Fan Fiction ❯ Raven's Destiny ❯ More To Fate Than Destiny ( Chapter 6 )

Disclaimer: Since I obviously don't own the copyright to Teen Titans, I'm taking advantage of the Fair Use Clause of the Copyright laws to write a story with them in it. Who knew the government would protect the little guys? Anyway, I hope you enjoy.

Author's Note: See the full note at the bottom, enjoy!

 

Chapter 5: More To Fate Than Destiny

 

“In the face of oblivion, all we have is ourselves. Believe it or not, sometimes that's enough.”

- Austin Stoker

 

Raven's head fell forward in defeat. She had failed so utterly, and now it really didn't matter. Her father had returned and stripped her of her soul. The emptiness inside of her was immense. She couldn't feel anything; her sense of touch had completely disappeared. She slowly put her arms in front of her, looking them over, turning them around and staring. It was like she didn't even know they were there. Was this how Terra felt?

She slowly got up. Where was she? She looked over the edge of the ledge, below her was bubbling magma and a sheer drop. It… almost looked inviting to her for a moment, but the thought flickered from her mind as quickly as it had entered leaving Raven, once again, to a cold numb feeling. She let out breath and sat down. Emptiness, she was like a living hole.

Where was Slade? Where was his triumphant gloating? And for that matter, where was Terra? Were they still fighting? Did it even matter at this point? Trigon had broken through, victorious at long last. Was this her destiny? To `live' the rest of the mockery she could now call life at his side? It still seemed so wrong… and then she felt it. It was a dulled feeling, to be certain, but it was a feeling. Hatred. It hadn't gone away, but it had changed. So weakened… she could easily control it… but something was wrong, she didn't want to. It was a feeling of hatred she hadn't had before. One she had never tried to keep in check. Her father. She hated her father.

Blinking at the somewhat obvious thought she rose. She wouldn't stand at his side, ever. She would always oppose him, no matter how feeble the attempt. But she was so weak. He had taken everything from her, her entire life. Every chance for normalcy, at hope, at friendship, at… everything someone should want and be able to do had been stolen from her. Her soul, HER soul, had been stolen from her. The anger within her reveled with the realization, but there was nothing it could do. With no soul, Raven had no power outside that of a mortal. It was an impotent, beaten rage that filled her, but it was a rage she longed to feel.

Another roar ripped through the sky and the earth shook as Trigon took his first steps on the damned and blasted mockery of what was once earth. The ledge beneath Raven crumbled. Her eyes widened slightly, and she backed into the wall, but everything collapsed and she was falling amid a shower of stones and rubble. Below her the magma bubbled, waiting to greet Trigon's offering. Her arms shifted in front of her face as she collapsed onto the lava. She couldn't feel the air course around her as she fell, and she couldn't feel it's blistering heat as she fell towards the lava. She closed her eyes. After everything that had happened she would die due to her father's first footstep on this earth? It seemed so wrong…

And then it was too late.

 

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Terra was only dimly aware of her surroundings… the pain… how long? The world shook her into consciousness. Why was everything shaking? She fell forward onto her knees, and then flat on her chest with her arms sprawled in front of her. Everything hurt… everything hurt so much… she wheezed, blowing up a small wisp of dust from the scorched rock. Her numb arms, slowly curled back towards her body, then slowly, painfully lifted her from the ground. She coughed up blood, more of it than the last time, but it was indistinguishable from the ground. Everything was soaked in red light, the sun, when she finally looked up at it, was a ruby ball hanging in the sky. Terra found herself kneeling, staring up into the sky, her arms hanging loosely at her side as blood trickled down from her otherwise parched lips. Her chest pushed against the indented chest plate in a feeble attempt to bring in more air.

With a groan she closed her eyes. Images and memories washed over her. Fighting… Slade burning her… attacking her and Raven and everything hurt so much and… Terra opened her eyes looking at the red sky. Slade was dead. She had killed him. Why was everything still this way? Her head dipped forward. What did she have to do to fix it? She would have to ask Raven… she would know… Terra looked up towards the ledge Raven had been lying on to find it missing. Terra's mouth fell open in shock. “Raven…” she murmured, letting her eyes trail down the rest of the cliff. It was a sheer drop leading right to the lava and… Raven. Terra saw her lying on the lava, not moving. She wasn't sinking… she was just lying there. Her eyes widened ever so slightly, but for some reason she wasn't as shocked as she usually would have been. Stumbling back and leaning against the cliff face she called out to Raven, but there was no response. Terra leaned there for a moment longer, the cupped her hands around her mouth, “RAVEN!”

