A/N:I'll be switching to first person from here on out, to give more understanding on Emet's thought process.
I'd never imagined things taking a turn quite like this. I never imagined the world would be so altered that certain events would happen out of place. Kara was never supposed to land in New York, and she was also never supposed to meet me. I wonder: was I the cause for such a drastic change? Mayhap. I looked towards my side; there she sat next to me on a bench. Stuffing her face with a hotdog, she said it was the best thing she'd eaten in her life. We were currently at some gas station way out of New York.
We were well on our way to Metropolis, where the big man was located. We just stopped here for a quick break—not that we needed it, but all that walking was getting tedious. And Kara wouldn't stop sulking—not that I blame her. So I decided to purchase her food to get her mind off things. However, she must've noticed me staring her way, as she sent me a sheepish glance.
"Uhm, are you still mad?" She suddenly asked.
"Hm?"
"For thinking you were a girl earlier..." She let her words trail as I heaved a sigh.
"You insult me, Kara; I'm not one to hold petty grudges."
"Right, sorry..." She seemed awkward again, so I decided to change the subject.
"How's your hearing coming along?"
"Oh, it's better, but I still hear so much—not like before, but it's there." She was a quick learner, which was good at least. I couldn't imagine hearing every single thing. Hopefully, Superman can help her some more. But flying came easily, at least, though I had to make use of an analogy to help as my method of flying was vastly different. Heat vision was still something to deal with. But it would have to be dealt with soon. Kara was adaptable at the very least, though she could go out of control if she was under too much stress.
"Your cousin should be able to help with controlling your power. For now, try and just focus on what's in front of you." Not the best advice, but better than nothing.
"What's he like, my cousin?" Ah, the inevitable question. I'm surprised she didn't ask it sooner; perhaps she thought I lacked an answer.
"I've never met him, but there's not a soul on earth that doesn't know of him. He's a hero and a great man. He has immense power, yet he's not selfish with it. He helps others, and he's someone to be admired." Not the best description, as Superman was more than that. But it would have to suffice for now.
"Why do you think he's a hero? Not that I have anything against it; I just want to know why."
"Like I said, I've never met him, so I've no clue."
"Oh..."
"But if you want my opinion, then I think he simply likes helping people." I started, and it seems my words caught her attention rather quickly. "From what I've seen in the media, he helps lots of people every day. He doesn't ask for anything in return; statutes are made of him simply because he's admired so much. But as far as I know, he's never asked for that. He's simply a nice guy."
"But these aren't his people, so why?" Another question, the nature of which didn't escape me,
In comic continuity, there were a number of interpretations of Kara. Some are more unsavoury than others'. Maybe I should help change her perspective.
"Humans are fragile creatures, Kara. They're stupid too. When you see a fragile creature that doesn't know any better, wouldn't you want to help them?"
"I guess...but aren't you human as well?"
"Not quite..."
"Do you also hail from another planet?"
"Suppose you could say that." Not really a lie. I'm from Earth, sure, just not this one.
"Then, what planet is your home?" She seemed deathly curious; I suppose it doesn't really matter. If it helps keep her mind off of the deaths of her parents and the destruction of her star, then I'd be happy to oblige.
"It's called Etheirys, a beautiful star, which I hope to visit again some day." Oddly, that last part just kind of spilled out.
"Etheirys, what's it like?"
"It's a paradise, all live in harmony, with no conflict to be found. Our cities prosper while we grow and advance. There's no place like it. I'd go into more detail, but that would take all day, I'm afraid." Odd, these memories of Etheirys, it's like, No, that can't be the case.
"What are the people like?" Another question is waiting for an answer, and I oblige.
"Hmm, each individual varies. But I suppose you could say all of us Ancients want to see our Star prosper." It's odd; I speak this word as If I'm-
"Ancients...that name seems so familiar." I heard Kara mutter. Strange, something to keep in mind.
"Well, I think this is enough chatting; shall we hit the road? Oh, and you want to fly again or just walk? Metropolis isn't that far now."
