Chapter Nine
The Next Move
It didn't take long for the police to arrive to take Toyman; though they were a little skeptical about the story. How do you charge someone for stealing a doll that is in fact a 22 year old girl? Superman however, explained the situation and assured them that Toyman had in fact kidnapped a human being and had threatened her with a deadly weapon. This gave the Washington PD enough credence to take Toyman away.
After that it was time to regroup and go over things; they had a lot to talk about. Xander glanced over at Willow throughout Toyman's arrest, what was happening to her? She'd been so different these past few months like she was seperate from everything, like she didn't belong. They had to talk, he had overlooked it for to long but today it nearly got people killed. Plus, he was her friend and he cared for her, so he needed to do this for her.
They returned to the Hall of Justice to regroup, Superman had gone to take Lois back to the Daily Planet in order for her to report on what had happened today before anyone else. Superman had explained that he as Clark Kent was still in Kahndaq with the Slayers and that they would bring him back in their jet.
"Okay this is awkward," Kenny said... awkwardly as he and Dawn made their way to have the talk. Right now they were in the trophy room, which housed some of the League's treasures and memorabilia. They both sat down on one of the seats; Kenny taking up most of the space what with his demonic form, "So here it goes; I'm sorry I cast a spell on you that turned you into a giant, a centaur and doll."
"If I hadn't said 'I'm sorry' what would of happened?" Dawn asked, no longer naked she was now wearing some clothes that Batman had left for her upon hearing she was safe. She wondered where they had come from, who they had belonged to. She had tried to ask but Clark had given her a look to tell her not to go into it. She wonder if it was Batman's daughter. She had seen a name written in the tag of the shirt she was putting on saying 'Barbara'. "Would I have just carried on turning into different things?"
"No, at least I don't think so," Kenny replied not really sure on that one, "Thrice-wises usually work in threes. But the spell was to make you feel bad about what happened, so if you hadn't of said sorry you probably would of either stayed as a doll or you would have kept transforming. I promise I would have called it off once it got to the horned fire snail," he joked weakly.
"I am sorry I slept with your roommate," Dawn blurted out realizing just how stupid that sounded in her head as it did out loud. She kicked herself as soon as she said it. A deafening silence came after that as they both looked away awkwardly unable to look at each other for a moment.
"I thought you liked me," Kenny said painfully not looking at her though Dawn could see the sadness as he returned to his human form.
"I did," Dawn said quickly and apologetically. "I do."
"Then why did you..." he stopped unable to say it, "why him?"
Dawn bowed her head trying to find the right words and the right way to say this. "I had, have very intense feelings for you," Dawn finally said, "sex would have been equally intense. I just wasn't ready for that. It was so overwhelming. Nick was... he was calming. He was... not you."
"So you was ready for him?" Kenny asked confused not really getting what she was saying.
"No, maybe, it was easy," Dawn spluttered unable to explain what she meant, "I was scared of being hurt. What if I wasn't good? What if you dumped me? You'd already had... sex. I wanted to... be good for you."
"You would have been," Kenny said cupping her face. Dawn closed her eyes as she allowed herself to enjoy his touch. He placed another hand on her face, a tentacled hand. Dawn opened her eyes to see Kenny revert back to his demonic form. "Dawn, I get it. I do. But, you know I wouldn't have pressured you. We could have been good."
"I know," Dawn whispered sadly bowing her head, "I'm sorry."
Kenny's tentacles left her face as he stood up and walked away his body slumped and his tentacles dragging across the floor. "So am I," Kenny said forlornly as he walked away forever. Dawn bowed her head sadly as she saw Kenny leave her.
And yet she felt good. Almost like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Xander and Willow stood in the lounge room of the Hall of Justice. The lounge was cut off from the rest of the building with the rest being more open to the public this was more the Private quarters for the League. They wouldn't be interrupted here. They had a lot to talk about. Xander looked at Willow with concern as she sat in her chair meekly almost like she was all those years ago in High School; meek and with no confidence. She looked like she was in the Principal's Office.
"So," Xander began awkwardly as he leaned against one of the chairs. They had asked to be alone sending Faith to one of the workout rooms. She didn't mind too much; give her a chance to workout the girls, "how are you doing?"
"Not good," Willow said meekly with a weak smile as she looked at her hands as if trying to understand how they work. "I don't feel like I... like I belong here anymore."
"Will, we've all taken Buffy's death hard," Xander began but was suddenly interrupted by Willow.
"This isn't about Buffy," Willow interjected shaking her head and holding her hand against her head. "I've been feeling like this for a while."
