SMALLVILLE

Twilight Hour

-Chapter One-

Prologue

Clark Kent had been gone from the world for a long time, people who knew him through he was on a journey of self discovery and they were probably right; if they really knew him. If they knew the true nature of Clark Kent.

Clark Kent was an alien. The Last Son of the long dead planet Krypton. The son of a heroic scientist whom had theorized the destruction of his home world much to the scepticism of his peers. This scientist was Jor-El and Clark Kent was his son, Kal-El. Fearing his son's safety as the last days of krypton grew closer, Jor-El sent his infant son Kal-El to our very own planet in a space ship. Only a baby at the time, Kal-El was found and raised by a Kansas Farmer couples, Jonathon and Martha Kent. They raised him with the staunch code of ethics and morality that defines his very being today. But unlike most children, Kal-El now christened Clark Kent, he possessed powers no mortal child possessed; the strength of ten men and super speed, these powers appeared spontaneously as he grew, growing stronger the older he got and more and more abilities manifested themselves. Unknown to Clark Kent, he was sent to his new home for a reason; to protect it. Not that he hadn't been doing that already, from the very day he had learnt to shave Clark had took it upon himself to protect the people he loved and anyone who was in danger no matter who they maybe, but what his Kryptonian father had in mind was something much, much greater. Clark Kent was to protect the world.

And that was job he was ready to take on.

Unknown to everyone in the far reaches of the arctic stood a construct, a construct not of this earth, made entirely of ice crystals breaking through the earth enjoining within each other like a giant ice tepee. This Fortress of Solitude was where Clark Kent had been for the past five years and where he was learning his true destiny.

Clark's eyes snapped open, flicking wildly as the blue light that encircled him crackled uncontrollably as it disappeared around him, the images that had circling him throughout his training disappearing. He looked around as he finally free from his 'hibernation', he flicked his eyes wildly getting used to them again. His legs felt like jelly as he stretched them out, he felt like he was learning to walk again. It felt weird. He looked around as the familiar voice of his father echoed through the Fortress.

"Your training is complete my son," Jor-El boomed through the Fortress calmly, "your destiny is now your own."

"How long have I been gone?" Clark asked looking around confused. His mind a jumble of information. It was quickly sorting itself out the same as his body as he felt himself feeling more used to it yet again. The information seemed to be subsiding within his mind ready to be used at any moment, allowing him to think at last.

"Five Earth years," Jor-El replied at once.

Five years? Clark thought he was twenty-Five without knowing it; he had missed so much, so many birthdays, so many years. He thought of his family, he wondered if his mother was still in office, if Chloe and Lois were working with each other at Planet, he even wondered if Buffy was still alive. It felt like a dream, a sea of images fading in and out of his memory and yet he could pick on them at once knowing what they were.

"I know what I have to do with your teachings," Clark replied, "but I'm not sure how to do it."

"Live as one of them, Kal-El to know where your strength and powers lie, but always hold in your heart your special heritage," Jor-El replied calmly, Clark nodded understanding, "they can be a good people Kal-El they wish to be they only lack the light to show the way, for that reason above all their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son. It is now time to return to your new world and to serve its collective humanity."

"I will make you proud," Clark said hesitating for a moment before saying, "father."

He kicked off from the ground rocketing through the air, his father's last words following him as he sailed through the sky back home, "You already have, Kal-El."

Martha Kent walked through the home she had long forgotten sitting down feeling the warmth swell through her, it had been nice to get away from Washington. She had almost been pleased of not being called to a conference. She had missed this place. It had been months since she had come back to this place and each time she had been welcomed to an empty, she had been hopeful that Clark may have comeback this time, but yet again she had been greeted to an empty house. She wondered if he would ever return.

"Guess it's just me and you boy," Martha cooed at Shelby who had been well looked after by Ben Hubbard, their neighbour. Shelby had practically leapt at Martha when she had picked him up earlier that day. The dog moved his face in and out of Martha's hands as Martha play-fighted with its face.

Suddenly, it barked. It wasn't angry. But it made Martha jump. It was excitedly. Happy. Its tail wagged wildly as it turned and darted to the door scraping at the door. Martha looked at the door her mouth dropping at a black shadow appearing at the window. The shape was familiar and it made Martha's heart skip as it opened the door.

"Clark," Martha gasped, tears dripping from her eyes as her son walked through the door gingerly. She walked over to him nearly running to her son hugging him tightly. "Your home."

"Yeah I am," Clark said holding his mother tightly; he'd missed her so much.

The next hour had been spent catching up on things, Martha had learn somewhat what Clark had learned and what his training had consisted of mainly he had been downloading information and debating the facts with Jor-El sort of an intergalactic cramming.

"So, how did you get here?" Martha asked with a mischievously look in her eye, "run? Or fly?"

"How did..." Clark began shocked, he hadn't told his mother he had flown; they had said their goodbyes when she had left for Washington so he hadn't seen her since.

"Chloe told me," Martha said sipping her tea smirking as Clark smiled back.

"Yes, I flew," Clark replied, "flew around the world actually."

"And?"

"Everyone crying out for a saviour," Clark replied glumly. "But I'm not sure if I can be that. I know I have to," he said quickly noting his mother's expression, "but not like this," he said looking down at himself, "not as me. I need a disguise."

"A disguise?" Martha repeated questionably.

"All those times in Smallville, I felt like I had my hands tied behind my back when I tried to save people," Clark replied, "always trying to save people and always having to hide. How are people meant to trust me when I have to hide my face?"

"But what sort of disguise can you have when you show your face?" Martha asked confused.

"Then my human identity will have to be the disguise," Clark said quickly. He saw his mother look away softly. He took her hand, "Mom, no matter what the disguise I wear. I will always be Clark Kent, no matter what."

"No, no you're right," Martha replied, "it's just strange to see you all grown up. Your father would be proud."

Clark nodded looking down at the floor guiltily, he missed his father. He wished he was here, he could use him now. Use his advice. "I know," Clark said nodding looking up again.

"Well, I guess I'll have to get my sewing kit out I doubt sewing isn't one of your super abilities," Martha joked.

Clark smiled remembering his mother's quick wit. He had missed that. He had missed a lot of things. He wondered what exactly.