Marvel's Superman

by Norrin The Bookworm

This is the story of Kal-El. The Last son of Krypton who crash landed on Earth, but not the one we are all used to. Instead Kal El crash lands in the MCU. This is the story of Kal-El the boy who even in a universe of Marvels, filled with; billionaires in suits of armor, super soldiers, Norse gods, spies and monsters becomes the greatest hero on Earth... Superman.

2. Chapter One: For All Seasons

MCU Superman Story

Authors Note: Hello everyone Norrin here back with the second chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Honestly I was hoping to update this story a lot sooner and I initially wanted part one to be the second chapter but it felt too short and unsatisfying to be the second chapter so I just decided to put all of Apollo's childhood into one very long chapter and have the next chapter be his teen years. As you'll all notice this chapter is substantially longer than the first which is why it took so long to update however I don't think many chapters going forward will be as long as this one. Although I also didn't think this chapter would be so long so who knows. Also apologies in advance for any grammatical errors I still don't have a Beta so I'm trying my best but if there's mistakes I'm sorry. Final note is that I've updated the previous chapter to change the year 1987 to 1988, and I'd like to say I did this for an important reason but truthfully I did it because Superman is supposed to be born on February 29th and that was the closest leap year to the year I originally chose.

Review Replies

Aztec 13: Thank you, I hope you enjoy reading Apollo's early years

KingofCretins: Thanks I wanted to mix different Krypton origins to create a unique version of Krypton for my version of the MCU and you're completely right to point out my mistake. She is an Eternal not a Celestial. This is why I need a Beta Reader.

medotono: Thank you, I hope the aunt and uncle interactions are to your likings this chapter.

vtorx: Thanks I decided to take your advice and the dialogue isn't in italics this chapter.

SuperBoi: Thank you and I definitely do plan to have Krypton feel like something that is a part of the MCU and not just something thrown in there. I also do plan on adding lesser known DC characters you seem to have already picked up on who I could possibly be planning to add and as of right now it seems like I won't add big DC characters because majority seem to want just a Superman in the MCU story. I also am definitely trying to keep him grounded and focusing a lot more on Apollo as a person rather than as a Super.

Bruggles056: All I can say is sorry it took so long for you to get to read more.

Luke5921: Oh my god! I love your Kal Son of Odin story, reading that story is partly what inspired me to write this one and I'm so happy you've read mine. Idk if it's as good as yours cause I need to improve my writing but I hope you like it.

Abyss Trinity: Thanks and I don't plan on abandoning this story anytime soon and I can only pray my story is anywhere near as good as Avengers of Steel because that story is genuinely incredible. I hope my story gives you enjoyment as it progresses and I'll definitely consider some of the love interests you mentioned and focus mostly on the alien aspect of DC I think rather than merging too many DC elements.

Samoz: Thank you and I'm glad you like it. I don't think I'm going to add more DC characters like you said and like a lot of my readers seem to think. It's better if this is just a plain Superman story. The cosmic energy definitely will have an effect on him and I'm glad somebody caught the insinuation of what absorbing cosmic energy from such a young age might do to Kal. Hope you enjoy reading how he's raised by an Eternal and human in this chapter.

Aldo Trapani: I'll consider it.

SunGod499: Thank you so much for your PM's while I was writing I hope this chapter was worth the wait.

Guest: Thank you I'm glad you liked it.

Cast

Identical to MoS and MCU with these additions/exception

Jonathan Kent: Brendan Fraser

Young Pete: Young Tyrell Jackson Williams

Young Chloe: Young Victoria Duffield

Doctor Vanderspeigle: Alan Tudyk

Ben Hubbard: James Marsden

Ben Hubbard's Daughter: Young Lily Chee

Professor Siegel: Jason Segel

Anyway without further ado here is the next chapter of Marvel's Superman.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter One

Part One: The Boy Who Fell from The Sky.

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 1992

Ikaris flew through the air his mind troubled. It had been decades since he'd seen any of his family or his wife Sersi. Years of solitude had not eased the anguish that filled his mind, no, the only release or escape from the pain came from talking to the only other person who knew what troubled him. His leader, Ajak. She had settled in the small town he currently was flying above, years of travelling the world and this was where she decided to settle? Ikaris didn't understand her but he hoped she still understood him, he needed her to help him, it was isolating keeping the secret he kept. He needed her to show him the way forward, give him comfort that his existence wasn't for nothing and that they would finish their mission soon. His impatience and inner torment over keeping the secret for centuries while watching his family fall more in love with humanity had only grown as time passed and now once more it was consuming him. Ajak could help him, millennia together keeping the knowledge of their mission made her the only person who could understand what he was feeling. She could ease his mind and maybe give him some assurance that this would all be over soon. He wanted to be with Sersi again, fulfill his reason for being and be among his family once more.

Ikaris looked at the small town below him, acres of farmland, forestry, small lakes and multiple windmills. He honed in on Ajak picturing her in his head and then used a power he and his family all shared; a Psionic Sixth Sense. The psionic sixth sense gave them the ability to connect with one another telepathically via a psychic and empathic link. They typically use this to sense and find one another but it had a variety of capabilities, they could use it to feel what another Eternal was feeling, mentally visit one another by projecting their minds to the others location, access one another's skills and knowledge and if both parties were willing they could use the power to communicate and even share thoughts and memories. When they first arrived on Earth they used this power frequently. It came naturally to them back then, almost like breathing to humans. The telepathic link it gave them allowed them to work together in harmony, emotionally connect and learn about one another. Back then, all those millennia ago that's what they needed but as the centuries passed and their family grew closer they began to use the power less, they knew each other well enough that they no longer needed a sixth sense to read each others minds. Then after they began to splinter they started guarding their minds more, they no longer connected to each other as easily as before. They had all become different beings with different beliefs and wants, they weren't a cohesive unit but rather a broken family. The connection hurt more than it helped at that point.

Ikaris remembered the last time he and Sersi linked their minds, he wished he could do it now, his heart still yearned for her. However, he knew if he did link to her he wouldn't be able to stop her from feeling all that he felt and knowing all he knew. Ikaris pushed away his longing for Sersi as the image of her was overpowering his thoughts and he could feel his mind trying to reach her. He couldn't be with her right now, no matter how much he wanted to so he stopped his thoughts from drifting. He felt his psionic sense re-centre itself to Ajak and he reached out mentally and soon he sensed the presence of another Eternal. It was her, it was Ajak, she was on a farm below and she was happy. Envy briefly flooded his mind, how come she was allowed to be happy but he was sentenced to decades of solitude and loneliness? How could she bring herself to connect with people knowing what they were all here for? How did she live with this knowledge and still be a part of the family for millennia? He pushed those thoughts away as he knew envy wouldn't get him anywhere. She was his leader, the one who spoke to the Celestials and no matter what she always found a way to guide them when they needed her to. Maybe her happiness meant she could even show him how to be happy. Ikaris hoped she could but he would be happy just to see some family, it had been a long time since he'd been with any of them and just that thought put a smile on his face as he honed in on her location and flew down into Smallville to see her.

Location: Kent Farm, Smallville – Earth – 1992

Ajak was with her husband, playing with their son Apollo when she sensed an Eternal nearby. They were above her and rapidly descending towards the farm, Ikaris. She had not seen him in a while, she worried about him after he left. She knew how much it must've hurt him to leave Sersi and for him to do that it meant that being with her caused him even more pain. Ajak often questioned whether she should have told him about the secret of the Eternals. Back then she felt like it would help him, he was a loyal soldier to his core, knowing what he was fighting for would only give him greater resolve to complete the mission she thought and in addition to that if she was being completely honest with herself she did it for her as well, so she wouldn't suffer millennia hiding a secret alone. However, she was naïve to think they would stay as they were, that they wouldn't all connect to humanity and each other deeply in a way that would change them. She was proof of that herself, she'd fallen in love with a human and she was planning on raising a boy that fell from the sky. She had changed far more than she would've imagined and he had too, that change was what was causing him pain. He was torn between his mission and his love and Ajak could not tell which side would win out in the end.

Ajak sensed Ikaris get closer having completely locked into her location and then said "Jonathan, we're about to have a visitor. One of my family is coming."

Jonathan immediately reacted, they had been together for years and although Ajak often talked about her family none had come to visit her while they were together. Jonathan stood up straighter as if to make himself look more proper and Ajak chuckled.

"Mummy's family is coming?" Apollo innocently asked excited about possibly having more people to play with.

Ajak smiled and said "Yes Apollo so you have to make sure you're nice remember?"

"Be nice to everyone" Apollo said reciting what his parents taught him about kindness the first time they let him play with kids.

"Exactly and what else?" Jonathan asked their son.

"Don't be too rough" Apollo replied with confidence proud of himself for remembering his rules.

"That's right" Jonathan said as he ruffled Apollo's curly black hair.

Ajak smiled at the two of them, the second rule came about after he accidentally threw one of his toys through a wall. They knew he was going to be different from people but he was far stronger and faster than either of them anticipated. Even at his young age his strength and speed was incredible. She had not been able to deduce what exact species he was and where he was from but she was trying. She had tried to access the tech he came with in hopes it would give her answers but thus far she had had no luck. At one point she briefly thought of asking Ashirem but decided against it fearing what his reaction to her having a family that could possibly get in the way of the mission would be. She considered giving it to Phastos but after Hiroshima he had gone his own way and was focused on himself and not technology, and Ajak thought he deserved his own peace and his own happiness. Outside of Jonathan Ajak was on her own right now and Jonathan was only human, his knowledge of the cosmic was non-existent meaning he wasn't able to help her find where Apollo was from. Ajak mentally sighed as she thought of their son, she hoped that she could find answers soon because she knew Apollo would have questions about why he was different one day.

The sight of Jonathan trying to tidy his own hair and clothing pulled her out of her thoughts and centered her. Those problems and their solutions would come to her in time, right now this was her focus. Being a mother and a wife, having her own family and being present with them. Enjoying every moment, she could share with the man she fell in love with and the son she loved more than life itself. Ajak chuckled at the sight of her husband standing up straight and adopting a formal expression while Apollo was bursting with energy hopeful that he could play with someone new today.

"Relax Jonathan, I assure you it's nothing to worry about" Ajak said an amused smile on her face.

"I'm sorry Ajak but your family are immortal beings that are the basis of a lot of gods from human myth, I can't help but feel a little nervous" Jonathan replied.

"Gods, myth" Apollo repeated his eyes lighting up due to the belief he was going to get told an exciting story.

Ajak laughed again and then said "I assure you we are not gods".

Apollo's brow furrowed as he tried to understand what his parents were talking about, the confusion evident on his face.

"Don't worry about it Apollo, I'll explain it to you when you're older" Ajak said to ease her son's mind.

"Which one of your family is it?" Jonathan interjected anxiously. "Is it the witch? The actor? Please tell me it's not the mind controller" Jonathan said his nerves getting the better of him as the thought of meeting another Eternal was clearly putting him on edge.

"It's Ikaris, the flying one. Now relax, it'll be fine. What do you think he's going to do, shoot his laser eye blasts at you?" Ajak said to her husband sarcastically.

"He shoots lasers out of his eyes!" Jonathan said incredulously and Ajak kicked herself mentally realising she hadn't told him that he did that.

"Technically it's not lasers, it's transmutable dynamic energy merged with and empowered by cosmic energy" Ajak answered simply as Jonathan just stared at her in shock. "If this is too much you can take Apollo upstairs to our bedroom and play with him there while Ikaris and I catch up" Ajak said in an amused and faux bossy tone as she playfully challenged her husband.

Jonathan looked at Ajak and he moved forward before taking her hand and saying "No I want to be here, be here with you. I may be nervous but I can do this. They are your family, if they're even a tenth of as amazing as you are then everything will be alright." The two smiled at each other and Ajak squeezed his hand lightly.

"Yay, we're staying. I didn't want to go upstairs" Kal said.

Jonathan laughed and then said "of course you didn't champ, that's cause you're much braver than me. You've got the heart of a lion don't you?" Jonathan playfully and rhetorically asked their son.

"Yeah!" Apollo said before trying to roar. Jonathan and Ajak laughed and Jonathan roared back as the two got into a roaring contest while Ajak laughed even more as she took in the moment.

Ajak heard Ikaris stealthily land outside on the farm before he began walking towards their doorstep and she calmly said "he is here".

Jonathan and Apollo stopped playing and stood together as Ajak happily walked to the door. The father and son quickly followed suit wanting to greet Ikaris as he entered their home. The three of them all feeling different emotions; Jonathan a little anxious, Ajak happy to see family again and Apollo excited to meet new family but all three feeling strengthened by their love for one another. United in their love the kindly couple and their son all walked towards the door ready to welcome in the first member of Ajak's family they would meet.

Ajak opened the door and when the two locked eyes they both lit up and the two quickly embraced.

"It's been so long Ajak" Ikaris said his voice filled with relief and joy as he hugged the only person on the planet who would understand him.

"I'm happy to see you too again Ikaris, we have so much to catch up on I'm sure" Ajak replied as she cupped his face and looked at him.

Ikaris nodded and Ajak could see the turmoil had not eased in the decades since they last talked and it broke her heart a little to see that. Ikaris finally looked up from his embrace with Ajak and noticed the two people standing behind her. One was a man, he was very tall and had brown hair and blue eyes while the other was a toddler with eyes so blue they seemed to glow, he figured based on his size he was around 4 or 5. Ikaris stared at the two of them and the little boy excitedly waved at him. Ajak turned to her husband and son and beckoned them forward.

"Ikaris, I'd like to introduce you to my husband Jonathan and our son Apollo" Ajak said as she tried to read his face and gauge his reaction to what she just told him. Ikaris simply clenched his jaw a little and then smiled.

"You weren't kidding when you said we had a lot to catch up on." Ikaris stated to Ajak and she sheepishly smiled.

Jonathan stuck out his hand and the two shook hands. Ikaris could tell he was human just from shaking his hand, he was strong by human standards but still nothing compared to an Eternal.

"Nice to meet you" Jonathan politely said. "I've heard a lot about you".

Ikaris raised his brow at that and then glanced at Ajak before simply replying "I wish I could say the same but Ajak and I haven't talked in quite some time".

The two finally stopped shaking hands as the little boy said "I'm Apollo, nice to meet you".

Ikaris smiled at him and said "you can call me Ikaris".

With the welcomes done they all walked into the house. Apollo and Jonathan went to the kitchen to get Ikaris something to drink and Ajak and Ikaris went to the sitting room. Ikaris looked at the pictures around the house, they were many of Ajak and Jonathan as well as a few of the little boy.

"So a family" Ikaris started trying to keep his voice neutral. "Is this part of Arishem's design?" he asked coldly.

"Ikaris-" Ajak said trying to cut him off but Ikaris spoke over her.

"No, I am a loyal soldier to Arishem. Millennia have passed and you've never done something like this before, what's changed? How much have you told them about yourself, about me, about Sersi, about all of us? What about our purpose and the mission Arishem gave us? A family will only get in the way; how can you not see that?" Ikaris said his voice raising slightly. He was clearly hurt about this turn of events he had come to her for help dealing with his isolation only to discover she was the furthest thing from isolated and was doing something that could endanger the mission.

Ajak moved closer to Ikaris and put her hand on his chest.

"Ikaris you must calm yourself. I know you are mad but this is not a betrayal to Arishem I can assure you. I did not plan on any of this it all happened unexpectedly, and that to me is the greatest gift the universe gives all of it's inhabitants, endless possibilities". Ajak spoke passionately as she looked into Ikaris' eyes. Ajak reached out to Ikaris using their psionic sense and let him feel her emotions. All the joy, the worry and most importantly all the love.

Ikaris let out a breath and his eyes watered a little as Ajak's emotions washed over him.

"I never imagined I would be a mother and wife and get to raise my own child nor could I have imagined that two members of my family would have a love that lasted thousands of years. The universe gives us all endless paths to walk and this is the path I found myself on. How can that be against Arishem's design?" Ajak asked Ikaris lovingly.

Ikaris blinked away the tears that were forming in his eyes just as Jonathan and Apollo came in with tea and orange juice.

Jonathan looked at the two of them and said "We'll just leave these here, it's clear you have some Eternal thing going on right now. I'll be playing with Apollo."

Ajak looked apologetically at her husband, clearly she wanted the meeting to go a little differently but it was naïve of her to think meeting Ikaris with her family would be easy and smooth.

"Can we play tag?" Apollo asked looking up at his father right before his father tagged him and bolted out the door. Apollo gave his father a light head start before chasing after him. Ajak smiled as she watched the scene unfold and then she walked and poured tea for both herself and Ikaris then handed him his cup before beckoning him to follow her outside.

The two then sat on the porch and Ikaris said his voice filled with disappointment "It's not happening anytime soon is it?"

"No, it's not" Ajak replied simply.

Ikaris nodded and then looked out at Jonathan and Apollo chasing each other laughing and smiling as they did so.

"How did you two meet?" Ikaris asked looking to understand Ajak's situation more.

"There was a fire in an apartment complex I was staying in when I first moved to Smallville. He ran in to save people and found me with a child I had shielded from the flames. He thought I was in danger so he helped us both out of the fire. Afterwards I managed to find him and thanked him. He was very humble and caring and before I knew it we were going on dates and falling in love" Ajak answered.

"Everything I've grown to think are the best parts of humanity I see in him; the kindness, the resilience, the will, the compassion and the love" Ajak said as she adoringly spoke of her husband.

Ikaris took in what Ajak was saying and thought of Sersi, she was who he loved more than anyone in all of creation. He took a sip of his drink and wondered if somehow he could be with her. Could he have what Ajak has? Happiness, a family? Would the mission allow for it? Would Sersi even accept the mission? He knew she loved humanity more than any of them, would she be willing to fulfill Arishem's design if she knew what it was? Ikaris doubted it and as long as he doubted her loyalty to Arishem then they couldn't be together. They would break each others hearts, either she would break his by choosing humanity or he would break hers by choosing Arishem and his design for the greater good of the universe.

"You can be with her you know" Ajak said breaking the silence that had fallen between them.

Ikaris chuckled to himself, rolling his tongue in his mouth as he did so. "Is that so? How can I be when I know what I know? She'll find out the truth if I'm with her and that may break her and if I have to lie to her everyday that will break me".

"It doesn't have to; the mission is decades away. Allow yourself to be happy, this path of isolation isn't healthy" Ajak said as she tentatively took his hand and then looked Ikaris deep in his eyes.

"There is more to life than being a soldier, millennia of fighting and even you know what gives you joy is not the evil you vanquish but the life you save. Life wouldn't be worth living if we had to go through it without love all alone. Ikaris go to her and let yourself be happy, forget the mission at least for a while and live" Ajak practically pleaded with Ikaris.

Ikaris' face looked torn, what Ajak was saying was what he wanted more than anything but how could anything be more important than the mission? How could he betray his purpose, his reason for being? Ikaris opened up his mouth to speak but just then Apollo came racing towards them at incredible speeds. Jonathan chased after him, he was clearly out of breath and sweating meanwhile Apollo looked like he may as well as have not been playing at all. He wasn't tired or sweating, if anything he looked like he had more energy now than he did before they had started playing. Jonathan made it to the porch and started catching his breath. Ajak smiled at him and he smiled back as he continued to try catch his breath.

"Can we go again Dad?" Apollo innocently asked.

Jonathan just chuckled and said "give your old man a second or two to catch his breath".

Ajak watched the scene unfold before thinking of something. She looked at Apollo beaming with energy his bright eyes filled with joy and then looked at Ikaris who was deep in his own thoughts and an idea came to her mind.

"Ikaris why don't you play with Apollo?" Ajak softly suggested.

Ikaris was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard his name and looked at Ajak wondering why she thought him playing with her son was a good idea.

"Really you want to play with me?" Apollo said excitedly "what do you want to play?"

"Why don't you two play catch" Ajak suggested before Ikaris could even protest. Jonathan raised his eyebrow at his wife looking at her as he took deep breaths.

"I thought I wasn't supposed to play catch with anyone?" Apollo said questioning his mum.

"It's okay to play catch with Ikaris, he's Mummy's family" Ajak replied to her son. "Now go get your ball."

The words had barely left Ajak's mouth when Apollo darted off, racing into the house at speeds well beyond any child that age should be capable of achieving. Jonathan having finally caught his breath walked towards his wife and looked at her questioningly.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Jonathan asked trying to understand what his wife was thinking.

"It'll be okay, I promise. Ikaris is even stronger than me. Apollo couldn't hurt him if he tried".

Ikaris now completely puzzled at first wondering why he was coerced into playing games with a child and now wondering what Ajak and Jonathan were talking about decided to move closer to the two of them so he could get answers.

"Excuse me" Ikaris said his voice and facial expression conveying his confusion. "What is going on? Why am I playing catch with your son? Why are you worried about him hurting anyone?"

Ajak and Jonathan looked at him, Jonathan's expression was guarded and analytical like he was trying not to give anything away while simultaneously working to figure out if he could trust Ikaris. Ajak looked far more playful, like something amusing was going to happen.

"Play catch with him and you'll understand" Ajak said to Ikaris simply.

Just as soon as she said that Apollo came through the door his ball in his hand. Ikaris confused but intrigued decided to go with Ajak's little game.

The two stepped out onto the large field in front of the house. Ikaris stood out facing the house, the large farmland behind him and Apollo stood a few feet in front of their pickup truck. Apollo gingerly threw Ikaris the ball and Ikaris caught it effortlessly and threw it softly back at Apollo. Apollo caught it and then threw the ball back to Ikaris. Ikaris felt like something was off, there was something about how softly the boy through the ball that was odd to him.

"Throw it harder" Ajak said as if she was sensing his thoughts just as Ikaris was throwing. It distracted him a little and the throw was off causing it veer to the side of Apollo and roll underneath the pickup. Apollo immediately turned towards the pickup and squatted to see where the ball was. He then turned and looked at Ikaris. His presence was off putting to Apollo somehow and Ikaris didn't fully understand why.

"It's okay honey, get your ball like you normally do, I promise you it'll be okay. Ikaris is my family, he's okay" Ajak shouted out encouraging her son.

Ikaris wondered what Ajak could possibly mean by that but before he could ask Ajak what she meant he saw the truck lift off the ground and his thoughts immediately stopped. Apollo was lifting the truck so he could pick up the ball underneath it. Ikaris stared in disbelief as the child lifted the truck with one hand over it's head before picking up the ball with the other. Questions quickly begun flooding his mind as he watched Ajak's son display strength very few children across the galaxy would be capable of. He looked at Ajak and her husband inquisitively and Ajak simply mouthed later.

Apollo put the truck down and turned to face Ikaris, looking incredibly embarrassed and very scared of Ikaris' reaction. Ikaris softened as he looked at the child in front of him, scared of his own power and his true nature. A feeling of understanding washed over him as he thought of how his own power was terrifying even compared to the other Eternals, he was powerful enough to kill all of them if he was forced to and his true nature as a soldier for Arishem was something he battled with constantly while he was with Sersi. He didn't want this kid to be in a battle against himself like he was, he needed to see that someone understood him and that he wasn't the only one burdened with power. Ikaris didn't want Apollo to end up like he was, at war with himself.

Ikaris crouched down and picked up the closest rock he could find, he held it out for Apollo to see before instantly crushing into dust. He smiled at the boy and Apollo's eyes lit up and his expression turned to one of amazement.

"You're strong" Apollo said excitedly.

"I know" Ikaris replied still smiling at Ajak's son. "Now throw that ball as hard as you can, let me see what you can really do."

Apollo wound up his throw and hurled the ball at Ikaris and it flew at him like a bullet. Ikaris instantly reacted and caught it. He chuckled to himself amazed at the boy's strength. He threw it back at Apollo hard and he caught it. This kid was a marvel Ikaris thought. He wondered where he was from to be capable of such strength at such a young age. He looked at the boy in amazement and Apollo looked back at him overjoyed at seeing someone with strength like his and that made Ikaris glad. The smile on the boy's face and the look of joy on Ajak's made Ikaris unburden himself if only for a moment. Moments like this where rare and he didn't want to let it slip, Ikaris wanted to let go and have fun.

"Throw it high and hard" Ikaris said a big smile on his face, "I've got something cool to show you."

Apollo looked at him questioningly before turning to Ajak and Jonathan, seeking their approval before he threw the ball. Ajak simply nodded to her son so he turned to Ikaris and then wound up his throw again before throwing it up towards the sky. The ball flew out of his hands and into the air at bullet like speeds. Ikaris smiled to himself before shooting up into the sky at incredible speeds, he tracked the ball with his eyes and then accelerated towards it. Closing in on the tiny baseball within seconds and catching out of the air. Ikaris took a moment in the sky, in a way he hadn't done in quite some time. He looked at the birds that flew beside and paused. Ikaris chuckled, Ajak was right the universe did give everyone endless possibilities. Ajak becoming a mother to a boy like this was something he never would've imagined but if she hadn't then this boy might be somewhere else going down a different path with his power tormented by his power and nature like Ikaris was but here Ajak could guide him and maybe so could he. That thought snapped Ikaris out of his miniature trance. Ikaris flew back to Ajak's farm and then he floated slowly down towards Apollo who watched him in awe.

