A/N: Hey Guys! This isn't super long but I felt like it was a good spot to end. Plus there's 2 POVs in this chapter. And we meet some of the things inside Beast Boy's head. So tell me what you guys think. Hint: please review. Speaking of:
C4Miner- Thank you! And I love you too random reader!
RPGPersona- You always make me smile with your reviews. I hope this chapter is what you were looking for.
Guest-Here's your cliffhanger cure, I think.
Thanks to you guys for reviewing! And many thanks to those who follow and favorite this story. And quick note, I watched Zootopia this weekend. Go watch it. It was AMAZING! Anyway, please read and REVIEW but most of all ENJOY!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans but I'm currently watching the third season!
Bold Italics- Flashback
Raven
"Oh friend Beast Boy! That was a most marvelous fight!" Starfire yelled cheerfully. The green mountain lion's ears perk. Raven could sense the mountain lion's anger and fear. It turned slowly towards Raven and Starfire and began to stalk towards them. "Friend Beast Boy?" Starfire inquired quizzically. Raven noticed that the green mountain lion didn't really have yellow eyes but shining ice blue eyes, not Beast Boy's forest green eyes. It gained more speed and Raven quickly read its intentions.
"Starfire, I don't think that's Beast Boy." Raven put up a shield as the green mountain lion pounced.
The green mountain lion landed directly in front of the shield. Raven kept it up as the lion paced around the shield. It stopped in front of Raven. Its piercing blue eyes glaring at her. It shifted into Beast Boy's human form except he was shirtless and barefoot with torn pants. Then he walked past Raven's shield. Raven's panic rose.
"You shouldn't be here." This Beast Boy had a deeper voice. It reminded Raven of the time Beast Boy found his primal side. It's kind of se- NOT NOW!
"Who or what are you?" Raven asked preparing herself to fight. Hostility was rolling off of the Beast Boy look-alike.
"Leave. Now." The look-alike growled. Raven felt intimidated but she wasn't going to back down.
"No. Who are you?" Raven growled back. Raven glared into the look-a-like's sky blue eyes. Even though they weren't Beast Boy's forest green eyes, for some reason it was still really hard for her not to get lost in the harsh sky blue eyes of the look-alike.
"Friends, I do not understand the hostility towards one another." Starfire's concerned voice broke Raven and the look-alike's stare down. The look-alike glared at Starfire and bared his teeth at her.
"Leave." The Beast Boy look-alike stepped towards Starfire but Raven stepped in front of him abruptly.
"NO!" Raven yelled angrily. "We are here to help Beast Boy and gather information about the red energy inside of him." Raven seethed. "Now are you going to tell us who you are and help us or not? Either way we are staying." Raven glared up at the look-alike. When was Beast Boy taller than me? His eyes were wide and there was something under the shock in his eyes. Raven almost dared to say it was admiration.
"Please friend Beast Boy, we would like to understand the secrets you keep in your mind." Starfire pleaded. The look-alike looked at Raven and Starfire both. Finally he bent his head and sighed in defeat.
"I'm not your Beast Boy, but a part of him." When the look-alike looked at them his eyes were softer and the hostility was pulled back a bit. Raven observed the look-alike and saw how there was a transparent edge to his skin like her emoticlones but he seemed to radiate more than one emotion. That was unlike her emoticlones.
"I do not understand. How are you part of our friend when you are whole?" Starfire asked the look-alike. He just chuckled and shook his head.
"Like Raven, Beast Boy's mind works easier if it separates the parts he uses." Starfire, still confused looked at Raven for clarity.
"This Beast Boy is a certain aspect of Beast Boy's mind. Most likely this is a part that holds certain animal instincts and characteristics he uses." Raven looked over at the look-alike for clarification and he nodded slightly for her to continue. "He's whole because we're in his head and this is how Beast Boy sees this part of himself." Raven finished her explanation observing the look-alike once more. He looked a lot like Beast Boy but their mannerisms were totally different. The look-alike didn't seem to smile at all. His features were sharper than Beast Boy's. The look-alike stood with his arms crossed and tense. As if he was ready to run or fight at a moment's notice.
"Do you like what you see?" The look-alike smirked, his fang poking out dangerously. Raven narrowed her eyes in irritation but then she saw all his scars. They were the exact same as Beast Boys with more claw marks and bite marks. His hands were scarred and calloused the most.
"You're the hunter part of him." Raven stated. The look-alike chuckled once more.
