Chapter 29 Hours later—Following the Graduation Ceremony
A/N: Obviously this is an AU. No Isobelno second meteor shower
Loft—Kent Barn
Clark looked himself in the mirror, considering how he looked in his robes and the diploma in his hand. As Lana had back in her old apartment, he knew that a Rubicon had been crossed—that nothing would ever be the same. The teen he had been was gone.
The man he'd become looked back at him with firm resolve.
You can do this! You've only been waiting for this your whole life! He swallowed the fears and eyed the tuxedo hanging behind himself. With a super speed, he changed clothes, swapping graduation and marital outfits in seconds.
"Glad to see you can still do that stuff!" Pete exclaimed as he and Bart came up the stairs. "How you doing?"
"I'll be better once we get this taken care of," Clark indicated while feeling the nerves churning again.
"Dude, chill! Think of the awesome party tonight!" Bart assured him. "My man, Pete, and I are working on that."
"It's legal, right?" Clark queried them.
"As if I'd let Bad Bart here do anything? Mom's a judge, remember?" Pete reminded him.
Bart rolled his eyes.
"Good point," Clark noted while considering the marriage license on the table in front of himself. "It's time."
"Yeah to scope out babes," Bart teased.
"Hey I'm taken," Clark noted.
"Your funeral, Big Guy," Pete countered with good natured humor. "Let's go."
The trio headed out to find Jonathan and Martha waiting for them.
"Ready?" Clark asked.
"That's our question, Son. Are you?" Jonathan inquired.
"We're really proud of what you're doing," Martha indicated. "You two love each other AND are taking responsibility. Today's the start of many more good days to come." She kissed her son on the cheek. "May you both be happy."
"Thanks, both of you." Clark hugged his parents tightly before they all headed for the truck.
Sullivan House
Chloe, Miranda and Jasmine watched as Lana sat fretting in front of the mirror. With Oliver and Jasmine bankrolling the wedding and reception, it would be a grand affair. In addition to the ushers, other guards would be posted to keep the paparazzi at bay.
The bride smoothed her dress and checked her watch. "Only forty-five minutes to go. Why is it dragging?"
"Because you're nervous," Chloe told her. "Come on, Ms. Lang. Deep breaths. Think that in the next hour or so, you officially win the Clark Kent sweepstakes."
"I do," Lana realized with a smile and dabbing her eyes so as not to let her mascara run.
"Not yet, Boss," Miranda teased. "But you're thinking the right way."
"You will be a wonderful partner, Lana," Jasmine insisted. "Cherish this day and your future. Today is a celebration in both senses. The love you share with Clark is worthy of such revelry."
"Amen," Chloe affirmed. "Come on; let's meet the others now."
"Right," Lana agreed while following the others out to the car.
Cowache Caves—An hour later
Oliver walked down the trail through the woods while leading the priest carefully. He wanted to be sure that both parts of the ceremony went without a hitch. "Still with me, Father?"
"I'm here, Oliver," Father Williams, a middle aged slim man assured him. "Why get married in a cave though?"
"Because it's special to them both," Oliver answered as they approached the entrance. "We're heading to the central chamber."
When they arrived at their destination, they found Clark, his parents, Jasmine, Pete and Bart waiting for them.
"Where is the bride?" the priest requested.
"She's ready," Laura Lang indicated while sticking her head out from the side chamber. "Chloe and Miranda, you'd better get in position." When the two girls had joined the guys at the altar, she turned to her daughter. She inspected the younger woman and made sure the veil was straight. "All set, Sweetie?"
Lana nodded still trying to deal with having her mother standing there despite the fact that she was dead.
"Lana, as if you'd think we'd miss a day like this over a small detail like that," her mother told her. "Now everything's in place. Let's get you married."
"Okay, Mom," she agreed while heading out into the cavern proper. Seeing some of the people in the room staring in amazement, she told the others, "This is my mother. She…umm…came back to be here."
"But, Laura, you're…you're dead," Jonathan pointed out.
"I was allowed to come back for this moment. Joe, are you ready?" Laura called.
Jor-El stepped into view while dressed in a fair copy of Clark's tuxedo. "I am." He joined his son and Pete in front of the priest. "You do me proud, K…Clark."
"Thanks, Joe," Clark accepted. "I guess that's everyone, Father."
"Then let's get started. Would the bride come forward?" Father Williams bade.
Lana strode in under her mother's escort. Her gown was of the finest Persian silk. A gold necklace inlaid with jewels adorned her neck. On her right arm, the bracelet given to Clark by Kyla years earlier reflected the dim lighting. "Lux."
On cue, the light grew brighter.
"Sun's getting lower," Chloe lied to cover it.
"Ah," the priest realized while opening his Bible and reciting the vows. "Clark Kent, do you take this woman, Lana Lang, for all eternity?"
"I do," Clark agreed.
"Lana Lang, do you take this man, Clark Kent, for all eternity?"
"I do," Lana concurred.
"If we have the rings, may we exchange them?" the priest requested.
