Act 1: Legend of Hatred

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbyvrARniVo&feature=youtu.be

“Love” and “Hate.” These were the words, Professor Twilight Sparkle wrote on the blackboard for her students at her School of Friendship.

“You see class, friendship is based mostly around love and trust, but there is only a thin line that separates Love from Hate, and that’s why you must always be careful not to spark the hatred, even if you don’t mean it.”

One pony raised her hoof, “Professor Twilight, how do we control love and hate? Isn’t there some way so there could only be the love, or the hate?”

Twilight thought as best she could and could only answer with, “Well, the truth is, Love and Hate are a balance, and as I have just said, anything can tip that balance so suddenly and cause a complete turnaround.

Every-Creature is capable of feeling love and hate, but how these two forces are handled is exactly the subject we’re going to looking into, because I believe if we can all learn to really find perfect balance; if there is truly a way Every-Creature could control these emotions, then there could be great chances of unity and peace for all involved.”

The students all seemed very intrigued and wanted to learn more, but unfortunately the bell rang, and every-creature was forced to get up and leave as Twilight announced, “Please read chapter one through five in your text-books, they will be useful in this week’s study of Love and Hate.”

The students all bid her good-day as they filed out of the class room, and Starlight Glimmer and Spike came in.

“So, how did it go?” asked Spike.

Twilight giggled, “I think I’ve got them hooked on the perfect subject. This Love and Hate stuff will make great with the curriculum.”

Starlight agreed, “Well, given all our past experiences,” she paused and muttered softly “Mine included” then she spoke normal again “There’s no one better suited to teach it than us.”

As the trio headed off down the hallways, more and more students were up and about, and getting along so well.

Some were studying together.

Some were helping other carry big stacks of books or opening doors politely.

Others were walking home together after the day’s classes, and this all brought great pride to Twilight’s heart.

Twilight just had to sing about it as music filled the air, and Starlight and Spike joined in too…

Every-creature did shout that last line, and one-by-one, all of Twilight’s friends were seen helping their students staying after school with some of their studies.

Rarity studying the fashion class…

Rainbow Dash and her P.E class in the fields…

Fluttershy and her nature and animal class, all being kind to the animals and pets at the school…

Applejack and Pinkie Pie in the bakeshop, baking friendship goodies…

Pinkie Pie munched on some cupcakes, “Yeah, I can feel it especially. Mm-mmm!”

“Pinkie Pie!” snapped Applejack.

“What? I just feel it.”

And all the creatures and ponies began to march along the school singing,

Soon, the school had to be locked up for the night, but Twilight invited all her friends to the Castle of Friendship for dinner.

“Looks like we’ve got mail.” said Spike pointing at how full the mailbox was by the gates.

There was one letter in a pink envelope with blue edges, from the Crystal Empire, and there was also two small packages, each with a regular letter attached to them, with Princess Celestia’s seal on them.

“Ooh, ooh, this all looks important.” chirped Pinkie “What are they? What are they? What are they?”

“Oh, really, Pinkie Pie, have you no shame?” scolded Rarity “That mail isn’t ours and we have no business prying into it.”

That’s what she wanted to stick by, but then she began to quiver in anxiety.

Twilight actually didn’t mind sharing her mail with her friends.

Once inside the castle, Twilight read the letter from the Crystal Empire, which was from Shining Armor and Princess Cadance, saying that they were going to come for a visit with Flurry Heart, and that the couple had accepted Twilight’s offer to give a few lectures at her school about Love.

“That’s awesome!” cried Rainbow “Maybe they can tell about the time they blasted away the Changelings at the Royal Canterlot Wedding.”

The rest of the gang was actually skeptical about that, worrying if the students who were reformed Changelings would really want to hear about their history when they were evil again.

“Well, we are teaching about hatred as well.” said Starlight “And we are teaching about how to balance the two forces out.”

Twilight agreed.

Fluttershy seemed more interested in the packages and she wondered, “What do you suppose these are?”

Twilight opened the first package, revealing a small chest, and inside was large brooch, with a very dark jewel in the middle and surrounded by a large thick band of gold.

All the gang gawk at in awe.

“I’ve never seen anything like this.” remarked Rarity, and she admired her reflection in the jewel’s shiny surface.

Spike began to droll in hunger at the sight of it and nearly lost control wanting to taste it.

“Spike…!” Twilight snapped as she levitated him up in the air, “Try to control yourself.”

Spike chuckled nervously.

“What’s the letter say?” asked Applejack, and Twilight read Celestia’s letter out loud.

“Wow, from another world?” said Pinkie as she looked at the jewel, and took it in her hooves, shaking it vigorously.

Starlight levitated it out of her grip, “Take it easy.”

Pinkie slumped back into her chair.

Twilight then opened the second package, revealing a very old and worn out tome that had no tittle but a shiny emblem of a flame on the cover, and it didn’t seem to have very many pages within it.

While Starlight examined the book, Twilight read Celestia’s other letter aloud.

“Whoa…!” Starlight softly exclaimed while looking at the pages “Listen to this...”

All the gang huddled around and she quoted from the book…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TOZwZIgPtI

“Thousands of years ago, there was a powerful and evil creature named “Yamimakai.”

The pictures below in the book were very faded due to age, but the drawings, in black and splattered ink was still easy to make out, almost like looking at an ancient tapestry.

There was a humanoid creature, with big and spiky hair holding a monstrous looking sword, and commanding an army of soldiers to wreak havoc on the land.

Starlight continued to read from the passages…

“Yamimakai, was a powerful and magical creature and very skilled fighter, no one know where he had come from.

He believed that Hatred and Power meant strength and Kindness and Love were weakness, and he sought to rule the world with chaos and hatred unimaginable.

The more hatred and the more chaos that spread, the stronger he became, and anyone who stood up to him lost their lives!”

More images showing of the evil warrior slaughtering many beings and burning down homes and towns, which made everyone sweat and tremble as Starlight continued to read.

“Finally deciding that Yamimakai and his forces needed to stopped, a wise and noble prince had assembled an army of his own to do battle, fighting Love with against Hate.

The war waged on for years, and many soldiers were lost, and eventually the Prince and confronted Yamimakai in single combat.

The two fought valiantly, and seemed to be equal in strength, and the two were injured badly.

The prince then cast a powerful spell to seal the evil leader within the blade of his magical sword.

The sword was then placed deeply into a magical pedestal, and it was planned to be sealed away to keep it safe, but before this could be done, something mysterious happened…

…The sword had just disappeared, pedestal and everything, and it was gone!

Its whereabouts and how it vanished forever remained unknown.”

There was hardly much more to read as there were no more pages; as the letter had stated.

The friends were all flabbergasted that such an evil could have existed, and they had their share of evil villains before.

“This really will make a good point of interest.” said Twilight “A perfect example of what can happen if you give in to that much hatred.”

“Gosh,” said Spike “I’d have hate to have lived in those days. All that hate, war, destruction.” He paused and realized “…You don’t think that sort to thing could happen again?”

“I should sincerely hope not!” cried Rarity “I can’t picture anyone having that much hate in their body.”

Applejack nodded, “Still, we’re overlooking something; we’re all good friends, and we’re teaching others to be good friends.

I don’t think there’s anything in this world that could strike up all that fuss again.”

All the friends agreed, and if they only knew how correct Applejack was. There was nothing that could cause that much trouble to rise again…

…Not in their world, anyway!

There were other worlds out there, and not all of them were like Equestria.

There was one world in particular where a lot was happening…!

In a place called Jump City in another dimension, an evil creature was attacking a recycling plant.

This monster had the power to absorb forms of matters and meld into it, thus gaining its power an abilities.

This creature was also being attacked by four powerful super heroes, known as the Teen Titans, and it was defeating them so easily thanks to its shifting abilities, making it difficult to find.

Cyborg was not able to track it with his scanning, and Raven could not make psychic contact with it when it disappeared into the walls or the floor.

“Where has it gone?” cried Starfire.

“Keep your eyes peeled.” said Robin.

Suddenly, without warning, the creature burst out of the floor, right beneath Robin and sent him hurling into the air.

Starfire flew up and caught her boyfriend.

“Thanks, Star.” he said, and she smiled lovingly at him.

The monster reverted back into its white form and glared at the heroes.

“Get it before it shifts again!” shouted Robin.

He jumped out of Starfire’s arms and threw his mini-bombs at it, while Starfire threw her star-bolts. Cyborg fired his sonic cannon and Raven unleashed waves of dark aura, but the creature dodged and batted off every shot thrown at it, and then it grabbed onto a cable-box on the wall, pulling the wires out and then absorbing the sparking electricity.

“Look out!” shouted Cyborg as the creature began to fire electrical pulses at the team forcing them to dodge about.

Then using its abilities, the creature melded into the wires themselves and began to manipulate all the machinery in the plant, including the huge electro-magnet crane, which lifted Cyborg up as he was mostly metal.

“Get me down!” he shouted.

Raven flew up to him and tried to pull him free, then Starfire joined, but the creature had set the magnet’s pull to maximum. It was like trying to pull on a huge mountain. The girls couldn’t budge him an inch.

Then all three of them noticed the crane was lifting them all over to a huge, flaming incinerator!

“ROBIN…!!!” Cyborg shouted.

“I’ll try and stop it!” and Robin bounded straight at the main controls, but the creatures wouldn’t allow this, and used its power to create a huge and high-voltage electric barrier around the panel so he couldn’t get anywhere near it without frying himself.

Robin realized his only chance was to find the creature itself, but because it was hiding within the wirings within walls he had no idea where to look!

It really looked as if Cyborg was going to be fried to nothing were it not for another Titan bursting through the walls, as a big green-elephant, and actually knocking the creature out of the wall.

“Beast Boy…!” Robin called.

The green changeling morphed back into his human self, and with the creature no longer controlling the power, the magnet was shut down and Cyborg was set loose.

He landed on the ground and the girls went down beside him.

“About time you showed up!” called Cyborg “I was always a melted mess.”

Beast Boy hardly seemed to have heard him, as he was standing where he was with a strange look on his face, and panting softly but deeply, as though he was under a great deal of stress.

The creature then got up, and melded into the floor to try and make its escape.

“Beast Boy, sniff it out!” called Robin.

Beast Boy heard him, and morphed into a bloodhound, and he was able to pick up the distinct scent of the creature and motioned exactly to where it was in the floor.

“Titans, attack!” shouted Robin.

One-by-one the Titans attacked and blasted at the floor, forcing the creature to reveal itself, and after a large barrage of multiple attacks form different directions, the creature finally gave out and collapsed on the floor, allowing the Titans to finally apprehend it!

Soon the police had come to take the creature to a special high-tech prison, and while there were many damages done to the recycling plant, the owner was not that angry as he had insurance.

“Thanks to all the changes in the city, there’s more insurance policies.” he said “Anyone who suffers collateral damages can get a good deal depending on the severity.”

Then he shook hands with Robin, “Still, thank you for saving my joint, and I’m glad you guys are back.”

“No sweat.” replied Robin, and then he went off to regroup with his team, and he found them scolding Beast Boy.

“You should’ve been with us!” sneered Cyborg “This neglecting your team has got to stop.”

“Friend Cyborg is right!” agreed Starfire “I can understand that you claim to have seen Terra…”

“…I DID see her!” sneered Beast Boy, but he decided not to go any further and explain the whereabouts of the teams former friend.

Earlier that day, he had attempted to reconcile with her at the Murakami School where she now attended as a normal girl.

While she claimed to have lost her memories of the titans, her super powers, and most of all the romance she had shared with Beast Boy…

He finally managed unveil it, she hadn’t lost her memories, but she also made it clear that she didn’t want to remember the Titans, her past, the things she had done, and wanted to peruse a normal life.

She wanted to forget everything, including him. She made it clear that she no longer wished to see him, and wanted nothing to do with him, the Titans, or anything they once shared.

“Things Change, Beast Boy. The girl you want me to be is just a memory!”

Hearing what she said, and the way she just kicked him where it hurt most, it just played over and over in his mind, bringing him more stress.

“Enough!” Robin said, and then he too addressed Beast Boy, “Look, I get that your conflicted because you miss Terra, but you have to let go of the past. You have a duty to your team, and I don’t ever want to know of you even thinking of ditching us again.

…You understand?”

As if he weren’t already upset enough from the events of that day, Beast Boy felt his anger and rage building up inside of him, and he really felt like giving it to Robin hard, but he managed to resist the urge.

“I got it.” he simply said.

“Good.

Let’s all go and get some pizza. I’m starved.”

Sarfire and Cyborg followed him, passing by Beast Boy, with angry expressions directed at him, and as for Raven, she swatted him upside the head!

“Ow! What was that for?!” he protested, but Raven didn’t bother to answer and went on to catch up with the others.

“Beast Boy, let’s go!” snapped Robin, but even though he had just promised not to ditch the team, he really didn’t feel like being around them right now, even if they hadn’t just talked down to him, whether it was understandable or not.

He just changed into a bird and flew off, heading in the direction of Titan’s Tower.

“Beast Boy…” called Starfire, but he didn’t come back.

“Never mind,” said Robin “He needs time to think, about his duties, his loyalties…”

“…And how to grow up.” grumbled Raven “I get that he misses Terra, but that’s no excuse to keep ditching us.”

“Still,” said Starfire “I suppose we should all reconcile ourselves to the fact that our friend will never return to us.”

“Probably.” said Robin “Even if this girl could be our Terra, I think we should respect whatever wishes she has and not bother with her.”

Cyborg sighed, “I just hope BB can get over her.”

“He will,” said Robin “He’s got to. Everyone has to move on. It’s only way to mature and grow up.”

On their way to the Pizza Place, they passed by the Murkami School, where the students were all on lunch break, and many were eating outside or just hanging in the yard until next period.

Terra was with her two friends, Jackie and Jillian.

She looked up and saw the Titans were passing by, and quickly grabbed one of her text-books, and held it open in front of her face hoping they wouldn’t see her.

They didn’t and went out of sight.

She peeked up over the rim and sighed in relief, but she also noticed Beast Boy was not with them.

“Girl, what is up with you?” asked Jackie.

“It’s nothing,” she lied trying to keep her friends and her past in the dark.

“I’m just glad you finally told off that creep, Brat Boy.” said Jillian.

“His name is “Beast Boy.” Terra corrected “And he’s not a creep, he just thought I was someone he knew, and I finally managed to convince him to move on.”

Her friends didn’t seem to care much.

“That’s no reason to stalk you like some pervert.” said Jackie.

Jillian cracked her knuckles, “If he shows his ugly green face around here again, I’ll turn him black and blue.”

Terra did not in the least like her tone. “Look, he’s gone, and he won’t be coming back. Okay, so let’s just drop it and move on with our lives.”

The girls felt she was sounding a little desperate to change the subject, but they agreed, and they all decided to head to the mall after school.

Soon, the bell rang, and the students had to file back inside for afternoon classes.

As Terra stood up to follow her friends, she could see across the street and right through the construction zone, through the incomplete office high-rise being built. She could see the ocean and Titan’s Tower on its little island way far out.

Just looking at it made a whole bunch of memories flash before her eyes-- goods times she had living there, playing games with the Titans, especially with Beast Boy.

She shook herself back to reality, and her new life. She was happy now, and felt safe and well with in her new school and hew new friends, and wanted to keep it that way.

…Wasn’t she?

Still, she did secretly think of earlier that day when Beast Boy confronted her, and she never forgot the look in his eyes when she told him to leave her in peace and that she was not willing to rejoin him or the Titans again…

…That look of pure heartbreak, loss of spirit.

“I’m sorry, Beast Boy.” she thought silently “I know this must hurt you, and I know it might take time, but this is for the best, and I know we’ll both be just fine.”

If she could only see what was going on right now…!

Beast Boy was in the gym, ruthlessly beating the stuffing out of the punching bag to lose his anger on.

Blow after blow, he socked it hard, and he only seemed to get madder and madder with each blow, because he was imagining the Titans’ faces, and he punched them all hard, especially Raven for hitting him in the head… for the umpteenth time.

While it was understandable they were mad at him for ditching the team, that was no excuse to really beat him down and show how very little they cared about his grieving!

Slade appeared too, and his voice taunting him about Terra.

“Don’t you see? She doesn’t want to see you anymore.

She no longer cares for you.

If the girl does not remember, it is because she chooses so.

…Let her go!”

“HA!!” he shouted as he gave the bag a final jab, breaking it right down from its hanger on the ceiling.

He was panting and huffing furiously, and he still felt he needed to let out some more steam, in a way that wouldn’t really break anything or hurt someone physically, other than himself.

So he went to his room, which was very messy with empty pizza-boxes, rotting foods, other sorts of clutter, and the smell was rancid, but he was used to it by now, which was why he never cleaned it.

He reached under the mattress of bottom bunk and pulled out a diary he kept, which was another of his blowing steam harmlessly.

The entire book was divided into segments, one for each of the Titans, and one for himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5iwX3XX-kI

One-by-one he wrote in each segments for the Titans and you can bet what he wrote was anything but appealing about them.

Then it was over to his own section, which seemed to be many pages long, much longer than the other segments.

He thought quietly and carefully as wrote down what he had decided.

“While I may have respected Terra’s wishes, and I will leave her to live her new life in peace, I have reached my limit.

It’s become obvious to me that no matter how hard I try, no matter who I’m aligned with, no matter what things I do, I’ll never gain what I want, especially seeing as nobody seems to notice or care about it anyway.

The only course now is to stop trying. I’m fed up with always trying and failing, so at least this way I won’t build false hopes anymore, and I can accept the disappointment with less pain.

Still, sometimes, I really wish I could punish all these people. Anyone with half a brain would see they deserve it, and those who defend them would be punished too.

…But that won’t really help, will it.

At least I can confide with you, because unlike others, you can’t physically or emotionally hurt me.”

He felt a little calmer now that he had voiced his frustrations, but he didn’t feel a bit better, so he decided to just stretch out on his bed and fell asleep.

Author's Notes:

Wow, over 30 downvotes on one chapter in just a few hours.

Not like it's going to stop me making this fic anyway.

Act 2: Fighting Temptation

While it was day in the Titans’ world, it was night in Equestria.

Long after all her friends had gone home and to bed, but Twilight was awake, looking a little baggy-eyed, and in her study lab, where she was constantly trying to unlock the secrets of the jewel from Celestia.

She had gone through many books, and many scrolls, but was unable to match the jewel or uncover any clues about it.

“Celestia could be right,” said to herself “If there’s nothing about this in Equestrian history, then it’s probably not from this world at all.”

Starlight and Spike both stood at the doors, both were woken by her constant slamming of books and talking to herself.

“Twilight, give it a rest.” groaned Spike.

“We’ve got work in the morning.” added Starlight.

“I’m not tired,” protested Twilight, but really that was just her lust to continue researching, even though it was virtually pointless at this point. She also let out a huge yawn prompting Starlight to drag her along.

“It’s bedtime for you. The world will still be here tomorrow.”

Twilight was soon out like a light, in her own bed, and Spike had fallen asleep right on the floor.

Starlight levitated him up and tucked him softly into his basket.

On her way to her own room, she looked in the study and saw the jewel sitting on the table.

She looked at it with her own curiosity peaking about it, but she yawned and felt too tired to really study it herself, and she adjourned to bed.

Neither she or the others noticed as the clouds parted and the moonlight shone through an open window right onto the jewel, it began to pulsate softly with a bright light.

Then a cloud covered up the moon and the glowing ceased.

In Jump City, the other Titans had all been enjoying their Pizza Lunch, especially because it was most likely the last they were going to get.

Upon their arrival, they had noticed a “Closing Down” sign just outside the doors. The place had been sold and the entire place was going to be converted into an office for a travel agency.

Yet another thing to add to the big list of changes in the city ever since they had returned from Tokyo, and fighting The Brotherhood of Evil…

“So much has changed.” said Starfire “I know not where I shall another place that makes the pizza as well as this.”

She gnawed on a slice.

“We’ll just have to find someplace else.” said Robin “Changes are part of life, and we have to accept them whether we approve of them or not.”

The others agreed.

“I just hope BB can get though his head.” said Cyborg.

“That would take a miracle.” said Raven.

Suddenly, they could all hear the sound of police sirens as many cruisers came racing down the road.

Robin’s communicator already detected trouble nearby.

He quickly left some money for the bill and shouted, “Titans Go!”

All the Titans bolted up out of their seats, and leapt off of the roof terrace.

Robin then called Beast Boy telling him about the danger. “Get down here, right away.”

The sound was on “audio” and he couldn’t see he had just woken Beast Boy up.

“Beast Boy, answer me!”

“I can hear you!” Beast Boy thundered “I’m on my way!”

Then he signed off.

“Do we really need him with us?” asked Raven.

“We’re a team.” said Robin “We fight together no matter what.”

The disturbance seemed to be coming from the Jump City museum-- one of few places in the city that hadn’t been bought out or demolished.

The movers and museum curator were shipping a recent delivery of new ancient artifacts and stuff that was being placed in the museum on display, when suddenly; a bunch of robbers came out of nowhere and held everyone, including security at gunpoint.

All these robbers were wearing special kinds of armor, making them bulletproof and it also enhanced their natural strengths.

“Alright guys,” called the leader “Let’s haul this junk out of here. I’m sure we can find people who will pay fortunes for them.”

Some of his teammates began to make their way for the truck that carried the goods, while others were already loading unloaded creates to their own truck.

A few others kept watchful eyes over the subdued museum staff and security.

The police then stormed the place and demanded the gunners surrender.

“Don’t move!” shouted the leader as he held up a grenade, “…Make one move, and I’ll blow these artifacts to pieces!”

The cops were stuck. No way could they risk the valuables, and they didn’t dare try to gas the bad guys either, not while they had hostages.

Suddenly, the Titans arrived on the scene, and Raven used her powers to yank the grenade away from the leader, and Starfire zoomed in, pulling all the hostages in a big group out of harm’s way, and flew them up onto the roof for safety.

“Shoot them!” shouted the leader!

The men began to fire with their guns like crazy, but Robin threw down his smoke-bombs which blinded the men.

The Titans then all jumped down and began to attack.

Robin knocked the guns away with his staff, forcing the men to fight him in combat.

POW!! Robin got punched hard in the gut and was sent slamming into the wall. It felt like a wild buffalo had just hit him.

“How do you like our new armor?” teased a thief, “It enhances our strength many times.”

The other Titans found this out as well, while they had knocked the guns away, the men put quite a good fight, punching and kicking them all hard.

Starfire then fired her star-bolts, which only bounced off the armor-plates, hitting herself back, and leaving the thieves unharmed.

“Nice try…” teased the leader.

The Titans still refused to give up.

“Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos!” shouted Raven, and she grabbed two large lampposts, pulling them out of the ground, and bent them around a couple of the thieves, but thanks to their enhanced strengths, they actually managed to break out of bondage and rushed for her.

Raven flew upward out of the way allowing them to be rushed by Cyborg.

Since he was big and strong, he was able to handle the goons a little bit, as long as he didn’t blast them.

Then Beast Boy arrived on the scene, and charged at the goons as a huge dinosaur, knocking them all back hard and cracking the chest plates on the armor, which shorted the suits out!

Robin, finding his strength again, saw this and got up.

“That’s it! Aim for their chests!” he hollered to the others.

Starfire nodded and saw two of the goons making a break for discarded guns on the ground, but as they turned to shoot, she had already punched them hard in the chests, shorting out the power and knocking them back hard.

More and more of the goons began to fall with their weakness exposed, and finally, Robin brawled with the leader, and using his skillful Kung Fu moves, he managed to strike him in the chest and knocked him down.

“You’re strong, but you’re still not that smart.” he remarked.

The police were able to handle the men, loading them into paddy-wagons and take them to prison.

Many citizens who watched the excitement from afar began to crowd around the museum, cheering for the Titans as the curator thanked them.

“I don’t know how to thank you all.” he said.

“It’s what we’re here for.” said Robin “History is very important to everyone. We couldn’t let them make off with all these things.”

