AN: I was inspired to write this months ago. Its an AU where Diana and Kal are warriors not of Earth but of Apokolips, both taken at early ages. It will include the New Gods, Justice League and some original characters. A little bit adventure, romance, tragedy, friendship among other things. I have it outlined but we will see how it goes. Enjoy.
Apokolips
Ships never really cruised around Apokolips, as a matter of fact, no ships ever made it to this part of the universe unless the ruler has requested your arrival or if one has something he needs to obtain. If one was one of the unlucky ones that he has requested or have something he needs, count your blessings and tell your loved ones that you love them one last time for the outcome of his meeting might not be of one's liking. You see, it was a crime to refuse him, no over ever denied him or disobeyed him as he was a man with immense power and resources, resources other worlds feared and did whatever they can to avoid. Stories of the ruler dawned on the universe, everyone knew him and everyone feared him just like they feared his world.
Ships never came to this part of the universe due to the fact that nothing of attraction was in this neck of space. Nothing that people wanted to visit was here, or nothing that welcomed others to stay, swing by or even just cruise by. All would do all in their power to avoid this place of the universe for nothing good would ever come of it.
Apokolips was a dark place, unwelcoming, and filled with despair, absolutely nothing about it attracted anyone. Fire pits covered the planet, lava engulfed the plains, the ground a dry dark red desert with nothing ever growing out of it, why would anything even want to grow there? Sunlight was scarce, the skies dark enough to depress even the most hopeful, smokes covered the planet, and the atmosphere was somber enough to make others question sanity and life itself.
So when a small spaceship cruised by the planet, a sudden burst of alarm came over the inhabitants. A sign of life wandering close by was an unusual sight and given it was a tiny spaceship, the sight of it all was confusing. The ship was shaped like a sphere, it had to be no bigger than a small pod. Outside, it was gray and looked quite polished, like it was made just at the moment, freshly done.
Planet guards saw it and immediately went after the ship as it was protocol to be on alert and capture all that would thread by Apokolips. The guards locked on and with a beam of light by one of their missiles, took the ship down causing it to stop in its tracks and come crashing down to the planet.
Parademons made their way to the scene and surrounded the ship on alarm just in case a battle ensued. When nothing immediately occurred, one of the parademons touched this ship to no occurrence calming the others down allowing them to study the ship with slight more ease. They had noticed a small window that allowed a small visual to the inside of the ship, giving them access to what was inside.
As they looked inside, they noticed something in there, something small, something moving, something chubby and surprisingly acting very calm, not like the others that accidently landed on the planet.
It was a baby. A human baby?
The parademons were shocked to see something like that, they had never seen something so small and calm before. Normally their encounters with others was something way more violent and standoffish with one of the parties attacking or aiming to kill. This encounter was much more calm and boring, an encounter that they really didn't want to deal with.
They decided that they needed to take this finding to someone more maternal and good with kids, someone that has known reputation for their hospitality and their skills with dealing with kids of all ages and that can take really good care of troubled youth and the troubled kids of Apokolips.
Granny Goodness.
With a name so maternal and pleasant, one would never expect just exactly what type of person Granny was. Granny was smart, manipulative, cunning and a vile woman. She was the one responsible for changing one's views from wrong to right. It was she who watched over others and put others in the right mentality and change their history and backstories to of her liking and her convenience. It was she who trained others to be obedient and to never defy their ruler, the person who was responsible for creating the best soldiers and best fighters to fight for her side.
How did she attain such fine results with an absolute trackless record? Through her ways of being able to tear people down through torture and brainwashing. She knew how to make people hurt and submit to her way. She was smart and she knew that everyone had a weakness, everyone can be contained, everyone can be made to believe in what she told them. She didn't care how much it would hurt them, or make them mad, she always found a way to make others submit to her. No one ever questioned her methods, her methods always proved right and released perfect results.
Grabbing a hold onto chains they went to obtain, it was decided that they needed to take this to her. Onlookers watched as the parademons went looking for the chains, raising suspicions and a certain level of curiosity to some of the locals.
What were they doing? Why did they need chains if they were off in the deserts? There were no lowlies there to enslave, what did they need the chains for?
Now with chains wrapped around the ship, the two took the ship back flying to the place where Granny took good care of the kids, Granny's Home for the Orphaned Youth.