 

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`RAVEN!' The voice sounded distant… but it was Terra's… Raven opened her eyes lazily, and then widened them in horror. Not even an inch in front of her was bubbling magma… was she in hell? “Raven get up!” A more frantic call came from behind her. She still couldn't feel anything no heat… it wasn't registering… her soul. Her heart sank as she realized what had happened. She had fallen onto the lava… but it hadn't killed her… it hadn't even hurt her, another revolting gift from her father. She placed her hands down on the molten rock and pushed herself up in disgust. First getting to her knees and then standing upright she sneered, saved by one of her father's gifts… a few pebbles fell into the lava a few feet away and she looked up to see Terra descending towards her.

“Terra… where is Slade?” She asked, looking around for their relentless pursuer, whatever had happened, they wouldn't have much time before he returned.

“Dead.” Raven's eyes went wide for a moment as Terra stopped at the lowest ledge she dared step foot on.
“What?” Apparently losing ones soul wasn't enough to stop one from being shocked, some inner voice mused, but Raven brushed it aside.

“I killed him…” Terra managed to force a smile for the briefest of moments, “…it wasn't pleasant…” Raven raised didn't respond, and Terra was left with the most uncomfortable memory he left her with, “he… he said… your soul…” Terra reached out towards Raven, an unsure and tense look on her face.

Raven didn't seem to respond, simply bowing her head, “My father stole my soul.” Terra was hit by a queasy feeling, which didn't help the pain. There was a moment of silence and Raven walked over to her, leaning her back against the rock wall behind her. Her chest plate was beaten in, if her ribs hadn't been broken before, they were now. Terra's breath was shallow and haggard. The blood from her lips was coming in a continuous flow now… she was bleeding internally, but Raven wasn't sure from where.

“How were you standing on lava anyhow?”

The question caught Raven, once again, by surprise; she turned away, embittered, but unable to truly feel what she knew she wanted to. “My father has returned.”

Terra leaned her head back against the rock, “Raven… who is your father? He controlled Slade… made you immune to lava… he stole your…” she stopped herself.

“My soul.” Raven said in a flat voice.

Terra leaned forward, looking Raven in the face, “No one has that sort of power!”

Another roar echoed throughout the air, and the world shook again. Raven looked on impassively as Terra grabbed onto her for support.

“WHAT IS…” Terra coughed, nearly doubling over, falling back against the cliff face and taking a moment to wipe the blood away from her mouth, “… doing… that?”

“My father.” Raven frowned without realizing it, and Terra was left gaping.

“So… this is ALL your father's fault?” Raven simply nodded and Terra's shoulders fell, “So… we're going to fight him… right?” She smiled meekly, but it fell apart into a dejected frown as she watched Raven.

“I… don't see how.”

Terra gawked for a moment, “We'll fight him and…”

“You haven't seen him, have you?” She asked honestly.

“What does that matter?” Terra asked, confused.

“Can you can still lift us up?”

“Sure, why?” Raven nodded curtly and turned around, leaving Terra more than a little frustrated. There was no sound from Raven, who stood still, keeping perfect balance even when Terra tore the ledge away from the sheer rock cliff. Raven closed her eyes as they rose above the ridge. There was a moment of tension and the stone stopped abruptly. “Ra… Ra… Raven… there's a… a… a…” Terra began to hyperventilate, and the stone wobbled.

“Demon.” Raven opened her eyes taking in the sight before her. A massive pit had formed in the center of the city, where Trigon's church had been. A deep red light, different from that of the sky, shone from it, coming from beneath the earth to show its master in infernal brilliance. It was a pit leading directly from hell to this world. The gateway was open.

Terra was having trouble breathing, the pressure against her chest, the short, quick painful gasps for air hurt so much that she had collapsed to her knees again. Using what energy she had she landed the boulder unsteadily, causing Raven to move for the first time since she had gotten onto it. Collapsing forward, barely holding herself up with her trembling arms, Terra managed to cough out a few more words, “What… was… that?”