"Not really. That's the side you know as the Beast. The primal instinct to hunt and protect. I'm survival. I'm the Changeling." A roar made the look-alike, Changeling, turn away from the girls. Raven covered her ears as the roar echoed through the land. Survival bared his teeth as a low growl eminatted from his chest.
"What was that?" Starfire questioned meekly after the roar was done.
"Later. We need to find the others and get you guys out of here. Let's go." Changeling ordered as he began to walk away. Raven and Starfire looked back at where the roar emanated from. "Now." Changeling harshly commanded. Starfire looked aghast at Changeling's tone and Raven couldn't help but bristle at Changeling's command.
"We are trying to help you!" Raven yelled back.
"Yes part of friend Beast Boy." Starfire said calmly. Raven knew she wanted to prevent any more confrontation. "So please stop ordering us and-"
"We don't have time!" Changeling roared. Raven could see that Starfire was intimidated but Raven herself was furious, "Now, let's go." Changeling said with a final tone. He began to walk away from Raven and Starfire.
"No. You will make time and explain to us what is going on or we are not moving." Raven ordered back. Changeling froze. Then before Raven could blink, Changeling was in front of her, his piercing eyes glaring down at her. Raven thought that Beast Boy could never be scary but the cold pure anger in the Changeling's made her shudder.
"Here's the facts Raven. None of your guys powers work here but your magical energy is still sensible to any animal. And it smells intoxicating, especially to the red energy influenced ones. I advised Beast Boy to keep you guys out of his mind but he didn't. The idiots, Gar and Garfield begged to have you guys come help. Why he listens to those two I will never know." Changeling sneered. Raven wanted to put Changeling back on track but his eyes became more feral and his ears became more pointy. He looked like a cat ready to pounce. "So now you are vulnerable and in danger. So I'm going to get the others and have all of you leave before the red energy rips each one of your throats." Changeling paused observing Raven's face. Raven tried to hide her fear using anger but she couldn't. She had put all of her friends in danger again and now they were powerless and separated. Raven bit her lip and clenched her hands to hide her trembles. But she knew he saw them when she saw how his eyes soften. Changeling stepped back away from here but gently gripped her shoulder. Raven was surprised how reassuring that one touch was. "Look, nothing bad will happen to you guys. You all will get out of here, no matter what it takes." The sincerity in his voice and eyes made Raven's heart skip a beat. They stared at each other and Raven realized that the Changeling would die for them if need be.
"Don't." Raven whispered. They both blushed. Raven blushed out of shocked embarrassment. I know that I don't want him hurt but he's not even Beast Boy! Why do I care? His warm hand slipped from her shoulder and he looked towards Starfire, breaking their moment and her thinking.
"We need to find Cyborg and Robin." Changeling cleared his throat "Since we are all part of Beast Boy's mind I can sense who they're with and find them that way. Will you follow me?" Changeling asked looking back at Raven. Raven saw that all of his earlier hostility seemed to disappear from his eyes each time he looked at her.
"Yes we shall." Starfire said with determination. Raven nodded her approval afraid to say anything else.
"Good, stay close." Changeling ordered before he changed into a green tiger. He strolled onward as Raven and Starfire ran to catch up with him. Raven stopped when she heard another roar further away but just as fierce. I hope that the other two are safe.
Robin
"Oof!" Robin groaned in pain as he landed on solid dirt. Robin slowly got up, stretching every tight muscle. He observed the surrounding area and figured that he somehow landed in a rainforest. "Titans, Roll Call!" Robin ordered, hoping for anyone to answer. When no one did he called louder. "Titans, ROLL CALL!" Robin's yell echoed back to him increasing his worry. "Starfire! Raven! Cyborg!"
"I'm right here Rob." Cyborg's bulky frame crashed through some of the foliage of the rainforest behind Robin. When Robin turned around he could see that his usually bright robotic features seemed to be more dull.
"You okay?" Robin asked as he observed Cyborg more.
"Yeah. I can't locate Star or Raven though." Cyborg began to rub his head in worry. "Just like Raven said, my tech doesn't work here. Wherever here is." Cyborg muttered.
"I think it's a rainforest." Robin remarked as he continued to look around.
"I-i-it is." A small voice stuttered behind them. Robin and Cyborg turned around ready to fight but it was just a frightened small sandy blonde boy with blue eyes wearing a white t-shirt with blue denim shorts. They quickly put away their weapons as the boy stumbled and fell backwards when he saw Robin and Cyborg turn. "Hey, hey it's okay." Robin said calmly as the boy began to whimper. Robin lowered to the boy's height slowly but he kept his distance. "We're not going to hurt you. You just scared us."
