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.