Alice: Last chapter! I figured I might as well finish it as soon as I possibly could.

Emily: I've gotten asks about the sequel, so I figured I'd just post all the information for the sequel here.

Alice: Thanks so much for reading and supporting this story!

Emily: The information on the sequel is at the very end.

Aftershock

Part 4

It only took a week for everyone in the city to move out. The happy citizens were now replaced with robots that patrolled the streets for any signs that the Teen Titans were still alive. Part of Terra desperately wished that her ex-friends were still breathing, but then she cursed herself for thinking in that manner. If Slade found out she hoped for her enemies to be alive, he would be furious.

After taking control of the city, Slade's aura began to change. He once held her in high regard and treated her like his own child. She even saw him as a father but lately he stopped. He trained her harder than before and stopped expressing any kindness towards her. It scared her, and she didn't want to be scared of him.

"Terra?" Slade's voice rang in her ear.

"Sector five is secure," she mumbled tiredly as she flew past the old pizza place the Teen Titans used to hang around. Ever since she killed them, she started seeing them everywhere. An old park would suddenly remind her of the times Beast boy would walk with her and tell her jokes. The mall was the place where Starfire would drag her to learn about fashion. Every time she thought of them pain shot through her heart, and she tried to push it down.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice the darkness surrounding the robots around her until it was too late. She gasped and suddenly was blasted off her rock and hit the ground hard. Groaning in pain, she shakily stood up. Dust and darkness blinded her from seeing anything but shadows. A wolf's growl filled the air, and Terra instantly knew who was attacking her.

But… how?

"Guys?" she mumbled, squinting at the shadowed figures surrounding her. Another blast hit her from behind and she cried out in pain.

"Terra! What is going on?"

She rolled on the street a few times and gasped as a shadow of a wolf approached her slowly. "Beast boy?" The dust covered the image. "Wait!" she pathetically yelled. "Aren't you going to talk to me?"

"We're done talking." That was definitely Robin's voice.

"You tried to kill us. Did you really think we wouldn't take that personally?" Raven bitterly spat out. Terra shut her eyes tightly and knew what they were saying was true. Yet a sudden happiness filled her heart at the revelation that her friends were still alive. Before she could voice her opinions, tiny metal spheres rolled towards her and blew up. She was blasted towards the other end of the street.

"Get up! Get up and fight!" Slade's harsh voice made her flinch. Her body entire body felt like it was on fire from the pain, and she could barely move. How was she supposed to fight the titans? Clenching her fists, she swung her hand up forcing multiple sharp rocks to fly towards the titans.

Standing up, she promptly dashed away from the team and hid in one of the darker alleys.

"What are you doing?!" Slade demanded.

"I can't fight all of them," she hissed in pain. "They're too strong."

Silence. She gulped and knew Slade was at his deadliest when he refused to speak. But what could she do? Once he saw her injuries, he would understand that it was impossible to fight. Nodding to herself, she took a sneak glance from behind to alley to see Overload, Plasmus, and Cinderblock all combine into one terrible being. Slade must have done this to distract the titans and allow her to escape. Tears of relief sprang to her eyes. Perhaps she misinterpreted his silence.

As the titans braced themselves to fight the creature, Terra quickly escaped to Slade's underground hideout.

"And I thought they were ugly before," Cyborg frowned as the monster howled.

"Titans, go!" Robin shouted and dashed towards the monster. He knew this was meant to be a distraction for Terra to escape, but he didn't care. She would have to come out and face them eventually, and they wouldn't hold back this time. She failed the test, and she truly was prepared to kill them. That proved she was no longer their friend.

Raven flew up and began blasting the monster with Starfire behind her. Cyborg ran straight for the monster, attempting to hit him, but it grabbed Cyborg and hurled him to the building behind him. Robin tried using his explosive gadgets to take down the monster when he noticed an approaching robot army. "Dammit," he cursed. They needed to finish this quick.

Cyborg groaned in pain and shakily stood up. Just as he recovered, he noticed a robot in front of him. Narrowing his eyes, Cyborg quickly blasted the robot before ripping out its mechanical heart. As more robots began to approach the fight, Cyborg noticed the beeping the heart was letting out. Smirking, he hurled the bomb towards the robots, significantly lowering their numbers. What he didn't notice was a robot behind him, about to attack, when suddenly Beast boy in the form of a T-Rex literally grabbed the robot with his mouth and chewed it. Spitting it out, Beast boy returned to his normal form.

"Where's Terra?" he snarled, anger clearly visible in his eyes.

