-Chapter Eleven-
Green for Danger
Clark groaned in pain as the searing pain burnt his skin. He was no longer bullet proof. He was scared. He was going to die. Sweat rolled of his face as she landed on the couch at the Manor. He breathed heavily.
"Leo!" shouted Piper worriedly near tears. Leo appeared before them in a stream of blue lights. "Heal him!" Piper barked.
"But," Leo replied shocked.
"Leo, just do it," snapped Paige tearfully holding a groaning Clark still.
Leo held his hands over Clark. Clark groaned in pain. Paige shushed him soothingly. A gold aura appeared around Clark's wounds. The burns shrunk as the gold light emitted from Leo's hands. The burns shrunk until finally there was nothing there. Clark gasped and gulped as a cool sensation filled him. He got up breathing slowly. "Thanks," Clark said to Leo as he panted for breath.
"Is someone going to tell me what happened?" Leo exclaimed with both confusion and worry.
"Cole took Clark's powers," Phoebe said dully. "He's all powerful and immortal now."
"But, he wouldn't hurt us," Paige replied. "I mean, not Phoebe anyway."
"No," Clark said forcefully. "There's only been four people who received powers like me. One wrecked havoc across Smallville, One tried to kill a man and another was possessed by a warlord."
"Wait, what happened to the fourth person?" Phoebe asked confused.
"He had heart troubles," Clark replied glumly his head lolling down to the ground.
"How do you know?" Paige asked curiously.
"He was my father," Clark replied glumly. "He received these powers to stop me."
"Stop you?" Leo asked confused.
"Err... lets just say I went through a rebellious time in my teens," Clark replied reclusively. "But, what I mean, is that the power will go to his head and he'll be invincible."
They nodded confused but left it when they saw Clark's face. "So, how do we stop him? Piper asked. "I mean, if he has your power that would make him all powerful."
"There is one way," Clark said, "if he has my powers then, he has my weakness as well."
They all looked at him shocked. Phoebe moved 'weakness' with shock. "Which is?" Leo asked forebodingly.
"Kryptonite," Clark said sharply.
"Sorry Krypto-what?" Paige asked confused.
"Fragments of my own world," Clark said standing up. "It's deadly to Kryptonians. And it's our only hope. Could you call for my bag," he asked Paige.
"Bag!" Paige called holding out her hand. Suddenly, Clark's bag appeared in a blue light. He opened it taking out a black box. He opened it taking out a green rock. "That's it," Paige scoffed with shock.
"Yeah, this is the only thing that would weaken me," Clark said holding it up.
"But, how come you're not weakened now?" Phoebe asked confused, as there was no sign of weakening or pain from Clark.
"It only works if I have powers," Clark replied, "the radiation mixes with the rays from Earth's sun that has been absorbed in my body weakening me. But, since my powers are gone it doesn't effect me. I'm kind of like a solar battery."
"Oh," Piper replied a little dazed by all this information.
"Take this and stop Cole," Clark said handing them the Kryptonite. He stood up and walked to the door.
"Where are you going"? Demanded Paige angrily.
"I have to go back home," Clark said not looking at her. "I have to get something in case this doesn't work."
"What?" asked Phoebe.
"My powers," Clark said pointedly.
"Leo, you take him it'll be quicker that way," Piper said to Leo. Leo grabbed hold of Clark's shoulder the both of them orbing away.
"Well, time to see if this baby works," Paige replied grabbing hold of her sisters and orbing away.
Clark walked hurriedly through the dark, wet Kawatche caves, Leo following behind. "Clark what are we doing here?" Leo asked both confused and impatient.
"I'm going to get my powers back," Clark said not looking at Leo.
"What is this place?" Leo asked still impatient.
"It's a portal to my home," Clark said examining the wall full of symbols. Leo did the same. His eyes widened as he saw pictures of a man shooting fire from his eyes. Clark walked through a small crack in the cave wall Leo following dazed by all this.
Clark took out a octagonal disc. "What's that?" Leo asked.
"A key," Clark said slotting it into an altar in the middle of the room. A bright gold light engulfed them both Leo's closed his eyes as the blinding light filled the room
Leo opened his eyes to find himself in a large crystal palace. A bright light reflecting off of the walls. He couldn't believe it was made of crystals. Clark walked over to a heap of crystals stood in the middle of the room.
A loud booming voice echoed through the room. "Kal-El, you have returned sooner than expected," it said.
"Something has happened," Clark shouted back over the billowing wind. "My powers have been stripped from me from a demon. I need to get them back... I need you help, father."
"Father?" exclaimed Leo taken aback.
"Very well," the voice echoed back, "this demon, poses a grave threat to this world. Its powers have duplicated with your powers. To defeat him you must have the powers of a true Kryptonian."
"Thank you," Clark replied. "What do you want me to do?"
A blue light shot down on Clark encircling him. Leo went to help Clark but Clark held his hand up to stop him. "This process is not permanent, Kal-El which means it is imperative that you return to me at the setting of the sun Sol," the voice echoed.
"I promise," Clark replied unhesitating. "I won't fail you again."
"For your sake, Kal-El, I hope not," the voice echoed. "The fate of the world rests in your hands."
A pulsating blue light shot down on Clark. Clark's arms shot out and he screamed in pain. Leo watched helplessly holding his arms shivering from the cold.
Cole stood at the edge of the balcony outside of his penthouse. He held his arms out taking in the wind that surrounded him hitting his face hard though to him it felt more like a tickle.
His ears twitched as he heard the familiar sound of someone orbing up behind him. A smile crept across his face as Piper, Phoebe and Paige.
"You're earlier than I thought," Cole said turning to them. His black suit billowing in the wind. "Come to kill me?"
"We still haven't found a way to do that," Piper snapped dangerously.
"So," Cole chuckled jumping off of the edge the penthouse and on to the balcony. "You've come here. Knowing that I have all of Clark's powers. One of them I'm starting to enjoy," he added looking at Phoebe hungrily. He licked his lips. Phoebe groaned disgusted. "And now," he continued looking back at them all, "you expect to stop me. When you couldn't even do that when I was just immortal. Now, you want to stop me when I can…" Cole suddenly zoomed towards Paige and pushed her across the room. Paige slammed against the wall and fell to the ground. A large dent could be seen in the wall. "Be as fast as a speeding bullet and…" he lifted Piper and Phoebe up by the neck and threw the towards Paige. "Have the strength of ten men."
"You may be strong," Phoebe said helping Piper up. Paige got up onto her knees weakly. "But, we know your weakness."
"Oh," Cole replied arrogantly although a small flicker of fear filled his eyes. "What's that?"
"This," Paige said forcefully holding the Kryptonite at Cole.
Cole stood unfazed even amused by this. He took the Kryptonite from Paige and examined it closely. "What is this?" Cole chuckled.
"Uh oh," Piper groaned helplessly as they back away from Cole slowly.
Cole smiled amused before smacking Paige across the room knocking her out. He turned to the Piper and Phoebe both backed away. Piper held her arms protectively in front of her sister. Cole threw his arm at them knocking them away.
"I've been wanting to do this for a long time," Cole said. He looked at Phoebe. "We could have been great together. And you had to throw it away."
Piper held Phoebe close as Cole's eyes flared up to a fiery colour.
"Leave them alone," came Clark's voice from the balcony.
Cole turned to the balcony to see Clark hovering in mid air. A dangerous look in his eyes as he hovered with his arms folded and the wind blowing in his hair. He wasn't a man. He was a Superman.