The Night is Darkest Just Before the Dawn
The stars were slowly beginning to fade meaning it would be dawn soon. The darkness masked the army as they quietly marched onto Edge City. All the soldiers' feet were padded with torn pieces of cloth to quiet their footsteps. All was quiet in Edge City except for a few sentries trying to stay awake on the wall. The Atlantean fleet was awaiting the signal to attack.
The sovereigns were on horseback on a hill overlooking their massive army and the city. "You should wear proper armor, Oliver." Kal-El said softly.
Oliver wore a green archer's tunic over gray hauberk. "I shall wear more armor when we actually see battle…and when my wife arrives, of course." Oliver said and they all chuckled, except for Bruce. "Besides I prefer my bow to my swords. The armor worsens my aim."
"Then see my blacksmith. He is well skilled in making armor lighter but strong." Kal-El said.
"I shall think on it." Oliver said. He did not look at Kal-El. They were still tension between them and Kal-El hoped that battle would allow all to be forgotten.
General Fine trotted up the hill on his gray stallion. He wore the black suit of armor of a general with his family crest stamped over his heart and black knight's cape bearing a red sun. "We are ready to begin our attack, Sire." Fine said and Kal-El nodded. Kal-El then nodded to Oliver.
Oliver then raised his longbow and grabbed an arrow from over his shoulder. He placed the arrow on the quiver and aimed. He fired it into the sky and the arrow disappeared into the night sky. A few moments later, the arrow landed on the stern of the Queen Mera a few steps from Orin. Orin shook his head, grinning. "Begin the attack."
From atop the hill, they could hear the sound of cannon fire and explosions. The loud ringing of a bell could be heard from inside the city. Men shouting could be heard over the pause in explosions. Kal-El signaled General Fine, who ordered for one trebuchet to fire. The trebuchet flung its boulder high in the air and it hit its target. The escape tunnel was now sealed. No one was getting out.
Kal-El then looked at Bruce. Bruce nodded once and rode off with his knights. Kal-El looked at Oliver, who signaled the archers to fire. The archers were armed with flame arrows. They placed the arrows on their quivers and soldiers lit the ends of their arrows. They took their aim and fired. Flame arrows flew through the sky like shooting stars and they hit their targets. They could see the dim glow of fires within the city and the sounds of men and women screaming.
"TO THE MAIN GATE! TO THE MAIN GATE!" Kal-El watched soldiers and archers scrambling to the main wall through a lens and tube. The army was far out of range for Genesis archers' armor piercing arrows but not for the common ones, especially if they had longbows.
"Volley!" General Fine shouted warning the soldiers at the front. The soldiers tucked tail and the arrows collided with their shields shattering on impact. "Recover!" Fine commanded and the soldiers stood. Oliver then signaled for the archers to send another volley. They took their aim and fired common arrows this time.
"General, command the catapults to fire upon the main wall giving time for King Bruce and his knights to climb the wall." Kal-El said and Fine barked the command to the soldiers at the trebuchets. Firing the catapults would be a lot quieter than firing the cannons. Multiple trebuchets began firing upon the main wall. The boulders destroyed parts of the wall and soldiers fell when they lost their footing.
Bruce and his knights scaled the back wall quietly wearing leather cuirasses without their mail. Bruce reached the top first. He was the fastest climber. He saw that the plan was working. All the soldiers were defending the main gate and sea wall. He motioned for everyone else to climb over the wall.
Bruce patted his former student and ward, Sir Richard Grayson, on the shoulder and the 17 year-old Richard nodded once at his mentor. They split into two groups. It was Richard's job to open the gate while Bruce disposed of the soldiers on the wall. Bruce saw archers blindly firing in the dark and only a few soldiers were in their armor. A captain was splashing water in a few soldiers' faces. They had obviously been drinking.
Their backs were to the Gothamites. Bruce drew two of his hand-forged throwing daggers and aimed. There were two knights in his line of sight, two captains. He threw the daggers and they both hit their targets in their necks. The two knights gasped for breath and fell over the battlements. They were dead before they hit the ground. Bruce drew his falchion.
The soldiers saw their commanding officers fall over the battlements and turned around too late. Bruce and his men attacked and killed them quickly and quietly. Soldiers on the ground saw them but Richard and his men killed them quickly before they warn the other soldiers. Judging by their dark blue armor, these soldiers were of Slade Wilson's army.
