Chapter 40

I'm glad I ended up making this 40 chapters instead of just 39 it was just so weird not having an even number. Perhaps I'm just OCD about it, oh well; I'm happy with the outcome of this story; and don't worry I will get around to making a sequel to this as soon as I am able. I hope you enjoy it. n I finaly got one of my comics in the mail today! Klarion! but it's issu can't read it yet O.Q i wanna cry!
klarion-you bought my comic book?
Me-yes i did, I'm a total geek i know. haha
Klarion-you can't read it tho.
Me-I think i might anyway. Now ONWARD TO THE BATTLE FIELD!

"So Raven; what are you going to do now?" Zatana asked. She, Raven, Wally, M'gaan, and Nightwing(as a sunglasses wearing Richard Grayson) sat in the park in Gotham City. Raven was busy bottle feeding Lita when she looked up.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well I would imagine you and Klarion still want to remain of the grid right?" Nightwing asked. Raven looked down at Lita.

"Well, actually; I was thinking of asking Klarion if we could stay in Gotham again." She said.

"Wait so you're moving back to Gotham?" Wally asked.

"Oh yeah; where we are no isn't really the best place to raise a kid yaknow?" Raven explained, "I don't want Lita to grow up with just dark magic."

'Who'd have thought that the crazy psycho Witch-girl would end up being responsible.' Wally thought, Nightwing elbowed him in the side. Raven cocked an eyebrow.

"Another Telepathic conversation about me?" She asked, then looked down at her baby and smiled sweetly and laughed, "Well aren't you just the hungry little baby."

"Do you mind if I hold her?" M'gaan asked. Raven smiled.

"You'd really want to hold the baby of a crazy Witch-girl?" she asked, the group got quiet. Zatana smirked.

"She's just messing with you guys; she doesn't really mean it that way." She said, Raven grinned, and handed Lita over to M'gaan who happily held her.

"Hard to believe something so innocent came from Klarion." M'gaan said then looked to Raven apologetically, "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it." Raven said holding her hand up, "Trust me nothing like that fazes me anymore."

"So havin a kid really mellowed you out huh Raven?" Nightwing asked, Raven nodded.

"Seems like it yeah." She said.

~0~

"So what'd the freak do to you?" Nancy asked, she had agreed to help Jason find Raven and she was eager to see the Goth freak get what was coming to her. Jason looked down at the young woman.

"It's not what she what she's done; it's what she is planning to do." He said, following Nancy down the streets.

"Ok…what's she going to do?" Nancy asked rolling her eyes. Jason shook his head.

"It does not matter to you; she must be stopped and brought to justice." He said. Nancy frowned.

"Fine by me that crazy Witch tried to kill me, not to mention what she did to my boyfriend!" she shouted; Jason paused, causing Nancy to stop and look back, "What?"

"I'm sorry for your loss ma'am." He said then looked her in the eyes, "I promise that I will bring the witch-girl to justice, and avenge you're dear departed."

"Oh…uh, thanks…" She said blushing a bit, then saw a girl with short blonde hair, with sapphire eyes, she glared, "That's her there!"

Jason turned; the girl looked nothing like when he had first saw her, then again she did go into hiding for several years. He looked back at Nancy.

"You may want to stay back for this." He said.

~0~

"Anyway I'm thinkin of goin' back to school yaknow?" Raven said cradling Lita in her arms as she and Zatana walked down the street. The others had long since left and the two were heading back to Raven's house.

"Just don't go back to Gotham high, I don't think they're going to let you back in after all that." Zatana said.

"Yeah it's going to be very hard to find a school that can accept me." Raven mused, then paused, "I'm pretty much screwed on this one aren't I?"

"Yeah I'd say so." Zatana said, suddenly Lita began crying again, Raven rocked her while she began to purr, something odd that Zatana couldn't help but point out.

"Are you…purring?" She asked, Raven blushed.

"Ah yeah; I have no idea how I'm able to do that; I even growl and hiss it's weird." She explained, "It usually works to calm Lita down, but it's not working now."

"Raven! Look out!" Zatana shouted as a large demon jumped the two; luckily Zatana managed to put up a shield and deflect the demon. Raven looked up in fear as her baby cried even louder. "What's Etrigan doing here?"

