Author's Notes:

1: Still way too many words (I'm getting angry here)

2: BB and Terra were supposed to DO IT in this ep, but I talked with the mods before loading; I can't upload the text showing it (against site rules) If you want to read the uncensored version you'll have to read it on my DA account.

3: On DA I wouldn't load a chapter THAT BIG (too many words) it kept going ERROR and just put a 1 on my text, and wouldn't load anything unless I broke it in half.

Looks like I wasn't too far off with my WORD LIMITS

In the Feudal Era,

The Takadea Village was all quiet as most people had gone to bed. The only signs of life were the guards doing their nightly patrols of the palace.

Princess Tsuyu and Lord Kimo were given a private suite with comfortable futons, and large openings to let in the night breeze.

The Princess just suddenly opened her eyes, unable to sleep. Her husband was sleeping like a log. She smiled lovingly at him.

Then suddenly, she looked up and over out the window, and swore she could see Nobunaga walking out in the open pathways, heading for a stream by the village.

Normally it was against palace rules that she slip off into the night, but she wanted an opportunity to talk to Nobunaga as she had wanted to all day, but he never was seen, not once.

She got up from her bed, and looked around to make sure no guards were near. It seemed safe enough, and so she climbed over the railing and made her way down the path to the stream.

Meanwhile…

Inuyasha and friends were sleeping in a guest room just down the hall from the Princess’ room.

Shippo rubbed his full belly as he dozed happily.

Suddenly, Inuyasha felt a big itch on his face accompanied by a familiar sound of sucking.

Up came his hand, and SWAT! It was Myoga the flea. He felt dizzy after being swatted, “Good swat, Master Inuyasha.”

“And bad timing for you, Myoga-- Can’t you see I was trying to sleep!”

Kagome and Shippo were awakened by his yammering. “Do you mind!” groaned Kagome.

“What’s going on now?” asked Shippo.

“My apologies to you all.” said Myoga “But I felt it best that I find you as soon as possible, for I fear something dreadful is about to occur, and as usual I am hardly ever mistaken in these situations.”

The trio felt concerned “And just what do you think it is this time?” snorted Inuyasha.

“Is it some sort of demon?” asked Kagome.

“It’s not a demon.” replied Inuyasha “I’d be able to smell it coming.”

“If it’s not a demon, then what is it?” asked Shippo.

“I cannot be sure.” replied Myoga “But be prepared for anything…!”

The trio felt concerned.

Nobunaga loved to come out to the stream at night, when the moon was shining and the air was calm and quiet.

He sat on the biggest boulder, and stroked Hiyoshimaru’s little face, but he was suddenly started by the sounds the grass rustling behind him, and he swiftly bolted upright and drew out his katana, “Who’s there?!” he called, frightening the princess, and surprising himself. “P… Pr… Princess Tsuyu?”

“I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to startle you.”

Seeing the sight of her in the moon made his heart race, and his cheeks go red, but deep down, his sadness was starting to rise again, but he did his best to hide it.

“What brings you out here?” he asked “You know it isn’t proper for a princess to be outside the palace after hours.”

“I… couldn’t sleep, and I saw you coming here.”

She sat on the rock next to him, their hands almost touched, making him blush even deeper.

She looked at him, and he quickly turned away.

“Nobunaga, may I ask where you were today?”

“Princess…?”

“I was hoping I’d see you at the feast, and you were never seen anywhere. Whatever happened to you?”

Poor Nobunaga; what possible excuse could he come up with to keep her from the truth; that he didn’t wish to be near her or Lord Kimo.

“I… merely felt that you would wish to be more with your father. You have not seen much of him since you left the village as Lord Kimo’s bride. You already saw enough of me when I and my friends saved the Lord’s life.”

His fib fooled Tsuyu, “That does seem noble, but I really wished to see you.”

“Me?”

“Yes… Nobunaga, I owe you my life. We’re it not for your honor and nobility; my husband would surely be dead.”

Nobunaga felt his heart cringe, but he tried to be brave, “I would do it again, and every time… for you Princess; you and the Lord.”

Tsuyu thought that was so sweet…

“Uh…?!” Nobunaga could hardly believe it; the princess was kissing his cheek. The lightest, softest touch of her lips against his skin…! His insides went completely numb, for those few seconds.

She then looked up at him almost lovingly, “You are such a wonderful friend to me, Nobunaga.”

He almost felt like crying, “Yes… my princess. A friend…” while secretly thinking to himself, “I am such an Ijdat!”

“No, I mean it.” said Tsuyu. “We have always been such good friends as children. I never forgot your kindness, and even though you’d fall all over yourself and make me laugh.”

Nobunaga clenched his fists, remembering how all the people in the village laughed at, and still referred to him as a klutz and a fool despite his heroism, all this and coupled with the fact he could never be with the princess was really starting to get to him.

Hiyoshimaru didn’t like the way his master looked, and softly wiggled Nobunaga’s knee, but he hardly responded.

“Nobunaga…? Another question…”

“Yes… Princess…?” his voice sounded very faint.

“This may sound personal, but have you a special woman in your life?”

Nobunaga winced softly, “W-W-Why… do you ask?”

“I am curious. You are older than I, and so noble and kind, yet I have never heard of you ever courting a woman in your life? Do you not plan to ever settle down and marry? Do you not wish to have a family of your own?”

By this time he was shaking with sadness. His head dipped forward making his bangs cover his eyes, but it didn’t stop his tears falling.

This worried the Princess, “Have I upset you? I apologize…”

Still shaking, and barely able to speak well, he told her, “You need… not… apolize… to me…Pri…in…cess…!”

HA-POW!! There was a soft flash in his eyes, “A’ugh!” and he just keeled over, falling off the rock and rolling down the hill stopping just by the water.

“Nobunaga!” cried Tsuyu, and she slide down the hill to where he lay, and softly nudged him “Nobunaga…? Nobunaga…?!”

He did not move an inch.

“Nobunaga... Please speak to me!”

Hiyoshimaru leapt on his body trying to get him to wake up; poking and prodding him. Nobunaga was still breathing, but very softly that it could hardly be heard.

Then, Hiyoshimaru opened Nobunaga’s eye, making the Princess shriek in fright!! His eyes… they are BLANK!! He has no pupils, no iris, nothing but pure black!

…Empty, cold, solid black!

“Nobunaga…! What is happening to you…?!” cried Tsuyu “Please! You must wake up!!”

Her shrieks alerted the attention of the guards.

“Princess…!” one of them called “What is happening?”

“Please!!” cried Tsuyu “Someone help him!”

Before long, Nobunaga was in bed, and the medicine chief of the village was working as best he could for Nobunaga.

