//------------------------------// // Chapter 18: Desperate Mission // Story: Friendship is Failure #3: Beast Boy in Equestria // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Changeling made his way back to Titan’s tower, and he beamed his way in through the window. “So much for her.” He grumbled. “So much for who?” asked Cyborg, his presence startled him. He quickly stowed away his amulet. “You startled me.” Cyborg felt confused, “You know I come out here at 2 am for a late bite.” Changeling felt a near slip coming. “Come to think of it, what are you doin’ up so late?” Changeling, being slick of course; he was able to lie his way out of it so easily. “I… couldn’t sleep too well. So I came out here to stretch my legs. I’m sure I can catch some Zs now. Goodnight.” Then he went off with Cyborg thinking he sounded a bit too slick there, but he brushed it off and continued with his snack-- a big hero sandwich, which he devoured rather quickly. Changeling went back to Beast Boy’s room, “Oh, that was too close.” he peeped softly “I won’t be able to make my move like this. I’ll have to wait until its daylight. Then I’ll have a better chance.” he paused and looked out the window, “As for that meddler, she’ll be submerged by sunrise.” Later, about an hour before dawn, the high tide was coming in faster than ever, and Terra was already up to her chest in water. Very soon it would go past her head and up to the top of the cave, and she couldn’t break free of the chains, no matter how hard she struggled. However, she suddenly felt the pillar she was bound to beginning to shift slightly, due to the water rushing in and eroding the rock. She pulled, and tugged simultaneously and rigorously. The rock became more and more loose with each struggle before crumpling enough for her to break loose, but she was still bound by the chains and the water was still coming in. Even though she found she’d be able to swim while tied up, she couldn’t hope to swim out through the incoming current. Suddenly, she looked up and saw sunlight from the rising sun shining through several cracks in the roof of the cave, indicating the rock was weak. “If could just get up there…” she said to herself, but she ultimately found she could never reach that high, and she would have to wait as the water continued to come in. As the water rose higher, she was able to float up, up, to the roof of the cave until she was close enough for her head to reach the rocks. “Oh, boy…! This is so going to hurt!” she groaned, but she then positioned herself so she was uptight straight, and she sank to the floor, and then spring herself up like a missile, slamming head first into the rock with a CRASH!! Her head really ached and she nearly passed out. However, that single head-butt made the rock started to crack and crumple, making a huge hole in the ceiling. She couldn’t escape, but at least she had created herself a much needed air pocket to ride out the tide. “I’ve still got to get out of here and warn the Titans.” she cried to herself. “Help…!! …HELP!!!” she shouted and cried, but no one was anywhere near to hear her, especially with the roaring waters rushing in. While in Equestria, it was early sunrise, and Beast Boy woke up for the umpteenth time, as if he could hear Terra calling out for help. “Beast Boy…?” Fluttershy called as she came downstairs in her bathrobe “Are you alright? You’ve been groaning in your sleep.” He looked at her with a deep concern, “Fluttershy… I think something’s really wrong. I need to talk with Twilight.” Fluttershy was about to protest that it was much too early in the morning to for that, when suddenly and letter appeared with a soft tingling sound like a small alarm clock, obviously meant to wake them up. Fluttershy grabbed it and read it, “It’s from Twilight…” It read: “Dear Fluttershy and Beast Boy… I know it’s early, but Princess Celestia has asked us all to meet at Rainbow Castle this morning. It concerns the mission to the human world. Please come over as soon as you get this letter. Again, I’m really to wake you up. I wouldn’t if it weren’t so important. : Princess Twilight Sparkle.” The two decided to go over to the castle at once, of course after taking a quick, and rather hilarious rush about to ensure all the animals would be fed when they woke up. (Music plays) They almost ended up feeding the wrong animals the wrong things-- nuts to the chickens, birdseed to the squirrels, even the bear got Angel’s carrot, which Angel promptly grabbed and replaced with a jar of honey. Once that was all done, they went off to the castle. Once there, they found all the others were there waiting for them, even the royal sisters had come. “Good, you’re all here.” said Celestia “Now we can begin.” The sisters announced that after much discussion and thinking it over, “It has been decided, all of you will accompany Princess Twilight sparkle on her mission, to go to the human world to find and capture Changeling, and bring him back to Equestria.” “ALL OF US?!!” the Mane six all cried. “You mean we all get to go to the human world?” asked Applejack. The sisters nodded in reassurance. