Terra and the two seated people in front of her, both bearing uncanny resemblances to the geomancer, took long looks at each other. All three people had neutral, unreadable faces on, and their blue eyes were studying their respective foci.
From Terra's observation, her parents had not changed much. They had definitely aged a bit, with visible grey hairs and lines of wrinkles on their elegantly pale faces, but they were still much the same as the images from her memories.
Mrs. Markov showed the first sign of emotion, with tears slowly coming out of her eyes.
"Tara..." she said. "It really is you."
"Mom. Dad."
Terra's heart was pumping faster than all the times she was - as she would call it - going crazy when she was with the Titans.
No, get the Teen Titans out of your mind, she mentally told herself. This is your new life, Terra. Take it.
Mr. Markov then burst out laughing, how any typical king would. "Tara, how we've missed you! You are as endearing and as beautiful as ever."
"Come closer, Tara, so I can hug you."
Terra, for the first time in years, obeyed her parents. She ran towards her mother and lunged herself at the formally-dressed lady and burst into tears upon first much-desired touch. Mr. Markov shortly stood up and joined them in their tight hug, not wanting to let go for a long time.
"It's okay, my daughter," the Mayor assured Terra. "You're not alone now. You are home."
Hold on to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
"I hate to break up the reunion," Slade interrupted. "But I have matters to discuss with Mayor Markov."
Terra glared at Slade. What does he have to tell my dad?
Mr. Markov broke free from the warm embrace. "Of course, Slade! Anything for bringing beloved Tara back to us."
The guards lead Mr. Markov and Slade to another room, where they talked.
"Do you know what they're talking about?" Terra asked her mother, receiving a nod in response.
"But that's not the matter for us, sweetie," Mrs. Markov replied. "The most important thing is that you're here. How have you been? I can see you have grown a lot."
Terra smiled. She was having a heart-to-heart with her mom again.
But then she remembered about her powers. She worried that her parents and the rest of Markovia would not be as accepting of her if they knew that she could control rocks.
"I'm doing fine," she replied. "But I have something to tell you..."
"Yes?" Mrs. Markov urged her daughter to continue.
"This happened after I, you know, ran away from the country..."
Pauses were plentiful when Terra was talking. She kept second guessing, wondering if she would receive the reaction she dreaded.
"I don't know how, but they just suddenly appeared one day. Four to five months since I left."
"We cried a lot when you disappeared, you know," Mrs. Markov told Terra. "We thought you were a victim of the Tarbal Avenue curse."
"That's still going on?"
Mrs. Markov nodded, and then urged Terra to continue again.
Terra took a deep, long breath before muttering what she wanted to admit.
"I have superpowers."
Terra looked suspenseful into her mother's eyes. Mrs. Markov's smile did not go away.
"Mom? Please say something."
Mrs. Markov chuckled, calming Terra down a lot. "I don't care if you have superpowers, Tara! But what can you do?"
Terra could not believe her ears. She was now smiling inside and out.
"I'm gonna need a bigger space. You'll know what I mean when I show you."
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
They went to the courtyard, the place for guards to call for duty, for Terra to show off her powers. Mrs. Markov was amazed at how big the rocks Terra could control were.
After the 'performance', Mrs. Markov was grinning from ear to ear and applauding loudly.
"I'm so proud of you, Tara!" she exclaimed.
"Well," Terra muttered. "I haven't exactly done only proud deeds."
"But you seem to get the hang of it now, so I'm sure nobody minds."
Terra hugged her mom again, she couldn't get enough of that, and said, "I'm so happy I'm back here in Markovia. It's like you know everything I've been through while I'm gone. I did have control issues with my powers, but I've got so much better."
Mrs. Markov chuckled and kissed her daughter on the head. "Let's go back in the Castle, we're having a celebration feast.
"Cheers to Terra!"
"Cheers!"
"Oh, guys..."
Mr. Markov, Mrs. Markov, Tara Markov, and - to Terra's chagrin - Slade, sat on one of the ends of a long dinner table as they toasted and began eating.
"Why is Slade here, dad?" Terra asked, not ashamed to come across as rude to Slade. "He's not eating anyway, unless he can eat through his mask."