"I scared you?" The boy whispered in awe. "But you're the fearless boy wonder Robin. And Cyborg is so big he can crush fear." Robin and Cyborg stared at the kid in confusion. Cyborg got closer to the kid and knelt down to his height. The kid trembled but he didn't leave.
"How do you know us kid?" Cyborg asked gently. Robin went closer when he saw the kid's eyes widen in realization.
"He never told you guys. But he doesn't really like remembering things like that." The boy mumbled quietly. Robin had to strain his ears to hear the boy but the boy's answer just confused him further.
"Do you mean Beast Boy?" Cyborg asked slowly. Robin noticed that Cyborg was coming up with the answer in his mind but Robin had no clue what it was. The boy nodded.
"I'm him when he was a kid." The boy began playing with his hands nervously. Robin stared in shock at the boy. Mento told them that Beast Boy was human but Robin still couldn't see it. Now he was staring at the human child Beast Boy. Robin had a hard time connecting the shy fearful human child with the outgoing silly green changeling but the nervous mannerisms were the same.
"A shy human kid. You're his fear self aren't you?" Cyborg brought Robin out of his amazement. Robin looked at Cyborg liked he lost his mind. He didn't know or understand what Cyborg was talking about. But the boy did, because he smiled brightly at Cyborg.
"Mostly. Changeling also calls me the stupid human part." The boy said sadly. Robin would've felt bad for the boy but he was totally confused.
"So there's more of you guys?" Cyborg asked. The boy nodded fiercely.
"Yeah. There's Gar, Changeling, Buddy, Beast, and me, Garfield." The boy said excitedly. "You would see them, like," Garfield bit his lip in concentration. "Gar is Brave. He likes dogs. Buddy is Happy. He is the monkey guy. Beast is Rage but good rage. He's like an overprotective teddy bear. And Changeling is, um, I guess Changeling is like Raven. He acts mean and cold but he does nice things a lot, so he's just misunderstood. It might be, because he likes cats. I'm Timid but not as bad." Garfield finished his ramble blushing but he was standing proud and Robin couldn't help the small smile that came on his face. "We're all different from those guys though."
"I figured kiddo." Cyborg chuckled.
"What are you guys talking about?" Robin finally asked.
"Grass Stain and I were pulled into Raven's mind. To control her emotions, she separated them into different aspects or people in her mind. I'm guessing Beast Boy did the same thing." Cyborg explained.
"Beast Boy needs to control his emotions?" Robin asked in disbelief.
"Yes and no." Garfield pipped up. "Beast Boy has a lot of voices in his head. We are like a small speaker of each animal parts." Robin stared at Garfield as he struggled with his words. "Um, like I talk to small animals and I know a lot about-" A loud roar coming from the north shook the forest. Robin and Cyborg jumped up in surprise as Garfield began trembling again. "No." He whispered.
"What is it?" Cyborg asked softly. Garfield just looked back at Robin and Cyborg with fearful eyes. He ran towards them and grabbed their hands and pulled them away from the source of the roar.
"We need to go." Garfield said with urgency. Tears swam in his eyes. Robin and Cyborg stayed in place. "We have to go now! Please." Garfield begged as he continued to pull on Robin and Cyborg. Robin knelt to Garfield's height and held him by his shoulder so he could look at him.
"We can't leave till you explain what is going on." Robin said bluntly. Garfield was on the verge of breaking down. "Garfield, take a deep breath." Robin ordered. It took a while but Garfield breathed in deeply as Robin held his shoulders. "We can help you. But you need tell us what that thing was." Garfield gulped down more sobs and took another deep breathe.
"I-i-it's Red. That's what we call it. He came after Changeling. Red is not just scary, he's terrifying. He kills and is always so angry." Robin let go of Garfield's shoulders a bit when a flash of red went through Garfield's blue eyes. "He wants all of us like that. He is a monster. We locked him up but now he escaped and is trying to take control. The Beast is fighting Red but, but," Garfield started biting his lip harder as tears fell down his cheeks.
"What is it?" Cyborg kneeled next to Robin and motioned for Robin to let Garfield go. Robin did knowing that since Cyborg and Beast Boy were closer friends he would be able to get through to Beast Boy easier. "Hey, everything's gonna be alright."
"No it isn't." Garfield whispered. "He wants you guys. He wants your blood." Garfield began heaving. "He smells you guys. It's my fault. My fault." Garfield's breathe began to labor and he crumpled to the ground.