Raven looked down at Terra. She should feel bad. She couldn't… she was in pain… but it… didn't matter. Raven frowned, she had always tried to control her emotions… but now it seemed as if they were simply dead. She kneeled at Terra's side, unsure of what to do until she heard Terra's question. She paused, “That is my father.”

There was utter silence and Terra's labored breathing stopped. Slowly her head turned towards Raven, her eyes wide and filled with fear, “THAT… is your father?” Raven nodded and Terra nearly fell into convulsions. The only thing that struck Terra's mind was that they were supposed to fight THAT! THAT! Of all the things in heaven and earth… well… definitely not from heaven… they had to fight THAT! A demon that looked nearly ten stories tall, which could use her as a glorified toothpick, they were supposed to fight THAT! Of course, the damnation and destruction of the world made perfect sense now, but that was little consolation for knowing they were supposed to fight… THAT!

Terra slowly turned to look at the demon again. She hadn't been seeing things, as she had hoped. There really was a ten story tall demon, red skin, glowing red eyes that had no pupils, and massive antlers that looked like a deer's, only sharpened into blades at the ends. Terra withdrew into herself, they were going to fight that… and they were going to have to win. Otherwise it was truly pointless to go on. What sort of life could anyone possibly live in this blasted landscape? And with THAT thing chasing them for the rest of eternity… they wouldn't last more than a day.

Raven stood above Terra, watching her father intently, letting the little hatred she was able to feel fester and burn within her chest. Her hatred was the only thing her father had left to her, but he hadn't realized whom it was directed at. “How are we going to fight him?” Raven paused, looking down at Terra.

“I do not know.”

Terra's eyes bulged, “We're going to have to fight that thing, right? And you don't know how? It's YOUR father!” Raven glared at Terra and for a moment Terra's fear of Raven's father was replaced with a fear of Raven. She backpedaled, stumbling over words, trying to find something to say when Raven turned back to looking at her father.

“Yes, he is my father.” Raven murmured, glaring at him intently as he let loose another deafening roar.

“So… you don't know how to stop him?” Terra said, bracing herself slightly. Raven looked to Terra and frowned when she found her trembling as if she was about to be attacked.

The anger within Raven died slightly, and she kneeled down on the ground. “No.”

Terra nodded, then went back to looking at Trigon. She shuddered involuntarily, “But… we can… fight him right? There is a chance we can win… isn't there?”

“I don't know.”

Terra felt queasy, “We have to try.”

“I can't fight him…”
Terra felt as if she had just been hit in the jaw, “What?”

“He stole my soul, my powers are gone… I'm not even human at this point.” Raven's shoulders sagged visibly and Terra was left gaping.

“You don't have your powers?” Raven nodded and Terra began to curse. They had barely been able to stop Slade WITH Raven's powers. And this thing looked a hundred thousand times more powerful than Slade.

Raven watched Terra loose it, cursing and swearing and finally falling into a spells of coughs with blood pouring from her mouth. Raven let out a breath she hadn't known she was holding and lifted Terra from the ground. Terra looked at her, breathing heavily and wincing from the pain. The pain was so obvious, but Raven saw something in Terra's eyes. Perhaps something within the girl had snapped, her will had broken or Terra had simply run out of energy to continue fighting, but she just looked defeated. Hunched forward, shoulders sagging, blood staining her lips, all the light had been drained from her blue eyes. Terra's head fell forward, “Raven… what are we going to do?” She muttered silently.

That same anger welled up within Raven, Terra was turning into the coward she had always known her to be. `But if Terra had been a coward then why did she fight Slade to save me?' Another voice within her, barely penetrating the deep hatred, but breaking through enough for Raven to realize what she was doing. She remembered he look of fear on Terra's face from not moment ago. Her father had left her hate, and not just for him. She still had to control it lest it destroy her. “We're going to fight him.” Raven said, and began walking towards her father.

Terra looked up, watching her leave, “Just like that? How are we going to fight him?”

“We'll find a way.” Raven said bluntly, continuing onward and not looking back.