"Hand over the girl! She must pay for her crimes!" Etrigan snarled banging on the shield, trying to smash it. Zatana glared.

"What crimes?" Zatana shouted, assuming he was talking about Lita, she then cast a spell that sent Etrigan flying backwards, "Raven take Lita ad run!"

Normally Raven would argue that she could handle a situation where she had to fight however her magic was weak and she wasn't just risking her life anymore. So she nodded and ran, holding Lita close to her. Zatana looked to Etrigan who was now standing and glaring at her.

"My quarrel is not with you Magician; stand down!" He growled, Zatana glared back.

"Not on your life Etrigan! The only crimes that baby is guilty of is being born!" She shouted, "And I hardly think that's any crime for you to fight!"

Etrigan growled, and attacked Zatana, knocking her to the ground he then grabbed her by the throat and tossed her aside then proceeded to go after Raven and Lita. Despite his rather massive size Etrigan was fairly fast, fast enough to catch up with Raven as she ran down the street. Jumping over the Witch-girl he landed in front of her, cornering Raven and her baby. Etrigan then tackled her, Raven went wide eyes as Lita flew from her arms and into the air.

"LITA!" She screamed and struggled to get free from Etrigan's grip so she could save her baby. Suddenly a gust of wind whooshed past the two and Lita was caught before she could hit the ground.

"Woah you're not feelin the mode today little lady." Impulse said making the baby giggle innocently. He looked up from the baby to see Raven being attacked by a large monstrous creature. He glared, "Hang on kid, this is gonna be fast."

Impulse then speed over to the duo and kicked Etrigan off of Raven and crashing into a building. Impulse grinned.

"One speedy hero, at your service." He said then handed the baby over to Raven who held her tightly, "I think you dropped this."

"Please, stop with the jokes already, I'm in serious trouble." Raven said, Zatana managed to catch up to the trio.

"I'll say why's Etrigan after Lita?" She asked, Raven shook her head.

"He's not; he's after me." She said, "I don't know why and I don't care; I need to find Klarion!"

"Right, you two do that; I'll keep ugly here at bay." Impulse said.

"But you can't fight Etrigan off by yourself!" Raven shouted, Zatana put a hand on her shoulder.

"He'll be fine Raven; you on the other hand can't use you're powers as well anymore remember?" She asked, "You keep him busy; we'll find Klarion and make sure these two are safe. Then I'll come back to help."

Impulse nodded, then sped off to Etrigan who was beginning to throw the rubble off of himself. The girls went off in another direction, to find Klarion. They were stopped however by a person coming out from the corner and smacking Zatana in the back of the head, hard enough to knock her out. Raven glared when she saw the assailant.

"Hello Goth freak, having fun?" Nancy asked glaring at Raven.

"Nancy; you crazy psycho what are you doing!?" She shouted, smothering Lita in her chest. Nancy grinned.

"I'm helping that thing," She said pointing to Etrigan who was beginning to beat Impulse in their fight, "Get rid of you!"

"Listen Nancy; I know you hate me, for almost killing you and killing you're boyfriend," She said, a little too nonchalantly, "But you can't let that thing kill me!"

"Yes I can! Rick was the best guy I ever dated, you, a freaky, Gothic crazy Witch-girl killed him! I'm not going to let a freak like you live after that!" Nancy shouted, her face twisting in anger. Raven glared; regretting not finishing her off when she had the chance.

"Listen nut-case," Raven said taking a step back, away from the crazed woman, "It's not just my life anymore!"

"Yeah I know." Nancy said taking a step forward, "I heard about you getting yourself knocked up by that crazy magic-boy a long time ago, I knew it'd happen! You little tramp!"

Raven wanted to run but she didn't want to risk trying to get past Nancy, and there was no way she was going to try the Etrigan exit. She swore; she was stuck and there was only one thing she could do. She lifted her palm to Nancy and blasted her with an energy beam, with just enough power to push her back, and still have the energy to put up a shield around herself, Lita and Zatana as Ertigan managed to throw the young speedy hero off of him and bolt toward the Witch-girl. He was blindsided by Impulse who kicked him in the head. He looked to Raven.

