Disclaimer: Again… not mine.

Inheritance

Elysian Fields, NY

Seven and a half years after the assassination attack

Khyrran stood at the edge of a ravine, looking out into the eerie dark. Behind her the clanging of demon armor drew closer. She had been separated from the others. As she stared out, the inky blackness gave way to a sudden realization that the other guardians were dead. The epiphany sent shock waves of panic and despair running through her. This was it. There would be no cavalry, no help, no backup, and no one to bail her out. The demon's noise was making it hard to think. For the first time Khyrran really and truly felt alone. She was backed into a corner with no way out.

"Jump," a voice whispered.

"What!" she cried looking around.

"Jump."

"Sorry suicide isn't my thing."

"One way is suicide, the other is life," the voice replied.

Well, duh. An army of demons that she at least might be able to beat or leap into the unknown dark to a most likely death. Gee, now there's a hard decision.

"You need to make a choice," the voice whispered. "Choose the wrong path and others will die. You have the wisdom. Just follow your heart."

"What kind of advice is that?" Khyrran asked. She received no reply to her inquiry. "Gee thanks for the help."

"Jump."

"For the last time, I AM NOT JUMPING!" she screamed. Her voice gave away her position. The demons came charging through the brush. Khyrran lifted her sword to defend herself.

"Jump."

"Oh, SHUT UP ALREADY! Thanks to you, I am facing a legion of demons all alone. GO AWAY," she sneered into the abyss. She turned to block an attack. In less than a minute she was surrounded. In less than five, she was dead.

0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Khyrran snapped out of bed, sweating and shaking, sword in hand. The light snapped on as Devlin entered the room. He was wearing flannel pj pants and a tee shirt. His hair was sticking up in all directions. He, too, was armed for a fight.

"I heard you scream. What's wrong?" he asked, looking for an attacker and finding none.

"Can I have a vision while sleeping?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Call Idan if you need to," Devlin suggested. He lowered his staff.

"No, that's okay. It was just a nightmare," she said, as if trying to convince herself as well as him.

"Khyrran, Devlin, is everything alright? We heard screaming," Gail asked, hurrying down the hall, Howard right behind her.

"Everything is fine, Mom," Devlin answered. "Khy had a nightmare."

"Is she okay?"
"I'm fine Mother. Go back to bed," Khyrran answered. Gail and Howard looked at each other then turned and trudged back to bed. Khyrran sat down on her bed. "It was just a nightmare. It wasn't real. It wasn't a premonition."

Devlin had gotten rid of his bow-staff when he heard Gail's voice. He made his way to the bed and did the same for Khyrran's sword. She didn't even notice. Usually she would have bitten his head off for touching her precious weapon. Devlin sat; concerned that she may have actually seen something she shouldn't have. "Tell me about the dream."

She shook her head. "I've had it before. I never got this far into it before. It's almost like it's over."

"Maybe we should go see Idan."

"Devlin," Khyrran sighed, "he's going to tell me that my dreams are just that. Dreams. I am not capable of receiving a full premonition yet. So it couldn't have been a premonition. A vision, possibly. But even if it was, he wouldn't tell me." She flopped back on the bed. "But if it will make you feel better, I'll go talk to him tomorrow. Make that later today," she said glancing at the clock.

"She's the one with the nightmare and I'm the one who gets to feel better about it," Devlin said, addressing the empty room.

"Devlin."

"Yeah?"

"Get out." He swatted her with a pillow and left. Khyrran climbed back into bed and tried to go back to sleep. Somewhere around dawn she succeeded.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Her lack of sleep was catching up with her. Kent was standing behind her, urging her to concentrate. Khyrran was trying her best to create living fire, but it just wasn't happening.

"Focus," Kent said.

"I am," she stressed.

"No you aren't," Kent retorted.

"Aghhh," she screamed, facing him. "I am giving all I have, ok? There just isn't anything left for me to draw on."

Kent looked into his pupil's eyes. Worry, confusion, anger, and fear lurked behind her emerald orbs. "Did something happen?"

"Yeah, but the only that can clear it up is Idan."

"So, let's go ask him."

"I have a meeting with him, Nixi and Kamara in an hour. It'll keep," she replied.

Kent nodded, "Then put it all aside and focus."

Khyrran cleared her mind and minutes later she had a ball of fire between her palms. Kent made her perform the spell several times before he was satisfied that she could do it on command. Inza came in to tell her that Idan had sent a reminder that she was meeting with him and to remind her that she a training session with Arthur after her meeting with her Overseers. Khyrran thanked her, said her goodbyes, and left for Mankato.

