Chapter 22 Raven's Gem

                                         The Lonely Beast
                                     Chapter 22: Raven's Gem




Robin sat alone in his room, staring at his board of Newspaper Clipings.

so many things had happened in the last few months
following the great "Werebeast Battle" that ocourred in Jump City.


Though General Wade Illings was put under "investigation" for is part in the City's destruction.
he was STILL in full control of the Beastbuster Project, and continued his "Beast Hunt."

Ironicly, he got away clear thanks to a "Technical Malfunction" excuse.


Nicholas Galtry Alias "The Red Beast" was STILL at large.

he hadn't been seen since the battle.
it was ALMOST as if he completly disappeared off the face of the Earth.


not that Robin had TIME to think about that...not with ROSE to deal with.

Slade's imfamous daughter was his NEW obsession.
since she had completly taken over her Late Father's organasation

and, as such was continuing Slade's goal
to DESTROY the Teen Titans and dominate all of Jump City.

she had even replaced the "S" emblems of her Drones with "R" symbols
though, Robin wasn't sure if they stood for "Ravager", or "Rose"


But, Most of all...Beast Boy and Raven had completly disappeared.

Robin knew that only the Titans East knew where they were
but, despite being on the same team, the Titans East REFUSED reveal their location to him.

Beast Boy and Raven could be ANYWHERE, now.
but, Robin didn't even TRY to look for them.

he felt he had done them ENOUGH damage.


just then, Cyborg opened his door.

"Robin..."

Robin looked at his Friend/Teammate.

"it's ROSE...she's back."

Robin narrowed his eyes, then stood up.

"right...let's go."



[Meanwhile, Elsewhere]

the sun shined brightly over the jungles of India...

hidden deep within the jungles was a small village.
and, inside one of these huts...were two teenagers.

one was male, with green skin and hair.
the other was female, with grey skin and lavender hair.

the girl was HEAVILY pregnant.


as mornings light shined into the window
the boy yawned loudly, he then looked at the girl and smiled.

he leaned over and kissed her cheek.
she soon opened her eyes...and, smiled.

"good morning." said Beast Boy

Raven smiled.

"morning."

Beast Boy kissed his love again.

"and, how is my angel doing??"

"with you here...PERFECT."

the couple then sat up on their bed.
as they did, Beast Boy looked at Raven's belly...which had grown BIGGER.

her waist now had a Basketball-like shape.
and, seems to only get Bigger as the days passed.

"and, how is junior??" asked Beast Bo with a smile

Raven affectonaty stroked her belly.

"doing okay..." replied Raven

she then looked into Beast Boy's eyes.

"i...think we'll finally get to meet him, today."

Beast Boy's eyes widened.

"you mean...it's TIME??!"

"well, not right NOW.
  but, i sense it will be today."

Beast Boy smiled, then kissed Raven again.

"good...i've been waiting a long time for this."

"great, i'll call Karen and Roy.
  i think they should be here to see it."

Raven then touched her head and made her eyes glow white.
after a few minutes passed, the glow subsided and her eyes returned to normal.

"DONE...they'll be here, soon."

"great...so, i guess we should get to that place we found, huh??"

"yeah, we'd better.
  i don't want to risk my powers destroying this village during the birth."

Raven turned and sat at the edge of the bed.
she groaned as she tried to get out and stand.

this was HARDER than normal now.
since her waist's size made her body "heavier."

once she was on her feet, Beast Boy immediatly got up and supported her body.

"careful, don't push yourself."

Raven smiled at Beast Boy.

"i can manage...i'm not TOTALLY helpless."

"i know...i just, want you to be okay."

Raven looked into Beast Boy's eyes.

"i WILL be...we both will."

the two looked at each other for a moment.
then, they both leaned over and pressed their lips together softly.

once they parted, they both smiled and blushed.

"i love you so much." said Beast Boy

Raven hugged him tightly.

"so do i...ALWAYS."



