unknownalien3388

[unknownalien3388]

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Four (Part 2 of 2).

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|Preface|CH1-PT1|CH1-PT2|CH1-PT3 CH1-PT4.1

Chapter Summary: Kara did not know how long it had been since Arlo went off-line but with every Phantom induced hallucination, she could herself getting closer and closer to the edge of giving up hope of ever escaping the Phantom Zone.

However, before Kara could do the unthinkable and end her life, an unexpected person appeared from the darkness in a flood of light, offering Kara one last sliver of hope and a real chance at escaping.

But after everything she had endured, Kara was not sure if what she was seeing was real or if it was a good enough reason for her to continue fighting a battle that she had begun to believe she had already lost.

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!!

This chapter will be exploring Kara Zor-El's time in the Phantom Zone and will touch on dark themes such as death, emotional distress, panic attacks, vivid hallucinations, and psychological torment. These topics may be upsetting to some readers, l ask that you please take care while reading and remember that your mental health and wellbeing always comes first. If you need to step away and take a break from reading, that is completely okay.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 CW TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics. I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologize, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction. I would like to thank every person who has commented on this story and told me how they cannot wait for me to upload, it is thanks to you that I have not given up on this story.

Authors Note: A new face will be entering Kara’s life in this chapter. Her name is Virell and I am excited for you to meet her. Please feel free to let me know what you think of her in the comments.

Another Authors Note: While Kara is on Krypton and before she arrives on Earth, everyone will be speaking Kryptonese, unless the words are in bold, then they are speaking English. In Kara’s dreams, she will be speaking Kryptonese on Krypton and English on Earth, unless the words are in bold and italics, then she is speaking Kryptonese.

Sidenote: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts.

UnknownAlien3388.

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Twenty-Four Years In Solitude:

When Arlo was finally forced to shut down, Kara was absolutely devastated and felt like she had been abandoned by the last true piece of Krypton she had left. Even though time had long since lost all sense of meaning to Kara and she did not know how long she had been trapped inside the Phantom Zone, she did know that she had never felt so completely alone before. 

Without Arlo to keep her company, Kara had no choice but to spend her time lost in her own thoughts, which is where she made the heartbreaking discovery that she could barely remember what her life had been like on Krypton as the familiar faces and voices of her loved ones and the memories of her childhood that she had once cherished were no longer clear, but muddled and distorted by the countless Phantom-induced hallucinations she had been subjected to.

Once Kara realised that her memories were being replaced by phantom-made illusions, her mind began to spiral as she searched desperately through the warped, twisted wreckage the Phantoms had made of her memories, trying to find something real. But the harder she tried to remember her memories, the faster they slipped through her fingers like water.

After what felt like an eternity spent in agony, fighting her own mind, the pull of exhaustion simply became too much for Kara's body, and she succumbed to sleep before she could reclaim even a single piece of a memory that was truly hers:

Kara was tinkering at her workstation in the Planetary Science Laboratory, working on Project: Rao’s Seed of Life, when her father called her over. “Daughter, can you please come look at this?” He asked.

"I will be right there, Father." Kara replied as she set down her datapad and walked across the lab to where her father was studying holographic projection of their planet’s core.

“Have a look at these readings and tell me what you see.” Kara’s father requested, taking a step back from the table so she could get a better look at the holographic projection of their planet’s core. 

“Sure.” Kara agreed as her eyes scanned the data and for a moment she was speechless. She could not believe what she was seeing. “Please tell me, father, that what I am seeing is not what is actually being shown.” She pleaded with fear in her voice. This cannot be right. How can it be that Krypton’s core is not stabilizing as we had hoped and has instead begun to collapse? How can Project Astra be failing so terribly this early, when it seemed so promising during its planning? 

"I am afraid that there is nothing wrong with your eyesight and what you are seeing is right, Krypton is beyond saving." Kara’s father told her as she adjusted the holographic projection with trembling hands, hoping and praying that her father had accidentally miscalculated. Kara felt her heart drop when she realised there had been no mistake made. 

“What do we do?” Kara asked as she watched her father pace the laboratory while muttering to himself. From the little she could overhear, Kara knew her father was trying to formulate a plan of action. 

“We need to warn the others and start evacuations.” Kara's father announced as he came to a sudden stop in front of her. “We do not have much time, but we have to try and save as many people as we can. We will send out distress signals to our sister planets asking for assistance and refuge.”

“Hopefully they will be willing to help.” Kara said as her mind began to race with all the people she needed to save, her mother, her father, her friends, and most importantly her wife and son. Where could they be right now? I need to find them and fast. We need to leave soon. Krypton is becoming more unstable every second Kara thought as she turned towards the door, ready to start looking for her loved ones.

At that very moment the door to the laboratory slid open. “Mama! Look what I made!” Kieran announced, running into the room, clutching a small crystal prism. 

Kara’s wife followed close behind him with a soft smile on her face. “Darling, are you ready?” She asked. “The High Council meeting is about to start, and you do not want to be…” Kara dashed across the room and pulled her wife into a tight embrace mid-sentence.

"Praise Rao! I was so worried about you and Kieran, but thankfully you are both safe.” She said with relief thick in her voice.

“What is going on, darling?!" Karena asked as she wrapped her arms tightly around Kara. “You are starting to scare me." 

Kara opened her mouth to answer as her gaze flickered over to her father, who was holding her son on his hip as Kieran showed him his crystal. She could tell by the look in his eyes that her father was deeply concerned by what they had discovered. “Everything will be okay,” She said, her voice trembling. "We are going to be okay. However, we need to leave right now. Krypton is no longer safe. It is dying and there is no saving it."  

Kara watched as the colour drained from her wife's face and for a moment, Karena stood frozen with wide eyes as she processed the news. "I cannot believe it." She whispered.

“There is not much time left.” Kara told her. “We need to go now.” 

"Kieran, come here, sweetheart." Her wife called as she held out her hand toward their son.

“Mama!” Kieran exclaimed as he wiggled out of his grandfather’s arms and happily toddled over to his parents. “Look, I made a rainbow!” He said as he proudly showed off his crystal.

"Wow, little one, you did an amazing job.” Kara told him.

“Mama and I were talking about going on a little adventure, what do you think about that?" Karena asked.

"When?" Their son wondered.

"Right now." Kara answered.

“Who will be coming?” Kieran asked.

“It will be you, Mama and I, along with Grandfather and Grandmother.” Karena answered.

At that moment, Kara heard the familiar sound of heels approaching from the hallway outside and turned her attention back toward the entrance of the laboratory, right as her mother appeared in the doorway with a playful glint in her eyes. “There you are, Kara. I have come to get you as our meeting is about to start and I do not want you to be late again.” She teased. Kara watched as her mother’s smile faltered when no one laughed and slowly faded as she took in the tense atmosphere around her. "Krypton is beyond saving." She stated calmly, like it was a fact and not a question.

“Yes and we need to start to evacuate as soon as possible. I have already sent distress signals to our sister planets in the hope that they will be able to help and offer some refuge, but our time is running out.” Kara's father told his wife grimly. 

Suddenly a harsh tremor shook the laboratory, followed by an unsettling rumble that made the lights flicker. Before anyone could react, the tremor grew stronger and more violent, causing the walls to crack and crumble and the windows to shatter. “Kara!” her wife shouted, panic rising in her voice.

“I am right here.” Kara called back as an explosion went off somewhere in Argo City, not too far from where they were. While Karena and her parents were trying to figure out the best way to escape Krypton, Kara was more worried about the fact that the tremors had only continued to intensify. It was not until the floor beneath them split open, separating Kara from her family, that she realised there was no leaving Krypton alive.

"Mama, I am scared." Kieran cried with tears streaming down his face.

Kara opened her mouth to say something to comfort her distressed child, when half of the ground suddenly gave way, taking her family with it.  In her final moments before Krypton exploded, Kara prayed that she would be reunited with them again under the light of Rao.

Kara's eyes flew open as an overwhelming sense of panic washed over her and a painful tightness settled deep within her chest, making it hard for her to breathe. While the familiar darkness of the Phantom Zone helped her to calm down, it did not erase the lingering remnants of the nightmare from her mind or prevent her from mourning the fictitious deaths of her parents, wife and child. “Focus, Kara, you have had plenty of nightmares before, and you know what to do when they become too much. There is a reason Aunt Astra taught you calming methods to ground yourself. It is for moments like these, when everything feels too intense and overwhelming.” She told herself sternly as she closed her eyes and inhaled slowly, letting the stale air fill her lungs before releasing it in a controlled exhale. 

Kara continued to do this until she gradually felt her tense body begin to relax and her panic slowly fade. Once her mind was completely clear of the nightmare and the darkness it brought, she was able to centre herself once more and open her eyes. However, the moment Kara did, a cold shiver ran up her spine, shattering what little peace she was able to find. The Phantoms are back. She thought with a growing sense of dread as she automatically began scanning outside her pod for any sign of them. "Why am I even bothering to look for the Phantoms when I cannot see anything but darkness?" Kara asked herself with a bitter laugh. 

In that fleeting moment of self-mockery, Kara was completely unaware that she had let her guard down and in that small window of time when she was at her most vulnerable, was when the phantoms appeared and unleashed their hallucinations upon her, leaving Kara with no time to brace herself for their attack.

Though, each one left a tiny scar on her heart, Kara did not know which of the hallucinations hurt her the most, the ones that forced her to relive the moment Krypton exploded and took everyone and everything she had ever known with it or the ones that made her watch as her baby cousin safely arrived on Earth, only to die countless gruesome deaths, because she was not there to protect him. 

Without Arlo’s comforting presence and his methods to chase away the Phantoms, Kara felt her inner strength begin to slowly waver and crumble as the all-consuming sense of hopelessness returned, stronger than ever. Kara knew the moment it finally flooded her system and was absorbed by her soul, that it was going to leave an everlasting imprint. 

However, despite everything the Phantoms put her through and the unbearable weight of hopelessness she could feel pressing down on her, Kara continued to fight and refused to give up the little fragile piece of hope she had left. Even as she was tormented with hallucinations that warped each and every one of her cherished memories and made it nearly impossible for her to remain hopeful. 

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Kara did not know how long this particular Phantom attack had been going on for, when she suddenly remembered something her aunt used to tell her. ‘No matter how strong a warrior may seem, there will come a time when they will realise that their fight is over. The question you must ask yourself whenever you feel like giving up is, have you really reached that point?’ 

I am tired, Aunt Astra and far beyond the point of my fight being over. It was over the moment I found myself trapped in this place. The only reason I kept fighting was because I was hopeful that I would one day find a way out. Now I am all out of hope and I am done fighting and hurting. Kara thought as she reached for the small, sealed compartment beside her seat with the initials PZ engraved on it.

As Kara took her time to read over the message, she could not help but linger on the part asking her to consider her options carefully before proceeding. That one sentence hurt Kara more than the thought of dying alone, because it served as a painful reminder of the responsibility she had as her cousin’s protector and guardian. A role she had failed the moment she was unable to make it to Earth. Kara’s failure to keep her promise to her mother meant that Kal-El was now going to grow up all alone on a strange planet. I am a disgrace to the house of El. Kara thought, her heart heavy with guilt as she lifted her hand to make her choice. This is the only thing I can do to save my family from further shame.

She was inches away from selecting Yes, when a pure white light suddenly pierced through the darkness. It was so bright it blinded her and chased away the Phantoms, who retreated back into the shadows. What is that?  Kara wondered as she gazed at the light in amazement. I have never seen anything like it before and I do not know what it could be. It is not the right colour for it to be Rao coming for me and it does not seem to be threatening in any way.

Out of nowhere, a small, barely noticeable spot appeared in the centre of the light. As it grew into a blurred blob, Kara quickly realised that whatever this thing was, it was both increasing in size and moving closer to her pod. Slowly, the unidentified entity continued to expand and became more defined until it formed into a humanoid figure. 

Suddenly, Kara gasped in shock as she recognised the person emerging from the light. No, it cannot be. How is this possible? She is meant to be dead. Kara thought in astonishment. "Stay strong, little one. I need you to hold on and be brave a little longer. You can do this, I know you can.” Kara's mother told her. “Do not believe the lies the Phantoms tell you as they seek only to break you and you cannot let them. I understand that you may want to give up, but you are an El and you are stronger than you think.”

Kara instinctively reached out a trembling hand toward her mother as tears began to well in her eyes. "Is it really you?" She asked, barely able to get the words out past the lump in her throat. Kara felt an overwhelming sense of longing wash over her as she continued to gaze at her mother. She desperately wanted to believe that what she was seeing was real, but after experiencing countless hallucinations similar to this one, where she was rescued from the Phantom Zone by a loved one, Kara knew better than to trust her own mind. It hurt her to admit it, but the fact that her mother was most likely another Phantom-induced hallucination was simply undeniable. 

“I swear to you that I will get you out of here soon, little one.” Her mother promised, before she turned and walked back into the light.

“No! Please do not go!” Kara cried as she watched her mother abandon her. “I do not want to be alone anymore.” She whimpered. This will be the last time I fall asleep. Kara told herself grimly as she glanced back toward the message asking if she wished to continue with ending her life. The next time I open my eyes I will be embraced by the gracious light Rao. However, before Kara could put her plan into action by pressing the Yes button to receive her suicide pill, she lost consciousness.

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As Kara continued to drift in and out of consciousness, she began to hear voices whenever she awoke. She could not see their faces as she was far too weak to open her eyes and it took everything she had to simply stay awake.

At first, it was only her mother’s soft, familiar voice Kara could hear, urging her to stay strong, to hold on and to never give up hope. “Do not give up, little one, you will be back home on Krypton soon, Rao would never abandon you here.”

But then came a second voice, one Kara did not recognize. It was calm, soothing and unmistakably female. “Rest now, child. Soon you will be out of this Rao forsaken place. I swear to you, I will get you out. I simply have to find the right spell. It will not be long now and you will be free.” 

Kara could not tell how often the voices returned, or how long they stayed with her. But she did know that the unknown voice and her mother’s voice never came to her at the same time. It was always one or the other. Never both.

Until one visit broke the pattern. 

The stranger was in the middle of talking to Kara, who still was unable to open her eyes, about how close she was to finding a way out for Kara when a second voice cut her off. “I know you must be tired, but I have almost found the right words, Kara and you are doing so well. You are braver than the strongest of Kryptonian warriors. I know the Phantom Zone is cruel, but I also know it cannot break you, not with Rao’s light still shining so brightly inside you. I am aware that I am asking so much of you right now, but I need you to hold on a little longer for me, child, while I do everything I can to get you out of he-.”

“Get away from her!” Her mother’s voice rang out, urgent and commanding, from somewhere in the distance. Kara heard the stranger turn and shift her attention away from her to Kara’s mother. Then came the sound of approaching footsteps. “Virell?” Her mother asked, this time closer, her voice laced with disbelief. “What are you doing here?”

“I mean no harm and I was not going to hurt Kara.” The stranger- Virell replied calmly. “I was simply telling her how close I am to—” Virell’s voice slowly became muffled, and Kara struggled to understand what she was saying. The more she tried to focus on the conversation outside her pod, the harder it became to make out her mother and Virell’s words. I do not care about what they are saying, not when Virell is so very close to getting me out of here and she is now talking to the one person who can help her achieve it. Kara wanted to speak up and tell Virell to work with her mother because she would know what to do. But before Kara could open her mouth, darkness claimed her once more, and she slipped back into unconsciousness.

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For a while after that, the voices stopped visiting her, and Kara was left with nothing but silence and the suffocating weight of the Phantom Zone pressing in around her. Not even the Phantoms came to haunt her. Soon Kara began to think she had imagined everything, the stranger, her mother, even Arlo. Then, through the darkness, came the sound of familiar footsteps. That sounds like Mother and Virell. Have they returned or am I imagining things still? Kara wondered as the two women drew closer and she began to hear them speaking in low, serious whispers. “Mother?” Kara called out, her voice trembling. “Is that you?”

“Yes, little one, it is me.” Her mother replied after a brief pause. “And my friend, Virell is here too.”

“Hello Kara, I hope you are still hanging on.” Virell said warmly.

“We apologise for not coming to see you sooner, little one.”  

“But we found something that captured our attention. You see, the Phantom Zone is not quite like what we were told it was. I realised this when I first arrived and during my time here I have studied the Phantom Zone and with the help of your…mother I was able to find a weak point in its structure. It is well hidden, but we found it. When we did, it changed the type of spell I would need to use to get you out of here.” Virell explained. 

“As you know, little one, the Phantom Zone was created to be inescapable and for the most part it is. However, when it was made, the one thing no one considered was magic. Which means in theory, if a being with powerful magic was to find themselves stuck in the Phantom Zone, they could potentially use their magic to escape.” Her mother added.

“And that is what we are going to do. We are going to use my magic to get you out of this Rao forsaken place. It took us a bit to find the right spell without being caught by the other prisoners, but we finally found it.” 

“You mean after all this time I am really getting out?” Kara asked, almost too afraid to speak the words out loud. “How is that possible?”

“Yes,” Virell confirmed. “The spell we found will act like a cloak and it will hide you from the Phantom Zone long enough for me to recharge your battery and reactivate your pod. Once that happens, Arlo will simply guide you out of the Phantom Zone.”

“However,” Her mother said gently, “we cannot come with you, little one. This will be the last time we will see each other.” 

No. This cannot be goodbye. I just got my mother back. Kara thought with desperation as she forced her eyes open, driven by a sudden burst of panic, terrified that if she did not look now, she might never get the chance to see her mother’s face again.  

The first thing Kara noticed was the soft white light that illuminated the faces of the two women standing before her “Mother!” She breathed, her voice thick with emotion. “It is really you. I was so sure that I had imagined your voice. I never thought I would see you again.” “I did not allow myself to hope that I would ever see you or anyone from Krypton again.” Her mother replied.

As Kara's mother's words registered in her mind, she realised there was something off about what she said. Of course, Mother would not allow herself to hope that she would ever see me or anyone from Krypton again, because our planet died and she sent me away. What an odd thing for her to say. Kara thought and for the first time since opening her eyes, she truly looked at the woman standing before her. While the woman looked identical to her mother, there were a few things that stood out to Kara that told her that it was not her mother. At first there were only small differences. But the more Kara observed the woman, the clearer the distinctions between the two women became. The most obvious difference Kara noticed was the clothing the woman was wearing, she was not in the High Council robes Kara had last seen her mother in, but the uniform of a high-ranking member of the Kryptonian military. Noticing this helped Kara to realise that the voice she thought belonged to her mother had been calling her little one the whole time and there was only one person who ever called her that. The woman in front of me is not my mother, but Aunt Astra. I cannot believe I did not realise sooner. “Aunt Astra?” She asked.

“I am sorry that I lied to you, little one. I never meant to deceive you, but when you called out for my sister, you had so much hope in your voice and you truly believed I was her and I did not have the strength within my heart to take that belief away from you.” Aunt Astra confessed. 

“You are missing your streak,” Kara said simply. “It is strange seeing you without it.” The realization that it was Aunt Astra and not her mother she had been talking to this whole time did not stir any of the emotions Kara might have expected for such a reveal as she was simply too drained to feel anything or to even begin to try make sense of everything that was happening around her. For now, it was enough for Kara that someone was there with her and she was no longer alone.

“The Phantom Zone strips away anything it can from you to make you easier prey for the Phantoms. For me it was the streak in my hair. By taking that, the Phantom Zone tried to take away my sense of self-identity. It did not work, of course.”

“I do not know what they took from me or what I have left.” Kara confessed. Aunt Astra did not speak nor did her expression or her body language change, she still held herself tall, like the proud general she was, but her eyes shifted away from Kara and the silence that followed Kara’s confession felt heavy with something close to guilt. 

Then another voice, soft but clear, broke the tense silence. “Hello, Kara Zor-El. I am Virell. It is lovely to meet you, though this will be both our first and our last time seeing each other.”

Kara turned her attention to the woman standing next to her aunt. She was a tall, slender woman who looked to be around her aunt’s age. Her pale blue eyes stood out against her skin that was as white as starlight, and her long, waist-length silver hair that she had braided into an intricate plait that hung over her right shoulder.