Many fans and admirers of the Titans came up to congratulate them, shake hands, have pictures, even ask for autographs…

…Except for Beast Boy. Nobody seemed to want to crowd around him at all, or even took notice of him, even though he was the one who discovered the thieves’ weakness, even if it was by chance.

Why even Raven was getting more attention he was, and she usually wasn’t one to care for such things. She usually preferred to go “Whatever” and walk off and not take interest in fans, and yet there she was, at least signing posters of her and agreeing to be in selfies, though she still had her usual neutral expression and didn’t seem to show much care for it.

Soon the crowds departed, and the curator still needed help in moving all the new artifacts into the museum.

“We’ll help you.” said Robin “This way we’ll be close in case anyone tries to attack again.”

Soon, all the Titans were helping to move heavy boxes and things into the building and placing them in the main atrium where they were uncrated revealing all kinds of strange and mysterious objects…

Statues, idols, jewelry, plaques…

Beast Boy did find them a little fascinating, especially the statues. He just moved in closer to get a better look at one, but Raven misjudged and smacked him in the shoulder, and sneered in a threatening manner, “Don’t… Touch… Anything…!”

Beast Boy glared at her furiously, and this time he didn’t feel like holding his peace.

“You lay one more hand on me, and I swear… I will hurt you!”

That’s what he wanted to say, but he still managed to barely hold himself back, not wanting to make a scene, and decided to save his angry words for his diary.

“Hey, y’all.” Cyborg called “Come and take a look at this.”

The Titans all huddled around, and was just uncrated-- a stone pedestal with an odd looking sword lodged into it.

It had a silvery flame-shaped blade, with a red and black hilt which resembled evil looking wings. And right in the center of the hilt was a fiery flame emblem-- exactly the same as the one on Twilight’s book.

It didn’t seem to show any signs of how old it was, or how long it had been lying hidden underground.

“Wow.” said Robin “What is this?”

The curator explained, “Nobody really knows.

This was found in the mountain regions in the outback months ago.”

The Titans all gasped in astonishment.

“It was in the city’s backyard all the time?” asked Beast Boy.

“That’s what he just said!” sneered Raven.

Beast Boy gave her an angry glare.

The curator explained that the sword’s origins were completely unknown. “Historians and scientists have been analyzing the sword and they have no idea who could have forged it.”

Cyborg scanned the sword with his wrist-com, and he was astonished.

“What is it?” asked Starfire.

“The blade…” replied Cyborg “It’s made of a kind of alloy I’m not able to identify. Almost like, it’s not manmade.”

Now the Titans were very intrigued.

“Perhaps we could remove the sword and study it more closely?” suggested Starfire.

“We’ve already tried.” said the curator “This baby’s stuck tight. No one’s been able to budge it an inch. They even tried using a crane. Nothing worked.”

“Sounds like whoever put that sword in there didn’t want it to be removed.” said Raven.

“Or maybe…” Robin said while pondering “…It’s the kind of sword that only the right kind of person can remove.”

A long silent moment fell to everyone, until the curator said “Well, it’s not like it can do any harm. So we thought we’d display it-- let other people marvel at its mysteries.”

“Not a good idea, dude.” said Beast Boy. “What if someone tries to steal it, like just back then?”

“That’s not likely,” said the curator. “Our security is top-notch. Once it’s safely in here, even a mosquito couldn’t try to steal it.”

“I’m just saying that…”

“…Let it go, Beast Boy.” Robin cut in “Anyways, we’ve done our job here. Let’s go home.”

Beast Boy tried to protest fearing there could be much more to the sword than they know.

“Yo’ man, just drop it!” said Cyborg “It’s not hurting anyone and it can’t if it can’t be pulled out. Just leave it.”

Beast Boy sulked angrily. He hated it when no one listened to him, especially when he had a proper and commendable suggestion.

Raven marched right up to Beast Boy, and this time he was ready for her and caught her by the wrist as she tried to slap him again.

He gave her a most threatening look, and then forcefully released her, and Raven looked crosser than ever with him, but she walked along catching up with the others, and Beast Boy followed them, but kept his distance all the way home, which annoyed the Titans.

“You’re not making points with this attitude.” Robin called over to him.

That evening, Beast Boy refused to join them for dinner, even When Cyborg called to everyone over the tower intercom, “Hey, y’all… grub’s on.”

He would not come out even when Starfire knocked at his door.

“Beast Boy, it is the time of the supper.”

There was no answer.

“Beast Boy…?”

He was in there, and just finishing adding to his diary and silently hiding it back under his mattress.

Then he crept to the door and opened it softly.

Starfire thought he was being very strange and not like the old Beast Boy she knew.

“Do you not wish to join us?”

“No thanks,” he said softly, and he shut the door. He did not want to see any of them at the moment, especially not Raven.

Starfire decided maybe to just leave him be and went to join her friends.

“If he thinks he can win us over with all this brooding, he’s got another thing coming.” said Robin.

“Took the words right out of my mouth.” agreed Raven.

Starfire sat down, but she didn’t feel like eating herself. “I am worried about our friend. He is not acting himself. He has not smiled, or told a joke, or laughed at anything humorous.”

“He’s just heartbroken because he misses Terra.” said Cyborg “I’ve been turned down by a few girls in my time, and yes, it hurt, but I got over it. I moved on, and so should he.”

Robin was starting to realize as well, “Of course, come to think of it. Maybe we have been a little hard on him lately.”

Even Raven was starting to feel maybe she had been a bit sore with him. “He’s just being so annoying.” she said “But I guess that’s no excuse for my smacking him.”

Everyone nodded strictly at her for that especially.

The Titans decided maybe it best they try and make it up to him, but Robin also suggested, “We should leave him be for a few days. Let him cool off, maybe he’ll open up to us then.”

Later that night, the Titans decided to go to bed.

Starfire saw Beast Boy’s bedroom door and was tempted to go over and at least talk to him, but Robin put his hand on her shoulder, shaking his head reminding her to leave him be as they agreed.

In her room, Raven hung up her cloak on a rack by the open window as the moonlight shone through the glass.

Raven let out a sleepy yawn as she crawled into bed.

Late in the night, as the moon continued to shine through her window, it lit up her cloak on the rack, and the large brooch clip-- which was identical to the one Twilight had received-- began to glow and pulsate.

The light was bright, and it annoyed Raven in her sleep, but rather than open her eyes and wake up, she assumed it was just reflected moonlight, and raised her hand, using her power to shut her curtains.

…The brooch stopped glowing.

Elsewhere in the city, somebody else was having a bad time sleeping too…!

Terra tossed and turned in bed, she was having a dream of her first date with Beast Boy, when they went to the amusement park, even though it was the time she had betrayed the Titans to Slade, it was a wonderful time!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ThGYpcmaws

“You’re my definition of fun.” she said to him.

Then they went off to ride the rides, and play the games, and they seemed to be growing closer and closer.

Then everything flashed to back at her school. He reached out to her.

“Maybe you don’t remember, but I do. You’re my friend! You’re a Teen Titan!”

“You’re wrong!”

She was starting to cringe and sweat in her sleep as the whole scene continued to play, right up to those words she told him.

“Things Change, Beast Boy. The girl you want me to be is just a memory.”

She looked across at him, and how he appeared so devastated, so hurt!

“Ah!” she woke up with a startling yelp and was panting heavily. She felt very hot and decided to get some air.

She hopped out of bed and went to open a window of the apartment she lived it, but it was unknown and unimportant how she got it.

All she felt was extreme guilt, the same she had been feeling deep down all day but never let her friends know.

“I just want to live a normal life.” she said to herself “Why do these memories keep haunting me like this?”

“Maybe it’s because you’ve made a mistake!” hissed a very familiar voice.

She turned round and was frightened to see none-other than, “…Slade!” sitting on her bed.

“It’s been a while, girl.”

How he even got there was hardly important now, but she angrily glared at him. “Impossible! You’re dead! I destroyed you!”

“Oh, really?” hissed Slade “Then how am I here? How am I talking to you?

Oh, that’s right, because this is all a dream.”

Terra was confused, “No. It’s not a dream. I just woke up from a dream.”

Slade began to appear in multiple places around her room. “Silly girl… It’s not healthy to go to bed with a guilty conscience, isn’t it? Your past can come back to haunt you.”

Terra was feeling stressed out, and more upset when she could see the images of all the terrible things she had done, as Slade’s apprentice, and dumping Beast Boy at her school.

“No, No I won’t let it! I’ve moved on! You hear me?!”

“Oh, but of course,” hissed Slade “Things Change and you’re right, but the memories can never disappear no matter how much you want them too, just like your memories of your little boyfriend.

You hurt him, you know. More than any betrayal ever could, and now you’re starting to regret it, aren’t you?”

Terra shook her head frightfully, “No, No, I won’t let you tempt me!

I WON’T LET YOU TEMPT ME!!”

“I’m not tempting you, you’re doing it to yourself.”

Terra refused to listen any longer and rushed for the many Slade’s to tackle them…

…And she ended up falling out of bed from her dream within a dream.

Now she was really awake-- really, fully, and totally awake, but her head ached, and she felt a little numb.

She went to the bathroom, washed her face, and grabbed a sip of water, but as she looked at her reflection in the mirror the square shape of the mirror morphed into a heart-shape, like the heart-shaped mirror box Beast Boy had made for her…

“Beast Boy, I… I don’t know what to say.”

The very mirror box she sourly rejected when he brought her to the tower the other day, trying to help her remember-- even though she did remember.

“No!” she snapped as she looked away. “I won’t go back. This is my life now, and it’s better than anything else I could’ve had.”

She was very dedicated, and was not about to let her conscience get to her. She could silence it. She could tell it who was in charge, and she was more than willing to get past this phase of guilt and shame and move on with her life.

…Assuming it was even a phase.

Nevertheless, she managed to go back to bed and slept like a baby.

While in Equestria, Twilight was teaching her class from the book she had gotten, about the evil Yamimakai and how he tried to destroy and conquer the world.

“You see class; sometimes a little hatred can get so out of control it could very well lead to things like this. This make it all the more important to put our faith in trust, in friendship, and love.”

A student raised his hoof, “Professor Twilight, what if you meet someone who doesn’t want to believe in those things. What if they don’t want to have Love, Friendship, or Trust anyone?”

All the students began to worry about the same thing, and this was something that even Twilight knew was possible, if such creatures like Yamimakai existed, and other villains she and her friends were unable to redeem or change.

“I still believe in giving fair chances. I really don’t think that any-creature would want to submit to a life of hatred and mistrust without good reason. Maybe if we all work hard to figure out that reason, then we can try and make it better.

That’s what being a good friend really is about.”

The students all took notes of this.

Soon class was dismissed, and Twilight had no other courses to teach that day, and a good thing too because she couldn’t wait to get back to studying that strange jewel.

Starlight had a feeling about this, and luckily she already had the perfect distraction for her.

“Twilight Sparkle,” she announced over the school intercom “Please report to your office immediately.”

She giggled a little before logging off, which Twilight noted, but still she headed down the hall, and the second she opened the door to her office.

“Hiya Twily…” her brother said surprising her.

Her eyes lit up, and she ran straight into her brother, hugging him warmly.

Then it was over to Cadance.

“When did you get here?” Twilight asked.

“Our train arrived an hour ago,” answered Cadance “And when we didn’t find you at the castle, we assumed you were here.”

Her husband agreed, “So, Starlight let us in and we thought we’d surprise you.”

Twilight gave Starlight a playful glare and Starlight snickered.

“Where’s Flurry Heart?” asked Twilight, but she suddenly got her answer as her little niece was heard cooing from the corner of the office where she sat up in her pram and began to flutter up happily at the sight of her aunt.

Twilight walked over and pecked her on her little head. “How’s my wittle favowite neice?” she cooed.

Shining Armor stood behind her, putting on a playful imitation of Flurry saying, “Don’t’ forget auntie Twily, I’m your only niece.”

Twilight giggled.

“Since I have no other classes today, we can all head to the castle for lunch.”

“Great idea.” agreed Cadance “We also want to talk to you about the lectures we want to give to your students.”

Over the past few days, the royal family stayed with Twilight, and the couple gave their lectures on love, trust, and how their marriage played a big role in all of it.

“So you see,” explained Shining Armor “Love may be a wonderful thing, but it’s also very delicate and mustn’t be taken too lightly.”

His wife agreed, “Love is nothing to be toyed with, especially when others can take advantage of you.”

She referred and explained about how the Changelings invaded Canterlot at the time of her wedding to Shining Armor, and Queen Chrysalis impersonated her, locking the Real Cadance in the caverns below, and was easily able to place Shining Armor under a spell by feeding off his love for Cadance.

The students were amazed-- their eyes were bulging, their mouths hanging wide open. They could now see love in a whole new way.

Cadance also lectured the students “Love can also cause Hate as well.

-Jealously from another potential suitor…

-Heartbreak from being dumped…

…It all depends on the situation, but that is why Love and Hate are only separated by a thin line.

Many of you may be too young now to understand the kind of love I share with my husband.”

Shining Armor smiled at her, but then he added, “Just remember, Just as love can bring forth the greatest of joy, it can also bring the greatest of hate as well, no matter what sort of love it is.

It can be family love, friend love, love for something; you name it.”

The students all began to applaud and cheer, having never felt so inspired in their lives.

The couple felt a little embarrassed, and Twilight was astounded.

“I think you’ve really gotten to them.” Spike whispered to her.

Author's Notes:

Lots of people like to bitch at me saying I'm FORCING Terra to feel this way (Guilty, upset, and make herself regret what she did)

Well of course I am... I control everything the characters do in this fic. They do exactly I write them to do, and also... it's PART OF THE STORY, she's SUPPOSED to be regretting what she did and feeling ashamed. (It helps the plot go on, and it gives me EXACTLY what I want)

But then again, you also have to consider NATURAL FEELINGS

Terra could feel these things all on her own, after all... even on "Things Change" itself, she had regretful looks on her face. And as for dreaming while you're asleep... NOBODY can control or decide when and how or what you dream when you sleep.

You don't choose dreams/nightmares, they choose you.

Bottom-line: This is how I want Terra to be.

Act 3: Fall in, Fall out

Over the same few days, the Titans kept well to their word and let Beast Boy have some time to himself, hoping he would come around and be willing to move on from Terra and the obvious breakup.

Not one of them still knew what really happened with Terra, or were even convinced if it was really her that Beast Boy saw, but they let it go, willing to move on with their own lives. Their only concern now was Beast Boy.

They still intended to try and talk to him, but only after he had given the signs that he had calmed down enough.

Beast Boy still had not made any attempts to talk with them, or go near them ever since the night at the museum.

He wouldn’t join them for meals, he didn’t wish to train with them or go out for Pizza. Not that it mattered since the Pizza Place had officially closed down.

Finally, Starfire couldn’t take it anymore. She wanted to at least try and break the ice with Beast Boy right now.

She knocked at his door.

“Friend Beast Boy, are you there?”

There was no answer.

“Beast Boy, can we not converse of the problems you are having? I know that you are feeling lost in the place of the dumps, but I only wish to help you overcome your troubles.”

Still no answer…

Starfire knew it was rude to barge into someone’s room without permission, but she just wanted to see.

She slid the door open-- it wasn’t even locked-- and Beast Boy was nowhere to be seen, but his window was open as the drapes fluttered in the soft breeze.

On the lower bunk was a note from Beast Boy:

Starfire sighed, but she took it as a sign that at least he was willing to communicate with the others, even if it was not a formal way.

Still, she couldn’t stand the sight of his room and how messy it was. Even with the window open and the air flowing through, she couldn’t stand the smell of all the rotting foods and the smell of dust.

She groaned so hard that Robin heard her, thinking she was being attacked, and raced to the bedroom.

“Star, what’s wrong?” but he could see for himself, and he was just as repulsed by the mess. “How could he have let the mess build up like this? This isn’t healthy for him!”

Starfire agreed, “I have heard somewhere that living in unsanitary condition can cause irrefutable behaviour.”

Her boyfriend agreed.

Even though they knew this was breaking someone’s privacy, knowing Beast Boy would never clean this mess up himself, and officially declaring it a danger to the health of the entire Tower, Robin gathered all the Titans together for the task of cleaning the room.

Cyborg and Raven were reluctant to do, especially when it came to picking up things like dirty and very smelling socks off the floor for the laundry. “Just gross…!”

Cyborg picked up the old pizza boxes and dishes, too frightened to wonder how long they had been there.

“That’s nasty!”

Soon the room was starting to look much cleaner but it still needed work.

Starfire and Raven then stripped off the bed of its sheets, noting the funky smell.

Raven also noticed print of Beast Boy’s body in the mattress, showing it was in desperate need of a flip-over.

Not wanting to touch it due to being horribly grossed-out until now, she used her powers to levitate it up, but then something caught her eye.

“What’s that?” she asked and leaned the mattress up against the wall.

She picked up a book that was on the solid bedframe.

All the titans huddled around.

“Since when does Beast Boy read anything other than comic-books?” wondered Cyborg.

Robin took the book from Raven, and opened it randomly to a page that he found was written about him.

“Robin is really getting be…” he paused at what he saw written after that, “…A Jerk?!”

The others all gawked in shock.

Robin kept reading…

“Robin is really getting to be a jerk. He’s always taking things so seriously, and even when his fun side shows it doesn’t last.

He’s always insisting that I grow up and be more like him, and now he’s starting to tell me I’ve got to embrace the changes that are happening and “Get over it!”

He’s changed too, and not for the best. He’s gone from the cool, suave leader in the mask and cape, to a mister bossy, sneering-face, creep that loves to act like he has all the answers.

He really is a “DICK” just like his name says.”


Robin was infuriated by what he had just read, and Cyborg realized, “This is BB’s diary!”

Starfire immediately insisted, “We must not peer any further. Not into the private thoughts of our friend.”

While Robin would normally have done the sensible thing, he read the next section which was about Starfire herself.

“Starfire’s been living with us and on Earth for what, two years now, and in all that time she still hasn’t learned all that much… except how to get on my nerves!”

“What?” snapped Starfire, and she took the book and continued to read.

“What’s happened with Star? I used to be close with her, now it seems all she cares about is following Robin’s ways. Then again that’s to be expected. Ever since Tokyo when they finally became a couple.

I always thought they’d make a cute one, but now that they actually are, I couldn’t be more upset and jealous considering I don’t have someone special.

And just like Robin, she’s starting to take things too seriously. Her optimism is really blinding her from what’s realistic, and after the way she also insists that I “Move on” and “Look to my future.”

…I ought to call her what she called me…”

“…A Clorbag Varblernek?!!” yelled Starfire, and her eyes went green with blazing light! “How dare he say such a thing to me! He knows not the meaning of the term!”

She felt very offended and looked ready to roast the book to ash in her hands, but Cyborg quickly grabbed it out of her grip.

Much as he felt he should put it down, his curiosity got the better of him.

“Don’t do it.” suggested Raven “Give me the book, now!” but he turned his back on her and began to read his own segment.

“Cyborg, he’s always had my back… sometimes.

Then again, he’s the cool techno-geek and I’m the lame little monkey wrench he loves to kick out because I don’t know as much as he does about tools or making cool things that are useful to the team.

Constantly besting me at video games just to stomp at me and laugh at my skills as a gamer? How many screws does he have loose?!

Now he’s all with the “Get over it” and “Move on” too. I mean sure, he nearly died, and I would’ve hated myself for that, but constantly berating me for it, and pushing my buttons about letting go of my own feelings is way overkill.

“At least we found a way to shut him up” he said that to me when we were in Mumbo’s hat, well he’s lucky I don’t try to shut him DOWN… he’s really asking for it!

He’s no bro to me now. He’s more a blow!”



Cyborg felt his face burning with rage. “Why that stinking little--” he couldn’t find any words as he was far too angry to think straight.

“Okay, you’ve all gone too far.” Raven said, and she decided to leave before she herself was tempted to read what was said about her, but Robin had taken the book from Cyborg and read it himself.

“Raven, don’t even get me started about her!”

Raven stopped where she was and cringed softly trying to resist, but Robin read more.

“Out of all the Titans she is the most pathetic, rudest, miserable, and disgraceful person that I’ve ever known.

She constantly acts rude and grumpy, I don’t care what excuse she has. That’s no excuse to take it out on me with her insults and her attitude.

When I called her creepy, I guess I was right. Even a spider crawling up your leg is less creepy than she is.

All I try to do is get her to lighten up, and make her smile now and, but it’s obvious she doesn’t care, not even after all the heart-to-heart moments we had. I bet she doesn’t even care about that time she hugged me when I cheered her up after having her heart broken, because I know what it feels like.

No, the way I see it, she could easily learn to control her powers so her emotions won’t be so dangerous, then she might be more fun instead of boring and quiet with her nose buried in her books all the time.

I think she prefers to be the miserable freak that she acts like, it’s especially shown the way she continues to smack me in the head, make rude remarks about my ideas and suggestions, even when they’re right.

All I wanted to do was get in closer to look at that cool statue, and I wasn’t going to touch it, and she just acts like a control-freak boss again!

Raven is pushing me too far to the edge, and sometimes I worry that if she pushes me too far, I just may have hurt her, the same way she’s hurt me!”

Raven stood where she was, her face looked frozen in one neutral expression, but her fists were clenched hard, and then her eyebrows went way down.

“I’m not cleaning this room anymore!” she hissed and left in a huff.

“Me neither.” said Cyborg as he followed her.

Robin and Starfire didn’t read anymore of the book, not wanting to see any further-- they didn’t even bothered to read the segment about Terra, or the one Beast Boy had made for himself.

“How could he say such unkind things about us?” asked Starfire.

Robin shook his head in shame, “There’s no excuse at all for thinking such things about us. He’s lucky he even has us or he’d be rotting in the street by now.”

The couple left the bedroom, no longer wishing to help Beast Boy or pretty much try to him from his grieving, not after the things they had read.

Beast Boy, not realizing the trouble coming his way, had been flying around the city to lose his woes, but this flight only made things worse for him.

Many places in the city had changed.

As well as the Video Store, the block where the new office complex was going up-- the one that cost him his favorite candy store.

Now the pizza place was closed already there were barriers around it warning people of the renovations.

The arcade was gone-- converted into a hardware store.

The skate park was now a parking lot.

The abandoned amusement park at the pier-- the place where he used to hang with his friends and where he and Terra had their first date-- instead of being fixed up and put back in business, it was cleared out and was now a shipping dock for boats.

“Ugh!” he groaned to himself “Can’t these people knock it off with all this change?! The city was fine before without them!”

Naturally, he didn’t bother to protest or voice his opinion to anyone, knowing that nobody, especially The Titans, would listen to him the way things were now. they would most likely ignore his grieving and tell him, again, to “move on” or “grow up” or treat him like dirt either way.

It was as if people had stopped caring and their only interests were money, power, and boring work that sucked all the fun out of everything!

All this change was really starting to get to him, like an old painful flame reigniting deep inside, but the worst change of all was with Terra, and how she just kicked him and demanded he stay away from her so she could live a normal life.

He sat upon a rooftop edge feeling hurt and lost inside. “Why…?” he wondered softly “Why does this stuff always happen to me?!”

More and more memories of good times, times that were no more, flashed passed him, making him feel sad and furious at the same time. What he would give now to find some way to stop these memories from tormenting him and making him feel like such a loser.

He began to sing about it in his head…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_tAJ4p1boI

As the song ended, he only felt a little better but he was still feeling really tense and filled with much anger and hate!

He even felt hot and sweaty and felt like he needed some cool air-conditioning, but he didn’t feel like going back to the tower yet.

Luckily, just below him was the museum, and while it usually wasn’t his kind of place to go, he didn’t mind this time, and thought he’d check out the new display the sword was in, just to see if it was safe.

Surely enough, inside it was cool with the A.C on, and the display was set up nicely, surrounded by a metal fence and glass walls to keep the artifacts safe.

It was a good thing there was no one else near the display at the moment, so he could have some space to think to himself.

As he stared at the sword, in his current condition like most people would, you can bet he was thinking of what it would be like to have it, or a weapon like it, to have the power or ability to get back at those who wronged you.

“Snap out of it, man.” he thought to himself “It’s not me. I can’t do it; even if I did really want to get even with them, not like that. Never like that.”

