Connor Kent and the Revival of Krypton
Chapter 7
Wonder woman descended from the sky, her long dark hair whipped around her horrified face.
Dead bodies littered the island, painting the pale sand red and clotting it together. The few Amazons that were able to move carried a misshapen creature with charred wings to a large fire made of green flames.
They threw the misshapen creature in with the others and went back to collect another. They walked with hunched shoulders and heads down, their feet cutting small trenches in the sand as they moved.
Other Amazons loaded their dead sisters onto gurneys and draped them in white sheets.
What happened here? Wonder woman wondered, what could've taken out so many of my sisters.
Tears began to flow down the Amazon Princess cheeks as she watched more of her sisters carry their dead on gurneys with sheets draped over them. She turned her head from side to side, everywhere she looked there seem to be gurneys with white sheets draped across them.
So many dead, the Amazon Princess thought.
A hand touched her shoulder, causing her to turn.
Superman floated behind her with a sorrowful look on his face, "I'm so sorry, Diana."
"It's fine," Diana said her voice cracking a little, "they died a warrior's death."
The man of steel floated forward and wrapped his arms around his love, "Hey, you don't have to put on a brave face, I'm here."
That was all it took, for Diana to bury her head into his chest and weep, "Oh Clark," she said in a muffled voice, "who and what could have done this?"
The man of steel let his eyes scan the island, "I don't know, but there's kryptonian technology down there."
"What," Wonder woman exclaimed, spinning around to face the island.
"See there, and there," the man of steel said pointing to the frozen humanoid crystal constructs that littered the island, "those are the foot soldiers of Brainiac."
"But Brainiac's dead, Connor threw him into the sun."
"Maybe," Superman said thoughtfully.
Diana shook her head, "It doesn't matter, right now we need to get down there and help my people." She turned towards the island then hesitated.
"Are you sure you can do this, you don't have to go down there."
"Yes I do," the Amazon princess said softly, "my people have been through a tragedy. I need to be there to help them." Especially since I wasn't here when they needed me the most, she thought to herself.
The duo landed on the island and wonder woman winced as the sand squelched under her feet, knowing that she was standing in the blood of her sisters.
"Diana," and Amazon called.
The Amazon Princess turned to see a soldier running towards her. She stepped forward and spread her arms wide. The soldier ran into her arms and they embraced, "Sister," the Amazon princess said, "it's good to see you."
The soldier broke the embrace and stepped back. She removed her helm, revealing long red hair and dulled green eyes, "It's good to see you too my lady."
"Phoebe," Diana said, "can you tell me what happened?"
"Strange flying creatures and crystal soldiers suddenly attacked the island."
"Do you have an intact specimen?" Superman asked.
Phoebe nodded and led them through row upon row of stretchers with blankets on them.
Wonder woman winced as she walked through what seemed to be endless rows of her dead sister's. Oh sisters, she thought, I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me.
Phoebe stopped before the green fire and pointed to the singed brown skinned creature on the ground.
Superman took a step forward and peered down at the creature, "This is definitely a para demon, but why would it attack Themiscira.? Darksied never showed any interest in Themiscira before, so why did he attack it now?"
Phoebe shook her head, "I don't know, if it wasn't for Connor Themyscira might not be here."
Wonder woman whipped around, "Connor's here?"
Phoebe look down, "No, not anymore."
Wonder woman froze and her world seemed to shatter, "Do you mean…"
"No," Phoebe shook her head quickly, "we just don't know where he is."
Wonder woman relaxed slightly, but worry still gripped her heart, "What do you mean you don't know where he is?"
Phoebe look down again, "He went to help Queen Hippolyta then a few minutes later lightning exploded from the palace taking out all of the invaders on Themiscira. By the time we got to the Palace Connor had disappeared."
"Did you ask my mother what happened to him?" Diana asked.
"My Lady," Phoebe began then hesitated.
"What is it?" The Amazon Princess asked.
"Queen Hippolyta is dead."
The world went silent and Diana felt the world shake. It took her a minute to realize she was the one shaking, "What did you say?" She asked in a quavering voice.
Phoebe look down again, her fist clenched at her sides, "I'm sorry my lady, but your mother has fallen in battle. That makes you Queen of the Amazons," she said kneeling before Diana.
Diana collapsed to her knees with tears streaming down her face. They dripped onto her fist as she clenched them around blood-soaked sand, "How did it happen?" she asked once she had gotten herself under control.
"From the remains of melted crystal we found around her body, we think a crystal soldier attacked her in the palace."
Diana shook her head, "That's not possible, there's no way my mother would have fallen to a machine."
Superman knelt behind her and wrapped his arms around her shaking body. What on earth do you say in situations like this, he asked himself, how on earth do you comfort someone that just lost their parents.
"I'm sorry My Lady, but these crystal soldiers seem to have the powers of the justice league."
Wonder woman shook her head, "I want to see my mother."
"At once my Queen."
"Don't call me that," Wonder woman snapped.
The man of steel tightened his grip on Diana and pulled her close, "Easy Diana," he whispered in her ear.
Diana relaxed into her lover's embrace, comforted by his presence, "I'm sorry," she said softly.
Phoebe bowed, "It's all right My Lady."
Phoebe led them up the hill that led to the palace.
Diana could only see the half of the palace that looked out over the ocean. The rest of it had collapsed, wisps of pale smoke rose from the rubble.
Halfway up the hill she turned onto a narrow path.
The trio made their way down the path. Fruit trees of all different types lined the path, filling the air with the sweet scent of ripe fruit.
Images flashed through Diana's mind as she walked down the familiar trail. Her mother chasing her down this same trail as she ran to hide in the fruit trees, laughing as her mother pretended to be a monster.
A single tear ran down her cheek. Oh mother, she thought.