Floating above Virell’s outstretched hand was the source of light. I have read stories about powerful beings with special magical abilities, but I have never seen one in real life before, Kara thought as she gazed at the light in wonder. It is absolutely amazing what Virell can do, and she makes it look so easy that it seems like even I could do it if I simply tried. It finally made sense to Kara, Virell was the one who created the mysterious light that had appeared when Kara first saw her aunt and mistook her for her mother, and Virell is responsible for the sudden disappearance of the Phantoms. Virell must be using her magic to shield me from the Phantoms. Kara thought as she lifted her eye from the light to meet Virell’s calm gaze. “I recognise your voice,” She said softly, amazed that someone she did not know would decide to use their magic to protect her. “You are the one who would speak to me when I was alone and my aunt was not with me.”

“I am,” Virell replied softly. “I have heard so much about you from your aunt.” She glanced at Aunt Astra, then back to Kara. “And I know this is an unusual time to introduce myself to you. I only wanted to tell you that no matter what the Phantoms may have taken from you, they never took your hope. I can see it in you, even now. Shining as brightly as Rao’s light. The hope you have inside you is stronger than the Phantoms ever could be and I believe that once you leave this place, you will begin to rediscover the pieces of yourself you once thought they had taken from you forever. It will not happen all at once. But they will return over time, little by little.”

“It is time,” Aunt Astra said gently, stepping forward and placing her hand gently on the glass of Kara’s pod. “You have been in the Phantom Zone far too long, as it is, little one, far longer than you ever should have been. It is time for you to go and live the life that still awaits you. The Phantom Zone has stolen too much from you already and I will not let it steal any more from you.”

“I do not want to leave you behind,” Kara said, her voice tight with emotion. “You are my aunt and I only got you back, I do not want to lose you again so soon. Please there must be another way to get out of the Phantom Zone that includes you.”

“There is not any other way, though I wish there was, little one.” 

Kara shook her head as tears began to stream down her face. “I do not want to say goodbye.” 

“This is not a goodbye, it is simply see you soon, because this is not forever and I will see you again, under the light of Rao.” Aunt Astra said. “But for now, you must rest and when you awake, you will be free of this place and off to live out the rest of your life away from the Phantom Zone.”

“Rest well, child.” Virell whispered softly.

I was lucky enough to be reunited with Aunt Astra again, only to have her taken away from me once more. I always thought I wanted the pain the Phantoms afflicted on me to end, but now I know that I would remain here for eternity and endure every second of their attacks, if it meant I did not have to lose another loved one again and I could keep Aunt Astra with me. Maybe she was never really here in the first place. Maybe her and Virell were never real, maybe none of it was. The Phantoms are creative and are always finding new and crueler ways to twist the things I long for most into something painful for me to experience. What do I long for the most? Is it to be reunited with my family again or is it to have freedom from the Phantom Zone? Kara wondered, but before she could even begin to answer that question, exhaustion took hold of her once more and dragged her back under, leaving Kara absolutely powerless to resist falling unconscious.

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It felt like barely any time had passed before Kara was jerked awake by her pod suddenly being pulled forward. Completely disoriented and confused, Kara struggled to shake off the remnants of her dream, as she tried to make sense of what had jolted her pod and pulled her so suddenly from her sleep. What was that? Did my pod move? Did it suddenly turn itself back on? She thought hopefully, but the absence of lights and the lack of her pod’s usual mechanical hum quickly extinguished that hope. No, my pod is still dead. So, what had caused it to move? Kara wondered as she turned her attention to outside her pod, trying to get a glimpse of something, anything, that might explain what was happening, but there was nothing.  

Kara’s heart began to race as she realised that the unseen force which had awoken her was still dragging her pod through the Phantom Zone. Her heart jumped from her chest to her throat and panic began to set in as the awful truth hit her: her pod was still dead, and she had no idea where this invisible force was taking her or what it wanted with her. Every now and again, Kara could feel her pod rise off the ground, like the unseen force was trying to lift it back into the air, to help it take flight, before it would crash back down again. 

Kara’s mind began spiraling out of control as she became more and more convinced that she was being pulled toward her death. This cannot be how it ends for me. I cannot die here, not like this. Please, Rao, do not let this be how I die, do not let me die alone in the Phantom Zone. I know I had once longed for the end of my suffering, had even reached for it, but now, after seeing Aunt Astra again, I no longer want that. I want to live. I want to leave this place. I want to see my cousin again. I want to keep my promise to my mother. I want to live the life that Aunt Astra believes is waiting for me.

Kara could feel her chest tightened and her breath quickened, becoming shallow and erratic, as the air around her grew thicker and harder to breathe. Kara began to claw at her chest, gasping for air. I cannot breathe, I cannot think clearly. Why can I not breathe? Kara thought as her lungs began to burn with lack of oxygen even though she knew that her pod's life support was stable as she had checked it constantly after Arlo went offline. Nothing had changed. Everything should be fine. But her body did not care about that fact, and it screamed at her to open the door, to let in air, fresh air, real air, or she would surely die.

A prickling sensation crawled up her spine and no matter how hard she tried, she could not shake the overwhelming need to open the door of her pod to get some fresh air into her lungs or escape, however she did not move. I do not know what to do. If I stay, I might die and if I open the door, I might die too. But Aunt Astra was out there. I saw her. She was standing in the Phantom Zone like nothing was wrong. I want to believe that what I saw was real, that she was real. But what if it was not really her? What if it was only another hullanation, something the Phantoms created to convince me to open the door. Maybe if I stay inside my pod, the magic Virell used to chase away the Phantoms will protect me from the unseen force that wants to kill me. Kara took a deep, shuddering breath as her fingers tightened around the armrests as a way to hold herself still and prevent her from opening the door.

The thought that Virell’s magic was going to protect Kara, should have calmed her nerves but as she glanced around her pod, Kara’s fears of death remained just as strong. Is it only me or are the walls getting closer? I swear it feels like the space around me is getting smaller. Am I about to be crushed and killed by my own pod? Kara’s vision blurred with tears as she reached out her trembling hands to grip both sides of her pod as if she could physically stop the walls from moving closer to her. 

Kara knew that she was having a panic attack as she had experienced them before, they started the moment she entered the Phantom Zone. However, this one was different because this time, she did not have Arlo to help her through it nor was she able to escape into her subconscious, which meant Kara remained completely conscious and painfully aware of everything that was happening as her mind continued to spiral. I have failed. I have failed my mother. I have failed Krypton, I have failed Kal-El. He needed me, and I could not be there for him. I was meant to protect him, and I failed to do so. I am going to die in the Phantom Zone, and I will never get the chance to see Kal-El again and teach him all the things I was meant to. Please, Rao, look after Kal-El. He is only a baby, and he is all alone. Please, watch over him. Kal-El needs someone to guide him, to love him, to protect him and it cannot be me. 

As the last words of Kara’s prayer left her lips, her pod jerked violently again, causing her head to slam back against her seat. Pain flared at the base of her skull, as her breath got caught in her throat. What was that? Kara thought as her heart began to race. That last jolt did not feel like the earlier ones; it was stronger and more purposeful. I can sense that I am moving but I cannot tell in which direction. Am I going up or down? Wait, how can I be going down if my pod is already on the ground? Wait, is my pod flying? No, that cannot be, my pod is dead, it cannot be flying without power.

The aggressive pulling sensation went on for a few minutes before stopping as suddenly as it started. For a brief moment, the darkness outside Kara’s pod rippled strangely. Then without warning, she was ripped free from the Phantom Zone and its endless darkness and was suddenly back in outer space. Kara gasped, blinking rapidly as her eyes adjusted to the sudden return of light outside her pod. She stared, wide-eyed, trying to process what she was seeing. “Stars!” Kara exclaimed in amazement as a sob of relief bubbled up in her chest. “I can see the stars! Oh, how I have missed them.” No hallucination nor dream had ever shown Kara stars and that is how she knew what she was seeing was real. 

A feeling of relief flooded her so powerful it left her dizzy, I am free, the worst is over, and I am finally safe. But it was followed soon after by a feeling of confusion. But how? How did I survive that? How did I get out? Was it Rao? Did He finally hear me? Did He answer my prayers? Or maybe I really did see Aunt Astra in the Phantom Zone, and she was not simply a hallucination. Kara thought sadly but quickly shook her head and pushed the thought down before it could take root. No. I cannot think about that. Not when I have barely survived the Phantom Zone and I know that there is no way that I will survive knowing that I left my aunt behind. I have to keep moving forward. For Kal-El. For my mother. For Krypton.

Shortly after escaping the Phantom Zone, Kara’s pod flickered back to life, and the control panel in front of her illuminated with the familiar sight of her pod’s coordination grid. Kara blinked through the haze of light as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness. Kara’s pod hummed softly around her, its warmth unfamiliar after so long spent in cold isolation. For a moment, Kara simply listened to the soft hum of the machinery that filled her ears and had a calming effect on her frayed nerves. Slowly, her breathing steadied and her heart began to slow to its normal pattern. Though her body still trembled and her chest still ached from the panic attack, a wave of relief washed over Kara as the reality of her situation sank in. I survived the Phantom Zone and my original course to Earth has been restored. She thought in amazement. I am on my way to Earth, and I am going to see Kal-El again. I do not know how much time has passed, but it does not matter because I did not let my mother down. I am going to Earth. I still have time. I still have a chance. Talking about things I have missed. “Arlo?” she called softly, her voice filled with hope that with her pod being back on, Arlo would also be back online, too. “Arlo, are you there?”

For a moment, there was only silence, then, a familiar flicker of light came to life above her pod’s dashboard and Kara watched nervously as it expanded until it took the form of Arlo’s humanoid face. “Greetings, Lady Zor-El. I am pleased to report that your life signs have stabilised, Your space pod's battery life is now at fifty percent and your navigation system is functioning properly once more.”

“I missed you.” Kara confessed with an embarrassed laugh. “I am here, Lady Zor-El, there is no need to miss me.” Arlo replied simply. “How may I assist you?”

“I am on my way to Earth and since I have completed my studies on the planet, I would like for you to simply keep me company on my travels.”

“I can do that.” Arlo said. “How would you like to pass the time until your arrival on Earth?”

“Before I was sent away from Krypton, I promised my parents that I would raise my cousin, that I would raise him the Kryptonian way and I will. Kal-El will know all about our shared heritage and our people. I will make sure he knows who he is, and I will never let him forget where he comes from. Kal-El will speak our language and learn our history. He will be like me, a Kryptonian living on Earth, carrying on the legacy of our people and our house. I will not let Earth take away who he is. I will not let Kal-El think he is human. He will know that he is Kryptonian, and that being a Kryptonian means something. However, before I can do that, we must plan ahead. Starting with finding a safe place to land my pod on Earth. Then we will start our search to locate Kal-El’s pod as soon as possible as he is only a baby and he should not be left alone for too long. Once we have been reunited then I will figure out what we must do next." Kara answered, and for the first time in what felt like a long time, she was excited for what the future held.

____________________________________________________

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Four (2 of 2) of Kara - The New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it. Do you feel like you have been reading this chapter for twenty-four years? Because it feels like it took me that long to write it. In the next chapter, which hopefully will not be as long or take me as long to write, Kara will be reunited with Kal-El, how do you think that will go?

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on what you have read so far. Your feedback is always welcomed and is important to me as I continue to write Kara’s story. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

UnknownAlien3388.

____________________________________________________

[unknownalien3388]

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Four (Part 1 of 2).

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|Preface|CH1-PT1|CH1-PT2|CH1-PT3|CH1-PT4.2

Chapter Summary: After a shockwave from Krypton's explosion knocks her pod off its course to Earth, Kara crash lands on the ground inside the Phantom Zone. Knowing the dangers that awaited her outside, Kara makes the wise decision to remain inside her pod. Where she spends 24 years in isolation, being forced to battle against vivid and graphic hallucinations, terrifying nightmares, and crippling depression with Arlo, her pod’s Artificial Intelligence and her last connection to her lost home, as her only source of comfort and support.

As time stretches on endlessly and the line between hallucination and reality begin to blur, Kara finds herself having to rely on every ounce of inner strength she has as she continues her fight to find a way out of the Phantom Zone.

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!!

This chapter will be exploring Kara Zor-El's time in the Phantom Zone and will touch on dark themes such as death, destruction of a whole planet, emotional distress, panic attacks, psychological torment and vivid and graphic hallucinations.

These topics may be upsetting to some readers; l ask that you please take care while reading and remember that your mental health and wellbeing always comes first. If you need to step away and take a break from reading, that is completely okay.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 CW TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics.

I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologize, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction. I would like to thank every person who has commented on this story and told me how they cannot wait for me to upload, it is thanks to you that I have not given up on this story.

Authors Note: While Kara is on Krypton and before she arrives on Earth, everyone will be speaking Kryptonese, unless the words are in bold, then they are speaking English. In Kara’s dreams, she will be speaking Kryptonese on Krypton and English on Earth, unless the words are in bold and italics, then she is speaking Kryptonese.

Sidenote: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts.

UnknownAlien3388.

  --- -----------------------------------------

Twenty-Four Years In Solitude:

The first thing Kara saw when she opened her eyes again was the shockwave that rippled from the explosion, sending shards of Krypton hurtling through space right toward her. She did not have time to react as seconds later; her pod was hit and knocked off course. Kara was slammed against her restraints as her pod began to spin out of control. “Spacecraft has been damaged. The Global Positioning System has been compromised. Your current course navigation is no longer detected.” The pod’s Artificial Intelligence declared as alarms started to blare.

“No, no, no! Kal-El! I have to get to Kal-El!” Kara cried, fumbling with the controls, trying to get herself back on course. But her pod did not respond to her commands, and her coordination grid remained offline, preventing her from going anywhere. When Kara’s pod finally stabilized, she took a deep breath and surveyed the strangely familiar surroundings. What immediately caught her attention was the lack of stars and any form of light. While she had never been to this part of space before, Kara recognised where she was from the stories she had heard growing up, none of which were good. “This cannot be.” She murmured, her voice trembling. Kara felt her heart metaphorically sink into her chest because she knew, without a doubt, that she was now in the one place in space no one ever wanted to be, the Phantom Zone. “Why?! Why would you let this happen, Rao?!” Kara begged as tears streamed down her face. “Not only was I cruelly ripped away from my home and my family, but now I am trapped within the Phantom Zone where I am destined to be alone forever. A fate surely worse than death.” Kara did not know how long she had been crying for, only that she eventually stopped when her eyes could no longer produce any more tears. She felt exhausted and broken as she wiped away the traces of her grief with trembling hands. “Arlo, are you there?” She asked, barely being able to speak above a hoarse whisper. What if Arlo had been knocked offline when my pod was hit? Kara thought fearfully. Then, I would be truly alone, and I do not want to be alone.

She was about to give up hope that she would ever hear a reply when a soft, shimmering light flickered to life before her and slowly expanded until it took the form of a male humanoid face. The face was not made of flesh and bone but from a network of glowing lines, each connected by star-like dots.

“I am still here, Lady Zor-El.” Arlo answered. “How may I be of service to you?” Though the warmth in his voice gave Kara the feeling that she was talking to a trusted guide and not merely a Kryptonian computer, hearing the distinct accent of her people made her feel homesick.

Kara blinked in surprise, she had not noticed it before as she was too overwhelmed by everything that had happened, but her pod’s Artificial Intelligence was acting unusual. "Arlo, why are you speaking English and not Kryptonese?” She asked, recognizing the language from the old Earth shows she used to watch with her grandfather.

There was a brief flicker of confusion on Arlo's face as if he did not expect Kara to ask that question. “I apologise, Lady Zor-El, I was not aware that you were not informed of the changes made to my language settings.”

“When were these changes made?” Kara asked.

“Zor-El, of the House of El upgraded my language program two months before you left Krypton. This update allows me to speak all Earth languages. Your father also installed a program that turns my verbal speech into Kryptonese subtitles so that you can understand everything I am saying. Zor-El switched my language to English right before you departed Krypton as he believed it would be beneficial for you to know one of Earth’s most commonly spoken languages before your arrival in…” Arlo paused, “that is very odd. It seems your pod's Global Positioning System has some kind of bug in it as it is currently showing you to be in the Phantom Zone, the home of Fort Rozz, which cannot be accurate. Do you wish for me to run a diagnostic test to confirm?”

“No, thank you.” She said softly. “There will be no need for that.”

“Very well, Lady Zor-El. Do you wish for me to change my language settings back to Kryptonese?”

“No, thank you, Arlo.” Kara replied, “I believe Father was wise in his decision to have me learn at least one of the widely spoken languages on Earth. It is simply a basic requirement I need to be able to meet if I wish to one day be able to communicate with the inhabitants who live there.”

“Is there anything else I can help you with Lady Zor-El?” Arlo inquired.

Kara took a moment to build up her confidence before responding. “Yes, Arlo, there is something you can help with. I am going to ask you a silly question that all Kryptonians know the answer to, but I want you to answer it anyway, do you understand?”

“Yes, Lady Zor-El, I understand.” Arlo answered. What is your question?”

“Is there any way out of the Phantom Zone?" Kara asked.

“Negative, Lady Zor-El. According to my database, there has been no record of any individual successfully escaping the Phantom Zone, which is widely regarded as the only place in space that is inescapable.” Arlo explained.

Kara swallowed against the raw feeling in her aching throat and felt her eyes begin to sting. While she had known logically that there was no way out, hearing it be confirmed still broke her heart. It seems that sometimes knowing something and having it confirmed are two completely different things. Kara thought. “Arlo, you are able to answer any question I may have, correct?” She asked in a calm voice that did not match the significance of the topic she was about to broach.

“That is correct, Lady Zor-El. Do you have another question for me?” Arlo asked.

"What can you tell me about the arrest and sentencing of Astra In-Ze? I want to know everything there is to know, including who her co-conspirators were and what they did.” Kara told him, fully prepared to hear the familiar response that her questions could not be answered as the information was restricted and unavailable. She had heard it plenty of times during her search for answers shortly after Aunt Astra was sent away. But Kara had to ask the question anyway because she needed to know the real reason why her aunt had been banished to Fort Rozz. What could Aunt Astra have possibly done in her fight to save our planet that warranted her being imprisoned with the galaxy’s most dangerous criminals?

"Of course, Lady Zor-El.” Arlo began as his face was replaced by a holographic image of Aunt Astra in her crisp Military Guild uniform, her face filled with pride. “According to my database, the once revered general of the Military Guild, Astra In-Ze of the House of Ze, was banished to Fort Rozz after leading a failed rebellion against the High Council.” My beloved aunt, who lived and breathed the Military Guild, a rebel? No, this has to be some kind of mistake. I know Aunt Astra had some issues getting the High Council to listen to her. But there is no way she would have led a rebellion against them against her own sister. Kara shook her head in denial and refused to listen to the tightness in her chest, telling her that Arlo never lied or got his facts wrong. “Astra In-Ze had found what she believed to be proof that Krypton’s core was becoming dangerously unstable. She had tried to warn her fellow Kryptonians and had even taken her evidence to the High Council to urge them to act before the extinction of Krypton became inevitable.”

"Aunt Astra had been right all along, she had seen the warning signs. But by the time anyone else noticed, it was too late to do anything.” Kara muttered to herself as she tried to pay attention to what Arlo was saying and ignore the fact that it was getting harder for her to breathe.

“When only a few were willing to listen to her warnings, Astra In-Ze decided to gather a group of likeminded individuals that were willing to rebel against the High Council and force their fellow Kryptonians to see the truth. Astra In-Ze and her rebellion took part in many criminal acts, including riots and protests.” Aunt Astra’s Military photo was replaced by a series of images, showing Kara’s aunt standing in front of a small group of Kryptonians, her expression fierce as she took part in the fight against the High Council. “Astra In-Ze's rebellion violently attacked places of importance such as military bases, outposts, government facilities, and different key infrastructures, leaving only destruction and the death of countless innocent lives in their wake.” The next set of images were of destroyed buildings that were burnt and crumbling to the ground along with images of deceased civilians, who had nothing to do with the rebellion and died simply because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time and got caught in the fight between the rebellion and the Kryptonian government. 

Kara flinched at every image that was being displayed in graphic detail. “I cannot believe that my aunt took part in all this senseless bloodshed.” She cried. Kara could not help but feel guilty for something she knew deep down she was in no way responsible for and believed there was only one way she could alleviate this feeling. By doing something Kara felt she should have done a long time ago, even though she had only found out the whole truth. “Arlo, please activate silent mode.”

“Silent Mode has been activated, Lady Zor-El.” Arlo replied and soon the holographic images stopped, and the Artificial Intelligence disappeared. 

