The next day after the murder monster attack in the woods, Sheriff Don, Principal Ream, and Mara had a chat at Midvale High. "There's no body, no footprints, no fingerprints, no blood, no clothing, no sign of a struggle, nothing," Sheriff Don said. "My search party looked all night."
"Apparently, your search party needed a Kryptonian," Mara mocked.
"So you can smell better than our dogs?" Sheriff Don doubted.
"Possibly," Mara said truthfully.
"Well, did you get a good look at this thing?" Sheriff Don asked impatiently.
"It was humanoid, three meters tall, exceptionally lengthy, bald, naked, and had obnoxiously big eyes," Mara said.
"Maybe it was one of your classmates," Sheriff Don said cynically.
"Sheriff, I find that offensive," Principal Ream objected.
"Well, I don't give a shit. I have three others in the morgue," Sheriff Don said grumpily.
"So you automatically assume a Midvale High student is the murderer without evidence?" Prinicpal Ream asked.
"You have a school full of lethal-as-fuck misfits essentially trained to be the queen's special forces when they grow up...so...no shit," Sheriff Don said obviously.
As the three entered Principal Ream's office, the conversation continued. "What were you doing in the woods, Miss El?" Sheriff Don asked, intentionally addressing her honorific incorrectly.
"I was going on an enthusiastic walk," Mara said vaguely.
"Is there a reason why you didn't subdue the creature yourself with all of your awesome Kryptonian powers?" Sheriff Don asked suspiciously.
"It's what my mother would have done, and I'm not her," Mara explained.
"I think we're done here, Sheriff," Principal Ream said before the room could explode in argument.
"I wish to speak with the good sheriff alone," Mara requested.
"I'm not sure I can allow that," Principal Ream said apprehensively.
"Your concerns are misplaced. I have royal immunity," Mara reminded her.
"Fine," Principal Ream said and left the room.
Mara waited for her to leave. "I'm taking over the Midvale sheriff's department. You'll be taking orders from me now. You will investigate this attack as a homicide and you will investigate everyone in the town including the students at Midvale High with a special emphasis on those capable of shape-shifting."
"I'm not sure I'm comfortable taking orders from a five-year-old that looks like a teenage girl," Sheriff Don admitted.
"I am a royal princess which means you follow my orders unless contradicted by the queen. You may appeal to the queen, of course, and then have this town sacked by the Feds. So...what will it be?" Mara asked.
"Another sheriff entered the room. "We just spotted Rol at a train station with their surveillance camera," she reported.
"It's a shape-shifter," Mara said obviously.
"Can you detect a shape-shifter with those eyes of yours?" Sheriff Don asked.
"Yes, bring him to me," Mara ordered.
The sheriffs had trouble finding the false Rol a second time and assumed he had already left the area. Mara continued her day as usual with a shrink session. "Did witnessing a murder shake you, stir you?" Dr. Kong asked.
"My brother has done far worse in my presence," Mara said dismissively.
"I'm here to help you understand your emotions of fear, guilt, and trauma," Dr. Kong said.
"I have none of those," Mara assured her. "It's not that I don't have emotions. It's just the incident in question is not sufficient enough to shock or appall me."
"How are you adjusting at school?" Dr. Kong asked.
"I prefer being an island, a well-fortified one," Mara replied.
"Are your anti-social personality traits due to a fear of rejection?" Dr. Kong asked.
"Quite the opposite. As an absolute ruler, public opinion is irrelevant. I'm also nearly invincible. I fear nothing," Mara said.
Mara ended her shrink session and ran into Tyler. "So, you see Dr. Kong, too?" he asked.
"Maybe I just went to see her to discuss a referral for someone else, but you've just revealed something interesting about yourself," Mara noted.
"I have nothing to hide. It's court-ordered," Tyler revealed.
"No court can order me to do anything," Mara said arrogantly.
"You know, when you went on your enthusiastic walk into the woods, I never saw you come back out. And then, I heard what happened. Kind of crazy," he said concernedly.
"There's no reason for apprehension. I can't be destroyed," Mara assured him.
"I believe you," Tyler nodded.
"Your belief in me is not required to follow my orders," Mara told him and then walked off.
