A/N Oh this? This is for you!
I Own Nothing
Wally barely had time to process this discovery though for as soon as the gate had been opened the Prince had led the three at a brisk pace through the near silent halls of the palace and to the royal stables. It wasn't until the party of four had left the place grounds and were riding through the lower regions streets that Wally turned to the Boy-Prince of Steel and said, "Since when were you a prince?!"
The older prince rolled his eyes, "Since birth."
Artemis laughed at Wally's face, "Well you walked into that one Prince Dumb Ass!"
"Oh shut it!"
"So why are we going to Gothamia?" The dark haired prince asked Roy.
"Well Conner we are going there to save the Prince." Roy replied, purposely raising his voice to cut off the brewing argument from the two behind him.
"Didn't know there was a prince in Gothamia." Conner mused.
"I didn't know there was one in Superious either to tell you the truth," Wally said, smiling at the older royal, "We just keep popping up everywhere!"
Conner grunted in response.
The group were silent for a time before Artemis piped up, "So… clearly we're going to have to avoid Superious, so where are we going to go? The only way in this direction that will get us to Gothamia goes through Martius, and that place is just weird."
"Well the only alternative is to go back around Superious and try to navigate through the mountains and that would take at least two weeks provided we have perfect weather and don't get lost." Roy reasoned, "Martius is the best option."
Wally groaned, "OK people let's get going. The faster we get to Martius the sooner we can get out of Martius."
"I'm sorry but I think I'm missing something here." Conner cut in, "What's so bad about Martius?"
The other three stared at him, as though trying to decide if he was being serious. He simply shrugged.
"The people in Martius aren't… normal." Artemis explained. "They practice shifter magic. Nothing is as it seems there."
"Which means what?" Conner asked slowly, still not fully understanding.
"It means," Roy explained, "That the people there are not always what they claim to be. Never trust someone from Martius. Even if they seem sweet, they could be evil."
"Dick I have to go back to the kingdom for a bit ok? I think Alfred is coming back this afternoon." Jason said from where he stood preparing his small travel bag.
Dick was half lying on his bed, his head hanging off the side, facing his brother upside down. "No worries… hey Jay?" he asked hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"How are mother and father?" Dick's voice was soft. Jason would have missed it had he not been paying attention.
The other boy hesitated. He hated it when Dick asked about his parents. The truth was that the two rulers had never overcome the sadness in their hearts at sending their son away, as much as Jason reassured them that Dick was still healthy and happy the two adults still hated that they had had to do that to their boy.
"Umm, they… they're ok. They miss you terribly and wish that they can come see you…" he trailed off for a moment. They all knew and understood that it wasn't safe for the king and queen to come here, there were still too many people that wanted to kill Dick and the risk was simply too great. But the distance had caused great pain to the prince and his parents. "The kingdom is still safe, your father is known throughout the lands as a fierce protector of his people, and no one dares to challenge him. Queen Selena is still as loving as ever." He added, trying to keep his voice light.
Dick smiled at that, glad to hear that his parents had been able to move on with their lives. "And have they given me another brother yet?" This question had been asked many times. Dick was not a fool. He knew that his father would not live forever, despite his wishes, and he knew that when that day did come the people would hardly want the Ice Demon as their king. His parents needed an heir.
"No not yet." Jason replied. Like the question this response had been repeated multiple times and with each delivery Jason was not sure if he was glad or upset that the king and queen had not tried for another child.
"Alright well, travel safely and give them my love." Dick said as he stood and gave his companion a hug. Pulling back he added with a smile, "Oh and if you see Kaldur tell him I say 'hi', ok?"
Jason lightly punched his shoulder, "Oh shut it you or else I won't bring you anymore strawberries!"
Dick just cackled in response. Kaldur was a water spirit that lived in the river in the forest that separated the kingdom from Dick's tower. While Dick had never seen the man he knew from Jason's description that he was attractive. Enough so that Jason had seemed to develop feelings for him. Kaldur had seemed to take a liking to Jason and Dick as well because he assisted Jason at keeping any invading parties away from Dick when he could.
As fun as it was to tease Jason about his crush Dick valued the sweet treats of strawberries far too much, "No not the strawberries!" he cried dramatically.
Jason laughed, "Yeah don't test me buddy I won't bring you a single berry of any kind, straw or otherwise, if you keep bringing him up!"
Dick smirked but forced himself not to say 'that's just because you want to get him up'. As tempting as it was he knew Jay would probably punch him for real. Instead he settled for, "Alright alright, well when do you think Alfie will get here?"
"Not till tonight I imagine…" Jason said thoughtfully
Dick nodded as he walked with Jay down the stairs to the hidden doorway. "Alright well I'll see you in a couple of days, don't forget my strawberries!"
Jay chuckled, "When do I ever forget your strawberries!"