Terra found the distance between herself and Raven rapidly increasing and started to follow, slowly at first, but then faster, working her body as best she could despite the pain and injuries. If Raven was going to fight her father without powers, Terra would be damned if she wouldn't fight him with hers. Finally reaching Raven she grabbed her shoulders and smiled weakly, ripping a rock from the ground beneath them. Raven nodded and went back to staring at her father.

 

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Looking up at the ten story tall demon, Terra vaguely wondered how she got into this mess. They didn't even reach the top of its claw like toes, let alone any vital organs. The monstrosity itself was far to busy smashing rubble and roaring with satisfaction to notice them hovering on a rock directly behind its Achilles heel. The stink of brimstone and smoke permeated the air around them, and Terra nearly gagged on the stink. Looking over, Terra noticed Raven seemed unaffected. She hadn't said anything since they had left the `prison'. She had just stared at her father, unwaveringly. Worse, Raven wasn't even sure Raven had blinked during that entire time…

Trigon roared again, a booming earsplitting sound he made every few moment and Terra clamped her hands down over her ears trying to concentrate on holding the rock aloft while also trying not to go deaf. The rock wobbled precipitously and Raven placed a hand on Terra's arm, “Calm down… you need to retain control of yourself.”

“WHAT?” Terra yelled trying to be heard over Trigon's roar.

Raven looked over to Terra, ignoring the roar entirely, “We have to find a way to kill him.” The roar ended and Terra uncovered her ears, but they kept ringing. Raven looked at her dourly, but then turned back to her father. “He must have a weakness.” She murmured.

“WHAT?” Terra yelled, trying to be heard over the ringing in her own ears.

Raven looked at her dourly again but kept anger from making another word. “I said he must have a weakness.”

Terra popped her ears catching the tail end of Raven's comment, “That thing have a weakness?”

“We have to find it.”

Terra looked at Raven skeptically, “What do you want me to do? Hit it with a rock? I don't think that's going to cut it Raven…”

Raven scowled, “If you don't intend on helping, why did you come?”

Terra slammed her hands over her ears again just in time to protect herself from the earsplitting roar that followed. Raven turned away and went back to looking at her father… and her soul. She couldn't truly see it… but she could feel it. Raven could feel her soul within her father, bound to him against its will. Her soul was crying out in agony, sending wave after wave of pain into Raven. She didn't flinch, the pain would pass or it wouldn't, she wouldn't give her father the satisfaction of knowing he was hurting her. How was she going to hurt him? He was immortal in this world, his thick skin near impervious to injury, or at least that's how he had been described to her. Completely invincible and merciless. Then Trigon's roar changed, and suddenly Raven realized something was wrong. It felt like someone had placed a hot iron on her foot. Gritting her teeth she fell onto the rock, removing her shoe in front of a very confused Terra.

“What is it? What's wrong? Raven…” Terra blinked, droning out the strange sound Trigon was now making and moving the stone away from him. Whatever was wrong with Raven… it… and then Terra cringed, looking at a deep black burn mark in Raven's heel, smoke seemed to be floating away from it as if she had been branded. “Raven, what happened?” Something… it looked almost like a cross. And then it grew, smearing that image away and burning the entirety of her foot. Raven gritted her teeth, and Terra watched helplessly, “Raven, what's wrong?” She shouted.

“WHERE IS HE?” She growled out from behind gnashed teeth, “Where is he standing?”

“He's nowhere near us, don't worry we're…” Terra began but Raven grabbed her chest plate and dragged her forward, mere inches from her face.

“Take me there.” She winced, and the pain finally left, she looked down at her heel. It looked scalded, but the marks were disappearing… “Now.”

Terra nodded dumbly, watching as Raven shuddered for a second and then pulled her shoe back on. Terra swallowed the lump in her throat and moved the rock towards Trigon.

That's when Trigon, turned around and noticed them. All Terra could do was stare intently as the four large yellow eyes narrowed. “Uh… Raven… we have a problem…” She turned and looked at Raven, “A big one.” Trigon roared and began stomping towards them, he was almost on top of them in three steps and only Terra wheeling the rock out of the way prevented them from being crushed.

“Get us to where he was.” Raven said, ignoring the threats around them.