"Well...fuck me," Tyler realized.
Mara ignored preparations by all four teams for the Triwizard Tournament and remained in her room all day. She found it difficult to write a cohesive Native American false religion and gave up on it. The next morning, she had a chat with Principal Ream.
"Rol has officially been expelled," Principal Ream informed her.
"Worse than dead," Mara mocked.
"The school's official position is that he ran away. That will also be the official story in the local news. No murder happened, and I suggest you keep to the story for all of our sakes. As he is a Naltorian, the last thing we need is a galactic murder investigation," Principal Ream said.
"So, you concede there was a murder in the first place?" Mara asked.
"I have no way of stopping you when it comes to the sheriff department...or the Talon coffee shop or any other Midvale institution you intend to sack. However, you cannot sack Midvale High. It's under your mother's royal edict and you're to follow my orders while you're attending my school because your mother appointed me to this position. Therefore, I act on her authority," Principal Ream clarified.
"Understood," Mara allowed. "But your jurisdiction ends outside of these school grounds and school-related activities."
"What were you doing in the woods?" Principal Reams asked.
"The woods are outside your jurisdiction," Mara shot down.
"Just asking as a friend, what were you doing in the woods?" Principal Reams pressed.
"Going for a stroll, stretching out my legs, minding my own business," Mara mocked.
"That may placate the sheriff but not me. You saw something with your vision, right?" Principal Ream asked. "I know you have your mother's power. It was obvious when you pointed out that man had broken his neck in the car accident."
"I wasn't hiding it," Mara rolled her eyes.
"Your mother developed her vision abilities when she was at your development. At first, she was notoriously unreliable and dangerous with it. Some would say the emergence of her powers made her lose her mind," Principal Ream said.
"My mother's mind was lost way before she came to this planet," Mara said matter-of-factly. "Now, may I go?"
"Not until you've picked out your extracurricular activity," Principal Ream said, changing the subject. "I took the liberty of providing you a list of open clubs. At Midvale High, we want our students to be well-rounded."
"Extracurricular activities are for low-income students with no connections or academically failing students who don't want to be dismissed. I am neither so I respectfully decline," Mara refused.
Mara began her first actual class in botany with Miss Thorn. Mara glanced at a drawing by Ulu. He was using a pencil but was able to change the gray color to anything he wanted as he drew creating a true work of art only it was a nasty spider. "There's an open spot next to me," he offered.
"Royal Princess Mara-El, our new celebrity, we're thrilled to have you with us on our journey into carnivorous plants," Miss Thorn said pleasantly. "Can anyone tell me what this plant is?" she asked, showing it in a display case.
"Dendrophylax lindenii," Mara identified. "Otherwise known as the ghost orchid."
"First discovered on the Isle of Wight in 1854," Tyroc brought up.
"Actually, you're confusing this plant with the Epipogium aphyllum, another type of Ghost Orchid," Mara corrected. "In either case, they're not carnivorous."
"Yes, that's exactly right. Very good, Mara. You've certainly passed today's test," Miss Thorn said awkwardly.
"I passed the test before I even got here," Mara replied.
That afternoon, Mara was in the library. Miss Thorn interrupted her as she looked over them. "I don't usually find students in here looking for actual books. Most sneak in to make out."
"I saw two humans engaging in the Kama Sutra. I was intrigued but scandalized," Mara said without emotion.
"Is there something I can help you find?" Miss Thorn asked helpfully.
"Not particularly. I'll have this entire library read by the end of the week," Mara said dismissively.
"I was very impressed by your answers in class today," Miss Thorn complimented.
"You shouldn't be. The Kryptonian genes I inherited from my mother give me an encyclopedic memory," Mara downplayed.
"Are you two close?" Miss Thorn asked curiously.
"My Kryptonian side makes me indifferent to her while my Insane side either passionately hates or loves her depending on circumstances," Mara explained.
"I know it can't be easy for a five-year-old university graduate student to be put into a high school environment like this. I've been here a year and a half, and I still don't feel like I fit in," Miss Thorn said sympathetically.
"The obvious difference is that you're a teacher with authority and I'm a student," Mara said resentfully.
