//------------------------------// // Chapter 23: Battle Time! // Story: Friendship is Failure #3: Beast Boy in Equestria // by DakariKingMykan //------------------------------// CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE The sky was nearly as dark as night. The lightning and thunder were going constantly, and it wouldn’t be long before the rain began to fall. The last bank in town, the only one that hadn’t been robbed was already emptied out of all its assets, and all the staff and security were powerless to stand up to Changeling and his power. “Give my regards to the poor.” Changeling mocked to everyone as he left the bank through the front doors, and naturally he found so many police cars and swat teams armed to the teeth surrounding the bank. “Freeze!” the captain shouted “We have you completely surrounded.” Changeling sighed smugly, and he help up his amulet and sent a magical shockwave at all the officers, knocking them over and disabling their weapons at the same time, even making all their cars explode. Small fires and damages spread out all over the street, and the police and swat-troops were now trembling with fear. Jackie and Jillian were nearby and saw him. Still thinking he was Beast Boy, and wanting revenge for throwing them in that manure truck the other day, Jillian picked up a rock to throw at him. “No, don’t!” Jackie cried, but Jillian already tossed the rock… not that Changeling hadn’t seen, or heard, and used his powers to suddenly halt the rock in midair just inches before, and sent it flying back at naughty girls, bank-shooting them both in their heads. They both collapsed out cold. “Some creatures just never learn!” Changeling grumbled. Then he called out to everyone in the area “Anybody else who wishes to be foolish?” There was a small moment of silence, and someone called out, “We do, but we’re not going to be foolish!” Changeling looked up and saw the Titans standing atop the bank, which already shocked him enough, but three of the Equestria Girls, whom he immediately could tell… “Twilight Sparkle…?! It can’t be!” She glared furiously at him, “It’s time you answered for every horrible thing you’ve done, Changeling!” “Yeah!” growled Rainbow. “Um… yeah…” Fluttershy peeped, weekly. Changeling, as outraged as he was decided to seize the opportunity, “I suppose it will be worth it, defeating you and gaining those precious Elements of Harmony you possess. I’m sure they’re bound to bring me a great fortune and power.” “I am starting to feel the invisible.” grumbled Starfire. The boys felt the same, but they, the girls and Changeling all stood ready to brawl. “Go!” shouted Robin, and they all leapt off the roof, though Fluttershy hesitated, but Rainbow pulled her down. They all then charged at Changeling, but he stood where he was and did nothing at all… Then, a huge wall of black light emerged right in front of him, and the team bounced off it like rubber and ricocheted backwards. “What the--?!” snapped Cyborg, then he and everyone saw standing on another roof, “Raven!” cried Robin “What are you doing?” “Defending my heartthrob, that’s what.” Raven answered, and she gazed loving down at Changeling. “Did she just say “heartthrob?” Rainbow asked in disgust. Even the Titans were confused, but Twilight could see Raven’s empty, and small shimmering in Changeling’s eyes that emitted from Raven’s. “She’s under a spell!” “We must try and break the spell!” cried Starfire. Changeling snickered “I’m afraid that’s easier said than done.” Then he looked up at Raven, “Would you like the honors, my sweet?” Raven fluttered her eyes at him, “I thought you’d never ask.” Then she gazed sharply at the others. “Raven, stop!” cried Robin, but Raven already leapt down from the roof and fired a huge magical zap at the team, forcing them to scatter. “Raven, come on, it’s us!” Cyborg called to her. “It’s no use, she can’t hear you.” cried Twilight. Raven’s eyes and her hands were glowing brightly, or rather darkly as she looked ready for more. As much as Robin didn’t want to fight his friend, he and the others knew they had to at least defend themselves and try to hold her down to try and break the spell. Robin lunged forth to catch Raven and hold her, but she swerved causing him to miss, and the other Titans jumped in, but she skillfully swerved and evaded their every move. Starfire fired her star-bolts around Raven hoping to distract her. It seemed to work, and Starfire got close enough to grab her by the wrists. “Raven, please… we wish to help you!” Raven hissed like a spider and kicked her in the stomach knocking her into Robin, but then Cyborg grabbed her from behind and lifted her up off her feet. “Let me go! Let me go!” she shouted. “Twilight, do you thing, girl!” Cyborg called “Hurry!” Twilight and the girls stood together, and shined their Elements on Raven… “Oh, no you don’t!” shouted Changeling as he held out his amulet, staving off the Elements’ powers, and sent out a magical shockwave the girls were barely able to dodge, and they all rolled along the ground. Raven then used her powers to blow in Cyborg face so he let her go, and she dashed to Changeling’s side. “It’s no use...” cried Twilight “Three elements aren’t powerful enough. We need all six.” Changeling laughed maniacally, “Too bad you didn’t think of that before. Now, it will cost you dearly…!” He held up his amulet to blast them all when suddenly a flying rock came out of nowhere and struck him, “A’rgh! My hand…!” He turned and looked back, and he saw where the rock had come from; Terra stood at the end of the street. “Terra!” cried Robin. Starfire and cyborg could hardly believe it, but it was her. “Long time, no see, Titans.” She said with a smirk. And standing next to her were Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack. “Girls, most excellent timing!” called Rainbow. “Thank goodness you’re all safe.” added Fluttershy. The girls smiled at their friends, and then glared at Changeling. As outraged as he was, he still didn’t feel too discouraged, “You saved me a lot of trouble of hunting you down. Now I can finish you all right here in one easy swoop.” “Do the math, Changeling…” snapped Robin “There’s nine of us and only you and Raven.” “Do we look scared to you?” sneered Raven. “Hmm… I’d say more annoyed than scared.” said Pinkie. “Point is, we’re gonna shut you down for good, ya dirty thief!” snarled Applejack, and all the others nodded in agreement with