Things were soon about to get really bad, for Terra and her friends were at the museum doing research for their history class at school.

Terra look a little tired due to not sleeping well, and as she told her friends, “I’ve been having nightmares lately, every time I fall asleep.”

She didn’t bother to tell them what it was about and especially didn’t mention Beast Boy’s name, and she didn’t have to.

“You were dreaming about that kid again, weren’t you.” said Jackie. “I thought you were over him?”

“It’s just dreams. I can’t help them, and neither could you. We don’t choose what we dream after all.”

The girls were not convinced. Not only did they scoff at such ideas about dream controlling, they squarely put the blame on Beast Boy for putting these thoughts into her head.

“Even when he’s not stalking you, he gets under your skin.” said Jillian “Just let me get my hands on him and I’ll--”

“Stop it!” snapped Terra. Her voice echoed through the atrium, and whatever people were nearby turned to face her.

She felt embarrassed, and then took her friends to a side to talk privately, “Look, can we just drop this. We came to do our research.”

Her friends didn’t know why she was acting so snippy. All they were trying to do was look out for her. They also were beginning to have a sickening feeling.

“I get the feeling there’s something you’re not telling us.” said Jackie.

Jillian then felt sick to her stomach “You’re not actually into that freak, are you?”

Terra was really getting angry with all the insults and slander thrown, but she couldn’t let her friends on.

While she was trying to put her past behind her, she also was trying her best not to let anyone even guess of her history with Beast Boy, the Titans, or even let anyone know she had powers to move rocks. She felt that if people found out this about her, they’d regard her as a freak, and wouldn’t help her or be a friend to. They’d probably kick her out of school too, and there would go her normal and comfortable life.

Worse than all that, she feared that if her past with Slade were to be uncovered and all the horrible crimes she committed while working for him, she’d have to answer for them.

“Yo! Earth to Terra.” called Jackie.

She snapped out of her trance.

Jillian couldn’t tell if she was really having feelings for Beast Boy or not. She needed more evidence.

Still, the girls went off to do their research, and of all the places for them to go, they went to see the new display where Beast Boy was.

The second they stepped inside, Terra stopped dead in her tracks as did the girls.

Beast Boy then noticed the faded reflections in the glass walls making him gasp softly, he turned round, and his eyes met with Terra, wide with shock and already growing pains of seeing each other since the other day at the school.

Jackie and Jillian were furious that he was here too, and could see how upset their friend was for seeing him.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” Jackie asked with a sneer.

“Yeah! Get lost, Brat Boy!” growled Jillian.

Beast Boy didn’t even bother to respond to them, almost as if he couldn’t see or hear them. He just continued gawking at Terra, and the way he stared her deep in the eyes pierced her soul, and not in a good way.

He didn’t say anything to her though. There was nothing he wanted to say to her anyway. So he decided to just leave and began to walk for the exit behind her.

Her friends however, thought he was trying to approach her and harass her again, and blocked his way, and both stepped hard on his shoes, pinning him hard to the ground.

He groaned and wailed softly, but he didn’t dare turn into any animal and try to fight them, remembering what he had just promised, plus he didn’t want to start a fight near the displays that could get damaged.

“You keep away from her! You hear?!” threatened Jackie.

“You come near her or us again, and you’re dead, Butt-Boy!” added Jillian.

Beast Boy at least gave them both a shove, pushing them to the floor and off his feet.

“I was just leaving!” he sneered at them “And for the last time… it’s “Beast Boy!” Get it right, you morons!”

Something inside the girls snapped! Nobody called them “Moron” and they leapt up face, giving him a huge shove, while Terra watched in horrors as he crashed into the glass, actually shattering it, and knocking the sword and its pedestal over.

The alarms sounded due to the glass shattering.

The girls realized what they had done, and quickly began to run for it, grabbing Terra by the arms, and taking her with them.

Beast Boy got up rubbing his sore head, “JERKS!!” he shouted to the girls.

He felt the least he could do was pick up the sword and set it up right again.

So he reached down, and grabbed the hilt, but he suddenly began to feel very strange, as if some kind of force was enveloping him, following by the sounds of a deep. dark voice, hissing and snickering.

“Yes! The Hate, I feel it!

You will do nicely for me!”


Beast Boy let go of the sword, holding his head in extreme shock. “What in the world was that?!” he wondered.

Suddenly, he was grabbed by security, who had rushed onto the scene when the alarms sounded, and they found the display and its glass barriers broken, they automatically assumed the worst.

“Hey, it wasn’t my fault!” he tried to explain “I didn’t do this; I was pushed into the glass.”

“Save it for the jury, kid!” snapped one of the guards.

The curator then appeared, and he couldn’t believe his eyes, also believing in the worst.

“Why did you break into the display?” he angrily demanded to know.

It was in vain that Beast Boy tried to explain his innocence. “You used cheap glass, and I was pushed into it by a couple of school girls. Check your security tapes!”

“Shut up!” shouted the curator “I paid good money for that glass, and it was imported from overseas. No way it’s cheap, and why should I look at the tapes when you’ve been caught red-handed holding the merchandise!”

“I wasn’t trying to take it!” whined Beast Boy “I was trying to stand it up!” but his arguments failed to convince the curator.

He then revealed that he had already called the police and they were on their way over, but Beast Boy felt his rage rising. No way did he want to be subject to further conspiracy and mistreatment.

Suddenly, he began to feel very strange. His head ached like crazy, and he felt himself slipping away into darkness as if something was taking over.

Without even realizing, he grabbed the two guards by their arms, and in a freak moment of extreme strength, he yanked on their arms, pulling them both together so they crashed headfirst into one another, and flipped them both over and onto the curator.

As the trio of men lay on the floor, he saw his chance and fled the scene, making it outside and turned into a bird, making a perfect getaway before the place was swarmed by police cars.

Beast Boy landed on a roof to catch his breath, and his head was still aching, like waking up from being knocked unconscious.

“What happened?” he asked no one in particular “Last thing I remember, I grabbed the sword and--” and he could see were blurry flashbacks of what looked like a scrap of himself fighting with two men, but while he could hardly make things out, he decided he needed to tell the Titans about this.

He got to the tower, flying through the open windows and into the lounge where he saw the other Titans.

“Guys!” he called “Something really weird just happened…!”

He stopped when he realized none of the others looked his way, and just ignored him with grouchy expressions on their faces.

“Guys, I need to talk with you!”

Starfire spoke to Robin, “Did you hear something?”

“Nothing that I wanted to hear.” remarked Robin.

“Ditto that” added Cyborg.

Raven said nothing, and just turned a page of her book not even looking up.

“What is with everyone?” Beast Boy asked.

He walked around amongst the others, but they still paid him no mind.

“Will someone please talk to me?!”

Robin finally put down the phone, and looked at him angrily, “That was the curator of the museum. He says you caused a bit of trouble there, and now we all have to face charges because of you.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about!” wailed Beast Boy, but before he could get another word in, Starfire interrupted, “I cannot believe you would try to steal the sword from its display!”

“I didn’t try to steal it!” he snapped at her “You have no right to accuse me like this.”

Cyborg finally looked up at him and growled, “Oh? And I suppose if we keep it up you’ll WRITE about us again?!” and he held up to Beast Boy’s horror. “…My diary!”

At that point, all the Titans looked crossly at Beast Boy.

“You found and read my diary?!” he shouted “How could you! It’s supposed to be private!”

“Then perhaps you should not leave it lying around.” grumbled Starfire.

Beast Boy was feeling madder by the second, and dashed to his room to find how much different it looked-- cleaner and less cluttered.

He returned to the lounge even more furious than ever. “You went into my room, you messed it up, and you read my private diary?!”

Not one of the others showed the least of qualms.

“I can’t believe you, man.” said Cyborg “I thought we were bros, and this is how you really think of me?!”

Starfire looked a mix between angry and hurt at Beast Boy, “We give you a home, and our friendship and you do not appreciate any of it in the least bit.

You are not worthy of being my friend!”

Raven said nothing, but gave him a very furious glare, madder than any she had ever given.

“What? I’m suddenly the bad guy here?!” Beast Boy thundered. He began to make a connection that they didn’t know the whole story, of why he would write such things about them in the first place.

“…You didn’t read my section, didn’t you? Maybe if you did, you’d know that--”

“Enough!” shouted Robin “I don’t want hear another word out of you Beast Boy. As team leader, I’m officially putting you on probation. You are suspended from team activities, outings and are restricted solely to duty until further notice.”

Not that Beast Boy really cared that much anyway, he did not like the way he was being treated at all. “You can’t treat me like this; not without letting me explain myself.”

“Bottom-line, Beast Boy,” snapped Robin “We’re fed up with your sulking and acting like the world owes you, just because you can’t get over your obsession with Terra!

You need to learn to grow up!”

Finally fed up with the harshness, Beast Boy marched straight up to him looking like he was ready for a fight, and Robin stood ready to take him on, but instead all Beast Boy did was glare at him dead in the eyes and hiss ever so deeply, “Then stop holding me back like everything else!”

Robin only turned his back on Beast Boy as did the others, which prompted him to head up the stairs to adjourn to his room-- forgetting completely what he wanted to tell the others-- but he stopped a moment to punish them as Robin just punished him!

“From now on, Titans… we are just teammates! If any of you get hurt or die in battle, I don’t really care!”

Each Titan felt that sentence strike them hard, even Raven, and Beast Boy left the lounge in a huff.

As hurt as the Titans had felt, and as upset as they were that the team was having this fallout, they still remained strong to their word, and were no longer willing to put up with him until he straightened out.

All Beast Boy could do was sit in his cleared out room, slump onto his unmade mattress and feel the deep burning pain swelling up inside of him, which made his head spin like crazy.

“What’s… happening?!” he groaned. He was either so overwhelmed by the grief and falling out he just had with his so-called friends, or something was seriously wrong with him.

That same voice seemed to called to him from within his mind,

“Give in to the hate!

Let it consume you!

Embrace the power!”

Beast Boy felt so dizzy and weary he couldn’t even try to question what was wrong with him, and he fell off his mattress and onto the floor where he completely blacked out.

While in Equestria, after a long hard day of teaching about Love and Hate to her students, and spending time with her family, Twilight was once again, wide awake and trying to study that strange jewel.

“What is this thing?” she kept asking herself over and over.

Finally, she just lay it down on the desk, and stretched out yawning.

That’s when moonlight shone through the window and other the jewel, making it pulsate again.

Twilight gawked in awe at the glowing jewel, and gave it a small touch, shoving it out of the moonlight, which made it stop glowing.

She noted this, and then brought the jewel back into the light, and it was glowing again.

Twilight looked out the open window. “The moonlight…”

She could tell now that the jewel absorbed some kind of power from the light, but exactly what kind of power was still a mystery.

Suddenly, Twilight began to see something within the jewel itself; what looked like images of a city that she had never seen before.

“What is this?” she wondered, and she reached up with her hoof to softly touch the jewel.

At once, her hoof began glow and sparkle, which spread across her limb and all over her body.

“Hey!!” she cried “What’s going on?! HEY-----!!”

All at once, her body turned into a field of sparkles that disappeared into the jewel, and the jewel was knocked off the table, and out of the moonlight.

Starlight grumpily came into the study, having been awoken, yet again by Twilight’s screaming.

She was joined by Shinning Armor and Cadance.

“Twilight…!” called Starlight “Can you please keep it--” she stopped when she noticed.

“Where is she?” asked Shining Armor.

“We heard her scream from in here.” said Cadance.

Suddenly, she heard the sound of Flurry Heart crying. “Oh, dear, the baby’s up.”

Her husband sighed, and they both went off to comfort their daughter, while Starlight searched the study.

Spike was the only one who stayed in bed, and he was most annoyed by all the noise and commotion going on.

“What’s a guy got to do to get some sleep?!” he groaned, and he pulled the covers up over his head, and buried himself under his pillow.

Author's Notes:

8:51

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWP8beRD0QU&t=551s

Yep, that's how it goes. I/You "the writer of the story" controls it all (what the characters think, do, say... everything) It may seem wrong to YOU, that doesn't make it wrong IN GENERAL, and sometimes it does reflect real life because some things like this CAN/DO happen

***

-How many times has this happened in cartoons/shows (or even in real life) You read someone else's diary, and all this chaos ensues.

Sure people shouldn't go peering into other people's diaries
But then again, why keep a diary in the first place if this sort of thing ALWAYS HAPPENS?

-Has that ever happened to you before in your life? You get accused of something you didn't do, and no one will believe your innocence nor are they interested in anything that may defend you? (like how the curator behaved.)

Still, it's all part of the plot, and needs to be for things to go how I want it.

Act 4: The Hate is on

It wasn’t long after Beast Boy had stormed out and locked himself in his room.

The Titans were still furious with him, and had no intention of talking to him, looking at him, or even go near him for what he had just said.

If he wanted to act like a spoiled brat, they would just leave him too it.

Still, Starfire felt rather upset, but at what she didn’t know.

“What is happening to our team?” she wondered “It is as if the love, care, and hope we shared is no longer present.”

Robin felt the same way she did, especially when Beast Boy had shouted “we’re just teammates” at everyone.

Robin still put all the blame on Beast Boy for not getting over what happened between him and Terra-- if it even was her or not.

“I think maybe he needs professional help.” said Robin “He can’t go on like this. It’s not healthy for him, and it certainly isn’t helping us.”

Cyborg stood up, and pointed out “Need I remind you, we’ve all got another problem to worry about, because of BB’s little stunt and the museum. “

“We’ll deal with that, and Beast Boy one problem at a time.” said Robin “I’m just concerned of the endless amounts of negativity and hostility that’s going on.”

Raven then got up from the sofa, “Well, I’m going to grab a shower.”

Starfire’s features hardened. “Are you not concerned?”

“Yes, but I also stink from cleaning Beast Boy’s room, which was pointless.

I think I’ll wash my cloak too.”

Then she left leaving the others to roll their eyes at her attitude.

Raven went to her room first and removed the brooch clip from her cloak, and placed it on her bed, intending to clip it back on onto one of her spare cloaks when she returned.

Then she left to take her smelly clothes to the wash and grab her shower…

…But if she had only stayed a few more seconds…!

The moment she had left and shut the door, her brooch began to glow, and then POW…!! A sparkling beam of light shot straight out from the jewel, flew the glass of the window, heading straight for the city.

Flying over the buildings, soaring through the streets and heading straight for the city park, where it crashed into a large shrub.

Twilight began to awaken. She felt very woozy.

“What happened?” she groaned as she opened her eyes. “The last thing I remember, I was looking at that jewel and then--”

She started to feel strange, not like herself.

That’s when she looked at herself and realized she had turned human again, only not quite the kind she normally would be in the Equestria Girls’ World.

Her hands looked a little larger, and they were peach colored instead of lilac.

“What’s going on?” she cried softly, and she slowly stood up to see that she was in a lush green park, which didn’t seem to have many people in it, but just before it stood a large body of water-- the ocean, and she could see what appeared to be the same metropolis she saw within the jewel.

She also found it strange to be daytime here while it was night in Equestria.

“Where am I?” she wondered “More importantly; what do I look like?”

Luckily there was a water fountain just near where she was.

She moved over and looked down at her reflection in the water, and would have screamed at what she had become, but she was practically astonished.

She really didn’t look like she would as an Equestria Girl. She looked taller, her head was not oversized. Her hair was much longer, and still the same usual colors. She had sparkling eyeliner, ad her outfit was almost breath taking.

She wore a white T-shirt, which had a picture of her cutiemark on the chest, with a lilac jacket and matching shorts and long boots.

“…Incredible.” she remarked. She then looked up and figured, “I must’ve entered another world.

That jewel, it must’ve been some sort of portal key empowered by the moonlight.”

That still didn’t explain where exactly she was, or how she was going to get back to Equestria.

Without her horn and her wings, she had no choice but to pick up her feet and start walking around. Thankfully she already had some experiences as a humanoid and she didn’t fall all over herself.

One guy came walking along, and he looked in a sour mood, but she kindly approached him.

“Excuse me, can you please tell me--”

“…Buzz off, kid!” the guy snapped and walked off.

Twilight thought that very rude of him.

Then she saw a couple of teenage girls who were laughing and talking, and she questioned them, “Excuse me, but could either of you tell me what place this is?”

The girls only laughed at her like she was some kind of idiot, and one of them even said “…Is she for real?”

An elderly man came by, and before Twilight could even get a word in, he told her bluntly to “Buzz off!”

“What’s with this place?” Twilight wondered “I’m only here a few minutes and I’m not sure I like it. Everyone seems so rude or grumpy.”

She thought maybe she’d walk around a bit, leave the park, and figure out where she was that way.

As she walked along, she sang an old song in her mind she sang once before, about being in a strange new world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlAaylpfl7I

As she went along, it sure felt strange being in a big place like this.

She also saw more and more people being rather discourteous and there was hardly as much friendship going around.

She came to a shopping mall with a big banner that read “JUMP CITY GALLERIA”

At least she knew now the name of the city she was in, but still no clues of how to get back to Equestria.

Still, she didn’t think it too much to not have a look around the mall, and look at so many strange new things, but no matter what strange and odd things she saw, people were being ruder, meaner, and making her dislike the place more and more.

Finally she was pushed over the edge when she saw two mean boys pushing a nerdy kid around and she decided to intervene.

“Hey, why are you pushing him like that?”

The boys took one look at her and how pretty she looked, especially when she flicked her hair angrily.

They instantly began to drool, and then one of them tried to court her.

“Hey, let me buy you a milkshake, hottie.”

Twilight felt repulsed, and before she could protest, the other bully approached his friend.

“Hey, hands off! She’s mine.”

“Uh, I know she’s “Mine!” retorted the other bully, and soon the two got into a bit of a disturbance brawl, which alerted mall security.

The guard asked the two boys to leave the mall, in a stern voice.

“Thank you for that.” said Twilight, but the guard only gave her a sour glare, “Don’t mention it… ever.” Then he walked off leaving Twilight feeling angrier than ever.

“Thank you,” the nerdy kid said “…For getting those guys off my back.”

Twilight blinked once, and then smiled at the kid. At least someone was being kind.

Suddenly, she noticed a whole bunch of people crowding near an electronics store that had many televisions in the windows showing the evening news.

Even though she was forced to stay in back of the line, she could see and hear.

The news reported the trouble at the museum too, and the curator was still being just as brash and as unfair as ever, and the first image shown was that of the Teen Titans.

The reporter announced, “The Teen Titans are being threatened with lawsuit after the museum curator had caught of their members allegedly attempt to steal a priceless weapon that was on display.”

“Teen Titans?” muttered Twilight, and then she saw the brooch clip on one of the member’s-- Raven’s-- outfits.

“…That’s the jewel!”

The news then switched to a live report at the museum where a lady was interviewing the curator.

“You’re certain it was Beast Boy of the Teen Titans that tried to steal the artifacts?” asked the reporter.

“Positive.” replied the curator “Caught the kid red-handed trying to steal the sword after the display case was broken.”

Even the reporter proved herself to be an unscrupulous lady, who jumped the gun and didn’t even bother to question about watching the security tapes herself.

Twilight wasn’t sure of what to make of this report, but still, seeing the images of the brooch made her realize who she had to find now if she was to get back to Equestria.

She asked the kid who was standing next to her, the one she had helped, “Where can I find these, “Teen Titans” was it?”

The kid looked at her as if she had asked a stupid question, but he politely answered, “They live in the big T across the water. You can’t miss it, but I don’t think I’d go talking to them right now if I were you.”

The kid then left, but Twilight remained undeterred, and she began to head for the exit.

As soon as she left, the people watching the report were starting to think badly of Beast Boy and slander him.

“Always knew that kid was no good.”

“He sides with the Teen Titans just to cover up his stupidity.”

“I bet all those Titans are hardened criminals deep down.”

This was starting to sound like quite the conspiracy, and yet it seemed to amuse and delight the townspeople, but there was at least one person who shocked and appalled by all this…!

Terra and her friends saw the news while hanging at the mall in the same crowd.

Jackie and Jillian were having a ball with themselves.

“Up high!” cheered Jackie and she and Jillian slapped high fives.

“Guess we showed that kid what happens when you mess with us.” said Jillian.

Terra felt extreme guilt for Beast Boy, and now the other Titans were going to be in trouble for it too.

She clenched her fists tightly and knew what she had to do.

She began to walk off.

“Where are you going?” asked Jackie.

She didn’t want to let her friends know, considering things. “I have something I need to do.”

Then she quickly headed off street before her friends could question her. They were most confused.

Terra ran out of the mall and to a corner siding where she found an empty telephone booth.

She caught her breath and popped inside, planning to phone the police and testify, as a witness, they view the security footage which would prove Beast Boy’s innocence.

Just as she was about to take the receiver off the hook, she stopped, and her arm trembled softly.

“What am I doing?” she thought to herself. “If I do this, I’ll be ratting out Jackie and Jillian. If the police find out who I am, the media might swarm all over me, and I’d have to admit I did it, and worse than that, the other Titans may see me on TV.

They might try to pressure me into coming back with them.”

The more she thought about it, the more it seemed as she was putting much at risk, and she really didn’t feel like going through all that again-- what she went through with Beast Boy.

“Beast Boy…!” she thought sadly.

She thought of all the trouble and shame he was in because of what her friends did.

That scene from the museum had been haunting her all day-- when her friends roughly pushed him into the display glass.

“Beast Boy’s in trouble again all because of me, and these are the reasons I tried to stay out of his life.”

Her guilty conscience began to flash more painful memories of her past-- betraying Beast Boy, fighting him and all that.

A tear of shame fell out of her eye, but this still didn’t solve her fix now. Either way-- whether she made the call or not-- she felt she’d only be causing more stress and more pain.

She stood up straight, and instead of making the call, she reached into her book bag and pulled out a pen and a pad of paper and began to write a small note.

Meanwhile, Twilight could see Titan’s Tower from where she stood, far, far away on that tiny island over the water.

“Great,” she grumbled “How am I going to get that far? I have to walk all the way, and then I have to get across the water.

Oh, if only I had my wings or my magic!”

She suddenly began to feel extremely tired, and let out a huge yawn.

In all of her wandering and exploring, she had forgotten about the time differences. It was almost dark here, which obviously meant that it was almost daylight in Equestria, and she had been awake all night studying the jewel and never once went to bed.

“Stay focussed!” she said to herself. “I’ve got to at least try to meet with those guys.”

She then noticed cabs and busses going by in the street and hope began to shine, only for her to remember from her experiences as human that she had no money to make it.

She groaned and hung her head low, and then her luck began to turn again, because right there by her feet on the ground lay a bus token, which she learned about in her adventures.

She was really starting to feel strange. “Luck seems to go in weird ways here.”

That’s when the bus came along, and she hopped inside.

It was dark by the time the bus got to where she asked to be let off, by a stop near a set of docks by the water.

Now she could see the tower… several miles out.

“Now how am I going to get across?” she wondered.

Then she yawned. She never felt so tired before, and she didn’t feel she could fight it much longer.

Still she felt she had come too close to quit now, and she didn’t really have anyplace else to stay in an unfamiliar town where she wasn’t known and had no money.

She was about to get a stroke of luck again, because there, attached to one of the docks was a simple rowboat with oars.

Much as Twilight wasn’t the kind to steal from other people, she was desperate.

“I’ll just borrow it and return it later.”

She untied the boat, hopped in and began to row, but every stroke felt like a real push to her due to her increasing weariness, and worse, the water didn’t feel very calm tonight and was ebbing and pushing against her hard, rocking the boat about.

“Whoa! I don’t think this was such a good idea now!” cried Twilight.

She fought the currents with all she had, but in the end, her weariness got to her and she passed out and her boat began to drift further away.

Once again, her luck pulled through and she ended up crashing right on the island itself, but she remained passed out.

Up in the lounge, a silent alarm went off, and just as the Titans were preparing to head to bed for the night.

“Barrier Breech Alert!” cried Robin. “Someone’s trespassing on the island!”

Cyborg was at the window and urged the others to huddle over.