"Authority isn't what it's cracked up to be," Miss Thorn told her. "What I really wish is for my peers to acknowledge me."
"I act as if I don't care if anyone likes me, but deep down...I secretly enjoy it," Mara admitted.
"Don't ever lose that, Mara, the ability to not let others define you," Miss Thorn advised. "It's a gift."
"And a curse," Mara added.
"Well, if you need anyone to talk to, the door to the conservatory is always open," Miss Thorn offered and then left the room. Mara eyed Miss Thorn genuinely moved by the gesture.
The next day, Mara watched on the sidelines as four teams did a canoeing and foot-race competition. The heroes (Lions) were made up of Polar Boy, Chlorophyll Kid, Crystal Kid, and Color Kid. The nerds (Ravens) were made up of Dawnstar, White Witch, Kid Quantum, and Matter-Eater Lad. The sidekicks (Steelers) were the "Stoners": Ferro Lad, Blok, Stone Boy, and Porcupine Pete. The anti-heroes (Eagles) were composed of Tyroc, Echo, Nightwind, and Infectious Lass.
Once the gun went off, all four teams raced to get down the river. Polar Boy fired ice beams in the water creating mini-icebergs while Chlorophyll Kid sprouted trees from the river bed. The other three teams were forced to navigate around these constant obstacles. Dawnstar extended her wings while White Witch fired magical bursts at the other teams and obstacles. The nerds were doing well until Matter-Eater Lad began eating the wood on the canoe.
"Tenzil, the fuck?" Dawnstar yelled at him.
"I'm sorry. I'm hungry," he said lamely as he took another bite out of the canoe.
The sidekicks quickly sank into the river with their immense weight and density. "Brutal," Ferro Lad said as they sank.
The anti-heroes used a combination of sound waves and wind to push them forward. Infectious Lass also sent out germs, propelled by the wind and sound, that hit the other teams making them instantly sick and throwing up. The three teams managed to get to the destination and were now on foot. When the nerds came back, Matter-Eater Lad had eaten critical components of their boat. They sank soon after pushing off the shore.
The heroes and anti-heroes raced back creating a super-powered battle along the river. The heroes got out front and immediately Crystal Kid formed a crystal wall barrier in front of the anti-heroes. The anti-heroes screamed at the crystal barrier unable to break it. They hit the wall barrier and quickly sank. The heroes had won.
After the competition, Principal Ream rallied the students in the quad. "The first Triwizard Cup took place...last year, to honor Midvale High's famous alumni and to celebrate super-hero values that all people regardless of species or place of origin can share: community, perseverance, and determination. And we certainly saw those values on display today."
"Did we?" Mara wondered under her breath.
The Triwizard Cup was then handed over to the heroes. Mara walked away from the celebrations unimpressed. Dawnstar confronted her in the corridors. "If you had been on our team, we would have won," she said peeved.
"Precisely. I'm way overpowered for all of you," Mara said.
"You can always lower your power level to our level to keep it competitive," Dawnstar argued.
"What would be the point? I could have won on my own," Mara shrugged.
"You don't have every power in existence. One day you're going to need some of us," Dawnstar frowned.
"That's the point of royality. All of you serve me, not the other way around," Mara said coldly.
After finishing the entire library, Mara couldn't help but notice there was a secondary library in the basement. Using her X-ray vision, she spotted a suspicious-looking statue. With her X-ray vision, she noticed several mechanical gears inside the statue. Mara went up to the statue that was remarkably similar to Alex Danvers, her adopted aunt. She lightly pushed on the statue forcing it back. The statue gave way leading to a hidden passage stairwell. Mara went down the stairs and noticed a large collection of paintings, all of Kara's classmates recreated from her memories of them. Mara eyed portraits of Alex, Vicki, and Pete prominently displayed at the top. There were other students as well that Mara didn't recognize and toward the bottom were all the students Kara personally killed all smiling and looking normal.
The basement library was a circular room with bookcases along the walls. Mara sampled one of the books, opening it. Inside was a diary of sorts but it was in Kryptonian. Mara could read it but it was doubtful anyone else could. It detailed Kara's time at Midvale in very specific detail. All the books were hand-written diaries, each book amounting to a month in observations.
