It Happens…
I'm from another planet. – It happens!
— Kara
Sol's rays bathed her in warm yellow light, as the Argosian soared into the cerulean sky. Blonde tresses, held up with a down-home Kansas hairband, tumbled across white-clad shoulders and that bright red cape; arms spread wide reached out to the clouds.
Kara In-Ze was free.
She called it 'vroom!' – the glorious flight – a childish attempt at expression. How to describe that glee? that pure joy, to dance a child of the heavens – to float on air under the awestruck gaze of Jimmy and the interns… – she laughed.
Over the clear Metropolis bay, over its diamond waters – so different from the Kent farm's golden cornfields; yet still so beautiful!
He blue horizon stretched on forever, light meeting light at the edge of the world.
The city skyline stretched on forever, mirroring the twin greatness that once orbited Rao.
Kara! Supergirl!
Eternity seemed her gift.
She plunged into the sea, smarting from the force of the android's blow. What a day! – kryptonite, then this.
Chills swept through her, wracked her petite frame.
Tears stung her lashes as she sank, her body helpless.
She couldn't die! not here! not now!
There was so much she must know! – who cloned her, for one?
And Pa and Ma and Clark and Lois – Jimmy and Perry and Cat –
further still! on ruined Argos! a physician named Kala In-Ze –
No: forget…
As Kara Kent feebly struggled, her last conscious thought was:
'What is my purpose?'
It seemed only a moment since she had tasted Querl's Coluan skin – since GL and Arrow left her far from home.
Home! not here! not now! –
'Let me go,' she whispered.
Querl brushed her soft hair and bowed.
'Goodbye, Kara In-Ze. Leave with peace.'
Didn't he see? these were the final adieux.
Adieux for a Legion Clark had never seen, nor would she ever see again.
'Flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood,' she thought bitterly.
She would return now. To the Legion's past – her future.
Shadow Lass and Light Lank and Shrinking Violet et al –
and Querl – no more Querl…
Aloud she spoke:
'Bye, Querl.' Forever.
Linda Lee Danvers tried to smile, tried to summon thoughts of that long-dead yesterday – not for her comfort, but another's. Outside she could hear strains of It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, notes reaching to the velvet night and glinting stars where she used to play.
But her words were laced with gall:
'As a child I came to Earth; and life was so, so bright. But I've seen the world grow darker as I watched. I've seen hate, I've seen anger, and I wonder, is this the same world? – And I remember the death of Krypton and I die a little by little.'
The pain, the roiling agony, wouldn't go away. She was on the verge of stepping out the door, when Deadman stalled her with a cry:
'Wait!'
Staring up at that haggard, once-pretty face, he demanded,
'You say you're "like me"; but tell me – who are you?'
One hand on the lintel, Linda Danvers paused, memories blanching her countenance. With an effort, she answered:
'Not that it'll mean anything to you, but my name's – Kara…'
And Kismet unfolded fiery wings, and Argos's last daughter vanished.
Ashes to ashes.
To the legacy of the timeless Kara Zor-L
Inspired by Little Girl Lost