Kara closed her eyes for a moment of silence to respect all the innocent Kryptonian lives lost recently, then she began to prey. Dear Rao, I know I am too late, but I still wish to honour the innocent lives lost in both my aunt’s rebellion and the explosion that killed my planet. As I mourn the passing of my fellow Kryptonians, I ask that You grant them eternal peace and forever watch over them to ensure that their flames may continue to burn in Your gracious light. Once her prayer came to an end, Kara settled into a quiet meditation.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

After a long moment of silence, Kara slowly opened her eyes again. Though the feeling of guilt still lingered within her heart, Kara found it a little easier to breathe as the initial feeling of distress and shame settled into dull ache. “Arlo, please deactivate Silent Mode.” She asked softly.

“Silent Mode has been deactivated, Lady Zor-El.” Arlo responded as the soft, shimmering light returned. It did not take as long this time for the light to transform into the familiar face of her pod’s Artificial Intelligence. “Do you wish for me to continue answering your questions about Astra In-Ze?”

“Yes, please.” Kara sighed. She felt tired and emotional, but she knew she needed to know everything.

“Among Astra In-Ze’s co-conspirators were several high ranking figures in Kryptonian society, including fellow members of the Military Guild and her husband, Non.” Arlo started right from where he left off and the first holographic image to replace the Artificial Intelligence's face was one of Kara’s least favourite uncle, Non, who was also in his military uniform with a smug smirk on his face. “When the rebellion failed, most of its members went into hiding and remained in hiding long after Astra In-Ze and Non were arrested and sentenced to Fort Rozz by the High Council for war crimes against Krypton.” The Next image shown was of Aunt Astra and Uncle Non, their faces full of defiance, as they were being led away from the High Council Chambers by high ranking members of the Military Guild, “Shortly before their punishment was to be carried out, Astra In-Ze escaped custody, and went into hiding for many months. It was only through the efforts of High Council member Alura In-Ze, her twin sister,” The image changed to one of Kara’s mother, looking regal in her High Council robes, “that Astra In-Ze faced justice for her crimes. She is now serving time in Fort Rozz.” The final image was the last photo of Fort Rozz on Krypton, before it was banished to the Phantom Zone. 

I cannot believe it. Aunt Astra does belong in Fort Rozz after all. I do not understand what could have possibly led my aunt to believe that leading a rebellion against the High Council was the right thing to do in her fight to save Krypton. Kara thought, absolutely devastated. The idea that her beloved aunt could be so cold and cruel to her people did not make sense to Kara and she could not wrap her head around it. “Arlo, who updated Aunt Astra’s file?” Kara asked.

“The information on Astra In-Ze was updated by Alura In-Ze three months after her sister was banished to Fort Rozz. Do you have any more questions for me, Lady Zor-El?”

“No, I do not have any more questions.” Kara sighed. While knowing why my aunt was sent away does not alleviate my guilt, it does help me to understand my parents' actions. Though I still do not agree with their choice to have me be involved in their plan to trap Aunt Astra. 

"Very well, Lady Zor-El. Please let me know if you require my assistance with anything else.” Arlo said as his face began to dissolve into pixels and disappear from Kara's view, leaving the space around her feeling dark and empty once more.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

In the beginning, Kara fought against the Phantoms and the all consuming sense of hopelessness, sorrow, and loss that washed over her in their presence. She refused to surrender to those emotions and never gave up hope that one day she would do the impossible and escape the Phantom Zone. Kara was absolutely determined to rejoin her baby cousin on the journey to Earth. “I cannot give up. I have to find a way out.” She told herself continuously. “For Kal-El. He is counting on me.” But the longer the once familiar hum of technology remained absent, and every time her attempts to restart her pod failed, the deeper Kara’s sense of hopelessness grew, overwhelming her with the knowledge that she would spend the rest of her life in an endless dark hole, unable to die and far away from any semblance of light or warmth. 

However, even in the face of an eternity of darkness and isolation, a small glimmer of hope lingered within Kara, because she knew that her cousin was far away from the Phantom Zone. Kal-El is safe, Kara reassured herself. He has to be. I remember seeing Kal-El leave Krypton, and I know for a fact that the second his pod left our planet’s atmosphere, Kalex would have activated hyper drive, meaning Kal-El would have been well on his way to Earth when Krypton exploded. Arlo would have done the same for me, had my pod not been knocked off course.

While the thought of one day seeing Kal-El again kept Kara going, in her darkest moments, when she would start to give up hope that she would ever escape the Phantom Zone, Kara would pray to Rao and ask that if she was unable to make it to Earth, that as the last son of Krypton, Kal-El would carry on the legacy of their people so that their planet and all who called it home will live on forever.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

Over time, as Kara continued to slip in and out of consciousness, she found herself trapped in a cruel cycle, unable to figure out what tormented her the most, the cold darkness of the Phantom Zone that she could feel slowly seep into her soul, suffocating any hope she had, or the dreams that twisted endlessly within her mind, becoming nightmares, or the Phantoms that manipulated her reality, making her experience horrific hallucinations and relive her worst memories. 

The longer Kara was trapped in the Phantom Zone, the more difficult it became for her to differentiate between what was real and what was a figment of her imagination, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not fight off unconsciousness: 

Kara was standing in the doorway of her aunt and uncle’s chambers with her parents, a wide smile on her face. She was very eager to meet the newest addition to the House of El. I wonder if it is a boy or a girl. Though, I do not really mind either way, I am simply happy to have someone to play with. She thought gleefully. Kara could feel Rao was shining in through the high windows as He bathed the room in light. Kara turned her gaze to the large bed in the centre of the room that was covered in soft, clean, white drapes, as in it lay her aunt, Lara, who was exhausted but smiling. Sitting beside her was Kara’s uncle, Jor-El, who was holding their bundle of joy in his arms. “Hello Kara." Uncle Jor-El said softly, his voice full of warmth. "You can come closer if you would like, you do not need to be shy.” Kara took a few steps forward and her heart began to race as she got a closer look at the tiny, fragile being in her uncle’s arms. “I would like you to meet the newest member of the House of El and your cousin, Kal-El.” 

“Would you like to hold him?” Aunt Lara asked.

“Yes, please.” Kara said as her uncle stood up from the bed and gently placed the baby in her arms. She could not help falling in love as she gazed down at her cousin’s face that was framed by soft dark hair. "Hello, Kal-El, welcome to the House of El.” Kara said softly. “You have your father's blue eyes. One day, you will grow up to be like him, strong and wise.” She told Kal-El, who gave her a wide, toothless grin. I had Aunt Astra to guide me as I was growing up. But you will not as she is no longer with us. Kara thought sadly. But I will take her place and teach you all the things she taught me and everything I have learnt since she was sent away.

“And you will be there to guide him.” Kara’s father told her with pride.

“I will not let him down.” She promised her family, not taking her eyes off of Kal-El.

“He is lucky to have you watching over him, may Rao’s light continue to guide you both.” Kara’s mother said as she placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

Kara looked up, warmth still filling her chest, expecting to see her family staring back at her, but found only the cold emptiness of the Phantom Zone. Her feelings of joy and happiness crumbled as the realization sank in that everything had been a dream of a memory long gone. A memory that felt so vivid that for a fleeting moment, Kara thought she was home again. But it was all an illusion, a cruel trick of her own mind. 

A lump formed in Kara’s throat as she began to pray. Dear Rao, please let me go back, let me return to a happier time, when I still had a family and a home. She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to go back to the memory of the day her cousin was born. However, as exhaustion washed over her, a new dream of a different memory began to unfold: 

Kara was sitting inside one of the training pods in the launch bay while her father stood over her. "One day, I will let you fly this. But for now, it is important that you know the basics, starting with how to work the control panel that is located beside your seat." Her father told her as he began to point at various switches and buttons, explaining each of their functions and when she should and should not use them.

Kara nodded along, absorbing every word, determined to be ready for when that day came. Her hands hovered over the control panel, imagining the moment she would finally fly the pod for the first time. "I will not let you down, Father," She promised, her voice filled with determination. 

“You are already better than your father was at your age.” A familiar voice teased, and Kara turned her head to see her mother approaching them, her smile bright and playful. 

“Is that true?” Kara asked. 

“Yes.” Her Mother grinned and Kara could not help but smile back. Though it is rare, I love it when Mother smiles. There is something about her smile that makes her look more beautiful. 

“Do not inflate her ego, Alura.” Kara's father scolded, though his eyes shone with pride. “She has yet to beat any of my flight times.”

This got Kara's attention, her father held the record for the fastest flight times, not only in Argo City, but all across Krypton, and she planned to change that. “It is only a matter of time before I will be faster than you.” Kara shot back with a grin, making her parents laugh. 

When Kara awoke in her pod, at first, she thought she had fallen asleep while flying and accidentally flew away from Argo City, but when she looked out at the dark void that surrounded her, she knew she was nowhere near Krypton’s air space. As the drowsiness wore off and her memories came back, Kara’s heart broke and tears welled in her eyes. Dear Rao, I know I asked for this, but I have changed my mind. I do not think that I can keep dreaming of home, only to wake up and not be there. If there is a path forward that I must take, please show me the way. Please grant me the strength to survive the Phantom Zone and the wisdom to understand why I am here. I pray that one day I may feel light upon my skin, warmth within my heart and Kal-El within my arms. If that cannot happen and I must remain here forever, please grant me the ability to accept it. 

Not long after Kara had opened her eyes, Arlo's light flickered back to life and slowly expanded until the Artificial Intelligence's face appeared. “Greetings, Lady Zor-El, according to your vitals, you are currently conscious. Would you like to continue your studies?” He asked.

“Yes, please, Arlo.” Kara answered, grateful for the distraction that was learning about Earth's languages, rituals, and customs as it was far better than being consumed by her thoughts of loss and despair.

“Certainly, Lady Zor-El, we shall continue with your next educational crystal.” Arlo announced.

Kara closed her eyes and listened as the soothing voice of her mother filled her pod “Hello Kara if you are listening to this, then you are well on your way to Earth. I know you are afraid. Everything ahead of you is filled with the unknown, but you must remember that you are not alone. Soon, Kal-El will join you and we will always be with you in your dreams. This crystal is to help you understand the plant life that grows on the world that will one day become your new home. Earth is unlike Krypton in many ways, including its plant life. Unlike Krypton, which has little vegetation, Earth is full of many beautiful and colourful plants that help keep the planet and those who inhabit it alive. Different plants provide oxygen, food and even shelter. Each plant, no matter how big or small they are or how long or short their lifespan is, plays an important role in keeping Earth’s ecosystems in balance. The planet’s landscapes are as diverse as its plant life and each landscape has different vegetation that can survive its climate. Having an understanding of how everything is connected will help you to appreciate the beauty and complexity of your new home.”

I know that my mother is no longer with me and her voice is simply a recording on a crystal, but if I close my eyes tight enough, I can imagine she is really here with me. Kara thought with a sad smile. As exhaustion began to pull her under once more and her mind began to drift, Kara could not help but wonder what kind of mother she might have been, had she been given the chance. As Kara fell asleep, she was completely oblivious to the impact her innocent question had on her subconscious:

Kara was working in one of the brightly lit laboratories of the Science Guild, her pristine white robes proudly displaying the House of El crest over her heart. She was deeply immersed in finding a way to harvest the plant life in the Sacred Garden of Rao and expand its growth across the entire planet, in the hopes that it would put less pressure on Krypton's core, when her father called her over. “Daughter, can you please come look at this?” He asked.

"I will be right there, Father." Kara replied as she set down her datapad and walked across the lab to where her father was studying a holographic projection of their planet’s core.

“Have a look at these readings and tell me what you see.” Kara’s father requested, taking a step back from the table so she could get a better look at the holographic projection.

Kara’s eyes scanned the data and for a moment she was speechless. She could not believe what she was seeing. What I am seeing is beyond anything we had hoped for. I thought it would surely take a long time before we saw results like this. But it is happening right now. “This…this is amazing.” Kara muttered, shocked.

“Krypton’s core has stabilized further than we first anticipated and, if it continues, we will have exceeded the projections for this quarter and the next one. Kara, you are brilliant! Your plan worked; you saved Krypton.” Her father announced with glee.

Kara straightened her posture and turned toward her father, pride evident on her face. “It is not only my work, Father. You have contributed to this project too. We both saved Krypton.” She corrected him as the door to the laboratory slid open, followed by a soft giggle. 

Kara turned toward the entrance of the laboratory and saw a small boy with curly blonde hair run inside, clutching a tiny crystal in his hand. There is my little one. She thought as the boy raced over to her. “Mama! Look what I made! Oh, hello Grandfather!”

“Hello Grandson.” Her father greeted him with a warm smile.

Kieran, my little scientist. How is it that you are growing so fast? Kara thought fondly as she kneeled down in front of her son. “Little one, what have I told you about running in the lab?” She reprimanded gently. 

“I am sorry, Mama,” Kieran mumbled. 

Kara’s heart softened when she saw his sheepish expression. He is exactly like his other mother, always so eager to learn and create. He is going to do extraordinary things when he grows up. As Kara stared at her son, she could see the familiar green eyes of her wife, which made her heart softened even more. I know I should be sterner with him, but I cannot bring myself to be too upset when Kieran is so excited. I can only hope he keeps that passion as he grows up. “It is okay.” She said with a kind smile. “But, please do not let it happen again.” Kara reached out her hand towards her son, taking the toy from him. “Now, tell me about what you have made.”

“It is a miniature light prism!” Kieran exclaimed proudly. “We were learning about it in school last week and I made one myself!” 

“This is amazing, little one. You did a fantastic job.” Kara gushed as she lifted the crystal up to the light and watched as its reflection shone like rainbows on all four walls of the laboratory. Little one is so smart for his age, and I could not be happier. Kara thought as her heart swelled with pride. Though I cannot decide if Kieran got his knack for science from me or my brilliant wife. 

“My grandson is a budding scientist already.” Kara’s father chuckled from behind her.

Before Kara could respond, the laboratory door slid open once more and her wife appeared with a serene smile on her face. It never ceases to amaze me how Karena manages to take my breath away, even after all this time. Kara sighed dreamily. “Darling, are you ready?" Her wife asked. "The High Council meeting is about to start, and you do not want to be late again. You know how much your mother despises tardiness.”

“Yes, my heart, I am ready.” Kara replied as she stood back up.  

“You better be.” Karena teased.

Kara laughed as she looked down at her son. “Go with Mummy, little one and I will see the two of you at home later.” She told him. 

“Okay, Mama!” Kieran exclaimed as he grabbed his toy and ran off to his other mother, who took his hand. 

“You know you are not allowed to run in the lab.” Karena scolded their son as they walked out together. 

“Yes, Mummy, I know.” Kieran mumbled. “I am sorry.”

I cannot wait to go home and enjoy my favourite part of the day, uninterrupted time with my family. Kara thought with a wide grin as she turned back to her father. “I will present our findings to the High Council today as they will want an update on our progress with project Astra. I am looking forward to informing them that our core is finally stabilising. I also have some ideas on how to prevent things from reaching such a critical point again.”

“No matter what you come up with, the High Council will listen to you, daughter. You are the future of our people.” Kara’s father told her with pride.

Kara’s heart filled with happiness. I am making my family proud and though Aunt Astra is no longer here, I know she would be proud of me too. It is thanks to her that my wife and son are healthy and safe, and Krypton is thriving once more. As she walked out of the laboratory, Kara tripped over her son's miniature light prism, which sent her crashing to the floor. 

The impact jolted her awake and as Kara stared out her pod, tears began to well in her eyes. “It was only a dream, none of it was real. I did not save Krypton, my family is really gone, and I am actually trapped within the Phantom Zone, never to grow up and have a family of my own someday.” Kara muttered to herself, utterly devastated. "I no longer wish to be awake as the knowledge of what I have lost hurts too much.” She cried in a broken voice.

Unable to bear the ache in her chest and wanting to escape the pain, Kara, with trembling fingers, reached for one of the many buttons on her pod’s control panel. The moment she pushed it a soft hiss filled the air and Kara’s eyelids began to grow heavy. She sighed with relief as the sleeping gas soon took affect and she fell asleep: 

Kara was sitting on her couch, feeling cosy as she enjoyed the warmth of the yellow sun that was streaming in through her apartment’s floor to ceiling windows. Kara’s cat was outside on the balcony sunbathing while her dog was sleeping next to her on the couch. Kal-El, who was only a year old, was sitting in Kara’s lap, gripping the edges of her sweater with his tiny fists as he gazed up at her with wide, curious eyes. Kara was bouncing Kal-El gently on her lap, his giggles filled the room, as she told him stories of their family. While I was stuck in the Phantom Zone, I never thought I would get a chance to experience this, a family with my cousin on a planet that was not dying. Kara thought with a warm smile. “You are a natural with him.” Someone said from behind her, their voice smooth and full of affection.

Kara turned her head, and a smile spread across her face when she saw a beautiful dark haired woman standing in the doorway, her green eyes gazing at her the same way that drew Kara to her in the first place. There she is, my lovely girlfriend. The one person in the whole world who truly sees me and who loves me for me. Kara gushed as she gazed at her girlfriend, who was dressed in one of Kara’s T-shirts, which was too big for her, and a pair of blue jeans. How did I get so lucky to have someone like Kieran by my side? She wondered as the familiar feeling of affection washed over her. “I do not know about that,” Kara laughed, glancing down at Kal-El. “He is simply an easy baby to take care of.”

“I have to disagree with you.” Her girlfriend said as she walked over and sat down beside Kara. “I think you are amazing with him. It is like you were meant to do this.” Kieran added as she reached out a hand and gently brushed a strand of blonde hair from Kara’s face.

Kara leaned into the touch, her heart swelling with love. How does she do that? Every time I feel like I am not enough, she always knows what to say to make me feel like I am worthy. She thought, amazed. “Well, I was sent to Earth to raise him, so technically, I was meant to do this.” Kara teased.

“I cannot wait to have children with you one day.” Kieran said softly. 

“You want to have children with me?!” Kara asked, surprised. I have never thought about my future before, outside of raising Kal-El. But I can see myself having children with her someday, creating a family together. Maybe it is possible to build something good after everything I have been through. Maybe I can be happy here on Earth.

“Yeah, I do.” Kieran smiled, looking at Kara with so much love in her eyes. 

She really wants this. She wants a family with me and a future together. I did not come to Earth to find this, but now that I have it, I will never let it go. Because everything feels right when she is with me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with her. We would give Kal-El and our future children the life I never had. Kara sighed dreamily. “I love you.” She told her girlfriend as she leaned in to press a soft kiss to her lips, closing her eyes to savour the moment.

“I love you too.” Kieran whispered softly.

Kara slowly drifted awake, her mind groggy and slow as her senses struggled to understand the sudden change in scenery. All feelings of warmth and light had been replaced by darkness and the cold feeling of nothingness. Where am I? I was home and now I am not. Kara thought as she opened her eyes, and her heart dropped. No. No, this is not right! I got out of this place, and I was finally happy. How did I end up back here?! It was then that the crushing truth hit her like a blow to the chest. “It was nothing more than a fabrication of my own subconscious.” Kara muttered, feeling defeated as she realised she never left the place she had believed she broke free from. 

But even in the depths of her despair, Kara never gave up hope and she never let the Phantom Zone beat her. “I have made it this long without giving up and I refuse to stop fighting until I find my way out.” Kara told herself as she gathered up what little inner strength remained and closed her eyes to pray. Dear Rao, please grant me the strength to survive the Phantom Zone, and the ability to remain hopeful. Please bestow upon me the wisdom to find my way out of this place so that one day your light may guide me on my way home to Kal-El. Please protect and guide Kal-El, while I cannot. He is only a baby and deserves protection. When Kara finished praying, she opened hers and continued to gaze out her pod. 

Although being trapped in the Phantom Zone had forced Kara to often question her faith and personal belief in her God, she knew that if she was ever going to escape, it would only be with the help of Rao. Which is why Kara continued to pray to Him, seeking help and guidance, even when she felt abandoned.

While she waited for Rao to save her, Kara clung onto the memory of her parents and the thought of seeing her cousin again as motivation to continue holding onto hope.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB꧂⋆

Often, when Kara awoke, she found it difficult to fall back asleep, which left her vulnerable and unprotected from the phantoms, who she had encountered more times than she could count. Kara did not know what it was that alerted her to them this time, but a chill ran down her spine when she realized that she could feel the Phantoms watching her from somewhere in darkness, waiting for the perfect moment to force Kara to experience something much more terrifying than her worst nightmare.  