It was surprising to Mara that her mother would keep this level of accounting, but what was a little out of the ordinary was that it was handwritten in these books. Mara gave a sigh of relief that she didn't share her mother's obsession disorder. Mara suddenly noticed she was ambushed by several hooded figures. "Who dares breach our inner sanctum?" a mysterious voice demanded.
Lamps in the room turned green bathing her in synthetic Kryptonite. Mara immediately felt weak and sickly with her vision distorted. In the center of the room was a man dressed in a red cloak. Mara immediately went to her watch only to find it jammed. "It would seem you're at a disadvantage, Princess Mara-El," the mysterious man said.
"Principal Ream knows I'm down here," Mara bluffed.
"No, she doesn't," the mysterious man contradicted. "You see, my power is that I can read memories including yours."
"One might say that's an invasion of privacy," Mara rebuked.
"Yes," the mysterious man agreed.
"What do you want? A ransom?" Mara assumed.
"Oh, no. We want you to join us," the mysterious man said.
"To be an anti-hero? Consider it done," Mara quickly agreed.
The mysterious man chuckled at that. "We're a bit more than that. We're the Church of Scientificity."
Mara gave the mysterious man an odd look. "Explain."
"I'd be more than happy to, princess," the mysterious man said. "But words will not give the history justice."
In Mara's mind, she saw an alien Galactic Confederacy that had existed 75 million years ago, before the extinction of the dinosaurs and before the Kryptonians or Insane had even begun their evolution. Mara saw twenty-six stars and seventy-six planets including Earth in this confederation. Zooming down to each of the individual planets, she saw that they were grossly overpopulated with a combined total of 178 billion sentient inhabitants. Except for Earth, the other planets held civilizations comparable to that of the 31st century with cars, trains, boats, and spaceships. Still, these planets were on the verge of starvation unable to feed themselves.
One man named Xenu proposed a radical plan to solve the problem. "With the Infinity Gauntlet, I can half the population with a snap of my fingers. It will be random and fair with every man given the same odds regardless of power or wealth."
"We simply cannot accept the terrible losses you're proposing," the council rejected.
"I will only destroy their bodies. Their souls I shall preserve in the soul stone whereupon I will release them on Teegeeack (Earth)," Xenu said.
"What stops these souls from haunting us?" the council asked.
"I'm going to release them in volcanos and then nuke them," Xenu said flatly. "These souls will be so traumatized that by the time they get their shit together, they will forget who they ever were and we will all be long dead.
"Will it be difficult to collect all infinity stones?" the council asked.
"Super-easy, barely an inconvenience," Xenu promised.
"Do as you say," the council authorized.
Xenu searched the universe for the infinity stones and placed them in a gauntlet. He then snapped his fingers instantly vaporizing half the population and trapping them inside the soul stone. He then took the soul stone off his gauntlet and dropped it in a massive volcano on Earth. The stone sank into the lava and disappeared. Xenu then ordered his fleet to fire nuclear weapons into the volcano creating a dramatic explosion. The souls screeched as they exited the destroyed soul stone and were blown away into the atmosphere.
Xenu then opened a black hole portal with his space-stone sucking all the souls inside. Inside this void, Xenu used the mind-stone to brainwash these souls into believing several weird-ass religions and creation myths. As these thetans were indoctrinated with these religions, they lost their own personal identity and the lives they had lived. After he was done with these thetans, Xenu destroyed the stones and the gauntlet so it could never reverse what he had done.
Shortly thereafter, there was a coup in the confederation. Xenu and his men were arrested and declared war criminals. They were imprisoned in a mountain for the rest of their lives. Earth was then considered a pariah state, a reminder of Xenu's genocide. As it happened, Xenu was somewhat correct as the confederation became overpopulated again and ended up becoming extinct only a few hundred years later.
Mara then saw billions of thetans enter into the bodies of human beings over the last several thousand years. Legions of these thetans would inhabit one body giving them emotional distress and disorders. The PTSD the thetans experienced would transfer over to the human being they possessed. Therefore, all the evils of the world were the result of these thetans.