The soldiers defending the sea wall did not notice a thing. They continued focusing all their cannon fire on the Atlanteans. The cannon fire muffled all the noise around them. Richard and his men began turning the wheel to open the gate. Bruce waved two torches in the air signaling the army.
They noticed the signal on top of the hill and they commanded their generals to signal for the vanguard to march onto the city. Orin noticed the signal as well and signaled his sailors to cease firing. "Take us to a safe distance from their cannons!" He commanded. He did not want to hit the Gotham knights. The Genesis soldiers began cheering believing to be in full retreat. Outside the walls, the vanguard was almost to the city gate.
The dawn was approaching and a dim light lit the skies. That is when the soldiers noticed the advancing army and that they were surrounded by Gotham knights. "Lay down your arms." Bruce said with his falchion at their captain's throat. The captain nodded and they had no choice but to drop their weapons for they were only 20 or so men. Bruce motioned for them to march down from the battlements and they did.
Richard ordered his men to open the gate of the sea wall to allow in the Atlantean flag ship, the Queen Mera. Half of the Genesis soldiers were still not completely sober so they stumbled passed them. The soldiers were forced to sit down in a circle surrounded by armed guards. There was another group of people sitting down in a circle in their nightwear. Bruce assumed they were nobles, especially when he saw the Mayor of Edge City among them holding his wife.
The vanguard entered the city and took up defensive positions. Generals entered the city and then the Red Shard and other personal guards. At last the sovereigns entered the city. All the soldiers kneeled down to one knee as they trotted past them. The rest of the army was outside forming a perimeter around the city.
The sovereigns rode up to Bruce and dismounted. The soldiers stood when they dismounted. Lois was among them but she wore a bascinet helm to conceal her identity but she looked like any other Red Shard knight. Kal-El and Bruce gripped forearms. "King Kal-El, I present to you Sir Perry White, the Mayor of Edge City." Bruce said and stepped off to the side.
Two Red Shard knights brought Sir Perry before Kal-El. Kal-El saw his wife nervously watching them in the background. "Your Grace, I ask only that you spare the lives of common people of this city." He said.
Kal-El sighed. "Sir Perry, we shall only harm those who attack us. You have nothing to fear from us." Kal-El said but Perry was still stiff.
"It is not your army that I fear but the wrath of King Alexander." Perry said. Peter trotted up at that moment.
"Alexander will not be king for long." Peter said and Sir Perry cut his eyes to his blue tabard. A golden lion on its hind legs was on the tabard over his silver cuirass.
"The House of Ross." Perry whispered. "This cannot be. The House of Ross was wiped out at the beginning of the war."
"No." Peter dismounted. "Not all." He walked up to Sir Perry and removed his right glove. People were watching from their windows. "I am Prince Peter of the House of Ross, youngest son of King William and Queen Abigail and the last living heir to the throne of the kingdom of Argos!"
Peter held up his right hand revealing the ring of the king of Argos. The ring was gold in the shape of a lion's head with small red rubies for eyes. Peter has worn the ring around his neck since his mother died and now it felt like a part of him with it resting on his finger.
Everyone began to murmur among themselves. Sir Perry was the first to kneel and the soldiers and people of Edge City followed suit. "But you and the rest of the House of Ross were murdered by the Kryptonians." Sir Perry said still kneeling.
"That is a lie. The Kryptonians has been sheltering my mother and I since I was a child. I was brought up safe in the home of the Duke and Duchess of Kansas when my mother joined my father in the next life." Peter said and the crowd began to murmur again. "And now I have married the woman I love…the Lady Lana Lang." The murmuring began again.
"I do not ask you all to partake in this war. I only wish to tell you all that you have been deceived and that this whole war was built on deceptions. My friend, King Kal-El, has tried to bring peace between our realms. And Lionel Luthor was going to give me back the throne of my forefathers but his death was unexpected." Peter said. He held out his hand and helped Sir Perry up to his feet. Everyone else rose.
"Does Alexander know that you live?" Perry asked softly.
"Alexander has known for some time and he refuses to forge a peace treaty. We both know his lust for power is growing and the great power he now seeks has made every known realm unite against him." Peter said.
"Let us speak in private. My home is just over here." Perry said and Peter nodded. Perry went back to the sitting nobles to collect his wife.
"Traitor." A noble hissed at him and then Perry backhanded him across the face.
"The only traitor here is you." Perry said and walked away. Perry put a hand on Peter's shoulder and led them to the second largest manor in the city. The first was owned by the Edge family. The sovereigns followed them as their generals handled the troops.
