This is story made of six short stories, each focusing on a Lord. We will see new identities forged, old personas fall…and redemption that can only come from death. It will not always be happy, but in the end, each of them will find what they need.

The Father becomes the Son, The Son becomes the Father.

Under the Kansas Sun

The farm looked absolutely horrible.

Trudging up the driveway, foot occasionally catching in a hole and sending him stumbling, he could help but stare at what had happened to his childhood home. The grass was long and thick, folding onto itself. Weeds of all sorts and sizes filled the lawn, the kind his mother use to say were the sun's children, and his fathe ruse to say were annoyances.

The fields were in worse shape. Littered with rocks, overgrown with brush in spots, they were a far cry from the once lush, dense crop fields of his youth. It was yet anther said reminder of what he had lost, what he had destroyed in his stupidity.

The house that had once been filled with love was empty know, he knew that just by staring at its broken windows, chipped paint and caved-in roof. Shingles were strewn in his mother's flower garden, and the door lay in the driveway, burn marks all over it. He could see mud trailing into the house, no doubt from the animals that had taken residence in the home. The east side of the wall bulged outward, lumber cracked and broken. The result of his rage unleashed.

Now, there was no anger left. Instead, he was using the remaining strength he had from falling to his knees and crying.

'The poet was right.' Clark Kent, the man once known as Superman, thought, losing the battle to keep standing. 'you can't go home again.'

&&&

18 Months Ago

"What the hell were you thinking, Clark?"

Clark crossed his arms over his chest, giving Kara his best Superman stare. Was easy enough, considering he was in his Superman costume. His cousin was returning his glare with her own 'Kara-is-being-stubborn' glare.

"I was thinking that I needed to stop that car thief…"

"I had it covered, Clark!" Kara growled out. "I had stopped their vehicle, was getting ready to pull them out, then you toss me away! Sent me flying into a brick wall!"

Clark shook his head. "Kara, we've discussed this before: you are not allowed to go out without me or another Lord."

His cousin frowned. "Really…" Kara said with a scoff. "I don't remember discussing it. I remember you acting like a big jerk, telling me what I can and can't do, like I am some sort of child."

"You are a child." He snapped. "And you are going to do what I say?"

"You gonna make me, Clark?" Kara questioned. "I don't think your heat vision can lobotomize me."

He looked like he had been sucker-punched. "Kara…I would never…"

"Wouldn't you?" Kara questioned. "I don't know what you would do anymore! You and your new friends, the Justice Lords, have been running around like a bunch of goons, doing whatever you want and damn what anyone says." She shook her head. "And when your bored with that, you decided to rule my life."

"I'm doing it for your own good!" Clark said.

"Don't patronize me!" She screamed in frustration. By now, Martha and Jonathan Kent were looking out the door, wondering what was going on and hoping the neighbors wouldn't be drawn towards the noise. How would they explain two superheroes fighting on their lawn?

"Stop acting like a spoiled brat and I won't treat you like one!" Clark roared in frustration. "You keep pulling these damn stunts, doing what we shouldn't…and what are you wearing?"

Kara looked over her white shirt and mirco skirt. "My costume."

"No…I remember giving you your new costume." Clark said.

"You mean that black and white full body suit…a replica of that hidous thing you are wearing?" Kara snarked.

"First off, this thing shows way too much skin…you are just begging to be raped."

"I-AM-SUPERGIRL!" She roared, trying to beat it into his skull.

"And second, we don't wear those colors anymore."

"No, you don't." Kara snapped. "Because you are in mourning for The Flash…who would be so disappointed in you."

"Don't lecture me, Kara." Clark said. "You know…" He gave a bitter laugh, "Ever since you showed up, you have been nothing but a pain in my ass." He shook his head.

Kara's eyes widened. "What…do you wish I would have died along with everyone else?" Clark didn't say a word, and tears formed in her eyes. "That's it…isn't it?" She turned away.

"Kara…" Clark said pleadingly.

"I'm going to my room."

Clark frowned. It had been a long time since someone didn't ask how high when he said jump. "No, we aren't done talking."