Mara then saw a vision of a human being free of thetans and now capable of true enlightenment and tranquility in perfect holiness. All the emotions of rage, greed, fear, and disordered love were gone. Instead, only will, compassion and hope remained. As Mara saw these visuals, they became part of her own memory.
The mysterious man then took off his mask revealing himself as Lemnos, the teaching adviser for the anti-heroes. "Now, you're ready to pledge undying loyalty to Scientificity. You are legacy after all," Lemnos said, referring to Kara.
Mara felt her mind overwhelmed by what she had just experienced. "There are plenty of crazy people that never set foot on Earth," she objected.
"The thetans are not the source of all mental disorders, but they amplify the ones that already exist. Once your mother came to Earth, it's clear she began to suffer from these thetans. They gravitated toward her like a black hole, attracted to her by her grief and rage for the destruction of her planet. Even when she reached this time, those thetans remained deep in her soul. It is the source of all her pain. It is her pain that inspired her to create this library. In every painting, every book, every statue is her continued pain," Lemnos said to her.
"I have no pain," Mara denied.
"Search your feelings, you know that isn't true. Allow me to liberate you from these troublesome thetans. Allow me to show you the bridge to total freedom," Lemnos offered.
"I'll sleep on it," Mara said sincerely.
"Of course," Lemnos bowed his head to her.
Mara made her way out of the library and immediately felt her powers return to her. However, for the first time in her life, she felt truly troubled in mind and spirit.
The next day, Mara was expected to participate in Outreach Day, a day in which Midvale High weirdos would make a half-assed effort to make Midvale a better place and improve relations with the skeptical townspeople. "This Outreach Day will have a very special event, the dedication of a new memorial statue in the town square," Principal Ream announced in the quad.
Principal Ream then went over to Mara. "I couldn't help but notice your violin playing the other night. I volunteered you to join the Midvale High marching band at the ceremony."
"First, violins are not appropriate for a marching band. Second, I don't have to do anything, period," Mara rejected.
"This was supposed to be a surprise but the statue is actually your late aunt, Alexandra Danvers," Principal Ream said softly.
"I'm not surprised in the slightest," Mara rolled her eyes.
"Do you really want to boycott your aunt's memorial statue ceremony?" Principal Ream guilt-tripped.
"I'll perform with the band but no marching," Mara bargained.
Midvale High students were brought into town by bus and immediately scattered creating terror and consternation among the town's people. Ulu noticed a mural he had made last year was painted over completely. "What the fuck?" he wondered dismayed.
The Midvale High students finally gathered at the ceremony in front of the new statue of Alex Danvers. The mayor, an O-7 Brigadier General, greeted them. "Welcome, Midvale High. Now, on behalf of the Midvale community, we are so pleased to have you here today," he lied. "Your generosity and hard work are truly...outreachous," he chuckled at his own wit.
"Come back here for lunch," Principal Ream scattered them.
Mara ignored her so-called assignment and went to the local Christian Church to help clear her head. As it happened, several Midvale High students were assigned to the church and its history museum. A nun Abbott, an E-7, came out to greet them. Nuns were always enlisted, never commissioned officers according to Church policy. Only ordained clergy were commissioned officers. While priests and nuns were allowed to marry, they could not marry each other and double-dip in salary from the Church. Celibacy however gave both enlisted and officers a "bonus" and a promotion advantage. The Abbott at this church looked perpetually pissed off indicating celibacy was her vocation.
"I'm Abott Arlene. Put your smartphones on vibrate and don't take them out. If you do, I'll smack your hand with this ruler," she threatened. "If you don't work in haste, I will also smack you with this ruler. Now, we shall travel back in time to 2004, over a thousand years ago. Behold, the church where Queen Kara was baptized. Inside is a collection of artifacts related to Midvale's most beloved and pious daughter, Alexandra Danvers. Beyond, is the restroom divided by sex. You may only use the restroom that corresponds to your birth sex, no exception."
"I have a question," Mara interjected.
"Pray, be quick," Abbott Arlene narrowed her eyes at her.
"In the Danvers's old home, what artifacts are displayed?" Mara asked.
