Disclaimer: Honestly folks, if I owned them, would we be having this conversation?

The One

Smallville, KS

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

"Excuse me?" she asked.

"Khyrran, you are going to be the Empress of Mann'ahoia the day after your fifteenth birthday. But you have to willingly accept your birthright. That is what the dream is telling you," Devlin clarified.

Khyrran stared at him. "Are you nuts? I can't be empress of a planet! I can't even lead the Guardians! Besides, who is going to follow a teenager?" She was getting slightly hysterical. Clark reached out and pulled her back into her chair.

"It's not that bad, Jinx," he said.

"Clark, I'm still trying to figure out how to walk in high heels! And you guys want to toss a crown in with that!"

Devlin and Clark exchanged looks. "Khyrran!"

She looked at her brothers. "No fair. In stereo, nonetheless."

"At least you calmed down," Devlin muttered.

"I heard that," she said, grinning. "But really guys, I'm not fit to be an empress. I'm barely good enough to be a guardian let alone the leader of that."

"Where on earth did you get that idea?" Jonathan asked. "We've seen some of the things you can do when you guys come to visit."

"I agree with Jonathan, Khyrran. Who gave you the idea that you weren't good enough?" Devlin asked.

"Arthur said that until I learned to…"

Devlin stopped her. "Khyrran, what ever Arthur said, forget it. He's not used to being checked or following orders. The Overseers didn't start getting in his way until I brought you back. And he thinks that you aren't capable of keeping up."

"Why? I have overcome every obstacle that he's put in my way," Khyrran wondered.

"You're a girl."

"So?"

"Remember who he is, Khyrran."

"Oh that's just plain barbaric," she snorted.

"I agree, but we can't force him to change his opinion."

Martha took the opportunity to break in. "Khyrran you can do anything you put your mind to. I'm sure that they are going to train you for this, just as you were trained to protect Mann'ahoia."

"Thanks, Ma." She turned to Devlin and noticed Grace standing behind him in the shadows. "You brought her with you?"

Devlin shot her a look. "Sorry, I forgot my manners. Grace this is Martha and Jonathan Kent. That's their son, Clark. Ma, Pa, Clark, this is my fiancée Grace Queen."

"You're getting married!" Martha was out of her seat in an instant. She hugged Devlin, then Grace. "Welcome to the family!"

"Thank you," Grace said.

The backdoor slammed as Khyrran exited the house. Martha, Jonathan and Clark looked at Devlin. "She isn't happy about this," he said, shrugging.

"She's always wanted a sister," Clark said. "And she's had a year."

"He knows?" Grace asked.

"Clark is my best friend. And he can keep a secret," Devlin explained to her. Turning back to Clark he said, "Actually she found out half and hour ago."

"Oh. You're toast. She's going to hold this over your head for years, if not decades," Clark said.

"Spoken from true experience, no doubt," Devlin said.

Clark laughed. "You want me to talk to her?"

"Would you? She isn't going to share anything with me."

Clark left the table and followed Khyrran's retreating shadow. The full moon made it easy to keep an eye on her. She ended up at Gulliver's Ravine. 'How appropriate,' he thought, catching up to her. "This ravine is going to have a wealth of knowledge when we're done growing up."

"Huh?" she looked up at him.

"This is the ravine I jumped the night I discovered I could fly."

"Oh."

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Clark finally broke it with, "Ok, kid. Spill."

"About what?"

"Jinx."

"The empress thing or the Devlin getting married thing?"

"Let's start with the Devlin getting married thing."

"Look, I'm warming up to Grace, slowly. But they've been engaged for a year. A year! That hurts, Clark. He didn't trust me enough to tell me," she said, tears forming in her eyes.

"He thought you wouldn't understand," Clark explained.

"You knew?"

"He told me not long afterwards."

Khyrran stood up. "Go back to the house, Clark. I need some time to myself." She walked along the ravine headed south, head down. Knowing that she had had enough surprises and enough pain for one day, Clark let her go. Schuster's field was at the end of the ravine. There wasn't much trouble that she could get into out there. He headed back to tell Devlin this wasn't going to be as hard as they thought. It was going to be worse.

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Khyrran sat in one of the huge trees surrounding Schuster's field. Too much had happened for her to be on her guard. Even in Smallville, trouble had a way of finding her. She was lost in thought when movement at the base of the tree caught her attention. The figure hopped up the tree and Grace landed next to her.

"What do you want and how did you find me?"

"I would like to talk. As for finding you, I used to climb trees when I wanted to hide from the world," Grace told her.

"Oh." Pause. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Do you really hate the idea of Devlin marrying me?"

"No, I hate the idea of Devlin marrying, period. I had a feeling he was going to ask you last month. Devlin was humming "The Wedding March"; Devlin never hums. I gave up trying to change his mind when my own problems escalated beyond my control." She looked at Grace. "It's just… I know this is going to sound selfish, but I really needed him the last couple of weeks and I was on the backburner in his life."

"Why didn't you just say something to him?" she asked.