"What happened you two should have gone by now!" He shouted, Raven shook her head as dark tears streaked down her face.

"Doesn't matter. Zatana's out cold and I can't leave her." She explained, Impulse looked to Etrigan who was standing again, then back to Raven.

"Can't you just Teleport you're way out of here?" He asked.

"No; I don't have enough energy to. I'm stuck here." Raven said shaking her head, "Please go find Klarion, I can hold him off for as long as I can."

Impulse nodded, and sped off to find the Witch-boy, leaving Raven to fend for herself and the others. Cherie meowed.

"No, if you get hurt I won't have any energy to keep this up." Raven said, falling to her knees and cradled the now crying Lita in her arms. Etrigan was on his feet now and was trying to break Raven's protective bubble.

"Please Klarion, help."

~0~

Klarion scowled it was an odd feeling he had; and the sensation of magic energy rising and falling didn't help him. He didn't know what it was but something about it made him feel uneasy. He sat in Raven's living room, waiting for Raven to come back from her outing with Zatana and some other people he didn't know. He looked to the clock; she should have been back with Lita by now, He looked to Abra who he'd dragged from the castle to tidy up the house.

"What time did Raven say she'd be back?" He asked, Abra grunted and thought for a moment.

"I don't know, I wasn't told anything." He said, suddenly the front door burst opened and Impulse skidded to a halt in front of Klarion who stared at the boy wide eyed.

"Raven and Lita are in trouble! Some demon thing attacked them Zatana's out cold and Raven sent me to find you!" He shouted going nearly speaking incoherently. Klarion stood, and glared.

"And you just left her there?!" He growled, Impulse frowned.

"Talk later if we don't get back; Raven and Lita are going to be moded for sure!" he shouted, Klarion nodded, he snapped his fingers then he and Teekl disappeared, teleporting their way to the girls.

~0~

"W-what?...RAVEN!" Zatana shouted finally coming to, Raven smiled.

"You're awake thank god!" She shouted, Zatana looked around.

"What happened?" She asked, Raven shook her head.

"No time, Zatana I can't keep this up much longer." She said, Zatana stood.

"It's ok Raven, I can fight now." She said, "Let down the barrier I'm going to beat him."

Raven nodded and gasped as she let the barrier down and Zatana threw an energy orb at Etrigan, which he dodged and ran at Raven.

"Dnib mih ni niach!" Zatana shouted, as golden chains wrapped around Etrigan's body. He fell to the ground a few feet from Raven who let out a sigh of relief.

"You ok?" Zatana asked, breathing heavily. Raven looked down at her baby and when she was sure she was ok she nodded. Soon there was a heavy wind that surrounded the three, swirling leaves and rock around, until it eventually settle and Klarion stood a few feet away from them. Raven stood and smiled as she ran to him.

"Raven are you two ok?" He asked wrapping the two in a hug. Raven nodded, then pointed to Zatana and Etrigan.

"Zatana came too last minute and managed to subdue him." She explained. Klarion looked to Etrigan who was bound in chains lying on the ground.

"Well uncle Jason," he said, stepping over to him, and kicking him in the head, "It's about time someone put you in chains, I just wish I were the one to do it."

Etrigan growled, and glared up at the Witch-boy who's foot rested on his head. Then Impulse skidded to a halt beside Raven and Lita.

"Did I miss anything?" He asked, Raven nodded.

"You both did; Zatana was able to stop him before anything happened." She explained, Cherie meowed from her shoulders as Raven scratched his head, "I told you I couldn't risk letting you fight him I'd have been in big trouble if I did."

"The important thing is that everyone's ok, including Lita." Raven then said. Klarion looked at the two and sighed; not sure what he would have done if he had lost either of the two, suddenly he felt a shift in the magical field, he looked down and saw that Etrigan had disappeared, he went wide eyed and look to Raven and Lita, who were unaware of Etrigan behind them. His palms glowed red as he threw a lightning bolt at the demon, however he was too slow.

Raven's body went limp as Etrigan's claws went through her back, ripping flesh and snapping her backbone. Everyone stared in shock, Klarion teleported to her and caught her body before she hit the ground. Everything was silent. Etrigan, proud that he hand vanquished what he thought was a threat to this realm returned to his human form. Jason nodded at his work and teleported back to his home.

