The darkness subsided around Raven as it disappears back into the ground. Raven looked up to see they had all been transported outside the castle's main doors. The late afternoon sun had been covered by dark gloomy clouds. In the distance thunder could be heard signaling the start of a storm. The large marble doors opened slowly revealing Damian's family all standing there, shocked and scared to the sight before them. A teary-eyed Raven holding onto a lifeless beast, their brother.

Dick reached a hand but was stop by an invisible wall impeding him to exit the castle. "Raven, is he... Damian don't leave us." Everyone brought their hands up to join Dick's, together they pressed against the invisible wall. It all they could do for Damian.

Raven sobbed quietly as she cradled Damian's head in her small hands. "Not too hard." She gasped, she looked down as Damian tried to chuckle and smirk at her. Being as gentle as she could, she placed his head back down, hoping to provide him some small comfort.

"Damian? I... I don't know what to do. You got hurt because of me... I-"

Damian lifted his large paw and caressed her cheek as he wipes some of her tears. "Shh... cough...you're safe that's all that matters, I would... do it again for you."

"Just hold on, we can find some medicine, anythingand you will see, you'll be better in no time." Someone please help us.Raven prayed, she wanted to drag Damian back inside the castle and tend to his wounds but feared if she moved an inch he could be in more pain. As Raven continue to ponder what she could do, she hadn't notice Damian had been speaking softly at her.

"Perhaps this is for the best, part of me knew I wouldn't be allowed to feel what I'm feeling... you changed my perspective, made me want to hope for the tomorrow... if this is my end then I am glad that... I got to see you... once last time." In the distance lighting struck the earth, making it tremble, bringing a heavy down pour.

Raven couldn't hold her tears, as they slipped down her wet cheeks, she grabbed Damian's paw in her hands and held it close to her face. "No, no, no! Please! Don't leave me, not when I found what I have been looking for. Please stay, I want to read more books with you. I want to cook alongside you, to learn more about your family and you.Damian, I want to... stay."

Damian both smiled and grunted painfully as he tried to laugh happily at her confession."Raven. The castle is your home..." Damian slowly glanced and watched his family as they started to frantically pounded the invisible wall. He turned to gaze at Raven with a small weak smile, "Take care of them for me... and take care of Titus, he will need someone... he will need you-"

"Don't you dare say things like that! I won't allow it; you hear me you... you... jerk! Don't you dare die on me!"

Damian lightly chuckled, "There's that hot-head-strong-woman I met long ago, that's one thing I like about you. Your independence to take action into your own hands, your will to not be taken for granted, and the immense compassion you showed to creatures of nightmares, like myself... it one of the reasons why I... fell in love with you." With that Damian gave his last breath and his paw fell to his side, his green eyes closing forever.

"I fell in love with you as well." Raven gently picked up Damian's head and hugged it tightly in her arms. He was stone cold.Feeling no warmth, no life, Raven cried again.

~~~ ~~

The rain continues to pour harshly against them, the rest of the Wayne family quietly sobbed as they mourned the loss of their youngest member. Kori wrapped her arms around Dick, burying her face against his back, Jason, kept his arms around Cass, Stephanie, and Tim who wept into their hands.

Without realizing it, Raven started to emit a strange white glow, she had her eyes closed impeding her to notice it herself. The one to notice it was Dick who gaze widen, as the glow continue to expand and soon engulf the two young people. Everyone stared at it as the blinding white light took shape, a white raven. It rose high spreading it enormous wings, shrieking to the heavens above, exploding into stardust.

~~~ ~~

Raven had suddenly felt like she had been reborn. The last thing she remembered was feeling complete sorrow overtaken her body, the next she knew was feeling a sense of warmth, the kind you expect from a mother. She had her eyes closed, but she distinctly could notice the world outside become rather lit. Raven pulled away and opened her eyes. The rain had suddenly subsided, but the sky was still dark and gloomy. Her dress had been transformed to a simple white silk dress, attached with a white cape. She no longer had pearl-like skin but fair that held the sun's light and warmth. As her gaze looked towards what she had been holding, Raven couldn't help but gasp and widen her eyes. She felt her heart beat faster and her breath had been caught in her throat.

Raven couldn't believe her eyes.

There in front of her, what had been a beast laying before her was now a young man.His well-perfectly sculpted chest was bare, the only thing keeping him from being completely nude was a pair of black worn out trousers. Carefully Raven extended her hand to touch his face. The man with golden olive skin, and sleek black hair stirred in his sleep making Raven pulled away from him. The strange handsomeman soon opened his eyes, gazing up into the skies above, he looked awestruck, like he knew he wasn't supposed to see the sky again. He then slowly turned to lock eyes with her.