"Flying. This time, I'll beat you in the race." She giddily replied and actually smiled. I was half tempted to smirk at the challenge.
"Challenge accepted."
Maybe it could be considered cheating, but I won. Sure, I had better control of my flying, but she was a Kryptonian, so no cheating on my end. Either way, reaching and entering this paradise of a city proved easy.
"One day I'll beat you." Kara spoke with a sigh as she hovered at my side as the two of us overlooked the large city from above.
Metropolis was a bustling metropolis (heh) with skyscrapers, highways, and commercial districts. Its most notable landmark was the Daily Planet building, which resembled the New York Times Building and sat atop a busy street corner. The city's architecture was a blend of art deco and modernist styles, with buildings showcasing sleek designs, towering heights, and mature historic features. The Metropolis skyline also featured the enormous LexCorp Tower. The city's infrastructure included multiple elevated trains, subways, and monorails, along with a vast network of different terminals, railway stations, and airports. The city is also home to grand public spaces like Centennial Park, where the iconic statue of the city's patron, Superman, stands high.
It was easy to see all this as I had a rather good view and decent eyesight.
"So, how are we going to find Kal-El?" She asked as I gestured for her to follow me. The both of us landed atop a tall building before I spoke up.
"Just call for him; he hears everything, so just call out." And no doubt some people had seen us flying around. So he should be alerted by now. Kara seemed to steel herself with a deep breath as she spoke.
"Come here, Kal-El..." She simply spoke in Kryptonian. And not even a second later, I heard something burst behind me, like the sound barrier broke or something. Of course, that was just an analogy.
"That was Kryptonian...and my name. Who are you?" A deep voice spoke behind me as I and Kara turned to find none other than the symbol of hope himself, Superman. He was muscular with a chiseled jaw, and he was tall. I must've looked like a toddler in comparison. Of course, he had the same piecing blue eyes as Kara, along with black hair and a singular curl. A form-fitting blue suit, the symbol 'S' ingrained into the center of his chest, along with a blood red cape draped around his shoulders, along with similarly colored boots. He was everything I imagined; it was the first time since coming here that I actually felt something. I felt like fanboying.
Ahem, that aside.
His eyes were a cross between caution and curiosity as he stared at the two of us. Kara, for some reason, looked nervous as her eyes darted to me, then back to Superman. So I nudged her forward; of course she didn't budge, but she got the message.
"M-my name is Kara Zor-El...and I'm you-"
"You're my cousin." He finished, and though he spoke those words, his face was still one of shock. "But how...I thought you were..." He was tense; that much was easy to see. Suppose that was understandable; until now, he probably didn't have the best of relationships with fellow Kryptonians.
"I'm sorry, Kal-El, that it took so long for me to find you. Now you're all grown up and you're a hero." She sent him a radiating smile as she continued. "I'm sure uncle Jor-El and aunt Lara would've been proud." Superman's eyes seemed to slightly soften at the mention of his other parents.
It wasn't long before that tense atmosphere was gone. Superman and Kara engaged in conversation, the latter telling him of her journey to Earth and of the deaths of her parents. Superman was comforting in his approach, and Kara looked happy for the first time. I did notice Big Blue sending me a glance, but I didn't speak; I didn't want to ruin this scene. Though I got a smile of gratitude when Kara mentioned I helped her out a bit, Neat, now I just need to hope Batman doesn't figure out I killed Firefly, and then I'll be home free.
"There's much I want to show you, Kara." Superman began with a warm smile on his face. "Though it has its fair share of problems, Metropolis is a beautiful city. I'd really like to show you around."
"I'd really like that." Kara wore a smile of her own as she spoke. This was the only family she currently had, so some happiness is expected.
"And I'd also like to thank you, uhm..." Superman began, and I saw it as my signal to introduce myself.
"Emet, just Emet."
"Emet, thank you. I don't know how I could ever repay you for seeing Kara to safety." His tone could only be described as pure and grateful. That was understandable, given the nature of his soul.
