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oceanspray5 · 3 years

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Into The Woods I Go, To Lose Myself And Find My Soul

BBRae Week 2021, Day 6 - Fantasy

Word Count: 20.7k

Ao3 - FFN

Note: This fic was a double prompt fic and included the prompt for Day 3 - Into The Woods as well.

Once Upon A Time in a land far far away, there was a beautiful kingdom by the name of Azarath. It's lush forests, shimmering pools, beautiful gardens and sophisticated architecture was marred only by the fact that the Kingdom was ruled by a horrid tyrant: Trigon the Terrible. Rumored to have stolen the kingdom from the previous rulers with the help of dark magic and deals with demons, Trigon was hated and feared throughout the land. The people were aware of his slippery ways, how he would appear kind and benevolent to few he deemed necessary to please before turning around and causing misery everywhere in his wake. None could escape terror under his horrible thumb. Yet despite Trigon's tyranny, none were so happy as the people of Azarath on the day the news spread that a daughter was born to Trigon's queen, Arella.

Raven was declared to be her name. Such a common name and after such a common bird. The people questioned its importance. After all, ravens existed in every kingdom, in every nook and cranny. What was so special about a bird so common that it could be deemed a worthy enough name for a princess? What's more, the people whispered, ravens were birds of death. Dark omens. What a horrible name to saddle a child with! For the future of the child and the hope of the people, the princess should have been bestowed with a name like Dove or Lark. Something lovely and serene. But Arella had named the princess Raven and the wise among the common folk began to murmur that it was because the princess was to be a very dark omen indeed – but not to them, oh no! She would be a dark omen to Trigon. She would bring the downfall of her father and put an end to his tyrannical rule and save the people. Arella had gifted her daughter the name because she would free them, and that imbued a sense of excitement within the people who whispered and cheered for the baby princess not yet a week old.

The whispers of the common folk made their way to Trigon who had ears and eyes everywhere. At first he dismissed the notion that his daughter could overtake him. She was a frail thing, a premature birth and thus weak and small. She was hardly a threat. And yet thrumming in her veins was power. Power that Trigon himself had given her through his lineage. After consulting the demons within him it was confirmed: Raven was yet weak but one day she wouldn't be. Her power would only grow with age until it surpassed his own by her 18th birthday. And that is when the fear began.

Trigon had worked too hard to keep the people fearful and the kingdom as his own. Arella had been a helpless human, another way to fool the people he ruled. She was a fluke who he had no love for and the daughter was meant to be just another pawn. But Trigon could not stand the idea of his pawn being more powerful than him. Raven had to die. Trigon would have no one threat his power over the kingdom.

Plans in place, Trigon was to have his only kin murdered in her sleep. He toyed with the idea of letting her grow. Of grooming her into doing his bidding as a dark princess and of stealing her power for himself when she reached her eighteenth year when her power was ripe. But such plans were too risky. Trigon had an abundance of his own power and killing Raven would ensure no one would be able to contest it for a long long time.

What Trigon hadn't realized in his immense self-satisfaction was that Arella was no longer blind. He had long since given up the facade of loving her, treating her as brutally as he did everyone else. She was weak and human and had no escape from him so he ignored her whimpering. She posed no threat to him so he overlooked her. He was wrong.

In the dead of the night, Queen Arella bundled up her precious baby girl and stole away to the bottom of the castle gardens. Behind a wooden door – hidden by thick moss in the stone wall – a severe woman in a hooded cloak was waiting for her.

"Lady Azar!" Arella breathed in relief. "Thank you for coming."

"The window of opportunity is small, my Queen. Trigon may notice at any minute that the young Princess is absent." Lady Azar got straight to the point.

Arella's face grew damp with tears as she looked once more at her precious baby with her tufts of violet hair. Her eyes were closed in sleep and her breathing was soft. Raven was so small when she was born. So small and meant to endure such a heavy fate. No matter whose daughter she was, no matter Arella's misery at being trapped with Trigon, she loved her daughter boundlessly. She knew that she was in no position to protect Raven and must give her away.

With a heavy heart, a loving hug and a final kiss to her soft chubby cheeks, Arella handed her pride and joy over to Lady Azar. She turned away as the older woman left, unable to watch her daughter go only a week after her birth. Then with as heavy of a resolve as she could muster, she locked the wooden door and made her way back to her palace chambers from where she could see the Ever Deep Woods of Azarath. The sanctuary where the monks lived unharmed and out of Trigon's reach beyond which lay the kingdom of Doom.

"Be safe my Raven. Don't return until you have your powers under control."

17 YEARS LATER

It was the best day of Rachel’s life.

Lady Azar had finally granted her permission to leave the sanctuary and wander the woods on her own. It had only taken Rachel seventeen years to garner permission but now she had proven her emotions to be under control and herself wise enough to leave the monastery. She still wasn’t allowed to wander far but Lady Azar had permitted her to leave the walls of the (admittedly large) sanctuary in which Rachel was the youngest member and the one allowed to leave the least.

She had always longed to leave, always longed to meet other people. But longing was too close to desire and Rachel was not allowed to feel. She had little clue as to why. Lady Azar had told her it would protect her and Rachel did not wish to offend the wise woman who had raised her as long as she could remember. Lady Azar had told her that her mother had left her on the doorstep of the monastery when she was a baby and that her father was a terrible man out to get her due to which she must stay inside to keep safe. Rachel had never questioned her.

When she was young she had tried to sneak out multiple times but someone had always seen her or she never got very far out into the woods before Lady Azar came looking. Rachel knew she could not trust anyone at the monastery. They all looked out for her but they were wary of her too and she knew she would find no assistance among them. Instead, she had turned to working hard to control her emotions instead. Her angry outbursts and cries gave way to silent acceptance. And happiness? Well, Rachel never felt much need for that emotion to begin with so that was hardly hard to tamp down.

Rachel fought back the elation at being allowed to venture into the woods. It would do no good if Lady Azar was to find out she was indescribably happy to be leaving the monastery wallson her own for the first time. The woman had only allowed her to go after careful inspection of her reactions and Rachel was pleased with herself for not allowing any to break out of her control.

Finally free of the marble walls she had known since she was a girl, she breathed in the fresh pine-scented air as she wandered the woodland beyond them. The trees were thick but not at all dense. The grass was soft and springy beneath her slippered feat. Shadows cast by the trees allowed dappled sunshine to break through and birds chirped and sang loudly. It was serene but of an entirely new kind. Serenity was all Rachel had known inside the walls of the monastery but nature had an order of its own that was different from anything she had ever experienced before.

She picked out purple and red berries from the wild bushes, their ripeness hitting her taste buds more deliciously than they ever had been before. The sensation of picking them herself, of knowing she was unbound even for a few hours, made them taste that much sweeter. The wildflowers grew in patches and their exotic scent washed over her in even doses as a gentle breeze danced around them, tugging at her hair hidden under her cloak.

Rachel passed by a beautiful bubbling brook that pooled into a small pond. Its water was cold and its crystal-clear water was sweet. Tugging her hood back to see her even reflection, Rachel allowed herself a small smile now that she was far from the monastery before letting the fabric fall back into place.

It was peaceful. Rachel was content.

That was good. Content was close to happy but it was safer.

She moved onwards, eventually finding a small clearing with more wildflowers. A log overgrown with moss had fallen and next to it was a mound of dirt covered in the same soft grass that grew everywhere. Pulling the hood of her cloak down for good, Rachel sat down with her legs tucked under her. She withdrew a book from her cloak and began to read.

This was nice, she thought. Very nice, indeed.

If only it had stayed nice…

Rachel had had a pleasant few hours reading before she had decided to stretch her legs. She had left her book by the mound to get a drink from the brook, certain no one would steal it while she was gone. It was quite a heavy tomb and she didn’t exactly want to lug it around if she could leave it be. While certainly no people had stolen it, animals were another story.

She returned to find her book missing and after looking around in confusion, Rachel found a pair of squirrels chittering in excitement as they darted through the trees. Behind them, with their tiny paws, they were dragging her precious novel. It was one of the only novels Lady Azar had allowed someone to bring her from outside and with a horrified gasp, Rachel found herself running after the little critters who had stolen her prized possession. Even with the heavy dead weight that was the book, they were faster than her and ducked inside a tree’s hollow where they were most likely to tear it to shreds to make their nest.

Rachel huffed in frustration as she looked high into the tree. It was too tall for her to reach. Her only option was to climb. Except there were two problems with that. Rachel didn’t know how to climb trees and she was too scared to try. Lady Azar had forbidden it and once when Rachel had been very small, she had tried. She had ended up very high, unable to come down and had fallen out. Ever since then she was terrified of high places. Surprisingly, Lady Azar had been relieved by this development and Rachel presumed that it had always been because she would never attempt such a stunt again but she had never been able to shake off the feeling that the old woman knew something more that she refused to let on.

Having no other option, Rachel could only yell at the critters to give her book back. She certainly hoped they hadn’t ripped it apart just yet.

“Hey! Give me back my book!” She attempted. She winced at how loud her voice sounded compared to the birds chirping. She could only hope none of the other monks were nearby. If Lady Azar were to hear that Rachel had become upset on her first day out and because of a few woodland creatures of all things, she’d be less inclined to let her leave again. Rachel refused to let a couple of no-good animals take her freedom from her.

Looking around she saw a tall stone laying on its side. She dragged it over to the base of the tree before standing on it. It gave her enough height to just barely reach the opening of the tree and she shifted to her tiptoes trying to reach. The squirrels must have anticipated that because the book was nowhere close to the edge of the hollow where Rachel’s fingers reached.

Screaming in frustration she glared up at the annoying things that were leaning out of the hole now, a ripped piece of paper caught between their paws. They were mocking her.

“When I catch you!” Rachel growled. “I will spear your tiny little bodies and feed them to the ravens outside the monastery! Give me back my book! Now!”

The critters either didn’t understand her threat or didn’t care for it because they went back to their hut, presumably to rip apart her book some more. Rachel groaned, dragging her hand over her face. She didn’t notice a person coming up behind her until a voice behind her said, “Need some help?”

Rachel shrieked.

Gar was flying through the woods as a bird. He had been wanting to go for a short flight to stretch his wings for ages but had been unable to. Royal duties combined with a resurgence in the rumor that he had been cursed by a witch who had made him a beast had left him castle-bound until the people could be calmed again. Rita had asked him to stay put and Steve had ordered it but Gar had had enough and had snuck out for a while. He had been debunking the rumors that he was a faerie changeling, a vampire, a monstrous beast and god knows what for almost two decades now.

What the people didn’t know was that they were right. A witch had cast a spell on him to save his life. That same witch had been the one rumored to have killed the real King and Queen, Mark and Marie Logan. In reality, they had died of a deadly disease, their dying wish that their son somehow be saved. So the witch they had called upon had tried everything and had succeeded eventually. The young prince was saved and Mento, or Steve as Gar better knew him, Doom’s military commander had raised him along with his wife Rita who had been the Queen’s most favored companion. Now Gar looked like any other young man of seventeen. The only hint of the virus left was a shock of green hair that stood out against the rest of his brunette mess, and the pallor of his skin which was a normal rich brown but tinted almost olive green in the right lighting.

For the life of him, Gar didn’t understand how the rumor started up again every few years. By all means and purposes nobody should suspect his hidden gift at all, and yet the people were fearful after the deadly Sakutia plague had wiped out half the kingdom fifteen years ago. Gar had been the lone survivor. They had a right to be afraid of any potential ruler that could be the cause of the plague again despite his friendliness with the masses.

Gar didn’t usually meet anyone on his flights. The woods were silent away from the main pathways that were used by travelers so his shock was great when he heard shouts coming from a small cove hidden by the trees. What surprised him even more was the realization that the person shouting was a young woman.

