Clark took a breath of fresh air fitting on his familiar red jacket taking a breath. No super sneezes no desperate need for reconstruction work for the first time he can take a breath and... knock out whoever's about to throw a pipe at him. Clark quickly caught the pipe. "You know, you could have just used the phone." He turned around and smiled seeing a girl with red hair, denim jeans, a green top, and blue sweater.

The girl smiled. "Well, we've been trying the phone for a month now after the whole world went dark. You never pick up. Everyone is concerned you went loco again but I convinced them to let me go solo."

Clark shook his head. "No way, you're the soft pitch. Where is she?"

"Believe it or not, she's really not here, apparently she can visit family real quick here if she has to though." The girl replied.

Clark shook his head. "I've heard weirder things. Let's try to solve this civilly before she gets involved."

Chloe walked into the Talon with disbelief and Lana Lang at her side. She never thought the day would come when Clark Kent would be missing from the Kent farm.

Lana looked at her surprised. "Are you really that surprised Clark's missing?"

Chloe shrugged. "What do you want me to say it's been next to impossible to get Clark away from the farm all Summer and now that I need him he's missing. It's like I set off Murphy's law."

Clark leaned back with a smile at the Talon sharing coffee and breakfast with an old friend. Even if she did just spray orange juice all over the table in a spit laugh.

The girl wiped her mouth with a napkin while Clark wiped the table as she walloped him in the chest with her hand. "You should have known better then to tell me something like that while I was drinking something. How can Sentinel be dating a monkey?"

Clark shrugged innocently. "Hey I'm just going off what my friend Bart told me over the phone."

The girl shook her head. "Well that's very funny but I already met her. She's nice and her power is molecular expansion."

Clark shook his head. "Yep, that's her. It's a side effect of her monkey boyfriend turning her human."

The girl stopped to think on this. "Wait, if he was already a monkey why did..."

Clark shook his head. "To quote Bart 'Grodd is a damaged monkey. Or was it a gorilla?'"

The girl shook her head in disbelief. "So, my best friend's either dating a monkey or a gorilla."

Clark took a drink of coffee. "We both have a guinea pig on speed dial."

"That's fair." The girl conceded. "So, what about that Lana girl anything ever happen there?"

Clark shook his head. "A little bit happened after graduation."

The girl frowned for Clark's sake. "Past tense noted."

"Secrets ruin relationships." Clark finished. "So, how's Warren."

The girl shook her head. "I wouldn't know. We broke up a little after graduation."

Clark's face dropped. "Sorry, I didn't know."

"It's fine. We were drifting apart at the end of high school anyway and much like Sentinel we're still friends."

Clark nodded. "I'm still wrapping my head around how quick girls can move on."

The girl whacked him again. "Hey, when I went from Will to Warren in a month it was because we both agreed everything was over long before we pulled the pin. The breakup was like double tapping a corpse just to be sure. You and Lana?"

Clark sighed. "Well, my secret came into play obviously."

"Not a shocker."

Clark frowned. "I guess I just couldn't ever get close to her since I chose to keep my powers. Looking back a part of me will always love her as a friend but I probably shouldn't have tried." Clark looked at her. "You don't exactly look surprised."

The girl just finished her scrambled egg and replied. "I'm not. Clark these people didn't let you mourn Alicia. We were the bulk of attendants at her funeral and we didn't even know the girl. It took me, Warren, Will, his dad, Zack glowing green and Maj just to get you off Tim so you wouldn't kill him and hardly anyone in this town batted an eye. Not surprised she can move on so quick after that since the town barely let you grieve. So who's she dating now?"

Chloe and Lana walked up to the counter to pick morning coffee and catch up hearing a voice behind them.

"What? She's dating Lex Luthor?"

"That's what I said."

Lana's eyes rose up, that was Clark.

"Is she on something?" A female voice asked.

"Nothing that I can tell." Clark replied.

"Well, can we put her on something?"

Lana walked over incensed. Chloe just kept her eye on the menu never so intrigued by muffin prices before. "Excuse me, what's your problem?"

The girl looked up at Lana. "Well this crazy girl just barged in on a conversation I was having with an old friend."

Chloe's eyes widened intrigued she knows Clark. No no focus, blueberry, banana, chocolate chip.

