Deirdre opened the portal anew. “Penny, stay here for a minute. I’m going to take Jasmine back and fetch something for this universe’s Miranda.”

“See you soon, Sister,” the SL-Jasmine bade her counterpart.

“Thank you,” the DC-Jasmine accepted, calling Carpet to her side. Looking at the ghost, she asked, “The Amazons will not allow Xena and our friends to suffer.”

That’s the idea. Go now.

Getting on Carpet, DC-Jasmine and Deirdre disappeared into the mists.

“This is really strange,” Penelope complained.

“Tell me about it,” Lex concurred, taking a sip of coffee and trying to process the information.



Chapter 3 [Rowenshire, MA—Old Dubois House]

The wind howled, whipping the pelting sleet and rain sideways and diagonally. The asphalt next to the old property lay under a thin cover of black ice. Where the downpour pelted the force field, steam hissed back into the late winter air.

Appearing in the midst of this storm, the Protector glared at his surroundings. He recalled days like this when the Witch loved to make him and Big Brother slip and hurt themselves. He growled low in his throat. “Figgers it be like this! Damn crap!” He stomped toward the grass, feeling his balance teeter toward falling. Then he stepped onto the lawn, hearing the icy blades crunch under his feet.

An opening appeared in the field.

“Wunnerful!” he snarled, making his way into it before it closed behind him. Inside, the icy wind still ripped into him but at least it was dry. “Where’s she?”

A dark fire burst scored the ground by his feet.

“Lookin’ fer me, are ye?” Lichtenfeld’s ghost presumed.

“This ain’t mah idea, Sweets! Time to tell ya to bug off!” he announced, making his hands glow with psychic energy.

“The other was a fool! Yer mine!” she disagreed, firing again.

The blast hit him dead center.

He wobbled but didn’t fall. A snide grin grew across his face. “Well now…ya’ll ain’t so bad, are ya?”

“Pitiful boy!” she upbraided, throwing two more bursts, knocking him off of his feet.

He got up again; the leer still growing on his face as he did so. “Yer losin’ it!” He uncorked two bursts of his own, throwing her about fifty feet. “Ah learn quick!”

“So do we,” a familiar voice challenged.

Feeling the darkness swelling behind him, the Protector turned to see his cloaked nemesis behind him. “Lie-Boy, yer whacked!”

“So are you!” the former industrialist retorted, pulling his hood down and revealing his chemically altered face.

As he did so, the Protector felt a burning sensation in his head. Then the memory of that day in the shopping mall appeared.

Over his family members’ bodies, Arighatto wiped his blade clean and smirked at him. “You can’t stop me, Brat!” His hand clamped onto Miri’s left arm.

“Help me, Unca!” the eight year old pleaded.

The Dark One screamed in rage. “Na’ this time, Buttwipe!”

The samurai sliced at him, grazing his arm with the sword. Then he turned his arm to flame, lassoing him around the neck. “I’ll kill you this time, Dubois!”

“AH AIN’T BIG BRO!” the Protector retorted, feeling his rage skyrocket.

Even as the fire burned him, he felt it feeding him as well. As with the Child, it was making him stronger. It opened him to the darkness around him. For the first time, he understood his power and felt the energy inside of himself.

Like an angry volcano, the blackness surged, erupting within him.

For a minute, the dark construct hovered on the brink of losing himself to the Witch and her designs. But then he yanked himself back. “Stupid! Ya like fire?” He focused, making the energy in his hands turn ebony.

“What are ye doin’?” she demanded.

“Jus’ learnin’ from ya!” the Dark One growled, throwing a blast at his adversary’s construct and making it vanish. “Git, Miri-Ma, yer safe!”

The girl disappeared as well.

The Protector grinned at Lionel. “Fool!” He stared right into the other’s face, allowing the nightmares to play across his consciousness.

The reign of torment played out before him.

“This time, you fall!” Lionel declared.

This time, the Protector laughed. “Ya suck, Lie-Boy!”

Lionel gaped, not believing what he was seeing.

“Yer dog meat!” He grabbed Lionel by the throat and sent a large dark energy burst through his body. “Ah gotta deal w’ yer mess! Git lost!” Throwing a psychic blast, he sent his adversary flying into the woods thirty feet behind. Then he glared at the ghost again. “Where’s Daddy Dearest?”

She grinned. “We played a while w’ him. He’s lickin’ his wounds down in the Valley. But since ye wanna play….”

“Ah knew he was a wuss,” the Protector concurred albeit grudgingly.