"What do you mean?" Xander asked seriously standing up straight and looking at her closely. This was serious. Last time she was acting weirdly it led to Dark Willow. He couldn't let that happen again. "Willow?" he said forcefully as Xander remained quiet. "Will! Talk to me?!"
"I can't do it anymore," Willow said quietly. Tears dripped down her face and dropped to the ground she looked down at the ground tearfully, "I can't feel it anymore."
"Can't feel what?" Xander asked cautiously.
"Magic," Willow said softly looking up and wiping the tears from her eyes, "I can't feel it. Its like I'm disconnected from it. Like I'm on a different radio wave. Ever since Buffy... that's not the reason," she shook her head as Xander went to interrupt, "its like ever since the battle, Something has happened with the Earth like its out of sync. Like the magic is being stretched and its hard for me to get at it."
Xander bent down so that he was eye level with Willow taking her hand. "Why didn't you say anything?" he asked in exasperation and concern that she would keep this a secret.
"It was happening so slowly that I almost didn't notice," Willow said looking at Xander closely as she tried to explain what had happening lately, "little by little my magic became hazy. I thought I got fight it, I thought it was just due to confidence... but its not. Something is happening to magic," she took a deep breath as though she was about say something she had decided a long time ago but only now was ready to say it, "And I have to fix it."
"What do you mean?" Xander asked seriously seeing this going somewhere and somewhere he is not going to like it.
"I have to leave," Willow replied nervously but with a sense of purpose. She knew this was the right thing to do and was what she had to do. But, she knew how Xander was going to react and it wasn't going to be pretty.
"Leave?! Where?!" Xander cried standing up suddenly unable to believe what he has just heard.
"I don't know," Willow said trying to explain it as best she could, "but I know this is the right thing to do."
"Will, you're not making sense," Xander cried incredulously, "I mean, why not stay here and we can find out what's going on together."
"It wouldn't do any good," Willow said shaking her head dismissing what Xander was saying, "I have to go Xander."
"But... why?! I mean, the League could help us," Xander said holding out his arm towards the room to show Willow exactly where they are. "we have other witches that can help you!"
"Xander!" Willow said forcefully, more forcefully than she had in the past few days. She grabbed his hand moving them down to her chest and held them, "I have to go. This is something I have to do. The League has enough on its plate at the minute and our witches are... they haven't lived long enough."
"Will, I know they're inexperienced but..."
"No. Xander," Willow interrupted him, "the people I need to see our beyond you and me. And where I'm going... you can't come with me."
Xander looked at her closely. He could see there no arguing with her. In one moment, Willow had shown how much she had changed from the girl he had known. They both had. Ever since they had been kids they had been together now, they had to go at it alone.
"You be careful out there,"Xander said softly as he pulled her into a hug.
"You too, soldier," Willow joked weakly as she felt her eyes well with tears knowing this may be the last time she sees Xander in she doesn't know how long.
"When are you leaving?" Xander asked.
"Tomorrow," Willow replied wiping the tears away as they broke from the hug, "make sure Dawn's okay and then I'll be off."
They never said a word. They didn't have to and they didn't need to. They'd leave their goodbyes till tomorrow. For now, they make sure everything is okay for today.
"Dawn?" Clark called from the doorway of the trophy room upon his return to the Hall. He had just returned from dropping Lois off at the Planet. Right now she was probably regaling Perry with what had happened today while Perry raged as to where Clark Kent was; he'll have to come up with story or else face Perry's wrath. Or worse another Elvis story. He stepped into the trophy room to find Dawn standing there looking over some of the League's memorabilia, "you okay?"
"Great," Dawn said dully as she looked at a Parademon's spear. "Just taking a look around the place."
"Yeah break ups can be rough," Clark replied knowingly standing next to her.
"It wasn't a break up," Dawn shrugged dully turning to Clark, "I mean... it kind of was... but, we broke a while ago this was just... putting things to bed."
"I'm guessing it went well," Clark said placing a hand on her shoulder sympathetically.
"As well as it could," Dawn shrugged, she took a deep breathe as though letting the weight slide off of her, "no point dwelling on it now."
"Yeah," Clark nodded softly, "you've got your life back now. The World's your oyster now."
"Yeah," Dawn said brightly a smile beaming on her face. She couldn't remember the last time she had smiled, "I could go back to college. I could be the one out of me and Buffy to finish college."
Clark chuckled at that . "Yes, you could," Clark chuckled and then looked down sadly as he thought of Buffy. It was something he hadn't done in a good while and he felt some guilt for that. "She'd be proud of you, you know. They both would. Your mom and Buffy."