"I tried. But every time I got him alone, you intruded. After a couple of times, it didn't matter anymore. You make him happy."

"I didn't realize you had a genuine problem going on. I thought you were trying to keep us apart. I'm sorry," Grace apologizing.

"Me too. Again going to sound selfish and I know you guys have waited a year, but can you post-pone the wedding a little longer?"

"Give me a good reason, a legitimate one and I'll consider it."

"I have less than three months to learn how to become a competent Empress. Not to mention the leader of the Guardians."

"Three months, huh? It will probably take that long to plan the wedding, anyway."

"When had you guys planned the wedding for?"

"Honestly, as soon as possible. But if you are going to need Devlin as much as you think you are, we can wait a little longer," Grace said.

Khyrran nodded. So, just how much about this do you know?"

"Devlin took me to Mankato and met some guy named Anthanasuis just before we came here. Dev was explaining some of it when Clark came back," she told Khyrran.

"Devlin knows you came after me?"

"Yeah. It was past time we had a girl talk."

Khyrran said, "Maybe. Wanna get let in on the secret?"

"I'd love to," Grace replied.

"It all started almost eight thousand years ago…"

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Clark sighed as he put the last dish in the cabinet. He was finally moved into his apartment. Between work at the Daily Planet and saving Metropolis as Superman moving in had come in near the bottom of his to-do list. When the phone rang he crossed his fingers that it wasn't Lois. "Hello."

"Superman? Superdork is more like it," Khyrran's humor filled voice traveled through the line.

"You don't like the name?"

"Ummm…no."

"Then blame Lois Lane. She came up with it."

"You don't like it either I take it?" she asked.

"It's okay. Just not what I would have chosen for myself," Clark replied.

"Tell me about it. So why did I have to find out that you were moving to Metropolis from Ma?"

"Because, I wasn't sure if I would get the job at the Planet."

"And you got it?"

"I refuse to dignify that with an answer." They chatted for awhile. Khyrran explained the reason for her call. "Anybody ever tell you that you can't do it all? You should have known better."

"Gee thanks for the support."

"I will play nice and call the folks and let them know."

"I do appreciate that. It's one less thing I have to worry about. Oh, and Clark, if you gotta wear the tight, please put some pants on."

"Good-bye, Khyrran." He hung up on her giggling.

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Devlin did his best to help Khyrran prepare to take her birthright. But after about a month and a half, she was getting tired of trying to do it all. She sat Devlin and Grace down for a talk. "Get married already."

"There are thing that aren't ready yet, and…" Grace began.

"Bullshit. You've had a year to plan this. Besides I've already called the guests, the caterer, the florist and the baker. You're getting married Saturday. Congratulations."

They looked at each other. "Khyrran are you sure you are ok with this?" Devlin asked.

"Do you realize that in a nine day span you guys had planned a wedding, a honeymoon, my birthday, and possibly a coronation?" she shrieked. "Not to mention that I am supposed to be continuing with my training, figuring out my stupid dream thing, and trying to decide weather or not I am fit to rule a planet. Its…its too much at once, guys."

"You're still having the nightmare, aren't you?"

"It repeats over and over again through out the night, no matter how many times I wake up. And it follows me into my waking hours," she whispered. "And though I promised Dawn not to tell you, I'm having panic attacks."

Devlin got off the couch to kneel before his sister. "Why didn't you say something?"

"Because, I want Grace for my sister-in-law. And I don't want the coronation thing, should it happen, to ruin your honeymoon. And trying to keep the nightmare from running my life on top of that, something needed to be changed. This was the easiest thing to move up."

Grace and Devlin exchanged glances. "I'm confused," Grace said. "Why didn't you just tell us this was too much for you?"

"Its not. In all actuality, it's the nightmare. I love all this activity. But I'll be doing something and I'll see part of the nightmare or hear part of it and it takes all I've got not to scream."
"Maybe you should go see Kent," Devlin suggested.

"He'll have to come here." Devlin looked at her, confused. "I passed my druidess test last week. Since then, whenever I enter the tower, Kent's powers and the magic that flows through his home, get disrupted," she explained."
Devlin laughed, then explained what she meant to a very confused Grace. They left to see what details Khyrran missed, if any. Surprisingly, all of it was taken care of and was to be delivered on Thursday.

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"May I have this dance?" Grace's brother, Oliver, asked.

Khyrran looked up at the tall blond man. "Grace put you up to it or are you playing nice?"

"Grace asked me too and since it is her wedding day…" he let the sentence trail off.

Khyrran smiled," At least you're honest."

Oliver led her out on to the dance floor. Twenty seconds of tense silence and Oliver began his volley of questions. "Do you have any idea why they waited over a year to get married?"

"They say it was so I had time to get used to the idea. But, honestly, I think it was so you could walk her down the isle."

"I was stuck on a deserted island, with pirates, presumed dead," he replied.

"So? The entire world could tell me Devlin or Clark were dead and I wouldn't believe it until they showed me a body. Even then, I probably would have refused to believe it," she shrugged.

