Title: Life, Love, And Destiny

Author: Chlark4ever92

Genre: Sci-Fi (this IS a Smallville fic after all)/Drama/Romance

Pairings: Will change as the story progresses. Will eventually be Chlark.

Rating: K+

Spoilers: Nothing major, except for Vessel.

Disclaimer: Smallville belongs to the WB which is soon to be the CW. I only own Martin, because one, he is just a figment of my imagination that has somehow gotten into my little story here, and two, I'm only thirteen so unfortunately I have no money to own something not made up. Well…I've just officially depressed myself… Disclaimer goes for all chapters of the story.

Summary: This story shows the process of Clark realizing and accepting his destiny. Along the way he learns a lot about himself, and how the people in his life are connected with his destiny. He realizes who will always be there for him, and who his real enemies are. I'm bad at summaries, but just give it a shot, please. You won't regret it!

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A/N: It was so fun to write this chapter. I haven't been able to write, as you obviously know, for quite some time. Thanks to Synch14 (who also reviewed the authors note I had posted previously as chapter nine, even though I said in big letters not to! But oh well, you just couldn't resist, huh? Winks), Smallvillegirl92, Triple L, mir21, Shannonn14, and whobringsforththewind for your wonderful reviews! I wasn't really sure where to go after the way I left it at the end of the last chapter. I could've had Lana become a second vessel, but that's not where I want to go with this story. I want it to be more centered around Clark and Chloe than Lana. So I decided against that idea. Besides I think I've come up with an even better idea to be used in later chapters or possibly a sequel. But of course you'll just have to read and find out. Like I said I have missed writing so much. But you want to know what I've also missed? Reviews! How I've missed looking at my e-mail and seeing a new review! Hopefully you've forgiven me for the long wait and you'll leave me one? Anyway I hope you guys like this chapter, because for the millionth time I've said it today, I've really enjoyed writing it for you guys. Okay, I'm done with my rambling now. Enjoy the third and last part of "Hero". The next chapter will have a different name. One of my favorite words. Stay tuned. READ, REVIEW, AND ENJOY!

Life, Love, And Destiny

Chapter 9: Hero: Part III

He was going to make Lana the second vessel.

Lana stood on the top of the hill, eyes closed, and hands over her head, awaiting the impact from the green beam of light that was rapidly making its way towards her. Zod stood beside her, and seemed unfazed by everything.

Why wouldn't he? This was obviously all part of some big plan that he had. He could care less if anything happened to Lana, Clark thought to himself bitterly.

He didn't know what the outcome of al this will be, but he knows one thing. He can't let anything happen to Lana. No matter what their relationship is, he was always going to protect her. She may hate him, but Clark just couldn't cut her out of his life…not yet. He wasn't ready. And if the only way to have her in his life, was for him to save her, even without her knowing, well then so be it.

Clark, upon reaching the top of the hill, ran up to Lana, and pushed her out of the beam's path. She tumbled to the ground in a heap, and her already closed eyes tightened, as her face scrunched up in pain.

Feeling the hard ground beneath her, she knew she was still alive. Her throbbing left leg was a painful reminder of this also. She sat up slowly, trying not to move her left leg. Opening her eyes she saw that the green beam was gone, and in its place stood Clark. "No, not Clark" she reminded herself. "Kal-El."

Her mind automatically jumped to one conclusion. After hearing Lex tell her of Clark's real origins and then seeing him standing right next to where the green beam had hit, to her the answer seemed simple.

She thought that Clark had come from the green beam of light.

"Get away from me" she whispered, too scared to say anything more. Then she remembered Lex. He was here. He would save her.

Clark took a step forward, and extended his hand, in an offer to help her up. Lana's eyes were wide as he approached. She looked at his hand as though she was disgusted to think that she had ever loved the man who was extending it to her. Clark looked at her, hurt in his eyes, as she began, still on the ground, to crawl backwards, away from him, wincing from the pain in her leg.

"She's afraid of me..." Clark thought to himself sadly. That's what he had always feared. That was the reason he had never told her his secret. He knew that Lana not being in his life was better than her being afraid of him.