Dawn smiled at that with a look of pride and sadness as she thought of the two most important people in her life. She hoped they were looking down on her now; happy and content. They both can watch her now as she walks out into a new Dawn. But it wasn't just a new dawn for her, but for Clark as well. "Yes, I know," Dawn nodded placing a hand on his shoulder, "and Buffy would also want you to move on as well."
"I know," Clark nodded solemnly as he thought of Buffy.
"So, what are you doing here? Go fly to Metropolis and ask Lois out already," Dawn cried beaming brightly nearly causing Clark jump out of his skin.
"W-what? M-me and Lois?" Clark gulped in surprise. How did she know?
"Come on, its totally obvious," Dawn sighed in exasperation, "and she likes you too. So why not go for it?"
"No its..." Clark paused as he was about to dismiss Dawn only just realizing what she had just said, "wait. She likes me?"
"Duh! Man you really are from another planet," Dawn giggled at Clark's dumbfounded face. "Of course she likes you. What do you think we were talking about when Toyman attacked us? You!"
"Wait, you're okay with this?" Clark spluttered unable to believe what was happening.
"Yes!" Dawn groaned loudly in exasperation, "now go before I Kryptonite your ass."
"Right," Clark nodded dumbfounded and a little taken aback. In a gust of wind he had disappeared in a streak only to come back a second later, "so she likes me?"
"CLARK!" Dawn snarled warningly.
"Okay, I'm gone!" Clark smirked and with yet another gust of wind he was gone.
"Go get her, Smallville," Dawn smiled shaking her head turning and looking at the trophy. Where do we go from here?
Lois stormed out of Perry's Office after getting a grilling from her Editor-in-Chief about today's events. Lois had had to explain what had happened; the Slayers conference at the White House, the Slayers going off to deal with a situation in Kahndaq (a so-called demon), Toyman kidnapping Dawn and Superman and the Slayers capturing. Perry like most people looked almost dumbfounded by what he was hearing. But, Lois had enough evidence mainly pictures of Dawn as a giant and centaur to back it up plus she had quotes from Superman, Xander and Washington PD.
The thing that really was making Perry so mad was the fact that Clark was nowhere to be found and the demon in Kahndaq was what was going to get a front page, whereas Lois knew that she'd be pushed to the third page; I mean who would take the Planet seriously if they reported a Toy-napping on the front page. Lois looked over at Clark's desk to find it empty. Where was he? Buzz buzz! Lois pulled out her phone as she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.
CLARK: Meet me on the roof.
Lois looked at the text curiously; what was going on? "Hey Miss Lane, where are you going?" Jimmy called over as she strode straight toward the elevator, pressing the button quickly and allowing the golden doors to close in front of her.
"Fresh air, Jim," Lois said quickly as the doors closed behind her. It didn't take long for her to reach the roof. She opened the door of the roof to find Clark stood there looking out at the horizon. He turned upon hearing her come.
"Hey," he said nervously almost like he was when he first came to Metropolis.
"Hey," Lois replied feeling just as nervous. The last time they had seen each other things had gotten a little heated, "Perry's on the warpath looking for you. You might wanna give him what you got."
"Yeah," Clark said rubbing the back on his head nervously, "I just got in. S-Superman dropped me off after I went to see how Dawn was doing at the Hall of Justice."
"She okay?" Lois asked knowing that Dawn was but, she needed to keep the awkward tension between them turning into an awkward silence.
"Yeah," Clark replied with shrug. "Back to her normal self. If you can call that a good thing," he added thinking of her giving him his marching orders for what he was about to do.
"Yeah, I get that," Lois smirked remembering her own Dawn interrogation before Toyman took her. She felt a pang of guilt at that. She opened her mouth to speak but Clark beat her to it.
"I'm sorry," Clark said abruptly taking Lois by surprise, "for the yelling at you. It wasn't your fault Dawn got taken. It was no one's fault. I was just..."
"Mad," Lois interrupted knowingly.
"Scared," Clark corrected surprising Lois again. "I... when Dawn went missing. I felt useless, like there was nothing I could do. Like I was being pulled in all different directions and didn't know which way to go."
"I get that," Lois nodded with understanding.
"But, you found her," Clark said with apologetically, "you kept your head and saved her. Your a better person than I, Lois."
Lois looked on stunned at what he had just said, but mixed with the pride of him saying that all she could think was idiot. "You're an idiot," Lois snapped briskly walking over to him and giving him a punch to the shoulder.
"Oh what was that for?" Clark pretended as he pulled back his shoulder so as not to break Lois' knuckles.