He dropped the ball in Apollo's hands as he continued to stare at him in amazement.

"Wow" Apollo said simply causing Ikaris to smile

"Are you going to keep staring or are you going to throw it again?" Ikaris playfully questioned Apollo.

Apollo instantly got a competitive and playful look in his eye.

"That's more like it" Ikaris said "How about this time you aim for the moon?"

"Okay" Apollo said joyfully right before he threw the ball even harder than before.

Ikaris watched the ball sail into the clouds before he floated off the ground and then shot after it. Racing towards the ball at speeds rivalling sound laughing the entire time he did so.

Ajak watched Ikaris and Apollo play and smiled giddily. She could feel Ikaris letting his pain go, even if it was only momentarily and she hadn't seen Apollo this free in a while. She took Jonathan's hand as Ikaris came racing back with the ball. The two spoke to one another once again before Ikaris turned and threw the ball into the distance only for Apollo to race after it, easily running faster than any world class athlete could dream and disappearing into the corn field and then moments later the ball shot out of the cornfields into the sky and Ikaris instantly reacted flying to catch the ball. The scene brought happy tears to her eyes. Jonathan caressed her shoulder and she leaned into him, resting her head on his chest and listening to his heartbeat.

"You know I don't always understand why you do the things that you do but I don't always question it because I know that you're trying to heal the people around you. Even now Apollo looks more at peace than I can remember. So I am really glad that your family visited and I am really glad that you're who you are because I can't imagine raising a child without you" Jonathan said to Ajak.

"Don't thank me because without you I don't think I would be a mother. You opened up my life in ways I didn't think were possible and for that I'll be glad forever" Ajak replied before placing a quick peck on Jonathan's lips.

The two embraced and watched their son play and laugh with his uncle both of them free to use their power to enjoy themselves.

"I hope his life isn't like this, I hope he doesn't have to hide himself only allowing himself to be free in quiet and private moments. Our son shouldn't spend most of his life afraid to truly be himself" Ajak said to Jonathan.

"I hope so too, but the world wouldn't be able to handle what he is. He's this strong right now I can't imagine how powerful he'll be when he grows up. If the government finds out about him they'll stop at nothing to turn him into the next generation of super soldier. Even worse the world will tear him apart because of what he symbolises. He'll change our beliefs, our faith, everything" Jonathan said to Ajak.

"Is that what he did to you? Did he change your beliefs and faith?" Ajak asked

"No, because you already did that. When I met you, I was a young firefighter who was struggling with my purpose. I had left the farming to my Dad and quickly rose up in the fire department. I remember racing into that fire to save you and that little girl. I remember how you came by the station a few days afterwards to thank me and how you took my breath away. It felt like I was looking at a goddess, my world shifted. Then while we were dating my father died and my world fell from under me. Suddenly I was free falling, I didn't know what to do but you caught me. You gave me the strength I needed to carry on and so I came back to the farm; I tore myself in half with the farm and the fire department before deciding to becoming a farmer full time and asking you to move in with me. That was when you told me your secret and my world shifted all over, the woman who I thought was a goddess actually was one. I spent my life idolizing Captain America, the person who was called the first superhuman only for it to be revealed to me they were a race of super beings that had lived alongside us for millennia. Everything I thought I knew about the world and the universe was thrown into question and I felt small. But you helped me, you gave me space but helped me realize that while I was small it wasn't a bad thing. I made my world small, I found strength in what I love and purpose in the people I helped. My world solidified and I realised I believed in you and I had faith in you because you became my world" Jonathan said.

Ajak listened to her husband's speech and took it in. Looking at their son and thinking how his power would burden him. If he was anything like his father he would feel the need to help people, save them, like Jonathan used to. She doubted he would be okay being in hiding like the Eternals were. How could they raise him to love himself and help others in a world that would want nothing more than to use him? Phastos was distraught when he saw what nuclear power lead the humans to do, their son would be a new type of nuclear power. Ajak could feel her thoughts slipping to a dark place and that wasn't what either her or Jonathan needed so she stopped herself, she couldn't let these doubts overcome her mind. Humans were capable of more wonder than they knew, she believed in them and so should Apollo. Besides she had Jonathan by her side and together they would do it, they would raise him to love himself and help others if that's what he wanted for no other reason than they had to.

"We'll be his world, until he's strong enough to make his own. You're right he'll change everything but we'll make sure when he does he is ready. He'll be strong enough to bear that weight" Ajak said her voice filled with determination.

Jonathan looked at their son as he ran around, he was laughing and that laugh was still the most beautiful sound Jonathan had ever heard. Apollo was walking up towards Ikaris being playfully defiant, he puffed out his chest and flexed to Ikaris. No doubt the two were arguing about who was stronger. Jonathan saw the confidence and warmth on his son's face and he knew.

"Yes he will" Jonathan replied hugging Ajak as Ikaris and Apollo began to play fight.

The two play fought and played catch for what felt like hours. Jonathan and Ajak had long since gone into the house when they decided to stop as the sun was setting. Ikaris was amazed at not just the boy's strength and kindness but his compassion. The two were walking towards the house when Apollo stopped to touch a butterfly, the butterfly got onto his index finger and Apollo let it sit there. Ajak and her husband were raising him well. He would grow into a fine man one day, Ikaris was sure of it. The kind of man he would be proud to stand beside.

"So can your kids fly like you?" Apollo asked Ikaris innocently.

Ikaris let out a small laugh at the question before saying "I don't have kids".

"Why not? I thought grownups had kids" Apollo asked in reply.

"Not all of them" Ikaris said softly

"Is it because you don't have someone you love? Kids come from love, that's what my Mum said" Apollo said not fully aware of how personal the question he was asking was.

"No it's not cause of that. There is someone I love, she's beautiful and kind and smart" Ikaris said adoringly as he thought of Sersi.

"Does she not love you back?" Apollo asked innocently once again, a small look of sadness in his bright blue eyes.

"She does, at least she once did but I can't be with her, our lives are complicated and I don't think it would work" Ikaris replied.

"That's dumb" Apollo said simply.

"Really?" Ikaris said questioningly "why do you think so?".

"Not being with someone you love if they love you back is dumb" Apollo said.

"You'll understand when you're older, sometimes things aren't that simple" Ikaris said.

"Why don't you make it simple? You can fly and you are strong, you can make it simple" Apollo innocently told him.

That gave Ikaris pause as he thought back to Ajak telling him to be with Sersi. He thought of how the Emergence would put him at odds with Sersi, how Arishem's design would pit them against one another meaning they could only break each other's hearts. Then he looked at Apollo again, Arishem's design had infinite paths that was what Ajak told him. She found this family by embracing the love of a man who she loved in return. Ikaris didn't want to be alone, these last few hours with Ajak, Apollo and Jonathan showed him what Ajak had been telling him. Happiness came from love, not from the mission and if the Emergence wasn't for a while then why shouldn't he choose happiness? At least for the time being? When the Emergence came to pass who knows what path he or Sersi would be on, but at least they'd be together on that day and walking down that path side by side would mean when the time came they would have a higher chance of being of winding up on the same road. Yes, they might break one another's hearts but their hearts were breaking right now as it stood. If they were together there is a chance they might avoid heartbreak. Or suffer the ultimate heartbreak the cynical voice in his head told him.

Ikaris could tell he was beginning to over think again, he was going to tear himself up again thinking that way so he stopped thinking.

"Make it simple", the words of Apollo rang through his mind as he slowed his mind. He let the words of Apollo guide him and decided to ask himself a simple question. If he could be anywhere with anyone in the world where would he be and who would he be with? His mind instantly travelled to Sersi, she was in London, he could feel her and once again his heart yearned for her only this time he didn't pull his thoughts away from her. Instead he decided to let them stay there, he forgot about the mission and just focused on her. There minds touched for the briefest of moments before he pulled back and he realised what he needed to do.

"Dinner's ready you two, you should come inside" Jonathan called.

"Okay Dad" Apollo said back as he started to walk to the house again.

Ikaris smiled to himself as he walked back with Apollo. He had come to Ajak hoping she'd help him and she had. Both her and Apollo had shown him what he needed and for that he was grateful. The two made it back to the house and Jonathan lead Apollo to the bathroom so he could wash his hands before dinner.

"Apollo hasn't had that much fun in ages, thank you for playing with him" Ajak said to Ikaris warmly.

"The pleasure was all mine. Where is he from anyway? We can't have biological kids so where did he come from?" Ikaris asked curious about Apollo.

"We don't know, he fell from the sky and I still haven't figured out which planet he is from" Ajak told him.

Ikaris pondered that for a moment thinking if he knew any species like Apollo but he came up with a blank.

"Whatever species he is doesn't matter. He's your son. Playing with him showed me that, he's so much like you and no doubt like your husband as well. He is yours regardless of the planet he was born on and you're both doing a great job of raising him, I can assure you of that" Ikaris said to Ajak finding it odd to be the one offering advice but feeling comfortable doing so now that he was assured of what he wanted.

"Please stay for dinner" Ajak asked him hoping to prolong this little family reunion.

"I can't" Ikaris replied. "I have somewhere to be" he told her before sharing his thoughts with her. Ajak let his thoughts fill her mind and she smiled so wide before rushing to hug Ikaris.

"Go Ikaris, be free. Just don't forget to visit" Ajak said to Ikaris proud of him for choosing his own happiness.

"Of course I won't. I've got a nephew to play with now" Ikaris said to her warmly.

Just then both Jonathan and Apollo came out of the bathroom. The two walked to the dining room and started setting the table.

"Are you staying?" Jonathan asked as he was reaching for the plates wondering if he should grab one for Ikaris as well.

"No, I have to leave unfortunately" Ikaris told Jonathan.

"Why?" Apollo asked

"Because it's like you said not being with someone you love is dumb. So I'm going to be with the woman I love now" Ikaris said as he crouched down and looked at Apollo in the eyes.

He hugged the boy and said "I'll visit again don't worry. And who knows maybe next time I'll bring my wife".

Ikaris got up and then said to all of them "thank you not just for your hospitality but for a truly fun afternoon. You have no idea how much it helped me"

"Feel free to drop by anytime" Ajak said to him.

"And have a safe flight" Jonathan added, a joking grin on his face.

Ikaris chuckled and nodded before stepping outside. He looked back once more at Ajak and her family. The heroic farmer, the kindly healer and the boy who fell from the sky. He waved goodbye to all of them before floating away from the farm and into space. He looked down at the planet below him and thought of Sersi again using the thought of her to guide his flight. Then he shot down towards London leaving nothing except a sonic boom in his wake as he raced towards the woman he loved.

Location: London – Earth – 1992

Sersi and Sprite had just finished moving into there new apartment. The two were at a pub enjoying a drink. Sprite had cast an illusion so she could appear as a full grown woman and the two were chatting. A man and his friend had brought the two of them a drink and so the two sat there talking about maybe chatting with them.

"You should go" Sersi said "I'm sure they would love talking with you".

"Yeah until they realize they can't hold my hand cause it's an illusion" Sprite retorted. "Why don't you go?"

Sersi wanted to tell Sprite the reason was that she had felt Ikaris' mind earlier for a brief second but she knew how that sounded, she was still waiting for the man who had left her for decades dreaming he would come back to her and that would seem pathetic. Sersi opened her mouth to speak but felt Ikaris in her mind again, except this time it wasn't for a second. This time it was real, he was honing in on her, trying to reach her and so she let him. Sersi stood up, a flood of different emotions overwhelming her, she was mad that he could just leave and come back like this, she was glad she wasn't crazy and that he truly had reached out to her earlier but most of all she was happy. As much as she wanted to be angry with him for abandoning her she ultimately felt happy he came back, she would definitely question him about why he did what he did but that could come after. Right now she just wanted to see the man she loved once more.

"Earth to Sersi. Sersi, are you alright?" Sprite questioned as she watched Sersi stand up and look outside expectantly.

Sprite heard a faint woosh sound and her heart fluttered for a second. For years whenever she heard that sound she dreamed it was Ikaris coming for her but since his disappearance she taught herself to dismiss it, she knew Ikaris didn't feel the same way about her. She ignored the sound and pushed away any hopeful feelings. She began to ask Sersi again if she was okay again but Sersi raced outside the pub. Sprite chased after her yelling her name as she did so. The two ran outside into the slight drizzle and standing there in the flesh was Ikaris. He looked just as handsome as always, his expression was one of longing. He extended out his right hand, in it he was holding a bouquet of lily's, Sersi's favourite flower.

Sersi stood there for a moment, frozen just like Sprite was as if they were in a spell. Ikaris looked into Sersi's eyes and took a step forward still holding out the flowers he got for her.

"Sersi, I am so sorry" he shouted to her from across the street. His voice was dripping with regret and shame.

Ikaris had gone over what he was going to say to her while he was flying over here but now in the moment he couldn't seem to find the words to convey how sorry he was for hurting her. Ikaris tried to speak again but his voice failed him, tears formed in his eyes as he thought of how much pain he caused her.

Sersi even through the drizzle saw the tears forming in his eyes and she ran towards him wrapping her arms around him and pulling him into a big hug. She looked up into his eyes and he looked down into hers and what felt like electricity passed through the two of them. They leaned in towards each other like they were two magnets drawn together and the two kissed deeply and passionately as Sprite looked on dejected.

"Don't you ever leave me again" Sersi said warningly to Ikaris as the two broke apart to catch their breaths after their deep kiss.

"Never again, I promise" Ikaris said and the two kissed again as the rain fell over them.

Part 2: For All Seasons

Fall

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 1998

Apollo Kent opened his eyes as he was awoken by the sound of the school bus hooting. He slept in again. He had stayed up late the last night, sneaking out of the house after his parents fell asleep so he could run and leap through the cornfields and just enjoy his last night of summer vacation. He ran all over Smallville, taking in the cool summer night air, playing with various animals and racing the train. He even saved a person from being hit by a drunk driver, luckily it was night and he was fast enough that he didn't think they saw him because he knows he's not supposed to get caught using his powers. He had saved a few people from small accidents all over the course of the summer and his parents were worried that eventually people would start to notice he was different. By the time he snuck back home and went back to sleep it was well past his bedtime and he was tired.

The bus hooted again and Apollo scrambled out of bed and quickly put on a blue flannel shirt, some pants and his glasses. He didn't really need his glasses but his eyes were so bright that they were practically luminescent, his glasses dulled the colour so they looked more normal. Apollo quickly tidied his curly hair as much as he could before running out of his room to the kitchen just as the bus pulled out of the driveway and went off to pickup another student. Most likely the new neighbours who moved in down the road, his Mum and Dad had talked about how they wanted to formally greet them and invite them over but wanted to let them get situated so they didn't feel too overwhelmed.

"You missed the bus again" his aunt Sprite simply stated as she made a sandwich.

"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" Apollo asked somewhat annoyed.

"It's not my job" she replied simply and Apollo grumbled, he had wanted to be on the bus to try make some new friends before school started.

"Where are my Mum and Dad?" Apollo asked as he grabbed his packed lunch.

"They went to deliver some crop to the market" Sprite told him. "They also said don't be late to school" she added a mischievous yet playful grin on her face.

Apollo rolled his eyes at her. Sprite had moved in with them about a year after he had first met Ikaris and even though she would often leave to travel the world she was here more often than not. Sprite was like his Mum and him, she had powers but her personality was a bit rough at times. She could often act mean or playfully mischievous but beneath that she really cared about people. She loved telling stories, she would use her powers and tell the best stories Apollo had ever heard. Stories about heroes, legends and myths and whenever she told them he could see her light up. Telling stories was how she brought joy into the world and whenever she made people laugh, smile or feel with her stories Apollo could tell that she was truly happy. She also liked to pull pranks on him with her powers which could be quite annoying. She was like the mean but loving big sister he never asked for but now had. Which was weird cause she was technically his aunt.

"I'll show you, I definitely won't be late" Apollo said determined right before he stuck his tongue out at Sprite.

Sprite just stuck her tongue back out at him and then using sign language said to him "you better get running then".

His Mum and Dad had been teaching him a lot of different languages since he was a kid, one of them being sign language. Sprite had a tendency to use it when she was teasing him.

Apollo stuck out his tongue at her one last time before stepping out of the door. He stretched a little grinning to himself wondering if he could break his record. Apollo took off his glasses not wanting them to fall off as he ran and put them in his bag. He went into the corn fields so he could stay hidden as he ran just like he and his parents had agreed. He grinned to himself again, a race between him and the school bus with the school bus having a head start. That could be fun. He looked at his watch and got ready to time himself.

"On your marks" Apollo said to himself as he got into racing position. "Get set" he said as he got into a takeoff stance. He then looked ahead at the sprawling cornfields ahead of him and with a determined expression said "Go!" as he took off at speeds faster than even Captain America could reach.

Apollo raced through the corn fields his strong legs propelling him forward, the wind swept through his hair and Apollo laughed out loud enjoying the feeling of running at well over two hundred and fifty miles per hour. The world was just a blur to him and all he could hear was the wind howling through his ears. To him running like this felt like true freedom. Apollo knew he was different; he had been since he was born. He could lift a tractor before he had ever stepped foot inside a classroom and he was faster than a car by the time he was in kindergarten. Right now he was running at about 300 miles per hour and he knew if he pushed himself he could run faster but his perception hadn't fully caught up to his speed and he didn't want to lose control and run through a wall. He did that before when he was racing his Mum home and it was very embarrassing.

His Mum was different too, she was strong and fast not as strong or as fast as he was but she was definitely stronger and faster than regular people. His aunt's Sprite and Sersi were also pretty strong and fast, not like him but just like his Mum they were superhuman. Ikaris was the only person he knew who was stronger than him and when he flew he was faster than Apollo could even imagine. Apollo thought he got his powers from his Mum, everyone on her side of the family was beyond human and at first he had thought they must be super soldiers like he and his Dad's hero Captain America but after a while he realised that wasn't the truth. However, he was never told the full story so he could only speculate on what they were because he wasn't told much. They just told him that he was different and everyone on his Mum's side of the family was different too. Apollo suspected he was some kind of demigod because everyone on his Mum's side of the family had a name from myth and they sometimes talked about things that happened a long time ago like they were personally there to witness it. Apollo assumed this was the case and this is why he was different and he didn't mind being different when he was with them but sometimes at school or when he was by himself he would wish he could play with the other kids freely, hang out with them and not have to wear nerdy glasses to hide that his eyes glowed. Just be like them, be free to be himself all the time and not feel alone.

However, this feeling, the feeling of running so fast that you feel at one with the wind was exhilarating. Apollo had never flown with Ikaris before because he was afraid of heights but this was what he imagined flying felt like. The world a blur around you leaving you alone with nothing but the wind as it not only passed through you but also pushed you forward. Apollo didn't want to ever lose this feeling because it felt like true freedom. Apollo continued his run embracing how free he felt and deciding not to dwell on sad thoughts and soon he saw the school come into view. Apollo slowed down as he saw the cars and buses driving to drop off the other kids in his school. He had beat the bus and done so by quite a bit, he looked down at his watch and noticed he hadn't broken his record. He must've inadvertently slowed down when he got lost in thought. It was okay though; he'd beat his record another day. Apollo stopped at the edge of a road put on his glasses and then crossed it at regular speed. He waved to the other kids as he passed them, a friendly smile on his face and with every face he saw he felt hopeful. Maybe he could make some new friends this new school year, friends that could one day would be okay with fact that he was different.

Apollo sat down in his seat in the middle of the class and smiled as his classmates walked in one by one. Their teacher Ms. Rampling went around asking everyone how they were and if they were excited for the new school year. Meanwhile most of the kids were excited to talk about they did over summer break. Pete Ross was talking about the hunting trip he went on with his Dad, Chloe Sullivan was talking about how she was able to go to the Chicago Women's Club and talk to some journalists and Kenny Braverman was talking about how he was able to go to watch the Jazz and Bulls play in the NBA Finals. Apollo listened to everyone describe their eventful summer holidays and Apollo wanted to tell them about the people he saved or about how he discovered his skin was super tough when he jumped too high up, fell through the barn and ended up landing hard on the ground leaving an impression in the earth several inches deep but wound up without a scratch on him. However, he knew he couldn't talk about that so he just told them about his Uncle Ikaris and Aunt Sersi coming to visit and playing with some animals in the woods. The bell rang signaling the start of class and Ms. Rampling told everyone to quiet up and get ready for class. Everyone started taking out their books and that's when the principal knocked on the door. Ms. Rampling opened up the door for him and he walked in with a pretty Asian girl following right behind him.

"Good morning class" Principal Siegel said.

"Good morning Principal Siegel" they all said in unison right back to him.

"I'd like you all to welcome this lovely young girl into your class. Her and her Dad just moved to Smallville recently and I hope you'll all do your best to be kind and friendly to her."

Everyone in the class nodded and Principal Siegel smiled before saying something to Ms. Rampling and then walking out.

"Okay class you heard Principal Siegel please welcome our new student and do your best to become friends with her" Ms. Rampling said to the class.

"Honey, why don't you tell us your name and something about yourself" Ms. Rampling instructed the pretty Asian girl. The girl nodded and then stood out confidently in front of the class.

"Hi everyone my name is Skye Hubbard and I want to be a pilot" the girl, Skye, said as she smiled brightly.

"Hi Skye" the class replied back to her in unison.

"Very good Skye and well done class" Ms. Rampling said. "Skye why don't you go sit next to Apollo over there, he's the boy with curly hair in the flannel with glasses."

Skye nodded and then walked to her seat, she put all her books and stationary on her desk and Apollo smiled to her. He gingerly stuck out his hand for her to shake and she looked at him for a moment before she shook it.

"Hi, I am Apollo" Apollo said introducing himself.

"Like the space program, that's so cool" Skye said as she smiled back at him.

Apollo blushed a little having never been called cool before.

"Yeah, like the space program" he said sheepishly trying to stop his cheeks from turning red.

"Do you like space?" Skye asked.

"I love space, my Dad got me a telescope for my last birthday" Apollo answered a big smile on his face. "Maybe you can come over one day and see it, we leave in the farm up the road from you" Apollo offered nervously.

"That would be awesome" Skye said excitedly and Apollo's smile somehow grew bigger than he thought possible.

Apollo grinned at Skye and she smiled back at him. Ms. Rampling was saying something in the background but the two of them couldn't hear what she was talking about nor did they care they were both just happy to have made a friend.

The late summer turned to fall and Apollo found himself happier than he'd ever been at the start of a new school year. The leaves were falling from the trees and everything was cooling down. He was enjoying the cool autumn breeze and thinking ahead to what the rest of the week had ahead of him.

The Harvest festival was coming up and Apollo was excited to show Skye her first of hopefully many Harvest fests. Mr. Hubbard and her were already planning on what to donate, Skye didn't seem too excited about that part but she was excited for the Fishers Sugar Bowl stand and the prospect of eating chocolate bacon. Apollo loved the Harvest Festival, every year he would say the town he lived in come together to help the less fortunate. His Dad used to tell him this is the essence of what farming is about, it wasn't about growing crops, not really, it was about providing for people who couldn't provide for themselves. Giving back and helping, that was what made humanity survive as long as it did, kindness, helping others. His Mum loved the Harvest Festival too, she loved how it brought people together, made the town feel more like one big giant community, she would tell him how no matter what anyone told him everyone in the world had the capacity to be good and as long as he believed in that people more often than not wouldn't let him down. That the festival showed that even those you thought were mean had kindness in their hearts and the festival showed that, everyone selflessly giving showed that. Sprite liked it too, she didn't like having to project her illusion for a long time but the festival was great place for her to connect with others by telling them stories and hearing the stories they told others. Apollo liked the festival because it made everyone in his family so happy. Apollo loved the festival but in years past he would feel lonely seeing kids run around playing with one another and everyone being hesitant to let him join because he was usually so sheltered and they thought he was weird. This year would be different, this year he would have a friend that he could enjoy the festival with.

He glanced down at his watch and then cursed at himself slightly. He was supposed to be on the farm helping his Dad working on the farm preparing for the same harvest festival he was daydreaming about. He grumbled to himself before taking off quickly to the farm to help his Dad.

He reached the farm a few minutes later and found his Dad working on collecting the corn from their cornfields. He was getting off the corn harvester. Something was in it's way and it was stuck. His Dad was inspecting what it was and how to go about moving it when he heard Apollo run in.

"You're late" Jonathan said in a matter of fact tone.

"I'm sorry I got distracted at Skye's" Apollo replied.

"Of course you did" Jonathan said a slight chuckle in his voice.

Apollo just put his head down and looked out at the cornfields, he rolled up his sleeves and then took off his glasses so they didn't get in his way.

"I thought we agreed that right before sunrise and sunset you'd be here on the farm to help with corn" Jonathan told him.

"I know, I'm sorry" Apollo said.

"It's great to have friends and hang out with them and I don't ever want you to feel bad about spending time with them but you have responsibilities and you have to remember to make sure you honour them. Okay?" Jonathan asked him softly.