“Look down there.”

The all could see the boat, and Cyborg used his telescopic eye to zoom in and see a girl passed out.

“Oh, how terrible!” cried Starfire “Whatever would she be doing boating in the hours of darkness?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” said Robin. “Starfire, get down there and bring her inside.”

She agreed, and flew out the open window, returning with the unconscious girl.

“Is she alright?” asked Raven.

Cyborg scanned her with his wrist-com, “She’s fine. She’s just really sleeping. According to these readings, she’s been wide-awake for over twenty-four hours.”

Robin thought that odd. “We need to find out what she’s doing here. She could be an enemy spy.”

The others agreed, and then Starfire noticed, “What about Beast Boy? Should he not be here to see this?”

“Oh, right, I forgot about him.”

“Yes, isn’t it amazing,” Raven teased “…Being able to actually forget about him.”

Everyone else ignored her, but decided to leave Beast Boy be for a while, after what happened that day, and concentrated more on the girl.

Meanwhile, the museum was being locked up for the night.

Terra knew the curator hadn’t gone home yet as his car was still in the parking lot, and he always stayed late after closing to catch up on a little paperwork.

She kept hidden behind the large stone fence and the shrubbery in the yard and slunk round to the back of the building where no one would see her for what she needed to do.

She took in a deep breath and looked down at her hands. “It’s been a while,” she said to herself. “I was hoping I’d never have to do this again.”

She reached down to the ground and grabbed a solid clump of dirt. Then, she attached the note she had written to the rock with an elastic-band.

She then concentrated hard, and all at once, her eyes and her hand began to glow, and the rock slowly rose up. It was a little shaky as she hadn’t used her powers for a while, but she managed to guide the rock clear across to the curator’s car and placing directly in front of the windshield where he would be sure to see it when he left for home.

Terra hoped she had done the right thing, and then she left.

Beast Boy had been lying on the floor of his room ever since he had passed out.

Suddenly, something inside him pulsated like a single beat of a heart, and his eyes snapped wide open.

He slowly got to his feet breathing softly but fiercely.

He flexed his fingers, cracking his knuckles under his gloves. His eyes glowed a shade of yellow, and that voice called to him in the darkness.

“Go… Take what is rightfully ours.”

Beast Boy could barely even hear his own inner-voice.

“What’s happening?

I feel… weird.

Where am I going?”

He suddenly felt himself leaping out the window and flying, as a bird, towards the city.

That evil voice snickered from within, “It’s time that I took back what was once taken from me.”

At the museum, the curator was fuming angrily; to no one in particular, because it turned out the glass surrounding the display was not the specially reinforced item he had ordered due to a mix up in shipping. He was accidently shipped a wall of ordinary window glass intended to go into a building being constructed.

“I pay good money and get sent cheapo glass?!” he growled “And now the museums reputation is sullied.

I swear, that kid and those Titans-- I’m going to sue them for every penny they’re worth!”

He suddenly realized how late it was, and decided to head home and start working on a case in the morning.

He called to the night security and bid them goodnight before locking up his office, and began to dash out of the museum, running past the display from earlier…

…and not noticing that the sword was now gone; removed from the pedestal!

The curator dashed to his car outside in the dark and lonely parking lot, but he stopped a moment when he noticed a rock with a paper wrapped around it sitting on the windshield.

“What’s this?”

He read the not under his breath…

While the curator stood where he was pondering who sent him the note and wondering if he should really do as it said…

…Someone stood behind him in the shadows.

The curator suddenly felt a chill run through him, and he was suddenly grabbed from behind.

“You?!” he cried, and he began to scream as he saw what was coming next. “No…!! …NO!!”

He screamed bloody murder as a load of blood gushed up and all over.

There his corpse lay, on the ground. His blood gushing across the pavement, splattered all over his car, while the figure stood holding what was defiantly a sword, and its blade was dripping with obvious blood from the slaughter.

The stranger snickered evilly, and stepped out of the shadows, revealing himself as Beast Boy, and holding the sword.

He stroked the flat part of the blade as if it were some kind of pet, “I have returned, and it feels wonderful to be back in the game.”

He looked down pitifully at the body of his victim.

“This is only the beginning. I will build, I will grow, I will conquer this world, and purge it of all love, and friendship there is as hatred will rise!

The world will heed my warning.

…The hate is on!”

He began to laugh loud and nastily, yet no one even remotely near or passing by seemed to take any notice as if they couldn’t even hear him.

Act 5: Frustrations

Completely unaware of the events that had just happened at the museum, the Titans lay their guest on the sofa, and Raven prepared a cold, damp wash cloth to softly dab the girl with.

Twilight began to awaken, but she still felt really woozy as she looked up and all around her at the strange people looking at her.

“Where am I? What happened?”

Robin answered her softly, “We found you passed out in your rowboat, and we brought you here for safety.”

Twilight then sat upright and remembered trying to row to the island.

“Is this, Titan’s Tower?” she asked “And you’re the “Teen Titans?”

The Titans all exchanged looks of confusion, or pride, but Robin answered “Yes. I’m Robin.”

“I’m Cyborg.”

“…Raven.”

Starfire, being her usual self, approached the girl spouting off, “Hello, I am Starfire.

Who are you?

What is your name?

Are you lost?

Are you alone?

Do you need a friend?

Would you be my friend?”

Twilight felt a bit freaked out by her coming onto her like this, it reminded her so much of Pinkie Pie.

Robin calmed Starfire down an addressed the girl. “We need to know who you are and what you were doing out there on the water at this time of night.”

Raven stepped close to keep psychic contact with Twilight in case she tried to fib her way out of things. So far, she couldn’t sense any ill-intentions.

Twilight sat properly on the sofa and hesitated a moment, “I don’t know if you’re really going to believe any of this, so I’ll try as best I can to explain.”

“We’re listening…” said Cyborg.

Twilight spoke calmly and carefully as she promised…

“My name is Twilight Sparkle. I’m not really a human creature, but a My Little Pony, and I come from a world called “Equestria.” I came here to this world by mistake, and that’s why I came here seeking all of you, because you can help me get back home.”

Just those few words left the Titans astounded, Twilight expected they would and suspected they wouldn’t believe her.

Cyborg scanned her with his wrist-com, and his polygraph readings showed she wasn’t lying, and Raven still couldn’t’ sense any other ill-intentions within.

Still, the Titans could not be fully sure.

“I can prove it.” said Twilight, and she stood before Raven and motioned at her brooch clip, “May I have that please?”

Raven blinked in confusion “What for? It’s just a simple clip I use.”

Twilight insisted, and Raven gave her it to her.

Twilight then told all the Titans to look deeply into the jewel.

The Titans huddled around, and surely enough they could see images of Equestria within the jewel, fully-proving Twilight’s story.

“Incredible!” said Robin.

“It is beyond incredible!” added Starfire.

Raven was beyond words, she never knew her brooch had power like this, especially when Twilight explained about the jewel in her world, the one that was responsible for her being here.

“Wait a minute…” Raven said “I remember during my studies and training in Azarath…”

Her mind flashed back to her childhood and studying ancient artifacts and magical items. One of which was that of a special jewel that was forged thousands of years ago.

“This jewel was enchanted with great power.” Raven explained “It could separate into two equal halves, and when given enough power in the light of a full moon, it could teleport its user to the world in where the other jewel lay.”

Cyborg gawked at Raven’s brooch, “So, it’s like a two-way tunnel that connects our world to Twilight’s world.”

Twilight agreed, but she was surprised to learn all this herself.

She then asked Raven,

“But how did you get half of jewel, and the other half found its way into Equestria?”

Raven had not a clue and could only guess, “I just found the brooch one day, and even in the light of the full moon it never glowed at all.”

Twilight figured it was because of the recent unearthing of the half jewel in her world, “Maybe both the jewels have to be exposed in moonlight, but the half that I have was buried so long…”

She stopped and then said “…The point is, this is my ticket home, and I can’t thank you all enough for this. So I’ll be going now.”

“But wait!” cried Starfire “You cannot simply just leave. There is so much we wish to know about you and your world.”

“Yeah, I mean, what’s it like there?” asked Cyborg “Are there more like you? What kind of powers do you have?”

Even Robin was curious about all this stuff and he couldn’t resist asking, “Maybe… we could go with you? Now that we know how to get there and how to get back, it shouldn’t be too much to ask.”

The more Twilight thought of this, the more she began to share their thoughts. After all, she had just discovered a whole new world, and all of Equestria would want to know about it.

The discoveries, the fascinations, the stories…

She would go down in history as a great pony adventurer.

“Yes!” she decided “I don’t think it would be too much for you to come and visit.”

Starfire leapt with excitement and glee. “I cannot wait to meet all the strange and wonderful creatures, and make new friends as well.”

“Hold it!” Raven said “Um… I hate to spoil everyone’s joy but, doesn’t that thing need moonlight to work?”

Everyone realized, and looked out at the moonless sky.

Cyborg checked his wrist-com, “Ah, man! The next full moon isn’t for several days.”

Everyone looked dismayed, especially Twilight. She was stuck here for now.

Her stomach then rumbled, “Sorry. Right now it would be breakfast time in my world.”

Cyborg offered to fic her up something, and Twilight soon had a little snack feeling better, but she was still very sleepy from being up so long.

The Titans were all feeling tired too.

“I think we should all just go to bed, and figure this out in the morning.” Robin suggested, and he looked at Twilight “You’re more than welcome to stay with us.”

Twilight smiled warmly. It felt so nice to being treated nicely after all the rudeness and bad attitudes she had faced earlier.

“Thank you.”

The Titans all smiled at her.

Then they all adjourned off to bed, escorting Twilight down the hall to the only available room they could give her-- Terra’s old room, which they had kept dusted and made available for guests due to Terra never returning.

“This is our guest room.” said Robin “I hope you’ll be comfortable here…” but when he turned back to face Twilight he saw that she had already fallen onto the bed and was snoring softly as she slept.

Raven used her powers to softly lift Twilight up, and tuck her properly into the bed.

“You know,” whispered Cyborg “I think I’m going to like this little lady.”

The others all agreed, and then they all headed off to bed themselves.

“Wait!” Starfire said, stopping everyone, “We have still forgotten of Beast Boy. Surely he will want to know of all this.”

Everyone looked in the direction of Beast Boy’s room down the hall, and though no one had seen him all day, they figured he was probably fast asleep and decided to introduce him to Twilight in the morning.

“Night all.” said Cyborg, and he and his teammates headed off to bed.

Meanwhile, it was getting around mid-morning in Equestria, and Starlight had canceled all classes at the school for good reason.

After searching and searching, Twilight was nowhere to be found and Starlight called all the other ponies-- writing letters to them summoning them all to the castle.

Discord was invited as well, and he came treading into the room wearing a towel and a bathing cap groaning, “Sheesh, it’s getting so a guy can’t even get himself wet around here.”

Fluttershy gave him a stern look. “Twilight’s missing. Shouldn’t you at least show some concern?”

He sighed and put on a mock-sad face, “Oh, how terrible. Twilight’s gone missing overnight. The world is coming to an end.”

The others all rolled their eyes at him and then turned to Starlight.

“I’ve written to Princess Celestia. She must know of our situation, but I think it would be best if we tell no-pony else.”

Rarity shuddered “I can’t begin to think of the panic that will ensue when the public finds out.”

Twilight’s relatives were very concerned. They just couldn’t go back to the Crystal Empire knowing she was missing, especially not her brother.

“It’s not like her to just run off like that.” said Shining Armor “You don’t think maybe she was kidnapped, do you?”

“No way!” snapped Rainbow “Twilight would be able to handle any kidnappers.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself.” said Applejack “I’m not saying Twilight’s no good and all, but what if there was something else involved, something really powerful that we don’t know of?”

Pinkie looked up and down and all around, “I don’t see anything, and nothing suspicious has been around lately.”

Spike groaned in dismay. “Look, this isn’t getting us anywhere. We have to find out what happened to Twilight.”

Discord then donned a detective uniform and smoked a pipe while saying in an English accent, “I say, let us visit the scene of the crime.”

Everyone blinked at him awkwardly.

“There is no crime.” said Cadance.

Discord shrugged, “Whatever, let’s just look.”

Everyone adjourned to the study where Twilight was last seen the other night.

The place was still a mess from Twilight’s constant studying.

“Oh, my!” said Fluttershy “Twilight must’ve been studying extra hard these past few days.”

Still, there was no way of knowing what happened to Twilight.

“Hmm…” said Discord “The window is open. Perhaps Twilight decided she just needed some time to herself, and left in the night to go on a quest of self-discovery!”

None of the others seemed to buy it.

“Just a thought.” said Discord.

Rarity then noticed the jewel Twilight had been observing, on the floor under the table.

She levitated it up with her magic and, once again, ogled at how lovely her reflection looked in it.

“Rarity!” snapped Applejack.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I can’t help myself. How can I when--” she stopped when she noticed images forming in the jewel “…What in the world?”

Starlight walked over. “What is it? What are you looking at?” then she could see the images of Jump City in the jewel itself. “Wow!”

All the ponies huddled around and Pinkie kept leaping up and over her friends trying to get a better view.

“Whoa, this is getting way freaky!” said Rainbow.

“It looks like a whole other dimension.” added Cadance.

“Well, well,” said Discord “Looks like that mystery is solved. This thingy is obviously some sort of inter-dimensional transport doohickey that transports creatures to and from the world viewed inside.”

Everyone gawked up at him.

“What? Can you word it any better?”

The others all sighed, but they were relieved that they at least had some answers.

“Now that we know what happened to Twilight,” said Spike “How do we get her back? How does this thing even work?”

Fluttershy asked Discord, “Can’t you do anything?”

“Whoa-ho-hoa! easy there. No can do.” replied Discord “Bending reality is one thing, but messing with interdimensional warps, especially ones I know nothing about, that could be dangerous, and I don’t just mean a simple oppsie. I mean that one false move and I could possibly collapse the entire space-time continuum, which would in term… wipe out all existence in all worlds as we know it.”

He took in a huge breath after saying all that. “Well, that took a lot out of me. I could go use some tea.” and right there, he poofed a steaming hot cup of tea out of thin air and sipped, “Ahh! Delightful.”

Pinkie took the jewel and shook it about, and then shouted at it, “HEY YOU!! SHOW US HOW YOU WORK ALREADY!! WE WANT OUR FRIEND BACK!!”

All she managed to do was make Flurry Heart cry, much to the annoyance of her parents.

“Come on, let’s put her down in the bedroom.” suggested Shining Armor.

Starlight quickly wrote another letter to Princess Celestia, and suggested that she come to the castle at once to help unlock this mystery.

She gave the letter to Spike and he sent it on its way.

“What do we do now?” he asked.

Starlight levitated the jewel away from Pinkie. “Right now, we may as well continue trying to figure out how this works. I know Twilight would try if it was one of us.”

All the friends agreed, and even Discord, but he sighed, “It’s going to be a long day.”

All day long the gang tried everything.

-Rubbing the jewel.
-Blowing on it.
-Clasping it tightly and thinking hard of wanting to be teleported.
-Making a simple wish.

Pinkie tried saying “Open Portal-Thingy.” But that didn’t work either. “It was worth a try.”

The day seemed to pass by before any of them new it, which meant that daybreak was just coming in Jump City.

Beast Boy awoke to find himself still lying on the floor of his room, and his head was pounding.

“Oh!” he groaned as he slowly got up. He remembered seeing a whole bunch of awful sights, like breaking into the museum, pulling the sword from its pedestal, murdering the curator, and an evil voice calling to him.

Since he woke up in his room, he merely dismissed it all. “What a nightmare!”

He felt his face, and even with his gloves on, he felt dry and shriveled. He needed to look in a mirror right away.

Sadly, after he left his room, he could see down the hall, the bathroom door was shut and he could hear the shower running and whistling coming from inside, meaning it was occupied.

Beast Boy knew one other place where he could find a mirror-- Terra’s old room.

He just waltzed right in, and immediately just looking around the barley lit room made his sadness catch up with him, thinking of her and how she was never coming back.

Maybe this was a bad idea coming in here, but he still needed to look at himself.

There on the coffee table sat the heart-shaped mirror box, still where it was since it was last touched-- when he tried to help Terra remember who she was, or rather convince her to stop trying to forget it all.

He sighed, and sat down on the sofa as he took the box and opened it.

One look at his reflection showed he was physically fine, but he still looked terrible-- a miserable pile of pathetic worthlessness.

He hadn’t forgotten how badly his former friends had acted towards him, and after the fight they had last night, he was determined to follow up on the decision he had written in his diary.

Suddenly, he looked at his reflection, and it seemed to instantly change into an evil expression as his eyes glowed in the mirror.

He could even hear the faint sounds of evil snickering like before in his dream… if it was a dream!

He quickly closed the box up and felt his aching head.

“What’s happening to me?” he wondered.

He was snapped out of his trance by the soft sounds of stirring coming from over by the bed.

From far in the shadows, he could see plainly someone was defiantly under the covers of Terra’s bed.

Rather than go closer to the bed and see who it was-- he knew better than to do such a thing-- he crept over to the curtains, and swiftly swung them wide open letting the morning sunlight in.

The girl in bed leapt up in fright, which made Beast Boy leap in fright.

Back and forth, they yelped and screamed in shock.

Finally, the other Titans came rushing down, even Robin, wearing his bathrobe.

“Beast Boy, what are you doing in here?”

“What am I doing here?” snapped Beast Boy “Who the heck is she and what is SHE doing here in Terra’s room?!”

Starfire assured him “There is no need for the panicking.” and she hovered over to the bed. “This is Twilight Sparkle, our new friend, and is staying for us for the while.

Twilight this is friend Beast Boy.”

Still recovering from her shock, “Pleasure…” Twilight groaned.

“Likewise.” agreed Beast Boy.

Robin still wanted to know what possessed Beast Boy to just barge into the room like that, despite that he didn’t know Twilight was there.

“I needed a mirror, and the bathroom was occupied. You do the math. Besides that, why did you guys agree to give some stranger Terra’s room?”

“Yo, man. Chill out.” said Cyborg, and he and the others explained Twilight’s story.

“Uh… ooooookaaaay.” he remarked “So you’re some magical horse from a magical horse-dimension and you can’t get back until the next full moon.”

“That’s about it… except I’m a pony, not a horse.” replied Twilight.

Beast Boy said nothing after that.

Cyborg then called to everyone, “Okay, y’all, why don’t we all just go have breakfast. I’m craving waffles.”

“Oh, joy… waffles.” Raven sarcastically remarked.

“Alright!” cheered Robin.

“How delightful.” added Starfire, but Beast Boy didn’t seem the least bit interested, which the others seemed to notice.

The Titans took no notice of his attitude, not wanting to cause trouble in front of their houseguest, and headed off for the lounge.

As soon as they were out of sight, Beast Boy sourly left the room, walking past Twilight on his way out.

Twilight began to feel there was some bad tension happening between the others and Beast Boy.

At the table, Robin checked the daily paper of the robbery and murder last night!

“The museum curator was allegedly murdered and a sword had been reported stolen.”

The others all gawked at him as he continued to read the headline.

“Security at the National History Museum were shocked this morning to discover one of their newest artifacts had been reported missing from its display, yet security knows no one entered and after watching security footage, report the weapon allegedly vanished into thin air without any means of being moved.

What was even more shocked was the museum curator was found brutally slaughtered in the parking lot of the museum, but there was no sign of the assassin who did the job.

Strangely, however, shortly after being discovered, the body of the curator seemed to vanish into thin air without a trace, though his blood remained stained all over the parking lot.”

The gang all felt sick to their stomachs, and Raven softly pushed her plate away. “Well, that’s breakfast over with.”

“That’s horrible!” said Twilight “Who would want to kill the manager of museum?”

The Titans didn’t know, but they felt horrible that such a thing happened.

“There’s more.” said Robin, and he read the next story.

“In relation to the murder, the police discovered an anonymous not the curator held telling him to watch the security footage in view of the changes against the Teen Titans.

When the police viewed the footage it turned out that Beast Boy was proven innocent for the alleged crime, and that he was pushed into the display case by two school girls from Murakami High School.

The Teen Titans are hereby cleared of all charges waged against them.”

Twilight was still confused, but the Titans all looked upset with themselves, and looked over at Beast Boy who was eating all by himself at the sofa, as far away from the gang as he could be.

Starfire got up from the table and hovered over to him hoping to warm up to him. “Beast Boy, have you heard? You are proven innocent.”

He paid her no mind and didn’t even look at her.

“We are ever so sorry for having misjudged you.”

He still did not respond, and instead put down his empty plate and headed for the window.

“Where are you going?” asked Cyborg.

Beast Boy turned and sneered at him, “…Out. Is that okay with you?!”

Cyborg’s features hardened, and Raven snuffed and held her book up over her face so as not to look at him.

Robin stood, and though he not pleased with Beast Boy’s behaviour, especially in front of their guest, after what he had just read in the paper, “Beast Boy, I think we should all sit down and talk about this.”

Beast Boy just scoffed. “Why don’t you just read my diary again, then you’ll get a clearer picture.”

Robin felt offended, but Beast Boy left before he could say another word.

Twilight felt she had seen enough and had to ask, “Is there something going on between you and him?”

Robin sighed, “We’re just, sort of, you know, having a few disagreements or two. Beast Boy’s going through hard times.”

“That’s no reason for him to take it out on us.” grumbled Raven.

Starfire then brought up, “We did read his diary, which was horrible enough.”

“Yeah, and he said all those bad things about us.” added Cyborg “And after all we’ve done for him all this time.”

Now Twilight really didn’t need to hear anymore. This was a definite friendship crisis at the highest degree if ever she saw it.

She slammed her hand on the table getting everyone’s attention. “…I’m going to help you all.” she declared.

The Titans all gawked at her and blinked in confusion.

“Uh, that’s okay,” Robin said “We’re thinking of getting a professional to help us with this problem.”

Twilight insisted, “Oh, but I am professional.” and she told them all about her status back in Equestria.

“You are a Princess?” squealed Starfire “I, too, am I princess.”

“Well, what do you know? We’re entertaining royalty.” chuckled Cyborg.

Twilight giggled and blushed, “I’m not that kind of political princess. I don’t make laws; I don’t collect taxes or that sort of thing, but am an authority of the Power of Friendship, and part of my duty is sort friendship problems…” she paused “…Which, I’ve noticed, there seem to be much of around this city.”

She reflected upon all the people she ran into the other day, and how they were all so rude and uncouth to her.

“In Equestria, Friendship rules. You can’t turn anywhere without seeing loads of it being spread all over, but here… I’ve hardly seen any of it at all.”

Robin didn’t want to sound offensive, but he informed her, “This is a different world than what we’re used to. Not everyone seems to believe in friendship in this world.”

Cyborg nodded, “If anything a lot more people here believe that power and wealth is the way to go. Believe me; I’ve seen my share of some snobs.”

“And we were all being threatened with lawsuit,” said Raven “…For something Beast Boy didn’t do, and nobody bothered to investigate properly.”

Twilight felt sick to her stomach, but she was now more than convinced that this world was in need of an improvement in friendship, and she was planning to start with the Titans and Beast Boy.

“It’s no big deal, Twilight,” said Robin “You don’t have to do this, and we couldn’t ask you to get involved.”

“You don’t have to ask me. I want to do this, and besides… I can’t go home for a while yet, and I might as well make the most of things while I’m here.

It’s also the least I can do for you guys taking me in like this, and that’s what friends do: help one another.”

The Titans all pondered about it, and felt they had nothing to lose by trying.

Twilight smiled… until she spotted the picture on the newspaper of the sword that was stolen from the museum, and she recognized the fire emblem on the sword, which matched the emblem on her book back home.

“Is it possible?” she wondered.

“You okay?” asked Cyborg.

Twilight shrugged the thought off, figuring it was just an artwork coincidence.

“It’s nothing… I hope.”

Meanwhile, it was well after sundown in Equestria, and Twilight’s were simply frustrated after all their failed attempts to unlock the jewel’s power.

“This isn’t getting us anywhere.” groaned Applejack.

“I know, frustrating isn’t it?” said Discord.

