That first chapter was basically just laying down the foundation for the actual plot of the story. This is where it gets down to Terra's past and stuff. Uh, not much to say...Reviews?
Something slowly jolted Beast Boy from his dream; it had been such a good one, too. Groaning slightly, the changeling now in human form, propped himself into a seated position, emerald eyes watery and purple bags under them, sleep still evident in his face as he brought a gloved hand up to rub his eyes. "What gives? That purple pear and green orange were just about to take me to the land of colorful fruits and veggies…"
What welcomed him next almost sent him into a complete frenzy. "Beast Boy…" That voice, it was so familiar. He had heard it not a week ago and in his head every single day.
"Terra? Wha-"
"I don't have much time. Just listen to me, okay?"
Noticing the urgency in his friend's voice Beast Boy nodded, eyes wandering around the room. There was no visible sign of the geomancer, but that was most definitely Terra's voice, and it was talking to him. Biting his lower lip slightly the shape-shifter opened his mouth to speak but ended up sucking in a large amount of air as Terra's voice flittered into his ears again.
"You're the one that knows me the best, but you don't know my story."
"You never told me!" Beast Boy protested gaining what sounded like an irritated sigh from Terra's voice before he gave a lopsided grin. "Sorry. Go on."
"But you want to, right?" The green teenager nodded eagerly and the voice continued. "Then read that book. You're sitting on it." Beast Boy pulled the leather bound book out from under him, running a gloved hand over the cover.
"Um, Terra this is-"
"I know what it is. I wrote it. If you want to know me, read it." Terra's voice was slowly fading away, but he didn't want it to. Beast Boy stood, the book dropping onto the bedspread behind him. "And Beast Boy?"
"…Yeah?" The changeling was gazing about in slight confusion, waiting for her to reply once more.
"I miss you. A lot."
"Terra- I-" Before he could go on, something jolted through his spine. Panting, Beast Boy realized he was still sprawled out on the bed and he was still a dog. Resuming human form the changeling narrowed his eyes, eyebrows raised so high they were mixed in with his green locks.
He pushed himself to a seated position before feeling something brush against his fingertips. The book was there. Beast Boy hesitated with a slight frown forming upon his lips. Was that all just a dream? Frankly, the changeling didn't know, but this was definitely the same book. Emerald eyes took in the appearance of it, a hand running over the cover. A single word was etched into it from what Beast Boy could tell with a knife of some sort: 'Terra'.
Sinking back into a sprawled out position, this time on his stomach, Beast Boy traced the letters of her name with his fingers, fighting back tears. His teeth were digging into his lower lip, and when the familiar taste of metal mixed in his mouth and a small trickle of red became visible he stopped. There was no need to cry now. He was okay. "She wrote this," the shape-shifter muttered in disbelief. "I've been in here so many times and never noticed it."
The book fit neatly into the palm of his hand, almost as if he was supposed to read it. Beast Boy paused, not sure if Terra would have wanted him to read it or not. It was a diary after all. But in that…vision or whatever it had been, her voice had said it was okay. By some force his hand made its way to the cover and opened it slowly, the yellow pages of the book flipping slightly as he stared blankly at the first page. Inside, scribbled in Terra's handwriting was this:
This book belongs to Terra. Read this and die, unless I like you. Then maybe your life will be spared.
Beast Boy gave a dull chuckle at this before flipping through the pages quickly, eyes scanning over them while his breathing got steadily faster, heartbeat racing. Terra wasn't even here right now, but it still seemed kind of wrong, reading someone else's diary. Slowly he turned the page to the first entry. It seemed this had been written within a year of her meeting the Titans because of the dates marking each page. Taking a deep breath the changeling let his eyes scan the page. This was it. There was no going back after starting.