"Okay Pa" Apollo said as he walked towards him and saw that what was in the way of the harvester was a large boulder.

His Dad was looking for a way to remove it and trying to get something to use as leverage so he could lift it.

"You need some help?" Apollo asked as he watched his Dad struggle.

Jonathan simply nodded, and Apollo lifted the boulder out of the ground. He held it in one hand casually and Jonathan shook his head.

"Pa?" Apollo asked.

"Sometimes I forget how different you and I are" Jonathan said a bit of wonder in his voice.

Apollo suddenly felt self conscious but smiled to his Dad as he walked away with the boulder.

"So you and Skye are getting mighty close" Jonathan said in a teasing tone with a raised eyebrow.

Apollo immediately understood the insinuation and blushed heavily causing him to nervously drop the boulder on his foot. His Dad laughed at him and Apollo picked the boulder up again with his left hand, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand.

"It's okay son, it's nothing to embarrassed about" Jonathan told him as he put his hand on his right shoulder and walked with him towards the barn.

Apollo just nervously nodded before taking the boulder and putting it to the side of the barn.

"It's not like that" Apollo said finally as he walked back to the fields with his Dad.

"What's it like then?" Jonathan asked inquisitively.

Apollo paused for a second thinking of how to phrase his answer.

"I don't know; it's just everyone thinks I'm weird. I used to not play with them when we were kids cause I was afraid of hurting them. It's hard to make friends when everyone remembers you as the odd kid with glasses who used to sit to the side alone not talking or playing with anyone. But Skye doesn't see me like that, she just sees me. Or at least the part of me she wouldn't be freaked out by" Apollo told his Dad.

Jonathan nodded a part of him pained by hearing his son talk about how lonely he used to feel.

"Son I know it doesn't feel like it now but trust me you'll make more friends as you grow up and they all see how amazing you are. Skye was the first but I can promise you they'll be more" Jonathan said to his son hoping his words would give him hope for the future.

Apollo smiled at his Dad's words for a moment before he looked out at the cornfields.

"We have a lot of work to still do" Apollo said to his Dad.

"That we do" Jonathan replied.

"How about we make it a game. Let's see who can pick the most corn. Me on the harvester or you on your two feet" Jonathan said playfully challenging his son.

Apollo just smiled confidently.

"Your on old man" Apollo said with confidence.

Jonathan got back on the harvester and started it as Apollo crouched in a running stance.

"Go!" Jonathan shouted to his son as he drove the harvester through the fields and Apollo removed the corn one by one at super speed.

Together the two managed to clear the Kent farm cornfields by the time the sun was setting and in the end Apollo's incredible speed proved to be too much for his Dad and he beat him. The two were smiling together as Apollo and him were pulling the corn off it's stalk.

"Pretty soon we won't need any equipment. You'll be doing all of the farm work by yourself in minutes" Jonathan told Apollo as he watched pull the corn at super speed.

"I'd never do that Pa; after all you need to feel like you still have a job" Apollo joked to his father causing him to laugh.

Apollo lied hearing his Dad laugh, it was a deep belly laugh that made him feel at ease and happy. He continued his work and looked out at the sunset and it took his breath away. The symphony of colours all coming together to sing in the night sky. The red, oranges and yellows merging with the blues and purples to create the greatest painting God gave humanity.

"Do you ever get tired of looking at that?" Apollo asked his Dad as they watched the sunset.

"No. Never have. Guess I never will…" Jonathan replied just as in awe of the sunset as his son.

The next day passed smoothly but not nearly quickly enough for Apollo who wanted it to be evening so he could enjoy the festival with Skye. In the morning they had to be the first to get up as they set up the donation stand. Apollo's Mum was in charge of collecting the donations so that meant they were liaising with the Mayor's office in order to make sure everything was ready so the Harvest Festival could go as smoothly as possible. Apollo spent the morning helping his Mum collect the donations and he saw what his Mum always talked about watching the people come in and happily give whatever they could. His Mum met everyone with a smile and did her best to make them feel seen and appreciated. His Mum always told him that no matter what everyone needs a friend, someone who is there for them and believes in them and that's what she tried to be and what she hoped he would be regardless of if people were kind to him because with time everyone was capable of redemption. Apollo saw several of his classmates with their parents while helping his Mum, they were all giving what they could and Apollo tried to make conversation with some of them. Chloe and Pete were nice enough to him but Kyle and Kenny were a bit more standoffish. They still saw him as the weird nerd. It hurt a bit but that all changed when Skye walked in with her Dad. She was giving away some books and he was giving food and clothing.

"Hey" Apollo said friendlily.

"Hey Apollo" Skye said a big smile on her face.

"Are you excited for tonight?" Apollo asked

"I am, but somehow I seem less excited than you and you've been to this festival your whole life" Skye told him picking up on Apollo's energy.

"This one's different, this one has you" Apollo told her.

Skye blushed deeply and averted her gaze unable to meet Apollo's eyes.

"Well I hope I don't disappoint you" she said looking at the floor.

Apollo smiled at her. He'd never seen her blush or act flushed before.

"I don't think it's possible for you to do that" he said softly.

Skye looked up finally meeting his eyes, she seemed to be scanning his face almost like she was trying to read his mind. Apollo blushed at the intense eye contact and luckily for Apollo that's when Mr. Hubbard pulled her away to take her elsewhere since he was done talking to Apollo's Mum and didn't want to hold up the line as Doctor Vanderspeigle had walked in to donate as well. Apollo waved goodbye to her a kind smile on his face.

"Bye, I'll see you at the festival" Skye told him as she walked away with her Dad.

"Okay, I'll see you there, meet me at our stand" Apollo said continuing to wave goodbye to her.

Ajak watched the exchange between the two and smiled to herself happy to see her son finally have a close friend and amused at the exchanges the two shared because she could see what they hadn't yet.

Skye and her Dad bumped into Doctor Vanderspeigle on the way out. Skye apologized for knocking into him and for a moment Vanderspeigle's face turned white like he'd seen a ghost. He simply nodded in acknowledgement of the apology and Skye and her Dad walked away. Doctor Vanderspeigle eyes tracked them the entire way as if entranced by them somehow. Apollo knew Vanderspeigle for a long time. He moved to town and began working with his Mum at the hospital when Apollo was a bit younger in 1995, his Mum would constantly compliment him for his brilliance and his odd eccentricities were largely ignored due to that.

"Hi Harry" Ajak said. "Are you alright you seem a little spooked today?"

Doctor Vanderspeigle shook his head and composed himself bringing a smile to his face.

"I'm alright Ajak. Say the little human girl who I bumped into what is her name? When did she come here?" Vanderspeigle asked.

"Oh that was Skye Hubbard. Her and her father moved here some months back. Jonathan says Ben had moved away after high school but he recently came back with his daughter" Ajak informed him.

Harry nodded and then gave his donation before turning and looking in the direction that Skye and her father walked off to.

"Thank you Harry, I hope you enjoy your day. I'll see you at the Harvest Festival" Ajak said with a warm smile.

"There's no need to thank me it was nothing" Harry replied before walking away.

Apollo watched him and was a little confused, he'd never seen Doctor Vanderspeigle react like that to anyone and he wondered why he seemed so fixated on Skye. Apollo just brushed it off and then spent the rest of the morning helping his Mum before going back to the farm to hang with his Sprite.

The two of them played board games all afternoon. They had to play chess so that Sprite didn't use her powers to cheat like she did whenever they played the other board games. Apollo ended up winning and so she spent the rest of the afternoon making illusions to make him walk into doors and walls. As annoying as that was Apollo didn't mind it, Sprite wasn't the best at talking about her feelings and he could tell that constantly having to hide how she truly looked hurt her. Apollo could relate to that feeling and Sprite knew that, that shared feeling connected them in a way that was unspoken. He knew when Sprite pranked him it was her way of letting herself be free and a sign he could be free too. Even if it came at his expense, Sprite was showing she cared when she pulled her harmless pranks on him, showing herself and him that it was okay to be themselves and that even if other people didn't see them they saw each other. Sprite would often prank him in moments when he felt lonely or like today prank him in moments where she felt the need to let lose before going out to pretend to be someone she wasn't and the reason she did it was to remind them that they were the same even if they weren't technically the same.

Sprite stopped pranking him for the day around the time his Dad came back to get them both so they could all go the fair together as a family. Apollo wore a nice red flannel shirt and jeans just like his Dad did although his Sprite wore blue flannel. Sprite projected the normal illusion of her older self called Sandra and the three of them went and picked up his Mum who was already dressed for the festival.

"Hey Ma, how'd it go with the donations?" Apollo asked her.

"It went very well, we got even more donations this year, we'll be able to help so many people" Ajak replied happily.

"That's wonderful honey, I'm glad the day was such a big success" Jonathan told her as he hugged her.

"As am I, I'll be helping the Mayor allocate and distribute the donations where they are needed most" Ajak told them.

"Ajak Kent, the oldest woman alive who still believes in politicians" Sprite quipped.

"I don't believe in politicians, I believe in people and you should too because when you give them a chance they are capable of amazing things" Ajak retorted warmly to Sprite who just shrugged and got in the truck.

They all got to the city center and set up their own stand which sold caramel apples. His Dad and Mum manned the stand as Sprite went around to mingle and he waited for Skye to show up. Apollo watched as the people of Smallville and even a few people from neighbouring towns came to the festival all eager to partake in the games and food Smallville had to offer. Apollo saw his classmates either at their parents stands or wandering about and as he watched them all run around he saw Skye. She was wearing a sundress and cowboy boots. Her attempt at fitting in no doubt. She spotted him and smiled and then walked to the stand.

"Hey" Skye said to him shyly.

"Hey Skye, you look really pretty" Apollo told her.

Skye blushed at his compliment and shuffled her feet awkwardly.

"Hello Mr. and Mrs. Kent" Skye said quickly redirecting the conversation to ease what she was feeling.

"Hello Skye, we're so glad you're out here for your first of many Harvest Festivals. We hope you have fun" Ajak said to her kindly.

"Yeah we do, I know you and Apollo probably want to go do your own thing. Do you want a caramel apple before you see the Festival?" Jonathan asked.

Skye nodded and Jonathan handed her one before she and Apollo left the stand to have fun. They both waved goodbye to Apollo's parents and then ran into the festival crowd to enjoy themselves.

Skye and Apollo visited every stand they could. They first went to the Sullivan's stand and played rain gutter regatta. Mr. Sullivan gave them each water guns and they raced their respective boats. Skye ended up beating him as Chloe cheered her on. Skye and Chloe talked a little and Skye teased Apollo about losing in a friendly way before the two went to another stand. They went to the Fordman's stand and played shooting gallery which Apollo won. Apollo's hand eye coordination and dexterity was perfect though so shooting games were almost unfair, Apollo tried his best to not use his powers but his control wasn't perfect so he wasn't sure whether or not he won by his own skill or if he used his power unknowingly. Skye told him they were now even and the two spent the next hour going from stand to stand playing games and trying to chat with the kids they met along the way. Apollo had never had this much at a Harvest Festival before and Skye spent most of her time laughing. Apollo saw Sprite talking with people who weren't from Smallville and running a projection stand. He waved at her and she simply stuck her tongue out at him before going back to talking to the people from out of town.

Apollo smiled and continued wandering around. The two bumped into Doctor Vanderspeigle again, he seemed less caught off guard this time and apologized to them. Skye took the apology and the two continued to walk but something about the way he bumped into them felt off to Apollo. It was almost like he did it on purpose, like he was looking for them or more specifically Skye. Apollo was so deep in though he hadn't even noticed Skye going off to buy something and then coming back and he was pulled out his thoughts and concerns when Skye shot him with a water pistol and threw one at him. Apollo caught him immediately understanding the insinuation, he took aim and shot her and the two then ran around shooting each other for several minutes smiling and laughing as they did so. By the time they'd emptied their pistols for the fifth time both he and Skye were drenched and she was out of breath. Apollo told her he'd get her something to drink before going off to get some lemonade for her.

Apollo quickly brought some and hurried back to Skye only to find she wasn't where he had left her. Apollo began panicking and frantically looking for her even shouting her name and after a few minutes that's when he saw her at the edge of the festival in the shadows. Nobody to see or hear her not that it would matter because she was passed out being carried into a car by Doctor Vanderspeigle. Apollo shouted out and pointed but the fair was too loud and busy nobody noticed him as Doctor Vanderspeigle sped off. Fear and rage filled Apollo's chest. Apollo looked back at the fair, at all the people having fun at the families enjoying themselves and the children playing and silently thanked God he got to experience that feeling even if it was only for a short while. Apollo took off his glasses and then looked at the dark and empty roads ahead of him.

"Don't worry Skye, I'm coming" Apollo said hoping somehow she would understand that she wasn't alone, he was on his way. Apollo placed his glasses in his back pocket before taking off at and racing through Smallville at superhuman speeds to save his closest friend.

Apollo found Doctor Vanderspeigle's car at an abandoned factory and ran in not caring if Skye saw him do something inhuman. He found Vanderspeigle pacing over Skye whose body was on the ground still passed out. He was muttering to himself like he was trying to psyche himself up.

"Doctor Vanderspeigle, step away from Skye" Apollo shouted trying to sound as intimidating as possible which was quite the difficult task considering he was a kid.

Harry turned around noticing Apollo entering the factory and seemed not only surprised by Apollo's arrival but also deeply saddened by it.

"You shouldn't be here Apollo. Please go back to your family, go back to your Mum and Dad" Vanderspeigle practically begged him.

"I can't go not without her" Apollo told him as he stepped closer.

"You don't need to protect her; you don't even know her at least not truly. Forget this and go back and be a regular kid because she is not what she says she is. You don't have to help her" Vanderspeigle pleaded.

It was clear something about Skye was deeply distressing to him and whatever it was it was enough to drive him to such extremes, however he still had some kind of moral compass as he didn't want to hurt Apollo. Apollo didn't care if he was hurt though, as long as Skye wasn't. Apollo walked forward completely assured in what he had to do, he had to protect his friend.

"You've got two things wrong in that sentence Doctor Vanderspeigle. One, I'm not a regular kid and two, I do have to help her" Apollo told him as he clenched his fists.

Vanderspeigle could see there was no dissuading Apollo from helping Skye and his heart broke. He didn't want to cause Ajak and Jonathan pain. They were good people and killing a child was not something he ever thought he'd have to do but this situation couldn't be escaped. He started to cry a little, shocking himself at how human he had become since he assimilated.

"Why? Why do you have to help her?" Vanderspeigle asked his voice sad as he too clenched his first ready to do what he needed to do.

"Because she needs it" Apollo replied simply.

Vanderspeigle steeled himself and then charged at Apollo grabbing him by the scruff of his denim shirt and lifting him off the ground suspending him in the air with one hand.

"I truly didn't mean for this to happen Apollo, I was hoping I could blend in here in this quaint little town unnoticed but they found me, they sent their weapon to kill me thinking they could disguise it as a child and I wouldn't notice but you cannot fool a master of disguise" Vanderspeigle told him as his skin and clothing began to morph and soon Doctor Vanderspeigle looked like a green reptilian looking humanoid creature.

Apollo's eyes widened as for the first time in his life he knowingly encountered alien life. Harry's grip tightened around his collar before he threw him several feet away. Apollo skidded across the factory floor but quickly stopped himself and stood up still in shock.

"Doctor Vanderspeigle…." Apollo spoke as he stared at the green being in front of him.

"R'Kin that is my real name. R'Kin of the Skrulls" Vanderspeigle told him.

"Why are you doing this?" Apollo asked him trying to understand what situation he had put himself into.

"Because I must, I come from a people without a home. Our world was destroyed in a war and the people who did that, they'll stop at nothing to wipe us all out just as they have been trying to do for centuries" Vanderspeigle told him.

"What's that got to do with Skye? She's not an alien. She's just a human" Apollo told him.

Harry laughed at that as he closed the distance between himself and Apollo.

"Human, no….. not quite" Vanderspeigle said as he grabbed Apollo once again.

"She was made by the same people that killed my people, a dormant weapon waiting to be activated. A weapon that will kill me and many more, she needs to die" Vanderspeigle said his voice filled with fear.

"I don't think you really believe that, you had more than enough time to kill her before I came here. You couldn't because you're not bad man" Apollo said hoping to connect with the good doctor he'd known for the last few years.

"I'm not even a man" Harry growled as he slammed Apollo into the ground hard.

Harry got on top of Apollo and then grabbed his neck and began to squeeze.

"I'm just an alien trying to survive and she puts that in jeopardy and so do you. I'm sorry Apollo" Harry said as he choked him out.

"Please understand I don't want to hurt you or hurt anyone but if I don't do this I'll be killed and they could use me to track down the rest of my people here on Earth. I'm sorry I truly am" Harry said tears in his eyes and his voice breaking from sadness.

Apollo looked at Harry and saw the pain and sadness in his eyes but also the desperation. He had been hoping to reason with him but he could tell now that Doctor Vanderspeigle had resigned himself to what he thought he needed to do even if it broke his heart, in his mind there was no other choice. Apollo mustered up his strength and kicked Harry off of him. Harry went flying backwards into the air until he smashed into the roof before falling down and landing back on the ground hard.

Apollo stood up and he heard Harry groan in pain. He looked over at him as he slowly got back up. Vanderspeigle spat out purple blood and a twinge of regret went through Apollo as he had never purposefully made someone bleed before. However right now he couldn't focus on that, he needed to save Skye.

"How did you do that?" Vanderspeigle asked in disbelief as he clenched his fists once again.

"It's like I said I'm not a regular kid" Apollo said as he super sped towards Harry and open hand smacked him in the chest sending him flying several feet and smashing into the wall. Apollo couldn't let him recover so he ran to him and grabbed him before jumping into the air with him and then at the apex of the jump spinning and throwing him down into the ground. Harry landed on the ground hard causing cracks in the concrete floor of the abandoned factory and when Apollo landed he stood over Harry and punched him across the face. Harry spat out his purple blood again and he looked at Apollo with nothing but fear in his eyes.

R'Kin realised this boy was stronger than any Skrull or Kree. He couldn't win this fight and just like the rest of his kind he was about to be killed by a mightier force. Tears filled his eyes as he thought of the cruelty of the cosmos, his kind was punished for existing and now here he was once again dreading death with his only crime being fighting back against those who planned to kill him. R'Kin let go and embraced what he thought would be his end as Apollo raised his fist a second time.

'Goodbye Commander Talos, I hope one day we can have a home in this cosmos' R'Kin thought as he closed his eyes and waited for the death blow. However, it never came. R'Kin opened his eyes and saw Apollo had put away his fists and was walking away from him towards Skye.

Apollo walked towards his friend and checked on her. She was still unconscious and didn't have any wounds that Apollo could see. He gently caressed her face and then heard Doctor Vanderspeigle walk weakly towards him.

"I don't want to fight you but if you continue to try and hurt Skye I will" Apollo said in a warning tone.

Harry stopped walking and stared at the two of them weighing what options he had now that it was clear he couldn't defeat Apollo or get to Skye. He could try and leave Smallville but if he did they would still find him; they had already sent Skye which means more were undoubtedly coming.

"I don't know why you think Skye is a threat to you but I promise you she's not" Apollo told him his glowing blue eyes filled with emotion.

"But she is, you have no idea what she is" Harry replied weakly.

"And you do? What on Earth do you think she is?" Apollo questioned.

"The better question is what are you?" Harry said to him as he tried to understand how a boy could be strong enough to effortlessly overpower him and beat him within an inch of his life in a couple of blows.

Suddenly the two heard a car pull up to the factory and out of it stepped Ajak, Sprite and Jonathan.

"He's my son" Ajak said anger in her voice as Jonathan stepped out of the truck and cocked the shotgun he was holding and pointed it at Harry.

"Mum?" Apollo said confused as to how they all found him.

"Whatever you are back away from my son" Jonathan shouted threateningly still pointing the gun at Harry who was still in his natural Skrull form.

Sprite and Ajak walked and checked on Apollo and Skye. Both Sprite and Ajak smiled softly at Apollo.

"Are you okay?" Ajak asked Apollo inspecting him.

"I'm fine Ma" Apollo replied and Ajak looked into his eyes to really see if he was okay. Apollo smiled at her assuring his Mum that he truly was alright and she nodded before turning down towards Skye and beginning to heal her.

"Well done Apollo, I'm surprised he's still breathing after he messed with your little girlfriend" Sprite teased him.

Apollo just let out an annoyed sigh.

"She's not my girlfriend" Apollo said to Sprite.

"Sure she's not" Sprite retorted still teasing him.

"Sprite stop you can do that later" Ajak commanded.

Sprite nodded and Ajak finished healing Skye and Apollo of any potential injuries they may have had before ushering them both to the truck all while Apollo fussed and kept telling her he was fine and not to worry.

The whole time this was taking place Jonathan had his shotgun aimed straight for Harry, rage filling his eyes as he instructed Harry to stay still and put his hands up. R'Kin complied recognising how bad the situation was for him. He put his hands up and then shifted back into his human form.

"Oh my god Harry?" Jonathan said in shock "What are you?"

Harry was about to tell him but suddenly Ajak spoke up walking back from the truck.

"He's a Skrull" Ajak said to her husband.

"I am. How did you know?" Harry asked curious as to how Ajak knew of the Skrulls.

"How and why are you on Earth? Why aren't you on your own home planet?" Ajak questioned ignoring what Harry asked her clearly more concerned as to why he was here covered in blood with a passed out Skye laying on the floor when they found him.

"It was destroyed. The Kree, they and their Accusers razed it to the ground after we refused to bend to their rule" Harry answered his voice quivering as he talked about the loss of his home planet.

"Look Harry, I am sorry you've lost your home world I can't even begin to imagine the pain that caused you but what exactly were you planning on doing here tonight? What did you do to Skye and my son?" Jonathan said to him still pointing the shotgun at Harry but far less angry than he was before.

"I came here to get rid of Skye, she's a threat to my race and to me but I couldn't muster up the strength to do what I had to before your son arrived saw what happened and then beat me near to death" Harry said matter of fact-ly.

"A threat? She's a little girl Harry" Jonathan told him.

"Your son's a little boy and he's stronger than any Accuser I've ever encountered" Harry retorted.

"And he only hurt you because you were going to hurt his friend." Ajak replied.

"You don't understand" Harry said emotionally

"Don't understand what?" Jonathan asked angrily.

"What it's like to be hunted, what it's like to have people want to kill you simply for existing. What it feels like to have no home. Everyday I woke up wondering if today would be the day the Kree found me and killed me and that's how every one of my Skrull brethren feels. I do not want to hurt Skye, I did not want hurt your son, I don't want to hurt anyone. I just want to live and you may not know it yet but I know that Skye is Kree weapon and she will kill. It's what she was designed for. I had to ensure my own survival. The pain that comes with making decisions like that because if you don't you and everyone you've ever know will be killed is a pain you can't understand" Harry told them bearing his soul to the Kent's.

Ajak nodded finally seeing more from his perspective, she turned to the truck and saw Apollo and Sprite eavesdropping. She looked back at Harry and saw the tears in his eyes and the quiver in his stance and she saw how truly afraid he was. How much pain he was in, not just physically but emotionally.

"I understand feeling threatened, feeling like you could be killed or are even being hunted by a race that wants nothing more than your death but killing children is not the answer and Skye I can assure you has no abilities. She's just a little girl who wants a home and a family, like you." Ajak said to Harry as she put her hand on shoulder.

Harry looked at her questioningly right before her hand started to glow and Harry felt all his wounds heal.

"What?" Harry said to Ajak not understanding what she was doing or how she was doing it.

"I don't like seeing those I care for in pain and that includes you too" Ajak said softly as Jonathan lowered his gun.

"Harry being a man, being human means looking out for your fellow man. Being kind, that's what today was about. My family are Jewish, my grandfather saw first hand what the Nazi's were doing to people like him and while I don't fully understand what you feel I do know that my father always told me that even in the darkest times do not give in to despair, persevere and hope because there will be a light one day. You will see a brighter day one day and you don't have to kill a little girl to do it" Jonathan shared to him.

Harry took in Jonathan's words and began to feel moved by the words as Ajak's healing energy continued to fill him.

"Harry there's no point in staying alive if you lose your soul to do it" Ajak said softly and empathically her big eyes beaming with kindness.

Apollo stepped out of the car and walked towards Harry. The little boy with the strength of a giant looked up at Harry and stuck out his right hand for Harry to shake

"Doctor Vanderspeigle…R'Kin I know your scared but Skye's not a threat I promise you. She's my closest friend and she would never hurt you and the day she tries I can promise you I'll help you" Apollo said sweetly having overheard the entire conversation and deciding to follow in his parents' footsteps and show Harry kindness.

"Why? Why would you help me?" Harry asked Apollo looking into his glowing blue eyes trying to make sense of what he was saying.

"Because you'd need it" Apollo replied simply a kind smile on his face.

Harry fully began to cry overwhelmed by the kindness being shown to him. He fell to his knees and broke down.