It was pure, not tainted by anything. It radiated with an intense yet warm glow that engulfed all. I couldn't help but feel at ease in his presence; not even Kara's soul shone so brightly. But I should probably plead my case.
"No problem. We aliens should help each other, no?" I merely stated again, technically not a lie; I wasn't from this universe; however, the news didn't seem to surprise the man of steel.
"Hmm, I figured. Your physiology is vastly different from any human's." Good thing he had an X-ray; it saved me some time to explain. So I took off my glasses as I spoke.
"Yep, I just arrived on Earth a few days ago."
"Well, I'd like to officially welcome you both to Earth." He announced it almost happily. "I'll be sure to help you settle in, and I might need to plead your case to the League at our next meeting."
"Thanks, that would be appreciated. For now, I'll leave you two to bond."
"You're leaving?" I heard Kara's voice to my side; strangely, she sounded down. We haven't known each other for long, so I found her diminished enthusiasm strange.
"You can come with me; I'm sure Metropolis has something to offer you." Again, Superman spoke with a smile, but I just shook my head.
"It's fine; I'll come and find you later; for now, I'll explore a bit." I bid Kara and Superman farewell as I flew off.
Kara seemed way too down at my departure; it must be a teen thing. But for now, I put those thoughts aside as I admired the vastness of the city. Metropolis really was the opposite of Gotham; forgive the slight pun, but the difference was like day and night.
But barring that, I've successfully managed to contact a League member, so now I just have to wait. I didn't want to get in the way of their bonding, and hopefully Superman can help Kara with her powers. So now I wait; no doubt Superman will bring up his cousin with the rest of the League along with me. I'm not sure what they will have in store for me, though; I should probably disclose a bit of my abilities to them.
Of course I'll leave out some details; the last thing I need is Batman and his contingency plans. For now, I'll just wait and see, hm?
Something quickly caught my attention as I halted my flight and overlooked a scene. Since coming here, I knew I would be seeing some strange things, but this is quite strange. I was witnessing a man with green radiating skin, wearing a black unitard-like outfit and a purple 'v' on his chest, rampaging around. He was tossing around cars as if they were toys and just screaming at the top of his lungs. The pedestrians seem to have basic instincts, as they all ran from the green man.
I frowned as I hovered slightly closer to the ground while still keeping a fair distance.
"Bring me Superman!" The green man snarled out as he tossed another car to the side, colliding with a nearby building and harshly crashing into it. "I, Kryptonite Man, will be his worst adversary!" He boldly exclaimed
Hmm, Kryptonite Man—yes, I know him. I was pretty sure he was a scientist or something. He wanted to harness Kryptonite and use it for other purposes, but of course this was DC, and nothing goes according to plan, so his experiments backfired and he turned into, whatever this is. I'm pretty sure his personality was altered too. But I'm pretty sure he's never shown up so early. Eh, who cares? He's a literal Kryptonian man, so Kara and Superman would be hard-pressed. Unless the latter spams his heat vision, Better not take the chance.
"Superman, if you can hear this, then there's some guy rampaging around who calls himself Kryptonite Man. I'm fairly certain I can handle him, so you can focus on rescuing any civilians." I'm fairly certain he picked up on that, just as he already picked up on this disturbance. So I'll earn more brownie points real quick.
So first I'll get the angry green man's attention. So outstreching my hand, Aether began gathering around him as I conjured something. Then, seemingly out of thin air, an anvil spawned into the world, though given its weight, gravity quickly took hold of it as it plummeted to the ground, right on target. Said anvil crashed right into the self-proclaimed Kryptonite Man's head.
"Ugh!" It seems he had some measure of durability, as he didn't immediately fall to the ground under the weight of the anvil; instead, he reached for his head and swatted it away. There was a measure of confusion in his eyes as they wildly darted around. Until they found their way to me.
"You! You're not Superman!" He proclaimed loudly as he pointed at me, a fierce glare in his eyes.