The familiar roar echoed up from the area below the plateau.

“Fire Puss!” The dark grin half-inverted itself into a bizarre harlequinesque motif. “Time to get yer whuppin’!”

On cue, the fire demon soared into view, bellowing its wrath at its former victim.

“Shaddup!” The Dark One glowered at his adversary.

Then from behind, something hit him hard.

He spun to see his father’s clone glaring at him. “Ah shoulda known! Damn yellah!”

“You think so? I’ll show you! You’ll pay for this Hell!” Stuart challenged, rushing him again.
However, he hit an invisible wall and felt himself floating in the air. “What the Hell?”

“Ya finally got a taste of mah pain! That’s why we stuck ya here! WELCOME TO MAH WORLD!” the Protector announced snidely, throwing another fire burst and scalding his father thoroughly. “Didn’ like that now, did ya?” Over and over, he repeated this act.

The clone screamed, unable to do anything to avoid the pain.

“Git yer fill!” the ghost cackled.

“Git stuffed!” the Dark Avenger hissed, throwing Stuart into the same bank of trees as Lionel. “Lyin’ to me ain’t nice, Lichtie-Bitch!” He threw another blast, hitting her square.

As he did so, the demon bellowed and streaked toward him.

“Git yers too!” the Protector growled, sopping up the resident darkness around him. As he had seen his “twin” do, he turned dark with the red eyes. “Yeah! Ah can do it too!” He tossed a dark pulse at the fire monster, making it quiver with pain. “Payback’s Hell, ain’t it?”

The demon shook it off and resumed its charge.

The Protector chuckled darkly, feeling almost giddy from the rush of so much dark power around him. “Yer jus’ as dumb!” He unleashed more fire, knocking the demon back.

Having had enough, the fire demon retreated to the Lower Valley.

“Run, Boy! RUN!” the Dark One taunted, shaking his fist at the sky. He faced the ghost again. “Wha’ the Chi…ld said goes fer me too! NO MORE! Ah’m free! Ya come back to Picture Place an’ Ah’ll whup ya! Now to git Puritan Boy!”

“Ye’ll regret…this,” Lichtenfeld spat. Then she grasped what he was saying. “Father?”

“So! He’s yer Daddy!” The Protector snarled low. “Well now, Ah guess we got ourselves a real meetin’? Damn an’ Ah git to meet yer Momma!” He stared her directly in the eye. “Ah’m gonna really whup ‘er fer everythin’!”

She stared incredulously at the Protector, not understanding where this knowledge had come from. “Ye know ‘er?”

“Na yet! But Ah owe ‘er fer wha ya did!” he declared. “Now Ah put the ass whuppin’ from Hell on ‘em!” His left eye went blood red. “Too bad, Iso-Smell’s toast! Ah’d whup ‘er snooty ass too!”

“Iso….?” The ghost’s eyes went wide. “Ye’ve met Isobel as well!”

“Yeah Ah did! An’ Ah kicked ‘er ass too!” He grinned wickedly. “Ah’d like ‘nother!”

Speaking of which, it’s time to return, Jor-El advised in his head.

“Yeah, yeah!” the Dark One hissed menacingly. “Stay outta mah way, Lichtie-bitch, or Ah’ll really whup ya! Tha’ goes fer ya, Lie-Boy an’ Dad too!” He fired a dark blast at the ground, singeing the grass. “Oh yeah, Ah love this shit!”

As he reached the energy field, it opened, allowing him through before resealing itself.

Stepping back into the elements again, he laughed triumphantly. “AH’VE BEATEN YA! CRAP ALL YA WANT BUT AH’VE WHUPPED YA!” In an ebony flash, he disappeared from the scene, leaving his adversaries in the dust.


Chapter 4
[Smallville—Kent Farm]

April rushed up the walk to the house, half-tugging Cassie and Angie with her. For the past hour, she had comforted the girls as best she could, even if she didn’t understand the cause of their pain at first. Dave, now what have you done?

Before she could open the door, Karen did it for her. “Come in. Martha and the others are in the other room.”

“What’s going on, Karen? Where did he go?” April insisted.

“Dark place, Mama…with glowy lady an’ Grandpa,” Cassie whimpered.

“He didn’t…Karen, did he?” April wondered.

“He did, Auntie,” Miri confirmed, making her way gingerly toward the others. “Jor-El just called him back.”

“Does that mean it’s over?” Steve asked.

“It just ended,” the sensei informed them. “The Protector is on his way back.”