"A robot army not enough for you?" Cyborg attempted to joke, but Beast boy only narrowed his eyes. A robot came behind him, and Beast boy turned into a gorilla, ripping the robot in half before morphing back.

"I want Terra." His face was hardened, and his voice was final. Cyborg briefly worried Beast boy might kill the girl, but before he could discourage him, Beast boy changed into a wolf and ran away from the scene.

Cyborg cursed under his breath and returned to the fight scene. They needed to reach Terra before Beast boy did something he might regret.

Terra dashed into the hideout, her legs practically begging her to stop. Maybe Slade would give her some of that healing cream he used before. Sighting him, she slowed to a walk and sighed in relief. His back was facing her, and she panted as she approached him. "Slade," she called out. "The titans are back, and they're stronger. They nearly beat me!"

She never saw the fist coming. She only felt her body slamming into the wall behind her and the stinging on her cheek. Shaking, she brought her fingers to the injury. He never hit her before. "That is nothing compared to what I am going to do to you," he hissed out angrily. Grabbing her by the hair, he hurled her onto the floor and kicked her side. "How dare you run?"

"T-they would have hurt me!" She cried out. That wasn't the answer he was looking for, and he lifted her by the hair before kneeing her in the stomach to show it.

"Robin never ran from a fight!" He screamed. "Not like you! You stay and fight or you die trying!"

"Slade!" she whimpered. "Please!"

"Begging will do you no good, Terra. You chose this life, so now you have to live it."

The robots were all defeated, and the monster could barely stand. As Raven flew up, she used her powers to hurl a car at the monster making it fall to the ground. When it didn't get back up, she slowly lowered herself to the ground where her team was waiting. "We did it," Robin tiredly stated. He looked around at the titans and frowned. "Where's Beast boy?"

"Where do you think?" Cyborg sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wanted to stop him, but he ran before I could."

"He's after Terra then." Starfire concluded. There was no trace of any sadness in her voice.

"Yeah," Robin nodded. "Let's go help him."

Beast boy easily broke into Slade's hideout. He remembered where it was from when Robin was forced to be his apprentice. Even if he didn't know, he could have easily sniffed out Terra in his wolf form. Slowly walking into the lab, he changed his form to something much smaller so neither of the criminals would see him coming. Climbing onto one of the higher rocks, Beast boy finally spotted Slade and Terra. Since his form was of a mouse, they couldn't see him. It was perfect for a surprise attack.

"Stop this!" Terra suddenly cried out. Beast boy narrowed his eyes at the tone of her voice. It sounded… scared?

"You asked for it," Slade hissed, and Beast boy froze when the man hit her. Judging by Terra's looks, it certainly wasn't the first time. "I ordered you to kill the titans. You didn't. I ordered you to stay and fight. You ran. You're proving yourself to be a terrible apprentice."

"That's not what I wanted to be to you!" Terra shouted. "Why are you treating me like this? You were nice to me! You accepted me! I thought you cared about me!"

"You are a fool then."

Terra shut her eyes tightly. "You manipulated me… you said the titans wouldn't accept me because of my past, but they did. Twice! You tricked me into thinking I was a monster and that only you could be there for me. I was such an idiot!"

Did she mean the little boy? Beast boy remembered Terra's confession and how she seemed to truly think he would hate her for it. Was it really Slade that convinced her they would all hate her? Was the real reason behind Terra's betrayal not from her own evil but from Slade's manipulation? Still… she killed them! But Slade might have manipulated her so heavily that she couldn't see the wrong in that…

"You swore to serve me. That doesn't change just because you thought I was different," Slade grabbed her hair, hoisting her up. She yelped in pain, and Beast boy trembled with fury. "You are going to kill the titans again, and you are going to succeed this time."

"No."

No?

"No?" Slade's voice held the same disbelief.

"I'd rather die than have to kill my friends again," Terra spat, and that was all Beast boy needed to clear any doubts of Terra's morality.

"That might just be the case," Slade growled and raised his fist to hit her. She shut her eyes in preparation for the pain, but it never came. Instead she hit the floor as though she were suddenly dropped. Opening her eyes, she gasped when she sat Beast boy standing over her, glaring heavily at Slade who was across the room. He must have hit Slade in one of his animal forms.

"Beast boy?" she whimpered. "W-why?"

He turned to her with determined eyes. "Because we're friends." He stated with no doubt in his tone.

"But I—" She didn't know how to react. Beast boy smiled softly at her and held out his hand. Terra slowly nodded her head and accepted the hand, standing beside the boy she loved.