As soon as they arrived, the ship become quite an attraction to the inhabitants. First it was word of a ship flying near the planet and then parademons grabbing chains? Everyone wanted to know just what was going on and what exactly crashed landed.
As they arrived, Granny was already eagerly awaiting them outside her home, waiting with anxious arms and a racing mind.
There it was, the ship. She was surprised to see how small it was. All this commotion just for something of that nature? It did not make sense to her. Nothing out of the ordinary can come out of a small ship, especially a ship that was that simple and clean. There were no tears or wears, the ship looked like it has just been made right out of the factory.
She approached the ship and glanced inside through the window and was shocked to see what was inside wailing.
It was a baby.
She knew and studied many species, so immediately she knew that this was a human baby probably from Earth. But what was this thing doing so close by?
No one on the damned planet had ever seen a baby before. Babies weren't welcomed here at all. No life was ever raised here, life here wasn't nurturing, it was not a place to raise an infant. When members were scouted, they were usually always at least in their early teen years when they could fight for themselves or at least had some potential. But as a baby? What can a baby possibly do?
She looked and studied the baby. She couldn't believe her eyes. A baby here. It wasn't crying like how she normally would find them, it was just looking upwards curiously.
She tapped onto the ship and to her surprise, the windowed door opened when she pressed the lower window. A puff of smoke greeted her, it was very cold, probably because it was out in space for a long time. She was surprised the baby seemed unaffected by it, most babies need a temperature much warmer than that or they could die.
This must not be an ordinary baby then, she assumed. Then what type of baby was it? It looked like an Earth baby, but babies from Earth were very fragile and delicate things. She had experience dealing with adults from Earth and they were very easy to dispose of and eliminate. A mere parademon was able to neutralize and subdue them with minimal effort and those were the adults! A baby must have been much weaker and easier to dispose of, but that was not the case with this one.
At a closer look to where the baby laid and its surroundings, she saw some graphics and some personal books, diaries, and artifacts hanging by. As one of Apokolips' elite, it was her duty to be able to read and understand hundreds of languages from all over the universe, as it was her job and duty to be able to recruit new members and make them feel right at home. She didn't recognize the language right away. She picked up one of the books and took a closer look at what was in her hands.
Now the words and symbols were coming of an understanding. She had remembered seeing things like this before, faintly. But when and where?
Krypton.
She knew of Krypton. She knew they were an advanced race of beings, very intelligent but highly arrogant and prideful. It was a rich planet filled with scientists and highly intellectual individuals whose arrogance led them to their downfall. She knew that Krptonians did not open themselves up to others, they kept themselves isolated and did not participate in space travel or opened their communication to others and unlike Apokolips, where people feared the place, Krypton was not feared. It was a beautiful planet that radiated in studies and nature, a place that attracted people, even though they were not inviting of others.
How pitiful, she thought. She had heard of Krypton's oncoming destruction some time ago and knew that the planet and its people were doomed, she didn't think that they would have lasted this long. She knew that they would all die and that they all deserved to die that way, like those cocky and self-righteous geniuses deserved. They all rightfully died.
Except for one.
It then dawned on her. This baby must be Kryptonian. Yes, yes, it makes total sense! Kryptonians did look like Earthlings, they had human features, that is why she thought so before.
This must be the last Kryptonian.
Now Granny was happy, no pleased that the demons brought this to her. She clamped her hands together and smiled eagerly. She knew that Kryptonians were very able beings, but she never had the chance to see personally and put them to her testing and to her liking.
Oh, she was going to have fun.
Darkseid is going to very pleased with her.
As she was trapped in her thoughts, the baby suddenly began to cry hysterically. She forgot that babies cry and wailed and needed careful monitoring to grow up. It began to move around and sway back and forth and as the baby swerved, she saw another thing behind the baby. It was envelope.
She pushed the baby to its side and grabbed the envelope that was hidden behind.
There was writing on it and it was addressed, To our dearest Kal-El.
Kal-El? This must be the babies name. She opened the envelope and read inside.