"Raven! Raven speak to me, please!" Klarion cried holding Raven in his arms as he knelt to the ground. He could feel the warm blood spilling from the gash in her back on his hands as he held her. Raven lifted a shaking hand and her gaze shifted to a spot further away from them.

"L…Lita…" she choked out doing her best to cling to life to know that her baby was safe. It was then that the group noticed the lack of shrill cries that would normally come from a baby when it was scared or hurt. Their hearts sank when they realized that in the fight Etrigan had not only fatally wounded Raven, but also killed the baby Lita in the process. Zatana panicked, losing both her friend and her friend's baby was just too much to bare, she fell to her knees and covered her face with her hands. Klarion gritted his teeth to keep the tears that threatened to fall at bay. Impulse stood, shocked to the point where he just couldn't move; he was the fastest kid alive, he should have been able to stop Etrigan from killing them.

"No, no, no! I can't lose you again! Raven!" Klarion screamed, hugging Raven's dying body close to him. In the stress of what was happening a thought suddenly came to Zatana's mind. She stood and walked over to Klarion, who was at this point crying.

"Klarion, you can save them can't you?" She said grabbing the witch-boy by the coat sleeve, "You know necromancy don't you?"

Klarion shook his head.

"I do but I can't save them both…" He said looking down at Raven then back at the body of the child he and Raven were going to raise together. He had a choice; Save Raven, from death, or bring his daughter back. He then felt a tug on his shirt tie the two looked down to see Raven still clinging to life with all she could. She looked up at Klarion, dark tears forming in her eyes; she opened her mouth to speak.

"…L-Lita…."She mumbled breathlessly, "S-save….L…Lita…"

With that her body went limp and all life left her once sapphire blue eyes.

"Raven!"

"Klarion…you have to save Lita!" Zatana said, then looked to Impulse who was standing as stiff as a board, "Impulse! Where's the baby's body?"

Impulse shook himself from shock and looked around spotting the blanketed child. He carefully picked her off the ground, and brought her over to Klarion who laid Raven's now lifeless body on the ground carefully.

Klarion looked down at his daughter; if he hadn't known better he would have thought she was just sleeping. She looked so innocent and sweet; it made more tears fall from Klarion's eyes. He held Lita close to him, as his palms glowed and soon Lita's body began to glow a dark color of green. Everything was silent and still until Klarion had finished. When Klarion didn't feel or hear Lita's heartbeat he deflated in defeat. Everyone was quiet until they heard a familiar animal sound, then looked around to see; Cherie, limping over to the group followed by a pack of other stray cats. They all meowed loudly as they made their way to the group and stopped, still meowing and yowling loudly. Teekl looked to Klarion and mewed, he looked to his cat.

"Th-they can?" He asked hopeful.

"What? What's going on?" Zatana asked, Klarion looked to her and Impulse with a bit of hope in his eyes.

"They can save Lita…" He said, the cats, including Cherie and Teekl, who had jumped from Klarion's shoulders to join the strays as they surrounded Klarion, Teekl meowed. Klarion nodded and laid his daughter on the ground and stepped back, as the cats surrounded it. It was an odd thing to watch; the cats one by one began to lie on and around Lita, they're bodies began to glow. Zatana, Impulse, and Klarion watched, as now the cats slowly began to slowly make their way off of the child until only a small pack of stray cats, Cherie, and Teekl remained. They were quiet, waiting for whatever the cats had done to take effect, and just when they began to doubt the unthinkable happened; Lita cried.

That's the end of this story; originally I wasn't going to have baby Lita die; but then I remembered I was leaving a huge plot hole with the strays so, that's how it came out. I hope you all don't hate me for killing off Raven, I'm sorry but I had too. I hope you can forgive me for that. On a side note There will be a sequel I will be adding onto T'was the night before Halloween, I renamed it and called it Dark Beloved instead. I hope you like it. Oh yeah and this is completely off topic but; DON'T BUY FROM ONLINE STORES! If you want to buy a comic book; like Seven Soldiers of Victory; Klarion—go to a comic store, if not you will order the entire series and only get issues 2 and 4 and you wont get your money back. That's all. See you in my next story….sorry. . no flames please!