Raven could feel her heart quickening again inside of her, her insides turning all over the place. This man, this mysterious man who appeared out of nowhere, had the same eyes like him.Emerald. He then sat up and smiled warmly at Raven. He reached for her hands and brought her closer to him. Raven quietly continue to study him.

"Raven, it's me... Damian." The strange man finally spoke, though his voice sounded different than the beast she had come to hold dear in her heart.

Raven continue to stare and study his face. She kept coming back to his eyes. Thoseeyes, the ones that seemed to be filled with a fresh pine forest, the ones who knew her fears and had seen her for who she truly was. Timidly she raised a hand and ran her slender fingers though his locks of black hair, then she watched as he reacted to her touch. He eyes closed for a moment almost as if he found pleasure and warmth through this single action. It was the same way; Beast Damian had acted towards her.

Raven smiled and carefully caressed his cheek, "It is you."

Damian smiled, her Damiansmiled at her, he lifted her chin and leaned closer to her, "my love" he declared before bringing his lips onto hers. Raven melted into his touch; she wrapped her hands around his neck never wanting to leave this moment. He was her air, her life as much as he needed her to hope for the new day. Together they had become the rainbow that appeared after a dark storm. They were both light and day, contemplating one another.

They pulled away from each other, catching their breaths. Damian slowly stood and extended his hand for her to take. He brought her to stand next to him and hugged her tightly against him.

"You done well, my child."Both Damian and Raven turned to find a woman dressed in white hooded – cloak who stood at the end of the concrete staircase to ascend to the castle.

"It's you again." Raven added as she remember the strange messenger she had been visited in her dreams.

The woman only smiled underneath her hood, "It's time to shed some light into this darkness. Our mother of the netherworld has given you her blessing, Raven."

Raven looked at Damian who gazed at her with a confuse face wondering what the strange woman meant. She smiled at him, then lifted her hand and muttered; "Azarath... Metrion... Zindos."

Her fingertips emitted a strange purple glow, a beam shot straight up and pierced the dark, gloomy sky. As it broke free, sunlight started to pour through the opening and little by little the dark storm clouds started to disperse. At this, Raven's own magic erupted at the top of the castle's towers transforming it darken state and bringing it to life. The hideous gargoyles that sat on the ledges were transformed into fierce roaring winged lions. The magic continues to travel down, opening every window, as it made it to the main doors. A great gust of wind came rushing from the inside, pushing Damian's siblings to the outside. They no longer held a spiritual form but a physical; skins and bones. They all erupted into laughter as they ran towards Damian and Raven as they huddle for a group hug. Titus who had been standing along side them was lifted a few feet off the ground and transformed back to it's original form. A large-healthy adult Great Dane. A healed Sombra flew in, perching itself onto Titus's back.

Light had returned to the castle for good and the curse had been lifted, Raven feeling overwhelmed with utter joy turned around to notice the white cloaked woman had started walking away from the castle. "Wait!" Raven called out, Damian took a step back and gesture to his family to give Raven a little room as she walked down some steps to approach the strange woman. "You're Arella, my mother? I was looking for your home-"

"And you found it. Azarath, is with you as you chant its name. Call upon it whenever you need to release the light from our world and share it with those you meet." The woman continues to smile as she lifted her head and met Raven's amethyst eyes with her own. "I am very proud of you Raven, be happy." Arella then gestured towards Damian who came to stand next to her daughter. "You take good care of my girl."

"I will madam." Damian bowed as he clasped his hand with Raven's. Arella bowed at them both before turning around and disappeared into a silver mist. The two young lovers turned back to regroup with the rest of the family when-

"Damian."

Turning around, they saw two older men standing side by side. Raven noticed Damian's chest was rising as he was containing his excitement. He quickly glanced at her and Raven nodded at him. Damian let go of her hand and dashed down the last few steps before calling; "Father... Alfred!" The rest of his siblings ran down to join him, at the last step Dick jumped rather high almost as he wanted to take off in flight. Though gravity pulled him down too quickly landing straight on his face. Did he forget he was no longer a spirt? Raven thought to herself as she winced for Dick.

"It's good to see you all." King Bruce called as he and Alfred took turns to hug everyone. Raven couldn't help but compare how much Damian resemble him. She then noticed that the older king was studying her quite a while. "You must be the one and only Raven."

Raven jerked at the mention of her name and bow, before descending down the stairs and standing next to Damian. "Yes... your highness-"

"None of that my dear, just call me Bruce."

"Understood, Bruce, how did you know who I am?"

The much older man, known as Alfred bowed towards her, "Allow me to answer that, Miss Raven, the young master Damian would come to the gardens and visit us. He would talk to our stone-selves, updating us on what was happening inside. Lately we been hearing stories about the wonderful young girl who suddenly brought warmth to our rather loudfamily." Alfred answered.