January 1st
I've been having these really weird dreams lately. I thought leaving Markovia would help me forget all of it but I'm reliving my past slowly. Last night it was Daddy and me again. This time it was before I got my powers, though. I think it might have been the time I ate that cake that was reserved for the Annual Markovian Dinner of Stars. Anyway, I didn't get a good look at him. I never do anymore. I blocked him out completely so all I saw was little three year old me sobbing on the ground while he tormented me saying I was nothing but an annoyance to him. I remember I was so happy that day. I thought that when Dr. Jace came and gave me powers like Brion he'd love me again. It didn't work out that way, though. He still loved Brion more because he was the royal blood. I was just a side job. Why do I keep reliving this stuff? I came here to get rid of it!
Sometimes I wonder why he hated me so much and why Brion was the only one I could talk to back home. Sometimes I wonder why I was even born. Everywhere I go I cause trouble. It's like I was born just to irritate people or something. Someday I'm going to find a place I belong and Daddy won't matter anymore. I won't care what he thinks. I won't care…I don't know why I ever cared. Probably because Brion cared. He was my best friend…I wonder how he's doing sometimes. Maybe someday I'll visit him and find out what happened in Markovia since I left. I don't know. Well, I should probably go. There's a fire to be made and some marshmallows calling my name.
Terra
Beast Boy paused, kicking his legs against the bedspread and a look of concentration mixed with anger set upon his face. "Her father didn't love her," the green boy growled under his breath. "He made her feel like crap. Where's Markovia?" As if the book was a person answering his questions, a few black and white pictures tumbled out. One was a map circled where Markovia was and the other was of a castle, a message in red Sharpie scrawled upon it in Terra's handwriting. "She lived in a castle. Her father was…"
He set the book down to stare first at the map then at the picture of the castle. Stuck to the back of the picture was another, this one a shot of a man and two children. This one was in color. Beast Boy gave a dull smile recognizing the young girl in the dress as Terra immediately; the blonde hair and blue eyes matched hers perfectly. Next to her was a boy he thought might be this Brion kid. He looked older then Terra by a few years, and his hair was a dirty blonde. They had the same eyes though. And the man was partially hidden by the shadows, but he was behind the two, only one side of his face visible. The eye Beast Boy could see was the same blue as the children, but his hair was darker.
Shivering slightly the green teenager couldn't shake the feeling that this guy reminded him of Slade. Beast Boy flipped the picture over to see unfamiliar handwriting, probably the man or the boy's, a small inscription of who was in the picture. Me, Tara (3) and Prince Brion (6). "Prince? This dude was her father." He tapped the picture with a finger before flipping it over, staring at the man lingering in the background. He was wearing a crown. "If this was her dad, then Brion was her brother. Does that make Terra a princess?"
Beast Boy stared at the yellowing back of the picture before furrowing his brow. Why did it say 'Prince Brion' and not 'Princess Tara'? And did she change her name? Apparently. Sighing slightly he put the picture to the side and dragged the diary forward once more. Maybe he could get more answers from this.
January 7th
These visions are coming in order of how they happened back home. It's kind of scary. Anyway, last night it was the one of how Dr. Jace gave me my meta-human abilities. I remember how her hands were really cold and how I was almost crying. But Brion was there. He told me everything would be okay. I believed him, but I know now I shouldn't have. Everything is so not okay. After I was given my abilities, Brion took me out to the yard so I could test my powers out. I hit him in the head with a rock. Man, I was lucky he liked me or I'd be dead by now. He just laughed and told me I needed control, and how it would be hard. Brion said he'd help me practice everyday. That was a lie, too. After that day, Daddy took Brion away more and more to train him. I was left alone a lot after that.