Tsuyu’s father and Lord Kimo heard the news, as did Inuyasha and friends.

Tsuyu was in tears as she explained her story, “And then… he just collapsed, and his eyes were blank!” she sobbed.

“Oh, Princess…” said Lord Kimo as he held his wife tightly.

“What could it possibly be?” wondered Tsuyu’s father.

“Just as I feared…” said Myoga “Something very dreadful is at work, but exactly what I cannot say.”

Inuyasha softly flicked Myoga off his shoulder “If you don’t have anything helpful to say then shut up!”

He wasn’t pretending not to care. He was really worried about Nobunaga.

He walked over to where Kagome and Shippo were sitting outside of the area where the medicine chief was working. “How is he?”

“Not good…” said Kagome “The medicine chief told us to wait out here. Nobunaga looked so still and lifeless.”

“What do you think will happen to him?” asked Shippo “What am I saying? We don’t even know what’s happening to him now.”

The medicine chief came out with a regretful look on his face, “This trance is very strange to me. I have never seen anything like it.

I fear we may lose him.”

A hush fell over everyone, and Tsuyu’s heart was quaking in pain. “No! Please… No!” she cried “He cannot die!”

The medicine chief looked at her with sympathy “I will try all that I can, princess, but I would not hold much hope.”

Shippo had an idea, “Can’t we try the sacred jewel shards?”

“What?!” snapped Inuyasha “We’ve already busted ourselves plenty trying to get those shards!”

Kagome just ignore him and asked to see Nobunaga. The medicine chief let her in, and poor Nobunaga just laid there, all still and silent. His blank eyes were shut, and he seemed to be a little pale.

Kagome took out her small flask of jewel shards. There was not that many, but she felt she only needed to use one. “He goes…” she said as she took a shard and reached to implant it on Nobunga’s skin to revive him… but just as the shard was a few centimeters away…

WHAPP! Some unseen force just forced the shard away and out of Kagome’s hand.

The shard landed by Inuyasha’s toes, “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know…” replied Kagome, and she tried to use another shard, only for the same thing to happen; the shard was blasted away as if Nobunaga were rejecting it.

“What’s going on?” cried Shippo.

Myoga hopped up on his shoulder stating, “Apparently, whatever this trance or curse may be, not even the power of the sacred jewel can undo it.

Inuyasha was concerned as he picked up the shards, “What could possibly be more powerful than the Shikon Jewel?”

Whatever the reason, none could figure it out.

Everyone was devastated, but none more than the princess. “How could this happen?” she cried softly to her husband, “Why is it happening?”

“I don’t know, Princess.” said Lord Kimo “But I share your pain. Nobunaga did not deserve this. He is a good man with a great heart.”

In the Digi-Destined World,

Davis had one frustrating week! It seemed every day, more and more girls were coming at him as he walked in the streets. His email was flooded with emails from more girls asking him out, and that was only the half of it…!

On the first night when he got home from school, his mother invited him out to dinner with herm Jun and Tai.

Davis smelled a trap, “Are you setting me up again?”

His mom tried to deny it, but even she couldn’t keep it in, “Yes. Your sister has a girlfriend from her college who agreed to join us this evening, as YOUR date.”

“Ugh! Mom…!” groaned Davis, but it was in vain for him to argue. “You are coming with us tonight, and you have no say in the matter.”

Davis felt his rage boiling.

The date went on as planned, and Jun’s college friend, Sasha Kinoama, seemed to be a fine girl, a few years older than Davis; almost twenty. Taller, with long black hair, and she did hear stories of him and his heroism in the digital world.

At the restaurant, she tried her hardest to hold hands with Davis, but he would move his hands away each time, not wanting to.

Too bad for him Sasha liked guys who played hard-to-get.

“Don’t be rude!” Mom scolded to Davis, forcing him to at least hold her hand, much to Davis’ dismay.

Sasha giggled at him, but Davis felt more annoyed than ever.

“I don’t think this is going to end well.” Tai whispered to Jun “It’s my brother, what do you expect.” she whispered back to him “I can’t believe Sasha is actually into him.”

“What are you whispering back there?” Davis asked.

“Nothing.” they both said.

“Oh, never mind them.” Said Sasha, and she looped her arm around him “We’ve got other things to talk about.”

Davis could only groan.

Even while sitting at the table, Sasha could only stare at Davis and flutter her eyes, while he just sat next to her grunting and groaning softly, which actually flattered her. “You’re so cute when you pretend to be annoyed.

“Just my luck…” Davis said in thought “Now they’ve set me up with a mental case.”

“Davis does more than just help in the Digital World.” said Tai “He’s the star of his school soccer team. They may even make varsity if they play right.”

“Cool…” said Sasha “So, what other dreams do you have?” she asked to Davis.

His mom gave him a tap with her foot under the table telling him to be polite and answer.

“I want to open a noodle cart, make the finest ramen in the world. Who knows, maybe it’ll evolve into a huge empire.”

Sasha’s eyes light up with Yen signs, as if she had hit a jackpot. She was already seeing Davis as the perfect catch.

“Excuse me. I need to use the little-boys room.” Davis said, and he got up and went off. “I have to go too.” said Tai.

Really he was just doing it as an excuse to talk privately with Davis.

Other than the two of them, the Men’s room was deserted.

They both sat in their own cubicles.

“Are you alright?” Tai asked.

“Just overly annoyed.” replied Davis “Why are you in on this too?”

“I’m not really in on this; I’m just doing this for Jun. Your mom asked her to help… and, well, I had to respect her.”

Davis still didn’t understand whatever Tai saw in his sister, but he didn’t really dare to question or that would make him no better than his mother interfering in his life.

The two boys finished their… business… and washed their hands at the sinks.

“Don’t get me wrong, Davis,” said Tai “You’re mom’s just trying to help you.”

Davis chuckled softly, “More like she’s trying to help herself. It’s been this way ever since I started high school; my mom just won’t give me a break!”

“Now that you’re all done with that Digital War zone or whatever it is, you have plenty of time for much more important things, like finding a nice girlfriend.”

“That’s all I ever hear of her, and she constantly keeps setting me up to a point where it gets annoying!

Now she can’t accept the fact that I just want my space.”

Tai understood Davis was annoyed, but he still agreed with Jun and her mom that maybe Davis was being a little unfair and unhealthy.

After dinner and it was time to drop Sasha back at the college where she lived in her dorm. She gave Davis a peck on the cheek and slipped him her number. “Call me, Cutie.”

She winked at him and left Davis feeling nervous.

“Way to go, honey.” said his mom “I think you found a keeper.”

