Superman & Wonder Woman: The Fallen Angel

by

Rhon Ferry

Disclaimer: I do not own Superman, Wonder Woman, or any other trademarked character in this fan fiction.

To Hershey

1. The Priest

In Smallville, within the dark, empty Church of the Messiah, Father Darwin finishes his prayer, as he kneels before the large, finely crafted sculpture of Jesus Christ on the cross. Never before in his entire life has he felt more resolute.

God had sent an angel to save mankind from its own foolish, sinful ways. And in the beginning, the angel fervently obeyed the Lord, becoming a symbol of hope for the masses.

But the angel changed, tempted by an evil princess created by false gods.

So God punished the angel, stripping him of his wings, along with his armor, and most of his God given powers.

And this is where Father Darwin's mission begins.

2. The Hunter

Leaning back on the side of his truck while smoking a cigarette, Paul waits patiently outside the Church of the Messiah with the rest of his militia. He is confident of victory. They all are. He has around forty strong men and women with him, armed with hunting rifles, shotguns, and baseball bats. Their enemy can be killed by mere mortals, now. But the most important factor, is that God is with them today. They are doing God's work, and He will not forsake them.

It has started to rain a little.

"Surely, this is holy water," he thinks to himself. "God is blessing his army before the war."

Finally, the great double doors of the church open, and Father Darwin exits.

The men and women outside tense in anticipation.

"It's time," the priest announces.

Paul throws his cigarette to the ground, and stamps his foot on it.

Before getting into his truck, he excitedly shouts to his people, "Let's hunt us a fallen angel!"

3. The Farmer

It's a sunny day at the Kent farm as Clark tends to his field. He only uses conventional farm tools. No need to spend on the fancier machinery, and equipment used by his competitors. He may have only a fraction of his once godlike strength, but with a shovel and a hoe, this boy can still do the work of a tractor and a cultivator in half the time.

His secret identity has also been recently exposed. And while the more cynical city folk of Metropolis have come to see him as a deceitful space alien, the simpler people of Smallville have been more accepting. He can watch the high school football game with his neighbors, John and Kelly Snyders and their two children, Lisa and Bo. He can sell produce at the vegetable market to old Lily Abbott. He can attend church, and listen to Father Aaron's sermons every Sunday morning. To most of these country folk, he will always just be Clark Kent.

Clark sticks the edge of his long spade into the earth, and leans on the handle. He uses the towel on his shoulders to wipe the sweat from his eyes.

As he squints at the sun, that at one time had provided him with a near limitless source of energy, he tells himself, "This is one of the happiest days I've ever had."

See, Clark's birth father, Jor-El, was an ambitious man. A brilliant scientist, and former head of the Kryptonian council, he had sent his son to Earth to be its leader. Even after his death, his holographic image in the Fortress of Solitude would burden Clark with the seemingly inescapable destiny of "guiding the people of Earth towards the light".

But a monkey wrench was thrown into Jor-El's grand plans. In stead of being adopted by an influential politician, or a wealthy industrialist as Jor-El probably would have wished, Clark was adopted by simple farmers. Farmers that would teach him humility. Farmers that would love him enough to let him know that he was in control of his destiny, and that his happiness mattered.

For most of his life, Clark Kent had dedicated himself to fulfilling his late biological father's dream. Now, with the loss of many of his powers, and his fancy Kryptonian outfit, Clark Kent can finally focus on his own happiness. And if something as unremarkable as planting crops, or raising cattle is what gives him contentment, well, then so be it.

"Only one more thing missing," he thinks. "One more thing that can make this day perfect."

And on cue, as if God, Himself, had been listening in, his prayer is answered.

He looks up, and smiles at his beloved, watching him from the sky.

"Hello, Diana."

4. The Princess

Diana swoops down, and hovers over the field towards her lover.

"No, no! Wait," Clark warns her. "I've been working all day. I'm sweaty, I stink-"

She ignores his words, quickly wraps her graceful but powerful arms around his neck, and passionately presses her lips against his.