I really do miss Brion how he used to be. He turned on me too eventually. They all did. But no matter how much I hate to admit it, I still really love him. Daddy doesn't love me, but I still want him to. I don't even know where Mom is. I never did. I don't know. I really need to talk to someone. Maybe I'll stop by Gotham and get some of that cherry pie I like. I better go. I think I hear a grizzly bear coming this way…
Terra
Beast Boy gaped silently at the page in front of him. "She wasn't born with her powers either!" The changeling stared blankly at his hand. They had so much more in common then he had even realized, and even now he didn't know of it all. Another picture was shoved into the spine of the book and the changeling removed it eyes taking in the image. Terra was there, young again, with Brion a few feet in front of her. A piece of rock was hovering just over his head. Chuckling dully he set the picture aside and turned the page once more. "I wonder what happened to put Brion against her. They seemed to get along great."
Again the book seemed to hear his thinking. The next entry seemed to answer his question. Beast Boy flipped the page again, noticing that Terra only seemed to write in this thing about these visions at this point and time. Maybe it was supposed to be a dream diary. The changeling's eyes flew across the page rapidly, eyes narrowing with every word. This was so wrong, and it made him angry that he couldn't stop it from happening.
January 14th
This one happened tonight. I know I usually wait until morning to write, but I couldn't get back to sleep after this one. This one made me cry again. This one made me feel worthless. This one was pretty much my downfall. The carefree of childhood left after this, and I was only three years old. There was this big upheaval in Markovia that year, and it wasn't a freak accident. Well, it kind of was. I was the freak and it was an accident. Well, it killed a lot of Markovian people. Daddy wasn't happy. He knew Brion couldn't have done it because he can control his powers. I couldn't, and still can't. Anyway, after the incident happened, Daddy took me back to the castle. This is the part that I'll always remember. The look in his eyes was insane. He threw me across the room and yelled while I sobbed on the ground. It wasn't the pain; this wasn't the first time he'd hurt me. It was because I'd disappointed him and he was sending me away to America for it! To my mother, who I've never met. I cried for hours after that. Not only had I disappointed my father but I would have to leave Brion because of it!
To make it worse, when I went to see Brion, he told me the same thing Daddy had said. 'You're a disgrace to the royal name of Markov. No wonder father's sending you away. Be gone, Tara.' I'm shaking now and I can't get back to sleep. Good thing I'm in Gotham City. I can always get some pie. That always makes me feel better. But this was the last straw. I can't…think about him anymore, Brion. The last I heard from him was a letter sent to my mother's home, which I intercepted. It said my father had died. And I never even got to say goodbye…
Terra
Beast Boy felt his anger rising, and he had moved to a seated position upon the bed. Narrowed eyes glared at the words written upon the pages with hate. How could someone do that to their daughter, their sister? Okay, she was his half-sister. Big deal! Brion had seemed so nice until this entry. The shape-shifter slammed the book shut, eyes jammed closed as he took all of this in. Not only was Terra of royal blood and her name was changed but her powers weren't by birth. And he parents were dead, too, well at least her father was. It was so strange to him that there was this much about her that he didn't know, and she had said he'd known her the best!
Noticing a yellowing piece of paper sticking out from the book, Beast Boy yanked at it hoping it hadn't ripped. It turned out to be a newspaper clipping from a newspaper called 'The Markovian Post'. Staring blankly at it the changeling shook his head slowly. There was a black and white picture of the rubble left from the upheaval and a small caption under it. Mayhem at the market. By some uncontrollable force of nature an earthquake of massive proportion tore the place apart causing many deaths.
Beast Boy snorted slightly, rolling his eyes in irritation. "I hate people." He paused, realizing just how stupid that comment had sounded before shaking his head slowly and correcting himself. "Whoever wrote this paper is insane." The shape-shifter then moved his eyes to the article and began to read.
A day at the market turned into mass destruction when an unexpected earthquake struck. Numbers of people died, but no one knows the cause of it. Somehow the royal family is involved in this, though, because King Markov was said to have banished his daughter, Tara Markov, from-
Beast Boy didn't bother to read the rest; it was making his blood boil beneath his skin. Terra had had a hell of a life before the Titans and then this when she was barely three years old? Life wasn't fair the green boy decided that a long time ago. But this just proved it in a very real way. "I guess after all she's been through she needed a normal life," the changeling muttered sadly unaware that he was crumpling the newspaper clipping in his fist.