"For being an idiot," Lois said with exasperation, "Clark, I was scared too. Scared for Dawn's sake. Scared for your sake. But also that I'd let you down. We all feel useless from time to time, but you gotta sack up and do what you gotta do. You did what you could, you alerted the Slayers to where I was. If you hadn't of done that me an Dawn would have been playing some deranged tea party by now. So come on, sack up."
Clark looked at her both shocked and in awe. He couldn't believe her strength and stubbornness, it was what kept him on his toes and yet her brutal honesty was the thing that kept him moving forward. He couldn't help but smile. "Thanks," Clark said finally.
"It's okay," Lois said softly turning towards the door and walking back into the building, "now come on, before Perry starts smoking again."
"I am sorry though," Clark called over staying in one place. His voice shakey as he walked slowly behind her looking at her closely.
"Its fine," Lois replied at the door as she turned to him with an exasperated smile.
"Well I would like to make it up to you," Clark said quickly taking a deep breath as he did. Here it goes, "so, how about dinner sometime?"
Lois looked at him shocked, her eyes were wide and she felt frozen to the spot as Clark looked at her longingly. Did he say what she thought he just said? He did she realized feeling like her body was coming back to her. She felt her a smile creep across her face as she saw Clark standing there waiting for an answer. "Are you asking me out on a date?" Lois asked curiously.
"Well not a date," Clark said quickly and nervously not wanting to screw it up but seeing Lois smile fade slightly from her face adds quickly, "but just something... like a date. Maybe tonight?"
"As sweet as that notion is, Smallville," Lois chuckled holding onto the handle of the door for support as her legs were turning to jelly by the conversation, "this is Metropolis and its Saturday night. We ain't getting in anywhere without a reservation."
"Well, the Monster Truck rally is in two weeks," Clark gulped quickly as he tried to make a save. Man, he hated monster trucks, "how about I make it up to you with that?"
"You're on Smallville," Lois smiled coolly turning and walking down the steps, "you should hurry though. I don't think you'll have the money for tickets if Perry fires you!"
"No problem, Miss Lane," Clark replied under his breathe as he walked on after her unable to wipe the smile off his face.
A gust of wind blew though the air as Zod finally made his stop in the Himalayas. He had been running for hours keeping under the radar of Kal-El, who no doubt would be following him. Since then he had watching and observing this strange world he had found himself in, it was not unlike Krypton except harsh and dirty and infected with stupidity. These people had no idea how precious there planet was and yet they waste it on war. They split themselves up into regions and make more war with each other other one puny piece of land. At least when he fought the council, it was for good of an entire planet not just one bit of it.
And where did that get him? Here. On Earth. Kal-El was here too, the last of their people. He was a mockery. It was him who had brought about their destruction. Him and his fool of a father, Jor-El. It was that adoration that had caused the planet Krypton to be engulfed in the White Lights. He had brought a curse upon them. How could they do this? Destroy everything they had fought for? Everything they had built?
All for this natural born whelp.
It made Zod sick just thinking about it. He felt the anger welling up in him, that hot vengeful anger that needed quenching. "He destroyed my world," Zod hissed quietly to himself, "so I shall do the same with his."
"You're a bit too late with that one," a smug voice appeared from behind him. Zod spun around looking at a brown haired man in a black suit walking unsteadily up the mountain a few feet away from Zod.
"Leave human or face my wrath," Zod ordered quietly but with the veil of threat laced in his voice.
"What you don't want to get your final vengeance on Superman?" The man said with mock incredulousness. "And here was me coming to help you."
"I do not need your help," Zod snarled warningly ready to pounce on this human.
The man chuckled pulling out a small little globe and throwing it in the air. It exploded into pieces shooting a holographic picture of the universe around him and Zod. Zod recoiled thinking he is under attack. "What is this?" he asked wondering if he had been trapped but seeing the pictures he realized he wasn't.
"Map of the universe," the man replied with shrug, "see those," he pointed at the white lines dotted all across the map, "recognize them?"
"The White Lights," Zod gasped at seeing them knowing full well what they are.
"Yep. All across the universe," He replied, "taking world after world until soon there won't be anything left. Destroy the world yes, but that won't get rid of the real problem."
"What will?" Zod snarled demanding answers.
"We have to kill Superman," the man said darkly as he looked at Zod with a ruthless eye and deadly malice.
Zod looked at the man curiously. "Who are you?" he asked.
"Maxwell Lord," Maxwell greeted him, "and we are going to make history."
Author Note: Looks like Clark has his plate full... I mean a date with Lois that's gonna be hard core. But now, Zod is still out there. The mysterious white lights are spreading across the universe. What are they? Stay tuned. Next: Superman's Girlfriend Lois Lane.