The man of steel placed his hand on his lover's shoulder.
Diana gave him a tearful smile and placed her hand atop his.
At least I know I'm not alone, thought the Amazon Queen, Clark also knows what it's like to lose his parents.
For the next little bit the only sound was the trios feet hitting the well-worn earth of the path. the trees began to thin as they entered a large circular clearing.
In the center of the clearing was a rectangular building, it's four corners were rounded so it could stop incoming projectiles better. The narrow slits at the top of the circular walls would make it almost impossible for an archer to shoot inside the Castle, but a skilled archer could shoot out those windows.
Four guards walked the perimeter of the clearing at a brisk pace, passing each other every few minutes.
As they drew closer to the Castle, the man of steel could see catapults mounted on top of the Castle at the four rounded corners. If this wasn't such a sad occasion, he thought to himself, I would be impressed.
Two guards on either side of the double doors leading into the Castle, nodded to Phoebe and bowed at the waste to Diana, "It's good to have you home, My Lady." the one on the left said.
"I only wish it was under better circumstances," the one on the right said straightening up.
Diana nodded, "Thank you for the warm welcome my sisters, but I would like to see my mother now."
The guards bowed their helmed heads solemnly and step back to their position, their bronze boots barely made a sound as they moved.
My mother chose her guard well, Diana thought as she watched the guards patrolling the Castle make another circle, their bronze chest plates glinted in the light that filtered through the trees, even in death they guard her vigilantly.
The new queen of the Amazons was brought out of her thoughts, when Phoebe opened the door to the Castle and led them inside.
Diana paused in the Castle's threshold. Can I really do this, she asked herself, can I really see my mother's body, her gaze hardened, I am the Queen of the Amazons now, I cannot afford to be weak, she shook her head, more than that after what happened my people need a strong leader.
Taking a deep breath, the Queen of the Amazons steeled her nerves and stepped into her childhood home. As she stepped over the threshold, she felt the man of steel slide his hand into hers and give it a gentle squeeze.
She flashed him a grateful smile then stared straight ahead, trying to mentally prepare herself for what she was about to see.
The trio stepped into the castle.
The man of steel took a moment to look around.
Marble tiles cover the floor, paintings from famous artists cover the walls, and statues of Greek gods stood in between each painting.
There were doorways leading off into other rooms, but the thing that drew your eye was the large staircase in the center of the room.
Phoebe led them up the staircase, the plush red carpet covering it muffled their footsteps.
They stepped onto a landing. There were more paintings on the walls and more doors.
With his enhanced senses, the man of steel could smell fresh flowers throughout the landing. I have to say, he thought to himself, this place sure is impressive.
Superman chanced a glance at Diana and saw a faraway look in her eyes. What are you thinking, My Love? He wondered.
Diana stared around the place that had once been her childhood home, memories flooded into her mind in waves. She could remember hiding in every one of these rooms when she didn't want to study, or getting scolded by her mother when she climbed the statues. Her hand shook his she remembered her mother telling her stories of the greatest warriors of Greece as bedtime stories.
She shook her head. No, she thought to herself, I can't afford to fall apart now.
Phoebe turned and led them down a hallway.
Diana's heart quickened as she recognized the path to her mother's bedroom, her breathing increased ever so slightly.
The man of steel noticed Diana's breathing increase and his heart ached. Oh mother, oh father, what should I do? He asked himself.
They stopped before her ornately carved open door, Phoebe twisted the handle and pushed it open.
The trio stepped inside, the man of steel felt Diana squeeze his hand tighter.
A bed sat in the center of the room, surrounded by flowers of a rainbow of colors. Two Bureaus sat in the far corners.
The Amazon Queen let out a choked sob.
Lying motionless on the bed as if she was sleeping was Queen Hippolyta, but her chest didn't rise and the unnatural paleness of her skin told you that she was dead.
Diana walked forward on shaky legs and collapsed beside the bed. She took her mother's cold hand in hers and let out an anguished wail.
The man of steel slowly walked forward. He knelt down behind his love and held her as she cried, just trying to comfort her with his presence.
CK
An hour later, Wonder woman and Superman sat in Hippolyta's office. The office was fairly large, bookshelves lined the walls packed with a variety of contents.
Wonder woman sat with her back to and ornately carved desk looking out a window that overlooked the fruit trees leading to the castle.
The man of steel sat in one of the three chairs positioned in front of the desk.
"I can't believe she's gone," Wonder woman said still staring out the window, "my mother was always so strong, it's so hard to accept she's gone." A single tear ran down her cheek.
The man of steel rose from his chair. He walked around the desk and placed both hands on Diana's shoulders. "I'm so sorry," he said staring at the fruit trees below them.
"I want to find our son," Diana said softly, "I've already lost my mother. I couldn't bear it if I lost my son."
Superman tightened his grip on his lover's shoulders, "We will honey, of that I promise you."
They stood in silence for a few minutes just taking comfort in each other's presence.
"I want you to move the fortress here," Diana said breaking the silence.
The man of steel looked at her in surprise, "Really?"
The Amazon Queen nodded.
"Why?"
"Something strange happened on this island. It's not a coincidence that Brainiac's old soldiers and para-demons attacked the island at the same time. I want to be prepared if that happens again."
Superman nodded. Someone wanted to take out the Amazons and weaken the Earth's defenses, he thought, but who could it be? Who has the knowledge to reactivate Brainiac's old soldiers and why would Darksied work with them. He shook his head, "Are you sure? I don't think your sisters would take too kindly to me moving here."
"You are the man I love," the Amazon Queen said softly, "they have to accept that." She glanced at the destruction in the distance and her eyes hardened, "besides I would do whatever it takes to protect my people. Even if I have to break some of our old traditions."