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were giddy with excitement. “This is AWE-SOME!” cried Rainbow. “Ah! I’m so excited! I can’t wait! When do we go? I’m ready if you are!” spouted Pinkie. Twilight then lifted them up with her magic, telling them to calm down and get a hold of themselves. “This isn’t some holiday getaway!” she reminded them “We’re going after a criminal mastermind.” “Yes…” agreed Rarity “But what I wish to know is, why are we all going?” “We’ve never been to the Human World before. We’ve only heard stories.” added Fluttershy. Princess Luna explained, “We had attempted to contact Sunset Shimmer and inform her of the impending danger, but she does not respond, perhaps it is due to the fact that she has forgotten to take her message book with her on her school trip.” Celestia nodded and added “Because of this, there is no way we can warn her or any of Twilight’s friends of impending danger, and that is why all of you must go…” she paused and cast a look at Beast Boy “And that includes YOU as well, Beast Boy.” Beast Boy almost felt as if she was scolding him, but before he could ask why, Twilight could get the drift of what Celestia was getting on. “If Changeling really is in your home city, we’ll need you there. You know it better than any of us would.” “Twilight Sparkle is right.” agreed Celestia. “We will need your guidance, Beast Boy. I understand how difficult it will be for you, but we are in desperate need of your help.” “Besides, you’re a superhero. That’s what heroes do, right?” added Spike. The others all gazed at Beast Boy, agreeing with what Spike said, and hoping he would realize the full seriousness of it all. Despite his obvious and overwhelming frustration, Beast Boy couldn’t ignore those cries from Terra he was certain he heard, and seeing as the others were really depending on him… as well as Fluttershy-- one look at her eyes… “Alright… I’ll do it!” The others smiled proudly at him, though Fluttershy more lovingly at him. “I guess I’m still just a big softie.” Beast Boy thought to himself. He was hoping dearly that he wasn’t regretting this decision; not that he was actually given a real decision anyway! “When do we leave?” asked Twilight. “Immediately.” replied Celestia, “But before you all go, Princess Luna and I have something for you six ponies.” The Mane six gathered around and the two sisters combined their magic to bring forth a small stylish box, which Rarity took an instant liking too, but inside the box, the ponies were mesmerized by what they saw. “The Elements of Harmony!” cried Twilight. “But how?” asked Applejack “I thought they had to stay with the Tree of Harmony, or bad things would happen.” Celestia assured them all, “The Tree of Harmony has more than enough power to sustain the kingdom, and this situation calls for drastic measures.” Princess Luna added, “We believe the Elements of Harmony may be essential to helping defeat the power of the amulet Changeling wields. We aren’t fully certain, but you must take them with you.” Heeding the advice of the sisters, each pony took their respective element, which magically transformed into the five necklaces and Twilight’s old crown. “It feels so cool to be wearing this again.” said Pinkie. Rarity admired her reflection in her elemental jewel. “Oh, it’s been such a wong time. Hasn’t it…” she cooed as if she were addressing a baby. Spike and Beast Boy felt a little left out, not receiving anything special. Though Beast Boy had nothing really to complain or sulk over, since he would be his old self again and regain his animal powers. Soon, everyone gathered in the library where the Mirror Portal was charged up and ready to take them all to the human world. Rainbow Dash was so excited she could barely contain herself. “Come on, hurry up already!” she whined. “Rainbow, I need to concentrate!” sneered Twilight “I have to make sure everything is just fine with the teleporter, or who knows where we may end up.” Fluttershy felt her legs quaking more than ever before, but Beast Boy placed his hoof on her back, comforting her, though he himself had no idea what exactly how things were about to go, he smiled lovingly at her. The portal started to glow, “We’re ready…” said Twilight “Are you all ready?” All her friends nodded bravely. “Good luck to you all.” Celestia said as she bowed to her subjects, Luna bowed as well sharring her sisters blessing on everyone, and they all bowed back to the sisters before all dashing at the mirror and warping to the Human World. “I really hope we have made the right choice, sister.” said Luna. Celestia sighed softly, “I hope so too, but just the same… there’s no telling what sort of evil magic that creature is capable of!”