Epilogue

In the days following the meteorite, Smallville had become abuzz with activity. Reporters from all across the world had come to get stories on what happened, many of which all seemed the to have one thing in common. The description of a red and blue blur going to and fro, getting people out of harm's way.

Many simply didn't believe it, thinking it was some small town myth. Clark was grateful for that, having reporters and newscasters camped out all around Smallville to simply catch shot of him didn't exactly inspire confidence.

Even though he went more public than he had in the past, he wasn't be showing his face anytime soon.

Yang had stayed at his side all hours of the day, dotting on him like a mother hen. Clark honestly thought it was hilarious so he didn't stop it right away. But when she started waiting outside his bedroom in the morning, he put his foot down. "Dammit woman I am fine, look!" he said, standing on a single foot before switching to the other.

Yang stood with her arms crossed over her abdomen, it was true that Clark healed remarkably on the past few days, his bruises and cuts were now gone and he looked better than ever. "I know but still….." she trailed off as they made their way outside of the house and into the barn.

"Look you were worried. I'm sorry I did that to you but Yang, I'm fit as a fiddle." Clark said reassuringly. The two climbed up the stairs up to the loft, sitting down on the hammock the two swung back and forth.

Yang looked down at her hands, "Clark…..why did you stay behind?" she asked somewhat timidly, surprising Clark. Yang was confident, she walked into a room she did it with a stride in a step and her hips swaying for everyone to see. Not walk in behind someone else and shuffle into the corner.

"Like I said, to make sure everyone got out safely." he explained.

Yang shook her head, "No I mean…..what compelled you to stay behind?" she clarified. "It's just…...I keep going over everything in my head and I still don't understand why you did it, I know it was the right thing to do but there has to more to it than that." she explained further.

Clark thought for a moment, "Well….not really." he said, making Yang look at him like he was insane. "I mean, my mom and dad taught me that I need to do the right thing, and if everyone did that, the world can only get better right?" he suggested.

Yang simply stared at him. She was in awe, her best friend was willing to risk his life and save someone simply because it was the right thing to do? It wasn't just remarkable, it was downright unbelievable. "Clark…...you're perfect, you know that?" she asked before wrapping him up in a hug.

The alien smiled and returned the embrace, "Thanks, now go on, you need to get your stuff together. Bus out of Smallville is in two hours." he said, Yang pulled away and smiled.

As she walked down the stairs, she stopped and turned back to Clark, "Thanks for keeping your promise." she said, Clark smiling at her as she descended the stairs and went back towards the house.

The young man looked down at his hands, ever since he destroyed that chunk of rock, he felt…...different. For one thing, he was even stronger than he was before. Last night he sneaked out of his room and lifted the truck with his pinky finger!

Not only that, his speed, durability, vision powers, and his mind all seemed to improve as well. He had no idea how of course but it seemed to happen when he getting ready to charge into the meteor.

"Well I'm glad to see your not putting the moves on my niece." Clark nearly fell out of the hammock from the sound of Qrow's voice. The huntsman was leaning against the doorway that lead out to the fields, "Smart too, considering she's probably kill you for lying to her face." he added.

Clark gulped, she probably would given the chance. "So…..you talk to your friend yet?" he asked.

Qrow nodded, "I just filled him in on the meteor, everything else…..well it's better to hear it in person." she said, Clark nodding in agreement. Besides, who knew who was listening in. "But I'm more concerned about those green rocks we saw." he said, causing Clark to look at him curiously, "I went to get that one that you got me out of the way from, but it was gone, and there were signs of someone being there." he said.

Clark shrugged, "So? People collect asteroid samples, could just be that." he says with a shrug." Qrow nodded, given what happened it could just be one of the townsfolk who wanted to make a quick buck and sell it to someone.

"Either way, it's better than being here. Whatever it was it made you sick, don't even want to think of what that does to people." he said, thinking of how harmful somthing like that could possibly be.

Clark nodded, "Look Qrow….you get that family comes before anything else right?" he asked, glancing towards the house. Before everything else, Clark's thoughts were to his family and friends when he learned of what was coming.

Qrow nodded, "Yeah. But you also need to understand that sigh what you can do, you can't expect that you can stay here in Smallville forever." he said.

Clark nodded, "I know….and that's why I'm leaving." he said, making Qrow's eyes widen. "I…...I can't stay here Qrow. I've changed I'm stronger now and after doing that….I can't just go back into hiding." he said, walking over to the trunk and opening it up. Pulling out the blanket and crystal, he looked at each of them.

"These are the only two things that came with me from…...home. And whenever I look at these things I could only think 'I'm not human' and nothing else." he continued. "But now? I think that way when I look at everything…..but these." he said, hoisting the two objects up.

Qrow ran a hand down his face, "So what then? If you think you can just dissapear-"

"That's not what I'm going to do." Clark interrupted. He set the crystal in the blanket and folded it up around the alien object. "I'm saying…...the reason I'm saving people and not enslaving the human race is I always felt like I was human. But now…...all I can think of is how different I am." He looked down at the blanket, red beans shot out of his eyes and onto the material, burning into the material a black symbol.

The S shield.

Holding it out to Qrow, he took it and looked down at it, "I need to get that back, that…..humanity." he explained. Clark pointed at the cloth, "When I learned that language, I saw that at the end. It's not a letter, it's a symbol…...and one day I'm going to need that symbol." he explained.

Qrow looked at him curiously, "What's it stand for?"

Clark smirked, "The S stands for Hope. And like you said, I'm going to give that to people one day…...just not anytime soon." he explained.

Qrow nodded, "Ok….as soon as that day comes, I'll give this to you then." he said with a small smirk. "Take care kid, I'll be seeing ya soon enough." he said, patting Clark on the shoulder as he walked past. Moments later he was outside, waving the truck goodbye as he and Jonathan stayed behind.

Krypto sat loyally at his master's side, "You sure you wanna do this now?" Jonathan asked. Clark quickly speeding into the house and grabbing his duffle bag. He wore his black and red jacket and dress shirt, knowing full well that plaid didn't exactly help him blend in anywhere other than Smallville.

"Yea…..it feels right. Ya know?" he asked, Jonathan smiled at his son's words.

"Yeah I do…...you say goodbye to your mom?" he asked. Clark nodded, Martha wasn't ready eyes about it, instead she said she was incredibly proud of him, and told him to come visit as often as he could.

"I think she was waiting to shove this bird out of the best for a while now." he admitted, making both of them laugh. Clark kneeled down and petted Krypto, "I feel a lot better knowing Krypto is staying with you guys instead of tagging along." he said, the pet nuzzling into his master's hand.

"Well he can certainly entertain himself that's for sure. Still wish we had some proper toys for him." Jonathan said, giving the canine a scratch between his ears. Krypto looked up at him and gave him a dog smile, "If we can raise you, a dog should be no problem." he said, making Clark smirk. "So where you plan on going?" he asked, walking with Clark out towards the road.

Clark smiled, "Where else? Vale."

AN: And so that brings this part of the story to a close. And for now I'll be working on my Spider-Man story, and maybe working on another at the same time as that and when I start the next volume.

Until then guys, merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, and have a great New Year everyone!