Teen Titans Fan Fiction ❯ The Pheonix Chronicles ❯ Answer Crumbs and A Bat in the Bellfrey ( Chapter 7 )

O.k. So I'm finally back with another chapter! *YAY!*

Hope you all like it. Hope it was worth the wait!

 

~*~

The Pheonix Chronicals - Chapter 7: Answer Crumbs and A Bat in the Bellfrey

~*~*~*~*~

"This is unbelievable! Yo, Rob, have you looked at these readings?"

 

Cyborg was standing in front of the Lifesigns Monitor, checking out the newcomer's vital signs and power level readings. It was hard to believe what he was seeing. Not only were the guy's vitals good, they were stable. The only things registering as abnormal were his innate power levels and his brainwave activity.

 

"I don't know who this guy is, but at full strength, he's gonna be a real pain in the butt to deal with."

 

"His name is Phaelyn, and let's hope it doesn't come to that again."

 

Cyborg quirked an eyebrow.

 

"How'd you know his name?"

 

"Raven told me."

 

"How'd she know?"

 

"I have no idea."

 

Cy shook his head.

 

"Why do I get the feeling that this is another of those weird Raven 'things'?"

 

Robin sighed.

 

"Probably because it is. I don't know what connection she has to this guy." 'But I intend to find out,' he added to himself.

 

"I wonder if it has anything to do with what she wanted to talk to you about," said Beast Boy, from the doorway.

 

It was Robin's turn to quirk an eyebrow, just now remembering their brief exchange before Phaelyn's arrival.

 

"Good question."

 

"Where is Raven, anyway?" asked Cy.

 

"Nevermore," came Robin's somewhat disgruntled response.

 

"Why'd she go there?" asked B-Boy.

 

"She said she had to 'remind herself' of some things. Personally, I think she went to find some answers."

 

"Answers?" "ANSWERS?"

 

Robin nodded.

 

"She's been acting kind of funny the last couple of days. I wondered if maybe something was going on with her father."

 

"Trigon? But, I thought she said he couldn't control her as long as she didn't give into her emotions," said Cy.

 

"True. But has anyone else noticed how much she IS using her emotions? She's worried. I'd almost say terrified. And no matter how many times I ask her, she won't confide in me. Today is the first day she's actually asked to talk to me since she hit us with the whole Trigon thing."

 

"Maybe she's just worried, like you said, and doesn't think we should be worried about it. That sounds like a Raven sort of thing to do," said Cy.

 

"Maybe," agreed Robin. "But that means that whatever she was going to tell me earlier was really important."

 

"Ah, don't sweat it, Robin," said B-Boy as he came into the room and walked over to look at Phaelyn. "She'll come back from Nevermore sooner or later and she'll be able to tell you then. And as for her being worried, don't you think she's got the right to be? I mean, she is turning 18 soon. And she said that her 18th birthday would be the day Trigon tried to take control of her."

 

Robin nodded.

 

"I know. I guess you're right. And that's probably why I'm watching her so closely. While I know that we won't let anything happen to her, sometimes I wonder if she knows that? If she really believes that? I guess that's why I keep asking her if she wants to talk or if everything's alright. I just want to make sure she knows we're here for her if she needs us."

 

"Robin?"

 

Robin turned towards Starfire's somewhat timid voice. She was standing in the doorway to the infirmery. Robin's eyes narrowed slightly as he got a good look at the person standing behind her in the hallway.

 

"We have company."

 

~*~

 

Raven sat on the edge of her bed, trying to sort through everything she had just been told.

 

"I am Wisdom."

 

Raven looked at the new emotion.

 

"I've never seen you here before. Matter of fact what happened to here? I've never seen Nevermore look like this before."

 

Wisdom smiled, pushing back her hood to better show Raven her features.

 

"I thought the place could use a little spring cleaning. It was quite the pit before so I rearranged it. I like it better this way. I think you will too." *wink*

 

"I recognize you now. You're that woman from my dream, Amalthia."

 

"No, I'm you."

 

Raven looked a little doubtful of that statement.

 

"Then why do you look older than I am?"

 

Wisdom's chin lifted ever so slightly, but the amused look on her face detracted from the haughtiness of the gesture.

 

"I'm not that much older. I thought a nice late 20's look would be appropriate. After all, Wisdom usually only comes with age."

 

"So, are you or are you not me?"

 

Wisdom sighed.

 

"A little of both. I am what's left of what Amalthia gave you, mixed with one of your own emotions."

 

"You're a gift?"

 

"More like a reward, for the favor she asked of you. Do you remember that favor, Raven?"

 

Raven nodded.

 

"I'm supposed to help Phaelyn. But I gotta tell you, he doesn't seem at all happy with me."

 

Wisdom sighed but nodded.

 

"Well, his world was just destroyed by a hoard of demons. He got a far too personal feel for them. And I'm afraid he was able to pick up on our half-breed nature. It may make things difficult in the beginning, but he'll come around."

 

"What makes you so sure?"

 

"Because, silly. Just as I am a part of you now, so are you a part of me. He'll see me in you, eventually. But it will still be up to you to get him talking and thinking. It won't take much. Contrary to earlier events, he's a thinking warrior. Harule's pride on the field."