“Are you KIDDING me?” Terra said, commanding the stone to fly forward as fast as she dared without them being knocked off. “I don't know where it is!” She looked back to find Trigon once again chasing them. She was certain he was grinning, looking at what he probably considered a tasty meal. Terra's teeth were chattering and she looked forward, Raven was at the front of the stone, watching the ground following Trigon's path of footprints. “Raven… what are you doing?” Terra said, wondering how close they were to being crushed when Raven pointed to the left.

“Turn, now.” She shouted, looking back with an intense stare. Terra opened her mouth to protest, but Raven's stare intensified and Terra veered to the left. Trigon followed and then there was an earth-shaking roar. Raven clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes, quickly grabbing her foot as more smoke came from the front of it. There was a moment where Raven was silent gritting her teeth against the pain. Terra slowed the rock to a crawl, looking back at Trigon who was howling as well, smoke rising from the ground as flames leapt upon his foot. Terra's mouth hung open loosely at the sight.

“Raven… what just happened?” Terra asked as she watched Trigon restart his pursuit.

Raven managed to create a crooked smile, “I figured out how to hurt him.”
“That's great…” Terra nodded eagerly, watching as Trigon advanced towards them rapidly, the hatred in his pupil-less eyes evident. “… Can you do it now?”

Raven flinched, looking at it for a moment and then looking back to where Trigon was. She wasn't sure… but… it was their only chance right now. With as much hope as she had she turned to look at Terra, “Find sanctified ground.”

Terra blinked, looked back to the massive demon that quickly gaining on them, teeth gnashed and yellow eyes glowing with hate, and then looked back at Raven. “This is neither the time nor the place to be using BIG WORDS!” She shouted, speeding the rock away from Trigon as he charged.

Raven watched as her father slashed out, shattering rubble and sending a wave of crushed stone at them. Terra hurled them in another direction to avoid the flying rubble, narrowly dodging it, but having the bottom of the boulder they stood upon sheered off by his claws. Terra twisted away from Trigon as he reached out and tried to grab them, tearing off the very edge of the stone with his claws. She couldn't keep this up, the rock was crumbling and he was too close. It would be too dangerous to abandon Raven… she bit her lip and let the rock free fall, then swept between his legs getting behind him and putting distance between them.

Raven clutched to the rock and pulled herself back over the edge and back onto the flat top. “Warn me when you're about to do that again.” She said, glaring at Terra, but then looked back to her father to see him turning and continue pursuing. She KNEW how to hurt him… but she didn't have her powers and it would be impossible for Terra to locate holy ground within the debris of Jump City. Terra was busily pulling the crumbling boulder through the air and away from him, trying to hold the rock together as well. Raven's hand went to her foot again, watching her father as he began another mad rush, “Make me a cross.”

“This may be the time for prayer Raven, but…” Terra grunted out, trying to focus.

Raven grabbed her from behind and twisted her around and pieces of the boulder tumbled from the sky, “Make me a cross!”

Terra blinked, seeing Trigon behind them and pushed Raven to the flat, narrowly escaping as one of the claws sliced the air where they had been seconds before. “I think we have bigger problems Raven…” This time it was Raven's turn to see the claws hurtling towards them from above and she gasped. Terra dropped them again, letting the rock plummet, then veering around him instead of going through his legs again. She was gritting her teeth against the pain and although Raven didn't notice her hair was getting matted together with blood. The rock hovered feebly in the air for a few more moments and then fell to the ground, shattering. Terra tried to stand, but collapsed to one knee. Raven looked over to her, “Make me a cross!”

Terra saw Trigon coming, his massive booming footsteps landing heavily enough to jar the pieces of stone around them vibrate. Things were starting to go hazy, the periphery of her vision going dim. She only barely heard Raven nagging her for a cross this time… the jarring shake from the side drawing her attention to Raven. She was being shoved back and forth to get her attention. A cross… she nodded numbly and tore a stone apart, creating a simple cross. It floated in air for a moment and then Raven grabbed it. There was a hiss and smoke poured from her hand, Trigon roared, pulling back his palm and looking as the skin scalded and burned. Had he been able to show it, Trigon would have looked shocked by what he saw.

“How…?” Terra asked, her head rose to look at it.