"Wait- you actually heard everything Damian was telling you?" Jason inquired as his face turned to worry one, fearing Damian may had tattled on any mischiefs any of them may have causes over the years.

Bruce scoffed, "Oh, for goodness sake Jason, we were turned to stone not dead!By the way whose idea was it to place us in the garden? We were perfect targets for birds and their droppings!"

Without even giving it a second everyone immediately pointed at Dick, he turned her head glancing at his family's betrayal. "I thought you would had liked staying outside... well Dami wanted to keep you in your room where you surely collect dust!"

~~ ~~

"Everyone erupted in laughter, for the cursed-royal family have been liberated from their long dark enchantment. As for our purple-eye heroine, well let's say she found her forever home and a family who wanted her. She married the young prince and the two lived happily ever after, ruling gracefully for many years." Raven sighed heavily as she finished her story. She clasped her hands together and gaze at the two children listening to her tale. "So, did you two enjoy the story?"

"Very much, mommy!" The youngest of the two answered as she held her stuffed bear closely to her chest. Her name was Arella Roth-Wayne, she was just five years old, she had her mother's beauty, her skin and hair were just like Raven's. Arella had her father's eyes. She was a good nature child always wanted to help any woodland creature she came across.

"I enjoyed it, thank you mother." The eldest answered rather politely, speaking very much just like father. Derek Roth-Wayne, who was eight but spoke like he was older for his age was very protected of his youngest sister. He was the spitting image of his father, olive skin, black hair as night, his eyes were amethyst just like his mother's.

Raven tucked the bed sheets around them, she smooth the blankets, "well we had a deal; I tell you a story and you two would go to sleep."

"Who's not going to sleep?"

"Papa!" The two children chimed together as their father and Raven's husbandcame walking into the bedroom. He was followed by their most loyal and the family's royal pets, Titus and Sombra.

"Are you two not listening to your mother?" Damian asked as he stood behind Raven and gave her a quick peck at the top of her head.

"On the contrary dear, I told them a bedtime story to get them to sleep." Raven added as she stood and wrap around an arm around Damian's waist as they looked at their children.

"Oh, and what story was your lovely mother telling you."

"The one about the cursed family and the pretty lady that came to rescue them!" Arella said happily.

Derek watched with enthusiasm as he nodded to his sister's statement, and added himself; "There's also a prince who was turned into a beast, he didn't trust any stranger but soon came to fall in love with the maiden that would free his family from the curse."

"Oh, that story, I don't think I have ever heard it. I am going to have you two to tell me, but I believe now its time for you two to go to sleep. You have a big day tomorrow your uncle Todd, Cass, and Drake are coming for a visit." Damian added, he awaited until both his children nodded at his remark.

With that Raven finished tucking her children and the two parents kissed them goodnight. Titus leapt onto the bed and dozed up into a deep sleep, as for Sombra he flew to a nearby wooden perch. The two pets cared for the children, Titus made sure to keep Arella out of trouble and Sombra accompanied Derek and Bruce on many adventures around Wayne Castle. Damian grabbed Raven's hand and lead her outside of their children's bedroom and walked her down the hallway towards their own bedroom.

After the curse, she and Damian married, two years later they welcomed their first born. After the curse, Jason, Tim, and Cass became witch hunters to imprison and stop any witch who wanted to use their magic for evil. Dick and Kori left Wayne castle after they were married and decided to travel around the world, they made sure to visit the family as they would bring gifts for their niece and nephew. As for Stephanie, she picked up some tricks from Kori to design and create dresses. She reopened Kori old shop as the kingdom of Gotham had suddenly reappeared and their people seemed to have returned from an unknown sleep.

Raven stopped and looked outside as fresh snow started to fall over the castle. She could already imagine what they could do together with the whole family. A day out in the snow and having fun with one another. Damian noticed his wife and walked back to her, looking out the window with her.

"What do you suppose would happen if our children found out I was the beast in your story."

"Then they will know why I love you so much."

"Well, I am glad that part of our chapter is over." Damian chuckled lightly.

"You think so? There are some traits you kept from the beast... ones I don't mind." Raven slowly leaned against Damian's chest as she lightly trailed a fingertip across his chest.

"Oh? Pray tell my love, what are those traits?"

"I seem to recall on our wedding night, you roared in our bed and I've caught you growling sometimes."

Damian smirked, showing his white brilliant teeth and he let out a small growl and leaned in to kiss his wife. Raven smiled and melted into his arms. This fantasy she had been given was a blessing, one Raven would cherish and protect. She found her happily ever after but everyday felt like a new chapter, one she gladly would walk through as long as she had Damian by her side. She had been his beauty and he her beast.

The End.