Then, the whispers began.

Low and barely audible at first, like quiet murmurs on the very edge of Kara’s hearing that gradually increased in volume until she could hear every single word the Phantoms were saying. “You failed, Kara Zor-El. You failed everyone you ever claimed to love, your mother, your father, your beloved aunt, your own people. Even your baby cousin. Especially him. You failed Kal-El most of all. You are nothing but a disappointment, who brings shame and dishonour to the noble House of El. You deserve to be here, you deserve to be alone forever, because no one could ever love a failure like you.” 

Kara pressed her hands hard over her ears, desperately wishing she could no longer hear the voices screaming in her head. "No! No! No! That is not true.” She denied, her voice trembling with fear. “I have not failed my parents, I have not failed my aunt, I have not failed my people, and I have not failed Kal-El. I am not a disappointment, and I am not alone. I have Rao with me. I will always have Him with me. No matter where I go or what I become, He will never leave me. He will save me.” Kara cried.

“Why should you be saved? You could not even save your own people. They died because you were too weak and too selfish. Kal-El died, all alone on an alien planet because you were not there to protect him. You do not deserve to live.” 

Kara’s heart began to race as the temperature in her pod plummeted below freezing, a clear sign that the Phantoms were closing in on her. “Dear Rao, please get me out of here. I beg of you, please save me!" She prayed.

"You can pray to your God all you want, Kara Zor-El, He will not save you. There is no escaping the Phantom Zone. You will be stuck here forever, and you will never leave. No one will ever come for you. They do not even know you are here and even if someone did, they still will not save you. Because everyone knows that this is what you deserve.”

“NOOO!” Kara screamed in a weak voice as one of the Phantoms reached out its skeleton hand and slowly scraped its sharp nails against the glass.

“Yesss.” the Phantoms hissed as they began to gather around her pod. 

Kara felt her stomach drop as the cold feeling of dread washed over her. No, no, not again! Please, not again! She begged as visions of Krypton’s destruction, and other terrible memories from her past began to flash across her mind. Each one more heart wrenchingly vivid and graphic than the last. 

Kara pressed herself as hard as she could into a corner of her pod, trying to escape, even though she knew it was impossible. She started to sing Kryptonian lullabies to herself, the only thing she could think of to try and drown out the Phantoms and block out the horrific hallucinations they brought with them. But it did not make a difference, the Phantoms were unshakable as they continued to invade Kara’s mind, twisting and reshaping her memories until she could not differentiate her real memories from the Phantom induced hallucinations. 

Kara felt her body growing heavier as the Phantom Zone around her began to blur. She knew that the nightmares, which usually lurked in the corners of her mind, were about to return, and she was no longer surprised. They always appeared after a Phantom attack. Even though Kara knew what was about to happen, she did not fight off sleep as she would rather face her nightmares than continue enduring the Phantom induced hallucinations:

By the time Kara arrived at her aunt and uncle’s chambers, she was already grinning with excitement. Though, she did not enter right away and waited for her parents, who were following close behind her, to catch up. Kara was very eager to meet the newest addition to the House of El. I wonder if it is a boy or a girl. I do not mind either way, I am simply happy to have someone to play with. She thought gleefully.

However, when Kara and her parents did finally step inside, Kara felt her smile falter as a deep, unsettling feeling crept up her spine, her senses were telling her that something was wrong. Kara instinctively glanced toward the high windows, expecting to see the reassuring light of Rao streaming through them, only to find a strangely familiar darkness in its place. It is odd that it is nighttime now. We must have arrived later than I remembered. Kara thought with a furrowed brow, even though she was aware that Kal-El, like every Kryptonian, was born under Rao's light and that she and her parents had seen her cousin shortly after his birth.

Kara remembered this because Kal-El had been born in an unusual way. It was strange, unnatural, even. To Kara, being born naturally meant the Genesis Chamber created you, but Kal-El had been different. He was conceived via sexual intercourse, an act that was deeply frowned upon by traditional Kryptonians, and was carried in Kara's aunt’s uterus for nine months before being delivered through her aunt's birthing canal.

Kara shivered and rubbed her arms as she noticed that her aunt and uncle’s chambers felt strangely cold and lacked its usual warmth. Maybe it gets cold in here when Rao is not sharing His warmth. Kara told herself, though she knew her chambers never got this cold at night, not even in the middle of winter. When Kara glanced over at the large bed in the center of the room, she was shocked at what she saw. Why are the drapes so filthy?! This is not right. Uncle Jor-El and Aunt Lara would never allow their private chambers to fall into such disarray. They know it is unbecoming for members of the House of El to allow such things. Kara could not take eyes off the dirty drapes, the sight of them made her skin crawl. “Hello Kara.” Uncle Jor-El said softly. His voice was warm, but something in his tone did not sound right. Kara could not put her finger on what it was, but it made her feel uneasy. “You can come closer; you do not need to be shy.” 

"I am not shy," Kara said, taking a few steps forward. As she got closer to the bed, her legs began to feel heavy, like they had been turned to stone. However, this did not stop Kara, who was determined to meet her new cousin. When she reached the foot of the bed and looked up at her uncle, Kara was taken aback by the look of fear on his face. She quickly turned her gaze to her aunt, who was in bed resting, and saw the same look of fear on her face. I do not understand what is going on. This is meant to be one of the happiest moments for Aunt Laura and Uncle Jor-El. Why do they look so scared? 

Kara went to turn around and ask her parents what was wrong but before she could her aunt spoke. “Would you like to hold him?” She asked, her voice harsh and filled with bitter regret. “Hopefully you will not kill him like you killed everyone on Krypton.” Aunt Lara added with sneer, her voice dripping with disgust.

Kara recoiled as though her aunt had physically hit her. What did Aunt Lara say? What did she mean I killed Krypton? Our planet is fine. She told herself as she looked out the high windows at Rao. Though Rao does look a lot closer than usual. She mused. “I am sorry, what did you say?” 

Kara’s aunt gave her an odd look. “I asked if you would like to hold Kal-El.”

“Yes, please.” Kara answered as her uncle stood and placed the baby into her arms. Kal-El’s skin felt cold, which concerned her. She frowned slightly but tried to push her worries aside. Newborns are fragile no matter how they are born. Maybe he simply needs some extra warmth which is okay as I have plenty to share. Kara thought as she held him closer to her chest. As she gazed down at Kal-El, a feeling of awe began to wash over her, but it quickly twisted into fear when her cousin's face suddenly changed. He was no longer soft and full of life, instead he was as pale and lifeless. Kara glanced up to ask her family what was wrong with the baby, but in the corner of her eye, she saw Kal-El was looking normal again. I must have been seeing things. She reassured herself and thought nothing else of it. "Hello, Kal-El, welcome to the House of El," she whispered, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "You have your father's blue eyes. One day, you will grow up to be like him, strong and wise.” She smiled down at her cousin, trying to ignore the way his skin still felt oddly cold against her own.

“And you will be there to guide him,” Her father told her, but something in his tone made Kara pause. The moment she looked up and saw the expression on her parent's faces, she froze. Kara was used to seeing her parents looking at her with pride in their eyes but now they were looking at her with disappointment. Why are Mother and Father looking at me like that? They have never looked at me this way before. Kara thought, feeling confused and a little scared.

“I will not let him down,” She promised.

“How are you going to guide and protect Kal-El when you could not even save Krypton?” Her mother asked angrily.

The words struck Kara like a physical blow, and she stumbled back in shock. There was no mistaking what was said this time. “How was I meant to save Krypton? I am only a child!” Kara cried. “I am barely older than Kal-El.” She said as she looked down at the baby in her arms, but Kal-El was gone and all that was left was the blanket he was once wrapped in, now covered in blood. 

A chill ran down Kara's spine as she slowly lifted her gaze and her breathing hitched in her throat at what she saw. The room around her was utterly destroyed. The walls were crumbling and blackened with soot. Her aunt and uncle’s elegant furniture was broken and ripped apart. The glass in the high windows were shattered, letting in the harsh, eerie red glow of Rao, who was too close and too bright. 

Kara's heart pounded as she searched for her family, half blinded by the smoke that drifted through the air, carrying the smell of burning metal and something far worse, death. Kara's stomach dropped the moment she saw her parents lying lifeless on the cold floor, their eyes open but unseeing. Kara slowly turned her attention to the ruined bed where she found her uncle slumped against the headboard and, in his arms, lay her aunt, both of them clearly deceased.

This is not real. It cannot be real. Kara told herself as her breathing started coming in sharp, uneven gasps. Kara walked over to her parents on unsteady feet and dropped to her knees in front of them. At first, she simply stared at her parents, then she reached out a hand to her mother, hopeful that whatever had destroyed her aunt and uncle’s chambers and killed Aunt Lara and Uncle Jor-El, had only knocked her parents' unconscious. But the moment Kara made contact with her mother’s cold skin, she knew the truth.

Her whole family was dead.

“NOO!” Kara screamed, awakening with a start. Her chest rose and fell in rapid, shallow breaths as she frantically looked around, expecting to see the ruined remains of Krypton and the lifeless bodies of her family, but there was nothing but endless darkness. As Kara's surroundings settled back into focus, she was surprisingly relieved. It was only a nightmare. She thought with a sigh as her heartbeat began to slow, and her body started to relax. 

Kara slowly sat up, her body trembling as she wiped the tears from her face, trying to calm herself down and push away the crushing feeling of grief. Kara reached down for the sack her mother packed for her and pulled out her baby blanket. Being wrapped tightly in its soft, red fabric brought Kara a small sense of relief. That feeling was short lived however, as her memories came back, reminding Kara of what really happened to her family and Krypton. “If only I could find peace from this living nightmare. But I never will because I will never die.” Kara muttered as she curled in on herself and stared out her pod. 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB꧂⋆

Kara did not know how much time had passed before her eyes began to droop with exhaustion. Dear Rao, please watch over me and protect me from any more nightmares. She prayed as she drifted off to sleep:

Kara was sitting on her couch, bouncing baby Kal-El in her lap, feeling cosy as she enjoyed the warmth of the yellow sun that was streaming in through her apartment’s floor to ceiling windows. “You are a natural with him.” Someone said from behind her, their voice smooth and full of affection. 

Kara smiled as she looked over her shoulder and caught sight of her girlfriend leaning against the wall, but as their eyes met, her smile faded. There was something different in Kieran’s gaze, a wariness that had not been there before and while her smile was soft, it lacked its usual warmth. “I do not know about that,” She denied. “I think he is simply an easy baby to take care of.”

“I have to disagree with you.” Her girlfriend said as she walked over and sat down beside Kara. “I think you are amazing with him.” She added, reaching out a hand to gently brush a strand of blonde hair from Kara's face. 

Kara leaned into the comforting touch, trying to ignore the growing feeling of unease in her chest. Everything is fine and nothing is wrong. She told herself. But Kara still could not shake the feeling that something was not right. However, having the love of her life beside her and her cousin in her arms, was too perfect to question. “Well, I was sent to Earth to raise him, so technically, I was meant to do this.” Kara teased.

Kieran’s eyes softened, but she did not laugh. “It is time to wake up, darling.” She said kindly. “This is not real. You need to wake up.”

“What do you mean?” Kara asked as her smile fell from her face. “Of course this is real.” She argued. “What are you talking about?” 

“No, it is not. This is all a dream; Kara and you know that.” Kieran told her, her eyes filled with pity. “You are still stuck in the Phantom Zone and none of this is real.”

“No.” Kara whispered, shaking her head. “No, it cannot be. This is real. This is my life.”

“It is not real, darling." Kieran told Kara as she gently wiped away her tears. "Krypton’s gone. Earth is gone. Kal-El and I are gone. We are all dead, and it is all your fault.”

“No, I-” Kara’s voice caught in her throat as she noticed that the sun was getting closer to Earth. At that very moment her apartment started to shake violently as the ground trembled beneath her feet and the air grew unbearably hot with an intense heat unlike anything Kara had ever known.

No, no, no. This cannot be happening! Not again! Kara thought as she raced toward the window, her breath coming in short, frantic gasps. The moment she reached it, she pressed her hands against the glass, her fingers splayed as if she could somehow stop the sun from coming any closer. Kara felt her stomach drop as she gazed down at the familiar chaos unfolding in the streets. People were running in every direction, faces twisted in fear as buildings crumbled, and fires raged. For a moment she could not look away from the lifeless bodies lying in the streets, their expressions frozen in terror.

Kara felt horror surge through her veins as she recognised the unmistakable signs of a dying planet. Earth was supposed to be safe; I was promised that it would to be better than Krypton. But it is not. It is exactly like Krypton. The same fire, the same destruction, the same death. I cannot believe it is happening again. But this time there is no pod to fly me to safety. This time I am really going to die. 

Kara backed away from the window, desperate to escape the terrifying reality that she was forced to live for a second time. She looked down at her arms, expecting to see Kal-El, but he was gone. Where is Kal? He was right here in my arms. Where could he have gone? I cannot lose him. I promised I would protect him. Kara thought as she frantically searched the room but found no sign of her cousin. He has to be with Kieran, she is the only other person in the apartment. I must have given Kal-El to her before I raced toward the window and simply forgot. Kara told herself, trying to remain calm as she knew she did not have time to panic.

But when she found no sign of her girlfriend, she could no longer stop the wave of dread from washing over her. Where did they go? I was right here; how could they have vanished without me noticing? What if something happened to them? I have to find them; the world is dying, and I need to save my family before it is too late. Kara forced herself to move from where she was standing in the middle of her living room as she knew she needed to find her girlfriend and cousin.

However, when Kara took a step forward, her legs suddenly gave out from beneath her, and she crumbled to the floor. “I promised I would protect my family no matter what. How could I have let this happen? I failed my family and let my new world die. How could I have failed everyone like this?” Kara cried as she clutched at her chest. It felt as though it was going to collapse and suffocate her under the weight of all her guilt.

Kara was about to push herself back to her feet and start looking for her family, she heard her girlfriend’s soft pain filled voice echo from somewhere within the apartment. “I am glad I never had a baby with you.” Kieran told Kara, which broke her heart.

“No, you cannot mean that.” Kara begged. “I do not understand why you changed your mind after you told me how you could not wait for us to have a family together someday."

“Have a good look around you, Kara Zor-El." Kieran cried. “How can you not see that everything you touch surely dies and how could you think that I would allow you to condemn our children to the same fate as everyone else you have doomed. Which now includes me, your cousin, my planet and everyone I love.” Her girlfriend’s words were like a knife being continually stabbed through Kara’s chest, cutting deep into her heart.

“I was only a child when Krypton died, and I did not know that Earth needed saving until it was too late. Please, you have to believe me." Kara pleaded as tears continued to stream down her face. But her girlfriend never answered. "KIERAN." Kara screamed, a raw, guttural sound that tore from her throat and was drowned out by the deafening roar of Earth as it exploded.

When Kara awoke in the Phantom Zone, she was not surprised to discover she had experienced another nightmare or that she was drenched in a cold sweat with an erratic heartbeat. What did shock her was her inability to get air into her lungs. Why can I not breathe? Kara thought as she began to panic. “Greetings Lady Zor-El, it seems you are experiencing some difficulty breathing.” Arlo’s voice reported from the speaker in Kara's control panel. “Please try to relax as I administer a sedative to ease your distress.” Before she could argue with the Artificial Intelligence, a heavy feeling of drowsiness washed over Kara, and she soon lost consciousness: 

Kara was sitting inside her training pod with her hands hovering over the control panel as she studied the glowing interface. While she was focused on her task of memorising each of her pod’s various switches and buttons, she could still hear the sounds of her mother’s soft voice and her father’s warm laugh as they teased each other.

After a while, Kara took a break from her flying lesson and turned around to face her parents, eager to join in their playful banter, but what she saw made her heart stop. Kara’s mother and father were no longer with her in the space pod training area and the once vibrant launch bay was now a smoldering ruin of ash and smoke, with charred fragments of metal from destroyed pods and building debris scattered everywhere. 

The air around her was so thick with the scent of death and despair that Kara could barely breathe. No! No! No! This cannot be happening, Kara thought as she stumbled out of her pod in a panic. She closed her eyes and frantically reopened them, hoping that what she was seeing was simply a horrible nightmare. But the sight before her did not change. How can this be real?! Kara's vision blurred with tears as the reality of the situation pressed down on her small shoulders. "FATHER! MOTHER! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Kara yelled; her voice filled with desperation. But no one answered and all she could hear was the sounds of her dying world tearing itself apart. 

Kara fell to her knees, her chest heaving with painful sobs. How?! How could this happen?! I do not understand, the High Council said Krypton was improving. Mother and Father were going to save our world and make Aunt Astra proud. How did it all go wrong so fast?! Kara was too distraught and overwhelmed by the fact that her world was dying to pay attention to her confusing thoughts. Had she been paying attention, Kara would have realised that at that moment in time, her aunt had not told her about Krypton’s dying core as it was years away from being discovered.

"I should have known you were not worthy of carrying on the legacy of the House of El." Kara's mother’s voice taunted as the launch bay around her started to feel colder. "You are nothing but a disappointment, who has only brought dishonour and shame to the noble House of El and I am ashamed to call you my daughter." Kara did not have the strength to argue with her mother, because she did not disagree with her. She simply closed her eyes for what she believed would be the last time, ready to welcome death and join her people in the light of Rao.

However, Kara did open her eyes again and when she did, she gasped for air like she had not been breathing for a very long time and her body suddenly remembered that she needed oxygen to live. As Kara observed her surroundings, she felt a small sense of comfort as she realised where she was and for the first time, being trapped in the Phantom Zone did not seem so terrifying to her. “It was only another nightmare. One that was a little too close to my reality.” Kara muttered to herself. "Arlo, I request your assistance once more, the nightmares have returned."

Arlo's bright light flickered back to life, but instead of expanding, it started to dim and grow weaker before it vanished. "Greetings Lady Zor-El, it seems your pod's systems are being negatively affected by your low battery life, and I cannot assist you with preventing your nightmares at this time.” Arlo’s voice announced. "However, I can continue to assist you with chasing them away once you have awoken. Would you like me to do that, Lady Zor-El?"

"Yes, Arlo. Please stay with me." She begged.

"Understood, Lady Zor-El.” Arlo replied. “I will stay with you for as long as I am able." 

"How much time do we have before your system shuts down completely?" Kara asked.

"That is currently unknown as your pod’s system functionality and power levels are continuing to decrease and deteriorate." Arlo informed her. "My best guess is a few hours, maybe even less."

The Phantom Zone is isolating and soul crushing enough as it is, but without Arlo, there is absolutely no way I will survive. Kara thought as she swallowed the lump in her throat. "Is there anything that we can do to recharge the pod’s battery?" She asked, though she already knew the answer.

"No Lady Zor-El." Arlo answered. "The only thing we can do now is enter power saving mode and limit the operation of anything that is deemed non-essential."

"Can you talk to me, until you cannot anymore?” She whispered, her voice trembling. “I do not want to be alone.”

"Of course, Lady Zor-El." Arlo said softly.

  --- -----------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Four (1 of 2) of Kara - The New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it. This chapter was the most emotionally intense part of Kara’s journey so far. I found exploring her time in the Phantom Zone to be both challenging and fascinating. As someone who has not watched the show, it was an interesting experience trying to find information on things I did not know about, while also adding my own spin on things I did know about.

I enjoyed writing this chapter, and I hope I was able to convey what I believe it would be like to be trapped in the Phantom Zone for 24 years with nothing but your thoughts and the Phantoms as company.

In this chapter, we begin to explore Kara’s inner world more deeply, and while Krypton does not have the same social constructs, concepts or issues with sexual orientation and identity that we have here on Earth and while Kara is considered young by Earth standards, she is very emotionally intelligent and knows who is she is as a Kryptonian, and we get to see how this feeling of identity manifests within her dreams.

One of my favorite parts of writing this chapter was creating Arlo, and I look forward to exploring his character more, especially his relationship with Kara throughout their years on Earth.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on what you have read so far. Your feedback is always welcomed and is important to me as I continue to write Kara’s story. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

UnknownAlien3388.

____________________________________________________

[unknownalien3388]

UnknownAlien3388's Masterlist:

Started: 06/04/2025. Last Updated: 28/05/2025. Total Works: 08. AO3

☆= Ongoing | ★= Completed. | ⚠️ Content Warning. | ❤️ Dating. | 💛 Friendship. | 😇 Fluff. | ⏳️Coming Soon.