Curious, he perched on one of the trees, hiding his green feathers against the foliage. She looked frustrated as she dragged a rock to the base of a tree. Gar could see her reaching into the hole where a couple of squirrels resided. They had stolen something from her. Amused, Gar watched as she tried to get it back, angry at her unsuccessful attempts because of her short height.

Flying a few feet away from the clearing, he hid himself behind a tree before transforming back as a human and making his way on foot to help the young woman out.

“Need some help?” He asked her.

She clearly hadn’t realized he was standing there because she shrieked in surprise at how close he was behind her. She almost fell, tripping on the very rock she was standing on before he caught her.

"Woah! I'm sorry I startled you," he apologized as she quickly moved away, now that she was firmly standing on solid ground again. When she didn't reply, still fearful of him, Gar leapt up on to the rock instead. Reaching into the hole in the tree he tapped around looking for whatever it is she had lost. The squirrels hidden there scrambled out and onto the nearby branches, hissing in anger now that someone tall enough to thwart their plans for a nest had arrived.

Gar felt the smooth texture of stacked paper and dragged it out slowly, careful not to rip it. The heavy tomb almost fell on top of him since he wasn't expecting its weight but he caught it just in time, stumbling to the ground the same way the young woman had.

"All this trouble for a book?" he murmured, amused as he inspected the damage to it. A few pages were bitten through and the cover was a little worse for wear but it was largely undamaged. The young woman seemed to take offense at his humor though because she snatched it away at once, inspecting it herself.

"I didn't ask you to help me," she said almost petulantly. Her face was hidden by the shadow of her hood but he could make out the glare she was leveling him with.

"Well you couldn't have gotten it out yourself," Gar stated. He meant it to be matter of fact but the way his eyes drifted over her short frame only seemed to make her angrier.

She turned around, clearly ready to walk away from the clearing without another word to him before Gar cleared his throat.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

She didn't turn back or stop, the tenseness in her shoulders and the roll of her eyes visible.

"No."

"My thank you?" Gar tried again.

She looked back at him in disdain before turning to leave again. Gar felt a little offended at that. He was only trying to break the ice.

"Hey where are you going?"

"Leave me alone!"

"Look, I'm sorry I implied you were short."

She stopped suddenly almost causing him to bump into her which only made her glare more severe when she whirled around to see him right behind her.

"Why are you in my part of the woods?"

At this Gar wasoffended.

"Hey lady, you don't own the whole forest. I have as much right to be here as you."

"Then stay here and stop following me."

"What's your deal?" Gar snarled. "I was only trying to help."

"I didn't ask you to." She repeated.

"So what? I was supposed to let you keep struggling when I could, and did, solve your problem in ten seconds?"

The woman huffed in frustration at that, clearly out of responses. Gar grinned smugly and she let out a groan before turning away. Feeling benevolent, Gar walked around to face her again.

"Look I'm sorry for teasing you. I didn't mean to bother. If it really makes you uncomfortable, I'll leave."

He turned to go when she cleared her throat instead.

"Thank you." Her voice was low. Still quite cold but with a hint of an apology all the same.

Gar turned back around.

"You're welcome," he offered back, now curious. The young woman made no move to say anything else which made him consider leaving but instead he kept his feet firmly planted instead.

"I'm Gar," he offered as an introduction.

"Rachel."

"You're quite far from any pathways, Rachel," He observed. "Do you live nearby here?"

And truly he was surprised. No one usually ventured this deep into the forest unless they knew it well. The only thing close to here was a monastery and Rachel didn't have reason to belong to one of those.

"Something like that," she evaded. Wanting to keep the conversation going, albeit unknown to even herself why, she spoke, "I was on a walk. I went to get some water. I didn't think there would be any thieves and a book is invaluable to most as it is."

Gar couldn't help the grin that spread on his face. "Well now you know there are thieves here too. Very unconventional ones, but thieves nonetheless."

The girl didn't smile, but Gar could see something akin to humor in her eyes. Hesitatingly she reached up to draw back her hood. She didn't take it off completely but it was enough to see her face a little better. She began to walk but didn’t protest this time when he followed.

"Do you come here often?" Gar asked as he and Rachel continued to walk through the woods.

"Maybe."

"Are you usually alone?"

"Yes."

"Would you mind company?"

She leveled him with a flat look.

"I'm putting up with you aren't I?"

The truth was Rachel didn't quite know how to feel about this young man. He'd helped her and teased her and having never met anyone her own age before, she had lashed out. And then she had lashed out further in the knowledge that her emotions were getting dangerously out of control and she needed to be away from the young man at once in case something bad happened and somehow Lady Azar found out. But he was persistent, and Rachel wasn't nothing if not curious too. Spending an entire childhood and almost all of her teenage years among monks who were much older than her made it so she didn't have many companions her own age. Gar was the first human her age that she had met and his personality was quite… interesting. Nothing so dour and serious like the monks who never smiled while around her.

Despite her best efforts, Rachel didn't have it in her to ask the young man to leave. So she allowed him to follow her as she walked further into the woods. She was trying to keep a careful mark of wherever she walked with a piece of chalk she had brought with her but found herself distracted by Gar's incessant questions.

"That was harsh," he pouted in response to her previous remark. Rachel found herself mesmerized by the hurt yet playful look in his eyes.

"Why does it matter?" She asked, blinking as she quickly looked away. Don't get attached, don't get attached, don't get attached, she repeated to herself. She couldn't afford to have more than a cursory interest in this strange gentleman even for the day.

"Because I was wondering if I could visit you again here. In case the squirrels steal your books again?" He looked hopeful despite the tease and Rachel felt the anger and humiliation rising in her chest again before noting the kindness in his eyes. He wasn't making fun of her… he was making fun of the situation.

Rachel knew what her answer should be. She knew what Lady Azar had told her about meeting other people and how dangerous strangers could be especially because they brought about emotions that were hard to control.

The only time before Rachel had almost left the monastery was when she was barely fifteen. It had been at the urging of a young man who had seen her through the carved windows of the monastery walls and had visited for a week straight. Rachel had never felt so special before, feeling every bit of a princess as the ones in a novel one of the kinder monks had snuck to her among her textbooks. She would even have left with him if Lady Azar hadn't found out. The old woman had forced Rachel to watch as she exposed the young man as inhuman. He was a dragon looking for an innocent woman to make his next meal. Rachel had been so disheartened she hadn't asked to leave the monastery again for almost two years.

Fear of the same thing happening struck Rachel. She had already trusted once and her eyes had deceived her. But a pang of intense longing suddenly rippled through her chest, one that contained seventeen years of hollowed loneliness. From beneath her hood she looked at the expectant young man who looked more and more nervous as he waited for an answer. He looked human enough. Malchior had always had an inhuman charm about him that made him spellbinding. The man in front of her was nothing like him. He looked almost too normal.

Finally having made her decision, Rachel steeled herself, letting out a quick breath before she answered.

"Alright."

Gar visited her every day he could after that. Rachel had been relieved to find out upon her return to the monastery that Lady Azar was none the wiser to her mishap with squirrels that led to her meeting a young man. She showed no emotions and remained the picture of perfect neutrality as she asked permission again the next day and the day after and the day after to take a walk outside the walls.

Lady Azar seemed curious but pleased with Rachel's immense control. She figured that the poor girl had been cooped up enough her whole life and since it was rare for visitors to drop by the monastery, Rachel could have free reign of the surrounding woods as long as she didn't stray near the pathways.

"Remember Rachel, you must not speak with anyone," Lady Azar warned every day.

Rachel nodded, forcing herself to shove down the guilt as it rose before it became visible in her eyes.

"I won't Lady Azar", she always promised.

Then she stole away to the clearing in the woods to meet Gar.

Some days he was already waiting for her. Other days she was first with him arriving only moments later. He always arrived on foot which surprised her because, as far as she knew, nobody lived in these woods for miles. Most visitors at the monastery came on horseback and yet Gar never had a horse with him. If he tied it up at a distance he never made indication of it but Rachel never pried. He never asked her where she lived and so she never asked him where he came from.

He was an enigma to her. Rachel quickly learnt that he never stopped talking. It was infuriating. After growing up in the monastery where solitude and quiet were the norm and no one spoke louder than the rustling of the leaves in the wind, learning to deal with Gar's chatter was an adjustment. It didn't help that she herself remained largely quiet which only encouraged him to keep talking to fill in the silence.

"You could rival the magpies," Rachel commented once after he had enthralled her with a long-winded tale of something or the other that he had learnt from a traveler.

"Thank you?" Gar asked.

"It wasn't a compliment."

"Hey now, birds have beautiful voices. You're basically saying I have a song bird's tongue Rae-Rae."

"Tongue, yes. Voice, no," she deadpanned. Then realizing what he called her she scowled. "Don't call me Rae-Rae."

"But it suits you!"

"No!"

"Gar and Rae. See. Short and simple."

Rachel harrumphed as she glowered at him but didn't say anything else. She would never admit that she liked having a nickname. It made their friendship more solid somehow. Real. And if she pushed him into the lake later as payback and he only laughed instead of being offended by it, warming her heart in the process, he didn't need to know.

Their visits continued for quite a while. Eventually Rachel felt comfortable enough to take her hood down. The first time she had done it was about two weeks after they had begun to meet up.

She had been the one to arrive first and after some brief consideration, she had tugged down the hood of her purple cloak. She turned when she heard his soft footsteps approaching on the springy grass.

He looked at her in awe and Rachel suddenly felt self-conscious. She had unnaturally pale skin, that much she knew even though she had only had the monks to compare. And her hair was short and almost as black as a raven's plumage until it hit the light when the real dark violet shade of it was exposed. It had always grown naturally that way.

Rachel had never given much thought to her looks before, but seeing Gar staring awestruck at her now she wondered if she was as pretty as the girls he would be used to seeing out in the rest of the world. She didn't know why she cared either, but she convinced herself it was because Gar was quite handsome himself.

She would have been an idiot to not notice him. His warm brown skin looked like honey in the sunlight although it held an oddest tint of green which she supposed was due to the trees reflecting their pigment on his skin. His brown hair was a mess but it never looked untidy and the strands at the front that often fell over his forehead were green.

"They've always grown this way," he'd explained to her once when he had caught her staring. She assumed he explained because people usually asked but in reality she had been staring because for the first time she had seen someone with hair that naturally grew colored as hers did.

Gar's eyes were as green and as deep as the forest pools that surrounded them and they reflected light in the same way especially when he threw his head back to laugh at one of her sarcastic quips. And his laugh… She tried hard not to stare at the dimples that formed in his cheeks when he smiled wide, always displaying his perfect white teeth but it was hard not to notice when he was such a joyful person.

Gar was beautiful and Rachel didn't want to think about the feelings that stirred in her when she focused on it.

Today, he looked at her like she usually looked at him.

She didn't say anything for a few moments, choosing to observe her as he took her in. The way his eyes lingered on her hair as it danced around her face because of the slightly stronger breeze today. The way he shyly met her eyes as he took them in properly, no longer half hidden by her hood. The way his eyes drifted across her porcelain skin that was largely unmarred except for a faint freckle or two where she actually got exposed to the sun.

"Cool hair," he eventually choked out.

Rachel felt humiliated even though he had complimented her. She didn't know why she had expected something more.

"Thank you," she mumbled, getting ready to cover her head again but he grabbed her hand before she could. He looked almost as surprised to have done it as she was on feeling his skin suddenly against hers.

"Don't," he whispered, almost pleading. "I like seeing your eyes."

Rachel tried to ignore the heat that rose to her cheeks and the flush of red that surely accompanied it.

She left her hood down.

Eventually they couldn't not talk about the elephant in the room.