"I'm sorry. I am so sorry. And I promise to follow your kindness, to be a good human, a good Skrull" he stammered out between cries.

Ajak and Jonathan nodded as Harry finally shook Apollo's hands and they walked him to his car. He told them he had injected Skye with a drug to knock her out and she would wake up in a few minutes. He then told them to enjoy the rest of the festival and apologized again for what he'd done. The quartet nodded and drove Skye back to the festival as Harry drove behind them. Skye came to in the back of the car groggy and freaking out and Apollo quickly put his glasses back on.

"What happened?" Skye said terrified.

"You don't remember?" Ajak inquired.

"No I just remember hearing something behind me and then before I knew it I was passing out" Skye said her voice filled with terror as she was clearly rattled.

"It's okay, Skye someone from out of town tried to take you but we stopped them before they could do anything" Jonathan told her trying his best to have a soft and assuring tone.

"No you don't understand. This happening means I'm trouble, if I'm trouble nobody wants me and if nobody wants me it means I'll be abandoned again" Skye said as she started hyperventilating.

Apollo reached out and grabbed her hand and looked her in her eyes.

"That's not true, you're not trouble Skye and you're not being abandoned" he told her.

The truck stopped as they arrived back at the festival. As soon as they got back to the festival Ben rushed to Skye and pulled her into a deep embrace.

"Skye there you are. I was so worried" Ben said.

"She's okay" Ajak said. "Someone tried to mess with her but we scared them off, someone from out of town."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" Skye said still freaking out.

Ben hugged her tighter and stroked her hair.

"You don't have any reason to be sorry. You did nothing wrong. It's me that should be apologizing to you. I let you down" Ben told her.

"So you don't think I'm trouble? You're not going to send me back?" Skye said in disbelief.

"You're not getting rid of me that easy Skye" Ben told her warmly as he embraced her again.

Harry's car finally pulled up behind the Kent's truck as Ben and Skye hugged.

"Harry good to see you, we were just telling Ben about the man from out of town who tried to mess with Skye and how we sent him on his way and he'll never be back again" Jonathan said knowingly.

"Yes, I don't think any of us will ever see that man again" Harry agreed.

"Good. That's very good" Jonathan replied.

"Let's try and put this bad event behind us honey. What do you want to do? Do you want to go home or enjoy the rest of the festival?" Ben said eager to do anything to make Skye feel better.

Skye took in the moment for a second. She wasn't a burden or a problem to Ben. He truly loved her, this night may have been a lot but tonight she understood what Apollo had been saying about the Harvest Festival. Tonight people she barely knew came to protect her and for the first time someone genuinely wanted her as their daughter. This night had shown her the kindness, giving spirit and care Apollo talked to her about and she got it, she got what he meant. A smile came to her face as tears filled her eyes.

"I want to enjoy the rest of the festival" Skye said.

"Okay, let's do that" Ben said.

"There should be fireworks in a few minutes" Ajak said I can get us a nice spot to watch them.

Skye nodded and Ben and the Kent's all walked with her to the spot.

"You still haven't tried the Fisher's chocolate bacon" Apollo said to her as they walked.

Skye's mouth watered at the thought and she looked at Ben.

"We'll go get some chocolate bacon and then watch the fireworks" Ben told her.

She and Apollo celebrated simultaneously as they all walked to the Fisher's stand. Apollo then turned around and looked at Harry who was still standing behind them unmoving and unsure of how to proceed. He remembered Harry's words to him during the battle. 'What are you?' For the first time in a long time Apollo questioned what and who he was. He wanted to ask his parents more questions about himself and about why he was the way he was. He wanted to know if he really was a demigod and his Mum and her family were gods and goddesses. But as he thought about that a different thought emerged. There was another person who felt like he felt. Another person who felt like an outsider who would be punished for being different and Apollo didn't want anyone to feel like that.

"You coming Doctor Vanderspeigle?" Apollo said.

The group all stopped and turned back towards Harry who was standing where they had left him.

"Yeah come with us Harry, this night should be enjoyed by the entire community and that includes you" Ajak beckoned.

Harry looked at all of their kind faces. Jonathan the kind farmer, Ajak the wise and caring healer, Ben Skye both oblivious to the pain he caused them and Apollo the boy with strength of a giant but a heart filled with selflessness and heroism so great they could dwarf the sun. Harry smiled and felt emotional once more.

"Okay, wait up" Harry said to them as he jogged to catch up to them.

Winter

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 1998

Winter came to Smallville; the cool Autumn breeze had turned into the chilling winds of winter. Snow had started softly falling on the town. Apollo was at Skye's house trying his best to find a place to hide. The two where playing hide and seek and Apollo knew that Skye had an advantage because she knew all the best hiding spots so he had to find a place she wouldn't think of. He heard Skye near the end of her countdown and decided to try a cupboard in the garage. Over the course of the last few months since they had met the two of them had gotten closer and closer. Skye would come over to his barn and they would try and chart the night sky. She would tell him about how she dreamed of being a pilot and tease him a little about being afraid of heights and he would tell her about how he wanted to be a farmer like his Dad or a doctor like his Mum. There parents got a long too which meant they could hang out even more. Apollo was closer to her than he had been to anyone in his life outside of his family. Even Sprite seemed to like her too although she kept having to create illusions to look older whenever Skye or her Dad came over. Skye's Dad was cool too, he used to be a test pilot and was now he worked on planes and was a commercial pilot here in Smallville. Apollo could see the plane he was working on right now from his hiding spot in the cupboard. It was a small one, sometimes he could see him take it for short flights with Skye from his house. Skye said she loved the feeling of the wind around them when they flew, how free they felt and Apollo wanted to tell her that he knew the feeling.

He heard Skye's footsteps near and could feel that he was about to get caught. Dammit, he thought he had picked a better hiding spot. He saw Skye through the tiny gap in between the cupboard doors and could see she was checking the plane in front of him to see if he was hiding in it and he briefly thought about super speeding to a new hiding spot to avoid getting caught but didn't want to cheat. If he was caught he was caught, his parents always told him that using his powers to gain an advantage over regular people was unfair and as easy as it would be to win at everything using his powers it wasn't the right use of his gifts. Apollo often wondered what his powers were for then and his Mum always said that was for him to figure out.

Skye turned to the cupboard and grinned. She bolted to the cupboard and opened it.

"Found you!" she said excitedly. "Next time make it a bit harder" Skye said confidently.

"Next time we'll play at my house and I guarantee you won't find me" Apollo said confidently as he smiled back at her.

"You always say that but I always do find you" Skye said back at him.

Suddenly they heard her Dad walk into the garage.

"What are you two doing in the garage, you better not be messing with the plane" Ben said.

"We were playing hide and seek and Apollo thought here would be a good place to hide from me but I found him" Skye replied.

"An open garage isn't a great place to hide Apollo, next time you've got to pick a place that's got a lot more potential hiding spots than here. The only places you could hide in here are the cupboard or the plane. Which one did you pick?" Ben questioned.

"I picked the cupboard" Apollo replied "it seemed like the best idea at the time."

Ben chuckled at the response and then said "if you had picked the plane I would've taken you on a flight with Skye and I."

Apollo shook his head vehemently "I don't want to fly" he said trying his best to not be rude at the kind offer.

"He's afraid of heights" Skye said chiming in on his behalf.

"Why's that?" Ben asked simply.

Apollo paused for a second as the sensation of being in something as it fell through the air in an uncontrolled descent before crashing into the ground washed over him. The feeling spread throughout his body upsetting his stomach and filling him with fear and sadness(?)

"I can remember falling and crashing, I don't know when or how. Maybe it was a dream but I can remember how it felt and I don't ever want to feel like that again and whenever I am high enough that's all I feel" Apollo said to Ben.

He simply nodded and then said "it's okay to be afraid of heights Apollo but you should know that the sky is filled with wonder and you shouldn't deny yourself the experience of being up there." Ben said softly.

Apollo took in what she was saying but couldn't shake the feeling that was coursing through him right now.

"With a name like Apollo maybe your destiny is in the sky" he added jokingly and Apollo silently nodded.

"It's no use Dad, I tried to get him to be my partner like with you and Uncle Duke but he's not budging" Skye told her Dad.

Ben laughed "I respect you for trying and you for standing by your convictions" he told them both. "Now go inside I have some work to do" Ben said in a commanding but warm tone.

The two of them left the garage and headed to Skye's room. Skye sat on her bed as Apollo grabbed one of her comics and flipped through the pages.

"Can I ask you something?" Apollo said to Skye.

"You already did" she replied jokingly.

"Yeah I guess I did" he said with a nervous laugh, not sure about how to proceed.

"What do you want to ask?" Skye said as she looked him in the eyes making him blush a little.

"Are you adopted? You don't look like either of your Dad and there aren't any pictures of you as a baby in the house? Plus, on the night of the Harvest Festival you said you were worried about being abandoned?" Apollo questioned.

"If it's a touchy topic you don't have to tell me I just wanted to know" Apollo quickly added so as to not upset his friend.

"It's okay. It's not weird for me to talk about it. I am adopted, I never knew my real parents. I grew up in an orphanage called St Agnes and I was fostered by a few families here and there but they always found me 'difficult'. I used to have nightmares a lot and it made me difficult to handle. They'd always send me back and eventually Ben took me in and we moved here. I don't want to jinx it cause I've only been with him for a year but I hope it sticks because he's the kindest person I had ever met before I met you and your Mum" Skye told him.

"He treats me like his real daughter and we go out and stargaze together. On the first night I spent with him he found me on the roof because I couldn't sleep and he told me stories about all of the stars. About how constellations told the stories of heroes and gods. He said that they all had tragic beginnings but that didn't stop them from helping people and that just cause my story started sad doesn't mean I can't be great like they were. It's why he named me Skye so that I'd never forget that I am a legend in the making and that one day maybe a constellation will tell my story. It was the happiest night of my life and most nights have been like that ever since I met him. I don't know if it'll be like this forever but for the first time in my life I feel like I have a family" Skye said passionately.

Apollo nodded listening to his friend describe her Dad and the hardships she had gone through. Ben sounded so kind and loving, he was amazing, the same way his Aunt's (the one's he had met at least) were amazing. And Skye, she was so strong. Going from foster family to foster family yearning to be happy only to end up rejected sounded like more heartbreak than Apollo thought any kid should bear. She was truly strong to go through all of that and still have a smile on her face everyday.

"I must sound so desperate and sad to you" Skye said anxious, it was clear that whenever she opened up about her life in the past people would begin to pity her.

"No" Apollo said quickly. "You don't sound sad or desperate, not to me. You're already the smartest girl I know and now I think you're the strongest too. You're amazing Skye."

"You think I am amazing?" Skye said almost in disbelief.

"I do" Apollo told his best friend reassuringly. "And I hope one day everyone does too. I hope they all see how incredible you are".

Skye smiled wide at him and then excitedly said "You're amazing too you know. I've never met anyone like you"

Apollo blushed deeply, he looked down at his feet to hide his face embarrassed at how easily she could make his cheeks turn red. Her compliment rang in his ears like a hymn and Apollo thought if only she knew how true that statement was. Would she accept the fact that he was different, Apollo wondered? Apollo decided that he couldn't risk it, he wanted things to stay like this for just a little longer. He continued flipping through his comic book absent mindedly reading it as Skye read her own.

"What about you? Are you adopted?" Skye asked.

Apollo didn't know how to answer that because he knew his family was different. They all had powers but they also all looked so different from one another and it made sense for people to think he was adopted he didn't look a lot like his Mum but he had powers liker hers and his Dad was tall and had blue eyes like him, not exactly like him but close enough. He could be there kid; he wasn't entirely sure how his Mum's family worked but he'd never questioned it much either because they had powers and so did he, he assumed that was why. He had wanted to ask more questions after everything that happened with Doctor Vanderspeigle but he couldn't find a good time to bring it up and truthfully he didn't know if he wanted the answer just yet. He liked the way things were now and so he decided not to ask and to continue to believe what he'd always believed.

"I don't think I am. My Mum's family is different" Apollo decided to say simply.

Skye just looked at him with an expression that was a mix of intrigued and confused before she simply nodded. Skye looked at the comic he was reading and chuckled to herself.

"Of course you're reading a Captain America comic" she said to him playfully mocking him for his predictable reading habits.

"It's cause he's the best, he's not just a comic book hero but a real life one too. Plus, he punched Hitler and that's about the coolest thing you can do" Apollo replied simply.

"Yeah he's also boring and old. If you're going to read a comic from ancient times read one about someone cool like the Phantom" Skye said.

"I don't really like the angry broody guys, what's so wrong about a guy who's just good?" Apollo questioned his best friend.

"Nothing, I just guess for me I like the danger that the darker guys come with you know. It makes them cool" Skye said.

Apollo nodded at her and the two decided to agree to disagree going back to reading their respective comics.

"What's your story about?" Apollo asked to Skye as she read her comic.

"She-Ra, Catra is trying to freeze Etheria and She-Ra is trying to stop her" Skye told him absent mindedly while reading.

"Sounds interesting" Apollo said right before he continued to read his own.

The two continued reading their respective comics but Apollo was unable to concentrate fully on reading because he began to feel warm. The warmth built throughout his body, steadily growing and then a sudden hot flash went through Apollo. He began to feel a little disoriented as his ears began to ring and his eyes started to feel hot. Apollo shook his head to try and push away the feeling but the heat began to build. His eyes felt like they were going to burn and his vision began to be tinted with shades of red. Suddenly the comic he was staring at was set alight like a magnifying glass had been pointed at it. Apollo freaked out and dropped the comic to the ground as the fire spread and turned the comic to ash. Skye looked up to see Apollo stepping on the comic to put out the fire.

"Oh my god!" Skye said loudly in shock. "What happened? Are you okay?" Sky questioned him as he put out the last embers.

Apollo couldn't answer he just stared at the ash beneath his feet, all that remained of the comic he was reading. He had done this; his eyes burned, he saw red and then what he was looking at caught fire. A deep feeling of dread and fear filled him, as he questioned what was happening to him.

"Apollo listen to me. Are you okay?" Skye said trying to pull him out of his trance.

"Are you hurt? What happened?" Skye asked him again as she began to grab him and check on him.

Apollo opened his mouth to talk but could only manage to weakly say "I don't know".

Skye cupped his face in her hand and looked at him her eyes filled with concern, she tried to meet his eyes but he was afraid to look at her face. Suddenly his body began to feel hot again and that jolted Apollo out of his trance.

"Oh my god Apollo you're burning up!" Skye said. "We have to get you to a doctor".

"My Mum" Apollo said "I need to go to her".

"Okay" Skye said understandingly.

"I can call my Dad and we'll drive you to her" Skye told him as she stepped out of the room.

"Go to the car and wait for me we'll be there to take you very soon" Skye basically commanded him before turning to go get her Dad.

Apollo couldn't risk it; he couldn't risk lighting the car on fire while they were inside. He stood up quickly collected his tuff and walked out the door behind Skye. He grabbed her hand making her turn around.

"No, it's okay. I'll be fine. I'll take myself" Apollo told her. "Thank you for today, it was amazing".

Skye nodded and it was clear she looked a little spooked.

"Apollo, we need to get you somewhere where people can look at you. You feel too warm" she told him her voice dripping with concern.

"Don't worry I'll go" Apollo told her simply as the ringing in his ears returned and another hot flash passed through him. He needed to leave now or he'd hurt them.

"Thanks again Skye, tell your Dad I said hi and I'll see you at school" Apollo said in a rushed and scared manner before bolting out of the Hubbard household.

"Wait! Apollo wait!" he heard Skye say as he ran out of their house leaving her behind.

He briefly turned to make sure Skye couldn't see what he was about to do and when he saw she hadn't left the house yet he turned back and looked towards the direction of his house before he took off his glasses and ran as fast as he could towards his home.

The world completely blurred around him, snow fell around him as the heat began to build up behind his eyes again and Apollo pushed himself running faster than he ever had. His legs pushed him forward with more force than he knew he had, he cut through the frost covered cornfield at incredible speeds. He couldn't make out anything around him as every step he took pushed him towards his home with more power than the last. He couldn't burn down these fields he told himself, he needed to get home. Home was safe. He thought about Dorothy wishing to leave the Land of Oz and the magic words she said hoping they would empower him to move quicker. 'There's no place like home' Apollo told himself over and over again. Apollo felt himself leave the cornfields and moments afterwards he ran right through the walls of the barn collapsing onto his knees as the heat and warmth began to overwhelm him.

"Mum!" he shouted as loud as he could causing sonic shockwaves to leave his mouth; the entire barn shook and the shockwave broke every piece of wood it encountered as it moved forward towards the house most likely shattering every window on their compound.

Apollo saw red and quickly looked up at the roof of the barn. He felt his eyes burn once again and seconds late the roof was ablaze. Suddenly he felt hands wrap around him, pulling him into a deep hug. His Mum's healing energy filled him and he began to feel better. Apollo began to cry as his Mum soothed him.

"It's okay, my sweet Apollo" Ajak told her son as she hugged him and rocked him gently.

Apollo continued to cry as he thought of how he could've burnt Skye and Mr. Hubbard.

"I know this feels like a lot but I promise you it'll be alright and even though it may not feel like it now this new ability is a new gift" Ajak said to him in a loving tone.

"It doesn't feel like a gift" Apollo said his voice breaking as he cried.

"But it is, trust me. Everything you can do, everything you are is a gift. This ability will be something you come to think of a blessing Apollo and we'll teach you how to control it." Ajak said to Apollo as she continued to soothe him.

Jonathan soon walked in trying to understand the commotion and what was happening and found his wife hugging their crying son. Smoke was coming from Apollo's clothes and shoes.

"What happened?" Jonathan asked in a calm yet concerned tone.

"I don't know, I began to feel hot and then my eyes burned and then…" Apollo began to cry once again as he thought of the fires he started.

Jonathan looked up at the roof of the barn which looked like it had been set a light and burnt and understood. Jonathan moved closer and hugged his son. He and Ajak looked at each other as Apollo calmed down, they didn't say a word but they both shared the same message. No matter what new powers or abilities he manifested the two of them would stop at nothing to help their son.

Hours later after the two had calmed Apollo and assured him that he wouldn't combust everything he looked at they put him to bed. Sprite was in the room with him telling and showing him a calming story to ease his mind and help him sleep. Jonathan found his wife on the porch with a glass of wine staring into the night sky as snow softly fell. He hugged her from behind and the two looked at the stars. Jonathan never could've even dreamt or imagined he'd be married to an alien goddess with a child who fell from the sky but here they were. Even after they got Apollo Jonathan never imagined the problems they would face raising him but every life had problems, even the extraordinary ones.

"What are we going to do?" Jonathan asked Ajak.

Ajak stayed silent. He'd been with her long enough that when she was quiet it was because she was deep in thought. Millennia's worth of experiences tended to lead to long and deep zone outs.

"He's shooting fire from his eyes, or I guess more like heat but either way the things he's looking at burn. How can we help him with that? What is happening to him?" Jonathan rambled off, trying and failing to hide how deeply concerned he was.

"His eyes are releasing powerful amounts of thermal energy" Ajak said calmly in order to try and calm her husband.

Jonathan took in what his wife was saying and understood. Their son had heat vision. How could they help him control that so he didn't hurt anyone and more importantly so he didn't fear himself.

"In time the blasts will probably be powerful enough to melt most anything they encounter. I know this because Ikaris' optic blasts are similar. Ikaris generates cosmic energy and then releases it from his eyes, although his blasts aren't just thermal, they can be concussive or electric as well." Ajak continued to inform her husband.

"What does that mean? He's becoming like Ikaris?" Jonathan questioned.

"I don't know; I still don't know what he is. He's ageing which means he can't be an Eternal at least not one like me and his power is definitely not cosmic. I do know that whatever he is Ikaris can help him. I was hoping he could meet my family on their own terms. Ikaris, Sersi and Sprite all met him for the most part of their own volition and chose the role they would have in his life. The rest of my family is so spread out and doing their own thing that I didn't want to force them to be something they weren't ready to be for our son's sake." Ajak said to him.

Her voice would sound assured and firm to most but Jonathan caught the hint of concern in her voice. She didn't want her family to reject him like what almost happened when Ikaris first met them and was emotional. Jonathan hugged his wife tighter, she needed to know no matter what he would have her. Ajak let out a deep breath then continued.

"But it's clear he's changing and we need them. I called Ikaris and Makkari, they'll be here tomorrow. Apollo needs people who can help him not only control his gifts but embrace them. Ikaris will help with his thermokinetic optic blasts and Makkari will help him with his speed. I'd been hoping his speed wouldn't be so great that I couldn't help him but he ran through the barn wall again and his clothes and shoes caught fire while he was running. He was so distressed he didn't even notice. He needs my family" Ajak told him softly before leaning into his chest and continuing to stare at the sky.

The two heard Sprite step out onto the porch. No doubt she heard what they had been talking about.

"Ikaris is coming over tomorrow?" Sprite asked already knowing the answer.

Ajak and Jonathan both turned to her and then Ajak said simply, "yes".

Sprite nodded and shuffled her feet, clearly seeing Ikaris made Sprite nervous Jonathan noted.

"Is Sersi coming too?" Sprite genuinely asked.

"I doubt it; with such short notice I think he'll come alone but Makkari is coming too" Ajak told Sprite.

Sprite nodded simply a slight and bashful smile creeping on her face. She quickly composed herself and then walked closer towards Jonathan and Ajak and the trio turned back towards the field and looked out at the sky.

Sprite looked at Jonathan and he looked back at her wondering what she was thinking. She had a mischievous grin on her face which concerned him slightly.

"I hope you're ready to meet the fastest Eternal alive tomorrow" she signed to him. Clearly the prospect of Jonathan interacting with Makkari amused her.

"I married into this crazy family, I'm ready to meet any Eternal" Jonathan signed back.

Ajak laughed at their exchange and the three of them began to joke to one another about Jonathan's typical nervousness at meeting the Eternal family. Tomorrow would be an interesting day no doubt they all thought.

Apollo Kent awoke and slowly and carefully opened his eyes the next morning. He went to the bathroom and splashed water in his face. He looked up and took in his reflection, his curly dark hair and glowing blue eyes. He looked deep in his own eyes as fear rose in his chest wondering if they would turn red and he would burn down the bathroom. He immediately closed his eyes and started taking deep breaths. He needed to calm down, he felt the panic building but was pulled out of it by a knock on the door and then the door subsequently opening. Sprite burst into the room and the two locked eyes. Apollo immediately shut his eyes.

"Apollo trust me you aren't going to hurt me like that" Sprite said her voice a mix of amused and warm.

Apollo gingerly opened his eyes and Sprite smiled at him.

"There you go, you give yourself to much credit, you know who I am. Like you could hit me without me letting you" Sprite told him confidently.

Suddenly the Sprite in front of him disappeared and Sprite was standing by his side. Apollo jumped back startled and Sprite laughed at him.

"I hate it when you do that. It's not funny" Apollo said to her.

"It actually really is" Sprite replied. "Besides you needed something to get you not to be so doom and gloom this morning. Especially considering what's happening today".

That perked Apollo's interests. As far as he knew today was supposed to be a normal day for him. He was supposed to go to school and try not to set anyone on fire. He chuckled sadly to himself in his eyes, thinking how sad it was that that was his new normal. Trying not to burn things he looked at.

"What do you mean? What's happening today?" Apollo asked curiously and Sprite just grinned at him.

"Get changed and go downstairs your parents want to talk to you" she told him before walking out of the door.

Apollo rushed into his room, put on his clothes and then his glasses before heading downstairs anxious as to what exactly his parents had in store for him.

He found his parents at the dining room table. They had cooked a big breakfast made up of healthy amounts of everything; eggs, sausages, pancakes, bacon and toast. Apollo felt his stomach grumble at the sight of the food before him.

"Morning, sleepyhead. Your lucky you don't have school today or you might have missed the bus again" Jonathan told him.

"What do you mean? Why don't I have school today?" Apollo questioned as he sat down.

"With the sudden development of your new gifts and the growth of your general physical abilities we thought it best for you to take time off until you can control them properly" Ajak told him.

Apollo immediately felt regretful, he didn't want to inconvenience his parents but now here they were moving things around for him.

"Apollo, please don't feel bad about this. This is who you are and you shouldn't hate that son" Jonathan told him.

Apollo nodded absent mindedly not fully taking in what his father was saying.

"Apollo everything that's happening to you is what's meant to happen to you and like I told you yesterday I promise you one day you'll see it as a gift. Your Uncle Ikaris will teach you and when he's down you'll see what I see" his Mum told him reassuringly.

"Uncle Ikaris?" Apollo said to his Mum confused.

"Yes, he's coming over today a long with one of your Aunt's to help you" Ajak told him as she served him his food.

"So you better eat up and gather your strength your days just getting started" Jonathan told him.

"And if you think school is tough wait until you have Ikaris as your teacher" Sprite signed to him a playful glee in her eyes.