"They're all insane. Training with Kent in the morning, Arthur in the early afternoon, Jason in the evening and a round with Devlin at night. Four sessions in one day was not how I planned to spend my summer vacation," she thought. It was training suicide. Not to mention that after the last one of the day she was forced to spend time with either Gail and Howard or Devlin's girlfriend, Grace. "Somehow, I don't think that this is fair."

Kamara laughed at Khyrran's final thought as she entered the great hall. "I'm pretty sure that just dealing with you is a workout in itself."

"You know, it's rude to read other's minds without their permission."

"I really don't need your permission, now do I?"

"I guess not," Khyrran conceded. "Where's Idan and Nixi?"

"They're on their way. Before you talk to Idan, I would like to discuss your dream."

"It was just a dream… right?"

"Sometimes dreams are fragments of our day all jumbled up. Sometimes they are prophetic. And sometimes they can be informational. The one that is bothering you is both prophetic and informational," Kamara explained. "You aren't quite ready to experience a full vision yet. But someone wanted you to learn something because you made it to the end."

"But I have had visions before," Khyrran argued.

"Not a full vision. Besides you can interact with this one. So it is neither a dream nor a vision. It is something else entirely. We don't have a name for it, because it is so rare. The end of this experience depends on the choices you make."

"So it wasn't really a vision?"

"No," Idan answered as he and Nixi joined them on the dais. "We do have a name for it. Prophecy. It is a guide. You are going to have a decision to make in the near future. No one can influence your choice. But this prophecy can help you make the right one"

"What decision?" Khyrran asked.

"We can't tell you that. At least not at this point in time," Idan explained.

Khyrran sighed. "Don't you guys ever get tired of giving me such cryptic answers?"

The three Overseers looked at each other. "No," Nixi answered. "We can't tell you everything."

"Oh, of course not. Where would the fun be in that?" Khyrran asked sarcastically.

"Exactly," all three said together.

She shook her head and rose to leave. "I just wanted to know if I was going to lose them. They have been a part of my life for so long, I think I would be lost without them. Anything else that you guys think I need to know now?"

"Don't kill your brother," Idan said.

"Huh?"

"You'll see."

"More cryptic statements. Thanks," she said. They laughed. "Later." Khyrran left Mankato, cursing the Immortals who ruled her life.

Devlin was in a meeting of his own in another part of the castle. "Anthanasuis, I can't just sit her down and say, 'Hey, guess what? You're not only are the host for the Guardian of Mann'ahoia, but you're the Empress too.' She is going to freak out."

"She will accept her birthright. You must make her see that there is no other alternative. If she fails to take the throne, the planet will erupt into chaos."

"She's going to be fifteen in three months. Can I at least wait until then?" Devlin asked.

"No," Anthanasuis replied.

"Actually I think that is a wonderful idea," Kamara said entering the room. "Khyrran just left and I don't think that she is willing to accept the idea that she is a ruler."

"Did she talk to Idan about her dream?"

"In a round about sort of way. I was talking to her and Idan cleared up any other misconceptions."

"So no more nightmares?"

"I wouldn't say that. They will increase and get worse before she make her decision. Remember when you tell her what is expected of her, don't tell what will happen if she chooses the wrong one. The nightmare is doing that and she needs your support and understanding," Kamara said.

"How can I tell her the consequences of her actions when I don't know what they are?" Devin asked.

Kamara and Anthanasuis looked at each other. "Never mind. Just tell her what her birthright is. Everything should fall into place after that," Anthanasuis said.

"Is there ever going to be a day when you guys actually give a straight answer to any of us?"

"Funny, Khyrran said something along that line to Idan. Maybe, maybe not. We'll let you know," Kamara replied. Devlin bowed and left the chamber, cursing the beings who had such a grip on his life.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Devlin walked into the kitchen. Dawn looked over her shoulder at her cousin. "Want a cookie?"

"Sure. Khyrran back yet?"

"No, I think she went straight to Atlantis after Kent's."

"She went to Mankato after Kent's. We have three months before all hell breaks loose," he informed the former nanny.

"Three months? Doesn't she have to participate in her first battle before she can be told her birthright to prove that she can indeed rule?" Dawn asked.

"Oh man. I forgot that part. She's only been doing her cross over training for like a month. She hasn't had time to actually master it," Devlin said sinking into the nearest chair.

"Actually, its been almost two. Khyrran has a good head on her shoulders. I think that she's ready for it," Dawn said.

"Ready for what?" Khyrran asked.

"I thought you were in Atlantis?" Devlin asked.

"I told Arthur that I would be down after I stopped b here and had lunch. So what am I ready for?"

"Lunch," Dawn said, before Devlin had a chance to come up with a good lie. She set sandwiches on the table. They were about to start when Jet came in.

"Hey, look what I found outside." He gestured to Devlin's girlfriend, Grace. He got up to give her a hug and kiss. Khyrran looked at Dawn and rolled her eyes. Dawn gave her the "you-better-behave-yourself-or-else" look. Khyrran tipped her head in agreement.