"I live in the monastery," she told him one day as they sat and munched on berries they had picked while wandering together. She has laid them out in her cloak since they didn't have a basket. The weather was pleasant today and so she didn't mind taking it off and remaining only in her simple deep purple dress as she and Gar sat near one of the father brooks and ate their fill.

He had brought some biscuits on his way from the town too, something he had discovered Rachel enjoyed but didn't get much of wherever she lived. Ever since, he had taken to bringing freshly made ones from the bakery almost every visit.

Rachel felt her heart flutter the first time he did it but then it had taken to becoming a whole swarm of birds and butterflies when he always remembered without fail. She had never had anyone do something so sweet. The fearful whispers in her mind that warned her that Gar wanted something from her and would betray her like the dragon had had long since been hushed. She felt safe around him for some reason. Safer and happier than she ever had at the monastery.

Gar looked surprised at her admittance. He had never asked although she had always seen in his eyes that he was curious. He often offered to walk her back to her house to be sure she was safe but she always refused. She felt ready to tell him why now.

"I've lived there as long as I can remember. The monks told me that my mother was involved with a bad man and that she left me there to keep me safe. They say I'm still in danger so I can't leave yet." She explained.

Gar just watched her, the look in his eyes urging her to continue.

"Apparently whoever was after my mother can sense my emotions. Lady Azar does not want me meeting people. She's afraid anyone could be dangerous."

"It's why you don't let me walk you back," Gar concluded. Rachel nodded sadly.

"If she knew she'd never let me leave the monastery again."

"Wow…" Gar slumped further against the tree he was sitting down against as he took it all in. "It must have been difficult," he mused finally, looking at her sadly.

Rachel scowled. She didn't want his pity.

"I've survived," she snipped.

"Hey I didn't mean it that way." He raised his hands in surrender. "I just meant that it sounds lonely."

Rachel looked down at the ground then, tugging up the tufts that were within reach.

"Yeah," her voice was barely a whisper. "You're my first friend," she admitted.

Gar looked like he expected it but was surprised all the same. Without warning he leapt to his feet and gave a dramatic bow. "Well, it is my honor to be the first friend of such a beautiful maiden."

He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips before Rachel could protest and she quickly snatched it back. His cheeks burned as red as hers and he looked anywhere but her piercing glare. Something had changed between them in that moment and neither wanted to say what.

Gar cleared his throat. "Anyway, has your Lady Azar found out where you go when you come meet me?" He asked. He finally looked back at her as the red in his cheeks died down and the racing of his heart slowed back to a normal pace. From his raised senses, he could hear Rachel's heart had returned to its normal pace too.

"No. She hasn't." She looked curious. "Why?"

"Just wondering," Gar muttered. He looked thoughtful then as Rachel continued to watch him before the mischievous spark that had a home in his eyes lit back up again. "How would you like to go experience a day in the town?"

"Finally!" Victor snapped, noticing Gar coming out of the woods and towards the pathway that led to Metrion. "You better have a good reason for calling us out all the way to Azarath, green bean. Why couldn't we just meet up at- oh."

He finally noticed that his best friend was not alone. Behind Gar stood a young woman in a cloak and hood. Her intelligent eyes peered out at the strangers defiantly but it was clear she was nervous.

"Guys, meet Rachel," Gar introduced smoothly, completely ignoring Victor's outburst. Dick straightened up and Kori looked absolutely exuberant at meeting a new friend.

"Hello Rachel! I am Kori but you may call me Starfire as well," Kori said warmly, ever the welcoming one. "We have heard the many good things about you from Friend Gar."

A pale hand reached out from under Rachel's cloak ready to shake hands but Kori went for a hug instead. Dick, who chose to go by Robin for this meeting in public as he did with most new people, shook her hand next, looking at her critically once over with his ice blue eyes. He didn't smile beyond a polite grin but Victor made up for it with his much warmer smile all the while hoping she hadn't heard much of what he was yelling before she arrived.

"It's nice to meet you all," Rachel said finally. Her voice was slightly gravelly but soft. She made no move to remove her hood and Victor noticed she stayed close to Gar although she stood confidently on her own with no indication she required his support. She was uncomfortable, but confident and it was clear she trusted Gar only.

All that hardly mattered to Kori who immediately took the newcomer’s hand and led her down the path to town already chatting up a storm.

"This is the girl from the woods you've been meeting with, Gar?" Victor finally said once they were out of earshot. Gar had told them all about Rachel once he had no longer been able to hide how much he snuck out. He usually met up with his friends once a week if not every day and when that had suddenly stopped, they were naturally suspicious.

What had come out next was an interesting revelation that had Victor, Dick and Kori all worried for their friend. However, they couldn't deny he was happy especially after the hurt he experienced with the resurgence of rumors of him being cursed. They had wanted to meet the young woman who clearly had their best friend smitten although he resolutely denied such a thing. Gar had refused to let them come with him up until this point, insisting she was shy and seemingly wouldn't like to be ambushed. It was confusing then to have him turn around and suddenly ask them all for a favor to travel an hour to a town at the outskirts of Azarath and meet them there instead of their usual haunt in one of the towns of Doom.

"Hey, her name's Rachel. She's not good with people. Just let her open up." Gar replied defensively. Vic only laughed. Ohh, Gar had it bad.

"Not judging little man but you have to admit you caught us by surprise with this. A little warning would have been nice."

"I know, I'm sorry. I just didn't think you you'd would agree otherwise."

"Oh we would have agreed. We've been wanting to meet this girl since you told us about her, Gar." Something in Victor's tone must have given him away because Gar immediately jumped on it furiously.

"You don't think she's trustworthy?"

"He's saying we should be careful. Have you told her anything?" Dick asked firmly before emotions could escalate.

Gar shook his head. "She doesn't even know I'm a prince."

"You didn't tell her?" Victor asked in surprise. He had expected his best friend to have told the woman he was smitten with at least that much.

"It never came up," Gar shrugged looking down. "She treated me so normally and after…" Terra.

The girl had been someone Gar had fallen for and trusted. It had turned out she was only using Gar for his status as the Prince. When Steve had discovered this he had had her banished from the kingdom. Gar had been heartbroken. His only consolation was that he had never revealed the truth of his powers to her and that was only because of a promise he'd made to Rita. Gar shook his head as if forcing the bad memories away.

"Anyway she doesn't know. I didn't want her to think of me differently. I want to tell her but I don't know how." Knowing his friends would be confused, he further clarified, "Both things."

Dick looked concerned at that, always the most vigilant.

"It's a good thing you haven't yet." Seeing Gar's face scrunching up in protest he quickly added. "I'm not saying she isn't trustworthy, Gar. But let's just get to know her a little better. You said she'd never even been in a town before. I don't know about you but that seems suspicious to me. Let's observe her for today and then pass judgement."

Without waiting for Gar to continue he stalked after the girls who were well along the path by now.

"Is that why you didn't want us meeting in Doom?" Victor asked.

"Yeah," his best friend sighed. "I'm too easily recognized there. I didn't want to overwhelm her since I hadn't even told her the truth about me yet."

He looked guilty as he said it and Victor patted him on the back, putting his other hand on his shoulder.

"Look, Dick's right. Let’s just have a good time today. You may know her but give the rest of us a chance too. Afterwards, you can tell her, okay?"

Gar bit his lip, his one canine that was a little sharper than the others becoming visible for just a second but then he nodded.

"Okay."

"Good. Now let's get a move on before Dick starts hounding your lady friend and scares her away."

Gar had told her he'd be inviting some of his friends so Rachel had been steeling herself to meet them for a week. She'd been apprehensive at first but he'd badgered her about it enough that she finally agreed.

"It'll be good for you! And my friends are all nice people so you'll have fun. Besides they really want to meet you," he begged.

That had interested her. "You've told them about me?"

Gar had only blushed in response. Rachel wondered what they expected of her but she felt warm inside knowing Gar thought of her even when he wasn't with her. She thought about him too and she wished she had someone she could tell like he had told his friends but no one at the monastery would understand so she suffered in silence.

"Fine.”

The prospect of meeting more people and finding more friends was one Rachel couldn't ignore especially since her friendship with Gar had blossomed so well over the months. She was feeling more rebellious lately which was why she supposed she agreed so easily to Gar's plan of taking her to the nearest town outside of Raven Woods.

"Why are they called that?" she'd asked him as they made the journey through the tall trees. As far as she knew, there wasn't any particular abundance of crows and ravens in the woods she called home.

"They used to be called Ever Deep," Gar told her. "But after the Princess of Azarath went missing, presumed dead, they were renamed in her honor."

Rachel knew very little of Azarath but she did know a tyrant ruled over it and that the monks detested the king. They lived outside of the kingdom's territory in a neutral space that belonged neither to Azarath nor to its neighboring kingdom, Doom.

Meeting Gar's friends was nerve-wracking despite the steely expression Rachel held on to. She wanted to make a good impression and she worried she'd already blew it when her and Gar emerged from the woods to find his friend yelling. That fear quickly dissipated when they all welcomed her with varying degrees of warmth.

Starfire had hugged her and befriended her immediately. She was beautiful with her cascading red hair, green eyes and dark skin. She held a grace about her that had Rachel wondering if she was some kind of nobility and Rachel found her admiring the other girl's beauty and appreciating her friendship immediately although it overwhelmed her how exuberant she could be. She had thought Gar was the most hyper a person could be but clearly she had thought wrong.

Robin surveyed her coolly despite his polite greeting. He didn't trust her yet and Rachel could respect that. After all, she didn't much trust any of them yet either. As they entered town she observed as he took a mask from his satchel and tied it above his eyes. She wondered why he bothered since most of his face was exposed.

"Boyfriend Robin likes to stay the incognito in public spaces." Starfire whispered to her. That did nothing to alleviate her confusion but she realized that Robin not having worn the mask for their first meeting itself was already a show of trust. It was shocking, but it was something that brought a smile to Rachel's face anyway. Slowly, she tugged down her hood in return.

The company stopped only for a second as they looked at her, taking in her appearance before moving on. Rachel pretended to ignore the looks they kept shooting her as they walked. They had clearly wanted to keep looking but didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable.

Victor was the one Rachel had been nervous about since he had been the one who appeared annoyed on their first meeting but it seemed his annoyance was purely for Gar and not for her. His kindly demeanor was warm and attractive and his behavior to her was almost brotherly despite them just meeting. Rachel had never had an older brother, but she found Victor's presence to be a nice resemblance to what it might have been if she did have one. He joked, trying to coax out smiles from her not unlike Gar but his jokes were always at his best friend’s expense as if he already knew that was the perfect way to engage Rachel who couldn't resist making a quip back.

The teens showed her around the town of Metrion. To Rachel it was the largest town she had ever seen but when she voiced the thought, the others only laughed.

"This is actually a pretty small town, Rachel," Victor explained. "It's one of the important ones though since most travellers to Azarath usually take this route into the forest."

"Have you really never been here or anywhere before Rachel?" Robin asked. Behind his mask, Rachel could tell he was analyzing her.

"Never," she promised. "My guardian, Lady Azar, she always used to say it was too dangerous."

"Why were you in the danger, Friend Rachel?" Kori asked with a gasp of concern. Rachel felt the same warmth of acceptance wash over her at being called friend.

"I don't know," she replied honestly. "My mother was involved with a magician or something. Lady Azar has never told me much. But whoever he is, he can sense my emotions and Lady Azar refuses to let me leave until it is safe."

Rachel could see the same sadness on these people's faces that Gar had displayed only days earlier but before she could lose control and snap at them, Victor spoke instead.

"Well house arrest or not, we're all glad to have you little lady. Let's show you everything you've been missing."

She smiled at the warm expression in his eyes. He was redirecting the situation and she appreciated it.

As Starfire and Robin led the way with Victor following, Gar sidled up to Rachel.