Apollo ate as much as he could which was almost everything on the table before going out to the fields and taking in the day. It was chilly day and light drizzle of sleet fell over Smallville. Apollo steeled his mind, trying to mentally prepare himself for what was coming today. Ikaris and one of his Aunt's were visiting. He could understand why Ikaris was coming but not his other Aunt. Ikaris shot lasers out of his eyes and his parents were definitely hoping that Ikaris could help him with his own eye blasts but what could his other Aunt be here for? And which Aunt was it? Apollo got his answer almost immediately as a golden streak raced by him so fast he barely saw it. He turned back to the house and saw a pretty woman with brown skin and curly hair done up in a long braid standing on the porch. The woman and his Mum embraced in a hug and she hugged Sprite too. Apollo walked back to the porch and saw her and his Mum talking in sign language to one another. She was asking her how she'd been and what she needed her for. His Mum just pointed towards him as he stepped onto the porch. His Aunt turned to him confused and then she looked back and forth between Ajak and him still not understanding the full picture until his Dad came from inside the house.

"Honey I heard some commotion is she here yet" Jonathan shouted from inside the house as he opened the front door and came face to face with Makkari; the fastest eternal alive.

Makkari quickly put two and two together and looked at Ajak with a cheeky smile on her face as if to playfully say 'you're going to be in so much trouble'.

"Hello, I am Jonathan. Ajak's husband. Welcome to our home" Apollo's dad signed nervously to Makkari.

"Hello Jonathan, I am Makkari" Makkari signed back a warm smile on her face, she was pleasantly surprised to find that Jonathan knew sign language.

Makkari then turned to Apollo and looked at him inquisitively and Apollo quickly realised she was trying to figure out if he also knew sign language so she could greet him without needing a translator.

"Hello I'm Apollo, it's nice to meet you" Apollo quickly signed.

Makkari happily put her hands on her chest, clearly she was glad that Ajak taught her entire family sign language.

"It's nice to meet you Apollo. I am Makkari, your Mum is like my older sister which I guess makes me your Aunt" Makkari signed to him as she smiled.

Apollo nodded and Makkari put out her fist so Apollo could fist bump it. Apollo softly fist bump his new Aunt and the two shared kind smiles to one another. Makkari then turned to Ajak.

"What did you need me to come here for? As lovely as meeting your family is you haven't called out for me in a long time. Is there a particular reason you needed me?" Makkari asked.

"Yes, there is. First of all, I would like to apologize for not contacting you in so long and secondly and most importantly for my son. Apollo has a problem that you're uniquely able to help him with" Ajak told her in response.

Makkari looked confused and Ajak decided it was better to show her than tell her.

"Apollo, go for a run" Ajak instructed her son. "A quick lap around the farm" she told him.

Apollo was a bit confused at first but then realised what his Mum was trying to help him with, his speed. Apollo handed his glasses to his Dad and then stepped off the porch facing the vast cornfields and farmland before him before taking off in a sprint at close to 400 miles per hour. The world blurred around him as Apollo ran a lap around the Kent farm and a few moments after he had left the porch he was already back. Apollo skidded to halt and stared at Makkari who seemed a mixture of amused, shocked and amazed.

"You've been hiding a lot" Makkari signed to Ajak causing her to chuckle sheepishly.

Makkari having seen Apollo run understood what the issue was immediately.

"You want me to help him with his speed don't you?" Makkari asked.

"I do. He's gotten too fast for me to keep up with and his control of it isn't great" Ajak signed back to Makkari informing her of exactly what Apollo needed.

Makkari nodded ready to get to work when she felt a powerful vibration in the air, like a sonic boom, Ikaris. Suddenly a blur streaked out of the clouds and landed on the Kent farm. Ikaris walked up confidently to the porch a smile on his face.

"Ajak, Jonathan, Sprite, Apollo it's a pleasure to see you all again" Ikaris greeted.

Ajak and Ikaris hugged one another and then he shook Jonathan's hand before hugging Sprite and scruffing Apollo's hair. Ikaris and Makkari faced each other for the first time in a long time and Makkari watched him, once he was her battlefield commander and leader but since they were separated with no more Deviants to fight she was clearly unsure of what their new dynamic was.

"Makkari" Ikaris signed politely before slightly tilting his head in a formal greeting with his usual confident smile on his face.

"Ikaris" Makkari replied.

"So why did you call me here out of the blue. Not that I don't like visiting my favourite cousin but what was so urgent?" Ikaris said as he looked inquisitively at Ajak.

Ajak and Jonathan shared a look as Apollo suddenly couldn't meet anyone's eyes and started looking at the floor as if he was embarrassed or ashamed.

"Apollo's shooting fire from his eyes" Ajak finally spoke out.

"What?" Ikaris said and even Makkari looked shocked at the revelation.

"It's hard to explain but we've seen it and Apollo needs your help" Jonathan quickly added not wanting the conversation to be drawn out so his son wouldn't feel like a freak.

Ikaris shook his head as if to shake off the shock and then looked at Apollo. Ikaris went up to Apollo and crouched down in front of him and smiled at him warmly.

"Don't worry, I know you're scared right now but believe me I will help you control this power" Ikaris told Apollo as he put his hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

Apollo nodded and then Ikaris turned back to Ajak and Jonathan.

"Which one are we training him in first?" Ikaris asked.

"His optic blasts should take precedence" Ajak instructed both Ikaris and Makkari.

"Yes ma'am" both Ikaris and Makkari signed to Ajak before Ikaris beckoned Apollo to walk with him.

The two walked into the snow and cornfields unbothered by the cold and Apollo felt very self conscious, it reminded him of the time he first met his Uncle Ikaris and he had to lift the truck off the ball. He felt like he'd be thought of as some kind of monster and now he literally shot fire out of his eyes like he was a monster from myth or from the stories Sprite would tell him.

"It'll be okay" Ikaris uttered filling the silence that had fallen between them. Ikaris could clearly sense how troubled Apollo was by this new ability.

"How do you know? What if I can't control it? What if I hurt someone?" Apollo said clearly distressed.

"I know because you're a part of our family and that means your powers are meant to be used for the greater good" Ikaris told him. "And I'll show you how."

Ikaris then went and put up several scarecrows across the cornfields and lined them all up close to one another. Apollo looked at him confused as he walked back towards him.

"This power you have it's greater than you realize and once you learn to control it it'll be an ability that will be far more useful than you even realize" Ikaris spoke as he put his hand on Apollo's shoulder in a comforting manner.

Ikaris then turned and his eyes glowed gold right before two golden blasts of energy flew out of them. The blasts collided with one of the scarecrows and Ikaris started moving his head directing his eye blasts so he could carve something into one of the scarecrows. When Ikaris stopped he'd left a smiley face burnt on to the chest of one of the scarecrows. The small embers of fire around the face went out as snow that was falling put out the fires. Ikaris smiled at Apollo and then looked him in the eyes.

"You can do that too. Just concentrate, find the energy inside you and draw it out. Find that pool of heat within your heart and your breath and release it from your eyes. Let that fire out and aim it how you want to" Ikaris instructed Apollo.

Apollo listened to his uncle and looked out to the scarecrows. He tried to find the heat that Ikaris was describing as he stared at the scarecrows. Suddenly his body felt very warm, he felt as if the snow falling around him would instantly evaporate if it touched his skin even if he knew that wasn't the case. The warmth travelled throughout his body and then his eyes started burning. Suddenly the look of fear in Skye's face when she saw the fire flashed across his mind and he had to stop his blasts from releasing. He couldn't become a fire starter, burning things he looked at wasn't an ability he wanted. He needed it to stop. Apollo shot his eyes but the warmth behind his eyes was too much he couldn't stop it.

"Aargh" Apollo shouted in pain as he shot powerful blasts of heat from his eyes and completely destroyed one of the scarecrows setting it ablaze.

Apollo collapsed and started tearing up again as he looked at the burning scarecrow.

"I can't do this; I don't want this power. I don't want to shoot fire from my eyes, I don't want to leave burning things in my wake like some kind of monster" Apollo said his voice hollow and scared.

Ikaris crouched down and hugged Apollo.

"You're not a monster and this power is only monstrous if you want it to be. Listen to me thermal blasts are a tool. You can use it to hurt, however you can also use it to protect and even to heal and help. Don't fear the fire because fire isn't just death and destruction it's also warmth and life. Remember that" Ikaris informed Apollo.

Ikaris wiped the tears from Apollo's eyes and looked him in his eyes.

"Right now I can tell you're fighting the fire you feel the heat and become scared but that heat is the beat of your heart and the warmth in your breath. Do you understand? It's an extension of you. Don't fight it, embrace it cause when you do that's when you'll control it" Ikaris said to him.

Apollo stopped crying and let his Uncle's words reverberate through him. Apollo stood up again and looked at one of the other scarecrows. He looked for the warmth again except this time he didn't let himself get scared. He hadn't hurt anyone he loved and he never would. This power was his, he would control it. The warmth filled him and Apollo let it flow into his eyes but held it there looking at the scarecrow and aiming at only at the scarecrows right hand. His vision went red and he released a blast at the scarecrow and when he was done only the scarecrows right hand was burnt off.

"Woo, there you go Apollo" Ikaris cheered.

Apollo smiled at the praise and at himself, he controlled it. If he controlled it once he could control it again, he would become like his Uncle Ikaris and learn to perfectly control his own eye blasts.

"Okay let's try this again but more control, try not to burn right through the hand" Ikaris told him.

Apollo nodded and then the two spent the rest of the morning burning through five scarecrows, two water barrels and the mailbox before Apollo felt comfortable enough to feel like he had control of his new power. The two walked back into the house and Ajak and Jonathan thanked Ikaris who simply assured them it was no problem. Apollo then decided to show off his control by making some popcorn by using only his eyes.

"Well we're certainly going to save on the electricity bill this winter by just having you heat everything" Jonathan quipped as he watched his son use his heat vision.

Apollo chuckled and Ajak hugged him.

"You've gone soft" Sprite said to Ikaris as the Kent's all began quipping amongst themselves. "Back when you were leading us in battle your training sessions with the others were almost as intense as real battles" Sprite reminisced.

Ikaris remembered many training sessions with Thena ended with them usually bruised up.

"I used to watch you train the others and it was one of the few times I was glad that I didn't get to spend all my time with you" Sprite told Ikaris.

Ikaris cocked an eyebrow at her.

"It wasn't that brutal" Ikaris defended

"Gilgamesh punched you through a building and you body slammed him into the ground after carrying him like 40 feet into the air" Sprite told him.

"Well we were training to fight against the Deviants and we were all grown up. I could afford to be rough. I had to take the gentle approach with Apollo, besides this was just teaching him to control his power, when I start teaching him combat it'll be a different situation" Ikaris replied to Sprite.

Sprite just nodded as Apollo continued to use his heat vision to light candles. What Ikaris said gave her pause, she wondered if that's why Ikaris was so soft with her, in his mind he didn't view her as grown up.

Makkari sped through the house interrupting everyone she had clearly gone off 'collecting' while Ikaris and Apollo trained. She dropped a few miscellaneous items on the table and Jonathan quickly asked her where she got them only for Ajak to brush off his concerns.

"Good your back" Ajak said.

Makkari nodded and then asked "Is he ready?"

"Ready as I'll ever be" Apollo responded.

Makkari smiled at him before she super sped out of the house and Apollo quickly followed suit. The two ran until they came to a long empty road that was slightly wet from melted snow. Makkari took in the fresh air and snow for a moment as she waited for Apollo caught up. She caught a snowflake on the tip of her finger and watched it turn to water and drop all in slow motion, prolonging a moment she found peaceful with her accelerated perception. Seconds later Apollo skidded to a halt a little past her. Makkari smiled still amused that he did that. Apollo looked back at her embarrassed at his skidding stop.

"You don't have to do that" Makkari signed to Apollo.

"I only do that when I go too fast, I can't really see the world around me or stop easily so I have to decelerate like that" Apollo told her

Makkari chuckled at that response. "There's no such thing as too fast" Makkari signed to him.

Apollo looked at her inquisitively wondering how she could think that considering any time he ran over 400 miles per hour he couldn't make out anything and was in danger of crashing or running through something.

"You think your speed comes from just your legs. I see it in the way you run, all you do is propel yourself at superhuman speeds. However, speed like ours is far more complex than simply doing that. If you want to learn how to truly run, you need to feel. Feel the kinetic energy vibrating in the world around you, let every movement flow through your body" Makkari told him.

Apollo did as she asked and opened himself up to feel the vibrations of the world around him. He closed his eyes and concentrated and felt the air around him. He felt the vibrations it carried, he felt the movement of everything around him and he let that feeling encompass him before he opened his eyes. This feeling was amazing; it was like sensing through movement, his body felt like it was going to start vibrating.

"Good, very good. Now this is the important don't run. Accelerate. Accelerate your whole body not just your legs and arms. Let the speed inside you fill you from head to toe. Let every muscle in your body brim with the kinetic energy you're generating." Makkari instructed Apollo.

Apollo listened and then began to accelerate his entire body and the feeling like he was vibrating was no longer just a feeling his entire body was filled with kinetic energy. He could feel it just like he could feel the movement of everything around him. The world slowed down and suddenly everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.

"There's no such thing as too fast, because you're not running you're becoming speed. Move forward with every step knowing that you are speed. Now run Apollo, run!" Makkari signed to him with prideful joy.

Apollo looked at the road around him and the world warped momentarily as he took off. Apollo ran faster than he ever had and no matter how much he accelerated his perception never changed. He could see and feel perfectly, the world all moved in slow motion to him. The snow falling around him all fell incredibly slowly and Apollo took a moment to take it in. Apollo laughed to himself with glee as he watched the snow fall. He was moving at over 500 miles per hour and he was in total control of his body, the wind flowing around him felt even more intense than before, he could sense every vibration around him and he felt more free than he ever had while running. Suddenly Makkari was by his side smiling as she ran with him.

"This is amazing" Apollo told her as they ran side by side.

"I know, and it only feels more incredible the faster you run" Makkari said to him before getting a playful smirk on her face. "So why don't you push yourself and see how fast you can go, first person to do a lap around Smallville and go back to the farm wins" Makkari challenged.

"You're on" Apollo signed in excitement pushing himself to run as fast as he could, temporarily leaving Makkari behind as she let him get a sizeable head start before running after him.

The two raced around Smallville so fast nobody could clearly make them out several times and by the time they reached the Kent farm it was clear while fast Apollo still had nothing on the fastest Eternal alive. The two ran into the house laughing as they did so. Makkari put an L on her forehead and teased Apollo about losing to her as Ajak, Jonathan, Sprite and even Ikaris to an extent where shocked at how quickly they burst into the house.

Apollo looked at his family in excitement as he told them about how fast he could run now and Jonathan and Ajak congratulated their son on mastering his gifts. Ikaris told him maybe the three of them could race now and Sprite teased him about how he'd probably still find ways to be late to things before making a big point hat that said 'tardy' appear on Apollo's head. The family laughed at that and enjoyed their afternoon together. Makkari and Apollo raced a few times with Ikaris flying with them overhead. Sprite was always excited to create a vision of a loser sign over whoever came in last which caused Ajak to playfully chastise her as Jonathan also tried to stop Makkari from taking things she found during each race. The family laughed together and they all enjoyed each other's company as afternoon turned to evening and Ajak and Jonathan made a big meal for everyone.

They all had a big dinner together and Ajak thanked her family for not just helping but being there for her son. She was greatly touched at how much it seemed like Apollo was bringing them together slowly after all this time apart and she wished she could share it with the others sometime soon.

Apollo was overjoyed spending extended time with his family, he had woken up this morning thinking he was a monster but today showed him he wasn't. He wasn't different when he was among his Mum's family, in fact he was seemingly becoming like his Uncle Ikaris. 'What are you?' That one question from Doctor Vanderspeigle had been in the back of his mind since he uttered it. He had never had to question what he was because he always figured he was like his Mum however the stronger and faster he got the more that feeling of being different grew within him and he but today he learnt he was simply taking after his Mum's side. He really was some kind of demigod. Apollo looked at his parents and his uncle and aunts and saw how happy they all were and decided today would be the day he asked them.

"What are we?" Apollo said

"What do you mean?" Ajak replied.

"I mean; I'm becoming less human as I grow up so what am I becoming? What are you? What is Uncle Ikaris? Aunty Sprite, Sersi and Makkari? Are you gods? You have names like them" Apollo rattled off.

Ikaris chuckled a little at his question and Ajak and Jonathan looked at one another trying to figure out how to proceed. They knew Apollo had questions about himself any kid would but they also knew how much he wanted to fit in and be like other kids and so they held off telling him the truth about themselves and him but it appeared tonight they'd have to tell him the truth. Or at least part of it.

"We're not gods. We did inspire a lot of myths which is why our names are so similar but we're not gods. The truth is my family are a race of beings called Eternals. We come from a planet called Olympia and we came to Earth millennia ago and have been protecting it since" Ajak told her son hoping the answer would be enough for him.

Apollo sat there in shock at the revelation. He wasn't a demigod; he was half alien. Apollo suddenly saw his family in a new light. They were like Doctor Vanderspeigle, aliens from another world.

"Do you need time to process all of this?" Ajak asked him.

Apollo didn't respond right away. He felt uneasy as the full breadth of the revelation swept over him. Apollo felt like he was going to start freaking out and looked at his parents who were staring at him with kind eyes. His Mum was an alien but his Dad was human. That meant he was still part human, he was different but not a total outsider he could exist in both his parents' worlds. The thought of still being part human calmed him down. It didn't matter if it was Mount Olympus or Olympia that didn't change much he rationalized. He's still from this world, or at least part of him is and his powers they all make sense for his Mum's family. He was a human alien hybrid and that wasn't too bad, he could fit in both worlds because he was part Eternal but still human in some way.

"Son? Are you alright?" Jonathan asked him as he crouched down next to Apollo's chair.

Apollo smiled at his father and mother and said "I'm fine Pa, I promise"

Jonathan and Ajak smiled back sensing that their son truly was okay with the partial truth he was told and it seemed to be enough to ease him of his questions about himself. At least for the time being.

Soon the evening faded into late night and Apollo went to sleep early clearly tired after what was probably the most physically taxing day of his life so far. Apollo said goodbye and thank you to his Aunt and Uncle who assured him they'd visit again soon. He went upstairs into his bedroom and lay in his bed thinking about his heritage. He wondered why his Mum came to Earth in the first place, she said that they had been helping humans since they came her and maybe that meant they were sent to be guardians of some kind. He wondered if he could be like them when he grew up and be some kind of guardian or hero. Apollo closed his eyes and decided he'd think about that more when he was older tonight he was just happy to know that he could control his powers but even more than that he glad that he had met more family, learnt what they were and the family he had were all there for him.

A few days later Apollo was back in school and hanging out with Skye, she had been very worried about him but his parents just said he'd gotten a bad fever and needed to be at home for a few days. Skye was catching him up on all the homework he'd missed as they sat together in the library. Luckily it wasn't much and he was pretty much almost finished with it. Suddenly Chloe came up to them, she still didn't know what to make of Apollo so she simply talked mostly to Skye.

"Hey Skye, are you still coming to Crater Lake after school today or are you hanging out with Apollo?" Chloe asked.

"Umm" Skye started to say as she looked between Chloe and Apollo.

"You can go; we don't have to hang out today" Apollo quickly said not wanting to make Skye feel held back by him. She was much more social than he was so it made sense she got invited to more stuff than he did and he didn't want her to be burdened with always having to hang out with him.

"Awesome" Chloe said. "So you'll come? I don't want to have to brave Whitney and his crew by myself"

"No girl should have to suffer that alone, so I'll be there" Skye jokingly told her.

"That's great" Chloe exclaimed.

"And so will Apollo" Skye added.

"What?" Apollo and Chloe accidentally shouted in unison clearly taken aback at his random invite.

The librarian told them to shush and Apollo and Chloe mouthed sorry before looking at Skye confused.

"Apollo's my best friend and this parties meant to be for everyone right? Whitney doesn't own the lake so why not go all three of us and try have some fun?" Skye questioned Chloe and Apollo.

The two of them didn't have an answer and so relented to Skye and decided to both be there. Apollo and Chloe exchanged awkward bye's as they both left the library. Skye assured him everything would be okay before she was picked up by her Dad. Apollo ran home and was secretly both nervous and excited for the random invite as caught off guard as he was by it. Maybe he could make more friends and be more like Skye. Skye told him to meet her there before sunset and so Apollo rushed home and tried to make himself look more cool. He briefly considered taking off his glasses but one look at his glowing blue eyes and he knew that he had to wear his glasses. He was a bit anxious about running into Whitney, Whitney was year older than them but he was the type of guy who was friends with everyone and was good at every sport he played. Especially football. He used to try and get Apollo to play sports with him because Apollo was always big for his age but after a while he just classified Apollo as weird and decided to leave him alone. Maybe tonight could be the night Apollo could change that. If Apollo could become friends with him maybe, he wouldn't be an outsider anymore. Apollo finished changing into his outfit which was a red turtleneck and simple and plain silver necklace with a winter jacked and jeans.

"You look nice, where are you headed?" Ajak as she saw her son walk past her towards the door.

"I got invited to this small gathering of kids in our school at Crater Lake" Apollo told his Mum.

"Honey, that's wonderful. Your father and I always told you that you'd make more friends over time. Stay safe and have fun" Ajak said to Apollo have voice filled with happiness.

Ajak walked up to Apollo and hugged him deeply before kissing his forehead.

"Ma, stop I have to go" Apollo said feeling slightly embarrassed.

"Okay, I'll let your Dad and Sprite know where you've gone when they get back" Ajak informed him.

Apollo nodded as he walked out of the house and then took off at super speed to Crater Lake. He arrived in a few minutes and immediately spotted Skye talking with Chloe and a bunch of other kids standing by the large cabin in front of the lake. With the snow falling and the sunset happening behind them it looked like a scene from a Christmas ad. Apollo briefly imagined an ad playing saying 'Small town big holiday wonder'. He briefly laughed at himself in his mind before nervously walked up to all of them and saying hi. The kids all awkwardly said hi to Apollo clearly not entirely sure how to act around him. Skye didn't seem to care as she hugged him and tried to include him in the conversation. They were talking about their favourite movies of the year so far. Pete and Kyle were trying to argue it was Lion King 2 while everyone else was clearly on team Mulan. Apollo chipped in saying his favourite was Prince of Egypt although he did like Mulan and Lion King 2 a lot as well.

After a while Whitney called them into the cabin and showed them where they could find soda and stuff for ice skating if they wanted to go. Pretty soon everyone was inside hanging out and playing games. Apollo jumped from place to place looking for a group he could naturally fit in with. Kyle Cushing was no go, Pete and Chloe were friendly enough but either of them were entirely comfortable with him yet and he could sense it. He wanted to talk to Skye but Whitney had been chatting with her for a while and he didn't want to interrupt them. Apollo's heart sank as he realized he was still so far away from being fully accepted by the class. He was still an outsider; everyone saw him as the freak still. He looked at Skye with Whitney and wondered how long until she saw him that way too. Apollo relegated himself to the background and watched the party unfold. He saw Whitney and Kyle talk to Skye and Chloe who looked like she didn't want to be there. He saw Skye and Chloe exit the conversation which selfishly made him smile and they both went to get ice skating shoes. Apollo briefly considered joining them but surprisingly Pete came up to him and the two started talking. Pete seemed to not be keen on talking to Kenny and Apollo quickly realized it was because Kenny kept saying weird racial things. Apollo hoped it was because he just didn't understand what he was saying and it wasn't malicious. The two chatted nonchalantly for a while and Apollo smiled, he may not be Pete's friend but sometimes all people was someone who was willing to give them a shoulder of support and being that for Pete was enough for Apollo. Who knows maybe this could lead them to become actual friends in the future. As the two talked Whitney started talking about a game they could all play but before he could finish what he was saying they heard Skye freaking out and shouting. Skye ran into the house clearly distressed.

"Help, somebody help" Skye shouted.

"What's going on?" Apollo asked

"We need to call the police, or firefighters or any adults it's Chloe" Skye said her voice quivering like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"What happened? What did you do?" Whitney accused.

"Nothing, it was the ice, a patch wasn't fully stable and Chloe she fell in" Skye spoke finally breaking down.

Everyone started freaking and Whitney started throwing accusations at Skye and talking about how he was going to be blamed for this.

