//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: Decisions and Deadliness // Story: Friendship is Failure #3: Beast Boy in Equestria // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Earlier in Equestria… Beast Boy went straight back to Fluttershy’s after dark, after spending a while recovering from finally letting out his life story. They had a nice dinner, and just before they went to bed. “Are you going to be okay, Beast Boy?” Fluttershy asked. “Yeah, I’ll be okay.” he answered “To be honest; it felt sort of great getting all that off my chest today.” “Okay…” she walked up the small flight of stairs to her bedroom, stopping halfway up “Um… Beast Boy…?” “Hmm…?” She was trembling, and blushing “Um… well… I…” she stammered, and then she finally managed to say “I know it’s hard for you, but… believe me when I say… you can trust me.” Her voice sounded so sweet, so innocent, and honest… just like many others who promised him that and all ended up turning on him. Yet, he at least found courage to say “I’ll try… I really will.” She felt less nervous now and continued all the way to her room, but Angel was no impressed, and gave her a straight look while tapping his foot as if he was trying to ask “…Is that all you had to say?” She blushed again, and rubbed her hoof through her mane. “I can’t tell him, Angel.” She whispered softly not wanting to be overheard “I’m not even really sure if I really like him that way, or if he really likes me that way. He’s only been here for half a week.” Angel rolled his eyes, as if to say “You’re hopeless.” but he just walked off to his bed basket. Fluttershy hung her head in shame and embarrassment, and she wondered what Beast Boy was thinking. As he lay on the couch, he was continuing to contemplate over things. He still wasn’t exactly too keen on going back to his own world, and after being in Equestria for almost a week, he did find it all so fascinating… despite he had a really rotten beginning when he confused for Changeling and nearly sentenced away. Then again it wasn’t really so bad here. Everyone was trying to be nice, and he was starting to fit in well, despite there being no video games, arcades, but there were skate parks, theaters, and even burgers and pizza. “What’s happening to me?” he thought “It’s like I’m actually changing, or willing to accept new things. Almost like I could stay here… like, permanent?” He thought it a really crazy idea, but then again it did look to have promises, and he was still convinced going back wouldn’t be a smart move and that no one would actually miss him. There was a lot he could learn and discover about Equestria and the creatures in it. Twilight could probably even hep him learn to control his unicorn magic, and Fluttershy… …She was still the kindest, sweetest creature he had ever known. Thinking that made him fantasize about her again, and what his life would be like if they really stayed… He thought it all with a song I lived a hard life, and I and began to see That life’s not worth living, at least not for me But suddenly now, I may have one more chance, to fix up my life, and try a romance. My dear Fluttershy, I can’t help think this way, But you’ve helped me feel better more and more each day It’s clear that our feelings are starting to grow It could be a sign that both of us know He imagined they actually went on dates-- dinner, dancing, and of course simple things like theme parks, the movies or just staying in and watching the stars in the sky-- and naturally they would gaze into each other’s eyes, and they would share a kiss…! In a white flash, he then pictured them both of them, just married, under a shower of rice and flower petals, and all the others wishing them the best of luck, and then flash forwarded to a family life of they and their little foals. I can picture a marriage, for me and for you I picture a family with our kids too We’d all be happy; we’d all be so tight For the first time in my life, things would be right. Who knows, who can tell; it all might just be A new hope, a new life, for you and for… Me. He suddenly snapped out of his fantasy and scolded himself for even thinking like that. “What am I thinking? It’ll just blow up in my face again… it always does.” Unable to figure out what really to do decide, he exhausted himself, and he drifted off to sleep. Terra began to awaken. She still felt a little woozy. She thought she was seeing bright lights at the end of a long dark tunnel, but it was actually the glistening and shimmering of mountains of gold, jewels and other fancy treasures along the walls of a cave with torches and candles lit all around. “Where am I?” she groaned. That’s when she noticed that she was bound up tightly by glowing golden chains. She struggled and pulled to shake them loose. “It’s no use…” a familiar voice called to you “Those are special enchanted chains I conjured. The more you struggle, the tighter they get.” She saw him sitting on a pile of gold bars, staring down at her, and she finally understood they were in the old beach cave, and obviously all that was surrounding them were all the goods and money he had stolen from the city. “Beast Boy…! Why are you doing this?” He waved his finger at her going “Uh-Uh-Uhn…! Things aren’t always as they seem.” he hissed at her. Hearing that made Terra remember what Jerome had told her; “Things aren’t always as they seem.” She looked deeply at his eyes, and he gazed back at her. Though she had looked into his eyes many times, whether he was strangling lovingly or angrily at her, something really felt different. Finally, it all clicked in, and her blood ran cold. “You… you’re not Beast Boy!” He sarcastically applauded her. “Bravo! Here, you win a prize.” He mocked as he flicked a gold coin at her forehead. “Ow!” “Yes, I confess. I am not Beast Boy. It is only an astonishing coincidence that I physically resemble him… with the exception that I cannot morph into animals.” Terra’s features hardened and she demanded answers. “Who are you? Where is Beast Boy?” He snickered at her. “My name is Changeling. I am a master thief from the