Ben 10 x Starfire

Azarath Gwendolyn Jennifer

 "As you already experienced," Raven explains flatly, "our spells already synergies well. What you lack, and i'm not surprised given this entity seem to take pleasure in watching you fail, is that knowing the spells is one thing but mastering them is something else, and a big thing that can help is having a focusing mantra."

She demonstrated with some basic telekinesis, "Azarath...Metrion...Zinthos."

"This is dumb," Jen growls as she paces about, "Gwen is the mage not me, I like to get up close."

Raven holds her head, "Yes I can tell," wincing a moment, "You really have non control of your beast side unlike your cousin, Maybe you would benefit from training with Beast Boy first."

"No we have the same curse, if Jen is killed it will only get worse. We can both let out our wild side later with Beast Boy, for now Jen, try to focus. I know you normally just let your aliens guide you but now is the time to learn self control."

Jen sighs, "I-I know...i just..." she growls, "This isn't me. This isn't how I fight. I feel...caged."

Raven nods, "I know the feeling."

Jen laughs, "Right! I don't think I've even seen you smile once, what do you know of wild emotions you're more emotionless than the literal half robot."

Raven remained calm, though Jen was testing her patience, "Believe it or not every day is a struggle. If I lose my control for even a moment my father, the demon Trigon can take control of my body and mind and bring destruction to my world."

That got Jen's attention.

Raven took a cleansing breath, "Trigon tricked my mother before i was born and to prevent him from using me as a conduit to our world she fled to Azerath, there i was raised in the mystic arts by the sages there and taught how to control my emotions so my father could never contr~" she looks to Jen who was shaking, starting at the watch, "Jen? Is something wrong?"

Gwen knew, pacing over and looking at the icon on the screen, "Ghostfreak?!"

Jen takes a calming breath, "He showed back up after everything we did. Been doing everything in my power to never use him again but still knowing he's there..." she continues to shake.

Raven hives over to look, "Who is Ghostfreak?"

Jen takes a long breath to recenter herself, "He's one of my aliens. But unlike the rest it's not just instincts or impressions I get when I turned into him, something always felt off. Then he got out. Said even the smallest DNA strand contained his people's consciousness. And he was hell bent on controlling my body and hurting my family. Eventually we beat him but in the fight the Omnitrix scanned him again and now he's back. I've since avoided using him at all costs but he's always there...waiting. Trigon and his connection to you remind me of Ghostfreak and me."

Raven smiles, a rare sight, as she rests a confronting hand on Jen's shoulder and she feels her worries wash away, "I am also an empath, able to read and influence emotions even while I'm denied expressing them myself for fear of my father. So let me ease your burden a moment."

Jen takes a long relaxing breath, closing her eyes, and then giving a soft pur, smiling back wide as she opens her eyes, "Alright Raven. Let's do this again. What were those words? Azerath something?"

She smiles, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos. But any phrase will do. It's about focusing your will though your mana, your magic. Knowledge and signs only go so far."

Jen and Gwen share a glance, "Azarath Metrion Zinthos is great."

Raven's smile persists, "That means a lot to me. The sages were more then my teachers they were my family."

Gwen wraps an arm around Raven, "Our family."

Jen wrapping one around the other shoulder, "Sisters in magic, bound by a uncaring god."

Raven shed a single tear, the most she allowed herself to have, "I wish Starfire was here to swap bodies with me so i could trutly show you how much that means to me."

Gwen purrs, "Swap with me, I've had to control my animal side for some time before Jen and Grandpa found out. I'll hold the gates while you ca~"

"You're still learning to control your animal side," Beast Boy enters, pulling the trio into a squid hug, "I'll do it Raven. Go on, give my body a ride. I can watch the gates of hell."

She rolls her eyes, "You're even less qualified than them."

"Na, I just enjoy life. You know that I've already lost one team. I won't loose to your Trigon. Besides in my body you can teach Jen and Gwen both magic and to control your beast sides."

Raven smiles, "Thanks Beast Boy."

He laughs.