Davis couldn’t be more annoyed with his mom, and to show it, he didn’t call Sasha back, not once as he was totally not interested.

At school on Friday, in English Class, Kari and TK got their tests back, with pretty poor scores due to their not studying and instead working on Davis’ dating webpage.

“I’m very surprised at the two of you.” said the teacher “Even Mr. Motomiya did better than you.”

This was shocking for the class, especially for TK and Kari. “My mom’s not going to be happy about this.” said TK.

Kari on the other hand didn’t seem too upset about her test, and looked over at Davis. He didn’t notice her and was amazed at his own test result, but Kari couldn’t believe that a whole week had passed and Davis still wouldn’t give any girls a chance.

She even was told from Tai about the double date he had, and how Davis didn’t call Sasha back.

“Kari…?” TK called at her softly.

“Huh? Oh, guess I dazed off again.”

Her boyfriend shook his head at her, but he knew she meant well trying to help Davis.

During class change, Davis was called to the main office over the intercom. At first he was worried, but much to his surprise he wasn’t in any trouble.

The secretary gave him a small bag of mail, “This came for you this morning.”

“Oh, no…! Don’t tell me…” Davis muttered, but it was; more love letters and cards sent from various girls from around the entire city, many of which he didn’t know, yet somehow they knew where he went to school.

“Looks like someone’s a regular ladies man.” the secretary joked. Davis angrily scrunched the letters in his hand and he stormed off.

“Was it something I said?”

At lunch, Davis didn’t sit with the others; didn’t even get in line to pay for lunch. He wanted to duck the crowds and avoid being seen by more lovesick girls. So he sat outside under a tree, with nothing but a bottle of water from his sports bag.

Ken and Yolei saw him, and came outside offering to share their lunches with him.

“Thanks a load, guys.” said Davis “Nice to see there’s someone I can trust.”

Yolei shook her head grimly at him, “I think you’re overreacting to all this.”

“Talk to me when a whole bunch of girls come your way and mess up your privacy.” He suddenly corrected himself, “Uh… in your case: guys.”

TK and Kari joined the gang having seen them all outside. “So, Davis, did you call Sasha back yet?” asked Kari.

Davis rolled his eyes, “Yes, actually… I did call her back.”

“Cool.” Said TK “So when’s your next date.”

Davis chuckled “There is none. I told her plain and clear that I wasn’t into her, and that my mom set us up.”

All the others were a bit upset by this, “Davis…” Ken said.

“It’s okay.” Davis said “When she found found out that she was setup, she agreed it was fine. She’d rather a guy be with her out of his own accord anyway, and it isn’t me.

My mom actually took it worse, and Jun really let me have it.”

He flashed back to the morning when his mother and sister found out that he turned Sasha down flat. They both went postal on him, beating him like mad ladies up with pillows and a chair, and he was begging for mercy.

“I think your exagerating.” said TK.

“Never mind, Davis. I’m sure you’ll find the right girl for you.” added Kari.

Davis gawked at her with a strange expression, “The right girl for me?” I thought I made it perfectly clear I’m not interested in finding romance?”

Kari’s concern began to show, “Davis, you’re really being stubborn. Don’t you ever want to experience the joys of love, and have someone special to be with?” she demontrated by flirting with TK, and he responded by embracing her, and pecked her on the head, which really irked him.

Yolei and Ken were not pleased with the way the two were acting; as if they were trying to make Davis jealous again, but Davis spoke up. “I was interested once… but not anymore.”

Kari sighed, “Davis, look I know you liked me, but that doesn’t give you the right to hurt other girls. Quite frankly, I think you’re just being selfish.”

“Kari…!” snapped Yolei.

“Actually, I agree with her,” said TK “Davis, you need to realize the world doesn’t revolve aroung you, and it’s not going to change.”

“Ugh!” Davis grumbled “You just don’t get it, do you?

I’m trying to get over this, and if it means I don’t want to find romance, then I don’t… want… to find it. I want to fly solo, yet everyone is crawling up my ass telling or forcing me to do it.” he looked ofer at Kari, “And what for? Because YOU want me to have a girlfriend, just like my mom WANTS ME to have a girlfriend?

If you ask me, it’s all of you who are being selfish, not to mention disrespectful.”

Before anyone could answer, he got up and left.

“Well, that went well.” said Ken, but the others, even Yolei were starting to grow annoyed.

“He’s really going insane.” said Yolei “All because he can’t get over Kari.”

“That’s his problem.” said TK “If he can’t accept that Kari’s made her choice, it’s his own fault, but it’s not fair he has to hurt all those girls and not even give them a chance, and worse; balk and people who are trying to help him.”

Ken spoke up to try and defend Davis “Don’t you all think you’re overreacting? I mean, how would you feel if someone tried to force a whole bunch of people on you?”

“That’s not the point.” said Kari completely ignoring the concept “I think we need to take more drastic measures. Davis can’t keep doing this to other girls, to us, and above all to himself.”

“Oh, no… what are you suggesting now?” asked Ken.

“…A group meeting, with everyone.”

TK agreed, “I can call Matt and Sora.”

“I’ll call Izzy and Cody.” added Yolei. Then she looked at Ken practially hinting him to support the cause. Ken sighed, “I’ll call Joe and Mimi.”

Yolei pecked him on the cheek, “Thanks, Ken.”

Her boyfriend smiled weakly. He still wasn’t liking this a bit, and he felt Davis wouldn’t like this at all.

Davis was already in for another huge shock by the end of the day.

He was walking home, and he checked his cell-phone, and surely enough got more messages from more girls asking him out. “UGH…!!!” he groaned as he sent them all to the Trash without even looking at them.

No sooner had he deleted them did he get one other email; from a girl but a congratulatory email. “What’s this…?”

The email was from a dating website. It read:

“What…?!” Davis snapped softly, and he followed the link attached the email which lead him to his own profile on a dating website.

“Davis Motomiya

-Digi Destined

-High School Soccer Star.

Age: 16

Interests: Soccer, Video Games, monster movies.

“Playing… hard-to-get.”

His email was listed, his favorite things from movies to video games…

It all made sense to why more girls were after him. Davis would have wanted to guess who set up this webpage, but he already had his suspicions.

He marched straight home, and showed him the website to his mother.

“I didn’t make that webpage.”

“I find that hard to believe.” said Davis “You’ve really been up my back about this whole girlfriend thing.”

“I just want you to be happy.”

“I AM happy… mother!” he snapped at her “I don’t need a girlfriend and I don’t want one either!”

Her features hardened “Don’t you talk to me like that, young man! What I’m doing is for your own good! You’re growing up, and I am not going to let you go through life alone!”