"I give you my love and fidelity with this, Lana," Clark vowed while putting the diamond ring on her hand next to the engagement ring.
"And I give you my love and fidelity with this, Clark," Lana replied earnestly while sliding the ring onto his hand.
"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride!" the priest noted.
Clark lifted the veil to see Lana's face shining back at him both in her happiness and the jewels adorning both her and the headdress. "At last!" He smiled at the realization of a lifetime of dreams and near frustration.
"Clark?"
"Yes, Sweetheart?"
"Can you kiss me already? The people are waiting," Lana reminded him playfully.
"What the lady wants…." He embraced her and locked his lips onto hers passionately, brightening the room.
In recollections later, it would be said that the walls' symbols started glowing at that moment as well. Fortunately, the priest was too taken with the couple's kiss to notice.
"May I present Mr. and Mrs. Clark Kent?" the priest announced.
The crowd clapped briefly to signify the achievement and union.
Joe's eyes glowed at the priest, wanting to get rid of him before the next stage.
"I should be going," Williams noted before leaving.
As he left, Lana whispered, "Alieno." As she did so, she wiped the memory of the ceremony from his mind.
Once the priest had left, Jor-El reassumed his normal spirit guise. It is a pleasure to see this day. My thanks, Kal-El and Lana, for allowing me to be a part of this. Now it is time for the Joining. Kal-El, since you both have already exchanged vows, please put the bracelets on Lana's wrists.
"Right," he agreed while snapping a pink bracelet on each of his wife's wrists.
Now take each other's hands. On Krypton, husband and wife are joined both body and soul. In this case, you will do so and you, Lana, will become Kryptonian. So it is and shall be.
On cue, a bright light shone down through the roof of the cavern, spotlighting the couple. They each felt a piece of themselves rip away only to receive something else in exchange. This process continued for two minutes before stopping.
Now you are officially mates and partners in all senses, my Children, Jor-El announced.
"You mean she's now Kryptonian?" Clark inquired.
How else will she be able to help continue our line, Kal-El? How do you feel, Lana?
"Wait! I can hear you in my mind! How?" she asked.
Kryptonians communicate through telepathy. I have enabled you to do so. You have all of Kal-El's abilities in addition to your magic. Once you step out into the sunlight, anything Kal-El can do, you will too. There is one more thing I wish for you both to do.
"And that is?" Lana asked.
Join the stones. It is time, Jor-El commanded while waving his hand.
In the cavern, everyone thought that they saw the table destroyed. However, once the illusion had wavered, they saw that everything was as it had been.
I had to make you all and Isobel think the site was destroyed. A simple illusion accomplished that.
"Wait. Should you?" Jonathan warned in typical paranoid fashion.
"It's our destiny," Clark replied calmly while picking up the fire stone. "Ready, Lana?"
She picked up the water stone. "Ready."
They placed those stones into their slots. Then, as one, they held the air element and stuck that one in its slot as well.
The table shook. The chamber glowed once more.
The three stones fused into one crystal which floated skyward and vanished from view.
"Where did it go?" Chloe demanded.
To its place. Jor-El made Clark, Lana and himself vanish from view, leaving the others to wonder where they'd gone.
Arctic
After the crystal rematerialized, it landed hard on the top of a mountain. As with a tree sapling, it took hold, letting its roots spread deep into the ice and snow. Icy spears sprouted and jabbed their way skyward, interlacing themselves in an exquisite pattern and creating a shelter.
Underneath that roof, platforms formed from the ice. Crystals appeared containing knowledge.
It was into the middle of this scene that Clark and Lana appeared with Jor-El's help.
"Where are we?" she wondered.
This is the Fortress of Solitude, Lana. It is here that you and Kal-El will have your training when your child is old enough. I wanted you both to see what it is that Isobel, the Mandarin, the Teagues and Lex Luthor seek. This is now YOUR birthright and your responsibility to protect. Here, what is left of Krypton remains. You must take this seriously.
"We will," Clark promised.
"I can't believe this is really from another planet!" Lana gasped.
It is. What you should learn from your ancestor, Lana, is that one can stumble onto power but not learn its proper use. Isobel only sought her own dominance and destiny. Only with proper application and practice can one know how to use one's abilities wisely. In your case, both your magic and the other abilities need such diligence on your part.
"I'll do it," Lana vowed.
Very good. It is time for you both to return. You see what the future is. May you make the best of it. With that, Jor-El vanished in a bright flash of light as did they.
Cowache Caves
Clark and Lana reappeared in a flash of light in everyone's midst. "We're back!"
"Where'd you go?" Miranda wondered.
"What happened to the stones?" Oliver asked.
"They're safe and joined properly. Rest assured of that," Clark noted.
"On that note, Mr. Kent, race me to the farm?" Lana supposed with a smirk before taking off at super speed.
"She's got my gifts now too, Guys. See you at home," Clark explained before taking off after his new wife.
"Seems we have a houseful now," Jonathan presumed.
"And I don't mind one bit," Martha countered warmly as they all left the caverns to head home and start the festivities.