"It is truly a treasure trove, including original farm tools, utensils, and an old toilet," Abbott Arlene said proudly. "But it's being renovated so stay clear or you'll get your hand smacked with this ruler. Today, you will all be packing fudge, the beating heart of our church community."
Mara ignored her assignment and made her way to the recreated Danvers's house. On the way, the three seminarians she had run into at the Talon found her. "Look what we have here. A whore, no doubt," the leader said. "Let's put her in the stockade."
"I demand trial by bitter water," Mara said quickly.
"The fuck?" the leader wondered.
"In accordance with Numbers Chapter 5, I'll swear to my innocence and take bitter water. Should I be innocent, nothing will happen. But if I am guilty, my belly will become swollen and my thigh shall fall away," Mara said.
The seminarians considered Mara's proposal. "It's an older code but it checks out," one of them said. "Alright, drink this," the leader said, handing her a bottle of pure acid.
Mara took the bottle and drank it down. She sloshed it around in her mouth a little and then swallowed it. After a few moments, nothing happened. "Am I good now?" she asked.
"I guess so," the seminaries agreed.
Mara then threw up the acid in their faces. "Oh, fuck!" they shouted as their clothes and skin burned. They ran off looking for water to dilute it away. Mara went over to the house, twisted the door knob off, and went inside. Mara quickly found herself in a surreal environment. In the dining room/kitchen area were mannequins of Jeremiah, Eliza, Alex, and Kara. Attached to the walls were artifact cases of replicas of the family's clothes, shoes, and other items.
Mara looked over another case with a Supergirl comic book only this one was hand-drawn with the name Ryan James as the illustrator. Mara recalled him as her foster uncle but had never seen any artifacts attached to him. Mara looked over the comic book and opened it only to find just blank pages. The only thing that had survived was the cover which had Kara's iconic Supergirl uniform. Mara eyed the bright blue and red colors that clashed violently with Kara's black uniform today. All her life, she had only seen her mother in black.
Abbott Arlene finally caught Mara inside the house. "What the fudge are you doing here, missy? I told you not to be in here. I know you heard me."
"All of these artifacts are replicas. Nothing here is actually from the 21st century," Mara mused.
"Nothing could have survived after a thousand years," Abbott Arlene said obviously. "Now, I'm going to reassign you to fudge-churning duty."
"Tell me, Abbott, what happens to an unrepentant homosexual who commits suicide?" Mara questioned.
"Shall I educate on the reality of hell, child?" Abbott Arlene asked fiercely.
"Perhaps, I should be the one to educate you. The woman you venerate is the very hypothetical I mentioned," Mara revealed.
"Hold your tongue. I will not indulge in your lies," Abbott Arlene doubted.
"But if it were true, she would be in hell?" Mara challenged.
"If it were true, yes," Abbott Arlene said finally.
"For me, this place is a mockery," Mara said as she left.
Mara headed over to the Talon and came into contact with Ulu. "You want a coffee. It's non-caffeine only...for some reason," Ulu offered.
"Where's Tyler? I'm here for him only," Mara said coldly.
"Message received," Ulu rolled his eyes.
"Scram," Mara ordered Ulu as Tyler came out. "So...how can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm looking for Alex Danvers' mausoleum," Mara said as she took out a map.
"I'm pretty sure she was buried in Arlington which is long gone. That place got nuked several times over and the body would be dust after a thousand years," Tyler said.
"I'm not looking to dig up her remains," Mara clarified. "My mother built one where the old house and barn used to be."
"Can't you just ask your mom where she built it?" Tyler asked.
"It's a sensitive subject," Mara said obviously. "I don't want her to know I'm investigating it."
"Why do you think I know?" Tyler asked coyly.
"Your father would know. Do I need to squeeze him or you?" Mara asked dangerously.
"Okay, it's around here," Tyler said, pointing to an area on the map. "My father has to ensure its security every so often to keep homeless people and drug addicts from profaning it."
"Thank you, private," Mara said appreciatively and then walked away.
