Chapter 7:

The Truth Comes Out

It was a dark, stormy night; the lightnings were coming out from everywhere sending out several loud thunders, the rains were pouring down hard. A little green boy staggering tiredly, and was using the wall beside him to support himself. He was shivering hard, desperately to find a shelter from the rain. It had been three days since he ran away from Joker. He doesn't know where he was, but he knew for sure that he wasn't in Gotham City anymore.

He found a small box beside the trash cans; luckily he was small enough to fit in. Once he got inside the box, he cuddled himself to keep warm despite his clothes which were drenched from the storm. He drifted into dreamless sleep which that was rare occurrence.

The lightnings ceased, the thunder faded away, the pouring rain became to sprinkle rain. The ground began to shook, caused Garfield to wake up and crawl out of his box to see what was going on.

The ground shook even harder, which made Garfield to lose his balance, falling face-first onto the ground, "Ouch," he muttered under his breath, but shut up quickly when he saw a massive gorilla on the street.

With his pointy ears, he was able to hear a man voice, yelled, "Stop what you are doing, Mallah!"

Garfield's eyes widened and his jaw dropped in shock when he heard the Gorilla named Mallah spoke in gruff voice, "Ah, Doom Patrol. No long time see…-"He chuckled, "And you think that you shall be able to stop me, Mento?"

The man who made himself known as Mento spoke once again, "What are you and the Brain planning this time?"

"You actually think that I would tell you? Hah, you are a fool!" With that saying, Mallah picked up a car and hurled at them.

"Doom Patrol, ATTACK!"

Garfield was back in his box, quietly stared at Doom Patrol fighting against Mallah.

A woman suddenly grew, becoming a giant and easily picked Mallah up with her hand and threw him hard against the ground, making a crater below him.

The mummy-looking man stood firmly on the ground and let a yell as the black shadow came out of his body, leaving him lifeless on the ground. The shadow was moving quickly toward to Mallah and picking him up and flew straight up the sky. When it was high enough, the shadow threw Mallah falling down.

A huge robot ran toward to area where Mallah would crash onto, he jumped and met Mallah in the air. He punched Mallah in stomach hard, sent him crashing to a building near Garfield.

Mento hover slowly toward to Mallah who is trapped in pile of concrete, with his mind, he lifted Mallah into air, and put pair of cuffs that would hold him.

"You are too easy to defeat Mallah," Mento spoke calmly and Mallah growled, "You won't get away with this."

A robot picked him up and carried Mallah away on his shoulder.

A woman walks up to Mento and spoke quietly, but thanks to Garfield's hearing, he was able to hear her.

"Steve, there is a little kid hiding over there," Mento/Steve glances at the woman and then to the place where Garfield was hiding.

Garfield let out a yelp, they have discovered him. He panicking curled up deeper in the box. The woman walks over to him, and knelt so she can see him.

"Hey," Her voice was soft and gentle, "Are you ok?"

Garfield didn't say anything, but whimpered instead as the woman puts her hand out, waiting for him to grab her hand.

She spoke again in the same voice, "My name is Rita, and that is my husband, Steve. What is your name?"

"G-Garfield," He squeaked, not sure whether to trust her or not, but decided to trust her. He hesitated to reach her hand.

Rita pulled him out of the box, helping him to stand. It was too dark; Rita couldn't see his skin color or anything else except his green eyes.

"Where is your home, Garfield?" Steve came up next to Rita, looking at Garfield, which made him nervous.

Garfield finally spoke, "I-I have no h-home."

The mummy-man walked beside Steve, startled Garfield, sending him hiding behind Rita.

"It is ok, Garfield," Rita spoke softly, "That is our friend, Larry."

"Hey kid," Larry spoke and Rita looks up to her husband, "This poor boy doesn't have a home, can we take him, only for short time?"

Steve sighed, and looked back at small kid, finally said, "I guess so Rita, he needs somewhere to stay after all."

Rita knelt beside Garfield, "Want to stay with us for a while?"

Garfield nodded, hoping that they won't hurt him like the others, but it is the risk that he had to take.

Arriving the middle of nowhere, Garfield became paranoid, 'What if they left me here in nowhere?' but he stopped when Steve closed his eyes and glint of blue wave came out of his mind, the ground shook as a metal elevator sprout out of the ground. Garfield was amazed, as he followed Rita into the elevator. The light shines brightly inside, Rita glanced at Garfield and gasped followed by Steve and Larry's gasps as well.