"I helped you get here, I'll have you reminded," Slade retorted calmly. "And you're right, I'm not eating. In fact, if you excuse me that I dismiss."
There was no argument, and Slade left to wherever. Terra decided to take some more of the family re-bonding time to catch up.
"So, dad, I didn't get the chance to ask you but how have you been?"
"Oh, nothing's changed much, m'dear," Mr. Markov answered, taking a sip of red wine. "Other than you, precious."
"She has superpowers, Malcolm!" Mrs. Markov told him, looking excited, making Terra blush. She was really astonished at how accepting they were to her, all the more making her happy to be there.
"That's nice," Mr. Markov said, also smiling. "This is truly a wonderful day for the Markovs.
"Yeah, if only Maximus were here too, and if only he weren't guilty..."
The parents turned to their daughter, who started to look sad again as she remembered her elder brother and their only son.
"He is a disgrace, Tara," the Markovian Mayor said, "Grateful decency he didn't show up on our gates. But let's forget about him, now, m'dear, we want to talk about you!"
Terra took another bite of her meal before asking, "Well, what do you want to know about?"
Mrs. Markov looked at her husband, as if asking for some kind of permission to say something. From her view, Terra guessed her father gave her mother the green light to say those things.
"We're getting old, Tara -"
"I don't know if I'll be able to take the role of the Mayoress," Terra instantly said, knowing full well where her parents were going with the conversation. "I'm merely a teen!"
"We know, sweetie, but Maximus was supposed to be next in line for the throne. But look at how that turned out. You will do great in this responsibility, Tara. You've been through a lot. After many years, no one here in Markovia despises you for leaving. They are arms open wide for your return, and thus for your soon-to-be received reign!"
Terra took a moment to think about it. She didn't really like the idea of getting more power, considering how she was just trying to control the superpowers she had. But it was for a nation, and for her family name. And surely, with the love of her parents, she could do anything.
"Okay, I'll do it!"
"Splendid!" her father said, standing up. "But first, one thing!'
"What is it, dad?"
"You will need the appropriate attire as well as that signature Markovian hair clip."
Terra blushed once more as she looked at what she was wearing. Brown baggy pants, a black shirt, with her belly-button sticking out unsuitably, her skin uncleaned, and she felt her hair frizzy and dirty. She had long lost the silver comb-like hair clip with the ruby on it, the one that Slade returned to her when she encountered him for the first time while fighting with the Teen Titans.
Teen Titans, get them out of your head right now.
"I'm sure our tailors will be able to produce something nice and tidy for you," Mrs. Markov told her.
"Oh, so you have two tailors now?"
"Four."
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
"Ah!"
Mr. Markov exclaimed as his heiress daughter emerged from the fitting room in her baby blue gown and a new hair clip, this time red in color with a jade pebble on it.
"You look stunning, Tara."
It took awhile for Terra to get the feel of royalty back after sleeping under the stars on the rocks for so long. From riches to rags and back to riches, that was her life so far.
Terra thanked Mr. Markov and together they walked to the door, before Terra decided to stop them.
"I want you to tell me something first. What were you and Slade talking about earlier?"
"Oh," Mr. Markov replied. "Just some promises that need to be honored."
Terra was for the most part convinced by her father's answer, but not totally. But she didn't ask further as a guard suddenly opened their door.
"What is it?" Mr. Markov asked kind of impatiently.
"We have an incoming visitor, and he claims he knows Ms. Markov," the guard informed the two.
Terra sighed. She had a strong feeling she knew who it was. "I just can't get a break, can I?"
I do not know the flying distance from Jump City to Europe is so long!
Beast Boy, in pterodactyl form and with his luggage bound to him with a rope, was en route to Markovia. During his trip, he had thought up many questions to ask.
Why did Terra leave after we saved her in the amusement park? Why is she with Slade? Why Markovia? Is there an ulterior motive? What is going on?
After a day, Beast Boy had finally arrived at the little country, but it was so small he almost overlooked it.