"Hello Khyrran."

"Grace."

Devlin sighed. Khyrran couldn't stand Grace. Why, only she knew. But since the day they were introduced Khyrran did her best to keep a chasm between them. Grace invited her to go shopping, see a movie and other "girly" stuff, but Khyrran always refused. When anyone asked her about it, she simply shrugged it off saying they weren't into the same things. At least, for now, she was being civil.

"Alright folks, I gotta go," Khyrran said polishing off her sandwich. Before any of them could say anything, she was gone.

"She really doesn't like me does she?" Grace asked.

"It takes time for Khyrran to warm up to people. Especially women I date," Devlin responded.

Khyrran stood out just out of view listening to them talk. She fled upstairs in disgust. Of course she didn't like her. Grace just might turn out to be The One. If Devlin married her, she would lose her best friend and big brother in one fell swoop. She'd already lost Clark. Sure they stayed in touch, but it wasn't the same. Khyrran sighed as she looked at the clock. She was supposed to be in Atlantis. Arthur could help her work off some excessive anger and frustration.

Arthur took one look at her face and decided against lecturing the girl on punctuality. Fate had warned him something was up and the Overseers were involved. Wordlessly, he led her to the training room. It was apparent within about ten minutes that Khyrran's emotions were running too high for her to be handling any kind of weapon.

"We're stopping," he announced.

"No we're not," she countered.

"You are going to hurt yourself if we continue like this."

"Continue like what?"

"You are being ruled by your emotions. Your concentration is not where it should be," Arthur said.

"Look, it's a girl thing, okay? Just get on with the training," Khyrran said, frustrated.

"The time for you to take leadership of the Guardians is drawing closer. We don't have time to wait for you to heal because you were stupid."

"Then continue. If I get hurt, I'll just have to heal myself," Khyrran replied matter-of-fact.

"When you get into a battle, there isn't time for you to heal yourself. You need to prevent injuries where you can. Until you learn to protect yourself from unnecessary injury and risk, you are not fit to take leadership," Arthur said, heading for the door.

Khyrran lifted the spear in her hand and hurled it toward Arthur's head. He moved at the last second. The wooden handle quivered less than half an inch from his face. Arthur whirled and glared at his pupil. "If anything, that just proved it."

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Devlin used Khyrran's absence to make a long overdue phone call. He had wanted to delay the inevitable as long as possible but the edict from the Overseers made that impossible. He dialed a number he knew by heart.

"Hello."

"Martha, its Devlin."

"Devlin! How wonderful to hear from you. I was expecting Clark. How are you?"

"Could be better. I have a favor to ask you. I have to tell Khyrran something, but I'm not sure how she's going to take it. I was wondering if you and Jonathan would mind if I brought her out there?"

"I don't think that would cause any problems. But what about your folks?" she asked.

"Khyrran never really got close with our parents. Besides they don't know how special she really is," Devlin told her. He looked up to see Khyrran slam through the foyer. "Umm…Martha, I think we may have to do this tonight."

"Is something wrong?" she asked.

"Yeah, but what set her off, I have no idea."

"What time should we expect you?"

"Let's say seven? I have to get a hold of Clark too."

"He's supposed to call in the next ten minutes or so," Martha replied. "I'll tell him."

"Thank you." Somewhere upstairs a door slammed, followed by the unmistakable sound of glass breaking. "Martha, I have to go."

"Alright, dear. We'll see you at seven."

"Bye." Devlin hung up the phone and took the stairs two by two. The landscape outside Khyrran's room was lying on the floor; its frame shattered. Without bothering to knock, Devlin entered his sister's room.

"Go. Away."

"I don't think so. Why aren't you in Atlantis?" Devlin asked.

"Because Arthur called our session. He said my emotions were running too high to be handling a weapon," she told him.

"Ok. So?"

"I threw my spear at his head."

"Khyrran Anastasia!"

"He moved before it hit him," she said completely unapologetic.

Devlin shook his head. "What did the Overseers say?"

"They pulled their usual cloak and dagger crap. I have a decision to make but they can't tell me anything about it. Which is what my dream is telling me apparently," she said. "Other than that they were useless."

"Why don't you take a nap? You barely slept last night and this continual training is wearing you down."

"What about our training session?"

"We have all evening," he pointed out.

