THE FORCE OF HATRED (2019 with MLP Version)

ACT THIRTEEN

The evidence was presented clearly enough. Apart from the sword stained in the blood of the victims, discovered in Terra’s locker, and covered in threads of her hair…

…There was also video footage the police had received from an anonymous tipster; footage showing that Terra actually stealing the sword from the museum, and actually committing the murders!

The museum curator…

The workers converting the old Pizza Place…

And most recently, the electronic store owner, and Jackie and Jillian’s marshal!

Everyone seemed most shocked, especially Terra. It all seemed a perfect setup.

Beast Boy remained silent, as he was the one who downloaded and edited all the images to make Terra look guilty and then submitted it.

The lawyers didn’t even call any objections, due to Beast Boy having blackmailed them earlier not to try and make Terra look innocent.

“That’s not fair!” shouted Jackie.

“She was with us at all those times!” added Jillian.

“Silence!” the judge shouted as he banged his gavel, which prompted Robin to protest. “Your honor, I object to this!”

“I said sit down!” demanded the judge, but Robin refused. “If you have anything to say, you will wait until you are called to the stand.”

Robin was infuriated, but he complied and sat down.

Starfire tried to comfort him, holding his hand, but he wretched away from her in disgust of the proceedings.

Beast boy was smirking, deep down.

The judge asked Terra, “Ms. Markov. Can you possibly explain any of this?”

“I can!” cried Terra, trying to keep from breaking out and sobbing.

“I didn’t commit any of those murders, and I didn’t steal the sword.”

Much as she didn’t want to rat out her two friends, she had no choice but to defend herself and tell the truth.

She explained what happened that night at the museum, when Jackie and Jillian were being rude to Beast Boy and shoved him into the glass wall.

She didn’t even have to show video footage, because the entire town was aware of this having viewed the images long ago when Beast Boy was cleared of charges.

The judge then asked, “Then how do you explain that you are on video taking the sword?”

It was in vain that Terra constantly tried to explain that the footage was clearly edited to make it look serious, and that she was not who did it.

She explained how she was either shopping with her friends or at home doing her homework.

The judge did seem fairly convinced, but he had to maintain his strict atittude. “That makes an interesting story, but without any proof it does far from getting you off the hook.”

The prosecuting lawyer than took his turn to present aditional information to question Terra with.

“According to reports, you are a student at the Murakami School, is that correct?”

“Yes.” answered Terra “Can’t you tell I’m wearing the offical uniform?”

The man cleared his throat and presented his case to the judge. “Your honor, I have obtained several documents of great mystery surrounding this young lady.”

“Objection!” the female defense lawyer shouted.

“Overruled.” declared the judge “Background information surrounding the accused is relevant to the case.”

The evil inside Beast Boy snickered in thought, “These beings play their roles well.”

The lawyer continued and showed the jury, or rather explained to them to information obtained.

“Records show that this young lady has no living relatives. No parent. No guardian. Not even a birth certificate or any even signs of employment, yet this young lady upholds a residence in this very and attends a local High School.”

The members of the jury began to chatter softly back and forth between one another, as this was astounding and shocking to them.

Terra began to sweat bullets, and the judge banged his gavel.

The lawyer looked at Terra deeply, “Tell us, my dear; just how did you obtain your place in our society? How do you pay your rent, your well-being, your education?”

Terra had no choice but to answer.

“I… I was wandering the streets, cold and alone, and as luck would have it, a scratch card dropped into my lap, and it was jackpot winner. I won one-million dollars.”

The Titans were astounded, as were Jackie and Jillian.

“She’s rich?” whispered Jackie.

“I don’t believe this.” grumbled Jillian.

Terra continued to explain that she spent her money as little as possible and for the past several months she had been living off of her winnings.

“Very interesting,” sneered the lawyer “And just how did you intend to maintain living off a measly million. Surely that couldn’t last your whole life, and according to our records, you have no bank account or welfare records, yet you do have a school record.

Yet all these things require information such as, date of birth, country, known address, ect, ect, and as you are underage, you also require consent of a parent or guardian.

Are we to assume that you forged said information on said school documents, and thereby are committing “Fraud?!”

Terra didn’t answer, and she didn’t have to. Her fearful expressions told enough; even the judge and jury could tell she was guilty of said crimes.

“The prosecution holds.”

The defense lawyer then made her statements.

“Is it not possible, that this individual is orphaned, had no place to go, no one to turn to, and therefore would commit forgery in filing her school application?”

While people did buy this bit of evidence, the fact remained that Terra still committed said acts, and they were illegal no matter what.