"Let's kick his butt," Beast boy smirked, and Terra nodded, smiling back.

"You," Slade snarled, standing up. "You are not taking another apprentice from me!"

"And you're not taking another friend from me!" Beast boy growled but frowned when the villain burst out laughing. From beside him, he heard a gasp as Terra's body started jerkily moving. "Terra? What—"

A rock hit him in the chest and sent him flying back. "No!" Terra shouted but seemed unable to control her own movements.

"I told you what the suit does, Terra," Slade smirked as Beast boy sat up, rubbing his head in pain. "It allows me to have control. Now finish him!"

Terra's eyes glowed gold as multiple attacks were directed at Beast boy, who quickly dodged them. Slade was controlling her? But how? He mentioned the suit, but Beast boy didn't believe there was technology powerful enough to hand over the control of one person over to another. Still, Beast boy thought with his fists clenched, it meant that in order to free Terra, he'd have to take down Slade.

He morphed into a hawk and quickly flew away as the ground crumbled beneath him. When the earth formed into a hand and grabbed him, he changed into a gorilla that instantly broke the rocks. "Beast boy!" Terra shouted in concern.

"Break free!" he shouted back. He couldn't do this on his own.

"I can't!" She cried out. "He's too powerful!"

Beast boy silently cursed Slade in his mind as he tried fighting these attacks. Tears rolled down Terra's cheeks, and Slade just stood there, watching the fight with a sadistic gleam in his one eye. Beast boy had never felt such a strong hatred for one man before, and he desperately wanted to attack the man. But every time he went close, another of Terra's attacks would send him further and further from him.

Eventually a large boulder landed on his foot, and he couldn't move.

"Oh no," he paled.

"Finish him." Slade commanded.

With a sob, Terra walked towards Beast boy, who was trying to lift the rock. He was on his knees, staring up at her with large eyes. She pushed multiple rocks together to form a sharper one with the tip inches from Beast boy's heart. "Terra," he whispered. "Please…"

"I have no choice," she whispered. "I'm sorry."

Before the rock could be lowered, she heard a sudden battle cry. Robin landed beside her out of nowhere and narrowed his eyes at her. The rest of the titans suddenly appeared from the shadows. They were all tense and prepared to blast her with everything they had. Terra knew they couldn't now, because if they hit her, the rock would fall onto Beast boy and kill him. "Attack him and it'll be the last thing you do," Robin snarled.

"Attack Terra!" Slade shouted.

"Don't do it Terra!"

"Finish him!"

So many voices… Terra shut her eyes, willing her body to not listen to Slade's commands. "Terra…" Beast boy whispered. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself staring at him. Determination filled her body. She told Slade she would rather die than kill her friends again. She refused to watch them die again. Screaming, the rock changed its direction to Slade, who just barely jumped out of the way.

Robin frowned as Terra suddenly started attacking Slade with everything she had. He knew he couldn't focus on that right now though because Beast boy needed their help. The team quickly surrounded him, and Cyborg started pulling the rock away. "Guys," Beast boy began whispering, "Terra's on our side. I mean it. What I saw…"

"We guessed." Raven stated, nudging towards the ongoing battle between master and ex-apprentice. With the anger and force Terra was using, Slade didn't seem to stand a chance.

"We need to help her," Beast boy stood up but gasped in pain when his injured foot took the weight.

"Beast boy," Starfire quickly caught him before he could fall. Beast boy's eyes weren't on her but on Terra, who Slade had gripped by the neck. He was whispering something to her when Terra's eyes flashed gold.

"We need to get you some help," Cyborg insisted, but Beast boy shook his head.

Before he could argue, Robin interrupted, "Guys… we need to get out of here. It's a volcano…"

The titans turned and paled when they noticed. Due to the rapid movements of the rocks and the nature of Terra's attacks, the lava that was once stored away was breaking free. The ground beneath them was slightly shaking, and if they didn't escape soon, they would be dead. "Terra!" Beast boy shouted. Suddenly Slade's grip loosened and he was hurled off the rock. He plummeted below, and Terra numbly watched. The lava below engulfed him, and the last thing she saw of Slade was his mask slowly melting.

"Terra!" She jumped and turned to the titans. That's when she noticed the trembling earth and lava bursting out. A volcano… she gasped and quickly ran to them, forgetting that the other teammates haven't forgiven her yet.

"We need to get out of here," Robin repeated.

