Chapter 3
Author's note: this chapter concentrates on Geo in Markovia, then jumps to what terra is doing in exile. I hope my readers don't get bored
The next few years of the young prince's life were very ordered and structured. Bryon began his training as crown prince, in preperation for the day he would take the throne.
Dimitri the tutor instructed him daily on ettiqute and protocol, and the Prince began hosting royal banquets and dinners. Bryon entered the order of Markovian knights, and leared the Markovian codes of Chivalry and honor.
As King Viktor slipped deeper and deeper into maddness (A result of what he had done to his wife and daughter), the task of running the kingdom fell more and more on his son's shoulders.
On one particular sunny day, Bryon was out on horseback, riding though one of the small vilages near the palace. His eyes swept over the small crowd of townspeople moving about the marketplace, dressed in traditional-style clothing. The women and girls in thier long dresses with floral patterns, and the men and boys in thier trousers and caps.
The young prince could hear the pounding of the blacksmith's hammer form one end of the village, and the bleating of goats and sheep being led to market by thier herdsman from the other.
Although the Markovian people had elecrticity, plumming, and modern medicine, the Kingdom rejected modern clothing styles, convenices,(Television, cars, etc.), and modern morality.
Let the outside world have it's pollution, crime problems, and immodesty. Markovia would it's Medival customs and traditions, and the people liked it that way.
As Bryon's horse passed into an alleyway, a voice called out to him "My prince?"
Geo-force looked down to find a young maiden standing beside his horse. Bryon swung down off his steed and bowed to the girl.
"My lady, what can I do for you?"
The girl curtsied in reply. "My lord prince, I-I'm sorry to bother you, but I wanted to ask you about our beloved princess..."
The mention of Terra knocked all the air out of Bryon's chest. The common people had loved his sister dearly, they considered her a national treasure. When his father had sent her away, it broke the people's hearts.
The girl continued. "I was just wondering if our princess would be coming home..."
Bryon closed his eyes for a minute, before placing a hand on the young madien's shoulder, replying. "Do not fear, milady I swear to you and to all my people that I will find a way to bring my sister home."
As he got back on his horse, the young prince exactly how he was going to keep that promise.
Later that night, Bryon was attending a royal ball at the Palace. He danced the Markovian Waltz with several of the teenage noble ladies of court, while Dimitri and his father looked on, approving.
The prince knew what was going through thier minds. Now in his sixteenth year , Geo-force was only two years away from eligilbe marriage age. By Markovian law, Bryon could not take the throne until he took a wife. The king's health was beginning to fail, and everyone's thoughts were now turning towards the young prince...
Bryon tried to put the thought out of his mind. He was ready to marry for the sake of his country, It was his royal duty. He just hoped he could find the right person when the day came.
Much to his father's dismay, bryon seemed to take an interest in the more intoverted, darker girls at court. King Viktor shuddered at the thought at one of those 'bad' girls becoming Queen of Markovia.
As Bryon's kissed one young Baroness' hand, he reflected on how Markovian women were treated. All Markovian men (Commoners and Nobility) praticed the anicient customs of chivialry. Women and girls were treasures to be treasured and pampered. Men held the doors for ladies, pulled out chairs for them.
No Markovian male would ever even think of comitting an act of violence against a female, even in self -defense.The penalty for any boy or man who evereven tried to harn a Markovian lady was so horrible it was unpseakable in public. Bryon thought about his sister. How was she being treated in whatever foriegn land she was in?
After the last dance, bryon went out onto the Balcony,and looked up at the stars. He made a silent promise to himself he would find Terra, and make sure she was safe. He would protect his little sister, no matter what it took.
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A heavy rainstorm poured down on the Streets of Detroit, drenching anyone unlucky enough to get caught in it. Beneath a bridge sat young Terra Markov, taking shelter from the downpour. Cold, hungry, and wet, the princess shivered as she tried to hold back tears.
It had been a few years since her father had cast her out of her homeland, deciding she was a failure because she couldn.t control her powers. She had been wandering from place to place, just trying to stay alive.
As she ran her fingers through her grime-streaked hair, she found the little plastic hairpiece her mother had given her when she was little. She pulled it out, and began to examine it, her mind drifting back to a happier time..
MARKETPLACE, MARKOVIAN CAPITAL, SEVERAL YEARS AGO:
"Terra, come here! I want you to see Something!"
"Coming Mama!"
Little Princess Terra ran across the marketplace to where her mother stood. It was a rare treat for the Queen and her daughter to get out to the palace among the people like this, so every moment of it was to be enjoyed. When the little princess reached her mother's side, she saw a cart full of little jewelry and trinkets.
"Go ahead, little one. Choose one as a souvenir."
Terra's eyes searched the cart, until they spied a little plastic hairclip. She picked it up.
"Are you sure that's the one you want, Terra?" The Queen asked. "There's much nicer looking ones on the cart." Terra grinned.
"Want this one, mama." The queen smiled back at her little girl. "Then it is yours" As one of the servants paid for the trinket, the Queen placed it in her daughter's hair.
Terra's mother picked the little princess up, hugging her gently. "My beatiful little daughter, I love so much..."
DETROIT, PRESENT DAY
A clap of thunder brought Terra back to the present. Her life had been so perfect back in Markovia, with her Mother, her brother, and her handmaids. Her father had taken everything away from her...
Her father...Terra's sorrow turned into anger when she as thought about him. King Viktor had torn her life apart, thowing his own daughter out like unwanted garbage. Her own father had betrayed her.
Angily, she swore to herself that he, and anyone else that hurt her, would suffer pain a thousand times worse than the hurt she felt inside right now.
She would never let herself be betrayed again.
As the Rain died away, Terra walked out from beneath the bridge. The princess decided it was time to leave this city, and move on to someplace with a little less rain.
She'd heard about a desert area near Jump City, perhaps she could find a dry cave to stay in. Gathering up her few possesions, she prepared to leave.
Deep in a hidden base, a shadowy figure watched Terra prepare to leave.
"So this is the exiled Princess of Markovia, most impressive." He said softly, watching news reports of Terra's 'adventures' filter in on the monitor.
"King Viktor was a fool to throw all that power away, simply because he couldn't control it." The figure stepped into the light, revealing himself to be...Slade, hated enemy of the Titans.
He looked back to the monitor. "Yes, you may prove very valuable to me... my new apprentice."