Our beloved Kal-El,
This is your parents, Lara and Jor-El, we love you and that we hope that your journey to planet Earth was a smooth one. We are very sorry that we could not have joined you, we wish we could have, we did everything we could, but as advanced as we were, we couldn't avail to anything. Kal-El, you are from a planet called Krypton that no longer exists. All hope was lost for us, but not for you. You are destined to for greater things, we know that and we wish we could be there to witness that, but Rao wouldn't allow it. My precious son, what I would do just to see you and hold you and see you grow up, letting you go was the hardest thing I have ever done and it pains me that you must go through it all alone, but you deserve a chance at life. We chose for you to go to Earth because we think you deserve a diverse place that is open to many cultures and people. We don't want you to make the same mistake that we did of isolating ourselves from the universe, we want you to be the bridge between worlds and open people's minds for a greater future. We know we ask too much of you, but you are our son and we know what you are capable of. You will look like them, but you have been gifted with abilities that can tear down giants. Your abilities will be due to your exposure of the yellow sun and with time, you will grow to be very powerful, not even we know the limit of all. We ask that you please use your powers for good and making the universe a greater place and bring no harm to others.
Kal-El, we are so very proud of you, we will always love you and we just hope that you are happy at whatever path of life you choose. We have supplied you with our letters, journals and books so you can learn more about yourself and hopefully not feel lost and unaware of your heritage. We can't impose our ideals on you, but we just know you are destined for greatness.
We love you, and although our time was brief together, you were the greatest thing that has occurred to our lives and the impact you had on us was unimaginable. We never thought a child would bring so much hope and despair to us, but it did. We will always love you.
With love, your parents.
Interesting, thought Granny. It was meant to go to Earth. It was meant to unite worlds together. It was meant to be the bridge between worlds. It was meant to tear down giants.
Gifted with abilities that can tear down giants. What kind of abilities? And with no limit? What could this mean? And very powerful? Just what exactly did the parents plan for him?
All this intrigued her. Initially, she was interested in large due to him being the last Kryptonian and their gifted high intelligence, but this power she wrote about was something unexpected.
What was this kid mounted for, and how much potential was in him?
Now she knew that she hit the jackpot, this kid was going to bring the worlds and universes to their knees, he was going to be the decisive factor that undertakes and commands all others, making them submit and surrender, all for Darkseid.
Oh yes, Darkseid will be very pleased with this discovery, not only due to it being the last Kryptonian, but due to the immense power this kid will have. He will be his new son, the preferred son, one that will not mount to disappointment like the rest.
She looked eagerly at the kid below her. This kid had all these things piled up for him. It was surprising to her that this wailing annoying thing was destined for so much.
Nonetheless, she decided to pick up this brat and instantly it stopped crying. She didn't know what she did and she had no idea on how to raise a baby. But she knew Darkseid will make her responsible for its upbringing and reward her severely if the kid became an asset to him, oh yes she would be rewarded quite astounding.
With the parademons waiting on, she ordered them to bring the ship along with what was inside of it to a room of seclusion. She had a feeling that this ship would be more beneficial to her, she needed to keep it somewhere safe along with this letter from his biological parents. He must not know how powerful he is, he must submit to the order that she permits and not know of his true backstory, she will be in charge of his what he remembers and what he was before.
She carried the baby with her, she needed to be in charge of demonstrating this to her master Darkseid and getting credit of her discovery.
She marched on past the Lowlies, past the parademons past the Tower of Rage and onto the chambers of the dark and dreaded ruler.
She found him along with his trusted general standing by, looking past the windows. Steppenwolf, a renowned member of his feared Elite, the leader of the armies of Apolkolips, his right hand man stood idly by, his master at his side probably speaking to him about other planets that needed his control and his guidance. They looked as if they were in a serious conversation, a conversation she didnt want to interrupt. Maybe she needed to come at a later time.
The loud sudden cries of the baby grabbed the attention of the general and the ruler causing them to turn around agitated that their conversation was disrupted leaving Granny no choice but to disrupt.
"What is that, and why have you brought that thing here?", asked Steppenwolf visibly annoyed and in disgust.
Granny didn't know what would cause the baby to cry. It had been quiet and silently observing this new world he was in, so the fact that it began crying suddenly blew her off her game. She began to bring the baby up and down quickly, trying hard to calm it as soon as possible and to her surprise, it took very little effort to make it stop. Maybe the ambiance scared it, or the sight of Darkseid caused it fear.