Kara threw his hand off her shoulder. "Yea, we are…I don't talk to murderers." She lowered her head. "You're worse then Luthor."

She never saw the punch coming.

Supergirl's body soared through the air, like a fly ball, before crashing into the roof, body slamming into the second floor before breaking through to the first. His parents had already shut the door, rushing towards Kara, but Clark was faster Heat vision burned around his eyes, tearing apart anything that came into his way as he ripped his way into the house.

"Get out of the way, mom." Clark snarled, storming towards his cousin.

"Clark, calm down…"

"She's disrespected me for the last time!" He shouted, throwing a couch at the wall. "Its time someone taught her how to behave…" Jonathan Kent moved right infront of him.

"no son…this has gone on far enough."

Martha nodded. "First you killed Lex Luthor…then you and the Lords began acting like dictators…now you are tearing apart the house to beat down your own cousin?"

"We're not letting you continue, son." Jonathan added. "We won't let you do something you will regret."

"This is for her own good!" Clark shouted in frustration. "I know what is right, and she needs to begin listening to me!"

"We still aren't moving…" Martha said.

SMACK!

Clark hadn't realized what he was doing, and could only watch in horror as his hand moved on its own, striking his mother and sending her to the ground. He stared, slack-jawed, as she fell to the floor. Kara was on him, giving him a right hook that sent him across the room, before she trudged towards Martha.

Jonathan glared at his son. "Get out."

"Pa…" Clark whispered.

"No." He said. "You don't get to call me that. My son Clark is the only one that can call me Pa…and you sure aren't him, Superman." His eyes were as hard as diamonds.

Clark shook his head. "I'll be back in a few days, when you've calmed down." And with that, he flew off.

&&&

He hadn't seen his parents since. They'd disappeared, no trace of what had happened to them. He had searched, sure…but there had been no sign of his parents at all. Over the months, he had slowly forgotten about them, thinking they would wise up, see what he was doing was right, and come looking for him.

Now he understood. They would never look for him. It was easier to pretend your son was dead then think of him as the monster Clark had become.

He had finally stood up, bypassing the house entirely and making his way to the barn. As he searched through the tools, his mind went to a few days before, what had happened that had finally made him realize the error of his ways.

&&&

When Clark had lost his powers, he had blamed it all on the other Clark, the Superman that hadn't been willing to do what needed to be done to stop Luthor. He had raged at Bruce, but without his powers, he knew he was no match for the Dark Knight.

Then the Guardians had shown up, and he remembered sulking as they flew him to Metropolis, saying that they were going to leave him there. They'd warned him about contacting the Lords, but Clark didn't care. He only focused on his revenge, and how to get back to the other dimension and take out Lex Luthor and that apparently evil Superman.

Dropped off at his apartment, Clark had ignored the dust covering his furniture and the dead flowers. He had only kept the place incase he needed it, but had made his home at the Watchtower. And he would be back there soon enough. All he needed was some help.

He'd run up the fire escape, and begun calling out for Kara, knowing that his cousin would hear his cries. He had smiled, ready for the young girl to appear, happy to finally get some action. He'd been wrong to strike her, he knew that, but Kara would understand, accept his apology, and together they would make things right. He was sure that if he explained everything to her, Kara would be willing to find a way to give him her superpowers, so he could right the wrongs of the 2 worlds. She could help…but the world needed a Superman…

BAM!

Clark went skidding across the rooftop, blood gushing from his broken nose. With a groan he looked up at the face of his pissed off cousin.

Kara had definitely changed since he last saw her. She was almost as tall as him, her body lined with lean, tight muscles. Her hair was cropped short in a bob cut, still blonde as ever. She had also…developed more, and her new white costume showed off her ample cleavage, a hole in the center displaying her breasts for all.

"And you thought my old costume was bad." She snarled. She pointed at the hole. "There's another reason for that though…I was originally going to put the House of El shield on this costume, but after I heard about you Lords deciding to stop all democratic elections…well, I figured I shouldn't have any trace of you on my person."

"Kara…" Clark said softly, as if scolding a child, "Something has happened."