Rainbow fluttered up at him sneering, “What are you talking about? I didn’t see you do much to help out!”

“Not true! I’ve been thinking of ways, but they all just don’t work out.”

Fluttershy stepped in. “Stop this, both of you!” then she looked up at Discord “I’m sorry, but Rainbow is right. You could make a suggestion or something.”

Discord scoffed, “Well, I know when I’m not wanted. Call me when you all actually have a proper idea.”

Then he vanished.

“Oh, Discord, wait!” called Fluttershy.

“Ah, let him go.” said Rainbow “We don’t need him to figure this out.”

“…I wouldn’t say that exactly.” said a familiar voice, and in a bright flash of light, Princess Celestia appeared with Princess Luna as well.

Everyone was delighted to see them both, especially Cadance and Shining Armor.

“Thank goodness you’re both here.” said Starlight. She explained the situation about the jewel, “We can’t seem to get it to work. We were hoping you could help us.”

Celestia looked a bit regretful, “I’m afraid there isn’t much more than we can do ourselves. We hardly know anything about this strange object either. That’s why we sent it here in the first place.”

The gang all looked downhearted. The situation was starting to look more hopeless than ever.

“But we can help you,” said Luna “If Princess Twilight Sparkle is to be returned to us from the other dimension, we must do all that we can.”

Her sister agreed. “Now, can you tell us everything again, from the beginning?”

Starlight explained, how Twilight was in the study with the jewel, “…We heard her screaming, and then we came over we saw she was gone, and the jewel was on the floor, but we didn’t notice that until this morning.”

The sisters pondered deeply and then asked to see the study themselves.

They were nearly shocked by the state of mess the place was in, “That’s Twilight,” said Celestia “I always did admire her hard concentration.”

Rarity showed the sisters where she found the jewel under the table.

“The jewel was always kept right here on table itself.” said Starlight.

The sisters observed the jewel, placing it directly on the table. Cadance put Flurry Heart in her buggy on the table too to observe the jewel with her aunts, and they all admired the images of Jump City within the jewel, but the sisters still had not a clue of what empowered it.

“And you say that ordinary magic didn’t do it?” asked Celestia.

The others all confirmed.

“We’ve tried everything.” said Spike “And worse, even if we do get it working, how can we be sure we can get Twilight back?”

Starlight’s eyes widened, “We didn’t think of that.”

Everyone began to contemplate the seriousness involved, and Luna then noticed through the open window, outside it was getting pretty dark.

“Excuse me a moment. I must raise the moon.”

So she flew out the window and up into the sky. Using her powers, she raised a full moon into its starting point.

At the same time, the light shone straight through the open window, and right onto the jewel, which made it begin to pulsate again.

“Look!” cried Pinkie.

Everyone gawked in awe at the jewel, and Flurry began to playful reach for it from her buggy.

“Flurry…!” Cadance rushed over and grabbed her daughter off the table, knocking the jewel to the floor and out of the moonlight, causing it to cease glowing.

Everyone gawked at the jewel on the floor.

“You all saw that, didn’t you?” asked Starlight.

Everyone nodded.

Spike approached the jewel intending to grab it, but Celestia levitated him up. “No, Spike. You mustn’t touch it.”

Spike gasped softly.

Celestia then wondered, and levitated the jewel back onto the table where it was, in the moonlight, and the jewel began to glow again.

“How astounding!” cried Rarity.

Princess Luna returned just in time to see the commotion and remarked, “My heavens…!”

“It’s the moonlight.” chirped Pinkie.

Everyone began to happen upon the same thought of how Twilight must’ve discovered the jewel’s power and how she was transported to the other world.

“Now that we know all this,” said Rainbow “Let’s go get Twilight back.”

“I’m all for that.” agreed Applejack.

All the others agreed, except for Starlight who seemed skeptical.

“No.” Celestia said bluntly “I cannot allow that, not just yet, or have you all forgotten about what we have theorized?”

“She’s right.” agreed Starlight “We now know that we CAN teleport to this other world, but we still don’t know if it’s possible to make a return trip.

And even still, we don’t know what that world is like. How do we know what we’ll find? How do we know if we can survive?”

Much as the others all understand that, Spike was still protested. “Well, what about Twilight? Imagine what she could be going through? She’s lost in that world, and she could be in trouble too.”

This greatly disturbed Shining Armor, and while he knew his sister was brave and strong, he still wished he could at least know if she was okay.

His wife touched his limb giving the expression that she felt the same way.

“I understand how you all must feel.” said Celestia “I myself feel no different, but you must understand that I am not willing to take such a risk until we know more.

That is why I am taking this jewel back to Canterlot, so that we may observe it more and try to find more answers, as well as to keep it safe.

Meanwhile, I ask that you all keep this to yourselves. We must not alert the public of Twilight’s mishap.”

Rarity bowed and declared, “Indeed your majesty. Why if the public hears of this, there would be panic and worry and… and… and…!!”

Applejack caught her, “Rarity breathe!”

Rarity calmed down.

The sisters then bid their farewells and vanished in bright glows of light.

With all said and done, and not much else to do, Applejack stretched out and yawned. “Well, might as well head home and hit the hay.”

“I think so too.” agreed Rainbow.

Spike was mortified. “How can you all think about going to bed at a time like this?”

“Uh… because we’re tired, and we’ve had a long day.” said Pinkie.

Fluttershy comforted Spike, “Spike, it’s not that we aren’t worried. We’re very worried.”

Rarity nodded, “But you heard the princess. There is simply nothing more we can do at the moment, darling. Perhaps a good night’s rest will help us to think more clearly.

After all, I needn’t remind you all we must work hard to keep this secret safe from prying eyes.”

Soon, the friends all left after bidding their goodnights, and Spike felt worse than ever, like he would never get to sleep that night.

“Come on, Spike.” said Starlight “It’ll be okay.”

“How do you know?”

Starlight really didn’t know, but she was only trying to think positive like Twilight would.

Author's Notes:

It's always been astounding that contradiction...

-Take the risk
-Don't take the risk

-The only way to figure it out is to try it.
-The risk is simply too great to try.

-We need to help them
-We can't help them if the same thing happens to us too.

-We have a friend in trouble, and we're prepared to take the risk
-Oh, look at you, leaping into action without thinking ahead first.

Still, I know it doesn't matter how its done (Haters just gonna be petty either way. Take the risk or not.)

As for the contradiction itself... I guess it is what it is.

Act Six: Taking Notes

Beast Boy flew over the city, overlooking all the miserable sights.

The Pizza Place was still being renovated for conversion, and there was no sign of a new place in town. No new candy shop. No arcade.

Just more construction of office complexes, business headquarters and other things that were of little use to him.

At least the city park was still there, but not for very long as he noticed a large sign which issued its closing soon to be bulldozed down and made way for yet another office complex.

“Urgh…!” Beast Boy groaned as he sat miserably on a park bench. “Can’t these people back off with all these changes? The city doesn’t need them!”

A lot of people looked his way as he shouted, many hardly took notice of him, and others chuckled thinking he was “Stupid” for scoffing at the “progress” the city was making.

Beast Boy felt really upset that no one seemed to care…

…And there was worse to come!

“Hey, you!” snapped a familiar voice.

Beast Boy looked up and saw Jackie and Jillian headed for him-- wearing sanitation uniforms and carrying roller-bins and pointy-sticks for garbage picking?

Much as he would have chuckled at their getups, he was too miserable to do so, especially since the girls looked furious at seeing him.

“What do you two want?”

“A little thing called payback!” sneered Jackie “Thanks to you, the news discovered about what happened at the museum, and so we got landed with one-hundred hours of community service to pay the museum back for the broken glass.”

“We also got two month’s detention at school!” sneered Jillian “Apparently, we sullied the reputation of Murakami High, and it’s all because of you, Barf-Boy!”

Beast boy cringed angrily for her slandering his name like that, but then he instantly scoffed, “You pushed me into the glass. You tried to let me take the blame, and you nearly got the Titans in a lot of trouble.

If you ask me, you two brats are getting what you deserve.”

The girls looked they were going to explode.

“Oh, it is so on!” snapped Jackie.

“We’re going to enjoy this!” agreed Jillian.

The two girls picked up their sticks, ready to fight, and this time Beast Boy stood ready to defend himself.

Suddenly, a big whistle blew from the girls’ officer. “You two, back to work, now, unless you want another hundred hours. This park is supposed to be cleaned up to get ready for leveling!”

The girls knew they were licked, but they gave Beast Boy a threatening stare telling that they’d deal with him another time.

Then they kicked up their bins and went off to work.

Then the officer angrily snapped at Beast Boy, “Don’t you harass my officers again! You got that?”

Beast Boy sneered deeply at the man, “Don’t mess with me, dude! I’m getting sick and fed up with being misjudged around here!”

Before the officer could warn him for being threatened, Beast Boy turned around and left.

As he walked through her park his head began to hurt softly like it did the other day, and the aching started to worsen as he groaned and moaned.

“What’s happening?!” he wailed.

An evil snicker was heard in his mind and that same voice calling to him, “Give in to the hate! Let your rage give you power! You know you can’t ignore it.”

Beast Boy struggled and groaned, and strangely nobody around him or nearby seemed to notice him or question him if he was alright-- like they couldn’t even see him!

Nevertheless, Beast Boy stumbled around in his anguish and pain, until suddenly, he stumbled round a bend and, WHAMM… bumped right into somebody and they both fell to the ground.

The impact helped him regain control a little, but as he looked up at whom he bumped into-- Terra, of all people.

She gazed at him, “Beast Boy?”

The voice in his head was perplexed, “What?! She can see me?! How is this possible?”


The voice didn’t seem to concern him now.

Beast Boy just gazed at her back, but then his features hardened, and much as he wanted to stomp off in a huff, he offered her his hand and helped her to her feet.

“Sorry.” he said deeply and cold.

Terra felt uneasy by his tone, but replied, “Me too.”

He then turned and prepared to walk away, but Terra began to feel cold inside, seeing the way he had just behaved.

“Beast Boy, wait!” she called as she jogged up to catch him, but he didn’t stop or even acknowledge her.

Terra expected he’d act like this, but kept right on up with him.

“Beast Boy, I need to talk with you.”

Now he stopped, and turned to give her an angry stare, “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

Maintaining her patience, Terra simply answered, “… It’s Saturday.”

Beast Boy rubbed his head having forgotten that, but regardless of that, “I don’t really think there’s anything to talk about.”

Terra clenched her fists, and a few pebbles by her feet rumbled softly. She rolled her eyes to the side feeling awkward at what she was about to say…

“Look, I just want to say sorry for what Jackie and Jillian did for you, and at least you’re off the hook now.”

She didn’t tell him that she was the one who wrote the letter to the museum proving his innocence from the incident.

Beast Boy didn’t seem the least bit touched, and said coldly, “Fine, you apologized. Now go away.”

Now she was starting to feel upset with him.

“What is with you?” she asked “Why can’t you just let go of things move on?”

He felt his anger rising, and his head starting to ache again.

Terra gasped in concern, “What’s wrong? Are you alight?”

He managed to shake off the pain and insisted, “Don’t worry about me. Just leave me alone!”

She wasn’t letting him get off that easy. “You didn’t answer my question. I don’t get what’s happening to you. You we’re so happy and fun-loving.”

He didn’t want to tell her, not even about his disowning the Titans as friends. He knew it would only cause her more grief and pain. He didn’t really want that for her, but it didn’t seem there was anything else he could say without causing it either.

So he cut his losses. He knew the perfect thing to say to her. “Things Change, Terra! The guy you want me to be is just a memory.”

No surprises, she felt struck by that.

“Look, I’m sorry.” she said “I’m sorry that I hurt you.”

“Then why did you do it?”

Terra was quivering softly trying to hide her pain and guilt, and Beast Boy didn’t know if he was enjoying seeing her squirm or hated that she was grieving.

“You know why I did it. I just wanted to put all behind me. I couldn’t stand all the things I did, and I just wanted to live normal and be safe and happy.”

Beast Boy nodded softly, “I understand that.”

She blinked in astonishment.

Then Beast Boy’s features hardened “…But that’s no excuse for what you did. You faked having amnesia. You told me, or rather implied, that you wanted nothing to do with me, after all the good times we had, and you insisted I let go of the past and you!

How do you expect me to react? You expect me to just get over it like that, smile, and pretend nothing’s wrong?”

He paused and gave her a deep, piercing stare. “Why are you even talking to me? You wanted me out of your life, and you didn’t care how I felt about it, just as long as I stayed away, and now here you are saying you’re still dedicated to how things are, and telling me to get over things.

Not to mention you still let your two friends get away with framing me for what happened at the museum. You just stood there, let them physically assault me, and did nothing!”

“I couldn’t!” protested Terra “If they know about my past they’ll shun me, I could get in trouble, and I’ll lose my normal life!”

She gasped at what she was saying and held her hand to her mouth, but it was too late to retract. Beast Boy’s point had been well proven; she was only thinking more of herself than him.

All he did was nod at her pitifully, “Goodbye, Terra, and good luck!”

Then he turned and began to walk away, rather than fly off.

“Beast Boy!” she called to him “Wait, I didn’t mean… please, come back!”

An elderly lady came strolling down the path and asked, “Who are you shouting at?”

Terra pointed down the path at where Beast Boy was, but the lady looked and said, “My eyesight may not be what it used to but there’s nobody there.”

Terra was confused “But… he…” she could see him clearly, until he had gone out of sight, out of the park.

Still, this didn’t help her guilt and shame one bit.

As for Beast Boy, he felt his head aching again as he thought, “Why did I just tell her off like that? I mean, sure, it’s the truth, but it didn’t have to be said!”

Then that evil voice softly hissed in his mind, “You cannot resist. The Hate rules over you.”

Now Beast Boy was really getting freaked out, thinking he had really gone crazy if he was hearing a voice in his head, he felt he needed help, but he didn’t know who to turn to. Certainly not the Titans, feeling they would only add more to his stress.


Speaking of the Titans, while they all went about their daily routines, Twilight observed them, taking notes.

She wished Beast Boy was around to observe him too, but the Titans figured they’d let him be until he cooled off more… which Twilight took note of-- showing sensible, yet rather cold attitudes.

She watched them train together in the dojo.

Robin attacked the dummies that popped up all around him.

Starfire shot flying targets with her star-bolts.

Cyborg ran an obstacle course, dodging many hazards and breaking his old record at the finish line.

“Booyah! Who’s D’man!”

As for Raven, she just meditated calmly, while strengthening her powers to lift large boulders like weight lifting.

“Okay,” said Twilight “So far, nothing out of the ordinary.”

Then it came to observing each Titan individually, and told each Titan.

She observed Starfire grooming Silkie in her room, and saw vast amounts of love and care.

“Do you and the others often hangout together?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, yes, we do.” replied Starfire “We often share in the enjoyment of games, go out for food or entertainment together.

…At least we used to.”

Twilight looked up from her notes, “Used to?”

Starfire nodded and explained the last time they went out for pizza a week ago was the first things they had done in months. “You see, being a superhero demands the responsibility, and even upon our arrival home after defeating our enemies, we have barely done too much together.”

“Hmm…” said Twilight as she noted this.

Then it was off to the garage where she found Cyborg tinkering with the T-Car, and he asked Twilight to pass him tools as he called to her, which seemed hard for her considering she didn’t know much about cars.

“…Torque-wrench” called Cyborg.

Twilight handed him a regular wrench.

“No, no. The one next to it…”

Twilight giggled nervously and handed him the right tool.

As Cyborg worked he asked, “How do you kids in your Equestria get on without cars, or TV, or internet, or all that stuff?”

“We just do, I guess.” replied Twilight “In Equestria we all prefer to just hang out with each other. You know, go on picnics, play in the park, or just spend quality time together, so we don’t really need all those things.”

This made Cyborg feel a bit down, “BB and I used to play games and hang and chill all the time.”

Twilight then asked, “Does he ever help you with your projects?”

“Heck no, I wouldn’t ask him to help. He’s no good with all this kind of stuff. He barely even knows a nut from a bolt.”

He then referred to the times Beast Boy did try to help him, not knowing what he was doing, and he ended up making a little mess of things, unintentionally of course, but usually resulting in Cyborg kicking him out to work alone.

Twilight didn’t like the sound of, even though it was understandable.

“BB’s not exactly the brightest tool in the shed, not good at too much.” Cyborg continued “But when we need him, he’s there.”

It was a good thing he was working under the car, or he wouldn’t have seen Twilight shaking her head shamefully as she took notes. “Being there for a friend when they need you is pretty much the basis of friendship.” she thought “But he makes it sound more like a convenience than a friendship.”

Next: she was with Robin at the main computer in the lounge, and noticed he was behaving rather seriously as he worked.

“So what are you doing here?” she asked.

“I’m trying to hack into the history museum security footage. Maybe I can get some clear images of what happened on the night the curator was murdered.”

The more he worked, the more serious he seemed, almost a bit like how Twilight would overdo it while researching.

“Got it!” cried Robin and the screen came on showing images of the museum like he wanted.

He zoomed in on the sword that was stolen, and there it was still in its pedestal.

Twilight could see the sword, and the fire emblem, which made her feel uneasy again, and the way the sword was designed, it looked ghastly-- evil perhaps.

Then, the sword just vanished out of sight-- popped off, just like that.

“Did you see that?” asked Robin.

“Yes. It just… vanished.”

Robin rewound the footage and played it back very slowly. “First you see it, and now you… don’t.”

“Maybe the footage malfunctioned?” suggested Twilight.

“Not likely. It’s playing properly to the millisecond.” He began to type into the computer, “Someone or something had to have taken that sword, and I’m going to find out.”

He ran every infrared, heat scan or special function the computer could get.

“I can’t believe this!” he growled in frustration “Absolutely nothing! I can’t detect whoever or whatever it was, and nothing shows up on the magical scans either.”

He pounded the console, making Twilight jump.

She had seen enough with Robin, for now, and would get back to him later.

Then came Raven, and she proved to be rather difficult to communicate with.

Twilight knocked on her bedroom door. “Raven, I’d like to observe you now for my notes.”

Raven opened the door, looking a bit scowling. “I was meditating you know!” she hissed grumpily.

Twilight felt a little timid, but cleared her throat, “Still, I’m trying to get a clear picture of all of you. Could you at least answer my questions?”

“Whatever.” said Raven.

Twilight was about to waltz in, but Raven held up her hand. “No one comes into my room.”

“Um… okay…”

She managed to convince Raven to come up onto the roof where it was quieter, and Twilight asked her questions.

“What’s your idea of fun activities?”

“Reading, meditating, studying-- Have I left anything out?”

Twilight thought it interesting. She and Raven had a few things in common, at least reading and studying.

“Do you have a favorite hangout place?”

“…My room”

Twilight blinked once, and she tried a trick question. “Would it kill you to smile?”

Raven actually tried, and barely managed a half, goofy smile. “…Maybe.”

Her lips curls down again, “Look, I’m sorry if I don’t seem all active and wild. It’s just not who I am.”

She explained to Twilight about her powers, and how she had to watch her emotions, and also about Trigon, and how the world almost ended.

Twilight nearly dropped her notepad in shock. This almost made her adventures in Equestria and all the evil she faced look like kid’s stuff.

While she didn’t understand what it was like to actually be Raven, she put her hand on hers, “I was once like you. I preferred to be alone, burry my face in a book, not exactly liking the company of many others.

But the day I met my friends, they showed me a whole new world of possibilities, and one of the very first lessons of friendship I learned: you have to try to open up to others.”

Raven sighed, “I know that, I learned the same thing from Beast Boy long ago.”

She recalled the times Beast Boy was annoying to her, with all his bad jokes, pranks, ignorance, not to mention calling her “Creepy” whether it was true or not.

“But, I guess… he was trying to help me open up a little.”

She then remembered that one very special moment they had, when he really got her to open up to him more.

“You think you’re alone, Raven… but you’re not.”

…And she hugged him. The warmest moment they ever had.

Raven couldn’t believe she had forgotten that moment until now.

Twilight felt she was really starting to get somewhere, and smiled with hope in her eyes…

…Only for Raven to start sneered, “That’s still no excuse for the way he’s been behaving lately. He’s acting like nothing but a spoiled brat all because one girl dumped him.”

Twilight compared all her notes, and this friendship case was starting to look more and more perplexing. It was as if both sides, Beast Boy’s and the other Titans, had their own sets of flaws, pros and cons that were each contradicting one-another and making the friendship seem more and more complicated.

…If only Raven had told her absolutely every single detail.

“Well, thanks for opening up… with me at least.”

Raven actually smiled better than she had before, but Twilight couldn’t pass any real judgement or make any decisions until she spoke to Beast Boy as well and got his side of things.

Cyborg then called to everyone, “Hey y’all, lunch is on!”

He had cooked up a real feast of burgers and fries for everyone, but Beast Boy had still not returned from his outing.

“I tried calling him on the com, but he doesn’t answer.” said Cyborg. “I even made a special tofu burger for him. It’s just sitting on the counter.”

Starfire hung her head low suggesting, “Perhaps he is still upset with us and does not wish to join us.”

This made Twilight feel concerned and worried. She was really hoping he’d come back to the tower so she could talk with him and complete her notes.

“Don’t you think it’s about time for you all to break the ice?” she suggested. “Someone has to make the first move if you’re ever going to help heal the problems.”

“You saw how he acted this morning.” said Cyborg “I don’t think he wants to make up with us, come to think of it, we’re still not too sure we want to make up with him until we can sort him out.”

Starfire and Raven nodded in agreement, which Twilight didn’t think was so enlightening.

“You know, if this keeps up-- if none of you are willing to talk to one another, things could only get much worse. You don’t want that, do you?”

“Of course we do not.” said Starfire “We only wish for the best, but Beast Boy does not seem to share our understanding, our way of thinking.”

“She’s got that right.” said Raven.

Robin didn’t seem to be paying much attention. He was reviewing all the recorded data on his communicator.

He was viewing images of outside the museum when the curator was murdered.

The security cameras at the door of the museum showed the curator standing by his car, and reading the small note from the story.

…Robin had no way of knowing how it really got there, as no footage was revealed.

Suddenly, without warning, the curator was slaughtered, and his blood gushed forth, but there was no sign of anyone who did it.

Stranger than that, just like the before with the sword, the later footage showed the body had vanished out of sight leaving only a pool of blood behind.

“Can you please not watch that while we’re eating?” grumbled Raven.

“I must agree with Raven.” added Starfire.

Robin apologized and flicked his com off, but looked more frustrated than hungry.

“Please eat, Robin.” said Starfire “You will feel much better.”

Robin agreed and finally began to eat, and he did feel better, and Starfire smiled at him.

Twilight enjoyed seeing this.

Suddenly, Beast Boy, as a bird, flew straight into the lounge through the open window. Everyone turned to face him, and he still looked just as cross, just as ready for a fight as he did before.

He marched his way over to the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and just began nibbling on, or rather scarfing at something nobody could tell with his back turned.

The others all looked back and forth at one another, and finally Cyborg stood and called softly to him. “Um… Beast Boy…”

He turned to face them, with a few bits of whatever he was eating smeared on his face, but he glared at him sternly, striking a bit of fear, and cold facial reactions from the others.

Cyborg motioned to the meal on the counter. “…I made you some lunch.”

Beast Boy calmly replied, “No thanks, I’m fine.”

He took another scarf of his food and threw the wrapping away before making off for his room leaving everyone with a mix of sour and confused emotions.

“He’s still just being a jerk.” said Raven.

Starfire then asked Twilight, “Do you still wish to speak with him.”

“I have to.” said Twilight “I’ve dealt with tough cases before. There’s not a pony I can’t help break out of there shell.”

“Uh… we’re not ponies.” Robin pointed out.

“Oh, right. Force of habit.” said Twilight. Nevertheless, she got up and went off to talk with Beast Boy.

As for Cyborg, he got up to wash his used dish in the sink, when he noticed the package sitting by the garbage that Beast Boy had thrown.

He picked it up and gawked at it strangely. “…Beef sausages with pork?”

The others all stood and found that very odd.