Apollo looked at everyone freaking out and then looked back to the river. Chloe…. He barely knew her but she was weird and quirky like people thought he was but most of all she was kind. She wasn't going to die tonight. He could save her. He would save her. He turned back to the party and knew everyone was freaking out too much to notice him, now was his chance. He accelerated his entire body and the world slowed around him and he looked at all his school mates, they all looked basically frozen from his perspective. Apollo put his glasses into his jacket pocket and ran off onto the frozen lake at super human speeds. He ran to the lake and felt out the vibrations, the movement around him just like Makkari had taught him and he felt Chloe she was thrashing several meters below under the frozen ice. Apollo super sped to right in front of where she was and then looked towards her, she had stopped thrashing, Apollo could no longer feel those vibrations, she'd most likely passed out. He had to act quickly. Apollo summoned the heat within him, he felt it and let it rise through him and blasted it into the ice below with as much as power as he could summon. The ice melted away almost instantly and Apollo dived into Crater Lake and swam at super speed right to Chloe grabbing her limp body and swimming to the surface firing his heat vision above them to make sure the ice didn't even begin to freeze over them again. Moments later he pulled her out of the Lake and looked her over. Her skin looked completely blue. Apollo began to deliver CPR and Chloe weakly spat up the water she swallowed but she still wasn't waking up. She was too cold and Apollo knew what he had to do. He'd never done this yet but he had to trust himself, it's like his Uncle Ikaris said this power was his and he would use it to help, to save. Apollo let the heat within him rise but this time he let it flow out of his eyes like waves of warm heat and encompass all of Chloe. He saw Chloe's skin regain colour and the ice on her skin and in her clothes melt away. Chloe began to open her eyes and Apollo quickly put his glasses back on.

"Apollo?" Chloe said confused and out of it.

"Yeah it's me" Apollo said as he put his hand on her shoulder.

"What happened I thought I fell through the ice... did you, did you save me?" Chloe questioned.

"I did, but anybody would have. How are you feeling?" Apollo asked.

"Cold" Chloe joked and the two of them nervously laughed together.

"I figured, and it's good you've still got your sense of humour, that should mean you should be okay. Which is good the world couldn't afford to lose future Pulitzer award winner Chloe Sullivan" Apollo earnestly told her.

Chloe smiled and blushed a little at the comment. She was the type to smile by showing all of her teeth in a wide smile. It was a nice smile.

"And the world definitely couldn't afford to lose your smile" Apollo added. "C'mon let me help you inside"

Apollo then picked her up and carried her back to the cabin where Whitney was calling for help. Everyone in the cabin looked Apollo and Chloe like they had sprouted a third eye on their foreheads. Skye rushed to the two of them and hugged them.

"Oh my god Chloe, you're alright" Skye exclaimed.

"I think I am but I should probably go to a hospital to make sure. Apollo saved me" Chloe said as Apollo put her down.

Everyone stared at Apollo and he suddenly wanted to be invisible, he didn't like this type of attention. What if people figured out he was different? What if they went out and saw the holes he melted in the ice?

"How?" Whitney said sounding like a mix of relieved and bewildered.

"There was a hole in the ice. I jumped in and saved her" Apollo said mixing in the truth with a small lie.

"You're an idiot" Skye said as she smacked the back of his head and Apollo had to pretend that hurt for a moment.

"Ow. What was that for?" Apollo questioned.

"You could have died. That was incredibly dangerous thing to do….. but I am so glad you're both okay" Skye responded.

"I'm sorry but why isn't Kent shivering? He dived into a frozen lake and he seems like it might as well have been a relaxing Jacuzzi" Kyle said.

"His skin isn't even blue, and neither is Chloe's. What happened out there?" Whitney added clearly just as confused as Kyle.

Apollo started to feel very self conscious he should've remembered to shiver; he was to caught up in saving Chloe to think about the potential aftermath and now he might've been caught. Everyone would know he was different, that his family was different and they'd be chased down or experimented on. How could he fix this he wondered?

"Are you really asking such dumb questions when Chloe almost died, chalk it up to adrenaline or maybe a holiday miracle either way I don't care. Chloe's alive and that's what's most important" Skye intervened unknowingly saving Apollo.

Those words seemed to snap Kyle and Whitney out of their suspicions and the group heard the ambulance that they had called pull up to the cabin effectively ending any interrogating the two could do of Apollo. The first thing the EMT's did was check on Chloe giving her a new set of clothes and telling her they were taking her to the hospital. The next thing they did was chastise them for skating on a frozen lake without adult supervision. They were all told to go home and so they packed up and Apollo's first party was over.

As he walked out of the house and by the ambulance he saw Skye and Chloe talking right before Chloe was about to be taken away and he waved at them walking over to make sure they were both alright. They both assured him they were fine just as Mr. Hubbard arrived in his car to pick up Skye. Skye said bye to the two of them hugging them deeply before going off with her Dad. An awkward silence fell between Chloe and Apollo as Apollo didn't know what to say to her in this situation.

"Apollo I hope you know how glad I am you were at this party. I may have been a bit taken back by Skye inviting you but I'm really glad you came" Chloe finally said.

"I am glad I came too. Although the party would've been better if you hadn't nearly drowned" Apollo told her.

"Are you kidding, now I have the coolest story to write about" Chloe retorted.

"Well I can't wait to read it" Apollo said with a smile.

Chloe blushed a little then said "You're a really cool guy Apollo, I can't believe I couldn't look past the specs and see that. Maybe I'm the one who needs glasses"

"I'd lend you mine but then I'd be walking around blind, just knocking things over and tripping. I don't know how cool I'd be then" Apollo joked and Chloe laughed at the mental image.

"You'd still be cool to me. You saved my life even though it could have cost you your own, I don't know anybody else who would've done that. Apollo Kent you're totally my hero" Chloe told him.

Apollo blushed as the EMT's finally fired up their engine and told Apollo they had to take Chloe. Apollo watched them drive away with Chloe and then when he was sure nobody would notice him he ran off back home eager to get some rest. He passed by his parents and Sprite on his way in and told them he made a new friend and saved a life. His parents had more questions but Apollo just told them he was tired and they let him go to sleep. Apollo crawled into his bed and the moment his head hit the pillow he was fast asleep. That night Apollo didn't dream but he still smiled as he slept because the words of Chloe Sullivan rang throughout his mind. 'You're totally my hero'.

Spring

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 1999

Winter rolled into Spring and Apollo enjoyed hanging out with both Chloe and Skye. The rest of everyone's winter had been far less eventful. Apollo spent time with his family and his Uncle Ikaris and Aunt's Sersi and Makkari even dropped by to spend Christmas with them. Some of his classmates still had questions about that day, and it didn't help that he'd helped a few people over the winter causing some people to become curious about him. Luckily nobody had anything concrete nor did they seem to invested in figuring the saves out. Apollo didn't regret helping all those people though, he'd rather some people think he was odd than them being hurt although he could tell it was stressing out his Dad every time people would ask him about the odd things Apollo did. By the time school started up again it seemed that the questions about him had died down. Apollo went through the first few weeks of the term like he usually did, splitting time between school, Skye and the farm with the added activity of spending a lot more time with Chloe and helping her with her writing articles. Apollo even began to enjoy it.

Apollo woke up one Spring morning feeling odd. He couldn't describe the feeling; it was like his body wasn't able to do what it usually could because something was wrong. He also felt weirdly warm and not like with his heat vision just uncomfortably warm. He wanted to ask his Mum about it during breakfast but he couldn't afford to miss the bus when he wasn't up to running to school. Apollo got on the bus after saying a quick goodbye to his parents and sat next to Chloe and the two talked about an article Chloe planned on writing. The two reached school and talked with Skye bye the lockers and Apollo's head briefly hurt and he winced. Apollo didn't know what was going on with him but he shook it off.

"Are you okay Apollo?" Skye asked.

"I'm fine just feeling odd" he answered.

"Maybe you're getting sick which would be funny since we've basically never seen you sick, like never it's almost bizarre" Chloe added.

Apollo chuckled before his head hurt again and his ears started ringing. Apollo shook his head and brushed off the sensation. He looked at his two closest friends who both looked worried about him.

"I can assure you, I'm okay" Apollo said. "Now let's get to Ms. Rampling's history class before she marks us as tardy."

The trio walked to their class and sat in their respective seats and the history lesson progressed as usual except the feeling Apollo was feeling was getting worse with every passing moment. Apollo started to feel faint and the ringing in his ears was getting worse. His chest felt odd, he felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice into it. The feeling grew and grew and soon the ringing was ceasing but it was being replaced by a different noise, it was being replaced by every noise. It was deafening The sound of the chalk on the chalkboard not just in this classroom but in every classroom might as well have been gunshots fired at point blank right by his ear. The sound of the train that was arriving at the station miles away sounded so loud it was like he had placed an ear on the train tracks and the train had passed right over him. Apollo felt like his ears were going to burst and this feeling was spreading across him.

"When Kansas became a territory" Ms. Rampling said. "Apollo are you listening, I was asking who first settled in Kansas?"

Apollo looked up at Ms. Rampling and he looked right through her and not in the metaphorical sense, he saw right through her skin to her muscle structure and then to the bone and soon he was looking at the bus driver sleeping in the bus outside of the school as he looked through several walls. He was seeing all new colours; colours he couldn't even describe. He looked away from Ms. Rampling as he began hyper ventilating. He looked at Skye and he saw her skeleton before his vision changed and suddenly he was seeing the heat her body was giving off. He looked around and all around him were streams of odd light and electricity, he reached out and touched one and suddenly he was seeing the same thing being broadcast to the TV in the TV lounge. He was seeing electromagnetic wavelengths. Apollo began to freak out even more.

"Apollo are you alright?" Ms. Rampling asked becoming concerned by Apollo's sudden hyper ventilation.

Apollo started to smell and taste things, he could smell everyone's packed lunch and the boy odour of everyone in the classroom. He could smell what everyone ate for breakfast and taste the perfume Ms. Rampling was wearing and even taste the dried blood from the scab Kyle got from playing football yesterday. Not to mention all the other gross things in the school he began tasting and smelling, it made him want to throw up.

A bug flew through the classroom and he could feel every flap of its wings like it was a giant fan being blown against his skin, he could feel the ants walking on the corridor floor right outside the classroom and Apollo couldn't take it anymore.

He covered his ears and rushed out of the classroom not caring about everyone calling his name in concern. He needed to be somewhere quiet, somewhere he couldn't smell, taste, feel, see or hear. He ran to the janitors closet because the smell and taste of all his cleaning liquids was strong enough to block out everything else and he could see inside it that it was empty. He quickly shut the door behind him and started trying to control his breath as he continued to hyper ventilate and his chest felt chilly like his lungs were coated in ice and that feeling moved from his lungs to his mouth every time he inhaled and exhaled. Apollo soon noticed that he was feeling a chill in his breath for a reason, he was somehow exhaling frost and ice with every breath. Apollo began to hyper ventilate more and the frost and ice he was exhaling grew as every breath he had was bigger than the last. He heard and saw the class walking to the door to try and reach him but he didn't care. Ms. Rampling reached for the door and Apollo used his vision to heat up the door handle and soon Ms. Rampling let it go in pain.

"Apollo please let me help you" Ms. Rampling said desperately.

"You can't just leave me alone" Apollo shouted back.

"Apollo we've called your mother; it's going to be alright just let us in" Ms. Rampling informed him.

Apollo looked up and he saw the crowd of kids outside the door, he could hear them whispering to themselves. Skye and Chloe were worried. He felt bad for making them worry but he also didn't want to see and hear them. No like this, it was agony. He could hear their heartbeats, their muscles constricting and moving and see their body temperature, their skeletons and muscles… and it wasn't just them but everyone outside in his class standing in the hallway waiting for him to come out. Apollo buried his head in his lap and covered his ears tighter and prayed the pain would stop especially since he wasn't coping with it well. His hyper ventilating had caused the entire inside of the closet to be covered in thin sheet of ice and his senses were overwhelming him completely.

"What's wrong with him?" Apollo heard one of his class mates whisper.

"He's so weird, remember how he wasn't allowed to play with other kids" said another.

"What about all the weird stuff he's done, Whitney said he swam in a frozen lake and wasn't even cold and my Dad said he stopped a robber by pushing him and the robber flew backwards like he was hit by a car" one kid added.

"My Mum said she saw him stop a car from hitting someone once with his bare hands" another kid tacked on.

"He's such a freak, I wonder if he's even human"

Apollo heard enough and began to cry. Tears fell down his face as he sat in agony from sensory overload in a now frozen room. Until Apollo heard footsteps and soon a being with golden insides like a merge of complex machine and a skeletal system with golden energy constantly flowing through them was at the door. It was his Ma.

"Apollo I'm here, will you open the door?" Ajak asked her son.

Apollo wanted to open the door but he couldn't go back out there, to all the noise, the smells, the tastes and sights.

"Sweetie how can I help you if you won't let me in?" Ajak said in a comforting tone.

"The worlds too big Mum" Apollo finally said his face wet with tears.

Ajak paused for a second and remembered the words her and Jonathan shared years ago.

"Then make it small. Just focus on my voice." Ajak told him and Apollo closed his eyes and listened to her words.

"Pretend it's an island…. out in the ocean" Ajak instructed him and Apollo imagined it. The island in the ocean. He focused until there was nothing else except the island in his mind. The smells, tastes and sights began to ease and his breathing did too. His breathing slowed until it was completely normal and his senses dulled until they were completely normal too.

"Can you see it?" Ajak asked.

"I can" Apollo answered temporarily happy his senses and breathing were normal now.

"Then swim towards it" Ajak said as Apollo promptly melted all the ice he'd covered the room in before unlocking the door and hugging his Mum. His classmates all stared at him and Apollo felt heartbroken again.

"What's wrong with me Mum" Apollo said softly through tears and Ajak shook her head and cupped his face while looking at him with nothing but love and adoration.

"Oh my sweet Apollo. There's nothing wrong with you" Ajak told her son lovingly as she hugged him once again.

Ajak took Apollo from school early and Apollo tried to ignore all the weird faces he got as he left the school with his Mum. Skye and Chloe were very concerned and sympathetic but everyone else looked at him like he was a freak. Apollo sighed to himself, it seemed like he was never going to escape that title, no matter what he was always going to be the freak. He thought being half human and half Eternal meant the best of both worlds but it just meant he wasn't able to fit into either. He was a freak no matter who he was with.

Apollo stayed silent on the ride home and when he got there he immediately went to the barn and locked himself there. He just wanted to be alone right now. He closed his eyes and breathed slowly, trying to make sure whatever happened to him in school didn't happen again. Apollo stayed in the barn effectively meditating for what felt like hours when suddenly he heard the barn doors.

"Ma please I just want to be left alone" Apollo said hoping he would be given more time to cope.

"I'm not your Ma and we can't always get what we want" Sprite said in response her voice pulling Apollo out of his meditation.

"Sprite? What do you want?" Apollo asked as he got up and looked over the railing on the upper part of the barn to see Sprite standing below him.

"Believe it or not to help, Ajak told me what was going on with you and I think for the first time I'm probably your best bet at getting this power under control" Sprite told him sounding far softer and gentler than she usually did.

"Lord help me it that's true" Apollo quipped.

"He should help me, I'm the one who has to deal with you until you master this power" Sprite retorted.

Apollo laughed a little and then walked down the stairs to stand face to face with Sprite.

"So what's your brilliant plan to help me with my power?" Apollo questioned.

"This" Sprite said before she promptly disappeared.

Apollo started looking around frantically.

"What exactly is the plan here" Apollo said loudly.

"Ajak said your power is basically enhanced senses right? You can hear and see things others can't. Well I make illusions that could fool almost anyone's senses. So let's see if you can control your power enough to beat my illusions" Sprite spoke her voice now coming from the upper floor.

"You want me to willingly use this power? I can't do that. It's too painful, I sense everything" Apollo told her.

"And if you don't want it to be painful you need to get it under control. Only hear and see what you want to. So stop being afraid of yourself and use the power. Find me" Sprite instructed.

Apollo super sped to where Sprite just talked from only to collide hard with a wall. He heard Sprite laugh out loud her voice now coming from the other side of the barn.

"I'm glad my humiliation is bringing you joy" Apollo shouted out.

"I wouldn't have humiliated you if you had used your senses" Sprite said to him.

Apollo wanted to say something in response but he couldn't because he knew she was right. He could hear a train from across the town and see through people. He should be able to find Sprite no matter what illusion she cast. Apollo shut out everything around him and slowly let himself sense everything. He immediately collapsed in agony, everything was too much again. He was seeing colours and things he'd never seen before, hearing every conversation happening throughout Smallville at once, smelling every scent on the Kent Farm from the crops, to the manure, tasting everything around him and feeling everything from here to the next farm over. And the power was only growing, he was sensing more with every passing moment and his brain and body couldn't handle it. Apollo collapsed and immediately started convulsing, the sensory overload completely overwhelming him.

'Focus on my voice' Apollo remembered. Ma, he needed to find his Ma, he frantically searched for her as his senses continued to overwhelm him and he found her. She was in the kitchen making dinner. She was making a pie for him. He could taste the apples she was cutting, smell the cinnamon and feel the heat from the oven as it was preheated. Apollo could hear her heartbeat and he focused on that and only that. Soon everything else fell away and Apollo could only sense her. Apollo stopped convulsing and stood back up slowly. He saw Sprite looking at him concerned. With his enhanced senses he could see she looked like his Mum, her insides looked like they were synthetic but also human and she glowed with golden energy. It pulsed through her constantly. Apollo finally turned off his power completely dialing it down until his senses were regular.

"I can't do it" Apollo said feeling defeated as he looked at Sprite.

"Yes you can" Sprite insisted.

"I used my power for one second and it made me fall to the ground and start shaking!" Apollo exclaimed.

"Because you're letting the power dictate what sensory information it feeds you instead of the other way around" Sprite told him.

"What does that even mean, I can't control what I see and hear" Apollo replied an incredulous note in his voice.

"Clearly you can because you're not sensing everything right now. Apollo everyone's brain regulates what it senses but not to the level you've displayed. The control necessary for that means you have conscious control of your senses and the fact that the reach of your senses is as far as it is means your brain has the processing power of a supercomputer to be able to take in all of that. So use that supercomputer brain of yours and control your senses. Think of them like a dial and turn them up slowly so you're not immediately overwhelmed and then absorb what your sensing. Don't let it cripple you let it enhance you, let yourself sense things in a way you could've never dreamed" Sprite said hoping that her spend and the analogy would help guide him until he had his new power completely under control.

Apollo took in what she said for a moment then slowed his breathing and closed his eyes. He focused completely on his senses and then imagined a dial and turned it up. Apollo let out a breath and then opened his eyes as his senses immediately went up. He wanted to collapse again but he fought through the pain and stayed focused, he needed to be able to control this ability he couldn't afford to live his life afraid of his own senses. Apollo breathed through the pain and let everything he was sensing wash over him. He stayed like that for a few moments, teetering on the edge of agony as he let all the sounds, sights, smells, tastes and feeling course through him. He nodded at Sprite to continue and moments later he was hearing new sounds and seeing new sights.

"Find me Apollo" her voice said to him blending in with the cacophony of sounds he was hearing.

Apollo started to move around and turned the dial in his mind higher. He winced as his senses were assaulted again but braved through the pain. With every step he let his senses increase until he was sensing everything. The pain was still there, just as much as before. It was immense and he fell to one knee once again unable to cope with everything he was sensing, it was still too much. He remembered how Ikaris told him to search for the heat inside him to control his heat vision and how Makkari taught him to accelerate his whole body and feel movement so he could accelerate his perception. He needed to find his sensory center, the conscious part of his mind that dealt with what he was sensing and then let that absorb all that he was sensing so his mind could adjust to it.

However, that was easier said than done because the pain continued to overwhelm him, it was immense and Apollo felt like if he didn't shut it off he might pass out but he couldn't let himself succumb to it not when he knew what he had to do now. Apollo concentrated powering through the pain until his body began adjusting to it. All the noise suddenly wasn't just loud sounds but actual sounds he could understand, everything he was seeing didn't make him feel like he was being blinded by new colours and sights he couldn't understand but instead it was all a new way to see the world, every feeling wasn't a massive tremor but rather a specific vibration and every taste and smell weren't an overpowering blend but rather unique.

Apollo felt something click within him like a switch had been flipped. Apollo stood up slowly as he continued to let everything he sensed come over him. He stood out with both his hands outstretched and felt, he took a deep breath and smelled and tasted, he opened his eyes and truly saw, it was beautiful. Apollo smiled to himself small tears forming in his eyes as he controlled his power and began to sense the world in a whole new way. The world was vast but somehow small like his Mum said and they were all in it, in here, together.

"We're all we've got" Apollo whispered to himself becoming emotional at what he was sensing was revealing to him.

Everyone, everything truly was connected. It was beautiful.

Apollo then pulled himself away from his thoughts as he remembered Sprite's challenge to him. He couldn't let her win so he searched for Sprite, right now she was his island and he needed to swim towards her. The other noises began to ease and fade into the background and soon he could hear her. She was whispering 'catch me if you can' over and over again. Apollo smiled and rushed towards the sound but the moment he reached there he realized he was tricked; it was an audio illusion. He smirked at how clever she was. He looked around and decided to see if he could spot her but she had made herself invisible, he would see through her even if he wasn't seeing through things.

However, Apollo didn't just see through things, he could perceive the entire electromagnetic spectrum. His vision warped and soon he was seeing the various electrical signals around the farm, all the broadcasts both television and radio. Seeing new colours that he still didn't know how to describe but most of all he could see heat. He started looking for Sprite's thermal signature but the illusions Sprite created (and she was making quite a few right now of herself, of doors, animals and even of various loud sounds) were made from cosmic energy and they made everything trapped within her illusionary field glow. He still couldn't see her, this thermo-visual field made spotting her easier but it was still difficult.

'You have more than two senses' he mentally reminded himself.

Apollo let his other senses reach out for Sprite and soon he felt her, she was stealthily running throughout the barn, while projecting sounds and illusions to lead him away. Not staying in one place so he couldn't find her and while she could mask the sound she was making the vibrations of every step she was taking were something he could feel. He could feel the heat radiating off her body and the air she breathed out. Apollo could smell her unique scent, she smelt how he always imagined a real life fairy would smell like. Like forest and green while being sweet but not cloying. Apollo sped behind her and then touched her shoulder. Sprite flinched out of shock and then all of the illusions were dropped as she turned to face him.

"Well done" Sprite said proudly and Apollo smiled as he turned his super senses off.

"Thank you, turns out you were exactly what I needed and I may not say this enough but I'm really glad you're in my life. You mean more to me than you know" Apollo sincerely told her.

Sprite smiled awkwardly not sure how to respond to everything Apollo just emotionally said to her.

"Don't mention it" she decided to say. "And since we're being genuine then you should know that I am really glad you're a part of our family and you mean a lot to me too. Although never expect me to say that to you again"

"I'm shocked you said that now" Apollo said just as the two of them broke into laughter.

"Best two out of three" Sprite playfully challenged as the two stopped laughing.

"Okay" Apollo accepted as Sprite put up another illusion and run off. Apollo playfully laughed and then activated his super senses again and the two spent the rest of the afternoon playing around with one another.

Jonathan Kent watched the two of them, he saw Apollo smile and heard he and Sprite laugh and it bought him joy that his son was able to find moments of happiness like this even when his life threw him curveballs. However, another feeling also bubbled within him and that was inadequacy. When Jonathan and Ajak got together Ajak had told him she couldn't conceive and Jonathan went into their marriage okay with potentially never having a child of his own. Then they got Apollo and Jonathan became a father and just like his father had done for him Jonathan wanted to be there for his son, help him grow into the fine man he was destined to be, protect him, teach him and guide him. Give him the answers to the questions he had and help him whenever things got difficult for him but the last few months had made it clear to Jonathan he wasn't equipped to do that. He had to sit back and watch other people be there for his son in his times of crises. That feeling like he wasn't able to be the father his son needed hurt him more than any injury he'd ever sustained whether it was when he played football back in high school or when he was working in the fire department. Jonathan knew the feeling was irrational and he was very glad that his son didn't have to suffer but he couldn't help but feel inadequate as a father at times like this.

Apollo saw his Dad standing by the porch watching him and decided to end his games with Sprite and go talk to him. Going from looking at Sprite to his father with his enhanced vision could be a bit jarring. Sprite looked so inhuman, her insides were gold and looked almost synthetic and she constantly had golden energy flowing through her whereas his Dad was completely human. Even though they both looked human one peak under the curtain so to speak and a very different story was told. Apollo looked down at his hands to see if he was more like his Mum or Dad, if he was more Eternal or more human and to his shock he was neither. His muscles and bones were human enough but his bones had strange glowing carvings throughout and his skin cells looked more like crystal when looked at on a microscopic level and he didn't have energy flowing through him the way his Mum or Sprite did. No his body looked like it was exploding with energy, every cell constantly generating immense amounts of energy. Apollo started having questions but decided to ask them later instead he switched his vision to normal put his glasses on and then just went up to the porch and hugged his father happy that despite everything that's happened to him in the last few months he still looked at him with love.

"What's this for?" Jonathan asked shocked by the sudden display of affection.

"No reason, I'm just happy that no matter what you and Ma are always here" Apollo replied simply.

Jonathan chuckled to his son before crouching down and cupping his face.

"Your mother and I are always going to be here. No matter what. You could start growing extra arms and we'd still love you" Jonathan told him lovingly.

Apollo smiled to his father, he never doubted his Ma and Pa loved him but hearing them say it always brought him joy, especially on days like today when he knew he was difficult to deal with because of his powers.