"So… what do you think?"

His voice held the same nervousness it had held months before when he had asked if he could visit her again and Rachel found the corners of her lips quirk in endearment.

"They're nice," she admitted. "They've accepted me so easily. Even though I don't quite fit in."

"Pfft," Gar waved away her worries. "As Vic always says, we're all weird in our own ways. You fit in just fine."

Rachel allowed her smile to widen then. "Thank you for bringing me, Gar," she murmured, low enough that she wasn't sure if he'd hear.

"You're welcome," he replied equally as softly. They stopped in the middle of the cobblestoned path, just looking at each other for a few moments, amethyst meeting emerald, before being shocked out of their reverie by Victor's beckons.

"Come on lovebirds! Stop falling behind!"

Gar and Rachel both blushed and looked away as they hurried along the path.

Over the day Gar's friends had each taken turns showing Rachel something new and interesting about the town.

Starfire had forced her into a dress shop to show her all the pretty designs. Rachel had only ever dressed in plain gowns but she couldn't deny her curiosity at the vibrant patterns all on display. Eventually she tired of the dresses though and Kori seemed to realize for she then brought her over to stalls set up by local sellers who were all selling trinkets of some sort. The jewelry, in particular, caught her attention. One gem in particular.

"Finest rubies in Azarath, Miss," the vendor told her when he observed the brooch she was eyeing. It was nothing special. Just a circular stone set in a metal mold. "They're selling especially well these days."

"How come?" Rachel found herself asking.

"Because of the princess of course," the vendor replied bluntly almost surprised she didn't know.

"The princess?"

"You look Azarathian," the vendor peered at her curiously. "How is it that ye don't know?"

She took a step back, covering her head in her hood again so he wouldn't stare at her any further.

"I'm a traveler," she insisted. The vendor shrugged.

"The princess' eighteenth birthday is nigh. Those of us who believe she still lives have hope she will return to defeat her father, the tyrant Trigon. These gemstones are those of her birth and its legend they'll bring good luck and Princess Raven's protection."

Raven only looked curiously as she turned the stone over in her hand. It didn't seem like much. And the idea that the missing princess could protect people through ordinary minerals was just as ridiculous.

"Ready to go, Rachel?" Gar asked as he came up behind her. She turned to see Victor and Robin looking just as bored as him. They had been remarkably patient as her and Starfire browsed.

Setting the brooch back on the vendor's cart, Rachel nodded as she walked away. She didn't see the exchange that followed between Kori and Gar as Victor and Robin led her out of the market.

"Friend Gar, did you notice that Friend Rachel was looking intently at that brooch."

Gar raised an eyebrow. Currently Kori was looking at him with intent but what she was implying he didn't know.

"You should buy it for her," she finally spelled out. "You are holding the affections for her are you not?"

Kori left before he could reply, leaving Gar to ponder over her words.

After Kori had had her fun with Rachel, Robin and Victor had their chance. Robin took her to a weapons store. While he tested out some trinkets to add to his own collection, he also beckoned her over.

"Try this out," he told her, showing her a dagger with a red gemstone embedded in the hilt.

After correcting her incorrect posture with Robin's help a few times, Rachel found that the weapon fit quite well.

"Is the weight too light or heavy?" He asked.

"It's perfect."

"Then we're getting it."

Rachel stared at the dark-haired boy in shock. If she was any less put together then her mouth would be agape but Lady Azar had taught her better manners than that.

"Why?" She found herself asking. Besides Gar, no one had ever gotten her anything before that wasn't a book meant to help her meditation or a novel meant to appease her begging. Having something be gifted without asking was a foreign concept to Rachel.

"You live in the woods and have to travel to and from them alone when you meet Gar," Robin shrugged. "It's better to be safe than sorry."

He went up to the vendor to pay for his own weapons as well as her dagger and Rachel had to swallow the lump in her throat. For the first time, the idea of protecting herself in a form other than hiding behind the monastery’s marble walls or within the cover of the forest was offered to her. Holding the dagger close to her chest, Rachel allowed herself a smile that only grew wider when Robin returned with a holster strap to carry it in.

After all the browsing, it was obvious everyone was getting hungry. That was made even more apparent when Rachel's stomach let out a keening wail that was audible to her entire group of friends. She turned red in shame and embarrassment but before she could apologize, Victor held up his hand.

"Looks like we're all hungry. Thank God. My stomach's been making these noises for hours now."

As if to prove his point, his stomach also grumbled which only led to Gar laughing and Kori giggling while Robin smirked too.

"Lead the way," Gar said amused once he'd finally stopped. "You're the one who knows the best food joints in all the land."

"I meant in Doom, string bean," Victor glared. "But I can do just fine here too."

"Somewhere vegetarian," Gar said firmly.

Victor rolled his eyes but gestured for everyone to follow as he moved forward.

Not half an hour later they were seated at a small tavern which was selling lunch for the time being since it was still early evening.

"I don't know what any of this is," Rachel admitted to the rest of the group as they decided on their orders. At the monastery she only ate simple foods and even those were tailored to be plain so they didn't invoke any powerful emotion from her. She didn't even have a favorite food, something she hadn't discovered until one day Gar had asked her. The closest thing she could imagine was the biscuits which was part of the reason he had taken to bringing them for her: every day a new flavor.

"How about I just order something for ya then?" Victor asked. "I'm the one with the best taste here."

"You keep telling yourself that."

Gar rolled his eyes at his best friend but he didn't suggest choosing a dish for Rachel as Victor had. He wanted her to gain a full experience and he knew that while his preferred dishes were excellent to him, they were quite limiting to someone who had already grown up with little variety in dietary choices.

In the end she ended up with a steaming plate of waffles accompanied by strawberry sauce, chocolate sauce and syrup placed in front of her. It smelled sweet but not overwhelming and Rachel felt her mouth water just looking at them. Once again she pretended not to notice as the others eagerly watched her as she cut a small portion off the first waffle, dipped it in the syrup and took a bite.

Instantly she felt like she was in heaven. Rachel didn't know how she had gone this long without tasting waffles but they were the best delicacy she had ever tasted. She closed her eyes as she let the flavor settle on her tongue before taking another bite. When she opened them again, the others were already digging in to their respective dishes but with smiles on their faces as they saw how much she clearly enjoyed the fluffy pastry.

"Can I pick a dish or what?" Victor grinned in pride.

Rachel only nodded as she continued eating.

At the end, Victor insisted he pay for her portion too. Gar argued with him over it and for a minute Rachel felt a twinge of embarrassment for not having her own money but there was no way she could have asked for any from Lady Azar. She realized quickly she had no reason to be embarrassed though because it seemed they were arguing over wanting to pay for her.

"Dude, I'm the one who brought Rae. I'll pay for her."

"Shut up, B," Victor rolled his eyes, the private nickname Rachel had yet to understand why he called Gar slipping from him in fondness. "I'm paying for my new little sister and there ain't nothing you can say to stop me."

Gar raised his hand in surrender as another wave of happiness crashed over Rachel's heart at yet another confirmation of acceptance from Gar's friends.

It was nearing sunset when the group of five was now making their way to the cliffside in the town that gave way to a view of the other side of the forest and the rest of the kingdom.

As they approached, Rachel was amazed by giant baskets that seemed to be sitting near the edge of the cliffside.

"What are those?" she ended up asking. She gasped in surprise as a large pocket of fabric began to emerge from the basket as someone lit a candle in a little lamp below it.

"Sky Balloons," Gar explained. "They take you for a ride in the sky."

With a mischievous grin he tugged at Rachel's hand, leading her over to one that was almost ready to go. "We'd like to go on a ride, please," Gar asked the man who owned the balloon.

Rachel tugged him back. "Gar, no. I'm afraid of heights." She glared at him, knowing he knew that.

He only held her hand tighter as he gazed deeply into her eyes. "Trust me," he asked.

Rachel sighed, her hand raising up to pinch her nose in aggravation before her facade dropped and she nodded.

"Shall we go too?" Robin asked from behind her. "It's been a while since I've been on one of these."

Rachel was about to say yes before Kori wrapped her arms around one of his and tugged him away.

"We can go a while later, boyfriend Robin. I feel if I go know I will be the sick from all the mustard I put into my sandwich."

Rachel winced at the memory. She had not liked the taste of mustard and with the way Starfire had lathered it on, she had assumed it was a kind of sweet sauce too and had tried it. It was not and Rachel wasn't sure how Starfire hadn't been sick already with how much she had eaten.

Starfire grinned at her almost too innocently as she dragged Robin away.

"Do you wanna come, Victor?" Rachel asked the man left behind.

"Oh no. You two lovebirds go ahead. I'll just stay here or catch a ride with the other lovebirds if they decide to go."

Satisfied with the brilliant blush his words had invoked on Rachel;s face and without waiting for a retort he ran off after Starfire who looked like she was fondly scolding Robin who, even behind his mask, now looked wide eyed as if he had come to an important realization.

"I got the tickets, Rae. Come on," Gar told her as he came back.

Rachel frowned as she looked at the menacing balloon that was now at fool height. The basket was sturdy enough but it was still just a woven box. As much as she trusted Gar, Rachel did not trust the contraption he was leading her to.

Her anxiety wasn't tamed even once inside the balloon. The wicker, wood and rope beneath her feet only seemed that much weaker and unable to support her weight.

“I won’t let you fall,” Gar promised as she glared at him.

Too late, a voice whispered in her head and she promptly looked away.

As the balloon took off Raven sealed her lips together in an effort to conceal any yelps of fear. Her stomach swooped as they flew higher and higher and she hadn’t realized it but she had practically buried herself against Gar’s side who was now blushing bright red.

They were well in the sky when Gar nudged her. “Look up, Rae.”

She mumbled something incomprehensible and shook her head against him. “I promise the view is worth it,” he pleaded.

He could feel her pout as she slightly pulled away, eyes still closed tightly. She opened one eye first and then the others then stared agape at the view before her.

It was breathtaking.

She could see the whole kingdom from this height. The forests, the valleys, the rivers, the minute towns. The Azarathian castle on one end stood menacing the distance and she saw spires that could have been the castle of Doom on the other end of the horizon. The sun bathed everything in a tangerine orange as it set beyond the horizon slowly and Rachel didn’t realize as she took a step closer to the edge of the basket to see the whole view better.

Gar watched her watch the sky. She was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen and the sparkle in her eye that came with the freedom of seeing the world was one he wanted to commit so permanently to his memory that it would never leave him.

“This is…” Rachel breathed. She had no words. She whirled around and looked at Gar as if to ask if he was seeing what she was seeing. He only nodded with an entranced smile as she turned back to the view, her hand still tightly gripped in his.

“I want to stay up here forever,” she said eventually. The sun had set and twilight had begun to fall. Lights dotted the areas with towns with the stray twinkle where people lived in farmland further from the cities. The flame that kept the balloon afloat only burned brighter, washing them both in its soft orange light and meager warmth.

Rachel shivered as a particularly strong gust of wind blew through, undoing the knot of her cloak that was already falling open without her noticing. Before she had a chance to catch it, Gar had already caught it for her. He stepped closer, tucking it tightly under her chin as he wrapped it around her. He withdrew a familiar red brooch inlaid in metal and used it to keep the ends fastened together. He didn’t step back once he was done.

Rachel looked down as she raised her hand to inspect the brooch more closely. “This is the brooch that I saw in the market,” she murmured. Looking back at Gar who she noticed was still standing close to her she blushed.

“It’s from me and Kori.” Gar’s voice was low. “She saw you looking at it and told me it would be a nice gift.”

“But...why?” Rachel asked stunned. First Robin, then Victor and now Kori and Gar too?

“You deserve nice things Rachel.”