“Point proven!” sneered Davis “You’re only in this for yourself, Mom. You want me to have a girlfriend because you want it, you don’t even care about what I want.”

“That’s not true!”

“It is TOTALLY true!” barked Davis.

“You go to your room! I don’t want to hear another word of this!”

“YOU WON’T!!” shouted Davis “I’M NEVER (BLEEPING) TALKIN’ TO YOU AGAIN UNTIL YOU START TO LISTEN!!”

He angrily stormed to his room, nearly shoving past Jun along the way before going to his room and slamming the door shut.

“Did I miss something?” Jun asked.

Her mother sighed, “He’s just not getting over Tai’s sister, is he?”

Jun sighed “Damn it, Davis.”

Veemon was almost afraid to approach Davis. He just stormed into the room, slammed the door and stood by the window with a completely livid expression as he just stared out into town.

“Davish…?”

“It’s okay, Veemon,” Davis said softly, “I’m not pissed with you. I’m just sick and tired of everyone else telling me what I should do.”

Veemon hopped up onto the desk and looked up at him smiling. “Look, Davish…” you and I have been through a lot together, and shometimes we may not shee eye-to-eye, but… I’m here for you.”

Davis smiled at his friend and patted his head. “I just wish I knew who made that shitty webpage. When I find out who they are, they’re going to regret having (Bleeped) with me.”

In the Titans’ world,

All that week, Beast Boy had given his team quite the cold shoulder. He wouldn’t speak to them, and did whatever he could in his power to avoid going near them as much as he could.

He was still wearing his mask, refusing to take it off, not even when he went to bed at night.

He even stopped eating with them. He would only make trips to the refrigerator when no one else was there, or he would just fly off to the city, turn into a rat and eat the garbage out of dumpsters. He was that desperate to avoid them.

Starfire was standing in the lounge at the window looking out to sea.

“You okay, Star?” Robin asked.

“I am… not.” replied Starfire “It seems that the friendship that binds us all together is dwindling. Beast Boy has gone to incredible lengths to ignore us, and truly feels we do not care for him, and that he is not appreciated amongst the citizens we help.”

“He’s just playing the victim game so we’ll give him sympathy.” grumbled Raven “And I say (Bleep) him. He wants to be a whiny piece of shit… let him!”

“Yo…!” snapped Cyborg “That’s goin’ a bit far Rae.”

Raven turned and furiously glared at him, “Who asked you, Black Bolts”!

Robin and Starfire, as well as Cyborg gawked in horror.

“You did NOT just say that?!” sneered Cyborg.

“You want a piece of me…!!” growled Raven, enveloping herself in ark aura, and her eyes glowed red.

“STOP IT!!” thundered Robin.

Raven calmed down, but Robin approached her, “What is wrong with you? You’ve been acting really badly lately.”

“Oh, you noticed!” Raven grumbled. Then she gasped and held her stomach in pain…!!

“Raven…! What is wrong?” cried Starfire.

Raven’s darkness began to grow as her body was shrouded in aura, and her face…! She sprouted fangs, and two extra red eyes.

“Raven!” cried Robin! He and the other Titans stood ready to fight this creature she was becoming, but they had no need to.

“I got this…” said Cyborg, and he armed his sonic cannon, setting it on stun, and shot at her, actually knocking her unconscious, and she lay sleeping on the floor, and normal; whatever was happening to her had ceased.

At first the others were too afraid to approach her and wondered if it was safe. Cyborg scanned her with his wrist-com. “She’s fine now. No evil energies, but her hormones are going loopy!”

“Her hormones…?” Robin asked “You mean… she’s…”

They all began to think back to Raven’s attitude; her grouchiness, her ravenous appetites and craving for junk foods, and even now she had a stomach cramp before she went berserk.

“She is --what is the Earth term-- Having her time-of-the-month?”

As weird as it seemed, the friends agreed Raven needed help. Cyborg scooped her up in his arms, “Let’s get her to the med-room.”

“Shall I inform Beast Boy?” asked Starfire.

“No… not yet.” said Robin “I don’t think he wants to listen to us anyway. Besides, we should really take care of Raven first and get all the facts straight.”

It was as if they could talk to Beast Boy anyway, for he was not in his room, or even in the tower.

To help avoid the Titans and not put up with their harsh uncaring attitudes, he often went out for a fly, or a long walk to kill the hours faster.

Not like he had too many places to go, thanks to his favorite hangouts and stores all gone due to the changes in the city, it was hard for him to go anywhere.

Even Ben’s Café, where he enjoyed Apple Pie Ala mode, was closed down and boarded up.

Beast Boy tried to look for new places-- new candy stores, or skate parks, arcades, but he could hardly find any. Just one office complex after another, places of work and business that hardly met his needs or use.

He also passed a few large windows in toy stores or stores that had toys. He saw loads of Teen Titan items in the displays-- T-shirts, baseball caps, mugs, keychains, pretty much the usual stuff-- only the Beast Boy merchandise, it all seemed to be there while others seemed more interested in buying stuff of the other Titans.

How much more could he possibly take? He was tired of having his feelings ignored and being so underappreciated for all his sacrifices and hard work to protect the people, but he honestly believed there was no sense in protesting. No one would listen to him anyway, and he knew the world wouldn’t bend and change things because he wanted it.

All he could do was continue to go on his way wondering just one thing, “Why is this happening to me?”

Meanwhile, Terra was still grieving too.

All week she had been doing steadily worse in school. She could hardly pay attention during lectures. She did poorly on assignments, and her writing was sloppy. Worse than that, she didn’t seem to have been sleeping too well.

Ever since Beast Boy had scorned her and called her selfish, she had been feeling guiltier every day and couldn’t put it out of her mind.

Jackie and Jillian had a good feeling they knew why.

“He stalked you again, didn’t he?” asked Jackie.

“No, he didn’t.” said Terra “I kind of wanted to talk to him myself, and we just ran into one another.”

The other girls were shocked. “You WANTED to talk to Brat Boy!”

“It’s BEAST BOY!!” snapped Terra “I felt I had to.”

Now the girls were more shocked than ever. “You’re not actually INTO him are you?”

“No!” snapped Terra “Nothing like that at all. He…” she paused and chose her words carefully “He thought I was someone he knew, remember? That’s why he stalked me, and I told him I’m not that girl and he should let it go.”

Her fib seemed to work, but her friends chuckled softly, “Like any girl would want to go out with that piece of shit.” mocked Jackie.

Terra felt livid, “Excuse me…?”

