You guys completely ignored me. ): Surely, you guys would know where to download TT vids, right? But anyway, here you go: chapter 25.

Love Story

Chapter 25

"I... I uh..."

"We thought you trusted us."

"No,it's not that I don't trust you guys..."

"Then?"

"I..."

Well?" Karen raised a brow.

"I'm verry sorry! We had to keep our identity a secret because..." Rachel paused. "Just because we're afraid rebels would assassinate us. After all, my father's rules are harsh."

"So that's why you keep your identity from us?" Aquanlad questioned.

Rachel nodded, "Since you all know about it, can you please keep this a secret?"

Karen put her hands on her hips, "You're not hiding anything else from us, aren't you?"

"I'm not! I swear!"

"So what do we do now?" Roy asked.

"I don't know," Rachel shrugged.

An awkward silence flooded between them. The teens could sense how tense it was. Rachel looked on the floor, avoiding eye contact with her... well... friends (if they still consider her as their friend). Karen glared at Rachel then looked away. Roy anchored his hands in his pockets and Aqualad nodded to the tune of his imaginary music. All of them stayed like that for what it seemed to be an eternity.

Roy glanced out the window and caught sight of tiny white flakes falling down. He took in a deep breath and broke the tension, "Look! It's snowing!"

Aqualad furrowed his brows and looked at Roy as if he was mad. "What?" Aqualad mouthed.

"Ho ho ho! It's winter!" Roy let out a nervous chuckle.

"You sound stupid, you know," Karen poked Roy's arm.

"So um... Anyone up for a snowball fight?" Roy asked.

"Well... It seems like it's snowing, I'd better go home," Karen ignored Roy's request.

"Well, maybe you guys could stay for dinner," Raven blurted, attempting to save their friendship.

"I think I'd better leave in case the snowfall gets heavier, princess," Karen said the last word with acrimony.

Rachel cringed. "Well, okay. Maybe next time."

"No thanks," Karen slammed the door shut.

Rachel sighed. "So you guys are leaving too, aren't you?" she looked at the boys.

Aqualad scratched the back of his neck, "Well..."

"You know, Karen's just mad at you for keeping things from her. She does not like her friends keeping things from her..." Roy trailed. "Just apologize."

"I've already apologized!"

"Okayyy... I'll help you two patch up then," Roy hurried off after Karen.

"Don't go make things worse!" Aqualad yelled.

RxR

"Welcome to Keystone. It's not as big as Gotham, but I hope you'll like it," Wally West greeted at the city gate.

"Come on, son. Give them a tour 'round the castle," King Rudolph smiled.

"THere's the parlor. My father is going to host a party later this evening to celebrate the end of war. We hope you could join us."

Wally, Bruce, Richard and Babara continued to walk down the path linking the parlor to the hall. Somewhere in the middle, there was an elegant spiral staircase. The staircase had not been repainted for quite a long time. It ought to be white, but had lost its lustre, and was fading Yellow. It gave a sense of antiquness and exquisiteness. Knives, swords and various weapons were hung on the walls. Golden plaques were nailed below each set of weapon.

"It must have take years to have such a large collection," Richard thought.

Wally introduced. "That's the spiral staircase. It's fading yellow but my father still refused to repaint it. It's called the beauty of time where colors sheds," Wally mimicked in a girly tone at the last sentence. "Well, my father always repeats the same sentence when I suggested to repaint it."

Richard chuckled mentally and thought, "Same as Bruce, 'The Beauty of Time Where Color Sheds'."

"Those weapons were from my grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather and so on. They used those during the battles where they had won lands. They were also the weapons that my ancestors used during their last battle. My father said it's priceless, however I think it's a serious waste of space. Some of them had already Dropped their blades." Wally continued, "My father ordered men to stick the parts together so it looks cool."

"I heard that," Rudolph appeared from behind and joined them.

Wally gulped and strode towards the hall. "There's the hall."

Richard glanced on the walls of the corridor. The trim in the hall was the same Bright yellow as the parlor's, but the walls were softened by faded wallpaper. A mirror, darkened with age, hung on one wall; on another were several paintings. An oakwood framed painting depicts a picture of two grinning boys. A boy with a red cape slung his arm across The other boy's shoulders. He raised his sword while the other boy ruffled his hair. Richard squinted at the picture. They seemed to resemble someone he knew.

Wally looked back and saw Richard tapping his finger on his chin, in deep thought, at the picture, he commented, "That's my father, they boy with the sword. And presumably, the other one is your father."

"Really?"

Rudolph laughed, "Oh well, that was when your father and I were young. We were best pals[1]. It's painted in Azarath, after all, Azarath flourishes in Arts."

"Azarath?"

"Trigon and us were good friends[2]. Once. We formed the greatest union. It was until Trigon became obsessed and desired more land. HE even attacked our allies. There was once when he attacked Keystone, he took almost three quater of my land. This Keystone City is what was left in my possession. Imagine you're in a city four times bigger than this." Rudolph chuckled, "That would be acres bigger than Gotham[3]."

"What?" Both Wally and Richard gaped. apparently, they haven't heard the story.

Rudolph looked at Bruce who nodded. He continued, "Last year, he asked for a blind date. My son and Princess Rachel[4]."

"Rachel?" Richard's eyes widened.

"Yes, Princess Rachel. The fine lady was seventeen, while Wally, eighteen. If it was not for the Princess's advice, this last piece of Keystone City would be Trigon's."

"So Princess Rachel saved you from your grave decision?"

"Yes. Well, Princess Rachel is a beautiful and just princess. I wouldn't mind if she is my daughter-in-law."

"What!" Richard was bewildered.

"I was just teasing you," Rudolph and Bruce laughed.

"Bruce, your son's being over protective already."

Richard felt pink creeping up his neck. Damn me.

Wally was dumbfounded, "What is so funny? I don't get the joke."

"Oh, nothing. Let's show them their room."

[1] Bruce and Rudolph were BFFs? Nah, I made that up. I really don't know, actually. Batman seems to be the the "I work alone" type. So I don't think they were best friends.

[2] This is even ridiculous! I made that up again.

[3] Made that up myself... again for the third time. *chuckles* I don't watch JLU nowadays, and I'm not a big fan of it anyway. The last time I watched, I was only in preschool. I only remembered Batman, Wonderwoman, Superman, Green Lantern, that lady with wings and carries a weird weapon with spikes, and that green guy who wears a blue cloak (and kinda resembles Miss Martian). Haha! I don't even think I got the description right. Anyway, I believe Keystone is definately smaller than Gotham.

[4] Please refer to the early chapters, chapter 2, I think, for more info.

So how is it?

Okay, next chapter, we're gonna focus on Victor (Yes, yes, I've written Chapter 26 already). There, we'll know what happened to Victor when he and Richard were separated during the war when they were kids. We'll also find out why Karen hates the royalties (Rachel and Arella etc) so much. (Gosh, I sounded like... like... like a narrator! I'm not narrating the story!) I'm guessing you all already know that next chapter is gonna be CYxBEE.