The prosecuting lawyer objected in saying, “If this young lady is all those things, should she not have been sent straight to an orphan’s home, or placed in foster care, or did such things never occur to her?”

“Objection sustained.” declared the judge.

The defense lawyer had no choice but to stand down, and she did so without even bringing up any other point.

“This is ridiculous!” Cyborg whispered to Robin “This whole trial’s like some big setup just make Terra look bad!”

Robin agreed all the more, even though he couldn’t deny that Terra’s fraud and forgery crimes were inexcusable, the way the proceedings were going-- bringing up all these irrelevant backgrounds, and everyone acting like they even trying hard enough-- “No sane or civil court would do all this.”

Raven then whispered to everyone her theory, “I’m pretty sure everyone was being blackmailed by the real perp.”

The judge banged his gavel, “No whispering in court!”

Raven scowled at him.

Discord bolted upright. “Oh, put a cork in it ya big bully! There’s nothing wrong with whispering concerns!”

“Discord!” snapped Twilight.

The judge looked furious, “One more outburst like that sir, and I shall order the bailiff to clear the court of all non-witnesses!”

Discord sat down and sulked, but everyone gave the judge sour looks!

Robin then had an idea, but as he was forbidden to speak, he motioned to Raven, and rolled his eyes down at her hand.

They held hands, much to Starfire’s shock, but then she saw Robin tapping Raven’s hand in Morse code. This was a special way the Titans used to communicate so as not to be heard.

Cyborg and Starfire both watched the tapping, as Robin explained his plan, just in case things went too far.

Celestia and Twilight could read Morse, and they nodded at Robin and agreed with the plot, but Spike and discord were the only ones oblivious to what was being planned.

Robin was then called to the stand by the prosecuting lawyer.

Robin cast a sorry look at Terra. Both of them felt this couldn’t be good.

Robin was sworn to tell the truth, and he took his seat.

“Mr. Robin.” The man asked him.

“Just “Robin” please.”

The man cleared his throat, “Just Robin…” he then paused and motioned at Terra “We have received reports that you personally know this girl.

Is that true?”

Robin looked over at Terra and she looked back at him. Her body ached with fear and worry, especially with her friends far in the back.

While under oath, Robin had no choice.

“Yes… I know her. We, The Teen Titans, know her.”

You can believe Jackie and Jillian were completely flabbergasted.

Robin was forced to reveal the whole story of how the Titans met Terra, and how she had unstable powers, and they took her in to try and help her.

“She’s one of them?!” Jackie whispered in total shock.

“She has powers?!” Jillian choked.

Terra felt every blow strike her hard as her past was revealed.

The man then asked Robin, “Do you think that this girl, with such an unstable background, and a mind of mistrust could commit the crimes she has been accused of.”

Robin angrily stood up, “Don’t you think you’re being a little pushy?”

Gasps were heard from the jury, and the judge demanded that Robin answer the question, regardless of any protests Robin had.

“I feel that every one of us is capable of such acts.” Robin said “I myself have committed some things I’m proud of.”

“That is not what I have asked you.” retorted the lawyer “I asked you whether or not you believe this girl is capable of such crimes.”

Robin felt extreme remorse shoot through, and he could Terra was in enough anguish already, but he had to answer. “…Yes.”

Terra hung her head low, and a tear fell from her eye.

The evil was enjoying watching her suffer!

Starfire was then asked to testify, regarding Terra when she came back as a Teen Titan, and how she was really a spy working for Slade, which lead to the betrayal.

Then Cyborg was told to testify about when Terra was Slade’s apprentice and caused much damage to the town.

Terra felt so beyond words of pain…

Jackie and Jillian were beyond struck with shock…

The Equestrians couldn’t believe how sickening this trial was becoming.

The defense had nothing to ask, and nothing to even try to say for any testimony-- she was keeping her position well as she was blackmailed.

The prosecuting layer addressed the jury, “So, this lady is not only guilty of forgery and fraud, but also deliberate acts of homicide and genocide-- nearly destroying our entire city!!”

“Yo’ man! She saved us all!” thundered Cyborg “She turned herself to stone to save us all!!”

The judge banged his gavel and ordered Cyborg to step down, under penalty of arrest.

Still the defense made no attempt to even protest. Then again, what was there to protest-- Terra’s past, her crimes-- it was all in the open now.

Terra’s heart felt as heavy as a bowling ball, and she felt it hard to maintain her posture. It was all over for her now! Her future as a normal girl, her life at school, and any other plans she had, all thrown out the window, innocent or guilty.

She turned to look back at Beast Boy, and he looked at her sternly as if to say, “You’re getting exactly what you deserve what you did to me!”