"Garfield!" Robin yelled as he caught Garfield before he hit the floor, but Garfield's breathing didn't slow down. Cyborg came to help by rubbing Garfield's back. Robin tried but he felt something watching them. Robin passed over the hysteric Garfield to a confused Cyborg, but Robin stood up tensing up to face whatever opponent that was watching them. It didn't take long for Robin to find out who the predator was. A red jaguar jumped out at Robin from his right. Robin ducked but rolled under the jaguar to kick it away from Cyborg and Garfield. Robin's kick landed in the jaguar's stomach and Robin used the jaguar's weight to throw it away from them. Robin heard Garfield's strangled scream but Robin kept his eyes on the red jaguar. The red jaguar got up slowly and faced Robin. Robin held his ground and growled at the jaguar. Yet before Robin or the jaguar could move a green wolf with a streak of light tan fur burst through the trees and jumped at the jaguar's throat. The jaguar tried to claw the wolf away but the wolf just sunk his teeth further in the jaguar's throat. Robin watched as the jaguar began to fade away. Robin held in his confusion and shock. He looked at Cyborg whose mouth dropped. When the jaguar disappeared the wolf shifted into his human form. This Beast Boy looked like the Beast Boy Robin knew but his hair was a sandy blonde.
"Well, that was intense." The green teenager said lightly. "But I was pretty awesome right, Robin? Did I do good?" The green teenager looked eagerly at Robin and for once Robin was speechless.
"G-G-Gar!" Garfield stuttered as he jumped out of Cyborg's arms and tackled the blonde haired and green skinned teenager. The teenager, Gar, caught him without even moving a step back. Robin was impressed but not surprised. He knew Beast Boy held a strength that he rarely put on display.
"Hey there Garfield! Why are you, huh?" Gar looked away from Garfield and to the side intently. Then he quickly looked back. "I think there was a mouse in the forest. Why are you in the jungle Garfield? When did Rob and Cy show up? Did you tell them everything? Where's Rae and Star? Hey guys!" Gar was bouncing up and down as he talked making Robin dizzy. Robin felt really bad for Garfield but he seemed used to Gar's excitable personality.
"I saw them fall but I didn't see Raven and Starfire. I told them what I know and now I feel that Raven and Starfire might be with Changeling." When Garfield said Changeling, Robin noticed a quick change in Gar's demeanor. His eyes got darker and his mouth turned to a snarl but then he went back to smiling brightly, with a chipper attitude that didn't seem as real to Robin as before.
"Oh well, we better go after them, right?" Gar told garfield. Garfield nodded enthusiastically. "We need everyone to fix our head." Gar lifted Garfield on his shoulders and came up to Robin and Cyborg. Robin saw Cyborg shake himself out of his shock.
"Why do you need all of us?" Cyborg asked curiously yet he was still staring between Garfield and Gar. "I really can't get over the fact that you were a blonde. It explains so much." Garfield chuckled at Cyborg but Robin saw Gar's quick grimace. Garfield turned quickly and began walking away from Cyborg and Robin.
"Well my looks can be deceiving but the mind always shows a person's true colors." Gar said cheerfully but again Robin felt that it was fake cheerfulness. "But questions later. We need to get going so follow me! We're following the leader, the leader, the leader, We're following the leader wherever he may go! Come on guys sing along!" Cyborg started following after Gar and Garfield but Robin grabbed his arm. Cyborg rose an eyebrow at Robin.
"I don't trust Gar." Robin whispered. He didn't want the person in question to hear him and honestly, Robin was afraid of Cyborg's reaction. Robin knew what he was telling Cyborg, that he didn't trust a part of Beast Boy's mind. He didn't trust Beast Boy. Robin was beginning to wonder if he should. Cyborg looked back at Gar then back at Robin and nodded.
"I get it." Robin held in his shock but barely. "Gar is a part of Beast Boy, but just a part. So technically we're only getting part of a story through his eyes. There seems to be something big that we're missing. I have a feeling that Raven might have been right to worry."
"You guys coming? It'll be deeeeee-sastrous if you guys got left behind." Gar and Garfield's head popped through the canopy. Robin held in his fright but Cyborg jumped in shock.
"Yeah we're coming." Robin said roughly. Garfield nodded in excitement and Gar joined in.
"Good. Now that cold hearted cat can stuff it." Garfield laughed at Gar's seemingly fun tease but Robin knew that there was intense malice hidden in Gar's words. Robin gulped roughly. He thought Raven was just overanalyzing everything but she was right. Beast Boy's mind was split and hiding things that were dark and evil. Robin's heart sank because he knew that whatever Beast Boy was hiding, it had the potential to break the team.