Dick didn't respond as he waited for the other to leave. Once he had gone Dick made his way back up the stairs, knowing the way well enough that he didn't need to see them.
Sitting on his bed he sighed. This was the part he hated. The waiting. He hated being alone and he would be lying if he said that he wasn't lonely. However after all these years loneliness had just become a part of his life.
The benefit of being alone, though, was that he was able to remove the bandages and look around without the fear of hurting someone. Practiced fingers untied the knot and unwound the material, his hair tickling his now revealed skin.
Blinking slowly to allow his eyes to adjust to the light he smiled a small smile. It felt good to see again. The place hadn't really changed. A new layer of dust had appeared but that would be easily fixed. Jason and Alfred tried to avoid moving things around too much so that he would always know where things were. He was grateful but the familiarity of everything was somewhat draining at times.
He walked to the window and stared out at the forest, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face. While the warmth could not warm his face the rest of his body absorbed what warmth it could.
Gazing up at the sky he sighed longingly. He was content in his life; he had two wonderful caregivers who were like family to him and parents who – while he didn't see them – loved him dearly. But he still longed for the freedom of the birds… to be able to simply go places, anywhere beyond the walls of his tower, it would be wonderful.
A small bee flew towards him and he smiled, outstretching his hand so it could land on his finger he looked at it… the bee turned to ice within seconds.
Startled he jumped back, the bee falling to the grass below. "I'm sorry…" he whispered as he cursed the witch that did this to him.
The small company of travellers came to the borderline of the Kingdom of Martius. The Kingdom was surrounded by water systems, said to have been put there by the first rulers of Martius to keep intruders out. To enter the kingdom they would have to cross a small bridge guarded by an old man.
That was where things were getting difficult.
Wally pinched the bridge of his nose and glared at the old man, "Let's try this one last time shall we?" the princes voice dripped frustration. "Either you move or I will behead you where you stand!"
"Wally!" Artemis scolded.
"What?! I am done playing this little game with him!" He rounded back on the old man who simply stood there with a content little smile on his face, "Would you just let us pass?!"
"Answer the question and you may pass." The old man said again. "What is your quest?"
Wally groaned and started to pace, a habit he had picked up from his uncle. "To slay the Ice Demon and to avenge the prince of Gothamia!"
The old man chuckled, "Nope."
"Nope?! How can you say nope!? It's my quest! Don't you think I would know what my own quest was!?" the prince said gesturing wildly in his frustration.
"You do not know what your true quest is and until you figure it out you will not be allowed entrance into this kingdom." The old man said in a matter of fact manner, the pleasant little smile still present on his face.
"This is getting us nowhere!" Wally complained to the others.
Conner, who had remained silent during the back and forth between the other prince and the old man, spoke up, his voice slightly confused, "But I thought that you said the quest was to save the prince?" he asked Roy.
Wally opened his mouth to respond when the sound of laughter interrupted him. Turning he stared at the man, "Why are you laughing?"
"Because the big prince is right! He knows the quest when you yourself do not! I would say that that is quite humorous!" he said with a chuckle.
Wally looked at Conner in surprise then turned back to the man, "So… does that mean we can pass?"
"Certainly." He said, moving to the side.
"Finally." Artemis muttered as she and Roy passed the man and carefully led their horses across the bridge.
Conner waited for Wally to remount before he started forward. The man stopped him for a moment and stared at him intently.
"When you cross the bridge take the path to the left. Follow the road until you meet a girl named M'gann. She is part of your quest, Prince of Superious," he then turned his intense stare to Wally, "And with her help you will learn the lessons that you will need to complete your quest and save the prince… you may be his last hope Wally, but you must learn to see beyond what you see, to see what once was and what should be. For if you don't… a great kingdom may fall." He stared at the two princes a moment longer, his ominous words making the two glance at each other.
"Hey!" Roy called, stealing their attention, "Are you two coming or what?"
"Yeah we were just-" Wally started to reply when Conner interrupted him.
"Wally look."
Looking back to where the old man was Wally gasped to see he was gone, glancing around proved futile when he didn't see him. It was like the man had never been there at all.
"Oh…kay… we should go…" he said leading his horse across the bridge, Conner following close behind.
"Oh which way should we go?" Artemis asked hesitantly, staring at the split path before them.
"Left." Conner grunted, taking the lead and heading down the path.
Roy and Artemis looked at Wally, but the prince just nodded and followed the Boy of Steel. With a shrug Roy followed.
"Great… let's just follow the guy that arrested us shall we? There's no way that could back fire!" the blonde grumbled to herself sarcastically even as she coaxed her horse after them.
A/N Ok so things should get strange now that they're in Martius! (Couldn't think of a better 'kingdom name' for Mars)
Review and let me know what you think?