Short Stories:

Wanda Goes To Support Group. ★ ❤️⚠️ (Mentions Of Death And Loss Of A Spouse.)

Still mourning the loss of her late wife, Wanda begins attending a spousal support group. Knowing Y/N would want her to heal and live her life, Wanda reluctantly participates in the sessions for months. It's only when her newfound friend Natasha encourages her that Wanda finally decides to share her heartbreaking story with the group, signifying a crucial turning point in her healing journey.

Series:

Short Stories:

Zara's Irrational Fear. ★😇💛

Zara Grace and Lexa Peters have been friends since they were kids, but when years later Zara catches feelings for Lexa's little sister, she fears the loss of her friendship. She knew she had two options: either tell Lexa about her feelings and risk losing her friend or keep her feelings a secret and lose any chance she had to be happy with Marley.

Series:

Short Stories:

The Ugly Duckling Makes a Friend. ★😇💛

Lena and her family had just moved to Midvale a few weeks ago and have been the talk of the town ever since. This didn’t surprise Alex, as it was to be expected when a family as rich and influential as the Luthors suddenly moved from the big city of Metropolis to a small humble town like Midvale that people would talk. And talk they did. Though Alex was too busy with her schoolwork and babysitting her young alien sister to really pay any attention to what the adults and peers around her had to say about a family she couldn’t care less about.

It wasn’t until one day while Alex was waiting at school for her mom to pick her up after work, like she had promised, that her paths crossed with the youngest Luthor, Lena. While they may not have a lot in common, there is one thing that they did have in common and that was the fact they were the unloved sibling in their family.

But was that enough for them to forget their differences and become friends or are they just too different?

Series:

The Unbreakable Bond.★⏳️⚠️♥️

Each Chapter Will Come With Its Own Warnings. There may be more chapters than the ones listed.

It had been years since Kara Zor-El was forced to leave a dying Krypton and the love of her life behind, yet, the loss of her home and Twin-Flame still haunts her. Even when she becomes busy with her job as a junior Cat-Co reporter and saving the day as the beloved superhero of National City.

Kara tries her best to distract herself from her grief by protecting the people of National City and Earth from suffering a similar fate as her. But the distractions do not last long and soon the crime rate in National City is at an all-time low.

Then one day she receives a random phone call from her cousin in Metropolis with news that a mysterious CEO, known only for her groundbreaking technology and possible ties to the notorious Luther family, has made plans to move her company to North America and make her presence known in National City.

The idea that someone connected to the Luthors plans to move to her city understandably alarms Kara and she quickly agrees to accompany Kal-El during his interview with the CEO of El-Corp. However, out of all the outcomes she imagined happening during their fake interview with the elusive CEO, a Kryptonian Twin Flame reunion was not one of them. Yet when Kara followed Kal-El into the CEO’s office, that is exactly what happens.

Chapter One: The End of a Planet and The Beginning of a New Life (Kara's POV). 😇❤️⚠️

Chapter One: The End of a Planet and The Beginning of a New Hell (Lena's POV). 😇❤️⚠️

Chapter Three: The Beginning Of The Rest Of Our Lives Together. 😇❤️⚠️

Kara - The New Beginning. ☆😇❤️⚠️

Each Chapter Will Come With Its Own Warnings.

Once certain she had overcome her trauma, Kara Zor-El is proven wrong when her closest relationships begin to unravel and her loved ones start to drift away, leaving her to face her inner demons alone. With each passing day, Kara’s sense of isolation grows, until only one person remains standing by her side in her time of need.

That person is Lena Luthor.

Will Lena be the one to finally see the real Kara, hidden beneath the masks of Supergirl and Kara Danvers? Will she be the one to show Kara that it is okay to be herself and that she does not have to always separate Kara Zor-El, from Kara Danvers, and Supergirl? Will Kara be confident enough to embrace every part of herself and start a new beginning with Lena?

Preface.

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part One.

The Pain Of Her First Goodbye. ⚠️ (Mentions Of Death And The Struggle Of Coming To Terms With The Loss Of A Loved One.)

At only ten years old, Kara Zor-El faces the devastating feeling of loss for the first time when her paternal grandparents die within days of each other.

During their burial ceremony, Kara experiences her first heartbreak while coming to terms with what it truly means to say goodbye forever.

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Two.

The Betrayal That Changed Everything.

Kara had not seen or heard from her aunt, Astra, in an abnormally long time, when her father tells her over dinner one night that that Aunt Astra had left forever. This news makes Kara began to really worry because she knew her aunt and Aunt Astra would never leave without saying goodbye to Kara first.

Desperate for answers, Kara reaches out to her aunt using a secret channel of communication. During their reunion, Aunt Astra reveals the devastating truth about Krypton and Kara experiences a heartbreaking act of a betrayal by someone close to her, which leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew.

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Three.

Leaving A Dying World. ⚠️ (Mentions Of Loss Of Life, The Survival-Based Abandonment Of A Child And The Destruction Of A Planet.)

After Aunt Astra revealed the truth about Krypton's core, Kara was hopeful and believed that her parents would save their planet before it was too late. Then the day came where Kara was forced to face the devastating truth that Krypton was beyond saving.

Not wanting to die alone, Kara races to find her parents, wishing to die with them. However, when she finds them, Kara makes the heartbreaking discover that her mother and father had made plans for her that did not include dying on Krypton.

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Four:

(Part 1 of 2)

Twenty-Four Years In Solitude. ⚠️(Mentions of death, destruction of a whole planet, emotional distress, panic attacks, psychological torment and vivid and graphic hallucinations.)

After a shockwave from Krypton's explosion knocks her pod off its course to Earth, Kara crash lands on the ground inside the Phantom Zone. Knowing the dangers that awaited her outside, Kara makes the wise decision to remain inside her pod. Where she spends 24 years in isolation, being forced to battle against vivid and graphic hallucinations, terrifying nightmares, and crippling depression with Arlo, her pod’s Artificial Intelligence and her last connection to her lost home, as her only source of comfort and support.

As time stretches on endlessly and the line between hallucination and reality begin to blur, Kara finds herself having to rely on every ounce of inner strength she has as she continues her fight to find a way out of the Phantom Zone.

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Four:

(Part 2 of 2) (Mentions of death, destruction of a whole planet, emotional distress, panic attacks, psychological torment and vivid and graphic hallucinations. Attempted suicide.)

Kara did not know how long it had been since Arlo went off-line but with every Phantom induced hallucination, she could herself getting closer and closer to the edge of giving up hope of ever escaping the Phantom Zone.

Before Kara could do the unthinkable and end her life, an unexpected person appeared from the darkness in a flood of light, offering Kara one last sliver of hope and a real chance at escaping.

But after everything she had endured, Kara was not sure if what she was seeing was real or if it was a good enough reason for her to continue fighting a battle she had begun to believe she had already lost.

Bonus Content:

Character Chronicles: ⏳️

Virell Solvian and Astra In-Ze: The Guardians Of The Hopeful One.

Eliza Danvers: The Scientist Who Became A Mother To An Alien. ⏳️

Alex Danvers: The Only Child Who Became A Sister. ⏳️

James Olsen: The Man Living In The Super’s Shadow. ⏳️

Winn Schott: The Toymaker’s Son. ⏳️

Mon-El: The Entitled Prince Without A Kingdom. ⏳️

Lena Luthor: The Unloved Genius. ⏳️

J’onn J’onzz: The Last Martian Who Longed For A Family. ⏳️

[unknownalien3388]

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Three.

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|Preface|CH1-PT1|CH1-PT2|CH1-PT4.1|CH1-PT4.2

Chapter Summary: After Aunt Astra revealed the truth about Krypton's core, Kara was hopeful and believed that her parents would save their planet before it was too late. Then the day came when Kara was forced to face the devastating truth that Krypton was beyond saving.

Not wanting to die alone, Kara races to find her parents, wishing to die with them. However, when she finds them, Kara makes the heartbreaking discover that her mother and father had made plans for her that did not include dying on Krypton.

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!!

This chapter deals with the death and destruction of an entire planet and the Survival-based abandonment of two children, which may be upsetting to some readers.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics.

I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologise, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction.

Authors Note: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts.

UnknownAlien3388.

  - -------------------------------------------

Leaving A Dying World:

SIX MONTHS LATER:

For months after her aunt's arrest, Kara remained hopeful, believing that her mother and the High Council, along with her father and the Science Guild, would save Krypton before it was too late. During that time, the High Council began reporting positive improvements to their planet's core, and her father regularly shared updates on the projects being implemented to restore Krypton to its former glory. When Argo City started experiencing unusual natural disasters, Kara’s mother reassured her that it was simply Krypton’s core healing itself and that there was nothing to worry about.

However as Kara was jarred awake by the violent tremors that shook her chambers, her hopes were crushed and replaced by a growing sense of dread. The first thing Kara noticed was the air around her felt heavier and was harder to draw into her lungs. This does not feel like our core is healing itself. It feels…wrong. Kara thought fearfully as she staggered out of bed and made her way to the window. What she saw outside made her breath catch in her throat. Rao loomed closer and larger than Kara had ever seen Him, casting an eerie red glow over the crumbling city as people ran through the streets, desperately trying to avoid falling buildings and raging fires. Kara could hear the sounds of her world tearing itself apart over the cries of her people, begging Rao for help.

In that moment, as she stared out her window and watched Argo City falling apart before her eyes, Kara realized the horrifying truth she had tried to deny: Krypton was dying and there was no saving it. No. Please, no. This cannot be happening. This cannot be real. But it is happening and it is real. Krypton is dying. It is really dying and we are all going to die with it. This realisation struck her like a blow to her heart. But the calculations seemed so solid, Kara told herself, recalling the results her father had shown her not that long ago. He said the core stabilization project was working. Father would not lie about that. Maybe Krypton was too far gone when we started to try to save it and no matter what my parents did, it was not going to be enough. The Science Guild is made up of the smartest people I know and if they cannot not save our dying world, then no one can.

Afraid, Kara ran out of her chambers and raced to find her parents. If she was going to die, she did not want to be alone, she wanted to have her parents by her side. Kara’s heart pounded as she darted through the crumbling hallways, until she burst into the living area, and found her parents hunched over a table covered in holographic maps and devices. Their expressions were frantic but determined. It became clear to Kara that her parents had realised long before she had that their efforts to save Krypton were not going to work in time and had made a plan to save their family. Mother and Father knew this was going to happen and yet they never stopped trying to save our world. They fought hard for us, for our home. I wonder had Mother and Father listened when Aunt Astra had first revealed that our core was unstable if things would have been different. I would like to think so.  

Kara’s parents looked up from the table when she entered the room. “Kara!” her mother cried, rushing over to her and pulling her into a tight embrace. “You have to come with us now. There is not much time.”

“There is not much time for what?” She asked, scared.

“For us to get you in your pod and out of Krypton's atmosphere before the planet explodes.” Her mother replied, urgently. What did she mean by my pod? She and Father are coming with me too, right? Kara asked herself as her parents led her out of their home and toward the launch bay.

When they arrived, Kara felt her father’s hands on her shoulders, and she looked up at him. “Your pod’s coordinates are interlocked with your cousin, Kal-El’s. You will follow him to Earth, where you will be safe.” He told her calmly, his expression tense but full of love.

Safe? Kara thought, her mind racing. How can I be safe without my parents? Without my family? Without my people? Without Krypton? How am I meant to feel safe on Earth when I am all alone? The thought of traveling to an alien planet terrified Kara, but she bit back her protest. “I am not afraid, Father.” Kara said, trying to steady her voice. But the truth was, she was terrified. Terrified of leaving everyone and everything she had ever known behind. Terrified of being alone in space as she travelled to a new planet. But she did not want to show her parents that fear, not when they needed her to be strong.

Kara watched as her parents shared a smile before her father stepped away to finish getting her pod ready for her departure. Her mother knelt before her, cupping her face gently. “The trip is long, but you will sleep most of the way and we will be with you in your dreams. We have packed you a sack filled with some of your most precious possessions, along with some things to help you to remember us.” Her voice trembled but she held firm. “You will journey to Earth to look after your baby cousin, Kal-El. Because of the Earth’s yellow sun, you will have great powers that you will use to do extraordinary things.” 

Powers? What good is having powers to do extraordinary things when I will never see any of you again? I do not want to see you only in my dreams and I do not want to have things to help me remember you. I want to stay with you and Father and die with our people, like I am supposed to. Like Rao would have wanted. When Kara opened her mouth to say this out loud, she changed her mind at the last second. “I will not fail Kal-El or you.” She promised. However, Kara was not sure she believed what she had told her mother so reassuringly. Kara was scared of failing. Kal-El was only a baby, barely a couple of months old and Kara was not ready to raise him. She was still a child herself. But this was her mother’s dying wish. So she swore to herself that she would do her best to raise her cousin on Earth in a way that would make her mother proud.

Kara felt her mother gently kiss her forehead before meeting her gaze. “I love you, Kara.” She told her as she unclasped her necklace and placed it gently around Kara’s neck. Her mother went to say something else but the crumbling of the launch bay stopped her. “You must go. Now!” She said desperately.

Kara, with tears welling in her eyes, walked over to her pod, before turning back to look one last time at her parents. It was then she knew that she could not be strong, because she could not do what her parents were asking of her. Kara rushed back into their arms, seeking comfort. “Please, you have to come with me!” She begged, her voice breaking as the tears began to stream down her face. “Please do not stay here!” She pleaded, the desperation clear in her voice as she tried one last time to convince her parents to join her and leave Krypton before it was too late. Mother and Father want to come with me, I know they do. So why are they refusing? They deserve to live too. Why does Mother and Father not see that? But as her parents broke the hug and Kara looked into their eyes, she knew that they would not be changing their minds as they had made their decision. 

“There is not enough time, Kara.” Her father told her as he lifted her into the pod and secured her safely inside. "Though I wish there was." He added in a low voice, thick with emotion.

he lifted her into the pilot seat and buckled her into the harness.

“There is! Please, we can…” Kara began to argue as her father left her pod, knowing there was no hope but trying anyway. I cannot do this without them. 

“No, there is not, Kara.” Her mother denied as the pod’s door closed over her. Kara watched as her mother brought her hand up to rest on the glass. “We love you, more than anything.” 

Kara’s heart broke as she realised that this would be the last time she would ever see her parents. She wanted to argue, to fight against their decision, but she knew it would be pointless and she could not let her fear dictate her actions. Not now, not when her parents needed her to be brave. Krypton is dying, and I am leaving it behind. I will never see my parents and family again. I will never see my people again. I will never feel the warmth of Rao on my skin. I will never… Before Kara could say another word, her pod launched into the sky and she cried out in anguish as she was forced to watch her parents grow smaller. Goodbye. I will never forget you. I swear I will make you proud. 

Kara was very tempted to override the autopilot and fly back to her parents, so she could die with them. But Kara knew deep down that she could never bring herself to do that, her mother had given her a mission and she was determined to see it through. I promised my parents that I would raise my cousin right, raise him the Kryptonian way and I will. Kal-El will know all about his heritage and his people. I will make sure he knows who he is, and I will never let him forget where he came from. Kal-El will speak our language and learn our history. He will be like me, a Kryptonian living on Earth, carrying on the legacy of our people and our house. I will not let Earth take away who he is. I will not let Kal-El think he is human. He will know that he is Kryptonian, and that being a Kryptonian means something. Kara told herself as she looked away, unable to bear knowing she was drifting further away from her world. 

It was at that moment Kara caught a glimpse of her cousin’s pod, which had launched shortly before hers, as it safely left their planet. Her pod was following close behind and had barely left Krypton’s atmosphere when there was a loud explosion followed by a brilliant flash of light that illuminated her pod’s interior. "NOOO!” Kara let out a heart wrenching scream as her soul shattered. “Mother… Father…” She cried, devastated. “I am so sorry. I should have fought harder to stay.” Kara clenched her eyes shut and pressed her hands hard over her face, in a desperate attempt to block out the sight of the empty space where Krypton once was, but the image never faded from her mind.

-------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Three of Kara - The New Beginning. I hope you enjoyed it. One day I decided to watch some Supergirl scenes on YouTube to help with chapter ideas. While doing so, I came across two moments that I thought were important to the development of Kara's character.

The first was when Kara's mother practically used her as a tool to trap her fugitive aunt, which we talked about in the last chapter.

The second one was when Kara was sent away from Krypton by her parents against her will. It will be interesting to see how these two life changing moments impact Kara later in life.

As always, your feedback is welcomed, and I am excited to hear what your thoughts and opinions are as we continue this adventure together. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

The next chapter is about Kara’s time in the Phantom Zone, and suggestions for the chapter name are much appreciated.

UnknownAlien3388.

  ---------------------------------------------

[unknownalien3388]

Chapter One: The Beginning Of Her Heartache - Part Two.

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|Preface|CH1-PT1|CH1-PT3|CH1-PT4.1|CH1-PT4.2

Chapter Summary: Kara had not seen or heard from her aunt, Astra, in an abnormally long time, when her father tells her over dinner one night that Aunt Astra had left forever. This news makes Kara began to really worry because she knew her aunt and Aunt Astra would never leave without saying goodbye to Kara first.

Desperate for answers, Kara reaches out to her aunt using a secret channel of communication. During their reunion, Aunt Astra reveals the devastating truth about Krypton, and Kara experiences a heartbreaking act of a betrayal by someone close to her, which leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics.

I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologise, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction.

Authors Note: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts.

UnknownAlien3388.

  -- ------------------------------------------

The Betrayal That Changed Everything:

TWO YEARS LATER:

"Where are you, Aunt Astra?" Kara muttered as she sat down on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on the faint glow of her secret communicator that she held tightly in her hands. Kara had sent the message asking for her aunt to meet in her chambers, hours ago, and it was unlike Aunt Astra to keep her waiting. Kara was desperate for answers, and she knew the only person she could get them from was her aunt, who she was starting to think was not going to show.

Kara heard the sound of the door sliding open followed by footsteps as someone entered her chambers. She did not look up from her communicator as she assumed it was one or both of her parents coming in to check on her after Kara had spent most of her day locked away in her chambers. “Little one,” A familiar voice called softly as the doors closed behind them. Kara looked up, her attention drawn to the one person who called her that.

By the might of Rao, Aunt Astra is here, she actually came! Kara thought gleefully and a wide smile broke out across her face as she rushed over to her aunt, who was now standing in the middle of the room. “Aunt Astra, you got my message!” Kara exclaimed, happy to see that her aunt seemed to be well and unharmed. 

Aunt Astra leant down to her height and wrapped Kara in a tight embrace. “Of course, little one. I would never lose track of my spy beacon.” She promised as she broke the hug to connect their matching beacons together.

As Kara gazed at her aunt, she could see that there was something off about her. The calm and ease in the way Aunt Astra usually held herself had been replaced by a strange tension in her posture. Why does she seem so serious? So distant? So unlike herself? Kara wondered, trying to make sense of the sudden change in her favourite aunt. “Where have you been?” Kara asked. She had not seen Aunt Astra in an abnormally long time and her father's ominous words at dinner the previous night about her aunt leaving and never coming back had left her feeling worried. The thought had made Kara’s stomach twist with unease and neither her father nor her mother would explain why her aunt would leave without saying goodbye to her first. She could not shake the feeling that something was not right about what her parents were telling her. Kara knew her aunt and she would never willingly leave without saying goodbye to Kara first. Which was why she was confused that her father would even suggest that Aunt Astra would. “Father said…he said you were leaving and never coming back. Are you in trouble?”

“We all are, little one.” Aunt Astra said gravely. Her usual warmth overshadowed by an intensity that sent shivers down Kara’s spine. Kara was not accustomed to seeing her so serious. Of course, she knew that her aunt was a respected general of the Military Guild. She had heard all of her war stories. But to Kara, Aunt Astra was not a general, she was simply her fun loving aunt, who laughed with her when she was happy and who hugged her when she was sad. Who taught her all about the stars, and the planets within their galaxy and beyond. Who had shown Kara how to survive off the land and taught her how to defend herself. Who encouraged her to fight for what she believed in. But that person was not there that day. She was missing and in her place was a strange version of her aunt that Kara had never seen before. Aunt Astra was stern and weighed down as though she carried the weight of Krypton on her shoulders. What is going on? What happened to Aunt Astra? And why did she say all of us are in danger? Krypton cannot really be in danger, can it? I hope we are not on the brink of another war. Kara thought as the feeling of unease tightened in her chest. “Krypton is dying.” The words were said bluntly and struck her like a punch to the gut. Kara’s eyes widened, her heart dropped and her breath caught in her throat as her mind began to race with even more questions. Before she could open her mouth to start asking them, her aunt continued to speak. Her voice quieter now, laced with something Kara had never associated with her aunt; shame. “I have done what I could to stop it, but I have had to make difficult choices. Choices your mother does not agree with.”