“Beast Boy was eating those?” asked Robin.

“But he is a vegetarian.” said Starfire.

Even Raven couldn’t simply brush it off this time. “Something’s really wrong with him, and I don’t think even Twilight can fix this.”

As for Twilight, she followed Beast Boy down the hall, but he refused to talk with her, open up, answer questions or anything.

“I’m just trying to help you.” Twilight protested “I want to help you and your friends with whatever problems you have.

Don’t you want to make with them?”

“Why no, I don’t actually, and both they and you can just get over it!”

Twilight was losing her patience.

“Beast Boy, I’m not going to stop until you tell me what’s bothering you. You can’t keep up on this path of resentment and hatred. If you rediscover friendship you’ll discover--” she stopped when Beast Boy had covered her mouth with his glove.

“Stop… please…” he said very deeply and dark. “I don’t believe in friendship, and I don’t want anything to do with it...

…Period.”

He let her go and broke into a song to further cement his point.

(Slightly altered)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aj-LU4ECmsk

Twilight then jumped in and sang her own version…

“Beats Boy, please…

The song ended, and Beast Boy snuffed, and then disappeared into his room, slowly sliding the door shut behind him, leaving Twilight worried, shocked, and perplexed, and she walked softly down the corridor.

She now realized Beast Boy was a much tougher case than she thought, but she was still undeterred and determined to help him and the Titans yet.

No sooner had she gone out of sight, and then from inside his room, Beast Boy was starting to feel very hot and sweaty as he lay down on his bed.

“I did it again!” he said to himself “I felt like I lost control back there.”

Then suddenly it all began to make sense.

“It was you…” he said referring to the voice he had heard before “You’re making me do all this stuff!”

His accusation was confirmed as the voice began to laugh sinisterly.

Beast Boy began to remember other things.

-Creeping into the museum the other night, unnoticed by any and all security, and taking the sword out of its pedestal with ease.

-Then it was out into the parking lot where he confronted the curator and, then there was the scream, the blood, and the evil laugh!!

“No!” he cried “No, I can’t… I… I--”

All this made his head begin to throb, and he couldn’t even scream or call out for someone to help, and he passed out again flat on the bed.

Act 7: Talking Differences

Spike imagined himself unable to wait anymore, too worried about Twilight to just sit around doing nothing while she could be in danger.

He could even swear that he could hear Twilight calling out to him.

“Someone, help me!! I need help!!”

“Twilight!” cried Spike as he bolted upright out of his basket, and could see the jewel glowing and showing images of Twilight in real danger as all kinds of shadows and monsters had her in their grasp and were dragging her down into the darkness with them.

“Help, Spike!”

“I’m coming!!” Spike shouted as he dashed for the jewel, passing right into a strong vortex and landing in a frightful area with fires, thunder and lightning, but he dashed on to the sound of Twilight’s hollers.

“Twilight, hang on!!”

He kept on flying as fast as his little wings could carry him, and he suddenly spotted her, being dragged down by all those monsters and shadows.

“Let her go!” he shouted, but this only angered the creatures and Spike snapped into reality realizing the danger he was now in himself.

“Spike, run!!” cried Twilight.

Spike flew up into the air where the creatures couldn’t get him, but he as he looked down he saw Twilight sinking deeper and deeper.

“Twilight!!” he tried to dash for her, and Twilight reached out to him as she sank completely into the darkness and was gone.

“TWILIGHT…!!!!”

Then he felt something grab him!

One of the monsters had leapt up miraculously high and brought him down to all the other creatures.

All those scary monsters snarling and growling at him as they dragged him in, and Spike begged and pleaded to be let go.

…Then he woke up, sitting up in his basket and rubbing his eyes groaning, “Well that was a ridiculous dream.” he said to himself.

He knew the jewel didn’t show images of monsters, but just a quaint city, hardly dangerous at all, but then again he was very worried about Twilight. Missing her for three days was starting to take its toll on him.

It was morning anyway and he figured he’d get up.

Since it was Sunday, there were no classes at the School of Friendship, but Starlight, Spike and all their friends were still hard at work making up schedules for the week in Twilight’s absence, and the other ponies all guided their groups in extra, fun weekend curricular activities.

Applejack was outside with her workshop crew. Rainbow Dash was having a sports day with her class. Pinkie Pie was baking with hers. Rarity’s class was sewing.

“Where’s Professor Twilight?” the students would constantly ask, and to which the teachers all replied with the same story.

“She’s out of town, and won’t be back for a while. Friendship stuff, you know?” said Rainbow.

“How come she never announced this?” asked other students.

“Well, um, it just came up so suddenly, so she didn’t have time to say it. We don’t know when she’ll be back.” said Pinkie

The students had their feelings that something was wrong, but thankfully their groups and projects kept them all well busy.

“Whew!” Pinkie sighed in her mind “I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up. I just hope we can get Twilight back soon.”

Fluttershy and her group had prepared a beautiful picnic-lunch in the field for all the groups, as a way of demonstrating kindness.

Blankets were set up everywhere, rather lavish ones that Rarity and her class had sewn, but Rarity was almost hesitant for anyone to sit on them, or even place them on the ground.

“Come on, Rarity. It’s what they were made for.” protested Applejack.

Rarity bit on her limb nervously, “Oh, very well!”

Soon everyone was having a nice lunch together, and Fluttershy was pleased to see all the polite manners and good attitude she had taught was rubbing off on the students.

“Very good, every-creature. You’re showing great levels of kindness. That’s the basis of all good friendship.”

One of the students asked politely for her to pass an apple from the fruit-bowl.

Fluttershy softly grabbed one apple in her hoof, only for the apple to sprout a face and go, “Hiya, Fluttershy!” making her jump and throw the “apple” far off, and it transformed into Discord, as he landed flat on his back.

“Ow! A little harder next time! I can still feel my other side.”

Fluttershy rolled her eyes, and Starlight scolded Discord, “What have we told you about sneaking into our affairs like this?”

“About how I should not do it-- I know, but then it wouldn’t be so much fun would it.”

The students couldn’t help but laugh at the joke, but more at how Discord got tossed on his back.

“See? Even they get it.

Anyway, I really dropped by to see if Twilight’s come back, but I guess she’s still lo--”

Pinkie leapt up high, “Here, try a cupcake!” quickly shoving it into his mouth.

“Yeah, and try my special sandwich!” added Rainbow, stuffing his mouth even more.

“Come, Discord, let us take a walk together to build up your appetite.” Rarity said leading him away.

The students were all confused as the gang led him away, and he finally spit the food out of his mouth and spat, “What’s the big idea?!”

“Keep it down, will you!” snapped Rainbow “The students don’t know Twilight is missing.”

“Princess Celestia asked us not to let anyone know.” added Pinkie “And believe me, this is one secret I’m not letting slip form my mouth.”

She trembled softly, feeling the temptation get to her, but she gave her head a few knocks with her hoofs to keep focussed.

“Well, I didn’t know that,” said Discord “I wasn’t even there when the promise was made. I didn’t promise anything.”

“Well, maybe if you hadn’t left us, you would have known.” scolded Applejack

“Enough!” snapped Starlight “Things are already hard enough without Twilight being here, we don’t need them to get any worse.” Then she looked at Discord, “You have to promise us not to let it slip that Twilight is missing. It’ll cause a lot of panic and worry.”

Discord looked at all the others, and then his eyes fell on Fluttershy.

“Please, Discord. We really need this.”

Discord shrugged, and felt he was growing too soft for his own good. “Alright.” he agreed “My lips are sealed.” and he snapped his fingers, literally sealing his lips with a zip.

The others were grateful to him, and really hoped they could trust him.

“I just really hope Twilight’s okay.” said Spike.

Night had fallen in Jump City, and Twilight was sitting up in Terra’s old bed going over her notes, as well as comparing Beast Boy’s attitude.

She couldn’t go to the other Titans for answers, because she needed to hear them from himself to get a proper picture.

As she lay back in bed, she began to contemplate, not just about the Titans, but the entire city.

“What kind of a place is this? Friendship seems to be all but just a dying flicker as every seems to be careless and mean to one another.

I really wish my friends were here, I could really use their help.”

Then she felt worried about her friends back home in Equestria. She was certain they were worried about her too, and probably going crazy wondering where she was.

Twilight looked way out ahead out the window, out at the moonless night sky.

It would still be another couple of nights before the moon would shine again and she could go home, but after what she had seen so far she wasn’t so sure of it now.

She wasn’t so sure if she could really leave Jump City and the way it was, especially without helping the Titans overcome their friendship problem.

Then again it didn’t seem too big a deal. Since Raven had the key to Equestria, and it just needed moonlight to work, she could practically come and go as she pleased.

Then a mighty thought came to her, “Maybe I could take the Titans with me.

They said they hoped to see Equestria someday, and maybe seeing how my world works can inspire them how to rethink their own ways and help their world too.”

She thought it over so deeply, that she fell asleep.

While Beast Boy, who had been cooped up in his room all day, began to toss and turn, groaning as he grasped the sheets on his bed as he felt that strange feeling again-- as if he was losing control of his mind and body.

Then, after a few pulses, he bolted upright, his eyes glowing yellow, and his voice was different.

“It’s time that I claimed more victims.” he hissed, “And I know just where to start.”

He held out his hand, and the sword magically appeared in a flaming veil. The blade was still stained with blood from the curator, and he actually licked it.

Suddenly, Twilight snapped upright in bed herself. She was feeling cold chills in the air, and her insides were churning softly.

These were the same feelings Celestia had warned her about, the day she became a royal alicorn.

“Royal Alicorns like me and Princess Luna, our bodies and nerves can react in strange ways if there is some sort of danger near.”

Twilight remembered when Celestia told her about the nightmare she had when Lord Tirek was on the loose.

“Something isn’t right here.” she whispered to herself.

She left her room, and noticed, down the hall, soft lights coming from the small crack in the doors to the lounge.

Robin was still wide awake and at the console trying to crack the mystery of who killed the curator and stole the sword from the museum.

“Twilight, I thought you were asleep?”

Twilight explained to him her worries.

“You think something strange is going on in the tower?”

Twilight nodded and asked, “Is there any way to be sure?”

Robin put his research aside and tapped into the tower’s security.

All the camera footage showed nothing suspicious.

He even viewed images of the cameras installed in the Titan’s respective bedrooms.

“Isn’t that an invasion of privacy?” asked Twilight.

Robin admitted it, and regretted peeping like this, “But with our experience we all agreed to take no chances. You never know when a spy or bug could be lurking around.”

The images showed all the Titans sleeping peacefully, even Beast Boy was revealed to be still in his room, where had been all day since he got back from the tower.

“There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong.” said Robin, “Are you sure you’re not just feeling normal things, like homesickness, or worried about your friends?”

Twilight felt that could have been a possibility, but just the same, Robin agreed to keep an eye open for anything out of the ordinary.

“Why aren’t you going to bed?” she asked “Aren’t you tired?”

Robin shook his head, “I’m used to this sort of stuff, and it’s all part of the sacrifices and downsides that come with being a hero.”

“I know that,”

“No, not really I don’t think you do.”

Robin chose his next words carefully, not wanting to insult her. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but what you’ve told us about your adventures in Equestria, you said the stuff we do makes your adventures look tame?

Well, in way you’re right.”

He made some hot cocoa for them, and he told her what heroes were like in this world.

“Being a superhero and having all these powers or abilities are more of a curse than it is a gift.”

“What makes you say that?” asked Twilight “Most ponies and creatures in my world can’t do magic, and they’d give anything to have it.”

“Well, that’s fine for them.” said Robin “But usually gaining superpowers, or becoming a hero; it all usually comes with big prices to pay, and sometimes even irreversible consequences that can scar you for life.”

He told her about his parents, and how they died before his eyes in the circus when he was only eight years old, and how he was adopted by Batman and became a hero to beat other bad guys and villains so that other people wouldn’t have to share the same pain and trauma he went through.

“Oh, my…” Twilight cried softly, “I’m so sorry to hear about your parents.”

Robin fell silent for a moment, “I try not to let it hold me back. I miss them dearly, but I’ve come so far, and so have the others.”

He told her what he knew about Starfire, Cyborg, and Raven. Raven’s story about being Trigon’s portal key disturbed Twilight greatly.

“You poor guys, I never thought people could have it this bad.”

Robin nodded, “Again, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’d say you and your friends back home have it easy. In the end you manage to stop your bad guys before they do too much, and in the end it’s all happy-ever-after.”

He then looked out at the night sky, “And then again, a hero always has sacrifices to make. Having to lose or give up things, risking their life every day, and while it’s nice to have some fame and credit for it, it can never replace the dear things you lose and can never get back.

It makes me glad to be a Teen Titan. I have friends to share with, Starfire especially, and I can really do well that makes me feel proud. It helps me let go of the past and helps me shape my future.”

He paused, and then he said, “I don’t know why Beast Boy can’t think the way I do.”

Twilight then looked at him oddly, “Well, I think you may have answered already.”

“What?”

“I’ve been wondering all day why he won’t talk to me, and why he doesn’t want to open up to friendship again, and from what you just told me, maybe he’s just upset about the things that have been going on.”

Robin was confused, “I get that he’s heartbroken that Terra dumped him, but he can’t let it rule his life.”

“No, not that-- tell me about his past. Maybe bad things happened to him too.”

Robin recounted all he knew about Beast Boy’s past, but all he really knew was his real name “Garfield Logan” and how he used to be a member of the Doom Patrol, his former foster family, which meant his parents died.

Twilight took notes of this, “Go on. Tell me more.” but Robin couldn’t tell her anymore.

“We don’t really know all that much about Beast Boy’s past; he never told us.”

Twilight looked up and blinked once, and then she thought back to what Beast Boy had said to her.

“I don’t believe in friendship, and I don’t want anything to do with it...

…Period.”

Robin began to have the same thought Twilight did; that maybe Beast Boy’s acts ran far deeper than anyone realized.

It was still late though, and all the others were asleep.

“Maybe tomorrow we can all get together and try to talk this out.” said Twilight.

“Like an intervention.” agreed Robin “Well, it might help, and whether Beast Boy wants to talk about it or not, I think it’s time we cleared this whole thing up once and for all, or he’ll never be able to move on.”

Twilight nodded.

Meanwhile, Terra was in bed in her apartment, and she wasn’t dreaming. Ever since running into Beast Boy that and the things he had said to her, they just echoed in her head over and over making her feel really uncomfortable.

...Not that it was like she wasn’t already feeling that way, even if she hadn’t run into him.

She couldn’t stop thinking about him. No matter how hard she tried not to, there were her memories coming back stronger than ever.

Was it finally sinking it?

Was she ready to admit that she made a huge mistake?

Then again what good would that do her now? She saw how miserable he was, and he obviously didn’t trust her or anyone.

She got out of bed and stood by an open window to get some fresh air to cool off.

As she looked down into the streets, yet another memory flashed before her; the time she took Beast Boy out on their first and only date, when they were standing way out on the mountains in the outback and admiring the view.

Even though it was a distraction while she betrayed the Titans, she enjoyed it so much, and could still feel the warmth of the breeze, and standing next to him.

She felt herself smiling warmly, but then gasped and clutched her head. “No! Don’t think that.” she said to herself “Those days are over. I’m moving, and I know he will to.

…He has to.

…We have to.”

Then as she opened her eyes, she could see Beast Boy walking down the streets.

“What’s he doing out here?” she wondered, but she saw he seemed to be heading straight for the old Pizza Place, which was still under renovation.

Suddenly, he stopped and began to turn to look her way, and she ducked behind the curtains.

He continued walking down the street, passing other people who didn’t seem to take any notice of him.

Terra looked back at getting further and further away.

She felt her heart getting heavy again as she put her back to the wall and slid softly down to the floor.

Then, suddenly, she could hear Slade’s voice again.

“Look at you, squirming on the floor like a little lost worm in the earth.”

She looked up, and all around, and then she could actually see him appearing right before you.

“You again!” she growled “Leave me alone! Stop trying to hurt me!”

“You’re the one who’s hurting yourself, and no amount of denial will get you out. I wouldn’t be here if that weren’t the case.”

That’s when it clued it. This wasn’t really Slade, but most likely her own inner-conscience and guilt calling her out for her behaviour, and assuming his form.

Terra grabbed a small pillow from her bed and began swinging at the image, but try as she would it wouldn’t fade away-- naturally because she couldn’t really get rid of her own guilt that easy.

“When are you going to stop kidding yourself?”

“Shut up!” Terra thundered “I want to live a normal life!”

She took another foolish swing at the image.

“Is it really what you want? Maybe you’re just lying to yourself like you’ve lied to others.”

This only brought on even more guilt and bad memories from both past and present.

-When she betrayed Beast Boy and the titans

-Lying to him about not remembering him just to shoo him off hoping he’d get the message and leave her be.

-Even her friends at her school, they knew nothing about her past, and she did whatever she could to cover up, for her own sake.

“Face it! You don’t care about anyone’s feelings or what they do, just as long as yyou get what YOU want!”

That blow struck Terra like a huge rock thrown at full speed-- like she used to do when she fought the Titans.

In a spot of insanity, Terra swung hard at the image, passing through it, again, and fall forward on her bed and hitting her head agianst the wall with a big bonk!

She groaned softly, and passed out flat on the bed.

While further up the road from her apartment…

Workers were still hard at inside the now barren and desolate building which was once the Pizza Place. Working inside didn’t make too, too much noise that it would disturb other neighbors nearby, but the workers themselves were getting cranky.

“Why do we have to work these late hours?”

“Yeah, it’s not like we want to go home and get some sleep or anything.”

The foremen, who was a rather cantankerous individual slammed his plans down. “I don’t want to hear anymore complaining out of the lot of you.

We’re supposed to turn this place into a travel agency, and the sooner we get it done… AHEAD of schedule, the sooner I can make more money, and you worthless slobs can keep your jobs!

NOW WORK!!”

The men all groaned but got back to their building and moving, as well as their groaning and yawning, while the foremen just looked at his blueprints, snickering like a greedy soul, “It’s like watching my own money being made before my eyes.”

Suddenly, all the lights in the building went out. Even the workers that were plugged intot he walls went out, and because the windows were all boarded up, it was pictch black inside!

The workers all yelped and gasped.

“What happened?”

“I can’s see a thing.”

“Somebody get a light on!!” bellowed the foremen.

The men all had their flashlights with them, but one man was having trouble with his. His hands were shaking badly, because he was actualy afraid of the dark.

“Come on! Come on, hold it together!” he whimpered, but he dropped his light and couldn’t find it, and he was too terrified to reach down and find it.

Then, a soft light shone near him followed by someone saying in a creepy voice, “…Need a light?”

The worker began to feel better and reached out for it, only for the light to slash at him, lopping his head right off, and his corpse fell to the ground in a gushing of blood.

“Hey! What’s going on there?” shouted someone.

Then, it was total chaos, as more of the men were slashed, skwered, and brutally murdered.

“I’m outta here!” cried the foremen as he dashed for the exit, only for someone to grab him from within the darkness, and he could hardly recognize who it was due to the lack of light.

The stranger, showing immense strength, lifted the big man boldiy off the ground with one hand, laughing sinisterly as his eyes glowed in the darkness, frigthening the foremen.

“So, you want to take things away from me, huh?” the stranger sneered “Well, how about I take away something from you… YOUR LIFE?!!”

The foremen’s scream seemed to echo all the way outside where few passersby stopped in their tracks.

They didn’t like the sounds of it one bit!

One of the civilians noticed the powerbox on the side of the building, the wires had been cut!

Another civilian noticed that a big power cable on the ground, which lead into the building to engerize the workers own lights and their power tools, had also been cut!

“We better call the cops!”

Inside the building, the stranger snickered and clecnhed his knuckles. Next to him, in his other hand, his weapon, a powerful sword, was dripping with the blood of all the men he had just murdered.

“Nobody can stop the hate!” he hissed.

Act 8: Dreadful thoughts

The next morning, Beast Boy awoke flat on the floor of his bedroom. His head hurt so much, like a whole line of garbage tucks had run over him.

“Duuuude…!” he groaned as he slowly and shakily got up onto his feet while, clutching his head.

Then he gagged as felt an awful taste in his mouth, which also felt very dry like the rest of him did.

“I need a shower, and get this taste out of my mouth!”

He managed to find strengtht to make it out of his room and into the hall, and as he walked down to the bathroom, he could see the lounge was wide open, and all the other Titans were all there chatting away.

“Should we not alert Twilight or Beast Boy?” asked Starfire.

“I already tried to wake him up,” said Cyborg “Little guy was out cold, and anyways, it’s probably best we handle this now.”

Robin agreed to that, “Twilight and I were up pretty late last night, so we may as well let her sleep. She’s not really part of the team anyway and she can’t really help us in this.”

“Can we please focus here?” asked Raven “I don’t get how all those men were murdered last night.”

Robin held up faxes from the police station with all the information given. “Nobody knows, but they were all definitely murdered, but it’s just like before at the museum.

There were witnesses who heard the scream, but nobody saw anyone leave the building. For that matter nobody saw anyone even enter it all around.”

Beast boy heard them, and images began to flash before his eyes…

-Men screaming…
-Blood gushing…
-A sword driping with blood, and a tounge actually licking it!
-That same evil laugh…!!

He began to tremble in fear, and backed up aginast the wall.

The Titans heard, and Robin dashed to the hall. “Beast Boy?”

The others came to him.

“You okay?” asked Cyborg.

“He does not seem okay to me.” said Starfire “He is all but dry and stiff.”

Raven said nothing, but she was actually looking at him with concern rather than hostility.

Beast Boy felt too tired, as well as scared, to even think of being his usual cold self to them, and before he could say anything, Robin calmly and softly suggested he go shower. “You need to hydrate yourself.”

Beast Boy nodded very slowly, and groped softly as he made his way down the hall to the bathroom.

“I was afraid of this,” said Robin “His depression and anger is getting out of control. We’ve got to get him some help.”

“But what about Twilight?” asked Starfire “She is attempting to help us, is she not?”

“I don’t think Twilight can really help us.” said Raven “Don’t get me wrong, she’s a great kid, but this is getting worse. Beast Boy’s health could be in danger.”

“Still,” said Robin “There might hope for him yet.”

He guided everyone into the lounge to talk about what he and Twilight spoke about the other night.

Beast Boy made it to the bathroom and started the shower, but his shaking caught up with him as all those images and the hot taste of blood hit him hard.

Then the sounds of that evil laugh echoed in his head again.

Beast Boy nervously looked all around the bathroom. “You’re here, aren’t you?”

“I’ve always been here.”

Beast Boy was slowly spinning in circles as he looked all around. “Who are you? What are you? Where are you?”

The voice snickered, “Think back now. Think back to the museum.”

He thought it over and remembered the sword, grabbing it and feeling very strange after that!

He then turned to look in the big mirror above the sink, and his reflection it was glaring at him so wickedly, and his eyes were glowing yellow.

He quickly turned away trying to deny it all, but then found his own actual self, speaking back to him.

“Many before you placed their hands on the sword, and I could sense their energies. Not one of them had what I needed most, and then you…!

I never felt anything like it-- the anger, the hate, the violent thoughts, and the fact that you already possess incredible powers. It’s all too perfect.”

Beast then thought back to the murders and it all made sense now!

“It was you…! You killed them!”

“WE… killed them!”

Beast Boy held his throat in disgust and horror.

“Why? How could you do that to them?!”

“Don’t play innocent! I know your thoughts. I can feel the hatred flowing through you, I can sense your desires to get even! I simply helped you say what you wouldn’t, make that extra step.”

Beast Boy was livid, and growled at his reflection, “Just because I felt like it didn’t mean I actually wanted to do it! You just went right out and killed innocent people!

I won’t let you get away with this anymore! I won’t let you hurt anymore people!”

The evil only chuckled, “Yes, give in to your anger, the hate. Let it grow. It only makes me stronger, and you grow weaker.”

“What?”

“I’m afraid there’s nothing you can do, little one. You’re already past the point-of-no-return. The hate cannot be silenced, and nothing you can say or do will change that!”