Mara ventured into the forest and found the mausoleum dedicated to Alex. There were no roads or signs leading to it. It was obvious to her that very few people knew of its existence. The mausoleum was pure white marble. Mara came upon the door and found it immensely heavy, beyond human capability to open. Mara easily opened it and went inside. There, she entered a room lit up by sunlight coming from the back windows. There were statues of Jeremiah, Eliza, Alex, and Ryan on the four corners of the room. On the floor were four slaps with just their names. Using her X-ray vision, she saw that they were empty. The room was filled with Christian imagery and crosses.
Mara then closed the door behind her and went back to Midvale.
At the statue memorial ceremony, Midvale High students were in place. Before the ceremony was to begin, Mara gave the statue of Alex a hard look. Once the ceremony started, the mayor made a speech in front of the statue. "It is my honor to celebrate our town's history and Midvale's favorite daughter, Alexandra Danvers. Now, she believed that with a gay heart and being open to who you are, there's nothing one cannot achieve. So, together, as one gay community, we've built a monument to celebrate her memory. Now, may the gay spirit of Danvers be memorialized for all eternity."
Mara played along with the ceremony. When it concluded, Mara stared at the statue. In a sudden vision, imagination, or memory she saw the statue suddenly on fire. The fire roared around it causing the statue to slowly melt. Mara stared wide-eyed as the statue became a horrific version of itself. She then snapped out of it and saw that she was alone.
That evening, Principal Ream and Mara had a chat. "I cannot bear the hypocrisy. How can the Church and my mother venerate my aunt while lying, discriminating, and treating sexual deviants like second-class citizens or worse?"
"What are you talking about?" Principal Ream asked.
"Don't you know the real history of Alexandra Danvers? She was a homosexual and a suicide and a liberal opponent of the Church," Mara said bluntly.
"I do...to an extent," Principal Ream admitted.
"Then why be complicit in the coverup? Why hold the damned in honor?" Mara challenged.
"That's where we differ. Where you see doom, I see opportunity. This is a chance to rewrite history. We write Alex's biography and the chapters about the things we find disagreeable can just be omitted," Principal Ream said.
"Nothing will change. She's still damned, why sugarcoat it with false smiles and platitudes? Why don't you fight for truth?" Mara asked.
"The world isn't always black and white. There are shades of grey. If it's revealed the queen's sister was..., it will compromise the people's trust in the Monarchy and the Church," Principal Ream told her.
"You can't lie about this and demand truth from your students. You can't have it both ways," Mara said to her.
"You're exhausting," Principal Ream sighed. "The bottom line is that if you attempt to besmirch Alexandra Danvers' name, your mother will crush you and I'll be there to watch when it happens."
"Goodnight, Principal Ream," Mara said and turned to the door.
Late at night, Mara went down to the secret basement library and met with Lemnos. "It's obvious my mother doesn't take the faith she imposed on this planet very seriously. How can one sincerely believe in a faith that condemns their own beloved sister to hell? It's all a tool of manipulation and I will have no part in it."
"What will you do instead?" Lemnos asked.
"I will follow your queer religion if you can do something for me," Mara said.
"What do you seek?" Lemnos asked.
"I want you to end my pain, my wrath, my greed, my fear, my lust for power. I want tranquility, not confusion. If I'm infected with these thetans, expel them from me," Mara said.
"Oh, my child, you needed only ask," Lemnos smiled.
Author's Notes: One of the "minor" criticisms of Wednesday is that the real Wednesday wouldn't care to investigate the murders or would likely join the murderer if given the chance. She also seems to fall into the trap of self-fulling propechy whereby her actions end up being counterproductive. My approach with Mara is to have her act as she normally would under the circumstances which is not being emotionally involved and just delegate the problem. It's up to the reader to interpret how seriously Kara takes her faith whether it be sincere or just using it to manipulate or both. It's also possible there's just a misunderstanding whereby Kara may acknowledge Alex's fate but is still diligently working toward a time machine to retcon it, in which case, there is no contradiction. I, myself, am not making any judgment calls about this. I'm just putting nonsense out there for drama's sake. In Wednesday, it's obvious Crackstone is an asshole but here, it's a little bit more complex. Wednesday falls into a potential trap of being so anti-religious, that it does what we all expect Hollywood to be...which is anti-religious and therefore mainstream which is not edgy. AOS always attempts to be a sharp double-bladed sword for all sides.