"Heh…" He unwrinkled it and set it atop the pile of pictures. Leaning back against the headboard of the bed, Beast Boy brought the pictures forward and stared for a long while at the sort of 'family portrait'. They looked perfectly happy on the outside. "I guess what they say is true. Don't judge a book by its cover." Beast Boy let the pictures slip from his fingers and hit the bedspread and he picked up the book once more.
"I guess I have time for one more entry." Settling himself down Beast Boy flipped the diary to the correct spot and took a deep breath. Hopefully things would get better from there. I mean how could it get worse? "January twenty-fourth? That sounds vaguely familiar…"
January 24th
Guess what? Those stupid visions have finally stopped! So now this thing gets to be used the way it was supposed to be. So, since I last wrote I left that forest on the outskirts of Gotham and made my way through the city. Someone told me there was a group of super powered teenagers in Jump City, and since Gotham's already got Batman and Robin I figured this place would have better prospects for me. By the way, this place I found, Ben's, has the best apple pie I have ever eaten. Not great for cherry, but great apple. Anyway, afterwards I was running through this quarry from a giant scorpion. I killed it. The point is these guys came to save me. Hah. Like I needed saving. The Teen Titans seem to really like me. I even got to stay at their place for a night. Nice digs.
They're all really nice, and for the record Robin lives here now, go figure. But Beast Boy- wow just wow. He's hilarious and he seems to really like me. He knew my secret and he told me he wouldn't tell anyone. I went with them to fight Slade…and the guy wanted something from me. I didn't give it to him, though. I did cause I dust tornado, but Beast Boy calmed me down.
He told me he wouldn't tell. Robin knew. Beast Boy told. I ran. And now I'm living in that cave again. I can't believe it. I thought I finally found someone I could trust and he turns around and does this to me. My flashlight's on the fritz. I better go before I'm left in the dark.
Terra
Beast Boy stared blankly at the page for a few more seconds. January twenty-fourth had been the day he had first met Terra. Forcing back the memory of that day the changeling found himself reliving select words from it anyway.
"Boy Beast! Uh, I mean Bass Boot! No!"
"Beast Boy?" There was a high pitched scream and a turtle took his place, spinning rapidly in the air. "Dude, he's hilarious!"
"Hilarious?" He poked his human head out of the shell. "Me? Really?" When Terra winked at him he resumed human form, and upon remembering the thunderstruck feeling in his gut, Beast Boy shook that particular memory from his head only to get another.
"It's okay, Terra. I'm here." She fell sobbing into his arms. Beast Boy kept her close, holding her in his arms.
"You won't?"
"I won't tell anybody. I promise." Beast Boy cradled her head in his arms, not daring to let go.
Out of nowhere he jolted back to reality. The Titan Alarm was blaring, Terra's words still ringing in his ears. Beast Boy slammed the book shut, knees drawn in to his chest and face buried in them, eyes hidden from view. "I kept that promise," he choked out, biting his lower lip. "Why didn't you believe me?" The shape-shifter's voice cracked, tears falling onto the bed and staining it.
"Titans! Go!"
"I got a lock on its coordinates. Let's move."
"Where is friend Beast Boy?"
"Hiding. I'm sure it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that there's a partially insane half robot threatening to kill him…"
Hearing his friends' voices only made Beast Boy's sobbing pause momentarily. "Shouldn't I be helping them?" He mumbled tipping backwards and rolling onto his stomach, arms crossed in front of him and his head propped on top of them. "I wouldn't be any help anyway. Robin even said I've been sucking lately." The changeling rolled off the bed and stood staring blankly out the window at the city. "They don't need me." He deliberately ignored the ringing of his communicator and closed his eyes tightly. "But I need her."