Lana stared a hole through the girl. "It becomes my problem when you mention me by name."

The girl shook her head knowing this is Lana now. "I can't say I'm sorry because it's Lex Luthor. But I would have kept quiet if I knew you were here."

Lana looked at her great a blind Lex sucks fanatic how can Clark make friends with one. "You don't even know Lex, he's not his father."

The girl got to her feet. "You're right, Lex isn't his father... He's worse."

Clark left out money for the bill and a healthy tip and got to his feet walking for the back. She's as protective over her friends as ever.

Lana shook her head in disbelief watching him leave. "And you're not going to say anything to her."

Clark shrugged. "I can't counter anything when I agree with her."

Lana watched him leave it's getting harder to remember a time she was actually happy around him. "Chloe I'm going to call it an early day. I'm going to call Lex."

Chloe turned around and nodded in understanding. She has her car and Lex's limo can be there in ten minutes. "OK, I will see you later Lana but right now I really need to talk to Clark it's important."

Lana nodded in understanding and watched Chloe walk out the door.

Chloe smiled seeing Clark and his friend walking away. "Clark, wait up, we need to talk, in private."

The girl looked at her confused.

Clark had the same look. "About what Chloe?"

Chloe looked at the new girl before turning back to Clark. "Oh, you know, one of those things you do really fast."

The girl caught on easy enough before making sure they are alone. "Oh, this is about Clark's powers."

Chloe's mouth moved like a fish. "W-what powers? He doesn't..."

The girl shook her head. "Chloe right?" Chloe nods and she continues. "It's OK I know."

Chloe turned to Clark upset. "And you didn't tell me mystery girl knows because?"

"Mystery girl is right here and Clark kept quiet because he only shared his secret and not all of ours."

Clark's eyes rose. "For all the good it did if you're gonna blab now!"

The girl smiled. "Clark, relax, Chloe won't tell anyone anything or she would have already. There was a picture of her at school but I guarantee you that you never saw it."

Chloe looked at the girl should she be upset the new girl just knows Clark's secret. "Clark, who is this girl?"

Clark put a hand up. "Chloe Sullivan meet Layla Williams. Layla, Chloe."

Layla smiled putting her hand up to shake her hand. "It's nice to meet you Chloe. Clark has told me a lot of good things."

Chloe looked at her stunned. "Well that's nice. I don't know a thing about you."

Layla smiled with a knowing look Clark kept his mouth shut. To protect the secrets of everyone else. "We're old friends. We met in Sora high and have been friends since."

Chloe's eyes widened. "Oh my god, I thought that was just some sort of lie to hide the fact you were home schooled."

Clark shook his head and smiled. "No, I actually went to high school there for junior and senior year."

Chloe shook her head. "We never could figure out why you left Smallville high so quick at the start of Junior year."

Clark shook his head of all the bone headed moves calling the cops on himself and the power of star 69 the cops had comes to mind. "I told them where to find all the stuff I stole during my time in Metropolis. They made a deal. I go to Sora high for the rest of my high school years, they pay off the farm's debt and I get taken to Sora high as a youthful offender in need of help and guidance."

"But why Sora high?" Chloe asked in curiosity.

Layla shook her head. She really doesn't know? How does she of all people not know? "It's the civilian name for Sky High."

Chloe's eyes shot out in excitement. "Sky High is real! Oh my god! Can't ever write the story but oh my god!" She put her hands up around Layla's eyes in an impromptu mask and smiled seeing the picture. "Ceres!"

Layla's eyes bugged out. "Uhh, no I'm not."

Clark shook his head. "You're the one who blabbed."

Layla shook her head. "Yeah but I didn't think she'd figure me out in thirty seconds and besides to her Sky High is... never mind."

Clark turned to Chloe now that that's out of the way. "Chloe what's so important you had to chase me down anyway."

Chloe shook her head almost as if getting ti back on straight. "Right, I was at make out point with Jimmy last night and we found a dead body."

Clark shook his head. He must not have heard it,

Layla frowned. "That's awful but hardly a reason to bring a farmer into it."

Chloe nodded. "Yeah, but unlike most murders this one was impaled through a tree with sheer might. That makes it a situation I talk to Clark about."

Clark frowned at this news, guess he's working today.