“You’re wrong!” thundered Beast Boy “I’ll tell the others, they’ll know what to do about you!”

“Go ahead, try. See where it gets you. Meanwhile, I can plan our next move.”

Beast Boy was twitching in anger. He couldn’t help feel this way and couldn’t control it.

“What’s this I see within you?” the evil hissed as it sensed Beast Boy’s memories. “…A heart that is broken.”

Beast Boy gasped softly.

“Two cold figures standing in a school hall, and one saying to the other…”

“No! No!!” cried Beast Boy, but then he saw the images, he heard Terra’s voice.

“Things Change, Beast Boy! The girl you want me to be is just a memory.”

Then there were the images of back at the museum, when Jackie and Jillian pushed him, and she was witness to what happened and did nothing.

Then there was in the park when she tried to talk to him and he just read her out and scorned her.

He was growing more and more stressed, which amused the evil. “Have I struck a nerve? It seems that this female is very important to you, even though she had caused you great anger and hate.”

“You leave her alone! You hear me! I won’t let you hurt Terra! YOU GOT THAT?!!”

In an extreme moment of rage and insanity, he raised his fist and punched the mirror so hard that it shattered to bits!

The Titans heard the sound of the shattering!

Twilight rushed out into the hall just as they came running down. “What was that?”

“I don’t know!” cried Robin.

They all opened the door to the bathroom, and Starfire and Twilight gasped in horror!

Beast Boy was passed out on the floor, the mirror was all broken into shards all over the floor, all around Beast Boy who was passed out flat, and his right glove was all torn and stained with blood, meaning he had punched the mirror out in an obvious moment of insanity. The shower was still running, and the drapes had been pulled off their rings, with the water still running all over the floor.

Cyborg, with his metal feet, made his way over, shut off the water, and then felt Beast Boy’s neck. “He’s way out cold. He must’ve had one heck of a freak-out!”

He picked him up to take him to get his hand bandaged up.

Raven used her power to gather up all the shards and actually fixed them all into one piece, setting them back into place over the sink, impressed Twilight as well.

“Wow, I’ve barely been able to use spells like that myself.”

Raven gave her a small smirk, but then they both with Starfire and Robin went off to check on Beast Boy.

“What next?” Robin wondered “Beast Boy’s going crazy, then all these murders and hardly any evidence! What else can happen?”

Terra awoke in her apartment, and her head still hurt a bit from hitting it. She went to the bathroom to wash her face.

She had a little bruise on her forehead from where she crashed, “What a night.” she groaned to herself “And what a day too.”

She honestly didn’t know how much longer she could stay like this with her guilt hurting her, but it was obvious to her right now that she probably needed professional help in dealing with her stress, and hopefully find a way to fully move on with her life.

…Like a psychologist maybe. But how could she afford it?

Then she remembered, the school nurse from Murakami High, Miss. Caroline, who was also a student councillor and psychologist.

She could see her for free… except it was Sunday and there was no school, so she wouldn’t be able to go there.

“Ugh!” she groaned as she exited the bathroom. “Now I’ll have to wait until Monday to see her.”

Suddenly, there was a knock at her door, and as luck would have it.

“Miss Caroline?”

It was her. She was a young woman in her early thirties. She had long brown hair, and a kind and soft spoken voice.

“Forgive me, Terra, I just came over to see if you okay.” Then she noticed the bruise on her head. “What happened to you?”

“Oh, I uh… bumped my head in the night.” replied Terra. “What do you mean?”

Caroline was now confused, and she held up the morning newspaper, and the front page showing the article of the massive murder of the workers the other night.

Terra dashed over to her window and looked down the street towards the broken up Pizza Place, to find it was still surrounded by police and news crews.

Then she ran back to see the paper and how the story read that all the men were found brutally murdered by an unseen assassin that somehow crept into the premises.

Miss Caroline explained how she knew from school records that several Murakami lived in the general area. “I was worried about all of you since you live around and thought you’d have been attacked by the killer as well, or at least not be too shaken by it that it could affect your school studies.”

I saw Jackie and Jillian. They were out doing their community service early, and I must say it serves them right for the trouble they caused.”

Hearing that and remembering the incident, Terra began to think, “Beast Boy was walking down the street last night. Surely he would have heard or seen what was happening. Wouldn’t he have tried to do something about it?”

Caroline could see Terra was okay and not really badly shaken, and she decided to head off.

“Wait! Mss. Caroline!” called Terra “I need to talk to you about something.”

“Yes? What is it?”

Terra paused and chose her words carefully, not wanting to reveal her past or her connection to Beast Boy.

“I’ve been having a little hard time sleeping lately. I keep having really bad dreams.”

“Have you been studying a lot? Overdoing it can stress you out.”

Terra hesitated and she didn’t even have to say anything. Caroline could tell form her silence and how nervous she looked. “It’s something else isn’t it; something that you saw or something you did.”

Terra still did not speak, which only further confirmed her theory.

“…Guy-trouble, isn’t it?”

Terra snapped upright in near shock.

“I thought so.”

“How can you tell?” asked Terra.

“Well, you just told me.”

Terra felt silly now and groaned irritably.

“Even if you hadn’t, I already guessed. I’m practicing to be a real psychologist, and being at Murakami High is just part of my training. I’ve seen the way girls like you have acted, and it’s usually a guy.”

Terra hung head down, rolling her eyes to the floor in shame.

Caroline then asked, “Why don’t you come by to my place this afternoon and we can talk about it better. I have a home office where I practice by having guests over.”

“Okay, I will.” Terra agreed, and Caroline gave the girl her home address. Then she had to get going and check on other students who lived in the area.

Terra still didn’t feel any better, especially now that she knew about the incident in the night; and to think… it was happening right outside her own window and she slept through it all.

A new funny feeling came over her-- a desire to have been able to do something to help those workers last night from whatever or whoever it was who slaughtered them?

Why was she now thinking about that too? She was done with trying to be a hero, and didn’t to use her powers anymore, even though she did on the night museum curator was killed.

“No, no… No!” she groaned as she clutched her head “Don’t think like this, you might hallucinate again!”

She shut her eyes really tight, but that didn’t stop images of her past with the Titans, actually being a hero and beating up baddies, saving lives, and using her powers for good!

Now she was wishing Miss Caroline hadn’t left as she really felt she could use the session she promised her now.

She felt she needed someone to talk to, but with Jackie and Jillian working, and no one else to really interact with, she felt maybe just taking a walk around town.

Only there didn’t seem to be too many places she could go.

-The park was closed and demolition was due to begin as the workers were removing the last of the wildlife to get them out of the way.

-A lot of other places weren’t that much fun and many other buildings still under construction too.

The only place left she could possibly head was the mall, but then again she hadn’t much money and couldn’t do too much.

Usually Jackie and Jillian paid for her, wanting to be good friends.

“Maybe I should get a part-time job.” she wondered to herself. “Well, at least I can window-shop and browse around.”

Beast Boy was resting peacefully in the sick-bay. Cyborg had given him a sedative to help him rest as well as to numb the pain around his wounded wrist.

Once he cleaned all the blood off, Raven used her powers to help the wounds heal.

“Why would he punch out the mirror?” Twilight wondered aloud.

Robin could only shake his head, “He’s worse than we thought. He’s really taking things too far with this hate and anger towards us.”

“I cannot bear to think of what would happen if things were to worsen within our friend.” added Starfire.

Cyborg checked the figures on the medical scans. “He’s calm now, but when we first got him on the bed, his stress levels were off the charts. He’s liable to knock himself to bits.”

Starfire then remembered what Robin had to them in the lounge-- what he and Twilight had talked about the other night.

“Perhaps we should ask him of what troubles him so? It must be far more than just Terra breaking his heart.”

“Assuming the girl even is Terra.” reminded Robin

“Let me try something.” said Raven.

She knew Beast Boy wouldn’t talk while he was sleeping, so she decided to read his mind, and get to the bottom of his emotions once and for all.

She softly laid her hands on Beast Boy’s forehead and she concentrated hard. All the others were watching with anxiety.

Raven began to feel as if she were seeping into Beast Boy’s mind, as light as the air itself, but much to her surprise, she couldn’t see anything, nothing but black-- long, endless, empty black.

She snapped her eyes open again.

“What is it?” asked Robin “What did you see?”

Raven shook her in disbelief, “I saw nothing. Not a single memory. It’s as if he didn’t have any.”

Everyone looked at her with the same disbelief she expressed.

“No memories?” asked Twilight “How is that possible?”

As the Titans and Twilight all contemplated and debated about Beast Boy, the evil from his mind snickered sinisterly. “Those fools don’t suspect that I’ve blocked out his memories so they cannot try to save him. I must keep him as he is if I am to achieve my goals.”

Twilight then shivered softly as a chill ran up her spine so suddenly. It was her alicorn nerves reacting to the nearby evil.

“You okay?” asked Cyborg.

“I think so. I just felt a chill in my back.”

“The A.C is cranked up in here so Beast Boy doesn’t get too warm or cold.” Robin pointed out. “Why don’t we all go talk in the lounge; Let him sleep.”

Everyone agreed, and left the sickbay, which gave the evil his it’s chance to awaken Beast Boy and control him again.

“I can’t stay here like this, not when there is so much to be done.” he thought.

He remembered his argument with Beast Boy in the bathroom, regarding Terra.

“You leave her alone! You hear me! I won’t let you hurt Terra! YOU GOT THAT?!!”

The evil got a nasty idea, far worse than hunting Terra down and killing her, but as he hopped off the bed, then he turned to face it, and raised his hand, unleashing soft magical waves producing a shell like copy of Beast Boy in his place on the bed.

This he had been doing for the past while, allowing him to slink about without suspicion. Even the Titans already had no way of realizing the truth as he had been getting away with it.

“My power is growing stronger all the time, and if this new plot of mine is successful, I’ll finally have all that I need to reach my ultimate goal.

The hate will rise, and the light will cease, and anyone who defies me shall pay the price!”

He finally slunk off, leaving his shell clone behind to begin his new mission.

Creeping to the windows and opening one, he then used Beast Boy’s abilities to morph into a falcon and flew off towards the city, shutting the window behind him.

No sooner had he left did Starfire peek into the room and saw “Beast Boy” still asleep on the bed. She could only assume it was really him.

“Beast Boy does not seem to have lost any memories.” said Starfire “He has not the injury or blow to his head.”

“It’s probably emotional shock.” suggested Twilight “Even in my world of Equestria, ponies and other creatures become so overwhelmed by emotional trauma that their memories just fail them.”

“I’m not really sure that’s why,” said Raven “But then again I can’t disprove it either.

If he hasn’t lost his memories, Raven should’ve been able to see them regardless.”

“Well, as soon as he wakes up, maybe then we can talk to him.” suggested Cyborg.

The Titans agreed.

Twilight fell rather silent, and her head was dropped down as she stared at the floor.

“What is it?” asked Robin.

She looked up, “I really wish all my friends were here, then maybe Beast Boy could have been better by now, and we’d be able to work on helping the rest of the city with its friendship problems.”

Cyborg put a comforting hand on her shoulder, “And you miss them, huh?”

Twilight nodded softly.

All the Titans felt sympathy for her, but Robin informed “The next full moon still isn’t until the night after tomorrow, and even still we have something even bigger to worry about-- that killer that’s still out there.”

The other Titans agreed, and Starfire said “We must find out who this murderous beast is before it causes anymore trouble.”

“Easier said than done.” said Cyborg “No one’s even seen the creep, and they don’t know what he looks like… if even is a “he.”

Twilight was a little surprised in them suddenly ignoring Beast Boy like this, but she knew this was a more important priority, and she offered to help with whatever she could.

Robin was about to protest that she not, as she wasn’t really part of the team, but Raven spoke up, “I say we let her in. She may not have special powers, in her current form, but she does have experience and idealism.”

“Girl’s got a point.” agreed Cyborg.

Starfire nodded in agreement.

Robin couldn’t argue with this, and he knew they needed all the help they could get.

He then looked at Twilight proudly and declared, “Okay, you’re in.”

Twilight felt honored and promised not to let the team down.

Author's Notes:

Sorry Raven. I'm afraid this type of evil/power is unlike anything you know. You CANNOT sense it.

Act 9: Worried Sick

Spike was wide awake and looking out at the night, making a wish upon every star he could see, that Twilight would be safely returned, or at least some knowledge that she was safe and well.

He began to softly sing a little song, not wanting to wake anyone else, about how much he really missed her and was worried sick!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkLiImA3KlU

He slowly crawled back into bed and gave a little sigh as the song ended and he drifted off to sleep.

A little while after which, someone crept into the bedroom, sneaking across, and their shadow moved past the moonlight in the room.

“Spike…?” he called softly.

Spike just rolled over in his sleep.

Then an air horn blasted right near him making him scream and jump up high. His pillows, his sheets, his basket went flying through the air.

It was Discord and he clicked on a meter in his claw. “Wow, six feet high. Looks like a new record.”

Spike rummaged himself out of the blankets, and was he ever angry. “Discord, what’s the big idea?!” he shouted, and then he quickly covered his mouth from shouting too much, only to then look up and see that Discord had put up a bubble of silence.

“How do you think I could blast the air-horn without anyone waking up?”

“What are you doing here at this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep. I’ve been worrying about Twilight.”

“So you decided to jus barge in here and wake me up?”

“No… I decided to barge in her, wake you up, to tell you that I have something I think you’ll like."

And he revealed that he had crept into Canterlot Palace and had with him the jewel, which Celestia swore she locked away.

Spike was most surprised. “How did you get this?”

“Puh-lease,” remarked Discord “All the spells and locks Celestia puts up, child’s play for me. The point is, now we have it, we can go to that other world and get Twilight back.”

Spike was, of course giddy at the idea, but he quickly disapproved. “We promised Celestia that we wouldn’t use the jewel until she finished her tests on it. We still don’t know if there’s any way to get back.”

Discord sighed, “Heard this before, and like Celestia’s really going to get anywhere at this rate, and besides, I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone Twilight was gone, I didn’t make any promise not to try and save her.”

Spike still insisted he put the jewel back.

“Fine, I guess I’ll go save Twilight without you then.”

Suddenly, his bubble of silence was popped, and the lights went on a split second later, and there stood an angry looking Starlight Glimmer.

“What is going on here?” she asked while tapping her hoof.

Discord felt awkward and tried to act suave, hiding the jewel behind his back-- right in the path of the moonlight shining in through the window.

“Why Starlight Glimmer; so nice to see you on this lovely night.”

Starlight wasn’t a bit impressed, and while it was true she never heard him or Spike making noise from the bubble, she was passing by after getting a glass of milk from the kitchen, when she noticed the shadows in the moonlight.

“What are you even doing here in the middle of the night?” she asked.

Discord tried to come up with an excuse, but the jewel began to glow behind him very brightly.

“The jewel!” cried Starlight.

Discord knew he was busted and revealed it, but as he did the jewel began to glow brighter like it had with Twilight.

“Uh… Uh-Oh…!”

“Oh, no!” cried Spike as he began to feel stranger, and before anyone could do anything, both Spike and Discord were sucked into the gem just like Twilight.

Starlight covered her eyes from the brightness, and when she looked again, the jewel was on the floor and both Spike and Discord were gone.

“Oh, no!” she cried “Not again!”

Shining Armor came to the room, rubbing his eyes. “What is all the noise?! You woke up Flurry Heart and she’s screaming like no tomorrow.”

He could then see Starlight clutching the jewel and in near tears.

“What’s the jewel doing here? I thought Celestia had it.”

Starlight got a hold of herself. “I’ve got to inform Princess Celestia. She must know of this!”

That’s when bright light began to shine in through the window and both Celestia and Luna appeared, and they both looked pretty upset.

Starlight gulped hard. “Y-Y-You’re majesties!”

Celestia nodded rather coldly at them both. “Starlight, Shining Armor…”

Both she and Luna could tell they had arrived too late.

“Spike and Discord…!” Starlight said motioning at the jewel.

“We figured that it was Discord.” said Luna.

She explained how she was carrying out her nightly duties around the palace, and that the jewel had been sealed behind a great big door with a spell only she or Celestia could break, or so they thought!

The guards posted by the gate couldn’t resist peeking through the large keyhole to just look at the jewel, but they could only see the big pillar where it rested, but no jewel at all, figuring it had been stolen!

When Luna saw this she raced for her sister, and they both figured only one creature to get past all the security, not set off any alarms and bypass their spell on the door!

Celestia sighed, “I blame myself for this. I should have placed the jewel in a more secure place.”

“It’s my fault too.” added Starlight “I should’ve been more strict with Discord.”

Shining Armor then noticed the jewel was starting to glow again in Starlght’s grasp.

“Quick, get it out of the moonlight!” he shouted, and in a panic, Starlight freaked, throwing the jewel away from her, and it landed right at Celestia’s hoofs.

Celestia gasped and would have kicked it away, but it was too late! The magic began to engulf her.

“Celestia!!” cried Starlight.

“No!!” cried Luna, but her sister had already vanished and the jewel fell to the ground. It stopped glowing having used up all the moonlight energy, but Luna collapsed by it in tears.

“…SISTER!!!!”

While all that was happening, The Titans and Twilight were going over what they knew about the murders that had been occurring, when suddenly Raven’s brooch began to glow.

“What’s happening?!” she cried.

Twilight realized, “The portal’s opened from Equestria! Someone from my world is about to come here!!”

Raven began to shake with the jewel as the glowing got bright. She grabbed her brooch of her cloak and threw it to the floor by the sofa as three enormous glows of light burst from the jewel, and three figures appeared on the floor.

Everyone looked at them, and Twilight couldn’t believe her eyes.

Celestia had taken on the form of a tall and very beautiful woman. Her skin was lighter toned than Twilight’s. Her hair was still multi-colored and highly voluminous, running way past her back and down to her kneecaps. She wore a beautiful white gown with hints of pink and a headband with a single sun-shaped jewel atop her head.

Discord, he took on the form of a rather tall, skinny, and elderly old man with a grey beard and a bald head, wearing a simple tan green suit and a gray cardigan. “Eww, what am I?!” he groaned.

As for Spike, he had become a purple and furry dog with floppy green ears and a tuft of hair, but unlike his Equestria Girl’s breed, he was now that of a shaggy retriever, and he could still talk.

He looked straight up at Twilight. He would recognize her anywhere, and both their expressions lit up and she embraced him warmly.

“Spike!”

Spike jumped up and started licking her face. “Oh, Twilight…! I’ve been so worried sick about you!”

Twilight just hugged him tighter.

“Hey! What are we, invisible?” grumbled Discord.

He was feeling himself all over, feeling strange in this humanoid form, and as for Celestia, she was down on all fours and looking herself all over. “What’s happened to me?!” she cried as she looked at her hands. “My hoofs…! My muzzle…!”

Twilight was surprised to see she was here too, but she waltzed over and helped Celestia stand upright on her two feet. She wobbled a bit and Twilight helped her balance. “Take it easy. It takes some adjusting, but you’ll get used to it.”

Celestia smiled bashfully, but nevertheless, she and Twilight hugged, and Discord sulked.

Robin cleared his throat. “Um, sorry to break up the moment, but who are all of you?”

“Oh…” said Twilight and she introduced the Titans to her friends. “They’ve all been taking care of me ever since I came here.”

Spike approached them first. “Wow, real superheroes. I mean, other than us.

I’m Spike. Glad to meet you all.”

Starfire couldn’t help but smother him cooing, “Oh, you are the cute doggie. Yes, you are! Yes, you are!”

Spike felt warm and mushy, “Um, actually I’m really a dragon, but… who cares.” he sighed as he drowsed in her arms.

“And I’m Discord, ruler of the world of Equestria, and all these guys’ big boss.”

Everyone could instantly tell he was fibbing, and he felt embarrassed. “Well, I’m a reality bending god at least.”

Celestia herself then held her head up high and wobbled a bit as she walked forward. “I am Celestia, Princess of Equestria, and grand monarch of all ponies.”

Showing their respect, the Titans all bowed to her.

“Your highness…” said Robin.

“Words cannot begin to express how grateful I am to you all for taking care of Princess Twilight.” said Celestia. “But… does anyone know how to send us back? That’s what I’d like to know.”

Twilight explained everything, and gave Raven back her brooch.

“Oh, isn’t this just dandy.” groaned Discord “We’re stuck here until the next full moon. Nice going, Spike!”

“Me?!” wailed Spike “You’re the one who took the jewel!”

“Well, you shouldn’t have let me use it then.”

Cyborg whistled loudly, “Yo’ chill!! There’s no sense in arguing about it. What’s done is done.”

Now discord was angry, “Why I ought to turn you into a soup-can!” he tried too, only to discover just as Twilight did, nothing happened.

“It’s no good, Discord” she told him “We haven’t any powers here. We’re nothing more than ordinary human beings, and a dog.”

Discord shook his finger viciously and blew on it, but it was all in vain.

Celestia made her way over the windows, carefully, and waved her hands trying to move the sun, but to no avail.

Spike didn’t even bother to try breathing fire. He knew he couldn’t.

He did however let out a great big yawn. “Sorry, I forgot it was the middle of the night back home.”

Even Discord and Celestia felt tired, and so the Titans felt obligated to offer them places to sleep as well.

Twilight allowed Spike and Discord to share Terra’s room with her; both of them would share the foldout sofa bed.

Starfire allowed Celestia to sleep in her bedroom, almost befitting for a princess.

“No fair!” grumbled Discord “Why do I have to share a room with him?”

“Because there aren’t any other rooms left with space to spare.” answered Twilight “And Celestia should have a room that suits her well, and Starfire’s is the best there is. So you may as well make do with things.”

“I’m just glad we finally found you, Twilight.” said Spike, “But I wish we could let everyone back home know too.”

Twilight realized this as well. What would all of Equestria be like when they discovered Celestia was gone too?”

Back in Equestria Luna was still distressed with worry for her sister and the others, as was Starlight.

Cadance came along when she heard Luna scream, and she was devastated to learn what had happened.

“Oh, this is really bad! It was hard enough keeping Twilight’s absence a secret. There’s no way we can keep secret about Celestia.”

Shining Armor was furious, but he knew yelling about it wouldn’t solve anything. He looked back and forth at everyone, and Luna looked up at him with a concerned look.

“It’s as simple as that.” he finally said “We tell the truth.”

Luna hung her head low cringing with grief of how her subjects and all the nations would react to the news, but it would be far better than living on lies.

“I shall inform the council at the palace, and after which, the news shall be made public.”

Shining Armor shuddered softly, “This is bound to have a lot of our enemies coming after us.”

Cadance agreed, “We’ll have to get the armies ready, double the guards and everything.”

Luna agreed, and as, now, acting grand monarch of all Equestria, she officially decreed to the group first, “Equestria is now officially on a tight lockdown and martial law until my sister and the others are returned.”

Starlight decided that she would close the School of Friendship until further notice as well.

“I hope nothing else goes horribly wrong for now.”

When Terra got to the mall, the place was starting to look a bit sorry too. A lot of the stores were having clearance sales for closing down as they were all going to be converted, and some were already closed, barred, and cleared out inside.

Just like the city things were changing, and people had to get over it and accept it.

At least there were a few places Terra could go to brows-- a few clothing stores, a shoe shop, and that electronics store, where the televisions we’re airing a movie, which Terra stopped to watch.

She could not believe her eyes, there were two figures, a guy and a girl standing in a park together, and they were breaking up, or rather the girl was dumping the guy.

“We’ve had a lot of great times together, but I’ve changed. It’s time to move on and forget about what we had.”

The guy didn’t seem to take it well, and he left in a huff.

Terra began to quiver as she pictured herself and Beast Boy back at school and she told him off just like those characters.

The manager of the store, a rather polite young man approached her and spoiled the movie. “Ending isn’t happy. That guy does himself in because he couldn’t bear to live without her, and she ends up regretting what she did.

I guess people need to think twice and reflect upon their actions.”

Terra felt most distressed. It was as if the whole world was telling her to stop this “charade” and reconcile with Beast Boy, and now it was getting extremely hard to fight it.