"Please Darkseid, pardon my interruption. I did not mean to disturb you. Steppenwolf. This is the last Kryptonian of the universe", responded Granny with a wide smile.
The last Krytonian, thought a visibly confused Steppenwolf. "The last? Didn't that planet just explode along with all of its people?"
"That is true, Steppenwolf. You are not as ignorant and self-centered as I thought of you. This baby you see in Granny's arms is the last of the Kryptonian race. It arrived here not too long ago on a spaceship all alone and lost".
"How is that possible?"
"It looks like its parents made this ship and wanted to give their son a second chance at life and send him off so he would escape the destruction of the planet. It is all written here". She pulled out the letter and gave it to him. "Just read it for yourself. It would seem that this kid has grand potential and destined for great things. His parents foolishly described who he is and what he can possibly do once he gets older and the abilities he will develop as he ages."
Steppenwolf read the letter to himself quietly. Darkseid stood by visibly bothered by the banter going on in front of him but he remained quiet throughout the ordeal.
Steppenwolf read with a certain level of disbelief and thinking, Really? What kind of bs is this?
"And you believe this? All of it, you believe it all?" responded Steppenwolf with an eyebrow raised, not really believing it. "He has this strength, this kind of power, this much potential? It all sounds like likes and false promises."
"We know that Kryptonians are advanced beings, we know they are amongst the brightest and smartest in the universe, we know they know things and that their race is no longer in existence. This is the very last of them, this being. Are you really willing to risk it because of your closed mind? What if this kid grows up to be exactly what his parents predicted? What if he grows and develops this kind of power they speak of? We would be foolish to let someone like this go and kill him. We must see firsthand and if what they spoke of turns out to be true, think of the power we would have. We will be the greatest conquerors and finally obtain the truth and knowledge of the Anti-Life Equation."
Steppenwolf listened in disbelief, but he hated to admit that she might be on to something. The armies they had were among the strongest in the universe that was true, but they did not work as quick and as efficient as he wanted. He always wanted the work to be done quicker, but it never could be.
By any chance, if this kid truly grew up to be what his parents wrote about, then he was going to a very valuable and promising aspect. They would be foolish to let someone like this go. And if this kid went to Earth and became a social justice warrior, or came to the wrong hands, it would be an awful consequence and an unfortunate turn of event. If it all was true, then they would have hit the jackpot. What could they possibly have to lose?
Darkseid listened on, not saying a single word and quietly observing. Just what was he thinking? Did he want to go through with it, did he think it was a waste of time, did he approve, did he not? Steppenwolf could never tell what he was thinking. He knew that if he made the wrong choice, Darkseid would hurt him and threaten him about it forever.
If he made the right decision, the result would be a neutral one, a decision that is expected from him, but it would make his conquest missions much easier.
He didn't know what was the right decision, but he knew he needed to make one right away.
"Fine, keep the child. But it will be your responsibility. You will be in charge of him. You will be raising him and making sure he is raised the proper way. He is not allowed to disturb us, and if he steps foot on this tower, or interrupts Darkseid, it will be on your head and your death. You understand?"
Granny listened, she knew of the circumstances that would occur if her judgment was wrong. But she just knew that this kid will mount to something epic.
"Yes, I understand completely." She turned her head to Darkseid and see his stance on all of this. His face remained still and unresponsive. He let out absolutely no sign of what he wanted or what his thoughts were on all of this".
As they locked eyes for a brief moment, Darkseid just walked off the chamber, saying and signaling absolutely nothing. His face solid and stoic making her question her decision and wonder if what she had done disturbed him or caused him to be upset. Did she make the right decision?
Only time will tell but it had been years since she raised a child from a young age, not since Scott. He could make a great companion to him and be the greatest duo of Apokolips. One with the immense strength and the other with great intelligence who she was training to be able to escape and break through absolutely everything. What immense power they could bring to her.
She would need to wait awhile for these results to happen with Kal being a baby and Scot barely of 10 years old. It would be some decades before they could unite and control, but they will happen and she will be the one getting all the credit and praise.
This was just the beginning of the end for everyone. She had that feeling that everything was going to change for them and for the rest of the universe. This was just the beginning. Soon all of the universe will submit to the rule and order of Darkseid.