Layla sighed taking off her sweater giving Chloe a closer look at her top to show it doesn't really look like atop at all as much as leaves and grass as the green spread through her adding black on her arms and legs creating the hero suit for Ceres. "So am I going alone."

Clark smiled and disappeared in a blur reappearing in a red and blue suit with a red cape and a S on the chest now since graduation.

Layla looked at him and smiled. "You took Maj's nickname a little too literally huh Superboy?"

Clark shook his head. "Actually, it means hope. The S is just a coincidence."

Chloe led the two to the scene of the crime as Clark focused with X-ray vision. Chloe pointed to the branches. "That was where we found her."

Layla looked up at the bloody branches but nothing else would have told you something happened here.

Clark looked around at the scene and kept his xray vision up he focused until he was a pile of bones practically buried under tree branches. "Chloe, Ceres, over here."

Layla and Chloe ran over seeing Clark digging at the branches. Layla looked at the scene for one moment and waved her hand as all the branches scattered to the left and right clearing a path for him. Clark easily carried the young man out.

Layla's eyes rose in surprise what the hell is going on here? She's feeling new things in her powers, things she's never felt before today. She's also sensing a person she hasn't done that either... not unless. "Super...whatever wait!"

Clark turned to her. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know." Layla answered honestly. "But I think I'm about to find out," Layla held her hand out as the man's mouth shot open and seeds shot out of his mouth and into her hand.

Layla looked at the seeds and held them close to herself but nothing. She ran a bit of her power but no change. She held it up to Chloe but again no difference. She held it to Clark and the seeds started coming to life with wide branches spreading far if these had grown inside the man they would have surely killed him.

Clark looked at the branches confused. "You think Scilla did this?"

Layla shook her head. "No, she's in the academy."

Chloe looked at the two. "Who's Scilla?"

Layla growled a bit. "My Doppelganger, she's a clone Gwen created to try to take back the school. She made one of of all of us. Clark's seemed kind of damaged though."

Clark groaned. "Really? You're bringing that up!"

Laayla took on a gravelish voice. "Me Bizarro, me love you." Layla finished with a smile.

Clark turned to her ready to reply until...

"What have you done?"

The three turned and saw the park ranger looking at the three. Clark took a moment looking at the girl. "Call an ambulance, he's not doing that good."

The ranger looked at them. "He's fine, what did you do to my plants?"

Clark and Layla instantly put Chloe behind them and stood ready for whatever this is.

Layla looked at her upset. "What did you do?"

The ranger held her hand out as a couple vines surrounded it. "I'm just a gardener trying to spread her beauty."

Clark looked at the woman seeing an almost innocent insanity to her. "At the expense of innocent lives."

The ranger shook her head in disbelief she thought this guy looked familiar. "You sound like the people who imprisoned me. They didn't understand either. They locked me in a dark desolate place where nothing ever grows and nothing ever changes."

Clark's eyes widen in quick recognition. He thought it was just him, he thought Raya made sure of it. "You're from the Phantom Zone."

The ranger took a look and finally had complete recognition. "Now I know who you are. You're the kryptonian that opened the doorway. You're the one that set us free."

Layla looked at him concerned. "You let her out?"

"Long story, I did it to save the world." Clark answered as the three dodged a flurry of alien vines.

Layla raised her arms creating her own vines that collided with the others.

Clark shot a line of heat vision knocking the ranger down.

Layla took a small circular item out of her pocket and stuck it on the stunned ranger's back.

The ranger raised her hands again but this time no vines.

Clark hit her in the head knocking her out and looked to Layla confused. "What did you do?"

"Power neutralizing discs, check in from time to time and you get the newest toys." Layla answered.

Clark looked at her for a moment. "Yeah, well speaking of checking in I have to now. I think we have a serious problem."

Layla looked at him. "What about Daddy dearest?"

Clark shook his head. "The Fortress is dead. I'm on my own."

Layla looked at him uneasy. "No, you're not. I'll make some calls everyone will be here tomorrow. Can I stay at the farm tonight?"

Clark nodded. "Of course."

Chloe walked up to the Kent farm the next day what she did not expect was a group of people following right behind her. She yawned at how early she got up but was taken by surprise seeing a few cars driving up behind her as a group of people came out. First a man with long black hair who smiled at her.

