Disclaimer: The concepts and characters showcased in this work are "owned by" and/or "inspired by" select properties of DC Comics. Reader discretion is advised.

Jonathan sat down next to Kathy still startled by the bus driver's question. The strange man felt oddly familiar, despite this being their first meeting.

"Hey, do you ever recall Mr. Norman missing a day," he asked.

"No, not really," she answered. "Why? Do you think something's wrong?"

"Yeah… it's probably nothing. I just think there's something off about that guy."

Kathy laughed, "You're probably just used to Mr. Norman's cranky attitude. The new guy seems a lot nicer."

Jonathan peeked over the seat into the bus's rearview mirror, catching the strange driver's eye and unnerving, wide grin. "Yeah… he's not creepy at all," he muttered.

"Kent!" a fierce voice called out across the bus. Jonathan recognized the person calling him, someone he didn't care to answer but would regret not answering. "Aye, Kent! I'm talking to you."

"Yea… I know…" he returned, annoyed by the unwanted attention.

"What was that, Kent!" Jonathan shot up, started by the voice now hovering over him.

"Shelton… it's you… buddy, ole pal…"

"Buddy, hunh?" Shelton questioned, barging into the seat with Jonathan and Kathy. "Funny, how this ole pal of yours didn't receive an invite to your birthday party?"

Shelton was twice the size of any kid on the bus, due more to his age than size. He'd been held back twice and looked down on everyone in school, quite literally. He had no issue with using his size to intimidate others either. Especially, if they had something he wanted.

"No offense but this is kind of a tight squeeze," Jonathan explained.

"Oh really," Shelton returned, pushing Jonathan deeper in the seat.

Kathy became annoyed, sitting at the end of the line. "Maybe you weren't invited because you're a bully."

"Bully," he stated, keeping his attention on Jonathan. "Is that what you think I am Kent, a bully?"

"No," he insisted, pushing Shelton with all his strength, "I think you're heavy."

The older child fell in the aisle to jeers and cackles by the other kids. His false pretense of nice quickly faded as he noticed Jonathan's gift box which had fallen to the seat. Taking a stance, Shelton snatched the present off the seat.

"And what to we have here? A gift from mommy and daddy?" he questioned.

"Give that back Shelton," Kathy shouted.

"Oh… its from your little girlfriend…" he taunted.

"She's not-" Jonathan interjected, unable to complete his sentence, "She's my friend, and she told you to give that back."

Jonathan sneered angrily at Shelton, much to the bully's delight. He held the box up like a lure, "Ok... Make me." Kathy placed her hand on Jonathan's shoulder trying to stave his anger as he began to tighten his fist.

Suddenly the bus came to a complete stop causing the kids to be thrown about. The children came to, confused by what happened. Jonathan sat up and noticed that the strange driver was gone. He turned to help Kathy when Shelton came storming through the aisle.

"What the hell is going on!?" he shouted, still clutching the gift box. "And where the hell are we?"

The children began looking out the window in shock and disbelief. Jonathan and Kathy joined the kids, following Shelton, off the bus to fully bare witness to the bizarre scenery. The sun and clouds were dancing and singing across green and purple skies. A school of fish were swimming in a river stream that floated through the air. The terrain was curved and angled with shapes that appeared different with the blink of an eye. Animals large and small with compound bodies, a dozens of limbs, or no face at all scurried about.

As the saying goes, they weren't in Kansas anymore…

Elsewhere…

Lois and Clark prepared the barn for Jonathan's party. The former reporter handed Clark a group of streamers and he flew up to pin them to the ceiling.

"Thank you," she said as Clark floated back to the ground. "I think we're done with the decorations."

Clark took her by the waist and gave her a kiss, "I'll go to Lambert's and pick up the food."

"Hold on," Lois directed, pulling him back and wrapping her arms around his broad shoulders. "I was thinking we could talk about Jon."

"I'm all ears," he returned, still easily captivated by Lois strength.

"I think we should tell him this year."

"Are you sure…?" Clark asked, knowing exactly what she was addressing. "He hasn't shown any signs of being anything other than human. I don't want to disrupt his world by telling him he's half Kryptonian or give him unrealistic expectations."

"Yeah, I know. But there's something else I've been meaning to tell you that may change your mind," she smiled, tucking the bang of her hair.

"NEWS FLASH! NO ONE CARES HOT STUFF!"

A large, booming voice declared as both Lois and Clark found themselves unable to move anything but their eyes. They frantically looked around the barn attempting to locate the source of the voice when they heard a subtle cough.

"DOWN HERE, SUPER-DOUCHE! OF COURSE, THAT'S ALL YOU'VE DONE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS IS LOOK DOWN ON ME! FORGET ME!"

The couple eyes widen with shock as an imp-like creature wearing a purple top hat and jacket with a green bow came into sight.

"THEN AGAIN, YOU TWO PROBABLY THINK ITS BEEN TEN YEARS!"

The strange being placed his hand on his chin, looking up to a visual of his thoughts as they scrolled the last ten years of Clark, Lois and Jonathan's life beginning with James' photo. When the memories caught up to that very moment, the thought bubble burst and the imp disappeared and reappeared right in their face.

"WRONG!"

Using every bit of his Kryptonian powers Clark succeeded in calling the imp's name, "Mxyzptlk…"

The imp disappeared and reappeared on Clark's head pulling on his ear.

"NOPE! THAT TRICK WON'T WORK THIS TIME! WE'RE NOT PLAYING GAMES ANYMORE! YOU ABANDONED ME! YOU ABANDONED OUR FRIENDSHIP!"

Without warning, a newspaper appeared in his hands and he smashed it into Clark's face. Taking out a 4-foot magnifying glass from his jacket, the imp pinpointed an article of the written in small print saying Welcome to the 5th Dimension. Underneath the headline was a motion photo of Jonathan and his classmates standing outside of the bus.

"SO I'VE DECIDED TO MAKE A NEW ONE."

A/N: Whoa. That was fun. Ideas just keep flowing so I keep writing. I thank anyone who has left a review or fav. I'm currently writing 52 different stories (DC HORIZON ::: Detective Comics Out Now!) So please stick with me through this process. It will be a long one.