They entered the home of Perry White and his family. His wife went up the stairs. Perry led them to the Great Hall of the manor. He closed the door behind them. Perry eyed the Red Shard knight who entered the Great Hall with them.
"Sir Perry, I present to you His Majesty, King Kal-El of Krypton." Kal-El nodded once. "His Grace, King Oliver of Star City." Oliver nodded once. "His Grace, King Bruce of Gotham." Bruce nodded once. "His Majesty, King Orin of Atlantis." Orin nodded once. "And our great mentor and His Supreme Highness, King Carter of Thanagar and Pharaoh of Egypt. Cater nodded once. Perry nodded to each of them.
"Sir Perry." Lois said. She removed her helm, held under her right arm, and lowered her coif.
"Lois! What are you doing here?" Perry asked her and they quickly embraced.
"It is a long story but in short…I am here serving as the ambassador for the commander of the Resistance until we meet to march to on Metropolis. I have been a soldier of the Resistance near one year now." Lois said.
"You were the last person I ever thought would join the resistance against Luthor…especially after the tragic loss of Sir Gabriel Sullivan and his family." Perry said. He cut his eyes to Kal-El.
"Krypton is not to blame for their deaths… Lionel Luthor had them killed for my father and his army. As Prince Peter has told you, this war was built on deceptions." Lois said.
"The day has not even begun and this day is already full of surprises. The city has been attacked and people are rising from the grave… I am going to need some wine." Perry said. He went over to an end table and poured himself a goblet of wine.
"Lois, I believe it is time I told you this." Clark said and she turned to look at him. "I confronted Lionel on the murder of your family… He knew nothing. He assumed they were killed by Kryptonians as well." Kal-El said.
"What?" Lois asked shocked. "Then who…" She paused.
"There is only one Luthor left who would kill for an army and the unquestioning loyalty of the realm's best general." Kal-El said.
"Alexander." Lois hissed. She threw the helm across the room with a yel and it collided with the wall. She was breathing heavily. Kal-El placed his hand on her shoulder to comfort her. Her breathing returned normal and she took a deep breath. Perry noticed how comfortable she was with. She had not been comfortable with a man except with Wesley Keenan but that was a long time ago.
"If what you all speak is true, then the Luthor family has become a curse over this lands and Alexander's ruthlessness surpasses that of his father… Lately there has been talk of a massive invasion but no one knows of what realm. Alexander and his fleet sailed past here some weeks ago." Perry said.
"They were sailing for Themyscira." Lois said. Perry coughed on a sip of wine.
Perry wiped his mouth and put the goblet down. "Alexander is mad indeed. No one invades Themyscira. No one… Thanagar tried many years ago and their army was massacred in a matter of hours. I mean no ill will to your Highness." Perry said the latter to Carter.
"That was the father of my grandfather, not I. He was a fool to think he could invade that island in the first place. I, on the other hand, prefer to have the Amazons as allies, not enemies." Carter said.
"Becoming the new king of Themyscira is not Luthor's true purpose there. He is after a great Kryptonian power that has not been harnessed in over one hundred years." Peter said.
"What great power? I have not heard of any great Kryptonian power and I am well educated in Kryptonian traditions." Sir Perry said.
"The world has since forgotten its existence, but not us Kryptonians. The House of El was tasked with protecting this great power from enemies and never to use it unless Krypton was in grave peril… Lois, can you help me?" Kal-El asked her.
Lois helped him loosen the straps of his chest armor. He flashed a small grin and she grinned back. Sir Perry observed them. What had gotten his attention was that he has called her Lois. Not countess or Lady Lois but Lois. Kal-El removed the chain from around his neck and set it down on the table. He hid the ring on the chain with his thumb but Sir Perry caught a glance of Ella Lane's wedding ring. He said nothing of it though.
"This is what Lex wants…the three stones of power. With them he can form the Crystal of Knowledge giving the bearer the powers of the gods. That is why my forefather, King Seyg-El, had the crystal broken back into the three stones that made it once all Zod's followers were banished. The power is too great for just one man alone." Kal-El said.
"Alexander has taken Princess Kara's stone, the stone of Water. And he has gone for the stone of Air on Themyscira. This stone is supposed to protected by the king of Krypton but my father left it there for safe keeping some years before his death… And this is the stone of Fire. It is protected by the queen. This belonged to my mother. " Kal-El said. There can be no fire without air, his uncle used to say.