Lord, I hope he didn’t hurt Dave and himself too badly. Seeing Deirdre standing with the others in the kitchen, she asked, “Isn’t that the priestess from the other universe?”

“It is,” her niece replied. “We got to help her and the others.”

“Help? Oh no! I won’t have your uncle rushing off into trouble again!” April denied.

“I would rather not ask, believe me,” Deirdre noted, as she approached. “The Curse has come full circle in our universe.”

“What about the Child and the others?” April queried.

“They’ve been injured or taken. The Child has been suborned. Only the Protector can stop him. That is why he was sent back to Rowenshire, I gather—to finish freeing himself from Lichtenfeld and understand who he is,” the priestess explained. “As we speak, other allies speed toward my realm to assist in this effort. However, he and our friends will be needed to deal with this threat. Speaking of which….” She reached into the portal and produced Miri’s lost scimitar. “Miranda, this, I believe, is yours.”

“You found it!” Miri gasped. “I threw it away during the fight with the Black Hand!”

“Papa was holding onto it for safe keeping until you were healed fully. Unfortunately, we can wait no longer to return it to you,” Deirdre commented.

Miri admired her weapon for a minute before expressing, “Thank you. I wish I could fight with it but I can barely walk.”

“That will be attended to as well,” Deirdre assured her. Looking around, she smiled. “Yes, he just returned to Lex’s study.”

As I advised him to do, Jor-El’s voice told them all.

Jonathan queried, “Asked him to?”

He bested his adversaries and gained the understanding that Deirdre spoke of. I will inform Kal-El and Lana of this and send them back to you shortly.

“Are they all right?” Martha wondered.

“Is Dave okay?” April added.

They are all in excellent health. As for our son and daughter, they have completed their pledge as you all discussed, Jor-El continued. Now Lara and I must tell them. With that, the Voice went silent.

“Pledge?” April wondered.

“They’re engaged, Mrs. Dubois,” Jasmine commented.

“And you’re sending them into this mess?” Karen asked.

Martha rubbed her husband’s shoulder. “We don’t like it either, April. But they did help us before.”

The florist recalled the adventure from two months prior to that. “I know…I…well…with the baby on the way, I hoped that Dave wouldn’t have to take any more risks.”

“Sometimes, we don’t have a choice,” Jasmine assessed grimly.

“And what if they cross over to here? What then? What about Papa?” Penelope queried. “Those ladies—they’re really bad!”

“She means the witches,” Deirdre clarified.

“Witches?” Miri asked anxiously.

Karen took a deep breath, recalling the earlier misadventure in France. As with her counterpart, she too had been kidnapped into such a scenario. “There are others beside the ghost including one I never want to see again.” She winced. “Especially given how Dave reacted to her.”

“Others?” Martha inquired, feeling really nervous for Clark and Lana. “As if the ghost wasn’t bad enough.”

“There was another who read from a spell book and chanted nasty stuff in Latin but she was burned at the stake,” Karen noted. Seeing Penelope shudder, she gasped, “It can’t be!”

“T…the Child called her ‘Iso-Smell’,” Penelope told them hesitantly.

Karen collapsed into a chair and rubbed her forehead. “Terrific. She’s back and with the others? No wonder they’re all in trouble.”

“You know her, Mama?” Cassie asked.

“Unfortunately, Cassie. April, Jasmine’s right. We need to stop her.” Turning to the priestess, she added, “And she possessed your father?”

“She split Papa off from the Child and possessed him. I hope Papa managed to reach our other friends,” Deirdre told them.

“Other friends? Are these the ones you spoke of earlier?” Steve inquired.

“They are,” Deirdre agreed. “Meantime, I’m going to get David. Be right back.” She vanished into another portal.

“When did you run into this other witch, Karen?” April wondered.

“While we were in college. Remember our Astronomy project I never finished during freshman year? I was thrown back in time. Dave came back to get me,” Karen recalled. “They’re going to that creepy chateau.” She exchanged looks with the others, wondering how much worse the situation could get.



Chapter 5
[Luthor Castle]

Lex worked hard on the latest LexCorp figures, trying to take his mind off of the developing situation. He had thought that Lichtenfeld’s ghost was bad enough on her own.

But to learn that there were others like her?

And that Dave and the Protector had fought with them?

This just keeps getting better and better. He took a gulp from the cup of stale coffee at his side and grimaced.

“There’s a face that only a mother could love,” Chloe teased while coming into the area. “What’s wrong, Lex?”

