The sun had not yet risen when Clark opened his eyes. The silence in the house was complete, broken only by the calm breathing beside him.
He leaned in, brushing his lips against Diana's forehead.
"I'll be back before noon."
The murmur faded in the air, soft enough not to wake her. Clark rose without a sound, crossed the room, and picked up the small metal box on the dresser. Inside, the three crystals lay still, glowing faintly Blue, Red, and Silver.
Living Room
The floor creaked under his steps. Kyla slept on the couch, a book resting on her lap. Clark paused for a moment, watching her in silence, then continued toward the door.
The dawn air was cold, the moonlight reflecting off the truck's windows. He didn't get in. He simply raised his fist and closed his eyes.
Zuuuumm
The Speed Force wrapped around him like a silent bolt of lightning. Time stretched, the world dissolving into lines of energy.
In a blink, Smallville vanished.
___
Arctic
The hit of the freezing air came first. Ice crystals shattered beneath his boots as he landed. Everything was white, endless, and the wind sliced through like a thin blade. Clark inhaled deeply, feeling the solitude resonate around him.
'This is where he always wanted me to come.'
The thought came calm, almost reverent. Clark walked toward an area where the ice created a natural depression. He knelt and removed the three crystals from the box.
Their lights pulsed in harmony, as if reacting to one another.
Clark extended his hands.
"Time to begin."
The crystals floated upward, slowly rising into the center of the depression.
The sound of the wind changed. The cold shifted into vibration.
Fwooom
The ground trembled.
Lines of light ran beneath the ice, drawing geometric shapes that rose as living columns.
The structure grew in spirals, crystal after crystal, bound together by beams of white energy cutting across the horizon.
In minutes, the emptiness of the Arctic was replaced by an impossible architecture — a fortress made of living ice, perfect angles, and reflections that danced like water.
Clark remained still, watching the creation take form.
No words.
Only awe.
'This was it. His memory, the legacy of a world long gone.'
When the last sound faded, an opening formed before him. The entrance awaited, silent.
Clark took a step forward and crossed the threshold.
___
Inside the Fortress
The silence was pure. Light traveled through the translucent walls, guiding him effortlessly.
Clark walked to the center where a platform awaited.
The moment his foot touched the floor, the chamber reacted.
Zuuuumm
Energy lines crossed the ceiling and converged at a single point before him.
From there, a body of light began to take shape.
First the outline, then the features — a tall man in Kryptonian attire, serene expression.
The voice came before the image finished forming.
"Kal-El."
Clark stood still.
The name echoed through the hall like an ancient summons.
The hologram smiled with gentle, almost paternal calm. "I am Jor-El, your father. And you, my son, are the last of our house."
The tone was kind, convincing.
But there was something measured in every word — a subtle control in the cadence.
"You were sent to this planet to be more than they are. More than anyone can comprehend."
Clark said nothing.
The image stepped forward, continuing.
"Krypton fell because it failed to accept its destiny. Here, the chance is reborn. Humanity needs guidance, order. You were made to lead, to correct the mistakes that destroyed our world."
Clark kept his gaze steady.
No sound. No reaction.
The hologram tilted his head slightly. "You remain silent. You still don't understand what you carry. I can help you. Teach you what it means to be Kal-El."
A long pause.
Clark took a deep breath and crossed his arms.
"And what if I don't want to be what you expect?"
The hologram didn't hesitate. "You cannot run from what you are. Every cell in your body was shaped for the purpose of a god. Denying that is denying Krypton."
'Just like in the series. I hope I don't regret this.'
Clark stepped forward, voice firm.
"Enough, Jor-El. I've heard enough."
The hologram remained serene, but the tone shifted — rigid, correcting. "Kal-El, you speak as if you understand what is at stake. You are still young. You do not grasp the destiny that awaits you."
Clark folded his arms tighter. "I understand more than you think. I've heard the same speech before. Power, destiny, legacy. Same old story. But I'm not the son you want me to be."
Jor-El tilted his head. "You speak as if you've known me far longer than possible."
Clark smirked. "Because I have. Just not this version of you."
The hologram stepped forward, its projection flickering.
"Explain yourself, Kal-El."
"I don't need to." Clark moved until they stood face to face. "You're going to listen now — and behave. This fortress is not your temple. It's my creation. If you try to force me into anything, I'll destroy it and let the ice bury what's left of Krypton."
The walls pulsed faintly in response to his tone. The hologram observed him in silence for a moment.
"You threaten your own father?"
"You're not my father." Clark answered instantly. "The real Jor-El died long ago. What stands in front of me is just an echo programmed to repeat the same failures."
For a moment, the hologram was still. Then the voice came low, calculated. "If you say such things, it is because you fear what you may become. Kryptonian instinct still lives in you, whether you admit it or not."
"Maybe. But I decide what to do with that power. Not you."
Silence stretched until the hologram raised a hand. Light lines crossed the air, subtle and searching.
Clark frowned. "What do you think you're doing?"
"You are my son. Your genetic code recognizes me. I can access your mind, help you understand what blocks your true potenti—"
The air split with energy.
Zuuuumm
Clark clenched his fists. "Try that again and you'll regret it."
The hologram hesitated then insisted.
A beam of light shot across the space and touched Clark's forehead.
The projection vibrated with effort, attempting to pierce mental barriers.
For a moment, the tension thickened, almost static.
Then the light shattered.
Crack
The beam broke like shattered glass, returning to the flickering hologram. "Impossible. No Kryptonian can block neural contact."
Clark narrowed his eyes. "I'm not just a Kryptonian."
The hologram glitched, trying to stabilize. "What are you, then?"
Clark breathed slowly. "Something Krypton could never predict."
He stepped closer, voice controlled. "Now listen. You will keep this fortress running. But you will not give me orders — you will not try to control me — and you will never touch my mind again. Understood?"
"Kal-El…"
"Understood?"
A long pause.
Jor-El's voice lowered.
"Understood."
Clark nodded. "Good. Remember this lesson. Krypton died because it tried to impose control. I won't make the same mistake."
The hologram observed him, expression unreadable. "Then what do you intend to do?"
Clark turned and walked toward the exit. "Whatever I want. With the world and with my destiny."
The hologram watched until he vanished through the passage. The fortress lights dimmed, the wind reclaiming the silence.
Jor-El remained still, expression returning to its artificial serenity. "A son who defies his father… yet still carries the blood of Krypton. We shall see how far you go, Kal-El."
Outside, the cold air wrapped around Clark. He looked up at the sky, his thoughts calm and steady.
'Now this is truly the beginning of my world.'
Fwoooosh
His body dissolved into pure speed, disappearing into the white horizon.
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