“He has my soul… he can feel my pain.” Raven said through gritted teeth, clasping the stone cross with her other hand.

“So… sanctified ground means ground that connects you both?” Terra asked, looking to Raven confused.

“Sanctified means holy… and holy items…” She gritted her teeth and let go of the cross letting it fall to the ground and shatter. Her hands were blistered and red, the skin peeled away from the palms of her hands all the way up her fingers. Terra winced and looked away. “…will hurt him. Make me another.”

Terra looked at her horrified, “You can't be serious.”

Raven scowled, “I can stop him Terra. Make me another.”

“What's it going to do to you? You're going to kill yourself if you continue doing this!”

Trigon roared and slammed his hand into the ground, shattering the stone around them, barely missing them as this time Raven threw herself onto Terra to knock her out of the way. Raven didn't even wait to get off Terra, “Make me another cross.” She said, “We don't have time to argue.”

Terra opened her mouth to protest, but frowned and nodded, “But we have to get out of here first.” She murmured, willing the slab of asphalt beneath them to tear free from the earth. The roar from behind was all the incentive Terra needed to send the former strip of street hurtling forward at a speed that nearly caused them to fall off. Raven grabbed onto the edge, and held tightly, briefly blessing the fact that her scalded hands had no feeling at the moment. Terra latched onto her, eyes shut tightly, concentrating on flying as fast as she could.

“How close is he?” She asked Raven, eyes clamped shut in concentration. Raven didn't answer, and Terra was left to, reluctantly, open one eye to see. What she saw was his face. He was so close she could nearly see her own reflection. Her eyes bulged open and she sputtered, “Faster… must go faster…” Raven gritted her teeth, barely able to hold on as Terra put on an additional burst of speed, then stopped just as suddenly, shooting in the opposite direction and knocking them both off, Terra hanging onto Raven's waist desperately as they narrowly dodged Trigon's gnashing jaw. She looked down, eyes bulging, “Maybe… this wasn't the best idea…” The rock swung downward, and Raven's grasp fell apart, but just as quickly, the rock was once again beneath them and they were moving away from Trigon.

“Don't do that again.” Raven growled, looking back at Terra, “Now make me a cross.”

Terra cast her glance back towards Trigon and without bearing to look, created a cross for Raven. The hiss and sizzle, combined with the scent that came with it made Terra nauseous. Trigon once again roared. Raven's breath was quick and labored, her teeth gritted together. “We have to find holy ground…” She said, barely audible above the din. Terra nodded, and glad to think of something, anything other than the horrible noises that surrounded her.

Everything beneath her was rubble, stones barely stood upon each other. Nothing was standing. Occasionally, there was a small pillar or wall standing, but nothing to use against Trigon. The rock drifted above the skyline, as they sped away from Trigon in a zig-zag pattern to keep well away from his reach. Occasionally, Terra winced when she heard Raven finally loose out to the pain and yell. Trigon, when she finally looked up at him, had large tracts of black seared into his red flesh. At that moment, Terra knew she wouldn't be able to look at Raven.

The city was empty. There was nothing they could hit him with, no major structure, no church, no cathedral still stood. Terra looked up from the ruins and almost looked at Raven until she realized what that would entail. She wouldn't want to see her in that state. Trigon was still roaring, but it was in pain. Terra was certain he would outlast Raven, there was no doubt in her mind that the monstrosity in the city would outlast his daughter… but… there had to be a way to stop him. Terra cast her eyes to the ground, following Trigon's footsteps. There was the imprint that was seared, the holy ground he had stepped on before. It was their only hope now.

Terra looked to where Trigon stood, lashing out blindly. She didn't want to know what Raven was doing, but she could see more smoke rising from him. She landed softly, and got off. A hand grabbed her from behind and Raven held her solidly. Terra refused to turn around.

“This is the holy ground he first stepped upon?” Raven's voice was gravely, and her breath was growing shorter and shorter.

“There wasn't any other place I could find anything…” Terra said, clenching her first, “Raven, you have to stop… you'll die…”

“I was supposed to.” Was the simple reply and then she heard Raven collapse. The hand simply slipped from her and Terra looked back to find Raven lying on the slab of road. She was burned horribly. Her skin was scalded all over. Parts of her skin were blackened, and her legs were crosshatched with burns. Terra put her hand to her mouth and began to cry at the sight.