"You are green, Garfield," Rita knelt once again, "Are you feeling ok?"

Garfield realized that it was too dark before, they hadn't notice. He started to mutter, "I am fine, and this is my skin color."

Steve was astonished as he noticed that Garfield was green from head to toes.

"I-I can change into animals," Garfield whispered, afraid that they will kick him out.

"Really? Can you show us?" Rita doesn't look worried or scared anymore, she was encouraging him. Garfield felt happier, and decided to transform to his favorite animal, a frog, then transformed back right on time as the elevator door creaks open.

Garfield was tongue-tied; it was a massive underground base he had ever seen.

Steve spoke once again, "You can change into any animals, right?"

Garfield nodded, "But I am not good at it, I can only change into small animals."

"Mm," Steve glances at Rita and she nodded in approval then Steve knelt next to Rita and spoke softly, but serious, "How do you would like to be part of Doom Patrol team?"

Garfield's eyes widened, "R-really?"

Steve, Rita, and Larry nodded, only Steve spoke, "Yeah, we will help you to control your power and we will protect people from evil. How does that sound?"

Garfield was the happiest boy in the world, and accepted the spot of becoming member of Doom Patrol.

He never told his team what happened before that night they found him; he continued to protect the innocent from the evil.

He became a hero.

And thus Beast Boy was born.

Xxx

"I can't believe this! After all of those years, it was you in whole time?" Robin yelled at Beast Boy who is now known as Prankster, "Y-you TRAITOR!"

Prankster flinched at the last sentence, 'Y-you TRAITOR' repeats inside his mind and guilt feeling grew inside. He shrugs it off and spoke in deadpan once again, "You better believe it, bird boy."

Robin clenches his hands into fists, "Why? Why now? Why not before?"

"Because the time wasn't right, and now it is," Prankster pulls out a gun out of his pocket and Robin gasps, "If I remember correctly, we have an unfinished business."

"I made mistake long time ago and shot your leg," Robin automatically grabs the spot on his leg where Prankster shot long time ago, "But this time, no mistake. This time, it will go right through your heart."

Robin shakes his head, "You are wrong, there won't be a next time that you will be able to shoot me. We will stop you like other criminals."

"Do you really think I am like other criminals?" Prankster chuckled, putting his gun back in his pocket, "I won't kill you today, but soon, I will."

Cyborg, Starfire, and Raven are confused as Robin and Beast- Prankster exchanges several words.

Starfire slowly speaks, "B-Beast Boy? Y-you wouldn't kill Robin, you are a hero"

Prankster scoffs, "I am not hero anymore, and I am not Beast Boy. I am Prankster, and I am now a villain."

Starfire gasps as few tears come out of her bright green eyes, and Cyborg shakes his head in confusion, "BB, what the hell? Quit joking around, this isn't even funny."

Robin turns around and faces Cyborg, "Cyborg, he isn't joking. He used to work with Joker while I was with Batman. He shot me in my leg back then, and now he is back."

Cyborg glances back to Prankster, formally known as his best friend and sighed, "Seriously?" he asks weakly and Robin nods.

Raven is shock when robin nodded, "What?"

Cyborg looks sadly at Raven and Raven's jaw drops, 'Impossible' She thought, 'it can't be'

"Heeellloooo? Are you guys done?" Prankster was getting impatiently, "Oh, and Robin. You said it wrong, I didn't 'used to' work with Joker, and I am working with him right now."

Robin turns around and faces Prankster from the distance, "WHAT? No, Joker is dead. Batman told me, you are lying."

Prankster chuckled and speaks in his earpiece, "Hey Joker, bird boy here doesn't believe me that you are alive."

"Should we prove him wrong?"

"Yeah, I think we should," Prankster glances back to Robin, "Well, if you please turn your attention to that way," He gestures toward to the alley.

In the alley, Joker lazily walks out of the dark and smirk as he take in Robin's shock face among his teammates, then he continues walk until he stands next to Prankster.

"Hello everyone who does not know me, my name is Joker," He cackled, and turns to Prankster, "If you please."

"Gotcha," was all he has to say before transforming into a lion and ran toward to his former team.

'I hope they will fight back' Prankster thought, 'If they don't, then I will have no choices, but hurt them'

He is dreading, he wants his team to fight back and beat him.