"I have come for the lovemaking," she plainly states, afterwards.

"OK, Diana. You can't just say stuff like that. This is Smallville. It's a more conservative, religious, small town-"

"Are you saying you do not wish to do the lovemaking? But it has been so long."

Clark begins to laugh, but stops himself quickly when he sees her serious expression.

"Oh, you weren't kidding. Uhm...let's see, how do I put this?"

He struggles to find the words, but gives up when he sees the confusion in his woman's eyes.

"Aw, what the heck," he says, smiling. "Let's do the lovemaking."

He easily picks her up, and carries her towards the farmhouse.

She giggles, embraces him tightly, then adds, "You are right. You do stink."

"Tried to warn ya'."

5. The Couple

While not hardly disappointing, it wasn't his best performance. Not so much because of his significantly decreased strength and endurance levels, but more because of how losing them may have affected his confidence some. Diana didn't seem to mind. And she isn't the kind of lover that just lies still down there. She gives as much as she gets. And after being separated for so long, she gave it her all. So much so, that right after, she almost immediately passes out right next to him.

He watches her as she sleeps, and he wonders at his incredible luck. She could have chosen anyone. She could have gone with the billionaire playboy, or the smooth talking test pilot. Hell, maybe she could've even gone with the king of the seas! But no, for some reason that is still inexplicable to him, she chooses the humble farm boy that got bullied way too many times in school.

She senses him watching her, and her eyes flutter open to meet his.

"What is it?" she asks sleepily.

He considers asking her, but stops himself. Because why in hell would an Amazon princess ever want to give everything up, retire from the League, and spend the rest of her life in a small, smelly barn in the middle of nowhere, with a poor man's son?

6. The Posse

"Kent!" a voice from outside yells angrily.

"Who is that?" Diana asks Clark, troubled.

"I'm not sure," he answers. "I think it's Paul Hunter."

"A friend?"

"Hah! Hardly. Used to bully me everyday in school. I think he's a trapper now, or something."

He walks over to the window. She wraps the bed sheets around her naked body, then follows him.

They see several men, just outside the field, carrying baseball bats, guns, and torches. Paul Hunter is standing a few feet ahead of his posse. Diana is not at all intimidated nor impressed.

"How could you, one of the most powerful beings on the planet, allow such an insignificant, pathetic, little man to tyrannize you so?"

"You think I didn't want to wipe the school walls with his face? I thought about it everyday. But Ma was a pacifist, and Pa wanted me to keep my powers a secret."

"You don't come out here right now, Kent, and we burn you right in your own farmhouse!" the insignificant, pathetic, little man threatens.

"Look, lemme take care o' this," Clark tells Diana, trying to sound as calm as possible to avoid worrying her. "I went through something like this back at Metropolis after my secret identity got revealed. I can talk them down."

She nods silently.

He gets dressed. His famous red and blue uniform lost to him, he settles for a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a light blue shirt with a yellow, black, and red colored version of his family crest emblazoned on the chest. Then from a drawer, he retrieves two pieces of cloth. All that remains of his cape, which he now uses as hand wraps to protect his not so invulnerable knuckles. He takes a second to think twice, hoping to resolve this problem without violence. Ultimately, he brings them along, just in case.

He notices Diana watching him earnestly.

"Come on. Admit it," he attempts to lighten the mood. "You miss the red underwear."

It works, and she laughs.

"I'm sure you miss my old uniform, too," she counters. Her new uniform is far less revealing.

"I think every man misses your old uniform."

"You know, I can still wear that for you when we're alone," she teases.

He smiles, and gives her a kiss to reassure her, before going out.

It doesn't work.

7. The Wretches

Deep inside, Diana already is very worried. Kal-El is not as invulnerable as he used to be. Mere mortals with their primitive weapons can cause him serious, if not fatal harm.

She watches him through the window. Watches him approach his enemies in the most nonthreatening way he can.

"Thankless wretches," she seethes to herself. "After everything he's done for them."