Jillian agreed with Jackie, “He’s green. He smells funny, his voice cracks. He’s what I call one of life’s little errors. That’s why we have erasers on pencils.”

The girls slapped a high five, but Terra was livid. She clenched both her fists, and the stone floor began to rumble again, forcing her to stop!

“Haven’t they fixed those vents yet?” complained Jackie.

“My dad will sue the school!” growled Jillian.

The last bell rang, and Terra went off by herself not bothering to wait up for her friends, too disgusted with their insolence, and she felt she needed to be alone to think about things.

“What’s with her?” Jackie wondered “We were just joking around.”

Jillian had a sickening feeling, “I think she actually IS into that green guy.”

Jackie gasped in shock and disbelief!

Terra didn’t even go to her locker to put her books down. She just ran out of the school, running past her schoolmates.

They all wondered what was up with her.

She ran down the streets and finally stopped at a street corner to catch her breath, but even though she had run far from her school, her memories were still with her, and still tormenting her harder than ever.

She remembered all the fun she used to have with Beast Boy…

-The jokes he told we’re hilarious to her.
-How he taught her to believe in herself.
-He tried to be there for her when she was lost and frightened
-He did his best to help her fight Slade’s control, and forgive her for what she did for her betrayal.

“You we’re the best friend… I ever had.” she said to him.

Then came the Things Change stuff all over again, and how she pushed him away, not wanting anything to do with him, and then came what Beast Boy had snarled at her…

“Face it, Terra. In the end you were cold, cruel, and just plain selfish. It didn’t matter to you what happened to BOTH OF US in the end, just as long as YOU were happy.”

She clutched her head, dropping her books on the ground. She fell to her knees trying to shake off the stress.

Suddenly, she could hear someone snickering at her. It was three street punks; all muscular, wearing tattered clothes, bandanas, and looking pretty nasty.

“Well, look what we got here boys.” said one of the punks, “Looks like a free meal to me.”

The other punks snickered, and Terra could see the lust in these perves eyes as they moved in closer. “Leave me alone!” she cried, and she tried to run, but two of the punks grabbed her.

“Not so fast sweet stuff.” one of them hissed.

“Yeah…” hissed another punk and he reached for her tie, “You’re a school kid. Why don’t we teach you something they don’t teach you in class?”

Terra was freaking out, and as much as she could’ve used her powers to stop these two men; what if someone saw her, what if she had her picture taken? Then her whole normal life would go bye-bye.

Of course the punks were way too big and strong for her to beat physically without her powers as well.

“I like ‘em feisty!” one of the punks said lustfully.

Just as he was prepared to make the first move on her, a large green vulture landed on his head, making him freak out and back away from Terra.

“Who the hell is that?!” snapped one of the other punks.

“Beast Boy!” cried Terra. He had been passing by overhead just as he saw the trouble brewing, and even though he asked Terra to keep away from him, he was still obligated as a hero to help those in trouble.

Beast Boy leapt off the leader’s head, changing into his human form, and glaring at him through his mask.

The punk didn’t look frightened, but pissed. “You’re dead, you mother (bleeper)!” and he foolishly charged at Beast Boy, who turned into a T-Rex and gave him a good tail swat, sending the punk flying across the street and landing in a dumpster.

The other two punks, even Terra were shocked and frightened.

Beast Boy then turned and roared at the other two punks, and they panicked and began to run up the streets, tripping over their own feet.

Beast Boy changed back to his normal form and scoffed, “BITCHES!! IF I EVER SEE YOU (BLEEP)-HEADS AGAIN, I’LL (BLEEPING) MURDERIZE YOU!!”

All three punks ran away faster until they were out of sight.

Beast Boy was panting softly after that outburst.

“Beast Boy…” Terra said softly approaching him; he didn’t even turn to look at her. “Thank you.”

“Sure… it’s just who I Am.” he grumbled. Then he looked down by his feet at Terra’s Science and History textbook, which had fallen open to a page that showed and image of a picture of a little boy, about three years old.

…A boy he recognized too well!

The picture in the book was only part of a full family portrait in which the other half was missing torn off.

“Why are you looking at that?” Terra asked.

Beast Boy didn’t answer her and just read the text story out-loud.

“The Logans-- Mark and Marie-- Scientologists we’re on the verge of discovering great and powerful serums combined with the essence of animals to end disease. They and their young son, Garfield, were last known to be in Africa on an expedition to further their research, when a sudden and torrential flood mysteriously broke out and swept across the land, washing away the forests, and the laboratory as well. The Logans were nowhere to be seen, all that was recovered was a torn part of a family photograph that was found floating along the receding waters by a base camp of another expedition.

The Logans, young Garfield, and all their research were never found; completely washed away in the tides that took their lives.”

Terra looked at the page, “The Logan story.” she said “I look at that sometimes, because it helps me concentrate, and there’s not a time I can’t think back to those poor people dying in that flood and wondering how it started.”

Beast Boy’s lips were twitching, and a tear from his eye. “This story is wrong.”

Terra blinked once…

“It was only the parents who died.”

He then passed her the book, and then pulled out of his pocket a small kind of old and crumpled paper. He then placed it over the page, revealing it to be the missing half of the image; the part that had the parents on it.

Terra’s eyes widened, and she slowly looked up at Beast Boy. He removed his mask, showing his shameful face at her, “I’m Garfield Logan… or rather what’s left of him.”

Terra made the connections between the boy in the picture and the guy standing next to her.

Beast Boy clenched his fists, “And it was no mystery how that flood that killed my parents started!” his features hardened “It’s the same thing that turned me into what I am today...

…It was Change!”

Terra dropped the book in shock, and Beast Boy took his photo back, and he told her the real story; his origin. A story he did not like remembering or thinking of yet had plagued him for so many years!

*BB’s POV*

My folks and I were in Africa, I was almost four years old.

But the jungle in which we camped in… there were developers who were building a dam on the far side of the jungle to control the water flows from rivers and streams.

My parents protested that completion of the dam would cause floods, but those greedy slobs didn’t listen. They care more about finishing their work and collecting their money. My folks began to sense that they also were cheapskates and constructed their dam poorly; embezzling the funds and using poor craftsmanship.

…But with no actual proof, the game wardens and official authorities could do nothing to stop these men, despite my parents warning them of potential dangers.

Shortly after that, I was with my folks exploring the jungle… when I got bitten by a rare green monkey.

I got sick… really sick!

My parents decided to use one of their untested animal serums in hopes of saving me, and it worked, I made a complete recovery! However, that serum is what turned me green, and gave me my animal morphing skills.

I was so scared I couldn’t even look at myself in the mirror.

And shortly after that… IT HAPPENED!!