"I love you too Pa" Apollo said as a butterfly flew by them. Apollo activated his super senses and tracked it as it flew, transfixed by the colours on its wings, he reached out to touch it with his finger when he heard something that sounded like an explosion downtown. His eyes grew wide and Apollo immediately honed in on that sound; it was at the old convention center and people were screaming inside.

"What is it son?" Jonathan said as he noticed the sudden change in his son's demeanor.

"Dad call the fire department and an ambulance, there's a fire at the convention center" Apollo said clearly concerned.

"What? How can you- "Jonathan started to question.

"I can hear it call the fire department now" Apollo interrupted.

Jonathan nodded not doubting his son as he rushed to the phone and start dialing emergency services.

"Dad… I've got to go" Apollo told his father.

"Apollo wait, the fire department" Jonathan began to say but he was cut off once again by his son.

"Won't make it in time. But I will." Apollo said determined as he took off his glasses.

Apollo looked to his father for approval and Jonathan nodded understanding that this is something his son had to do.

"Apollo remember be safe and stay hidden" Jonathan instructed and Apollo nodded back at his father a slight nervous smile on his face before he ran off.

"Hello. You've reached the Smallville Fire Department. How can we help" Jonathan heard a voice on the phone say as just as his son took off at super speed and disappeared from his view.

Apollo ran at super speed to the convention center following the sounds of all the people inside trying to stay alive and struggling to breathe. Apollo arrived to see the small convention center in flames. He looked through the flames with his x ray vision and saw the reason why they couldn't get out was that the large metal beams on the ceiling had fallen and blocked the fire exit that they had all ran to and now they were sandwiched between that and a wall of fire stopping them from going to any other exits. Apollo ran to the exit and opened the door. He saw the beams between him and the people he needed to save and grabbed them quickly throwing them to the side. The people inside turned in shock as they saw the exit they thought was blocked suddenly open up and standing there was Apollo.

"Everyone out" Apollo shouted and everyone trapped inside frantically ran outside.

Apollo helped the few that were weak out and was about to try run off in the chaos but he heard a woman complain about her son once she noticed she couldn't see him and even try rush back into the fire only to be stopped by other on lookers. It was Abigail Ross. Pete Apollo realised. Apollo activated his super senses and listens then he heard a heartbeat. There really was someone still inside. Apollo turned and looked with his x-ray vision and saw Pete past the wall of fire passed out trapped under some rubble that had fallen on top of him. Apollo instantly rushed back inside to save them.

He could hear Pete's breathing was incredibly weak and knew he needed to do something about the fire, he briefly contemplated running fast enough in a circle to create a vacuum and putting out the fire but that wouldn't help Pete who needed air. He then remembered how his breath had frozen the closet he had been in and Apollo realized he could use that new ability right here and right now. Apollo accelerated himself and the world around him slowed. He needed to buy himself time to figure out how to use this new power. He hadn't trained it like he had his senses. That wasn't an excuse Apollo told himself the power was there and he had to use it if he wanted to save the boy trapped in the flames.

Apollo concentrated on the chilling feeling he had felt in his chest and tried to summon it again, drawing out the cold within him and soon enough he felt it. Great he thought now how do I use it Apollo asked himself. He couldn't breath over all the flame…or could he? He could blow, he could blow out the fire with his ice breath. Apollo stared at the flame in front of him and clenched his fists prepping himself mentally for what he was about to attempt. Apollo took a deep breath, inhaling as much energy as he could before releasing the chilly air in his lungs. The air came out of his mouth like it was shot out of the greatest air cannon in the world, with powerful near gale force ice winds flowing over the entire room before him putting out most of the fire and covering the room in a small layer of frost.

Apollo then ran to Pete who was trapped under some rubble and threw it off of him. Apollo could hear Pete's heartbeat and his breathing. He x-rayed him and saw despite being trapped under some rubble he hadn't damaged any bones but he needed fresh air soon, his lungs had smoke in them. Apollo picked up Pete and carried him outside who began to wake up as Apollo did so.

"Apollo?" Pete asked in a daze

"It's me, you're going to be alright just focus on breathing" Apollo softly instructed as he stepped out of the old convention center with Pete in his arms just as the fire department arrived.

Abigail Ross rushed to Apollo as she saw him carry her son out of the burning building. Apollo handed her Pete and the two hugged.

"Thank you, thank you" Abigail Ross said to Apollo completely overjoyed her son was still alive.

Apollo simply humbly nodded just as the EMT's came to administer oxygen. They instructed Pete to take slow deep breaths and Apollo noticed Abigail Ross was staring at him intently like she was trying to examine him.

"What are you?" she asked as the reality of what Apollo had to have done to save them all hit her.

Apollo felt self conscious but luckily for him in that moment the EMT's started demanding to check everyone who had been in the building when the fire started and Apollo was given a temporary reprieve from Mrs. Ross' questions. Apollo ran off the moment he could and naively hoped the situation would die down.

Unfortunately, this wasn't the case as a few days later in the afternoon Mr. and Mrs. Ross were at his home questioning his parents with Pete. Apollo sat outside on his swing listening in to the conversation scared about how everything would turn out and secretly cursing himself for being different. He looked at his mother and father with his x-ray vision and saw there two different skeletal structures before looking at his own hands. He was even different from them. He wondered if he would ever be embraced somewhere away from this farm and began to stare hopelessly into the ground as he heard what his parents were talking about with the Ross's.

"I was there; I was in the convention center. I saw what Apollo did" Abigail Ross said.

"I know you did, I'm sure what you think you saw-" Jonathan began to say as he poured her a cup of coffee.

"Was an act of God Jonathan. This was providence" she said cutting off whatever he was about say. Jonathan and Ajak looked at one another and Jonathan licked the inside of his cheek.

"I think you're blowing it out of proportion" Ajak suggested playing off what Apollo did to make it seem regular.

"No I am not. Other people saw it too, Sally Braverman saw it and the Fordman boy" Abigail insisted. "This isn't even the first time Apollo's done something strange like this, remember when the Jostens said Apollo saved them from a mugging or the Sullivan girl incident?"

His Mum and Dad exchanged glances and Apollo stopped listening realising he didn't want to hear more about how people thought he was a freak. Apollo got off the swing and went into the farm sitting on the back of the truck and cursing himself while hoping for the best.

After a while he heard the Ross's leave the house. He turned and saw them from afar. Pete walked up to him despite his parents' clear hesitance and put out his hand for Apollo to shake. Apollo gingerly shook it and Pete smiled at him.

"I'm sorry about my parents, I'm sure this will all blow over" Pete assured him.

Apollo weakly smiled but he was in too much emotional turmoil to truly be comforted by Pete's words.

"And thank you for saving me and my Mum" Pete said just as his parents hooted the horn of their car and Pete turned to leave waving friendlily to Apollo before getting in the car and driving off.

Apollo watched the Ross' leave. His Mum tried to smile at him but Apollo couldn't meet her eyes. He was sad that he'd caused not only himself so much trouble but her too. If he was discovered she would be too and his whole family would be taken by the government. They could be weaponized or worse dissected. That thought lead Apollo to remember how different he internally looked from Ajak and Sprite and wondered if they were even really his family. None of the other Eternals had as many powers as him and they definitely didn't have super senses and freeze breath. Apollo began to question himself wondering why he was so different even from the alien side of his family. He quickly fell into a gloomy and regretful mood as he started spiraling his thoughts making him sadder with every passing moment. Apollo heard his father walk up beside him slowly no doubt about to ask about the incident.

"I just wanted to help" Apollo pre-emptively said his voice filled with sadness.

"I know you did son but we talked about this. We talked about this right. 'Stay hidden' remember. You have to… Apollo you have to keep this side of yourself a secret" Jonathan said.

"What was I suppose to do. Just let them die?" Apollo asked.

"No son of course not. But there's more at stake here than just our lives, Apollo, or the lives of those around us. When the world...When the world finds out what you can do it's gonna change everything. Our...Our beliefs, our notions of...what it means to be human. Everything. You saw how Pete's mom reacted, right? She was scared, Apollo." Jonathan told his son.

"Why?" Apollo questioned.

"People are afraid of what they don't understand" Jonathan answered.

"Is she right? You and Mum said I'm like the other Eternals but I'm not. So is she right? Did God do this to me? Tell me" Apollo forcefully questioned the inner turmoil at what he was coming out.

Jonathan hesitated for a moment, he wasn't sure what to do but one look in his son's eyes and Jonathan knew he had to tell him the truth. He was in pain, not knowing the truth was hurting him and so Jonathan did what any good father would. He decided he would ease his son's pain and show him the truth. Jonathan nodded to his son before leading Apollo to the storm cellar opening it up to reveal a spaceship.

"We found you in this. You came crashing into the farm one sunset many years ago. We were sure the government was going to show up at our doorstep but no one ever came" Jonathan slowly told his son hoping not to overwhelm him.

Jonathan then moved and opened a draw in cupboard nearby and took out a small box. He unlocked the box and pulled out the contents to show his son.

"We found this in the chamber with you" Jonathan told Apollo showing him a ring made entirely of crystal that had an S carved into the front of the ring and another crystal object that looked like an odd shaped key with that same symbol on the front of it too.

"You mother and her family, the one's she told, tried their best to figure out where it came from but they couldn't even figure out what elements it was made of. She told me whatever the crystal was it didn't exist on any periodic table she'd ever encountered" Jonathan said to his son as the realization began to fully dawn on him.

"That's another way of saying it's not from this world Apollo or any world known. And neither are you. You may not be from the same planet but just like your mother you're the answer. You're the answer to "Are we alone in the universe?" Jonathan finally said telling Apollo what he had already realized.

"I don't wanna be" Apollo replied heartbroken by the revelation he wasn't just not human and not Eternal but he wasn't even something his mother with her wealth of Eternal knowledge knew.

"And I don't blame you, son. It'd be a huge burden for anyone to bear. But you're not just anyone, Apollo, and I have to believe that you were...That you were sent here for a reason. All these changes that you're going through, one day...One day you're gonna think of them as a blessing. When that day comes...you have to make a choice. A choice of whether to stand proud in front of the human race or not" Jonathan gently and lovingly advised.

Apollo started to cry as his life felt like it was being shattered around him. He wasn't just different from humans but Eternals too. He really didn't belong. He looked at his father and remembered how he told him he'd love him no matter what. He didn't want to lose that, he didn't want to lose his father.

"Can't I just keep pretending I'm your son?" Apollo asked hoping he could make believe he had a family and wasn't an unknown being that fell from the sky.

"You are my son" Jonathan said as he hugged him deeply.

Apollo cried into his father's shirt and his father soothed him as he hugged him.

"Remember that Apollo, no matter what anyone says. No matter where you come from you are mine and your mother's. Okay Apollo? Never question that" Jonathan assured his son.

Apollo took the weight of everything his father was saying as he was being soothed by him. He came from an unknown world. Where were his birth parents? His people? Apollo started having new questions but a large part of him feared what the answers to those questions were.

"I love you Apollo" Jonathan said.

"I love you too Pa" Apollo replied as he comforted himself with his father's assurance to him. 'You are my son'.

Summer

Location: Smallville, Kansas – Earth – 1999

In the months that followed Apollo stopped having questions about himself but he also became a lot more withdrawn. It was like he was drifting away from everyone he knew and although he had made friends who tried to keep him tethered Apollo it only did so much because Apollo couldn't help but feel like he was destined to be separate from everyone. Like he was cursed to watch from afar unable to get closer and connect.

Spring rolled into summer and one afternoon Apollo was waiting for his Dad with Pete and Chloe while his Dad was inside the Sullivan's garage talking to Chloe's Dad. Pete and Chloe were hanging out with him reading, Pete was reading some sports magazine, Chloe was reading an actual newspaper and Apollo was reading Plato's The Republic. Apollo had began reading a lot of philosophy lately hoping that one day it would help him figure out his place in the world and not only what he wanted to be but what he was meant to be and what was expected of him. He figured starting with Plato was the best bet. The Republic posited that the highest form, the ideal form was The Form of the Good and that should be what people should strive for. The Form of the Good…Apollo had been thinking a lot about it. It was the form that was the source of the other forms. Like the sun was the source of sight in the physical realm the form of good was the same in the intelligible realm. It was what allowed people to give 'truth to the things known and the power to know to the knower'. And that allowed people to understand what is and isn't justice, what is and isn't moral and what is and isn't good. In essence, Plato was suggesting that justice, truth, equality, beauty, and many others ultimately derive from the Form of the Good. Apollo didn't know what to make of that but he figured that was the point of philosophy to question and discover and Apollo definitely had a lot he wanted to discover about himself.

Apollo wanted to think more on the concepts in The Republic but soon Whitney and his gang came to the car to harass Apollo. This had been going on for quite some time at this point, ever since he saved Pete from the fire. And while that event had helped make he and Pete closer it made Whitney convinced Apollo was a freak and that label might as well have been a giant neon come and bully me sign that hung over Apollo's head. Whitney banged his hands on the car window and then opened up the door and dragged Apollo out of the car. Whitney and his goons took turns pushing Apollo around while saying "get the freak" all the while Pete and Chloe were trying to stop them by saying "leave him alone this isn't cool guys" but they ignored them continuing to push Apollo before Whitney threw Apollo into a fence. Apollo fell to the ground letting himself be manhandled. His glasses fell off his face and he dropped his book. Apollo quickly put his glasses back on before picking up his book. He tried to stand up but Whitney pushed him down to the ground again. Apollo stayed there looking up at Whitney through his glasses, he held his book in one hand and a metal pipe for support in the other.

"C'mon freak fight back" Whitney shouted to Apollo and Apollo felt himself growing angry.

"You get the freak Whitney" Kenny Braverman added.

"Get up Kent, fight back. Or are you too much of a freak to do even that. You and your weird friends like Chloe and Pete. Did you do something to make them friends with a freak like you those time you were 'saving them'." Whitney said doing air quotes when he said 'saving them'.

"What about his Mum, from out of town and everyone acts like she's sweet but aren't her kind known for drugs. Maybe that's why she's a doctor so she can pocket some drugs to sell on the side" Kenny added and Whitney and his goons laughed.

"Maybe that's why you're a freak" Whitney suggested.

Apollo was borderline enraged now and he wanted nothing more than to punch Whitney and Kenny's faces. He gripped the metal pipe tighter doing his best to keep his anger at bay. Whitney saw the anger in Apollo's eyes and smiled.

"C'mon freak fight back" Whitney repeated.

And Apollo wanted to punch Whitney and knock him on his ass, show him what it was like to be bullied and make him feel small. It would be so easy to, he wouldn't even have to use a lot strength to do it, he could humiliate Whitney and make it so he knew not mess with Apollo. After all Apollo was stronger than him, he could use his power and show Whitney and Kenny just how strong he was and how weak they were, he could make them cower in fear of him for the rest of their lives. The rage continued to build but Apollo held back he knew his Ma wouldn't approve.

Whitney faked a punch to try see if he could get Apollo flinching and Apollo instinctively braced himself so if Whitney did punch him he wouldn't break his fist when he punched him. Whitney however saw that as Apollo flinching and smirked to himself and his buddies.

"So is that it? Is that all you've got?" Whitney asked crouching down while staring into Apollo's eyes and Apollo considered hitting him for a final time his rage still there.

"C'mon Kent, c'mon" Whitney shouted before Kenny placed his hand on Whitney's shoulder urging him to stop because Apollo's Dad had walked out of the garage. Whitney and his gang promptly left and Pete and Chloe came to help Apollo up.

"Try and ignore them" Chloe said. "They're just jerks".

Apollo nodded and Pete and Chloe left him alone as they noticed his Dad come up to him.

"Did they hurt you?" Jonathan asked.

"You know they can't" Apollo replied trying to push down his feelings and his rage.

"That's not what I meant. I meant are you alright?" Jonathan clarified.

"I wanted to hit that kid. I wanted hit him bad" Apollo admitted the anger still festering a little in him.

"I know you did. I mean...part of me even wanted you to, but then what? Make you feel any better? You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be, Apollo. Because whoever that man is, good character or bad, he's...He's gonna change the world." Jonathan told his son.

Apollo listened to his father and the anger in him left. Apollo didn't know yet what type of person he was going to be but he knew he didn't what to be a bully and using his strength to humiliate Whitney or have him cower in fear of him would make him a bully. The two of them then got in the truck and he and his father drove home and had dinner with his Ma, Pa, Sprite and his Aunt Sersi who was visiting while Ikaris travelled through space at Ajak's request for Doctor Vanderspeigle. The events of the day left Apollo deep in thought and the feeling that he was drifting away from everyone without any ability to come down and be with them only grew. Here he was having dinner with his family, most of which had powers like him but somehow he still felt lonely, because he was so different even from them. He wanted to return to them, to have everything be like it was before he discovered he came from a world none of them had ever heard about but he didn't know how. Apollo ate silently while his Aunt Sersi and Mum were talking about married life and teasing Jonathan and even mentioning some similarities they shared. Sprite was bored of the conversation and was making illusions of cartoon characters whacking each other cartoonishly with mallets as if to say 'kill me' to save me from this conversation. Apollo weakly smiled at that before walking out to put his plate in the sink. Apollo heard his Mum come behind him and she tussled his hair playfully.

"Are you okay? You seem detached and your Dad told me what happened earlier today." Ajak asked softly.

Apollo looked at his Mum, after he found out the truth he was worried that they would start to treat him differently now that they didn't have to pretend that Apollo was their biological son but they still loved him as much as they always did and that brought Apollo comfort. However sometimes that wasn't enough and he had moments where he felt separate from them but when his Mum looked at him like that he found it hard to feel alone. Apollo smiled at her.

"I'm fine Ma, I just feel…different. Like I am not meant to be here, or rather that nobody wants me here. Maybe it's even both" Apollo admitted.

"Oh honey, you know that's not true. You're exactly where you're meant to be and everyone in this house and all of your friends want you here. The day I found you was the best day of my life and I wouldn't want to live in a world that you weren't in" Ajak said to Apollo.

Apollo smiled again at his mother then a strange sensation fell over him. He began to feel odd, he felt weightless, like he was going to float away and never come down like he'd been fearing. He looked at his Mum and was shocked she seemed to be getting shorter.

"Oh my god!" Ajak shouted out as Apollo noticed she wasn't getting shorter he genuinely was floating.

Apollo began to get very scared as Ajak grabbed him wrapping him in a big hug to try keep him on the ground. However, it seemed Apollo's body had other ideas as he suddenly shot up, smashing right through the roof and floating upwards each moment getting further and further from the ground. The sudden acceleration and flying through the roof caused Ajak to slip and she was now holding onto Apollo's foot dangling dozens of feet above the ground and only getting higher by the moment. Apollo's fear of heights kicked in and he felt genuine fear for the first time in a long time as he looked down and saw the ground only get further and further away.

"Don't let me go. Ma please don't let me go!" Apollo frantically shouted to his Ma.

"Apollo stay calm. I'm here" Ajak reassured him as she held onto his foot.

Jonathan walked into the kitchen having heard a loud crashing sound.

"Hey I heard some loud noise, are you guys…okay?" Jonathan questioned before noticing the hole in the roof and hearing Apollo's screams.

Without even noticing Jonathan grabbed his flashlight and ran outside barefoot terrified of what could be transpiring. Sprite and Sersi who noticed Jonathan's sudden fear followed him outside wondering what was happening.

"Ajak. Apollo. Ajak. Apollo!" Jonathan shouted out into the night as he looked up to see his son and wife floating up in to the sky.

"Oh my goodness" Sersi said shocked to see Apollo floating in the sky like Ikaris usually did.

Apollo meanwhile was continuing to freak out as he went higher and higher. Apollo didn't know what to do or how to stop what was happening to him and he desperately wanted it to stop. Unfortunately, no matter what he tried to do he kept shooting upwards and the higher they got the more scared Apollo became.

"I can't stop it! We're still going up. Ma, we're still going up" Apollo said emotionally almost in tears.

Ajak had began slipping the higher they got and was even herself concerned on how she could save her son. Her grip weakened and Ajak also began to freak out a little.

"I can't hold on much longer Apollo but you can. You're strong enough to reach down and-" Ajak started to stay hoping that she could talk Apollo into flying them down once he was they were both more stable.

"I can't we keep going up" Apollo fearfully shouted interrupting her. They shot up even further and Ajak's grip loosened again.

"Apollo Joseph Kent grab my hand right now" Ajak commanded her son.

However, it was a little too late as they shot up once again and Ajak felt her grip give way. She began to fall towards the ground her hand still outstretched trying to reach her son. Suddenly she saw Apollo lurch downwards and he grabbed her hand.

"Mum. Mum. Don't fall I'm sorry" Apollo said as he grabbed his mother's hands tightly.

"It's okay Apollo. I'm okay, we're okay. Just focus on going down alright? Try to guide your body towards the ground" Ajak told him.

"I'm trying" Apollo said as he closed his eyes and tried to do exactly what his Mum was telling him. He tried to command his body to go down with as much focus as he could muster. He didn't want to be in the air, he was afraid and he didn't want to float away from his family. He didn't want to fly. Suddenly the weightless sensation he had been feeling left him.

"Oh no" Apollo said.

"What's oh no?" Ajak asked right before she got her answer and the two fell to the ground.

The two plummeted towards the ground and they heard Jonathan, Sprite and Sersi freaking out as they did so. Sersi immediately ran to where they were falling to on the field and quickly placed her hands on the ground and turned the soil there into water. She focused her power downwards trying to create as deep a pool of water as she could.

The two fell into the pool of water and soon came out wet but unharmed. Apollo began profusely apologizing as Sprite and Jonathan came up to them. Everyone quickly went back inside having had enough excitement for one night and Sersi turned the water back to soil.

They all sat in the living room shocked at what had just transpired. Apollo was flying now, Sersi had always been surprised by how many abilities he had manifested but this new one was truly something else. She had only ever seen Ikaris and Thor fly unaided and even Thor needed that hammer of his. Apollo looked very shook about everything that happened and Sprite went to the kitchen to make him hot chocolate. Sersi smiled a little at that, after centuries of being viewed as the youngest she finally got to be the older sister and it seemed like she genuinely did love Apollo like he was her younger brother. Sersi was glad that little by little Sprite was coming out her shell. As someone who was well versed in change she couldn't believe how much Apollo had changed the family he encountered. Ikaris came back to her and Sprite was becoming happier, even Makkari seemed less reclusive than before and had visited her and Ikaris after her encounter with Apollo. Ikaris had invited her and they all caught up and Makkari said Apollo had reminded her how happy she felt when she was with family.

"I don't know what happened. I'm sorry" Apollo repeated having apologized several times in the last few minutes. Sprite came into the room holding hot chocolate and handed it to him.

"Please stop apologizing for being you" Sprite told him.

Apollo just looked at her still freaked out, he wanted to agree but he couldn't. What was he? What was he becoming? He looked down ashamed and meekly drank his hot chocolate.

"It's alright Apollo, I know you're freaked out but just like everything else that happened in the past year we'll figure this out okay. We're here" Jonathan and Ajak reminded him.

Apollo looked at them and felt slightly better for a moment before he noticed his Mum was healing his Dad's foot.

"Dad what happened to your foot?" Apollo asked concerned.

"Your father cut his foot when he ran outside looking for us. Don't worry he'll be alright" Ajak told Apollo as she effortlessly healed him.

"Why didn't you put shoes on" Apollo said looking at his father who just smirked at the question.

"I guess I was too scared. Too scared of losing you two to really care about footwear" Jonathan answered.

Apollo nodded before looking down at his hot chocolate. He made his Dad hurt himself and he almost hurt his Mum by letting them fall. The two people he loved most in the world and who loved him unconditionally and he hurt them. Apollo began to cry.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" Apollo said once again and his Mum hugged him.

"My sweet Apollo, Sprite is right you don't have anything to apologize for. It's okay" Ajak said comforting him.

Apollo went to bed feeling better than he had earlier in the evening but more terrified of himself and while he had a dreamless night Jonathan Kent dreamt of the night they had adopted Apollo. Ajak had soothed him into sleep and Jonathan had stared at him scared of what they had gotten themselves into raising a baby from the stars. Jonathan worried what they would face raising him especially since they knew nothing about him, however he also knew that he loved him and he would rather roll the dice on whatever the future held than let someone else raise Apollo. Jonathan's dreams were filled with memories of his son as Jonathan subconsciously wished he could go back to when things were as simple as they could be. He wanted his son to be happy, to feel at peace and it seemed no matter what he did he couldn't help him feel that and it broke his heart. Jonathan awoke troubled by the feeling of sadness that had filled him as he slept. He walked to Apollo's bedroom and watched his son sleep. Apollo levitated a little bit off his bed while he slept and Jonathan went to him and gently guided him back to his bed and tucked him in again.

"I promise you son, no matter what I will help you have a happy life. No matter the cost" Jonathan promised his sleeping son before heading back to bed.

The next morning Apollo was being checked by Doctor Vanderspeigle in the living room. Harry's shapeshifting plus medical knowledge gave him a better understanding of biology than most and since he himself was an alien it meant he would keep anything he discovered about Apollo in any tests completely confidential.