World of Equestria, and I have done many terrible things in my conquest for riches and power.” He pulled out his amulet explaining how powerful it was, and through its magic he showed Terra parts of his past, as well as taking a short moment to explain about Equestria. Terra thought it was astonishing; a whole world in another dimension inhabited by magical, talking ponies, other creatures. “I come from a long lone line of thieves.” Changeling explained. “My father, his father, and his and all their fathers before them were all thieves. All were equally as skilled, equally as ruthless as I am. Anyone who dared to stand up to us… usually ended up meeting their eternal reward!” There were images shown of many brave ponies standing up to the thieves, all ended up being hurt, or slaughtered, much to Terra’s fear and disgust. “That’s just sick!” she growled. “So, what…!” remarked Changeling “We thieves can’t show too much mercy. That leads to weakening, and that means as soon as people find out what a pansy you are, they can over power, then it’s nothing but work-work-work!” He held up the amulet again, “Generations ago, this was forged by my ancestors. Enchanted with incredible power from the many victims we defeated who dared to stand up to us and failed. For generations it was passed down, but according to my father, my grandfather lost the amulet while being forced to flee from the authorities. With the amulet lost, my family was forced to excel in extreme caution when going about business. Sadly, my grandfather was captured, and locked up until he perished, and my father lost his life during a dangerous heist. He was cornered by the authorities, and would rather have taken his own life than rot in jail. Fortunately, at my age, I was already skilled enough, having learned everything my family taught me, to fend for myself; scavenging for whatever scraps I could find to feed myself while robbing others of their money and goods to sustain me. Then, by a stroke of fate, I found my family’s amulet, on the cart belonging to a traveling merchant, and seeing as it was rightfully my birthright to begin with… I simply took it. With the amulet in my possession, I began to use its magic to take my thieving skills to a whole new level, stealing more and more than I ever had. I became so elusive and slick that many were determined to capture me and claim the reward on my head. It became harder and harder to maintain my style of life, until I had heard of this world and the only entry was in Princess Twilight Sparkle’s castle. So I crept inside and snuck through the portal with her on her last trip here. I avoided capture and found my way to your city where no one would ever find or suspect me, and then I ran into your friend, and I realized he’d be the perfect decoy. So I sent him back to Equestria, where I’m certain the ponies of my world have confused him for me as we do resemble one another. And of course, a criminal like me, the punishment is plain and clear.” The images faded, and Changeling grinned wickedly at Terra, who was wide-eyed with her blood running cold, “You… You mean he’s--?!” “At the very least, locked up for life…” said Changeling “Or worse…” and he dragged his finger across his throat “Either way, you won’t be seeing him ever again, seeing as he isn’t even in this world anymore.” Terra sat frozen with sadness and shock. “No…! Beast Boy…!” she peeped “You can’t be!” “Aww… boo-hoo…” Changeling mocked “Well, look on the Brightside. He’ll never bother you again. Isn’t that what you wanted-- Change, a new life? Oh, but wait… what am I saying, look at you now. You’ve done a lot of thinking, haven’t you? You finally realized what’s more important to you. …Well, too little, too late.” Terra then glared at him furiously, and she tried to use her powers to throw rocks at him… but nothing happened. Changeling chuckled, “Sorry, my dear, but as long as you’re in those chains, I’m afraid your powers are as worthless as your begs and pleas.” She stopped struggling, but her outrage remained, “When the Titans find out who you really are…” “Oh, they will eventually...!” said Changeling “Not that it makes any difference to me. Besides, you’re the only one who knows any of this at the moment, and of course I can’t have that. A blabbermouth would be far too inconvenient for my plans.” He snapped his fingers, and they both teleported to another area inside the cave. “You see, as a thief I prefer to keep things nice and clean. Therefore, I made this little pit in case I’d ever have to deal with intruders or blabbermouths.” Terra took that last one rather offensively, but she suddenly could hear water seeping in as well as waves from the ocean sweeping by, making her realize what was about to happen…! “That’s right…” hissed Changeling, “At the time of night, the hide tides are coming in, and at dawn this part of the cave will flood, and I really don’t think you can swim with both your hands tied behind your back while chained to a pillar!” Terra struggled once more, but she still couldn’t break free, use her powers or pretty much anything. Changeling laughed, “Oh, what I’d give to stay here and watch you perish, but I do have an act to keep up, and a lovely little Raven to bring into my cages.” he licked his lips lustfully, and then he vanished again leaving her all alone with nothing but a couple of lanterns and the sound of the water softly seeping in, and slowly creeping towards her from the mouth of the cave. She tried think all she could of how to get out, but it was hard for her under this much pressure, especially from what she had heard about Beast Boy. She didn’t want to believe he was either locked up for life or on the run, but after everything else… she could believe nearly anything. “Beast Boy!” she cried softly “You can’t be gone! I need you! I need help!” As strange and as nearly improbable as it would be to many; Beast Boy sat up on the couch as if he had actually heard her pleas. “Terra…? No, it can’t be.” He then lay back down, but he couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was definitely up!