"Something has happened, alright! My freakin' prayers were answered." She was infront of him in an instant. "The mighty Superman has been beaten."

Clark glared at her. "Kara, I need your help…we were sent to another world…"

"I know." She interrupted. "Batman told me everything, warned me that you might show your face, trying some stupid plan to go after their Luthor. He also told me what you did there…how you almost killed that world's Flash…"

Clark closed his eyes. "He…he just wouldn't listen…"

"And that gave you the right to try and kill him?"

"He was evil!" Clark shouted.

"no, he just didn't agree with you!" Kara screamed, grabbing him by the hair and yanking his head up. "You had the power, and decided that meant you were in charge."

"I know what is right!"

"Only God knows what is right. Are you a god, Clark?"

Clark didn't say a word for a long moment. "I am Superman…Superman always knows what is right."

"Not anymore." Kara said. "Now, I am the only super left…Power Girl, the last Kryptonian Hero. Does that mean my word is law?" Her eyes lit up. "Does that mean I can burn you to a crisp?"

"You wouldn't…"

"No." Kara admitted. "Because I'm not like you." She shook her head. "Batman told me what that other world's Batman said to make him see how stupid you all were…maybe it will make you snap out of it."

Clark still preferred to live in denial. It was easier then considering that maybe, just maybe, he had gotten things wrong.

"They'd love it here, wouldn't they?"

"Who?" Clark asked.

"Mom and Dad. Both of sets." She said. "You've brought fear, terror, dread…all the things they hoped you'd bring. You got rid of freedom…I'm sure they are proud about that. You've become the very monsters you fought…corrupt criminals that rule by their own opinion."

"I…I didn't…" Clark stammered. It had been a long time since someone had scolded him. Being Superman, he could easily shut someone up if they began to point out his faults. But now…as only Clark…

"Let me paint a picture for you Clark: Imagine a world where one man's word is law, if you disobey him, he shoots lasers out of his eyes to kill you, and there is no freedom, no choice, other then his." She made a dramatic bow. "All hail….Lord Darksied."

"No!" Clark shouted. "I'm…I'm nothing like him…I'm…" He held his head in his hands.

"Yea Clark…you and Darksied are just peas in a pod." She shook her head. "The Guardians came to see me…said that since this isn't your homeworld, they had considered sending your back to the remains of Krypton." Clark trembled. "Yea…instant death for you. They let it be my choice."

"Kara…"

"You can be a good person Clark, when you want to be." Kara whispered. "You only lost the light to show you the way. It is for this reason alone, your capacity for good…that I will not send you away, my only family." Her face grew cold. "But I never want to see you again. And I won't let you see Ma or Pa again either."

"Please…" He begged.

"I told them you were dead." Kara said, dropping the proverbial hammer. "When the Guardian left, I told them that you'd been killed, reforming at the last minute and sacrificing yourself to stop the other Lords. Better for them to think their son died a hero then is a worthless slug, begging me to help him get his revenge." She grabbed him by the shirt, and in the next moment, Clark found himself outside the city limits. "Metropolis doesn't want you, Clark…they have a new hero. Go…and don't come back."

&&&

Hoe in hand, Clark grunted as he began to hack at the weeds the filled the Kent Family Farm. He had wandered the country for a few days, hitching rides until he had made it to Smallville. It had been a bitter pill, listening to the radio as reporters cheered his apparent disappearance. He heard the new heroes Supernova and Blue Beetle proclaim they would be working with the government to right the wrongs of the Justice Lords, and would set up a system to insure this never happened again. Public opinion was on their side, especially when the new Green Lantern, Power Girl, Huntress and The Question all came forward in days to be registered as crimefighters. Power Girl even went as far as the join the Metropolis police force, answering to the sergeant and acting as a rookie cop.

More heroes stepped forward, long in hiding, and cheered his defeat. People he had thought of as friends celebrated his death. He remembered seeing the new versions of the Star Wars movies, and the end scene in Return of the Jedi, when everyone celebrates the death of the emperor…he mourned that his legacy would only be that: A fallen dictator.