Gar raised his hand from where it was still holding her cloak to tenderly brush a few stray hairs the wind had blown into her face. Tucking them behind her ear he looked at her with a gaze so soft Rachel thought she could almost feel the affection rolling off of him. She leaned closer, ready to meet him in the middle when a sudden jerk of the balloon due to the wind sent them sprawling almost on top of each other. They scrambled up quickly, both sporting fierce blushes as they looked away from each other. Rachel went back to looking out at the horizon, reveling in this small taste of freedom.

She was no longer afraid of heights but her hand never left his for the remainder of the ride.

Gar insisted on walking her back to the clearing despite how late it had gotten when the evening ended. They had said goodbye to Kori, Robin and Victor at the edge of town. The small group had each hugged her before she left with Kori being the saddest at having to say goodbye to her new friend so soon.

“We must do the hanging out again soon,” Kori insisted. Then she grinned down at the brooch that hadn’t been decorating Rachel’s cloak earlier and had looked to the boys. “Preferably without the boys so we may do the girl talk.” She smiled warmly once more at the younger girl before leaving.

Rachel had to admit the idea of spending more time with Kori sounded nice as excitable as she was. Her energy was the exact opposite from Rachel’s but the violet-haired beauty had greatly enjoyed another girl’s company today. Girl talk, too, sounded nice even though it made Rachel blush at the teasing she knew she would be sure to receive from the redhead.

Victor and Robin had each hugged her too.

“Look out for yourself, little lady,” Victor said. “Next time I’ll introduce you to even more cool foods you’re sure to enjoy.”

He enveloped her in a warm hug before standing aside. Robin didn’t hug her but he smiled, far more warmly than he had earlier in the day when he first met her.

“Take care of yourself, Rachel,” he said. Blunt but with an undertone of genuine care.

Gar had dragged her off after that. Rachel had felt warm the entire walk back, thrilled the day had gone so well. She would have to lie especially well to Lady Azar today about why she was so late but it was worth it. As they reached the clearing which was now lit only by the moonlight, nightlight glow flowers and the small lamp Gar had bought in town for the journey back, he tugged on her hand.

“Rachel, did you have fun today?” He asked. He had wanted the day to be perfect for her. It was her first day out after all.

“I did.”

“You won’t get in trouble will you?” he worried, voicing the very thing she had been thinking about earlier.

“I’ll handle it, Gar. It was worth it.”

He looked into her eyes and seeing nothing but honesty there he nodded. Still not letting go of her hand he bit his lip before blurting out, “Can we meet again tomorrow?”

Rachel chuckled. “We meet almost every day, Gar.”

“I know,” he said. “I have something important I want to tell you.” Seeing Rachel’s alarm, he hastily added, “It’s nothing bad. Just something I’ve been meaning to share for a while and was working up the courage to say.”

That was only half true. Gar wanted to tell Rachel how he felt about her but he also wanted to tell her the truth. That he was the Prince of Doom. That he was a changeling. And that he wanted to court her because he loved her. He couldn’t confess the last thing without making her aware of what she was signing up for. Gar knew he should have told her these things earlier but today while Kori had Rachel distracted with her goodbyes, even Victor had given his blessing to tell Rachel deeming her safe. Dick was still cautious but he too found nothing vicious about Rachel worth being wary about.

Gar would tell her. And if she took the news well, he would confess his feelings to her as well. If she refused him, he knew he’d be heartbroken but Rachel’s happiness was paramount for him. She seemed to have had so little of it in her life. Her friendship was more than enough for him.

Taking in what he said, Rachel exhaled. “Okay,” she agreed. Curiosity painted her features but she no longer looked afraid.

“I think I should tell Lady Azar too,” she admitted.

Gar looked surprised. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” Rachel said. “I’m done hiding. I have you and today was… amazing. Meeting Kori and Victor and Robin? I want to do that again. I want to see the world, and not just from a balloon.” Her voice sounded wistful before turning serious again. “I’m old enough to protect myself now.”

Gar grinned, his white teeth flashing like pearls in the moonlight. He was proud of her.

“Okay,” he agreed, handing her the lamp so she could find her way back. “So, tomorrow then? Same time as always?”

“Tomorrow,” Rachel agreed. She looked at the lamp he had given her, curious as to how he’d find his way back without it. He sensed her question and shook his head.

“I can see fine in the dark,” he promised, urging her to go. She turned and left knowing he’d leave from the opposite end of the clearing. When she turned to look back at a rustle in the leaves of the trees he was already gone. Assuming he was a fast walker, she shrugged and kept walking even humming a soft tune she had heard in the town as she went.

As suspected, Lady Azar was worried sick.

“I fell asleep while meditating, Lady Azar,” Rachel apologized, looking as contrite as possible. “It won’t happen again,” she promised.

As she left the room she didn’t notice the fearful look Lady Azar threw at the lamp in her hand. One with a design so different from the ones the monastery used.

‘Tomorrow,’ Rachel promised herself. ‘Tomorrow, I’ll tell Lady Azar everything and be free.’

The next day, Rachel woke up with a smile on her face. She had slept better than she ever had before in her whole life. Lady Azar was standing in her door, looking severe which caused the smile to fall off her face as soon as she noticed.

“Rachel, see me in my room,” the old woman said sharply and left.

Rachel felt dread pool in her stomach. Did Lady Azar know? Was she in trouble? She shrugged those thoughts off.

Even if Lady Azar knew, Rachel was ready to reveal everything by herself anyway. She’d tell her mentor and then meet Gar in the woods this morning just as they’d planned.

Lady Azar was waiting. Rachel waited almost impatiently while the wizened monk finished meditating before turning to her.

“You left the woods,” the monk stated.

Rachel opened her mouth in surprise but then let out a breath.

“Yes,” she admitted. “I made a friend in the woods. He took me to see the town.”

Anger flickered across Lady Azar’s usually serene eyes. “You foolish girl! Do you have any idea how you’ve endangered yourself?”

Rachel felt a volley of her own anger fill her.

“But I didn’t!” she protested. “I was safe! Nothing happened!”

Lady Azar ignored her. “How long has this been going on?”

“Almost a year.”

Her eyes were defiant as the monk looked on in despair. Feeling a stab of guilt, Rachel further added, “I only went to Azarath yesterday. Before that Gar and I only met in the woods.”

“Gar?” Lady Azar asked incredulously. “You’ve been meeting a man in the woods for a year and didn’t say anything?”

“Would you have let me keep seeing him?” When Lady Azar didn’t reply, Rachel huffed. “That’s what I thought.”

“This is serious, child!”

“No! It’s not! And I’m not a child!” she growled. “I’ve been here for eighteen years. Nothing has ever happened to me. I can’t stay here forever!”

“You won’t!” Lady Azar promised. “But-“

“No! Not even another day!” Rachel’ was done. “I have this,” she held out her dagger, “whatever is waiting I can protect myself.”

“You’re naive and stupider than I thought if you think what waits for you can be defeated by a mere dagger!” Lady Azar screamed.

“Then TELL ME!” Rachel yelled back as loudly. She didn’t feel the wind whipping behind her or the dark shadow erupting behind her either. “Tell me what waits for me so I can! I’m done hiding!”

“R-rachel,” Lady Azar stuttered. The girl didn’t notice the fear in her mentor’s eyes or where her gaze was fixed.

“No!” she was crying now. “If you won’t tell me then I’ll find out myself. But not here. Never again, here.”

With one last look at her mentor, Rachel ran from the room, ignorant to the destruction being left in her wake.

Rachel ran to the woods. Anger, despair and frustration bubbled inside her. Lady Azar hadn't understood just like Rachel knew she wouldn't. She was intent on keeping her locked inside the monastery. But no more. Rachel had friends now. She had Gar. She would protect herself outside the walls if she must, she would live inside them if they were the only way she could protect herself, but she would be confined to them no longer.

Her burst of rage gave way to anxiety as she ran through the path she had become well accustomed to. Gar would be waiting. She had promised to meet him and it had been over an hour past their usual meeting time. She had never been so late before and she desperately hoped he'd still be waiting. She wanted to know what he had to tell her. It seemed important. She also just wanted to see him. He had a way of melting her worries away with his boyish charm and sweet smile. She felt safe with him in his arms. She wanted nothing more than to cry in them right now as she vented her frustrations about Lady Azar to him.

When she entered the clearing just past the brook she looked around. "Gar?" she called out. She didn't shout but her voice was a few octaves higher than her usual calm tempo. Had he left already? Rachel hoped he hadn't. She didn't want to go back to the monastery without seeing him. She didn't even know where he lived or where else to find him so she could go to him.

"Gar!" she called out again a little louder this time.

"The prince you seek isn't here, young one." A sickly voice whispered into the empty clearing.

Rachel felt her blood freeze. "Who's there?" she asked angrily. "Gar if that's you playing a prank on me I swear I will skin you alive."

"Pity child, you don't even recognize your own father," the eerie voice continued. The wind had stopped whistling in the trees and all was silent. The birds had flown away too and Rachel felt her skin prickle with fear.

"My father?"

"Oh yes dear daughter. I have been looking for you and at last I have found you."

Rachel gasped as she felt something move in the shadows to her right. A dark cast fell over the grass but no one was there.

"What are you?" she whispered. Her eyes trained on the shadow that had now taken the form of a man as tall as the tree itself.

"Only what you are too, Raven."

Rachel gulped.

"My name is Rachel. Go away. You have the wrong girl. My father was human."

"Lady Azar fed you lies, child. Have you not realized it yet?"

"What?" Rachel took a step back as two beady eyes looked at her menacingly from the shadows.

"Surely you know by now. Surely it is why you have come running."

Steeling herself, Rachel stood up firm, straightening her shaking shoulders.

"I came looking for Gar. I didn't run away."

"Ahh yes the cursed prince," the voice slithered again.

"Why do you keep calling him that?" Rachel asked.

"Because he is, child. Didn't you know?"

"Gar is just an ordinary boy. He's not cursed. He's not a prince."

"You'd believe what he says so easily? Foolish girl. He is Prince Garfield Logan of Doom. So far above your current rank, you could only hope to reach him."

"He would have told me. He trusts me!" Rachel screamed. Her faith in Gar wouldn’t allow her to believe the words of some strange spirit. Then she remembered something. "He was going to tell me today." She breathed. "We were supposed to meet but I was late. He would have told me."

"Then where is he?"

"I was late!" Rachel ground out.

"But I was not," the shadow whispered. "I have been here waiting for you. And yet your prince never came. It would have made no difference if you had arrived one hour earlier or three."

"N-no. He promised," Rachel faltered. "I won't trust you over him."

"You'd trust the hag who lied to you about your heritage over me? A prince who was only using you for a distraction. Did he tell you his curse? That he is a changeling? That he holds command of each and every animal mystic and otherwise in his veins?"

"N-no…" Rachel whispered. Gar was a changeling? She didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to believe he hadn't told her something so important. But it made sense now. Why he never had to come by horse or carriage. How he hadn’t needed a lantern the night before. How he was always so fast to reach here despite living so far away in Doom. Truly that was the only thing she knew about him. That he lived in Doom. And now she had just been told he not only lived there but ruled too. He was the prince. Even if he could not trust her with something as personal as his ability to morph, what could have prevented him from revealing he was royalty?

Doubt began to creep into her heart. How much had Gar not told her? She had told him that she lived in the monastery. She had trusted him with what she knew of her past. Why had he not trusted her? Was it something she lacked? Or was it as this shadow said. He was just using her. Like Malchior had wanted to. Someone easy to play with who he could discard since she was nothing but a lowly naive peasant girl.

"I can help you Raven. I can make it so he won't use you as a mere distraction. He will respect you, trust you, treat you as you deserve. I can make it so that Azar never manipulates you, weakens you, ever again."

"I'm Rachel," she protested feebly. "Raven is the princess of Azarath."