"If this power is as great as you say, then all your realms are at great risk for Alexander shall not stop at Krypton." Perry said.
"And that is why we have come together to form this League of Armies. We plan to invade this realm before Alexander can invade us." Kal-El said. "Will you help us?"
"Great Caesar's ghost!" Perry swore under his breath and Lois grimaced. She had heard him say that on many occasions and that was not a good sign. Perry sighed. "Yes. I shall help you…but first we must make sure General Wilson does not send a regiment to investigate the smoke coming from the city." Sir Perry picked up Lois's helm, where it had landed after she had thrown it, and he handed it back to her.
Lois put back on her helm and they all left the Great Hall. They left the manor and went outside. Soldiers from both sides were helping clean up the rubble and helping the wounded. The common people were helping as well.
"Sire, the Genesis soldiers wish to aid us in our invasion. They are not pleased with all the deceptions from the House of Luthor and they wish to pledge their loyalty to the House of Ross once more." General Fine said to Kal-El. Kal-El turned to look at Peter, who nodded.
Sir Perry was looking around for someone and his face lit up when he found them. "Jerry…Keith!" His sons ran up to him and embraced him. "We lost all our falcons so I need you and your brother to ride to Empire City. Tell General Wilson a fire broke out in the stables but it has been taken care of. We do not want Wilson sending troops here now that Edge City is now loyal to the House of Ross." Perry said the latter just a bit louder for all to hear. "Prince Peter and his army are more than welcome." The people of Edge City cheered and the remaining soldiers kneeled before Peter.
Peter nodded once to the people and held up his right hand to the soldiers. Once everyone went back to what they were doing, Peter turned around to see all the sovereigns staring at him. "Your army." Oliver said. Everyone continued to stare at him with blank stares. Peter was speechless and could do nothing but shrug his shoulders.
Once they were back in the manor, Carter slapped Peter on the back of the head. "Ow!" Peter exclaimed and everyone else chuckled.
Later that night, they all sat in the Great Hall of the manor. Everyone was out of their armor and dressed casually in trousers, shorts, wool or leather doublets, and their sword belts (except Oliver, Carter and Shiera). "Lois, Sir Perry, what can you tell us of General Slade Wilson?" Kal-El asked.
Perry sighed. "He is just as ruthless and merciless as Alexander. Alexander has put him in command of Empire City. Slade has made the city into a fortress forcing all the people out to make room for his troops and arms." He said.
"Not only that but Wilson surrounds himself with his own soldiers, not Genesis army. These men have sworn an oath of loyalty to Slade and the punishment is death is they disobey. Wilson will not surrender and his men shall fight to the last man if that happens." Lois said.
"Nothing is hardly simple." Kal-El said. He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
"I have fought Wilson many times on the field of battle. He is not to be underestimated. He will sacrifice a whole battalion for a victory." Oliver said.
"We should await the arrival of the Amazons before we march onto Empire City. We may need them to take the city… And they will skin us alive if we commence this battle without them." Kal-El commented and everyone muttered their agreement.
"It is essential that if we want to take Metropolis, then Empire City must fall or this invasion will fail. They can outflank us if we go around the city… It was difficult but the Resistance was able to get some of its soldiers inside the city as cooks, chambermaids, and stable hands but they constantly watched." Lois said.
"Cam-Zel!" Kal-El called for. Cam-Zel entered the Great Hall and went for his sword when he saw Lois. Kal-El held up his hand. "Lane is no threat to me." Cam-Zel removed his hand from around his sword grip. "Bring General Fine to me." Cam-Zel bowed and slowly left the hall keeping his eyes on Lois.
A few minutes later, General Fine entered the Great Hall and bowed to Kal-El. He stood erect with his left hand atop his sword pommel. "You sent for me, Sire." Fine said. He cut his eyes to Lois and then back to Kal-El. Cam-Zel has obviously told his old commander she was in the hall with them.
"What do you know of General Slade Wilson?" Kal-El asked hunched over the map.
"Wilson is called the Deathstroke for his cruelty and ruthlessness. Every town he has attacked, he has left no intentional survivors. Alexander made him the general some years ago and he is in command of Empire City because like Luthor, Wilson is a clever and ruthless battle tactician." Fine said. He cut his eyes to Lois again.