Xxx

The team saw a green lion roars and heading for them. Robin doesn't want to do this, even though he was one who shot him long time ago. He is still his friend, but still he has to do it, "Titans, GO!"

Robin takes out his silver bo-staff, letting the lion bite on it. Robin does the back-flip and flips Prankster out sending his crashing onto the ground.

'Good, Robin is fighting back, but I need everybody to attack me' Prankster thought as he stands up, facing his best buddy who is wearing a grim expression, "I still can't believe this…"

Prankster fakes a chuckle, "Better believe it, bud," and transforms into a tiger and hurl himself to Cyborg who already transform his hand into a cannon.

Cyborg blasts a blue beam against the green tiger, sending him crashing into a building.

'This is too easy' Cyborg thought, 'Forget it, just focus on fighting. He might surprise you anytime, you better be prepare for it.'

Starfire flew above the area where Prankster crashed into, she flies closer and screams as he pops out and grabs Starfire by her ankle.

"Bite her leg," Joker ordered inside his earpiece.

Prankster gulps, he doesn't want to do it, but he has to do it. He opens his mouth, showing his razor sharp teeth and bites her ankle, hard enough to hurt her, but not hard enough to rip her flesh out.

He was resisting. He could taste her flesh inside her mouth, and he has to admit it, it does taste good. It has been long time since the last time he ate a human or an animal.

"STARFIRE," Robin yells as Starfire tries to wiggle Prankster out. Her eyes glowed green, matching her fist, "Sorry, I do not want to hurt you, but I must." She throws one of her star bolt at Prankster, sending him crashing onto the ground, making a crater below next to Raven.

Prankster stands up slowly; he is badly hurt from each of his teammates' attack. All except one, He glances up at Raven hovering in front of him.

'End me, Rae. Just end me' Prankster thought desperately and knowing fully that she could do it in a snap, but nothing. He grits his teeth; he has to hurt her in order for her to attack him.

The last thing he ever wants to do is hurt Raven, he sighs and stands up straight, and facing Raven who spoke in monotone, "Why?"

"Because I want to," Prankster fakes other chuckled, 'Man, I should be an actor someday…' With that thought, he transforms into lion again and jumps to Raven which Raven dodges, but he managed to scratch her leg, which is now bleeding.

Xxx

Raven stared at him, trying to read his emotions, his mind, but nothing came out of it. She sighs and knowing that she'd have to attack him. Luckily, she snapped back when Prankster transformed into a lion and jumped at her. She dodged his attack, but he managed to scratch her leg, which is now bleeding.

"Azerath Metrion Zinthos" Her eyes glows white, her fists glows black.

'About time' Prankster thought, as darkness came over him, flinging him into ocean nearby.

As he coughs out water in the ocean, Joker spoke in his earpiece, "Come now, we will fight them again later."

Within that, he vanishes before the Titans arrives the shore line.

Xxx

He walks into Joker's lair. He is battered and bruised from the battle. More likely one-side battle, he just hurt them or threatens them so they'd attack him.

Spitting the taste of Starfire's flesh along the way and telling himself repeatedly inside his head, 'I won't eat humans again, I won't eat humans again.'

He sighs as he arrive the main room, and Joker is sitting in the front of big screen, showing all of his battles with each Titans today.

Joker turns around, "I am disappointed with you," He shakes his head and glances back the screen, "You call that fighting?"

He took out a remote, Prankster knowing fully what will happen when he presses the red button.

"You deserve a punishment," Joker presses the red button, sending volt of electricity into Prankster's body.

"AAAAAH!" He screamed, before hitting the ground and passes out.

Xxx

In Titans Tower;

Starfire is taken into medical bay to treat her ankle; she takes off her boot, showing a deep, bloody bite marks.

"Man, I never knew that grass stain could bite that hard," Cyborg mutters, as he watches Raven heal her ankle.

"I just can't believe that it was him whole time," Robin sighs sadly, "I should have recognized him long time ago, but I didn't."

"Boyfriend Robin, please tell us what happened to our Friend Beast Boy and you long time ago," Starfire places her hand on Robin's shoulder.

Everyone stops and listens to Robin's story,

"We had fought against Joker and Prankster many times. Joker was one of the worst villains; he was hard to figure out. He loves to mess around people's minds, and Prankster was his partner. I remember that he would always kill people then ate them, sometimes he would eat them while they were still alive…"

Everyone gasps, and Cyborg was utterly shocked, "BB ate humans?"