"You are the princess of Azarath, Raven. The truth the old hag kept hidden from you. Nobility is in your blood as is the unimaginable powers you possess."

The voice was soothing now, almost gentle as if it was trying to soften the blows it was delivering. Rachel was no longer looking at the eyes of the shadow but they glittered with malevolence still.

"Powers?" she said faintly, her mind a whirl.

"The magic of demons runs in your veins. Your soul is a powerful projection just like the projection of mine you see now. Your emotions unleash your power. Lady Azar kept it hidden from you so you would remain under her control."

"If I have powers then why didn't I feel them. I've been feeling my emotions without her knowing for months," Raven whispered. The fight had left her. Now she just wanted answers.

"Lady Azar kept them locked within you with powerful spells. You never knew what you possessed. How could you have felt them? But now you do. Now you can feel them. Break the spell on them with your own magic. Use them."

Raven sunk to the forest floor, the dagger she had raised falling from her hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she almost recoiled at the dark energy that gathered at her hands unexpectedly.

What Trigon was saying was true. Her awareness had awakened her powers. As much as she wished it, he wasn't lying.

"Come with me Raven. Reclaim your birthright. Sit on your throne as my daughter, Princess of Azarath. Your Prince will be unable to refuse you. Lady Azar will cower before you. The people will revere you."

"I-I…"

Raven grunted as she grabbed her head through her sobs. Her emotions were conflicted. She didn't know how to trust. Lady Azar had lied to her about everything. But everything she knew about Trigon was that he was evil. But if she was truly Raven, truly the daughter of a demon, then that meant she was evil too. That meant she was born for this. And no matter what she did, she couldn't escape such a bleak destiny.

A sudden rush of fury filled her to the core. Anger at Lady Azar for keeping the truth from her. Anger at Gar for not trusting her. Anger at herself for being naive. Trigon was the only one who hadn't lied to her yet. And if he could give her answers, Raven wanted to hear them.

"Have you decided, daughter?" Trigon asked. She could not hear the glee in the demon's voice.

"Yes," she whispered. "I want to come home."

Gar was worried.

He'd been waiting for Rachel for over an hour. In his anxiety to finally tell her the truth about himself, he ended up arriving early just to pace around the clearing and rehearse what he was going to say. He was almost relieved when she didn't show up on time but as the hours passed, an unsettling feeling of dread settled in his chest. Rachel was never late. Usually, it was him who was late to their rendezvous.

Her words from the previous evening repeated in his mind. How she had looked so hopeful and willing to tell Lady Azar about the friends she had made, about her desire to see more of the world with him and his friends. It was a risk she hadn't wanted to take before but meeting Victor and Dick and Kori and experiencing something as freeing as flying in the sky had finally freed her of any remaining reservations.

Gar didn't know if she had told Lady Azar yet. She had told him she would and then come to meet him. Had she tried and Lady Azar forbade her from coming? A sense of panic enveloped Gar's heart. He couldn't stand that. He couldn't stand not meeting Rachel. She was the highlight of his life now and she had become too important to him to lose.

After waiting another half-hour, he steeled himself. He'd go to the monastery and speak to Lady Azar himself. Rachel may not be happy with him but he'd rather face her wrath than never see her again. He had to at least try.

Looking at the dense foliage ahead, Gar decided flying above the tree line would be much faster. Turning into a small falcon he swooped up and above the canopy, not noticing Rachel as she stumbled into the clearing only minutes later.

The monastery doors were wide open and cracks ran across the marble stone in the walls. Stepping into the doorway and transforming back, Gar stared in amazement at the destruction. The branches of the trees were bent and broken. The flowerbeds were in disarray. Crumpled up leaves and petals were scattered on the stone pathways. It was like there had been a storm. But there had been no storm today. With a sinking feeling of dread, Gar made his way through the building calling for anyone left. It was silent. Like a graveyard. Not even the birds chirped.

A sudden groan picked up through his sensitive hearing had Gar running to the room where it came from. On the floor lay an old woman with snow white hair and in the red robes of the monks. She was clearly in pain but struggled to open her eyes.

"Lady Azar?" Gar questioned as he took a step closer to her. She opened her eyes at last and despite the pain they were piercing and fierce.

"What happened here?" Gar questioned slowly wondering if the old woman understood him.

"So you're the boy," Lady Azar said instead as she sat up with his help.

"Rachel told you about me?" Gar asked ecstatic. Then seeing the mess around the room he became worried. "Where is she? Is she okay? What happened?"

"Foolish boy. Shehappened. She's the one who did this."

"Rachel?" he asked in disbelief. "How could she have done this."

"Because she's not Rachel. She's the daughter of a demon. Her emotions have destroyed this place. You'd do well to stay away from her boy. It's your fault this happened."

Seeing the rage in the old woman's eyes Gar glared. This was the woman Rachel had been raised with? Unkind, harsh and clearly uncompassionate.

"Where is she?" he growled out.

"She left," Lady Azar spat bitterly. "Nearly eighteen years of hiding the truth from her to protect everyone and its worth nothing at the end."

"What do you mean? What truth? Why did you hide her? Nobody needs protection from her. She's a normal girl."

"I told you boy. The girl you knew doesn't exist. Only Raven, the daughter of Trigon the demon exists. She destroyed this place when I refused to let her go back and see you. I had thought I had kept her powers hidden from her and yet somehow still she accessed them. Are you proud of yourself now? Who will stop her if she decides to exact revenge?"

Gar was stumped." R-raven?" he asked. "But that means she's…"

"The princess of Azarath?" Lady Azar scorned. "Her mother entrusted her to me as a child because Trigon was going to kill her. She was to be kept here until she could control herself by her eighteenth birthday. How was I to know she had discarded all her training to meet you. And now in her rage she will destroy us all."

Gar opened and closed his mouth a few times before his face formed an ugly scowl.

"This is your fault," he hissed. "Don't blame it on anyone else when you should have told her the truth. Rachel isn't evil. She may have done this; she may be the daughter of a demon but that doesn’t make her evil. She was scared and confused and you LIED TO HER!" Gar growled. He could feel his skin turning green and sprouting fur as the instincts to become a monster and maul this woman who had hurt his Rachel- no his Raven, became overpowering.

He regained control at the last second. He gripped the old woman's shoulders tightly as his glare pierced into her.

"I'm going to ask one last time. Where. Is. She?"

"She left. The last thing I remember talking to her about is meeting you," Lady Azar said looking positively cowed at the realization that the boy in front of her was a changeling.

Gar released her shoulders and stood up, looking back down in disgust.

Without another word he turned back into a falcon and raced to the clearing.

"Rachel! RACHEL!"He yelled as he transformed back cursing when she wasn't there. He had missed her. If only he had stayed a few more minutes instead of going to the monastery he would have found her.

As he wandered around the clearing his boot hit something and he bent down to inspect it. A silver dagger with a ruby in the hilt. The same dagger Dick had gotten Rachel just yesterday. What happened to her?

Panic seized Gar's chest as he turned into a bird to fly, this time below the canopy looking for any sign of Rachel.

After an hour of searching he collapsed, the dagger in hand as he thought over where she might be. Something didn't feel right and Gar couldn't figure out what. Thinking back to Lady Azar's words Gar thought long and hard. Lady Azar had said Rachel didn't know about her powers, couldn't access them until she did. But if she didn't know of them? Then how could she have destroyed the monastery? It didn't make sense.

Running one hand through his hair and down his face in exhaustion, he sighed. Rachel was Raven. Princess of Azarath. He had been meeting up with the hidden princess for months and he had never known. But she was so unlike Trigon. Gar had been forced to meet with Trigon only a few times before but that man was truly inhuman and demonic. Raven was nothing like him. Looking back, it was true she had an etherealness about her that Gar had just mistaken to be her spellbinding beauty. It was no secret he was smitten with her. But it made sense she was half demon.

What didn't make sense was why she had lost control of her powers if Lady Azar had simply disallowed her to see him.

Bolting up Gar felt sick to his stomach. Something Rachel always told him finally made its way to the forefront. Lady Azar had told her that Trigon could sense her emotions which was why she was kept on neutral territory within the monastery where he couldn’t touch her. He had assumed that was a lie too to keep the truth hidden from Rachel but what if it wasn't? What if Trigon could sense her and follow her? What if the protection around Raven had been broken because he had brought her to Azarath just the day before. Then… that would mean the monastery's destruction was not Raven's doing… it was Trigon's.

Trigon must have taken Raven. That's why her dagger was in the clearing. She needed help.

Everyone knew Trigon had wanted nothing more than to kill his newborn daughter. Her being alive had only been a rumor to give the people hope… until now. Raven really was alive. And if Trigon had her she was in unimaginable danger.

But first, Gar would need backup and he knew just the people to go to for it.

It had been a day and Rachel- no it was Raven now, was reconsidering her decision to come back to Azarath. She had met with her father only once and he had tearfully greeted her but with a sinister smile that had put her on edge.

Now wandering the halls of the castle, she questioned how good of a decision it was to come here without telling anyone. But then who could she have told? Lady Azar? Gar? The very people who had hurt and betrayed her.

It was pathetic really, how unaware she had been of her own identity. One of the first things Rachel had done when she had arrived at the palace was ask after her mother. The servants told her that Arella had passed a few years earlier. Despite never knowing her mother, despite her anger at having given her up, Raven couldn't help the grip of sorrow that wound its way around her heart at this unknown loss.

Still, nothing was as it seemed in this castle. Something put her skin on edge. One side of her, a darker side that Raven was too scared to consider, reveled in the darkness and suffering that lurked in these walls. The other part of her, the human part that craved acceptance and love and desired kindness was revolted. Her senses were heightened and she could feel the misery of the servants and of the people who lived close to the palace walls. Trigon wasn't as he seemed. But who else was she to go to?

"Come in, daughter," Trigon summoned once Raven had made her way into the throne room.

He had been waiting for her. His sharp features resembled so much of her own. The sharp face. The red tinted eyes. The demonic aura.

"I have a gift for you," Trigon's voice slithered. "In the happiness of your return and your birthday tomorrow, I have this."

Raven came closer as Trigon opened a small box carved with odd symbols she couldn't understand. Within it rested a diamond shaped gem. A blood red ruby.

"Thank you, father," Raven said quietly unsure what to make of this. Her mind flashed back to the ruby brooch that Kori had gotten her and Gar had gifted her. The gem hadn't been nearly as refined as this one but somehow it held more meaning. Pushing the thoughts of her former friends away, she tried to smile. Before she could touch it though, Trigon pulled the box away.

"It is not merely to possess. It will grant you direction to your power. Allow me."

He brought out the gem and Raven stayed still as her father touched it to her forehead right between her eyes. A strange heat spread through her head as the gem took hold and became embedded in her skin. She screamed as she felt white hot power scorch through her. She felt as if her head was splitting open from the pain.

Lashing out with her powers, Raven was horrified to find she couldn't feel them as strongly as she had before.

"WHAT DID YOU DO?" She screamed as she stumbled away.

Trigon's face remained covered with the same impassive smirk it had been before.

"What I always planned to," he waved dismissively. "Tomorrow on the eve of your eighteenth birthday, your power shall become mine. I will have no more use of you. But until then, stay safe, daughter." His hand reached for the stone now embedded in her head and Raven turned away.

Trigon only chuckled darkly as he walked away leaving her on the floor of the cold dark throne room in tears.

She had been a fool once again. She had forgotten, or rather ignored, what she knew of Trigon. That he had been the one rumored to kill his daughter. Her craving for love and acceptance had gotten her here and now she had no way out. Trigon would take her powers and kill her and no one would be wiser for it.

Unable to push herself to her feet with the pain still heavy in her head, Raven wrapped her cloak tighter around herself and cried.