“Is that why Mother does not talk about you anymore?” Kara asked, her voice barely above a whisper. 

Aunt Astra’s eyes flickered with pain, and for a moment, it seemed like she was about to cry. “Yes,” she admitted softly, her voice roughened by the hurt her twin had caused her. “But always remember, little one, whatever happens next, I did it for you, for all of us. I was trying to save our world.”

Mother and Aunt Astra have always been really close. How could they be so divided now? Why will no one tell me what is happening? Kara was scared and annoyed that everyone was being secretive and refused to tell her what was going on. “Tell me why.” She pleaded, her voice trembling. “No one else will explain. Why are you in trouble? Why is Krypton dying? Why is it up to you to save us and not the High Council or the Science Guild?” Kara wanted to ask why her mother was not helping her aunt. But she could not bring herself to do it, because Kara knew she was not ready to know the answer to that particular question.

Aunt Astra hesitated, as if she were deciding how much she thought Kara could handle. There was a moment of silence as her gaze lingered on her niece and Kara noticed the way she was looking at her. It was like Astra was searching for the little girl she had once known, only to find an older, more mature version of her niece. There was a brief look of shock that crossed her face, like she could not believe how much Kara had changed in the little time that had passed while she had been in hiding. Then the look was gone and with a deep sigh, Aunt Astra began to tell Kara exactly what she deserved to know. The truth. “Our core is unstable, little one. It has been for a long time, because of how we harnessed it for power. We became greedy and now the oceans have changed and the weather is worsening. I have tried to get the people of Krypton to stop and see what they are doing. But no one is willing to admit the truth, that our world is dying. Not even our leaders. The High Council, your mother included, has refused to see the danger we are in, and in going against them, I have had to do some difficult things.” 

This cannot be true, can it? Argo City, the place I call home and Krypton, the planet I love, could not possibly be dying. And yet, as she looked at her aunt’s face, pale and worn down by months of secrecy and fighting, Kara knew Aunt Astra was not lying. “Why did you not tell me sooner?” She asked, her voice tinged with hurt. 

“Because I wanted to protect you, little one. I wanted you to stay innocent for as long as possible. You deserved a childhood free from fear.” Kara blinked back tears, struggling to hold onto the strength Aunt Astra had taught her. She was unsure how to respond. Her aunt’s love for her was undeniable. But she was not only talking about saving Kara from fear. She was talking about shielding her from the truth. However, now Kara knew and it weighed on her like the heavy robes of mourning she had worn two years ago when she said her final goodbye to her grandparents. Was it all really worth it? Hiding this from me? She wanted to ask, but she did not feel brave enough. “I have to leave again,” Aunt Astra said, her voice thick with regret. “It is not safe for me here anymore. Your mother...she has sent the Military Guild to arrest me. She wants to send me to Fort Rozz.”

I have heard of that place before and it is what nightmares are made of. The mere thought of the name Fort Rozz sends shivers down my spine. The prison is known to be filled with our galaxy’s worst criminals. There is no way Mother would ever be so cruel as to send her own sister there....right? But even Kara did not quite believe what she was telling herself. “No!” She cried, as she took a step back, her eyes widened in disbelief. “She would never….Mother would never do that! She would never sentence you to that place, you are her sister and she loves you!”

Aunt Astra looked at Kara with an expression on her face like she wanted to believe what Kara was saying but knew that it was not the truth. “Your mother already has.” She told her sadly, reaching out her hand to gently hold the side of Kara’s face as if trying to bring her the smallest amount of comfort she could. “But I wanted to see you one last time. I could not leave without saying goodbye.”

"Will I ever see you again?" Kara asked, her voice breaking as tears welled in her eyes. She had never heard of anyone getting out of Fort Rozz once they had been sentenced there, but she was still hopeful she might see her aunt again.

Before Aunt Astra could respond, the door to Kara’s chambers slid open and they both turned around to see Kara’s mother standing in the doorway, her expression stern. Behind her were members of the Military Guild standing at attention. It was a scene Kara had only witnessed in the High Council Chambers when her mother passed judgment on Krypton's criminals. Now, that same cold authority was directed at her sister. Why has Mother brought the Military Guild to my chambers and why is she looking at Aunt Astra that way? Like she is nothing more than a common criminal? Kara could not understand what was happening and refused to believe that her mother would do any of the things her aunt was accusing her of.

“It is time to stop hiding, sister.” Kara’s mother said. Her voice was cold and devoid of the kindness Kara usually associated with her mother. She had heard her mother use this tone before, but never when talking to family and never toward Aunt Astra. “You must face the consequences of your actions.”

Kara’s heart shattered when she realised that she had unknowingly helped her mother draw her aunt out of hiding. Father had purposely told me about Aunt Astra leaving last night because my parents knew I would try to contact her to get answers. And I did. This is all my fault. I called her here. I should not have done that. Kara scolded herself as she spun around to look at her aunt, expecting panic or anger, anything that might reflect the gravity of the situation. But Aunt Astra’s face was calm as though she had been expecting this. As if she knew her sister would use her love for Kara against her. “I knew this would happen, I will come peacefully, for her sake.” Aunt Astra said, glancing at Kara. “I do not want Kara to see anyone get hurt. But know that I will continue to fight for my cause.”

Kara felt her throat tighten and her heart begin to race as members of the Military Guild stepped into her chambers. “Aunt Astra, please!” She cried, throwing herself into her arms. “Do not go! Please do not leave me!” She begged, her pleas muffled by her aunt’s shoulder.

“I have to, little one. But remember what I told you. Sometimes people do the wrong thing for the right reasons and no matter what, you must be willing to stand up for what is right. Even if those around you, especially those closest, do not understand or agree with you.” Aunt Astra’s voice was steady as she used her arrest to teach Kara one final lesson.

Kara clung to her aunt as tears streamed down her face. “I love you.” She whispered.

Aunt Astra pulled back a little bit to look Kara in the eyes. “And I love you, little one, more than you will ever know. I could not have loved a daughter more than if Rao had granted me a child of my own.” Kara knew her words were sincere as Aunt Astra, who could not have a child, loved Kara like a daughter. She had practically raised Kara, teaching her all the important things that mattered while Kara's parents were busy. Her father was off furthering Krypton’s scientific advances while her mother was protecting their planet from any potential dangers, both foreign and domestic. Together, Kara and her aunt stood in a loving embrace, a fleeting moment of peace.

As the Military Guild led Aunt Astra away, Kara stood frozen, watching helplessly as her beloved aunt was taken from her, knowing this loss would leave another permanent scar on her heart. When the door slid shut behind them, the sound echoed loudly in the silence of the room. Kara’s mother approached her, her expression softening to one Kara was familiar with. “One day you will understand why I did what I did.” Her mother told her. “One day you will understand that Astra’s actions endangered us all and I had no choice.” 

“Was she telling the truth?” Kara asked. “Is Krypton in danger? Because if it is, there is still time to fix it, right? We can still do something to save it?”

Her mother placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, “Kara, there is nothing to worry about. Your aunt was wrong, okay? Krypton is strong and the High Council has everything under control. We will be fine. You will see.” But Kara did not believe her mother, for some reason her words felt hollow to her. Instead, Kara turned away and stared out the large window at Argo City. She did not react when her mother walked out of the room, she simply kept looking out her window.

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

That night, as Kara lay in bed unable to sleep, she was overcome with conflicting emotions. She felt guilty for helping her aunt get arrested and sent to Fort Rozz, even though Kara did not mean for that to happen. She was hurt that her mother had used her, and Kara felt bad for not trusting her mother when she told her that Krypton was not dying. Instead, Kara believed her aunt because she had never lied to Kara before, and she did not think she would start now. Kara was confused why her mother, with all her wisdom and authority, could not see the potential looming crisis. She was disappointed that her father did not try to stop her mother, and she was angry that no one thought to tell her sooner that her world was dying.

The longer Kara laid in bed, the more questions she had. How could Mother punish her own sister for trying to save Krypton? Why had she used me as bait? How did I not realise it was a trap and why did Father not intervene? If Aunt Astra knew it was a trap, why had she come at all? Was it because I called her, unaware that she was in hiding? Why did Aunt Astra not find a safer, more lawful way to convey her message to the people of Krypton? She must have known that what she was doing would get her sent to Fort Rozz. I hope she knows the truth of what really happened today in my chambers. As these thoughts circled in her mind, Kara felt her blood begin to boil. Krypton was potentially on the brink of destruction and its inhabitants were recklessly exploiting its natural resources, while her mother and the High Council refused to believe her aunt’s warnings.

But beneath the feeling of anger, hope sparked like a fragile flame in her heart. Maybe Mother was right and there is nothing to worry about. Or maybe Aunt Astra was right and this is what needed to happen to open Mothers eyes to the truth and now she will do what needs to be done to save Krypton. Because I know if anyone can save us, it will be my mother and the High Council. Kara thought with confidence as her eyes slowly fluttered closed.

  --- -------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part Two of Kara - The New Beginning. I hope you enjoyed it. I believe this chapter was important in the development of Kara’s character in Kara - The New Beginning as it taught her that while you can love your family unconditionally, you cannot always trust them, even when they have good intentions.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts and opinions on what you have read so far. Your feedback is always welcomed and is important to me as I continue to write Kara’s story. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

UnknownAlien3388.

  ---- ----------------------------------------

[unknownalien3388]

Zara's Irrational Fear.

Pairing: Zara Grace x Lexa Peters (Platonic)

Masterlist|AO3

Summary: Zara Grace and Lexa Peters have been friends since they were kids, but when years later, Zara catches feelings for Lexa's little sister, she fears the loss of her friendship. She knew she had two options: either tell Lexa about her feelings and risk losing her friend or keep her feelings a secret and lose any chance she had to be happy with Marley.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. 

--------------------------------------

Lexa Peters and her best friend Zara Grace had been friends since they met in high school during Lexa's junior year, forming an unbreakable bond. So when Lexa’s phone rang at five o’clock one morning with her best friend’s name flashing across the screen, she did not hesitate to reach over to her bedside table and answer it. Even though she was not a morning person, Lexa knew if Zara was calling her this early in the morning, it must be something important. “There better be a good reason for you calling me this early in the morning when the sun isn't even up yet, Grace, and I mean like someone better be dying or already be dead,” Lexa grumbled, her voice laced with a mix of annoyance and sleepiness.

“Well, good morning to you too,” Zara laughed, her words soft and reassuring. “You can rest assured that no one is dying or dead.”

“That’s good, I guess,” Lexa muttered as she got out of bed and stumbled into the dimly lit kitchen, knowing there was no way she was going back to sleep now, no matter how tempting the idea was. She yawned, her voice barely above a whisper, as she poured herself a cup of coffee and prepared a simple breakfast of buttered toast. “So, what’s up, Zara? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. I just needed to talk to you about something important,” Zara said, anxiety clear in her voice, her words carrying a sense of urgency.

“Okay, I got my morning coffee and my breakfast of buttered toast. I am all ears,” Lexa sighed, sipping her still hot coffee, her eyes adjusting to the feeble moonlight shining through her kitchen window.

“It’s not something I wish to talk about over the phone. Is there any chance we can meet up at Café Belova?” Zara asked, a sense of worry in her tone.

“Yeah, of course. We could meet there for lunch?” Lexa suggested, the anticipation of the impending conversation starting to pique her curiosity.

“Awesome. See you then,” Zara sighed before hanging up the phone. Lexa was concern. Café Belova was a small family-owned diner with a cozy, retro 50's atmosphere that was located not far from where Lexa worked at the local police station and Zara’s family-owned company, which was what drew the pair to the café in the first place. But they rarely got the chance to eat there and only did when they needed to have a serious conversation that they didn’t want anyone they knew or worked with to hear. It was that very reason that had Lexa concerned for the rest of the morning until lunch came.

💛🤝ZIF🤝💛🤝ZIF🤝💛🤝ZIF🤝💛

The first thing Lexa saw when she arrived at the café was the nervous wreck that Zara was. “Hey Zar, you wanted to talk?” She said once they got to their usual table, but Zara just sat there in an anxious sort of silence. “Are you sure everything’s okay? You seemed worried when you called earlier,” Lexa asked when her friend continued not saying anything for several moments.

“Yeah, I just have to tell you something important, and I'm worried about how you are going to react,” Zara explained with a strained smile, her fingers fidgeting with the edge of her coffee cup.

Lexa could tell by the poor state of Zara’s usually perfect nails that whatever her friend needed to tell her made her incredibly nervous, which, in turn, made Lexa incredibly nervous. “You know you can tell me anything, Zara.” She reached across the table to cover her friend's hand to comfort her. “You are my best friend, and there is nothing that could ever change that,” Lexa told her firmly. “And I mean that, nothing.”

“Even if I told you that I have a crush on your little sister and I really want to date her?” Zara blurted out before slapping a hand over her mouth in shock, her eyes wide with worry.

There was a moment of silence as the two women just stared at each other before Lexa took a breath and spoke in a calm and gentle voice. “And why haven’t you asked her out yet?”

Zara stared at her in surprise. “You’d be okay with me dating your sister? You wouldn't be mad?”

“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn't I be okay with it? Why would I be mad?” Lexa asked, a smile playing at the corner of her lips. “I think the two of you would be cute together. Of course, not as cute as Kelly and me, but a close second.” She teased with a small cheeky smirk, her eyes reflecting nothing but love for her best friend.

“Really?” Zara said, still shocked, a genuine smile spreading across her face.

“Yeah. Why? Did you think I’d be upset with you?” Lexa asked.

“To be honest, yes,” Zara told her. “This is not at all how I imagined this conversation would go.”

“Really?” Lexa said, surprised. “How did you think I would feel?”

“Angry, maybe. I don’t know. I thought you might be very upset and angry. It’s the main reason I’ve been so scared to tell you about my feelings for Marley,” Zara confessed.

“What? You thought I would be annoyed and angry at you for having feelings for my sister? You thought I'd be upset that you, my best friend and one of the most important people in my life, who has supported me and loved me unconditionally, is now willing to give that unconditional love and support to Marley?”

“Yeah, pretty much,” Zara said like it was obvious. “Which now that I think about it makes me feel a little silly since, apparently, I’ve been nervous all week for nothing. Because you’re fine with it, and I should have known…”

“Should have known that all I would want is for the two most important people in my life to be happy, even if it meant being happy together,” Lexa finished for her, a warm smile on her face.

“Yeah,” Zara laughed, leftover nerves still clear in her voice as she relaxed back in her chair.

“Do you remember the day we met?” Lexa asked randomly.

“Of course, I do. It’s one of the best days of my life,” Zara smiled, her eyes now shining with nostalgia. “But what does that have to do with our conversation?”

“God, back then we were both two angry teenagers who hated the world and thought everyone was out to get us,” Lexa laughed, her words laced with fondness, “But I have matured from that angry teenager who felt like their little sister was stealing all her friends just to spite her,” Lexa said.

“That’s true,” Zara agreed with a giggle, her hand reaching across the table to squeeze Lexa's hand.

“And anyway, that friendship those two little broken girls made that day means more to me than most things, and I would choose you over almost everyone in my life,” Lexa confessed, her voice carrying a deep affection for Zara.

“Really?” Zara asked, amazed, knowing how much she must mean to Lexa, to have her friend express such unwavering love for her that she would choice her over almost everyone in her life.

“Yes. You were there for me after my father died. You supported me when I decided to join the same police force that my father was killed working for. You even cheered me on when I got promoted at work. You supported me after I came out as gay and helped me feel confident in my sexuality because I was too scared to tell my mother and sister that I was a lesbian. You were there for me with a shoulder to cry on and a tub of my favorite ice cream when my first same-sex relationship ended badly. And if you can support me through all of that without a single complaint, then I think I can be okay with you dating my sister,” Lexa expressed with a profound sincerity, her eyes reflecting back on the times Zara showed her nothing but unwavering trust and love.

“Thank you, that means a lot,” Zara said, her voice filled with gratitude and relief.

"The main reason being I couldn’t think of a better person for my sister, but the other, more selfish reason is I couldn’t think of anything that would make me happier than to one day be able to call you, my sister. I mean you are like a sister to me regardless, but to know that one day it might be an official thing. That makes me beyond happy. So, yes, I think it is a great idea for you to ask Marley out on a date, and if she is as smart as I think she is, she will say yes,” Lexa told her honestly, a soft smile playing on her lips, her eyes twinkling with joy.

“I hope so,” Zara sighed, her worries finally dissipating.

“She will,” Lexa assured her confidently, her gaze never leaving Zara’s.

“If you say so,” Zara laughed, her voice now filled with a lightness and hope.

“I do,” Lexa grinned, her excitement palpable. “Now onto more important matters like my wedding!” She said excitedly, her eyes now sparkling with anticipation.

Zara just smiled as she relaxed back in her chair and listened to Lexa rant about her upcoming wedding, no longer worried about losing her best friend.

  --- -----------------------------------------

The End.

[unknownalien3388]

The Ugly Duckling Makes a Friend.

Pairing: Alex Danvers x Lena Luthor (Platonic).

Masterlist|AO3

Summary: Lena and her family had just moved to Midvale a few weeks ago and have been the talk of the town ever since. This didn’t surprise Alex, as it was to be expected when a family as rich and influential as the Luthors suddenly moved from the big city of Metropolis to a small humble town like Midvale that people would talk. And talk they did. Though Alex was too busy with her schoolwork and babysitting her young alien sister to really pay any attention to what the adults and peers around her had to say about a family she couldn’t care less about.

It wasn’t until one day while Alex was waiting at school for her mom to pick her up after work, like she had promised, that her paths crossed with the youngest Luthor, Lena. While they may not have a lot in common, there is one thing that they did have in common and that was the fact they were the unloved sibling in their family. But was that enough for them to forget their differences and become friends, or are they just too different?

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction based on and inspired 2015 TV Show Supergirl. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. I do not own the Supergirl characters that are in this story as they are owned by DC Comics and the CW Network.

  - -------------------------------------------------

The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow across Midvale High School's library where sixteen-year-old Alex Danvers sat. School had long ended, but Alex remained, one of the last students lingering due to yet another extended student council meeting. Earlier that day, she had told her adopted sister Kara that she would s tay late and instructed her to go home without her. Now, she sat alone, waiting for her mother, Eliza, who had promised to pick her up after work that morning. As she gazed at a history book she should have been reading, a sense of resignation washed over her. 'She forgot about me again,' Alex thought silently. She wiped away a stray tear and added with a bitter laugh, 'I bet if Kara were here, she wouldn't have forgotten. But then again, Kara is her favorite daughter.'  She was so deep in her thoughts that she did not see the girl walk up to her until she tapped on her shoulder, scaring her in the process. "Whoa. Hey, I didn't mean to scare you," the girl said calmly with her hands raised to show she meant no harm. "I'm Lena, the new girl. I saw you sitting by yourself and thought I might keep you company, is that cool with you?"

Alex eyed her cautiously. She was a short, pale-skinned girl with long raven hair who looked to be around Kara’s age of sixteen and clearly rich. She nodded her head slowly. 'Yeah, sure; why not.' She shrugged.

"Thanks," Lena said as she took a seat across from her. "So, how are you? How was school?"

"I’m well, and school was school. You?" Alex asked with another shrug.

"I’m good, thanks. School was okay. I passed all my end-of-term tests with high scores, so I’m happy with that," Lena answered with a proud smile.

"Well done," Alex congratulated her sincerely.

"Did you have any tests this week?"

"No, they’re all next week. There was a moment of silence before Alex spoke again. 'So, why are you still at school so late?' She asked. 'I mean, you just told me you’ve done all your tests. So, you don't have to study. And just by looking at you, I can tell your family is obviously rich. I’m surprised you don’t have people tripping over their feet to get you home to your mommy and daddy." Alex asked with clear disdain.

Instead of taking offense to her comment like Alex thought she would, the girl just laughed. “I was not always like this,” she said, gesturing to her outfit. “I was adopted by the Luthors, who just love to flash their wealth and money around. But between me and you, I would rather wear what you have on than this ridiculous get-up." She admitted, pointing to Alex's ripped skinny jeans and t-shirt that had some rock band on it that her father gave her before he died. She spoke with just a hint of an accent that Alex knew was not American. “But then again, anything is better than this.” She added with a laugh as she pointed to her pencil skirt and blouse.