[Later That Day]

Raven was sitting in the middle of a grassy field somewhere in the jungle.
she could see the puffy white clouds in the clear blue sky, and many birds flying overhead.

laying beside her was Beast Boy, who had morphed into a Green Tiger
and, had stayed in that form for the past several hours or so.

this was mostly to keep her safe while they waited for Bumblebee and Speedy to arrive.
and, since Beast Boy WAS in the form of India's most Deadliest Predator...she was plenty safe.


at that moment, the two heard plants rustling in the jungle.

"what's that??" said Raven

Tiger Beast Boy raised his head up and growled, ready for attack.
it was THEN, that two teenagers fell out of the jungle and onto the grassy ground.

one a dark skinned female with insect wings
another, a red haired male with a bow arrows.

Beast Boy immediatly reverted back to Human Form.

"GUYS!!"

Bumblebee and Speedy looked over and waved.

"hey!!"

the two ran over to them, panting heavily.

"sorry we took so long...we were "detained." said Bumblebee

"do tell." said Raven, eyeing the dirt and leaves on them.

Bumblebee and Speedy looked at each other.
then, back at Beast Boy and Raven.

"well, FIRST..."cupid" over here had an encounter with a HUGE python.
  the darn thing hypnotized him, and would of eaten him if i hadn't of zapped the thing."

Speedy crossed his arms and huffed.

"yeah, well..."Tinkerbell" didn't do much better EITHER!!
  she got kidnapped by a bunch of monkey's, and I had to track her down to some "old temple"

Bumblebee eyed Speedy.

"some RESCUE.
  you got distracted, and spent the whole time Singing and Dancing!!"

Bumblebee and Speedy glared at each other, grinding their teeth angrily

but, this only made Raven laugh.
the tow looked at her, confused.

"what??"

"yeah, what's so funny??!"

Raven finally stopped laughing and spoke.

"oh, NOTHING.
  you just remind me of Me and Gar, back when we used to bicker and fight."

Bumblebee and Speedy then blushed bright red, their eyes wide.
they then looked away, feeling a little embarassed.

"uhhh...YEAH, right."
"uhhh...SURE, i guess."

Raven smiled, THEN...she suddenly grabbed her waist, gasping in pain.

"RAE!!"

Beast Boy ran over to her, Bumblebee and Speedy were also concerned.
Raven gritted her teeth, her eyes shut tight as her pain increased.

she then shot her eyes open, now WIDE as saucers.

"oh, god...it's happening."

"what??"

"THE BABY!!, it's...IT'S COMING!!!"

Bumblebee eyed Raven's white gown and saw that it was wet.

"she's right, her water just broke."

Beast Boy began to panic.

"OHGOD, OHGOD, OHGOD!!!, WHADDA I DO!!?" said Beast Boy, rapidly

"You can START by "Calming Down."

Beast Boy stopped and and breathed steadily.

"okay, OKAY...i'm gonna TRY and stay calm."

Raven cried out in pain, which only made Beast Boy worried.

"NOT WORKING!!"

"Just DO AS I SAY!!!" snapped Bumblebee

"now...sit down behind Raven, keep her body level."

Beast Boy nodded.
he sat down behind Raven and propped her up.

Raven groaned, feeling like she was being torn apart.
Beast Boy held her hand, but them IMMEDIATLY regreted this by Raven's vice-like GRIP.

"GAAAAHHH!!!!" cried Raven

Beast Boy gritted his teeth, feeling his bones crack
Raven glanced at Beast Boy, then tried to speak.

"s-sorry...gar."

"it's..o...KAY."

Bumblebee looked at Speedy.

"Roy, stand guard!!
  this place in DANGEROUS, so i'm depending on you to keep us safe."

Speedy nodded.
he then walked off, drew out one of his arrows and aimed it at the jungle.

Bumblebee knelt down in from of Raven and pulled her gown up.

"okay, Raven...listen to me."

Raven looked at bumblebee, tears in her eyes.