The developers’ dam, due its shoddy construction, I busted open, and all the water just surged across the lands, hitting our camp. There was no time to try and get away!

My folks were washed away, but I managed to grab onto a passing log and rode it like a boat down the raging surge, right through the night.

By morning, I washed ashore as the waters receded, but all that was with me was a torn part of our family photo.

I never felt so devastated, but my troubles were just beginning.

I was found by the developers that managed to escape. They took me in, and forced me to do their dirty work; physically abusing me and treating me like dirt.

For years I suffered, worked, and cried myself to sleep wishing for a way out…

…I got my wish! The Doom Patrol! They came, apprehended the men, and out of sympathy, they took me in, adopting me. They helped me learn to control my morphing skills, and that’s how I became Beast Boy…

…But Mento, that bastard and his shitty harshness. He seemed to only care about me if I was needed or could help in way the others couldn’t. In the end he wouldn’t even smile at me, or give me a “Good Job, Gar…” instead he was scorn me! Nothing I did was good enough for that stuck- asswipe!!

Even when I saved the team’s lives, he scolded me because it meant the villains got away!

I couldn’t take it anymore, and struck out on my own.

It wasn’t easy for me to find a new place to live. Who would welcome me because I was green, pointed ears, fangs, and could animal change?

I was lucky to have met the Titans and start a new team, and decided to start telling jokes and pulling pranks, make myself a comic relief to try and forget my own hardships in life, but it didn’t always work, and the team I have had more times where we DIDN’T get along than we DID.

*End of POV*

He didn’t go any further, and he didn’t have to. The rest was easy to see now, even for Terra. She had her hands over her mouth, and gawked at him in shock and sympathy.

He on the other hand turned to look sternly at her, “I know what it means to have a traumatic past, Terra! Every time things changed it somehow always affected me, and it was always disastrous; always taking something from me that I could never get back, never replace, and left me with less and less than what I had before!

All I ever wanted to was to be loved, understood, and fit in. Instead, all I am is the guy who makes everyone else look cool. The guy who has to lick up all the crap so other people can be happy!”

Terra almost felt like crying for him, “I’m ever so sorry.”

“No you’re not!” he snapped at her “Ms. “I don’t remember you! I don’t want to remember you because Things Change and the girl you want me to be is just a memory!”

Terra didn’t like how he was griping at her, and her features hardened. “I told you why I did it! Just because you couldn’t man up mean you could hold me down!”

She honestly had no idea why she said that! It just came out that way due to her rage and her confusion and guilt mixing into her.

“Wake up, Terra!” he shouted at her “I was willing to love you, care for you, give you a home, and help you to fit in, but you decided that wasn’t good enough for you! You threw it all away, expected me to let you go and live with that!

Then you come to me and say you’ve been feeling guilty about it? WELL IT (BLEEPING) SERVES YOU RIGHT!!”

Terra was really starting to lose her patience with him, but couldn’t find it in herself to walk away. “Don’t you shout at me, you piece of shit!”

“That’s rich coming from you!” Beast Boy scoffed “You made a big mistake, and YOU know it! You’re just lucky I have morality enough not to punish harder that a verbal bitch-slapping, anyone else would’ve killed you!”

Finally, he had gone too far, and Terra lost her temper!

WHAPP!! She slapped him hard across the face, snarling at him furiously.

WHAPP!! Beast Boy swatted her right back, bruising her face.

They both then went at each other hard, punching and kicking at one another. Beast Boy didn’t feel it fair to turn into animals and, didn’t have to due to her not brushing up on her fighting skills.

What neither of them realized was a guy in an apartment was looking over the city taking pictures, and he spotted them below, fighting. “Whoa! This is juicy stuff!”

He snapped a picture just as Beast Boy had slapped Terra across the face again!

He would have snapped more, but Terra tackled him hard and they both disappeared into an alley, breaking through a door into an abandoned store with boarded up windows and doors. Not a soul could see in or out.

In the midst of the battle, Beast Boy’s communicator was knocked off of him and its video-record function was activated and was filming the two.

Terra had tackled Beast Boy to the ground, pinning him down, and their faces were very close as they snarled at one another… gazing deeply into each other’s eyes…

Their expressions suddenly changed as they continued to gaze into one another.

Terra moved in closer, and closer, and placed her lips over his. Beast Boy at first was frozen by shock, but wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as the kiss got deeper, and deeper.

Their tongues met, and began to explore the other like binds intertwining.

“What are you doing?!” Terra’s inner voice scolded, but she just ignored it, and proceeded to take off her clothes, much to Beast Boy's shock!

A while later, they both just lay there, naked on the store floor, unable to believe what they had just done, but they didn't regret it a bit/

“I love you.” he whispered to her.

“I love you, Beast Boy. I never stopped!” Terra confessed “It hurt me what I did to you… to us, and I’ve been an idiot.”

For the first time in a very long time, Beast Boy felt at peace, and light returning to his darkness. “If you don’t want to come back to the Titans, you don’t have to, but… at least… maybe we can… be a thing again?”

Terra couldn’t argue with herself; that would be a wonderful thing. Even though it meant her life would be in danger again, and bad guys would take advantage of her and Beast Boy.

“We’ll work it out, somehow. I just don’t want other people to know all that other stuff that I did, especially not Jackie and Jillian.”

Beast Boy could understand that, which only made this more complicated than ever.

“Please don’t tell the Titans about me, not yet.”

“I promise, I won’t tell them, but how are we supposed to make this work if we don’t?”

“We’ll work something out.

I just really don’t want to lose my normal life.”

Beast Boy didn’t argue with her. As long as she loved him, which was more than proven given what they had just done.

“We’ll just take it slow now, but I really want to help you… help us.”

She pulled him into a soft kiss, no tongues.

After which they both dressed. Terra especially had to get home and change her underwear, which was soaked in her juices, and would be a dead giveaway.

She put her school clothes back on, which had been dirtied by the dusty floor of the store.

Beast Boy dressed too, and they thought it best not to be seen together, not yet. Terra decided to leave first, and Beast Boy made sure the way was clear. “Go out into the back alley and follow the way out. No one will see you.”

She agreed…

“And Terra…”

She stopped and looked at him, and he smiled lovingly at her, “Thank you.”

She walked over to him and kissed him once more before heading out. She made a clean get away, and soon stopping a minute to feel her heart which felt warm and comfortable, and her head felt lighter and clearer, as if all he guilt and been blown out like a candle, because she had been honest with herself, and to the guy she loved.

Beast Boy spent a little more time in the store reflecting on what just happened. “I’ve been reborn!” was all he could put it as, and soon he himself left the store, forgetting his communicator… which had recorded everything that transpired.

