AN: I am pleased to announce that this is the eighth episode in the Bean Titans Adventures (for those of you that don't know what BTA stands for).

The reason why this episode has importance is because it is the lead-in to what I call "Crisis Central" for the Titans. Crisis Central is the time period (BTA Parts 9-18) in which the Titans experience a marathon of dismal disasters and trying trials. In other words, the Bean Titans are in for one heck of a bumpy ride from here on out. I recall that it lasts from two to three months.

The same concepts from the previous episodes still apply.

This first chapter may not be "on point", but it is a part of the story.

Enjoy BTA Part 8!

~BTA Part 8: The New 12~

Chapter 1 — The Conference

Over the course of two years, the Bean Titans have come across new developments in their skills as heroes. Aside from the same old business (fighting evildoers and crime as always), there have been some notable happenings with several Titans that have previously been said to be improbable.

To name a few: Sweet (age 49) has been able to teach his powers to his sons. Except for Mooch (age 24), who has his zanpakutō, the rest of the siblings have yearned for other abilities other than the Kamehameha Wave. Congo and Cheeks were taught web-slinging, Slowpoke learned the optic laser, and Bongo received control over fire. Mooch asked about Sweet's final power—his retractable metal claws between his fingers. Sweet reminded him that his sword was not the only blade he possessed; Mooch's limbs and tail could slice at his wish. Hearing this, Mooch thought that it was only fair to accept that, since his brothers waited so long to have other powers.

While training with her mother, Lucy would occasionally find that her Fusion Blasts would shift between light AND dark energy. When Mac saw this, he wanted to know how his daughter figured out how to utilize her skills with opposite elements. She did not know exactly how, but she did know that it would be useful to her in the future.

Since he turned 11, Felix (currently 12 years old) has not missed a day to train. No one knew why he started to constantly push his limits, but they were amazed by his results. Usually, a training session for a Bean Titan would leave them nearly drained for the rest of the day, without healing. Felix, on the other hand, has trained almost to the point were his ending power is half as much as his starting strength, without healing. He must have some kind of dream that he's going after.

Because of this growth in the Titans, Sweet needed to call the Legendary 12 (L12 for short) into the Mission Room for a conference. He told them (over the PA System) that it was an important mission briefing.

Mac read the briefing from the computer inside the room. "Hey, there's nothing new on this thing." he told the group. There was not a single job on the Bean Titans' to-do list.

"I know." Sweet replied, turning around and walking toward the holographic globe in the center of the room.

"What's going on?" asked Dotty.

Sweet sighed. "How long has it been since we first started fighting Wrinkle?"

Aurora counted the years. "About 35 years."

"35...?" Fancy murmured.

"Yeah, Fancy. You weren't there at our first battle with him." Canyon reminded her.

"For her, that's about 30 years." Mystic said.

"Getting off topic..." Mac warned.

"Sorry." Spunky uttered. "Sweet, you aren't thinking of making some sort of treaty with him, are you?"

"No... he wouldn't accept it anyway. I brought up the question because of how the situation with him is now... the 12 of us aren't gonna last another 20 years fighting him. They're immortal, and eventually we'll crumble—there's no denying it."

This shook the twelve Titans in attendance.

"You're right. It hurts to say it, but it's true. Eventually, he'll probably find some way to take us down, having known us his whole life. Not to mention everyone else affiliated with him." Kuku stated.

"Thinking Time again." Aurora half-heartedly announced.

This was basically the Legendary 12's job when there was spare time—to think about any way possible to strategize in hard trials or fortify the potency and prestige of the Titans.

"Anyone?" Floppity questioned openly to everyone, after ten minutes of thought.

"Nothin'." Hippity replied.

"How about we get Titans X to get stronger and help us?" Mac suggested.

"They already have their hands full with the Moon Base. Finding time to train would be hard for them. Plus, the Danger Room up there isn't even finished... and they said that they'd handle it. In short, that's not gonna work." Fleece answered.

"I GOT IT!" Sweet blurted out loud. Mystic was startled by his uproar, so she slapped him on impulse.

"Don't scare me like that!" she told him.

"You're psychic—get over it."

"Sweet, spill." Mac said, trying to keep everyone on the point.

"It'll be a big step, but why don't we create a new group of 12 under us? I mean, we are the Legendary 12—the top dogs that take care of all the business... but we won't last forever. However, with enough thought and effort into it, we can hand-pick the best 12 Bean Titans as a group to carry on for us." Sweet explained.

It was a bold suggestion, as some of the L12 were left silent after Sweet finished talking.

"That... could suffice." Dotty said. "That is, if we're all in on it..."

Everyone nodded affirmatively.

"That's a yes then." Sweet confirmed.

"All right. The twelve of us will have the biggest job to do. We have to come together on other conferences and decide on twelve Bean Titans very, very carefully and wisely. Consider everything that every Titan has done since they've first started." Dotty advised the group.

"Which means that we'll be spending some time in the Memory Room... great." Mac assumed in gloom.

"Mac, don't complain. We're doing this for the Titans." Kuku told her husband.

"I guess I can hold it off."

"Good luck with that. This whole thought process is gonna take exactly a month." Mystic anticipated.

Canyon checked the calendar. "June 3rd... that's my son's birthday."

"I'd tell you this later Canyon, but Felix truly has one of the best chances to be inducted." Sweet told him.

"He does?" Fancy exclaimed.

"Yes. But I digress, we have a job to do... this whole operation needs out undivided attention. Conference dismissed."

/-/

This chapter may not have been all that great, I know. Brace yourselves though, this entire part has no fights with evil. This will purely be about bringing the New 12 together.