Kal-El noticed this. He stood erect, approached Fine, and crossed his arms. "Speak your mind, Milton." Fine hesitated. "You may speak plainly with me since we are to be kin after all." Kal-El said. Everyone cut their eyes from Kal-El to Milton shocked by that last comment.
Fine sighed. "I am curious to why Commander Lane is in on this war council, Kal-El. She is an enemy soldier, a knight loyal to Alexander Luthor." Milton said. He kept a straight face but his heart was pounding.
"If you must know, Countess Lane is here as the ambassador for the Resistance commander." Milton cut his eyes to Lois and then back to Kal-El. "Thanks to the information she has given us, we were able to plan this invasion and send troops to help defend Themyscira… She has never been loyal to Alexander so I believe you should show the countess some respect, my lord." Kal-El said.
Fine's shoulders stiffen somewhat and he held his chin high. "He does not have to… We are both soldiers first. We do not need to speak of our respect for one another. You are a soldier as well. You should know this." Lois said and Kal-El sighed. A small grin formed at the corners of Fine's lips.
"Yes, I know this and I am only trying to defend your honor." Kal-El said.
"Do I look like I need defending? I can defend myself." Lois protested.
"So you do not want me defending your honor?" Kal-El said.
"As noble as your actions are, I am only saying that you do not need to defend me." Lois said.
"It is like watching Carter and Shiera." Peter said.
"But I want to defend you. You do not deserve such treatment." Kal-El said.
Arthur scoffed. "No, it is like watching Oliver and Dinah." He said and Oliver scoffed.
"And it sweet that you want to but you do not need to save me when I do not need saving." Lois said.
"As entertaining as this is, we need to return to the task at hand." Bruce said and Sir Perry agreed with him. Peter and Arthur wiped the smirks off their face. The mood was serious once more.
"Yes, we do… We shall speak of this later, Countess." Kal-El said.
Later
Clark and Lois fell down onto the bed kissing heatedly. They had not made love in months and they desired each other desperately. Their lips broke apart when she pulled his shirt over his head and threw it down onto the floor. She straddled him and slowly began to remove her own shirt. Clark tried to sit up but she pushed him back down. He smiled as she slowly removed her shirt.
She threw her shirt over her shoulder. Clark quickly sat up and kissed her. Their fingers ran through each other's hair and their bare chests rubbed up against each other. He gently ran his nails down her back and she moaned. Then there was a knock on the door and their lips parted. "By Rao! Can we ever be alone?" Clark said breathing heavily. Lois applied kisses down his left cheek and neck.
His eyes rolled with pleasure and he began to kiss her left shoulder. There was a louder knock on the door this time. He stopped kissing her shoulder to look at the door. "Ignore it." She whispered in his ear and she kissed his ear lobe. The knocking now became constant. She stopped kissing him and they both groaned. They pressed their foreheads together and took in deep breaths.
She got up off him and got up from the bed. They retrieved their shirts and quickly put them back on. Kal-El ran his hands through his hairs twice before unlocking and opening the door still breathing heavily. It was Carter. "Yes?"
"An urgent letter just arrived from Sh-ie-ra." Carter has noticed Lois composing herself in the background. He then noticed the two goblets of wine in front of the fireplace and their disheveled appearance. "Did you two speak yet?"
"We were trying to." Kal-El answered. He stepped aside so Carter could enter the bedchamber. Carter entered cautiously. Lois nodded once to him and he nodded once back. "What did her letter say?"
"The invasion was only a distraction. It allowed for John Corben to slip into the Amazonian Palace. He killed the guards and took the stone. He was gone by the time they had realized what had happened." Carter said.
"By Rao!" Kal-El swore. He ran his hand down his face and covered his mouth. He could feel the coarseness of his stubble against his skin. He had no time to shave and Lois had already mentioned her discontent of his developing beard. "Now Lex has two stones and he will be coming for mine." He looked down at the Stone of Fire dangling from his neck. He had grown accustomed to his weight and most times forgot it was around his neck.
"The Amazons are sailing here as we speak. They are right behind Alexander but they are trying to stay out of his sight. With the wind, they shall arrive here in a few nights." Carter said.
"That is more than enough time to plan our attack on Empire City and hide the Atlantean fleet." Kal-El said.
"We have already dealt with the fleet. Sir Perry says that there is a large cove where they can hide until we march. And we have commanded the army to make camp in the valley away from prying eyes." Carter said.