"Okay." She pulled the quilt Martha had made her from the end of the bed. Devlin turned off the light on his way out. He looked over his shoulder to say something but Khyrran was already out.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

The nightmare began again as it always did. The ravine, the demons, the sudden rush of hopelessness and despair, the disembodied voice urging her to take her own life. Again she denied the voice and gave away her position. The demons attacked. She defended her life. Here, the vision-dream-thingy took an unexpected turn. Before, she knew she died. This time, it showed her how the demons killed her and slowly devoured her remains until all that was left was her skeleton. Her decayed, evil skeleton. It rose from its death bed and picked up Khyrran's fallen sword. As it turned toward the demons, it let loose a bloodcurdling, other worldly battle cry. It lifted the sword and the demons all dropped to their knees in acceptance of the skeleton's leadership. It let the battle cry ring again. They rose as one, lifted their weapons and followed the skeleton toward an unsuspecting Earth.

00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

Khyrran woke up shaking. So much for a restorative nap. She went to go find Devlin. If the Overseers weren't going to give her any answers, maybe Devlin could. On her way down to the main floor she noticed that she had slept the afternoon away. Devlin was in the kitchen with Grace. Khyrran sighed. She really wasn't up to dealing with her. Or the parents. She was about to go back upstairs when apart of their conversation floated across her consciousness.

"Devlin you have to tell her. And soon," Grace said.

"I will. When I think the time is right," Devlin replied. "She's very vulnerable right now. I won't distress her anymore than she is."

"And you think news about us getting married will distress her?" Grace asked.

"Umm, yeah I would have to say it does," Khyrran said, announcing her presence.

"Khy…" Devlin said, getting up.

"How long have you been engaged?"

"Khyrran, sit down. We can discuss this like adults," he pleaded.

"How. Long," she repeated.

"A year."

Khyrran sat in the nearest chair. "Well, it's nice to know where I stand in your life."

"Khy," Devlin began, "it's not like that."

"No, then what's like? I'm supposed to be your sister. You know family, people who are supposed to celebrate moments like this with you." Much to her dismay, the turmoil of the day, the latest twist in the dream and now this… betrayal…forced itself out of her system in tears. She swiped the first lonely drop from her cheek. Devlin opened his mouth to say something. She cut him off. "Don't insult me any further by explaining. I'll be upstairs."

Khyrran walked into her bedroom. She realized that staying in that room wasn't really an option, either. In a flash of bright purple light, she left.

Devlin looked at Grace. "Maybe we should have told her before now."

"What would that have accomplished? She still hates me, probably more than she did before," Grace stated.

"Grace, Khyrran is special. And she is going through a rough patch right now. Give her time to adjust to the idea."

Grace sighed. "Alright, but not too long. I've waited a year."

"I know," he said, glancing at the clock. "Shoot. I have to take Khyrran somewhere. You want to come with us?"

"Sure. Maybe it'll help." They walked upstairs to get Khyrran. Her room, bathroom, and the practice room were all empty.

"Damn, she must've whited out."

"Whited out?"

Devlin looked at her. "Do you trust me?"

"I wouldn't be marrying you if I didn't," she said.

He smiled, took her hand and said, "Mankato." They disappeared in a burst of green light. "Welcome to Mankato."

"Where?" she asked, confused and a little scared.

"Khyrran isn't the only special one in the family. I am a Guardian."

"One that is supposed to be in Kansas to tell his little sister her fate," Anthanasuis said, entering the great hall.

"I have to find her royal pain, first," Devlin said, bowing.

"She's in Kansas."

"Well that saves us a trip."

"She was very distraught when she came down after her nap. The news of your impending nuptuals just added to her turmoil. She had to go somewhere."

"The nightmare?"

Anthanasuis nodded. "She is starting to think something is very wrong."

Devlin sighed. "By the way, Grace Queen, this is my Overseer, Anthanasuis. Anthanasuis, this is my fiancée, Grace."

"Pleasure, my dear. We will talk again at length. Go and tell Khyrran what she needs to know, then explain all this to your bride-to-be."

"Will do." Devlin bowed again. And they were gone.

This time they reappeared in a well lit living room. Faint voices could be heard from another room. Devlin led Grace into an obviously farm kitchen. The décor gave it away. Khyrran sat at the table with three other people.

"…And I cant' get anyone to tell me what this stupid dream-vision-thingy is trying to tell me!" she was saying.

"You are not only the Guardian of Mann'ahoia, Khyrran." The four occupants of the table all looked to the sound of Devlin's voice. "You are her Empress."

A/N: Ok so somewhere and I really mean somewhere I had a list of all the people who reviewed. Where it went… well only the Gnomes know the answer to that. But special shout out to the killer of my writer's block. Tempest, you are WAY AWESOME!

But really who saw that coming? Nobody. That's cuz I'm in charge. And since nobody has a special pass into my head… That was way fun let's do it again. Next chapter: The Last Son of Krypton pt 3. Clark moves to Metropolis, becomes "Superman", Devlin gets hitched, Grace begins to understand her soon-to-be-sister-in-law, and Khyrran has a BIG decision to make.