Out next was a nerdy person in glasses that doesn't look like much of a fighter. He looked at his friend and shook his head. "Bad move Peace, you've been sent to the office enough to remember that picture."

Warren Peace looked the blond girl over now he remembers. Bad idea but he's not exactly a student anymore. "Mind your own business grease spot."

Two more got out of the car revealing a boy the spinning image of the Commander and a red head in a purple dress.

Chloe watched the last two get out a boy with blond hair and a girl with black hair and purple streaks in it.

Layla opened the door expecting to see Chloe not everyone. Which made it awkward when se walked out groggy eyed wearing Clark's football jersey as everyone's eyes went wide and she ran back in door.

The girl with the purple streaks smiled and put her hand out. "Huh, let's go $50 right now. Pay up!"

Everyone grumbled and groaned under breath. Each pulling out wads of cash giving it to the girl.

Chloe looked at the scene. "You knew they would get together?"

The girl in purple shook her head. "No, everyone knew they would get together. The pool was for when."

Chloe smiled. "Well I hate to break it to you but my guess is Clark just gave her some clothes for the night and slept on the couch."

The girl frowned and held her hand up as the vultures lunged and got their money back. "Spoil sport. Magenta Barnes"

"Chloe Sullivan"

Layla walked out in a now green bodysuit. "You guys are early."

Warren smiled in anticipation. "The farmboy needs a favor if nothing else it should be interesting."

Layla nodded. "Well you're not wrong. so introductions, guys this is Chloe Sullivan. Chloe up first is Warren Peace aka Infernus."

Warren looked at her surprised. "Layla why?"

"Clark trusts her which is enough for me and we all know why we can trust her." Layla answered before continuing. "This is Ethan aka Slick."

Chloe numbly shook his hand. Clark is going to pay she's trying to figure out how much he actually kept from her.

Layla points to the blond guy and girl with purple streaks, "This is Zack and Majenta aka Nightlight and Changeling."

Zack grumbled under breath. "You know my codename is Blight."

"Yeah but you're the only one who uses it." Layla answered.

Chloe smiled seeing the friendly banter as Layla finished. "And finally my best friend Will and his girlfriend Doris also known as Sentinel and Giganta."

Clark walked out surprised seeing what is basically a high school reunion. "Wow, Layla you called everyone huh?"

"With everything you told me about the Phantoms last night, you should have called us all in when you escaped the Phantom Zone." Layla countered but looked away uneasy.

Mag smiled and pointed at her friends. "Ha, everyone pay up now!"

Warren looked at her. "They're not together rodent."

"No, but they're planning something." Mag countered with a smile. "Finally"

Layla looked at her friends in disbelief turning red as her hair. "Seriously, this is a topic of discussion."

Will looked at her. "Yes, and if you had seen past Clark's stubborn streak last year and went to him I would have had a serious payday. So what's going on?"

Layla shook her head in disbelief. "Dinner once we get a handle on the situation. Now come on inside I'll catch you all up."

Warren looked at Clark confused. "You're not telling us this why?"

Clark looked at him. "I have to have a talk with Chloe Peace, and we both know why."

Warren nodded and went inside with the others. Better to not be here when that fuse blows.

Chloe looked at Clark concerned. "So interesting friends."

"I trust them all with my life." Clark said with out a moment of hesitation.

Chloe smiled. "I have a feeling there's all kinds of stories I'm going to hear now."

Clark nodded he really enjoyed his last two years of high school more then his first two. "You will, but first we need to talk, it's about your mother and you're not going to like what I say."

Chloe nodded in understanding. Clark obviously knows something about her mom and while she's confused she's all ears. "She's fine I just visited her last week."

Clark shook his head. He understands why she did it after finding the bomb under Chloe's bed Moira dedicated herself to teaching other supers. He wants to give Chloe a fair warning because as soon as she finds out Layla called everyone here Moira is going to come running seeing the troops gather for a fight. "Not exactly, you might want to sit down."

Chloe looked past Clark seeing a black pull up as a woman got out of the back and her eyes widened in surprise seeing the last person she ever expected to see. "Mom!"

Clark frowned. This isn't going to end well.

Author Notes

Sky High is owned by Disney Smallville i owned by the WB

This is just a one shot story. I'm trying to write for Chloe again without going she suddenly died so I can get back to my other stories.