Infact, when he had arrived in Smallville to find them in the midst of a "Fall of Superman" festival, he had been ready to find an alley and slit his wrists right then.

But that's when she said hello.

&&&

"Clark Kent!"

Clark turned, eyes still wet from watching children burning scarecrows in his image, to see an unlikely sight.

"Lana…"

Lana Lang shook her head…and punched him in the shoulder.

"OW!" he whined.

Lana grinned. "Oh, knock it off. You deserve as much for being such an idiot."

Clark sighed. "You come to take a pound of flesh from me too?"

She shook her head. "No. Just come to see if you've finally woken up."

Clark rubbed his face with his meaty hand. "If you mean, "See if I've stopped acting like a bastard", then yea. Losing your powers and having your family disown you will do that."

"What did you expect to happen Clark?" Lana asked. "You went all insane on us…"

Clark groaned. "I just wanted to make the world better…"

"So dressing up in black and white tights and acting like a jerk was your way of making a better world?" Lana questioned. "Geez…thought you were smarter then that."

"Leave me alone, Lana."

"Hey, hey…" Lana said, drawing him back towards her. "I know this must be tough. You only did what you thought was right…and now you find out everything was wrong. But being a big moopey idiot won't help fix it." She stroked his cheek. "Yea, people hate you right now. But they will get over it. Give them time, and soon people will remember the old Superman, the one they use to stand out in the rain and cheer for…and they'll forgive you."

"I don't know if they'll ever forgive me." Clark murmured. "God…how did I screw things up so bad?"

Lana gave him a teasing grin. "By thinking you were something you're not." She watched as a parade float went by, turning Clark away from the flower-made structures that depicted Optimus Prime holding Superman while Megatron punched him in the gut. 'Nice use of roses for the blood being spat from his mouth, though' She thought. "I don't know what it is about you, Clark, but for some reason you think you have to do all these grand things to help people. You don't. You want to make the world a better place? Make up for your sins? Do something small…something that needs to be done." She shrugged. "And pray that everything works out."

&&&

As Clark continued to work the field, his mind turned to the future. He would begin work on the house tonight, as well as buy some gas for the tractors so he could plow the fields. He would cut the grass, fix the door, get the roof back in place, and begin planting seeds.

His father had once told him that without the farmer, nothing could survive. It was time to put that theory to the test. As he worked under the hot Kansas sun, all Clark Kent could do was hope.

For in the end, that was all that mattered.

The End

Author's note: Remember, in the DC Animated Universe, Lana knows Clark is Superman.

Thank you all very much for reading. It has been one hell of a ride, and it has been great to write out these stories for you all.

As for my next short fic, I'm not sure what I will do. Here are some possible ideas, let me know what you think:

-J'onn and Mike's Bogus Adventure: When J'onn left in the final season to learn more about mankind, he turns to the only person he ever read wrong: Booster Gold. In the crossover to end all crossovers, the Martian Manhunter and the Man from the Future will learn that cars can become robots, that hippies don't make the best detectives, that New Jersey isn't all it's cracked up to be, that Karma is a funny thing, and that there are some islands that you just don't want to travel to. And maybe, just maybe, the meaning of life.

That's a big maybe, though.

(this is the one I am leaning towards)

-Justice League Beyond: After seeing what Bruce was able to do, the rest of the League decide to begin training their own replacements. See what happens when Flash, Booster, Question and Green Arrow begin to train their new apprentices.

-Smallville: Boost: Taking place during the current season. When Chloe drags Clark to the opening of the new Metropolis Science Museum, they never expected to see a young man appear outof thin air. Michael Carter, his memory gone, struggles to discover why he has come to the past. But when LexCorp is invaded, Michael will join with the boy that would be SUperman...and a new hero is born.

I will say that I do know in July I will stop doing DCU fics so I might write the fan fic "Confidence Bot". Taking place in the Transformers Movieverse, it follows Doubledealer. Dd is a transformer that doesn't believe in the Autobots of the Decepticons…instead, all he cares about is making so cash. In this reimagining of this G1 character, Dealer travels to Earth (after stealing a ship) to take advantage of the Great War and make a nice profit.