“That’s true.” Alex agreed with a small grin.

“The reason I’m here so late is because my Chess Club meeting ran overtime. We’re getting ready for the big Interschool Chess competition at the start of next term, and Lillian, my adopted mother, refused to pick me up after she had picked up her golden boy, Lex, from his polo practice. Her reasoning being Lex had to go home and have an ice bath, and she didn’t want to ‘waste their time' by picking me up because I ‘chose’ to stay at school late.” She answered with a sneer. "But if I even mention leaving the team, she loses it. So, it's a lose-lose situation, really."

"But wait, isn't your brother old enough to get his license and drive himself around?” Alex asked.

“Yes, but Lex doesn’t have to do anything with mother dearest around.” Lena explained with a roll of her eyes.

“What about your father? Why can’t he pick you up?”

“Lionel? He’s too busy being the CEO of LuthorCorp to notice anything else. And even if he wasn’t, he’s too busy with his flavor of the month to care. The Luthors like to fool the world into believing that they are a tight-knit family, but I can promise you; it is all for show.” She answered with hidden pain in her voice that Alex knew too well. The pain of feeling unloved.

“I kind of understand how you must be feeling,” Alex said, feeling like she had finally found someone who understood her pain. ‘Maybe, I can make a friend that knows what it feels like to be neglected by their parents.’ She thought to herself. ‘Not that anyone should ever go through this.’

“You do?” Lena questioned, surprised.

“Yeah.” Alex sighed. “In case you didn’t know, I’m the student president, and well, the student council meetings also have a history of running late, like today. So, I told my sister to take the bus home because our mom said she would pick me up after work tonight, but I guess she forgot again.” She told Lena, “Oh, I’m Alex, by the way.”

“I know, we share the same third period AP Science class with Mr. Smith.” Lena informed her with a kind smile.

“Oh, I never noticed. Sorry.” Alex said apologetically, feeling a little guilty, but Lena just smiled.

“That’s okay, Alex; really. I usually sit at the back of the room, and because of my new last name, I’m never called upon during class, so not many people notice me, which is great.” She assures her in a gentle voice. “I’m just sorry that your mother can’t see how wonderful you are. But I know for a fact that one day she will.” Lena promised with deep conviction in her voice.

“Thanks.” Alex replied, not knowing what else to say and honestly not believing that her mother would ever see her or her greatness, as she felt she would always be living under the shadow of her alien sister. “May I ask how old you are?”

“Thirteen, I turn fourteen next year.” Lena answered with another proud smile. "You?" She asked in return.

"That's pretty young to be entering high school," Alex said, surprised by her age. 

"Well, with my high intellect, thirst for knowledge, and my new last name, I skipped a few grades,” she explained with a blush.

"That’s cool that you got to skip a few grades,” Alex commented. "And I’m sixteen, turning seventeen in a few weeks. My mother doesn’t like the idea of teenagers driving cars and says, 'that's the adults’ job.'” Alex said with a shake of her head.

“Yeah, have you noticed that adults are always expecting their children to do better than they did when they were young and get really mad at them when they fail to meet their high expectations? I mean I know I will never meet Lillian’s expectations, only Lex will do that.” Lena said with barely hidden distaste.

"Damn, if that isn’t true. I probably won’t ever meet my mother’s exceptions either, that will always be my sister. Now, I’m not saying I hate her. I do not hate Kara. I just wish my mother viewed us as equals, you know?" Alex asked, desperate for someone to understand her.

"Yeah, I do. But I have come to terms with the fact that Lillian will never love me as much as she loves her Lex," Lena said with a sad little shrug. "The only thing I am grateful for is that their money helps feed my need for higher education." She acknowledged. “What would be your favorite attribute?” She asked, changing the subject. “Mine’s obviously my IQ, which is higher than Lex’s IQ.”

Alex thought for a moment. “Probably my eidetic memory would have to be mine; I don’t know what my IQ is, but I can read and memorize 20,000 words a minute.” She bragged with a grin. It felt good to be able to brag about her abilities as she rarely, if ever, got the chance to do it.

“Those are two pretty cool attributes you have. And hey, with a memory and skill like that, you could get into places like MIT, Stanford, even Harvard. I also bet your IQ is super high, you must be like Einstein level smart,” Lena exclaimed in a loud voice, only to be shushed by the librarian.

Alex’s grin widened with a blush. “I wish I were that smart! But I’m aiming to get into Harvard to study medicine. It’s one of the hardest schools to get accepted into.” She informed Lena, still feeling proud at the young girl’s compliment. "My mother wants me to study science like her, but I want to be a doctor and help people. I guess that’s another thing about me that disappoints her," Alex said just as her phone beeped with an incoming message.

Mom (4:00 PM): Hey sweetie, hope school went well! I’m sorry but I can’t pick you up tonight, staying late at work. I will get Kara to pick you up soon. Lots of love, Mom xx.

Alex (4:01 PM): Okay.

“Hey, are you okay?” Lena asked, concerned.

“I’m fine, it's just my mom letting me know what I already guessed. She forgot her promise and won't be picking me up,” Alex said.

“That's just fucking crap!” Lena exclaimed with anger. “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m here for you, and it’s okay if you aren’t. I won't judge you either way,” she assured Alex, worried about her new friend.

“Yes,” Alex answered with a fake smile. “Thanks.”

"Can I tell you a little about me?" Lena asked her politely, deciding to change the subject instead of pushing her to talk.

Alex nodded her head. “Yeah, sure.”

"As you might be able to tell, I was not born here in the States. I was actually born in Ireland. When I was growing up, I only had my mother; no father. My mother’s name was Kieran McGrath, and she was the only hero I ever had. She was a kind and loving soul. I loved her dearly and miss her every day."

“What happened to her if you don’t mind me asking?” Alex asked.

“No, I’ll tell you. I was about four years old when my mom decided to take me to the lake near our house for a picnic as it was a great day for it. Nice and sunny. After lunch, she wanted to go for a swim, but I hadn’t been feeling well that day, so I didn’t join her and stayed on the shore to watch her. I remember her smiling for the first time in what felt like a long time as she bent down to kiss me on my cheek before she ran into the water laughing. She had such a beautiful and carefree laugh,” Lena said with a smile and a faraway look in her eyes as she relived that fateful day. “When my mother was up to her waist deep in the water, she turned around to wave at me one last time with this big grin on her face. She was so happy and radiant. That was the last time I ever saw her before she died,” Lena explained.

“How did she die?” Alex asked, shocked.

“She drowned,” Lena answered numbly.

“Oh damn. That’s terrible,” Alex whispered, completely heartbroken for the other girl.

“A few hours later, I was sent to live in an orphanage, and a few weeks after that the Luthors came and picked me up. And you know the drill, a rich family adopts a poor orphan child with no family of their own, to help hide any of their wrongdoings while making the family look great. Charity work, they call it," Lena said with barely hidden disgust.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” Alex replied mournfully.

"I won’t say it’s okay because that would be a lie but thank you anyway. When I moved to the States, they changed my name to Luthor, and I grew up with a hateful mother who never liked me, a father that tolerated me at best, and that’s whenever he could be bothered to play at being a family man. Only Lex genuinely liked me. He taught me my love for chess, reading, and all things science. He was the best brother I could ever ask for. Everything in my life was finally okay. I may not have had loving parents like everyone else, but at least I had a loving brother. Then everything changed when he went off to college. I don’t know what happened to him over there, I just know that he came home for the holidays his first year different, and he never went back,” Lena told her.

“What do you mean?” Alex asked.

“He came back changed. He was angrier. Then recently Lex’s hatred towards anything extraterrestrial became more concerning, which is why Lillian suggested we move here to Midvale and away from the new alien superhero in Metropolis, Superman.”

"That's pretty shitty that you had to move just because your brother isn’t a fan of Superman," Alex concluded with a frown.

"Yeah, it is," Lena agreed. "But that is my life. What is your story, Alex?"

"Sorry, ladies," the kind librarian interrupted. "The library will be closing soon. If you could pack up your things and make for the exit, that would be much appreciated." She said with an apologetic smile.

The girls packed up their things and moved to the front steps of the library to continue their conversation.

"My story? Hmmm." Alex thought for a moment about what to tell Lena before settling on as close to the truth as she was allowed. "Well, it isn't as long or sad as yours but here goes. My life started off normal. Both my parents were scientists, but they always had time for me, no matter how busy they got. Due to my high intelligence and eidetic memory, I was the star of my whole family, the apple of my parents' eye. And it wasn’t until last year that things started to change. It happened after my parents decided to adopt Kara following her losing her family in a house fire…”

“No, she didn't.” Lena interrupted.

"What do you mean she didn’t? Of course, she did. I think I would know how my little sister's parents died," Alex argued fiercely, concerned that Lena might have uncovered the truth about Kara and her family.

“Just stop, Alex; you do not have to lie to me. I am in a lot of Kara’s classes, and I notice things about her. I know that your sister is, in fact, an alien and is probably related to Superman. Which, if she is, would make her Kryptonian. I know this for a fact because, as I mentioned before, Lex is crazy obsessed with Superman and other aliens. He spends most of his days now trying to find ways to rid the world of aliens. Also, Kara shows signs of having similar powers as him, and it’s pretty clear that she worships a different god. One named Rao.” Lena said with a raised eyebrow, changeling Alex to disagree with what she said.

“Fine! You're right. But if you tell anyone else I swear..." Alex began to threaten.

"I won’t. I promise I won’t tell anyone. Especially with someone like Lex hanging around. I would hate to put an innocent life in danger, and I’m scared to see what Lex would do if he knew an alien was living right here in Midvale, right under his nose.” Lena told her honestly.

Alex looked into her eyes, searching for any signs that Lena might be lying to her. She found nothing to indict a lie. "I believe you when you say you won’t tell anyone, but don't make me regret it." Alex said with a pointed look. "Anyway, everything was fine then Kara came crashing into my life. Literally. Her superhero cousin didn’t want her and left her on our doorstep. That was when everything in my life changed. My parents had less and less time for me. My mother is always expecting me to grow up and be mature, always expecting me to be my sister’s babysitter like I have no friends that I want to hang out with or schoolwork I need to get done. I just feel like in my mother's eyes, I have no life outside of looking after Kara. Which only got worse when my father, who gave everything he had to protect Kara, died." Alex confessed, her voice tinged with a mix of vulnerability and longing. "I've just been trying to be strong for everyone, but it's nice to talk to someone who understands."

"That's really tough," Lena said bluntly, though her empathy was still shining through. 

“It is, isn't it?” Alex said with a humorless laugh.

"We both deserve better." Lena told Alex with a serious look on her face. I’m always being judged and ridiculed for being too much of a Luthor by strangers on the streets and in school. Then I go home to be compared to my 'perfect' brother and ridiculed for not being Luthor enough by mother and father. And then there is you, who has a mother who stopped seeing you and your greatness when Kara came along, which is wrong." She shook her head in disappointment. "We both deserve better."

Alex hummed in agreement. There was a moment of silence before a car horn sounded, causing both girls to jump and look around.

"There’s my sister," Alex said, nodding toward the truck parked across the street. "Are you sure you’re going to be okay? I’m sure Kara won’t mind giving you a lift home," she asked, sounding a bit worried.

"Yes, I’ll be fine, Alex." Lena reassured her with a warm smile, "My friend Jack just texted me to let me know that his practice will be finished soon, and then he’ll be around to pick me up. But if you are still concerned, how about we swap numbers so I can text you as soon as he picks me up? So, you know I am safe." She offered.

"Sure, that would be great," Alex agreed with a sigh of relief. She handed her unlocked phone to Lena and accepted Lena's phone in return.

"There you go," Lena said, giving Alex her phone back. "I will text you later, and I’ll see you tomorrow," she added with a shy look in her eyes.

Alex smiled. "You sure will. I have to go now, but we will talk soon. Bye, Lena."

"Bye, Alex."

🦆*TUDMAF*🦆*TUDMAF*🦆*TUDMAF*🦆*TUDMAF*🦆

Lena Luthor (5:30PM): Hey, it’s Lena. I just wanted to say that I think becoming a doctor is a great idea, and you will be amazing in whatever you choose to do in life.         

Lena Luthor (5:31PM): Also I’m home safe. See you tomorrow.   

The better Alex (5:35pm): That is very sweet of you to say, thank you. I’m glad you are home safe. See you tomorrow.    

Lena Luthor (5:40pm): Do you mind me asking why Kara is allowed to drive if your mother doesn’t like teenagers driving? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.

The better Alex (5:41pm): No, it’s fine. Kara is allowed to drive because she’s Kara. Mom lets her get away with pretty much everything.

Lena Luthor (5:45pm): That’s just stupid, if you are going to let one child do something then both children should be allowed to do it.

The better Alex (5:46pm): Agreed.

Lena Luthor (5:46pm): Maybe we can complain about being the unloved sibling together?

The better Alex (5:47pm): That would be nice to have someone on my side for a change.                          

Lena Luthor (5:48pm): I will always be on your side.

The better Alex (5:50pm): Ditto. 

  --- -------------------------------------------------

The End.

[unknownalien3388]

Chapter One: The Beginning of Her Heartache - Part One.

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|Preface|CH1-PT2|CH1-PT3|CH1-PT4.1|CH1-PT4.2

Chapter Summary: At only ten years old, Kara Zor-El faces the devastating feeling of loss for the first time when her paternal grandparents die within days of each other.

During their burial ceremony, Kara experiences her first heartbreak while coming to terms with what it truly means to say goodbye forever.

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!!

This chapter deals with the death of a loved one and talks about the struggle of coming to terms with that loss. It may be upsetting to some readers.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics.

I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologise, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction.

Authors Note: All words in italics are Kara's thoughts.

UnknownAlien3388.

  - -------------------------------------------

The Pain of Her First Goodbye:

For most of Kara Zor-El’s life, she did not know the feeling of pain, grief, or sadness. Her days were filled with joy and wonder. A life seemingly shielded from sorrow. But everything changed when her paternal grandparents passed away only days apart. Their sudden and unexpected deaths shocked Kara to her core, shattering her sense of security. Because, although she had learned about death, the concept had always seemed distant, like it was real for others, but not for her. That illusion crumbled the day Kara was forced to confront the harsh reality that she, too, could experience loss and grief.

Kara was only ten years old when she stood beside her parents on the sacred ground of Rao’s Temple. The white and silver fabric of her house’s traditional mourning robes flowed like water around her small frame as she clutched her mother’s hand. Are they really gone? Kara wondered as she gazed up at the faces of her family members, each one filled with sorrow. She could not understand the strange empty feeling in her heart and wanted to ask her mother about it. She wanted to ask her mother to explain one more time how her grandparents could be gone forever. Because the word forever sounded wrong to Kara’s ears and felt too big and too final for her to accept. They cannot be gone. There are still so many things I wanted to do with them. 

Kara turned her gaze away from her family and toward the burial pods that were hovering a few metres off the ground, their gleaming silver almost translucent under the rays of Rao’s light. Both pods bore the familiar crest of the House of El and seemed to pulse with energy, reminding all present that even in death, those within would carry the essence of their house into the light of Rao. It was strongly believed on Krypton that the pods themselves absorbed the last breaths of the deceased, preserving them until they were reunited with Rao once more. 

The High Priest stepped forward, draped in the red and gold robes of the Temple of Rao. He came to stand in the middle of the two pods, in front of Kara, and her family. His voice was strong and clear as he began to read the final rites of Rao. “Welcome my fellow Kryptonians, today we gather under the gracious light of Rao to bid farewell to two cherished members of the House of El and the House of Van. Seyg-El and his beloved wife, Roh Lor-Van. As we mourn their passing, we ask that Rao may forever watch over their flames and grant them eternal peace until we all shall meet again in the light of Rao. Let us remember their kindness, their strength, and the light they brought to this world.” When the High Priest paused for a moment of silence to respect the recently deceased, Kara glanced up at her father. His face was stoic, but she could see the grief that lingered in the hard set of his jaw and the unshed tears in his eyes. Seeing her father, her strong, unshakable father, in such pain stirred something deep within Kara. An unfamiliar ache that cut deeply through her chest. Though at the time, she could not yet put a name to the feeling. She would later learn that what she felt that day was her heart breaking. Kara tightened her grip on her mother’s hand, hoping the gesture might somehow ease the strange pain within her chest. “As they make their final journey to the sun, may their flames forever burn in Rao’s light.” While the High Priest finished reading the last rites of Rao, Kara reluctantly looked away from her father, her gaze turning back to the burial pods. 

To Kara they seemed both too close and yet impossibly too far away. Her chest tightened further, as if finally grasping that she would no longer see her grandparents again, that they were already slipping away, into a place beyond her reach. Though she was too young to fully comprehend death and what it meant. She could still feel the gravity of it, and for the first time in her short life, Kara felt the sharp claws of loss slash at her fragile heart, leaving her with a deep, raw feeling that ached with every beat of her heart. A soft hum filled the air as the pods slowly began to lift into the sky, guided by ancient Kryptonian technology. Kara could not take her eyes off them as she tried to understand how her world could feel so unchanged, yet so utterly different at the same time. Will I forget them? She wondered, panicked at the thought. What if I cannot remember their voices or the way they laughed or how they liked to tease each other simply for fun? A lump formed in her throat. Kara wanted to cling to every single memory she had of them. But she was terrified that they would fade away, like her grandparents would soon disappear from her view. 

Her heart clenched painfully as the now familiar ache that had settled in her chest deepened with the knowledge that Kara would never again engage in a playful game of chess with her grandfather. A human hobby he picked up from his time learning about Earth Customs, that he cherished and would always play with Kara whenever she came to visit. Gone were the evenings spent playing the game with him while her grandmother prepared dinner for the three of them. She would no longer get to laugh as her grandmother, with a twinkle in her eye, would teasingly scold her husband for not taking it easy on Kara who was still only learning how to play. She would never get to watch her grandfather lean across the chess board, a patient smile on his aging face as he explained, out of earshot of his wife, the rules of Earth’s simple game with the same care he would apply to the most complex matters of Kryptonian science. Gone were the days spent in the Garden of Rao with her grandfather as he taught her everything he knew about the sciences from different planets. Kara would never again hear her grandfather's warm laugh or feel her grandmother’s reassuring hug. “May the stars and the light of Rao guide you home and protect you until we meet again.” Kara whispered, barely audible. Her voice was shaky, and for the first time in her life, tears leaked from her eyes.

It was then that Kara realised that this was not only an end for her grandparents, but a shift in her understanding of life, of death, and of the universe around her. She glanced at her father, curious about how he felt and she wondered if he felt as lost and confused as she did. Her gaze shifted to her mother, with the same questions in mind. But Kara knew it would be inappropriate of her to ask such things during a time of grieving. Instead, she squeezed her mother’s hand tighter as they watched her grandparents drift further and further away. The moment the pods disappeared from Kara’s sight, she heard her father whisper one last I love you.

The ceremony ended shortly after, but the pain for the members of the House of El and the House of Van, was only beginning. It was Kryptonian tradition for the grieving families to mourn for fourteen days. During which they withdrew completely from society. Abstaining from work, school, and all social activities. It was a time for reflection, to come together as a family and reconnect with the essence of those you have lost. It was about honouring your deceased loved ones and learning to understand and accept the new void their absence had left in your life. As Kara and her parents walked across the sacred ground of Rao’s Temple, the only place on Krypton that still had lush green grass and a vibrant plant life, she gazed up at the sky where her grandparents' pods had once been, overcome with a sense of grief that felt never-ending. How does my life go on now with them gone? She asked herself, her mind heavy with thoughts and feelings she did not fully understand. After a long moment of walking in silence, Kara came to a stop and tugged on her mother’s arm to gain her attention. "Do you think they will remember me?" She asked her, feeling uncertain but hopeful.

Kara’s mother leant down to her height and gave her a soft smile. "They will always remember you, Kara. And you will always carry their light with you." 

Kara looked up at her mother, her young face creased with confusion. “But they are gone now. How will I know they are still with me?”

Her father glanced down at Kara, his stoic expression softening. “They are with Rao now, Kara.” He said quietly. “And He will make sure that a bit of their light, their love, will forever live within you. No matter where you are or who you become, every time you look up at Rao or think of them, you will feel them in your heart.” He gently placed his large hand on her small chest, where her heart was. But that confused Kara even more. Will that be enough? Can I really feel Grandmother and Grandfather in my heart if it is empty? She wondered, still feeling the hollow ache within her chest. 