“Are you sure this will work, Gar?” Dick questioned as they hid in the forest right at the edge of the Azarathian palace.

“It has to,” the green and brown-haired prince replied. His face was drawn up in a snarl as he thought of Raven trapped in the palace by her father. Was she alright? Did Trigon hurt her? Was she even still alive?

“Friend Gar, you must calm down,” Kori’s soothing voice came from behind him.

“Right. Sorry Star,” he winced. He took a few calming breaths then looked to Victor who smiled sympathetically.

“We’re all worried about her B. We’ll get to her in time.”

“Then let’s go.”

The group made their way through the shrubs and along to the castle walls. It had taken Gar longer than he had hoped to gather his troops. Steve had resolutely refused to allow any of the Doom military to become involved in this mission. He had practically delegated Gar to his room for even thinking such a thing. Azarath was not their problem, and Steve refused to let Gar’s emotions for a demon princess lead Doom to war. Rita had been more understanding but could not help by herself. Instead, she had given Gar the window of opportunity to escape and gather his friends while she kept Steve distracted.

Victor, Kori and Dick had been ready to follow Gar the minute they had heard what happened. Despite having only met Rachel for a day, they had all loved her. The realization that she was Princess Raven had done little to dissuade them. Dick had half-heartedly played devil’s advocate and questioned the likelihood of Raven having gone to Trigon on her own but seeing the dagger that he had gifted her and Gar had found on the forest floor had won him over too.

Much to Gar’s dismay, Dick had insisted they tell the monks about Gar’s theory.

“They don’t deserve to know!” Gar had spat. “Not when it’s their fault this happened!”

“You don’t think I know that?” the older boy had argued back. “But we need to tell them. They’ve known her since she was a baby. If she is hurt and we need help they’re our best bet. It’s better to make sure they know anyway. Or would you rather they keep thinking she’s the one who destroyed their sanctuary?”

Loathe as he was to admit it, Dick had a point and so Gar had gone back to tell Lady Azar. The old woman had barely looked at him as she directed the other monks to clean up the mess left behind. Gar hadn’t waited for her approval before flying off.

Now they were here. Ambushing Trigon’s castle with an army of four. Not many were aware that Kori was an other-worldly princess from a people who treasured warriors. She had come to this world seeking new horizons and experience. Many were also not aware that Victor had steel in his bones. They had embedded in him, the magic and minerals in them revived him with the assistance of a powerful physician when he had suffered an accident. The metal now grew as naturally as the rest of his limbs, hidden from everyone but those who knew him. They were a small army, but they would have to make do.

“It’s easier if Trigon isn’t expecting us,” Dick had added as he drew up the plans. He had grown up the protege of one of the best military leaders in the land and would be directing the mission.

As the quartet climbed their way up the palace walls, they watched in horror as torches became ablaze the moment they landed.

Trigon had known they were coming.

“Foolish mortals,” a shadow in the shape of a man hissed. “You’re too late.”

Gar growled about to pounce on the Trigon’s essence in a fit of fury.

“Beast Boy, WAIT!” Robin yelled, holding him back.

“Your skills are puny and beneath my notice. Malchior shall battle you instead while I complete the ritual to make Raven’s power mine.”

The shadow disappeared. From the place where it had fallen previously the ground rumbled and out erupted a thorned vine that twisted and spun meeting with others that erupted as well, blocking the group’s way the castle.

A loud screech sounded as the group looked up to see a dragon circling them, blowing enchanted fire as if taunting them.

“Malchior?” Beast Boy whispered. Raven had told him about the dragon once. She hadn’t said much, clearly too embarrassed by the memory of her own foolishness. She had only told him that the dragon had tried to lure her away in the form of a man and that she was glad Gar was nothing like him. It made him guilty for keeping his secret from her but now it only deepened the realization that Trigon had known where Raven was all this time. He had tried to capture her before using the dragon but when that had failed he had waited until Raven entered Azarath and the spell the monks put on her was broken to follow her.

With a snarl, he turned into a rhino and began to crash through the pointed shrubbery, certain his friends would protect him from behind.

He had to get to Raven before it was too late.

Raven woke up on the day of her birth dreading what was to come. She stayed in her room well into the afternoon and almost until the evening when Trigon summoned her. All her attempts at forcing her powers to work were futile and ended up in her becoming more panicked. The situation was hopeless and she didn’t know what to do.

“I can sense you’ve been trying to escape,” Trigon said, almost amused, when she finally stood in front of him. “Foolish daughter. The stone will prevent that from happening. He whose power possesses it can amplify its power.”

Raven glowered silently. She loathed the man that was her father. She loathed him for believing in her.

Outside the sun was about to set and an explosion sounded. Turning her head to the window in surprise, she saw a giant dragon flying.

“Have you met Malchior?” Trigon asked. “A pity he wasn’t able to get you to leave the monastery like that prince of yours did. But no matter. It worked out for the best to have you at your most powerful while I drain every last drop.”

Raven took a step back, her rage blinding her as she tried to summon the dark energy again. Trigon laughed at her attempts.

“Just as those foolish humans can do nothing to save you now, neither can you stop me.”

“Foolish humans?” Raven muttered. She looked a little closer back out the window; this time seeing the small figures making their way through a maze of thorns that hadn’t been there earlier.

“Gar,” she whispered, seeing a green eagle fly near the dragon trying to claw its eyes out.

He came for her.

Yet another lie of Trigon’s which had been exposed.

This wasn’t over yet. Raven saw the small figures of Victor, Kori and Robin as they fought their way through the bushes, flying, blasting, burning. They were coming for her.

She had to fight.

Turning back to Trigon she felt her fury encase her yet again before another voice broke through the haze.

“Patience, child,” Lady Azar’s memory whispered. “Deep breaths. Find your center. When you take control of your emotions, only then will you be able to channel them.”

Raven gasped. She had been going about this all wrong. Lady Azar had lied to her on many accounts but she had always known who Raven was. She had always taught Raven how to control her powers.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm the storm whirling inside her. Instead, she imagined itself as the eye of it. The center where everything was calm, where she could see the chaos and take control.

Trigon seemed to notice her attempts for he laughed again but Raven ignored him, blocking out all the sounds.

She allowed herself to feel.

She felt the anger, she felt the betrayal, she felt the hurt and sorrow at all the lies she had been victim to, all the pain she had been subjected and all the things she had lost or had no chance to have growing up. She felt the envy for a different life.

She felt the peace she had longed for, the happiness the memories with her friends gave her, the rare pride she felt when Lady Azar bestowed her with a compliment.

She felt the love she held for Gar. The emotion she had been most afraid of and the emotion she had most longed for. He had come for her. He cared about her. She could almost feel his soft caress as he pushed her hair out of her face, the gentle tug as he wrapped her cloak tighter around her so she wouldn’t be cold. The warmth of his body as they stood so close.

She felt everything she ever wanted to, and then slowly, she let go.

Gar could feel the heat scorching him as Malchior tried to breathe fire on him again. Kori had escaped the tangled thorns and had flew after him now using her starbolt spells to try and knock the dragon out of the sky.

Victor and Robin were still on the ground fighting their way through to the palace doors to hopefully break in and find Raven before it was too late. The sun was setting and there was little time left.

Since clawing the dragon’s eyes out wasn’t working, Gar transformed into a dragon himself, settling down on one of the castle’s spires to breathe fire into the other dragon. Malchior was larger than him but Beast Boy had a greater reason. With Starfire using her eyes' heat vision to distract the dragon once more and lead him beyond the castle, he turned into a fly and came up in front of a larger dragon. Starfire ducked out of the way right as he transformed back and threw a volley of flames into the other dragon’s open mouth. In the confusion, Starfire threw another powerful Starbolt at Malchior backing him up again and again against the cliffside behind the castle.

With a roar, Beast Boy turned into an eagle again, clawing at the dragon’s eyes. Starfire threw a starbolt at the edge of the cliff so it would crumble and right as Malchior tried to paw Beast Boy away, he flew out of the way as Malchior fell into the thorns below as a man again.

“Are you alright Friend Beast Boy?” Kori asked, breathing heavily. Her hair was a mess and sweat dotted her brow as she flew over the edge of the cliff to see if Malchior really was gone.

“I’m fine. We need to get to Raven.”

Without another look at the charred remains of the dragon beneath, they flew back to the castle.

Raven could feel the power coming. The stone was a channel like her father said except it was herchannel and not his. The whispers of the townsfolk echoed in her mind. The tale they had told her. Their excitement discussing the princess’ birthday.

“She’s more powerful than Trigon. He tried to kill her because she would one day kill him.”

‘Was it the truth?’ She wondered as she meditated through her soul. Everyone believed it was. She was willing to try and find out.

Trigon’s dark power tried to fight hers within the stone but Raven’s darkness fought back. Eventually, she overpowered it and her eyes opened, turning a blinding white. Her cloak had turned bright white, the only color left was the red brooch pinning it together. A symbol of her friends. Her chosen family.

“Your reign ends today,father,” Raven hissed. She could see the fear in Trigon’s eyes. She could feel it in her soul as the realization came over him. Raven allowed her demonic side to feel the sick pleasure this time, revel in it, feed on it.

She had the power to defeat Trigon.

She would.

With a heaving yell she flew into the air, using her hands to direct the power at the demon that had terrorized Azarath for so long. Trigon roared as he attempted to draw up a shield but Raven was too strong. She felt her skull pounding, her heartbeat racing in a way that was almost painful. The dark tendrils of her magic wove within her veins and spun around her body. The exhaustion was imminent. It would overtake her soon but not yet. Not until she defeated Trigon.

She had no knowledge of Victor and Robin entering the throne room first followed by Kori and Gar only minutes later. All she felt was her raw unbound power being unleashed like hell’s fury on the demon that called himself her father to manipulate her and use her at her weakest.

She could feel herself fading, fading.

With one last burst of energy, she released the last of the emotions she had been holding on to. Trigon roared in defeat and Raven was plummeting to the floor. A smile was on her face as she fell into slumber.

Gar ran to Raven as soon as he saw her fall. The scorch mark where Trigon had been before the throne went ignored as he flew to catch her transforming back into a human as he landed on the floor.

“Raven?” He yelled in panic. “R-raven wake up!”

Kori came up after him along with Victor who quickly went to inspect her too. Dick went to inspect the scorch mark to be certain Trigon was defeated and nothing else would catch them off guard.

“She’s still breathing,” Victor sighed in relief. He was the most well trained in medicine out of all of them.

“Why isn’t she waking up?” Gar almost sobbed, shaking her harder.

“Raven… Rachel!Wake up. Please!”

“Friend Beast Boy, you must calm down,” Kori put a hand on his shoulder although she was crying too.

“What’s wrong with her?” he begged.

“She used too much of her power, young prince,” a new voice came from behind.

Dick immediately fell into a defensive position in front of the group on the floor before realizing who it was. He eased his stance but still looked suspicious.

“Lady Azar?” Gar asked dumbly.

“It seems you were right. Raven did not cause the destruction and even if she had she would have been within her rights.” The wizened woman looked ashamed. “I should have told her the truth instead of waiting for this day. She has fought bravely on her own even when victim to the worst emotions.”

“Why are you talking like she’s dead? STOP TALKING LIKE SHE’S DEAD!” Gar screamed. Tears were streaming down his face now as he looked back down to the sleeping princess in his arms.

“She is not dead. But she is in a deep coma. Her emotions had been locked away for so long and the magnitude of power she displayed exhausted them all. She can only awaken through the help of someone with a deep emotional connection to her,” Lady Azar said sadly.

“Well you’re basically her mother figure,” Victor pointed out. “Can’t you save her?”

“I never allowed myself to become too close to Raven,” the woman looked grieved. “It was too dangerous. I fear Raven has never had an emotional bond of substance with anyone. I never allowed her to.”