Robin nods and he continues, "Batman would fight against Joker, and I would fight against Prankster. It was always hand-to-hand combat, I never see him transform. Also, I never see his green skin, only his eyes. Anyway, that night was nothing new. Joker sent us a note saying that he has people held in as hostages, so we went to his lair. We saw Joker standing on the catwalk above, and he orders his minions to attack us. Batman and I got separated, and it wasn't long after I heard a gunshot then felt the pain on my leg. Batman knocked Joker out cold then helped me. I looked into the direction where the gunshot came from, and I saw him. Only thing was different was that his eyes were filled with fear and regrets. Like he didn't mean to do it, but I didn't care. He was villain and I swore that I'll get him. He saw me saying it before Batman carried me out. After that, I never saw him again. Batman told me that he ran away, and his face just disappeared. And now he is back."

All of the teammate watches him quietly, checking if there is more to say. Robin spoke again, "Funny thing is, I never forgot his eyes, but I never compared it to Beast Boy's eyes. After today, I saw it. It was a perfect match. I wondered why I never notice it before."

Cyborg sighs, "Maybe when you met him, you saw him transforming into different animals, which you never saw Prankster do it, and he wasn't evil that time, he was a good guy."

Robin scoffs, "I don't know if he ever was a good guy to begin with."

Raven stares at her hands; she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Beast Boy used to eat humans, kill people, and even almost killed Robin. She doesn't know who this Beast Boy is anymore.

Something dawns on Raven and she spoke in quiet voice, "Do you remember what Beast Boy said before he put his mask on?"

Robin glances at Raven and nods, so Raven continues, "Why did he apologize before he announced that he is Prankster?"

All of them shrug, none of them know why. Starfire sighs, "Do you think Joker forced our Friend Beast Boy to become evil again?"

Raven stares at Starfire, "There is still a hope…"

Robin ran his hand through his gelled hair, "I-I don't know."

"I noticed something else too," Cyborg perks up, "He didn't even fight hard, and he took all of our attacks. He only attacks if we don't attack him. Why? I mean, I am sure that Beast Boy would have done something worse, like maybe rip Starfire's flesh, but he didn't. He was waiting for Starfire to attack him, and while he slowly stood up front of Raven, he was waiting for her to attack her, but she didn't so he scratched her while he could have done something more to hurt Raven."

Taking it in, Robin realizes that Cyborg is right, "Then, Joker must be controlling him. I remember when every time he didn't obey Joker. Joker will beat him up until he obeys him, like shocking him or choking him. And he never fought back against Joker…"

"But now he is stronger, he should be able to fight back," Cyborg shouts, waving his hands in air and Starfire mumbles, "Then why he did not fight back?"

Robin stands up firmly, "That's means Joker either blackmailed him or putting something on him so he will have to obey him," He walks to the door and turns back to face his teammates, "Come on, and we have a friend to save."

Robin was still unsure if he is still Beast Boy inside that Prankster, he has to find out.

Xxx

Prankster's arms are being chained against the ceiling; his feet are barely touching the floor. He coughs and noticing the blood on the floor.

'Great, I am coughing blood' He moans, as two massive men continue punching him, but they aren't punching him hard like before, which means they are tired.

His nose is bleeding and broken, his body aches as they punched him, his ear continues to ring and he could feel a warm liquid coming out of his ear. He is sure that his eyes are bloodshot and bruised darkly. He heard Joker saying, "Enough for today, off you go." Sending two men out, he sighs in relief that it is over.

"Oh, your punishment isn't over yet, Prankster," Joker cackled as he picked something from the table. His eyes were too blurry to see what it is, he closes his eyes and hoping it wouldn't be bad.

"AAAAAHH," Prankster howls in pain as Joker held his whip for another attack, laughing manically.

Xxx

Let me know what you think of this Chapter.

I have to admit that this was my hardest one, so I hope it is still good.

First of all, if you are confused, Beast Boy/Prankster wants his teammate to finish him off so he won't have to suffer any longer. Unfortunately, that won't be coming anytime soon so he has to endure with Joker, which is more painfully than what his teammates had done to him.

It makes sense if the team still has a heart for Beast Boy and willing to try helping him out, if he IS under Joker's control so, it like Terra with Slade.

They are willing to give him a benefit of doubt.

Please Review! :)