This is more tiring than the mountain climb to Jericho, he thought, preparing for landing. The aerial view he got of Markovia was already enough to spot the edges of the entire country. It was the size of Hawaii, and he wasn't even on considerably high ground!
So he was able to see what Markovia was mainly divided into; a street of classic market stalls, rows of mediocre houses, spots of more luxurious looking cottages of what seemed to be a villa, greenery that he figured must have been gardens and parks, public forums and a tall castle. He figured it shouldn't take a day for him to explore the whole place, but much less.
Beast Boy finally reached solid ground and transformed back to his human form.
"Time to get Terra back," he told himself, but he had been paying so much attention to the country main areas that he didn't realize a circle of guards waiting for him from directly below. Once he saw them surrounding him, he knew getting Terra back would be harder than he initially thought.
"Ohhh... Does anyone speak ENGLISH?" he asked the guards. Their uniforms reminded the superhero of the Papal Swiss Guards, so he thought they were probably not going to be the corrupted, indecent, unjust type of civil servants.
"Yes, we speak English you imbecile," retorted one of the guards, making Beast Boy bite his tongue.
"Whoa, dudes!" Beast Boy improvised, trying to find a way to get in Markovia without going straight to the local prison. "I'm sorry. I just came here to visit a friend! She sent me a postcard! Nice place you got here!"
He then saw three of the guards quietly discussing among one another. When they finally broke off their whispers, one of them spoke on behalf of them.
"You mentioned of Tara Markov. Why?"
Somehow, that name rang something in Beast Boy, but he was too busy getting away scotch free to dwell over the name.
"Teenage girl, yay high, blonde hair, big bright blue eyes, outdoors outfit, ring any bells?"
"Yes, we know her," the guard - Beast Boy assumed in-chief - replied. "We all know her."
The Chief Guard then ordered one of the guards to inform the Mayor. Sweat dropped from the top of Beast Boy's head and trickled down to his neck. He was wondering why would they need the involvement of the mayor, unless Terra was someone significant to the mayor or Markovia.
"Markovia?" he said out loud.
"Yes, you are in Markov. Yes, Tara is in Markovia."
"Tara?"
Beast Boy noticed that the guard had pronounced Terra's name Tah-rah, as opposed to the way he was used to, Tear-rah. He then realized that Phobia had said Tara, and with the last name Markov. That was the first time he had heard the name 'Tara Markov'.
"Tara Markov?" he uttered.
"Yes," the Chief Guard confirmed, becoming irritated at the green-skinned teenager's constant utterances.
"She is the President's daughter?"
"The Mayor's, actually. Now, if you are done asking questions, we will need to take you to the Castle to find out if Ms. Markov is indeed familiar of you. Guards, take him!"
Three guards quickly grabbed Beast Boy by the arms and forced him to walk past the entrance gates and towards the Castle. Beast Boy did not counterattack because he didn't want to give Markovians the impression that he was someone bad. And because the guards' pointy sticks were slightly intimidating on how far they would go to achieve justice.
He just had to stay calm and see Terra and get the facts straight. Only then would everything be clear. It would have been easier if the guards weren't poking at Beast Boy quite vigorously just to make him go faster.
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
"Bring him in!" the Mayor ordered, seated at his leader's throne, his wife by his side.
"Ow! Ouch! Hey, watch it, dude!"
Terra's guess was correct. It was Beast Boy. She was standing beside her mother, and she had been bracing herself to see him.
The guards brought in Beast Boy, and the royal parents were shocked by his skin color.
"Do you have skin disease?" Mrs. Markov questioned upon seeing the person. "And do you take care of your teeth? You have a sharp one sticking out."
Beast Boy was offended, wondering if that was how people in Markovia treated each other. "It's a fang! And what kind of hospitality does this country have? First, I was poked around by the guards unnecessarily, and then someone gives out a prejudicial comment of me!" He then saw Terra and shut up.
Terra didn't speak or give him eye contact. She was looking at the guards, but when they were ordered to leave, she wandered her eyes upward, anywhere but at him.
"Who are you?" Mr. Markov asked straightforwardly. "And why is your skin green? Are you a performer in make-up?"
