** Thanks for the reviews, this may read a little different from lj, and for the record I don't own the characters just borrowing for fun..
As the years progressed Oliver did indeed grow into the golden child. His looks were fair just like their mother. He had the golden hair, the brown eyes, and a kind smile. Alexander who had become known as Lex well, he was far from fair. When he was ten and Ollie was five they were sent to play together in the orchards. Ollie had thought it was funny to chase Lex and throw handfuls of cherries at him. Lex ran and fell into a small pit of pitch. Ollie had to run for his father who came with several guards and rescued Lex. He was carried into the bathhouse and scrubbed but the damage was done. His skin reacted to the chemical and all his hair fell out and it never grew back. As if he needed another reason to hate his little brother he was given one on a platter made of silver. Ollie was punished for the incident but he was still breathing so the punishment wasn't severe enough for Lex.
Again time passed on and so the family dynamics shifted as well. The Queen wasn't as oblivious as her husband thought; she could see the darkness in her older son. She made him spend time with her learning the finer point of being a royal and running a royal house. At 15 it wasn't where he wanted to be. He would stare out the window of his mother's solar, watching as Ollie began to bond more with their father. He was ten now and had begun to take interest in his fathers favorite past time...archery. Lex abhorred the sport. He thought it was a waist of time. A skill he absolutely didn't need when they had enough money to buy mercenaries to protect him and his parents. Ollie however loved the sport and was remarkably adept at it. He began to enter competitions and to win accolades.
At the end of Alexander's 15th year, he was sent to Excelsior; University for the affluent. He was relieved because he was finally liberated from his little bother, ooops, brother. He would learn the finer points of war and policy and how to be the greatest king Metropolis has ever known. He knew his father was getting on in years and would some day die…retire… from the throne. The first year he was there, was heaven, he didn't have many friends most were put off by his looks. Except for one, Lex surprised himself because the boy was a bastard whose father the Duke of something or other bought him a place in the school. They enjoyed talking strategy and war games. The boy had no idea how dangerous of friend Alexander would become....
Alexander thought it would be smooth sailing. His brother wouldn't be entering the University for another few years and wouldn't be around when he made his pitch to his father that he was ready to take over the Kingdom. His dream crumbled one fall morning when Oliver arrived with his trunks. Lex was in the yard with his friend when he saw his brother walking with one of the teachers toward them.
"Hello, Lex!" Oliver spoke, smiling at his older brother.
"What are you doing here" he spoke bitterly.
"Alexander!" his teacher cautioned.
"Brother, what are you doing here?" his tone was so sweet he could have gotten a cavity.
"I passed all my exams and was invited to start early. Isn't that great! I might get to graduate with you."
'Wonderful' he thought acerbically. "Great! Let me show you to your room, where are you supposed to be? How's mother and father?" he asked faking like the dutiful brother all the while thinking, 'I really should have smothered you at birth.'…
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The freedom from their parents actually changed Oliver. Lex was surprised. He became arrogant and in general a Royal Jerk. He had a group of friends who were no good. He even became a bully. Oliver went through a growth spurt that had him now towering over Lex. He would pick on him as if he were the younger brother. Towards the end of the final year, their parents were going on Holiday to a neighboring kingdom across the sea. The ship sank and the King and Queen were lost. When word finally made it to the school, Lex had been expelled for nearly beating his one friend to death because he had the nerve to tell him that Oliver would make a better King.
Hearing the news of their parents affected them both in totally different ways. It was the final chunk of ice that froze Lex's heart forever. Oliver, well he was remorseful, and became reflective on his life and the villain he had become. He knew that his parents would be ashamed if they knew. After being expelled, Alexander, went back home to assume the throne and as the oldest it was his rite and privilege. Oliver stayed and finished his time at the school. He tried the best he could to make reparations for the problem he had become. The moment he was declared graduated he headed back for the Kingdom. On his way there in the thickest and most dangerous part of the forest his transport was high jacked by bandits. His trunks of belongings were recovered but Oliver Queen was nowhere to be found.