When Kal-El retired from the League, shortly after his powers diminished, Diana, though she knew she would miss his presence severely, felt relieved. In his current condition, he is no match for the likes of The Crime Syndicate, Amazo, or Darkseid. That relief did not last though, as she quickly realized that, even with his powers reduced, Kal-El would continue risking his life to help people whenever, and wherever he can. This is his nature. This is why she chose him. She isn't a materialistic woman, so the billionaire's wealth did not impress her. She isn't gullible, so the test pilot's charm failed to enchant her. She isn't power-hungry, and had no desire to sit at the Atlantean throne.

Kal-El gives her something that none of her other suitors ever have. Something real. Something indescribable. She absolutely dreads the thought of ever losing him. Going back to the life she had before she met him is unacceptable! And she is just as afraid for his life, as she is for hers without him in it.

8. The Negotiator

"Everybody, just calm down!" Clark shouts, as he slowly exits the front door of his farmhouse. "I'm comin' out! I'm unarmed!"

"Fat lot o' good that does, Kent!" Paul retorts. "Everyone knows you can break a man's spine in half with yer bare hands, ya' alien!"

"Hah! OK, you got me there, Hunter. But I give you all my word! I have no intention of breakin' any spines or causin' any kind of harm to anyone!"

"And why should we believe anything you say?" Father Darwin asks, revealing himself from behind the horde of angry men and women. "You have been lying to everyone in this town your whole life."

"Father Darwin?" Clark replies in surprise. "What...what are you doing here with this mob?"

"This mob has been sent by God to punish you!"

"Punish me? For lying? I never lied to any of you about being an alien. It never came up is all. I even wore a Martian costume on Halloween to give you guys a hint."

"You are being punished for your disobedience! You were sent by God to be a symbol of hope for the people! But you turned your back on your destiny! Why?! So that you may cavort with your pagan woman?!"

"Well, for one thing, I really didn't want to wear my undies outside my pants, anymore. Grown men shouldn't be doing that kind of thing. Also, I never really wanted to be a symbol of hope for anybody. I'm not about to tell people how they should be livin' their lives. I have no idea what they've all been through. I just want to be me. Basically, all I want is to be like one o' you. Well, maybe not Hunter here. No way I wanna be like him. Not with those teeth."

Poor choice of words. He almost had them convinced, actually, if it wasn't for that last part. Clark was never the League negotiator. He was basically the guy they go to when an evil, giant, space monster needed to be punched into the ground.

Paul Hunter isn't witty enough to come up with a snappy comeback, so he decides to just shoot Clark in the chest with his sawed-off shotgun!

At nearly point blank range, the blast catapults Clark off of his feet, and onto the ground. It doesn't break through his super skin, just bruises it, but it still feels like a punch from Kalibak.

Clutching his chest, wincing on the ground, Clark pleads in fear. Not for himself, but for his attacker.

"Diana," he coughs. "I'm alright! Don't-!"

But he is too late.

9. The Fallen Angel

Like a bullet, Diana crashes through the window, and tackles Paul roughly to the ground. The shotgun flies out of his hand. The stunned trapper barely even has time to catch his breath, when he is struck in the face by a powerful fist.

That one punch knocks him out. But Diana punches him again, anyway. Again, and again, and again... She has no remorse for this man. He is no longer even a man in her eyes. Only a monster that tried to take Kal-El from her.

Members of Paul's makeshift army collectively back away in fear. They thought the fallen angel would be alone. They were not prepared to do battle with an angry Amazon. And they have no idea just how lucky they all are, that she's here on vacation, and didn't bother to bring her sword.

"Diana, stop!" Clark shouts, catching Diana by the wrist.

She turns her head from the monster to the man she loves, and all her hate and fury is instantly replaced with gratitude to all her gods for keeping him safe.

"Thank the gods!" she exclaims, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, pulling him against her.

Then they hear lightning. Diana gasps. Her eyes widen in a combination of shock and pain. Her knees buckle. And Clark could only stare in silent confusion as his woman weakens, and collapses into his arms.