"Good. And just as a precaution, a garrison shall remain here and in each city we take as we march onto Metropolis." Kal-El said and Carter nodded. "Will Lex sail pass here?" He asked Lois.
"Alexander will most likely take the Argean Canal into the Argean Sea. It is the fastest route by ship to Metropolis… The canal is quite narrow. The ships would have to sail in a straight line to navigate it. That is why he did not take this route when he first sailed but if the Amazons did indeed massacre half of his army, he can then take this way." Lois said.
"Let us hope then that he is racing back to his precious Metropolis." Carter said.
"I have no doubt he is… I know Lex. He will want to be behind the safety of his city's high walls and sitting on his throne with the stones. Being in the open for too long leaves him vulnerable to attack. Kal-El said.
6 days, 5 nights later
Kal-El and Carter waited for the arrival of the first Atlantean warship built, the Trident of Poseidon, to dock at Edge City. Much to their relief scouts spotted Luthor's fleet sailing in the Argean Canal. Kal-El spotted Milton Fine out of the corner of his eye, no doubt waiting for Kara. He motioned for him to come forward. Milton approached cautiously as if Kal-El would change his mind on their betrothal at any moment.
The ship docked into the port and dockhands tied it down. The sun had just set so all they saw were shadowy figures on the deck of the ship as the ramp was lowered onto the dock. The figures left the ship and started walking up to them. The men immediately stood erect. The women examined them. "Well they are not dead so I guess that do not need us after all." Diana said. Shiera scoffed and they chuckled.
Carter smiled as Shiera walked into his arms and their lips met. Kal-El grinned at Kara but she just walked passed him heading for Milton. He opened his mouth to say something but when he turned around, Milton and Kara were locked in a tender kiss. He closed his mouth, crossed his arms, and grinned. If Kara was happy, then he was happy.
The Black Canary tapped his shoulder and he turned around. Her arms were crossed and she was tapping her foot. "Ah, yes. King Oliver is expecting you in the manor." Kal-El said. "The last room down the hall on the second floor." He whispered and winked at her. She grinned, gave him a small bow, and walked past him so she could have a night of passion with her husband.
In the morrow, Kara was walking through the halls when she noticed something and ducked around a corner. Kal-El and Lois Lane were talking in whispers at the end of the hall holding hands. He then carefully removed the ring from the chain around his neck and tried to hand it back to Lois. She shook her head but he was insisting that she take it.
Lois closed his palm around the ring and whispered something to him. Then he caressed her cheek, leaned down, and kissed her tenderly. Kara's jaw dropped. She was beyond shocked, especially since Lane did not pull away from him. She must have made some sort of noise because they looked in her direction but she had ducked back around the corner in time.
They were all in the Great Hall going over a new battle plan for Empire City. Kara kept eyeing Kal-El and Lois. She noticed them exchange a few glances and their hands occasionally brushing up against their other's. It was like what she and Milton do.
Lois was leaned over a table examining the map of Genesis with Milton. They both sighed and they stood erect. "This will be no easy task. General Wilson has indeed prepared for every kind of attack a soldier can think of." Fine said and rubbed the back of his neck.
No one obviously had any ideas. Even Bruce was silent. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, Kal-El spoke up. "Then we have to plan an attack that a soldier would never expect." He said and looked at Kara. She could tell by the look in his eyes what his out-of-the-box plan was and she nodded.
"It would appear we have no choice. Empire City must fall if we are to take Metropolis." Kara said and Kal-El nodded once.
"What are you two talking about?" Oliver asked only saying what was on everyone else's mind.
"The stone of Fire…" Kal-El placed his hand over the stone beneath his shirt. "I am going to unlock its powers so we can seize this fortress and march on to Metropolis." Kal-El said.
"I know I have slept through a great deal of scoldings and teachings but I am certain I was awake when you said that unlocking these powers was bad." Oliver said.
"I remember what I said but together, the crystal makes the bearer a god but separate, it grants us only a taste of its true power… When we Els reach the age of 15, we are tasked with absorbing these powers for one week as a rite of passage. And so that we may be ready to do it once more if Krypton were ever in great peril." Kal-El said.
"Each stone divides the power of the crystal. With this stone, we shall be able to start fire with our eyes. With the stone of Water we will be able to see things at great distances, through solid objects, and things that are too small to see. With the stone of Air, we will be able to fly through the clouds, hear upon great distances, and blow winds as strong as hurricanes and cold like the winter frost from our mouths." Kara explained.