her. Then, like magic, all six elements began to glow, and the Equestrians seemed to transform, spouting pony ears, tails, Twilight, Rainbow and Fluttershy even got their wings. “Whoa! Now that is one heck of a thing.” murmured Cyborg. “Oh, this ought to be amusing!” snarled Changeling, and with that a huge strike of lightning flashed followed by thunder, and a heavy rain began to fall as the battle began. All the Equestrians all tried to huddle together to combine their powers, Changeling fired another magical blast forcing them to scatter. Then the Titans and Terra lunged for him, punching, kicking, and attempting to get at him with their powers, but he skillfully blocked and evaded their every attack and attacked them back mercilessly, sending them all crashing in different directions. The Titans and the Equestrians all got back up and lunged for him again, only for Changeling run off to attack only some of them at a time. While running, Starfire mercilessly unleashed her star bolts, and Twilight fired magical blasts, and he fired his own blasts back at them. Then they all skidded to a halt, and Changeling lunged at them, giving them both a huge shove sending them sailing backwards and hitting the wall. Cyborg fired his sonic cannon from behind, but Changeling saw and dodged it, which gave Robin the chance to throw his smoke-bomb balls hitting him hard. “Get him!” shouted Robin, but as he Cyborg and Rarity and Pinkie dashed forth, Raven swooped down in front of them, “Azarath… Metrion… ZINTHOS!!” and used her power to send two damaged police cars crashing at them forcing them to leap out of the way. Raven snickered, but she was suddenly levitated up really high on a rock, and Terra came flying in on another rock. “Bet you never thought you’d see me again, huh?” Raven growled, used her own powers to take the rock away from under Terra causing her to fall, but Rainbow Dash swooped in and caught her, and placed her safely on a roof. “You saved me!” “Ah, don’t get all sappy about it.” said Rainbow, then she soared back down to the battle. Changeling brushed the smoke off of him as Rainbow and Applejack lunged at him. Punches and kicks flew; Applejack even got down on all fours for a buck and kicked him hard in the back sending him soaring, tumbling backwards in midair, but Changeling fired a huge beam at them, resulting a small explosion that threw them off their feet. Changeling landed safely on his feet right near Fluttershy, and she was already trembling so frightfully. He simply leaned in softly and let out a tiny little “Boo.” She cowered ever so miserably. “Hey!” Cyborg shouted as he and Robin dashed forth to help, “Pick on someone your own size!” Robin called. “How about easy pickings?!” shouted Changeling, and he blasted at Robin hard, making him collide into Cyborg. Terra and Twilight unleashed a barrage of rocks and magical bolts at him, but Raven popped up and used her magic to repel it all right back at them. “WATCH OUT!!” screamed Twilight as everyone scattered about to avoid getting hit. The team all huddled together and Changeling laughed at them, “Well, I’m waiting…” he mocked at them “When are you going to actually defeat me? Oh, that’s right… YOU CAN’T!” He zapped at them again, nearly knocking them down. “We have to get his amulet!” said Robin. “Right, it’s our only chance.” agreed Twilight. Changeling of course heard them and waved his amulet teasingly in front of them “You want it? Come and get it!” Raven hissed at the team. “Go!” shouted Robin, and everyone lunged forth, then split up to scatter about to come at him from all angles. Unfortunately, it was a struggle just to try and even get near him! Every chance they got, Changeling leapt out of the way, or fought back to stave off their every attempt to get at him. Raven helped him by using her power to throw more cars, lampposts, and boulders their way. Robin managed to sneak through and grabbed at Changeling’s arms engaging in a struggle, but he couldn’t go for the amulet around his neck. “Is that your best?” Changeling sneered and he gave Robin a huge shove, sending him crashing into the others. “Come on, girls…!” cried Twilight, and she and the Equestrians all lined up again to try and combine their powers, “Think again…!” snapped Raven, and she used her power to grab the three flyers of the sky, and bind the others down below in chains of dark light. Starfire and Cyborg rushed at Changeling, but he teleported out of the way causing them to crash hard into a wall. “Oh, so close, yet so far!” he mocked at them. “I think I’ve wasted enough time with all of you…!” He held up his amulet high ready to deliver a final blow to everyone, when suddenly… Spike leapt in from out of nowhere, snatching the amulet and chain in his teeth. “Ah!” cried Changeling as he turned to see Spike land on the ground dropping the amulet. It bounced and rolled along, and stopped right in front of Terra. “No!!” He cried. Terra grinned cheekily, and then grabbed a huge rock and slammed it down hard on the amulet, crushing it to bit-- exploding in a small flash of bright lights. Changeling Screamed in horror as all the magic forces dwindled away. Raven’s eyes flashed as the spell broke. “Huh?” she cried “What’s going on?” With her concentration broken, the Equestrians were released from her power. “Way to go, Spike!” Twilight cried a she hugged him warmly. Rarity planted several kisses on his head, making him faint in a daze. “You too, Terra.” said Robin. “You go girl.” added Cyborg. Terra smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. “We are victorious!” cried Starfire… …but Changeling was laughing loud and so hysterically they thought he had flipped his lid! “Are we missin’ somthin’ here?” asked Applejack. Changeling glared nastily at the team, “You think just because you’ve destroyed my amulet that you actually beat me… well… You Haven’t!!” The others all felt shivers run down their spines. “That amulet isn’t my only source of magic. You forget… I am the greatest, most elusive, most deadly thief in all of Equestria. I was already pulling off great heists and fighting battles long before I found the amulet… all thanks to my own special magic… which is why they call me “Changeling.” With that, he leapt up high in the air and let out a might big SCREAM… and his body was shrouded in and eerie glowing light. “Whatever is happening now?!” cried Rarity. “I think we’re about to find out!” said Robin.