She would have felt most betrayed, if she couldn’t see right into his eyes, and see the real Beast Boy, and she could actually hear his voice.

“Terra! Help me! This guy’s evil! He’s trying to kill all of you!!”

He then faded away as the evil blinked the eyes hard, shooing the good away.

Terra’s features hardened. Now it all made sense!

Raven was then called up to testify, and she gave Robin a soft wink-- she was going to put the plan into action.

The evil saw her winking. “What are they doing?” he wondered.

Raven took the stand.

“Ms. Roth.” the lawyer asked “You among all the titans have never trusted the accused so well in the past. Could you tell the court exactly how rocky the relationship is?”

Rather than answering the question Raven smugly asked, “Why should I answer you, if all you’re doing is just bullying and badgering her?”

The lawyer felt offended, and the judge was about to bang his gavel and order her to answer, when she used her power to yank it away from him.

“Bailiffs, detain her!” shouted the judge, and before the cops could even take a step forward, Raven unleashed a slight revelation of her demon self, frightening them and everyone in the council and jury into their seats.

“That’s better!” hissed Raven.

She cast a look at Robin and he gave her a thumb-up.

Cyborg then held up his sonic cannon and pointed it at the bailiffs by Terra, demanding they step away from her.

This allowed Robin to go on over, get her out of the chains, and she hugged warmly.

The Equestrians all were thrilled that Terra was safe now, but Beast Boy was livid, though not as livid as the judge.

“You realize you will all be charged for this!” he thundered at everyone.

“Shut up!” snapped Robin “You’re lucky YOU don’t get charged for all this that you’ve done!”

The judge looked very remorseful.

Jackie and Jillian could see things were getting far too freaky, and they ran out of the courthouse like lightning.

The evil stood angrily. “There’s no way I’m letting them get away with any of this!”

Suddenly he gasped and groaned, clutching his head as Beast Boy managed to find strength enough to try and hold him back.

Starfire then fluttered over to the evidence table and examined the sword.

“Cyborg!” she called to him.

Cyborg came over and scanned the sword himself with his wrist com, and he was able to identify traces of simple scrap metals and he could even see the welding scorches on it.

“It’s a fake!”

The council and jury gasped, and Cyborg deduced that the sword had been forged at the tower, in the basement.

“It was Him!” Terra cried out, pointing to Beast Boy “He was trying to set me up!”

Everyone turned to face him, and saw him groaning and struggling, and in his throes, out fell something that crashed to the floor for everyone to see.

“That sword!” cried Spike “It looks just like the one that was on the table!”

“Look at the blade!” added Discord “It’s stained in blood!”

Twilight and Celestia noted the diamond emblem on the sword.

Beast Boy picked up the sword scowling at everyone.

“Beast Boy…!” Starfire cried in shock “It is you?! You are the one who has murdered everyone?”

Beast Boy began to struggle again.

Raven tried to use her powers to detain him in a shadow barrier, but her aura didn’t seem to be able to reach him-- it just faded out as it got close.

“What’s going on?” she asked.

“It’s not Beast Boy!” cried Terra.

“But you just said…” said Robin “And we can all see…”

“No! It’s HIM! Someone else, it’s controlling him!”

Still struggling, Beast Boy gazed at everyone through his fading vision, more so at Terra.

“I… can’t… hold on… much longer!”

Then suddenly, another diamond emblem, like on the sword, magically appeared on his forehead, and his eyes turned yellow like a wolf.

Beast Boy began to struggle, as an evil voice called for all to hear, “Let me out, you fool! I have all that I need. It is time for me to take over completely and do away with what’s left of you!

…BE GONE!!”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH….!!!!!!!!!”

Beast Boy’s entire body was enveloped by waves of bright lights that light up the entire room, and even shot out through the courthouse windows!!

Everyone was forced to cover their eyes, and they all groaned and moaned in the brightness.

When the lights had ceased, they all looked on ahead at Beast Boy, but he didn’t look at all like himself!

He wore a black suit with a high turtle-neck. Red and gold armors plantings on his shoulders, knees, and a matching armored vest, strong boots, silver gauntlets, a maroon colored cape, and a black and gold scabbard for his sword on a strong silver belt. Worse than that, Beast Boy’s short green hair was now longer and stood up in nasty looking spiked styles. His face looked a little veiny, his eyes were still wolf-yellow, and his voice, it sounded deep, raspy, and very creepy as he snickered softly.

“At last…! I am in complete control. Now I can do things my way!”

Everyone else could only gawk at him in extreme fear and shock, and two tears fell from Terra’s eyes.