldn't change it. I had made the right call.

I closed the communicator again and hung it back onto its charger, beginning to weigh the pros and cons of what Beast Boy had asked of me in my head. Consumed by the internal war in my head between staying and going, I unconsciously stood up and began to pace around my bedroom. The large room was already immaculately clean, but still I found some crooked books on the bookshelf to straighten and some clothes in need of re-folding, all the while deep in thought. Outside the large window, the sun had just risen and was casting its warm light over the white buildings. I decided to pause the battle in my head and headed toward the bathroom to take a shower and get ready for the events of the day. First on my list of To-Dos: Council Chamber Meeting.

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Three hours. Three hours in a board room with a bunch of idiots. I needed some serious meditation time. I headed for my special spot of the rooftop of the castle. Strategically placed on a hill above the rest of the city, the castle provides multiple locations with breathtaking views of the city below. My favorite, however, is on the rooftop. It is secluded and peaceful, and very rarely visited by anyone besides myself. Thankful for the quiet, I criss-crossed my legs and floated a couple feet off of the ground chanting "Azarath Mentrion Zinthos". Slowly I slipped into the peaceful darkness of my mind. At least it would have been peaceful were it not for the plaguing thoughts of Beast Boy and the team.

Maybe going back would not be that bad. I could see my friends again, maybe even play hero for a little while. I could still keep tabs on Azarath, get daily updates from the secretaries, even come straight back if things started to get really bad again--I mean I can teleport. Besides, considering how the most important topic on the Council Chamber's agenda today was where to place the new fountain, I doubt anything major will be happening soon. Especially with Trigon safely locked away in the forbidden dimension. Charmed with multiple ancient magics, it is impossible to break your way out of that place, even if you are a powerful demon like my daddy-dearest. The only way you are allowed to leave the forbidden dimension is if the person who threw you in changes their mind and gives you permission to leave. And I do not think that I will be allowing him to leave anytime soon. But there is still the problem of who to leave Azarath in the hands of. Obviously I do not trust the idiots people dare to call the Council with my precious city. They would let it burn to the ground as capable as they all are!

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a grumble from my stomach. Still no closer to a decision than I was this morning after the call, I reluctantly stood up and teleported myself to the kitchen. Sitting in the kitchen, flipping through a magazine, was one of my personal attendants. She had been a close friend to my family ever since I could remember and has almost become a second mother to me while my real mom has been gone. Preparing a cup of herbal tea, I silently joined her at the table, numbly stirring my tea.

"What is wrong?" She finally asked, clearly annoyed by the clinking sound of my spoon hitting the side of my cup. Realizing my actions, I pulled the spoon out and set it on the table, releasing a tired sigh.

"It's nothing, Ezra." I said, trying to slip a reassuring smile onto my face. It did little to convince the lady who has known me since birth, however. She sent me a disbelieving look over the top of her magazine. Sighing in defeat, I told her about Beast Boy's message. When I had finished, she gave me a thoughtful look before replying.

"Well, you're going right?" she asked as if the answer was that simple.

"And abandon my kingdom? I couldn't do that, not with everything that's been going on."

"Yes, I too would absolutely hate to miss out on the decision of where to place the new fountain." She replied sarcastically.

"I'm serious, what if Trigon finds some way to come back here while I'm away?"

"Then I call you up and you come back home to throw his ass back in jail." Ezra stated simply, closing her magazine and placing it face down on the placemat in front of her. I bit my lower lip in thought. She made good points.

"You're right, I should call him back and tell him I'm coming...in three to four days." Ezra gave me stern look. "What? I need time to arrange my schedule, pack and mentally prepare myself for what will probably be the most taxing thing I've ever had to do."

"More taxing than what happened six months ago?" Ezra asked pointedly.

"I thought we agreed to never bring that dark time up ever again." I reminded her bitterly. Ezra put both of her hands in surrender. "Okay, I guess I have a phone call to make."

I teleported back to my room and took solace in the silence. The black and yellow communicator was on the charger near the window where I had left it. Before I could reconsider my decision, I charged over to it and snatched it up, quickly punching in the number for Beast Boy's communicator. After a few rings, and a near panic attack, the call went to voicemail and I heard Beast Boy's cheery voice telling me to "do what you do" followed by a beep.

"Hey, B, I got your messages. Really miss me that much, huh?" I started, unsure of what I was supposed to say. "Uh, about what you said earlier in your message, about coming back, well I'll have to rearrange some things in my schedule but hopefully in a week or two I can visit you guys. It has been a long time..." I paused for a minute, "Well, uh, take care and I'll see you guys soon. Bye." I ended the message and closed the communicator, my words reverberating around in my head. Now I only needed to wait for his reply.

To entertain my mind, which was currently on a loop of every moment I've ever spent at the Tower (particularly with Beast Boy), I found my way to the large castle library. I grabbed the closest book, not much caring what it was and retreated to one of the big, comfy chairs. After realizing that the book was a romance novel, however, I quickly tossed it aside and picked up another. This one was much darker and I found peace in the depressing pages, even though I have probably read them a dozen times. It was not so much about the story, it was merely something to distract my mind from anything green.

About halfway through the book I was about to call my sanctuary, however, the main character entered a jungle- a green jungle. There was an entire page describing the BEAUTIFUL, GREEN JUNGLE. I mean really? Of all things to describe, did it really have to be a Green Jungle! Again came the toxic thoughts of Beast Boy with his perfectly messy green hair, his sparkling green eyes that dazzle you to the spot, and those stringy yet defined arms that I just wanted wrap myself in...

Oh God, I think I've come down with some sort of sickness!! To think those thoughts...and about Beast Boy of all people! I mean we are close, but to actually want to hug him, to make physical contact with another human being. Clearly I need a better distraction. I snapped the book shut, blocking out any imagery of green jungles, and made my way to another part of the castle. I came to a sort of entertainment room and sat myself on the couch in front of the large screen TV. I turned it to Pretty Pretty Pegasus and drowned my thoughts with the mind-numbing children's show. Eventually I drifted into a dreamless sleep.

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First FanFic... What do ya'll think?

VOTES, COMMENTS, and FANS are encouraged!!

♡Rain