No mercy I see, Beast Boy cleared his throat and introduced himself.
"I'm Beast Boy. And I'm green because I turned out this way!"
Mr. Markov was whispering to Mrs. Markov while Beast Boy was talking, which offended him even more. He never thought he would be the one running low on patience.
"Could he be one of the Abritraries?" the Mayor whispered to Mrs. Markov. "It's possible that he was one of the fortunate ones."
Beast Boy couldn't hear them, nor could Terra, but that didn't change the fact that the royal bodies were being unprofessionally rude. "Hello, I'm still here! Stop ignoring and insulting me, Your Highness...es!" Beast Boy glanced at Terra, and noticed that she had been avoiding eye contact. He just wanted to get some answers.
"He has to go," Mrs. Markov whispered, leaving Beast Boy to continue grumbling. "He may be dangerous."
Mr. Markov nodded and then, to the surprise of Beast Boy and Terra, shouted, "Guards, TAKE HIM AWAY!"
The guards came back and poked and grabbed Beast Boy again, which really got him mad.
"Get off me!" he yelled, and then transformed into a gorilla in order to break free.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" a confused Terra asked, finally giving a two-second eye contact full of perplexity with Beast Boy. "He's not someone bad, I promise! Please, let him go!"
"You know him?" Mrs. Markov asked incredulously. Mr. Markov waved at the guards to tell them to release Beast Boy.
The guards stopped attacking a gorilla Beast Boy and left in single-file motion. Beast Boy resumed human form, dusting off the dirt on his Doom Patrol uniform, and he thanked Terra before her parents began interrogating her.
"Who is he?" her father queried as politely as possible.
"He is a hero from Jump City, California. That's in the United States of America," she answered. "He's a good guy."
"Now, if you excuse me, I would like to talk to Terra," Beast Boy said, more alert than ever of any other surprise attacks.
"I'll make this quick, Beast Boy," Terra said, trying to sound as calm. "I don't want to go back to Jump City. This is my home now. These are my parents. No one can top them. Not even you, so please don't try to."
Beast Boy's ears drooped down. He even forgot why he went through all the trouble to talk to her in the first place when now it seemed like it was for nothing. But then why did it feel so important in the first place?
"I understand," he said. "I-I'll leave now."
Beast Boy left the Castle and walked - once again dejectedly - as he needed to make his round trip home.
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
'Cause I'm gonna make this place your home
Beast Boy was walking, staring at the ground.
"You made it."
There was no mistake in that voice.
"Slade."
Beast Boy looked up and saw the cool, collected and calculating Slade.
"I hope you're not thinking of leaving so soon," Slade continued. "There are more things to see."
"I'd rather go home," Beast Boy said flatly, glaring at the nemesis of the Titans. "Why are you here?"
Slade squinted at Beast Boy and replied, "The same reason you will have when I tell you what I have to tell you. But first..."
Beast Boy was growling, keeping on his toes as Slade walked in circles around him. They were somewhere in between the Castle and the Marketplace, and no one was there. It was like an open space square that had no use anymore.
"You may want to stay and talk for awhile longer," Slade went on. "By longer I mean for a few more days. So you will need to book a room somewhere in Tarbal Avenue."
"How do I know I should believe you?"
"Tarbal Avenue is filled with the villagers. I won't hurt you or anything."
"Not like that hasn't happened before!"
"There's something wrong with this place, Beast Boy."
Beast Boy was confused. There didn't seem to be anything wrong other than the hospitality. No wonder no one in the Teen Titans team had heard about the country.
"Here are your room keys," Slade handed Beast Boy a typical hotel chain of keys. "Stay there, explore Markovia, get to know the people. Make yourself at home. We will soon have business to attend to."
Author's Note: Oooh, Beast Boy and Slade talking to each other without throwing fists?! What is Slade talking about? What are Terra's parents talking about? So many mysteries! This story is far from over! What ARE Slade's REAL intentions? Read on! ^_^ Thank you for the reviews and readers' response! =D But I would like to know what are the good and bad things about writing/story? Thanks! ^_^
The song is Home by Phillip Phillips. =D