"i need you to RELAX, stress isn't good for the baby."

"i'm....TRYING!!!"

"just focus on breathing, everything will be alright."

Raven exhaled, then sighed.

"alright...i'll t-try."

Raven began to take steady breaths, trying to stay calm.
but, the continuous pain she felt DIDN'T make it easy.

already her dark powers were reacting to her flood of emotions.
some trees were slowly getting encased in Shadow Energy and vibrating.

and, just to make matters worse...Storm Clouds were forming in the sky.


Raven gasped as sharp pains shot through her.

"GAAHH!!, oh...g-god.
  it...AAAAHHH!!, hurts so MUCH!!!"

Beast Boy looked down with guilt, he HATED seeing Raven in pain.
and, though this was "normal", he couldn't help but feel terrible at putting Raven through this.

"okay, i'm starting to see somthing....PUSH, Raven!!"

"AAAAAAHHHH!!!!"

the Trees encased in shadow were beginning to crack.
and, a slight thunder began to rumble in the sky.

Raven grinded her teeth hard, hissing in pain.
at that moment, memories began to flash in Raven's mind.

memories of HER and Beast Boy.
and, the ONE memory she focued on...was she she first met Beast Boy.


[Flashback]

the Titans stared at a Gordanian Device
that was lodged into a small island near Jump City.

the device looked liked like a Giant "T" when they looked at it.

"that's...quite a view." said Raven, softly

"somebody oughta build a house around here." added Cyborg

"yeah, if you like SUNSHINE and the BEACH." joked Beast Boy

Raven chuckled softly, then smiled at Beast Boy

"you know...your kinda funny."

Beast Boy grinned wide at at her.

"you...think i'm FUNNY!!?" exclaimed Beast Boy, excited

"WOO-HOO!!, DUDE: I know some jokes!!!"

Raven stared blankly at him, grimacing.


[End Flashback]


Raven yelled out in pain, tears streaming down her face.

"I see a head!!" said Bumblebee

Raven gritted her teeth, crying a little.

"you hear that Rae??, your almost done." said Beast Boy

"just ONE MORE PUSH."

"i-i can't, Gar, i ca-"

"YES you can!!"

Beast Boy held Raven's hand tightly.

"i'm right here."

Raven looked at him...then nodded.
she then took a deep breath and tried to force her baby out.

panting, she shot her eyes open and screamed at the top of her lungs.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

at that moment, the Trees encased in her shadows all exploded
lighting flashed, followed by a loud crash of thunder.

Raven fell back, panting heavily.
she then heard the sound....of a baby crying.

"you did rae...you did it."

Raven opened her eyes, her vision blurred
she held her head, feeling slightly dizzy.

she then saw Bumblebee hold a tiny infant in her hands, staring blankly at it.

"oh...my god." stuttered Bumblebee, awestruck

Raven widened her eyes.

"my...my baby, LET ME SEE MY BABY!!!"

Bumblebee broke from her shock.
she immediatly handed the child over to Raven.

Raven held the tiny lifeform CLOSE to her...and, gazed at it.

the child was a BOY for one.

like Beast Boy, he had pointed ears.
but, he ALSO had a ruby red chakra stone on his head...like Raven

his skin was Greyish-Green (almost "olive" colored)
he had a patch of purple hair on his head with green streaks in a "Y" formation.


Raven was frozen still, stunned at the baby in her arms....HER baby.
realization then struck her like lightning: she had a SON...she was now a MOTHER.

Beast Boy was also stunned as well.
he just stared blankly at the child, totally speechless.


the baby wailed out loud as soft rain fell from the sky.
Raven's maternal insticts then took over, and she helf him close.

"there-there, it's alright...mommy's here."

Raven gently rocked the baby in her arms.
the baby soon began to quiet down, calming down.

he opened his eyes and looked at Raven.
both Raven and Beast Boy saw that their son had "oddly" colored eyes.

his Left Eye was Green, while his Right Eye was Purple.

