Hi guys, I'm back, apparently with more time to spare now since it's school vacation and most of my personal problems are resolved.

Oh... uh just to clarify something: Although it's a war, Azarath's soldiers still stay in their castle because the battlefield is near their territory, unlike Gotham's.

Please enjoy :)

In the last chapter...

"And now, shall we invite our guest here to this hall. He shall be the new prince of Azarath."

The soldiers whispered among each other. They cast worried glances at each other.

"Silence!" Slade raised his right hand.

"We shall welcome the new prince of Azarath, Prince Malchior."

Love Story

Chapter 22

A pale man stepped onto the stage of the hall. Everyone gasped as he revealed himself from behind the curtains.

"Who is this man?"

"Is he Slade's son?"

"He looks familiar... or is it just me...?"

Whispers ccould be heard again. Some soldiers squinted to have a clearer look at the new prince. Victor's lips formed into a grim line. Things were getting much more worst. First, King Trigon died, then Slade was appointed to be the new king. Now, he's entitling someone else to be the prince?

"Silence! This insolence will not be tolerated!" Slade bellowed.

Slade then motioned Malchior to stand beside him. Malchior followed his orders obiently and bowed to the people in the hall.

"If there is no more questions, let the ceremony begins."

RxR

"Are you ready to accept and take the place of a Prince?"

"I, Malchior Nosliw, stand here, ready to take my place as the Prince of Azarath."

Slade Wilson raised his sceptor, "Please kneel."

Malchior did as what he was told and Slade tapped the bejewelled top on Malchior's shoulders, "With the power vested in me by the royal crown of Azarath, I vouch thee Malchior Nosliw Prince of Azarath."

Slade then faced the audience, "All of you here witness to this auspicious moment in history."

Slade motioned to Malchior, "Please rise."

The crowd clapped and cheered, but underlying them were the doubts and suspicions.

RxR

"I have to tell them," the man panted as he ran throught the forest.

He paused once in a while to look back, making sure no one was following him. Then, as soft and ever, he turned back and continued his journey.

He stopped, he bent down and put his hands on his knees and panted, misty puffs escaped from his lips. Once his breathing grradually slowed, he closed his eyes and rubbed his arms in the attempt to warm himself up. He mentally chided himself that he should have wear thicker clothes to keep him from the cold. Although it was cold, he brushed his arms across his forehead to wipe away his pespiration. Without wasting a second, he set off again.

RxR

The man smiled as he reached his destination. He walked out of the darness and into the military camp.

He spotted the second biggest tent and followed his instinct. This have got to be Richard's tent.

Once he was at the front of the tent, he pulled the sleeve down. The man was greeted by a sword pointing at his face.

"Vi...Victor? Uh... Cyborg?" Richard gaped at the man.

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"I... You..." Richard placed the sword back to its sheath. "I thought you were someone else, I mean... I heard footsteps so I..."

"It's okay. I just came here to—"

'Kill him?"

Both Victor and Richard turned around and saw Bruce standing behind rushed outside of his tent and blocked Bruce from Victor.

"No, father. He's Victor. Remember I told you about him? Remember we used to search for him?"

Bruce frowned, "But he's in Trigon's side now, son."

"He's still my brother."

Bruce shook his head, then motioned to Victor. "Shoot."

Victor sucked in a deep breath, "Well, King Trigon's dead."

"Trigon's what?"

"He's dead?" Bruce looked at him in disbelieve. "Trigon the Terrible?"

"King Trigon is dead," he repeated.

"Look, kiddo, if you are trying to deceive me, I won't work."

"Ol' King Trigon was dead and Slade became the king. He also made some random stranger a prince."

"Now look, this is getting ridiculous."

"Father," Richard shot Bruce a look.

"You better leave, or I'll deal with you personally."

"Look, ol' man. I'm trying to help."

"Help?" Bruce gave Victor a disggusted look. "Why should I believe you. Who knows, you may be sent by Slade to mislead us."

Victor hung his head down, "I said I'm trying to help. And if it wasn't for my brother's account, I would have already killed you."

Richard's brows disappeared under a fringe of frizz. He finally knew.

"How the..."

"I heard the conversation between you and Slade that day. I heard every single word."

Bruce snickered, "Richard, you are too naive. You really think that he is your brother?"

Richard faced Bruce, "Stop."

"You think this freak," Bruce gestured towards Victor's metal limb, "is you brother?"

Richard glared at him, "Father, I said stop."

Bruce then turned to face Victor, "You think I'll believe all the words that you've said, eh tough guy? You can fool many everyone, but you can't fool me."

Victor shrugged and kept cool. He snuck his hands into the pockets of his trousers, "I just came to tell you about what is happening in Azarath. Since you don't appreciate my presence, I might as well take my leave."

"Victor..." Rchard called out as his brother turned back and walked away.

"Don't, son," Bruce shook his head. "He ain't reliable."

"You've hurt him too much, father."

"What?"

"You said he is a freak."

"Son, you don't have to get so emotional about things like that. A prince always puts his country before people."

"Victor is not just any person, he is my brother."

"He is your brother, who has turned bad. You have to stop thinking about him. You still have many other important things to take care of—which does not include Victor," Bruce placed his hands on Richard's shoulders.

Richard clenched his fists and shrugged, causing Bruce hands to fall off, "At least I still cared for my loved ones."

"Richard, you have to face the reality. We're living in a cold, ruthless world. You have to be strong and stop letting emotions get the better of you."

"The world is just a merciless universe. People were born, then when the time comes, they die. They'll just... just go away and leave you alone by yourself naturally... Emotions... feelings... they are just a watse of time." Bruce relaxed a bit, "You know, we're both alike in many different ways. I used to be emotional, like you too."

"We're never alike."

"Son..."

"I have feelings."

So how was it? Since in the real story, Batman and Robin had some kind of problem that result in Robin leaving his mentor and went to Jump City. So I decided to write something similar.