She doesn’t need to know about this. Knowing Chloe, she’ll want to follow everyone into danger to save our friends. He flashed the Smirk. “Nothing wrong here.”

She arched her right eyebrow. “Yeah right. You have the ‘crap’s about to hit the fan’ look on your face. What’s up? Don’t bs me, Luthor. I can see right through it.”

He sighed. “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Lex, come on! Are Clark and Lana in trouble?” she insisted. “That’s it, isn’t it? If they are, I want to help.”

Before Lex could respond, the Protector reappeared. “Ah’m back!”

She jumped anxiously. “Don’t sneak up on someone like that!”

The Dark One snarled, “Look, Toots, this ain’t no party! Kay? ‘Specially if Iso-Smell’s involved!” Seeing Deirdre appear next, he added, “Ya made it!”

“Good to see you back in one piece as well,” Deirdre replied pleasantly. “I sense you accomplished what you needed to.”

“Ah went, Ah saw, Ah whupped ass!” the Dark One retorted. “Ah wanna git goin!”

Lex shook his head. “You saw Dad up there?”

“Ah whupped ‘im an’ Daddy Dearest an’ Fire Puss an’ Witchie-Poo!” the Protector reported.

Seeing the reporter’s curiosity clearly on her face, the billionaire shook his head. “It’s a really long story, Chloe. One that I’m sure we’ll hear later.”

“You mean if they come back,” Chloe contradicted.

“We’ll be back,” the Protector insisted. “Ah ain’t lettin’ the Kiddies git hurt.”

“Thank you,” Lex expressed.

As say I, Jor-El proclaimed within the Protector’s head. Kal-El and Lana are on their way back to the Kents. You should go.

“Ah’m on it,” the Dark One concurred.

“Follow me,” Deirdre indicated, opening a portal. When he had disappeared into it, she told the couple, “Wish us luck. We’ll need it.” With that, she vanished, taking the portal with her.

“And he says there’s nothing to worry about?” Chloe supposed. “Why do I know that’s not true? You know something, don’t you?”

“I’ll tell you when it’s over, Chloe. If I’m right, they’re heading into trouble and I hope they come back,” he indicated. Come back in one piece, guys.


****


[A/N: And here is where we catch up to “Affirmations” (last Super Lana)]
[Kent Farm]

After rushing back from the caves at super speed, Clark and Lana stopped in front of his house. With their concern and Jor-El’s sense of urgency lending speed to their pace, they hurried back there, hoping that everyone was all right.

She sighed, “Clark, what were he and Lara talking about? Do you think everyone’s okay?”

“Let’s hope so,” he replied.

Hey, guys. We’re waiting on you, Miri told them telepathically.

As they walked into the house, they found Martha, Steve, April, Karen and a strange girl with red hair were talking amongst themselves in the corner. At the table, Jasmine, Miri and Dave Dubois were deliberating something.

“Good to see you both again,” Deirdre greeted. “I wish it were under better circumstances.”

“What’s going on?” Lana wondered. “Jor-El’s anxious about something.”

“He has good reason,” the priestess told them. “We’ve got a bad situation in our dimension.”

“Everyone’s hurt badly,” the mystery girl lamented.

“Why doesn’t the Child deal with it?” Clark wondered.

“He’s been possessed and Papa’s gone,” Deirdre noted. “Time grows short and we really need your help.” She looked at Dave. “In fact, Alti and the others plan to use the Child against us.”

The librarian looked pointedly at her. “The Protector will deal with him.”

“The last time they squared off, the Protector lost. This time, the Child won’t hold back,” the priestess noted.

“Good for him. The Protector just kicked the snot out of Lichtenfeld and her crew singlehandedly. Something happened up in Rowenshire just now. He’s more powerful,” Dave commented, albeit trying to cover up his nerves.

“More powerful? Dave, what happened up there?” his wife inquired.

“Your inner darkness is more intense,” Karen told him. “Are you sure you want to bring that to the Vendee?”

“I don’t have a choice. If the fight’s there or in the other Smallville, the Protector and I will deal with it.”

“And we’ll keep an eye on things too,” Jasmine indicated.

“I’m not going to be able to fight, Uncle Dave,” Miri lamented.

“We’ll get you some help, Sunshine,” Dave assured her, as he got up. “Deirdre, can you give me a minute with April please?”

“Of course,” the priestess agreed.

Dave smiled and then went over to his wife. “I guess it’s that time again.”