Not long after they had resumed walking, Kara stopped again and looked up at her father. “Do you miss them?” She asked, her voice small. Kara was scared to ask, but she needed to know that she was not the only one who missed her grandparents.

Her father, who had been walking ahead of Kara and her mother, paused for a moment and glanced up at the sky. “Yes, Kara. I miss them.” He told her in a broken voice.

"It is always hard to say goodbye to the ones we love. But they are at peace now. And in time, we will find peace too." Her mother told her softly. 

Kara turned her gaze to her mother as tears began to stream down her face. "I do not want them to be gone! I want them here with us. I want to go to their home and play chess with Grandfather while Grandmother cooks us dinner. Why did they have to go and why can they not come back like Aunt Astra does when she leaves?" She asked, her heart aching.

Kara’s mother knelt down in front of her and brushed away her tears. “I know it is confusing, Kara and it is okay to feel sad right now. We all do. But it is also important to remember, they will always be with us in our hearts and in our dreams. They are part of the light now. They are part of Rao.”

Her father crouched down next to her mother, placing a gentle hand on Kara’s shoulder. “We will get through this together, Kara. As a family. El Mayarah. Stronger together, remember?”

Kara gazed at her parents and saw the sorrow in their eyes and how they drew strength from one another. It did not magically make her pain go away. But it gave her a small sense of comfort to know that she was not alone in her heartache. If they can be strong for each other, then I can be strong for them. She told herself.  “I will try to be strong like you.” Kara promised her parents.

Her mother smiled at her softly. “You are already so strong, Kara.” 

“I am?” She asked, surprised.

“You are.” Her father agreed. “And we could not be prouder.” He told her as he stood back up, his hand still on her shoulder “Now let us go home.” 

⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆꧁~KTNB~꧂⋆

When Kara and her family returned to their normal lives, she found it impossible to be the person she used to be. The loss of her grandparents had changed Kara in ways she did not yet comprehend. She still felt the strange ache in her chest, the one that told her something important was missing from her life. Something Kara would never get back. Though she did not fully comprehend what had been taken from her, Kara knew that her grandparents' passing had left a permanent scar on her heart. The first of many.

  --- -------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Chapter One: Part One of Kara - The New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it. I must admit, writing this was a challenge for me. As someone who is not religious, it was difficult for me to make the Kryptonian beliefs and traditions feel authentic. While I wanted the Kryptonian people’s connection to Rao to come across as meaningful, I feel I have failed as I do not personally relate to any of the religious aspects.

Trying to write from a child’s perspective was another challenge for me. However, I did my best to write Kara as intelligent while also being a naive child. I hope it came across that way.

I have already written the next few chapters, I am just editing them, so there is a lot more to come. But in the meantime, I would love to hear any thoughts and opinions you may have about what you have read so far. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

UnknownAlien3388.

  --- -----------------------------------------

[unknownalien3388]

Kara - The New Beginning: Preface.

Pairing: Kara Danvers x Lena Luthor.

Masterlist|AO3|CH1-PT1|CH1-PT2|CH1-PT3|CH1-PT4.1| CH1-PT4.2

Summary: Once certain she had overcome her trauma, Kara Zor-El is proven wrong when her closest relationships begin to unravel and her loved ones start to drift away, leaving her to face her inner demons alone. With each passing day, Kara’s sense of isolation grows until only one person remains standing by her side in her time of need.

That person is Lena Luthor.

Will Lena be the one to finally see the real Kara, hidden beneath the masks of Supergirl and Kara Danvers? Will she be the one to show Kara that it is okay to be herself and that she does not have to always separate Kara Zor-El from Kara Danvers and Supergirl? Will Kara be confident enough to embrace every part of herself and start a new beginning with Lena?

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction that is based on and inspired by the 2015 TV show Supergirl and fanfictions that other people have written. I do not own the characters or canon events of the show as they are owned by the CW Network and DC Comics.

I do not intend to be offensive or disrespectful towards anyone, if anything that I have written can be perceived as harmful to any community or person, I apologize, but that was not the purpose of this fanfiction.

Authors Note: I would like to thank every person who has commented on this story and told me how they cannot wait for me to upload, it is thanks to you that I have not given up on this story.

Sidenote: The timeline of Kara - The New Beginning will not follow the Supergirl timeline perfectly, as I have made the story up and I have never watched the show, Supergirl, nor as of right now do I plan to. The characters will be out of character, and they will say and do things that they would not have done in the show.

Another Sidenote: Since Kara is Kryptonian, her biology is slightly different from that of a human female. For example, instead of getting her period once a month, she transforms into a giant wolf-like creature for a week. During this time, it is possible for Kara to return to her humanoid form, but it is incredibly painful, so she tries to avoid it unless absolutely necessary. As a result, her boss, J'onn, must step in and pretend to be Supergirl while she is out of service.

When in her wolf form, Kara, who is known to be a very tactile person with her close family and friends, is very clingy as her inner issues tend to intensify. Kara’s need for closeness is especially evident with Lena and as their friendship evolves into a romantic relationship, Kara will refuse to leave Lena's side in her animal form, in the fear that Lena might decide to leave her.

Another, Another Sidenote: While Kara is Supergirl, she will speak in her native Kryptonian accent, which remains really thick, even though it has been years since she last spoke in it.

UnknownAlien3388.

  -- ------------------------------------------

Many years ago, on the distant planet of Krypton, a beautiful baby girl named Kara Zor-El was born. On the day of her birth, Kara's parents bestowed upon her the middle name Rao, as was customary on their planet, to honour the sun god who brought light and life to their world. While Kara’s precise date of birth remains unknown due to Earth’s difficulty interpreting the Kryptonian calendar, some scholars believe that her Earth birthday would be on the 4th of October 1966.

Due to Krypton’s strict population control measures, including a one child law meant to protect the planet’s declining resources, Kara was the cherished only child of Zor-El and Alura In-Ze. Her father, a brilliant and highly respected scientist, and her mother, a prominent member of the High Council, did their best to balance their demanding jobs with their devotion to raising Kara.

Kara’s upbringing was filled with happiness and love. She thrived in an environment that celebrated science and knowledge above all else. She was intellectually curious about everything around her and was even looking forward to her future in the prestigious Science Guild. Where Kara would work alongside her father and begin to contribute her part in the technological and scientific advancements of her people.

As Kara enjoyed her childhood under the warm rays of Rao’s light and the ever watchful eyes of her parents, she remained blissfully unaware that Krypton, her vibrant and highly advanced world, was on the brink of destruction. By the time her parents fully grasped the severity of how unstable Krypton’s core had become, it was too late for them to do anything to save it.

Helpless, Kara's parents could do nothing but watch and wait for their planet to burn. As the dark fate of Krypton loomed ever closer, her parents were forced to face an impossible decision; send Kara away to an alien planet in the hope that she might survive and carry on the legacy of Krypton and the House of El or hold Kara close until the very last moment, with the knowledge that she would perish alongside them. Kara’s parents were well aware that no matter what they chose to do, it would forever change Kara’s life, and it was with heavy hearts that they decided to send her away.

Twelve years after arriving on Earth in her pod, Kara began to build a life for herself and started to feel whole again. She had everything she always dreamt of having in the Phantom Zone, a family that loved her unconditionally, a group of friends who supported her no matter what, a fulfilling job that Kara was passionate about, and a purpose that gave her life meaning.

Then one day a year later, one by one, Kara’s closest friends, who had stood by her side through thick and thin, the people she loved, trusted and fought beside every day began to drift away from her, shattering the bonds Kara once thought were unbreakable.

When all was said and done, Kara was left alone to face her inner demons, and it was during this dark time in her life that an angel sent from Rao appeared on Kara's doorstep in the form of Lena Luthor. This is their story of love, redemption and new beginnings.

  --- -------------------------------------------------

Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading the Preface to Kara - The New Beginning, I truly hope you enjoyed it. I would love to hear any thoughts and opinions you may have about what you have read so far. If you spot any mistakes, notice anything that seems off, or have ideas for future chapters, please feel free to leave me a comment as your feedback is always welcome.

Hearing from you means a lot to me as it helps me to better shape the story into something you will enjoy reading.

UnknownAlien3388.

  -- ------------------------------------------

[unknownalien3388]

Wanda Goes To Support Group.

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Female Reader (deceased).

Masterlist|AO3

Summary: Still mourning the loss of her late wife, Wanda begins attending a spousal support group. Knowing Y/N would want her to heal and live her life, Wanda reluctantly participates in the sessions for months. It's only when her newfound friend Natasha encourages her that Wanda finally decides to share her heartbreaking story with the group, signifying a crucial turning point in her healing journey.

!!!CONTENT WARNING!!!

This story deals with death and the loss of a spouse. Please read with care as it may be upsetting for some readers.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction inspired by the song Last Kiss by Pearl Jam and the Avengers Movies, names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. I do not own the Avengers characters that are in this story as they are owned by Marvel Comics.

  -- ------------------------------------------

The one thing I loathe above all else is my Spousal Support Group It is just a bunch of depressed people getting together to talk about why they are depressed. It is sad, really. But I go every week anyway, in hopes that one day it will make me feel better. But it never does. Actually, nothing makes me feel better anymore and nothing has in a very long time. “Wanda?” Keegan Mc Call, the Spousal Support Group leader, and grief counsellor, called my name softly, pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Yes?” I say, making an effort to appear like I have been paying attention and not like I have been planning my escape. I had only been here little under five minutes, but I was already ready to walk out of the local church that was holding the support group and never come back.

"I see you brought a friend with you." Keegan nodded her head to the young woman sitting next to me, hand clasped in mine. Natasha Romanoff, my new and only friend. We met a few months back after she commented her agreement on my Facebook rant post about how Spousal Support Groups were stupid and a waste of time. Soon after, she sent me a direct message, and we began chatting. During our conversation, we discovered that we had a lot in common, which was a rare thing to find after most of my friends drifted away in the months following my wife's death.

"Hi, I'm Natasha," she introduced herself with a smile. To those who don't know her well, Natasha's smile would seem warm and genuine. But I easily saw through her fake smile to the unease that hid behind it. Her smile, like a lot of things Natasha did since her wife's death, was part of the mask she'd created following her wife's passing. Even though it didn't sit right with Natasha to hide her true feelings, the façade served as some type of shield between her and the outside world. A coping mechanism that allowed people see what they wanted to see to help them believe that Natasha was better. And though it felt artificial and wrong to her, it did give her what she needed to truly grieve in private. After Y/N's death, I learned that most people found solace in the idea that they had contributed in some way to someone else's healing after the loss of a loved one, be it a spouse or a family member. 

"Hello Natasha." The group replied in unison.

The awkward silence that followed was broken by the sound of Keegan clapping her hands to gain the group's attention. "Okay, how about we start care and share time?" She looked around the circle. "Who haven't we started with? how about you start us off, Sarah?" Keegan suggested.

"Sure," Sarah muttered dejectedly, not really caring. Everyone knew that she attended the support group, not because she wanted to, but because she didn't want her mother to worry about her after she lost her husband of fifteen years to brain cancer two years ago. Sarah blamed herself for her husband's death. She believed that if she had taken his constant and severe headaches more seriously and pushed him to see a doctor sooner, her husband would still be alive. It was clear, just by looking at Sarah, that since her husband's passing, she had stopped taking proper care of herself. Her skin was an unhealthy pale color; she had lost a concerning amount of weight, and it was obvious she hadn't washed her hair in months.

I glanced around the group as each member took turns retelling their stories of loss and grief. We were all sat in a circle called the Circle of Divine Healing, in the middle of the room and just below a crucifix. It is believed that Jesus was watching over us during support group and granting us the strength to heal from our pain and troubles. I was grateful that Keegan was too preoccupied with the other members to notice what I was doing.

Which was not paying attention. I didn't need to. It was the same stories each week. Care and Share Time was my least favorite part of support group. It was a time, at the beginning of the session, where everyone took turns telling their story of how they lost their spouse and how they are still grieving even though it has been ‘insert time here’ since they passed and at the end, we all, in monotone, say ‘We are sorry for your loss, and we are here for you.’ Which I think is a load of bullshit and completely insincere because no one in Spousal Support Group interacted with each other outside of the weekly meetings. 

“Now, Wanda, would you like to share?” Keegan asked like she did each meeting, with a hopeful look in her eyes. I know every week Keegan hoped I might finally open up about my loss and pain with the group as she believed that once I could accept what I had lost and could share my story, I would truly be able to begin my healing process.

"Sure." I sighed. "But I still think this is a big waste of time." I mumbled to Natasha, making sure no one else could hear me.

"Wow! That's great!" Keegan exclaimed enthusiastically. Her surprise was evident, both on her face and in her voice. I couldn't blame her. Normally, I would skip the sharing part of Sharing and Caring, deeming it useless because retelling the story wouldn't change anything, it wouldn't bring my wife back. But this week, I decided to share, not for mine or Keegan's benefit, but because of Natasha and her story.

Natasha had lost her wife five years ago in a gas station robbery. Her wife wasn't even supposed to be there that night; she was merely buying milk for Natasha because she knew how grumpy Natasha got without her morning coffee. I had seen her without her morning coffee, she was barley human. While waiting in line to pay, a man in a ski mask entered and ordered everyone to the floor. Everything was going as expected until the robber aimed his gun at a young boy in line and demanded he give over his money, and the boy refused. That is when Natasha's wife intervened. She tried to de-escalate the situation, which, for some unknown reason, enraged the robber. Everything happened so fast, and no one could recall what happened. But somehow the gun the robber was holding went off, accidentally shotting Nataha's wife.

This caused him to panic and flee the scene. Natsha's wife died on the phone with Natasha, bleeding on the gas station floor, awaiting paramedics. She died trying to protect a child—for just five dollars.

“You got this. I know you do.” Natasha whispered in my ear, squeezing my hand in a sign of support and encouragement.

I nodded in agreement and took a deep breath. "I lost my wife. It will be a year next February, rhe 16th to be exact. My birthday." I began, my voice just loud enough to be heard. "Her name was Y/N, and she was the love of my life. No, she was my life." I could hear the quiver in my voice and feel my eyes start to glisten with unshed tears as the memories that I usually tried to keep locked away, came flooding back. My grip on my chair's armrest tightened as I continued. "It was supposed to be our date night. Y/N wanted us to stay home, have a homestyle date because it was raining heavily. But I insisted on going out, you know, to do something special for my birthday." My breathing became shallow as the events of that night flashed through my mind. "We hadn't been driving for long when we came around a sharp bend and saw a stalled car in the middle of the road, its engine dead. By the time I realized what was happening, I didn't have enough time to stop. I slammed on the brakes and swerved, desperately trying to avoid hitting the car." The tension in the room grew as my words spoke with the pain of that fateful night. "We crashed into the siderail on the other side of the road. All I remember before I blacked out is the sound of screeching tires and shattering glass, followed by Y/N’s agonizing screams. I'll never forget those sounds; they will haunt me for the rest of my life." My voice shook, my eyes locked on the ground in front of me, not wanting anyone to see the unshed tears in my eyes. "When I regained consciousness, it was still raining, and there were people standing around. They kept asking if I was okay, telling me to stay still as help was on its way. But all I cared about was finding Y/N. I needed to find her." My hands began to tremble as I got closer to the heartbreaking moment where I lost my wife. "I counted my lucky stars that I was able to find her that night, even with the blood and the rain blurring my vision. I ran to where she lay, broken and dying on the road. I lifted her head into my lap, and she looked up at me with tears in her eyes." My own tears finally escaped, streaking down my cheeks, my voice choked with emotion. "She said, ‘I know I am not going to make it, baby. Can you please hold me until I go?’ And I did. I held her tight, and I kissed her, our last kiss. I knew she was gone, even though I held her close." I chocked back a sob and a heavy silence hung in the room as I finished my story. The pain etched on my face was clear to everyone in that room and they then knew just how deep my grief ran. "I remember waking up in my hospital bed some time later, and it was like my brain still couldn't fully comprehend that Y/N was really gone. I couldn't believe that everything could end in one single moment. One moment, and my whole world had crumbled beneath me. If only I hadn't nagged her. If only I hadn't kept insisting that we go out for our date. Then she would still be alive, and I wouldn't be here recounting the worst day of my life." My shoulders were hunched over, and my head bowed as I came to the end. I still didn't look up. I didn't want anyone to see me cry.

"Thank you for sharing with us, Wanda. We are sorry for your loss, and we are here for you." Keegan told me softly she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Aren’t we guys?” I could feel the sympathetic gaze of the support group members as they offered their condolences, making me inwardly wince and cringe. I hated it. Fake forced pity is worse than real pity. And I know most of them meant well, but when you are in the thick of healing, nothing else matters. Not even other people in the process of healing. "Does anyone have anything to say to Wanda?" Keegan asked the group and Eliza Beth, a lady known in the Spousal Support Group Community for her strong religious beliefs raised her hand. "Nice of you to volunteer, Eliza Beth. What words of wisdom do you have for Wanda?"

The fake pity I could handle, but the next words that came out religious woman's moth stirred my emotions in all the wrong ways. “I know the Lord was there that night to take your sweet angel to heaven and He will look after her until it is your time to join her!" Eliza Beth declared; her voice full of conviction. As she spoke, she made the sign of the cross, touching her finger to her forehead, then her lower chest, and finally, both her shoulders, one at a time, sealing her words.

My eyes welled with tears, my grief and frustration rose to the surface as I responded, my voice steady but filled with raw emotion. "No, the Lord was not there that night, and if He was, then He was not listening to me beg and plead with Him not to take my Y/N away." My fingers clenched into fists, and I fought to rein in the anger that surged through me. I took a deep breath before deciding that I had enough of support group for one night. I turned in my chair to face Keegan head on. "Thank you for letting me share." I told her sincerely. I then rose from my seat and walked out of the church without looking back, knowing that Natasha would be following close behind.

The echoes of the support group's insincere condolences lingered in my ears and my footsteps were heavy with the weight of my loss as I walked through the carpark to Natasha's car. Natasha drove us to Support group because while I could finally handle being inside a car without having a panic attack, I was nowhere close to being ready to be behind the wheel. Not after the last time I drove a car, which resulted in my wife's death.

On the car ride home, Natasha broke the silence with a question that had gnawed at her for years. "Why do you even still go to those things? I mean, I know you hate Spousal Support Group as much as I do, and I stopped going five years ago." Natasha had told me about how she had gone to support group for a month following her wife's death and how she hated it so much that she stopped going.

I sighed as I untied my ponytail and ran my fingers through my auburn brown hair. "You want the truth?" I asked.

Natasha's voice was resolute. "Always."

"The only reason I keep going is the donuts; they are pretty great," I admitted, a faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She and Natasha shared a brief, genuine laugh. "No, but really, I go because I know that Y/N wouldn’t want me to be hung up over her death. She would want me to heal and carry on with my life, so I try to do that as best as I can. Which just happens to include going to Spousal Support Group every week until I am better or as close to it as I can get." A calm silence enveloped the car, before I spoke again. “You know, Y/N thought that if she was going to die it was because she was attacked by a wild animal like a moose.”

"A moose?" Natasha asked, her curiosity piqued. "That’s pretty random."

My laughter broke through the somber atmosphere. It felt nice to be able to laugh. I hadn't laughed since Y/N died. In saying that, I hadn’t done a lot of things since Y/N died. "Yeah, Y/N was random like that. She believed it would be a cool way to go."

༺WGTSG༻^༺WGTSG༻^༺WGTSG༻

"Well, you know what I think?" Natasha asked as we neared my house, it stopped being home when Y/N died. 

I had been gazing out into the night, but I looked towards Natasha at the sound of her voice. "No, what?"

A small grin played on Natasha's lips. "I think she would be proud of you for trying."

My heart swelled with emotion, and her nerves were replaced by a warm feeling of hope. "You think?" I asked nervously, my tanned hands, scarred from years of working on my family's farm, gripped the armrest.  I didn’t know why I was nervous; I just was.

"Yeah, I do," Natasha affirmed with a nod of her head.

A smile spread across my face, a small but significant step on my healing journey. Not long after I went back to staring out into the night, with my heart still aching with the loss Y/N. but now with an added glimmer of hope. I looked up at the stars and whispered, "I hope she is."

  --- -----------------------------------------

The End