Little did he or even Terra realize that sneaky little perve that snapped their picture was already up to no good…!

He was one of those sleazy kinds of guys who loved to take pictures of people and post them on the internet for kicks and joys.

“This is going to be pretty.” he said as he loaded the picture of Beast Boy punching Terra online.

In Equestria…

The Cutie Mark Crusaders put their plan into action.

Sweetie Belle wrote a fake love letter to Rarity, and slipped it through the mail slot of her home.

“That’s odd…” Rarity said “I thought I had already collected today’s mail.”

The letter was wrapped in a red envelope, and had no name, no address, not even any postage on it. Inside on a piece of pink parchment read this…

Rarity didn’t know what to really think. She felt very flattered to have received such a lovely letter, but she began to have doubts about there being no address, no name, and the fact that the writing seemed rather slouchy.

“Oh, Opal…” she said to her cat “Whatever shall I do. This could be a trick, but on the other hand it could be the chance to meet who may be the pony of my dreams!”

Opal simply rolled her eyes.

“You’re absolutely right, Opal; I cannot pass this up. I MUSTN’T!

Somewhere out there, there is some pony whose heart yearns for me to answer them.”

She began to imagine what this mystery pony would look like; all kinds of slick, suave and handsome young stallions all willing to court her.

She could only sigh heavenly, while Opal only rolled her eyes again.

“Ooh! I must prepare!” cried Rarity and she dashed for her wardrobe.

Sweetie Belle spied through the window, and giggled cheekily. “Phase One complete.” she said to the others.

Applebloom and Scootaloo giggled.

“Let’s get ready for Phase Two.” said Applebloom “You two get Spike ready, and I’ll handle the setting.”

“Right…” agreed Scootaloo, and the girls dashed off.

By sundown, Spike was still out on his own and feeling downhearted from having his bad day and making a mess of things.

“I better get back to the castle,” he said to himself “At least there I can’t screw up.”

Just as he was about to head home, The Crusaders showed up so suddenly. “Hiya, Spike…” said Sweetie Belle.

“Oh, hey girls…” he said feeling down “What are you doing out so late? Shouldn’t you all be at home?”

“Well, we we’re on our way home…” said Applebloom “But we need your help with somethin’.”

Before Spike could even ask, the girls dragged him along, right to the meadow field, where there was spread a soft picnic blanket with candles and a basket of bread, apples, and cider from Sweet Apple Acres.

“Girls, what is all this?” he finally managed to ask.

The girls only giggled, but the big clock over by town began to chime six times, and the girls ducked out behind a bush.

“Girls…!” Spike called to them.

“Spike?” a familiar voice called to him. He turned round and there stood Rarity in one of her finest gowns, and her mane was shimmering a sparkling with a special spray. Her lashes ever seemed a bit longer than usual, and she smelled like vanilla thanks to a new perfume.

Spike was immediately mesmerized with how gorgeous she looked, but suddenly her expression changed to confused, “Spike? You’re my secret admirer?”

“Huh?” Spike said in confusion “What are you talking about?”

Rarity saw the picnic, and she could only sigh, “Spike, I know this is hard for you, but you must face the facts that I simply am not interested.”

“Rarity, I didn’t do all this. I don’t what’s going on.”

She didn’t believe him, feeling he was just suffering more from, “Darling, I admire your admiration, but I really must be going, and it wasn’t very nice to get my hopes up like that.”

The Crusaders watched from the bushes, and they were none too pleased.

“I guess we didn’t think this thoroughly enough.” said Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle was extremely annoyed with Rarity. “How can she be so cold?”

“Poor Spike!” said Applebloom.

Then there was more trouble, as a little bee came along, taking a shine to the sweet smell of Rarity’s sweet smelling perfume, and then another, and another…

And a WHOLE SWARM OF THEM buzzed around her!!

Rarity screamed and ran in circles.

“Rarity!” shouted Spike, and as he ran after her, Rarity suddenly tripped over a small rock, rolled down a hill and landed, SQUISH, in a mud puddle.

Spike gasped…!

The girls gasped…

…And Rarity… her scream made the entire meadow shake and birds flew away. “MY DRESS!!” she cried “My beautiful new Springtime Sensational, RUINED!!”

“Rarity… I…!”

She turned and glared at him with her eyes blazing and her face bright red, but rather then grouch at him, she huffed and stomped away.

Spike had never seen her glare at him like that before! It was like looking into the face of Lord Tirek all over again!

Even though it was really The Crusaders who were to blame for starting all this… Spike was too upset to care and just walked sadly home.

The Crusaders came out from the bush feeling very sorry for Spike, very ashamed of themselves, angry at Rarity, and worried of what would happen if their families found out about what they did… especially when they told Cheerilee that they wouldn’t interfere.

“We don’t tell?” asked Applebloom.

The others nodded and agreed not to tell, though Sweetie Belle was still annoyed with Rarity and would have loved to give her a talking-to.

They just hoped Spike would be okay.

Spike made it back to the castle just as it got dark and the stars were beginning to shine.

“This has been a real friendly day for you, Spike.” he grumbled to himself, and then he thought back to what Discord told him.

“One day they love you, the next they can’t wait to be rid of you.”

Spike still refused to believe that. Sure he messed up his friends and their lives all day, but they wouldn’t hold it against him… would they?

He walked into the castle and found no one waiting for him. No Twilight, no Starlight, not even Shining Armor or Cadance.

Still feeling overly depressed, Spike decided to just hit the sack and hope things would be better tomorrow, but when he got to his and Twilight’s room, he found Flurry Heart sleeping in her playpen… with his favorite blanket taken from his basket!

Luckily, she wasn’t covered in it, or holding it, and so he just gripped it out of the pen and snuggled into his basket. “At least nothing can go wrong with you.” he whispered to Flurry, and then he went to sleep.

Soon, Flurry awoke and felt cold, but when she looked around and saw the blanket was gone, she began to wail and cry.

Her parents, along with Twilight and Starlight came into the room.

“Oh, Flurry… Flurry, what’s the matter?” Cadance asked.

Flurry motioned coincidently over at Spike’s blanket, and that she wanted it.

“Spike…!” Twilight snapped.

Spike groaned as he poked his head up from under his pillow, “Oh! What now…?”

Shining Armor then used his magic to lift the blanket away. “Did you take this from Flurry Heart?”

“Well, yeah… but what was she doing with it anyway?” Spike asked.

Starlight answered “You weren’t home, and we came in here to change her diaper and get her ready for bed, she took a liking to your blanket, so we let her have it and forgot to take it out when she fell asleep.”