She grimaced. “Do you really have to do this? I mean the girls and our little one need you.”

He sighed, “I know. You also know that I can’t leave them in the lurch.”

She nodded. “Yeah, that’s you, Dave. Just promise me something? Come back.”

“I’ve got too much riding on things here not to,” he promised, looking into her eyes. “And I have to make sure that the kids are okay.”

“Thanks for that,” Martha indicated.

“We’ll be as careful as we can be, Mom,” Clark declared.

“What April said goes for us too, Son,” Jonathan told him. “We want all of you back in one piece.”

“We’ll do our best,” Dave concurred before kissing April and hugging Karen. “Watch out for them, Steve.”

“You know I will. Don’t do anything stupid,” the agent urged.

Dave shrugged and turned to Deirdre. “Let’s go.”

The teens headed into the portal without another word followed by him.

“Please, Deirdre. Bring them back,” April requested nervously.

“Given what we’re facing, I’ll do my best. Goddess knows what’ll happen,” Deirdre responded while guiding Penelope into the portal and vanishing.

April shuddered with unspoken fear.

“Dave and the others have been through this before,” her sister-in-law advised.

“Sooner or later though, their luck’s going to run out,” Jonathan declared.

Even if she was inclined to agree with her husband, Martha told them, “We can’t think like that. Everything’s going to be all right.” I just wish I believed that.



Chapter 6 [Duboisverse—Cowache Caves, Smallville]

As they used the “tunnel” of mist to cross dimensions, the group experienced a weird sensation—almost as if they were being taken apart and put back together.

“What is this?” Jasmine wondered, feeling her stomach lurching.

“It wasn’t like this the last time,” Clark indicated.

“The witches’ doing, I take it?” Dave asked their guide.

“Exactly. As with Papa, you have faced the evil that awaits us,” Deirdre noted.

“Evil?” her sister asked.

“Another trial to be dealt with, Penny,” the priestess assured her and the others. “And we’re here.” She opened another doorway. “Step through and we’re there.”

As they did so, Lana realized, “We’re back in the Caves!”

“Our version of the caves,” Deirdre clarified.

“Where is my double?” Jasmine inquired cautiously. “I thought she would meet us here.”

She brings more of our allies to the fray. That universe’s Jor-El appeared before them. Greetings and thank you for coming at this point.

“Deirdre told us some of the story,” Dave informed him. “Jor-El, tell me--the Vendee witch has really returned?”

She has. She and her allies have taken my charges, their friends in addition to your counterpart.

“Terrific. As if she wasn’t tough enough before,” Dave groused. As he said that, he noticed the mark on his hand glowing. “Now what?”

My charges’ eating place—it calls to you.

“As does that harpy’s magic, I’m sure,” Miranda assumed. “Uncle Dave, you heard Auntie. Let’s not be stupid.”

He rubbed his niece’s shoulder. “I remember what she said, Sunshine. Don’t worry.”

“When do we rescue our friends?” Lana inquired.

“Slow down,” Dave told her and the others. “If that chateau’s anything like the one in our universe, we can’t just rush in there. Deirdre, was everyone taken?”

“No. Thank the goddess. Martin and Kyla have gone to find your counterpart’s spirit. As Jor-El said before, Jasmine’s counterpart seeks her sisters’ support. The vampire community investigates in Paris. Can you all go to the farm house and wait there?”

“Wait. Begging your pardon, Deirdre. Did you say sisters? The Hamijj is a brotherhood,” the princess noted.

“True but I was speaking of another group: the Amazon sisterhood,” the priestess declared.

“If everyone’s gone, how will I get that treatment?” Miranda wondered dejectedly. “I want to help!”

That I can do. Hold still, Miranda Arighatto. Jor-El’s glow brightened, enveloping the whole chamber.

As this happened, Miri felt her wounds tingle and then burn. She forced herself to stay still as this process continued.

“Miri! What is he doing?” Lana protested.

The Kryptonian healing ritual. In this case, I finish the process begun here with your counterparts’ teachers. There. The spirit let the light dim again. How are you now?

The sensei felt her way for a few steps. Then she feinted a few fighting moves. “Amazing! Thank you.” She bowed to him.

For your assistance, it is a small price to pay. Deirdre, there is one who needs to be here as well.

“But the others are trapped!” the priestess disagreed.

Not Ferali the gnome. He and his axe await you at Halls End.

“He never wants to be left out of a fight, does he?” Deirdre inquired, smirking as she did so. “Especially where Papa’s in trouble.”