Raven then took her finger and wiped the tears from his eyes.

"no more tears...it's okay, i'm here."

the Baby cocked his head, staring at Raven
it seemed as though he was trying to figure out who she was.

as Raven pulled her finger away, the baby grabbed it.
Raven froze as she felt the tiny hand squeeze her finger.

after a few minutes, the baby released her.
he then yawned loudly, making a high pitched noise.

then, he snuggled up to Raven's chest
he closed his eyes, and finally went to sleep.

"looks like he likes you." said Bumblebee

Raven didn't "hear" her friend, she was too busy staring at her baby.
she finally smiled warmly, a tear falling down her cheek.

she held her baby close, refusing to let go.



~Here I am...this is me.
  i come into this world so Wild and Free.

  Here I am...so Young and Strong.
  right here in the place where i belong.


  It's a New World, it's a New Start
  It's alive with the beating of a Young Heart

  It's a New Day, in a New Land
  and, it's waiting for me....Here I am.


  oh, it's a NEW WORLD, it's a NEW START.
  it's alive with the beating of a YOUNG HEART.

  It's a NEW DAY, in a NEW LAND.
  and, it's waiting for me...HERE I AM.~


Raven held her baby close.
she then looked to Beast Boy and smiled warmly.

"it's strange..." began Raven

Beast Boy looked at her.

"what is??"

"it feels like it was only yesterday...that we were only teammates.
  teammates that did nothing but Bicker, Fight and Argue."

Raven looked at her sleeping baby and smiled.

"now, here we are...here "I" am.
  holding your child...OUR Child."

Beast Boy looked at his new son...then, smiled.

"yeah...i guess it IS amazing, huh??"

Beast Boy then looked back at Raven.

"so...what are you going to name him??"

Raven looked at Beast Boy.

"me??"

"well, you ARE his mother...that gives you the right."

"you have as much right too, being his Father."

Beast Boy grinned sheepishly.

"TRUE...but, "I" didn't carry him all these months."

Raven grinned, blushing.

"yeah...your right."

Raven looked at her child, thinking HARD.
then, she smiled and finally spoke.

"Azari."

"huh??"

"his name...it will be: Azari.
  named after my teacher: AZAR."

Beast Boy smiled.

"sounds like a good name."

at that moment, "Azari" began to open his eyes.
he looked up at Beast Boy...who froze as the baby stares at him.

Raven then grinned at him.

"here...hold him."

Beast Boy widened his eyes at her.

"w-what??"

"your his Father, Garfield...he needs to Know You."

Raven clutched Azari, then brought her to Beast Boy.
the chnagling hesitated...but, soon took him.

he held the infant in his arms, looking at him.
Azari looked up at him with wide, two-toned eyes.

"uhhh...hi." said Beast Boy, finally

Azari (of course) said nothing.
he only reached up and touched Beast Boy's face with his tiny hand.

he then gripped Beast Boy's nose and squeezed it.

"YOW!!"

Azari smiled, then laughed at this.
Raven also smiled (as did Bumblebee)

"looks like he like you, too."

Beast Boy grinned.

"was there any doubt??, i AM a lovable kinda guy!!" said Beast Boy with a smile

Raven smiled, then looked back at Bumblebee and Speedy (who had just joined them.)

"thank you, Karen...i'm glad you and Roy could be here."

Bumblebee smiled.

"i wouldn't of missed this for the world."

Raven smiled.
she then began to get up, groaning as she did.

Raven then took Azari from Beast Boy
wrapped him up in some blankets and held him close.

"there's still ONE MORE person...who should see this."

"who??" asked Bumblebee

Raven looked at Bumblebee and smiled.

"MY mother."

Raven's eyes then glowed white, shadow energy encasing herself, Azari and Beast Boy.

"azarath, Azarath, AZARATH."

in a flash of dark energy...Raven, Beast Boy and Azari all disappeared.
leaving Bumblebee and Speedy ALONE in the grassy fields.