"Gee, what gave it away, I wonder?" My sarcasm must've not resonated with him as he all but growled before he walked to a nearby car. As he reached for it, his fingers all but sank into the metal, and in the next instant he hurled it right at me. I looked at the oncoming car as I pointed my palm at it. I hope whoever it belonged to had insurance.
"True Fire, 1." I envisioned the intense heat of flames in my mind as I felt a slight heat wash over my hand. A small ball of fire came into life right in front of my palm. With a single command, the fire ball shot forward, expanding and growing in size as the heat washed over me.
The fireball was moving at a high velocity, and the moment it hit the car, it exploded, causing a tremendous amount of damage. The immense heat generated from the blast vaporized the car. The car's metal exterior was no match for the intense heat of the fireball. The metal began to melt almost instantly when the ball of fire made impact. The melting metal bubbles and warps, crumbling under the heat and force of the impact. In addition to the car melting, the fuel tank ignited, causing an even bigger explosion. As the flames devour the car, the fuel tank ruptures, and the car erupts into an inferno. The flames leap out in all directions. The resulting explosion creating a deafening sound that can be heard for miles around. The impact of the fireball was followed by shock waves that rippled through the area, causing further damage to nearby buildings and vehicles.
"Whoops, I poured too much Aether into the attack." I couldn't help but slightly wince as the cloud of smoke before me suddenly cleared, and my eye landed on the idle Kryptonite Man.
As his eyes narrowed, his pupils transformed from their usual color to a vibrant, glowing emerald green. Tiny specks of light danced within his irises, building up energy in a flickering pattern. With a sudden surge, he unleashed a laser beam from his eyes. A blinding ray of vivid energy erupted, illuminating the surroundings with a brilliant green glow. As the beam surged forward, it cut through the air swiftly, resembling a celestial symphony. The laser moved with precision and accuracy, leaving a trail of shimmering light in its wake. The emitted laser beam was no ordinary light; it possessed immense energy and intensity. It carried within it the ability to pierce through objects, melt solid metals, and obliterate almost anything that dared to obstruct its path. That much I could tell, as it headed straight for me. I probably wouldn't be able to dodge, so it's time to adapt.
I focused on my own Aether as it flared up; it leaked out of my body as I solidified it. Immediately I was encased in a blue bubble-like shield, colored a translucent blue.
Just as soon as I set up the barrier, his lasers collided with it. My Aetheric barrier held up as it pulsed under the onslaught of the intense lasers. I made the barrier denser as it continued, though he didn't seem to let up. So I focused.
"True Lightning, 1," I mumbled as I envisioned it. Those glowing gas particles, that intense shock, then my Creation Magic went to work.
Above him, something intense sparked to life, a lightning bolt of my Creation. It snaked downward in a flash; he could not even react as the lighting hit him full force. The intense lightning continued to surge through him; his hair stood on end as his whole body lit up with intense sparks. His laser stopped coming my way, so I let up, his glowing, charred body falling to the ground.
"Oh crap, I didn't...
"It's fine, son; he's still breathing." I heard Superman's voice at my side as the man of steel flew to my side.
"Oh, good. Uhm, sorry about the damage." I said it somewhat sheepishly. That fireball from earlier caused a shockwave strong enough to shatter some building windows, and the lighting was luckily better controlled.
"Don't worry, you did good." He reassured her with a smile. "You were quick to act; I just wish I could do more, but that man..." his voice trailed off as he stared at the unconscious Kryptonite Man, who was almost stirring awake. Extending my hand towards the downed villain, the chains of Aether entangled him, restraining him.
"That's quite the power." He commented, seeming intrigued.
"Hm, yeah, it's unique to my race. But where's Kara?"
"I had her stay at my apartment; I came as soon as I heard him causing trouble. But I couldn't approach him; I don't know how, but he's practically made of Kryptonite." He frowned further. "But that much radiation should make it impossible to survive. But this aside, you're quite a natural. You'd make quite the hero." Again, warmth washed over me at his warm smile.
"Thanks, really."
It must be the best kind of compliment to get.
I almost smiled.