Terra's Story

October, 2012

Author's note: Teen Titans are courtesy of DC Comics and Cartoon Network.

Thanks to "Arizonahawk711" for the story idea. Hope the young lady likes this!

***Special note to Terra fans: Normally, I'd stick this at the end of the chapter, but, after I posted the end of Blackfire's revenge, I saw a tweet from Ashley Johnson (TheVulcanSalute) and she CONFIRMED THE RETURN OF TERRA! As Cyborg would say…"BOOYA!"***

Note: Renamed story to avoid confusion with the series introduction to Terra, as well as a date change

[Prologue]
[January 15, 2012]

Beast Boy writes…

It's been several months since Edward helped free Terra from the stone statue she had become and almost as long since she totally freaked over Slade being alive and well. That was frightening in and of itself. She was so scared at the time that we didn't know what to do to help her. Edward, in his unofficial role as team counselor really helped, just by taking the time to listen to her, and giving her not just verbal support, when the time came to confront Slade, he took a major one for her.

My feelings towards her certainly haven't changed. Why should they? I knew it was love the first time I laid eyes on her. I was the one that she confided in the most at first. I didn't care that she was sleeping in a "lonely cave of darkness" as Starfire put it. I didn't care that she couldn't control her terrakinetic powers at the time. She was so scared that we'd reject her that it didn't take much for Slade to turn her. Then, after she betrayed us, she redeemed herself.

It took a long time for my heart to heal. Raven…she's such a sweetheart that while I was coping, she couldn't bring herself to insult me. She understood that my heart was with Terra, but, that she's a dear sister by right.

Terra, though, still shows that she has issues. But, now, she's ready to talk about them to the team, not just Edward.

[Chapter 1]
[Titans Op Center AKA Common Area]

The team, after their adventure on Tamaran was enjoying the down time for a few days to rest and recover. The Titans East had returned to their base of operations a day after they returned to Earth, each carrying a medal bestowed on them and honorary citizenship as well. Kole stayed longer, though. Edward was starting to think that maybe the youngster might be pondering relocating to the Tower, at least part-time.

David had to return to his normal job in Chicago, so, after spending the night of their return at the Tower, he headed home.

However, it was Terra who held Edward's attention, not in a romantic way, of course, but as a friend. She had actually been happier after they returned from Tamaran and, while Edward had a good idea what was happening with the terrakinetic's emotions and stability, he had been pleased that she was finally allowed to really test her powers and with only her fingernails affected, it meant that Terra had to stay in control, lest the dearly departed Slade's assessment would be true about her being "the most dangerous" person he had met.

Terra had spent most of her young life being forced from one place to another, even from the Titans. Recent events convinced Terra that she had been fully accepted again as well as forgiven. She finally had a home and she was finally ready to tell the team her full story.

Terra had spent a lot of time talking to Edward seeing how he was still the most neutral person on the team. And, Terra saw Edward as a person, not a dragon. She knew that she owed her life to the team and that she had been very misguided as well.

Well, today, she asked if she could talk to the entire team after lunch and the team agreed readily to it.

[I think Terra's ready to open up a bit and tell the team her story,] Edward said to Raven.

[I know she's reached a major decision, sweetheart,] she replied, her mental image reflecting a soft smile from the empath.

Edward smiled as well.

"What're you guys smiling about?" Terra asked.

"If you're wanting to do what I think, Tara," Edward said, "I think it's about time. Remember that all of us are here for you and I doubt that anything you tell us will undermine the trust you've worked very hard at restoring."

"It's going to be hard," she admitted. Beast Boy turned her gently and replied, "Sweetheart, remember when you lost control of your powers? I was there for you then, and I'm here now."

The two lovers hugged each other as Edward moved behind the counter to start cooking lunch. He had planned on something relatively light: BLTs for most of the team and the tofu version of bacon for Beast Boy and Arella.

Well, after a while, the sandwiches were ready and quickly eaten, save for Terra. She was nervous as she was about to open up and fill in the major blanks in her life that the Titans needed to know about…why she was prone to stability issues at times.

After the dishes were done by Starfire (it was her day as the dishwasher), the team sat down on the large couch. Robin even muted the alarm system to let Terra tell her story without major interruptions.

Terra sighed. She was more nervous than she thought initially and almost backed out. But, she realized that she was committed.

[She's worried,] Raven assessed via the link.

[I know,] Edward replied.

Aloud, he said, "Tara, it's all right. Take all the time you need."

She smiled at her friend. Just those few words broke through the ice and she held Beast Boy's hand for moral support.

"Well," she said, "I suppose I should start at the beginning. I was born on August 18th, 1994 to Harold Markov, the ruler of Markovia. Yes, the family name is based on the country name. I never knew my mother's name, though. See, I was an illegitimate child and from what I was told, my mother left me in care of my father immediately after I was born."

[Late 1994—Markovia Presidential Palace]

The ruler was concerned, and, rightly so. His beautiful baby girl, Tara, was barely four months old and illegitimate in the eyes of his people. He had seduced a slip of a woman, barely 20 herself and unknown to him at the time, was pregnant.

Imagine his shock when she returned to the Palace with a squalling newborn infant and she told him, "She's your daughter. I named her Tara, but, I am not ready to be a mother, so, she's yours."