Twilight looked very livid with Spike “How could you, Spike! How could you just take the blanket and wake her up like that?!”

Spike’s features hardened, “Whoa! Time out! I did take the blanket back, but I didn’t wake her up. I just took it and went to bed.”

Twilight wasn’t sure if she wanted to believe him or not, but Flurry’s crying was really getting loud.

“Oh, calm down, honey. Calm down…” Cadance said, rocking her daughter in her arms.

“Maybe I can help.” said Spike.

“I think you’ve done enough!” snapped Shining Armor.

“But I…”

“Please, Spike… just go… sleep on the couch or something.” said Twilight.

Dejected, angry, and upset, Spike stormed out of the bedroom, and Twilight used her magic to shut the doors rather harshly.

Spike could only walk as far away from the bedroom as he could, and made his way to the royal library and slept on the couch.

The next morning, Spike woke up feeling well rested and the sun shined through windows. He stretched and yawned and he hoped “Maybe today will be a better day.”

That’s what he wanted, but as he made his way to the main room where the friendship map was, he could hear the entire gang all together, discussing him.

He stayed behind the doorway listening in.

Rainbow, with her wing in a sling grouched, “I had to miss the show because of Spike. Ugh!! Worse than that; I can’t fly for three weeks until my wing gets better.

Applejack and Pinkie Pie had already talked about the mess Spike had made, “I’ve never know Spike to cause such trouble.” said Pinkie.

“Sounds like he was really bein’ a pest!”

Spike winced at the sound of that word.

“I don’t think he’s a pest.” said Fluttershy “Though it is rather annoying of him.”

He winced again feeling more pain shoot through him.

“The word “Impossible” comes to mind.” said Rarity.

“Even Rarity…” Spike muttered to himself.

Twilight sighed, “I just don’t know what we’re going to do with him. He’s not acting like the Spike I know and understand.”

Starlight didn’t think she agreed, “Don’t you think you’re all overreacting a bit?”

Spike felt maybe there was some hope for him yet with Starlight standing up for him, but it was quickly dashed…

“Starlight…” said Shining Armor “Spike’s got to learn to grow up, and he can’t expect to get away with such behaviour.”

Cadance agreed “Accidents do happen, but he should learn to take responsibility for what he’s done.”

That was the last straw.

Spike felt all that was left of his dying hope disappear.

He place his claws against the wall by the door, softly scratching a few marks.

He walked down the hallways feeling really sick to his stomach. “They don’t need me anymore. They don’t want me.

Discord was right all along.”

He hated that he was agreeing with what Discord told him the night before, but he couldn’t silence it anymore, and he knew the only thing he could do now…

…Run away!

He felt that the sooner he left the better. Forget about packing his things or taking the necessities with him.

There was however one thing he felt like taking with him.

He went into the magical laboratory where there were many tables with equipment, and loads of science books on the shelves, and other shelves with jars of strange substances for making potions.

What Spike really wanted was right there on the shelf; an Anti-Magic Manacle: An item that when worn by a user, the user would be unable to cast any magic at all, but at the same time no magical spells or potions would affect them either.

“Well, this is it…” he said sadly, and he made his way out through a back entrance.

He stopped to look up at the castle one last time. His tears crept forth, but his features quickly changed to a scowl. “Humph!” he grunted and walked off, vowing never to return, but really, he had no idea where he was going to go.

He didn’t dare seek a new home in Ponyville, fearing that his mishaps caused many ponies to be mad at him.

“I guess… I’m just on my own now.” he felt.

Suddenly, back in the castle, the Friendship Map began to go crazy, and everyone’s Cutie Marks were glowing, even Cadance and Shining Armor’s.

“What’s going on?” asked Cadance.

“The map!” cried Twilight “It’s calling all of us on a Friendship Mission.”

“All of us? Now…?” asked Rarity.

Pinkie felt all giddy and bounded about “Ooh, Yay! I just love a friendship mission. Who’s it about? Where are we going?”

The Map showed everyone where the problem lied; right at the castle itself.

“Um… why is it just shining at the castle?” asked Rainbow “It’s not broken is it?”

“No… it’s not.” said Twilight “The map is never wrong. Whatever friendship problem we have, it’s right here.”

Starlight already had her suspicions, “It’s got to be Spike. He’s been causing a little trouble with us all lately.”

A hush fell in the room; everyone began to have sickly feelings.

“Maybe… we should just talk to Spike?” suggested Applejack “It might help.”

Everyone agreed, and Twilight went off to get him, believing he was still asleep in the library, having not seen him.

She opened the doors softly, “Spike…” she called in quietly, and when she looked in she saw he wasn’t there.

She checked their shared room, he wasn’t there!

“Spike?” she called “Spike…”

She searched every room and couldn’t find him before going back to her friends, “He’s not anywhere in the castle.”

Everyone felt worried now, “Maybe he just went out on his own.” said Cadance, and she then realized “He must’ve gone out on his own.”

“He’s runaway?” cried Rarity.

A hush fell, and everyone agreed it was the only explanation, especially due to the Friendship Map selecting all of them for the mission.

“But… but we’re all good friends here.” cried Fluttershy “Spike would have no reason to just runaway.”

“Maybe,” said Starlight “Or maybe he DID have a reason.” she hinted very heavily at everyone, even her own self.

Applejack slumped down in her chair “I guess… maybe we have all been a little rough on the little guy lately.”

Shining Armor and Cadance thought it over harder, the way they had acted the other night, and felt maybe they should had listened to Spike when he said he didn’t wake up Flurry Heart. They knew he better than that.

Twilight especially knew. “Spike.” said feel immense guilt creep up on her.

The others all felt the same, and then… Starlight heard the doors creaking and thought maybe it was Spike. She dashed over, but it was just the doors swaying softly on its hinges. However, she noticed the scratch marks on the wall.

“He was here!” she cried “These marks weren’t here before, and none of us have claws.”

Everyone inspected the wall confirming it.

“Spike was here…” said Twilight “He must’ve overheard us.”

Rarity’s tears began to show “I called him “Impossible.”

“I called him a pest.” lamented Applejack.

Fluttershy was weeping softly, too sad to speak out that she called him “Annoying.”

Pinkie Pie hung her head low “We’re nothing but a bunch of big old meanies!”

Rainbow felt remorseful “Well, it was kinda hard not to be. We were just angry.” but none of the others agreed with her, but they did agree to Twilight’s plan “We’ll form a search party. We’ll find him and try to work this out.”

Everyone agreed.

“Oh, if anything happens to him, I shan’t forgive myself.” said Rarity.