"huh...interesting." said Speedy

"Mmm-Hmm." said Bumblebee

Bumblebee then looked at Speedy...then, she sighed sharply.

"roy...do you think i'm "bossy??"

Speedy began to chuckled.

"BOSSY!??, are you kidd-"

at that moment, Speedy noticed the serious look on her face.

"well, uhh...KINDA.
  i mean, you do sorta....you know."

Bumblebee exhaled.

"well...i'm sorry."

Speedy looked surprised at this.

"say what??"

"i'm sorry if i act bossy towards you and the others.
  it's just that....(sigh), you have NO IDEA how hard it is for me."

Bumblebee looked like she was about to cry.
feeling a swell of concern, Speedy approached her.

"Bee...what's wrong??"

Bumblebee wiped some tears from her eyes, then spoke.

"i...wasn't ALWAYS Bumblebee you know." began Bumblebee

"there was a time that i used to be just: "Karen Beecher"
  i was just an Ordanary, Average High School Student back then."

"what happened??"

Bumblebee's body shook as she recalled a painful memory.

"my...boyfriend.
  he...(sniff, sob) he was KILLED."

"killed??"

"uh-huh...it was a dive-by shooting, i saw him die right before my eyes."

Bumblebee's expression became stern.

"at his funeral...i swore to him that i would put an END to crime, to stop evil.
  that's why i used science to alter my DNA, give me my power to fly and change my size."

Speedy widened his eyes.

"you...did this to YOURSELF??!"

"yes...to protect innocent people from criminals."

Bumblebee then looks at Speedy.

"that's why i'm so "hard" on you and the others.
  i know how EVIL some men can be, i can't afford to make any mistakes."

Bumblebee then looks away, sighing.

"but, i realise that i haven't been fair to you...and, the others.
  if i haven't been a good friend to you I'M SORRY..but, i just want to to understand."

Speedy looked at his "leader"...who looked like she was Breaking Up.

"how come you never told us this??"

Bumblebee was silent, then spoke.

"because, it hurts too much to remember...and, yet: i'm afraid to forget.
  i guess I always thought that just ignoring it would make it Easier over time."

Bumblebee sighed sharply.

"but, it HASN'T...it still hurts."

Bumblebee then looked at Speedy and smiled weakly.

"but, whenever i'm around YOU...it doesn't hurt as bad."

"me??...WHY??"

Bumblebee sniffed hard, then spoke.

"because YOU....remind me of him." said Bumblebee, tears in her eyes

Bumblebee then places her hands on Speedy's chest, looking down.

"when your around...it's like he never left.
  i feel like he's still here with me, like he never died."

Speedy grins a this.

"i take it You and Him fought alot then, huh??"

Bumblebee smiled weakly, chuckling a bit.

"like Cats and Dogs...but, i still loved him."

Bumblebee looked up at Speedy, staring at him.

"just like...i always...cared for..."

Bumblebee never got finished her sentence...
as she had somehow pressed her lips against Speedy's, kissing him.

Speedy widened his eyes, a little shocked at this.
but, after awhile...he found himself enjoying it.

Bumblebee then put her arms around the masked archer, deepening her kiss.



[Meanwhile, In Another Dimension]

an orb of dark energy sudden materialized, then faded.
revealing the forms of Raven (holding Azari) and Beast Boy.

Beast Boy widened his eyes at what he saw next...

before him was a massive, angelic-looking city built atop a floating island
and, at the very CENTER of the grand city was what looked like a Temple.

a temple with a "Dove" emblem adorned on it.

"whoa...is this HEAVEN!??"

Raven shook her head.

"no...this is Azarath."

Raven looked at Beast Boy and smiled.

"i was born in this place...it's my HOME."

Beast Boy looked awestruck.

"cool."

Raven then looked at her son, who was sleeping, again.
she affectonatly stroked his hair and smiled as he breathed softly

"it's time you met your Grandmother, azari."