“What’s wrong with me?” she cried in her mind “Am I really regretting what I did? Do I really want Beast Boy back in my life; be a Teen Titans again?!”

Still struggling with her thoughts, she began to walk for the store exit and bumped right into someone-- Beast Boy!

She looked at him with surprised eyes and became lost in his eyes. His shocked eyes which narrowed into anger, and he just walked past her into the store.

Beast Boy completely ignored her as he seemingly began to browse around. She wanted to talk to him and approached him, but she couldn’t find any words to say, and she just left the store.

No sooner had she did Beast Boy’s expression fade into the evil that was controlling him.

“I thought I might find her here.” he thought silently “I still don’t understand how she can see me. Not that it matters. I can use this as part of my plan.”

He suddenly gasped and clutched his head as Beast Boy tried to seize control again.

“I’m not going to let you do this to her!”

“You can’t stop me!” thundered the evil, and he managed to shun Beast Boy’s goodness away continued with his plot.

He looked at the store security camera, and got out Beast Boy’s communicator. Having control of Beast Boy’s body had access to Beast Boy’s knowledge on how to use modern-day devices so that hardly anything was too strange to him.

He pointed the com straight at the camera and began to download from its source.

Then he stepped outside the store and began to steal footage from the mall security cameras, all while snickering wickedly. “Step one is complete!”

He began to feel a strain again as Beast Boy’s goodness corrupted him. “Give… me back… my body!!”

“Silence, weakling!” growled the evil, and once again he shunned Beast Boy back into the darkness.

He panted softly, but to him this struggle was wonderful. His plan was working perfectly already as he could feel the hate and anger building up inside.

“Yes…! It’s marvellous!” he sighed as he clenched his fists and felt his power growing.

Then he shook himself back to his senses, he had work to do, back at Titans Tower to further his plan.

It wasn’t until about lunchtime that Twilight’s friends felt rested enough to get up a little longer.

Starfire and Raven even loaded Celestia a better outfit than the big gown she had on so she could walk easier.

Raven loaned her a leotard. Starfire loaned her shorts, and boots, and at Raven suggestion, she restyled her long hair into a thick upright ponytail and tied around her forehead with a headband so it wouldn’t get caught or stepped on.

“Hmm…” she said as she viewed herself in the mirror, “I think this. Thank you both.”

The girls bowed to her.

“Why are we doing this?” Raven whispered to Starfire, “She may be a princess of her world, but that doesn’t apply here.”

“We should at least show manners!” protested Starfire.

Celestia giggled, “I can hear you.”

The girls looked up.

“I understand my place, ladies. I am your guest, and pleased to be. You don’t have to treat me like royalty. To be honest, it feels nice to feel like a normal pony-- er… that is “normal being” for once.”

Then she looked downhearted, “But I am extremely worried about my sister, and all my subjects in Equestria.”

There was a knock at the door.

“You may enter.” called Starfire.

Cyborg came in, and the first thing he said as he looked at Celestia, “Mmm-mm, looking pretty good.”

Celestia blushed.

“Came to ask if you wouldn’t mind hitting the town for lunch. I know of a great outdoor place, so we can take Spike with us too.”

Celestia was more than willing to go, and see the town.

“Wait! What of Beast Boy?” asked Starfire.

“Robin’s gone to check on him.” answered Cyborg.

Celestia had well been informed of Beast Boy, and she wanted to meet him, but she was aware of the situation between him and the others, especially Twilight.

Beast Boy had made it back to the tower just in time, and dispelled the shell of him on the bed, as Robin entered the sickbay.

The evil quickly subsided and let Beast Boy reassume control, but kept him well under control so as not to reveal anything of what he was planning.

“Beast Boy, you’re up?”

He nodded coldly at him.

“Um… how’s your hand?”

“It’s fine.” he answered softly.

Robin quickly explained about their three new gusts and how they the team was heading out for lunch.

“…No thanks, I have work to do here.”

Robin was surprised to hear him say that. Usually “Beast Boy” and “Work” did not ever find their ways together in the same sentence. Still, he wasn’t letting him off this time.

“You’re coming to lunch with us, and you’re not going to be rude, and besides we all want to talk to you about something.”

It was in vain that Beast Boy tried to refuse, and he knew this.

All this delighted the evil inside him, so he put his plans on hold for the moment, to let more anxiety and hate build up inside of him.

“Alright, I’ll come with you.”

He walked out of the sickbay, running into the group on their way out, and Spike suddenly felt stranger at the sight of him, and growled angrily.

“Spike!” snapped Twilight.

He snapped out of it and felt weird. “Sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

“So this is Beast Boy, huh?” asked Discord “Listen, love the pointed ears kid, and the green-skin… first-class.”

“Discord, don’t overdo it.” grumbled Twilight.

Celestia approached him tenderly and held out her hand, “Pleasure to meet you young man.”

Beast Boy hesitated at first, but slowly and softly held her hand. She could almost sense every ounce of coldness emitting from him, just as Twilight warned her.

“Well then,” said Robin “Let’s get going. I’m starved.”

Everyone headed off together, but Spike still had a strange feeling around Beast Boy-- dog senses feeling there was something way off about him.

Act 10: Realizing Mistakes

Cyborg took Twilight, Celestia, Discord, and Spike in the T-Car, just to give them all their first tastes of automotive travel. Robin followed on his cycle while the others just flew freely.

“So this is a… “Car?” asked Celestia “It seems most interesting.”

“This ain’t just any car,” said Cyborg “This is my car, and watch what else she can do!”

He revved the engine and did a wheelie.

“Whoa!” cried Spike, and he quivered in Twilight’s arms.

“Hey, watch it!” groaned Discord.

Twilight and Celestia only chuckled and enjoyed it.

“Sharp turn!” shouted Cyborg and he swerved round a corner. The ladies felt like they were on a roller-coaster, but the other two guys were feeling a bit green round the guts.

Cyborg then stopped. “I don’t get how you folks exist in your Equestria without cars.”

“It’s more than that.” said Twilight “We have movies on projectors, but no television. We have airships, but no airplanes or spaceships.”

“We do at least have video arcades, but they’re rarely used.” added Spike.

Discord looked out the window on the route, “Seems like this town could use some of it as well. Everywhere I look it’s-- how can I put this lightly-- Boring!”

“Discord!” snapped Twilight.

“He’s right.” said Spike “So far all I’ve seen are office complexes, construction zones, agencies, but hardly anything of fun and enjoyment.”

For the first time ever, since Twilight had arrived, Cyborg finally began to notice this.

The other Titans noticed this as well, but Beast Boy was not the least bit surprised having walked and flown among the “Disgraces” the past week.

Then, there was more as Cyborg turned up the road and would be able to see his favorite outdoor restaurant, only to find, “…It’s gone!”

The entire building had been demolished and was being cleared away by construction machines to convert it into a parking lot for the construction of a simple motel of condos.

All the other Titans stopped and touched down on the road just ahead.

“How can they do this?” cried Starfire.

“More change I guess.” said Robin.

As the gang looked around, the changes were finally starting to sink in and take their toll on them.

“Well, look who’s finally starting to get the message.” Beast Boy grumbled, but to himself.

Starfire flew up higher to see over the miles, and she could hardly see any places of fun, enjoyment, or any of the usual things; just more businesses, work establishments, and more places that were just boring or not of much use.

She did however see another outdoor restaurant just a mile down the road. “Perhaps we shall adjourn there?”

“We might as well.” said Robin.

Upon their arrival, the greeter looked a little sad, but she gladly allowed the gang three tables huddled together on the patio, and Spike was allowed to stay as long as they didn’t let him roam around.

Spike would have voiced his intentions to behave, but Twilight had warned him previously not to speak so as not to arouse suspicion about Equestria in a town full of rather unscrupulous people.

“We’ll feed you some of our table scraps.” Twilight promised.

Spike smiled.

When the waitress came out to take orders, she too looked rather sad and downhearted.

“Is everything okay?” asked Celestia.

“Oh, we’re just going out of business.” the lady replied and revealed that the joint had been purchased by a rich company that wished to demolish the place to setup an auto-dealers headquarters.

Everyone was shocked, except Beast Boy who wasn’t the least bit surprised.

“Okay, I’m all for cars and parts,” said Cyborg “But this is starting to get way out of hand. The city’s changing too much.”

The waitress sighed, “That’s the way things are. This whole city is becoming one big land of business. Pretty soon there won’t be a fun place left in the entire town.”

The others, except Beast Boy all gawked with their mouths wide-open.

“But that’s insane!” snapped Robin “They can’t just do this to the people-- take away all their joy and hangout places.”

“Changes are part of life,” Beast Boy said to him “And we have to accept them whether we approve of them or not.

…Isn’t that what you said?”

Robin looked crossed, but he couldn’t seem to protest. For the first time, he was finally starting to see some of the downsides to changes.

The Equestrians were also shocked.

“If I had my powers I’d be able liven this place up like that.” said Discord

“Excuse me?” asked the waitress.

Discord was about to spill the beans, when Twilight gave him a small kick to his ankle.

“Ow!” he groaned “Oh! Right… um, never mind.”

Orders were taken, and when it came to Beast Boy, “I’ll have the pulled pork on a kaiser.”

The Titans all gasped in shock.

“Uh… you’re a vegetarian.” Raven reminded him.

Beast Boy just shook his head not even looking at her, “Not anymore. Changes are part of life.”

The others all rolled their eyes back and forth with concern, and Robin was starting to get annoyed with Beast Boy saying that.

Still everyone ordered their lunch, while the evil inside Beast Boy snickered.

Twilight and Celestia both shivered slightly, even Spike felt his stomach give a little turn. Discord felt nothing, but asked “What’s got you three all quivering?”

Celestia knew the feeling “Something doesn’t feel right somewhere.”

“That’s what I’ve been feeling too.” said Twilight “My alicorn senses are picking up some kind of danger; something evil.”

The Titans all looked around, but everything seemed plain and simple, but they were growing concerned, because that killer was still on the loose.

“Just keep your eyes peeled for anything suspicious.” said Robin.

Meanwhile, as it had struck afternoon, Terra took up Miss Caroline’s offer and came to her apartment.

She looked pretty distraught.

“Come in, dear.” she said.

Her home office was setup in her study, and even had a couch for Terra to lie down on.

At first Terra didn’t say anything, and the sounds of the big wall clock ticking were loud enough to annoy anyone.

“Well…?” asked Caroline “You told me you were having guy problems.”

“Guy problems? I’m not having guy problems. Who ever said I had guy problems? I’m fine, you hear? Fine, fine, fine…!”

Caroline could see this was more serious than she thought. “Terra, you may as well confide in me. It’s not healthy to keep your feelings all bottled up like this. It can have more than just a negative impact on your school studies; it can affect your life as well.”

Terra looked very nervous, which told her that her life was already badly affected.

“I’ve been having bad dreams, and hallucinations.” And she explained about her vision as best she could, without revealing Beast Boy or Slade, trying to keep her secrets secret.

Caroline noted this, “Sounds to me like it’s your inner-conscience is feeling guilty over something that happened, and I must assume it’s a breakup, because it’s guy-trouble.”

Terra knew she was licked and had to confess, but she still chose her words carefully.

“I… I broke up with a guy who I really liked once. I told him to stop following me, and just leave me alone because I changed.”

Caroline looked up, “You broke up with someone because you changed? That doesn’t seem like a very valid reason to end a relationship.”

“There was more. I…” Terra paused trying to find courage to say what she wanted “I wanted to move on, because I had a hard life before, and I kept causing pain and suffering, especially to him. I didn’t want to hurt him anymore.”

Caroline pondered and thought, “I think I know where this is going.”

She almost hated herself for what she was about to do, but she knew this would help Terra come to grips with herself and confide in her better.

“Terra, there’s something you need to know on my own part as well.”

She reached into a drawer in the table next to her and pulled out a newspaper clipped from a year ago, when the Teen Titans had busted some crooks holding up the first national bank.

Terra recognized one of the Titans in the picture-- herself when she was a Titan-- and she cringed deeply.

“Th… that… that isn’t me in there.” she lied, and Caroline wasn’t fooled.

“I was there!” she stated “I remember that day well, that’s why I keep these clippings.”

She even pointed at a civilian who was standing behind, inside the bank. She had been held up in the robbery but the Titans had saved her, Terra in particular.

“You don’t ever forget the one who saves you.”

Terra tried to fake her way out of it, “I-I-I… really don’t remember any of that. I know people say I should, but I just don’t.”

Caroline shook her head at her and pulled out another clipping, the story showing a certain criminal attacking the Titans-- once again, Terra herself as Slade’s apprentice.

Terra was finding it harder and harder to keep herself in the dark.

“I know who you really are, dear,” said Caroline. “…And now I know what this is all about.”

Terra looked at her with a strange and yet frightful expression, and Caroline admitted, she had seen Terra and Beast boy interacting the day the Teen Titans had returned from their globe-trotting adventures against the Brotherhood of Evil.

She heard how Terra had claimed she didn’t remember, and then the very next day, while she though she and Beast Boy were alone in the empty school hallway, Caroline could hear them talking from her office door, only a few doors down.

She heard Terra dismiss Beast Boy with her “Things Change” speech, and saw Beast Boy run, broken-hearted, out of the building.

Terra felt in disgrace, which further confirmed Caroline’s theory, and Terra, now fully-exposed, was forced to admit the truth. “I didn’t want to live that kind of life. It was so painful. I did so many bad things. I just wanted to be normal and forget all the things I did.”

Caroline scribbled in her notes.

“…And?”

Terra turned and looked at her, and sighed miserably, “But I can’t get these thoughts out of my head, no matter what I try. I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I just forget about it?”

Caroline looked at her pitifully, “Well for one thing, dear, memories don’t ever go away just because you want them to.

I should know this especially when my first boyfriend dumped me because he wanted to go out with other girls.”

Terra felt shocked at such a thing, “Really? That happened to you?”

Caroline nodded. “It was the most painful event that ever happened to me and, try as I may, I can never forget it, and even if I could that doesn’t make it a good thing either.

And that’s the second thing: It’s our pasts that make up who we are and that shapes our lives. We can’t ignore where we came from, or how we get where we are in life.

You may think what you did was a good thing, but it looks to me as if it only caused both you and Beast Boy more pain.”

Terra remembered Beast Boy balking at her and scorning her for hurting him the way she did.

Caroline continued, “Let’s look at this from another point-of-view. While I may not know Beast Boy personally, I think I can tell that from what I heard, you two were very close once, and it sounded like he believed in you, and really cared for you.

While I can’t approve of stalking, I can understand why he did what he did.”

Terra clenched her fists trying to hide her ever-growing pain inside. “I did what I had to, for both of us. I was trying to make the future a better thing if we both just let go and move on.”

“Mm-hmm, who are trying to convince with that, me or yourself?”

Terra tried to come up with an excuse as best she could, but in the end she finally began to realize there was no way around it. Her actions were cold, cruel, and selfish for her own gains.

Caroline motioned for Terra to look at her, and she looked at her deeply like a mother to a child. “I’m very disappointed in you. You did exactly what my ex-boyfriend did-- you sacrificed your moral principles for something material. You lost far more than you gained, and to top it all off you hurt someone who really cared for you.

It may be understandable why you did what you did, but your behaviour and how you went about it was completely inexcusable.

Do you understand?”

Terra nodded tearfully. She had brought all this guilt and shame upon herself.

“What should I do?” she asked sadly, “I can’t take this pressure anymore. No matter where I go or what I do, I’ll never be able to shake these feelings off.”

Caroline was not one to force people to change, but she did have a suggestion to help Terra come to grips with things. “I think you need to take a moment, look deep inside, and you’ll find what’s really hurting you most.”

Terra relaxed on the sofa, closed her eyes, and looked deep inside.

All once her most pleasant memories of Beast Boy were shown as a lovely song played. “To Be in Love”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmaliM84qOw

So many memories, since the first day they met they were smitten with one another, and he taught her to believe in herself and promised to keep her unstable powers a secret.

Their first date at the theme park, where they almost had their first kiss…

And how he helped her break Slade’s control to just before she sacrificed herself to turn to stone to save the town.

“You were the best friend I ever had!”

This time, he Things Change memories didn’t occur, and they didn’t have to.

She woke up with her hands clasped to her eyes as she sobbed softly but painfully! “What have I done?!”

Caroline handed her a box of tissues, but she was proud that at least Terra finally admitted to her problem and mistake-- a good first step.

She gave Terra a few moments to get a hold of herself and dry up, but Terra was really upset with herself.

“I want him back in my life.” Terra confessed out loud “…But I don’t know how.”

“You don’t?” asked Caroline.

Terra shook her head and confessed that she wasn’t sure which way to go from here, or how to go about it.

She still wasn’t so sure if she wanted to give up her school life. Then again she wasn’t even so sure how to tell Beast Boy about this. “He seemed pretty mad at me the last time we talked. Personally I can’t blame him now.”

Caroline softy patted her shoulder and told her, “It sounds like you have a lot more thinking to do, and a lot to consider. I can’t really help you in this field, but I’m proud of you. You made a real breakthrough today.”

Terra dabbed her eyes one last time, and gave a very weak smile-- First time she had smiled in days.

“Thank you, Miss Caroline.”

Caroline smiled at her, “Why don’t you drop by my office first thing at school tomorrow, we can talk a little more if you need to.”

Terra agreed and then excused herself. She had a lot of thinking to do.

Caroline felt very content with herself.

Meanwhile, the Titans and the Equestrians were enjoying their meal, and slipping Spike some scraps as promised.

Beast Boy was eating his pork sandwich without much complaint, much to the Titans’ surprise.

“I can’t believe he’s eating meat, willing!” Cyborg whispered to Robin.

“…And he seems to be enjoying it.” added Robin

Beast Boy took another bite, and he protested in his mind.

“Dude, stop…! I don’t… eat… MEAT!!”

“Silence!” sneered the evil “I’ll eat whatever I like and however I like. Understand?!”

Poor Beast Boy couldn’t stop the evil from abusing his body.

The others all noticed Beast Boy had been rather quiet and hesitant all through the meal, but he did overhear Twilight explain to Celestia the terrible condition of the city, or that of the world they were in.

“I see…” said Celestia “You wish to help the people of this world establish more friendship into their lives?”

Twilight nodded, “I can’t just leave this place as it is. I’m worried the people could be devoured up by all the chaos and misery.”

“Chaos and misery, he?” muttered Discord, but everyone else, except for Beast Boy, heard him and gave him an angry glare.

“Oh, I mean… Ohhh, this world could use some tuning up.”

Celestia ignored him, but from what she had seen so far, with all the changes, as well as grumpy people in the streets, she agreed that the world could use improvement.

“Uh, don’t you realize what a big job that would be?” Raven asked.

“Big jobs are what we’re all about in Equestria.” said Spike.

“Spike,” said Robin “I’m not trying to discourage you but Equestria is just a giant country in your own world. We’re looking at an entire planet here, and many other worlds beyond.”

Beast Boy then spoke up, “…Which is why it’s pointless to even try.”

All was silent as everyone gawked at him.

“Care to prove me wrong?” Beast Boy asked. “You guys can do what you want, but I’m not for it.”

Starfire spoke calmly towards him, “Beast Boy, surely you do not mean that. You are not willing to try and embrace the potential to really make a difference.”

“…Nope.”

Celestia was shocked to hear him talk down to and give up hopes of friendship like this, not that she hadn’t really expected it from what Twilight had warned her. Now she could see the situation was more serious than she thought.

“Beast Boy, I have been told about your troubles, and I also am now fully aware of your feelings towards it.”

Beast Boy only chuckled softly. “You think you are, but I know for a fact you aren’t.”

Celestia felt a bit offended.

“Beast Boy,” Robin said “Please try to show a little respect. These beings are our guests.”

Beast Boy felt his rage boiling inside, much to the evil’s delight.

Twilight gave Robin a look telling him to take it easy so as not to worsen things, and then she decided to ask Beast Boy.

“Beast Boy, I’m asking you nicely. Will you please tell us why you hate friendship so much, and why you’re going to incredible lengths to stray from it and discourage it?”

Discord leaned closer to Beast Boy and whispered, “She can get really stubborn, so you might as well come clean.”

The other Titans all looked very eager to hear what he had to say, but once again, Beast Boy refused to confide in them.

“Yo’ man, we want to help you.” protested Cyborg “But how can we if you don’t spill?”

“Because you can’t help me, no one can. Got it?!” Beast Boy snapped.

Everyone winced softly, and features began to harden.

“What do you mean “We would not understand?” asked Starfire, but Beast Boy had had enough. He didn’t have to sit here and take all this interrogation.

So he got up to leave, and Raven was about to use her powers to sit him back down again, but Robin gave her a look telling her cease, and he spoke deeply but calmly to Beast Boy.

“Beast Boy, we’re just trying to help you. If you don’t want to tell us, fine, but don’t get expect to get anywhere if you don’t want to help yourself.”

Beast Boy clenched his quivering fists and glared furiously at him, but he just turned his back, leaving behind some money for his share of the meal, and he changed into a bird and took off again.

Discord was pretty livid. “Well, I must say, I’ve met my share of creatures with attitude, but this is an entirely new level.”

“That makes two of us.” said Raven “I keep telling you all, he’s a hopeless case, and there’s no point in helping someone who doesn’t want to be helped.”

“Finally, something we can agree one.” agreed Discord.

“I’m not so sure of that,” said Celestia “While I don’t approve of his attitude myself, I think it can well established that he truly feels insecure about himself. He seems to be convinced that any attempts to bond with him, help him, or improve his life will be pointless.”

“Yeah, but why is he like this?” asked Cyborg “We get something bad happened to him, and not just getting dumped by Terra, but what is it?”

“He will not share with us as you have seen.” added Starfire.

“She’s got a point there.” agreed Spike.

Twilight cleared her throat, “Princess, can I tell you an idea I have?”

Celestia leaned over as Twilight whispered into her ear.

Celestia agreed almost at once, “It just may help a little, if the Titans approve.”

She then turned to Robin and told the suggestion, and the Titans were ever surprised!

“You want to take Beast Boy with you, back to Equestria?” Robin asked.

“Whoa-hoa! Timeout here.” called Discord.

“Just for a visit.” said Twilight “We talked about this, and it is possible for us to travel back and forth between worlds, thanks to Raven’s jewel.”

Raven looked at her brooch, and then she asked, “But why bring Beast Boy to your world?”

Twilight explained, “Beast Boy needs help like you all said, and what better kind of help than for me and all of my friends back home to show him the things he’s abandoned, and realize how wondrous they can be again.”

“And this will help him go back to his old cheerful ways?” asked Starfire.

“Think of it as a therapeutic vacation.” said Cyborg.

“What have we got to lose?” agreed Raven.

Robin thought about it deeply, and answered “Okay, we’ll do it, but I suggest we not tell him this. He’ll refuse the first chance he hears.”

It was then agreed, the best choice would be to wait until the next full moon, which would be tomorrow night, and then knock Beast Boy unconscious so the Equestrians could take him without trouble.

“How long do you think the treatment will last?” Robin asked.

Celestia was not sure, “I’ve never seen a case this severe before. It could take a while.”

Nobody said anything after that, right now Robin was more concerned with other things, like all the changes in the city, which he finally saw were becoming a bit overbearing, not to mention that mysterious killer was still on the loose!

As Beast Boy continued to fly towards the tower, the evil inside him snickered sinisterly.

Author's Notes:

*Even during the holidays, I don't stop for pretty much ANYTHING!!*

Unfortunately, Terra, like the rest of the characters are in my world, where redeeming qualities or realizing your errors and all that jazz... will get you NOWHERE!!

Then again, even outside of my world, people don't care about redeeming qualities anyway.

To many people you have to ACT and DO THINGS a certain way to be acceptable. So in other words, it's all about PERSONAL SATISFACTION

"You wanna write, write it good!" (ie: You write it the way I want it to be)

"He/She has no redeeming qualities. He/She a jerk, and he did wrong in the first place." (ie: I/you refuse to see any good in them)

Well, if that's the way people want it... so be it. Redeeming Qualities (IF ANY) now may as well mean next to nothing in fiction for any character... canon or not.