Lana, finally realizing her current "escape from Clark" method was futile, stood up uneasily. As she moved, there was pain written all across her face, but she never uttered a sound. Clark noticing this, quickly x-rayed her body and saw that her left leg was broken.

He had hurt her.

"Way to go, Clark" he thought to himself angrily. "You've managed to let the two things you never wanted to happen, happen all within the same day! Her fearing you, and worst of all, giving her a reason to fear you!"

"Lana, I have to get you to a hospital" Clark told her urgently.

She leaned on her right leg and glared up at him, seeming to gain back some of her vigor. That glare scared Clark more than anything he had ever experienced. It was a look of pure hate. What happened to the little fairy princess that he had loved for so many years. Searching her eyes through her bitter glare, he could tell that she was gone. This was the new Lana, and for the first time, as he stood looking into her eyes, he realized something.

He didn't love her anymore.

Suddenly Lex's voice pierced through the silence. "Kal-El. I don't know how you managed to escape the Phantom Zone, but I assure you, I can send you right back there." He paused for a moment. "And I will make sure that you won't be able to get out next time."

"It's over, Zod. This ends now" Clark spoke determinedly.

"Zod?" Lana spoke up from behind him, in a confused voice.

Zod ignored her and stood with a smug smile on his face. "Just try and stop me" he challenged.

Clark gulped, but tried to hide his nervousness. It was now or never. But one false move and… He didn't want to think of the possibilities. Only one of them was good, and he needed to make sure that was what happened. He had in hand in his jacket pocket and was flipping the small object over and over slowly.

Taking a deep breath he lunged toward Zod as fast as he could, while removing the object from his pocket. Zod, surprised by this move, attempted to move out of Clark's path, but was too late. Clark ran into him and pinned him to the ground.

In one swift movement he pressed the object to Lex's heart and it seemed to dissolve into him. Then Clark stood up and ran toward Lana faster than he had ever run before, threw her over his shoulder as fast as he could without touching her left leg, and sped off down the hill. When he was only about fifteen feet away, he heard an explosion go off behind him. Stopping at the bottom of the hill, he put Lana down gently on her feet, and she looked up at him confused. She opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off.

"Listen Lana, I know I've lied to you, but just listen. That was an alien named Zod, not Lex. You won't see me for a year, which I'm sure your fine with, but I can explain it better later. I don't think Lex will have any memory of this, so please don't tell him. Please, Lana. I can't stop you, but just please. I would never do anything to hurt you, or this planet, or anything else Zod told you. Everything that has happened was because of him. I know I have given you no reason to trust me, but just do this one thing for me, at least until a year from now when I can explain this to you better. Please. I have to go. If Lex sees me then he's going to question how I got here, and know that I was involved in how he got here. Tell him, if he asks, that you haven't seen me since before all of this started." He took a deep breath. He hoped she would listen. "Please" he added one last time, before taking off towards the fortress.

He wasn't sure if he had gotten through to Lana or not. He could only hope. He couldn't believe how much she had changed.

There were moments when he wondered whether to tell the people in his life, like Lois, who didn't know his secret, about him. Chloe took it better than he could have ever hoped, but then with Lana… He didn't want anyone else to ever look at him like that again.

Clark realized suddenly that he was always comparing things to Chloe, and they never seemed to come even close to her. His mind flashed back to the kiss. He wanted to go back to the hospital to see her. He felt like if he did, he would know for sure how he felt.

But he couldn't. Right now he had to go to the fortress. What he had just done was only temporary. In a year it would wear off and Zod could try to escape again. His training would take a year, so he had no time to waste.

As he entered the fortress, he wondered what things would be like when he returned. Only time would tell.

He saw Lionel standing in the center of the large room. He walked towards him.

It was time.

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A/N: I know I dealt with the whole Zod thing pretty quick, but I'm not good with action scenes and now that this story is nine chapters in, I think it's time to move on to something else. Besides, Zod may return… I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter, and I'm not making any promises but I'm hoping to update next Monday. Please leave me a review, but no flames. And when I say please, I really mean PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! It's code. Winks

Chlark4ever92