Back to Reality, or something like it

Within the confines of her mind, a collection of Raven's was taking place. All aspects of her personality were surrounding a single version and screaming at it several times over. As Raven approached, the clones spread apart, giving her full view of the drab brown cloaked figure. Turning to Knowledge, who was holding Rage in changes close by, she spoke softly. "Who exactly is that? And why is everyone so pissed at her?"

"Is that really what you want to know?" Knowledge frowned in thought, absently petting Rage. It was then that the gothic woman noticed the difference in her dark side. The cloak was a faded red, almost pink, and there was no vicious look on her face, she looked rather depressed actually.

Raven turned back to Knowledge, "It will do, for starters."

Nodding vigorously, the yellow clad girl began explaining. "She would be the reason Rage is not a problem at the moment. She apparently drained all of the anger and hate from her to gain strength."

"Strength for what?" Raven didn't like where this was headed.

"Well, apparently.....she wanted to find Beast Boy." The last two words were more a cough then actual words, though they weren't missed.

"Beast Boy is dead. There is no way to find him." It was an emotionless tone that spoke volumes.

"Well, that isn't exactly true. She found a very interesting way. To put it simply, she used her stolen strength to look for him through dimensions and when she found him, forced you here." Knowledge pushed her glasses back up.

"So I am in some sort of hell dimension, is that it?" She was becoming angrier the more she heard, but Rage still didn't stir.

"No, an alternate time line actually. Grief can be a powerful thing, even shattering the laws of reality in cases like this."

"Grief?" She was pointed toward the brown cloaked clone. Shaking her head, she looked around. "So what do I do now?"

Grief stood and spoke for the first time. "Find him, I have to see him again. We have to see him again." All the others nodded and looked to Raven.

Timid stepped forward. "What if we never see him again?"

Happiness moved to the front. "If he never makes us laugh again?"

Before anyone else could speak Raven shouted, "Enough."

Only one voice challenged this command, the same voice that challenged all commands. Rage's voice was barely a whisper, her energy still drained. "Never to insult him, or lash out at him again. It's not worth it."

All was quiet as Raven exited her mind.

____________________________________

When her eyes opened, she found herself staring at the masked man from before. He was seated across the room, backward in a chair. His arms were folded along the back, head propped up. He looked like he was sleeping.

Slowly Raven stood up, the figure didn't move. Walking soundlessly to him, she reached forward to touch the mask and pull the hood back. Her fingers were an inch from touching when his voice caused her to stumble backward. "I used to know someone who meditated, a long time ago."

"YOU SCARED THE SHIT OUT OF ME!!" Her breath was suddenly ragged, her heart pumping a mile a second.

"I know." Neither spoke for a minute, just staring at one another. "What did they want with you girl?" There was a certain edge to the voice that made Raven believe he was asking this with no hope for an answer.

"I don't answer questions from people who hide their faces." What was she thinking, her mind screamed, without her powers she was a decent fighter, but not in this guy's league. He could beat her bloody. Still, it wasn't like a major gamble, she had nothing to lose.

"I can take it off if you want, but many call me a grim reaper. Anyone who sees my face ends up dead." His words were cold, calm, arrogant. He was already beginning to irritate her.

"I'll take your word for it." Another pause passed between them, another staring contest with no winner. "If I help you, will you help me?" Another gamble, but again she had nothing to lose.

"Depends, I can probably help you, as long as what you have to say helps me." Another response that lacked emotion......or did it? Was that interest that she heard in his voice? No it couldn't be.

Sighing loudly, she turned to face the wall, a yellow structure with the bed she was now sitting on built in. "They heard me say some magic words, and wanted to know where I learned them."

"Really? And where did you learn them?" These words not as calm as before, not as arrogant, but still slightly cold.

"Azarath, where I grew up." It was all she would say in the matter, it should be enough to get her the information she wanted. She had inadvertently come here to find Beast Boy and she now planned to do just that.

"Azarath huh? What's your name girl?" Not an ounce of chill entered these words. He had straightened slightly in his chair, his head tilted more toward her.

Shit, shit. She couldn't tell him the truth, not this time. If he knew as much as he seemed to she would quickly be connected with her father and the demons. Even if her father wasn't responsible for the invasion, she would probably be killed. Think Raven think, there has to be something you can call yourself. It burst from between her lips even before she thought it. "Raleen." Close enough to her own name to remember, and with no real connection to it.

"You're lying." She froze, how did he know? "I don't care however. Do you like to read Raleen?"

Raven nodded slowly, not sure where this was going.

"I have some magical text that need someone who knows how to read it to even use it. If you come from Azarath like you say, then you should be able to read it." He stood and walked toward a door that Raven would have sworn wasn't there a moment before. "You can even have them, but I warn you Raleen. I will watch you closely, and if you harm anyone here, no magic in this world or any other will help you." He stepped through the door. "I will have you brought to our library later."

Raven stood and ran to the door. "What about my request?"

He half turned, "What is it?"

"I came to this town looking for someone." Well, it was half true, just don't mention you aren't from this world, she thought. "I want your help finding him."

"What's his name?" The masked man began toying with a knife in his hand, flipping it over and over again.

"I don't know what he goes by now, he used to go by Beast Boy."

The hooded figure froze, the blade slipped past him and landed on the floor. A small puddle began to form between his feet, his finger bleeding badly. He didn't seem to notice.

It took almost a minute for him to regain his composure. "Why would you want to see that loser? How do you even know him?"

With surprising speed, Raven's fist buried itself into the taller figure's stomach. He didn't move an inch, but beyond the mask, she saw his eye twitch in pain. It was far more then the demoness before had gotten. "DON'T YOU EVER TALK THAT WAY ABOUT HIM!!" Her voice was filled with more emotion then she remembered putting into anything in a long time. "You have no right talking about him like that. You don't know him." Tears filled her eyes, she didn't seem to notice though.

He turned more fully toward her, seeing her collapse onto him, still weeping lightly. "I know him better then anyone, and he is not worth a single tear."

Again her fists raised, but when they hit, there was no fight in them. "Who do you think you are?" Her voice was muffled, her breath hot, even though his shirt.

"I am Garlo. That's who. And why exactly do you want to find this man girl?" His voice cracked slightly, whether from anger or sympathy, she wasn't sure.

"I loved.....I love him.":

"Don't be a fool, no one loves him, and no one ever will." Garlo's voice was filled with anger,and something else, she didn't care enough to place.

"Bast..." A stinging slap sent the metal mask falling to the ground, the word caught in her throat as she saw Garlo's face.

A silence overcame the room.

Green skin held firm against a strong jaw set in a frown. Emerald eyes stared down into lavender ones. Slowly bending, he retrieved his mask. Suddenly it hit her, Garlo, a combination of Garfield Logan, the real name of Beast Boy.

They stared at each other for a moment, then, replacing his mask, he turned away. "You will be sent for later Raleen." His words were cold again.

"But..."

"You will be sent for later." The door closed, and the outline disappeared.

Raven was alone again, staring after Garlo.