"So what's wrong with me?" Apollo asked Harry his voice low and ashamed.

"Nothing's wrong with you" Harry responded.

"I'm floating in my sleep and I flew through the roof last night. Somethings wrong with me. Have you ever met any race that goes through this?" Apollo insisted.

"I can't say that I have met a race with the unique abilities you posses but I can also promise you that you're okay. This development seems to be natural for your body at least" Harry informed him.

"Your vital signs are normal, both your hearts and your other organs are working as they should in conjunction with your bio-matrix aura" Harry said as he pulled out an EMF counter.

"What about that thing?" Jonathan said his voice slightly accusatory.

Harry noticed his tone and then looked at Ajak and Jonathan.

"Can I talk to you two alone for a moment" Harry suggested before the two nodded and they walked into the kitchen.

"Truthfully, Apollo's the same as he's always been which is to say weird" Harry told them. Only for Ajak and Jonathan to look at him disapprovingly.

"Let me correct myself I mean weird biologically. Whatever he is it's something I've never encountered or even know about. His skin cells are closer to diamond than regular tissue on a molecular level at least. His muscles are incredibly powerful and growing stronger regardless of what he does. He has a bunch of organs I can't even begin to describe in terms of what they do. Closest I can figure is they work as some kind of energy converters or generators maybe even both. He's completely efficient too like he was evolved to have no energy waste within him and his cells are slightly adaptive too. The way species adapt and evolve over millions of years to combat things that ail them and improve his body can do that in decades. Wherever he's from it's like it wasn't fit for life because his biology is indicative of coming from a planet with high gravity, low energy and harsh conditions" Harry spouted off going on a tangent due to his fascination with Apollo's biology.

"That doesn't explain the device Harry" Jonathan said sternly.

"Oh right, sorry. This is cause he's giving off all types of electromagnetic radiation. Microwave, infrared, x-ray, ultraviolet…all types of magnetic readings. His floating must mean he's manipulating the gravitons around him and I wanted to see if I could detect that but I couldn't get a reading" Harry told them.

"Is it dangerous, the radiation that is? Is it dangerous to him or others?" Ajak asked concerned.

"Oh no it's definitely not, it's not even high enough to trigger the EMF meter. Somehow his body generates the electromagnetic waves but any radiation is absorbed by him. I suppose in time he could consciously try and generate/release that radiation although I'm not sure how successful he would be in doing that. He seems to be a perfect energy and even radiation sponge although there is a specific energy that's powering him to be this way. What it is though I can't figure out and I'm not sure if he's absorbing that energy or creating it or both" Harry quickly informed them seeing the deep concern on both Ajak and Jonathan's faces.

Jonathan and Ajak exchanged glances at the revelations Harry had revealed to them.

"Thank you for doing this Harry" they both told him.

"The pleasure is mine, it's the least I can do with everything you've done for me. Knocking some sense into me, giving me a safe place to be myself and even sending Ikaris on travels to look for worlds for my species benefit from time to time like you are" Harry told them as he shook their hands and walked out of the kitchen.

"Goodbye Apollo" Harry said seeing him sitting in the living room watching TV.

"Goodbye Doctor Vanderspeigle" Apollo said back as he waved at him as Harry left.

Apollo walked to his parents and nervously looked at them.

"So what did he say?" Apollo inquired.

"Pretty much what he told you. Whatever's happening to you isn't an ailment and you aren't going to hurt anybody. You're just becoming more of who you're meant to be" Ajak told her son.

Apollo smiled weakly before Sprite and Sersi came downstairs having decided to sleep in.

"So what did the doctor say? Is he alright?" Sersi asked. "Also good morning".

"Good morning Sersi and Harry said he was okay everything happening to him seems to be natural at least for his body" Ajak informed her.

"I always wanted to be able to fly" Sprite said. "You're lucky once you figure this out you'll be able to soar through the sky, that sounds like a dream"

"More like a nightmare. I don't like heights" Apollo sheepishly said to her and she shrugged.

"You know Ikaris told me when he was younger on Olympia he was afraid of flying too. He would try and try to fly but he could never control it and always ended up falling and either hurting or embarrassing himself. More often than not doing both until he realized he was afraid of flying because of what it symbolized to him and that if he wanted to fly he'd have to overcome his fear and embrace the wind and open air. Once he did that he was free, able to ride the wind and travel to places he could've never imagined" Sersi told him hoping that Ikaris' experiences learning to fly would be able to help Apollo.

Apollo listened to his Aunt but didn't really take in what she was saying because he didn't want to fly. Everyone was acting like it was a gift but Apollo still remembered that disturbing sensation from a memory he couldn't grasp of falling through the air but not just that flying through the air away from what felt like home and it scared him. Flying wasn't for him, he didn't want to float away from his family and he didn't want to fall again.

The family decided to leave the conversation alone for a while since they could sense that Apollo still wasn't comfortable with everything that was happening to him yet. Apollo soon left and decided to go to the barn. He went to his telescope and inspected it. This was one of the best presents he'd ever gotten but it was now obsolete. His vision was far better than any ordinary telescope. He wondered what else was going to change about him as he grew older. He was always strong and fast but this last year he had manifested a whole host of new abilities and it scared him. Apollo thought about what it could all mean and what he was going to end up becoming, because this last year had only shown him he was growing into something nobody truly understood. Apollo sighed in frustration and looked out at the empty cornfields. He needed to clear his head, he needed a run.

Apollo leapt out of his window and took off into the cornfields embracing the freeing feeling he always felt when running at super speed. The feel of the wind flowing through and around him and the knowledge he wasn't far from anything. Apollo ran and ran, distracting himself from his thoughts and just embracing the feeling of his legs and body pushing him forward at incredible speeds as the world slowed around him. Apollo started laughing as he got faster and faster doing laps around the Smallville fields and then he remembered what Sersi said. Maybe he needed to try and ride the wind. Apollo knew he still didn't want to fly but leaping well that could be fun. Apollo sped up a little before he jumped up with joy letting go for a moment and Apollo ended up jumping several meters into the air and for a moment at the apex of his jump Apollo felt more free than he ever felt and then Apollo landed on the ground. Apollo continued to run, his Aunt was correct there was something to feeling weightless that was freeing. Apollo pushed himself and looked forward spotting the windmill at Chandler's Field and aimed for it. Apollo summoned as much strength as he could in his legs and then he jumped up and just like before he felt incredibly free as he moved through the air. Apollo let out a scream of joy as he reached the apex of his jump and then he fell and landed on the windmill. Apollo proudly laughed at himself for actually leaping as far as he had. He looked out at Smallville from this view and despite his fear of heights even he had to admit the view from here was great. Apollo turned towards the farm and wondered if he could jump there. Apollo smirked to himself, there was only one way to find out he thought as he gave himself a running start and then jumped again summoning even more strength than he had to make the leap to the windmill and then Apollo shot off the wind in his ears as he leapt towards his home. Apollo whooped as he jumped further than he ever had and then he began to descend and Apollo realized he was going to hit their weathervane. Oh no Apollo thought trying to control his descent but he couldn't he smacked into the weathervane and then ricocheted down into the barn falling through the roof. Apollo saw the ground growing closer and flinched bracing himself for impact but it never came. Apollo looked down and saw his glasses laying on the hay beneath him having fallen off in his descent but he was floating. Apollo stretched out his arms like a bird and stared at his body in wonder, he wiggled his fingers and looked around. He didn't just shoot up into the sky he could also hover like this he realized. Apollo wanted to enjoy the moment longer but then he remembered last night and the joy of the moment dissipated. He reached down and picked up his glasses and put them on before he suddenly fell to the ground.

Apollo lay there face first in the ground for a second letting his mind go blank and wanted to stay there for a bit longer but then he heard footsteps walking into the barn.

"Dude why are you laying on the ground? Did you face plant?" Pete asked.

Apollo quickly got up and brushed the hay off himself.

"Yeah" he lied rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"Well hopefully you got all the clumsiness out of your system because we're going to a movie this evening" Pete told him.

Apollo raised his brow questioningly.

"I don't know what's been going on with you but lately you've been distant and mopey and maybe a night out with your friends will help you get out of it" Pete suggested.

"Pete I don't know about-" Apollo started to say not thinking a night out with his friends would help him with feeling more normal and like he belonged somewhere.

"Nope not letting you say no to this. Your coming. Besides Skye will be there" Pete said raising both his eyebrows twice while having a teasing but knowing expression on his face.

Apollo blushed at the insinuation but quickly began protesting what Pete was trying to hint at.

"I'll go but not cause of Skye" Apollo told him.

"Sure… the movie starts at 7:30 it's at the drive in theatre by the way" Pete informed him. The two of them then spent the rest of their afternoon hanging out and playing basketball on the hoop outside the barn that Pete had helped his Dad install.

When the night came Apollo tried his best to look nice and be normal just for one night. The two of them got to the theatre and were sitting in on some stands with Chloe and Skye enjoying some popcorn while watching the movie. The night was going well and Apollo even thought Skye looked incredibly beautiful. They were sitting next to one another and she seemed happy, so did Chloe. They both said they were glad that Apollo seemed happier and agreed to come out with them. Apollo blushed as Skye softly rested her forehead on his shoulder as they watched the movie. It was Star Wars Episode I; Apollo did want to like it but a part of him found it very slow although the pod racing sequence reminded him of the joy he felt when he ran. The movies somewhat slower pace had it's perks Apollo noticed some of the older kids were getting closer with the girls they were with and Apollo wanted to hold Skye closer to him. He couldn't bring himself to do it but decided right now was just as nice, Skye leaning on him softly as they watched Star Wars was the highlight of his last few weeks. Skye then nervously and slowly held Apollo's hand and Apollo suddenly felt very warm. He blushed harder than he ever had in his life and was very glad it was night and nobody could see how red his face. This one moment of Skye's hand in his made him happier than he'd felt in weeks. Apollo felt like he was on Cloud 9, he was so happy he felt like he was floating. His body then became weightless and shot up in the air. No, no, no, Apollo thought. He just wanted one night, one night to feel normal only to have this happen to him and ruin the happiest moment of his summer so far. Apollo knew his night was ruined as he flew straight up into the air a few meters right before he fell back down to the ground.

"Whoa what was that" someone from behind him shouted as they noticed what just happened and a crowd formed around Apollo who was standing on the grass feeling exposed and scared.

"He just shot up into the air" another person added.

"Must've been a gas pocket" a guy rationalized.

"Is he hurt?" a lady asked.

"Never seen anything like that before in my life" another person commented.

"Of course it's the Kent boy, it's always the Kent boy" he heard somebody say in a judging tone.

"Someone call his Pa" he heard one other voice say and Apollo had enough.

Apollo felt like he was being encircled and he began panicking, he saw everyone look at him like he was even more of a freak than Jar Jar Binks and Apollo couldn't take it.

"Leave me alone" he shouted as he ran off ignoring the shouts of Skye, Chloe and Pete behind him.

Apollo ran into a bathroom and locked himself inside and he tried to control his breathing but he kept remembering how everyone looked at him. Apollo felt despair, it seemed he was cursed to be abnormal for the rest of his life. An alien from an unknown world with nowhere to belong. Apollo looked at his reflection and instead of seeing the sad dark haired boy he was he was he saw an alien. Something green and monstrous that nobody could ever mistake as human like E.T. Anger and self resentment boiled up in his chest and Apollo punched the mirror instantly destroying the entire thing and even destroying the section of the wall it was on. After waiting for a bit he heard his father call him from behind the door. Apollo quickly opened the door and his father hugged him.

"Son what happened?" Jonathan asked concerned before he saw the smashed mirror.

Jonathan got an angry look in his eye but decided that discipline could wait right now he needed to get his son somewhere he felt safe.

"Apollo go get in the truck now" Jonathan told his son sternly.

Apollo simply nodded and walked out of the theatre and to the truck. Jonathan stayed behind for a bit to give the manager his number so he could call him to pay for repairs and then they drove home together in silence.

"Am I in trouble?" Apollo asked breaking the silence.

"Yup" Jonathan replied quickly.

"I couldn't control it, it just happened. I just started floating" Apollo said in defense of himself.

"That's not why you're in trouble. You can't just break things when you're angry. That's something a jerk does" Jonathan told his son simply.

"I was mad. I didn't really mean to do it" Apollo said ashamed.

"Not meaning to do something but still doing it aren't traits you want to cultivate son. You should know by now that being mad doesn't give you an excuse to act like a jerk. Breaking things when you're angry, lashing out without care, hurting people, those are all things bullies do and your Ma and I definitely didn't raise you to act like a bully" Jonathan retorted.

Apollo felt even more ashamed but the anger and despair he felt earlier were still there as well. He didn't know what to do. He didn't know where he belonged.

"Dad… I am so unhappy" Apollo finally admitted to his father.

"I want to be myself. I don't want to worry that I'm something else. I'm scared and I just want to be normal…but I'm not normal" Apollo said his tone sullen and depressed.

Jonathan heard what Apollo said and his need to reprimand his son fell away. He knew his son was struggling and had been both before and after he found out the truth about himself but to hear him talk about it in this way made Jonathan want to pull his son into a deep hug. He remembered his promise to his son and Jonathan's resolve to make his son overcame any other feeling he was feeling.

"Maybe that's good. You know what, yeah that's right. It's good to be weird, who needs normal. Maybe weird is better" Jonathan told his son.

Apollo looked at his father inquisitively wondering what he could possibly mean by that.

"Son you're not normal. The truth is you've never been normal. However, being normal isn't something you need to aspire to because there's nothing wrong with you. Fire eyes, ice breath, floating and all. You're extraordinary and the extraordinary is weird. Don't be ashamed or hate yourself for being what you are. Be proud because we're all proud of you, every part of you. Love and cherish every part of you even the different and weird parts because the thing that makes you different, the thing that makes you weird is the thing that makes you amazing and you're amazing son. And not a day should go by where you don't feel as proud of yourself as your mother and I are of you. Embrace everything that makes you, you and don't be afraid of what people think because when people truly get to know you and see you for what you are they'll see you for the amazing, wonderful and marvelous person you are. You don't have to be normal, just be yourself, be weird because weird is better" Jonathan said giving his son a very heartfelt speech.

Apollo softly smiled at his father's words. It lifted his spirits hearing he needs to embrace the parts of him that were different instead of hiding, hating and being ashamed of them. Apollo looked at his reflection in the side view mirror and the monstrous alien wasn't staring back at him, instead he just saw himself and Apollo smiled as he felt joy again. After they got home and hung out with their family the two went to bed with a new motto. 'Weird is better'.

The next morning Ajak woke up to find both Jonathan and Apollo already up. As it was summer the work on the farm didn't require them to wake up at the crack of dawn so she wondered what they were doing. Jonathan had told her about the incident at the theatre and Ajak was worried about her son. She poured herself some coffee and as she slowly sipped it she saw something in the corner of her eye. She went to the window and looked to see what it was. Apollo seemed to be flying very slowly just a little above the cornfields. His hands were outstretched as if he was a bird or a plane. Ajak then saw a sight that made her almost cry with joy. Jonathan was carrying Apollo above his head running with him as if he was trying to help him take off. Ajak smiled to herself as she watched them and thought, she truly was so lucky to have such an incredible husband and son.

"Are you feeling it? Is it gonna happen?" Jonathan asked as he ran with his son in his hands being held above his head.

"I don't know…maybe" Apollo replied trying multiple poses to see if they triggered his flight.

This morning when his father woke him up and told him they were going to figure out his flight together Apollo didn't think they'd end up like this. However, his father was right, he needed to embrace all of himself and that meant even the flight. Knowing his Dad loved the parts of him that were different and wanted him to feel the same made it easier for Apollo. His Dad was completely regular but he loved him despite the fact he was an alien he might never fully understand and seeing that helped Apollo see that he needed to love the alien within him too. It was the only way he'd be happy and to do that he needed to overcome his fear of heights and fly. They started with him leaping up and down but couldn't trigger it so his Dad decided to try this and sometimes Apollo felt like it was working.

"Dad I think it's working. I feel something" Apollo said.

"Ha-ha. Let's go" Jonathan said excitedly forgetting to watch his steps causing him to trip and drop Apollo who fell forward but just before he hit the ground he floated for a moment before dropping again.

The two stared at each other as they lay in the dirt and they both burst out laughing.

"Okay let's try a new approach" Jonathan said still chuckling a little.

Apollo and Jonathan then went and got the pickup truck and driving it through the cornfields as Apollo stood on the back of it. Jonathan stuck his head out the window as they drove a little and laughed as he felt the wind in his face and Apollo stood on the back of the truck in a starfish position laughing as he let himself feel the wind flow around him.

Having finished making breakfast Ajak came outside and watched the insane display before her.

"Be careful" Ajak shouted.

"Don't worry sweetheart it's going to be fine" Jonathan shouted back in response

"That's what you always say when you do something reckless and potentially dangerous. Apollo are you okay?" Ajak said a little concerned for her son and remembering the days Jonathan was a firefighter

"Are you kidding this young man is a Man of Steel" Jonathan shouted as they zoomed out of earshot.

The two laughed and cheered together as the truck picked up speed.

"Try letting the wind pick you up" Jonathan instructed Apollo.

"I'm trying" Apollo replied.

Apollo felt the wind around him and he continued to laugh as he let go. Let go of his fear, his hatred, his sadness and his doubt. The weight he'd been carrying his entire life left him and Apollo shot off the back of the truck. I'm flying Apollo thought as he chuckled to himself letting the wind carry him. Apollo looked down and his fear came back temporarily and suddenly he fell to the ground crash landing hard.

"Well that didn't work" Jonathan said as he helped Apollo up.

"Nope" Apollo said and the two laughed as they went to the porch to take a break.

Ajak inspected Apollo to see if he was hurt in anyway and just as always he wasn't. Ajak heard Sprite and Sersi wake up and went to keep the two of them company sensing that this was a father son moment. Jonathan and Apollo lay next to one another on the steps of the porch and stared at the cornfields and Apollo's thoughts drifted to last night and how he broke something in a fit of anger.

"What are you thinking about?" Jonathan asked his son.

"The mirror" Apollo replied a hint of shame in his voice.

"Oh yeah? What about it?" Jonathan inquired.

"I was thinking somebody had to make it, like somebody at a factory took time to make it. Then somebody had to sell it and move it to the theatre and then other people had to fit it to the wall…which somebody else built before them. When you break something you're not just breaking the thing…you're like…hurting everyone who made it the way it was. I don't know I feel like a jerk" Apollo said.

"You're not a jerk" Jonathan told his son and smiled at him happy he came to such a profound realisation on his own.

Apollo smiled back at him and a thought entered Jonathan's mind as he remembered when he felt like a jerk when he was younger and how he did that out of fear. He remembered how Apollo always seemed to fly fine for a bit before he panicked and fell and Jonathan thought he's still afraid but not of himself but of falling, of heights. Jonathan sat up straight making Apollo look at him inquisitively.

"C'mon son I have another idea we can try. One that doesn't involve cars" Jonathan said.

"Okay?" Apollo said confused as he followed his Dad to nearby the swings to the tree where his tire swing was. The one that seemingly always attracted butterflies.

"What's the plan Dad?" Apollo asked.

"You're going to fly" Jonathan said confidently.

"I can't just fly" Apollo said.

"Yes you can son. Just listen to me. Place your hand on the ground, close your eyes and focus on feeling with your super senses. Okay?" Jonathan instructed his son.

Apollo simply nodded and crouched down on one knee and placed his hand on the ground while closing his eyes.

"Your body can already fly it's just waiting for your mind to catch up. Can you feel those butterflies around you?" Jonathan asked and Apollo nodded.

"Do you know why they can fly besides the fact that they have wings? It's because they're meant to be in the air so they don't fear it. You fear flying because your so used to being on the ground that when you're in the air you assume you're going to come down. That you're going to fall but you don't have to. You can do the impossible, you can go up and never have to come down if you don't want to. Don't be afraid of falling because you have no reason to be. Let go and soar Apollo and don't ever think about falling down again because you're not going down. You're going up, up and away" Jonathan said to his son.

And as he was saying this Apollo felt the beat of all the butterflies' wings, he felt the air around him and he did what his Dad was saying he let go of the fear of falling down. The earth around Apollo started to levitate and Apollo felt his entire body become weightless. The feeling filled him up and Apollo realized he wasn't becoming weightless but rather unchained, gravity wasn't holding him down anymore. Apollo looked up and shot up like a rocket into the air.

"Woohoo" Apollo cheered as he flew through the skies of Smallville.

Apollo heard his father cheer him on below and his mother mutter "my baby can fly" in awe and he soared, he realized what Ikaris had been telling him before, he felt more free than ever before. He didn't have to worry about floating away from his family because that wasn't what this was. This power allowed him to connect, he could visit anyone, go anywhere. He never had to be alone again. Apollo laughed and cheered as he flew faster through the sky, he was truly free now and he loved it. He felt the wind all around him and then flew down to Crater Lake and ran his hands through the water as he stared at his reflection. He then shot up into the clouds and flew right through one getting slightly wet and laughing. Apollo looked at Smallville below him, his home the place where his friends and family were and he wondered how he ever thought he would drift away from it. It would always be here for him; his family would always be here for him. Apollo didn't have to fear being different because it didn't matter that he was, not truly. Some people may not be ready to accept all of him but that didn't mean they didn't accept the most important part of him, the part of him that was human, his heart or rather hearts and his soul. As long as he never forgot that Apollo could live among humans happily. Apollo smiled to himself and then did one more flight around the entirety of Smallville county before flying back home.

Apollo landed with a loud thud on the ground outside the house and thought he needed to work on his landings.

"Ma, Pa. I can fly" Apollo shouted enthusiastically.

"We saw honey, we're so proud of you" Ajak told him as the three of them embraced in a big group hug.

Sprite and Sersi came outside and clapped for him.

"Congratulations Apollo, you looked very impressive up there maybe one day you can even challenge your Uncle" Sersi warmly told him.

"You think?" Apollo said excitedly.

"Definitely" Sersi said before hugging him.

"I'd need to see it to believe it" Sprite told him in a teasing tone.

"Oh you'll definitely see it" Apollo said as pulled Sprite into a hug.

"What are you doing?" Sprite asked extremely confused however once she saw the mischievous glint in his eye she realized what he was about to do.

"Don't even think about it" Sprite commanded but the command fell on deaf ears.

"Hold on tight" Apollo said excitedly as he flew up with Sprite in his arms.

Apollo cheered as Sprite screamed but the longer they flew the more Sprite enjoyed herself and by the time he was flying her down she was cheering with him.

They landed hard on the ground and Sprite immediately said "you need to work on your landings".

Apollo just rolled his eyes and went up to his Mum and Dad.

"Did you see that? I flew with Sprite no problem. Maybe when I'm older we can all go on trips. Like you guys get in the truck and I just carry us to wherever we want to go" Apollo said barely able to contain his excitement.

"Free vacations" Apollo continued "We could go anywhere, Paris, Hawaii, Timbuktu! I could go further and higher I just know it and I bet I could go way faster think about it. We could go anywhere"

Jonathan and Ajak just smiled at one another. They had a flying son, when they adopted him all those years ago they never could have imagined this but despite all the hardships they faced raising him they knew they wouldn't have it any other way.

"I'm going to go for one more lap" Apollo said practically vibrating with excitement. The family just chuckled at that.

Apollo crouched down making a show of his takeoff and then looked at his family happier than ever knowing no matter what life threw at him he could handle it. He had his family and he knew they would always be there for him and love him. He had all the friends he'd made in the last year Skye, Chloe and Pete. And he was ready and had begun to embrace his powers and himself, his human soul and his alien body. He didn't yet know what the future held for him but he knew that he wanted to grow into a person who used both of those parts of himself to make his home a better place. Apollo looked into the sky and saw birds flying and he smiled widely at his family.

The rocks around Apollo started levitating and Apollo shouted happily and proudly "Up, up and away!"

Authors Note: That was the second chapter of Marvel's Superman. I hope you all enjoyed it and I hope someone appreciates the Harry Vanderspeigle reference. Yes I did edit the Eternals a little and they now have the same powers as Sensates from Sense8 cause that ability kinda made sense for them especially since they lack the psychic poowers they typically all have in the comics. I don't know when the next update will be but I can promise it will come and I'm in the middle of writing it now. The next chapter will be Apollo's teen years in Smallville and I'm very excited for you guys to see where Apollo's story goes and how he interacts with more MCU characters and grows as a character.

I hope you enjoyed this really long chapter and please tell me what were your favourite 'Seasons' for Apollo. And let me know how you feel about DC and Marvel's future movies and shows. Me personally I'm really excited for Superman Legacy. Also fun fact about the For All Seasons section, I at one point wanted them each to be there own chapter cause I figured they could stand on their own as individual chapters and I didn't want you guys to wait for as long as you did for this update. However, I didn't write the seasons linearly so that idea went away quick.

Anyways I once again hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Please read and review and feel free to PM me about the story. Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween and a happy Thanksgiving(for the American readers).