 

"Harule?" asked Raven.

 

"Yes, Harule. Phaelyn's father and incidentally, Amalthia's husband. He was the Lord of Phaelyn's universe and Amalthia's mirror opposite."

 

Wisdom's expression wavered as a small shadow of sadness passed over her features. And for a brief moment, Raven felt a pang of sorrow and grief in her chest that almost winded her.

 

"Harule was one of the last to fall. He fought bravely and killed many of the invaders before they finally managed to overpower him. As he was dying, Harule transferred what was left of his power, and knowledge, to Phaelyn. Amalthia knew that they weren't going to make it, so she pulled Phaelyn to the side and cast a powerful slumber spell on him. Then she set about finding a place where she could find an ally strong enough to help him. She found you. And in the next moments she sent him hurtling through the vast distance between you, enveloped in all the mystic protection she could manage."

 

"So he did fall out of the sky! Amalthia must have been quite the powerful sorceress."

 

Wisdom nodded solemnly.

 

"She was."

 

"But, why did she pick me then? I mean, I know I could be very powerful, but only if I give in to my emotions, and I can't do that."

 

"You have it in you to be the greatest sorceress this universe has ever seen, Raven. And that was before Amalthia gave you her power. You see, Raven, in all her wisdom, Amalthia knew that the events of the past would color Phaelyn's perceptions of the universe, and subsequently, his abilities. She needed someone that could teach him that everything wasn't always what it appeared and that he should be more open and responsive. As Harule's youngest son, Phaelyn got a lot of attention, especially when he showed an aptitude for the more martial of arts. Harule was Lord of War as well as Lord of the Light, so it was only natural to teach him all these things."

 

"And what was Amalthia?" interrupted Raven.

 

"She was Harule's opposite. She was the Lady of Darkness, but also the All-Mother. Most commonly she was known as the Lady of Fate."

 

Raven had a feeling she knew where this was going but she was being hit with so much, and she was having a hard time sifting through it all.

 

"That still doesn't answer 'Why?' for me. In case you haven't noticed, I'm not the cheerful, bouncy type. My own impressions of the world are rather dark and foreboding, and I don't currently see that changing anytime soon."

 

Wisdom just smiled at her.

 

"You are so much more than you seem, Raven. Phaelyn is going to need you for numerous things;teaching him tolerance, opening him back up, teaching him to live again. Amalthia knew you could handle the job, otherwise she wouldn't have left it to you. Phaelyn is in a strange land with absolutely nothing left of his own. He's going to need you to teach him how to live here in this new world, with these new people. Most importantly, he's going to need your compassion and understanding. Of all the Titans, You are the best suited to make him feel something beyond the grief and sadness that are currently occupying his heart."

 

Raven shook her head adamantly, with a look of sheer terror on her face.

 

"I can't! Don't you get it? I can't use my emotions! That's why they're all locked up in here, to keep them away from me! Do you even have a clue as to what will happen if I let them LOOSE? I'll destroy this world just as suredly as the demons destroyed his! That's what demons seem to do best..."

 

Raven's head hung as she fought against the sudden urge to cry. 'Why? Why now? My emotions are going to far this time. Bawling isn't something I ever want to do again,' she thought. But even so, Raven could feel the first tear start to slide down her cheek.

 

Wisdom put a consoling hand on Raven's shoulder and made her look up at her.

 

"It's all right, Raven. I know you don't see that now, but you will. It's alright to feel. It's natural. And no matter what Trigon does, he won't control you. Your Fate has been changed. Embrace it."

 

Wisdom pulled her into her embrace even as she reeled at the emotion's words. And somehow, just being close to her settled Raven's mind enough to relax. After a moment Wisdom pulled back just enough to look Raven in the eyes.

 

"You already feel better. Good. Now go. Phaelyn needs you."

 

Raven couldn't believe what her emotion said, could she? It was awfully risky just thinking about feeling, let alone actually doing it. But then, her emotions knew that. So why would they lead her astray? Raven shook her head with a soft growl, somewhat annoyed. But just then she looked up as she got a rather uneasy feeling.

 

'Something's wrong.'

 

~*~

 

"Hello, Batman," said Robin neutrally as Starfire all but ran into the room to stand behind her boyfriend and leader of the Titans.

 

"Robin," he said with a slight nod of the head in greeting.

 

"What brings you to our neck of the planet?"

 

"Your guest," he said, gesturing to Phaelyn as he stepped into the room.

 

"Oh? What about him?" asked Robin, sure he wasn't going to like the answer.

 

"He's coming with me."

 

"No, he's not."

 

Both caped crusaders turned to find Raven standing in the doorway, floating about a foot off the ground. But the floating wasn't nearly as disconcerting as the blazing eyes and glowing hands.

 

~*~*~*~*~

 

Dun, dun, DUUUN!!!

 

Oh, the evil cliffy beast strikes again! (I gotta catch that thing and put it back in it's cage.)

 

What 'cha think?

 

Should I keep going?

 

PLEASE REVIEW!!! How else am I supposed to know what you think of it? Huh?

 

O.K. So, watch for Chapter 8. I've already started it and it should be out soon! :)