CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
The storm had eased up a little, it was only raining softly now.
The heroes were all exhausted, the streets were a mess, but in the midst of it all, Changeling, back in human form, lay smoldering on the ground, weak, frail, and unable to escape.
The heroes all approached him and gazed down pitifully at him. “It’s over, Changeling.” Robin said. The others all glared down at him, and Applejack gave her rope a threatening tug in front of him.
Changeling had no choice but to go quietly.
He was tied of tightly, and kept under a close watch, as much as they all wanted to celebrate…
“Beast Boy…!” Terra cried, the others all turned and saw her looming over Beast Boy. He was in his human form again, his uniform was all tattered, but he didn’t look so good as he lay on the ground.
When Changeling had bitten him, the venom laced on his fangs entered his bloodstream. The poison was unknown to any Earth elements, and it was already more than too late.
…He was dying, and there was nothing any of the others could do about it.
“Oh, no!” cried Robin.
“Beast Boy?!” cried Fluttershy.
He was still breathing as he looked up at Terra as he laid her arms. “Te…rra…?” he spoke so softly it was almost hard to hear him.
Tears were cascading down Terra’s face, “It’s okay, Beast Boy…” she sobbed “I’m right here, I’m not going to leave you again!”
He raised his hand ever so weakly and held hers. “Te…rra…!”
She felt his hand starting to slip out of hers… and it just flopped down onto his chest.
Cyborg scanned him with his computer, and he sadly shook his head, and clenched his fists really tight.
Terra clutched Beast Boy’s dead body close and softly let out all her emotion.
Starfire began to cry and Robin held her softly, while struggling with his own outrage and sadness.
“Beast Boy…” Raven sobbed softly, “No… Please don’t go! We we’re going to make it up to you!” She was so upset and hurt that she pulled her hood completely over her face, softly crying to herself.
Spike let out a sad howl. All of the Equestrians had tears in their eyes. “No…” Twilight peeped “There was hope for him.”
Easily, Fluttershy was the most devastated, “I never got to tell him...” she peeped “And now… I never will!”
Everyone sat and stood where they were, bewailing the loss of their friend, while Changeling was somewhat amused as he thought “How tragic. They win the battle, but in way… they still lost the war.”
Terra lifted her head up and looked down at Beast Boy’s face. She wouldn’t let him go without having at least one-- she leaned forward softly and placed her lips over his, though he couldn’t return her kiss.
They gave Beast Boy a small funeral. His body, since it was already rotting from the inside because of the venom, was cremated, and his ashes were kept in a stone chalice Raven had in her room, and the chalice was kept in a niche in the wall over the table in the lounge, so it would be like he was still there.
Everyone was just devastated, and it would take time to get over all this, especially for Terra. She felt so guilty for remembering being so hard on him, but it was comforting somewhat to know that he actually seemed willing to forgive her, or he wouldn’t have hugged her.
…But still, it really hurt her!
“Terra…?” Robin said to her. She turned to face him, and she burst into tears, sobbing over his shoulder. He held her tight letting her cry.
The others felt positively crushed for her, and for Fluttershy, understanding that she had feelings for Beast Boy too, but that didn’t really matter too much now.
A couple of days later, the Titans showed the authorities the cave where Changeling had stashed all that he had stolen. Soon, the banks were restocked, and the businesses were all saved from their financial distress, putting the city at ease again… once all the collateral damages were repaired of course.
However, many of the citizens, when the found out about Beast Boy’s death and how he helped to save all the assets and beat Changeling, many of them felt really bad. Then again, some didn’t even seem to care. Not even the Js, which earned them all ridicule and disrespect for their own nastiness.
As for the Equestrians, the Titans escorted them back to Canterlot High, which was still deserted as there was no school that day because of the airshow.
“Must you really go back to your world?” asked Starfire “There is so much we can learn from one another.”
I’m sorry, but we really have to go.” said Twilight.
“Eeyup.” added Applejack as she tugged on Changeling’s ropes “We gotta get this bad apple into the slammer. There’s many a pony waitn’ to get their hooves on him.”
“We only can’t begin to apologize for all that has happened.” said Rarity “Especially for… for Beast Boy.”
Everyone felt the same way, “It’s not really your fault.” said Cyborg “It just happened, we weren’t ready for it.”
The Equestrians were more than understanding, but just like the Titans they wished it hadn’t happened and maybe Beast Boy wouldn’t be gone.
For now, it was best they, the two teams, went their separate ways, but perhaps someday the Titans would venture into Equestria. It sounded like an okay place to explore… but this was so not the time.
Robin approached Twilight and handed her a Teen Titan Communicator. “If you’re ever come back and you need help, you can call us. We’ll be there.”
She accepted it and shook his hand, “Thank you… for everything.”
Smiles and thankful nods were exchanged, and then the girls bid their farewells as one-by-one they marched through the portal and were gone.
“Now that is cool.” Cyborg said, and the others all agreed with him, but then they heard the sounds of police sirens as a couple of cruisers passed by.
Robin looked at his teammates, and they all nodded to get into the action. “How about you, Terra…?”
She smiled barely and snapped her goggles over her eyes, implying she was now a member of the team again, for keeps this time. It was where she belonged, and nothing would have pleased her more to help fight crime again, “…for Beast Boy.”
Robin tossed her another communicator. “Titans, Go!” and off they all ran!
After the ponies all returned to Equestria, Changeling was handed over to their authorities and was immediately sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labour for all his crimes and murders.
The ponies then reported to Princess Celestia in person and turned in the Elements of Harmony, to send them back to the Tree of Harmony to recharge their powers.
“Well done, all of you.” She said proudly to her subjects, but then she sighed sadly “…But I am very sorry to hear of what happened to Beast Boy.”
The others all felt the same.
Rarity sniffled, “When I think of the poor dear, and how he… he went. Oh, this is so dreadful.”
Twilight hung her head low, trying to fight off her tears. “He was a very special friend. He had great potential, and a lot of heart.”
Applejack didn’t seem like the rest of them. She wasn’t really crying, but she was upset on the inside. “Well, for what it’s worth, at least he died a hero.”
The others agreed with her. They probably never would have been able to capture Changeling without him.
Of course, Fluttershy was still visibly heartbroken. She just stood outside on the terrace by herself. Everyone felt just horrible for her, but all the friendship and all the magic in Equestria would never bring Beast Boy back.
“You okay?” Rainbow asked as she came out to her “Oh, what am I saying… of course you’re not.”
“I’ll be okay, Rainbow Dash.” she said turning to smile bravely but sadly at her.
The others came out and Twilight approached her “Look, we all decided you should have this…” and she passed her the communicator.
Fluttershy took it and clutched it close to her chest. “I wonder…” she said as she looked up at the sky “I wonder where he is now, and if he’s found peace.”
The others, even Celestia all wondered that, and some believe he was at peace.
Fluttershy then closed her eyes, and looked deep in her heart, remember all those times she and Beast Boy shared.
“I’ll.” miss you… Beast Boy…
Thank you… for everything!”