"There's only one God!" Father Darwin cries out, smoke still rising from his hunting rifle's muzzle from shooting Diana in the back.

He then aims at the fallen angel, but when he pulls the trigger, the rifle jams. In panic, he starts fiddling with the bolt, clearly not well trained in the use of firearms.

"Lord!" he begs the sky. "Please, do not forsake me, now!"

Clark doesn't give him another chance. Releasing Diana, he quickly bounds forward, and easily snatches the weapon from the Father's trembling hands. Then he snaps the weapon in two as if it was nothing more than a pencil.

Now, Clark is not a warrior like Diana. He doesn't have her ferocity. Occasionally, he enjoys a good scuffle like any other boy who grows up in the Midwest, but he is not at all a violent person. However, Clark is still a man. And if someone harms any woman, believe me, her man will respond with violence.

"Y-you can't hurt me!" Father Darwin stutters, taking fearful steps back. "I'm-I'm a priest! You can't hurt people in authority! I-It 'aint right!"

"I don't do that role model thing anymore. Like you said. I'm a fallen angel and all that, remember?"

"But- but you can still go back! God will forgive any sinner, so long as he repents! L-look! You know you want to. Why else would you still wear the symbol of hope on your chest?!"

"'Coz I'm still Superman."

And he throws a thunderous right hook that sends the priest spinning in mid air before crashing back down hard on the wet earth.

The priest is unconscious, but his flock still remains. Yes, their two leaders are down, but so is the warrior woman. The fallen angel is alone, injured, while they are armed, and many. Slowly, they begin to surround him.

Clark becomes aware of this. He wants nothing more than to check on Diana's condition right now, but he realizes that he would have to contend with them, first. He takes out the two pieces of cloth from his jeans pocket, and wraps one tightly on each of his fists.

"Let's go," he tells them.

10. The Mob

A warning shot startles everyone.

"Y'all better get away from that boy!" John Snyder, rifle in hand, warns the mob. "Ma' wife has already called Sheriff Ford! He'll be comin' here with his deputies real soon. If you don't wanna join Father Darwin and Paul Hunter in jail, then I suggest you all scatter right now!"

The men and women give each other fearful glances, before frantically vacating the Kent property.

Clark rushes to Diana's side.

"Diana! Diana!" he worriedly calls her, gently trying to rouse her.

Still dazed, her eyelids flutter open, only to quickly close again.

"Better bring her inside," John suggests. "Have the missus look at 'er. Don't worry, son. She'll be fine. If she's anything like you, I guarantee it."

11. The Broken Road

Diana makes a quick, and complete recovery. When they are not in each other's arms in his farmhouse, the couple would take long walks around Smallville, or hang out with Clark's friends at the local bar. One night, while attending a Rascal Flatts concert, Diana's League Signal Device starts beeping, and both of them instantly know that the time is up.

Clark hurriedly walks her outside to the parking lot.

"I don't know what it is," Diana begins anxiously. "But they wouldn't call-"

"Unless it's an emergency. I understand," Clark finishes for her.

"You are an unusual one, Kal-El," Diana sighs, touching Clark's cheek. "I expected to find you here distraught over the loss of your powers. But not only are you unperturbed,...you are...happy!"

Clark could think about a billion cheesy lines at this moment. "You make me happy." or "You can be happy here, too." or "You know what would really make me happy?"

But he doesn't say any of them. Because what he truly wants right now is to ask her his question. That question that he's been wanting to ask her for the longest time. He knows she's the one. In the past, he thought it was Lois, or Lana, or Lori, or Maxima... But, no. It's her.

However, it was hardly the time, what with the possibility of thousands of innocent people needing her help right this instant.

So Clark just gives her a brief, but passionate goodbye kiss, and then watches as she flies away, not knowing when they will next meet.

"Clark, come on!" Bo Snyder calls.

"You're missin' the show!" Bo's sister, Lisa adds.

Clark smiles, and follows them back into the Kansas Center Concert Hall, just as Rascal Flatts begins to play "Bless the Broken Road".

END