“This is your fault then,” Robin stepped forward, glass shards in his voice. “There has to be something we can do. She can’t stay asleep forever.” He turned back to his friends. Beast Boy’s eyes were shut and his mouth pressed in a firm line as he tried to contain the sobs. Kori was crying too and Victor looked close to it as he watched his best friend mourn what very well might be the death of his best friend.

“Maybe there is,” Victor said suddenly. “B, you gotta try!”

He shook his friend’s shoulder so Gar opened his eyes. “Me?” he asked in shock.

“You’re the only one closest to Rach- I mean Raven. You’ve been meeting up with her for almost a year. You’ve told us how you feel about her!” The older man insisted.

“Just because I feel that way doesn’t mean she feels the same, Vic!” Gar said hopelessly, voice tinged with despair and even a hint of anger.

“Friend Garfield, you are our only hope,” Kori begged. Her eyes pleaded with him to understand. “It is, as you say, worth the shot, is it not?”

Gar looked at all his friends and even at Lady Azar who was silently watching the proceedings.

“I do not know the nature of Raven’s feelings,” the elder spoke gently, “But I am aware she felt strongly for you. You’re our only hope.”

Gar gulped. “Why not one of you?” He asked his friends.

Victor groaned. “You kidding me Garfield? We met her for the first time two days ago! You’ve been friends with her for almost a year. We all know there is something there between you two. You have to try.”

“Yes, or else Friend Rachel may sleep forever,” Starfire reminded, mournfully.

“Come on Beast Boy,” Robin insisted. “If you love her, it's possible she loves you too.”

Gar looked back down at the sleeping beauty within his arms. Her brow was still beaded with sweat and her dark violet hair fell messily into her face. Her breathing was even and despite the smudges of dirt and blood on her face she looked so peaceful. So beautiful. Her soft-looking lips parted as she softly breathed and Gar was hit with the memory of the moment they shared in the sky balloon. Was that only days earlier? It felt like years.

Gar knew he loved her. He had wanted to tell her along with his other two most important secrets. He would have begged to court her, Steve’s protests about her being beneath his level be damned. Yet all this time she was a princess. And not only a princess, but a powerful one. More than he could ever be.

Gar felt the lump in his throat at the idea that she would never wake again. At the thought that he would never see her amethyst eyes roll in annoyance or amusement at his stupid jokes. That her lips would never quirk at the corners with the beginning of a smile she tried to hide. He didn’t want to live in a world like that.

Even if she didn’t love him. Even if she only felt friendship for him, she had too much light to sleep forever.

Without realizing he was doing it, Gar leaned down slowly. He breathed in, taking in Raven’s loveliness one last time as he pushed the stray strands of hair out of her face. Even hurt and a mess she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

His lips met her soft ones in a chaste but adoring kiss. All the love he felt, all the affection he had harbored for her since their first meeting, he pressed into that kiss hoping it was enough to wake her. Hoping she loved him in return.

When he pulled away, Starfire’s gasp and Victor’s booyah and Dick’s sigh of relief mere background noise, her amethyst eyes looked back at him. Tired, but surprised and happy.

“Gar?” she whispered, almost confused as to where she was.

He couldn’t take it anymore and with something between a laugh and a cry he crushed her in a hug. She wiggled in annoyance but even as she pulled away to sit up, he held her tight.

“Don’t ever scare me like that again, Rae!” He yelled. “I can’t handle it!”

“It’s Rache-” She paused. Her regular retort dying on her lips. “It’s Raven,” she corrected instead. “Princess of Azarath.”

Gar chuckled. It was time for him to come clean too. “I’m Garfield Logan,” he replied. “Prince of Doom.”

She smiled then and Gar swore it lit up the whole room, dreary as it was. Fireworks sounded from outside in celebration for the Princess’ birthday now that the sun had well and truly set.

“Happy Birthday, Raven,” Gar whispered. She replied by tugging him forward to give him a kiss of her own.

Starfire had been ecstatic and stolen Raven for a hug right after the second kiss.

“Oh friend Rache- I mean Raven, I was the most worried about you. Please do not scare us like that again.”

Raven looked surprised as she looked around at her friends. They were tired, sweaty, scracteched up and bloody but they were happy and it was only because of her.

“You all came for me?” she asked. She had known of course. She had seen them from the windows earlier. But them standing in front of her, hurt and weary just for her sake seemed to hammer home the fact that she was loved even more.

“Of course, we did,” Victor smiled, hugging her next tightly. “You’re one of us now Raven.”

“You don’t find me creepy?” she couldn’t help but ask all the same.

“B can turn into animals; I’ve got steel in my limbs and Kori can shoot heat from her eyes and fly. You fit in just fine.” he said putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“It would seem the odd one out is me,” Robin said from behind. Raven turned around to see him. He was smiling in relief just like the others were.

“I believe this is yours,” he handed her dagger back. The one she had dropped in the forest. “I don’t think you need it anymore though.”

Raven instead hugged him. Robin stood ramrod straight in surprise. He hadn’t been expecting it and wasn’t the touchiest person. “I’ll always need you all Robin,” Raven said instead.

“Dick,” he said instead. “My real name is Richard. But this bunch calls me Dick. You’re part of the family now, Raven.”

She smiled and turned to the last person who looked on in relief but was too fearful to approach her.

“Lady Azar,” Raven called softly. She was surprised to see her mentor here after how their last meeting ended.

“Raven,” Lady Azar acknowledged. She looked upset. “I’m sorry to have misled you for so much of your life.”

Raven couldn’t help the frown that flickered to her face at that. “You shouldn’t have done that,” she agreed. “But I’m happy you taught me what you did. And I’m happy to have you here.”

She threw her arms around the woman for the first time in her life and then quickly pulled away. Neither she nor Lady Azar were one for hugs as a form of affection. There was too much distance despite the eighteen years between them for that.

“I’m proud of you Raven,” Lady Azar said. “Despite my misgivings, you applied what you learnt well. And the friends you have made? They are good.”

Raven looked back at where Kori, Dick, and Victor were all surrounding Gar, possibly teasing him.

“Especially your prince,” Lady Azar continued. “He is quite protective of you. He’s in love with you.”

Raven looked away from Lady Azar at that, trying to hide her blush. Just because she still respected the older woman and had understood her apology, didn’t mean she wanted to hold her emotions on display for her anyway. “I know,” she chose to say instead. Gar caught her eye from where he was standing and winked playfully despite the blush rising to his own cheeks. “I’m in love with him too.”

They had ended up going to the capitol to stay in one of the boarding houses. The castle was spacious but far too dreary and held the fresh memory of what happened.

“Seems like you’ll be spending some time redecorating and landscaping,” Gar joked on the terrace before they left the castle through the air. The thorned vines still made up most of the castle grounds and none of them wanted to brave them yet again so Kori had carried Lady Azar back to the entrance before returning for Dick while Gar planned on carrying Victor after transforming into a velociraptor. The metal man was currently making himself discreet, aware that Raven and Gar had some things to talk through that they hadn’t had a chance to yet in the heights of elation of Trigon’s defeat and Raven’s awakening.

“Seems so,” Raven admitted. “I wouldn’t mind some company while I do.”

They hadn’t discussed what their relationship was yet. Gar was still the prince of Doom and she was still princess, or as some would consider her Queen after Trigon’s death, of Azarath. They were neighboring kingdoms, but the kind of relationship they were used to having might not be in the cards anymore given both their noble status now.

“I’ll visit every day,” Gar promised even though he wasn’t leaving just yet. “I already flew half-way to meet you near the monastery anyway,” he joked. “What’s half an hour more?”

Raven hummed. “I can fly too now, remember?”

“No longer afraid of heights?” he joked. “They grow up so fast.” He pretended to wipe an imaginary tear and laughed when Raven promptly shoved him.

“We can still meet halfway,” she continued as if he hadn’t interrupted.

Gar’s grin widened more. “Secret rendezvous in the woods? Two young royals. Torn apart by their duties but far too in love to keep apart? They meet under cover of night away from their duties for a chance at a normal life? Maybe even visit a few different places to explore the world together? How positively scandalous, Rae.”

“Shut up,” Raven huffed, blushing at his descriptor. In love. Is that what they were now? She liked the idea of that. “And you say you don’t read romance novels.”

“I may have bought the one you were reading after we first met,” Gar admitted sheepishly. His smile fell off his face then as he took her hand gently, holding it like she had his on the day they were in the sky.

“Rae, you know I trust you, right?” he looked fearful as if he didn’t tell her now she wouldn’t believe him. She only matched his intense gaze urging him to continue, begging for the answers to the questions Trigon had lied and manipulated her with.

“Well, I do.” He promised. “And I wanted to tell you that first day we met. But I didn’t because… because I’ve had people look at me differently because I was the prince. And I was scared. I’d been hurt. I liked what we had,” he was moving closer and closer to her now. “And that was only because I was a prince. People from my own kingdom already fear me because they think I might be a changeling. I was scared that it would turn you away entirely. I didn’t want to give up what we had, not after you, not after we,” he paused to lick his lips, realizing only now just how close they had gotten. “Not after I fell in love with you. You brightened every day for me, Raven. I was going to tell you the day we were supposed to meet but then everything happened and I couldn’t find you an-”

“Gar,” Raven whispered. Her lips were just a hair’s breadth away from his. “Shut up.”

With that she pressed her lips against his again. He immediately reciprocated, wrapping one arm around her waist, the other going to tangle in her hair. She hooked her arms around his neck as the kiss deepened. She felt the love he had for her through her newly discovered empathic abilities and he could hear the thrum of her heartbeat in tune with the heart in his own chest. It was the kiss they had been waiting for, longing for, ever since the day in the air together. Ever since the day they had met perhaps.

“I love you too,” Raven gasped as they pulled away from each other.

Gar’s smile after that was as bright as the moon and her eyes twinkled like the stars. It had taken a long time to get here, but they were finally home, right in each other’s arms.

And so the Princess of Azarath and the Prince of Doom courted for many years as they both ascended their thrones as ruling nobles of their individual kingdom’s respectively. On the Princess’s twenty second year of birth, the Prince proposed for marriage and they united their kingdoms together as Queen and King.

The people of both kingdom’s adored their rulers, their apprehension and fear fading each year as no more plagues ripped through the land and no tyrannical laws were implemented.

Kori tied up any loose ends and gave up her monarchy in order to live closer to her friends. She got married Dick who took on the moniker as NightWing and led the military of Doom after Mento retired. Victor joined him and with his new inventions, made the combined kingdoms one of the most advanced in the lands.

It was not a picture-perfect fairytale always. There were road bumps along the way such as when the truth of Prince Garfield’s changeling finally became exposed. There were always the villains that tried to rip apart the happiness and fantasy. But all in all, Raven figured she could have had a worse life.

As she looked at her husband who loved her, the people who revered her, Lady Azar who respected her and her chosen family who adored her, she felt it was a fitting story. The best one could have for a heritage such as hers. After all, what more could she wish for than finding what was the closest one could get to a Happily Ever After…

If you enjoyed this fic please leave a comment or a review! I worked super hard on it and would love to hear readers thoughts and any constructive criticism! And look out for my fic coming for tomorrow's prompt Wedding Bells on the last day of BBRae Week!

Please do check out my friend @lavender-scent's fic for the prompt Sunny Days here and her fic for the prompt Poolside here. She writes BBRae banter to perfection! She was a great help for me during the brainstorming process of this fic and I owe it to her for encouraging me to finish not one but two fics in time for BBRae Week.

#Bbrae #Bbraeweek21 #Bbraeweek2021 #Garfield logan #Beast boy #Raven #Rachel roth #Raven roth #Garrae #Teen titans #iffah writes #iffah's fics #my fics

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