"Robin it could take out the whole city!" Cyborg realized. "And it's too big to stop!"

Terra clenched her fists. This was her fault. All of this… that meant it was her job to fix it. Instead of being the killer, she could be the savior. Nodding to herself, she glanced behind her. She wouldn't make it out of this alive, but she didn't care. For one last time, she wanted to be a hero again. "I can stop it."

The team turned to her, and Beast boy gasped. "No… Terra, you can't!"

"Yes, I can." She smiled softly. "I need to clean up my own mess. You guys get out, and I'll stop the volcano."

Robin frowned. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Terra," Starfire whispered with tears in her eyes. Suddenly the alien girl was hugging Terra fiercely.

"Thanks Star," she hugged her back briefly. Once they parted, Terra turned to the rest of the team. "I'm sorry for everything I've done. All those things I said… I never really meant them. You guys are my friends… the only friends I've ever really had, and I'm sorry I messed that up."

"We forgive you," Beast boy choked up. "Terra, please…"

Terra smiled sadly. Without warning, she kissed him. It was the second kiss they've ever shared, and it was full of passion, love, and sorrow all in one. "I love you," she tearfully smiled.

"I love you too." Beast boy was shaking. Terra slowly parted from him and waved at the other titans, who stared at her with a mixture of sorrow and forgiveness. She smiled. This was the memory she wanted to save. Turning to the volcano, she waited patiently until the titans were out before holding up her hands.

"Thank you," she whispered softly as power flooded through her veins, making her body turn gold.

When the titans came back to the scene, there was a statue of Terra holding out her arms. It was the position she died in. It was the position of a hero. Raven, using her powers, slowly carved into the rock Terra was standing on so it spelled out,

TERRA

A Teen Titan

A True Friend

It caused Beast boy to burst into tears and collapse onto his knees. The titans surrounded him with hugs and whispers of comfort. He had told them everything he saw in Slade's hideout and even Terra's secret about the little boy. It explained her actions, and it explained why she decided to turn on Slade.

The titans promised him they would find a way to reverse the effects, but Beast boy had little hope. What could they possibly do to bring Terra back to life? Eventually they left together as a team, and they started to rebuild the city. Many of the citizens came back, and the titans blatantly lied about the blonde girl that took over the city. "She was being controlled by Slade, who is now dead." It was only partially a lie. "She saved the city." That was the truth.

Everyone knew they had an orphan girl named Terra to thank, and it honored her memory.

Currently Beast boy was sitting in front of the statue of Terra, staring up at her with teary eyes. He had come here alone although he figured the titans would know where he was. "Hi again," he mumbled. "I know I visit you a lot, and you must get sick of hearing my voice, but I can't help it. I just… I wanted to see you."

He squirmed uncomfortably. He knew he wouldn't hear a reply, but he sometimes wished that she would laugh in response. It was stupid, and it brought tears to his eyes again.

"Beast boy?"

He jumped and turned around to see Starfire standing there, watching him with pitiful eyes. "Star," he wiped his eyes. "I didn't see you there…"

Starfire nodded and slowly approached him. Sitting down beside him, she stared up at the statue of her friend. "So much has happened," Starfire mumbled. "Even before I met Terra, there was so much going on that it caused me to forget about some things."

Beast boy frowned in confusion. "Star…?"

"Do you remember when Warp sent me to the future?" she asked, and he nodded in reply. "I didn't tell any of you this, but there was a blonde girl among our team. A blonde girl with blue eyes, and she told me that if she did something stupid, we just needed to wait. She said she loved us, and she would give her life for us. She said she was a titan at heart."

Beast boy's eyes widened. "You don't mean…"

"She returned to us in the future," Starfire stated firmly. "It means there is a way to bring her back. I do not know how long it will take, but I am certain she will come back to us."

Beast boy nodded, tears coming to his eyes. "Thanks Star."

Together the two of them mourned by the statue, and together they reminisced about the times with their dear friend. The friend that strayed from the path of righteousness only to steer herself back on it. The friend who both hurt them and saved them. The friend that lived and died with no regrets.

Their friend Terra who died a hero.

Alice: Thanks for reading! The sequel will be posted by July 15th.

Emily: The next story will be extremely focused on RobRae. Here is the information for that story:

Title: Steering You

Summary: Terra is dead. Beast boy is in mourning. Starfire is heartbroken, and Cyborg is debating on leaving the team. Worse comes to worse when an unbreakable bond forms between Robin and Raven, revealing not only their deepest secrets but the love for each other that they worked so hard to hide.