"The stone of Air sounds fun." Oliver said and Carter immediately slapped the back of his head. Oliver held back a yelp and the Black Canary stifled a laugh. "Why must you always do that?" He snapped.
"It is the only way I know that my teachings get through to you…to each of you. And do not deny that it works." Carter said. No one spoke. Bruce even shrugged his shoulders, thus proving his point.
Lois was the first to speak back on the matter at hand. "Is this safe?" She asked.
"It will be fine. I know what I am doing." Kal-El answered and gave her a reassuring smile. "Will the Resistance soldiers inside Empire City be able to help us?" He asked.
"Yes. They are ready to burn down the armory and the stable once the attack begins. That shall give us a small advantage for their cannon fire shall be limited along with their armor piercing arrows. They shall leave the city through this escape tunnel before they seal it." Lois pointed out the tunnel on the map.
"Good." Kal-El flashed a grin but she still had a worried expression on her face. Kara continued to observe them closely. "I shall do this at noon, when the sun is at its highest."
"We shall do it together, Kal-El. It will take our combined knowledge to defeat Alexander whilst he has two stones." Kara said and she could see the worry on Kal-El and Milton's faces. "I do not always need your protection. I can defend myself and I will not let you do this alone."
"Alright." Kal-El said simply.
"Do not think just because… Alright?" Kara was surprised by his answer. "Should you be telling me that it is too dangerous or that I am far too young and that it will be safer for you to do this alone? That is the Kal-El I remember." Kara said.
"Kara, I know that I cannot do this alone so for once I am not going to argue with you." Kal-El said and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sir Perry, we are going to need somewhere private to do this, preferably out of the city."
"I know a place." Perry answered.
Noon was almost upon them and they were in the middle of the ruins of a village. "When Alexander took the throne, his first act as king was to round up all who opposed him… This was once a peaceful little village before Slade Wilson and his soldiers came and burned this place to the ground." Sir Perry said. He ran his hand down the scorched wall of a destroyed house.
They tied their horses to something sturdy and walked with through the charred ruins. "My father and I could not nothing but watch the aftermath once this reached our ears." Lois said as she picked up a charred doll. Kal-El put a comforting hand on her shoulder and she placed her hand over his.
Kara looked up at the sun. "Kal-El, it is time." She said and he nodded. Milton was nervous. "I will be fine, my love. I have done this before." Milton forced a grin.
Kal-El removed the stone from around his neck and took a deep breath. He had not done this in years but he remembered how to unlock the power. He could never forget. He and Kara nodded at each other as they touched the stone together when the sunlight reflected off the stone. The stone began to glow and Kal-El looked at Lois. The group was then blinded by a bright light and they shielded their eyes.
The light disappeared as quickly as it appeared. They lowered their hands. Kal-El and Kara stood there as if nothing had happened. They both took deep breaths. "Do you feel it?" Kal-El asked Kara and she nodded. They both balled their hands into fists and smirked at each other. Then they were gone in a blur.
"Where did they go?" Oliver asked and everyone looked at one another. Kal-El then returned just seconds after Oliver's question and then Kara returned right after him.
"You cheat!." Kara said. Kal-El grinned and shrugged his shoulders.
Oliver shook his head. "Where did you two go?" Oliver asked again.
"A small village on the Argo, Kansas border." Kal-El said. He walked up to Lois ignoring everyone's shocked expressions. He was obviously hiding something behind his back and he was grinning. "For you." He said and presented her with a magnificent blue Kryptonian rose, only in bloom in the winter. Lois smiled as she took it from him and smelled its sweet scent. Kal-El smiled at her.
Then there was a loud boom. Kal-El turned around to see that Kara had punched a hole into the ruins of a stone wall. He walked up to her as she was pulling her fist out. Kara grimaced as she flexed and extended her fingers. Kal-El took her hand and examined it to see a bruise forming. "It will be harder to wound us but we are still vulnerable. We need the crystal to be invincible." Kara said.
Kal-El nodded. "I remember… Lex has a small advantage over for us but we have an even more special advantage over him." Kal-El said giving her a look and Kara nodded.
"Are there any more special powers you two are hiding?" Oliver asked.
"Shoot an arrow?" Kal-El said and Oliver shrugged. He put an arrow on the string of his longbow and fired it up in the air. The arrow then caught fire and its ashes filled the air. Everyone turned to look at Kal-El, whose eyes were red. He blinked and his eyes were blue once more.