Harold didn't know what to do, but, the scandal, if it were to become known, would undermine his right to rule. He had decided that the best way to deal with this problem was to do as she asked and started to raise baby Tara on his own, with the help of thoroughly vetted nannies, of course. If asked, he would tell people that her mother had fled the country for America, which was the truth anyway as Penelope Miller was American.

Tara had soft blue eyes, even then, that melted the stoic ruler's heart. Her golden blonde hair had just started to grow. That she got from her mother, as Harold's hair was a dark brown.

His advisors, of course, wanted him to get rid of the child he had sired out of wedlock. He finally grew tired of hearing that and told them that if they wanted to keep their jobs, to not discuss abandoning the baby. It was enough that she'd be forced to grow up not having a mother, but, he would not orphan the little girl.

As Harold held little Tara, a boy walked in. No more than five, Brion was as handsome as his father was. He was also without his mother, though. Jennifer Markov had been killed in an airplane crash while on state affairs when Brion was 6 months old. The loss of Jennifer deeply wounded King Harold. The resulting investigation showed that the plane crash was a tragic accident when the airplane had flown into a cluster of thunderstorms and the pitot tube likely iced over, causing a serious loss of data for the on board computer and autopilot. By the time the pilots knew that the data they had been getting was conflicting, it was too late and the plane slammed into a mountain, there were no survivors.

The country's friends and allies mourned the loss of a beautiful queen. They showed their respect by their heads of state going to the funeral. Not one ally sent a top diplomat. Even those who wished ill upon the country, for a while, set those differences aside and sent condolences at least.

"Hello, Brion," the king said kindly.

"Hi, Papa," the little boy said. To Harold, the title of "Papa" was far more precious to him than "Your Majesty" or "His Royal Highness". It was a title that no one could take away from him.

"Tara getting big?" Brion asked.

"She is, my son," Harold replied.

"Hold her, please?" Brion asked.

"Sit down and you may," the king said. He had started letting his son hold his half-sister recently, under supervision.

Harold gently reminded his son how to hold the baby and Brion held Tara carefully. She looked up at the new face and smiled. She didn't mind the new person holding her…as long as he was careful. She cooed at her brother.

He giggled, then, his nose wrinkled, "Stinky-poo!" he groused.

Brion hit the nail on the head as Tara made use of the diaper. He handed Tara back to Harold who summoned Tara's nanny. She took the baby and wrinkled her nose as well.

The nanny removed Tara from the scene, grumbling under her breath about why the King felt it was beneath him to change a diaper. She kept that to herself, lest she be immediately terminated and thrown out of the palace.

[Tower]

Terra stopped for a minute to get a drink of Coke.

"You're a princess?" Cyborg asked.

Terra sighed, "I was. Not anymore, that's coming up later, I'm afraid."

"It's all right," Robin said to encourage Terra to continue.

"I know," she replied, "I have a long way to go, so, might as well relax, right?"

"Take your time," Edward suggested, "This is your story to tell."

Terra sighed again…

[Markovia – Mid-August 2000]

A young girl's laughter was heard in the palace as well as a teenaged boy.

"Come on, Tara," Brion said, "Papa said he has something to tell us."

Close behind him was a skinny girl, barely 4 feet tall with shoulder length golden blonde hair and the most intense blue eyes in the family. It was hard to sadden young Tara Markov as she did not have a care in the world. Everything was provided for her, people waited on her every whim. In short, the king spoiled his children somewhat. But, this would come back to haunt the king as some point. Right now, the king had some good news.

Brion and Tara entered the private residence for the family and King Harold said, "Happy Birthday, Tara!"

The future geomancer smiled up at her father, "Thank you, papa!" she said.

She looked at the pile of presents that were clearly for her to enjoy. Some were toys she had asked for, others were clothing items that she'd grow into.

With a happy smile, Tara started opening the presents. She was careful to keep two piles, well, three if you counted the wrapping! As expected, she wasn't too thrilled with the clothes aspect, but, she didn't let that show lest her dad be displeased.

The toys, well, that was a different story as she wanted to play with them right away.

"Children," Harold said kindly, "You'll have to wait to play with the toys. There is something I want to tell you."

"Yes, papa," they said at the same time.

"It's been a while since we've gone on holiday, and, I think it's about time we did so. The kingdom is as stable as it's ever been, so, I think it's time we took a break for a month."

That got smiles out of the two siblings, of course.

Oops! When I was working on Chapter 3, I had to come back to this chapter and found a glaring error...I have Terra born in 1994, but, the initial section with the ruler and baby Tara two years early. That's been fixed!

2d glaring error time (ugh!) I was re-reading the first Titans story and I realized I skipped an entire year! I know I have the team somewhat older than in the series time wise (I had left Terra in stone for longer than she was implied to be in the series), but, that doesn't justify going from March of 2011 to 2012 in one jump. This means I might want to adjust the one-shot (the Thanksgiving story), but, as I have that after the wedding or Rae and Edward, that might be able to be left alone timing wise. Might have to ponder that one a bit.

This story is going to take a while to write as I'm lacking a LOT of background on Tara/Terra, so, there *will* be some major gaps in the timeline. I will incorporate some of the comic history of the original Terra as well as the cartoon stuff, obviously.

*sigh*