“Oh God, Raven…” Terra grabbed Raven. Raven's eyes were barely open, and she was loosing consciousness quickly. Terra grabbed her and laid her flat against the slab of stone.

The sounds of the roar changed, and Terra looked up to see Trigon scared with burns looking at her. She swallowed, “We… we have to go, we can't stay here.” Raven shook her off, then tried to stand, but fell back onto the slab. “We have to leave!” Terra said, trying to stand on the slab, but Raven put a hand on her chest. Terra looked down eyes pleading as she looked at her friend, “Raven!”

Raven closed her eyes and relaxed on the stone. “Kill me.”

Terra took a step back and stared at her, “Wh…what?”

“Kill me.” Raven said, looking up at the sky.

“No.” Terra looked up to see Trigon almost upon them, they had to leave “There isn't time, we have to…”

Raven grabbed her meekly, “It's my destiny Terra, I've already fulfilled half of it… now I have to finish it. I can't let Trigon live.”

Terra stood there, watching Trigon approaching. She couldn't… she couldn't kill Raven, not after all that had happened. She… a waft of smoke arose and Raven forced the cross into Terra's hand. Terra simply looked at it.

“Kill me.”

“No…” Terra took a step back, looking at the cross, “I… I can't…”

Raven's head lolled to the side, staring at her, eyes open and tearing, “Terra. Please.” Terra took the step forward sobbing.

She closed her eyes tightly and stopped as Raven let out a deep breath. Terra raised the cross as high as she could, “Raven… forgive me…” She couldn't and her hands fell to her side, the cross held loosely in her hand. The earth rattled and shook, there wasn't time to run anymore, he was right upon them now. Terra watched him raise his arms above him, grasping them together to create one massive fist. Raven closed her eyes in failure.

Hatred boiled within Terra as she stared at herself in Trigon's eyes. The mocking image that lay before her as he moved to end her, “DAMN YOU!” Terra screamed and hurled the cross at Trigon. She used her powers, sending it spiraling forward past his hands, past anything he could have done, and drove it into his forehead, above his four eyes. Raven gasped, her head turning away from Terra.

The world shook again, this time Terra's doing as the ground around her was wrenched from the ground. Stone after stone was hurled into Trigon, the slabs of the former cathedral, church, whatever it might have been, ripping through him, sending goats of blood from his back and chest. Still his fist came plummeting towards them, eager to destroy them. The flooring was almost gone, and the stones were lying behind him, coated in his black ichors, tainted forever. There was only one thing she could still find. Looking back, behind the remains of the holy building lay a spire. The slate was shattered and missing, the wood within cracked and broken, but on the edge there was a cross. Terra looked back to Raven who had stopped moving. “I'm sorry.” And the spire launched forward, slamming into Trigon's fists and reducing them to little more than ash before passing through and slamming fully into his chest. Raven shuddered and Trigon's roar was cut off.

The wound exploded with light and Raven's body jerked forward; light pouring from her mouth and eyes as well as from Trigon's wounds. Raven threw herself back into the asphalt bed, her back arching and her seared hands clutching air. The world was changing, the light tearing away Trigon's influences. The fire that lit the sky burned itself out, revealing the blue sky and the pale yellow sun beyond. The buildings around them seemed to reform, their bases reforming and coming back together. Trigon was now a beacon above Raven, his flesh was light and he threw his head skyward to release one last roar, but never got the chance as the light disappeared in a blinding flash. Terra was thrown backwards, blinded by the light. But Raven watched on for the last second, the pure white energy bursting forward in every direction. Raven's eyes were held open for one more moment the light disappearing and with it Trigon. She had watched her father die… and then all was darkness.

 

Author's Note: As for the attacking with the cross, please note: any holy item would have worked. I wasn't trying to discriminate, but, basically, the cross is the most commonly used in these types of stories. And would you really want me to have Terra using the Star of David like a shuriken? Or hurling massive statues of Buddha through the air? I think not. If you're going to flame me on how easily or in what fashion Trigon is defeated, please make it constructive.

Oh, and it isn't over, stay tuned to the epilogue.