A/N: Hey, everyone! This is chapter one of my story Life, Love, And Destiny. This basically is a prologue to the story. It sums up what happened at the end of Vessel, which is where my story begins. I know this is short, but the following chapters will be longer. I pretty much live off reviews so please tell me what you think, but no flames please.

Title: Life, Love, And Destiny

Author: Chlark4ever92

Pairings: Will change as the story progresses. Will eventually be Chlark.

Rating: K+

Spoilers: Nothing major, except for Vessel.

Disclaimer: Smallville belongs to the WB which is soon to be the CW. Disclaimer goes for all chapters of the story.

Summary: This story shows the process of Clark realizing and accepting his destiny. Along the way he learns a lot about himself, and how the people in his life are connected with his destiny. He realizes who will always be there for him, and who his real enemies are. I'm bad at summaries, but just give it a shot, please. You won't regret it!

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Chapter 1: Vessel

"You've opened the portal for Zod!" Fine screamed as he threw his arms up, and disappeared into a bright light that enveloped him.

Clark turned his attention from where Fine had been standing only moments before, to Lex, as he heard him screaming. A light, brighter than the previous if possible, surrounded Lex, and then as quickly as it came, it disappeared, but unlike Fine, Lex remained when the light vanished.

"Lex, Lex?" Clark asked, approaching him slowly. Clark stopped in front of Lex. He looked different somehow. There was something about the look in his eyes. But before Clark had time to figure out what that was, Lex walked up a step, and turned back to Clark, looking down on him.

"You have your father's eyes. Hello, Kal-El" Lex said, and Clark realized what was different about Lex.

Everything.

This wasn't Lex.

"Where's Lex?" Clark asked, realizing that his fears had come true. Zod had taken over a human vessel. Zod had returned.

"Lex is dead" Zod stated simply.

"Why are you here?" Clark asked, although he already knew the answer.

"For the same reason as anyone who'd been imprisoned like a beast…revenge. Your father banished me to an eternal hell trying to save a doomed race. And in the end, the only survivor of his pathetic crusade…was his son."

He wanted revenge. And now everyone on Earth would have to pay. Clark didn't know what to do. He had to stop this. "Then this is between us. These people did nothing to harm you" Clark pleaded desperately.

"No. But you feel no pain greater than to see others in agony."

Clark couldn't take this anymore. He had to do something. "I won't let you destroy this planet like you did Krypton." Clark said, his voice growing louder with determination.

"You don't have a choice. Unless you join me."

"I'll never join you" Clark said with even more determination, and Zod knew that there was no changing his mind.

"Well I hope that's a decision you'll be able to live with…forever" Zod said, putting emphasis on the last word, as he pulled a small object out of his pocket.

Clark looked at the object, and instantly recognized it. It was a metallic bracelet with Kryptonian symbols etched onto it. He had seen it before, and what it could do, and it wasn't going to be good.

Zod lifted the bracelet up, and it flew from his hand, past Clark, and through the open barn window. Clark looked at Zod, who was smirking at him, looking very pleased.

Clark felt an odd, yet familiar sensation overcome him. He had felt the same sensation less than a year ago, when the two Kryptonians that had come down during the last meteor shower, had tried to send him to the Phantom Zone. He had been able to save himself then, but he didn't think he would be that lucky this time.

Suddenly he was air born, and he felt a sense of dread overcome him. He had failed. Not just himself, but everyone on Earth. He had always been able to save the day somehow. Stop all the chaos. But not this time.

He had failed.

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Thanks for reading! Please leave me a review. Even if it's just one word, I'll be happy.But of course the more, and the longer the reviews the better!

I'm going on vacation, and I won't be home until Sunday, so I'll post Chapter 2 then.

Review!