Disclaimer: None of the things associated with this story are mine (there are too many things to list)
Jonathan trudged through the busy stalls of the noisy marketplace; smells of spices filled the air around him and tingled the hairs in nostrils, everywhere he looked there were strange devices that plagued the tables, a two headed elephant the size of football in a cage, a jar full of eyeballs that glared at him as he walked around. He was so engrossed in wonder of the enchanted place that he accidentally bumped into someone... or something.
"Sorry, I didn't see where I was go..." he began to stutter as a seven foot, bald headed Cyclops turned around.
"Watch where you're going, this isn't the place for young men to be dawdling around" his tone was unnaturally low and he stepped forward threateningly, Jonathan wasn't one to get into fights so he instantly began to back away only to get tripped by his own feet causing him to fall down onto the cold hard ground.
The Cyclops motioned to some other people to follow him "Look here lads, we've got a lost little explorer, why don't we send him back where he came from" he said harshly and pulled out his fist-clenched hand, crowding around him with his friends taunting him lightly, Jonathan froze, he didn't know what to do, even if he managed to get away he would be lost in this unknown place. However an arm grabbed the Cyclops's fist and stopped it from crashing into his face.
"Now, now Seymour this is no time for you to be threatening people" the person said as he pushed in front of Seymour to get a look at the petrified victim on the floor allowing Jonathan to get a clear look at his saviour, he was about twenty (the same age as him) with jet-black hair, green eyes and a rosy complexion giving him a handsome face, he body was well built and his tall height was nothing in comparison to his bold posture. He held out a hand and pulled Jonathan up giving him a warm smile before turning to the disappointed Cyclops.
"It wasn't my fault, he bumped into me first and he was staring at my eye, you know I don't like people staring at my eye" Seymour grumbled.
"Oh please, you have been using that eye excuse to try and beat up travellers for at least six months now besides I'm sure he didn't mean to bump into you, did you" he looked at Jonathan and he nodded, too scared to say anything in case of getting beaten up. "Apologise Seymour, you nearly scared the man to death for God's sake" he addressed the Cyclops.
"Look, no hard feelings, I get a bit paranoid when it comes to my eye and I haven't had a decent fight in months" Seymour said sheepishly and patted him on the back.
"N...N...No problem" stuttered Jonathan.
"See, that wasn't hard was it Seymour" teased the man.
"Ha ha, very funny Jor-el, this coming from the ex King of Krypton, you don't even need to apologise to people Mr High and Mighty, are you enjoying hiding from your dear brother or should I say enemy Zor-el the new King of Krypton" Seymour replied smugly.
"No need for the harsh words, I see that the lack in violent therapy has affected your sarcasm" Jor-el placed a hand on his heart dramatically.
"Whatever, I don't deal with time wasters, I'm off to the slaughtered prince for a pint" And with that he walked off with his friends into the mists surrounding the pub. Once he had entered Jonathan turned to Jor-el in anger
"Why did you let him go, he could have killed me" he nearly shouted.
"Who? Seymour? He couldn't hurt a fly, nice thank you by the way." He replied
"He couldn't hurt a fly! Are you insane? Did you just see that...?"
"Yes I did, he does it all the time and gets a real kick out of doing it, scaring travellers to death then having a good laugh about it, personally I don't see anything funny about it but still..."
"What's Krypton and why did he call you king?" he asked.
"What's Krypton!" he repeated "Where have you come from, the North Marshes?" he exclaimed in disbelief.
"Not really, I come from the other side of the wall, small..." he stopped as Jor-el placed a hand on his mouth.
"This is not the place to talk of such things, there are ears and eyes everywhere, come let us go to some place safer." He whispered. "Follow me" Jonathan followed Jor-el through the marketplace and into the countryside where a decent sized cottage came into view, as they came closer he could make out details in its structure; a thatched roof, a petite garden filled with flowers of different shapes and sizes and vines that crept up the bricks of the cottage. A young woman suddenly ran out of the house and kissed Jor-el on the cheek; she had blond hair, ocean blue eyes and had a kind but beautiful face.
"Hello honey" she looked at Jonathan "well, who have you brought here Jor-el, you're not bringing in strays are you now"
Jonathan interrupted "I'm hardly a stray madam, just a lost traveller"
"Oh, Jonathan this is my wife Lara, Lara this is Jonathan" Jor-el introduced them. Jonathan took Lara's hand and shook it.
The next few hours passed and a very full Jonathan was looking at a bunch of miniature flowers admiring them when Lara came over and interrupted his thoughts
"See anything you like?" she asked.
"Em, yes, the blue ones look nice, where did you get them from?"
"We managed to intercept a witch's carriage, we suspected that she might be dealing in black magic, but if you want to buy something, I could pass the money on to her"
"How much are they?" he asked
"They might be the colour of your hair. Or they might be all of your memories before you were three. I can check if you like. Anyway you shouldn't buy the bluebells. Buy this one instead, Snowdrop. It'll bring you luck."
"But what does that cost?"
"This one costs thirteen guineas"
"But I don't have that much" he replied sadly
"That's okay, you can try to liberate us" Jor-el came over to join his wife. He pointed to his and Lara's wrist, hanging on it there was a silver bracelet with a blue rock in the middle, He handed Jonathan the flower and held out his arm for Jonathan to try and cut the bracelet but when he cut the chain it immediately linked with the cut chain. Jor-el sighed
"We are the rightful rulers to Krypton hiding from my brother; it's an enchanted chain, we will only be free when he dies, sorry, we better let you go back home." He said sadly
So the scientist was wrong. The wall had successfully done its job of hiding the magical Kingdom of Krypton. The young man returned that night to his home in Smallville and retold his adventure to his wife and went to bed, hoping his adventure would soon be forgotten. But nine months later, he received an unexpected souvenir. He was asleep in bed when he heard a knock at his door, there standing outside was the old man that was guarding the gap in the wall.
"This was left at the wall for you. It says here that his name is Kal-el." And with that he handed him a basket containing a very pink and chubby baby with the same bracelet as Jor-el's on his wrist and left. Jonathan gently took the basket inside and took the letter left in the basket and began to read it when Martha came down.
"Honey, what are you doing so late at night?" her question was answered when she caught a glimpse of the baby "Oh my Lord" she exclaimed and rushed over to cradle the baby lovingly in her arms. "Where did this angel come from?" she asked. Jonathan handed over the letter to Martha;
Dear Jonathan, due to unexpected events we have been imprisoned by Zor-el at the cost of letting my son have a normal life, we hope that you would raise him like your own. We have enclosed thirty guineas for all expenses; I trust that you will give him a proper name to suit the place that you are living in. There are also some items that Kal-el will need when he is older and the time comes, we love him dearly and regret doing this. Please take care of him. Yours faithfully Jor-el and Lara.
Martha looked up "that's terrible, Jonathan"
"I know, my only concern is how are we going to run a farm and bring up a child?" he asked
"We'll manage" she answered for she had taken a liking to the sleeping child in her arms.
He smiled "well, first things first, what are we going to call him"
Martha pondered carefully "Kal-el...Kal... Cal...Clark, What do you think of Clark Kent?" she said.
"I like it Clark Kent it is" at that moment the baby started crying
"I think he likes it as well" laughed Martha.