"You and Grace are a lot a like," he observed.

"So I've noticed. I think that's why I didn't like her at first."

"How old are you?"

"Were you taught manners?"

"What?"

"Never ask a lady her age. It's rude."

"We're family now. The rule no longer applies. How old are you?"

"I'll be fifteen in a six weeks."

"How on Earth did you manage to earn the nickname "The Ice Maiden' at such a tender age?"

"Easy, because it's true. I have no desire to consort with the snobs of the world. Besides, I like being unattainable," she grinned.

Oliver laughed. They finished their dance and Oliver handed her over to Clark. She introduced the Kents to Gail and Howard. They chatted until midnight when the newlyweds left for their honeymoon. The guests began leaving shortly afterwards.

Khyrran looked behind her as she finished clearing the patio. Kamara and Anthanasuis nodded their approval. "We're proud. You did very well," Kamara commented.

"You still haven't told me why you wanted them married so quickly."

"Time will tell you the answers you seek," Anthanasuis said.

"Oh, good more cryptic answers."

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Khyrran woke in the pre-dawn hours. Since she wasn't shaking, it wasn't the dream, but something had definitely pulled her from the sleep.

Kent stepped through his portal thing into her room. "Get dressed."

"What's going on?"

"Goblins from Elandic have invaded Yanrow."

"Unprovoked?" He nodded. "That doesn't sound like King Binko. He usually has a decent control over his people," she said, taking clothes from the closet.

"And you don't think you're going to make a good Empress?"

"What makes you say that?"

"I am the Guardian, Kent. Knowing these things is part of the job description."

"It's also one of the things that is going to make you a great Empress."

"Uh-huh. So where are we going?"

"To squash the rebellion," he said. Kent didn't have to wait long for the information to sink in.

"I get to go into battle?"

"Well, not battle, exactly. This is more like a skirmish."

"A fight's a fight, Kent," she said coming form her dressing room, ready to go.

Kent smiled. "Shall we?"

(About 20 minutes later)

'Well so much for my first battle,' she thought. Khyrran has watched the entire rebellion turn tail and run when the Guardians (minus Devlin, of course) appeared. "Well, guys, thanks for dragging me out of bed."

"That was too easy," Etrigan commented.

"Agreed." Arthur tossed his two cents in.

"Maybe the sight of your scowling face scared them off," Khyrran sniggered. A dull roar began behind them. "On second thought…"

The rebellion attacked hard and swift. In seconds the four were separated by streams of Goblins. None of the three veterans were watching Khyrran, each assuming that another was keeping her in sight. The small group that had surrounded her were forcing her down the hill. She was holding her own fairly well until she looked over her shoulder. They had forced her to the edge of a ravine. Weapons lowered, they pressed forward.

"Demons and Goblins aren't the same thing," she yelled at them. "I'm not supposed to be fighting you at the ravine." She raised her sword and Orela's staff and began forcing her way through the crowd. The Goblins regrouped and began backing her towards the edge.

"Jump."

"You again? I don't think so."

"Khyrran, jump."

"Haven't we had this conversation before? Pretty sure I'm not jumping!"

"Jumping isn't suicide. It's …"

Whatever the voice was going to say was lost as a Goblin took advantage of Khyrran's inattention. He lifted the club in his hand and brought it down, forcefully, on the top of her head. Collapsing to the ground, Khyrran began to convulse.

Khyrran say straight up in bed. This time she was shaking. Clark was standing next to the bed. "You were talking in your sleep."

"And my own personal Superman came to my rescue," she said. "Thanks."

"When you were little, you used to talk in your sleep before you woke up screaming from a nightmare."

"Gotta love that super hearing. Not before, this time… during. It's the nightmare I told you about at the farm."

"Devlin told me you were still having that."

"I haven't had the dream since Devlin told me I am supposed to become an Empress."

"Wait. Devlin said that the dream had begun to disrupt your waking hours as well."

"That was what I told Dev and Grace."

"Why on Earth would you lie to them like that?"

"Because Kamara told me too."

"I'm not even going to ask."

"Then don't. Go back to bed, Clark. I'll be fine. The dream just changed again."

"If you're sure." She nodded. "Ok, good night, Jinx."

"Good night, Superdork."

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The true test of any Empress of Mann'ahoia is her battle technique. Khyrran was tested before Devlin returned from his honeymoon. If he had been around when the Goblin rebellion had attacked, he would have forbidden her to engage in the battle. As it was she led the others into the foray and they emerged victorious. Khyrran finally earned the respected she needed from Arthur.

Now that she had proven herself to her people, she had to decide whether or not she was going to accept her birthright. And time was an ever constant companion in the days after the battle. One sentence kept echoing through her head.

"Jumping isn't suicide."

A/N: Hello dear readers. I'd like to say this is the part where I leave little notes to those who have stopped and taken the time to read my work. Well… yeah this is getting posted right on top of chapter 7. So shout outs… next chapter.

Oneredneckgoddes