“Oh great,” Dave sighed. “We’ve got to deal with him.”

“Don’t start anything this time,” Deirdre told him. “We need allies. I’ll be back.” With that, she disappeared into the mists.

“Where is she going?” Clark queried.

“My counterpart’s palace. What did she mean that the others are trapped?” Dave assumed.

Our enemies ambushed the priestesses, imprisoning them and the Faerie Empress behind an energy field. This is why we need the assistance. For now, please return to the farm and await our friends. With that, Jor-El disappeared from view.

“I’ll take Miranda and her uncle on Carpet. Clark and Lana, perhaps you can go ahead?” Jasmine suggested.

“See you there,” Lana agreed as she sped off.

“Be careful,” Clark concurred before following at a super fast pace of his own.

“Come,” the Princess urged, concealing her features beneath a headdress and veil. When the two Duboises had climbed on Carpet, she urged her transport toward the Kent Farm.



Conclusion
[Kent Farm—Five minutes later]

In barely any time at all, the two super teens reached the farm. At first, the place startled them a bit. As with their counterparts before, the similarities startled them.

“This is really weird,” Clark remarked, running his fingers through his hair.

“I know,” Lana concurred, taking a deep breath. “We need to remember that this isn’t…well…our place. I guess we know how they could fix your parents’ house.”

“Yeah,” he agreed while still trying to get his bearings. “I mean even this Jor-El is like ours.”

At that moment, the DC-Martha inquired, “Clark? Lana?”

“That’s right, Mrs. Kent,” the former cheerleader agreed.

Martha nearly tackled them both. “Thank God! The others said you’d been kidnapped!”

“They were, Mom…I mean, Mrs. Kent,” he indicated. “Sorry, we’re the other Clark and Lana.”

Martha backed off, feeling just as confused as the teens. “Oh. Then you’re the ones that my…well…Clark and Lana helped?”

“That’s right. We’re here to help them now,” Lana informed their host. “The others will be here momentarily.”

“Others?” Then Martha saw Jasmine, Dave and Miri approaching on Carpet. “Incredible! You look like them!”

“We are them…well sort of. Martha, are you and Mr. Kent all right?” Dave noted.

“So far. Karen’s in the house with Jonathan and Melissa. Would you like to come in?” Martha invited.

“Thanks. We’d appreciate that,” Jasmine agreed while rolling Carpet up. “Can I get a hand with this?”

Clark and Lana each took an end, carrying the magical transport into the house.

“Clark!” Melissa exclaimed, hugging him and then Lana.

“Melissa, right?” Lana asked.

“Exactly,” Karen agreed. “Thanks for coming. Where’s Deirdre?”

“She went to get Ferali, Auntie Karen,” Miri declared. “Sorry…I forgot.”

“If you want to call me that, go ahead, Kiddo,” Karen assured her. “You’re healed?”

“Jor-El finished the process off,” Dave explained. “As for our coming, it’s no trouble.”

“How’s April dealing with it?” Karen supposed.

“How do you think?” Dave asked, almost feeling his wife’s disapproval.

“And the baby?”

“Mom and kid are doing fine. Cassie is too by the way.”

Karen sighed, musing over that prospect. Once again, I’m so glad our Dave and I never got married. “I’m sure.”

“Sorry, Clark, Lana, I forgot for a minute. With them missing, I’m really scared,” Melissa interjected.

“It’s okay. We’ll get them back,” Lana assured the younger girl.

“Count on it,” Miri affirmed from the corner.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Now who?” Jonathan wondered, answering it. Seeing the priestess and gnome, he ushered them inside. “Thanks for coming. As you can see, our friends made it.”

“Indeed. No further damage will come to Smallville if I have anything to say about it,” Ferali noted. “Greetings to you, friends.”

“Wish it were under better circumstances though,” Clark indicated.

“We’ll get through it. Say, Ferali, I wanted to say it’s good to see you too.” Dave held his hand out.

Ferali looked at the others and groused. He still didn’t like his honor brother’s counterpart but since the other was making an effort, he would do the same. “Likewise.” He clasped the other’s hand. “May we get them back safely and defeat these hags.”

“Speaking of which, I’m going to touch base with Jasmine and the Amazons. See you soon,” Deirdre told them before disappearing into the mists. “Be ready, Ferali, you’ll be with us.”

“I shall,” the gnome agreed.

Clark and Lana looked at their friends, wondering just how long of a long shot that would prove.

It seemed like a long shot indeed…..


THE END (for now)

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